Hong Kong: DoJ to join dispute resolution event

Deputy Secretary for Justice Cheung Kwok-kwan will lead a legal sector delegation to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on March 4 to join the inaugural Riyadh International Disputes Week, the Department of Justice announced today.

This is the first time that the department will lead delegates to the Middle East to participate in an international legal and dispute resolution event.

Apart from supporting the sector to explore opportunities under the Belt & Road Initiative, the trip aims to promote Hong Kongs strengths in legal and dispute resolution services, enhance co-operation between Hong Kong and the relevant regions, and strengthen Hong Kongs status as a centre for international legal and dispute resolution services in the Asia-Pacific region.

During Riyadh International Disputes Week, Mr Cheung will address a thematic event and luncheon organised by the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre, and attend the Third International Conference & Exhibition staged by the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration. He will also visit the local office of an international law firm.

Mr Cheung will return to Hong Kong on March 7.

This story has been published on: 2024-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 30,320: ministry

Xinhua) 13:48, March 03, 2024

This photo taken on March 1, 2024 shows ruined buildings in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,320, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday. (Xinhua)

GAZA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,320, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday.

During the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 92 Palestinians and wounded 156 others, bringing the total death toll to 30,320 and injuries to 71,533 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, according to the statement.

Among them, 15 died in Al-Aqsa Hospital in the city of Deir al-Balah due to an Israeli airstrike targeting two houses, and two others were killed in an airstrike targeting a house in Jabalia in the northern Gaza Strip.

Ten people were killed in Israeli air raids on neighborhoods of Al-Zaytoun, Tal Al-Hawa, Al-Sabra and Al-Daraj in Gaza City, added the sources.

Meanwhile, in the northern Gazan town of Beit Hanoun, a group of people picking herbs to satisfy hunger were targetted in an Israeli artillery shelling, with three of them killed and seven others injured, according to eyewitnesses.

In Rafah, in the far south, an Israeli drone bombed a civilian vehicle in the Al-Shaboura neighborhood in the center of the city, killing two people and wounding a third. They were transferred to the Kuwaiti Hospital.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.

A Palestinian checks a damaged building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 2, 2024.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,320, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

A Palestinian checks a room of a damaged building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 2, 2024.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,320, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

A Palestinian checks a room of a damaged building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 2, 2024.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,320, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 1, 2024 shows ruined buildings in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,320, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 1, 2024 shows ruined buildings in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,320, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday. (Xinhua)

This photo taken on March 1, 2024 shows ruined buildings in central Gaza Strip city of Deir el-Balah.

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30,320, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Saturday. (Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Zhong Wenxing)
A Macy's department store is in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023. Macy's recently announced the likely closing of more than 100 stores nationwide. Ted Shaffrey/Associated Press

As Macy's looks to close 150 stores over the next three years, Connecticut shoppers and local officials have begun to wonder what it could mean for the handful of in-state locations that remain.

Macy's has six Connecticut stores: The Shoppes at Buckland Hills in Manchester, the Connecticut Post Mall in Milford, Stamford Town Center, Danbury Fair mall, Trumbull Mall and Westfarms on the West Hartford-Farmington line. In some of those cases, Macy's has multiple locations in the mall, either with a Macy's Backstage or with a men's clothing and furniture space.

The store closures are coming as Macy's executives seek to refocus their business model on the chain's better performing locations as well as its luxury Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury brands. The retailer also has a new store format that is smaller than its traditional department stores.

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But when Macy's closes one of its department stores, it's known to hit a mall hard, leaving giants amount of empty space. Look no further than malls in Enfield, Meriden, Waterbury and Waterford where large swaths of space were left vacant following closures.

Macy's has not yet commented on which stores will close, only discussing the reason for closures.

Steve Stephanou, Manchester's town manager, said last week municipal officials have not "been made aware of any future plans for the Macy's at Buckland Hills."

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"Its well known that pretty much all malls have suffered over the past two decades as consumers have moved to online shopping, impacting the anchor department stores that historically drove people to visit," Stephanou said in an email. "Ill note that compared to many other local malls in Connecticut, Manchesters mall has fared relatively well. Moreover, the broader Buckland Hills area, which includes several restaurants and other shopping centers, is flourishing."

New York City-based data and analysis firm Trepp, however, identified the Manchester location as a possible candidate based on the financial state of the mall. The Shoppes at Buckland Hills is owned by Syracuse, N.Y.-based Spinoso Real Estate Group. Officials with Macy's and the Spinoso Real Estate Group were not immediately available for comment on the Trepp report.

The Shoppes at Buckland Hills owes $101.75 million in loans, according to Trepp. Its loans are past their maturity date and have not been refinanced.

It is one of five malls in four states that have Macy's stores as tenants and are listed by Trepp as having to the potential to be locations selected for closure.

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"Since the financial performance of these malls is already quite weak, and the stores are located within regional or super regional malls, the properties shortlisted above could be potential candidates for closure by Macys," the Trepp post said part.

Lonnie Hendry, Trepp's chief product officer, said Thursday the company's assumption in making the report is that if the mall operator isn't doing enough business to remain current with its loan payments, "then the store probably is struggling, too."

"There's certain things we don't know," Hendry said. "What are the sales at that particular store? And did the mall operator acquire it as a struggling asset?"

If Macy's were to close its Manchester store, he said, it could have a cascading effect on the mall.

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"Some smaller tenants have clauses in their leases that if one of the anchors leaves, the smaller retailer is also able leave the mall without violating the terms of the lease," Hendry said.

Hendry said that Spinoso has a track record of being able to turn around troubled mall properties.

"This has the potential to be really bad news for the mall," he said of the size of the loan. "But they (Spinoso) have the potential to take that bad news and turn it around by finding the right mix of tenants and uses for the mall."

Stephanou, the town manager, said local officials have been in touch with the mall's current owners "and have expressed our desire to help ensure the prosperity of that area and we will continue to do so."

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"As one of Manchesters biggest properties that generates significant economic value for our community and the entire region, the town is obviously very interested in the success of the mall property," Stephanou said.
A new Channel 4 docuseries, The Push, explores unseen details of the tragic tale

The pregnant lawyer was subject to years of abuse - but how was Anwar caught?

A pregnant lawyer who plunged to her death after being thrown of a cliff at a picturesque tourist site by her abusive husband will be the subject of a chilling new documentary.

Fawziyah Javed, from Leeds, was thrown 50ft off Arthur's Seat in September 2021, following a horrific campaign of abuse by her partner, Kashif Anwar.

The 31-year-old employment lawyer was 17-weeks pregnant with her first child when she fell to her death at the hands of 'jealous, evil and insecure' Anwar.

Anwar, now 31, was jailed for at least 20 years after being found guilty of murder during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The cold-blooded murder of Fawziyah Javed will be explored in The Push: Murder on the Cliff, which also follows Anwar's trial and his conviction.

Fawziyah helped jail her partner from beyond the grave by collecting evidence of the years of bullying and oppression she endured - but what led Anwar to kill and how was his violent outbursts and tirade of abuse eventually brought to light?

Fawziyah Javed, from Leeds, was thrown 50ft off Arthur's Seat in September 2021, after a horrific campaign of abuse by her partner, Kashif Anwar

Who was Fawziyah Javed?

Fawziyah Javed was a 31-year-old employment lawyer from Leeds, and was known for her active involvement in supporting a wide range of charities throughout her adult years.

Fawziyah had married the then 29-year-old Anwar, an optical assistant, in an Islamic ceremony on 25 December 2020.

Five months after the wedding, Fawziyah became pregnant by Anwar, with the pair expecting their first child together.

Just four months later, in September 2021, Fawziyah was pushed 50ft to her death from a Scottish landmark by her 'abusive, controlling, manipulative, aggressive and violent' husband.

Fawziyah Javed, a 31-year-old employment lawyer from Leeds, pictured (centre) alongside her proud parents, Yasmin Javed (R) and father Mohammed Javed (L)

Fawziyah Javed was known for her active involvement in supporting a wide range of charities throughout her adult years

Fawziyah had married the then 29-year-old Anwar, an optical assistant, in an Islamic ceremony on 25 December 2020, before becoming pregnant five months later

What happened to Fawziyah Javed?

On 2 September 2021, Fawziyah and Anwar, had travelled to the Scottish capital, Edinburgh for a mini-break to celebrate her upcoming 32nd birthday.

It was by this point a fatigued Fawziyah had expressed to Anwar she did not want to be with him anymore, and asked him for a divorce.

READ MORE: Grieving family of pregnant lawyer who was pushed off Arthur's Seat by her controlling husband warn domestic abuse can be invisible Advertisement

Fawziyah's mother, Yasmin Javed, told BBC News that her daughter had previously contacted divorce lawyers to 'get the ball rolling' but Anwar always said he would never grant her wish.

The mother said: 'He used to say to Fawziyah, we don't have divorces in our family, we don't divorce, we stay in marriages, no matter what.'

Despite Fawziyah's fear of heights while being over three months pregnant, the lawyer accompanied her husband when he suggested they visit the rocky summit of Arthur's Seat, a landmark that offers sprawling views over Edinburgh.

It was at the peak of the cliff that Kashif Anwar pushed his pregnant wife over the edge, where she died a short time later from the injuries she sustained.

Daniyah Rafique, 24, managed to reach the dying employment lawyer on the side of the hill, where she was told: 'Don't let my husband near me, he pushed me.'

In a 999 call, later played in court, Anwar tells an operator his wife had slipped on Arthur's Seat and that he tried to save her.

He said: 'Fawziyah's just on the edge of the cliff, man. We both just slipped, I tried grabbing her arm and she fell.

'We both technically slipped and then I tried grabbing her arm and she went sideways.'

Only nine months after they wed, Fawziyah had expressed to abusive Anwar she did not want to be with him anymore, and continued to press for a divorce before visiting Edinburgh

Despite Fawziyah's fear of heights, the lawyer accompanied her husband when he suggested they visit the rocky summit of Arthur's Seat, a landmark that offers views over Edinburgh

Kashif Anwar, 29, from Leeds (front) followed by his wife Fawziyah Javed, 31, at 7.10pm on High St at the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh - one of the final moments before the lawyer's death

Photo issued by the The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, showing the fall area of Fawziyah Javed

How did Fawziyah Javed's killer Kashif Anwar eventually get convicted?

It was thanks to the mountain of evidence against her abusive husband Fawziyah had collected that he was convicted for her murder.

Alex Prentice KC, the lead prosecutor in the case, said evidence collated by the victim in the months leading up to the murder was crucial to securing Anwar's conviction.

Detective Inspector Bob Williamson from Police Scotland, who was in charge of inquiries into Fawziyah's fall, said deaths like hers are very difficult to investigate.

He said: 'When there is only one person who truly knows what happened and they choose to lie, the investigation then relies on largely circumstantial evidence.

However, Fawziyah had secretly recorded phone calls of Anwar threatening her and went to the police twice so that there was a record of his abusive behaviour, although she didn't want them to intervene at that point.

The second police report was made just days before Anwar killed the employment lawyer from Leeds on the weekend away to Edinburgh.

Leading up to the tragedy, Anwar had been repeatedly violent: on one occasion - only three months after their wedding - he knocked his wife unconscious in a graveyard.

On another occasion, Anwar positioned a pillow around her head before punching it repeatedly.

Without the mountain of evidence Fawziyah had accumulated before her untimely death, it would have been unlikely that Anwar would have faced a conviction

Fawziyah had secretly recorded phone calls of Anwar threatening her and went to the police twice so that there was a record of his abusive behaviour, which was later unveiled in court

Fawziyah's mother, Yasmin Javed, revealed that her daughter had previously contacted divorce lawyers to 'get the ball rolling' but Anwar always said he would never divorce her

Yasmin Javed, mother of the late Fawziyah Javed (centre) outside the High Court in Edinburgh

Farah Siddiq, from AMINA The Muslim Women's Resource Centre, lays flowers during a vigil being held in honour of Fawziyah Javed who died on Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh

The court also heard Anwar withdrew 12,000 from her bank account while she was sleeping.

In one blood-curdling voice recording, Fawziyah is heard saying, 'You've ruined my life,' to which Anwar replies: 'I'll tell you one thing. You end this and I will ruin yours.'

In a recording Fawziyah secretly made, her husband had told her to stop behaving like a British woman.

Anwar can be heard telling his wife: 'Who do you think you are? You're not a man so come back tomorrow like you've been told.'

His wife asks, 'What's your problem?' before Anwar responds, 'My problem? Don't challenge me, do not be that British woman. Because I'm telling you, it will not work. I promise it will not work. It won't work with me.'

Only months before her death, Anwar had chillingly told Fawziyah: 'The sooner you're dead or the sooner you're out of my life, it'll be better.'

The new Channel 4 documentary, The Push: Murder on the Cliff, unearths some of Anwar's chilling last words to his wife, including: 'The sooner you are dead, it'll be better'

At the High Court in Edinburgh in 2021, Judge Lord Beckett sentenced Kashif Anwar to life (20 years minimum) imprisonment for the murder of Fawziyah Javed

Fawziyah's mother claimed Anwar resented the solicitor being an independent, well-educated young woman.

'He didn't like the fact that Fawzi had her own voice, her own opinions. He didn't like that,' she said.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Judge Lord Beckett sentenced Kashif Anwar to life imprisonment for the murder of Fawziyah Javed, with eligibility to be considered for parole set at 20 years.

Speaking in the new Channel 4 Documentary, which was granted access to the trial earlier this year, Mr Prentice said: 'Fawziyah collected a great deal of evidence which formed the pillar of the prosecution case.

'I have prosecuted many murder cases over the course of my career but for a variety of reasons this case is extraordinary.'

Asked if Anwar would have been found guilty without Fawziyah's evidence, he said: 'It would have been very difficult.'

The Push: Murder on the Cliff premieres on Channel 4 on March 3 and 4 at 9pm.
EXCLUSIVE

A woman who chose to 'freebirth' her first child at home spent 51 hours in labour while her partner sought medical advice from a Facebook group.

Kerry Pitman and Mathew Hadfield, from Queensland, Australia, decided to freebirth their daughter after 27 midwives refused to attend the delivery due to risks associated with Ms Pitman's Type 1 diabetes.

Ms Pitman, 43, and Mr Hadfield, 39, eventually found an unregistered Italian midwife on Facebook to guide the birth of baby Teilo at their Mount Crosby home in Brisbane's outer west.

Laura Latina, who the couple calls their 'birthkeeper', flew up from Sydney and was present for the entire labour, while a doula in Canada stayed on the phone with them for two days while Teilo was born.

Ms Latina has since been restricted from practising midwifery by health authorities who in December prohibited her from being present with a mother during childbirth.

Kerry Pitman and Mathew Hadfield found an unregistered midwife on Facebook to help deliver their daughter Teilo in a 'freebirth' with no medical assistance at the couple's Queensland's home

Freebirthing is the controversial practice of delivering a baby without any medical support.

It can involve a woman giving birth alone, with her partner or with the help of a doula or other support person but without a registered health professional.

A doula or birthkeeper is not legally allowed to offer any medical recommendations or assistance, or to carry any surgical equipment.

When Ms Pitman went into labour early at just 36 weeks she and Mr Hadfield did not even have a birth pool, so put out an urgent call to the Homebirth Australia Facebook group.

For 51 hours Ms Pitman laboured at home with Ms Latina's assistance while Mr Hadfield posted on the Facebook page seeking further advice and practical help.

Mr Hadfield described that part of Ms Pitman's labour as the 'wild element' because a registered midwife would have sent her to hospital.

'Birthkeeper' Laura Latina was present for Kerry Pitman's entire 51 hour labour while a doula in Canada stayed on the phone. Ms Latina has since been prohibited from being present with a mother during childbirth

His posts on the Homebirth Australia page sparked a fierce debate among some of its 14,000 members who were divided over whether Ms Pitman should have gone to hospital or trusted her natural ability to give birth.

The posts also highlighted a division between midwives and unregulated birth workers such as doulas over the safety of freebirthing.

Mr Hadfield said Ms Pitman's labour failed to progress on two occasions - the first for 12 hours as she entered ketosis, which occurs when the body starts burning fat instead of glucose for energy.

The couple resolved that potentially fatal issue for Ms Pitman with rest, food and hydration.

The second failed labour lasted six hours because Ms Pitman's bladder was so full the baby could not descend.

Mr Hadfield used the Homebirth Australia page to plead for someone to bring the couple a catheter to drain his partner's bladder, without success.

He then called an ambulance but said he was told paramedics did not carry catheters and could not legally hand over a nasogastric tube to use as an alternative.

Mr Hadfield said paramedics did eventually provide a nasograstric tube, which is normally inserted through the nose, down the throat and into the stomach.

Ms Latina instead used the tube as a catheter on Ms Pitman.

When Ms Pitman went into labour early, at just 36 weeks, she and Mr Hadfield did not even have a birth pool, so put out an urgent call to the Homebirth Australia Facebook group. The couple is pictured in the pool

Once the tube was in place Ms Pitman was able to drain her bladder and two-and-a-half hours later at 2am on December 6, 2020 was born in the couple's lounge room.

After the birth Mr Hadfield said Teilo experienced two hypoglycaemic events, with her blood sugar level dropping to 2.3 at one point.

When police came to the couple's door after Teilo's birth Mr Hadfield told the officers he would not engage with them. Child Services also visited and left after talking with Ms Pitman.

Ms Latina was reported to the Office of the Health Ombudsman which issued an interim prohibition order preventing her from being present during births.

She must also ensure any advertising for her services includes a statement advising the public of that restriction.

Ms Latina has since left Australia but is still advertising her services and offering advice to women on Instagram and Facebook and has not posted any statement about the restrictions.

When asked via Instagram about the restrictions, Ms Latina responded: 'How did you get this info? It's not up to me to talk about others' birth'.

Kerry Pitman and Mathew Hadfield decided to freebirth their daughter after 27 midwives refused to attend the delivery due to risks associated with Ms Pitman's Type 1 diabetes

Mr Hadfield said he did not remember if the ombudsman contacted him regarding Teilo's birth but said he would not have 'contracted' with the office had it done so.

'If I was going to help anyone it would be Laura,' he later told the ombudsman.

Mr Hadfield said police called him mid-last year saying they were investigating a missing catheter, rather than the nasogastric tube which was lent to the couple.

'I have very little faith in the system,' Mr Hadfield said. 'I think it's horrendous.'

Mr Hadfield stood by Ms Latina and was grateful for the support she gave the couple during Teilo's birth.

'She was acting as a doula to care for a woman in need at that moment,' he said.

'I'm grateful for the experience I had and have a beautiful daughter and didn't have to go through the insanity of the barbaric hospital system.'

Hannah Dahlen, professor of midwifery at Western Sydney University, said while the number of women freebirthing was not known research suggested it was increasing.

Mr Hadfield was grateful for the support she gave Ms Pitman (above) giving birth. 'She was acting as a doula to care for a woman in need at that moment,' he said

'Covid has really opened the gates on this,' Professor Dahlen said.

'There was a huge increase of women wanting homebirths and when they couldn't get a midwife, they were looking for birth workers.'

Professor Dahlen said the largest numbers of women freebirthing and unregulated birth workers was in southern Queensland. Homebirthing is now publicly funded in that state.

Professor Dahlen said unregulated birth workers were operating outside their skills and domain of knowledge and that training could consist of as little as a one-week course.

'Women freebirthing really do trust these women in their birth space, but with trust comes huge responsibility,' she said.

'That trust can't just be all fluffy, it's sometimes saying the hard stuff for the sake of the woman and her baby.

'It would be good if there were some standards for doulas and a code of conduct saying they will not attend births without a midwife or doctor present or undertake clinical assessments.

'I'm nervous about overregulating. If we continually crack down, we'll push them underground and that could be dreadful.

'We have to respect women's autonomy but make sure women can determine the type of care they're getting and understand what that is.'

However, Professor Dahlen said any blame should lie with a broken medical system rather than on women.

'If we don't fix the dysfunctional system with not enough midwifery models of care, then we will have women seeking other options and end up in the shadow lands of the birth world which is what is currently happening,' she said.

'The system has to take responsibility and provide women with the kind of care they're seeking.

'There are some social media influences being incredibly irresponsible in what they are saying and playing on women's fear and trust.

'But right now the system is just as bad in another direction.'
A controversial pro-life society which left female students at the University of Manchester 'fearing for their safety' has held its first meeting - which was met by fierce protests.

The Manchester Pro Life Society, which was established to 'create a pro-life culture on campus' shared an image to its official Instagram page to 'thank everyone' for standing up for 'life and free speech on campus'.

After the society received criticism for appointing a male president and a male treasurer as pressure to dissolve the group began to mount, its committee proceeded with arranging its first meeting.

A photo of the first meeting, which took place on Thursday evening, was posted on the Manchester Pro Life Society's Instagram page - in which 17 of the 23 attendees were male, while just six were female.

The picture was captioned: 'Thank you everyone who came to our first talk! It was great to meet so many of you tonight. We will continue to boldly stand up for life and free speech on campus'.

Upon seeing this image, one viewer noted the attendees were '90% fellas' in a comment on the post - which appears to have now been deleted.

The Manchester Pro Life society held its first meeting on Thursday evening and posted a photo of the group of attendees - showing a staggeringly high proportion of men at the event

As the event took place on the University of Manchester Campus, it attracted huge protests from students who are calling for the society to be dissolved, organised by the Stop Manchester Pro Life group.

Members posted videos to Instagram capturing the action, in which hundreds of students can be seen demonstrating near their student union while supporters shouted 'shut it down'.

Speaking on the event, a rep said: 'Huge thanks to everyone who showed up last night and to all the people who helped make it happen. So overwhelmed with the support and so grateful to every single one of you!'

After branding the night a 'complete success', they added there had been a scuffle between 'a couple of drunk boys' during the event - but claimed the men involved had no connection to the union.

The speaker added: 'We co-operated fully with the legal observers there was no obstruction of police escorting the society out of the building despite them being unnecessarily rough with the crowd'.

The group revealed they were keen to stage another demonstration soon - as part of measures to 'disband' Manchester Pro Life Society.

The Stop Manchester Pro-Lie movement organised a rally on the evening of the controversial society's first meeting

They concluded: 'Next week we will be meeting with the SU and getting the ball rolling on a vote to disband the society, as well as implementing the measures put forward in our demands.

'Again, thanks so much to all of you and a huge well done for last night'.

Manchester Pro Life Society - which launched on January 11 and has a male president and male treasurer - says it aims to 'create a pro-life culture on campus, to engage students on life issues and promote respect for the dignity of human life from conception'.

However its existence has caused such anger that a petition was opened to dissolve its activities on February 12 - and has since racked up over 16,000 signatures.

The petition, which was first posted by an anonymous student, says they are 'deeply troubled by the potential harm that could be caused by our university's Pro-Life Society' and encourages people to sign it 'if you believe every woman should have her right respected without fear or stigma within our university community'.

However, the University of Manchester's student union has said the society was established within the rules of its society registration process.

The Stop Manchester Pro-Life group organised a protest against the Pro-Life Society on the eve of its first meeting

The petition, posted on Change.org claims the the male-run society 'adds to an already prevalent stigma surrounding abortion, a legal right in our country'.

It added: 'Women at our university should not have to face additional pressure or judgement on such personal matters.'

As the anonymous writer implores people to sign the petition, they argue the society 'has potential to cause distress among students who may require access to abortion services now or in future'.

The society's president is George Vincent, a History of Art student who lists G.K Chesterton's St Francis of Assisi as his 'Desert Island Discs' book that he would take with him if he found himself banished to a remote part of the world.

In October 2023, Vincent spoke to the Guardian about his pro-life views as he took part in an experiment where he had dinner with a man who holds different political opinions.

He said: 'I recognise how much pain there must be for a woman in that situation. But I dont think an abortion solves that problem, it doesnt make that trauma go away.

'We need to support them. And if that means adoption, we shouldnt ostracise people for giving up their child.'

The society's treasurer is Jacob Karinatan, a medicine student whose book of choice is Lord of the Rings.

A female student at the University of Manchester previously told the Independent that the establishment of the society was like 'the beginning of a Margaret Atwood novel' and accused the student union of 'enabling misogynistic hate speech'.

Heather Bowling, a second-year linguistics student, said: 'The society has made me feel weak and inferior to my male counterparts. I've had endless messages from girls who fear for their safety.'

She further accused the SU of representing the interests of men who founded the society ahead of the many thousands who had signed the petition.

Heather revealed she has spoken with women on campus who have had abortions in the past who say they now feel 'personally victimised and threatened' by the presence of the society.

Another student who has opted to have an abortion in the past recalled feelings of 'guilt' she experienced at the time which she said had been exacerbated by the things 'people say' about abortion.

While she acknowledged she believes in freedom of speech, she added: 'I dont see why men form anti-abortion groups when there are so many mens issues they could work on.'

Amid backlash about the group's 'all-male' origin, the Manchester Pro-Life Society announced on Tuesday that the committee had gained two new female members, Inge-Maria as its vice president and Lajoie as its diversity and inclusion officer.

Inge-Maria studies dental hygiene and therapy while Lajoie is studying children's nursing.

As backlash builds against the society, a competing Instagram profile entitled 'Stop Manchester Pro-Life' has been established, which encourages people to organise and protest against the controversial society.

When contacted by FEMAIL, a spokesperson for the Instagram campaign said: 'This isnt just a womens issue, it effects anyone that is assigned female at birth and there are plenty of male allies and people of various genders that support us.'

They added the campaign leaders 'understand free speech' but claimed the Pro-Life group 'continue to post facts and statistics that simply are inaccurate with no source'.

'Were calling for the university to do something,' it concluded.

In a statement to FEMAIL at the time, Manchester University's Pro-Life society said: 'The Pro-Life society exists to promote the wellbeing, and dignity of every human life, from conception.

'We are a positive society, one that exists first and foremost to help and support people at all stages of life. We exist to encourage students to think critically about the way we define and value human life.'

The statement continued to argue that its membership is diverse, with women playing a 'crucial role' in the society's work.

It added: 'We do however believe that these issues are relevant and important to people of either gender, they affect everyone. The right to life is not a gender-specific issue. It is also important to point out that we are not an anti-abortion society but a pro-life society.

'This means that while we oppose abortion, we are also concerned with other threats to life including assisted suicide, the death penalty, deaths occurring through poverty and poor living standards, structural issues in critical infrastructure such as the NHS, and climate change.'

The statement added the society will 'promote a culture of life on campus' through organising events and fundraising, as well as 'campaigning for increased support for students who are pregnant or parenting from the University, Student's Union, and the Government'.

The society also claimed its members and supporters have been subjected to 'hate' which it has denounced.

'We hope that we can have reasonable and dignified conversations with everyone moving forward so we can create a better campus and society, one where everyone is valued and respected,' it concluded.

The society did not specify who had directed 'hate' towards its members - however an edit to the Change.org petition stressed the purpose of the movement was 'in no way calling for any harassment or intimidation of the members/committee of the Pro-Life society personally'.

FEMAIL has contacted the society for further comment following this week's demonstrations.
King Harald of Norway was returning home from Malaysia on Sunday after falling ill on holiday and spending several days in hospital, the royal palace said.

The oldest reigning monarch in Europe at 87 years old, Harald had been hospitalised while on a private trip in the resort island of Langkawi.

The palace said on Saturday that he had been fitted with a 'temporary' pacemaker, which his personal physician said would make his return safer.

A medical plane believed to be transporting the King took off from Langkawi on Sunday afternoon, after police escorted a convoy that included an ambulance from the hospital to the airport, an AFP journalist saw.

Queen Sonja was travelling with the King, who would be checked into the hospital Rikshospitalet in Oslo, upon his return to Norway, the royal household said in a statement.

King Harald of Norway (pictured on May 4, 2019) was returning home from Malaysia on Sunday after falling ill on holiday and spending several days in hospital, the royal palace said

'The king will be on sick leave for two weeks,' it said. 'The crown prince will in that period be regent and take over the King's constitutional duties.' Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway, 50, had already been presiding in his father's absence.

On Saturday, the royal household had said the king might fly home in a couple of days. It said the government had asked Norway's military to assist with the travel.

King Harald, Norway's ceremonial head of state since 1991, is Europe's oldest living monarch. He has repeatedly been hospitalised with infections in recent years and has undergone heart surgery.

He caught a respiratory infection in January, days after dismissing speculation that he might abdicate, following the lead of distant cousin Queen Margrethe II in Denmark.

Two days before Harald's 87th birthday last week, the palace announced that the King would be undertaking a private trip abroad, without specifying the destination or dates, according to the Norwegian news agency NTB.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stre said that he was 'sad' to hear of the king's hospitalization and wished him a 'speedy recovery,' NTB said.

Despite Harald's precarious physical condition, the royal is certain that he wants to continue as Norway's reigning monarch.

Last month, the royal confirmed that he has no plans to abdicate after speculation he could follow in the footsteps of his former Danish counterpart, Queen Margrethe.

Traffic officers escort Norway's King Harald V and delegates leaving Sultanah Maliha Hospital in Langkawi Island, state of Kedah, Malaysia

A Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) plane carrying Norway's King Harald V and delegates is seen on the runway before taking off from Langkawi International Airport for their departure back to Norway

King Harald V of Norway, pictured, was hospitalized with an infection while on holiday in Malaysia. The monarch is photographed on February 24 in Norway

The monarch, who is the second cousin of King Charles III, insisted that the promise he made to the Norwegian Parliament when he acceded the throne in 1991 'lasts for life'.

King Harald told Faktisk.no: 'I stand by what I have said all along. I have taken an oath to the Storting, and it lasts for life.'

It comes after Queen Margrethe of Denmark, 83, abdicated after 52 years on the throne, making way for her son Frederik to take over as King on 14 January.

Afterwards, a royal expert had suggested the Danish monarch had broken an 'invisible pact' between heads of state in the Scandinavian countries that none would step down from the throne.

Roger Lundberg told STV that, after Denmark's changeover, there is a chance King Harald of Norway and King Carl Gustaf of Sweden , 79, might follow suit and step down to allow their eldest children to take the throne.

However, this has been firmly dismissed by King Harald.

The Norwegian King was 53 when he acceded the throne in 1991, upon the death of his father King Olav. Ahead of this, he had been acting as Crown Prince Regent due to his father's illness, which escalated in the spring of 1990.

King Harald has faced some health concerns himself in recent years, and spent time in the hospital to treat an infection last May, but clearly has no intention of abdicating.

His Scandinavian neighbour Queen Margrethe of Denmark made the shock announcement that she would give up the throne in her New Year's Eve speech.

The Danish Royal Family have spent the last two years grappling with various scandals, including the Queen's surprise decision to strip her grandchildren of their princely titles.

There were also rumours of an 'affair' after the then Crown Prince Frederik was spotted out in Madrid with Mexican socialite Genoveva Casanova.

Pictured left to right: King Harald V, Crown Princess Mette-Marit and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway

But Denmark is not the only monarchy in the Scandinavian nations to have had a bumpy few years - with Norway's royal family experiencing its very own 'Megxit'.

King Harald and Queen Sonja's only daughter Princess Martha Louise, who was fourth in line to the throne, stepped down as a working royal in 2019.

It was announced in 2022 that the mother-of-three would no longer represent the Royal household in any form following her engagement to an American Shamanic healer who had been criticised for his controversial views.

King Harald said that Martha would not be allowed to use her royal title any future commercial partnerships with her partner Durek Verrett, 47.

Shortly after the mother-of-three announced her engagement to Verrett, a Norweigan publishing house dropped his book 'Spirit Hacking' over pseudoscientific claims, including 'children can get cancer from being unhappy'.

Among his other claims, Verrett says he once came back from the dead, recovering from a month-long coma, by letting his soul 'burn' and he has also spoken of having to undergo a kidney transplant from his sister as a child.

Following Martha Louise's decision to step down, King Harald stressed that his daughter has remained a princess at his request, saying: 'She is our daughter, and she will continue to be. So she is Princess Martha Louise.'

The princess was previously married to Ari Behn, whom she wed in 2002 and had three children together Maud Angelica, 19, Leah Isadora, 17, and Emma Tallulah, 14. They split in 2016, and Ari took his own life on Christmas Day in 2019.

Crown Prince Haakon, Martha-Louise's older brother, is Norway's heir apparent - and the future King has already had a taste of what it will be like to ascend the throne after stepping in for his father on several occasions over the past few years.
Penny Mordaunt has revealed why she is selling the dress she wore at King Charles' III Coronation.

The Leader of the UK House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council, 50, who was the unexpected star of the King's Coronation in May, with her dress being the centre of attention, said she wants the funds from the gown to go to charity.

Speaking to The Sunday Times, she said: 'I can never wear it again - unless I'm going to a fancy dress party as myself!'

The Conservative MP, who donned a regal teal dress and cape, alongside a matching padded headband that featured gold embroidery, intends to sell the ensemble with the proceeds going to fund projects in her Portsmouth constituency.

She added: 'It struck me it ought to do some good. It's such an iconic dress that it ought to go on and do some other good things.'

Penny Mordaunt revealed why she is selling the dress she wore at King Charles' III Coronation in May 2023 (pictured)

Penny revealed she choose the viral ensemble because she wanted to 'fit in' and look 'modern for a modern king.'

She also added that she decided on the cape design because it had a historical feel to it and gave a nod to the military.

Her striking outfit, alongside her poise while carrying the Sword of State in Westminster Abbey, meant Penny cemented herself in the public consciousness.

Despite the Lord President's uniform traditionally consisting of black robes, as Penny was the first woman to assume the role, she worked with specialists to design the teal dress.

The hand embroidered gold ferns across the shoulders of the cape and hat referenced the traditional Privy Council uniform, as well as paying homage to her coastal constituency, Portsmouth North.

In her ceremonial role as lord president of the privy council and bearer of the Sword of State, Penny's duties during the big day included carrying the Sword of State, which weighs 3.6 kg (8 lb) for 51 minutes straight.

After carrying the Sword of State at the ceremony, Penny was then presented with the Jewelled Sword of Offering, a smaller item decorated with silver, diamonds, rubies and emeralds.

The sword was blessed by the Archbishop of Canterbury before Ms Mordaunt then presented it to the King, who clipped it into his girdle.

It was eventually returned to Penny  who in 2014 featured on ITV's diving show Splash! and was named 'Britain's sexiest MP' in a poll  and she carried it again as she walked ahead of the King following his crowning.

The Leader of the UK House of Commons and Lord President of the Privy Council, Penny Mordaunt (pictured in July 2023), 50, who was the unexpected star of the King's Coronation in May, with her dress being the centre of attention, revealed she wants the funds from the gown to go to charity

Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt arriving at Westminster Abbey for the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Her striking outfit, alongside her poise while carrying the Sword of State in Westminster Abbey, caused a storm on social media

Penny revealed after the big day that she had undergone a training regime involving press-ups, as well as practising with a weighted replica of the 7lb 5oz sword originally made for Charles II.

Notable figures including a number of fellow MPs praised her, with Labour MP Emily Thornberry tweeting: 'Got to say it, @PennyMordaunt looks damn fine! The sword bearer steals the show.'

Author and columnist Caitlin Moran also commented on the social media buzz around Ms Mordaunt's role, saying: 'Penny Mordaunt's sword is the 'Pippa Middleton's Bum' of the Coronation.'

Labour MP Chris Bryant said in a tweet: 'The Penny is mightier than the sword.'

Last year, the UK Parliament Instagram page announced that visitors could see Penny's dress in person until 2 September. Visitors could see the frock during a tour of the Speaker's House.

The dress was part of a wider display that collated the ceremonial dress and uniforms that the MPs and staff members sported during the King's Coronation.
A set of identical quadruplets who beat the odds to even be born are turning 18 - and are about to separate for the first time.

Doctors told Jose and Julie Carles, from in Upper Caldecote, Bedfordshire, it was more likely they would win the lottery than that all four of their babies would live.

But 18 years on Ellie, Georgie, Jessica and Holly are happy and healthy as they reach adulthood. The four siblings were born minutes apart on March 23, 2006.

The sisters are planning a low-key meal with their father Jose, 51, and mother Julie, 55, to mark their 18th birthday - and their parents have revealed how they all have different plans for the future.

Jose said: 'Georgie and Ellie are currently doing their A levels. Georgie has been offered a place to study at the University of Creative Arts but she might defer a year and go travelling with Ellie.

'Jess and Holly both have another year at college. I think they will miss each other but they will enjoy the freedom. They will always have each other.'

Identical quadruplets (L-R) Holly, Jess, Georgie and Ellie who beat the odds to even be born are turning 18 - and are about to separate for the first time

Julie and Jose went for an 11-week scan after finding out they were pregnant in September 2005.

They found out they had quadruplets and that they were monochorionic - where babies are dependent on a shared placenta.

Julie, a regional operations manager, said: 'Initially the sonographer said it was unlikely that they would survive.

'We were traumatised and upset due to the situation we found ourselves in. He told us we had more chance of winning the lottery.

'Over the weekend we did some research and accepted it, we felt like we were given a gift. I was a healthy 37-year-old. We knew we had to go forward with it.'

Julie was admitted to Queen Charlotte's and Chelsea Hospital, London, for monitoring when she reached 23 weeks.

She said: 'It was really hard, it was the first time that Jose and I had ever been away from each other.

Georgie, Holly, Ellie and Jess pictured at just two years old. Doctors told Jose and Julie Carles, from in Upper Caldecote, Bedfordshire, it was more likely they would win the lottery than that all four of their babies would live

The foursome were born minutes apart on March 23, 2006 (pictured on their third birthday)

The sisters are planning a low-key meal with their father Jose (pictured right), 51, and mother Julie (pictured left), 55, to mark their 18th birthday - and their parents have revealed how they all have different plans for the future

Ellie, Georgina, Jessica and Holly Carles were born just minutes apart, between 14:16pm and 14:19pm - and weighing 2lb 8oz, 2lb 7oz, 2lbs and 1lbs 9oz respectively (pictured on their fifth birthday)

'I was getting bigger and bigger and the pressure on the body was getting more intense.'

The youngsters created a sensation when they were born on 23 March 2006 to Julie and husband Jose at odds of 64million to one.

Ellie, Georgina, Jessica and Holly Carles arrived minutes apart, between 14:16pm and 14:19pm - and weighing 2lb 8oz, 2lb 7oz, 2lbs and 1lbs 9oz respectively.

Julie said: 'I had a C-section and it felt like it lasted around five minutes in total it was really quick. They were taken straight to the NICU for eight weeks. The first few days were critical but they were looked after so well.

'As soon as they were out of danger, they were moved to Lister Hospital, Stevenage, until we could bring them home.'

The day Julie and Jose were able to bring the girls home was the 'best day of their life'. Julie said that Georgie was the first to stand at nine months.

The sisters parents revealed the girls plans for the future, saying they are all doing their own thing (pictured at 16 years old)

The sisters, L-R Jess, Holly Georgie and Ellie, grew up very close. Pictured at 12 years old

Ellie, Holly, Georgie and Jess will be celebrating their 18th birthday on March 23, 2024

Ellie, Georgie, Jess and Holly are planning a low-key meal with their parents to mark the day

She said: 'Once one of them does something the rest would copy, Jess was the last of them to walk and talk.

What are the odds of having quadruplets? There is a one in 700,000 chance that someone can conceive quadruplets without any help from IVF or other fertility treatments. The most common way for quadruplets to be conceived is if there are four separate eggs that are fertilized by four different sperm. But, it is also possible for embryos to split to form multiple babies. A mother carrying four children is at higher risk of miscarrying at least one baby. Premature birth is always a risk factor when the mother is carrying multiple babies in her womb. The babies are also more likely to be born at a lower than average weight. Advertisement

'I remember their first day of preschool, they loved it, and they didn't worry about me.

'Pre-school had to put their initials on their collars for teachers as they would just get them mixed up.'

When it came to starting school, Julie and Jose said they were worried that they wouldn't make new friends as they would usually stick together. But Julie said they 'thrived' as they were all placed in different classes.

She said: 'They were happy to be separated, they branched out and their personalities developed. When they started upper school they placed them in pairs which wasn't ideal at all.

'That is the time when you break away from your family but that didn't happen for them as they were together.'

Ellie, Georgina, Jessica and Holly will be celebrating their 18th birthday on March 23, 2024.

Julie said: 'Them turning 18 makes us really proud. You don't often get to look back at what you have done over the years.

'It is only when someone points it out we are like 'oh my gosh' what we have done is amazing.'

She added: 'The girls have asked us to go for a meal and then they have asked us to take them to a concert.

'They haven't really asked for much to be fair, we're going to celebrate the day as a family. We're a very close family.'
Retailers are using fabrics and prints in different cuts for a different appeal

Whether you know it or not, your wardrobe suddenly looks a lot more like your daughters.

It may once have been unthinkable that youd wear the same brands. But now retailers are using the same fabrics and prints but in different cuts to appeal to different generations.

A-listers at recent fashion weeks were busy proving the point.

Reese Witherspoon and her daughter, Ava, attended Fendis haute couture show in Paris last month, both sporting the exact same bag but in different shades.

Gwyneth Paltrows daughter, Apple, was snapped in pieces from her mums closet. Andie MacDowell and Margaret Qualley share a love of Chanel.

Heres how to embrace the mother-daughter trend.

From left to right: Cardigan, 60, scarf, 25 and bag, 49; denim jacket, 55; dress, 59; jacket, 70, dungarees, 80 and jumper (over shoulders), 59, all whitestuff.com

Me & Em

While it may be a notch up in terms of price (its silk dresses are typically about 595) British brand Me + Em majors in investment pieces that youll wear on repeat for years.

If youre lucky enough to be the same size, you can swap them in and out of your daughters wardrobe, too.

Savvy to the shared style trend, Me + Em is increasingly using the same print in two different cuts.

The same viscose fabric has been used in this fulllength long-sleeved dress for example, and also this shorter, flirtier-cut piece with a more nipped-in waist.

Dress, 325, meandm.com

Dress, 275, meandem.com

Brora

Well known for its Scottish cashmere and chic country style, Brora has always appealed to an older woman with a bigger budget.

As the brand turned 30 last year, founder and creative director, Victoria Stapleton, asked her daughters, Jesse, 25, and Lola, 21, to design a limited-edition collection called Skye by Brora.

The result? A youthful spin on the brands classic pieces, including its luxurious knitwear and organic cotton shirts, inspired by their mothers lifelong influence and traditional style.

Wool cardigan, 175

Mohair cardigan, 98, both broraonline.com

Rixo

Henrietta Rix and Orlagh McCloskey started Rixo back in 2015 with a winning formula of flattering cuts and floral prints, versatile enough for work, holidays and weddings.

Women  including Margot Robbie and the Princess of Wales - are sold on the brand.

And now it is amping up its appeal to all ages by extending its sizing from a UK 6 to 26.

A clever accessories edit allows you to style the looks your way.

Dress, 325, rixolondon. com

Massimo Dutti

The big sister to Zara is offering more premium designs at a higher price point, with looks that work for all ages.

Last years True Minds campaign featuring Charlotte Rampling, then 77, and Lila Moss, 21, made the point loud and clear  we dress grandmothers, mums and their daughters.

Youll find timeless silhouettes, like the standout trench coats, and modern details such as tailored, cropped blazers in its Studio collection.

Pinstripe Studio trench coat, 249, massimodutti.com

White Stuff

Last week, White Stuff launched its second campaign featuring real-life fan and newfound model Sylvia Ezer, and called it Whos a mum to you?

In the shots for Mothers Day, the 88-year-old (above right) is seen with her daughter and two granddaughters, wearing the spring collection alongside other friends of the brand, including shop managers and designers.

From pretty shift dresses to relaxed jackets and easy everyday denim, its hard to call whos wearing it best.

M&S

Until M&S hired style icon Sienna Miller to front its 2023 autumn collection, few teenagers ventured beyond the food hall.

Now comes a Mothers Day campaign featuring real mums and daughters wearing coordinating looks, including bomber jackets, slip skirts and trench coats, to get home the message that one style can suit all ages.

From left to right: Denim jacket, 45, jeans, 35 and ballet pumps, 35; bomber jacket, 59, skirt, 35 and loafers, 55; trench coat, 79, jeans, 35 and trainers, 49.50, all marksandspencer.com

Mint Velvet

By using models of different ages and introducing entry prices as low as 19 for leggings, this label has become a firm favourite with mums and daughters.

Stand-out pieces in the new spring/summer collection include mix-and-match separates like this asymmetric waistcoat and cargo trousers, and higher-end investment pieces like leather jackets for 359.
Danielle Russell spent years suffering through inexplicable symptoms before doctors could finally put a name to her condition.

The 28-year-old has had sinus issues her whole life - and not even getting her tonsils out or a nose surgery at 18 quelled the daily headaches or constant strain on her immune system.

Warning signs began to ring in Danielle's head when her jaw started to ache and she suddenly lost her sense of taste and smell for a few days every month in early 2022.

It only got worse when the stay-at-home-mum noticed a painful lump on her hip in August 2023.

'I've struggled with my health my whole life,' Danielle told FEMAIL. 'My immune system barely works - if someone around me is sick, I'll catch it immediately.

'But I have two small children and I suddenly couldn't smell when they needed a change - that's when I knew something was wrong.'

Danielle Russell spent years suffering through inexplicable symptoms

The Sydney mum was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis and a desmoid tumour on her hip - but her journey to discovery was long and arduous.

'The process was extremely anxiety-inducing, the uncertainty almost drove me crazy. I kept thinking - why me? Why is my body always failing me?' She said.

'Is it because I had C-sections for my pregnancies? Is it my fault?'

But there was nothing Danielle could have done to prevent her health issues.

'I first noticed a lump when I got out of the shower and it just came on suddenly,' the mum recalled.

'I forgot about it but I realised it was still there a week later and that it really hurt. I could feel something underneath, and my husband told me to go to the doctor because he thought it was a muscle tear.

'My GP (general practitioner) had no idea what it was and she sent me to get a scan.

'She said it could be a muscle tear, cyst, or something else entirely.'

Danielle was eventually diagnosed with endometriosis and a desmoid tumour on her hip

Danielle had no issues falling pregnant and never complained of particularly painful periods

But the doctors at the scan weren't sure what the lump was either - however, they found a cyst on Danielle's ovary.

Ovarian cysts are common and usually not a cause for concern because they resolve themselves, but the doctors wanted to keep an eye on Danielle's health because of the lump on her hip.

'I went back six weeks later, and my ovarian cyst was still there along with my lump. That was the first time a doctor mentioned the word 'endometriosis' to me, but I soon realised I'd had symptoms of the illness for years.'

Danielle had experienced pain during sexual intercourse for years but her doctors wrote it off.

'I'd been in pain for so long I thought it was my problem. I thought it was just me, and that the pain was something I had to deal with - I never considered there was something actually wrong.'

When the young mum first went to a specialist, they refused to entertain the thought of her having endometriosis because she didn't have any of the typical symptoms

When the young mum first went to a specialist, they refused to entertain the thought of her having endometriosis because she didn't have any of the typical symptoms.

Danielle had no issues falling pregnant and never complained of particularly painful periods - but the latter was due to already having the Mirena IUD inserted, which is a treatment for endometriosis.

Two months later, Danielle went to a special women's ultrasound clinic for yet another scan of her lump and ovarian cyst.

'The stenographer put the scanner towards the back of my uterus and was shocked. We could see lots of adhesions and cysts around the area.'

Danielle's painful sex finally made sense - cysts kept dissolving and re-forming along her ovaries, making the act excruciating.

The endometriosis was also, surprisingly, causing her jaw pain.

'The pain makes me clench my jaw a lot, which just makes everything worse. I can't eat or talk some days, opening my mouth at all feels impossible.'

Danielle's diagnosis opened several doors to her sanity.

'The best part was the vindication that I wasn't crazy,' she said. 'I know my body, I knew something had to be wrong. There was no way feeling like that was normal.

'I then had to see an oncologist for my lump, and after another scan and biopsy the doctor diagnosed me with a 4cm desmoid tumour in my connective tissue.'

Danielle's doctors didn't want to put her on breast cancer medication because of her age

Danielle's husband has been extremely supportive on her health journey

Treatment for the tumour is usually medication which is also used for breast cancer, which causes menopause symptoms and diarrhoea.

Danielle's doctors didn't want to put her on the medication because of her age, and said they were happy to keep an eye on it because it currently wasn't growing.

'I'm really lucky I have a supportive family and that I was able to get all the medical help possible. I have people who can look after my children when I need to go to appointments,' she said.

Danielle revealed that she has been more tired since the tumour popped up than when she was heavily pregnant or dealing with a toddler and a newborn.

'I really just need to lie down with a heat pack some days - there's not much else I can do.'

The mum has three upcoming surgeries scheduled for her sinus issues and endometriosis.

She hopes treating the lesions will lessen the pain her tumour causes her because doctors believe her hormones cause flare ups in her hip.

Danielle started sharing her story on social media with the hope of finding other women who related to her pain

'In a way, the lump popping up was a blessing. It made me get the diagnosis I needed in order to get the surgeries to fix it.

'Even though I'm still in agony, I'm grateful to know what the problem is and that there are plans in motion to deal with it. I'm not stressed anymore.'

Danielle started sharing her story on social media with the hope of finding other women who related to her pain.

'There are so many people out there with the same symptoms as me and it made me feel a little less alone,' she said.

'Everyone has been so supportive - and if I can help just one woman realise that what's happening to her isn't normal and that she needs to see a doctor, it will have been worth it.'
The 30-year-old claims he makes $1000 per week selling the goods

A 'treasure hunter' who scours through streets and rummages through council rubbish piles looking for hidden gems says he makes as much as $52,000 a year from selling them.

Leonardo Urbano, better known as The Trash Lawyer, has been selling preloved items since 2020 after the pandemic left him jobless.

Now the 30-year-old from Sydney sells the products for a reasonable price full-time and even stumbles across piles of cash on occasion.

Leonardo told FEMAIL he's managed to work out through trial and error what people want to buy - and he's also managed to furnish his entire two-bedroom apartment with stylish 'rubbish'.

From Dyson vacuum cleaners to a Fendi tracksuit, gold jewellery and lost wallets filled with cash, Mr Urbano said it's remarkable how much is discarded.

Leonardo Urbano, better known as The Trash Lawyer, started selling discarded items found in the rubbish in 2020 when he had 'lots of free time' due to the pandemic

Now the 30-year-old claimed he makes $1000 a week as a full-time 'treasure hunter'

Leonardo grew up in Liguria, Italy, so the economy was 'much slower' compared to Down Under.

'There's far less money going around and people are less wasteful. It's very hard for young people to move out without help from the family,' he said.

'A lot of furniture will be passed down and never bought brand new so coming here it was a bit of a shock to see how much people spend or throw away.'

Mr Urbano moved to Australia at age 22 in 2016 and has previously lived in England, France, South America, the US and Asia.

Now he's made a living from what started out as a side-hustle and he often can't believe what people throw away and/or misplace.

'The amount of money that ends up in the trash is staggering - from coins to bills to gold chains and rings,' he said.

'People forget them in the pockets of old jacket and hidden in between books pages and bags.'

Growing up in Liguria, Italy, the economy as a 'much slower' and seeing what life was like in Australia was a 'big shock'

From Dyson vacuum cleaners to a Fendi tracksuit, gold jewellery and lost wallets filled with cash, Mr Urbano said it's remarkable how much is discarded

He sources the unwanted finds at council rubbish clean ups, on streets, in dumpster bins and in the basement discard room of his apartment building (pictured)

There's a few noteworthy things Mr Urbano looks for when sourcing products - branding, the year it's made, and if it's a rare, limited-edition piece.

Previously he's found an antique Victorian English green and white glass epergne worth up to $1900, an antique Chinese vase worth $220 and another Chinese porcelain ginger jar vase worth $145.

Other finds include a Fendi tracksuit, $3000 artwork by two-time Archibald Prize finalist Dapeng Liu and Adidas Allen Iverson Sizers jersey worth $400.

'These items are worth more because they're rare and there's a limited amount - they sell quite easily,' he said.

Big-name brands such as Apple, Dyson, Miele, Smeg and Sony all have a high resell value.

He keeps prices 'reasonable' in order to turn over the products quickly, as he is has limited space in his apartment.

'It usually sells in a few days, I don't have the space to keep it all for long periods of time. If it doesn't sell, I donate it,' he explained.

A staggering 70 per cent of what he finds is in working condition and needs a quick clean, while the other 30 per cent need to be fixed.

'I find it empowering because you learn how to fix things slowly and gain skills you didn't have before.'

Other finds include a Fendi tracksuit, $3000 artwork by two-time Archibald Prize finalist Dapeng Liu (pictured) and Adidas Allen Iverson Sizers jersey worth $400

There's a few noteworthy things Mr Urbano looks for when sourcing products - branding, the year it's made, and if it's a rare, limited-edition piece

Previously he's found an antique Chinese vase worth $220 (left) and another Chinese porcelain ginger jar vase worth $145 (right)

On the other hand, he avoids clothing and toys, and instead donates it all to charity.

'I think donating is the right thing to do - to reduce landfill and help someone out who may need it. There's so much that's discarded and people don't realise not everything gets recycled,' he said.

'Hopefully it will reduce the amount going to landfill'

Mr Urbano estimates he's likely donated $100,000 worth of goods over the years - majority being everyday items such as plates, cutlery, kids toys, paintings, and decorations.

He's also managed to furnish his entire two-bedroom apartment for free using rubbish he's found

His home was filled in just a month and a half, with everything from cutlery to a tv unit found for free

Sometimes he's had to fix furniture or add a lick of paint to a piece, but he said it's all worth it

And he also managed to furnish his entire two-bedroom apartment for free using rubbish he's found.

Such a task comes with a challenge of ensuring the furniture matches - but Mr Urbano has proven he's stylish with his interior design.

His home was filled in just a month and a half, with everything from cutlery to a tv unit found for free.

Another way Mr Urbano makes easy cash is by going to the movies and checking for coins or notes that may have slipped through the chairs.

A video shows him flipping the cushions to expose what's lurking underneath - on one occasion he found a wallet filled with $750 cash.

Over the years he estimates he's found around $5,000.

'It's amazing the amount of money lying around in gift cards too - $25 here, $70 there, it all adds up,' he said.

'People don't realise but it's a lot, there must be millions forgotten about.'

Mr Urbano said he'll continue to find hidden treasures in hopes of reducing landfill - and hopes the items sold are useful to others.
Read more: How to enjoy a tropical escape and a dream trip to Tokyo in one

The vibrant destination is bursting with life, energy and cheap food

Ho Chi Minh City is the largest in Vietnam with a population of 9.5million

Australians looking for an affordable overseas holiday are adding Vietnam to their travel bucket list.

Ho Chi Minh City, formally known as Saigon, is the main hub of the southern region, the largest city in the country and home to a staggering 9.5million people.

Alive with energy, unique smells and sounds, the fascinating destination is an eight-hour flight away from Melbourne for as little as $259 with Jetstar's direct flights.

From the cheap yet tasty street food, budget accommodation and rich history, there's an abundant number of reasons why Aussies are heading to Vietnam.

So, FEMAIL visited Ho Chi Minh City to uncover why the tourist hot spot is so popular.

From the cheap yet tasty street food, budget accommodation and rich history, there's an abundant number of reasons why Aussies are heading to Vietnam

With cost-of-living pressures continuing Down Under, Vietnam is affordable for Aussie travellers and interest in the destination is growing

Ho Chi Minh City, formally known as Saigon, is the main hub of the southern region, the largest city in the country and home to a staggering 9.5million people.

Alive with energy, unique smells and sounds, the fascinating destination is an eight-hour flight away from Melbourne for as little as $259 with Jetstar's direct flights (cafe apartments pictured)

It is evident travellers will need three things before venturing to Vietnam - a sense of adventure, the ability to explore outside your comfort zone, and a visa.

There's almost too much to explore as you scatter through frantic streets, meet friendly locals and get to know the harmonious culture.

But be warned, you need to be prepared before travelling abroad and think smart when on the ground.

From not eating airport food to keeping insect repellent on you at all times, visiting Vietnam is not for everyone.

Instantly after touching down the heat and humidity hits you in the face like a wave, but shortly after exploring the streets it's easy to fall in love with the region.

The constant loud noises, unfamiliar smells and language barrier can be overwhelming at times, but it makes for a unique adventure.

One challenge tourists will face is the thrill of crossing a road. While it may sound mundane, the daily act can be heart-racing as scooters zoom by.

Most locals drive scooters instead of cars - not only because it's convenient zooming through narrow streets but to also pay less tax. At times you might even see someone carrying an entire shop on the back of their scooter.

Needless to say, thousands of scooters bypassing pedestrians is enough to fill you with fear at first. But rest assured locals know how to avoid those crossing the road - though focus is essential.

One of the best things about Vietnam is the cheap yet delicious street food. Vietnam uses the currency Vietnamese Dong and Aussies can get by on the cheap for as little as $50 AUD a day

A bowl of Vietnamese street noodles costs a mere $4, a cup of coffee $2, fresh coconut water $1, $10 cocktails and a tasty banh mi ranges from $3 to $7

Book lovers should head to Book Street (pictured) while others may be interested in visiting Ho Chi Minh City's very own Opera House

HOW EXPENSIVE IS IT?

One reason why Aussies love Vietnam is the cheap prices compared to other common holiday destinations.

Vietnam uses the currency Vietnamese Dong and Aussies can get by on the cheap for as little as $50 AUD a day.

A bowl of Vietnamese street noodles costs a mere $4, a cup of coffee $2, fresh coconut water $1, $10 cocktails and a tasty banh mi ranges from $3 to $7.

Accommodation can cost just $150 for three nights and the markets are a great place to snag a bargain and snap up some souvenirs.

Spending between $100-$200 a day on experiences is enough to make you feel like royalty. But for a well-rounded trip, $60-$90 daily is more than enough.

HO CHI MINH CITY ITINERARY: Top Activities In one day we visited the Cafe Apartments, Book Street, Saigon Central Post Office, Notre Dame Cathedral of Saigon, Binh Tay Market and Giac Lam Buddhist Temple Be sure to book in a day trip to visit the Cu Chi Tunnels (2 hours north of Ho Chi Minh City) and the Mekong Delta River (3 hour drive) Set aside some time to explore the city, including the Binh Tan Market Before sunset head to the Blank Sky Lounge - the highest in Vietnam Book in a coffee class experience to learn all about Vietnamese coffee Essentials to pack: Sunscreen and insect repellent

Hat and sunglasses

Comfortable walking shoes

Travel sim card or international roaming

Vietnamese Dong cash - lots of it Where to stay in Ho Chi Minh City I stayed at Silverland Yen Hotel in District 1 - a 4-star hotel within walking distance to several attractions and markets Advertisement

Ho Chi Minh City is just an eight-hour flight from Melbourne

MUST-DO ACTIVITIES

The city is bursting with energy that never seems to cease regardless of the time and naturally tourists will be eager to tick off the go-to locations.

We started by heading to the iconic cafe apartments - a building packed with individual cafes to explore, each with its own flair.

Similarly to Australia, Vietnam also has a strong coffee culture so tourists should try the distinctive variations of Vietnamese coffee, such as egg coffee.

Next, we walked to the Saigon Central Post Office, which is one of the best examples of the romantic French Colonial architecture. Tourists can even send a post card to loved ones back home.

The Post Office was also designed by the same architect who created the Eiffel Tower.

Perhaps one of the most Instagrammable spots in the city is the stunning Tan Dinh Church, which has a pink exterior like a castle from a Disney movie.

Avid readers should head to Book Street while others may be interested in visiting Ho Chi Minh City's very own Opera House.

At night be sure to pop by the outrageous Bui Bein Walking Street - a loud street to drink, have fun and dance.

Bars such as The View Rooftop Bar offer a quiet place to people watch from above and enjoy a cocktail or two for just $10 each.

Be sure to also venture to the Mekong Delta on a languid river cruise, as well as the historic Cu Chi tunnels to learn about the Vietnam war.

Visitors will have the opportunity to climb into and crawl through tight tunnels used by Vietnamese soldiers to hide from American enemies.

One must-do activity is the historic Cu Chi tunnels to learn about the Vietnam war. Visitors will have the opportunity to climb into and crawl through tight tunnels used by Vietnamese soldiers to hide from American enemies (pictured: secret hole)

Be sure to also check out the food markets

If you're searching for a keepsake, be sure to go to the bustling Ben Thanh Market for small trinkets, fake designer bags and unique jewellery

And for Aussies looking for a small taste of home, look no further than The Jackaroo Bar & Grill, offering up cold beers, schnitzels and an all-Aussie menu.

Owner Jay Schlitz, 38, told FEMAIL he prefers Vietnam over Melbourne as the weather is better and the food and booze are cheaper, offering an overall better lifestyle.

'Saigon is a city that never sleeps and the people are amazing. I've never looked back,' he said.

And while there is hype around the incredible street food, there is one type of meat he would never try: dog.

To try avoid any type of sickness, Jay recommends avoid eating meat from street vendors past 11am and otherwise stick to reputable venues.

Similarly to Australia, Vietnam also has a strong coffee culture and so tourists should try the distinctive variations of Vietnamese coffee, such as egg coffee. We participated in a two-hour intensive coffee class where we brewed our own coffee and learnt about the history

WHERE TO STAY

When booking accommodation, opt for nothing below four stars to avoid disappointment.

Silverland Yen Hotel is situated in the perfect location in District 1 within walking distance to nearby attractions, including the bustling Ben Thanh Market and Museum of Ho Chi Minh City.

The four-star hotel has a rooftop pool and bar with stunning views. The staff are friendly and the rooms are an excellent size with comfortable beds. Downstairs in the foyer is a dining area offering breakfast for around $15 AUD.

If you have some cash to splash, consider staying at luxurious Hotel Grand Saigon housed in a stunning colonial building in District 1.

The remarkable hotel features an outdoor swimming pool and two on-site restaurants with French decor.

It's a quick walk to attractions including the Opera House and Saigon River and on Booking.com the hotel boasts an impressive 8.4 rating with more than 1000 reviews.

Alternatively, there's an abundance of three-star hotels - but don't expect anything too flash.

Rosa Hotel & Spa and California Hotel Saigon are two budget-friendly options with the price per night costing around $55. But the service and rooms are average.

There's also the epic Hammock Hotel offering nice rooms, a kitchen, communal hangout area and laundry services.

See Ho Chi Minh City from above at Landmark 81 - the tallest skyscraper in the country (pictured)

If you're searching for a keepsake, be sure to go to the bustling Ben Thanh Market for small trinkets, fake designer bags and unique jewellery.

Two to three days should be enough time to explore Ho Chi Minh City followed by Hanoi, Ha Long, Ba Na Hills, and Da Nang.

Aussies tend to stay from as little as five days to six weeks to explore the different regions and dive into the culture.

And the best way to enjoy the experience is to embrace the culture shock, always have your wits about you and carry both sunscreen and insect repellent.

With cost-of-living pressures continuing Down Under, Vietnam is very affordable for Aussie travellers - from backpackers to families - and interest in the destination is growing.
Author Kelly Andrew of Glastonbury has a second book coming out on April 2. Courtesy of Kelly Andrew The cover of author Kelly Andrew's new book, "Your Blood, My Bones." Courtesy Of Kelly Andrew

GLASTONBURY  Gothic horror author Kelly Andrew of Glastonbury was deaf from age 4 to 9, a long, dreamy silence that opened other worlds.

"I was alone a lot as a little kid, which sounds kind of sad, but it wasn't," Andrew, whose hearing loss was caused by meningitis, said in an interview Friday as she prepared for the launch of her second young adult book.

"I was having a great time," the 33-year-old married mother of two children said. "I was reading books in my room, daydreaming ... It cultivated a very active imagination."

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Andrew is to be at the Barnes & Noble bookstore in Manchester on April 2 at 6 p.m. to sign copies of "Your Blood, My Bones" (Scholastic), which is in the same New England gothic horror genre as her first young adult book, "The Whispering Dark." The main character in the first book, a deaf college student in Boston who "has always talked to the dark," also appears as a side character in the new story, set at an isolated farmhouse in Maine.

Andrew has a cochlear implant in one ear, but she said doctors had no remedy for her childhood deafness.

Her father is Manchester Fire Chief Daniel French, who described his daughter as a voracious reader and born storyteller. Kelly was always in mainstream classes in her native Watertown and learned at home and in school to be a skilled lip-reader, French said.

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"She was amazing. I used to say I should bring her to union negotiations," the former Waterbury firefighter and union president said.

When his daughter regained hearing with an implant at age 9, French said he and his wife, Cheryl, a special education teacher, read to her every night to help her adjust. A fan of J.R.R. Tolkein, French said he read the entire Harry Potter series to his daughter.

Andrew said she has been a longtime fan of fantastical and other-worldly stories, including Stephen King's books. She described the setting of "Your Blood, My Bones" as a claustrophobic, spooky version of a movie she loves, "The Breakfast Club." Scary movies were her favorites growing up with her younger brother, Sam.

"We couldn't stop watching horror movies," Andrew said. "He has grown up to be a huge horror movie buff, and I have grown up to write really weird books."

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She has a third book in the editing stage now. She could not reveal much, Andrew said, but the story this time is set in Connecticut, with scenes in New Haven, Hartford, and Greenwich.

Her husband, Jeff Dowling, a sales director for Siemens Healthineers, has been instrumental in her career, caring for their children, ages 3 and 7, while she travels to promote her books, Andrew said. Dowling reads her books, she said, but while she is a daydreamer, he is pragmatic.
Men who wake in the night are 20 per cent more likely to develop prostate cancer, a study has revealed.

Researchers found that broken sleep patterns could be a major risk for the onset of the disease.

But the analysis suggested no link between late nights and cancer  nor any connection with problems getting to sleep in the first place.

Yet the dangers soar in men who consistently stir for at least half-an-hour when the lights go off.

Prostate cancer affects some 50,000 men every year in the UK, and kills almost 12,000.

Men who wake in the night are 20 per cent more likely to develop prostate cancer , a study has revealed

Prostate cancer affects some 50,000 men every year in the UK, and kills almost 12,000

Major risk factors include getting older, a family history of the disease, obesity and ethnicity  with black men about twice as likely to develop a tumour.

Disrupted sleep has been proposed as a cause of prostate cancer before, but most of the testing relied on patients accurately recalling how well they slept  a typically unreliable research method.

Experts at the US National Cancer Institute in Maryland instead analysed data on 30,000 British men who had taken part in studies where they wore a watch-like monitor to measure night-time movements and sleep disruption.

None of the men had prostate cancer at the start of the investigation.

The results, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, showed those recording 30 minutes or more of wakefulness in the night were 15 to 20 per cent more likely to develop a tumour on the prostate later in life.

Scientists believe the danger comes from disruption to the circadian rhythm  the body's internal clock  which in turn lowers levels of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin.

Previous studies have linked reduced levels with an increased risk of the cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer even lists sleep disruption as a 'probable' carcinogen  or cause of cancer.

In a report on the findings, the scientists said: 'These results suggest frequent sleep disturbances may be a prostate cancer risk factor.'
Everyone expects a lengthy wait in A&E these days, even if you are in pain.

But a new scheme threatens to add to the agony  with an iPad check-in system that even asks if you are 'spurting' blood before summoning a doctor.

Astonishingly, there are 14 pages of multiple-choice questions before patients are asked: 'Have you lost a lot of blood?'

The screen then reads: 'We're checking for very heavy bleeding. It would be spraying, spurting or enough to make a puddle.'

NHS England's new 'Urgent Care Centre self-service' programme then requires the patient to find the energy to tap on one of the options: Yes, No, or I'm Not Sure.

NHS England's new 'Urgent Care Centre self-service' programme requires patients to check themselves in when they arrive at A&E

The questions include one asking whether the patient has lost 'enough blood to make a puddle'

Anyone fighting to breathe has to wade through the same number of pages before getting to the question: 'Have you got sudden rapid swelling of the lips, face, tongue, mouth or throat?'

And anyone seeking help after trying to kill themselves has to complete even more pages before being asked starkly on the computer screen: 'Are you here because you've tried to end your life?'

It is only at a later stage that they are asked: 'Have you taken or swallowed anything poisonous or harmful? For example, drugs, an overdose of medicine, medicine meant for someone else, cleaning products, plants, or an object like a battery or magnet.'

Patients have to wade through pages of questions before being asked if they have swallowed anything poisonous or harmful

Another question asks if the patient is struggling to breathe and has 'sudden, rapid swelling'

The new iPad-style A&E devices are already in use across much of South London  with The Mail on Sunday finding them in operation at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) in Orpington, as well as hospitals in Beckenham and Sidcup, similarly run by the King's College Hospital NHS Trust.

When The Mail on Sunday visited PRUH, two non-medical staff behind a glass screen looked embarrassed as they said those needing help had to 'check themselves in on the iPads' in the waiting room, even if bleeding.

A member of the non-medical reception staff at PRUH told the MoS: 'Since they arrived a couple of weeks ago we've been told to send people to the iPads even if they're obviously bleeding.

'We've had people bleeding on the floor down there and all sorts.'

NHS England, which designed the programme, said hospitals were welcome to use it to improve efficiency.

But last night the director of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, Dennis Reed, said: 'I'm extremely concerned that self check-in screens like this in A&E could be dangerous and lead to life-threatening delays.

'Some patients, including the elderly, will be so stressed or ill when then arrive in A&E that they are not going to be able to cope with filling out a digital questionnaire.

'The first thing they will want to do is speak to a real person, who can ask them what is wrong and triage them appropriately.'

The check-in systems first query the person's identity, followed by a wordy page asking 'What was their sex at birth?' with the answers Male and Female.

A long explanation follows, saying the hospital needs to know 'someone's registered sex at birth not their gender identity', and suggesting, for the first time, speaking to staff 'if you do not see a [sex] option that correctly represents them'.

The check-in systems first query the person's identity, followed by a wordy page asking 'What was their sex at birth?' with the answers Male and Female

The patient is then asked if they've booked an appointment, been asked to visit by a doctor or recently been in hospital.

Only then does the screen ask for the 'reason you are here', giving options including symptoms or an injury, and mental health concerns.

Clicking on 'Symptoms or an injury' leads to 'Do you have an injury?', with a 'yes' leading to 'Have you lost any blood?'

It then reaches the question about whether your blood is 'spraying, spurting or enough to make a puddle'.

A 'yes' here belatedly advises a potentially blood-soaked patient to directly approach the staff at the reception desk.

This advice is given to others only after they have laboriously got the chance to say their throat is rapidly swelling.

Attempted suicides have even more screen pages before human contact is encouraged.

Dr Tim Cooksley, immediate past president of the Society of Acute Medicine, said: 'It would be preferable if we had well-staffed and well-run emergency departments, where patients could be triaged quickly by a real person.'

Last night a PRUH spokesman said: 'E-kiosks were introduced at the PRUH last week to reduce waiting times and improve patients' experience of care.'

An NHS England spokesman said: 'For a small proportion of trusts, a digital kiosk tool is in place to help identify and triage patients' symptoms in cases where it is safe to do so.'
Their relationship was the talk of the town, both scandalising and thrilling 19th Century London. For months, the beautiful (and married) Lady Caroline Lamb and the celebrated Lord Byron had made no attempt to hide their passion for each other, flaunting their affair in the theatres, balls and drawing rooms where high society gathered.

When, after five months, Lady Caroline sensed that her lover was tiring of her, she decided on a daring strategy to try to reel him in again. She sent Byron a gold locket. When he opened it, he found nestled inside a clipping of her pubic hair along with a note declaring: I will kneel and be torn from your feet before I will give you up, signing herself your wild antelope.

You may think todays oversexed, flashy and tawdry celebrities are a very 21st Century phenomenon, but their bad behaviour pales by comparison to that of Lord Byron, the brilliant poet who would nowadays be classed as a full-blown sex addict. Sexually fluid, his countless lovers even included his own half-sister, with whom he had a child.

Byrons charm, good looks and notoriety meant he effortlessly seduced any attractive woman or man he came across, from married aristocrats to innocent serving girls.

In just a three-year period he claimed to have slept with 200 people and often alluded to his sexual adventures in his poetry. In a compelling new biography to mark 200 years since his death, American Professor Andrew Stauffer suggests that Byron even invented the tell-all confessional  now used by modern celebrities including WAGs, Love Island contestants and soap stars.

Richard Chamberlain as Lord Byron and Silvia Monti as Annabella in 1972 film Lady Caroline Lamb

What was it that made Byron so mad, bad and dangerous to know, as Lady Caroline Lamb described him? His compulsive sexual behaviour probably stemmed from the sexual abuse he suffered as a young boy at the hands of his nursemaid May Gray, which began when he was nine and carried on for two years, until she was found out and dismissed. When she was not forcing herself on him, Gray supervised his Bible studies and beat him if he misbehaved.

Given all that, its no wonder that Byron grew up with no understanding of boundaries.

His friends saw a different side to Byron; not a brooding, satanic figure but a convivial and high-spirited man, often witty and playful.

One of his deepest and most important friendships was with the poet Percy Bysshe Shelley and his wife, Mary.

Byrons suggestion that we will each write a ghost story was the impetus for Mary Shelley to write Frankenstein, the novel regarded as the first ever work of science-fiction and a powerful parable on the dangers of playing God.

There is no doubt Byron exploited and cruelly discarded many women, especially during his years in Venice when he was at his most promiscuous and his behaviour was, to modern eyes, like that of a sex tourist. Yet for all his chaotic private life, Byron also produced some of the 19th Centurys most admired poetry, including the gorgeously romantic poem that begins: She walks in beauty, like the night/Of cloudless climes and starry skies.

And near the end of his life he did fall deeply in love with a woman to whom he was, finally, faithful.

George Gordon Byron was born in January 1788, in rented lodgings in Londons West End. His Scottish mother, Catherine, had, like a heroine from a Jane Austen novel, fallen madly in love with a dashing man she had met at the fashionable Assembly Rooms in Bath.

John Mad Jack Byron, who was on the lookout for an heiress to marry, had no trouble sweeping the plump, orphaned Catherine, heiress of an Abedeenshire estate, off her feet. Within a few years he had worked his way through her entire fortune, before he died in France in 1791. Byron would later comment that his father seemed born for his own ruin, and that of the other sex.

To add to Catherines troubles, her son was born with a deformed right foot which, despite various painful braces and boots that he was made to wear, could never be fixed. Aged ten, Byron unexpectedly inherited the title and estates of his great uncle, becoming the sixth Baron Byron of Rochdale.

A portrait of Lord Byron by Richard Westall, 1813. While at Cambridge, and no longer under his mothers watchful eye, Byron embarked on a heady romance with a young man, describing it as violent, though pure, love and passion

While at Cambridge, and no longer under his mothers watchful eye, Byron embarked on a heady romance with a young man, describing it as violent, though pure, love and passion. There were also plenty of women, so many that he wrote to a friend: I am buried in an abyss of sensuality. After university, Byron travelled to Greece, a country he came to love passionately.

Although he wrote one of his most famous poems, Maid Of Athens, about a beautiful 12-year-old whom he had met there, he was mostly consumed with homosexual affairs, including one with a handsome young man with ambrosial curls hanging down his amiable back.

The first part of Byrons narrative poem, Childe Harolds Pilgrimage, was published to wild acclaim when he was 24. The reflections of a world-weary young nobleman travelling through the Mediterranean, disillusioned with his pleasure-seeking life, it brilliantly succeeded in capturing the prevailing mood of disaffection and melancholy.

Byron, who had always felt himself something of an outsider, suddenly found himself being invited to all the grandest houses.

The Duchess of Devonshire remarked that his poem was on every table and that he was courted, visited, flattered and praised whenever he appears.

Byron soon became involved in scandalous affairs with two married women. The first was with the mercurial, unpredictable Lady Caroline Lamb, who wrote after meeting him for the first time: That pale, beautiful face is my fate.

Their relationship was full of violent rows and histrionic arguments, many carried out in public, and those around them thought they thrived on the drama. When Byron snubbed her at a party, she deliberately sliced her hand open in front of the assembled guests.

Initially, Byron was equally besotted with her, even though he was sleeping with several other women at the same time. When Caroline refused to swear that she loved him more than her husband, he exploded: My God, you shall pay for this. Ill wring that obstinate little heart.

But his ardour cooled and  as he tired of her increasingly desperate attempts to win him back, including the golden locket filled with pubic hair  Caroline retaliated by trying to stab him. An even more complicated and dangerous entanglement was Byrons affair with his half-sister, Augusta Leigh, the daughter of his father from his first marriage.

Byron, depicted here in the film Lady Caroline Lamb, became involved in scandalous affairs with two married women

The British poet was painted in Albanian dress by Thomas Phillips in 1813. Byrons charm, good looks and notoriety meant he effortlessly seduced any attractive woman or man he came across, from married aristocrats to innocent serving girls

Augusta was five years older and a mother of three. Byron loved her gentle manner but was also thrilled by the shockingly illicit nature of their relationship, which fed into his writing.

The Giaour, the poem he was writing at the time, was full of barely disguised references to their incestuous affair: My good, my guilt, my weal, my woe... the cherished madness of my heart! The poet William Wordsworth commented: Let me say one word upon Lord B. The man is insane.

Juggling numerous women, weary of all the society gossip about him and struggling with his attraction to men, Byron decided the answer to all his problems was to get married.

His chosen bride was Annabella Milbanke  well-born, eligible and a talented mathematician, Byron jokingly referred to her as the Princess of Parallelograms.

I never saw a woman whom I esteemed so much, he said.

He had first proposed to her in 1812 but Annabella had sensibly turned him down. Two years later, she accepted him. What she didnt know was that at the same time that he was planning to marry her, he was also seriously thinking of running away with his half-sister, Augusta, even though doing this would have ruined them both in the eyes of society. That year, Augusta had given birth to a daughter, Elizabeth Medora  it is generally believed Byron was her father.

Annabella and Byron married in January 1815, and, as they drove away from their wedding ceremony to their honeymoon, she was horrified by the sudden change in Byrons manner.

Cooped up together in a carriage, he ranted that she was a fool to have married him, told her that he had inherited the Byron family madness and that he pitied her. Despite this terrible start, the honeymoon was a partial success, at least in the bedroom, as Annabella had discovered a ruling passion for mischief in private, as she put it.

At other times they were miserable together. The main problem was the presence in their lives of Byrons half-sister. When Augusta was staying with them, she and Byron would sit up late, laughing and whispering together, while Annabella was dismissed by her husband with the cruel words: Now I have her, you will find I can do without you  in all ways.

Their affair fed Byrons addiction to self-destructive, forbidden sex, and when Augusta was around he seemed determined to humiliate his wife. He would lie on the couch and order the two women to take turns embracing him, comparing their displays of affection.

At other times he boasted to Annabella of his adulteries and indecencies with loose women, giving jewellery to his mistresses and providing his wife with a list of the gifts.

Annabella was pregnant and, as the babys birth grew nearer, the terrified servants kept her locked in her room for her own safety, refusing to let Byron be alone with her. Often high on laudanum and brandy, he roamed the house smashing furniture, demanding sex with his wife, firing pistols and threatening suicide.

In the midst of this turmoil, Annabella gave birth to a healthy baby, Ada. The child of love though born in bitterness/And nurtured in convulsion, Byron wrote in the second part of Childe Harold.

A month later, Annabella left Byron for good, taking the baby with her. Amazingly, Byron was shocked by her departure and pleaded with her to come back, but she refused, although she still loved him.

Lady Caroline Lamb, painted here by Eliza H Trotter, famously described Byron as mad, bad and dangerous to know'

Remember that you believed yourself most miserable when I was yours, she wrote to him.

She never saw Byron again. Their daughter, Ada Lovelace, who inherited her mothers mathematical talent, worked with Charles Babbage on his Analytical Engine and is often referred to as the worlds first computer programmer.

As stories of Byrons abuse, madness, incest and homosexual affairs spread, public opinion turned against him. When he and Augusta went to a party a few months after Annabellas departure, they were treated as pariahs, with scores of people pointedly leaving the room as they appeared. Byron decided his only option was to leave England.

Sailing across the North Sea, he landed at Ostend, Belgium, and went to an inn where, according to the friend who was travelling with him, he fell like a thunderbolt upon the chambermaid.

Travelling on to Switzerland in July 1816, he met up with the poet Shelley, his soon-to-be wife Mary Godwin, and Marys step-sister Claire Clairmont, who had engineered the meeting between the two men.

Jealous of Mary and her relationship with Shelley, she had decided she wanted a poet of her own. Just as Byrons separation with Annabella was being finalised, Claire had written to him out of the blue.

Byron usually ignored the scores of fan letters he received from amorous women but Claires caught his eye, and he agreed to meet her at an inn outside London.

With all the indifference of a rock star being pursued by a groupie, he wrote to a friend: I never loved nor pretended to love her  but a man is a man  and if a girl of 18 comes prancing to you at all hours  there is but one way.

Claire swiftly became pregnant and, knowing that Byron was going to Geneva, she was determined to follow him.

Shelley and Byron had never met before but soon formed a close friendship. Although he briefly resumed his relationship with Claire, Byron was far keener to spend time with Shelley and Mary.

Byron suggested they should each write a ghost story.

His was about a vampire; Mary, a quietly brilliant woman, imagined a reanimated corpse  the story becoming the basis for her great novel, Frankenstein.

Meanwhile, Byron was keeping the unfortunate Claire at arms length, but eventually Shelley brokered an agreement: she would return to England to have the baby in secret and Byron would adopt the child, allowing Claire visiting rights. A daughter, Allegra, was born in 1817.

In November 1816, Byron arrived in Venice. He loved the city, the gloomy gaiety of their gondolas, and the silence of their canals. Above all, he relished Venices air of decadence and the number of available women, and he organised his life there around his sexual pursuits.

He told a friend that his first three years there resembled a non-stop orgy, with more women than I can count or recount. He estimated the number of women he had slept with at 200, from all social classes.

This period of frantic sexual activity was the inspiration for his unfinished masterpiece, the epic poem Don Juan.

The poem veered between comedy and tragedy with dizzying speed and was considered deeply immoral by many readers. There is a great outcry, but everybody reads it, his publisher reported gleefully.

One of Byrons more extraordinary lovers was Margarita Cogni, the illiterate wife of a Venetian baker. She knew about all his other women, declaring: He may have five hundred  but he will always come back to me.

Tall and dark, with a striking figure and very fine black eyes, Margarita would walk in on Byron whenever she felt like it, and if another woman was with him, she would simply knock her down.

She was, Byron said, wild as a witch and fierce as a demon. Their affair continued for two years but eventually he tired of her overbearing ways and the relationship ended messily.

In May 1818, between this frenetic womanising, Byron took charge of Allegra, his daughter by Claire Clairmont. The toddler charmed everyone but, with Byrons lifestyle in Venice so unsuited to bringing up a child, she was farmed out to various other families.

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When she was four, Byron placed her in a convent school against the wishes of her mother. Allegra pleaded with her dear Papa to visit her but he never did. In April 1822, she died of typhoid fever. Byron was filled with grief and remorse: When she lived, her existence never seemed necessary to my happiness, but no sooner did I lose her, than it appeared to me as if I could not live without her.

By this time Byron had met the woman who would be his last and perhaps greatest love, Countess Teresa Guiccioli. When they met, she was just 19 and had been married for a year to a much older and very wealthy man.

Byron recognised straight away that the intelligent and spirited Teresa would not be just another fling, writing to her: You sometimes tell me that I have been your first real love, and I assure you that you shall be my last passion.

For once, it seems, he was true to his word.

As their affair became public knowledge, Teresas family persuaded her to return to her husband. Byron accepted the decision and was on the point of going back to England when he got word that she was ill, and realised he couldnt bear to be separated from her.

I shall love you, alas, forever, he wrote to her. Teresa eventually obtained a decree of separation from the Pope and was able to live with Byron.

In 1823, with the Greek War of Independence underway, Byron was determined to go and support the countrys attempt to free itself from the Ottoman empire.

Ever since he had travelled there as a young man, Greece had represented youthfulness and optimism to him.

Teresa begged to be allowed to go with him, but Byron refused, promising they would soon be reunited, and then nothing could keep us apart.

In Greece, he used his considerable wealth to help the victims of the war, though his usefulness on the military front was limited.

He died in April 1824, in the western Greek town of Messolonghi, probably from the effects of malaria or rheumatic fever, aged 36.

His final words at the end of his short, yet intensely turbulent, life were: I want to sleep now.

Adapted from Byron: A Life In Ten Letters by Andrew Stauffer (Cambridge University Press, 25).  Andrew Stauffer 2024. To order a copy for 22.50 (offer valid to 16/03/24; UK P&P free on orders over 25) go to www.mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2937.
MailOnline spoke to care leavers about how we can end the 'care cliff'

Many describe the feeling as being on 'death row' or on a 'cliff edge'

When a child goes into care, their entire life is turned upside down overnight.

They are often moved miles away from everything and everyone they know, a traumatic experience that many of us, thankfully, can never truly understand.

There are more than 107,000 children in care in the UK - a record number that's only getting higher.

But for most who've spent their childhood in the system, one of the toughest challenges is becoming independent as soon as they turn 18 - some are even forced out on their birthday.

It's a feeling young care leavers have described as being on a 'cliff edge' or 'death row' as they are left 'counting down the days' until their placements come to an end.

One told MailOnline: 'It was a big jump going from living with people who looked after me to just being dumped on my own. It was just like hell.'

Duncan Langley, 25, saw his support system fall away as he was forced to move away from his foster family aged 18

Duncan Langley, 25, who entered care aged 12, was one of the luckier young people who loved his foster family.

Remembering the day he went into care, he said: 'They told us that mum would drop us off to school the next day and it would be the last time we'd see her for a year. It was really hard on us, we didn't want to go to school.

'I went into care in March 2011 but luckily I went to a family rather than a care home. They're great, I still talk to them now and look upon them as second parents. I also have a foster brother who I really get on with.'

However, shortly after his 18th birthday, Duncan saw his support system fall away as he was forced to move out of their home and into a group supported accommodation, despite his foster parents wanting him to stay.

He explained: 'Social services told my foster parents, 'no he's 18 now, he's an adult,' and said I had to go and live on my own. It was really scary to be left to learn everything by myself. It felt embarrassing in a way. They gave me no warning at all.'

The place he was living was home to vulnerable adults, where drugs and violence were commonplace.

He shared that he once had a glass bottle thrown through his bedroom door, which hit him in the face.

Duncan recalled: 'They basically dumped me there and told me to get on with it. I kept asking for help and saying this isn't a place for me, but they just left me there.

Duncan said: 'It was a big jump going from living with people who looked after me to just being dumped on my own - having to cook for myself. It was just like hell'

'For a place that's supposed to be safe and secure, people can just come in and out throwing bottles.

'You'd regularly see police being called, people being taken away in handcuffs, you'd see it all the time

'It was a big jump going from living with people who looked after me to just being dumped on my own - having to cook for myself. It was just like hell.

'I struggled with all of it. You're so used to having a family to be with to just being completely alone and even though I had some friends there, it got quite lonely.'

He added: 'My foster carers tried but no one can properly prepare you. When they first said they were moving me, I thought there would be someone there to support me and a social worker would come to see me on a regular basis.

'People shouldn't have to go down this route, they need somewhere to live where they'd be more supported.

'I used to phone my social worker and I'd get completely ignored. They never really answered the phone when I needed them. I rang up one time and they didn't even have a clue who I was.

'You're supposed to look after me, you're my social worker and you don't even have my number saved.

'At 18 I didn't know how to pay a bill, we weren't taught these sorts of things.

'Most young people get taught how to manage money by your parents but I wasn't shown so I didn't have a clue how to save, which now at 25, I've only just started learning how to.'

As well as struggling with the practical side of the transition such as managing money and learning to cook, Duncan admits he suffered mentally.

He said: 'I struggled with my mental health when I was leaving care. Going from a foster family who I could talk to, to a place where I knew nobody, I had no one to speak to about how I was feeling. It really messes with your head.'

After living in the supported accommodation for a year, Duncan managed to secure a few different jobs, and is now working in a restaurant.

Talking about the future for care experienced people, he added: 'Leaving care at 18 is too young. I think you should be allowed to stay with your carers until they want you to go, not when social services want you to go. My carers didn't want me to go but they didn't really have a say'.

'I don't want what happened to me to happen to other people.

'99% of my problems could have been easily avoided if I was given more time. I didn't actually know at all that it was happening until it happened. I thought I would get to stay until I was ready.'

In 2022, Ofsted found that more than a third of care leavers felt that they left care too early, with many of them feeling 'alone' or 'isolated' - a third said they did not know where to get help and support.

Katharine Sacks-Jones, CEO of Become Charity, the national charity for children in care and care leavers, is campaigning for the Government to end the 'Care Cliff'

Nearly four in 10 care leavers aged 19-21 are not in employment, education or Training (NEET).

Additionally, 52% of care-experienced children and young people born in the academic year 1994 had a criminal conviction by the age of 24, compared to only 13% of their peers without care experience.

This means that, in that cohort, care-experienced people were four times as likely to have received a criminal conviction than their peers.

Katharine Sacks-Jones, CEO of Become, the national charity for children in care and care leavers, is campaigning for the Government to end the 'care cliff' by ensuring that no young person should have to leave care before they're ready.

She explains that for a lot young people, the support 'just falls away' once they reach 18.

She said: 'They're expected to become independent overnight, effectively.

'So that means a young person might have to find somewhere new to live. It can often be in the middle of exams like A Levels or when a young person is trying to move into work and sadly, a lot of young people really struggle with that kind of abrupt transition'.

One in three young people leaving care become homeless within two years of leaving the care system, many of whom have problems with their mental health.

The CEO adds: 'They have this kind of deadline looming. They know they hit 18 and all of a sudden they're going to be out on their own having to navigate adulthood often way before they're ready.

'Most young people turning 18 are looking forward to it, thinking about how they're going to celebrate becoming an adult.

'For young care leavers it's often approached with dread and a real fear and anxiety over how they're going to manage on their own.

'For most young people who are not care experienced, you make that move into adulthood in a more gradual way.

'You know you've got a family there to support you. Very few families say on your eighteenth birthday that's it. You have to move out'.

Katharine explains: 'We would like to see more young people able to stay where they're living with their foster families beyond the age of 18.

'Some young people are already able to do that, but not all. So we think all young people should have that opportunity to stay living with their foster families for a few more years to make that transition into adulthood.

'If they've come from a children's home, we think there should be better support into adulthood, so they can stay in touch with the workers from the Children's Home and still get that support'.

It comes just after Katharine was the first person to give evidence to the Education Select Committee enquiry into children's social care this week.

The Committee will likely hear how educational, employment and wellbeing outcomes for children who have experienced the care system could be improved.

A huge 38% of care leavers aged 19-21 are not in education, employment or training, compared to 11% of all young people in that age group.

Jessica-Rae Williamson, 20, is part of the percentage who made it to university, despite financial struggles after her monetary support was pulled away with no warning

Jessica-Rae Williamson, 20, is part of the percentage who made it to university, despite financial struggles after her monetary support was pulled away with no warning.

At 13 years old she went into care and moved in with a foster family - it went well to begin with but things fell apart as she got older, meaning she had to become independent and move into a flat alone at 17.

She told MailOnline: 'I had a really close relationship with them. I would call them my mum and dad in most scenarios and they saw me as a daughter.

'As I got older the relationship just kind of started to decline and so we started arguing a lot. It just got really toxic.'

After Jessica-Rae finished her GCSE's and was just beginning her A-Levels, she and her foster mother got into an argument which resulted in the decision for her to move out.

She explained: 'I rang my social worker and asked for them to step in. She told me that she had already spoke to my foster mum, and my foster mum had already requested for me to be moved.

'Because of my age it was just very unlikely for me to replace with another family so they placed me in semi independence. I was placed into a one bedroom flat on my own in Rochdale.'

She had agreed to move into semi independence as it was funded by social services and they had promised that even when she turned 18, they would still financially support her.

After Jessica-Rae finished her GCSE's and was just beginning her A-Levels, she and her foster mother got into an argument which resulted in the decision for her to move out

However, things came crashing down just three days before Jessica-Rae's 18th birthday.

'The week before I turned 18 I got a call from my personal adviser saying that they will be cutting me off on my eighteenth birthday financially, and that I would have to figure out how to pay my rent on my own,' she recalled.

'I'd never agreed to that. I would have never agreed to that, because obviously my my eighteenth birthday is in March, and my A-Levels were in the May and June.

The 'care cliff' left Jessica-Rae facing both the stress of exams and the worries of affording her flat.

'I remember getting the call and just crying. I realised I couldn't go out to celebrate my 18th birthday and spend any money because I was going to need it to pay rent,' she explained.

The then 18-year-old already had a part-time job at B&M to get by, which meant being in college from 9am until 4pm and then working from 5pm to 11pm.

'They threw me in deep end. I always say I was lucky in the sense that I've got my head screwed on quite well and I was able to get benefits to help support me.

'But it was just like an additional hurdle that they that just didn't need to be there and the excuse was that A Levels aren't counted as higher education so they weren't responsible for me during those times.

'They'd only be responsible for me once I actually got into university'.

Despite the independence being 'exciting' to begin with, it quickly became 'stressful to maintain' which 'took a toll' on her.

She said: 'It was evident in my grades that I was struggling. A lot of the time I used to get upset.

'I'd want to go home like I just wanted to though me, my foster parents weren't getting on, I just wanted to go home and I couldn't.

'At 17 and 18 I was choosing between going out with my friends and going on a date night with my boyfriend and paying the electricity bill - what 18 year old has to think about those things?'

Despite the independence being 'exciting' to begin with, it quickly became 'stressful to maintain' which 'took a toll' on her

Persevering through the difficult circumstances, she completed her A Levels and secured a place at Salford University, studying Broadcast Journalism.

Jessica-Rae admitted: 'A lot of teachers thought I wouldn't even get GCSEs, never mind a degree.

'I like sharing my story because I want to show the kids in care that it's possible. There's not many of us that make it this far and I think that's a real problem.'

Now 20 years old and in her second year of studies, the student feels more secure than she ever has, but has a worries about the future looming over her.

She admitted she's concerned about what her living situation will be after university and thinks about it a lot.

'I don't know how it works for other kids after uni but my impression is that if you don't find somewhere to live that's fine, because you just move home for a year until you figure it out.

'Obviously, I don't have that option. I don't have anywhere else to go once my degree finishes. So I'm going to have to find somewhere to live.

'Renting prices in Manchester are so high and I know that I'm going to be cut off again financially. I'll be prepared for it this time but Ifeel like it's going to be a really abrupt thing.

'They say that they'll support me but I've been told that before, so it's hard to believe they will maintain support when they have said that before and didn't do it.'

She added: 'I'm definitely nervous about being 21 and being out on my own again. I fell off the care cliff once, and then as soon as I went to university and I was something to brag about, they picked me up again.

'Once I finished university I'm not their problem so I'll fall off of it again'.

Jessica-Rae believes the biggest problems with the system are a lack of funding for local authorities to offer the best care for children and not enough communication.

'From my experience, if I had just been told from day one what's going to happen I would not have had the same amount of stress.

'That stress was put on me right before my A Levels, right before the one thing that was going to decide whether they started supporting me again or not. It's just a little bit unbelievable.

'Legally. I am their child and who doesn't want to do everything in their power to make their child the most successful person that they can be?

'If that was a biological parent people would be looking at them like, why are you not doing everything you can? But when the government do it, it's completely fine.

'Im one of the really lucky kids, and if im lucky imagine how hard it is for those who arent.'

To help young care leavers like Duncan and Jessica-Rae, Become Charity want to extend the Staying Put and Staying Close schemes for all care-experienced young people up to 25, and ensure that they're fully funded.

They also want to provide more support for those leaving care, across health, education, employment, housing, relationships and financial support.

Lastly, the charity want to create legislation to share corporate parenting responsibilities across a wide range of public bodies and authorities, following consultation with care-experienced young people.

They're trying to create a better and improved care system, where all young care leavers have the chance to live a fulfilled and happy life - you can keep up with their work and find out how you can help on their website.
Librarians in cities across the country have found themselves thrust onto the frontline and are now forced to grapple with issues ranging from homelessness and migration to the opioid epidemic and cultural conflicts.

As librarians navigate through the new complexities of their daily duties, a concerning trend has emerged - a surge in burnout attributed to the stress of managing what they describe as 'traumatic' encounters.

The pandemic has intensified the strain, with library staff reporting a significant deterioration in conditions since 2020.

Shockingly, in recent reports, some librarians reveal an alarming rise in verbal attacks, including racial, sexual, or gender-based hostility in states including California, Colorado and Oregon.

Librarians are now finding themselves on the frontline of America's homelessness, migrant, opioid and culture war crises

Library assistant Martha Jones, who has been working at Central Library and the northwest Multnomah County Library for over fifteen years told KGW that the two branches had 79 'security incidents' last year

A concerning trend has emerged - a surge in burnout attributed to the stress of managing what they describe as 'traumatic' encounters

People, including members of the homeless community, wait for the Richard Riordan Central Library to open on a Sunday afternoon in downtown Los Angeles on August 6, 2023

Librarians in Oakland, California , revealed that they now feel more unsafe than ever - and deal with verbal abuse and dangerous confrontations have become a part of their job duties. (Pictured: A person pushes a cart along Southwest 3rd Avenue in Portland, Oregon. Jan. 2024)

Experts explain that libraries have become hotspots for the homeless, migrants and drug addicts because they are free, heated in the winter and have bathrooms and water.

But as a result librarians in Oakland, California, said they now feel more unsafe than ever due to verbal abuse and dangerous confrontations.

A new report from the Oakland Public Library obtained by The Oaklandside, identified the library's commitment to 'inclusivity' as a primary factor contributing to the mental and emotional strain experienced by librarians.

Consultant Joseph Maurer highlighted that the library's commitment to inclusivity, widely endorsed by the local community, actually imposes 'enormous pressure' on librarians - and pushes them into vulnerable situations involving mentally and emotionally unstable visitors.

The June 2022 report by an Oakland-based mediation consultant, was conducted in order to investigate the safety concerns among staff and potentially identify security and policy improvements.

Maurer, who began his research after a meeting with Library Director Jamie Turbak, aimed to foster a culture of safety at the Oakland Public Library.

He spoke with nearly 50 library employees at various levels throughout the report.

'The Oakland Public Library is at an inflection point and needs to decide upon its path for the future or its path may be decided for it,' Maurer wrote.

The report reveals low morale within Oakland's libraries, with many staff members feeling increasingly unsafe, lacking support from upper management, and inadequately trained to handle individuals facing mental health and other crises.

The library staff interviewed also expressed a deterioration of conditions during the pandemic, with some reporting an increase of verbal attacks based on their racial, sexual, or gender identity.

While Oakland Public Library staff are passionate about their work, the report states that they are grappling with burnout as they continuously provide untrained social work to guests needing resources beyond the library's current offerings, as well as the basic duties of a librarian.

According to the report obtained by The Oaklandside, library staff expressed being 'passionate about service at the library but  overwhelmed with a feeling that in the current environment, anything goes in terms of patron behavior.

A new report from the Oakland Public Library obtained by The Oaklandside, identified the library's commitment to 'inclusivity' as a primary factor contributing to the mental and emotional strain experienced by librarians

In January 2023, librarians in Oregon also expressed increasing burnout due to verbal and physical abuse they are facing, especially since the pandemic

In January 2023, librarians in Oregon also expressed increasing burnout due to verbal and physical abuse, especially since the pandemic.

In the report, librarians shared the dangerous encounters they face at work including harassment, public nudity and violence involving weapons.

County auditors said people dealing with homelessness and mental health crises across Multnomah County in Oregon were increasingly turning to libraries.

But the centers, along with their staff, aren't equipped or trained to meet their needs.

Library assistant Martha Jones, who has been working at Central Library and the northwest Multnomah County Library for over fifteen years told KGW that the two branches had 79 'security incidents' last year.

'I feel stressed because I have to see people who are living on the edge, and we don't have enough services to refer people to,' Jones told KGW.

Multnomah County Audit Director Caroline Zavitkovski, said library staff were threatened with knives and forced to respond to drug overdoses.

'There's some pretty serious security incidents that have happened at the library,' Caroline Zavitkovski. 'Morale is pretty low.'

The audit emphasized ways to solve these issues such as boosting staff numbers and strengthening the security-response protocol, especially at times where the incidents are at highest risk of occurring.

State librarian Wendy Cornelisen wrote at the time: 'Library work is important. It's also exhausting, falling upon library workers whose training and education may ill prepare them for such emotional labor.'

In Colorado, Denver Public Library was the first to hire in-house social workers to help patrons access food, jobs and housing, The Denver Post reported.

Between 2019 and January 2024, Denver police responded to nearly 2,900 calls across all library locations which included suicide attempts, theft, assault, overdoses and welfare checks, according to department data.

Elizabeth Wrenn-Estes, who began her career as a librarian in the 1990s and now teaches youth services library courses in California, told The Denver Post: 'The job has really changed as society has gone into this period where librarians are on the firing line.

'It is stressful to work in a library now. There is no getting around that. You are in jeopardy for all kinds of trauma as part of your normal day. As scary as it can be, you need to know that your job does include that.'

In January of 2022, a library security guard was attacked by a dog while trying to administer Narcan to its unresponsive owner in San Francisco.

Security guards at the city's Main Library noticed the man slumped over a computer kiosk with his dog repeatedly barking beside him.

Kate Patterson, a spokesperson for the library, said the dog 'was not on a leash and was exhibiting aggressive behavior.'

When the guards approached the man to determine if he had overdosed on opioids and needed Narcan, the dog 'would not let them near him,' Patterson told KTVU.

Witnesses captured the harrowing moment the pit bull lunged at one of the guards, grabbing his arm in its jaws and pulling him to the ground.

Meanwhile, librarians are also at the center of a cultural battle focused on banning books some people find inappropriate.

In October 2023, public libraries were accused by campaigners of 'censorship' after a report revealed they have far fewer gender-critical books than trans-activist titles on their shelves.

This is despite the gender-critical books being twice as likely to be out on loan than titles supporting trans rights, suggesting the stocks do not match demand from borrowers.

The study comes as book banning reached record high levels this year following often conservative-led efforts to remove sexually explicit and LGBTQ+ content.

As parents and educators fight over book bans, five states enacted criminal punishments for librarians who allow children to access 'obscene' materials - with a dozen states considering similar actions in May 2023.

The laws subject librarians to significant penalties, including imprisonment and hefty fines, for providing sexually explicit, obscene or books deemed 'harmful' to children.

At least seven state legislatures have passed these laws over the past two years, with six of them doing so in the last two months, although the governors of Idaho and North Dakota vetoed similar legislation.

New state laws have been enacted that could subject librarians to significant penalties, including imprisonment and hefty fines, for providing sexually explicit, obscene or books deemed 'harmful' to children

The laws are pending in nine other states but so far there have been no instances in which a school staffer has been charged under the new laws.

Around a dozen states have also considered more than 20 similar bills this year alone with approximately half of them expecting to be reintroduced in 2024.

But those seeking to ban book bans from library shelves may have to think again.

Academics have found that barring risque titles from schools and public libraries gets them attention and more eyeballs.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University and George Mason University found that the circulation of banned books grew on average 12 percent compared to similar, non-banned titles.
Jobseeker Jez Heywood's Australian Unemployed Workers' Union is still hoarding a rich treasure chest of cash donations - but barely gave a cent to those in need.

Despite the union's bulging $134,560 bank balance, it gave out just $2,500 in grants last year.

Instead it spent more than 97 per cent of its annual budget on itself, mainly on travel, food and drink, legal bills and 'subscriptions'.

The group - registered as a tax-free charity - was at the centre of controversy last year after a Daily Mail Australia probe revealed it was sitting on vast cash reserves.

Daily Mail Australia also revealed several key office-bearers in the union are former private schoolboys, including one who is the son of a Victorian County Court judge.

The union claims to fight for the jobless and is demanding an end to the unemployed being forced to look for work, as well as wanting a big rise in Jobseeker payments.

Its latest figures to the Australian Charities Commission reveal the union is still holding back a huge cash reserve, and handed out a tiny fraction in grants.

Jez Heywood didn't want to answer questions about his 'union' in Melbourne when questioned by Daily Mail Australia (above)

The union's latest figures to the Australian Charities Commission reveal it is still holding back a huge cash reserve, and handed out a tiny fraction in grants

Its operating expenses have shot up to $90,451, more than tripling from the $31,756 in costs in 2022.

It took in $46,817 from donations but in total, the group gave out just $2,500 in an unspecified 'grant/donation to organisation'.

It also spent $6,450 on unspecified 'Honorarium' payments, which is usually a fee paid for work done voluntarily, up from $700 the previous year.

Almost a third of its expenses were spent on travel, with key office-bearers and members running up a bill of nearly $29,000, compared with $3,030 the year before.

The union spent more than $7,000 on 'food and beverages' last year, up from just $14 in 2022, while printing and stationery costs soared more than a hundredfold from $35 to $4,607.

It also splashed another $7,278 on unspecified 'subscriptions' - up from $1,614 the year before - as well as $6,000 on 'office expenses', up from $2,072 in 2022.

Another $5,365 was spent on 'online assets' - up from $2,126 previously - while 'general expenses' tripled from $1,262 to $3,664.

Mr Heywood is the union's president and a long-term unemployed graphic designer who refused to respond to Daily Mail Australia questions about the union's finances.

'JOBSEEKER JEZ'S' LONG HUNT FOR A JOB AUWU president Jez Heywood lives with his elderly parents in a granny flat behind their detached bungalow in Melbourne's south-east. He says he's been trying to find a job 'for more than a decade' and has applied for 'thousands of jobs, usually competing with a few hundred others'. But he says in all that time, by 2021, he had just six interviews and only three job offers. One made him redundant, he quit another because it was 'toxic' and another was at a company going out of business, he said. He admits he had a 'considerable' mental breakdown in 2019 as a result of his long-term unemployment - but is now too traumatised to work a full working week. He was invited on air with 2GB's Ben Fordham last year after lashing the radio host as a bully and a coward for implying he was a 'dole bludger'. But he admitted the best thing that had ever happened to him was when the JobSeeker rate was doubled during Covid. Advertisement

He lives in a granny flat with his retired parents near Frankston in Melbourne's south-east and flashed his middle finger when asked about the union's finances last year.

He led a delegation to Canberra in September to demand an end to the 'mutual obligations' which require the jobless to demonstrate they are actively seeking employment while receiving Jobseeker.

Workforce Australia requires the unemployed to earn up to 100 points each month by applying for jobs, going on courses, turning up for job interviews and keeping appointments.

Anyone failing to hit their target can have their Jobseeker payments axed, but Mr Heywood, 48, said that was too stressful to bear.

He admitted having a 'massive' mental breakdown during his decade on the dole and was allowed to skip his mutual obligations for three months at a time on medical advice.

'I had this massive breakdown, stayed in bed and cried for a week,' he told Labor MP Julian Hill, chair of the select committee into Workforce Australia Employment Services

'I got mutual obligation exemption - medical certificates - but that was anxiety-inducing in itself...

'Every three months I had to run the risk of some Centrelink person with no medical experience overruling a doctor's medical certificate.'

Centrelink eventually stopped accepting his medical certificates, he said, after they said his condition was permanent and put him back to signing on every fortnight.

'So now it's a two week anxiety cycle of meeting my obligations under the looking for jobs and everything else and then having my fortnightly meetings with them,' he said.

'And you know, it's just, like, unemployment's, like, not-fun enough as it is. We don't need all this other s*** on top of it.'

He has had repeated run-ins on air and online with 2GB host Ben Fordham, with the radio host trying to find him a job and Mr Heywood rejecting one employer's on-air offer of work.

'It's hard to find things that my brain can handle,' he told Fordham.

'I can't consistently commit to something. My brain just gets so incredibly exhausted.'

Last year Daily Mail Australia revealed the union was sitting on a nest egg of more than $178,000 - but had again only handed out another $2,500 in grants.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted the union for comment.
They say you should never work with children or animals but when youre a member of the royal family you have little choice in the matter.

Senior royals carrying out their engagements are often required to meet, pet and be photographed alongside all sorts of creatures  and no matter how well-trained the animal, things dont always go to plan as Queen Camilla discovered last week.

Her Majesty the Queen invited a group of medical detection dogs and their trainers to her home at Clarence House, where Labrador Maggie was tasked with presenting a gift basket to her.

But Maggie forgot her manners that day and, instead, just dropped it grumpily at Camillas feet, much to her amusement.

Here CLAUDIA CONNELL looks at some other beastly encounters had by the royals in the line of duty...

PUPPY LOVE...

Catherine, William and their children are big dog lovers and have a lively pet cocker spaniel called Orla who often appears in official portraits with the family.

William and Kate meet new therapy puppy Alfie, an apricot cockapoo during a 2020 visit to meet staff and patients at Clitheroe Community Hospital

No doubt Kate was used to boisterous doggy behaviour and took it all in her stride when she met therapy puppy Alfie at Clitheroe Community Hospital in 2022. The 10 week old cockapoo wriggled in Kates arms and tried to lick her face but she still found him so sweet adding our dog is going to be very upset.

CARROT AND LICK

Kate and William took nine-month-old Prince George with them when they visited Taronga Zoo in Sydney while touring Australia in 2014.

Feeding time for the giraffes as William and Kate visit Taronga Zoo in Sydney. The 2014 tour of Australia was William and Kate's first official trip overseas with Prince George

However, they wisely handed him to a nanny when it was time to feed carrots to a giant giraffe. From the look on his face, William appeared stunned to learn that it isnt just a giraffes neck that is super long  their tongues are also 20 inches long!

AM I BOVVERED?

Long before the late Queen Elizabeth had tea with Paddington Bear, Kate and William met Leuca the koala bear on a state visit to Australia in 2014.

Kate stroked and tickled Leuca and even sniffed his fur to see if he smelt of eucalyptus.

Koalas are notoriously laid back and lazy as the then Duke and Duchess of Cambridge discovered when Leuca showed no interest in them whatsoever.

TRUNK CALL FOR HER MAJESTY

Pleased to meet you Your Majesty. The late queen was estimated to have shaken hands with close to one million people during her reign, but this was probably the only time she was offered a trunk.

In fact Donna the elephant wasnt looking for a handshake at all, she was much more interested in the bananas the Queen and Duke were holding when they visited Whipsnade Zoo in 2017.

THE OUTLOOK IS WARM... AND WET

There arent many women whod be quite so amused at having their make up licked off by a giant dog.

However, as patron of Guide Dogs, Sophie is used to such enthusiastic greetings when she visits training centres around the country. Here she is receiving a very warm and wet welcome on a visit to Forfar in 2019

PAWS FOR BREATH?

Sophie and her family have two pet dogs and a tortoise that according to Prince Edward basically runs the house.

It was an adorable golden retriever puppy who had the run of Sophie when she visited the Guide Dogs National Training Centre in 2021 when she, wisely, donned a lab coat to protect her clothes from the playful pups.

SCRATCHY PERFORMANCE

Corgis were the favourite dog of the late queen who was thought to have raised more than 30 of them during her reign.

When the queen visited a housing site in Darwin in 1977 she met up with an Aussie corgi, owned by some local residents.

While the humans were on their best behaviour, the doggie displayed some very ill-mannered behaviour when he sniffed the queens feet and promptly plonked himself down on them for a scratch.

DOE-EYED INTRUDER

Dont trip me up, theres a deer.

Back in 2008 Charles and Camilla (then the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall) visited the Todaji Temple in Nara, Japan, where hundreds of wild deer roam the estate. At least they were a lot smaller and cuter than the giant beasts that roam Balmoral.

BARKING MAD

Queen Camilla is so besotted with her two rescue dogs Bluebell and Beth that she had the Jack Russell Terriers faces embroidered onto her coronation gown.

Charles and Camilla adopted the dogs from Battersea Cats and Dogs home, of which she is patron. As this picture of Charles, taken in 2022 with Beth shows, he is just as besotted  although he did stop short of having them embroidered on his coronation robes.

TERRIER-FIED - NO FEAR!

Terrified of a terrier? Not Queen Camilla!

She attended the Great Yorkshire Show in 2021 and presented a rosette to a pair of terrier pups, who couldnt wait to get their muddy paws on it.and came perilously closes to dirtying Camillas polka dot dress too.

I'LL SHOW YOU MINE...

Eyes to camera and smile, nobody could accuse this horse of not co-operating at the press call.

Camilla, herself a keen and skilled horsewoman, visited the International Horse Show at Olympia in December 2008, meeting many of the competing horsesbut none of them left quite such a lasting impression as this scene-stealing grey  despite his teeth being in need of a jolly good clean!

REGAL REPTILE

One knows how to handle dogs and horses but what on earth do you do with a Tuatara lizard? The royal couple got up close and personal with the native creature on their tour of New Zealand in 2015.

Camilla decided against holding the reptile, but Charles anxiety at holding the slippery creature only made her collapse into giggles.
Its not the most flattering royal portrait, perhaps.

According to the editor of the British Art Journal, it made the late Queen look 'like one of the royal corgis who has suffered a stroke.

Yet Her Majesty did not seem to mind the heavy-jawed portrayal in a now-notorious painting by Lucian Freud in 2021.

Lucien Freud's portrait of the late Queen now hangs at Buckingham Palace

Queen Elizabeth II shakes hands with artist, Lucian Freud

Author of the best-selling The Palace Papers, Tina Brown

According to author Tina Brown, commissioning Freud was seen as something of a risk given his reputation for painting fleshy, pendulous nudes.

Writing in her best-selling book The Palace Papers, she explains: Breaking a lifelong rule of insisting his subjects come to his studio, Freud travelled to the Picture Conservation Studio at Friary Court at St Jamess Palace where, from May 2000 to December 2001, the Queen sat for 15 sessions.

They reportedly had a whale of a time and talked about horses and racing non-stop.

The resulting portrait was as unforgiving as one might expect from Freud: grim, coarse-featured and imposing.

Theres a fixed resolution to the sovereign jaw and a weighty crown plonked on her head.

One critic suggested the monarch should have Freud locked up for lese majeste.

Yet as Brown explains, the Queen herself displayed her customary lack of personal vanity when the portrait was displayed.

Very interesting, she remarked gnomically. Perhaps it helped that it was small (six by nine inches).

This was in marked contrast to the way Winston Churchill had reacted to Graham Sutherlands portrait of him commissioned to mark his 80th birthday in 1954 and presented to him that same year. It had been paid for through contributions from MPs and members of the House of Lords.

A black and white photograph of Graham Sutherland's Winston Churchill portrait, which was presented to the great man by past and present members of the Houses of Lords and Commons in 1954

Churchill very much disliked Sutherland's portrait, claiming it made him look like a halfwit. His wife Clementine is pictured leaving the 80th birthday celebrations, where it had been presented to him. She would later burned the picture

Churchill, who viewed the painting as unflattering, was thrown into a thunderous mood, writes Brown. And following its presentation, the work of art was never seen again.

In 1978, his wife Clementine admitted to having burned it.

The Queen had a more gracious reaction to her own portrait, writes Brown:

In 2017, recognising its significance in the artists oeuvre, she approved the hanging of the portrait in the Queens Gallery at Buckingham Palace.
An American food and drink reviewer reviewed a much-loved traditional British drink - and said he loved it.

Kalani Smith, 25, paid a visit to Brits R Us in Massachusetts to pick up a rare can of dandelion and burdock before giving a verdict to millions of followers on his TikTok account - Kalani Ghost Hunter.

Dandelion and burdock has been commonly consumed in the UK since the middle ages, and is a carbonated, herbal flavour with hints of aniseed.

Its specific origin is unknown but one false story regarding is that it was first brewed by 13th century theologian St Thomas Aquinas.

Back in the present day, Kalani said: 'I can definitely see that it's an acquired taste but I like root beer and sarsparilla [and] this is very similar to that.'

U.S. food and drink reviewer, Kalani Smith, has boldly offered his opinion on dandelion and burdock, one of the UK's most historic soft drinks, saying: 'I can definitely see that it's an acquired taste but I like root beer and sarsparilla [and] this is very similar to that'

Dandelion and burdock has been commonly consumed on the British Isles since the middle ages, and is a carbonated, herbal flavour with hints of aniseed

The review inspired many of the 25-year-old's followers to reminisce about the oft-forgotten beverage

Having avoided potential offence with that review, giving the drink an eight out of 10, Kalani did stick his neck out and admit that 'I don't rate it higher than Irn-Bru'.

And there was a lot of love for the drink in the comments, with another TikTok user adding: 'I haven't had one of those in years!

'This makes me want to get one! I agree though [sic], definitely an acquired taste.'

Others said that the drink was 'top tier' and 'my favourite'.

Many more were recalling the combination of a dandelion and burdock with fish and chips.

The slight acidity of the fizzy pop's herbal flavour is seen as a good accompaniment to rich, oily fish, rather than too sweet a soda.

The drink is also marketed for its relative health benefits when compared to alternative pop.

Dandelion is a rich source of vitamins A and C as well as containing iron and zinc. The plant has been a traditional remedy for anemia, skin problems and blood disorders.

However, while dandelion and burdock root infusions are typically part of a Dandelion and Burdock recipe, they are not the only flavouring.

Other common ingredients include concentrated fruit juice, caramel and other sweeteners.
Workers at Elon Musk's languishing Las Vegas tunnel project have spoken out about unbearable conditions at the underground site dubbed 'The Plantation' - as an investigation reveals some have been left permanently scarred.

The 1.7 mile tunnel system first broke ground in 2019 as part of a plan by Musk to alleviate traffic in the seminal city and connect hotels.

But a report by Bloomberg's Businessweek this week, that includes first-hand accounts, have raised serious concerns about an unsafe working environment.

The outlet obtained a still-ongoing investigation by the Nevada State Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which describes how crews were forced to tunnel in sweltering conditions for 24-hours a day in 12-hour shifts - and that '15 to 20 employees' of Musk's Boring company had been burned by chemical 'accelerants'.

'You'd be like, "Why am I on fire?"' one tunnel worker recalled of being forced to wade through mud laced with skin-damaging chemical during a push to finish a section of the barely three-mile, system that's taken five years to build.

The filing further describes a close call over the summer, where an intern was nearly crushed by concrete blocks that collapsed after brackets holding them gave way.

Scroll down for video:

Workers for Elon Musk's languishing Las Vegas tunnel project have described unbearable conditions at the underground worksite

The accounts come months after an anonymous complaint claimed workers were being subjected to unsafe conditions while working on the half-mile section of the Vegas Loop

Speaking on condition of anonymity to Businessweek, the staffer went on to bolster some of the claims contained in the OSHA report.

They all involve the half-mile long Encore tunnel, where workers said they were forced to spend entire 12-hour shifts underground - including lunch breaks - and had to ask permission to use the bathroom.

They also had to be aware of muck falling from a conveyor belt above, as it moved the mix of dirt and accelerants from the front of the dig site back toward the exit.

When the chemical-laden mixture reached the bins outside, the receptacles were kept dangerously full, said employees for the infrastructure company that started as a subsidiary of SpaceX in 2017.

Employees interviewed for the ongoing OSHA investigation also highlighted a shocking case where an intern was nearly crushed to death when a bin collapsed.

Inside the tunnel temperatures regularly soared to well over 100F, employees said - earning the section meant to connect the Encore and Westgate hotels to a planned 70-mile route its unfortunate nickname 'The Plantation'.

Meanwhile, the only portion of the tunnel in operation is a 1.7-mile section that runs solely during conventions, ferrying attendees in chauffeur-driven Teslas limited to 40 mph between three stations near Las Vegas Boulevard.

Musk's vision - aired in 2019 after he registered the Space X subsidiary as TBC: The Boring Company - is notably much grander, with a forecast additional 68 miles planned to at some point run underneath Sin City's seminal strip.

However, five years in, those extensions remain little more than conjecture, as other subterranean tunnels in cities like LA and Chicago previously touted by the Tesla CEO have been called off in their planning stages.

The system currently operates only during conventions, and attendees ride in chauffeured Tesla limited to 40 miles per hour

Those projects - which included a 'Dugout Loop' that would have brought residents to Dodger Stadium and a high-speed train that could have connected Chicagos O'Hare Airport to its downtown - were enough to raise about $800million in funding.

But the Las Vegas one is all that's materialized, and remains a far cry from the sprawling, citywide system Musk, 52, originally promised.

The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop today can handle up to 4,400 passengers per hour, OSHAs report and staffers interviewed by Businessweek both stated - well short of the 90,000 passengers per hour forecast at full buildout.

A forecast 81 medium-sized stations have also failed to come to fruition, with only three open to the public during conventions.

OSHAs report, meanwhile, has already resulted in $112,504 in fines for Musk's infrastructure arm, which did not provide staffers in the Encore and Westgate tunnels the gear necessary to protect their skin.

'The employer did not provide instruction on personal protective equipment requirements to employees,' OSHAs report stated. Lawyers for The Boring Company said this week that they are contesting the claims.

'Employees were [also] not instructed in the recognition and avoidance of hazards associated with the underground construction,' the report added.

Workers who spoke to Businessweek also described how the conditions they were subjected to were particularly dangerous during the spring and summer of 2023, when digging connectors to the Encore and Westgate hotels.

Behind schedule, they say they faced pressure to speed things along - particularly before conference season - and thus had to tunnel for 24 hours a day.

To do this, staffers said they would regularly work 12-hour shifts six or seven days a week - echoing statements already given to Nevada OSHA inspectors.

Musk's vision - aired in 2019 after he registered the Space X subsidiary as TBC: The Boring Company - forecast an additional 68 miles to run underneath Sin City's seminal strip

Five years in, those extensions remain little more than conjecture, and other subterranean tunnels in cities like LA and Chicago previously touted by the Tesla CEO have been called off

Those projects - which included a 'Dugout Loop' that would have brought residents to Dodger Stadium and a high-speed train that could have connected Chicagos O'Hare Airport to its downtown - were enough to raise about $800million in funding

But the Las Vegas one is all that's left, and remains a far cry from the sprawling, citywide system Musk, 52, had promised

The Las Vegas Convention Center Loop today can handle up to 4,400 passengers per hour, OSHAs report and staffers interviewed by Businessweek both stated - well short of the 90,000 passengers per hour forecast at full buildout

A forecast 81 medium-sized stations has also failed to come to fruition, with only three open to the public during conventions

The 2.4 miles seen today - 0.7 of which is not even open - still serves as well short of the exec's promises, by more than 65 miles and the fact the cars need drivers to operate them

In addition to the long hours, workers also cited faulty machinery and a lack of personal protective equipment, with a now-ex staffer claiming Boring 'was trying to do everything on the cheap.'

The complaint - which included eight citations issued to the company, mainly over workers being burned by accelerants in the concrete mix used during tunneling - is being contested by Sacramento-based JacksonLewis, which is representing The Boring Co amid the state agency's claims.

'In addition to TBCs belief that Nevada OSHA has failed to establish that the alleged violations occurred, TBC contests all of the citations classifications.... and every other matter subject to contest,' Dale Kuykendall wrote in a letter to OSHA last year.

The agency, meanwhile, maintains 'the chemical mixture was inadvertently sprayed onto approximately 10-15 employees soaking through their work clothing, absorbing into the skin resulting in skin irritation, skin rashes, and skin chemical burns.'

The concrete mixture, investigators found, included various substances and chemicals including bentonite, fly ash, R 100 and Portland Cement - a concoction that can seriously burn exposed human skin.

According to OSHA's probe, at least one employee took a direct hit to the face, as the muddy mixture continued to be pumped at a rate of 12,000 gallons per day.

Photos shared in the filing show the burn-causing brew lining the floors of the tunnels, with investigators writing the tunnels were dug at a level where water was constantly seeping inside and mixing with the dirt and accelerants.

To keep the tunnels from overflowing, workers installed pumps, OSHA noted - but the devices could not keep up with the amount of water when seasonal rains hit over the summer.

This forced workers to to wade through the polluted water, which staffers told Businessweek was often at least two feet deep.

OSHAs report, meanwhile, has already resulted in $112,504 in fines for Musk's infrastructure arm, which did not provide staffers in the Encore and Westgate tunnels the gear necessary to protect their skin from chemical runoff that was at times two feet deep, workers said

'It was a serious situation, recalled one ex-employee of the chemical puddles to Bloomberg, with he and several others saying their ordeal demonstrated a willingness by Boring to put workers in danger. 'I will never, ever drive in one of those tunnels', he said

They described workers being scarred permanently on their arms and legs as a result, as accelerants also flooded in with grout via long hoses, seeing them sprayed as they maneuvered from spot to spot.

'It was a serious situation, recalled one ex-employee of the chemical puddles, which he and several others told Businessweek demonstrates a willingness by Boring to put workers in danger.

'I will never, ever drive in one of those tunnels,' they added.

Others who spoke to the magazine recalled how over the course of a month, several workers suffered such burns, with some saying they only realized chemicals had been the culprit after it was too late.

OSHA put the number of injured workers at '10 to 15', while billing the loop as more of 'an express public transportation system that resembles an underground highway [rather] than a subway system.'

Another near-injury almost occurred in June, employees said when interviewed by the investigators. They claimed an intern was nearly crushed by a bin meant to hold the excess sludge as it was pumped out of the since-completed tunnel.

Made out of two-ton concrete blocks held together by metal brackets, the bin collapsed due to being overloaded with muck, narrowly missing the younger employee.

DailyMail.com has requested a copy of OSHA's initial findings, as feds continue to vet workers' claims.

The concrete mixture, investigators found, included various substances and chemicals including bentonite, fly ash, R 100 and Portland Cement - a concoction that can seriously burn exposed human skin. According to OSHA's probe, at least one employee took a direct hit to the face, as the muddy mixture continued to be pumped at a rate of 12,000 gallons per day

The complaints about the latest section of Musk's slow-moving venture raise questions about the X CEO's claims that his company's innovative tunneling practices will make similar large-scale projects more feasible.

He unveiled the Boring Company in late 2016, airing its existence with a tweet that hinted at the firm's eventual mission statement.

'Traffic is driving me nuts,' he tweeted in December of that year, posting from the famously car flooded LA. 'Am going to build a tunnel boring machine and just start digging.'

Registering the company under this joke name, Boring has since stuck - but its plans to create congestion decreasing tunnels in cities like LA, Chicago, and New York have not.

First billing the prospective venture as a futuristic system of pods capable of ferrying people between cities at the speed of sound, Musk publicly pondered how a 'hyperloop' would allow people to commute between New York City and Washington, DC, or San Francisco and Los Angeles, in about half an hour.

The boast was enough for Boring to raise more than $795million from venture capitalists captivated by Musk's big idea - a system of underground, multi-station roadway where autonomous vehicles could cart citizens to their desired locations.

Speeds of 150 miles per hour were promised, as well as sprawling systems in several states.

Seven years in, projects in Illinois, Texas, Florida, Chicago, Maryland, and California have all either fizzled out or have been called off, leaving behind only Vegas.

The 2.4 miles seen today still serves as well short of the exec's promises by more than 65 miles - and the cars need drivers to operate them.

Once the Loop goes online outside of the convention center, Boring Co will charge customers per ride, with a ride costing between the price of an Uber or Lyft ride and a bus ticket

As for the just-finished section that has come under federal scrutiny, its construction was completed late last year, but is still being finalized and is yet to be linked to the rest of the loop

In the meantime, what the start-up has built amounts to a shuttle for conventioneers, including those at CES in January where a 15-munite test ride showed the loop in action

It remains a long way from finished, and over the course of six months in 2023, Boring reported 36 injuries across its job sites to OSHA, records show. They ranged from heat exhaustion, knee or head contusions, or an elbow or hand being crushed

Musk - seen here at an unveiling for the first tunnel in LA, California, in 2018 that's since been called off - continues to maintain his vision is on the way

As for the just-finished section that has come under federal scrutiny, its construction was completed late last year, but is still being finalized and is yet to be linked to the rest of the loop.

In the meantime, what Musk's construction startup has built amounts to a mere shuttle for conventioneers, including those at CES in January where a 15-munite test ride showed the loop in action.

A few weeks later, during a conference in early February, attendees reported how the Loop's station at the Resorts World hotel was nearly empty, as several groups of riders patiently waited for a car to take them through the tunnel.

Needing a driver despite Musk's previous autonomous claims, the attendees were told by an attendant that the delay was because few others were taking advantage of the Loop, forcing them to send home six of 20 hired drivers.

Once the Loop goes live outside of the convention center, Boring - which has vowed to dispute the allegations through its attorney - said it will charge customers per ride, with each costing somewhere between the price of an Uber and bus ticket.

Still, it remains a long way from finished, and over the course of six months in 2023, Boring reported 36 injuries across its job sites to OSHA, records show.

They ranged from heat exhaustion, knee or head contusions, or an elbow or hand being crushed, leading one employee last May to send an email to Boring's thensafety manager, Wayne Merideth, viewed this week by Fortune.

The message, sent from a since-scrapped Bastrop, Texas, worksite at 1:53 a.m read: 'I feel that the company as a whole has been very fortunate these past few months that there hasnt been a fatality.

'We have consistently flirted with death.'

Musk unveiled his vision of autonomous cars carting individuals at speed way back in 2016, but seven years later, his mission has yet to come to fruition

As of writing, the unfinished loop in Sin City is all that remains of Musk's promises

'I have watched my friends get injured due to the fast pace weve been running, the unnamed staffer continued.

'I refuse to be the first fatality in this companys history. No tunnel is worth a single persons life.'

A month later, OSHA would launch its investigation over an anonymous complaint from the Vegas site, which will soon open its latest tunnel, hotel spokesmen have said.

Boring also recently started prep work to expand the loop to the Virgin hotel and the University of Nevada at Las Vegas, but neither project has a timetable.

The firm, moreover, has pitched numerous hotels and other sites on tunnels, according to former employees, including Caesars and MGM, but hasnt announced any related contracts.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Boring Co. for comment.
Over a mile long, Woodbury's Main Street is lined with historic homes and churches. Laura Benys

Woodbury is the "most charming" small town in the state of Connecticut, according to Reader's Digest.

The magazine recently published its 2024 ranking of the "most charming small town in every state," a list that includes places ideal for a weekend getaway or pit stop on a road trip, travel writer Lyn Mettler wrote.

"A quintessential New England town, Woodbury is located at the base of the Litchfield Hills and features mature trees and 18th- and 19th-century buildings lining its Main Street," Mettler wrote. "Right in the heart of the Connecticut Antiques Trail, its known as the Antiques Capital of Connecticut, and antiquers will surely find plenty of treasures, from vintage cast iron to midcentury-modern knickknacks at the more than two dozen shops."

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More than 20 businesses in Woodbury offer a wide selection of antiques, with most located along Main Street in the town's Historic District.

The Connecticut Antiques Trail, a list promoted by the Connecticut Office of Tourism, consists of more than 60 antique centers, businesses and sites located throughout the state. Abrash Galleries and the Woodbury Antiques Trail are among the Woodbury attractions included on the "trail."

The magazine recommended Woodbury's Good News Restaurant and Bar as a must-see destination. Run by veteran chef Carole Peck, Good News Restaurant and Bar has been serving farm-to-table meals in Woodbury for the last 30 years.

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This isn't the first time Reader's Digest has awarded Woodbury the "most charming town" title. The town received the same recognition in 2020 and 2018.
At the height of the Cold War, Jonna Mendez was chief of the CIA's disguise division  a branch of the agency charged with outfitting secret agents operating abroad.

By 1991, the department was developing remarkably life-like latex masks and Mendez was eager to deploy their sophisticated new spy technology where it was needed the most  Soviet Russia.

But first, Mendez needed to prove her deceits would work under the most perilous conditions.

So, she arranged the ultimate test.

Could she fool White House security and the President of the United States himself?

Excerpted from 'In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked'

In 1989, our fully animated ethnic- and gender-change mask was ready for the runway.

I changed into a man's suit and donned the mask of a black male, adding matching skintight latex gloves that were precisely painted with the same skin color, including veins.

Exercises like this, if successful, provided proof of concept.

Could I convincingly change my gender? What about skin color? Could I change both at the same time?

I'd already disguised a Caucasian male field officer as an African student in a live operation, but this was new mask technology, and we were always testing new scenarios and pushing the proverbial envelope farther than we had previously.

Once I was in full disguise, I had someone accompany me to the office of Frank Anderson, our office director. I was introduced as a new contractor. Nodding, I walked to his desk but said nothing, aware that I didn't sound like a man.

Extending my hand, I shook his, which I knew would be the moment of my reveal. As soon as he felt the latex on my right hand, I peeled off the mask with my left. His eyes lit up as I transformed back into myself.

He loved it and insisted we model it for the director of the CIA, Judge William Webster.

A week later, as we entered Webster's suite of offices on the 7th floor of CIA headquarters, I was more than a little nervous.

Anderson had always been supportive of our disguise program, but I hadn't yet met Judge Webster, a former director of the FBI.

A tall, broad-shouldered executive, Anderson walked in first, followed by a 5'7' black man wearing a suit and tie.

Jonna Mendez met President H.W. Bush in the Oval Office, wearing one of the disguise department's most sophisticated face masks

After Jonna removed the mask, the president's eyes were almost sparkling as he asked questions

The 'Becky' mask that fooled the President - and White House security

'Sir,' Frank said, 'I would like to introduce you to'

His voice trailed off as, again wearing the latex gloves, I stretched out my hand.

As soon as I removed the full-face mask, Judge Webster's face lit up like an enthusiastic little boy.

Astounded by the mask's ability to change ethnicity and gender, he and Frank decided we needed to show off this new capability to the President, George HW Bush.

I hesitated before speaking up but had to.

'I don't think I can wear this to the White House,' I said. 'While it is lifelike and animates well, I can't walk or talk like a black man. The Secret Service will take one look at me, ask me a question, and it will all be over.'

Anderson and Judge Webster conceded my point. We would present a female mask to the President, we decided.

Promptly dismissed from their meeting, I returned to my office and the disguise labs with a directive to prepare another mask. This wouldn't be just any mask, however. It would need to be the best mask we ever made.

Our first order of business was choosing a face. In the creation of every mask, the sculptor played a critical role. We specified gender, ethnicity, age range, sometimes even a specific identity, but ultimately the sculptor's hands shaped the final product.

At this time one of our best sculptors, a young Latina woman named Becky, was preparing to relocate to California.

As my farewell gift and a bit of an inside joke, she decided to give me her face. She knew that her facial dimensions would easily fit over mine, and it was a perfect solution. Younger! Prettier! No woman in her right mind would turn that down.

We were officially racing against the clock, and a lot was hinging on my meeting with the President. To put this new mask into production and into the field officers' hands, we needed additional funding. Getting support from the White House was critical, and the meeting date was fast approaching.

Five days later I stood in our lab in Langley putting the finishing touches on 'Becky'.

Jonna Mendez dancing on board the S.S. United States while sailing to New York

Jonna working in a photo lab in Europe early in her CIA career

Jonna Mendez was once the CIA's Master of disguises, helping agents conceal their identities and blend in on dangerous spy missions overseas

The mask was a masterpiece.

Our meeting with the President was a go!

Two days after that, I waltzed into the White House, drafting through security behind Judge Webster. We got stuck, however, waiting in the President's outer office. His previous meeting was going long.

I tried to disappear into the woodwork, overcome by the usual paranoia I felt when wearing a new mask publicly for the first time.

This was a pretty high-level launch of a mask we'd never tested in the field, and I nervously chewed on the end of a pencil while pretending to study my notes. The delay seemed to stretch on endlessly. I worried that even if the mask didn't give me away, my nerves would.

Confidence is everything, I reminded myself, impatiently awaiting the big moment.

When we were finally called to enter the Oval Office, we walked inside, where chairs were arranged in a horseshoe in front of the President's desk.

Knowing that I would be the first one to speak, Judge Webster directed me to sit in the chair on the far right. As soon as we sat down, we went straight to business.

Webster introduced me by my name and explained I was here to show the President some of the agency's new disguise capabilities. I pulled out the folder I'd brought, which contained photos of the President himself in disguise, from when he was director of the CIA.

After explaining that our disguise capabilities had improved immensely since his time at the agency, I began enumerating all the ways we could use them to evade the KGB.

We could convincingly disguise an officer, even create a clone of an officer - a twin! We could change an officer's ethnicity or gender or 'borrow' another person's identity if necessary.

This technology would change the way we were able to work against KGB harassment on the streets of Moscow.

As I was speaking, I noticed that the President was looking at the area by my feet, probably searching for a bag that contained our new disguises. When I told him I was wearing it, I raised a hand to begin removing it.

Before I had touched my mask, he popped up from his chair. 'Hold on. Just a minute, don't take it off yet,' he said, as he walked around me, peering at my face and neck.

At this point, he knew I was wearing something fake. A false nose? A prosthesis?

He tilted his head, no doubt looking for the seams of whatever I was wearing. When he seemed satisfied, I lifted my hand again and peeled off the mask.

CIA chief of disguise Jonna Mendez (right) with two friends in Amsterdam

Jonna Mendez and her husband after their wedding in Switzerland

Some of Jonna's disguise department bag of tricks from the end of the cold war

Suddenly charismatic and intensely curious, his eyes were almost sparkling as he asked questions.

While the President graced me with his attention, Dan Quayle tiptoed into the meeting, clearly not amused that he'd missed the moment of my big reveal.

But as my exchange with the President came to a close, it seemed clear we would get the support of the men in this room to roll out our new mask.

Once I'd returned to the outer office, I was approached by the White House photographer who had been in the meeting taking pictures.

'Excuse me,' she said, 'what did you do in there?'

'I thought you were taking pictures of it,' I replied.

'Well, I did, but what was that?'

'I can't talk about it,' I said after a brief pause. 'It's classified.'

I never sought out copies of those pictures, and I didn't receive them until ten years later.

When I did, the package included a picture of me wearing the mask and one of me talking while holding it in front of me except the mask is airbrushed out of the second photo.

That's the one I have hanging in my office.

It looks like I'm lecturing the President, with my hand in the air, and when friends look at it and ask what I'm saying to him, I always reply the same way: 'I can't talk about it - It's classified.'

Excerpted from In True Face: A Woman's Life in the CIA, Unmasked by Jonna Mendez with Wyndham Wood. Copyright  2024. Available from PublicAffairs, an imprint of Hachette Book Group, Inc
A majority of Britons blame Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt for the UK economy plunging into recession - including six out of 10 Tory voters, a new poll has found.

According to a Savanta survey, 71 per cent of all voters hold the Prime Minister and Chancellor responsible for Britain suffering negative economic growth.

Even among only those who voted Conservative at the 2019 general election, 61 per cent blame decision-making in No10 and No11 Downing Street.

This compared to 86 per cent of 2019 Labour voters, and 74 per cent of Liberal Democrat voters from the last general election.

The poll findings heap pressure on Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt ahead of next week's Budget, which is set to come just months before the general election.

The PM and Chancellor are attempting to balance tight public finances against Tory MPs' demands for tax cuts to revive the party's fortunes and boost growth.

A majority of Britons blame Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt for the UK economy plunging into recession - including six out of 10 Tory voters, a new Savanta poll has found

The Bank of England (63 per cent) attracted the least blame for Britain's economic malaise among all voters, despite recent Tory attacks on Threadneedle Street

Official figures published earlier this month showed the UK entered a technical recession, which is defined as two or more consecutive quarters of falling GDP

The Savanta poll found as many Britons blamed Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt (71 per cent) for the UK falling into recession as their predecessors Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng (70 per cent)

Official figures published earlier this month showed the UK entered a technical recession, which is defined as two or more consecutive quarters of falling GDP.

The Office for National Statistics estimated GDP fell 0.3 per cent between October to December, following a decline of 0.1 per cent in the previous three months.

This was despite Mr Sunak having made economic growth one of his five priorities as PM in 2023.

The Savanta poll, commissioned by the Lib Dems, found as many Britons blamed Mr Sunak and Mr Hunt (71 per cent) for the UK falling into recession as their predecessors Liz Truss and Kwasi Kwarteng (70 per cent).

Mr Hunt was appointed by Ms Truss to replace sacked Mr Kwarteng as Chancellor amid economic turmoil in the wake of her disastrous 'mini-Budget' in September 2022.

The Bank of England (63 per cent) attracted the least blame for Britain's economic malaise among all voters, despite recent Tory attacks on Threadneedle Street.

Nearly three-quarters of Britons (73 per cent) blamed the war in Ukraine for the UK entering recession, while 83 per cent attributed negative growth to global economic factors.

The Lib Dems are demanding the Government do more to tackle the huge NHS waiting lists in order to get people back to work and to stimulate growth.

Sarah Olney MP, the party's Treasury spokesperson, said: 'To the British people, this is officially Rishi's recession.

'Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt promised economic stability after the debacle of Liz Truss, yet it is just more of the same.

'Years of Conservative economic incompetence and failed experiments has led to the worst cost of living crisis in a generation and no growth.

'Pensioners and hardworking families have picked up the tab for the Conservatives wrecking the economy.

'At next week's Budget, the Government needs to stimulate growth, and there is no better way then getting people off NHS waiting lists and back to work.

'People are desperate to get off the sick bed and back into the workplace to provide for their families, but can't because of Conservative cuts.'

Savanta polled 2,109 UK adults online between 23 and 26 February.
Advocates say the schemes - which allow participants to use the money for whatever they choose - lift people out of poverty and provide financial stability

But the programs have been criticized after a mom-of-three in Washington, D.C. spent more than half of a $10,800 lump sum payout on a luxury holiday in Miami

Taxpayers have funded dozens of 'guaranteed income' schemes which offer no-strings cash handouts totaling up to $36,000 to families below the poverty line

Taxpayer-funded 'guaranteed income' programs that hand struggling families up to $36,000 with no strings attached are being rolled out across the country, DailyMail.com analysis reveals.

The schemes, whose total value exceeds $125 million, have surged in popularity since the pandemic as progressive leaders embrace cash handouts to support Americans below the poverty line.

But the radical projects have been criticized after it emerged one mother-of-three in Washington DC spent more than half of a $10,800 lump sum payment on a luxury holiday to Miami, along with a new wardrobe for her children and a 'glow up' for herself.

Canethia Miller, 27, spent $6,000 on the vacation for herself, her partner and their three children, purchased 15 new outfits for the children and spent $180 on a haircut. She was given the money through the first project in the country to offer money as a lump sum rather than monthly payments.

Similar programs in cities from Los Angeles to New York offer payments of up to $1,000 per month for three years with no conditions on how the cash is spent.

A map of some of the country's largest guaranteed income projects shows participants are given up to $1,000 monthly for three years

Canethia Miller, 27, spent more than half of a $10,800 lump sum payment on a luxury holiday to Miami, along with a new wardrobe for her children and a 'glow up' for herself

Erika James, 34, who also took part in the DC scheme, opted for monthly payments of $900 and said she put the money into a savings account for her oldest child, De'Vire

The eligibility criteria for many of the program is based on the federal poverty level, a sliding scale based on income. For a single person, the poverty guideline is $15,060 or less, while for a family of four it is $31,200 or less.

Advocates and program leaders claim guaranteed income projects are proven to lift people out of poverty by helping them achieve financial stability and goals including moving out of federally-subsidized housing. Recipients have said the cash has transformed their lives and even brought some out of homelessness.

But critics say the schemes 'destroy fundamental elements of the social contract and create the wrong incentives for people'. They claim cases like Miller's prove that offering money with no conditions on how it is spent is not a solution to inequality.

Ongoing projects will deliver more than $125 million to nearly 10,000 Americans nationwide across more than 30 programs that last up to three years, according to data published on the Guaranteed Income Pilots Dashboard.

Separate data from Stanford University's Basic Income Lab revealed at least 153 projects have taken place in America, including 68 which are 'active'. But the data does not include schemes including the one in DC which cost around $1.5 million.

Most of the guaranteed income schemes are funded with taxpayers' money.

The largest, and costliest, guaranteed income scheme is the Big Leap program in Los Angeles which provides 3,200 participants with $1,000 per month for one year.

The $36 million project was announced in October 2021 and is open to adult residents of the city who have at least one child, or are pregnant, and have an income below the federal poverty level.

Like most other projects across the country, Big Leap is billed as a 'pilot' which aims to study the impact of guaranteed, no-strings income and qualifying applicants are selected at random.

Los Angeles is also the location of the second largest scheme, which pays $1,000 per month to 1,000 eligible residents of LA County for three years. That is funded by around $36 million of taxpayers' money.

The third largest, in New York City, provides 600 participants with between $500 and $1,000 per month for three years.

Washington DC's project is run by Martha's Table which delivers the handouts through its Strong Families, Strong Futures initiative. The office of DC Mayor Muriel Bowser has recently committed a further $1 million to run the scheme for a second year.

The DC program was funded by Democrat Mayor Muriel Bowser and is the only one in the US to offer cash as a lump sum

Miller was one of 132 new or pregnant mothers with low incomes who could choose either 12 monthly payments of $900 or a one-off payment of $10,800.

She opted for the lump sum. Following the one-year program, she said: 'I wanted to blow it. I wanted to have fun.'

The five-day vacation to Miami included a boat tour which Miller said was an opportunity to show her children the city's multimillion dollar waterside properties. The family also visited museums, took a swamp wildlife tour and ate out together during the trip.

'[My kids] got to experience something I would never have been able to do if I didn't have that money,' she told the Washington Post, which spoke with several participants of the program.

Miller said she spent $4,000 on bills and a used car, and opened a bank account which she aims to keep at least $50 in.

The scheme, like others around the country, also offered financial literacy courses, although these were not compulsory.

Miller acknowledged that many communities in her area 'don't know the financial gain of credit, saving for your kids; that's why we're broke, that's why we don't have nothing to pass down or no house to give down'.

Other mothers who who took part also spoke about the importance of financial literacy.

Stacie Adams, a mother-of-four who also received the lump sum, said: '[The courses weren't] mandatory, but maybe it should have been. A lot of people haven't seen $10,000 and might have spent it right away  even me, I have issues with finances as well.'

LA County's BREATHE program  which provides $1,000 per month for three years  has shared promotional material from participants who spoke about the positive impact it had on their lives.

Darien, a single mom-of-five from Long Beach, was tearful as she said: 'For the next couple of years that I get it. I'm able to save up and hopefully do things with my kids that I've always wanted to do.'

'I don't get a lot of help,' added Darien, whose surname was not given. She said she was separated from her ex-husband and had been single for around three years.

'When I got picked, you don't know how happy I was. I was shocked. And then, [my kids asked] 'why are you crying?' I was like, I think from this day on our life is going to change. It's going to be different, you know.

'I told them god answered our prayers and we're going to get the help we need.'

Another mother, Jacqueline, also from Long Beach, said she was living with her ten-year-old daughter in her car when she was accepted to the BREATHE scheme.

'We were living or sleeping in my car. There was not a hope for us and I was just trying to survive,' she said.

Jacqueline, a participant in LA County's BREATHE program  which provides $1,000 per month for three years - said the scheme lifted her and her daughter out of homelessness

Darien, a single mom-of-five from Long Beach who is also on the BREATHE scheme, was tearful as she said: 'I'm able to save up and hopefully do things with my kids that I've always wanted to do'

'When I got that call it was literally a month after I became homeless and we were already on the streets. It gave me hope and it just gave me something to look forward to.'

Jacqueline said the money was an 'opportunity' and that she plans to go back to school and then find work in the medical field, along with ensuring her daughter remains in her current school.

'This program has given me the opportunity to live again. Be a mom and kind of get back to normal, little by little.'

Many of the programs have shared the uplifting stories of families whose lives have been changed by the projects. Schemes are often specifically targeted at mothers and young families, while others are open to any adult who lives below the poverty threshold.

But critics say that cash handouts are a blunt tool which do not address the underlying causes of poverty.

Oren Cass, executive director of the conservative American Compass thinktank, said: 'A permanent and society-wide system to provide for everyone would destroy fundamental elements of the social contract and create the wrong incentives for people as they make choices about their lifes course.'

Joel Griffith, an economic research fellow at The Heritage Foundation, added: 'Quite often these handouts actually trap people in a cycle of poverty. This is not helping people build long-term wealth and to have long-term economic prosperity.'
In third-place was Maryland, followed by Nevada and Virginia, Delaware, New Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut, and Ohio. Alaska residents received the fewest

Runner-up Colorado recorded a similar rate, with roughly 910 citizens out of every 10,000 receiving unsolicited phone calls

The study from public records firm Radaris found Arizona to be the state with the highest rate of calls, with residents receiving 682,235 calls from 2018 to 2022

Hold the phone! America's worst states for spam calls have been laid bare - with scenic Arizona surprisingly taking the top spot.

The study from public records firm Radaris found The Grand Canyon State received 682,235 calls from January 2018 to December 2022 - which, per capita, stands at 927 calls per 10,000 residents.

Runner-up Colorado recorded a similar rate, with roughly 910 citizens out of every 10,000 reporting receiving unsolicited calls.

In third-place was Maryland, followed by Nevada and Virginia. Rounding out the top ten were Delaware, New Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut, and Ohio.

Elsewhere in the US, Alaska, North Dakota, and Mississippi ranked as the states with the fewest number of spam calls.

With this in mind, experts provided a top tip to help stop the calls in their tracks.

The US's worst states for spam calls have been laid bare - thanks to a newly released study from public records firm Radaris

The probe found Arizona to be the state with the highest rate of spam calls, with residents receiving 682,235 calls from January 2018 to December 2022. That, per capita, stands at 927 calls per 10,000 residents

Runner-up Colorado saw a similar rate, with roughly 910 citizens out of 10,000 reporting receiving unsolicited phone calls

'The prevalence of spam calls has become a significant concern for individuals and businesses alike, impacting productivity, privacy, and overall well-being,' a rep for Radaris said of the findings.

10 WORST STATES FOR PHONE SCAMMERS

1) Arizona 2) Colorado 3) Maryland 4) Nevada 5) Virginia 6) Delaware 7) New Jersey 8) Oregon 9) Connecticut 10) Ohio Advertisement

'While advancements in technology offer solutions such as call-blocking apps and legislation targeting robo-callers, the persistent nature of this issue underscores the need for continued vigilance and innovation.'

Such efforts are definitely needed, considering the dataset of over 5 million reported cases from 'Do Not Call Data Books,' study authors analyzed.

Those records come from the FTC, which has long kept a list of off-limits names - with legitimate companies that defy those rules being subject to fines of $500.

But as the spokesperson warned, some firms disregard these laws - and there are instances of Do Not Call List being imported into the wrong dialer software, effectively turning it into a Call List.

Worsening matters is that auto dialers used by most spammers these days work insanely fast - meaning by the time anyone notices a mistake, chances are you've already been called.

Still, the federal government's National Do Not Call Registry is a free, easy way to reduce the telemarketing calls you get at home, the FTC says - promising fewer telemarketing calls within 31 days of registering your number.

All you need to do is visit www.donotcall.gov, or call 1-888-382-1222 from the phone number you want to block - but be wary, as you will still likely receive some unwanted calls, staffers at Radaris said.

In third-place was Maryland, where residents reported 893.42 spam calls per 10,000 individuals. The city of Baltimore's harbor is seen here

Further down, Nevada took fourth place, with the state's status as a tourist destination and its relatively small population density likely contributing to its high per capita spam-call rate

Virginia , on the other hand, closed out the top five, as its place as a hub for the federal government made it a prime target for fraudulent schemes, experts at the public records site said. Colonial Williamsburg is seen here

Maryland's residents, meanwhile, faced 893.42 spam calls per 10,000 individuals, after a 2019 study Using call data and robocall complaints from the FTC found the state to have the highest rate of spam calls. Pictured is the habour in Lewes, an incorporated city on the Delaware Bay

Researchers looked over the total number of calls from 2018 to 2022 to gain a better understanding of their frequency, and where exactly they are occurring.

They found that Arizona's 7.2million residents reported a shocking 682,235 spam calls during that period, earning it the number-one rank.

Experts credited the flood of calls to the number of retirees in the state, making it a prime mark for Medicare scams, and a robust home-buying market further feeding into the bump with home-buying scam calls

'That isnt surprising given the market in Phoenix,' Jim Tyrell, vice president of enterprise product management at TNS, told The Phoenix Times in January.

'They pay over the phone and never hear back from that bad actor again,' he said of the home-buying scams, also citing an abundance of political survey calls given Arizona's battleground status.

Following closely behind were Colorado and Maryland, two star-crossed states that claimed the second and third spots, respectively.

The Centennial State experienced a rate of 910.19 spam calls per 10,000 residents, fueled mostly by robo-calls. Coloradans received nearly 65 million robocalls in January, according to the Robocall Index - up 7 percent from December.

Maryland's residents, meanwhile, faced 893.42 spam calls per 10,000 individuals, after a 2019 study using call frequency data and robocall complaints from the FTC found the state to have the highest rate of spam calls at the time.

Further down on the list, Nevada took fourth place, likely thanks to its status as a tourist destination as well its relatively small population density, creating a higher rate than other states.

On the flip-side, less bustling Alaska was found to boast the lowest number of spam calls in the country

That was followed by North Dakota, which recorded 26,919 spam calls during the study period

Mississippi rounded out the top three best states for spam call avoiders, with a rate almost the fifth of the worst offenders. Indiana and Missouri finished off the top five

Virginia, on the other hand, closed out the top five, as its place as a hub for the federal government made it a prime target for fraudulent schemes, experts at the public records site said.

The country's oldest state recorded 282,128 and 766,008 spam calls respectively, and rates of 887.82 and 882.13 per 10,000 population.

Delaware, New Jersey, Oregon, Connecticut, and Ohio completed the top ten, each experiencing substantial volumes of spam calls relative to their populations, between 876.88 and 819.87 per 10,000 population.

Each of those states boast high levels of economic activity and connectivity, Radaris notes - suggesting a correlation between socioeconomic factors and spam prevalence.

On the flip-side, less bustling states like Alaska, North Dakota, and Mississippi were found to boast the lowest number of spam calls in the country.

Alaska recorded 20,966 spam calls between 2018 and 2020, while North Dakota had 26,919 and Mississippi 105,758.

Those translate to rates of 285.80, 345.44, and 359.71 per 10,000, respectively.

Indiana and Missouri, meanwhile, closed out the top five deemed the best states for avoiding spam calls.

With a rate of almost a fifth of the worst offenders, it may be time to relocate.
A TikTok influencer has laid bare her cyberstalking nightmare, which eerily echoes the haunting new Netflix docuseries 'Can I Tell You a Secret?'

The show follows three women targeted by the UK worst's cyber stalker Matthew Hardy, who left his victims so scared they slept with weapons.

Hardy would contact them claiming to have information about their loved ones or lives before unleashing an unrelenting, years-long harassment campaign via fake social media accounts and phone numbers. They lost friendships, job opportunities and ended up trusting no one.

This shattering reality of cyber stalking is something influencer Brielle Asero, 21, has come to know all too well.

She told DailyMail.com her nightmare began after her a total stranger got in touch off the back of a viral TikTok about her 9-5 working day. He quickly became 'hyper-fixated' and decided to look her up in the White Pages.

TikTok influencer Brielle Asero has laid bare her cyberstalking nightmare, which eerily echoes the haunting new Netflix docuseries 'Can I Tell You a Secret?'

Asero has been subjected to a terrifying four month cyber stalking ordeal which began after her stalker became aware of her through a viral TikTok

The stalker began by asking her out on a date but the messages quickly turned threatening

Asero says he first asked her out on a date, before sending a barrage of messages.

The threats quickly escalated, with him threatening to 'chop' up her friends and even sending a graphic image appearing to show a butchered woman's body.

'You know I know where you work right?' reads one menacing comment. 'I can come meet you on your lunch break. It will be a public place, what's the worst that can happen?'

The stalker taunted her about going to the police and even threatened to kill himself if she didn't reply.

One particularly aggressive message to Asero's friend states he will 'personally chop you up bit by bit and mail them to your parents you worthless b****.'

Asero now fears daily for her safety, as her stalker has begun trying to use her YouTube videos to track down her location.

'He knows my parents' phone numbers, he knows my address, he knows where I worked. He knows all my siblings, he knows my ex-boyfriend,' she said in a TikTok explaining the situation.

The TikToker explained she felt compelled to make a video about the situation in case something happened, saying 'at least it would be documented'.

Asero says she has reported the problem to the police and FBI but they have struggled to track down her digitally adept stalker

Law enforcement have so far been unable to track down her stalker because he uses burner phones and encrypted emails, Asero said.

'He still comments and harasses me to this day and it's been four months, commenting my addresses and places of work,' she told DailyMail.com.

'I think that law enforcement hasn't been taking it seriously enough and it's been proven with the thousands of other girls I've seen with the same exact story.

'I'm just trying to spread awareness but at the same time the guy is still out there and I would like to work with someone to help me find him.'

Despite now carrying self-defense items every where she goes, Asero remains defiant about continuing to post and refuses to let her stalker's actions dictate her life.

But she admits it has come at the cost of some of her relationships.

'It has caused a lot of tension between family members and friends who want to hang out with me, but are paranoid about the stalker targeting them, as he has to my best friends,' Asero said.

'I've not stopped posting on social media and for awareness purposes. I do not believe I should have to stop my life or stop posting on the platform I have built just because someone wants to harass me.'

Asero claims her complaints to TikTok have fallen on deaf ears and even resulting in her getting banned from the platform

Asero's stalker found her by looking up her number in the White Pages

He became aggressive and warned her not to ignore him in a series of increasingly menacing texts

Asero claims her complaints to TikTok have fallen on deaf ears and even resulting in her getting banned from the platform.

'TikTok has never responded to my inquiries and reports about this, I posted TikTok videos about the harassment and I was banned multiple times for no reason,' she said.

'Meanwhile I have threats in my comment sections everyday. I have worked so hard for my platform and I had received no help from TikTok.'

She is among those who do not believe social media companies are doing enough to tackle online harassment.

Asero's case perfectly encapsulates many of the dynamic challenges faced in tackling cyber stalking.

A DOJ report found that police are rarely able to prioritize or allot substantial resources to cyberstalking, and 'many agents and officers lack training in how to investigate the crime or help victims'.

A major obstacle in securing prosecutions is that it can be tricky to tie digital evidence to the suspect, especially if they are tech-savvy and adept at hiding their tracks.

And as social media and other forms of technology have developed, the law has failed to keep pace.

The DOJ noted in its own report that, 'the legal system is underprepared to handle cyberstalking cases'.

Definitions of what constitutes cyber stalking vary from state to state with penalties often only incurred for repeat offenders or if victims genuinely fears for their safety.

Cyber stalking was made a federal offence in 2005 under the Violence Against Women Act.

The legislation makes it illegal to use 'any interactive computer service or electronic communication service' to intentionally place a person 'in reasonable fear' of death or serious bodily injury, or that causes or could cause 'substantial emotional distress.'

However, federal prosecutions have remained proportionally low in the decades since it was introduced.

The number of prosecutions has grown steadily since 2014 hitting a a peak of 80 cases in 2019. But between 2010 and 2020, there were just 412 cases were filed.

Among the successful prosecutions was a case brought against cyber stalkers, was that of an Iowa man sentenced to 10 years in prison for stalking his ex for two years.

Michael Shawn McGuire, 58, of Cresco, went as far as putting 'sexually explicit' yard signs with his victim's image on them and sending flyers to her job and church.

He made five fake Facebook accounts featuring her name and lewd photos and the stalking escalated from virtual to physical.

During his sentencing hearing, Judge C.J. Williams said McGuire engaged in 'a form of mental torture' and a 'form of public terrorism in a way.'

Matthew Hardy - Britain's worst cyber stalker - enacted a tirade of stalking and harassment online that spanned over a decade

While women are twice as likely to be victims of stalking than men, the issue affects all demographics

However, last year a Supreme Court ruling actually made it more difficult to prosecute stalking cases by handing down an opinion on a case which stated that victims must not only prove they fear for their safety - but that their perpetrators are aware of the impact of their behavior.

'Given that the Court has imposed a higher standard for state intervention against stalking than is used to lawfully justify the use of deadly force, it would seem that stalking victims are better off relying on lethal self-defense than law enforcement for protection,' Dr Mary Anne Franks, an anti-cyberbullying campaigner and University of Miami law professor said.

Stalking advocate Lenora Claire was let down so badly by law enforcement that she was forced to hatch a plan to catch her stalker, who went from pursuing her online to hatching a terrifying plot to kidnap her.

She became the object of schizophrenic Justin Massler's obsession after he saw her in a magazine. Massler, who changed his name to Cloud Starchaser, has multiple arrests for stalking celebrities, including Ivanka Trump.

Claire caught him after he sent her a letter threatening to kidnap her from a Los Angeles Comic Con event he knew she would be working. When he arrived, security were able to detain him and hand him over to police.

Massler was convicted of maximum felony stalking charges, which is extremely rare. However, he served just two days of a four year sentence and within three days was back making YouTube videos about Claire.

'Everyone likes to focus on the lack of laws but the reality is the laws we currently have aren't even being enforced' Claire explained.

Leonora Claire ended up catching her own stalker following a lack of action by police and is now an advocate for stalking victims

Claire has been called the 'Erin Brokovich of stalking' . She believes existing laws are not being used effectively enough after her stalker served just two days in jail despite hatching a plot to kidnap her

'They aren't being enforced because law enforcement rarely has the proper training to adequately do risk assessment and to know the difference between harassment and more dangerous stalking.

'Stalking is a widely under reported crime so the statistics we have despite being in the millions still don't accurately reflect how common it is.'

Almost three million Americans are victims of cyber stalking every year, according to DOJ figures.

In many states, stalking is deemed a 'wobbler', a crime that can be deemed both misdemeanor and felony and since evidence can be hard to obtain it is often prosecuted as a misdemeanor.

If an offender is in another state, there is no extradition on misdemeanors.

'It's incredibly rare for anyone to intervene on a federal level so in the case of cyber stalking we see this play out this way time and time again,' Claire added.

Unlike Asero and Claire, most of those victims will know their cyber stalkers, according to the Stalking Prevention, Awareness and Resource Center.

This is something Ms Oregon International Amber Rosenberry has firsthand experience of.

The beauty queen was forced to change her job, her routine and her hobbies after a man she used to date began an aggressive campaign of terror after she tried to cut off contact.

'He set up numerous fake dating profiles contacted and belittled me, targeting specific insecurities my stalker knew about me. I filed a police report, which caused an exponential escalation. Horrific text messages came in from fake phone numbers,' Rosenberry explained.

Ms Oregon International Amber Rosenberry was the victim of a terrifying cyber stalking ordeal at the hands of a man she used to date

The pageant queen is now campaigning for the law around cyberstalking to be modernized in Oregon

'He sent flowers to my house with ominous messages.. He created fake dating profiles in my name using my photos, and interacted with people as if he was me.

He went to all the places I would normally be, and got angry when I wasn't at any of them. He slashed the tires of my company's vehicles.'

Her stalker began combing through her social media page and contacted her friends, trying to break up marriages and get people fired.

'He sent untraceable messages to their personal phones telling them 'This is Amber's fault; she knows how to make this stop',' Rosenberry added.

It took three years to get to trial, during which time her stalker was offered a sweetheart plea deal of a guilty plea to a misdemeanor with time served.

Following a media backlash, the case went to trial and he was eventually convicted of a felony although released on probation for time served.

Her nightmare has prompted her to campaign for more laws to protect victims of cyberstalking in her home state.

'Oregon needs to include cyberstalking methods in the list of 'contacts' that qualify as stalking. GPS tracking, hacking accounts, and creating fake profiles did not exist in the early 1990s when the law was written,' Rosenberry explained.

'It also needs to acknowledge that some stalking behaviors are more than just a misdemeanor and require an immediate response to protect the victim.'

Almost three million Americans are victims of cyberstalking every year, according to DOJ figures

But the problem is not just limited to Oregon. Many state laws also only provide protection if the victim fears for their personal safety or if the offence happens more than once.

'I am concerned that we don't recognize how many people are stalked every year,' Rosenberry added.

'Stalking affects every region, social-economic status, race, age, and gender. As a society, we dismiss the victim's fear.

'The victim is told to move, change jobs, change their phone number, and change their name Moving isn't feasible for most people. Moving is a huge disruption for anyone with kids. It's frustrating that this is the first response to a victim who reports stalking.'

She advised anyone going through a similar situation to keep speaking out.

Rosenberry added: 'It does not matter if people don't listen or believe you at first. If you know you're afraid, keep telling the people around you that you're afraid. Do not be silent.'
Although high-profile train derailments and collisions at crossings draw the most attention, the deadliest issue on America's rail system may be going unnoticed.

Reports issued by the US Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) claim suicides account for less than 30 percent of all rail fatalities in the country over the past decade.

But recent research, supported by multiple industry experts interviewed by DailyMail.com, suggests that the majority of all deaths involving trains in the US are intentional and self-inflicted.

That would means that rail operators tasked with reporting casualty incidents to the FRA are miscategorizing hundreds of suicides as accidents each year, including in some cases where the local coroner ruled the death a suicide.

'We're treating a problem that we haven't diagnosed correctly,' said Kurt Topel, a rail safety expert who has studied the issue. 'And so we're treating a disease that the patient doesn't have, and we're not treating a disease that it does have.'

Federal data (above) claim that suicides account for less than 30 percent of all rail fatalities in the country, but experts believe suicides are dramatically undercounted

In 2022, the most recent year with complete data, there were 1,123 total deaths on US rails, including 217 officially listed as suicides, or 19 percent of the total, according to official FRA data.

But in an interview, Topel told DailyMail.com that he believes those figures are wildly inaccurate, and falsely label more than half of actual suicides as accidental.

In 2022, Topel published a study examining all railroad fatalities in Illinois for 2019, and comparing the official FRA incident reports with local police and coroner reports from each death.

He found that, even in some cases where the coroner eventually ruled the death a suicide, the railroad operator failed to update its casualty report to the FRA.

Another, less common issue, he identified is that some deaths that appeared definitively intentional in police reports were ruled 'undetermined' by coroners, perhaps in deference to family sensitivities.

Overall, Topel found that less than half of official suicides were reported correctly in the FRA data he audited, and that more than half of all rail fatalities covered in the review were self-inflicted.

Those figures are more in line with Europe, where officials say suicides account for about 75 percent of all fatalities on railways.

Topel said that he is working on additional research on rail deaths in Florida over multiple years, and that the initial findings support his contention that rail suicides are underreported.

He grew passionate about the issue of rail safety after a personal tragedy in 2011, when his daughter, just 20 years old and a senior at Boston College, was struck and killed by a train.

'The years between 2011 and 2013 are a blur  total devastation,' Topel recalled. 'At some point, we decided we would find ways to prevent some parents from the same devastation.'

Topel found that less than half of official suicides were reported correctly in the FRA data he audited, and that more than half of all rail fatalities in the review were self-inflicted (stock)

Christopher Barkan, a University of Illinois professor and director of the school's Rail Transportation and Engineering Center, called the research 'high quality' and told DailyMail.com that it merits further investigation.

'What needs to be done is a much broader scale study,' he said, calling on the FRA to conduct a rigorous audit of its fatality data.

'The shocking (to me) part of Kurts analysis is that in some cases a subsequent finding of suicide by the coroner or medical examiner does not lead to a modified record being reported to the Federal Railroad Administration,' said Northwestern University economics professor Ian Savage, who studies rail safety, in an email.

Why are rail suicides going undercounted in the US?

Full-year rail fatality data for 2023 newly released by the FRA on Friday illustrates some of the issues with the way deaths are reported.

Typically, any death away from a grade-level crossing is automatically listed as a 'trespasser' at first, a category that includes people struck as they are walking along the tracks or attempting to cross them outside a designated crossing.

If a local coroner later rules the death a suicide, the railroad operator is supposed to go back and update the FRA incident report with the finding, at which point the death is confusingly removed from 'total' deaths and added to a separate ledger for suicides.

But a coroner's ruling can take many months, delaying the reclassification.

Thus for 2023, it currently appears that out of all 1,183 rail deaths, only 14 percent were suicides, compared to the 24 percent average reported from 2014 to 2022.

Over time, as some 2023 deaths are reclassified, the total will remain the same, but the share counted as suicides will rise, likely ending up in line with recent years.

But Topel's research suggests that, whether due to carelessness or some kind of faulty process, many deaths that are eventually ruled suicides by coroners are never updated in the FRA count.

Although train engineers may often have definitive insights into whether someone intended to be struck by their trains, railroads insist that their hands are tied to quickly rule deaths as suicides.

A spokesperson for Union Pacific, one of the nation's largest railroads, told DailyMail.com in a statement: 'Union Pacific reports suicides to the Federal Railroad Administration when we have the proper documentation from a public official.'

The statement added: 'Under Federal Railroad Administration rules, only a public official, such as a coroner, can make the determination that a death is a suicide, which can take up to a year in some jurisdictions to receive an official ruling.

'Union Pacific is committed to safety and suicide prevention by working to keep trespassers off our right-of-ways and more than 32,000 miles of track.'

Topel told DailyMail.com that he believes official figures are wildly inaccurate, and falsely label more than half of actual suicides as accidental

National passenger rail service Amtrak declined to immediately comment, while BNSF Railway, the largest US railroad by track miles, referred inquiries to an industry group, the Association of American Railroads.

'Trespassing and suicide fatalities remain a persistent challenge across the nations railroads,' an AAR spokeswoman said in a statement, noting that 'coroners, not the railroads, are ultimately responsible' for ruling rail deaths suicides.

The FRA has not responded to DailyMail.com requests for comment.

Experts say that accurately understanding whether most train deaths are accidental or self-inflicted is key to addressing the problem and reducing fatalities.

'Those are two very different phenomenon and call for very different corrective and preventive measures, so that's why it's important,' said Barkan.

He noted that over the past 30 years, US railroads have generally grown much safer, with fewer derailments and deaths at crossings.

The one exception to the trend is in deaths of 'trespassers' which has remained steady with little improvement over recent decades.

Topel notes that some of the measures that could be effective at reducing accidental deaths, like big warnings reminding people of the fatal nearby danger, could actually exacerbate the issue of suicide.

'Those who are not aware of the danger, you need to educate them. For those who are [seeking to harm themselves] you actually probably don't want to remind them of the tracks,' he said.

He noted that most rail safety initiatives are focused on raising awareness of the dangers of trains, on the presumption that most deaths on tracks are accidents.

'I actually think not only is it not helping, I actually think it's hurting,' he said.

For confidential support, call or text the US Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Chinese gangs have set up thousands of illicit weed farms across the US as they begin to challenge Mexican cartels for supremacy as America's cannabis kingpins.

Authorities in Oklahoma, Oregon, California, New Mexico and Maine have all been battling a surge in Chinese weed farms, with some thought to be linked to criminal gangs known as 'triads'.

The spread is seemingly uncontainable, with police in Penobscot County, Maine, last week arresting three Chinese nationals at a weed farm and seizing 40 pounds of the drug alongside $4,700 in cash.

It is thought to be one of around 270 illegal weed farms worth more than $4billion that have sprung up across the state since it legalized the drug in 2020.

Local law enforcement has carried out multiple busts already this year.

A Chinese laborer at a illegal cannabis farm in New Mexico that was shut down in 2020. Former workers at the plant filed a lawsuit last year against its kingpins alleging mistreatment

Earlier this month, police in northern Maine raided multiple properties suspected of being part of a 270-strong network of illegal Chinese marijuana grows

Chen Wu, 47, was sentenced to life in prison earlier this year after pleading guilty to fatally shooting four people at an illegal medical marijuana operation in Oklahoma

Meanwhile, around 2,000 'suspicious' marijuana plants in Oklahoma have been linked to China, accounting for two thirds of weed farms under surveillance, state narcotics police told Politico.

Earlier this month, a Chinese ringleader was sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting four people at an illegal medical marijuana operation in Oklahoma.

Mexican cartels have long dominated the market for illegal weed in the US, but officials are now warning that Chinese funding for such operations is skyrocketing.

It is not known whether the money is coming from groups connected to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), but experts have pointed out that triads are usually only allowed to operate if they agree to act as informal 'enforcers' for the government.

Last year, a Homeland Security memo leaked to the Daily Caller attributed the growth to Asian Transnational Criminal Organizations (TCOs), with one official raising the possibility that profits are being funneled back to Beijing.

Chinese immigrant workers have alleged they were lured to northern New Mexico under false pretenses and forced to work 14 hours a day at an illegal marijuana plant backed with funds from a China-based energy giant, according to a lawsuit filed last year.

The operation was shut down by police in 2020, but those behind it upped sticks to Oklahoma - taking many of their workers with them - before that farm was also busted in 2022.

The crackdown in Southern and Western states has been put forward as one reason for the explosion in weed farms in Maine.

For several years, Maine residents have spoken out about a surge in marijuana-odor filled homes popping up across the state, including near daycares and schools.

The Chinese owners, who speak little to no English, have allegedly earned a notorious reputation throughout Maine for spending thousands on cultivating equipment, namely by demanding items from their phones.

A sprawling illegal marijuana plant in New Mexico was shut down after authorities found a network of 1,100 greenhouses across 400 acres

The operation was backed with funding from a China-based energy giant, according to a lawsuit seen by DailyMail.com

A Travel Inn in Farmington, New Mexico, was used to process the cultivated marijuana

This house in Belgrade, Maine, was raided by police earlier this year after authorities said they uncovered illegal marijuana growing operations inside. Two Chinese nationals were arrested

Maine police seized 970 marijuana plants at a Chinese farm in the town of China in January

Homes that have been identified as part of the extensive statewide apparatus appear to be found in everyday sleepy suburbs, yet are said to have been plaguing their neighborhoods as a strong marijuana smell emanates even from a distance away and are fitted with extensive electrical upgrades.

Experts estimate that a standard 2,500 square foot home can produce upwards of $3million of marijuana every year.

Some of the profits are allegedly sent directly back to China, while some of the ill-gotten gains remain in the US to keep up criminal activities.

According to an investigation by Maine Wire into 100 of the identified sites, they were all purchased since marijuana was legalized, by single Chinese adults primarily from New York and Massachusetts.

Although the homes are allegedly filed under the single names, many are tied together by factors such as car registrations - indicating they may be connected and controlled by an umbrella organization.

Neighbors say it has become a near-monthly sight to see a van with New York or Massachusetts plates arrive at the pot-filled homes.

In January, Maine authorities raided an illegal Chinese-run marijuana operation in the aptly-named town of China in Kennebec County.

The Chinese-owned growing plants have emerged at a time when the marijuana industry is skyrocketing in the US, opening up million-dollar revenue streams for many - including the Amish community who were detailed in a DailyMail.com investigation last year.

Nationwide, Homeland Security has reportedly found a total of 749 properties linked to Asian TCOs, indicating Maine has become a particular hotbed for CCP activity.

It comes amid growing frustration at the failure of law enforcement to crack down on the illicit operations, with Homeland Security allegedly pleading with Maine police to help them gather intel on the properties in September.

'There are hundreds of these operations occurring throughout the state,' Penobscot County Sheriff Troy Morton told the Daily Caller at the time.

'It's upsetting to those who live near these operations, and even those who are following Maine laws and procedures.'

Those Morton was referencing, particularly Maine's law-abiding weed industry, say the infiltration of 'Triad weed' has been a disaster.

'When I say they function like a mafia, it is absolutely true,' a person inside the legal industry told the Maine Wire. 'They have a very intricate network.'

Many in the legal weed industry say they have been forced to become extremely selective to avoid using the Chinese-grown marijuana, as it is often found to contain harmful chemicals including pesticides.

The harmful elements to the product is another example of the struggle law enforcement have had in clamping down on the illegal marijuana grown by illegal immigrants.

'Regardless of where the individuals are from, the true problem involves conflicting state and federal laws,' Morton said. 'We also have little to no oversight, allowing for criminal activity to occur at a high degree.'
America's nuclear weapons arsenal includes thousands of warheads which can be launched at a moment's notice - each with enough explosive power to raze entire cities.

These devastating weapons are designed and built by a network of research and development facilities across the country which maintain the country's Nuclear Triad, the name for the three-pronged strike force which can launch warheads from air, land and sea.

Devastating wildfires in Texas recently forced the evacuation of America's foremost nuclear weapons assembly facility.

The Pantex Plant near Amarillo, which was briefly shut down on Tuesday, is where the majority of bombs in America's roughly 4,000-strong nuclear arsenal were built.

The plant, which has around 4,000 employees, plays a crucial role in the nation's nuclear weapons project. It is where the majority of bombs are built using parts from the other facilities around America.

A complex network of research and development facilities maintains the US nuclear arsenal

The nation's nuclear arsenal includes around 400 Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missiles, which can carry several warheads each with the explosive power of 335,000 tons of TNT, and around 3,000 more tactical nuclear weapons.

The US is constantly working to update and maintain its nuclear arsenal and it is estimated between $280 billion and $350 billion will be spent across the next two decades on this upkeep.

Here, DailyMail.com outlines the work carried out by some of the country's leading nuclear weapons development facilities.

Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico

Arguably the nation's best known nuclear research facility, Los Alamos is one of the birthplaces of the atomic bomb and remains a key facility for nuclear weapons research, development, and simulation.

Los Alamos conducts experiments to ensure the safety, security and effectiveness of the nation's nuclear arsenal.

The site is famously known as the birthplace of the Manhattan Project, a top secret mission of the US government during World War II. The Manhattan Project developed the first atomic bombs.

J. Robert Oppenheimer, often referred to as the 'father of the atomic bomb', played a central role in the Manhattan Project. His role was the subject of the 2022 blockbuster Oppenheimer.

He was appointed as the scientific director of the Los Alamos Laboratory and led the efforts to design and build the atomic bombs that were ultimately used in the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki - the only nuclear weapons every deployed in war.

The lab has an annual budget of around $4.6 billion and is managed as part of the country's National Nuclear Security Administration.

The facility, which employs around 14,000 people, develop four of the country's seven nuclear bombs: the B61 gravity bomb, which is deployed to aircraft, the W78, which is fired within the Minuteman III, and the W76 and W88, which are submarine-launched.

Robert (Julius) Oppenheimer, US, Nuclear Physicist, (1904-1967), who was leader of the atomic bomb project set up at the Los Alamos laboratory, in New Mexico, during World War Two

The Los Alamos lab, located with the town of Los Alamos approximately 35 miles northwest of Santa Fe, occupies 43 square miles of land in Northern New Mexico

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Lawrence Livermore, about 50 miles east of downtown San Francisco, focuses on nuclear weapons design, engineering, and testing, as well as developing advanced technologies to enhance the performance and reliability of the nation's nuclear deterrent.

A key part of the laboratory is its 'Superblock' facility, one of only two defense plutonium research and development facilities in the country.

The Superblock houses state-of-the-art equipment for measuring the physical, chemical, and metallurgical qualities of special nuclear materials such as highly enriched uranium, plutonium, and tritium.

Founded in 1952, it was named after physicist Ernest O. Lawrence, inventor of the cyclotron particle accelerator machine, and is located in Livermore, California.

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which designs nuclear weapons, is home to one of only two defense plutonium research and development facilities in the country

Technicians use a service system lift to access the target chamber interior for inspection and maintenance at the National Ignition Facility (NIF), a laser-based inertial confinement fusion research device, at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory

Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP)

Located in New Mexico, WIPP is the nation's only deep geological repository for the permanent disposal of defense-generated transuranic radioactive waste.

The site operates in a salt bed formation approximately 2,150 feet (655 meters) underground, isolating radioactive materials from the environment for thousands of years.

The repository is situated in a stable geological formation known as the Salado Formation.

WIPP began operations in March 1999, after more than 20 years of planning, development, and regulatory approvals. It is operated by the U.S. Department of Energy and is managed by the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant Management and Operations Contractor.

The plant primarily stores transuranic radioactive waste (TRU waste), which includes materials contaminated with man-made elements heavier than uranium, such as plutonium.

This waste often originates from the production and maintenance of nuclear weapons, as well as from other activities related to nuclear research, development, and cleanup efforts.

TRU waste can include various items such as gloves, tools, clothing, and equipment used in nuclear facilities, as well as contaminated soil and debris

The Waste Isolation Pilot Plant operates in a salt bed formation deep underground, isolating radioactive materials from the environment for thousands of years

A worker drives an electric cart past air monitoring equipment inside a storage room of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in Carlsbad, New Mexico

Pantex Plant

The Pantex Plant near Amarillo, Texas, is the primary facility responsible for the assembly, disassembly and maintenance of the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile.

It is also involved in the development of high-explosive components for nuclear warheads.

Pantex is responsible for the assembly of new nuclear weapons as well as the disassembly of retired or excess weapons. It plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety, security, and reliability of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Parts designed and built at other facilities around the country are brought here to complete the weapons.

The facility was temporarily closed on February 2t after the worst wildfires in Texas history raged around the facility. It reopened several hours later.

Situated near Amarillo, Texas, Pantex is the primary facility responsible for the assembly, disassembly, and maintenance of the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile

An inert non-nuclear B53 training weapon is displayed during an event commemoration the dismantling of the final B53 nuclear bomb at the Pantex Plant

Kansas City National Security Campus

This campus, in Missouri, is responsible for manufacturing and procuring non-nuclear components of nuclear weapons, such as electronic and mechanical parts, as well as providing engineering and logistics support for the nuclear weapons program.

The facility is operated by Honeywell Federal Manufacturing & Technologies, LLC, under contract with the National Nuclear Security Administration, a semi-autonomous agency within the United States Department of Energy.

The plant's output includes high-tech sensors, precision machined components, and specialized materials.

Y-12 National Security Complex

Y-12 plays a crucial role in uranium processing, enrichment, and manufacturing components for nuclear weapons. It also conducts research and development to enhance the safety and reliability of the nuclear stockpile.

The facility in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, has a rich history dating back to World War II when it was part of the Manhattan Project. It was originally established to produce enriched uranium for the first atomic bombs, including those dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

The facility plays a crucial role in the production and processing of enriched uranium, which is a key component in the manufacture of nuclear weapons.

Y-12 plays a crucial role in uranium processing, enrichment, and manufacturing components for nuclear weapons

The forward section of the B61 nuclear bomb on display as a museum piece at the Y-12 National Security Complex

Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia, with locations in New Mexico and California, is a multidisciplinary research institution specializing in nuclear weapons design, engineering, and testing. It also provides technical expertise in nuclear security and nonproliferation.

The facility is described as the 'engineering arm of the US nuclear weapons enterprise'.

'We weaponize the nuclear explosive package to create an effective and sustainable nuclear deterrent,' according to its mission statement.

'Sandia's foundation is science-based engineering, in which fundamental science, computer models, and unique experimental facilities come together so researchers can understand, predict, and verify weapon systems performance.'

90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming

America's Minuteman III ICBMs are held at launch sites on at least three US Air Force bases. These missiles can carry up to three nuclear warheads, each with as much explosive power as 335,000 tons of TNT.

The Minuteman III can reach speeds of up to 15,000 miles per hour - which is 23 times the speed of sound - and has a range of more than 6,000 miles.

Some are kept at the 90th Missile Wing at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, near Cheyenne, Wyoming, which is one of the oldest continuously active military installations in the United States, initially established in 1867.

The primary mission of the 90th Missile Wing is to maintain and operate the ICBMs in a state of readiness, ensuring they are ready to respond to any potential threats to national security at a moment's notice.

The 90th Missile Wing comprises military personnel, civilian employees, and contractors who work together to carry out the wing's mission. This includes missile operators, security forces, maintenance crews, and support staff who ensure the smooth functioning of operations.

Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Zahm speaks in front of the top of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missle shroud at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyo., Aug. 16, 2023

US Air Force personnel connect a re-entry system to a spacer on an intercontinental ballistic missile during a Simulated Electronic Launch-Minuteman test Sept. 22, 2020, at a launch facility near Malmstrom Air Force Base

341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom AFB, Montana

Similar to the 90th Missile Wing, the 341st Missile Wing operates Minuteman III ICBMs.

Malmstrom Air Force Base is located near Great Falls, Montana. The base covers a vast area and is home to a significant portion of the United States' land-based missile arsenal.

The 341st Missile Wing has a rich history dating back to its activation in 1947. It has played crucial roles in the Cold War and continues to maintain a high state of readiness to address modern security challenges.

In addition to maintaining and operating Minuteman III ICBMs, the 341st Missile Wing is also tasked with providing security for its missile fields and ensuring the safety and security of its personnel and assets.

The wing conducts regular training exercises to ensure the proficiency of its personnel in handling and operating ICBMs.

Like other missile wings in the U.S. Air Force, the 341st Missile Wing is involved in modernization efforts to upgrade its missile systems, infrastructure, and support equipment to meet evolving security requirements and technological advancements.

Malmstrom Air Force Base is located near Great Falls, Montana. The base covers a vast area and is home to a significant portion of the United States' land-based missile arsenal.

Like other missile wings in the U.S. Air Force, the 341st Missile Wing is involved in modernization efforts to upgrade its missile systems, infrastructure, and support equipment to meet evolving security requirements and technological advancements

In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, Senior Airman Jacob Deas, left, and Airman 1st Class Jonathan Marrs, right, secure the titanium shroud at the top of a Minuteman III missile on Aug. 24, 2023, at the Bravo 9 silo at Malmstrom Air Force Base

91st Missile Wing at Minot AFB

Minot Air Force Base is situated in Ward County, North Dakota, and is also responsible for operating Minuteman III ICBMs.

The primary mission of the 91st Missile Wing is to ensure the readiness and reliability of its assigned ICBMs, contributing to the national security strategy of deterrence against potential adversaries.

Regular training exercises are conducted to ensure the proficiency and readiness of personnel in handling and operating ICBMs. These exercises simulate various scenarios to prepare for potential contingencies and maintain a high state of readiness.
President Joe Biden could face growing backlash over his support for aid to Israel as efforts to get Democrats to vote uncommitted in the presidential primaries ramp up heading into Super Tuesday when fifteen states and one territory hold contests next week.

It comes after the president received fierce condemnation from some Democrats in Michigan where more than 101,000 voters selected uncommitted rather than cast a ballot for the president in the states primary as Israel wages war in Gaza.

While the Democratic presidential primary is not considered competitive with a sitting president, the vote in Michigan served as a warning to Biden who won the crucial state in 2020 against Donald Trump by just over 150,000 votes and has been trailing the former president in recent battleground state polls.

On Super Tuesday, Democratic voters in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia and American Samoa get their say.

While the call for Democrats to vote 'uncommitted' is not expected to have a major impact in many of the Super Tuesday states, campaigns to get Democrats to do so in some states are already underway.

A volunteer with the Abandon Biden campaign in Michigan. Some supporters have urged voters to follow Michigan and vote 'uncommitted' in contests taking place on Super Tuesday

In Minnesota, supporters of an immediate cease-fire in Gaza are calling for Democrats to vote uncommitted over Biden on Tuesday.

Were very hopeful that many people who are going to come out are going to come out because they want to send a strong message to President Biden, said Jaylani Hussein, executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) in Minnesota in a local interview.

The Twin Cities in particular is home of a thriving Muslim population predominantly from Somalia.

The fifth district which includes Minneapolis also elected one of the first two Muslim women to Congress, Rep. Ilhan Omar, who has been a vocal critic of the Biden administration's support for Israel. DailyMail.com reached out to her office to inquire whether she supports the 'uncommitted' vote effort.

Minnesota elects 92 delegates for the convention this summer.

In Colorado, another campaign to vote uncommitted on Tuesday is also afoot. The Colorado Palestine Coalition launched their effort with the slogan we say no! to genocide Joe and are urging Democrats to send a message to the president that they will not remain silent while he supports funding for Israel.

Voters in California do not have the option to vote uncommitted in the presidential primary on Tuesday, but according to CalMatters, state leaders with CAIR are urging voters to leave the space blank rather than vote for Biden while still voting down ballot in the primary.

One week past Super Tuesday, Washington will also hold its Democratic presidential primary. The state's largest labor union UFCW 3000's executive board unanimously endorsed the movement to vote 'uncommitted' in the upcoming primary.

'Currently, many voters, and UFCW 3000 executive board, feel that the best path to have the best nominee, and to defeat Trump, is to vote uncommitted on the upcoming March 12 Washington primary,' they said in a statement. 'The hope is that this will strengthen the Democratic partys ultimate nominee to defeat Trump in the General Election in November.'

It added that once the Democratic National Convention takes place, the union is committed to supporting the Democratic nominee 'to win and defeat Trump.'

Supporters of the vote 'uncommitted' campaign protest against U.S. support for Israel ahead of the Democratic presidential primary in Michigan

Uncommitted received 13.2% of the vote in Michigan's Democratic primary and will send 2 delegates to the Democratic National Convention in August

In Michigan, more than 101,000 voters, 13.2 percent, selected uncommitted rather than for Biden in the Democratic presidential primary. It was enough for uncommitted to send two delegates to the Democratic National Convention this summer in Chicago.

Michigan is home to the largest Arab American population in the country. According to exit polling conducted by CAIR, only 4.6 percent of Muslims Democratic Party voters in the state reported voting for Biden on Tuesday while 94 percent voted uncommitted.

'Based on our exit poll and our interactions with Muslim voters, it appears that President Bidens unconditional support for the Israeli governments genocide in Gaza is likely playing a decisive factor in impacting his support within the Muslim and Arab-American communities, CAIR government affairs director Robert McCaw said.

In response to a question about the uncommitted vote in Michigan, the White House said the president appreciates the people coming out and having their voices heard. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre noted the president still received more than 80 percent of the partys vote.

Jean-Pierre said they understand how personal this is, how this moment is incredibly painful and will continue to have conversations and engage with the Muslim and Arab American community.

President Biden said he remains 'hopeful' over a cease-fire despite complications after more than 100 people were killed at a food distribution site in Gaza where Israeli troops opened fire

Last Monday, Biden said he hopes a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas could take effect as early as this week, but by Thursday, the president said the cease-fire probably wont happen on Monday as he predicted amid reports of Israel killing Palestinians waiting for food. Biden said he still remains hopeful.

Witnesses accused the IDF of opening fire on a crowd of Palestinians that left more than 100 dead near Gaza City, but Israel said many of those killed were trampled in a stampede for the food and the troops opened fire upon feeling endangered.

The U.S. carried out the first airdrop of aid into Gaza on Saturday as the hunger intensifies.

Administration officials also said Israel has essentially endorsed the framework for a cease-fire and hostage release deal and it is now up to Hamas to agree.
An Aussie grandmother almost lost her leg after going for a morning swim at the beach when a scratched mosquito bite became infected.

Celeste Stirrup, 52, went swimming at Bulcock Beach on the Sunshine Coast with her granddaughter last month.

A few days after her swim, she noticed a 20cm lump on her thigh that became incredibly painful.

'I broke out in a fever and started feeling unwell so grabbed a cold washer, put the aircon on and went to bed early,' she told the Courier Mail.

Celeste Stirrup, 52, went swimming at Bulcock Beach on the Sunshine Coast with her granddaughter last month with a scratch on her leg from a mosquito bite

Ms Stirrup has warned Aussies not to swim with open wounds

Ms Stirrup woke at about 2am and was unable to shake the fever.

'That's when the blisters started. It almost felt like a volcano erupting under my leg,' she said.

The first big blister popped, causing a large wound on her leg, and she rushed to Sunshine Coast University Hospital to have it dressed.

Ms Stirrup was all alone when the surgeon sent her for a CT scan and told her she'd be 'raced off for an immediate amputation' if they found a particular type of bacteria.

Fortunately, the infection-causing bacteria was identified as Cellulitis, and soon after, medical staff assured her that amputation was not required.

A few days after her swim, she noticed a 20cm lump on her thigh that became incredibly painful

She stayed in the hospital until February 6th, then had surgery ten days later to remove the dead tissue. In a few weeks, she will go in for a skin graft surgery.

A nurse told her it was the fourth case they had seen on the Sunshine Coast in the past two weeks.

Ms Stirrup hasn't been able to work for five weeks and said it felt like living in a 'crazy nightmare'.

'This shouldn't happen to anybody. If you have a bite or a cut you shouldn't go for a swim.'
Selectwoman Lauren Rabin speaks during a meeting at Town Hall in Greenwich, Conn. Thursday, Aug. 10, 2023. Rabin won a seat on the Republican Town Committee in January, but party leadership triggered a primary election against her and the other people that won positions in District 9. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

GREENWICH  Republicans will head to the polls this week to vote for candidates running to be part of the Republican Town Committee.



Factions have emerged within the GOP this year and the winners of the primary election will elect officers to lead the party for the next two years, as well as which candidates will get party backing in races for the state legislature this fall.

The RTC held caucuses to elect members in January, but Republicans went on to circulate petitions and trigger the primary elections and challenge the winners of the January races. The primary elections are only for registered Republicans in five of the towns 12 districts  districts 2, 4, 5, 8 and 9  where the races are contested.

Polling places in these districts will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. All absentee ballots, including those mailed or dropped in ballot boxes, need to be received by 8 p.m., said Registrar of Voters Fred DeCaro.

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DeCaro also noted that some districts will be voting at schools while class is in session. He said voters are encouraged, but not required, to vote outside of school hours.

People can check their voter registration status and polling location on the town website.

This election represents an ideological schism in the party between longtime party members like First Selectman Fred Camillo and a newer group of more conservative Republicans  including RTC chair Beth MacGillivray  who took control of the party in 2022.

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The party maintained an uncomfortable peace during the election last year, but Camillo has since denounced MacGillivray and her officers, saying that he would not support her to hold a second term as local party boss.

One of the primary elections was triggered in District 9, where Selectwoman Lauren Rabin won a seat. The primary in D9 is seen by some, including Camillo, as an effort to remove Rabin from the RTC.

Selectwoman Lauren Rabin and First Selectman Fred Camillo at the Eastern Greenwich Civic Center in Old Greenwich, Conn. Monday, May 1, 2023. Tyler Sizemore/Hearst Connecticut Media

There will be more RTC primary elections this week than there have been in the past 20 years combined, according to town records. Two districts went to primaries in 2004 and District 1 had primaries in both 2018 and 2022.

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There have been no Democratic Town Committee primary elections in Greenwich the past 20 years, but they are commonplace in Stamford.

Party leaders have openly sparred in the press and on social media in the run up to the election. Both factions have also circulated lists of their preferred candidates online.

MacGillivray and other members of party leadership have also published opinion articles about the strength of their slate, particularly on the Connecticut Centinal, a far right news site.

The factions have also been fighting on X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter. Camillo called the current RTC an embarrassment to the town on the site in February.

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This is the worst RTC (in) history and they tried to replace me, if you remember correctly, so no more ignoring the dysfunction. It is not a case of us against them, as theyve already proven where they stand, Camillo posted on Feb. 16.

The RTC page, which does not have an authors name associated with it, has also called out Camillo and Rabin in recent posts.
The six bills Congress needs to pass before Friday to avoid a partial government shutdown include some Republican victories including cutting FBI and EPA funding.

Speaker Johnson said Republicans 'secured key conservative policy victories' in the roughly $460 billion measure despite a 'divided government' and rejected 'left-wing proposals' in the deal with Democrats announced Sunday.

The bill is over 1,000 pages and includes funding for six federal agencies - including Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy-Water, Interior-Environment, Military Construction-VA and Transportation-HUD.

The agreement will impose 'sharp cuts to agencies and programs critical to the President Biden's agenda,' Johnson added.

The main victories the speaker touts is prohibiting the Justice Department from 'targeting parents,' while blocking the Biden administration from following back veterans' Second Amendment rights and funding their health care.

It also will impose 'deep cuts' to the EPA (10%), ATF (7%) and FBI (6%), which Johnson says has 'threatened our freedoms and our economy.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson planned the staggered government funding approach, which set two separate deadlines with one on March 8 and another on March 22

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer warned Republicans of adding 'poison pill' policies to the government funding measures

Other policy provisions in the bill would provide additional funding to the FAA to supervise the production of Boeing 737 Max aircrafts - after several alarming safety incidents in recent months - while another could prohibit U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve sales to China.

Amtrak, the long beleaguered American railway operator, would also get billions in funding.

The legislation will also increase funds to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in order to specifically increase resources for fighting fentanyl.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said he was 'proud' of the product that will keep the 'government open without cuts or poison pill riders.'

A Democrat memo summarizing the bill touted how the measure rejected GOP policies prohibiting 'the promotion or advancement of critical race theory and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) measures.

Still, the Democrat-led Senate will likely look to amend the measures to strip out some of the GOP policies before moving forward with a vote.

Funding Bill Provisions in the $460B package The bill would cut funding for the ATF, FBI and EPA Amtrak would receive an additional $2.4 billion Restricts the Department of Justice from using funds to target parents at school board meetings Bolsters veterans' gun rights Helps the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service strengthen overview of foreigners purchasing U.S. farm land Provides additional funding to the FAA to supervise production of the Boeing 737 Max Could prohibit U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve sales to China. Advertisement

Other GOP-led provisions would prevent the Department of Veterans' Affairs from 'attacking' Second Amendment rights of veterans flagging them to the FBIs National Instant Criminal Background Check without consent from a judge.

In addition, it cuts the 'endangered species listing activities' at U.S. Fish and Wildlife and strengthens 'tracking and review of foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land.'

The new funding details come after Congress passed a fourth short-term funding bill late last week, just one day before a government funding deadline.

The vote gives lawmakers additional time to pass the 12 larger appropriations measures that they are meant to pass every year for the different departments of the federal government.

This week, the six appropriations bills will be lumped together in a package known as a 'mini-bus,' where all of them come up for just one up-or-down vote, congressional leaders announced Sunday.

Another funding deadline looms on March 22 for the remaining government agencies, but Congress is expected to lump together those bills in one to two mini-bus votes.

Congress has passed four short-term funding bills and has yet to pass appropriations measures covering the 2024 fiscal year

Speaker Mike Johnson, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House last week to address government funding

The leaders ultimately decided to go forward with Johnson's short-term spending plan that included pushing the government funding deadlines

'Democrats fought to protect investments that matter to working people & help keep our economy strongrejecting devastating cuts to housing, nutrition assistance, & more, while blocking extreme Republican policies, like efforts to restrict abortion rights,' Sen. Patty Murray wrote on X.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, who strategized the staggered funding deadline approach, tampered GOP members' expectations on a Thursday call.

'If you're expecting a lot of home runs and grand slams here, I admit you'll be disappointed. But we will be able to secure a number of policy victories,' he said.

'These bills will be littered with singles and doubles that we should be proud of, especially in our small majority.'

Johnson also expressed pride in breaking up the major appropriations bills into separate votes, which have frequently been passed by bunching the 12 measures together in what is called an 'omnibus.'

'We're trying to turn the aircraft carrier back to real budgeting and spending reform. This was an important thing to break it up into smaller pieces,' Johnson said.

The release of the spending bills' text gives lawmakers 72 hours to look over before a vote is likely scheduled this week.

The remaining six bills that need to be passed before March 22 are for the Departments of Defense, Financial Services, Homeland Security, Labor-HHS-Education, State-Foreign Operations and the Legislative Branch.
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It's the quaint California town loved by celebrities: Channing Tatum owns a ranch on the outskirts, Reese Witherspoon once lived in Spanish-style splendor on an estate close by while Emmy-winning How I Met Your Mother star Jason Segel owns a bucolic orange grove in the area.

Ojai boasts political royalty among its residents, in the form of Rose Kennedy Schlossberg  the olderr granddaughter of JFK and wife Jackie Onassis  whose wife ran a restaurant in the town until it was badly damaged by a fire in December.

And even the handful of homeless in the chi-chi town where chain stores are prohibited in a bid to retain its unique character are treated like royalty.

Instead of the filth, squalor and discarded drug equipment normally associated with homeless encampments, Ojai's is clean, with city-provided services made to keep it that way.

'I'm the happiest homeless person you will ever meet,' William Morris Holden, the encampment's first resident told DailyMail.com.

But while the laidback town has become a rural haven for celebrities and tourists looking for a break from city life in Los Angeles, locals are being priced out by soaring rents and a proliferation of vacation rentals.

Nowhere is the impact of the town's housing shortage more visible than in the homeless encampment that has sprung up in the grounds of Ojai's historic City Hall.

Home to 30 people, eight of whom occupy purpose-built tents erected by officials in the parking lot, residents are a mixed bag of self-declared nomads, the mentally ill and locals fallen on hard times who cannot afford the average $2,373-a-month cost of renting in the town.

William Morris Holden, 61, moved to the camp a year ago after his trailer was confiscated. He told DailyMail.com: 'I'm the happiest homeless person you will ever meet. This is so much better than the motorhome'

Holden previously lived behind lush foliage in a $950,000 home in Ojai where he rented a room for $600-a-month. But when Covid hit he was asked to leave and he moved into a motorhome before going to the encampmen

Low-income local Cindy Reynolds, 65, a grandmother-of-two, began 2021 in a home: renting a room in a $608,000 two-bedroom cottage for $800-a-month but had to move to the encampment when, she says, her landlord doubled the rent

After Reynolds's landlord doubled the rent to $1,600, she told DailyMail.com that she could no longer afford to live in the house pictured above on her $1,750-a-month military widow's pension

Eight reinforced canvas tents for the most vulnerable members of the camp community occupy the parking lot of City Hall, each with its own fire-treated wooden platform designed to keep the damp and other critters out and a lockable metal storage box next to it

The camp is being funded by a $200,000 allocation awarded by the City Council last fall and it is nothing like the typically trash-strewn and squalid encampments seen all over the Golden State

Although some come from as far away as Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and Madison, Wisconsin, others, like Cindy Reynolds, 65, are locals who cant afford to pay the average $2,373 cost of renting a home in the town.

Cindy, a grandmother-of-two, began 2021 in a home: renting a room in a $608,000 two-bedroom cottage for $800-a-month.

But after her landlord doubled the rent to $1,600, Cindy told DailyMail.com that she could no longer afford to live there on her $1,750-a-month military widows pension.

A poor credit score made finding a new home difficult, so she began living in a trailer. But unable to park it without being moved on, she sold it for $10,000 and used the cash to purchase nights in hotels.

Then the money ran out. Cindy said: 'I'm supposed to have a house for my grandchildren. I have 11-year-old grandchild and a three-year-old grandchild.

'They're supposed to go to grandma's house for Thanksgiving and Christmas and Easter and I don't have that. It's very embarrassing.'

The camp is being funded by a $200,000 allocation awarded by the City Council last fall and it is nothing like the typically trash-strewn and squalid encampments seen all over the Golden State.

Eight reinforced canvas tents for the most vulnerable members of the camp community occupy the parking lot, each with its own fire-treated wooden platform designed to keep the damp and critters out and a lockable metal storage box next to it.

The sprawling lawns behind City Hall are home to more tents  traditional ones  including a large family-size 'community tent' pitched by Holden, 61, while other amenities include porta-potties that are cleaned daily by residents, wash sinks complete with scented hand soap and a canteen that dishes out free coffee, soup and yogurt to residents.

According to analytics website AirDNA which tracks the availability of vacation lets, a staggering one third of homes in Ojai or 1,132, are currently available to rent short term via Airbnb or Vrbo at an average cost of $345-a-night

The community tent erected by William Holden. His own tent is on the wooden pallet next to it

The number of homeless is growing drastically since last year in Ojai, California, with some living in a tent at the City Hall's propriety

Ojai's homeless coordinator Rick Raine is pictured. Raine said: 'Here in Ojai, there's a housing shortage. The lack of affordable homes for those with low income  it is forcing people out'

Liz Klepfer, 41, from Madison, Wisconsin, lives in one of the structured tents with her pitbull-mix puppy Layla. The camp's relative safety has made it a haven, she says

Residents are offered therapy to treat mental health problems and addiction at no cost while their pets get free vet care funded by a local animal charity.

All of it is overseen by Ojai's homeless coordinator Rick Raine who also maintains a list of rules that mandate pleasant behavior, no damaging the lawns or trees and ban any drug or alcohol use outright. Fires are also not allowed.

As a result, the grimly familiar baggies, needles and foils that feature in encampments all over California from San Diego to San Francisco are nowhere to be seen.

Cheerful and bearded, Holden, an Ojai local, moved in a year ago with his ancient pet chihuahua, Fievel Mouskawitz when the battered motorhome he had occupied since 2020 was confiscated after falling foul of California's smog laws.

He told DailyMail.com: 'This is so much better than the motorhome.

'Before, there was a recurring daily thing where I was always looking over my shoulder because I knew I'd be kicked out or moved on by the police.

'Having this tent at City Hall where I know I'm allowed to stay and won't be moved on is a real relief.'

Residents are offered therapy to treat mental health problems and addiction at no cost while their pets get free vet care funded by a local animal charity. Pictures is camp resident Nate

One resident tells DailyMail.com that the camp can be noisy and there's little privacy but he doesn't mind

'In the middle of the night, you hear someone having sex an hour or so later, you hear them arguing and fighting and something's smashing,' one camp resident said

The camp is home to nearly all of Ojai's 44 homeless residents  a tiny number by the standards of other cities but nevertheless, a 42 percent increase on 2018

For Liz Klepfer, 41, from Madison, Wisconsin, who lives in one of the structured tents with her pitbull-mix puppy Layla, the camp's relative safety has made it a haven.

A self-described 'vagabond', she has lived in encampments all over California, beginning with Santa Cruz where she studied anthropology at college before dropping out.

Unable to hold down a job due to a variety of mental health diagnoses including bipolar disorder, she said living at the camp has given her access to therapists and that she would one day like to get a job as a social worker so she can give back to society.

But Liz's story reveals that even in a camp as orderly as Ojai's, problems can arise  she was classified as vulnerable enough to be moved into one of the structured tents after being punched in the face by another resident 'who is mentally ill' which left her needing three stitches.

Nonetheless, it is still safer for the 41-year-old than anywhere else with the pretty brunette telling DailyMail.com of the problems she faces when she goes panhandling at grocery stores in nearby Ventura where she is frequently accosted by men proffering $20 bills and asking for sex.

Liz said: 'People assume because I'm homeless, I want money so badly, I'll do anything. You go to some of these supermarkets in Ventura and they think you're homeless and you'll do anything for 20 bucks.

'It's like, no dude, just because I'm homeless, that does not mean I'll go anywhere and do anything. You're f***ing waving $20 at me. No.'

She added: 'There's always people taking meth around [elsewhere]  meth is the perfect drug for homeless people because you don't have to sleep and you don't have to eat.

'When you're homeless, there's nowhere to sleep without being moved on and nothing to eat. Here, I have both and I'm getting therapy to treat my mental health problems.

'I enjoy living outside which you can do all year round in California but one day, I'll have to get a job and move inside. I'm getting older and don't want to do this forever.'

She added: 'I've been in cities like Los Angeles where you can be screaming for help and nobody comes. Here, if you scream, somebody will come.'

Holden says the camp can be noisy and there's little privacy but told DailyMail.com that he doesn't mind.

He said: 'In the middle of the night, you hear someone having sex an hour or so later, you hear them arguing and fighting and something's smashing.

'It seems kind of like we all live in a glass house now, but it's kind of what I already knew  humans do things, they argue for no reason. They don't make sense.

'They're allowed to. Human frailty is a beautiful thing.'

There is a list of rules that mandate pleasant behavior in the encampment, including no damaging the lawns or trees and ban any drug or alcohol use outright. Fires are also not allowed

Raine told DailyMail.com that while most of the camp's residents have suffered with addiction and mental health problems, a handful have been priced out of their homes by the Airbnb boom

'Families are moving out; rents are going up or the houses that they were renting are being sold and then the new owner is renting them out as well,' Raine said

Raine says the camp is home to nearly all of Ojai's 44 homeless residents  a tiny number by the standards of other cities but nevertheless, a 42 percent increase on 2018.

The remaining 14, he said, are spread out around the town: some choosing to sleep rough under a freeway bridge while others live a truly nomadic lifestyle, dropping in for a week before moving on again, but are still counted as Ojai homeless people.

He told DailyMail.com that while most of the camp's residents have suffered with addiction and mental health problems, a handful have been priced out of their homes by the AirBNB boom.

Raine said: 'Here in Ojai, there's a housing shortage. The lack of affordable homes for those with low income is forcing people out.

'Families are moving out; rents are going up or the houses that they were renting are being sold and then the new owner is renting them out as well.

'Most of these homes are being rented out short term because they make more money that way. Ojai is not supposed to have short-term rentals. But there's always loopholes. So, it isn't just that there's a shortage, it's that [the housing supply] keeps decreasing.

'There's just nowhere for people to afford to live here.'

Ojai has a total of 3,582 houses, each of which costs an average of $834,180 to buy or $2,373-a-month to rent.

According to analytics website AirDNA which tracks the availability of vacation lets, a staggering one third of homes in Ojai or 1,132, are currently available to rent short term via Airbnb or Vrbo at an average cost of $345-a-night.

For tourists, that represents a bargain: rooms at the luxury Ojai Valley Inn, a retreat loved by Natalie Portman among others, rooms start at $749-a-night.
This is the shocking moment a witness described how a dying woman told her 'don't let my husband near me - he pushed me' after she was thrown 50ft off Arthur's Seat.

Fawziyah Javed, 31, was murdered by Kashif Anwar, 29, at the Edinburgh landmark in September 2021 following a horrific campaign of abuse.

Now MailOnline can share an exclusive clip of a witness revealing how Fawziyah said it was her husband that shoved her to her death before it is aired on Channel 4 tonight.

In the clip from 'The Push: Murder on the Cliff' Daniyah Rafique, 24, is asked by lead prosecutor Alex Prentice KC if she reached the lady and if she was still alive.

Ms Rafique said she was and that she started yelling to Anwar saying that she had found his wife. Anwar then answered back, asking if 'she was bleeding'.

Fawziyah Javed, 31, (pictured) was murdered by Kashif Anwar in Edinburgh in September 2021 following a horrific campaign of abuse

Kashif Anwar, 29, (pictured) was jailed for a minimum of 20 years for the murder of his pregnant wife Fawziyah Javed

In the clip from 'The Push: Murder on the Cliff' Daniyah Rafique, 24, is asked by lead prosecutor Alex Prentice KC if she reached the lady and if she was still alive

Mr Prentice questioned Ms Rafique on what Fawziyah's reaction was to this. The witness said: 'She told me not to let her husband near her and that he had pushed her.'

Fawziyah also helped jail her husband from beyond the grave by collecting evidence of the abuse she was subjected to by Anwar.

She was told my him just months before her death: 'The sooner you're dead or the sooner you're out of my life, it'll be better.'

Fawziyah secretly recorded phone calls of Anwar threatening her and went to the police twice. Although she didn't want them to intervene at that point.

The second police report was made just days before Anwar killed the employment lawyer from Leeds on a weekend away to Edinburgh.

Anwar took her to the hillside beauty spot in the evening of September 2. The lawyer, who was pregnant at the time, died at 10.18pm that night.

Anwar, from Leeds, was jailed for at least 20 years after being found guilty of the 31-year-old's murder during a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.

People in court react to the witness giving evidence of how Fawziyah said it was her husband that shoved her to her death

People in court appear to be emotional as they react to the witness giving evidence

Kashif Anwar, 29 subjected Fawziyah Javed, 31 to a long campaign of domestic abuse

Footage shows the 29-year-old in court with his head bowed as the jury's verdict is returned and he is sentenced by judge Lord Beckett in April.

A recording Fawziyah made on her phone in April 2021 of two calls with her husband was played in court.

In one, Anwar rages his wife: 'Who the f*** do you think you are? You're a disease in everyone's life.'

On the next call, the same evening, Fawziyah pleads: 'Do I not have a say in how I want my life with you?'

'You're being a bitch,' her husband tells her. 'Why the f*** are you not listening to me? You're not a man, so start behaving like a woman.

'Why the f*** did you decide to ruin my f***ing life? I tell you one thing - you end this and I'll ruin yours. You know what, Fawziyah? I mean it.'

Fawziyah Javed (pictured) and Kashif Anwar (pictured) sat on the top of Arthur's Seat moments before she was pushed to her death

The mugshot of Kashif Anwar, 29, from Leeds, who murdered his pregnant wife

Speaking in the new Channel 4 Documentary, which was granted access to the trial earlier this year, Mr Prentice added: 'Fawziyah collected a great deal of evidence which formed the pillar of the prosecution case.

'The evidence of what Fawziyah said was crucial. It was effectively Fawziyah speaking to the jury.

'I have prosecuted many murder cases over the course of my career but for a variety of reasons this case is extraordinary.'

Asked if Anwar would have been found guilty without Fawziyah's evidence, he said: 'It would have been very difficult.'

A friend and legal colleague of Fawziyah called Ingrid added: 'She built this massive mountain of evidence culminating with giving a statement to the police on the verge of her dying.

'The fact she was a lawyer with all the legal training, I do think she must have thought about leaving this evidence behind. I remember feeling like she died like a lawyer.'

After the jury retired to consider its verdict, the programme shows Fawziyah's mother Yasmin Javed telling how she fears Anwar will be acquitted and kill again.

She said: 'He has got to be punished. He can't do this to another family, I can't have another family going through this.'

And in a subsequent interview with The Sunday Times of Scotland, she said: 'Fawziyah was articulate, clever, strong-minded - and very intelligent and financially independent. She had the full support of her parents.

'She had somewhere to go. A lot of women in these situations don't have anything like that.

'Fawziyah did and she was making plans to leave him, so if it can happen to her, it can happen to absolutely anybody. Nobody is immune from this.'

In the documentary 'The Push: Murder on the Cliff' the shocking 999 call that a passer-by made to the emergency services is also heard.

Fawziyah Javed's father, pictured in court, as his daughter's killer Fawziyah Javed was jailed

Yasmin Javed (pictured) said Anwar 'had to be punished' for his actions

Fawziyah's mother Yasmin Javed (pictured) feared Anwar would be acquitted and go on to kill again

The witness revisited the trauma of the ordeal when he later told a court: 'I heard a scream.'

The recording of his 999 call was revealed, in which he told emergency services operators: 'We're up on Arthur's seat near the top of it.

'We heard someone screaming and there's a guy here, he says his wife has fallen off of the edge, I think? The more vertical side.'

Another 999 call is also played in the documentary where Anwar tells an operator his wife had slipped on Arthur's Seat and that he tried to save her.

He said: 'Fawziyah's just on the edge of the cliff, man. We both just slipped, I tried grabbing her arm and she fell.

'We both technically slipped and then I tried grabbing her arm and she went sideways.'

Detective Inspector Bob Williamson from Police Scotland, who was in charge of inquiries into Javed's fall, said deaths like hers were very difficult to investigate.

He said: 'When there is only one person who truly knows what happened and they choose to lie, the investigation then relies on largely circumstantial evidence.

'When there is only one person who truly knows what happened and they choose to lie, the investigation then relies on largely circumstantial evidence.'

Sentencing Anwar earlier this year, Lord Beckett said he had committed a 'wicked crime' and had showed no remorse.

He told him: 'She was willing to trust that you would keep her safe when she agreed to accompany you on your project to climb Arthur's Seat despite a fear of heights and being pregnant. She was entitled to expect your protection and support.

'As a result of your actions, Fawziyah Javed died far from home on a Scottish hillside and her loving family are left devastated and will never be the same again.

'Had she lived she would have given birth to your child some months later, but that life was also extinguished by you.'

The new series was commissioned by Channel 4's head of documentaries Alisa Pomeroy and directed by Anna Hall.

Ms Pomeroy said: 'To tell Fawziyah's story in this way, with her family bravely sharing what is an unimaginably painful time for them, is both a great privilege and a great responsibility. No woman should have to suffer an abusive relationship.

Fawziyah Javed was thrown off Arthur's Seat (pictured) in September 2021

'Shining a light on this heart-breaking case is important for many reasons, and I hope that other women suffering in a similar way might find strength in seeing this film to make a lifesaving change in their own life.

'The access gained by Anna and the team at Candour to make this series is unique and I have no doubt they will honour Fawziyah's memory, showing how her killer was brought to justice.'

Ms Hall said: 'It's been such a privilege to see the process of justice played out minute by minute at Edinburgh High Court and it's been an utter privilege to work with Fawziyah's large and loving family who are destroyed by what has happened to her.

'I find myself making another film about a woman who was on the verge of leaving an abusive relationship  the most dangerous time for any woman  and I want to weep. How many more women will be killed at the hands of their abusive partners?

'But I know we will all learn so many vitally important things which helped to convict her abuser.'

The next episode of The Push: Murder on the Cliff will air on Channel 4 tonight at 9pm.
Patients at risk from genetic kidney disease could soon have their scans analysed by artificial intelligence (AI)  which can help assess their odds of organ failure six times faster than a doctor alone.

The advanced software is being trialled to quickly spot an enlarged kidney, as this often signals a future catastrophe.

While it takes a specialist doctor about an hour to accurately establish the size of the kidneys from an MRI scan, the AI system can carry out this analysis in less than a minute. A radiographer then double-checks its conclusion in a process that totals no more than ten minutes.

As many as 70,000 Britons have autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease  a common, inherited form of the condition which leads to the growth of fluid-filled sacs in the organs.

The advanced software is being trialled to quickly spot an enlarged kidney, as this often signals a future catastrophe (stock image)

The AI system can carry out an analysis of the kidneys in less than a minute (stock image)

Malfunctioning genes cause the kidneys to keep growing, and while this can be slowed down with drugs, patients may ultimately require blood-cleaning dialysis treatment or a transplant.

Experts say the AI technology is vital to speed up diagnoses.

Currently doctors use MRI scans of the kidneys to spot patients with significantly enlarged organs that require immediate care.

They measure the kidneys by separating the scan into about 60 two-dimensional images, each from a slightly different angle. Each 'slice' is then analysed to reach a final figure for the volume of the kidneys  a time-consuming process which severely limits the number of patients they can deal with in a day.

As many as 70,000 Britons have autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (stock image)

But the AI system, developed by researchers at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, can do this process in less than a minute  and has been shown to be just as accurate as a doctor.

'Using this software we can give patients a diagnosis in two weeks rather than two months,' says Professor Albert Ong, consultant nephrologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

'This means we can get patients on to treatment quicker and save them from months of anxiety.

'This could help speed up diagnoses at NHS hospitals across the country.'
We live in Nappy Valley Central. The local streets are crammed with strollers, papoose-bearing dads and toddlers on scooters.

Their parents look on them with delight, scooping them up when they fall or comforting them when another child grabs their ball in the park.

These children are similarly enchanted by their parents, their worlds made all right by the stroke of a hand and a cuddle.

For now these parents' chief concerns are over childcare and sleepless nights. But as I watch these families, I often think they don't know what's coming down the pike.

A generation of young people are now immersed in an epidemic of anxiety and other mental health conditions, with a third claiming to have experience of one disorder or another.

ALEXANDRA SHULMAN: Their parents look on them with delight, scooping them up when they fall or comforting them when another child grabs their ball in the park. (File photo)

The children of many of my contemporaries have had troubles of this kind  and very often the parents are the most devoted (File photo)

For those parents who could once soothe with a kiss, there is not much worse than seeing your child suffering in this way, sometimes unable to get out of bed, often failing to hold down a job, seemingly incapable of dealing with life.

They've been captioned Generation Sicknote in response to newly released figures of the number of 18 to 24-year-olds unable to work because of their mental health.

But is much of this problem the fault of parents? Did our attitudes to parenting not make them robust enough to deal with the real world?

The children of many of my contemporaries have had troubles of this kind  and very often the parents are the most devoted, wishing only to take the very best care of their cherished offspring and solve their problems.

I'm not immune. Even now with my 28-year-old son, if I hear of some dilemma he has, my immediate response is to think that I should be able to resolve it. To be clear, he's not asking me to: it's my knee-jerk reaction.

That has been the general attitude of many of us to our children. At school, if they were only rubbing along academically, extra tutoring would be commandeered.

18-24 year-olds have been captioned 'Generation Sicknote' due to the figures released showing how many are unable to work due to mental health issues

At school, if they were only rubbing along academically, extra tutoring would be commandeered

School holidays were filled with travel and activities so that they were never just hanging around. Their faddy eating was catered for. And once they left school the Bank of Mum and Dad was open for business. In short, we've been doing everything we can to make their lives as easy as possible.

But by insulating them early on from the fact that life is difficult, and that ultimately everyone has to take responsibility for themselves, it's possible that we have deprived them during their formative years of some important survival skills.

Given the world is an insecure place, with no guarantees of security, I would caution some of those parents in the park not to think it's helpful to make their children's own small world perfect whenever they can. They might be much happier in the long run.

A duo to tame the hardest of hearts

The resonance of Netflix's One Day has been quite extraordinary.

The series, led by the charismatic Leo Woodall and Ambika Mod, has struck a chord that neither the original book, nor a later film, achieved. It has made so many watchers look at our own lives through the filter of Em and Dex's narrative.

The duo's path  littered with excruciating missed opportunities, bad relationships and unspoken thoughts  has made even those of us who are many decades older than the pair on screen identify with them.

Netflix's One Day Ambika Mod and Leo Woodall

Yes, there's the nostalgic recognition of landlines, the soundtrack (who doesn't recall the bedsit blues of Joan Armatrading or the Britpop sound of Blur) and the 1990s clothes, but it's something different to that.

It's the thing that has made 50-year-old men leave the room because they can't bear to see the upcoming tragedy, and couples  who rarely agree on anything to watch  binge all 14 episodes in a weekend.

What that thing is, I can't identify. But I do know that it has shown that even the most cynical and brusque viewers have had a part of themselves touched by this romance in ways they would not have expected.

Brave Yulia joins the super troupers

The wives have it.

Not only is our splendid Queen Camilla having to turn up all over the place in her husband's absence in order to reassure us that we still have a working monarchy, but last week Volodymyr Zelensky's glamorous wife, Olena Zelenska, arrived in Britain to commemorate the second anniversary of the outbreak of war in Ukraine.

Both women are troupers who probably never dreamed that they would be in the demanding positions they now occupy.

Volodymyr Zelensky's glamorous wife, Olena Zelenska, arrived in Britain to commemorate the second anniversary of the outbreak of war in Ukraine

They've been joined by a third whose stoicism in the face of tragedy is utterly remarkable.

Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, has immediately picked up her husband's baton after his recent, suspicious death in a Siberian prison following years of brutality.

She would have been forgiven for simply wanting to disappear from the spotlight herself but Yulia has continued to fight her husband's corner, never less than immaculate in front of the cameras and demonstrating that, no matter what Putin may do, the Navalny name will live on.

All rise... for the stately home souffle

Talter magazine is right on the money with the current issue's Country House Awards.

The film Saltburn has revealed a new fascination with stately piles, and in a world dominated by grim headlines, it's perfect escapism to dwell over some of the categories: Best Elevenses at Drayton House in Northamptonshire, Best Temple at Castle Howard.

Best Cheese Souffle, apparently served at Broadspear in Hampshire by Harry and Clodagh Herbert

My favourite entry, though, is Best Cheese Souffle, apparently served at Broadspear in Hampshire by Harry and Clodagh Herbert. Who knew?

Final call  now seating the gate lice!

Air travel is stressful enough without those passengers who insist on queuing up at the departure gate, ages before boarding is called, jostling with their carry-ons for position. Now I've discovered that airline crews have a name for them  gate lice. Heaven. There's nothing like a pejorative term to make one feel better about things.
The Army's poster girl for diversity is suing defence chiefs after allegedly suffering a catalogue of racist abuse.

Corporal Kerry-Ann Knight, who has fronted Army equality and diversity campaigns, has taken her case to an industrial tribunal.

In court documents she accuses senior officers of presiding over an 'obvious culture of bullying, discrimination, racism and sexism'. Her claims are understood to be based on her service at the Army Foundation College, where she is an instructor.

Married Cpl Knight says she felt 'victimised and isolated' as bosses allegedly participated in her bullying and encouraged it.

The Ministry of Defence is contesting the case at Leeds Employment Tribunal.

Corporal Kerry-Ann Knight (pictured), who has fronted Army equality and diversity campaigns, has taken her case to an industrial tribunal

In 2019, Cpl Knight fronted the 1.5 million 'Your Army Needs You' recruitment campaign and featured prominently on posters

The college has been at the centre of several abuse cases in recent years, with recruits accusing instructors of physical and verbal abuse. Cpl Knight says she was subjected to 'continuous racially charged remarks' and claims soldiers viewed her as 'inferior' due to her race.

Speaking of her boss, Cpl Knight said her commanding officer 'consistently failed to adequately address' these issues.

She also claimed another officer 'did not correct my peers whenever he witnessed them being bullies by making or acting in a sexist, homophobic or racist way towards me... but instead would join in or encourage them to do so.'

She added: 'There are so many more incidents where I feel as though [he] failed me as my platoon commander by allowing and participating in acts that are sexist, racist and bullying towards me, leaving me feeling victimised and isolated in my own working environment.'

Cpl Knight, from Nottingham, joined up in 2011 and spent a number of years based overseas.

In 2019, she fronted the 1.5 million 'Your Army Needs You' recruitment campaign and featured prominently on posters.

In the same year, The Mail on Sunday revealed how she was racially abused by six soldiers while stationed at a UK military base in Germany.

Her attackers were disciplined for using offensive words and accusing her of using her skin colour to secure promotions.

A preliminary hearing regarding the current case has taken place but there is no date yet for the full tribunal.

An MoD Spokesperson said: 'We can confirm that a soldier is pursuing a claim against the MoD alleging behaviour contrary to the Equality Act 2010. As this is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings we won't comment further.'

Sexism and the City? It's rife, say MPs

Women working for Britain's biggest banks and money firms still face sexism and harassment, a report will reveal this week.

In a damning indictment of the City of London's failure to tackle discrimination, the Commons' Treasury Committee will conclude that levels of harassment and other sexist behaviours have remained largely unchanged since an investigation in 2018.

The report, due out on International Women's Day on Friday, follows a string of scandals, including allegations against senior staff at its main lobbying body, the Confederation of British Industry.

Amanda Blanc, chief executive of insurance giant Aviva, has spoken publicly about the scourge of sexism.

A recent survey found some women believe maternity leave is more damaging to their career than sexual misconduct allegations are to a man's job.
Voters at Donald Trump's Get Out the Vote Rally in Richmond, Virginia, did not mince words about whether the former president's challenger Nikki Haley should continue in the race.

The Saturday rally drew thousands of enthusiastic Trump supporters to the Greater Richmond Convention Center in the commonwealth's capital.

Fans of the former president came from all over the state and lined the blocks around the convention center hours before he was set to deliver remarks.

Republican voters at the rally were eager to share a message with Trump's final GOP primary challenger Nikki Haley: Get out of the race.

Just back off and back out and make way for the candidate thats actually going to win the nomination for 2024,' Scott, from Woodbridge, Virginia, told DailyMail.com.

'She said Im not going to run against President Trump and then she did,' he said, adding she 'stabbed him in the back.'

Scott (L) and another Trump supporter cover their hearts during the national anthem

Former President Donald Trump has been dominating opponent Nikki Haley in recent polls

Shes destroying her political career, her future,' Scott continued. 'Shes hanging on to nothing. She hasnt won one state.

Another voter from Woodbridge, Dave, told DailyMail.com, I think shes just trying to derail anything from Trump. It's just not working, but, you know, shes trying.

Trump has beat Haley in all of the early primary states where they've both appeared on the ballot - Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina Michigan and Missouri.

The former president also won the Nevada caucuses and a symbolic vote for Trump - voters choosing 'none of these candidates' - bested Haley in Nevada's presidential primary.

Haley, however, has vowed to press on, telling supporters that she would continue in the race through Super Tuesday, March 5, when 16 states and American Samoa hold primary contests.

She also has said that she is not still running to bolster her 'political future.'

'I think I've made it pretty clear. This is not about my political future. I would have been out a long time ago,' she told voters in D.C. Friday.

'The reason I'm doing this is for my kids and your kids and the younger generation.'

But Republicans at the Trump rally Saturday night told DailyMail.com they wish she was already out of the race so the party could unify around one candidate.

I think generally as a person shes probably a nice lady,' Sean, a Virginia voter, said. At this point I think she is silly.'

'She should get behind the president and support him and be a team player. I think right now shes wasting her time and its a show.

Another voter, Duchess, said she may support Haley in the 2028 elections, should she run. But, she added, Haley's 2024 campaign has 'been supported by a lot of the Democrats.

Republican presidential hopeful Nikki Haley is still looking to win her first primary

It's passed time for her to get out, Jonathan Emord, a Virginian who is currently running for U.S. Senate, said.

She should not prolong this any longer. We need to unify behind President Trump.

A Saturday NY Times/Siena poll found that Trump is leading Haley by 55 points in the race for the Republican nomination going into Super Tuesday.

Voters at the rally also shared why they are so enthusiastic about backing the former president.

Hes going to bring back us getting our own oil,' Dawn said.

She added that gas and grocery prices under Trump were cheaper, and her biggest issue under Biden has been the increased cost of everyday goods.

Dave told DailyMail.com he sees Trump as the best candidate to solve the 'immigration problems were having right now,' and that his past track record proves his ability to handle the ongoing crisis.

Trump, meanwhile, sailed to another primary victory over Nikki Haley on Saturday, beating her handedly in Missouri.

The next primary will occur Sunday in the District of Columbia.
Former President Donald Trump skewered President Joe Biden's border plan as a 'conspiracy' to destabilize the United States during a rally Saturday night.

The campaign event in Richmond, Virginia, drew thousands of enthusiastic Trump fans to the commonwealth's capital.

Supporters of the former president came from all over the state and lined the blocks around the convention center hours before he was set to deliver remarks.

Shortly after taking the stage to loud applause, the former president turned his attention to Biden and his 'open border policies.'

'Biden's conduct on our border is by any definition a conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America,' Trump told the audience

They are dumping their prisoners into our country, doesnt this stupid guy get it?

Former President Donald Trump slammed President Joe Biden for his 'open border' policies and for referring to migrants as 'newcomers'

Supporters of the former president lined the blocks around the Greater Richmond Convention Center for hours before Trump arrived

President Joe Biden's administration recently referred to migrants as 'newcomers' in an official White House release

'You know what they are calling them, newcomers!' Trump continued, poking fun at the Biden administration's recent move to relabel immigrants.

'From now on, you have to call them newcomers,' he joked, adding if they don't 'you will be indicted by the DOJ in Washington.'

'Does everyone agree with them?' he asked.

'No!' the audience roared back in response.

Many voters at the rally who DailyMail.com spoke with Saturday agreed with the president, saying border security is the most pressing issue in the upcoming election.

'Immigration is number one,' Duchess, a Virginia voter, told DailyMail.com.

Dave, of Woodbridge, Virginia, similarly said his top priority is fixing the 'immigration problems were having right now.'

Dave and Duchess are not alone, though, as many voters have said border security is their top issue in 2024.

Americans now say immigration is the top issue facing the nation  with 28 percent of voters calling it the main concern, ahead of the state of the government and the economy.

Additionally, a recent poll released this week found that a majority of U.S. voters now want a barricade along the U.S.-Mexico border, an issue Trump ran on in 2016.

Over 7.2 million migrants have entered the U.S. since Biden took office, many of them entering the country illegally between ports of entry

Border security has recently been the top issues for voters 28 percent of whom say it is their number one priority in the 2024 election

Trump estimated that 15 million migrants have entered the U.S. under Biden's tenure, though official government numbers indicate it is roughly half that amount

And Trump's border security message may be working.

The former president had a super Saturday, winning the primaries in Idaho, Missouri and Michigan.

Trump's victories in those states mean the former president remains undefeated in primary or caucus contests this year.

He previously won the primary races in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Nikki Haley, meanwhile, is still looking to win her first primary election.

She has previously told voters that she would stay in the race until Super Tuesday, which is in just three days.

Super Tuesday will see 16 states and American Samoa get their chance to vote for who should be the Republican presidential nominee.

It will be the biggest test so far for either candidate, though Trump is widely expected to win.

'Three years ago we were a great nation and soon we will be a great nation again,' Trump said closing his remarks Saturday.

It was his second campaign rally of the day after earlier holding a campaign event in North Carolina.

Republican Reps. Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz were also in attendance at the rally.
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Revellers have kept the party going as clean-up crews moved in after Sydney's Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade.

Some will be waking up on Sunday with undoubtedly sore heads while others may not have made it to bed yet after the famous party weekend.

Rainbow confetti and costume debris lined Oxford Street in inner Sydney after the parade on Saturday night.

Beer cans and shattered glass were also seen along the route.

The parade was labelled a 'success' despite pro-Palestine protestors hijacking part of the night and disrupting the event just metres away from NSW premier Chris Minns. Eight people have since been charged.

One attendee shared a short clip showing the litter left in the wake of the massive parade.

Sydney Mardi Gras revellers faced the light of day on Sunday following a hectic night full of colour, sequins and celebrating

Partygoers made their way home from the city after a night of Mardi Gras events celebrating Sydney's LGBTQI community

Huge rubbish formed around Sydney as thousands of revellers spent the night enjoying Mardi Gras events throughout the city

Rainbow confetti and costume debris lined Oxford Street in Sydney's inner-city after the Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night

Sydney's streets were left covered in rubbish from the night's festivities with one attendee making a 'note to self' on not leaving his car in the city during Mardi Gras

An estimated 120,000 spectators and 12,500 participants joined 200 floats for the 2024 Sydney Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night

'Note to self, if there's ever a Mardi Gras do not park your car on the street,' he joked.

As festivities raged on, clean-up crews were quick to get to work, racing to get banners off barricades as the parade concluded.

Their hard work continued on Sunday morning with cleaners seen sweeping confetti and feathers from the streets.

The party continued at post parade events around Sydney.

Tensions in the lead-up over the participation of NSW Police in the parade culminated in a positive reception as uniformed police flanked plain-clothed gay and lesbian liaison officers marching alongside Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley.

A brief scuffle earlier broke out between police and pro-Palestinian protesters.

Police quickly shut down a group of pro-Palestine protesters who stole the spotlight from New South Wales Premier Chris Minns

Nine people were arrested during the brief scuffle, a man and eight women, but only eight were charged once brought back to Surry Hills Police Station

The protest group, armed with flares and banners, burst into the parade in front of New South Wales Premier Chris Minns' Rainbow Labor float but were quickly shut down by police

Several marchers also drew attention to the war in Gaza by carrying Palestinian flags and signs calling to 'free Palestine'

The protest stole the spotlight from Chris Minns' historic moment as became the first NSW Premier to march in the Mardi Gras parade

The group, armed with red and green flares and banners, burst into the parade in front of Mr Minns' Rainbow Labor float but were quickly shut down by police.

'Queer Solidarity with Palestinian Resistance' one of the banners read.

The protest briefly drew attention away from Mr Minn's historic act becoming the first sitting premier to march in the parade.

Dramatic footage captured the moment police intervened and dragged protestors away from the scene.

Nine people were arrested during the short incident and taken back to Surry Hills Police Station.

Eight - 25-year-old man and seven women aged 29, 31, 35, 38, 39, 41 and 42 - were charged with using more than three people to use violence to cause fear.

The man was also charged with possessing a bright light distress signal in a public place.

The remaining person, a 29-year-old woman, was released pending further investigation.

An estimated 120,000 spectators and 12,500 participants attended theMardi Gras parade with many still in the city as the sun rose on Sunday

Workers were seen sweeping confetti and feathers from the streets of Sydney city on Sunday morning following Saturday's parade

Thousands of revellers kept the party going following the large parade with several afterparties held throughout Sydney city

Bins around Sydney were left overflowing from revellers' rubbish - including food, drinks, costume debris and parade merchandise

Some will be waking up on Sunday with undoubtedly sore heads while others may not have made it to bed yet after the famous party weekend

NSW Police assistant commissioner Anthony Cooke said of attendees: 'The majority of people were well-behaved and enjoyed the event safely and responsibly'

Massive amounts of rubbish were left behind by thousands of revellers who flocked to the city for the Mardi Gras parade on Saturday night

The short protest upstaged the Premier's historic moment as he became the first Premier of NSW to march in the Mardi Gras parade.

Several marchers also drew attention to the war in Gaza by carrying Palestinian flags and signs calling to 'free Palestine'.

However, the parade continued with no further hiccups and saw 200 colourful floats ride alongside thousands of marchers.

'Yesterday's celebration was a great example of a successful Mardi Gras event. The majority of people were well-behaved and enjoyed the event safely and responsibly,' operation commander, NSW Police assistant commissioner Anthony Cooke said.

While there were no major incidents, police arrested seven men and two women for entering the parade route as Premier Chris Minns approached, police said. All nine were taken to Surry Hills police station, with inquiries continuing.

One reveller joked Sydneysiders should never 'park your car on the street' during Mardi Gras events due to the large amount of rubbish left behind

Police were uninvited from participating in the march after an officer was charged with the murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies

Rainbow merchandise celebrating Sydney's LGBTQI community were left around the city for workers to clear on Sunday morning

NSW Police assistant commissioner Anthony Cooke said: 'Yesterday's celebration was a great example of a successful Mardi Gras event'

New South Wales Police said there were no further major incidents on Saturday following the pro-Palestinian parade interruption

The recent murder of Luke Davies and Jesse Baird by a NSW Police officer intensified the ongoing debate about police presence in the parade, stemming back to its response to the first event in 1978

As festivities raged on, clean-up crews were quick to get to work, racing to get banners off barricades as the parade concluded

An estimated 120,000 spectators and 12,500 participants attended the event, said police.

Police were uninvited from the march after an officer was charged with the alleged murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, intensifying the ongoing debate about police presence in the parade, stemming back to the response to the first event in 1978.

Tributes to the pair took place throughout the parade.

First held more than four decades ago as a protest against discrimination, the Sydney Mardi Gras has become one of the world's largest LGBTQI events.
Homeless people living on the street in tents in Miami, close to where actors Will Smith and Martin Lawrence have been shooting Bad Boys 4, say they have been moved from their encampment by police because of the ongoing production.

Several people told the Miami Herald how the officers insisted on moving them, together with all of their belongings.

'It's because of that new movie that's filming,' Matthew Williams, 44, told the newspaper. 'They moved us because we were too close to their set. They didn't want the fancy movie people from out of town seeing that homeless exist in Miami.'

The action movie, approved by local officials, is expected to bring a $20 million boost to the local economy.

Homeless people in Miami living in tents by the side of the road were forced to relocate by police due to the filming of Bad Boys 4 starring Will Smith, left, and Martin Lawrence

Local 10 News cameras spotted Will Smith and Martin Lawrence shooting scenes in Miami on Friday. The film shoots led to traffic tie-ups in the city's Brickell neighborhood

Columbia Pictures set aside $500,000 to pay for additional police support in order to manage traffic during the four-day long film shoot in Miami.

Responding to the removal of homeless tents, City of Miami Police Officer Michael Vega noted how the erecting of such items on city property was illegal, and that officers were simply enforcing the law.

'It is not that Miami Police doesn't want them to see the homeless population,' Vega said. 'They can see it through all of downtown Miami.'

He said the group were camped in a restricted area accessible only to those approved by the film crew and insisted there was no intention to 'hide the homeless' from public view.

Before moving people along, police say they always they recommend shelters including Camillus House, the Chapman Partnership center, or Salvation Army.

The movie, approved by officials, is expected to contribute $20 million to the local economy. Pictured, one of the exciting car chase scenes

Will Smith, left, and Martin Lawrence are seen walking across the street during filming

'They're offered to go to a shelter and if they refuse, then they have to leave the area,' Vega said. 'Before the officers tell them to move, they are offered help, and most refuse to accept it.'

Williams used to work as a line cook at a Bayside Marketplace restaurant before the cost of living expenses simply became too much.

Felicia Evans, 55, who has been homeless for the past nine months and who used to work as a nursing assistant said the experience had been challenging after finding all three recommended shelters were full, leaving limited options.

Despite seeking help from a caseworker, she has yet to secure shelter and faced difficulties sleeping in her tent fearing theft or harm.

She said homeless people were in urgent need of assistance.

'We dont have too many places to go. Theyre filming for Will Smith, and we cant go that way. Its difficult. I dont know what the next steps are going to be because all of the shelters are full,' Evans said.

Recently, the city of Miami had to pay $300,000 in compensation to four homeless individuals after disposing of their belongings.

As part of the settlement, the city has now agreed to stop throwing away personal possessions instead temporarily storing them for owners to retrieve having first photographed them.

Hollywood good guys Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are packing heat on the set of Bad Boys 4 while filming at a local beach in Miami. The production spent $500,000 on police support but has faced criticism for displacing homeless individuals

In terms of the movie, it has been exciting for locals and tourists alike visiting the area to catch glimpses of the film's production, but it has also been causing some traffic headaches.

Busy streets have had to be shutdown at times to allow the crew and actors show shoot chase scenes.

The production has brought an economic boost to the area, providing a variety of jobs since production resumed February 26.

Directors Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah had anticipated wrapping it up over the summer, but production was brought to an abrupt halt after the actors strike began last July.

Principal photography had been completed on the movie prior to the shutdown, but reshoots were required to complete the film.

Production is expected to wrap soon, and then the rush to edit will begin.

The beloved franchise has focused on the antics and investigations of narcotics officers Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett as they take down some very dangerous criminals.

The film is set for release on June 7, 2024 despite being originally scheduled to be in theaters on July 3, 2019.
Mustafa Citlik prepares a pepperoni pizza at Three Brothers Diner on Dixwell Avenue in Hamden on Jan. 25, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Owner Joe Houde poses at Olde World Brick Oven Apizza in North Haven on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Olde World Brick Oven Apizza's Robert Lowenthal makes a pizza in North Haven on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Owner Joe Houde poses at Olde World Brick Oven Apizza in North Haven on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Olde World Brick Oven Apizza's Robert Lowenthal makes a pizza in North Haven on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media A pizza cooks inside the brick oven at Olde World Brick Oven Apizza in North Haven on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media An exterior view of Olde World Brick Oven Apizza in North Haven on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Andrew DiMatteo, owner of DiMatteo's Pizza Restaurant, puts a pizza in the over at the eatery in Hamden on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Owner Andrew DiMatteo at DiMatteo's Pizza Restaurant in Hamden on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media A pie in the works at DiMatteo's Pizza Restaurant in Hamden on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media DiMatteo's Pizza Restaurant in Hamden on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Nelson Preciado prepares a tray of pizza dough at Sergio's Pizza on Whitney Avenue in Hamden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Nelson Preciado spreads the dough for a pizza at Sergio's Pizza on Whitney Avenue in Hamden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Jesus Morales puts a breakfast pizza into the oven at Sapori D'Italia on Circular Avenue in Hamden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Tomas Hernandez adds parmesan cheese to a square gandma's pie at Sapori D'Italia on Circular Avenue in Hamden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media Sapori D'Italia on Circular Avenue in Hamden. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media DiMatteo's Pizza Restaurant in Hamden. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Nicknamed "Hamden's Hideway," Odie's Place at 3352 Whitney Ave. is a hidden gem for pizza lovers. Austin Mirmina / Hearst Connecticut Media Paul & Eddy's at 1630 Whitney Ave. in Hamden has won several regional pizza competitions. Paul & Eddy's / Contributed Photo

HAMDEN  In its 24 years in business Three Brothers Diner has offered almost every dish imaginable: 14 different omelettes, London broil, calamari, chicken stir fry, even shish kebab.

The only item seemingly missing from the restaurant's extensive menu was pizza.

Until now.

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The diner at 1038 Dixwell Ave. recently began serving pizza as it looks to broaden its menu even further and become a "one-stop shop" for hungry customers, owner Ahmet Kangal said.

Three Brothers will serve Greek-style pizza using dough and fresh ingredients that are made from scratch, according to Kangal, who also owns Elm Diner in West Haven and Sky Diner in Branford. The owner said he bought a $7,000 oven and hired an experienced pizza chef in preparation for the dish's rollout in January.

Mustafa Citlik puts a pepperoni pizza in the oven at Three Brothers Diner on Dixwell Avenue in Hamden on Jan. 25, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

At Three Brothers, customers can choose many of the same pizza toppings served at traditional pizzerias, as well as a specialty "breakfast pizza" that features some of the diner's signature omelettes. And like everything else on its menu, pizza is available to order at any point while the diner is open from 6 a.m. to midnight.

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By introducing pizza to the menu, Kangal said he sought to make his diner more welcoming to younger guests, bearing in mind those families who are at the mercy of their children's appetites for certain foods.

"Because kids want pizza, the parents have to have pizza, too," Kangal said. But at Three Brothers, he said, "they can get pizza for kids; wife wants seafood; husband wants a steak. They can order all in one place."

As more customers order their food online, Kangal said he hopes having pizza could boost his delivery sales. In addition to its own delivery service, Three Brothers is available on Uber Eats, DoorDash, Grubhub and Slice, a food delivery platform designed to support local pizzerias.

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"It used to be when you think about a diner, that was a spot for people to come and dine in," Kangal said. "Now when they leave work, before they get home, their dinner can be at the door.

Three Brothers Diner joins an already established group of pizzerias in Hamden. Their styles vary; some serve pizza with the thin crust and characteristic charring made famous in New Haven, which Gov. Ned Lamont recently dubbed the "Pizza Capital of America." Others provide larger, thicker slices.

All of the restaurants, though, have become known for their quality, consistency and passion for pizza.

Here are the most popular pizza establishments in Hamden, according to local residents.

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Sorrento's Brick Oven Pizza

Opened in 1949, Sorrento's is one of New Haven County's oldest pizzerias. It serves an Italian-style pie with a relatively thin crust and golden base, according to owner Esse Sai, who has been making pizza at the restaurant's 244 Skiff St. location for the last 24 years.

Esse Sai, co-owner of Sorrento's Brick Oven Pizza, pulls a pizza out of the brick oven at the restaurant on Skiff Street in Hamden on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Sorrento's also take requests; its brick oven  the largest such appliance on the East Coast as of about 10 years ago, Sai said  can accommodate customers who prefer that New Haven char.

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Sorrento's is adored by generations of pizza lovers who appreciate its rich history in town, its owner said.

"When I was growing up in Hamden as a child, my dad always went there," Stephen Mckiernan said. Sorrento's, he added, still has the "same great taste" today.

Stephen Mckiernan, who grew up in Hamden but since has moved away, recalled dining at Sorrento's with his father in the early 1980s. The pizzeria still has the "same great taste" today, he added.

Sorrento's Brick Oven Pizza on Skiff Street in Hamden photographed on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Sai said customers like Mckiernan who have left Hamden often will stop in and reminisce about their childhood visits.

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"I have people come who, lets say they used to live here and they moved to Boston or Washington D.C.," Sai said. "They want to come visit and say, 'I havent seen you guys in years,' and we say, 'Were not going anywhere.'"

Sergio's Pizza and Restaurant

Sergio's Pizza on Whitney Avenue in Hamden. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Sergio's at 3860 Whitney Ave. has been dishing out Neopolitan pizza for nearly 40 years and is recognized as one of the town's pizza staples. Though it faces plenty of competition on Whitney Avenue, Sergio's has made a name for itself in a crowded pizza town.

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"We're well known here on this avenue," co-owner Stella Marone said.

Nelson Preciado takes a cheese pizza out of the oven at Sergio's Pizza on Whitney Avenue in Hamden on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

Some of its signature items include broccoli rabe and sausage, margarita and the "Sergio Special," topped with spinach, ricotta and garlic.

"Great chewy, crispy crust, simple tangy sauce and great cheese," said Tom Collett, who grew up eating pizza from Sergio's. "Loved the char as well."

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Di Matteo's Pizza Restaurant

Consistency has been a long-held tenet at Di Matteo's and one of its biggest keys to success, current owner Andrew DiMatteo said. Originally from New York, the DiMatteo family opened its pizzeria at 2100 Dixwell Ave. in 1972 and since then have been churning out the same quality New York-style pie to its legions of loyal customers.

Andrew DiMatteo said he recently served a customer from Colorado who used to eat there as a student at Hamden High School. After a few bites, the customer proclaimed that the pizza was exactly how he remembered it in high school.

"I think consistency is number one, and weve kept that for the 52 years that weve been in business," DiMatteo said.

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Despite the rising cost of pizza ingredients, Di Matteo's has never wavered from its commitment to consistency, and local residents have taken notice, according to its owner.

"My family loves Di Matteo's," Marrisa Marranzini said. "They are always consistent with the quality of pizza and we enjoy it every time. Everywhere else seems to be hit or miss, but they are always good and we're satisfied."

Odie's Place

Nicknamed "Hamden's Hideaway," Odie's Place at 3352 Whitney Ave. is hailed as a hidden gem for pizza lovers.

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The restaurant, which recently celebrated its 11th anniversary, serves a New Haven-style pizza that some customers have said is on par with the Holy Trinity of Modern, Frank Pepe's and Sally's, according to Elias Defaranos, an Odie's manager.

"They do compare it to New Haven believe it or not," Defaranos said. "We're all out there trying to make the best pie and I just want to make sure it's good for everyone around here."

Sapori D'Italia

Sapori D'Italia, a small, old-school Italian restaurant and market at 293 Circular Ave., earned praise from residents for its bursting flavor and creative pizza topping combinations. Its specialty offerings include a "Salad Pizza"  made with arugula, tomato, cucumber, onion, roasted peppers, carrots, sharp provolone and fresh mozzarella  and a new "Breakfast Pizza" that is topped with bacon, egg and cheese.

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"It's been a big hit since we started doing it, owner Antonio De Nicola said of the breakfast pie, which was introduced last week.

Sapori also serves a popular "Grandma's Pizza" that is pan-cooked and comes with tomato sauce, basil, garlic and grated parmesan cheese.

"It's always full of flavor no matter what pizza you get; it's always piping hot," Christina Larrow said. "They always have some by the slice to try some different kinds besides your usual cheese or pepperoni."

"Their pizza is always hot and fresh and you can guarantee they're using quality ingredients," said Chris Atchley, who listed Sapori among his top three Hamden pizzerias.

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Atchley said he enjoyed Sapori's thin, crispy crust, lightly-seasoned tomato sauce and mozzarella that "melts well without making too much grease."

Paul & Eddy's

Paul & Eddy's at 1630 Whitney Ave. is a blend of the New York-and New Haven-style pizza with "not as much char" and a crust that is "a little thicker on the edge," owner Eddy Bateson said. The pizzeria is home to the popular "Chicken Fra Diavolo," a white pizza with tomatoes, chicken, hot cherries and bacon.

Paul & Eddy's is no stranger to the limelight: it won three first-place medals in the now-defunct New Haven Pizza Fest in 2011, 2013 and 2014, according to Bateson, who opened the restaurant more than 30 years ago.

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Olde World Apizza

Technically located in North Haven, Olde World Apizza at 1957 Whitney Ave. earned an honorable mention because it is a stone's throw from the Hamden border and is frequented by residents in that town.

Olde World is an offshoot of Modern Apizza in New Haven, co-owner Joe Houde said.

Bill McCarthy, Olde World's other owner, formerly worked as a pizza chef at Modern before leaving to start his own business with Houde in 1996. They have been serving New Haven-style pizza ever since.

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A terrified pre-teen desperately tried to keep her unconscious friends safe from assault after they allegedly were drugged at a sleepover by the host's father, a court has heard.

The 12-year-old sent a series of frantic text messages pleading for rescue as Michael Meyden, 57, allegedly prowled the home in Lake Oswego, Oregon, to see if the tranquilizers had taken effect. Meyden has denied the accusations against him.

She was the only one of the four girls to refuse most of the spiked smoothies he insisted they drank, and later pretended she was asleep as Meyden repeatedly tried to edge one of her drugged friends away from her, a probable cause affidavit claims.

'Mom please pick me up and say I had a family emergency,' I don't feel safe,' she wrote as Meyden returned upstairs briefly.

'I might not respond but please come get me. Please. Please pick up. Please. PLEASE!!'

The father-of-two is due to appear at Clackamas County Court

The girls, all 12 years old, were hospitalized and tested positive for benzodiazepines

The three girls had joined Meyden's daughter for the 'spa night' sleepover at his home in August last year.

Meyden, a human resources director, was 'highly involved' in the event, taking them out to get their nails done and picking up pizza for their dinner, according to the affidavit.

Before going to bed, Meyden allegedly made them two smoothies each and 'insisted' they drink them.

'Mr. Meyden specifically gave each of the girls specific colored reusable straws to distinguish their own drink,' the probable cause affidavit claims.

'Mr. Meyden was adamant that the girls drink out of their own cups.'

One girl drank both her smoothies, and another girl drank one glass, but the third said she did not like the smoothies and barely drank any at all, police say.

Authorities claim that one of the girls said that the drinks appeared to have 'tiny white chunks;' in them and that Meyden's own daughter appeared to have drunk a significant amount.

The girls then retired to the basement where two slept in a bedroom and the others on a pull-out couch.

The only undrugged girl remained awake and saw Meyden allegedly come into the basement and pull the heavily drugged girl away from her.

When he disappeared upstairs, the girl pulled her unconscious friend back next to her only to find Meyden return and pull her away again, the affidavit says.

'He put his finger underneath the nose of the awake girl 'as if to see if she was soundly asleep, he then waved his hand in front of her face,' she told police.

As Meyden allegedly retreated, she began calling and texting her parents and was eventually able to reach a family friend, who picked her up and took her to her home.

As word spread the parents of the other two girls arrived to retrieve their daughters at 3am, but Meyden was allegedly reluctant to let them in, telling them their children were asleep.

The parents took the girls to Randall Children's Hospital where they tested positive for benzodiazepines, tranquilizers more usually used to calm anxiety or as a sleeping aid.

The girl who drank two smoothies told police she began to feel woozy, hot and clumsy, shortly after finishing the second.

She then 'blacked out' and fell into a 'thick, deep sleep' unlike any she had previously known, the affidavit says.

Meyden has been charged with three felony counts of causing another person to ingest a controlled substance, three felony counts of applying a schedule IV controlled substance to the body of a minor and three misdemeanor counts of delivering to a minor a schedule IV controlled substance.

He surrendered at the Clackamas County Jail on Tuesday and pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing on Wednesday before being released on $50,000 bail.

Court records show that he and his wife divorced late last year, and his current address is an RV park in Vancouver.

'Mr. Meyden is presumed innocent,' his attorney Mark Cogan said.

'We have not seen the evidence. The indictment was issued by a grand jury behind closed doors where no judge, no defense attorney, was allowed.

'And we hope that people will reserve judgment until all the facts are known.'
Friends and family members of Gillis, 20, rejoiced as Monahan was escorted out of court in handcuffs

Kevin Monahan, 66, was sentenced to 25 years for shooting Kaylin Gillis when the SUV she was in accidentally drove up his driveway in Upstate NY

Friends and family members of 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis heckled her killer as he was escorted out of court to serve a 25-year-prison sentence.

Kevin Monahan, 66, was found guilty on Friday of second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and tampering with physical evidence after a two-week trial in January.

Monahan, who hails from Hebron, fatally shot Gillis after the SUV she was riding in mistakenly pulled into his rural driveway in Upstate New York last April.

The decision came after a series of heartbreaking emotional impact statements from Gillis' father as well as her boyfriend Blake Walsh, who was driving, and friend Alexandra Whiting, who was another passenger on the fateful night.

The courtroom, which was full of people wearing shirts and sweaters memorializing Gillis, rejoiced as Monahan was escorted out of the courtroom after being sentenced to 25 years behind bars.

Friends and family members of 20-year-old Kaylin Gillis heckled her killer Kevin Monahan (pictured) as he was escorted out of court to serve a 25-year-prison sentence

Monahan is standing trial over the April 2023 fatal shooting of Kaylin Gillis, 20, who was shot in the neck after a car she was riding in accidentally drove down the gunman's driveway

Gillis (right) had been riding in the car with her boyfriend and two friends when they got lost down Monahan's winding dirt road. He says he will 'never be able to forgive' Monahan for killing her

Gillis' family and friends shouted 'Bye Kevin', 'you coward' and 'justice served' as he was marched out in handcuffs.

The defense asked for leniency. Monahan declined an opportunity to speak.

'I think it's important for people to know that it's not ok to shoot people and have them killed for turning down your driveway,' Judge Adam Michelini said.

Apart from the wider deterrent effect, Michelini said it's important that Monahan remain behind bars rather than be free to harm more people.

On the night of Gillis' death, the group of friends had realized their error and had turned around when Monahan fired a second shot, striking Gillis in the neck as she sat in the front passenger seat of an SUV driven by her boyfriend.

Monahan maintained the fatal shot was an accident and that the shotgun was defective. He also said he believed the house about 40 miles (65 kilometers) north of Albany was 'under siege' by intruders, and said he came out to fire a warning shot to try to scare the group away while his wife hid inside.

Prosecutors argued that Monahan was motivated by an irrational rage toward trespassers.

A jury deliberated for less then two hours before returning guilty verdicts in January against Monahan for murder, reckless endangerment and tampering with physical evidence.

The father of Gilis previously told of his grief at losing his daughter so suddenly, and said he hopes Monahan 'dies in jail'

A NYS Court Police officer to holds Kevin Monahan's shotgun during summations in Monahan's murder trial

Kaylin Gillis' father Andrew addressed the media after Monahan's first court appearance in April, where he said he hoped the shooter 'dies in jail'

According to Zillow, Kevin Monahan's home was built in 2004 and is estimated to cost $310,000, it is only accessible through an unpaved road

Gillis' father, Andrew Gillis, has described his daughter as someone who loved animals and had dreams of becoming a marine biologist or a veterinarian.

'Every day we wake up to the harsh reality that that shes no longer here. We will never see her beautiful face, hear her laughter,' Gillis said in court Friday before Monahan's sentence was announced.

Her boyfriend, Blake Walsh, was behind the wheel of the SUV that night. 'I will never be able to forgive you,' he told Monahan, who looked on with a stony face.

'You took the life of someone who never was a threat to you, not for a second,' Walsh said.

'Kaylin was a sweet and loving soul. Everything you wished you could be,' he continued. 'If it were my decision, you'd be under the jail.'

Gillis's friend Whiting told the killer, 'Once in a while, I feel slightly bad for you, wondering what made you turn out this way and why, and wondering if you truly feel guilty about what you did.'

'You made a decision that altered all of our lives forever, all because you spent three minutes in fear,' she said.
A Jewish father-of-three who was told by a tube passenger 'your religion is killing Muslims' has said he feels unable to walk through central London wearing his skullcap due to the 'hate marches'.

The father, who wants to remain anonymous for his family's safety, has spoken about his fears of rising anti-Semitism after he was allegedly abused by a vape-puffing passenger on the London Underground on Thursday.

The shocking incident was captured on video and involved a man who said he was a Muslim pointing at the Jewish man's skullcap and saying his religion kills Muslims.

British Transport Police have confirmed they are investigating.

Speaking to MailOnline, he said the alleged abuse was an example of how things have 'absolutely got worse' since the Hamas terrorist attacks on October 7.

A Jewish father-of-three, who wants to remain anonymous for his family's safety, has said he feels unable to walk through central London wearing his skullcap due to the 'hate marches'

The shocking footage showed a passenger appearing to goad the Jewish man by blowing smoke from his red vape towards him and telling him 'your religion is killing Muslims' after noticing the skullcap

'I call them hate marches, weekly hate marches on streets of London which are not being policed effectively' he said.

'You embolden the extremists who believe they can act with impunity and do what they want in the streets of London. And that's why we're seeing a proliferation of the situation we're seeing with the rise in anti-Semitism.'

The Jewish father has worn a skullcap or Kippah at all times as part of his faith for decades but said he now sometimes worries about the attention it can draw.

He said he hopes his 12-year-old son, who goes to a Jewish school, would feel safe wearing it in London but said that is 'unfortunately becoming less and less the case'.

'I think there are situations where I would either wear a cap or take my Kippah off in certain areas of London especially if I was by myself' he said.

'I think it has come to that unfortunately.

'I'll tell you one thing, there's no way in a million years I would walk through central London on a Saturday with these hate marches going on wearing my skullcap. You just you know what's gonna happen.

The pair had an argument with the vaping man confirming he is a Muslim in the exchange

During a protest two men were pictured wearing alleged Hamas-style headbands on their balaclava and scarf-covered faces

One placard on display during a protest showed a snake in the colours of the Israeli flag, encircling the world, which allegedly is a direct link to Nazi Germany

One sign seen at the rally accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of being the 'mastermind' behind 'all evils'

'I would absolutely agree that the police need to do more. I think they have powers to deal with this. Unfortunately, they're not using them.

'I think they're scared of the mob rule and you can see that. How can a call for genocide be projected onto the Elizabeth Tower outside the House of Parliament when a vote is going on and MPs are intimidated to act and be able to carry out their jobs?

'It's absolutely disgusting that extremists are taking control of the democratic process.

'I haven't heard all of Rishi's speech but I've seen the highlights in the paper, but the divisions in society are compounded by social media.'

The Jewish father lives in northwest London and is the director of a consultancy firm.

He thinks the rise in anti-Semitism is party due to what he refers to as 'TikTok-educated idiots'.

'The polarisation of material that is force fed down people's throats and then we end up in these situations where people don't have tolerance to each other' he said.

He added: 'People unfortunately don't have contact, people don't understand. They are thrown propaganda material down their throats, and they form opinions and get polarised, and therefore they feel that they are doing the right thing, a misguided thing by acting in certain ways.

'They don't realise that what they're doing is breaking the law. And the law needs to be enforced.'

The words 'From the river to the sea' were beamed on to the Elizabeth Tower during a Commons debate last week in which MPs warned threats from 'Islamist extremists' were stifling democracy

Thee device was repeatedly beam the phrases 'ceasefire now', 'stop bombing Gaza', 'end the war now', and 'stop war'

'There are forces here at home trying to tear us apart. We must not allow that to happen,' the Prime Minister said in an address at Downing Street on March 1, 2024

The Jewish father said it was not the first time he has experienced anti-Semitism since October 7.

In the weeks after the Hamas terror attack while walking back from Synagogue on a Friday night with his son, a car pulled up nearby and rolled down its window and shouted 'f***ing Jews get off the road!'

But following the tube incident, he worries the next time someone faces anti-Semitism in public they might not have the confidence to challenge it like he did.

He said: 'From my point of view I can look after myself. I can handle myself as you as you heard on the video. I'm not gonna get flustered by these TikTok-educated idiots.

'I'll defend my position and my religion as you could hear, but you know, God forbid there was a little old elderly gentleman, who was more intimidated or more scared, or young girl who's wearing a Star of David.

'Why do these people feel emboldened and feel that they can react this way with impunity in London in this day and age? It's shocking that's what I feel.

'I believe it's not just you know myself with Judaism. I believe that anyone should be able to wear any religious symbol.

'This was a multicultural society, we're a tolerant society, and if there was a Kippah or a hijab or a turban whatever their religious identity is they should be able to wear it in public without fear of abuse or attack or or discrimination.

'And unfortunately, that's something that's fundamental to British values. And that is being eroded at this time.'

A poster of Kfir Bibas, who was kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, is daubed with swastikas

People attend a Campaign Against Antisemitism rally outside New Scotland Yard in central London, seeking police action amid a rise in anti-Semitic incidents

A total of 679 anti-Semitic offences were recorded by the Met Police from October 7 to November 7 2023, compared with 50 in the equivalent period the previous year and 81 in 2021

The Community Security Trust, a charity, recorded 4,103 instances of anti-Semitism, up from 1,662 in 2022 (File Photo)

But the Jewish father did praise British Transport Police for their work in trying to catch the vape-smoking alleged abuser on the tube, but despite stopping the train he had managed to cross the platform and escape.

He said: 'I'm hoping the transport police got to follow him on the CCTV. And maybe he scanned out with the oyster or credit cards, and they can trace him.

'The British Transport Police were very good they called me, and they've offered support, and they're very proactive in trying to take this forward.'

The incident of alleged anti-Semitic abuse happened on a Northern Line journey between Chalk Farm and Belsize Park in the north of the city on Thursday.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism shared the footage but decided to blur the face of the passenger due to him possibly being under 18.

The tube incident comes after a report published two weeks ago showed the number of anti-Semitic incidents jumped 147 per cent last year to record levels, with a massive surge in the wake of the Hamas atrocities on October 7.

The Community Security Trust, a charity, recorded 4,103 instances of anti-Semitism, up from 1,662 in 2022. It included 266 violent assaults on Jews, up 96 per cent year-on-year and the highest figure since the CST started gathering data 40 years ago.

For the first time, it recorded at least one anti-Semitic incident for every police force in the UK, with the majority  more than 2,400  in London, including some at vigils for Hamas's Israeli hostages.

Home Secretary James Cleverly condemned the figures at the time as 'utterly deplorable'. Ten of the violent incidents involved fake firearms and three involved knives. Victims were struck with metal bars or other objects in 13 cases, 53 were punched or kicked and 36 were spat upon.

Police forces across the country also noticed increasing rates of anti-Semitism since the October 7 attacks.

The Metropolitan Police recorded a total of 679 anti-Semitic offences from October 7 to November 7 2023, compared with 50 in the equivalent period in 2022 and 81 in 2021.
Herriage's best friend and college roommate, Sara House, died in the crash

The car crash was allegedly caused by an 'intoxicated' woman, Carmen Guerrero, 23, who was seen fleeing with scene wearing club attire

Camryn Herriage, 23, is fighting for her life on a ventilator after a hit-and-run

A Dallas woman is fighting for her life after a horror hit-and-run car crash that also killed her college roommate.

Camryn Herriage, 23, was riding in a car alongside her college roommate and three other friends on February 11.

Their vehicle was waiting at a red light on Beckley Avenue, where Woodall Rogers Freeway ends, when a Ford pickup truck slammed into them, causing a chain reaction car crash, Fox4 News reported.

All of the passengers were rushed to hospital where Herriage has been on a ventilator in the ICU for the past month due to life-threatening injuries sustained during the deadly accident.

Bystanders reported seeing a woman exiting the driver's side of the truck and fleeing from the scene on foot 'wearing a small black dress and white clubbing shoes,' an arrest affidavit said.

A Dallas woman, Camryn Herriage, is fighting for her life after a hit-and-run crash allegedly caused by an 'intoxicated' woman wearing clubbing attire

All of the passengers were rushed to hospital where Herriage has been relying on a ventilator in the ICU for the past month due to life-threatening injuries sustained during the accident

The woman who allegedly took off was later identified by police as 27-year-old Carmen Guerrero

Witnesses described the women as appearing to be 'extremely intoxicated.'

The woman who allegedly took off was later identified by police as 27-year-old Carmen Guerrero.

Detectives said they found Guerrero's wallet in the abandoned Ford truck and took her into custody 11 days after the crash.

She is now facing multiple charges, including manslaughter and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. She is being held in Dallas County jail.

While Herriage continues to fight for her life in the ICU, her older sister Casie Campanello has not left her side for weeks.

'Literally, a careless act. Put us in a situation that changed all of our lives,' she said. 'We are very helpless and just stay strong for her, but it's very difficult to see.'

She added: 'When she came out of her first surgery, the surgeon told us he told us he never saw anyone make it to the hospital with her injury. So she has a purpose.'

Herriage's best friend and college roommate from Texas Tech University tragically died in the hit-and-run.

Sara House, 23, worked as an executive sales associate assistant at Ralph Lauren after graduating from Texas Tech, having studied business, management and marketing and also competed in bikini competitions.

Herriage, 23, was riding in a car alongside her college roommate and three other friends on Febraury 11 - the night of the deadly car crash

Their vehicle was waiting at a light on Beckley Avenue, where Woodall Rogers Freeway ends, when they was slammed into by a Ford pickup truck, causing a chain reaction car crash

Herriage works at a social media management and branding company based in Lubbock, Texas

While Herriage continues to fight for her life in the ICU, her older sister Casie Campanello hasn't left her side for weeks. 'Literally, a careless act. Put us in a situation that changed all of our lives'

Herriage's best friend and college roommate from Texas Tech University, Sara House, (pictured) tragically died in the hit-and-run

The pair of college roommates (pictured) were extremely close and would often make TikToks together, which Herriage shared on her profile boasting 32,000 followers

Sara House worked as an executive sales associate assistant at Ralph Lauren after graduating from Texas Tech, having studied business, management and marketing and competed in bikini competitions

The college roommates were extremely close and would often make TikToks together, which Herriage shared on her profile boasting 32,000 followers.

Herriage works at a social media management and branding company based in Lubbock, Texas.

She had only recently moved back to North Texas after graduating from college in December.
George Galloway's deputy is under police investigation for saying Israel 'has forfeited any right to exist'.

Former Labour MP Chris Williamson made the comment on social media on October 17, ten days after Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1,200 Israelis.

He told his 149,000 followers on X: 'The people of the world now know that Israel has forfeited the right to exist and that resistance to the genocidal Zionist entity is the only option.

Yet our political leaders still collaborate with this vile regime. So make them pay at the ballot box.'

George Galloway's deputy is under police investigation for saying Israel 'has forfeited any right to exist

Former Labour MP Chris Williamson made the comment on social media on October 17, ten days after Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1,200 Israelis

READ MORE: Gloating George Galloway says he wants disgraced ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and Tory Brexiteer David Davis at his side when he makes his return to the Commons at Rochdale MP on Monday Advertisement

The Jeremy Corbyn ally sparked further fury after refusing to condemn the attacks when he appeared on Radio 4's Today programme on Friday after The Workers Party of Britain, of which he is deputy leader, won the Rochdale by-election.

Galloway's victory there has sparked fears of increased anti-Semitism across the country.

Williamson, 67, a former Labour MP for Derby North, was Shadow Local Government Minister from 2010 to 2013.

He was suspended from Labour in 2019 after he claimed the party had been 'too apologetic' in response to allegations of anti-Semitism.

Derbyshire Police confirmed the force had received 'multiple' complaints about the tweet, adding: 'The investigation is still ongoing'.

During his BBC interview, Williamson said of the Hamas massacre: 'You can't expect to live in a situation where people have been oppressed for 75 years and not expect a reaction.'

Williamson, pictured left with Galloway, has said complaints his tweet was a hate crime are 'bogus' and 'an obvious waste of police time'

And he made the wild claim that most of those slaughtered on October 7 were killed by Israeli forces.

Tory MP Nigel Mills said: 'These comments are truly appalling. The views are disgusting.'

Williamson, pictured left with Galloway, has said complaints his tweet was a hate crime are 'bogus' and 'an obvious waste of police time'.
English Heritage has been mocked by academics for saying Hadrian's Wall is a symbol of England's queer history.

The Roman Empire built Hadrian's Wall to protect Britannia from the 'barbarians' north of the border, in present-day Scotland.

But English Heritage marked the end of LGBT History Month last week by claiming the 1,900-year-old military fortification was 'linked to England's queer history'.

In an article emailed to its membership, it claims Emperor Hadrian enjoyed several gay relationships despite being married.

The love of his life is believed to have been Antinous, a man born in modern-day Turkey.

English Heritage has been mocked by academics for saying Hadrian's Wall is a symbol of England's queer history

Professor Frank Furedi, author of up-coming book The War Against The Past, accused English Heritage of trying to appear 'hyper trendy'.

He said: 'English Heritage appears to be in the business of reading history backwards and discovering LGBTQ culture in the most unlikely places.'

Jeremy Black, an emeritus professor of history at Exeter University, added: 'The idea that Hadrian's Wall is an exposition of what can be seen as queer history is totally misguided.'

Roman Emperor Hadrian built the wall to protect Britannia from the 'barbarians' north of the border, in present-day Scotland.

An illustration of Emperor Hadrian with Antinous, who was born in modern-day Turkey

English Heritage also listed Chiswick House, Walmer Castle, Farleigh Hungerford Castle, Eltham Palace and Rievaulx Abbey as sites linked to England's 'queer history'.

Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said it was 'important that this hidden history is revealed'.

English Heritage said: 'To understand Hadrian's Wall, you have to understand the Roman emperor who built it  his career, his life and the times in which he lived.'
Donald Trump has comfortably cruised past rival Nikki Haley to win Republican caucuses in Idaho, Michigan and Missouri.

The networks called Idaho for the former president shortly after 7 pm. Now, with 90 percent of the vote counted, he leads Nikki Haley by 85 points to her 13.

The win notches up another 32 delegates for Trump ahead of the Republican's national convention in July.

In Michigan, Trump trounced Haley in all 13 districts taking part in the nominating caucuses, securing 98 percent of support overall according to the GOP. It was the second part of the state's nominating process.

The two contests add to an earlier win in Missouri, where the race was called at 11:40 am, less than two hours after the gatherings began.

The victories brought Trump's total delegates as of Saturday to 247, more than doubling the count he had heading into the weekend.

Donald Trump beat rival Nikki Haley to win Republican caucuses in Idaho, Michigan and Missouri on Saturday

Trump's victory in Missouri was called just under two hours after caucus gatherings began across the state to award Missouri's 54 Republican delegates

The former president, who is especially strong in caucuses, was adding to his clean sweep of Republican contests with victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, South Carolina and the Michigan primary.

Former U.N. Ambassador Haley, meanwhile, is still seeking her first win. There are no Democratic contests on Saturday.

For this election cycle, Michigan Republicans devised a hybrid nominating system, split between a primary and a caucus.

Trump won the primary convincingly on Tuesday, securing 12 of 16 delegates up for grabs. He took all of Michigan's remaining 39 delegates at stake on Saturday

In Missouri, voters gathered to award the state's 54 Republican delegates to Trump.

They lined up outside a church in Columbia, home to the University of Missouri, before the doors opened.

'I dont know what my role here will be, besides standing in a corner for Trump,' Columbia resident Carmen Christal said, adding that shes 'just looking forward to the experience of it.'

This year will be the first test of the new system, which is almost entirely run by volunteers on the Republican side.

The caucuses were organized after GOP Gov. Mike Parson signed a 2022 law that, among other things, canceled the planned March 12 presidential primary.

Lawmakers have failed to reinstate the primary despite calls to do so by both state Republican and Democratic party leaders. Democrats will hold a party-run primary on March 23.

Trump prevailed twice under Missouri's old presidential primary system.

Next week, Super Tuesday will see 16 states and American Samoa hold primaries on what will be the largest day of voting of the year outside of the November election. Trump is on track to lock up the nomination days later.

Michigan Republicans at their convention in Grand Rapids on Saturday began allocating 39 of the states 55 GOP presidential delegates.

But a significant portion of the partys grassroots force was skipping the gathering because of the lingering effects of a months long dispute over the party's leadership.

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley is still seeking her first win

Missouri voters gather Saturday, March 2, 2024, at the Family Worship Center of Columbia, Mo., to caucus for the Republican presidential nominee

Trump handily won Michigan's primary this past Tuesday with 68 percent of the vote compared with Haleys 27 percent.

Last year, Idaho lawmakers passed cost-cutting legislation that was intended to move all the states primaries to the same date in May - but the bill inadvertently eliminated the presidential primaries entirely.

The Republican-led legislature considered holding a special session to reinstate the presidential primaries but failed to agree on a proposal in time, leaving both parties with presidential caucuses as the only option.

The GOP presidential caucuses were on Saturday, while the Democratic caucuses aren't until May 23.

The last GOP caucuses in Idaho were in 2012, when about 40,000 of the states nearly 200,000 registered Republican voters showed up to select their preferred candidate.

For this year, all Republican voters who want to participate had to attend in person and vote after hearing short speeches by the candidates or their representatives.

Trump placed a distant second in the 2016 Idaho primary behind Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

The next contest is the GOP primary is Sunday in the District of Columbia.
The National Border Patrol Council has savagely mocked President Joe Biden days after he paid a visit to the southern border.

The Council, which is the official union of the U.S. Border Patrol, funded and administered by Border Patrol agents, joked about how the president's itinerary would have been extremely tiring for the 81-year-old.

'Board AF1, take nap. Wake up in place called Brownsville. Read large teleprompter message, "It's all Trump's fault."

'Board AF1, ask who people in green uniforms were, told they "strap" illegal aliens, express horror, take nap. Wake up, call a lid, hit beach, take nap,' the union tweeted coupled with a photo of Biden snoozing on the sands.

The National Border Patrol Council has savagely mocked President Joe Biden days after he paid a visit to the southern border with a joke itinerary

Migrants crossing the border at Eagle Pass in from Mexico. Both Biden and Trump headed to the southern border on Thursday for dueling events as polling shows immigration ticks up as a major issue among swing-state voters

President Joe Biden delivers remarks about immigration and border security on February 29 in Brownsville, Texas. The President visited the border near Brownsville on the same day as a dueling trip made by former President Donald Trump to neighboring Eagle Pass, Texas

Of course, Biden didn't really hit the beach following his Texas trip, but it made for a humorous post. The picture was taken in July 2023.

The head of The Council on Monday slammed Biden for what he called blatant electioneering, accusing him only deciding to visit the southern frontier with Mexico because he is trailing in the polls.

Brandon Judd said the president, who visited Brownsville, Texas, on Thursday, was not even going to the right place

'He's had three years to do something,' Judd, who represents 17,000 Border Patrol agents told DailyMail.com.

'And now that he knows that he's being hurt very badly in the polls, because of the crisis that he caused, he's now going to the border.'

The Border Patrol union frequently mocks the president over illegal immigration.

The organization wrote on X on Friday, 'Wasn't it Biden who encouraged people from all over the world to "surge the border"? Didn't Biden immediately void all the successful Trump EO's that were keeping our border under control?

'Didn't he publicly and viciously accuse BP agents of criminal assault, then told the world those people will pay, and the entire thing was made up BS? Has he apologized or taken responsibility for any of it, or asked forgiveness from the victims of some of the millions of illegal aliens he imported into this country?'

President Biden gets a tour of the border from CBP agents at the Rio Grande River in Brownsville, Texas

Donald Trump was 324 miles away in Eagle Pass, Texas

Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump talks with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott during a visit to the U.S.-Mexico border, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas

Around 45 percent of registered voters said they would vote for Trump while just 43 percent would cast their ballot for the current president, according to a new poll by The New York Times and Siena College

If Biden really had done everything he could, added Judd, why would he need to go?

Brandon Judd, president of the National Border Patrol Council, slammed President Joe Biden's trip to the southern border this week

People cross the Rio Grande river to turn themselves in Brownsville, Texas, to authorities to begin their immigration process

This week marked Biden's second visit to the border as president. He traveled to El Paso in January last year after local officials had cleaned up the migrant camps.

During his trip to Brownsville, Biden spoke about the bipartisan immigration bill which failed to pass in the Senate laying the blame squarely at former president Trump.

Republicans have expressed their opposition to the bill, which they say claim doesn't do enough.

"The majority of Democrats and Republicans in both houses support this legislation until someone came along and said don't do that that'll benefit the incumbent. That's a hell of a way to do business in America for such a serious problem,' Biden said while in Brownsville.

In Brownsville, border crossings have dropped dramatically in the past months, after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott had miles of the wire fencing installed as part of Operation Lone Star, which he signed into law in December.

Internal CBP data for all border patrol stations in February - obtained by Fox News - shows that the Brownsville area had about 462 apprehensions, which averages out to about 17 per day.

That makes Brownsville, Texas, the 29th busiest border patrol station for the month. The number one station was Three Points in Tucson, Arizona, sector, which has recorded more than 13,900 apprehensions in February.

Brownsville could give Biden a platform to argue illegal crossings have dropped dramatically given it was the busiest corridor for illegal crossings for nine years.

But Republicans have called it something else: a 'photo-op.'

Speaker Mike Johnson accused Biden of going merely for the optics.

'Brownsville is the 29th ranked hotspot. Why would he go to the 29th? Because he doesn't really want to see the reality,' he said Thursday.

At a House Republican leadership news conference, many of the leaders repeatedly accused Biden of a 'photo op.'

'President Biden goes down to the border today for a photo op,' Majority Leader Steve Scalise said. 'He has the authority today to fix this problem that he created.'

The White House has said it's House Republicans who are turning the border into a 'political stunt.'

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back against GOP criticism of Biden's trip, noting it was House Republicans who refused to bring up a vote on a bipartisan border security bill after Trump came out against it.
A senior Coalition MP has slammed Anthony Albanese's immigration plan as 'a complete mess' and said the numbers are way too high.

Speaking on ABC's Insiders on Sunday morning, Opposition immigration spokesman Dan Tehan said that under Labor, 1.6million immigrants will arrive in Australia over a four year period.

Host David Speers asked him if 1.6m is too high - the number comes from a budget forecast - and what Australia's migration intake should be.

'Well, I can tell you what it shouldn't be. It shouldn't be as high as what it is today,' Mr Tehan replied.

Speers again asked how high immigration should be, and the Victorian MP again didn't answer.

Senior Coalition MP Dan Tehan (pictured) has slammed Anthony Albanese 's immigration plan as 'a complete mess' and said the numbers are way too high

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (right) is pictured with Jodie Belyea, who won the by-election in the Victorian seat of Dunkley on Saturday

'Well, obviously we'll have to wait and see and we'll announce that in the lead up to the next election. We've got to wait and see what it is under this government.

'So then we can work out, OK, what we we need to do. But I can tell you what's too high, 1.6million people coming into this country over four years.'

Mr Tehan said it amounted to the population of Adelaide being added to Australia in that time period and that this should not be allowed to happen.

'When we have a housing crisis, when we have a rental crisis, when people can't get in to see a doctor,' he said.

'When we've seen cuts in our infrastructures, so the roads aren't being built to deal with that population, that is too high.'

The member for the seat of Wannon said Australia needs 'a proper plan when it comes to immigration and (to) set out what that should look like'.

'(But) what we've seen from Labor is a complete mess when it comes to immigration, whether it be dealing with the detainees, whether it be this 1.6million people coming in without a plan, it's a complete mess,' he said.

Speers again tried to pin Mr Tehan down on the Coalition's plan for migration.

Speaking on ABC's Insiders on Sunday morning, Mr Tehan said that under Labor, 1.6million immigrants will arrive in Australia over a four year period. A welcome to Sydney sign is pictured at Sydney Airport

'What is appropriate?' he asked.

'We will announce all that in the lead-up to the next election,' Mr Tehan replied.

The ABC host then tried one more time to get a figure from Mr Tehan, putting it to him that 'if 1.6million is too many, is 1.5million OK?'

'No, look I've said to you 1.5m isn't OK,' the Coalition spokesman said.

'You're not going to get my immigration policy announced to you today, but I can tell your viewers, we view it as too high.'
The Pope asked an aide to read his speech because he has bronchitis and flu

Pope Francis pulled out a speech on Saturday because a bout of bronchitis meant he was too unwell to read it.

The Pope, who has been suffering from flu, delegated his speech to an aide. He was meant to be speaking to the Vatican magistrates at the opening ceremony of the judicial year of the Vatican tribunal.

A noticeably hoarse-sounding Pope Francis said: 'I have prepared a speech but as you can see I am unable to read it because of bronchitis. I have asked Monsignor (Filippo) Ciampanelli to read it for me.'

However, the Pope was later able to meet German Chancellor Olaf Scholz during an audience at the Vatican. The meeting was the pairs first face-to-face private meeting since Mr Scholz became Chancellor in 2021.

According to DW, a German broadcaster, Pope Francis and Mr Scholz spoke for about 30 minutes discussing topics such as the war in the Middle East and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Pope Francis, 87, arrived at the opening ceremony of the judicial year of the Vatican tribunal in a wheelchair. He has been battling flu and bronchitis recently and announced with noticeably hoarse-sounding voice had asked an aide to read his speech

Pope Francis has had a number of health issues in recent years. Last week,he cancelled meetings because he had flu. When asked about his fragile health in a recent TV interview, Pope Francis quipped he was 'still alive, you know'

However, the Pope was well enough to hold a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (pictured left) after the speech. The meeting was the pairs first face-to-face private meeting since Mr Scholz became Chancellor in 2021

Mr Scholz said it was an 'important conversation at a time when it crucial for us to look to the future with a clear view and have clear principles.'

Francis has had a number of health issues recently. Last week,he cancelled meetings because he had flu and when asked about his fragile health in a recent TV interview, Pope Francis quipped he was 'still alive, you know.'

On Wednesday he made a brief trip to a Roman hospital for a check up after he missed reading at his weekly audience, saying he had 'a bit of cold'.

In January, he was unable to complete a speech owing to 'a touch of bronchitis'. Later that month he said he was doing better despite 'some aches and pains'.

The pope was forced to cancel a planned trip to a COP28 climate meeting in Dubai at the start of December because of the effects of influenza and lung inflammation.

Despite not being able to attend in-person his speech was given by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State. He said: 'Destruction of the environment is an offence against God, a sin . . . that greatly endangers all human beings, especially the most vulnerable in our midst and threatens to unleash a conflict between generations.'

Much of the Pope's issues with his health stem from an operation to remove part of his lungs when he was younger and still in his native Argentina.

Since his election in 2013, Francis has shunned the crimson, fur-trimmed 'mozzetta', or cape, and also does not wear a gold cross but has kept around his neck the same faded silver-plated one he used as archbishop of Buenos Aires.

He also has not used the plush red 'shoes of the fisherman' used by his predecessors. He has kept the same simple black shoes he always used and wears a plastic watch, giving others away so they could be auctioned off for charity.
The official ballot drop box at the Government Center in Stamford, Conn. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  Tuesdays elections for the Democratic City Committee will decide who will hold 34 of the 40 seats within the party organization for the next two years.

Only registered Democrats in Districts 1 through 9 and 13 through 20 can participate in the elections for the DCC, a group that endorses Democratic candidates for office.

In Districts 10, 11 and 12, only two candidates from each district gathered and submitted signatures from Democratic voters, so they were automatically elected.

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Monica Di Costanzo, the citys deputy Democratic registrar of voters, said some voters will be voting at a polling place that is different from the one they have used before because of redistricting. Democratic voters should have received a green card in the mail with information about their polling location, Di Costanzo said.

Elections for the Board of Representatives will take place in the redrawn districts next year.

Voters can enter their address into a search feature on the citys website to find their district number and polling place: https://www.stamfordct.gov/government/registrar-of-voters/find-your-voting-location.

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Sample ballots are also available on the website: https://www.stamfordct.gov/government/registrar-of-voters.

The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Classes will be in session at schools that are serving as polling locations.

The town clerks office must receive mailed-in absentee ballots by Tuesday to be counted.

There also are two ballot drop-off boxes for absentee voters. One is in Stamford Government Centers parking garage at 888 Washington Blvd. and the other is at the Harry Bennett Branch Library, 115 Vine Road.

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Here is the full list of candidates. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk.

District 1

Chris Malloy* and Candy Yeager* (Democrats United for Stamford)

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Fritz Chery and Kieran Ryan (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

District 2

Virgil de la Cruz* and Velma Taylor* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Jody Kamrowski (Democrats United for Stamford)

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District 3

Deangelos Floyd and Susan Halpern (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Terry Adams* and Elise Coleman*

District 4

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Megan Cottrell* and Eva Padilla* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Tracey Bass and Douglas Taylor Sr. (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 5

Bonnie Kim Campbell and Dakary Watkins (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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Gloria DePina* and Lila Wallace* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 6

Denis Patterson* and Annie Summerville* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Miles Halpine and Julia Vos (Democrats United for Stamford)

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District 7

Chrismide Chery and Christina Strain (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Bianca Shinn* and Geraldine Uribe (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 8

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Gina Calabrese and Anabel Figueroa* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Jessica Feighan and Alexandra Siladi (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 9

Jeffrey Stella* and Kindrea Walston* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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Daiva Jones and Cynthia King (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 13

Dan Scherer* and Keith Silver* (Democrats United for Stamford)

Kate Kochiss and Jason Kyek (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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District 14

Jon Gallup* and Tiffany Pippins (Democrats United for Stamford)

Nathan Ducharme and Vladimir Souffrant (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

District 15

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Angelica Gorrio and Carmine Tomas (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

James Fleischer* and Scott Stone* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 16

Paul Arvoy and Fred Pierre-Louis (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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Heather Cohen Dynner* and Christine Velazquez Herman* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 17

Sean Boeger and Rosa Colon (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Peter Brown* and Jonathan Rosenbaum* (Democrats United for Stamford)

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District 18

Karen Camporeale* and Donald Cole (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Jennienne Burke and Zareen Husain* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 19

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Susan Bach and Helene Devin (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Michelle Abt and David Stein* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 20

Nick Tamburro and Alicia Teitelbaum (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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Jackie Heftman* and Roslyn Nesin* (Democrats United for Stamford)
One month has passed since Victorian woman Samantha Murphy disappeared during her habitual morning run.

The Ballarat East mother of three 'vanished into thin air' on February 4 after leaving her Eureka St at 7am for a run in in Woowookarung Regional Park.

Despite a massive search effort involving police, SES and countless volunteers, no trace of the 51-year-old has been found.

Daily Mail Australia has provided a run-down on all the details made public around the disappearance of Ms Murphy as the search enters the second month on Monday.

It has been one month since Samantha Murphy (pictured) disappeared from her home in Ballarat, Victoria

The mother of three has been the subject of a widespread search (pictured) for four weeks

Samantha Murphy doesn't come home

Ms Murphy's family immediately became worried when the dedicated mother failed to come home in time for their planned 11am brunch.

She was last seen leaving her home on Eureka Street in Ballarat East on Sunday, February 4.

CCTV footage captured the mother wearing a brown singlet and black half-length leggings outside her home.

About an hour after she started her run, phone data shows Ms Murphy reached the Mount Clear area, some 7km from her home.

From there her trail goes cold.

Ms Murphy wearing a brown singlet and black half-length leggings (pictured) outside her home

A wide-scale search onvolving police, Search and Rescue Squad, Mounted Branch and Dog Squad, SES (pictured) and CFA spent six days looking for the mother in Woowookarung Regional Park

READ MORE: Major update on missing Ballarat mum Advertisement

False hope

What were understood to be two major developments in Ms Murphy's case turned out to be false leads in the early days of her disappearance.

An 'item of interest' found by searchers on February 6 saw all reporters ejected from the area while detectives examined the apparent evidence.

However, the item was later cleared as it was not related to the disappearance.

Also on February 6, Ms Murphy's husband, Mick, broke his silence for the first time and told reporters he was 'not too bad under the circumstances'.

The second major lead was the release of a CCTV video showing a woman running across a driveway on February 6, which was believed to be Ms Murphy.

However, the hopes of the mother's family and loved ones were once again dashed when the woman in the video came forward.

Mick Murphy faces intense scrutiny from internet sleuths

By the fifth day of his wife's disappearance, the Murphy family was forced to issue a public statement for internet sleuths to stop harassing Mr Murphy.

'For those questioning Samantha's husband, you need not worry,' the statement read.

'He is in more pain than anyone and would be the last person to suspect in any of this.'

Ms Murphy's husband, Mick Murphy (pictured), was repeatedly targeted by internet sleuths in the early days of his wife's disappearance

The Murphy family issued a statement on speculation of Mr Murphy's (left) involvement in Ms Murphy's (right) disappearance, saying: 'He is in more pain than anyone and would be the last person to suspect in any of this'

However, the scrutiny against Mr Murphy, who co-owns car repair business called Inland Motor Body Works with his wife, only increased.

Online trolls targeted the father for his apparent indifference to Ms Murphy's disappearance, with criticism against him mounting when he said he would not participate in the search for her.

At the time, Mr Murphy explained he needed to keep his mind occupied to cope with the stress of the situation.

Last week, Missing Persons Unit Superintendent Mark Hatt was questioned over whether Mr Murphy is a suspect to which he said: 'At this stage, he is not.'

He is however, along with everyone in Ms Murphy's immediate family, a 'person of interest'.

Murphy family plead for beloved mother to come home

Eldest daughter, Jess Murphy, joined her father in a public appearance to urge anyone with information about her mother's whereabouts to come forward on February 8.

In an emotional address, Jess described her 'mum' as a 'really strong woman' who is 'far too determined to give up this fight'.

'Mum, we love you so much, and we miss you. We need you at home with us. Please come home soon. I can't wait to see you and to give you the biggest hug when I do,' she said.

'And to tell you off for giving us so much stress. I love you.'

Mr Murphy shared his own impassioned plea, saying: 'People just don't vanish into thin air. Someone's got to know something.

'Whether it be any little thing that you might think is relevant, just call the police and let them know. It'll give us a bit of peace of mind, some hope.'

Eldest daughter, Jess Murphy (pictured), urged anyone with information about her mother's whereabouts to come forward on February 8

The family's public address (above) came just two days before Victoria Police 'scaled back' its search effort for Ms Murphy

Police bring in missing persons and homicide specialists

On February 9, Victoria Police announced it would be enlisting the help of its elite Missing Persons Unit in Ms Murphy's case.

The specialist investigators are often called in when it's feared a missing person has been the victim of foul play, but a body has not been found.

Its officers have been deployed to some of Victoria's biggest murder investigations in recent years.

The move marked the public beginning of police's move from viewing the case as a rescue to a criminal investigation.

It followed several reports of strange men in the forest harassing female searchers and the admission from Ballarat runner Sissy Austin that she'd previously been viciously attacked in the same forest where Ms Murphy disappeared.

Victoria Police 'scale back' its search

On February 10, just six days after Ms Murphy vanished, volunteers who turned up to search the forest were told there would be no further 'coordinated' effort.

'The current phase of the active search for missing woman Samantha Murphy has been scaled back over the weekend,' authorities said at the time.

Victoria Police brought in the help of its Missing Persons Unit after Ballarat runner Sissy Austin (pictured) revealed that she'd been viciously attacked in the same forest where Ms Murphy disappeared

Passionate volunteers (pictured) remained present in Ballarat and regularly organise searches for Ms Murphy in places of interest

'An extensive six-day search has been conducted involving local police, along with personnel from the Search and Rescue Squad, Mounted Branch and Dog Squad, plus significant assistance from members of the SES and CFA.

'The investigative stage of the investigation continues and as any new information comes to hand identifying areas of interest, the search will be scaled up.'

Earlier this week, Victoria Police focused its investigation on the Murphy's smash repair business, Motor Body Works.

Speculation outlaw motorcycle gangs were customers of the shop have swirled among the Ballarat community since the 51-year-old vanished.

The Ballarat community is no stranger to bikie violence, with a senior Bandidos member shot at its clubhouse during the club's national run just months ago.

Victoria Police Missing Persons Unit Superintendent Mark Hatt on Friday refused to answer questions about potential links with bikies and Ms Murphy's disappearance.

However, he did confirm the panel beater's books were being closely examined by detectives.

Police also reportedly took away a number of 'items of interest' from the repairs shop.

'Absolutely we are looking at everything we possibly can to find out what happened to Samantha,' Superintendent Hatt said.

Volunteers continue the hunt

Despite dwindling morale and support on the ground, passionate volunteers have remained present in Ballarat and regularly organise searches for Ms Murphy in places of interest.

However, what on the surface appears to be a good-hearted group of people putting in the hours to solve the case could be harbouring the criminal behind it.

On Wednesday, February 28, respected Melbourne journalist John Silvester claimed detectives are now considering if Ms Murphy's attacker is hiding among the search parties.

Last week, Victoria Police focused its investigation on the Murphy's smash repair business, Motor Body Works (pictured)

'Now we know that the local people, volunteers, have gone out there selflessly to search time and time again,' Mr Silvester told Radio 3AW on Wednesday.

'Police will also be considering that one of those searchers is the killer.

'In that, they have inculcated themselves into that situation to be seen as part of the community, but also keeping an eye on what's going on.'

More than 200 people attended the volunteer search last Saturday.

Bushcraft expert sheds doubt on search

Bush tracking expert and visiting volunteer Jake Cassar, whose airfare and accommodation were paid for by volunteers, said he has delivered several pieces of potential evidence to police.

Mr Cassar searched widespread areas of bushland around Ballarat, large parts of which he said hadn't been previously searched.

'There are many thick areas of bushland when I turned up that had not been searched,' he told NCA Newswire.

'Through my tracking experience, you can clearly tell when areas of scrub have not been disturbed.'

Bush expert Jake Cassar (pictured) claims he found a key piece of evidence in an area of bushland that had not been searched

Former Victoria Police homicide detective Charlie Bezzina believes police's admission more than one person was involved in Ms Murphy's disappearance shows it may already have suspects (pictured, Detective Superintendent Mark Hatt)

While he did not name the specific pieces of evidence, Mr Cassar said he found a key item of interest in an area that had not been searched.

Police also will not identify any pieces of evidence 'unless it is determined this will assist the advancement of the investigation'.

Mr Cassar has also assisted in teaching volunteers how to properly search bushland.
This is the shocking moment a mass brawl breaks out at a bowling alley in London, with police vans and cars having to attend the scene to stop the violence.

One person had to be taken to hospital following the fight which caused chaos at Tenpin in Bexleyheath, in the south-east of the capital.

Police have now launched a probe into the incident which saw several youngsters suffer facial injuries.

The horrifying footage shows the scrap kicking off at the busy bowling alley at around 11.15pm on Friday evening.

Two young women and a man are initially involved a tussle which sees the trio fall to the floor, narrowly missing green chairs and a table where customers would normally be eating and drinking.

This is the shocking moment a mass brawl breaks out at a bowling alley in London , with police vans and cars having to attend the scene to stop the violence

One person had to be taken to hospital following the fight which caused chaos at Tenpin in Bexleyheath, south-east London. Police have now launched a probe into the incident which saw several youngsters receive facial injuries

Two young women and a man are initially involved a tussle which sees the trio fall to the floor, narrowly missing green chairs and a table where customers would normally be eating and drinking

Four other young men then surround those on the floor and appear to be trying to pull the man away from one of the women.

Shocked bystanders watch on as some of those involved also start kicking the group on the ground.

One man then pulls one of the women, wearing a white cardigan, up from the floor before trying to push her over as chairs get flipped in the commotion.

In the background, three others join in on the chaos, attempting to push each other to the ground and using the upturned seats to block punches.

High tables soon start getting tossed around as punches continue to be thrown.

One woman loses their shoe during the scuffle, while a vape flies out of someone's pocket during the scrap.

With the fight showing no signs of stopping, the group have to weave around two pool tables to avoid getting squashed.

A man, dressed in a dark brown sweatshirt and seemingly a member of staff, then walks out into the middle of the fight with a set of keys hanging from his belt.

One man then pulls one of the women, wearing a white cardigan, up from the floor before trying to push her over as chairs get flipped in the commotion

With the fight showing no signs of stopping, the group have to weave around two pool tables to avoid getting squashed

This briefly seems to put the breaks on the commotion but as soon as the scrap, which has made its way from the dining area towards the alleys themselves, appears to die down, it starts back up again.

One participant, who is holding a puffer jacket which seems to be trailing feathers from a rip in the garment, narrowly avoids a flying punch from a young man in a hoodie.

The assailant goes crashing into the member of staff instead and is soon sent to the floor by a heavy hit from the man he tried to strike.

A small group then seem to head for the exit as feathers continue to swirl around in the air with screams heard from people around the alley.

A considerable police presence then arrived at the scene in an attempt to calm down the situation.

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at about 23:15hrs on Friday March 1 to reports of a fight on Albion Road in Bexleyheath.

'Officers attended and found a number of people with facial injuries.

'One person was taken to hospital for treatment.

A small group then seem to head for the exit as feathers continue to swirl around in the air with screams heard from people around the alley

A considerable police presence arrives at the scene in an attempt to calm down the situation

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson said: 'Police were called at about 23:15hrs on Friday March 1 to reports of a fight on Albion Road in Bexleyheath'

'Their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

'Detectives from the CID that covers Bexley are investigating.

'Anyone with information is asked to call police via 101 quoting reference CAD 7830/01Mar.'
Prince Andrew could face fresh embarrassment over his friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein with the release of new court papers in the US.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered that documents related to a 2006 investigation into billionaire Epstein's sexual abuse of teenage girls and young women are made public.

The Grand Jury inquiry led to a controversial 'sweetheart deal' in which Epstein pleaded guilty to two prostitution charges in return for a soft 18-month sentence  despite police having identified many more victims.

Two of Epstein's accusers have previously alleged that Andrew, as well as other high-profile friends of the paedophile, 'lobbied' the US Government for the lenient plea deal.

In 2019 Epstein killed himself in a cell in Manhattan while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges.

Prince Andrew, Duke of York attending a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes, at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle on February 27

Prince Andrew with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein going for a stroll together through New York's Central Park in 2011

While sources close to Andrew have previously described the allegation that he lobbied on behalf of Epstein as 'a straightforward untruth', last night another woman abused by Epstein claimed that the Duke of York will face a 'day of reckoning' when the documents are released in July, The Sunday Mirror reported.

She added: 'What more must it take for him to realise his friendship with Jeffrey will never go away?'

But a legal source closely connected to the Epstein case last night told The Mail on Sunday it was 'highly unlikely' Andrew's name will be in the documents as his involvement with the paedophile was not raised at the time.
Wayne Couzens could keep a taxpayer-funded pension worth 4,000-a-year because of 'complex legal issues'.

Sarah Everard's killer is currently set to benefit from the public sector pension payout he earned while working at the Civil Nuclear Constabulary.

The 51-year-old worked for the CNC for seven-and-a-half years before joining the Metropolitan Police in 2018.

The murderer and rapist had his Scotland Yard pension stripped in January last year and Number 10 is now backing calls for this second pension to be taken away as well.

Following his conviction in March last year, the CNC recommended Couzens' pension entitlements be forfeited, but it has not been confirmed that this has happened.

Furthermore, it may not be possible for the benefit to be taken away at all under the current rules, something which the Government is trying to change in an ongoing legal battle.

Wayne Couzens will currently benefit from the public sector pension payout he earned while working at the Civil Nuclear Constabulary

Sarah Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was raped and killed by Metropolitan Police officer Couzens, who was off duty, as she walked home in south London on March 3, 2021

The Telegraph reports that the UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA), the administrator of its pensions scheme, is yet to confirm the pension has been stripped.

It has also emerged that plans to withhold his pension are subject to an ongoing battle between government lawyers and the UKAEA, with no timeframe set out for when this will be resolved.

Therefore, Couzens remains eligible to start drawing on his pension from the age of 60 and can take out a lump sum of up to 12,000.

He is also able to start drawing a reduced rate early, at 55, in just four years.

Ms Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was raped and killed by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, who was off duty, as she walked home in south London on March 3, 2021.

He used his status as a police officer to trick Ms Everard into thinking he could arrest her for breaking lockdown rules in place at the time.

An inquiry chaired by Lady Elish Angiolini said last week that Couzens should never have been given a job as a police officer and chances to stop the sexual predator were repeatedly ignored and missed.

Conservative and Labour MPs have called on the Government to do everything possible to block access to his payout.

The precise nature of the barriers preventing the pension being withheld are unknown, but the rules of the UKAEA pension scheme state that only 'an offence in connection with any employment to which this scheme applies' can justify the forfeiture of a pension.

This is alongside the breaking of the Official Secrets Act and treason.

Couzens remains eligible to start drawing on his pension from the age of 60 and can take out a lump sum of up to 12,000

The government may be forced to change the law to take away his pension, which would not be 'straightforward'.

Matthew Swynnerton, a pensions lawyer at City law firm DLA Piper, said the question would focus on 'whether the offence that Wayne Couzens has been convicted of has been in connection with his role as a public servant at the CNC'.

Claire Coutinho, the current secretary of state for energy security and net zero will now face the decision on how to overcome this legal hurdle.

This is something he described as a 'grey area', but also admitted the changing of pension law was not unachievable due to the 'public sentiment that will drive it along'.

Officers pay in 8 per cent of their earnings into the 'gold-plated' public sector pension and their employer makes contributions of almost 21 per cent.

The pension pays out one-eightieth of an officer's final salary annually for each year of 'reckonable' service.

Couzens is thought to have been paid a salary of up to 43,000 when he transferred to the Met in 2018, having worked for the CNC since 2011.

Chief Constable Simon Chesterman said: 'The CNC is not the pensions authority or administrator of the pension scheme.

'On Couzens' conviction we made a formal recommendation that any pension entitlements arising from his CNC employment should be forfeited.'

A UKAEA spokesperson told MailOnline that the organisaton agreed that Wayne Couzenss 'horrific crime shocked the nation' and it was right he spends the rest of his life in prison.

They also added that the matter in hand was a complex legal process and were unable to comment further until it has been resolved.
Aussies have been left outraged over the piles of rubbish left behind following Mardi Gras and even made the drastic call to ban the annual parade.

A video posted to TikTok showed a street in Sydney strewn with litter, including a car covered in rubbish, after the parade had passed on Saturday.

'Note to self, if there's ever a Mardi Gras, do not park your car on the street,' the person filming the video said while laughing.

Social media users were left up in arms over the sight with many slamming the state of the street.

Mardi Gras was labelled a success following the parade in Sydney on Saturday night

'Ban Mardi Gras, don't know how to act in public,' one wrote.

'I hope the organisers of Mardi Gras get the bill for this clean up,' another said.

READ MORE: Mardi Gras revellers party into the early hours of the morning Advertisement

'How can people leave their city like that,' a third added, while another said they were almost fined for two Coke cans littered at a 60 person event they organised.

'The organisers of Mardi Gras need to be massively fined for that,' he said.

Some claimed previous Mardi Gras celebrations had been cleaner.

'Shows how far downhill Mardi Gras has gone,' one wrote.

'Forty years ago all the rubbish was cleaned up by the crowds and participants. Not now,' another added.

'This is absolutely disgusting. It doesn't matter who you are, clean up after yourself,' a third wrote.

There were a few positive comments with one commenter saying it 'looks like it was a good night'.

The parade was labelled a 'success' despite pro-Palestine protestors hijacking part of the night and disrupting the event just metres away from NSW premier Chris Minns.

'Ban Mardi Gras, don't know how to act in public,' one disgruntled commenter wrote under a video showing rubbish left on the street and on top of cars (pictured)

'I hope the organisers of Mardi Gras get the bill for this clean up,' wrote another

Another asked 'How can people leave their city like that.' Rubbish left over after the parade is pictured

Tensions in the lead-up over the participation of NSW Police in the parade culminated in a positive reception as uniformed police flanked plain-clothed gay and lesbian liaison officers marching alongside Commissioner Karen Webb and Police Minister Yasmin Catley.

'Yesterday's celebration was a great example of a successful Mardi Gras event. The majority of people were well-behaved and enjoyed the event safely and responsibly,' operation commander, NSW Police assistant commissioner Anthony Cooke said.

An estimated 120,000 spectators and 12,500 participants attended the event, police said.
'It didn't even cross my mind going to a different doctor would change anything'

Now he is looking forward to being a father again to his five-year-old son Jaxson

Eighteen months later he sought a second opinion from doctors at UC Medical in Cincinnati who whipped it out within days

Eighteen months of agony have ended for a young dad and Air Force veteran after discovering that his 'inoperable' brain tumor could be removed after all.

Tyler Nuttle, 32, thought his life was over after an MRI scan revealed the tumor impossibly close to his brain stem in July 2022.

Doctors told him there was nothing they could do except offer grueling courses of chemo and radiotherapy in a bid to stop it spreading.

But nearly 18 months later, he decided to ask for a second opinion and went to see doctors at the UC Medical center in Cincinnati.

'The very first appointment they were able to say they can take it out,' he said.

Tyler Nuttle, 32, was an Air Force veteran and a staff sergeant in the Air National Guard when he began suffering symptoms including nausea and vertigo

The young dad was forced to give up work and struggled to keep up with his baby son Jaxson

But 18 months after his hopeless diagnosis he prepared for the operation that would change his life - with the help of his mother, Ruth

'I couldn't believe it because I was told for almost a year and a half this is inoperable, so it didn't even cross my mind going to a different doctor would change anything.

'I just thought it was a universal truth.'

Nuttle was medically discharged from his role as a staff sergeant in the Air National Guard and found it impossible to work as the tumor left him nauseous, struggling to stand and unable to drive in 2021.

He had to give up his job at a bar in Fairfield, and it was another 10 months before his symptoms were diagnosed.

But there was little consolation in discovering the cause of his illness.

'I was told, go live your life, and I'm like I think there can be more than this,' he said.

Friends and colleagues raised thousands of dollars to help support him as his condition deteriorated at home in Hamilton County.

And all the time his baby son Jaxson was growing into a little boy who could not understand why his Daddy was unwell.

'I haven't been able to run with my son who is almost five, and that's been hard because he's really active,' Nuttle said, 'It's literally hard to keep up with him.

'I told him a couple days before the surgery I'm going to be able to run with you again.'

And now, he is getting back on his feet after surgeons at the prestigious Ohio hospital completely removed the tumor in an operation others thought impossible, early last month.

'It got to the point where I'm like I can't give up. There's so much I needed to fight for,' he told WLWT.

The brave young dad is recovering at the Cincinnati Rehabilitation Hospital in Blue Ash, and is looking forward to returning to college and going back to work.

Now, he is recovering from the operation he once thought impossible: 'It didn't even cross my mind going to a different doctor would change anything'

And Jaxson, now nearly five, is helping his Daddy take his first steps to recovery

'I told him a couple days before the surgery I'm going to be able to run with you again,' he said

'It got to the point where I'm like I can't give up. There's so much I needed to fight for'

His mother, Ruth Campbell, said that she hopes his story will inspire others to find their own ways out of 'impossible' situations.

'Just don't give up,' she said.

'Keep looking for the answer you want to hear.

'He kept going until he heard it.'
A Portland couple who were on the Alaska Airlines 737-MAX 9 plane whose door blew out midflight are suing Boeing and Alaska Airlines for $1 billion after being traumatized by the incident - with even the sounds of planes flying overhead triggering flashbacks.

Kyle Rinker, 29, was with his girlfriend, Amanda Strickland, and fellow passenger Kevin Kwok, traveling to Ontario, California on Alaska Flight 1282 when five minutes into the flight, there was a sudden loud 'pop' as one of the aircraft's door plugs blew out through the plane's fuselage.

The trio were sitting in row 27 - just one row behind 26 where a massive hole was created in the side of the plane.

It led to a sudden rush of cold air as the plane ascended through 16,000ft and the oxygen masks deployed from ceiling panels.

The lawsuit alleges the defendants (Boeing and Alaska Airlines) ignored obvious warning signs - and that the flight should have never taken off.

Kyle Rinker and his girlfriend Amanda Strickland were onboard the Alaska Airlines flight flying to Ontario, California, when a door plug blew off, causing a hole in the plane

Passenger oxygen masks hang from ceiling panels next to a missing window and a portion of a side wall of an Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, which had been bound for Ontario, California

A photo shows the blown out door panel after is landed safely back at Portland Airport

'We took off fine and then just five minutes, and we heard the loud pop,' Rinker told KGW.

'We were just sitting there trying to relax ... and then, that thing just happens. The oxygen masks come down, just like, 'Oh, wow, something's going on. We got to get these on.'

'We were in 27E and F, and that was 26A, B and C, so we were pretty close. The wind just came rushing it. It was very, very cold all of the sudden.'

Thankfully, row 26 was empty, and nobody was injured in the terrifying incident.

Two months on, Rinker says he now finds himself triggered by sounds of planes flying above and wants to claim punitive damages for systemic risks.

'There has been a crazy onslaught of information. Of course, we wanted to learn about ... it was just a lot of stuff. Where we live, we hear a lot of plane sounds and jet sounds, so that kind of triggers hearing that sound again. And no, we have not been on a plane since. I'm not sure when that will happen again.'

'I dont think there has been a day thats gone by that we havent thought about it,' Rinker's girlfriend, Strickland, added.

'It was so intense, the whole thing. We couldnt hear anything that was going on. All we felt was the air and heard the sound of the air rushing by.'

Rinker said the incident is affecting he and his girlfriend Amanda Strickland's daily life with even the sounds of aircraft passing overheard triggering them both - causing flashbacks

Fortunately 26A, the seat next to where the blowout occurred was not occupied

NTSB investigators are seen in the cabin as they carried out their inspection after the 737 MAX 9 was grounded

The door flew off and landed in the backyard of a suburban home in Portland, Oregon

Investigators say bolts that helped secure the panel on the Boeing jetliner were missing before the panel blew off the plane in midflight in January

Lawyer Jonathan Johnson said although the aircraft manufacturer acknowledged their role in the blowout and vowed to fix such problems from happening in the future, the lawsuit will push both companies to prioritize safety

'We've had so many people say, "Oh, sorry about what you went through," and I'm thinking like, "Oh, it could've been a lot worse, even still with it being bad." I think about that almost daily,' Rinker said.

The lawsuit, filed in Multnomah County, aims to hold both Alaska and Boeing companies accountable for compromising passenger safety.

While Boeing has already acknowledged their responsibility in the incident and pledged to address issues, attorney Jonathan Johnson, who is representing the passengers, emphasized the need for the lawsuit to compel both companies to prioritize safety rather than rely on luck.

'This is mostly about the systemic problems at Boeing, which is jeopardizing the lives of the entire traveling public who travel on Boeing aircraft,' said Johnson. 'They should not be trusting luck to avoid a planeload of people being killed.

'The issue with Alaska, on this particular aircraft, they had several warnings, air pressure monitor warnings. In fact, I think they had said this aircraft couldn't fly over water.

'I think some of their problems recently is that they outsource some of the manufacturing, and even if they have adequate safety protocols at Boeing. When they use third-party contractors, they aren't necessarily making sure that the contractors follow the same safety protocols, so you could have a contractor send in a part that is not meeting those safety protocols.'

Rinker also says he believes the situation could have been much worse, underscoring the daily impact of the ordeal.

Plastic covers the exterior of the fuselage plug area of Alaska Airlines Flight 1282 Boeing 737-9 MAX after landing safely

Investigators inspecting the Alaska Airlines plane that was destroyed when a door blew out at 16,000ft are looking at whether four bolts that were supposed to help hold the panel in place might have been missing when the plane took off

The Boeing 737-9 MAX rolled off the assembly line in November 2023, according to FAA records

Boeing and Alaska Airlines have not commented on the lawsuit.

Investigators inspected the plane to look at whether the four bolts that were supposed to help hold the panel in place might have been missing when the plane took off.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) carried out the inspection of the aircraft after the door landed in the backyard of a suburban home in Portland, Oregon.

At a press conference, NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy stated that it was likely the fact passengers next to the blowout were kept in their seats because they wearing seatbelts.

Alaska and United Airlines have reported separately that they found loose parts in the panels - or door plugs - of some other Boeing 737 MAX 9 jets.

Alaska said that as it began examining its MAX 9s 'initial reports from our technicians indicate some loose hardware was visible on some aircraft.'

In January, Boeing was sued by shareholders who said the company prioritized profit over safety and misled them about its commitment to making safe aircraft, prior to the January 5 incident.

According to a proposed class action, Boeing spent more than four years after the October 2018 and March 2019 crashes of two other MAX planes, which killed 346 people, assuring investors that it was 'laser-focused' on safety and would not sacrifice safety for profit.

Shareholders said Boeing's statements were false and misleading because they concealed the 'poor quality control' on its assembly line, and caused its stock price to be inflated.
Mediators are primed to reconvene in Cairo today to try and broker a lasting ceasefire in Gaza.

Negotiators from regional powers have been working around the clock to secure a Gaza truce by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 10.

Delegations from Israel and Hamas are expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday, two Egyptian security sources said.

However, another source briefed on the talks said Israel would not send a delegation until it got a full list of hostages who are still alive.

An administration official said: 'It will be a six-week ceasefire in Gaza starting today if Hamas agrees to release the defined category of vulnerable hostages, the sick, the wounded, elderly and women.'

As the war rages on, experts and insiders warn the conflict is dragging civilians in Gaza into a horrifying humanitarian catastrophe.

People cry as they mourn while receiving the dead bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on March 2

Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 25

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

Members of 'Women Wage Peace' in Tel Aviv, Israel, call for a ceasefire and condemn the death of over 100 people killed in Gaza on February 29

Hamas militants took about 250 hostages during their unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 whom Israel says are presumed dead.

It was unclear how many of the remaining hostages are deemed vulnerable.

The United States hopes any truce would create space for a more enduring peace.

Hopes for the first pause in fighting since November rose last week after a previous round of talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha and indications from U.S. President Joe Biden that agreement was close.

A senior U.S. official said on Saturday that the framework for a six-week pause in fighting was in place, with Israel's agreement, and now depended on Hamas agreeing to release hostages.

'The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And there's a deal on the table,' the official told reporters, 'There's a framework deal.

'The Israelis have more or less accepted it. The onus right now is on Hamas.'

Mr Biden and other world leaders are under growing pressure to ease the increasingly desperate plight of Palestinians after five months of war and Israeli blockade of Gaza. The United Nations says a quarter of the population - 576,000 people - is one step from famine.

Gaza health authorities said Israeli forces killed 118 people trying to reach a relief convoy near Gaza City on Thursday, prompting global outrage over the humanitarian catastrophe.

Israel disputes the health ministry's death toll in the food convoy catastrophe and said most victims were trampled or run over.

A day later, Mr Biden announced plans for the U.S. airdrop on Saturday, which also involved Jordanian forces.

Other countries including Jordan and France had already conducted airdrops of aid into Gaza.

The U.S. has for months been calling for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, something Israel has resisted. Some experts said being forced to resort to costly, inefficient airdrops was the latest demonstration of Washington's limited influence over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government.

The U.S. military aircraft released 38,000 meals over Gaza, falling far short of the assistance needed by the territory's 2.2 million people. U.S. authorities said it was the first of what would be a sustained effort.

While Israel denies restricting humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians, no humanitarian group has been able to provide aid since January 23, the World Food Programme has warned.

'If nothing changes, a famine is imminent in northern Gaza,' WFP's deputy executive director Carl Skau told the UN Security Council today, while his colleague from the UN humanitarian office OCHA, Ramesh Rajasingham, warned of 'almost inevitable' widespread starvation.

At the end of last month, Rajasingham said 'at least 576,000 people in Gaza - one-quarter of the population' were 'one step away from famine, with one in six children under two years of age in northern Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting'.

Palestinians running toward parachutes attached to food parcels, air-dropped from US aircrafts

Palestinians search through the rubble of the Fleet family home that was destroyed during an Israeli air strike on Dair El-Balah

Palestinian people walking past the rubble of the al-Bukhari mosque in Deir al-Balah

Palestinians search through the rubble after Israeli air strikes this week

People wave flags and flares as they take part in a demonstration in support of Palestine at the Israeli Embassy on October 9, 2023

Demonstrators rally during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 2, 2024

Israel launched the offensive in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists.

The assault has devastated Gaza. Much of the Hamas-run enclave has been laid to waste and more than 30,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands more injured, according to Gaza health authorities.

Fighting raged in the early hours of Sunday, as residents reported the sound of heavy shelling and tanks advancing around Khan Younis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Around Rafah, another southern city where more than 1 million Palestinian have been seeking refuge on the border with Egypt, authorities said 25 people were killed on Saturday and into Sunday morning. They included 11 who died when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent near a hospital and another 14 in one family, who died when a strike hit a house.

Hamas has not backed away from its position that a temporary truce must be the start of a process towards ending the war altogether, the Egyptian sources and a Hamas official said.

However, the Egyptian sources said assurances had been offered to Hamas that the terms of a permanent ceasefire would be worked out in second and third phases of the deal. The duration of the initial pause of about six weeks had been agreed upon, the sources said.

Hamas and Israel did not respond to requests for comment.
A ute that crashed in the early hours of the morning killing four people was being chased after a drug deal gone wrong, a source has claimed.

James Doherty, 41, Benjamin Watego, 47 and Sophie-Lee Fullagar, 24, all died at the scene along with another passenger, when their Mazda BT-50 ute came off the road in Wardell, near Ballina in northern New South Wales, on February 24.

A passing motorist discovered the mangled wreckage on Back Channel Road about 5.45am and called emergency services.

A source close to the victims claims Mr Doherty - who previously dated Ms Fullagar, was a well-known drug dealer in the Bryon region - and that another car was chasing the ute to rob him.

'I know who they were chased, but I don't want to say because I don't want to be involved in the drama,' the source told Daily Mail Australia.

'He had drugs and cash on him.'

Sophie-Lee Fullagar (pictured) was among four people who died in the Wardell crash

A source close to the victims claims Mr Doherty (pictured) - who previously dated Ms Fullagar, was a well-known drug dealer in the Bryon region - and that another car was chasing the ute to rob him

Once the vehicle flipped and hit a tree, the source claims the other car sped away.

'I believe the other car saw what happened but they drove off.

'After a crash like that they were never going to stop, especially when they were chasing them.'

When Daily Mail Australia asked NSW Police if it is investigating a second party being involved in the crash, a spokesperson said: 'The matter is being investigated by detectives and a brief of evidence is being prepared for the Coroner.'

There has been an outpouring of grief for the three victims who have been identified.

A friend of Mr Watego wrote: 'My brother, I'm gonna miss you crazy.

'You were by my side through the good times, bad and my lowest lows.

Benjamin Watego (pictured) was among the victims of the crash on February 24

The Mazda BT-50 ute that crashed is pictured on the back of a tow truck

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'Love you. Fly high my brother and I'll see you when we get there. You better be waiting with a rum.'

A friend of Mr Doherty's wrote: 'Rip Jim Bob. Love ya mate.

'Fly high 'til we meet again for a cold one.'

Ms Fullagar has been remembered for her 'kind heart' and 'lovely singing voice'.

'Rest in paradise beautiful girl, absolutely heartbreaking,' one friend wrote.

Another said: 'This is actually devastating! Used to always play and hang out with Sophie when we were in primary school together!'

'This is devastating I send my deepest condolences.

A friend of Ms Fullagar's family has created a GoFundMe to help support her loved ones while they grieve.

Ms Fullagar (pictured) has been remembered for her 'kind heart' and 'lovely singing voice'

'We are reaching out to the community for financial support to help Sophie-Lee's family during this terrible time. Any help is so gratefully appreciated,' it read.

'Sophie had the sweetest nature, the biggest heart and was so strong. She loved to sing and had the most beautiful voice. Her smile and laugh were infectious.

'Her family, friends and the surrounding community are suffering with the ripple effect of such a terrible loss.'

More than $6,300 has been raised from 81 donors.
The boyfriend of LA ballerina Ksenia Karelina has received a 'love letter' from the Russian jail where she is awaiting trial for high treason after donating $50 to a Ukrainian charity.

Boxer Chris Van Heerden revealed he had been planning to propose to the 33-year-old before she was seized and led blindfolded into a Russian courthouse while visiting her elderly grandparents in January.

His girlfriend is now being held in a cell 1,000 miles east of Moscow in conditions that are a grim contrast to her job as a beautician at a spa in Beverly Hills.

'They got to go to bed at 10, and they get to shower once a week, which is painful,' said Van Heerden, 36.

'She said, 'I've got a little window in my cell, and I can see the sun, and I know that I look at the same sun as you look at when the sun goes down'.'

Chris Van Heerden said that Karelina had sent him a 'love letter' from her Russian prison cell detailing the grim conditions she is being held under

Karelina is accused of fund raising for a pro-Ukrainian organization, she attained US citizenship in 2021

Footage of a shackled and hooded Karelina shocked the world when she was pictured being led into a Russian courthouse on charges of high treason

Karelina, who holds dual Russian-American citizenship, faces up to 20 years in jail for making the small donation to the humanitarian charity Razom on the day Russia invaded Ukraine.

The payment was discovered after her phone was seized when she flew into Yekaterinburg's Koltsovo Airport on January 2, planning to visit her 90-year-old grandparents in time for Russia's Christmas day.

She was arrested after being invited to pick up her phone on January 27, the day that Ven Heerden last spoke to her.

'Fifty-one dollars, come on,' he told NBC, 'a simple donation because she's kind.

'I was actually thinking of proposing to this woman, so every day is tough.

'She's got an affectionate smile. Always happy, so, so, so giving. She lives a full life.'

A detention hearing this week denied her application to be held on house arrest and Russia has refused to grant consular access to U.S. officials as Karelina becomes the latest pawn in a diplomatic war between Washington and Moscow.

'I didn't get my hopes up,' said Van Heerden insisting she would need a 'miracle' to escape from Russian custody.

The LA dancer and beautician faces up to 20 years in jail if convicted

Dual Russian-American citizen Ksenia Karelina, 33, was arrested by Vladimir Putin's Federal Security Service, the FSB, on January 27

Ksenia Karelina, 33, pictured with her father Pavel, mother Liliya, and younger sister, remains detained in Russia on high treason charges

The case has further fueled fears that Western citizens with Russian passports are being targeted for arrest in Russia

On her Facebook page, Karelina says that she's from Yekaterinburg and that she studied ballet at the S. P. Diaghilev school

'I broke down because I know Ksenia, she is a sweetheart, she's so soft and I cannot imagine for the life of me how scared she must be,' he added.

'I want to let people know that Ksenia is a normal person, that's my job. She's a normal American citizen that made a mistake.

'I'm in a fight right now totally out of my control, I'm in a fight that I'm not familiar with. I'm trying my very best to do as much as I can.'

Yekaterinburg is also the same city where Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich was arrested on spying charges nearly 12 months ago.

Karelina was sentenced to 14 days detention for 'petty hooliganism' before she was slapped with treason charges.

Russia's FSB claims she 'proactively collected funds in the interests of one of the Ukrainian organizations, which were subsequently used to purchase tactical medicine, equipment, weapons and ammunition by the Ukrainian Armed Forces'.

In a statement, Razom's CEO Dora Chomiak said the organization is 'appalled at Karelina's arrest.

'Vladimir Putin has repeatedly shown that he holds no soveregn border, foreign nationality or international treaty above his own narrow interest,' Chomiak said.

'His regime attacks civil society activists who stand up for freedom and democracy.'

Last week, Karelina's distraught father said he was 'at a loss' as to how to help her.

Speaking publicly for the first time in an interview with DailyMail.com, Pavel Karelina, 56, said he couldn't comment on the Russian government's ongoing case against his daughter, but thanked the public for their support.

'We really can't say anything now. We ourselves are at a loss to understand what's going on,' said Pavel, the general director of a Russian transport equipment company.

'Please understand. Thank you for your good wishes.'

Karelina's one-time husband, Evgeny Khavana, revealeed last month that his own family are living in fear and cannot speak freely because they believe they are being 'listened to' by Russian authorities.

He said, 'We cannot speak, my family cannot say anything,' he added.

Her mother-in-law, Eleanora Sreboski, told DailyMail.com that Ksenia would spend the rest of her life in a Russian prison if America didn't intervene.

Van Heerden said his girlfriend was veering between motivation one day and hopelessness the next, but was 'prepared for what might be the fight of her life.'

He said guards let her out of her cell once a day but sometimes keep her outside for hours in the freezing Russian winter.

Karelina was still dancing in the last video call between the pair before her arrest

The South African born former IBO welterweight champion says he is now in a 'fight I am not familiar with' as he struggles to free his girlfriend

'Ksenia's a sweetheart, she's so soft and I cannot imagine for the life of me how scared she must be,' he said

'I'm in a fight right now totally out of my control, I'm in a fight that I'm not familiar with,' he added.

'I'm trying my very best to do as much as I can.

'I want to let people know that Ksenia is a normal person, that's my job. She's a normal American citizen that made a mistake.

'Ksenia's a sweetheart, she's so soft and I cannot imagine for the life of me how scared she must be.'
FILE - A voting sign is seen near a voting center at Croft Baptist Church, Feb. 24, 2024, in Spartanburg, S.C. A small but substantial chunk of GOP primary and caucus voters have said they'd be so dissatisfied if Donald Trump became the Republican Party's presidential nominee that they would ultimately not vote for him in November, according to AP VoteCast. Mike Stewart/AP Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. Chris Carlson/AP Republican presidential candidate former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley speaks at a Republican campaign event in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, March 2, 2024. Chuck Burton/AP

WASHINGTON (AP)  A small but substantial chunk of Republican primary and caucus voters say they would be so dissatisfied if Donald Trump became the party's presidential nominee that they would not vote for him in November's general election, according to AP VoteCast.

An analysis of the data shows that many of those voters were unlikely to vote for Trump, some even before this year, but it still points to potential problems for the former president as he looks to consolidate the nomination and pivot toward an expected rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.

According to AP VoteCast surveys of the first three head-to-head Republican contests, 2 in 10 Iowa voters, one-third of New Hampshire voters, and one-quarter of South Carolina voters would be so disappointed by Trumps renomination that they would refuse to vote for him in the fall.

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This unwillingness to contemplate a presidential vote for Trump isnt confined to voters in the earliest states.

Lee and Bill Baltzell defected from the Republican Party to register as independents a year ago. They attended a rally for supporters of Trump's last major rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, last week in Centennial, Colorado, to encourage her to keep running against Trump.

We dont know that Trump will run into more legal problems and be disqualified, and Id rather not see Biden in there for another four years, said Bill Baltzell, 60.

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If its between Biden and Trump, Lee Baltzell, 58, said she would consider writing in an alternative.

I dont know. I did not vote for Biden the last time; I dont know that I could do it this time. But I dont know if I could vote for Trump.

Opposition from voters like the Baltzells hasnt slowed Trumps march toward the nomination, but it could be an issue for him later on. Its not clear how much of a problem, though, because a dive into the numbers shows that many of the never-Trump voters in the early states were unlikely to vote for him in the general election to begin with.

Many of the voters who said they wouldnt vote for Trump as the nominee arent Republicans at all. In the first three head-to-head contests, anywhere from 17% to 31% of the voters who said they wouldnt support Trump in the general election identified as Democrats, and between 14% and 27% identified as independents.

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Even for some of those Republicans, voting for Trump was already a tough sell. Anywhere between one-half and two-thirds of the staunchly anti-Trump voters in the early contests said they had voted for Biden in 2020.

Then there is the fact that primaries tend to draw out the people with the most passionate opinions. Voter turnout in primaries and caucuses, particularly ones that are relatively uncompetitive, is typically lower than it would be in a general election.

Still, about 1 in 10 early contest voters who said they supported Trump in the 2020 general election said they wouldnt be doing so this year.

One question, though, is whether that means they would vote for Trumps opponent instead.

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I wont vote for Trump, Ill just say that. I voted for him twice; I could never vote for him again, said Linda Binkley, 74, a registered Republican who isnt pleased by the prospect of a Trump vs. Biden matchup. She added, Im not sure I can vote for Biden.

If Trump becomes the nominee, he will likely need to win over some of the moderates who supported Biden in 2020 if he wants to return to the White House. From that perspective, even a small amount of opposition from within his own party  not to mention broader skepticism among independents  could be a problem in the future.

-

AP VoteCast is a series of surveys conducted among 1,597 Republican caucus voters in Iowa, 1,989 New Hampshire voters who took part in the Republican primary and 2,466 Republican primary voters in South Carolina. The surveys were conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

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Donald Trump has confused Joe Biden for Barack Obama for the third time in less than six months at a rally in Virginia.

The mistake came as Trump was addressing a crowd of thousands of supporters at the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Saturday night.

He was urging voters to show up at the polls to vote for him, despite his double loss in the blue-trending state in 2016 and 2020.

When discussing his Democrat opponent, he attempted to take aim at Biden for not having the respect of Putin - but missed the punchline by mixing up his presidents.

'Putin has so little respect for Obama that he's starting to throw around the nuclear word,' Trump said.

Donald Trump has confused Joe Biden for Barack Obama for the third time in less than six months at a rally in Virginia

Trump again appears to confuse Biden and Obama: And Putin, you know, has so little respect for Obama that hes starting to throw around the nuclear word. You heard that, nuclear. Hes starting to talk nuclear weapons today ... We have a fool, a fool as a president. pic.twitter.com/QGMQx6CESm  Kate Sullivan (@KateSullivanDC) March 3, 2024

'You heard that, nuclear. He's starting to talk nuclear weapons today,' he continued.

Trump then went on to describe Biden as a 'fool,' 'We have a fool, a fool as a president,' the former president said.

Trump made the same blunder just a month ago during an appearance on Fox News.

While the former President rambled about 'being the president' and 'immunity' to host Sean Hannity, he made an Obama reference that didn't quite fit because he was actually talking about Biden.

'If the president of the United States, and I'm not talking about myself, I'm talking about any president, has to have immunity, because if you take immunity away from the president, so important, you will have you have a president that's not going to be able to do anything,' Trump ranted.

He then added: 'Because when he leaves office, the opposing party, president, if it's the opposing party, will indict the president for doing something that should have been good.

'Like Obama dropped missiles and they ended up hitting a kindergarten or school or the apartment house, a lot of people were killed,' the 77-year-old said.

'Well, if that's the case, he's going to end up being indicted when he leaves office. He meant well, the missile went in the wrong direction and other things,' he said - referring to Obama as if he were the current President.

Trump made the same silly mistake again in November - when he told a New Hampshire rally that Barack Obama is president, despite constantly nicknaming his rival 'Sleepy Joe.'

Trump gave a speech in Claremont, New Hampshire, where he said the Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban called on 'President Obama' to resign and be 'replaced by Trump.'

Trump told the crowds: 'The head of Hungary Viktor Orban, very powerful within his country and outside of his country, they were interviewing him two weeks ago and said what would advise President Obama?

'The whole world seems to be exploding and imploding. He said, "It's very simple, he should immediately resign and replace him with President Trump who kept the world safe."'

Donald Trump beat rival Nikki Haley to win Republican caucuses in Idaho, Michigan and Missouri on Saturday

Today's error comes amidst Trump's success, as he has now cruised past rival Nikki Haley to win Republican primaries and caucuses in Idaho, Michigan and Missouri.

The networks called Idaho for the former president shortly after 7pm. Now, with 90 percent of the vote counted, he leads Nikki Haley by 85 points to her 13.

The win notches up another 32 delegates for Trump ahead of the Republican's national convention in July.

In Michigan, Trump trounced Haley in all 13 districts taking part in the nominating caucuses, securing 98 percent of support overall according to the GOP. It was the second part of the state's nominating process.

The two contests add to an earlier win in Missouri, where the race was called at 11:40 am, less than two hours after the gatherings began.

The victories brought Trump's total delegates as of Saturday to 247, more than doubling the count he had heading into the weekend.
A woman was allegedly bundled into a Tesla, assaulted and kept against her will in a quiet Canberra suburb, with police now desperately searching for witnesses.

ACT Policing is seeking witnesses to an alleged family violence incident on Thursday, where a woman left a Franklin residence on foot about 5pm.

Police say the woman walked towards the nearby Nullarbor Ave light rail stop where she was approached by a man driving a white Tesla bearing ACT registration YQC69P a short time later.

The man allegedly arrived at the light rail stop, and asked the woman get in the vehicle.

As the woman got into the vehicle, the man allegedly began to drive away with the passenger door still open.

A man allegedly asked a woman to get in his Tesla (pictured above) and after she got in, he allegedly drove off with the passenger door still open

Police believe the woman may have called out to other road users for help while in the car.

Police allege that the woman was not allowed to leave the car while being driven around the Gungahlin region, where the man has allegedly assaulted the woman a number of times.

The car eventually stopped on the side of the road near Haydon Dr, Bruce, where both the man and woman got out of the car.

Police alleged the pair then both got back into the car after a few minutes before driving to the Gungahlin region again.

The woman was eventually able to leave the man's residence about 7.30pm on Thursday.

She then went to a friend's place to seek refuge before contacting police.

ACT Police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward who saw the assault take place

Police were conducting mobile patrol in Gungahlin when they saw the man driving the Tesla about 11.10am on Friday.

He was arrested and charged with three offences - forcible confinement, choke, suffocate, or strangle another person, and recklessly inflict actual bodily harm.

He faced the ACT Magistrates Court on Saturday.

Police are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or seen the Tesla being driven in Gungahlin or Belconnen on Thursday to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A devastated dog owner is speaking out to warn Australian's about the dangers of kangaroos after one of her boxers was viciously attacked and killed.

Raylene Main, 72, was walking Lenny and Logan around the estuary in the small sea-side suburb of Port Noarlunga, 30km south of Adelaide, just before Christmas.

But her normally peaceful morning routine turned to tragedy when her off-leash pets saw some kangaroos in the Onkaparinga River reserve and went to have a look.

'And while Lenny came back, two-year-old Logan went over the edge of the river and never came back,' Ms Main told The Advertiser.

Raylene Main was walking her two dogs, Logan and Lenny (pictured) when they encountered kangaroos

Raylene Main (pictured) is warning dog-owners to watch out for their pets when around kangaroos

She frantically searched for her missing two-year-old pooch for hours and even enlisted the help of a friend who had drones.

'At about 4.30pm that afternoon, nearly 10 hours after he went missing, my friend found him in the water. He'd been drowned by the kangaroo,' she said.

'I had visions of him having been attacked and bleeding to death, but this was so different. It's just something you don't expect.'

Ms Main has since heard that at least three other dogs have been drowned by kangaroos in the area over the past few years.

The retired real estate agent believes suburban development has forced kangaroos to encroach on built-up areas and has noticed 'there's so many more around'.

She is now urging pet-owners to watch out for the dogs around kangaroos.

Two months before the heart-breaking loss Logan, a video was posted to TikTok by the Mildura Martial Arts school in Victoria showing a man rescuing his dog which was being drowned by a kangaroo.

The video shows a '7ft kangaroo' holding a dog under water, before the man approaches to save his pet.

They both made it back to the bank of the river safely and uninjured.

A Tik Tok video posted a couple of months before Logan was killed, showed a man saving his dog from a kangaroo who was drowning it

Two-year-old Logan was drowned pictured) by a kangaroo on his morning walk
After Sweeney asked the crew to cut to her 'fiance' - the camera panned to Powell grinning in the audience

She told the audience she and her fiance were 'together and stronger than ever'

Sydney Sweeney hilariously shut down rumors of an 'affair' with her rom-com co-star Glen Powell in her SNL monologue by showing her 'fiance' in the crowd.

Rumors surrounding Sweeney, 26, and Powell's, 35, romance spiraled out of control as the pair filmed Anyone But You together in Australia - with fans saying their chemistry off-screen was undeniable.

The gossip flurried even more after the news hit that Powell had broken up with his girlfriend of over three years, model Gigi Paris, in April 2023 - just months after his onscreen romance with Sweeney was filmed.

Despite Powell's break-up, Sweeney has stayed loyal to her fiance Jonathan Davino, 40, throughout her time working with the Top Gun hunk - and she made sure to let the SNL audience know during her opening monologue.

'The craziest rumor I've seen is that while I was filming anyone but you, I was having an affair with my co-star Glen Powell... That's obviously not true,' the actress said.

Sydney Sweeney hilariously shut down rumors of an 'affair' with her rom-com co-star Glen Powell in her SNL monologue by showing her 'fiance' in the crowd

Rumors surrounding Sweeney, 26, and Powell's, 35, romance spiraled out of control as the pair filmed Anyone But You together in Australia - with fans saying their chemistry off-screen was undeniable

'The craziest rumor I've seen is that while I was filming anyone but you, I was having an affair with my co-star Glen Powell... That's obviously not true,' the actress said

'I just want to let everyone know that he's the man of my dreams. And we're still together and stronger than ever. He even came here tonight to support me... can we cut to him?' The camera then panned to an unsuspecting Glen Powell grinning in the audience

Sydney jokingly screamed 'that's not my fiance he's in my dressing room'

'Me and my fiance produced the movie together and he was there the entire shoot,' she continued.

'I just want to let everyone know that he's the man of my dreams. And we're still together and stronger than ever. He even came here tonight to support me... can we cut to him?'

The camera then panned to an unsuspecting Glen Powell grinning in the audience before Sydney jokingly screamed 'that's not my fiance he's in my dressing room.'

Powell has previously admitted that he and Sweeney agreed to 'play up' the dating rumors as publicity for the rom-com.

When asked about their decision to lean into their characters, Ben and Bea, Powell opened up about utilizing their 'authentic chemistry' to entice viewers to watch their rom-com.

'I don't have the mental capacity to pull anything like this off, but she's very smart. She's very smart,' the Top Gun: Maverick actor told Business Insider. 'I had such a wonderful journey with her on this thing. But in terms of actual dating and actually being together? [Laughs.]'

Sydney Sweeney's monologue! pic.twitter.com/Bk0M6e25VG  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) March 3, 2024

When asked about their decision to lean into their characters, Ben and Bea, Powell opened up about utilizing their 'authentic chemistry' to entice viewers to watch their rom-com

Powell has also admitted that he and Sweeney 'love each other,' but are not romantically involved

As for how their chemistry on-screen and natural rapport at press events may have created a 'lot of headaches for' him, the performer acknowledged his split from Gigi Paris.

'Well, look, the only reason it made things harder for me to lean into that stuff was that I was going through a very real breakup amidst a promotional tour,' he explained.

Powell continued: 'I was with someone that I really loved and cared about and was trying to kind of make sense of a lot of stuff.'

Meanwhile, the 35-year-old pointed out that 'it was a lot easier for Sydney to lean into something like that because she's in a very committed and wonderful relationship and she's very happy.'

Powell has also admitted that he and Sweeney 'love each other,' but are not romantically involved.

When asked about their romance on the Today show, Glen and Sydney started giggling, before Glen replied: 'No, but we do love each other

The gossip flurried even more after the news hit that Powell had broken up with his girlfriend of over three years, model Gigi Paris, in April 2023 - just months after his onscreen romance with Sweeney was filmed

Sweeney has stayed loyal to her fiance Jonathan Davino, 40, throughout her time working with the Top Gun hunk

When asked about their romance on the Today show, Glen and Sydney started giggling, before Glen replied: 'No, but we do love each other. And, honestly, this is one of the most spectacular humans I've ever met. She's really great.'

Sydney also shot down the rumors during a tell-all interview with Variety in August.

'It's a rom-com. That's what people want,' she said.

'Glen and I don't really care. We have so much fun together, and we respect each other so much; he's such a hard worker, and I'm a hard worker.

'We're excited for the press tour, and I literally just left ADR with him. We talk all the time like.'

Her comments came as a member of production working on the film claimed that a number of people on the set 'thought they were already a couple.'

'I knew him from Top Gun,' they said. 'But I just assumed they were a couple in real life. That's what it looked like to most of us. And to some of the extras as well.'
Two babies and a toddler are among more than a dozen killed in a deadly Russian blitz on Ukraine, with President Zelensky warning that Vladimir Putin's forces continue to strike civilian targets.

A Russian drone crashed into a residential building in Odesa on Saturday, with pictures showing collapsed floors and the whole of one side ripped off the nine-storey block of flats.

A four-month-old baby and two-year-old child were confirmed to be among the dead, and as rescuers continued to search the rubble another baby was found dead next to the body of its mother. A day of mourning has been declared in the city today.

Separate shelling attacks on the frontline regions of Kharkiv in the northeast and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south killed another three people, Ukrainian officials said.

Volodymyr Zelensky said that casualties could have been avoided if Ukraine had not faced delays in arms deliveries, and urged the West to supply his country with more air defence systems to save civilian lives.

Smoke rises from an apartment building heavily damaged by a Russian drone strike on March 2

Pictures showing collapsed floors and the whole of one side ripped off the nine-storey block of flats

Devastated residents of a block of flats which was hit by a Russian drone watch on as search operations continue

A handler and a dog examine the ruins at a section of a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone in Odesa

'Russia continues to hit civilians,' Zelensky said in a post on social media.

'We need more air defences from our partners. We need to strengthen the Ukrainian air shield to add more protection for our people from Russian terror.

'More air-defence systems and more missiles for air-defence systems save lives.'

Almost 100 rescuers scoured the rubble as around 10 residents remained unaccounted for last night.

'The body of another dead baby has just been found next to the woman's body. Preliminarily, the child is less than a year old. Rescuers continue to clear the rubble,' Odesa governor Oleh Kiper said on the Telegram messaging app.

Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the infant was found dead alongside his mother and posted a photograph of a rescue worker next to a bloodied blanket, a baby's arm visible on one side and an adult arm extending out the other.

He added that the building was destroyed 'as a result of an attack by Russian terrorists.'

Ukraine's air force said falling debris from Russian drones it had shot down fell onto residential buildings in both Odesa and Kharkiv.

The attacks came as Russia sought to press its advantage on the battlefield.

Kyiv has acknowledged that it is heavily outgunned and outnumbered, facing ammunition shortages and aid delays.

Ukraine's air force said falling debris from Russian drones it had shot down fell onto residential buildings in both Odesa

krainian rescuers work on the site of a damaged residential building after an overnight attack in the southern city of Odesa

Half of all promised Western ammunition arrives late, the defence minister has said.

Russian forces have advanced westwards following last month's capture of the key eastern town of Avdiivka, seizing several small villages in recent days.

Visiting frontline military posts on Saturday, Ukraine's new Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said 'the situation at the front remains difficult, but controlled'.

Kyiv appeared to have launched its own overnight drone attack, with the Russian defence ministry claiming early on Sunday to have shot down 38 drones over the occupied territory of Crimea.

An apparent Ukrainian drone also damaged a residential building a day earlier in Saint Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city and President Putin's hometown.

An apparent Ukrainian drone also damaged a residential building a day earlier in Saint Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city

Videos on Russian social media showed what appeared to be a drone spiralling downwards into the building, triggering an explosion that blew out windows and caused small fires.

The city's National Guard division said its preliminary assumption was that the damage was caused by a 'falling drone'.

Ukrainian media reported that the drone was shot down by Russia's air defences while targeting an oil depot around a kilometre from the crash site.

Kyiv has hit several Russian oil facilities in recent months in what it has called fair retribution for Moscow's attacks on Ukraine's power grid.

Russia's Investigative Committee said separately that four of its officials had been wounded when a Ukrainian drone dropped explosives over the Bryansk border region.

Russia also expressed outrage at a leak of confidential German army talks in which officers allegedly discussed missile strikes on the annexed Crimean peninsula.

The attacks come as Vladimir Putin's forces sought to press its advantage on the battlefield

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday promised a full investigation after the head of Russia's state-run RT outlet posted the alleged leaked recording on social media.

A spokeswoman for the German defence ministry confirmed on Saturday that a secret air force conversation had been tapped, but that they could not say for certain whether any changes had been made to the conversation in the leaked audio file.

Russia's foreign ministry demanded a 'prompt' explanation from Berlin, while Moscow's top diplomat Sergei Lavrov said it showed Ukraine's European backers were intent on inflicting a 'strategic defeat' on Russia on the battlefield.
British Jews have been left 'terrified' and afraid to leave their homes because of vitriolic protests over the war in Gaza, Jeremy Hunt claimed today.

The Chancellor lashed out at 'intimidatory' events and said he had been contacted by Jews who refused to 'go outside their front door' while protests take place for fear of violence.

It came as Rishi Sunak launched a new clampdown on foreign hate preachers coming to Britain, in the wake of months of protests and the election of hard-left agitator George Galloway as the MP for Rochdale last week.

The new plans will see identified extremists added to visa warning lists and refused entry to the UK for being 'non-conducive to the public good'.

Mr Hunt told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme that the 'vast majority' of those demonstrating 'want to protest peacefully and within the law', but that there had been 'examples of very intimidatory protests that have made other people feel unsafe'.

'That is not the British way,' he added.

Mr Hunt told Sky News' Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme that the 'vast majority' of those demonstrating 'want to protest peacefully and within the law', but that there had been 'examples of very intimidatory protests that have made other people feel unsafe'.

Rishi Sunak is planning to prevent hate preachers from entering Britain

Pro-Palestine activists are pictured protesting in Westminster, London, yesterday

Police officers are pictured a a Pro-Palestine protest in Westminster yesterday

Typically used to prevent people who pose known security concerns from coming to the UK, it is understood the new plans will extend the powers to include those preaching racism, incitement or using intimidation or violence to undermine the democratic process.

It follows Rishi Sunak's speech in Downing Street, in which he warned that democracy is being targeted by extremists and there were 'forces here at home trying to tear us apart'.

Asked whether he thought Rishi Sunak was right to say British streets were at risk of being taken over by 'mob rule' during the protests, the Chancellor said: 'I'm not Jewish, but I've been contacted by Jewish people who have told me that they are afraid to go outside their front door when those marches are happening.

'I think it is very important that we restore the social fabric of this country so that people understand that when there are demonstrations, they will be peaceful and within the law, and they are not intimidatory.

'I think we have seen some of that and the Prime Minister was rightly saying we need to call that out.'

According to The Sunday Telegraph, the Home Office is also looking to clamp down on 'far-left, anti-democratic' organisations.

Lord Walney, the Government's independent adviser on political violence and disruption who conducted an official review into fringe groups, told the Telegraph there has been 'an unholy alliance' between far-left groups and Islamist extremism on protest marches.

He said there was a 'gap in the Government's understanding of damage the anti-democratic far left can do.'

He told the Telegraph: 'One of the conclusions of my review is to look at and understand the threat from anti-democratic far-left groups, alongside that posed by Islamists and the far right.

'For understandable reasons, the focus since 9/11 has been on violent terrorism.

'Because the far left has not posed a similar kind of violent threat, there has been less understanding and less focus on the way in which they can harm our society.'

A Home Office spokesman said it was considering the report's recommendations 'extremely carefully'.

Pro-Palestine protests continued across England and Wales on Saturday following Mr Sunak's warning that demonstrations and democracy itself were being targeted by extremists.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign singled out Barclays bank for its day of action, assembling at nearly 50 locations including the branch on Tottenham Court Road in central London.

The Sun reported that ministers are drawing up a list of radicals from Pakistan Afghanistan and Indonesia who will be added to the visa warning lists and blocked from entering the UK.

A government source told the newspaper: 'The PM, has been clear - enough is enough. We are a country of kind, decent, tolerant people and we will not allow hate preachers to come here to spread division and tear us apart.'

It comes after UK spies warned MPs that the threat of a terrorist attack on British soil is rising rapidly.

They issued their chilling alert as the level of extremists' 'chatter' intercepted by spies has reached its highest level since the September 11 atrocities in America.

One insider has warned of a 'real risk' of co-ordinated terrorist activity or of a lone outsider carrying out an isolated attack.

Politicians have been told that war in the Middle East has been used as a 'recruitment advert' by global terror groups, while security officials are understood to fear an upsurge in extremist activity during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which starts next Sunday.

One MP with knowledge of the most recent briefings said: 'The level of extremist chatter is off the scale. This is something they've seen growing and growing.'

Referring to intelligence from the last two weeks, the politician added: 'It's like when the Twin Towers came down in 2001, there was a big spike of hate.'

News of the intelligence warning comes after Rishi Sunak spoke out against the 'poison' of extremism which threatened to 'tear us apart' as a country following George Galloway's divisive by-election victory in Rochdale last week.

Senior security officials have warned that the level of extremists' 'chatter' intercepted by spies has reached its highest level since the September 11, 2001 (pictured is the World Trade Center)

Security officials have held a series of confidential meetings with MPs since December about the heightened 'chatter' about potential plots intercepted in phone calls and online One well-placed source said: 'There is a high chance of both a 7/7-style attack or a lone fired-up attacker like Lee Rigby's killers.'

Off-duty soldier Mr Rigby was murdered in South East London by Islamist extremists Michael Adebolajo and Michael Adebowale in 2013, while the co-ordinated attack on the capital's transport system on July 7, 2005, killed 39 people.

Another insider said that as well as the risk of an immediate attack, 'there are also more medium-term fears that this is a generational radicalisation'.

Security officials have warned that young British Muslims were particularly prone to being drawn into extremism following the October 7 Hamas attacks and Israel's response.

A senior Conservative told the MoS that 'terrorist groups will be finding it easier to fundraise, recruit and be excused for their actions' because of the Gaza war.

The current terrorism threat level is 'substantial'  the third highest state of alert, meaning an attack is likely. But Alicia Kearns, the Conservative chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, will next week ask Ministers why the level has not been raised.

She said: 'Following the heinous crimes against humanity committed by Hamas, and the manner in which Israel has prosecuted its war against them, there can be no doubt that the risk of terrorism globally has escalated gravely.

'I am surprised the national threat level has not been raised.'
The teenage killers of schoolgirl Brianna Ghey have received nearly 200,000 worth of legal aid, it was revealed today.

Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe were just 15-years-old when they lured Brianna to Culcheth Linear Park near Warrington, where she was stabbed in her head, neck and back with a hunting knife.

The body of 'timid' Brianna was found lying face-down in the mud with 28 stab wounds after the 'frenzied' attack on February 11 last year.

The pair were sentenced to life with a minimum term of 22 and 20 years. They showed no emotion at Manchester Crown Court when sentences were passed last month.

Now, it has been revealed under the Freedom of Information Act that Ratcliffe's legal team received 104,237 and Jenkinson received 82,262, making a total of 186,499.

A Legal Aid Agency spokesperson said: 'Scarlett Jenkinson and Eddie Ratcliffe did not receive a penny of this money  it went directly to lawyers so the two could have a fair trial and be imprisoned for their crimes.'

Brianna, 16, was found with fatal wounds on a path in Culcheth Linear Park, near Warrington, Cheshire, shortly after 3pm on Saturday February 11, 2023

Messages recovered from Jenkinson's phone revealed she and Ratcliffe had drawn up a 'kill list' naming five teenagers they wanted to murder over the preceding weeks

Esther Ghey, the mother of Brianna Ghey, speaking at a vigil in Golden Square, Warrington, to mark the first anniversary of her daughter's death

READ MORE: Brianna Ghey's school where murderer Scarlett Jenkinson met her victim was not told the teenager obsessed with serial killers was kicked out of her last school for trying to poison another pupil with cannabis sweets Advertisement

Brianna's twisted killers, described as a 'danger to society' by their victims mother, had planned the attack in great detail, with a handwritten note in Jenkinson's room reading: 'Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey'.

They then desperately sought to cover their tracks, with Jenkinson posting a Snapchat tribute that called Brianna 'such an amazing friend' and 'one of the best people I've ever met'.

On Friday morning Brianna's mother Esther Ghey and her father Pete Spooner were pictured arriving at court, surrounded by friends and family, where they heard that Jenkinson has finally admitted she stabbed Brianna multiple times.

Brianna was hacked to death with appalling savagery, being left with 'unsurvivable' injuries including wounds penetrating her heart, both lungs and major blood vessels.

She had been stabbed to the head, neck, back and chest with enough force to damage the bones of her ribs, vertebrae and sternum. Her jugular vein had also been severed, causing 'catastrophic blood loss'.

The pair were still only 16 when they stood trial at Manchester Crown Court last November, meaning neither their names nor the schools they had attended could be published. They blamed one another for the brutal killing, but shortly before Christmas jurors took less than five hours to unanimously convict them both.

Scarlett Jenkinson, previously known only as Girl X, was convicted of Brianna's murder and admitted to being obsessed with serial killers and torture videos

Eddie Ratcliffe, previously known as Boy Y, was allowed to play with a fidget toy and do crossword puzzles

The following day, trial judge Mrs Justice Yip ruled that their identities should be revealed to help the public 'understand how children could do something so dreadful'. But after hearing the families of both killers had been subjected to death threats, she ruled that the media could not identify them until today's sentencing hearing, enabling measures to be put in place to keep them safe.

In a packed courtroom today, Mrs Justice Yip formally stripped them of their anonymity.

It was revealed that for the first time Jenkinson has admitted stabbing Brianna 'a number of times', having previously blamed all of the blows on her fellow killer Ratcliffe.

The court heard she has told a forensic psychiatrist that she took the knife from him and stabbed Brianna repeatedly. She also admitted to giving Ratcliffe the 'instruction' to bring his hunting knife.

Jenkinson  who was obsessed with serial killers and their methods - planned to take 'part of her flesh' as a 'token', prosecutor Deanna Heer KC said.

Brianna's mother Esther arrives at Manchester Crown Court on Friday ahead of the sentencing hearing

Brianna Grey was stabbed 28 times with a hunting knife in the head, neck and back

CCTV footage released by police showed the moment Brianna (in white) met Jenkinson (X) and Ratcliffe (Y) at a bus stop on the day of her death

She continued: '[Jenkinson]said Eddie had thrown Brianna to the floor and stabbed her three or four times then he panicked and said he did not want to kill her, so she carried on and stabbed her a number of times.

Jenkinson has written another 'kill list' since being locked up at a secure unit following the murder, the court heard, naming some of the people responsible for caring for her.

Experts have concluded that she does not  as previously diagnosed  suffer from ADHD or autism, but instead a form of 'conduct dissocial disorder'. This was all evidence that 'she knew that what she was doing was wrong', Mrs Heer said.

The condition entails 'limited pro-social emotions' and represents 'impending' antisocial behaviour disorder, but does not constitute a mental illness, she said. Ratcliffe's diagnosis with a 'mild' form of autism  made ahead of the trial - still stands, the prosecutor added.

Behind the facade lay obsessions with torture and murder, dark fantasies and expert knowledge on serial killers - knowledge Jenkinson would draw on to build up her own 'kill list' of other children and ultimately plot Brianna's death

Eddie Ratcliffe, 16, was 'genius' level smart and a 'sociopath' who friends deemed socially awkward, according to his female accomplice

Ahead of the judge Mrs Justice Yip deciding what minimum term the killers should spend behind bars, prosecutor Mrs Heer said she would need to consider whether the murder was motivated by 'sadism' and 'hostility' at Brianna's transgender status in determining how many years they must serve.

She highlighted how Ratcliffe  who had never met Brianna before  used 'disparaging' language in his messages with Jenkinson, referring to her as 'it'.

While Jenkinson did not use transphobic language, she said it was the prosecution case that she 'encouraged' Ratcliffe to kill Brianna in the knowledge that his 'attitude' would make it more likely that he would go ahead and stab her.

She admitted in messages to being 'obsessed' with Brianna and told a psychiatrist she had wanted to kill her so they would 'always be together'.

The judge said there was 'evidence' of sadism and transphobia but the issue was whether this was strong enough to lead to an even longer sentence.

Follow every detail of the case on The Mail's acclaimed podcast The Trial The Trial...takes listeners behind the headlines and into the courtrooms of some of the biggest trials in the world. The first series 'The Trial of Lucy Letby' was a global hit, with more than 13 million downloads, while season two focused on the murder of Ashling Murphy, a 23-year-old teacher from Ireland. Its third season follows the tragic case of Brianna Ghey, a 16-year-old transgender girl killed in Warrington, England. Follow the evidence as the jury hears it, in twice-weekly reports from The Daily Mail's Northern Correspondent Liz Hull and broadcast journalist Caroline Cheetham. Advertisement

'When asked how many, she answered, 'A lot.' She was satisfied and excited by what she was doing.'

Jenkinson told consultant Dr Richard Church that while Ratcliffe 'didn't like Brianna because she was trans', her motivation was 'quite different', the court heard.

'She had enjoyed thinking about the plan to kill Brianna, but her motivation for doing so was that she considered Brianna a friend and anticipated that Brianna was going to leave her and that she wanted to kill her so that she would always be with her,' Mrs Heer added.

Meanwhile Ratcliffe has stuck to the version of events he gave in court, in which he said Jenkinson had inflicted all the stab wounds to Brianna while he was 'urinating against a tree'.

Jenkinson has written another 'kill list' since being locked up at a secure unit following the murder, the court heard, naming some of the people responsible for caring for her.

Experts have concluded that she does not  as previously diagnosed  suffer from ADHD or autism, but instead a form of 'conduct dissocial disorder'. This was all evidence that 'she knew that what she was doing was wrong', Mrs Heer said.

The condition entails 'limited pro-social emotions' and represents 'impending' antisocial behaviour disorder, but does not constitute a mental illness, she said. Ratcliffe's diagnosis with a 'mild' form of autism  made ahead of the trial - still stands, the prosecutor added.

Ahead of the judge Mrs Justice Yip deciding what minimum term the killers should spend behind bars, prosecutor Mrs Heer said she would need to consider whether the murder was motivated by 'sadism' and 'hostility' at Brianna's transgender status in determining how many years they must serve.

She highlighted how Ratcliffe  who had never met Brianna before  used 'disparaging' language in his messages with Jenkinson, referring to her as 'it'.

Forensic officers carrying equipment through Culcheth Linear Park on February 13 - two days after Brianna was killed

While Jenkinson did not use transphobic language, she said it was the prosecution case that she 'encouraged' Ratcliffe to kill Brianna in the knowledge that his 'attitude' would make it more likely that he would go ahead and stab her.

She admitted in messages to being 'obsessed' with Brianna and told a psychiatrist she had wanted to kill her so they would 'always be together'.

The judge said there was 'evidence' of sadism and transphobia but the issue was whether this was strong enough to lead to an even longer sentence.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Brianna's mother said the 'hardest' thing about her daughter's ordeal was finding out that one of her killers, Jenkinson, was 'someone we believed to be her friend'.

She described Jenkinson as: 'Someone that we trusted. Someone that I was so happy that [Brianna] had, fearing that my child had been lonely. Not knowing that this person had been planning, to not only cause harm, but to take the life of my precious child.'

She continued: 'All I can think about is that she would have been scared and I wasn't there for her. She needed me to protect her, Brianna wasn't a fighter and she must have been so terrified.

The note - headed 'Saturday 11th February 2023. Victim: Brianna Ghey' - was found alongside jottings about serial killers including Jeffrey Dahmer, Richard Ramirez and Harold Shipman

Ratcliffe tried to claim he was just 'playing along' with a 'fantasy' dreamt up by Jenkinson

'The day of and the days following 11th of February were and always will be the worst days of my life. I felt like someone had killed part of me, like my heart had been ripped out. I have never felt such grief and I would never wish that pain on anyone else.'

Esther Ghey also told the court Brianna had 'plans for her future' she will never be able to fulfill: 'The fact that Brianna was taken from me in such a heinous way causes a pain that I struggle to describe. No parent should ever have to bury their child. She should have been around for the rest of my life.

'Brianna had plans for her future which we will never have the chance to support her with. She wanted to go to college and study beauty therapy; she was looking forward to being old enough to have a little job like her big sister. We had also discussed her learning to drive, and she had even picked out which pink car she would like for her 18th birthday.'

She described Jenkinson and Ratcliffe as a 'danger to society', adding: 'The thought of Scarlett and Eddie being released from prison absolutely horrifies me. I don't believe that someone who is so disturbed and obsessed with murder and torture would ever be able to be rehabilitated.'

Brianna's father Peter Spooner added: 'Being a father of a transgender child was a difficult thing to deal with. Without people accusing me of dead naming my child, most of my memories are with my son Brett. Our memories are engraved on my heart. He was funny, cheeky and would pull faces to make me laugh. He was my baby, my only Son and his decision to transition was such a brave and confident thing to do.

Photo issued by Cheshire Constabulary of the notebook belonging to Scarlett Jenkinson with notes on different types of serial killers

A notebook belonging to Scarlett Jenkinson with notes about serial killer Jeffery Dahmer

Jenkinson also made chilling notes about serial killer Dr Harold Shipman

Det Supt Mike Evans, head of Cheshire CID

'Even though I grieved the son I lost, I was proud to gain another beautiful daughter. Her appearance changed as she blossomed into a lovely young girl, her eyes were the same, she had my eyes when I looked at her. We were forming a new relationship and these two murderers have stolen that from us both.

'I hate how Brianna's life has been brutally taken away from her and she has been deprived of the life she wanted to live. She never had the chance to sit her exams or go onto further education.

'Now my world has been torn apart, justice may have been done with the guilty verdicts, but no amount of time spent in prison will be enough for these monsters.

'I cannot call them children as that makes them sound naive or vulnerable which they are not, they are pure evil, Brianna was the vulnerable one.

'They were determined to kill and never gave up until they had blood on their hands, my Brianna's blood.

'Not an ounce of remorse has been shown from these murderers, putting myself and my family through this awful trial having to hear the details about how Brianna suffered. It is unforgivable.'

In a statement read to the court, Brianna's stepfather Wesley Powell said: 'Brianna had a large online following but in reality she was lonely, vulnerable and in need of a close friend.

'Both Eddie and Scarlett knew this and preyed upon her vulnerabilities, acting as two predators stalking their prey.'

After the victim personal statements were read to the court, Mrs Justice Yip ordered a short break as she said: 'They were very moving statements. I can feel the emotion in the courtroom.'

At court on Friday Jenkinson's barrister, Richard Pratt KC, said the teenager now maintains  contrary to what she has told experts  that Ratcliffe was responsible for all the stab wounds.

Police at Culcheth Linear Park in Warrington, Cheshire, after Brianna was found dying

Until her arrest on February 12 for the murder of Brianna Ghey , Scarlett Jenkinson seemed to be an ordinary teenage girl. But behind the facade lay obsessions with torture and murder

She said she had confessed due to feeling 'responsible' for Brianna's death, he said in mitigation. But she still accepted her 'gruesome' intentions for what she intended to do to her body but for a dog walker stumbling across the murder scene, he added.

EXCLUSIVE READ MORE: Evil with a pretty face: Scarlett Jenkinson had a perfect start in life. But in lockdown she became obsessed with horror movies, before graduating to killings and torture on the dark web. After she met Brianna Ghey, she wanted to kill for real... Teenager Scarlett Jenkinson, known as Girl X during the murder trial, had a start in life in a leafy Cheshire village that many would envy Advertisement

Mr Pratt said that he was 'bound' to say he had 'reservations' about the latest change in her account.

Putting it more bluntly, Mrs Justice Yip commented that 'quite frankly it's impossible to believe anything she says'. She said it appeared that in making her confession, having been convicted, Jenkinson 'wanted to paint herself in as bad a light as possible'.

The judge said that the details of her confession  in which she spoke of wanting to take a piece of Brianna's flesh as a 'token'  would seem 'completely extraordinary' were in not for the evidence of her 'admiration of notorious killers'.

Mr Pratt also said he acknowledged there appeared to be a substantial element of pre-meditation in the murder of Brianna Ghey.

He added Jenkinson had been diagnosed with an eating disorder and a dissocial disorder - a type of personality disorder which he said was 'significant mitigation'.

He said no-one familiar with the murder could have avoided coming to the conclusion that 'there must have been something wrong with her'.

The diagnosis  of conduct dissocial disorder with limited pro-social emotion  meant the tragic consequences of her actions could not be 'fully laid at her door', her barrister added.

When someone does not have empathy, 'you don't have the brake to stop behaviours that harm others because they feel wrong', he said.

Had this diagnosis been made before the trial, he would have considered whether it amounted to a defence of diminished responsibility, Mr Pratt said.

On behalf of Ratcliffe, Richard Littler KC insisted that Jenkinson's extensive planning placed her responsibility for the murder in 'a completely different category' to his client.

Addressing whether Ratcliffe was motivated by hostility to Brianna's transgender status, he said the cruel messages he wrote about her should be seen as 'offensive comments made by an autistic adolescent'.

Jenkinson posted an online tribute (pictured) to Brianna the day after she died

Police forensics officers walk into the park in Warrington to investigate in February 2022

Mr Littler argued that the fact Brianna was transgender should be 'immaterial' to the sentence he receives, saying he would have assisted Jenkinson 'irrespective' of whether the target was a boy or a girl.

Reading from the expert report on Jenkinson, he said the new 'kill list' written since her incarceration names two or three members of staff at the secure unit. By contrast, the report found Jenkinson said she felt 'sexually excited' at killing Brianna and this feeling 'made her stab more times'.

He said Jenkinson told the psychiatrist that she had meant to hide Brianna's body in a large pipe at the park.

Mr Littler added that an expert report likened elements of Ratcliffe's functioning to that of a child of seven or eight. His autism made it harder for him to understand what others might be thinking, or what they planned to do.

The pair's trial, which concluded days before Christmas, left the nation struggling to comprehend how two children from supportive, stable family backgrounds could have plotted and carried out the 'savage' and 'vile' killing.

After the trial judge allowed the media to name the 'warped' pair, it can now be revealed for the first time that Jenkinson met their 'trusting' victim when she was moved to the 'inclusion unit' for troubled children which Brianna attended.

The decision to place them together  which came after Jenkinson was excluded from her school for passing drugs to fellow pupils, leaving one in hospital  happened just weeks before Brianna's murder.

It is now the subject of an independent safeguarding review into whether local agencies could have done more to protect her.

Jenkinson had become fascinated by serial killers including Harold Shipman and Californian 'Night Stalker' Richard Ramirez, filling pages of notebooks with jottings about their methods and characters.

Along with Ratcliffe, who was highly-intelligent but socially awkward, she drew up a 'kill list' of five potential targets before settling on slightly-built Brianna  who considered her a friend.

While in real life, Brianna suffered from anxiety, didn't like to go out on her own and only had a small circle of friends, in the virtual world she was on the way to becoming a social media star.

Her TikTok videos showing her styling her hair or lip-synching to pop songs had earned her 30,000 followers, many of them fellow transgender teenagers who saw her as an inspiration.

According to her mother, Brianna was 'larger than life', 'funny and witty' and 'usually fearless'.

Brianna's headteacher described her as 'iconic', adding: 'She was such a huge character in school. Everyone knew who she was and losing her has hit everybody so hard.'

Brianna's mother, Esther Ghey (pictured), is campaigning for better safeguarding for children on mobile phones and social media

Her brutal and apparently inexplicable killing  on a Saturday afternoon, in a former railway cutting popular with dog walkers  caused waves of outrage and revulsion far beyond her home town of Warrington.

Prosecutors argued Ratcliffe and Jenkinson were 'in it together' from start to finish, right from planning the attack to attempting to cover their tracks afterwards.

In the days that followed, a string of vigils were held across the globe for people to come together and express their grief.

Cheshire Police faced public pressure to treat Brianna's brutal killing as a hate crime. But within 24 hours, detectives had been told about Jenkinson, a local girl who Brianna regarded as a good friend.

Ratcliffe's arrest soon followed as both had been seen with her in the village of Culcheth that afternoon. Both intelligent and 'high functioning', her killers - neither of whom had been in trouble with police before  secretly shared a fascination for violence, torture and murder.

Messages recovered from Jenkinson's phone revealed she and Ratcliffe had drawn up a 'kill list' naming five teenagers they wanted to murder over the preceding weeks.

While Jenkinson was 'obsessed' with Brianna, Ratcliffe had never met her before the day of the murder.

His messages were littered with cruel references to Brianna as 'it' and dehumanising language.

After a teenage boy they wanted to kill 'smelt a rat', the WhatsApp chats showed how they turned their attention to Brianna.

Ratcliffe sent a message to Jenkinson saying 'yeah, it'll be easier and I want to see if it will scream like a man or a girl'.

Their trial was told it was 'difficult to fathom' how two children could carry out such a disturbing crime. After being caught, the killers blamed each other.

But the prosecution successfully argued it was a case of joint enterprise.
The Jewish dentist in San Diego, who was allegedly shot dead by a 'disgruntled' ex-patient on Thursday, has been named as 28-year-old Dr. Benjamin Ariel Harouni.

Harouni was a licensed dentist and worked at the dental office he ran together with his father, Jack.

Medical personnel at the surgery tried to save Harouni's life, but he died from multiple gunshot wounds on the sidewalk in front of the Smile Plus dental office just before 5 pm on Thursday.

Father and son, Jack and Benjamin are both said to be beloved members of the Jewish-Persian community in the area.

The alleged gunman, wearing all-black clothing, was identified as Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29. He also allegedly injured two others at the practice, including the receptionist Yareli Carrillo, 28. Both were rushed to the hospital in serious, but stable condition.

The Jewish dentist in San Diego, who was shot dead allegedly by a 'disgruntled' ex-patient on Thursday, has been named as 28-year-old Dr. Benjamin Ariel Harouni. He is seen celebrating his 28th birthday on February 20

Benjamin Harouni earned his undergraduate degrees at the University of Southern California before studying at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, where he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery

Mohammed Abdulkareem, 29, was arrested after a desperate search following the shooting at the Smile Plus Dentistry & Orthodontics in El Cajon

Abdulkareem was arrested on Thursday about five hours after the shooting about 20 miles away from where the incident took place. He was found to be armed with a loaded handgun and several loaded handgun magazines.

Police on Friday said Abdulkareem had legally purchased the gun he used in the attack only two weeks ago. An exact motive for the shooting remains unclear.

Benjamin Harouni earned his undergraduate degrees at the University of Southern California before studying at the Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry in San Francisco, where he earned his Doctorate of Dental Surgery.

Harouni had said becoming a dentist had been his lifelong passion and loved to take pride in providing all of his patients with 'honest and quality dental care', according to his website.

The office's receptionist Yareli Carrillo, 28, was shot in the legs but is in stable condition

The office was run by the father-and-son team of doctors Jack (pictured) and Benjamin Harouni

Dr. Benjamin Harouni, second from left, is seen together with family members

Family members, including Benjamin's grandfather Sam Harouni, paid tribute to the dentist

Harouni said he loved to take pride in providing all of his patients with 'honest and quality dental care,' according to his website

Ben Harouni, pictured as a young boy, had said becoming a dentist had been his lifelong passion

Images of a SWAT team outside of the El Cajon dental office where a shooting unfolded Thursday afternoon

Captain Rob Ransweiler said Abdulkareem was familiar to the people inside the office.

'There were a lot of family members on scene,' he said. 'Most of the people who were involved, they have information as to who was involved.'

Police believe that Abdulkareem, a resident of El Cajon, rented a white U-Haul pickup with an Arizona license plate just an hour before the shooting.

He reportedly used the vehicle to flee the scene after he opened fire.

'A vigilant citizen alerted the San Diego Police Department that they believed the U-Haul truck involved in the shooting was parked near 6thAvenue and Quince Street in San Diego,' police said in a statement about Abdulkareem's arrest.

Dr Benjamin Harouni was shot several times and died on the sidewalk outside his dental office

The suspect's vehicle, a white U-Haul pickup truck with Arizona license plate AM14894, was identified shortly after the shooting. Police said they then confirmed that the suspect had rented the truck

'San Diego Police officers responded and discovered the truck was unoccupied. A short time later, officers located Abdulkareem in the area and took him into custody without incident.'

Abdulkareem is charged with multiple felony charges, including one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder. He is being held without bail.

The FBI's San Diego team, as well as the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are aiding the investigation.
A man died after being restrained by an off-duty police officer and a member of the public.

The 39-year-old was allegedly armed with a wooden pole and appeared to be on drugs on Morrison Crescent in Kilsyth in Melbourne's east about 11pm on Saturday.

He was restrained by a member of the public an an off-duty police officer before he became unresponsive.

The 39-year-old was allegedly armed with a wooden pole and appeared to be on drugs on Morrison Crescent in Kilsyth in Melbourne 's east (pictured) about 11pm on Saturday. he was restrained by an off-duty cop and a member of the public before he became unresponsive

The officer attempted CPR and treated the man with a defibrillator but he later died in hospital.

'Homicide Squad detectives will investigate the incident, with oversight by Professional Standards Command which is standard practice when a person dies while in police custody,' a spokesperson for Victoria Police said.

'The investigation will include reviewing body-worn camera footage that captured the incident.'
Vicars can be 'complete pain' and 'over controlling' with photographers trying to snap pictures during a wedding, an ex-Archbishop of Canterbury has admitted.

Dr Rowan Williams, who served as the officiant for the Prince and Princess of Wales, argued that while some clergy get frustrated with intrusive photographers, it is 'not unreasonable' to ask cameramen to the respect the spirituality of matrimony.

'The event isn't staged just as a spectacle to be filmed, but as a personal encounter of a couple with God,' Dr Williams, 73, told The Sunday Times. 'So there are indeed two sides to this.'

His remarks come amid tensions between wedding photographers and clergy, with more than 900 snappers last week having signed a petition calling for church leaders to be more considerate.

The photographers claim it is becoming almost impossible to take pictures inside churches due to the 'aggressive, rude and humiliating' behaviour of members of the clergy.

Some of the alleged 'rude behaviours' include vicars halting the ceremony, intentionally obscuring the couple or exiling photographers altogether.

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams admitted vicars can be 'complete pain' and 'over controlling' with photographers trying to snap pictures during a wedding, but also argued it is 'not unreasonable' to ask cameramen to the respect the spirituality of matrimony

More than 900 photographers have signed a petition started by Rachel Roberts, from Lincoln, calling for church leaders to be more considerate. The photograph above was taken by Mrs Roberts at a successful church wedding

The former Archbishop acknowledged that the actions of some clergy can be irritating, but also reiterated that there are 'two sides' to this debate.

'While some vicars can be a complete pain and over controlling to a degree, clergy too need to be able to do their jobs,' Dr Williams told the newspaper.

'A request not to be intrusive during a service when something significant is supposed to be taking place at the spiritual level is not unreasonable.'

He reminds photographers that marriage is meant to be a 'spiritual' ceremony and should be respected as such.

But photographers claim they are only trying to honour couples' wishes, noting that images of that first special first kiss are treasured.

Snappers are asking to have 'some kind of collaborative effort', said Birmingham-based photographer Mike Horton, who now longer shoots church weddings because 'I just don't want the hassle'.

Similarly, Jade Eleanor, a photographer from Surrey, said the 'power struggle' between snappers and vicars is 'really awkward' and 'not fair on the couple'.

Photographers claim it is becoming almost impossible to take pictures inside churches due to the 'aggressive, rude and humiliating' behaviour of members of the clergy. Some of the alleged behaviours include vicars halting the ceremony, intentionally obscuring the couple or exiling photographers altogether

Mrs Roberts, 37, said that while photographers acknowledge that the service is a solemn occasion and take steps to be discreet, they're often subject to strict rules which make their job more difficult

READ MORE: Wedding photographers take a shot at clergy members who they say are being too 'aggressive' and making their jobs harder Advertisement

The petition was started by photographer Rachel Roberts, from Lincoln, who said a conversation between wedding photographers and church leaders was needed to address the situation for the benefit of marrying couples.

She said couples were increasingly choosing not to wed in church while photographers were avoiding taking work in churches because of the problems they face.

Mrs Roberts, 37, told the Daily Mail last week that while photographers acknowledge that the service is a solemn occasion and take steps to be discreet, they're often subject to strict rules which make their job more difficult, with some ministers being openly hostile towards them.

The photographer said couples were also frequently finding out on the day of their wedding that they can't have pictures inside the church at all leaving them devastated.

She added that she felt many church leaders were 'stuck in the past' and that those who embraced photography and social media had waiting lists for weddings.

Mrs Roberts hoped the petition would help make 'positive change' adding: 'Ultimately, we all want the same thing which is to deliver lovely results for the couple'.

Dr Rowan Williams officiated the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales at Westminster Abbey, London on April 29, 2011

While it is at the priest's or vicar's discretion on what photographs can be taken at each church, many refuse to allow them during the ceremony at all. Others permit only one picture or photos only during the signing of the register.

The Church of England has said that it worked with professional photographers to produce guidance for couples.

A spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Our clergy welcome couples and work with them to ensure that their wedding is personal, meaningful, spiritual, and beautiful. Photography is an important part of the day for many of the couples who come to church to celebrate their wedding.

'Good early communication between the couple, the officiant and the photographer can help to ensure that expectations are aligned, and we advise that couples discuss these matters in advance with their church, so they know what to expect.

'We want to reassure couples that they don't have to be churchgoers to have a church wedding, they don't need to be christened, and we welcome couples who already have children. Just ask to find out what's possible.'

A spokesperson for the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales said: 'A wedding is a joyous occasion when the bride and groom make a lifelong commitment to each other in front of God and in the presence of family and friends. In the Catholic Church marriage is a very important sacrament.

'A priest would always seek to work with photographers and videographers to ensure that these beautiful memories are captured, whilst at the same time the reverence of the occasion is appropriately respected and observed.'
Gov. Ned Lamont (center) shovels dirt with Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim (third from right) during on the groundbreaking for mixed-use development at Steelpointe Harbor in January. Like other prominent Democrats, Lamont avoided endorsing Ganim's re-election bid last fall, but came around in the final weeks of a controversial do-over election in February. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media

As the mayoral election in Bridgeport descended into turmoil last fall, many of the states leading Democrats made sure to keep an arms length from the citys controversial and resilient leader, Joe Ganim.

A video released days after Ganims apparent primary victory over rival John Gomes appeared to show a city employee illegally stuffing absentee ballots into a dropbox  forcing a court-ordered do-over election, a state investigation and months of critical headlines plastered across national news.

Some, like Gov. Ned Lamont, avoided making the traditional campaign stops in the states largest city, while others who did make the trip made clear that they were there to support the other municipal candidates, but not necessarily the Democratic mayor. Gomes, a registered Democrat, competed in the general election as an Independent Party candidate.

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After barely winning last year's original primary and general election, Ganim won a more comfortable victory over Gomes in January's do-over primary election. As the fourth and final vote approached this month, the coolness from out-of-town Democrats began to subside.

The first sign of acquiescence came from Lamont during a trip to Bridgeport about a week before the second general election for the seat to visit the construction site of a new technical high school with Ganim alongside him. Lamont was predictably asked about his thoughts on the election, and gave the mayor his formal blessing.

We have a good, strong working relationship, Lamont said."We've gotten a lot done here in Bridgeport. We're just getting started.

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Within a week, other prominent Democrats including Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, and 4th District Congressman Jim Himes all delivered formal endorsements for Ganim.

Part of it, probably, was just fatigue from the entire process, said Bilal Sekou, a professor of political science at the University of Hartford, who noted that Ganim had come out in front in each of the first three rounds of voting. At that point, from lawmakers I think it was kind of a safe bet to just go with the person who looked like they were going to win.

Ganim did not return a call seeking comment, but his a key campaign advisor, Thomas Gaudett, echoed Lamont's comments about the existing ties state leaders have developed with the Ganim administration.

"The endorsements of statewide leaders shows unity within the Democratic Party and is a recognition of the fact that the Ganim administration has strong working relationships with state elected officials," Gaudett said.

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After endorsing Ganim, Lamont's office also called for passage of election reforms aimed at curbing future instances of fraud and expediting investigations. During a stop in Bridgeport earlier this week, Blumenthal made a similar call for "remedies" to existing laws, while reemphasizing his support for Ganim as "a builder and a doer."

"There should be scrutiny and oversight and appropriate law enforcement if any rules have been broken," Blumenthal said. "So far there's been no serious allegation about his personal involvement."

With multiple state investigations ongoing over what transpired in the Bridgeport mayoral race, however, Democrats have faced stinging criticism from Republicans, all the way up to former President Donald Trump. Members of Ganim's previous mayoral campaign, in 2019, also continue to face investigation over similar allegations of fraud in that year's Democratic primary.

Even some Democrats have questioned whether party leaders have done enough to show they are serious about reform.

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If the Democrats want to be the party of reform, they need to say it out loud, said Bill Curry, a two-time Democratic nominee for governor. Above all, they need to be consistent or no one will hear them.

Christine Bartlett-Josie, a Democratic consultant who worked for Gomes campaign, said she was disappointed that the same officials who endorsed Ganim did not speak out forcibly after a judge ruled that the evidence of fraud was enough to order a new election.

It could come back to haunt them because the Republicans could absolutely use it against them, she said. It could. Will it? I dont know, honestly. People have short memories sometimes, too.

With more than 42,000 registered Democrats, Bridgeport has historically been a deep and vital well of support for the party in statewide and congressional elections.

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In 2010, for instance, an overnight tabulation of votes from Bridgeport was enough to put Democrat Dannel P. Malloy over the top in a razor-thin governors race against Republican Tom Foley. The citys voters also provided the margin of victory in Democrat Jim Himes' successful run for congress that same year.

As Connecticut has increasingly tilted blue in both state and national elections, however, racking up large margins of victory in Bridgeport has become less of a necessity for a Democratic victories at the statewide level.

At the same time, appearing cozy with Ganim risks alienating voters outside of Bridgeport who are well acquainted with the mayors turbulent past, including a stint in federal prison on corruption charges, said Gary Rose, a political science professor at Sacred Heart University.

Why would you be so visible, as what weve seen, with somebody who is a convicted felon? Rose said. Im sure there are some voters who got a little turned off from that, because everyone knows who Joe Ganim is.

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About a month before the election, Bridgeport Democratic Party Chair and Ganim ally Mario Testa sent a letter to the head of the state party, Nancy DiNardo, complaining about a lack of public support from Democratic leaders like Lamont. The letter, first reported by CT Insider, went on to say that the party risked an embarrassing loss to Gomes, who was running as an independent in the general election.

DiNardo said this week that she never received Testa's letter and did not have conversations with any officials about backing Ganim's campaign. Testa did not respond to requests for comment.

"Ganim has done a good job turning Bridgeport around, and I feel that he did deserve another chance to continue," DiNardo added.

When asked by a reporter whether Testas letter had anything to do with his endorsement, Lamont said he had not met with the Democratic leader in many months. As for the lingering allegations surrounding Ganims campaign, the governor defended his decision to support the mayor.

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That was then, this is now, Lamont said, according to Fox 61. Everybody deserves a second chance.
Critics of Covid lockdowns had considerable support among scientists but academics stayed silent for fear it could damage their careers, an expert has said.

Professor Robert Dingwall claims that those who voiced opinions going against the consensus during the pandemic 'paid a price for trying to voice loyal opposition'.

The former Government Covid advisor said those in scientific circles who had concerns about the impact of lockdowns on society were cowed by the potential consequences they could face professionally.

In the years that have followed the pandemic concerns have been raised about how the closing of schools affected children's education, while NHS waiting lists for treatment have soared.

It comes as a new survey found that almost 70 per cent of British academics say they believe more thought should have been given to how shutting down the country would impact society.

Customers line up in a socially distanced queue outside a branch of the Nationwide Building Society in Worcester in September 2020

Then-Health Secretary Matt Hancock answers questions from the media in a Covid briefing at Downing Street in March 2020

The survey of 198 anonymous UK-based scientists, conducted by The Telegraph and Censuswide, found that many had reservations about the implementation of a nationwide shutdown in response to the spread of Covid.

China wasn't open about Covid's origins, scientists say The survey also asked scientists whether they thought China was 'open and transparent' about the origins of Covid. Of those asked, 61 per cent of scientist said 'no', while 35 per cent said they had 'no views on this/prefer not to say'. Only six per cent of those asked said they thought China had been open and transparent. However, most of those surveyed said they believed Covid was not manmade with nearly 70 per cent saying they believed it was 'definitely' or 'most likely' of 'zonotic/natural origin'. Around 16 per cent believed the opposite, while just under 20 per cent said they had no views on it or preferred not to say. Views on whether Covid had been leaked from a lab in China - a popular theory in some quarters - were split. Just over 35 per cent of scientists said they did no believe the virus was leaked, while 25 per cent said they did. Source: The Telegraph Advertisement

When asked whether they thought 'the Government paid sufficient attention to the long-term damage of lockdowns', 68 per cent said they did not.

Only 19 per cent said they thought the 'Government paid sufficient attention' to this before implementing the policy.

Those who were surveyed were also critical of how the Government got its message across to the public, with 70 per cent saying they thought it was 'not transparent and not well communicated'.

However, a majority of scientists said they thought the decisions that the Government made were transparent and well communicated.

They also backed the data used as a base for decisions around Covid policy, with 70 per cent saying the effectiveness of the modelling used was 'excellent', 'good' or 'average'.

One expert said the results of the survey showed there was less of a consensus on lockdowns than was portrayed to the public at the time.

Prof Robert Dingwall, a former government Covid adviser, from Nottingham Trent University, told The Telegraph: 'It was always clear to those of us who were able to make evidence-based criticisms of 'official science' and government actions, that we enjoyed considerable tacit support in the scientific community.

'This was, however, muted by concerns about loss of patronage, access to research grants and difficulty in publication as the cost of speaking out.

'Others certainly paid a price for trying to voice loyal opposition. I don't blame anyone for keeping their head down if they had a career to build, a family to support or a preference for a quiet life.'

After pandemic NHS waiting lists soared to record highs, with more than 120,000 patients thought to have died while waiting for operations and procedures in 2022.

One Tory MP who was a critic of lockdowns during the pandemic said he thought the 'lack of an open and science-led conversation during the crisis was... disturbing'.

Bob Seely told The Telegraph: 'At the time we were, understandably, focused on immediate risk. However, it was also clear that there was precious little thought as to the long-term damage to a society.

'Schools should never have been shut. We are seeing a generation of young people damaged. There was too much politics from some scientists.'

Professor Robert Dingwall claims there was 'considerable tacit support' for people questioning lockdown within the scientific community

A man wearing a face mask crosses the road as he walks through central Manchester in April 2020

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman told The Telegraph: 'Throughout the pandemic, the Government acted to save lives and livelihoods, preventing the NHS being overwhelmed, and delivered a world-leading vaccine rollout which protected millions.

'We have always said there are lessons to be learnt from the pandemic and are committed to learning from the Covid-19 inquiry's findings, which will play a key role in informing the Government's planning and preparations for the future.'

Last year charities and experts blasted the Government for the 'preventable' harm caused to children during lockdown.

READ MORE HERE: Lockdown generation lacks basic workplace skills because school closures deprived pupils of practical lessons, Tory grandee warns Advertisement

The Children's Rights Organisations alliance claimed social distancing and the closure of schools and playgrounds wreaked 'long-lasting and era-defining' effects on young people's mental health.

The group was set up to give evidence to the Covid Inquiry and includes charities Save the Children, Just for Kids Law and the Children's Rights Alliance of England.

The report What About The Children? argues 'the worst impacts of the pandemic for children could have been prevented'.

It describes the pandemic as 'years of lost learning, lost freedoms and lost hope'.

The document accuses ministers of failing to consider children's rights when deciding how to contain the virus, while numbers of youngsters seeking mental health support has surged from 12.1 per cent in 2017 to 17.8 per cent in 2022.

Standards in reading, writing and maths by the end of primary school also dropped from a 65 per cent pass rate in 2018-19 to 59 per cent in 2022-23.

Former Children's Commissioner Anne Longfield who was in post during the first year of the pandemic said that the Government had questions to answer.

She said: 'This report sets out in very stark terms how children were frequently at the back of the queue when the Government made its biggest decisions about lockdown and reopening the economy.

'Three years on, and many children and families are paying the price for the mistakes that were made. So many of the long-term problems arising from Covid could have been alleviated, or even prevented altogether, had the interests of children been made a top priority by the Government. This must never happen again.'

A Department for Education spokesman said at the time: 'Time in school is vital for a child's education, well-being and future life chances. We know children were amongst those most affected by the pandemic, and we are helping them catch up academically as well as socially.

'We have made 5 billion available to help pupils recover from the impact of the pandemic, including over 1.5 billion for the National Tutoring Programme and 16-19 Tuition Fund, which have supported millions of students to catch up on lost learning.'
King Charles is set to come to Australia this year, marking the first visit from a reigning monarch since 2011.

Australia's head of state last came to the country in 2018 for the Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast when he was the Prince of Wales.

Buckingham Palace recently revealed that the King, 75, has a 'form of cancer'.

The type of cancer has not been revealed but he is undergoing 'regular treatments' and has postponed public duties.

The Australian Government will begin engaging States and Territories about a possible Royal Visit later this year once his health has recovered.

King Charles is set to come to Australia this year, marking the first visit from a reigning monarch since 2011 (pictured: the King and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shake hands)

The King and Queen on Broadbeach in the Gold Coast in 2018 on their last trip to the country

Previous official visits  1967  Vic  1970  NSW, Tas, Vic  1974  ACT, NSW, Qld, Tas, Vic  1977  ACT, Qld, NSW; Tas, Vic, SA, NT, WA  1978  Vic  1979 - WA, ACT  1981  ACT, NSW, Vic, Tas, SA  1983  NT, ACT, Vic, SA, NSW, Tas, WA, Qld  1985  Vic; ACT  1988  NSW, Vic, NT, SA  1994  NSW, TAS, WA, Qld  2005  WA, NT, Vic, NSW, ACT.  2012  Qld, Vic, SA, Tas, NSW, ACT  2015  SA, NSW, ACT, WA  2018 Qld, NT Advertisement

'Australia is preparing for a possible visit from His Majesty The King to Australia later this year,' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.

'The King has shown his compassion for Australians affected by recent natural disasters, just as Australians have shown compassion and support for the King following his cancer diagnosis.

'The King, Queen and members of the Royal Family are always welcome in Australia.'

King Charles has made 15 official visits to Australia. The last three he was accompanied by Queen Camilla, who was the the Duchess of Cornwall.

If it goes ahead, this year's proposed trip will draw him level with his mother late Queen Elizabeth who visited the country 16 times.

Mr Albanese has long been a republican, telling the Republic Referendum Committee in 1999 that the time had 'well and truly come' for Australia to ditch the monarchy and stand on its own two feet.

'It is very important that we are able to move forward,' he told the parliament.

'Young people in this country simply cannot identify with Queen Elizabeth or Prince Charles being our head of state.'

It was a longstanding policy of Mr Albanese's to hold a referendum on whether Australia should become a republic.

But the resounding loss of the Voice referendum last October has put those plans on ice for the foreseeable future.

The King, for his part, has long had a love affair with Australia.

In 1966, he spent two terms at the Timbertop campus of Geelong Grammar School in Victoria, which he later described as the most enjoyable of his whole education.

King Charles (pictured with Queen Camilla) was recently diagnosed with a form of cancer
Hamas has claimed that a ceasefire in Gaza is possible 'within 24 to 48 hours' if Israel accepts its demands, as negotiators are set to meet in Cairo today in the hope they can thrash out a new truce deal.

A delegation led by Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas' deputy leader in Gaza, has reportedly arrived in Cairo, along with mediators from Qatar and the US, as negotiations are set to resume there today.

The list of demands the group wants met include 'the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and increasing humanitarian aid,' an official said.

Hopes for a fresh ceasefire have been reignited after a US administration official said last night that there is 'a deal on the table' which Israel has 'more or less accepted'.

'It will be a six-week ceasefire in Gaza starting today if Hamas agrees to release the defined category of vulnerable hostages, the sick, the wounded, elderly and women,' the Washington official said.

They added that the path to a ceasefire is 'now straightforward' and that the onus is now on Hamas to accept the deal.

At least 14 Palestinians, including six children, were killed on Sunday in an Israeli bombing that targeted a house in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Distraught Palestinians gather at the site of a bombed house in Rafah, southern Gaza, on March 3

Palestinian men search for salvageable items amid the rubble of a house destroyed in an overnight Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 3

Palestinian children walk past the rubble of the al-Bukhari mosque in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza Strip, on March 2

Smoke rises during an Israeli ground operation in Khan Younis on February 29

Negotiators from regional powers have been working around the clock to secure a Gaza truce by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan on March 10.

It comes as fighting continued to rage in the early hours of Sunday, with Israel saying it has intensified its operations in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis.

Residents there reported the sound of heavy shelling and tanks advancing around the city.

Israel says its overnight raids destroyed dozens of Hamas targets in a blitz of air and artillery strikes.

Israel's air force and artillery hit about 50 targets within six minutes, it said, in a bid to 'intensify operational achievements in the area.'

'During the strikes, the troops destroyed terrorist infrastructure and eliminated Hamas terrorists who were operating from civilian facilities in urban areas,' it said.

Residents in the area said they were surprised by the swift advancement of Israeli tanks, which sparked fresh battles with Palestinian gunmen.

In one housing project some families took to social media, saying they were unable to leave their homes with the tanks in the streets.

Palestinians running toward parachutes attached to food parcels, air-dropped from US aircrafts

Palestinian militant group Islamic Jihad said it attacked two tanks with rockets and blew up a building where soldiers had entered.

Khan Younis has been a focus of Israel's military offensive in recent weeks.

Around Rafah, another southern city where more than 1 million Palestinian have been seeking refuge on the border with Egypt, authorities said 25 people were killed on Saturday and into Sunday morning.

They included 11 who died when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent near a hospital and another 14 in one family, who died when a strike hit a house.

Members of 'Women Wage Peace' in Tel Aviv, Israel, call for a ceasefire and condemn the death of over 100 people killed in Gaza on February 29

Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip in response to the bloody October 7 attack by Hamas terrorists.

The assault has devastated Gaza. Much of the Hamas-run enclave has been laid to waste and more than 30,400 people have been killed and tens of thousands more injured, according to Gaza health authorities.

Hamas terrorists took some 250 people hostages during their unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 whom Israel says are presumed dead.

It was unclear how many of the remaining hostages are deemed vulnerable, and a source said yesterday that Israel would not send a delegation until it got a full list of hostages who are still alive.

On Thursday, Gaza health authorities said Israeli forces killed 118 people trying to reach a relief convoy near Gaza City, prompting global outrage.

Israel disputes the health ministry's death toll in the food convoy catastrophe and said most victims were trampled or run over.

A day later, Mr Biden announced plans for the US airdrop on Saturday, which also involved Jordanian forces.

The U.S. military aircraft released 38,000 meals over Gaza, falling far short of the assistance needed by the territory's 2.2 million people. U.S. authorities said it was the first of what would be a sustained effort.

At least 15 children have died over the past few days from malnutrition and dehydration at Gaza's Kamal Adwan hospital, the health ministry in Gaza said in a statement.

'We fear for the lives of 6 (other) children suffering from malnutrition and diarrhea at the hospital's intensive care unit as a result of the cessation of the electric generator and oxygen and the weakness of medical capabilities,' Ashraf Al-Qidra, the Gaza health ministry spokesperson, said.

People cry as they mourn while receiving the dead bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on March 2

While Israel denies restricting humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians, no humanitarian group has been able to provide aid since January 23, the World Food Programme has warned.

'If nothing changes, a famine is imminent in northern Gaza,' WFP's deputy executive director Carl Skau told the UN Security Council today, while his colleague from the UN humanitarian office OCHA, Ramesh Rajasingham, warned of 'almost inevitable' widespread starvation.

At the end of last month, Rajasingham said 'at least 576,000 people in Gaza - one-quarter of the population' were 'one step away from famine, with one in six children under two years of age in northern Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting'.
The mother of missing air hostess Sarm Heslop, who vanished from her American boyfriend's luxury yacht in the US Virgin Islands, believes he daughter was murdered.

Miss Heslop, 41, from Essex, went missing almost three years ago on March 8 2021 while living with her wealthy partner Ryan Bane on his 500,000 boat after matching on dating app Tinder eight months earlier.

The former Flybe air hostess disappeared after a night out on the US Virgin Island of St John. No suspects were wanted in connection with her disappearance and there seemed to be no explanation as to how the strong swimmer vanished.

Her mother Brenda Street has now revealed that the police probe in the Caribbean has been effected by corruption and attempts to protect tourism on the idyllic archipelago.

The 67-year-old, who has vowed to uncover the truth, said: 'I don't believe Sarm just went missing. I believe she was murdered. I want justice for her. I want to bring her home so I know where she is  she deserves that.'

Sarm Heslop vanished from her American boyfriend's luxury yacht in the US Virgin Islands on March 8 2021

The former Flybe air hostess disappeared after a night out on the US Virgin Island of St John

Three years on from Miss Heslop's disappearance, her mother still looking for answers from the police

Ms Street also revealed that local police and detectives have refused to speak to her or Miss Heslop's father Peter for more than a year despite their please.

She told the Sunday Mirror: 'I think corruption on the island has affected this case. There's too many things that don't make sense and don't add up.

'When we went to the island people wouldn't speak to us about Sarm and on the posters asking for information someone had gone round and scrubbed out the number to call.

'I know it could be to do with protecting tourism, but listen  my beautiful daughter has gone missing and I don't give a s*** about how it affects tourism.'

David Johnston, former Met Police Commander of Homicide and Serious Crime, is now working with the family on a pro-bono basis. The US Virgin Islands police force are said to have repeatedly ignored his request for further information.

Ms Street added that the felt 'let down by the force on the island' and believes the 'investigation would have been very different' if handled in the UK.

Miss Heslop's parents held a meeting with officials on the island, including with Commissioner of Police Ray Martinez, Governor Albert Bryan Jr and US Coast Guard Lt Cmdr Jan League, on the first anniversary of her disappearance.

They were left unsatisfied with their discussion. Questions of whether the former air hostess could have been trafficked were initially rejected and only looked into once Ms Street pushed back.

The former air hostess went missing from the the boat of her wealthy partner Ryan Bane after matching on dating app Tinder eight months earlier. Pictured: The Siren Song in the US Virgin Islands

A missing poster trying to help find Miss Hesslop after she went missing on March 8 2021

Ryan Bane unloads his dog Hunter, towels and a few supplies in Frank Bay on Saint John in the US Virgin Islands on March 25 2021

Ms Street has not accused Mr Bane of playing any part in her daughter's death, however, said he has prevented the family of finding out what happened to them.

Mr Bane - who has a conviction for assaulting his ex-wife - called emergency services at 2.30am on the night Miss Heslop disappeared. He said he was woken by the boat's anchor alarm and found her missing.

He was told to call the Coast Guard agents but did not until nine hours later. He has since refused requests to co-operate with authorities.

Under US law Mr Bane is classified as 'a person of interest' as he was the last person to see Miss Heslop. But he is not classified as a suspect and officers need to show a probable cause' for a search warrant.

'Bane needs to answer questions,' the mother told the paper. 'He's never been formally interviewed'.

Ms Street said she cannot look at photographs of him as it makes her 'feel sick'.

The US Coast Guard and the Virgin Islands Police Department previously said Mr Bane refused them permission to search his 47ft catamaran.

When the officials boarded, Mr Bane is reported to have stood in a doorway and told them they could not enter. He was handed a citation, which does not result in a criminal record.

The investigation has been further complicated by a power outage knocking out CCTV in the bar where the couple was last seen.

Divers from various law enforcement agencies have searched hundreds of square feet of water for Miss Heslop.

His lawyer David Cattie said in a statement to the newspaper: "Mr Bane is heartbroken over Sarm's disappearance. We certainly understand and empathise with her mother's pain and frustration.

"Mr Bane called 911 immediately upon waking and finding Sarm was not on board. He took his dinghy to shore to meet with VIPD (Virgin Islands Police Department) that night and called the USCG (US Coast Guard) the next day when no-one appeared at his boat. He also had the USCG on his vessel twice following Sarm's disappearance.

"Later Mr Bane and I personally took all of Sarm's belongings to the police, including all of her electronic devices."
A former MasterChef contestant has paid tribute to her best friend who suddenly died after succumbing to cancer.

Beth 'Betty' Tudehope, a young mum and human resources director for Colgate-Palmolive, was diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2022.

Celebrity chef Justine Schofield posted to her Instagram on Sunday evening revealing her heartbreak that Betty had died aged 38.

'I will love you forever my beautiful Betty. You were the bestest friend a gal could ever have,' she wrote.

'I will never forget you. Rest in peace.'

Former MasterChef contestant and Everyday Gourmet host, Justine Schofield, (pictured right) paid tribute to her 'bestest' friend, Beth 'Betty' Tudehope, (pictured left) on Sunday evening

The chef showed a series of photos of her and her best friend together over the years and asked her Instagram followers to donate to Bowel Cancer Australia (pictured a pregnant Justine Schofield and Betty Tudehope)

The early warning signs of bowel cancer Bowel cancer is the second most common cancer in both men and women in Australia. It is more common in people over 50. Early symptoms include changes in bowel habits, like sudden diarrhoea, constipation of feeling of incomplete emptiness, blood in the stool, abdominal pain, cramping and bloating, anal or rectal pain, a lump in the anus or rectum, unexplained weight loss, fatigue and unexplained anaemia. Source: Cancer Council Australia Advertisement

The MasterChef star, who now has her own show Everyday Gourmet, urged her followers to donate to Bowel Cancer Australia.

Many of Schofield's celebrity friends were also quick to show their support.

'Thinking of you Justine,' The Block star Neale Whitaker wrote.

Fellow chef, Gabriel Gate, wrote in French: 'Oh, that's sad Justine.'

Sunrise's Sam Mac said: 'I'm so sorry to hear this Juzzy. Sending big love.'

Ms Tudehop's sister, Helen Tudehope, started an online fundraiser in September last year to help the family fight the cancer diagnosis.

'We are raising funds to support Beth's journey to go to the Hope4Cancer Institute in Mexico in conjunction with conventional medicine,' she wrote.

'For anyone fortunate enough to know Beth, you'd agree that she's more than just a sister; she's the best mother to Belle, the most loving daughter, and an amazing friend to all who cross her path,' she said.

Ms Tudehope said Betty had already had 'nine-months of 'gruelling chemotherapy' whilst she still worked full-time.

'She's shown us that cancer may alter the path, but it can't dim her spirit. She is an inspiration to all,' she said.

The young mum also underwent major surgery in 2023 to 'remove tumors and several affected organs' with her sister describing her as 'brave'.

The young mum (pictured) underwent major surgery in 2023 to 'remove tumors and several affected organs' with her sister describing her as 'brave'.
The mother of murdered Emma Caldwell has called for a criminal investigation into the handling of the case after it took almost 19 years to bring her daughter's killer to justice.

Iain Packer was jailed for life with a minimum term of 36 years on Wednesday after being found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering the 27-year-old in 2005 and of multiple offences involving other women.

Miss Caldwell's family have called for a public inquiry into failures by the authorities over the investigation of her murder in 2005.

However, her mother Margaret Caldwell said that could take many years to set up and is also calling for a criminal investigation led by an outside police force and steered by independent prosecutors to scrutinise the conduct of authorities, the Sunday Post reported.

Mrs Caldwell told the newspaper: 'The only thing the Crown Office should have been announcing after the trial was an immediate and independent criminal investigation.

Pictured: Murdered Emma Caldwell, 27, whose body was found by a dog walker in thick woods near Rigside, South Lanarkshire, on 8 May 2005

Pictured: Mother of Emma Caldwell, Margaret Caldwell, makes a statement after Iain Packer is found guilty of her daughter's murder at Glasgow High Court on February 28, 2024

'It is not just my family that needs reassurance about our justice system. Everyone in Scotland needs that reassurance.'

Packer was also convicted of 11 rapes and 21 further charges including sexual assaults and abduction, involving multiple women, over 26 years.

The Crown Office said that following a full independent investigation Crown Counsel concluded that there was 'insufficient evidence of criminality on the part of any police officer involved in the investigation of Emma Caldwell's murder'.

However, the Crown reserved the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available, as in all cases.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has said a public inquiry into the investigation of Packer is 'not off the table'.

He and Justice Secretary Angela Constance are due to meet Mrs Caldwell this week and the Crown Office said the Lord Advocate is also due to meet with Miss Caldwell's family and their solicitor this week.

Mrs Caldwell welcomed the possibility of a public inquiry but said there can be no more delay.

Pictured: Iain Packer has been jailed for at least 36 years for the murder of Emma Caldwell in remote woods almost 19 years ago

Miss Caldwell was reported missing by her family in April 2005 and her body was found the following month in Limefield Woods

She told the newspaper: 'I was 57 when Emma died and I'm 78 now. How long must I wait to be told exactly who failed Emma and why?

'I have no patience for more talk and empty promises. Only actions count now.'

Police Scotland has apologised to the family of Miss Caldwell and Packer's other victims, admitting they were 'let down' by policing.

Miss Caldwell was reported missing by her family in April 2005 and her body was found the following month in Limefield Woods, near Biggar, South Lanarkshire.

In 2015 a Sunday Mail newspaper story branded Packer 'the forgotten suspect' and Police Scotland launched a re-investigation of the case that year following instruction from the Lord Advocate.

Mrs Caldwell said that her husband Willie died of cancer and 'with a broken heart' in 2011 before seeing justice for his daughter.

She said her daughter always said she would come home and sort herself out, adding 'every day it breaks my heart' that she never got the chance.

Emma Caldwell's mother, Margaret Caldwell arriving with family members and solicitor Aamer Anwar (left) at Glasgow High Court

A screengrab of the police interview of Iain Packer from February 24, 2022

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: 'This week the Lord Advocate will meet with Emma's family and their solicitor to answer questions about the investigation and criminal proceedings.

'We feel that to respect this meeting it would not be appropriate to comment publicly on matters which should be discussed first with Emma's family.

'However, we can confirm a previous statement that following a full independent investigation Crown Counsel concluded that there was insufficient evidence of criminality on the part of any police officer involved in the investigation of Emma Caldwell's murder.

'As in all cases, the Crown reserved the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.'

Following Packer's conviction on Wednesday, Assistant Chief Constable for major crime and public protection Bex Smith said: 'Police Scotland launched a re-investigation of the case in 2015 after instruction from the Lord Advocate.

'It is clear that further investigations should have been carried out into Emma's murder following the initial inquiry in 2005.

'The lack of investigation until 2015 caused unnecessary distress to her family and all those women who had come forward to report sexual violence.'

Police Scotland have been asked for fresh comment.
A seven-year-old girl has died in the Channel after migrants tried to sail to Britain, French authorities have said.

A small boat carrying 16 migrants was headed from northern France to Britain when it capsized, the prefecture in France's Nord department said.

The boat which 'was not appropriately sized to carry so many people' was carrying 10 children in total, as well as a pregnant, woman with officials saying none were wearing life jackets.

It capsized soon after people boarded in the Aa canal a few kilometres from the coast.

The inland accident is the latest in a trend that has seen migrants aiming to get to Britain from France boarding boats away from the coast to avoid stepped-up surveillance there.

Police and firefighters rushed to the scene after a person out for a walk raised the alarm, the prefecture added.

The young girl had died 'on the spot of the effects of cardio-respiratory arrest,' prosecutors in Dunkirk told AFP, adding that rescuers' attempts to resuscitate her had been 'in vain'.

'Several people are in custody' over the incident, they added, with investigators probing possible charges including manslaughter, people-smuggling and forming a criminal gang.

File photo of migrants crossing the Channel in an inflatable dinghy off the coast of France in October 2023

A small boat carrying 16 migrants was headed from northern France to Britain when it capsized, the prefecture in France's Nord department said. Pictured: File photo of RNLI rescue boat

The latest crossings take the provisional total number of arrivals in 2024 so far to 2,006

It added that the girl's parents, who were travelling with three more of their children, were taken to a hospital in Dunkirk.

The others originally on board the boat, which capsized an hour before sunrise, were made up of another couple, two men and young children.

The boat - which is thought to have been stolen - contained ten young children in all, as well as a pregnant women, and none were wearing life jackets, a local official revealed.

'They were all getting on board from the quay at Watten when the boat collapsed,' said Bertrand Gaume, prefect of the Hauts-de-France region.

A passer-by watched the disaster unfolding while it was still dark, and alerted the emergency services.

'Gendarmes and firefighters immediately rushed to the scene,' said Mr Gaume.

'This boat, probably stolen, was not big enough to support so many people. It capsized shortly after these people got on,' Mr Gaume added.

Local prosecutors immediately opened a criminal enquiry, working with judicial police, while gendarmes continued to search the water for any other possible victimes.

The tragedy comes just days after three migrants died trying to cross the body of water after their boat got into difficulty.

The asylum seekers were pronounced dead after falling in the water off the coast of Cap Gris-Nez in northern France on Thursday.

Border Force Hurricane escort 60 migrants into Dover Docks, Kent

A group of migrants seen walking back along a beach in Calais today following a failed attempt at a crossing

Patrick Leleu, deputy prosecutor at the Judicial court of Boulogne-sur-Mer, said: 'I can confirm the death of three migrants who fell into the water this afternoon off the coast of Cap Gris Nez. The investigation is ongoing.'

An Eritrean citizen suspected to be part of a gang has been charged with manslaughter in that case and held in custody since Saturday.

Earlier this week dozens of migrants were seen battling treacherous conditions in the channel, tackling strong winds and fog, as they tried to reach the UK.

This weeks fatalities comes almost two months after five migrants died on January 14 while trying to make the journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits.

Last year, 12 people died in crossing attempts, while 29,437 reached Britain, according to figures from London's interior ministry.

Around 20 percent were from Afghanistan, followed by contingents from Iran, Turkey, Eritrea and Iraq.

Migrant crossings of the English Channel remain a sore point between Britain and France, with 671 reaching England in February.

Three bodies were reportedly been pulled from the English Channel on Thursday. Pictured: A Border Force Defender escort in Dover

Dozens of migrants have been brought ashore on Thursday at the Port of Dover - after battling thick fog to get across the Channel

A deal struck in March 2023 provides for 541 million euros ($586 million) in British funding for hundreds of French police to prevent migrants from putting to sea.

British interior minister James Cleverly told AFP last month that the two countries would 'expand upon' cooperation he said had proved successful, citing figures showing a 36-percent reduction in crossings in 2023.

Five more people including a 14-year-old Syrian boy died in mid-January as they tried to board a boat in chilly seas south of port city Calais.

Number 10 has insisted that its taking 'robust action' to crack down on people-smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making the dangerous crossings and intercept vessels.

February 25 saw 290 migrants make the perilous journey in five vessels - an average of 58 people crammed into each inflatable dinghy.

This is the highest number of people making the crossing in a single day for more than a month, after 358 people were recorded on January 17.

That now means a total of 2,006 asylum seekers have been recorded crossing the Channel in 43 boats to date in 2024, according to official government figures.
A huge group of migrants has been seen walking away from the beach in Calais after their attempt to cross the English Channel failed.

Around 50 asylum seekers saw the small boat they were due to travel in fail to inflate, leaving them stranded on a beach near the French city this morning.

It is not clear what caused this boat not to inflate, but many vessels used by smuggling gangs are ramshackle in nature, often being held together with gaffer tape and ropes.

Today French authorities confirmed a seven-year-old girl had died after the boat she was on capsized while attempting to travel to Britain.

The group photographed today, which was made up mainly of men and some of whom were holding lifejackets, were seen climbing through the sand dunes, before walking back to a bus stop.

Despite the failure of this boat, MailOnline understands that three other vessels carrying up to 150 people successfully launched from the beaches of northern France earlier on Sunday.

A group of people believed to be asylum seekers gather at a bus stop close a beach in Calais after a migrant boat failed to launch

Two people believed to be migrants walk along the beach carrying life jackets on Sunday morning

A dinghy which is believed to have been used by people smugglers is left on the beach after failing to inflate

It comes as people smugglers make use of calmer conditions to send migrants across the Channel in inflatable boats that can carry on average 50 people.

The passage is a dangerous one, with migrants at risk of drowning in the cold water if their boat fails or if they fall off into the Channel.

A seven-year-old girl was confirmed to have died after a boat carrying 16 people capsized while attempting to travel to Britain

Today French authorities confirmed a seven-year-old girl had died after the boat she was on capsized while attempting to travel to Britain.

The boat 'was not appropriately sized to carry so many people,' the local authority said in a statement, causing it to capsize soon after people boarded in the Aa canal a few kilometres from the coast, the prefecture in France's Nord department said.

It added that the girl's parents, who were travelling with three more of their children, were taken to a hospital in Dunkirk.

The 'apparently stolen' boat was carrying another couple, two more men and six young children, all of whom were brought to the hospital.

Last week authorities in France and Britain launched a major search and rescue operation after the bodies of three suspected migrants were pulled from the sea.

The trio fell into the water off the coast of Cap Gris-Nez on Wednesday afternoon amid strong winds and thick fog.

There were reports a fourth body had been seen spotted floating in the sea in French waters.

An Eritrean citizen suspected to be part of a gang has been charged with manslaughter in that case and held in custody since Saturday.

It came after five other migrants died on January 14 as they tried to make the treacherous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits.

Patrick Leleu, deputy prosecutor at the Judicial court of Boulogne-sur-Mer, said on Wednesday: 'I can confirm the death of three migrants who fell into the water this afternoon off the coast of Cap Gris Nez. The investigation is ongoing.'

A UK Government spokesperson said: 'We can confirm there has been an incident in the Channel involving a small boat in French waters.

A man believed to be a migrant looks at the camera as he walks through the sand dunes after an abortive small boat crossing

A group of people believed to be migrants which is mainly made up of men walks along the road to a bus stop after the failed launch

A group of people believed to be migrants gather at a bus stop in northern France near Calais on Sunday

Three men stand on the beach and talk after a small boat failed to inflate ahead of a crossing on Sunday

'French authorities are leading the response and investigation. We will not be commenting further at this stage.'

READ MORE HERE: Major search and rescue operation is launched in the Channel after the bodies of three suspected migrants are pulled from the sea Advertisement

It comes as Number 10 insisted they were taking 'robust action' to crack down on people-smuggling gangs, deter migrants from making crossings and intercept vessels.

So far 2,255 migrants have made the journey from France to England in 48 small boats this year. The highest number of people making the crossing in a single day was 358 recorded on January 17.

On Thursday footage emerged online showing a French vessel allegedly picking up a migrant dinghy two miles from its coast, before escorting them across the Channel.

Footage emerged online of the French boat named Minck, searching for migrants on Tuesday evening.

It then appeared to come across a dinghy off the coast of Boulogne-sur-Mer at around 12.40am on Wednesday.

However, instead of dropping the asylum seekers off to be processed in France, the vessel then allegedly travelled towards British waters so that they can be dealt with in Dover, Kent, at 3.30am.

The user, who goes by The Little Veteran on X, captioned the post: 'This video will open your eyes to everything that's going on in the Channel.'

A total of 2,255 migrants have crossed the English Channel in small boats so far this year, on a par with 2022 which saw a record number of people making the journey

Speaking last Monday, Rishi Sunak denied he is ignoring concerns being raised by locals about the use of RAF Scampton near Lincoln as accommodation for asylum seekers.

READ MORE HERE: Seven-year-old girl is killed in Channel crossing attempt after migrants tried to sail to Britain Advertisement

'I'm not ignoring them,' the Prime Minister told BBC Radio Lincolnshire as he was challenged repeatedly on Monday.

'We do need to make sure that we house people in appropriate accommodation and the best way to resolve this issue long term is to stop people coming in the first place.

'So anyone who cares about this should be backing us to get the Rwanda Bill through Parliament so we can get a deterrent up and running.

'I'm confident that we really will be able to stop the boats and that will mean that we won't have this pressure in all our local areas to find places to house illegal migrants.'

A Home Office and spokesman said at the time: 'Our priority is to stop the boats, which is why we have agreed on a package of measures with the French, including doubling the number of French personnel and enhanced technology to patrol beaches, which saw 26,000 crossing attempts prevented last year

'Small boat crossings are extremely dangerous and cost lives, which is why we work closely with the French to rescue small boats to ensure more lives are not lost.'
The daughter of the Salt Creek monster has spoken out for the first time, revealing that she will always love him despite his terrifying crimes.

Beatriz, from Brazil, and Lena from Germany, were both 24 in 2016, when they accepted a ride from Roman Heinze.

But hours into the road trip from Adelaide to Melbourne, the group set up camp in the isolated dunes at Salt Creek in South Australia's Coorong National Park, and the women's nightmare began.

Heinze tied up Beatriz with rope and sexually assaulted her before hitting Lena in the head with a hammer several times and repeatedly ramming her with his 4WD.

He was sentenced to 22 years in prison with the disturbing case shocking Australia and drawing comparisons with the 2005 Australian horror film Wolf Creek.

Heinze's daughter Kendehl, 36, spoke about her mixed feelings towards her dad when she appeared on 60 Minutes Sunday night.

'Yes, I love my dad, but I hate the fact that he's in there (jail),' she said.

'That he's not here for my kids. He's missing so much.'

Kendehl (pictured middle) with her dad Roman Heinze (above right) has mixed feelings about her father

Kendehl (pictured) told 60 Minutes Sunday evening despite her mixed emotions she wants no further contact with her dad

When asked if she hates her dad for what he did to the two women, she responded with an emphatic 'yes' but went on to explain why she still loves him.

'He's my dad. I learnt so much from him. Everyone, yes, deserves a second chance,' she said.

'So I've learnt to forgive him for what he's done and I don't forgive that easy.'

Despite Kendehl's complicated feelings, she has vowed to cut off contact with him because he has made threats to her from prison.

'I'm really scared Dad's going to come after me when he gets out,' she said.

'Yes, I love my dad. But sadly, I don't feel that I want anything to do with him again because he's scared me too much.'

Forensic psychologist Dr Kim Dilati said it is 'natural' for children to want to believe the best in their parents.

'Most children want to believe their parents are good people, regardless of what they've done,' she said.

'I think for her to hold onto this belief, that she loves her father, there's parts of him which are still redeemable, is only natural for children and for adults.'

Roman Heinze (pictured), tricked two backpackers into sand dunes, where he attacked them

The two backpackers were lucky to escape with their lives (pictured above)

The two young women only narrowly survived the horrific ordeal.

Lena screamed for Heinze to release her friend in the midst of the attack and made a mad dash for his car to phone for help.

He followed, telling Lena she could get her bag - but when the woman reached into his car, he beat her over the head with a hammer, causing blood to pour out of her skull.

'I was like 'oh my god, that's it, he's going to bury me in the sand',' she said in 2017.

'I thought "that's the end" because the smash was so hard.'

Lena was hit three more times before she managed to escape, beginning a frantic dash for her life that would last hours.

Managing to find Beatriz in the sand before Heinze reached the pair, she untied her friend, and the pair went their separate ways.

Petrified by the thought of her attacker returning, Beatriz then sat in thick bushes as Lena ran from Heinze, who pursued her in his 4WD.

As she tired, Heinze began to hit her with his bumper bar, causing her to fall - but every time, she would get back up and continue to run.

'I was so determined that I didn't want to die. Not here, not now,' she said.

Eventually tiring, Lena made a drastic decision that saved her life. She ran at the car, launching herself on to the bonnet before climbing on to the roof.

After the flagging down a car, police were called to the scene at Salt Creek and arrested Roman Heinze (pictured)

'I thought, I'm safe on the roof, he can't get on the roof,' she said.

'I felt a bit like, in a movie - it felt like James Bond.'

Heinze tried desperately to get Lena off the roof of his car. She kicked towards his face as he tried to hit her with the hammer again and again.

Heinze then returned to his car and started driving erratically in an attempt to throw her off as she clings on for dear life.

Meanwhile, a car approached Beatriz, who took the opportunity to repay her friend's favour, and save Lena from their attacker.

She ran towards the car, stark naked, screaming for help. Inside the car, a group of men called a nearby roadhouse, who notified police.

Beatriz begged the men not to take her back to the entrance of the isolated beach, instead she asked they help find Lena, who was still on the roof of Heinze's car.

The man eventually lured her down, throwing away his weapons in the process. Now barely conscious, Lena got into the front seat, and the pair began to travel down the beach - straight past Beatriz and the men who rescued her.

Salt creek camp where the attack unfolded

Though she was on the brink of consciousness, Lena jumped out of Heinze's car and ran for the men - who later revealed they could not tell if she was a man or a woman, such were the extent of her injuries.

Police, alongside the roadhouse owner, began to search for an escaping Heinze.

They found him bogged in the sand of the dunes, with his hands on the wheel of the car.

He was arrested, and did not put up a fight.

Heinze later confessed to assaulting another female backpacker in September 2014, had contacted another 13 backpackers and had pornographic videos found on his phone.

He was jailed for 22 years.
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Poland has claimed that there could soon be a new nuclear arms race if the West fails to send Ukraine the weapons it needs to defeat Vladimir Putin's army.

Radek Sikorski, Poland's foreign minister, said an ongoing furore within the US over whether to send a $60bn aid package to Ukraine, as well as the reluctance from some key allies in Europe to arm Ukraine, could trigger a scramble for new nuclear weapons.

'If America cannot come together with Europe and enable Ukraine to drive Putin back, I fear that our family of democratic nations will start to break up. Allies will look for other ways to guarantee their safety,' Sikorsky said during an interview with the Atlantic Council think tank.

'Some of them will aim for the ultimate weapon, starting off a new nuclear race.'

Ukraine was once a nuclear nation, after inheriting a portion of the former Soviet Union's nuclear stockpile after it collapsed in the 1990s.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has entered its third year

The flow of military aid to Kyiv and the use of as many as 3,000 155mm Howitzer shells a day has steadily emptied U.S. reserves

Poland's foreign minister said Ukraine may be forced to develop its own nuclear weapons

But it gave them up in 1994 after it signed the Budapest Memorandum in exchange for a recognition of its independence by Russia, sovereignty and its own national borders.

Ukraine's arms stockpiles are currently so low that the Pentagon may soon have to tap into its own diminished supply to ensure that Ukraine can still keep fighting, even as Congress is stalling additional funding.

The Pentagon has not made a final decision, but officials are considering the move as way to keep backing Ukraine despite the potential political pitfalls for the Biden administration.

Depleting American stockpiles in order to support Ukraine would anger many Republicans who believe Biden has to prioritize the defense of the United States first.

The flow of military aid to Kyiv and the use of as many as 3,000 155mm Howitzer shells a day has steadily emptied U.S. reserves, which at its height in 2005 was worth $1.5 billion.

The military uses around 150,000 rounds a year for training and is working to increase production from 20,000 shells a month to 75,000 a year.

The Pentagon asked for $1.5 billion last year to increase manufacturing and asked for $30million in the budget to 'sure up' its arsenal.

Ukraine was once a nuclear nation, after inheriting a portion of the former Soviet Union's nuclear stockpile after it collapsed in the 1990s

Ukraine's arms stockpiles are currently so low that the Pentagon may soon have to tap into its own diminished supply to ensure that Ukraine can still keep fighting

A handler and a dog examine the ruins watch at a section of a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone

Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., who serves at chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the New York Times that the idea was 'on the table.

The Defense Department has around $4 billion authorized to send Ukraine from its own stockpiles, according to CNN, but that the Pentagon remains reluctant to use them without reassurance that they will get replaced.

In April 2022, U.S. stocks of Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles had been depleted by a third, leaving the Pentagon scrambling to replenish them.

The Pentagon already warned in September that the replenishment of U.S. stockpiles was slowing due to reluctance from House Republicans to pass more aid for Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Karsten Heckl raised concerns of the armed service's ability to replenish stockpiles while assisting Ukraine.

The Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package earlier this month which includes $60 billion for Ukraine.

The Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package earlier this month which includes $60 billion for Ukraine. But Republican Speaker Mike Johnson remains reluctant to bring it to the floor

But Republican Speaker Mike Johnson remains reluctant to bring it to the floor, citing the need for President Biden to confront the crisis on the southern border first.

Biden continues to reassure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky that the United States will ultimately provide him the aid and munitions that he needs to defend his country from Russia.

'I'm going to fight until we get them the ammunition they need and the capacity they need to defend themselves,' Biden said during a White House speech last week.

Poland, a NATO member since 1999, isn't a nuclear power, nor has it signalled its intent to acquire nuclear weapons.

But it has expressed interest in NATO's Nuclear Sharing programme, which allows it to take part in planning the use of nuclear weapons.
An Iranian pop star who wrote a Grammy Award winning anti-regime protest anthem has been jailed and ordered to write a new song railing against the 'USA's atrocities against humanity' as punishment.

Shervin Hajipour, 27, was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after being accused of 'inciting unrest against national security', 'spreading propaganda against the system' and 'encouraging people to protest'.

The charges related to his song, 'Baraye', or 'For' in English, which became a national anthem supporting protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody.

The lyrics list reasons that young Iranians have cited for protesting against Iran's ruling theocracy after Amini's death in September 2022, allegedly for not wearing her mandated headscarf to the liking of security forces.

The court also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered Hajipour to create a song about 'US crimes,' according to a report by Human Rights Activists News Agency. He is required to make posts about America's crimes online and summarize two books on the status of women in Islam.

The court said Hajipour's unusual punishment was deemed necessary to reflect the 'gravity of his actions' and was issued in part because he hadn't properly expressed regret over publishing the song.

Shervin Hajipour, 27, (pictured) was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison after being accused of 'inciting unrest against national security', 'spreading propaganda against the system' and 'encouraging people to protest'

The court also imposed a two-year travel ban and ordered Hajipour (pictured) to create a song about 'US crimes,' according to a report by the Human Rights Activists News Agency. He is required to make posts about America's crimes online and summarize two books on the status of women in Islam

The charges related to his song, 'Baraye', or 'For' in English, which became a national anthem supporting protests over the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody. Pictured: Iranian demonstrators burning a rubbish bin in the capital Tehran during a protest for Mahsa Amini in September 2022

Hajipour posted on Instagram on Friday - the same day that Iran held its parliamentary election - what appeared to be part of the judgement against him.

He posted a photograph of his verdict and thanked his lawyers and his agent for their support.

'I will not mention the name of the judge and the prosecutor so that they don't get insulted and threatened, because insults and threats are not in the religion of humanity,' he wrote. 'Finally, one day we will understand each other. Until then.'

Iranian state-run media, focused on the election Friday, didn't note Hajipour's sentence.

However, the musician does not appear to be intimidated by Iran's legal system and last month released another controversial song seemingly taking aim at the regime and the charges he faced.

The lyrics of the new song stated that he is 'trash who didn't have anyone to post bail for him' and 'will stay in Iran to rebuild this city' even though he is 'not allowed to sing in public', CNN reported.

First Lady Jill Biden awarded Hajipour the Grammy's new song for social change special merit award for 'Baraye' during the ceremony last year. The song won the award due to its 'profound social influence and impact'.

The lyrics of 'Baraye' list reasons that young Iranians have cited for protesting against Iran 's ruling theocracy after Amini's death in September 2022, allegedly for not wearing her mandated headscarf to the liking of security forces. Pictured: Mahsa Amini

Hajipour posted on Instagram on Friday, the same day that Iran held its parliamentary election, what appeared to be part of the judgement against him. He posted a photograph of his verdict

The pop star, in his Instagram post, also thanked his lawyers and his agent for their support

First Lady Jill Biden, pictured at the Grammys in February 2023, awarded Hajipour the song for social change special merit award for 'Baraye' during the ceremony last year. The song won the award due to its 'profound social influence and impact

The song begins with: 'For dancing in the streets,' 'for the fear we feel when we kiss.'

It further lists reasons that young Iranians posted online for why they had protested after Amini's death. The protests quickly escalated into calls to overthrow Iran's clerical rulers. A subsequent security crackdown killed more than 500 people, with more than 22,000 detained.

'This song became the anthem of the Mahsa Amini protests, a powerful and poetic call for freedom and women's rights,' Biden said at the awards ceremony.

'Shervin was arrested, but this song continues to resonate around the world with its powerful theme: Women, life, freedom.'

Hajipour's sentencing comes as other activists, journalists and artists have faced arrest, imprisonment and harassment since the demonstrations. Among those imprisoned is Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi.

The New York-based Center for Human Rights in Iran condemned Hajipour's sentencing Friday, and demanded Iran immediately release him from the sentence.

'This blatant violation of Shervin's rights to free speech and expression is a grave injustice and a clear affront to human rights principles,' the center said.

Hajipour (pictured) does not appear to be intimidated by Iran's legal system and last month released another controversial song seemingly taking aim at the regime and the charges he faced

'His imprisonment serves as a chilling reminder of the ongoing repression faced by artists, activists and dissenting voices in Iran.'

PEN America similarly criticized Iran for ordering Hajipour to prison as well as sentencing rappers and others over their music critical of the government in Tehran.

'Shervin Hajipour's sentencing is another awful attempt to suppress the independent voices who channel the demands of the Iranian people for basic freedoms,' said Julie Trebault, director of PEN's Artists at Risk Connection.

'The Iranian government fears the power of music to give hope and inspire citizens to dream of a better and more equitable future for all.'
An anti-anxiety drug which is prescribed to more than eight million people in Britain has been linked to thousands of deaths in the past five years, it has been revealed.

Concerns have been raised about the impact of pregabalin, which is used by doctors to treat anxiety, as well as epilepsy and nerve pain, with one saying prescribing it is like 'selling a car without brakes'.

Use of the drug can lead to dependency, with some people becoming addicted to the 'euphoria' that taking it can cause, while others become reliant on the relaxing feelings it can induce.

Those who have become addicted to it have compared it to trying to wean themselves off morphine and oxycodone, two drugs notorious for the ill effects they have on people who try to quit them.

Pregabalin users have told MailOnline that the drug has led to erratic behaviour, blurred vision, mood swings and suicidal thoughts, with many now desperate to lower their dosage or come off the medication that has 'robbed them of their lives' altogether.

It has been linked to nearly 3,400 deaths in Britain in the last five year alone, with the drug involved in 779 fatalities in 2022 - up from just nine a decade earlier in 2012.

Have you been affected by pregabalin? Email emily.davies@mailonline.co.uk

Alex Cottam, pictured, died at the age of 27 after being prescribed pregabalin and suffering an accidental overdose

Alex is pictured as a young boy. He was found dead in his Salford flat in 2021 after getting hooked on the drug

His mother Michelle, pictured, says there need to be greater awareness around the effects of the drug

Other victims include Chloe Caton (pictured), 21, who died after accidentally overdosing on sleeping medication on June 1 last year. A post-mortem toxicology found she had four drugs in her system - pregabalin, tapentadol, diazepam and zopiclone

Recent figures show it has the fastest rising death toll of any drug in the UK, and it is only behind opiates (such as heroin and morphine), cocaine and benzodiazepines (such as Valium and Xanax) in the number of fatalities it is linked to.

Among those who have passed away after being prescribed pregabalin is Alex Cottam, a software engineer who suffered a fatal overdose after becoming hooked to the drug.

His mother Michelle told The Sunday Times the drug, which was prescribed to 8.6million people in England in 2022, 'completely changed' her son and led to him becoming 'obsessed' with recreating its effects.

Alex, who was just 27 when he died, had developed anxiety and depression after the death of his father when he was 13 years old.

He was prescribed pregabalin when he was 25 as he struggled to deal with crippling anxiety, and Michelle says it initially helped him get his life back on track - he would become a software engineer and his confidence improved.

What is pregabalin?

Pregabalin is a drug that is used to treat epilepsy, anxiety and nerve pain. In epilepsy it stops seizures by reducing abnormal electrical activity in the brain. In anxiety it stops your brain from releasing the chemicals that make you feel anxious. With nerve pain it affects the pain messages travelling through the brain and down the spine, effectively blocking them. The drug only available in the UK by prescription and can take a couple of weeks to start working. Commons side effects of taking pregabalin include headaches, diarrhoea, mood changes, blurred visions and memory problems. Some people can become addicted to the drug, meaning they will suffer withdrawal symptoms if they stop taking it. Source: NHS Advertisement

However, his tolerance for the drug increased, meaning his dose had to as well to keep feeling the effects.

When he was told by a GP he would have to stop taking it, Alex began to buy the drug, and others such as painkiller tramadol, online without a prescription.

He was found dead in his Salford flat in 2021, with an inquest determining he died of an 'unintentional overdose' of pregabalin and three other drugs.

Michelle told The Sunday Times: 'He had overcome every obstacle that had got in his way, but the pregabalin took such a strong grip on him that he just couldn't see a way out.

'It's such a waste. How many other lives will be affected if they carry on not advising patients that they might become addicted?'

One woman told the publication that trying to quit the drug makes you 'feel like you're dying'.

Debbi Lou had been prescribed the drug after damaging her spine in a car crash, but realised she had to stop taking it when the memory loss associated without it caused to her forget to pick up her six-year-old daughter from school.

But she said the list of side effects when she tried to stop - including shaking, insomnia, lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhoea and anxiety - made it a tortuous experience.

She said: 'It's just like oxycodone and opiates, people have underestimated the damage that can be caused. I trusted my doctor. That trust has been broken.'

Pregabalin users have told MailOnline about the shocking impacts the drug has had on their lives. Alex Silva, who was prescribed pregabalin after a slipped disc on his neck, said 'after two months on it, all I could think about was to kill myself'.

He added: 'No doctor ever informed about suicidal thoughts. Thank God, I read about it and stopped taking it straight away. Horrible drug but the worst of all, was that no one told me about the suicidal thoughts.'

Another user called Tracy said that her eyesight is now always very blurry and she would like to be off the drug altogether but 'can't bare the thought of the withdrawal symptoms again'.

A third, who was prescribed pregabalin for lower back pain, said: 'I went completely crazy for 2 months and had to wean myself off due to erratic behaviour, blurred vision, mood swings and suicidal thoughts.'

They added: 'The doctors don't tell you this when prescribing and when you mention concerns that's when it seems you are given the information. I was lucky but only because my partner questioned the tablets when I was losing the plot.

'The despair you feel is overwhelming and you genuinely believe your thoughts are yours and not related to anything a doctor would give you.'

And another, who was prescribed pregabalin four years ago for a back injury, heartbreakingly told MailOnline: 'This drug ruined and robbed me of my life for three years until I finally realised last year it was killing me.'

Other victims who have died after using pregabalin include Chloe Caton, 21, who died after accidentally overdosing on sleeping medication on June 1 last year.

Jasmin Duddy, 21, was found dead at a house in Galliagh in Derry on February 1 last year after taking pregabalin along with other substances

Alex Silva (pictured), who was prescribed pregabalin after a slipped disc on his neck, told MailOnline 'after two months on it, all I could think about was to kill myself'

Pregabalin has been linked to thousands of deaths in the last five years, with medics voicing concerns about how addictive it can be

The dental receptionist had been staying with her mother Ami and her mother's two grandchildren in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, instead of her usual home in nearby Kidsgrove.

An inquest in November at Stoke Town Hall heard that Ms Caton had struggled with her mental health towards the end of her life.

A post-mortem toxicology found she had four drugs in her system - pregabalin, tapentadol, diazepam and zopiclone - only the latter two of which had been prescribed.

Meanwhile Jasmin Duddy, 21, was found dead at a house in Galliagh in Derry on February 1 last year year after taking pregabalin.

The mother-of-one, from Creggan, Derry, had been trying to get help for her drug addiction but died after taking a deadly combination of pregabalin and another anti-anxiety medication.

READ MORE HERE: Bereaved mother's warning over abuse of prescription drug pregabalin as deaths involving the substance more than quadruple in recent years Advertisement

In the wake of her death, her mother Pauline said that more needs to be done to clamp down on prescription drugs being sold on the streets as she fears people 'can get drugs quicker than you can get chocolate out of the shop'.

Pauline said Jasmin had been trying to overcome her addiction and was 'doing really well' after receiving treatment at hospital.

But she received a phone call from her daughter on the day of her death and could tell that she was intoxicated. She later texted her to sober up to which Jasmin replied back saying 'Mum, I'm trying'.

Pauline previously told BBC News NI: 'So at 4 o'clock in the morning I was asleep and then there was police at the door and they said they wanted to come in to discuss a sensitive matter and they told me that my daughter was found deceased.

'I don't understand why that day - that's the question that keeps going round my mind - why that day did she decide to put those tablets in her mouth.

'She was off all the tablets, she was doing really well, and I don't know what changed on the 1st February to make her put tablets into her mouth. That will never be answered.

'It has left the whole family devastated and there's a lot more families going through the exact same at the minute - we are the families left behind.'

Karen Henderson, 54, also died from a drug overdose after she was 'distressed' that her GP was reducing her medication.

She was found unresponsive by her partner in Barrow on February 1 last year. Coroners later ruled that she died from pneumonia and multi-drug toxicity from tramadol and pregabalin.

Meanwhile one professional rugby player also died of an accidental drug overdose after taking too much medication, which included pregabalin, for his sporting injuries. Jordan Cox, 27, took pain relief medication for chronic back pain but was found dead by his grandmother in the early hours of April 30 2020.

Jordan Cox (pictured), 27, took pain relief medication for chronic back pain and was found dead by his grandmother in the early hours of April 30 2020. The court heard at the time that there were 'toxic levels' of the drugs pregabalin, diazepam and oxycodone that, combined, caused his heart to stop

His reliance on the medication became too much and Jordan overdosed on the evening of April 29. The court heard at the time that there were 'toxic levels' of the drugs pregabalin, diazepam and oxycodone that, combined, caused his heart to stop.

Some doctors have raised concerns about how easy it is to become addicted to pregabalin, especially when patients aren't warned about its effects properly.

Dr Mark Horowitz, who is a clinical research fellow at the NHS, compared prescribing the drug to 'selling cars without breaks'.

He told The Sunday Times: 'How can there be rising deaths from pregabalin and a huge explosion of prescriptions, with all these troubles, and yet doctors are using this drug to treat anxiety?

'It boggles the mind when a drug is showing all these dangers to then use it in a wider variety of people.'

Professor Ian Hamilton, who is an honorary fellow in addiction at the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, told MailOnline last year that pregabalin is an effective treatment for people suffering with chronic pain.

He said that for the hundreds of thousands of people that live with chronic pain it has been 'literally a life saver' in allowing them to get on with day to day activities.

However, he warned that its properties mean it can be easy for some people to become addicted to it.

Professor Hamilton said: 'Pregabalin is something that has been around for decades but prescriptions have been kicked up since the early 2000s. That is when health professionals became concerned about it.

'It has paradoxical effects. It causes a high but at the same time it relaxes you. That is what recreational users are seeking, that kind of mild euphoria.

'Its side effects are pretty varied. They can include dizziness and forgetfulness, respiratory deprivation, difficulty breathing.'

'What happens for many people is that they get reduced prescriptions but then source more of the drug themselves.'

Professor Hamilton said that there was a noticeable rise in the use of opioids in 2021, during the UK's Covid lockdown.

He said that the reason behind this was partly due to the fact that more people were spending time indoors and therefore would use opioids to help themselves relax in what was a stressful time for many.

He added that there was also an increase in the use of more widely available opioids such as pregabalin which replaced heroin which at the time was scarce.

Professor Hamilton said that people will look to buy drugs online, which then becomes a 'complete lottery' as there is no guarantee of what is in the drug or what the dose is.

He said: 'When you buy drugs online it is a complete lottery. You never know what it is you are taking and you don't know if the dose is what you are being told it is.

'It could be four or five times more stronger than you think. People quite rapidly find out that they have taken too much before it's too late.'

Professor Hamilton explained that clamping down on the prescription of pregabalin will only mean that another opioid will soon take its place.

'There is a lot of resistance and reluctance to stop doctors prescribing it because what is the alternative.

'If we see a clamp down on pregabalin then there will be another drug that follows.

'Stopping the opioid crisis is an issue for policy makers. Individual GPs don't have a great deal of control.

'We need the government and the department of health to be more intelligent about solving this problem.

He added that reviewing patients using pregabalin more regularly could also help ensure that they are using it too much.

If it becomes apparent that a patient may need to reduce their prescription then they can discuss with their GP how things might change.

Have you been affected by pregabalin? Email emily.davies@mailonline.co.uk

If you or someone you know if concerned about dependence or addiction to prescription drugs, contact your GP. If you're having trouble finding the right sort of help, call the Frank drugs helpline on 0300 123 6600.

For confidential support, call Samaritans on 116 123, visit samaritans.org or visit https://www.thecalmzone.net/get-support
The mountain of flowers left by thousands of mourners paying their respects to Alexei Navalny, the outspoken dissident who was allegedly murdered at the hands of the Russian state last month, has continued to grow two days after his funeral.

Navalny died in the IK-3 penal colony, also known as Polar Wolf, in the settlement of Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets Region of Russia, around 1,200 miles from Moscow, on February 16.

His funeral service took place on Friday in the Soothe My Sorrows Church in Moscow, where his family held an open casket funeral for his loved ones and his closest followers.

Under a heavy police presence, Mr Navalny's mother Lyudmilla Navalnaya was accompanied by his mother-in-law, Alla Abrosimova, who joined other mourners to say a final goodbye to Mr Navalny

But more than 48 hours later, thousands are still taking to the streets of Moscow to pay their respects to the dead dissident.

Navalny died in the IK-3 penal colony, also known as Polar Wolf, in the settlement of Kharp in the Yamal-Nenets Region of Russia , around 1,200 miles from Moscow

Thousands are still taking to the streets of Moscow to pay their respects to the dead dissident

grave after dozens of supporters were detained for flocking to the Putin critic's funeral Defiant mourners have braved the fury of the Russian state, which arrested nearly 70 people across Russia for daring to mourn the loss of the opposition figure

Later the cemetery was closed but a crowd of hundreds demanded to be let in to pass Navalny's grave.

They chanted: 'Let us in' and 'Open up'.

Others chanted: 'Killed'.

Police retained a presence at the cemetery on Sunday, though it was lighter than in previous days and there were no signs of mass arrests.

Queues to enter the cemetery snaked alongside a major road for about half a kilometre on Sunday afternoon.

Mourners laid stacks of red, white and yellow roses and carnations on his grave. By Sunday afternoon the pile was almost two metres high, with an Orthodox cross at the head of the grave barely visible above the flowers.

Others tied them to the gates of the burial ground.

There was a mix of anger, grief, hope and despair among the crowds on Sunday.

'I don't even know what to say. I am very sorry that this is happening in our country right now, and that we are all mourning for the man he was. I hope someday everything will stop. Maybe the catastrophe will stop and we can finally live in peace and happiness,' said Anastasia, a 28-year-old designer.

Almost all of Russia's opposition figures have been jailed, have died or fled abroad during Putin's 24-year rule.

Mourners laid stacks of red, white and yellow roses and carnations on his grave

There was a mix of anger, grief, hope and despair among the crowds on Sunday

Putin has not commented publicly on the death of his most vocal critic

Navalny's allies have accused the Kremlin of ordering him killed and Western leaders have said Putin is 'responsible' for his death.

Putin has not commented publicly on the death of his most vocal critic.

Alexander, a 45-year-old audio engineer said the large crowds backing Navalny was its own form of voting - ahead of a March 15-17 presidential election, dismissed as neither free nor fair by rights groups and independent vote monitors.

'Everybody is showing their opinion,' he told AFP.

Authorities have scrubbed all genuine opposition candidates from the ballot, while the country's most prominent Putin critics who are still alive are in prison or abroad.

Graphic designer Olga, 25, who also came to the cemetery on Friday, said she took encouragement from the large turnout.

'It's hard. But when I came here on the first day ... and saw the people, somehow some kind of strength appeared,' she told AFP.

'I didn't want to give up at all. So it's hard, but it feels like something is being revived inside. I don't want to give up and I won't give up. Just like Alexei asked,' she said.

The Borisovskoye cemetery closed at 5pm in Moscow.

It may not open until next weekend.

Defiant mourners have braved the fury of the Russian state, which arrested nearly 70 people across Russia for daring to mourn the loss of the opposition figure.

Arrests took place 'in 16 towns' across Russia, including six in Moscow where the funeral of Vladimir Putin's most feared critic was held.

The ceremony took place under a huge police presence as thousands defied the president's warnings and descended on the capital.

Some 18 people were detained in Siberian city Novosibirsk alone, according to OVD-Info.

It is believed that arrests were also made in the cities of Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk in central Russia.

Mourners following the hearse in Moscow threw red carnations as it passed and could be heard shouting 'Putin is a murderer' and 'Russia will be free'.

Arrests took place 'in 16 towns' across Russia, including six in Moscow

The ceremony took place under a huge police presence as thousands defied the president's warnings and descended on the capital

Some 18 people were detained in Siberian city Novosibirsk alone

It is believed that arrests were also made in the cities of Ekaterinburg and Novosibirsk in central Russia

Mourners following the hearse in Moscow threw red carnations as it passed and could be heard shouting 'Putin is a murderer' and 'Russia will be free'

There were also unconfirmed reports that Navalny's supporters were arrested as they left their homes to attend the funeral.

It is thought that one of those detained during the ceremony was an opposition politician.

The Kremlin had warned that action would be taken against any 'unauthorised protests' on the day of Navalny's funeral, with 400 having been arrested for laying flowers at memorial sites following the outspoken politician's death two weeks ago.

Riot police, who wore balaclavas, lined the streets around the Russian Orthodox church and police snipers could be spotted on roofs near the scene.

Under the heavy police presence, a long queue could be seen forming near the church in the southeast of the capital, with reports saying thousands were in attendance.

One person said: 'I feel this is a funeral for the Russia that might have been.'

There were also unconfirmed reports that Navalny's supporters were arrested as they left their homes to attend the funeral

The Kremlin had warned that action would be taken against any 'unauthorised protests' on the day of Navalny's funeral

It is thought that one of those detained during the ceremony was an opposition politician

As the coffin was carried out of a black hearse and into the church, loud chants of 'Navalny, Navalny!' rang out around the square outside.

While attendee details were not known, the French, German and US ambassadors were in the crowd, as were some of Russia's last free independent politicians.

The international community swiftly condemned the death of Alexei Navalny, with many nations suspecting or even outright accusing Vladimir Putin of orchestrating his death.

Canada today announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russia on Sunday over the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

The latest sanctions will target six Russian officials, including senior officials and high-ranking employees of Russia's prosecution, judicial and correctional services, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement.

The international community swiftly condemned the death of Alexei Navalny, with many nations suspecting or even outright accusing Vladimir Putin of orchestrating his death

Canada announced a fresh round of sanctions against Russia on Sunday over the death of opposition leader Alexei Navalny

The latest sanctions will target six Russian officials, including senior officials and high-ranking employees of Russia's prosecution, judicial and correctional services, Canada's Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement

Canada's sanctions follow the UK and the US, both of which targeted Russia with heavy sanctions.

The US announced more than 500 new sanctions against key parts of Russia's economy, including its main card payment system, financial and military institutions and officials involved in Navalny's imprisonment.

The UK, meanwhile, introduced more than 50 new sanctions that aim to take out Russia's war machine, focusing on suppliers of rocket launchers, missiles and explosives.

The UK also sanctioned six Russian prison bosses in charge of the Polar Wolf penal colony.

The outpouring of affection for President Vladimir Putin's staunchest opponent comes just two weeks before the Kremlin leader is set to secure another six-year term in an election where he will face no real competition.
'Intoxicated' passengers have been caught clashing with airport police in wild videos filmed at Tampa airport.

Footage shows Florida travelers getting into disorderly disputes with cops after being denied travel - or in one case even refusing to get off the airplane.

It comes as the number of unruly passengers rocketed following the coronavirus pandemic, according to police figures obtained by WFLA.

A whopping 5,973 cases were recorded nationwide in 2021, as people grew angry over restrictions like being required to fly with a mask on.

This figure dropped to 2,455 cases in 2022 - though this is still much higher than pre-pandemic totals.

'Intoxicated' plane passengers have been caught clashing with airport police in wild videos filmed at Tampa airport

One wild clip shows a man stumbling through the airport wearing only one shoe as a cop leads him firmly by the arm towards an exit (pictured)

Footage shows Florida travelers getting into disorderly disputes with cops after being denied travel - or in one case even refusing to get off the airplane (pictured)

'Y'all gotta leave,' a cop tells one allegedly drunken couple at the airport in a clip captured by another officer's body-worn camera.

'Why are they not going to let me fly? That's not fair. I know my rights,' the female passenger says as the situation escalates.

'ARREST ME RIGHT NOW THEN!' she screams at the cops while pointing at them.

'I know my f***ing rights! Nobody's intoxicated!'

Police proceed to move her male companion out of the way before handcuffing her - in the first of several videos shared by WFLA showing more airport kerfuffles.

Another clip filmed at the gate shows a security guard telling cops that a passenger ' 'won't leave the plane unless he's physically removed'.

Moments later, a cop escorts the passenger off the aircraft while he remonstrates with them, asking for the reason he's been kicked out.

Another wild clip shows a man stumbling through the airport wearing only one shoe as a cop leads him firmly by the arm towards an exit.

He says 'no, I'm good here,' prompting the cops to handcuff him as he asks 'are you kidding me?'

Passengers who create problems on planes can be fined up to $37,000 by the FAA if their behavior causes the aircraft to be diverted.

The number of unruly airport passengers rocketed following the coronavirus pandemic, according to police figures obtained by WFLA

'Y'all gotta leave,' a cop tells one allegedly drunken couple at the airport in a clip captured by another officer's body-worn camera

Passengers who create problems on planes can be fined up to $37,000 by the FAA if their behavior causes the aircraft to be diverted

Several incidences of violent behavior and passenger meltdowns have already broken out this year.

They include a 'drunk and abusive' man who was detained by four travelers onboard an eight-hour flight to JFK.

A group of Brits were shown on camera stepping in to help airline staff calm the man down as they struggled to restrain him on the JetBlue flight from Gatwick Airport in London on January 30.

One could be seen holding him in a headlock, however, the allegedly drunk passenger managed to wriggle free.

JetBlue told MailOnline that the crew discovered an opened bottle of liquor the customer had brought on board.

They confirmed that the man was restrained and that law enforcement dealt with him when they landed in New York.

Meanwhile, another crazed passenger headbutted an air steward onboard a flight out of Dubai last week.

The man was reportedly drunk when he became violent in the business class section of the Emirates jet from the UAE to Islamabad, Pakistan, on February 26.

Cabin crew onboard flight EK614 tried to restrain the rowdy passenger. But the video shows how he headbutted one of the male crew before being pinned down and restrained.

An air hostess then ran over with a pair of emergency black cable ties - kept onboard for handling unruly passengers - to cuff him.

The man is said to have been restrained in the seat until the Boeing 777 landed at around 1:20 am local time. Pakistani airport police then boarded to arrest him.

Fellow passengers said they were 'terrified' by the rampage and avoided walking past the flier amid fears he could attack them.

One said: 'The drunk guy was extremely violent. He was restrained and handcuffed by Emirates cabin crew but I think Pakistan authorities let him go as he was well connected.'

Alcohol is banned in Pakistan for Muslim residents, leading to many binge drinking when they visit more liberal neighboring countries.
Gina Rinehart treated her staff to a black tie event to celebrate her 70th birthday, with the lavish event featuring a horse show and Aussie music.

The billionaire mining magnate threw the bash last Thursday evening in an enormous marquee on the banks of the Swan River in Perth, with Guy Sebastian singing the national anthem.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton flew in all the way from Canberra to attend for just 40 minutes before flying to Melbourne, the AFR reported.

Other Hancock Prospecting executives with February birthdays were also celebrated with multiple chocolate cakes.

The mining magnate (pictured centre) threw the bash last Thursday evening in an enormous marquee on the banks of the Swan River in Perth, with Guy Sebastian singing the national anthem.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton reportedly flew in all the way from Canberra to attend for just 40 minutes before flying to Melbourne (pictured: Mr Dutton with Mrs Rinehart

'Many attended wearing their Rossi boots, and enjoyed a horse show backed by the fantastic Aussie music, "The man from snowy river'" with riders accordingly also dressed in iconic Driza-Bone, and Rossi boots, carrying large Australian and company flags,' Mrs Rinehart's website states.

It added: 'The event was greatly enjoyed by all, with very positive comments by staff who attended, including, "the best night of my life".'

Staff in the Pilbara and elsewhere across Australia were able to beam in to the event.

So too were Mrs Rinehart's 'Cambodian daughters' who shared an inspirational message.

Other Hancock Prospecting executives with February birthdays were also celebrated with multiple chocolate cakes

Mrs Rinehart rescued nine Cambodian girls from poverty in 2009 and has paid for their education.

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas told 6PR he was the MC for the night.

'It was a very special night actually,' he said. 'To see the admiration of the staff, the loyalty, I guess.

He added: 'And yes, it doubled as a 70th birthday party for the current West Australian of the Year.'
A serial conman has been branded 'cruel' and 'sick' after he groomed and dated the 16-year-old granddaughter of one of his victims.

Hamish McLaren, 54, fleeced $70 million from dozens of victims worldwide by pretending to be an investment fund manager and promising huge returns.

He preyed upon elderly couple Lorraine and Peter who eventually lost $1.65 million to his swindle.

Not content with just stealing their money, however, McLaren began dating their 16-year-old granddaughter 'Jane' who had originally been in a relationship with his stepson.

'I actually think that he was grooming her from about 15 or 16 when I look back at it,' Lorraine told the King Con: The Life and Crimes of Hamish McLaren documentary on Channel Seven.

She added: 'What he did to Jane was just despicable. He's a very cruel man, a very sick man.'

Hamish McLaren, 54, fleeced $70 million from dozens of victims worldwide by pretending to be an investment fund manager and promising huge returns

Peter said the relationship with McLaren, who was 51 at the time, irrevocably damaged their granddaughter's life.

'Good at sports, good at everything really and she's just a mess now,' Peter told the program.

McLaren wooed her with trips away and promises that he could get her into Princeton for university.

McLaren was handed a 16-year jail sentence in 2019 for his crimes, later reduced to 12 years.

Forensic psychologist Dr Shohom Das said McLaren's pursuing of a 16-year-old showed he had 'no moral compass whatsoever'.

'He seems to be sexually attracted to this 16-year-old girl, meanwhile he's lying to his own wife Bec and he was ripping off this young girl's grandparents,' he said.

'This really shows that there's almost no boundary he won't cross, there's no level of depravity he won't stoop to.'

McLaren's crimes featured in The Australian's award-winning podcast Who The Hell Is Hamish?, which investigated how he had been conning people since the 1990s.

McLaren (pictured) was handed a 16-year jail sentence in 2019 for his crimes, later reduced to 12 years on appeal

His other victims included Australian fashion designer Lisa Ho and single mother Tracy Hall.

Ms Hall, from Sydney, met McLaren in 2016 under a pseudonym he was using called Max Tavita.

He eventually convinced her to transfer $317,000 - her entire life savings - into his own pocket.

'He gained my trust through the image he portrayed,' Ms Hall previously said.

'The Max Tavita I knew was a chief investment officer for a family office hedge fund so there was this story that he built over time.'

McLaren's crimes featured in The Australian's award-winning podcast Who The Hell Is Hamish?, which investigated how he had been conning people since the 1990s
A top Philadelphia city official and her husband were detained by a state trooper during a traffic stop - as the official desperately called out 'I work for the mayor.'

Celena Morrison, Philadelphia's executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, was arrested on Saturday along with her husband, Darius McLean. They have both since been released without charge.

The shocking incident was recorded by Morrison, who can be heard yelling 'I work for the mayor' while the unidentified state trooper detains her husband.

McLean, who is seen lying on the side of the highway while the cop handcuffs him, calls out to his distressed wife. He then shouts: 'It's because I'm black.'

Philadelphia's Mayor Cherelle Parker, who Morrison works for, branded the video 'very concerning' in a statement on X.

The incident was caught on camera and shared on Facebook. Darius McLean, Celena Morrison's husband, is seen being arrested on the side of the highway

Morrison is the executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs in Philadelphia

Pennsylvania State Police said that the trooper initiated a traffic stop on I-76 westbound around 9am for a vehicle with multiple violations.

They said that the state trooper initially pulled over a gray Infinity sedan - thought to be driven by Morrison - for 'multiple Vehicle Code violations'.

A green Dodge sedan then pulled up behind the trooper's car, thought to be driven by Morrison's husband, McLean.

The trooper then approached the Dodge and police said the driver was 'verbally combative' and 'resisted arrest'.

Morrison started recording the incident and can be heard yelling 'I work for the mayor' while her husband scrambled on the ground.

As the trooper stood over her husband lying on the side of the road, Morrison said: 'That is my husband... That's my husband please.'

The trooper tried to handcuff McLean and a scuffle broke out.

McLean can then be heard saying 'it's cause I'm black' to which the trooper replies 'it's not cause you're black'.

The trooper then approaches Morrison and she drops her phone.

He can be heard yelling at her 'turn around' and 'give me your hands or you're getting tased'.

The trooper could be seen standing over McLean while Morrison, who is recording the ordeal, shouted at the cops

Her husband, Darius McLean is the COO of William Way Community Center according to his LinkedIn

Mayor Cherelle Parker branded the incident 'very concerning' on X

The trooper then approached Morrison who dropped her phone. She was also handcuffed and arrested

Morrison then tells her husband not to worry, before adding: 'He just punched me'.

She can later be heard saying: 'What is going on? Why are you so aggressive?'

The trooper then picks up her phone and says: 'This was a simple traffic stop cause you didn't have your lights on. You didn't have your lights on and you're tailgating.'

Both Morrison and McLean were taken into custody for resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct and other related charges, but were released on Saturday without being charged.

McLean is the COO of William Way Community Center according to his LinkedIn.

Mayor Cherelle Parker said on X: 'A video circulating on social media that depicts a portion of the incident is very concerning to me, and I will have no further comment until the investigation has been completed.'
A former middle school principal has admitted to hiring a hitman for $2,500 to kill a Missouri teacher who he got pregnant while the pair were having an affair.

Cornelius Green pleaded guilty to conspiracy to a federal murder-for-hire plot, resulting in the death of his married lover Jocelyn Peters and their unborn child.

He was indicted by a federal grand jury, according to documents filed on Thursday.

Green, the principal of Carr Lane Visual Performing Arts School and Peters, a teacher who taught at Mann Elementary school, were entangled in a romance, KMOV News reported.

Cornelius Green, a principal at Carr Lane Visual Performing Arts School, put out a hit on his former lover, Jocelyn Peters, after he learned that she was pregnant with their unborn child

Jocelyn Peters, a teacher at Mann Elementary School, was married at the time she was having an affair with Green

When Peters became pregnant with his child, he contacted his childhood friend, Phillip Cutler to put a hit on his lover, who was 27 weeks pregnant at the time.

Green offered to pay Cutler $2,500 from money he allegedly stole to carry out the job.

On March 24, 2016, Cutler entered Peters' apartment, found her in bed and shot her in the head - using a 'a potato as a silencer to muffle the sound of the shot,' according to the indictment, NBC News reported.

In a plea agreement, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney's Office agreed to dismiss local murder charges if he was sentenced to life in prison on the federal charges, KMOV News reported.

Phillip Cutler, Green's childhood friend was paid $2,500 by Green to to murder his former lover. The money he gave Cutler, was reportedly funds he stole from the school

Less than a month before the murder, Green sent Culter, who was living in Oklahoma, a text asking him to come to St. Louis to commit the crime.

Once he agreed, he sent him him $2,500 about a week later, money he reportedly stole from his school.

On March 21, Cutler arrived in St. Louis and stayed at Green's house. Green left Culter the keys to his car and his lover's apartment before he traveled to Chicago the following day.

On the day of the murder, Green returned to St. Louis. When he went to Peter's apartment, he called 911 to report she was shot.

Cutler was also indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit murder for hire and murder-for-hire.

His trial is set to for March 11.
An urgent recall has been issued for a Trader Joe's product favored by TikTok influencers after customers found pieces of hard plastic in their food.

The California producer of TJ's steamed chicken soup dumplings has issued a warning for more than 160,000 boxes sold in stores across America.

CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corp said 61,000 pounds of the viral Chinese-style treat may have been contaminated with plastics from a permanent marker pen.

The $3.49 six-pack is coveted by TikTokers - with influencers regularly racking up hundreds of thousands of views for recipes involving the fan favorite.

An urgent recall has been issued for a Trader Joe's product favored by TikTok influencers after customers found pieces of hard plastic in their food

The California producer of TJ's steamed chicken soup dumplings has issued a warning for more than 160,000 boxes sold in stores across America

@erinnobrienn MY VIRAL TRADER JOES ELEVATED CHICKEN SOUP DUMPLINGS HACK  This is my favorite way to eat Trader Joes Chicken Soup Dumplings and Ive loved seeing you share it. Its so delicious and done in under 5 minutes when you need a really quick meal. Doesnt get easier than that! What youll need: Trader Joes Chicken/Pork & Ginger Soup Dumplings Chicken broth (I use @bonafideprovisions ) Soy sauce Green onions, sliced Roasted sesame seeds @flybyjing Chili Crisp A little bit of sesame oil (optional) Recipe Steps: 1. Place dumplings in a bowl and add chicken broth. Microwave for 2 minutes. 2. Add soy sauce, green onions, sesame oil, chili crisp, and roasted sesame seeds. Enjoy! #traderjoes #soupdumplings #traderjoessoupdumplings #foodhacks #traderjoesmeals #comfortfood #easyrecipes #viralhacks #traderjoesfinds #soupseason  original sound - Erin OBrien

Influencers went wild for the microwavable broth-filled dumplings last year, touting them as a quick and tasty staple for comforting winter meals.

One 20-second video showing a 'viral Trader Joe's chicken dumplings hack' for a soup recipe involving just a handful of ingredients gained more than 135k likes.

Another video of an influencer eating another flavor of the dumplings straight from the packet with chili sauce as a 'one-minute lunch' also gained thousands of views.

TikTokers described them as 'delicious, 'juicy' and 'affordable' - while one consumer noted that 'every time I go to Trader Joe's these are sold out'.

The US Department of Agricultures Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) announced the recall on Saturday.

Officials said the problem was uncovered after customers complained about finding hard pieces of plastic in their food.

TikTokers described them as 'delicious, 'juicy' and 'affordable' - while one consumer noted that 'every time I go to Trader Joe's these are sold out'

Another video of an influencer eating another flavor of the dumplings straight from the packet with chili sauce as a 'one-minute lunch' also gained thousands of views

'There have been no confirmed reports of adverse reactions or injury due to consumption of these products,' FSIS said in a statement.

'Anyone concerned about an injury should contact a healthcare provider.'

FSIS said it is 'concerned' that some of the products may be in people's freezers.

'Consumers who have purchased these products are urged not to consume them,' they said.

'These products should be thrown away or returned to the place of purchase.'

The soup-filled dumplings are described on the box as a 'wonder to behold both for their display of Chinese food innovation, and for their incredibly comforting flavor profile'.

They can be rustled up in just one to two minutes in a microwave.

It comes after Trader Joe's recalled four products which may contain listeria last month amid a nationwide outbreak linked to contaminated cheese.

The grocer issued warnings over its Chicken Enchiladas Verde, Cilantro Salad Dressing, Elote Chopped Salad Kit and Southwest Salad - which all contain cotija cheese.

The announcement was linked to an FDA recall of Rizo-Lopez Foods dairy items, including contaminated cheese, crema, and yogurt.

Rizo-Lopez products are also sold in a number of major chain supermarkets, including Food City and Whole Foods.

The outbreak has killed two people and affected items were sold nationwide.

The CDC stated that 26 Americans have been sickened and 23 have been hospitalized in 11 states. Two deaths have been reported - one in California and one in Texas.

Trader Joe's advised customers to discard any recalled products or return them to a store for a full refund.

Listeria is an infection normally caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium listeria monocytogenes.
Danbury Road, also known as Route 7, north of Still River Drive on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in New Milford, Conn. The community has concerns about what local and state officials are doing to institute safety improvements after deadly accidents on that stretch of road. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media The Willow Springs condominium complex is on Danbury Road, also known as Route 7, north of Still River Drive on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in New Milford, Conn. The community has concerns about what local and state officials are doing to institute safety improvements after a accident on that stretch of road. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media Danbury Road, Route 7, north of Still River Drive in New Milford. The Community has concerns about and what local and state officials are doing to institute safety improvements after a number of deadly accidents on that stretch. of road.. Wednesday, November 29, 2023, New Milford, Conn. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media

NEW MILFORD  When it comes to improving safety on Route 7, several residents suggested that the town should redesign the major roadway rather than rely on automated traffic cameras to track driver violations.

The problem is these cameras will make us feel like were doing something (wrong), and I think the essence of the unsafe situation on Route 7 is the design of the road, former Town Council member Hilary Ram said at Feb. 26's public hearing on the proposed use of traffic cameras and other safety devices. We really have to think about this road  what do we want Route 7 to be? And I feel like the cameras are a distraction.

New Milford is considering participating in a new statewide program to install traffic cameras and other automated traffic enforcement safety devices. In this program, the devices would detect and collect evidence of alleged traffic violations by recording images that capture license plate, date, time and location, according to the state Department of Transportation website. And as a result, drivers could be issued tickets without being pulled over at the scene by police.

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The legislature last year passed a state law allowing municipalities to install automated red light and traffic speed cameras, but none have been installed anywhere in the state, DOT said.

New Milford Police Chief Spencer Cerruto told Hearst Connecticut Media that he and Mayor Pete Bass have discussed the possibility of installing a traffic camera to track speeders, particularly on Route 7, where residents complain that many cars exceed the speed limit.

In 2023, New Milford police reported 254 accidents on Route 7, also known as Danbury Road, with 11 involving injuries and three that resulted in fatalities, Cerruto said in an interview.

I believe  as weve had a major outcry from our residents when it comes to high rates of speed, fatalities, pedestrian strikes  its up to us as a Town Council to explore every opportunity, whether it works for New Milford or doesnt work for New Milford, Bass said at Mondays public hearing. I think we would not be doing our due diligence if we dont bring this up and have honest, robust conversations with our public and our Town Council.

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But several residents questioned the effectiveness of cameras in reducing accidents and suggested other safety improvements at the public hearing.

Red light cameras in most of the studies that Ive read do not actually stop people from necessarily causing accidents any more effectively than extending the length of the red light at the intersection, said Joseph DeGregorio, a Board of Finance member. You reprogram your lights and you save peoples lives  this should be done everywhere all the time.

DeGregorio also suggested prohibiting left turns on Route 7. New Milford resident Tom Vrba suggested installing a crosswalk and more lighting along Route 7.

Other residents suggested tightening the language for the proposed ordinance for New Milfords use of traffic cameras to specify whether they would be red light or speed cameras.

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Ram recommended the town look into the cameras management and the cost of daily operations, while a few residents raised concerns about the traffic cameras possibly violating their privacy.

I think this is a slippery slope, New Milford resident Cheryl Hill said. Maybe this is the benign first step, but I only see this expanding, that there would be increased surveillance, increased use of artificial intelligence and technology, increased infractions or chipping away at our personal rights and our privacy. I feel very strongly once we go down that road, its very hard to pull back and reclaim those rights, reclaim that privacy.

'Evident enough'

The state DOT released guidelines earlier this year that will allow municipal officials to apply to install automated traffic cameras, joining hundreds of other communities across the U.S. that already have these systems.

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However, under new guidelines drafted by DOT, Connecticut municipalities will be required to provide written justification for every proposed location, including within existing school and pedestrian safety zones.

New Milfords ordinance for the devices is drafted and modeled after other town ordinances that align with state law, according to Cerruto.

The state DOT and the Office of the State Traffic Administration recommend four types of locations for the traffic safety devices: at traffic lights, in school zones, in pedestrian safety zones and at other locations where motorists exceed the posted speed limit by more than 10 mph.

The Town Council also discussed a potential speed camera policy for Route 7 and Route 202 at the its regular meeting, which followed the public hearing. Randy DiBella, the towns attorney, suggested the town hire more police officers. And while no Connecticut towns have installed traffic cameras, Bass suggested looking into what other towns are considering in terms of traffic safety enforcement.
Former President Donald Trump endorsed embattled Rep. Lauren Boebert Saturday amid her son's legal woes and the congresswoman's messy divorce saga.

Trump called the 37-year-old grandmother a 'Proven Conservative' and a 'trusted America First Fighter,' giving the Colorado Republican his 'Complete and Total Endorsement.'

The 2024 Republican presidential frontrunner's backing comes at a time when Boebert's home and private life have overshadowed any Congressional accomplishments.

Boebert's 18-year-old son Tyler was released from jail Wednesday facing 22 charges, including five felonies, related to property thefts in the Rifle, Colorado area, with one victim saying she now can't affort to pay for brain surgery.

Her son's legal problems come in the months following the congresswoman finalizing her divorce from husband Jayson, who Tyler called the cops on in January after his father allegedly shoved and grabbed him.

On Saturday, former President Donald Trump (left) endorsed Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert (right) whose family and private life has produced a number of scandals in recent months

In a Truth Social post, Trump referred to Boebert as a 'Proven Conservative' and a 'trusted America First Fighter'

Days later, Boebert denied punching her ex-husband at a Colorado restaurant after he made 'lewd advances' toward her.

In September, the Colorado conservative was embroiled in a days long scandal over her behavior with a date during a Denver performance of Beetlejuice the Musical.

Boebert and her date, Aspen bar owner Quinn Gallagher, were asked to leave the theater after she vaped and took pictures during the performance.

Leaked footage of the incident also showed her groping Gallagher.

None of her family scandals deterred Trump from labeling her an 'Effective Leader.'

In 2022, Boebert nearly lost her Republican-leaning district to Democrat Adam Frisch, beating him by only 546 votes.

Last February, Frisch said he planned to challenge Boebert again for her seat representing Colorado's 3rd Congressional District.

Boebert's son Tyler (right) was released from jail Wednesday and has been charged with 22 crimes, including five felonies, related to property thefts in the Rifle, Colorado area

In a post on X Saturday, Boebert held up a draft of the Truth Social post former President Donald Trump used to endorse her

That move prompted Boebert to announce in December that she would run in 2024 for a different Colorado Congressional seat.

She'll try to replace retiring Republican Rep. Ken Buck in Colorado's 4th Congressional District instead, the state's most conservative district.

Ten Republicans are currently vying for that seat, with the Denver Post reporting in early February that Boebert started the year with a fundraising advantage.

Still, Boebert came in fifth place in a straw poll of voters in her new district.

While Colorado voters will head to the polls Tuesday to make their pick for president, Congressional primaries in the state aren't held until June 25, giving Boebert some time to gain ground.

She applauded Trump's endorsement in posts on X on Saturday.

'It's my honor to have the endorsement of the greatest President our country has ever known - Donald J. Trump,' the Colorado Republican said. 'It will be such a privilege to work alongside him in 2024 to deliver results for Colorado & get the entire country back on track!'

In another post she held up a draft of Trump's Truth Social post, labeling it, 'MY president.'
Donald Trump went after special prosecutor Nathan Wade suggesting he had 'plenty' of sex with Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis as the former president railed against the criminal cases against him.

Wade and Willis's previously undisclosed relationship is a central focus as a judge weighs whether to disqualify Willis from the Georgia election interference case, a decision that has the potential to derail the entire case against Trump.

At a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina, Trump went after Wade seizing on his lack of experience prosecuting crimes in Atlanta before being tapped to lead the election interference case, saying 'he never did that before.'

Trump then went on 'but he did the other thing before that he did with Fani, he did plenty of that. That's what he's good at I guess,' Trump went on as the crowd laughed.

Trump speaking in Greensboro, North Carolina where he took aim at Fulton County DA Fani Willis for the cases against him and suggested prosecutor Nathan Wade and Willis had 'plenty' of sex

The rally came just hours after Trump took to Truth Social to post on what he called the SEXCAPADES of Willis.

In the all caps post on Truth Social Saturday morning, Trump wrote WHERE DID FANI GET ALL THAT CASH? NO WAY SHE PAID HER LOVER, PROSECUTOR NATHAN WADE, BACK. SHE MADE UP THE CASH STORY WHEN SHE REALIZED THAT HER SEXCAPADES WERE PAID FOR BY THE PEOPLE OF GEORGIA. AGAIN, WHERES THE CASH, AND WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

He echoed his accusations during the rally suggesting Willis benefited financially from a romantic relationship with Wade after putting him on the case.

Willis has adamantly rejected the accusations in court.

Hours later at another rally in Richmond, Virginia, Trump continued to rail against the case and make innuendo about Willis and Wade's relationship in an effort to undermine their credibility.

'Of course he didn't have any experience, he had experience in something else,' Trump said before making a pumping gesture for sex as the crowd howled.

Trump held a rally in Richmond, VA where he mocked Nathan Wade for relationship with 'lover' Fulton County DA Fani Willis

A judge in Georgia is weighing weather to disqualify Fulton County DA Fani Willis over a relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade who she hired in the election interference case against Donald Trump

The embattled Fulton County District Attorney stunned the hearing by sitting behind the prosecution's table, just a few seats away from her former lover

Defense lawyers have been fighting to get Willis disqualified from the Trump election interference case.

Attorneys for Trump's co-defendants insist she should be barred from prosecuting the ex-president because she hired Wade after they started an 'improper' romantic relationship setting of a series of stunning court appearances to address the issue.

On Friday, Judge Scott McAfee said there were still 'several' legal issues for him to sort through, and that he would hope to have a decision on whether Fulton County prosecutors are removed form the case within two weeks.

If Willis is booted from the case, it could delay Trump's Georgia election fraud case for months or the charges could end up being dropped.

It is one of several legal battles Trump is fighting as he makes a bid to return to the White House. In total, the former president is facing 91 criminal charges in four separate criminal cases.

If Trump is reelected as president, there is the possibility he could potentially pardon himself or commute sentences in the federal cases but that would not apply to the Georgia case as a president does not have the power to pardon state charges.
This is the moment eco-clowns poured jam and porridge over a bust of Queen Victoria, before spraypainting the word 'c***' on the plinth.

Eco-protestors from This Is Rigged, a 'direct action campaign targeting the Scottish government', today staged the bizarre protest in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow.

The National reported that activists Sorcha Ni Mhairtin, 30, and Hannah Taylor, 23, glued themselves to the plinth and were then removed and arrested by Police Scotland. The stunt at the venue came as other activists from This Is Rigged disrupted the World Athletic Championships in Glasgow by running onto the track with Palestinian flags.

Sorcha, an Irish activist and community food worker in Glasgow, said in a video posted to social media channels: 'We refuse to be dragged back to the Victorian era. Diseases of starvation including scurvy and rickets are on the rise.

'Freedom begins with breakfast and if you can't understand that, we'll shove it in your face. Food is a human right, and we call out the rotten systems under which we are suffering.'

Eco-protestors from This Is Rigged, a 'direct action campaign targeting the Scottish government', today staged the bizarre protest in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow

This Is Rigged wrote in a social media post: 'We refuse to be dragged back to the Victorian Era. Diseases such as rickets which once haunted Victorian slums are now on a sharp rise in Scotland, with 356 diagnoses in the Greater Glasgow and Clyde area last year.

'This crisis in public health is a direct result of our government's chronic inaction on the crisis of food insecurity in Scotland, caused by greed and profiteering and exacerbated by climate collapse.

'We are calling on the Scottish government to meet with us to discuss the implementation of a community food hub per every 500 households in Scotland. We are doing this to get your attention.'

The art gallery and museum were temporarily closed, but have since partially reopened its doors.

Officials are still assessing the damage done to the bust of Queen Victoria, and have kept the room it was kept in closed.

The art gallery and museum were temporarily closed, but have since partially reopened its doors

A spokesperson for Glasgow Life told the National: 'On Police Scotlands advice, we temporarily closed Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum earlier this afternoon after climate protestors covered a bust of Queen Victoria in porridge and jam and spray-painted an offensive word on the plinth below the statue. Two people were subsequently arrested.

'The museum has since reopened, however the Expression Court where the statue is displayed will remain partially closed for the rest of the day while our conservation team works to ascertain the extent of any damage. The profanity has been removed.'

The campaign group has been growing in size and capability over the past few months.

Today, several This Is Rigged protestors ran onto the track at the World Athletics Championships to show their solidarity with Palestine.

Today, several This Is Rigged protestors ran onto the track at the World Athletics Championships to show their solidarity with Palestine

Two young activists ran to sit on the track with a Palestinian flag

They were then dragged away by security guards

Two young activists ran to sit on the track, before security guards dragged them away.

Last month, activists stages a sit-in in royal dining room at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Nine protestors entered the palace waving banners that had slogans in Gaelic including 'is treasa tuath na tighearna', which means 'the people are mightier than a lord.'

Another sign read: 'Change begins in the kitchen, not the boardroom.'

Protestors crossed the barrier to the room, sat at the table and started eating food out of plastic containers and drinking tea out of flasks, forcing the wing to be temporarily closed.

The group has three key demands: It is asking for supermarkets to slash the price of baby products, for the Scottish government to fully fund a 'community food hub' for every 500 households, and for the Scottish government to create a fair and fully funded transition for Scotland's oil workers.
German police briefly detained several people during a manhunt for two members of a far-left militant gang that carried out several bombings, kidnappings and killings during the Cold War.

Police have been seeking Ernst-Volker Staub, 69, and Burkhard Garweg, 55, from the radical anti-capitalist Baader-Meinhof gang, also known as the Red Army Faction (RAF). They have been on the run for more than 30 years.

The search for the two men had intensified in the last days, after Monday's arrest of Daniela Klette, 65, the third member of the long-sought-after RAF trio that traumatised Germany in the 1970s and 1980s.

Police in Berlin initially announced the arrests of two men on Sunday but later said that further arrests had been made.

However, subsequent identity checks have confirmed that 'they are not the people sought,' a police spokesman said, adding that those arrested have been released.

German police briefly detained several people today during a manhunt for two members of he radical anti-capitalist Baader-Meinhof gang. Pictured: Special police units search for former members of the Red Army Faction (RAF) during an operation in Berlin on March 3, 2024

Police in Berlin initially announced the arrests of two men on Sunday but later said that further arrests had been made. Pictured: Police and forensic police search an area in Berlin on March 3

Police vans stand outside a commercial property in Friedrichshain district where they were seeking RAF terror group members on March 3, 2024 in Berlin, Germany

Police have been seeking Burkhard Garweg, 55, (left) and Ernst-Volker Staub, 69, (right) from the radical anti-capitalist Baader-Meinhof gang, also known as the RAF. They have been on the run for more than 30 years

Since the RAF disbanded in 1998, Klette and the two fugitives were believed to have been financing their lives on the run through robberies of money transporters and supermarket cash heists.

Klette, the only woman tagged as 'dangerous' on Europol's most-wanted list, was arrested on Monday in Berlin on suspicion of attempted murder and various serious robberies between 1999 and 2016.

Following the breakthrough, police said they believed the two remaining fugitives were also hiding in the German capital.

Police on Saturday published new photos that they said were very likely recent photos of Garweg.

Among the photos believed to have been taken between 2021 and 2024 was a clear frontal view of the alleged fugitive, sitting in between two dogs on a sofa.

Police said it 'could not be ruled out' that Garweg and Klette had maintained 'personal and direct' contact.

Special police secure a building in the Friedrichshain district, where they search for long-sought Ernst Volker S. and Burkhard G.

The search has intensified in the last few days as they hunt for members of the far-Left militant gang

Officers are seen searching an apartment during their ongoing manhunt

Subsequent identity checks have confirmed that those arrested today 'are not the people sought,' a police spokesman said. The detainees have been released. Pictured: Special police units search for long-sought former RAF members in Berlin on March 4, 2023

Special police escorts a person from a police vehicle back to the area of Berlin where officers were searching for the former RAF members on March 3, 2024

Police escort a person from a police vehicle during the search for the fugitives on Sunday

Police escort a person into a police car near a commercial property in Friedrichshain district where they were seeking RAF terror group members Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg on March 3, 2024 in Berlin

Forensic experts enter the area as special police searches for long-sought members of Germany's notorious Red Army Faction on Sunday

German special police secure the area as they search for Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg on March 3, 2024 in Berlin

Heavily-armed police stand at a commercial property in Friedrichshain district where they were seeking RAF terror group members on March 3, 2024

Forensics officers carry evidence collected during Sunday's search for Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg

The anti-capitalist, anti-imperialist urban guerrilla group emerged out of the radicalised fringe of the 1960s student protest movement.

Named the Baader-Meinhof gang after two of its early leaders, Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof, the RAF fought against what they saw as US imperialism and a 'fascist' German state that - the RAF said - was still riddled with former Nazis.

READ MORE: Far-left fugitive Daniela Klette is arrested in Germany after 30 years on the run Advertisement

While it was active, it engaged in an armed resistance, leading to the government to declare the RAF a terrorist organisation.

Baader-Meinhof has been held responsible for 34 deaths, including several notable figures of the time - including industrialist Hanns Martin Schleyer, the Dresdner Bank head Jurgen Ponto, Deutsche Bank chairman Alfred Herrhausen and federal prosecutor Siegfried Buback.

American servicemen stationed in Germany were also killed, as well as many chauffeurs and bodyguards of their targets - collateral damage in the attacks.

More than 200 people were also injured by the group.

Meanwhile, 26 RAF members or supporters were killed during their period of activity.

Over the years the RAF developed links to Middle Eastern militant organisations, while also receiving support from East Germany's Stasi security services.

A 1988 portrait of RAF member Daniela Klette, handed out by German police in 1993

Investigators carry boxes as they exit the building where former RAF member Daniela Klette was arrested in Berlin

Police officers carry paper bags out of a residential building where former RAF terrorist Daniela Klette was arrested in Berlin, Germany, 27 February 2024

Daniela Klette, 65, was part of a trio from the Baader-Meinhof gang, officially known as the Red Army Faction ( RAF ), which carried out several bombings, kidnappings and killings in Germany in the 1970s and 1980s. Pictured: RAF members are seen at the funeral of the group's founder in 1977 in Stuttgart, Germany

Undated handout pictures released by the State Office of Criminal Investigations Lower Saxony shows what is believed to be Burkhard Garweg and Ernst-Volker Staub

In 1972, the group set off bombs at United States headquarters in Frankfurt twice, as well as the Springer publishing house in Hamburg.

And in 1974, the group killed Gunter von Drenkmann, the president of Germany's superior court of justice.

Its activities extended beyond Germany's borders, too. A year later, in 1975, the RAF seized the West German Embassy in Stockholm. It took hostages and set the building to explode, and killed two hostages when the RAF's demands were not met.

At the height of its notoriety in 1977, the group kidnapped one of Germany's top industrialists after opening fire with a machine-gun on his Mercedes.

After ambushing Hanns-Martin Schleyer's convoy, they held him hostage for six weeks as the West German state negotiated for his release.

Though the so-called German Autumn of 1977 marked the beginning of a long period of decline for the RAF, the group continued to operate for another two decades.

The group is often talked about in three generations, with the RAF leadership changing several times over the years.

Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof - as well as Gudrun Ensslin and Horst Mahler - formed the early leadership and the first generation.

Baader, Meinhof and most of the first generation had died in Stammheim maximum security prison by 1977 - with some, including Baader, taking their own lives in a suicide pact on the night of October 17 that year.

A second generation formed in the 1970s after the first generation were mostly arrested, followed by a third generation which existed from the 1980s to 1998.

Andreas Baader and Ulrike Meinhof - as well as Gudrun Ensslin and Horst Mahler - formed the RAF's early leadership and the 'first generation'

In 1975, the RAF seized the West German Embassy in Stockholm (pictured). It took hostages and set the building to explode, and killed two hostages when the RAF's demands were not met. Its bombs exploded prematurely, severely damaging the building (pictured)

Pictured: Federal Judge Wolfgang Buddenberg's damaged car, left, after an explosion on May 15, 1972. The judge's wife was driving the car, and survived

A Baader-Meinhof group wanted poster is seen in Paris in October 1977

Staub, Garweg and Klette were alleged members of the RAF's so-called 'third generation' and active during the 1980s and 1990s.

They are chief suspects in a 1993 explosives attack against a prison under construction in Germany's Hesse state.

In the attack, five RAF members climbed the prison walls, tied up and abducted the guards in a van, then returned to set off explosions that caused about 600,000 euros worth of property damage, according to German prosecutors.

Klette is also a suspect in two previous RAF operations.

The group declared itself disbanded in 1998.

Although the group disbanded in 1998, the trio are alleged to have continued their criminal activities.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt failed to express confidence in the chief executive of the Post Office Nick Read this morning amid claims he threatened to quit the role unless he was paid more than 1 million.

It comes after ousted Post Office chairman Henry Staunton highlighted the organisation was investigating Mr Read and pointed to the existence of an 80-page whistleblowing dossier compiled by the organistion's HR.

Asked on Times Radio if Mr Read's position is tenable after recent reports and a select committee appearance, Mr Hunt said: 'Everyone deserves a chance to make their case.

'We are a country that believes you're innocent until proven guilty. In the middle of an investigation, for me to say that his position is tenable or not tenable wouldn't be appropriate.'

Mr Staunton had told MPs on the Business and Trade Committee on Tuesday that Mr Read said he was going to resign because he was 'unhappy with his pay'. He was paid 815,600 in 2021-22 and 573,000 in 2022-23.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt failed to express confidence in the chief executive of the Post Office Nick Read this morning amid claims he threatened to quit the role unless he was paid more than 1 million

Post Office chief executive Mr Read was paid 815,600 in 2021-22 and 573,000 in 2022-23

More than 700 postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly convicted of theft and false account due to the faulty Horizon IT software between 1999 and 2015

The then chairman suggested boosting Mr Read's maximum pay package of 1.1 million, adding that would still place him in the 'lower quartile' of his private-sector peers.

In Parliament last week, the postal affairs minister Kevin Hollinrake confirmed that Mr Staunton had tried to 'double' Mr Read's salary twice.

A source told the Sunday Times that the Post Office board was 'forever trying to increase Read's pay' and 'tried to find ever more creative ways to talk [to then-business secretary Grant Shapps] into it.'

The Post Office said: 'Nick Read was rated as exceptional by both Tim Parker (the previous chairman) and Henry Staunton. Post Office uses external consultants to advise and benchmark its pay policies, and the CEO pay ratio is 17:1, compared to the median UK CEO pay ratio of 40:1.'

The company's executive directors do not set their own remuneration and this is done by the remuneration committee, with outside advice and agreed with the Government.

As a commercial organisation and like other firms, the Post Office offers a number of different remuneration incentives to its executives in order to attract and retain them.

It comes as ousted chairman Henry Staunton furiously told MPs the Post Office should be 'handed over' to postmasters in the wake of the Horizon scandal.

Mr Staunton, who was fired from his role in January, accused the Government of not owning up to its 'failings' or doing 'the decent thing' by wrongly-accused sub-postmasters in a blistering letter.

Henry Staunton, who was fired from his role in January, accused the Government of not owning up to its 'failings' or doing 'the decent thing'

It is the latest in Mr Staunton's row with Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch who he accused to creating a 'smear campaign' against him amid allegations of bullying

The note, addressed to Liam Byrne - the chair of the business and trade committee, said the Government had 'consistently hidden behind the Post Office's skirts, spinning their way away from trouble'.

Postmasters' install CCTV to protect from Horizon Hundreds of postmasters have resorted to installing CCTV behind their counters to protect themselves against future Horizon errors, it has been claimed. Richard Trinder, who runs a branch in Sheffield, spent 2,500 on security cameras to monitor his counter. The 63-year-old, who runs the campaign group Voice, told the Telegraph: 'The decision was motivated by a need to ensure I could cover myself if there ever was a shortfall and I know hundreds of other sub-postmasters have done the same. 'While the Post Office says this upgraded version of Horizon is meant to be more robust that still doesn't instill a lot of confidence. 'There is still a deep culture of mistrust between sub-postmasters and the Post Office.' He added that any discrepancies found in his daily cash count can be 'heart stopping'. Advertisement

Mr Staunton became further entrenched with his row with Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch earlier this week who he accused to creating a 'smear campaign' against him amid allegations of bullying.

During an explosive business and trade committee meeting, Mr Staunton revealed that the Post Office's current chief exec, Nick Read, was being investigated and claimed he tried to resign four times after complaining his salary was too low.

Mr Staunton was being quizzed about his own behaviour and allegations that he was told to stall compensation payments to victims of the Horizon disaster.

In a letter, seen by Sky News,Mr Staunton said: 'The government cannot continue to dodge its responsibilities, pretending in public to be all heart and compassion, while it allows stony-faced lawyers to rack up their hours doing their best to prevaricate and penny-pinch.'

He went on to describe the 'deep dysfunction' within the Post Office and called for a 'hard, concrete deadline' for victim compensation, 'ideally no more than six months'.

More than 700 postmasters and postmistresses were wrongly convicted of theft and false account due to the faulty Horizon IT software between 1999 and 2015.

The scandal was plunged back into the public spotlight earlier this year following the success of the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office that looked into how Alan Bates and other postmasters brought the issue to light.

Mr Staunton reportedly went on to claim compensation for the victims should be increased by 600,000 to 1m for each convicted post master.

He added that it should be taken out of government control by 'handing it over, lock, stock and barrel to the post masters themselves'.

The letter documented the former chairman's 'further thoughts on what now needs to be done'.

It marks the latest in a war of words between himself and Ms Badenoch who last week informed the Commons there was 'no evidence whatsoever' that Mr Staunton had been told to delay compensation payments.

MailOnline has contacted the Department for Business and Trade.
Israel's military has claimed that most of those killed as crowds massed near an aid convoy in Gaza last week died in a stampede, contrary to reports from health officials that many casualties had been hit by gunfire.

Officials from the Hamas-run health ministry say at least 100 people were killed in the disaster last Thursday, most of them shot by Israeli troops, with some putting the number of dead and wounded as high as 1,000.

Israeli officials have dismissed the claims and the death toll, but have not offered any estimates of their own. They admitted that 'several individuals' were hit as troops fired on people in the aftermath of the crush.

In a statement, Israel's Defence Forces said they had 'concluded an initial review' and that civilians had been 'trampled to death and injured as they charged to the aid convoy,' adding that 'no strike was carried out by the IDF' towards it.

Pressure has mounted on Israel over the incident, with EU chiefs saying they were 'shocked' and 'deeply disturbed' by the deaths and several countries backing a UN call for an inquiry.

Palestinian health officials say at least 100 people were killed in the disaster last Thursday. Pictured: Aerial images released by the IDF that purport to show scene of alleged massacre

Palestinians receive medical care at Kamal Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip, on February 29, 2024

Al Jazeera published videos that claim to show the aftermath of the alleged shooting. People appear to run away and take cover in one, while injured civilians are taken away in another

IDF officials said that the pre-dawn convoy of 30 aid trucks driving to northern Gaza had been met by huge crowds trying to grab the aid they were carrying.

Dozens were killed in the stampede and some were run over by the trucks as the drivers tried to get away, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, the chief military spokesperson, said in the wake of the deaths.

Israeli troops guarding the area in al-Rashid Street, a coast road to the south-west of Gaza City, fired warning shots toward the crowd because they felt endangered, he added.

'We didn't open fire on those seeking aid. Contrary to the accusations, we didn't open fire on a humanitarian aid convoy, not from the air and not from land. We secured it so it could reach northern Gaza,' he said.

Hagari today announced the results of the IDF's preliminary review of the incident, repeating earlier Israeli statements that most of those killed had been trampled underfoot as crowds rushed the aid trucks.

In addition 'several individuals' were hit as troops fired on people who approached them in the aftermath in a manner that suggested an immediate threat.

He added that Israel has also launched a more thorough examination of the incident to be handled by 'an independent, professional and expert body' which will share its findings as early as in the coming days.

Muatasem Salah, a member of the Emergency Committee at the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza, said there were more than 1,000 casualties, dead and wounded, from the incident and he dismissed the findings of the Israeli review.

He said that the Israeli account was contradicted by machine gun wounds.

'The wounded and martyrs are the result of being shot with heavy-calibre bullets,' he said.

'Any attempt to claim that people were martyred due to overcrowding or being run over is incorrect.

'The wounded and martyrs are the result of being shot with heavy-calibre bullets,' he said.

Many of Israel's closest allies, including the United States, have called for an inquiry into the incident.

State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters that the US was 'urgently seeking additional information on exactly what took place'.

Palestinians carry the bodies of those killed in the attack from Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital morgue for burial in Deir al-Balah, Gaza

Injured Palestinians received medical treatment in Al-Shifa Hospital on Thursday

Palestinians receive medical care at Kamal Edwan Hospital in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip on February 29 after Israeli soldiers allegedly opened fire at Gaza residents

Washington will be monitoring an upcoming investigation closely and 'pressing for answers', he said.

READ MORE: Pressure mounts on Israel over Gaza aid truck disaster that claimed more than 100 lives as UN, Germany and France lead international outcry after IDF were accused of shooting desperate crowd Advertisement

Meanwhile, European Council President Charles Michel posted on X: 'Shocked and repulsed by yesterday's killing of innocent civilians in Gaza while desperately waiting for humanitarian aid.'

'An independent investigation should be launched immediately and those responsible held accountable,' he said.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen said she was 'deeply disturbed by images from Gaza' and added that 'every effort must be made to investigate what happened'.

As the diplomatic fallout spread, the military said it had launched a more thorough examination of the incident to be handled by 'an independent, professional and expert body' which will share its findings as early as in the coming days.

Hagari's remarks suggested that some of the dead had been killed by Israeli fire after soldiers fired initial warning shots but he gave no details or figures.

'Following the warning shots fired to disperse the stampede and after our forces had started retreating, several looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat to them. According to the initial review, the soldiers responded toward several individuals,' he said.

Medics arriving at the scene on Thursday found 'dozens or hundreds' lying on the ground, according to Fares Afana, the head of the ambulance service at Kamal Adwan Hospital.

An image released by the IDF purporting to show the scene. 'At some point the trucks were overwhelmed and the people driving the trucks, which were Gazan civilian drivers, ploughed into the crowds of people, ultimately killing, my understanding is, tens of people,' Israeli government spokesperson Avi Hyman told reporters

Aerial photos released by the IDF purport to show the scene as Palestinians attempted to obtain food from aid trucks in Gaza

He said there were not enough ambulances to collect all the dead and wounded and some were being taken to hospital in donkey carts.

Dr Mohammed Salha, acting director of the Al-Awda Hospital, said the facility received 161 wounded patients, most of whom appeared to have been shot.

He said the hospital can perform only the most essential surgery because it is running out of fuel to power emergency generators.

Kamel Abu Nahel, who was being treated for a gunshot wound at Shifa Hospital, said he and others went to the distribution point in the middle of the night because they heard there would be a delivery of food.

He claimed Israeli troops opened fire on the crowd as people pulled boxes of flour and canned goods off the trucks, causing them to scatter, with some hiding under cars.

After the shooting stopped, people went back to the trucks, and the soldiers opened fire again. He was shot in the leg and fell over, and then a truck ran over his leg as it sped off, he said.

Alaa Abu Daiya, a witness to the violence, said Israeli troops opened fire and a tank fired a shell.

Palestinians running toward parachutes attached to food parcels, air-dropped from US aircrafts

The tragedy has underscored the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the increasingly chaotic conditions in which the small amount of aid reaching the enclave is being distributed.

International aid organizations have warned that hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are facing the threat of famine.

While Israel denies restricting humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians, no humanitarian group has been able to provide aid since January 23, the World Food Programme has warned.

'If nothing changes, a famine is imminent in northern Gaza,' WFP's deputy executive director Carl Skau told the UN Security Council today, while his colleague from the UN humanitarian office OCHA, Ramesh Rajasingham, warned of 'almost inevitable' widespread starvation.

At least 15 children have died over the past few days from malnutrition and dehydration at Gaza's Kamal Adwan hospital, the health ministry in Gaza said in a statement.

'We fear for the lives of 6 (other) children suffering from malnutrition and diarrhea at the hospital's intensive care unit as a result of the cessation of the electric generator and oxygen and the weakness of medical capabilities,' Ashraf Al-Qidra, the Gaza health ministry spokesperson, said.

People cry as they mourn while receiving the dead bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on March 2

At the end of last month, Rajasingham said 'at least 576,000 people in Gaza - one-quarter of the population' were 'one step away from famine, with one in six children under two years of age in northern Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting'.

Almost five months have passed since Israeli troops launched their invasion following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7.

The attack, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, was the deadliest single-day incident in Israel's 75 year history and Israel has responded with a relentless assault that has so far killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian figures.
Jeremy Hunt today admitted that Britain will have up spending on its military in the future - after rejecting calls to increase defence cash in the Budget.

The Chancellor was quizzed today over plans for tax cuts in Wednesday's fiscal showpiece, amid claims he may take a penny off either income tax and national insurance, or both.

Opinion polls have suggested that the public would rather more money was invested in public services, but Mr Hunt is under pressure from Tory backbenchers to reduce taxes to boost the party's re-election hopes.

Reports suggest that defence is one of the areas where he has rejected calls for greater investment, despite fears of increased Russia aggression in Europe in the coming years and fears over British preparedness.

Yesterday it was reported Defence Secretary Grant Shapps wrote to the Chancellor in January, urging him to boost military spending by 9billion.

Such an increase would mean defence spending would surge to 2.5 per cent of GDP - a share that Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he would like to achieve when economic circumstances allow.

Appearing on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuennsberg, the host asked: 'Is it not right to be looking to spend money in other places rather than scraping around for what might be quite small tax cuts? '

Mr Hunt replied: 'Well if were going to spend more money on defence, as I believe we will need to do in the future, what we need to have is a healthily growing economy. Every decision that I take will be a prudent and responsible long term decision.'

The Chancellor was quizzed today over plans for tax cuts in Wednesday's fiscal showpiece, amid claims he may take a penny off either income tax and national insurance, or both.

Reports suggest that defence is one of the areas where he has rejected calls for greater investment, despite fears of increased Russia aggression in Europe in the coming years and fears over British preparedness.

Fears are growing over the state of the Armed Forces and whether they can fight a full-blown conflict against Russia.

Criticism has been levelled at a lack of manpower and equipment, with the Army soon to be at its smallest size since the Napoleonic wars.

On Friday Air Force chiefs refused to back down on a decision to retire 30 'quick reaction alert' jets used to protect British skies from potential attacks by Vladimir Putin.

In a move likened to 'scrapping Spitfires before the Battle of Britain', bosses at the cash-strapped RAF are to retire the Tranche 1 Typhoons to save money.

The jets, which still have thousands of miles left on their clocks and could continue to fly for several years, will be grounded after completing just 40 per cent of their predicted flying hours.

RAF Tranche 1 Typhoon jets in flight. In a move likened to 'scrapping Spitfires before the Battle of Britain', bosses at the cash-strapped RAF are to retire the Tranche 1 Typhoons to save money. The jets will be grounded completing just 40 per cent of their predicted flying hours (stock image)

The future of Britain's second aircraft carrier is under threat due to funding issues, naval sources have claimed

And that followed the revelation that the future of Britain's second aircraft carrier is under threat due to funding issues.

Sources fear HMS Prince of Wales, which cost 3.5billion to build, could be mothballed or sold for a knockdown price to a friendly nation, over the fleet's flagship HMS Queen Elizabeth.

The possible move  branded an 'HS2 moment' for the Royal Navy  would probably be divisive.

But the decision could be forced upon commanders as soon as 2028 if the state of defence finances does not improve.

Senior figures spoke out after it emerged the Budget will not include any significant rise in defence spending.
The Seattle cop who struck and killed college student Jaahnavi Kandula while responding to an emergency call has been issued with a traffic infraction.

Some rights groups and locals have lashed out against the city attorney's ruling as prosecutors confirmed Friday that Officer Kevin Dave will not face criminal charges.

Dave's police cruiser was traveling at 74mph en route to an overdose call when it fatally struck 23-year-old Kandula at a South Lake Union crosswalk in January 2023.

City attorney Ann Davison filed the traffic violation against Dave in Seattle Municipal Court after prosecutors found no evidence that he was impaired or driving recklessly at the time.

The 35-year-old cop faces a fine of up to $5,000 for the infraction of second-degree negligent driving.

The Seattle cop who struck and killed college student Jaahnavi Kandula (pictured) while responding to an emergency call has been issued with a traffic infraction

Bodycam footage shows Office Kevin Dave performing CPR on the victim moments after hitting her with his cruiser on January 23 last year

Some rights groups and locals have lashed out against the city attorney's ruling as prosecutors confirmed Friday that Officer Kevin Dave (pictured) will not face criminal charges

Campaigners have accused the attorney of 'reducing' Kandula's life to a 'traffic infraction'. 'She was a human who deserved to live', one person wrote on X.

A petition demanding that the officer be tried for manslaughter in Washington state has gained 234,408 signatures.

The case sparked protests last year after a video of a Seattle police union official laughing while talking about Kandula's death at the scene emerged.

Officer Daniel Auderer downplayed the information tech student's death in the shocking clip, saying her life had 'limited value' while adding that the city should just 'write a check'.

Kandula was a recent information tech graduate at Northeastern University

Auderer later admitted that he 'f***ed up', and Seattle police commanders recommended suspending him. He has a disciplinary hearing scheduled Monday.

Organizers of the petition calling for a manslaughter trial also said that Auderer should be fired.

Speaking about Kandula, the petition reads: 'Not only was she mowed down like nothing, but the conversation of the officers after the event are utterly disgraceful and a shame to humanity.

'We demand that those officers be discharged from their duties, with no pension, and this incident be treated as manslaughter, and prosecuted.

'The officer in action, and the supervisor both, need to be investigated.

'Jaahnavi was NOT NOTHING. She has a family in India, a mother waiting for her daughter to come back home for Diwali or Christmas.

'Her mother, an elementary teacher, who took upon huge financial debts to send her daughter to the USA in hope of a better life: To a land that she thought is the land of opportunity, and the greatest country in the world!

'Let us confirm the greatness of our country, and prove that we still practice "liberty and justice for all"! Action needs to be taken.

'The disgraceful officers need to he held accountable for their racist, dehumanized and unethical remarks and conduct.'

Detective Daniel Auderer is a drug-recognition officer, who was assigned to determine whether Dave was under the influence. He concluded that his colleague was sober. He is heard laughing and making callous comments about Kandula's death in a video

Footage shows Dave behind the wheel of his police cruiser driving at a speed of 74 miles per hour in a 25 miles per hour zone before he slammed into Kandula.

The college student had been crossing the intersection of Dexter Avenue North and Thomas Street near campus on January 23, 2023. She died at the hospital a day later.

Dave was heard calling into radio dispatch for backup after reports of a struck pedestrian. He was seen performing CPR on the young woman until several other first responders arrived at the scene.

Police ruled the incident an accident, and the officer returned to duty days later.

The bodycam footage was first published by Publicola. According to the news outlet, the King County Prosecutors Office is still deciding whether to charge Dave with a crime.

The intersection's crosswalks are heavily marked by bright yellow reflective indicators, a large neon sign and are surrounded by bike lanes and a wide median.

The officer was heard on the bodycam telling a responding officer, 'Lights were on. I was chirping the sirensshe was in the crosswalk.'

'She saw me, she started running through the crosswalk. Slammed on my breaks. Started staying back where she should before crossing.'

The video showed the officer speeding past red lights and slowing down slightly before the young woman was hit.

Dave was on his way to a priority-one call, classified as the highest importance of calls, as per the police department. The call was regarding a man who had overdosed on drugs but did not need to be taken to the hospital.

The video recording also revealed intermittent sirens coming from the officer's patrol car that were not continuous.

Cops said they were not investigating the wreck as a use of force case and noted they did not believe the officer had intended to hit Kandula.

'At this point in the investigation, we have no reason to believe the officer intended to hit that woman,' a Seattle police spokesperson previously said.

According to the department, Dave has worked as an officer since November 2019.

A petition demanding that the officer be tried for manslaughter in Washington state has gained 234,408 signatures

The case came into the spotlight last year after a video of a Seattle police union official laughing while talking about Kandula's death at the scene emerged

A photo of Jaahnavi Kandula is displayed with flowers, Jan. 29, 2023 in Seattle

Police said the officer was not suspended but was merely told to take off their shift following the crash as a 'release day' to deal with a 'traumatic or upsetting' experience.

Kandula was a graduate student set to earn her masters in information systems. Her family recalled her as a 'brilliant' person.

Her family said her death left a 'huge hole' in the hearts of people who knew her.

'We are truly heartbroken. Jaahnavi was a brilliant student with a bright future. Jaahnavi's smile was radiant, and her bubbly personality warmed the hearts of every person she came in contact with.

'She had an innate ability to connect with people from all walks of life,' they said in a statement.

'Jaahnavi's tragic and untimely death has left her family and community with a huge hole in their hearts that will never be repaired. She was a daughter to a single mother who teaches elementary school in India.

'In spite of earning less than 200 USD per month, her mother educated Jaahnavi and encouraged her to the United States hoping Jaahnavi would have a better future and a better life abroad. Her mother's hopes and dreams are cut short now.'

A GoFundMe was set up to help her family pay for Ms Kandula's hospital bills, and to take care of the college loans taken out for her education.
The family of an 11-year-old boy who died after he was struck by a bin lorry while riding his bike have paid tribute to their 'perfect son'.

Thomas Wong was involved in a collision with a bin lorry in Whitehouse Road, near the junction with Braehead Road, Edinburgh, at 8.20am on Friday and sadly died at the scene.

In a statement issued through police, Thomas's family said: 'We are utterly heartbroken. Thomas was the perfect son. He was the best little brother to his older sister and was adored by all his family.

'Thomas went to Cramond Primary School which he loved. He made good friends there. We will all miss him terribly.

'We are very grateful for all the sympathy and heartfelt messages we have received from people. Thank you.'

Thomas Wong (pictured) was riding his bike in Edinburgh when he was involved in a collision with a bin lorry

Police cars pictured at the scene of the crash on Whitehouse Road, near the junction with Braehead Road, Edinburgh

Police attend to Whitehouse Road in Edinburgh after the fatal accident

Police said a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal and appealed for information.

Inspector Andrew Thomson, of Police Scotland's Road Policing Unit, said: 'Our thoughts are very much with Thomas's family and friends. Specially trained officers are supporting the family at this time.

'We are continuing with our inquiries to establish the full circumstances of the incident and would appeal to anyone who may have information, and has not yet contacted police, to get in touch with officers.

'I would also be keen to speak to anyone who may have dashcam or private CCTV footage from the area.'

Anyone with information is asked to call Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0578 of Friday March 1.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin is seeking to sow disunity with the wiretap leak of a confidential German army discussion on the Ukraine war, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Sunday.

'It is about using this recording to destabilise and unsettle us,' said the German minister, adding that he 'hoped that Putin will not succeed'.

The German defence ministry on Saturday said it was checking whether a confidential videoconference on the Ukraine war had been wiretapped after a recording was posted on Russian social media.

The head of Russia's state-backed RT channel, Margarita Simonyan, on Friday posted a 38-minute audio recording of what she claimed were German officers discussing striking Crimea, which has been occupied by Russia since 2014.

'We are investigating whether communications in the air force sector were intercepted,' a spokeswoman for the defence ministry told AFP.

Defence Minister Boris Pistorius (pictured) said on Sunday that Russia was trying to destablise the country

The head of Russia 's state-backed RT channel, Margarita Simonyan, on Friday posted a 38-minute audio recording of what she claimed were German officers discussing striking Crimea (File image)

Putin has been accused of trying to destabilise Germany

In the recording, discussions can be heard on the possible use by Ukrainian forces of German-made Taurus missiles and their potential impact.

Other topics include aiming the missiles at targets such as a key bridge linking Russian-occupied Crimea to the Russian mainland over the Kerch strait.

Experts consulted by Der Spiegel magazine said they believed the recording was authentic.

Kyiv has long been clamouring for Germany to provide it with Taurus missiles, which can reach targets up about 300 miles away.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has so far refused to send the missiles, fearing that it would lead to an escalation of the conflict.

In the recording, discussions can be heard on the possible use by Ukrainian forces of German-made Taurus missiles and their potential impact (File image)

According to Der Spiegel, the videoconference was held not on a secret internal army network but on the WebEx platform (File image)

A soldier of the Ukrainian Volunteer Army prepares ammunition to fire at Russian front line positions near Bakhmut

A Ukrainian soldier of an artillery unit fires towards Russian positions outside Bakhmut

'If this story turns out to be true, it would be a highly problematic event,' Green party politician Konstantin von Notz told the RND broadcaster.

'The question arises as to whether this is a one-off incident or a structural safety problem,' he added.

Roderich Kiesewetter, from the opposition conservatives, warned that further recordings may also be leaked.

'A number of other conversations will certainly have been intercepted and may be leaked at a later date for Russia's benefit,' he told broadcaster ZDF.

It can be assumed 'that the conversation was deliberately leaked by Russia at this point in time with a specific intention', namely 'to prevent Taurus delivery by Germany', he said.

According to Der Spiegel, the videoconference was held not on a secret internal army network but on the WebEx platform.
Cargo ship sinks off Yemeni coast, sparking environmental disaster fears

Xinhua) 13:51, March 03, 2024

This undated photo provided by Yemeni government shows the British cargo ship Rubymar, which was attacked by the Houthi group on Feb. 18, 2024, anchoring near the coast of Yemen. Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Saturday the cargo ship Rubymar sank off the coast of Yemen Friday night amid stormy weather conditions.

The British-owned, Belize-flagged ship carries thousands of tons of fertilizer and oil. The government expressed regret over the sinking, warning against a possible major environmental disaster in Yemen's territorial waters. (Xinhua)

ADEN, Yemen, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Saturday the cargo ship Rubymar sank off the coast of Yemen Friday night amid stormy weather conditions.

In a statement released by the state-run Saba news agency, the government said Rubymar, a cargo ship abandoned for over 12 days after being attacked by the Houthi group, has sunk off the coast of Yemen.

The British-owned, Belize-flagged ship carries thousands of tons of fertilizer and oil. The government expressed regret over the sinking, warning against a possible major environmental disaster in Yemen's territorial waters.

On Feb. 18th, the Houthis fired two missiles at Rubymar while it was passing through the Red Sea, partially damaging the ship. The Houthis claimed they believed the ship was carrying weapons bound for Israel.

Despite appeals from the Yemeni government over the past 12 days to avoid catastrophe, Rubymar could not be secured and sank Friday night amid rough seas.

The Yemeni government convened an emergency meeting following the incident to address the imminent environmental fallout.

On Monday, the Yemeni government renewed its calls for international assistance to help contain a potential massive oil spill from the sunken cargo ship. An emergency committee has also been formed to deal with the impending crisis.

The Houthis have stepped up their attacks on international shipping since mid-November last year, saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who faced intense Israeli attacks.

The U.S.-British forces since January 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.

This undated photo provided by Yemeni government shows the British cargo ship Rubymar, which was attacked by the Houthi group on Feb. 18, 2024, anchoring near the coast of Yemen. Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Saturday the cargo ship Rubymar sank off the coast of Yemen Friday night amid stormy weather conditions.

The British-owned, Belize-flagged ship carries thousands of tons of fertilizer and oil. The government expressed regret over the sinking, warning against a possible major environmental disaster in Yemen's territorial waters. (Xinhua)

This undated photo provided by Yemeni government shows the British cargo ship Rubymar, which was attacked by the Houthi group on Feb. 18, 2024, anchoring near the coast of Yemen. Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Saturday the cargo ship Rubymar sank off the coast of Yemen Friday night amid stormy weather conditions.

The British-owned, Belize-flagged ship carries thousands of tons of fertilizer and oil. The government expressed regret over the sinking, warning against a possible major environmental disaster in Yemen's territorial waters. (Xinhua)

This undated photo provided by Yemeni government shows the British cargo ship Rubymar, which was attacked by the Houthi group on Feb. 18, 2024, anchoring near the coast of Yemen. Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Saturday the cargo ship Rubymar sank off the coast of Yemen Friday night amid stormy weather conditions.

The British-owned, Belize-flagged ship carries thousands of tons of fertilizer and oil. The government expressed regret over the sinking, warning against a possible major environmental disaster in Yemen's territorial waters. (Xinhua)

This undated photo provided by Yemeni government shows the British cargo ship Rubymar, which was attacked by the Houthi group on Feb. 18, 2024, anchoring near the coast of Yemen. Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Saturday the cargo ship Rubymar sank off the coast of Yemen Friday night amid stormy weather conditions.

The British-owned, Belize-flagged ship carries thousands of tons of fertilizer and oil. The government expressed regret over the sinking, warning against a possible major environmental disaster in Yemen's territorial waters. (Xinhua)

This undated photo provided by Yemeni government shows the British cargo ship Rubymar, which was attacked by the Houthi group on Feb. 18, 2024, anchoring near the coast of Yemen. Yemen's internationally recognized government announced on Saturday the cargo ship Rubymar sank off the coast of Yemen Friday night amid stormy weather conditions.

The British-owned, Belize-flagged ship carries thousands of tons of fertilizer and oil. The government expressed regret over the sinking, warning against a possible major environmental disaster in Yemen's territorial waters. (Xinhua)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Zhong Wenxing)
The Guilford Police Department Arnold Gold/Hearst Connecticut Media

GUILFORD  A Wallingford man was arrested on a child pornography charge Friday following a previous search of his place of business, police said in a news release.

Barna Lengyel, 53, also known as Bruno Banani, is charged with first-degree possession of child pornography, Guilford Police Chief Christopher Massey said in the release.

Police previously executed a search warrant at Lengyels place of business, Amarone Restaurant in Guilford, Massey said, "where items were seized containing numerous depictions of illegal pornographic materials involving children."

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Lengyel was held in lieu of a $500,000 court-set bond and arraigned at Superior Court in New Haven Friday, police said.

Massey said the investigation remains ongoing and anyone with information should call the departments Detective Unit at 203-453-8061.
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Sunday that she wasn't bound by a Republican National Committee pledge to endorse former President Donald Trump because it's 'not the same RNC.'

Haley, along with the other 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls, had to sign a pledge to support the eventual GOP nominee if they wanted to participate in the Republican primary debates - all of which Trump skipped.

The former U.N. ambassador was asked Sunday by Meet the Press' Kristen Welker if she still felt bound to the pledge, as the remains the final Republican challenger to Trump in the 2024 GOP primary race.

'No, I think I'll make what decision I want to make,' Haley said, also noting 'the RNC is now not the same RNC.'

RNC Chairwoman Ronna Romney McDaniel is leaving her post on Friday and Trump has already endorsed North Carolina GOP Chairman Michael Whatley to take her place, as well as his daughter-in-law Lara Trump to serve as co-chair.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Sunday that she wasn't bound by a Republican National Committee pledge to endorse former President Donald Trump because it's 'not the same RNC'

WATCH: @NikkiHaley says she doesnt feel bound by the RNC pledge  which she took to get on the debate stage  to support the eventual Republican nominee.



I think I'll make what decision I want to make. pic.twitter.com/3H37jwOE5D  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) March 3, 2024

Trump also gave a nod to his top campaign adviser, Chris LaCivita, to take over as the party's chief operating officer.

At recent campaign stops, Haley has railed against these moves, arguing that the party shouldn't be taken over by the MAGA wing while she remains in the race.

Haley's path to the nomination, however, is quickly narrowing - and will likely be mathematically impossible by the middle of this month.

On Tuesday, voters from 16 states and one U.S. territory will vote in 'Super Tuesday' primaries.

Welker pressed Haley on whether she would drop out of the race if she didn't win anywhere.

'I've always said this needs to be competitive. As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, I'm going to continue to fight. That's always been the case,' the former U.N. ambassador said.

The Meet the Press host then asked Haley how she could define being 'competitive' if she didn't win a single state.

Former President Donald Trump (pictured) and Haley will be on the ballot in 16 states and one territory this week for the so-called 'Super Tuesday' primaries

'Well, first, let's see what happens on Super Tuesday. I don't like to look at what ifs or hypotheticals. I think we always have to live in the moment,' Haley answered.

Welker then asked Haley if she was prepared to stay in the race to the Republican National Convention in July.

'If the people want to see me go forward, they'll show it. They'll show it in their votes. They'll show it in their donations. They'll show it in the fact that they want us to continue to go forward,' Haley said.

The conversation then turned to whether Haley would ultimately endorse Trump.

The former South Carolina told Welker that she did fear another term of President Joe Biden over Trump, but also said she wasn't sure if Trump would adhere to the Constitution during a second term.

On the broader question Haley remained noncommittal.

'Well, when you all ask Donald Trump if he would support me, then I will talk about that,' Haley said. 'But right now my focus is, "How do we touch as many voters? How do we win?" I want the American people to see that you don't have to live this way. There is a path foward. And we can do it with someone who can put in eight years, that can constantly focus on results and not the negativity and the baggage that we have right now.'
Israel boycotted Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo on Sunday after Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages that are still alive, an Israeli newspaper reported.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for the talks, billed as a possible final hurdle before an agreement that would halt the fighting for six weeks. But by early evening there was no sign of the Israelis.

'There is no Israeli delegation in Cairo,' Ynet, the online version of Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, quoted Israeli officials as saying. 'Hamas refuses to provide clear answers and therefore there is no reason to dispatch the Israeli delegation.'

Washington has insisted the ceasefire deal is close and should be in place in time to halt fighting by the start of Ramadan, a week away. But the warring sides have given little sign in public of backing away from previous demands.

After the Hamas delegation arrived, a Palestinian official said that the deal was 'not yet there'. From the Israeli side, there was no official comment.

Smoke billowing over Gaza following Israeli bombardment on March 3, 2024

Palestinians flock to receive flour in Deir Al-Balah, distributed by UNRWA. The enclave is facing a food crisis due to Israeli attacks on March 3, 2024

Palestinians walk past bombed-out buildings along a street in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 3

One source briefed on the talks had said on Saturday that Israel could stay away from Cairo unless Hamas first presented it with a full list of hostages who are still alive. A Palestinian source said Hamas had so far rejected that demand.

In past negotiations Hamas has sought to avoid discussing the wellbeing of individual hostages until after terms for their release are set.

A US official told reporters on Saturday: 'The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And there's a deal on the table. There's a framework deal.'

Israel had agreed to the framework and it was now up to Hamas to respond, the US official said.

An agreement would bring the first extended truce of the war, which has raged for five months so far with just a week-long pause in November. Dozens of hostages held by the militants would be freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Aid would be ramped up for Gazans pushed to the verge of famine. Fighting would cease in time to head off a massive planned Israeli assault on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are penned in against the enclave's southern border fence abutting Egypt. Israeli forces would pull back from some areas and let Gazans return to abandoned homes.

But the proposal appears to stop short of fulfilling the main Hamas demand for a permanent end to the war, while also leaving unresolved the fate of more than half of the more than 100 remaining hostages - including Israeli men not covered by terms to free women, children, the elderly and wounded.

At least 14 Palestinians, including six children, were killed on Sunday in an Israeli bombing that targeted a house in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

Distraught Palestinians gather at the site of a bombed house in Rafah, southern Gaza, on March 3

Egyptian mediators have suggested those issues could be set aside for now, with assurances to resolve them in later stages.

A Hamas source said the group is still holding out for a 'package deal'.

It comes as the embattled Gaza Strip continues to face relentless aerial bombardment, with the death toll continuing to rise.

At a morgue outside a Rafah hospital on Sunday morning, women wept and wailed beside rows of bodies of the Abu Anza family, 14 of whom were killed in their home in airstrike overnight.

Relatives opened a black plastic body bag to kiss the face of a dead schoolgirl in a torn sweatshirt and pink unicorn pyjamas.

Later, the bodies were brought to a graveyard and buried, including two infant twins, a boy and a girl, passed down in white bundles and placed in the ground.

Palestinian men search for salvageable items amid the rubble of a house destroyed in an overnight Israeli air strike in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 3

'My heart is gone,' wailed their mother, Rania Abu Anza, who also lost her husband in the attack. 'I haven't had enough time with them.'

Gaza authorities said at least eight people were killed on Sunday when a truck carrying food aid from a Kuwaiti charity was hit by an air strike. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

The war was unleashed in October after Hamas fighters stormed through Israeli towns killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 30,400 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, with thousands more dead feared unrecovered under rubble.

Swathes of the Gaza Strip have been laid to waste, nearly the entire population has been made homeless, and the United Nations estimates a quarter of Gazans are on the verge of famine.

Palestinians running toward parachutes attached to food parcels, air-dropped from US aircrafts

Residents described heavy bombardment overnight of Khan Younis, the main southern Gaza city, just to the north of Rafah.

Further north, where aid no longer reaches, Gaza health authorities said 15 children had now died of malnutrition or dehydration inside the Kamal Adwan hospital where there was no power for the intensive care unit. Staff fear for the lives of six more children there.

Washington dropped 38,000 meals from military aircraft into Gaza on Saturday, though aid agencies say this was only enough to have a marginal impact given the scale of the need.

The final days leading up to the anticipated truce have been exceptionally bloody, with talks overshadowed last week by the deaths of more than 100 people and wounding of hundreds more near a food convoy.

Israel said on Sunday its initial review of the incident had found that most of those killed or wounded had died in a stampede.

Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops at the scene initially fired only warning shots, though they later shot at some 'looters' who 'approached our forces and posed an immediate threat'.

Muatasem Salah, a member of the Emergency Committee at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said that the Israeli account was contradicted by machine gun wounds.

'The wounded and martyrs are the result of being shot with heavy-calibre bullets,' he said.

'Any attempt to claim that people were martyred due to overcrowding or being run over is incorrect.'
Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House Monday as Washington seeks to reach a deal for a temporary ceasefire and increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The talks, first reported by Reuters, are expected to span topics including reducing Palestinian civilian casualties, securing a temporary ceasefire, the release of hostages held in Gaza and increasing aid to the territory, a White House official said.

Gantz is the National Unity party leader and the former military chief and defense minister and is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rival in opinion polls.

The trip reportedly ruffled Netanyahu's feathers with the Israeli outlet Ynet reporting that a source close to Netanyahu said he 'made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel only has one prime minister.'

Gantz will meet with Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan as President Joe Biden is at Camp David preparing for Thursday's State of the Union address.

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) will meet with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz (right) at the White House Monday as Washington seeks to reach a deal for a temporary ceasefire and increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The trip has reportedly incensed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who didn't approve Gantz's travel plans to Washington. Gantz, the leader of the National Unity party, is Netanyahu's chief political rival

A statement from Gantz said the Israeli leader will also meet with Republican and Democratic members of Congress.

'Minister Gantz personally updated the prime minister on his own initiative on Friday of his intention to travel, in order to coordinate the messages to be transmitted in the meetings,' the statement also said.

Ynet's source said the trip was planned without Netanyahu's approval.

In December, Biden said that Israel was losing support over its 'indiscriminate' bombing of Gaza and that Netanyahu should change, exposing a rift in relations with the Israeli prime minister.

'The Vice President will express her concern over the safety of the as many as 1.5 million people in Rafah,' the official said, adding that Israel also had a 'right to defend itself in the face of continued Hamas terrorist threats.'

Harris and Gantz will also discuss planning for after the war ends to revitalize Gaza under the Palestinian Authority, the White House official said.

President Joe Biden, photographed departing the White House Friday, is at Camp David preparing for Thursday's State of the Union address

The U.S. military on Saturday carried out its first airdrop of humanitarian aid into Gaza and aid agencies warned of a growing humanitarian disaster in the Palestinian enclave as Israel pressed on with its offensive.

Plans for the U.S. airdrop were announced by Biden on Friday, a day after the deaths of Palestinians queuing for aid drew renewed attention to the humanitarian catastrophe.

Health authorities in Gaza said 118 people were killed in Thursday's incident, attributing the deaths to Israeli fire and calling it a massacre. Israel disputed those figures and said most victims were trampled or run over.

Israel launched the offensive in response to the Oct. 7 attack by the Palestinian militant group, in which 1,200 people were killed in Israel and another 253 abducted, according to Israeli tallies.

International pressure for a ceasefire has grown, with more than 30,000 Palestinians killed in Israel's Gaza offensive, according to Gaza health authorities, and the U.N. warning that a quarter of the population is one step away from famine.

The United States and other countries expect aid would be boosted by a temporary ceasefire, which Biden said on Friday he hoped would happen by the time of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on March 10.

Gaza truce talks are due to resume in Cairo on Sunday, two Egyptian security sources said on Saturday, though an Israeli news outlet reported Israel would not send a delegation until it received a full list of Israeli hostages who are still alive.

The Egyptian sources said Israeli and Hamas delegations were expected to arrive in Cairo on Sunday.
Thousands of inmates have broken out of a prison in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, as armed gangs stormed the city.

An outbreak of violence since Thursday has targeted the city's international airport, police stations and the National Penitentiary prison.

It comes as gang leader Jimmy Cherizier - known by the nickname Barbecue - pledged to oust the country's acting prime minister Ariel Henry.

On Friday he called on the Haitian military and national police to 'take responsibility' and arrest Mr Henry, who has served as prime minister since the assassination of Haiti's last president Jovenel Moise in 2021.

Cherizier is a former police officer who now leads a gang alliance and has faced sanctions from the United Nations and US Department of Treasury.

A demonstrator holds up the flag of Haiti during protests against the country's prime minister

Gang violence since Thursday in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince has left at least five dead

Pictured: A burnt car outside the city's National Penitentiary prison where hundreds of inmates are reported to have escaped

Workers put out a fire at the office of Haiti's power company after it was targeted by demonstrators

An inmate in a prison cell from where criminals broke out

Inmates wave their hands out of the windows of the prison where armed gangs stormed overnight

People gather outside the National Penitentiary prison in Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Protests have broken out against acting prime minister Ariel Henry, who took office in 2021 after assassination of President Jovenel Moise

Hundreds of thousands of civilians have been forced to flee metropolitan areas which are gripped with unrest and controlled by gangs

Pictured: A police officer walks by while two people carry their belongings

Pictured: A police officer stands guard during the ongoing civil unrest

One the country's largest police unions called on all officers to help regain control of the prison

Mr Henry had agreed to hold elections no later than the end of August 2025, CNN reported.

Over 300,000 people have been forced to flee their homes from indiscriminate killing and rape in Port-au-Prince, which is largely controlled by gangs.

One of the country's policing unions, the National Police Syndicate of Haiti, posted on X that if efforts to contain the escape of inmates were unsuccesful than 'we are done for'.

It added there would be 3000 extra criminals on the loose, and urged all officers to assist in regaining control of the prison.

The UK's Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office continues to advise against all travel to Haiti, which has been plagued with unrest in recent years.

January was labelled by the UN as the most violent month in recent years, with around 1,100 people killed.

On Thursday, flights were suspended at the capital's Toussaint Louverture International Airport amid gunfire, while several fire stations across the city have since been burnt down.

Other pictures showed workers putting out flames at the offices of Haiti's power company after they were targeted by demonstrators.
The petrified family of a cancer-stricken young boy, aged only two, have launched a campaign to raise funds to fly the youngster to America for life-saving treatment.

'Cheeky' Louie Turner, from Hull, was diagnosed with stage three, high-risk neuroblastoma cancer after doctors found a six-inch tumour in his stomach.

His parents are desperately trying to raise 200,000 for him to undergo revolutionary treatment in the US to remove the growth.

The devastating diagnosis of the youngster, who is described by his as 'full of life', came after he began suffering from constipation, sickness and fatigue.

Louie Turner (pictured) was diagnosed with aggressive cancer after doctors found a six-inch tumour in his stomach

The youngster's family say they are 'petrified' and are desperately trying to raise funds for life-saving treatment

His grandmother Sally Turner said: 'He was becoming more lethargic and had gone off his food, but other than that he was himself, the happy baby he always has been, running around, cheeky and full of life.

'We'd had him at the doctors a few times because he had eczema as well.

'During the last visit at the doctors, I explained his symptoms and the doctor said, 'if he starts vomiting take him to A&E', and a couple of days later he started vomiting.'

He was taken to A&E and was X-rayed. The next day Louie's family received a call from a consultant who asked for the youngster to return to hospital for an ultrasound scan.

Sally added: 'My daughter-in-law took him back to hospital for the scan and was told there and then they thought it was a mass in his stomach.

'It all went downhill from there, it turned out to be a 17cm tumour.'

Louie was then taken to Leeds Children's Hospital and underwent eight rounds of induction chemotherapy.

Then he had a ten-hour surgery where doctors removed most of the mass.

But unfortunately, the doctors had to leave five millimetres of the tumour because it was encased in a vein going up to his liver and was difficult to remove.

So, Louie began a course of high-dose chemotherapy and spent two months in hospital due to the effects of the radiation on his digestive system and was fed through an IV drip.

Despite this, the tumour has still not reduced in size and Louie is undergoing immunotherapy at his home. But the course will finish in July.

His dad Daniel, 29, said: 'The best-case scenario is that the tumour has died by then, but there's still a 35 per cent chance of relapse, and if he does relapse there isn't really a cure to offer him in the UK.

Louie is described as 'cheeky' and 'full of life' by his adoring family

A JustGiving page has been set up to raise the 200,000 for life-saving treatment

'If the tumour hasn't died by the end of immunotherapy, there's a 50 per cent chance of it growing back.

'We're absolutely petrified of losing him so we want to do all we can for him.

'There's a new drug in the US which has been approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and there's some good data to show it helps to get rid of the cancer if there's any left, which we think there will be at the end of Louie's immunotherapy.

'But it also helps to reduce the chance of relapse, so we're fundraising to go to America.'

The family have set up a JustGiving page in a bid to raise the money for Louie's American treatment.

The description reads: 'Up until 19 months of age, Louie was a happy and healthy little boy. He was very active, he loved playing outside, going to the beach and playground, and loved his food - his favourite was cottage pie which he would manage to get everywhere.

'Our world was turned upside down when Louie was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. The cancer is high-risk neuroblastoma, and at diagnosis, there was a 50 per cent chance of long-term survival.

'Since then, Louie has had so much treatment, he has suffered so much, but has still managed to keep his smile throughout. He has had eight rounds of Chemotherapy, a 10 hour surgery, high-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy. He has just started immunotherapy.

'Initially, the 17cm-long tumour responded very well to treatment and after initial chemotherapy and surgery in October, the tumour was only 0.5 cm. However, the tumour has not responded to treatment since then, and remains that size and is still an active tumour.

'If the tumour is not dead upon completing immunotherapy, there remains only a 50 per cent chance of long-term survival. If Louie enters remission before the end of his treatment, there is still a 35 per cent chance of relapse. We have been told there is currently no cure available in the UK in the event of relapse.

'We can't sit and hope for the best - we need to act and we need your help. There is a treatment available in the US which has just been approved by the FDA. Early data suggests this treatment, DFMO, is very effective at helping to treat the cancer and in preventing relapse. We are aiming to raise 200,000 in five months to make sure we give Louie the best chance of survival and get him to the US for treatment.

'We would really appreciate it if you could spread our story and donate if you can comfortably do so. Thank you.'

To donate to the fundraiser, visit the Just Giving page set up by Louie Turner's family, click HERE.
The Church of England has been blasted for hiring an 'anti-racism' officer to 'deconstruct whiteness' - with critics accusing it of 'drinking the critical race Kool Aid'.

The 36,000-a-year and 35-hours a week role is part of a new 11-person 'racial justice unit' being set up by the Diocese of Birmingham to work across the West Midlands.

The job advertisement, published on Tuesday, described the role as ensuring that 'structures, practices and behaviours' throughout the church allow UK minority ethnic people to 'flourish'.

Funding to hire the 11-person team comes from the church's Racial Justice Unit and includes a director, programme manager, theologian, communications catalyst and six development workers.

The team has three years of funding to 'fan into flame a movement of change' to transform the church and will involve 'reimagining parish and community activities', according to the job listing.

The Church of England is hiring a 'deconstructing whiteness' officer who will form part of an 11 person team to fight against racial injustice. Pictured: Winchester Cathedral in Hampshire

The job advertisement comes just a week after the General Synod, the Church's legislative body, approved a motion filed by the Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin (pictured) that told all parishes to draw up 'race action plans'

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, 68, called the church 'deeply institutionally racist' in 2020. Pictured on February 23

They will be accountable to the Regional Racial Justice Board made up of people from each of the dioceses the church says are 'committed to effecting change in these areas'.

But critics of the new racial justice unit  which will work across the dioceses of Birmingham, Coventry, Gloucester, Hereford, Lichfield and Worcester  accused the church of wasting money.

The Rev Leonard Payne said he thought the advert was a 'joke, a Photoshop job' when he first saw it and that the church should spend the cash on currently overstretched parishes instead.

Others accused the church of 'drinking the critical race Kool Aid' and indulging in 'student politics'.

Rev Daniel French, vicar of Salcombe, Cornwall, and co-host of the Irreverend podcast, told The Telegraph: 'The irony of many of these projects is they are importing American perspectives and overlaying them on a country that is incredibly tolerant.

'No less than 80 per cent of the worldwide Anglican Communion is black, and their black theology is very conservative. But you never see the Church paying any attention to that.'

The Racial Justice Unit will be accountable to the Regional Racial Justice Board made up of people from each of the dioceses the church says are 'committed to effecting change in these areas'. Pictured: Canterbury Cathedral, Kent

The Rev Leonard Payne said he thought the advert was a 'joke, a Photoshop job' when he first saw it and that the church should spend the cash on currently overstretched parishes instead. Pictured: Payne in 2005 for a story about the increasing demand for his sermons on the Apple store

Members of the General Synod on February 9. It is the Church of England's equivalent of Parliament, convening two or three times per year to consider and approve legislation that affects the church

Although the job advertisement does not define 'deconstructing whiteness', supporters of the position have argued in the past it means white people are more privileged than those of other ethnicities, and there are characteristics which are distinctly 'white' and that these are deemed by society to be the norm.

They argue that 'deconstructing', or removing, these ideas is the only way to end racism.

A spokesperson from Don't Divide Us, a campaign group that aims to 'contest the idea that Britain is systematically racist' told GB News: 'It is extraordinary that the CoE - the General Synod at least (we don't know what ordinary parishioners make of it) have chosen to go down this radical, highly partisan political route so wholeheartedly.

'This is a politics that purports to be about kindness and equity, but as many examples show, legitimises intolerance, cultural re-racialisation and antipathy to Britain's history and culture.'

The Racial Justice Unit is part of the Archbishops' Council, an executive body which is led by the archbishops of Canterbury and York.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev Justin Welby, 68, called the church 'deeply institutionally racist' in 2020.

He has led the church since 2013 and in the aftermath of the 2020 George Floyd protests set up a taskforce which produced the Lament to Action report.

The report reviewed 36 years of racial justice history in the church and made 47 proposals to end a 'rut of inaction' spanning several decades.

The Racial Justice Unit is part of the Archbishops' Council, an executive body which is led by the archbishops of Canterbury and York. Pictured the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby (left) at Westminister Abbey in 2022

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby attends the opening session of the Church of England General Synod, in London on February 23

A spokesperson for the Diocese of Birmingham said: 'The CofE Birmingham is seeking to respond to the Lament to Action report. The strong relationships between neighbouring dioceses in the Midlands have led to a collaborative joint response to the report.

'This approach has enabled the larger regionally deployed team you have identified, enabling a far stronger response to the Lament to Action report across the Midlands dioceses.'

The job advertisement comes just a week after the General Synod approved a motion that told all parishes to draw up 'race action plans'.

The General Synod is the church's equivalent of Parliament, and convenes two or three times per year to consider and approve legislation that affects the church.

The Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin, who filed the motion, told Synod on February 25 that Anglicans should not be afraid of being called 'woke' as they needed to 'further embed racial justice'.

In a passionate speech to introduce her motion, Britain's first black female bishop called for racial justice in the church's governance structures to be strengthened 'in order to hold our church's feet to the fire'.

In a passionate speech to introduce her motion last week, the Bishop of Dover Rose Hudson-Wilkin called for racial justice in the church's governance structures to be strengthened

Delegates vote during the opening session of the Church of England General Synod on February 23

In July MailOnline revealed children in Church of England schools were being taught the 'pyramid of white supremacy' anti-racism theory. Pictured: the graphic given to schools

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'.

This latest step in how the church approaches racism comes after it was revealed children in Church of England schools were being taught the 'pyramid of white supremacy' anti-racism theory in July.

The theory was displayed to schools in a graphic put together by the US-based Equality Institute, which describes itself as a 'global feminist agency working to advance gender equality and end violence against women and girls'.

The diocese, which is headed up by Bishop The Right Reverend Martin Seeley, controlled 87 schools in the region, all but two of which were primaries. The document was uploaded to the diocese's website for teachers to look at.

It explicitly told them to use 'visuals' including the pyramid to 'help pupils understand how bias, stereotypes and prejudice can lead to racist words and actions, leading to physical harm and death'.
Leaders in the Philippines and Thailand say they are irritated by the Singaporean government's decision to pursue an exclusivity deal with the popstar

Taylor Swift is the most popular woman in the world, so it should come as no surprise that neighboring countries are preparing to duke it out due to one small nation's exclusivity hold on her Eras Tour appearance.

Politicians in the Philippines and Thailand are speaking out over a deal cut by Singapore that limits Swift's Eras Tour run in Southeast Asia to just the wealthy city-state.

The 34-year-old songstress, who is currently in the middle of her sold-out six-show run in Singapore, was awarded a grant to perform in the country.

But it will be her only stop in Southeast Asia.

A deal was reportedly brokered by Singaporean authorities that barred Taylor from performing in other territories in the region, on the assumption that Swifties would be forced to flock to Singapore.

Taylor Swift was allegedly paid millions so that Singapore would be her only tour stop in Southeast Asia

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said the Singaporean deal makes sense as he has long wondered why Swift has slighted Thailand

The Prime Minister of Thailand, one of the countries slighted by Swift's one-stop island hop, told the iBusiness Forum 2024, which took place recently in Bangkok, that the Singaporean government offered Swift up to $3million per show in exchange for Eras Tour exclusivity.

Filipino politician Joey Salceda is also speaking out about the perceived economic slight. He has called upon his country's department of foreign affairs to protest the grant awarded to Swift.

He told local outlets that the neighboring governments are meant to be allies, working in tandem to strengthen the region and that the deal Singapore brokered is a hurtful betrayal.

Thai PM Srettha Thavisin called Singapore's move 'astute,' adding that he'd long wondered why Swift had not opted to play in Thailand.

'If she came to Thailand, it would have been cheaper to organize it here, and I believe she would be able to attract more sponsors and tourists to Thailand,' he said.

'Even though we would have to subsidize at least 500m baht ($14million USD), it would be worth it.

'If I had known this, I would have brought the shows to Thailand. Concerts can generate added value for the economy.'

The Singaporean shows will likely be a boon to the economy. Swift has sold out six nights at the 55,000-seat National Stadium this month.

Singapore's tourism board and culture ministry did not disclose the amount of the grant, but referred to the economic benefits brought by Swift's concerts around the world.

They said the ministry had worked with concert promoter AEG Presents to get Swift to perform in Singapore.

Filipino lawmaker Joey Salceda said the Singaporean government's deal with Swift was a betrayal by a government meant to be working alongside other regional powers

Singapore's tourism board and culture ministry did not disclose the amount of the grant, but referred to the economic benefits brought by Swift's concerts around the world

Fans of Swift flock from Manila, the capital of the Philippines, to Singapore for Swift's Eras Tour stop

Swift is performing at Singapore's National Stadium from March 2 to March 9

Over 300,000 tickets were sold to fans who waited overnight in the tropical heat

'It is likely to generate significant benefits to the Singapore economy, especially to tourism activities such as hospitality, retail, travel and dining, as has happened in other cities in which Taylor Swift has performed,' they said in a statement released last Tuesday.

Singapore has seen a boom in concerts since pandemic lockdowns ended, with big names like Blackpink, Coldplay and Ed Sheeran playing sold-out shows.

The Singapore government has not commented on the exclusivity clause, though AEG has said Swift's sole concert stop in Southeast Asia will be on the island nation, with VIP tickets going for S$1,228 (AUD$1,395).

In the broader Asian continent, Swift also performed in Tokyo, earlier in February.

Her Singapore concerts will span March 2 to March 9.

Over 300,000 tickets were sold to fans who queued overnight in the blistering tropical heat.

During her second sold-out show in Singapore last week, Swift revealed the final version of her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, will include a bonus track titled The Black Dog.

The much-anticipated album will be released on April 19.

The album artwork appeared behind her onstage while she sat at her piano, according to posts shared by concertgoers on X.

The 34-year-old singer revealed the final version of her upcoming album, The Tortured Poets Department, will include a bonus track titled The Black Dog

In front of over 50,000 fans for her second night at the Singapore National Stadium, she unveiled the fourth and final version of her forthcoming album  which will be released on April 19

During her first Eras Tour Singapore performance, Swift shared a meaningful story with her fans about what Singapore means to her and her family.

'My mom actually spent a lot of her childhood with her mom and dad and sister growing up in Singapore,' she told to the venue of fan about her mother, Andrea Swift.

In a video shared on X by a fan page account, she explained: 'A lot of the time when we'd come here on tour, my mom would take me and drive me past her old house, where she used to go to school.

'So I've been hearing about Singapore my whole life,' she continued.

'To get to come here and play a show this big with so many beautiful, generous people ... it means the world.'
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday pushed back on the assertion that President Joe Biden's immigration policy is responsible for the death of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley.

Riley was brutally murdered while out for a jog last month, with her body found in a wooded area near campus in Athens, Georgia.

Her alleged killer, Jose Antonio Ibarra, was in the United State illegally and had committed crimes in other states.

That fact has been a rallying cry for conservatives - including former President Donald Trump - who believe the Biden administration has mishandled the migrant crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border.

'One individual is responsible for the murder and that is the murderer,' Mayorkas said during an interview on Face the Nation Sunday.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday pushed back on the assertion that President Joe Biden 's immigration policy is responsible for the death of 22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley

22-year-old nursing student Laken Riley (left) was murdered last month while out jogging near her Athens, Georgia campus. Her alleged killer is Jose Antonio Ibarra (right), who came into the U.S. illegally in September 2022 and was arrested last September in New York

The embattled DHS secretary, who was impeached by the House of Representatives last month, called Riley's death an 'absolute tragedy,' when asked by CBS' Margaret Brennan if Ibarra should have been deported.

'And our hearts break for and our prayers are with the family,' Mayorkas said.

The DHS secretary said that his federal agency 'work[s] very closely with state and local law enforcement to ensure that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are indeed our highest priority for detention and removal.'

She continued to prod about why that failed to happen in Ibarra's case.

'There are a number of cities around the country that have varying degrees of cooperation with the immigration authority,' he answered.

'We firmly believe that if a city is aware of an individual who poses a threat to public safety then we would request that they provide us with that information so that we can ensure that that individual is detained if the facts so warrant,' Mayorkas added.

Officials from Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that the suspect had been arrested in September by the New York Police Department for 'acting in a manner to injure a child.'

The NYPD did not confirm that part of the story, telling the local Fox affiliate there were no arrests on file for Ibarra.

U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement said that Ibarra entered the country illegally near El Paso, Texas in September 2022 and was released for further processing after being initially detained.

Brennan said it sounded like, in this case, the feds and New York City weren't coordinating.

'Well, cities have different levels of cooperation. We were not notified in this instance,' hs said.
Actor Viggo Mortensen declared his support for Ukraine and slammed 'Russian aggression' during red carpet interviews for his new Western film.

The Lord of The Rings star arrived at the Glasgow Film Festival wearing the Ukrainian trident symbol, the country's coat of arms, on his shirt.

The 65-year-old said: 'We support them against Russian aggression, against people who condone it. In Russia , but especially outside of Russia.'

In the US, Republicans have sought to block military aid to Ukraine in a recent partisan clash with Democrats in Congress over immigration.

However, Mortensen would not be drawn further on what leaders in the West should be doing to support the eastern European country.

The American has a history of being politically outspoken, having regularly criticised former president Donald Trump whilst he was in office.

Viggo Mortensen arrived at the Glasgow Film Festival wearing the Ukrainian trident symbol, the country's coat of arms, on his shirt

In the US, Republicans have sought to block military aid to Ukraine in a partisan clash with Democrats in Congress over immigration (Pictured: A factory partially destroyed in the outskirts of Toretsk, Ukraine)

The Lord of The Rings star would not be drawn further on what leaders in the West should be doing to support Ukraine

Ahead of the 2020 election, Mortensen told Variety: 'If he [Trump] does win somehow, I dont know if the United States will ever get itself back on track.

'It will do quantitatively much more damage than hes done in the last four years, not just to the United States and the environment, but to the rest of the world.'

He also gave his vocal support for US senator Bernie Sanders to be the Democrat candidate during the 2016 election.

However, once Hillary Clinton was selected, Mortensen said he would back US Green Party's Dr Jill Stein instead because he believed Mrs Clinton was 'simply dishonest'.

Mortensen was in the Scottish capital to promote his new picture The Dead Don't Hurt - in which he is a director, producer, on-screen star and composer.

He said much of the film was composed and recorded before they started shooting, saying: 'It helps me find the rhythm and know how long the scene should last in some cases, and what the mood we hope to get across is.'

The film has been 'years of work', Mortensen said, saying he had grown up around Westerns and horse riding.

'Most Westerns are predictable and naive, but every once in a while there's a really good story,' he said.

Those watching closely will notice a prop which appeared in the trilogy which led to international fame for the US actor.

Mortensen was in the Scottish capital to promote his new picture The Dead Don't Hurt with his co-star Solly McLeod

At one point a dream sequence shows a medieval knight holding a sword - it is Anduril, the reforged weapon wielded by Mortensen's character Aragorn in The Lord Of The Rings.

Mortensen said he asked permission for the blade to reappear on the big screen, saying: 'I couldn't think of a better sword than that one.

'So I asked Peter Jackson and the film company that made The Lord Of The Rings if I could have permission

'He said 'What are you doing with it, how important (is it?)'

'I said you'll be lucky if you even notice it, which is true.'

He said his mother's side of his family had links to Scotland and he was happy to be in Glasgow.

At the film festival, Mortensen was presented with the festival's inaugural Cinema City Honorary Award in recognition of his outstanding contribution to cinema.
Snow storms are set to continue battering northern California for a fifth day - while hurricane-force winds are blowing the blizzard into neighboring states.

Meteorologists have recorded gusts of up to 190mph striking the Sunshine State over the weekend, while the snow has closed off a 100-mile stretch of the Interstate 80 from the Nevada border to Colfax, CA.

More than 6.5 million people are covered by winter weather alerts across the California Central Range, Shastas, and Sierra Nevada. Meanwhile, blizzard warnings cover the Sierra Nevada and the east of Nevada state.

The storm moved over California on Thursday, and it shows little sign of letting up over the coming days with an additional two feet of snow on the way. Some 23,000 people remain without power.

Snow storms are set to continue battering northern California for a fifth day - while hurricane-force winds are blowing the blizzard into neighboring states. (Pictured: Snow piles up in front of a church during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee, CA)

Meteorologists have recorded gusts of up to 190mph striking the Sunshine State over the weekend, while the snow has closed off a 100-mile stretch of the Interstate 80 from the Nevada border to Colfax, CA. (Pictured: Truckee, CA, on Sunday)

An 'additional 1-2 feet of snowfall' is expected in parts of Nevada and California through Monday morning

'Extremely heavy snowfall rates of 2-6 inches an hour combined with very strong winds exceeding 100 mph at times will maintain impossible travel conditions in the Sierra Nevada,' the Weather Prediction Center said Sunday.

The center warned of 'substantial disruptions to daily life and travel' in the Sierra Nevada region due to 'dangerous blizzard conditions'.

An 'additional 1-2 feet of snowfall' is also expected in parts of Nevada and California through Monday morning.

'Avalanches are increasingly likely in the Sierra Nevadas as additional snowfall piles up,' meteorologists at the center said.

Gusts across California hit 200mph over the weekend - which is well over the 157mph threshold for a category 5 hurricane.

The California Highway Patrol warned that there was 'no estimated time of reopening the freeway' after it was closed due to heavy snow.

Hundreds of travelers were trapped in their vehicles for several hours, and 8,000 homes in California were without power as of Sunday morning.

'We suggest you stay home, stay warm and don't put yourself and your family in a dangerous situation,' the California Highway Patrol in Truckee said on social media.

The storm moved in over California on Thursday, and it shows little sign of letting up over the coming days

TikTokers near Lake Tahoe documented the apocalyptic weather conditions

A motorist checks on a truck that rolled over as high winds hit US Route 395 near Big Pine, Californa, on March 3, 2024

Snow covers street signs at an intersection during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee

A man uses a snow blower as snow piles up during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee

Snow is cleared from a sidewalk during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee

A snow blower is prepared to clear snow during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee

Birds gather on a mound of snow during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee

A man uses a snow blower as snow piles up during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee

The snowstorm caused so much disruption that several ski resorts were forced to close.

Palisades Tahoe, the largest resort on the north end of Lake Tahoe and site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, closed all chairlifts Saturday because of snow, wind and low visibility.

It planned to reopen late Sunday morning after getting an estimated 5 feet of snow on the upper mountain as of Saturday night.

'We will be digging out for the foreseeable future,' officials said on the resort's blog.

Meteorologists said some ski areas reported getting nearly 7 feet of snow.

More than 10 feet of snow was expected at higher elevations, National Weather Service meteorologist William Churchill said Saturday.

The storm began barreling into the region Thursday. A blizzard warning through Sunday morning covered a 300-mile stretch of the mountains.

A second, weaker storm was forecast to bring an additional 1 to 2 feet of snow in the region between Monday and Wednesday next week, according to the National Weather Service office in Sacramento.

Near Lake Tahoe, the Alibi Ale Works brewpub and restaurant was one of the few businesses open on Saturday.

Snow is clear from the entrance to a business during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee

A person shovels snow as high gusts of wind blow snow around during a blizzard in Mammoth Lakes, California, on Saturday

A section of the Sierra Nevada mountain range covered with snow in Mammoth Lakes, California, on Saturday

A dangerous winter storm has arrived in California and will unload feet of snow, powerful winds and rare blizzard conditions in the mountains through the weekend and early next week

A vehicle is covered in snow during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee, California

Vehicles are covered in snow during a storm, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Truckee

The National Weather Service has warned people in the affected regions not to travel because conditions are still 'extremely dangerous'

Bartender Thomas Petkanas said about 3 feet of snow had fallen by midday, and patrons were shaking off snow as they arrived.

'Its snowing pretty hard out there, really windy, and power is out to about half the town,' Petkanas said by telephone.

California authorities on Friday shut down 100 miles of I-80, the main route between Reno and Sacramento, because of 'spin outs, high winds, and low visibility.'

There was no estimate when the freeway would reopen from the California-Nevada border west of Reno to near Emigrant Gap, California.

Rudy Islas spent about 40 minutes shoveling his car out before heading to work at a coffee shop in Truckee, California, on Sunday morning. Neither he nor his customers were fazed by the snow, he said.

'To be honest, if youre a local, its not a big deal,' he said. 'I think a lot of people are used to the snow and they prepare for it.'

The National Weather Service has warned people in the affected regions not to travel because conditions are still 'extremely dangerous'.

'If you must travel, have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded, stay in your vehicle,' the service said.
An exterior view of Women's Health Care of New England in Norwalk, Conn., on Friday February 23, 2024. Norwalk parents Kevin Hobson and Danielle Sanchick are suing the clinic and a physician and a sonographer who work there, alleging negligence that led to the death of their baby. Christian Abraham/Hearst Connecticut Media Jack Hobson died on Oct. 21, 2021, 29 days after he was born. Danielle Sanchick and Kevin Hobson/ Contributed Photo

NORWALK  The most harrowing 29 days of Kevin Hobsons life were the only ones he spent with his son, Jack.

Born with a congenital heart condition on Sept. 20, 2021, Jack Hobson spent his short life in hospitals before dying on Oct. 19 following a surgery.

It was certainly the worst 29 days of my life, Jack's father said. I stopped working. Getting him out of the hospital alive became my full-time job.

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It's a horror Hobson and his wife say they and their firstborn son shouldn't have needed to endure.

Hobson and his wife, Danielle Sanchick, claim in a lawsuit that Jacks condition  a serious, rare heart problem in which the two main arteries leaving the heart are reversed  should have been detected by Sanchick's OB-GYN and sonographer during an ultrasound.

Identification of the heart condition before a baby's birth is "crucial to the survival of a newborn," the lawsuit states.

The couple, who has lived in Norwalk since 2020, is suing Womens Health Connecticut, doing business as Womens Health Care of New England, and the doctor and sonographer who conducted Sanchicks second trimester transabdominal ultrasound, alleging negligence.

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Gfeller Laurie LLP, the law firm representing the health clinic, the physician and the sonographer, declined to comment. Womens Health Connecticut did not return a request for comment.

"As a further result of this negligence, Jack Hobson did not receive timely supportive care and corrective surgery leading to his death on October 19, 2021," states a complaint filed on Jan. 26 in state Superior Court in Stamford.

The lawsuit alleges that Dr. Maryam Hedayatzadeh, the OB-GYN, and Malissa Mayne, the sonographer, negligently performed and reported Sanchick's ultrasound on May 7, 2021, causings Jack's heart condition, called transposition of the great arteries, to be undiagnosed in utero.

These clinicians failed to properly image and label the great arteries and failed to appreciate that the arteries appeared to run parallel instead of crossing  a presentation that is highly suspicious for TGA, the lawsuit states.

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The complaint alleges that "as a further result of this negligence," Jack did not "receive timely supportive care and corrective surgery leading to his death." Infants who undergo "controlled delivery and surgery" upon birth have a 98 percent likelihood of surviving the condition and will "go on to lead completely normal and healthy lives," according to the lawsuit.

The "negligence" was a "substantial" factor in causing Jack's injuries, including multi-system organ failure, stroke and death, the lawsuit states.

Included in court filings are opinions written by a sonographer and a physician certified in obstetrics and gynecology that state identification of TGA through "obstetrical sonography greatly influences postnatal outcomes because an infant with TGA requires planned delivery and focused perinatal management."

A procedure for babies with TGA called arterial switch surgery can be performed within days or a few weeks of delivery, according to Nationwide Childrens Hospital, Stanford Medicine and Mayo Clinic. Without surgery, over half of babies with TGA will die in the first month and 90 percent will die within a year, New York Presbyterian said.

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One in 3,413 babies in the United States each year are born with this defect, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

'Hard to remember what it was like before Jack'

Within the first three hours after Jack was born at Norwalk Hospital, he developed cyanosis  his skin started to turn blue from a lack of oxygen in his blood, his father said.

Jack was transferred to Yale New Haven Hospital in his first 24 hours, his parents said, and he was diagnosed at Yale with transposition of the great arteries the day after he was born. Jack was in intensive care for all of his life except for the first six hours, according to Silver Golub & Teitell LLP, the parents' legal representation.

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Neither Norwalk Hospital nor Yale New Haven Hospital are named in the lawsuit.

Jack underwent arterial switch surgery on Oct. 14, 2021, his parents said. His organs later failed and he had a stroke, his mother said.

He went into surgery, struggled coming off the bypass machine after they performed the arterial switch surgery, ended up having a stroke and suffered massive brain damage and passed away a few days after the surgery, Sanchick said through tears.

Hobson said his late sons brief life and death was harrowing.

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Sometimes, its hard to remember what it was like before Jack was born, his father said.

Sanchick and Hobson have since had another son, Jude, in May 2023, but they say that life is different now. Since 2021, they have tried to find ways to adjust to life after losing their son, Sanchick said.

This past November, Sanchick helped to organize an event to raise money for the Childrens Heart Foundation, she said.

We spent that time really trying to figure out what it looks like to honor Jack, she said. What we wanted to do, how we wanted to tell people about him, thinking about what we would do to honor his memory, trying to take care of ourselves and to move forward.

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When she appeared in the glossy property section of a national newspaper in her 1.2million Jacobean mansion, self-styled 'jean queen' Donna Ida Thornton appeared to have it all.

The Australian fashion tycoon  whose designer trousers are adored by celebrities including Amanda Holden and Jodie Kidd  told how her denim empire had allowed her to become lady of the manor.

But while she gushed about restoring the 16-bedroom, Grade II-listed Langdon Court into a boutique hotel, this was no English country idyll.

For the millionairess, 50, was locked in a bitter row with her builder Keith Elliott, which led to police being called and vicious insults made online.

Now Ms Thornton must pay the local contractor 236,000 after an adjudicator found in his favour in January.

Under the headline 'How Donna Ida went from jean queen to lady of the manor', it told how Ms Thornton and her British husband (pictured together), whom she refers to as 'Bobby Dazzler', were restoring the estate to its former glory

While she gushed about restoring the 16-bedroom, Grade II-listed Langdon Court (pictured) into a boutique hotel, this was no English country idyll

For the millionairess, 50, was locked in a bitter row with her builder Keith Elliott (pictured), which led to police being called and vicious insults made online

When she appeared in the glossy property section of a national newspaper in her 1.2million Jacobean mansion, self-styled 'jean queen' Donna Ida Thornton (pictured) appeared to have it all

But last week Mr Elliott took her to the High Court, claiming he has yet to receive a single penny.

A counter claim by Ms Thornton for a similar sum was thrown out but she has served the builder with a ban and bar letter to prevent him setting foot on her estate in south Devon.

The feud started when Ms Thornton and her husband, restaurateur Robert Walton, 67, sacked Mr Elliott in December 2022 in a fallout over his pricing.

Relations deteriorated, with the builder posting frequently online about his treatment and vowing retribution in the courts.

Just last month he boasted of his win: 'Can't Pay? We Take it Away!!! I guess we OWN a hotel now'

On her part, Ms Thornton claimed she was subjected to vile abuse with malicious lies spread about her which are too vulgar to publish.

When a window at Langdon Court was broken last year, she called the police fearing Mr Elliott had shot through it with an air rifle.

Bobby Thornton and Donna Ida attend a private dinner celebrating the launch of Donna Ida's 'Cassandra' jumpsuit at Black Roe on September 24, 2019 in London

The hotel kitchen has a super-sized Bertazzoni cooker and the house has a sun room with a glass roof and wall-to-wall vegetation

Kimberley Garner and Donna Ida attend the ConSept Charity Shopping Event in London at ConSept, King's Road on October 13, 2016 in London

She had no evidence and no action was taken. None of this, however, was mentioned in The Times last March.

Under the headline 'How Donna Ida went from jean queen to lady of the manor', it told how Ms Thornton and her British husband, whom she refers to as 'Bobby Dazzler', were restoring the estate to its former glory.

After their 2021 purchase, they packed it with their five chihuahuas, guinea fowl, rescue geese and ducks with llamas, honey bees and fainting goats to follow.

Ms Thornton said they started with a 'rip out' phase in February 2022 where 30 workers repaired collapsing floors, water ingress and general depredation.

She suggested they ticked through jobs, exclaiming: 'If there was a floor that was caving in, they just threw up another wall.'

Period property experts took over in July with electricians, plumbers, carpenters and interior designers as 10,000sq ft of carpet was rolled out along with 12 miles of electrical cable while 4,000sq ft of marble was installed.

The Australian fashion tycoon (pictured in 2017)  whose designer trousers are adored by celebrities including Amanda Holden and Jodie Kidd  told how her denim empire had allowed her to become lady of the manor

Despite the feud with Mr Elliott, Langdon Court (pictured) is now a high-end hotel where the most expensive suite is 750 per night

Previously two of Ms Thornton's businesses folded owing a total of nearly 3.5million to creditors

The couple's private room has a Christobelle bed and a cast-iron bath. For their chihuahuas, there are sleeping quarters, a kitchenette and five panelled stalls where the dogs can eat separately.

The hotel kitchen has a super-sized Bertazzoni cooker and the house has a sun room with a glass roof and wall-to-wall vegetation.

Despite the feud with Mr Elliott, Langdon Court is now a high-end hotel where the most expensive suite is 750 per night.

Previously two of Ms Thornton's businesses folded owing a total of nearly 3.5million to creditors.

Mr Elliott, 42, of Hunsdon, Devon, told the Mail: 'It has been horrendous. It has taken a toll. I just want the money back.'

Ms Thornton declined to comment on the case.
The victim has not yet been formally identified, Scotland Yard confirmed

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a 66-year-old man was stabbed to death in a North London flat.

Officers were called out on Friday at 7.28pm to a critically injured man in the communal area of flats in Lockhart Close, Enfield.

The ambulance service also attended but he died at the scene, leading to a murder investigation being opened.

A 30-year-old female has now been arrested and is in custody at a north London police station, the Metropolitan Police said.

As part of their enquiries, detectives carried out house-to-house checks and a forensic examination of the scene over the weekend.

The force is now keen to speak to anyone with a dashboard camera who was driving in Lockhart Close, Derby Road, Lincoln Road, or the surrounding area, on the night of the murder.

The Metropolitan Police were called out on Friday at 7.28pm to a critically injured man in the communal area of flats in Lockhart Close, Enfield, file photograph

Scotland Yard said they are appealing for anyone with information to come forward

Detective Chief Inspector Laura Nelson, who is leading the investigation, said: 'Although an arrest has been made, it is vital that anyone with information about what happened on Friday evening comes forward to speak to us.

'I am also keen for anyone with a dashboard camera who was driving in Lockhart Close, Derby Road, Lincoln Road, or the surrounding area, to contact us immediately.'



The deceased has not been formally identified and a post-mortem examination has yet to be arranged.

DCI Nelson added: 'I am grateful to the local residents who assisted officers last night and this morning as our investigation commenced.

'They will continue to see police working in the area, including forensic officers and other specialists who are supporting what will be a painstaking murder investigation.'

Any witnesses can call 101, ref 6185/01mar - or they can remain anonymous by contacting Crimestoppers online or by calling 0800 555 111.
The Israeli security minister has been banned from intelligence meetings after he leaked a series of sensitive documents.

Itamar Ben-Gvir is also accused of taking illegal photos of attendees at high-level intelligence meeting. The gaffes mean Mr Ben-Gvir may have broke the very guidelines he is appointed to protect and enforce.

His actions have also led Israel's domestic intelligence chiefs, Shin Bet, to accuse the minister of leaking information and breaching protocol such as bringing mobile phones into meetings.

Shin Bet announced last month that they would refuse to hold anymore meetings with Mr Ben-Gvir after relations between the minister and the security agency broke down following clashes in meetings.

The barring of Mr Ben-Gvir from attending intelligence briefings means the security minister will now be left in the dark on key information about national security and intelligence.

Israel's security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir (pictured) has been banned from intelligence meetings after being accused of leaking sensitive documents and taking photos in meetings

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) brought Mr Ben-Gvir into government as security minister in 2022. Since the October 7 attacks Netanyahu has increasingly sidelined him

Mr Ben-Gvir during his controversial visit to the Temple Mount in January 2023. The visit was criticised internationally for stoking tension between Israelis and Palestinians

The Al-Aqsa Mosque on the Temple Mount. Last week, Hamas called on all Palestinian to march on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque. Meanwhile, Mr Ben-gvir attempted to push through legislation to limit the number of worshippers who can visit the compound which surrounds the mosque. However, Israel's war cabinet banned his plans

A senior Israeli intelligence source told The Telegraph: 'The biggest threat to Israel from within is Ben-Gvir. He acts within his own rules and tries to disregard everyone around him, in spite of his not having any background in national security and defence issues himself. He is a liability.'

The decision comes as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan begins today with tension between Israelis and Palestinians expected to rise.

Last week, Hamas called on all Palestinian to march on Jerusalem's Al-Aqsa mosque which has been a flashpoint for Jews and Muslims for decades.

Meanwhile, Mr Ben-Gvir attempted to push through legislation to limit the number of worshippers who can visit the compound which surrounds the mosque. However, Israel's war cabinet banned his plans.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has increasingly sidelined Mr Ben-Nvir since the October 7 attacks despite him being one of the most prominent members of his right-wing coalition.

Mr Ben-Nvir has become one of the most controversial figures in Israeli politics. In the past, he has faced charges of hate speech against arabs and was also convicted for supporting Kach, an Israeli terrorist group which was banned in 1994.

In 2022 he joined Netanyahu's government as security minister and has continued to court controversy. This includes a high profile visit to the Temple Mount in January 2023 which was criticised internationally for stoking tension between Israelis and Palestinians.
US officials insist a ceasefire deal is within reach and will be struck by Ramadan

Israel boycotted talks in Cairo and said Hamas 'refuses to provide clear answers'

Mediators in Cairo have made a renewed push for a Gaza ceasefire, while differences remained as fighting raged on Sunday between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in the Palestinian territory gripped by desperate food shortages.

Envoys from the United States, Qatar and Hamas arrived in Cairo for the latest effort towards a six-week truce, stepped-up aid deliveries and the exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners.

Sticking points remained however, including a Hamas demand that Israeli forces entirely withdraw from the Gaza Strip after almost five months of devastating war.

Israel, which has so far boycotted the Egypt talks, has demanded Hamas provide it with a list of all 130 remaining captives, including over 30 who are feared dead.

According to newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel had refused to send a delegation with officials quoted as saying that Hamas 'refuses to provide clear answers'.

Palestinians walk past bombed-out buildings along a street in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on March 3

Smoke billowing over Gaza following Israeli bombardment on March 3, 2024

People inspecting damage and recovering items from homes destroyed by Israeli air strikes

Palestinians flock to receive flour in Deir Al-Balah, distributed by UNRWA. The enclave is facing a food crisis due to Israeli attacks on March 3, 2024

Men search for salvageable items amongst the rubble of a home in Rafah, Gaza

Parachutes drop food parcels from US aircrafts into Gaza

At least 14 Palestinians, including six children, were killed on Sunday in an Israeli bombing that targeted a house in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip

US officials said there was hope a ceasefire deal was close and would be in place in time for Ramadan, a week away.

Despite the latest push to halt the fighting sparked by Hamas's October 7 attack on Israel, Israeli bombing and urban combat in Gaza continued.

Late on Sunday several air strikes were reported in southern Gaza's Rafah and Khan Yunis.

Earlier, 90 Palestinians were killed within 24 hours, said the Hamas-ruled territory's health ministry, putting the war's overall death toll at 30,410, mostly women and children.

Two of the latest victims, twin babies Naeem and Wissam Abu Anza, were buried on Sunday as their mother Rania wept in agony, an AFP photographer said.

A relative, Shehda Abu Anza, said 'only civilians' were in the house when it was bombed, killing 14 members of one family.

'All of them were sleeping when suddenly a missile hit and destroyed the whole house,' he told AFP as residents searched the rubble with their bare hands - for bodies but also to salvage scarce food.

An Israeli siege on Gaza has sparked UN warnings of famine, and France's foreign ministry said Israel is 'clearly responsible' for aid blockages.

On Saturday the United States started airdropping food rations. Jordan and some other countries have already done so.

At the edge of a seaside road in Deir al-Balah, central Gaza, men examined the remains of a truck they said had been carrying aid.

'It was hit by a drone with one missile,' turning several people 'into pieces', said Haytham al-Quraan. 'They were delivering aid to the south. Then it was hit again by a second missile.'

The Palestinian Red Crescent said crews 'transferred five martyrs' and four injured 'due to targeting a truck by an Israeli drone'.

Contacted about the incident, the military told AFP: 'It was not an aid truck that was struck,' but did not elaborate.

At least 16 children have died of malnutrition in recent days as 'famine spreads' in Gaza's north, said health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra.

On Thursday more than 100 people were killed in chaotic scenes around a convoy of aid trucks in Gaza City.

Gaza health officials said Israeli forces opened fire into the crowd, causing a 'massacre', while Israel's army said most victims were trampled or hit by trucks in a crush for food aid.

People receiving bodies of victims on March 3 in Rafah

Mourners receive dead bodies of victims from Israeli air strikes in Rafah

Armed forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said an initial review 'has indicated that following the warning shots fired to disperse the stampede... several looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat to them'.

Troops then fired 'towards several individuals', Hagari said. He added that an 'independent' army body would launch an investigation.

Numerous world leaders have called for a probe.

A UN team that visited some of the wounded in Gaza City's Al-Shifa Hospital on Friday saw a 'large number of gunshot wounds', said UN chief Antonio Guterres's spokesman Stephane Dujarric.

The UN Security Council voiced concern over Gaza's 'alarming levels of acute food insecurity', and urged 'the immediate, rapid, safe, sustained and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale'.

Pope Francis called for Gaza civilians to be given 'safe access to the humanitarian aid they urgently need'.

The war broke out on October 7 with an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

Israel's military on Sunday announced the death of one more soldier in Gaza, bringing to 246 the number killed in ground operations.

In Rehovot, Israel, there were tears and ceremonial gunshots at the funeral of another soldier, Afik Teri.

The Hamas government media office reported intense tank shelling in northern Gaza, and the Israeli military said it hit about 50 targets including 'underground terrorist infrastructure'.

Mediators have been scrambling to lock in a truce before Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month that begins in around one week.

Washington regards Hamas as a 'terrorist' organisation, and in previous talks Egyptian officials have acted as intermediaries. A US official, speaking to reporters late Saturday, had said 'there's a framework deal' for a ceasefire which could start 'today if Hamas agrees to release' elderly, women and ill hostages.

'The Israelis have more or less accepted it,' the administration official said.

Sticking points in negotiations include a Hamas demand that Israel entirely withdraw from the Gaza strip

But US officials said they were hopeful a deal could be struck in time for Ramadan, in a week's time

The UN Security Council voiced concern over Gaza's 'alarming levels of acute food insecurity'

A Hamas official said that if Israel were to meet its demands, this would 'pave the way for an agreement within the next 24-48 hours'.

Osama Hamdan, a Lebanon-based Hamas official, told Qatar's Al-Araby TV that the group insisted on a complete, rather than 'temporary', ceasefire and on 'ending the aggression against our people'.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has so far rejected pulling troops out of Gaza before Hamas is destroyed and all hostages are freed.

The Hamas official also said the group would demand 'the entry of at least 400 to 500 trucks per day' carrying food, medicine and fuel.

Netanyahu has faced mounting pressure within Israel to secure the release of the hostages, from their desperate families and a resurgent anti-government protest movement.
QUESTION If pigs could fly, what would their wingspan be?

Your average market pig weighs about 300 lb (135 kg), while others might grow to as much as 900 lb (410 kg).

This brings them into the range of the largest-known flying animal, a dinosaur called Quetzalcoatlus northropi.

This is believed to have weighed from 300 lb to 500 lb (135 kg to 225 kg). It had an estimated wingspan of 30 ft to 35 ft (9 m to 10.5 m).

However, Q. northropi was physically different from a pig. It was hollow-boned, stood a little shorter than a giraffe, and acted like a giant heron.

We can safely say that a large pig would require a wingspan of 20 ft to 30 ft (6 m to 10 m) to fly

Dinosaur Quetzalcoatlus northropi depicted in the movie Jurassic Park Dominion

Perhaps a better bet would be to compare our pig to a light aircraft.

In the late 1960s, U.S. aircraft designer Jim Bede created the Bede BD-5, a small, single-seat home-built aircraft.

This had a weight, when occupied by a pilot, of 500 lb to 600 lb (225 kg to 275 kg), so in the large pig range.

This aircraft had a wingspan of 21 ft 6 in (6.55 m). We can safely say that a large pig would require a wingspan of 20 ft to 30 ft (6 m to 10 m) to fly, creating a very strange animal indeed.

Simon Wright, Bristol.

QUESTION Who was the very first known 'whistleblower'?

Benjamin Franklin exposed confidential letters showing that the British-endorsed governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Hutchinson, had intentionally misled Parliament (stock image)

Whistleblowers are informers who expose criminal acts, corruption, bullying and harassment.

Tomorrow's questions Q: Why was the Vichy France deputy prime minister, Pierre Laval, so violently anti-British and pro-Nazi Germany? Michael J. Locke, Gillingham, Kent. Q: Was the world's first synthetic dye invented by a teenager? Lea Richards, Yaxley, Cambs. Q: Why is depth 'sounding' so called? William Moore, Stowmarket, Suffolk. Advertisement

Some point to the actions of U.S. politician Benjamin Franklin when, in 1773, he exposed confidential letters showing that the British-endorsed governor of Massachusetts, Thomas Hutchinson, had intentionally misled Parliament to promote a military build-up in the Colonies.

There is some ambiguity about that case, so a better bet might be the acts of U.S. seamen Richard Marven and Samuel Shaw of the Continental Navy, during the American War of Independence.

In 1777, they provided evidence that their commander-in-chief, Esek Hopkins, was torturing British prisoners.

The term 'whistleblower' emerged in the 19th century and meant 'one who blows a whistle', a piper or a figure of authority such as policeman or referee.

It wasn't until 1974 that the term was defined by the U.S. consumer advocate Ralph Nader as 'an act of a man or woman who, believing that the public interest overrides the interest of the organisation he serves, blows the whistle that the organisation is [engaged] in corrupt, illegal, fraudulent or harmful activity'.

Christine Bowes, London N13.
A photo of two female politicians from rival parties posing together has sparked outrage from their peers.

Late on Saturday night, Zoe McKenzie, the Liberal MP for Flinders in Victoria, posted a photo of herself with Labor's Jodie Belyea, who won that day's by-election for the neighbouring seat of Dunkley after much help from Anthony Albanese.

The image was meant to be a show of respect from two women holding seats on the Mornington Peninsula on Melbourne's outer edge.

'You have been a good friend to women across the Mornington Peninsula,' Ms McKenzie wrote in her 10.30pm message.

'Look forward to working with you in looking after paradise!'

The act of goodwill went down badly with some of Ms McKenzie's colleagues, who called it 'unforgivable' and 'naive' when the Liberals are 'at war' with Labor.

A photo of two female politicians together has caused shockwaves, outrage, name calling and talk of the major parties being at 'war' with each other. Labor's Jodie Belyea (left) is pictured with Liberal Zoe McKenzie

A senior colleague of Ms McKenzie's told The Australian the photo was 'an absolute act of naivety'.

Another said they were 'floored' by the picture.

'To say the anger among the ranks is palpable would be an understatement,' they said.

A third said the friendliness on display would cause problems in trying to unseat Ms Belyea at the next federal election, which is likely to be held in May 2025.

'We are at war with Labor. To think this new breed of Liberal thinks otherwise is infuriating,' they said.

Further complicating matters is that Ms McKenzie's husband, Rodrigo Pintos Lopez, has just resigned as chief-of-staff to Victorian Liberal leader John Pesutto.

One Liberal source said the photo showed 'zero political judgement'.

'The most generous that you could say is that it is a naive act,' they said.

Daily Mail Australia has contacted both Ms McKenzie and Ms Belyea for comment.

ABC election analyst Antony Green called the seat of Dunkley for Labor on Saturday night.

Jodie Belyea (pictured right) won Saturday's byelection for Victorian seat of Dunkley, after much help from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured left)

The opposition pinned its hopes on Frankston City Council mayor Nathan Conroy running for the Liberal Party, but the 3.8 per cent swing he managed was not enough to secure the seat.

The Prime Minister made an early appearance at a polling station on Saturday, his 61st birthday, alongside Ms Belyea and his fiancee, Jodie Haydon.

'What I want for my birthday is obvious today, which is a win for Jodie Belyea,' Mr Albanese said.

Cost of living was front and centre in the campaign, with Mr Albanese talking up a bigger tax cut for lower and middle income earners under the government's revamped tax package.
The breach could compromise Britain and France 's arms transfers to Ukraine

Call bugged by Russian spies after officials used an unsecured telephone line

A German air force chief has revealed secret UK operations in Ukraine after discussing highly sensitive military secrets on a telephone line.

A call between the Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz and senior Luftwaffe officers was bugged by Russian spies after they used an unsecured telephone line to discuss military planning.

The talks included confirmation that the British military is deployed in Ukraine and important details on the transport of British Storm Shadow missiles to the country.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed a recording released by Russia's state broadcaster was genuine and described the security breach as 'very serious'.

The breach could compromise Britain and France 's arms transfers to Ukraine and hamper the vital use of cruise missiles by Kyiv in its war against Russia.

Britain and other Nato allies will be horrified by the security blunder, as they increasingly see Germany as unreliable.

A call between the Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz (pictured) and senior Luftwaffe officers was bugged by Russian spies

The talks included confirmation that the British military is being deployed in Ukraine (pictured: British troops taking part in military exercises in Poland)

Russia intercepted the 38-minute call between Lieutenant Gerhartz and three senior officers on February 19 after they used standard video conferencing software instead of an encrypted line.

READ MORE: Jeremy Hunt admits Britain will have to spend more money on defence in future in the face of growing Russian aggression Advertisement

The head of Russian state broadcaster RT, Margarita Simonyan, published the audio recording on messaging app Telegram on Friday.

According to a Russian transcript of the call, the head of the German air force said: 'If we're asked about delivery methods, I know how the British do this. They always transport them in Ridgeback armoured vehicles. They have several people on the ground.'

Gerhartz also explained during the call how the French 'send [Audi] Q7s loaded with Scalp missiles to Ukraine'.

The revelations in this second security blunder will help Russian intelligence to track and locate such vehicles in Europe and on Ukraine's territory.

Gerhartz further added that Britain had outfitted Ukrainian aircraft with Storm Shadows and could help with the transfer of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

According to the air force chief, Germany is considering sending 100 of its 600 Taurus missiles to Kviv in two batches of 50.

Gerhartz says this is to ensure the missile 'won't change the course of hostilities'.

He added: 'That's why we don't want to send all of them. And not all of them in one batch. We may first send 50 missiles, and then give them another 50. This is absolutely clear, but this is big politics.

'I have learnt from my French and British colleagues that the situation with the Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles is the same.'

The missiles have a range of 500km and the officers were heard discussing targets the Ukrainians might hit with them, such as Russian ammunition depots and the Kerch Bridge to Crimea.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed a recording released by Russia 's state broadcaster was genuine and described the security breach as 'very serious'.

Germany is considering sending 100 of its 600 Taurus missiles (pictured) in two batches of 50 to Ukraine

German politicians said Russia had leaked the conversation to put pressure on the Chancellor not to supply the Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

Mr Scholz has so far refused to send the missiles, which are similar to the British Storm Shadow, amid political divisions in the country.

Former defence secretary Ben Wallace told the Times: 'We know Germany is pretty penetrated by Russian intelligence so it just demonstrates they are neither secure nor reliable.'

The Ministry of Defense has refused to comment.
A teenage boy has been charged over the false imprisonment and sexual assault of a female jogger.

The 13-year-old, from Rowville in Melbourne's south-east, was charged over the alleged attack of a woman on the Dandenong Creek Trail in January.

Victoria Police say the 28-year-old female was running along the trail on 31 January when she was sexually assaulted.

Victoria Police allege the 28-year-old female was running along the trail on 31 January when she was sexually assaulted by a 13-year-old boy

She managed to fight off the offender who fled the scene on his bike.

The boy was charged with stalking, assault with intent to sexual assault, false imprisonment and sexual assault.

He appeared before an out of sessions court hearing on the weekend, where he was bailed to appear at a children's court at a later date.
Staff at an award-winning brewery were let go in the middle of their shifts after the company ran into financial difficulties and was put into voluntary administration.

Golden West Brewing Co, located in Perth, collapsed on Wednesday with only the brew team kept on staff to finish processing beer already in the tanks so it could still be sold.

Golden West was founded in 2021 in Leederville, in Perth's inner-west, by a group of five school mates.

Golden West Brewing Co, a brewery located in Perth has entered voluntary administration (pictured stock image of cans of beer)

The company's website informed beer lovers their venue has been temporarily suspended but consumers could still purchase beverages by contacting them directly.

Daily Mail Australia contacted Golden West Brewing Co for comment.

A source close to the company told Perth Now that cost of living pressures left the business with no other option but to close.

The company is also understood to have been unable to stay afloat due to the closure of several breweries in Sydney and Adelaide.

Mathieu Tribut from insolvency firm GTS Advisory has been appointed the administrator.

The company conducted a small business restructure in 2023 in order repay outstanding debts so that the business could continue to keep trading.

The company was forced to close due to cost of living pressures (pictured stock image of a pubgoer enjoy a glass of beer)

Despite a strong end to the trading period in the final quarter of 2023, sales plummeted in January and February.

'The company had insufficient capital to continue trading,' Mr Tribut said.

'It's a sad story. No one is to blame and the boys did their best.'

Despite the financial woes the company has encountered, Mr Tribut said it does not mean the business will close for good.

He said the company would go through a complete restructure of business operations and would begin trading in as soon as a month.

Despite the financial woes the company has encountered, the brewery is understood to be rebranded and could be back up and running again in as soon as a month

Mr Tribut said a company had already expressed interest in taking over the business.

Daniel Burt, who was the managing director of Golden West Brewing Co, initially founded the company as Modular Brewing on December 22, 2021.

Mr Burt confirmed that the company had entered administration.

More than a dozen independent breweries were left on the verge of being unable to pay off their debts in the last year alone.

Golden West was first established as a local soft drink business in Perth in the late 1800s.

The company later became the Gest in the 1960's before the recipes of the brewery were bought by soft drink giant Coca-Cola.
Signs describing 'acts of violence' will be added to Scots war memorials following a controversial review of tourist attractions.

Heritage chiefs say a raft of 'interpretation improvements' describing regiments' 'imperial past' will be added to destinations such as Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and Glasgow Cathedral.

At Glasgow Cathedral, tourists will be informed of 'sensitivities' surrounding memorials honouring members of regiments which served in Northern Ireland during 'The Troubles'.

A sign mentioning King William of Orange's links to slavery is to be added beside the memorial

Even a memorial to King William of Orange near the cathedral will have a sign describing how he 'benefited financially from the trafficking of enslaved people'.

The review was commissioned by Historic Environment Scotland (HES), the government-funded heritage agency responsible for some of the country's leading tourist attractions.

Academics at Glasgow University were tasked with examining associations between publicly owned buildings and historic acts of imperialism.

It found many properties had connection to Scotland's 'heavy and sometimes disproportionate' involvement in colonialism in the Caribbean, Africa, the Americas and Asia, as well as 'the north of Ireland'.

People visiting these attractions will be given this information on updated signs and notice boards.

The report, overseen by Dr Stephen Mullen, Professor Stephen Driscoll and Dr Andrew Mackillop, said: 'Scottish units were involved in acts of violence against a wide range of peoples.'

In one example, the 93rd Sutherland Highlanders were recalled for their involvement in suppressing uprisings in India in the mid-19th century.

Memorials at Glasgow Cathedral (pictured), Edinburgh Castle and other historic sites will have signs put in place

The commentary states: 'The overall British campaign in this period claimed the lives of at least 150,000 people. Racialised judicial repression and military violence remained an under-lying feature of the Empire.'

A report by Dr Mullen highlights the imperial past of the King's Own Scottish Borderers, who are remembered in a monument at Edinburgh Castle.

It says: 'The KOSB served in Ireland in 1914 and in Northern Ireland from 1970 to 1989. While garrisoning Dublin in 1914 a detachment of the regiment fired into a crowd killing three people.'

A spokesman for HES said: 'We have a rolling programme of interpretation improvements at our sites, including Edinburgh Castle, Glasgow Cathedral and Stirling Castle.'

Callum McGoldrick of the TaxPayers' Alliance said: 'It is shocking funds would be used for such a pointless project. The Scottish Government should abandon this ridiculous endeavour.'
Gov. Ned Lamont (center) shovels dirt with Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim (third from right) during on the groundbreaking for mixed-use development at Steelpointe Harbor in January. Like other prominent Democrats, Lamont avoided endorsing Ganim's re-election bid last fall, but came around in the final weeks of a controversial do-over election in February. Brian A. Pounds/Hearst Connecticut Media

As the mayoral election in Bridgeport descended into turmoil last fall, many of the states leading Democrats made sure to keep an arms length from the citys controversial and resilient leader, Joe Ganim.

A video released days after Ganims apparent primary victory over rival John Gomes appeared to show a city employee illegally stuffing absentee ballots into a dropbox  forcing a court-ordered do-over election, a state investigation and months of critical headlines plastered across national news.

Some, like Gov. Ned Lamont, avoided making the traditional campaign stops in the states largest city, while others who did make the trip made clear that they were there to support the other municipal candidates, but not necessarily the Democratic mayor. Gomes, a registered Democrat, competed in the general election as an Independent Party candidate.

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After barely winning last year's original primary and general election, Ganim won a more comfortable victory over Gomes in January's do-over primary election. As the fourth and final vote approached this month, the coolness from out-of-town Democrats began to subside.

The first sign of acquiescence came from Lamont during a trip to Bridgeport about a week before the second general election for the seat to visit the construction site of a new technical high school with Ganim alongside him. Lamont was predictably asked about his thoughts on the election, and gave the mayor his formal blessing.

We have a good, strong working relationship, Lamont said."We've gotten a lot done here in Bridgeport. We're just getting started.

Within a week, other prominent Democrats including Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, U.S. Sens. Chris Murphy and Richard Blumenthal, and 4th District Congressman Jim Himes all delivered formal endorsements for Ganim.

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Part of it, probably, was just fatigue from the entire process, said Bilal Sekou, a professor of political science at the University of Hartford, who noted that Ganim had come out in front in each of the first three rounds of voting. At that point, from lawmakers I think it was kind of a safe bet to just go with the person who looked like they were going to win.

Ganim did not return a call seeking comment, but his a key campaign advisor, Thomas Gaudett, echoed Lamont's comments about the existing ties state leaders have developed with the Ganim administration.

"The endorsements of statewide leaders shows unity within the Democratic Party and is a recognition of the fact that the Ganim administration has strong working relationships with state elected officials," Gaudett said.

After endorsing Ganim, Lamont's office also called for passage of election reforms aimed at curbing future instances of fraud and expediting investigations. During a stop in Bridgeport earlier this week, Blumenthal made a similar call for "remedies" to existing laws, while reemphasizing his support for Ganim as "a builder and a doer."

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"There should be scrutiny and oversight and appropriate law enforcement if any rules have been broken," Blumenthal said. "So far there's been no serious allegation about his personal involvement."

With multiple state investigations ongoing over what transpired in the Bridgeport mayoral race, however, Democrats have faced stinging criticism from Republicans, all the way up to former President Donald Trump. Members of Ganim's previous mayoral campaign, in 2019, also continue to face investigation over similar allegations of fraud in that year's Democratic primary.

Even some Democrats have questioned whether party leaders have done enough to show they are serious about reform.

If the Democrats want to be the party of reform, they need to say it out loud, said Bill Curry, a two-time Democratic nominee for governor. Above all, they need to be consistent or no one will hear them.

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Christine Bartlett-Josie, a Democratic consultant who worked for Gomes campaign, said she was disappointed that the same officials who endorsed Ganim did not speak out forcibly after a judge ruled that the evidence of fraud was enough to order a new election.

It could come back to haunt them because the Republicans could absolutely use it against them, she said. It could. Will it? I dont know, honestly. People have short memories sometimes, too.

With more than 42,000 registered Democrats, Bridgeport has historically been a deep and vital well of support for the party in statewide and congressional elections.

In 2010, for instance, an overnight tabulation of votes from Bridgeport was enough to put Democrat Dannel P. Malloy over the top in a razor-thin governors race against Republican Tom Foley. The citys voters also provided the margin of victory in Democrat Jim Himes' successful run for congress that same year.

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As Connecticut has increasingly tilted blue in both state and national elections, however, racking up large margins of victory in Bridgeport has become less of a necessity for a Democratic victories at the statewide level.

At the same time, appearing cozy with Ganim risks alienating voters outside of Bridgeport who are well acquainted with the mayors turbulent past, including a stint in federal prison on corruption charges, said Gary Rose, a political science professor at Sacred Heart University.

Why would you be so visible, as what weve seen, with somebody who is a convicted felon? Rose said. Im sure there are some voters who got a little turned off from that, because everyone knows who Joe Ganim is.

About a month before the election, Bridgeport Democratic Party Chair and Ganim ally Mario Testa sent a letter to the head of the state party, Nancy DiNardo, complaining about a lack of public support from Democratic leaders like Lamont. The letter, first reported by CT Insider, went on to say that the party risked an embarrassing loss to Gomes, who was running as an independent in the general election.

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DiNardo said this week that she never received Testa's letter and did not have conversations with any officials about backing Ganim's campaign. Testa did not respond to requests for comment.

"Ganim has done a good job turning Bridgeport around, and I feel that he did deserve another chance to continue," DiNardo added.

When asked by a reporter whether Testas letter had anything to do with his endorsement, Lamont said he had not met with the Democratic leader in many months. As for the lingering allegations surrounding Ganims campaign, the governor defended his decision to support the mayor.

That was then, this is now, Lamont said, according to Fox 61. Everybody deserves a second chance.

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During her 30-year Hollywood career, she has travelled to exotic locations all over the world.

But Oscar-winning actress Julianne Moore has spoken about her love of Scotland and her particular connection to fun place Greenock.

Speaking to Lauren Laverne on her BBC 6 Music programme, the Still Alice star described how her Scottish mother reluctantly gave up her British citizenship after moving to the United States aged 10.

A-Lister Julianne Moore is proud of her Scottish history

My mother was from Greenock, she said. [She] felt very thoroughly Scottish. She emigrated when she was a kid.

She grew up and met my father and they married very young but she didnt get her citizenship until she was probably 27. At that time you had to renounce your British citizenship, so when it became available for me to have both, I applied.

The actresss mother, Anne, migrated with her family to the US in 1951 and married army paratrooper Peter Moore Smith in 1960. Julianne, the eldest of three children, has a sister and brother.

Julianne Moores mother Anne was born in Greenock

Ms Moore admitted she hasnt been back to her mothers home town in a very long time, but said: what a fun place. I love Scotland and with what I look like I fit right in.

She is currently promoting Mary & George, a British historical mini-series, and she is about to start filming The Room Next Door with Scottish actress Tilda Swinton.
Kate Middleton's 'black sheep' uncle Gary Goldsmith has been scolded by the Princess of Wales's parents after reportedly signing up to Celebrity Big Brother amid fears he could spill secrets about the Royal Family, sources have claimed.

The outspoken businessman, who is the brother of Kate's mother Carole Middleton, was today spotted picking up some last-minute shopping ahead of the celebrity edition of the series returning to our screens after a six-year absence.

It's been rumoured that Goldsmith, 58, has secured a substantial deal with ITV bosses to go on the show which begins on Monday night.

His appearance in the Big Brother house will no doubt cause another headache for The Firm amid speculation about Kate's whereabouts as she continues to recover from abdominal surgery.

It also comes as King Charles continues treatment for cancer and the Royal Family mourns the loss of Thomas Kingston, the husband of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent's daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor.

An insider told The Sun: 'Gary said he's been read the riot act by Kate's mum Carole and her dad Michael.

'They aren't happy he's going into Celebrity Big Brother. It is infuriating to them. Kate doesn't need this stress.'

The source claimed that Prince Harry and Meghan - who Goldsmith has attacked in the past - could be in the firing line.

Kate Middleton's uncle Gary Goldsmith, 58, is rumoured to be one of the stars entering the Celebrity Big Brother house (pictured 2023)

Carole Middleton is pictured with her husband Michael and Charles and Camilla on the Buckingham Palace balcony after Kate and Wills' wedding

Princess Kate is pictured with her mother Carole Middleton at Ascot in 2017. Goldsmith is Carole's brother

The source said that 'black sheep' Goldsmith did not have his family's blessing to go into the house but is doing it anyway. The businessman is understood to have told friends that he won't do anything to hurt Kate or William.

In photos obtained by The Mirror, Goldsmith was spotted trying on a selection of smart suits at swanky tailor Kerrs in London's Soho district before leaving with them in a garment bag.

Possibly in a nod to his famous niece, the brand has previously made numerous outfits for the Princess, according to the publication.

The Sun also pictured Goldsmith arriving at the ITV studios in London on Sunday ahead of his rumoured entrance into the house. He was seen leaving a black Audi with a suitcase and was wearing a navy cap, jeans, a grey hoodie and a leather jacket.

He walked into the building with two silver suitcases and a suit carrier.

Goldsmith attempted to gain a spot on I'm A Celebrity last year, but was turned down over concerns it could embarrass William and Kate.

He previously spoke out against Harry and Meghan after the release of Spare and is known for his 'outspoken' opinions on the couple.

Royal experts have previously criticised the decision to welcome him into the Celebrity Big Brother house  calling the move 'embarrassing' and possibly 'dangerous' to the royal family during a testing period.

Royal author Angela Levin told The Sun: 'I think it's cringe-making, very embarrassing, the trouble is he doesn't like Harry and Meghan at all, some of this comments will fall onto Catherine and she's had a lot against her, she's not well, she's in hospital.

'I think when you come out of an operation you're quite vulnerable and this could upset her enormously. In principle people who don't like her could say she encouraged him to do it, but she would have done nothing of the kind.

'It's very embarrassing. It's very hard being a royal, and I don't know if this is a good idea.'

Show insiders say producers are delighted to have secured Goldsmith as a contestant because of his links to the Royal Family  and because of his penchant for saying what he thinks, particularly about Kate's brother-in-law, Prince Harry.

The outspoken businessman brother of the Princess' mother Carole, has reportedly signed up for the ITV reboot (Kate pictured in 2023)

He will reportedly join the likes of Loose Women 's Linda Robson and X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne

Goldsmith has reportedly signed up for the ITV reboot alongside Loose Women's Linda Robson and X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.

ITV bosses have reportedly been keeping tabs on Goldsmith  who, writing for the Mail a year ago, slammed Harry's autobiography Spare as 'petulant, self-serving...fluff'.

His I'm A Celeb audition ended in failure, allegedly because bosses were worried about his potential to embarrass the royal family, but CBB chiefs believe his brusque, shoot-from-the-hip style of straight-talking will fit the format of TV's most infamous house.

Goldsmith was a guest at William and Kate's wedding in 2011. He made his living building an IT recruitment business, but has been caught up in scandals, including being pictured with drugs in Ibiza.

He was also arrested in October 2017 after allegedly assaulting his fourth wife, Julie-Ann, outside their central London home.

Goldsmith knocked her to the ground after she accused him of taking drugs during a drunken fight outside their home in the early hours of October 13 2017.

The Met said at the time of his arrest: 'Police in Westminster were called to an address at 01:24hrs on Friday 13 October following reports of a domestic incident.

'Officers arrested a 52-year-old man on suspicion of domestic assault.

'He has been taken to a central London police station for questioning.

'A woman found injured was taken to hospital.'

He later pleaded guilty to one count of assault by beating and was fined 5,000 and handed a 12-month community order with 20 sessions of rehabilitation.

Gary's appearance on the show will no doubt cause another headache for the Royals amid speculation about Kate's whereabouts as she continues to recover from abdominal surgery (pictured with daughter Tallulah at Pippa Middleton 2017 wedding)

It comes after Sharon Osbourne 's astonishing Celebrity Big Brother fee for five days was reportedly been revealed

Since then he has attacked what he sees as insults to his family, including his niece and William, including episodes of The Crown, royal biographer Omid Scobie's book Endgame and Harry's memoir Spare.

Last night, The Sun reported that Osbourne will be paid 100,000 per day for the five days she is there.

The former X Factor judge, 71, will reportedly not stay for the full 17 days as insiders said that her fee was too expensive for ITV.

The publication claims that ITV reached a 500,000 deal with her to enter the house for the short amount of time, after they found her fee for the whole three-week series too expensive.

A source told the publication: 'Bosses did all they could to get Sharon and finally reached a deal she's happy with.

'Sharon will inject enough drama but without her original price tag that was just not feasible.

'Producers cannot wait to see her reunite with Louis and know that it will be TV gold.'

ITV and Sharon's representatives have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

A Celebrity Big Brother spokesperson then told MailOnline: 'Any names are at this point pure speculation and viewers will have to tune to see who will be entering the Celebrity Big Brother house.'

Celebrity Big Brother starts on March 4 on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
Police have failed to solve a single burglary in neighbourhoods across nearly half of England and Wales in the past three years, leading a former victims' commissioner to blast the force's 'empty gestures' to drive down crime.

An analysis of police data from 30,100 neighbourhoods found that in 48.2 per cent, no break-ins had been solved in the past three years.

The data includes the time since England and Wales's 43 chief constables pledged in October 2022 that their officers would visit the scene of every burglary.

However, Home Office figures show that the proportion of burglaries resulting in a charge fell in the year following this statement to 3.9 per cent - fewer than one in 25 reported burglaries - from 4.6 per cent in 2022.

In the worst hot spots covering areas of up to 6,000 people, more than 150 cases have gone unsolved in the past three years, leading to warnings that the offence is being decriminalised.

The data has sparked fury across the country, leading ex-victims' commissioner Dame Vera Baird to claim that crooks currently have a 'free hit' when burgling somebody's home.

An analysis of police data from 30,100 neighbourhoods found that in 48.2 per cent, no break-ins had been solved in the past three years.

The data includes the time since England and Wales's 43 chief constables pledged in October 2022 that their officers would visit the scene of every burglary

ex-victims' commissioner Dame Vera Baird claims that crooks currently have a 'free hit' when burgling somebody's home

She told the Telegraph: 'What these figures show is that in half of the neighbourhoods, burgling somebody's home is a free hit. The criminal can walk away with the proceeds and never look back.

'Burglary can be very very upsetting and traumatising; it can make people afraid to go out in case it happens again and afraid to stay at home for the very same reason. Why are there no arrests, no prosecutions and no deterrence in almost half of all these cases?'

READ MORE: Police failed to solve THREE QUARTERS of burglaries and car thefts last year Advertisement

Harvey Redgrave, a former No 10 policy adviser who is chief executive of crime consultancy Crest Advisory, said: 'It is of real concern that despite the high-profile commitment to attend the scene of every burglary, the police do not appear to be improving the rate at which burglaries are solved and offenders brought to justice.

'Public confidence in the police will not improve unless victims believe reporting crime will make a difference.

'These statistics also reinforce the need for a cross-government strategy to deal with the minority of highly prolific offenders who are responsible for a large proportion of burglaries and theft more widely.'

In the worst-performing force, Hertfordshire, just one in 50 (2.2 per cent) burglaries resulted in a charge last year compared with 9.6 per cent in the best, South Wales.

Just under three quarters of police forces saw a fall in their charging rates for burglary in the past year.

That being said, there was a fall in the overall number of break-ins.

West Mercia, Bedfordshire and North Wales registered the biggest rises in rates - with increases of over one percentage point in a year - and were three of the 12 forces to see their numbers rise.

There are concerns that the police have decriminalised burglaries in some parts of the country

In 'hot spot' neighbourhoods, defined as those with at least 10 break-ins unsolved in the past three years, police are failing to solve a single burglary, according to the Home Office data.

In Outer Rothwell in West Yorkshire, all 165 burglaries in the past three years went unsolved, followed by Bransgore and Burl, and Lower Quinton and Ettington, Warwickshire - where 137 had been unsolved.

Deputy Chief Constable Alex Franklin-Smith, the National Police Chiefs' Council lead for burglary, said the 2022 pledge on visiting crime scenes was 'only the first step' in improving detection rates.

He outlined how guidance from 2023 had 'enhanced' forces' capability to investigate and prevent break-ins.

Constable Franklin-Smith added: 'The latest national data shows that nationally burglary incidents have once again reduced, following a five-year trend and while outcomes are still lower than we would want them to be, there has been a positive shift in the right direction.'
Watchdog warned there had been 'widespread abuse' of the system since 2022

Vulnerable care residents are being looked after by unqualified migrants as rogue operators exploit Home Office loopholes, a Mail investigation shows.

Scant checks in the desperate bid to fill huge vacancies mean untrained and overworked staff, sometimes barely able to speak English, are left caring for the elderly in the under-strain sector.

Our probe into the 'cash for care jobs scandal' found some outfits charge overseas applicants 'work finder fees' of up to 20,000 to help them get a visa allowing them to come  and stay  here.

One 'adviser', a Baptist minister, told an undercover reporter that for 9,000 he could help her arrange a job in just three days  with '100 per cent' success guaranteed.

A watchdog warned there had been 'widespread abuse' of the system since early 2022 after ministers relaxed immigration rules to plug mass job vacancies.

One 'adviser', a Baptist minister, told an undercover reporter that for 9,000 he could help her arrange a job in just three days  with '100 per cent' success guaranteed

Vacancies in adult social care hit a record 164,000 in 2021/22, prompting the Government to lower the barrier for such staff to be allowed to work in the UK (stock image)

Vacancies in adult social care hit a record 164,000 in 2021/22, prompting the Government to lower the barrier for such staff to be allowed to work in the UK.

The change meant the total number of foreign workers given permission to come to Britain rocketed to a record high last year, figures revealed last week  driven by a 349 per cent rise in care worker visas to more than 89,000. The largest numbers come from India, Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Alongside the 'unprecedented' surge of overseas workers into the sector, the relaxation of rules also saw an 'explosion' in shady characters making a fortune, treating migrant care staff as 'cash cows' by making them pay often huge fees, the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority said.

Campaigners called for the Home Office to urgently introduce more checks on foreign workers to stop their exploitation and protect those they care for.

The Mail can also reveal:

Whistleblowers at one firm providing care services for the NHS described seeing applicants arrive with holdalls stuffed with cash to pay for jobs, which were handed over to staff in clandestine meetings.

An agency charging 5,000 to help African and Asian workers get care jobs described how it deceived the Home Office to help obtain visas to travel to the UK.

Some overseas staff are treated like 'slaves' in the UK but are too scared to complain for fear of losing their jobs.

It is illegal for British-based companies operating as employment agencies to request, or receive, a fee from workers for the purpose of finding them jobs in the UK, although companies can offer other non-work-finding services and a fee can be charged.

Yet shifty fixers charge overseas staff in return for Home Office-approved Certificates of Sponsorships, which enable them to obtain a Health and Care work visa to secure work for a UK company.

Campaigners called for the Home Office to urgently introduce more checks on foreign workers to stop their exploitation and protect those they care for (pictured: Home Secretary James Cleverly)

Several whistleblowers told the Mail some staff are illegally charging for jobs at one social care company with 20 sites in northern England that provide supported living for people with learning difficulties for NHS and council referrals.

They described seeing migrants arrive with holdalls full of cash which were handed to staff at the company at meetings in car parks or areas in CCTV blackspots. They estimated more than 100 migrants had been brought in this way.

But when they arrive they usually have no qualifications for the required work and often very poor English, putting patients' health at risk. In many cases the migrants 'disappear' and are believed to end up trying to find work illegally on the UK black market.

One migrant described how he paid 6,000 cash for a Certificate of Sponsorship at a meeting at one of the company's offices in the north-west of England, but never received sponsorship.

Nadra Ahmed, chairman of the National Care Association, said she knew of extensive abuse of the system since visa rules were relaxed. 'We're seeing agencies sprouting up that are just bringing people in for the purpose of taking money off them,' she said.

'They're not checking their skills or making sure they have the relevant training. In some cases workers are sleeping 14 to a room and having to pay back money they hadn't expected.

'We have to stop a practice where vulnerable people are looking after vulnerable people. It's exploitation with terrible consequences for the social care industry and the people that we, as a society, are supposed to be caring for.'

She said the Home Office needed to strengthen English language requirements and spend more time on follow-up visits to homes using foreign care workers.

Martin Plimmer, lead investigator at the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, said more than 100,000 sponsorship visas had been issued in the two years since rules were relaxed. 'This country has never recruited so many people in such a short space of time in one industry', he said.

'As an authority, we've gone from virtually never having investigated a case in the care sector to getting a case of suspected exploitation every day. We're inundated.' Migrants are routinely being illegally charged 10,000 to 20,000 'work finder' fees, he said.

It means they often arrive in debt having sold everything or borrowed from gangs to pay for the job, so cannot afford to report mistreatment to UK authorities for fear of being sacked.

Some are forced to work 80-hour weeks, leaving them exhausted and making it hard to do their job properly.

Nadra Ahmed (pictured), chairman of the National Care Association, said she knew of extensive abuse of the system since visa rules were relaxed. 'We're seeing agencies sprouting up that are just bringing people in for the purpose of taking money off them,' she said

Former Tory health minister Neil O'Brien (pictured) said: 'This Daily Mail investigation highlights the absurdity of this sponsorship scheme and whole immigration system'

In a 'vicious circle', the exploitative employers are also better placed to bid for lucrative social care contracts from local authorities because their low wage bills mean they can undercut rivals who treat workers properly, Mr Plimmer added.

'Some care homes are being run at a very low cost with a very high income. It's all about making money, and some people are making substantial amounts of money,' he said.

Former Tory health minister Neil O'Brien said: 'This Daily Mail investigation highlights the absurdity of this sponsorship scheme and whole immigration system.

'This scheme is not fit for purpose. This raises massive questions for the Home Office and I am sure they will want to take rapid and decisive action on this.'

A Home Office spokesman said: 'We strongly condemn offering Health and Care worker visa holders employment under false pretences and do not tolerate illegal activity in the labour market.

'We've already taken action to revoke the licence of sponsors engaged in such activity.

'We are committed to stamping out exploitation of those working in the care sector and have announced providers in England will only be able to sponsor migrant workers if they are undertaking activities regulated by the Care Quality Commission.'

investigations@dailymail.co.uk

Baptist minister: Hand me 9,000 and I'll help you to get care home job

By Tom Kelly and Isaan Khan

His mission, he proclaims, is to establish God's kingdom on earth. In his impassioned sermons at the packed Pentecost Baptist Church in Liverpool, Dr Rev Philip Oyewale routinely calls for his flock to praise and honour their salvation Jesus.

Dressed in a bright tailored suit with a gold watch, he declares 'Hallelujah, praise the Lord', prompting worshippers to respond in unison.

But when our undercover reporter arrived to see Mr Oyewale at his church, it was used for a less spiritual purpose.

Sitting in his vestry, a university graduation photo behind him, he offered to charge a Nigerian undercover reporter 9,000 to help her obtain Home Office sponsorship for a job in a UK care home.

Our investigation came after learning that his company, Charis Recruits, had been suspended from the Home Office migrant sponsorship scheme in February last year because it was suspected of 'supplying sponsored workers as labour'.

His mission, he proclaims, is to establish God's kingdom on earth. In his impassioned sermons at the packed Pentecost Baptist Church in Liverpool, Dr Rev Philip Oyewale (pictured) routinely calls for his flock to praise and honour their salvation Jesus

But when our undercover reporter arrived to see Mr Oyewale at his church (pictured), it was used for a less spiritual purpose

It was said to have sponsored 376 migrants from July 2022 to February 2023 in an operation suspected of making over 1million.

Despite this, whistleblowers told the Mail, Mr Oyewale was still offering to help migrants get sponsorship.

And when the undercover reporter posing as a overseas student looking for full-time work approached the minister, he told her he could help her get a Certificate of Sponsorship  required for a work visa  in just three days.

He said that after the payment he would introduce her to someone who would help her and promised a '100 per cent' success rate and said there would be no problems with the Home Office.

'There's nothing to worry about. I can assure you of that.' Pointing at himself, he added: 'That's the assurance I personally can give you.'

The work would be domiciliary care  supporting a disabled or elderly person in their own home  in Newcastle or Middlesbrough, he said.

The only question he asked about suitability for the job was if our applicant had a car.

He declined to say what the wage would be, simply saying: 'You will be paid. We have more than enough hours. You will work until you say you are tired.'

He refused to say how many people he had previously helped. He said once the 9,000 had been paid, he would 'introduce' her to the person with the job.

Mr Oyewale, 47, is a registered minister with the Baptist Union which represents Baptist churches in England and Wales. He has several social media sites with thousands of followers where he posts videos promoting church events.

Mr Oyewale, 47, is a registered minister with the Baptist Union which represents Baptist churches in England and Wales

He has several social media sites with thousands of followers where he posts videos promoting church events

Charis Recruits said it would investigate the Mail's allegations, but said because Mr Oyewale had resigned as a director of the company three months after its Home Office licence was revoked, he was 'no longer able to make decisions' for the firm.

The company declined to answer subsequent questions about why Mr Oyewale's mobile number remained on the contacts section of the company website and why the email Charis Recruits sent to the Mail listed Philip Oyewale as the company's 'registered manager' at the bottom.

Mr Oyewale told the Mail he only gave advice to those who needed help getting sponsorship and never benefited financially. The undercover reporter did not pay the 9,000 for which he asked.

He added: 'Any advice I gave, even prior to my resignation from Charis Recruits Ltd, was solely intended to help them advance and be able to earn a respectable livelihood while lawfully remaining in the UK.'
A man has been charged with drink driving after allegedly hitting an elderly pedestrian who later died in hospital.

Police allege the man was driving a black Mazda hatchback in Tugun, a town in the Gold Coast, when he struck the 83-year-old woman on Saturday night.

The 30-year-old allegedly left the scene but was found by police inside his car outside a Currumbin home a short distance away from the crash.

The pedestrian, who was visiting from overseas, was rushed to Gold Coast University Hospital in a critical condition and died on Sunday night.

A man has been charged with drink driving after allegedly hitting an elderly pedestrian who later died in hospital

The Currumbin man has been charged with mid-range drink driving and will face Coolangatta Magistrates Court on March 25.

Police are appealing for anyone with information about the crash to come forward.
Vice President Kamala Harris has called for 'an immediate ceasefire' in Gaza and called for Hamas to accept the deal currently on the table.

She also called out Israel for failing to act to ease the 'humanitarian catastrophe' in Gaza in a sharp rebuke of the Netanyahu government's conduct.

Her comments, made during a speech in Selma, Alabama, on Sunday, are the most strident from a senior member of the Biden administration since the Oct. 7 Hamas attack.

They came just a day before she is due to meet with a top Israeli official to discuss a potential ceasefire deal and a day after the US began air-dropping aid to the war-torn country,

'Before I begin I must address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza,' Harris said. 'What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating.'

Citing the 'immense scale of suffering' in the war-torn nation, she stressed 'there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks'.

Vice President Kamala Harris has broken with President Joe Biden to call for 'an immediate ceasefire' in Gaza

Harris branded the situation in Gaza a 'humanitarian catastrophe' as she pushed a for a ceasefire for 'at least the next six weeks

Harris addressed crowds as she stood at the Edmund Pettus Bridge during an event to commemorate the 59th anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday' in Selma, Alabama

'This will get the hostages out and get a significant amount of aid in. This will allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is secure and to respect the right of Palestinian people to dignity, freedom and self-determination,' Harris said.

Her comments mark a departure from the more cautious approach so far favored by Biden, as he struggles to strike a balance between the US' role as an ally to Israel, with growing international outrage over its bombing of Gaza.

Around 30,000 Palestinians are estimated to have died in retaliatory airstrikes since October 7, when Hamas first attacked Israel killing 1,139 and taking 240 hostages.

Harris addressed reports that Gazans are currently starving, following warnings from the United Nations that the territory is perilously close to famine.

Israel has been accused of blocking aid to Gaza and last week hundreds of hungry Palestinians were met with gunfire when they attempted to obtain aid from a food truck.

'Our hearts break for the victims of that horrific tragedy and for all the innocent people in Gaza who are suffering from what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe,' Harris added.

'The conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act. The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses.'

Harris addressed crowds as she stood at the Edmund Pettus Bridge during an event to commemorate the 59th anniversary of 'Bloody Sunday' in the city.

Biden said he 'hoped' a ceasefire deal could be reached by Monday. Harris' comments are the strongest condemnation of Israel's conduct since the Oct. 7 by a senior member of the Biden administration

Around 30,000 Palestinians are estimated to have died in retaliatory airstrikes since October 7, when Hamas first attacked Israel killing 1,139 and taking 240 hostages

The UN has warned that Gaza is on the brink of famine with thousands of people currently suffering from malnutrition

The historic civil rights protest saw marchers cross the bridge and clash with state police who used batons and tear gas to disperse them on March 7, 1965.

The incident became a tipping point in the civil rights struggle after images of the violent scenes were disseminated around the country and the world, garnering sympathy for the cause.

Harris' speech was met with cheers and rapturous applause from the audience.

It came the day before she is set to meet Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House to discuss a ceasefire agreement - a move which is said to have incensed his chief political rival, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Harris added 'a deal is on the table' as she urged Hamas to accept it.

'Let's get the ceasefire. Let's reunite the hostages with their families. And let's provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza,' Harris said.

Israel boycotted ceasefire talks in Cairo on Sunday after Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages that are still alive, according to an Israeli newspaper.

Biden's emphatic support for Israel has begun to dwindle in the face of an international outcry about Israel's conduct.

Israel has been accused of blocking aid to Gaza and last week hundreds of hungry Palestinians were met with gunfire when they attempted to obtain aid from a food truck

Pressure has been mounting for Biden to call for a ceasefire to win back progressive voters who have become disillusioned with his support for Israel's conduct

Vice President Kamala Harris (left) will meet with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz (right) at the White House Monday as Washington seeks to reach a deal for a temporary ceasefire and increase the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

The trip has reportedly incensed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who didn't approve Gantz's travel plans to Washington. Gantz, the leader of the National Unity party, is Netanyahu's chief political rival

In the immediate aftermath of October 7, he called a press conference in which he stated: 'The United States stands with Israel. We will not ever fail to have their back.'

But just last week, he stated he hoped a deal could be reached to secure a ceasefire by Monday, while on Friday he reiterated the US' commitment to providing aid.

On Saturday, US cargo planes air-dropped 38,000 meals to Gaza as part of a wave of assistance planned for the besieged nation.

Biden was under immense pressure ahead of the Michigan primary on Tuesday to try and win back votes among progressives and young people who had become disillusioned over his support for Israel.

Michigan has the highest percentage and number of Arab Americans in the United States with more than 211,000 or 2.1 percent. Biden narrowly took the state from Trump in 2016.

While he managed to clinch the win, a sizeable portion of votes returned 'uncommitted' following a vigorous campaign by pro-Palestine activists, sparking fears for his chances in November.

Harris' comments were criticized by South Carolina GOP Senator Tim Scott.

'Hamas started this war with an unprovoked attack on Oct 7. Hamas violated the last ceasefire. The only thing Hamas can be trusted to do is commit acts of terror,' he said on X.

'Calling for a ceasefire - without even a list of remaining hostages - undermines Israel and panders to terrorists.'
Foreign hate preachers face deportation in a crackdown on extremism following the Rochdale by-election.

Ministers are examining plans to cancel the visas of foreigners caught spreading hate at pro-Palestine events after an upsurge in anti-Semitism in the wake of the Hamas terror attacks on Israel on October 7.

Troublemakers could also be barred from travelling to the UK. The Border Force already has powers to block visas for anyone whose presence is deemed to be 'non-conducive to the public good'.In the past, this has been applied only in cases where there is considered to be a threat to national security.

But ministers are now looking to extend the definition more broadly to include those spreading hatred.

Rishi Sunak hinted at the move in his address to the nation last Friday in which he urged the country to 'face down the extremists who would tear us apart'.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Home Secretary James Cleverly had asked officials to examine the visas of foreigners who 'choose to spew hate on protests or seek to intimidate people', adding: 'We will remove their right to be here'

Iman Mahjoub Mahjoubi was recently deported from France after living in the country for 40 years. The UK move mirrors the approach in France, where a string of extremists have been kicked out since October 7

The Prime Minister said Home Secretary James Cleverly had asked officials to examine the visas of foreigners who 'choose to spew hate on protests or seek to intimidate people', adding: 'We will remove their right to be here.'

The move mirrors the approach in France, where a string of extremists have been kicked out since October 7. Last month, a Tunisian imam was deported for 'unacceptable remarks' despite living in France for 40 years.

The crackdown here follows mounting concern about a rise in extremism following the October 7 attacks.

The Mail on Sunday revealed yesterday that MPs have been warned the threat of a terror attack on British soil is at its highest level since 9/11.

One MP briefed by the security services said: 'The level of extremist chatter is off the scale.' Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of counter-terrorism legislation, said he had not seen 'this level of open extremism' since being appointed in 2019.

Crossbench peer Lord Walney, the Government's independent adviser on tackling political violence, yesterday called for MPs to cut ties with the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, which has organised many of the events in support of Gaza since October 7.

Lord Walney said support should be withdrawn until it 'cuts hate from its marches'.

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt yesterday said government action was needed to ensure the 'traditional British virtue of tolerance' is maintained. He told GB News: 'What we have seen in the last few months is a line being crossed with protests that are intimidatory, that have led to some people feeling it is not safe to go out of their homes...'

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt yesterday said government action was needed to ensure the 'traditional British virtue of tolerance' is maintained

A protesters holding a 'boycott Barclays' sign at A pro-Palestine march in Manchester. Pro-Palestine protests continued across England and Wales over the weekend, with local demos held against Barclays Bank over its historic ties with Israel

Labour education spokesman Bridget Phillipson said the party supported tough action on extremism but she said the right to protest was 'an important fundamental right in our democracy'.

Pro-Palestine protests continued across England and Wales over the weekend, with local demos held against Barclays Bank over its historic ties with Israel.

Protesters marching to a Barclays branch in central London on Saturday used the controversial 'from the river to the sea' chant, which some critics say calls for the eradication of the state of Israel.

A march through the capital organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign is planned for this Saturday.
A medical agency said that it would deceive British authorities to help migrant workers get visas to travel to the UK.

London-based Medilives advertised a 'one-month intensive Caregivers training and job placement program' to 'enable interested participants to become certified Care Givers in the UK' to coincide with the relaxation of visa laws in 2022.

It added: 'The training upon completion would provide immediate job placement, visa extension and migration service for all certified trainees.'

In weekly Zoom meetings, usually attended by 500 people at a time from Nigeria, Ghana, Zimbabwe and the Philippines, potential recruits were openly told the company would mislead the Home Office to help them obtain visas to get to Britain.

In a recording of a meeting, obtained by the Mail, a woman called 'Dr Vicky' from the company said migrants would first have to complete a month-long training programme carried out in the UK and then be placed with a care home.

London-based Medilives (CEO Sunny Ahonsi pictured) advertised a 'one-month intensive Caregivers training and job placement program' to 'enable interested participants to become certified Care Givers in the UK' to coincide with the relaxation of visa laws in 2022

'We do have places for all of you because the vacancies are so many, so all of you will be placed for sure,' she said.

She said the package, costing between 2,000 and 5,000, included official invitation letters from Medilives to help them obtain initial UK visas, but these would give false information about how long the applicant planned to stay to 'avoid extra problems'.

With these they would be given a visa to stay for several months after which it would be possible to transfer to a Health and Care visa, she said.

'These few months will be enough for you to finish your training to get your placement and to change your visa from the health and care to the work permit.

'So the visa they give you will be enough to cover it.'

Once they get their work permit their children under 16 would be able to study for free in UK schools and their spouse or long-term partner could also work here, she said.

She added: 'We have arranged everything. If you have been thinking, considering, dreaming, planning on coming to the UK ... Medilives has provided you with this opportunity ... Everything we are doing is legal.'

Medilives boss Sunny Ahonsi, who joined the 2022 meeting after most of 'Dr Vicky's' comments, said the company was not a 'recruitment' firm but a training company.

But he added: 'There are certain things that even the Home Office, people who work in the Home Office, do not know' and described how Medilives' partners were 'willing [and] able to place you in the workplace when you come'.

Mr Ahonsi told the Mail: 'We do not promise employment in the UK labour market, but a training programme leading to a UK-recognised qualification that certifies someone as a Senior Carer Assistant and provides them with an opportunity to apply for a Senior Care Assistant job in the healthcare industry in any part of the globe where this role has been added to the shortage of job skills.'

Although soliciting payment from workers for the purpose of finding them a job is illegal, charging for non work-finding services such as training is not.
A bloody feud between rival drug gangs that 17 people dead in Mexico-- with chilling videos splashed across social media showing the horrifying carnage-- has resulted in a truce.

After a bloody conflict between drug gangs Los Tlacos and their rival Las Familia Michoacana made international headlines earlier this month, a priest helped to broker a seize fire between the warring gangs on Feb. 19, according to media reports.

The plan calls for no aggression and for each criminal group to respect the territory of others.

Members of drug gang 'Los Tlacos' recorded themselves dragging around naked and partially naked bodies of dead La Familia Michoacana members earlier this month.

Most of the footage, reviewed by DailyMail.com, was too graphic to be published.

In one disturbing video, camouflage-clad men could be seen tossing the bodies of their male victims into a pile while cursing at them.

One gangster kicked the lifeless remains, with the corpses later set on fire and shot at with rifles.

Members of the drug gang 'Los Tlacos' send a chilling message to their enemies in an online video after bloodshed in Guerrero, Mexico earlier this week

Los Tlacos also recorded themselves piling the bodies of their rivals onto of each other and burning them. Most of the footage was too graphic to share

Armed members of the La Familia Michoacana in a photo shared on social media

Mexican authorities announced they had recovered five charred bodies near the town of Las Tunas on Tuesday.

In one video, a man be heard yelling 'send me more (bodies),' as he fires a rifle at the burning pile and then at the ground.

Others shout: 'So they dont come back to life!'

In another clip, members of Los Tlacos issued an warning to their enemies.

'You kill women and innocents; we're coming to get you, you sons of a b--ch.' one gangster said in a video shared on X, formerly Twitter.

'And you, politicians, stop supporting this trash,' he added.

The man, talking over a loud speaker, declared that his group will protect the people living in the mountain range.

The group of 50 or some men then cheered as they lifted their rifles at the end of the video.

State authorities are now working to identify the dead and vowed to bring their killers to justice.

An alleged gang member of Los Tlacos points his gun at one of the 20 members of La Bandera in 2021

The Mexican drug gang Los Tlacos has carried out very public revenge on its enemies, dumping four bodies of rival gangster in the truck of a car in front of a campaign office in 2021

The incident is the just latest example of rampant drug-related violence in the State of Guerrero.

Los Tlacos has previously released disturbing video footage of revenge on their rivals.

In September 2021, gang henchmen accused the gang 'La Bandera' of 'extorting and killing innocent people' before forcing them to kneel and interrogating them at gunpoint in the middle of a forest in the state of Guerrero.

The men were filmed lined up before they were executed, with at least at least four of the victims' bodies left in the trunk of a car that was left abandoned in front of the campaign office of Iguala mayor David Gama Perez.

Known as Tierra Caliente or the 'Hot Lands,' the region has been controlled by some 40 cartels and drug gangs who are fighting for control of marijuana and heroin production in that area, according to Insightcrime.org.

San Miguel Totolapan in Guerrero State is part of the zone known as the "Hot Lands.' The region has been embroiled in drug violence for years, forcing many residents to flee or take measures to protect themselves

Drug violence has become the norm in the state of Guerrero, leading many residents, including children, to arm themselves

Members of the National Guard (GN) of Mexico tour the community of Ayahualtempa, in the southern state of Guerrero, Mexico, Jan. 31

Jalisco Cartel New Generation (CJNG) has a major presence in the area while local crime groups Guerreros Unidos, Viagras, Rojos, Tlacos, Ardillos, Familia Michoacana, and Tequileros are also fighting for their piece of the pie.

The Hot Lands are considered a prize, not only for its drug production, but also for the Port of Acapulco - which is used to import cocaine shipments sent from South America.

About 30,000 Mexicans are killed in crime-related deaths each year, according to Global Conflict Tracker.

Recently, four Catholic bishops in the area met with cartel leaders to try and negotiate a plan for peace in the region.

The Bishop of Guerrero Jose de Jesus Gonzalez announced on Ash Wednesday that talks to stop the drug violence in Guerrero failed. Catholic leaders in Mexico met with cartels in an effort to ask them to end the violence, but an agreement could not be reached

The bishop of Guerrero posed with dancers and members of the community as they celebrated his arrival to his post in April 2022

'Undoubtedly, we have to talk to certain people, above all when it comes to peoples safety, but that doesnt mean we agree with it,' said one priest, who asked for his name to be withheld for his own safety.

Local families are pleading for church leaders to help obtain information on missing loved ones from the cartel.

The drug war has forced thousands of mostly rural people caught in the crossfire to either leave the area for larger Mexican cities or head north to the US.

Nearly 160,000 Mexicans illegally crossed into the US in 2023, four times as many as in the previous year, the New York Times reported.
READ MORE: Three more moons are discovered in our solar system

It's one of the biggest unanswered questions in science  if there's life beyond Earth, where is it?

While you might think the answer is 'far far away', surprisingly, it could be much closer to home than we thought.

Our very own solar system is now home to almost 300 moons  some of which could have the perfect conditions for life.

But which ones are the most promising candidates?

From Jupiter's moon, Europa, to Saturn's satellite, Enceladus, this graphic reveals the moons most likely to harbor aliens.

Moons - also referred to as 'natural satellites' - are defined as such when they orbit a planet. There's a little under 300 moons that we know about in our solar system, but the best candidates for life include Europa, Enceladus and Callisto

Scientists have just discovered three new moons around Uranus and Neptune. Pictured is the Uranian moon, provisionally called S/2023 U1. Uranus is just off the field of view in the upper left, as seen by the increased scattered light

How many known moons does each planet have? Mercury : 0

: 0 Venus : 0

: 0 Earth : 1

: 1 Mars : 2

: 2 Jupiter : 95

: 95 Saturn : 146

: 146 Uranus : 28

: 28 Neptune : 16 Total: 293 Advertisement

According to experts, the planets most likely to have some for of life include Saturn's moon Enceladus, which shoots out plumes of water from a hidden liquid ocean.

Jupiter's moon Europa has CO2 on its surface (on Earth a by-product of cell function), while the larger Jupiter moon Callisto may have a salty ocean beneath its surface  a potential habitat for life.

Jupiter's Ganymede  the solar system's largest moon  is thought to have water and rock interacting, key for the development of life.

And Neptune's moon Triton is known to be geologically active and has an atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen, just like Earth.

Scientists recently revealed that they'd found two more moons  one around Uranus and two around Neptune.

Amazingly, there are still 'thousands' more moons likely awaiting discovery in our solar system, according to NASA.

Dr Robert Massey, deputy executive director of the Royal Astronomical Society, agrees with NASA that there are many more moons that we don't know about.

But they are all likely way smaller than the above candidates  a few hundred or even tens of miles in diameter.

'Undiscovered moons are likely around the giant planets  Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune,' Dr Massey told MailOnline.

'But we can be confident that we've discovered all the larger moons in the solar system around other planets.

These images show the two newly-found moons around Neptune - provisionally called S/2002 (left) and S/2021 N1 (right). S/2002 N5 (left) is somewhat bright and so is clear in the image, but with S/2021 N1, the moon is very faint. It can be just about seen as a black point of light right in the middle of the image. This one is very hard to see since it is so faint, the faintest moon ever found around any planet

Pictured, Jupiter's moon Europa, where an ocean hidden under kilometers of ice is considered a prime candidate for extraterrestrial life. Scientists have found carbon dioxide (CO2) on Europa's surface and the next step is determining where it came from

READ MORE: Scientists find new moons around Uranus and Neptune Pictured are the known outer moons of the giant planets. The new Uranian (pink) and Neptunian (blue) discoveries are shown as solid symbols Advertisement

'Moons discovered now are typically much smaller  no more than a few kilometres across  and therefore much fainter, so finding them needs larger and more sensitive telescopes.'

Last week, scientists found three new moons - two orbiting Neptune, and one orbiting Uranus.

However, Dr Massey thinks it's 'extremely unlikely' that any of the three newly-discovered moons are candidates for alien life, because they're too small to have an atmosphere and aren't thought to have subsurface oceans.

Generally, the smaller the moon the less likely it is to harbor life, because to have life it would need to have an atmosphere.

Martin Hendry, a professor at the University of Glasgow's school of physics and astronomy, told MailOnline: 'If a moon is too small, its gravity isn't strong enough to hold onto an atmosphere so there's nothing for life to breathe.

'If the moon is really small  e.g. small enough that we havent detected it yet  then the tidal forces will almost certainly be strong enough to tear the moon apart.'

Even with the most powerful ground-based telescopes, many of the moons that we don't know about are too faint to see.

'Planets and moons dont shine by themselves  they just reflect light from the sun,' said Professor Hendry.

'For a moon orbiting quite far from a planet which itself is very far away from the sun, theres not a lot of sunlight to reflect.

'Thats why it takes such powerful telescopes to see them at all, and why they werent discovered before now.'

Dr Scott S. Sheppard, an astronomer at the Carnegie Institution for Science who found the new moons around Uranus and Neptune, doesn't think there are as many as 'thousands' of moons still to be found as NASA suggests.

Enceladus - Saturn's sixth-largest moon - is a frozen sphere just 313 miles in diameter (about one-seventh the diameter of Earth's moon). It is pictured in this image captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft

Neptune's moon Triton (pictured) is known to be geologically active and has an atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen, just like Earth

But he agreed that we currently do not have the ability to discover them because they are 'too small and faint for current technology to see'.

'Our current largest telescopes in the world are still limited in how deep they can efficiently image, so that is why we have those size limits for moon discovery,' he told MailOnline.

'All of these unfound moons are small, being only a few to tens of kilometres in size, so would not be ideal for current life

'But they could have the ingredients for life on their surfaces, as they are thought to be ice rich with organics on their surfaces.

'These moons are the leftover remnants of a once larger population of objects that were incorporated into the formation of the planets, so studying these moons gives us a better understanding of what went into the making of the planets.'

His three new discoveries bring Neptune's total known moons to 16, while Uranus now has 28, although this is still modest compared to the solar system's two biggest planets.

Jupiter has 95 moons and Saturn has a whopping 146  and the figure is rising regularly.

Of course, the probability of life existing outside of Earth gets greater when you take into account planets and moons outside our solar system  known as 'exoplanets' and 'exomoons'.

NASA thinks there are billions of exoplanets alone, a certain proportion of which surely have similar conditions to Earth for life to thrive.
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Wherever Raffles opens a hotel, it aims for it to be the best property in that location, concierge Emiel Danneels at Raffles London at The OWO told me.

My conclusion after spending a night in The Old War Office? They may well have succeeded in the UK capital.

This vast dazzling 120-room property, which opened as a Raffles hotel in September 2023, is stuffed to the gills with thrilling history, the service is faultless and, as my video footage shows, guests are ensconced in grandeur and exquisite luxury, in a post-card perfect location - opposite Horse Guards Parade and the official entrance to Buckingham Palace.

The trapezium-shaped building was constructed in Edwardian Baroque style and opened in 1906 as the War Office.

It was the centre of the British Armys administration until 1964, containing 1,100 rooms; 2.5 miles of corridors; 22 lifts; 25million bricks; 26,000 tonnes of Portland stone; 50 acres of plastering; 19,000 feet of ornamental cast iron grilles installed around hallways and corridors to contain telephone and bell wires; and 18,000 square yards of Roman cube mosaic and terrazzo flooring.

MailOnline Travel's Ted Thornhill checked in to Raffles London at The OWO, opposite Horse Guards Parade. Above - the staircase that helps make the lobby one of the most impressive in the world

'Visit the pool,' writes Ted, 'and youll probably end up spending as much time taking pictures of it as you will swimming'

Cleaners at work in the early morning in a War Office corridor in December, 1940

The building was where MI5 and MI6 were conceived and, while it didnt serve as their headquarters, it was a day-to-day workplace for spies, including James Bond author Ian Fleming, a liaison with the Secret Intelligence Services during WWII.

This was where the chief of the imperial general staff, Alan Brooke, helped Sir Winston Churchill mastermind the Allied victory over Hitler.

During a fascinating hotel tour with Emiel I learned more about the propertys absorbing past  and got a sneak peek inside some of its most prestigious suites.

Including arguably the top room  the Haldane Suite. Price for the night? Between 25,000 ($31,000) and 27,000 ($34,000), Im told.

And what do you get for that? Something breathtaking.

The suite is named after Sir Richard Burdon Haldane (30 July 1856 - August 1928), who served as Minister for War between 1905 and 1912 and who helped establish the Royal Flying Corps, MI5 and MI6.

The space was used by him and subsequent government figures of distinguished significance.

The ever-affable Emiel explained that four ex-prime ministers  David Lloyd George, H H Asquith, Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden  would have occupied the room, along with Herbert Horatio Kitchener (who devised the Your Country Needs You campaign) and John Profumo, who was at the centre of the first modern sex scandal in 1963.

The Haldane Suite, which costs between 25,000 and 27,000 per night. Four ex-prime ministers  David Lloyd George, H H Asquith, Winston Churchill and Anthony Eden  would have occupied the room. Along with Herbert Horatio Kitchener (who devised the Your Country Needs You campaign) and John Profumo, who was at the centre of the first modern sex scandal in 1963

The Haldane Suite is named after Sir Richard Burdon Haldane, who served as Minister for War between 1905 and 1912 and who helped establish the Royal Flying Corps, MI5 and MI6

He clandestinely used the offices private elevator to bring in his mistress, 19-year-old model Christine Keeler.

The room now comprises two opulent bedrooms either side of a magnificent, stately living room, with furniture befitting an Edwardian palace, decorative 12.5-metre (41ft) -high ceilings, oak panelling and grand windows overlooking Whitehall.

The private elevator was removed, though.

I was also shown inside the Granville Suite, named after Winston Churchills favourite spy, Christine Granville. It costs around 17,000 ($21,500) per night and features an ensuite worthy of a Hollywood movie, with showers and toilets housed behind opaque screens in pillared cubicles and a jewel of a standalone tub at the far end.

Emiel guided us down into one of the two original basement levels where a telephone exchange was installed capable of operating in the event of a nuclear attack  and along the way pointed out the original cast-iron grilles and flooring in the corridors.

The Granville Suite, named after Winston Churchills favourite spy, Christine Granville

The Granville Suite features an ensuite worthy of a Hollywood movie, with showers and toilets housed behind opaque screens in pillared cubicles (left). The suite costs around 17,000 per night

We finished back where we started, at the hotels jaw-droppingly grand marble staircase.

Winston Churchills staff used to line it to give him daily briefings, with the statesman positioned at the top outside what is now the Haldane Suite.

Today the staircase helps make the Raffles London lobby one of the most impressive in the world, by anyones standards, its Instagram-baiting allure boosted by a Murano-glass chandelier commissioned by the hotel.

Mind you, Instagram-baiting allure awaits around every corner.

Visit the pool, which occupies a space within the extra three basement levels Raffles dug, and youll probably end up spending as much time taking pictures of it as you will swimming. Its magnificent.

The building was the centre of the British Armys administration until 1964, containing 1,100 rooms

Saison, the former WO military library thats now a lavish restaurant helmed by Argentine-Italian chef Mauro Colagreco. Breakfast, lunch and dinner can be enjoyed here

Our ministerial suite bedroom, with its hushed opulence, was easy on the eye, too.

It has a marble bathroom of not just my dreams, but everyone elses, and views of the Household Cavalry standing to attention opposite.

We dined in the evening and for breakfast in Saison, the former WO military library with a glass ceiling thats now a lavish restaurant of notable calibre helmed by Argentine-Italian food wizard Mauro Colagreco.

At dinner, the pumpkin ravioli was ravishing, the wines by the glass gorgeous and the service delivered with military precision.

Pictured above is the The Guards Bar, which is located on the ground floor of the hotel

The Instagram-baiting allure of the lobby, writes Ted, is boosted by a Murano-glass chandelier commissioned by the hotel. The property has five basement levels, three of which were dug by Raffles

The standards remained impressively high in the morning, with an attentive and bubbly breakfast team delivering the best eggs benedict my partner had ever tasted, porridge with almond flakes that would satisfy any native of Scotland and top-notch pastries.

The coffee also comes highly recommended, with Louis Roeder Champagne an option for anyone looking to get the party started early doors.

We left our bags in storage at the hotel while we met the Household Calvary horses opposite and explored the National Portrait Gallery, a few minutes by foot to the north.

Prince William had visited the hotel (above) for a charity event the week before Ted's stay

The property's basement used to house a telephone exchange capable of operating in the event of a nuclear attack. Now a Guerlain spa (above), helps to form the hotel's subterranean guest-experience offering

When we returned every member of staff we passed in the lobby greeted us with a cheery welcome back.

Prince William had visited the hotel for a charity event the week before our stay.

He would have received the royal treatment, of course  but every guest is royalty at Raffles London at The OWO.

What a place.

In the battle of the capitals hotels, this former hive of military activity has launched a devastating salvo.
Lucy Watson has welcomed her first child with husband James Dunmore.

The former Made In Chelsea star announced the happy news on Sunday, but didn't reveal their baby boys name.

Lucy and James, both 32, looked every inch the doting parents as they cradled the newborn in a sweet black and white snap.

Lucy captioned the heartwarming Instagram post: 'Hes here [heart emoji] 2/3/24'

Her followers and pals were quick to send their congratulations as sister Tiffany wrote: 'My beautiful nephew love him so much'

Lucy Watson has welcomed her first child with her husband James Dunmore

Lucy captioned the heartwarming Instagram post: 'Hes here [heart emoji] 2/3/24'

The influencer announced in September 2023 she was pregnant with their first child as she posed with husband James while on holiday in Mykonos.

She showed off her blossoming baby bump in the snap and told how the former co-star couple were expecting their 'little miracle' after a three-year battle to conceive.

Lucy announced her engagement to James in September 2020, after meeting on the E4 set of Made In Chelsea in 2015.

The former reality stars tied the knot in a romantic ceremony in Kefalonia, Greece, in the summer of 2021.

In January, Lucy shared pictures of her bare bump as she showed off how much her body had grown in the last three months.

Heading into her eighth month of pregnancy, Lucy posted an up-to-date picture of her tummy in a full-length mirror.

She compared this with a picture from three months before and was 'mind blown' by the progress and how much a female body changes during pregnancy.

A few months earlier, in October, Lucy and James shared snaps of their gender reveal party - which took place in September - in which they found they would be having a baby boy.

The influencer announced in September 2023 she was pregnant with their first child as she posed with husband James while on holiday in Mykonos

Her followers and pals were quick to send their congratulations as sister Tiffany wrote: 'My beautiful nephew love him so much'

Lucy and James married in a lavish ceremony in 2021 after meeting on the reality show Made in Chelsea

Lucy and James hosted a lavish gender reveal party and gathered their closest friends and family

Sharing pictures from her joyful gender reveal as she gathered her closest friends and family, the influencer took to Instagram in delight knowing she will have a son 'so close in age' to her nephew, her sister Tiffany Watson's son Jude.

In a sweet snap during the gender party, the mother-to-be posed for a sweet photo with Tiffany and Jude, who she shares with husband Cameron McGeehan.

Tiffany's little boy looked adorable in the little shirt that read: 'I might be little but I'm going to be a big cousin'.

In awe of her gender reveal, Lucy thanked her fans the following day for their kind messages after sharing the happy news on Instagram.

She penned: 'Thank you so much for all the lovely messages. We're very excited about our baby boy... boy mumma coming in hot!

'Here are some more pics from the (very) mini gender reveal we did last month...'

Showcasing her baby bump in an Instagram Q and A in late November, Lucy revealed her and James had picked an 'uncommon but traditional name'.

Lucy said they were '90 per cent sure' of the name which is 'very uncommon but traditional at the same time'.

In January, Lucy shared pictures of her bare bump as she showed off how much her body had grown in the last three months

Lucyy compared the recent picture with one from three months before and was 'mind blown' by the progress and how much a female body changes during pregnancy

Lucy shared snaps to Instagram from her gender reveal party in September - after revealing she was expecting a baby boy with husband James Dunmore

Showcasing her baby bump during the Q and A, Lucy revealed her and James had picked an 'uncommon but traditional name'

At the start of February, Lucy revealed she had 'started to pack her hospital bag' as she shared a picture of baby clothes neatly folded inside

She added: 'I'm sure but James isn't 100 per cent, but I'm the decisive one and he hates making decisions.'

In the post, Lucy also revealed she was 'terrified' about giving birth and battled terrible morning sickness in the first trimester.

At the start of February, Lucy revealed she had 'started to pack her hospital bag' as she shared a picture of baby clothes neatly folded inside.

She also looked incredible as she showed off her baby bump in a white lingerie set as she posed for an Instagram Story selfie.

Lucy stood side on displaying her bump in the bra and matching pants while holding her phone in front of her face for the black and white snap.

The reality star's journey to pregnancy was an emotional one - as the couple struggled with fertility issues.

In a YouTube video discussing their fertility journey in November, Lucy opened up about how hard it was to stay strong throughout her journey as she described that period of her life as a 'never-ending pit of negativity'.

Revealing how she used meditation as a coping mechanism while she was trying to conceive, she said: 'Another kind of coping mechanism for trying to conceive is meditation.

'I know it sounds ridiculous but sometimes you can feel so down and so like you're in a never-ending pit of negativity, you just don't know how to feel happy.

'It's hard because James and I have gone through this. We had this period of time in our life where it was thing after thing after thing, not only fertility related, and it could be hard at times for us to feel good and happy.'

The former TOWIE star also candidly admitted that she is aware that there are no guarantees in pregnancy and her journey could end at any point.

She also looked incredible as she showed off her baby bump in a white lingerie set as she posed for an Instagram Story selfie

Lucy held back tears as she described her fertility journey as a 'never ending pit of negativity' and revealed she knows her pregnancy 'could end tomorrow' in a candid YouTube video

Overcome with emotion, Lucy took a deep breath as she continued: 'I am basically so grateful for where I am today.

'I'm pregnant with my son. Obviously I know this journey could end tomorrow, or the next day like I don't know how long this is going to last or if it if we'll make it to the end or get to the point of having a baby in arms.

'But I'm just joying enjoying every moment and just living for every day because we've fought to get here and we are so grateful to be here.

'I'm just choosing to love every moment really and it's surreal, still to this day it is surreal but it is the most amazing feeling and I really hope that anyone out there who is struggling gets to experience it too and I hope that this video has helped.'

The reality star-come-author announced her engagement to her partner James in September 2020, after meeting on the E4 set of Made In Chelsea in 2015.

She quit the show a year later.

Lucy and James tied the knot in a romantic Kefalonia ceremony in 2021, but the star admitted that the label didn't change much for the couple.

'We already lived together and have been together for seven years so I'm not a massive believer in once you get married that life drastically changes, it is what it is, we seem to be coping so far,' he explained.

But amongst weddings and honeymoons, the former Made In Chelsea star admitted he was in 'no rush' to return to TV.

Ruling out a comeback to the E4 reality series, James revealed: 'I can safely say it's probably a no for returning to the show'.

The reality star-come-author announced her engagement to her partner James in September 2020, after meeting on the E4 set of Made In Chelsea in 2015
Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty surprised fans when they made their first public appearance as a couple back in 2011.

Since then they have gone from strength-to-strength, having been married since 2012, they are now parents to sons Milo, eight, and James, five.

And it's not only their relationship which has flourished over the years, as both Cat and Patrick have both enjoyed very successful TV careers.

As he took over hosting Ireland's Late Late show from Ryan Tubridy, cat was recently unveiled as the new host of This Morning, alongside Ben Shephard.

From their first meeting on Fame Academy to secret wedding and return to the UK after bagging coveted TV roles... here MailOnline takes a look at their love story.

Cat Deeley and Patrick Kielty surprised fans when they made their first public appearance as a couple back in 2011

From their first meeting on Fame Academy to secret wedding and return to the UK after bagging coveted TV roles... here MailOnline takes a look at their love story

How did they meet?

Cat and Patrick first met in 2002 while they hosted BBC talent show Fame Academy, however sparks didn't fly between the couple until 10 years later.

After being friends for years, their friendship turned to romance thanks to his major gesture.

Last year, Cat paid a sweet tribute to her husband Patrick on Instagram as she looked back at when they first met.

The presenter shared a throwback picture from their time presenting on the show alongside a recent snap from the Irish Film Awards.

She wrote: 'A blink of an eye and here we are!!'.

Previously Cat told the sweet story of how her husband Patrick turned their friendship to romance by flying all the way from Belfast to Los Angeles for a brunch.

In 2020 the TV presenter told how Patrick 'knocked my socks off' with the gesture on the Made By Mammas podcast, where she discussed marriage and motherhood.

Cat said: 'It was my birthday and hed rung me, he was at a pub in Ireland and hed rung me from the pub.

'Bear in mind it was probably about 2 oclock in the morning because theyd had a lock-in.'

When Cat told him she was having a birthday brunch at Beverly Hills Hotel with a few friends, she said: 'He said, "Ill see you there!" I was like, theres no way!

'He went home, set his alarm for five, got up, went to the airport, flew from Belfast to London, then jumped on the first plane from London to LA, got in a cab, told the cabbie on his way from the airport what he was doing, and the driver was literally like "do you want me to wait for you?!"'

'He walked in, dropped his bags at the concierge, walked in and came and sat down for lunch! It knocked my socks off a little bit!'

Cat and Patrick first met in 2002 while they hosted BBC talent show Fame Academy, however sparks didn't fly between the couple until 10 years later (pictured on Fame Academy)

Previously Cat told the sweet story of how her husband Patrick turned their friendship to romance by flying all the way from Belfast to Los Angeles for a brunch (pictured in 2023)

When did they get married?

The romantic gesture was the catalyst for the couple getting together, and they married in an intimate ceremony in Rome in 2012.

The happy couple secretly tied the knot in September with their close family and friends present.

A wedding photo showed the pair looking blissfully happy as they enjoy a celebratory drink at their wedding reception.

Their big day came as a surprise to their fans as it was only one month prior that Patrick denied rumours that they had gotten engaged.

The pair first went public with their relationship in May 2012, and although they had been friends for years, their romance still came as a bit of a shock.

It was shortly after this that Patrick moved into Cat's 1.7million Beverley Hills mansion with plans to renovate the property.

The couple kept their blossoming relationship out of the public eye for quite some time after rumours about their friendship turning romantic began to surface after they went on holiday together in February.

Patrick, made it known last year that he has been thinking of tying the knot in 2012, saying: 'I think that might be my New Years resolution... to get married.'

The romantic gesture was the catalyst for the couple getting together, and they married in an intimate ceremony in Rome in 2012 (pictured in 2017)

Where has Cat worked?

Cat began her career as a co-presenter for the ITV children's show SMTV Live, for which she won a BAFTA Children's Award, and its spin-off chart show CD:UK.

In 2006 she moved to California to take over from Lauren Sanchez on So You Think You Can Dance.

Her move to the US paid off, as she grew into the award-winning host of primetime shows such as The Tonight Show and Stars in Their Eyes before landing her new gig, back in the UK, on ITV's This Morning this year.

During her stint in the US she had five Emmy nominations, and made an estimated 15 million fortune.

Cat's role on This Morning will see the star reportedly lose her long-time role on So You Think You Can Dance in the US, where she was reportedly paid 43k an episode - instead opting for the role on This Morning with a reported 550k annual salary.

This Morning bosses reportedly begged Cat and Ben Shephard to take over as Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield's permanent replacements on the show.

Cat began her career as a co-presenter for the ITV children's show SMTV Live, for which she won a BAFTA Children's Award, and its spin-off chart show CD:UK (pictured alongside Ant and Dec)

In 2006 she moved to California to take over from Lauren Sanchez on So You Think You Can Dance

Holly, 42, and Phillip, 61, both left the ITV daytime show last year and since there has been a rotating group of stars at the helm.

Cat impressed viewers with her presenting skills when she appeared on the show in November and was said to have left bosses devastated when she then turned down the main gig.

However, new reports claim that producers went back to the drawing board to try and woo the former children's TV star and are set to announce as her the new Monday to Thursday host alongside Ben Shephard.

It's possible the reason for the sudden U-turn is financial, with Cat set to nab a bumper payday as the new host.

When reports of her joining the show first emerged last year it was claimed she and Ben would receive an annual salary of 555,000.

While hefty, the salary still paled in comparison to former hosts Holly and Phil, who were said to have been paid 700,000 annually for their role.

However, Cat isn't short of cash as she currently earns at least 344,000 a season hosting So You Think You Can Dance in the States, where she is said to be paid 43,000 an episode.

The new series is set to air in March and Cat has been dividing her time between the States and the UK for filming.

Therefore it stands to reason that if Cat has changed her mind about appearing on This Morning her contract would possibly allow her to continue juggling her LA gig.

Her move to the US paid off, as she grew into the award-winning host of primetime shows such as The Tonight Show and Stars in Their Eyes

She landed her new gig this year, back in the UK, on ITV's This Morning (pictured with Rylan on the show)

When reports of her joining the show first emerged last year it was claimed she and co-host Ben Shephard would receive an annual salary of 555,000 (pictured in 2023)

Where has Patrick worked?

Cat's new role comes after Paddy took over Ireland's Late Late show from Ryan Tubridy.

His career began while still a student in Queen's University Belfast in 1991, Patrick kicked started his comedy career by performing at an open mic in The Gasworks in Dublin.

The Gasworks was run by Billy McGrath who advised Patrick and pal Jackie to open their own comedy club in Belfast. The pair then opened The Empire on Botanic Avenue in Belfast.

The young comedian made his television debut the following year as a contestant on the National Comedy Search - a segment on the Late Late Show.

Patrick was a finalist on the show alongside Irish comedian Dylan Moran.

After turning to presenting for a number of year Patrick returned to stand-up in 2006 releasing a stand-up DVD in 2007 and appearing on Live at The Apollo.

And more recently in 2022 the Irish star took on his first stand-up tour in 7 years called Borderline.

Despite starting his career in comedy, Patrick is best known as a television presenter.

He began presented in 1993 on UTV presenting various shows on the network over a 3 year period.

In 1997, he set up the Belfast-based TV production company Green Inc with TV director Stephen Stewart making shows such as The Afternoon Show, Patrick Kielty Almost Live, and Ask Rhod Gilbert.

It was reported in 2010 that Patrick had sold his share in the company.

The father-of-two went on to present various radio shows on BBC from 2015 to 2020.

In 2021, he took part in the RTE series All the Walks of Life, where he talked about his childhood and the values he holds.

In 2023, the Irish star was confirmed as the new host of RTE's The Late Late Show taking over from Ryan Tubridy and becoming the show's fourth permanent presenter.

Cat's new role comes after Paddy took over Ireland's Late Late show from Ryan Tubridy

Where do they live?

Patrick and Cat lived in California for over 14 years but put their Beverly Hills mansion on the market for $4.9 million (3.8 million) and moved back to North London in 2020.

The star previously revealed the 'catalyst' for the family's departure was the terrifying moment Patrick and their eldest son narrowly avoided a public shooting incident at the Century City Mall.

The couple were also keen for their boys to be schooled back home in the UK and be closer to their friends and family.

The family were back in LA last year, but only temporarily, with Cat telling The Telegraph that they had relocated for the school holidays and would return to the UK when her show wraps.

'You have such a small amount of time when everyone wants to hang out, so we moved back to take advantage of that. And then the pandemic hit' she explained of how they have settled back in the UK.

'We didn't want to put anyone at risk in the pandemic because, well, young kids! But we're making up for it now.

'I taught Milo how to read and how to ride a bike in the pandemic. It was nice to all be together.'
For once, critics can agree on one thing: there's finally a successor to the epic fantasy series Game Of Thrones.

Reviewers have been raving about the new series Shogun, which airs on Hulu and FX in the US.

Its first two episodes aired back-to-back on Tuesday, and critics have already described the show as 'beautiful' and 'riveting,' even as it features plenty of gore that's likely to appeal to diehard Game Of Thrones fans.

The show currently has an impressive 100 percent Fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, indicating universal approval from surveyed critics.

Shogun, a limited series based on James Clavell's massively popular 1975 novel, tells the fictionalized story of a shipwrecked English sailor who finds a role in the court of a daimyo, a Japanese feudal lord, as well as the tale of a female samurai struggling to prove herself despite coming from a dishonorable family.

For once, critics can agree on one thing: there's finally a successor to the epic fantasy series Game Of Thrones. Reviewers have been raving about the new series Shogun (pictured), which airs on Hulu and FX in the US

Its first two episodes aired back-to-back on Tuesday, and critics have already described the show as 'beautiful' and 'riveting,' even as it features plenty of gore that's likely to appeal to diehard Game Of Thrones fans; Kit Harington and Emilia Clarke pictured on Game Of Thrones

Cosmo Jarvis stars as John Blackthorne, the Western foreigner swept up in Japanese intrigues, while the acclaimed Japanese star Hiroyuki Sanada plays the daimyo and Anna Sawai appears as the mysterious Lady Mariko.

As DailyMail.com noted, the first two episodes feature Game Of Thronesworthy gore, including 'brutal beheadings, people boiled alive and sliced open with katanas.'

USA Today's Kelly Lawler praised Shogun for how it 'makes epic look easy,' and praised it for being 'beautiful, rich and deeply compelling.

She added that the new show 'might just scratch that Game Of Thrones itch you've had since the HBO fantasy folded in 2019.'

The Independent's Nick Hilton wrote that Disney+, which airs the series in the UK and elsewhere in the world, 'might just have picked a winner' in its efforts to succeed Game Of Thrones.

Despite its abundant violence, Shogun presents a vision of how leaders can move beyond corruption and petty competition, according to IndieWire's Ben Travers.

'Rather than overemphasizing the individuals who wage the shrewdest wars, the series is ultimately about connection as a means for peace  a notable vision then, but especially now,' he wrote.

Although the show is based on Clavell's novel  which was in turn loosely inspired by real people and events  it was previously adapted as a 1980 miniseries, which emphasized the experiences of a foreigner living in an unfamiliar society.

Cosmo Jarvis (pictured) stars as John Blackthorne, the Western foreigner swept up in Japanese intrigues, while the acclaimed Japanese star Hiroyuki Sanada plays the daimyo and Anna Sawai appears as the mysterious Lady Mariko

USA Today 's Kelly Lawler praised Shogun for how it 'makes epic look easy,' and praised it for being 'beautiful, rich and deeply compelling. She added that the new show 'might just scratch that Game Of Thrones itch you've had since the HBO fantasy folded in 2019'

Melanie McFarland of Salon praised Shogun for being able to balance the 'brutality' inherent in the story while retaining 'the original's romance without sliding into its predecessors cultural fetishism'; still from Shogun

Melanie McFarland of Salon praised Shogun for being able to balance the 'brutality' inherent in the story while retaining 'the original's romance without sliding into its predecessors cultural fetishism.'

'Quite the opposite,' she added. 'It may inspire a yearning to learn more about this history.'

For Rolling Stone, Alan Sepinwall praised the series for not 'fixating on the simplistic stranger in a strange land story from the Eighties,' and he raved that it is 'terrific.'

Matt Zoller-Seitz of Vulture described the new Shogun as 'a Japanese saga of court intrigue and feudal politics that happens to have a few Europeans in it,' rather than being dominated by the white characters.

Dan Einav of the Financial Times praised the show for its 'painstaking effort to root this vast saga in the specificities of era and culture,' which helped make 'Shogun so compelling,' as well as 'timeless and universal.'

Several critics applauded the series' impeccable production values, which earned it more comparisons to HBO's big-budget Game Of Thrones.

John Anderson of the Wall Street Journal wrote that 'Shogun has the look of money all over it  meaning it is visually lush, bountiful and believable; there is action aplenty, fountains of blood and enough characters to populate a fishing village.'

And even as the series tries to adapt Clavell's novel more sensitively than the previous miniseries version, critics pointed out that it still manages to be a thrill ride for viewers.

For Rolling Stone , Alan Sepinwall praised the series for not 'fixating on the simplistic stranger in a strange land story from the Eighties,' and he raved that it is 'terrific'; still from Shogun

Several critics applauded the series' impeccable production values, which earned it more comparisons to HBO's big-budget Game Of Thrones; still from Shogun

The first two episodes of Shogun are available to stream on Hulu, while the next episode airs on Tuesday, March 5, on Hulu and FX

'There's a lot going on in Shogun  thematically, historically, and dramatically  even before factoring in the complex relationships of a dozen-plus supporting characters,' wrote Keith Phipps for TV Guide.

'This adaptation handles it all adeptly without ever surrendering the forward momentum of its compelling plot.'

He added: 'It feels like a complete world, the kind in which, like the source material, it's easy to get lost.'

The first two episodes of Shogun are available to stream on Hulu, while the next episode airs on Tuesday, March 5, on Hulu and FX.
Her star-studded Cotswolds wedding resembled a scene from the hit TV drama Succession  especially when her media mogul grandfather Rupert Murdoch helicoptered in, clad in a striking white suit and red suede shoes.

Now, Charlotte Freud  whose parents are Rupert's TV executive daughter Elisabeth and PR supremo Matthew Freud  has claimed that her marriage to rapper Luke Storey was essentially over in hours.

She told The Mail on Sunday: 'We had been married for 12 hours when our whole world fell apart. He relapsed on the way to our honeymoon. It wasn't a great sign.'

Charlotte, now 23, met Luke  a self-confessed recovering drug and alcohol addict  when she was just 18 and he was 33.

He encouraged Charlotte to join Narcotics Anonymous, helping to end her addiction to ketamine.

Charlotte Freud's wedding to rapper Luke Storey at St Marys church in Burford

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch with Elizabeth Murdoch at Charlotte's wedding

Charlotte surrounded by bridesmaids at her wedding in the Cotswold's

They wed at St Mary's Church in Westwell, Oxfordshire in 2022, with her grandad Rupert flying in while he was in the throes of divorcing his fourth wife, Jerry Hall. Guests included actor Woody Harrelson and presenter Claudia Winkleman.

Charlotte said she soon realised that recovery would play a big part in her marriage.

She said: 'It felt like there were three people in the relationship  me and him and our recovery.

'If our recovery was strong then we were strong, and if it wasn't we were falling apart. We had a great relationship when we were sober, but neither of us could stay sober.

'The wedding was so public and everyone thought our relationship was amazing.'

They divorced after just 14 months in September last year.

Charlotte now lives in Los Angeles with a new boyfriend and is preparing to help her friend Jessie Arvater to launch a dating app for sober people called Club Pillar in the coming months.

She was inspired to help Jessie with promoting the app after a brief spell using celebrity dating app Raya, saying: 'It can be isolating to date as a sober person, particularly in the UK where the drinking culture is so prevalent.

'I think the Club Pillar movement is a beautiful thing and I can't wait to use the app.'

She has also written a children's musical adaptation of Charlie Mackesy's bestselling book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse, which is on the curriculum at schools across the country.

Charlotte after she arrived in her car. The couple divorced in September last year

People applaud following the wedding ceremony in St Mary's church in Burford

Luke Storey smiles as the happy couple drive away following the wedding ceremony

Charlotte and Luke Storey share a kiss during the wedding. They divorced after just 14 months in September last year

Charlotte now lives in Los Angeles with a new boyfriend and is preparing to launch a dating app for sober people

Charlotte's parents are Rupert's TV executive daughter Elisabeth and PR supremo Matthew Freud

Charlotte Freud has also written a children's musical adaptation of Charlie Mackesy's bestselling book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse

She admitted that she is a fan of Succession, too, adding: 'It's totally accurate that it is based on my family. I loved watching it.'

She claimed that her mum inspired Sarah Snook's character Shiv Roy, the power-hungry daughter of media baron Logan Roy, played by Brian Cox.

'I think my mum is very Shiv, which she disagrees with,' she said. 'I f****** wish I'd had the Succession life. When I watch it, I say to my mum, "Where's my helicopter?" It was the Tube for me.

'I've probably spent more time with Logan Roy than I have with my actual grandfather. I see him at Christmas. We don't hang out.'
You might expect the first British chef with three Michelin stars to trawl pricy specialist markets for his food.

But Marco Pierre White clearly has an eye for a bargain  and is often spotted at the Aldi close to his hotel, the Rudloe Arms in Corsham, near Bath. The hotel has '40 charming bedrooms and three shepherd huts', with rooms costing 199 to 325 a night.

Mr White's Aldi basket last week was packed with Birra Moretti, free-range eggs and wholemeal bread, all mainstays of his menus.

But while a 330ml bottle of the Italian beer costs 1.99 at Aldi, it sells for a hefty 8 at the hotel.

Mr White, 62, bought the Grade II listed building in 2012 and, following extensive refurbishment, it was soon receiving rave reviews.

Marco Pierre White has been spotted stocking up on goods at the Aldi close to his hotel, the Rudloe Arms in Corsham, near Bath and reselling the items for many times the price

Mr White's Aldi basket last week was packed with Birra Moretti, free-range eggs and wholemeal bread, all mainstays of his menus. But while a 330ml bottle of the Italian beer costs 1.99 at Aldi, it sells for a hefty 8 at the hotel

But in recent years the curse of Tripadvisor has struck, with guests criticising the three-star hotel and even comparing it to Fawlty Towers.

One customer described the Rudloe Arms as the 'biggest rip off hotel ever for drinks and food'.

Another said: 'Someone needs to politely remind Mr White that the hotel is in Wiltshire not Mayfair.'

The chef has also been criticised for blindsiding guests with supplementary charges.

A glass of apple or orange juice at breakfast costs an extra 4.95, and guests are charged 40 if they are found to have brought their own drinks into their room.

The chef has also been criticised for blindsiding guests with supplementary charges. A glass of apple or orange juice at breakfast costs an extra 4.95, and guests are charged 40 if they are found to have brought their own drinks into their room

They can, however, buy a 145 bottle of champagne from the hotel  available for less than 55 in the shops.

A bottle of prosecco is 60  more than four times the shop price.

Wiltshire Council gave the Rudloe Arms a hygiene level of four out of five last month, noting a concern over 'confidence in management and control procedures'.
Anne Hathaway kept it casual while showing off her winter style as she stepped out in New York City on Saturday.

The Devil Wears Prada actress, 41  who is being eyed to star in the second season of the award-winning series Beef  was spotted strolling along a quiet sidewalk in the Big Apple.

The beauty sported a thick white jacket that was secured with black buttons at the front as well as a pair of comfy cream-colored sweatpants.

She layered the ensemble with a gray wool coat to help her stay warm in the cooler temperatures.

Hathaway additionally wore a pair of white sneakers that contained thick soles on the bottom.

Anne Hathaway, 41, kept it casual while showing off her winter style as she stepped out in New York City on Saturday

A knit beanie was placed on top of her head and partially covered her brunette locks that flowed down naturally past her shoulders.

For a finishing touch, Anne wore a pair of brown shades that offered a fashionable flare to her overall look for the daytime excursion.

She held a white backpack in her hand and also cradled another jacket in the crook of her left arm.

The star was seen flashing a cheerful smile as she walked through the bustling city while heading to her next destination.

While talking to Vogue last year in August, the Interstellar actress opened up about her sense of style when she is not glammed up on the red carpet. 'I really seek and crave balance.'

'There are so many aspects of my life that are so full throttle and exaggerated in a certain way that when I'm not at work and when the stakes are not quite that high, I tend to keep it pretty simple, pretty nourishing. Very comfortable.'

She continued, 'But funny enough, I'm not comfortable unless there's a little bit of edge there.'

'I'm probably never going to walk around the city in my sweatpants, but I will find something as comfortable as sweatpants. I definitely have an off-duty mode, but I do it in my own way.'

The beauty sported a thick, white jacket that was secured with black buttons at the front as well as a pair of comfy, cream-colored sweatpants

For a finishing touch, Anne wore a pair of brown shades that offered a fashionable flare to her overall look for the daytime excursion

She also commented on how her style has evolved over time and stated, 'I think for a long time, I thought that I could only have one.'

'I felt really lost because I didn't know what that was until I realized I have so many styles. And that's part of the reason why I love being an actor, and my style is fluid.'

Hathaway added, 'And once I realized that, then I felt like something clicked. But that's just me. It's different. Some people are like, "Nope, black turtleneck every day."'

The actress has been keeping busy, and recently reunited with her Devil Wears Prada co-stars, Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep, at the 2024 SAG Awards earlier this month.

The trio made fashion statements as they stepped onto the stage together to present Best Actor in a Comedy Series - which went to The Bear's Jeremy Allen White.

At one point, Blunt announced, 'Meryl and Miranda Priestly are sort of like twins,' to which Streep - who portrayed the role of Priestly in the 2006 film - denied.

'I don't think I'm anything like Miranda Priestly!' Streep said, but Anne cut in to jokingly respond with, 'No no. That wasn't a question.' The line was a reference to one of Miranda's quotes in the beloved film.

Emily also quoted another line that Streep's character said by telling Meryl on stage, 'By all means move at a glacial pace, you know how that thrills me.'

While talking to Vogue last year in August, the Interstellar actress opened up about her sense of style when she is not glammed up on the red carpet. 'I really seek and crave balance'; seen earlier this month in Milan

The actress has been keeping busy, and recently reunited with her Devil Wears Prada co-stars , Emily Blunt and Meryl Streep, at the 2024 SAG Awards earlier this month (seen above)

Anne made an additional reference to The Devil Wears Prada by wearing a cerulean gown which was mentioned in the movie.

While talking to E! News on the red carpet at the 2024 SAG Awards, she also opened up about the anticipated reunion with Streep and Blunt.

'I'm thrilled,' she gushed to Laverne Cox. 'I mean, I don't think any of us can believe - as much as we love the film [and] as much as we believed in it when we were making it - it's just been incredible to watch how it's grown over the decades.

'And so yeah, Meryl was the one who said, "Do you think you can make it to the SAG Awards?" And I was like, "I will do anything to be there..."'

Shortly after the SAG Awards, Anne also made a dazzling appearance at the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards where she wowed in a sparkling, sequin jumpsuit.

A number of projects were awarded at the event, including Netflix's Beef which garnered Best New Scripted Series as well as Best Lead Performance in a New Scripted Series for Ali Wong.

Shortly after the SAG Awards, Anne also made a dazzling appearance at the 2024 Independent Spirit Awards where she wowed in a sparkling, sequin jumpsuit

Earlier this week, Deadline reported that both Anne as well as Jake Gyllenhaal are being eyed to portray a feuding couple in the show's upcoming second season; Gyllenhaal seen in January in Milan

The show has received an assortment of other honors during award season, including three Golden Globes, five Emmys and also two SAG awards.

Earlier this week, Deadline reported that both Anne as well as Jake Gyllenhaal are being eyed to portray a feuding couple in the show's upcoming second season.

The pair are no strangers when it comes to working together, and starred in the 2010 romantic comedy titled Love & Other Drugs as well as Brokeback Mountain (2005).

Priscilla actress Cailee Spaeny, and Riverdale alum Charles Melton are also in possible talks to play the other feuding couple.
Married At First Sight star Jules Robinson has been spotted out and about for the first time since announcing her second pregnancy with husband Cameron Merchant.

The reality star, 43, was positively glowing as she ran errands in Sydney's Northern Beaches on Saturday after attending a swim school.

Looking relaxed, the crimson-haired influencer stepped out in an animal print one-piece swimsuit that featured a stylish black band across the waist, paired with a black beach kaftan.

Going makeup-free, Jules tied her hair in a low bun and completed her look with a pair of edgy pink sunglasses, brown leather slides and a black cap emblazoned with the Forbes Australia logo.

Jules looked to be doing some shopping during the outing, as she was seen carrying a coffee machine towards her parked car.

Married At First Sight star Jules Robinson, 43, revealed her baby bump in animal print swimming costume as she ran errands in Sydney's Northern Beaches on Saturday

She juggled this with a black-and-white striped cooler bag, her car keys and what looked to be a credit card.

At times, Jules covered her legs beneath a beach towel emblazoned with her shapewear company Figur's logo.

The sighting comes a week after Jules announced she is expecting her second child.

The reality star was positively glowing as she stepped out after attending a swim school

She shared the happy news in an interview with Stellar Magazine, saying she and Cameron, 40, couldn't be happier after several years of trying to get pregnant.

'We've been trying since our son Ollie was one and he is now three-and-a-half. We were going into 2024 thinking, "If it doesn't happen, we will look at IVF",' she explained.

'But I never lost faith that my body could do this again.'

Looking relaxed, the crimson-haired influencer stepped out in an animal print one-piece swimsuit that featured a stylish black band across the waist, paired with a black beach kaftan

Going makeup-free, Jules tied her hair in a low bun and completed her look with a pair of edgy pink sunglasses, brown leather slides and a black cap emblazoned with the Forbes Australia logo

Jules looked to be doing some shopping during the outing, as she was seen carrying a coffee machine towards her parked car

Jules revealed she is 20 weeks pregnant and that this pregnancy has been easier than her first one for several surprising reasons.

'When I was pregnant the first time, I didn't like all of the attention and the negativity from horrible people about my body.

'This time round, it has been really lovely. I can't hide it anymore. I am popped. It has been nice keeping it between family and friends and a bit more private this time.'

At times, Jules covered her legs beneath a beach towel emblazoned with her shapewear company Figur's logo

The sighting comes a week after Jules announced she is expecting her second child

Jules and Cameron met and fell in love in front of the cameras during series six of MAFS in 2019.

In September, Cameron shared a moving tribute to Jules to mark their five-year anniversary.

Jules posted a gallery of loved-up wedding pictures from 2018 to Instagram, and captioned it with heartfelt words.

She shared the happy news in an interview with Stellar Magazine , saying she and Cameron, 40, couldn't be happier after several years of trying to get pregnant

'We've been trying since our son Ollie was one and he is now three-and-a-half. We were going into 2024 thinking, "If it doesn't happen, we will look at IVF ",' she explained. 'But I never lost faith that my body could do this again'

Jules revealed she is 20 weeks pregnant and that this pregnancy has been easier than her first one for several surprising reasons

'I want a person who comes into my life by accident, but stays on purpose. It's been five years since I met my best friend Jules and got married sight unseen,' he began.

'Still feel it was one of the best days I've ever experienced... and never would you think that in some of these photos we've only known each other for hours.

'There was something special, kind, supportive & warm about our first connection and it's only become stronger. So very grateful for you, our experiences & support & love we have created for each other,' he added.

The couple married for real in November 2019 and welcomed son Oliver in September the following year.

She later revealed on her podcast that after discovering her chances of having another boy were high, she decided to do everything she could to try to conceive a girl.

'When I was pregnant the first time, I didn't like all of the attention and the negativity from horrible people about my body', she said
Travis Barker concluded his Blink-182 tour in Australia by sharing a heartwarming photo album featuring snapshots of his family.

The 48-year-old musician  who enjoyed a vegan eatery tour while in Melbourne took to Instagram on Saturday, posting a picture of his newborn son Rocky's foot resting adorably on his drum, along with one capturing a moment of him and his wife, Kourtney Kardashian, enjoying themselves at an amusement park.

The picture-perfect pair, who welcomed Rocky in November, humorously posed behind a life-size wooden cut-out of a cartoon wedding couple.

The album also featured shots of Travis on stage performing with his band during the tour, as he captioned it, 'tour was over, wed survived.'

The drummer and his Blink-182 bandmates, Mark Hoppus and Tom DeLonge, are now headed to New Zealand.

Travis Barker concluded his Blink-182 tour in Australia by sharing a heartwarming photo album featuring snapshots of his family, including wife Kourtney Kardashian at an amusement park

Travis took to Instagram on Saturday, posting a picture of his newborn son Rocky's foot resting adorably on his drum

Travis and Kourtney have been enjoying their trip to Australia, where they've visited a number of vegetarian restaurants and cafes.

The pair were spotted heading out for lunch on Tuesday at popular vegetarian restaurant The Vegie Bar in Fitzroy.

Last Thursday, the showbiz power couple were spotted enjoying a Thai vegetarian meal at the renowned Peace Harmony restaurant in Sydney's CBD.

The week before the pair were spotted at the Luna amusement park in Sydney with Kourtney's daughter Penelope, 11, and son Reign, nine, whom she shares with ex Scott Disick, 40.

The park was closed to the public however opened its gates for Kourtney, Travis and other members of Blink-182.

Kourtney also shares son Mason, 14, with Scott, though he didn't appear to be present.

Meanwhile Travis shares daughter Alabama, 18, and Landon, 20, as well as stepdaughter Atiana, 24, with ex Shana Moakler, 48.

A day after Valentine's Day, Kourtney shared pics rocking a daring red gown while admiring Travis' Valentine's Day gift of red roses.

Looking like she stepped off the runway, the beauty stunned in the skintight dress featuring long sleeves and fur-trimmed cuffs.

She posed like a pro, hands delicately placed under her chin, while leaning gracefully next to the gigantic vase that held the gorgeous flowers.

Travis and Kourtney have been enjoying their trip to Australia, where they've visited a number of vegetarian restaurants and cafes, pictured May 2022

Travis sent his wife Kourtney a hundred red roses for Valentine's Day at their Sydney mansion

A day after Valentine's Day, Kourtney shared pics rocking a daring red gown while admiring Travis' Valentine's Day gift of red roses

The bloom is clearly one of Kourtney's favorite, as Travis used hundreds of them in a grand display when he proposed to the POOSH founder in 2022.

The day prior, Kourtney shared photos from her trip to the luxurious Amangiri resort in Canyon Point, Utah, and clarified that it was the spot she and Travis had been vacationing at when they set about expanding their family.

She captioned the post 'One year ago today.' The drummer made it even more explicit with his comment on the post: 'We made baby Rocky.'

Kourtney previously said that Rocky had been conceived on Valentine's Day of 2023.
She spends most of her time living in the UK, but Kylie Minogue proved she still calls Australia home during the 2024 Brit Awards on Saturday night.

The 55-year-old music icon, who won the BRITs' Global Icon award, stunned fans by agreeing to participate in the Aussie ritual of drinking alcohol out of a shoe during the awards ceremony in London.

Host Roman Kemp convinced Kylie to drink her signature rose wine from her high heels during an interview with the pop star at her table, saying it would be 'amiss' for the pair to not 'go with an Aussie tradition'.

'So will Kylie Minogue do a shoey with me at the Brits? If I ask for your shoe, can I do that?' Kemp, asked.

Kylie appeared hesitant at first, asking the crowd: 'Do I do this?' before Kemp held out a pair of black stilettos and filled them with alcohol. d

Kylie Minogue, 55, (left) proved she's still true blue as she did a shoey with during the 2024 Brit Awards on Saturday night Roman Kemp (right)

Proving she's a good sport, the All The Lovers hitmaker clinked stilettos with the host and drank the entire shoe in one gulp.

Later in the evening, Kylie closed the show with an energetic medley of her most famous hits with viewers rightly branding her a 'legend' after she last performed at the ceremony in 2008.

She looked sensational as she flaunted her age-defying figure in a skimpy white bodysuit which boasted sheer panels.

Proving she's a good sport, the All The Lovers hitmaker clinked stilettos with the host and drank the entire shoe in one gulp

Kylie arrived on stage in an oversized red coat before removing it to show off her sexy ensemble which she wore with knee-high black boots.

She sang tracks from her back catalogue as the famous faces in the audience could be seen singing and dancing along.

The evening ended with Dua Lipa presenting Kylie with the Global Icon Award, leading into the Aussie popstar's finale performance.

Later in the evening, Kylie closed the show with an energetic medley of her most famous hits with viewers rightly branding her a 'legend' after she last performed at the ceremony in 2008

'Alright Im just gonna be sobbing with Raye, you did that!' an emotional Kylie said as she took to the stage.

'You did that. Brits, thank you so much. I really tried to think hard about what to say tonight but I knew I couldnt plan anything and I knew itd be just about the emotion.'

'For some of you its been a lifetime  36 years and counting of experiences together and the thing that really gets me is the love of music and connection with people  I have friends in this room that Ive worked with through the years.'

Kylie arrived on stage in an oversized red coat before removing it to show off her sexy ensemble which she wore with knee-high black boots
Paul Mescal is reportedly dating BAFTA Rising Star nominee Sophie Wilde after they were spotted sharing a smooch at a Chiltern House after-party.

The Normal People heartthrob, 28, first befriended Australian actress Sophie, 20, last year after they met at many red-carpet events, according to the Mirror.

Now, their friendship has allegedly blossomed into something more as the pair are said to be smitten with one another.

A source told the publication: 'Paul and Sophie have been having lots of fun together, and now their f

'They got really close after last month's B Awards and were seen smooching into the early hours at an after-party at Chiltern Firehouse.

Paul Mescal is reportedly dating Rising Star nominee Sophie Wilde after they were spotted sharing a smooch at a Chiltern House after-party

The Normal People heartthrob, 28, first befriended Australian actress Sophie, 20, last year after they met at many red-carpet events, according to the Mirror

'It's early days, but they're excited about where things could go. They have a solid foundation and loads of respect for each other.'

In October, Paul reportedly signed up to a dating app as the actor gets back into the dating game.

Paul split from his girlfriend musician Phoebe Bridgers 15 months ago.

The actor decided to try his luck online dating, as sources told The Mirror reportedly saw Paul scrolling on an app.

An insider said: 'Paul, like many other actors, has a mad schedule which can make getting to know people hard.

'The great thing about apps is that you can chat to people wherever you are.'

While the publication didn't reveal which dating app Paul is hoping to strike lucky on he has be known to use dating apps in the past.

Paul was previously spotted on dating app Raya before he started dating Phoebe in 2020.

Now, their friendship has allegedly blossomed into something more as the pair are said to be smitten with one another

In October, Paul reportedly signed up to a dating app as the actor gets back into the dating game

The pair split in December after Phoebe called it quits after growing close to American comic Bo Burnham.

Previously Paul opened up about how he struggles with the speculative prodding of his personal life, especially regarding his romantic attachments.

'Sometimes I can drown it out and then other times it makes me really mad and upset,' he told Vanity Fair back in February.

'People are going to write and say things because there's a certain interest with any person who's in the public eye in how that person lives their life, and who they're living up with, and what they're doing and how they're going about doing it.

'And look, a lot of the time people are really kind about their support for me. That's my predominant experience.'

Paul was a self-confessed Bridgers fan prior to their first meeting and began dating the talented musician after he was catapulted to fame after starring in Normal People.

Paul was previously spotted on dating app Raya before he started dating Phoebe in 2020

Paul was catapulted into fame after he starred as Connell in Normal People

He said: 'I definitely feel the temptation to say the status of my whateverthat will always be there. But I don't think that's a wise thing to do.

'When Normal People came out, I was very forthright in interviews, and it didn't actually serve me. But the temptation still exists to be like, 'Shut the f**k up. This is my life. This is what's going on. Or this is what's going on.'

'But moving forward as much as I can, that's going to be my life that is private. That's a difficult thing to achieve. But giving strangers an answer about my life doesn't actually help me.

'It's like a quick boost of serotonin, being like, 'I've said what I need to say.' And then it's just Twitter fodder.'
Julia Fox made a style statement as she stepped out during Paris Fashion Week over the weekend.

The 34-year-old actress and socialite  who attended the Vivienne Westwood show this week  put on a busty display in a plunging, ivory corset and matching skirt.

Her peplum top featured off-the-shoulder straps before cinching at her midriff to accentuate her trim waistline.

Fox accessorized with a coordinating head scarf wrapped around her icy-toned locks and glossy, black, oval-shaped sunglasses with pearl details on the sides.

The fashionista also wore sheer, cream-colored gloves and carried a small, round, blue handbag.

Julia Fox made a style statement as she stepped out during Paris Fashion Week over the weekend

The 34-year-old actress and socialite put on a busty display in a plunging, ivory corset and matching skirt

Her peplum top featured off-the-shoulder straps before cinching at her midriff to accentuate her trim waistline

The Uncut Gems star added inches to her height in a pair of towering, golden yellow, paisley-patterned platforms.

She looked exquisite in a full face of matte makeup that included warm-toned blush and nude lipstick framed with brown liner.

For the Vivienne Westwood show, Julia wore a plunging, green, corseted gown, typical of the late designer's style.

She teamed it with a quirky headdress and loads of body glitter.

The shimmering deep green and black number featured flecks of gold throughout the fabric and boasted a draped, sheer overlay.

The mom-of-one styled her hair in wet waves, topping the locks with a gold and diamond encrusted crown.

Referencing both nature and the medieval period, the model's look was rounded out with a pair of gold heels.

She shared her get-ready process in a video shared on British Vogue's Instagram account on Saturday.

Fox accessorized with a coordinating head scarf wrapped around her icy-toned locks and glossy, black, oval-shaped sunglasses with pearl details on the sides

The fashionista also wore sheer, cream-colored gloves and carried a small, round, blue handbag

Julia has been making moves in her modeling career in addition to making high-profile fashion show appearances.

And last year she reunited with her No Sudden Move director Steven Soderbergh for the psychological thriller Presence, which was shot in just three weeks after the production team scored a waiver to film amid the writers and actors strikes.

The film premiered at Sundance and has been acquired for distribution by the independent studio Neon.

The studio previously distributed the hit Korean thriller Parasite, which was a surprise winner of Best Picture and other Academy Awards.
Dune: Part Two hunk Josh Brolin, 56, has responded to the swirling online rumors that he wants to sleep with his co-star Timothee Chalamet, 28.

Josh recently went viral for writing a poem extolling the qualities of various Dune: Part Two actors including Timothee, Zendaya, and Florence Pugh.

But the lines about Timothee attracted the most fevered attention, such as the remark: 'The way you hold my gaze makes me fear my own age.'

He also wrote: 'Because something in me tells me you are going to offer me something and, for now, Im not sure its going to be something I want anymore.'

Social media flew into a frenzy about the overheated passage, speculating that Josh had sexual designs on Timothee - and now, Josh has shared his take in Vulture.

Dune: Part Two hunk Josh Brolin (left), 56, has responded to the swirling online rumors that he wants to sleep with his co-star Timothee Chalamet (right), 28

'I love that theres a poem that they exploited into the idea that I wanted to sleep with Timothee,' the No Country For Old Men heartthrob said with a laugh.

'Im like: "You f***ing run with it." The fact that Ive been around for 40 years, and [Timothee] was somebody who was like a young basset hound when I first met him.'

Josh explained: 'Hes really an absolute raw nerve, and watching this trajectory of what hes become, and what hell continue to become.'

The stepson of Barbra Streisand discussed having 'known Zendaya and having known Timothee, and then being turned on to Florence Pugh and Austin Butler, who Im absolutely in love with and have gotten really close with.'

He graciously said of his younger colleagues: 'I love how much they respect the work, and yet how much fun they have during the work.'

Josh confessed: 'Its a selfish thing. We have to be here for three months. I cant look into a dark corner for three months,' he noted.

'So theres a lot of poking fun, and then you go into this place, and then you do your work, and then you come out and you have fun again. I found that really satisfying.'

Josh's poem first went public in the book Dune: Exposures, a behind-the-scenes volume published to promote the hotly anticipated movie.

Social media flew into a frenzy about Josh's overheated poem, speculating that Josh had sexual designs on Timothee - and now, Josh has shared his take in Vulture

Josh described Timothee as 'really an absolute raw nerve, and watching this trajectory of what hes become, and what hell continue to become'; the pair are pictured in Dune: Part Two

In the film, Timothee's character Prince Paul and Zendaya's Chani conduct a steamy romance, set against the backdrop of their rebellion against an evil empire.

Chani is a tribal fighter who in Part One is a siren from Paul's dreams but who is now his comrade in an armed struggle of resistance.

Paul has united with Chani's desert tribe in their mutual battle against the imperial regime that oppressed her people and killed his father Duke Leto (Oscar Isaac).

As Paul trains as a warrior, he comes face to face once again with his old mentor Gurney (Josh Brolin), who was his family's old weapons master.

The movie was originally supposed to come out last year on October 20, but on account of various delays it finally arrived in theaters only this Friday.

A couple of postponements were enacted in order to work around the release dates of other movies, and the final delay came because of the Hollywood strikes.
Noomi Rapace sat front row alongside Juliette Binoche at the Alexander McQueen Paris Fashion week show on Saturday evening.

Swedish actress Noomi, 44, went goth for the occasion in a stylish black leather mini dress which boasted dramatic shoulder pads and oversized sleeves.

She completed the look with a quirky metal choker and slipped her feet into a pair of chunky ankle boots.

Meanwhile Oscar winner Juliette, 59, opted for chic cream suit which which she layered over a white satin shirt.

The french stunner accentuated her age-defying features with glam make-up and wore her brunette tresses in loose waves.

Noomi Rapace, 44 (L) sat front row alongside Juliette Binoche, 59 (R) at the Alexander McQueen Paris Fashion week show on Saturday evening

Swedish actress Noomi went goth for the occasion in a stylish black leather mini dress which boasted dramatic shoulder pads and oversized sleeves

Noomi's new space based Apple TV+ series Constellation is so sinister that even its showrunner would politely turn down an invitation to take an intergalactic trip.

Created and written by Peter Harness, the eight-part psychological thriller follows astronaut Jo, played by Noomi, who returns to Earth after a disaster in space, only to discover that key pieces of her life are missing.

The action-packed series explores the dark edges of human psychology, and follows one woman's quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel in a bid to recover all that she has lost.

Speaking exclusively to DailyMail.com, Peter revealed the story that inspired the plot, while also admitting that he is so fearful of outer space he would only consider jumping on board a rocket if his days were numbered.

'I was on a holiday in a cabin in the Swedish Woods once, and as night fell, we would hear a little girl calling for her mama in the forest,' he said of how he was inspired to create the plot.

'It was very spooky, and a bit weird, and we didn't know where it was coming from. And we never did find out where it was coming from.

'But a couple of nights running, we heard this sound and I always thought I have to write something about this little girl lost in the forest in Sweden.

'And then when I was asked whether I'd like to write something about astronauts and what it's like to for them to return to Earth, I wanted to do something about how challenging that is.

Meanwhile Oscar winner Juliette opted for chic cream suit which which she layered over a white satin shirt.

Actress Salma Hayek turned heads in a plunging silver bustier

Samantha Morton (R) posed alongside German actor Udo Kier (L)

The models strutted their stuff in very quirky outfits

'I have this mother trapped up there in space, trying desperately to reach her daughter. And for some reason, that daughter was the little girl who was lost in the forest... and I had to write as a show to get them back.'

Oppenheimer actor James D'Arcy plays Jo's husband Magnus, who is desperately trying to make sense of his wife's altered mental state following her return to Earth.

James admitted he was mind blown after reading the entire script in one sitting  and hinted that audiences will be hooked.

Noomi's new space based Apple TV+ series Constellation is so sinister that even its showrunner would politely turn down an invitation to take an intergalactic trip

'When I first read the script, I read all eight episodes in one day and when I had got to the end of it, my head exploded,' he told DailyMail.com.

'I realized that I had just read something genuinely unique, it defies description: It's a sci fi, but it's a thriller, but it's a conspiracy drama, but it's a family thing as well.

'What I loved about it was, even with this huge epic scope, at the heart of it was this deep meditation on the nature of being a human being and dealing with reality.

'I felt really resonant with that, particularly since the pandemic where reality feels very unsoldered.

'Peter Harness, who I think might be a genius, has written this series that deals with all of those big questions, but does it in the most entertaining way.'
Ita Buttrose is set to step down from her role as chair of the ABC this week, with the media veteran revealing on Sunday the real reason she's given up the top job.

The television and radio personality, 82, has a six-decade career in the industry, and spent the past five years serving as chairperson of the government broadcasting network.

With her replacement Kim Williams preparing to take over the role this week, Buttrose told Stellar's Something To Talk About podcast it was simply her time.

'Five years is quite a long time to serve the ABC. I know some chairs have gone on and done a second term, but I'm conscious that I'm a woman of a certain age,' she told editor-in-chief Sarrah Le Marquand.

'Sometimes you need to examine yourself and say, "Well, I am a person of a certain age and everything's fine, and cognitively I'm good," but still, weigh it up.'

Ita Buttrose, 82, (pictured) is set to step down from her role as chair of the ABC this week, with the media veteran revealing on Sunday the real reason she's given up the top job

'Another five years. What would it be like? You have to know in yourself when you need to step aside. I felt that. It had nothing to do with any current events,' she added.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland made the unexpected announcement last August that Ita was stepping down as chairperson of ABC.

'Ms Buttrose is a giant of Australia's media industry, and the government thanks her for her exemplary service as chair of the ABC,' Rowland said at the time, paying tribute to the media icon's time as head of the national public broadcaster.

The television and radio personality has a six-decade career in the industry, and spent the past five years serving as chairperson of the government broadcasting network

Rowland continued: 'She has much to do in the remainder of her term and will leave the ABC stronger than when she was entrusted with the role in 2019.

'She navigated the public broadcaster through a challenging period that included strident political criticism, the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing transformation of the ABC so it can remain an essential part of Australian life in the digital age.'

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese named Kim Williams as Buttrose's replacement as the chair of the ABC.

With her replacement Kim Williams preparing to take over the role this week, Buttrose told Stellar's Something To Talk About podcast it was simply her time

Williams - a former AFL commissioner and one-time chief of Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Australia and Foxtel empires - was named as the new head of the public broadcaster in January.

'Kim is such a perfect fit for the role, it's almost as if he were made for it,' Mr Albanese said.

'He is as much at home running media companies as he is running arts organisations and, indeed, is a former AFL commissioner, so is engaged in sport as well.

'There aren't too many Australians I can think of who have both studied composition in Italy and been an AFL commissioner. Kim is a true renaissance man.'
Jenna Dewan cradled her baby bump while showcasing her fashionista status during an outing in Los Angeles on Saturday.

The 43-year-old star  who announced her third pregnancy last month  looked incredible in a sheer black bodysuit paired with black leather track pants as she headed out for a coffee run in Hollywood.

Adding an olive green jacket and a set of white sneakers to the mix, the Rookie actress kept her brunette tresses long and long while opting for minimal makeup.

Jenna is expecting her second baby with fiance Steve Kazee, with whom she shares son Callum, 3. She is also mom to daughter Everly, 10, whom she shares with ex Channing Tatum.

The Los Angeles outing comes after the former dancer expressed gratitude for the support received from her Rookie co-stars after revealing her baby news.

Jenna Dewan cradled her baby bump while proving worthy of her fashionista status during an outing in Los Angeles on Saturday

The 43-year-old star looked incredible in a sheer black bodysuit paired with stylish black leather track pants as she headed out for a coffee run in Hollywood.

'Everyone's amazing,' she said of her co-stars at the TCA Winter press tour. 'Thank you first of all. I say this show is lightning in a bottle because we all get along.'

She continued: 'We really all get along. It is a huge family on set, so I feel very taken care of.'

Alexi Hawley, the writer for The Rookie, subsequently detailed how the show seamlessly integrated Jenna's pregnancy into its storyline

'It's been amazing,' Jenna added. 'They've been absolutely incredible and so supportive, and it's truly the best job in the entire world.'

Last month, the actress announced her pregnancy through a video on Instagram.

In the clip, Steve serenaded her, playing the guitar while seated in a chair by the bathtub.

Jenna, sitting in a bubble bath, shifted the camera to reveal her bare bump, smiling while she enjoyed Kazee's singing.

'Think if I make @stevekazee serenade me every night the baby will get his voice??' she wrote in the caption.

The cast member of The Rookie announced that she was going through her third pregnancy by sharing a post on her Instagram account this past January

The Los Angeles outing comes after the former dancer expressed gratitude for the support received from her Rookie co-stars after revealing her baby news

Jenna is expecting her second baby with fiance Steve Kazee, with whom she shares son Callum, 3

Jenna welcomed her first bundle of joy, Everly, alongside her then-husband Channing in 2013.

The pair met on the set of Step Up, sealing their nuptial journey from 2009 to 2019.

After ending that phase, the actress began a new relationship with Steve, leading to their engagement in February 2020.

They welcomed their three-year-old son, Callum, the following month.
Sofia Vergara turned up the heat on a chilly California evening when she emerged from a girls' night in Beverly Hills on Saturday.

The 51-year-old Modern Family superstar  who recently reunited with the cast  was the acme of showbiz magnetism when se was glimpsed leaving the local outpost of Cipriani.

Her legendary hourglass figure was encased in a perfectly fitted black cocktail dress that plunged to emphasize her ample cleavage.

Amplifying the impact, the saucy number featured racy lace trim at the neckline, as well as at the hem, drawing attention to her statuesque legs.

Letting her caramel locks tumble over her shoulders in gentle waves, she accentuated her screen siren features with makeup.

Sofia Vergara turned up the heat on a chilly California evening when she emerged from a girls' night in Beverly Hills on Saturday

The 51-year-old Modern Family superstar was the acme of showbiz magnetism when se was glimpsed leaving the local outpost of Cipriani

Letting her caramel locks tumble over her shoulders in gentle waves, she accentuated her screen siren features with makeup

Amplifying the impact, the saucy number featured racy lace trim at the neckline, as well as at the hem, drawing attention to her statuesque legs

Sofia accessorized with a clutch and threw her long coat fashionably over her shoulders, balancing expertly on a towering pair of platform heels.

Taking the show to her Instagram page, she revealed her dinner companions that evening were her gal pals Anastasia Soare and Charlene Roxborough.

Anastasia, also known as the 'Eyebrow Queen,' is beloved by celebrities and is the founder of the famed salon Anastasia Beverly Hills.

Charlene meanwhile is a stylist to the stars, having worked with top-flight names ranging from Eva Longoria to Kris Jenner to Jeremy Renner.

Sofia's latest sighting comes weeks after she was heaped with critical acclaim for her role on the Netflix miniseries Griselda, in which she stars as the notorious drug lord Griselda Blanco, also known as the 'Cocaine Godmother.'

Although the show as a whole was met with mixed reviews, Sofia was praised by the Hollywood Reporter for her 'serious chops.'

A review from Loud and Clear vaunted Sofia's 'magnetic acting,' and the Star Tribune critic was impressed by 'her cold-blooded fierceness.'

Released on Netflix on January 25, the six-episode miniseries featured a cast that included Vanessa Ferlito, Karol G and Alberto Guerra.

Taking the show to her Instagram page, she revealed her dinner companions that evening were her gal pals Anastasia Soare (left) and Charlene Roxborough (center)

In a stylish touch, Sofia also uploaded a picture of a drink she enjoyed that evening, positioned in such as a way as to let her show the name of the restaurant on a cocktail napkin

'Cocaine Godmother' was one of Griselda's many nicknames - over the years she was also known as 'La Madrina' ('The Godmother') and 'The Black Widow.'

Born in Colombia in 1943, Griselda swiftly became a ruthless criminal who committed her first murder when she was 11 and her victim was 10.

In the 1970s she made her bones as a brutally vengeful, groundbreaking player in the Colombia-to-Miami drug trade that flowered during that decade and the one after.

Griselda married multiple times and produced four children, the youngest of whom she named - in a flash of dark humor - Michael Corleone Blanco.

Her latest sighting comes weeks after she was heaped with critical acclaim for her role on the Netflix miniseries Griselda, in which she stars as the notorious drug lord Griselda Blanco

Born in Colombia in 1943, Griselda swiftly became a ruthless criminal who committed her first murder when she was 11 and her victim was 10

In the mid-1980s Griselda was thrown in jail for three murders, two of drug dealers and one of a two-year-old boy.

She was set loose in 2004 and deported to Colombia, where in 2012 a motorcyclist shot her dead outside a Medellin butcher shop.

Sofia is herself no stranger to crime in Colombia, as her elder brother Rafael was tragically murdered there in 1998 when an abduction attempt went south.

'We come from a successful family, and he knew he was a target for kidnapping,' explained Sofia, whose father was a cattle farmer.

'He always had bodyguards. Then one day he went out alone and was shot dead. I was devastated,' she added, according to the New York Post.
Bella Geminder has held a stunning engagement party with her new fiance Jose Falk.

The billionaire Melbourne heiress shared a series of images to Instagram Stories on Sunday from the outdoor shindig which happened on Saturday.

The granddaughter of late entrepreneur Richard Pratt, 25, looked incredible in a slinky white gown.

The frock featured a one-shoulder design and a thigh-high split, and she paired it with chunky heels.

The model posed alongside a pool with her guests and Jose, who was her long-term boyfriend before he popped the question.

Bella Geminder has held a stunning engagement party with her new fiance Jose Falk. Both pictured

The billionaire Melbourne heiress shared a series of images to Instagram Stories on Sunday from the outdoor shindig which happened on Saturday

The granddaughter of late entrepreneur Richard Pratt, 25, looked incredible in a slinky white gown

On offer for guests was a drink cart offering peach beverages and an array of sandwiches accompanied by potato chips and pickles.

Bella announced her engagement last month, sharing a gallery of romantic holiday photos to Instagram to mark the happy occasion.

One heartwarming snap showed Jose kissing Bella's forehead against a snowy background, while a second captured the blonde flaunting her huge diamond engagement ring in a ski gondola.

She captioned the gallery with a single heartfelt word: 'Forever'.

The frock featured a one-shoulder design and a thigh-high split, and she paired it with chunky heels

The model posed alongside a pool with her guests and Jose, who was her long-term boyfriend before he popped the question

The party happened at a Melbourne residence

The stunner opted for a clean makeup look

The bride-to-be mingled with guests while enjoying a cocktail

She looked gorgeous in her slinky gown

Bella beamed as she posed for sweet photos by the pool

A professional photographer could be seen documenting the shindig

Many of Bella's famous friends and family were quick to congratulate the happy couple on the amazing news.

'Love you both,' wrote her sister Georgia and Brooke Warne added: 'Congratulations'.

'Congratulations Angel!! So so happy for you!!' Ruby Brownless chipped in and Pip Edwards posted a love heart emoji.

Bella is the granddaughter of Australia's late 'Cardboard King' Richard Pratt and younger daughter of billionaire packaging magnates Raphael and Fiona Geminder.

On offer for guests was a drink cart offering peach beverages

There was also an array of sandwiches accompanied by potato chips and pickles

A spread of meats, cheese and veggies was available

The venue was decorated with pink roses and jugs of cocktails

The burrata bar clearly delighted the guests with many sharing images of the spread

Breads and cheeses were plentiful at the beautifully set table

Crudites were among the food on offer with plates stacked high for guests to serve themselves

The stunning grounds were attended by wait staff

Bella's friends looked delighted as they shared a drink in the garden

In October 2022, her older sister Georgia, 30, and investment director Matthew Danos tied the knot in an opulent society wedding.

The event took place in the ritzy suburb of Kew, and was a traditional Jewish ceremony followed by a black tie reception inside a marquee at Raheen, the Pratt family mansion.

Georgia and Matthew married under a large outdoor chuppah (a Jewish wedding canopy) surrounded by friends and family.

Bella announced her engagement last month, sharing a gallery of romantic holiday photos to Instagram to mark the happy occasion

She captioned the gallery with a single heartfelt word: 'Forever'

Bella's mother Fiona owns cardboard giant Visy and is worth a reported $3.4billion, while her father Raphael - who is also on Forbes Rich List - has a 40 percent share in plastics manufacturer, Pact.

Her grandfather Richard Pratt, an immigrant born in Poland whose family fled to Australia months before the German invasion, was a leading figure in Melbourne society until his death on April 29, 2009.

Geminder, a former Australian Grand Prix ambassador, spent seven years modelling in Australia, London and Los Angeles before quitting the industry to create a non-toxic toothpaste brand in 2020.
Sally Obermeder set temperatures soaring on Sunday when she hit the beach.

The Real Housewives of Sydney star, 50, ensured all eyes were on her in a clam-shell style one piece that showcased her stunning bikini body on Sydney's Bondi Beach.

One eye-popping image shared to Instagram shows Sally posing up a storm in a wide-brimmed hat and designer shades as she looks down at the camera.

In another picture, Obermeder is all smiles lying on a beach towel.

She captioned the gallery with some inspiring words.

'Sunday. Part play/part work but all good. Hope you all had a beautiful weekend,' she wrote.

Sally Obermeder set temperatures soaring on Sunday when she hit the beach. The Real Housewives of Sydney star, 50, ensured all eyes were on her in a clam-shell style one piece that showcased her stunning bikini body on Sydney's Bondi Beach. Pictured

In another picture, Obermeder is all smiles lying on a beach towel. She captioned the gallery with some inspiring words

It comes after Sally had a bad experience trying to catch Taylor Swift in concert last week.

The television host headed out to watch the pop star's fourth concert at Accor stadium but mistakenly got off the train at Homebush.

She broke down in a combination of tears and laughter as she explained that she thought the show was at Homebush and not at Olympic Park.

Sally soon realised her error when not one other Swiftie could be seen getting off the same stop.

'This sums me up. I am more big picture. Sometimes I skim the details,' she wrote in her caption alongside a video shared to Instagram.

'Sunday. Part play/part work but all good. Hope you all had a beautiful weekend,' she wrote

'And then I end up in these situations - I got off at Homebush. Because that's what I thought when people said, 'Taylor Swift is performing at Homebush.'"

Sally and her long-term partner Marcus tied the knot back in 2001.

After years of difficulties trying to start a family, she became pregnant through IVF.

The couple welcomed their first daughter in October 2011 named Annabelle.
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley commanded attention in a daring grey co-ord as she arrived at the Valentino show during Paris Fashion Week on Sunday.

The model, 36, looked incredible in a racy grey midi skirt which boasted an eye catching side split and three cut outs with butterfly detailing.

She showed off her sensational figure in the number which she teamed with a matching long sleeved cropped jumper.

Rosie elevated her frame in a pair of elegant white pointed toe heels and toted her belongings around in a grey clutch.

The runway star accessorised with a chunky gold chain necklace and coordinated drop earrings from Tiffany & Co.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley commanded attention in a daring grey co-ord as she stepped out at the Valentino womenswear fall/winter show during Paris Fashion Week on Sunday

The model, 36, looked incredible in a racy grey midi skirt which boasted an eye catching split and three cut outs with butterfly's

Styling her long blonde tresses loose, the former Victoria's Secret model completed her look with a pair of sunglasses as she posed for photos outside.

The eagerly anticipated annual Fashion Week kicked off on Monday and will run until March 5.

This is the first fashion show Rosie has been seen at since arriving in the French capital on Friday while her fiance and children entertain themselves at home.

Rosie is engaged to actor Jason Statham, 56, and despite the couple's twenty-year age gap, they have been together since 2010,

They share a son, Jack, six, and a daughter, Isabella, 21 months, and enjoyed some quality time together in Abu Dhabi.

Despite having been engaged for almost nine years, Rosie has admitted that she and Jason have no plans of marrying anytime soon.

Rosie and Jason are protective over their children and avoid directly posting their faces on social media.

The family split their time between LA and London, but the star has a special place in her heart for her home.

Rosie was born in the Devon city of Plymouth before moving to market town Tavistock, and has previously spoken about how much she loves that part of the world.

She showed off her sensational figure in the number which she teamed with a matching long sleeved cropped jumper

The runway star accessorised with a chunky gold chain necklace and coordinated drop earrings

Rosie elevated her frame in a pair of elegant white pointed toe heels and toted her belongings around in a grey clutch

Styling her long blonde tresses loose, the former Victoria's Secret model completed her look with a pair of sunglasses as she posed for photos outside

Serena Williams attends the Valentino Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show

She wore a pink and white dress

She gave a wave as she arrived

Caroline Daur attends the Valentino Womenswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025 show

Molly Gordon wore a leggy black dress

Vittoria Ceretti walked the runway


BJP's Madhavi Latha likely to give tough fight to Owaisi Asaduddin Owaisi, whose party AIMIM overcame many challenges to hold on to Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat for 40 years, is likely to face tough battle this time with the BJP fielding businesswoman and philanthropist, Kompella Madhavi Latha, who has been working in Muslim-majority old city. The BJP has named Kompella Madhavi Latha, chairperson of city-based Virinchi Hospitals, as its candidate for the forthcoming polls.



Owaisi, seen by many as the face of the Indian Muslims, may face spirited challenge from the BJP whose leaders are confident of wresting the seat from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).



A professional Bharatanatyam dancer, Madhavi Latha has never been an active politician but multiple factors led to BJP picking her as its candidate to take on Owaisi in his stronghold.



The BJP had never fielded a woman in Hyderabad and with Madhavi Latha said to be active in philanthropic activities in parts of the old city, the party is looking to tap the Muslim votes.



Known for her pro-Hindutva speeches, Madhavi Latha also campaigned against triple talaq. She is said to be in touch with various Muslim women groups.



The 49-year-old is a trustee of Lathamma Foundation and Lopamudra Charitable Trust and also runs a small fund for destitute Muslim women. She also runs a gaushala.



Hoping for a BJP ticket, she had already started meeting women in some parts of the old city. Last month, she posted on social media her photographs distributing ration among burka-clad women. The programme was organised under the aegis of Lathama Foundation.



Madhavi Latha organises education, healthcare and food distribution programmes and offers to help the needy with a missed call to her mobile number.



After BJP announced her as its candidate, she added Mission Hyderabad Parliament to her profile on social media. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President J. P. Nadda, Amit Shah and other leaders for giving her the opportunity to contest from Hyderabad.



A bitter critic of AIMIM, she says that the party never tried to address the problems of poverty and poor civic amenities in the constituency.



A post-graduate in political sciences from Koti Womens College, she is looking to succeed where BJP stalwarts like Venkaiah Naidu had failed in the past.



BJP, which has set the target of winning 370 Lok Sabha seats across the country, is focussing on Telangana, where it had bagged four out of 17 seats in 2019.



The party is eyeing all the Lok Sabha seats in the state. Union minister and state BJP President G. Kishan Reddy recently exuded confidence that BJP will wrest Hyderabad from AIMIM.



He claimed that minorities in the city wish to see Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. The people of the old city are looking for a change. In the Assembly polls, the BJPs vote share increased considerably in the Hyderabad Parliamentary constituency while the Majlis vote percentage declined, said Kishan Reddy, who will be seeking re-election from Secunderabad constituency.



No matter who is in power in the state or in the country and no matter which wave is sweeping elsewhere, AIMIM retained its grip on Hyderabad in every election since 1984.



On the 66th anniversary of AIMIMs revival on Saturday, Asaduddin Owaisi exuded confidence that he will retain the seat with increased majority.



In 2019, he had retained the seat with a majority of 2.82 lakh votes against his nearest rival Bhagvanth Rao of BJP. The difference between the same rivals in 2014 was 2.02 lakh votes.



Asaduddin Owaisis father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was elected from Hyderabad six times. In 1996, he had defeated BJPs senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu.



Salahuddin Owaisi opted out in 2004 due to ill-health and since then Asaduddin Owaisi has been representing the constituency.



The delimitation of constituencies in 2008 helped the party further consolidate itself. As three urban Assembly segments replaced the rural segments which were earlier part of Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, AIMIM became virtually invincible.



The partys strength in the Assembly also rose to seven, from its earlier highest tally of five.




Sharon Osbourne's astonishing Celebrity Big Brother fee for five days has reportedly been revealed.

The former X Factor, 71, is thought to be an expected housemate for the upcoming reboot of the reality series on ITV alongside her former colleague Louis Walsh.

Sharon will reportedly not stay for the full 17 days as insiders said that her fee was too expensive for ITV.

And The Sun now reports that she will be paid 100,000 per day for the five days she is there.

The publication claims that ITV reached a 500,000 deal with her to enter the house for the short amount of time, after they found her fee for the whole three-week series too expensive.

Sharon Osbourne's astonishing Celebrity Big Brother fee for five days has reportedly been revealed

The former X Factor, 71, is thought to be an expected housemate for the upcoming reboot of the reality series on ITV alongside with her former colleague Louis Walsh

A source told the publication: 'Bosses did all they could to get Sharon and finally reached a deal she's happy with.

'Sharon will inject enough drama but without her original price tag that was just not feasible.

'Producers cannot wait to see her reunite with Louis and know that it will be TV gold.'

ITV and Sharon's representatives have been contacted by MailOnline for comment.

A Celebrity Big Brother spokesperson then told MailOnline: 'Any names are at this point pure speculation and viewers will have to tune to see who will be entering the Celebrity Big Brother house.'

Sharon will reportedly not stay for the full 17 days as insiders said that her fee was too expensive for ITV.

This will mean the fiery redhead will make a much shorter appearance on the show than her fellow celebrity housemates.

While her time on CBB will be different to the others, she will reunite with fellow legendary X Factor judge Walsh after he was also listed on Wednesday's line-up.

It will be the first time they will be seen together on British TV in seven years.

Fellow show judge Louis, also 71, has reportedly reached a huge six-figure deal for him to enter the house.

And The Sun now reports that she will be paid 100,000 per day for the five days after bosses said her proposed full-time fee was too high

She will reunite with fellow legendary X Factor judge Louis, 71, after he was also listed on Wednesday's lineup. It will be the first time they will be seen together on British TV in seven years

It is claimed bosses hope Louis will share secrets from his career while in the house.

As well as a panellist on The X Factor from 2004 to 2017, Louis has also worked with the likes of Westlife, Boyzone and Girls Aloud.

The countdown has begun for Celebrity Big Brother.

With the new series set to kick off on March 4, bosses have transformed the iconic TV set ahead of welcoming a host of stars through its doors.

The show will return six years after it was last broadcast on Channel 5 and ITV bosses have spared no expense on making the property a five star experience for the pampered celebs.

The house, which was home to 16 civilians in the rebooted series last year, has been given a starry makeover and turned gold in preparation for its new arrivals.

The interior of the house features an open plan layout with the kitchen, dining area and seating area for the evictions all in one room with accents of gold to mark the housemates' celebrity status dotted around the sprawling property.

The space is dominated by two large semi-circular sofas which are placed underneath a flat screen TV. This will be where the housemates gather for the live evictions and house announcements from Big Brother.

In the centre of the room is a long, slender dining room with 14 chairs, seven on either side.

The housemates will get plenty of natural light during their stay as a glass window on the roof looks down onto the living area.

To the right of the dining area is the kitchen, which features a sleek green counters and a pink marble island.

There is a wooden island with a fuchsia counter top and four chairs were some of the housemates can sit to enjoy their breakfast.

While the Big Brother house has nearly always been a bungalow, this year's house features an upstairs area.

Directly above the kitchen is another living space.

On the bathroom, a source said: 'Privacy seems to be a luxury in the house, with two glass showers, and a huge bathtub, so housemates won't be able to escape Big Brother's watching eye.'

The house has put sustainability at the forefront, with an outdoor water tank collecting rainwater that will fill the jacuzzi.

Fellow show judge Louis, has reportedly reached a huge six-figure deal for him to enter the house. It is claimed bosses hope Louis will share secrets from his career while in the house (pictured together in 2004)

ITV told MailOnline: 'Any names are at this point pure speculation and viewers will have to tune to see who will be entering the Celebrity Big Brother house' (pictured 2010)

In previous years, the smoking area has been a fixture of house chat and gossip, but this year, it will be kept away from the cameras, with just a microphone to pick up on any dramatic discussions.

This year's house also features a cheeky nod to its reality TV rival Love Island, with the inclusion of an outdoor fireplace.

ITV bosses created a brand new house for the reboot of the show after the original house at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, was demolished in 2019.

Celebrity Big Brother starts on March 4 on ITV1, STV, ITVX and STV Player.
Katie Price cosied up to new boyfriend JJ Slater as they attended their first red carpet together at the 2024 Gossies Awards in Dublin on Saturday night.

The former glamour model, 45, looked smitten with the MAFS star, 31, as they posed up a storm for photos at the event held at the Royal Dublin Society.

The mother-of-five showed off her surgically enhanced curves in a black dazzling lace cut out jumpsuit which she teamed with silver glittering knee high boots.

Meanwhile JJ donned an all black outfit as he wrapped an arm around Katie's waist and she raised her leg.

Katie went public with her new romance last week after having a string of dates and a romantic getaway with the MAFS star.

Katie Price cosied up to new boyfriend JJ Slater as they attended their first red carpet together at the 2024 Gossies Awards in Dublin on Saturday night

The former glamour model, 45, looked smitten with the MAFS star, 31, as they posed up a storm for photos at the event held at the Royal Dublin Society

And fans have now shared their fears that Katie could be 'heading for disaster' with her latest romance.

On Friday Katie and JJ attended GKBarry's, who's real name is Grace Keeling, final Saving Grace podcast at the London Palladium where Katie performed her single I Got You to the sold out crowd.

Following the show, the new couple headed out in London to a bar and shared a number of loved-up snaps.

However fans were quick to take to the comments to share their fears she has moved on too fast with JJ.

One wrote: 'I feel for her ... because you know it's just going to end in disaster'.

Another penned: 'Just be on your own for a while Katie, love yourself.'

A third said: 'Jj desperate for fame. KP desperate for a man and to feel young!'

However, other fans came to her defence as she moves on from her years long on/off engagement to Love Island star Carl Woods, whom she split with at the end of 2023.

One wrote: 'Leave them alone....if Katie is happy then so be it....life is too short for gossip and slagging off people.....jeeze'.

Katie went public with her new romance last week after having a string of dates and a romantic getaway with the MAFS star

Meanwhile JJ donned an all black outfit as he wrapped an arm around Katie's waist and she raised her leg

The mother-of-five showed off her surgically enhanced curves in a black dazzling lace cut out jumpsuit which she teamed with silver glittering knee high boots

She styled her long dark tresses in a high ponytail as she posed for photos

On Friday Katie and JJ enjoyed a date night out in London to a bar and shared a number of loved-up snaps

However fans were quick to take to the comments to share their fears she has moved on too fast with JJ

However, other fans came to her defence as she moves on from her years long on/off engagement to Love Island star Carl Woods, whom she split with at the end of 2023

Another added: 'Why cant people just be happy for her and mind your own if you dont like her posts unfollow her its quite simple!'

It comes after Katie confirmed her romance with JJ earlier this week in a gushing social media post.

Sharing a selfie with JJ as the two cosied up to one another, she wrote: '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.

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.'

Kate confirmed her romance with MAFS UK star in 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'
Louise Thompson has revealed what has helped her get through her gruelling hospital stints as she said she has feeling feeling 'really s***'.

The Made In Chelsea star, 33, shared a heartfelt post on Instagram updating her 1.4million followers on how she was feeling on Sunday afternoon.

Louise recently spent two weeks in hospital after losing 'cups of blood' due to Ulcerative Colitis while in Antigua her fiance Ryan Libbey and son Leo.

Following her discharge after the 12-day stint, Louise was then admitted to hospital three times in one week over extreme pains, ultrasounds and check ins.

Alongside an album of hospital pictures, Louise captioned her post with 31 tips that she would recommend when staying in hospital for a long period of time.

Louise Thompson has revealed what has helped her get through her gruelling hospital stints as she said she has feeling feeling 'really s***' (pictured with fiance Ryan Libbey)

The Made In Chelsea star, 33, shared a heartfelt post on Instagram updating her 1.4million followers on how she was feeling

Revealing that her friends and family have played a huge part of her recovery, she captioned her honest post: 'Things that helped me in H.

'Before I press forward I just want to go back and talk about some nuggets that have helped me as an inpatient - Because yesterday afternoon someone* at the hospital said 'thank you so much for sharing all you do because it actually helps people'

'The funny thing is I probably added the word 'actually' into that sentence in my own head because it still shocks me as to how much of an impact social media can have.or I could have but her comment made me realise I need to keep talking, even if it's for the minority of people. Actually especially for the minority of people.

'I know by waxing lyrical about my problems I'm liable to extra scrutiny and am keen to stave off this narrative of 'poor me' or 'look at me i've spent time in hospital', given that there are a lot of people going through a lot of s**t, but I shouldn't invalidate my lived experience. I have been through a lot. It has been really s**t. I have been really bloody strong. And I have learnt a lot along the way. And now I want to educate people in a really simple way about the inevitable struggles that come with spending time in hospital. And also how pants lifelong chronic conditions can be.

'So I'm sharing this incase you or someone you know has to spend a bit of time here. (Could indeed be the joyful occasion of giving birth, doesn't always need to be doom and gloom) but let me tell you - it really is the little things that help.

'It's basic stuff.

'1. This is absolutely as pretty as it's going to get in here. A real magical moment. If you're lucky enough to be in a ward with a nice window or anywhere near a window, maybe you could ask to go and take a peek because any view of the outside world is comforting. Even the sound of an insignificant fight between two people in the middle of the night on a Saturday felt joyful, simply in the way it connected me with the outside world and reminded me of normal person problems late nights and hangovers. Although it's now been 3+ years since I've had one.

'2. Earplugs. Essential. Sometimes they run out on the wards. Bring them for a friend. Or noise cancelling headphones. We gave in and bought some a few days in which have this snazzy button that can actually tune out of all external noise. Quite important for my recovery to avoid absorbing everyone else's problems/trauma.

Louise recently spent two weeks in hospital after losing 'cups of blood' due to Ulcerative Colitis while on holiday in Antigua with her son, Leo, and her fiance Ryan Libbey

Revealing that her friends and family have played a huge part of her recovery, she captioned her honest post: 'Things that helped me in H..

'3. Sitting in the plant room with Ryan for 5 minutes to get out of the room (pre op, when I was mobile). Just seeing and touching leaves or any form of nature does something special to the mind that I can't really explain, but a million research studies can. It's enriching.

'4. Applying some eye gels and spraying some fancy hydrating mist on my face. The better the smell, the better. Your senses are so alive when you're hyper vigilant, so being able to connect them with good memories or good smells feels like a positive distraction.

'5. I listened to a white noise bird song in the background 24/7 on my first stay. When I wasn't I would listen to healing affirmations/ meditations / sound frequencies! Honestly I'll try anything and everything to get well quickly.

'6. Lying in bed with Ryan (probably a bit naughty as he's a heffalump) but having a tiny bit of skin on skin contact is nice, even if we just lie there together in silence because I have no energy.

'7. FaceTiming my baby boy. I didn't have the energy or capacity for anyone else. But I did look through a lot of pictures of friends and the good old times.

'8. A letter from one of the kind, kind nurses to wake up to. I met some exceptionally kind nurses.

'9. My poor mum, dad and Ryan visited every single day. These two also came in with some nice costume changes ;-).

'10. Having access to an iPad to watch something when my head isn't in medical mode. Working moms is the ultimate escapism.

'Will continue images to coincide with list over on my stories and add to highlight reel!

'11. Ryan brushing my hair and in his words, not mine 'stimulating those follicles'.

'12. Giving Ryan a face massage.

'13. Sudoku. Usually I can take down a 'hard' puzzle in 3 minutes flat, so I knew my head was in pure panic mode when I couldn't find ONE 'easy' number in 3 minutes But I got there in the end. Distraction is key. I think this distraction was too heavy though at that moment. Should have stuck to bullet no.10

'14. Seeing a glimmer of sunlight in a photo taken on reverse on my phone. I didn't realise that I had such an amazing view of the city for 3 days haha! My bed was facing a glass door and I didn't so much as move a finger for fear of ripping open.

'15. I had a couple of visits from the nicest, smiliest, most informative and sensitive anaesthetist for a chat post op. She actually came to find me in different parts of the hospital when I was recovering. Great wonders for my MH.

'16. Ryan brought me a lollipop, although I was petrified to eat it. A few days into being in ITU I turned on the tv and then felt really weirdly guilty about the fact that I had such an amazing tv in my room. I kept asking permission to watch it and felt weirdly naughty like I was breaking hospital rules haha!

'17. Being told I need to eat loads of ice cream/being prescribed ice cream 3 times a day. I have so much to say about food and this crazy situ i've found myself in.

'18. An eye mask and hydrating spray and a gua sha

The cutest card with a picture of a mouse that made me cry instantly

'19. A funny aeroplane pillow that Sam and Zara brought in!

'20. Being able to move and waking up with a strong urge to tidy one morning

'21. Tapping for a good night sleep. Will share the video I follow

'22. Going on pinterest and then seeing my own picture of my home on there. The ultimate in flattery (or Ai freakery) given that I haven't used it in years and years.

'23. Sam and Zara bringing pjs so I don't have to wear the hospital gown

'24. Watching the news in the morning. Anything that makes me feel like I'm living to a normal routine

'25. The first shower in hospital

'26. Home clothes

'27. An uexpected visit from a few friends that almost sent me into a tailspin but was the absolute best thing for my head in that moment

'28. Binky sending me videos of her visit to magic mike a couple of evenings ago

'29. Speaking to the lovely lovely volunteers with magazines from months ago or sweeties (hopefully not from months ago)

Her open Instagram post comes after the star was admitted to hospital three times in one week in February . The mum-of-one has been in and out of hospital since giving birth to Leo, two, following a traumatic birth that left her with PTSD

'30. Mobilising as much as possible when I can. It can feel hard when you feel like it's enforced upon you especially when it's really soon post op or you're in really savage pain, but I guess it's good for you. I try to pace the corridors and see normal faces as much as poss.

'31. My mum and Ryan doing the crossword in the same room as me when I was in so much pain I couldn't talk or contribute in anyway. But the background conversation was nice.

'*this is not giving them enough credit because they weren't just 'someone' they were a lovely lovely lady who made a BIG impact during a very scary experience when I was struggling. There are many of you. 

Her open Instagram post comes after the star was admitted to hospital three times in one week in February .

The mum-of-one has been in and out of hospital since giving birth to Leo, two, following a traumatic birth that left her with PTSD.

She was discharged following a 12-day stint earlier this week before she had to return days later for a check in and again 24 hours later for an ultrasound after her pain became unbearable.

Ryan shared a heartfelt post to his Instagram Stories during the end of February revealing that she returned to hospital over extreme pains.

Sharing a sweet post of the two of them in the back of a car, Ryan wrote: 'This little warrior is doing well, but the pain has ramped up in the last 48 hours.

'So we are back at the hospital for an ultrasound to check nothing there is nothing sinister happening.'

Earlier that week, Louise informed fans she will be spending a lot of time in hospital going forward as she needs to return for 'weekly check ins'.

Taking to her Instagram Stories, the star shared a selfie and wrote: 'Big Steps. 1. First school run with the gang. 2. Then back to hospital for weekly check ins.'

Louise shared a sweet video earlier that week again of her son Leo visiting her in hospital after 12 days apart as she gave an update on her health.

Taking to Instagram, Louise shared the moment they were reunited and how it gave her 'the motivational boost I needed' to get her home.

She shared a Reel to her page alongside the words: 'I didn't see this peanut for 12 days. But a visit was just the motivational boost I needed to hurry my recovery on and get me home for good.

'More on children visiting hospital in the caption. Would love to learn your thoughts.' The Reel was sweetly set to Betty Who's I Love You Always Forever.

She was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis during her last stint in hospital which is the inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system. The condition sadly has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time

She added in a lengthy caption: 'One of the strange things about this whole experience has been navigating time spent in hospital with a little one at home.

'When Ryan was young(ish)  well we've now established he was about 8 years old - he saw his mum in hospital connected to lots of wires after a major back surgery and the memory still stings him to this day.

'Ryan's not very good with hospital. I don't judge him for it. That's one of the reasons why we thought long and hard about bringing Leo in to visit.'

Louise said during her first seven days in hospital Leo wasn't allowed to visit but while she was in ITU a doctor recommended that it was good idea for her to see Leo when she was further along in her recovery.

'This is going to sound horrendous but when I was, say, 'septic' post op I didn't think about Leo. I couldn't think about anything. I couldn't concentrate. Plus I was on Fentanyl for 5 days so I was drifting in and out,' she continued.

'It was only as I started to feel a bit better that I could think more rationally and could weigh up the pros and cons.

'I'd facetimed him on one of the days and got a bit upset. I didn't want to show him lots of sadness. I didn't want to add any more confusion.

'I didn't want to disrupt the challenges that Ryan was dealing with at home - my health uncertainty and the change to Leo's routine.

'Leo was happy and busy at nursery several days a week. Lots of family rallied around to play with him. Things were really ok for him.

'I also reminded myself that some young parents go away for work or for holidays with their partners leaving their kids behind for a week or so anyway! That made me feel a lot better.'

Louise also shared an update on Instagram stories. She said: 'I wanted to let you know that I am actually doing really well recovering at home. (I keep touching my hair, aka, touching wood, whenever I say this to anyone that visits because I'm mindful I don't want to speak too soon and I don't want to jinx anything'.

Louise, the elder sister of Sam Thompson, has faced series of health issues since the birth of Leo-Hunter in November 2021.

She was diagnosed with Ulcerative colitis during her last stint in hospital which is the inflammation of the lower end of the digestive system.

The condition sadly has no cure, but can be effectively managed with time.

Louise revealed a while after welcoming Leo that she and he nearly died during the traumatic labour

Before Louise's latest health scare, she was posting photos from her family trip with Ryan, Leo and her father to Antigua And Barbuda.

A post on January 28 featured a carousel of snaps of herself with little Leo, alongside which she wrote an emotive caption about 'learning to lean into and be grateful for those imperfect in-between moments because nothing lasts forever'.

Louise revealed a while after welcoming Leo that she and he nearly died during the traumatic labour.

On December 23, 2021, Louise announced the birth of her son on her Instagram page and revealed she had been discharged from hospital to recover at home.

She said: '5 weeks ago I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy Leo-Hunter Libbey weighing in at 7lbs. Unfortunately it wasn't the easiest start for either of us. One ended up in NICU and the other ended up in ICU.'

Louise said that Leo recovered quickly, but she had to deal with 'many bad things', saying: 'To dance with death twice brings a whole new view of the world.'

In December, two years after Leo's birth, she reflected on the time since the traumatic series of events.

She said: 'Here's a reminder that a lot can change in a year. A lot can change in 6 months. Indeed a lot can change in a month but it's hard to witness the change until you create some sizeable distance from it.

'I'm crying writing this. I'm feeling very emotional today. I can't lie it feels nice to purge my pain. I encourage you to try writing and crying too.

'Sometimes it helps. But the main reason I'm writing this is because I really want you guys to know that you must keep moving forward. Don't give up. Because there will be a time when you will want to wear a pretty party dress again. You will shine again.'

The reality star announced last month she is releasing a book, Lucky, where she will tell the story of the near-death experience.
Coronation Street's Adam Barlow if left for dead after evil ganger Harvey Gaskell exacts his revenge from behind bars on Monday.

The lawyer, played by Sam Robertson, finds himself on the wrong side of the villain (Will Mellor) after backing out on a deal to free him from prison in return for getting rid of love rival Damon Hay (Ciaran Griffiths).

Once Harvey learns Adam has handed incriminating CCTV footage to the police ruining his chance of an appeal, he sends an accomplice to Weatherfield to target Adam's wife Sarah (Tina OBrien) and her daughter Bethany (Lucy Fallon) .

In the dramatic scenes a car speeds down the cobbles towards the two women before Adam pushes them out of the way and take the full impact of the vehicle.

The character can be seen thrown into the air before landing unconscious in the road, but viewers will have to tune in to discover if Adam has payed the ultimate price for his dodgy dealings.

Coronation Street 's Adam Barlow if left for dead after evil ganger Harvey Gaskell exacts his revenge from behind bars on Mondaye

The lawyer, played by Sam Robertson, finds himself on the wrong side of the villain ( Will Mellor ) after backing out on a deal to free him from prison in return for getting rid of love rival Damon Hay (Ciaran Griffiths)

Will Mellor pictured as evil gangster Harvey

It comes after Sue Nicholls has paid tribute to her Coronation Street co-star John Savident following his death aged 86.

The actor was known for his booming voice while playing butcher Fred Elliott on the ITV soap from 1994 to 2006.

A statement from his agent to the PA news agency said: 'We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February, he was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.'

Sue, 80, plays Audrey Roberts on Coronation Street and memorably told Fred she wished she was marrying him the day he was to tie the knot with Bev Unwin (Susie Blake).

In a statement, she said: 'I am very sad to hear of John's passing. My memories of working with you dear John on the street are a joy, and always will be.

'God bless you and thank you for being in my life. Much love to you and your friends and family.'

ITV Executive Producer for Continuing Drama Iain MacLeod said: 'Everyone at Coronation Street is deeply saddened to learn of John Savident's death. As Fred Elliott, John firmly established himself in the pantheon of Coronation Street greats.

'His peerless comic timing, combined with a deep pathos arising from his outstanding dramatic skill, made Fred an unforgettable, iconic character that provided great joy to viewers for many years.

Once Harvey learns Adam has handed incriminating CCTV footage to the police ruining his chance of an appeal, he sends an accomplice to Weatherfield to target Adam's wife Sarah (Tina OBrien, centre) and her daughter Bethany (Lucy Fallon, left)

In the dramatic scenes a car speeds down the cobbles towards the two women before Adam pushes them out of the way and take the full impact of the vehicle

The character can be seen thrown into the air before landing unconscious in the road, but viewers will have to tune in to discover if Adam has payed the ultimate price for his dodgy dealings

'On behalf of everyone here, I would like to extend condolences to John's family and close friends at this sad time.'

In 1994, Savident arrived on the cobbles and quickly became a fan favourite.

His storylines involved his disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals.

A secret son, Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), also arrived on the show and the two later developed a close bond as they worked as butchers together.

Savident's character was killed off in 2006, suffering a stroke on the day he was supposed to marry Bev (Susie Blake). His final episode was watched by 11 million viewers.

The actor is survived by his wife Rona Hopkinson - who he married in 1961 and their two children.
Morag Crichton looked completely unrecognisable in a new Instagram selfie as she showcased her dramatic new hairstyle on Sunday.

The Married At First Sight UK star, 31, who rose to fame on the 2021 series, debuted her auburn bob as she posed for a smiley snap.

The reality star switched up her platinum blonde locks for the on-trend auburn hairstyle.

Captioning her post, she wrote: 'Entering My Ginger Era..'

The MAFS star recently underwent a nose job and admitted she felt 'horrendous' during the aftermath of the procedure.

Morag Crichton, 31, looked completely unrecognisable in a new Instagram selfie as she showcased her dramatic new hairstyle on Sunday

The Married At First Sight UK star, who rose to fame on the 2021 series, switched up her platinum blonde locks for the on-trend auburn hairstyle (pictured in October 2023)

Earlier this month, Morag documented her surgery process and showed fans what the results were post-operation.

Morag had bruised around her eyes and a bloodied nose, with a large bandage strapped across her face.

The Only Fans star said she looks as if she's been in a fight with Tyson Fury as she struggled to get to sleep in her hotel after the operation.

Morag, who initially admitted her recovery was going to be a 'walk in the park', said: 'I'm finally back at the hotel. Excuse the state of me.

'Do you know what it feels like? It's like I've just woken up with the world's worst hangover but also last night I got into a fight with Tyson Fury.

'And it took forever to get back to the hotel because there's a blizzard and snow everywhere, thunder and lightning at the same time.

'I haven't had a wink of sleep, not one minute of sleep so that's what I plan on doing all day today.'

During her MAFS UK stint, Margo embarked on an ill-fated marriage to Luke Dawson.

The reality star debuted her auburn bob as she posed for a smiley snap and captioned her post: 'Entering My Ginger Era..'

The MAFS star recently underwent a nose job and admitted she felt 'horrendous' during the aftermath of the procedure

Under the knife: The reality star, 31, has been documenting her surgery process and took to Instagram on Tuesday post the operation

Tough: The Only Fans star said she looks as if she's been in a fight with Tyson Fury as she struggled to get to sleep in her hotel after the operation

Surgery: Morag struggled to sleep in hospital post operation before she was released and headed back to her hotel to recover

After the show, the animal lover admitted that she found it 'really difficult' to watch how she was portrayed and was even forced to stop watching for the sake of her mental health.

She said: 'You can only watch yourself be painted out to be someone you're not for so long. Eighty per cent of conversations arent shown. I'm not someone whos like "I didn't come out with that, it's editing", but what producers do take out is context', she told The Sun.

Morag told the way things were portrayed on TV made her look like a 'complete b***h', adding that if there were any opportunities in which she was 'actually being nice', it wasn't aired at it didn't 'meet their narrative'.

But despite this experience, Morag looked back on her appearance on the show as a 'blessing', telling how it was a unique opportunity for people to 'really see themselves in a different light', both good and bad, and reflect on how that can work on that in the future.

After her stint on the show, the veterinary nurse launched her own Only Fans page.

She told MailOnline: 'I love stripping off - there are loads of nudes of me out there! Im surprised they havent seen the light of day.

'I have more fun taking nudes than selling products I dont care about on Instagram. I would rather take a selfie of my boobs.'

The Essex native went on to say that she'd rather take control and earn her own money with OnlyFans rather than wait for opportunities to come up on Instagram.

She added: 'And I love seeing myself in that light and I would rather do that than wait around for the next sponsorship deal. Onlyfans helps me pay my rent and bills. I dont mind getting my nipple out either'.
Naomi Campbell cut a cosy figure as she stepped out to the Bristol Hotel on Sunday during Paris Fashion Week.

The supermodel, 53, kept her Sunday afternoon look casual with a black beany hat, Nike high tops and a pair of black joggers.

Dressing for the weather, she piled on layers for her outing as she donned a cream and grey trench coat, which she loosely fastened with a cream tie.

Underneath, she shielded away from the cold with a hoody and a turtle neck jumper.

Adding a touch of glamour to her look, Noami paired her dressed-down ensemble with a distressed Chanel day bag.

Naomi Campbell cut a cosy figure as she stepped out to the Bristol Hotel on Sunday during Paris Fashion Week

The supermodel, 53, kept her look casual with a black beany hat, Nike high tops and a pair of black joggers

Joey King was also spotted arriving at her Paris hotel on Sunday, dressed down in baggy jeans

Chloe Moretz put on a chic display for her hotel arrival with her statement LV bag

To accessorise, she hid behind a pair of large black square sunglasses.

It comes after the fashion icon has reportedly grown closer to film producer Mohammed Al Turki, after the duo were seen attending multiple events together.

Naomi and the Saudi Arabian multimillionaire, 37, were most recently seen together at the BAFTAs earlier this month.

The couple posed together on the red carpet, and reportedly stayed close to each other all night, according to The Sun.

Naomi and Mohammed have been seen to be firm friends for several years, with Mohammed sharing a snap with the beauty on his Instagram in November 2021 in Doha.

They made their first public appearance together the following month at the Red Sea film festival, linking arms as they arrived together.

They have been fixtures at each other's sides at many events since, including Cannes film festival last year, Paris Fashion Week in 2022 and 2023 and several exclusive parties, like Edward Enninfuls recent birthday bash.

At a special birthday event held for Naomi last year in France, Mohammed was seen sat right by the birthday girl for the evening.

Naomihas reportedly grown closer to film producer Mohammed Al Turki, after the duo were seen attending multiple events together (pictured in October)

The supermodel and the Saudi Arabian multimillionaire, 37, were most recently seen together at the BAFTAs earlier this month (pictured)

The Sun reports that the pair have become even closer recently as Naomi has spent time with Mohammed in the Middle East, claiming they appear to have 'a spark'.

A source told the publication: 'Naomi is very selective with who she spends time with and she has become close to Mohammed.

'They bonded over their love of fashion and art and have a lot of mutual friends. Naomi has been in Dubai with him and she seems to be the happiest she has ever been.

'They spend a lot of time together and there appears to be a spark between them, even if it is just a friendship at this point.'

Fans have frequently called for the pair to get together, commenting on their many Instagram posts of each other, and predicting they would be 'the next IT couple'.
Liam Payne cut a casual figure on Sunday as he took a midday stroll around the French capital during Paris Fashion Week.

The One Direction star, 30, donned a bright blue Carhartt tracksuit, which featured a thick white stripe down the side.

Complete with a zip-up jacket, his relaxed ensemble was paired with a simple black t-shirt.

In keeping with his informal look, Liam donned a pair of trendy black and white trainers for his walk through the city of love.

He appeared in high spirits as the artist, who accessorised his look with a gold chain, soaked up the Sunday sun.

Liam Payne cut a casual figure on Sunday as he took a midday stroll around the French capital during Paris Fashion Week

The One Direction star, 30, donned a bright blue Carhartt tracksuit, which featured a thick white stripe down the side

The outing comes after Liam posted a rare snap of son Bear to Instagram on Friday, sending his 26M followers into a frenzy.

The hitmaker shares the six-year-old with ex Cheryl, 40, and both have chosen to keep him out of the public eye.

In the photo Liam obscured his son's face as he showed the little one a billboard in London's Leicester Square advertising his new single Teardrops.

Writing: 'I want to be on a billboard one day daddy'.

Fans immediately rushed to the comments failing to believe just how quickly Bear had grown.

With one writing: 'Bear has grown a lot!'.

While a second gushed: 'No way that's bear! I feel old'.

And: 'Bear is soooo bigggg'.

The outing comes after Liam posted a rare snap of son Bear to Instagram on Friday, sending his 26M followers into a frenzy

Another commented: 'he's so big!'.

Someone else wrote: 'He's already that big???'.

A sixth typed: 'He's so big, it seems like he was born yesterday'.

Cheryl previously revealed Bear had realised that both of his parents are famous.

Speaking to British Vogue for the Girls Aloud reunion, Cheryl told how Bear thinks it's 'pretty cool' that both of his parents are famous pop stars.

Asked if her son might make an appearance on stage at some point during the tour, Cheryl said: 'The problem is that I want Bear to have a normal childhood.

'I don't want people recognising him on the street. But he's twigged that I'm famous. The other day he said, "How lucky am I to have famous parents?" I said, "It doesn't matter." He goes: "Yeah. But it's pretty cool." '
Jamie Laing has hit back at critics who feel Radio 1 is turning into a 'Posh Boys Club' as he insists he's 'earned' his new job after the BBC turned him down eight years ago.

The former Strictly contestant, 35, whose grandfather created the McVitie's digestive biscuit, admitted 'I am posh' as he reflected on his privileged upbringing and being sent to a private boarding school by his wealthy parents.

But the Made In Chelsea star stands firm that he deserves the Radio 1 gig, which sees him take over from Jordan North, 34, who's off to Capital FM, as co-host of the Going Home show, as much as anyone else, revealing he first applied for the role years ago but the BBC rejected him for being 'too posh' and inexperienced.

He also faced a backlash from those who believe his only claim to fame is featuring on the E4 reality series, which he believes discredits his previous radio work such as covering Mollie King's maternity leave and hosting numerous podcasts for BBC Sounds.

In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Jamie says he's ready to prove his haters wrong, and he vows to make the 3:30-6pm show 'even better' than when it was hosted by Jordan and his new co-star Vick Hope.

Jamie Laing has hit back at critics who feel Radio 1 is turning into a 'Posh Boys Club' as he insists he's 'earned' his new job after the BBC turned him down eight years ago

The former Strictly contestant, whose grandfather created the McVitie's digestive biscuit, admitted 'I am posh' as he reflected on his privileged upbringing

But the Made In Chelsea star stands firm that he deserves the new Radio 1 gig, which sees him take over from Jordan North as co-host of the Going Home show, as much as anyone else

He said: 'I trialed for Radio 1 eight years ago, I honestly did, and the feedback was "Jamie, you're just too posh."

'Sometimes from the outside and I do understand this, people think I just did Made In Chelsea and now I'm suddenly doing Radio 1, which is obviously not the case. I have been gunning for this job for eight years.

'I truly think that if the only hurdle I personally have to jump over is the fact that people think I'm posh, it's not the biggest hurdle in the world.

'I am posh. My parents sent me to a private school, I had no choice in that, they sent me there and it's the cross that I bear. I know in myself that I'm a hardworking and kind individual, so it doesn't really bother me if I'm totally honest. I am posh and I can't change it.'

Some listeners have made complaints over the station recruiting DJs with privileged backgrounds such as Mollie King, who was in girlband The Saturdays, while others feel many of the daytime presenters have well-spoken accents like Matt Edmundson and breakfast host Greg James.

Formers stars of the Radio 1 breakfast show include Nick Grimshaw, 39, who grew up in Oldham, Leeds born Chris Moyles, and Sara Cox, originally from Bolton.

But Jamie believes there would have been a negative reaction over his signing regardless of the way he speaks and feels he always has more to prove after making a name for himself on reality TV.

He said: 'I also think it doesn't matter what accent I have, there was always going to be a backlash.

Jamie will be replacing Jordan and joining Vick Hope as well as Katie Thistleton on the Going Home show

The TV personality, who celebrated his vows to wife Sophie Habboo with a huge wedding party in May, is aiming high, and hopes to one day present the UK's biggest night of music, the BRITs

The Candy Kittens owner told MailOnline: 'The dream is to host the Brit Awards, that's the absolute dream. I am going to push for that

'I starred on Made In Chelsea and everyone told me, don't do that show and said I was an idiot for doing it. And now I've had a pat on the back from Radio 1 and the BBC and for me it's a real proud moment.

'There are definitely people that look at reality TV in a certain way and I totally get it.

'But at the same time it's easy to forget the graft that people on these shows have done. It's not just Made In Chelsea it's Netflix shows, Love Island, it is graft and hard work and that's why you see people that have been on reality TV shows do really great things. Look at Sam Thompson, he nailed it on I'm A Celeb.

'Finally, I have got to a spot where people are saying yes to me. It has taught me that you just need to carry on putting one foot in front of the other and persisting and knocking down doors because at some point someone says, "what about that guy?" and that's what happened with me. Hopefully now I don't f*** it up.'

While Jamie's confident he can increase the listenership of the Going Home show, with the help of co-hosts Vick and Katie Thistleton, the Candy Kittens founder admits he still suffers from 'imposter syndrome' amid his growing success.

He added: 'At the same time, I still have imposter syndrome going into this show. I have major imposter syndrome which is going to be really interesting to deal with. I have a lot of nerves going into it.

'I want to do a good job... I am keen to prove to the haters that potentially I am an okay broadcaster, for me it's exciting to prove people wrong.

'It's up to me and Radio 1 to really make sure that this show is even better than it was before. That's my mission, to make it even better than it was when Vick and Jordan were doing it.'

And the TV personality, who celebrated his vows to wife Sophie Habboo with a huge Marbella wedding party in May, is aiming high, and hopes to one day present the UK's biggest night of music, the BRIT Awards.

On Saturday evening, Capital breakfast show host Roman Kemp hosted the bash alongside Radio 1's Clara Amfo and Maya Jama, making Jamie's dream all the more possible.

He said: 'I want to present from Glastonbury. I really am keen to do those things.

'The dream is to host the Brit Awards, that's the absolute dream. I am going to push for that. Music is just so important in our lives. We used to have TV shows like MTV back in the day and for whatever reason those shows don't happen anymore.

'We need to sing and shout and love music more than anything.'
Leonardo DiCaprio was born and raised in Los Angeles but is rarely seen hanging out with his family.

Over the weekend, the Academy Award winner, 49, was spotted with his dad, George DiCaprio, step-mother Peggy Farrar and his 16-year-old niece Normandie Farrar.

The family grabbed a meal at the celeb-friendly outpost of Cipriani in Beverly Hills.

The Wolf of Wall Street  who star was casual in a plaid shirt and khakis with a black jacket and black sneakers.

Leo  who was called 'weird' and 'old' by a 22-year-old Playboy model  wore a black face mask and a black and white trucker cap and had his hair pulled into a tiny ponytail that poked out of the back of the hat.

Leonardo DiCaprio was born and raised in Los Angeles but is rarely seen hanging out with his family

Over the weekend, the Academy Award winner, 49, was spotted with his dad, George DiCaprio, step-mother Peggy Farrar and his 16-year-old niece Normandie Farrar

Last week, the Killers of the Flower Moon star faced criticism from model Heike Konings, a 22-year-old model who appeared on the cover of the Dutch edition of Playboy.

Heike reportedly met the What's Eating Gilbert Grape star at a secret, invite-only club in Los Angeles.

'It was in a secret club in LA, one where you only get in by invitation. I saw him sitting there in his black hoodie and black cap and we made eye contact.'

She explained how Leo's manager brought her over to the star's table, saying: 'Leo wants to talk to you.'

Hieke took the opportunity to bring up Leo's famous reputation for only dating models who are under the age of 25, to which the Titanic star admitted he was 'guilty'.

The pair then shared a kiss, but Hieke described the kiss as average, saying: 'It was okay, but definitely not the best Ive had.'

She was then invited to go home with the Killers Of The Flower Moon star, but turned him down.

Hieke said: 'He reacted very shocked. Of course he wasnt used to it. When I said I didnt know him well enough, he responded sweetly. I respect that.'

Heike tells her story about meeting Leo in the interview for her cover of Dutch Playboy

Heike said when she declined Leo's offer to go home with him, he was shocked but polite

Leonardo denied ever meeting Heike, pictured here at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival

The Oscar winner is infamous for dating women under 25, which Heike allegedly commented on when she met him, pictured at the BAFTA Tea Party in January 2024

Heike told the Dutch edition of Playboy that Leo is 'too weird and too old,' pictured here at the AFI Awards in January 2024

Heike claims the Killers of the Flower Moon star asked her to go home with him, pictured at the SAG Awards in 2007

But she added: 'Whereupon he turned to another girl and took her home.'

The blonde beauty also said: 'Leo is too weird and too old.'

MailOnline has contacted representatives for Leonardo DiCaprio for comment.

A source told MailOnline: 'Leo has insisted he has never met this lady.'
Kourtney Kardashian is enjoying a breather after husband Travis Barker's whirlwind tour of Australia and New Zealand came to an end over the weekend.

The couple flew straight back home to California after Travis played performed in Auckland on Saturday night - his only show in the country after blink-182 cancelled its Christchurch show at the last minute.

Clearly relaxed after a very busy few weeks, Kourtney took to Instagram Stories on Sunday with a video of rain streaming down her windows.

'I love the rain', she simply captioned the meditative post.

The update came hours after Travis ruffled feathers for celebrating that blink-182's Australian and New Zealand tour was finally over, after the band cancelled its show at WolfBrook Arena, Christchurch.

Kourtney Kardashian, 44, (right) is enjoying a breather after husband Travis Barker's (left) whirlwind tour of Australia and New Zealand came to an end over the weekend

Clearly relaxed after a very busy few weeks, Kourtney took to Instagram Stories on Sunday with a video of rain streaming down her windows. 'I love the rain', she simply captioned the meditative post

The band announced two weeks ago that the show, which was scheduled for Monday March 4, would no longer be going ahead due to 'unanticipated logistical issues outside of the band's control.'

Posting to Instagram on Sunday, Travis shared a series of photos and videos taken during the band's performances in Australia and Auckland, along with the caption: 'Tour was over, we'd survived'.

'Tour shouldn't have been over... was supposed to be seeing you tomorrow night,' one frustrated fan commented.

The update came hours after Travis ruffled feathers for celebrating that blink-182's Australian and New Zealand tour was finally over, after the band cancelled its show at WolfBrook Arena, Christchurch

'Tour's over because Christchurch missed out,' another added, as someone else lamented: 'What about Christchurch!!!???'

Adding insult to injury, the Californian pop punk trio took a dig at Christchurch during a recent Melbourne concert.

In a clip that has gone viral on social media, Travis is seen mistakenly addressing the Melbourne crowd as Sydney, before bassist Mark Hoppus interjected: 'To be honest Sydney sucked so f***ing bad, we had to cancel Christchurch'.

The band announced two weeks ago that the show, which was scheduled for Monday March 4, would no longer be going ahead due to 'unanticipated logistical issues outside of the band's control'

Guitarist Tom DeLonge added: 'F**k Christchurch. That's a gnarly name for a town, can you imagine naming your f**king city that?'

'If I were God,' replied Mark.

Christchurch city councilor Andrei Moore promptly slammed the band on social media over their comments, writing: 'Disappointing to learn of Blink-182 saying "F*** Christchurch" on stage in Melbourne after cancelling their sold-out show that many Christchurch folk and visitors bought tickets for 18 months in advance.'

'We've been through more than our fair share of challenges over the years which have led to many concert cancellations but I can't ever recall any of them being followed up with an attitude as bad as this one,' Moore added.


How Sheikh Shahjahan turned from asset to liability for Trinamool in 13 days West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees speech in the Assembly on February 15 virtually convinced the people of the state that she and her party, Trinamool Congress, will throw full weight behind the then absconding party strongman, Sheikh Shahjahan. On that day, on the floor of the House the Chief Minister held the Enforcement Directorate (ED), whose officers along CAPF personnel were beaten up in Sandeshkhali on January 5, as responsible for the on-going tension there. She also said that the ED went to Sandeshkhali targeting Shahjahan and with the intention of creating trouble there.



From that speech, it was felt that she was trying to give the message of solidarity with Shahjahan and was trying to describe him as a "victim of circumstances".



Party general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee also spoke on similar lines. He even questioned the ED saying that Shahjahan, as per his information, was not at the place when the attack took place.



After the two spoke on the issue, other party leaders also started issuing statements in support of Shahjahan.



However, the tone of the chief minister significantly changed on February 28 when she addressed an administrative review meeting, where she claimed that she never nurtured or supported injustice. I do not want oppression or bloodshed anywhere. I do not indulge in injustice. If something happens beyond my knowledge I do not support that, the Chief Minister said February 28.



On February 28 night, the state police arrested Shahjahan from an unknown location at Sandeshkhali- adjacent Minakhan, 55 days after the attack on the ED and CAPF personnel.



Probably, the changed tone of the Chief Minister at that administrative review meeting was an indication that time is over for Shahjahan to continue enjoying the backing of the ruling dispensation and the luck-factor changed for him within just 13 days, said sources.



Now there comes the question on why it took 13 days for the Chief Minister and the leadership of her party to change the stand on Shahjahan and suddenly he turned into a liability from an asset.



There are multiple reasons that prompted this swift change in the stand of the ruling dispensation. On February 15 when the chief minister defended Shahjahan in the House, probably her party and the administration strongly believed that the protests by the local women in Sandeshkhali against the Trinamool Congress leadership was a temporary affair and can be snubbed by describing it as opposition-orchestrated affair.



However, probably the ruling party and the state administration then made a mistake in understanding the pulse of the agitation by the local women which was a spontaneous gush of angst against years of oppression, violence and even sexual harassment against them. At the same time, as the momentum of the local agitation aggravated, the ruling party and the state administration made some strategic mistakes in toning down that agitation that brought the national focus on Sandeshkhali.



The first mistake was preventing the leaders of opposition parties, central commissions and central fact-finding teams from reaching Sandeshkhali, while selectively allowing certain state ministers and ruling party leaders to go there.



The second mistake was the arrest of a Bengali television channel journalist who was reporting on-ground from Sandeshkhali on flimsy grounds, which was thoroughly trashed by the Calcutta High Court.



These developments brought the focus of the entire national and to an extent international media on Sandeshkhali and to the inconvenience of the Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress the trend started of equating the movement by Sandeshkhali women with that by the farmland owners between 2007 and 2009 at Nandigram in East Midnapore district and Singur in Hooghly district, which actually gave political mileage to Trinamool Congress as the-then principal opposition party.



At that point the Chief Minister made an attempt to send a message that the Sandeshkhali developments could not be compared with Singur and Nandigram.



Singur is Singur and Nandigram is Nandigram. The natures are different. There is a definite attempt to create a riot by comparing one with another, the Chief Minister said.



The third and final mistake was a fragile attempt to hold the Calcutta High Court responsible for creating obstacles for the state police in arresting Shahjahan. This section of the ruling dispensation started claiming that the state police were unable to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan because of a stay on it by the Calcutta High Court.



However, on February 28 morning the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam clearly said that there was no stay on the arrest of Shahjahan and any investigating agency, whether under the state government or the Union government, was empowered to arrest him.



The observation of the Chief Justice, felt by political observers, was an eye-opener for the ruling dispensation and also a realization that any further attempt to guard the absconding leader will result in a bigger political hara-kiri for them. On the February 28 afternoon, the Chief Minister changed her tone and on the same night the state police arrested Shahjahan after he remained absconding for 55 days.




Julia Fox ensured all eyes were on her as she attended the Mugler show amid Paris Fashion Week on Sunday.

The actress, 34, left little to the imagination as she slipped into a sparkly sheer jumpsuit which hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure.

Her outlandish ensemble also boasted strategically placed fringe which covered her ample cleavage and also adorned her sleeves and trousers.

Julia also opted for bizarre futuristic face paint with silver panels added to her cheeks and forehead.

The stunner oozed confidence as she posed on the street outside the event before taking her seat in the star-studded front row.

Julia Fox, 34, ensured all eyes were on her as she attended the Mulger show amid Paris Fashion Week on Sunday

The actress left little to the imagination as she slipped into a sparkly sheer jumpsuit which hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping figure

Julia has lately been focusing on her modeling and making high-profile fashion show appearances, but her Hollywood career marches on.

Last year, she reunited with her No Sudden Move director Steven Soderbergh for the psychological thriller Presence, which was shot in just three weeks after getting a waiver to film amid the writers and actors strikes.

The film premiered last month at Sundance and has been acquired for distribution by the independent studio Neon. The studio previously distributed the Korean hit thriller Parasite, which was a surprise winner of Best Picture and multiple other Academy Awards.

Last year Fox claimed her break-up from West meant she was dropped from a lucrative fashion deal.

In another revelation from her memoir Down the Drain, the Uncut Gems actress writes how the rapper helped her secure a million-dollar deal with an Italian denim label.

Kanye suggested the collaboration in the early days of their romance in January 2022, according to Julia.

She writes that Kanye, who she refers to as 'The Artist' throughout the book promised to secure her a 'million-dollar deal'.

'The next day, he puts me in touch with an Italian denim company and they start negotiating on my behalf,' she continues. 'I can't believe this is my life, but I can definitely get used to it.'

Her outlandish ensemble also boasted strategically placed fringe which covered her ample cleavage and also adorned her sleeves and trousers

Julia also opted for bizarre futuristic face paint with silver panels added to her cheeks and forehead

The stunner oozed confidence as she posed on the street outside the event before taking her seat in the star-studded front row.

Julia has lately been focusing on her modeling and making high-profile fashion show appearances, but her Hollywood career marches on

The pair went on to famously wear matching denim ensembles for Paris Couture Week in January.

But with her subsequent split from Kanye, the deal fell apart. Julia explained how she moments after she asked her publicist to tell the media about their split, she learned the deal was off.

'It's contingent on you being his girlfriend,' Julia says she was told.

The book contains many revelations about her brief courtship with Kanye in early 2022, including the claim that he offered to pay for a boob job during a game of Uno.

She wrote that the pair had been hanging out in a hotel room when the 46-year-old music artist made the shocking proposal.
Love Island's Jessie Wynter and Will Young are preparing to take a huge step in their relationship.

The couple began their whirlwind romance after pairing up on the ITV dating show in January 2023 - and have been inseparable ever since.

Jessie and Will have been living at his family's 700 acre farm near Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, but are now planning on moving in together.

In an exclusive interview, Jessie told MailOnline: 'Will and I are really excited. I am back in the UK with him, and I've officially got a three-year visa. So no more short-term visas which means at the moment we're currently house hunting!

'So we're looking to get our own place which is a big step in our relationship and yeah, we're just going to kind of see where the road takes us.'

Love Island's Jessie Wynter and Will Young are preparing to take a huge step in their relationship

The couple have been living at his family's 700 acre farm near Aylesbury, Bucks, but are now planning on moving in together

The pair are looking to rent an apartment for around 6 months before buying their first home together.

Jessie explained they are torn between living in Manchester and London: 'We're still in talks of where we're going to permanently situate ourselves. So, we're open to recommendations. We're having a look around, but I think we're both really excited.

'We do want a bit of a change and we want to be able to have our own space, but we'll always be nice and close to the farm.'

The couple have enjoyed a string of romantic trips over the past year and have flown to Australia several times to visit Jessie's family.

On Valentine's Day, Jessie revealed she couldn't contain her 'emotions' as she 'officially returned to UK long term' and is excited to 'start planning their future'.

She wrote: 'I AM BACK IN THE UK. It has been an emotional time but I have some exciting news for you!!

'I can now live in the UK for 3 years and whats even more romantic is that I was able to come back just in time for Valentines Day.'

Jessie continued: 'It was very sad having to say goodbye to my friends, family and life in Australia but I know Will and I have such a beautiful life ahead of us and now that my visa is approved for a longer term we can officially start planning our future together. 

They began their whirlwind romance after pairing up on the ITV dating show in January 2023 - and have been inseparable ever since

The couple have enjoyed a string of romantic trips over the past year and have flown to Australia several times to visit Jessie's family

'Whenever I miss someone or a place, I always remind myself that I so am lucky to have so much love in my life that at times it can hurt. Im beyond grateful for everything and everyone in my life

'Everything was very last minute with my flight home, but I came home to Will decorating the room for me and it was the cutest thing ever!!

'This is what valentines is all about, loving each other and just simply appreciating the person you love whether youre together or from afar. I cant ask for anything different, this is perfect and Im so grateful to be able to be here to spend time with the person I love.'

She concluded: 'Thank you to everyone who has messaged us and sent us love. So beyond grateful, it honestly means the world!

'Now that Im officially living in the UK long term we have some very exciting things coming up which we cant wait to share with you!!'

Last month, Jessie and Will continued to spark engagement rumours after he shared a snap of his bombshell girlfriend on social media.

Jessie suggested her farmer boyfriend had popped the question as she posed with her hand strategically placed on her chest to show off a possible engagement ring.

The snaps seemed to further fuel rumours that the couple have taken their relationship to the next level after Will admitted he had proposed to Jessie 'loads of times'.

She gushed over her reality star boyfriend and revealed she couldn't contain her 'emotions' as she returned to the UK to 'start planning the couples future'

Appearing on The Jimmy and Nath show over in Australia in January, Jessie opened up about how Will keeps tricking her with pretend engagements.

She said: 'I know he keeps tricking me. He's planning all these romantic dates and like literally, you should have seen what he did in the Maldives it was so so romantic.

'And then he just gets down on one knee, no ring though he just joked about it!'

Teasing, Will added: 'Little does Jessie know I've proposed loads, she's just taking it as a joke.'

Host Nath then said: 'Well we need to tell you the real reason that you guys are in here because Will's decided to do it now.

'He's getting down on one knee he's doing it here.'

Laughing Jessie continued: 'Oh you're encouraging this behaviour! It's the air ring. It's true it's happened.'

'It's happened it only took an Aussie radio show,' added Nath.

Commenting on the clip, Will teased: 'Will make sure the proposal is done on @jimmyandnathshow' while Jessie added: 'Jimmy and Naths wingman skills on pointttt'.

Previously Jessie continued to spark engagement rumours as she donned a ring in Instagram snaps

The Australian beauty has shared a playful Instagram post hinting that Will was planning to propose last year

Meanwhile the couple hinted at a secret engagement after they jetted back to her home in Australia for Christmas.

Jessie looked stunning in a red plunging figure hugging halter neck gown while Will cut a dapper figure in a white open collar shirt and a black suit.

The couple cosied up as the personal trainer, who also starred on Love Island Australia back in 2019, flashed her bare engagement ring finger which prompted the farmer to smile.

Jessie wrote: 'Is he proposing or has he just told me to get dressed up for a fancy date while on holiday'.
The latest episode of Saturday Night Takeaway saw a guest left mortified when Ant McPartlin told him to 'shut up'.

During the live variety programme, Ant, 48, grew frustrated when Matt Carnell repeatedly spoke out of turn during popular segment Ring My Bell.

In the segment, Ant and Dec hijack the Ring doorbells of two people in the audience and ask their neighbours to bring a random item to them, with the first household back winning half a grand.

On Saturday, households from Wrexham and Tividale respectively went head to head for the prize, while their neighbours watched anxiously in the audience.

When Wrexham were the first to come back with the requested item - a mop - Ant asked them for their name, but Matt quickly cut in with his.

The latest episode of Saturday Night Takeaway saw a guest left mortified when Ant McPartlin told him to 'shut up'

In the latest episode of the live variety programme, Ant, 48, grew frustrated when Matt Carnell (top middle) repeatedly spoke out of turn during popular segment Ring My Bell

In the segment, Ant and Dec hijack the Ring doorbells of two people in the audience and ask their neighbours to bring a random item to them, with the first household back winning 500

Pointing at his image on the board, Ant harshly declared: 'Not you, Tividale! You shut up, Tividale!' To laughter from the audience - including Matt's neighbour Vijay Patel.

Ant then asked Wrexham what number they lived at, and when they didn't reply, Matt took the opportunity to give his address.

He received a 'Matt! Shh!' from Ant for the efforts, before the prize was finally awarded to Wrexham and their neighbour Angela Tenet.

In February, Ant and Dec revealed Takeaway is going on hiatus so they can focus more on family time, ahead of Ant welcoming his first child.

Ant is set to become a father in June as his wife Anne-Marie Corbett, 46, is pregnant. Anne-Marie has two children from her previous marriage.

Speaking to Fault Magazine, Ant said: 'On a more personal level, part of the reason we're pausing Takeaway is we need a break ourselves, and we need to spend some time with our family.

'We've both got children that we need to spend time with for a little bit. We need time to think and, and time to step back and look at the bigger picture and just see where we are now.'

The pair will continue their exclusive working relationship with ITV, hosting hit shows including I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, Britain's Got Talent and Limitless Win, all of which air across ITV1 and ITVX.

Ant then asked Wrexham what number they lived at, and when they didn't reply, Matt took the opportunity to give his address. He received a 'Matt! Shh!' from Ant for the efforts
Have YOU lost money to scams? Please email: money@dailymail.com

New research shows that Nevada has the highest losses per capita of any state

Nevada has been named America's fraud capital after residents there suffered the biggest per-capita losses of any state, new research shows.

Citizens of the Silver State handed over $79.4 million to criminals in the first nine months of 2023 - the equivalent of $25.58 per person. By comparison, Louisiana had the lowest number of fraud losses with residents having $34.8 million stolen - or $7.50 per resident.

In total, Americans lost $7 billion to fraudsters in the first nine months of last year, according to data collected by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

The losses relate to various types of fraud from investment-related scams to romance cons.

While Nevada suffered the highest per-capita losses, California reported the most overall damages, according to analysis by LendingTree.

Your browser does not support iframes.

The Golden State saw residents conned out of $973.3 million. Per-capita, it came in second with citizens losing the equivalent of $24.73 each.

It was followed by Arizona, Washington and Florida where damages per resident amounted to $24, $23.40 and $20.88 respectively.

On the other end of the scale, the states to suffer the lowest incidents of fraud included: Louisiana, Maine, Kentucky and Mississippi.

Per capita these regions lost $8.45 or less to fraudsters in the first nine months of last year.

The findings lay bare America's so-called fraud epidemic which is seeing more residents fall victim to increasingly sophisticated scams.

LendingTree chief credit analyst Matt Schulz said: 'For fraudsters, it's a golden age. Very little about our lives isn't digitized and accessible online.

'That means most of our important private data, including bank information, is more vulnerable than ever in a lot of ways.'

FTC data shows those aged between 60 and 69 were tricked out of the highest sums of money last year. This age group lost $744.2 million between January and September.

By comparison, 20-29-year-olds were scammed out of $335 million while those 19 and younger lost just $43.2 million.

The figures also show that investment scams accounts for the highest losses - despite representing only 4.2 percent of fraud reports.

It comes after DailyMail.com raised the alarm over a rise in so-called 'pig butchering' scams.

Michael Holloway, a 62-year-old real estate agent from New Jersey, was conned out of $500,000 by fraudsters

Rebecca Holloway, pictured, revealed how she lost her entire 401(K) to a scammer she met on Tinder after he convinced her to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes

The romance fraud sees criminals match with their targets on dating apps such as Tinder and Hinge then convince them to invest in bogus cryptocurrency schemes.

It is called 'pig butchering' because victims are effectively 'fattened up' with a fake romantic relationship before being 'butchered' with fraudulent investment advice.

Last year, father-of-two Michael Holloway revealed to DailyMail.com how he lost half a million dollars and his wife to the con.

Holloway, a 62-year-old real estate agent from New Jersey said he was 'ready to end his life' after hitting 'rock bottom.'

His story is eerily similar to that of marketing executive Rebecca Holloway, 42, who was swindled out of more than $100,000 by fraudsters posing as a French entrepreneur called 'Fred.'

Speaking exclusively to Dailymail.com, Rebecca said: 'Single women approaching middle-age are so vulnerable.

We have money but we might not have met the right guy yet. And suddenly this good-looking man starts talking to you and you're excited.

'Looking back, the signs are so obvious. But at the time you want to believe it's real.'

Banks are now facing mounting pressure to increase their security protocols to stop fraudulent transactions from taking place.

Last month, a Wells Fargo customer who was conned out of more than $30,000 by scammers has hit the bank with a bombshell lawsuit that claims its anti-fraud security checks are not fit for purpose.
Menstrual rights encompass not only access to hygiene products but also the eradication of discriminatory practices surrounding this natural biological phenomenon

Menstruation, a natural facet of human existence, has often been cloaked in stigma and silence. As we delve into the stories from Leh, it is crucial to understand the broader context of menstrual rights and the significance of these conversations. Menstrual rights include access to menstrual hygiene products, comprehensive education about menstruation, and the elimination of discriminatory practices associated with this natural biological process. The lack of awareness has fueled a culture of shame and secrecy.

In Leh, the conversation around menstruation has undergone a transformative journey. Traditionally, whispers among friends were the primary source of information for young girls, making it a taboo subject. However, today, strides have been made, enabling open discussions, particularly between mothers and daughters.

In Leh, the celebration of Menstrual Hygiene Day on May 28th, 2023, is a significant event. The event, exclusively held at a government girl's higher secondary school, reflects a pivotal shift. Surprisingly, on this day, not a single male presence is noted; only the cameraperson was a man. Why do we think that including men in this conversation isnt important?

In Leh, most of the shopkeepers give pads wrapped in newspapers. Wrapping a pad in the newspaper is not a solution; rather, it perpetuates improper handling of menstrual products. There is a need for a more respectful and informed approach to changing societal norms and practices surrounding menstruation. Mutup Dolma, a 17-year-old from Hanu village, which is approximately 200 kilometres from Leh, shares her story about periods. In her hometown, it's not easy to talk openly about menstruation. People feel uncomfortable saying words like "periods" in public, and asking for pads from male shopkeepers is a challenge.

When Mutup moved to Leh for school, things changed. In Leh, she could buy pads without feeling awkward because people didn't know her. But in her hometown, cultural norms made talking about periods difficult. Mutup thinks it is very important to have an open conversation. "I got scared when I got my first period, recalled Mutup. It was hard for her to understand what was happening until she talked to her mom. She mentioned, When sometimes my mom isn't home, it is very difficult to ask for money from my father for menstrual products." Moving to Leh for education made it easier for her to buy menstrual products, but she realised the gap in awareness between urban and rural areas.

Hailing from Ibex Colony in Leh, Tsewang Namgyal, a 17-year-old boy, noticed something strange in his science class. Whenever their teacher explained the menstrual cycle, his friends would laugh. When he tried to tell them it was a biological process and shouldn't be mocked, they made fun of him. This laughter affected the girls in their class, making them feel embarrassed.

Going back to his village, Tsewang observed that his cousins were hesitant to discuss menstruation due to a lack of awareness.Jigmet Skit, a 19-year-old resident of Skara, Leh, shares her perspective on menstruation. Despite being part of many menstrual awareness programmes in school, she expresses discomfort due to the segregation of boys from these discussions. Jigmet believes that schools should create an open environment like home, fostering learning and awareness rather than perpetuating secrecy.

According to Jigmet, the awkwardness in society stems from the practice of hiding menstruation, especially in schools. She emphasises that women should openly share information to eliminate discomfort and encourage discussions about menstrual health. In her experience, when she gets her period, she is not able to go out for 3 days because of the pain, and it becomes difficult when they ask why she is not able to go out; it becomes difficult to answer her friends and even her father due to a lack of understanding. Jigmet hopes that breaking the silence and providing equal awareness will end the societal awkwardness around menstruation. This, she believes, will enable girls to share their problems openly and make it easier for everyone to endure.

Abdul Wahid, age 21, a resident of Shenam Leh, reflects on his school days when he and his friends lacked awareness about menstruation. He recalls an incident where they would check girls' bags and laugh at the sight of pads. However, upon moving to Delhi for studies, he noticed a stark difference in people's openness about menstruation.

Now, during his visits to Leh, Abdul actively helps his cousin's sister to buy pads, a task he once refused to do during his school days. He emphasises the importance of open conversations about menstruation, highlighting that knowledge about periods enables individuals to assist someone in need during menstruation. Stories from Mutup, Tsewang, Jigmet, and Abdul show the changes and challenges in understanding menstruation. Leh is making progress by celebrating Menstrual Hygiene Day and encouraging discussions. Despite this, there's still a need for better education about periods. Changing cultural norms and ensuring menstrual rights are essential for a society free from shame and secrecy.

(The writer is the winner of Sanjoy Ghose Media awards 2024; views are personal. Charkha Features)
With Turkey's consistent anti-India stance, India's calculated response includes bolstering ties with Greece, embroiled in a rivalry with Turkey

The Raisina Dialogue, a conference held annually in New Delhi, is India's flagship conference on geopolitics. One may wonder why Greeces Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis was the chief guest and what importance Greece play in the larger scheme of things as far as India is concerned. One may recollect that Turkey has been taking an anti-India stance at most of the international forums. Since the abrogation of Article 370, Turkey has been raising the Kashmir issue, including at the United Nations General Assembly.

India has given well-calibrated responses to Turkey in a phased manner, one of them being, Prime Minister Narendra Modi holding meetings with the president of Cyprus and prime ministers of Armenia and Greece. All of these states have various disputes with Turkey. Greece and Turkey have been regional adversaries in the Aegean Sea, both asserting claims over their borders in the Sea. They were on the brink of war in 1996 over islets in the Aegean Sea. So honouring Greece's PM at a strategic dialogue in Delhi is a masterstroke that will have ripple effects in Ankara.

Is calling PM Kyriakos of Greece as Chief Guest of Raisina Hills dialogue a strategic response to Turkey? Has India now mastered the art of mixing global diplomacy with national interest? Will the present Raisina dialogue have an impact on global geopolitics? Is Greece our gateway to Europe through the Mediterranean Sea? In the years to come can Greece provide us with the trade routes we so require? Will the coming together of the world's oldest civilizations shape the future of the world in the years to come?

We should not forget that Greece and India have common security concerns in the Meditation Sea. India can help Greece in the field of cyber security and Greece can assist India with merchant vessels.

Greece can become an important partner in the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor launched during Indias G20 presidency last year. The other common areas of growth can be in renewable energy, infrastructure, ports and shipping, and logistics.

The position of Greece is the world map is such that it has considerable dominance over the Mediterranean Sea. It is also a gateway to Europe. Greece is a member of NATO and has a rich cultural heritage. India on the other hand is looking to expand trade ties westwards. India also is considering better defence ties with countries that have similar ideologies. The scope of defence ties with Greece is hence immense.

Over the past few years, Greece has given importance to defence cooperation and military exercises between the two countries. Greece has always backed Indias position on the Kashmir issue. India and Greece have common concerns with maritime security and implementation of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. This law is being violated by Turkey and China in the Eastern Mediterranean and the Indo-Pacific almost every day.

It will be in the scheme of things if in the future India and Greece build upon the already existing defence ties. India can always look forward to exporting defence equipment particularly anti-drone systems to Greece keeping in view that Turkey has built an extensive Drone system that can be used to dominate various islands that are otherwise part of Greece. India can also seek help in shipbuilding technology from Greece, as Greece has an age-old tradition of making boats and ships. A collaboration between Mazgaon Dockyard and Skaramanga Shipyard can give Indian shipbuilding a major flip. Skaramanga has expertise in ship repair and maintenance.

Greece is one country that has tremendous tourism potential as it is known to be the birthplace of Western civilization. Greece has stunning archaeological treasures, beautiful seaside villages and sun-soaked beaches making it one of the most interesting places to visit for Indians. Cruise holidays between Mumbai and Greece then hold a lot of promise.

India and Greece must build a Strategic Partnership by upgrading their bilateral ties further and forging cooperation in dimensions of economic, defence, maritime, shipping and cultural fields as they have a common interest in international and regional developments. India and Greece also have shared values of democracy, freedom, international peace and security, rules-based international order, respect for international law including UNCLOS, and human rights.

Both countries have a shared historical linkage and long-standing ties which is at the core of their growing strategic relationship. Greeces interest in joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans initiative to conserve and sustain the maritime domain is a bold step. Both countries are equally affected by climate change and biodiversity loss and can work together in this direction too. It looks like in the future India and Greece can shape Global Geopolitics in a way that suits each other's countries' interests. Close ties between the two countries could be beneficial for both. Greece can balance the negative sentiment that Turkey is trying to generate against India at various international forums.

Greece can also facilitate India's ambition to trade with the EU via its maritime fleet and favourable trade routes that provide India exclusive access to European Markets.

(The writer is an expert on geopolitics and international Affairs. The views expressed are personal)
Despite its significant contribution to the economy, the goat sector largely operates in the informal market, underscoring the need for greater recognition

In a remarkable feat of rural innovation, Kalahandi couple Jayanti Mahapatra and Biren Sahu have earned praise from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for their groundbreaking agri-tech startup located in the remote Salebhata village. Their unique Goat Bank, recognised in 'Mann Ki Baat,' breaks traditional banking norms, empowering local farmers and uplifting the community's socio-economic status through innovative rural solutions.

Goats often referred to as the "ATM" or "poor mans cow," play a pivotal role in India's livelihoods and nutritional security. Their popularity stems from factors such as low capital investment, adaptability, early maturity, prolific breeding, superior chevon quality, and steady returns. Amid changing agro-climatic conditions, goats emerge as the 'Future Animal' for national prosperity. Goat meat commands a premium in the market and goat milk offers therapeutic benefits. Despite constituting 27.80 per cent of the total livestock and contributing significantly to the national economy with annual revenue of Rs 38,590 crores, the goat sector often operates in the informal and untaxed market. The goat, however, deserves serious attention and investment. Contributing 3% of milk, 13.8% of goat meat, and 0.18 million tonnes of skin in India, goats have immense economic potential. As goat farmers strive for financial inclusion, recognising and investing in the goat sector can lead to substantial economic upliftment, making it imperative for the goat to take centre stage in national agricultural and economic planning.

Traditionally, successful livestock development strategies have heavily relied on providing credit to empower underprivileged individuals to acquire or replenish their livestock. This not only marks the initial foray into livestock ownership but also serves as a pivotal step towards breaking free from the shackles of poverty, paving the way for a more secure and prosperous life. In the evolution of livestock development strategies, the traditional reliance on credit to empower underprivileged individuals has given rise to an innovative approach embodied by the Goat Bank.

Welcome to the innovative realm of the Goat Bank, where farming dreams come alive with a unique twist. Instead of conventional cash, the bank offers aspiring farmers a lifeline in the form of a pregnant female goat. It's not a giveaway; a deal is struck. Deserving farmers receive guidance on scientific goat rearing, along with support for vaccinations, deworming, ear tagging, and premium concentrate feed during pregnancy. In return, farmers commit to caring for the goats and returning six to eight kids to the Goat Bank.

The math magic unfolds as goats, with a 7 to 8-month kidding interval, yield two or three kids in each kidding cycle. Over two years, farmers find themselves with an impressive twelve to fourteen kids from just two does. Beyond personal gain, these farmers extend the goat family, nurturing them and, when the time is right, selling them for a lucrative profit. This cycle of goat generosity creates a symbiotic relationship, with benefits flowing from the Goat Bank to the farmers and ultimately reaching the market. It's a win-win scenario, shaping a pathway for sustainable farming practices and economic prosperity.

In Maharashtra's Akola district, Naresh Deshmukh's visionary Goat Bank, launched in July 2018, redefines empowerment. Aspiring farmers pay a nominal Rs 1,200 registration fee, entering into a loan agreement to return four lambs within 40 months.

This innovative scheme fosters accountability, propelling a sustainable growth cycle. Women participating in goat rearing anticipate significant profits, enabling investments in land, and education, and celebrating life's milestones.

In Salebhata village, Kalahandi district of Odisha, the Goat Bank, spearheaded by Jayanti Mahapatra and Biren Sahu, offers needy farmers two adult female goats, hailing from the resilient breeds of native Kalahandi or Black Bengal. During two years, the goats exhibit their prolific nature, birthing impressive 9-10 kids. The bank retains six of these newborns, channelling the rest back to the same families dedicated to goat farming. This sustainable cycle has now woven a network connecting 1,000 farmers across 50 villages.

In the undulating agro-climatic expanse of western Odisha, encompassing Kalahandi and Nuapada districts, the author's research illuminates a striking reality: 95% of goats thrive as indigenous, hardy, uniquely adapted to endure temperatures soaring up to 48C.

These robust creatures are meticulously managed in modest holdings under semi-extensive systems, relying solely on roadside grass and tree leaves as their primary sustenance, achieving impressive average adult body weights of 35 kg for males and 30 kg for females. The elegance of this agricultural practice lies in its simplicity, relying on family labour and minimal investment, mainly directed towards veterinary care. Farmers, with negligible expenditure, witness substantial profits.

The sale of castrated males after four years commands prices between Rs. 25,000 to 30,000, while females are priced slightly lower. During the Chatar Parab festival (a local festival), prices experience a commendable surge, contributing to an annual income of approximately Rs. 100,000 from goat sales.

Through extensive interviews, the author uncovers a burgeoning interest among landless farmers to engage in goat rearing, signalling a desire for expansion. However, these aspiring farmers articulate a need for essential elements like proper housing, quality feed, and a superior breeding buck to unleash the full growth potential of their goat herds.

While existing state government schemes provide very good assistance to many goat farmers in this zone, the author still posits that pioneering initiatives like a goat bank have the potential to include more landless, downtrodden farmers in the journey. Such innovative concepts could substantially contribute to the financial stability and prosperity of a broader section of farmers, offering a promising avenue for uplifting native goats and enhancing the overall well-being of the farming community in the area.

The success stories from Salebhata village in Kalahandi and Sangavi Mohadi village in Maharashtra illustrate how the Goat Bank is not merely an institution but a catalyst for positive change. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi rightfully recognises the transformative power of such initiatives, it becomes evident that the goat, often overlooked, deserves centre stage as a species worthy of serious investment. The Goat Bank model showcases a sustainable cycle of growth, from the bank to the farmers and eventually to the market, fostering economic upliftment and financial inclusion.

The Goat Bank revolution is not just about goats; it's about changing lives, revitalising rural economies, and creating a blueprint for similar innovations across the country.

As more farmers join such schemes and receive the support they need, the potential for further improvement of goat farming practices in native tracts becomes promising. The winds of change are indeed blowing, and the resonant call for serious attention and investment in the goat sector is no longer a distant bleat but a reality that holds the promise of a brighter and more prosperous future for rural India.

(The writer is a scientist at Odisha University of Agriculture & Technology, Bhawanipatna; views are personal)
Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader Dr Harsh Vardhan on Sunday announced his decision to quit politics to return to his roots (medical profession), after an illustrious electoral career spanning over three decades.

This came a day after the BJP announced its first list of candidates for Lok Sabha polls, dropping two-term MP Harsh Vardhan from Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat and naming Praveen Khandelwal as its candidate instead. In a post on X, he said he is returning to his ENT clinic at Krishna Nagar.

Sources said Vardhan was denied ticket from Chandni Chowk due to non-performance, mismanagement during Covid-19 and disconnect from locals and party karyakartas. Vardhan was replaced by Mansukh Mandaviya in mid-2021 during the height of the Covid-19 crisis. He was removed from the council of Ministers as part of a reshuffle.

After over thirty years of a glorious electoral career, during which I won all the five Assembly and two parliamentary elections that I fought with exemplary margins, and held a multitude of prestigious positions in the party organisation and the Governments at the State and Centre I finally bow out to return to my roots, his post read.

I move on, I really cant wait. I have promises to keep .. and miles to go before I sleep !! I have a dream .. and I know your blessings shall always remain with me . My ENT clinic at Krishna Nagar too awaits my return, he added.

Vardhan said he was grateful for the opportunity to defend his fellow citizens during times of crisis. He credited his success to the support of his party workers, supporters, and leaders.

Service to mankind was my motto when I joined MBBS in GSVM Medical College, Kanpur fifty years back with a desire to help the poor and needy. A swayamsewak at heart, I have always been an ardent admirer of Deen Dayal Upadhyays Antodaya philosophy of striving to serve the last man in the queue. It was at the insistence of the then RSS leadership that I jumped into the electoral fray.

They could convince me only because for me politics meant opportunity to fight our three main enemies - poverty, disease and ignorance, he added.

Without remorse, I must say that it has been a marvelous innings during which my passion to serve the common man was quenched. I served as Delhi Health Minister as well as twice Union Health Minister, a subject close to my heart. I had the rare opportunity bestowed upon me to be able to first work towards creating a polio free Bharat and then to take care of the health of millions of our countrymen grappling with the dreaded Covid-19 during its first and second phases, Vardhan wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

In the long history of mankind, only a few have been granted the privilege to defend their people in hours of gravest danger! And I can proudly claim that I didnt shirk responsibility, but welcomed it. My gratitude to Ma Bharati. My reverence to my fellow citizens and my obeisance to the values enshrined in our Constitution. And yes, that was the biggest privilege that Bhagwan Shri Ram bestowed upon me, the privilege of being able to save human lives !! Vardhan added.

I would like to thank all my party karyakartas, my fans and supporters amongst the common citizens as well as my party leaders .. all of whom have contributed to this remarkable journey spanning over three decades, he wrote.

I must acknowledge that I consider it a great privilege to have worked closely with the most dynamic Prime Minister in Indias history, Narendra Modi. The country wishes him a heroic return to power again.

Looking ahead, Vardhan pledged to continue his efforts in areas such as combating tobacco and substance abuse, addressing climate change, and promoting sustainable lifestyles. He concluded with a heartfelt acknowledgement to those who stood by him throughout his political career.

I shall continue to pursue my work against tobacco and substance abuse, against climate change and teaching simple and sustainable lifestyles. A big shout out for all those who stood by me like a rock while I clocked many firsts and led a fulfilled political life, Vardhan wrote.

In 2014, Vardhan had defeated Kapil Sibal, then with the Congress, to win the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat while in the 2019 polls, he trounced Congress Jai Prakash Agarwal.
The last meeting of the Council of Ministers of the current Lok Sabha, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday, chaired a brainstorming session on the vision document for Viksit Bharat 2047 at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan. Go and win. See you soon, Modi told in the last meeting of the Council of Ministers of the current term.

Confident of returning to power post the General Elections in the next couple of months, Modi and his Ministers worked out a 100-day agenda for immediate steps for quick implementation after the formation of the new Government in May.

Government sources said the Ministers discussed a detailed action plan for the next five years. The meeting came a day after the BJP released the first list of its candidates on 195 seats across 16 States, with the next set of lists due in the next couple of days. Several Ministries articulated their ideas in the meeting, which was called after an initiative by the PM personally to understand the vision of his council of Ministers based on which he is to form the next team if voted back, Government sources said.

The roadmap for Viksit Bharat is the result of more than two years of intensive preparation by all the Central Government Ministries and departments.

It involved a whole of Government approach involving all Ministries and wide-ranging consultations with State Governments, academia, industry bodies, civil society, scientific organisations, and mobilisation of youth for seeking their ideas, suggestions, and inputs. More than 2,700 meetings, workshops, and seminars were held at various levels. Suggestions of more than 20 lakh youth were received, Government officials said.

The roadmap for Viksit Bharat has a comprehensive blueprint with clearly articulated national vision, aspirations, goals, and action points. Its goals include areas like economic growth, SDGs, ease of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure, social welfare, etc, the sources said.

Several Ministries articulated their ideas in the meeting, which is likely to be the last such get-together before the Lok Sabha polls are announced.

The Prime Minister has been convening meetings of the entire Council of Ministers periodically to discuss key policy and governance issues. However, this particular meeting has assumed political significance in light of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, expected to be held in April-May.

While the Election Commission is intensively preparing for the polls, likely to be announced early next week, Modi has a tightly packed schedule. He is expected to attend 29 programmes spread across 12 States and Union Territories over the next 10 days.

Government officials said the PM will visit Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, and launch projects in Delhi as well.

On Monday, he will unveil multiple development projects in Adilabad, Telangana, and later visit the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. He will address public meetings in Adilabad as well as Chennai. A five-tier security arrangement has been made for Modis visit to Chennai on March 4.

Modi will launch several projects in Sangareddy, Telangana, on March 5 and address an event before traveling to Odisha, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of numerous development initiatives. He will then address a public meeting in Chandikhole, Odisha, before traveling to West Bengal.

On March 6, he will unveil development projects in Kolkata and address a public meeting in Barasat. He will then travel to Bihar and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects in Bettiah.

The Prime Minister will be in Jammu and Kashmir on March 7 and attend a media event in Delhi in the evening.

On March 8, he will participate in the first-ever National Creators Award in Delhi and then leave for Assam in the evening. Modi will inaugurate the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradeshs West Kameng and then unveil multiple development projects in Itanagar.

Later, he will unveil a statue of legendary Ahom army commander Lachit Borphukan in Jorhat, Assam. Thereafter, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects in Jorhat, the officials said. He will also visit West Bengal and launch development projects in Siliguri and address a public meeting there.

On March 10, Modi will be in Uttar Pradesh and will dedicate to the nation various projects in Azamgarh, they said.

He will attend an event in Delhi the next day related to Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi programmes. Then, he will inaugurate the Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway. In the evening, he will attend a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) programme. On March 12, he will visit Sabarmati in Gujarat and Pokhran in Rajasthan and then lay the foundation stones of three important semiconductor projects in Gujarat and Assam via video conferencing on March 13.

He is also scheduled to attend an outreach programme for disadvantaged sections of society via video conferencing, they said. The Prime Minister has been unveiling a slew of development projects running into lakhs of crores of rupees at various places as he turns the spotlight on his governments development and welfare agenda in the run-up to the general elections expected to be held in April-May.
The Opposition Bloc INDIA virtually sounded the bugle for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Sunday when top leaders, including Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, converged in Bihars Capital for a mammoth rally. Those who addressed the gathering included RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, former Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, and Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who stated, great thrones are shaken when enthusiastic youngsters come together (jab joshile naujawan mil jaate hain, bade bade takht hil jaate hain).

Rahul, who had flown down from Madhya Pradesh, taking a break from his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, spoke before AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, and returned for the mass outreach programme.

Left leaders like Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, and Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretaries of CPI(M), CPI, and CPI(ML) respectively, were also present as part of the stakeholders of the INDIA Bloc.

The rally attracted a huge crowd, with many supporters of the RJD reaching the city on Saturday night and putting up tents erected at various places where sumptuous meals were on offer. People had started pouring into Gandhi Maidan since early morning, and despite the heavens opening, most of them stayed until the rally concluded in the evening.

The former Congress president made a brief, about 15-minute-long, speech and charged the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre with working for only two-three super-rich people and neglecting Dalits and backward classes who comprise 73 per cent of the population. Kharge, after whom the Jan Vishwas Maha Rally was signed off by RJD president Lalu, lambasted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his recent volte-face.

Lauding Lalus son and heir apparent Tejashwi for ensuring that jobs were created on a large scale during the 17-month-period the latter occupied the Deputy CMs post, Kharge said, Your chacha (referring to Nitish) has done a flip-flop. He may do so again. But do not accept him henceforth.

Notably, Kumar, who heads the JD(U), had allied with RJD-Congress and Left combine in 2022, snapping ties with the BJP which he accused of trying to engineer a split in his own party.

He played a key role in the formation of the INDIA Bloc, though after returning to the NDA, he has been claiming that he was never happy with the way things moved forward in the Opposition coalition and that even the acronym did not have his approval.

Lalu, arch-rival of Nitish, who signed off his speech in style asking the crowds to be prepared for the upcoming elections and said he will be there to boost morale of the people as they vote to drive out Modi from power at the Centre.

Recalling Kumars first volte face in 2017, the RJD president said, I had not hurled any abuses at Nitish back then, only called him palturam (turncoat). The label has stuck to his persona by virtue of his own deeds. I can see funny videos about him on social media and wonder whether these do not drive him to shame.

The wily leader had recently fished in the Bihar NDAs troubled waters by claiming his doors were always open for the JD(U) boss, who has aligned with the BJP despite the party maintaining that it will pursue the ambition of forming its own Government in Bihar.

At the rally, however, Prasad said Kumar would get a dhakka (shove) if he again came to him after growing uneasy with the BJP.

Prasad, who has been weathered down by old age and poor health, showered his affection on Tejashwi and elder son Tej Pratap Yadav, besides his daughters, including Singapore-based Rohini Acharya, while lambasting the Prime Minister for criticising parivarvad (dynastic rule) in politics.

Known for pulling no punches, the RJD supremo said, What can we do if Narendra Modi does not have a family of his own? He keeps bragging about the Ram temple. He is not even a true Hindu. In Hindu tradition, a son must get his head and beard shaved upon the demise of his parent. Modi did not do so when his mother died.

Also present at the rally was M V Shreyams Kumar, former Rajya Sabha member and RJDs Kerala unit chief, who had flown down from the southern state.

In his short speech, Lalu, who has reached a seat-sharing agreement with Congress in his State, said, UP and Bihar together have 120 seats. If we ensure the BJPs rout in these two States, the party will not be able to form the government at the Centre.

Tejashwi whose just concluded State-wide Jan Vishwas Yatra saw its culmination in the rally, broke into a Bollywood number to taunt Nitish who sometimes goes here, sometimes there and slips (idhar chala kabhi udhar chala... Phisal gaya).
The Mendocino County Sheriffs Office said there were no obvious signs of foul play in the death of a 45-year-old man found partially submerged in the Russian River. Mendocino County Sheriff's Office

A 45-year-old man was found dead Friday resting against a tree and partially submerged in the Russian River near Ukiah, Mendocino County sheriffs officials said.

A swift-water rescue team recovered Joshua Freemans body, which was found about 10 a.m. just east of Highway 101, officials said.

There were no obvious signs of foul play, officials said, adding that an autopsy was pending. Law enforcement personnel said they recognized the man as Freeman.

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Last Sunday, a 38-year-old woman was swept down the river in the Johnsons Beach area in Guerneville in neighboring Sonoma County. When deputies tried to rescue her, she fought them, authorities said. Firefighters on a boat eventually rescued the woman, who was later arrested on suspicion of battery and other charges.
In what can be seen as a move to undergo an image makeover, the BJP leadership has made it clear that there is no space for hate speeches that serve as fodder for the Opposition and embarrass the ruling party.

The BJP dropped controversial figures like Bhopal MP Sadhhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and MPs Parvesh Singh Verma and Ramesh Bidhuri from Delhi, as well as Jayant Sinha from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.

Pragya was removed due to her comments on killed ATS chief Hemant Karkare and Godse, while Parvesh and Bidhuri were sidelined for hate speeches disturbing communal harmony. These leaders have courted controversies with their remarks inside and outside Parliament. Hours before the announcement of the first list, Sinha opted out of the Lok Sabha polls, anticipating that he would not be given a ticket this time.

This sends a clear message that the BJP is more image conscious than ever as it faces the might of the INDIA alliance, a conglomeration of 31 political parties. In Bhopal, the BJP has replaced Pragya with Alok Sharma. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Pragya gained prominence as one of the giant killers, securing victory over Congress stalwart Digvijaya Singh by an impressive margin of 3,64,822 votes.

Despite her electoral success, Pragya s tenure has been marred by controversies. Pragya, who is an accused in the 2008 Malegaon bombings case, was out on bail on health grounds and attempted various means like playing kabaddi and attending garba nights to stay away from controversy.

Her remarks on Nathuram Godse, whom she called a patriot, also did not sit well with the BJP. Her conduct earned censure from Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Five years later, she lost her seat. She stirred controversy with remarks on former Mumbai ATS chief Hemant Karkare, who died during the 2008 terror attacks, suggesting he was killed because of her curse. Additionally, her lack of activity in her constituency worked against her.

A notable absence in the BJP list that surprised many was West Delhi MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma, a two-time MP and son of former Chief Minister Sahib Singh Verma. Before the 2020 Delhi elections, Verma made incendiary remarks during the Shaheen Bagh protest, suggesting the demonstrators would be cleared in an hour if the BJP came to power in the national Capital. Last year, reports emerged that the BJP leadership strongly condemned Vermas remarks, which called for an economic boycott of a particular community. Verma made these comments during a gathering titled Virat Hindu Sabha, organised by the local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations in East Delhi on October 9 last year. In his speech, Verma advocated for a complete boycott of these people, without explicitly naming any particular community.

South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri recently came under scrutiny for making hate remarks in Parliament during a discussion on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Videos of Bidhuris contentious comments targeting MP Danish Ali quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread criticism.

BJP president JP Nadda reportedly issued a show cause notice to Bidhuri, their party MP, over his use of objectionable language against Ali within Parliament. The offending remarks were expunged from the Parliamentary records, and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh promptly expressed regret for Bidhuris conduct during the Session.

Bidhuri reacted to the partys decision to deny him a ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, expressing confidence that the ruling party must have put a lot of thought behind their decision to deny tickets to four sitting MPs in Delhi.

In an indirect address to the fresh faces selected by the BJP for the Lok Sabha election, Bidhuri said these are guests, hum toh ghar ke log hain (we are family members). He further stated that those who are part of the family have the responsibility to uphold the units ideology and work towards maintaining its dignity and reputation.

Bidhuri emphasised that the BJP is not a family party and that they must have made the decision (to deny him a ticket) after significant deliberation.

BJPs Hazaribagh MLA Manish Jaiswal replaces sitting party MP Jayant Sinha from Hazaribagh Lok Sabha seat. In 2019, Sinha said he and some other BJP leaders provided financial assistance to pay the legal fees of the persons accused of lynching a meat trader in Jharkhands Ramgarh in 2017. His admission came a year after he triggered a controversy by felicitating and posing with the six accused after they were released on bail and taken straight to the ministers residence in Hazaribagh. The other prominent Delhi MPs who have been dropped include Meenakshi Lekhi and Harsh Vardhan.

In the Lohardaga (ST) seat, three-time MP Sudarshan Bhagat was replaced by Samir Oraon. In its list of candidates for Madhya Pradesh, the BJP replaced seven sitting MPs with new faces. The party named Bharat Singh Kushwaha for the Gwalior Lok Sabha seat, instead of its sitting MP Vivek Narayan Shejwalker.

It dropped sitting MP from Guna, Krishnapal Singh Yadav, to field Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia from the seat. The BJP announced its candidates for 15 Lok Sabha seats in Rajasthan, replacing five sitting MPs with new faces who will contest from Churu, Bharatpur, Jalore, Udaipur, and Banswara contingency.

The BJP has replaced as many as 33 sitting MPs with new faces as it released its first list with names of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. The BJP had contested 436 seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. With 195 seats declared on Saturday, the BJP has declared almost 40 per cent of the seats it may contest this time if one goes by 2019 estimate.
It is the Pooram season in Kerala and Pooram, the Malayalam word for festival of festivals, is celebrated with great gaiety and exuberance in temples, both big and small. This is the time of year when expatriate Malayalees visit their hometowns to partake in the Pooram festivities in their villages. The two indispensable elements of these Poorams are caparisoned elephants and Panchavadyam/Thayambaka, a fusion of percussion instruments played by more than a hundred artists, while the tuskers wave their ears and tails in appreciation of the music.

As the Pooram season gains momentum, a debate ensues among Pooram enthusiasts and animal rights activists regarding the cruelty inflicted upon elephants. There was a time when festivals in Aarattupuzha and Thrissur featured hundreds of elephants adorned with Alavattam, Venchamaram, and umbrellas of varying colours and shapes. However, as the number of domesticated elephants has decreased, the hiring of elephants for Pooram has become a costly proposition.

There are just 500 domesticated elephants in Kerala as owners of the pachyderms are finding it difficult to rear elephants. Kerala is in need of more elephants as the Forest Department has stopped trapping elephants from forests, said Rameshan, an elephant lover based in Palakkadu, whose tea shop is dotted with pictures of hundreds of elephants. Rameshan says there can be no temple festivals without elephants.

It is a tradition dating back to hundreds of years, said Ramesh.

V K Venkitachalam, chairman, Heritage Anoimal Task Force, is waging a battle against deploying elephants for temple festivals. The cruelty meted out to these elephants by their mahouts and owners put human beings to hang their heads in shame. Elephants are made to stand from 7 am to 9 pm without any break and that too in scorching sun. There is no hard and fast rule that temple festivals should have elephants, said Venkitachalam. He pointed out that three to four tuskers were killed while they were being tranquilised and called for a probe into the affair.

The daily rent for an elephant to be paraded in the Pooram varies from `1,00,000 to `1,50,000/. This is in addition to the transportation charge as there are rules that the tuskers should be ferried in trucks from its place of residence to the temple and back. It is true that there is severe shortage of elephants in the State. Laws should be amended to make elephant rearing a viable business, Ramesh.

Noted ecologist and animal rights activist Dr Nanditha Krishna of CPR Environmental Education Centre, Chennai, is of the opinion that the scriptures do not mention about deploying elephants during Temple Festivals.

The biggest celebration in Sanatana Dharma was the return of Lord Rama and Sita to Ayodhya after defeating Raavana. It was mentioned that people in Ayodhya celebrated the Lords return after 14 years of exile by lighting Diya and this became Diwali. But there is no mention about elephants being paraded during the celebrations. It is all the handiwork of some abnormal kings, said Dr Krishna.

According to Ramesh, the present debate about elephants and Poorams could be the handiwork of certain vested interests.

Please remember that though Thrissur Pooram, the mother of all festivals, is celebrated for a day, the district is busy round-the-year with preparations for the next Pooram. It has turned out to be an industry that sustains the livelihood of thousands of people engaged in various works associated with Pooram. Though labelled as a Hindu festival, the Pooram is a venture by people belonging to different religions and communities making it a celebration of humanity.

Pooram will remain and flourish and there will be elephants which itself is a treat to the eyes, he said.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, on Sunday, said that a good governments priority was to serve people.

He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, stating that the double-engine government focuses on both development and the welfare of the poor, ensuring prosperity along with security, livelihood and respect for faith.

The chief minister performed the bhoomi-pujan and laid the foundation stone of the first veterinary science college of eastern Uttar Pradesh at Tal Nador, Gorakhpur. The construction of this college, to be built on 80 acres, will cost around Rs 350 crore.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Yogi said in the previous governments, people were troubled by goons and mafia and only a few benefited from the schemes, while the majority of the public kept watching helplessly.

He emphasised that under the current government, everyone was benefiting from the schemes without any discrimination.

The chief minister mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the strength of the new India is resonating worldwide. Such a government has never been seen before, and it is essential to understand this and support the Modi government once again in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, realising the slogan of Abki Baar, Chaar Sau Paar, he stated.

Chief Minister Yogi assured the people that the veterinary science college being built at Tal Nador would be transformed into a university in the future, making Gorakhpur home to five universities. He mentioned that the college will not only focus on animal healthcare but also undertake breed improvements. Fisheries related programmes will also be taken forward here. The college aims to provide education for aspiring veterinarians, offering them a new platform to build their careers, he added.

The chief minister explained that the design of the college is inspired by the vision of King Shalihotra of Shravasti, who, in the third century, composed the Shalihotra Samhita and contributed to the prosperity of the livestock sector.

He further mentioned that Dakshinanchal, which remained underdeveloped for a long time, is now progressing rapidly under the double-engine government. An international stadium will soon be built in this area, along with Varanasi four-lane road and the College of Veterinary Sciences. The municipal corporation is planning to establish a 50-acre cow shelter near the college, he added.

Discussing the development of Gorakhpur, the chief minister mentioned that the fertiliser factory, which was closed during the Congress government, was restarted by the Modi government. A new AIIMS has been established in Gorakhpur, and the Link Expressway is about to become operational. The establishment of large-scale industries in GIDA (Gorakhpur Industrial Development Authority) has provided employment to 5,000 youths in the region, he added.

The chief minister mentioned the consecration of Lord Rams idol in Ayodhya, comparing the transformation of the city under the present government with the situation during opposition governments, which ordered firing on the devotees of Lord Ram. He noted that the blessings of the deity and prasad (offering) are also available.

Seeking support for MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, the candidate from Gorakhpur in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Chief Minister Yogi said that every party worker would go door to door posing as Ravi Kishan and ask for votes.

Before addressing the programme, the chief minister also inspected the model of the College of Veterinary Sciences.

During the programme, Chief Minister Yogi honoured beneficiaries of various schemes by presenting them certificates. The schemes included the Mukhyamantri Swadeshi Gausamvardhan Yojana, Nandini Krishak Samriddhi Yojana, Chief Minister Progressive Animal Husbandry Promotion Scheme, Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, PM Awas Yojana.

In the foundation-laying ceremony, key attendees included the Minister of Livestock and Dairy Development Dharmapal Singh, MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, MLA Vipin Singh, Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastava, MLAs Rajesh Tripathi, Shriram Chauhan, Mahendrapal Singh, Pradeep Shukla, MLC, Bharatiya Janata Party state vice-president Dr Dharmendra Singh, district president Yudhishthir Singh and metropolitan president Rajesh Gupta.
Jharkhand Assembly Speaker, Ravindra Nath Mahato has appealed to the scientists to recommend agricultural technology according to the social, economic, educational background and circumstances of the farmers and their geographical environment so that it becomes easy for them to adopt the recommendations and get the right results.



Mahto said that middlemen and hoarders buy and store most of the farmers' produce at a low price and sell it at a higher price after some time. Due to this, farmers get less profit and middlemen get more profit. The biggest challenge is to provide the right price to the farmers for their agricultural and animal products. If they start getting the right price, half of their problem will be solved, he added.



The Speaker, on Sunday, was addressing farmers and scientists on Sunday at the Agrotech Kisan Fair organized at Birsa Agricultural University (BAU). He said that only 40 per cent of the land in Jharkhand can be cultivated, and in the remaining 60 per cent, an action plan should be made to harvest crops according to the soil and topography. He said that in all seasons  winter, summer and rainy season  farmers reach their fields before sunrise and work hard throughout the day to ensure that the country does not remain hungry. Therefore their profession should be given full respect.



Mahto also inaugurated the animal and bird exhibition organized in the fair. In this, 165 animal farmers from more than a dozen nearby villages have displayed their cows, buffaloes, pada, padi, bulls, hens, goats, pigs, rabbits, ducks and others.

Women farmers seminar was also organized in the fair today, addressing which Rajya Sabha member Dr Mahua Maji said that Jharkhand has a lot of natural wealth, yet most of the people here are poor. To stop the migration of laborers from Jharkhand and to stop human trafficking, Hemant government started many welfare schemes which have started yielding positive results, he added.



Former Mayor and National Secretary of BJP Asha Lakra said that in the State, women do almost 80 per cent of the agricultural work like planting, weeding, weeding, harvesting, rosemary and others., hence they should save their labour, time and cost by adopting innovative techniques. She laid emphasis on increasing the cultivation of grains like Maduva, Gundali, Kodo and preparing processed products of fruits and vegetables.



While delivering the welcome address, Vice Chancellor Dr Sunil Chandra Dubey said that the theme of the fair has been nutrition, income and employment promotion through agricultural innovations. Malnutrition and undernutrition is a major issue in Jharkhand, for which emphasis is being laid on the production and consumption of more nutritious grains and fruits and vegetables.

In the fair, Emlen Bage, Lohardaga Johny Tudu, Chatra, Sangeeta Tigga, Ranchi, Prasenjit Gorai, East Singhbhum, Dilip Kumar Sharma, Khunti, Dinesh Singh, Godda Kuldeep Oraon, Gumla and Amarendra Kumar were honored for their special contribution in the field of advanced agriculture. Was honored for.

Various types of biscuits, laddus, cakes, various types of pickles, squash, flour and millets based baby food are available at the processing stall. Fish and chicken pickles are also being sold. Special varieties of rice like Birsa Brown Rice, Kala Rani (Scented), Birsa Vikas Sugandha, Black Cumin, Black Salt etc. are available at the crop improvement stall. You can also take cuttings of the medicinal plant Giloy.
Highlighting the pressing need for concerted efforts to address the challenges associated with cancer care in India, experts here have urged the government to prioritise the classification of the disease as a notifiable disease and to work towards improving access to comprehensive care and treatment facilities nationwide.

This move, they argue, would ensure accurate reporting of incidence and enable effective follow-up measures, the argued.

Indrani Kaushal, Joint Secretary, Union Health Ministry underscored the gravity of the situation, citing projections from a study conducted by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). According to the study, India is projected to witness 15.33 lakh new cancer cases annually, with an estimated mortality rate of around 8 lakh.

Speaking at the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) Roundtable for the Eastern Region, Kaushal highlighted Odisha as one of the top 12 states contributing significantly to the countrys cancer incidence.

The experts also drew attention to the inadequate infrastructure for cancer care in India, noting that 85% of districts in the four Eastern states lack comprehensive cancer care centers.

Only 20% of cancer patients in the country have access to radiotherapy, a crucial treatment modality.

Raj Gore, the co-lead of the FICCI Task Force on Cancer Care and CEO of Healthcare Global Enterprises Limited (HCG), emphasized the urgent need for more comprehensive cancer care centers across the nation. He noted that less than 30% of districts in India have access to such facilities, highlighting the magnitude of the problem.

Our task is cut out, and the magnitude of the problem is far greater than many realise, stated Gore.

Our focus should not only be on raising awareness and prevention but also on ensuring better patient outcomes through timely and complete treatment of patients, he added.

Gore stressed the importance of not only raising awareness and prevention efforts but also ensuring better patient outcomes through timely and complete treatment. Additionally, the experts called for enhanced grassroots-level prevention and awareness programs, along with training initiatives for healthcare workers such as Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs).

The formation of the FICCI Task Force on Cancer Care represents a concerted effort to tackle these challenges head-on.

Our focus should not only be on raising awareness and prevention but also on ensuring better patient outcomes through timely and complete treatment of patients.

This encompasses improving access to comprehensive cancer care centres and mitigating the additional financial burden on patients and their families, added Gore.
The concerted effort of the Yogi Adityanath government to bring a white revolution in Uttar Pradesh has resulted in investments exceeding Rs 9,000 crore pouring into the dairy sector. This surge in investment is poised to create extensive employment opportunities for the youth of the state on a significant scale.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched the Banas Kashi Complex in Varanasi, which is expected to generate employment, directly or indirectly, for lakhs of people in Purvanchal. Additionally, through the fourth edition of the groundbreaking ceremony (GBC@IV), several major dairy companies in the state have taken steps to bring their investments to fruition.

It is believed that the establishment of these dairy companies will not only strengthen the dairy sector in the state but also become a powerful means of employment for the people.

Dairy Commissioner Shashi Bhushan Lal Susheel said that after Varanasi, Banaskantha DCMPU Limited is planning to set up a dairy unit with a handling capacity of 10 lakh litres of milk per day in the first phase, which could be increased to 15 lakh litres per day in the second phase. The company has invested Rs 800 crore in Baghpat which will create 4,000 employment opportunities, he added.

Similarly, CP Milk and Food Products Private Limited is currently providing its services through three manufacturing units in Uttar Pradesh. This is providing direct and indirect employment to thousands of people in the state. In order to expand its units in Uttar Pradesh, the company has now invested Rs 300 crore in Barabanki, creating job opportunities for 90 people. CP Milk retails 17 high-quality dairy products manufactured from fresh milk procured directly from over 1.65 lakh dairy farmers.

In addition to this, Smart Grid Pvt Ltd is planning to establish its unit in Gonda at a cost of Rs 1,100 crore, providing employment opportunities for more than 3,000 people. Similarly, Rinku Dairy Prop Bareilly is setting up an enterprise with an investment of Rs 490 crore, and another unit in Shahjahanpur with an investment of Rs 300 crore, creating job opportunities for more than 1,300 people.

Similarly, Bareilly Dairies Ltd is investing Rs 300 crore. Mitra Seva Insurance and Fintech Pvt Ltd is investing Rs 300 crore, Gopal Ji Dairy is investing Rs 252 crore in Hapur, Creamy Foods is investing Rs 250 crore in Bulandshahr, Pradhan Milk Chilling Plant is investing Rs 250 crore in Meerut, and Dairy Craft is investing Rs 212 crore in Bareilly, generating employment for thousands of people.

Through these companies, the Yogi government is confident that not only will Uttar Pradesh become self-reliant in the dairy sector but will also play a significant role for other states. Moreover, it will be capable of providing employment to people on a large scale.

It is noteworthy that the Banas Kashi Complex is ready to be the driving force for employment in Purvanchal. On February 23, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the largest plant of Amul, Banas Dairy. This project will provide indirect employment to about one lakh people. With its commencement, the income of farmers and cattle herders in Purvanchal will also double. At the end of the year, the dairy producers will also receive a percentage of the companys dividend.

Notably, the foundation stone for this plant, built at a cost of Rs 622 crore, was laid by Prime Minister Modi on December 23, 2021. Banas Dairy Amul Industrial Area is situated in 30 acres in Karkhiyaon, Agro Park. This will bring employment to about 1,346 villages of Purvanchal. With this project, about 750 people will get employment in the factory, and approximately 2,350 people will get employment in the field.

These big projects will also provide employment:

India Dairy: Location: Meerut. Investment: Rs 200 crore. Employment: 150.

Gopal Ji Dairy: Location: Bulandshahr. Investment: Rs 172 crore. Employment: 100.

Ananda Dairy: Location: Hapur, Investment: Rs 150 crore. Employment: 300.

RM Dairy: Location: Aligarh, Investment: Rs 150 crore. Employment: 200.

Murli Dugdh Gram Udyog Sansthan: Location: Prayagraj. Investment: Rs 150 crore. Employment: 120.

Maya Milk Food: Location: Etawah. Investment: Rs 150 crore. Employment: 100.

Tasty Dairy: Location: Kanpur Dehat. Investment: Rs 110 crore. Employment: 200.
Former BJP state spokesperson, Amarpreet Singh Kale, paid a courtesy visit to the Governor of Jharkhand, CP Radhakrishnan, upon his arrival in Jamshedpur. The meeting, held in Parliament, coincided with His Excellency's visit to the city for an event at Kolhan Women's University.

During the encounter, Kale extended greetings and presented a bouquet of flowers, expressing his desire to meet the Governor in Ranchi, a proposal which received approval. Kale disclosed plans to visit with a delegation from 'Naman Shaheed ke Sapno,' discussing the organization's activities over the past nine years dedicated to patriotism and martyrs.

Highlighting the forthcoming grand Akhand Tiranga Yatra cum Martyr Samman Yatra in Anokhi city, Kale informed the Governor about the event and extended an invitation for his participation. The discussions are set to continue in Ranchi, with a focus on the organization's initiatives, especially concerning Martyr's Day on March 23.
The State Police has taken action against drug trade which is growing with rapid speed in the State. On the basis of secret information received by Ranchi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Chandan Kumar Sinha the police team took action under the leadership of Kotwali DySP, Prakash Soe. During this time, a person was arrested with 13 kg of ganja and other intoxicants near ITI bus stand of Pandara OP area.



The name of the arrested smuggler is Ajit Kumar Sahu, he is originally from Adki police station area of Khunti, and currently lives in Pandara. City SP Rajkumar Mehta gave this information in a press conference in his office on Sunday.



The arrested accused Ajit Kumar told the police that he used to do illegal business of ganja for personal profit. Ajit has a criminal history. In the year 1999, he went to jail from Adki police station, Khunti.



Meanwhile, criminals looted jewelery worth more than Rs 1 lakh from a jewelery shopkeeper in Madhukam area of Ranchi. Jewelery shopkeeper Shyam Prasad was going somewhere on a scooter at the time of the incident, at the same time two criminals chasing him on a bike forcibly stopped him and looted jewelery worth more than Rs 1 lakh from him at gunpoint. Police are investigating the matter. An FIR has been registered in this matter today in Sukhdevnagar police station.



In the statement given to the police, Shyam Prasad has said that his jewelery shop is in Piska Mod. Last night, he was going somewhere on a scooty after closing the shop with his nephew. Meanwhile, two criminals forcibly stopped his scooter near Madhukam Crown School. The criminals riding the bike were following them from a long distance, but due to it being night, they could not understand. Both the criminals held them at gunpoint, robbed them of their jewellery, and left. He said that the jewelery was kept in a bag. The criminals also took away the keys of the shop and locker along with the jewellery.
Bangladesh police have arrested three persons, including two owners of a restaurant, in connection with the massive fire that broke out at a shopping mall in the capital Dhaka that killed at least 46 people.

The fire broke out around 9:50 pm on Thursday at the restaurant named Kacchi Bhai on the first floor of the building, Green Cozy Cottage, and quickly spread to the upper floors that had more restaurants and a garment shop, according to fire service officials.

Two owners of an eatery called Chumuk and the manager of Kacchi Bhai restaurant were arrested on Friday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner Kh Mahid Uddin said.

He said, The fire started from the food shop on the ground floor of the building. The police will file a case over negligence in connection with the deaths in the fire incident.

Besides, anyone from the victims family can file a case if they want, said the police official.

At least 46 people were killed, and over 20 others sustained severe injuries by a devastating fire on Thursday night. Firefighters rescued 70 people, including 42 in unconscious state, from the rooftop and different floors of the seven-storey Green Cozy Cottage.

Legal action will be taken against whoever is found responsible in this incident, he added.

He said that three people arrested in this incident are being interrogated.

The building did not have permission to house restaurants.

The building had permission for office use, not restaurants and eateries, according to Rajdhani Unnayan Kartripakkha (Rajuk). But the building housed eight restaurants, a juice bar and a tea and coffee shop, the report said.

Ashraful Islam, Town Planner and Director of the Detailed Area Planning (DAP) project of Rajuk said commercial approval had been taken for the building from one to seven floors. But it was only for office use. There was no approval for restaurants, showrooms or anything else.
Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff, left, and Republican former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey are poised to face off in November in their quests to represent California in the U.S. Senate, a poll shows. Juliana Yamada/Special to the Chronicle; Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

Rep. Adam Schiff and former Los Angeles Dodger Steve Garvey are poised for a November face-off to represent California in the U.S. Senate, according to a new poll.

The poll shows about 27% of likely voters said theyd back Garvey, the races leading Republican, a statistical tie to Schiffs 25%, according to the UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, which conducted the poll in late February.

Just 13% of likely voters supported Garvey in early January, IGS polling showed, while 21% backed Schiff, D-Burbank.

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About 19% of likely voters said in late February that they would cast their ballot for Rep. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, whose competitiveness in polls has slipped in recent months. Roughly the same percentage of voters backed her in January.

About 1 in 5 likely voters was uncertain of which candidate to vote for in January. That ratio has shrunk to 1 in 10.

In California, the two Senate candidates who receive the most votes in the primary election will run against each other in November. Voters will then decide who will take the seat formerly held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, as well as who will occupy the position for the last few months of the term she would have served.

The system strongly favors a Democrat who ends up pitted against a Republican. Registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans 2 to 1 in California, and more than half of likely voters said theyd vote for Schiff or Porter instead of Garvey in a general election.

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Schiff released an ad in January that cast Garvey as his chief opponent, a move that was probably intended to increase the Democrats chances of an easier November contest by promoting a Republican contender. That strategy, IGS said, appears to have worked.

Rep. Katie Porters competitiveness in polls has slipped in recent months in her campaign for the U.S. Senate. Damian Dovarganes/Associated Press

The population of likely voters for this years primary election is unusual in a few ways, which could benefit Garvey and Schiff, IGS added. Nearly two-thirds of likely voters are ages 50 or older, while another two-thirds are homeowners  groups that favored the two leading candidates.

Additionally, nearly a third of likely voters are registered Republicans, though they make up just 24% of registered voters statewide.

The gap between Schiff and the other Democrats was less striking among Bay Area voters. About 28% said they planned to vote for Schiff, while 24% expressed support for Porter. Sixteen percent backed Garvey, the same share who said theyd cast their ballot for Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland.
Becker Capital Management Inc. lowered its position in Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT  Free Report) by 2.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 10,779 shares of the healthcare product makers stock after selling 249 shares during the period. Becker Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Abbott Laboratories were worth $1,044,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 0.6% during the third quarter. Zevenbergen Capital Investments LLC now owns 21,419 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $2,074,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the last quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 9.8% during the second quarter. Public Employees Retirement Association of Colorado now owns 1,415,759 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $154,346,000 after buying an additional 126,547 shares during the last quarter. Rockland Trust Co. increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 1.5% during the third quarter. Rockland Trust Co. now owns 91,868 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $8,897,000 after buying an additional 1,343 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 1.4% during the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 373,375 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $36,161,000 after buying an additional 5,058 shares during the last quarter. Finally, New Republic Capital LLC purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories during the second quarter worth about $570,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 73.70% of the companys stock.

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Abbott Laboratories Stock Performance

NYSE ABT opened at $118.62 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 1.16 and a current ratio of 1.64. The company has a market capitalization of $205.83 billion, a P/E ratio of 36.38, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.75. The company has a fifty day moving average of $113.53 and a 200-day moving average of $104.81. Abbott Laboratories has a 52-week low of $89.67 and a 52-week high of $120.44.

Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement

Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $1.19. The business had revenue of $10.24 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.19 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a return on equity of 20.65% and a net margin of 14.27%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.03 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.62 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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 given a $0.55 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 12th. This represents a $2.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.85%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is 67.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Citigroup lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $123.00 to $126.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $128.00 target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $133.00 to $141.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. Raymond James lifted their target price on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $124.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded shares of Abbott Laboratories from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $120.00.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on ABT

Insider Transactions at Abbott Laboratories

In other news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 12,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total value of $1,500,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 78,704 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,444,480. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 12,500 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $120.00, for a total transaction of $1,500,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 78,704 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,444,480. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 15,000 shares of Abbott Laboratories stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $108.00, for a total transaction of $1,620,000.00. Following the transaction, 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. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 70,000 shares of company stock valued at $7,901,250. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

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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Hodges Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of International Business Machines Co. (NYSE:IBM  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund purchased 6,250 shares of the technology companys stock, valued at approximately $877,000.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Delta Asset Management LLC TN grew its position in International Business Machines by 23.5% during the 2nd quarter. Delta Asset Management LLC TN now owns 6,096 shares of the technology companys stock worth $816,000 after acquiring an additional 1,160 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. increased its stake in shares of International Business Machines by 18.1% in the third quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 372,307 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $52,235,000 after buying an additional 57,170 shares in the last quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. lifted its position in International Business Machines by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Herold Advisors Inc. now owns 21,880 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,070,000 after buying an additional 688 shares in the last quarter. Mizuho Securities Co. Ltd. bought a new stake in International Business Machines during the 3rd quarter worth about $661,000. Finally, Silicon Valley Capital Partners raised its stake in shares of International Business Machines by 33.6% in the third quarter. Silicon Valley Capital Partners now owns 32,245 shares of the technology companys stock worth $4,524,000 after acquiring an additional 8,117 shares during the last quarter. 56.16% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of brokerages recently weighed in on IBM. Evercore ISI raised shares of International Business Machines from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and raised their price target for the company from $165.00 to $200.00 in a report on Friday, January 19th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on International Business Machines from $179.00 to $200.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price target on International Business Machines from $155.00 to $210.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. StockNews.com raised International Business Machines from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of International Business Machines from $144.00 to $183.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have given a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, International Business Machines presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $171.92.

International Business Machines Stock Up 1.7 %

Shares of NYSE:IBM opened at $188.20 on Friday. International Business Machines Co. has a 52 week low of $120.55 and a 52 week high of $196.90. The company has a market capitalization of $172.53 billion, a PE ratio of 23.15, a PEG ratio of 3.63 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.22, a quick ratio of 0.93 and a current ratio of 0.96. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $175.92 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $158.03.

International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The technology company reported $3.87 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $3.78 by $0.09. The firm had revenue of $17.38 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.29 billion. International Business Machines had a return on equity of 39.55% and a net margin of 12.13%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.60 earnings per share. Analysts forecast that International Business Machines Co. will post 10.06 earnings per share for the current year.

International Business Machines Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, March 9th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th will be issued a $1.66 dividend. This represents a $6.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.53%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 8th. International Business Machiness dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 81.67%.

International Business Machines Company Profile

(Free Report)

International Business Machines Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides integrated solutions and services worldwide. The company operates through four business segments: Software, Consulting, Infrastructure, and Financing. The Software segment offers hybrid cloud platform and software solutions; software for business automation, AIOps and management, integration, and application servers; data and artificial intelligence solutions; and security software and services for threat, data, and identity.

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NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund (NYSE:NXG  Get Free Report) is one of 1,255 publicly-traded companies in the Asset Management industry, but how does it weigh in compared to its peers? We will compare NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund to similar companies based on the strength of its valuation, risk, institutional ownership, dividends, earnings, profitability and analyst recommendations.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund and its peers top-line revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund -$28.13 million N/A -151.25 NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Competitors $376.06 million $50.17 million 537.80

NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Funds peers have higher revenue and earnings than NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more affordable than other companies in its industry.

Analyst Recommendations

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund 0 0 0 0 N/A NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Competitors 1058 4626 6038 83 2.44

This is a breakdown of recent ratings and price targets for NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat.

As a group, Asset Management companies have a potential upside of 68.22%. Given NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Funds peers higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund has less favorable growth aspects than its peers.

Insider and Institutional Ownership

38.5% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by institutional investors. 18.6% of shares of all Asset Management companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a company is poised for long-term growth.

Profitability

This table compares NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund and its peers net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund N/A N/A N/A NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund Competitors 343.54% 7.84% 4.99%

Dividends

NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund pays an annual dividend of $5.13 per share and has a dividend yield of 14.1%. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund pays out -2,137.5% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. As a group, Asset Management companies pay a dividend yield of 7.8% and pay out 1,135.4% of their earnings in the form of a dividend. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund has raised its dividend for 1 consecutive years. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund is clearly a better dividend stock than its peers, given its higher yield and lower payout ratio.

Summary

NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund peers beat NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund on 8 of the 10 factors compared.

About NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund

(Get Free Report)

NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund is a closed ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Cushing MLP Asset Management, LP. The fund invests in stocks of companies across the energy supply chain spectrum, including upstream, midstream and downstream energy companies, as well as oil and gas services and logistics companies, energy-intensive chemical, metal and industrial and manufacturing companies and engineering and construction companies. NXG NextGen Infrastructure Income Fund was formed in 2012 and is domiciled in the United States.

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Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (NYSE:ANF  Get Free Report) has been given a consensus recommendation of Hold by the six brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and two have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average twelve-month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is $85.43.

ANF has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. UBS Group boosted their price objective on Abercrombie & Fitch from $98.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. StockNews.com upgraded Abercrombie & Fitch from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 14th. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Abercrombie & Fitch from $53.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Citigroup upped their target price on Abercrombie & Fitch from $100.00 to $127.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group upped their target price on Abercrombie & Fitch from $105.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Abercrombie & Fitch

Insider Buying and Selling

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Abercrombie & Fitch

In related news, insider Kristin A. Scott sold 80,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.25, for a total value of $7,700,000.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 148,485 shares in the company, valued at $14,291,681.25. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In other Abercrombie & Fitch news, CFO Scott D. Lipesky sold 50,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.24, for a total transaction of $4,812,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 116,987 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,258,828.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, insider Kristin A. Scott sold 80,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $96.25, for a total value of $7,700,000.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 148,485 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,291,681.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . 3.77% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ANF. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in Abercrombie & Fitch by 42.3% during the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 29,951 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $958,000 after purchasing an additional 8,902 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in Abercrombie & Fitch by 9.1% during the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 48,703 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $1,558,000 after purchasing an additional 4,049 shares during the period. LSV Asset Management boosted its position in Abercrombie & Fitch by 41.7% during the first quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 318,200 shares of the apparel retailers stock worth $10,179,000 after purchasing an additional 93,600 shares during the period. Allianz Asset Management GmbH boosted its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 23.5% in the first quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 252,944 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $8,092,000 after acquiring an additional 48,078 shares during the period. Finally, Divisar Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Abercrombie & Fitch by 43.2% in the first quarter. Divisar Capital Management LLC now owns 868,421 shares of the apparel retailers stock valued at $27,781,000 after acquiring an additional 261,824 shares during the period.

Abercrombie & Fitch Price Performance

NYSE ANF opened at $131.37 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $105.67 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $78.01. The company has a current ratio of 1.40, a quick ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.28. The company has a market cap of $6.62 billion, a PE ratio of 32.84 and a beta of 1.59. Abercrombie & Fitch has a 1 year low of $21.74 and a 1 year high of $131.73.

Abercrombie & Fitch Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Abercrombie & Fitch Co, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, Asia, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Hollister and Abercrombie. It offers an assortment of apparel, personal care products, and accessories for men, women, and kids under the Hollister, Gilly Hicks, Social Tourist, Abercrombie & Fitch, and abercrombie kids brands.

Further Reading

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AGF Management Limited (OTCMKTS:AGFMF  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,900 shares, an increase of 26.7% from the January 31st total of 1,500 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 6,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.3 days.

AGF Management Stock Up 1.8 %

OTCMKTS:AGFMF opened at $6.15 on Friday. AGF Management has a 52 week low of $4.73 and a 52 week high of $6.90. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $5.58 and its 200 day simple moving average is $5.42.

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About AGF Management

(Get Free Report)

Further Reading

AGF Management Limited is one of Canada's premier investment management companies with offices across Canada and subsidiaries around the world. 2007 marks AGF's 50th anniversary ofproviding Canadians with innovative investment solutions across the wealth continuum. AGF's products and services include a diversified family of more than 50 mutual funds, the evolutionary AGF Elements portfolios, the Harmony asset management program, AGF Private Investment Management, Institutional Account Services and AGF Trust GICs, loans and mortgages.

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Ameriprise Financial Inc. raised its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. (NYSE:MMC  Free Report) by 0.4% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 8,278,659 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 31,821 shares during the period. Marsh & McLennan Companies comprises approximately 0.5% of Ameriprise Financial Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 29th biggest position. Ameriprise Financial Inc.s holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies were worth $1,575,881,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of MMC. Altshuler Shaham Ltd acquired a new stake in Marsh & McLennan Companies during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new stake in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies during the third quarter worth $28,000. RVW Wealth LLC acquired a new position in Marsh & McLennan Companies in the third quarter valued at $32,000. Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its holdings in Marsh & McLennan Companies by 40.5% during the 2nd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 184 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $35,000 after acquiring an additional 53 shares during the period. Finally, FSC Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies in the 3rd quarter worth about $39,000. Institutional investors own 86.64% of the companys stock.

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Marsh & McLennan Companies Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE MMC traded down $0.27 during trading on Friday, hitting $202.00. The stock had a trading volume of 1,399,094 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,436,963. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $195.70 and a two-hundred day moving average of $194.51. The company has a market capitalization of $99.32 billion, a PE ratio of 26.83, a PEG ratio of 3.61 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 1.10. Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $151.86 and a 12 month high of $206.18.

Marsh & McLennan Companies Announces Dividend

Marsh & McLennan Companies ( NYSE:MMC Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $1.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.63 by $0.05. Marsh & McLennan Companies had a net margin of 16.52% and a return on equity of 33.72%. The business had revenue of $5.55 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.54 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.47 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc. will post 8.56 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 25th were given a $0.71 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 24th. This represents a $2.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.41%. Marsh & McLennan Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 37.72%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the company. TD Cowen began coverage on Marsh & McLennan Companies in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued a market perform rating and a $189.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from $200.00 to $208.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, January 26th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Marsh & McLennan Companies from a buy rating to a sell rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $215.00 to $185.00 in a report on Monday, January 8th. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods reduced their target price on Marsh & McLennan Companies from $186.00 to $185.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Marsh & McLennan Companies currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $202.71.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on MMC

Marsh & McLennan Companies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Marsh & McLennan Companies, Inc, a professional services company, provides advice and solutions to clients in the areas of risk, strategy, and people worldwide. It operates through Risk and Insurance Services, and Consulting segments. The Risk and Insurance Services segment offers risk management services, such as risk advice, risk transfer, and risk control and mitigation solutions, as well as insurance and reinsurance broking, strategic advisory services, and analytics solutions, and insurance program management services.

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Brunswick Co. (NYSE:BC  Get Free Report) has earned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the ten analysts that are presently covering the firm, Marketbeat.com reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and seven have given a buy recommendation to the company. The average twelve-month price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $95.09.

BC has been the topic of several analyst reports. B. Riley raised shares of Brunswick from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $100.00 to $108.00 in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Truist Financial decreased their target price on shares of Brunswick from $115.00 to $105.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Raymond James downgraded shares of Brunswick from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Roth Mkm lifted their target price on shares of Brunswick from $85.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on shares of Brunswick from $88.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th.

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Insider Activity

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Brunswick

In other news, VP Christopher F. Dekker sold 6,234 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $84.53, for a total transaction of $526,960.02. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 35,176 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,973,427.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link . In other news, CEO David M. Foulkes sold 35,000 shares of Brunswick stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.11, for a total value of $3,048,850.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 272,626 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,748,450.86. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website . Also, VP Christopher F. Dekker sold 6,234 shares of Brunswick stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $84.53, for a total value of $526,960.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 35,176 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,973,427.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 52,696 shares of company stock worth $4,574,199. Corporate insiders own 0.58% of the companys stock.

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Valley National Advisers Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Brunswick in the 3rd quarter worth about $25,000. Principal Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Brunswick in the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Johnson Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Brunswick in the 4th quarter worth about $30,000. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. raised its position in shares of Brunswick by 104.7% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 520 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 266 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC purchased a new position in Brunswick in the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 94.44% of the companys stock.

Brunswick Stock Up 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE BC opened at $87.87 on Friday. Brunswick has a one year low of $66.47 and a one year high of $99.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.43 and a quick ratio of 0.59. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $87.95 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $81.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.77 and a beta of 1.55.

Brunswick (NYSE:BC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $1.45 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.66 by ($0.21). Brunswick had a net margin of 6.57% and a return on equity of 29.78%. The business had revenue of $1.36 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.44 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.99 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 14.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Brunswick will post 7.44 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Brunswick Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. This is a boost from Brunswicks previous quarterly dividend of $0.40. Brunswicks payout ratio is 28.24%.

About Brunswick

(Get Free Report

Brunswick Corporation designs, manufactures, and markets recreation products in the United States, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, Canada, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Propulsion, Engine P&A, Navico Group, and Boat. The Propulsion segment provides outboard, sterndrive, inboard engines, propulsion-related controls, rigging, and propellers for boat builders through marine retail dealers under the Mercury, Mercury MerCruiser, Mariner, Mercury Racing, Mercury Diesel, Avator, and Fliteboard brands.

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Ariel Investments LLC lessened its holdings in shares of The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 993,749 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 55,775 shares during the period. Ariel Investments LLC owned approximately 0.06% of Charles Schwab worth $54,557,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 54.2% during the 2nd quarter. Beacon Pointe Advisors LLC now owns 135,940 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $7,705,000 after purchasing an additional 47,792 shares during the last quarter. Bamco Inc. NY lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Bamco Inc. NY now owns 8,102,475 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $444,826,000 after purchasing an additional 42,588 shares during the last quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 43.2% during the 3rd quarter. Nisa Investment Advisors LLC now owns 551,682 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $30,287,000 after purchasing an additional 166,316 shares during the last quarter. Act Two Investors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Charles Schwab during the 2nd quarter worth about $13,488,000. Finally, 180 Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 6.1% during the 3rd quarter. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 32,214 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,769,000 after purchasing an additional 1,843 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.61% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have commented on SCHW shares. StockNews.com raised Charles Schwab from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday. Redburn Atlantic started coverage on Charles Schwab in a report on Friday, December 1st. They issued a sell rating and a $52.00 price target for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut Charles Schwab from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and cut their price target for the company from $75.00 to $70.00 in a report on Thursday, January 18th. JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $77.00 price target on shares of Charles Schwab in a report on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, UBS Group increased their target price on Charles Schwab from $72.00 to $82.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $69.92.

Charles Schwab Price Performance

NYSE SCHW traded down $0.31 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $66.47. 7,875,353 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,242,530. The stock has a market cap of $117.88 billion, a PE ratio of 26.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.00. The Charles Schwab Co. has a one year low of $45.00 and a one year high of $77.81. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $65.03 and a 200-day moving average of $60.04. The company has a current ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82.

Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates 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 return on equity of 21.33% and a net margin of 26.90%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.07 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Charles Schwab Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th were given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.50%. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 39.37%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In related news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total transaction of $257,960.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 37,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,425,533.39. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 5,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.71, for a total value of $361,405.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 24,111 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,584,333.81. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total value of $257,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 37,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,425,533.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 172,616 shares of company stock worth $11,181,109. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

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 in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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AXQ Capital LP lifted its holdings in shares of State Street Co. (NYSE:STT  Free Report) by 142.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 10,900 shares of the asset managers stock after purchasing an additional 6,400 shares during the period. AXQ Capital LPs holdings in State Street were worth $730,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in STT. Raymond James Trust N.A. grew its holdings in shares of State Street by 29.3% during the first quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 4,505 shares of the asset managers stock worth $392,000 after purchasing an additional 1,021 shares during the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in shares of State Street by 14.3% during the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 17,756 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,547,000 after purchasing an additional 2,216 shares during the last quarter. Sei Investments Co. grew its holdings in shares of State Street by 3.8% during the first quarter. Sei Investments Co. now owns 280,353 shares of the asset managers stock worth $24,436,000 after purchasing an additional 10,187 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC bought a new stake in shares of State Street during the first quarter worth $812,000. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in shares of State Street by 16.5% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 23,170 shares of the asset managers stock worth $2,019,000 after purchasing an additional 3,276 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 89.62% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at State Street

In other news, EVP Anthony Bisegna sold 2,606 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.00, for a total transaction of $190,238.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 17,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,294,801. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on State Street from $75.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Bank of America reiterated an underperform rating and issued a $81.00 price target on shares of State Street in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Wells Fargo & Company reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $83.00 price target on shares of State Street in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded State Street from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $69.00 to $92.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on State Street from $83.00 to $88.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $81.83.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on State Street

State Street Trading Up 0.2 %

NYSE:STT traded up $0.12 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $73.85. The company had a trading volume of 1,525,975 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,969,521. State Street Co. has a fifty-two week low of $62.78 and a fifty-two week high of $91.15. The businesss fifty day moving average is $74.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $71.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.86, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a current ratio of 0.55. The firm has a market cap of $22.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.45, a P/E/G ratio of 1.23 and a beta of 1.52.

State Street (NYSE:STT  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 19th. The asset manager reported $2.04 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.83 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.95 billion. State Street had a return on equity of 11.86% and a net margin of 10.59%. State Streets revenue was down 3.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $2.07 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that State Street Co. will post 7.87 earnings per share for the current year.

State Street Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 1st will be given a dividend of $0.69 per share. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.74%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 28th. State Streets dividend payout ratio is currently 50.27%.

About State Street

(Free Report)

State Street Corporation, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of financial products and services to institutional investors worldwide. The company offers investment servicing products and services, including custody, accounting, regulatory reporting, investor, and performance and analytics; middle office products, such as IBOR, transaction management, loans, cash, derivatives and collateral, record keeping, and client reporting and investment analytics; finance leasing; foreign exchange, and brokerage and other trading services; securities finance and enhanced custody products; deposit and short-term investment facilities; investment manager and alternative investment manager operations outsourcing; performance, risk, and compliance analytics; and financial data management to support institutional investors.

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AXQ Capital LP purchased a new position in shares of EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund purchased 5,800 shares of the energy exploration companys stock, valued at approximately $735,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 16.0% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 16,031 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $1,911,000 after purchasing an additional 2,213 shares in the last quarter. Moors & Cabot Inc. bought a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the first quarter valued at about $404,000. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of EOG Resources in the first quarter valued at about $278,000. Zions Bancorporation N.A. raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 237.7% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 1,155 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $138,000 after buying an additional 813 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 23.7% in the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 662 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $79,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.21% of the companys stock.

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EOG Resources Stock Up 1.4 %

Shares of EOG traded up $1.64 on Friday, hitting $116.10. The companys stock had a trading volume of 2,998,396 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,464,174. The company has a quick ratio of 2.13, a current ratio of 2.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.13. The firms fifty day moving average price is $115.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $122.38. EOG Resources, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $98.52 and a fifty-two week high of $136.79. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.34 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.92, a P/E/G ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.40.

EOG Resources Announces Dividend

EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The energy exploration company reported $3.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.14 by ($0.07). EOG Resources had a net margin of 31.40% and a return on equity of 25.38%. The business had revenue of $6.36 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $6.18 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.30 earnings per share. EOG Resourcess revenue for the quarter was down 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts expect that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.63 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 30th. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 16th will be given a $0.91 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 15th. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.14%. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio is presently 27.98%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on EOG. TD Securities dropped their price objective on EOG Resources from $135.00 to $130.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Raymond James dropped their price objective on EOG Resources from $148.00 to $145.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. UBS Group dropped their price objective on EOG Resources from $165.00 to $145.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Bank of America cut EOG Resources from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $147.00 to $140.00 in a report on Friday, January 5th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut EOG Resources from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the stock from $156.00 to $150.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $142.40.

Check Out Our Latest Report on EOG

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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LOS BANOS, Merced County  Six women who received ultrasound examinations at a hospital operated by Sutter Health are suing the California health care giant, alleging they were sexually assaulted by an ultrasound technician who remained employed despite multiple complaints and two police investigations into his behavior.

The women say the technician, Henry Nweke, assaulted them during procedures from 2020 to 2022 at the Sutter-owned Memorial Hospital Los Banos, where he was the sole ultrasound technician on duty overnight, according to lawsuits filed at the Superior Court in Sacramento County, where Sutter is based. The lawsuits allege Sutter ignored or mishandled complaints about the technician.

In interviews, four of the six women suing Nweke and Sutter told the Chronicle their experiences with the ultrasound technician had left them feeling violated, emotionally distressed and afraid to seek medical care. Some described driving long distances to other hospitals to avoid returning to the site of their alleged assaults, which is among the only medical facilities in this Central Valley city of 47,000.

One woman alleges that the technician touched her breasts during an ultrasound, telling her that he could not obtain an ultrasound image of her liver without doing so. Others allege he touched them inappropriately and simulated sex using the ultrasound probe. They are seeking financial damages from Sutter on the grounds that it knew or should have known that Nweke was harassing and assaulting female patients.

Reached by phone, Nweke told the Chronicle, I cant speak on this, and declined to answer questions. His attorney, Brett Schoel, did not respond to requests for comment. In court documents, Sutter and Nweke denied all allegations of wrongdoing in each of the lawsuits.

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Six women who received ultrasound examinations at Sutter Healths Memorial Hospital Los Banos allege they were sexually assaulted by an ultrasound technician. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Attorneys for Sutter argued in court documents that Nweke followed proper protocols for the ultrasound procedures and noted that the hospital is conducting its own internal investigation  its third regarding allegations against Nweke  into the claims. Liz Madison, a Sutter Health spokesperson, told the Chronicle late last year that Nweke is not currently providing patient care duties, but declined to provide details. On Saturday, Madison said he no longer works at Memorial Hospital Los Banos or at any Sutter facilities.

In response to questions about Nweke, Madison said, We investigate concerns raised regarding an employees conduct. We take appropriate action as soon as possible. Our commitment to patient privacy and related legal requirements prevents us from giving specific information.

Two women immediately called police after ultrasound procedures conducted by Nweke, and officers were dispatched to investigate, records show. Police investigated both allegations. In one case, an officer found that the allegations against Nweke were unsubstantiated. In the other, officers were unable to substantiate whether a criminal act occurred and forwarded the case to the Merced County District Attorneys Office. To date, no charges have been filed.

According to court documents, the hospital placed Nweke on paid leave at the end of 2020 while it investigated his conduct after two patients and a staff member accused him of misconduct. It placed him on leave again after a patient reported to hospital administrators and police that Nweke touched her inappropriately during an ultrasound in June 2021. Both times, the hospital returned him to work after internal investigations, records show.

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The first civil case is scheduled to go to trial in September, said Amanda Whitten, an attorney representing the women. The others do not yet have trial dates, she said.

The women, all Latina residents of Merced County, told the Chronicle that they chose the hospital because it was the only one offering ultrasound services in the rural county, and that they would have had to drive at least 45 minutes from their homes to reach the next closest facility. The women have never met, though they know they are part of a group of accusers, Whitten said.

This woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, alleges that an ultrasound technician sexually assaulted her during an ultrasound appointment. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Women and a witness come forward

The first woman to pursue legal action contacted Whitten in 2021. As the attorney prepared to go to trial, she said the hospital disclosed in legal proceedings that other women had made complaints against Nweke. Those women were notified of the pending litigation and, under state law, given the chance to opt in to the lawsuit. Earlier this year, Whitten received a call from a second woman seeking to join the suit.

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In an effort to reach other possible victims or eyewitnesses, Whitten posted a message about the allegations against Nweke in April, along with her phone number, on the Facebook page of a Los Banos neighborhood watch group. Within weeks, Whitten said, she received calls from four additional women who later filed lawsuits against Nweke and Sutter.

She also heard from a former hospital employee who reported having complained about Nwekes conduct to hospital administrators in late 2020 after chaperoning an ultrasound exam he conducted. The former employee is not suing but has provided a sworn statement in one of the lawsuits filed by the women.

The former employee said in court documents that Nweke asked her to wipe blood off a pregnant patient who was undergoing an ultrasound exam during a miscarriage. She declared that she was disturbed because Nweke seemed to be enjoying watching me wiping the patient. She also said she witnessed Nweke repeatedly lift up the patients gown to expose her below the waist, even as she tried to keep the patient covered.

I was sick to my stomach from it, the former employee wrote to hospital administrators in a December 2020 email that was included in her court statement.

The Chronicle does not typically identify alleged victims of sexual assault. But one accuser, Celi Gonzalez, said she wanted to be identified by name to reduce the stigma of coming forward.

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Celi Gonzalez, who says she left an ultrasound appointment feeling uncomfortable but did not report the incident because she believed nothing would come of it, came forward after learning of complaints on a neighborhood watch groups Facebook page. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Gonzalez went to the hospitals emergency room with pelvic pain in May 2020. Doctors referred her for an ultrasound exam, during which a female chaperone was present, according to her lawsuit. Gonzalez, 39, alleged in the suit that the chaperone was looking at a cellphone throughout the procedure.

Unlike with other vaginal ultrasounds Gonzalez had undergone, she alleges that Nweke spent a considerable amount of time rubbing the wand on her genitalia and inserted the wand with a push and pull rhythm that was sexual in nature, according to the complaint. She left feeling uncomfortable and confused, but said in an interview that she did not report the incident because she believed nothing would come of it.

It made me feel sick, Gonzalez said. I tried to suppress it.

Three years later, her sister forwarded Whittens Facebook post about Nweke. Gonzalez said the post left her with a crushing feeling of guilt because she did not file a complaint or a police report. Gonzalez wondered whether speaking up sooner could have protected others.

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It stays with you a long time, if it ever leaves you at all, she said.

The first complaint emerges

One month after Gonzalezs ultrasound, in June 2020, a patient made what court records indicate was the first complaint logged against Nweke. The unidentified patient, who was pregnant and suffering a miscarriage, is not one of the participants in the lawsuits. She complained to a nurse and called police after her ultrasound to report that Nweke had sexually assaulted her.

A copy of the Los Banos police report obtained by the Chronicle states that the patient ran into the hospital parking lot while still hooked up to intravenous fluids. She told the responding officer that Nweke had assaulted her using the ultrasound probe. According to the report, Nweke told the officer and nurses interviewed by the officer that the patient had told him she was getting horny during the ultrasound procedure.

After interviewing Nweke and other hospital staff, records show the officer collected multiple similar statements contradicting the patients allegations. Nweke told the officer that the patients pubic area was never exposed. The case was closed without being referred to the district attorneys office. The officer said in his report that he determined the allegations were unsubstantiated.

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Three other patients in Nwekes care that same year later filed lawsuits accusing him of misconduct during ultrasounds, and one filed a hospital complaint. The Chronicle is identifying the remaining accusers who are part of the lawsuits with pseudonyms provided by their attorney because they are alleged victims of sexual assault.

In November 2020, Emma went to the hospital with abdominal pain and was sent to Nweke for an ultrasound to look for ovarian cysts. According to the complaint, Nweke quickly dismissed a chaperone who was present and began rubbing her with the ultrasound wand in a sexual manner that was painful and incredibly uncomfortable.

Nweke, the lawsuit alleges, seemed excited and was smiling while doing this, in a way that was inappropriate for a healthcare professional. Emma, who is 43, did not complain to hospital administrators. She contacted Whitten after seeing the attorneys Facebook post about Nweke.

That same month, in November 2020, another woman says she was assaulted during an ultrasound to check for blood clots after she developed breast pain, according to deposition testimony. Samantha, 55, alleges in her lawsuit that she was surprised when Nweke asked her to take off her underwear.

She complied and alleges that Nweke spent the majority of the examination rubbing the ultrasound wand over her pelvic bone and external genitalia in a sexual manner. That no female chaperone was present made her feel violated and anxious, the complaint alleges. In court documents, Nweke and Sutter denied the allegations in both suits.

In an interview, Samantha told the Chronicle his behavior made her feel so confused and so scared.

A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by an ultrasound technician wears a cross around her neck that she says brings her peace. (Photos by Jessica Christian/The Chronicle) A woman who alleges she was sexually assaulted by an ultrasound technician wears a cross around her neck that she says brings her peace. (Photos by Jessica Christian/The Chronicle)

A month after Samanthas visit, in December 2020, Roni, 36, went to the hospital with abdominal pain soon after becoming pregnant. Doctors referred her to Nweke for an ultrasound, according to the lawsuit.

A female chaperone was initially present but left the room after Nweke told her he was done, the complaint claims. Roni alleges in the lawsuit that Nweke then told her that he saw something in the ultrasound images that he needed to investigate. Using an ultrasound wand, Roni said, he began repeatedly rubbing her genital area until she told him to stop, according to the complaint.

Roni alleges that Nweke later appeared in her waiting room and told her that it was  his personal advice and not medical advice that she not have sex until the baby was okay.

Roni returned to file a complaint at the hospital the next day. Court documents show she reported the incident to the nurse in charge and to Nwekes supervisor. The supervisor, a doctor, told Roni that the hospital would look into it, but they would not be reaching out to her to inform her of the outcome, the lawsuit alleges. Sutter and Nweke denied the allegations in court documents.

Two months later, Roni suffered a miscarriage. According to the lawsuit, she went to the hospital as the miscarriage progressed and told staff she did not want Nweke to perform an ultrasound on her. When Nweke appeared, the lawsuit alleges, she screamed until he left the waiting room. According to her complaint, no one at the hospital took any action and Roni was discharged without an ultrasound.

Records show the hospital opened an internal investigation into Nwekes conduct the same month. After the conclusion of the investigation, court records indicate the hospital implemented at Nwekes request workflow changes related to the performance of endovaginal ultrasound examinations requiring that a chaperone accompany Nweke during those exams, logging their presence with supervisors each time.

It is unclear from court filings how this differed from hospital policy, which already required ultrasound technicians to have a chaperone present during vaginal examinations. Sutter attorneys said in court documents that there are no chaperone policies or guidelines that are specific to Henry Nweke from 2018 to present.

Another patient call to police

The next year, the hospital opened another investigation into Nwekes conduct after a separate incident involving a woman who complained to hospital administrators and police.

The patient, Faith, 44, went to the hospital in June 2021 with swelling in her legs and feet. A doctor ordered an ultrasound to check for blood clots. During the procedure, she alleges Nweke touched her vagina with his fingers and the ultrasound wand and made sexual noises, according to the complaint. Nweke and Sutter deny these allegations in court documents.

Immediately after the ultrasound, Faith reported the alleged assault to hospital administrators and called police, who dispatched an officer to the hospital in the middle of the night.

The officer noted that Faith was visibly upset and had spoken with a doctor, who asked if she understood the procedure and provided a paper document to her explaining it, according to a copy of the police report reviewed by the Chronicle. The officer also noted that no chaperone had been present during her examination due to staffing problems, later writing that there is typically not a female chaperon (sic) with this examination because its not a traditional pelvic examination.

An emergency room nurse told the investigator that Nweke was above reproach and so professional, according to the report. The report also states that a doctor at the hospital and Nweke each separately told an officer that the type of ultrasound ordered required going into the groin area.

The officer reported that the investigation was inconclusive and referred the case to the Merced County District Attorneys Office for review, records show. Los Banos Police Chief Gary Brizzee did not respond to questions about the investigation. Merced County District Attorney Nicole Silveira said her office was aware of the lawsuits brought by the women.

After the complaint, the hospital placed Nweke on paid leave during its own internal investigation but ultimately found there was no evidence that Mr. Nweke engaged in any sexually inappropriate conduct, according to a sworn court declaration from Nwekes supervisor. Nweke returned to work, and at Nwekes request, Nwekes supervisor approved a protocol that a chaperone be present for all of Nwekes encounters with female patients, according to the supervisors sworn statement.

The next year, another woman alleged in a separate lawsuit that Nweke assaulted her. In August 2022, Jessica, 45, went to the hospitals emergency room, where a doctor ordered an ultrasound of her liver. There was no female chaperone present and she was alone in the room with Nweke throughout the procedure, according to the complaint.

During the examination, Jessica alleges that Nweke called her sweetie, which made her uncomfortable. According to the complaint, Nweke also repeatedly tried to lift her robe to fondle her breasts.

He claimed that he would not be able to get an image of her liver unless he was allowed to touch her breasts, the complaint alleges. She continued to resist and he eventually stopped.

Attorneys for Sutter and Nweke continue to deny all allegations and fight them in court.

Attorney Amanda Whitten is representing the women in their suit against Sutter Health. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle

Our voices want to be heard

Since filing her lawsuit, Samantha said she has grown increasingly paranoid. She plans to adopt a guard dog to make her feel safer.

I am living in fear of retaliation, Samantha told the Chronicle.

Faith, a teacher, said the ordeal has sent her into a deep depression. Normally talkative, she said her students had noticed she had become more reserved. Feeling distant from them, she said, she began taking long drives at lunchtime to cry alone in her car. Consumed by rage and shame, she told the Chronicle that she considered harming herself for the first time in her life.

But the lawsuit has given her a sense of resolve, she said, even if it requires repeatedly reliving the alleged assault during legal proceedings. Our voices want to be heard, she said. My main purpose is for (Nweke) to be out of the medical field, to never harm anybody anymore.

For Gonzalez, a single mother of five children, lingering grief has been magnified by an interaction she had with Nweke last year, more than two years after she alleges that he assaulted her. In the summer of 2022, Gonzalez became pregnant and went to the hospital for a routine ultrasound. It was Nweke who performed the procedure, she told the Chronicle. But he appeared not to recognize her.
AXQ Capital LP purchased a new stake in Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras (NYSE:PBR  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund purchased 69,400 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock, valued at approximately $1,040,000.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in PBR. Harbour Investments Inc. acquired a new position in Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras during the first quarter worth $29,000. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank boosted its stake in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras by 83.0% during the 2nd quarter. Zurcher Kantonalbank Zurich Cantonalbank now owns 2,577 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 1,169 shares in the last quarter. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new stake in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras during the 3rd quarter worth about $41,000. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras by 49.9% during the 3rd quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,756 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $41,000 after acquiring an additional 918 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Federated Hermes Inc. raised its stake in shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras by 34.3% in the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 3,368 shares of the oil and gas exploration companys stock valued at $50,000 after acquiring an additional 861 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 11.57% of the companys stock.

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Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras Price Performance

Shares of Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras stock traded up $0.16 on Friday, reaching $16.68. The stock had a trading volume of 18,367,639 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,537,144. Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras has a fifty-two week low of $9.56 and a fifty-two week high of $17.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $16.69 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $15.62.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com raised Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $15.96.

Read Our Latest Report on PBR

Petroleo Brasileiro S.A.  Petrobras Profile

(Free Report)

Petroleo Brasileiro SA  Petrobras explores, produces, and sells oil and gas in Brazil and internationally. The company operates through Exploration and Production; Refining, Transportation and Marketing; and Gas and Power. It also engages in prospecting, drilling, refining, processing, trading, and transporting crude oil from producing onshore and offshore oil fields, and shale or other rocks, as well as oil products, natural gas, and other liquid hydrocarbons.

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California State Teachers Retirement System raised its stake in Dell Technologies Inc. (NYSE:DELL  Free Report) by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 358,738 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 19,414 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement Systems holdings in Dell Technologies were worth $24,717,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Dell Technologies by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 3,921 shares of the technology companys stock worth $270,000 after purchasing an additional 188 shares during the last quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Empower Advisory Group LLC now owns 4,986 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $344,000 after buying an additional 235 shares during the period. Rise Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 200.0% in the 3rd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 357 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 238 shares during the period. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Personalized Indexing Management LLC now owns 13,432 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $925,000 after buying an additional 240 shares during the period. Finally, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Dell Technologies by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 97,092 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $6,690,000 after buying an additional 246 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 38.10% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Dell Technologies

In other news, Director Iv (Gp) L.L.C. Slta sold 239,112 shares of the stock in a transaction on 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 document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. 48.60% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Dell Technologies Price Performance

DELL stock opened at $124.59 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $88.66 billion, a PE ratio of 28.51, a P/E/G ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 0.91. Dell Technologies Inc. has a 12 month low of $35.96 and a 12 month high of $131.06. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $83.24 and a 200 day simple moving average of $73.52.

Dell Technologies (NYSE:DELL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The technology company reported $2.20 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.73 by $0.47. The business had revenue of $22.32 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.17 billion. Dell Technologies had a net margin of 3.63% and a negative return on equity of 165.52%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 10.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.55 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Dell Technologies Inc. will post 6.1 earnings per share for the current year.

Dell Technologies Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 3rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.445 per share. This is a positive change from Dell Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 22nd. This represents a $1.78 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.43%. Dell Technologiess dividend payout ratio is 33.87%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently commented on DELL shares. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted 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. Loop Capital started coverage on shares of Dell Technologies in a report on Wednesday. They issued a buy rating and a $125.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Dell Technologies from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $53.00 to $94.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on shares of Dell Technologies from $85.00 to $140.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating and fourteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Dell Technologies has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $100.19.

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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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California State Teachers Retirement System lessened its position in Amcor plc (NYSE:AMCR  Free Report) by 5.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 2,202,404 shares of the companys stock after selling 134,369 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System owned 0.15% of Amcor worth $20,174,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Raymond James & Associates increased its stake in shares of Amcor by 13.9% in the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 222,899 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,525,000 after buying an additional 27,213 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Amcor by 33.0% during the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 26,878 shares of the companys stock valued at $304,000 after acquiring an additional 6,664 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its holdings in shares of Amcor by 23.3% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 121,261 shares of the companys stock worth $1,374,000 after purchasing an additional 22,888 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its stake in shares of Amcor by 5.2% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 202,541 shares of the companys stock worth $2,295,000 after purchasing an additional 10,101 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its holdings in Amcor by 58.5% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 45,244 shares of the companys stock valued at $522,000 after purchasing an additional 16,707 shares during the period. 49.52% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Amcor Trading Up 0.3 %

NYSE AMCR opened at $9.09 on Friday. Amcor plc has a 12 month low of $8.45 and a 12 month high of $11.39. The company has a current ratio of 1.25, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.14 billion, a PE ratio of 20.66, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 9.99 and a beta of 0.78. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $9.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $9.29.

Amcor Dividend Announcement

Amcor ( NYSE:AMCR Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.01. Amcor had a return on equity of 24.28% and a net margin of 4.59%. The business had revenue of $3.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.29 billion. On average, analysts expect that Amcor plc will post 0.68 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 27th. This represents a $0.50 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.50%. Amcors payout ratio is currently 113.64%.

About Amcor

(Free Report)

Amcor plc develops, produces, and sells packaging products in Europe, North America, Latin America, Africa, and the Asia Pacific regions. The company operates through two segments, Flexibles and Rigid Packaging. The Flexibles segment provides flexible and film packaging products in the food and beverage, medical and pharmaceutical, fresh produce, snack food, personal care, and other industries.

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California State Teachers Retirement System trimmed its position in Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS  Free Report) by 5.6% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 98,078 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 5,803 shares during the quarter. California State Teachers Retirement Systems holdings in Essex Property Trust were worth $20,801,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of ESS. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in Essex Property Trust by 7.6% in the first quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 635 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $219,000 after buying an additional 45 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 25.3% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 243 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $83,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Essex Property Trust by 2.6% in the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 1,957 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $409,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its holdings in Essex Property Trust by 1.2% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 4,405 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,032,000 after purchasing an additional 53 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clear Street Markets LLC boosted its position in Essex Property Trust by 89.4% during the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 125 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. 92.93% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have recently issued reports on ESS shares. Morgan Stanley raised their target price on shares of Essex Property Trust from $227.00 to $230.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of Essex Property Trust from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $215.00 to $281.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. BMO Capital Markets raised Essex Property Trust from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their target price for the company from $235.00 to $225.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 9th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Essex Property Trust from $260.00 to $276.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Mizuho raised Essex Property Trust from a neutral rating to a buy rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $255.00 to $250.00 in a report on Wednesday. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $242.39.

Essex Property Trust Stock Performance

NYSE:ESS opened at $234.37 on Friday. Essex Property Trust, Inc. has a twelve month low of $195.03 and a twelve month high of $252.85. The company has a quick ratio of 2.63, a current ratio of 3.26 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $238.21 and its 200 day simple moving average is $227.73. The firm has a market capitalization of $15.05 billion, a PE ratio of 37.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.79.

Essex Property Trust Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Investors of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a dividend of $2.45 per share. This is a positive change from Essex Property Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $2.31. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $9.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.18%. Essex Property Trusts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 146.43%.

Essex Property Trust 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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California State Teachers Retirement System lowered its position in shares of Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS  Free Report) by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 556,888 shares of the casino operators stock after selling 14,691 shares during the quarter. California State Teachers Retirement Systems holdings in Las Vegas Sands were worth $25,528,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Bank of Nova Scotia raised its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 316.5% in the 3rd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 245,775 shares of the casino operators stock worth $11,266,000 after purchasing an additional 186,764 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC raised its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 422.9% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 22,297 shares of the casino operators stock worth $1,022,000 after purchasing an additional 18,033 shares in the last quarter. Bamco Inc. NY raised its holdings in Las Vegas Sands by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Bamco Inc. NY now owns 880,357 shares of the casino operators stock worth $40,356,000 after purchasing an additional 23,357 shares in the last quarter. MQS Management LLC bought a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter worth $619,000. Finally, Certified Advisory Corp bought a new position in Las Vegas Sands in the 3rd quarter worth $618,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 39.16% of the companys stock.

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Las Vegas Sands Stock Performance

Shares of LVS stock opened at $51.28 on Friday. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $51.26 and a 200-day moving average price of $49.39. Las Vegas Sands Corp. has a 52 week low of $43.77 and a 52 week high of $65.58. The firm has a market capitalization of $38.65 billion, a PE ratio of 32.05, a P/E/G ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.96.

Las Vegas Sands Dividend Announcement

Las Vegas Sands ( NYSE:LVS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 24th. The casino operator reported $0.57 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.61 by ($0.04). The company had revenue of $2.92 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.89 billion. Las Vegas Sands had a return on equity of 34.40% and a net margin of 11.77%. The businesss revenue was up 161.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($0.19) earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Las Vegas Sands Corp. will post 2.74 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 6th were given a dividend of $0.20 per share. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 5th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.56%. Las Vegas Sandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 50.00%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have commented on LVS. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $59.00 to $61.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Las Vegas Sands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. UBS Group increased their price target on shares of Las Vegas Sands from $71.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Finally, Susquehanna initiated coverage on shares of Las Vegas Sands in a research note on Friday, December 15th. They issued a positive rating and a $59.00 price target for the company. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $68.82.

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Las Vegas Sands Profile

(Free Report)

Las Vegas Sands Corp., together with its subsidiaries, develops, owns, and operates integrated resorts in Macao and Singapore. It owns and operates The Venetian Macao Resort Hotel, the Londoner Macao, The Parisian Macao, The Plaza Macao and Four Seasons Hotel Macao, Cotai Strip, and the Sands Macao in Macao, the People's Republic of China; and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

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California State Teachers Retirement System lessened its position in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Co. (NYSE:BAH  Free Report) by 4.5% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 210,046 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 9,996 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement Systems holdings in Booz Allen Hamilton were worth $22,952,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of BAH. Quantbot Technologies LP purchased a new stake in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton in the third quarter worth $1,395,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its holdings in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 28.5% in the 3rd quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 78,201 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $8,558,000 after acquiring an additional 17,362 shares in the last quarter. Bamco Inc. NY boosted its position in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 19.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bamco Inc. NY now owns 270,328 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $29,539,000 after acquiring an additional 44,604 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 38.2% during the third quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,123 shares of the business services providers stock worth $341,000 after purchasing an additional 864 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Cumberland Partners Ltd increased its position in shares of Booz Allen Hamilton by 167.2% in the third quarter. Cumberland Partners Ltd now owns 35,920 shares of the business services providers stock worth $3,925,000 after purchasing an additional 22,475 shares during the last quarter. 90.32% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts have issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their target price on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from $141.00 to $158.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Monday, January 29th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Booz Allen Hamilton from $120.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Barclays cut Booz Allen Hamilton from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Truist Financial lifted their price target on Booz Allen Hamilton from $120.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on Booz Allen Hamilton from $138.00 to $158.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Booz Allen Hamilton presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $139.56.

Booz Allen Hamilton Price Performance

BAH opened at $148.18 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.10, a current ratio of 1.68 and a quick ratio of 1.68. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Co. has a 1 year low of $87.99 and a 1 year high of $149.72. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $136.71 and its 200 day simple moving average is $126.03. The firm has a market cap of $19.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.80, a PEG ratio of 2.18 and a beta of 0.53.

Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE:BAH  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 26th. The business services provider reported $1.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.13 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $2.57 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.54 billion. Booz Allen Hamilton had a net margin of 3.96% and a return on equity of 65.31%. The businesss revenue was up 12.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.07 earnings per share. As a group, analysts predict that Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Co. will post 5.41 earnings per share for the current year.

Booz Allen Hamilton Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 12th were paid a dividend of $0.51 per share. This represents a $2.04 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.38%. This is an increase from Booz Allen Hamiltons previous quarterly dividend of $0.47. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 9th. Booz Allen Hamiltons dividend payout ratio is 65.81%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Booz Allen Hamilton news, CEO Horacio Rozanski sold 49,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $145.69, for a total transaction of $7,138,810.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 557,411 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $81,209,208.59. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CEO Horacio Rozanski sold 49,000 shares of Booz Allen Hamilton stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.69, for a total value of $7,138,810.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 557,411 shares in the company, valued at $81,209,208.59. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, COO Kristine Anderson sold 5,068 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $139.88, for a total transaction of $708,911.84. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 71,656 shares of the companys stock, valued at $10,023,241.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.76% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Booz Allen Hamilton Company Profile

(Free Report)

Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation provides management and technology consulting, analytics, engineering, digital solutions, mission operations, and cyber services to governments, corporations, and not-for-profit organizations in the United States and internationally. It also focuses on artificial intelligence services comprising of machine learning, predictive modeling, automation and decision analytics, and quantum computing.

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Quadrature Capital Ltd lessened its stake in Citizens Financial Group, Inc. (NYSE:CFG  Free Report) by 43.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 93,188 shares of the banks stock after selling 72,613 shares during the period. Quadrature Capital Ltds holdings in Citizens Financial Group were worth $2,499,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in CFG. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 23.1% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 10,537 shares of the banks stock worth $478,000 after buying an additional 1,980 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. increased its stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 29.7% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 53,879 shares of the banks stock worth $2,442,000 after buying an additional 12,350 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS increased its stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 6.6% in the first quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 57,027 shares of the banks stock worth $2,585,000 after buying an additional 3,531 shares during the last quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 9.3% in the first quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 71,237 shares of the banks stock worth $3,229,000 after buying an additional 6,060 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blair William & Co. IL increased its stake in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 1.5% in the first quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 38,619 shares of the banks stock worth $1,751,000 after buying an additional 586 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.67% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several analysts have weighed in on CFG shares. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $31.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Citizens Financial Group from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Wedbush lowered their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $36.00 to $35.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $33.00 to $35.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $37.00 to $38.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. Eleven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $35.00.

Citizens Financial Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE CFG opened at $31.63 on Friday. Citizens Financial Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $22.77 and a twelve month high of $41.39. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.60. The company has a market capitalization of $14.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.17 and a beta of 1.36. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $32.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $28.99.

Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 17th. The bank reported $0.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.60 by ($0.26). Citizens Financial Group had a return on equity of 7.40% and a net margin of 13.19%. The company had revenue of $2 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.25 EPS. Citizens Financial Groups quarterly revenue was down 9.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts expect that Citizens Financial Group, Inc. will post 3.3 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Citizens Financial Group Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, January 31st were issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.31%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, January 30th. Citizens Financial Groups payout ratio is 54.02%.

Citizens Financial Group Profile

(Free Report)

Citizens Financial Group, Inc operates as the bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small businesses, middle-market companies, corporations, and institutions in the United States. The company operates in two segments, Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking.

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Nomura Holdings Inc. decreased its position in Consolidated Edison, Inc. (NYSE:ED  Free Report) by 77.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 2,734 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 9,148 shares during the period. Nomura Holdings Inc.s holdings in Consolidated Edison were worth $234,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Bank of Nova Scotia increased its position in Consolidated Edison by 29.5% during the third quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 39,297 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,361,000 after buying an additional 8,945 shares in the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC grew its holdings in shares of Consolidated Edison by 396.5% during the third quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 35,159 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $3,007,000 after buying an additional 28,077 shares in the last quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lifted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 15.2% during the third quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 61,257 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $5,239,000 after buying an additional 8,073 shares during the period. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. boosted its position in Consolidated Edison by 4.8% during the third quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. now owns 6,589 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $564,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Consolidated Edison by 8.9% during the 3rd quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 104,956 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $8,977,000 after purchasing an additional 8,568 shares during the period. 64.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Consolidated Edison Stock Performance

Consolidated Edison stock opened at $87.01 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $30.06 billion, a PE ratio of 12.12, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 8.20 and a beta of 0.35. Consolidated Edison, Inc. has a one year low of $80.46 and a one year high of $100.92. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $89.86 and its 200 day moving average price is $89.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.04, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 1.01.

Consolidated Edison Increases Dividend

Consolidated Edison ( NYSE:ED Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The utilities provider reported $1.00 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.98 by $0.02. Consolidated Edison had a net margin of 17.19% and a return on equity of 8.41%. The business had revenue of $3.44 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.70 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.81 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 14.6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Consolidated Edison, Inc. will post 5.31 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be paid a $0.83 dividend. This is a boost from Consolidated Edisons previous quarterly dividend of $0.81. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $3.32 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.82%. Consolidated Edisons payout ratio is 46.24%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts recently commented on the company. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Consolidated Edison from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH started coverage on shares of Consolidated Edison in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. They set a neutral rating and a $92.50 price objective on the stock. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Consolidated Edison from $88.00 to $86.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Scotiabank upped their price target on shares of Consolidated Edison from $90.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock a sector underperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, KeyCorp raised shares of Consolidated Edison from an underweight rating to a sector weight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $87.89.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Consolidated Edison

Consolidated Edison Company Profile

(Free Report)

Consolidated Edison, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the regulated electric, gas, and steam delivery businesses in the United States. It offers electric services to approximately 3.7 million customers in New York City and Westchester County; gas to approximately 1.1 million customers in Manhattan, the Bronx, parts of Queens, and Westchester County; and steam to approximately 1,530 customers in parts of Manhattan.

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Dassault Aviation societe anonyme (OTCMKTS:DUAVF  Get Free Report) shot up 3.2% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $205.00 and last traded at $205.00. 1,234 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 373% from the average session volume of 261 shares. The stock had previously closed at $198.57.

Dassault Aviation societe anonyme Stock Up 3.2 %

The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $195.35 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $195.52.

Dassault Aviation societe anonyme Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Dassault Aviation Societe anonyme designs and builds military aircraft, business jets, and space systems in France, the Americas, and internationally. It offers Rafale, a multirole fighter aircraft; nEUROn, an unmanned combat air vehicle; and Falcon aircraft for maritime surveillance, intelligence, and medical evacuation missions.

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Gotham Asset Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Deere & Company (NYSE:DE  Free Report) by 22.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,432 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 2,801 shares during the quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLCs holdings in Deere & Company were worth $3,559,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of DE. Fred Alger Management LLC raised its holdings in Deere & Company by 2,748.7% in the 3rd quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 41,905 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $15,814,000 after acquiring an additional 40,434 shares during the last quarter. Caxton Associates LP bought a new position in Deere & Company in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $222,000. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC lifted its position in Deere & Company by 125.1% in the 3rd quarter. Ironwood Investment Counsel LLC now owns 2,048 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $773,000 after acquiring an additional 1,138 shares in the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC lifted its position in Deere & Company by 5.8% in the 3rd quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 925 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $349,000 after acquiring an additional 51 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC bought a new position in Deere & Company in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $232,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 66.27% of the companys stock.

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Deere & Company Trading Up 0.8 %

NYSE:DE opened at $367.85 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.81, a current ratio of 2.05 and a quick ratio of 1.81. The firm has a market capitalization of $103.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.38 and a beta of 1.03. Deere & Company has a one year low of $345.55 and a one year high of $450.00. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $384.10 and a 200-day moving average price of $384.16.

Deere & Company Announces Dividend

Deere & Company ( NYSE:DE Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The industrial products company reported $6.23 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.19 by $1.04. Deere & Company had a return on equity of 44.60% and a net margin of 16.38%. The business had revenue of $10.49 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $10.30 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $6.55 EPS. Deere & Companys revenue for the quarter was down 8.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Deere & Company will post 27.47 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 8th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a $1.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $5.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.60%. Deere & Companys payout ratio is presently 17.12%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms recently issued reports on DE. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on Deere & Company from $435.00 to $425.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Melius cut Deere & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 8th. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $400.00 to $375.00 and set a hold rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 27th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their target price on shares of Deere & Company from $445.00 to $425.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Finally, Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on shares of Deere & Company in a research note on Monday, January 8th. They set an overweight rating and a $430.00 target price for the company. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $428.58.

View Our Latest Research Report on DE

Deere & Company Company Profile

(Free Report)

Deere & Company engages in the manufacture and distribution of various equipment worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Production and Precision Agriculture, Small Agriculture and Turf, Construction and Forestry, and Financial Services. The Production and Precision Agriculture segment provides large and medium tractors, combines, cotton pickers and strippers, sugarcane harvesters and loaders, harvesting front-end equipment, pull-behind scrapers, and tillage and seeding equipment, as well as application equipment, including sprayers and nutrient management, and soil preparation machinery for grain growers.

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Fighter jet completes flight training

China Military Online) 14:54, March 03, 2024

Fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force soars into the air during a flight training exercise on February 20, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Fu Gan)

A ground crew member assigned to an aviation brigade of the air force signals a pilot to taxi on the runway after a flight training exercise on February 20, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Fu Gan)

Fighter jet attached to an aviation brigade of the air force taxis on the flightline before takeoff for a flight training exercise on February 20, 2024. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Fu Gan)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Zhong Wenxing)
Armando Bravo Martinez has his morning coffee with his dog, Audrey, near Bernal Hill in San Francisco on Feb. 13. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle A stretch of recreational vehicles with people living inside are parked on Bernal Heights Boulevard in San Francisco earlier this month. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle

Regarding S.F. revives old parking ban to clear homeless living in RVs in this quiet neighborhood (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 21): We are Bernal Heights neighbors who walk regularly on Bernal Heights Boulevard. We are not complaining about the RV dwellers. Were sad and disappointed that San Francisco, the state and the nation cant seem to make affordable housing a priority.

As far as we can tell, the RV dwellers are doing their best to be good neighbors: They keep tidy and dont block the sidewalks; they generally greet passersby cordially. We have never seen sewage or waste around the RVs. If the reporter had looked around, she would have noticed this. (Even the published photos show tidy grounds.)

We are grateful that people living in such dire straits are careful about being good neighbors. San Francisco values do not include forcing people to move from a safe place where they are not bothering anyone, as its well-known that there arent really other places for them to set up a household.

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Please do not report on the situation as if all Bernal Heights residents would like to push these folks away. Please seek further comment from the many neighbors who have no issues with the RV dwellers and would prefer to not make these folks lives more difficult.

Margo Freistadt, Judy Kurtz and Connie Matthiessen, San Francisco

Flawed diagnosis

Regarding As a neuroscientist, yes, Im concerned about Bidens mental acuity. Trumps, too (Open Forum, SFChronice.com, Feb. 29): As a clinical psychologist, I was appalled to read Terry Wus op-ed suggesting that Joe Biden and Donald Trump can be diagnosed with frontal lobe dysfunction based on anecdotes and media reports.

Bidens quirky speech style has long been noted and Trump early on staked his claim to fame on making off-the-cuff and unfiltered remarks.

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In contrast, far from the doom-and-gloom of inevitable cognitive decline implied in this piece, the research evidence is clear that there are significant individual differences, with some older adults remaining mentally sharp well into their later years.

Most importantly, the Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct of the American Psychological Association says that psychologists provide opinions of the psychological characteristics of individuals only after they have conducted an examination of the individuals adequate to support their statements or conclusions.

Patricia Kerig, McKinleyville, Humboldt County

Violence unwarranted

Regarding Student protesters shut down UC Berkeley lecture by Israeli lawyer (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, Feb. 27): Its not clear whether the perpetrators were all students but what is clear is that authorities were ill-prepared and unable to preserve the right to free expression for which the UC Berkeley campus is internationally known.

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The fact that the event had to be abandoned and the police felt obligated to retreat doesnt bode well for our society.

People who resort to violence to achieve political goals present an extreme danger to those of us who adhere to nonviolent behavioral norms.
Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:PAC  Free Report) by 39.7% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 3,344 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 950 shares during the period. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings in Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico were worth $550,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 8.3% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,429,111 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $181,182,000 after acquiring an additional 109,898 shares during the period. Deutsche Bank AG grew its position in Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 63.9% in the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 998,367 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $164,102,000 after acquiring an additional 389,214 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 5.3% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 392,448 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $54,778,000 after acquiring an additional 19,635 shares in the last quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC grew its position in Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 11.5% in the 2nd quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 144,903 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $25,897,000 after acquiring an additional 14,993 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its position in Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico by 7.6% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 120,622 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $21,553,000 after acquiring an additional 8,473 shares in the last quarter. 11.98% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Separately, The Goldman Sachs Group raised Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from $135.00 to $175.00 in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Two 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 has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $175.00.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico Stock Down 0.2 %

Shares of Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico stock traded down $0.32 on Friday, reaching $147.86. 64,894 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 57,287. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. has a 1-year low of $107.25 and a 1-year high of $198.28. The company has a market cap of $7.47 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.39, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.65 and a beta of 1.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.83, a current ratio of 1.13 and a quick ratio of 1.22. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $159.99 and its 200-day moving average price is $156.36.

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a  dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, December 26th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, December 14th were given a dividend of $2.1589 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 13th. This is an increase from Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacificos previous  dividend of $2.13. This represents a dividend yield of 5.1%. Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacificos payout ratio is currently 69.11%.

About Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico

(Free Report)

Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, SAB. de C.V., together with its subsidiaries, manages, operates, and develops airports primarily in Mexico's Pacific region. The company was incorporated in 1998 and is headquartered in Guadalajara, Mexico.

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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC bought a new position in Brookfield Co. (NYSE:BN  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor bought 7,917 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $249,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Brookfield in the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC purchased a new stake in Brookfield in the 3rd quarter valued at about $30,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in Brookfield by 102.6% in the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,021 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,000 after buying an additional 517 shares during the last quarter. Castleview Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Brookfield in the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Money Concepts Capital Corp purchased a new stake in Brookfield in the 4th quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 58.22% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on BN shares. CIBC increased their target price on shares of Brookfield from $46.00 to $52.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their target price on shares of Brookfield from $52.00 to $53.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on shares of Brookfield from $41.00 to $42.50 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods increased their target price on shares of Brookfield from $36.00 to $37.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, TD Securities increased their target price on shares of Brookfield from $61.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an action list buy rating in a research report on Sunday, February 11th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Brookfield has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $47.45.

Insider Buying and Selling at Brookfield

In other news, Director Ocm Growth Holdings Llc sold 562,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.06, for a total transaction of $6,783,750.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,742,168 shares in the company, valued at approximately $201,910,546.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other news, Director Ocm Growth Holdings Llc sold 562,500 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.06, for a total transaction of $6,783,750.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 16,742,168 shares in the company, valued at approximately $201,910,546.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, major shareholder Gp Ltd Bcp sold 354,813 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, December 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $2.08, for a total transaction of $738,011.04. Following the sale, the insider now owns 28,533,584 shares in the company, valued at approximately $59,349,854.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 6,545,283 shares of company stock valued at $22,555,512 in the last three months. Company insiders own 11.00% of the companys stock.

Brookfield Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of NYSE:BN opened at $41.54 on Friday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $39.96 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.84. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.35, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.99. Brookfield Co. has a one year low of $28.25 and a one year high of $42.26. The company has a market cap of $68.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 67.00 and a beta of 1.49.

Brookfield (NYSE:BN  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.14. Brookfield had a net margin of 1.18% and a return on equity of 3.22%. The firm had revenue of $24.52 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.15 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.12 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 1.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Brookfield Co. will post 3.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Brookfield Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 13th will be issued a $0.08 dividend. This represents a $0.32 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.77%. This is an increase from Brookfields previous quarterly dividend of $0.07. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 12th. Brookfields dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 45.16%.

Brookfield Profile

(Free Report)

Brookfield Corporation is an alternative asset manager and REIT/Real Estate Investment Manager firm focuses on real estate, renewable power, infrastructure and venture capital and private equity assets. It manages a range of public and private investment products and services for institutional and retail clients.

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Jones Financial Companies Lllp trimmed its holdings in shares of MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE:MDU  Free Report) by 34.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 3,915 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 2,053 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllps holdings in MDU Resources Group were worth $77,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors have also modified their holdings of MDU. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in shares of MDU Resources Group in the 4th quarter worth about $61,385,000. State Street Corp grew its position in MDU Resources Group by 12.5% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 15,468,160 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $415,454,000 after buying an additional 1,716,930 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its position in MDU Resources Group by 48.7% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,585,707 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $70,208,000 after buying an additional 1,174,799 shares in the last quarter. 59 North Capital Management LP grew its position in MDU Resources Group by 33.9% in the 2nd quarter. 59 North Capital Management LP now owns 3,650,989 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $76,452,000 after buying an additional 924,618 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Millennium Management LLC grew its position in MDU Resources Group by 275.4% in the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 997,934 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $30,277,000 after buying an additional 732,104 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 71.24% of the companys stock.

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MDU Resources Group Stock Performance

Shares of MDU opened at $21.67 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $20.00 and a 200 day moving average price of $19.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $4.41 billion, a PE ratio of 10.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.43 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.19, a current ratio of 1.27 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77. MDU Resources Group, Inc. has a 52-week low of $18.04 and a 52-week high of $22.55.

MDU Resources Group Dividend Announcement

MDU Resources Group ( NYSE:MDU Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter. MDU Resources Group had a net margin of 8.35% and a return on equity of 8.84%. The company had revenue of $1.14 billion during the quarter. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that MDU Resources Group, Inc. will post 1.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 14th will be given a dividend of $0.125 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 13th. This represents a $0.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.31%. MDU Resources Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 24.51%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com upgraded shares of MDU Resources Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st.

Check Out Our Latest Report on MDU Resources Group

MDU Resources Group Profile

(Free Report)

MDU Resources Group, Inc engages in the regulated energy delivery, and construction materials and services businesses in the United States. It operates through four segments: Electric, Natural Gas Distribution, Pipeline, and Construction Services. The Electric segment generates, transmits, and distributes electricity for residential, commercial, industrial, and municipal customers in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming; and operates 3,400 miles of transmission lines, 4,800 miles of distribution lines, and 82 transmission and 298 distribution substations.

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AXQ Capital LP boosted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International Inc. (NYSE:MTD  Free Report) by 242.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 684 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after acquiring an additional 484 shares during the period. AXQ Capital LPs holdings in Mettler-Toledo International were worth $758,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Mettler-Toledo International by 100.0% during the 1st quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 20 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 10 shares during the period. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new position in Mettler-Toledo International during the 1st quarter valued at about $37,000. Gladius Capital Management LP purchased a new position in shares of Mettler-Toledo International in the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 37.5% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 33 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $43,000 after buying an additional 9 shares during the period. Finally, Huntington National Bank boosted its stake in shares of Mettler-Toledo International by 34.6% in the 2nd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 35 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock valued at $46,000 after buying an additional 9 shares during the period. 93.11% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,425.00 to $1,270.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,520.00 to $1,300.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Citigroup reiterated a sell rating and issued a $975.00 price objective (down previously from $1,050.00) on shares of Mettler-Toledo International in a research note on Monday, December 11th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut their target price on Mettler-Toledo International from $1,185.00 to $1,030.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, November 13th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Mettler-Toledo International from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, February 19th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $1,223.71.

Mettler-Toledo International Stock Up 1.7 %

MTD traded up $20.76 during trading on Friday, hitting $1,267.98. 153,329 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 139,111. The firm has a market capitalization of $27.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 35.33, a PEG ratio of 3.46 and a beta of 1.15. Mettler-Toledo International Inc. has a 1-year low of $928.49 and a 1-year high of $1,615.97. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $1,198.83 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $1,136.38.

Mettler-Toledo International (NYSE:MTD  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The medical instruments supplier reported $9.40 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $10.32 by ($0.92). The firm had revenue of $934.90 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $959.45 million. Mettler-Toledo International had a negative return on equity of 904.59% and a net margin of 20.82%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 11.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $12.10 EPS. Analysts predict that Mettler-Toledo International Inc. will post 39.91 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, CFO Shawn Vadala sold 300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,210.83, for a total value of $363,249.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 4,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,950,018.62. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, Director Elisha W. Finney sold 251 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $1,177.35, for a total value of $295,514.85. Following the transaction, the director now owns 316 shares of the companys stock, valued at $372,042.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CFO Shawn Vadala sold 300 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $1,210.83, for a total value of $363,249.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 4,914 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,950,018.62. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 2.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Mettler-Toledo International Company Profile

(Free Report)

Mettler-Toledo International Inc manufactures and supplies precision instruments and services in the Americas, Europe, Asia, and internationally. It operates through five segments: U.S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations, and Other. The company's laboratory instruments include laboratory balances, liquid pipetting solutions, automated laboratory reactors, real-time analytics, titrators, pH meters, process analytics sensors and analyzer technologies, physical value analyzers, density and refractometry, thermal analysis systems, and other analytical instruments; and LabX, a laboratory software platform to manage and analyze data generated from its instruments.Its industrial instruments comprise industrial weighing instruments and related terminals, automatic dimensional measurement and data capture solutions, vehicle scale systems, industrial software, metal detection equipment, x-ray systems, check weighing equipment, camera-based imaging equipment, track-and-trace solutions, and product inspection systems.

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Michelmersh Brick Holdings plc (LON:MBH  Get Free Report) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 89.65 ($1.14) and traded as high as GBX 93 ($1.18). Michelmersh Brick shares last traded at GBX 92.80 ($1.18), with a volume of 75,157 shares trading hands.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, Canaccord Genuity Group reaffirmed a buy rating and set a GBX 180 ($2.28) price objective on shares of Michelmersh Brick in a research note on Thursday, November 23rd.

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Michelmersh Brick Stock Performance

Michelmersh Brick Company Profile

The stocks 50 day moving average price is GBX 98.33 and its 200 day moving average price is GBX 89.67. The company has a current ratio of 1.75, a quick ratio of 1.56 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20. The company has a market cap of 86.94 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 928.00 and a beta of 0.94.

(Get Free Report)

Michelmersh Brick Holdings plc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the manufacture and sale of bricks and brick prefabricated products in the United Kingdom and rest of Europe. It offers extruded wire cut facing bricks, clay pavers, paving accessories, and special shaped products under the Blockleys brand; monotone color blends in rustic, drag wire, smooth, and sand faced textures under the Carlton brand; various bricks under the Floren.be brand; and clamp-fired stock facing bricks in various textural finishes under the Freshfield Lane brand.

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AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB  Free Report) had its price target cut by Mizuho from $188.00 to $185.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the real estate investment trusts stock.

Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on AvalonBay Communities from $183.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, November 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group restated a neutral rating and issued a $191.00 target price on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Piper Sandler upgraded AvalonBay Communities from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lowered their target price for the company from $197.00 to $194.00 in a research note on Tuesday, October 31st. Morgan Stanley upgraded AvalonBay Communities from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their target price for the company from $175.00 to $191.50 in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded AvalonBay Communities from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Nine research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $196.34.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on AVB

AvalonBay Communities Stock Performance

Shares of AVB stock opened at $178.14 on Wednesday. AvalonBay Communities has a 1-year low of $153.07 and a 1-year high of $198.65. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 1.84 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68. The company has a market capitalization of $25.30 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.20, a P/E/G ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.92. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $179.28 and its 200-day simple moving average is $176.97.

AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.73 by ($1.03). AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 33.56% and a return on equity of 7.98%. The business had revenue of $704.71 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $701.67 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.59 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that AvalonBay Communities will post 10.86 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AvalonBay Communities Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a dividend of $1.70 per share. This represents a $6.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.82%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This is a boost from AvalonBay Communitiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. AvalonBay Communitiess payout ratio is currently 100.76%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On AvalonBay Communities

Several large investors have recently made changes to their positions in AVB. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 8.2% during the 1st quarter. Cetera Advisor Networks LLC now owns 1,485 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $369,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 18.0% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 2,007 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $499,000 after purchasing an additional 306 shares during the last quarter. Prudential PLC acquired a new position in AvalonBay Communities in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $704,000. Cetera Investment Advisers raised its holdings in AvalonBay Communities by 54.4% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 5,260 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,306,000 after acquiring an additional 1,853 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. raised its holdings in AvalonBay Communities by 7.8% in the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 12,461 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $3,095,000 after acquiring an additional 901 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 88.71% of the companys stock.

AvalonBay Communities Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 299 apartment communities containing 90,669 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 18 communities were under development. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Company's expansion regions of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, Southeast Florida, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado.

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Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lowered its stake in Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. (NYSE:VAC  Free Report) by 40.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 127,233 shares of the companys stock after selling 86,266 shares during the quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltds holdings in Marriott Vacations Worldwide were worth $12,803,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its stake in Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 194.1% in the third quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 250 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 165 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its position in Marriott Vacations Worldwide by 56.9% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 204 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new stake in Marriott Vacations Worldwide in the 2nd quarter valued at about $31,000. Penserra Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Marriott Vacations Worldwide during the 1st quarter worth approximately $40,000. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. bought a new position in Marriott Vacations Worldwide in the second quarter worth approximately $49,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 83.27% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on VAC shares. Truist Financial decreased their price objective on Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $187.00 to $149.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 15th. Bank of America lowered shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and decreased their price target for the company from $125.00 to $65.00 in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $90.00 to $92.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their target price on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $93.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, Barclays raised their price target on shares of Marriott Vacations Worldwide from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Marriott Vacations Worldwide presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $105.00.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Stock Performance

Shares of VAC stock opened at $93.94 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 3.15 and a quick ratio of 2.72. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $86.70 and a 200-day moving average of $90.31. Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. has a one year low of $72.78 and a one year high of $157.25. The company has a market cap of $3.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.03 and a beta of 1.84.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide (NYSE:VAC  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 21st. The company reported $1.88 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.80 by $0.08. The business had revenue of $1.19 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.15 billion. Marriott Vacations Worldwide had a return on equity of 13.21% and a net margin of 5.37%. The businesss revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.74 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Marriott Vacations Worldwide Co. will post 7.8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 14th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a $0.76 dividend. This represents a $3.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.24%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Marriott Vacations Worldwides payout ratio is 48.64%.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Profile

(Free Report)

Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation, a vacation company, develops, markets, sells, and manages vacation ownership and related businesses, products, and services in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Vacation Ownership and Exchange & Third-Party Management.

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Qube Research & Technologies Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:FND  Free Report) by 18.2% during the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 162,197 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 24,940 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltds holdings in Floor & Decor were worth $14,679,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale acquired a new stake in shares of Floor & Decor in the 3rd quarter worth about $30,000. Y.D. More Investments Ltd bought a new position in shares of Floor & Decor in the third quarter valued at approximately $45,000. Stephens Inc. AR boosted its position in shares of 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 buying an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Benjamin Edwards Inc. bought a new stake in Floor & Decor during the second quarter worth $58,000. Finally, NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in Floor & Decor in the 3rd quarter valued at $60,000.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other news, EVP Steven Alan Denny sold 5,152 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $123.52, for a total value of $636,375.04. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 13,271 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,639,233.92. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, EVP Steven Alan Denny sold 5,152 shares of Floor & Decor stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $123.52, for a total transaction of $636,375.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 13,271 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,639,233.92. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP David Victor Christopherson sold 19,634 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $114.50, for a total value of $2,248,093.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 36,552 shares in the company, valued at $4,185,204. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders sold 110,501 shares of company stock worth $13,264,182. Corporate insiders own 2.50% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts recently issued reports on the company. Wedbush increased their price objective on Floor & Decor from $115.00 to $125.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. Barclays upped their target price on Floor & Decor from $66.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Floor & Decor from $102.00 to $127.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Telsey Advisory Group raised their price objective on Floor & Decor from $95.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus dropped their price target on Floor & Decor from $115.00 to $110.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $104.76.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on FND

Floor & Decor Price Performance

NYSE FND opened at $121.37 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $109.05 and its 200-day moving average price is $98.21. Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. has a 1-year low of $76.30 and a 1-year high of $124.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 1.14 and a quick ratio of 0.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $12.96 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 53.47, a PEG ratio of 5.84 and a beta of 1.85.

Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 22nd. The company reported $0.34 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.27 by $0.07. Floor & Decor had a net margin of 5.57% and a return on equity of 13.38%. The business had revenue of $1.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.01 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.64 earnings per share. Floor & Decors quarterly revenue was up .0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts predict that Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc. will post 1.92 earnings per share for the current year.

Floor & Decor Profile

(Free Report)

Floor & Decor Holdings, Inc together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-channel specialty retailer and commercial flooring distributor in Georgia. The company offers tile, wood, laminate, vinyl, and natural stone flooring products, as well as decorative accessories, wall tiles, and installation materials and tools.

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Rehmann Capital Advisory Group cut its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV  Free Report) by 2.4% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,280 shares of the companys stock after selling 207 shares during the period. Rehmann Capital Advisory Groups holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $405,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in EFV. Sheets Smith Wealth Management purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the third quarter worth $25,000. Signaturefd LLC increased its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 172.8% in the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 502 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after acquiring an additional 318 shares during the last quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC lifted its stake in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 457.9% in the 2nd quarter. AlphaCore Capital LLC now owns 530 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 435 shares in the last quarter. Howe & Rusling Inc. bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 4th quarter valued at about $32,000. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the third quarter valued at about $37,000.

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iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Trading Up 0.8 %

Shares of EFV stock opened at $52.57 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $51.63 and its 200-day moving average price is $50.12. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a 12-month low of $49.15 and a 12-month high of $59.57. The stock has a market capitalization of $17.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.84.

About iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks to provide investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, before fees and expenses, of the MSCI EAFE Value Index. The Index is a subset of the MSCI EAFE Index and constituents of the Index include securities from Europe, Australasia (Australia and Asia), and the Far East.

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Quadrature Capital Ltd increased its holdings in shares of Robert Half Inc. (NYSE:RHI  Free Report) by 93.0% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 33,130 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 15,964 shares during the quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltds holdings in Robert Half were worth $2,429,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Resurgent Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Robert Half during the 4th quarter worth about $27,000. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Robert Half during the 2nd quarter worth about $28,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Robert Half during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Larson Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in Robert Half during the 3rd quarter valued at about $39,000. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. purchased a new position in Robert Half during the 2nd quarter valued at about $43,000. 91.63% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on RHI shares. UBS Group started coverage on Robert Half in a report on Tuesday, November 7th. They set a sell rating and a $60.00 target price for the company. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on Robert Half from $66.00 to $72.00 and gave the company a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets decreased their price objective on Robert Half from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $68.57.

Robert Half Stock Up 0.4 %

RHI stock opened at $80.76 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $81.85 and a 200 day moving average price of $78.82. The stock has a market cap of $8.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.87, a PEG ratio of 20.13 and a beta of 1.26. Robert Half Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $64.65 and a fifty-two week high of $88.39.

Robert Half (NYSE:RHI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The business services provider reported $0.83 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.82 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $1.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.47 billion. Robert Half had a return on equity of 25.73% and a net margin of 6.43%. The firms revenue was down 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.37 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Robert Half Inc. will post 3.34 EPS for the current year.

Robert Half Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This is a positive change from Robert Halfs previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.63%. Robert Halfs payout ratio is 54.78%.

Robert Half Company Profile

(Free Report)

Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through three segments: Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support.

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While some economists say the presence of remote workers boosts home values, urban cores such as San Francisco are seeing less of an increase as employees look elsewhere to live. Lea Suzuki/The Chronicle 2023

Bay Area offices arent getting any fuller.

While record-high vacancies are already causing San Franciscos office prices to drop, theyre also reshaping where workers look for homes  and the cost of buying one.

Workers in the San Francisco metropolitan area are going into their offices at less than half the rate they were before the pandemic, according to data the city collects from security company Kastle Systems. Thats virtually unchanged from the rate a year ago.

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Headlines about workers returning to the office earlier in the pandemic made many real estate agents believe demand for housing in San Francisco would soon recover, said Lynn Tanatanyanon, a real estate agent with Compass.

But with many offices now subleasing their spaces or deciding not to renew their leases, that belief doesnt really reflect (reality) so far, she added.

Nationally, office occupancy rates stabilized in 2023 at about half of pre-pandemic levels, according to Stanford economist Nicholas Bloom. But theyre generally lower in the Bay Area than in other regions, he told the Chronicle, because of its high number of tech and finance employees, who spend more time working at home than those of any other industry.

The loss of regular office workers has hit San Franciscos downtown particularly hard, with gloomy implications for both the neighborhoods economy and the citys financial health. While some economists say the presence of remote workers boosts home values, urban cores such as San Francisco and Oakland are being left out.

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A paper published by two California economists in 2022 indicated that the shift to remote work was responsible for most of the nationwide jump in home prices during the first two years of the pandemic. Demand for housing increased as remote workers competed for larger or cheaper homes they were now spending more time working at, the economists said. Part of the rise in competition was also related to migration, with cities such as Austin, Texas, seeing home values surge in response to an influx of remote workers.

Remote work policies may have also contributed to the Bay Areas rising house and rent costs, despite the explosion of people leaving the area. From March 2020 to January 2024, the typical home value in the region rose 19%, from $930,000 to $1.1 million, according to data from real estate listing site Zillow.

But the rise in home values driven by remote work hasnt applied to every city equally. Employees whove found themselves untethered  at least partially  from the office have moved away from downtown condominiums to suburbs such as Fremont and Santa Clara. This trend, which Stanford economist Bloom dubbed the doughnut effect, has contributed to surging home values in many East Bay and South Bay cities.

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The jump in the San Francisco metro areas values was the smallest among the 20 most populous U.S. metro areas, weighed down partially by declining values in San Francisco. Still, the San Francisco metro areas homes remain more valuable than any of the other biggest metro areas, with homeownership out of reach for most residents.

If people are looking for affordability, I think they have to go to the East Bay, said Tanatanyanon, the real estate agent.

Ted Egan, San Franciscos chief economist, said in an email that hes not surprised that the citys office attendance has changed little over the past year, noting the return to in-person work was relatively slow in 2021 and 2022.

But Egan said he doesnt think that will last forever. At least some of the empty office space will find new tenants, he said, and that could help renew demand for housing in San Francisco  at least somewhat.

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The office market is not in a stable place, he said.
Shelton Capital Management lessened its stake in shares of Newmont Co. (NYSE:NEM  Free Report) by 0.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 39,610 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 370 shares during the quarter. Shelton Capital Managements holdings in Newmont were worth $1,464,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Ieq Capital LLC raised its position in Newmont by 1.5% in the 2nd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 17,051 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $727,000 after purchasing an additional 252 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in shares of Newmont by 25.8% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,354 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $108,000 after purchasing an additional 278 shares during the period. S.A. Mason LLC raised its holdings in Newmont by 15.1% in the 3rd quarter. S.A. Mason LLC now owns 2,175 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $80,000 after acquiring an additional 285 shares during the period. Antonetti Capital Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of Newmont by 30.0% during the third quarter. Antonetti Capital Management LLC now owns 1,300 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $48,000 after purchasing an additional 300 shares during the period. Finally, Smith Moore & CO. boosted its position in shares of Newmont by 1.4% during the 1st quarter. Smith Moore & CO. now owns 21,317 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,045,000 after acquiring an additional 302 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.53% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

NEM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. TD Securities cut their price target on shares of Newmont from $40.00 to $36.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Macquarie began coverage on shares of Newmont in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. They issued an outperform rating and a $45.00 price target on the stock. Scotiabank cut their price objective on shares of Newmont from $50.00 to $43.50 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com cut shares of Newmont from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Finally, UBS Group dropped their price target on shares of Newmont from $42.00 to $40.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Newmont presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $53.02.

Newmont Price Performance

Newmont stock traded up $0.69 during trading on Friday, reaching $31.94. The company had a trading volume of 17,018,707 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,168,838. Newmont Co. has a 1-year low of $29.42 and a 1-year high of $52.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a current ratio of 1.25. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $35.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $37.54. The firm has a market capitalization of $25.39 billion, a PE ratio of -13.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.52 and a beta of 0.49.

Newmont (NYSE:NEM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The basic materials company reported $0.50 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate 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 firm had revenue of $3.96 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.44 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.44 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 23.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Newmont Co. will post 2.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Newmont Cuts Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 5th will be given a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.13%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, March 4th. Newmonts dividend payout ratio is presently -67.23%.

Insider Transactions at Newmont

In other news, COO Robert D. Atkinson sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $41.26, for a total transaction of $226,930.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 54,251 shares in the company, valued at $2,238,396.26. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 0.07% of the companys stock.

Newmont Company Profile

(Free Report)

Newmont Corporation engages in the production and exploration of gold. It also explores for copper, silver, zinc, and lead. The company has operations and/or assets in the United States, Canada, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Peru, Suriname, Argentina, Chile, Australia, and Ghana. As of December 31, 2022, it had proven and probable gold reserves of 96.1 million ounces and land position of 61,500 square kilometers.

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Baloise Holding AG (OTCMKTS:BLHEF  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 78,400 shares, an increase of 54.9% from the January 31st total of 50,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 784.0 days.

Baloise Stock Performance

Shares of BLHEF opened at $161.50 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $154.16 and its two-hundred day moving average is $149.33. Baloise has a 12 month low of $142.15 and a 12 month high of $159.00.

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Baloise Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

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Baloise Holding AG, together with its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the insurance and banking businesses in Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg. It operates through Non-Life, Life, Asset Management & Banking, and Other Activities segments. The company offers various non-life insurance products, including accident, health, general liability, motor, fire and other property, marine, credit protection, and legal expenses insurance.

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SRS Capital Advisors Inc. lessened its holdings in shares of Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL  Free Report) by 31.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,986 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 932 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc.s holdings in Shell were worth $128,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. FMR LLC raised its stake in Shell by 29.1% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 29,087,703 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,872,666,000 after acquiring an additional 6,554,340 shares during the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Shell by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 23,275,120 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,405,215,000 after acquiring an additional 402,896 shares during the last quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC raised its stake in Shell by 2.3% in the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 21,907,928 shares of the energy companys stock worth $1,322,801,000 after acquiring an additional 492,066 shares during the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Shell by 96,141.3% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 14,370,746 shares of the energy companys stock worth $818,414,000 after acquiring an additional 14,355,814 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Wellington Management Group LLP purchased a new position in Shell in the 1st quarter worth $677,739,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 9.23% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on the company. TheStreet upgraded Shell from a c rating to a b- rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. BNP Paribas lowered Shell from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, December 13th.

Shell Price Performance

NYSE:SHEL opened at $63.56 on Friday. Shell plc has a 52 week low of $52.47 and a 52 week high of $68.74. The company has a quick ratio of 1.13, a current ratio of 1.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.38. The stock has a market capitalization of $207.34 billion, a PE ratio of 11.23, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.61. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $63.71 and its 200-day moving average price is $64.37.

Shell (NYSE:SHEL  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The energy company reported $2.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.94 by $0.28. Shell had a return on equity of 14.69% and a net margin of 5.99%. The company had revenue of $80.13 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $89.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $2.76 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Shell plc will post 8 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Shell Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 25th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be issued a dividend of $0.662 per share. This represents a $2.65 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.17%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. Shells dividend payout ratio is currently 48.59%.

About Shell

(Free Report)

Shell plc operates as an energy and petrochemical company Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the United States, and Rest of the Americas. The company operates through Integrated Gas, Upstream, Marketing, Chemicals and Products, and Renewables and Energy Solutions segments. It explores for and extracts crude oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids; markets and transports oil and gas; produces gas-to-liquids fuels and other products; and operates upstream and midstream infrastructure necessary to deliver gas to market.

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SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in shares of GSK plc (NYSE:GSK  Free Report) by 29.5% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 2,478 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock after acquiring an additional 565 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc.s holdings in GSK were worth $90,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in shares of GSK during the second quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Larson Financial Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of GSK by 271.8% during the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 885 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 647 shares during the last quarter. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO purchased a new position in shares of GSK during the third quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its holdings in shares of GSK by 61.3% during the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 968 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $42,000 after purchasing an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Intrepid Capital Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of GSK during the second quarter valued at approximately $44,000. 13.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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GSK Price Performance

NYSE GSK opened at $42.03 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $40.16 and its 200-day moving average price is $37.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $86.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.96, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.70. GSK plc has a 1-year low of $33.20 and a 1-year high of $42.69.

GSK Increases Dividend

GSK ( NYSE:GSK Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The pharmaceutical company reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.76 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $10 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.79 billion. GSK had a net margin of 16.24% and a return on equity of 52.25%. On average, equities analysts predict that GSK plc will post 4.11 earnings per share for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be paid a $0.3564 dividend. This represents a $1.43 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.39%. This is a positive change from GSKs previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. GSKs dividend payout ratio is 52.82%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on GSK shares. Citigroup upgraded shares of GSK from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Morgan Stanley started coverage on shares of GSK in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an equal weight rating for the company. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group upgraded shares of GSK from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has assigned a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, GSK has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on GSK

About GSK

(Free Report)

GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development and manufacture of vaccines and specialty medicines to prevent and treat disease in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare.

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Synovus Financial Corp boosted its position in shares of Credicorp Ltd. (NYSE:BAP  Free Report) by 6.2% in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 5,018 shares of the banks stock after acquiring an additional 291 shares during the quarter. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in Credicorp were worth $642,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Credicorp by 3.9% during the 2nd quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 1,764 shares of the banks stock valued at $260,000 after acquiring an additional 67 shares during the period. Pathstone Family Office LLC boosted its holdings in Credicorp by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 2,682 shares of the banks stock valued at $329,000 after acquiring an additional 72 shares during the period. Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Credicorp by 41.4% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 393 shares of the banks stock valued at $58,000 after acquiring an additional 115 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. boosted its holdings in Credicorp by 9.5% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 1,579 shares of the banks stock valued at $233,000 after acquiring an additional 137 shares during the period. Finally, Toroso Investments LLC boosted its holdings in Credicorp by 7.9% during the 1st quarter. Toroso Investments LLC now owns 2,126 shares of the banks stock valued at $281,000 after acquiring an additional 156 shares during the period. 70.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

BAP has been the subject of several recent research reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Credicorp from $190.00 to $194.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Credicorp from $192.00 to $190.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Monday, February 5th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $181.73.

Credicorp Price Performance

Shares of NYSE BAP opened at $171.91 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.08. Credicorp Ltd. has a fifty-two week low of $116.42 and a fifty-two week high of $173.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $13.67 billion, a PE ratio of 10.99, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.59 and a beta of 1.13. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $155.11 and its 200-day simple moving average is $139.77.

Credicorp (NYSE:BAP  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The bank reported $2.80 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.82 by ($0.02). Credicorp had a return on equity of 14.68% and a net margin of 20.17%. The business had revenue of $1.28 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.32 billion. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Credicorp Ltd. will post 18.21 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Credicorp Profile

(Free Report)

Credicorp Ltd. provides various financial, insurance, and health services and products primarily in Peru and internationally. Its Universal Banking segment includes granting various credits and financial instruments to individuals and legal entities; and various deposits and checking accounts. The Insurance and Pensions segment includes the issuance of insurance policies to cover losses in commercial property, transport, marine vessels, automobiles, life, health, and pensions; management services for private pension funds.

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United Services Automobile Association increased its position in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK  Free Report) by 27.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 20,625 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 4,479 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Associations holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $460,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA boosted its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 21.0% during the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,817,132 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $174,166,000 after buying an additional 1,354,359 shares in the last quarter. LSV Asset Management lifted its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 3.4% during the third quarter. LSV Asset Management now owns 5,084,404 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $113,281,000 after purchasing an additional 169,395 shares in the last quarter. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 3.0% during the third quarter. Outlook Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 18,295 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $408,000 after purchasing an additional 527 shares in the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB lifted its holdings in Graphic Packaging by 19.5% during the third quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 5,817,556 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $129,615,000 after purchasing an additional 950,904 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bridgewater Advisors Inc. purchased a new position in Graphic Packaging during the third quarter valued at $1,380,000. 99.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Graphic Packaging

In other Graphic Packaging news, EVP Joseph P. Yost sold 70,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $26.20, for a total value of $1,834,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 205,231 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,377,052.20. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 1.20% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Graphic Packaging Trading Down 1.8 %

Shares of Graphic Packaging stock opened at $25.48 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $7.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.84 and a beta of 0.83. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $25.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $23.36. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1-year low of $20.07 and a 1-year high of $27.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a current ratio of 1.10 and a quick ratio of 0.42.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The industrial products company reported $0.75 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.40 billion. Graphic Packaging had a return on equity of 35.66% and a net margin of 7.67%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.59 EPS. Analysts predict that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Graphic Packagings payout ratio is 17.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Raymond James downgraded shares of Graphic Packaging from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a report on Monday, November 27th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $28.22.

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About Graphic Packaging

(Free Report)

Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides paperboard packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Manufacturing, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging.

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A San Francisco police officer appears to pepper-spray protesters Saturday during a pro-Palestinian march in an image provided by the Arab Resource and Organizing Center. Arab Resource and Organizing Center

A weekend pro-Palestinian march in San Francisco apparently turned into a clash between protesters and San Francisco police when the protesters pushed past barricades and allegedly shinnied up a flagpole to replace an American flag with the flag of Palestine.

Organizers of Saturdays Global Day of Action for Palestine allege that marchers were pepper-sprayed at point-blank range, including the rallys official police liaison, who was wearing a vest and using a wheelchair, according to a news release. Other peaceful protestors experienced serious injuries from police batons, including broken hands, and the police fired a less-than-lethal ordnance.

Contacted by the Chronicle, a representative of the San Francisco Police Department said the altercation happened shortly before 3 p.m. in the Financial District.

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The group became violent and began to commit crimes ranging from assault to felony vandalism and causing property damage, said a statement provided by police. A few of the officers at the scene suffered non-life threatening injuries, along with one subject, who was participating in the First Amendment rights, reporting non-life threatening injuries.

A San Francisco police officer appears to pepper-spray protesters Saturday during a pro-Palestinian march in an image provided by the Arab Resource and Organizing Center. Arab Resource and Organizing Center

Police did not respond to follow-up questions regarding allegations of protesters being hit by pepper spray and clubbed with batons.

According to organizers, 15,000 people attended the protest, part of a Global Day of Action for Palestine and groups gathered in cities across the world calling for a cease-fire in Israels war with Hamas. A video posted to Instagram and viewed by the Chronicle appeared to show someone at the march climbing a flagpole and replacing the American flag with a Palestinian one. Other videos appeared to show police pepper-spraying protesters.

San Francisco police offers face off with protesters Saturday during the Global Day of Action for Palestine. Arab Resource and Organizing Center

SFPDs violence today against a peace protest is yet another appalling attack on our already vulnerable San Francisco community, Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, said in a news release Saturday evening.We are outraged and demand accountability for those responsible for this harm against our community members. It is particularly shameful for SFPD to resort to these tactics in a week where we watched hundreds of starving Gazans massacred by the Israeli military as they sought aid.

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Video supplied to the Chronicle by the Arab Resource and Organizing Center appeared to show a police officer firing liquid from a can in a video. Another video showed an officer swinging a club three times, downward on a protester or protesters. Wassim Hage, a spokesperson for the protesters, told the Chronicle on Sunday that a person required surgery after being struck in the hand by the club.

A San Francisco police officer appears to raise a baton against protesters Saturday during a pro-Palestinian march in an image provided by the Arab Resource and Organizing Center. Arab Resource and Organizing Center
Poland is embarking on an ambitious program to establish a dedicated military satellite constellation to bolster its national security and intelligence capabilities. Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk confirmed that the nation plans to operationalize the orbital network by 2025, signifying a significant shift in Polands defense posture and its growing emphasis on space-based assets.

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Eyes on the Horizon: Capabilities, Collaboration, and Cost

The satellite system will provide Poland with unprecedented surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities. It is expected to comprise a mix of small, agile observation satellites and larger platforms equipped with advanced radar and high-resolution optical sensors. This combination is crucial as radar systems can see through clouds and weather, while optical sensors offer detailed visual imagery. This will ensure around-the-clock monitoring of areas of interest, providing strategic information for Polish military planners, including insights into adversary movements, critical infrastructure assessments, and early warning detection of potential threats.

Poland is prioritizing the development of domestic technological expertise in this endeavor. Leading Polish defense contractors are spearheading the project. They will collaborate closely with established international satellite manufacturers and launch providers to integrate the most advanced technologies available, accelerating the development and deployment timeline.

Lessons from Ukraine: Driving Defense Transformation

Broader Implications: NATO Partnership and Geopolitical Impact

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has underscored the vital importance of satellite reconnaissance and intelligence in contemporary warfare. Defence Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz explicitly stated that adaptability and the mastery of emergent technologies are now paramount for defense forces. Polands satellite project, alongside the creation of specialized drone and dedicated space operations units, demonstrates the countrys unwavering commitment to evolving its defense strategy in line with the realities of modern conflict.

The deployment of Polands satellite network will dramatically enhance its ability to collect real-time, actionable intelligence. This newfound advantage will boost the nations situational awareness, empowering military leaders to make better-informed, data-driven decisions regarding defense strategy, resource allocation, and the potential deployment of troops or assets.

Moreover, Polands increased surveillance capacity holds significant potential value for its NATO allies. Sharing timely intelligence strengthens the alliances collective defense capabilities, allowing for enhanced coordination and more effective deterrent strategies. Defense analysts speculate that Polands satellite initiative could also impact the balance of power and security landscape in Eastern Europe, potentially prompting a response or increased focus on space-based capabilities by Russia.

Polands Commitment to Security and Future Ambitions

The planned 2025 launch of a military satellite constellation represents a major investment in Polands future defense and national security. This expansive project underscores Polands position as a significant contributor to regional stability and a staunch partner within the NATO alliance. There are indications that Poland intends to further expand its constellation in the future with additional satellites, perhaps featuring specialized sensors or expanded capabilities. The goal is to seamlessly integrate satellite-derived data with existing intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) assets for a complete, accurate, and real-time picture of Polands area of operations.
Black Diamond Group (TSE:BDI  Get Free Report) had its price objective boosted by investment analysts at BMO Capital Markets from C$11.00 to C$12.00 in a research note issued on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. BMO Capital Markets price target points to a potential upside of 29.03% from the companys current price.

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Several other brokerages have also issued reports on BDI. Acumen Capital upped their target price on shares of Black Diamond Group from C$10.25 to C$12.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 13th. Cormark upped their price target on shares of Black Diamond Group from C$10.00 to C$12.00 in a research report on Monday, November 6th. Finally, Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Black Diamond Group from C$10.00 to C$12.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 6th.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on BDI

Black Diamond Group Stock Down 3.2 %

Black Diamond Group Company Profile

BDI opened at C$9.30 on Friday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of C$8.90 and a 200-day moving average price of C$7.73. The firm has a market capitalization of C$559.02 million, a P/E ratio of 17.55 and a beta of 1.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 77.86, a current ratio of 1.19 and a quick ratio of 1.05. Black Diamond Group has a one year low of C$5.35 and a one year high of C$9.92.

(Get Free Report)

Black Diamond Group Limited rents and sells modular space and workforce accommodation solutions. It operates through two segments, Modular Space Solutions and Workforce Solutions. The Modular Space Solutions segment provides modular space rentals to customers in the construction, real estate development, education, manufacturing, health care, financial, government, and defense industries in North America.

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Michelle Troconis listens as a verdict of guilty on all counts is read on the final day jury deliberation for her criminal trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford, Conn. March 1, 2024. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  As Michelle Troconis is jailed on $6 million bond after she was convicted Friday on all charges in the 2019 death and disappearance of Jennifer Dulos, her family is working to come up with the money to set her free while her attorney considers numerous appeals.

While her sentencing, scheduled for May 31, is nearly three months away, it's unclear how soon Troconis could post bond.

"We hope that she'll be getting out in the next few days," her lawyer, Jon Schoenhorn, said outside the courthouse after the jury convicted Troconis Friday following about 12 hours of deliberations.

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Troconis is being held at York Correctional Institution in East Lyme, the state's only prison for women.

Troconis and her family had posted bonds totaling about $2 million after each of her arrests in the case in 2019 and 2020, but Judge Kevin Randolph increased the amount by $4 million after her conviction.

That means her family would have to contract with a bondsman for 7 percent of the additional $4 million  a payment of about $280,000  or pay 10 percent to the court, which means $400,000 in cash, not assets such as real estate, according to Schoenhorn.

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Troconis would not be able to post bond until at least Monday because she would need to appear in court to be fitted for an ankle monitor. If Troconis posts bond, she would also be confined to house arrest.

If Troconis were to seek an appeal bond after the sentencing it would be much higher, if approved at all.

Schoenhorn said there are at least a dozen, if not 20, issues he can already identify as potential complaints he would file with the state Appellate Court, though, he added, "Its not yet clear if Im going to do the appeal."

"In my personal view, I believe that what the prosecution did was present a narrative based on inadmissible hearsay and speculation," Schoenhorn said after the verdicts. "And they basically created a scenario or a story in the absence of evidence, but it was enough to convince this jury."

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"It's not just whether there are issues (for appeal), it's which ones not to argue, because of how many errors I think there were in this process," he said.

Prior to any appeal, Schoenhorn said he would first file a habeas petition, challenging Troconis' conviction on the grounds of ineffective assistance of counsel.

Speaking to the media after the verdicts on Friday, Schoenhorn cited the hours of videos showing police interrogating Troconis that prosecutors played during the trial. During these interrogations, Troconis' account of the day Jennifer Dulos disappeared changed while her lawyer at the time, Andrew Bowman, sat by her side.

"Anything can be used against you, and that's what I feel was done here," Schoenhorn said, distinguishing Troconis from Pawel Gumienny, the former employee of Fotis Dulos who was one of the state's most significant witnesses during the trial after his lawyer obtained an immunity agreement from prosecutors.

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"I have no insight as to why any lawyer without either an immunity agreement or a proffer agreement would walk their client into a police interrogation without knowing very much about the offense," Schoenhorn said, referencing, but not naming Bowman, who did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Gumienny's lawyer, Lindy Urso, said Friday he was "very surprised" by the verdict, echoing the sentiments of many at the defense bar in the state.

"I don't believe the state had the evidence," Urso said. "I don't think they had the evidence of foreknowledge beyond a reasonable doubt."

Edward Gavin, a former president of the Connecticut Criminal Defense Lawyers Association  Schoenhorn's co-counsel in Troconis' defense, Audrey Felsen, is the current president  credited the case's prosecutors, Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney Michelle Manning and Assistant State's Attorney Sean McGuinness.

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He noted the pair had to take over from then-State's Attorney Richard Colangelo, who led the probe before he was elevated to the position of Chief State's Attorney weeks after Troconis' arrest. He was the chief state's attorney for about two years before his retirement amid a nepotism investigation.

While Gavin said he was surprised by the guilty verdicts, he guessed members of the jury could have been influenced by the emotions at play in the case of a large, wealthy family torn apart by marital infidelity.

"That's every lower Fairfield County nightmare," Gavin said.

Aside from the habeas petition, Schoenhorn said he would also file a motion for a new trial in the case, citing technical and constitutional objections. Such motions are rarely successful, he conceded.

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"Normally, those are pro forma," Schoenhorn said. "You file it, just to file it. I believe many of those issues have merit."

While those legal challenges are being made, Troconis and her family will also have to prepare for sentencing, to a term of up to 50 years behind bars.

"She is not accused herself of harming anybody, but it's serious charges she's been found guilty of, so it could be several years," Schoenhorn said.

Troconis is also facing a contempt hearing, which was originally scheduled for Tuesday, but has been pushed to March 21. Prosecutors said Troconis had publicly displayed a confidential report on a laptop in court during the trial. The contempt charge is a misdemeanor.

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Another issue looming is whether Troconis could play a role in the upcoming trial of co-defendant Kent Mawhinney, who is also facing a conspiracy to commit murder charge. His lawyer released a statement following Friday's verdict, pointing out his client wasn't a main figure during Troconis' trial.

"His name was barely mentioned over six weeks of trial, and for good reason  he was not involved in the death of Jennifer Dulos," the lawyer, Jeffrey Kestenband, said.

Gumienny has not yet been approached to testify against Mawhinney, according to his lawyer.

I would imagine he will be, but as yet, there have been no discussions with the state about Mawhinney," Urso said.

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Beyond that, if Troconis could answer the biggest unanswered question in the case  where is Jennifer Dulos' body?  that could obviously earn her credit with the court, observers noted.

Investigators fear their chance to locate the New Canaan mother of five died with her estranged husband's suicide at his Farmington home in 2020 rather than face a bail hearing and a possible return to pretrial detention.

"If somebody could tell you where the body is, that's got a lot of traction to it," Gavin said.

But if Troconis had such leverage, it's hard to believe she wouldn't have used it in her hours of interviews with police, or in the four years the case has been pending.

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Urso said that it's more likely that Troconis would try to exhaust her appeals.

"I think there are some legitimate appeal issues, we are probably going to see this case back in a few years," he said.

Gavin believes Troconis should prepare for a long prison sentence.

"I think Judge Randolph throws the book at her," Gavin said. "We'll see what happens."
CES Energy Solutions (TSE:CEU  Get Free Report) had its target price hoisted by equities researchers at Royal Bank of Canada from C$5.00 to C$5.50 in a note issued to investors on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has an outperform rating on the stock. Royal Bank of Canadas price objective suggests a potential upside of 15.30% from the stocks previous close.

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CEU has been the subject of a number of other research reports. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of CES Energy Solutions from C$4.75 to C$5.30 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, November 13th. National Bank Financial downgraded shares of CES Energy Solutions from an outperform market weight rating to a sector perform market weight rating in a research note on Monday, November 20th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on shares of CES Energy Solutions from C$5.00 to C$5.50 in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. TD Securities increased their target price on shares of CES Energy Solutions from C$5.00 to C$6.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Finally, ATB Capital increased their target price on shares of CES Energy Solutions from C$5.00 to C$5.25 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with 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 Buy and an average target price of C$5.34.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on CES Energy Solutions

CES Energy Solutions Stock Up 11.7 %

Shares of TSE CEU opened at C$4.77 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of C$1.14 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.52, a PEG ratio of 0.61 and a beta of 2.41. The company has a quick ratio of 1.78, a current ratio of 2.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 70.47. CES Energy Solutions has a 52-week low of C$2.30 and a 52-week high of C$4.81. The businesss 50 day moving average is C$3.90 and its two-hundred day moving average is C$3.73.

CES Energy Solutions (TSE:CEU  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported C$0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.14 by C$0.06. CES Energy Solutions had a return on equity of 24.41% and a net margin of 7.15%. The company had revenue of C$553.46 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$538.23 million. Research analysts predict that CES Energy Solutions will post 0.5947631 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In related news, Senior Officer Richard Lee Baxter sold 325,794 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$3.29, for a total transaction of C$1,071,862.26. Company insiders own 2.65% of the companys stock.

CES Energy Solutions Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

CES Energy Solutions Corp., together with its subsidiaries, engages in design, implement, and manufacture of advanced consumable fluids and specialty chemicals in the United States and Canada. It provides solutions for drill-bit, point of completion and stimulation, wellhead and pump-jack, and pipeline and midstream markets.

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Kestra Advisory Services LLC trimmed its holdings in shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE:HPE  Free Report) by 6.4% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 19,084 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 1,305 shares during the period. Kestra Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Hewlett Packard Enterprise were worth $331,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

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A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. McIlrath & Eck LLC boosted its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 90.2% in the 2nd quarter. McIlrath & Eck LLC now owns 1,910 shares of the technology companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 906 shares during the period. Ritter Daniher Financial Advisory LLC DE acquired a new position in Hewlett Packard Enterprise in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. First Manhattan Co. boosted its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 89.4% in the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 2,413 shares of the technology companys stock worth $40,000 after purchasing an additional 1,139 shares during the period. Finally, Glassman Wealth Services boosted its stake in Hewlett Packard Enterprise by 72.0% in the 2nd quarter. Glassman Wealth Services now owns 2,444 shares of the technology companys stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 1,023 shares during the period. 81.15% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Stock Up 2.2 %

Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock opened at $15.56 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $20.23 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.73, a P/E/G ratio of 2.62 and a beta of 1.19. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $15.79 and its 200-day simple moving average is $16.29. The company has a current ratio of 0.87, a quick ratio of 0.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35. Hewlett Packard Enterprise has a 1-year low of $13.65 and a 1-year high of $18.14.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Dividend Announcement

Hewlett Packard Enterprise ( NYSE:HPE Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The technology company reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.45 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $6.76 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.09 billion. Hewlett Packard Enterprise had a net margin of 6.81% and a return on equity of 9.20%. Hewlett Packard Enterprises revenue for the quarter was down 13.5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.38 EPS. Sell-side analysts forecast that Hewlett Packard Enterprise will post 1.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.34%. Hewlett Packard Enterprises dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 35.86%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts recently commented on HPE shares. Sanford C. Bernstein lowered shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price objective for the stock from $20.00 to $17.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $15.00 to $16.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Stifel Nicolaus decreased their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $20.00 to $18.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise from $15.00 to $14.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company reissued an equal weight rating and set a $17.00 target price (down previously from $21.00) on shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise in a research note on Friday. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $17.25.

Get Our Latest Research Report on HPE

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, SVP Kirt P. Karros sold 26,127 shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.07, for a total value of $419,860.89. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 26,130 shares in the company, valued at approximately $419,909.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Kirt P. Karros sold 26,127 shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.07, for a total value of $419,860.89. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 26,130 shares in the company, valued at approximately $419,909.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Jeremy Cox sold 4,887 shares of Hewlett Packard Enterprise stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $16.37, for a total transaction of $80,000.19. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 29,934 shares in the company, valued at approximately $490,019.58. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 303,575 shares of company stock worth $4,989,141 in the last quarter. 0.40% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Profile

(Free Report)

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Company provides solutions that allow customers to capture, analyze, and act upon data seamlessly in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Asia Pacific, and Japan. It operates in six segments: Compute, HPC & AI, Storage, Intelligent Edge, Financial Services, and Corporate Investments and Other.

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Enpro Inc. (NYSE:NPO  Get Free Report) Director Der Graaf Kees Van sold 1,200 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $160.01, for a total transaction of $192,012.00. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website.

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Enpro Trading Down 0.2 %

NPO opened at $155.52 on Friday. Enpro Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $91.74 and a fifty-two week high of $167.21. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45, a current ratio of 3.31 and a quick ratio of 2.59. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 146.72 and a beta of 1.54. The companys 50 day moving average price is $154.29 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $136.77.

Enpro (NYSE:NPO  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The industrial products company reported $1.19 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.47 by ($0.28). Enpro had a return on equity of 9.67% and a net margin of 2.10%. The business had revenue of $241.90 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $264.10 million. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.47 earnings per share. The companys revenue was down 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Enpro Inc. will post 7.43 earnings per share for the current year.

Enpro Increases Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be paid a $0.30 dividend. This is a positive change from Enpros previous quarterly dividend of $0.29. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.77%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 5th. Enpros dividend payout ratio is currently 109.43%.

Separately, TheStreet raised shares of Enpro from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Enpro

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Enpro

Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Nordea Investment Management AB boosted its stake in shares of Enpro by 326.2% in the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 17,237 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,115,000 after purchasing an additional 13,193 shares during the last quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA boosted its stake in shares of Enpro by 7.2% in the 3rd quarter. Congress Asset Management Co. MA now owns 263,793 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $31,969,000 after purchasing an additional 17,631 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers boosted its stake in Enpro by 0.6% during the second quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 69,071 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $9,223,000 after acquiring an additional 389 shares in the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC boosted its stake in Enpro by 39.7% during the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 364,334 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $44,154,000 after acquiring an additional 103,550 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund bought a new position in Enpro during the third quarter worth $1,569,000. 95.94% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

About Enpro

(Get Free Report)

Enpro Inc design, develops, manufactures, and markets proprietary, value-added products and solutions to safeguard critical environments in the United States and internationally. It operates through two segments, Sealing Technologies and Advanced Surface Technologies. The Sealing Technologies segment offers single-use hygienic seals, tubing, components and assemblies; metallic, non-metallic, and composite material gaskets; compression packing products; hydraulic components; expansion joints; wall penetration products; and dynamic seals, resilient metal, elastomeric, and custom-engineered mechanical seals for chemical and petrochemical processing, pulp and paper processing, power generation, food and pharmaceutical processing, primary metal manufacturing, mining, water and waste treatment, heavy-duty trucking, aerospace, medical, filtration, and semiconductor fabrication industries.

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LPL Financial LLC grew its stake in shares of AvalonBay Communities, Inc. (NYSE:AVB  Free Report) by 6.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 63,225 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 4,066 shares during the period. LPL Financial LLCs holdings in AvalonBay Communities were worth $10,858,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

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A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Clarius Group LLC lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 4.0% during the 2nd quarter. Clarius Group LLC now owns 1,425 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $270,000 after buying an additional 55 shares in the last quarter. Vanderbilt University lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 1.6% during the 3rd quarter. Vanderbilt University now owns 3,728 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $640,000 after buying an additional 57 shares in the last quarter. Wexford Capital LP lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. Wexford Capital LP now owns 3,347 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $633,000 after buying an additional 61 shares in the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 11.8% during the 3rd quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC now owns 624 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $107,000 after buying an additional 66 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Capital Square LLC lifted its position in shares of AvalonBay Communities by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. Capital Square LLC now owns 2,029 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $384,000 after buying an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. 88.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of research analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on AvalonBay Communities from $183.00 to $188.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, November 30th. Truist Financial cut AvalonBay Communities from a buy rating to a hold rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $202.00 to $203.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Barclays raised AvalonBay Communities from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $194.00 to $204.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a neutral rating and issued a $191.00 price target on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $185.00 price objective on shares of AvalonBay Communities in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $196.34.

AvalonBay Communities Stock Performance

NYSE AVB opened at $178.14 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $25.30 billion, a P/E ratio of 27.20, a P/E/G ratio of 3.29 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a quick ratio of 1.84 and a current ratio of 1.44. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $179.28 and its 200-day moving average price is $176.97. AvalonBay Communities, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $153.07 and a fifty-two week high of $198.65.

AvalonBay Communities (NYSE:AVB  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.70 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.73 by ($1.03). The company had revenue of $704.71 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $701.67 million. AvalonBay Communities had a net margin of 33.56% and a return on equity of 7.98%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $2.59 EPS. Sell-side analysts predict that AvalonBay Communities, Inc. will post 10.86 earnings per share for the current year.

AvalonBay Communities Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a $1.70 dividend. This represents a $6.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.82%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This is an increase from AvalonBay Communitiess previous quarterly dividend of $1.65. AvalonBay Communitiess dividend payout ratio is 100.76%.

AvalonBay Communities Company Profile

(Free Report)

As of December 31, 2023, the Company owned or held a direct or indirect ownership interest in 299 apartment communities containing 90,669 apartment homes in 12 states and the District of Columbia, of which 18 communities were under development. The Company is an equity REIT in the business of developing, redeveloping, acquiring and managing apartment communities in leading metropolitan areas in New England, the New York/New Jersey Metro area, the Mid-Atlantic, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern and Southern California, as well as in the Company's expansion regions of Raleigh-Durham and Charlotte, North Carolina, Southeast Florida, Dallas and Austin, Texas, and Denver, Colorado.

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Metros Development Co. Ltd. (MTRS) plans to raise $6 million in an initial public offering on Thursday, March 7th, IPO Scoop reports. The company will be issuing 1,000,000 shares at $6.40 per share.

In the last twelve months, Metros Development Co. Ltd. generated $489.1 million in revenue and $41.6 million in net income. The company has a market-cap of $431 million.

Boustead Securities and EF Hutton served as the underwriters for the IPO.

Metros Development Co. Ltd. provided the following description of their company for its IPO: We are a real estate consulting company that identifies and purchases what we believe to be underdeveloped real estate properties (land and/or buildings) and re-sell such properties to real estate developers so that they can redevelop those properties. We do not develop, redevelop or participate in the building or construction of any real properties. We also do not engage in realtor-services nor do we provide services such as title services. (Incorporated in Japan) (SIC 6552) Our mission is to maximize the values of the land and building of real estate owners by first identifying their real estate holdings as underdeveloped and proposing the most effective use of the identified real estate. For example, if a real estate property is located in an upscale residential area, but the property, whether it be a building or land, is being used for low-value single-family homes, low-rise buildings or is at the moment just a plot of land, we do not believe that this is the most effective use of the land and we bring that to the attention of the property owner. Once we identify an underdeveloped property, we negotiate diligently with the landowner to purchase that property. We often purchase separate small parcels of land and sell them to a developer as a single large lot. Selling the land as a single large lot often increases the value of the property and allows us to sell it at a higher price to developers that will develop the property for high-end condominiums or commercial buildings. We believe that we also contribute to the creation of safe and comfortable urban environments by purchasing old buildings that lack fire resistance and earthquake resistance and selling them as land for development. By encouraging construction of fire resistance and earthquake resistance buildings, we aim to be beneficial to society as a whole. We are operating under the slogan of asMake the first step for safer and more secure cities.at In Japan, which is prone to earthquakes, typhoons, and other natural disasters, building assafer and more secure citiesat is a constant objective, one that requires perseverance over many years and a steady, step-by-step buildup of efforts. We believe that the real estate redevelopment projects that we facilitate are the first steps toward creating assafer and more secure cities.at In making the first step for safer and more secure cities, we value and conform to a philosophy called asSampo-yoshi,at which is a traditional Japanese business philosophy. asSampoat is the Japanese word for three parties: the seller, the buyer, and society. asYoshiat means asgoodat or asbeneficialat in Japanese. Therefore, it refers to the philosophy of doing good business, which is intended to be a win-win situation for the seller, the buyer, and society. It is essential for the seller and buyer to be satisfied, and that a good business can only be said to be good if it contributes to society as well. In our business, for landowners, the value of their property is expected to increase by the proposed redevelopment. For us, we can profit from the increased value of property. For society, it generally becomes safer and more secure by the redevelopment. asGood for the people, good for the city, and good for society.at This philosophy of asSampo-yoshiat is our most valued corporate spirit and the very company we are striving to become. *Note: NetA income and revenue are for the 12 months that ended May 31, 2023. (Note: Metros Development Co. Ltd. cut the size of its IPO to 1.0 million shares  down from 1.875 million shares initially  and set the assumed IPO price at $8.00  the low end of its $8.00-to-$9.00 price range  to raise $8.0 million, according to an F-1/A filing dated Dec. 26, 2023. In early February, the word was that the assumed IPO price is now expected to be $6.40.)A (Background: Metros Development Co. Ltd. filed an F-1/A dated Dec. 1, 2023, inA which it disclosed that EF Hutton has been named a joint book-runner to work with Boustead Securities. Metros Development Co. Ltd. filed an F-1/A on Oct. 19, 2023, and disclosed the terms for its IPO: 1.875 million shares at $8.00 to $9.00 to raise $16.15 million. However, the prospectus says the assumed IPO price is $8.00, the low end. If the IPO is priced at $8.00, the deal will raise $15.0 million. The Tokyo-based company filed its F-1 on Sept. 26, 2023.) .

Metros Development Co. Ltd. was founded in 2013 and has 172 employees. The company is located at Ginza Sanno Building 7F 4-10-10, Ginza, Chuo-ku Tokyo, Japan Telephone: +81 3-6457-9420 and can be reached via phone at +81 3-6457-9420 or on the web at https://metros61.com/.

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Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) had its price target raised by stock analysts at Scotiabank from C$67.00 to C$69.00 in a report released on Friday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm currently has an outperform rating on the stock. Scotiabanks target price would indicate a potential upside of 4.91% from the companys current price.

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CM has been the subject of several other reports. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$66.00 to C$63.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, December 1st. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$58.00 to C$56.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, November 23rd. Bank of America raised Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and boosted their target price for the stock from C$63.00 to C$66.00 in a report on Monday, December 18th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$65.00 to C$67.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, December 1st. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group increased their target price on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce from C$64.00 to C$65.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Eight analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of C$65.38.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce Stock Up 2.4 %

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce stock opened at C$65.77 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of C$62.28 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$56.79. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has a 12-month low of C$47.44 and a 12-month high of C$66.03. The stock has a market capitalization of C$61.25 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.75, a P/E/G ratio of 3.01 and a beta of 1.09.

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (TSE:CM  Get Free Report) (NYSE:CM) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, November 30th. The company reported C$1.57 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$1.58 by C($0.01). The firm had revenue of C$5.84 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$5.86 billion. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce had a return on equity of 9.72% and a net margin of 23.44%. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce will post 6.6970021 EPS for the current year.

Insider Transactions at Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

In other news, Senior Officer Christina Charlotte Kramer sold 15,446 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$57.19, for a total transaction of C$883,356.74. 0.03% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

(Get 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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UBS Group AG increased its position in shares of Procore Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:PCOR  Free Report) by 97.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 49,975 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 24,610 shares during the quarter. UBS Group AGs holdings in Procore Technologies were worth $3,264,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

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Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. California Public Employees Retirement System increased its position in shares of Procore Technologies by 31.8% during the third quarter. California Public Employees Retirement System now owns 139,326 shares of the companys stock worth $9,101,000 after purchasing an additional 33,590 shares in the last quarter. Lisanti Capital Growth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Procore Technologies during the third quarter worth approximately $2,922,000. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. purchased a new stake in shares of Procore Technologies during the third quarter worth approximately $7,328,000. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Procore Technologies by 180.0% in the 3rd quarter. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 75,635 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,940,000 after buying an additional 48,626 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its holdings in Procore Technologies by 621.1% in the 3rd quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 88,700 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,794,000 after buying an additional 76,400 shares in the last quarter. 81.10% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Procore Technologies Price Performance

PCOR opened at $78.89 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $71.53 and its 200 day moving average price is $65.57. Procore Technologies, Inc. has a 12-month low of $48.11 and a 12-month high of $80.00. The company has a current ratio of 1.49, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.04. The firm has a market cap of $11.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -59.32 and a beta of 0.70.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have issued reports on the company. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on Procore Technologies from $64.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. KeyCorp upped their target price on Procore Technologies from $85.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Piper Sandler upped their target price on Procore Technologies from $77.00 to $80.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on Procore Technologies from $74.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets upped their target price on Procore Technologies from $76.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned 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 $81.14.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Procore Technologies

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director Nanci Caldwell sold 9,270 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total transaction of $695,250.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 64,280 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,821,000. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Procore Technologies news, Director Nanci Caldwell sold 9,270 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total value of $695,250.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 64,280 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,821,000. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Director Connor Kevin J. O sold 5,128 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $60.64, for a total value of $310,961.92. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 1,573,805 shares in the company, valued at approximately $95,435,535.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 299,772 shares of company stock valued at $20,398,552. Corporate insiders own 39.20% of the companys stock.

About Procore Technologies

(Free Report)

Procore Technologies, Inc provides a cloud-based construction management platform and related software products in the United States and internationally. The company's platform enables owners, general and specialty contractors, architects, and engineers to collaborate on construction projects. It offers Preconstruction that facilitates collaboration between internal and external stakeholders during the planning, budgeting, estimating, bidding, and partner selection phase of a construction project; and Project Management, which enables real-time collaboration, information storage, design, BIM model clash detection, and regulation compliance for teams on the jobsite and in the back office.

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Knockbridge ladies, Dolores McNally and Mary McArdle, are hosting an afternoon tea dance in Knockbridge Community Centre on bank holiday Monday 18 March, to raise funds for NECRET (North East Cancer Research & Education Trust) / Drogheda Oncology a cause very close to both women, who have both availed of these services.

The mission of NECRET is to improve both the treatment and outcome of those people affected by cancer. Both Dolores and Mary say they cannot speak highly enough of the services provided by NECRET and Drogheda Oncology, having witnessed first hand the dedication and care provided by the services and medical teams and are grateful to be able to give something back to the organisation, and have a bit of fun while doing so.

The tea dance will be held on the bank holiday Monday 18 March in Knockbridge Community Centre between 3-6pm, there will be good food, craic and music by Brian Mohan and friends.

The ladies say not to forget your dancing shoes, and they will provide the hats! There will be a raffle on the day with some fantastic spot prizes up for grabs. Tickets are 15 and can be bought by contacting 085-1446825 or 087-2395203.

Dolores and Mary say are extremely grateful to the local clubs and organisations who have been so supportive in the lead up to this event.

If you are unable to make the tea dance and still want to make a contribution, donations and sponsorships are very much appreciated, the organisers say.

It is expected to be a great opportunity to catch up with friends, and enjoy some nice homebaking, while dancing along to wonderful tunes, all while raising funds for a very worthy cause.
Pictured above are: Ina McCrumlish, Project Co-ordinator, SICAP, Louth Local Development Company; Finbar Gethins, Senior Executive Office, Community Section, Louth County Council; Paula Keenan, Healthy County Coordinator, Louth County Council; Alison Quail, Chair of the Local Community Development Committee

An innovative project led by Louth County Councils Healthy Louth initiative, and the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) was shortlisted for Best Mental Health initiative at the recent LAMA Awards.

Mental Health Matters was nominated at the event which took place in the Royal Convention Centre in Dublin on Saturday, February 17th, where representatives from Louth County Council and Louth Local Development Company, Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP) attended the ceremony.

The 'Mental Health Matters' project, a collaboration between Healthy Louth and the Social Inclusion Community Activation Programme (SICAP), was recognised for its unique approach to promoting mental well-being within the community. Through a series of workshops, events, and outreach programmes, the initiative aims to raise awareness about mental health issues, reduce stigma, and provide valuable resources and support to those in need.

"We are incredibly honored to have our 'Mental Health Matters' project recognised by the LAMA Awards," said Paula Keenan, Healthy Ireland Coordinator at Louth County Council.

"This nomination is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our lead delivery partner Louth Local Development Company, as well as the invaluable support we've received from all our community partners."

The Lama Awards provide a great opportunity to highlight the work done within local communities, and to reward the unsung heroes and recognise the remarkable contribution theyve made to our lives as well as acknowledge achievements by County Councils, partnerships and projects across Ireland. This year there was a record number of 273 nominations across the 31 councils which was whittled down to 133 shortlisted projects in 26 categories.

"We are immensely proud of the impact that the 'Mental Health Matters' project has had on our community," said Ina McCrumlish, Project Coordinator at Louth Local Development Company.

"By working together with Healthy Louth and other local organisations, we've been able to make a real difference in the lives of those struggling with mental health issues."

Healthy Louth and the Louth Local Development Company say they wish to extend their gratitude to all those who have supported the 'Mental Health Matters' project and helped to make it a success. They add that they remain committed to continuing their efforts to promote positive mental health and well-being right across the community.

For more information about Healthy Louth Programme please visit https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/communities/programmes/healthy-louth/
Friday 1st March was National Stop Food Waste Day, and the EPA wants to encourage the people of Louth to take the seven day Stop Food Waste challenge.

Many people in Louth are wasting money by unnecessarily throwing out food. Over 220,000 tonnes of household food waste are produced in Ireland annually.

Food is a precious and valuable resource. Reducing food waste can save money and is an important climate action that can reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Households that take action to reduce their food waste can save around 700 annually.

Food sector businesses have an important role to play too as nearly two thirds of food waste in Ireland is generated from businesses. These businesses can take part in the Stop Food Waste Day challenge by signing the Food Waste Charter, pledging to measure their food waste and taking action to reduce it.

EPA food waste expert Odile Le Bolloch explains: Our research shows that 88% of people believe everyone has a responsibility to minimise the food we throw away. We are challenging you now to take the seven day Stop Food Waste Challenge, and get to know what food you waste the most by recording it for one week.

"There is a Weekly Food Waste Recording Sheet on Stopfoodwaste.ie to record your results that will show which types of food you wasted the most. By knowing what food you waste, you can see where you can take action and make savings on your food bill. You can buy less, store it better, eat it or freeze it.

According to EPA research, 39% of people say fruit is the food they waste the most, and 38% say vegetables. Storing fruit and vegetables properly will keep them fresh for longer. Wash berries only when you are about to use them, store them in the fridge and keep an eye on them, removing any that are going bad. Try to only buy the amount you need - a large bag of spuds is only good value if they are eaten.

With a small amount of effort, you can cut your food waste and your food bill! Check out StopFoodWaste.ie for tips and information and follow on social media for updates.

Whether you're joining the EPA on the seven-day challenge, or youre a business signing up to the Food Waste Charter, the EPA wants to hear how you get on.

So come on Louth take the Stop Food Waste Challenge and share your results on social media by using the hashtag #KnowYourFoodWaste and tagging @stopfoodwaste.ie and @EPAIreland.
An unannounced inspection at the Dundalk Care Centre on the Inner Relief Road, Haggardstown carried out in November last year found the facility to be compliant or substantially compliant when it came to twelve out of fourteen regulations, according to a new report published by The Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).

Overall the report noted a number of improvements when compared with the last inspection carried out in February last year which found the centre to be noncompliant when it came to eight separate regulations.

The centre is registered to accommodate 130 residents all in single ensuite bedrooms and offers short term, long term and focused care options to residents.

At the time of the inspection, the centre was accommodating 84 residents.

Residents spoken with were overwhelmingly satisfied with the standard of care they received and told the inspector that they felt safe and secure living in the centre.

The report noted that the centre was clean and tidy and bright and airy but did however note that the room temperature felt cold in some areas particularly in the communal rooms on the ground and first floor.

The report noted: The issue was discussed with the person in charge who promptly arranged for the heating to be turned on.

The room temperatures were above 21 degrees Celsius and the rooms felt warm prior to the inspector leaving the designated centre.

Additionally, the newly purpose-built centre was found to be in a good state of repair.

The inspector observed the lunch service and noted that there were further opportunities to improve the service to ensure residents could maintain their independence and serve themselves, where they were safe to do so, but did comment that residents received food of their choice and that there were at least two options to choose from at each mealtime. Residents spoken with expressed satisfaction with the meals and a choice of meals was available.

It was noted that the provider was working towards improved regulatory compliance, but further action was required to ensure a consistent high quality service was provided to the residents.

The centre was commended for the level of support provided to the person-in charge with the report detailing how it had increased with two additional assistant directors of nursing employed since the last inspection in February 2023.

Improvement was also observed when it came to staff training with all staff having the required mandatory training in place. However, the inspector found that staff required further training to ensure they had the knowledge to effectively identify and meet residents' needs.

Staffing was adequately resourced and there were enough staff available to meet the needs of residents with the inspector noting that there was a low use of agency staff.

In terms of record-keeping, the facility was found to be in compliance, with accurate staff rosters and complete staff files. However, governance and management systems were identified as needing improvement to ensure premises maintenance and address outstanding non-compliance issues.

The centre's written policies and procedures were deemed substantially compliant, according to the report.

Issues regarding premises safety, particularly concerning safety risks on the roof terrace and inadequate heating, persisted despite previous notices, indicating a need for urgent attention, according to the report.

The fire safety measures in the centre were found to be in place and well-documented, meeting regulatory standards.

Similarly, medication management practices were deemed safe and evidence-based, with good oversight and administration practices.

However, the report did highlight that staff nurses required further training in how to document residents end of life preferences in a person centred end-of-life care plan.

Overall, Dundalk Care Centre was found to be Substantially Compliant in seven categories and compliant in five while two categories Governance and management and Individual assessment and care plan were judged to be non compliant.

HIQA required the Person In Charge to detail how these non compliance issues had been or would be rectified and these details were included at the end of the report, with commitments made to address specific issues.

Commenting on the report, a representative for Silver Stream Healthcare Group said that they work hand in hand with HIQA on all findings reported.

They continued: In all matters we work in partnership with HIQA to implement solutions to resolve any issues raised within the required timelines.

As with all approximately 550 Long term Residential Care homes in operation in Ireland (not all under the remit of HIQA), we manage to the strict guidelines set and are proud to say we operate at the highest of those standards.

For any matters raised, we have either implemented the solution already and they are resolved, or we have plans in place to remedy any outstanding points.

Drawing attention to the reports findings that residents were overwhelmingly satisfied and felt safe and secure, the representative said:

As with all of our nursing homes, we take pride in the standards of care we provide to all residents and at all times strive to provide the highest standards in facilities, staffing and the care offered.

We are comforted with the fact that feedback from residents is extremely positive and their wellbeing is at the heart of our purpose.
A report published this week by the Joint Committee on Justice has recommended that the Operating Policing Model and that the 3 County Division of Louth, Cavan, Monaghan should be re-examined, with a view towards designating Louth as a separate district.

The decision to merge the three districts went live on 3rd December last year despite strong opposition from local councillors and Joint Policing Committees with letters written to the garda commissioner expressing concern with the move and the breadth of the geographical area it would cover.

The committee commented with reference to the Louth amalgamation that In general, districts should be geographically manageable.

It further said that witnesses brought before committee hearings were critical of the Operating Policing Model, which they said has resulted in a less visible Garda presence.

Witnesses highlighted that as part of this model, there remain two 3 County Divisions of Mayo, Roscommon, Longford and Louth, Cavan Monaghan respectively.

It was argued that it would be better for Louth and Mayo to be designated as separate districts, as these areas have distinct policing needs and issues that would not be comparable to the other counties in their division.

Witnesses highlighted that while 3 county divisions had stemmed from a recommendation within the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (COFPI) report, they believed that Irish society had changed since the report was published in 2018 and that the 3-country division should be revised.

The committee also claimed that in their view garda management are increasingly developing modes of avoiding responsibility by delegating responsibilities downwards and avoiding decision making.

The report noted that the AGSI believe that this can be clearly identified in the new Operating Model where much managerial responsibilities continues to be devolved from Superintendent to Inspector ranks, with little or no consideration for their current rank and role responsibilities.

The Association has been firm in its view that the Operating Policing Model is not suitable as a singular model for Policing in Urban and Rural Ireland.

It has created a less visible Garda presence with the Public frequently commenting on the fact that they rarely see Gardai walking the beat.

Recent reviews by Garda Management have recognised that the 3 County Model did not work and changed some Divisions accordingly.

However, Mayo, Roscommon, Longford, along with Louth, Cavan Monaghan remain as 3 County Divisions, something which AGSI feels should be revisited as a matter of urgency.
The 2024 DkIT Dundalk 10K race, hosted by Dundalk Institute of Technology (DKIT), will take place on Wednesday the 17th of April at 7pm at DKIT Sport.

Although labelled as the DkIT Dundalk 10K, there is once again an option to take part in the 5K event. People that are taking part have the option of either running, walking or jogging their distance.

The course for the event is known for being one of the flattest surfaces in Ireland with a course record of 29:45 held by Yared Deresse of Carrick Aces.

The event starts and finishes outside DKIT Sport and takes in some wonderful views, especially those along the coast road.

Once again, the event is supported by generous sponsorship from Servisource Recruitment, Recruit Island, Fyffes, Dundalk Retail Park, Dundalk Credit Union, Intact Software, ControlSoft, RockSalt Cafe, K2 Data Centres, DKIT Sport, Ganson and Dundalk Institute of Technology. The sponsors attended the recent launch on campus

This event is raising funds for charities, DkITs chosen charity partner for this year is SAFE Castlebellingham, a community-based organisation that supports individuals struggling with mental health issues.

To register or find out more, visit https://dundalk10k.com/ or contact Bronagh.mcgrane@dkit.ie or derek.crilly@dkit.ie,
Sadie Ward McDermott, Director of Further Education and Training at Louth Meath Education and Training Board (LMETB), was a featured speaker at this years Education and Training Boards Ireland (ETBI) Further Education and Training conference which welcomed 250 delegates from across Ireland to Athlone last week.

The title for this years conference Pathways  Pathways to FET, Pathways in FET, Pathways from FET.

The event brought together over 250 representatives from across the sector and featured a line-up of over 30 speakers. Simon Harris, Minister of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, addressed the conference on Thursday, giving the official Ministerial conference address.

Speaking ahead of the event, Minister Harris said:

Over recent years we have worked incredibly hard to ensure no one is left behind when it comes to education. No matter who you are, what your background is or what your interests are you get an opportunity to reach your full potential.

This conference is a timely opportunity. The impact ETBs have had on the learners but also on the wider communities they serve has been transformative.

This two-day event is an invaluable opportunity to come together to learn from each other, to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the year ahead.

Commenting on the future of education, General Secretary of ETBI, Paddy Lavelle said:

The FET Strategy  Future FET Transforming Learning, acknowledges the key role of FET in driving both economic development and social cohesion.

This roadmap for the sector is built around three core pillars of building skills; fostering inclusion; and facilitating pathways. This conference deals with one of those three Pillars - pathways.

Dr. Joseph Collins, Director of Further Education and Training (FET) at ETBI, said:

We can see clearly that Minister Harris has made significant inroads in developing an integrated, coherent and well-articulated further and higher education system in which there are no dead ends for learners.

We have pathways from school to FET, within FET, between further and higher education, pathways into work and lifelong pathways which can bring people back to learning at any stage of their career or life.

The conference took place over two days, with a full line-up of keynote speakers and panel discussions. Some of the highlights from the agenda include inputs from:

Dr. Justin Rami , Director of the Further Education and Training Research Centre at Dublin City University.

David Jones , Chair of the International Panel at the Transformation Office in DFHERIS.

Sonya Lennon , designer, broadcaster, campaigner and a former FET learner.

David Delaney, author and motivational speaker, from University College Dublin.

Further information on the conference is available here.
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Postal Code
The principal and mind-boggling question I have to answer this week relates to probable coexistence of political parties and Tinkhundla System of Government.

My answer to it was philosophical and I know the students from the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) did not comprehend what I was trying to put across. I said to them that anyone who deprives people of their right to support either of the two political systems acts outside the ambit or confines of international law or rather in conflict with the basic principles of democracy, if not in contravention of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which the country is a signatory. It is a human right to support multiparty democracy. It is also a fundamental human right to align oneself with the philosophy of the Tinkhundla System of Government. Therefore, people who believe that Tinkhundla System of Government is undemocratic should be afforded the opportunity to state why they are of the view that this political system is unworkable.

Likewise, there are people who have some reservations about multiparty democracy and these people deserve utmost respect and sufficient space to speak their minds. Politics is like religion. Personally, I am a traditional Christian, a very staunch one, extremely conservative, but I respect someone who worships a stone as his god. As I do so, I am religiously correct. It is a pity, let me say so, that we lack people who are politically correct. Regardless of my faith, I am politically correct because I do not discriminate against members of the LGBTQI. It is very important to know that whatever a political belief one holds, another person is opposed to it. As you are opposed to multiparty democracy, another person sees negatives in the Tinkhundla System of Government. This is happening in the United States as well. There are no official political parties within the Nebraska Parliament. Nebraska is one of the 50 states in the US.

equivalent

It is located in the Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by South Dakota to the North, Iowa to the East and Missouri to the Southeast. It has a population of 1. 964 million people and was one of the top 10 agriculture-producing States in the US in 2021. In 2021, the real Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Nebraska was E2.267 trillion, the equivalent of US$123.9 billion. The largest industries by revenue in Nebraska are corn, wheat and soybean wholesaling, meat, beef, poultry processing, health and medical insurances. In Nebraska, there is no indication of a candidates political party on the election ballot. Actually, this State celebrates George Norris, the man many consider as US greatest senator, who said parties in the legislature just got in the way of government by the people. Why would we want to return to a system like that? rhetorically asked Norris. He died in 1944 aged 83. He was labelled the democrat of democrats and often collaborated with former USA President Franklin Roosevelt. Since then, legislators in that state do not represent their political parties in Parliament.

Charlyne Berens said in her article published by the Pennsylvania Capital-Star: We Nebraskans should hang on to our one-of-a-kind nonpartisan, one-house legislature, not because George Norris had all the answers or simply because we want to be unique or just because we want to honor history. She is the professor emeritus at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln College of Journalism and Mass Communications and author of two books about Nebraskas unicameral legislature  One House and Power to the People. She added: Far better than the traditional partisan, two-house structure, our system lets us the people, be the government  the ultimate goal in a democracy. We should hang onto the nonpartisan unicameral because it works  for all of us. In short, Nebraska is a unicameral nonpartisan legislature. Unicameral is having a single legislative chamber.

Todd Watson, the Political Director of the Nebraska Republican Party, said the nonpartisan label masked an underlying reality. This was Nebraska Public Media. Nonpartisan makes people all feel warm and fuzzy inside. It makes for a nice story. But if you look at the votes, how theyve gone down, in the last, oh, probably a good five, 10 years, its been pretty partisan votes on a lot of issues, Watson said as quoted by the public media. The Nebraska Republican Party has endorsed returning to a partisan legislative system, which Nebraska had until 1937. Jane Kleeb, Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party, said democrats were against making such a change. We deeply believe in the nonpartisan nature of the Unicameral and think that the votes and legislation that come out of the Unicameral are representative of the bipartisan nature of the Unicameral, Kleeb said.

complexity

For almost 90 years, it is said that Nebraskas one-house, nonpartisan legislature has served this State and its people well. Those who believe in nonpartisanship said the current proposal, Legislative Resolution 2CA, to return to a two-house, partisan body would expand the size and complexity of the legislature with little or no benefit to the people. They said although far from perfect, their current system has done well, living up to its original and commendable goals. Published by Nebraska Examiner, George Norris and the other promoters of the small, one-house legislature promised it would facilitate good government. They said the new system would be more open and accessible, more efficient and accountable. Nebraskas Unicameral Legislature is reportedly smaller and more streamlined than a large, two-house body would be. So its easier for the public to keep track of each representatives positions and votes and to let them know what they think, according to the Nebraska Examiner.

I am aware of advantages of political parties, as much as I know their disadvantages, hence, Mlungisi Makhanya, the President of the Peoples Democratic Movement (PUDEMO) raised numerous eyebrows when he openly declared at a press conference held at Mountain Inn two years ago that the struggle is for liberation, not political parties. Makhanya, my cousin, said: We are not in a struggle for multiparty democracy but that of liberation from royal supremacy. Putting it into perspective, he did mean, at that time, they were fighting for the abolition of the institution of the monarchy. He talked about 'supremacy'. There are political parties in Uganda. Are the people there liberated? asked Makhanya rhetorically. As much as political parties have limitations and shortcomings, they do have advantages, which include encouraging public participation. Louise Gaille, a revered political analyst and author, says political parties, when structured within a representative form of government, encourage the average person to be politically active. He says political parties create checks and balances.

In other systems of government with multiple major political parties, negotiations over power and leadership are required to form a majority government. The goal of forming political parties is to create a system of checks and balances to prevent one person or one group from grabbing too much power in representative governments. He believes that they help decisions to be made quicker and also create competition among themselves. They compete for governance. Supporters of tinkhundla would also list advantages of retaining this political system.

They say tinkhundla promotes peace and stability. They argue that the country has been a tourist destination because of its peace and stability. Under Tinkhundla System of Government, we did not have no-go areas as a result of regional or national strife. Under the Tinkhundla System, they say as long as one is a liSwati, he or she is eligible for a seat in Parliament. They say the countrys political system allows everyone to participate in the elections, something that is not happening in multiparty democracy. The community-based approach is another element that supporters of tinkhundla say it works for the country. The majority of emaSwati are living in the rural areas and the political systems stronghold is in the rural areas where it derives its power, relevance and influence.

coexistence

I am left with no side to align myself with, except to advocate for a dialogue to evaluate the pros and cons of coexistence between the two political systems. If the majority in Parliament are in favour of independent politics, they will then represent their constituencies (tinkhundla centres). They will form a government. If a party wins the majority vote, it will also form the government. Brothers and sisters, we have to appreciate the fact that political differences in Eswatini do not have a common goal. As a result, our differences should be contextualised to find common ground. This is because our political differences do not stem from one line of political philosophy just as it was the case during South Africas apartheid era where the common goal was racial discrimination. Robert Sobukwe, one of the revered freedom fighters of his time, rejected the ANCs alliance with the South African Communist Party. He later resigned from the ANC to form the Pan African Congress (PAC). He was an anticommunist. Despite Sobukwes differences with the ANC, they had a common goal, which was to eliminate racial discrimination at all costs. We lack a common goal in Eswatini.
CAN a Corkman and a Dub put aside big city rivalry and get along?

We will find out when heavily tattooed Dylan, 29, from the Rebel County, meets self-confessed weird and wonderful Lynn, 24, from Dublin in this episode - Dylan says he is searching for his very own fairy goth-mother.

Also tonight, having written a sad song for every break-up hes ever had, Daniel, 31, from Mexico, identifies as Adele, but will he be rolling in the deep with old school romantic Leon, 31, from Dublin?

Alls fare in love as taxi driver Abi, 20, of Blanchardstown, meets super-confident car salesman Sean, 23, from Palmerstown.

Tired of toy-boys, Helen, 43, of Wicklow is seeking someone her own age but will she find amour with 40something Damien, 41  possibly the least romantic Parisian in Dublin?

First Dates Ireland, Thursday, March 7, RTE2, 9.30pm
CORK volunteers are being asked to join Irelands largest, longest-running anti-litter campaign.

This is the 25th year of the An Taisce National Spring Clean campaign, which has removed an estimated 47,500 tonnes of litter from streets, parks, and coastlines, via 12m hours of volunteering.

Organisers are encouraging individuals and communities across the country to register and ensure that the 2024 campaign is the most impactful to date.

Were thrilled to be celebrating 25 years of the National Spring Clean with our 2024 campaign, the programme manager at An Taisce, Emlyn Cullen, said.

Over the years, the campaign has been hugely successful in combatting litter and protecting local environments and biodiversity.

 This is thanks to thousands of volunteers in communities across the country, he said.

Mr Cullen said that they are hoping to have record levels of participation and litter collection this year.

National Spring Clean is also teaming up with two other An Taisce Environmental Education Unit programmes  Clean Coasts and Green Schools  to host flagship Earth Day clean-ups on April 22.

Volunteers are invited to register individually or in groups to receive a free clean-up kit and take part in the annual event next month.

It is operated by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, in partnership with local authorities and supported by the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment, along with Mars Wrigley.

The local volunteers who participate every year in An Taisces National Spring Clean demonstrate fantastic community spirit and desire to make a positive contribution to the local environment, the minister of state at the Department of Communications, Climate Action, and Environment, Ossian Smyth, said.

I am certain that this sense of volunteerism will be reflected through record numbers registering to participate in the 25th edition, he said.
TROLLEY figures at Cork University Hospital (CUH) during last month, which was the busiest February at the facility since 2006, have been described as worrying.

CUH recorded the second-highest number of people on trolleys across the country during February, according to the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisations (INMO) TrolleyWatch figures.

There were 1,070 patients recorded on trolleys at the hospital last month.

Speaking to The Echo, INMO assistant director of industrial relations Colm Porter said levels of overcrowding have not diminished since January and that action needs to be taken in the run-up to St Patricks weekend.

It is worrying to see that the February figures were the worst ever recorded in CUH since 2006, he said.

It is a worrying situation for staff and it is a worrying situation for patients. From our members perspective, their number one priority is to provide good-quality, safe patient care, but thats made very difficult because of the overcrowded circumstances that theyre working in at the minute.

We know when bank holidays occur, the number of people who are sick enough to be admitted to hospital who dont have a bed rises. The fact that we are coming into March and we have two bank holidays coming up is a worry for our members.

Mr Porter said that there are no signs of any improvements at CUH in terms of overcrowding.

There is no let-up and there has been no let-up really since last summer, he said. We have been sounding the alarm for quite a while, and during the summer months we could have expected the kind of winter that were currently experiencing.

Its a lack of capacity within the community which makes it difficult to discharge patients into appropriate step-down or community facilities, and it means you see more and more people waiting on trolleys.

Speaking about the need for more patient-facing staff, INMO general secretary Phil Ni Sheaghdha said: Directors of nursing and midwifery are now saying population growth has not been factored in, the increased daily activity has not been factored in, and they will not be able to stand over levels of care due to the recruitment freeze.

If we are going to have any hope of turning things around for our public health service, then safe staffing must be the number one priority  nothing less will do.

In addition to the 1,070 people on trolleys at CUH in February, there were 160 patients recorded on trolleys at the Mercy University Hospital and 101 patients recorded on trolleys at Bantry General Hospital during the month of February.

University Hospital Limerick recorded the most patients on trolleys across the country in February, with 2,247 patients left waiting for a hospital bed.

Nationally, 10,991 patients went without a hospital bed in February.
ABOUT 1,300 people braved cold weather on Corks Grand Parade on Saturday afternoon for the 21st weekly Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign (CPSC) rally and march.

Organisers said numbers were down on the previous week, but that event had drawn support from all over Munster, and this weekend many had travelled to a rally in Dublin against racism, hatred and war.

The rally heard impassioned addresses from several speakers, and some had tears in their eyes as they struggled to articulate the depth of emotion felt at the ongoing suffering of the Palestinian people.

One of those speaking on Saturday afternoon was Caitriona Twomey, volunteer co-ordinator of Cork Penny Dinners, one of the citys oldest and most respected charities.

Ms Twomey said she was speaking as a mother and a grandmother, and her heart was aching at the nightly sight of civilian deaths in Palestine on the evening news.

I implore our Government and our politicians and world leaders to please, in the name of humanity, to listen to my plea and the pleas of the nations who are begging for this genocide to stop, to put an end to the senseless violence that is claiming the lives of our children, our grandchildren, our grandparents, sisters and brothers, parents, neighbours and friends, she said.

Ms Twomey condemned the weaponisation of hunger by the Israeli government, and called for the immediate delivery of food to people starving in Gaza.

She added that she was appalled by the deaths of more than a hundred Palestinians last Thursday when the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) opened fire on a food-delivery convoy.

In the five months since Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people in a co-ordinated series of attacks in southern Israel on October 7, Gaza has come under almost constant bombardment from the IDF.

The number of people killed in Gaza passed 30,000 people in the past week, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, with around 80% of the Palestinian enclaves 2.3m people crammed into increasingly small areas in an effort to find safety.

Most of Gazas people are hungry, and malnutrition now widespread on the Gaza Strip, the United Nations has warned that one quarter of Gazas population is one step away from famine.

Speaking to The Echo before the rally, Sinn Fein councillor for the North-West ward, Mick Nugent, said the IDF attack on people queuing for food appeared to have shocked even Israels closest allies.

The US needs to press Israel into accepting a ceasefire, and the international community needs to come together and stand up for the people of Palestine, and thats the message coming from Cork city today.

People Before Profit TD for Cork North Central, Mick Barry, said it was a disgrace that the Taoiseach was visiting President Biden, a man who has done more than anyone else to arm and finance the Israeli assault.

And its also very wrong that Sinn Fein are travelling on Patricks Day to the White House, they should reverse that decision, he said.

Thomas Gould, Sinn Fein TD for Cork North Central, said the atrocities of the past week had horrified all who witnessed them.

This is genocide, thats the only word for it, and we need the Irish Government to support South Africa and call for an immediate ceasefire, and for Israel to answer the accusation of genocide and crimes against humanity, he said.

To see children dying, and to see doctors performing surgery in corridors without any power or anaesthetic is just appalling, and you can see the depth of emotion here, you can see people openly crying at what is being done to innocent children.

I just want to say, Im really proud to be from Cork, and from Ireland, to see the way Cork people have rallied together to show support for the people of Gaza.

Peter Horgan, local election candidate for the Labour Party in the Cork South East ward, said 21 weeks of protests showed the depth of feeling in Cork for the people of Gaza.

We need to see a ceasefire now, we need to see the US come to the table with real impact on pulling Israel back from the brink of further genocide against the people of Gaza.

One of the CPSC organisers, Emear Ni Mhaoldomhnaidh, told The Echo that last August she had worked for five weeks in a Palestinian refugee camp on the West Bank.

Nothing, nothing prepared me for what I saw there. No matter how many of my friends had been there, no matter what I had read, no matter how many Palestinian people I spoke with, it was far, far worse than anything I could have imagined.

Not for a second are you allowed forget that you are under occupation, the daily humiliation, discrimination and abuse the Palestinians suffer is beyond belief, and yet, in the face of all of this, what I encountered was the most compassionate, and beautiful people, Ms Ni Mhaoldomhnaidh said.

Martin Shiel, co-chair of CPSC, said US president Joe Biden could no longer shield Israel from criticism by the UN Security Council.

President Biden must change course. He must stop arming Israel and providing it with effective impunity at the UN. America could end this war tomorrow, and growing numbers of Americans are demanding this, he said.
MBABANE  The performance of a number of public enterprises which ESEPARC recommended institutional reforms, merging or abolishment, has gone from bad to worse.

As a result, governments expectation of getting dividends or relief from forking out subventions for the parastatals might remain just a dream. ESEPARC is an acronym for the Eswatini Economic Policy Analysis and Research Centre (ESEPARC), the entity that conducted an analysis of the performance of the countrys SOEs way back in 2021 and recommended that some should be merged, restructured or abolished. One of the ESEPARC recommendations was that government should complete and close out parastatals implementing projects that have run their course.

Currently, there are 50 State-owned enterprises (SOEs) and according to the ESEPARC report, Eswatinis parastatals are now a huge burden on the economy and on the fiscus, with transfers to Category A parastatals being about E2.4 billion in 2020/21. While the implementation of the recommendations is yet to be fully implemented, the performance of the parastatals continues to be poor and this is reflected in the Auditor General Timothy Simelanes Financial Audit Report for the financial year ended March 31, 2023, which was tabled by Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg, when presenting the budget speech last month.

poor performers

In the AGs report, the parastatals have been listed as poor performers based on the fact that they have continued to survive on government subvention. Among them is the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) which ESEPARC recommended needed to be restructured and have its administration leaned out. ESEPARC had also recommended that the institution needed to rationalise programmes or courses it offered in order to ascertain if they aligned with the needs of the economy. Also in the list of poor performing SOEs according to the AG is Small Enterprise Development Company (SEDCO), which ESEPARC recommended should have its functions consolidated with the Eswatini Development Finance Corporation (FINCORP).

Another entity on the list is the Sebenta National Institute (SNI), which ESEPARC had stated was a project meant to improve adult literacy.

ESEPARC had recommended that government should complete the activities of the SNI with the current cohort at the time, and close the project once the group graduated. The Eswatini National Industrial Development Corporation (ENIDC) has not been left of the list of poor performers as assessed by the AG. In the ESEPARC report, it had been recommended that government should finalise any outstanding investments and dissolve the ENIDC. The Eswatini Post and Telecommunications Corporation (EPTC), another parastatal has been listed under poor performers. Other parastatals which made it to the list of under performers in the AGs report include the Eswatini National trust Commission (ENTC), Eswatini Television Authority (ESTVA), the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP) and the Eswatini Environmental Authority (EEA). In his report, the AG highlighted that he notified the controlling officer (principal secretary) in the Ministry of Finance, that an analysis of the financial performance of the aforementioned public enterprises over a period of five years, financial years 2019 to 2023, revealed that some of them had continually been incurring significant losses as shown in the table.

turnaround strategies

The expectation is that well managed public enterprises should at least be able to break-even (make adequate income to cater for all operating expenses) and further be able to develop and effectively implement turnaround strategies that would improve their financial performance and financial position, reads part of the AGs report. The AG made reference to the Public Enterprise and Monitoring Act of 1989, as amended, which stipulates that the Public Enterprise Unit should, in consultation with the standing committee and governing body, monitor and review the financial affairs and budgets of each public enterprise. This, the AG said, has to be done with the view of bringing to the attention of the standing committee the impending problems of the public enterprises.

public enterprises

Matsebula said he warned the controlling officer that monitoring and evaluation of the public enterprises was not effective. Government may eventually be required to bailout the public enterprises, thereby increasing public spending and plunging government to excessive deficits. The public enterprises may not be able to efficiently and effectively execute their mandates, thereby negatively impacting service delivery and consequently the lives of citizens, Matsebula said in his report. Also, he said he advised the controlling officer to, through the PEU, regularly monitor and evaluate the performance of the public enterprises and ensure that policies and strategies are put in place to improve their financial performance and that where viability cannot be achieved, necessary decisions that are in the interest of the citizens should be taken.

The AG said the response he received from the controlling officer was that the PEU office fully executed its function and reported to SCOPE on a quarterly basis on their performances and challenges these entities were currently facing. The controlling officer stated that the queried companies are facing serious financial challenges and has noted from the budgets of the subverted entities that most the cost are tied up in the wage bill, as it ranges around 85 per cent of the subventions, leaving a small amount for operational costs and are also accumulating quite a lot of liabilities and tend to use bank overdraft facilities to cater for their critical and operational cost, said Matsebula. Meanwhile, the AG spoke strongly about what he termed non-monitoring of the performance of the public enterprises, which to some, not paying dividends despite that they made profits.

dividend policy

He said he notified the controlling officer through a report referenced A2/2022/2023/28, dated January 31, 2024, that the ministry was not adequately monitoring, managing and engaging line ministries of the parastatals and their related Boards of directors to ensure that they declared and remitted appropriate amounts of dividends on their after tax profits, as per the dividend policy. He said accordingly, the companies were expected to declare and remit dividends in the range of E47 729.95 to E93 424 518 of their annual after tax profits. Matsebula said government has controlling interest in Category A public enterprise, with shareholding ranging from 75 to 100 per cent and, therefore, had a strong bargaining power to influence decisions on profit distribution.

financial sustainability

He said through the PEU, the ministry was expected to execute an oversight role to ensure financial sustainability and declaration of dividends on after tax profits earned and returns from reinvestment initiatives to government. The controlling interest grants the government the authority for active involvement and engagement, authorisation and approval of the Boards decisions and recommendations. The issue of dividend declaration was not included in the notes to the financial statement of the parastatals, which implies that the decision not to declare was not approved by the minister for Finance, but was rather the sole discretion of the Boards, the AG said. He further noted that the Eswatini Electricity Company (EEC), Eswatini Savings and Development Bank, FINCORP, Eswatini Investment Development Company (EIDC), Eswatini Railway were the only ones remitting dividends.
Corkonians were treated to a soundtrack for their shopping on Saturday as a musical bus spun around the city to promote an exciting new show.

Cork Opera Houses Summer Revels was launched by an open-top bus passing through the city and carrying the super-sized brass and percussion band, BoolaBoom, on top.

Rob Hamilton from Jazz Band BoolaBoom pictured at the launch of Cork Opera Houses Summer Revels 2024 campaign. Picture Chani Anderson

Summer Revels was a hit in Cork during the 1970s and 1980s, and the show is back with a bang for 2024.

There is a great history behind a show like the Revels, with all of the people who worked to make it a success across previous generations, CEO and artistic director of the Opera House, Eibhlin Gleeson, said.

BoolaBoom launched Cork Opera Houses Summer Revels 2024 campaign in style by treating Corks shoppers to a jazzy interlude on Saturday from the deck of an open top bus. Picture Chani Anderson

Our interpretation of Summer Revels is a Revels for 2024. It is a version of the Revels that many people know, but it is definitely a new version.

The Echo is proud to partner with Cork Opera House in presenting the new variety family summer show.

BoolaBoom pictured outside the Cork Opera House on Saturday where they officially launched the Summer Revels 2024 campaign with some jazzy tunes. Picture Chani Anderson

The Summer Revels, involving singing, dancing, and comedy, will hit the stage for a three-week run next July.

The show will feature hilarious new comedy characters developed especially for the Cork Opera House stage, bringing musical theatre, comedy, dance, and fun together for one big variety performance.

Aisling Coffey from Cork band BoolaBoom pictured trumpeting the launch of Cork Opera Houses Summer Revels 2024 campaign an open top bus. Picture Chani Anderson

After a callout for professional performers to be a part of the Revels cast, Cork Opera House is offering a select number of community acts the opportunity to guest star in Summer Revels.

BoolaBoom launched Cork Opera Houses Summer Revels 2024 campaign in style by treating Corks shoppers to a jazzy interlude on Saturday from the deck of an open top bus. Picture Chani Anderson

What is Cork like now? What is funny or entertaining about being in Cork? Who are the best artists we can find to celebrate Cork, its society, and culture now? We want to showcase a real cross section of the community, Ms Gleeson said, explaining the community involvement that will take centre stage this summer.

Brice-Amelien Puvilland and Jabin Ward from Jazz Act BoolaBoom who toured Cork city In an open top bus on Saturday to launch Cork Opera Houses Summer Revels 2024 campaign. Picture Chani Anderson

We are really excited about the possibility of a community cast, so, basically, any group that are out there that want to take part.

They could be majorettes, BMX bikers, rappers or Ukrainian dancers, you name it.

Percussionist Alain O'Neill pictured filling Patrick Street with beats on Saturday as Jazz band BoolaBoom officially launched Cork Opera Houses Summer Revels 2024 campaign with music from the upper deck of an Open-Top bus. Picture Chani Anderson

We want to know who is out there. So, we are inviting people to send in a submission: Show us what you can do.

Are you an individual or group who have an act that they think will bring joy to the people of Cork? Whatever your talent, Summer Revels wants to showcase you on the Opera House stage.

Gabriel Diaz pictured filling Patrick Street with music on Saturday as Jazz band BoolaBoom celebrated the launch of Cork Opera Houses Summer Revels 2024 campaign from the upper deck of an Open-Top bus. Picture Chani Anderson

If you are a rebel that wants others to revel in your talent this July, simply email a 90-second video of your act to revels@corkoperahouse.ie by Sunday, March 10.
WHEN I think of a lifeboat crew at sea in rough weather, this is the description that most sticks out in my mind: It was like hitting a concrete wall, when we struck those big waves, the physical shock was huge. I had no doubt that being on a lifeboat was going to be tough and demanding.

They were spoken by Frances Glody when I interviewed her in Dunmore East, Co. Waterford, in 1981, after she wrought a major change in the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), as the first woman to join the crew of an all-weather lifeboat in Ireland.

At the time it was known that upper, conservative echelons of the RNLI did not particularly want women serving as crew members, but there was support for Frances in Dunmore and her determination paid off. Her father was a lifeboat man and she wanted to be on the crew.

In more than 50 years of journalism, reporting many lifeboat stories, determination is one of the words I associate strongly with lifeboat crews. Courage and bravery also, but lifeboat volunteers dont see themselves in that light.

The new Ballycotton lifeboat is launched by Mrs Louisa Cosgrave, wife of the President W. T Cosgrave. on July 6, 1931

What motivates these volunteers when emergencies can call them at any time, in the middle of storms and gales, to go to the assistance of those in peril, is a question I have asked many crew. Is there not an element of fear for their own safety in answering a call for help?

Drown you may, go you must, was the answer of a crewman, which I adopted for RTE documentary radio and television features about the RNLI.

I have been to many lifeboat stations around the Irish coast and marvelled at the commitment of crews. Remuneration is not an issue. There are paid staff who administer the RNLI and permanent staff such as coxswains and mechanics in stations, there are call-out fees available, but the primary motivation to become lifeboat crew, I have found, is the greatest of all - to save the lives of others.

Dick Robinson, of Valentia Island, a lifeboatman and later a well-known writer on the role, told me: Its when you see someone walk up the pier after a rescue, who might not be doing so if you werent there to rescue, thats the reward that matters.

When the RNLI was founded in 1824, Ireland was part of the United Kingdom. The first two lifeboat stations recommended for Ireland were set up at Arklow and in Courtmacsherry in 1825. After Irish independence, the RNLI remained active in the new Republic. Fishing communities were its main source of crews, but that has changed over time and it has reached out, with success, to a larger cross-section.

Lifeboats have also changed hugely, providing improved conditions for crews, better communications, better boats.

The Shannon Class, following a tradition of naming lifeboats after rivers - and with Irish involvement in its development - is the latest evolution.

The newest lifeboat on the Cork coastline is the Val Adnams at Courtmacsherry. The day it was formally named in September, its crew were ushered out on a 5.22am call when a swimmer got into difficulty.

When you see the historic Mary Stanford, which stands on display outside Ballycotton village overlooking the lighthouse, the determination of lifeboat crews again comes to mind. The lifeboat here from 1930 to 1959, it carried out what is regarded as the most famous rescue in Irish lifeboat history in the gales of February, 1936. A Gold Medal was awarded to legendary Coxswain Patrick Sliney and Silver and Bronze Medals to his crew, after they saved the Daunt Rock lightvessel crew. The lifeboat was on service for 63 hours, while her crew had three hours sleep. For 25 hours they had no food.

That would not happen in the modern lifeboats. But it still takes determination and bravery to put to sea in the worst of weather to rescue those in danger.

This year is the 60th anniversary of the introduction of rigid inflatables to the RNLI fleet. The RIBS enable crews to operate closer to shore and in shallower water, near cliffs and rocks. They are based on the Cork coastline at Youghal, Crosshaven, Ballycotton, and Union Hall. The Inshore RIBS have saved 30,778 lives since 1963.

The crew of the Youghal lifeboat in 1927

Memories of a lifetime associated with stories of lifeboat crews come flooding back - recording the story of Courtmacsherrys then rowing-and-sailing lifeboat on May 7, 1915, going to the rescue of the sinking Lusitania with Jerry Murphy, a member of that crew: There was nothing but dead bodies floating all around.

There was the Christmas Eve tragedy at Kilmore Quay in Wexford, when the stations lifeboat Lady Murphy capsized twice in severe weather, having responded to what turned out to be a false call.

The boat, with its automatic righting system, came upright. Joe Maddock, a fisherman who was a crewman was thrown off it twice, but managed to get back on board. Crewman Finton Sinnott was lost.

Joe told me about going to tell the Sinnott family at their home on December 25: The Christmas scene was there, the tree, the presents, no-one had expected what would happen just hours before.

I remember other times - the rescue of Charlie Haughey in 1985, when his yacht sank at the Mizen.

Reporting that story, gathered in Bushes pub in Baltimore after he was landed in the village by its lifeboat, the suggestion was we should all have a newly-named drink - Haughey on the Rocks Im not sure that went down well with the politician!

RNLI Ireland has a great record of rescue, these are a few personal thoughts. As 2024 and the bicentenary beckons, fair sailing to all in the lifeboat service.

TIDES OF TIME... MILESTONES OF THE RNLI

March 4, 1824: In a London pub, Sir William Hillary founds the National Institution for the Preservation of Life from Shipwreck.

1854: RNLI Inspector, Captain Ward, invents the cork lifejacket.

1884: Leonora Preston designs the RNLI flag after her brother was rescued by lifeboat volunteers in Ramsgate, Kent.

1891: First street collection for the RNLI, in Manchester.

1905: The first motorised lifeboat takes to the seas.

March 17, 1907: In the most successful RNLI rescue of all time, off Cornwall, all 456 passengers and crew of the Suevic are saved by lifeboat crews who rowed back and forth for 16 hours.

1914-18: During World War I, lifeboats launched 1,808 times and saved 5,332 lives.

1939-45: RNLI crews saved 6,376 lives during World War II.

1969: Elizabeth Hostvedt, 18, became the first woman qualified to command an inshore lifeboat.

August 30, 1974: The last lightship to stand guard over the Daunt Rock, the Osprey, was taken out of commission, ending the lightships era. A hi-tech beacon-buoy now does the job.

The Osprey is now a trendy nightclub, moored on the Seine in Paris. Renamed Le Batofar (le bateau-phare, or lighthouse boat) it hosts cutting-edge electro bands and DJ-driven, after-hours dance parties. If thats not your scene, it also functions during the day as a restaurant and cafe.
FOR any woman or family, sitting around your kitchen table with your pay slip in one hand and bank statement in another, we know that there are very limited choices when it comes to care.

I believe the upcoming referendums on family and care are an important chance to set this right, to affirm that we as a nation value care, and that we value families in all their diversity.

How we choose to care for our children is a personal choice, but one that is very much shaped by the options available to us, and for most of us, these are limited.

Options can be even more limited for one-parent families, or families who care for a young relative. Some may be lucky enough to have help from parents, but for most of us once we have a family, we are forced to make choices between high childcare costs, or giving up full time work for a period of time and facing the career setbacks and income insecurity that brings throughout much of our life.

The reality of raising small children is that you are supposed to work like you have no kids, and raise kids like you have no work. Guilt that youre not spending enough time with your children is common, as is frustration that you are not progressing in work as fast as your male colleagues. On top of that, for many families like mine who are not currently recognised in the Constitution, we are financially punished because we are not married

As women, we have these conversations with our friends all the time, in hushed tones in a playground, or at weekend kids birthday parties, as we try to cram in as much quality time as possible.

But its times to bring these private conversations into the public sphere and for a much-needed conversation on care, and how we value it. The upcoming referendums on family and care on 8 March are, I believe, an important opportunity. The personal decisions we make about care for our own children are shaped by how society and the State values care, how we value all kinds of families, and even how we value women.

Because lets be very clear: Article 41.2 never protected women, nor was protection of women ever its intention. The sexist and outdated language limited women and copper-fastened social values that were at the heart of policies such as the Marriage Bar, which forced women to give up paid employment when married, and moreover, forced women to give up financial independence and income insecurity in old age.

Article 41.2 never reflected the complex reality of womens lives. Voting YesYes is an important break with this dark past, but I believe it can be more.

By voting YesYes, we can recognise for the first time in our Constitution the often unseen and undervalued care traditionally provided by women in our homes, while also recognising the important role that men can play in family care and care more broadly. Indeed, a YesYes vote recognises that in many families across the country, there is a diversity of people fulfilling these caring roles.

By voting YesYes, we can send a clear message to Government that we are a caring society, that we want to see real and practical supports for care, and recognition for all families. That we want women to have real choices when it comes to work, and care.

These supports must include: a public childcare system that provides universal, affordable, accessible early years education for every child, and better paid and longer family leave entitlements, including leave that encourages a more gender-equal division of care work within our homes and communities.

These supports must also include a universal pension system, and supports for disabled people to live autonomous lives.

Because lets be honest, the only way that we can move to a situation where caring is valued and shared equally between men and women is by moving toward policies that allow us all to better combine paid work and family life.

So much of Irish history has seen care work undervalued and invisible. And although this is changing  with small improvements in affordability in childcare and positive changes to parental leave  the pace of change is still too slow, and women are still juggling too much.

To date, when we talk about care, so much of the focus has been on the typical two parent family.

This referendum campaign gives us a real opportunity to listen to lone parent families, to unmarried families, to grandparents looking after their grandchildren, and to ensure that we vote YesYes, and give the State a strong mandate to provide the practical supports that women, families, and carers need.

We all give care throughout our lives and we all receive care. This referendum matters to us all; let us take this opportunity to create a more inclusive and equal Ireland for all of us. Vote Yes Yes on 8 March.
(Photo: Reuters / Baz Ratner)Michael Nazir-Ali, the Bishop of Rochester, addresses the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) in Jerusalem June 24, 2008.

A prominent and retired Church of England bishop who was once a potential future Archbishop of Canterbury and spiritual leader of the worldwide Anglican Communion is now in the Catholic Church.

Michael Nazir-Ali becomes one of the most high-profile Anglican clergymen to make the journey to Rome possibly since Father Ronald Knox in 1917, the National Catholic Register reported October 14.

He was received into the church on Sept. 29, the feast of St. Michael the Archangel and All Angels and will be ordained a Catholic priest "in due course."

This is according to a statement issued by the Personal Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham and the Catholic bishops' conference of England and Wales.

"This is without doubt one of the most politically and theologically significant changes of allegiance in the Christian world for some time," wrote Gavin Ashenden, a former chaplain to Britain's Queen Elizabeth II in Christian Today on Oct. 14.

There have been a number of high-profile conversions including a former Bishop of London. So why should that of Michael be so nuclear in ecclesiastical and political life?

"The answer is that he formed the center of a nucleus of evangelical resistance to the slippage in the secular progressive accommodation embarked on by the Anglican Church.

IGNORING GROWTH OF ISLAM

"He was particularly outspoken on the serious consequences of ignoring the implications of the growth of Islam, and the importance of the Christian definition of marriage being restricted to a man and a woman with the intention of having children."

Bishop Nazir-Ali's conversion to Catholicism is not just one more high profile move from what has become the periphery of Christianity to the center wrote Ashnenden.

He said it signals "an invitation to a serious reconfiguration of those Christian individuals and organisations in a fresh alliance against a hostile secularism. It invites the wider Church to turn its back on the crisis that erupted five hundred years ago but no longer has relevance."

The former Anglican bishop said he believed the "Anglican desire to adhere to apostolic, patristic and conciliar teaching can now best be maintained in the Ordinariate."

He said he was "looking forward to receiving from the riches of other parts of the Church, while perhaps making a modest contribution to the maintenance and enhancement of Anglican patrimony within the wider fellowship."

"Ministry in the Church of Pakistan, in the Middle East generally, in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion remains precious to me and I see this as a further step in the ministry of our common Lord and of his people," Nazir-Ali said. "At this time, I ask for prayers as I continue to pray for all parts of the Church."

Benedict XVI, when he served as pope, established the personal ordinariate in 2010, a canonical structure through which Anglicans wishing to enter into full communion with the Catholic Church could do so while retaining their Anglican patrimony.

Born in Karachi, Pakistan in 1949, Nazir-Ali has an Anglican, Catholic and Muslim background.

His father converted from Shia Islam and he was educated in Catholic schools in Karachi. He was received into the Anglican church of Pakistan at the age of 20, ordained an Anglican vicar in 1976, and consecrated Bishop of Raiwind, Pakistan, in 1984.

Nazir-Ali went on to excel as a scholar, receiving many academic awards including from the Universities of Karachi, Oxford, and Cambridge, as well as a Lambeth Doctor of Divinity.
(Photo: REUTERS / Athar Hussain)Employees of Pakistan's biggest television station Geo TV attend a protest against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority after the station's license was suspended, in Karachi May 22, 2014. Pakistan's Geo TV said it was ramping up security on Tuesday after it became the object of dozens of blasphemy accusations for playing a song during an interview with an actress.

Religious minorities in Pakistan say costs and lack of helpful resources are the most prominent barriers in accessing justice in their country, a survey by a legal group shows.

"Religious minorities were less confident about attaining a fair trial compared to their Muslim counterparts," the Legal Needs Assessment Survey launched on Oct. 20 in Islamabad found, UCA News reported.

"They foremost identified themselves as not affluent and powerful, and therefore not possessing the law to seek protection within its ambit, nor the law taking ownership of them," the survey found.

The survey found that consequently, they seldom approach Pakistan's judicial system to seek justice.

"They repeatedly referenced poverty, and not religious discrimination, as their biggest problem. They identified their minority status as an exacerbator of their poverty. Instead, a dearth of opportunities, corruption and administrative incompetence were the primary suspects."

The Karachi-based Legal Aid Society (LAS) concluded a six-month survey in May after interviewing 324 people including Hindus, Christians and Sikhs from eight districts of Sindh province.

Muslims, of whom the overwhelming majority are Sunni, make up some 96 percent of Pakistan's estimated population of 238 million people. Most of the remaining 3.5 percent of the people in Pakistan are Hindus and Christians.

"These problems are a direct result of poverty and dire living conditions," the survey found.

It said that structural discrimination, including absence of employment opportunities and lack of provision of legal identities, creates and traps these communities in a problem loop.

This limits avenues for awareness and information and thus alters legal behaviors.

UNAWARE OF PROBLEMS

"The majority of our respondents were unaware that their problems are legal issues with a predetermined solution," the survey says.

"Majority versus minority rhetoric has made our respondents believe that this country is for Muslims and so is the law."

It says that the discrimination faced by these marginalized communities is not only external but is also fueled by casteism and socioeconomic disparity within these communities.

LAS research manager Dawer Hameed, said this legal need assessment is the first of its kind in Pakistan.

"Religious minorities in Pakistan face a plethora of social and legal issues,"

According to LAS research manager Dawer Hameed, this legal need assessment is the first of its kind in Pakistan.

"Religious minorities in Pakistan face a plethora of social and legal issues," he told UCA News.

"The launch event aims to bring together relevant actors and stakeholders in the judicial system to discuss the barriers faced by minority communities in accessing justice and ideation of possible policy reforms to mitigate these barriers."
(Photo: REUTERS / Faisal Mahmood)Members of the Pakistani Christian community hold placards and wooden crosses during a demonstration to condemn the death of a Christian couple in a village in Punjab province on Tuesday, in Islamabad November 5, 2014. Police in Pakistan arrested dozens of people after a mob beat a Christian couple to death and burned their bodies for allegedly desecrating a Quran.

Pakistan's Anti-Terrorist Court in Faisalabad has acquitted two Christian brothers charged with blasphemy, which can be punishable by death, in a case that drew widespread attention due to the upheaval caused to Christians in an overwhelmingly Muslim country.

Umair Saleem, known as Raja, and Omar Saleem, known as Rocky were acquitted of blasphemy charges on Feb. 29, 2024, Pakistan Christian News reported.

Their arrest on August 16, 2023, ignited widespread violence, including the burning of churches and Christian homes.

"This judgment marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of justice and religious equality in Pakistan," commented the news service.

"The ATC's decision is a ray of hope, indicating a possible shift towards a more equitable legal system. This development is acknowledged as a crucial advancement in the continuous fight for human rights and religious freedom in the country."

The case centered around a violent mob comprising thousands of Muslims burning down 24 churches and 86 homes of Christians in Jaranwala city, some 130 kilometers from Lahore, on August 16, 2023, on the allegations of desecration of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

The mob was led by a radical Islamist party, Tehreek-a-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP).

Hundreds of Christians fled their homes following the incident in Jaranwala, The Indian Express reported in a Press Trust of India dispatch it carried.

ATTACKING CHURCHES

More than 100 people, who were arrested for attacking the churches and Christian houses, are currently facing trial.

Police had also arrested the two brothers on charges under different sections of the Pakistan Penal Code.

Anti-terrorism Court judge Muhammad Hussain in Faisalabad on March 1 ordered the acquittal of both Christian brothers after it transpired that they were framed by local Muslims who implicated them over personal enmity.

According to a Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) fact-finding mission's report, at least 24 churches, and several dozen smaller chapels, as well as scores of houses, were torched and looted in a series of brutal mob-led attacks against the local Christian community in August 2023 due to the allegations of blasphemy against the Christian brothers.

It says the mob attack on Christian worship places, their residences, and the cemetery was part of a "larger hate campaign against local Christians" and it questioned the open involvement of radical Islamists and the complicity of police in the incident.

The commission said the incident was not a spontaneous or random Muslim crowd that attacked the churches and homes but part of a larger campaign of hatred against local Christians.

The brothers' defense lawyer was Tahir Bashir, from the Center for Legal Aid Assistance & Settlement, who described the justice journey as arduous and fraught with risks.

'STRENGTH OF DUE PROCESS'

"The acquittal of Umair and Omar Saleem serves as a powerful reminder of the strength of due process and the importance of an independent judiciary," said Bashir's in his closing remarks.

"It highlights the courage of those who stand up for the rights of minorities in the face of great adversity."

Beyond the courtroom, this case triggered discussions on religious freedom and minority rights at the national level in Pakistan,

"It underscores the need for ongoing vigilance and reform in the application of blasphemy laws and calls for a societal re-evaluation to protect vulnerable communities," said Pakistan Christian News.

Of Pakistan's 247 million people, 96.5 percent are Muslims and the other 3.5 percent are mostly Christians and Hindus according to the CIA Factbook.
MBABANE  Had construction projects been a world festival, Eswatinis ICC/FISH would secure itself a ticket to sit in the golden circle of the most expensive ones.

This is because as the years of constructing the lavish structure increase, so are the costs. The ICC stands for the International Convention Centre while FISH refers to the Five Star Hotel.

With Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg having allocated the project about E1.1 billion for the next financial year commencing on April 1, 2024, the estimated cost of the project now stands at a staggering E8.1 billion. The figure comes from the fact that the Government Book of Estimates for the upcoming financial year reflects that the total estimated cost will stand at E5 300 983 000 for the ICC and E2 800 067 000 for FISH. Therefore, in total, the estimated cost for the two facilities is E8.1 billion.

When presenting the budget speech last Monday, the minister stated that government will be working towards operationalising the ICC in the financial year 2024/2025. He mentioned that the structure carried huge prospects of significantly boosting the tourism sector. The minister sounded determined that the ICC would be completed in the upcoming financial year. If managed well, he said it should give 0.25 per cent growth in the gross domestic product (GDP), with 0.75 per cent being realised in 2026 and 2027. Worth noting is that His Majesty King Mswati III also issued a directive that the project should be completed so that it could start boosting economic growth and the countrys tourism sector. While the minister is filled with determination, the taxpayer is bleeding and that has been the case for the past 12 years since the project was introduced to the nation.

At its inception in 2012, the estimated cost of the project stood at E370 million. Building the ICC was projected to cost the taxpayer a sum of E290 million while the estimated budget for FISH stood at E80 million. Then, the FISH was referred to as the millennium hotel. In the financial year (2012/2013), government released E65 million and E80 million, respectively, for both ICC and millennium hotel. Twelve years later, the project is still ongoing and the costs have been ballooning over the years. The money for the project began to escalate during the 2015/2016 financial year, when the estimated cost rose to E1.255 billion and the name of the millennium hotel changed to FISH. For that year, an amount of E412 million was budgeted for both the ICC and FISH. The following year (2016/2017), the projected cost of the project increased to around E1.9 billion; an amount of E479 million was released for the payment of consultancy fees, professional fees and works.

consultancy fees

In 2017/2018, the projects total estimated cost went up to E2 489 590 000; and an amount of E721 800 000 was released for payment of consultancy fees, works and purchasing of land for the ICC&FISH. In the financial year 2018/2019, the total estimated cost was hiked to E4.8 billion; with E522 million being released to pay for the ICCs civil works, consultancy fees, furniture and fittings; and E989 million went to FISH. Then in the financial year 2019/2020, the estimated cost of the project was first maintained at E4.8 billion; with the ICC set to cost around E2.5 billion and the FISH at approximately E2.3 billion. A total of E1 235 880 000 was released for construction, consultancy fees, and payment of value-added tax (VAT) for the ICC. For the FISH, E634 million (E170 million and E464 million) was released for construction of the hotel, payment of land acquisition, construction fees, design and supervision, civil works and landscaping, as well as VAT.

At the E4.8 billion cost, the ICC&FISH was already set to become the most expensive building in the entire African continent. The Ministry of Economic Planning and Development then revealed later that year in its second quarter performance that the project would cost E5 473 195 950. This was an increase of E636 015 950 from the E4 837 180 000 projected in the Book of Government Estimates for that year. According to that performance report from the Ministry, the ICC cost had been revised to E1 902 441 160, while the FISH was set to cost E2 347 042 318. Bulk earthworks, piling, civil works and the patented wall will cost a combined figure of E576 143 393, while designs and supervision was set to cost E620 569 079.

This then totalled E5.47 billion. But when the 2020/2021 financial year came, the total estimated cost for the project again went up to E5.99 billion.

For the ICC, the estimated cost was put at E3 618 149 000; with an amount of E737 609 000 released for the construction of the main buildings, payment of consultancy fees, interior and settling VAT. The FISH, on the other hand, had its total estimated cost set at E2 375 587 000; and E240 million was released for the payment of land acquisition, payment of construction fees, design and supervision, civil works and landscaping as well as payment of VAT. Come financial year 2021/2022, which began on April 1, the total estimated cost of the ICC&FISH project was placed at E6 448 736 000. This was about E400 million more than the E5.99 billion that was projected. The ICC alone was now set to cost E4 073 149 000 while the FISHs cost had now been placed at E2 375 587 000.

The Book of Government Estimates at the time reflected that a further E1 billion had been allocated to the project for the 2021/2022 financial year. Of this E1 billion, an amount of E790 million was specifically for the construction of the ICC; and this figure consisted of consultancy fees, construction of the main buildings, the interior and payment of VAT. For the FISH, E305 million in local funds had been allocated for the completion of the hotels buildings. The actual expenditure (money already spent) for the ICC as at March 31, 2020, was reported to be E1.875 billion while E1.58 billion had been spent on the FISH.

allocation increased

For the year 2022/2023, government pumped in E800 million where the Book of Estimates reflected that the money was categorised into two: E624 447 817 loan of funds and E176 million local funds. The E800 million allocation increased the estimated total cost of the project to about E7.3 billion, and this will escalate to E8.1 billion for the next financial year. It should be noted that while the nation awaits to see if the ICC will be completed in the next financial year as assured by the Finance minister, annual performance report of the Ministry of Economic Planning and Development for the financial year 2023/24 mentions that the revised practical completion date is now December 2024. It is highlighted that the interior fitout is currently at 42 per cent, while the overall progress is 83 per cent complete. Works on both the high-end and general areas are progressing well and these include the ceiling boards installation, plastering, mouldings, ceiling decorative detailing and applying of base paint, reads part of the annual performance report.

It is also highlighted that the installation of the wall cladding is complete in the small conference rooms and other important rooms. Also, wall and floor marble polishing is said to be complete in most of the high-end areas, while fittings including sanitary and building services are almost complete in all the rooms. In terms of challenges, the annual performance report states that the process of having the EXIM Bank money being disbursed was delaying, something which government had not anticipated. The current budget allocation under local resources has been exhausted, any claim for work done cannot be paid under the prevailing situation, the report mentioned. The ICC&FISH project stands on land said to be measuring 40 000 square metres and the convention centre will host up to 4 500 delegates; while the FISH linked to it currently has about 283 rooms on six floors.

When the total estimated cost reached E6.4 billion in 2021, this publication analysed that the ICC&FISH was set to become, by far, the most expensive building in the entire African continent. A comparison was done with other expensive structures, one of them being the Kigali Convention Centre, which is said to have been built at a cost of US$300 million (about E4.5 billion). Another structure which was used for the comparison was the 234-metre Leonardo skyscraper in Sandton (Johannesburg), South Africa, which was built at a cost of E3 billion (US$200 million) and is now the tallest building in Africa, overtaking the Carlton Centre in Johannesburgs central business district.
Dar Global, the luxury international real estate developer, generated record revenues of $360.6 million for the year ending December 31, with a significant increase in gross profit to $146.4 million at a healthy margin of 41%.

Dar Globals revenue grew 351% year-on-year compared to 2022. Profit before tax stood at $81.2 million compared to a loss of $5.2 million in 2022, the company said.

The companys ambitious growth strategy in new markets and geographies following the London Stock Exchange listing has seen the Gross Domestic Value (GDV) of its portfolio rise to $5.9 billion across 12 active projects.

Maintaining strong momentum in customer demand for both newly launched and existing projects, the companys 2023 results report a rise in contracted sales to 1,498 units, amounting to a total sales value of $1.025 billion. Meanwhile, Dar Global also saw an increase in its net asset value to $465.4 million compared to $281.4 million as of December 31.

Ziad El Chaar, Chief Executive Officer, Dar Global, commented: It has been an outstanding year for Dar Global following our successful listing on the London Stock Exchange in February 2023. We have delivered strong revenue growth and a significant increase in profits and we continue to deliver against our ambitious strategy.

We have created a unique offering focused on the development of luxury second homes in some of the most desirable locations in the world for affluent, internationally mobile, global citizens. This strategy sets us apart from other developers and enjoys high and sustained demand from a customer base far less exposed to the economic cycle.

Looking forward, our exciting pipeline of developments and strong capital position means Dar Global is well placed to selectively enter new markets where we see compelling opportunities such as in Saudi Arabia. This positions us to achieve our strategic objectives in the coming years with renewed confidence.

Dar Global entered 2024 with a strong balance sheet showing a cash position of $238.5 million, comprising free cash of $80.2 million and restricted cash balances (escrow and escrow retention) of $158.3 million. The companys total liquidity stood at $216.3 million (including undrawn debt facilities), providing ample flexibility to capitalise on project opportunities in the year ahead.

Despite prevailing macroeconomic headwinds, Dar Global maintained its growth trajectory and sales momentum across all active projects as it targeted affluent customers focusing on second homes in prime locations. With four active projects in the UAE, Dar Global is on track to complete and hand over the inaugural Urban Oasis Tower in Dubai in Q1 this year. This will be followed later in the year by the Da Vinci Tower by Pagani.

The companys other two projects in Dubai include W Residences, the 49-floor development situated in Downtown Dubai, and DG1, Dar Globals first own-brand project.

Dar Globals diversified project portfolio includes the AIDA masterplan in Oman, developed under a joint development agreement with the Omran Group (Oman Tourism Development Company), and Les Vagues, its first residential project in Qatar with interiors by Elie Saab which is scheduled for completion in Q1 2027.

The Tierra Viva project, developed in partnership with Automobili Lamborghini, marks Dar Globals first European project in the ultra-luxury market of Marbella, Spain. The Companys other Spanish projects include Marea with interiors by Missoni, and the Tabano project, which is currently in the early permitting stage.

In London, Dar Global is due to complete its exclusive unit at 149 Old Park Lane in Q1 this year while 8mins-to-Central and Oh So Close are scheduled for completion in June 2024.

In the year ahead, Dar Global aims to consolidate its presence in the GCC region while actively pursuing expansion opportunities beyond. Based on anticipated progress across the existing portfolio of projects and current market conditions, Dar Global is targeting at least $700 million of revenue in aggregate across the next two financial years (FY 2024 and FY 2025). In addition, the company is targeting a similar sales rate and EBITDA margin to what was delivered in FY 2023, it said.  TradeArabia News Service
Two California state senators proposed a statewide version of an ordinance which allows police to enforce camping laws against homeless people at transit hubs, parks or within two blocks of a school or shelter, regardless of whether beds are available.
The attainment of PGI status within the EU for Irish grass-fed beef has been described as a 'tremendous accolade' for farmers in both Northern Ireland and the Republic.

Irish grass-fed beef has been awarded an all-Ireland Protected Geographical Indication (PGI), a protection similar to that given to champagne and Irish whiskey.

Northern Ireland's new farming minister, Andrew Muir, said the news would place it "on the same pedestal as world-renowned products".

Northern Irish farming bodies had said that any application to register the product with a special EU designation must also include Northern Ireland.

The Livestock and Meat Commission for Northern Ireland (LMC) and the Northern Ireland Meat Exporters Association (NIMEA) had raised 'real concerns' of being left out of the process.

Responding to the news, Mr Muir said: Having a PGI is a triumph, a recognition of how the unique climate, landscape and practices of a region translates into food and drink, bestowing them with a distinctive taste and character.

"It is wonderful that the pedigree of Irish grass-fed beef has achieved this level of international recognition and an accolade to the hard working agriculture industry.

He paid tribute to both the Livestock and Meat Commission and Board Bia for their collaborative work with processors and farmers in progressing the application.

He added: The whole process has been an amazing success, not only by ensuring farmers North and South get the recognition they deserve, but in developing strong working relationships between government bodies north, south, east and west.

"I hope these relationships are further developed in any future all-island GI applications.

Speaking from a beef farm in County Donegal, Charlie McConalogue, Republic of Ireland's farming minister, said it was a 'very positive day' for farmers and the beef sector on the island of Ireland.

"I welcome that with the Assembly and Executive back in place, Minister Muir and I are together to mark this substantial achievement for our Island and for our farmers," he said.

"[It] is reflective of the valuable and ongoing north-south co-operation on agricultural matters and our positive engagements in the interests of farmers and processors across the island.

He added: "The primary produce from Irish farmers that goes into creating our internationally respected quality food is the backbone of our agri-food sector. Securing the PGI status is recognition of these premium standards.

"I look forward to seeing these PGI products on European supermarket shelves and continuing to tell the story of Irish farming to an international audience.
Emily Blunt has revealed her 'Oppenheimer' director Christopher Nolan loves to "gossip".

Christopher Nolan is not a 'walking brain', according to Emily Blunt

The 41-year-old actress - who plays Kitty Oppenheimer in the Oscar-nominated atomic bomb epic - says the 53-year-old filmmaker is nothing like what people would expect and is "so understated as a person".

Speaking to Australia's WHO magazine, she said: "Someone calls and says he wants to meet, at which point you put a jetpack on, and you go, you run. His ideas are so vast, and they transcend your normal understanding of things. Maybe that's what pins everyone to their seats, that sense of wonder he elicits in people. And yet he's so understated as a person. He doesn't walk around like this walking brain; he watches Love Actually every year. He loves a gossip. We'd be on set, and I'd be like, 'Chris, did you hear about this thing?' And he goes, 'No. What? Tell me.' He's so wonderful and cool. And I just adore him."

Meanwhile, 'Oppenheimer's lead star Cillian Murphy recently revealed Nolan enlists members of his family to deliver his movie scripts.

The 47-year-old star - who has worked with the director on six films - revealed the scripts are always printed on red paper to ensure they can't be photocopied and the moviemaker ensures secrecy by getting trustworthy relatives to hand-deliver them to his stars if he's unable to do it himself.

The actor told GQ magazine: "So, like, its been his mom whos delivered the script to me before. Or his brother, hell go away and come back in three hours.

"Part of it has to do with keeping the story secret before it goes out. But part of it has to do with tradition. Theyve always done it this way, so why stop now? It does add a ritual to it, which I really appreciate. It suits me."
Regina Cassandra Marriage Rumours: Regina Cassandra, the darling of the South Indian film industry, has captivated audiences with her mesmerising performances in Telugu and Tamil cinema. Born and raised in Chennai, this talented actress began her journey as a model before skyrocketing to stardom as a leading lady.

Her meteoric rise to fame came with memorable roles in movies like "Kotha Janta," "Pilla Nuvvu Leni Jeevitham," and "Subramanyam for Sale," solidifying her status as talented actress in Tollywood. However, as the landscape of the industry shifted, Regina gracefully transitioned to the digital realm, immersing herself in a slew of captivating web series.

But Regina's career hasn't been without its fair share of rumours and speculation. At one point, whispers circulated about a potential romance between Regina and actor Sundeep Kishan, although Sundeep was quick to dispel these rumours, asserting that they were nothing more than close friends.

Following this, the rumour mill churned once again, this time suggesting a romantic entanglement between Regina and actor Sai Dharam Tej. Yet, as quickly as these whispers surfaced, they were silenced, revealing them to be mere fabrications.

Now, as Regina basks in the glow of newfound attention, whispers abound in the corridors of Kollywood about her impending nuptials. Speculation is rife that Regina is set to tie the knot with a prominent businessman, with reports even suggesting that discussions between their families have already commenced. While the veracity of these claims remains uncertain, the possibility of Regina walking down the aisle has sent shockwaves through her legion of devoted fans.

Regina Cassandra's Upcoming Project

Meanwhile, Regina continues to dazzle audiences with her versatility on the silver screen. Currently, she graces the sets of the highly anticipated Tamil film "Vidaa Muyarchi," starring alongside the legendary Ajith Kumar. Reports hint at Regina taking on a villainous role in the movie, marking a bold departure from her previous portrayals as a leading lady.

As Regina Cassandra continues to reinvent herself, from silver screen siren to web series sensation, and now potentially as a blushing bride, one thing remains certain-her journey is as captivating as the roles she portrays on screen. Stay tuned for more updates on Regina's whirlwind career and personal life as the saga unfolds.
BEIJING, March 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pu Lianggong knows the art of incense-making, just like his Arab ancestors.

Now nearly 70 years old, Pu produces incense in Yongchun County in Quanzhou, a coastal city in east China's Fujian Province.

The incense-making craft has its roots in the ancient Maritime Silk Road, which served as a vital conduit for both trade and cultural exchange between China's southeastern coastal regions and foreign countries.

Pu belongs to a 10th-generation family of Arab descent who settled in Quanzhou, known as the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, in 1646. As China's seaborne trade thrived during Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, Quanzhou became the largest port in eastern China.

Pu's Arab ancestors brought aromatic ingredients with them along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, made a living by selling them and gradually integrated into life in Quanzhou, marrying locals and adopting the Chinese surname Pu.

The Pu family made incense with bamboo and aromatic ingredients from their homeland, which is different from the scented chips called "bakhoor" in most Arab countries. It is similar to a Chinese incense stick, with bamboo sticks wrapped in ground aromatic ingredients.

Boosted by the Pu family's influence, incense has become a thriving industry in Yongchun. At present, there are nearly 300 incense-producing factories there, selling products to both domestic and foreign markets.

Thanks to the increase in international orders, workers and their families are enjoying more comfortable lives, an improvement partly driven by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Proposed by China in 2013, the initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and beyond along the ancient Silk Road trade routes for common development and prosperity.

Serving as a platform to foster cross-cultural exchange and mutual understanding as well, the initiative presents an opportunity to promote diversity and inclusivity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping once quoted an ancient Chinese saying, "Delicious soup is made by combining different ingredients," to explain the importance of diversity.

A shared future for mankind

"Delicious soup is made by combining different ingredients."

The saying comes from the Chinese classic "History of the Three Kingdoms," literally reflecting the Chinese culinary tradition of using a variety of ingredients, such as herbs, spices and vegetables, to create a flavorful soup. It highlights the power of collaboration and that the value of diversity in human civilization is the source of human progress.

Xi cited it in a keynote speech at the United Nations Office at Geneva in January 2017, saying diversity is "an engine driving the advance of human civilizations."

"There are more than 200 countries and regions, over 2,500 ethnic groups and multiple religions in our world. Different histories, national conditions, ethnic groups and customs give birth to different civilizations and make the world a colorful one," said Xi.

"We should make exchanges among civilizations a source of inspiration for advancing human society and a bond that keeps the world in peace."

Xi emphasized the necessity of building an open and inclusive world through exchanges and mutual learning, adding that exchange among civilizations is "a source of inspiration for advancing human society" and "a bond to keep the world in peace."

The old Chinese saying is very much in line with the history of incense-making in Yongchun. Centuries ago, Arabic aromatic ingredients came to China as "messengers," integrated and developed with Chinese aromatic ingredients, and finally spread around the world.

Nowadays, the Arab states, which were important participants along the ancient Silk Road trade routes, are crucial partners with China in the BRI.

Over the past decade, the BRI has positively impacted local residents in partner countries by providing them with job opportunities, as well as facilitating international trade.

From 2013 to 2022, the total trade between China and BRI partner countries reached $19.1 trillion, with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent, according to a white paper. By June 2023, China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations across five continents, yielding a number of signature projects and small-scale yet impactful projects.

China has also worked to bring BRI partner countries and organizations together through joint cultural activities, including the establishment of international alliances of theaters, museums, art festivals and libraries such as the International Alliance of Museums of the Silk Road and the Silk Road International League of Theaters.

By connecting diverse cultures and different countries, the BRI promotes cooperation, openness and inclusivity around the world, bringing China closer to its goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind to promote common development.

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2024-03-03/How-China-proposed-BRI-helps-incense-makers-go-global-1rFeyGs1XJS/p.html

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/cgtn-how-china-proposed-bri-helps-incense-makers-go-global-302077873.html
Dr. Christopher K. Slaton, a luminary in child development and human systems science, has announced latest intellectual victory, Brain Talk - Learning the Brain's Thoughts and Talks.

JACKSONVILLE, FL / ACCESSWIRE / March 3, 2024 / To address the latest approach in human systems science, Dr. Slaton launches latest book 'Brain Talk' that shows how the human mind and body connect with each other. The book highlights a paradigm shift in understanding the interplay of human cognitive faculties and physical prowess. With an infectious passion for his subject matter, Dr. Slaton Live focuses on the brain's significance in shaping human intelligence, performance, and overall well-being.

Dr. Slaton's Brain Talk is an emerging literary creation and a pragmatic guide that offers readers profound insights. It is a comprehensive approach towards personal leadership and optimal performance. The book will help individuals to bring them on a transformative journey of 'Health and Wellness Mastery' that enlightens the brain, cultivating physical discipline and sharpening the senses for personal leadership and optimal performance as well.

Dr. Slaton Live extended a compelling invitation to explore the transformative power of Brain Talk. "It's a meticulous exploration," Dr. Christopher K. Slaton articulated, "disciplining the brain to master the body, ultimately revolutionizing how we perceive and navigate the complexities of health, wellness, and personal achievement."

In addition, "Think of it as a compass," he urged, "for individuals navigating the details of well-being. Brain Talk provides a comprehensive roadmap, amalgamating disciplined mental function and physical mastery, offering readers a holistic approach to self-mastery."

Furthermore, Brain Talk showcases intellectual prowess and an impassioned call to action. It is more than a publication as well as an essential tool for those seeking to enhance their cognitive abilities, improve physical health, and elevate overall performance. Additionally, Dr. Stalon Live emphasized to the audience's aspirations, encouraging them to delve into the pages of his authoritative work, assuring them that it stands as a cornerstone in the pursuit of excellence in both personal and professional compasses.

About Dr. Slaton Live:

Dr. Slaton Live is the organization founded by Dr. Christopher K. Slaton, a distinguished expert in human systems science. Dr. Slaton Live is dedicated to providing transformative insights and practical guidance for individuals seeking to optimize their mental and physical well-being.
Surveys highlight strike extension of Duddridge Uranium Deposit

539 Mobile Metal Ion samples on 2 grids north and south of deposit

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2024) - Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV: SCLT) (OTCQB: SCLTF) ("Searchlight" or the "Company") is pleased to report results of the Mobile Metal Ion (MMI) survey on the Duddridge Lake Uranium project located approximately 75 kilometers northwest of La Ronge, Saskatchewan.

In October 2023, Searchlight conducted MMI surveys on two grids located along strike, and to the north and south of the known Duddridge Lake Uranium Deposit (Maps 1, 2). Elevated MMI results for Uranium and Copper extend along strike on both north and south grids, and also expand eastward. In the north, the results show a potential second target 300 m to the east of the deposit strike line. MMI results also correspond closely with areas of high airborne magnetic intensity, providing essential information for drill hole planning (Maps 1, 2).

"The Duddridge Lake Uranium Deposit is a prime uranium exploration target with a historical 43-101 resource, located close to surface, and easily accessible by road and trail. The MMI results will greatly assist the planned 2,200 to 2,500 metre diamond drill program along strike, and to test the known deposit at depth," stated Stephen Wallace, Searchlight's CEO.

The Duddridge Lake project is accessible by an all-season gravel road (Highway 910) to within 12 km of the deposit, with direct access by winter road and ATV trail in summer. The Uranium Deposit hosts a historic 43-101 inferred resource estimate of 227,880 tonnes, with a grade of 2.14 lbs/tonne U3O8, (Fission Energy Corp, 2007). Additionally, Fission sampled 39 boulders in the deposit area with results up to 1.91% uranium and 0.69% copper, plus 0.14% cobalt and 0.55% vanadium (see press release https://searchlightresources.com/news/2018/searchlight-resources-acquires-cobalt-vanadium-property-in-saskatchewan/ ).

The Duddridge Lake Uranium Deposit is described as stratabound uranium and copper mineralization, with abundant polymetallic mineral occurrences associated with basal quartz conglomerate and carbonaceous-bearing lenses in red bed (hematitic) arkosic metasediments.





Map 1. 2023 MMI results for Uranium (ppb), Duddridge Lake project.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9828/200251_350123470449d930_002full.jpg





Map 2. 2023 MMI results for Copper (ppb), Duddridge Lake project

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9828/200251_350123470449d930_003full.jpg

According to SGS Canada Inc, the developers of the Mobile Metal Ion (MMI) technology, MMI is a proven advanced geochemical exploration technique known to find mineral deposits. MMI measures metal ions that travel upward from mineralization to unconsolidated surface materials such soil, till, sand and other media. Using careful soil sampling strategies, sophisticated chemical ligands, and ultra sensitive instrumentation, SGS is able to measure these ions. After interpretation, MMI data can indicate anomalous areas.

Source: SGS website, https://www.sgs.com/en-ca/services/mobile-metal-ions-mmi

Data Source

The 43-101 technical report completed by Fission Energy Corp, titled "Report on the Duddridge Lake Uranium Property, Northern Saskatchewan, NTS 73O/9", was submitted by Stuart C. Fraser, P. Geol. on June 15, 2007.

The Duddridge Lake Uranium deposit technical report was not commissioned or completed by Searchlight and therefore is being treated as a historical resource estimate under 43-101 disclosure. The historical resource estimate used "inferred mineral resource", which is a category of NI 43-101. As a result, Searchlight considers the historical resource estimate as reliable as well as relevant as it represents a key target for work to be done by Searchlight. Searchlight has not undertaken any independent investigation of the resource estimates, nor has it independently analyzed the results of the previous exploration work in order to verify the resources, and the Company is not treating the historical estimate as a current resource.

Qualified Person

Stephen Wallace, P.Geo., is Searchlight's Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release.

About Searchlight Resources Inc.

Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV: SCLT) (OTCQB: SCLTF) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Exploration focus is on battery minerals and gold throughout the province, concentrating on projects with nearby infrastructure.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

"Stephen Wallace"

Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director

SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC.

For further information, visit the Company's website at www.searchlightresources.com or contact:

Searchlight Resources Inc.

Alf Stewart, VP Corporate Development

(604) 331-9326

info@searchlightresources.com

Forward-Looking Statements

Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information.

NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200251

SOURCE: Searchlight Resources Inc.
Narayan Murthy and Sudha Murthy are known for their simplicity. The Infosys chairman has a reported net-worth of over Rs 36,000 and yet, its said his wife hasnt bought a new saree in 30 years, who has a net-worth of Rs 700 crore of her own.

Sudha Murthy made a surprising revelation on The Kapil Sharma Show recently where she made an appearance with Raveena Tandon and Oscar-winning filmmaker Guneet Monga.

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She said she and her husband Naryan Murthy havent taken any vacation for over 30 years. She said, We were unable to take vacations for 30 years after we founded Infosys because my husband was constantly preoccupied with work. He used to spend 220 days a year on tour. I never expected any household help from him.

She added, I took up the responsibility of bringing up our children, He did not know what happened at home. Narayan Murthy realized how much I had helped him after our kids went out.

On her first job

She also recalled her last vsit to Tata Motors, where she started her first job. Last month, I visited Pune Telco, which is now known as Tata Motors," Sudha Murthy said. After 4050 years, I went there. 300 girls were working, as I could see. When I saw this, I started to cry.

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On her childhood hero

She shared something very interesting about her childhood hero on celluloid and revealed, When I used to be young, my hero was Dilip Kumar, sir. He was simply fabulous. She added, Next to Dilip Kumar, who can act with that kind of emotion is, Shah Rukh Khan . When I saw Veer-Zara, I told my daughter, Akshata, if Dilip Kumar wouldve been young, he wouldve done Veer-Zara. Now Shah Rukh Khan has taken that place and only he can act in that.
Cairo, Mar 3 (UNI) At least 90 people have been killed and 177 injured in Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, the enclave's health ministry said on Sunday.

"In the past 24 hours, the Israeli occupation has carried out nine massacres of families in the Gaza Strip, 90 people killed, 177 injured," the ministry said on Telegram.

This brought the war death toll in Gaza to 30,410, and 71,700 others have been wounded, the ministry added.

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.

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.

UNI/SPUTNIK GNK
Clearly, the agenda is not to push democracy but exactly its opposite. The chief weapons are words and phrases like secular, liberal, combating hate speech and misinformation, fact-check, while inverting them to cover just the opposite

Hungarian government poster portraying financier George Soros and saying "Don't let George Soros have the last laugh" is seen at an underground stop in Budapest, Hungary July 11, 2017. REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

It is often brushed aside as conspiracy theory. But call it Deep State, reincarnated Illuminati, or the New World Order, it is becoming increasingly evident that extremely powerful and invisible networks are trying to influence how global events unfold.

Whether it is a farmers protest in Indias Punjab or defending the police and pushing underage gender surgeries in the US to opposing narcotics control legislations in Uganda, there is always shadowy funding and publicity through NGOs, academia and chosen media outlets.

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The Narendra Modi government has banned more than 20,000 NGOs. These were siphoning off money, dodging foreign currency regulations, and/or spending the money to fuel agitations that stymie Indias progress.

These networks of the globalist elite collaborate with diverse forces from the Church to China, Communists to Islamists, whenever there is convergence of objectives. Many including top Republican leaders like Donald Trump and Vivek Ramaswamy have alleged that western agencies like the FBI and CIA stand compromised.

Free speech on the Internet was an instrument of statecraft almost from the outset of the privatisation of the InternetThe fundamental nature of war changed [with Crimeas annexation>. And NATO, at that point, declared something that they first called the Gerasimov doctrine All you need to do is control the media and the social media ecosystem, because thats what controls elections, says Mike Benz, executive director of Foundation for Freedom Online. NATO was publishing white papers saying that the biggest threat NATO faces is not actually a military invasion from Russia. Its losing domestic elections across Europe to all these right-wing populist groups.

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Journalist Tucker Carlsons interview with Benz, who had the cyber portfolio in the state department, is both eye-opening and unnerving at the same time.

Ep. 75 The national security state is the main driver of censorship and election interference in the United States. "What Im describing is military rule," says Mike Benz. "Its the inversion of democracy." pic.twitter.com/hDTEjAf89T  Tucker Carlson (@TuckerCarlson) February 16, 2024

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Mike Benz analyses the transition from the time the internet was a platform for nearly unchecked free speech and a tool for democratisation to the medium for surveillance, control, and censorship it has become today.

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Democracy is getting the NGOs to agree with Blackrock, to agree with the Wall Street Journal, to agree with the community and activist groups who are onboarded with respect to a particular initiative, he says.

Journals like The Economist have come up with the term flawed democracy for nations like India which have refused to kowtow to the globalists writ. This full-blown war on free speech is waged under the pretence of fact-checking, checking hate speech and combating misinformation.

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But behind these benign, democratic-sounding catchphrases is the globalist agenda of the likes of George Soros, Rothschild family, and Klaus Schwab. They want weak and pliable governments worldwide which host parasites. They resent strong, nationalistic governments which seek to preserve sovereignty and cultural identities. The predatory globalist elite want, many say, to move towards one government or force whose writ runs the planet  legitimately or from behind the curtains.

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Which is why networks like Soros or the Deep States attack a democracys instinct to safeguard itself. They want the US to defund the police, allow race riots on the streets, cripple the younger generations with gender war. They want Europe to allow demographic shift through illegal immigration and hijacked institutions. They want Russia and China to be sanctioned into oblivion. They want Africa to be an extremism-torn, famine-ridden treasure trove to be cynically mined by these same, greedy networks.

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Then there is India. A rising power and a vibrant democracy under a strong and stable Narendra Modi government which must be defeated or destabilised. For them, Hindu nationalism, the bulwark of the resurgent civilisation, must be dismantled. Historians to journalists, social activists to senators have been assigned to create the right conditions for anarchy.

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As senior journalist Utpal Kumar writes in his book, Bharat Rising: Dharma, Democracy, Diplomacy: One can cite several Western reports pushing the same vacuous, anti-India narrative: that India is an economic powerhouse, but is being run by Hindu nationalists; that Modi is popular but he is authoritarian; that India is a democracy, but a flawed one where minorities are being targeted and oppressed. The above facts are like Biblical commandments, needing no proof whatsoever. India is condemned without even an iota of evidence supporting that. Ironically, the Wests own record on race and religion has been quite mediocre, if not dubiouswhen such an incident occurs in the US, it becomes a crime case, but in India, the same is projected as an institutional failure, deterioration of democracy, and targeting of minorities, Dalits, and more, writes Utpal.

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He says while the West passes strictures on the state of refugee/immigrant situation in India, it signs an anti-migration deal like the one the European Union did with Tunisia. While the West lectured India on the violent and irresponsible farmers agitation, when similar protests rocked Canada and Europe, the same authorities rushed to clamp down.

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The Western media relentlessly peddles a narrative that Modi is shrinking the democratic, secular space for minorities, women, and Dalits.

Those who paint Indias anti-minority image in the name of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizens (NRC), gloss over the fact that the Modi government has spent Rs 22,000 crore on minority welfare and awarded scholarships to around 3.14 crore minority students, which is Rs 20 lakh more than provided by the UPA-II dispensation. The minorities are also the biggest beneficiaries of the governments micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) push, as they mostly run or work with small and medium enterprises, Utpal Kumar writes.

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On the womens front, this is the first government that has taken up the toilet and swachhtameaning cleanlinessissues with the urgency they required. When Prime Minister Modi first talked about toilets during his Independence Day speech in August 2014, many eyebrows were raised. Women, especially from villages, are the biggest beneficiaries of this scheme. As for Muslim women, this is the first government to bite the triple talaq bullet. With regard to Dalits, one needs to look at the BJPs performance among this community in Uttar PradeshAccording to a Centre for Study of Developing Societies (CSDS) post-poll study, the BJPs Jatav base went up from 5 per cent in 2012 to 21 per cent in 2022, and the non-Jatav base grew from 11 per cent in 2012 to forty-one per cent in 2022. How can a party that oppresses the Dalits and discriminates against them get this kind of support?

So, clearly the agenda is not to push democracy but exactly its opposite. The chief weapons are words and phrases like secular, liberal, combating hate speech and misinformation, fact-check, while inverting them to cover just the opposite.

No nation or democracy must give up its self-preservation instincts. Heads of nations heed Don Corleones advice to his son Michael in The Godfather, albeit slightly rephrasing it: Whoever comes to you offering advice on secularism, liberalism, open societies and democracy is the enemy.

The author is contributing editor, Firstpost. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Uzbekistan has never given importance to the Uyghur issue in the past three decades; instead, it sacrificed it at the altar of a growing Uzbek-China bond

Uyghurs have never been an important issue or factor in the broad-based relationship between China and the Central Asian republics in general and between China and Uzbekistan in particular. Image: REUTERS

Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov led an Uzbek delegation on a two-day tour to the Kashgar city of Xinjiang from February 29 to March 1, 2024. He held bilateral meetings with the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party and the Secretary of the Party Committee of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Ma Xinjui. Besides, he participated in a trilateral dialogue with the aforementioned Chinese authorities and the Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of Kyrgyzstan, Akylbek Japarov.

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This is a significant follow-up measure by top Uzbek leadership to the Uzbekistan-China All-Weather Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for a New Era agreed by two sides just five weeks ago on January 24, 2024, during which Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping signed trade and investment agreements worth 52 billion USD.

Abdulla Aripovs visit to Kashgar assumes great significance on many counts. For example, the Kashgar prefecture is considered the main Uyghur heartland; some even dub it the cradle of Uyghur culture and identity. It is important to note here that the Uyghurs had established an Islamic Emirate in Kashgar for a decade in the 1860s and 1870s under Yakub Beg, who symbolised the Uyghurs as a separate entity and East Turkistan as a separate nation.

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In addition, Kashgar is an important segment of the Silk Route connecting South Asia (India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan) and Central Asia (Tajikistan). One branch of the Silk Route from Kashgar connects to Uzbekistan (Samarkand, Bukhara, etc.) via Tajikistan, which has been witness to Uzbekistans civilisational linkage with Kashgar. In contemporary times, Kashgar has remained the stronghold of Uyghurs for a long period of time.

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Uyghurs in Kashgar are more than 80 per cent of the total population at the prefecture level and more than 30 per cent of Xinjiangs total Uyghur population. For this reason, Kashgar has been the main target of the Chinese authorities since 1949. Furthermore, this prefecture has witnessed a maximum number of pro-Uyghur movements and anti-Chinese protests and resentment since the peaceful liberation of Xinjiang in 1949.

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It can be aptly described herewith that Aripovs visit is good for China on many counts but bad, perhaps worse, for the Uyghurs of Xinjiang. It not only legitimises the Chinese excesses and repression against Uyghurs, who have been facing a genocide situation in the last few years, but also exposes Uzbekistans decades-long indifferent attitude towards Uyghurs, despite the cultural affinity between Uzbeks and Uyghurs. Even though Uzbekistan has a significant number of Uyghurs living in its territory (between 50,000 and 60,000, as per some estimates), they have never been a major factor between China and Uzbekistan, as found in the case of Kazakhstan.

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Kazakhstan has, at present, the highest number of Uyghurs living in its territory outside Xinjiang (nearly 5,00,000). This fact was corroborated by the Uyghur activists, scholars, and some Western experts this author has met in recent decades. However, the Uyghurs of Uzbekistan, who have maximum physical similarity and language affinity with the Uyghurs, hide their identity for fear of persecution at the hands of both Uzbek and Chinese authorities. They also fear their friends and relatives living in Xinjiang will face a similar fate if they boast about their original identity. That is why they prefer to call themselves Uzbeks or citizens of Uzbekistan.

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Most importantly, Uzbekistans political dispensation, media, and civil society have kept mum about the issue of Uyghurs. One example in this context was the American bid to persuade Uzbekistan with regard to Uyghurs. Mike Pompeo, the then US Secretary of State, during his visit to Tashkent on February 3, 2023, while trying to raise the Chinese repression of Uyghurs, was rebuffed by his Uzbek counterpart with a plain-speak that Uzbekistan would rather refrain from big power competition in the region, thereby dodging the Uyghur issue successfully on one hand and sending a clear and friendly message to China about his countrys position on Uyghurs.

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Since the emergence of Uzbekistan as an independent Central Asian republic following Soviet disintegration in the early 1990s, Uzbek political leadership has not paid any heed to the Uyghur issue, which in the following decades has been sacrificed at the altar of strong Uzbek-China bonding.

Importantly, China recognised Uzbekistan on December 27, 1991, and within a week, on January 5, 1992, both countries established diplomatic ties. Uzbekistan was the first Central Asian republic to do so. Like Kazakhstan, the Islam Karimov government felt that Uyghurs in Uzbekistan might demand a separate homeland within the Uzbek territory, precisely on the lines of the Uyghurs of Xinjiang, who have been demanding a separate East Turkestan out of China.

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Further, Uzbek authorities have serious reservations about the unholy nexus between the militants and terrorists of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and the Uyghur terrorist organization East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which was designated as a terrorist organization by China as well as enlisted in the Global Terrorist List in October 2001.

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There were reports of both IMU and ETIM being aided and abetted by international terror infrastructure in Afghanistan, such as the Taliban and Al Qaeda, and later on in Syria by the ISIS. The IMU indulged in several terrorist attacks inside Uzbekistan during the mid- and late 1990s, including a couple of attacks on the Uzbek President, Islam Karimov. This state of affairs prompted both Uzbekistan and China to unleash military crackdowns individually, jointly, and also under the ambit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).

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It begot the SCOs Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS), which was strategically headquartered in Tashkent, the Uzbek capital. Both China and Uzbekistan were instrumental in keeping the terrorist infrastructure of IMU and ETIM at bay legally and politically through a regular clause in the SCOs Joint Statement to combat three evil forces (separatism, extremism, and terrorism) at each of its Annual Summits since 2001 till date.

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Further, the Uyghur issue has remained a low-key affair or a matter of no importance amidst the Uzbekistan-China partnership that is politically, diplomatically, and strategically sound and robust.

Shavkat Mirziyoyev has undertaken half a dozen visits to China in the last six years since he took over as Uzbek President. Since the report about the incarceration of millions of Uyghurs and other Turkic minorities (Kazakhs, Kyrgyzs, etc.) was unearthed in 2016 onwards, Uzbekistan has not minced a single word because there is little evidence about the incarceration of any Uzbek in the internment camps across Xinjiang. This shows the tacit understanding between the two governments and Uzbekistans indifference towards Uyghurs.

This year, the Uzbek Presidents choice of China as the first country to visit in 2024 is symbolic and significant. His statement on the sidelines of his meeting with Xi Jinping is more important, more China-friendly, and anti-Uyghur. He stated that Uzbekistan abides by the one-China principle, strictly opposes external interference in Chinas internal affairs, and stands ready to provide firm support for China on issues concerning Chinas core interests, Taiwan, Xinjiang, and human rights." He assured the Chinese leadership and expressed readiness to work with China to combat the three forces of terrorism, separatism, and extremism.

Therefore, the above analysis found that Uyghurs have never been an important issue or factor in the broad-based relationship between China and the Central Asian republics in general and between China and Uzbekistan in particular. Uzbekistan has never given importance to the Uyghur issue in the past three decades; instead, it sacrificed it at the altar of a growing Uzbek-China bond. The Uyghurs in Uzbekistan, too, give up their identity to immerse themselves in the Uzbek culture to avoid any wrath from both Uzbek and Chinese authorities. Further, the bonhomie between the IMU and ETIM has affected the psyche of the Uzbeks so seriously and so much that the Uzbeks neither talk about the Uyghurs nor show any empathy or sympathy for them. At this juncture, the slightest belief among the Uyghurs across the globe, especially in Xinjiang, to obtain support from their Central Asian cousins, mainly Uzbeks, remains a daydream.

The author teaches at the Centre for Inner Asian Studies, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost_s views._
There is a glimmer of optimism for a fresh push for a solution after the appointment of a new UN envoy last month, but the UN is faced with issues about how long it should continue in the role given the previous six decades of fruitless discussions

This picture taken on September 18, 2022 shows a view of a United Nations peacekeepers' booth in Varosha, in the fenced off area near Famagusta in the Turkish-controlled north of the divided eastern Mediterranean island of Cyprus. AFP

In the heart of Nicosias walled Old City, two UN troops open a padlocked entrance and go back five decades. They are infiltrating the buffer zone that divides Greek Cypriots from Turkish Cypriots, as well as hundreds of military on the split island.

The blue berets, like countless soldiers before them, climbed over roofs, past drying laundry lines, and walked through dilapidated streets, abandoned flats, and businesses caked in dust.

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When you first get here its really quite surreal, obviously its not something that most people will ever really experience, Sapper Michael Clasper, a British peacekeeper from 71 Engineer Regiment, told AFP.

The Mediterranean island is celebrating its third anniversary this year. It has been 60 years since the blue berets arrived, 50 years since a coup supported by Athens and intended to unite Cyprus with Greece led to a Turkish invasion that partitioned the island, and 20 years after Greek Cypriots rejected a UN reunification proposal in a vote.

There is a glimmer of optimism for a fresh push for a solution after the appointment of a new UN envoy last month, but the UN is faced with issues about how long it should continue in the role given the previous six decades of fruitless discussions.

Youve got a peacekeeping force on a holiday island which is a really bizarre disconnect, said James Ker-Lindsay, a visiting professor at the London School of Economics and a Cyprus expert.

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But that also raises questions about UNFICYP and its long-term mandate, he said, using the acronym for the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus.

The UN is fully aware how long it has been here.

We always intend to come, fulfil the peacekeeping task at hand and leave, said UNFICYP spokesman Aleem Siddique. The fact that were still here, 60 years later, highlights the fact that we still need a solution to the Cyprus problem.

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Intercommunal violence

Cyprus, which has a large Greek Cypriot majority and a sizable Turkish Cypriot minority, gained an uneasy independence from Britain in 1960 under terms that forbade partition and union with Greece or Turkey.

Yet the new republics delicately crafted constitution buckled under the strain of inter-communal tensions and in December 1963 the dispute exploded into deadly violence.

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Turkish Cypriots withdrew into enclaves and Nicosia, the capital, was divided along what was dubbed the Green Line.

British troops had deployed quickly from their bases on the island to try to restore peace, but London was uneasy about both the costs and the implications of making it a long-term mission.

Peacekeeping was a really new thing at the time, said Ker-Lindsay. With the Cold War at its height, there were strong US efforts to make it a NATO mission, but the Cypriot president appealed to the Soviet Union and the idea was dropped."

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Eventually, in March 1964, UNFICYP was created and has been in operation ever since, with Britain an ever-present contributor.

The Turkish invasion of 1974 and its aftermath put an end to the enclaves and divided Cyprus in two, with the Turkish Cypriot north unilaterally declaring independence nine years later in a move recognised only by Ankara.

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The buffer zone now stretches the full length of the island, 180 kilometres (110 miles) from west to east.

Cyprus has, for the most part, remained peaceful since the Turkish invasion, but it would be a mistake to think that the buffer zone is anything other than tense.

The role of soldiers on patrol is to spot the slightest unauthorised alteration, even a new padlock, and report it up the chain, so that the UN can step in quickly and maintain the status quo.

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The attention to detail is something you really need to focus on when youre out here, said Clasper.

Frequent requests by former residents to retrieve their property are rejected, because the UN cannot allow the status quo to change.

Thousands of incidents

The buffer zone sees thousands of infringements each year. The UN says the most common are unauthorised civilian crossings, while there is also plenty of criminality, including illegal hunting and the smuggling of everything from asparagus to people.

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There can also be serious confrontations, like one in August over the construction by Turkish Cypriots of a road in the buffer zone to the mixed village of Pyla, which led to four peacekeepers being injured.

Its easy for small incidents to explode into international ones, and we saw that recently with the dispute in Pyla, Siddique said.

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The longevity of the mission and the apparently slim hopes of a resolution  the last UN-backed talks collapsed in 2017  have led to doubts about its continuing efficacy.

Under the Donald Trump administration, there was US pressure to review the UNs peacekeeping missions and Cyprus was definitely in the firing line, Ker-Lindsay said.

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He said it was saved in part because if things really kick off in Cyprus, it will draw in two NATO allies, in the form of Greece and Turkey.

Since 1974, Sector 2 of the buffer zone, which covers Nicosia, has been headquartered in the Ledra Palace Hotel, once among the most glamorous in Cyprus and now a symbol of its division.

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After five decades with only minimal upkeep, it is no longer fit for human habitation and in the grounds of the hotel prefab buildings are being put up to house UNFICYP.

Its a similar scene all along the buffer zone, but its not just the physical disintegration that troubles the UN, the status quo is under threat, too.

UNFICYP can hold the ground, said Siddique, but the (UN) secretary-general has made clear the status quo is changing, is being challenged by both sides.

So we hope that this underlines the importance of returning to the negotiating table and securing a lasting settlement that will pave the way for the exit of the peacekeeping force.

In the meantime, the UN is absolutely necessary, Ker-Lindsay said. I dont think its really been factored in by society at large how precarious the situation is.
After being hit by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on February 18 in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Belize-flagged Rubymar had been drifting northward

This satellite image taken by Maxar Technologies shows the Belize-flagged ship Rubymar in the Red Sea. Maxar Technologies via AP

After taking on water for many days, a ship assaulted by the Houthi rebels in Yemen sank in the Red Sea, according to authorities on Saturday. This is the first vessel to be completely destroyed as part of their campaign against Israels battle against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

Coral reefs in the Red Sea may sustain ecological harm as a result of the sinking of the Rubymar, which was carrying a cargo of fertiliser and had previously spilled gasoline.

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Traffic in the vital canal for the transportation of goods and oil from Asia and the Middle East to Europe has already been hampered by persistent Houthi strikes. Numerous ships have already steered clear of the path.

Due to the sinking, there may be more diversions and increased insurance costs for ships using the channel, which might raise worldwide prices and have an impact on assistance supplies to the area.

After being hit by a Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on February 18 in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, a vital waterway between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, the Belize-flagged Rubymar had been drifting northward.

The ships sinking was verified by the internationally recognised government of Yemen and a military official in the area. The official talked under the condition of anonymity because they were not granted permission to discuss the incident with press.

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The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations centre of the British military, which monitors waterways in the Middle East, recognised the sinking of the Rubymar on Saturday afternoon in a separate statement.

The US militarys Central Command said early Sunday the Rubymar sank at 2:15 a.m. local time Saturday. It released an image of the vessel on its side as it was sinking.

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The approximately 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer that the vessel was carrying presents an environmental risk in the Red Sea, it said in a statement. As the ship sinks it also presents a subsurface impact risk to other ships transiting the busy shipping lanes of the waterway.

The Rubymars Beirut-based manager did not respond to a request for comment.

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Yemens exiled government, which has been backed by a Saudi-led coalition since 2015, said the Rubymar sank as stormy weather took hold over the Red Sea. The vessel had been abandoned for 12 days after the attack, though plans had been made to try and tow the ship to a safe port.

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The Iran-backed Houthis had falsely claimed the ship sank almost instantly after the initial attack. Late Saturday, a Houthi leader tried to blame British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the Rubymar.

You have an opportunity to salvage the ship M/V Rubymar by guaranteeing  that the relief trucks agreed upon at that time would enter Gaza, Mohammed al-Houthi wrote in an online message.

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Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, the prime minister of Yemens internationally recognized government, called the ships sinking an unprecedented environmental disaster.

Its a new disaster for our country and our people, he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. Every day, we pay for the Houthi militias adventures, which were not stopped at plunging Yemen into the coup disaster and war.

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Greenpeace also raised concerns about the ship sinking.

Without immediate action, this situation could escalate into a major environmental crisis, said Julien Jreissati, program director at Greenpeace MENA.

As well as any further leaks of fuel oil from the engines, the sinking of the vessel could further breach the hull, allowing water to contact with the thousands of tons of fertilizer, which could then be released into the Red Sea and disrupt the balance of the marine ecosystems, triggering cascading effects throughout the food web.

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The Houthis have held Yemens capital, Sanaa, since 2014, expelling the government. The rebels have fought a Saudi-led coalition since 2015 in a stalemated war.

Satellite pictures analyzed by The Associated Press from Planet Labs PBC showed smaller boats alongside the Rubymar on Wednesday. It wasnt immediately clear whose vessels those were. The images showed the Rubymars stern sinking into the Red Sea but still afloat, mirroring earlier video taken of the vessel.

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The private security firm Ambrey separately reported Friday about a mysterious incident involving the Rubymar.

A number of Yemenis were reportedly harmed during a security incident which took place on Friday, Ambrey said. It did not elaborate on what that incident involved and no party involved in Yemens yearslong war claimed any new attack on the vessel.

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A satellite image taken Friday from Maxar Technologies showed new blast damage on the Rubymar not previously seen, with no other vessels around it. Additional satellite images taken Saturday by Planet Labs PBC of the area the Rubymar had been in recent days no longer showed the vessel.

Since November, the rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea and surrounding waters over the Israel-Hamas war. Those vessels have included at least one with cargo bound for Iran, the Houthis main benefactor, and an aid ship later bound for Houthi-controlled territory.

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Despite over a month of US-led airstrikes, Houthi rebels have remained capable of launching significant attacks. That includes the attack on the Rubymar and the downing of an American drone worth tens of millions of dollars. The Houthis insist their attacks will continue until Israel stops its combat operations in the Gaza Strip, which have enraged the wider Arab world and seen the Houthis gain international recognition.

The attacks have also disrupted aid shipments to both Yemen and Sudan, which is gripped by its own monthslong war. In recent days, the International Rescue Committee said it suspended its aid shipments to Port Sudan through the Red Sea over long delays and drastically increased costs.

However, there has been a slowdown in attacks in recent days. The reason for that remains unclear. Between four to eight US and allied warships now patrol the Red Sea on any given day, said Maj. Pete Nguyen, a Defense Department spokesperson.

On Saturday, the Italian Defense Ministry said one of its vessels, the destroyer Caio Duilio, shot down a suspected Houthi drone in self-defense that appeared to be flying toward it.

The terrorist attacks by the Houthis are a serious violation of international law and an attack on the safety of maritime traffic, on which our economy depends, the ministry said.
Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for being the first to utilize microcredit to aid the underprivileged, was given a six-month prison sentence in January on an unrelated allegation of breaking labor regulations. He has appealed after receiving bail in that instance as well

On Sunday, Yunus and seven other accused showed up for court, but the remaining six were not present Image Courtesy AP

In a $2.3 million embezzlement case, Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was granted bail by a Bangladeshi court on Sunday.

Yunus, who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for being the first to utilize microcredit to aid the underprivileged, was given a six-month prison sentence in January on an unrelated allegation of breaking labor regulations. He has appealed after receiving bail in that instance as well.

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The allegation of theft, according to prosecutor Mir Ahmmad Ali Salam, concerns a workers welfare fund of Grameen Telecom, which holds 34.2% of the nations largest mobile phone firm, Grameenphone, a division of Telenor, the telecom behemoth from Norway.

The charges involve the embezzlement of over 250 million takas and money laundering. The accused gave the money to trade union leaders instead of the workers. This way they deprived the ordinary workers of their rightful earnings, Salam told the media.

On Sunday, Yunus and seven other accused showed up for court, but the remaining six were not present.

Abdullah Al Mamun, the defense attorney, informed the court that Yunus, 83, and the other people were innocent.

More than 170 world leaders and Nobel laureates pleaded with Bangladeshs prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, to put a halt to Yunuss legal actions last year. According to his admirers, he has been singled out due to his chilly relationship with Hasina. The accusations have been refuted by the government.
Canadas Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated in a statement that the most recent penalties will target six Russian officials, including senior officials and high-ranking personnel of Russias prosecution, judiciary, and penitentiary agencies

Authorities declared on February 16 that Navalny, the most vocal opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, had passed away in an Arctic jail Image Courtesy Reuters

On Sunday, Canada declared further sanctions against Russia in response to opposition leader Alexei Navalnys passing.

Canadas Foreign Minister Melanie Joly stated in a statement that the most recent penalties will target six Russian officials, including senior officials and high-ranking personnel of Russias prosecution, judiciary, and penitentiary agencies.

Earlier, police detained at least 67 people across Russia as the funeral of opposition leader Alexei Navalny was being carried out on Friday. According to OVD-Info - a rights monitoring group - at least 67 arrests took place in 16 cities, including six arrests in Moscow, the site of Navalnys massively attended funeral.

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The organization had originally claimed that Novosibirsk was home to eighteen detainees.

There was a heavy police presence during the funeral and burial in Moscow, since the Kremlin had issued a warning that unauthorised protesters will face consequences.

Authorities declared on February 16 that Navalny, the most vocal opponent of Russian President Vladimir Putin, had passed away in an Arctic jail.
The discussions come as the worlds second-largest economy faces a number of issues, including a protracted housing crisis, declining domestic demand, and stubbornly high youth unemployment

On the eve of Chinas annual legislative sessions, a spokesman for the countrys political advisory council stated on Sunday that the economy, particularly youth employment, was of great concern to its delegates.

The annual Two Sessions of the ruling Communist Party will begin on Monday in Beijing, drawing thousands of delegates from all around the nation.

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The discussions come as the worlds second-largest economy faces a number of issues, including a protracted housing crisis, declining domestic demand, and stubbornly high youth unemployment.

The Chinese Peoples Political Consultative briefing (CPPCC) spokesperson Liu Jieyi stated at a press briefing on Sunday that economic topics are of great concern to our representatives.

The employment of young people, especially fresh graduates, is a matter of great concern, he said.

Beijing reported economic growth of 5.2 percent last year, one of its slowest rates in decades.

Youth unemployment officially stood at around 15 percent at the end of 2023, after the statistics bureau adjusted its calculation methods.

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It stopped publishing the politically sensitive figure for several months from last summer as the jobless rate soared well above 20 percent.

Liu said Chinas economy still had a good foundation and favourable conditions for promoting high-quality development.

The country had also proven resilient in the face of external shocks and internal difficulties, he said.

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The CPPCC will run until the morning of March 10, Liu said.

Its discussions are relatively low-stakes compared to the near simultaneous gathering of the countrys legislature, the National Peoples Congress.
According to the local online news outlet Gazette Haiti, a significant number of prisoners released by the armed gangs are important members of very powerful gangs

According to the French embassy and local media, armed gangs assaulted the main jail in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on Saturday evening, resulting in an unknown number of prisoners escaping.This Saturday evening, bandits stormed the national penitentiary in Port-au-Prince and allowed a number of inmates to escape, the French embassy said in a note sent to AFP.

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Pending clarification of the situation, the embassy of France advises against all travel in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area, it said.

In a message written in Creole and posted on social media platform X, the Haitian National Police Union SNPH-17 appealed to all police and military personnel with cars, weapons and ammunition to go to the prison as reinforcements.

SOS pou penitansye/ gran prizon!!! @SPNH_17, Sendika Lapolis la, ap mande tout polisye ki nan kapital la swa ki gen machin, zam ak minisyon, sa yo ki nan backup VIP yo pote kole ak polisye kap goumen nan penitansye, depi nou kite bandi pran penitansye nou fini . Pesonn pap pic.twitter.com/x1MFTJJ1XW  SPNH-17 ,Syndicat de la Police Nationale D'Haiti (@SPNH_17) March 3, 2024

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According to the local online news outlet Gazette Haiti, a significant number of prisoners released by the armed gangs are important members of very powerful gangs.

The jail is a few hundred metres from the National Palace. Among those imprisoned there are known gang bosses and individuals suspected of assassinating President Jovenel Moise in 2021, according to the Haitian daily Le Nouvelliste.

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It claimed not to know the number or characteristics of the inmates who managed to get out.

Le Nouvelliste claims that prior to the early Saturday evening attack, the jail had been spied on by the assailants since Thursday via drones.

Since Thursday, gangs seeking to remove Ariel Henry, the prime minister of Haiti, have inflicted devastation around Port-au-Prince.

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Le Nouvelliste claims Henry is not in the capital.

The latest attacks are part of a coordinated effort by gangs united under the label Vivre Ensemble (Living Together).

Powerful gang leader Jimmy Cherisier, known by the nickname Barbecue, said in a video posted on social media before the violence began that the armed groups were acting in concert to get Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down.

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The Caribbean state was already prey to gang violence but gangs now control 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, and serious crime has reached record levels in the Western hemispheres poorest nation, according to the United Nations.
The 87-year-old pope assigned an assistant to make a speech at a ceremony on Saturday. He also made a quick visit to a hospital in Rome on Wednesday, claiming to have a bit of cold when he skipped reading at his weekly audience

Pope Francis, who had been ill with bronchitis, appeared to be getting better on Sunday and made an appeal for an end to the Palestinian conflict.

The 87-year-old pope assigned an assistant to make a speech at a ceremony on Saturday. He also made a quick visit to a hospital in Rome on Wednesday, claiming to have a bit of cold when he skipped reading at his weekly audience.

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Each day I carry in my heart with pain the suffering of the populations in Palestine and Israel due to the ongoing hostilities, thousands of dead, injured, displaced, Francis said, speaking by himself with a clear voice at the Angelus prayer in Rome.

Do you really think you can build a better world in this way? Do you really think you will achieve peace? Enough please! Let us all say enough please! Stop! Francis said

Pope Francis has experienced several health problems lately.

Due to influenza and lung irritation, he had to postpone his trip to Dubai for the COP28 climate conference at the beginning of December.

He was unable to finish a speech in January because of a touch of bronchitis.

(With agency inputs)
Delegations from Qatar, the US, and Hamas have reportedly arrived in Egypt for a new round of negotiations toward a ceasefire in the Gaza War

The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Sunday that 30,410 individuals had died as a result of Israels military onslaught on the beleaguered Palestinian territory, the majority of whom were women and children Image Courtesy AFP

According to a statement from the Gaza health ministry, at least 15 children have passed away in the last few days at the Kamal Adwan hospital in Gaza from malnourishment and dehydration.

We fear for the lives of 6 (other) children suffering from malnutrition and diarrhea at the hospitals intensive care unit as a result of the cessation of the electric generator and oxygen and the weakness of medical capabilities, Gaza health ministry spokesperson Ashraf Al-Qidra told the media.

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Meanwhile, delegations from Qatar, the US, and Hamas have reportedly arrived in Egypt for a new round of negotiations toward a ceasefire in the Gaza War.

In weeks of negotiations aimed at stopping the combat in the almost five-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas, which was triggered by the October 7 terrorist attack, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have served as mediators.

Their objective has been to negotiate a truce by the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan the following week, but a string of impasses in negotiations has dashed hopes.

According to a report by state-affiliated Al-Qahera News on Sunday, the main focus of the negotiations has been on a six-week ceasefire proposed by Hamas in exchange for increased humanitarian supplies and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

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The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Sunday that 30,410 individuals had died as a result of Israels military onslaught on the beleaguered Palestinian territory, the majority of whom were women and children.
China's top political advisory body holds press conference ahead of annual session

Xinhua) 15:12, March 03, 2024

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Li He)

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session.

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, briefed the press on the session.

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Li He)

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, arrives for a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

Journalists raise hands to ask questions at a press conference of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

A journalist asks a question at a press conference of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

A journalist asks a question at a press conference of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Jin Liwang)

A journalist asks a question at a press conference of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli)

Journalists work at a press conference of the second session of the 14th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Zhong Wenxing)
Nairobi, Mar 3 (UNI) Kenyan police killed five al-Shabab terrorists and arrested four others in a security operation in Garissa County near the border with Somalia.



The police said the four suspects were arrested from their hideout in Fafi area where the security forces recovered two PKM machine guns, six AK47 rifles, and a number of improvised explosive devices making materials on Saturday.



According to the security report, "the four are being interrogated and are cooperating well with the police."



The intelligence-led operation caught the militants by surprise as they crossed into Kenya and established a temporary camp in Fafi area of Garissa.



The operation was launched after the police foiled plans by the militants to set up a base in Mangai, Lamu County in the coastal region on Wednesday and destroyed their cell. The police said a significant number of terrorists were killed and that the cell was in the last stages of orchestrating a reinforced ambush targeting security forces in the area.



The police said al-Shabab is using the Lamu area as a logistics base to attack local targets and retreat.



They have thwarted several planned attacks in the country, mostly in the northern region, which had been experiencing a lull in terms of terror attacks. The area is near the Somalia border, and the militants usually cross at will and stage attacks before escaping back. UNI/XINHUA AKS
The main focus of the negotiations has been on a six-week ceasefire proposed by Hamas in exchange for increased humanitarian supplies and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails

In weeks of negotiations aimed at stopping the combat in the almost five-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas, which was triggered by the October 7 terrorist attack, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have served as mediators Image Courtesy Reuters

Delegations from Qatar, the US, and Hamas have reportedly arrived in Egypt for a new round of negotiations toward a ceasefire in the Gaza War.

In weeks of negotiations aimed at stopping the combat in the almost five-month-old conflict between Israel and Hamas, which was triggered by the October 7 terrorist attack, the US, Qatar, and Egypt have served as mediators.

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Their objective has been to negotiate a truce by the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan the following week, but a string of impasses in negotiations has dashed hopes.

According to a report by state-affiliated Al-Qahera News on Sunday, the main focus of the negotiations has been on a six-week ceasefire proposed by Hamas in exchange for increased humanitarian supplies and the release of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails.

Around 1,160 people, primarily civilians, were killed in the terrorist attack by Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, which marked the start of the Gaza War.

Additionally, 250 hostages were taken by Hamas; 130 of them, including 31 people who are thought to be dead, are still in captivity, according to Israel.

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The Gaza Health Ministry announced on Sunday that 30,410 individuals had died as a result of Israels military onslaught on the beleaguered Palestinian territory, the majority of whom were women and children.
The contest organizers took issue with verses that seemed to reference Hamas October 7 attack, so Israel agreed to change the lyrics, according to Israels national broadcaster Kan, which made the announcement on Sunday

This year's Eurovision is scheduled to take place in the Swedish city of Malmo from May 711. The competition bills itself as a non-political event and can disqualify contestants deemed to have violated that rule Image Courtesy Reuters

The leading Israeli entry for the Eurovision Song Contest is October Rain, a ballad sung by female soloist Eden Golan.

The contest organizers took issue with verses that seemed to reference Hamas October 7 attack, so Israel agreed to change the lyrics, according to Israels national broadcaster Kan, which made the announcement on Sunday.

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This years Eurovision is scheduled to take place in the Swedish city of Malmo from May 711. The competition bills itself as a non-political event and can disqualify contestants deemed to have violated that rule.

Linguistics from the song were leaked to the media and later verified by Kan. Lines like Theres no air left to breathe and They were all good children, each one of them seem to refer to the people who sought refuge while Hamas gunmen massacred and abducted people at an outdoor music festival and other locations that ignited the Gaza War.

Kan stated that it has requested that the authors of October Rain and Dance Forever, the second-place finalist, modify their lyrics while maintaining their creative liberty. After that, it will formally select the song to transmit to the Eurovision selection committee.

The European Broadcasting Union, the body that oversees Eurovision, previously declared that it was examining the lyrics.

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The Israeli broadcaster announced that it granted the president of the nation, Isaac Herzog,s request to implement the modifications.

The president emphasized that at this time in particular, when those who hate us seek to push aside and boycott the state of Israel from every stage, Israel must sound its voice with pride and its head high and raise its flag in every world forum, especially this year, Kan said.
The revelation comes days after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak delivered an impassioned speech from the podium at 10 Downing Street in London, warning that the countrys democratic and multi-faith values were under threat by extremists

Rishi Sunak had also appealed to demonstrators taking to the streets of the country to protest against the Israel-Hamas conflict to ensure their actions are not hijacked by extremists Image Courtesy Reuters

Under new plans being prepared by the government, hate preachers with radical Islamist ideas from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Indonesia will not be allowed to enter Britain, according to a report in the UK media on Sunday.

According to The Daily Telegraph, officials have been assigned to identify the most dangerous foreign radicals so that their names can be placed to visa warning lists. This comes amid concerns from the British government about a shocking increase in extremist activity. Those on the list will automatically be denied entrance into the UK under the new plans.

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Days prior, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak warned that the nations democratic and multifaith ideals were in danger during an ardent speech from the podium at 10 Downing Street in London.

We will also act to prevent people entering this country whose aim is to undermine its values, Sunak said in his speech on Friday.

The Home Secretary has instructed that if those here on visas choose to spew hate on protests or seek to intimidate people we will remove their right to be here, he added.

Sunak had also urged protesters protesting against the Israel-Hamas conflict to make sure their efforts are not misinterpreted by radicals.

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The time has now come for us all to stand together to combat the forces of division and beat this poison. We must face down the extremists who would tear us apart, he said, warning that Islamist extremists and the far right feed off and embolden each other.

On Saturday, thousands of people participated in yet another round of pro-Palestine demonstrations in the streets, and the Metropolitan Police made 12 arrests for disturbing the peace in London.

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As per the media, an official assessment conducted by Lord Walney, the governments independent consultant on political violence and disturbance, urges ministers to address the increasing danger presented by fringe, Left-wing organizations that have partnered with Islamist extremists during pro-Palestine demonstrations throughout the United Kingdom.

One of the conclusions of my review is to look at and understand the threat from anti-democratic far-Left groups, alongside that posed by Islamists and the far right You are seeing an unholy alliance between far-Left groups and some of the Islamist extremism that has been seen on the marches, he told the newspaper.

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Walneys report is with the UK Home Office and is due to be published later this month.

Extremism has no place in our society and we will not tolerate tactics that set out to intimidate, threaten or cause disruption to the law-abiding majority, a Home Office spokesperson said.

In recent months, we have also witnessed a small number of protestors display violent and hateful behaviour, and the police have our full support in tackling extremism and hate crime. We are considering the reports recommendations extremely carefully and will respond in due course, the spokesperson said.

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(With agency inputs)
Since Thursday night, around 23 rain-related deaths have been recorded in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, according to the provincial disaster management office

Pakistani police announced Sunday that at least 29 people were killed and 50 others were injured as a result of severe rains that swept throughout the nation in the previous 48 hours, causing numerous buildings to collapse and landslides to obstruct highways, notably in the northwest.

This comes while Pakistan is also experiencing significant snowfall.

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Since Thursday night, around 23 rain-related deaths have been recorded in various districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which borders Afghanistan, according to the provincial disaster management office.

Five people died in southern Baluchistan province after the seaside town of Gwadar was inundated, prompting officials to utilise boats to rescue residents.

In a second statement, the National Disaster Management Authority confirmed casualties and damages in Pakistan-administered Kashmir as well.

Emergency relief was being provided to people in affected areas and heavy machinery used to remove debris blocking highways, the agency added.

The countrys Karakoram Highway which links Pakistan with China is still blocked in some places due to landslides, according to the spokesman for the northern Gilgit Baltistan region, Faizullah Faraq.

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Authorities advised tourists against traveling to the scenic north due to weather conditions. Last week, several visitors were stranded there because of the heavy rains.

This year, Pakistan is witnessing an unusual delay in winter rains, starting in February instead of November.

Monsoon and winter rains cause damage in Pakistan every year.

In 2022, climate-induced unusual monsoon rains and flooding devastated most of the areas in impoverished Pakistan, killing more than 1,739 people, affecting around 33 million people and displacing nearly 8 million. The rains and floods in 2022 also caused billions of dollars of damages to the countrys economy and some of the areas people who lost their homes are still living in makeshift homes.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for the talks, billed as a possible final hurdle before an agreement that would halt the fighting for six weeks. But by early evening there was no sign of the Israelis

In past negotiations Hamas has sought to avoid discussing the wellbeing of individual hostages until after terms for their release are set Image Courtesy Reuters

Following Hamas rejection of Israels demand for a comprehensive list of the hostages who are still alive, the Israeli publication reported that Israel boycotted the Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo on Sunday.

Arriving in Cairo for the negotiations, which were supposed to be the last step before a six-week ceasefire, was a Hamas delegation. However, the Israelis had vanished from sight by early nightfall.

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There is no Israeli delegation in Cairo, Ynet, the online version of Israels Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, quoted unidentified Israeli officials as saying. Hamas refuses to provide clear answers and therefore there is no reason to dispatch the Israeli delegation.

According to Washington, a cease-fire agreement is near and should be in place in time for the fighting to end one week from now, on Ramadan. However, there has been no public indication from the opposing parties that they will abandon their earlier demands.

A Palestinian official told Reuters the accord was not yet there after the Hamas group arrived. Israel did not provide a formal statement.

Speaking on Saturday, a person knowledgeable on the negotiations stated that Israel may avoid Cairo unless Hamas first provided a complete list of its remaining hostages. Hamas has thus far denied the request, a Palestinian official told the media.

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Prior to announcing the conditions of each hostages release, Hamas has tried in previous discussions to keep the conversation about their welfare private.

A U.S. official told reporters on Saturday: The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And theres a deal on the table. Theres a framework deal.

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According to the U.S. official, Israel had accepted the framework and now it was up to Hamas to react.

With only a week-long break in November, the battle has raged for five months and an agreement would offer the first prolonged truce. In exchange for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, the extremists would release dozens of hostages they had taken.

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More aid would be sent to Gazans who were on the point of starvation. The conflict would end in time to prevent a catastrophic Israeli attack on Rafah, where over half of Gazas 2.3 million residents are trapped behind the fence that borders Egypt on the southern side of the territory. In certain instances, Israeli forces would retreat, allowing Gazans to revert to their abandoned houses.

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However, the proposal doesnt seem to go far enough in satisfying Hamass primary demand for an end to the war, and it doesnt address what would happen to over half of the more than 100 hostages who are still held captive, including Israeli men who arent protected by agreements to release women, children, the elderly, or those who are injured.

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Egyptian negotiators have proposed that those concerns be put on hold for the time being with promises to address them later. According to a Hamas source cited by news agency Reuters, the terrorists continued to hope for a package deal.

On Sunday morning, ladies sobbed and mourned next to rows of the Abu Anza familys dead at a morgue outside a Rafah hospital. Overnight, an airstrike murdered 14 members of the family at their home. In a ripped sweatshirt and pink unicorn pajamas, a dead student was found with her face kissed by relatives who had unzipped a black plastic corpse bag.

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Later, the bodies were brought to a graveyard and buried, including two infant twins, a boy and a girl, passed down in white bundles and placed in the ground.

My heart is gone, wailed their mother, Rania Abu Anza, who also lost her husband in the attack. I havent had enough time with them.

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Gaza authorities said at least eight people were killed on Sunday when a truck carrying food aid from a Kuwaiti charity was hit by an air strike. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

The war was unleashed in October after Hamas fighters stormed through Israeli towns killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, with thousands more dead feared unrecovered under rubble.

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Swathes of the Gaza Strip have been laid to waste, nearly the entire population has been made homeless, and the United Nations estimates a quarter of Gazans are on the verge of famine.

Residents described heavy bombardment overnight of Khan Younis, the main southern Gaza city, just to the north of Rafah. Further north, where aid no longer reaches, Gaza health authorities said 15 children had now died of malnutrition or dehydration inside the Kamal Adwan hospital where there was no power for the intensive care unit. Staff fear for the lives of six more children there.

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Washington dropped 38,000 meals from military aircraft into Gaza on Saturday, though aid agencies say this was only enough to have a marginal impact given the scale of the need.

The final days leading up to the anticipated truce have been exceptionally bloody, with talks overshadowed last week by the deaths of 118 people and wounding of hundreds more near a food convoy.

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Israel said on Sunday its initial review of the incident had found that most of those killed or wounded had died in a stampede. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops at the scene initially fired only warning shots, though they later shot at some looters who approached our forces and posed an immediate threat.

Muatasem Salah, a member of the Emergency Committee at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, told Reuters the Israeli account was contradicted by machine gun wounds.

The wounded and martyrs are the result of being shot with heavy-calibre bullets, he said. Any attempt to claim that people were martyred due to overcrowding or being run over is incorrect.

(With agency inputs)
According to most opinion polls, Netanyahus popularity has plummeted since the war began. Many Israelis hold him accountable for the Hamas cross-border raid, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping and transfer of about 250 people, including women, children, and elderly people, into Gaza

Netanyahu recently unveiled a plan that would give Israel unrestricted security control over the region while local Palestinians would handle civilian matters Image Courtesy AP

About five months into Israels conflict with Hamas, a top Israeli Cabinet minister left for Washington on Sunday to meet with American officials, prompting a scolding from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, an Israeli official said. This move was indicative of growing divisions inside Israels wartime government.

Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who sided with Netanyahus hard-line government early in the conflict after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, is currently traveling. Netanyahu and President Joe Biden are deeply at odds over how to lessen Palestinian suffering in Gaza and develop a post-war vision for the enclave.

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A representative of the Israeli administration stated that Israel did not send a delegation to the ongoing negotiations in Egypt to mediate a cease-fire in Gaza because of Netanyahu.

International peacemakers aim to negotiate a settlement by approximately March 10, when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan starts.

The deaths of scores of Palestinians last week who were trying to rush an Israeli-organized convoy to get food spurred the United States to airdrop aid into Gaza on Saturday. The airdrops get around an assistance delivery system that has been impeded by conflict inside the small enclave, logistical problems in Gaza, and Israeli limitations. Aid workers claim that aid delivered by trucks is significantly more effective than aid dropped by air.

The ultranationalists in Netanyahus hard-line Cabinet have made U.S. aims in the region more difficult. There are moments when Netanyahus far-right friends are countered by Gantzs more moderate party.

A Likud party official close to Netanyahu claimed that Gantz didnt have permission to visit.

The official said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz about the trip and told him the country has just one prime minister.

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According to an Israeli official, Gantz coordinated messages with Netanyahu after telling him about his plan to visit the United States. According to the official, the purpose of the visit is to fortify relations with Washington, increase backing for Israels ground assault, and advocate for the release of Israeli hostages detained in Gaza.

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According to his National Unity party, Gantz is scheduled to meet with national security adviser Jake Sullivan and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the dispute with the media.

According to most opinion polls, Netanyahus popularity has plummeted since the war began. Many Israelis hold him accountable for the Hamas cross-border raid, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and the kidnapping and transfer of about 250 people, including women, children, and elderly people, into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

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According to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between terrorists and civilians, at least 30,410 Palestinians have died as a result of the subsequent fighting, with women and children making up around two-thirds of the casualties. Approximately 80% of the 2.3 million people living there have left their homes, and hundreds of thousands are reportedly in danger of starvation according to U.N. organizations.

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Netanyahu disputes the accusation that political factors have influenced his decision-making. Particularly targeted for criticism are the plans for Gaza after the war. Netanyahu recently unveiled a plan that would give Israel unrestricted security control over the region while local Palestinians would handle civilian matters.

The United States envisions a reorganized Palestinian government overseeing Gaza with an eye toward future statehood, and it wants to see progress toward the establishment of a Palestinian state.

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Hardliners in Netanyahus government disagree with that vision. Another senior Cabinet member from Gantzs party has expressed doubts about how the war is being managed and the plan for releasing the captives.

An impending deadline for a new bill to expand the number of ultra-Orthodox Jews who can enroll in the military has also unsettled Netanyahus administration, which is the most orthodox and religious in Israel history. Many of these Jews are exempt from having to undertake religious studies. Since October 7, hundreds of Israeli soldiers have died, and the armed forces are trying to bolster their numbers.

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Polls indicate that Gantz would garner enough support to win the prime ministership if todays elections were held, but he hasnt made clear what position he has on Palestinian statehood.

If the hostage situation improves after the visit, Gantzs backing may grow even more. According to a senior U.S. official on Saturday, Israel has virtually approved the general structure of a planned cease-fire and hostage-release agreement for Gaza; Hamas must now accept it. He briefed reporters under ground rules established by the White House, under which he talked on condition of anonymity.

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Israelis have mostly supported the war effort as a self-defense measure, despite growing international opposition to the battle, having been severely traumatized by Hamas onslaught.

However, more and more people are voicing their disappointment with Netanyahu. According to Israeli media, about 10,000 people demonstrated late on Saturday to demand early elections. In recent weeks, these protests have increased.

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Reuven Hazan, a political science professor at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, predicted that wider protests by the public, which was already dissatisfied with the government before Hamas struck, would break out if the political divisions deepen and Gantz leaves the cabinet.

There is a lot of anger, he said, listing grievances that were building well before Oct. 7. The moment you have that anger and a coalition that is disconnected from the people, there will be fireworks.

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As fighting continued in Gaza, over thirty peopleincluding women and childrenwere killed by Israeli strikes late on Saturday, according to local health sources.

Dr. Marwan al-Hams, the director of the hospital where the remains were transferred, stated that at least 14 people were murdered in an attack on a house in the southernmost city of Rafah, which is bordered by Egypt. He claimed that the deceased belonged to the same family and included six children and four women. 9 more people, according to relatives, were buried beneath the debris.

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Additionally, 17 people were killed by Israeli airstrikes that struck two houses in the populated Jabaliya refugee camp in northern Gaza, according to the Civil Defense.
At a remembrance day held on Sunday at a shopping center close to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, some 500 families and their supporters convened; many of them were obviously distraught

On March 8, 2014, Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 carrying 239 passengers, mysteriously vanished as it traveled from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing Image Courtesy Agencies

Families of passengers on a Malaysia Airlines flight that went missing almost ten years ago advocated for a fresh search on Sunday, sharing stories of their ongoing sorrow and difficulty in coming to terms with what happened.

On March 8, 2014, Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 carrying 239 passengers, mysteriously vanished as it traveled from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

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The plane has never been located, despite the greatest search in aviation history.

At a remembrance day held on Sunday at a shopping center close to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, some 500 families and their supporters convened; many of them were obviously distraught.

Nearly two-thirds of the passengers on the fateful jet were from China, where some of them originated.

The last 10 years have been a nonstop emotional rollercoaster for me, Grace Nathan, a 36-year-old Malaysian lawyer whose mother, Anne Daisy, 56, was on the flight, told AFP.

Speaking to the crowd, she called on the Malaysian government to conduct a new search.

MH370 is not history, she said.

Liu Shuang Fong, 67, from Chinas Hebei province lost her 28-year-old son Li Yan Lin, who was also a passenger on the plane.

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I demand justice for my son. Where is the plane? said Liu, who flew to Malaysia for the event.

The search must go on, she added.

Very little evidence of the aircraft was recovered throughout the nearly three-year search, which covered 120,000 square kilometers (46,000 square miles) in the Indian Ocean. A few bits of debris were found.

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In January 2017, the Australian-led operation came to an end.

In 2018, a US exploration company began a private search for MH370, however it was called off after several months of fruitless searching of the ocean floor.
In February 2022, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine under the pretext of a special military operation to denazify its neighbour

The Russian foreign ministry stated on Sunday that Moscows involvement was essential for any discussions on a settlement involving Ukraine, as stated by Chinas special envoy for Eurasian issues, Li Hui, and Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin.

During Galuzins second journey to Europe, which will also include stops in Poland, Ukraine, and Germany, the Chinese envoy discussed a political solution to the Ukrainian problem.

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A very engaged and thorough exchange of views took place on the topic of the Ukrainian crisis, the Russian foreign ministry said in the statement posted on its website.

It was stated that any discussion of a political and diplomatic settlement is impossible without the participation of Russia and taking into account its interests in the security sphere.

In a readout after the conference, Chinas foreign ministry stated that the country is prepared to continue its efforts to promote peace talks, mediate and build consensus among Russia, Ukraine and other relevant parties, and promote a final political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

In February 2022, Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine under the pretext of a special military operation to denazify its neighbour.

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Two years into the war, which is still killing people almost every day, Kiev and its Western backers refer to it as an unjustified territorial grab.
Thousands of local candidates find themselves in a similar quandary ahead of the June 2 elections, which will occur in all 32 jurisdictions, with more than 20,000 positions up for grabs, making it Mexicos largest election, according to the National Electoral Institute

Police guard the City Hall in Maravatio, Michoacan state, Mexico. Two mayoral hopefuls in this city were gunned down the previous day within hours of each other. AP

As Mexico prepares for the largest elections in its history, organised crime is once again targeting local politicians in areas where cartels rule, sparking worries among experts that these might be Mexicos deadliest elections yet.

In the southern state of Guerrero, Julian Lopez, the coordinator of the Citizen Movement party, witnessed it firsthand on February 7, when he and two coworkers were kidnapped by gunmen brandishing rifles while driving. After being battered and robbed of his belongings, 43-year-old Lopez was forced to kneel next to a distant landfill before being left alone in the middle of the night.

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Not so lucky were two mayoral candidates in the nearby state of Michoacan, located in the municipality of Maravatio. Gunmen killed them within hours of each other on Monday. One was from President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors Morena party, while the other came from the conservative National Action Party. A third mayoral candidate from that town was kidnapped and killed in November.

On February 10, a guy running for Congress for the Morena party in the huge Mexico City neighbourhood of Ecatepec was tragically murdered in the street with his brother. He apparently faced threats from a local union.

A month before, on Jan. 5, the local head of the Institutional Revolutionary Party and candidate for mayor of Suchiate, Chiapas, was assassinated. The same day, in the northwestern state of Colima, a mayoral candidate of the Citizen Movement party in Armeria was shot by gunmen while in his vehicle.

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Lopez, the candidate in Guerrero, has refused to travel in armored vehicles with armed security since his abduction.

How will it look to see a leader moving around the state of Guerrero with armed officials and in armored cars? he asked. I dont think thats the way to get closer to the people or promote citizen participation.

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Thousands of local candidates find themselves in a similar quandary ahead of the June 2 elections, which will occur in all 32 jurisdictions, with more than 20,000 positions up for grabs, making it Mexicos largest election, according to the National Electoral Institute.

While federal authorities offer security details to national candidates, those running for local offices  the ones that drug cartels really want to control  are completely exposed and acutely aware of the optics of running from within a security bubble.

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The group Data Civica had tallied 30 attacks on political hopefuls and party officials from September  when most started pre-campaign activities  through Feb. 10. Its spokesperson, Itxaro Arteta, said they were worried after recording eight attacks on pre-candidates in January, more than double what they had seen before in that month since 2018.

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Political scientist Manuel Perez Aguirre coordinates the College of Mexicos Violence and Peace Seminars research into electoral violence. Their investigation around the killings of 32 local candidates in the 2021 elections found that the lethal electoral violence is predominantly local, because 85% of the victims were running for municipal posts.

Local power is extremely important to organized crime, Perez Aguirre said. Thats why they look to establish control at the municipal level.

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Those local candidates have become more vulnerable under the security regime of the current president. Lopez Obrador created the quasi-military National Guard, disbanded the federal police and what remains of local police forces can put up little resistance to heavily armed cartels.

Local power has really been abandoned and municipal police havent really been strengthened, Perez Aguirre said.

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Lopez Obrador was dismissive of the concerns of growing electoral violence earlier this week following the killings in Maravatio. The same tendency of declining crimes is going to continue, above all homicides, he said.

He said the federal government would protect candidates for president, governor and Congress, and he asked state and local governments to provide security for those running for local posts.

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Guillermo Valencia, president of the Institutional Revolutionary Party in Michoacan said Saturday, Four candidates have already resigned on me and Im struggling to find candidates in other (races), he said. The partys candidate for Congress in the port of Lazaro Cardenas already asked for protection, he said.

In Maravatio where the three potential candidates from other parties were already killed, Valencia said hes trying to pact with two other opposition parties to present a common candidate.

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In Michoacan and Mexico democracy is threatened, he said.

Political risk firm Integralia Consultores published a report in February noting that some parts of the country faced higher risk of organized crime interfering in elections because of an accumulation of illegal markets, conflict among armed groups and weak rule of law.

Cartels have diversified beyond the drug trade. They extort protection payments from all sizes of businesses and even local government. They exert their will not only through political assassinations but also by financing the campaigns of candidates who will allow them to operate or even putting up their own candidates, according to Integralias report.

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Marko Cortes, national president of the National Action Party, demanded more federal security for those participating in the elections as he condemned the killing of his partys candidate in Maravatio this week.

It cant be that theyre killing candidates from different parties, he said. No one is protecting them, there are no risk maps, there are no protocols or security mechanisms and the indifference of those governing now continues.

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Because of the violence, at least two candidates from his party have dropped out of the June election race. He declined to say where out of concern for their safety.

But Lopez, who survived his abduction, refused to back down.

We absolutely cannot surrender, we cant give up, he said. Those of us who believe things can get better have to continue working.
Shehbaz raked up the Kashmir issue during his speech and tried to equate it with the dispute between Israel and Palestine

Shehbaz emphasized the difficulty of repaying debt, stating that the nation will have to pay interest totaling billions of rupees Image Courtesy AP

In his inaugural speech on Sunday, Pakistans newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif brought up the Kashmir dispute, but he also promised to strengthen relations with other major countries, even those that border the troubled SOuth Asian nation.

Shehbaz declared that Pakistan would not play the great game and that his government would make more allies.

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He promised to strengthen relations with all powerful countries, especially those that are neighbors.

We will keep ties with neighbours on the basis of equality, Shehbaz said as he easily won the election in the National Assembly to become Pakistans prime minister for a second time.

Shehbaz, however, raked up the Kashmir issue and tried to equate it with the dispute between Israel and Palestine.

Lets all come together and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians, he added.

In addition, he expressed gratitude to his coalition partners for recognizing his abilities and appointing him as House Leader.

When my Quaid (leader Nawaz) was elected the prime minister thrice, the development that followed in the country is an example of its own. And it is not wrong to say that Nawaz Sharif is the one who built Pakistan, Shehbaz said in his victory speech.

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The president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed gratitude to his older brother Nawaz and all of his supporters for believing in him and designating him as Leader of the House.

In the 336-member parliament, Shehbaz, the joint candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the PML-N, received 201 votes.

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92 votes were cast in favor of Shehbazs opponent, Omar Ayub Khan of the imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Shehbaz stated that the nations weak economy was the main cause of its problems. He stated that the nation was dealing with a fiscal deficit exceeding one trillion rupees at the beginning of his term.

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How we will pay the salaries for armed forces and how to pay the civil servants, he wondered and added that reforming the economy was the biggest challenge faced by the country.

Shehbaz emphasized the difficulty of repaying debt, stating that the nation will have to pay interest totaling billions of rupees.

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He emphasized that the nations mounting debt to the corporations that generate power was the reason behind the collapse of the energy sector. He also said that billions of rupees were being lost by state-owned companies like Pakistan International Airlines.

He declared he would overcome all obstacles and pledged to set the nation on the path of growth.

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Though it is easier said than done, we will fulfill our task, he said.

The government, according to Shehbaz, is committed to rescuing the nation from its current predicament.

I dont want to set any deadline but due to various steps we will take, the positive results will start pouring in after a year, he said.

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He pledged to increase investment in the nation and establish favorable economic circumstances that would promote economic expansion. In addition, he promised to work nonstop to fulfill all of these commitments and to expand the network of one window export zones throughout all four provinces.

As the new prime minister, he promised to transform Pakistan into a self-sufficient country.

Advertisement

We will rise and we will make Pakistan self-sufficient, said Shehbaz.

There are talented people sitting in this Parliament who can steer Pakistans ship to the shore these include journalists, intellectuals, politicians, religious leaders, he added.

Pakistan had a great potential and task ahead of it, according to Shehbaz.

If we come together and decide to change the fate of Pakistan then God willing, we will defeat these challenges and take Pakistan to its rightful position, he said.

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He emphasized that while this work was challenging, it was not impossible.

Back to the good old days of development! Onwards and upwards. Nawaz Ka vision, Shehbaz Ka mission, the PML-N said in a post on X along with a picture of both the leaders.

The other name of deliverance is MUHAMMAD SHEHBAZ SHARIF, it said in another post.

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The new parliament met in the midst of protests and sloganeering by legislators supported by the PTI.

Shehbaz also noted in his speech that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the PPPs founder and Bilawal Bhutto Zardaris maternal grandfather, would always be remembered for the sacrifices he made.

He further said that the National Action Plan, which has already been adopted to combat extremism in the nation, would be followed in order to eradicate terrorism from the nation.

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When Imran Khans followers resorted to violent protest on May 9 of last year in opposition to his arrest in a case of alleged corruption, Shehbaz also accused his adversaries, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, for damaging government buildings and national institutions.

It is shameful that the country saw a day when GHQ, corps commander houses, airfields were attacked on May 9, Shehbaz said, adding that such sights are unforgettable.

He claimed that the PTI used language that was not appropriate to say aloud and put the entire opposition in jail without giving a damn about ladies or children.

This is the difference between this leadership and that leadership; the entire assembly is witness to the fact that we never thought of the politics of revenge, he said.

Shehbaz declared that all innocent persons implicated in different crimes would be spared, but he also stated that those accountable for the May 9 tragedy would not be spared.

During the prime ministers speech, opposition PTI legislators could not stop yelling slogans. Undeterred by the raucous behavior, the prime minister persisted and spoke for a considerable amount of time. In order to have their concerns about rigging addressed, he urged the opponents to file a complaint with the national institutions.

Shehbaz questioned Imran Khans letter to the IMF as well, claiming it amounted to an invitation for foreign meddling in domestic matters. He extended an offer of peace to the opposition and asked them to work with him to resolve the economic problems as well.

On Monday, the oath of office will be given to him at the Presidential house, Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Previously, from April 2022 to August 2023, Shehbaz led a coalition administration as prime minister, until Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.
Moscow, Mar 3 (UNI) Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin has held a meeting with Chinese Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui, during which the parties exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.

"Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Galuzin received in Moscow the special representative of the government of the Peoples Republic of China for Eurasian Affairs, the head of the Chinese delegation to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Li Hui. An interesting and detailed exchange of views took place on the topic of the Ukraine crisis," the ministry said in a statement.

The diplomats noted that "the ultimatums put forward by Kiev and the West to Russia and the associated dialogue formats only harm the prospects for a settlement and cannot serve as its basis," the statement added.

"It has been stated that any discussion of a political and diplomatic settlement is impossible without the participation of Russia and taking into account its interests in the security sphere," the ministry said. UNI/SPUTNIK AKS
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is in Canada to represent Italy as president of the Group of Seven nations in 2024, following a visit to Washington on Friday

Police stand guard outside an event where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was supposed to meet with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but it was cancelled due to protestors outside, at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Reuters

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni cancelled a combined visit to Torontos Art Gallery of Ontario on Saturday due to security concerns, according to a Canadian spokesman.

Outside the gallery, two groups of demonstrators had gathered: one opposing Trudeaus administration and one in support of the Palestinian cause. There were also a lot of cops.

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Jenna Ghassabeh, a representative for Trudeaus office, said the event was cancelled due to security concerns but forwarded queries to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which had no immediate comment.

Meloni is in Canada to represent Italy as president of the Group of Seven nations in 2024, following a visit to Washington on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Canada and Italy agreed to enhance cooperation in various areas, including energy security and the shift to a sustainable energy future, over the next three to five years, according to a statement.
Shehbaz stated that the nations weak economy was the main cause of its problems. He stated that the nation was dealing with a fiscal deficit exceeding one trillion rupees at the beginning of his term

Shehbaz declared that Pakistan would not play the "great game" and that his government would make more allies Image Courtesy AFP

In his inaugural speech on Sunday, Pakistans newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif brought up the Kashmir dispute, but he also promised to strengthen relations with other major countries, even those that border his homeland.

Shehbaz declared that Pakistan would not play the great game and that his government would make more allies.

Advertisement

He promised to strengthen relations with all powerful countries, especially those that are neighbors.

We will keep ties with neighbours on the basis of equality, Shehbaz said as he easily won the election in the National Assembly to become Pakistans prime minister for a second time.

Shehbaz, however, raked up the Kashmir issue and tried to equate it with the dispute between Israel and Palestine.

Lets all come together and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians, he added.

In addition, he expressed gratitude to his coalition partners for recognizing his abilities and appointing him as House Leader.

When my Quaid (leader Nawaz) was elected the prime minister thrice, the development that followed in the country is an example of its own. And it is not wrong to say that Nawaz Sharif is the one who built Pakistan, Shehbaz said in his victory speech.

Advertisement

The president of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) expressed gratitude to his older brother Nawaz and all of his supporters for believing in him and designating him as Leader of the House.

In the 336-member parliament, Shehbaz, the joint candidate of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the PML-N, received 201 votes.

Advertisement

92 votes were cast in favor of Shehbazs opponent, Omar Ayub Khan of the imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

Shehbaz stated that the nations weak economy was the main cause of its problems. He stated that the nation was dealing with a fiscal deficit exceeding one trillion rupees at the beginning of his term.

Advertisement

How we will pay the salaries for armed forces and how to pay the civil servants, he wondered and added that reforming the economy was the biggest challenge faced by the country.

Shehbaz emphasized the difficulty of repaying debt, stating that the nation will have to pay interest totaling billions of rupees.

Advertisement

He emphasized that the nations mounting debt to the corporations that generate power was the reason behind the collapse of the energy sector. He also said that billions of rupees were being lost by state-owned companies like Pakistan International Airlines.

He declared he would overcome all obstacles and pledged to set the nation on the path of growth.

Advertisement

Though it is easier said than done, we will fulfill our task, he said.

The government, according to Shehbaz, is committed to rescuing the nation from its current predicament.

I dont want to set any deadline but due to various steps we will take, the positive results will start pouring in after a year, he said.

Advertisement

He pledged to increase investment in the nation and establish favorable economic circumstances that would promote economic expansion. In addition, he promised to work nonstop to fulfill all of these commitments and to expand the network of one window export zones throughout all four provinces.

As the new prime minister, he promised to transform Pakistan into a self-sufficient country.

Advertisement

We will rise and we will make Pakistan self-sufficient, said Shehbaz.

There are talented people sitting in this Parliament who can steer Pakistans ship to the shore these include journalists, intellectuals, politicians, religious leaders, he added.

Pakistan had a great potential and task ahead of it, according to Shehbaz.

If we come together and decide to change the fate of Pakistan then God willing, we will defeat these challenges and take Pakistan to its rightful position, he said.

Advertisement

He emphasized that while this work was challenging, it was not impossible.

Back to the good old days of development! Onwards and upwards. Nawaz Ka vision, Shehbaz Ka mission, the PML-N said in a post on X along with a picture of both the leaders.

The other name of deliverance is MUHAMMAD SHEHBAZ SHARIF, it said in another post.

Advertisement

The new parliament met in the midst of protests and sloganeering by legislators supported by the PTI.

Shehbaz also noted in his speech that Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the PPPs founder and Bilawal Bhutto Zardaris maternal grandfather, would always be remembered for the sacrifices he made.

He further said that the National Action Plan, which has already been adopted to combat extremism in the nation, would be followed in order to eradicate terrorism from the nation.

Advertisement

When Imran Khans followers resorted to violent protest on May 9 of last year in opposition to his arrest in a case of alleged corruption, Shehbaz also accused his adversaries, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf, for damaging government buildings and national institutions.

It is shameful that the country saw a day when GHQ, corps commander houses, airfields were attacked on May 9, Shehbaz said, adding that such sights are unforgettable.

He claimed that the PTI used language that was not appropriate to say aloud and put the entire opposition in jail without giving a damn about ladies or children.

This is the difference between this leadership and that leadership; the entire assembly is witness to the fact that we never thought of the politics of revenge, he said.

Shehbaz declared that all innocent persons implicated in different crimes would be spared, but he also stated that those accountable for the May 9 tragedy would not be spared.

During the prime ministers speech, opposition PTI legislators could not stop yelling slogans. Undeterred by the raucous behavior, the prime minister persisted and spoke for a considerable amount of time. In order to have their concerns about rigging addressed, he urged the opponents to file a complaint with the national institutions.

Shehbaz questioned Imran Khans letter to the IMF as well, claiming it amounted to an invitation for foreign meddling in domestic matters. He extended an offer of peace to the opposition and asked them to work with him to resolve the economic problems as well.

On Monday, the oath of office will be given to him at the Presidential house, Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Previously, from April 2022 to August 2023, Shehbaz led a coalition administration as prime minister, until Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.
Shehbaz has already filed his nomination as the joint candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Omar Ayub Khan, a competitor from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has also submitted his paperwork

Senior PML-N leader Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to take over as Pakistans 33rd prime minister on Sunday, once more heading a coalition government in the face of severe economic and security difficulties as well as poll-rigging accusations. Shehbaz has already filed his nomination as the joint candidate of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

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Omar Ayub Khan, a competitor from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), has also submitted his paperwork.

Shehbaz, 72, the president of the PML-N, is the younger brother of Nawaz Sharif, 74, the former prime minister.

The National Assembly Secretariat announced that the National Assembly would hold voting on Sunday to choose the next prime minister.

The presidential house, Aiwan-e-Sadr, will host the oath of office administration for the chosen candidate on Monday.

Shehbazs quick turnaround on large-scale development projects during his tenure as Punjab provinces chief minister has earned him a reputation as an adept administrator. But when he was promoted to become prime minister in 2022 and held the position for 16 months, he did not demonstrate such attributes.

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He has to deal with the frightening obstacles of a faltering economy and the growing threat of terrorism. The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, led by imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan, which has been protesting the purported election manipulation, would also have to deal with the street strength of his administration.

In the February 8 polls, the Sharifs-led party failed to garner a clear majority, albeit technically, it is the largest party with 75 out of 265 seats. In a surprise move, the elder Sharif stepped back in favour of Shehbaz to allow him to lead the coalition as he is believed to have the knack of taking along diverse groups in the polarised country.

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The PPP and four smaller parties have joined the coalition with the PPP supporting the government from outside in return for PML-N support for the election of its senior leader and former president Asif Ali Zardari as the president once again.

Shehbaz Sharifs election as the prime minister is almost certain since the PML-N and PPPs candidates for the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly were elected on Friday with a comfortable majority. Shehbaz served as prime minister of a coalition government from April 2022 to August 2023 before Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.

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Quoting highly placed sources, The News International newspaper reported that President Arif Alvi, known for his closeness to Imran Khan, has consented to administer the oath to the new prime minister.

Interestingly, President Alvi had declined - on the pretext of health problems - to administer the oath to Shehbaz Sharif in April 2022 when he became the prime minister unopposed after the ouster of the Imran Khan government through a no-confidence vote.

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The term for Alvi, a PTI nominee, already expired last year but, as per Constitutional provisions, he will need to hold the post until the election of the new president, which is set to be held on March 9.
The event occurred as the government said that it will begin taking steps Monday to suspend the physicians licences of over 9,000 medical interns and residents for refusing to cease their walkouts, which have affected hospital operations

Thousands of senior physicians marched in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday to show their support for younger doctors who have been on strike for over two weeks over the governments intention to dramatically boost medical school admissions.

The event occurred as the government said that it will begin taking steps Monday to suspend the physicians licences of over 9,000 medical interns and residents for refusing to cease their walkouts, which have affected hospital operations.

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The governments absurd medical policy has triggered immense resistance by trainee doctors and medical students, and we doctors have become one, Park Sung-min, a senior member of the Korea Medical Association, said in a speech at the rally. Im asking the government: Please, stop the threats and suppression now.

Protesters waved signs, sung, and chanted slogans against the governments proposal. There were no reports of any violent incidents.

The Health Ministry reports that as of Thursday night, 8,945 of the 13,000 medical interns and residents in the nation have been verified to have left their workplaces. The government had threatened to prosecute them and suspend their licences for at least three months if they didnt come back by February 29.

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Only a small portion of the 140,000 doctors in South Korea are striking. However, in some large hospitals, they make up 3040% of the total number of physicians, and although they are in training, they help senior doctors during operations and other procedures. The hospitals have had to cancel a great deal of operations and medical procedures as a result of their walkouts.

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Senior doctors have staged a series of rallies backing the young doctors but havent joined the walkouts. If they also launch strikes, observers say that would be a major blow to South Koreas medical service. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday urged senior doctors to persuade the striking junior doctors to return to work.

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Police said they were investigating five ranking Korea Medical Association officials accused of inciting and abetting the junior doctors walkouts. Seoul police chief Cho Ji-ho told reporters Sunday that police had raided KMA offices as part of the investigation.

The government wants to increase South Koreas medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 starting next year, from the current 3,058, to better deal with the countrys rapidly aging population. Officials say South Koreas doctor-to-population ratio is one of the lowest among developed countries.

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But many doctors have vehemently protested the plan, saying medical schools cant handle such a sharp increase in the number of students. They say the recruitment plan also does not address a chronic shortage of doctors in essential but low-paying specialties like pediatrics and emergency departments. Doctors say adding too many new doctors would also increase public medical expenses since greater competition would lead to excess treatments.

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Without concrete plans on how to educate the newly added students, the quality of medical education will plunge endlessly, resulting in a unsafe, low-quality medical service and eventually a collapse of the medical service of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jeong-geun, acting leader of the Korea Medical Association, said at the rally.

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The protests by doctors havent won public support, with a survey showing a majority of South Koreans support the government plan. Some critics say doctors  one of the best-paid professions in South Korea  simply worry about receiving a lower income due to the rising number of doctors.
Following a previous round of negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha and signals from US President Joe Biden that a deal was near, hopes for the first ceasefire since November surged last week

People rush towards an aid truck carrying bags of flour in Al Zaytun neighbourhood, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Gaza City. Reuters

According to people with knowledge of the discussions, mediators were planning to meet again in Cairo as early as Sunday to find a solution that would satisfy both Israel and Hamas for a long-term truce in Gaza. This came after other nations began using airdrops to help bereaved citizens in the Palestinian enclave.

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Two Egyptian security sources reported that representatives from Israel and Hamas were scheduled to arrive in Cairo on Sunday. However, a source briefed on the negotiations stated that Israel would not send a delegation unless it had a complete list of the captives who are still alive.

Following a previous round of negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt in Doha and signals from US President Joe Biden that a deal was near, hopes for the first ceasefire since November surged last week.

A senior US official said on Saturday that the framework for a six-week pause in fighting was in place, with Israels agreement, and now depended on Hamas agreeing to release hostages it has held in Gaza since its attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7.

The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And theres a deal on the table. Theres a framework deal. The Israelis have more or less accepted it, the official told reporters. The onus right now is on Hamas.

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Biden has said he hopes a ceasefire will be in place by the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on March 10.

Biden and other world leaders are under growing pressure to ease the increasingly desperate plight of Palestinians after five months of war and Israeli blockade of Gaza. The United Nations says a quarter of the population - 576,000 people - is one step from famine.

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Gaza health authorities said Israeli forces killed 118 people trying to reach a relief convoy near Gaza City on Thursday, prompting global outrage over the humanitarian catastrophe. A day later Biden announced plans for the US airdrop on Saturday, which also involved Jordanian forces.

Other countries including Jordan and France had already conducted airdrops of aid into Gaza.

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Humanitarian catastrophe

The US has for months been calling for Israel to allow more aid into Gaza, something Israel has resisted. Some experts said being forced to resort to costly, inefficient airdrops was the latest demonstration of Washingtons limited influence over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government.

Israel denies restricting humanitarian aid for Gaza civilians.

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The US military aircraft released 38,000 meals over Gaza, falling far short of the assistance needed by the territorys 2.2 million people. US authorities said it was the first of what would be a sustained effort.

Israel disputes the health ministrys death toll in the food convoy catastrophe and said most victims were trampled or run over.

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Israel launched the offensive in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, whose militants poured over the border from Gaza, killing 1,200 people and abducting another 253, according to Israeli tallies.

The assault has devastated Gaza. Much of the Hamas-run enclave has been laid to waste and more than 30,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands more injured, according to Gaza health authorities.

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Fighting raged in the early hours of Sunday, as residents reported the sound of heavy shelling and tanks advancing around Khan Younis, a city in the southern Gaza Strip.

Around Rafah, another southern city where more than 1 million Palestinian have been seeking refuge on the border with Egypt, authorities said 25 people were killed on Saturday and into Sunday morning. They included 11 who died when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent near a hospital and another 14 in one family, who died when a strike hit a house.

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Hamas has not backed away from its position that a temporary truce must be the start of a process towards ending the war altogether, the Egyptian sources and a Hamas official said.

However, the Egyptian sources said assurances had been offered to Hamas that the terms of a permanent ceasefire would be worked out in second and third phases of the deal. The duration of the initial pause of about six weeks had been agreed upon, the sources said.

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Hamas and Israel did not respond to requests for comment.
Trump has a lengthy history of attempting to deflect criticism from his opponents in an effort to lessen their influence. Citing Trumps attempts to revoke the 2020 election results, Biden has portrayed the former president as a danger to democracy. His supporters attempts to block the orderly transfer of power culminated in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021

While campaigning ahead of Super Tuesdays primaries, former President Donald Trump on Saturday increased the venomousness of his attacks on immigrants and falsely said that President Joe Biden was leading a conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America.

Trump has a lengthy history of attempting to deflect criticism from his opponents in an effort to lessen their influence. Citing Trumps attempts to revoke the 2020 election results, Biden has portrayed the former president as a danger to democracy. His supporters attempts to block the orderly transfer of power culminated in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

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In response, Biden has been dubbed the real threat to democracy by Trump, who has also claimed without evidence that Biden is to blame for the indictments he is facing. On Saturday, Trump attacked Bidens border policies, claiming that every day Joe Biden is giving aid and comfort to foreign enemies of the United States.

Bidens conduct on our border is by any definition a conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America, he went on to say in Greensboro, North Carolina. Biden and his accomplices want to collapse the American system, nullify the will of the actual American voters and establish a new base of power that gives them control for generations.

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Similar arguments have long been made by people who allege Democrats are promoting illegal immigration to weaken the power of white voters  part of a racist conspiracy, once confined to the far right, claiming there is an intentional push by the US liberal establishment to systematically diminish the influence of white people.

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Trump leaned into the theory again at his rally later in Virginia, saying of the migrants: Theyre trying to sign them up to get them to vote in the next election.

Once again Trump is projecting in an attempt to distract the American people from the fact he killed the fairest and toughest border security bill in decades because he believed it would help his campaign. Sad, Biden campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said in a statement.

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Trumps campaign stops came three days before Super Tuesday, with elections in 16 states, including North Carolina and Virginia, where thousands of enthusiastic supporters gathered for an evening rally in downtown Richmond. The primaries will be the largest day of voting of the year ahead of Novembers general election, which is shaping up as a likely rematch of 2020 between Trump and Biden.

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Nikki Haley, Trumps last major rival, also campaigned in North Carolina. Speaking to reporters after her event in Raleigh, about 80 miles away, the former U.N. ambassador demurred on her plans after Super Tuesday.

Were going to keep going and were going to keep pushing, she said, arguing a majority of Americans dont want either Biden or Trump as the nations leader.

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Much of Trumps speech in North Carolina focused on the slew of criminal charges he faces. While the former president has successfully harnessed his legal woes into a powerful rallying cry in the primaries, it is unclear how his message of grievance will resonate with the more moderate voters who will likely decide the general election.

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I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president, but as a proud political dissident and a public enemy of a rogue regime, Trump said, railing against what he called an anti-Democratic machine.

At both rallies, Trump played a recording of Justice for All, the version of the Star-Spangled Banner that he collaborated on with a group of defendants jailed over their alleged roles in the January 2021 insurrection, whom he refers to as hostages.

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As he focuses on the general election, Trump has painted an apocalyptic vision of the country under Biden, particularly on the topic of immigration, which was the animating issue of his 2016 campaign and which he has once again seized on as the US has experienced a record influx of migrants at the border.

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Trump and Biden both visited the US-Mexico border on Thursday to highlight their contrasting approaches to the issue.

On Saturday, Trump conjured images of Biden turning public schools into migrant camps and the USA into a crime-ridden, disease-ridden dumping ground, which is what theyre doing. He also spoke at length about the murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student whose alleged killer is a Venezuelan man who entered the US illegally and was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case.

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Studies have found native-born US residents are more likely to have been arrested for violent crimes than people in the country illegally, but Trump has seized on several high-profile incidents, including a recent video of a group of migrants brawling with police in Times Square.

Not one more innocent American life should be lost to migrant crime, Trump said.

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Trump, who repeatedly attacks Bidens intelligence and mental acuity, has been sensitive to questions of his own sharpness after hes mixed up Haley with Nancy Pelosi and Biden with former President Barack Obama at past rallies.

Trump has lately sought to inoculate any questions by insisting he interchanges the names intentionally.

I do that because you know that makes a point. Do we understand that, right? Because a lot of people say hes running the country. I dont personally think so, Trump said early into his appearance in Virginia.

But more than an hour in to his free-flowing remarks, he seemed to mix up Obama and Biden again, when he said Putin, you know, has so little respect for Obama that hes starting to throw around the nuclear word.

Beyond their importance on Super Tuesday, North Carolina and Virginia are both states the Trump campaign is focused on for November.

Trump won North Carolina twice but watched his margin of victory shrink. Bidens reelection campaign already has staff on the ground hoping to flip the state for the first time since 2008.

Virginia, meanwhile, had once been a swing state but for years has trended blue and Trump lost there twice. But a Trump campaign senior adviser told reporters Saturday that he believes we could make Virginia competitive.

In North Carolina, a festive atmosphere surrounded the Greensboro Coliseum Complex ahead of Trumps rally. Supporters stood in a line that snaked through a web of metal barricades and extended hundreds of yards from the arena. License plates from North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee filled the parking lot, where Trump flags flew alongside US and Confederate flags on many vehicles.

We just love Trump, said, Mary Welborn, who lives in nearby Thomasville and expressed that she was frustrated by the criminal prosecutions and civil judgments against the former president. The way hes being treated is insane. No other president has been treated this way, she said.

In Richmond, supporters started lining up Saturday morning for an evening rally at a downtown convention center. The entry lines stretched several blocks by mid-afternoon.

Ken Ballos, a retired police officer from nearby Hanover County who said he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, said he was eager at the prospect of a Trump-Biden rematch.

Trump would eat him up, Ballos said.
At 8:30 a.m. EST (3:30 p.m. local), three Air Forces Central aircraft dropped 66 packages, or over 38,000 meals, into Gaza. The packages were left on a beach along Gazas Mediterranean shore in the southwest of the region

In this screen grab taken from video and released by the Israeli army on Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, Palestinians surround aid trucks in northern Gaza in what officials described the day before as the first major delivery in a month. IDF via AP

President Joe Biden authorised an emergency humanitarian assistance programme after over 100 Palestinians who had rushed to remove goods from an aid convoy were killed in a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops. On Saturday, US military C-130 cargo planes dropped food in pallets over Gaza.

At 8:30 a.m. EST (3:30 p.m. local), three Air Forces Central aircraft dropped 66 packages, or over 38,000 meals, into Gaza. The packages were left on a beach along Gazas Mediterranean shore in the southwest of the region. The Royal Jordanian Air Force, which stated it carried out two food airdrops on Saturday in northern Gaza and has carried out other rounds in recent months, was consulted in the planning of the airdrop.

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The amount of aid flowing to Gaza is not nearly enough and we will continue to pull out every stop we can to get more aid in, President Joe Biden said Saturday in a post on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter.

Together with Jordan, the United States airdropped the first package of aid into Gaza today.



The amount of aid flowing to Gaza is not nearly enough and we will continue to pull out every stop we can to get more aid in. https://t.co/K4GHVwpcNL  President Biden (@POTUS) March 2, 2024

US Central Command said on X that the combined operation included US Air Force and RJAF C-130 aircraft and respective Army Soldiers specialized in aerial delivery of supplies, built bundles and ensured the safe drop of food aid.

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United States Central Command and Royal Jordanian Air Force Conduct Combined Airdrops of Humanitarian Aid Into Gaza



U.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Gaza on March 2, 2024, between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. pic.twitter.com/yiJoQTWeZW  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2024

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The US airdrop is expected to be the first of many.

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According to three officials from the Biden administration, the military Meals Ready to Eat (MREs) were dropped from the planes in areas that were deemed to offer the highest degree of safety for civilians to receive relief. MREs are shelf-stable meals that include a days worth of calories in each sealed box. The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to offer further facts not yet released, said that after that the US kept an eye on the locations and saw people approach and share meals among themselves.

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As the beleaguered Palestinians rushed for help on Thursday, the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said that at least 115 Palestinians had died and hundreds more had been injured in an attack. On Friday, Biden declared that the US will start airdropping food to the famished people in Gaza.

Hundreds of people had rushed about 30 trucks bringing a predawn delivery of aid to the north. Palestinians said nearby Israeli troops shot into the crowds. Israel said they fired warning shots toward the crowd and insisted many of the dead were trampled.

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White House national security spokesperson John Kirby said Friday that the airdrops were being planned to deliver emergency humanitarian assistance in a safe way to people on the ground. The United States believes the airdrops will help address the dire situation in Gaza, but they are no replacement for trucks, which can transport far more aid more effectively, though Thursdays events also showed the risks with ground transport.

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Kirby said the airdrops have an advantage over trucks because planes can move aid to a particular location very quickly. But in terms of volume, the airdrops will be a supplement to, not a replacement for moving things in by ground.

The C-130 is widely used to deliver aid to remote places because of its ability to land in austere environments.

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A C-130 can airlift as much as 42,000 pounds of cargo and its crews know how to rig the cargo, which sometimes can include even vehicles, onto massive pallets that can be safely dropped out of the back of the aircraft.

Air Force loadmasters secure the bundles onto pallets with netting that is rigged for release in the back of a C-130, and then crews release it with a parachute when the aircraft reaches the intended delivery zone.

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The Air Forces C-130 has been used in years past to air drop humanitarian into Afghanistan, Iraq, Haiti and other locations and the airframe is used in an annual multi-national Operation Christmas Drop that air drops pallets of toys, supplies, nonperishable food and fishing supplies to remote locations in the Federated States of Micronesia and the Republic of Palau.

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Since the war began on Oct. 7, Israel has barred entry of food, water, medicine and other supplies, except for a trickle of aid entering the south from Egypt at the Rafah crossing and Israels Kerem Shalom crossing.

The United Nations says one-quarter of Gazas 2.3 million people face starvation. Aid officials have said that airdrops are not an efficient means of distributing aid and are a measure of last resort.
The UK-owned vessel Rubymar was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Yemeni Houthi terrorists on February 18, and the U.S. military reported on Saturday that the ship had sunk

The UK-owned vessel Rubymar was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Yemeni Houthi terrorists on February 18, and the U.S. military reported on Saturday that the ship had sunk Image Courtesy Reuters

The Houthis of Yemen pledged on Sunday to keep attacking British ships in the Gulf of Aden in the wake of the UK-owned ship Rubymars sinking.

The UK-owned vessel Rubymar was hit by an anti-ship ballistic missile fired by Yemeni Houthi terrorists on February 18, and the U.S. military reported on Saturday that the ship had sunk.

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Yemen will continue to sink more British ships, and any repercussions or other damages will be added to Britains bill, Hussein al-Ezzi, deputy foreign minister in the Houthi-led government, said in a post on X.

It is a rogue state that attacks Yemen and partners with America in sponsoring ongoing crimes against civilians in Gaza.
Following a midnight drone strike on the southern port city of Odesa, eight people were confirmed deceased, including a child and an infant, according to a regional official

At least 11 people were killed on Saturday by a barrage of Russian missile, drone, and artillery attacks. As a result, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the West to quickly provide additional air-defence systems.

Following a midnight drone strike on the southern port city of Odesa, eight people were confirmed deceased, including a child and an infant, according to a regional official.

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Three more persons were killed by separate shelling assaults on the frontline areas of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south, and Kharkiv in the northeast, according to Ukrainian officials.

Russia continues to hit civilians, Zelenskyy said in a post on social media.

We need more air defences from our partners. We need to strengthen the Ukrainian air shield to add more protection for our people from Russian terror. More air-defence systems and more missiles for air-defence systems save lives.

Ukraine is currently on the back foot in the two-year war as a crucial $60 billion aid package is held up in the United States Congress.

In Odesa, a nine-storey building was destroyed as a result of an attack by Russian terrorists, Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said in a Telegram post Saturday.

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Around 10 people were still unaccounted for, with almost 100 rescuers set to continue a search and rescue operation overnight.

Footage from the scene showed several floors of a residential building collapsed and its facade ripped off.

Ukraines air force said falling debris from Russian drones it had shot down fell onto residential buildings in both Odesa and Kharkiv.

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Difficult situation

The attacks came as Russia sought to press its advantage on the battlefield.

Kyiv has acknowledged that it is heavily outgunned and outnumbered, facing ammunition shortages and aid delays.

Half of all promised Western ammunition arrives late, the defence minister has said.

Russian forces have advanced westwards following last months capture of the key eastern town of Avdiivka, seizing several small villages in recent days.

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Visiting frontline military posts on Saturday, Ukraines new Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky said the situation at the front remains difficult, but controlled.

Kyiv appeared to have launched its own overnight drone attack, with the Russian defence ministry claiming early on Sunday to have shot down 38 drones over the occupied territory of Crimea.

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An apparent Ukrainian drone also damaged a residential building a day earlier in Saint Petersburg, Russias second-largest city.

Videos on Russian social media showed what appeared to be a drone spiralling downwards into the building, triggering an explosion that blew out windows and caused small fires.

The citys National Guard division said its preliminary assumption was that the damage was caused by a falling drone.

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Ukrainian media reported that the drone was shot down by Russias air defences while targeting an oil depot around a kilometre from the crash site.

Kyiv has hit several Russian oil facilities in recent months in what it has called fair retribution for Moscows attacks on Ukraines power grid.

Russias Investigative Committee said separately that four of its officials had been wounded when a Ukrainian drone dropped explosives over the Bryansk border region.

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Russia also expressed outrage at a leak of confidential German army talks in which officers allegedly discussed missile strikes on the annexed Crimean peninsula.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday promised a full investigation after the head of Russias state-run RT outlet posted the alleged leaked recording on social media.

A spokeswoman for the German defence ministry confirmed on Saturday that a secret air force conversation had been tapped, but that they could not say for certain whether any changes had been made to the conversation in the leaked audio file.

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Russias foreign ministry demanded a prompt explanation from Berlin, while Moscows top diplomat Sergei Lavrov said it showed Ukraines European backers were intent on inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia on the battlefield.
Israel has broadly accepted a ceasefire deal with Hamas, a senior US official said Saturday, as the first American airdrops of humanitarian aid were carried out over war-ravaged Gaza.

The framework agreement envisages a six-week cessation of hostilities, which could begin immediately if the Palestinian militant group signs off on the release of the most vulnerable hostages it holds, the official told reporters on a call.

"The Israelis have more or less accepted it," the administration official said. "Right now, the ball is in the camp of Hamas."

The announcement came hours after US military cargo planes began airdropping humanitarian aid into the besieged Gaza Strip.

The United Nations has warned of famine in Gaza, and more than 100 people were left dead earlier this week in a frenzied scramble for food from a truck convoy delivering aid, with Israeli forces opening fire on the crowd.

Saturday's drop, which included 38,000 meals, was conducted "to provide essential relief to civilians affected by the ongoing conflict," the US Central Command said.

A CENTCOM official told AFP that the meals were made up of US military rations that did not contain pork, the consumption of which is prohibited by Islam.

- Negotiators working around the clock -

Negotiators from regional powers have been working around the clock to secure a Gaza truce by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in about one week.

"It will be a six-week ceasefire in Gaza starting today if Hamas agrees to release the defined category of vulnerable hostages... the sick, the wounded, elderly and women," the administration official said.

Hamas militants took about 250 hostages during their unprecedented cross-border attack on Israel on October 7, 130 of whom remain in Gaza, including 31 whom Israel says are presumed dead. It was unclear how many of the remaining hostages are deemed vulnerable.

The United States hopes any truce would create space for a more enduring peace. A Hamas delegation was expected to fly to Cairo on Saturday for talks on a truce, a source close to the group told AFP.

The administration official said a ceasefire would also allow a "significant surge" in humanitarian aid to Gaza, with airdrops not seen as a replacement for full-scale relief convoys.

"None of these -- maritime corridors, airdrops -- are an alternative to the fundamental need to move assistance through as many land crossings as possible. That's the most efficient way to get aid in at scale," a second US official told reporters.

The UN Security Council issued a statement Saturday voicing "grave concern" over the acute food insecurity in Gaza and urging the unfettered delivery of humanitarian aid "at scale."

- Ground route still key -

Hundreds of protesters rallied in Washington on Saturday, shouting slogans like "Free free Palestine" outside the Israeli embassy before marching with a giant Palestinian flag to the Israeli ambassador's residence.

Some held signs paying tribute to the US airman who died after self-immolating outside the Israeli embassy last weekend, shouting "Free Palestine" as he lit himself on fire, according to footage shared on social media.

The brutal October 7 attack by Hamas on southern Israel resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people, according to official figures.

Israel responded with a relentless assault on Hamas-controlled Gaza that has taken a devastating toll on civilians trapped there, killing more than 30,000 people, according to the territory's health ministry.

The amount of aid brought into Gaza by truck has plummeted during nearly five months of war, and Gazans are facing dire shortages of food, water and medicines.

Some foreign militaries have airdropped supplies to Gaza, sending long lines of aid pallets floating down into the war-torn territory on parachutes.

Jordan has been conducting many of the operations with the support of countries including Britain, France and the Netherlands, while Egypt sent several military planes on an air drop Thursday together with the United Arab Emirates.

Biden has pushed Israel to reduce civilian casualties and allow aid in, while at the same time he has maintained military assistance for the key US ally.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby described the airdrops as a "tough military operation" that required careful planning by the Pentagon for the safety of both Gazan civilians and US military personnel.

wd-dk/md/bbk/acb/mdl
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.
Ann received her bachelor's degree in English writing from Taylor University in Indiana. Ann and her husband have two children and a rascal called Wimbledon, a miniature schnauzer named for their love of tennis. Ann currently writes feature stories and entertainment content for The Daily Sentinel's news, Lifestyle and Off the Clock sections.
For the second time in as many years, the Colorado Court of Appeals rejected an appeal Thursday from a Grand Junction woman sentenced in 2017 to 48 years in prison for the repeated beating, torture and murder of a 3-year-old girl.

In her first appeal, Rebekah Wallin, tried to claim ineffective counsel when she accepted a plea deal with prosecutors, one that called for her to explicitly waive her right to have her sentence reconsidered. She now claims it was disproportionate to her crime.

In her second appeal, both of which she filed without an attorney, Wallin tried to claim the same thing, but the court rejected it as coming far too late and being successive, a legal term for being nearly identical to a previous claim that had already been ruled upon.

In a case that presiding District Judge Brian Flynn said at the time was shocking to a reasonable persons consciousness, Wallin and a co-defendant, Shanna Lorane Gossett, repeatedly abused and badly beat Gossetts niece, Bethannie Johnson, in the hours or possibly days before paramedics found her unresponsive on March 17, 2016.

At the time, prosecutors said the niece, whose custody had been awarded to Gossett, suffered horrendous abuse at the hands of both women in her final days of life.

The fact is, they needlessly beat, abused and tortured and deprived of care a little child they were responsible for, then Assistant District Attorney Rich Tuttle told Flynn when requesting the maximum prison sentence.

Both women were charged with first-degree murder, but entered into plea agreements to a lesser charge of second-degree murder and dismissing charges of child abuse resulting in death. Each were given identical 48-year sentences. Without that plea deal, the two could have been sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. At the time, Colorado still had the death penalty.

Absent certain exceptions that Wallin didnt raise, a court must deny a claim that was raised and resolved or could have been presented in a prior appeal or postconviction proceeding, Judge Stephanie Dunn wrote in the newest ruling, which was joined by Judges Neeti Pawar and Grant Sullivan.

Because all the claims raised in the 2023 motion were, or could have been, raised in the first (appeal), the postconviction court was required to deny the 2023 motion, Dunn added. Though not presented in the 2023 motion, Wallin now argues that her sentence was disporportionate. Although a proportionality claim may be raised for the first time on appeal  its still subject to Rule 35s successiveness and timeliness bars.

Wallin, 39, currently is serving her prison sentence in the Denver Womens Correctional Facility. Her first parole hearing is September 2049.

Gossett, 37, is serving her time in the La Vista Correctional Facility. Her first parole hearing is in June 2049.
Since Rio de Janeiro declared a public health emergency after an outbreak of dengue fever last month, the city has ramped up testing capacities, opened up a dozen of dengue health centers and trained medical staff to attend the ever-growing needs of its population
FILE - Migrants walk along the highway through Arriaga, Chiapas state in southern Mexico, Monday, Jan. 8, 2024, during their journey north toward the U.S. border. In Senegal's capital, Nicaragua is a hot ticket among travel agents serving people who want to live in the United States. Many migrants take various flights to eventually arrive there legally and then journey illegally by land to the U.S. border with Mexico. The sudden draw of the United States seems driven in large part by social media posts by those who reached their destinations successfully and travel agents who know visa rules.
Saturday Night

Partly cloudy skies early will give way to occasional showers later during the night. Low 42F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 40%.
Russo-Ukraine War - 02 March 2024 - Day 737

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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 a week on from the loss of a second A-SOU MAINSTAY Airborne early warning and control aircraft, Russia has highly likely grounded the fleet from flying in support of Ukraine operations. This is likely to continue whilst internal investigations take place surrounding the failure to protect another high value enabler, and how to mitigate the threat Ukrainian air defence continues to pose.

The loss of this capability providing daily command and control to Russian air operations highly likely significantly degrades the situational awareness provided to air crews. This is a capability gap Russia can ill afford over the contested airspace of eastern and southern Ukraine.

It is likely that Russia will have to explore options to bridge this gap, including repurposing aircraft and accepting greater risk to provide the effective air support its ground forces require, but are likely not receiving. This is a prolonged issue that has almost certainly been exacerbated by the removal of A-50s supporting operations. Airframe and crew fatigue are almost certain to intensify once the A-50 does return to operations, with the fleet increasingly stretched. It is a realistic possibility Russia may attempt to bring previously mothballed A-50 airframes back into service to alleviate this.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that during the day of March 2, there were 70x combat engagements.

Russian forces launched a total of 1x missile and 48x air strikes, carried out 60x MLRS attacks at the positions of Ukrainian troops and various settlements. Unfortunately, Russian attacks resulted in killed and wounded civilians. Residential private and apartment buildings, as well as other infrastructure were destroyed and damaged.

Volyn and Polissya axes: no significant changes. No signs of formation of an offensive group. Certain units of the armed forces of Belarus continue their missions in the areas bordering Ukraine.

Sivershchyna and Slobozhanshchyna axes: Russia maintains its military presence in the areas of russia bordering Ukraine. Russia continues its sabotage and reconnaissance activities, shelling Ukrainian settlements from the territory of Russia and increases the density of minefields along the state border of Ukraine. Russian forces launched an air strike in the vicinity of Svesa (Sumy oblast). More than 30x settlements came under Russian artillery and mortar fire, including Klyusy (Chernihiv oblast), Bachivs'k, Velyka Berizka, Pokrovka, Basivka, Pavlivka (Sumy oblast), Mala Vovcha, Basove, Vovchans'k, Starytsya, Udy (Kharkiv oblast).

Kup'yans'k axis: Russian forces conducted 4x attacks on positions of Ukrainian troops in the vicinity of Tabaivka (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinity of Berestove (Kharkiv oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 15x settlements, including Dvorichna, Berestove, Pishchane (Kharkiv oblast).

Lyman axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 7x assaults near Terny, Yampolivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian adversary, with air support, made attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Nevs'ke, Bilohorivka (Luhansk oblast), Terny, Yampolivka, Tors'ke, Rozdolivka (Donetsk oblast).

Bakhmut axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces repelled 11x attacks in the vicinities of Bohdanivka, Ivanivske, Klishchiivka and Andriivka (Donetsk oblast), where the Russian occupiers made attempts to improve their tactical situation. Russian forces launched an air strike near Pivnichne (Donetsk oblast). More than 10x settlements came under artillery and mortar fire, including Chasiv Yar, Andriivka, Vasyukivka (Donetsk oblast).

Avdiivka axis: the Ukrainian defenders repelled 14x attacks in the vicinities of Berdychi, Orlivka, Tonen'ke, Nevel's'ke (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces launched an air strike near New York (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at around 15x settlements, including Kostyantynivka, Novobakhmutivka, Krasnohorivka, Orlivka, Pervomais'ke (Donetsk oblast).

Novopavlivka axis: the Ukrainian Defense Forces continue to hold back Russian forces in the vicinities of Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Novomykhailivka, Pobjeda (Donetsk oblast). In that area, Russian forces made 22x attempts to breach Ukrainian defense. The adversary launched air strikes near Heorhiivka, Vodyane, Urozhaine and Bohoyavlenka (Donetsk oblast). Russian forces fired artillery and mortars at more than 20x settlements, including Krasnohorivka, Heorhiivka, Paraskoviivka, Kostyantynivka, Vuhledar, Blahodatne (Donetsk oblast).

Orikhiv axis: Russian forces conducted 1x unsuccessful attack in the vicinity of Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Russian forces launched air strikes in the vicinities of Staromaiors'ke (Donetsk oblast), Verbove, Mala Tokmachka and Robotyne (Zaporizhzhia oblast). Around 20x settlements, including Hulyaipole, Malynivka, Mala Tokmachka, Rivnopil', P'yatykhatky (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. Russian forces conducted 1x assault attempt near Krynky (Kherson oblast), to no success. More than 25x settlements, including Kachkarivka, L'vove, Kherson, Stanislav, Tomyna Balka, Inzhenerne and Kozats'ke (Kherson oblast), came under Russian artillery and mortar fire.

During the day of March 2, the Ukrainian Air Force launched air strikes on 8x concentrations of Russian troops. The UAF Air Force has shot down 1x Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber this evening.

The Ukrainian missile troops hit 1x artillery system of the Russian invaders.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that in Kupyansk direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36212) the Zapad Group of Force' units improved the situation on the front line, and hit AFU 57th mechanised inafantry, and 95th air assault brigades near Sinkovka (Kharkov region) and Terni (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 55 Ukrainian troops, one tank, two armoured fighting vehicles, and two motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of counter-battery warfare, one Akatsiya self-propelled artilery system, one Msta-B howitzer, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, one D-20 howitzer, and one AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar were wiped out.

In Donetsk direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36213) units of the Yug Group of Forcs captured more favourable lines and positions, and strike at units of AFU 28th mechanised, 46th, and 81st airmobile, 5th, and 92nd assault brigades close to Krasnogorovka, Georgiyevka, Kleshcheyevka, Andreyevka, and Kurdyumovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 390 Ukrainian troops, two tanks, two armoured fighting vehicles, and nine motor vehicles were neutralised.

In the course of the counter-battery warfare, one UK-made AS-90 self propelled artillery system, one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery sytem, three Gvozdika self-propelled artillery systems, three D-20 howitzers, one U.S.-made M119 towed gun, one Strela-10 SAM system, one U.S-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery warfare radar, and one EW station were destroyed.

Moreover, one AFU ammunition depot was wipied out in Avdeyevka direction.

In Aveyevka direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36214) the Tsentr Group of Forces' units continue to capture more favourable positions, and hit clusters of manpower and hardware of the AFU 107th Territorial Defence Brigade close to Tonenkoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

Eight counter-attaks launched by assault groups of AFU 24th mechanised, 3rd assault, and 25th air assault brigades were repelled near Petrovskoye, Leninskoye, and Orlovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Up to 160 Ukrainian troops, five armoured fighting vehicles, including one U.S.-made Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, and one Msta-B howitzer were eliminated.

In South Donetsk direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36215) units of the Vostok Group of Forces hit units of AFU 72nd mechanised, 58th mechanised infantry brigades, and 121st territorial defence brigades close to Novodonetskoye, Ugledar, and Staromayorskoye (Donetsk People's Republic).

The enemy losses in this direction amounted to up to 270 Ukrainian servicemen, two tanks, two infantry fighting vehicles, three armoured fighting vehicles, seven motor vehicles, one U.S.-made Paladin self-propelled artillery system, and one Msta-B howitzer.

In Kherson direction, (https://t.me/mod_russia/36216) units of the Dnepr Group of Forces hit clusters of manpower and hardware of AFU 118th mechanised infantry, 35th marines, 126th territorial defence brigades near Ivanovka (Kherson region), Rabotino and Malaya Tokmachka (Zaporozhye region).

The enemy lost up to 60 Ukrainian troops, three motor vehicles, and one ammunition depot.

Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces have engaged AFU manpower and hardware in 112 areas during the day.

Air defence units intercepted five Storm Shadow cruise missiles and seven HIMARS MLRS projectiles.

Moreover, 107 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down close to Yasinovataye, Pavlovka (Donetsk People's Republic), Zmiyevka, Troitskoye, Novokrasnyanka, Golikovo (Lugansk People's Republic), Novoprokopovka, Kopani, Shevchenkovo, Sladkaya Balka (Zaporozhye region), Kolodeznoye (Kharkov region), and Chernomorovka (Kherson region).

In total, 575 airplanes and 267 helicopters, 13,969 unmanned aerial vehicles, 476 air defence missile systems, 15,323 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,227 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 8,259 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 19,257 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.





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Davenport, Iowa, March 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A pair of longtime platelet donors have reached significant donor milestones with ImpactLife, highlighting the importance of consistent donation patterns to meeting patient needs. Pete Bischoff, of Robins, Iowa, made his 1000th donation and Jim Parker, of East Moline, Illinois, hit 800 donations, both in February.

The two are part of a small group who have donated more than 100 gallons (800 donations or more) in the ImpactLife service region. The nonprofit blood provider based in Davenport, Iowa, has approximately 6000 active platelet donors who have made at least one donation in the last two years.

Jim Parker gave blood for the first time while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1960s. He continued as a whole blood donor after returning from Vietnam, and recalls being asked to give platelet donation a try. His first donation was successful, and he soon joined a group of frequent platelet donors. Parker says he appreciates the feeling of community that has developed over years of giving on a routine basis. You really get to know the staff and your fellow donors, said Parker. Ive now had platelets drawn by two generations of phlebotomists.

Pete Bischoff, of Robins, Iowa, gave blood for the first time during his military career as well, when the Army offered a brief period of leave for soldiers who gave blood. I sure didnt mind having the leave, said Bischoff, but I would have gladly done it for free. Bischoff has maintained good health and eligibility to donate consistently for many years, reaching his 1000th donation earlier this year and placing him atop the list of ImpactLifes list of most frequent donors.

Platelet donation process

During a platelet donation (known as plateletpheresis), an automated collection unit is placed next to the donation chair. The donors blood is drawn into the collection unit where a centrifuge spins to separate blood components. Once separated, a port opens inside the machine to remove platelets and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor. The entire process, including pre-donation screening and post-donation refreshments, can last approximately 70 minutes to two hours.

To help grow its base of platelet donors, ImpactLife is offering a $50 electronic gift card for those who donate platelets for the first or second time with ImpactLife. For information on eligibility for platelet donation, see www.bloodcenter.org/platelets.

How platelets are used in patient care

Platelets are the component of blood that helps stop bleeding. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets help stop or prevent bleeding by moving within the circulatory system to the damaged area. After collecting in the damaged area, platelets extend fibers, changing their shape to form a clot and stop bleeding.

Some people can develop a condition called thrombocytopenia, or a low platelet count, due to cancer or other underlying causes. Patients with thrombocytopenia might bruise easily, experience internal bleeding, or be unable to stop bleeding because their body doesnt produce enough platelets. Platelets are frequently given to patients with thrombocytopenia, and with patients in treatment for cancer, for open heart surgery, organ and bone marrow transplants, and with victims of trauma.

Jim Parker has those recipients in mind when he comes to the Donor Center every two weeks. Every time you donate, you either save a life or you extend someones life, said Parker. What could be better than that?

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Sacked Steiner lands a second new F1 job

Gunther Steiner has added another new Formula 1 job to his ledger for 2024.

Gunther Steiner, United States GP 2023

 Haas F1 Team / LAT

Sacked as Haas' team boss over the winter, the popular and charismatic 58-year-old accepted an alternative job in the paddock as an expert pundit for German broadcaster RTL.

That is despite having had a difficult relationship with German media, especially the pay-channel Sky, since heavily criticising and then ousting Mick Schumacher from Haas.

People have to understand the situation I was in, Steiner told Sky Deutschland in Bahrain. These are things that can be explained better when you're no longer involved, when you can talk openly. But I never had a problem with Mick personally.

He explained that he simply had to act, in light of Schumacher's performance struggles.

Those were the circumstances, where we were as a team, the performance, and what happened. But I have no fear of talking to anyone, Steiner insisted.

As for Steiner's next new job? It's a similar role to his new work with RTL - an expert pundit for the French Formula 1 broadcaster Canal Plus, joining fellow pundit and former Haas driver Romain Grosjean.

(GMM)
Guam on Sunday welcomed 1,201 passengers and crew of MS Asuka II, the fourth cruise ship to visit the island since the start of 2024.

MS Asuka IIs visit brings to 10,157 the total cruise ship passengers and crew to visit Guam so far this year, and at least eight more visits are expected before 2024 ends.

Waves, smiles and shell leis greeted the nearly 700 passengers after the 791-ft. ship docked at 7:11 a.m. Sunday, courtesy of the Guam Visitors Bureau, in coordination with the Port Authority of Guam and other entities.

The ship is scheduled to depart Guam at 10 p.m., and the Port said this gives passengers time to explore Guams beauty and hospitality for the day.

The increase in cruise ships visiting our island this year is a boost to Guams tourism industry and highlights Guam as a premiere luxury cruise destination, Port Authority of Guam General Manager Rory J. Respicio said in a statement on Sunday. The Port said the MS Asuka has 694 passengers and 507 crew members.

This comes just a week after Guam saw the Feb. 25 arrival of the MS Artania with 1,542 cruise ship passengers from France and Germany, along with crew, as part of a five-month-long around-the-world tour.

Before that, Guam hosted the MS Zuiderdam with 1,920 passengers and crew on Feb. 18, and the MSC Bellisima with 5,494 passengers and crew on Jan. 3.

Other potential cruise ship visits to Guam include 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 again on Oct. 8, the Carnival on Oct. 22, and the MS Asuka II again on Dec. 30.

Cruise ship visits, along with military exercises, add to Guams arrivals and overall economic activity, at a time when tourism remains at less than half of what it used to be prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
A commercial mariner in urgent need of medical care was safely evacuated from his vessel 100 nautical miles offshore to Guam on Saturday, thanks to the actions of the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy's Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron 25, HSC-25, according to a press release from the Coast Guard.

"Our collective efforts today, closely following another recent rescue, underscore our enduring commitment to mariner safety. The partnership between the U.S. Coast Guard, HSC-25, and local agencies like Guam Fire Rescue is pivotal in ensuring the well-being of those at sea," according to Cmdr. Ryan Crose, the case's search and rescue mission coordinator at U.S. Coast Guard Forces Micronesia/Sector Guam.

Crose said search and rescue is a priority mission, covering an expansive Search and Rescue Region of 1.9 million square miles.

"The only way to effectively cover such a vast area is through robust partnerships," he added.

Responders initiated the operation after a 26-year-old Filipino mariner aboard the 850-foot Liberian-flagged container ship Carmell 1, initially located 400 nautical miles northwest of Guam, exhibited severe abdominal issues.

The Coast Guard's Joint Rescue Sub-Center in Guam was alerted on the afternoon of March 1 while the ship was en route to Vietnam.

HSC-25 mobilized to assist following a recommendation for medical evacuation from the Coast Guard's duty flight surgeon in Alameda, California, and concurrence from HSC-25's flight surgeon in Guam.

An MH-60S Knighthawk helicopter crew from HSC-25 reached the Carmell 1 on the morning of March 2. The mariner was then airlifted from the ship in 17 mph winds and 10-foot seas and delivered to the capable hands of emergency medical responders from Guam Fire Rescue at Naval Hospital Guam.

They further transported him to Guam Memorial Hospital, where he was in stable condition.

"The frequency of these medical evacuations and search and rescue missions reiterates the unique capability and readiness of HSC-25. We are the sole maritime hoist-capable emergency aviation resource in this area, and our team's proficiency and commitment were once again proven today. It's our honor to serve the people of Guam and ensure the safety of mariners in these waters," said Cmdr. Neil Toohey, commanding officer of HSC-25.

The successful medical evacuation follows closely after a similar rescue operation on Feb. 9, where responders ensured a 37-year-old Filipino mariner aboard the 1,202-foot German-flagged container ship Antwerpen Express safely reached a higher level of medical care after exhibiting symptoms indicative of a stroke.
The Indo-Pacific region stands on the cusp of a new missile age: Inventories of short- to intermediate-range surface-to-surface missile systems are quickly growing and could heighten the risks of escalation, according to geopolitics expert Ankit Panda, who will be speaking at a University of Guam conference at 5:30 p.m. on March 7 in the CLASS Lecture Hall.

While military planners and policymakers may view missile defense capabilities as essential to preserving peace and maintaining deterrence, this proliferation could intensify already complex security dilemmas, particularly related to North Korea and the Taiwan Strait, he writes.

Panda, a Stanton senior fellow in the Nuclear Policy Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, will discuss the drivers behind these trends and identify possible measures to address the most salient risks in his keynote speech at the 45th College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Annual Research Conference at UOG, according to a press release from UOG.

The conference theme is Pacific Futures: The Stories We Tell.

Panda will join fellow panelists Robert Underwood, Guams former delegate to the U.S. Congress and 10th president of UOG; Kenneth G. Kuper, associate professor of political science, CHamoru studies, and Micronesia studies at UOG; and Leland Bettis, board director, Pacific Center for Island Security.

In this era of geopolitical tensions, centered around the competition between the United States and China, focal points are not just in foreign affairs and defense centers in Washington, D.C., and Beijing, said Kuper. As historian Greg Fry reminds us, the claims of empires are often best tested in their remotest outpost.

With 27% of the islands land mass currently occupied by the U.S. military, Guam disproportionately bears the weight of U.S. attempts to guarantee security.

Panda is the author of Kim Jong Un and the Bomb: Survival and Deterrence in North Korea and editor-at-large at the Diplomat, where he hosts the Asia Geopolitics podcast, and a contributing editor at War on the Rocks.

View the conference keynote speech and panel discussion on the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Facebook page, facebook.com/uogclass/.
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A new electronic health record system that has so far cost the Guam Memorial Hospital Authority $5 million will have to be replaced, again, and a replacement could be anywhere from $20 million to $60 million, officials said.

It turns out, the new record system is not fit for a facility like GMH, hospital officials told senators during last weeks oversight hearing on the agencys finances.

The system use was already delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. GMH got the system in October 2022.

Weve discovered that he really wasnt built for an acute care hospital landscape. It was more for...behavioral health. And so the clinicians, the doctors, and the nurses are still struggling with it, GMH Administrator Lillian Perez-Posadas told senators.

With no funds identified to pay for a replacement, the hospital will have to continue to use the new system in the meantime, she said.

A new request for proposals will be issued so that vendors for a replacement system can be found, Perez-Posadas noted.

Now, the hospital will need to come up with the funds to pay for a five-year subscription to a new health record system, according to GMH Assistant Administrator of Operations William Kando.

Its unclear what that cost will be, he said, but it could be anywhere from $20 million to $60 million.

Management could not comment further on what impact the CareVue system would have on operations and billing at the hospital, as they were currently preparing an RFP so that a new system could be bought, GMH spokesperson Cindy Hanson told the Pacific Daily News.

Officials during an oversight hearing in January did say that the Medsphere system has issues interfacing with the patient accounting software at the hospital, and late payments have had to be monitored manually.

GMH has paid $5 million since 2020 for the current records system, according to Hanson.

It is a subscription-based service, meaning the hospital will need to continue paying for it until a replacement can be found.

GMH moved to the Medsphere system after it learned in 2019 that its old record system would be sunset by provider Cantata Health, which dropped technical support for the old system, according to Pacific Daily News files.

Blame for the hospitals failure of site visits from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services were placed in part on the Cantata system, which was put in place in 2016.

CMS threatened to strip the hospitals Medicare eligibility because it failed to put in a system to track and prevent medical errorsand management pointed to the old system from Cantata, which was said to be inadequate to send quality improvement reports that CMS required.

Perez-Posadas told senators that the new CareVue system was recommended by Cantata, as the vendor for the new product, Medsphere, was a Cantata affiliate.

Because the two companies were affiliated, GMH never had to go out to bid on a new system, she said, and the old contract was transferred through a novation process.
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Dave Lotz is a vocal advocate for protecting Guams unique heritage, a knowledgeable and long-time hiking enthusiast and environmental advocate, and critic of inept government. He has been a resident of Guam since 1970 and retired from the Guam Department of Parks and Recreation, Andersen Air Force Base Environmental Flight and the National Park Service.




Haiti - Diaspora : Investment opportunities with Haitian SMEs





Thursday, January 29, 2024 in Miami (Florida), the Haiti INVEST platform of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), in partnership with the "Reach" project of USAID-Haiti, and the Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham Haiti), kicked off the 3-day Conference "Connect, Partner and Invest for Economic Recovery and Development" to discuss investment opportunities with Haitian small and medium business owners .



Established by the National Alliance for the Advancement of Haitian Professionals (NAAHP), this conference highlighted investment opportunities in high-growth Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) that operate in key sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, and financial inclusion.



"Private sector engagement continues to generate promising opportunities to rebuild and strengthen the Haitian economy despite persistent insecurity. We are excited to showcase some of these viable investment opportunities available in Haiti," said Jennifer Link, USAID Haiti Mission Director.



"We cannot rebuild Haiti alone, but together, forming a convergent ecosystem, we can achieve real impacts," said Suze Francois of the NAAHP. One of the key elements of this event is to involve members of the Diaspora who are actively seeking to invest in their home country adding "Our Diaspora actors are committed to supporting Haiti through philanthropy and entrepreneurship social. This conference is the ideal setting to connect stakeholders with like-minded investors and high-potential companies."



"We are proud of Haiti INVEST's contribution to creating a network of experienced transaction advisors, attentive to the complex needs of Haitian businesses, particularly emerging SMEs," said Ms. Ericka Rosenthal, Executive Director of AmCham Haiti.



HL/ HaitiLibre






















Haiti - News : Zapping...





Escaped gang leaders returning to their stronghold

At the beginning of the evening, in Delmas, Fleuriot, Tabarre, in the lower part of the city, bursts of weapons were reported and videos on social networks showed the triumphant return to their strongholds of certain gang leaders who had just escaped of the national penitentiary https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-41793-haiti-flash-the-national-penitentiary-stormed-many-prisoners-escape-chaos-in-the-capital-video.html



Ministry of Communication, ransacked and lootet

Saturday March 2nd, 2024, armed individuals invaded, ransacked and looted the premises of the Ministry of Communication located in Bois-Verna.



"Corventina" back on the lawn

Melchie Dumornay aka "Corventina" injured in the ankle on November 10, 2023 in D1 Akerma, who underwent surgery, received the green light from the doctors and will be able to return to the lawn. To mark her return, she will face Dijon this Sunday March 3 under the tunic of her club Olympique Lyonnais (OL).



French Embassy Alert

The French Embassy informs French nationals living in the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince "Saturday evening, bandits stormed the National Penitentiary of Port-au-Prince and allowed the escape of a certain number of detainees. Pending clarification of the situation, the French Embassy invites you not to travel throughout the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince. In the event of an emergency, the Embassy can be reached 24 hours a day at +509 31 90 41 11. Stay safe."



Cholera : WHO alongside Haiti

On the sidelines of the 6th session of the United Nations Environment Assembly, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO) met with Acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry in Nairobi, Kenya. The two men discussed the health challenges posed by insecurity and violence in Haiti. WHO reiterated its support for the response to Cholera and other health needs in Haiti. "I assured him of WHOs continued support to respond to the cholera epidemic and to meet the other health needs of the Haitian population, in particular those internally displaced [...]". A cholera epidemic in which the ministry, which advocates transparency, has failed to inform the population of the extent of the epidemic for 1 month now...



The SDP calls for an international force in Haiti

Friday March 1st, 2024, the radical opposition of the Democratic and Popular Sector (SDP) sends its most sincere sympathies to all the victims of the acts of violence and barbarism perpetrated and claimed the day before by well-known gang leaders. The SDP is thinking especially of the families of the police officers murdered at the time of the criminal attack against the Bon Repos Sub-Police Station. These criminal acts once again reflect the urgency and necessity of the deployment of the International Force in Haiti. The SDP's position is unambiguous : We cannot confront the Gangs without an international force.  Nap tann fos la. 



HL/ HaitiLibre


















Queen Camilla is taking a break from royal duties after she stepped up official visits following King Charles cancer diagnosis.

It appears that Camilla has no engagements in the royal diary this week and will not resume engagements until March 11, when she will lead the royal family for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey.

Camilla, 76, is currently the most senior royal undertaking duties as her husband postpones all public-facing engagements as he undergoes treatment for an unknown form of cancer.

She has carried out 13 official engagements since Charles diagnosis including hosting Ukraines first lady and leading the royal family at a memorial service for King Constantine of Greece at St Georges Chapel, Windsor, last week.

Camilla is reportedly planning to spend a few days of private downtime with her family before jetting off on a private flight tomorrow, the Daily Mail reports.

Royal author Ingrid Seward told The Sun that Charles would have insisted his wife take a break, saying: He will see that she is exhausted. Camilla has had the ultimate worry about her husbands health, but she has also been the one who has had to step up to the busy schedule of Royal engagements as well as wanting to be there for him and Kate while they each have had their health issues.

She certainly deserves some rest and relaxation.

Nevertheless, a royal source told the Sunday Times that Camilla has been buoyed by the publics reaction to her taking the reins in recent weeks, adding: Although she was not expecting to find herself in the position of leading the family, the Queen is absolutely prepared to do whatever needs to be done for the institution.

Prince William and Princess Anne reportedly set to undertake engagements as normal while Kate, the Princess of Wales, will return to royal engagements after Easter, Kensington Palace said in a new update.

It comes as concerns grow over her lack of public appearances following her abdominal surgery.

Story continues

The princess was last seen attending a service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk ahead of the planned abdominal surgery on 16 January at an undisclosed location.

Since her return home to Windsor in late January, the princess has not been seen in public, which has led to growing concerns about her health.

Theories about her absence intensified online after Prince William bowed out of a planned appearance at a memorial service of his godfather, King Constantine of the Hellenes, who died in January last year. William attributed an unspecified personal reason for missing the service.

Addressing the rumours, a spokesperson with the Kensington Palace said: We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant.
Students turn out for Edwards's first Military Academy Day

High school students aspiring to win an appointment to a U.S. military academy got information from recruiters and asked questions about the admissions process during U.S. Rep. Chuck Edwardss first Military Academy Day at the Historic Courthouse on Saturday.

The young men and women, many accompanied by one or both parents, stopped at tables manned by representatives of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and the Naval, Air Force, Coast Guard and Merchant Marine academies.

In public settings when he has engaged with military academy aspirants, the freshman congressman has made it clear that vetting and nominating high school seniors for a coveted academy appointment is a humbling and rewarding part of his new job.

It was a surprise to me when I got elected to Congress that one of the honors that I would have would be to get to interview folks and nominate them to a service academy, Edwards said.

I hope while you're here, and you're meeting with the fine folks from the military academies, you'll also pick their brain, he told the students. They're here for you as a resource to answer any questions that you may have and take the mystery out of applying to a military service academy.

Students must first be nominated by their representative in Congress; once nominated they must be admitted by the school theyve applied to.
A FLORIST in Henley is giving away a years worth of flowers in a Mothers Day competition.

The Henley Florist in Hart Street says the winner will have fresh flowers delivered to their door monthly.

To be in with a chance of winning entrants must share the shops competition post on either Facebook or Instagram and comment on why they think their mother is the best.

The winners name will be drawn at random on Monday, March, 11 the day after Mothering Sunday.

Lorna Dunlop, who runs the florist and flower school, said she hoped the competition would encourage people to support their local florist rather than buying flowers from a website.

She said: These places take 40 per cent commission, so you are going to be disappointed by how many flowers you get.

So look for a florist in the local area, who is hopefully a member of the British Florist Association, and then you wont be disappointed. As a florist on the high street, I have the pleasure of supporting local charities and Henley wants to keep its high street vibrant, so I try my best to keep my shopfront looking lovely.

Ms Dunlop said she often buys flowers for her mum Alison, who loves hydrangeas, and she hopes to receive a card from her son Finley, 26. Both live in Edinburgh.
Pokemon Go became a global phenomenon in 2016 as Aussies searched the country for rare characters in an augmented reality world. And while the pandemonium subsided as time went on, it appears one man in Canberra may just be playing the game for real years later.

That's according to Reddit users who were impressed by the likeness of a caterpillar he found with that of the Pokemon Caterpie.

"Its good to see that people are still playing Pokemon Go," one person said tongue-in-cheek after the man shared a photo of his discovery online.

The man's discovery alongside Caterpie. Can you see the resemblance? Source: Reddit - Mysterious-Shake-137 / Pokemon.com

The caterpillar is in fact a Hawk Moth caterpillar, which are renowned for their large eye-like markings. This particular one is the Hippotion celerio species, or more commonly known as the Vine Hawk Moth caterpillar.

Experts explain reason behind large cartoon-style eyes

Dr Darrell Kemp from Macquarie University told Yahoo last month the striking eye markings are a defence tactic to deter predators.

"The eyespots are most likely used as a startling effect, again designed to deter predators by giving the appearance of a larger (potentially dangerous) animal," he said. "They could be used in conjunction with a rapid display behaviour that the larva does when threatened  a so-called deimatic display."

Andrew Mitchell, an entomologist at the Australian Museum, said the caterpillars can often be confused for miniature snakes.

"When threatened they puff up the front of their body, raise it into the air, suck the head in a bit, and can look quite convincingly like a snake when viewed front on  some species even hiss and strike at you," he said. "But theyre completely harmless of course."

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
Ashem vohu vahistem asti ushta asti ushta ahmai yad ashai vahistai ashem . These words by the prophet Zoroaster were sung over 3,500 years ago in northern Persia, and mean righteousness/truth is the greatest virtue. The language of a large chunk of prayers of Zoroastrians is in a barely known language called Avestan. Another significant number of texts are in a language called Pahlavi  both languages have an interesting intermingled history.

Avestan was not only the language of the ancient Persians, it is also a cousin to Rig Vedic Sanskrit. As many scholars of linguistics in West Asia and South Asia have remarked, one can translate poetry from one to the other without losing the poetic metre. There are several similarities in the texts of the Zoroastrians and the Rig Veda, so much so that you cannot truly study one without the other.

This isnt surprising since Avestan and Rig Vedic Sanskrit have a common language of origin which the linguists call Proto-Indo-Iranian. This, in turn, is descended from a common ancestral language called PIE (Proto-Indo-European) which is the ancestral language of Latin, Greek, German and most European languages.

In fact more work has been done at working backward to reconstruct PIE than any other proto-language. It was as PIE speakers migrated from a common homeland that the language groups  due to isolation  created regional dialects and then regional daughter languages.

Thus, Union minister Smriti Irani's announcement that the ministry of minorities affairs is signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mumbai University to open an Avestan Pahlavi Language Centre, with perhaps a Chair, and on a budget allocation of 11.20 crore, is fabulous news. The studies in these subjects, which were flagging over the past few decades, will not only be revived, but will also encourage a deeper understanding of our shared roots with persons across communities and even religions.

A common ancestry

It was in India that Sir William Jones, a judge in the Calcutta high court and a renowned linguist who set up the Asiatic Society of Bengal in what was then Calcutta, first postulated a common ancestry of Sanskrit, Latin, Gothic and Celtic languages in 1786. The research into these proto-languages has continued to this day. DD Mahulkars Pre-Paninian Linguistic Studies (1990) is just one of the more recent, and well-renowned works.

A photomechanical print of Sir William Jones made by Joshua Reynolds, which is now part of the National Library of Wales portrait archive(Wikimedia Commons)

But what happened after these languages came up?

Avestan led to the development of Old Persian which was spoken by the Achaemenids (founded in 550 BC): it was their official language, and is the earliest source of the word Hind in the 522 BC inscription of Darius the Great, one of the emperors of the Achaemenid Empire. The state religion was Zoroastrianism and this kept Avestan alive side by side with Old Persian.

In the third century AD, we see the rise of the great Sasanian Empire under Ardeshir I Papakan and the language of his court was Middle Persian  another term for which is Pahlavi, taken from the name of the script used to write it. In the Sasanian era, however, a script emerged for the writing of Avestan called the Avestan script and a variant of this, called Pazend/Pazand, to write the commentaries on the religious literature of the Zoroastrians.

Surprisingly, Avestan doesn't seem to have been written prior to this. It was only orally transmitted  much like the Vedas.The only know script from that time is Cuneiform, which, in turn, goes back to the 3rd millennium BC in southern Iran and was even used by the Achaemenids to write Old Persian in the sixth and seventh century BC (and even a bit later).

Pahlavi is a very complex script with just 14 letters that make 40 different phonemes, resulting in complex ligatures. Pahlavi continued to be used as a prestige language long after the fall of the Sassanian Empire to the Caliphate in 641 A.D. Modern Persian, the language of Iran and a large part of Central Asia and Afghanistan, and once the language of the Mughal court in India, emerged from the language, Pahlavi.

Thus, it is critical to learn and keep alive the study of Avestan and Pahlavi to better understand the language of the Vedas as well as the Persian spoken all over northern India and the Deccan. Not to mention to understand better the nuances in the scriptures of the Zoroastrians as well as their Rig Vedic cousins.

Kept alive through its script

Interestingly the Pahlavi script did not disappear and turns up in the 10th-11th century A.D at the Kanheri caves (now in Mumbais Sanjay Gandhi National Park) in a series of inscriptions. It also turns up later on a series of portable stone crosses along the west coast of India. These crosses found in Kerala with one each at Goa and Anuradhapura (Sri Lanka) are inscribed in Pahlavi and known as the Saint Thomas Crosses in memory of St Thomas a disciple of Jesus Christ who is said to have brought Christianity to India in the 1st century A.D. They are very similar to similar crosses found in Herat (Afghanistan) that dated to the third century A.D. Pahlavi continued to be the language of the Eastern Syriac (aka Nestorian) Church. Many of the Indian Pahlavi Crosses have been ascribed to dates between the third and ninth centuries. There certainly needs to be much more research on this topic.

The cross of St. Thomas carved in black stone found in the church of Our Lady of Expectation built on the top of St. Thomas Mount in Chennai. Many of the Saint Thomas Crosses along the west coast of India have inscriptions in Pahlavi and have been ascribed to dates between the third and ninth centuries A.D. (Wikimedia Commons)

To be sure, much research has been done on Avestan and on Rig Vedic Sanskrit in Germany, the USA and the UK. In the UK, the School for Oriental and African Studies has been running a lovely course, Introduction to Avestan, along with the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute (BORI), Pune, supported by UNESCO PARZOR (Parsi-Zoroastrian) in Pune too. Various institutions in India have also done critical research on Avestan and Pahlavi, notably the Asiatic Society of Mumbai, BORI, the KR Cama Oriental Research Institute, to name just a few.

The upcoming centre has its work cut out. It must offer the possibility to further study the Cuneiform script in which Old Persian is written, as this is an overlooked area in Persian Studies in India today. There is only one qualified Cuneiform reader, Shri Shailesh Kshirsagar, in all of India that I know of. A holistic set of studies between this centre, the departments of Sanskrit and Persian at the University of Mumbai, BORI and universities in the West and in Iran could result in a fascinating new appraisal of these critically important languages and their history. This centre could also shed more light on the Pahlavi Inscriptions of Kanheri and those seen on the crosses. A complimentary study of the Parsis, their archaeology, history and culture, their religious and philosophical evolutions, and the sociology of the Avestan speakers needs research too.

For many years the University of Mumbai has run a small but successful Masters course in Avestan and Pahlavi. The Sir JJ Institute has run a consolidated five-year Bachelors course in Avestan which is recognised by the University of Mumbai and is almost a prerequisite for the MA. The Sanskrit Department of the University has also run a paper in Avestan. This has sadly been discontinued in recent years and one hopes, will be revived at the upcoming centre.

The generous grant can also be used to bring on permanent faculty. This is indeed a great opportunity for the study of these languages and hopefully will open a new chapter in Indian academia.

Dr Kurush F Dalal is the director, INSTUCEN School of Archaeology, Mumbai. The views expressed are personal.
In the previous column, I wrote about how the 2000s were seminal in ensuring same-sex marriage legalisation in Nepal. A little south of the Himalayan country, the decade starting 2001 was equally significant for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Intersex (LGBTI+) communities.

However, the similarities  and differences  between the two countries lie in the political events of the time.

A quick recap: In Nepal, the democratic peoples movement  what Sunil Babu Pant, Nepals first gay legislator described to me as a grounds-up movement  encompassed LGBTQI rights in its larger wish to replace monarchical rule with a constitutional democracy. To that end, the interim Constitution of the country held out the promise to recognise the human rights of queer people.

The Jan Andolan, comprising students, political parties and ordinary citizens led to the setting up of an interim democratic government in 2007.

The same year, the countrys apex court delivered an order that recognised the legal identity of transgender persons and on the issue of same-sex marriage, held that it was the inherent right of adults to marry whom they wish to. The SC at the time also directed the government to form a committee to study the issue of same sex marriage and prepare a report.

When the new Constitution was instituted in 2015, it enshrined the fundamental Right to Equality, under Article 18, which prohibited the state and judiciary from discriminating against gender and sexual minorities. Article 42, or Right to Social Justice, enshrined the right of gender and sexual minorities to participate in state mechanisms and public services. Lastly, Article 12 affirmed the right of citizens of Nepal to choose their preferred gender identity on citizenship documents. The committee, mandated by the Supreme Court, also submitted its report in 2015  it recommended that laws should be amended, and specific provisions be made in the Bills of Criminal Code and Civil Code to allow same sex marriage.

In India, however, the movement for equal rights was more pointed. The LGBTQI communities rallied around a colonial law, Section 377, which criminalised any kind of sexual intercourse that it termed unnatural, and which was interpreted for decades to include consensual adult same-sex relationships. It was in the course of this rallying that we saw connections made with other human rights groups, including childrens rights groups and womens rights groups.

The movement  if one may call it that  was primarily around a legal case that was heard in the Delhi high court in the mid-2000s. Lawyers and activists rallied public opinion over the legal battle, showing how queer people were denied basic rights like dignity, and were stigmatised for their choice of partners. The lawyers representing the petitioner, Naz Foundation, an HIV/Aids prevention group, held community meetings in different parts of the country which activists attended; queer groups that had formed in the 1990s and early 2000s, began to converse with each on issues pertaining to the law and plan meetings to discuss legal strategies.

By the end of the decade, in 2009, the Delhi HC delivered a judgement that decriminalised homosexuality by reading down the law to not apply to consensual adult same sex relationships.

The crucial difference to note here was that while the desire for equal rights was equally strong, and much work was put in to change public perception, the LGBTQI movement became pan-national in India as groups converged largely over the question of a specific law. And it was the trajectory of the court case that determined the direction this movement took. When the Supreme Court of India, for instance, brought back Section 377 after hearing  and agreeing  with the petitioners that included right wing organisations across religious backgrounds, the movement was galvanised. The case, even when it went against the communities, brought visibility to the movement, and strengthened it. Public opinion began to tilt in favour of decriminalisation as corporates and big capital saw value in appealing to the younger generation of queer people.

But, while Nepals communities fought to win recognition of same-sex marriages between 2015 and 2017, the law criminalising homosexuality in India was only read down, this time by a constitution bench of the Supreme Court, in 2018.

Perhaps, then, a more realistic way of looking at the movement is to see it as a verb rather than as a noun. Gay and lesbian groups started forming in the 199s to provide safe spaces for LGBTQI persons. The decade was a time when these groups came out with newsletters and maintained P.O. Box numbers  they even referred people who wrote in to groups in their own cities. Yes, the law was very much in existence and remained a forever threat hanging over the men and women and transpersons who made these groups. But it didnt stop them from doing what they felt needed to be done.

Gender Question is a weekly column by Premium editor in-charge Dhamini Ratnam on gender, sexuality and our blindspots. The views expressed are personal.
Lawyers who successfully argued that Elon Musk's $55.8 billion package as Tesla CEO was illegal, have now asked the presiding judge to award them more than 29 million (2.9 crore) company shares worth $5.6 billion as 'legal fees.' Tesla CEO Elon Musk (Reuters file photo)

The request was filed in a Delaware court on Friday, and will be heard by judge Kathleen McCormick, who rejected Tesla's pay package for Musk  designed in 2018  on grounds that the process was flawed and the price unfair.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

In their appeal, the attorneys for Richard Tornetta, the Tesla investor who challenged the package, explained their unusual request and why they prefer stock over cash.

We are prepared to eat our cooking. This structure has the benefit of linking the award directly to the benefit created, and avoids taking even 1% from the Tesla balance sheet to pay fees. It is also tax-deductible by Tesla, their filing stated.

As Tornetta, their client, fought the case on behalf of the shareholders, about 267 million (26.7 crore) shares will be returned to the world's second-largest electric vehicle manufacturer because of the investor's win, according to the filing.

Responding to the lawyers' demand, Musk posted on X, the social network formerly known as Twitter he acquired in October 2022: The lawyers who did nothing but damage Tesla want $6 billion. Criminal."

If approved, the $5.6 billion amount would apparently be far and away the largest such award. Also, the case involved the largest compensation award ever to an executive.

Once Chief Judge McCormick gives her final judgment in the case, the billionaire, under Delaware laws, will have 30 days to decide whether to appeal her ruling or not.
Karnataka leader of the opposition and senior BJP leader R Ashoka alleged that the state government is trying to change the Forensic Science Labs (FSL) reports regarding Pro-Pak slogans and Rameshwaram Cafe incidents in Bengaluru. He also said that the Congress-led government is making false claims. R Ashoka (PTI)

Speaking to reporters, R Ashoka said, The Congress government is only trying to hide facts in Rameshwaram cafe incident. The government did not reveal even a single piece of information about the culprits. They are trying to change the FSL report. This happened also in the incident where Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised in Vidhana Soudha.

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Also Read - Suspect spoke on phone, BJP alleges pro-Pakistan slogan link with Bengaluru blast

Earlier, former CM Basavaraj Bommai also lashed out at the government and said that such anti-national activities are happening during this government's tenure. He also claimed that more than 15 sleeper cells were arrested during his tenure.

The high-level corruption made many capable police officers move out of their positions. The city is now in the hands of corrupt people which is why such incidents are happening. The government must quit if it cannot handle such situations, he added.

However, no arrests have been made in the Rameshwaram cafe blast incident.

On Sunday morning, Karnataka Police investigated the explosion site. CM Siddaramaiah suggested that protection should be provided to the people. He directed officials to identify densely populated areas and increase police patrol.

Meanwhile, the co-founder and CEO of the Rameshwaram Cafe, Raghavendra Rao, said that the Union government and the state government should ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future and called for strict action.

As many as 10 people were left injured after an explosion took place at Bengaluru's popular Rameshwaram cafe in the Whitefield area on Friday. The Rameshwaram Cafe is one of the popular hangouts and is usually extremely crowded.
Chandigarh BJP chief Jatinder Malhotra faced backlash on Sunday after posting a tweet targeting the protesting farmers. Farmers during their 'Delhi Chalo' march near the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu border in Patiala district.(PTI)

Farmers must know that they dont deserve anything, but still #Modi sarkar has approved 24,420-crore proposal for fixing nutrients based subsidy (NBS) rates on phosphatic and potassic (P&K) fertilisers and the inclusion of 3 new fertilizer grades under NBS scheme for Kharif season 2024 (April to Sept 2024). The scheme will ensure the availability of fertilizers to REAL farmers at subsidized, affordable and reasonable prices. The inclusion of three new grades in NBS will support in promoting balanced soil health & offer alternatives to the farmers.PM @narendramodiJi is committed to welfare of Real Farmers. #ModiKiGaurantee, wrote Malhotra on X.

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But after facing wrath from the Opposition and his own party, he deleted the post.

Clarifying later, Malhotra said, I meant to talk about the fake farmers. Since I realised my mistake, I deleted it.

Lambasting Malhotra, Chandigarh Congress president HS Lucky said the real face of the BJP had been exposed. The Chandigarh BJP chiefs statement reflects the partys thought process regarding the farmers. The BJP should have some empathy towards the poor farmers who work so hard and still dont get their due share. The party should tender a public apology for such low remarks against farmers, he demanded.

The Chandigarh Congress also appealed to the Shiromani Akali Dal not to support the BJP candidate during the Monday elections for the posts of senior deputy mayor and deputy mayor.

Chandigarh AAP in-charge Dr SS Ahulwalia said the statement of the Chandigarh BJP chief clearly reflected that the BJP was against farmers: BJP is not even allowing farmers to reach Delhi, which means, they are against farmers.
The cyber crime cell of the Chandigarh Police has arrested a Nigerian national in a 2022 fraud case, entailing luring people with high profit business offers. The accused in police custody in Chandigarh. (HT PHOTO)

The case was registered on July 2, 2022, under Sections 419, 420, 467, 468 and 471 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.

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Police arrested Chizoba Chrisanctus, a resident of Nigeria, after conducting a raid in New Delhi. The case was registered on the complaint of Kamlesh Kumar in which he stated that he met a woman on Facebook, claiming to be Sara Anna.

She introduced herself as a pharmacist and said that her company deals in cancer drugs and promised supply of cheap raw material. The woman convinced him to work with her after promising him a profit of 60:40 ratio. The woman sent him the email address of a company, Ajay Enterprises, and the complainant struck a deal after talking to Ajay. Following this, the complainant transferred 39.3 lakh in three instalments in different bank accounts but the raw material was never delivered.

During investigation, a raid was conducted at Delhi and a connection was established with the accused Chizoba Chrisanctus. The police later arrested him from Kuber Building, Maidan Gahri, South Delhi.

During further investigation it was revealed that accused Chizoba Chrisanctus came to India on a medical visa on September 1, 2019, which expired on November 19, 2019, but he continued to overstay illegally.

He made fake arrival and departure stamps on his passport to show fake visas and to mislead police. The police registered a case against him under Sections 467, 468 and 471 of the IPC, and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.
Stating that farmers from Punjab and Haryana will continue to lay siege to the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (non-political) and Kisan Mazdoor Morcha (KMM) leadership on Sunday gave a clarion call to farmers from other parts of the country to reach Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on March 6 to take forward the agitation. The farmers will also be staging a four-hour rail roko across India on March 10. Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Sidhupur) president Jagjit Singh Dalewal addressing the gathering during the bhog ceremony of Shubh Karan Singh at Balloh village in Bathinda on Sunday. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT)

Addressing farmers, who had gathered at the grain market of Balloh village in Bathinda for the bhog ceremony of the 21-year-old farm agitator Shubh Karan Singh, who was killed in police action on February 21, KMM leader Sarwan Singh Pandher appealed to farmers from other states to reach Jantar Mantar on March 6 using public transport, private vehicles or on foot. Lets see if the Centre allows protesters from the underprivileged strata to reach Delhi for a protest without riding on tractors, said Pandher, adding that farmers from Punjab and Haryana would not be part of the protest march to Delhi next week.

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Also Read | Haryana Police's big move against farmers involved in violence during protest: 'Will cancel'

We (farmers from Punjab and Haryana) will continue to lay siege of Shambhu and Khanauri borders.

The union leadership, however, did not clarify the course of action after the agitators assemble in Delhi.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, president of the Sidhupur faction of the BKU, said, SKM (non-political) and KMM have the backing of nearly 200 farmer and worker unions from different parts of the state. The rail roko is to press for the demands raised by the farming community.

Also Read | Farmers protest: Shubh Karans autopsy points to firearm injury

The event organised to pay homage to the young farm rights activist turned out to be a show of strength by the SKM (non-political)-KMM and SKM and its constituents.

While leaders like Joginder Singh Ugrahan from BKU (Ekta Ugrahan), Manjit Singh Dhaner (BKU-Dakaunda, Dhaner faction), Balkaran Singh Brar (Kul Hind Kisan Sabha) and Gurnam Singh Charuni (BKU Charuni) were seated on the dais, none of them were invited to address the gathering as only union leaders close to Dallewal and Pandher spoke on the occasion.

Dallewal and Pandher refrained from making any reference to unity with the SKM even though the key leaders were present on the stage.

Pandher also made no mention of the ongoing farmers dharna at the Doomwali border in Bathinda where the Dhaner faction of BKU (Dakaunda), a constituent of SKM, is dominating. Pandher said that a few people are trying to create a perception as if the ongoing agitation is led only by two unions of Pandher and Dallewal.

We worked for nearly two months and interacted with about 200 unions of farmers and workers based in more than a dozen states. Certain people who are hand-in-glove with the government agencies are trying to scuttle the ongoing agitation by maliciously terming it sponsored by the Modi government or the AAP government in Punjab. The overwhelming support for the agitation has silenced such people as we are in a direct fight with the Modi government for our demands, said Pandher.

Hitting out at the saffron party, he said that the BJP gave a ticket to Ajay Mishra Teni from Lakhimpur Kheri whose son was responsible for killing farmers, and he too is involved in the conspiracy. This shows the seriousness of the BJP government towards farmers, he added.

Led by Jagjit Dallewal from (SKM Ekta Sidhupur) and KMMs Pandher, hundreds of unions had started a Delhi Chalo march on February 13 to press the Centre to accept their demands. Besides making MSP (minimum support price) for 32 crops a legal guarantee, twin fronts of the protesting unions are demanding calculation of MSP as per the Swaminathan report, debt waivers, employment for relatives of people killed during the agitation in Delhi between November 2020 and December 2021, compensation for farmers injured in Lakhimpur Kheri in October 2021, withdrawal of cases registered against protesting farmers and pension for farmers and labourers after attaining the age of 60 among the many demands.

After the Haryana authorities deployed heavy security forces and used force and block roads from Shambhu, Khanauri and Dabwali, hundreds of Punjab farmers laid siege to the key entry points to the neighbouring state. The union leaders held four rounds of talks with a panel of Union ministers but the deadlock continued.

On February 21, a 21-year-old native of Balloh village in Bathinda died after being hit by a bullet after which the union leaders announced to suspend Delhi Chalo.
In October 1962, when China attacked India in Ladakh, I was attending the Platoon Weapons Course in Mhow as a young lieutenant. The course was cut short and we were ordered to join our units forthwith. In October 1962, when China attacked India in Ladakh, I was attending the Platoon Weapons Course in Mhow as a young lieutenant. The course was cut short and we were ordered to join our units forthwith. (Representational Image/HT File)

When I reached my unit (3 Sikh Light Infantry) in Jammu, it was in the process of being flown to Ladakh. This was to be our first flight experience. We boarded a Dakota aircraft that had been modified for air drops, and hence did not have a door. Every soldier tried to sit farthest from the open door. Being the last person to enter the aircraft, I had to sit next to the open door. Next to me, on the safer side, was our senior JCO Sub Gurmail Singh.

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Due to its height limitations, the Dakota aircraft could barely cross the Banihal and Zojila passes, and then had to wind its way through the high mountain valleys to reach Leh. As I sat holding on to the seat with all my strength, I noticed that some soldiers were keenly looking out of the windows, while others were sleeping or feigning to be asleep. Sub Gurmail Singh, with his eyes closed, was softly reciting the Japji Path.

After crossing Zojila, as the aircraft wound its way through narrow valleys, we experienced heavy bumps due to air pockets. The fear among the passengers was palpable. Sub Gurmail looked at the passing mountain slopes and said to me: Saab ji, mainu lagda sada jahaz thalle lag reha hai. Tussi driver saab nu dasso, thora uppar le jawe (Sir, I feel our aircraft is touching something below. Please tell the pilot to raise its height).

When we came over Leh, seeing the flat ground below, there was much excitement. We could see the dusty air strip covered with perforated steel panels and got ready to disembark. Back in his element, Sub Gurmail Singh asked me if he could lead a Bole-so-nihal, our battle cry/jaikara, which would be heard in China. When I explained to him that a battle cry during the flight may cause severe turbulence and even damage the aircraft, he was disappointed, but agreed to lead the jaikara after landing.

After arriving in Ladakh, my Company was stationed at Karu for acclimatisation for a few days. I decided to take my troops to Hemis Gompa (approximately 14,000 feet height), which involved crossing Indus River and then a steady climb. The river with its ice cold water had to be crossed over a swinging log bridge without side ropes. In our very first attempt, a young soldier in the lead section fell into the river along with his .303 rifle. He was evacuated before he could freeze, but the rifle could not be found. It took 12 hours to fish it from the deep water and extract it from the boulders where it was stuck. After the incident, some soldiers were ready to swim across the Indus. But, no one wanted to use the swinging bridge.

The next day, sitting on the riverside, I saw a few Ladakhi women with dry wood on their head, going over the bridge merrily. Seeing the women cross the bridge, both Sub Gurmail Singh and I made up our mind to cross the bridge with our whole company, me in the lead and Sub Gurmail bringing the rear with his long stick, which everyone feared. There was no accident thereafter.

After a few days, my company was tasked to prepare defences at Chang La (Ladakh Range-17688 feet height) to block any Chinese attempt from Darbuk and Shyok River valley to Leh. One late evening, Sub Gurmail brought two soldiers who complained of hearing loud bells. We had no doctor. A Band Pl NCO, who was working as a nursing assistant-cum-stretcher bearer, advised that the patients be given hot tea laced with a strong dose of brandy, which was part of medical comfort. While we were in the process of following his advice, two more soldiers came running to my bunker. They told us that two yaks with bells tied to their neck had strayed into our camp. I promptly asked everyone to run away and was happy that our precious medical comfort had been saved.

A year later, our unit was relieved in this area and given a fresh task to prepare defences near Chumathang (13500 feet high), which would block possibility of ingress on the Demchok-Dungti-Leh axis. By now, we were fully acclimatised. Every morning, our soldiers would carry defence material to 16,000 feet high mountain top, construct bunkers and return to the base camp in the evening. The two hours climb in a single file was fun, with some soldiers singing Punjabi songs, others exchanging outlandish jokes. One day, I followed the soldiers carrying CGI sheets. One of them was singing. After some time, he stopped in the middle of a song and sat down. I reached out and asked, Ki hoya? (What happened?) He responded, Saab ji, gramophone di chaabi khatam ho gai. Chaabi nu thora oxygen di zarurat hai. After a little rest, he was back on his feet and resumed his singing.

During my posting in Ladakh, I recall another incident. One evening, my sahayak, Sep Gurnam Singh, came complaining of a toothache and a slightly swollen cheek. When I offered him an Aspro tablet, he declined and instead asked for a rum da toomba (a cotton swab dipped in rum) to numb his pain. I told him to take it from the rum bottle lying in the bunker. Next morning, I noticed that the bottle was in its original place, but it was empty. I asked Gurnam, Ki hoya? His reply was simple, Saab ji, mere dand di peed hondi gai te main toomba laganda gaya. Mainu pata nahin bottle kis wele khatam ho gai. (Sir, my tooth kept aching, so I kept applying the swab of rum. I dont know when the rum bottle ran out.)

(The author is a former army chief. Views expressed are personal.)
Former union minister and two-time MP Harsh Vardhan has announced his decision to exit politics and return to his medical profession after being omitted from the Bharatiya Janata Party's list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Harsh Vardhan served as health minister in Narendra Modi's government before being replaced by Mansukh Mandaviya in the middle of the Covid crisis.(Photo by Sunil Ghosh / Hindustan Times)

ALSO READ- BJP announces 195 candidates for Lok Sabha election. Check full list here

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"After over thirty years of a glorious electoral career, during which I won all the five assembly and two parliamentary elections that I fought with exemplary margins, and held a multitude of prestigious positions in the party organisation and the governments at the state and centre I finally bow out to return to my roots," the former health minister said in an emotional message shared on his social media page.

The BJP has chosen Praveen Khandelwal as its candidate for the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha seat, replacing Harsh Vardhan.

I had the rare opportunity bestowed upon me to be able to first work towards creating a polio-free Bharat and then to take care of the health of millions of our countrymen grappling with the dreaded COVID-19 during its first and second phases, wrote the former health minister in Narendra Modi's government.

Harsh Vardhan was replaced by Mansukh Mandaviya in mid-2021 during the height of the COVID-19 crisis. He was removed from the council of ministers as part of a reshuffle.

I must acknowledge that I consider it a great privilege to have worked closely with the most dynamic Prime Minister in Indias history, Shri Narendra Modi ji. The country wishes him a heroic return to power again, the Delhi MP wrote.

Harsh Vardhan said he will continue in his efforts to combat tobacco and substance abuse, address climate change, and advocate for straightforward and sustainable lifestyles.

I move on, I really cant wait. I have promises to keep .. and miles to go before I sleep !! I have a dream .. and I know your blessings shall always remain with me. My ENT clinic at Krishna Nagar too awaits my return, he wrote.

ALSO READ- Who is Abdul Salam, lone Muslim face in BJP's 195 candidates list for Lok Sabha?

Shake-up in Delhi

In addition to Harsh Vardhan's seat, the BJP has introduced significant changes in its lineup for Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, replacing four sitting MPs among the five candidates named.

 West Delhi Seat: Kamaljeet Sehrawat replaces two-term MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma.

 New Delhi Lok Sabha Constituency: Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of the late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, has been nominated, leaving out union minister Meenakshi Lekhi.

ALSO READ- Who is BJP's Bansuri Swaraj, Sushma Swaraj's daughter, making Lok Sabha debut?

 South Delhi Seat: Ramvir Singh Bidhuri has been named the BJP candidate in place of Ramesh Bidhuri.
Police have revealed the quantity of illegally imported ketamine seized at Australian borders has more than doubled in the last year, with fears criminals are going to extreme lengths to bring the drug into the country.

The latest major discovery came on Friday when an 18-year-old male was stopped at Sydney Airport before officers allegedly found 20kg of ketamine hidden inside his suitcases.

He was later charged the same day with importing commercial quantities of border controlled drugs and has been refused bail until his next court appearance in May.

The teen's suitcase was seized at Sydney Airport. Source: AFP

It follows two major incidents in 2023 where a combined 129kg of ketamine was seized after it was allegedly brought into the country by sea cargo. A combined six men have been charged over the two separate incidents.

Criminals importing ketamine 'think they're clever'

AFP Acting Commander Kristy Scott said police were committed to keeping the ketamine off the streets of Australia.

Ketamine is a dangerous and illicit sedative. Its dissociative effects block sensory brain signals and can cause memory loss, feelings of being detached from one's body and prevent their ability to perceive danger," she said.

Drug addiction has a profound impact on individuals and the wider community. The AFP, together with our state, territory and Commonwealth law enforcement partners, is committed to preventing the significant harm caused to our community as a result of these illicit drug imports."

Packages of ketamine allegedly discovered inside the 18-year-old's suitcase. Source: AFP

Acting Commander Scott issued a warning to those thinking of bringing the drug into the country, stressing those responsible will be caught.

We're reminding criminals that we not only seizing the drugs but arresting alleged offenders who are connected to the imports. We will continue to work to target your illicit operations, identify you and bring you to justice."

ABF Assistant Commissioner James Watson reminded criminals that while they "might think they're being clever" by the ways they're bringing the drug into the country, authorities are well-equipped to sniff out illegal activity.

Story continues

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The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Delhi government will table its annual budget for the financial year 2024-25 on Monday after the finance minister announced that it was approved by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) and the lieutenant governor. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal speaks in Delhi Assembly in New Delhi.(File)

The budget session of the Delhi assembly which began on 15 February had been extended till March 8. A senior Delhi government functionary said that the tenth budget being presented by the AAP government will be themed around Ram Rajya.

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The budget will revolve around the concept of Ram Rajya. It will be the tenth budget by the AAP government. We have tried to take care of all sections of the society in the election year, the functionary said, requesting anonymity.

Also Read | AAP to announce Lok Sabha candidates for Punjab seats in 2-4 days: Arvind Kejriwal

Earlier on Saturday, government officials said that the development of unauthorised colonies will likely be a major focal point in the budget and the government may give a fiscal boost for initiatives to uplift such colonies, especially to strengthen their road infrastructure.

For the fiscal year 2024-25, the Kejriwal government may announce a budgetary package of nearly 1,000 crore... likely, strengthening the road network of unauthorised colonies, as well as augmentation of water supply pipelines and sewer networks will take precedence in the government plan for 2024-25, the official cited above said.

Delhi has nearly 1,800 unauthorised colonies, accommodating 30% of the citys population. Residents of these colonies are an influential voting bloc that is sought by all political parties.

Also Read | Solar policy another point of contention between AAP and Delhi LG

Last year, the budget was presented by Kailash Gahlot following the arrest of former finance minister Manish Sisodia in the excise policy case. Based on the theme Clean, beautiful, and modern Delhi, the budget amounted to 78,800 crore with a provision of 21,000 crore for Delhis infrastructure.

This will be the first budget presented by the current finance minister Atishi and the tenth budget of the AAP government which is in its second consecutive tenure.

On the first day of the budget session on February 15, Atishi informed the assembly that the presentation of the budget for the Capital would be delayed, and asked for the session to be extended till the first week of March to complete all proceedings.

The budget was passed by the cabinet on February 11, and on February 13, it was sent to LG for his assent. We received the LGs approval on February 14. There has been no delay from the LGs side, it has been delayed on our part and it will be sent to the MHA for approval, Atishi had informed the assembly.

The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had slammed the government for the delay alleging the chief minister was using the delay as an excuse to not appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

On February 24, LG VK Saxena wrote a letter to Kejriwal flagging a delay for no apparent reason at the level of the Delhi government in presenting the annual budget for 2024-25 in the Delhi assembly, adding that the budget has been cleared by the MHA.

Since Delhi is a Union territory with a legislature, the approval of the President through the MHA is required before the budget can be presented in the assembly. In March 2023, the scheduled presentation of Delhis annual budget on March 21 was postponed after it emerged a day before that the requisite nod had not been received. It was presented a day later on March 22 as the MHA approved it after the Delhi government provided some clarifications sought by the LG office.
Calcutta high court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who is in the crosshairs of West Bengals ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) for ordering federal agencies to probe at least 14 cases in the state, on Sunday told a Bengali news channel that he will resign from service on Tuesday and join politics. Calcutta high court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay. (File)

My soul tells me that my tenure as a judge is over, and it is time to enter a bigger sphere and serve people. I will put in my papers on Tuesday, justice Gangopadhyay told ABP Ananda.

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He said he may join any of the Left parties, Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and even contest the coming Lok Sabha elections.

Though the judge did not specify his choice, a senior state BJP leader told HT that he is likely to join the party next week.

Sixty-two-year-old Gangopadhay, who joined the high court as an additional judge in 2018 and was made a permanent judge in July 2020, is scheduled to retire after three months. He was a West Bengal Civil Service officer but quit his job around a decade ago to become a lawyer.

Justice Gangopadhyay said: People in the ruling party made insulting and sarcastic comments against me for passing several judgements. They even dared me to quit my chair and face them. Some men in black coats (apparently pointing at lawyers) acted like agents and targeted me. I have finally made up my mind. The ruling party has brought me here today. I congratulate them.

In May 2022, justice Gangopadhyay ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the appointment of non-teaching staff (Group C and D) and teaching staff by the West Bengal School Service Commission and West Bengal Board of Secondary Education between 2014 and 2021. The appointees allegedly paid bribes in the range of 5-15 lakh to get jobs after failing the selection tests.

Initiating a parallel probe, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested education minister Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee in July 2022. In its charge sheet, ED said it traced cash, jewellery and immovable property worth 103.10 crore linked to the duo. Around a dozen TMC leaders and government officials were subsequently arrested.

In April 2023, the judge ordered CBI to probe a suspected recruitment scam in civic bodies across Bengal. Both CBI and ED have told the Supreme Court that the two scams are related.

Chief minister Mamata Banerjees nephew Abhishek Banerjee, his wife and his parents are all suspects in the school recruitment scam.

On January 8 this year, the judge told the media outside court that the source of Abhishek Banerjees properties should be probed.

Can Abhishek Banerjee file an affidavit with details of his income and assets? the judge told the same news channel.

The Bengal government and Abhishek Banerjee moved the Supreme Court challenging various orders passed by justice Gangopadhyay. Some Supreme Court orders went in favour of the petitioners.

In a rare incident earlier this year, the high court witnessed a conflict between the bench of justice Gangopadhyay and the division bench of justices Soumen Sen and Uday Kumar in an alleged corruption in admission of students at medical colleges. Both benches passed back-to-back orders, which challenged each other, over January 24 and 25.

Taking suo motu cognisance, a five-judge Supreme Court bench headed by chief justice D Y Chandrachud transferred the case to itself.

On Sunday, justice Gangopadhyay stuck to his stand on corruption but did not name any party or individual.

There are many more corruptions in various state government departments that have not come to light. We have read about the Maurya empire in history books. Right now, we are witnessing the Chaurya empire (rule of thieves) in Bengal. People have suffered during the ruling partys regime, he said.

Amid speculations that the BJP may field him from a seat in Kolkata or East Midnapore district, the judge also held a press conference late on Sunday afternoon.

I will not hear any case tomorrow and send my resignation to the President of India on Tuesday. It will come into effect immediately as per provisions of the Constitution. I will reply all your questions below the statue of freedom fighter Surya Sen at the high court building at 1.30 pm on Tuesday, he said.

Retired Supreme Court judge Asok Kumar Ganguly said: Any sitting high court judge can send his resignation directly to the President and it comes into effect under Article 217 (1) (a) of the Constitution. It is his personal decision.

Bengal BJP leaders welcomed the judges decision but reacted cautiously.

BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said: Justice Gangopadhyay is an eminent and honest personality. People like him should join politics. The BJP should be his natural choice since we have taken the head on. It is up to him to decide whether he will join the BJP or the CPI(M). If he joins a party that is ideologically opposed to us, then we will counter him ideologically. But we will still respect him.

TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, who dared Gangopadhyay to join politics on January 9 this year and challenged him to contest the Diamond Harbour Lok Sabha seat against TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, the sitting MP, welcomed the judges decision with a rider.

Best wishes for your new innings. Whichever party you join, your decision will raise questions on the judgements you passed and statements you made. It will be proved that your actions were anti-TMC. Moreover, the party you join will have people facing corruption charges. Will you be able to accept that? Ghosh wrote on X.

Although Gangopadhyay once called CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member and eminent lawyer Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya his teacher in the legal profession and was even seen going through Marxist literature at the Kolkata International Book Fair last year, CPI(M) leaders apparently maintained their distance from the issue.

His decision has taken me by surprise. He can always join politics but neither the TMC nor the BJP can be the right platform given his stand against corruption. He will lose his credibility and image if he joins either of these camps, Bhattacharya said.
Mumbai: The state is set to start exporting skilled manpower to the third largest German state for trade. Last Sunday, the Maharashtra government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Baden-Wurttemberg, in southwest Germany, to provide skilled individuals to the German state in sectors such as science, technology, engineering, construction, healthcare and hospitality, among others. People with technical skills from Maharashtra will undergo specialised training, including proficiency in the German language, to meet specific needs identified by Baden- Wurttemberg. Recently, CM Eknath Shinde signed an MoU with Florian Stegmann, minister of state of Baden-Wurttemberg, to provide skilled individuals to the German state.

Achim Fabig, consul general of the Federal Republic of Germany in Mumbai, said their country has benefitted from Indias talent pool in the past especially in fields of mathematics, informatics, natural sciences and technology. Fabig added, Some crafts that are sometimes neglected in India are held in very high esteem in Germany and therefore offer a wide range of opportunities not only for the skilled labourer but also for her or his family.

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Maharashtra currently has a potential workforce of around 7.47 lakh engaged in professions in varied technical fields. While it is going to take a while for the first batch of skilled labour to fly the nest, youth have been making inroads into Germany and reaping the fruits of their labour.

Naigaon resident Vivek Karande, 20, has been working in a house building and electronic firm in Flensburg for the last six months. Son of a Mumbai cop, he applied for the Indo-German Programme for Vocational Education and Training (IGVET-II) after clearing the Class 12 in the science stream. The programme offers dual apprenticeships and workplace-based skill development.

He learnt about the prospect from his brother who was pursuing a course in Industrial Training Institute (ITI). After completing basic German language course at an Andheri-based institute, I was selected for this unique three-year programme, said Karande, who works for three weeks in the firm and spends one week at the college for theoretical classes. Under this scheme, 100% fees (1500 or 1,34,888 per year) are paid by the employer apart from earning a monthly stipend of 1,154 ( 1,03,774).

Like Karande, four students from Maharashtra went to Germany in September 2023 and were placed in organisations like Dimar and Schulz and Eggers Group. With several opportunities in the global market after completing 10+2 or equivalent courses (Class 12 examination or two-year vocational training or ITI after Class 10) and language training, the number is set to increase, after the latest partnership.

Till now, the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship has signed 18 Government to Government (G2G) MoUs with Australia, Belarus, China, Denmark, France, Germany, Japan, Qatar, Switzerland, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and United Kingdom (UK) in the field of skill development and vocational education.

While the country is focusing on providing 10,000 labourers for construction work in Israel and thousands of staff nurses to UK, Finland and Japan, the state aims to send 3,500 skilled workers to the global market in 2024.

Every year, after Class 10, around 2.25 lakh students across Maharashtra enrol in 994 government and private ITIs. In two years, students get trained in more than 100 skills including turners, fitters, computer application, artificial intelligence and machine learning. After completing ITI, the majority pursue a two-year polytechnic diploma of which about 10% go on to earn engineering degrees.

In a bid to facilitate placements, the state has not only opened doors for its youth to gain international exposure but also global exchange of knowledge and expertise, fostering economic growth through remittances. To that end, in September 2023, the first batch of 58 students from Maharashtra received job offers from employers based in Germany, Japan, UK and Finland. Six students have reached their respective destinations, while others are undergoing language training.

We have been sending our students overseas for a very long time, but the numbers are now increasing with intergovernmental programmes like Technical Intern Training Programme (TITP) with Japan, and others designed for ITI students by the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC). And yet, we are far behind compared to other developing countries, said Purshottam Wagh, former principal of Mulund ITI.

Harsh Patil, for instance, never imagined he would work in Japan. Son of a farmer from Raigad district, the 21-year-old is currently employed as Computer Numerical Control operator at the Sankei Giken Kogyo Co. Ltd., in Isesaki; the company manufactures and sells automobile and motorcycle parts.

Seven months ago, he secured the job under TITP, which involves on-job training for three to four years after which candidates return to India. Students earn 90,000 to 1,30,000 yen ( 50,000 to 72,000) monthly. While completing training at Industrial Training Institute (ITI) Panvel in Machinist branch in 2019, I learnt about TITP, and I applied for it in 2022, said Patil.

With a six-month basic course in Japanese language, good working conditions, and having adapted to the climate, food and culture, Patil has now applied for Specified Skill Worker (SSW)  a new residency status introduced by the Japanese government in April 2019.

To cater to the global demand of skilled labour and provide better opportunities to students passing from ITIs, the Ministry of Skills, Employment, Entrepreneurship and Innovation under the Maharashtra government has established an international placement centre called Maharashtra International.

Through the centre, the state government aims to facilitate easy passage of local talent overseas, through training, support for documentation providing helplines for students relocating and to raise awareness about foreign cultures.

Maharashtra skill development minister Mangal Prabhat Lodha said plans are on to establish five international employment centres in the state, through which over 3,500 students are expected to be employed.

India will also collaborate with 27 countries to create new job opportunities for our youth. Since employment is a worldwide issue, I request foreign diplomats in Maharashtra to support these efforts, said Lodha.

Maharashtra International plans to establish laboratories in additive manufacturing, mechanic electric vehicle, industrial robotics, advanced welding, computerized embroidery and designing, among others. A language laboratory will also be set up at an ITI in Govandi. Apart from this, the state government has also established 511 skill centres in 350 talukas across the state that will train youth in sectors such as construction, electronics, agriculture, food industry, tourism and hospitality. A minimum 30% of women will be provided skill development training, and approximately 50,000 young men and women will gain employment annually. Education provided in these centres will be relevant for the PM Vishwakarma Scheme to provide end-to-end support in 18 trades such as carpentry, tailoring, pottery etc.

Commenting on the states approach to promote skilled manpower in the global market, Chandrakant Salunkhe, president of SME Chamber of India and the Maharashtra Industry Development Association, said, While we are happy that the government is addressing problems of skilled manpower, it must also address issues of skilled manpower shortage faced by local small and medium enterprises (SME). Despite several communications, there has been no response from the government. Salunkhe added, As industries are going through a phase of automation, we are unable to get good engineers who can work in rural parts of the state. At present, SMEs are hiring most ITI holders. In view of this, the state while promoting Skill India should also focus on local employment along with global employment.

In its last published Global Skill Gap Report in April 2020, the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) predicted 26.34 lakh jobs for Indians, with the maximum jobs in the construction sector (11.70 lakh) followed by wholesale and retail trade, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (4.23 lakh), real estate, rental and business services (2.83 lakh). Ved Mani Tiwari, chief executive officer, NSDC, stressed the need for cultivating future-driven skillsets to effectively navigate through the integration of machines and humans.

NSDC candidates from tier 2 and 3 cities are willing to relocate abroad for better opportunities. Since pay scale in Gulf countries is low owing to labour supply from Pakistan and Bangladesh, we are now focusing on European countries and Japan, said Tiwari. We are spreading our network to 15 countries and aim to soon reach 30 countries. Though demand is not an issue, we are focusing on trained skilled labour.
Mumbai: A day after the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray slammed the party for not including former union minister Nitin Gadkari in the list. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Union minister Nitin Gadkari.(Anshuman Poyrekar/HT Photo)

Speaking at a meeting on Sunday, Thackeray said, We knew BJP because of Pramod Mahajan and Gopinath Munde. We had family ties with them and Mahajan was called the architect of the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance. Gadkari came later. We didnt know names like Modi and Shah. He (Gadkari) did a lot of good work by building the Mumbai Pune Expressway and 55 flyovers in Mumbai. He is a staunch BJP man, but his name is not included in the first list of candidates. He also wondered how Kripashankar Singh, who is accused in a disproportionate assets case, was included in the BJPs first list of candidates.

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Also Read | BJP releases 1st list of 195 candidates. Who is contesting from where?

Thackeray said that Maharashtra plays a key role in the formation of any government in Delhi, and the Shiv Sena and the BJP won 42 seats in the previous election, paving the way for an NDA government at the Centre. Claiming that the NDA would not have crossed 250 seats without the seats from Maharashtra, he said, This time, BJP has given a slogan of Ab ki baar, 400 paar, but I say, Ab ki baar, BJP tadipar (fugitive).

Thackeray said though the BJP has all the resources, the public was on his side. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj used guerilla tactics, but he didnt ditch any friend. Does the BJP do anything that Shivaji preached? We will cast off the tomb of dictatorship in Maharashtra, he said. He also warned the BJP against tampering with EVMs, failing which there would be an uprising in the country. I go amidst people and sense the anger, he said.

Claiming that he was not against Modi, but against dictatorship, he said, We want democracy and hence we are giving an alternative. We may have differences (with socialist parties present at the meeting), but we have come together to save democracy. He also criticised the prime minister for not going to strife torn Manipur, yet finding time to go to Lakshwadeep.
A team of the Jharkhand CID on Sunday began a probe into to Saturdays horrific gang-rape of a Spanish woman in Dumka district even as three persons have been arrested in connection with the incident. The Jharkhand police have arrested three persons in connection with the Dumka rape case. (PTI)

The CID team, led by assistant director Santosh Kumar, reached at Kurmarhat village under Hansdiha police station on Sunday morning and visited the crime site in Kunji area.

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The incident had happened when the Spanish woman and her husband, who had been on a bike tour in India, were staying at a temporary camp in the area on Friday night. The CID team also inspected the site in the forests where the incident of rape took place.

Also Read | Thank God we are alive: Spanish tourist who was gangraped in Jharkhand

The team also interacted with the police officers and personnel who first met the Spanish woman and her husband after the incident and who took them to the hospital.

Meanwhile, a separate team of the forensic science laboratory (FSL) of Ranchi, which also reached Kurmahat on Sunday, collected evidence from the site.

The team, led by Dr Robin Minz, assistant director (Forensic) of the Jharkhand police and comprising others including Dr Jehangir Imam and Dr Abhishek Sahu, collected a wristwatch, broken parts of a helmet and clothes from the site.

Also Read | Spanish woman gangrape: NCW chief slams US writer for calling India unsafe

Another forensic team led by Nitish Baraik, which reached from adjoining Jamtara district, also carried out an inspection of the site.

A team of the special branch of the state police led by Plair Kisku, DSP, which also reached the village and took details from police officials.

Meanwhile, a Dumka court on Sunday sent the three arrested persons--Rajan Marandi, Pradip Kisku and Sukhlal Hembrom-- to judicial custody. They were produced in the court of judicial magistrate Sarthak Sharma. The police lodged a case of gang-rape against them.

The trio who are between the age of 20-30 were arrested by police as per the inputs received from the Spanish woman.

Their medical examination was conducted on Saturday in Phulo Jhano Medical College after which they were Kept at a highly secured place at Hansdiha Police station for some time.

Their medical fitness test was again conducted on Sunday afternoon after which they were sent to jail.

Police, meanwhile, conducted intensive raids at different places of the district after registering an FIR on seven persons on the basis of a three-page complaint of the Spanish woman, who is a vlogger.

Repeated efforts to contact Pitambar Singh Kherwar, Dumka superintendent of police (SP) and Santosh Kumar, sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Jarmundi, who is heading the probe team failed as police evaded media interaction.
Assam education minister Dr Ranoj Pegu has assured to award full marks to each student if the allegations of out-of-syllabus questions in the class-10 final examination are proven to be true. Assam Education Minister Ranoj Pegu has assured that if allegations of out-of-syllabus questions in the HSLC or Matric Mathematics paper examination conducted by the Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) turn out to be true, all students will be awarded full marks for those.(Posted on X by @ranojpeguassam)

Students in some parts of the state on Friday alleged some of the questions in mathematics paper were out-of-syllabus and they may lose at least 25 out of 100 marks without their faults.

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This raised a concern and many other students later claimed that they faced the same during the examination.

Addressing the media on this issue, Pegu said that a departmental probe has been launched, and the final decision will be taken once they get the report.

"The Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) has been directed to examine the matter. If the allegations are true, each of the students will get these 25 marks," he said.

The class-10 final examination, also known as High School Leaving Certificate (HSLC) is conducted by the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA) in Assam. The examination started on February 16, where a total of 4,25,965 students from across the state are sitting.

On the first day of the examination, a case of question paper leak was reported from Cachar district.

The question paper of the 'General English' subject was found circulating on WhatsApp a few minutes after the examination started. According to some media reports, it was leaked from Cachar's Nenamiya School.

A team of police and other officials reached the spot. Four persons, including a teacher, were detained by the police in this connection.

However, the education minister denied the allegations. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter, "The reports of HSLC examination question paper leak in Cachar District are fake. Authorities are currently probing the origins of this false news and will enforce legal measures accordingly."
A student who allegedly leaked the Urdu language question paper in the Haryana class 12 board examination was apprehended, police said on Saturday. HBSE Haryana Board Exam: Class 12 student apprehended for leaking Urdu paper (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

The class 12 student was, however, let off on bail after he joined the investigation, they said.

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After a copy of the question paper of Urdu went viral on social media on Friday, the Haryana School Education Board cancelled the test.

Police said an FIR was registered against the student who leaked the paper, his relative Mushtaq, examination centre supervisor Anwar Hussain, Superintendent Ravindere Kumar and observer Vikram under relevant sections of the Haryana Public Examination Act, Section 188 (disobedience of an order duly promulgated by a public servant) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC at Nuh Sadar Police Station.

The question paper was leaked from Government Senior Secondary School Examination Centre Tapkan (B-2) of Nuh on Friday.

A team of the Board's District Question Paper Flying Squad, Nuh reached the spot and caught the candidate.

The centre superintendent, observer and supervisor were relieved from duty with immediate effect and the charge of the examination centre was handed over to the working deputy centre superintendent, police said.
The schedule for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG is likely to be changed depending on the Lok Sabha elections schedule, according to UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar. As informed by UGC Chairman Jagadesh Kumar, the schedule for the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) UG is likely to be changed depending on the Lok Sabha elections schedule. The tentative schedule is from May 15,

The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Tuesday announced that the exam would be conducted from May 15 to 31 and the results declared on June 30.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

India is gearing up for general elections to elect its 18th Lok Sabha, the schedule for which is likely to be announced this month.

"The dates announced by the NTA are tentative. Once the election dates are announced, the NTA will finalize the CUET UG dates. The tentative schedule is from May 15," University Grants Commission (UGC) chief Kumar told PTI on Sunday.

Also read: UPSC CSE Prelims 2024: Application window closes soon, here are 7 points to remember before applying for exams

The application process for CUET-UG began on Tuesday and will conclude on March 26.

Introduced in 2022, the CUET-UG provides a single-window opportunity to students seeking admission in any of the central universities or other participating organizations, including state, deemed, and private universities, across the country.

Marking a shift, the NTA has announced that the exam would be conducted in a hybrid mode  Computer Based Test for a few subjects and in pen-and-paper mode for others.

Also read: CUET UG 2024: Submitted your application forms? Heres what you need to know about the structure of examination

Officials had said that for subjects having a high number of registrations, the exam will be conducted in the pen-and-paper mode using the optical mark recognition (OMR) format. For others, it will continue to be computer-based.

Last year, the testing agency received approximately 14.9 lakh registrations for CUET UG.
The Joint Entrance Examination Council, Uttar Pradesh or JEECUP, will close down the extended registration cum application process for the Uttar Pradesh Joint Entrance Examination (UPJEE) Polytechnic on March 4. Candidates must submit their entrance exam application forms on jeecup.admissions.nic.in. Previously, the last date to submit the applictaion form was February 29. How to apply for JEECUP 2024: Steps to register for UP Polytechnic entrance exam

Direct link to apply for JEECUP 2024

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The entrance exam at UP Polytechnic is set for March 16, 2024March 22, 2024. Admit cards for UPJEE 2024 will be released on March 10. The exact date, time and reporting time for the examination, among other details, will be available on the admit card. The exam answer keys will be published on the website on March 27.

JEECUP 2024: How to apply for the UP Polytechnic entrance exam

Visit the official website of UPJEE, jeecup.admissions.nic.in.

On the homepage, click on the Apply link

Enter the login credentials

Your login credentials will be generated.

Log in and proceed to fill out the application form.

Fill out your form, pay the application fee, upload documents and submit your form.

Download the confirmation page and save a copy for further use.
On March 3, 2024, BLACKPINK's Lisa again rose to the top of social media trends when she was spotted at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour Day 2 show. Just a day ago, she lent support to her fellow K-pop industry colleagues and the boy group SHINee. The Thai rapper is making the most of her Singapore sojourn as she hits two concerts in a row. BLACKPINK's Lisa attends Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Singapore on March 2. (Instagram)

Her flight touched down at Singapore Changi Airport on February 29. Speculations about her attending Taylor Swift's concert in the Southeast Asian country arose instantly. However, she first dropped in at the SHINee World VI Perfect Illumination concert, held at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on March 2. As a keen supporter of both - the Korean music act and the American songwriter - Lisa was in for luck as Swift's concert venue - Singapore National Stadium - is within walking distance of the aforementioned venue.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Also read: Taylor Swift's Singapore Eras Tour Day 1: Rep TV chaos, new surprise songs

Lisa at Taylor Swift's Eras Tour in Singapore

Fan videos of the K-pop star flooded X (formerly Twitter) as Swifties spotted her at the concert venue. Lalisa Manobal sported an all-black outfit with a mini skirt and a hoodie. The LALISA hitmaker's tour manager, Alice, accompanied her and can be seen in the video alongside her.

A month ago, Lisa's bandmate, Rose, also had a ball at an Eras Tour concert in Tokyo. She, too, went viral for belting along to the Red songstress' tunes (especially All Too Well) on February 7. Eventually, she shared a TikTok video of her and a friend having a good time at Tokyo Dome.

Taylor Swift mutually shared the sentiments during a previous BLACKPINK performance at the 2022 VMAs. In addition to jamming out to their popular banger Pink Venom, she even shot a TikTok video with Dylan O'Brien and Rina Yang earlier, with the same song blaring in the background. Later that night, Taylor snapped a picture with Rose at the VMAs after-party.

Lisa's solo activities:

As BLACKPINK members are out in the world carving their own artistic paths before reprising their group activities again, Lisa's recently made quite the headlines. On February 8, she announced the launch of her exclusive label, LLOUD. Not only that, she's also ready to take Hollywood by storm. She'll be making her acting debut in the upcoming third season of HBO's The White Lotus. The series is expected to premiere sometime in 2025.
It was a case of cat versus mouse inside a Sunshine Coast home this week but instead of a mouse the cat was hot on the tail of one of the most dangerous snakes in the world.

Brandon Gifford from Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 told Yahoo News Australia he got the callout to Burpengary on Tuesday.

They saw the cat chasing the snake and then the snake went under the door into the garage, he explained. So they just threw heaps of towels at the door and prayed he couldnt get back in.

Venturing into the garage himself, Gifford feared it would be like searching for a needle in a haystack.

The red bellied black snake was spotted inside the shoe when it poked its tongue out. Source: Facebook

Its hard in garages and I was starting to be like, far out, this is going to be tricky, he said. But then this little forked tongue flicked out of a shoe and he gave himself up.

Picking up the Vans shoe and angling it towards the ground, a one metre long "highly venomous" red-bellied black snake shot out and Gifford grabbed him.

I was impressed with that, the snake catcher said. Like the size of the red belly to the size of the shoe, like how well he was hiding.

We see them all the time in tight spaces but he was bigger than I thought he was going to be when he came out of the shoe.

Boom in snake catches

The incident comes just days after Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7 reported its busiest day in the businesss eight-year history amid a surge in snake activity.

We had 43 or 44 call outs, it was ridiculous, Gifford said. But when they said to me, we broke the record, I was like, I can believe it.

He put it down to the combination of consistent wet weather and high temps.

In those eight years, there was probably four years of Australias worst drought, so I guess its just a bounce back from that, the snake catcher explained. Now all the food resources are available to them and theyre out, theyre active, theyre healthy, theyre breeding, and theyre all cruising around and living life.

Story continues

Its all part of a snakes repopulation programme ahead of the next El Nino event when theyll get smashed again.

They kind of get the numbers up, so the population doesnt get decimated by the next big drought.

Safety messaging falling on 'deaf ears'

With snake activity not due to slow down until April when temperatures start to drop, Gifford is urging people to be wary, saying time and time again theyre making simple mistakes.

The number one thing Ive noticed lately is that garage doors are being kept up and doors are being left open, he said, adding that the message appears to be falling on deaf ears.

But definitely the garage door is one I think people dont realise, and then the door leading to their house has that little space through which snakes can go under. Thats another way theyre getting in a lot.

Along with keeping doors closed, keeping a property neat and tidy is also important, and that includes mowing the lawn and clearing rubbish away.

We say it all the time, but you can see the places clearly as to where a snake might reside a little bit more, rather than just pass through.

Gifford is one of Australia's busiest snake catchers, pulling out reptiles from all sorts of places. Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers 24/7

Dont forget to check your shoes

For someone who grew up on a farm and is used to seeing reptiles in his gumboots, Gifford said the message of the moment is to definitely check your shoes.

On top of the deadly discovery in Burpengary, one of the snake catchers colleagues found one in a pair of shoes on a verandah last week.

For a snake, that [hiding in shoes] is literally just making yourself feel as tight and cramped into a crevice as possible. They just want to curl up in a nice dark little cavity and the shoe is actually like the most perfect little space for a snake to feel safe in.

Which is exactly what theyre trying to do out in the bush when you think of it. Theyre going into little hollows a lot, and thats exactly what the shoe replicates for them.

So, next time you go to put on a shoe, think first.

Putting your finger straight into picking up your shoe up is something I do every day, but if a snake is in there and is scared, itll give you a nip on the fingers, Gifford said.

So be careful how you approach picking up your shoes, and always check for snake or a spider before you put them on.

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For four decades, Puvarti has been enveloped in a mutinous silence.

It is an isolation that is all too evident. The homes are all thatched, far and wide apart, the bamboo walls held up by unstable logs of wood, shrouded in the dense foliage of the inhospitable forest. There are no handpumps, no electricity poles, just darkness in the night; no officials of the district administration have ever ventured this far. There is no school, no hospital, not even a gram panchayat building. It has rarely, if ever, heard the growl of a motorcycle; the only path to the village of a thousand people was a thin, narrow, unpaved clearing through the overgrowth. Around 120 kilometres away from the closest district headquarters, Puvarti was impenetrable.

Until the morning of February 16, when it heard the sounds of 3000 security personnel march towards the village. They wore different fatigues, and stripes on their uniform. Some were from the Central Reserve Police Force; others from the state police. Some carried the infrastructure to set up a police camp; all carried weapons. The silence was broken.

The attention had been coming. Puvarti is on the border of Sukma and Bijapur districts of Chhattisgarhs Bastar range, the arena of a deadly battle between the security forces and the banned CPI (Maoist); a battle once called Indias gravest internal security challenge by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in 2006, and the focus of every state and union government since Chhattisgarh was carved out of Madhya Pradesh in 2000. In Bastar, where the violence has been most severe, all seven districts, Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Dantewada, Bijapur, and Sukma are categorized as left wing extremism (LWE)  affected by the union government.

Also Read | Chhattisgarh: Maoist commander with a reward of 8 lakh surrenders in Sukma

Yet, even by those standards, Puvarti has always had special focus. For the Maoists, it is a village that they have always counted as part of their core liberated zone. For the security forces, it is the village they had thus far never been able to reach; the village that according to police records, is home to 23 Maoist cadre. And importantly, the village where 47-year-old Mandavi Hidma was born.

Known by various aliases, such as Hidmalu and Santosh, Hidma has been one of Indias most wanted men for close to two decades. His name figures on the NIAs most wanted list, and the reward on his head, from across multiple central agencies and state police forces is over 1 crore. His name figures in the police records of every major Maoist attack on security forces. In 2011, when 75 CRPF men were killed in Tadmetla, Hidma was there. In 2017, when 37 died in two separate attacks in Sukma, ditto. Even in 2013, when the Congress leadership was wiped out in a Maoist attack in the Darbha valley, the police records say he was there.

For the Maoists, his life is already part of folklore. The tribal Mudiya boy from Puvarti that grew to head battalion number one of the CPI (Maoist), their largest and most aggressive guerilla military formation. Since 2022, while there has been little confirmation, some literature seized by the Chhattisgarh police have suggested that he has been promoted to the Central Committee of the CPI (Maoist), their highest decision-making body, likely the only tribal member in it.

Also Read | Anti-Maoist operations in Chhattisgarh intensified since Nov 2023: Police data

In many ways therefore, the advance by the security forces was not just tactical or territorial, it was psychological. The opening of the camp is significant because it happens to the village of Hidma, because of whom many others have joined the Maoists. All these years it was controlled by them, P Sunder Raj, Inspector General (Bastar) said two days after the establishment of the camp.

The symbolism was clear almost immediately. When the forces first arrived, among the first people they met, and photographed furiously, was Madvi Pojje, Hidmas mother. She asked for medical aid, and our forces got a doctor for her. Many villagers will now feel that if Hidma and other commanders cannot protect their own village, they too will soon be liberated, Sunder Raj added.

The Arrival

The groundwork had been laid weeks in advance. On January 29, security forces first set up a camp in Tekalgudem, three kilometres away. On the night of February 15, the advance began. An area of four kilometres around Puvarti was first cordoned-off, and then a security perimeter of 800 metres set up around the village.

They were careful, there had already been warning. Within a day of setting up the camp in Tekalgudem, the forces came under ferocious fire from the Maoists. When the encounter ended, three CRPF men were dead, and 15 others injured.

We learnt our lessons from Tekalgudem, and we were prepared. Even the journey of three kilometres was always going to be tough. The path had to be widened to ensure movement, one police officer at the camp said.

Also Read | Kanker Maoist encounter fake, say family members of 3 killed, police deny charge

At the break of dawn of February 16, 3000 security personnel  of the CRPF, the Chhattisgarh Polices Special Task Force and the District Reserve Guard  descended on the village. On February 17, a day after they set up the camp which will now be occupied by CRPF, the expected pushback came. We came under fire from a group of Maoists. We were expecting them, and we hit them back hard, a senior police officer said. This time, there were no casualties.

Since then, for the past 10 days, Puvarti has seen sights and sounds it has never seen before. The fortification of the camp has been incessant, aided by a 100 trucks, 400 motorcycles, 50 tractors and construction machines. The plan is to eventually begin to bring basic facilities to the village; handpumps, electricity, potable water, toilets. Puvarti was deprived of all this because of Maoists, the terrain and the dense forests. But that is what setting up security camps does. It helps us bring welfare schemes to them, which will in turn help people free themselves from the Maoists, Sunder Raj said.

But the immediate concern for the state is the security of its men. The area of control has to be widened, and a helipad constructed to aid the quick evacuation of any injured if there is an encounter. Most importantly, a pucca road from Tekalgudem to Puvarti has to be built. The road will be a challenge. Now that there are a huge number of security forces in Puvarti, the threat of a camp attack is limited. But the Maoists always attack during road construction which requires our forces to leave the camp in road opening parties (ROP), or vehicles that can be targeted with IEDs. That is our next goal, a senior police officer said.

Life inside Puvarti

It is 2pm on February 23, and even if the expanse of Puvarti is barely four kilometres, there are two different worlds. One is a beehive of activity, where civil contractors are surrounded by watchful security personnel carrying weapons, frenetically constructing a helipad. The other is filled with the quiet of the mud homes of residents, nearly all of them empty. The village has eight settlements  known locally as paaras  and of these, security personnel are camping in three. Around each, trenches have been dug to mount weapons. Most attention is focused around the paara that has the hut in which Hidma was born, with 500 security personnel camped next to it.

Most men, except the children and the elderly, left the night the ground began to rumble. Sitting beneath a thatched roof, a group of women watch the events around them nervously, whispering to each other in Gondi. The men are in fear. Some of them come in the night, and leave early in the morning. The security forces have assured them that they are free to do their farming, and will give them everything they need. But people are afraid, and for now, are not staying, said 38-year-old Kadti Jogi, a resident of the village.

The police reach out to the women when they can, asking them to persuade their husbands to stay. But we can only ask. There is nobody we know in the village, and it feels strange and lonely despite all the activity, Jogi said.

In one corner of the village, there is a patch of six acres of land that the villages have always known as belonging to the party, their term for the CPI (Maoist). It is here that Maoists grew vegetables that would feed their cadre if they were camped close by. The security forces tell us to use the land and take the vegetables. But even that fills us with fear, one villager said.

One among the group of women speaks out, a little louder than the rest. Her voice is afraid of the future, but that fear elicits some anger. Who knows what will happen now? We want to work in our fields, farm and be left alone. The security forces are offering us help, and hopefully the men will return soon, said Bajam Ayte.

A few paces away, 100 metres south of the hut where Hidma was born, a small unit of 20 CRPF jawans have set up camp. On the ground, on two plastic sheets, two of them are sleeping on the ground under the shade of a tamarind tree, their weapons never more than an arms length away. Sleep has been hard to find, and they take turns. The other 18 are wide-eyed and awake, starting at any movement. Two of them have mounted their AK-47s on the broken mud wall of a home.

The unit commander said that the work around them has been frenetic. In the last few days, three handpumps have been bored, and medical camps have been established. We have brought solar lights, and in the next few days, two anganwadi centres will be established. Plans for a school are underway, and we are guarding officials from the Sukma district headquarters who are working day and night. The aim is to send a message that we are with you, and the Maoists have no place, the commander said.

Every half an hour, there is the hum of a helicopter overhead, or of drones that are surveilling the terrain for any sign of Maoist movement. We have to constantly sanitise for IEDs in a five kilometre radius, the commander said.

With the CRPF men is one jawan of the district reserve guard (DRG), a separate unit of the state police across the seven districts of Bastar that among their recruits, has surrendered Maoists. The jawan is one of those men that served time as a rebel as a young man, and grew up with stories of Hidmas legend. No one had ever imagined that a camp will be established in Puvarti, the DRG jawan said. But his knowledge of the Maoists  the rationale for the DRG that first started in 2008 was that surrendered Maoists had an intuitive understanding of the organisation, terrain and the language  means that he knows that a riposte is coming. I know something big is going to happen. I know Hidma and his strategic ability.

Next to him, the unit commander speaks slowly, but firmly. Let him come. We are waiting.
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) president Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday paid a visit to Hyderabad's Rameshwaram Cafe in a bid to support and solidarity to the victims who got injured following an explosion at the famous cafe's Bengaluru branch which took place on Friday. Asaduddin Owais visited Hyderabads Rameshwaram Cafe (X/ @asadowaisi)

Read here: Rameshwaram cafe will reopen on Shivaratri

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Condemning the explosion, Asaduddin Owaisi said the blast was an act of cowardice and an attack on India's values. He also noted that the cafe was named after former President APJ Abdul Kalam's birthplace, Rameshwaram.

"Visited Hyderabad's @RameshwaramCafe in solidarity. The food was lovely & it's very important to remember that the Cafe is named after APJ Abdul Kalam's birth place. #RameshwaramCafeBlast is an act of cowardice and an attack on India's values," he said while sharing some photos of his visit to the cafe on X (formerly Twitter).

A blast rocked the Rameshwaram Cafe, located in Bengaluru's Whitefield, during the bustling lunch hour on Friday, caused by a low-intensity improvised explosion device (IED). At least nine people were left injured due to the blast.

The Bengaluru central crime branch on Saturday detained four people in connection with the IED blast, and the police force said that they are close to identifying the prime accused in the case.

Read here: Bengaluru blast: This techie from Bihar was in Rameshwaram Cafe. His mother called and then

Earlier on Saturday, Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah visited the injured in the hospital and assured them that the government would cover their medical expenses. "Government will bear the treatment charges of all the patients. Around ten people are injured. Three are here in the Brookfield Hospital and six others are admitted in Vydehi Hospital. I am also going there. The patients are recovering and responding very well to the treatment," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed the Siddaramaiah government over the incident saying that it should take strong action against the accused. The Leader of Opposition in Karnataka Assembly, R Ashoka said that the ruling Congress party needs to change its mindset and strictly take action against such nefarious elements who are trying to destabilize the law and order situation in the state.

The founder and CEO of Rameshwaram Cafe Raghavendra Rao, meanwhile, said the cafe will reopen to the public on March 8 on the occasion of Mahashivratri. The incident occurred on Friday. Rameshwaram Cafe will be reborn on next Friday, on the occasion of Shivratri," he said.

Highlighting the cafes longstanding presence since its establishment in 2012 near Kumarapark, Rao also thanked people for showing support to the cafe and coveyed his strong regards for those who got injured.

Read here: Rameshwaram bomb blast victim recounts horror: Heard sound and lost consciousness

"I want to convey my strong regards to people who have got hurt. I wanted to say that we are with them, their family. One woman lost her eyes, and we are there with her. We are with our staff, four or five people, who are hurt very badly. We need all your blessings to show what is the power of youth and to say we are Indians and we are no less than anybody. We're going to launch on Friday with a good bang. And we need all of your support... I request the government of Karnataka and India to make sure that this incident should not happen anywhere in India," he said.

(With inputs from ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced its senior leader and former minister Eatala Rajender as its candidate to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Telangana from Malkajgiri parliamentary constituency. Eatala Rajender (HT)

Rajenders name figures among the nine candidates in the first list of candidates from Telangana released by the BJP central election committee in the evening.

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At present, the BJP has four sitting MPs, but the party retained only three MPs for the second successive term  Bandi Sanjay from Karimnagar, Dharmapuri Arvind from Nizamabad and G Kishan Reddy from Secunderabad. The party kept in abeyance the candidacy of the fourth sitting MP, Soyam Bapu Rao from Adilabad.

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MP BB Patil, who resigned from the party and joined the BJP on Friday, has been given the ticket from his Zaheerabad constituency.

Two other former BRS MPs  Konda Vishweshwar Reddy and Bura Narsaiah Goud  have been given the party tickets for Chevella and Bhongir parliamentary constituencies.

Meanwhile, BJP has not taken any decision yet on joining the alliance of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Jana Sena Party (JSP) in Andhra Pradesh.

On Saturday, BJP national organising secretary Shiv Kumar held a series of discussions with party state unit president Daggubati Purandeshwari, former BJP president Somu Veerraju and others on the strategy to be adopted in Andhra elections.

We are expecting the party national leadership to take a call on the alliances in a day or two, senior BJP leader and former MP CM Ramesh said.
Karnataka deputy CM DK Shivakumar on Sunday hit out at the BJP over its demand for CM Siddaramaiah's resignation in the wake of the Bengaluru blast, saying they should see the mirror. DK Shivakumar (PTI)

"They want resignation? We will send them whatever resignation they want. They are just doing politics and spoiling the image of Bengaluru. What all has happened in Karnataka during their times, they should see the mirror. If they are hurting Karnataka, they are hurting the country and themselves...," said Shivakumar as quoted by news agency ANI.

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ALSO READ| Bengaluru blast: This techie from Bihar was in Rameshwaram Cafe. His mother called and then

About the explosion at Bengalurus cafe and the main suspect

An IED blast rocked Bengaluru's The Rameshwaram Cafe, in Whitefield on Friday. 10 people were injured in the blast.

In the matter, Bengaluru central crime branch detained four people on Saturday. As per a police source, they may have helped the person who placed the bomb at the cafe.

The main suspect is a man who ordered idli at the cafe. Police have found CCTV footage that shows the suspect entering the cafe. While investigation is underway, the main suspect is still at large.

The police are trying to figure out the phone number of the suspect. There were 500 active numbers in use in the area at the time of the explosion.

The suspect allegedly travelled in a bus going from Banashankari to ITPL. He got on the Volvo bus number KA-57-F 186 near Kundalahalli and alighted at the CMRIT College stop.

ALSO READ| Bengaluru auto driver arrested for allegedly raping customer and killing her: Report

BJP's accusations over the blast

BJP's Rajeev Chandrashekhar suspects there's a connection between 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogans raised recently in the state and the explosion.

"Pakistan Zindabad slogans were raised and then, after two days, an IED explosion rocked the Rameshwaram cafe in Bengaluru. There is a connection between these two," he said.
On March 2, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced candidates for 12 of the 16 seats it will contest in Kerala  the remaining four of the 20 parliamentary constituency seats in the state will go to other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) constituents.

Rajeev Chandrasekhar has been fielded from Thiruvananthapuram to take on Sashi Tharoor. Chandrasekhar has little clout over the constituency though it has considerable BJP votes. He owns Keralas topmost news channel Asianet.

Anil Antony, the son of veteran and now retired Congress leader AK Antony, has been fielded from Pathanamthitta where Christian votes are crucial. The candidate in Congress MP Rahul Gandhis Wayanad seat was not announced in this list.

BJP state president K Surendran said that the party feels the fight in Thrissur is prestigious and has deputed Suresh Gopi  their 2019 candidate who lost, though he garnered over 290,000 votes  as the Malayalam film star has enormous public support and charisma.

The angry young man of Malayalam cinema is BJPs best bet in the progressive state.

For the actor-turned-politician, the summer now looks crucial, and the steps he takes in both film releases and politics have the potential to make lasting impressions. Varaham, the mystery drama set for release by the middle of April, will be the politicians 257th film.

With Gopi in the running, Thrissur will see a three-cornered contest with sitting Congress MP T N Prathapan and CPI leader V S Sunil Kumar, who represents Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF).

Gopis campaign has already begun: BJP activists have scribbled on nearly every empty wall in Thrissur in central Kerala to seek votes for the angry cop who, for over three decades, has repeatedly taken on almost all villains of the Malayalam tinsel world. This, even before the Election Commission has made any announcement of dates, and before the BJP released its first list of candidates.

In January, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Thrissur twice, projecting Gopi as the chosen leader. On each occasion, he told the constituency that Gopi was the only one who could represent it properly.

On January 3, Modi conducted a roadshow in Thrissur with Gopi and BJP state president K Surendran accompanying him in the open jeep. Then, he attended a sizable women's gathering of the party, demonstrating how much significance the party gave to Gopi and Thrissur this time.

On January 17, Modi visited Thrissur again, to attend the marriage of Gopi's daughter Bhavya, which was solemnised at the famous Guruvayur Sri Krishna temple. Now, more national BJP leaders are set to descend in Thrissur, making the electioneering there a high-voltage one.

Will all these significant efforts undertaken by the BJP help Gopi, a former nominated member of Rajya Sabha, to wrest Thrissur at least with a thin margin?

Gopi's pull

Thiruvananthapuram-born Gopi debuted in Mollywood as a child artist and became popular in the mid-1980s as an anti-hero. He gained a fan following after depicting the role of the angry young man.

He bagged the National Award for Best Actor for his performance in the 1997 movie Kaliyattam, an adaptation of William Shakespeare's Othello.

Malayalam movie star Suresh Gopi often portrayed the role of the angry cop.(Image courtesy: cineshots.in)

Gopi's political beliefs have travelled the spectrum: he was active in the Students Federation of India, a left wing students organisation, during his college days; in 2006, he actively campaigned for his relative and Congress candidate MP Gangadharan in the Ponnani Assembly constituency as well as the CPI (M) candidate, veteran VS Achuthanadan, in Malampuzha. This was the first time a celebrity campaigned for both rival fronts, the United Democratic Front (led by the Congress) and Left Democratic Front (led by the CPIM) in Kerala. When asked about the conflict, Gopi said he admired both leaders. Since then, he has won Modi's trust. He was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2016.

Starting 2019, when he was made the BJP's candidate for the Lok Sabha elections, he has been travelling to every nook and cranny of Thrissur, mingling freely with people from different walks of life. The constituency has several beneficiaries of the charity organisation he established in memory of his daughter Lakshmy, who died in a road accident when she was an infant. Recently, he led an 18-kilometre padayatra to mount public opinion against a cooperative bank scam allegedly orchestrated by local CPI(M) leaders.

Gopi has also channelised a sizable portion of his MP local area development fund to Thrissur. Gopi is known to make high-decibel speeches, ending usually with a dramatic dialogue: I need this Thrissur, you should give me Thrissur, and I am grabbing Thrissur.

But Thrissur, known as the cultural capital of Kerala, still retains its preference for Congress-led UDF and CPI(M) )-led LDF, as the Hindutva ideology fails to find many takers there.

Yet 64-year-old Gopi, who recently celebrated the 34th wedding anniversary with Radhika Nair, says he has high hopes.

Accused of alleged harassment by a journalist

On October 28, 2023, Gopi was booked by the Nadakkavu police in Kozhikode under Section 354(A)(1)(i) of the Indian Penal Code for physical contact and advances involving unwelcome and explicit sexual overtures, after a journalists allegations of inappropriate behaviour.

The case was later altered to Section 354 of the IPC for assault or criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman.

The journalist, who works with a news channel, alleged that Gopi touched her inappropriately during a press briefing. The BJP leader later claimed that he placed his hand on the woman's shoulder in an act of affection and that if she felt mentally troubled over it, he would apologise for it.

On November 15, the actor was questioned for around two hours at the Nadakkavu police station over the incident. Dozens of party workers accompanied him to the station in an act of solidarity with him.

The BJP state leadership started cornering the complainant, alleging that she was part of a CPI(M) coterie.

Gopi moved the Kerala high court in January seeking anticipatory bail. The matter is pending in the court.

A pattern of behaviour?

In the meantime, his behaviour with another journalist in Thrissur was also brought under the scanner. At a special womens only screening of Gopi-starrer Garudan in Thrissur's Girija theatre on November 4, 2023, the actor, who was the chief guest, was mobbed by the audience during a public interaction. The movie was riveting, as Gopi played the role of a police officer after a hiatus. However, dramatic scenes unfolded outside the theatre after the screening.

After the photo shoot, a group of television journalists approached Gopi and asked him about the film. They also sought his response to a scathing editorial that the Catholicasabha, the Malayalam mouthpiece of the Thrissur Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, had published against his candidature in the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency.

Even as the interaction was on, a journalist tried to move towards the front row. However, on seeing her, Gopi advised her to keep her distance, saying he was terrified. No one should touch me. Please keep away from me, he said while walking towards his car. "Don't deny me my right to a path. I will also file a case. Please don't block my way. I have the right to walk. Do you want to know the clause? he reportedly shouted at the journalists.

The female journalist at whom Gopis ire was directed, asked the actor the precise reason behind the police action against him at Nadakkavu.

In response, Gopi placed his hand on the shoulder of a male journalist after seeking his permission. The female journalist asked him to take responsibility for the Kozhikode incident. Gopi yelled at the journalist, asking her not to be overly smart.

The other journalists around did not intervene when an angry Gopi yelled at the woman journalist, often cutting her off mid-sentence. She walked away, even as the state, which saw the visuals, debated his behaviour.

The Network of Women in Media, a national collective of women journalists, issued a statement which pointed to the incidents in Kozhikode and Thrissur and called them professional harassment. For an on-duty journalist, even public space could be construed as a workplace, it stated.

Suresh Gopi at a recent political event(Photo from X)

The crucial Christian vote

The editorial in Catholicasabha's November issue was based on a statement that Gopi reportedly made. At a public meeting at Kunnamkulam (in Thrissur constituency) on October 31, he reportedly said, the people of Thrissur do not have to worry about Uttar Pradesh and Manipur as there are men to handle the issues there.

The editorial slammed the Central government, prime minister Narendra Modi, and Gopi for their apathy and criminal negligence in dealing with the Manipur riots, where tribal communities that practise the Christian faith are engaged in ethnic riots with other tribal communities that follow the dominant faith.

As the Lok Sabha elections approach, there is an attempt to conceal the Manipur issue. The political party that aspires to return to power at the Centre is making efforts in this regard, the editorial said.

Gopi's detractors are also alleging that the BJP-led Centre had a role to play in not doing enough to curb the anti-Christian ethnic violence in Manipur. However, the actor-turned-politician continues his outreach to the community at home. He recently made an offering of a golden crown to Our Lady of Lourdes statue at the Metropolitan Catholic Cathedral.

Gopi has not responded to the allegations in the editorial.

The Christians in Thrissur have traditionally supported the Congress, and while a section are supporters of Gopi's charity, political commentators wonder whether the support would convert into votes. And Kerala has never lenient towards actor turned politicians, said Anu Pappachan, writer and an assistant professor with Thrissur's Vimala College.

Gopi's behaviour with the lady journalist evoked widespread condemnation, but it may not turn into a deciding factor for or against him in Thrissur, she said. "The police are wilfully delaying investigation in the case and Gopi's rivals are not making it a campaign issue," Pappachan said.

Kerala is yet to give any gains for BJP in Lok Sabha elections so far, and in the case of Thrissur, influencing the Christian voters, who account for 24% of the electorate, remains a severe challenge.

Gopi unsuccessfully contested from Thrissur in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, and also tested his mettle in the last assembly election. In 2019, he won 293,822 votes giving a tough fight to Congress Prathapan. BJP leaders say he polled more votes than the partys 2014 candidate K P Sreesan.

However, in the assembly election, Gopi won 31.3% votes and facilitated the winning of CPI candidate over top Congress leader Padmaja Venugopal, the daughter of the late chief minister K Karunakaran.
Calcutta high court's Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay on Sunday announced that he would be resigning as a judge on Tuesday, adding that he will send his resignation letter to the President of India Droupadi Murmu, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, and chief justice of Calcutta high court TS Sivagnanam. Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay(Twitter)

While media reports suggested that Gangopadhyay would be joining politics, he refused to comment on it while speaking to journalists.

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I will resign from the post of Justice of Calcutta High Court on TuesdayI will send my resignation letter to the President of India and a copy of the letter to the Chief Justice of India and Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court. I do not want to say anything further on this today. I will speak, Justice Gangopadhyay told the media outside his residence, adding that he will address all media inquiries after submitting his resignation.

Who is Abhijit Gangopadhyay?

Born in 1962 in Kolkata, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay is presently serving as a Calcutta high court judge. Gangopadhyay attended Mitra Institution (Main) - a Bengali-medium school in Kolkata. He did his graduation from Hazra Law College during which he acted in a Bengali theatre. He last acted in a play in 1986.

After his college, Gangopadhyay began his career as a West Bengal Civil Service (WBCS) A-grade officer posted in North Dinajpur. He then quit the job and began practising as a state advocate in the Calcutta HC. He joined Calcutta HC as an additional judge in 2018 and was elevated to a permanent judge in 2020.

Gangopadhya's rulings on various education-related issues in the state have stirred political debates including the multi-crore teachers' recruitment scam in West Bengal. He had issued several directives instructing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe allegations of irregularities in the recruitment processes of teaching and non-teaching staff in state government-sponsored and aided schools.
New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has filed a charge sheet against seven persons in connection with the loot of arms and ammunition from the 2nd Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) in Manipur on August 3 last year, people familiar with the development said on Sunday. CBI/representative (File Photo)

Those named in the charge sheet, filed in a court in Guwahati, include - Laishram Prem Singh, Khumukcham Dhiren alias Thapkpa, Moirangthem Anand Singh, Athokpam Kajit alias Kishorjit, Loukrakpam Michael Mangangcha alias Michael, Konthoujam Romojit Meitei alias Romojit and Keisham Johnson alias Johnson, said people mentioned above.

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The premier anti-corruption agency had taken over the probe in the case on August 24, 2023, previously registered at Police Station Moirang, Bishnupur, by the local police.

Also Read: Militants who abducted cop in Manipur booked under UAPA

A large number of armed miscreants and individuals had looted around 300 arms, around 19,800 ammunition and around 800 types of munitions and other accessories from two rooms of battalion headquarters in Kote inside Quarter Guard, 2nd IRB, Naranseina in Bishnupur.

The federal agency is probing around 27 cases related to Manipur ethnic clashes, including 19 cases related to violence against women.

As many as 219 persons have so far been killed in the ethnic clashes that have roiled Manipur since May 2023. Manipur governor Anusuiya Uikey said on Wednesday that the state could lose 800 crore as revenue in the backdrop of the violence that has uprooted thousands and disrupted life for over nine months.

Uikey said that to maintain law and order, 198 companies of central armed police forces (CAPFs) and 140 columns of army have been deployed in the state while 10,000 first information reports (FIR)have been registered, and 1,87,143 people have been detained.

Clashes first broke out on May 3 last year in Churachandpur town after tribal Kuki groups called for protests against a proposed tweak to the states reservation matrix, granting Scheduled Tribe (ST) status to the majority Meitei community.

Violence quickly engulfed the state where ethnic fault lines run deep, displacing tens of thousands of people who fled burning homes and neighbourhoods into jungles, often across state borders. The authorities quickly clamped a curfew and suspended the internet, pumping in additional security forces to force a break in the spiralling clashes.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has been planning to prepare a comprehensive policy on the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) with an aim to prepare students for future jobs, and to foster creativity and innovation among them, officials aware of the development said. The logo of the Central Board of Secondary Education.(File)

According to officials, the plan was discussed during the CBSEs department of Skill Education meeting held in November last year, and it was decided to constitute a committee consisting representatives from higher education institutions IITs, NITs, ministry of electronics and information technology, stakeholders from leading industry promoting AI globally, and officials from the board.

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As per the minutes of the meeting, seen by HT, representatives from the AI-powered startups will also be part of the committee.

Also Read | What does Bill Gates think of India's efforts in field of AI? He says

The rapid advancement of AI is transforming the world, creating new opportunities, and challenges for students and educators alike. AI already has a significant impact on industries such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing and transportation, and is expected to play a greater role ahead. It is crucial that the students develop a strong foundation of AI skills to prepare for the jobs in futureIt is proposed that a comprehensive AI strategy for schools may be developed.., the board proposed during the meeting as per the minutes.

Officials said that soon the committee will be formed and work will begin on the proposal, and it is likely to submit the recommendations by the end of April 2024.

Also Read | Under-testing AI models must get govt permission before deployment: MeitY

According to the minutes, the committee will be mandated to make plans to develop AI skills among students and prepare them to compete for jobs in the 21st century economy.

The committee will prepare strategies for improving students learning outcomes using AI and digital creativity tools, and also focuses on promoting social inclusion by providing access to education and opportunities for students with disabilities, said a senior official from the board.

The policy will also provide professional development opportunities for teachers and educators. The policy will also provide a roadmap for industry and academic partnerships, the official added.

The strategies will be made keeping the long term and short term goals in mind, with a set target to achieve them at the end of first, third and fifth year, the official said.
Raipur: A Chhattisgarh police constable and a Maoist were killed in an encounter between security forces and Maoists in Bastars Kanker district on Sunday, according to a statement issued by police. (Representative Photo)

Constable Ramesh Kurethi, belonging to Bastar Fighters - a unit of state police, was killed in the gunfight. He was also a resident of Kanker district. A body of a Maoist and an AK-47 rifle were recovered from the spot, the statement reads.

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The gunfight took place in a forest near Hidur village under Chhotebethiya police station when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxal operation, said police.

Chhattisgarh police based on specific input about the presence of senior Maoist cadres in the Hidur forest area launched an operation in the forests. The team included personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, along with the Border Security Force (BSF) and district force.

According to the police, the gunfight is still ongoing in the forests. Search operation is underway in the area and more details are awaited, a senior police officer said.
Himachal Pradesh's disqualified Congress MLA Rajinder Rana took a vitriolic jibe at chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu over the disqualification of the six MLAs who cross-voted for the BJP candidate in the recently held Rajya Sabha polls. He said Sukhu has a small heart and a small mindset. Himachal CM Sukhvinder Sukhu and rebelled MLA Rajinder Rana(File )

Read here: Rajinder Rana, one of 6 expelled MLAs, explains why they rebelled in Himachal

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Rana said that he will challenge the speaker's decision of the disqualification of the rebel MLAs in the court as it was arbitrarily decided under pressure. "We will soon go to court because the Speaker has arbitrarily decided to disqualify these members under pressure. The law has not been given due consideration. The Chief Minister of the state has a small heart and a small mindset," he said to ANI.

Rana has also claimed that nine more party legislators feeling suffocated by Sukhus style of functioning were in touch with them.

In an interview with news agency PTI, Rana alleged that CM Sukhus friends were running the state government. He claimed that the elected representatives, especially the ministers, were feeling suffocated and humiliated.

He also termed Sukhu liar number one and alleged that he was trying to twist the facts.

Read here: High drama in Himachal cabinet as two ministers stay absent, two leave midway following heated debate

He further said that the MLAs who went against the grand old party have faced police actions against their supporters.

"Those legislators who engaged in cross-voting have faced police actions against their supporters in their homes. Those who had businesses have had their businesses shut down. Various pressures are being exerted on their supporters," he added.

In a defiant stand against perceived injustice, Rana emphasised the watchful eyes of Himachal Pradesh and the entire nation.

"The people of Himachal Pradesh and the entire nation are watching what is happening here. We stand with the pride of Himachal Pradesh, and we will not let their pride be hurt, and we are not going to negotiate with them," he added.

Read here: 9 more Himachal MLAs in talks with us: Congress rebel Rana

The political turmoil unfolded in Himachal Pradesh when the BJP claimed that the Sukhu-led government was in minority after the former won the state's lone Rajya Sabha seat defeating Congress in an election marred with cross-voting.

However, Sukhu affirmed that his government was in the majority and would complete its five-year term. Congress had deputed Bhupesh Baghel, DK Shivakumar and Bhupinder Hooda as observers to speak to the party MLAs and then submit a report to president Mallikarjun Kharge.

Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who was sent as one of the Congress' observers to Himachal Pradesh amid the political turmoil, had said that Sukhu has accepted that some sort of failure happened within the government and MLAs during the Rajya Sabha polls and a coordination committee between the party and the government with five to six members has been formed to tackle the situation.

Congress MLA Vikramaditya Singh, who resigned and then withdrew his resignation, continues to keep the Congress top brass guessing. Singh maintained that he would not press the issue of his resignation but he travelled to Panchkula to meet the partys six rebel legislators, and then made his way to New Delhi amid speculation that he may be open to switching sides to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) earlier this week.

Read here: DK Shivakumar says CM Sukhu accepted 'some failure', Himachal Congress crisis over

Himachal Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kuldeep Singh Pathania disqualified the six Congress MLAs who cross-voted in the Rajya Sabha polls saying "Six MLAs, who contested on Congress symbol, attracted provisions of anti-defection law against themselves...I declare that the six people cease to be members of the Himachal Pradesh Assembly with immediate effect."

The six MLAs disqualified are Sudhir Sharma, Rajinder Rana, Davinder K Bhutto, Ravi Thakur, Chaitanya Sharma and Inder Dutt Lakhanpal.

(With inputs from ANI)
A household has had a lucky escape during wild storms early Saturday morning, with their property struck by lightning.

Remarkable photos show the damage caused by the lightning strike in Shell Cove, south of Wollongong, with the strike ripping tiles off their roof while piercing the ceiling in one of their rooms.

The lightning made several holes in the ceiling of the home. Source: SES Shellharbour City Unit

The residents thanked the SES for quickly patching up their roof, with a tarpullen placed over the top to prevent water getting in. Thankfully they were unharmed.

Locals shared their disbelief over the lightning strike, many commenting how loud the storm was. "No wonder it sounded close," one remarked after seeing the photos.

The damage caused to the exterior of the property. Source: SES Shellharbour City Unit

It comes two weeks after four people were struck by lightning sheltering under a tree from intense storms near Sydney Opera House. All four suffered burn injuries and "cardiac symptoms" and were taken to hospital in a stable condition, NSW Ambulance said. They had initially lost consciousness.

Thunder storm warning issued on Sunday

On Sunday, the Bureau of Meteorology issued a severe thunder storm warning further north moving towards Maitland, northwest of Newcastle. Residents are urged to prepare for damaging winds, large hailstones and heavy rainfall.

On the other side of the country, the north of WA was impacted by thunderstorms this weekend however a severe weather warning for Perth was cancelled due to conditions subsiding substantially. The city was expected to be hit by winds of close to 100km/h.

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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday carried out raids at 29 locations across Gujarat as part of its probe into syndicates smuggling people to the United States via Canada and Mexico, weeks after a man was arrested from the state in connection with a disturbing human trafficking case involving four individuals who died in a blizzard while being illicitly transported to the US via Canada on January 19, 2022. The FIRs were registered based on the complaint of the Enforcement Directorate this month (FILE PHOTO)

On February 21, the Chicago police apprehended Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, infamously known as Dirty Harry, in connection with the deaths of Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, his wife Vaishaliben, and their children Vihangi and Dharmik, whose frozen bodies were found near Emerson, Manitoba.

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The United States District Court, northern district of Illinois, has brought grave charges against Dirty Harry, accusing him of transportation of illegal aliens and conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien to the United States.

Also Read | NIA files charge sheet against three Myanmar nationals in trafficking case

People familiar with the development said the agency has taken up three trafficking cases being probed by the Gujarat Police against Bharatbhai alias Bobby Patel, Rajubhai Becharbhai Prajapati and Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, among others.

According to investigators, Dirty Harry is suspected to be linked to Bobby Patel, who was arrested by the Gujarat Police in December, 2022 but was let off on bail by a court in Ahmedabad.

Bobby Patel is under our scanner in the Dingucha (smuggling related deaths) case. We are analysing details of the US probe as well, an ED officer, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said.

Besides Gujarat, ED is also developing intelligence on human trafficking syndicates operating from other states such as Kerala, Punjab etc, the officer said, adding that the agency suspects that human trafficking rings send people to European countries like France, Spain, Estonia, or Canada and Nicaragua, etc and from there to Mexico and then they are forced to cross the border of America in an unlawful manner.

Also Read | Haryana tightens noose on travel agents, up to 10-year jail for human trafficking

The financial crimes probe agency has also found involvement of hawala operators and forex exchange companies in such cases, the officer said.

About Fridays coordinated raids on the illegal immigration syndicates, the first officer cited above said premises of certain kingpins, immigration consultants, auditors etc were searched and various documents including various original passports, identity cards and photographs of unknown individuals, property papers, digital devices, two luxury cars were seized while bank accounts of suspects, their relatives and companies were frozen.

The syndicates, a second officer said, used a modus operandi where they lured desirous individuals promising to settle them abroad for which they charged huge amounts.

In one of the cases taken up by ED, involving Bobby Patel, it is suspected that huge amounts were taken for sending Indian citizens abroad illegally based on bogus or fabricated documents for getting visa of different countries with duplicate or bogus passports used as genuine by impersonating the passengers wrongly, the second officer added.

The amount charged from one passenger ranged between 60 and 75 lakh; while a couple was between 1 crore and 1.25 crore, and couples accompanying children were charged between 1.25 crore and 1.75 crore, the officer added.

The first officer cited above said that the victims lured by the syndicates are from all strata of society, including opulent, middle-class, even from rural backgrounds and are in all age brackets.

The ED probe has also suggested that various overseas education institutes, who issued student visas to certain individuals who never joined, are also involved with the traffickers for creating bogus documents.
The protesting farmers will resume their agitation with a nationwide Rail Roko on March 10 from 12 pm to 4 pm, farm leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal announced on Sunday. The protesting farmers, who are camping at the border points between Punjab and Haryana, will begin marching towards Delhi on March 6 in a peaceful manner, the farm leaders said. Farmers' protest continues, nationwide Rail Roko called on March 10

Pandher and Dallewal, who were speaking in Punjab's Balloh village - the native place of a farmer who died recently during clashes - said that the farmers will intensify their agitation at the existing protest points till their demands are met by the Centre.

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The farmers from far away states, who cannot reach on tractor trolleys, should head to Delhi by trains and by other means of transport. It will also become clear whether the government allows those farmers to enter those farmers who go without tractor trolleysAt Shambhu and Khanauri, the agitation will continue like before and will be further intensified. Our agitation will continue till the demands are met, Pandher said.

He added that all the Punjab panchayats should pass a resolution in support of the farmers' demands, adding that the Centre is using all tactics to stop their Delhi Chalo march.

The Centre is trying to build a perception that the current agitation is limited to Punjab and the fight is led by only two forums. But we want to make it clear that more than 200 outfits in the country are part of the two forumsThe perception being created that the agitation may die down when Model Code of Conduct for the polls come into force is not correct. We may have to fight today, tomorrow, but we will continue to fight for our rights, the farm leader said as quoted by PTI.

Farmers protest

The Delhi Chalo march by more than 200 farmers' unions, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, began on February 13, to press the Centre to accept several demands. The farm bodies are demanding a law guaranteeing a minimum support price (MSP) - a condition they had set in 2021 when they agreed to withdraw their agitation against the now-repealed farm laws. They are also demanding the implementation of the Swaminathan Commissions recommendations, pensions for farmers and farm labourers, and farm debt waiver.

The protesting farmers have been staying put at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points between Punjab and Haryana after their agitation was stopped by the security forces.
In a shocking incident from Ghaziabad, a 55-year-old man named Bharat Singh allegedly killed his wife Sunita and kept her corpse at home for four days. Reportedly, neighbours found about the incident on Saturday when an allegedly intoxicated Singh confessed to killing his wife after unbearable stench started coming from his Ghaziabad home. The neighbours then informed police. In a shocking incident from Ghaziabad, a 55-year-old man named Bharat Singh allegedly killed his wife Sunita and kept her corpse at home for four days. (Representational picture)(File photo)

The horrible incident took place at a rented flat in Ambedkar Nagar in Ghaziabad. A senior police officer has revealed how neighbours found out about Sunita's death.

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"There was a foul smell emanating from the house. Neighbours who went there saw the body of the woman on the bed and alerted police," the police officer told The Times of India.

ALSO READ| Delhi Police sub-inspector shoots self in Madhur Vihar apartment

The report says that Singh allegedly killed Sunita on February 27 and stayed in the house for few days. ACP(Masuri) Naresh Kumar said that they received information about the body around 3pm on Saturday. Kumar shared that Singh was taken into custody and the body was sent for postmortem examination. The body had started decomposing.

Another police officer has said that it was second marriage for both Singh and Sunita. He added that the couple married two and a half years ago after staying in a live-in-relationship for several years. He further informed that Singh continued to provide financial assistance to his first wife despite the disapproval of Sunita. Singh's first wife frequently visited their house which often led to brawls between Singh and Sunita.

ALSO READ| Delhi man claims Ola driver slapped him twice in front of his son, shares video of hero who intervened

"On the night of February 27, a heated argument ensued, culminating in Bharat strangling Sunita. Bharat, employed as a salesman, refrained from leaving till Friday when he locked his main door and left for work," the officer said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a day-long meeting with his Council of Ministers on the vision document for Viksit Bharat 2047. The meeting comes a day after the party announced the first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha election in 2024. The Viksit Bharat vision document is steps ahead of the election as it is said to be a detailed roadmap to make India a developed nation by 2047 -- 100 years of Independence, with the NDA certain of getting a third term. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addresses a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers, at Sushma Swaraj Bhawan, in New Delhi on Sunday.(ANI )

At the meeting, Narendra Modi asked his minister to go all out to win people's support during the election. "We will meet again after winning (polls)," Modi was quoted as saying in the meeting, PTI reported.

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What is Viksit Bharat 2047: 10 points

1. At a media conclave, PM Modi recently said he has already prepared a roadmap for the coming five years which will be a period of landmark decisions. India will become the third largest economy in the world in the NDA's third term, PM Modi promised.

2. In the first step of the roadmap, there is a 100-day agenda for the new government. At Sunday's meeting, the immediate steps that will be implemented quickly after the new government is formed were discussed.

3. Viksit Bharat is a document prepared for the last two years taking input from all ministries. The ministries -- to prepare this roadmap -- consulted with state governments, academia, industry bodies, civil society, scientific organisations etc, news agency PTI reported citing government sources.

4. Viksit Bharat 2047 is a result of more than 2,700 meetings, workshops and seminars accommodating the suggestions of more than 20 lakh youths, PTI reported.

5. What are the wide goals of Viksit Bharat 2047? Economic growth, sustainable development goals, ease of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure and social welfare are the visions of the document.

6. At Sunday's meeting -- which could be the last meeting before the election -- the ministers brainstormed over the goals. Several presentations were made during the meeting. We will meet again after winning (polls), PM Modi said.

7. PM Modi told his ministers to go all out to win people's support during the polls.

8. What was PM Modi's brief for Viksit Bharat 2047? Plans that are clearly defined, measurable and actionable.

9. Though the vision document is ideas submitted by the ministries separately, Viksit Bharat 2047 adopts a whole-government approach.

10. For the election, Narendra Modi has set a target of 370 seats for the BJP alone and '400 paar' for NDA. At a rally in Madhya Pradesh, the prime minister said it would be possible if every BJP worker ensured 370 more votes in each booth.

(With PTI inputs)
The leaders of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), including Rahul Gandhi of the Congress, sounded the poll bugle when they gave a clarion Desh Bachao, BJP Hatao call to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party from power in the ensuing 2024 Lok Sabha elections at the Jan Vishwas maha rally of the Grand Alliance (GA) at the Gandhi Maidan in Bihars capital Patna on Sunday. INDIA bloc leaders join hands during the RJD's 'Jan Vishwas Maha Rally' at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday. (ANI)

Terming Bihar the political nerve centre of the country, Gandhi, who had flown in from Madhya Pradesh, taking a break from his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, said whenever there was a transformation in the country, it began from Bihar and then reached the rest of the country.

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He said there was an ideological war going on in the country. Referring to the BJP, Gandhi said, One party is trying to create hatred, but we are offering nafrat ke bazaar mein mohabbat (love amidst hatred).

There is hatred, violence and arrogance on one side and on the other side, there is love, respect and brotherhood... The INDIA Alliance can be understood in one sentence, Nafrat ke Bazaar mein Mohabbat ki Dukan..., he said.

He said the biggest reason for hatred was injustice. There was economic and social injustice... Even the Agniveer scheme was against the youths of the country, he said.

The Agniveers were not eligible for pension, canteen facility and didnt even get proper training. Yet, with just six months of training, they were pitted against the well-trained Chinese soldiers... One can imagine what will happen to them, said Gandhi.

The former Congress president accused the Narendra Modi government at the Centre of working for only two-three super-rich people and neglecting Dalits and backward classes who comprise 73 per cent of the population.

Lambasting Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar for his recent volte-face, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said, Those who are not strong ideologically, cannot fight (the BJP) and you (Tejashwi Yadav) should not take him in the party if he returns again....

Lauding Tejashwi Yadav for ensuring that jobs were created on a large scale during the 17-month-period he occupied the deputy CMs post, Kharge said, Your chacha (referring to Nitish Kumar) has done a flip-flop. He may do so again. But do not accept him henceforth. Notably, Kumar, who heads the JD(U), had allied with RJD-Congress and Left combine in August 2022, snapping ties with the BJP which he accused of trying to engineer a split in his own party.

Recalling Kumars first volte face in 2017, RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav said, I had not hurled any abuses at Nitish Kumar back then, only called him palturam (turncoat). The label has stuck to his persona by virtue of his own deeds. I can see funny videos about him on social media and wonder whether these do not drive him to shame.

Prasad said Kumar would get a dhakka (shove) if he again came to him after growing uneasy with the BJP.

Prasads younger son Tejashwi, whose just concluded state-wide Jan Vishwas Yatra saw its culmination in the rally, mentioned the Bollywood song idhar chala kabhi udhar chala... phisal gaya (sometimes goes here, sometimes there and slips) to target Kumar.

Prasad lambasted the Prime Minister for criticising parivarvad (dynastic rule) in politics.

Known for pulling no punches, the RJD supremo said, What can we do if Narendra Modi does not have a family of his own? He keeps bragging about the Ram temple. He is not even a true Hindu. In Hindu tradition, a son must get his head and beard shaved upon the demise of his parent. Modi did not do so when his mother died.

Those who addressed the rally earlier included Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, who said, UP (80 Lok Sabha seats) and Bihar (40) together have 120 seats. If we ensure the BJPs rout in these two states, the party will not be able to form the government at the Centre.

Left leaders Sitaram Yechury, D Raja and Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretaries of the CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML), respectively, denounced the Narendra Modi governments policies, alleging these were only benefiting big businesses, even as they praised Tejashwi Yadavs emphasis on job creation.

BJP spokesman Nikhil Anand said, When Laluji spoke at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, there was no crowd near the stage. RJD unsuccessfully tried an image make-over by mobilising opposition leaders across India. In the flop Jan Vishwas rally, leaders sang a collective elegy of INDI Alliance failure.

JD(U) chief spokesperson and MLC Neeraj Kumar said the opposition leader Tejashwi was trying to disassociate himself from the political sins of his father and the RJD in the midst of top GA leaders today.

You (read Tejashwi) said RJD is a  Mai- Baap ki party. Of course, it is, said Kumar, trying to imply that the RJDs bid to show itself as an inclusive party by coining the new term Mai-Baap (an acronym for Muslim-Yadav plus Bahujan, Agada (forward), Aaadhi (women) and poor, would only indicate the dynasty politics of the party.
New Delhi: Despite pressures, particularly from developed nations to reduce domestic support on agriculture and allowing them easy market access for their farm produce, India prevailed upon the lobby at the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Conference (MC13) of WTO, which was concluded on March 2, 2024 with two days of extension from the scheduled closing date of February 29. PM Narendra Modi with union minister Piyush Goyal

Credit goes to Narendra Modi government and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyals ability to withstand such international pressures to protect Indian agriculture and interests of Indian farmers. Global powers criticised India for a rigid position, and the same was reflected in a report by international news agency Reuters, which quoted European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. According to the report, Dombrovskis expressed disappointment over the lack of consensus on fisheries, agriculture and broader reforms, and singled out India for blame. His frustration is legitimate, but India could not sacrifice its national interest for building a global consensus, which would have benefitted the developed nations.

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Todays India is different -- both politically and economically -- than what it was about a decade ago, when it agreed to allow a peace clause  a crucial provision for India to support its farmers through schemes like minimum support price (MSP). At the Ninth Ministerial Conference (MC9) in Bali in December 2013, members agreed that the peace clause is an interim solution to public stockholding (PS) for food security purposes and a permanent solution would be found by 2017 (the 11th Ministerial Conference or MC11). Members agreed that the Peace Clause  vital for Indias MSP programme -- would remain in force until MC11 or 2017, and at that time the then commerce minister Anand Sharma was attending the conference. As all decisions of WTO are based on consensus, India at MC9 in Bali, agreed to lose the legal protection of peace clause available to it to run its MSP programme.

Also read: PM Modi to attend Pokhran wargame showcasing indigenous capabilities

Had the Modi government not intervened immediately after assuming power in May 2014, India would find it difficult, if not impossible to run its MSP programme, something crucial for Indian farmers. HT extensively reported that during the MC13 (February 26 to March 2, 2024), agriculture was the top priority of both India as well as Europe, where farmers are up in arms over issues like subsidies and market access. The most vital part of agriculture for Indian and its partners (almost 80 countries) was negotiations related to public stockholding (PSH) for food security. PSH is of key importance for two reasons  first, it involves procurement of food grains from farmers assuring them MSP for their produce if market prices fall; and second, grains are procured to provide free dry ration to over 810 million poor under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY), besides fulfilling obligation to distribute highly subsidised food items under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

Also read: View: PM Modi goes on hyper-drive, Opposition in disarray

WTO rules limit the subsidy that can be provided to such farm products being procured. The G-33 -- a coalition of developing countries including India and African groups, over 80 countries in total  is demanding a permanent solution to PSH for food security purpose while improving the ministerial decision adopted at the ninth ministerial conference (MC9) in Bali in December 2013, where members agreed to negotiate a permanent solution on this issue by the MC11 and in the interim, they agreed to exercise due restraint (also called the peace clause) in raising disputes in respect to PSH instituted before December 7, 2013, even if countries exceeded their permissible limits.

Also read: View: Unsettled LAC is Xi's pressure point on India to stay away from West

Unless the then commerce minister (current finance minister) Nirmala Sitharaman would have made efforts, India would have lost the shield of peace clause which by MC9 of Bali was to expire in 2017. On August 5, 2014, she informed the Parliament that India had decided not to join the consensus in the WTO on the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement till our concerns relating to the implementation of other Bali Ministerial Decisions, in particular, the Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes, were addressed. She worked hard on this crucial matter of Indian farmers and convinced the US to support Indias demand to continue this peace clause beyond 2017 by perpetuating it till the time a permanent solution is arrived at. After a firm stand taken by Sitharaman on this matter at the WTO, its general council (GC) in November 2014 extended the peace clause in perpetuity until a permanent solution is agreed and adopted. The MC10 at Nairobi endorsed the GC decision. However, no outcome was achieved on this matter in subsequent ministerial meetings (MC11 at Buenos Aires and MC12 at Geneva). Hence, Indian farmers remained protected even after MC13 at Abu Dhabi failed to resolve issues pertaining to agriculture.
External affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Saturday reacted strongly to a barb over India being a bully, saying that big bullies don't provide USD 4.5 billion in aid when neighbouring countries are distressed. Jaishankar's comments came as he was asked whether India was being a bully in the sub-continent and the Indian Ocean region, during a book launch event in the national capital. External affairs minister S Jaishankar.(File)

The big change today in this part of the world is what has happened between India and its neighbours. When you say India is perceived as a big bully, you know, big bullies don't provide four and a half billion dollars when the neighbours are in trouble. Big bullies don't supply vaccines to other countries when Covid-19 is on, or make exceptions to their own rules to respond to food demands or fuel demands or fertilizer demands because some war in some other part of the world has complicated their lives, Jaishankar said.

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Underscoring the work undertaken to enhance and improve connectivity between India and its neighbouring countries, Jaishankar said that trade, investments and travel with Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Maldives have seen a sharp uptick.

Today at the connectivity, just the volume of people moving up and down, the volume of the trade which is there, the investments which are there, it's actually a very, very good story to tell. Not just with Nepal and Bangladesh, with Sri Lanka as well, I would say even with MaldivesAnd Bhutan...I mean I don't want to miss them out because they have just been consistently strong partners, he said.

The minister added, You also have to look today at actually what is changed between India and its neighbours. Certainly, with Bangladesh and Nepal. I mean, today you have a power grid, you have roads which didn't exist a decade ago, you have railways which didn't exist a decade ago, and there's usage of waterways. Indian businesses use ports of Bangladesh on a national treatment basis.

(With inputs from ANI)
The Bharatiya Janata Party replaced as many as 33 sitting MPs with new faces as it released its first list with names of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. In what can be seen as a message for controversial leaders from the BJP high command, several notable figures such as Parvesh Verma, son of former Delhi CM Sahib Singh Verma, former Union minister and Hazaribagh MP Jayant Sinha, Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur, and South Delhi MP Ramesh Bidhuri, who allegedly made communal remarks in Parliament, were missing from the party's first list of candidates. Bhopal MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur(File)

The BJP named five candidates for Lok Sabha seats in Delhi, four of them replacement of sitting MPs. The BJP has named Praveen Khandelwal as its candidate from Chandani Chowk Lok Sabha Sabha seat, dropping two-term MP and former Union minister Harsh Vardhan. For the West Delhi seat, BJP replaced two-term MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma with Kamaljeet Sehrawat. It named Bansuri Swaraj, daughter of late BJP leader Sushma Swaraj, as its candidate from New Delhi Lok Sabha constituency, currently held by Meenakshi Lekhi. From South Delhi, the BJP named Ramvir Singh Bidhuri as its candidate, dropping Ramesh Bidhuri.

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Also Read | Lok Sabha elections 2024: BJP releases 1st list of 195 candidates. Who is contesting from where? 10 takeaways

BJP's first Lok Sabha election candidate list: 4 big names missing

1. Sadhvi Pragya Thakur: The BJP has fielded Alok Sharma for the Bhopal seat in Madhya Pradesh, replacing incumbent MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur. During the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Thakur gained prominence as one of the 'giant killers,' securing victory over Congress stalwart Digvijaya Singh by an impressive margin of 3,64,822 votes. Despite her electoral success, Thakur's tenure has been marred by controversies. Prior to the 2019 polls, she sparked outrage by comparing Hemant Karkare, an Ashok Chakra awardee and former Maharashtra anti-terrorism squad (ATS) chief, to mythological figures Ravan and Kans. Her remarks on Karkare's demise during the Mumbai terror attacks further fueled controversy, leading to a show-cause notice from the Election Commission of India (ECI), prompting the BJP to distance itself from her.

Also Read | Lok Sabha polls 2024: Four Bhojpuri stars in BJP' first list. Who are they?

Subsequently, Thakur stirred another controversy by praising Nathuram Godse, Mahatma Gandhi's assassin, as a patriot. Despite issuing an apology, her statements continued to draw condemnation, including from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who termed them as "extremely condemnable."

2. Ramesh Bidhuri: Ramesh Bidhuri, the BJP MP, recently sparked a massive controversy by making derogatory remarks directed at MP Danish Ali during a discussion on the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission. Videos of Bidhuri's contentious comments targeting Danish Ali quickly circulated on social media, drawing widespread criticism. BJP president JP Nadda has reportedly issued a show cause notice to Ramesh Bidhuri, their party MP, over his use of objectionable language against Danish Ali within the Parliament. The offending remarks were expunged from the Parliamentary records, and defence minister Rajnath Singh promptly expressed regret for Bidhuri's conduct during the session.

3. Parvesh Verma: From the West Delhi constituency of Delhi, the BJP has fielded Kamaljeet Sehrawat dropping its sitting MP Parvesh Verma. Kamaljeet Sahrawat is the former mayor of South Delhi Municipal Corporation and is one of party's strong faces in Delhi MCD. Last year, there were reports that the leadership of the BJP has strongly condemned Parvesh Verma's remarks, which called for an "economic boycott" of a particular community. Verma made these comments during a gathering titled 'Virat Hindu Sabha,' organised by the local unit of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and other Hindu organisations in East Delhi on October 9 last year. In a speech, Verma advocated for a "complete boycott" of "these people," without explicitly naming any particular community.

Also Read | New faces, veterans in BJPs first list for Lok Sabha polls

4. Jayant Sinha: BJPs Hazaribag MLA Manish Jaiswal replaces sitting party MP Jayant Sinha from Hazaribag Lok Sabha seat. Jaiswal won the Hazaribag assembly constituency in 2019 by defeating Congress Dr Ramchandra Prasad. Sinha, son of former union minister Yashwant Sinha, said earlier in the day that he had requested party president JP Nadda to relieve him from direct electoral duties. In 2019, Jayant Sinha said he and some other BJP leaders provided financial assistance to pay the legal fees of the persons accused of lynching a meat trader in Jharkhands Ramgarh in 2017. His admission came a year after he triggered a controversy by felicitating and posing with the six accused after they were released on bail and taken straight to the ministers residence in Hazaribagh.
The sky was so smothered in fog that visibility was near zero at a little beyond 5 am. As we hustled beyond the first set of barricades, I heard a family chatter excitedly in Marathi about their pilgrimage. A few dozen steps later, a lady was screaming at her partner in Bangla for carrying such a large bag to the premises. About a minute later, there was a loud announcement in Telugu asking Sharmila to quickly reach the police assistance booth where her family members are waiting eagerly. Then there was a large group of family and friends from Gujarat chanting and alternatively talking about the fog. The crowd at the Ram Temple in Ayodhya. (Reuters)

The author understands more than half a dozen spoke Indian languages and could hear devotees talk in all of them and many more. There must have been about 5,000 visitors forging ahead for the morning Aarti. A policeman, one of hundreds deployed there, loudly said Jai Shri Ram to an old lady who was being taken inside the temple courtesy volunteers with her family members. She responded with a flurry of words in a semi-tribal dialect from Chattisgarh that the author understands. A huge group around the author erupted into joyous chants of Jai Shri Ram.

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Also Read | Lok Sabha elections 2024 ground report: In North Bengal, saffron flags are all over, but what about the votes?

The author was not just astounded with this but simply taken aback. I am a man of faith. But I have always been someone deeply uncomfortable with the militant face of Hindutva seen and heard over the last few decades. Expecting more of that assertive aggression, the author was astounded by the sheer devotion. The emotions on display were as powerful, perhaps more, than what the author has seen in the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu, the Jagannath temple in Puri, the Siddhi Vinayak temple in Mumbai and many more. Many devotees were weeping. Any more were just chanting as they trudged ahead.

Clothes do not make a person, but the author could clearly see the devotees were a spread between the very poor to some adjusting their Gucci bags. In this explosion of spirituality and faith, I saw class distinctions dissipate and disappear, at least for a while. There was nothing militant about this swarm of devotees. Nothing aggressive. And nothing that reminds you and me of unapologetic Hindutva. Rather, the author sensed an unapologetic display of Hinduism. The fervour was almost as if the tens of thousands around the author had rediscovered a world that was lost for a long time.

Also Read | Lok Sabha elections 2024 | Assam ground report: Bodos seem to be at peace, at last

According to the cops posted at the temple and warming their hands on some gas fired gadgets, about 200,000 devotees are still pouring into Ayodhya everyday. By the time the author reached the Saryu Ghat, the fog had dispersed to a point he could see the cops were not exaggerating. As the sun tried to break through, the entire area around the ghat was resonant with bhajans in praise of Ram.

An e-bus comes to a halt as the author walks towards the ghat (about a kilometre plus from the car parking) and disgorges a large group of Tamil devotees. When the author politely asks a lady where they have come from, she responds in flawless English that they are from Madurai and thereabouts. Every single of the 40 or so of them wears a saffron scarf, with many males displaying even more markers of their faith. The bus has stopped just next to a mural that shows Ravana abducting Sita and felling Jatayu. The author too wanted a picture clicked there but moved on as so many Tamil devotees lined up for group photos and selfies.

At the ghat, hundreds were taking a dip in the river in what can be described as cold but not freezing water. Like everywhere else, hustlers and vendors were peddling their fares everywhere, including memorabilia for Queen Heo Hwang of Korea who is believed to be originally from Ayodhya. She must have approved from wherever she is now because the temple premises and the Saryu ghat were so spotlessly clean that it was unbelievable. There were workers constantly cleaning the streets and sidewalks and scores of washrooms were visible everywhere.

So where did Hindutva go? The hundreds of thousands of devotees that come to Ayodhya every day come not for politics, but for faith. But the locals in the city are a lot about political assertion and Hindutva. Virtually everyone I spoke to talked about how Modi has done what they had believed was never possible: built a temple for Ram. I dont know about other parts of India, but there is little doubt that a Ram wave is very visible in these parts.

Also Read | Lok Sabha elections 2024 | Rajasthan ground report: Can BJP sneak past 60% vote share?

As with things so enchanting and graceful (the devotion and spirituality of pilgrims), there are some things that disturb. Basant Kumar Dubey is a middle-aged security guard in the hotel where the author stayed. He proudly says he was there with his grandfather as a teenager in December 1992 when history was made. He is still proud of that event and has no problems clicking his picture. Frankly, the author doesnt really know what to make of this.

(This is the fourth 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.)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday issued a revised list of its candidates for Assam after making some corrections in the constituency names, a day after the saffron camp announced 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. BJP flags at the party headquarter in New Delhi.(HT File Photo)

Read here: BJP Lok Sabha 2024 candidates: Check full list of 195 names here

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In the list announced Saturday, the BJP announced candidates on 11 seats out of the 14 Lok Sabha seats, and included seats like Mangaldai and Kaliabor, which are no longer Lok Sabha constituencies as the state underwent delimitation.

After realising the mistake the next day, the party issued a revised list saying "The number and name of the parliamentary constituencies have been corrected in the list of candidates for Assam state," in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Here's the revised of the candidates for Assam:

1. Darrang Udalgiri- Dilip Saikia

2. Guwahati - Bijuli Kalita Medhi

3. Diphu (ST) - Amar Sing Tisso

4. Karimganj - Kripanath Mallah

Read here: Smriti Irani versus who from Amethi speculations rife after BJP's 1st list out

5. Silchar (SC) - Parimal Suklabaidya

6. Nagaon- Suresh Bora

7. Kaziranga - Kamakhya Prasad Tasa

8. Sonitpur - Ranjit Dutta

9. Lakhimpur - Pradhan Baruah

10. Dibrugarh - Sarbananda Sonowal

11. Jorhat - Topon Kumar Gogoi

However, the party received a backlash from the opposition leaders over their mistake. Trinamool Congress leader and expelled Lok Sabha MP Mahua Mitra took a jibe at the saffron camp saying the party didn't take into account the state delimitation before making the list.

She further said that Lord Ram can solve this problem.

"So @BJP announced Assam candidates without accounting for delimitation. Guess Ram Lalla will solve this problem too," she said in a post on X.

The BJP released its much-awaited first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections fielding big stalwarts such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi and Amit Shah from Gujarat's Gandhinagar. The BJP has also fielded four Bhojpuri stars, including Pawan Singh from West Bengal's Asansol.

Read here: Lok Sabha polls 2024: Four Bhojpuri stars in BJP' first list. Who are they?

It includes 51 seats from Uttar Pradesh, 24 from Madhya Pradesh, 20 from West Bengal, 15 each from Gujarat and Rajasthan, 12 from Kerala, nine from Telangana, 11 each from Assam, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, five from Delhi, three from Uttarakhand, two each from Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, and one each from Goa, Tripura, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and Daman and Diu. It also replaced as many as 33 sitting MPs with new faces.
A woman has revealed how she was unable to speak due to the "excruciating pain" when a stingray pierced her foot with its venomous barb.

Drew Vickers, 26, was on a snorkelling trip on Queensland's Magnetic Island when she accidentally stepped on the stingray in the shallows of one of the island's beaches. Experiencing an "intense burning sensation", she clambered back to shore for help before the extent of her injury become apparent.

"I looked down and there was trail of blood behind me. And that's when I realised, oh yeah, I'm not going to be able to figure this out on my own," she told the ABC.

Drew Vickers was left in unbearable pain after her foot was pierced by the stingray's barb. Source: Drew Vickers via ABC

"It was excruciating. Every minute felt like an hour itself," she said, revealing it took an hour for paramedics to arrive.

She tried to seek solace on the phone to her mother, but realised she couldn't "physically speak" due to the pain.

Stingray injuries on the rise

Data from Queensland Health shows stingray injuries were up 33 per cent last year, according to the ABC. And while deaths from stingray encounters are extremely rare, Steve Irwin was famously killed by a stingray barb to the chest.

Experts stress the animals are rarely aggressive and do not seek confrontation, but beachgoers should be mindful of their presence and particularly their rear.

Stingrays are not aggressive animals, experts stress. Source: Getty, file.

"The barb is the only part of a stingray you should be wary of. Since it is located close to the base of the tail on most species, the rest of the tail and the body are harmless to touch," Jaelen Myers, visiting marine ecology researcher at Queensland's James Cook University, recently explained.

"You're only in barbing range if you stand nearly on top of their bodies, but they usually shuffle away long before you get that close."

Such advice was likely the reason behind the concern for one beachgoer in NSW in January after they were filmed diving down behind a stingray near a jetty in Bawley Point.

Story continues

"These things are dangerous and should never be taken for granted," a fisherman who shared the video stressed.

Those stung by a stingray are advised to not remove the barb themselves and place the injury into warm water to neutralise the toxins as they wait for an ambulance.

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New Delhi: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday called Prime Minister Narendra Modi king of lies. Addressing RJD's 'Jan Vishwas Maha Rally' in Patna, the politician also asked Tejashwi Yadav to never take back chief minister Nitish Kumar in Bihar's Mahagathbandhan. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and others during Jan Vishwas Maharally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Bihar, India, Sunday, 03, 2024. (Photo by Santosh Kumar/ Hindustan Times)

Kharge said PM Modi went back on several promises he made before becoming the prime minister of the country.

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He said PM Modi is destroying the country.

"PM Modi is destroying the country. Did Modi give 2 crore jobs? He also promised to bring black money from other countries. He also promised the construction of pucca houses by 2022. He also promised to double the farmer's income. Did Modi fulfil all this? These all are lies which means Modiji is Jhooton ka sardar (king of lies). No one has benefited from his schemes in the last 10 years," Kharge said while addressing the public at RJD's 'Jan Vishwas Maha Rally'.

He appealed to the masses to vote for the INDIA bloc to help it save India's democracy.

Kharge said his ally Tejashvi Yadav fulfilled all his promises when he was part of Nitish Kumar's previous government.

"Tejashwi Yadav fulfilled his promises of giving jobs during his tenure. INDIA bloc fulfils its promises. Help us in our fight against the BJP. Your duty is to save democracy and its constitution," he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Also read: Tejashwi Yadav warns BJP on Nitish Kumar: Get insurance

Nitish Kumar dumped Lalu Yadav's RJD in January and joined hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance. His party blamed the Congress for Kumar's decision.

Kharge said the BJP is trying to instill fear in the Opposition.

"Today, the INDIA Alliance is facing the BJP on the battleground. Through agencies, the BJP is trying to instill fear in us. This is not possible, as we are not here to bow down before them. Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said, 'main thode din ke liye bahar gaya tha, main phir wapas aaya hoon'.Those who are not strong ideologically, cannot fight and you (Tejashwi Yadav) should not take him into the party if he returns again," he said.

Tejashwi Yadav also took a swipe at Nitish Kumar, saying the Bihar government should get its insurance done as the former can make a U-turn.

"Due to the U-turn taken by Nitish Kumar, it seems that the state government should get its insurance done. They say Modi ki Guarantee, but who will take the guarantee of Nitish Kumar," he was quoted as saying by ANI.

Nitish Kumar dumped the BJP in 2022 and formed an alliance with the RJD. In 2017, he had joined hands with the BJP after dumping Lalu Yadav.

Nitish Kumar has vowed that he will never leave the NDA fold again.
Rashtriya Janata Dal president Lalu Prasad Yadav launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of being a fake Hindu and spreading hatred. Patna: RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav addresses during 'Jan Vishwas Rally', in Patna, Sunday, March 3, 2024.(PTI)

Addressing the party's 'Jan Vishwas Maha Rally' in Patna, Lalu Yadav said, "Narendra Modi is not a Hindu! Hindu people get tonsured on the death of their acquaintances, but he (Modi) did not do this even on the death of his mother."

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday launched a direct assault on the Congress-RJD alliance in Bihar. He said that the opposition coalition had exploited its social justice image for marginalised sections as a "shield to justify" corruption and dynastic politics.

"Modi talks about dynastic politics, but what is dynastic politics? You (Modi) should explain why don't you have children?" Lalu Yadav said.

ALSO READ- 'Modi asked me,' Tejashwi counters PM's attack on father Lalu Yadav

Does he not feel ashamed?: RJD chief Lalu Yadav slams Nitish Kumar

Lalu Prasad Yadav also took on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, pointing out that Kumar wasn't criticised by his party when he broke the alliance in 2017. He questioned if the JD-U chief feels ashamed about changing sides after the recent return to the NDA fold.

"We never abused him when he broke the alliance with us. We just called him Paltu-Ram at that time. But we made the same mistake again, and Tejashwi made the same mistake again. We knew something was happening in Raj Bhawan. There was nothing wrong with that government (previous Bihar govt). Does he not feel ashamed?"

ALSO READ- Bihar CM Nitish Kumar responds to Lalu Yadav doors are open remark: I don't pay'

He appealed to the public to defeat the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, saying that the opinion of Bihar resonates with the entire country.

INDIA bloc's show of strength in Patna

RJD's 'Jan Vishwas Maha Rally' was also attended by other opposition leaders such as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Kharge, and Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav.

ALSO READ- Tejashwi Yadav's advice to BJP on Nitish Kumar: 'Get insurance'

"Bihar has given lots of great personalities. In the same Gandhi Maidan, leaders of the country have held rallies and meetings. A message went to the whole country from here. Bihar's opinion has so much power that the people of the country imitate what Bihar decides. Tomorrow also, the same is going to happen," Lalu Yadav said.
New Delhi: Peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and Beijings adherence to border management pacts are prerequisites for improving India-China relations, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday. Externam affairs minister S Jaishankar (File Photo)

The government has been focused on bolstering infrastructure in border areas, Jaishankar said during an interactive session at a think tank. He also emphasised the need for India to build deep national strengths, including in technology and supply chains, to effectively face the challenges from China.

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He further said there will eventually have to be an equilibrium in ties between India and China.

A military standoff triggered by skirmishes in the Ladakh sector of the LAC is set to enter its fifth year in May. Both countries have arrayed more than 50,000 troops each in this region and major friction points such as Depsang and Demchok remain despite dozens of rounds of diplomatic and military talks.

It is a combination of all of this, but the bottom line is there has to be an equilibrium, and there has to be peace and tranquillity in the border areas, and there has to be adherence to the agreements which were arrived at, Jaishankar said.

Because if you do not adhere to the agreements, tell me how you would have even the basic understanding. And going forward if there isnt peace and tranquillity at the border, how can any society look at other forms of cooperation when the border is disturbed or violent, he added.

And there has to eventually be an equilibrium, I am convinced it will. I am convinced we have to work hard for that equilibrium.

In an apparent reference to previous governments, while responding to a question on dealing with China, he said India had not used international relationships as effectively as it could have in the past.

He identified the development of national power as very crucial in this regard.

Powers rise, powers stand their ground, powers build equilibrium, not by fancy statements and clever debates. They have to do hard work of governance, putting the resources, push the system, deliver on the ground, monitor it, supervise it and have relationships which will contribute to it, he said.

Jaishankar said the current government has significantly enhanced infrastructure in border regions in the past decade.

In the China border areas, our budgetary commitment till 2014 was below Rs.4,000 crore. Today, it is three-and-half, four times that, he said, adding there has been a rapid increase in the building of roads, tunnels and bridges in these areas.

Jaishankar also pointed to Indias efforts to compete with China in the realm of technology and cited the development of 5G telecom services as an example.

We talk about their exporting staff into India...The answer is to compete. We did not compete against 4G, 3G [and] 2G. But you decided to compete on 5G. When you decided to compete on 5G, you proved to yourself you could do it, he said.

The government has insisted that relations with China cannot be normalised without peace along the LAC. On the other hand, China has contended that the border row should be put in its appropriate place while relations are taken forward in areas such as trade.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired a day-long meeting of his Council of Ministers as they brainstormed over the vision document for "Viksit Bharat: 2047" and a detailed action plan for the next five years. PM Modi with his council of ministers.

Government sources said a 100-day agenda for immediate steps to be taken after a new government is formed in May was deliberated upon during the meeting for its quick implementation.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

ALSO READ- Rahul Gandhi claims India behind Pakistan in key metric, says 'Narendra Modi finished...'

They said the roadmap for "Viksit Bharat" is a result of more than two years of intensive preparation and involved a "whole of government" approach involving all ministries and wide-ranging consultations with state governments, academia, industry bodies, civil society, scientific organisations and mobilisation of youths for inputs.

"More than 2,700 meetings, workshops and seminars were held at various levels. Suggestions of more than 20 lakh youths were received," one official said.

ALSO READ- 'Modi asked me,' Tejashwi counters PM's attack on father Lalu Yadav

The roadmap for "Viksit Bharat" has a comprehensive blueprint with clearly articulated national vision, aspirations, goals and action points, the sources said, adding that its goals include areas such as economic growth, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ease of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure and social welfare.

Several ministries articulated their ideas in the meeting, which is likely to be the last such get-together before the Lok Sabha polls are announced.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday contributed 2,000 to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for strengthening efforts to build a Viksit Bharat. The PM made the donation through the NaMo app and shared a picture of the receipt on X, formerly known as Twitter. According to the receipt, the donations are exempted from Income Tax u/s 80 GGB for companies and u/s 80 GGC for others as per the Income Tax Act, 1961. Prime minister Narendra Modi (AP photo)

PM Modi also urged citizens to join the donation for nation building initiative.

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I am happy to contribute to @BJP4India and strengthen our efforts to build a Viksit Bharat. I also urge everyone to be a part of #DonationForNationBuilding through the NaMoApp! PM Modi wrote in the X post.

PM Modi's call for the donations comes at a time when the Supreme Court, last month, in a unanimous verdict, scrapped the electoral bonds practice, terming it as unconstitutional. According to the five-judge bench headed by chief justice of India DY Chandrachud, the scheme which allowed anonymous funding to political parties, violated the right to information and Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

What is Viksit Bharat?

PM Modi's Viksit Bharat @2047 is the vision to make India a developed nation by 2047, the 100th year of independence. The vision encompasses various aspects of development, including economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, and good governance.

On December 11 last year, PM Modi launched the Viksit Bharat @2047: Voice of Youth - which would help include the youth in the formulation of national plans, priorities, and goals of the country. According to the PM, there is a need to channel the energy of the students and the youth of every university towards achieving the common goal of Viksit Bharat.
New Delhi: On the eve of the notification of the 2024 General Elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the war game Bharat Shakti in Pokhran in Rajasthan on March 12 with the exercise only involving indigenously developed weapons platforms and systems. The war game will be attended by the top brass of the tri-services including Chief of Defence Staff Gen Anil Chauhan. PM Modi on Arjun tank in Pokhran (file photo)

As a showcase for his Aatmanirbhar Bharat concept, Prime Minister Modi is expected to exhort the military leadership to develop tactics-led revolution in military affairs that is India-centric and specific to the Indian geography and security threats to Bharat.

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It is understood that for Bharat Shakti, the war game will test the efficacy of Indian-made platforms and network-centric systems. While the Indian Army is 100 per cent indigenized, work is on to achieve indigenization in the technology-centric Indian Air Force and Indian Navy in the areas of submarine construction and aircraft engine manufacturing.

The exercise will also test the resilience and integrity of indigenous communication systems and networks to ensure that the enemy cannot hack into them during hostile conditions. This apart, the entire focus of the Bharat Shakti exercise will be synergy among the three services which often tend to operate within their own silos. On display will be Tejas fighter aircraft, K-9 artillery guns, indigenous drones, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers and short-range missiles.

Since PM Modis clarion call for Aatmanirbhar Bharat, the three services have been focused on developing technologies like secure mobile telephony developed by the Indian Army. Even though the secure mobile is based on a private Indian operator and imported phone devices, all the calls are totally encrypted and have been tested for resilience by the three services. The phone has been tested against hacking and is currently being used by the top brass of the three services as a pilot project. All the indigenous network-centric systems will be used at the war game with PM Modi interacting with the top brass to further enhance the lethality of Indian armed forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Union council of ministers on Sunday, days before the official announcement of the schedule for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The meeting comes just a day after the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party announced its first list of candidates for the upcoming general elections. Prime Minister Narendra Modi to chair Council of Ministers meeting today (File Photo)

The council of ministers meeting scheduled for March 3 will take place at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave in New Delhi, said officials.

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The prime minister has been chairing a meeting of the entire council of ministers from time to time to discuss key policy issues, get feedback on implementation of various initiatives, and share his vision on matters of governance.

This comes a day after BJP announced its first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls set to take place in April-May. The candidate list of 195 names included multiple heavyweights such as PM Modi himself, Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh.

What to expect from council of ministers meeting?

The primary point on the agenda for the council of ministers meeting on Sunday is expected to be chalking out a poll strategy for the upcoming general elections in the country, and reviewing the performance of the NDA government over the past two terms.

PM Modi is expected to seek feedback from the Union ministers regarding the workings of multiple government welfare schemes and initiatives launched by the NDA in the past decade.

The BJP-led NDA government has expressed confidence in retaining power for the third term in the Lok Sabha elections this year. In order to map out a plan for victory, the prime minister is chairing the meeting with Union Ministers to take stock of the preparedness for the upcoming polls.

The Election Commission has begun reviewing the preparedness of various states for holding of Lok Sabha elections. The schedule for elections is expected to be announced sometime this month.

In 2014, the Election Commission had announced the schedule for the nine-phased Lok Sabha elections on March 5 and the results were declared on May 16. Meanwhile, in 2019, the poll panel had announced the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on March 10 and the results were declared on May 23.
Bengaluru: Karnataka home minister G Parameshwar on Sunday said, the police have gathered clues about the accused of the Rameshwaram Cafe blast and that he would be arrested soon. Home minister G Parameshwar held a meeting with the police officers regarding the investigation on the Rameshwaram Cafe blast. (HT)

He added that the investigators were looking at all possible motives, from terrorism to a business rivalry, behind the incident.

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Speaking to the media after a meeting with the police officers on Sunday, Parameshwar said, I visited the Rameshwaram Cafe on the day of the blast. Eight teams are investigating the case with the support from the NIA and NSG. We are collating information and enhancing our data pool. FSL is collecting samples and technical data. We have leads on the perpetrator and aim to apprehend him soon.

Nine people were injured after a low-intensity bomb exploded in the Rameshwaram Cafe in the state capital on Friday, prompting a multi-agency probe with preliminary investigations zeroing in on a man who left a bag near the cash counter.

Also Read | Rameshwaram blast case will be handed over to NIA if needed: CM Siddaramaiah

There are technical parallels between the Mangalore cooker blast and the Rameshwaram Cafe blast, though it doesnt imply involvement of the same people. Similarities exist in components like the battery, nail, and timer, necessitating further inquiry, the home minister added.

Talking about the low intensity of the blast, the minister stated, Fortunately, the explosion dispersed nails and nuts upwards, minimising casualties. Had they scattered sideways, the damage would have been more.

Police said that after the battery and timer, the forensic experts have also uncovered the chemicals used to set and trigger the timer. Parameshwar said, they cannot yet reveal the technical details of the case as the investigation was underway.

Also Read | Rameshwaram Cafe Blast: Congress trying to hide facts,' lashes out Karnataka BJP

We have clues on who was the person that kept the bag, he added.

According to the police, around 1pm, an unidentified person entered the Rameshwaram Cafe and left a bag near the cash counter and left after sometime. As soon as he left, there was an explosion resulting in a fire, the police had said.

A police officer who is part of the investigation said on condition of anonymity that The bomb had potassium nitrate and hydrogen peroxide. These chemicals were used to set and trigger the timer. Currently, samples of blast debris are being collected by the FSL and SOCO teams for further analysis.

The investigators said the suspect chose Rameshwaram Cafe, particularly because the cafe to Hosur border journey in Tamil Nadu takes 59 minutes.

Even with traffic, it can be covered in 1.15 hours. Hence, there is a suspicion that the bomber intended to depart from Bengaluru within one-and-a-half hours. It is conceivable that the timer was set accordingly, the officer quoted above said.

The officer said, following the blast, it usually takes the police at least 10 minutes to arrive at the scene and another half-an-hour to issue alerts to all the areas. He added that the perpetrator must have aimed to cross the border before a city-wide alert was raised.

His plan could be to cross the border undetected, the officer said.

Another police officer said the accused changed his attire after planting the bomb putting another shirt over the one he was wearing.

The police have got footage of him travelling in one of the KSRTC bus, in which he was wearing a second shirt over the first one.

Officers said they have also acquired the footage of the suspect near the metro station close to the cafe.

The police have obtained footage from locations such as Kundalahalli, Hoodi, and Sitarama Palya, situated in front of the metro station, and have initiated a comprehensive investigation, the second officer said.

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the blast so far.

Speaking to mediapersons in Chikkamagaluru on Sunday, chief minister Siddaramaiah emphasised the gravity of the blast case, saying, The government does not underestimate the seriousness of this matter. The safety of our citizens is paramount. The Central Crime Branch (CCB) police are actively investigating the incident, and as of now, the perpetrators have not been arrested. If deemed necessary, we will consider handing over the case to the National Investigation Agency.
Rajya Sabha member Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy, who resigned from the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) last month, joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in the presence of party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Nellore on Saturday, he said. Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy (HT)

Along with Vemireddy, his wife and Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) local advisory committee president in Delhi Vemireddy Prashanti, Nellore deputy mayor Roop Kumar and a large number of YSRCP local leaders and their followers also joined the state opposition.

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Speaking to reporters, Vemireddy said he had joined the TDP as he could get a greater opportunity to serve the people.

I will contest as an MP candidate from Nellore on the behalf of the TDP and strive tirelessly to secure funds from the Centre for the development of Nellore, he said.

Later in the evening, YSRCP Lok Sabha member from Narsaraopet constituency Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, who quit the party in January, also joined the TDP during another meeting of Naidu at Dhagepalli in the Gurajala constituency.

Devarayalu expressed his commitment to public welfare and the development of Palnadu district.

I am planning to contest from Narsaraopet constituency again to focus on the inclusive development of Palnadu, he said.

Earlier in the morning, YSRCP lawmaker from Mylavaram assembly constituency in Krishna district, Vasantha Krishna Prasad, resigned from his party and joined the TDP in the presence of Naidu in Hyderabad.

Prasad told reporters that he had to quit the YSRCP as he had not been able to get enough funds from the state government to carry out the developmental works in his constituency. He said only Naidu had the vision and capability to drive the states development forward.

We need to attract industries and create job opportunities for our youth. Naidu is the key to achieving these objectives, he said.
Three men have been detained and a hunt is on four of their accomplices after they allegedly raped a Spanish woman in Dumka district of Jharkhand, beat up her husband, and stole some of their belongings, police officers said on Saturday. When the couple tried to resist the rape bid, the accused thrashed the man, and later fled with their belongings, the officers said (PTI)

The woman, 30, is a Spanish national and her husband, 64, is a Brazilian national. The two were touring South Asia on a motorcycle, officers said. They had already travelled to Pakistan and then Bangladesh, and on the third leg of their Asia tour entered India through West Bengal, the officers said. From here, they were to go to Bihar and then Nepal.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

Around 5pm on Friday, the couple reached Dumka, and set up a tent in the forest of Kunji Basti, about 2km from Kurmahat. The seven men attacked the couple near their tent, the officers said.

When the couple tried to resist the rape bid, the accused thrashed the man, and later fled with their belongings, the officers said.

The incident came to light at around 11pm, when a patrolling team from Hansdiha police station spotted the couple near the Dumka-Bhagalpur road near the forest where they were camping. The woman used Google translate to narrate the incident to the police, and the patrolling team rushed them to Saraiyahat Community Health Centre where doctors confirmed assault.

The patrolling team sensed that something had happened to them. Since they were speaking in Spanish, the police could not understand what they were saying. The policemen brought them to a local hospital, Dumka superintendent of police Pitambar Singh Kherwar said.

While the police did not say why the accused attacked the couple in the first place, a video of the two narrating the crime has been shared widely on social media where they alleged that the main motive of the accused was to rape the woman.

They have beaten us and robbed us although not many things because what they wanted was to rape me, the woman said, in Spanish in a video shared on Instagram.

The investigation started as soon as we received the information. We spoke to the victim. Thereafter, we detained some people and during interrogation, they admitted their involvement. The accused also took some other names. We have formed a team and raids are being conducted to nab the other accused. We are also taking the help of a forensic team and the CID in this regard, Kherwar said.

The police did not divulge details of the case that has been filed in the matter or the charges that the accused have been detained under.

Dumka Civil Surgeon Baccha Prasad Singh told PTI that the woman and her husband were undergoing treatment at Phulo Jhano Medical College and Hospital in Dumka where they reached on motorcycles from Saraiyahat Community Health Centre, covering a distance of about 60km with police escort.

Both are out of danger and are undergoing treatment at the hospital. The man has sustained minor injuries. The medical examination of the victim will be done by a medical board comprising three gynaecologists, a radiologist, an orthopaedic and a dentist, headed by superintendent of the medical college, Dr Anupuran Purti, the civil surgeon said.

One of the detained accused confessed to the crime and gave details about the absconding accused, Kherwar said. The accused are aged between 20 and 30, the officer said.

The incident also led to a political controversy in the state with the Godda BJP legislator Amit Mandal raising the issue in the state assembly and accusing the police of trying to protect the accused.

Mandal demanded the suspension of Dumka SP. The incident has not only ashamed Jharkhand but the entire country. The SP and Hansdiha police station in-charge are trying to whitewash the issue. The culprits are being provided political patronage. I demand that a probe committee be set up and stringent punishment be ensured against those involved in the crime, he said.

Godda MP Nishikant Dubey targeted the state government.

In this state, neither Adivasis nor Dalits are safe... Now this has become an international matter that a Spanish woman comes with her husband to India, and it comes to light that she has been gang-raped... I appeal to CM Champai Soren to concentrate on law and order in the state. If posting will take place based on any caste then this sort of incident will occur often, he said.

(With agency inputs)
National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma on Sunday slammed a US-based writer for defaming India on social media in the context of a Spanish woman gangraped in Dumka. David Josef Volodzko, the writer, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, and said when he was living in India for several years, he witnessed an unprecedented level of sexual aggression like nowhere else. The author recounted incidents of how a stranger woman once wanted to sleep on his bed during a train ride because an Indian man licked her foot. Rekha Sharma called out a US-based writer and journalist for calling India unsafe and asked whether he ever filed a police complaint over the incidents that he wrote on X.(PTI)

Commenting on the long post of the writer on how unsafe India is for solo women travellers, NCW chief Rekha Sharma asked whether any of the cases that he mentioned in his post was reported to the police. "If not then you are totally an irresponsible person. Writing only on social media and defaming whole country is not good choice," Rekha Sharma wrote.

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"I love India. It is and always will be one of my favorite places in the world. But I have advised female friends who asked me not to travel there alone. This is a real problem in Indian society that warrants more attention and that I hope will improve in time," the Seattle-based writer added as he recounted an incident when he introduced a female friend to a young Indian man and "instead of shaking her hand, he groped her breast".

As David Josef's post on India went viral, he said Half my replies call me racist for caring about rape in India while the other half tell me Im right and therefore India is worthless

A Spanish woman travelling along with her husband from West Bengal to Nepal was allegedly raped by seven men in Dumka, Jharkhand. The woman, 30, is a Spanish national and her husband, 64, is a Brazilian national. The two were touring South Asia on a motorcycle and already covered Pakistan and Bangladesh. They were on their way to Bihar and then Nepal. As they reached Dumka, the couple set up a tent in the forest of Kunji Basti where seven men attacked them. The husband was thrashed while the woman was gangraped. The men then fled with their belongings. A video of the two narrating the crime has been shared widely on social media where they alleged that the main motive of the accused was to rape the woman.

The woman took to Instagram and in a video shared the horror. "They have beaten us and robbed us although not many things because what they wanted was to rape me," she said.

While the incident drew shock and outrage, the National Commission for Women condemned the gangrape and wrote a letter to the DGP to expedite the investigation into the matter.
Patna: RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday took a sharp jibe at Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and his ally BJP at Patna's Jan Vishwas Rally, saying the latter should get an insurance scheme for the coalition government. Referring to Kumar's recent jump from the INDIA bloc to the BJP-led NDA, Lalu Yadav's younger son said the BJP talks about 'Modi ki Guarantee' but who will take Kumar's guarantee that he wouldn't quit the alliance. RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav with sons and party leaders Tejashwi Yadav and Tej Partap Yadav during the party's 'Jan Vishwas Maha Rally', at Gandhi Maidan in Patna on Sunday. (ANI)

Tejashwi Yadav also countered the BJP's nepotism charge by naming the latter's leaders who come from prominent political families of Bihar.

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"They call us nepotism but they have Samrat Choudhary, brother of Ram Vilas Paswan, Manjhi ji's son has been made minister, it doesn't look like any nepotism to them. Due to the U-turn taken by Nitish Kumar, it seems that the state government should get its insurance done. They say Modi ki Guarantee, but who will take the guarantee of Nitish Kumar," he said, a day after PM Modi accused the Congress-RJD alliance of nepotism.

Also read: Mallikarjun Kharge calls PM Narendra Modi king of lies, asks Tejashvi Yadav to never take Nitish Kumar back

In January, Nitish Kumar dumped RJD as an ally and joined hands with the BJP. This is the second time he jumped ship in a span of five years.

"You all know that uncle (Nitish Kumar) has turned away but may he remain happy wherever he is. From whom did you first hear about 10 lakh jobs? We respect and honour Nitish Kumar because he is our uncle but he is getting posters put up in Patna that employment means Nitish Kumar," he added.

Nitish Kumar's party had claimed he quit the alliance as the Congress was trying to usurp its leadership.

Also read: Tejashwi expands RJDs Muslim-Yadav focus, says it will now be BAAP

Tejashwi Yadav lauded the Congress for supporting his party.

"This is the same Nitish Kumar when we had promised jobs, he had asked from where we will get them. During our tenure, we got the caste census done, got the reservation limit increased to 75 per cent, and increased the reservation limit for extremely backward people by 24 per cent. We did the work in Bihar which was not done in the country since independence," he said.

Also read: Tejashwi Yadav-Nitish Kumar war of words erupts amid Bihar floor test

Tejashwi Yadav said he will fight for his ideology.

"Sometimes Rahul Gandhi is sent summons and now when there is an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, CBI is going after Akhilesh Bhai. No matter how big a corrupt person is, if he goes into the BJP washing machine, he gets cleaned. But now BJP has become a dustbin where every party's waste is going into it." he said.

He called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a factory of lies.

Several opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Akhilesh Yadav, attended the event.

"On one hand, Uttar Pradesh is giving the slogan of '80 harao', Bihar is also raising the slogan of '40 harao'. What will happen to BJP if both UP and Bihar make them lose 120 seats?... In 2024, 'Samvidhaan Manthan' is going to take place. On one side, there are the protectors of the Constitution and on the other side, there are the destroyers of the Constitution," said Akhilesh Yadav.

RJD is currently reeling under the defection of 5 MLAs to the BJP.

With inputs from ANI
A foreign tourist from Spain, who was allegedly gangraped by seven men in Jharkhand's Dumka district on Friday night, shared chilling details on her Instagram stories on Saturday. The gruesome incident took place at Kurumahat in the Hansdiha police station area where the tourist couple was spending the night in a makeshift tent. Police said that a rape case against the BJP leader was registered based on the complaint filed by the minor girls mother (Representative Photo)

Something has happened to us that we would not wish on anyone. Seven men have raped me, the woman said in her Instagram story, in which her face can be seen swollen with a lot of injuries.

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She added, They have beaten us and robbed us, although not many things, because what they wanted was to rape me. We are in the hospital with the police.

Her partner, 64, who was also seen with bruises on his face said, My face looks like this, but it's not what hurts me the most. My mouth is destroyed but she is worse than meThey have hit me with a helmet several times, with a stone on the head, thank goodness she was wearing the jacket that stops the blow a littleI thought we were going to die. Thank God we are alive.

Shortly after posting the story, the woman took down the posts saying that the police asked them to turn off the post to not disturb the investigation.

A day after the gruesome incident, the Jharkhand police arrested three men on Saturday. Meanwhile, the Superintendent of Police (SP) Dumka, Pitamber Singh Kherwar said that they are taking the necessary actions, including the medical examination of the victim.

Following the three arrests, the Spanish Embassy in India thanked the authorities for their support. Thank you all for your support. We need to stand united in our commitment to end violence against women everywhere in the world, the embassy wrote.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday appeared to sound the poll bugle in West Bengal as he launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led government and set a target for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to win 42 seats in the state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a public rally in Nadia on Saturday. (ANI)

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has mastered the art of turning every scheme into a scam, Modi said at a BJP rally at Krishnanagar in Nadia district.

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The TMC government is repeatedly trying to put its own sticker on schemes from the central government. The people of the country should be aware of the impression this has created of Bengal, how it has maligned the state, and what is going on in the TMC. You will be shocked to know that this TMC government turns every scheme into a scam. It is a master in turning a scheme into a scam, Modi said.

The Prime Minister, on the second day of his two-day visit to the eastern state, inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of projects worth 15,000 crore, including the Raghunathpur Thermal Power Station Phase-II, the road project for the four laning of Farakka-Raiganj section of NH-12, and four rail projects, apart from addressing the Krishnanagar rally. He also held a meeting with state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar and leader of the opposition in the state legislative assembly Suvendu Adhikari.

While Union home minister Amit Shah had earlier set a target for the state BJP to win 35 out of the 42 seats, Modi raised the bar for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls by announcing that the BJP would win in all 42 seats in the state.

In the next five years, the BJP government is going to introduce umpteen opportunities related to employment and investment. This is also the time for unprecedented change in West Bengal. But you have to start this with the coming Lok Sabha election. Will it do it? This time the lotus should bloom in all the 42 seats, he said.

In the 2019 general elections, the BJP bagged 18 seats after setting a target to win 22 seats.

People have turned up in huge numbers. This sends out a clear message. Ei baar NDA Sarkar 400 paar (This time NDA will cross the 400-mark), Modi also said as the crowd cheered. He has set a target for the BJP to win 370 seats on its own, and cross 400 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha with the help of its other National Democratic Alliance (NDA) partners.

Modi also stepped up his ante against the TMC government, slamming it for withholding the environment clearance (EC) for the states first AIIMS in Kalyani, Nadia district.

Modi gave a guarantee to provide West Bengal with its first AIIMS... Recently I virtually dedicated to the Nation the AIIMS in Kalyani. But the state government has problems with this. They questioned why was permission not taken. The TMC has given free hand to extortionists, mafias and goons. The TMC government is not giving the environmental clearance. If the TMC government doesnt get commission they block all permissions. First commission, then permission, Modi said.

Officials of the state pollution control board said last week that it could not issue AIIMS Kalyani an EC at this stage. The application of the construction agency behind the hospital was under the violation category because the construction process had begun before the application was made.

Modi also launched a no-holds-barred attack against the Mamata Banerjee-government over the unrest in Sandeshkhali.

The sisters of Sandeshkhali pleaded for justice, but the TMC government turned a deaf ear. The situation in Bengal is such that here that criminals themselves, not police, decide when they will surrender and when they will get arrested, he said.

Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas has been on the edge since February 7 when violent protests erupted with groups of residents, led mostly by local women alleging sexual harassment at the hands of local TMC leaders including Sheikh Shahjahan, Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar. While Hazra and Sardar were arrested earlier, Shahjahan was arrested on Thursday after 55 days on the run. Opposition parties had alleged he was being shielded by the police.

The state government never wanted to arrest the culprit of Sandeshkhali. But the women of West Bengal stood up like Goddess Durga. Each and every worker of BJP stood beside them. The state government had to bow down, said Modi.

The TMC hit back.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP-elect Sagarika Ghose, in a video message shared by the party, said, Women in Sandeshkhali protested and came out with their issues on land and assault. But when they were asked who would they vote for, a vast majority of them said TMC and Mamata Banerjee. She is with them on the ground delivering women-centric schemes that deliver real welfare and real justice. Didi is with them 24X7. She is not a migratory bird who comes only during polls desperate for votes.

The party also accused Modi of making false allegations after he said that West Bengal has 2.5 million fake job cards.

You have deprived 5.9 million beneficiaries in West Bengal from getting their MGNREGS wages. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee is clearing the dues. Uttar Pradesh has the highest fake job cards but it was never deprived as it is ruled by the BJP, said state minister Shashi Panja in a video message shared by the TMC.
New Delhi: Despite pressures, particularly from developed nations to reduce domestic support on agriculture and allowing them easy market access for their farm produce, India prevailed upon the lobby at the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Conference (MC13) of WTO, which was concluded on March 2, 2024 with two days of extension from the scheduled closing date of February 29. India prevailed upon the lobby at the Abu Dhabi Ministerial Conference (MC13) of WTO.

Credit goes to Narendra Modi government and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyals ability to withstand such international pressures to protect Indian agriculture and interests of Indian farmers. Global powers criticised India for a rigid position, and the same was reflected in a report by international news agency Reuters, which quoted European Commission Executive Vice President and Trade Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis. According to the report, Dombrovskis expressed disappointment over the lack of consensus on fisheries, agriculture and broader reforms, and singled out India for blame. His frustration is legitimate, but India could not sacrifice its national interest for building a global consensus, which would have benefitted the developed nations.

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Todays India is different -- both politically and economically -- than what it was about a decade ago, when it agreed to allow a peace clause  a crucial provision for India to support its farmers through schemes like minimum support price (MSP). At the Ninth Ministerial Conference (MC9) in Bali in December 2013, members agreed that the peace clause is an interim solution to public stockholding (PS) for food security purposes and a permanent solution would be found by 2017 (the 11th Ministerial Conference or MC11). Members agreed that the Peace Clause  vital for Indias MSP programme -- would remain in force until MC11 or 2017, and at that time the then commerce minister Anand Sharma was attending the conference. As all decisions of WTO are based on consensus, India at MC9 in Bali, agreed to lose the legal protection of peace clause available to it to run its MSP programme.

Had the Modi government not have intervened immediately after assuming power in May 2014, India would find it difficult, if not impossible to run its MSP programme, something crucial for Indian farmers. HT extensively reported that during the MC13 (February 26 to March 2, 2024), agriculture was the top priority of both India as well as Europe, where farmers are up in arms over issues like subsidies and market access. The most vital part of agriculture for Indian and its partners (almost 80 countries) was negotiations related to public stockholding (PSH) for food security. PSH is of key importance for two reasons  first, it involves procurement of food grains from farmers assuring them MSP for their produce if market prices fall; and second, grains are procured to provide free dry ration to over 810 million poor under the Prime Minister Garib Kalyan Ann Yojana (PMGKAY), besides fulfilling obligation to distribute highly subsidised food items under the National Food Security Act (NFSA).

WTO rules limit the subsidy that can be provided to such farm produces being procured. The G-33 -- a coalition of developing countries including India and African groups, over 80 countries in total  is demanding a permanent solution to PSH for food security purpose while improving the ministerial decision adopted at the ninth ministerial conference (MC9) in Bali in December 2013, where members agreed to negotiate a permanent solution on this issue by the MC11 and in the interim, they agreed to exercise due restraint (also called the peace clause) in raising disputes in respect to PSH instituted before December 7, 2013, even if countries exceeded their permissible limits.

Unless the then commerce minister (current finance minister) Nirmala Sitharaman would have made efforts, India would have lost the shield of peace clause which by MC9 of Bali was to expire in 2017. On August 5, 2014, she informed the Parliament that India had decided not to join the consensus in the WTO on the implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement till our concerns relating to the implementation of other Bali Ministerial Decisions, in particular, the Decision on Public Stockholding for Food Security Purposes, were addressed. She worked hard on this crucial matter of Indian farmers and convinced the US to support Indias demand to continue this peace clause beyond 2017 by perpetuating it till the time a permanent solution is arrived at. After a firm stand taken by Sitharaman on this matter at the WTO, its general council (GC) in November 2014 extended the peace clause in perpetuity until a permanent solution is agreed and adopted. The MC10 at Nairobi endorsed the GC decision. However, no outcome was achieved on this matter in subsequent ministerial meetings (MC11 at Buenos Aires and MC12 at Geneva). Hence, Indian farmers remained protected even after MC13 at Abu Dhabi failed to resolve issues pertaining to agriculture.
Hyderabad Lok Sabha constituency has been the stronghold of the Majlis (All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen) since 1984 when Owaisi's father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi won the seat. Since 2004, the seat has been with Asaduddin Owaisi. In 2019, the difference between Owaisi's votes and that of BJP's Bhagavanth Rao was around 3 lakh. In 2024, the BJP wants to upset the apple cart by fielding Dr Madhavi Latha. Madhavi Latha's name was announced in the first list of the BJP's 195 candidates signifying that the party is serious about focusing on weak constituencies. Madhavi Latha said the Owaisi family held the constituency for 40 years but there has been no development in Old City.

'Dharmo rakshati rakshitah (Dharma protects those who protect it)," Madhavi said after her name was announced as the Hyderabad candidate.

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Who is Madhavi Latha?

Madhavi Latha, or Kompella Madhavi Latha, was the face of BJP's campaign against triple talaq. A cultural activist, Madhavi is the chairman of Hyderabad's Virinchi Hospital.

Madhavi Latha is a professional Bharatnatyam dancer, and a mother to three children -- two daughters and a son. She was in news for homeschooling all her children and the eldest one is now at IIT.

Latha was also part of the NCC cadet. She studied political science.

Madhavi Latha's husband Vishwanath is the founder and chairman of the Virinchi Hospital.

Madhavi Latha is also known as a religious speaker. Her commitment has been towards Hindu causes.

Madhavi Latha is also associated with many charity organisations -- Lopamudra Charitable Trust, LathaMa Foundation etc.

The 49-year-old is the first female candidate to be fielded by the BJP in Hyderabad.

Though Madhavi Latha's name from Owaisi's constituency sprang a surprise, Madhavi Latha said she has been working in the constituency for one year. "In the last year, every day, I have been visiting all those areas and working for 11-12 hours. There is nothing -- no cleanliness, no education. Children in Madrasas are not getting food. Muslim children become child labourers, they have no future. And Hindu temples and homes are being occupied illegally," Madhavi Latha said on Hyderabad's Old City. "Why Old City is in such a pathetic condition. It 's not on the hills, not a tribal area -- it is at the heart of Hyderabad the city for which Telangana and Andhra Pradesh fought. But at the heart of Hyderabad, there is poverty," Madhavi said.

"If somebody is owning a constituency as an elected representative in a democracy for 40 years, imagine what it should have become by now. They should take retirement now. The tears of 21 lakh voters moved New Delhi and they have declared war in Hyderabad. Now these people will get justice," Madhavi Latha said.

Owaisi is not BJP's B team and her nomination from the seat proved this, Madhavi said.
In a major breakthrough, the National Investigative Agency (NIA) on Friday arrested a Popular Front of India (PFI) member and the alleged key conspirator in the murder of Karnataka Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker R Rudresh in 2016, Mohammad Ghouse Nayazi, upon his arrival at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport from Tanzania's commercial port town, Dar es Salaam. Mohammad Ghouse Nayazi(X)

Read here: RSS leaders murder: NIA nabs key conspirator on arrival from Tanzania

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Mohammad Ghouse Nayazi, who was absconding from the probe agency for the past eight years was arrested by a special team of NIA at the airport following a tip-off.

Who is Mohammad Ghouse Nayazi?

Mohammad Ghouse Nayazi is claimed to be one of the main conspirators in the 2016 murder case of prominent Karnataka RSS worker R Rudresh. He was hacked to death by four members of the now-banned PFI in October 2016.

The murder was part of a larger conspiracy hatched by Ghouse Nayazi, president of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), Karnataka's Hebbal assembly constituency and another PFI member Asim Sheriff, according to the NIA's press release. The duo had motivated the other four accused to kill Rudresh to strike terror among the members of RSS and the society. The killers were persuaded to believe that the fight against the RSS was a 'holy war', it added.

Ghouse, 41, a resident of RT Nagar in Bengaluru, fled from the country and was hiding in various locations abroad. The probe agency had also declared a reward of 5 lakh for providing information about him.

According to a report by Indian Express, Ghouse Nayazi was popularly known as Ghouse Bhai and had an Indian passport which expired on in September 2021. According to the report, Nayazi Ghouse was overstaying on expired Indian travel documentation and was deported to Ahmedabad by Dubai authorities to face legal action.

Read here: 15 from PFI get death for killing Kerala BJP leader

The Gujarat Anti-Terror Squad had first tracked the location of Nayazi, following which central agencies were alerted. Nayazi was located at United Arab Emirates (UAE). The Dubai authorities and the tele-identifiers located Ghouses whereabouts via the SIM cards he had obtained using Indian Passport.

With Ghouse's arrest, all the accused--Sheriff and the four assailants  Mohammed Sadiq, 35; Waseem Ahmed, 32; Irfan Pasha, 32; and Mohammed Mujeebullah, 41-- in the case have been arrested. The trial against the remaining accused persons is continuing in NIA Special Court, Bengaluru.
Numerous Sri Lankan fishermen staged protest against their Indian counterparts on Sunday, accusing them of engaging in illegal fishing in Sri Lankan waters, PTI reported. Representative Image: A fisherman posts black flag on a boat during a protest demanding for the immediate release of the Rameswaram fishermen who are languishing in Sri Lankan prisons, in Rameswaram.(PTI)

ALSO READ- Rajiv Gandhi assassination: Released convict Santhan dies in hospital

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Why are Sri Lankan fishermen protesting?

The fishermen, hailing from Jaffna, Mullaitivu, and Mannar districts, expressed dissatisfaction over the alleged recurrent incursions by Indian fishermen and called on authorities to prevent such activities.

They vowed to intensify protests if the situation persisted unchecked.

The ongoing tensions surrounding the fishermen's issue have created strains in India-Sri Lanka relations, resulting in periodic confrontations such as firing incidents by the Sri Lankan Navy and the arrest of Indian fishermen.

ALSO READ- Reliance consumer partners Sri Lankan beverage maker Elephant House

Palk Strait dispute strains India-Sri Lanka relationship

Palk Strait is a narrow waterway, separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka and serves as a lucrative fishing ground for both nations.

The disputed fishing ground in the water body continues to pose challenges, prompting calls for effective measures to address the persistent issues.

Over 40 Indian fishermen were apprehended by the Sri Lanka Navy this month. In 2023, 240 Indian fishermen were arrested for alleged poaching in Sri Lankan waters, followed by the seizure of 35 trawlers.

In recent months, fishers' organisations have staged multiple protests, including one held in front of the Indian consulate in Jaffna, expressing their discontent over what they allege is continued illegal fishing by Indian counterparts.

Earlier this week, Puducherry chief minister N Rangasamy wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, seeking the Centre's intervention in securing the release of fishing boats from the union territory that have been confiscated by Sri Lankan authorities, The Hindu reported.

(Inputs from PTI)
Silchar: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday said that he considers the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) as patriots who took guns to protect their motherland, as he distributed the financial grants to former cadres of the United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) and their family members at a programme held in Guwahati. CM Himanta Biswa Sarma ceremonially distributing financial grant to former cadres and family members of ULFA at a program held in Guwahati on Saturday (Twitter/@diprassam)

Sarma on Saturday blamed the past governments wrong decisions, which according to him, gave birth to ULFA and said they were never militants.

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During the initial years after independence, the then governments policies allowed a huge inflow of migrants from Bangladesh, and those people outnumbered the original Assamese population, Sarma said.

A group of youths decided to take up guns to save this land from illegal migrants. Many of them died in this process. I wont believe if someone calls them (ULFA) militants, to me they were patriots, Sarma said.

The pro-talk section of Assams largest militant group signed a peace accord with the Central Government on December 29, last year. Later in January, the members decided to disband the group, 44 years after it was formed.

Sarma had then said that around 700 security personnel and more than 4,500 innocent civilians were killed by ULFA in Assam since 1979. On Saturday, he said that around 2,300 ULFA cadres were also killed.

He said security personnel and ULFA were fighting for their motherland. We regret the deaths of those youths who came to Assam as a part of security forces, and their dead bodies returned home.

The chief minister said that Assam witnessed many agitations since the initial years and the past governments failed to bring peace, which affected the development of the state.

In the last three years, we saw peace in Assam for the first time, and now all the insurgent groups have surrendered weapons to join the mainstream, he said.

Though the majority of the ULFA leaders agreed to sign a peace pact with the government, an independent wing led by Paresh Barua refused to join discussions. Sarma said he has invited Paresh Barua to visit Assam and stay here for a few days to witness the change.

He said that the ULFA Peace Accord has secured 105 of the 126 assembly seats in Assam for the Khilanjias (original inhabitants), including the Khilanjias of Barak Valley.

If we cannot outnumber the migrants, we can survive by securing a stronger socio-political position. We can outshine them by our quality, Sarma said.

He added that this is a crucial moment as the decisions taken today will secure the rights of indigenous people in future.

The historians of the future will remember us for the important decisions we took, we may not be alive to see their works but I want to be remembered as someone who took the right steps to secure the rights of indigenous people in Assam, Sarma said.
National Grammar Day 2024: Grammar in the English language is the backbone. It decides the structure of the sentence, the tone of the words and how things are meant to be communicated. Minor differences in the grammar of the language can change the entire meaning of the sentences. In fact, the grammar in any language forms the structure of the language. Grammar nazis sometimes have a difficult time navigating through the grammatical errors and may find it difficult to understand the things that are meant to be communicated. Since language is the medium of communication, grammar forms the rules and regulations of the language that we should follow. Every year, National Grammar Day is celebrated on March 4. (Unsplash)

Every year, National Grammar Day is observed. As we gear up to observe the special day, here are a few facts that we must keep in mind.

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Date:

Every year, National Grammar Day is celebrated on March 4. This year, the special day falls on a Monday.

History:

In the 5th Century BC, an early grammar was used in the Sanskrit language, however, the traditional grammar and the alphabetical system was developed lot later by the early Greek people. Dionysius Thrax, Greek Grammarian defined grammar as the mode that allows a person to speak and express in a language and its components with relation to each other. Noam Chomsky, American Professor and public intellectual, who is known for his contributions in the space of linguistics, contributed heavily to the grammar of English language, making it undergo dramatic changes. In 2008, Martha Brockenbrough, the founder of the Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar established National Grammar Day to be celebrated every year on March 4.

Significance:

National Grammar Day is a special day to understand grammatical theories, learn the loopholes in the language and thank our editors. The best way to celebrate the day is by hosting a grammar party and getting our red pens out to find grammatical errors in day-to-day things such as newspapers, magazines, etc.
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Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
Arbitrary boundaries were drawn on maps to separate European colonies in Africa. Most of those lines drawn on a Berlin Conference table between 1884 and 1885 are still in place today  with deadly consequences. Victoria Falls nixed any German plans of using the Zambezi River as a trade route to connect to German East Africa (Reuters/Staff )

Why is the Caprivi Strip symbolic of colonial era mapmaking?

It's one of the weirdest looking territories on a map, and forms part of Namibia. It looks like a pan handle, has parallel straight lines 30km (19 miles) apart, and traverses savannah and river systems  including the mighty Zambezi. It was created by European diplomats desperate to gain territory for their respective nations without causing conflict with competing European neighbors. Very few had actually visited the territory they were carving up, but they wanted to avoid other colonial powers from forming continuous, land axes going in East-West or North-South directions.

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How was the Caprivi Strip formed?

After the 1884 Berlin Conference, German South West Africa was isolated from German East Africa. Separating them were the British Protectorates of Bechuanaland (Botswana today), northern and Southern Rhodesia (today's Zambia and Zimbabwe). So, in 1890 German Chancellor Leo von Caprivi negotiated with Britain for a strip of land that would allow German access through South West Africa to the Zambezi River, which Germany knew mouthed in East Africa.

For this potential trade route, Germany agreed to recognize British influence over Zanzibar and Pemba, just off the coast of German East Africa, and Germany would get the tiny naval base of Heligoland in the North Sea off the German coast. This became known as the 1890 Heligoland-Zanzibar Treaty between Britain and Germany.

What was the problem?

Germany now had the fourth largest colonial empire. But just 40 kilometers east of where the Caprivi Strip ended, the mighty Mosi-oa-Tunya, or Victoria Falls, rose.

This magnificent natural wonder rendered the Zambezi unnavigable, and the German plan was scuppered.

What have been the consequences of this geographical oddity?

Multiple ethnic groups, who spoke over a dozen languages, suddenly found themselves in 4 different colonial territories.

While the Caprivi Strip remained relatively peaceful during colonialism, mainly because Germany had limited interest in the area, this would change when Germany lost its colonies at the 1919 Treaty of Versailles. Namibia, or South West Africa, became a mandate of South Africa, with a view of becoming independent down the line. But this did not happened - at least until 1990. Instead, South Africa introduced its apartheid policies, and made the Caprivi rulers a puppet regime.

And from the 1960s, the Caprivi Strip's strategic geopolitical location meant it was hotbed of war and incursions between South African military forces and liberation fighters launching cross border raids related to the Angola Civil War, the Border War and the Rhodesian Bush War.

That's three separate conflicts which had very little to do with the people living there, and everything to do with foreign powers trying to assert dominance over the region. The guns only fell silent in the late 1990s, after a brief attempt by local Caprivians to secede from the newly independent Namibia failed in 1999.

What other conflicts over colonial era borders exist in Germany's former colonies?

In Cameroon, the Bakassi conflict erupted in the 2000s between Nigeria and Cameroon over the Bakassi peninsula. Here, Nigerian nationals had lived for generations on land claimed by Cameroon based on colonial era agreements. Sporadic clashes still occur, despite an International Court of Justice ruling in Cameroon's favor.

Togo, which borders modern day Ghana, was also divided between France and Britain in 1919, along an artificial border. This was rejected by the local Ewe people, who now found themselves in two separate countries. "British Togoland" or Western Togoland was then incorporated into Ghana in 1956 after a vote. However, the Ewe majority regions actually voted to remain under a United Nations mandate. To this day, some Ewe groups demand a separate homeland, and the Ghanaian government has increased pressure on activists through arrests and military presence in the region.

And in Tanzania, thanks to the 1890 Heligoland Zanzibar Treaty, the very same deal that created the Caprivi Strip there is a long running dispute with Malawi over who controls Lake Malawi or Lake Nyasa, as Tanzanians call it, there is a dispute over where the border lies. Very basically, according to the Treaty, the border runs along the Tanzanian shore. Tanzania argues that boundary should be in line with numerous other borders and agreements regarding lakes and run through the middle. These are two irreconcilable positions lay dormant, until 2011, when Malawi allowed oil exploration in Tanzania's claimed area of the lake.
The three-day pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant are going on in full swing with Bollywood celebrities and CEOs from around the world putting the best sartorial feet forward and parents-to-be Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh could not stay behind as the duo rocked power couple goals at the ethnic party on Saturday night. The hot couple of Bollywood embraced a royal magnifique look that aced maximalism and the fashion enthusiast in us is smitten. Parents-to-be Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh rock power couple goals at Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant ethnic party (Photo by Instagram/ekalakhani/deepikapadukone)

The pictures from the bash that are now flooding the Internet feature Deepika donning a backless golden blouse paired with a golden and silver colour lehenga that came with heavy embroidered work in the two royal colours plus black and was teamed with a radiant tissue dupatta to slay a contemporary Sabyasachi look of smoky colours with glints of gold and silver that carry the veneer of the timeless. Pulling back her silky tresses into a sleek long braid, Deepika accessorised her look with a pair of traditional long jhumkis and a special-stone-studded heavy choker.

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Opting for a nude lipstick shade, Deepika amped the glam quotient with smokey eyes makeup but minimalist blush and contour. Striking dainty poses for the camera, the diva set the Internet on fire.

On the other hand, Ranveer looked dapper in a black velvet custom bandhgala from Indian couturier Gaurav Gupta, which featured huge phoenix print in striking blue and was teamed with a black kurta underneath and a pair of black trousers. Accessorising his look with a pair of brown-tinted sunglasses from Tifanny, Ranveer completed his attire with footwear from Saint Laurent.

While Deepika was draped by stylist and consultant Shaleena Nathani, Ranveer was styled by costume designer, stylist and wardrobe consultant Eka Lakhani. Deepika was recently seen in the aerial action thriller film Fighter opposite Hrithik Roshan that was helmed by Siddharth Anand and also starred Anil Kapoor, Karan Singh Grover and Akshay Oberoi.

She will be next seen in the sci-fi action thriller film Kalki 2898 AD alongside Prabhas. Helmed by Nag Ashwin, the film also stars Amitabh Bachchan and will hit the theatres on May 9, 2024.

Ranveer will be seen reprising his role of Simmba in Rohit Shetty's cop drama Singham Again, which also stars Deepika, Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff and Kareena Kapoor. Ranveer will also headline Farhan Akhtar's Don 3, which will release in 2025.

Guests from all around the world are in Jamnagar, Gujarat, to attend the pre-wedding festivities of businessman Mukesh Ambani's youngest son, Anant Ambani, who is set to tie the knot with industrialist Viren Merchant's daughter, Radhika Merchant.
Developed in 2018 by the International Papillomavirus Society (IPVS), International HPV Awareness Day is marked annually now on March 4 and is an annual opportunity to educate about Human Papillomavirus, its associated cancers and prevention tips against the virus that we have the tools to eliminate and the ability to prevent the cancers that HPV can cause. In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Nanda Rajaneesh, Visiting Consultant - Breast Onco Surgery and Bariatric Surgery at Sakra World Hospital in Bengaluru, shared, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a DNA virus, often shows no symptoms and can clear on its own in about 90% of cases within two years. However, it can lead to the formation of warts or precancerous lesions, increasing the risk of various cancers in areas such as the cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, anus, mouth, tonsils, or throat. HPV Awareness Day: What is Human Papillomavirus and why it can put you at risk of cancer? (Photo by Twitter/HPVRoundtable)

He revealed, The main mode of transmission is through sexual contact, predominantly affecting cervical cells. While the immune system can typically clear most infections, persistent high-risk HPV infections can result in prolonged cervical infection and the emergence of precancerous lesions. If not addressed, these lesions may advance to cervical cancer due to genetic alterations and the activities of viral oncogenes E6 and E7, which stimulate cell replication and the formation of tumors. Notably, HPV16 and HPV18 are responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancers, with HPV16 being the cause of almost 90% of oropharyngeal cancers.

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He highlighted, Genital warts and laryngeal papillomatosis frequently result from HPV6 and HPV11. HPV is associated with the majority of anal, cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and penile cancers. Persistent high-risk HPV infections substantially increase the risk of cancer, with about 10% of women facing prolonged cervical infections. Detecting and managing high-risk HPV infections promptly is crucial in preventing precancerous changes and reducing health risks.

Bringing her expertise to the same, Dr Swati Gaikwad, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist at Motherhood Hospital in Pune, explained, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of related viruses that can infect various parts of the body, primarily the genital area. While many HPV infections resolve on their own, some persistent infections can lead to serious health issues. HPV is commonly transmitted through sexual contact, including vaginal, anal, and oral sex.

Of the over 100 different types of HPV, some are classified as high-risk, increasing the likelihood of developing cancer. Dr Swati Gaikwad said, Persistent infection with high-risk HPV strains, particularly types 16 and 18, is a major cause of cervical cancer in women. Additionally, HPV can contribute to cancers of the anus, penis, vagina, vulva, and oropharynx (the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils). The link between HPV and cancer arises when the virus interferes with the normal regulation of cell growth, leading to the formation of abnormal cells that can eventually become cancerous. Regular screening, such as Pap smears and HPV tests, is crucial for early detection of abnormalities and prevention of cancer development.

She elaborated, Vaccination is a key tool in preventing HPV-related cancers. Vaccines like Gardasil 9 protect against the most common high-risk HPV types, providing a strong defense against cervical and other cancers. The recommended age for HPV vaccination is early adolescence, ideally before any sexual activity, to maximize its effectiveness. By promoting awareness and proactive healthcare measures, we can reduce the impact of HPV on individuals and communities, ultimately working towards a healthier and cancer-free future.
Portugal, a haven for retirees, holds a general election next Sunday, 50 years on from the 1974 "Carnation Revolution" that toppled a decades-long rightist dictatorship. Travelling to Portugal? 5 things to know about Florida of Europe from gentle lifestyle to attractive tax policies (Photo by Ricardo Resende on Unsplash)

Here are five things to know about the country:

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- 50 years of democracy -

Portugal is marking the 50th anniversary this year of an almost bloodless coup on April 25, 1974 that put an end to 48 years of authoritarian rule and 13 years of colonial wars in Africa.

The revolt by idealistic young army officers quickly turned into a popular uprising when the troops were joined by jubilant crowds that took less than 24 hours to bring down Europe's longest-lived dictatorship.

Nicknamed the Carnation Revolution after flower vendors handed out seasonal blooms to the soldiers, it led to Portugal's first free elections with universal suffrage exactly one year later.

It is a rare example of a military coup held to install democracy and a source of pride in Portugal, where its anniversary is a national holiday called "Freedom Day".

- Influx of tourists -

With 300 days of sunshine per year, Portugal keeps setting new records for the amount of foreign tourist arrivals it draws.

The sector accounts for around 15 percent of the country's economic output, generating record revenues of 25 billion euros ($27 billion) last year.

Dubbed the "Florida of Europe", the country is also home to many well-off foreigners -- retirees, investors or digital nomads -- seduced by its gentle lifestyle and attractive tax policies.

- ...and immigrants -

With one of Europe's most open immigration regimes, Portugal has seen its foreign-born population double in five years.

Fewer than half a million in 2018, last year a million foreigners were living in Portugal -- one-tenth the country's population.

Brazilians, with their long historical links to the country, remain the biggest contingent -- some 400,000-strong.

Immigrants from India and Nepal are now more numerous than people from former Portuguese colonies Angola and Cape Verde.

Bangladeshis and Pakistanis also now figure in the top 10 of new arrivals.

- Surf XXL -

With over 800 kilometres (500 miles) of Atlantic coastline and countless breaks of all shapes and sizes, the country attracts surfers from around the world.

The best known spot is off the coast of the central town of Nazare, where an underwater canyon some five kilometres (three miles) deep near the shoreline of the former fishing village helps generate what are arguably the biggest rideable waves in the world.

Germany's Sebastian Steudtner set a world record there in 2020 for the biggest wave ever surfed at 86 feet (26.2 metres).

- Cork champion -

Portugal is the world's largest cork producer, accounting for nearly half of the world's supply, according to the Portuguese Cork Association.

Cork is made from the bark of the cork oak (Quercus suber), which covers around 720,000 hectares (1,780,000 acres) of land in Portugal more than any other country.

Portuguese cork producers have sought to diversify its use beyond wine bottle stoppers, with the material increasingly used as building insulation as well as in footwear, furniture and even the aerospace industry.

The value of Portugal's cork exports last year surpassed one billion euros, a record.

In 2020 the Lisbon metro replaced the fabric lining on all seats of its train fleet with cork, an easier to maintain material.
Its womens history month and if I skipped the newsletter last week, dear reader, it was because I was in Sri Lanka where I discovered the work of the marvelous Minnette de Silva, the countrys first woman architect. While there are serious efforts to revive and assess her work, she remains largely forgotten. Read on Minnette de Silva with Pablo Picasso and others (Source: Wiki Commons) (Wikimedia Commons)

Truth be told I had not heard of Minnette de Silva. Goeffrey Bawa, Sri Lankas lionised and feted architect, yes. His influence can be seen in not just his own former country estate in Lunuganga but in buildings such as the new Parliament house.

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But Minnette who?

On a visit to the island nation that gave the world meaning to the word serendipity, I stumbled upon a solo show at the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art. It was, unusually, of a housing project that had been designed by Sri Lankas first woman architect.

Minnette de Silva had many other firsts to her name: first Asian woman to be elected an associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and, incidentally, in her time, just one of two women anywhere in the world to have an architectural practice in her own name.

The exhibition on display was another first-of-its-kind social housing project, the Watapuluwa housing complex completed in 1958 for government employees in the then recently independent nation. De Silva called it an early example of community architecture, in The Life and Work of an Asian Woman Architect, vol 1, her posthumously published, and incomplete, work.

When you think of the depressing shabbiness that has come to be associated with government housing, De Silvass Watapuluwa and the scale of her ambition stands out.

She used modern materials, concrete and rough finishes, alongside traditional materials like earth, bamboo, handwoven textiles, wood carvings, writes Sumita Singha in this assessment of De Silvas work in RIBA. She was also able to help local artisans, particularly women, through her work and advocacy.

Working with the natural lay of the land, the buildings on the hillside in Watapuluwa featured split levels to avoid wasteful excavations. There were terraces and verandahs to promote sunlight and airflow. She sent out questionnaires to the owners to understand how they lived and what their needs were to develop five general plans with close to 50 variations along with community facilities.

When planning her builds, she tried to think about how a householder would use their home, rather than impose a way of living on them. She was ahead of her time, championing what we would now call participatory design, says Shiromi Pinto, author of Plastic Emotions, a fictionalised rendering of de Silvas life and relationship with Le Corbusier, with whom she had a close friendship until his death in 1965.

The exhibition addresses the overlooked work of one of the global souths most unrecognised women architects and thinkers, explains chief curator Sharmini Pereira. The idea, she adds, was to locate the research as coming from Sri Lanka and to share this with a global audience. This was easier said than done since there were no original drawing or models of her work intact. One way to get around the problem was to commission a film by three contemporary artists who researched and interviewed people about de Silva.

The architect in a sari

Minnette de Silva (Source: Gagosian.com)

Minnette de Silva was born in 1918, a year before her more famous compatriot, Geoffrey Bawathough her practice precedes him by a decade.

The daughter of George de Silva, a barrister and Buddhist-Sinhalese politician and Agnes, a suffragette of Eurasian parentage (like Bawa and known as burghers in Sri Lanka), she studied architecture in Mumbai and was, along with writer Mulk Raj Anand and her sister, Anil de Silva, one of the founding members of cultural magazine, Marg. In 1944, she worked briefly in Bangalore for German Jewish refugee Otto Koenigsberger, the chief architect and town planner of Mysore.

A chance meeting led her to enrol with the Architectural Association in London and it was during this time, that she met Le Corbusier. One can only imagine the impact she made, dressed invariably in silk saris with flowers in her hair. In August 1948, she attended the World Congress of Intellectuals in Defence of Peace held in Poland, interacting with artist Pablo Picasso, sculptor Jo Davidson and American political commentator Albert E. Kahn.

In 1949, de Silva was summoned back to Sri Lanka, or Ceylon as it was then known, by her father to contribute to the newly independent nation. She set up her practice from her parents home in Kandy, starting with low-budget private homes for friends of her parents.

In 1962, her mothers death sent her into depression. She began to find it increasingly difficult to get commissions in the 1970s. Perhaps to cope with her grief and the new political climate in Sri Lanka, she travelled a lot in the 1960s and 1970s to the detriment of her practice, writes Sumita Singha. When she returned aged 62, it was even harder to revive her practice. She died alone in a hospital in 1998 after falling from her bathtub, where she lay for days in her family home, before she was found. She was 80.

A difficult woman

Ahead of her time, de Silvas ideas were popularised by men, but she was not credited properly, continues Singha. She was compared unflatteringly with men, but she was the one who took risks, for instance, setting up a practice in her own name in Kandy rather than Colombo.

She was often castigated for being a difficult woman, says Pinto in an email interview. Men like Geoffrey Bawa had a whole coterie of young architects who became disciples and then set up a foundation to preserve his work, its hard to see anyone doing the same for Minnette. She was often dismissed and even when I interviewed architects in Sri Lanka (male architects, I should add), they were often from the Bawa camp and wasted no time in telling me that Minnettes architecture was not very good or that she was just difficult. Where Bawas tendency to be a loner was seen as idiosyncratic, Minnettes grumpiness was taken as her being difficult, says Pinto.

It's an assessment that Singha also subscribes to. For instance, her relationship with Le Corbusier was brought up in books and lectures while Bawas friendship with a self-confessed paedophile called Donald Friend is hardly mentioned. Bawa, writes Singha, even poached de Silvas employee, a Danish architect called Ulrik Plesner who would go on to disparage de Silva in his eventual memoirs, but remained tight-lipped about Bawa, even though they fell out.

And yet, over a quarter century after her death, there is an effort to revive the reputation and place of Minnette de Silva. She is often described as being ahead of her time. Whilst this is true, she also paved the way in her way for architects like Geoffrey Bawa, says Pereira. She was the first to use the term regional in relation to issues related to climate, terrain, local materials and cultural history, Pereira adds. And for this, she deserves to be given a much greater level of recognition, not only as a woman architect of historical importance but as an architect working in the late 40s in a newly independent country where her contribution to modernist architecture was bold, audacious and richly deserving.

The following article is an excerpt from this week's Mind the Gap. Sign up here.
Bill Gates is currently on a trip to India and has been meeting with several top leaders and participating in various events. He also attended the pre-wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with his girlfriend, Paula Hurd, on March 1. The Microsoft co-founder was also seen sipping tea made by the famous tea seller from Nagpur, Dolly Chaiwala, expressing that he is looking forward to many chai pe charcha. The techpreneur-turned-philanthropist visited the worlds tallest statue, the Statue of Unity, located near Kevadia in Gujarat on March 2. The 597-foot-tall statue of Iron Man and first deputy Prime Minister of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, has left Bill Gates impressed. Bill Gates visited the world's tallest statue, Statue of Unity, in Gujarat on March 2. (Instagram/@thisisbillgates)

Wow! I had a colossal visit to the Statue of Unity, the worlds tallest statue. Thank you Prime Minister @narendramodi for the invitation to visit this engineering marvel and thanks Chief Minister @bhupendrapbjp to your government for hosting me, wrote Bill Gates while sharing the video on Instagram.

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The video opens to show Gates standing in front of the statue and spreading his arms out. A text insert on the video reads, Can you guess where I am? The camera then pans to show the statue from different angles. As the video goes on, a woman can be seen guiding Gates around the Statue of Unity Museum. The video ends with Gates posing with the statue.

Watch the video shared by Bill Gates here:

Bill Gates shared the video over an hour ago on Instagram. It has since gone viral with over 1.4 million views and the numbers are still increasing. Additionally, the video has received numerous likes and comments from Instagram users.

Check out how people reacted to this video here:

Welcome to Gujarat, expressed an individual.

Another added, Iron Man of India, guessing the place Bill Gates is at.

Wow, amazing. Thank you for sharing - you look great too. Nice to see, expressed a third.
Ekta Thakur, an X user, shared her experience of finding her lost iPhone with the help of Delhi Police on the microblogging platform. In her tweets, she expressed her gratitude towards the police for their service and thanked them for ensuring the safety in Delhi. Additionally, Thakur also shared a photo with police personnel after recovering her iPhone. Snapshot of Ekta Thakur along with Delhi Police personnel. (X/@ektathakurvats)

My deepest gratitude to HC Ajay Yadav, Anil Yadav and Gajraj Rao, who jumped to action about a lost iPhone in Munirka and recovered it within three hours of losing it. Deeply indebted to their continued service to keeping Delhi safe. Thank you so much, wrote Thakur in her tweet. She also tagged the official social media handle of Delhi Police, DCP South West District, and Commissioner Police of Delhi. (Also Read: Rohit Sharmas helmet pehen le video used by Delhi Police for road safety awareness. Watch)

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Take a look at her post here:

In the following tweet, she added more about the incident. Thakur informed that when she told the police her phone's location can be seen on her MacBook, the officers didn't 'hesitate a second to patrol all around Munirka and RK Puram' with her.

Her initial tweet was shared on March 1. Since being posted, it has received numerous views and likes. Even Delhi Police took notice of her post, reshared it and said, Thank you, Ekta ji, for sharing your experience and appreciating our service! (Also Read: Delhi Polices how to do a wheelie post has a road safety message for riders)

This isn't the first time a person discovered their phone using their tracking location. Earlier, a resident of Tamil Nadu lost his bag containing his phone while travelling on the Nagercoil-Kacheguda Express. After realising his belongings were missing, his techie son- Raj Bhagat-came forward to help him.

Bhagat used his family's shared location on Google Maps to track the thief. Once he got hold of him near Melapalayam in Tirunelveli, he was taken into custody. Later, at the police station, the thief's identity was verified, and the police also informed that he was a repeat offender. The officers also discovered other things he had taken that day, including a rail chain, a mobile phone charger, Bluetooth headphones, a lock and key, and 1,000 in cash.
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Toronto: A day after attempting to disrupt an event featuring Indias High Commissioner to Ottawa in Surrey, pro-Khalistan groups staged protests in front of the Indian consulates in Toronto and Vancouver on Saturday but with little impact. Pro-Khalistani groups protesting outside the Indian consulate in Toronto, Canada, in July last year. (HT photo)

The so-called Khalistan Car Rally in each city was to protest the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar on June 18 in Surrey, British Columbia last year. Nijjar was deemed a terrorist in India.

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As both consulates were closed for the weekend, there was no impact on operations. Protesters were also prevented from coming close to either of the buildings where the consulates are housed in the two cities. Police cordoned the buildings off, placed barricades and kept the protesters at a distance. For instance, in Toronto, they were restricted to protesting from across the avenue. Protesters seemed frustrated with the police, a senior Indian official said.

The protests were called by the separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), for whom Nijjar was the principal organiser in the province of British Columbia. SFJ said the protests were dedicated to avenge the assassination of Nijjar.

On Friday evening, as High Commissioner Sanjay Kumar Verma addressed and interacted with the Surrey Board of Trade at the Sheraton Guildford Hotel in the town where Nijjar was killed. SFJ described the town as a war zone and has said it will continue to target Verma.

However, the Surrey detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) blocked all entrances to the venue and at times, confronted protesters who attempted to enter the building leading to fiery exchanges. While organisers claimed there were nearly 500 protesters at the venue, the outlet CBC News reported there were only 70 and 80 present.

Verma later described that event as well organised and well attended. His speech to the SBOT, led by its CEO Anita Huberman covered trade, investment, innovation, startups, research and development, among other topics.
Israel boycotted Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo on Sunday after Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages that are still alive, an Israeli newspaper reported. A Palestinian man stands amid the rubble of houses destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza City on March 3, 2024, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Hamas movement.(AFP)

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for the talks, billed as a possible final hurdle before an agreement that would halt the fighting for six weeks. But by the evening there was no sign of the Israelis.

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"There is no Israeli delegation in Cairo," Ynet, the online version of Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, quoted unidentified Israeli officials as saying. "Hamas refuses to provide clear answers and therefore there is no reason to dispatch the Israeli delegation."

Also Read | Israeli military promises thorough investigation into aid convoy deaths

Washington has insisted the ceasefire deal is close and should be in place in time to halt fighting by the start of Ramadan, a week away. But the warring sides have given little sign in public of backing away from previous demands.

After the Hamas delegation arrived, a Palestinian official told Reuters the deal was "not yet there". There was no official comment from Israel.

The sun sets over Gaza, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, as seen from Israel's border with Gaza in southern Israel, Israel March 3, 2024.(Reuters)

One source briefed on the talks had said on Saturday that Israel could stay away from Cairo unless Hamas first presented its full list of hostages who are still alive. A Palestinian source told Reuters that Hamas had so far rejected that demand.

In past negotiations Hamas has sought to avoid discussing the wellbeing of individual hostages until after terms for their release are set.

Also Read | Hamas armed wing says seven hostages killed in Gaza

A U.S. official told reporters on Saturday: "The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And there's a deal on the table. There's a framework deal."

Israel had agreed to the framework and it was now up to Hamas to respond, the U.S. official said.

An agreement would bring the first extended truce of the war, which has raged for five months so far with just a week-long pause in November. Dozens of hostages held by the militants would be freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Aid would be ramped up for Gazans pushed to the verge of famine. Fighting would cease in time to head off a massive planned Israeli assault on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are penned in against the enclave's southern border fence abutting Egypt. Israeli forces would pull back from some areas and let Gazans return to abandoned homes.

But the proposal appears to stop short of fulfilling the main Hamas demand for a permanent end to the war, while also leaving unresolved the fate of more than half of the more than 100 remaining hostages - including Israeli men not covered by terms to free women, children, the elderly and wounded.

Egyptian mediators have suggested those issues could be set aside for now, with assurances to resolve them in later stages. A Hamas source told Reuters the militants were still holding out for a "package deal".

In other diplomatic moves, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Ganz will meet U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Tuesday, while U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein visits Beirut on Monday to pursue efforts to de-escalate the conflict across the Lebanese-Israeli border.

OVERNIGHT AIRSTRIKE

At a morgue outside a Rafah hospital on Sunday morning, women wept and wailed beside rows of bodies of the Abu Anza family, 14 of whom were killed in their home in an airstrike overnight. Relatives opened a black plastic body bag to kiss the face of a dead schoolgirl in a torn sweatshirt and pink unicorn pyjamas.

Later, the bodies were brought to a graveyard and buried, including two infant twins, a boy and a girl, passed down in white bundles and placed in the ground.

"My heart is gone," wailed their mother, Rania Abu Anza, who also lost her husband in the attack. "I haven't had enough time with them."

Gaza authorities said at least eight people were killed on Sunday when a truck carrying food aid from a Kuwaiti charity was hit by an airstrike. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

The war was unleashed in October after Hamas fighters stormed through Israeli towns killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

Swathes of the Gaza Strip have been laid to waste, nearly the entire population has been made homeless, and the United Nations estimates a quarter of Gazans are on the verge of famine.

Residents described heavy bombardment overnight of Khan Younis, the main southern Gaza city, just to the north of Rafah.

Further north, where aid no longer reaches, Gaza health authorities said 15 children had now died of malnutrition or dehydration inside the Kamal Adwan hospital where there was no power for the intensive care unit. Staff fear for the lives of six more children there.

Washington dropped 38,000 meals from military aircraft into Gaza on Saturday, though aid agencies say this was only enough to have a marginal impact given the scale of the need.

The final days leading up to the possible truce have been exceptionally bloody, with talks overshadowed last week by the deaths of 118 people and wounding of hundreds more near a food convoy.

Israel said on Sunday its initial review of the incident had found that most of those killed or wounded had died in a stampede. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops at the scene initially fired only warning shots, though they later shot at some "looters" who "approached our forces and posed an immediate threat".

Muatasem Salah, a member of the Emergency Committee at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, told Reuters the Israeli account was contradicted by machine gun wounds.

"The wounded and martyrs are the result of being shot with heavy-calibre bullets," he said. "Any attempt to claim that people were martyred due to overcrowding or being run over is incorrect."

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Bassam Masoud in Rafah, Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem;Writing by Peter Graff and Giles Elgood; Editing by Alison Williams and Alexander Smith)
Shehbaz Sharif, a senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader and brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, is poised to become the Islamic nation's 33rd premier on Sunday. Pakistan's former Prime Minister and leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) party Shehbaz Sharif(AFP)

Read here: Pakistan's newly elected assembly meets amid pro-Imran Khan protests

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Shehbaz Sharif, the consensus candidate of PML-N and Bilawal Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), submitted his nomination on Saturday after he was declared as the official candidate from the party for the government's top post following the February 8 elections producing a split mandate. Meanwhile, former PM Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has nominated Omar Ayub Khan for the PM's post.

The National Assembly secretariat announced the poll schedule to elect the head of the government on Sunday. With the 2 candidates, the stage is set for Sunday's election, which is expected to be a one-sided affair in favour of Shehbaz Sharif.

In the February 8 polls, none of the parties managed to win the majority mark-- 133 seats out of 265 contested seats in the National Assembly--to form the government. Around 70 seats were reserved for women and minorities, divided between parties on a proportional basis. Khan's PTI along with support of Independent candidates won 93 seats, while the PML-N won 75 seats.

A candidate must receive 169 votes in the 336-member parliament to be elected PM. PML-N and its allies, meanwhile, claim to have enjoyed the support of over 200 legislators. In a post-poll alliance, the Mutahhida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, and the PPP have all backed the PML-N's candidate, while the PTI-backed opposition has 102 lawmakers. Meanwhile, PTI has alleged rigging in election results and held nationwide protests against the mandate.

The successful candidate will be administered the oath of office on Monday at the Presidential mansion, Aiwan-e-Sadr. If so, Shehbaz Sharif would take oath as the PM for the second time. He had earlier become PM when Imran Khan's government was ousted in April 2022 and served as PM for 16 months until August 2023 when fresh elections were announced.

Read here: Pakistan's new government's 1st priority will be to fix economy: Nawaz Sharif

At present, 304 elected representatives have taken oath whereas the Election Commission of Pakistan has so far withheld the notification of 23 reserved seats for women and minorities.

(With inputs from agencies)
An expert has said that Prince Harry could soon "reconsider becoming a US citizen. Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from the royal family in 2020. His challenge over security arrangements for his household was recently dismissed. 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)

This latest defeat for Prince Harry is no doubt crushing

In an attempt to contest the decision, Harry took the government to court. Harry insisted that he and his family face threat even though they were not part of the royal family any longer. He said he believed he had been treated unfairly.

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According to criminal defence lawyer Paul Britton, the ruling was likely "crushing" Harry, the Daily Express reported. This, in turn, could lead to him applying for American citizenship after his visa application issues are settled.

"This latest defeat for Prince Harry is no doubt crushing given the circumstances, Britton said. "This decision has been eagerly anticipated by the legal community and the judgement was conclusive  the decision made by Ravec will not be changed and Prince Harrys security protection in the UK will not be increased."

He continued, How this affects Prince Harrys next steps is yet to be seen. Many anticipate that, without what he feels is adequate security in place to protect him and his family on their return to the UK, he will soon reconsider the decision to become a US citizen.

"The complication in all of this is his current US visa application which is currently subject to its own legal battle, he added.

Harry had previously claimed he had considered applying for American citizenship. He added it was not "a priority" for him.

Meanwhile, King Charles former butler said that the Duke and Duchess return to the UK is possible, and could even be permanent. Its difficult to say given everything that has gone on and the trust that has been broken down whether they could return as full-time royals, but Ive always said if Harry did return to the UK, it is possible, Grant Harold said, according to New York Post.
Russian air defence systems destroyed all 38 drones that Ukraine launched at the Crimean Peninsula early on Sunday, Russia's defence ministry said, after reports on Ukrainian and Russian social media of powerful explosions in the port of Feodosia. A Ukrainian serviceman of Kholodnyi Yar 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade launches a Furiia reconnaissance drone for flying over positions of Russian troops, (REUTERS)

The Russian defence ministry did not say whether there was any damage or casualties in its statement on the Telegram messaging app.

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Road traffic near Feodosia was significantly restricted, Russian-installed officials in Crimea had said earlier. Traffic on the bridge linking the Crimean Peninsula to the Russian mainland was halted for couple hours before resuming at around 0140 GMT, Russian-installed officials in Crimea said on Telegram.

Russian and Ukrainian social media cited Feodosia residents as reporting powerful explosions were heard in the area of the seaport and an oil depot at about 2 a.m. local time on Sunday (2300 GMT on Saturday).

Reuters was not able to independently verify the reports of explosions. There was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials.

The Crimean Peninsula, which Russia annexed from Ukraine in a move condemned by Kyiv's allies in 2014, and the Black Sea that the peninsula borders have become a crucial theatre in the two-year war.

Ukraine's increased air and sea drone attacks on Russian military targets there have damaged or destroyed ships and naval repair yards in the port of Sevastopol and struck other targets.

Moscow uses its fleet in the Black Sea to launch long-range strikes on Ukraine. But for Russia's President Vladimir Putin, the waters that connect to the Mediterranean Sea are also an important springboard for projecting power into the Middle East and Europe.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said his troops have succeeded in diminishing Moscow's military strength in the Black Sea, which he said with greater support from Kyiv's allies could lead to his country's ultimate victory over Russia.
FAKE BIRTH certificates have long been a hot (if niche) commodity in China. In past decades couples would seek them out in order to get around the one-child policy. They could legally have two children if they were twinsor if their counterfeit papers stated as much. The one-child policy was loosened in 2016. But fake birth certificates remain in demand. Several hospitals are suspected of selling them. Some believe human-traffickers are the buyers. But investigators are eyeing another group: people who have babies via surrogates.

Surrogacy falls into a legal grey area in China. The state often says that the practice is banned; but there is no law against being a surrogate or hiring one. Yet doctors and hospitals that facilitate it are punished. Selling eggs, sperm or embryos is also crimes. And surrogacy contracts are not recognised by the state. That is where the bogus documents come in. A birth certificate is needed to obtain such things as health insurance, social security and household registration (see Chaguan). The fake ones allow non-biological children to officially be part of their new families.

For a country with a shrinking population, Chinas approach to surrogacy is rather counterproductiveto say nothing of its effect on families. With couples waiting longer to have children, the demand for surrogacy in China seems to be growing. By one estimate, over 10,000 babies are born via the process every year in the country. But the path clients and their surrogates must navigate is full of risks.

The first step, at least, is easy. Agencies that connect people with surrogates and, if needed, egg or sperm donors operate in the open. Your correspondent found an employee of one such agency on social media. His account contained pictures of dozens of prospective egg donors from various countries. It included their height, blood type, education and whether they had had plastic surgery. There are many Chinese egg-sisters. You are welcome to inquire about them, said a message on his page.

Chinese clients usually want their surrogates to be Chinese too, says the agency employee. The surrogates often come from poor, rural areas and have already had their own children. They can earn tens of thousands of dollars per pregnancy. In some villages in Hubei province, where two hospitals are under investigation for selling fake birth certificates, surrogacy has become a common way for local women to make money, according to an investigation by Chinese media in 2017.

But it is a dangerous job. Agencies are known to confiscate surrogates identity cards during pregnancies for leverage. Bad medical care can leave them with health problems. Sometimes agencies promise clients a boy, the gender favoured by traditional families. If the fetus is a girl, surrogates can be forced to have an abortion.

The law is not much help if a dispute arises between a surrogate and a client or an agency. In 2018 a woman named Yan Xiaoli agreed to be a surrogate for 350,000 yuan ($50,000). She was paid a portion of the total. But, she claims, the client refused to hand over the rest once he learned that she was pregnant with twin girls. So Ms Yan sued him. A court not only denied her claim, but told her to return the money she had already received. It said the contract she had signed was invalid because it violated public order and morality.

Some Chinese people seek out surrogates in the wider region, but this is getting harder. Thailand, once a relatively affordable option, banned commercial surrogacy in 2015. A year later Cambodia did the same, using existing laws against human trafficking. In 2020 a Chinese businessman called Xu Wenjun was given a 15-year jail sentence in Cambodia after he paid a local woman to bear his child.

Back in China most of the public seems to oppose surrogacy. In April footage of a woman covering up an advertisement for such services went viral. Many commenters expressed disgust at the practice of surrogacy. Women interviewed by local media said they often encountered similar adverts and covered them with lipstick or stickers making a counter-argument. Surrogacy exploits womenyou will be punished for it, says one such sticker.

Every so often the government channels this mood, launching campaigns against the industry or commenting on high-profile cases. In 2021 a famous actress named Zheng Shuang was accused by her former partner of abandoning two babies they had had via surrogacy in America. She was blasted by Chinas state broadcaster, CCTV, which said surrogacy showed a disregard of life. Even the Communist Partys main law-enforcement body weighed in, accusing Ms Zheng of taking advantage of legal loopholes and having a twisted worldview. The actress was blacklisted and later charged with tax evasion.

Surrogacy agencies are sometimes targeted, too. But their owners are rarely punished. And the firms, even if forced to shut down for a time, often reopen later. In between such campaigns, officials tend to turn a blind eye to the industry. The investigation into fake birth certificates in Hubei was launched only after an activist exposed the practice. Local governments have, after all, been tasked with reversing Chinas demographic decline. Officials may see surrogacy as a means to that end. It would benefit everyone involved if the practice were regulated sensibly.

Subscribers can sign up to Drum Tower, our new weekly newsletter, to understand what the world makes of Chinaand what China makes of the world.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Undefeated season leader Argentina cruised into the quarter-finals of the World Rugby SVNS Series at Los Angeles with two pool-stage triumphs on Saturday while unbeatens Australia and Fiji also topped their groups. HT Image

The Argentine squad seeks a fourth consecutive title after triumphs in Cape Town, Perth and Vancouver -- where the South Americans captured a third consecutive Vancouver crown last weekend.

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Saturday night's later quarter-final matches will send Argentina against Ireland, Australia against Great Britain, Fiji against Spain and France against the host United States.

Argentina captured the Pool A title by beating South Africa 17-5, boosted by two tries from Luciano Gonzalez, and defeating Ireland 26-14.

Australia captured Pool B with a 17-12 victory over the host United States and a 28-19 triumph over Samoa. Henry Palmer scored one try against the Americans and two in the group clincher.

Fiji advanced from Pool C by routing Canada 40-0 and edging France 14-10, the French also advancing to the last eight after defeating Great Britain 19-12.

Perry Baker scored tries in the second and third minute to spark the US squad over New Zealand 28-19 to capture the final berth in the last eight by finishing second in Pool B.

The outcome also secured spots for third-place pool finishers Ireland and Great Britain.

Former World Rugby Player of the Year Antoine Dupont, France's regular 15-a-side captain and scrum-half, says his switch to sevens in a bid to compete for Paris Olympic gold later this year is progressing well.

The French finished third in Vancouver in Dupont's debut in the series.

"Every time I'm on the pitch I improve," Dupont said. "I don't do daily check-ups to know where I'm at. I'm still learning.

"Every time I'm on the pitch I'm analyzing by talking to the guys. I'm still getting to grips with the sport. So far it's not going too badly."

js/bb
Viral videos show thousands of people gathered around the Israeli Embassy, the location where Aaron Bushnell set himself on fire a week ago. Many of them are seen carrying Free Palestine banners with them at the march held on Sunday, March 2. Flowers and a photograph of Aaron Bushnell are seen on a memorial as demonstrators rally during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of the Israeli Embassy in Washington, Saturday, March 2, 2024 (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)(AP)

Heres a look at some social media posts showing the protest:

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A viral video on X previously showed US veterans burning their uniforms at a vigil for Bushnell. The clip showed people burning their uniforms with a large banner behind them, which reads, Veterans say: Free Palestine! Remember Aaron Bushnell.

The death of Aaron Bushnell

Bushnell set himself on fireoutside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, DC.Before his death, Bushnell posted a video where he explained why he had planned to do what he did. "My name is Aaron Bushnell, I am an active-duty member of the United States Air Force and I will no longer be complicit in genocide," he said. 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 colonisers, it's not extreme at all. This is what our ruling class has decided will be normal.

Bushnell live streamed the video of the tragic incident on Twitch, but it was later taken down. The footage reportedly showed him walking up to the Israeli embassy and pouring a liquid on himself. He then set himself on fire, shouting Free Palestine repeatedly.

The 25-year-old was from San Antonio, Texas. He died on Sunday, February 25, the Metropolitan Police Department in Washington confirmed.

Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Former President Donald Trump continued his march toward the GOP nomination on Saturday, winning caucuses in Idaho and Missouri and sweeping the delegate haul at a party convention in Michigan. Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump gestures on stage during a campaign rally in Richmond, Virginia, U.S. March 2, 2024 (REUTERS/Jay Paul)(REUTERS)

Trump earned every delegate at stake on Saturday, bringing his count to 244 compared to 24 for former U N Ambassador Nikki Haley. A candidate needs to secure 1,215 delegates to clinch the Republican nomination.

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The next event on the Republican calendar is Sunday in the District of Columbia. Two days later is Super Tuesday, when 16 states will hold primaries on what will be the largest day of voting of the year outside of the November election. Trump is on track to lock up the nomination days later.

The steep odds facing Haley were on display in Columbia, Missouri, where Republicans gathered at a church to caucus.

Seth Christensen stood on stage and called on them to vote for Haley. He wasn't well received.

Another caucusgoer shouted out from the audience: Are you a Republican?

An organizer quieted the crowd and Christensen finished his speech. Haley went on to win just 37 of the 263 Republicans in attendance in Boone County.

Here's a look at Saturday's contests:

Michigan

Michigan Republicans at their convention in Grand Rapids began allocating 39 of the state's 55 GOP presidential delegates. Trump won all 39 delegates allocated.

But a significant portion of the party's grassroots force was skipping the gathering because of the lingering effects of a monthslong dispute over the party's leadership.

Trump handily won Michigan's primary this past Tuesday with 68 per cent of the vote compared with Haley's 27 per cent.

Michigan Republicans were forced to split their delegate allocation into two parts after Democrats, who control the state government, moved Michigan into the early primary states, violating the national Republican Party's rules.

Missouri

Voters lined up outside a church in Columbia, home to the University of Missouri, before the doors opened for the caucuses. Once they got inside, they heard appeals from supporters of the candidates.

"Every 100 days, we're spending USD 1 trillion, with money going all over the world. Illegals are running across the border," Tom Mendenall, an elector for Trump in 2016 and 2020, said to the crowd. He later added: "You know where Donald Trump stands on a lot of these issues.

Christensen, a 31-year-old from Columbia who came to the caucus with his wife and three children age 7, 5, and 2, then urged Republicans to go in a new direction.

"I don't need to hear about Mr. Trump's dalliances with people of unsavory character, nor do my children," Christensen said to the room. "And if we put that man in the office, that's what we're going to hear about all the time. And I'm through with it."

Supporters quickly moved to one side of the room or the other, depending on whether they favored Trump or Haley. There was little discussion between caucusgoers after they chose a side.

This year was the first test of the new system, which is almost entirely run by volunteers on the Republican side.

The caucuses were organized after GOP Gov. Mike Parson signed a 2022 law that, among other things, cancelled the planned March 12 presidential primary.

Lawmakers failed to reinstate the primary despite calls to do so by both state Republican and Democratic party leaders. Democrats will hold a party-run primary on March 23.

Trump prevailed twice under Missouri's old presidential primary system.

Idaho

Last year, Idaho lawmakers passed cost-cutting legislation that was intended to move all the state's primaries to the same date in May. But the bill inadvertently eliminated the presidential primaries entirely.

The Republican-led Legislature considered holding a special session to reinstate the presidential primaries but failed to agree on a proposal in time, leaving both parties with presidential caucuses as the only option.

"I think there's been a lot of confusion because most people don't realize that our Legislature actually voted in a flawed bill," said Jessie Bryant, who volunteered at a caucus site near downtown Boise. "So the caucus is really just the best-case scenario to actually get an opportunity to vote for a presidential candidate and nominate them for the GOP."

One of those voters was John Graves, a fire protection engineer from Boise. He said the caucus was fast and easy, not much different from Idaho's usual Republican primary. He anticipated the win would go to Trump.

"It's a very conservative state, so I would think that Trump will probably carry it quite easily," Graves said. "And I like that."

The Democratic caucuses aren't until May 23.

The last GOP caucuses in Idaho were in 2012, when about 40,000 of the state's nearly 200,000 registered Republican voters showed up to select their preferred candidate.
First Lady Jill Biden is taking proactive strides, pushing for her husband's re-election campaign. On Saturday, she stopped by Tucson, the second stop in a tour to gain the favour of women voters for President Joe Biden. As she continued to blast the Republican anti-abortion view, Pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted her, claiming that she and her husband were supporting genocide, backing Israel's military campaign in the Gaza strip. First lady Jill Biden also addressed women at Eat restaurant in downtown Las Vegas on Saturday. She listened to women discuss their concerns about gun violence, reproductive rights and other topics on March 2, 2024. The event was part of a nationwide program to organize and mobilize female voters. (Steve Marcus/Las Vegas Sun via AP)(AP)

While at Fox Tucson Theatre, she rallied the crowd, mostly women, against the front-running Republican rival, Donald Trump. It's no accident that Arizona is one of the places we've chosen to stop during our launch for Women for Biden this weekend. Because four years ago, Arizona, you put us in the White House, Biden soothed the crowd. The landmark abortion case Roe v Wade (2022) has especially encouraged women to turn up in favour of the Democrats.

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However, during her 15-minute-long address, Biden's speech flow was disrupted multiple times as protestors called the hostile showdown between Israel and the militant group Hamas to attention. As Pro-Palestinian protestors continued to speak up against Israel's ongoing military campaign in Gaza, the crows drowned out their voices with supportive chants for Biden.

Also read: Joe Biden's 2020 voters cast doubts over US President's leadership, vow to back Trump in new poll

What happened at Jill Biden's Arizona campaign stop

Posing a similar ignorant outlook towards the issue at the time, Biden continued targeting Trump, portraying his disrespect towards women. Donald Trump is dangerous to women and our families. We simply cannot let him win, added Biden.

However, a different look at the Arizona stop, as shown in the X (formerly Twitter) video shared above, a protestor was assaulted for advocating humanitarian grounds and calling for a ceasefire in Gaza. A woman rose to the occasion and interrupted Biden's speech to ask when she and the President would call for a ceasefire. The surrounding members of the crowd were spotted pushing her around. A much older man than herself is repeatedly seen manhandling her to suppress her actions. Several women more senior than her also coerced her to sit down as others drowned her voice out under a booing outcry before security led her out of the theatre.

Fox News also reported other demonstrators standing up to Biden at the event. A male protestor yelled, It's genocide! You and your husband support the genocide of the Palestinian people." Counter-protesting these cries, other audience members shouted Four more years to silence the demonstrators.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will reportedly get increased police protection in New York despite the recent UK court defeat. In May 2023, the couple slammed the behaviour of "aggressive paparazzi" after they appeared at the 50th anniversary of the Ms Foundation for Women's award ceremony in New York. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex attend Invictus Games Vancouver Whistlers 2025's One Year To Go Winter Training Camp on February 14, 2024 in Whistler, British Columbia (Photo by Andrew Chin / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)(Getty Images via AFP)

In a letter to the Metropolitan Police dated December 6, 2023, the NYPDs Chief of Intelligence wrote, according to GB News, We found the following: reckless disregard of vehicle and traffic laws and persistently dangerous and unacceptable behaviour on the part of the paparazzi during the night in question.

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"The individuals operated vehicles, scooters, and bicycles in a manner that forced the security team, which included an NYPD Lead Car, to take evasive actions on several occasions and a circuitous route to avoid being struck by pursuing vehicles or trapped on side blocks, the Chief of Intelligence added. "Our conclusion, upon review with the Manhattan District Attorneys office, is that we have sufficient evidence to arrest two individuals for reckless endangerment."

However, an NYPD spokesperson has now confirmed that the couple will be given additional security when in the State. "We have since increased security protocols for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, they told The Telegraph.

Prince Harry could reconsider becoming a US citizen'

Meanwhile, an expert has said that Harry could soon "reconsider becoming a US citizen. Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from the royal family in 2020. His challenge over security arrangements for his household was recently dismissed.

In an attempt to contest the decision, Harry took the government to court. Harry insisted that he and his family face threat even though they were not part of the royal family any longer. He said he believed he had been treated unfairly.

According to criminal defence lawyer Paul Britton, the recent ruling was likely "crushing" Harry, the Daily Express reported. This, in turn, could lead to him applying for American citizenship after his visa application issues are settled.

"This latest defeat for Prince Harry is no doubt crushing given the circumstances, Britton said. "This decision has been eagerly anticipated by the legal community and the judgement was conclusive  the decision made by Ravec will not be changed and Prince Harrys security protection in the UK will not be increased."

He continued, How this affects Prince Harrys next steps is yet to be seen. Many anticipate that, without what he feels is adequate security in place to protect him and his family on their return to the UK, he will soon reconsider the decision to become a US citizen.
Michelle Troconis has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder weeks after her trial in the Jennifer Dulos murder case began. A jury deliberated over three days, and found Troconis guilty on all six counts on Friday, March 1. Michelle Troconis listens as a verdict of guilty on all counts is read on the final day jury deliberation for her criminal trial at Connecticut Superior Court in Stamford, Conn. Friday, March 1, 2024 (Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media via AP, Pool)(AP)

The jurors had to decide and determine whether Troconis, 49, conspired with her now-deceased boyfriend Fotis Dulos to murder his then-wife, Jennifer Dulos, in Connecticut on May 24, 2019. The Connecticut socialite was also accused of helping Dulos cover up the crime.

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Troconis, who pleaded not guilty, was seen sobbing as the verdicts were read. Her sister, Josie, reacted to the charges saying, We are certain that she is innocent, as reported by ABC News.

What are the charges against Michelle Troconis?

Heres a look at the charges against Troconis:

Count 1 : Conspiracy to commit murder

: Conspiracy to commit murder Count 2 : Conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence (May 24, 2019 events)

: Conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence (May 24, 2019 events) Count 3 : Tampering with physical evidence (May 24, 2019 events)

: Tampering with physical evidence (May 24, 2019 events) Count 4 : Conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence (May 29, 2019 events)

: Conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence (May 29, 2019 events) Count 5 : Tampering with physical evidence (May 29, 2019 events)

: Tampering with physical evidence (May 29, 2019 events) Count 6: Second-degree hindering prosecution

Prosecutors, during the closing arguments, said Jennifers murder was deliberate and intentional, adding that both Dulos and Troconis worked to make this happen, according to Independent. Jennifer has been officially declared dead, but her body was never discovered. Dulos was charged with her murder, following which he died by suicide in January 2020.

During Troconis trial, jurors were shown a blood-soaked bra, razor and zip ties  all of which were recovered from trash cans. More bloodied items were presented to the jury, including a Vineyard Vines shirt, a white T-shirt, a poncho, black gloves and a white bath towel, according to New York Post.

Investigators believe Dulos threw evidence of the murder into the bins and a storm drain just hours after Jennifer disappeared, State Police Sgt. Kevin Duggan testified on the trials eighth day.
The stories of the British royal family are like a rich tapestry, woven with layers of unexpected twists and conspiracy theories. Filled with hidden emotions and moments that shake expectations, it's a saga that never fails to intrigue the public. Perhaps no event was as shocking as Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, stepping back from his full-time royal duties in 2020, alongside his wife Meghan Markle whom he married in 2018. Now, recent court documents suggest that a key document was drafted by a former aide to Prince William which resulted in a royal departure. Prince Williams and Kate Middleton

Prince William's Role in Harry and Meghan's Royal Exit?

Also read: Prince Harry deeply hurt by King Charles feels unwanted after palace didnt allow him to..

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Prince Harry, who resigned from his official royal role, relocated to California with Meghan Markle and their children after making a commitment to Queen Elizabeth. However, this week, the 39-year-old lost a legal dispute against the Home Office regarding police protection, as reported by the Mirror. The court's 51-page ruling shed light on the negotiations surrounding Harry and Meghan's departure from their royal duties.

The court documents obtained by The Times contain some shocking revelations. They outline the steps for Meghan and Harry to step down from their royal duties, written by Prince William's former aide, Simon Case. "On January 8, 2020, an announcement was made in relation to the claimant [the Duke of Sussex] stepping back from official royal duties and a public role. An excerpt of the document reads.

It further adds, On January 11, 2020, Sir Edward Young [the late Queen's private secretary] emailed the claimant with a draft paper, which was largely the work of Simon Case, concerning the detailed arrangements to give effect to the announcement. Following a meeting at Sandringham on January 13, 2020, what the claimant describes as 'an agreement of sorts' was reached.

Also read: Rihanna blasted for 'lazy-lackluster show at Indian billionaire's wedding, paid double Beyonce's fee

Prince Harrys security battle

The revelation surfaced mere days after the Duke of Sussex announced he would appeal against the security battle verdict. In 2021, Harry had filed a complaint against the Home Office regarding the decision to revoke his taxpayer-funded security while in the UK. However, the ruling issued on Wednesday said, "We are pleased that the Court has found in favour of the Government's position in this case, and we are carefully considering our next steps. It would be inappropriate to comment further.

Harrys legal team also released a statement saying, "The Duke is not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of Ravecs own rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others in accordance with Ravecs own written policy."
ON FEBRUARY 22ND, two days before Russia invaded Ukraine, a German-flagged vessel left the Russian port of Primorsk loaded with 33,000 tonnes of oil. When it reached Tranmere, a British oil terminal, on March 3rd, it received a frosty welcome. Some dockers refused to unload the freight when they learnt where it had come from. Similar boycotts have sprung up elsewhere. Kayrros, a data firm, estimates that the volume of oil on water rose by nearly 13% in the fortnight after the invasion, in large part as undelivered Russian cargo sought new takers. The number of vessels returning to Russia also jumped.

Most of what has flowed out of Russia in recent weeks was bought and paid for before the war started. Now less oil is leaving the country in the first place. Worries about sanctions and bad publicity have prompted many buyers to pause purchases. On March 24th the volume of Russian seaborne oil exports, at 2.3m barrels per day (bpd), was nearly 2m below the level on March 1st, reckons Kpler, a data firm. As those barrels fail to sell, the price of Brent crude is nearing $115. Yet for the countries willing to risk opprobrium and jump through new logistical hoops, Russian oil is beginning to look like a bargain.

The partial embargo of Russia echoes the blockade of Iran by the West in the 2010s, which led the Islamic Republic to put together an unrivalled playbook for smuggling oil. In May 2018 America imposed maximum pressure sanctions, with the aim of halting Irans oil exports altogether. It almost succeeded: by October 2019 they had fallen to an average of 260,000 bpd, from 2.3m before the sanctions. Since then, however, they have revived a little, averaging 850,000 bpd in the three months to February 2022.

Iran manages to sell oil through two channels. The first is through authorised but restricted sales. As it imposed its sanctions America granted a limited exemption to eight importing countries. There is a big catch, however: the sales have to be made in the buyers currency and either kept in escrow accounts at local banks or spent on a list of goods produced locally. For Iran that is deeply frustrating. In December it was forced to accept tea from Sri Lanka as payment for an oil debt valued at $251m.

To circumvent the restrictions Iran smuggles vast quantities of oilits second channel for sales. Iranian tankers sail to Americas foes, such as Venezuela, with their transponders turned off. Some are repainted to hide their provenance. Others transfer their cargo in the high seas, often at night, to ships sailing under a different flag. Oil is also moved over land by smuggling gangs, says Julia Friedlander, a former intelligence official now at the Atlantic Council, a think-tank in Washington. Petroleum is bartered with China, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates against gold, pesticides and even housing projects in Tehran. Traders in Dubai, home to half a million Iranians, blend crude from the Islamic Republic with other, similar grades which they then rebrand as Kuwaiti oil.

Russia is unlikely to take a leaf out of Irans book, mainly because, for now, it doesnt need to. The penalties imposed on Iran include secondary sanctions that threaten third-country banks dealing with it with huge fines. That makes overtly buying its oil risky. By contrast, Russia faces a weaker embargo. Only America, which did not buy much to begin with, has banned its oil. On March 25th Germany said it would cut its purchases by half, but it is unclear when that would start. Sales transmitted through pipelines, which are less conspicuous than shipments and represent about a fifth of Russias total exports of crude, are still flowing. Secondary sanctions have not been imposed.

Instead, seaborne exports have cratered because Western buyers, such as big energy firms, fear a public backlash. They also face logistical headaches as cautious banks cut credit, ship owners struggle to obtain insurance and freight costs soar. And each time sanctions are tweaked, says Antonia Tzinova of Holland & Knight, a law firm, compliance staff must study hundreds of pages of legalese, making many Russian deals hardly worth the hassle. As a result, Urals crude, the grade pumped out by Russia, is currently trading at a discount of around $31 a barrel. One trader expects the gap to hit $40 within a weeks time.

Two big countries that have not joined in with the Wests sanctionsIndia and Chinasense a bargain to be had. India is certainly acting on the opportunity. Russian ship loadings headed for the subcontinent are expected to have risen to 230,000 bpd in March, up from nothing in the previous three months (this excludes CPC, a blend of mainly Kazakh and Russian crude). Yet India is unlikely to buy much, at least in the short term. Nearly half its imports come from the Middle East, and shipping from the Gulf is much cheaper than shipping from Russia. Payment cannot be settled in dollars, requiring India to experiment with a rouble-rupee mechanism (see next story).

Adi Imsirovic, a former oil-trading boss of Gazprom now at the Oxford Institute of Energy Studies, does not see India buying more than 10m barrels a month. This is small, considering that Russias pool of unwanted oil is expected by the International Energy Agency, an official forecaster, to reach 3m bpd in April.

Only China, then, can save Russia. It imports a total of about 10.5m bpd (11% of the worlds daily production). Mr Imsirovic thinks China could opportunistically increase its purchases to 12m bpd. That could allow it to buy 60m from Russia in relatively short order. It helps that China has lots of empty storage.

None of this is happening yet. Even for China, transporting oil from Russia has become harder. Whereas shipment from Russia to Europe usually takes three or four days, to Asia it takes 40. Oil must be loaded onto bigger tankers, which is slow and costly. Chinese banks are loth to lend.

Payment is another problem. Financiers in Hong Kong, who have ample access to greenbacks, have helped North Korea receive hard currency in the past. But Russias energy deals would be far too large to hide in the citys financial system, says a trade lawyer. And its main regulator would not turn a blind eye to such dealings, lest they lead America to suspend Hong Kongs ability to clear dollars locally, a privilege central to its economy.

One fix, however, is for Russia to use Chinese bank accounts within China to receive payment in yuan. Those accounts could then be used to finance imports of essential goods, avoiding the cross-border dimension of trade accounting.

China may also be biding its time. Even with the extra costs, buying Russian oil would save lots of money. And Chinese traders know a bargain when they see one: when the oil price neared single digits during the COVID-induced downturn of 2020, they stocked up to the gills. As Russias trading position weakens, the Urals discount will go up. So will Chinas purchases.

Such a move will not be easily reversed. Most refineries are configured to guzzle certain types of crude, meaning switching from the high-sulphur Urals variety to, say, Saudi Arabias super light takes time and money. That in turn suggests Russias push into Asia and Europes scramble for supplies could reshape the global market. Much of North Sea oil usually goes east; more of it might now stay in Europe. The continent will probably also buy more from West Africa and America, and crank up its imports of sulphur-rich grades from the Gulf. The rest of the worldAsia includedwill have to content itself with what Europe does not want. Oil from the Tupi field in Brazil already trades at twice the premium to Brent than usual.

The result of this more fragmented global oil-trading system will be a structurally higher price for importers. Until the war petroleum generally flowed seamlessly from oilfields to the fuel tanks that needed it most. Now, says Ben Luckock of Trafigura, a trading firm, that finely tuned system has been disrupted.

For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in economics, business and markets, sign up to Money Talks, our weekly newsletter.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
Germany on Sunday accused Russian president Vladimir Putin of attempting to sow disunity through the wiretap leak of a confidential German army discussion on the Ukraine war, particularly at a time when Berlin faces pressure to supply the Taurus missile to Kyiv. Germany accuses Russian president Vladimir Putin of sowing disunity with leaked wiretap on Ukraine war. (REUTERS/Anton Vaganov)

"It is about using this recording to destabilise and unsettle us," said German defence minister Boris Pistorius, expressing hope that Putin would not succeed.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

"It is part of an information war that Putin is carrying out," he added.

ALSO READ- Day after Putin's nuke war warning, Russia tests nuclear ballistic Yars missile

Russian media publishes the recording: What it reveals?

Russian media released a 38-minute call where German officers were reportedly discussing weapons for Ukraine and a potential strike by Kyiv on a bridge in Crimea.

This prompted Russian officials to seek an explanation.

Germany, on the other hand, labelled it an apparent act of eavesdropping and initiated an investigation.

The conversation in the recording also discussed the use of long-range missiles supplied to Kyiv by France and Britain. They also talk about the possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv.

OPINION: Ukraines war of sorrow is Wests strategic failure

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov called it "cunning plans of the Bundeswehr (German armed forces), which became apparent due to the publication of this audio recording. This is a blatant self-exposure."

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, said the recording indicated that Berlin was preparing to fight Moscow.

Why does Kyiv seek Taurus missiles?

Kyiv has time and again requested Germany to supply Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometres. The acquisition of German Taurus missiles would significantly enhance Ukraine's capabilities in war against Russia.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has, however, been hesitant to send these missiles, fearing it might escalate the conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

While France and Britain have provided Kyiv with SCALP or Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of about 250 kilometres, the Taurus missiles would offer an extended reach.

ALSO READ- Ukraine floats possibility of inviting Russia to future peace summit

Why is Germany refusing to supply missiles?

Chancellor Scholz has said that Germany could not justify actions similar to those of Britain and France in providing long-range missiles to Ukraine and supporting the deployment of this weapon system.

"This is a very long-range weapon, and what the British and French are doing in terms of targeting and supporting targeting cannot be done in Germany," Scholz said.

Britain denied that it had any direct involvement in operating the missiles.

(Inputs from wires)
While Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have returned to the UK very few times after stepping down from the royal family in 2020, new reports have claimed they might actually travel back to the country soon to spend more time with King Charles, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Reportedly, even if the couple does return, there will be strict rules in place about which members of the royal family they can interact with. Britain's Prince Harry, left, and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, arrive for a visit at the town hall in Duesseldorf, Germany on Sept. 6, 2022 (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)(AP)

They could be confined, I think, to meetings with [King] Charles and perhaps [Princesses] Eugenie and Beatrice, royal expert Jennie Bond told New Magazine, according to The Mirror. The rest of the family would have to think hard about the implications of meeting Harry and Meghan.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

I saw how close William and Harry were

Meanwhile, Charless former butler said that the Duke and Duchess return is possible, and could even be permanent. Its difficult to say given everything that has gone on and the trust that has been broken down whether they could return as full-time royals, but Ive always said if Harry did return to the UK, it is possible, Grant Harold said, according to New York Post.

However before permanently relocating, Harry would need to make amends with Prince William. He could have a discussion with his brother about resuming his royal duties, but obviously there is so much that has happened over the last couple of years and that needs to be sorted out before the Sussexes made a permanent return, Harrold said.

I dont think it would be impossible  when I was working for the royal family, I saw how close William and Harry were, I dont think thats a relationship that is too far gone to be healed or fixed, he added.

In February, it was reported that Charles delayed a helicopter flight to Sandringham just to meet Harry. Harry travelled to London after learning about his fathers illness, and the duo had a 30-minute private meeting at Clarence House.
Israel had virtually approved the structure of a potential hostage release and Gaza ceasefire deal, according to an official from the United States administration. It is now up to Hamas to indicate their agreement.

International mediators have been trying to negotiate a ceasefire in the weeks leading up to the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in northern Gaza are in dire need of supplies, and authorities are worried that they are on the verge of starvation unless a compromise is reached.

Hamas Must Decide

In a report by The Associated News, the official said that the Israelis "have more or less accepted" the plan, which encompasses a six-week ceasefire. This also involves Hamas releasing detainees who are deemed vulnerable, such as the elderly, women, ill, and wounded.

"Right now, the ball is in the court of Hamas and we are continuing to push this as hard as we possibly can," said the insider.

According to a high-ranking Egyptian official, mediators from Egypt and Qatar are expecting to hear back from Hamas on Sunday, March 3.

See Also: US Military to Airdrop Food Aid to Gaza Amid Growing Humanitarian Crisis

Damaging Effects

Northern Gaza is now getting increasing attention as hundreds of thousands fight for survival there. The region has taken the worst hit since the onslaught by the Hamas terrorist organization on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 250 hostages.

Families in northern Gaza are rummaging among trash and debris in an effort to find food for their severely undernourished children. Reportedly, a lot of people have started making bread by combining grain with bird and animal feed.

World Health Organization data shows that ten children have died of starvation in Gazan hospitals.

Military aircraft from the US, Jordan, and Egypt reportedly dropped thousands of meals into Gaza via airdrops. Meanwhile, aid organizations are calling for more borders into Gaza to be opened and for the restrictions on the opened borders to be removed.

The number of Palestinian casualties in the conflict has risen to 30,320, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The ministry's data do not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Nonetheless, it is said that around two-thirds of the casualties are women and children.

See Also: EU To Send $54 Million Fund to Gaza Aid Agency After It Agrees to Audit Over Extremist Ties Allegations
The University of Florida removed all jobs related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at the institution following new state requirements. This was confirmed in a statement made public on Friday, March 1.

Almost a year has passed since Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure prohibiting public schools and institutions in the state from using federal or state funds for DEI programs.

Announcement From University

Closing the chief diversity officer's position and ending all DEI contracts with outside suppliers were among the terminations announced on Friday by the University of Florida, as reported by The New York Times. Approximately $5 million that had been reported for DEI expenditures will now be put into a faculty recruitment fund.

In an email, a university spokesperson announced the elimination of 13 full-time employees and the administrative appointments of 15 academic members. The institution has announced that the fired workers will get their 12-week salaries back. With the promise of "expedited consideration," it urged people to apply for various jobs at the university.

See Also: Utah Anti-DEI Bill Update: Gov. Spencer Cox Signs Legislation Restricting Programs

Disagreements on DEI

Concerns about underrepresentation on campus have led universities throughout the nation to significantly increase diversity initiatives in recent decades. Those who favor DEI programs argue that they are a great approach to promoting diversity and inclusion on campus and assisting students from all walks of life to thrive.

However, in recent years, conservatives' battle against "wokeism" has included DEI initiatives, which have become the epicenter of a cultural war. The programs' detractors claim that they promote left-wing views on gender and race and discriminate against marginalized groups in an attempt to increase the visibility of other groups.

Florida was one of the pioneering states to pass legislation limiting or cutting DEI programs last year.

A number of states governed by Republicans followed suit, notably Texas, which banned DEI programs and offices in publicly financed schools and universities effective January 1. The governor of Utah reduced DEI initiatives at public colleges and state agencies by signing a measure last month. The Alabama legislature is also contemplating measures along these lines.

See Also: Georgia Now Aims To Stop Gender Identity Lectures in Schools; LGBTQ Advocates Oppose New Senate Bill 88
Former United States President Donald Trump emerged victorious in Republican caucuses in Idaho on Saturday, March 2, securing all 32 delegates belonging to the state, as per NBC News' projections.

Trump maintained his undefeated run in the Republican nomination contest for 2024 by beating former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Trump had also been forecast to win both the convention caucuses in Michigan and Missouri earlier on Saturday.

The wins have been announced just in time for the biggest delegate day, Super Tuesday, which takes place on March 5. Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia are the states that will be competing on Super Tuesday, according to USA Today.

Also Read: Miami Mayor Francis Suarez Endorses Donald Trump for President, Says He's 'Only Candidate' for the Job

Idaho Primary Elections

During the 2016 Idaho primary, Trump finished in a disappointing second place, behind only Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas.

After legislators in Idaho decided to cancel the presidential primary on March 12, a presidential caucus was conducted this year. Despite lawmakers' best efforts, they decided against shifting the presidential primary to May 21 in order to align it with the scheduled primaries for state and municipal elections.

On May 23, Idaho's Democratic Party will have its presidential caucuses.

Also Read: Nikki Haley Urges Trump Trials To Be Addressed Before November Election, Says Voters Should Know 'What They're Walking Into'
Three individuals on board the tragic flight that departed from Portland, Oregon, on January 5 and had a cabin panel rupture are suing Alaska Airlines and the airplane manufacturing behemoth Boeing for $1 billion.

Pictures of the severely large hole in the fuselage went viral, and the passengers who were suing shared even more horrific accounts of what happened, including one in which a teenager's clothing was almost sucked out.

'Jeopardizing Lives'

In an interview with KGW News, passenger Kyle Rinker recounted the incident, "We took off fine and then just five minutes, and we heard the loud pop," referring to the 737 MAX 9 plane's door plug blowing off, which caused a hole to appear.

"The wind just came rushing it. It was very, very cold all of the sudden, obviously, because you're flying up there at 16,000 feet," Rinker added.

On behalf of the passengers on Alaskan Airlines Flight 1282, Rinker, his girlfriend Amanda Strickland, and another passenger, Kevin Kwok, filed the case in Multnomah County, Oregon, at the end of last month, according to The New York Post.

Rinker and Strickland were seated two seats behind Jack, a fifteen-year-old who had his shirt ripped off in the incident.

The lawsuit claims that the aircraft should never have taken off and that the defendants disregarded clear warning signals.

Plaintiffs' lawyer Jonathan Johnson stated, "This is mostly about the systemic problems at Boeing, which is jeopardizing the lives of the entire traveling public who travel on Boeing aircraft... They should not be trusting luck to avoid a planeload of people being killed."

Johnson said that the aircraft manufacturer would be forced to prioritize safety due to the litigation, even though they have admitted fault and promised to prevent such incidents in the future.

Also Read: Boeing Given 90 Days by FAA to Develop New Safety Plan as DOJ Opens Inquiry

Another Legal Dispute

This complaint by Rinker, Strickland, and Kwok is only the most recent legal dispute against Alaska and Boeing since the event in January.

Last month, Mark Lindquist, another attorney representing 22 additional individuals on Flight 1282, told Fox News that their lawsuit against Boeing and Alaska Airlines had been broadened to encompass the claim that people on a previous flight of the plane heard a whistling noise.

During an earlier flight of the jet in question, previous passengers noticed a whistling noise near the door plug. According to reports, flight attendants alerted the pilot or first officer after passengers pointed it out. However, there was apparently no more action taken when the pilot examined the cockpit instruments, which were found to be normal.

Also Read: NTSB: 4 Bolts Missing from Alaska Airlines Boeing 737 Max 9 Before Door Plug Blowout
The Federal Rail Administration is floating proposals for new passenger lines throughout the United States, including an Amtrak line from Cheyenne, Wyoming, to Rapid City, South Dakota, that would pass through the Panhandle.

In a round three workshop for its Long-Distance Service Study, the FRA outlines a potential rail line that would likely pass through Sidney, Bridgeport, Alliance and Crawford and could include stations in some of those communities.

The study was commissioned under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which tasked the FRA to evaluate the restoration of daily inter-city passenger rail service, according to the FRA website.

The FRA defines long-distance routes as passenger lines that cover more than 750 miles between endpoints. Amtrak currently runs 15 long-distance routes.

The proposed line would start in Cheyenne and would pass through the Panhandle on the way to South Dakota including stops in Rapid City, Pierre and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, en route to the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.

The presentation was part of the FRAs third workshop on the study. FRA officials will conduct a fourth workshop later this year before presenting its findings to Congress.

Dan Bilka, co-founder and president of All Aboard Northwest, an advocacy group for passenger rail service, has identified a significant gap in Amtraks long-distance service in the Midwest.

There is currently only one long-distance line in Nebraska and none in Wyoming, North and South Dakota. The only line in Nebraska travels through Omaha and Lincoln connecting to Denver and heading farther west.

Congress has directed the FRA to look at our four criteria about making and serving large and small communities as part of a regional rail network to advance the economic and social well being of rural areas, Bilka said.

Bilka, who was involved in the FRA workshops, said he had a direct role in bringing the gaps in service to the FRAs attention.

Thats the value of what our advocacy has been, an outreach there to inform the project team that there was some data that was missing from their background information, Bilka said.

While the proposals are a step in the right direction, Bilka said, they are still in the early stages of development, and an actual passenger line could look different from what has been proposed in the study. The passenger line is included as part of the Proposed Network of Proposed Routes, but the FRA presentation does note significant work is still needed to be done before any of those routes became a reality.

Theyre about just a conceptual network, Bilka said of the study. They were not actually creating routes  they were identifying what segments are, what communities, what markets truly should they serve with a true national network.

At this point in the process, Bilka said he feels that a proposed rail line would likely use the existing Union Pacific and BNSF Railway freight lines in the Panhandle.

BNSF reviews new or expanded passenger rail on our network through the lens of our longstanding Passenger Principles, Lena Kent, BNSF general director of public affairs said. New long-distance passenger service will require capacity improvements, although BNSF is unaware which projects are necessary, feasible or sufficient until further analysis, modeling and engineering is performed.

Mike Jaixen, senior manager of communications for Union Pacific, made a similar statement, saying that while UP has been involved in the process, the company has not and will not make any decisions until more information is available.

Union Pacific has participated in several of the Federal Railroad Administrations open sessions and met to receive updates on its progress, Jaixen said. We have not evaluated nor provided specific guidance regarding needed infrastructure or route feasibility, but will continue participating in discussions and the study continues to progress.

The FRA has established a line for public comments on the materials released during the Round Three workshop which can be found on starherald.com.

Public comments are open until March 8 through the FRAs Long-Distance Service Study website at fralongdistancerailstudy.org or via email at contactus@fralongdistancestudy.org.

Photos: Nebraska men's basketball hosts Minnesota, Feb. 25
Governor Promotes Initiatives in Life Sciences, Climatetech, Applied AI

SOMERVILLE, Mass.  Today, Governor Maura T. Healey detailed new proposals to try to make Massachusetts a global hub for life sciences, climatetech and applied artificial intelligence (AI).

She announced that she is reauthorizing the Life Sciences Initiative to build on the success of the program. She also announced that she is applying this model to a new Climatetech Initiative, which will position Massachusetts to compete in this emerging industry.

Governor Healey announced the filing at Form Energy, an American energy storage technology and manufacturing company, alongside Cabinet members, elected officials, industry leaders, and community members.

The initiatives will be included in the administration's upcoming economic development bill, titled the Mass Leads Act. This bill is also expected to propose investments in the Community One Stop for Growth, rural communities, advanced manufacturing, robotics, tourism, the creative economy and small businesses. It will also build on the momentum of the state's CHIPS + Science wins by making targeted investments in advanced manufacturing and robotics. Governor Healey previously announced that the bill will include $100 million to create an Applied AI Hub in Massachusetts.

Informed by the 2023 economic development plan, the initiatives in this bill will seek to advance the Healey-Driscoll administration's principles of competitiveness, affordability, and equity across all regions and for all residents in Massachusetts.

"The Mass Leads Act will take our proven, homegrown model of the Life Science Initiative to the next level to continue leading the world in attracting innovative businesses to our state and developing life-saving medicines. We'll also stake our claim in burgeoning industries like climatetech and artificial intelligence to make clear that Massachusetts competes to win," said Governor Healey. "This is a transformative opportunity to strengthen our state's economy while also supporting our businesses, workforce and communities, and we look forward to working with our Legislative partners to get it done."

Climatetech

Governor Healey is proposing a $1 billion, 10-year climatetech initiative to make Massachusetts the climate innovation lab for the world. The initiative would create jobs, support technology development and infrastructure to reduce emissions, and promote resilience locally. Massachusetts would be well positioned as a global leader in climatetech. The funds and programs would help companies start and scale in Massachusetts, creating well paying jobs across the state. The initiative has three core parts:

Capital Funding: The bill would provide significant capital resources to MassCEC for the first time. Bond authorizations can support research and development, innovation, manufacturing, commercialization, and the deployment of climatetech technologies, including offshore wind, across Massachusetts. Tax Incentives: The bill would authorize funding for tax incentives, which will help ensure the state is competitive in attracting and retaining these businesses. The initiative proposes to establish a new Climatetech Tax Incentive Program to enable the state to invest in climatetech companies, expand employment opportunities and support research and development. The bill also seeks to continue implementation of the newly created Offshore Wind Tax Credit and proposes some strategic changes to further grow the program. Operating Funding: This ten-year strategy underscores the critical importance of annual operating support through the state budget process for MassCEC, which is instrumental in fostering the climatetech industry and training a clean energy workforce. Operating funds will enable MassCEC to deploy stable programming and initiatives to reach areas that capital programs and tax incentives aren't able to reach. This includes workforce development initiatives, internships, strategic partnerships, and operations.

"The Mass Leads Act represents a historic investment that will move us significantly towards our goal to be the climate innovation lab for the world," said Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Dr. Emily Reichert. "These funds would empower MassCEC to significantly expand our work to make Massachusetts be THE place where climatetech companies want to grow and thrive, creating high-quality jobs here in the Commonwealth. The funds would also help us expand our nation-leading position in offshore wind through additional investment in world-class port infrastructure. Governor Healey and Lieutenant Governor Driscoll understand that our climate challenge offers us a profound economic opportunity to create tens of thousands of good jobs, revitalize local economies and lead the country in climate solutions."

More information can be found in the climatetech issue brief.

Life Sciences

The bill also proposes reauthorizing the Life Sciences Initiative at $1 billion for 10 years to position Massachusetts to lengthen its lead as the global leader in the life sciences. Last year, Massachusetts was chosen by the federal Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H), an agency within the National Institutes of Health, to host its Investor Catalyst Hub, demonstrating the effectiveness of the state's investments in the life sciences.

This long-term commitment will position Massachusetts to win more investment in the industry, develop more life-saving cures, and create more jobs. It will build on the success of prior authorizations while making adjustments to account for present-day challenges and opportunities. The initiative has three core parts:

Capital: The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will embrace a model that encourages multi-institution, cross-sector collaboration among key industries, such as biotechnology, manufacturing, medical technology, higher education, and healthcare. Through this realignment, the state will be better able to pursue health equity ventures, research and development, and capital eligible initiatives to support the ecosystem. Tax Incentives: The Life Sciences Tax Incentive Program has proven successful in incentivizing the creation of jobs in the industry. This bill proposes to increase the statutory cap for life sciences tax incentives to create more capacity in the future and extends the program to 2033 to demonstrate the state's commitment for the next decade. This will further enhance a valuable business development tool to attract and retain companies in Massachusetts. Operating: This new strategy also projects annual appropriations for workforce development programming and other strategic initiatives, including support for early-stage companies. Notably, this component of the strategy incorporates an expansion of Pathmaker, a key component of the Healey-Driscoll Administration's MassTalent Initiative, to scale career training programs for in-demand job opportunities within the industry.

In addition to competitiveness and innovation, equity will be elevated as a priority for the Healey-Driscoll Administration under the new initiative, including creating better workforce pathways into careers in the industry and improving health outcomes for residents in Massachusetts.

"The Life Sciences Initiative has helped catalyze transformational opportunities for Massachusetts residents and patients around the world alongside impactful public-private partnerships benefiting communities across Massachusetts," said Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Acting CEO & Vice President of Economic Development and Partnerships Jeanne LeClair. "Our Commonwealth's leadership in the life sciences is no accident and not guaranteed with fierce competition both national and globally. What remains a key separating factor for our preeminence is the powerful engagement of our elected and civic leaders and the unique ecosystem of collaboration between industry, education, non-profit, and government."
Everyone's a poet

"Poetry is more than what's scrawled on the page, it's how you view the world and interact with people," according to Chris La Tray, Montana's poet laureate.

"It's how you exchange your experiences and your feelings and your observations with each other."

As fan of the band Kiss when he was in high school, La Tray said his early ambition was to be a rock star.

"I never set out to be a poet."

But his practice of writing one sentence a day changed his mindset and his life. The musings were adapted into his first book, One-Sentence Journal: Short Poems and Essays from the World at Large."

"Poetry is of the people. Texting is poetry, sharing joys and sorrows," La Tray said. "There are probably more poets now than in the history of the world because of the millions of (cellphone) texts.

"It's a stream that you have stepped into that has passed from the time that people first wanted to communicate a feeling to somebody else. And that is worth celebrating all of the time.

"What else connects us like that? Those are the treasures that keep us united. Those are the treasures that can connect us in this rotating circle of life and death, life and death."

"Language matters. Words matter. Language is the bedrock of culture."




iciHaiti - Cap-Haitien : Twinning with the town of Allada in Benin





At the head of a high-level delegation, Mrs. Yvrose Pierre, the Mayor of Cap-Haitien, was warmly welcomed at the end of February in Benin by Joseph Cakp Mayor of the City of Allada (Southern Benin, 52 km from Cotonou ).



This historic meeting marks the start of a twinning project between the two municipalities. During a press briefing, the two Mayors shared their common objectives aimed at strengthening historical and cultural ties between Cap-Haitien and Allada. They also underlined the importance of this partnership for local development and the promotion of socio-cultural exchanges between the two cities.



At the end of the press briefing, the Haitian delegation was invited to exchange with the Network of Locally Elected Women of Africa of Benin (ReFELA-BENIN), led by Ms. Sessinou A. Lucie, current Mayor of Ketou, to share their experiences on the participation of women in the development of Beninese municipalities.



IH/ iciHaiti


















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The 2024 Brit Awards ceremony kicked off with a surprise appearance from former postmistress Jo Hamilton who was impacted by the Horizon scandal.

The biggest night in British music took place on Saturday night (2 March)at the O2 Arena in London, where artists were honoured for their achievements this past year.

Dua Lipa, Rob Beckett, and Ellie Goulding were among the celebrities who made their way across the red carpet ahead of the star-studded ceremony, which was hosted by Love Islands Maya Jama and Clara Amfo.

You can find a full list of winners here, and follow along with all the latest updates from the event at The Independents live-blog here.

The honour of presenting the first award of the night, for Best Song, was given to former postmistress Jo Hamilton and actor Monica Dolan, who played Hamilton in ITVs Mr Bates vs The Post Office.

The pair were welcomed on stage by Amfo, who asked the audience to show their love to them both.

I just want to thank everybody in the country literally for the love and support theyve given the postmasters, said Hamilton.

Please could you keep on supporting us, she continued. Because in spite of what the government says, they are not paying the postmasters. Thank you.

(ITV)

Hamilton is one of hundreds of subpostmasters and postmistresses who were falsely convicted of offences including theft, false accounting, and fraud in the Post Office scandal.

More than 700 branch managers around the UK were prosecuted by the Post Office between 1999 and 2015 when the faulty Horizon accounting software led to false accusations of stolen money from their shops.

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Their campaign for justice was thrust into the spotlight last year, with the series sparking public outrage.

Last week, Alan Bates  who was played by Toby Jones in the series, and who led the campaign for justice  told MPs that he can see no end to the scandal, as the government admitted that it was still failing to meet its own targets on payouts.

Bates, who previously rejected an initial cruel offer of compensation, said that the government should get on and pay people.

Alan Bates (Lucy North/PA Wire)

He added: Its very disappointing and this has been going on for years, as you well know, and I cant see any end to it.

Last week, it was also announced that hundreds of postmasters will have their names cleared under new legislation unveiled by the government.

The new law will come into effect by the end of July and follows prime minister Rishi Sunaks announcement earlier this year that convictions would be quashed.

At the time, Post Office minister Kevin Hollinrake said the unprecedented intervention will deliver long overdue justice to postmasters.

On stage at the Brits, Dolan and Hamilton presented the award for Best Song to R&B artist RAYE for her track Escapism with 070 Shake.
San Salvador [1]

Peter Bichsel [2]

Translated by xia23

He had bought himself a fountain pen.

He wrote his signatures several times, then his initials, his address, several wavy lines, then his parents address of on a sheet of paper. He took a new sheet, folded it carefully and wrote: It is too cold for me here, then, Im going to south America, then he paused, twisted the cap on the fountain pen, looked at the sheet and saw how the ink dried and became dark (the stationery store guaranteed that it would turn black), then he took his fountain pen again and wrote his name in larger letters underneath.

Then he sat there.

Later he cleared the newspapers from the table, glanced at the advertisement insertion in newspaper, thought about something, pushed the ash tray aside, tore the slip of paper with wavy lines, emptied his fountain pen and refilled it. It was too late for the show.

The rehearsal of the church chorus lasted till 9 oclock. Hildegard would be back at 9:30. He waited for Hildegard. All of these were accompanied by the music from the radio. Now he turned the radio off.

In the middle of the table, a folded sheet was lying there, his name Paul was written in gray-black ink.

Im too cold for me here, was also there.

So Hildegar would come back at 9:30. It was now 9. She would read his message, be fearful of it, believe it had nothing to do with south America, nevertheless still count the shirts in the closet, something had been happening.

She would call the Lowen [3].

The Lowe [3] is closed on Wednesdays. She would smile, despair and come to resign perhaps.

She would push her hair from her face, run her ring finger of the left hand along both sides of her temples, and then slowly unbutton her coat.

Then he sat there, wondering whom he could write a letter to, read the operating instruction for the fountain pen again  slightly turned to the right  also read the French text, compared the Englich with the German, looked again at his note, thought of palm trees, thought of Hildegard.

Sat there.

And at 9:30 Hildegard came home and asked: Are kids sleeping? She pushed her hair from her face.

[1]. p. 48. San Salvador. Mitlesen  Mitteilen. 4th Ed. Rosmarie Thee Morewedge. Heinle Cengage Learning. AustraliaUnited States. 2008

"San Salvador": The most important things are not said. The story: its depth and poignancy. ibid.

San Salvador. The capital of El Salvador. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Salvador

[2]. Peter Bichsel. 3/24/1935- . Swiss writer and journalist.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Bichsel

[3]. Lowe (lion). Lowen (lions). Inn name in German.
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Vividly coloured Speedos. Factor two sun cream. Couples lounging poolside with cocktails and cigarettes while the kids learn archery. This remarkable collection of images featuring British tourists in Spain was captured during the heyday of the package holidays in the 1970s.

Trevor Clark, the first British photographer to document the burgeoning hotels and the influx of tourists in Mallorca, was himself an expat in Spain, working on commissions from major tour operators seeking compelling images for their brochures.

His lens inevitably captured the evolution of the travel landscape during this transformative period. Today, these images, compiled by his son for a book titled The Package Holiday 19681985, serve as a nostalgic celebration of a bygone era.

Mallorca has long attracted Britons looking for a cheap week in the sun (Jake Clark/Hoxton Mini Press)

Hotel Trinidad in Magaluf still entertains guests to this day (Jake Clark/Hoxton Mini Press)

Throughout the 1960s, UK foreign travel experienced a significant surge, doubling the annual number of British tourists to 5 million and propelling operators like Thomas Cook, Horizon, and Thomson to household names.

The repeal of Provision One in 1971, which previously prohibited selling package holidays below the cost of a standard return flight, marked another turning point for the industry.

A fierce price war ensued among operators, resulting in groundbreaking offers for all-inclusive beach breaks to Spain.

Package holidays have always offered more than just a room (Jake Clark/Hoxton Mini Press)

Many would take the chance to work on their holiday bodies (Jake Clark/Hoxton Mini Press)

This newfound affordability reshaped the British tourism landscape, leading to a decline in visitors to traditional UK seaside holiday destinations.

Fun was shared across generations (Jake Clark/Hoxton Mini Press)

Days were spent relaxing by the pool (Jake Clark/Hoxton Mini Press)

Primarily, Clark captured authentic moments of leisure as tourists spent time at their hotels  a girl resting on a lounger, a man with an air pistol, or a group posing with glasses in hand.

Occasionally, he incorporated props to enhance a tropical ambience.

Holiday reps like the man on the right would be on call for the guests (Jake Clark/Hoxton Mini Press)

Opportunities to learn new skills abounded (Jake Clark/Hoxton Mini Press)

Each image vividly captured the camp and joyful atmosphere of a world in which holidaymakers revelled in cheap flights, Mediterranean sun, and all-inclusive, all-you-can-eat buffets.

The Package Holiday 1968-1985 compiled by Jake Clark with photography by Trevor Clark is published by Hoxton Mini Press
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At the end of his twenties, Jack Davenport was a wide-eyed British actor in LA. I remember the first time I ever shot a scene on an actual Hollywood studio lot, he tells me. I finished the days filming. I was standing in the car park before I left and I was like, Look around, Jack, this might be the only time you ever do this.

It was the Disney lot in Burbank. Davenport was shooting Pirates of the Caribbean, with Johnny Depp and Keira Knightley. He was the latters love interest, despite the young Brit asking producers if she could take advantage of being in the presence of the man soon to be voted The Sexiest Man Alive and snog Jack Sparrow instead. That must have stung a bit. No, not at all, God, no, says Davenport, now 51. Dont forget when we made the first one of those, Keira was 17 years old. I just felt like a seedy older uncle. I was mortified that I was having to... I mean, shes very much a grown woman now. But she was a kid, and I felt a bit embarrassed to have to even play that stuff.

Knightley was also, he recalls, a fully fledged movie star straight out of the gate. Of course, Davenport was a star in his own right at the time, especially at home, where he had been the posh, sexy, caddish Miles in the young lawyers hit This Life, alongside Andrew Lincoln and Daniela Nardinis Egg and Anna. Hed excelled, too, in the criminally underrated modern vampire series Ultraviolet with a young Idris Elba and hed been Matt Damons lover in Anthony Minghellas 1999 thriller The Talented Mr Ripley.

And he was wrong about it being the last time. Flick through his credits  which range from high-concept hokum (ABCs FlashForward) to showbiz drama (NBCs Smash and Apple TV+s The Morning Show)  and you can see Davenport has built a comfortable career in the US. So comfortable, in fact, that he and his Scottish wife, Green Wing actor Michelle Gomez, have spent more than a decade living in New York, and their 14-year-old son, Davenport insists, is totally American.

Today, though, were in Londons West End, at the Donmar Warehouse, to talk about his new play, NHS drama The Human Body. Dressed in a black sweater, grey trousers and white trainers, hes animated and loquacious; thoughts tumble out of him, spontaneous yet somehow refined. Hes disarmingly self-aware, too, often stopping himself mid-sentence to admit that actors sounding off about politics kills me, but then ploughing ahead anyway to give his two cents. All of this is relevant, I assure him.

In The Human Body, he plays a Hollywood star coming back to the small town in Shropshire where he grew up  a role that demonstrates, Davenport notes wryly, my total lack of range. Written by Lucy Kirkwood, it is set in 1948, the year when health minister Aneurin Bevan was trying to push through his dream of a National Health Service under the auspices of the Labour government that had won a post-war landslide.

When Im watching some endless Marvel movie and everything Im seeing, I understand on a visceral level, is defying the laws of physics, well, emotionally, Im out. Im not emotionally engaged on any level whatsoever

Its part polemic, part Brief Encounter-style romance, with Keeley Hawes dazzling as Shropshire GP and Labour Party councillor Iris Elcock, a proto-new woman juggling her day job with the housework and Westminster ambitions. And in Davenport, Hawes finds the perfect foil, all debonair indifference as George Blythe, the Cary Grant type with whom Elcock strikes up an affair after a chance meeting. Driving the plot, too, is a question as timely now as it was back then: do we really need the NHS?

Shockingly, in a plebiscite in February 1948, 84 per cent of doctors were against the idea. Labour pushed it through. Now, with waiting lists soaring, its in crisis. Does Davenport think the NHS is failing? Its ageing, he says. We are one of the seven richest countries in the world for Gods sake  how can we not find the money? Do we really need more Polaris missiles? How about, you know, an MRI machine or cleaner wards? This is a post-imperial nation, which is now just a small island off the northern coast of France. And to a certain extent, we shot ourselves in the face by voluntarily leaving the only economic union were ever going to be invited into, for reasons of some sort of imagined time travel to a past that never existed as far as I can see. Brexit, Trump, same s***. I mean, same impulses, right?

Davenport catches himself, exhales, then puts the caps lock on. In 2016, there was still a tiny slither of the electorate who were old enough that they might have been actually shot at by Germans, right? And Im like, you know what, if that was your experience, maybe you have every right to be xenophobic about the continentals. Anyone else: what are you talking about? What is your misgiving about this thing that has helped undergird a small countrys economic life in a way that cannot be repeated? The self-inflicted wound of Brexit really was, even just economically, so idiotic. Look at the Germans. They are the most invested in the EU project. Why? Because they were handed their arses twice in the space of 25 years in those wars, and then reduced to rubble. And they understand if were not in it all together, were f***ed.

Part polemic, part romance: Davenport and Keeley Hawes in rehearsals for The Human Body (Marc Brenner)

This is typical of Davenport. Asking him a question is like winding up some toy teeth and letting them chatter  brilliantly  across the table until they run out of power. But just when I think Im going to have to steer conversation back to the play, he goes from Brexit to his characters political ideology. George, he says, thinks Churchill is a warmonger and a snob who did a page one rewrite of the English character and convinced you all that you werent a nation of dull shopkeepers, but righteous heroes with fire in your hearts and iron in your bowels. And didnt you all lap it up?

Quite. And what of Elcocks deceived husband, who, crucially, is opposed to the introduction of an NHS? Kirkwood has said the play is partly about whether a marriage can survive a couple having different political views. Well, can it? Its not an issue hes encountered personally, Davenport explains. I mean, Im married to a Glaswegian, whos in showbusiness and, surprise, surprise, not a Tory. But he notes: I think political identity has come to take the place of identity for a lot of people Id like to hope if two people could claim to love each other, I mean, really, do you have to give a f*** how they vote in an election?

Davenport blames social media. It ruined everything, didnt it? And that poking people do to each other, you know? A decade ago he told The Daily Telegraph that celebrities on Twitter should shut up and go away. Does he stand by that today? Absolutely. Even more so now, he says. Do we just absorb the world through decontextualised chunks of f***ing ephemera that add up to nothing? I really cant stand it. I abhor it. Im also aware of sounding like a 50-year-old man, and I understand that. But when people say thats how the world works now, Im like, Does it have to, though?

Unsurprisingly, he feels the same about TikTok, on which theres an increasing proclivity among actors to share every detail of their lives. I really, really hate it, he says. There used to be a phrase, which is now ancient Social Media Language: snackable content. Yeah, go f*** yourself, seriously.

Posh, sexy, cad: Davenport alongside Daniela Nardini in This Life (Alamy)

If the words social media trigger a Pavlovian response in Davenport, disdain rat-a-tat-tatting out in a fusillade of hilarious emphases, theres good reason for it. His son Harry has recently joined TikTok, having graduated from Snapchat. Hes so in thrall to it, says Davenport, that he will lie there motionless on the couch for hours watching reels. Its not even a narrative, the actor says. Its just one decontextualised titbit!

But how do you protect him from the more insidious aspects of social media, I wonder? Weve tried to titrate the dose, he says. Im forever reading terrifying books and listening to scary podcasts about social media and AI. So much so I read a wonderful book quite recently called The Chaos Machine by Max Fisher. And I sidled up to my son, and I was like, Im reading this terrifying book about social media. Theres a pause, and he just went, Another one? Its a balancing act, he says. You cant let your child be like the weird Luddite kid whos just got a colander and a wooden spoon to play with. When we gave him a phone, we were like, We reserve the right to check your phone at any time. We dont because its not like a police state. But he doesnt have his phone in his room at night.

I ask about Andrew Tate, the British-American kickboxer turned self-professed misogynist influencer and cigar-smoking, gun-toting poster boy for toxic masculinity. A recent survey suggested that 16 to 29-year-olds are more negative about feminism than men over 60, with Tates shiny jewels of sagacity  such as women belong in the home and are a mans property  having a huge impact on young teenage boys. My son brought up his name at dinner one night, and I just went off, says Davenport. If you prohibit something, it just makes it more appealing, doesnt it? So I can show me radiating contempt for someone like Andrew Tate, and Im a relatively articulate person, for two minutes or so, and then just be like, Thats my piece. Theres only so much you can control.

Davenports own upbringing was pretty idyllic. The privately educated son of actors Maria Aitken and Nigel Davenport, he grew up in Ibiza and had John Hurt and Terry-Thomas as house guests. It was a bit of an art commune, he says. There was a moment in the late Sixties where a lot of actors and writers and painters and creative types bought little, old, beat-up houses there. Our house was 400 years old and it didnt have any mains water or electricity; everything was pretty basic. But it was this period that made him want to be an actor. I became one because growing up around actors... theyre playful people and theyre silly and they dont patronise you if youre a child, he explains. It was tribal and I wanted to be in that tribe.

Seedy uncle: Davenport alongside Keira Knightley in Pirates of the Caribbean (Disney)

Looking back now, Davenport acknowledges he had a more clear path... I had access in that I could write a letter to John [Cleese, asking for work on the 1997 film Fierce Creatures], and he might actually read it. Thats not something that everyone gets. I ask him if hes read any of the nepo baby discourse. If I was 30 years younger, he says. Im sure that Id be called one. He notes how Jamie Lee Curtis, the daughter of Fifties heart-throb Tony Curtis and Psycho star Janet Leigh, has started calling herself a nepo baby. But Davenport says theres been a flip side to this for him. For a long time, he explains, his imposter syndrome was overwhelming.

Anyone at any point would be perfectly justified in tapping me on the shoulder and be like, Oh, yeah, it was easy for you. But the truth is, he says, Ive been doing this for 32 years now, and while I would never suggest in any way that Im Gods gift to anything, I must have been doing something vaguely in the ballpark all these years, just to keep somehow remaining at the dance. But it took a long time for me to not feel a bit of a fraud.

While were on hot-button issues, I ask him about Ralph Fienness recent comments that trigger warnings for theatre audiences should be scrapped because people should be shocked and disturbed by what they see. Davenport agrees with him. The purpose of art is to teach us about ourselves, he says. Human beings are capable of extraordinary feats of creativity and unbelievable cruelty. And it strikes me that its a much safer way, ironically, of experiencing psychopathy, or cruelty, if someones just pretending it in front of you. I mean, what would William Shakespeare make of a trigger warning?

And what about skyrocketing West End ticket prices, which last November actor Dominic West called crazy? Well, I agree, says Davenport. The Donmar is pretty good because theyre very conscientious about not pricing people out, for which I am very grateful because you dont just want to do plays for a well-heeled elderly audience. Whats the point of that? I mean, I read the other day that there are people out there charging 300 quid a ticket...

Meanwhile, a crucible of new voices is at risk. Kirkwood  whom Davenport calls ludicrously accomplished and a nimble adjuster of her work  is from a generation of gifted writers who came from the Royal Court, along with Lucy Prebble, Jez Butterworth and Polly Stenham. It was recently reported that the theatres literary department is at risk of redundancy, while across the sector artistic directors are quitting in droves. Is the theatre scene in crisis? Its always a bit in crisis, he says. It is an ancient technology. Davenport talks about the way that right and centre-right governments tend to behave as though societies dont need culture in any form  first on the chopping block is invariably arts  and how Britain since Shakespeares time has always punched above its weight in the arena. Its one of the countrys greatest exports  it seems a terrible own goal to not support it.

Showbiz drama: Davenport alongside Katharine McPhee in the US series Smash (NBC)

Theatre brings us back to the human experience, he believes, and when Im watching some endless Marvel movie, because Ive got a young son, and everything Im seeing, I understand on a visceral level, is defying the laws of physics, well, emotionally, Im out. Im like, well, its f***ing impossible. Its sort of a spectacle. But Im not emotionally engaged on any level whatsoever.

Theres a bare handful of CGI movies that he has enjoyed, he says, Gravity and Rise of the Planet of the Apes among them. In some instances, its absolutely magic. But as someone who loves cinema, and the joy of going to a three oclock matinee, he insists that theatre still offers something unique. It is an entirely different, collective emotional experience, when you have to turn up on time, sit down, shut up and watch real bodies in real space, try to tell you something that might move you or make you laugh. And since people were doing f***ing shadow puppets on the cave wall, we as humans need that s***. So for there to be a sort of rather contemptuous political impulse to be like, Who needs that s***? I would argue we all do.

The Human Body is showing at the Donmar Warehouse, Covent Garden, until 13 April
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Four men have been arrested in India after a Spanish woman was allegedly raped during a motorbike tour of the country with her husband.

The woman and her husband were attacked on Friday night in the Dumka district of Indias eastern state of Jharkhand, where they had pitched their tent for the night.

The couple, who run an Instagram page documenting their journey by motorbike across south Asia, shared a video detailing their horrifying experience in India.

Demonstrators paint a floor mural to protest against rape in India (AFP via Getty Images)

The couple, bearing visible bruises and injuries on their faces, recounted being physically assaulted and said the woman was raped by seven men.

They beat us. They put a knife to my neck, and told me they were going to kill me, the man, whose lower lip was swollen, says in Spanish in the video.

Something has happened to us that we would not wish on anyone. Seven men have raped me. They have beaten us and robbed us, although not many things because what they wanted was to rape me. We are at the hospital with police. It happened tonight here in India, the text on the video said.

Dumka police officer Pitamber Singh Kherwar said all the accused have been identified and the four arrested have confessed to raping the woman, according to the Times of India newspaper.

Police said a medical examination of the woman confirmed she was sexually assaulted, and the couple are being treated at a local hospital in Dumka.

The couple were partway through the biking tour across south Asia and had already travelled to Pakistan and Bangladesh. They were heading for Nepal after entering India through West Bengal, officers said.

They pitched their tents in a semi-forested area, some 2km away from the main road. After some time, around seven men entered their tent and attacked them. They also robbed them of their belongings.

The couple stopped a police patrol vehicle at around 11pm the same night and were taken to a hospital after being found with injuries.

The Spanish embassy in India is in contact with the local authorities and has sent a personal representative to the region, reported EuroNews.

The video of the distressed couple has gone viral on social media with many people expressing outrage. One user called it a shameful and shocking incident and a nightmare.

Bollywood actor Richa Chadha said: Shameful! Indians are treating foreigners like they treat their own women. Shame on our rotten society.

In 2022, close to 90 rapes were reported daily in India, according to data from the National Crime Records Bureau. However, the actual number is likely higher, as a significant portion of cases remains unreported due to a prevailing stigma surrounding victims and a lack of trust in police investigations.

The Independent has reached out to Spains embassy in India for comment.
 Close Snow in area affected by Texas wildfires

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Cool weather on Monday managed to help officials quell some of the fires as containment levels increased early this week, with two fires becoming completely contained.

But fire authorities warn that increased fire weather could hit the Texas Panhandle Thursday and Friday. At a news conference on Tuesday, Texas Division of Emergency Management Chief Nim Kidd pleaded with nearby residents not to start any new fires.

Over 90% of wildfires are human caused, he claimed. Strong winds and dry conditions this past weekend exacerbated flames, including the Smokehouse Creek Fire in northern Texas which remains only 44 per cent contained, according to the forest service. The fires began late last month.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has burned more than 1.3 million acres across the Texas Panhandle and destroyed 500 structures. Its now the largest fire in the states history and one of the largest in the US history.

Authorities say it has been responsible for the deaths of hundreds of cattle and forcing evacuations. Statewide, the fires have killed at least two civilians and one volunteer fire chief.

A lawsuit filed last week claims that the fires originated from an electric pole that wasnt properly inspected, fell and started the blaze.
 Close Christian Horner breaks silence after accuser suspended by Red Bull

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Christian Horners accuser has appealed against the decision to clear the Red Bull team principal after allegations of controlling behaviour  and has made a complaint to the sports governing body, the FIA.

The female employee was suspended by Red Bull after an investigation dismissed the complainants grievance earlier this month. But now she has lodged a formal appeal with the F1 teams parent company in the latest twist to a saga that has sparked speculation surrounding Max Verstappens future with the team, and the prospect of Red Bull staff leaving too.

The employee, who reportedly felt let down after the investigation, is understood to have been suspended on full pay as a direct result of Red Bulls inquiry, which concluded at the end of last month.

The complainant was told she had acted dishonestly and received a legal letter, which gave her five working days on receipt of the letter, to appeal against the outcome of the investigation. The BBC also report that she has lodged a complaint with the FIAs ethics committee.

Follow all the latest updates with The Independent
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The mother and mother-in-law of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were among mourners who brought flowers to his grave in Moscow on Saturday, a day after thousands turned his funeral into one of the largest recent displays of dissent.

Police kept a heavy presence at the cemetery but the situation was calm, Russian independent TV channel Dozhd (Rain) reported.

The police let those wishing to bid farewell to the politician pass through and do not rush anyone, the outlet wrote on the Telegram messaging app, quoting one of its readers on the scene.

Dozhd also reported that spontaneous memorials to Navalny had been destroyed in several Russian cities. Flowers were removed in cities including St. Petersburg and Voronezh, it said.

Under a heavy police watch, thousands bid farewell Friday to Navalny after his still-unexplained death two weeks ago in an Arctic penal colony. The crowds who thronged to honor Navalny outside a church and cemetery in a snowy southeastern suburb of the capital chanted slogans for him and against Russian President Vladimir Putin and the war in Ukraine.

Police did not act against them, but at least 106 people were detained at events across Russia in Navalnys memory, said OVD-Info, a rights group that tracks political arrests. It said most were stopped while trying to lay flowers at monuments dedicated to victims of Soviet repression.

Navalny was buried after a short Russian Orthodox ceremony, with vast crowds waiting outside the church and then streaming to the fresh grave with flowers.

Navalnys widow, Yulia, was not seen at the funeral. She has vowed to continue his work, lovingly thanked him for 26 years of absolute happiness.

The funeral followed a battle with authorities over the release of his body. His team said several Moscow churches refused to hold the funeral for the man who crusaded against official corruption and organized massive protests. Many Western leaders blamed the death on the Russian leader, an accusation the Kremlin angrily rejected.
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A court in Bangladesh on Sunday granted bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in a $2.3 million embezzlement case.

Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering the use of microcredit to help impoverished people, was sentenced to six months in prison in January on a separate charge of violating labor laws. He was granted bail in that case too and has appealed.

Prosecutor Mir Ahmmad Ali Salam said the embezzlement case involves a workers welfare fund of Grameen Telecom, which owns 34.2% of the countrys largest mobile phone company, Grameenphone, a subsidiary of Norways telecom giant Telenor.

The charges involve the embezzlement of over 250 million takas and money laundering. The accused gave the money to trade union leaders instead of the workers. This way they deprived the ordinary workers of their rightful earnings, Salam said.

Yunus and seven other defendants appeared in court Sunday and six others were absent.

Defense counsel Abdullah Al Mamun told the court that Yunus, 83, and the others were innocent.

Last year, more than 170 global leaders and Nobel laureates urged Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to suspend legal proceedings against Yunus. His supporters say he has been targeted because of his frosty relations with Hasina. The government has denied the allegations.
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The Body Shop has admitted to breaking employment law in sacking hundreds of people at a moments notice, The Independent can reveal.

Administrators for the troubled cosmetics company made some 270 head office staff redundant last Tuesday, telling them over Microsoft Teams that they would not be paid beyond the end of the day and the company would not provide them with any form of redundancy package.

The dismissed employees  some of whom had worked there for more than a decade  were instead told to claim unpaid wages and holiday pay from the taxpayer-funded Redundancy Payments Service. A further 489 job losses and 75 store closures were announced on Thursday.

Dismissed employees were told to claim unpaid wages and holiday pay from the taxpayer-funded Redundancy Payments Service (Getty)

Employees on last weeks brutal Teams call said their sudden dismissal by Body Shop International Ltd was affecting people financially and mentally, with one telling The Independent that they had been left on the verge of losing everything by a company that once valued ethics and community.

This includes at least 15 women on maternity leave or soon to have their baby, who will now only receive government maternity pay as opposed to the packages they were offered while Body Shop employees, according to one new mother made redundant last week.

When I found out I was pregnant, the good maternity package at [the Body Shop] is what kept me going and I know its the same for other mums, said another woman, who warned the situation had put a massive financial strain on my family just weeks before she is due to have her baby.

One employee who had worked at the company for 13 years said the sudden end to their pay meant their February wage was not going to cover their familys bills. To be treated this badly has taken its toll on a lot of people affected, they said.

Another said it had been their dream job to be hired last March, only to be left on the verge of losing everything by a company that once valued ethics and community, adding: Never in my working life have I ever been treated like this before.

Employees on last weeks brutal Teams call said their sudden dismissal by Body Shop International Ltd was affecting people financially and mentally (Bloomberg/Getty)

They have applied for jobseekers allowance, a council tax reduction, and said they plan to ask their mortgage provider to go interest-free for six months to keep the roof over my head, adding: How they can be allowed to treat us like this is beyond me, I dont even know how they can sleep at night.

In a response to an email campaign by dismissed workers, administrators at the firm FRP Advisory have now admitted they did not follow normal regulations on properly consulting employees or their representatives before dismissing them, saying there was insufficient time to do so.

Administrators argued in their response on behalf of the Body Shop, seen by The Independent, that they had not properly consulted employees because a swift reduction in head office payroll costs was judged to be required, citing their statutory duty to take actions to benefit all of the companys creditors.

Solicitor Nick Humphreys, of Penningtons Manches Cooper, said that while the email notes there was a tension between the duties owed to employees and creditors, the administrators do appear to be admitting to a breach of duty to employees.

It is not uncommon for companies in financial distress to fail to observe their employees rights because of the duty upon directors of such firms to maximise their creditors returns, according to Tina Maxey, an employment lawyer at Ellisons Solicitors.

Solicitor Michael Newman, of the firm Leigh Day, said he would question whether the law has got the balance right between creditors and employees in such situations, adding: The creditors will have invested money, but the employees will have also have invested a lot of time and work in the company over the years, and it is a shame that the law prioritises creditors in this situation.

About the Body Shops sudden mass-firing, he added: For a company renowned for its ethical credentials, it perhaps shows how far it had come from its origins.

Ms Maxey said a failure to properly consult staff was a breach of their rights but not a criminal offence on the part of administrators or the company, adding: As long as it has notified the secretary of state of the redundancies, the company can choose whether or not it collectively consults.

Employees can, however, seek compensation via a tribunal if not properly consulted, and The Times reports that a group of more than 175 Body Shop employees are preparing to pursue a claim through Acas, the governments advisory, conciliation and arbitration service.

The Insolvency Service said it had been working with Body Shop administrators to ensure employee claims can be processed and paid as soon as possible. The Insolvency Services Redundancy Payments Service will make statutory redundancy and related payments to support eligible employees who have been made redundant, a spokesperson said.

FRP Advisory has been contacted for comment.
It is 6.56pm, Wednesday 3 March 2004. A new white six-seater 1.5m Agusta A109E helicopter lands under an overcast sky at Battersea heliport, London. Waiting impatiently on the tarmac and clutching his two unregistered Vodafone mobile phones is a broad-shouldered 45-year-old lawyer named Stephen Curtis. He is not in the best of moods. Three minutes earlier he called Nigel Brown, his head of security, regarding disputed invoices sent to a Russian client. Look, I have to go now, he snaps.

Curtis climbs aboard the helicopter and at 6.59pm, the chopper lifts off into the gloomy London sky. It is misty with broken clouds at 3,800ft but conditions are reasonable for flying, with visibility of seven kilometres.

The lawyer turns off both phones and sits back. After a stressful day of dealing with demanding Russian clients from his 4m penthouse overlooking the Thames, he is looking forward to a relaxing evening at home at Pennsylvania Castle, his 18th-century retreat in Portland, Dorset.
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The mother of a woman murdered by a serial rapist has called for a criminal investigation into the mishandling of the case, after Iain Packer evaded jail for nearly two decades.

Margaret Caldwell had been campaigning for justice since her daughter Emma was murdered in 2005, with her naked body discovered in a remote woodland area in South Lanarkshire.

Packer was jailed for life with a minimum of 36 years at the high court in Glasgow this week, as well as 11 rapes and 21 charges of sexual assaults and violence against women.

It emerged during his trial that the 51-year-old had a horrific history of physical and sexual violence against women with police failing to act since 1990, due to the fact many of his victims were vulnerable sex workers.

Emma Caldwell was murdered by Iain Packer in 2005 but it took until 2024 for him to face justice (Family Handout/PA) (PA Media)

Her mother is now calling for a criminal investigation to be led by an outside police force with independent prosecutors to analyse the conduct of authorities who had led the initial investigation.

Caldwells family are due to meet the crown office this week, after they said a full investigation into the handling of the case had found insufficient evidence of criminality on the part of any police officer.

First minister Humza Yousaf has not ruled out a judge-led public inquiry and told MSPs that it is under consideration, with Ms Caldwell saying decisions need to be taken with urgency.

She said: We are told there might be a public inquiry. Good, but in Scotland that can take 10 years.

Iain Packer had a violent history of sexual and physical abuse against women (Police Scotland/PA) (PA Media)

Those in charge just put things off, drag them out and whole years pass with nothing at all happening. They have delayed and delayed but cannot be allowed to delay any longer. I have spent almost 20 years being told to be patient, that justice will come, that I just have to wait, that things are more complicated than they seem.

Well, it turns out that my family should not have had to wait and things were not that complicated at all. Despite all that, they are still telling me to wait. I was 57 when Emma died and Im 76 now. How long must I wait to be told exactly who failed Emma and why? I have no patience for more talk and empty promises. Only actions count now.

Despite Packer being interviewed by police officers on multiple occasions over the course of Miss Caldwells high-profile murder investigation, he was never charged.

He had previously admitted to taking sex workers to Limefield Woods, where her body was discovered, and of paying her for a sex act in 2004.

Her mother has called for a criminal investigation into the mishandling of the case (Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

Her mother accuses senior police officers of ignoring crucial evidence to avoid professional embarrassment and instead pursued a prosecution against a group of wrongly accused men.

She said: There was clearly evidence to convict this man years and years ago but it was concealed. If a crime was concealed then that is also a crime and those responsible must now explain themselves.

The murder case was eventually reopened after a news article in 2015 exposed Packer as a suspect, and led the Lord Advocate to instruct Police Scotland to relaunch the investigation.

Following his conviction, the police force apologised to the Caldwells family and other victims, admitting they were let down by their policing.
Lady Cholmondeley certainly got more than she bargained for when she asked for "a few of your ideas of socialism". George Bernard Shaw's sister-in-law expected a brief summary, a simple user's manual on his political and ethical beliefs. Instead, in 1928 she was presented with a great tome that encompasses the meaning of life and just about everything from marriage and bringing up children to how to run industry.

What she got was The Intelligent Woman's Guide to Socialism, Capitalism, Sovietism and Fascism, one of the great, passionate and indignant expositions of how social injustice destroys human lives. Class and inequality create a rich and a poor  equal only in the obnoxiousness of both their stations  causing both the degradation of poverty and the idleness of wealth. Shaw has no truck with sentimentalists who romanticise the poor: "The blunt truth is that ill-used people are worse than well-used people." "I hate the poor and look forward eagerly to their extermination. I pity the rich a little, but am equally bent on their extermination." All classes are "each more odious than the other: they have no right to live". Nor has he any truck with Rousseauian romantic views of nature. It is the tyrant to be vanquished by civilisation: "We are not born free."

He begins as he ends: the only way to live is in a society where everyone earns and owns exactly the same, regardless of skill, effort, age, gender, character, intelligence, inheritance, merit or power. Women would at last be free of dependence on men: even now the gap between women's and men's earnings and wealth leaves most mothers with a choice between relying on a man or bringing up children considerably poorer without one. Absolute parity of income would mean merit and moral worth would be rewarded with esteem and not with cash. He has high hopes of humanity's capability for moral improvement: "In a socialist state, economic selfishness would probably stand on a moral level now occupied by card-sharping." The rosy prospect of his socialist future stands in stark contrast to his miserabilist view of present humans: "We have to confess it: capitalist mankind in the lump is detestable."

It is capitalism that debases character and all human relationships, reducing everything to monetary value while misunderstanding the extent to which humans are not motivated purely by greed or acquisitiveness. This suddenly looks fresh in our post-2008 crash world, when conventional economics have come under attack for making exactly that error. What the economists got wrong in all their models and forecasts was their reliance on the odd notion that people are entirely driven by money. Look around you and it's immediately obvious how many other forces and other choices people make. Humans are not perfect calculating machines making rational getting-and-spending decisions to extract maximum monetary gain out of all their transactions. Shaw's call for the nationalisation of the banks and his highlighting of the need for local municipal banks has a pleasingly contemporary ring, too.

However, few would turn to Shaw's Guide for a lesson in practical economics. Nor, alas, would this book make for a course in winning modern-day elections  though how our political discourse would be brightened up with platform speeches of Shavian quality. What you get here is as fine a debunking of all the myriad excuses for inequality as you will ever find. Give each what they deserve? That is what the well-off think they get, but once you try to devise a total audit of each person's merits or faults, the idea is rendered absurd. Let everyone have what they can grab? That is partly what happens, but traders need law and justice to operate, and themselves need the collective state to mitigate brute force. How much is enough, he asks. His wise reply is that there is never enough: "Nobody can ever have enough of everything. But it is possible to give everyone the same."

"Why do we put up with it?" That question has perpetually perplexed the left. Why is rebellion by the poor so rare? In this recession era of austerity and shrinking household incomes, Shaw's answer is much the same as observers might give now. People earning so much less than others are kept going in the illusory hope of "pageantry", winning the lottery or inheriting a fortune from a mystery relative. Charity, the dole  or nowadays the ever-diminishing top-ups to low pay from the welfare state  are kept just high enough to prevent destitution and revolution. The problem, Shaw says, is that the poor are kept ignorant, and without "trained minds capable of public affairs", so they cannot see how "the evils of the system are great national evils". Or if a few are plucked out and sent to university, they are "de-classed" and captured by capitalist thinking. Most people "tolerate the evils of inequality of income literally through want of thought". That, I suppose, is what the communists used to call "false consciousness" as an explanation for the disappointing docility of the masses.

What makes Shaw so likeable and readable is the odd blend of soaring idealism and no-nonsense realism. He is a Fabian, a believer in the parliamentary route to socialism, yet has no illusions about the unsatisfactory deficits in democracy. "The millennial hopes based on every extension of the franchise from the reform bill of 1832 to votes for women have been disappointed." He is disgusted at how women voters failed to vote for women candidates or for those on the left who had fought to give them the vote in the first place. Indeed, women's votes, leaning more to the right than men's until 1997, helped keep Conservatives in power through most of the last century. As for the candidates themselves, despairing of their quality, he suggests, half-seriously, that their qualifications for office be vetted before they stand.

By the time he revised the book for the 1937 edition, he was writing with fascism rampant in Italy and Spain. Though he was ambivalent and contorted on Russia, undemocratic communism looked unappealing to his Fabian mind. Without doubt a vote is better than no vote, for all its maddening deficiencies. "I advise you stick to your vote as hard as you can," he tells his lady reader. "Meanwhile, heaven help us! We must do the best we can"  which was, more or less, also Winston Churchill's conclusion on parliamentary democracy.

A great glory of this book is its grand peroration. With the lyrical eye of the playwright he casts all relationships  whether with lawyers, doctors, tradesmen, relatives, children or colleagues  as fatally tainted by everyone's need to get money from one another. Only liberate money motives from the world by giving everyone the same, and imagine how people's "natural virtues" would be set free from "trade union and governing class corruption and tyranny". Human nature would be "good enough for all your reasonable purposes".

Misanthropic visions in books such as Gulliver's Travels or Candide, "which under capitalism are unanswerable indictments of mankind as the wickedest of all known species", would be looked back on as "clinical lectures on extinct moral diseases which were formerly produced by inequality, as smallpox and typhus were produced by dirt".

Shaw writes in a fine tradition of utopian optimism. His image of a world under socialism renders humans as unrecognisable (and maybe undesirable) as in those religious visions of harp-plucking human souls cleansed of sin and transported to heaven. All that holds us back from bliss is "pecuniary temptation".

But people will believe what they want to believe. "The moment we want to believe something, we suddenly see all the arguments for it and become blind to the arguments against it." How true that rings in our depressed era bleached of political idealism, imbued with a "nothing works" despondency. Shaw's clarity of argument and caustic wit prod and question the weary old reasons why markets are immutable, the world must always be as it is and nothing can ever change. Here are all the reasons why the way we live now, as then, is insupportable, inexcusable, immoral and unhappy for too many. All it would take, he says, is enough people who want to change it. All writers can do is keep making the case for something better.
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Fears have been raised that proposals to reduce the abortion deadline by two weeks could inflict cruelty on vulnerable women and actually increase the number of pregnancy terminations.

The warnings come after Tory MP Caroline Ansell proposed an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to decrease the legal limit to have an abortion from the current deadline of 24 weeks to 22 weeks  with MPs set to vote on the proposals in due course.

But healthcare leaders and abortion providers told The Independent that Ms Ansells plans, which have gained the backing of a cross-party group of 26 MPs, were incredibly cruel and not grounded in clinical fact.

Dr Ranee Thakar, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president, said they are against any reduction in abortion time limits.

She added: Only one per cent of abortions happen after 20 weeks, but these are often undertaken because significant foetal anomalies are detected or because of serious maternal health issues.

Late recognition of the pregnancy or unforeseen changes in a womans personal circumstances can also mean women access a later term abortion. Regardless of the reason, we firmly believe that no woman should be forced to continue a pregnancy against her will.

Dr Thakar called for greater investment in local abortion services to ensure women are not forced to endure lengthy waiting times or embark on long trips to access terminations.

Her comments come as MPs are also set to vote on an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill next month that would see pregnancy terminations wholly decriminalised in England and Wales.

Jonathan Lord, medical director of MSI Reproductive Choices, the UKs leading abortion provider, added: When a couple get the awful news of a scan anomaly at 18-20 weeks, they are distraught and rightly want diagnostic tests.

Those can take a few weeks, so reducing the limit to when these tests arent ready will pressurise this group into having to consider an abortion whilst they can, rather than wait for any reassurance that the tests may indicate.

Dr Lord, who is co-chair of the British Society of Abortion Care Providers, warned that curbing the cut-off point could actually increase the number of abortions taking place, adding that it is highly rare for terminations to be carried out after 22 weeks.

But in these unusual cases, women are often exceptionally vulnerable, the consultant gynaecologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust added, citing examples of patients who are in denial that they are pregnant due to suffering extreme distress and cases involving young pregnant teenagers.

Members of Parliament should not be fooled by this predictable move from anti-abortion MPs to try and move focus away from the fact that they believe that in 2024, women should be jailed for having an abortion Rachael Clarke

He also cited examples of patients falling pregnant after being raped, domestic abuse victims living in fear of their partners, and those with mental health issues.

Forcing them to give birth would be incredibly cruel and reinforces the abuse some have already suffered, Dr Lord said.

Explaining why she wants the abortion limit to be cut, Ms Ansell recently told The Daily Telegraph: "Our current time limit is an outlier compared with our European neighbours and my hope is this amendment will command widespread support across the house.

In France and Spain, the cut-off point for an abortion is 14 weeks.

Professor Katie Morris, president of British Maternal and Fetal Medicine Society, added: For the most vulnerable women in our society, such as those who suffer domestic abuse or rape as examples, being able to access abortion after 20 weeks could be lifesaving.

For all of these women in complex and distressing situations we must have compassion and be able to offer abortion as a form of healthcare.

Abortions can legally be carried out within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales. But pregnancy terminations must be approved by two doctors, with the health professionals agreeing that continuing with the pregnancy would be riskier for the physical or mental health of the woman than having an abortion.

If a medical professional delivers an abortion outside of the terms of the 1967 Abortion Act, they are at risk of being prosecuted. Legislation passed in 1861 means any woman who ends a pregnancy without getting legal permission from two doctors can face up to life imprisonment.

We must trust women to know what is best for their own bodies, lives and families Louise McCudden

Rachael Clarke, chief of staff at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, a leading abortion provider, said: These proposals are not supported by any medical bodies, are not based in clinical fact, and do not have the support of the British public.

Members of Parliament should not be fooled by this predictable move from anti-abortion MPs to try and move focus away from the fact that they believe that in 2024, women should be jailed for having an abortion.

In light of the roll back in womens rights in the US, none of us should be surprised to see American-funded anti-abortion groups leading attempts to deny thousands of British women every year the legal abortions they need.

Abortions can legally be carried out after 24 weeks in a number of highly limited situations, such as when the mothers life is at risk or the child would be born with severe disabilities.

But government data shows abortions performed at 24 weeks or over only make up 0.1 per cent of the total  with 276 such abortions in 2021.

Louise McCudden, of MSI Reproductive Choices UK, warned curbing the cut-off for abortions would be devastating for the small number of women in the incredibly difficult position of needing to consider an abortion at this point in their pregnancy.

She added: Women would be forced to choose between continuing an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy and risking criminal prosecution.

Ms McCudden explained that women already tend to do the lions share of childcare and caring for relatives and we must trust women to know what is best for their own bodies, lives and families.

Some foetal anomalies are not picked up until 22 weeks, she added. Forcing people to make a decision before they have all the information is heartless and, ironically, will leave some people feeling they have no option but to end an otherwise wanted pregnancy.

Ms Ansell has been approached for comment.
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King Charles is set to make an official visit to Australia this year despite his recent cancer diagnosis.

The visit will be the first from a reigning monarch since 2011 and is set to happen later this year, according to Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese.

The King has shown his compassion for Australians affected by recent natural disasters, just as Australians have shown compassion and support for the King following his cancer diagnosis, Mr Albanese said on Sunday.

The King, Queen and members of the royal family are always welcome in Australia, he added.

Buckingham Palace has not confirmed plans, but royal sources told The Mirror that the trip would probably happen in October to coincide with a visit to New Zealand and would include the Queen.

Charles, 75, is not carrying out public duties while he has treatment but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on state papers.

While he steps back from official visits, other members of the royal family have stepped up to take on extra duties.

Together with the Prince of Wales, the Queen has taken on more engagements since the King stepped back.

(Getty Images)

The King was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate, which is unrelated to the cancer.

He was treated in the same hospital as the Princess of Wales, who underwent abdominal surgery for an unknown condition in January.

Kate will return to royal engagements after Easter, Kensington Palace said in a new update.

The princess was last seen attending a service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk ahead of the planned abdominal surgery on 16 January.

Since her return home to Windsor in late January, the princess has not been seen in public, which has led to growing concerns about her health.

Theories about her absence intensified online after Prince William bowed out of a planned appearance at a memorial service of his godfather, King Constantine of the Hellenes, who died in January last year. William attributed an unspecified personal reason for missing the service.

Addressing the rumours, a spokesperson with Kensington Palace said: We were very clear from the outset that the Princess of Wales was out until after Easter and Kensington Palace would only be providing updates when something was significant.
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This is for Gaza proclaimed a vainglorious George Galloway on claiming a stunning victory in the Rochdale by-election.

The veteran firebrand is used to ruffling feathers amongst the political elite, but even he may have been surprised by the size of his triumph, winning almost 40 per cent of the vote.

The 69-year-olds call to end the war in Gaza struck a chord with a constituency where three in 10 identify themselves as Muslim. And he was helped by a contest beset by chaos and controversy.

George Galloway celebrates after taking almost 40 per cent of the vote in the Rochdale by-election (Getty Images)

In the weeks leading up to the by-election, Labour pulled its support from its own candidate Azhar Ali over conspiracy theories he spouted on Israel, and was then out of time to pick a new one under electoral rules.

The result will alarm officials in the Labour Party who may well be calculating the cost of Sir Keirs initial reluctance to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, where the death toll reportedly now stands at more than 30,000.

Was the partys desperate ploy to push for a ceasefire at the expense of the SNP motion, which resulted in chaos in Parliament, too little, too late for pro-Palestine voters in traditionally Labour seats like Rochdale?

Here we look at five Labour seats that could be impacted come the next general election:

Bethnal Green and Bow

Rushanara Ali, the Labour MP for Bethnal Green and Bow will be feeling the pressure after Mr Galloways victory (PA)

Among those feeling hot under the collar following the events in Rochdale will be Labours MP for Bethnal Green and Bow, Rushanara Ali.

The shadow business ministers constituency is top of a list shared by website The Muslim Vote, directing Muslim voters to back candidates approved by local groups at the next general election.

Ms Ali won with a substantial majority of 37,524 in the 2019 general election but sits on a ward where 40 per cent of the electorate of Muslim. The site highlights that she abstained in a vote to back an amendment to the Kings Speech calling for a ceasefire in Gaza in November.

Shes already faced the anger of locals in her constituency following the vote. Demonstrators waving placard and Palestine flags gathered outside her constituency office, chanting vote her out.

In February, following the chaos which ensued over the passed ceasefire amendment in parliament, she wrote on X: What matters most is House of Commons has passed a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, no ground offensive in Rafah, release of hostages, a path to peace with recognition of a Palestinian state.

Ilford North

Wes Streeting is the Labour MP for Ilford Nort (Getty Images)

Also under pressure will be shadow secretary of state Wes Streeting, Labour MP for Ilford North.

An independent candidate has already been installed to stand against Mr Streeting over the single issue of Gaza.

Like Ms Ali, Mr Streeting abstained in the November vote, and like Ms Ali, he sits on a constituency with a high proportion of Muslims who make up 27 per cent of the electorate.

And with a majority of just over 5,000 from the general election in 2019, its thought to be feared among Labour circles that he could be under threat.

British Palestinian Leanne Mohamad, who is standing for the Redbridge Community Action Group, will look to take advantage of discontent with Mr Streeting, who also faces a strong Conservative vote, with 40 per cent voting Tory in 2019.

Birmingham Ladywood

Shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said there had been a loss of trust from British Muslim in the party (PA Wire)

Birmingham Ladywood is the Labour constituency with the highest proportion of Muslim voters; 43 per cent, according to The Muslim Vote.

Its MP Shabana Mahmood who sits on a sizeable majority of 28,582 votes, and she also abstained on Novembers ceasefire vote.

In the hours before Mr Galloway took the Rochdale seat from Labour, she posted a clip on X of an interview she did on British Muslim TV in which she said self determination for the Palestinians was their inalienable right, adding that Labours position was it wanted to see a two-state solution.

Following the passing of her partys ceasefire amendment in February, she said mirrored her colleague Ms Alis comments on the social media platform.

In an interview with the BBC, she accepted that there had been a loss of trust from British Muslim in the party - and urged it to rebuild relations with Muslim voters.

We aspire to be a party that can get votes from every part of our country and every community in our country. That has always been the Labour way and still the Labour way, she said.

Oldham East and Saddleworth

Debbie Abrahams missed the ceasefire vote in November when she attended a charity event. She later apologised (getty images)

Just a three-mile drive from the podium where Mr Galloway delivered his victory is the constituency office of Oldham East and Saddleworth where Labours Debbie Abrahams has been Labour MP since 2011.

After taking her seat with a 3,558 vote majority in a by-election, support for her increased over the subsequent two elections in 2015 and 2017 until a huge dip in backing saw her cling on to her seat with a 1,499 majority in 2019.

Then it was partly due to the emergence of The Brexit Party, which took 6.5 per cent of the vote - but now she faces arguably a tougher challenge, particularly after she failed to vote on the ceasefire amendment in November.

The MP later apologised for missing it after reportedly choosing to attend a charity event for Alzheimers and motor neurone disease instead. She said afterwards: I apologise for any upset that not being able to attend but please be assured that I remain committed to keep on the pressure for an immediate ceasefire.
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The threat of an imminent terror attack in the UK is rising, senior security officials have allegedly warned MPs.

The Mail on Sunday has reported that politicians are increasingly being alerted to the danger of terror attacks following an upsurge in extremist activity as a result of the conflict in the Middle East.

The level of extremist chatter is off the scale, an MP with knowledge of the most recent briefings told the Mail. This is something theyve seen growing and growing. Its like when the Twin Towers came down in 2001, there was a big spike of hate.

MPs are reportedly concerned about the rising threat level in the UK (PA)

The claims come just days after the governments independent reviewer of terrorism said that the Israel- Hamas war has presented a risk to our democracy.

Talking to Times Radio, Jonathan Hall KC said:

When you see last week, MPs literally scared to show [in parliament], apparently wanting to change their behaviour in parliament because of threats that theyve been receiving.

If those are done in order to affect the way in which the government acts and way parliamentarians operate, then actually that does begin to fall within the scope of terrorism and might even call for counterterrorism response.

In October 2021, David Amess, the Conservative MP for Southend West, was fatally stabbed at a constituency surgery in Essex. The attack was committed by a British Islamic State sympathiser and was around the time parliament voted to carry out airstrikes in Syria.

Just five years earlier, Labour MP Jo Cox died after being shot and stabbed multiple times in Birstall, West Yorkshire by a right-wing terrorist.

The current terrorism threat level is currently at substantial, but the Mail reports concerns among MPs that it should be raised to severe to reflect the level of extremist chatter reaching its highest since the terror attack in New York on 11 September 2001.

Rishi Sunak gives a speech on extremism in Downing Street (PA Wire)

In a speech last week, the Prime Minister warned that extremists are trying to tear us apart and called on the country to unite to beat this poison.

His comments followed the election of Workers Party MP George Galloway in the Rochdale by-election, who centered his campaign on the conflict in Gaza.

Mr Sunak said that it was beyond alarming that the Rochdale by-election returned a candidate who dismisses the horror of what happened on October 7th, who glorifies Hezbollah and is endorsed by Nick Griffin.

Mr Galloway said he abhors extremism and has said he is not responsible for who endorses him.

The prime minister has since pledged to redouble our support for the Prevent programme, which tries to steer people away from radicalisation, and has instructed the Home Office to use existing laws to block hate preachers from entering Britain.

The Home Office has been approached for comment.
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A top Israeli Cabinet minister headed to Washington on Sunday for talks with U.S. officials, sparking a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli official, in a sign of widening cracks in Israel's wartime government nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahus hard-line government in the early days of the war following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, comes amid deep disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and create a post-war vision for the enclave.

The U.S. was prompted to airdrop aid into Gaza on Saturday after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from trucks were killed last week. The airdrops circumvent whats been a prohibitive aid delivery system, which has been hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues within Gaza as well as the fighting inside the tiny enclave. Aid officials say the airdrops are far less effective than the aid sent via trucks.

U.S. priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahus hard-line Cabinet, where ultranationalists dominate. Gantzs more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight to Netanyahu's far-right allies.

An official from Netanyahus Likud party said Gantzs visit was without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz about the trip and told him the country has just one prime minister.

An Israeli official said Gantz had informed Netanyahu of his intention to travel to the U.S. and to coordinate messaging with him. The official said the visit is meant to strengthen ties with Washington, to bolster support for Israel's ground campaign and to push for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Gantz is set to meet with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to his National Unity party.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the dispute with the media.

Netanyahu has tanked in popularity since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls, with many Israelis holding him responsible for Hamas cross-border raid that left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead and roughly 250 people, including women, children and older adults, abducted and taken into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

The subsequent fighting has killed at least 30,410 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Around 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and U.N. agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Critics say Netanyahus decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu has released a proposal that would see Israel maintain open-ended security control over the territory with local Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The U.S. wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantz's party has questioned the handling of the war and the country's strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahu's government, Israel's most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews, many of whom are exempted to pursue religious studies. The issue has come up as hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7 and the military is looking to fill its ranks as the war drags on.

Gantz, who polls show would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. But he has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood.

A visit to the U.S., if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantzs support. Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior U.S. official said Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

Israelis, deeply traumatized by Hamas attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defense, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last year's demonstrations against the government's judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

There is a lot of anger, he said, listing grievances that were building well before Oct. 7. The moment you have that anger and a coalition that is disconnected from the people, there will be fireworks.

Netanyahu's government won't collapse if Gantz exits, but it could lose legitimacy in the eyes of much of the public.

Talks aimed at brokering a Gaza cease-fire restarted Sunday in Egypt. International mediators hope to broker a deal that would pause the fighting and free some of the remaining hostages before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10.

In the meantime, fighting raged on in Gaza with Israeli strikes late Saturday killing more than 30 people, including women and children, according to local health officials.

At least 14 were killed in a strike on a home in the southernmost city of Rafah, on the Egyptian border, according to Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of the hospital where the bodies were taken. He said the dead, including six children and four women, were all from the same family. Relatives said another nine people were missing under the rubble.

Israeli airstrikes also hit two homes in the Jabaliya refugee camp, a dense, residential area in northern Gaza, killing 17 people, according to the Civil Defense.

___

Shurafa reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip and Magdy from Cairo.

___

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
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A protester was violently grabbed and pulled by the crowd at an event with First Lady Jill Biden event after the protester called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Dr Biden spoke in Las Vegas, Nevada and in Tuscon, Arizona on Saturday and it was at the Fox Theatre in Tuscon that multiple protesters were removed from the premises after interrupting the first ladys speech.

The first lady focused on Republican efforts to curb abortion rights in her speech, which was interrupted at least four times during its 15 minutes, according to USA Today.

Jill, when are you and the President going to call for a ceasefire in Gaza? one protester asked before she was pulled down by the audience and subsequently dragged out by security.

The activist group known as the Answer Coalition shared a video of the incident:

More than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, many as a result of Israels often indiscriminate bombing campaign, after the beginning of the Israeli response to the 7 October attack by Hamas last year, in which around 1,200 people were killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the goal of the war is to fully root out and destroy Hamas, a task many observers say is insurmountable.

Donald Trump has spent a lifetime tearing us down and devaluing our existence. He mocks womens bodies, disrespects our accomplishments, and brags about assault, Dr Biden said. Now hes bragging about killing Roe v Wade.

Donald Trump is dangerous to women and to our families. We simply cannot let him win, she added. When our bodies are on the line, when our daughters futures are at stake, when our country and its freedom hang in the balance, we are immovable and unstoppable.

Kaliana Venet was one of the protesters who interrupted Dr Bidens speech. She told USA Today that she thinks Israel is guilty of genocide and that she wont support President Joe Biden in the election in the autumn.

I was really disappointed when were talking about celebrating women, and the importance of women in positions of power, that this topic, of the femicide that is happening in Gaza, wasnt addressed, she told the paper. There are women in Gaza having C-sections without anaesthesia. There are children in the NICU who are dying because they dont have power in the incubators.

While the Biden administration still backs Israel, it has said that more care needs to be taken to prevent civilian harm, and it has started to airdrop aid into Gaza.

Mr Trump moved in lockstep with Mr Netanyahu during his presidency and hes highly unlikely to push back on any Israeli war effort if elected.
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Nikki Haleys balancing act over the issue of January 6 and the 2020 election continued on Sunday as she appeared on NBCs Meet the Press and faced questions about the attack on the Capitol from Kristin Welker.

Ms Haley, a former ambassador to the United Nations under Mr Trumps presidency, drove a careful edge between opposing Mr Trumps actions before and during the riot as she warned that the former president would have to answer in court for his actions. She took no position on whether the former president was guilty of a crime for not calling off the mob after rioters began attacking and injuring police on the grounds of the Capitol, only calling it questionable and stating that the courts would decide the answer.

Im not a lawyer, she insisted, after explaining: I think he should have said something earlier. I think he should have stopped it when it started.

I am telling you: Having the rally was not a crime. To turn around and not stop people from breaking the law, when he had the opportunity to do that, is questionable. And thats what I think the courts are going to have to play with.

The former governor added that her opponent will have to answer for allegedly condoning lawlessness on the day of the attack. Ms Haley has also indicated, however, that Mr Trump would receive a presidential pardon for his actions were she to reach the White House, meaning that any potential punishment for his actions at the federal level would not be levied.

Ms Haleys attacks on her primary opponent have sharpened considerably in recent weeks, but she remains well behind the former president in both polling and delegates to the July Republican convention in Milwaukee. That gap between the two rivals could widen considerably on Tuesday when more than a third of all delegates in the contest are up for grabs in 15 states and one territory.

She is hoping to pick off a few states from Mr Trump in the upcoming Super Tuesday contest this week, including Utah and Virginia, though even that will be a challenge and will likely result in her campaign watching larger states such as Texas and California go to her opponent.

Ms Haleys path to the nomination remains unclear absent something forcing Mr Trump out of the race, such as the mounting costs of his various legal issues. So far, that remains a minuscule possibility. So far, she has retained a sizable enough contingent of Republicans, independents and even conservative Democrats supporting her bid to keep going, though she has yet to display any notable momentum and will soon run a real risk of being mathematically eliminated.

Washington DCs Republican primary results are expected Sunday evening, with voting occurring throughout the day. Ms Haley is expected to be competitive in the District of Columbia, though there is a sizable contingent of Trump supporters in the city and surrounding suburbs as well.
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A top Israeli minister and political rival of Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Washington this week for a series of meetings that have already earned a stern reprisal from the Israeli prime minister.

Benny Gantz is set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on Monday while also holding meetings with top congressional leaders on Capitol Hill. The official agenda for his meeting with Ms Harris differs little from the readouts of Mr Bidens own past interactions with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

But its Mr Gantzs status as a centrist rival to Mr Netanyahu in the latters coalition government that has caused his trip to DC to rankle the prime minister and his allies. Mr Netanayhu himself issued a stern rebuke on a phone call with Mr Gantz this weekend, according to media outlets, while ordering officials with the Israeli embassy in Washington not to join the former defence minister for his meetings.

One source close to the prime minister was quoted by multiple media outlets as saying that Mr Netanyahu had made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel only has one prime minister.

The White House has only said that Ms Harris "will reiterate civilian casualties must be reduced and confirmed that the two will discuss a political future for the Palestinian people; US officials have not yet commented on the internal divisions clearly tested by this visit or whether the Biden administration was attempting to send a message by having high-ranking officials meet with Mr Gantz. The ministers visit comes as the president is reported to be feeling increasingly frustrated with Mr Netanyahu and his handling of the Israeli militarys assault on Gaza, where staggering numbers of civilians are dying to Israeli strikes and famine.

Mr Gantz has not commented publicly on his most recent dispute with his political rival.

The Biden administration is facing growing and intense criticism from progressives in his party over the issue of Israels military response to the deadly 7 October terrorist attacks in Gaza. A number of Americans are thought to still be held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza, and the shocking civilian toll of the Israeli assault has led to a growing contingent of Democrats, including some on Capitol Hill, to call on Mr Biden to force Israel and Hamas to reach a lasting ceasefire agreement. The president and his White House staff have fought back against that pressure, but are seeking to do so without alienating those same Democrats ahead of a tough reelection battle this fall  almost certainly against Donald Trump.

At some recent events, Mr Biden and other members of his administration including most recently first lady Dr Jill Biden have faced interruptions from protesters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
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A majority of voters  73 per cent  say that President Joe Biden is too old to be an effective president. Forty-two per cent say the same about former President Donald Trump.

In a New York Times/Siena College poll conducted late last month, 47 per cent of survey respondents strongly agreed with the statement that Mr Biden is too old to be effective, while 26 per cent somewhat agreed. Fourteen per cent somewhat disagreed, and 11 per cent strongly disagreed.

For Mr Trump, 21 per cent strongly agreed that hes too old, another 21 per cent somewhat agreed, 23 per cent somewhat disagreed, and 32 per cent strongly disagreed.

Concerns about Mr Bidens age now threaten his re-election effort, even as both he and Mr Trump are showing signs of their age, often appearing to mix things up during public appearances. Mr Biden, the oldest serving president in US history, is 81, and Mr Trump, the third oldest president in US history, is 77.

Mr Trump was 74 at the end of his presidency, while the second oldest president, Ronald Reagan, was 77. He died in 2004 at the age of 93 after struggling with Alzheimers disease.

A majority of those who supported Mr Biden in 2020  61 per cent  now think hes too old to be effective, according to the poll.

Nineteen per cent of those who voted for Mr Biden last time around and 13 per cent of those planning on voting for him again said in the survey that hes too old to handle the job of being the commander-in-chief.

Mr Bidens doctor said after his annual physical this week that he continues to be fit for duty.

Physician to the President Dr Kevin OConnor wrote that Mr Biden is a healthy, active, robust 81-year-old male, who remains fit to successfully execute the duties of the Presidency, to include those as Chief Executive, Head of State and Commander in Chief.

Dr OConnor added that some of stable and well-controlled medical conditions include obstructive sleep apnea, a-fib with normal ventricular response, hyperlipidemia, gastroesophageal reflux, seasonal allergies, spinal arthritis and sensory peripheral neuropathy of the feet.

The president feels well and this years physical identified no new concerns. He continues to be fit for duty and fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations, he said.

At the end of a second term, Mr Biden would be 86 while Mr Trump would be 82.

Forty-five per cent of registered voters said Mr Biden was too old to be president in the New York Times/Siena College poll.

The poll comes after a special counsel report into his handling of classified documents, which recommended no charges, described him as a well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory as well as diminished faculties in advancing age.

Mr Biden blasted the report during a press conference, saying that his memory is fine even as he appeared to mix up the presidents of Mexico and Egypt.
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Vice President Kamala Harris called on Sunday for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza that would last for six weeks as she spoke in Selma, Alabama, on the anniversary of the civil rights march later known as Bloody Sunday.

[G]iven the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire  for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table, said the vice president, standing with her back to the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

She also delivered one of the sternest condemnations of Israels failure to allow humanitarian aid to citizens of the Gaza Strip from the White House so far, remarks that came after Israels military was widely criticised for opening fire as Palestinians swarmed an aid truck carrying flour. More than 100 Palestinians were killed in the incident, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane. And our common humanity compels us to act, Ms Harris said.

The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses, she added.

They must open new border crossings. They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid. They must ensure humanitarian personnel, and convoys are not targeted. And they must work to restore basic services, and promote order in Gaza, so more food, water, and fuel can reach those in need, Ms Harris said.

President Joe Biden has been under immense pressure from his own party in recent days to pressure Israel to halt fighting in Gaza and allow the delivery of more humanitarian aid, as aid agencies warn that a famine is imminent.

The US began dropping humanitarian into Gaza aid by air this week to alleviate the ongoing crisis following a months-long and largely unsuccessful effort by the US to convince Israel to allow much-needed supplies in on the ground. The United Nations said that 80 per cent of aid deliveries destined for northern Gaza were blocked by the Israeli army in January.

Those air drops have been roundly criticised as insufficient to stop famine from taking hold.

On Sunday, the head of Save the Children, Janti Soeripto, described the air drops as theatre, and called for urgent action.

Essentially what we need is opening of crossings, more trucks of supplies coming in, we need a ceasefire, we need safe and unfettered access to the communities, she told Sky News.

At least 15 children have died of malnutrition and dehydration in recent days, according to the Gaza health ministry.

Ms Harris insisted new routes for aid to Gaza would be established.

As President Joe Biden said on Friday, the United States is committed to urgently get more lifesaving assistance to innocent Palestinians in need. Yesterday, the department of defence carried out its first airdrop of humanitarian assistance. And the United States will continue these airdrops. And we will work on a new route, by sea, to deliver aid.

Her remarks come a day ahead of her planned meeting in Washington DC with Benny Gantz, a top Israeli minister and centrist rival of Benjamin Netanyahu, the countrys far-right prime minister. Mr Gantzs visit rankled the prime minister and his allies at a time when an increasing number of media reports point to a fraying of ties between Mr Biden and Mr Netanyahu even if the US administration continues to maintain vocal support for Israel and its right to self-defence.

The vice president went on to deliver remarks about the civil rights marchers who endured beatings from police and others while crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in 1965.

She and President Joe Biden have faced mounting pressure from their own party to speak out more forcefully against the intensity of Israels assault against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, and to pressure both sides into reaching a permanent ceasefire.

The Biden administration remains publicly opposed to the idea of a permanent ceasefire and has reiterated that Israel supposedly has a right to end Hamass military and political control of the Gaza Strip in the wake of a shocking and deadly terrorist attack last October.

Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip continue to hold an unspecified number of hostages, including both Israeli and American civilians. Meanwhile, the civilian death toll from Israels assault and the resulting famine and other effects has passed 30,000.

This latest shift in the administrations messaging comes after more than 100,000 voters in Michigans Democratic primary voted uncommitted after progressives including Rep Rashida Tlaib urged Michiganders to register protest votes against the administrations handling of the war in Gaza.
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Former President Donald Trump moved closer to the Republican nomination on Saturday with victories in the Idaho, Michigan, and Missouri caucuses that put his remaining rival, Nikki Haley, further in the rear-view mirror.

The contests were easily won by Mr Trump, who carried 89.3 per cent of the vote in Idaho and 100 per cent in Missouri.

In Michigan, the former president took all 39 delegates that were available on Saturday. In a separate Michigan primary earlier this week, Mr Trump won 12 of the other 16 delegates up for grabs.

Saturdays contests were the last before Super Tuesday where Nikki Haley is desperate to pick off a single state to make her case for hanging on in the primaries and providing an alternative to voters.

The unspoken implication appears to be that some, apparently including Ms Haley, believe that Mr Trump, who is facing 91 felony charges, may yet exit the race.

On 5 March, voters will head to the polls in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Virginia. The voting wave accounts for more than a third of delegates ahead of the Republican National Convention in July.

For Ms Haley, this Tuesday is an opportunity to breathe life into her campaign. For Mr Trump, it is the time to put the race away in a decisive manner. Polls do not show Ms Haley leading anywhere, however, her campaign is optimistic about states with high suburban populations.

Vermont, Utah, Virginia. I think there are states that, if you look at demographically, she has a chance to win, a source close to the leadership of Ms Haleys super PAC told reporters last week, after her defeat in South Carolina.

Mr Trump has won every state in the Republican primaries so far. Ms Haley is his last challenger after Ron DeSantis, governor of Florida, and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy dropped out in January after the Iowa caucuses.

The former president remains the favourite of Republican voters and is leading President Joe Biden in some swing states, according to some recent polling.

However, other polls suggest that a sizeable number of Republicans, and Americas unaffiliated voters, wont vote for Mr Trump in November.

All three of the contests on Saturday were caucuses, which are more time-consuming and require more voter engagement, possibly benefitting Mr Trump as he has many fervent followers.

Caucuses usually have lower turnout than primaries since voters have to arrive at a specific time and stick around for a while to take part in the more labour-intensive process compared to pulling a lever in a primary.

Prominent Iowa pollster Ann Selzer spoke to The Independent about the caucus process late last year ahead of the first-in-the-nation contest. While caucuses vary from state to state, its usually the case that voters listen to a speech and then declare their support.

Caucuses are designed for things to happen in the room on caucus night  theres a moment in time where a representative from each campaign stands up and makes their pitch  they get a couple of minutes to do it, she said, noting the importance of person-to-person politicking at the last possible moment.

If you dont know how to get the votes, [how to] get your name written on a piece of paper, you can lose that way, she added at the time.

But the Trump campaign appears to have learned from its previous experiences, handily winning all the contests so far, caucuses and primaries alike.

The Missouri caucuses were called by the AP for Mr Trump at 12.40pm ET on Saturday. After Mr Trump won all the delegates at the Michigan convention caucuses, the news agency called the Idaho race at 6.58pm ET.

Both Idaho and Missouri cancelled the Republican primary to hold caucuses instead, handing control of the state nomination to a small number of party members.

Idaho last held caucuses in 2012, when only 45,000 people participated  about 20 per cent of all registered Republicans in the state. On Saturday, fewer than 40,000 votes were cast.

The timing could also have been a problem for some, with Idaho, which is in both the Mountain and Pacific time zones, holding its caucuses at 12.30pm or 1.30pm, while Missouri, which is in the Central time zone, held its caucuses at 10am local time.

Michigan held its caucuses at 10am ET where the average voter wasnt allowed to participate. In Michigans primary on Tuesday, which allocated about 16 of 55 delegates, Mr Trump won 12. The Michigan legislature is controlled by Democrats and it set a different date for the contest than the Republican National Committee (RNC).

So the state Republican Party instead chose a hybrid  having both a primary and a caucus, with most of the delegates being awarded via the latter. The caucus convention on Saturday only brought together about 2,000 activists who had been chosen at the county level, excluding ordinary voters, Yahoo! News noted.

Activists alleged last year that state Republican chair Kristina Karamo had mishandled the partys finances. Mr Trump supported a different state party chair, ex-Rep Pete Hoekstra, who also received the backing of the RNC.

But Ms Karamo didnt step back and instead set up her own caucus convention, only buckling under the pressure from the national party a day before the caucuses were set to take place, cancelling her convention.

Republican groups in two of the 13 congressional districts had also been planning to hold their own conventions this weekend, adding to the confusion.

Two operatives close to Ms Karamo told NBC News on Friday that her convention had been cancelled.

Ms Karamo posted a video on X, telling her backers to keep fighting and go where your district chair recommends.

Michigan GOP strategist Jason Cabel Roe told NBC ahead of the caucuses: Delegates have been getting conflicting and confusing emails for weeks  promoting different agendas, different staff, different conventions.

You have to pay close attention to even know who is sending what and what the legitimate directions and events are, he added.

After voting in the South Carolina primary last month, Ms Haley told reporters: Were going to keep going all the way through Super Tuesday.

Thats as far as Ive thought in terms of going forward, she said at the time.
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Icelands iconic Blue Lagoon spa was forced to evacuate on Saturday as meteorologists warned of an imminent volcanic eruption nearby.

The spa has faced a series of closures over recent months as a wave of seismic activity continues to affect the country.

According to Icelands national broadcaster, lava has begun flowing after intense seismic activity in the area around the lagoon.

In a statement on its website, the spa said: Due to increased seismic activity in a known area, a few kilometers away from Blue Lagoon, and our unwavering commitment to the safety and wellbeing of our valued guests and staff, we initiated an evacuation of our premises today.

As a result all our operations will remain closed for the remaining of today, Saturday, March 2, and tomorrow, Sunday, March 3, at which time the situation will be reassessed.

Lava crossed the main road to Grindavik and flowed on the road leading to the Blue Lagoon on February 8

Icelands meteorological office said in their latest update that the magma intrusion appears to have stopped, after a fissure of around four kilometers opened on the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The seismicity began at the southern end of the fissure that formed on 18 December 2023. There have been ongoing disruptions in the area for months due to volcanic activity with residents of nearby town Grindavik having been evacuated.

On Thursday, the Icelandic meteorological office warned an eruption could start with very little warning time, even less than 30 minutes.

Then on Saturday, the forecasters confirmed that magma movements had begun, and that a fissure eruption was likely.

While indications show the magma activity has ceased the office said it is too early to tell if that the magma intrusion has ended, and that there will not be an eruption.

Iceland, which sits above a volcanic hot spot in the North Atlantic, averages an eruption every four to five years.

A view of lava as the volcano erupts near Grindavik, Iceland, Sunday, January 14. 2024

Iceland, which is roughly the size of the US state of Kentucky, boasts more than 30 active volcanoes, making the north European island a prime destination for volcano tourism  a niche segment that attracts thousands of thrill seekers.

The most disruptive in recent times was the 2010 eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano, which spewed huge clouds of ash into the atmosphere and led to widespread airspace closures over Europe.

Grindavik, a town of 3,800 people about 50km south-west of Icelands capital Reykjavik, was evacuated in November when the Svartsengi volcanic system awakened after almost 800 years with a series of earthquakes that opened large cracks in the earth between the town and Sylingarfell, a small mountain to the north.

The volcano eventually erupted on 18 December, sending lava flowing away from Grindavik.

A second eruption that began on 14 January sent lava towards the town.
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Police have stepped up security measures at Jewish sites in Zurich following a serious knife attack on an orthodox Jewish man in the Swiss city overnigh.

Swiss police said they had taken action after a 15-year-old Swiss youth was arrested for inflicting life-threatening injuries on a 50-year-old Jewish man in central Zurich on Saturday night.

A Zurich police statement said it was not clear what sparked the attack, but that investigations were explicitly including the possibility of a crime motivated by antisemitism.

The extra security was put in place for specific locations with a Jewish connection, police said, following discussions with local Jewish organisations. They gave no further details.

Jonathan Kreutner, general secretary of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG), told Swiss television that physical attacks on Jewish people in the country were rare.

A case like this is really a new dimension, he said.

Concern about the risk of antisemitic behaviour in Switzerland has grown since the attacks by Hamas gunmen on southern Israel on Oct. 7 and subsequent campaign against the Islamist group by the Israeli government in Gaza.

Last month, the SIG raised concern about attitudes to Jewish people after local media reported police had opened an investigation into a sign in Hebrew displayed by a business in Davos which declared Jews were barred from renting ski gear.

It comes as French authorities are hunting an assailant who attacked a man leaving a synagogue in Paris.

Interior minister Gerald Darmanin said the attack on a man in his early 60s was a new antisemitic attack that occurred in Paris on Friday evening.

He added: Everything is being done to apprehend the perpetrator of this unspeakable act.

Reports in French media say an assailant was seen physically and verbally assaulting a man at about 5.30pm local time on Friday while he was leaving a synagogue in Pariss 20th district.

The assailant kicked and punched the man several times, and shouted an ethnic slur at him, according to a report by French broadcaster BFM, citing police sources.

The victim of the attack was taken to a hospital. The suspected attacker fled on foot, the report also said.

The attack came hours after Mr Darmanin said he had ordered police prefectures around the country to immediately strengthen protections of Jewish communities, particularly around schools and places of worship.

He said in a post on X that heightened surveillance around places, frequented by our Jewish compatriots aimed to prevent them being targeted because of the unfolding tragedies in the Middle East.

A sharp rise in antisemitic acts in France has been reported in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel.

Data from the interior ministry and the Jewish Community Protection Service watchdog showed 1,676 antisemitic acts were reported in 2023, compared to 436 the previous year.
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A Gaza ceasefire deal is understood to be close as crunch talks continue in Egypt after five months of bloody fighting in the strip of land.

Despite this, Israeli diplomats boycotted the discussions in Cairo after Hamas reportedly rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages that are still alive.

Washington has insisted the deal is close and should be in place ahead of the holy festival of Ramadan on 10 March.

But three officials speaking on the condition of anonymity have said the government is also waiting to hear how many Palestinian prisoners the terror group seeks to exchange for each hostage.

Pressure grows for a ceasefire as aid organisations warn Gaza is on the brink of famine (Getty)

A Hamas official told CNN that certain terms of the deal made it highly unlikely any plan would be agreed in the next 48 hours, despite Israel agreeing to the proposed frameworks in Paris in late February.

The conditions that Hamas are demanding include a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

The current proposed deal includes a six-week ceasefire deal, which could have the potential to be extended, and will ensure an increase in aid supplies reaching Palestinians, who are on the brink of famine.

Attending the talks are also representatives from Qatar and the US, with President Joe Biden envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running the enclave with a hope of eventual statehood.

This aim is opposed by Israels Benjamin Netanyahu and hardliners within his government. Since the outbreak of war, the prime minister has faced a drop in his popularity, with many Israelis holding him responsible for failing to stop the 7 October Hamas incursion, which killed 1,200 people.

Jordanian Armed Forces members airdrop aid parcels to several areas in northern Gaza (via Reuters)

Around 250 people were taken as hostages, including women, children and the elderly, with several killed in the subsequent bombardment of Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry has said that 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, since the Israeli Defence Forces invaded the region.

Around 80 per cent of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and UN agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine, with deliveries of aid frequently blocked or held at the Egypt border.

On Sunday, Israels military said that the majority of Palestinians killed last week died in a stampede after crowds massed near an aid envoy.

However, local health officials said casualties, which were more than 100 people, were brought into hospitals having been hit by large-calibre ammunition.

Palestinians walking through the rubble at Jabaliya refugee camp (AP)

Several countries have now called for a UN inquiry, while Israeli officials have dismissed the figures given but have not offered any estimates of their own.

On Sunday, Israels main military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, announced the result of a preliminary review which repeated earlier Israeli statements that most of those killed had been trampled underfoot as crowds rushed the aid trucks.

In addition, several individuals were targeted as troops fired on people who approached them in the aftermath in a manner that suggested an immediate threat, he said, adding that an independent inquiry had been opened but giving no details.

This comes as the US completed its first airdrop of humanitarian aid yesterday, delivering 66 pallets containing 38,000 meals, which was criticised as inadequate by charitable organisations operating in the area.
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Israel has requested that the lyrics of its leading submission for the Eurovision song contest be changed, after it was barred last week for breaking rules on political neutrality.

The lyrics included lines such as They were all good children, each one of them, an apparent reference to Hamass 7 October attack which saw 1,200 people killed after the border with Gaza was breached.

National broadcaster Kan had pledged not to alter the lyrics of October Rain, but Israels President Isaac Herzog has called for necessary adjustments to ensure the country can compete.

The president emphasised that at this time in particular, when those who hate us seek to push aside and boycott the state of Israel from every stage, Israel must sound its voice with pride and its head high and raise its flag in every world forum, especially this year, Kan said.

In a statement, the broadcaster said it had contacted the artist, as well as the lyricist of the second-place finalist, Dance Forever, to revise their lyrics while preserving their artistic freedom.

It will then officially choose a song to send to the Eurovision committee, ahead of the contest which is due to be held in the Swedish city of Malmo from 7 to 11 May.

When the Eurovision Broadcasting Union had said it was assessing the lyrics last month, Kan said it had no intention to replace the song, which is due to be performed by 20-year-old Eden Golan.

In previous years, countries have had to change their lyrics or have withdrawn from the competition after the EBU refused their song choices.

Georgia withdrew in 2019 after their entry We Dont Wanna Put In was rejected for its reference to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

Meanwhile, a number of artists from other countries have called for Israel to be suspended over the war in Gaza, which has seen over 30,000 killed and 80 per cent of the population displaced.
In 2013, Elon Musk published a 58-page proposal for a brand new form of transport. Having popularised electric cars as the boss of Tesla, and ushered in a new era of private space travel as the owner of SpaceX, the billionaire believed there was a better way to deliver mass transit than trains, planes and buses.

He called his solution Hyperloop Alpha, and he claimed it was safer, faster, cheaper, cleaner, and even more resistant to earthquakes than the current alternatives. Short of figuring out real teleportation, which would of course be awesome (someone please do this), the only option for super fast travel is to build a tube over or under the ground that contains a special environment, he wrote in the white paper, which can still be found on Teslas website.

Despite detailing a proposed route between Los Angeles and San Francisco, Musk never intended to actually build or fund it himself. Instead, he made the design concept open source, encouraging others to advance its development and bring it to reality. More than a decade later, and halfway around the planet from where it was originally intended, Musks pipe dream may finally be about to be realised.
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Many will be looking to book an Easter break where your money will go further this year.

Some will be tempted by a staycation closer to home, which could involve packing a bucket and spade for a seaside break or heading for the bright lights of a city youve always wanted to explore.

If a staycation is on the cards, Bev Dumbleton, chief operating officer at Sykes Holiday Cottages, suggests saving money by swapping well-trodden tourist hotpots for lesser-known alternatives.

Dumbleton says Sykes own weekly rental prices data suggests that locations such as Holmfirth and Staithes in Yorkshire, and Blaenau Ffestiniog in Gwynedd, Wales, often offer particularly good value.

She adds: Savvy travellers can also look out for areas with low-cost activities and days out, be it exploring Blackpools numerous attractions, or getting lost in the Welsh valleys with hikes or adventures.

Two men on a walk through a woodland area in Northumberland, North East England (Getty Images)

While there may be last-minute bargains, Dumbleton says that booking earlier could help to guarantee your top choice.

Late deals will of course crop up, but if you wait too long you might miss out on some of the more affordable options that will likely be particularly popular this year, she says.

Alternatively, being flexible and open-minded about your destination could also help.

If youre open to where and when you travel, keep your eyes peeled for discounts or offers, advises Dumbleton.

Families with school-age children often see prices surge during busy holiday periods.

But there may still be ways to find cheaper options.

If you cant travel outside of school holidays, then keep an eye out for mid-week breaks which tend to be cheaper, Dumbleton suggests.

Holidaying towards the end of the school holidays can also be more affordable.

It could also pay to bear in mind the timings of school holidays in the location that youre planning to travel to, in case they slightly differ from where you live.

Aerial Views over Mawgan Porth Beach, Cornwall on a sunny June day (Getty Images)

If youre considering a holiday rental, Dumbleton suggests teaming up with family members or friends to book a bigger property and split the cost.

This will likely be a much cheaper option than individual hotel rooms or multiple holiday lets, while also making it much more fun, she says.

And if youve got pets, also look out for any pet-friendly accommodation options. That way you can avoid paying for any kennels or catteries whilst away  and it means you can bring any furry friends along with you.

Going self-catering can also shave costs down further.

Dumbleton suggests: Take it in turns to be chef, cutting back on the need to go out for dinner every night, while also saving on the costs of breakfast and lunch by preparing it yourself.

If youre travelling overseas at Easter, theres some good news from M&S Travel Money, which said in February that sterling has made gains in value over the past year against many currencies used in popular overseas destinations.

Sterling had made gains against the Euro, the Thai baht and the Japanese yen, as well as the US, Canadian, Australian and New Zealand dollars, M&S Travel Money recently found. Currency movements fluctuate, so make sure you keep up-to-date with the latest rates.

Give yourself plenty of time to plan buying your currency and shop around for the best deals, rather than leaving it until the last minute at the airport.

And dont forget to factor in all the costs when setting your holiday budget that may be overlooked, such as snacks, transport and tipping.

Also, to avoid a costly mistake, there are also some insurance pitfalls that should be avoided.

Make sure you shop around for the best deal to suit your needs and remember to take out insurance as soon as you book. This will protect you if something goes awry with your plans before you travel.

Lucie Hart, policy adviser, general insurance, at the Association of British Insurers (ABI) says: The first thing you should do after booking your holiday is to take out travel insurance. This will ensure that you are covered immediately if the worst happens and you have to cancel your trip. Travel insurance is not a nice to have but essential. Not least as it will cover the potentially jaw-droppingly high costs of needing any emergency medical treatment while abroad.

Shopping around can help you get the right policy for your needs at the most competitive price, but we always recommend not basing decisions on price alone. You should also always remember to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions.

Hart adds: Travel insurance for overseas trips is designed to cover your travels starting from and finishing in the UK. While it may be possible to buy specialist post-departure travel insurance when you are already abroad, it is always best to play it safe and buy your cover before departing.
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A flight from London to Newark, New Jersey, was forced to divert because of an intoxicated boyfriend arguing with his partner.

The flight was diverted to Bangor International Airport because of unruly passengers on Friday, airline officials said.

They will be banned from future flights while the matter is reviewed, the spokesperson said.

The two passengers, who police said appeared to be intoxicated, became disruptive and were removed from United Airlines Flight 883 upon landing late on Friday morning in Bangor, the spokesperson said.

The plane, which originally had 150 passengers, later completed its trip to New Jersey. The security threat level was classified as a Level 2, which indicates heightened risks to safety.

Bangor Police Department officers were among those greeting the Boeing 767 when it landed.

Newark Airport (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Two passengers were removed and one of them was detained and charged with assault and interfering with a flight crew and assault, according to court documents.

An FBI statement indicated the passenger became combative after the flight crew intervened when he was loudly arguing with his girlfriend, and that the passenger continued to be combative and physically aggressive after being restrained with plastic flex cuffs.

The government requested that the passenger be held pending a detention hearing.

United flight 883 landed in Bangor this morning after two passengers, who appeared intoxicated, became disruptive, a spokesperson for the airline told PEOPLE. Law enforcement officials removed the two passengers and the flight has already re-departed for Newark Liberty International Airport.

The statement added, The customers will be banned from future United flights while we review this matter.

Sergeant Jason McAmbley, public information officer for the Bangor Police Department, told PEOPLE: Two passengers were removed from the plane and CBP and FBI are handling the investigation.
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After several years in which travel was severely restricted, 2023 was the year that holidays were back in full force  and 2024 is set to be even more jetset. UK travel agents association Abta has predicted that international travel will continue to grow in 2024, with passenger numbers achieving or surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Though in many quarters tourist-starved destinations will be giving thanks for an uptick in visitors once more, in others, the balance has tipped swiftly from just enough to overwhelming.

The blight of overtourism, one of the defining words of 2018, seems to have returned. Places struggling under the weight of their own popularity have once again been forced to implement strategies aimed at curbing visitors, from Barcelona reducing the number of cruise ships that can call at its central port to Venice saying it will finally introduce new taxes for day trippers.

Aside from visiting a hotspot outside of peak season and going at a quieter time of the year instead, another way to ensure you dont put more pressure on an oversubscribed beauty spot or city could be by swapping it for an undersubscribed one.

Want canals? Venice isnt the only place to see them. Dream of visiting Incan ruins? There are far, far more options out there than Machu Picchu.

Here are some ideas of alternatives to help you travel more sustainably in 2024.

Read more on sustainable travel:

Swap Amsterdam for Utrecht

Quaint canals and gabled houses typify Utrecht as well as Amsterdam (Getty Images)

Often seen as the poster child for overtourism, the Dutch capital was so sick of lairy visitors that in March 2023 it launched a campaign to discourage disruptive tourists. It was a resounding success, with the number of arrivals from the UK down 22 per cent compared to 2019. While Amsterdam is still keen to welcome the right kind of tourist (no stag dos, please), there are plenty of other Netherlands alternatives where you can enjoy traditional gabled houses, peaceful canals and top-notch museums and restaurants. The city of Utrecht is just a 25-minute trainride south of Amsterdam, and is replete with classic Dutch architecture, waterways and narrow, historic streets. Plus it has its own Medieval centre to rival the capitals.

Swap Venice for Genoa

Venice frequently hits the headlines due to locals complaining that the city is overwhelmed by visitors. Massive cruise ships and daytrippers are particular issues, leading the Italian city to ban cruise ships from the Venice lagoon in 2021, to announce plans to ban loudspeakers and large tourist groups, and to implement a 5 fee for those on daytrips entering the historic centre from summer 2024. While Venices beguiling mix of Venetian Gothic architecture, unknowable warren of streets and sublime network of canals is one-of-a-kind, if what you want is an authentic Italian fix minus the tourist hordes, oft-overlooked Genoa should fit the bill. This handsome port city (the birthplace of pesto, FYI) has a low-key charm, its own maze of narrow caruggi alleyways, and splendid Renaissance palaces alongside modern silhouhettes designed by Genoa-born starchitect Renzo Piano.

Swap Machu Picchu for Choquequirao

Swapping Machu Picchu for Choquequirao means no crowds (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

When people think of Incan ruins, they think of Perus Machu Picchu, the 15th-century citadel set high in the Andes. But the site was so overrun with visitors that in 2017 it was forced to introduce a ticketing system; in 2019, the rules were made even stricter, with tourists required to select specific time slots and arrive within one hour of them or risk being turned away. Travellers can still scratch the itch by opting to see Choquequirao instead, an Incan site in southern Perus Andes thats very similar in structure and architectural style to Machu Picchu. Only reachable on foot or by mule, Choque, as its known by locals, features ceremonial halls, chambers that once held mummies, terraces, and hundreds of buildings that housed Incan people.

Swap Barcelona for Valencia

Valencia is another seaside Spanish city bursting with charm (Getty Images)

Another European destination where locals have suffered at the hands of overtourism, with rents skyrocketing as residents were pushed out to make way for more lucrative holiday accommodation, Barcelona has taken various measures to crack down on the too many visitors issue. The latest was the decision to cut the number of cruise ships able to dock at its central port from 10 to seven. Plus, from 2024 its increased the municipal tourist tax from 5.25 to 6.75 per night for guests staying in five-star hotels, with the sum paid to Barcelonas Generalitat and the City Council. If what youre after is a slice of Spanish culture on the coast where you can combine a city break with hitting the beach, simply head slightly further south to Valencia. Spains third city blends laidback charm with a magnificent old town, incredible and affordable eats (including copious paella), an enviable seaside location and a wealth of museums and galleries in its City of Arts and Sciences.

Swap Dubrovnik for Zadar

An aerial view of Zadar and its marina (Getty Images)

Perhaps the best example of a popular TV series wreaking havoc on a destination, Dubrovnik, with its beautifully preserved, Unesco-listed walled city, has suffered from overpopularity since it played a starring role as a backdrop in Game of Thrones. Its another spot where cruises are a problem; in 2019 the Croatian city capped the number of ships that can dock each day to two, carrying a maximum of 5,000 passengers between them. And in 2023, a Respect the City campaign introduced new measures for visitors, including bans on walking around in swimwear, driving without special permission, eating and drinking around cultural monuments and climbing on the city walls. Other Croatian coastal cities exist, however. Take Zadar on the Dalmatian coast: its Croatias oldest city, with ancient Roman ruins, Venetian-era cathedrals, chess board castles, blissfully quiet national parks, vineyards, and an array of nearby idyllic islands to hop on a ferry and discover.

Croatia's tourism industry returns to pre-pandemic levels

Swap Angkor Wat for Beng Mealea

Beng Mealea has overgrown, otherworldly structures to discover (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Cambodias famed temple complex, officially the largest religious structure in the world, attracts around a whopping 1,000 to 1,500 tourists per day. The tourism boom led to informal settlements springing up, causing damage to the local environment by producing rubbish and overusing water resources. While spectacular, Angkor Wat is not the only Cambodian set of temples worth your time. Located 40km east of the main group of temples at Angkor and 70km outside Siem Reap, on the ancient royal highway to Preah Khan Kompong Svay, 12th-century Beng Mealea receives a fraction of the visitors. Its built to the same floor plan as Angkor Wat and features dark chambers, a well-preserved library and intricate carvings.

Swap Santorini for Syros

Ermoupoli, the main port of Syros island (Lucy Thackray)

The star of Greeces Cyclades islands, Santorini, with its white-washed, blue-roofed buildings, is mobbed by snap-happy tourists in peak season keen to capture the perfect Instagram shot. It subsequently struggles with the sheer volume of visitors; a small island, it nevertheless receives around two million visitors a year, making it one of the most-visited destinations in Greece. But other, lesser-spoken-of islands in the Cyclades have all the Santorini-style charm minus the crowds. One example is Syros: it boasts a picturesque port, Ermoupoli; neoclassical architecture; a burgeoning farm-to-fork food scene; and tranquil coves for boat adventures. Plus its just a half-hour ferry ride away from Mykonos, or two to four hours by sea from Athens port.

Read more on The Independents collection of flight-free trips
Sydney Sweeney hilariously dismissed rumours of a romance with Glen Powell during her debut SNL monologue on Saturday (2 March) after months of online speculation about the Anyone But You co-stars.

TheEuphoria actor, 26, addressed the fan theories that erupted after it emerged that Powell and his girlfriend Gigi Paris had broken up after the movie was filmed.

Sweeney also addressed a TikToker who claimed to be her nutritionist, joking that her appearance was achieved by running, avoiding sugar, and taking the weight loss drug Ozempic.
US military planes airdropped food into Gaza on Saturday, 2 March, as emergency humanitarian assistance approved by Joe Biden began.

Three planes from Air Forces Central worked with the Royal Jordanian Air Force to deliver bundles in the southwest of the territory as the Israel-Hamas conflict continues.

US planes dropped 66 bundles containing approximately 38,000 meals on the beach along Gaza's Mediterranean coast.

The Jordanian military said it conducted two food airdrops on Saturday in northern Gaza and has conducted several rounds in recent months.
Volunteer firefighters were encircled by flames from the largest wildfire in Texas history, apocalyptic footage shows.

Two women were killed by the fires in the last week, but with flames still raging in a wide area authorities have been unable to thoroughly search for victims.

The blaze has merged with another fire and crossed into Oklahoma, scorching more than 4,400 square kilometres (1,700 square miles) and was 15 per cent contained as of Saturday (2 March) according to officials.

It has devastated prairie, leaving dead cattle and destroying approximately 500 structures including homes.
Partner Content: AIM can help manufacturing clients understand current and future tech needs

Irish manufacturers face a fork in the road  either they innovate to thrive, or stand still and risk getting left behind.

If they choose to innovate, the AIM high-tech centre in Sligo recently opened by Enterprise Trade and Employment Minister Simon Coveney will assist manufacturers from across the north-west in embracing digitalisation and new technologies.

Whether manufacturing businesses want to improve the quality of their products, make processes more efficient, become more sustainable, or support their workforces in embracing new technologies, the AIM Centre (Advancing Innovation in Manufacturing) can help.

Housed in a now-transformed building that was once Sligos fire station, AIM provides space for up to 80 people to co-locate, collaborate, and create. This shared space not only fosters connections, but also serves as a hub where creativity meets technology to address real-world challenges.

Manufacturers can save time, effort  and money  by availing of the expertise and facilities at AIM

At AIM, a dedicated team of experts, including an engineering manager, robotics and automation engineers, a programme manager and an extended team with freelancer expertise is on hand to support companies in enhancing their manufacturing processes and supply chains.

The focus isnt always on acquiring new systems but rather on leveraging existing equipment more effectively, by integrating it with cutting-edge technologies. This approach to innovation emphasises smarter use of current assets through connectivity and modern tech solutions.

An example of one course that companies can avail of at AIM is design thinking for manufacturing. It aligns with a Harvard digital technology course, bringing that expertise to industry and enabling local businesses to stay relevant and competitive.

Another is on connected systems and the Internet of Things (IoT).

A key benefit for manufacturers is the time and effort they can save by availing of the expertise and facilities at AIM, rather than having to develop these skills in-house.

It also de-risks any investment required in new technology by enabling companies to test it first at AIM and get the best solutions for their business.

Prior to moving to this new premises in Sligos Market Yard, the AIM team was already operating from temporary space in Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Sligo, working with manufacturers on digital transformation projects including digital or technology maturity analysis.

This involves AIM conducting workshops, interviews, surveys and other research to help manufacturing clients understand their current and future tech needs.

AIM has also worked on operational excellence with clients, helping them to understand how to automate production lines or how to use machine learning for quality assurance to help remove the risk of human error.

AIM is a partnership between Sligo Co Council and ATU, and is funded by them, together with Enterprise Ireland, which invested 2.2m through the Border Enterprise Development Fund. It is also supported by Leitrim Co Council and further aided by the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve (BAR), as the border area was the region most affected by Brexit.

You can learn more about the facilities and expertise on offer at AIM at AimCentre.ie.

Joan Mullen is senior regional development executive at Enterprise Ireland
Look, our compliance history has been impeccable  Long overdue accounts at CleverCards digital payments not a cause for concern, says CEO

Company said it was not among the firms referred to in a Central Bank warning over governance issues in sector

CleverCards CEO Kealan Lennon

Fearghal O'Connor Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 03:30

Rapidly growing Irish digital payments firm CleverCards has not filed accounts or annual returns for any period since 2020, despite a requirement to do so.
Technology

The company acquired ResHub to help it develop a care platform that allows residents and loved ones to engage and book services online. Stock image: Getty

ResHub, an Irish technology company providing services for nursing homes, has been acquired by a private equity-backed British business focused on developing tech for the social care sector.

Speaking with the Sunday Independent, Sean McLoughlin and Neil Hosey, who co-founded the business in 2020, said it had been acquired by Person Centred Software (PCS), which is part of private equity-backed Connected Care Group.

The British company acquired ResHub to help it develop a connected care platform that allows residents and loved ones to engage online, share up-to-date information and book residents services in care facilities.

McLoughlin said the deal would help it hit its target of being able to support 1,000 nursing homes in 12 months. ResHub currently has clients in the UK, the US and Australia.

Really, we know we can grow faster and more effectively with PCS, he said. They have an existing client base where they can bring ResHub to them, while we will also be a standalone product.

For us, we will get to realise the product vision within the group that gives us the expertise overnight.

Hosey said the acquisition would give ResHub extra credibility when selling to large corporate businesses such as publicly listed care home groups. He added the company would begin hiring to help it achieve its growth plans.

ResHub CEO Sean McLoughlin

Leading up to the acquisition, McLoughlin said ResHub had initially gone out to market seeking an investment of around 1.5m.

That would have helped us execute some of the contracts in our pipeline and get to the other side, he said.

The PCS acquisition deal just made sense, he added. It brings us that scale and expertise  it brings us to customers and gives them comfort that we have that operational expertise now. You are not dealing with a start-up  you are dealing with a market leader.

According to Connected Care Groups accounts, Brighton-based private equity firm Cow Corner acquired a controlling stake of Person Centred Software. It was subsequently renamed to Connected Care Group.

The accounts show Connected Care Group had a turnover of over 10.9m (12.7m) and employed a monthly average of 135 staff for the eight months to May 31, 2023.

Cow Corner was co-founded in 2018 by former private equity investment firm HgCapital managing partner Matthew Rourke and Stephen Baxter, who led one of the UKs largest port businesses, Peel Ports.
The word chatbot is everywhere. Once only interesting to the particularly geeky, chatbots are now widely used pieces of software. Synonymous with the technology is ChatGPT, by far the most well known and widely used of the AI chatbots out there.
Disability rights activist Martin Naughton's legacy: He felt that if his story was forgotten, it would be easier to make the change he had driven go backwards

Muscular dystrophy sufferer Martin Naughton was nine when, in 1963, he was sent to live in an institution. It led him to become a prominent campaigner for independent living and disability rights. Now, that fight is remembered in his posthumous memoir

Joanna Marsden interview

Sarah Caden, Video by Steve Humphreys Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 03:30

Martin Naughton never expected to have a long life. Born in 1954, children like him, diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, often died young. And Naughton was almost one of those, coming close to dying when he was 15 but living to fight another day. And fight he did, becoming a powerful and indefatigable campaigner for disability rights, a founder of the first Centre for Independent Living, and at the forefront of securing personal assistants (PAs) that would allow people with disability to live independently.
Poor Things, which is produced by Irish company Element Pictures, has a total of 11 nominations. Its like the icing on a cake

Irish cinematographer Robbie Ryan has told of the excitement and anticipation the cast and crew of Poor Things feel ahead of Hollywood's most prestigious awards ceremony on March 10.

Ryan is nominated for an Oscar for his work on the period comedy starring Emma Stone and Mark Ruffalo. This is the second time he has received an Oscar nomination. He was also nominated in 2018 with The Favourite, which was also directed by Yorgos Lanthimos.

The Oscars are a bit like a busy train station but the people knocking about happen to be celebrities, he said. Its great for people-watching and there is a lot of excitement.

He says his favourite memory of the 2018 awards was when his plus one, his sister Gillie OLoughlin, accidentally got her hand wedged in between two of the seats in the Dolby Theatre in the middle of the awards ceremony.

My wallet had fallen down the back of the seat and she went to get it and got stuck, he says. Then a seat filler (people paid to fill vacant seats so the venue always looks full) came along and was asking her to move That was very surreal. It was also hilarious watching her swoon when Bradley Cooper performed with Lady Gaga.

Gaga and Cooper performed their hit duet Shallows from the 2018 remake of A Star Is Born.

Ryan said he had been delighted with the reception Poor Things had received, and was delighted it had clocked up so many nominations.

The film, which is produced by Irish company Element Pictures, has a total of 11 nominations. Its like the icing on a cake, he says.

However, he says his personal highlight was when it scooped the Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival in 2023; For me that was the most important.

Ryans next release is another collaboration with Yorgos Lanthimos and Emma Stone - an anthology film titled Kinds of Kindness, which is due out later this year.

He has also worked on John Maclean survival thriller Tornado, and Andrea Arnolds feature film Bird starring Barry Keoghan.

Arnold and Ryan have worked together before; he shot her Oscar-winning short, Wasp, in 2003.

He said his passion has always been film, never TV. "I dont do telly, he says. Its a different approach... and I dont watch TV.

Ryan began his career shooting short films with his friends, and studied film at Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology before moving into features.

Aer Lingus flew him to Los Angeles ahead of the glitzy red-carpet event, which will take place in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles shopping centre Ovation Hollywood.

Ryan will go up against Hoyte van Hoytema for his work on Oppenheimer, Rodrigo Prieto for Killers of The Flower Moon, Edward Lachman who worked on El Conde and Matthew Libatique who is nominated for Maestro starring Bradley Cooper.

It is a strong year for Irish talent at the Academy Award  Cork-born Cillian Murphy is strongly tipped to take home the Best Actor gong for his titular role in Oppenheimer.

He has already won a Bafta, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in Christopher Nolans epic.

Speaking at the SAG Awards earlier this month, he said; Twenty-eight years ago I was trying to become an actor. I was a failed musician and I felt like an interloper. But now, looking out at all of you guys here today, I know that Im part of something truly wonderful.
Tadhg Hickey writer and star of GATMAN! which premieres at The Everyman, Cork, from 7-9 March. Photograph Marcin Lewandowski | soundofphotography

Everyman odyssey Written and performed by Tadhg Hickey, GATMAN! at the Everyman in Cork is a one-man show of many characters. The monologue covers one day in the life of Murph, whos trying to sober up for a supervised visit with his son. The story is interwoven with the adventures of Gatman, a superhero who acquires powers when fuelled by Gat (booze), who is on a mission to save Cork from the shackles of Father Mathew. SC March 7-9, tickets 11-25, See everymancork.com

For a yoga and Pilates break in Wicklow, see reformation.ie

Mothers helper Yoga and Pilates studio Reformation is running a mothers retreat on March 16 which would make the ideal Mothers Day gift. Metamorphosis is a one day event at the Deerstone centre in Wicklow, which includes a sauna and hydropool, a womens circle practice, hike, meditation, and vegetarian lunch. Prices; early bird 165, full price 200. LH See reformation.ie

Essie Good As New Nail Protector, 13.95, available nationwide

Good claw back If the red manicure you got for Valentines is wearing and your nails are in tatters, Essie has the answer. Its new Good As New Nail Perfector treats damaged nails with a ceramide-infused complex, and fills in any unevenness, while the demi-matte pink finish also gives what can only be described as a polished look. Nails sorted, though other Valentines regrets may remain. SC Essie Good As New Nail Protector, 13.95, available nationwide

Whiskey Writers Tears Supper Club, see conraddublinrestaurants.com

Tasty times The Coburg Restaurant at the Conrad Hotel in Dublin is hosting its Supper Club on March 7 with Irish Whiskey Writers Tears and a special menu for the night. SC Tickets are 79pp, see conraddublinrestaurants.com
Senator is Fine Gaels Dublin candidate for Europe and shes happy to get stuck into the fight

There was a point last month where Regina Doherty felt like she had no friends.

Oh god, am I mad? she thought to herself, as the senator contemplated being beaten in the race to be selected as Fine Gaels candidate for the European elections in Dublin.

Without any public declarations of support from her parliamentary party colleagues it appeared to many outsiders that junior education minister Josepha Madigan  who had a number of vocal supporters  was a shoo-in.

But then, on this day two weeks ago, party members cast their votes in a secret ballot at the selection convention in Drumcondra  and Doherty was victorious.

The senators shock nomination prompted much debate within Fine Gael circles, with a view among some TDs that the result was evidence of the leadership being out of touch with ordinary members.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar bristled at suggestions it had implications for his leadership and denied he had wanted Madigan to win.

I can honestly tell you I didnt see any evidence of interference or overt support, Doherty says.

The internal Fine Gael contest was an at-times-testy affair over recent months, with Madigan called out by Dohertys allies for filming campaign videos in Leinster House and for using ministerial stationery for a party political campaign. The minister later apologised.

Meanwhile, Madigans pitch to members  that she had been elected by the people of Dublin on three occasions  was a fairly pointed dig at the fact that the Dublin-born Doherty had only ever been a TD for Meath East.

Josepha would have made a fine MEP  if our membership had selected her

Well, first of all, Josepha only ever ran in one of the 12 constituencies in Dublin, the senator hits back. So to say youve been elected in Dublin is not strictly speaking true.

Josepha is a fine candidate, a fine minister and would have made a fine MEP if our membership had selected her.

Dohertys pitch to members in the capital involved talking about how she had been in Fine Gael all her life and could knock on any door in any part of Dublin and talk about party policy.

Other people chose to be a little bit more pointed in their message, and it didnt work, she adds.

Josepha Madigan. Photo: Frank McGrath

All that said, Doherty says she has spoken to her former cabinet colleague and believes she absolutely will help me to get elected in Junes election.

She says she is running for Europe because she wants to explain the real positive stuff that comes from Brussels.

The former social protection minister, who lost her Dail seat in 2020 before being appointed to the Seanad, references the introduction of paid parental leave during her time in cabinet as being a concept that originated in Europe.

She also wants to push the EU to front-load funding of infrastructure to address the climate crisis.

Its not happening fast enough because the money isnt coming from Europe. So I believe we need to front-load these things, she says.

Other issues she lists include more safeguards around the use of artificial intelligence and championing the wider provision of hot school meals across the continent  an initiative she piloted in Ireland when she was a minister.

However, if elected, Doherty will be part of the European Peoples Party (EPP), the main EU grouping  which Fine Gael MEPs have increasingly drifted away from, as it has lurched further to the right.

Last week, the five sitting Fine Gael MEPs broke ranks to vote in favour of the nature restoration law in the European Parliament  with the wider EPP voting against the legislation, which ultimately was passed.

I do see a shift towards nationalism and towards the centre right in the EPP, she says, while rejecting suggestions Fine Gael could leave the grouping.

I wouldnt think thats on our radar at all, she adds.

Then there is Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, who has become a divisive figure, not least in Ireland for her strong support of Israel in the aftermath of the Hamas attacks on October 7.

Doherty firmly believes Von der Leyen should get the second term she is seeking as president under the EPP banner.

On Von der Leyens support for Israel, she argues: When you stand back and you realise that, first of all, shes a German, theres history in their DNA, with regards to the responsibility that they probably feel and felt for the treatment of the Jews during World War II. You and I dont feel that.

Despite ultimately disagreeing with the presidents support for Israel, Doherty argues: Just because they get a few things wrong, it doesnt mean you throw the baby out with the bathwater.

When youre no longer rivals, I think that kind of stuff goes out the window

That said, she is coy on whether she would welcome Von der Leyen in Ireland to campaign with her ahead of the June elections.

She may say there are nuances in her view. To my mind, theres no nuance for the destruction of an entire country  notwithstanding that its not recognised by anybody yet, she says.

Tens of thousands of innocent people have been killed to try and get to a few terrorists. Im not discounting the terrorists and the impact that theyve had on Israeli lives for probably decades, but that still doesnt justify in any way, shape, or form whats gone on.

It is a blunt comment, typical of Doherty, who has carved out a reputation as a straight talker who relishes TV and radio debates. She is definite on the subject of a running mate. She does not want one.

The indication is that thats not going to happen, she says, while acknowledging party HQ may decide differently in a few weeks. Anybody you ask would tell you that theyd rather not have a running mate.

Justice Minister Helen McEntee. Photo: Brian Lawless/PA

Elsewhere, Doherty describes her relationship with former constituency rival, Justice Minister Helen McEntee, as absolutely fine.

Seven years ago she said McEntee would walk past me in the corridor and wouldnt even blink her eyes  a remark which added to the bitterness between the pair.

When youre no longer rivals, I think that kind of stuff goes out the window, she says, describing the minister as really hard working, an incredibly committed minister for justice. However she does not agree with McEntee referring to the rioters in Dublin last November as scumbags  remarks which the minister has since stood over.

I think that was misplaced. I appreciate she doubled down on it, its not a word I would use.

Fine Gael has had a European Parliament seat in the capital right back to Richard Ryan in 1979, meaning there will be enormous pressure on Doherty to retain the seat currently occupied by the retiring Frances Fitzgerald.

Its not a fear or a burden, she concludes. But it is a responsibility.
My view on life has completely changed, live everyday as if it was your last and always extend the hand of friendship

Former RTE correspondent Charlie Bird has said that death is around the corner" but insists he is not afraid of dying.

In an interview with Brendan OConnor, Charlie revealed how his philosophy on life has radically changed since he was first diagnosed with MND in 2021.

Looking back on his life, he spoke of his love for wife Claire, his career highlights and how he knows he doesnt have long left to live.

Speaking using an automated voice computer, he said: My view on life has completely changed, live everyday as if it was your last and always extend the hand of friendship no matter who they are.

Every one of us will pass so I want to extend the hand of friendship to anyone who is in a dark place. I have learned always to be truthful when answering questions and to speak always from the heart.

I have a terminal illness and I know my death is just around the corner.

When Brendan asked Charlie if he was afraid of dying, he replied: Im not afraid of dying I have had a great life as RTE chief news correspondent. I got to work on the biggest stories both home and abroad.

I got to travel the world. I feel very privileged that my career in journalism took me to all these places. I always tell the same story, I failed every exam and never went to university but I succeeded in my career. Im proud of that.

I also have a wonderful family by my side since my diagnosis that helps me when I need support and to come to term with my illness, that it is terminal and there is nothing I can do to change that.

So I am not afraid of dying, he told Brendan on his RTE radio show.

Charlie said that while he was never very religious, he felt that over the past few years since his diagnosis, he believes there has been someone on my shoulder guiding me along.

Charlie also spoke of how his wife Claire has been an incredible support for him, saying she looks after me around the clock, she is my wife first, also my full time carer. I would be lost without her.

He now has additional carers as he struggles to get from A to B without the help of two extra people

Its depressing, he added. The honest truth is I live each day as if it could be my last.

Despite never having gone to university, he says the fact his career brought him to both the North Pole and the South Pole meant in a way I won the Lotto.
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
Man pepper-sprayed by gardai after threatening filling station staff with large-bladed knife

Its understood gardai had to use pepper spray to subdue the man before climbing over a counter to arrest him.

Gardai arrest man during filling station robbery

Edel Hughes Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 21:04







A man in his 30s is in custody after being arrested by gardai during an attempted armed robbery at a Dublin filling station.
Dylan Coady Coleman (10) who died on Wednesday will be laid to rest in Illaunmanagh Cemetery following his funeral today

The funeral Mass of Dylan Coady-Coleman (10) who died following a tragic road incident in Clare will take place in Shannon today with mourners in attendance asked to wear any jersey and odd socks.

Dylan Coady-Coleman died on Wednesday morning at the Children's Health Ireland hospital at Temple Street, Dublin, just one day after becoming a big brother, after his mother Laura gave birth.

Following his death as a result of injuries he sustained in the collision on Sunday, February 25, Dylan bravely donated his organs, with his mother Laura stating that he will save five lives.

Dylans funeral Mass will take place in Mary Immaculate Church in Shannon, Clare today at 1:30pm followed by burial afterwards in Illaunmanagh Cemetery.

His funeral Mass can be viewed online through the church webcam.

At the request of the family could everyone wear any jersey tops and odd socks, his death notice asks mourners who will be attending his funeral. .

He is deeply missed by his heartbroken family, parents Garry and Laura, sister Zoe, and baby brother Shane, who has been given the middle name Dylan, after his big brother whom he got to meet before he passed away.

His death notice adds that he will be sadly missed by grandparents Deirdre and Ben Coady, Carmel and predeceased Charlie Coleman.

He is also deeply missed by aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, neighbours, his many friends and his class mates in St Tola's school Shannon.

St Tolas paid tribute to their student following the tragic news of his death.

They said: "Dylan is a much loved 4th class pupil in St Tolas N.S. His gorgeous smile and kind heart endeared him to everyone in our school community. He will be greatly missed.

Messages of sympathy can be sent to Mc Mahon Funeral Directors for the Coady and Coleman families or alternatively, condolences can be written online on RIP.ie.
Independent TDs Michael and Danny Healy-Rae have rejected efforts to recruit them to new political party Independent Ireland after secret talks in Leinster House last week.

The brothers met with thr groups leader Michael Collins, co-founder Richard ODonoghue and recent recruit Michael Fitzmaurice in a room in the Agriculture House offices of the Houses of the Oireachtas complex last Wednesday evening.

While the meeting was amicable, Michael Healy-Rae told the Sunday Independent he and his brother are set to remain as Independent TDs ahead of the next general election.

We listened to what they had to say, but its fair to say the response we were giving was that we were elected as Independents, the three-term Kerry TD said.

Many of the people that support us had left parties to come to us to support us to be Independent and they know exactly what we are.

It would be fair to say we wished them well. They are colleagues of ours in the Rural Independent group.

It would be fair to say we wished them well

Danny Healy-Rae said he and his brother were prepared to talk to everyone and anyone at all times, and thats our duty to the people that elect us, but they would be running as independents in the next election.

We did meet with them, we get on fine, we agree on 99pc of everything, theyve the same understanding that we have and a lot of things are the same, but we were elected Independent by the people of Kerry and thats the way were going before the people the next time, he added.

Mr Collins confirmed Independent Ireland had contacted every Independent TD and senators to invite them to meet about joining the new party, but declined to discuss the names of those who have been approached or had signalled their interest in joining.

Some have come back, some have said they are quite happy to stay independent, more have come back looking to meet with us, and there are some coming back and saying theyd like to remain Independent but still meet with us, he said.

The Cork South-West TD co-founded Independent Ireland with Mr ODonoghue, a TD for Limerick County, last November, and last month landed a significant coup with the recruitment of Roscommon-Galway TD Michael Fitzmaurice.

The party is hoping to run up to 70 candidates

Mr Collins, who has signalled the party is hoping to run up to 70 candidates in the local elections in June and is close to announcing candidates for the European elections on the same day, said this weekend that announcements about new candidates were imminent.

Independent Ireland is pitching itself as the party of common sense, the clearest choice for real change.

Its website claims the Government is spending 6,122 per household per year on projects that fail to prioritise the needs of the citizens of Ireland. It details spending per household on non-government organisations, the States response to the Ukraine refugee crisis, asylum-seekers, foreign aid and the HSE overspend.

Mr Collins told the Irish Independent last month that the party is not right-wing, racist or anti-immigration, but wants to slow the flow of immigration into the country through common-sense policies that will lessen the effect on communities.

He said many foreign citizens are top-class people who keep our country ticking over.

Unfortunately, people are coming here in huge numbers and we need to control that to some point, he added.

An email to all Independent TDs and senators in the Dail and Seanad last week inviting them to hold talks about joining the party states: Myself, Deputy Richard ODonoghue and Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice would like to invite you to a meeting to discuss joining Independent Ireland.

We are building a party of Independent TDs, senators, councillors and new candidates that want to work together to deliver a strong alternative to the existing parties and to deliver real change in Irish politics with the goal of improving the lives of the people of Ireland.

As we move towards finalising our suite of policies, we would like to meet you to discuss our policies, our vision and goals for the future. If you would like to arrange to meet, you can contact me directly and we can confirm a time and date suitable for you.

Galway East TD Sean Canney said this weekend he was consulting with people in his constituency on how he should respond to the email, but pointed out that he had been an Independent for the last 20 years.

I first got elected as an Independent councillor in 2004 and as an Independent Ive been able to use my position for the good of the area. I dont know if I can do better than that by joining a political party, the former junior minister in the Fine Gael-Independent minority government said.
Mick Gibney was an innovator and strategic thinker who served as chair of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland

Despite his many achievements, Professor Michael Gibney requested that there be no eulogy at his funeral and that he be borne into the church by six men and carried out by six women  wishes his family gladly complied with.

Mike, or Mick as he was best known, was Irelands foremost expert on nutrition, with an international reputation which he enjoyed but carried lightly. He travelled all over the world to speak at conferences and lecture and was a member of important scientific boards at home and abroad.

He was also a charming man who enjoyed life to the full, loved poetry and music and was working on the last chapter of his latest book at his home in Blackrock, Co Dublin, days before he died on Friday, February 23, after a short illness, at the age of 75.

Outside the world of academia he had a wicked sense of fun. Always elegantly dressed, he loved good company, a vigorous discussion over a long meal and a few glasses of wine, topped off with a sing-song that included some of his favourite ballads.

These eventful evenings, in the company of his wife Jo  who brought him to her Debs dance and was married to him for more than 50 years  usually ended with one of his favourite sayings: There are good ships and wood ships, ships that sail the sea, but the best ships are friendships and may they always be.

Much sought-after as a columnist and commentator he held views on nutrition that did not always tally with other experts he regarded as purists trying to take the joy out of life.

Among Mikes many attributes was his ability to challenge conventional wisdom, said his friend and collaborator Sean Strain OBE, Professor of Human Nutrition at the University of Ulster in Coleraine, Co Derry. This ability was important to his innovations in interpreting nutrition science and led to new ways in developing the science.

Michael Gibney grew up on Collins Avenue, Dublin, the son of a trade union official and his wife. He attended Marian College, Ballsbridge, where he was remembered as an enthusiastic rugby player, before going on to University College Dublin (UCD).

He graduated with a Masters in Agricultural Chemistry before taking a scholarship to Sydney University, Australia (1971-1976) where he did his PhD. He worked in beloved Southampton University (1976-1983) before returning to Ireland to join the Department of Clinical Medicine at Trinity College. He was appointed Professor of Nutrition in 1986 and was Dean of Research from 2001 to 2004.

I have found that the excitement in research is not showing yet again, albeit under slightly different conditions, that some basic tenet of modern nutrition thinking remains safe and sound, he wrote in 2021. Excitement is to be found in unexplained, unexpected, and unusual finding. In proudly pursuing this vision of science, I have been reproached, ridiculed, slandered, and shunned. One learns to have a thick skin.

He was also an innovator and strategic thinker who was determined to make the most of every opportunity. On joining Trinity and in the face of a major economic recession, he established the not-for-profit, consultancy company Nutriscan.

At its height it employed eight researchers and most of its clients were US-based multinationals, such as like Procter & Gamble, DuPont and Pepsi.

In 2006, he and his entire department of over 20 staff transferred from Trinity College to UCD, a move that was described at the time as a major coup for the southside university. It caused what one professor described as ructions although publicly this was put more delicately as creating a stir in academic circles as nothing similar had happened in Irish universities before.

He said nutrition was not a priority at Trinity, but the work he and his team were doing fitted in with UCDs ethos.

Every university has its priorities and UCD wants to build a centre of excellence in the food and health areas and that is where nutrition comes into play, he said at the time.

Before his retirement in 2013 he said his department encompassed the entire spectrum of food research, from health, veterinary and food science to agriculture. It had, he said, been described to him as everything from slurry to curry.

He established an Irish branch of the Nutrition Society and was incredibly honoured to be appointed the societys president in 1995.

He was also chair of the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) and among his many other appointments he was a member of the European Commissions Scientific Committee on Food, which led to another of his dying requests, that his hearse carry the Irish and EU flags.

Mike was an excellent communicator and speaker, said Prof Strain. He continued to write popular articles and books for the non-specialist through his career at Trinity and later UCD.

Among these were Food Through the Ages: A Popular History and Ever Seen a Fat Fox? Human Obesity Explored, which debunked exaggerated views and demonstrated that most food processing techniques are not new and in fact some are hundreds of years old.

Mike had a lot to say and wasnt shy in putting forward his views, often in plain and sometimes colourful language and almost always via his unique and endearing sense of humour, said Prof Strain.

Undoubtedly a highlight of his career was his election as president of the Nutrition Society. He was like no other president before him and could be described as hyperactive in the role. Mike was hugely inspirational to so many and in so many ways. He will be remembered fondly by those whose careers benefited greatly from knowing him.

Mike placed great value in friendship and every important achievement had to be celebrated and he knew how to celebrate. We are devastated that he has departed so suddenly. He will be sorely missed by so many but especially by his loving wife Jo and by his son Michael and daughters Eileen and Sinead, he added.

Outside of work he enjoyed music, reading, rugby and sport. He was a member of Blackrock Bowling Club and his colleagues from the club formed a guard of honour as his coffin was carried into the Church of St John the Baptist on Wednesday.

In one of his annual reviews he summed up his advice, on work and on life, to young researchers in his department: Be patient, determined and resilient in the early stages. Hold no fear of change and be courageous in challenging conventional wisdom. Always favour openness and collaboration and always seek to help others.

Mick Gibneys funeral mass was celebrated by his friend Fr Arthur ONeill with readings from his grandson Fionn and the comedian Des Bishop, a family friend. The reflection was given by his daughter Eileen, who has succeeded her father as director of the UCD Institute of Food and Health and thanks were delivered by his younger daughter Sinead, who has stepped down as head of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission to contest the forthcoming EU elections.
Jody Corcoran: Steady decline in Sinn Fein support kicks party into crisis mode

Is the public starting to run out of things to give out about, just in time for an election?

Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald. Photo: PA

Jody Corcoran Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 03:30

At what point do we ask if Sinn Fein is in crisis? It could be said the point is now. As the late Con Houlihan used to say, now read on
RTE will consider publishing the details of exit packages of former executives who have been asked to waive confidentiality regarding their individual deals.

RTE told Media Minister Catherine Martin last month that it had written to former members of its now-defunct executive board who have left the organisation since 2016, requesting their consent to waive their right to confidentiality.

The names of the individuals have not been published. We will consider publishing the information as soon as we have received all the responses, the broadcaster confirmed this weekend.

The possibility of publishing the names of some of those who have left RTE in the last eight years but refuse to waive their right to confidentiality has not been ruled out. However, a source said this weekend that the matter is subject to legal discussions within RTE.

Director general Kevin Bakhurst is under mounting pressure to disclose amounts paid to former senior figures within the organisation, following revelations that former finance director Breda OKeeffe received a package totalling 450,000 when she left RTE.

Former strategy director Rory Coveney, who was previously understood to have resigned last summer, is said to have been paid an exit package of around 200,000.

Former finance director Richard Collins received an undisclosed amount after a mediated settlement.

An Ireland Thinks poll for the Sunday Independent today finds 87pc of those surveyed are either outraged (55pc) or annoyed (32pc) at the exit packages, which ranged in size from 200,000 to 450,000.

At a town hall meeting with staff last week, Mr Bakhurst came under particular pressure over whether former managing director of news and current affairs Jon Williams received an exit package after leaving RTE in 2022. Mr Bakhurst told staff he was precluded from discussing this for legal reasons.

Mr Williams told the Sunday Independent: Ive not made any comment about RTE since I left, and I do not intend to do so.

Meanwhile, RTE has also declined to provide details of the exit package for former head of current affairs David Nally.

Mr Nally was not a member of the former executive, or of Mr Bakhursts interim leadership team, but he left RTE last year, just 18 months after taking up a role as editorial adviser in RTEs content division in April 2022.

The role was not advertised, and Mr Nally retained his 150,000-a-year salary. Since his departure, it has been suppressed by Mr Bakhurst, resulting in a saving to RTE.

Mr Nallys departure was raised with the media minister at the Oireachtas Media Committee session last week.

Committee chair Niamh Smyth asked if Ms Martin had raised the matter with RTE.

The Green Party deputy leader said that when she had raised the issue she was told it is a matter for the director general, so it cant be revealed.

Todays Ireland Thinks poll finds half of those asked had no confidence in Ms Martins handling of the RTE controversies, with 28pc saying they had confidence and 22pc not sure.

A greater number of people said they had no confidence in former RTE chair Siun Ni Raghallaigh (57pc), while 16pc had confidence and 27pc were not sure.

Asked if Ms Ni Raghallaigh was fairly treated by Ms Martin, who failed to express confidence in her on a live TV interview just over a week ago, the findings show 32pc believe she was fairly treated, 34pc said she was not and 33pc said they do not know.

Asked if they had confidence in Mr Bakhurst as director general, 34pc of those who responded said they did, 39pc said they did not and 27pc were not sure.

Despite the saga at Montrose dragging on for eight months, nearly 60pc of the public remain interested in the issues at RTE, with 25pc saying they were extremely interested and 34pc moderately interested.

Thirty per cent of those polled said they had followed it but have now completely lost interest, while just 11pc said they do not have any interest.

Asked which news story they have been most interested in, 22pc of those polled said the RTE controversy, making it second only to the Israel/Hamas war on 40pc.

Public willingness to pay the TV licence is largely unchanged since September, with 38pc of those polled saying they intend to pay when it is next due (unchanged in six months); 28pc said they will not pay (down two points); and 24pc said it was not relevant or they do not normally pay (up two points).
RTE Prime Time staff get rap on knuckles over leaks to media about Catherine Martins bombshell interview

Media Minister failed live on air to express confidence in RTE chairperson, who stepped down swiftly afterwards

RTE chairwoman indicated she might resign before ministers live TV interview

Niamh Horan Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 03:30

RTEs Prime Time team have received a dressing-down from management for speaking to journalists about what happened behind the scenes on the night Media Minister Catherine Martin took part in her bombshell interview.
Businesswoman set up firm after realising system is broken for workers with children

The boss of a HR firm has revealed some of the sexist remarks Irish women and men have experienced in relation to maternity and paternity leave.

Michelle OKeeffe, co-founder of Platform55 and a former Enterprise Ireland entrepreneur of the year, said focus groups facilitated by the company have unearthed some eye-watering experiences.

One woman in a senior role told her manager she would need 24 hours notice before travel assignments.

The manager replied: You see? This is why I hire men.

Another woman was told she would make partner at her firm if there are no more surprises, while her boss directed a nod at her belly area.

Men are also subjected to bias around paternity leave. The focus groups heard how one man said his boss asked whether he would take paternity leave by asking if he would be babysitting his child.

Others cited being asked by their boss if they were going to take all of their entitled leave.

80pc of the gender pay gap is attributed to a motherhood penalty. Photo: Getty

According to a new study carried out by Platform55, 80pc of new mothers have considered not returning to work after maternity leave. The same study found 70pc had no readjustment process after returning post-baby.

Fifty per cent of parents felt being a parent is not compatible with being in a senior role, and 75pc of this cohort were women.

According to the study, the average cost to replace a parent who does not return after maternity or paternity leave is 240pc of their salary. This takes into account their earnings while on leave, the knowledge capital they take with them and recruitment and training costs.

Ms OKeeffe said her advice for Irish companies is that it costs substantially more to lose a talented new parent than the cost of giving them flexibility and ensuring your company is there to support them.

The businesswoman co-founded the HR company with Tracy Gunn after realising the system is broken for employees who were raising young families. She now has two children, Alex (11) and Anna (8).

A former managing director at Electric Media, Ms OKeeffe was promoted to the position just hours before the birth of her first baby.

She said her former employers were incredibly supportive and progressive, but she came to her own realisations around the difficulties of being in a senior role while raising very young children.

I would drop my kids off at 7am and pick them up at 7pm. I often used to lift my baby out of the car to the cot and we wouldnt have made eye contact for the day. Thats why I left. One week I remember I hadnt actually seen her eyes open for five days, she said.

Another time, the creche said, I think Alex will soon take her first steps, what do you think? And I knew that they were sussing me out  because she already had taken her first steps and I hadnt seen them.

Ms OKeeffe said her firm became a passion project, and she is now partnered with some really progressive companies.

We started working with AXA three years ago when they had a 75-25 male-female senior executive split. Theyve now switched to 50-50, she said. Another firm has ensured senior roles can be part-time and flexible.

As International Womans Day approaches on Friday, official figures from the UN show 80pc of the gender pay gap is directly attributed to a motherhood penalty, whether it is career plateauing or quitting a job after maternity leave.

If managers dont have personal lived experience of being a parent, its hard for them to relate

Ms OKeeffe said that among the challenges faced by parents is a lack of understanding from line managers.

A company may have wonderful policies in place and a great culture, but sometimes its down to an individual manager who doesnt have the lived experience of being a parent, so they are unaware of the support the individual needs, she said.

If you have managers who dont have personal lived experience of being a parent, its hard for them to relate. Thats where managers need to be trained in empathy, because this is where we see attrition. This is where women step away from the workforce.

When men parent out loud at a firm, it has a massive impact on women being able to progress in their career.
Sister Rosemary Benson, OSF, a Franciscan Sister for 76 years who served parishes on the Southern Tier for many years, died March 1 in Mercy Nursing Facility at OLV, Lackawanna. She was 92.

Born in Buffalo, the youngest of three girls, she was the daughter of Thomas J. and Martha Kock Benson and grew up in Lackawanna.

She entered the Sisters of St. Francis in 1947, took the religious name of Sister Mary Martha and became a member of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Divine Child.

She taught religious education, visited homes, took part in retreats and was a pastoral associate for more than 40 years in Allegany County in Angelica, Belmont, Belfast and Scio. She also had assignments in the Village of Cattaraugus, serving seven parishes in the early 1960s, as well as in Batavia, Rochester and Texas.

After the Missionary Sisters merged with the Franciscan Sisters of the Neumann Communities in 2004, she became a minister of praise, offering prayers for those who are disadvantaged and forgotten.

Survivors include many nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in Our Lady of Victory Basilica, 767 Ridge Road at South Park Avenue, Lackawanna.
Lack of public enthusiasm over this Fridays two referendums should trouble Yes campaigners, writes Kevin Cunningham

Our poll today highlights two reasons why the referendums this week may be in significant jeopardy. First, and most obviously, while the poll shows a fall in support for the Yes side, it also shows an extremely large number of voters remain undecided.

Irish referendums often produce surprises as the result can often deviate significantly from opinion polls. It is sometimes said there is a bias that favours the status quo due to the tendency of undecided voters to break for the No side late on. Indeed, our poll today has more than a third of respondents indicating they are either undecided or not going to vote.
David Quinn: Green reforms are noble but we need to eat  and that means we need to listen to farmers

We need a clean environment but we also need food so when farmers say they are going out of business due to onerous regulations we should pay attention

Farmers in Poland protesting over green policies. Photo: AP

David Quinn Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 03:30

The farmer and the cowman should be friends, goes the old song. But can the farmers and the Greens be friends? To judge by farmers protests all over Europe, including here in Ireland, the answer, increasingly, is no. A lot of the protests are specifically in rebellion against green policies and the farmers are winning lots of allies among the general population.
Plus other pressing matters, including some nice gigs on the NGO circuit, and another Green mess

With exit packages all the rage these days, and Thursdays Irish Times revealing a 389,000 windfall for a former senior HSE executive, Wigmore was reminded that scribes across the Liffey at Tara Street are still seething about their own companys gigantic pay-outs to departing suits.

Back in August 2022, the papers editor, Paul ONeill, announced his decision to step down after five years in the chair. He was followed out the door later that year by managing director Paul Mulvaney, who lasted a mere 14 months in the job. Both men were on salaries of 270,000 at the time of their exits  thats 20 grand more than Kevin Bakhurst gets for trying to sort out the shambles that is RTE (not including his car allowance, mind).
US President Joe Biden needs to assert his influence to help bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. Photo: Reuters

The week started with cautious optimism drummed up by US president Joe Biden suggesting a ceasefire in the war in Gaza could be imminent. However, the already-delicate tendrils of positivity seem to have been trampled before they could get a grip.

News of the deaths of more than 100 Palestinians during an aid delivery in Gaza was greeted with horror around the world. UN secretary general Antonio Guterres condemned the incident and said desperate civilians needed help.

A queue for life-saving food became a line-up for death, said Jason Lee, country director for Save the Children in occupied Palestinian territory. While children are dying from lack of food, their parents are dying trying to get it. There must be an immediate, impartial investigation into what has happened.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described the incident as totally unacceptable carnage. A host of countries have also called for an independent investigation.

Hamas accused Israel of firing on civilians, but Israel said most died in a crush after troops fired warning shots. French president Emmanuel Macron said the civilians were targeted by Israeli soldiers. Doctors have told of bullet wounds in victims taken to hospital.

Saudi Arabia, with which Israel wants to establish diplomatic relations, also accused occupation forces of targeting unarmed civilians.

The tragedy is but another excruciating example of the extreme urgent need to bring an end to the unconscionable spiral of killing.

This week, the terrible milestone of 30,000 Palestinian deaths was reached. Should the conflict continue in the absence of a ceasefire, 58,000 more deaths would be expected in Gaza over the next six months, according to a February research study cited by the Washington Post. Most of the deaths would be due to traumatic injuries and infectious disease.

According to the UN, 85pc of Gazans have been forced from their homes. Around 1.4 million displaced people are sheltering in the southern city of Rafah, which Israel has identified as its next military target.

Hamas must release the hostages it took, but Israel must also engage with efforts to formulate a solution beyond military occupation.

The situation in Gaza could easily explode in the coming days. Mr Biden, who has already received a warning this week from voters in Michigan that his softly-softly approach to Israel is costing him support, needs to assert his influence.

Never has there been a greater need for adroit US leadership. The president must press for firm steps towards accepting an eventual independent Palestinian state in Gaza and the West Bank. The enclave is being pulverised, and many of its people are starving.

The toll on Gazas children is devastating, and time is not on their side.

As John F Kennedy said: There are risks and costs to action, but they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction.
Pope Francis has clarified, to some extent, the limits of episcopal political power. Photo: Reuters

Its clear from examining the recent Irish Catholic Bishops Conference statement that it is, as a collective, opposed to the changes proposed in the forthcoming referendums.

In our democratic society the bishops, like every other Irish citizen or citizen group, are entitled to express their views.

However, the issue for Irish Catholics is whether they should fall into line with these personal views of the bishops. Indeed, many traditionally minded Catholics will feel an obligation to follow their bishops reasoning. While the bishops do not explicitly instruct the faithful on how to vote, one is left in no doubt where the bishops wishes implicitly lie.

Pope Francis has clarified to some extent the limits of episcopal political power. In his book Amoris Laetitia, he says the Catholic Church was called to form consciences, not to replace them. While this statement is welcome, his term to form consciences needs clarification.

The last paragraph of the bishops statement on the forthcoming referendums uses the same mantra: We offer these reflections in order to help inform the consciences of Christians. The words to help inform the consciences is a formula used in traditional theology to mean that the institutional churchs views should be observed by the faithful in letter and spirit.

Such a view is reinforced by canon law. For example, canon 753 states: The Christian faithful are bound to adhere with religious submission to the authentic magisterium of their bishops.

However, the New Commentary on the Code of Canon Law, commissioned by the Canon Law Society of America, states very clearly that bishops are not infallible, they are sometimes mistaken. The bishop is a believer among believers. He has no special source of revelation or inspiration.

It is disappointing that the bishops in their statement nowhere mention the moral principle that in the final analysis the faithful have the right and duty to obey their particular consciences.

It is clear these referendums do not undermine traditional Catholic teaching on marriage and the family. On the contrary, they enhance the lives and rights of all our citizens.

Catholics, by voting for these proposed constitutional changes, are faithful to Gospel values.

Brendan Butler, Drumcondra, Dublin 9

Wasteful referendums are a distraction that should be shot down by the people

Not only are the two March 8 referendums  one an amendment concerning the family and the other an amendment regarding care  a fantasy of the few, they are also arguably repugnant to Irelands Constitution.

This is a deliberate distraction by the coalition government of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Greens.

Political zealots are using these referendums as a diversion as they seek to set aside authenticity and integrity. What is absolutely clear is that Irelands Constitution does not say a womans place is in the home, as falsely claimed by one Fianna Fail minister during an RTE interview.

The first bond of society is marriage; the next our children; then the whole family of our house, and all things in common.

At a time when people are overburdened with taxation and rising prices, these unnecessary referendums are a waste of taxpayers money.

I dont understand why President Michael D Higgins, a lifelong Labour member, has not spoken out.

Given that these proposals were not properly debated and parliamentary procedures were not followed in the Dail, why has Mr Higgins not questioned this?

I might have expected him to indicate that he may refuse to sign in a bill that has not followed procedure.

No political party nor party leader can define what a durable relationship is, yet they are demanding people vote into law the delusional, the unexplained and the unknown.

Not only is a No-No vote on March 8 protecting the Constitution, it is also sending a clear message from the people to the coalition parties that they, their madness and their divisive policies against the people must go  and go now.

Joe Kelly, address with the editor

Durable relationships confusion is likely to lead to busy court days ahead

The proposed changes to the Constitution, The State recognises the Family, whether founded on marriage or on other durable relationships, is somewhat opaque. What are other durable relationships?

Would it give constitutional rights to religious or cultural mores like a man having more than one wife or, indeed, husbands, or a cultural sect (group) declaring itself as a durable relationship?

If we dont know what terms mean and the potential practical outcome, how can we vote? There will be busy times at the Four Courts ahead.

Monica Muller, Ballina, Co Mayo

West is culpable for mass killings perpetrated in Gaza since last October

Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war. The vast majority were women and children, and this is probably a significant underestimate.

According to the United Nations, 140 UN workers and at least 122 journalists and other media staff have been killed in Gaza.

The truth is also another casualty in this genocidal war. Western media, including Irish media, are being corralled within Israel and not allowed into Gaza.

They are being fed information by Israeli military and government spokespersons.

In the latest atrocity, on February 29, at least 112 starving Palestinians were reportedly killed, and hundreds more injured, mainly by Israeli soldiers firing automatic weapons at unarmed civilians. The Israelis dispute the claims.

By the time this letter is published, many more Palestinians will have been killed.

Significant elements of the international community are actively complicit in this carnage. These include the US and the most powerful members of Nato and the EU.

Ireland is also complicit by allowing the US military to transit through Shannon Airport on their way to and from the Middle East.

Too many stood idly by and allowed genocide to occur in Cambodia, Bosnia, Rwanda and elsewhere.

In 2024 we can no longer stand by and claim we did not know what was happening.

Edward Horgan, Castletroy, Co Limerick

Scapegoating the minister when many in RTE are to blame for mess is unfair

Fionnan Sheahan doesnt seem very happy with Media Minister Catherine Martin and is almost now blaming her for all that has gone wrong with all things RTE.

He has been quick to blame her for the resignation of Siun Ni Raghallaigh and for being continuously off the pace during the scandals (Irish Independent, February 29).

This is unfair when you consider all of RTEs management, including the board, were off the pace, as evidenced by the events of the past year.

The ministers performance at the Media Committee hearing was sure-footed, calm and professional, unlike much of the infantile, idiotic questions from some of the camera-eager TDs and senators.

Only last month (January 29), Sheahan said: Ryan Tubridy got the blame, but it turned out the doctoring of his earnings by RTE was just the tip of the iceberg. The scandals around musicals, flip-flop slush funds and goodbye money exposed a cultural, accounting and corporate governance chasm.

He further wrote: Its asking a lot to expect the public to accept this explanation and have confidence in RTE when these individuals (five board members) are still in their roles as the guardians of the public interest.

The reality is that the minister is not the problem. We have been subject to a chasm in transparency and a drip-feed in information for too long. 

It is time for the minister and the Government to put in place a proper corporate and funding model for RTE, stop fudging and do so before the next general election  not after.

Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18

We wallow in victimhood instead of just accepting our warts-and-all past

How long must we be obsessed with the past in Ireland?

The critique of Rocky Road to Dublin  a 1967 documentary film  (Rocky Road to Dublin: the film that revisits the old Ireland we tried so hard to escape, Irish Independent, February 29) is an example of why we cannot accept things were the way they were. That was Ireland; not all bad, not all good.

Must you constantly harangue us with guilt and shame of the past?

How American Ireland has become. We love being victims.

We wallow in victimhood, like pigs in muck.

Nothing to offer for the future but a victimhood mentality.

Fr Paul OConnell, Douglas, Georgia, US
Jay Stafford, Christine Foley from Duncannon, Nicole Stafford from Ballyhack and Mykie Stafford at the Duncannon school Grandparents' Day. Photo: Mary Browne

Will Carroll, Patrick Whitty from Dunmain, Ollie, Indie, Enda, Heidi, Sandra Carroll from Coole and Ann Whitty from Dunmain at the Duncannon school Grandparents' Day. Photo: Mary Browne

Lily and Leanne O'Grady from Duncannon, Sean Mythen from St. Leonards and Cara O'Grady at the Duncannon school Grandparents' Day. Photo: Mary Browne

Theresa, Ella and Sarah Foley from Duncannon at the Duncannon school Grandparents' Day. Photo: Mary Browne

Niamh and Kathleen Colfer from Duncannon at the Duncannon school Grandparents' Day. Photo: Mary Browne

Richard Butler from Duncannon with Tadhg, Eve, Toni and Willow Butler at the Duncannon school Grandparents' Day. Photo: Mary Browne

Willow Dwyer, Marie McCracken from Fethard, Ava Grace and Julie Dwyer from Duncannon and Logan Dwyer at the Duncannon school Grandparents' Day. Photo: Mary Browne

On Friday, February 23, the pupils, parents and staff of St. Olivers N.S. Duncannon invited grandparents and special people close to them to the school for their annual Grandparents Day.

"Everyone was busy for the last few weeks preparing the school for a warm welcome, said teachers Rachael Chapman and Vera Power.

The General-Purpose room was brightly decorated and the classrooms had lots of the childrens artwork and written work on display.

The children in the senior room sang a song, played games and put together some fantastic family trees.

The family trees were then put on display in the corridor alongside photos of all the different classes since the opening of the school.

Meanwhile the children in the middle room sang songs, played games and chatted with their grandparents.

In the infant room a poem was recited and the children presented their grandparents with a flower made from lollipops sticks.

"The school was full of laughter, chat and reminiscing all topped off with a cuppa. The Parents Council kindly provided tea/coffee and confectionary treats on the day.

The 76-pupil school on the hill overlooking the sea, has seen steady growth over recent years, including the addition of six Ukrainian pupils.

This was its second year holding a grandparents day. Its really nice as it brings grandparents who wouldnt normally be at the school, in to have a look around.
Ciara Brennan, Robyn Byrne and Elaine Byrne from Amber Springs Hotel & Spa Resort accepting the Silver Award in the 'Ireland's Family Friendly Hotel' category as part of the 2023 Virgin Media Business Gold Medal Awards. Photo: Paul Sherwood Photography

Amber Springs Hotel and Resort won a silver award in Irelands Family Friendly Hotel category, Marlfield House Hotel and the Duck Restaurant won silver in the Irelands Small Wedding Hotel 100 people or less category and Kelly's Resort Hotel have won bronze in the Irelands Fine Dining Hotel restaurant category.

This is Wexford Newsletter Enter your email address below and click 'Sign Up' to receive the This is Wexford newsletter direct to your inbox. Please check your inbox to verify your details

This is the 34th year of the awards which is recognise as the leading independent awards programme for the Irish hospitality industry. Judged by industry experts, the Virgin Media Business Gold Medal Awards recognise and reward excellence in hospitality and catering operations across the island of Ireland. The winners were announced at a gala awards ceremony hosted by Anton Savage at The Galmont Hotel and Spa in Galway.

The judging panel chose the businesses they believed to be worthy of receiving a Gold Medal Award and only the best in the industry were crowned winners. The Supreme Winner on the night was the Europe Hotel and Resort in Kerry.
Our expert delves into the shiny world of lip oils for super slick and volumised smackers

Rightio, we need to talk about lip oils as its literally on everyones lips right now!

Its time to pack away your lipsticks and glosses as lip oils are reigning supreme in the clean make-up aesthetic thats still trending it seems.

Its not just happening on Instagram or TikTok as Ive seen plenty of oiled lips on the red carpets lately.

Barry Keoghan at this year's Baftas wearing Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir. Photo: Adrian Dennis/ AFP via Getty

I even saw Saltburn star Barry Keoghan having a lip oil moment when he was getting prepped for the Baftas with MUA Christine Nelli popping Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir (35, Brown Thomas) on his kissers!

Selena Gomez has also struck oil as her brand Rare Beauty has launched The Soft Pinch Tinted Lip Oil (22, spacenk.com). So why have we all become so smitten with them?

I love that lip oils give me shiny lips without the stickiness of gloss. It also nourishes my lips and keep them looking juicy. I feel it was Dior that really started the hype with their always-sold-out Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil (45, arnotts.ie). The glossy lip oil, infused with cherry oil, keeps lips slick and enhances the lips natural colour. Its a hit with TikTok users. The formula adapts to all lip colours to bring out a rosy glow, and its non-greasy, non-sticky oil texture gives lips a mirror-shine effect.

Irish beauty kween and make-up artist Keilidh Cashell is bridging the gap between the richness of a balm and the feel of a lipstick with her Kash Beauty Lip Oils (14.95, kashbeauty.com) that give a sheer, hydrating balm with a perfect hint of colour.

Then we have the lovely Pippa OConnor Ormonds Poco Beauty Lip Oil Treatment (21, pocobeauty.com). Im all for anything that makes my lips look bigger, and Pippas lip oil has hyaluronic spheres and lightweight oils to give immediate hydration and enhance lip volume. Thank God her beautiful jeans dont have the same plumping effect!

Finally for our luxury lovers, La Mer The Lip Volumizer (85, arnotts.ie), which is super spendy but, like all of its products, it uses the best ingredients and is of really luxurious quality.

My mum Margaret felt the lip oils werent for her so I gave her this newbie to try out for me as it gives a high-shine gloss that plumps, perfects and protects lips in one glide and comes in five shades. She struck it rich with this one and it looks super slick on her!

Three of the best Cleansers

Garnier Soothing Hyaluronic Aloe Cream Cleanser, RRP12.50, pharmacies nationwide

1 Garnier Soothing Hyaluronic Aloe Cream Cleanser, RRP12.50, pharmacies nationwide Lets, eh, face it  pun intended  without a proper cleanse, no amount of potion will work their magic on your skin! This affordable one is ideal for dehydrated skin as its powered by hyaluronic acid and natural aloe vera.

Charlotte Tilbury Magic Hydration Revival Cleanser, 15, boots.ie

2 Charlotte Tilbury Magic Hydration Revival Cleanser, 15, charlottetilbury.com Say goodbye to double cleansing and hello to triple-pampering your skin as this revolutionary tri-phase priming cleanser gives a spa-fresh skin glow in just one step, melting away impurities!

Doctrine Divinity Cleansing Balm, 42, doctrineskincare.com

3 Doctrine Divinity Cleansing Balm, 42, doctrineskincare.com Doctrine brings us the brilliant Tracey Ryan, formerly of Bia Beauty, who has formulated this blue, gentle, balm-to-oil-milk cleanser infused with soothing spirulina and yarrow extracts to leave your skin clean, soft and hydrated.

Triona and Minis tween skincare buys
North America

Thats going to be the least of it: Donald Trump claims US is facing a bloodbath if he loses November election
Mother of the Palestinian twins Wesam and Naeem Abu Anza, who were born during the conflict between Israel and Hamas and were killed in Israeli air strikes, reacts during their funeral, in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip March 3, 2024. Photo: Reuters/Mohammed Salem
March 3, 2024

What to know about the week ahead

In the Town of Niagara, the Planning Board on March 5 will consider a proposal by The Broadway Group for a Dollar General store and Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop at 9400 Lockport Road, on the north side of the street between Tuscarora Road and Haseley Drive.

The board will also review a project by Kevin DiPirros NF Four LLC to construct a Sonic Restaurant at the Fashion Outlets, at 1900 Military Road.

In Hamburg, Benderson Development Co. is seeking approval to install a free-standing Citizens Bank ATM at 6000 South Park Ave., while 3800 Hoover LLC wants to construct a two-story apartment building with 12 units and a four-story apartment building with 44 units, at 3800 and 3833 Hoover Road. Both are pending before the town Planning Board, for a work session on March 6.

The Hamburg Planning Board will also hold public hearings for a proposal by Stonefield Engineering to construct at 3,999-square-foot restaurant and drive-thru at 3560 McKinley Parkway, and for a special-use permit to allow an Avis Budget Car Rental facility at 4207 Southwestern Blvd.

And in Lancaster, TJR Products is seeking Planning Board approval on March 6 for a phased construction project for two 10,000-square-foot warehouses on 3.8 acres of vacant land on the west side of Townline Road, less than a mile south of Walden Avenue and just 700 feet north of the Lancaster Heritage Trail. The project would also include a new access driveway, onsite parking, utilities, storm-water management and landscaping.

Then, on March 14, West Seneca Planning Board members will consider special-use permit applications by Molly Barrett to renovate the building at 1340 Orchard Park Road for her Molly's Mutts dog day care and kenneling and for a restaurant with a renovated patio. Meanwhile, Bruce Vona wants a rezoning and special-use permit for 531 Center Road to convert the building into apartments.

Free tax preparation for people or families with incomes of $73,000 or less is being offered by the University at Buffalo School of Management again this year.

The service is provided by the IRS-sponsored Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program with IRS-certified volunteers from the UB chapter of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors organization for accounting and finance students, and the UB Accounting Association.

Tax prep sessions will be held at 101 Allen Hall on UB's South Campus from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis March 3, 9, 10, 16, 17, 30 and 31 and April 6 and 7. Slots are limited, so come early. A list of documents to bring can be found at 2024 Free Tax Preparation  School of Management  University at Buffalo.

Welcome to Buffalo Next. This newsletter from The Buffalo News will bring you the latest coverage on the changing Buffalo Niagara economy  from real estate to health care to startups. Read more at BuffaloNext.com.

THE LATEST

Carley Hill's new way to support construction industry is an academy accelerating workers into field.

Buffalo Niagara home prices look cheap compared with most big cities.

Hordes of people are expected here to see the eclipse. Will emergency services be ready?

A Broadway grocery store aims to be an oasis in a food desert.

A cannabis dispensary opened in the Town of Tonawanda.

A Lackawanna manufacturer wants to expand on the former Bethlehem Steel site.

A vacant Silver Creek school could become apartments.

D'Youville University wants to open an osteopathic medical school.

A Buffalo startup raised another $1 million.

Starbucks and the union representing workers ended their stalemate.

More funding is coming for the new Ralph Wilson Park.

The downtown Buffalo hostel, facing a deadline to move, wants more time.

CVS is closing a local store.

A local consultant has been hired to bolster Bills stadium community oversight.

The Buffalo Sabres will pay for new videoboard and roof at KeyBank Center.

Work is delayed again on Sinatra's Heritage Point.

Catholic Health is still losing big money  but nowhere near as much as it once was.

Kaleida Health cuts its loss in half as revenues grow.

Prospectus: From the editor: Ghosts of Buffalo's past spark Buffalo's economic future.

Prospectus: David Robinson on building the New Buffalo, one baby step at a time.

ECMC is getting a big federal grant.

ICYMI

Five reads from Buffalo Next:

1. This UB program aims to help women and minorities build their startups.

2. FanDuel's CEO hasn't forgotten about her roots in the Buffalo Niagara region.

3. Need a place to stay to see the eclipse? The prices are astronomical.

4. Southgate Plaza: The suburban plaza that could.

5. Take a closer look inside The Caz music venue.

The Buffalo Next team gives you the big picture on the regions economic revitalization. Email tips to buffalonext@buffnews.com or reach Buffalo Next Editor David Robinson at 716-849-4435.

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LATEST | Israeli review of Gaza aid convoy deaths finds most killed in stampede; at least 15 children die from malnutrition in hospital

Air deliveries dropped by US this weekend following carnage on Thursday after IDF opened fire during rush for food15 children dead from malnutrition, dehydration at Gaza hospital - Gaza health ministry

U.S. military carry out its first aid over Gaza, amid the ongoing the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in Gaza City. REUTERS/Kosay Al Nemer

Idrees Ali, Phil Stewart and Jeff Mason Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 03:30







Israel's military has completed a preliminary review of civilian deaths at a Gaza aid convoy last week, which determined that forces "did not strike the convoy and that most Palestinians died in a stampede, the military spokesperson said on Sunday.
Photo Courtesy:

More funding is needed to support Small Island Developing States (SIDS) on the frontlines of climate change, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Saturday in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

Guterres visited a project that is helping the Caribbean nation to combat the effects of coastal erosion and rising seas - among the impacts of global warming.

While commending the initiative, known as the Georgetown Sea Defense, he underlined the need for greater solidarity and financial support.

Climate justice

We must have stronger support from the international community - what we call climate justice - which means adequate financing at low cost, quickly decided, in order to allow for all these works that we have been seeing to protect the island against the sea, and against the floods and storms, he said.

Responding to a journalists question, Guterres said that SIDS must have quick and easy access to climate finance through the Loss and Damage Fund.

The long-awaited mechanism to help vulnerable countries offset the damage from droughts, floods and other extreme weather caused by climate change, finally became operational at the UN COP28 climate conference in Dubai last year.

Guterres explained that under the fund, small projects like the one he visited would not require the same level of bureaucracy as those costing billions.

They instead call for quick decisions and quick operationalization of the money available, and much more funding," he said.

"The people of the Small Island Developing States are on the frontlines of climate change. They did not contribute to global warming, but they are paying the price, he added.

Rising from the ashes

The Secretary-General also surveyed areas of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines that were affected by the April 2021 eruption of the La Soufriere volcano.

Some 20,000 people, roughly a fifth of the population, had to evacuate immediately. New houses were built in the resettlement area for those whose homes were destroyed.

The UN chief was in the country to attend the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), held on Friday.

He arrived in the capital, Kingstown, the previous day, where, during a press conference, he paid tribute to the courage, resilience and solidarity of the people in the aftermath of the volcano.
PM Modi in Madurai last week/ courtesy: Facebook

Delhi/IBNS/UNI: Five days after his visit to Tamil Nadu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will travel to the state again on Monday.

Upon reaching Chennai in the afternoon, he will fly to Kalpakkam to review the progress of India's first Fast Breeder Reactor being built by BHAVINI.

After a nearly one-hour-long event, he will again fly back to Chennai in a helicopter and address a public meeting organised by the BJP at the sprawling YMCA grounds ahead of the ensuing Lok Sabha polls. Following the event, he will leave for Telangana.

Tight security arrangements have been made given his visit in the wake of an IED blast at a cafe in Bengaluru.

This is Modi's second time to the state in five days after he visited Tiruppur and the southern districts of Thoothukudi, Madurai, and Tirunelveli on Feb 27-28.

Meanwhile, police have made elaborate security arrangements in the city and the adjoining Chengalpattu district for his visit.

Police are maintaining strict vigil with patrolling being intensified in all lodges and hotels across the city.

Checkposts have been set up and all vehicles entering the city are being checked.

We have tightened the vigil following the blast at a Bengaluru restaurant on Friday. Our personnel are conducting intensive vehicle checks, and are on patrol duty, police said.

Besides, police officers are monitoring important railway stations and bus terminals to track the movement of any suspected elements.
Image Credit: Press Information Bureau

New Delhi/IBNS/UNI: The All-India Bar Association (AIBA) has written to Narendra Modi , seeking stringent penal action against tech giant Google, alleging an attempt to tarnish the image of the Prime Minister.

Adish C. Aggarwala, Senior Advocate and Chairman of the All-India Bar Association (AIBA) stated that Google has committed an offense under Sections 153A, 500, and 505 of the Indian Penal Code for promoting enmity among groups by putting out misleading, mischievous information that is in the public domain.

Aggarwala, who is the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), stated that Gemini, the artificial intelligence platform of technology and Internet company Google, put out highly condemnable false information about the Prime Minister of India in the public domain.

"The company, being the creator of the machine, cannot escape the consequences of the damage caused by the machine. How a machine is to learn facts and interpret them is designed by its programmer," the letter read.

It further stated that the country is on the verge of a general election, and malicious campaigns to smear the image of any leader should be stopped in their tracks.

"The Prime Minister of India has strived to get India its due place under the sun. But some people are not enthused by the rise of the country to prominence and may want to stain its honor by spewing spite. Such acts must be shot down," the letter stated.

"It is therefore urged that the penal laws be invoked, and action taken against those guilty of the aforesaid motivated crimes," Aggarwala said.


Photo Courtesy: Pixabay

The National Commission for Women on Sunday condemned the gangrape of a Spanish tourist in Jharkhand's Dumka region.

"NCW condemns the brutal gang-rape of a Spanish tourist in Dumka, Jharkhand. NCW has been informed that accused fled from the spot. As per reports, there were 8-10 men involved. The Police have just arrested 3 accused persons in the matter. A letter has been sent to DGP from @sharmarekha to expedite the investigation in this matter and invoke charges of raped under IPC 376D. Seeing the gravity of the situation Ms. Mamta Kumari member NCW will be going to inquire the facts of the case and meet the victim and concerned Police," NCW posted on X.

NCW condemns the brutal gang-rape of a Spanish tourist in Dumka, Jharkhand. NCW has been informed that accused fled from the spot. As per reports, there were 8-10 men involved. The Police have just arrested 3 accused persons in the matter. A letter has been sent to DGP from  NCW (@NCWIndia) March 2, 2024

A Spanish woman was gang-raped in Jharkhands Dumka late Friday night while she was travelling with her husband on a motorcycle, media reports said.

The incident occurred in Kurumahat, in the Hansdiha police station area, where seven men allegedly beat the couple, looted their belongings and raped her, media reported.

The woman and her partner, who had reached Dumka from Bangladesh on two motorcycles and was en route to Bihar and then Nepal, were also robbed and beaten up when they were halting for the night at a makeshift tent.

According to an NDTV report, the woman, with bruises all over her face, shared the horror in an Instagram post: "Something has happened to us that we would not wish on anyone. Seven men have raped me.

"They have beaten us and robbed us although not many things because what they wanted was to rape me."

Three arrests made so far

Police have arrested three accused and are actively working to identify and nab the remaining four suspects.

The couple, who were travelling on tourist visas, had embarked on a long tour of Asia, starting from Pakistan, and then visiting Bangladesh before reaching Dumka.
Photo courtesy: Video grab

New Delhi: The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) on Friday demolished a 10-acre farmhouse valued at nearly Rs 400 crore, owned earlier by the late liquor tycoon Ponty Chadha, also known as Gurdeep Singh, media reports said.

Situated in the Chhatarpur area of South Delhi, the property was deemed to have been constructed illegally on government-owned land.

According to the DDA, around 5 acres of the encroached land were razed on Friday, with the demolition efforts continuing into Saturday, reported India Today.

#WATCH | Delhi Development Authority demolished the Farmhouse of high profile liquor baron, Late Ponty Chadha alias Gurdeep Singh, spread over about 10 acres in Chhatarpur, South Delhi, worth about 400 crores, yesterday. Today, the exercise of demolition of the main building over pic.twitter.com/yqE9cBPNDP  ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2024

Demolitions were conducted in North East Delhi, involving the dismantling of numerous establishments including showrooms, banquet halls, a hotel, and a warehouse.

These structures together occupied approximately 4 acres of government-owned land.

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) also demolished the residence of Wakeel Hassan, a rat-hole miner involved in the successful rescue of 41 workers trapped in Uttarkashi's Silkyara tunnel in November 2023. Hassan's house was situated in the Khazoori Khas area of North East Delhi, according to the report.
Photo courtesy: twitter.com/DilipGhoshBJP

Kolkata: Calcutta High Court Judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay, who had ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the teachers recruitment scam in West Bengal last year, on Sunday said that he will resign from his position on March 5.

Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay said he would submit his resignation letter to President Droupadi Murmu, the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court, and Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud.

I would like to enter the political arena to work towards the betterment of the common people and address grassroots issues. That journey starts on Tuesday, he said in an interview with Bengali news outlet ABP Ananda.

Clearing the air on speculations about him contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he said he hadnt decided about it, the report said.

There have been speculations that he might run for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections from Tamluk, a seat held by BJP's Suvendu Adhikari from 2009 to 2016.

The judge, whose courtroom has been the scene of various dramatic incidents including scuffles, boycotts, accusations against lawyers and senior colleagues, as well as apologies, expressed willingness to contest elections if offered a ticket. However, he did not disclose which political party he intends to join, according to media reports.

The judge stated that he would answer all questions about his resignation and future plans on Tuesday.

Have not taken decisions regarding my candidature for Lok Sabha polls, but I would like to thank the ruling party in West Bengal (Trinamool Congress) for challenging me to enter the political field, the judge told Live Law.

In 2022, Justice Gangopadhyay had directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe the alleged irregularities in the hiring process for teachers and support staff at government schools in West Bengal in the Teacher Eligibility Test 2014 conducted in 2016 and ordered the termination of services of primary teachers on the same grounds.

His interview with ABP Ananda over the matter irked the Supreme Court, and the apex court stayed his order to CBI and ED to investigate TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee. The Supreme Court directed the then Acting Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court to transfer the ongoing proceedings in the case to another judge of the Calcutta High Court.

In a recent fallout with the state government, on January 24, the judge not only criticized both the West Bengal Police and the state government but also issued an order for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the allegations of issuance of a large number of fake caste certificates in West Bengal.

A petition was submitted to the Calcutta High Court, expressing concerns about the large number of counterfeit caste certificates issued in West Bengal. The petitioner claimed that numerous individuals had obtained these fraudulent certificates to secure admission to state-run medical colleges.

At first, the case was presented before Justice Gangopadhyay on the morning of January 24, when he ordered the CBI probe into the fake caste certificate issue.

However, the division bench of Justice Soumen Sen allowed an interim stay on the single bench order.

After that, Justice Gangopadhyay directed that the CBI investigation would continue, notwithstanding the order from the division bench.

Justice Gangopadhyay instructed the registrar general of the High Court to immediately send a copy of this order to both the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court.

He accused Justice Sen of acting in his interest, attempting to shield "some political party in power" in West Bengal.
Photo courtesy: screengrab

Cairo: Eleven people have been killed and some 50 injured in an Israeli strike outside El Emirati maternity hospital in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, the enclave's Health Ministry said on Saturday.

"Eleven citizens were killed and about 50 others, including children, were injured when the Israeli occupation forces struck refugee tents and a gathering of citizens near the entrance to El Emirati maternity hospital in [the district of] Tal as Sultan in Rafah," the ministry wrote on Telegram.

On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others.

Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. At least 30,320 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.

(With UNI/SPUTNIK inputs)
File photo of Ukraine attack/ courtesy: UNI

Kyiv/IBNS/UNI: At least eight people were killed and eight others injured when a drone hit an apartment building in Ukraine 's southern port city of Odesa on Saturday morning, the State Service for Emergencies said on Telegram.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the drone fired by Russian forces hit a nine-story apartment block in Odesa's residential area, destroying 18 apartments.

As of Saturday evening, the search operation at the site of the attack was still underway.

Russia's defence ministry said its air defences destroyed a Ukrainian drone over Leningrad region, which borders the Gulf of Finland, and a second one in Belgorod region on Saturday.

No casualties or damage were reported.


Photo Courtesy: Unsplash

Sri Lanka's Education Minister Susil Premajayantha announced on Sunday that starting March 19, a pilot project will be initiated in 20 schools, providing students from Grade 8 the chance to delve into artificial intelligence (AI) within their information technology curriculum.

Addressing a public gathering in Colombo, he said that teachers are being trained, and students throughout the country will be able to learn the subject in the coming year.

Premajayantha said this was a recommendation of the task force appointed for the formation of a national strategy and plan related to AI.

The minister also said they plan to provide vocational and soft skills training to 50,000 students who sit for the university entrance exam in 2023, almost 15 percent of the total.

(With UNI inputs)
The federal government seized more than $1 million from the bank accounts of Arkan Fadhel, a Buffalo businessman, in January 2021.

No criminal charges were filed against him. No public explanation has ever been given for what was one of the largest cash seizures handled by federal prosecutors in Buffalo over the past decade.

Why did the feds take Fadhels money?

More than three years after the seizures, the U.S. Attorneys Office would not shed any light on the matter. They declined on Friday to discuss the case.

But The Buffalo News obtained some answers in recent weeks through research and interviews.

Feds seek forfeiture of three local homes, including $800,000 mansion in Spaulding Lake In all three cases, federal agents and the U.S. Attorneys Office allege in court papers that the property was in some way linked to drug trafficking.

The money was seized in connection with a government investigation into a transportation company formerly run by Fadhel, his attorney, Gerald J. McMahon of New Jersey, confirmed to The News.

From 2018 until 2022, Fadhel ran Queen City Transportation, a company that was hired by the state Health Department to transport Medicaid patients to medical appointments. During that time, Queen City was paid $11.9 million to provide 48,905 trips to Medicaid recipients, state records show. The companys most profitable year, by far, was 2020, when it received $6.5 million from the state.

McMahon said he has spoken with with federal prosecutors about the seizure numerous times. He added that he plans to travel to Buffalo this month in hopes of resolving the matter.

My client is a good Yemeni family man, with no criminal record, McMahon said. I can tell you that he denies any intentional wrongdoing.

Youve got 100 million government regulations when you are in some businesses. Its not always easy to know if youve committed some mortal or venial sin, McMahon added. There are some allegations, and were dealing with them as best we can.

Feds grab $175,000 Bentley from strip club owner in fraud probe Secret Service agents seized one of the worlds most luxurious cars, a sleek 2017 Bentley Musanne that cost $175,590 used, last year from the Amherst home of a man who owns two adult video stores.

New York pays more than $1 billion a year to companies that transport thousands of people who received Medicaid benefits to doctors appointments, physical therapy, counseling, drug treatment and other medical appointments.

Some of these companies have defrauded the state program in recent years, leading to criminal or civil prosecutions in New York City, Buffalo and several other cities.

Owners of some transportation companies have admitted that they billed the state for several trips when they actually made just one trip with several Medicaid recipients as passengers.

It is not known what aspects of Queen Citys services are under investigation by the government.

In December 2022, Queen City made itself inactive, said Danielle DeSouza, a spokeswoman for the state Health Department.

Judge rejects prosecutors' arguments for keeping cash seized at Buffalo airport U.S. District Court Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo said prosecutors failed to tie the passenger to any criminal activity, let alone narcotics trafficking. He then accused the authorities of relying on racial stereotypes when they seized money from the late Nazier L. McFadden.

DeSouza said she did not know why Queen City withdrew from the Medicaid patient transportation program. When asked if any fraud accusations were ever made against the company, she said that the department received one complaint about the company and forwarded it to the state Medicaid inspector general.

On Jan. 25, the Internal Revenue Service filed a tax lien of $1,286,360 against Queen City for unpaid taxes between December 2019 and December 2021.

McMahon said he is aware of the tax lien, but is not representing Fadhel on the tax case.

They grabbed his money from bank accounts, and now the government is pursuing the tax lien. Everybody is trying to dig into his pockets, said McMahon, a high-profile defense attorney who has represented many accused organized crime figures in New York City.

Now out of the transportation business, Fadhel runs a small West Side grocery store. He did not respond to several telephone messages and a letter left for him by a News reporter.

Think twice before heading to the airport with that huge wad of cash In Buffalo, according to internal reports obtained by The Buffalo News, airport police and federal agents seized more than $860,000 over four years. Police say the money seized from travelers  often with the aid of drug-sniffing dogs  has been used to buy weapons, vehicles, Narcan and to finance many other law enforcement purposes.

Federal court records show that federal officials  the agency they work for is not specified  seized a total of $1,031,186 from four Fadhel bank accounts in late January 2021.

In July 2021, federal prosecutors asked District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to give them more time to file a verified complaint explaining why they seized the money.

Vilardo granted that time extension, and since then has granted 11 more extensions, most recently on Jan. 26 of this year. As a result, prosecutors have never been required to explain on public record why they took Fadhels money. The government and McMahon have joined together in asking for the extensions.

That is a long time for a case to be pending without a verified complaint being filed, said Richard D. Kaufman, a former federal prosecutor who supervised forfeiture cases in Western New York. Usually, that means both parties are working together to find some way to resolve the case. It usually means theyve told the judge they are working on it and making some progress.

In January 2023, Saleh Mozeb of Buffalo admitted that his company, Great Lakes Transportation, made some fraudulent claims about services it provided to Medicaid patients. A federal judge put Mozeb on probation for one year and ordered him to pay $12,618 in restitution. Mozeb also agreed to forfeit to the Drug Enforcement Administration almost $131,000 out of $273,000 that had been seized from him in 2021.

In August, police charged three men in Otsego County with overbilling the state by more than $1 million for Medicaid transportation services. The men are also accused of paying kickbacks to Medicaid recipients who reportedly helped them to file fraudulent bills. Those charges are still pending.

Medicaid fraud impacts us all and diverts money from those truly in need, State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli said after the arrests.
Photo Courtesy: Riaz Sohail Janjhi X page

Unknown attackers targeted a mosque belonging to the Ahmadiyya community in Pakistan's Karachi city, media reports said on Sunday.

The attackers reportedly chanted slogans against the Ahmadiyya community during the assault, heightening concerns about the safety and security of this religious minority in Pakistan, reported News Intervention.

A video of the incident has gone viral on the internet.

The attackers could be seen in the video allegedly snatching arms from the cops present at the scene.

Sharing the video on X, Journalist Riaz Sohail Janjhi wrote: "#Karachi in dastgir area, Unknown persons attacked the Ahmedi community worship place , they chanted the slogan and try to snatched weapon from Police @KarachiPolice."

A mosque belonging to the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)'s Kotli region was vandalised by a group of 50 persons last month.

The community members often face persecution in Pakistan.

Sources told ANI that a group of 50 people equipped with hammers, shovels, and sticks formed a mob and stormed the mosque on Monday, injuring eight Ahmadi worshippers, including five women, and destroying all of the mosque's four minarets.
National Safety Day 2024: National Safety Day is observed on March 4 annually to commemorate the foundation of the National Safety Council. The council raises awareness about safety measures that need to be undertaken to prevent things from going wrong. The objective is to renew the commitment of employees and the public to work safely.

National Safety Day was observed for the first time in 1972, on the foundation day of the National Safety Council. National Safety Council is a non-profit, self-financing and tripartite apex body at the national level.

The theme for National Safety Day 2024

The theme for National Safety Day 2024 is 'Focus on Safety Leadership for ESG Excellence'.

Why We Celebrate National Safety Day?

National Safety Day has been celebrated since 1966. Every year on March 1, this day commemorates the establishment of the National Safety Council.

On March 4, 1966, the Ministry of Labour and Employment of the Government of India established the National Safety Council as a non-profit, self-financing body.

National Safety Day was established for the first time in 1972.

The National Safety Council was established as a public trust under the Bombay Public Trust Act of 1950 in the year 2000.

2021 - Several leaders and organisations use Twitter on National Safety Day to spread the message of safety, thanks to the Adopted Societies Registration Act.

It was set up by the Government of India, Ministry of Labour and Employment on 4 March 1965 to generate and develop a voluntary movement on Safety, Health, and Environment. It is an autonomous body.

The main objective and vision of the National Safety Council have remained the same - To protect and serve the society and foster a preventive culture and scientific mindset among people.

What is the Significance of National Safety Day?

National Safety Day holds significance as a crucial occasion underscoring the imperative of prioritising safety and well-being in our day-to-day lives, especially within the professional sphere. The primary objective is to foster awareness regarding potential risks and hazards inherent in diverse occupations and industries, alongside promoting proactive measures for prevention.

In India, the emphasis on occupational safety is paramount, serving as a safeguard for workers against potential harm. This not only enhances productivity but also diminishes healthcare expenses, ensures compliance with regulations, and elevates overall employee morale. To harness these advantages, employers must diligently implement effective safety protocols.

The day serves as a poignant reminder of the shared responsibility among employers, employees, and the government to create a secure and healthy work environment. It advocates for individuals and organisations to assume ownership of their safety and well-being, thereby contributing to a collective commitment to workplace safety.

FAQs:

When was the National Safety Council of India established?

March 4, 1966

What is the theme of National Safety Day 2024?

'Focus on Safety Leadership for ESG Excellence'

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Ramadan 2024 Sehri And Iftar Timings: Ramadan, the ninth month, is one of the holiest in the Islamic calendar. Muslims worldwide follow sawm (fasting - one of the five pillars of Islam) to commemorate the sacred month. Therefore, Ramadan rituals are observed for 29-30 days from the first sighting of the crescent moon to the other. Moon sighting is important to decide the beginning and the end of the month of Ramadan.

Muslim community observes fast (Roza) from dawn to dusk. After the day is over, in the evening, they break their fast (Roza) by eating meals, known as Iftar with family or friends. It is believed that by refraining from food and water throughout the day, one understands the pain and suffering of other people and gets closer to the almighty God (Allah).

Ramadan 2024 Start And End Dates

In India, The holy month of Ramadan 2024 is likely to begin on March 11 or March 12, this depends on the sighting of the crescent moon and will last for four weeks and ends with Eid-ul-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr is expected to occur on April 10, 2024, or April 11, 2024. Every nation observes its holy month on a different day. Muslim communities all over the world observe Ramadan.

Heres the Ramadan 2024 Calendar with Sehri, Iftaar timings

Ramadan Timings 2024 Calendar, Sehri & Iftar Time DATE SEHRI TIME IFTAR TIME 12 March 2024 05:13 AM 06:26 PM 13 March 2024 05:12 AM 06:27 PM 14 March 2024 05:11 AM 06:28 PM 15 March 2024 05: 09 AM 06:28 PM 16 March 2024 05:08 AM 06:29 PM 17 March 2024 05:07 AM 06:29 PM 18 March 2024 05:06 AM 06:30 PM 19 March 2024 05:04 AM 06:31 PM 20 March 2024 05:03 AM 06:31 PM 21 March 2024 05: 02 AM 06:32 PM 22 March 2024 05:01 AM 06:32 PM 23 March 2024 04:59 AM 06:33 PM 24 March 2024 04:58 AM 06:34 PM 25 March 2024 04:57 AM 06:34 PM 26 March 2024 04:55 AM 06:35 PM 27 March 2024 04:54 AM 06:35 PM 28 March 2024 04:53 AM 06:36 PM 29 March 2024 04:52 AM 06:37 PM 30 March 2024 04:50 AM 06:37 PM 31 March 2024 04:49 AM 06:38 PM 1 April 2024 04:48 AM 06:38 PM 2 April 2024 04:46 AM 06:39 PM 3 April 2024 04:45 AM 06:40 PM 4 April 2024 04:44 AM 06:40 PM 5 April 2024 04:42 AM 06:41 PM 6 April 2024 04:41 AM 06:41 PM 7 April 2024 04:40 AM 06:42 PM 8 April 2024 04:38 AM 06:43 PM 9 April 2024 04:37 AM 06:43 PM 10 April 2024 04:36 AM 06:44 PM

Source: Islamic Finder/Ramadan 2024 timetable for Sehri and Iftar



Here's how Ramadan Roza is observed

During the holy month of Ramadan Roza (fasting) begins after sunrise and culminates with sunset Consumption of food and water is prohibited between sunrise and sunset. Interestingly, the days start with Fajr (prayer during dawn), followed by Zhuhr (midday), Asr (afternoon), Maghrib (evening) and conclude with the Isha (night).

Muslims consume a pre-dawn meal called Suhur, and they break their fast by having Iftaar during this month.

About the Holy month of Ramadan

According to Islamic culture, the origins of Ramadan can be traced back to the seventh century, when the Prophet Muhammad received the first verses of the Quran, the holy book of Islam, during the month of Ramadan. According to Islamic tradition, the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad began on the 27th night of Ramadan, a night that is known as Laylat al-Qadr, or the Night of Power. Muslims believe that Laylat al-Qadr is the holiest night of the year and that praying on this night is more valuable than praying for a thousand months.

The practice of fasting during Ramadan is based on the Quranic injunction to "fast for a fixed number of days". Muslims are required to abstain from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours throughout the month of Ramadan. The fast is broken at sunset with a meal known as iftar, which typically consists of dates, water, and a light meal. After the meal, Muslims perform the Maghrib prayer, the fourth of the five daily prayers in Islam.

Ramadan is also a time for spiritual reflection, prayer, and charitable giving. Muslims are encouraged to read the entire Quran during the month, and many mosques offer daily prayers and study groups. In addition, Muslims are expected to give to charity during Ramadan, with many mosques and charitable organizations organising food drives and other initiatives to help those in need.

Significance of Ramadan

The holy month begins during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar year. The origins of Ramadan date back to the 7th century when Prophet Muhammad received the first verses of the Holy Quran. The revelation of the Quran began on the 27th night  Laylatul Qadr  of this month, believed to be the most sacred of all nights.

During this month-long period, Muslims not only abstain from eating and drinking but also engage in charitable activities and other endeavors that draw them closer to Almighty Allah. The primary goal of this significant practice during Ramadan is to cultivate the ability to control negative aspects of life that may lead believers astray from the right path. The Ramadan period is deemed crucial for spiritual growth, self-reflection, and adherence to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

The followers of Islam believe that fasting strengthens their faith and fosters a connection with divine power.

Ramadan 2024 Date & Time FAQs

When does Ramadan 2024 start?

This year, Ramadan 2024 was supposed to begin on March 11, following the sighting of the moon over Mecca.

How long is Ramadan 2024?

Ramadan 2024 is expected to last 30 days.

When does Ramadan 2024 end?

April 11 or April 12, 2024.

What year will Ramadan be 2 times?

Ramadan is likely to occur twice in 2030, owing to differences between the Gregorian and the Islamic/ Hijri calendar, said Dr Sobeih Al Saadi, an astronomer. The Hijri year differs from the Gregorian year by about 11 days, and this means that every 33 years, Ramadan is repeated twice in one year, he explained.

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.
Ramadan 2024 Start Date: Ramzan is an annual festival of Muslims all around the world. It is the Holy month of the Islamic calendar which is celebrated with utmost devotion and dedication. During this sacred month, Muslims globally adhere to a rigorous fast from dawn to dusk, engage in prayer, recite the Holy Quran, and actively participate in charitable endeavors.

Ramadan spans approximately 30 days and concludes with the joyous celebrations of Eid al-Fitr. The pinnacle of Ramadan is marked by Laylat al-Qadr, known as the Night of Power, considered the holiest night of the year. Muslims hold the belief that prayers on this night hold a significance surpassing that of a thousand months.

As of current astronomical predictions, Ramadan for the year 2024 is anticipated to commence on March 11, 2024, and conclude on April 9, 2024. However, it's important to note that the exact dates for Ramadan may exhibit slight variations based on the sighting of the moon in individual regions. Here is a comprehensive list of Ramadan dates and timings observed in various parts of the world.

Ramadan in Dubai: Predictions from UAE astronomers

In a statement released on Monday, February 26, by the UAE's International Astronomy Center, it was mentioned that the crescent of Ramadan is anticipated to be visible in most countries on Sunday, March 10.

However, the visibility of the crescent in the Middle East on that specific date remains uncertain. Consequently, there is a possibility that Ramadan might commence on Monday, March 11, or on Tuesday, March 12.

The statement clarified, "For countries that rely on the accurate sighting of the crescent from a location in the Islamic world, it is expected that these countries will commence the month of Ramadan on Tuesday, March 12."

Ramadan 2024 Date In India, Saudi Arabia, Dubai and other countries

Ramadan 2024 Expected Dates in Different Countries Country Expected Date Ramadan date in India 2024 March 12, 2024 Ramadan 2024 date in UAE March 11, 2024 Ramadan 2024 date in Dubai March 11, 2024 Ramadan 2024 date in Qatar March 11, 2024 Ramadan 2024 date in Turkey March 11, 2024 Ramadan 2024 date in Maldives March 11, 2024 Ramadan 2024 date in Kuwait March 11, 2024 Ramadan 2024 date in Indonesia March 12, 2024 Ramadan Date in Pakistan 2024 March 12, 2024 Ramadan 2024 date in Bangladesh March 12, 2024

Expected 2024 Ramzan Dates for UAE, Dubai, Pakistan and others

Ramadan 2023 Date in India

Ramadan is expected to begin on March 12, once the moon is sighted over Mecca and will end on April 9 or April 10 i.e., on Eid-ul-Fitr.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Dubai, UAE

In Dubai, Ramadan will begin on March 11. The International Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences UAE has announced that Ramadan will fall on Monday, March 11.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Saudi Arabia

Ramadan is expected to begin on March 11, followed by Eid-ul-Fitr on April 10 in Saudi Arabia.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Pakistan

Ramadan will be observed on March 12 in Pakistan.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Indonesia

Ramadan will begin on March 12 in Indonesia.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Kuwait

Ramadan is expected to start on March 11 in Kuwait.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Maldives

Ramadan will begin on March 11 in the Maldives.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Lebanon

Ramadan will start on March 11 in Lebanon.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Morocco

Ramadan is expected to begin on March 11 in Morocco.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Qatar

Ramadan starts on March 11 in Qatar.

Ramadan 2024 Date in Turkey

March 11 is the expected date for Ramadan in Turkey.

Ramadan 2024 date in Egypt

March 12 is the expected date for Ramadan in Egypt.

Ramadan 2024 in Bahrain

March 11 is the expected date for Ramadan in Bahrain.

Ramadan 2024 in Lebanon

March 11, 2024

Ramadan date 2024 in Bangladesh

Tuesday, March 12 2024

The International Union for Astronomy and Space Sciences UAE has announced that Ramadan 2024 will likely fall on Monday, March 11, 2024.

Significance of Ramadan

The holy month begins during the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar year. The origins of Ramadan date back to the 7th century when Prophet Muhammad received the first verses of the Holy Quran. The revelation of the Quran began on the 27th night  Laylatul Qadr  of this month, believed to be the most sacred of all nights.

During this month-long period, Muslims not only abstain from eating and drinking but also engage in charitable activities and other endeavors that draw them closer to Almighty Allah. The primary goal of this significant practice during Ramadan is to cultivate the ability to control negative aspects of life that may lead believers astray from the right path. The Ramadan period is deemed crucial for spiritual growth, self-reflection, and adherence to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

The followers of Islam believe that fasting strengthens their faith and fosters a connection with divine power.

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.
At just 18 years old, Zhou Chuna underwent 10 eyelid surgeries, multiple bone shavings, and over 100 medical procedures - all of which has costed more than Rs 4.6 crore, that her parents funded.

What started as a desire to emulate a star quickly spiraled into an obsession, leaving her with severe health consequences.

Zhou Chuna

Inferiority regarding her looks

Zhou Chuna, hailing from Zhejiang province in eastern China, developed a fixation on undergoing plastic surgery at the age of 13. Her inspiration was to attain the beauty of her favorite Chinese actress, Esther Yu.

Throughout her school years, Zhou grappled with anxiety and depression regarding her appearance, exacerbated by discomfort when relatives and family friends pointed out differences between her and her attractive mother.

Esther Wu, the Chinese actress that Zhou wanted to look like/ IMDb

Later, while studying at an international school in Shanghai, Zhou perceived her classmates as more attractive and self-assured.



This sense of inferiority and jealousy motivated her to take steps to enhance her appearance.

Operation after operation

Zhou's journey into plastic surgery began at 13 when her mother allowed her first operationa double eyelid procedure.

This initiated an obsession, leading her to drop out of school for various medical procedures, including rhinoplasty and bone shaving.

She received warnings from her doctor, but continued to have multiple eye-widening surgeries. The most painful was bone shaving, lasting over 10 hours, confining her to bed for 15 days, receiving only fluids.

Despite the toll on her appearance and relationships, with old friends not recognising her any longer, Zhou insists the surgeries increased her confidence.

Zhou Chuna/ Weibo

Her mother no longer supports her, and her father disapproves.



In a recent turn of events, Zhou has declared an end to her surgical endeavors, asserting a cessation to further modifications. A social media user weighed in on her journey, expressing the sentiment that what Zhou truly needs is to cultivate self-love, transcending the allure of a plastic facade.

For more on news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News.


An endangered species or animal is an entity that faces extinction. Unfortunately, some well-known and revered species are on India's endangered animal list. In fact, many plant and animal species are endangered in India.

This World Wildlife Day, let's have a look at them.

1. Bengal Tiger

Apart form India, Bengal tigers can also be found in neighboring regions such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of China | Image: Pexels

Apart from India, Bengal tigers can also be found in neighboring regions such as Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and parts of China. Tiger population declines are mostly caused by habitat loss and rampant poaching. However, not all is lost; various conservation measures are underway to help increase the population of tigers.



Strict anti-poaching laws exist in India, and Project Tiger, which was founded more than fifty years ago in 1973, works diligently to track tigers and protect tiger reserves around the country.



2. Asiatic Lion

The Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only area where Asiatic lions can be found in the wild | Image: Pexels

The Gir National Park in Gujarat is the only area where Asiatic lions can be found in the wild. These lions are slightly smaller than African lions, numbering between 600 and 700, making them one of India's most endangered animals.



Historically, the Asiatic lion was found throughout Iran (hence the name Persian lion), Arabia, and Baluchistan. However, their numbers fell to less than 500 in 2010, bringing them dangerously close to extinction.

3. Asian Elephant

Asian elephants, of which the Indian elephant is one of three subspecies, have been listed as endangered in India since the 1980s. Asian Elephants, which are smaller than their African counterparts, may be found throughout India and are regarded as an essential indicator of forest and grassland habitat quality.

4. Great Indian Bustard

These big flying birds were once numerous in India, but there are now only about 200 surviving. The Great Indian Bustard is often found in similar areas as the Indian antelope (Blackbuck), and its numbers are being threatened by poaching and habitat destruction.

5. Snow Leopard

Snow leopards live in a dozen Central and South Asian countries | Image: Pexels

Snow leopards, which live in a dozen Central and South Asian countries, are deemed vulnerable due to their small and diminishing populations. They can be found in the north-east of India, near the Himalayas, as well as in China, Nepal, and other neighboring countries with snowy, mountainous terrain.



It is impossible to estimate their actual population because snow leopards are elusive, tough to track, and adept at hiding.

6. Red Panda

Red Pandas can be found in Nepal, China, Bhutan, Myanmar, and India, particularly in the north-eastern portion of India, where they are the state animal of Sikkim.

Red Pandas are currently threatened by habitat destruction, deforestation, and poaching, which is why they appear on nearly every endangered species list in India and Asia.

7. The Indian Rhino

The Indian Rhino, commonly known as the Greater One-horned Rhino, is one of the world's largest rhino species.

The one-horned rhino was once on the verge of extinction due to rampant poaching for its horn until the 1990s, but its recovery and population revival is one of Asia's most significant conservation achievements.



8. The Kashmiri Red Stag

The Kashmiri Red Stag, also known as Hangul, lives in Kashmir and its adjacent territories in India.

While there were about 5000 of these Indian elks in the early 1900s, their numbers had dropped to around 200 by the beginning of the twenty-first century, making them severely endangered creatures in India.



9. Indian bison

Indian bison, also known as Gaur in Hindi, is a big bovine and the state animal of Goa and Bihar. These enormous, horned ox-like creatures can be found throughout South and Southeast Asia, preferring to live in evergreen forests and glades.



10. The Nilgiri Tahr

The Nilgiri Tahr is an ungulate native to South Indian states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu (where it is the state animal). This stocky mountain goat, which is closely related to sheep, lives in altitude grasslands and stunted woodlands. Nilgiri Tahrs have short, coarse fur and bent horns.

These species are currently listed as endangered owing to habitat degradation and hunting.



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Founder of the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), Fisayo Soyombo, has alleged that smugglers can bring in items into the country as long as they bribe the staff of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS).

According to the investigative journalist, customs officials in Nigeria only intercept and publish names of smugglers who refuse to bribe them or who outsmart them.

Speaking during an interview on Hard Copy, a Channels Television programme, Soyombo said he had a first-hand experience of the atrocities perpetrated by customs officials when he embedded as a smuggler to bring in bags of rice from Benin Republic in 2022.

I went into Benin Republic in November 2022, got some bags of rice and brought them to a place called Oja Odan. From Oja Odan, I was supposed to move them to Ilaro but we had to bribe customs, he said.

What happened was that I went in like I wanted to smuggle. I had to get smugglers already based in Ilaro and Oja Odan to take me in as part of them.

Everything that I wrote that the smugglers told me, the smugglers believed they were speaking to a smuggler like them and not a journalist.

READ ALSO: Hardship: Customs Suspends Sales Of Foodstuffs Over Stampede In Lagos

When people say it is hearsay, It is not. It is just like going undercover to join a robbery gang and because you are one of them, they tell you a police commissioner is part of them. You cant treat such information with scant regard.

We were waiting for customs to tell us the day to move the bags of rice from Oja Odan to Ilaro and while waiting, I had to leave the country.

So, there was a wait time because the customs officials who took money from the lead smuggler had not yet given us the all-clear.

What happens is, if you hear or read it in any newspaper that customs intercepts one million bags of rice, those are people that did not bribe them.

Anyone and I say this with all conviction anyone can bring in anything into Nigeria if you pay the right people.

If you read any news that customs seized bags of rice or chicken, those are people that tried to outsmart them. If you bribe the right people in customs, you can bring in anything.

When I say anything, I mean rice, chicken, turkey, arms, ammunition, tramadol, guns and motorcycles used by terrorists in the morth. These were things that were brought in.
The 2023 presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, has urged aggrieved Party members in Edo State to embrace peace.

In a Saturday statement issued by Paul Ibe, his media adviser, Atiku asked the aspirants who contested in the PDP governorship primary in Edo to rally around Asue Ighodalo.

Ighodalo, a businessman, won the PDP governorship primary poll organised by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party for the Edo governorship election slated for September.

Deputy Governor of Edo, Philip Shaibu also won the parallel governorship primary organised by a faction of the Party.

Atiku however said the Party members and aspirants should reconcile and work for the interest of the party.

READ ALSO: Tinubu Running Nigeria Like Military Dictator, No Solution To Hardship In Sight  Lukman, Ex-APC NWC Member

The PDP leadership and members in Edo State must be congratulated also for an amazing primary election that produced the quality of candidate to fly the flag of our party in the upcoming election.

The party has made a choice, and it is not in dispute that the choice is a good one.

It is, therefore, on this note that I plead with all other aspirants and aggrieved stakeholders to reconcile and negotiate to make sure that Edo remains a PDP state.

Barrister Ighodalo, apart from being a brilliant mind, in whose hands the affairs of Edo State will steer on stable waters, is also a fine gentleman.

Atiku said Ighodalo has what it takes to unite members of the PDP willing to work for the interest of the party.
Omoyele Sowore, the 2023 presidential candidate of the African Action Congress, on Sunday, reacted to President Bola Ahmed Tinubus response to the National Labour Congress (NLC) hardship protest.

Recall that Tinubu who spoke at the Lagos red line launching during the week claimed that organised labour is not the only voice of Nigeria with freedom rights.

He posited the NLC do not represent the sole opinions of the Nigerian people, saying if they want to contest for the presidency, they should wait till 2027.

Reacting via a program on Arise Television, the rights activist said the President no longer respects NLC, urging Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) to devise means of protesting the plight of Nigerians independently.

READ ALSO: Current Constitution Cant Address Nigerias Challenges  Anyaoku

Tinubu is also saying something that I think should be important for everybody and that is to develop new voices because he no longer respects the NLC.

The civil society movement in the country should also stop waiting opportunistically for a labour strike before we strike on our own.

Lets flood the streets tomorrow, he will know that there are real voices.

They practically hijacked occupy Nigeria in 2012. That was where the APC started their political movement. Goodluck Jonathan had not enjoyed power for up to nine months when the occupation of Nigeria happened.

Why would you say that the NLC should go and wait till 2027? NLC has already told you that they have hardship issues. The only thing that has not changed since Tinubu came into power is minimum wage, the publisher of Sahara Reporters said.
In the last week and a half, jurors in the civil trial over the 2012 death of an Erie County Holding Center inmate listened to several jail deputies' versions of events.

One deputy who helped pull Richard Metcalf Jr. from his cell was defiant that he or any other jail personnel committed any wrongdoing.

Coverage of the Richard Metcalf Jr. civil trial The 2012 death of Erie County Holding Center inmate Richard Metcalf Jr. is the subject of a civil trial that began with opening statements Feb

Another, who taught inmate restraint at the time, told the jury he didn't think at the time about a potentially deadly risk Metcalf faced.

A third remembered a couple of things about the incident, but had trouble recalling the rest.

Metcalf, 35, of Depew, died Nov. 30, 2012, at Erie County Medical Center, two days after being removed from his cell and restrained in the county Holding Center.

Former jail deputy is first defendant to testify in trial over death of inmate Richard Metcalf Jr. Details included in the two reports Erie County Holding Center Deputy Robert States wrote on March 15, 2013, contradicted the version of events described to the jury in the prior testimony of two emergency medical technicians who responded to the center on Nov. 28, 2012.

Metcalf, who showed signs in the days before of mental health problems, was injuring himself inside his cell the night of Nov. 28, 2012, and had been spitting blood, according to deputies' testimony and prior statements.

The state Commission of Correction, which polices New York's jails and prisons, concluded that deputies improperly restrained him and asphyxiated him by tying a "spit mask" around his neck and putting a pillow case over his head.

A lawsuit filed by Metcalf's father accuses Erie County and five current and former deputies of excessive force, negligence and deprivation of medical care.

Psychiatrist describes Erie County Holding Center failures involving Richard Metcalf Jr. The jail staff's failure to chemically sedate Metcalf was a departure from accepted medical standards and a substantial factor in causing Metcalf's death, Dr. Ana Natasha Cervantes testified at the civil trial against the county and five current and former deputies.

A psychiatrist testifying as an expert witness for the plaintiffs last week said the jail staff's failure to chemically sedate Metcalf was a departure from accepted medical standards and was a substantial factor in causing his death. Much of what went wrong in the Holding Center stemmed from the lack of information sharing about Metcalf among jail's security, medical and mental health staff, Dr. Ana Natasha Cervantes told the jury.

With the trial about to enter its fifth week, the plaintiff's attorneys have worked to pare the number of witnesses they plan to call.

To help accomplish that, attorneys have read or showed video of prior deposition testimony, instead of calling witnesses to the stand.

'Whatever it takes'

Deputy Robert States, who was working at the jail's intake performing new prisoner searches both days Metcalf was at the Holding Center, said he was one of the four Sheriff's Office personnel who performed the "cell extraction" on Metcalf.

States, in prior depositions, and other deputies have said they knew little about spit masks, as reported by The Buffalo News in September 2017.

States, whose prior testimony in the trial contradicted the version of events described to jurors by two emergency medical technicians, told the jury any force used by jail staff on Metcalf was necessary for his own safety and the safety of others.

Former medical examiner reveals what she knew, didn't know about Richard Metcalf Jr. Dr. Dianne R. Vertes, whose testimony lasted nearly 11 hours over four days, reached conclusions in 2013 that the state body that polices New York's jails later said it "unilaterally rejects."

States, one of the defendants and whose testimony at trial was delivered over parts of three days, said he was called on the night of Nov. 28, 2012, to be part of a "response team" at one of the jail's cell blocks.

When he got up to the "Echo Long" area on the jail's fifth floor, Metcalf was in his cell slamming his head against the bars, States said.

In addition to pulling himself forward into the bars, he was screaming, biting his arm, spitting and smearing blood on the cell walls, he said.

The purpose of the response team, which is not a specially trained unit, States said, was to go into the cell and secure Metcalf's arms so he could be removed and taken to the medical unit, States said.

None of the jail personnel who went into Metcalf's cell punched or kicked him, he said. Neither did they stand on him or stomp on him, States said.

"I would have reported something like that," he told the jury.

States, now a Buffalo police detective, said Metcalf continued to struggle as he was taken to a medical room one floor below. Metcalf continued to spit while in the elevator, where the deputies put him facing a corner of it.

Once they got Metcalf to the infirmary on the "Delta" floor at about 10:23 p.m., deputies sat him on the examination table, States said. States' testimony is the only testimony jurors have heard that describes Metcalf first being placed in a seated position on the table.

In none of States' reports or other statements does he assert Metcalf was sitting up on the table, he confirmed in his testimony.

Eventually, deputies placed Metcalf face down on the table. States said he stood next to the right side of Metcalf's waist, securing his arm and wrist while he was on the table until emergency medical technicians arrived.

Counselor who assessed Metcalf at Holding Center says she was missing information Rebecca McDaniel's assessment of Richard Metcalf Jr., which was not the court-ordered evaluation, appeared to be performed without relevant information jail staff and authorities already had about the inmate. That order said Metcalf had been demonstrating "very erratic behavior."

Jurors have been shown video multiple times from inside the jail of the deputies taking Metcalf from his cell to the infirmary.

When asked if it would be appropriate to tie a spit mask around someone's neck, States said it would be if the situation called for it and that was "the only thing you have to control the situation."

And a pillow case?

"That would be my same answer," States said.

States said he was never taught to use a pillow case and that he was aware of the Sheriff's Office policy that prohibits the use of hoods, bags or other devices that may interfere with normal breathing. That policy also describes the use of a spit mask only when an inmate is placed in what's called a "restraint chair."

'I love the boys in blue': Depew police officer describes arrest of Richard Metcalf Jr. In a matter of about three minutes, Depew Police Officer Rene Smith saw different sides of Richard Metcalf Jr. Inside a Depew banquet center at around 2:30 a.m. on Nov. 27, 2012, Metcalf charged at Smith with a large wrench in his right hand after Smith said he pursued him through the burglary scene and, with his gun drawn, ordered Metcalf to get on the ground.

When asked if he would use a hood on an inmate who wasn't in a restraint chair, he said he would if he had to.

"I would do whatever it takes to control a situation," he said.

'The best they could'

When Deputy Scott Emerling arrived outside the cell on Nov. 28, 2012, he saw Metcalf on the floor biting the top of his own foot and then spitting blood.

When a jail sergeant told Metcalf to stop, Metcalf stood up and started biting his forearm, Emerling testified.

At the time Metcalf came to the Holding Center, Emerling had been a certified trainer in defensive tactics  which covers appropriate restraint techniques for controlling prisoners  for about five years.

That training included the topic of positional asphyxia, which involves situations when a person's body position interferes with breathing.

He told the jury he remembered the spit mask being held to Metcalf's face, but didn't remember whether it had been tied. Plaintiff attorney Michael Scinta told Emerling that state police records indicate he told their investigator the mask had been tied once.

"I don't remember. It was over 11 years ago," Emerling said. "I can't remember every single thing."

Emerling, who wasn't part of the team that removed Metcalf from his cell, was one of about six deputies who held Metcalf on the medical room table. He said the deputies weren't "holding him down," but were keeping him on the table. Metcalf was still struggling, he said.

After Metcalf chewed through the spit mask, which he realized because he said he saw Metcalf again spitting blood, a pillow case was brought to the room.

Throughout the time Metcalf was face down on the table, no one in the room raised concern about the potential for positional asphyxia, Emerling said.

Part of the training material on positional asphyxia notes that a person with difficulty breathing may appear to be struggling. In a "oxygen-deprived" person, the struggling is "a natural reaction," according to the training material used to train new county jail deputies shown to jurors.

Emerling, who still works for the Sheriff's Office at the lockup at ECMC, said he didn't think of positional asphyxia while Metcalf was restrained in the medical room.

"I don't have a good answer for why I didn't think of it," he said.

Emerling said he understood that, according to Sheriff's Offfice's policy, the only appropriate use of a spit mask is when an inmate is in a restraint chair.

But what was happening was an emergency and the jail sergeants who were responsible for the response "did they best they could," Emerling said.

'I don't recall'

Jurors on Thursday watched several video clips of Deputy Chris Enser's deposition.

When Metcalf was in the infirmary, Sgt. Matthew Cross told Enser to retrieve a spit mask, Enser said in a May 19, 2016, deposition.

Enser, who is not a defendant in the case, got the mask and handed it to Cross, who was positioned in front of Metcalf.

He put the mask, also called a spit guard, "loosely" on Metcalf's head, Enser said.

Enser replied "I don't recall" to several questions, including whether he helped put on the mask or anything related to Metcalf in the infirmary.

Cross has yet to testify in the trial, scheduled to continue Monday. In a prior deposition, Cross testified he had never used a spit mask in any situation before, even in training.

Enser said he didn't know what the pillow case was for and he didn't ask Cross.

"He's my sergeant," Enser said. That means he does what he's told, he said.

Enser said he did not think to himself about why Cross might have wanted the pillow case.

What did Cross do with it after he took it from him?
Doris Ogala, a popular actress, claimed that Mr Ibu would not have died if his adopted daughter was still with him, as she accused others of merely wanting his money.

It should be noted that the veteran comic actor died in the hospital after allegedly having a heart attack.

Doris Ogala expressed her grief at Mr. Ibus passing on her Instagram page.

She asserted that rather than showing concern for him, many individuals were only interested in his money and were dragging it along.

READ MORE: Jasmine Okafor Allegedly Claims Late Mr Ibus TikTok Account, Deletes All Contents

She wrote:

HONESTLY IM BROKEN. .IF JASMINE WAS STILL THERE IBU WOULD NOT DIE.. I CAN TELL YOU THIS FOR FREE.

MY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE

THIS PEOPLE PLAYED WITH IBUs LIFE.

THEY WHERE AFTER MONEY AND DID NOT CARE FOR HIM.

YOU PEOPLE NEVER SHOWED HIM REAL LOVE.

MAD PEOPLE AROUND HIM.

THE ONLY PERSON THAT SHOWED MR IBU TRUE LOVE WAS JASMINE.

I DONT CARE WHAT ANYONE SAYS ABOUT HER..SAW THROUGH ALL OF THEM.

I WAS THERE..

Mad people.

SEE POST:
Jasmine Okafor, the adopted daughter of the late legendary actor Mr Ibu, has come under fire for allegedly altering the actors TikTok account with 1.1 million followers to her name.

It should be noted that the actors tragic death came as a shock some hours earlier, following rumours of suffering a heart attack due to high blood pressure since his surgery.

Controversial blogger Tosin Silverdam accused Jasmine of personalising the late actors TikTok account in a recent Instagram post.

Tosin questioned the actors adopted daughter about why the action was taken so quickly, believing her to be aware of Mr. Ibus passing prior to the incident.

He went on to draw comparisons between Jasmine Okafors personal Tiktok account, which has over a million followers, and her motives for taking down all of the actors videos and claiming his sole page.

Wait I am confused, did Jasmine know Mr Ibu wasnt going to survive, or something because I was on TikTok trying to search for Mr Ibus account and I couldnt find it, I searched and searched but could you believe that Jasmine changed Mr Ibus account to her own name, and I was wondering whats going she even deleted Mr Ibus videos on that TikTok account and I now search for Jasmines own, she has her own personal account, he said in part.

READ MORE: Why I Would Never In My Life Relocate From Benin  Isreal DMW

See some reactions,

Kambeaut.y opined: VDM I hope you can see ? You chose to support a stranger over his own wife . TikTok needs to take that account down.

PaulEno1 wrote: Shebi when the wife was complaining some people were saying Jasmine dey help Mr Ibu . Now see am.

Dorisogala noted: What is wrong with you.. haba allow this girl be.. in as much as I like your videos.. let her be..

SEE POST:
As price of commodities continue to rise beyond control, the Vice-President, Kashim Shettima has urged Nigerians to protest the current economic hardship in the country in what he described as responsible and mature manner.

Shettima made this known in Lagos state, on Saturday, during the 29th pre-Ramadan lecture organised by the University of Lagos Muslim Alumni with the theme, Economic Reforms for Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects for the Future.

Represented by his Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr. Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, the VP also noted that the forthcoming Ramadan would come with severe challenges for many Nigerians.

He said that the economic policies and choices adopted come with challenges and difficulties which would be more telling on the poor.

He added that the reforms might be challenging but the government has no intention to punish Nigerians.

He said: The leadership of President Tinubu recognizes that this Ramadan will come with severe challenges for most Nigerians.

READ MORE: Those Celebrating Nairas Fall On Twitter Are Clowns  Shettima

The road to where we are today was long and full of missed opportunities and tragic failures to build on our great potentials.

The consequences of our past are the stark realities we face today, such as rising cost of living and pessimism over our prospect to turn round our economy in the direction of growth and inclusive development.

Yet, my brothers and sisters, we do not have the choice of continuing in the direction that brought us where we are today.

We have to fix this country, and failure to do this is not an option. All the options we have are difficult and challenging, and they are, without a doubt, more telling on the poor. If there are easier and reliable alternatives to the policy choices we have adopted, we would have adopted them.

We expect that Nigerians should express their feelings over our circumstances in a responsible and mature manner.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reiterated that his administration will prioritise skills, technology, and vocational education to create more job opportunities in the country.

To achieve this, Tinubu said he is establishing 24 skills and innovation hubs in polytechnics as well as entrepreneurship centres in the universities as the first phase.

He stated this during the 38th convocation ceremony for over 11,000 graduands at Bayero University, in Kano State.

Represented by Tahir Mamman, the Minister of Education, Tinubu also hinted that the government is on the move to revive no fewer than 970 Tsangaya centres to integrate the learning and development of Almajiria in the country.

In his words, We strongly believe that our survival can always be assured by the qualities of human capital development, which is why we make education one of the top priorities of this administration.

While supporting all aspects of education, this administration will lay more emphasis on skills, technology, and vocational education as co-drivers of the educational system that prepares graduates for employment or better fulfilled as employers of labour.

For this purpose, in the first phase of the programme, the government is building 24 skill and vocational hubs in polytechnics as well as entrepreneurship centres in our universities. We are also reviving 970 Tsangaya centres for integrated learning and development of Almajiria in the country.

We are also building 91 vocational schools in secondary schools across the country to ensure that all levels of education enjoy the impact of our policy.

READ ALSO: K1 Cancels 67th Birthday Celebration Due To Hardship, Urges Fans To Help Needy

We are set to inaugurate Private Sector Innovation Enterprise Centre across the country to deliver on the skill acquisition program of the government.

Our universities are centres of learning and need to upscale and adjust to the modern world by repositioning themselves as citadels of education that will bring about development.

As a government, we are also determined in our effort to continue to support the upgrade of infrastructure, teaching materials, and research equipment in our universities, which the need assessment of Nigerias public universities is addressing. As part of the administrations commitment to ensuring the universities are strengthened and reinvigorated for the fulfilment of their mandate, hence the lifting of the tertiary institutions from the IPPS platform of research, the increase of allocation to the educational sector in our preparation for the year 2024, and the operationalization of the student loan scheme in the year 2024, among others.

The Federal Executive Council recently approved the guidelines for good governance and adherence to financial regulations, hence IPPS. Universities are strongly advised to heed those guidelines, as serious consequences will apply to any breach.

Universities are therefore expected to define their roles and carve out a niche for themselves by designing programmes that will assist the government in poverty reduction, creating employment opportunities, health promotion, the application of new technologies in the advancement of knowledge and prosperity, protecting the environment, promoting sustainable development, as well as sustaining democracy and good governance. Without missing out on the quest towards the attainment of global sustainable development goals.

The universities are strongly advised or encouraged to run industries to develop their research output into products for our community, he added.
A video, posted to social media on Saturday shows a Pennsylvania state trooper detaining the city's executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, Celena Morrison, and an individual (on the ground) whom Morrison refers to in the clip as her husband. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker called the clip "very concerning" in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Read more

Two prominent leaders in Philadelphias LGBTQ community  including the director of a city office  were detained by Pennsylvania State Police following a heated confrontation during a traffic stop.

Celena Morrison, the citys executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, and her husband, Darius McLean, were arrested Saturday morning, on I-76, after state police said a trooper attempted to pull over Morrison for multiple traffic violations. Things escalated after police said McLean became verbally combative toward the trooper, then resisted arrest. Morrison was arrested after police said she interfered in the troopers attempt to arrest McLean.

Questions arose, though, after video of the interaction posted online showed McLean and Morrison saying they did not know why they were being arrested, and pleading to the trooper to let them go. Later in the video, as Morrison is being detained, she can be heard saying, He just punched me.

Both were taken into custody and were released Saturday evening. At this time, they are not facing any charges. The trooper who made the arrest has been placed on restricted duty. Heres what we know about the interaction and people involved:

Who is Celena Morrison?

Morrison, 51, is the citys executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs. She was named to the role in 2020 by former Mayor Jim Kenney, becoming what officials at the time believed to be the first openly transgender person to lead any city office or department.

McLean, 35, is the chief operating officer of the Philadelphia-based William Way Community Center and director of the Arcila-Adams Trans Resource Center.

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Neither could be reached for comment Sunday.

Why was Morrison pulled over?

Lt. Adam Reed, a spokesperson for the state police, said the trooper initially pulled over Morrison, who was driving a gray Infiniti sedan, after observing multiple vehicle code violations. Reed said the cars registration was expired and suspended, and that its windows were illegally tinted, headlights were not illuminated in the rain, and Morrison was following too closely behind another driver.

What do police say happened next?

Shortly after the trooper pulled Morrison over on the shoulder of the highway, state police said, McLean pulled up behind the trooper in a green Dodge sedan. Police said that before making contact with Morrison, the trooper approached McLean, who became verbally combative toward the trooper.

Police said McLean then refused multiple lawful orders from the trooper. When the trooper attempted to arrest him, police said he resisted arrest.

Police said Morrison then attempted to interfere with the arrest of McLean, and was also arrested.

Both individuals were arrested for resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, and other related charges, state police said.

What does the video show?

Morrison took a video of a portion of the interaction that was posted on social media by her sister shortly after.

The video does not include footage of the troopers initial interaction with McLean. It begins with McLean lying on his side on the pavement, with the trooper attempting to handcuff him.

Do you want to get tased? Put your hands behind your back! the officer can be heard yelling.

OK! They are! McLean says.

That is my husband! Please! Morrison yells.

Its OK, baby, its OK ... I dont know why hes doing this, McLean says.

At one point, as Morrison steps closer, the officer begins yelling at her to get back.

I work for the mayor! I work for the mayor! Morrison shouts.

The officer shouts at her to get back.

Please just stop, McLean says. Its because Im Black.

Its not cause youre Black, the trooper said in response.

Yes it is! Morrison shouts from behind the camera.

The trooper, after handcuffing McLean, then can be seen walking toward Morrison, telling her to turn around. The camera pans and the phone appears to fall to the ground. In the background, Morrison and McLean can be heard screaming.

Give me your hand or youre getting tased! the trooper can be heard shouting.

I dont know why this is happening, Morrison said. We aint done nothing wrong.

Then, she said: He just punched me.

The video cuts off as McLean and Morrison speak to each other in distress, and the trooper appears to talk over police radio.

Will Morrison and McLean face any charges?

State police said they initially filed several misdemeanor and summary charges against Morrison and McLean, but the District Attorneys Office declined the charges.

Jane Roh, spokesperson for the DAs Office, said that no charging decisions have been made but that officials are investigating all aspects of the incident.

For now, the couple is not facing charges.

Will the trooper be investigated?

There is an ongoing internal investigation, state police said Monday, which will include interviewing witnesses. The trooper, whose name has not been publicly released, is on restricted duty until results amid the investigation, and wont be able on patrol until the process concludes.

Is there body-worn camera footage?

The trooper was not wearing a body-worn camera, as the program is not yet fully deployed across the state. He said the troopers vehicle was equipped with a mobile video recorder and microphone.

Troopers lack of body cameras has been a point of discussion in the past, particularly in the wake of the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Anthony Allegrini Jr., who was killed by a state trooper on I-95 last year. Pennsylvania State Police announced a pilot program to equip officers with the cameras last year in the wake of Allegrinis death, but not all have received them.

What has Mayor Parker said?

Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said in a statement posted to X on Saturday that the video shared online was very concerning.

She declined to speak further on the matter when approached by reporters on Sunday. Her spokesperson, Joe Grace, said only that the mayor deeply cares about all city employees, including Celena Morrison.
Francoise Pitoy, left, and John Enders were found shot and stabbed inside his Surf CIty home in 2021. Enders' daughter Sherry Lee Heffernan was convicted Friday for their murders. Read more

TOMS RIVER, N.J.  A Chester County woman faces a life term after being convicted of murder and weapons offenses last week in the shooting and stabbing deaths of her father and his longtime girlfriend 2 years ago in New Jersey.

The Asbury Park Press reported that 57-year-old Sherry Lee Heffernan of Landenberg showed no emotion when the jury foreperson in Ocean County, N.J., announced Friday that she had been found guilty of the murders of her father, John Enders, 87, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, Enders longtime live-in girlfriend. She faces life in prison when she is sentenced May 10.

 READ MORE: Who killed John Enders and his companion in Surf City? His daughter says it wasnt her. (from October 2021)

One of Pitoys daughters, Valerie Lewis Evans, put her head down and clasped her husbands hand, then turned and smiled at Enders grandson, Andrew Vero, the Asbury Park Press reported.

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The bodies of the victims were discovered in the fall of 2021 at his waterfront home in Surf City on Long Beach Island. Police said both had been shot in the jaw and stabbed dozens of times.

New Jersey authorities alleged that Heffernan was upset with her father because she had been cut out of his will, and she traveled to the home in her recreational vehicle on the night of Sept. 29, 2021. Prosecutors cited evidence tracking the vehicle and Heffernans cell phone along that route, as well as three footprints identified as hers on bloodstained areas of the homes kitchen floor.

Defense attorneys Steven Altman and Phil Nettl argued there was no evidence that Heffernan was in the vehicle and cited testimony taking issue with the idea that a person seen climbing over a fence at the home was her. Altman said defense attorneys believed they had raised enough issues to bar a guilty verdict, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Heffernan was arrested in October 2021 and has been held in Ocean County jail ever since. The Daily Local News reports that she was extradited from Pennsylvania after a brief appearance in Chester County Court during which she told a reporter she was not guilty and was being framed.

Evans said she was happy with the verdict, adding that prayers do work. Sandrine Lewis, Pitoys other daughter, said she felt justice had been done, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Its pure relief, and we can move on now, Vero said.
Camden schools Superintendent Katrina McCombs and others are given a tour of Eastside High School (formerly Woodrow Wilson High School). Read more

The number of schoolchildren experiencing homelessness in Camden  as well as nationwide  may be undercounted, according to a recent study.

As a result, many students may be missing out on additional support from school districts, the study concluded.

Out of about 7,500 total students in the Camden City School District in the 2018-19 school year, the number experiencing homelessness was thought to be roughly 338, or 4.5%, according to the study. But the real number was estimated to range from about 450 students to perhaps 1,500 more than that, calculations in the study show.

Appearing in the journal Educational Researcher last month, the study was a collaboration among the Camden City School District, the nonprofit Camden Coalition, and Nemours Childrens Health, a pediatric health system with home bases in Wilmington and Jacksonville, Fla.

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Researchers said homelessness occurs when a student lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.

This includes sharing the housing of other people due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason; living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations; living in emergency or transitional shelters; living in cars, parks, public spaces, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and living in abandoned buildings or substandard housing.

For the study, researchers analyzed existing Camden schools data, while consulting other databases maintained by the Camden Coalition, according to J.J. Cutuli, a senior research scientist at Nemours who was interviewed on Saturday from his home in Lower Merion. The coalition works to improve care for people with complex health and social needs.

To ascertain which students are homeless, Camden, like all school districts, sends forms home with kids that ask parents or guardians about their housing situation.

Also, teachers and staff will report to the district whenever they learn that one of their students is experiencing homelessness.

But these methods dont necessarily identify all students who are unhoused, researchers discovered.

Suggesting other ways to mine existing school data, the study shows, for example, that analyzing student addresses might reveal that a family is living at a motel, or a shelter. We would then talk to the families to learn their housing situation, Cutuli said. These conversations would yield more detailed information about homelessness, he added.

Researchers used the districts data in new ways, linking it across different social service programs, Cutuli said.

This wide range underscores the inherent difficulty of identifying and serving students experiencing homelessness, as well as the large scale of the problem.

Schools play a vital role supporting students and their families, said Ebony Maddox, homeless-education liaison for Camden City Schools. But many families do not know that supports are available and school staff often do not know when families are experiencing homelessness. We need more tools to help us reach students so that homelessness does not get in the way of education.

Cutuli said the Camden research shows homelessness patterns that probably exist elsewhere. There are an estimated 1.2 million school children experiencing homelessness nationwide.

While more research is necessary, he said, theres a good possibility that many other school districts have considerably under-identified the number of children who meet the federal definition of homelessness.

These findings hold the potential to reach hundreds more students experiencing homelessness in Camden alone and, if this research were applied more broadly, could find a large number of children are not receiving the support they need.
Pennsylvania State Police have charged a driver in highway shooting that caused a crash on I-476 on March 1, 2024. Read more

Pennsylvania State Police said they have charged a 62-year-old motorist with attempted homicide after he allegedly fired gunshots at another vehicle  in which an 8-year-old child was a passenger  on I-476 near the Villanova/St. Davids exit on Friday afternoon.

About 12:30 p.m., state police responded to a report of a shooting on the northbound side of the highway in Radnor Township, Delaware County.

Police said a man, identified by Fox29 as Christopher Foley, of Wayne, fired gunshots at another vehicle while on the northbound side of the highway. Foleys blue Honda Civic crashed into the other vehicle, driven by a 41-year-old man whose 8-year-old son was in the car.

Neither the father nor son was injured, state police said.

An ambulance transported Foley to Paoli Hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries.

Police charged Foley with two counts of attempted homicide and three counts of aggravated assault. During a preliminary arraignment, a judge set bail at $1 million, and Foley was being held at Delaware County Prison on Saturday, Fox29 reported.

The shooting and ensuing accident shut down the highway for several hours as police investigated.
TEL AVIV, Israel  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuked a top Cabinet minister arriving in Washington on Sunday for talks with U.S. officials, according to an Israeli official, signaling widening cracks within the countrys leadership nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahus wartime Cabinet following Hamas Oct. 7 attack, comes as friction between the U.S. and Netanyahu is rising over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and what the postwar plan for the enclave should look like.

An official from Netanyahus far-right Likud party said Gantzs trip was planned without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz and told him the country has just one prime minister.

Gantz is scheduled to meet on Monday with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on Tuesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to his National Unity Party. A second Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity said Gantzs visit is intended to strengthen ties with the U.S., bolster support for Israels war and push for the release of Israeli hostages.

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In Egypt, talks were underway to broker a cease-fire before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins next week.

Israel did not send a delegation because it is waiting for answers from Hamas on two questions, according to a third Israeli government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israeli media reported that the government is waiting to learn which hostages are alive and how many Palestinian prisoners Hamas seeks in exchange for each.

All three Israeli officials spoke anonymously because they werent authorized to discuss the disputes with the media.

The U.S. began airdrops of aid into Gaza on Saturday, after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from an Israel-organized convoy were killed last week. The airdrops circumvented an aid delivery system hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues and fighting in Gaza. Aid officials say airdrops are far less effective than deliveries by truck.

U.S. priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahus Cabinet, which is dominated by ultranationalists. Gantzs more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight.

Netanyahus popularity has dropped since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls. Many Israelis hold him responsible for failing to stop the Oct. 7 cross-border raid by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took roughly 250 people as hostages into Gaza, including women, children and older adults, according to Israeli authorities.

More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Around 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and U.N. agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Israelis critical of Netanyahu say his decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu wants Israel to maintain open-ended security control over Gaza, with Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The U.S. wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantzs party has questioned the handling of the war and the strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahus government, Israels most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews. Many of them are exempted from military service so they can pursue religious studies. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7, and the military is looking to fill its ranks.

Gantz has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood. Polls show he would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today.

A visit to the U.S., if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantzs support.

Israel and Hamas are negotiating over a possible new cease-fire and hostage release deal. Vice President Harris said on Sunday it is now up to Hamas to agree to it. Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table, Harris said.

Israelis, deeply traumatized by Hamas attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defense, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last years demonstrations against the governments judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

At least 12 people were killed, including five women and two children, in an Israeli strike on Sunday that hit a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to an Associated Press journalist at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. And two Israeli strikes southwest of Deir al-Balah killed at least five people and destroyed an aid truck, according to witnesses and staff at the hospital.

Amid concerns about the wider regional conflict, White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein was going to Lebanon on Monday to meet officials, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment. White House officials want Lebanese and Israeli officials to prevent tensions along their border from worsening.
A video, posted to social media on Saturday, shows a Pennsylvania State trooper detaining the city's executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs, Celena Morrison, and an individual (on the ground) whom Morrison refers to in the clip as her husband. Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker called the clip "very concerning" in a post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter. Read more

A Pennsylvania State Police trooper detained and arrested a top Philadelphia official and her husband on Saturday after a traffic stop on the Vine Street Expressway, state police said, in an incident captured on video and posted on social media.

Celena Morrison, the citys executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs  who videotaped a portion of the police encounter  can be heard saying, He just punched me, apparently referring to the trooper moments after he walked toward her.

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Thats my husband. Thats my husband, please, Morrison yells while filming the traffic stop. I work for the mayor! I work for the mayor! The trooper can be heard telling Morrison to shut the f up.

In the video, posted to Facebook Reels on Saturday afternoon, the person whom Morrison identifies as her husband is seen lying on the ground on the highways shoulder as the unidentified trooper grabs the husbands wrists and restrains them behind his back. At one point, Morrisons husband pleads and screams, Please! Somebody help.

LaTasha Morrison Sinclair, who identified herself as Morrisons sister, identified the husband as Darius McLean, who is chief operating officer at the Philadelphia-based William Way Community Center and director of the Arcila-Adams Trans Resource Center.

A spokesperson who answered the phone Saturday afternoon at the Philadelphia headquarters of the Pennsylvania State Police said the two were being held at the Police Detention Unit (PDU) in Center City. The Inquirer was unable to reach Morrison on Saturday.

 READ MORE: Morrison is believe to be the first open trans person to lead a city office

In a statement, released Saturday evening, the state police did not identify Morrison or her husband by name. The state police said two Philadelphia residents, ages 35 and 51, were arrested for resisting arrest, obstruction of justice, disorderly conduct, and related charges.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker confirmed in a post on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, that Morrison was involved in a traffic stop by a state trooper. Parker described the 90-second video clip as very concerning.

A video circulating on social media that depicts a portion of the incident is very concerning to me, and I will have no further comment until the investigation has been completed, Parker said.

According to a state police news release, a trooper stopped an individual driving a gray Infiniti sedan at about 9:10 a.m. on I-76 after the trooper observed multiple vehicle code violations. The trooper had yet to make contact with the driver when an other person drove up in a green Dodge sedan and parked behind the troopers patrol car, the release said.

The trooper approached the Dodge and the operator of the vehicle became verbally combative toward the trooper, state police said. The individual refused multiple lawful orders made by the trooper and the trooper subsequently attempted to place the individual under arrest. The individual resisted arrest on multiple occasions.

While attempting to arrest the driver of the Dodge, the driver of the Infiniti approached the trooper and interfered with the troopers attempt at making an arrest, state police said, adding that both were arrested and charged. It was unclear from the news release whether Morrison was driving the Infiniti that the trooper had initially pulled over.

In the video clip, the trooper yells at McLean, Put your hands behind your back. McLean, prone on the slick highway shoulder as cars drive by, replies, OK! They are!

Morrison, while taking the video, is heard telling the trooper that the person is her husband and that she works for the mayor.

Please just stop, McLean says to the trooper, adding: Its because Im Black.

Its not cause youre Black, the trooper shouts.

Yes it is! Morrison says.

I dont know why this is happening, Morrison adds. We aint done nothing wrong.

The trooper walks toward Morrison and shouts, Turn around! A slight scuffle can be heard and the rest of the clip captures only audio, with the gray sky as the background.

He just punched me, Morrison says. What is going on? Why are you so aggressive?

Morrison became executive director of the Office of LGBT Affairs in 2020. Before that, she served as a commissioner of the Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations. Morrison also served as the director of programs at the William Way LGBT Community Center and worked as a community engagement specialist at the Mazzoni Center, the citys largest LGBTQ health agency.

According to his LinkedIn page, McLean, who earned an undergraduate degree from Temple University and a masters from Saint Josephs University, has more than a decade of experience working with young people in the LGBTQ community.

His work consists of acting as a passionate advocate for increased access to culturally significant health care both locally and nationally, his LinkedIn page says.

At-large City Councilmember Rue Landau, the first openly LGBTQ member of City Council, called the video deeply disturbing in a social media post on Saturday.

The footage is alarming, Landau wrote. As we wait for more information about the incident, my office and I will continue to stay in touch with the Parker administration, the state and other city officials to ensure transparency and to investigate further.

Staff writer Anna Orso contributed to this article.
Two people were taken to Erie County Medical Center for treatment after a stabbing about 9:30 p.m. Friday in a house at Cleveland Avenue and 24th Street, a Niagara Falls city spokesman reported.

According to the report, officers gave first aid to a 37-year-old man until medics from the Niagara Falls Fire Department and AMR ambulance arrived. He was reported in stable condition.

Officers also found a 37-year-old woman there, who had been stabbed in the leg. She was released after treatment at ECMC.

An investigation is continuing. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Niagara Falls Police Department Criminal Investigation Division at 716-286-4553 or the departments general information number at 716-286-4711.
The lyrics to Kenny Rogers The Gambler are branded onto my brain. In the summer of 1979, I was a 20-year-old so eager to break into journalism that I took a job at a tiny paper in Peoria, Ill., and lived there with my grandparents. You know that ol Gambler? was probably the first thing my grandfather, A.B. Bunch, said to me in his hillbilly drawl when I walked off the plane. The 45 rpm single was maybe the first record hed bought in 20 years, and so he blared it from his large prehistoric stereo five or six times a day.

You gotta know when to hold em/ Know when to fold em/ Know when to walk away/ Know when to run.

You gotta hand it to Mitch McConnell, the GOPs 82-year-old Senate minority leader who arguably has done more to bend, staple, and mutilate America in the 21st century than anyone else. He did so with zero charm or charisma, in the slow, ageless, and ultimately inscrutable manner of the giant Galapagos turtle he so weirdly resembles.

But last Wednesday, the ancient gambler of the Senate looked carefully at his final hand. He knew when to run.

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In announcing that hell step down as the chambers Republican leader after Novembers presidential election, McConnell did his best impersonation of a statesman, proclaiming, One of lifes most underappreciated talents is to know when its time to move on to lifes next chapter. But the real McConnell burned through as he tried to have it every which way  seemingly attacking todays MAGA-mesmerized GOP without saying exactly what the problem is or using his power to do anything about it while pretending he had nothing to do with it.

Believe me, I know the politics within my party at this particular moment in time, McConnell said, in a seeming verbal subtweet of his fellow Republicans who are delighting Russian dictator Vladimir Putin with their failure to fund Ukraine aid. I have many faults. Misunderstanding politics is not one of them.

Heres what McConnell understood but wouldnt say out loud: Americas political arsonist, having managed in his record-setting 17-year run as Senate GOP leader to light multiple matches under all three branches of U.S. government, could see the wildfire he started finally lapping at the U.S. Capitol. This November, he will make us all truly believe that turtles can run.

The echoes from McConnells farewell had barely died in the Senate chamber when the U.S. Supreme Court the senator has shaped and molded like a lump of Kentucky clay did exactly what many of us feared and put its clumsy thumb of injustice firmly on the life-or-death scales of Novembers presidential election. The high courts handling of Donald Trumps ridiculous claims of presidential immunity from all crimes has been guided by three principles  delay, delay, and delay  that are pushing Trumps 2020 election interference trial past Election Day. Its a realpolitik move in the image of the courts creator, McConnell, but Mitch doesnt want to be around for the consequences.

This is my first column back after a two-week staycation, and I watched with alarm from my couch as the flames of the McConnell Fire jumped from place to place, fanned by the gale-force winds of autocracy and intolerance. In almost every soul-crushing story, I could practically smell the senators presence amid the rubble and ashes. Remember that MAGA stunt a couple of years ago when gas prices were so high and they put those stickers of a laughing President Joe Biden on the pumps, saying I did that!? When they sift through the smoldering ashes of the American Experiment in a couple of decades, the I did that! stickers on the burned-out stumps will instead picture McConnell.

Look at the news. Last weeks Supreme Court shocker was all but guaranteed the moment in 2016 when McConnell ended any debate over whether or not SCOTUS is a political animal  smashing through the guardrails of democracy to block even a hearing for the nominee of the first Black president to hold the seat open for a Trump-flavored conservative. The courts stall tactic around Trumps federal Jan. 6 trial is an echo of McConnells stall tactics that gave it its right-wing supermajority. Mitch did that!

It was also the McConnell court, of course, that by that one-vote margin he carved out finally overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022 and reversed nearly a half-century of womens reproductive rights in America. That Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization decision has sparked a red-state revival of the patriarchy that is making The Handmaids Tale seem like a documentary. That Alabama Supreme Courts God-citing decision blocking desperate would-be parents from in vitro fertilization (IVF)  so extreme it even had the states right-wing Republicans backpedaling? Mitch did that!

And dont forget that McConnells reshaping of the judiciary didnt begin and end with the Supreme Court. The GOP Senate leader slowed Barack Obamas nominees at the end of his presidency and then flipped the switch when Trump arrived in January 2017, ultimately pushing through 230 new federal judges, including one-third of the appellate seats. Some had minimal qualifications except for their ties to the right-wing Federalist Society. Exhibit A might be U.S. District Court Judge Aileen Cannon of Florida, whom Trump plucked from legal obscurity in 2020 and seems hell-bent on returning the favor by slow-walking the ex-presidents classified documents trial. Mitch did that!

 READ MORE: Mitch McConnell gets his own chapter in the story of America's dying democracy. And it's devastating | Will Bunch

Some Democrats seem willing to give McConnell a pass because they find themselves allies on the urgent issue of funding Ukraines war effort to block Putins aggression. But the reality is more complicated. It always is with Mitch. In 2016, McConnell could have worked to expose the Russian political interference that seems to have poisoned the brains of Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson. Instead, he refused that fall to sign a bipartisan statement that would have warned voters about Putins crusade. Stopping Russian meddling? Mitch didnt do that!

Of course, its fair to ask why Putins preferred candidate  the man who summoned a violent coup attempt on Capitol Hill on Jan. 6, 2021  is even allowed to run for another term. Once again, the cowardly machinations of McConnell played the decisive role. Weeks after the insurrection, Sen. Watch-What-I-Do-Not-What-I-Say issued a stinging verbal condemnation of Trumps actions, then voted to acquit his fellow Republican at his impeachment trial. Even worse, he didnt use his sizable clout as leader to convince his GOP colleagues to convict Trump, which would have barred him from running this year. Americas political arsonist seemed to really believe the blaze would burn out and die of its own accord. Instead, the wildfires are engulfing everything  including McConnells legacy.

Like everything with McConnell, its hard to say exactly why hes surrendering his leadership post now. His almost ghostly countenance last week clearly suggested his declining health was a factor. But he also must have taken a long look at the political cards he was holding. The Democrats could hold onto their narrow Senate majority in 2025, but I have to think McConnell realized the likelihood of returning as majority leader was even worse. A GOP leader under Trump 47 would have to actually enact the endgame for democracy that McConnell has teed up over the decades. Having to whip 51 votes for authoritarian Trumpists  just imagine Homeland Security Secretary Stephen Miller  or for mass detention camps along the border would expose McConnell as the firebug hes been all along.

Whyd he do it? Its not even clear McConnell knew what he was doing, on a lifelong political power trip that spiraled out of control. His epitaph was written by the friend who  as the New Yorkers Jane Mayer struggled to understand what made McConnell tick in writing a 2020 profile  told her: Give up. You can look and look for something more in him, but it isnt there. I wish I could tell you there is some secret thing he believes in, but he doesnt.

We are currently consumed, as we should be, with Trumps autocratic march on Washington. But it was McConnells rank amorality, in a wetland where everything and everybody  even justices of the Supreme Court  is up for sale, that caused the utter devastation that burned the pathway for a narcissistic dictator. When McConnell tells you that he doesnt misunderstand politics, he is telling you hes smart enough to know he doesnt want to be seen wandering lost among the smoldering wreckage he created. Somewhere in the darkness, this gambler did not break even. Its time to run.
U.S. Rep. Andy Kim (third from left) meets with delegates during the Burlington County Democratic Convention at the Rowan College in Mount Laurel on Feb. 24. Kim is on the quest for the New Jersey Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate to replace Bob Menendez. Read more

FLEMINGTON, N.J.  Andy Kim looked stunned. Tammy Murphy barely blinked.

It was the second county convention of the weekend, and Kim, a three-term Democratic congressman from Burlington County, was looking to go two for two against Murphy, New Jerseys first lady, in the bruising primary race for the U.S. Senate seat held by indicted Sen. Bob Menendez.

In New Jersey, each countys ballot is determined by these conventions  a grouping of all party-endorsed candidates known as the line  and can make or break a candidates chances in a primary election, this year on June 4. It seriously haunts their dreams and nightmares.

Now, in the heart of hippie horse farm country in central Jersey, Hunterdon County Democratic chair Arlene Quinones Perez tried a last-minute rule change in a move that would have helped Murphy. Chaos erupted.

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Insane, Kim told reporters after, still reeling.

Was this your basic weekend in Jersey politics, the states mind-blowing political aesthetic on full display? Or was change actually afoot?

This is what Ive been speaking out against, Kim said. Party elites just trying to make decisions here that can put a thumb on the scale of this election. Seeing it up close and personal, in real time, was something else, honestly.

Kim had routed Murphy on his home turf the day before by a vote of 245-21; Murphy had one foot out the door of the Rowan auditorium in Mount Laurel before the vote was even read. But Hunterdon had a twist up its sleeve.

But wait.

Do voters really care that Hunterdons Democratic leader, Quinonez Perez, tried to push through a last-minute switch that would have given any candidate with 30% of delegates votes a share of the line? Murphy would go on to receive 33% of the paper ballot vote, Kim 62%.

Or that Quinones Perez was part of a group of county chairs (joining North Jersey heavyweights from Hudson, Essex, Bergen ,and Somerset) invited to the Murphy home on Super Bowl Sunday (they eventually met that Monday)?

Kims supporters did. They shouted down her idea in a voice vote. Lets just say that voices carry in a converted pottery factory.

Murphy said she was as surprised as anyone by the Hunterdon drama, and has said shes just playing by the rules.

Allegations that Gov. Phil Murphy and the first lady are using their considerable power to line up endorsements in the counties, including the ones where the party bosses decide ballot position without a convention, have dominated the race.

As have questions about the merits of having the two top statewide elected positions in New Jersey belong to one household. Murphy said theres no problem with a possible concentration of power inside her household. Her spouse will be in Trenton, finishing up his second and final term as governor, if voter voters send her to Washington. (A new governor will take over in 2026.)

The Kim campaign has also taken off the gloves in reminding voters of Murphys record of donating to Republican candidates, most recently on Wednesday after she released her first TV ad criticizing the gun lobby.

Kim thinks voters need to pay attention to the whole ballot position thing (or at least be able to find him in ballot Siberia in the Murphy-friendly counties where no open conventions are held.)

Two others, Lawrence Hamm and activist Patricia Campos-Medina, are also running as Democrats. Menendez, indicted on charges of taking gold bars and other bribes, has not said whether he is seeking reelection.

A field of Republicans, including Cape May hotelier Curtis Bashaw and former television reporter Alex Zdan, will also compete for their partys nomination on June 4.

Kim said hes been shut out by the party power structure, from Essex to Hudson to Camden, and now aims to topple them altogether.

If the party leadership were talking to me, this would be a fundamentally different campaign to start with, Kim told reporters. I bet the first lady will probably gather a bunch of chairs at her house after this weekend to try to figure out what comes next for them.

By Monday, Kims camp had filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to declare the line unconstitutional and order a change in New Jerseys primary ballot design so that candidates are organized by office (office block) rather than as a block of county-endorsed candidates (the line), this year from president on down.

Murphy spokesperson Alex Altman called the lawsuit a sad hypocritical stunt.

The assigned judge, Zahid Quraishi, had signaled in another lawsuit that he was interested in the question.

Will it spell the end ... of the line?

Andy Kim has always worked outside the machine

On Sunday at a Flemington brewery, Kim told his 2018 candidate origin story. A national security official in the Obama administration, he recalled how he and former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski, also an Obama vet, decided to meet the moment following Donald Trumps election as president in 2016.

 READ MORE: Andy Kims 2018 campaign took off in the Mt. Laurel Wegmans.

And so Kim, 41, child of Korean immigrants, father of two, his wife a tax lawyer, his dad a PhD scientist, his mother a nurse, the extremely-proud product of the Cherry Hill public schools, took on and squeaked by Republican incumbent Rep. Tom MacArthur, the architect of the failed attempt to repeal Obamacare and a close ally of Trumps.

At once cerebral and impulsive, Kim was behind on election night, but boldly declared victory the next evening, when mail ballots pushed him ahead but before all the votes had been counted. It held. Similarly, when Menendez refused to resign, Kim quickly declared for the Senate seat, as a matter of conviction.

How is it that the greatest, most powerful nation in the world is being brought to its knees by such incompetence? Kim said. By people that you and I know should not be in Congress, should not be in the Senate.

Kim has been a grinder, holding 72 town hall meetings in South Jerseys 3rd Congressional District, which now covers Burlington County and parts of Mercer and Monmouth Counties. He gained recognition when the morning after the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection, he was photographed on his hands and knees cleaning up trash.

I believe the next four to five years of this country will shape the next four to five decades of this nation, he told supporters.

Ticked off first lady?

Is it good to be Murphy in this Senate race?

The initial consensus was yes.

And the powerful county chairs representing more than 50% of Democratic voters immediately announced their endorsement of the first lady.

Kim has won open conventions in Monmouth  Murphys home county  as well as Burlington and Hunterdon.

But half of the counties dont have conventions: Party leaders decide who gets the preferred ballot position, which studies have shown offer a substantial  often deciding  edge.

Polls have shown Kim with a double-digit lead over Murphy, and her initial jump into campaigning has played to mixed reviews. In Hunterdon, she asked for more time to better repeat her stock line: We need more ticked-off moms with Jersey grit to go to Washington, D.C.

Behind the scenes, party brokers have been lining up behind Murphy. Kim says its been hard to schedule events in some North Jersey counties.

A registered Republican until 2014, Murphy, 58, is now running in some cases to the left of Kim. Shes criticized him for what she said were Trump-aligned immigration votes; he said they were procedural votes. Shes for Medicare for All. Kim says that would be one option he would vote for, but hes open to other single-payer options.

Both were targeted by pro-Palestine protesters outside Rowans Burlington Campus during that convention.

Supporter and activist Anjali Mehrotra said Murphy has been a fighter for womens issues, including getting menstrual products in New Jersey schools. But some of Kims loyal supporters continue to be women who organized after Trumps election. The National Organization for Women gave him its endorsement.

Mehrotra said Murphy has been unfairly portrayed. From day one, there were people attacking her, she said. They talked about how she wouldnt be in this position if she didnt have the last name Murphy. You should understand that you have a qualified candidate.

Murphy said she has a clear vision for how shell succeed in D.C.

Ill be serially moving around every senators office, making sure I know their family structure, their priorities, their passions, their hopes while theyre in the Senate, making sure Im logging away in my head, OK, thats great, so I can go to that person if I need them to cosign or coauthor or they can help me, she explained.

She says her beliefs no longer align with the Republican Party. Recently, a photo surfaced of the Murphys with Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump in a restaurant in July. Asked whether they were personal friends of hers, the first lady rolled her eyes.

Meanwhile, in the Lone Eagle Brewery

Upstairs at the Lone Eagle Brewery in Flemington, former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski talked about his endorsement of Kim, which had been immediately attacked by Murphy (and likely frowned upon in high places).

What people didnt know, because they dont really know New Jersey that well, is that it is against the law to endorse Andy Kim in the state of New Jersey, he dead-panned.

It is hard to explain to people outside of New Jersey how people can be ahead 20 points in the polls and still be the underdog.

Its hard to explain that to people inside New Jersey. Still, Kim is betting his chances on people rebelling against the way things have always been done. Or a federal judge doing it for them.

Rank-and-file Democrats, they dont go along with it, Kim said. They want to make sure we have an actual democracy.

 READ MORE: Andy Kim files suit challenging the line in N.J. Senate race against Tammy Murphy

Terry Callahan, 65, of Somerset County, said the fairness issue is resonating.

They thought it was going to be a slam dunk for Tammy, said Callahan. This is why people are so fired up about Andy Kim and the whole race. They keep trying to put the finger on the scale.
WASHINGTON  A Supreme Court decision could come as soon as Monday in the case about whether former President Donald Trump can be kicked off the ballot over his efforts to undo his defeat in the 2020 election.

Trump is challenging a groundbreaking decision by the Colorado Supreme Court that said he is disqualified from being president again and ineligible for the states primary, which is Tuesday.

The resolution of the case on Monday, a day before Super Tuesday contests in 16 states, would remove uncertainty about whether votes for Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, will ultimately count. Both sides had requested fast work by the court, which heard arguments less than a month ago, on Feb. 8,

The Colorado court was the first to invoke a post-Civil War constitutional provision aimed at preventing those who engaged in insurrection from holding office. Trump also has since been barred from primary ballot in Illinois and Maine, though both decisions, along with Colorados, are on hold pending the outcome of the Supreme Court case.

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The Supreme Court has until now never ruled on the provision, Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.

The court indicated Sunday there will be at least one case decided Monday, adhering to its custom of not saying which one. But it also departed from its usual practice in some respects, heightening the expectation that its the Trump ballot case that will be handed down.

Except for when the end of the term nears in late June, the court almost always issues decisions on days when the justices are scheduled to take the bench. But the next scheduled court day isnt until March 15. And apart from during the coronavirus pandemic when the court was closed, the justices almost always read summaries of their opinions in the courtroom. They wont be there Monday.

Any opinions will post on the courts website beginning just after 10 a.m. Monday.

Separately, the justices last week agreed to hear arguments in late April over whether Trump can be criminally prosecuted on election interference charges, including his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The courts decision to step into the politically charged case, also with little in the way of precedent to guide it, calls into question whether Trump will stand trial before the November election.

The former president faces 91 criminal charges in four prosecutions. Of those, the only one with a trial date that seems poised to hold is his state case in New York, where hes charged with falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments to a porn actor. That case is set for trial on March 25, and the judge has signaled his determination to press ahead.
Exporters of computer software, business consultancy, aircraft leasing and other services were all given a boost last week with the entry into force of new World Trade Organization (WTO) rules facilitating and simplifying trade in services.

As a big services exporter, the new rules should translate into concrete benefits for Irish businesses.

Small businesses will particularly welcome it as they are set to benefit from the removal of some of the most burdensome administrative processes in trading with overseas markets.

According to the WTO, the agreement will help reduce the costs of global services trade by more than 110bn every year, by ensuring transparency, efficiency, and predictability of authorisation and qualification requirements.

Despite the onerous trade barriers, Irish exporters have been ramping up services exports over the past decade.

Services trade represents the largest and fastest growing sector of today's economy in Ireland, underscored by the Central Statistics Office release at the beginning of the month showing services exports increasing by 28bn to 367bn in 2023 and in the process exceeding the long-term dominance of goods exporters.

Surveys of Irish exporters consistently highlight the lack of accessible information regarding the license application processes and high authorization fees, as the most significant cost factors in their ongoing efforts to access international markets.

Hence, many will welcome an early introduction of the new WTO regulations.

However, whereas the new set of rules were agreed at WTO's 13th Ministerial in Abu Dhabi by ministers from across the world including the US, the implementation of the new initiative may be halted if former US president and 2024 presidential candidate Donald Trump is elected later this year.

During his prior tenure in the White House, Trump arbitrarily imposed tariffs on all of the United States major trading partners, launched a trade war with China, and blatantly violated the rules of the WTO  even repeatedly threatening to withdraw from the institution.

Trump's utterances on the campaign trail, of his intention of applying 10% tariffs on all imports into the US, as well as doubling down on China import tariffs, would suggest he may go even further in attacking the WTO and creating further global trade tensions next time around if elected.

Whereas tariffs on goods imports have been easy pickings for the prior Trump administration, applying tariffs on services imports have eluded all previous attempts.

Currently import sales of services from the likes of Meta, Google, TikTok, and Twitter  before Musk bought it  are not restricted by tariff barriers or border checks.

Instead, national regulations, or in Irelands case EU regulations  on data protection, licensing, quotas, professional qualifications and immigration  decide when and how foreign providers are allowed to enter a market.

To date, the EU has tackled breaches of regulations in services trading by imposing hefty fines on the corporations concerned.

The hardest hit have been US social media companies exporting into Europe and are likely to be hit again by the latest Digital Services Act (DSA) which entered into force in February 2024.

The DSA rules apply to all platforms in EU member states and besides EU financial penalties of up to 6% of global sales, also can trigger private claims for compensation for damages or losses suffered.

To date, the US has not responded with any countermeasures.

Republicans believe Meta, Google and Twitter now X, are guilty of methodically censoring right-wing voices that have a right to be heard.

Democrats, on the other hand, have been calling for blocking content promoting hate, racism, misinformation, violence, and more.

Conflicting views on what comprises such content drive the debate and will ultimately determine the future of US-EU relationships in services trade.

However, on balance, the Republican stance is closest to the EU, with many concerns that a Trump-led administration is likely to create high risks for the continuity of good relationships with the EU.

Irelands exposure to services trade means that any major change in the terms of cross-border trade will affect businesses in many sectors across the economy.

While services imports are very significant both for Irish consumers, think of WhatsApp and for businesses for promotional marketing  think of Instagram and Facebook, the substantial role of services exports in the Irish economy tells us that access conditions to foreign markets will be crucial.
The Irish economy has so far avoided the so-called 'Dutch Disease', where a focus on certain booming sectors like oil and gas can lead to a decline in other sectors, despite the dominant role played by multinationals, research from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has found.

However, the IMF analysis found that multinationals have had limited linkages with domestic firms and the indigenous economy may be missing out on an important growth engine.

In a document titled 'Boom Without Disease?', the IMF said Irelands foreign direct investment (FDI) driven model has created a two-tiered economy, exposing the country to potential risks associated with the 'Dutch disease', referring to the decline in the Dutch manufacturing sector in the 1970s following the discovery of valuable gas fields in the North Sea.

The phrase is used for other economies that benefit initially from a resource boom which in Ireland's case is the high levels of FDI.

"Multinational enterprises (MNEs) have played a dominant role in creating high-paying jobs and boosting corporate income tax revenues in Ireland," the analysis states.

"However, analogous to discoveries of natural resources, a sudden FDI boom, if not prudently managed, could give rise to adverse effects associated with the so-called 'Dutch disease'.

"In 2022, the stock of FDI totaled more than 300% of GDP, well above the euro areas (EA) median of about 60%. This positions Ireland ahead of most of its EA peers," the IMF said.

Studies suggested over one-third of employee compensations and more than 80% of corporate income taxes in Ireland are generated in the multinational sector.

The analysis found that many countries had positive spillover effects from a booming natural resource including Norway, Australia, and the US while there were negative impacts for countries like Angola and Venezuela.

The IMF said many aspects of the Irish economy bore symptoms of the 'Dutch Disease' including the rapid growth of the services sector and the growth in weekly wages.

However, they said Ireland has exercised fiscal prudence since the financial crisis, which might have prevented excessive wage pressures in the public sector and more broadly domestic demand pressures.

They also said Irelands flexible and inclusive labour market might have absorbed some wage and price pressures and said in conclusion that Ireland has not shown clear symptoms of the 'Dutch disease' in its post-crisis period.

Missing out on potential growth opportunities

However, in the same analysis, the IMF said multinationals based in Ireland have had limited links with indigenous firms and that the country is missing out on the 'Norwegian blessing' effect of potential growth opportunities.

The IMF noted the close connections with smaller domestic firms that large corporations often make in other countries referencing the the automobile industries in Germany and Japan where deep supply-chain linkages were made and sustained between big automakers and small local suppliers.

"While not a conventional symptom of the 'Dutch disease', a simultaneous absence of large domestic firms and spillovers from large MNEs could potentially hinder the growth of Irelands indigenous economy."

"Facilitating links between MNEs and domestic firms via supply-chain linkages, labor mobility, and innovation cooperation could help raise productivity of domestic firms and the overall resilience of the economy."
Recently rummaging around in his treasure chest, Captain Seadog happened across an old strip of pictures taken in Corks Kent Stations photobooth back when the dawn of time was still just a script awaiting the green light for project approval.

The pair of us, mugging gamely for the camera with all the blithe bravado unique to teenagers barely turned 15, are heading off to Dublin for a few days on a grand adventure, the finer details of which would put the heart across me were I to even imagine a fraction of same now happening to my current brace of teenage progeny.

But those are tales for another day and decades later the pair of us are back in Kent Station together for the first time since that teenage photoshoot, but now waiting to take the train to Cobh. To spend the evening dining in a wine bar.

Im very partial to the train and the journey to Cobh has always been a particular pleasure, one I have made frequently over the years, but this is the first such journey in pursuit of food for Cobh has never really had much of a reputation for putting on the nosebag nor ever exhibited any excessive apparent interest in developing one.

A sharing board of mixed cheeses and cured jamon and salami

The town itself presents as one of Irelands most becoming seaside locations, gorgeous, refined architecture, serried rows of Victorian houses, stacked all the way up the vertiginous hill on which it is built, affording a splendid view over that stretch of water where the mouth of Cork harbour meets the open sea.

Formerly Queenstown from whence so many sailed to America and the last docking point of the Titanic, it has utterly compelling history stashed away in every corner and in recent times has become a very popular stop for the cruise ships, adding further to its touristic allure, yet the town appears immune to expanding its night time hospitality offering into anything featuring genuine culinary creativity.

Which is why the opening of a wine bar in the heart of the towns waterfront, is a rather ballsy move  put it this way, when Captain SeaDog and I walk in for our Saturday night booking, our server presumes, as emerges later, that we are a gay couple, purely on the basis that straight Irish men in Cobh dont go into wine bars unless dragged in by the women in their lives.

While natural wine bars with some highly creative small plate menus are springing up all over the country, The Arch is of the old school; in other words, there is zero kitchen to speak save a small sandwich oven behind the counter to heat up toasties and bought-in sausage or mushroom rolls.

There is a lovely courtyard to the rear of the restaurant

It is only 7.30pm yet all such hot food options are no longer available. There are some sandwiches but we havent just travelled on Corks own Orient Express to wind up eating sandwiches and the remainder of the menu is a selection of the usual suspects, bought-in and ready to serve delicatessen delicacies.

Food is there to serve a secondary and supporting role to the wine, the real star of the show  putting further pressure on the wine list to deliver.

It is an interesting list without being wildly avant garde but such a move would constitute commercial suicide in an extremely conservative dining town.

There are some left-field conventional choices, along with a whole lot of organic and biodynamic options and while it pleases me to see a couple of full-blown natural wines, none set the heart to racing with wild abandon.

Commendably, many of the wines are available by the glass, allowing decent bandwidth for roaming across the list.

'La Cabane, Domaine Leon Boesch is full bodied, with zippy grapefruit citrus and a pleasing finish'

We begin with Mas Coutelou Vin des Amis, a rustic and vibrant blend of cinsault, syrah, and grenache, bursting with spicy black fruit which we drink with creamy, verdant nocellara olives and decent smoked almonds, solid companions for a most drinkable bottle.

Of the three main course sharing plate options, burrata is one, served on a bed of olive tapenade with basil pesto, but the burrata too is unavailable, a rather dispiriting pattern beginning to emerge with three of the more substantial items unavailable before the biggest night of a restaurants week has even got its second wind.

Instead we have the olive tapenade on its own and very decent it is too, olives brininess leavened with rich peppery oil, better again with very good sourdough bought in from The Grumpy Bakers, in Midleton.

'We ordered an excellent house olive oil, salt and good balsamic vinegar'

We also order an excellent house olive oil, salt and good balsamic vinegar for further dipping to aid our sipping.

Next to our glass is a French pinot blanc (La Cabane, Domaine Leon Boesch), full bodied, with zippy grapefruit citrus and a pleasing finish which works very well with the meats on our final food order of the evening, a sharing board of mixed cheeses and cured jamon and salami.

Then two more glasses, Extra Ball, a light and juicy French cabernet franc, and Italian Mora & Memo, Cannonau, more full-bodied, with a lingering spicy finish, both finding their own accommodation with three very good cheeses, including a real favourite of the last few years, Triple Rose, Ballylisk.

A special shout out to our server, Jasper, who, though flying solo for most of the evening, handles a room that clips along at a tidy pace, though it is never more than half full.

'We have the olive tapenade on its own and very decent it is too'

Also to be noted is the wonderful transformation of the space itself, from original dereliction to a genuinely delightful and bright room and with a lovely courtyard to the rear.

I would sincerely hope this is the beginning of a proper expansion of Cobhs dining options but that will only happen with a more full-blooded commitment on the part of The Arch itself, beginning with a pretty straightforward yet quite crucial element, ensuring it is able to offer in full what is a rather reduced and unchallenging menu to begin with, especially early in the evening in a half full restaurant on the busiest night of the week.

The Verdict
The tech hub bid submitted by Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse plans to use about $54 million in federal funds to bolster the semiconductor industry in upstate New York.

Now, the three-region team will wait to find out if its entry is deemed worthy of funding, in a competition overseen by a federal agency.

If the money comes through, New York State has committed an additional $10 million to support the plans to bring the total value to about $64 million.

The joint bid, created under the NY SMART I-Corridor banner, would create a semiconductor corridor from Buffalo to Syracuse.

It is an industry in the spotlight, with Micron Technology announcing a chip fabrication plant near Syracuse worth up to $100 billion, and Edwards Vacuum planning a $319 million facility in Genesee County to support chip plants.

WNY, upstate tech hub partners focus on funding pitch It is crunch time for the "tech hub" bid consisting of Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse. The three-region team has about a month and a half left to develop and submit proposals that could be awarded up to $75 million in federal funding.

On top of those projects, theres a clamor to increase domestic manufacturing of semiconductors, with the overwhelming majority of chips currently made overseas.

The NY SMART tech hub bid would seize that opportunity, with plans to train workers, build up a network of suppliers, promote innovation and attract capital. Notably, the plans rely heavily on collaboration between Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, rather than competition among those regions.

The vision is to not only attract new employers, but to create growth opportunities for existing companies, and to prepare area residents for high-paying jobs in the sector.

If the $54 million is awarded, the impact on upstate would be transformational, said Joseph Stefko, president and CEO of ROC2025, an alliance of economic development groups in Rochester.

This gives us an opportunity to make some strategic and targeted investments to position us to lead the way and ensure that future innovation goes through our region, Stefko said.

Tech hub partners in Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse team up for $75M funding push Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse realized their best shot at getting designated as a federal tech hub was by working together. When it comes to chasing economic development, it's a different tack for them.

The Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse bid cleared a big hurdle last year, when it was designated one of 31 tech hubs out of about 400 entries in a competition overseen by an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department. The 31 tech hubs are eligible for tens of millions of dollars in federal funding, but only five to 10 of those applicants are expected to be awarded money.

In this latest round, the tech hubs had to explain how they would use the federal funds to foster high-tech development. The application deadline was Thursday. The U.S. Economic Development Administration is expected to announce funding decisions this summer.

Dottie Gallagher, president and the CEO of the Buffalo Niagara Partnership, said she sees funding from the program as akin to seed capital, supplemented with other sources of funding to fully achieve the plans. But the $54 million  along with the pledged $10 million from the state would activate the plans.

The tech hub program was created as part of federal legislation championed by Sen. Chuck E. Schumer, D-N.Y. The Senate majority leader has been a vocal advocate for the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse bid.

Now that NY SMART has submitted its proposals, Schumer said he will go all out to ensure the entry wins funding.

Schumer listed what he called the Buffalo-Rochester-Syracuse bids great selling points for succeeding: its workforce, abundant water, cheap power, research institutions and the Senate majority leader on its side.

Each of the three regions would lead one of the initiatives in the tech hubs plans. But the three regions would also play roles in the initiatives they do not lead, Gallagher said.

Its not, What are you getting? What am I getting? she said. Its like, What is the challenge? Who is best to lead this part of the solution? 

The Partnership, ROC2025 and CenterState CEO in Syracuse spearheaded the development of the tech hub proposals. More than 100 partners contributed to the effort, including universities, labor, government, businesses and nonprofits.

Here are the five proposals, with the projected budget and lead organization for each:

STEP UPSemiconductor Talent and Employer Partnership, about $17.5 million, led by Monroe Community College in Rochester. Its focus is workforce training and increasing access to semiconductor job opportunities for people historically excluded from tech and manufacturing job opportunities.

The STEP UP initiative would focus on closing that skills gap and preparing more workers and connecting with more historically underrepresented communities to fill that talent gap, Stefko said.

STEP UP would serve as a unified front door for employers to find talent to fill semiconductor jobs, he said.

This initiative would leverage the $200 million proposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul to promote workforce development in the corridor, Stefko said.

C3Commercialization and Collaboration Center, $15 million, led by Syracuse University. C3 would focus on commercializing new semiconductor technologies.

C3 would help businesses of all sizes gain access to upstate New Yorks research and development facilities, said Benjamin Sio, senior vice president of strategy, policy and planning for CenterState CEO. Many of these facilities already have some level of connection to the semiconductor industry.

C3 would subsidize access to facilities for prototyping for small and minority-owned businesses. It would also host semiconductor innovation conferences and fund semiconductor-related research, internships and co-ops.

SCALESemiconductor Advancement, Leadership and Entrepreneurship initiative, $15 million, led by Empire State Developments Division of Science, Technology and Innovation. This would provide seed funding to semiconductor firms in the three-region territory, and hands-on support for entrepreneurs.

SCANSupply Chain Activation Network, $8 million, led by the University at Buffalo. SCAN would build up the supply chain network for the semiconductor industry, through both existing and new companies.

Its not just about attracting new suppliers into the region, Gallagher said. Its really about helping local manufacturers who are close or adjacent to the supply chain for semiconductors to actually adjust their businesses and invest in that.

The idea is to support existing companies that have stuck it out in New York State through difficult economic circumstances over the years, said Robert Simpson, president of CenterState CEO.

Making investments and helping those companies access the markets created by the semiconductor opportunity is actually one of the things we all feel like is really important, to pay their loyalty forward, Simpson said.

Innovation office$6 million. This initiative, led by Stefko, would involve partners from all three regions, continuing the theme of collaboration. The office would provide governance for the plans, track equity goals and identify whether any changes need to be made along the way.

Schumer championed the legislation that led to the creation of the tech hub program and has called for ramping up domestic semiconductor manufacturing.

This is going to be a huge shot in the arm for the Western New York economy, Schumer said.

Schumer said he has repeatedly made his case to Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo.

I must have spoken to her 30 times on this issue, as recently as Tuesday night, he said, adding that he is very optimistic that the bid will receive funding.

Four other tech hubs in the competition also based their bids on semiconductors. Schumer said upstate New York has already demonstrated its ability to attract semiconductor manufacturing and related development, which he believes strengthens its chances.

We have shown we are a good place to locate, even before this (tech hub) designation and before these dollars, he said.

Its been my dream to sort of turn the economy of Western New York and upstate New York around, Schumer said. Weve had some successes already, but this is going to really hit a home run for us.
In the late 19th century, the first Irish woman to ride a bicycle took turns around the garden at the rear of a rather grand house up the road from where I live. Or so she claimed. Kate Meyrick, the Irish nightclub owner who later gave 1920s London its roar, spent her early years in the evocatively named Fairyland, on York Road in Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.

Every time I pass the house, now St Helens, I think of her; a self-described tomboy who went on to own and run some of the most famous nightclubs of the Jazz Age in London. She opened one in Paris too and, a detail that impresses me, she was one of the first to introduce a glass dancefloor; coloured pulsating lights underfoot made it look as if you were dancing on waves of light.

No wonder they flocked to her clubs. The most famous of them all, the 43 Club in Soho, opened its doors at 11pm when all other drinking establishments were closing. Celebrities, peers, princes, millionaires, gangsters, even the Black and Tans and IRA members came, though Kate wisely kept the latter two groups apart.

There were nights when the 43 might have been mistaken for an overflow meeting from the House of Lords, with princes, dukes, earls, and countesses all moving in a light-hearted maze beneath the gay streamers and balloons, she wrote in her explosive memoir Secrets of the 43 Club.

Controversial figure

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She was constantly criticised by the press and she drew the ire of British Home Secretary William Joynson-Hicks who, at the time, was on a moral crusade against nightclubs. There were several raids and, at one point, Kate Meyrick was implicated in the biggest police bribery scandal of the 1920s.

Kate Meyrick, seated in centre, at a welcome back party given at the Silver Slipper Club, London, to mark her release from prison.

She was convicted of licensing law breaches and jailed five times in Holloway prison, but she continued on nonetheless.

So how did this well-to-do girl born into an upper-middle class family in Dublin end up becoming the infamous Queen of the Nightclubs in 1920s London?

Kate was born on August 7, 1875 to Sarah and John Nason. He was a promising doctor but died when she was an infant. Her mother died when Kate was just seven and the young girl and her sister moved to Fairyland to be cared for by their grandmother and two grandaunts. There, she spent a thoroughly wayward childhood, as she put it herself.

I climbed trees and tried to climb the walls. Hands dirtied and frocks in tatters, I was in perpetual disgrace, she wrote later.

She did, however, get a very good education. She was taught by governesses at home and later spent two years at Alexandra College in Dublin, from 1891 to 1893, a progressive institution that encouraged women to go on to third-level education.

For a time, Kate toyed with the idea of studying to be a doctor but instead opted to [plunge] into a round of gaieties that were readily on offer in Dublin of the 1890s.

The height of her ambition was to dance or go about with an officer of Her Majestys army. The man mattered nothing; the swagger and the gossip were the things, she wrote.

She did eventually put a man ahead of the swagger and married Ferdinand Meyrick, a doctor, in 1899. They moved to England where the couple had eight children.

She helped out in her husbands medical clinics and found she had a particular gift for helping people suffering from shellshock, so common after the First World War. She even enrolled in a course in hypnotherapy to help them.

Then, she blew every stereotype of the early 20th century to pieces. She separated from her husband  she once referred to his cruelty  to become a single mother of eight who supported herself and her children by going into the nightclub business for the first time at the age of 43.

So why isnt she better known here? That, hopefully, is about to change as a documentary on her life airs on RTEs Lyric FM tomorrow.

This is the first time a full-length documentary has been made about Kate Meyrick, in spite of the fact that she made hundreds of newspaper headlines, was involved in the biggest police bribery scandal of the 1920s, hosted royalty, famous musicians and the aristocracy of Europe, documentary-maker Zoe Comyns says.

She has drawn on Kates own words (wonderful, mischievous, bold ones contained in the pages of her memoir), court files, newspapers, home secretary files, police surveillance documents, divorce papers, and stacks of police reports to bring this extraordinary woman back to life.

What struck me about her was that she was an Irish woman who was involved in one of the most glamorous times: Jazz-era London, surrounded by people from all walks of life  aristocracy, businesspeople, and criminals all wanting to have fun.

She straddled celebrity culture, crime, glamour and she mixed with all types of people. She was a canny businesswoman, independent, tenacious, a much-loved mother and in spite of serving five terms in prison, she was spirited to the end, Zoe says.

Brushes with the law

Kate Meyrick was so famous/infamous that the archives are full of her encounters with the law, but what singles her out is that she also left behind her own insights into the glittering nightclub scene, unsavoury underbelly and all.

She wrote of cocaine overdoses, drug-pedalling, suicide, heartbreak, gangsters, and, on one occasion, trying to calm a Royal Flying Corps officer, Ronald True, who had sustained head injuries in World War l.

He was in the club one night in March 1922 when Kate saw him attack a man who had bumped against him by accident. When she went to separate them, she said she saw madness burn in his eyes.

She grabbed him by the coat lapels and a battle of wits ensued. She later described how she used her hypnotic skill to calm him down. He snapped out of it and seemed to be unaware of his behaviour. The strain of the effort was so intense that Kate collapsed afterward.

The following night Ronald True murdered a woman called Gertrude Yates also known as Olive Young. He was later acquitted, setting a precedent for the use of insanity as a defence in murder trials.

Its one of many incidents in the life of a woman who rightly deserves her title, Queen of the Nightclubs.

But was she also the first Irish woman to ride a bicycle? Perhaps not. The mathematician and philosopher Dr Sophie Bryant, born down the road from her in Sandymount 25 years before, was said to be the first woman to own a bicycle.

Kate Meyrick, then, was probably just an early adopter, but one who squeezed every last drop out of life before she died, aged 57, in 1933.

When asked in her fifties what the future held, she said: It may hold disappointment, perhaps, but one thing I know it never, never can take away from me and that thing is the love of life, real life, brilliant and pulsating.

Queen of Nightclubs airs tomorrow at 6pm on the Lyric Feature on RTE Lyric FM.
Peter Fitzpatrick was with the programme. Like many of his colleagues, he was angry and perplexed.

Like some of them, his questions had neither rhyme nor reason, but so what? The main thing was that he appeared angry and perplexed on behalf of all the folks at home who were looking in on the latest farrago.

Fitzpatrick, an Independent TD for Co Louth, was asking questions at the Oireachtas media committees meeting with Media Minister Catherine Martin last Tuesday. The main topic was the ministers comments about her relationship with the chair of the RTE board Siun Ni Raghallaigh on RTE television 10 days ago.

Hours later, the chair of the board resigned. Everybody on the committee wanted a piece of the action. They all proclaimed themselves sick of the story at this stage, but not sick enough that they didnt want to wring from it a few more soundbites.

Fitzpatricks contribution was among the least coherent in the three-hour-plus meeting, but he did inadvertently stumble on something worthy of further consideration. He asked Martin how much the now-former chair of RTE was paid. Thirty-one thousand came the answer.

It was a part-time job, Fitzpatrick said, astounded. A big job in RTE, a part-time job ... a part-time worker is your first port of call.

The more he reflected on the chair being a part-time position, the more perplexed he grew.

Theres something seriously wrong that the number-one person in RTE is part-time and being paid, I wont say peanuts, being paid 31,000, theres something wrong here. Welcome, deputy, to the world of state boards. There is a perception that state boards are stuffed with party hacks.

Certainly, there are instances where party hacks or donors whisper a sweet word in a ministers ear and find themselves plonked onto a board. But these are in the minority. For the most part, state board appointees come through a process that is largely untainted. Some among them might feel that membership of a board will in some small way further their career. Others are approached not on the basis of bestowing a favour, but because they have expertise that could be useful to the state.

There are also those who apply to serve on the basis that they have been successful in their careers and would like, in this small way, to give something back. The idea that any but the most desperate are doing it for the money, the peanuts as Peter Fitzpatrick would have it, is for the birds.

Is it worth it?

The question now arises though, why would anyone bother?

Siun Ni Raghallaigh has a long track record in business and media. Those who have worked with her speak of her in the highest terms. She is in her 60s and has a typical profile of somebody who wanted to perform a public service for peanuts, to donate her expertise and business acumen. And where is she now?

Siun Ni Raghallaigh resigned as chair of the RTE board last week after the media minister expressed no confidence in her.

A few weeks ago, her name barely registered with the public. Now, everybody knows her, is aware that issues had arisen with Catherine Martin, that she was, as referenced repeatedly at Tuesdays committee meeting, thrown under a bus.

It would be reasonable to assume she might attract second glances when in public over the last week or so, or even more attention. For some who operate in the public realm that is an occupational hazard. A chair or former chair of a state board would not expect such unwanted publicity and it can be, at the very least, discommoding.

Arguably, she was thrown under the bus. The RTE story has eaten up a huge amount of political and media miles. It is, within that closed loop, a hot topic. And these days, a hot topic is one which often demands a head.

Was Ni Raghallaigh nudged beneath the bus to ensure that Martin could insulate herself from any potential fall-out down the line about who knew what and when? Was it just a clumsy and unwarranted attempt at self-preservation?

Another chair of a state board who found himself hauled into the stocks was Michael Stone. He was chair of the Dublin North East Inner City Programme. The body was created in response to gangland shootings and intergenerational trauma blighting one of the most disadvantaged areas in Dublin.

Michael Stone was chair of the Dublin North East Inner City Programme which was created in response to gangland shootings. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

The work being overseen by Stone was concerned with holding out hope for kids to find a path in life that didnt lead to crime or addiction.

Just over a year ago, a story broke about Paschal Donohoe failing to declare a benefit in kind from Stone through affixing posters at the last election.

In 2022, Paschal Donohoe failed to declare a benefit in kind from Michael Stone through affixing posters during the election.

The whole thing was small beer but blown up into a controversy that, at its outer reaches, could have threatened Donohoes career. Later, the Standards In Public Office (Sipo) Commission would clear the minister of any wrongdoing, and Sinn Fein, which was pushing the controversy, backed off in the face of expenses questions around some of its own members.

At the height of it the pressure on Stone was such that he resigned his position on the board. The opposition had a head, a trophy signalling a political victory. And the people of the north inner city? One long-time community activist in the area spoke to the Irish Times about the loss of the businessman.

Mick Stone is probably the best person to happen this community, Paddy Murdiff said. He was very effective. It is a big loss for us. Another told the newspaper, all he did was put up those bleedin posters.

Yet he had to go to satisfy some political or media thirst that had been generated. The real loss was not to Stone but to those who were benefiting from his work. Undoubtedly some of Stones kindred spirits would have observed what happened him and ask themselves, why would you bother?

'Elite' image

For years accountability was lacking at all levels in the political and state apparatus. Arguably it still is in some elements today. But there is also a sense that a frenzied media and political environment, fuelled by hyper-coverage and a populist instinct that anybody with a role in public life is part of the elite, has ensured that babies are getting thrown out with the bathwater.

Serving on a state  or charity  board is not the comfortable gig it once was. Correctly, there are greater responsibilities, principally fiduciary, required of directors. This is as it should be. But when the prevailing environment means that those who serve can be thrown under the bus, or hauled into the public stocks to satisfy some manufactured version of accountability, some will inevitably give the system a wide berth. It would be hard to blame them.
A survivor of sexual assault told the Tommy Tiernan Show that she wants to share a message of hope for other survivors as well as to inspire change in how sexual assault cases are handled.

Sarah Grace, who works as a solicitor, was assaulted over four years ago by a man who broke into her home overnight. She said she would like to see legal reforms in Ireland to help other victims of similar assaults.

She detailed the difficulties she faces in court, including not being entitled to her own legal representation when facing her attacker.

You have no legal representation whatsoever, because in the eyes of Irish law if you are a rape or sexual assault victim, you are a witness to a crime, not a victim, she told a clearly surprised Tiernan.

So you have so you have no legal representation, you witnessed a crime that was inflicted on you. it's something that I've discussed with Helen McEntee and I think that needs urgent reform.

My message is one of hope.



Sexual assault survivor Sarah Grace talks about the tools available for survivors to help them heal#TommyTiernanShow @tommedian pic.twitter.com/WZKvYstbtm  RTE One (@RTEOne) March 2, 2024

Grace said she did not realise that sexual assault survivors' therapists notes can be seized and used as evidence in court without their consent. She described the violation she felt when her notes were seized and read by the defendant.

He got to read that, he and the entire defence team and the entire prosecution team [read] something that is so private to you and so intimate.

She said it felt as if another part of you, private, also intimate, is violated. Grace said a huge change needs to happen to support victims in court.

Film producer David Puttnam also spoke to Tiernan about his life in a community in West Cork and shared his confidence that Cillian Murphy will bring an Oscar home next weekend.

Puttnam, who worked on films including The Killing Fields and Chariots of Fire, now works in education and said he tells his students that personal experience is your greatest raw material.

He said it has been a good year for filmmaking, citing several Oscar-nominated films he enjoyed.

I'm in the process of voting for the Oscars and I think Poor Things is remarkable, he said, also recommending Past Lives and American Fiction. When asked by Tiernan if he expects Cillian Murphy to win the Best Actor award next Sunday for his role in Oppenheimer, Puttnam said he does.

I think that we can take that one. Its a Cork thing, he joked, adding: He is great.

When asked about using his titles in Cork, Putnam said his title doesnt exist there.

Im not a Lord in Cork, Ive never been a Lord in Cork. I dont use the title there. Its a very alienating title.

He said moving to Cork was the best decision he and his wife made.

I'm a member of a community and have been welcomed into that community, I became an Irish citizen and it's the best thing we ever did.

Tiernan also spoke to Charles Hendy, Andrew Hendy, and Sean McKenna, who are three members of The Mary Wallopers band.

They spoke about performing in pubs, turning down a record labels offer, and their road to success.

They said they have moved on from being the underdog in the industry and with that comes some begrudgery.

When you are the underdogs everyone says ah the lads are great, but once you start getting successful, its like I cant stand them, they are doing my head in#TommyTiernanShow@Tommedian @marywallopers pic.twitter.com/uM21LxCDrd  RTE One (@RTEOne) March 2, 2024

When you are the underdogs everyone says ah the lads are great, but once you start getting successful, its like I cant stand them, they are doing my head in.

They said accessibility in their music is important to the band so audiences can connect with them.

Audiences can feel like it's one of them up on the stage. I never enjoy a concert if I thought that the person on stage was some sort of unconscious genius.
Celebrities such as David Beckham, Jennifer Lawrence, and Kim Kardashian packed the front row at Paris Fashion Week shows as throngs of onlookers frenzied outside venues across the city to catch a glimpse.

However, on the catwalk, it was a cohort of Irish designers who stole the show.

Among the Irish names staking their claim in the French capital during the womens autumn/winter 2024 season were Roisin Pierce, Jonathan Anderson at Loewe, and Sean McGirr at Alexander McQueen.

In the salons of the Irish embassy on Friday morning, Dublin native Roisin Pierce telegraphed a message of joy and hope amidst ongoing political and military conflicts across the globe.

Irish Designer Roisin Pierce's show at the Irish embassy in Paris built on the rich craftsmanship she is known for. Picture: Ellius Grace

The all-white procession sees Pierce build on the rich craftsmanship she is known for. Three-dimensional smocking is fused with handcrafted Irish crochet and lace overlaid with organza, flower chains are constructed from hand-crocheted lace, and recycled cotton dresses are laboured over with ruching and ruffles.

Angelic in their appearance, Pierce suggested they were like goddesses who fell from the stars to act as a salve against the ferocity that rages in the world today.

A model wearing one of Roisin Pierce's creations at her autumn 2024 ready-to-wear collection during Paris Fashion Week. Picture courtesy of Roisin Pierce

Im a sponge to everything thats taking place in the world so its hard not to channel that message in the collection, said Pierce.

Ahead of the show, Pierce, who works on the brand with her mother, Angie Pierce, announced a brand development partnership with Dover Street Market Paris, which will see the label receive support with sales, production, and distribution.7

In the Irish embassy on Friday morning during Paris Fashion Week, Dublin native Roisin Pierce telegraphed a message of joy and hope in her autumn 2024 ready-to-wear collection. Picture courtesy of Roisin Pierce

Later that day, Jonathan Anderson presented a tour-de-force collection for Spanish leather goods brand Loewe in a purpose-built box on the grounds of the Chateau de Vincennes.

Son of the former Irish international rugby captain Willie Anderson, the designer mused on class and wealth.

Jonathan Anderson takes a bow. The Irish designer presented a tour-de-force collection for Spanish leather goods brand Loewe during Paris Fashion Week. Picture: Henry Nicholls/AFP/Getty

As an outsider looking in, he upended preconceived notions of what constitutes preppy style with Surrealist results.

Bucolic scenes, inspired by painter Albert Wood, typically found in tapestries in a manors drawing rooms are painstakingly embroidered with caviar beads into prints on clothes.

One of Jonathan Anderson's creations at the Loewe AW24 show as part of Paris Fashion Week.

Etonian morning suits are styled with billowing silk trousers and waistcoats are paired with cargo pants. Wood carvings are applied to lapel collars. By resisting tradition, Anderson challenges who truly dictates how we dress by proposing a compelling alternative.

A model wearing one of Irish designer Jonathan Anderson's pieces for Loewe Womenswear autumn/winter 2024-2025 show during Paris Fashion Week.

Now in his 10th year at Loewe, Anderson has transformed a sleepy leather house into one of the most covetable luxury brands in the world with his aptitude for materialising newness each season.

On Saturday night, Dublins Sean McGirr became the second designer ever entrusted with the legacy of Alexander McQueen.

In his show description, McGirr spoke about a rough opulence and revealing the animal within.

Alexander McQueen Womenswear AW24 show at Paris Fashion Week. Dubliner Sean McGirr is the second designer ever entrusted with the legacy of Alexander McQueen.

Staged in a disused train station on the fringes of the city, his look for McQueen is decidedly younger, sexier, and more experimental than the romantic yet raw femininity linked with his predecessor Sarah Burton.

It was more referential to the late namesake designer who routinely toyed with proportions of the body, with slick tailoring and a flair for drama.

One of Irishman Sean McGirr's creations modelled on the catwalk during the Alexander McQueen Womenswear autumn/winter 2024-2025 show at Paris Fashion Week.

Backstage, he talked about the cinched silhouette and colours such as Lamborghini yellow and Aston Martin blue (McGirrs father is a mechanic; the design of cars fascinated him growing up).

One might think that taking the helm at a legacy brand would intimidate a young designer but McGirr asserted that he was more excited than anything else. With experience at Uniqlo, Dries van Noten, and fellow Irishman Anderson under his belt, he is a suitable contender for the job.

Paris Fashion Week started on February 26 and features 109 brands hosting 71 catwalk shows and 38 presentations.

A piece by Dubliner Sean McGirr is modelled during the Alexander McQueen Womenswear autumn/winter 2024-2025 show at Paris Fashion Week.

There were terrific results from Hermes and Victoria Beckham over the weekend.

Beckhams outing on Friday night was a smorgasbord of conceptual ideas with interesting riffs on tailoring  blazers doubled as bibs; shirt collars as necklaces; briefcases as the newest handbag style. At the end, the designer emerged on crutches after recently breaking her foot, waving to well-wishing attendees and embracing her husband, David Beckham.

Victoria Beckham's Paris Fashion Week outing on Friday night was a smorgasbord of conceptual ideas with interesting riffs on tailoring. Picture: Lisa O'Connor/AFP/Getty

Saturdays Hermes show was a deeply chic lesson in radiant simplicity. Supple leathers sculpted the body while delectable suede, and furs paraded the runway in shades of burgundy, buttery yellow, and vermillion. Creative director Nadege Vanhee even added a passage of grungy looks like studded biker jackets to give a masculine edge to otherwise soigne proceedings.

It was in contrast to the complex collections by Junya Watanabe and Issey Miyake, which pushed the boundaries of clothing and sculpture. Paris Fashion Week concludes on Wednesday with a blockbuster show from Louis Vuitton.

Read More Annmarie O'Connor: 9 things on my spring wishlist
As a mother of two small children, Andrea Hanifin is a full-time employee of a large Irish corporate entity and works from home. She shares her personal views on what she sees as a potential misinterpretation of articles 41.2.1 and 41.2.2 in the upcoming Referendum. Instead, Andrea encourages working mothers to consider the actual language under scrutiny.

From her perspective, being based at home is nothing to be ashamed of. And given the number of women knocking on her employer's door since the launch of its new hybrid working policy, its quite the opposite.

Many women, as it turns out, want to work at home more, to maximise the time spent with their children. Andreas recent promotion while working from home is proof that employers are taking working mothers commitment seriously, despite their location.

If this is the case, Andrea asks, perhaps the Government might do something similarly positive, by making it easier for more mothers to work from home through policy changes.

Our homes are no longer places to break free from, they are canvases for us to create new types of lives; colleagues, children, and cappuccinos all blending into each other (mostly) harmoniously.

My workplace was reasonably supportive of working mothers before covid-19, now its policy is genuinely supportive. A happy mum is an even happier employee it turns out. The daily commute swapped for misty morning walks to school. Evening pickups no longer anxiety-fuelled sweat fests. Minders bribed to stay past six gladly a thing of the past.

All the time saved conscientiously redistributed back into the family and its myriad of needs. Sometimes even for myself. A dance class, a shower and a home-cooked snack all possible in a 60-minute lunch break. These are game-changing prospects in the confines, or rather, the expanses of our own homes.

So why, would we want to change a thing about this time management revolution of ours? In fact, shouldnt we be looking to make this new-found situation work harder for all working mothers? And so I find myself wondering why on earth wed remove this compliment to working mothers from the Irish Constitution: The State recognises that by her life within the home, woman gives to the State a support without which the common good cannot be achieved. Shouldnt we instead, wear it like a badge of honour?

Weve heard it a million times. It makes our skin crawl. But where did it come from? Women's place is in the home, is an idiom originally attributed to the Greeks and handed down through the centuries by numerous writers, political and otherwise.

A diminishing and reductive phrase that is universally insulting to women. Unbefitting, especially given the record number of Irish women in the workplace. But that phrase doesnt appear in our Constitution. And so the existing language is actually fitting, given my current work and parent-from-home scenario.

Is it helpful then that some media coverage and debate uses misleading, gendered language about women that has been (inadvertently) misconstrued over the decades? Triggering women into feeling shame for staying at home is cruel. Why are we work-away-from-home-centric?

'Supporting mothers to fulfil a duty of care to young children therefore shouldnt be another thing to brush under the carpet.'

Is dragging ourselves to offices to get ahead the only way to do things? My recent promotion, while working from home during the pandemic, proves that home-motions are now a thing, but can we make it a norm?

My mother gave up her good job when she had me. So many of our mothers did. It was an obligation for some or an expectation held by others in 20th-century Ireland. While my mother continues to tell me to this day that it was the best decision she ever made, I know she softens the story to console me.

Perhaps the burden of resentment I carried on her behalf spurred me on. Being the first generation of my family to graduate from University and enter into an open and (seemingly) equal job market felt like an antidote. But herein lies another complication, now Im at the mercy of the exact inversion of my mothers scenario. I cant not work. What kind of cruel twist of fate have we served ourselves here?

My husband and I both work to afford a mortgage, pay bills and childcare fees.

Dont get me wrong, Im deeply grateful for the opportunity to work (and at home, which makes it as easy as it can be). But theres no way to sugarcoat it, were dependent on two full-time salaries.

There are times when I wish I didnt have this kind of unavoidable obligation. And so when it's promised that the State shall endeavour to ensure that mothers shall not be obliged by economic necessity to engage in labour to the neglect of their duties in the home, perhaps the Government might reconsider its duty here? I certainly am keenly aware of mine, as I juggle the responsibilities to that of my children, wider family, and employer.

Removing this clause seems to let the State off the hook. Supporting mothers to fulfil a duty of care to young children therefore shouldnt be another thing to brush under the carpet. Why do we seem to always avoid, instead of tackling the hard truths?

Yes, fighting for equal rights in the workplace is valiant, and was once the form of liberal feminism I subscribed to. But it completely ignores the biological imperatives of mothers, and their inclination to nurture children at home. It turns out that having the best of both worlds ultimately can mean the worst. Working mothers carry the burden of two opposed identities.

Bread-winning and bread-making, are tiring tasks in isolation and even more so together. I often wonder why we dont speak up as much as we should. Are we simply too busy? Or worse, too embarrassed? Either way, it might be about time to trade in the baggage of the past.

Since covid, more mothers have had a taste of working from home. It can offer all sorts of sweet deals, especially when parental responsibilities leave time in short supply. Dismissing the fact that mothers have a unique (and once sacrosanct) place in society shouldnt be the strategy we choose. Confronting the institutional bias against the inconvenience of lost time to pregnancy, maternity leave and child-rearing should be.

And while I welcome fathers and all carers (I was once one myself to an elderly neighbour) to be included in our Constitution, I would prefer that it was side-by-side with mothers.

The reality is that working mothers exist, they play an invaluable role in our society, and everyone benefits  lets not ask them to deny it.
Location

With views over St Stephens Green, this handsome landmark enjoys one of the finest aspects and addresses in the capital.

At the heart of Irish history (the Irish Constitution was signed here) and a cornerstone of Georgian Dublin, its a wonderful location to stay, play and dine.

10/10

Style & design

The impressive architecture and liveried doormen set the tone before you set foot indoors.

An opulent lobby, with marble, gold leaf stucco, extravagant flowers, sparkling chandelier, and sweeping stairs welcome you with bold intent.

From the glamour of the Lord Mayors Lounge, with its sash windows and exquisite art to the clever murals in the chic No 27 and cosy Horseshoe Bar, the hotel oozes character and comfort.

10/10

Service

Staff are schooled in the art of charm and allowed to shine. From our first encounter with the exemplary afternoon tea team in the Lord Mayors Lounge to the attentive bar and restaurant staff, spa therapists and fabulous Julio in The Salon, we are pampered and wonderfully cared for.

Two small mix-ups at dinner service in the Saddle Room are saved by charming waiters.

Check-in is the most formal part of our stay. The receptionist is courteous and helpful but lacks the warmth and sparkle found elsewhere. (They check us out too, in the same serious manner, which we now know is off-brand.)

9/10

The impressive architecture and liveried doormen set the tone before you set foot indoors.

Activities & amenities

Twenty-four hours in The Shelbourne offers the chance to enjoy a resort-style itinerary of fun traditions synonymous with this iconic hotel: afternoon tea; Guinness and oysters in the buzzy No 27 bar; a tutored whiskey tasting in the intimacy of The Horseshoe Bar.

The new Sleep ritual using luxury Irish brand Ground, offers a sublime hour of me-time in the glam spa.

The piece-de-resistance is a swish blow-dry in the elegant Salon, a pre-check-out treat allowing me to walk away with a little of that Shelbourne pzazz.

10/10

Guest rooms

Opulent, spacious, and ultra comfy, the Shelbournes bedrooms offer the kind of indulgent luxury youd hope for in a hotel of this repute.

Soothing heritage colours (our suite is gorgeous sage green), generous marble bathrooms, clever lighting, a super shower, Elemis toiletries, crisp 300-thread count Egyptian cotton bed linen and amazing city views feel so special.

10/10

In-room perks

Complementary treats include Bakehouse cookies, premium Ronnefeldt teabags, with a kettle and Nespresso machine. (Plastic milk portions are supplied but fresh milk can be requested.)

A well-stocked mini-bar includes fitness favourites Vit-Hit and Fulfil bars.

9/10

The Shelbournes bedrooms offer the kind of indulgent luxury youd hope for in a hotel of this repute.

On the menu

Afternoon tea in the Lord Mayors Lounge is a quintessential treat and one of the very best versions around.

A feast of spectacular sandwiches, scones and pastries on elegant china, its a special experience in a very special room.

Dinner in The Saddle Room is superb too and easily worth a detour. Elegant fine dining, theres an exciting contemporary dash brought by the latest addition to the kitchen, Philly Roe.

Breakfast is the only weak link. The restaurant space doesnt work well for a buffet and the layout and offering feels less impressive after all the wow factor food that has gone before.

9/10

Value for money

Rooms from 200 per person sharing per night.

Room to improve?

The front desk needs to ensure guests first and final encounters reflect the propertys tremendous service elsewhere.

Access for guests with disabilities? Superb, especially for a heritage property.

Family-friendly? Yes. Staff are great with families. Kids pool times are a little restrictive.

Dogs welcome?

No
An Irish couple living in the US has said it is devastating that their family is not recognised by Irish law.

Mark OLooney and his husband, Eoin Cannon, are parents to one-year-old Aria and  just days ago  welcomed their second daughter, Nala.

Both children were born through surrogacy and share the same egg donor and surrogate.

Aria and Nala are the genetic daughters of Mark and/or Eoin. The couple decided that they would each donate sperm, but did not want to know which of them was the genetic father.

The two girls may share the same genetic father or they may not. Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mark said that when their daughters are older, if they wish to know, then the test will be carried out and they will be told the result.

We are a very open family, he explained. Aria knows and has spent time with their surrogate, Haley, and they are also close to the egg donor who has met Aria and receives regular photos and updates.

With the arrival of baby Nala, and as Aria gets older, the fathers are keen to come home to Ireland to raise their girls.

The couple moved to the US six years ago when Mr OLooney was selected by his company to take part in a prestigious programme that saw him do his MBA at Cornell Tech.

It was a no brainer to accept the year-long once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to advance his career, but Mark said the decision to stay on in the US was more to do with family.

Mark, Eoin, and Aria leaving hospital with newborn Nala, who shares the same egg donor and surrogate as her older sister.

Both men come from big, tight-knit families, and starting a family of their own was always on the cards.

After exploring the options available to them, the couple decided that they wanted to go down the surrogacy route.

We knew we couldnt have kids in Ireland. We said if we stay here, we can have our kids and then we can move home, Mark said.

If there had been surrogacy legislation in Ireland, we would have just moved back and started there. The reason for staying this long in New York is definitely because of having a family.

The legalities of surrogacy are simpler in the US, but the journey itself was not always an easy one. The highs and lows have been documented on their blog, Two Men and a Surrogacy.

Almost four months into the pregnancy, the devastating news came that Arias twin brother, Shane Tomas, had passed away.

As they processed this devastating news, they were surrounded by their loved ones, and while at home a couple of weeks later, they held a memorial for Shane Tomas.

Its home. Ireland is always going to be home, said Mark.

They have been lucky enough to be able to bring Aria on several visits to Ireland and spent last Christmas here.

The toddler loves her visits and getting to play with her cousins and spend time with her grandparents.

Mark and Eoin spent last Christmas with their daughter Aria in Ireland.

Although, she has mastered the magic of technology with video calls while in New York, it is not the same as being with them.

Currently, there is no specific legislation for surrogacy in Ireland, and this is where the problems lie for Mark and Eoin and other couples in similar situations.

Irish legislation does not cover the specific legal issues that arise in surrogacy.

Instead, the legal status and rights of all people involved are covered by the laws dealing with non-surrogate births.

Where the baby is born abroad, DNA testing to prove the genetic parentage is necessary before the child can be taken to Ireland by a person other than the surrogate mother.

The genetic parent can get citizenship for the child, after that their partner can get guardianship from the age of two and then will have no legal standing once the child turns 18, Mark said.

This can raise serious issues including where there is a relationship or marriage breakdown or even the death of the genetic parent before the child turns two-years-old.

Mark said that it is unfair of the Government to request the genetic information of the child and parents, as it is not something that is required for all couples.

The US birth certs for both Aria and Nala list Mark and Eoin as the parents, but this is not accepted by the Irish Government.

If we were a straight couple and we had gone to the US and came back with a birth cert that said a male and a females names on it, they would recognise that and they would not insist on a genetic test, Mark said.

Mark and Eoin believe that the Irish law around surrogacy should treat all families equally.

They would just go: Oh yeah, you had your child in America. No problem. Heres the passport, heres the birth cert, and everything like that.

Mark has a brother who is also living in the US and has five children, all of whom hold Irish passports which were granted based on the US birth certs that list Marks brother and his wife as the parents.

Because it is a gay couple, instantly they go: Youre not both the parents, and they question it.

My problem is that unless you question all birth certs that are from a foreign country  if youre recognising a birth cert from a straight couple, but not a gay couple  then it is discriminatory.

They could have gone through a surrogacy journey themselves, they could have used double donors, you just never know.

The lack of legislation results in many couples finding themselves in similar situations, and Mark believes that there needs to be one rule that applies to all  so that families are treated equally.

"We are both fighting for the same thing: That all surrogacy journeys be safe and ethical

Proposed legislation is currently making its way through the Oireachtas to legalise and regulate surrogacy, but Mark said that there are still gaps in the proposals.

While home last December, Mark, who is involved with the advocacy group Irish Gay Dads, met with Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to discuss the Health (Assisted Human Reproduction) Bill 2022.

At this meeting, Mark said that Mr Donnelly stood across from him and said: From a Government and policy perspective, you and your family will be recognised  I assure you of that.

After the amendments went in, Mark found that this was not the case.

These were written before the meeting on December 14, so it may be added as the bill continues through the process.

Maybe our family will be covered in that, but I just dont have hope now because it wasnt covered in the amendments.

I havent heard anything from Mr Donnelly to say that it will be covered.

As the bill stands, an Irish citizen abroad who fits all of the criteria will not be recognised  as they did not begin the surrogacy process in Ireland.

Addressing Mr Donnelly, Mark said: We are both fighting for the same thing: That all surrogacy journeys be safe and ethical.

I understand that this legislation is complex, but unless all families are recognised by this legislation then why are we doing it?
President Michael D Higgins remains in hospital but there is a strong chance he will be released tomorrow, the Irish Examiner understands.

President Higgins, 82, has thanked the public for the outpouring of well wishes which he has received since his admission to hospital on Thursday evening.

He was brought to hospital for precautionary tests after feeling unwell and his blood pressure was monitored over the weekend.

A spokesman said on Friday that President Higgins is expected to return to the Aras early next week.

Its understood President Higgins could be released from hospital as early as tomorrow and he continues to be in excellent spirits.

A discussion was held about discharging the president on Friday, but a decision was made for him to remain in hospital over the weekend as a precaution.

In a statement last week, a spokesman said: President Michael D Higgins has thanked the public for the outpouring of well wishes which he has received since his admission to St Jamess Hospital yesterday evening and would like to express his deep appreciation to all those who have sent messages to him, as well as to the medical staff for their continuing care.

Following tests which were carried out after his admission, the president will remain in hospital over the weekend in order to monitor his blood pressure.

It is anticipated that the president will return to Aras an Uachtarain early next week, the statement added.

Paramedics were called to Aras an Uachtarain on Thursday and assessed the Presidents condition before he was taken to hospital.
A judge has ordered that an independent autopsy be conducted on a man who died a number of days after he was assaulted at an accommodation centre in Co Tipperary.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican granted an application calling for the independent autopsy, during a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court in Co Limerick.

Ivan Volkov (65) with an address at House 2, Holm Oak Cottages, Dundrum House Hotel, Dundrum, Co Tipperary, appeared before the court, charged in connection with the fatal assault of Shamil Nabiev, a 69-year-old native of Azerbaijan.

Mr Volkov, who is from Ukraine, appeared in court with crutches. He was charged with one count of assault causing harm to Mr Nabiev, on February 25 at the Dundrum House Hotel accommodation centre.

He was also charged with one count of affray at the same location on the same date.

A Ukrainian interpreter was provided to Mr Volkov to explain what was happening during Sundays court hearing.

Garda Pat Ahern gave evidence of arresting Mr Volkov at 9.18am on March 2 and charging him at 10pm that night with the two offences before the court.

Garda Ahern said Mr Volkov replied to the assault charge, I didnt attack, I was defending myself. He said Mr Volkov made no reply to the charge of affray.

Inspector Paul Slattery told the court gardai had no objection to bail.

Philip English, solicitor for Mr Volkov, said he was not making an application for bail but would likely be seeking bail on behalf of the accused at a later date.

Mr English made an application for an independent post-mortem examination to be conducted on the victims body, and he told the court there is a certain urgency in respect to that.

He said Mr Volkov was living in Dundrum on temporary protection refugee status, that he has serious health issues and is in receipt of a weekly disability payment of 236 from the State.

Judge Coolican granted the accused free legal aid and ordered that he receive all necessary medical assistance while in custody.

He was remanded in custody to appear before Nenagh District Court when a bail hearing is likely to proceed.

Earlier on Sunday, gardai said the injured party was taken to hospital on February 29 to be treated for his injuries but had since died. They said an autopsy was being carried out on Sunday.
"I sort of wonder if the Government wanted this thing to roll on because it has been a convenient punching bag.

"For once, those in the Government were not the ones under the cosh and there was a certain joy and satisfaction in that the Government could point the finger at people who were not politicians and blame them.

So said People Before Profit TD Richard Boyd Barrett as the Dail sat to hear yet more statements on RTE.

Some TDs decried the fact that it was statements and not a questions and answers session, despite the fact that Catherine Martin, the media minister, had undergone three hours of questioning at the Oireachtas media committee just 16 hours beforehand.

It seems that its not just the Government who wants to focus on RTE.

In a lot of ways, there needs to be focus on RTE. On its culture, its spending, its output, and its funding.

It is the national broadcaster and requires large chunks of public funding every year.

Its cultural and social footprint is massive and its future is of major importance to our society and, yes, our media industry.

If we in media are to have a high tide, it must be able to lift all boats through unimpeachable governance and output.

But it is worth remembering that in the week or so since Siun Ni Raghallaighs resignation, other things have happened.

Indeed, within half a day of the resignation, Irelands population of homeless people hit 13,531, a new record.

That included 9,504 adults and 4,027 children who were in emergency accommodation in January.

That is not including the other 1,000 or so single male asylum seekers who are without state accommodation as the international protection system continued to groan under the strain of massive demand as Ukraine marked a grim second anniversary of its invasion by Russia.

Indeed, as the Irish Examiner reported on Friday, the States revised White Paper on the issue of direct provision is delayed by a number of weeks.

The new plan will see measures which include the State using, leasing, and buying empty properties, along with increasing the use of prefabs and marquee-style units on State-owned land.

Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy told the Dail that a retired Kildare barber purchased a 24m facility to be used to house homeless people. Picture: Stephen Collins

Questions were raised on Tuesday about the beneficial ownership of these facilities, as Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy told the Dail that a retired Kildare barber purchased a 24m facility to be used to house homeless people.

Ms Murphy said that there were major questions about how public money was being spent in this area.

While on Tuesday, the media and political spheres geared up for Ms Martins showdown with the committee, the Dail was hearing about deficiencies in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs).

One distraught mother told me about her 10-year-old daughter, Maggie, Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said during Tuesdays Leaders Questions.

The child had already endured cancer and now suffers with depression, anxiety, and self-injurious behaviour, waiting a year on an urgent list before she received a Camhs meeting.

She received an assessment for an intellectual disability but she was not accepted into the service because there is no specialist in the area, Ms McDonald said.

Maggie is in a full-blown mental health crisis. She receives no care. She is in distress and she does not leave the house apart from going to school.

Later, as Sinn Fein brought forward a bill that would give statutory powers to the Mental Health Commission, the partys Mark Ward said that 4,400 children are waiting on a public waiting list, while Labours Duncan Smith lamented a nearly 300% surge in the number of children waiting longer than a year for a first-time appointment.

Sinn Feins Paul Donnelly told the debate that people in this State have the highest level of difficulty accessing mental health services across 27 EU member states.

Approximately 44% of Irish people had difficulty receiving treatment for a mental health issue compared with the EU average of 25%.

A Barnardos survey found that 10% of parents had turned to food banks and that 41% said they had skipped a meal themselves or reduced their portion size, up 12% on the previous year while, at the same time, Eurostat figures named the south of Ireland as the wealthiest region in Europe.

Along the way this week, the legislation underpinning the Limerick Mayor passed, as did a new law around access to collective redundancies. Committees met with ministers, state bodies and lobby groups and the Planning Bill passed its 60th hour of debate on amendments at the Housing Committee.

On the street outside Leinster House on Wednesday, I bumped into a TD who asked if the RTE statements had concluded or if the controversy would ever end. I asked, as a barometer, had the issue been encountered on the doors in recent weeks? Not once, was the answer. The upcoming referendum, health, housing, and access to services all dominated.

There are important issues at RTE. During the week, Heather Humphreys, the social protection minister, revealed that RTE has paid 1.2m in liabilities due to historic work practices, where 89 workers were found to be employees, rather than contractors.

Indeed, the issues raised in the last nine months and last week are not nothing. They pose huge questions about corporate and departmental governance.

But as the RTE story has rumbled on, the real world has continued to turn.
Healthier neighborhoods mean healthier residents. The opposite is also true. Housing inequities like unjust evictions, bad landlords and lead paint contamination run on parallel lines with reports of higher chronic disease rates, shorter life expectancies and more problems with mental health. These are different facets of the same situation.

Public health researchers in Buffalo and across the U.S. are focusing more than ever on the social determinants of health: nonmedical factors that nonetheless contribute to gaping health disparities. In fact, its more widespread than that: As the World Health Organization recently stated, Upholding the fundamental human right to health requires governments to systematically identify and eliminate inequities.

This is not a simple task. In Buffalos East Side, to choose the most prominent local example, substandard housing, low wages or joblessness, poorly kept infrastructure and the lack of access to healthy food have been consistent conditions that have degraded area neighborhoods over decades. The resulting health outcomes are predictably catastrophic. This is the challenge facing community leaders; nothing will change unless everything does.

Efforts are being made. On the institutional side, three local organizations are working on health inequities: the Erie County Office of Health Equity, led by Kelly Wofford; the University at Buffalos Community Health Equity Research Institute, led by Dr. Timothy Murphy; and the Buffalo Center for Health Equity, led by George F. Nicholas.

Buffalos health disparities are shocking. According to data reported by both UBs institute and the Erie County office, Black Buffalonians are more likely to have serious, chronic, and often preventable diseases with a rate of premature mortality that is about 300 percent higher than whites who live in the Buffalo metro area. 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. People who live on the East Side are at higher risk for chronic disease and many forms of cancer than county residents as a whole.

A rare successful effort to change the course of health outcomes was made in 2020 when UBs Institute and the Buffalo Center for Health Equity learned that Black people accounted for 67% of the Covid-19 deaths in Buffalo, while making up 39% of the city population. With other health groups, 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.

It will take a much more comprehensive effort to alter the root causes of health inequities. Henry Taylor, who directs UBs Center for Urban Studies, believes that Black neighborhoods must be transformed in a holistic process that includes community control, shared ownership and cooperative economic development. At a recent symposium at UBs medical school, Taylor introduced a plan he has led, How We Change the Black East Side, which would create a pilot project in one neighborhood to test this process.

Murphy, the UB dean who leads its health equity institute is Taylors frequent collaborator, and he echoes the focus on root causes in News reporter Scott Scanlons article on this topic. 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.

Even with all the efforts of three health inequity organizations, existing social services and new housing projects that attempt to provide healthy living situations, this is a stubborn needle to move. A complete transformation of the community building process, as Taylor advocates, may be the answer.

The spotlight has been focused and it's time to dig in for the long haul. If health is a fundamental human right, so are healthy neighborhoods.

Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing.
Residents of the Hawaiian island of Maui have voiced concern about potential damage to marine life following the deadliest US wildfire in a century.

The blaze in Lahaina last August scorched more than 2,000 buildings and left behind piles of toxic debris, and there are fears run-off could carry contaminants into the ocean and affect the coral, seaweed and the food chain.

Lifelong resident Abraham Ah Hee spends so much time in the ocean that his wife jokes he needs to wet his gills. Now with all these things happening, you dont know if the fish is good to eat, he cautioned.

Scientists say there has never been another instance of a large urban fire burning next to a coral reef anywhere in the world and they are using the Maui wildfire as a chance to study how chemicals and metals from burned plastics, lead paint and lithium-ion batteries might affect delicate reef ecosystems.

Tova Callender, left, and Christiane Keyhani collect water samples in Lahaina (Mengshin Lin/AP)

The research, which is already under way in the waters off Maui, could ultimately help inform residents, tourists and coastal tropical communities worldwide as climate change increases the likelihood of extreme weather events of the kind that fuelled the wildfire.

A Bill before the state House would provide long-term funding for water quality monitoring in the hope of providing answers for residents whose lives are closely tied to the ocean.

For now, state officials are urging the public to limit their exposure to the ocean and seafood until scientists understand what might be making its way through the food chain.

Russell Sparks, Maui aquatic biologist at the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, said: I know a lot of people keep asking, Is the water safe? Can we go out? Is it safe to fish and eat the fish?.

We just want to reinforce the message that we know its frustrating, but if people can be patient. Weve never encountered anything like this.

Coral reefs are sometimes called the rainforests of the sea because they are so crucial for healthy oceans. They are made up of stony corals, which are hard skeletons formed by thousands of individual living coral polyps that symbiotically host algae. Fish, crabs and other species find refuge in their midst.

Lahaina resident Abraham Ah Hee said he is concerned about contaminants entering the food chain (Mengshin Lin/AP)

Scientists say one fourth the oceans fish depend on healthy coral reefs, which also protect shoreline communities from powerful waves during storms.

One of Hawaiis oldest stories, the centuries-old chant called The Kumulipo, reflects the central role of coral in the island chain. It says a coral polyp was the first living being to emerge from the darkness of creation. Starfish, worms, sea cucumber and other species followed. Humans came last.

Ekolu Lindsey, a Lahaina community advocate who has long pushed to restore coral reefs, fishing and traditions in his hometown, said: So the first form of life is a coral polyp. That is your foundation. The foundation of life is a coral.

Lahainas coral reefs had challenges even before the fire, including overfishing, abuse from kayak and stand-up paddleboard tours, warm ocean temperatures and sediment flows from fallow fields and construction sites, Mr Lindsey said.

Much of the coral offshore of the burn zone was already degraded prior to August, Mr Sparks said, but there were some patches of nice reef, like in an area north of Lahaina Harbour towards Mala Wharf.

University of Hawaii at Manoa researchers obtained a 200,000 US dollar (158,000) grant from the National Science Foundation to test the water soon after the fire.

In October, they placed 20 sensors off West Maui that measure temperature, salinity, oxygen, turbidity and chlorophyll every five minutes. They have six sensors measuring where water is flowing for clues on where contaminants might travel and accumulate.

The coral reef off Lahaina, pictured in 2018, was a healthy and vibrant ecosystem prior to the wildfire (Ryan Carr/TNC/AP)

The Hui O Ka Wai Ola citizen science group collects additional samples, including after heavy rain events.

Researchers are taking tissue fragments from fish, seaweed and coral for signs of heavy metals and contaminants from burned wood, metal and plastics.

So far they do not have enough data to draw conclusions but they aim to release some results within a month.

Andrea Kealoha, a Manoa professor and Maui native who is leading the research project, said she suspects scientists may detect contaminants accumulating in plants and animals over the next two to five years. Degraded reefs and lower water quality could emerge over the same time frame and she is pressing for a long-term monitoring plan that could be supported with state funds.

The wildfires effects may also stretch beyond Maui, because scientists believe currents carry water from Lahaina to nearby Lanai and Molokai.

Fish that you collect to eat off of a reef on Molokai may very well have compounds that washed into the water from rainfall in Lahaina and got transported to ocean currents across the channel and on to the reefs of neighbouring islands, said Eric Conklin, the Nature Conservancys director of marine science for Hawaii and Palmyra.

Authorities have been trying to limit harmful run-off. Rubble and ash is being removed from the area, while a soil stabiliser is being applied to prevent ash and dust from dispersing. Protective barriers have been placed alongside storm drains and coastal roads to block debris.
The death toll from a Russian drone strike that destroyed a residential building in Ukraines southern port city of Odesa has risen to 10 after the body of a third child was pulled from the rubble.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Western allies to boost Ukraines air defences in the wake of the deadly attack on Saturday.

Oleh Kiper, governor of the Odesa region, said on Sunday morning that rescue workers had retrieved the remains of a woman and her baby, who appeared not even a year old. He added that emergency services continue to comb through the rubble.

Search teams are continuing to comb through the rubble (Ukrainian police press office/AP)

Authorities had earlier said a baby was among those killed after falling debris from an Iranian-made drone hit the apartment building  one of eight Russian drones reported by officials. Later that day, Mr Zelenskyy said a second child also died.

He wrote on X: Tymofiy was 4 months old. Mark was about to turn 3 years old. My condolences to all of their close ones. He added that a three-year-old girl and seven other people were injured in the attack.

He continued: Delays in the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, as well as air defence to protect our people, unfortunately result in such losses. Ukraine has never requested anything more than what is necessary to protect lives.

Several children were among those killed in the attack (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

Meanwhile, Russias defence ministry reported 38 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight into Sunday over the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed from Kyiv in 2014. A bridge that connects Crimea to Russian territory was closed to traffic for about two hours in the early hours.

In Moscow, Chinas special envoy on Ukraine held talks on Saturday evening with senior Russian diplomats in the first leg of a European trip that will also take him to Brussels, Poland, Germany and France, Chinese and Russian state media reported.

In a statement published on Sunday morning, Chinas foreign ministry said special representative Li Hui and Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin agreed that negotiations are the only way to end the fighting in Ukraine.

Mr Lis trip, the second since last May, comes as Kyiv seeks Beijings participation in peace talks that Switzerland is trying to organise in the spring. China claims it is neutral in Russias war on Ukraine but maintains close ties with Moscow, with frequent state visits and joint military drills between the two nations.
A top Israeli cabinet minister is heading to Washington for talks with US officials, sparking a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in a sign of widening cracks in his wartime government nearly five months into the war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Mr Netanyahus hard-line government in the early days of the war following Hamass October 7 attack on southern Israel, comes amid deep disagreements between Mr Netanyahu and US President Joe Biden over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and create a post-war vision for the enclave.

The US was prompted to airdrop aid into Gaza on Saturday after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from trucks were killed last week. The airdrops circumvented what has been a prohibitive aid delivery system, which has faced Israeli restrictions, logistical issues within Gaza as well as the ongoing fighting inside the enclave.

But aid officials say the airdrops are far less effective than the aid sent in trucks.

US priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Mr Netanyahus hard-line cabinet, where ultra-nationalists dominate. Mr Gantzs more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight to Mr Netanyahus far-right allies.

Humanitarian aid was airdropped into Gaza on Saturday (Mohammed Hajjar/AP)

An official from Mr Netanyahus Likud party said Mr Gantzs visit comes without authorisation from the Israeli leader. The official said Mr Netanyahu had a tough talk with Mr Gantz about the trip and told him the country has just one prime minister.

An Israeli official said Mr Gantz had informed the PM of his intention to travel to the US and to co-ordinate messaging with him. The official said the visit is meant to strengthen ties with Washington, to bolster support for Israels ground campaign and to push for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Mr Gantz is set to meet with US vice-president Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to his National Unity party.

Mr Netanyahu has tanked in popularity since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls, with many Israelis holding him responsible for Hamass cross-border raid that left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead and roughly 250 people, including women, children and older adults, abducted and taken into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

The subsequent fighting has killed at least 30,410 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters.

Palestinians injured in an Israeli strike are treated in Shifa Hospital in Gaza City (Mahmoud Essa/AP)

Around 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and UN agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Critics say Mr Netanyahus decision-making has been tainted by political considerations  a charge he denies.

The criticism is particularly focused on plans for post-war Gaza. Mr Netanyahu has released a proposal that would see Israel maintain open-ended security control over the territory with local Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The US wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye towards eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Mr Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government.

Mr Gantz, who polls show would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. But he has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood.

A visit to the US, if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost his support.

Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior US official said on Saturday.

A protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government took place in Tel Aviv on Saturday (Leo Correa/AP)

Israelis, deeply traumatised by Hamass attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defence, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Mr Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested on Saturday to call for early elections. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last years demonstrations against the governments judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Mr Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Jerusalems Hebrew University.

There is a lot of anger, he said, listing grievances that were building well before October 7.

The moment you have that anger and a coalition that is disconnected from the people, there will be fireworks.

Mr Netanyahus government will not collapse if Mr Gantz exits, but it could lose legitimacy in the eyes of much of the public.

Talks aimed at brokering a Gaza ceasefire are under way in Egypt, where international mediators hope to broker a deal that would pause the fighting and free some of the remaining hostages before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10.

Meanwhile, fighting raged on in Gaza, with Israeli strikes late on Saturday killing more than 30 people, including women and children, according to local health officials.

At least 14 were killed in a strike on a home in the southernmost city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, according to Dr Marwan al-Hams, director of the hospital where the bodies were taken. He said the dead, including six children and four women, were from the same family. Relatives said another nine people were under the rubble.

Israeli air strikes also hit two homes in the Jabaliya refugee camp, a dense, residential area in northern Gaza, killing 17 people, according to the civil defence.
Sunday, Mar 3rd, 2024 (12:01 am) - Score 6,320

Broadband ISP Zen Internet has furnished ISPreview with a small update on their efforts to make their gigabit-capable Fibre-to-the-Premises (FTTP) based broadband packages available  nationwide  across CityFibres entire UK network, which was previously due to complete at the end of 2023.

Just to recap. Back in March 2022 we reported that Zen Internet had decided to expand their relationship with CityFibre by making an exclusive long-term volume commitment across the operators entire network (here). As part of that, the ISP said they expected their services would be available to all homes across the entire CityFibre footprint by late 2022.

NOTE: CityFibres network currently covers 3.5 million UK premises (3.2m as Ready for Service) and, despite recent challenges, they still aspire to reach around 8 million by the end of 2025 ( CityFibres network currently covers 3.5 million UK premises (3.2m as Ready for Service) and, despite recent challenges, they still aspire to reach around 8 million by the end of 2025 ( here ).

However, when we last checked up on Zens progress at the end of 2022, the ISP informed us that 48 out of 59 phase 1 cities were already live and they expected that connectivity to a further 34 cities as part of our phase 2 plans will be delivered by the end of 2023 (here).

The provider has continued to make progress on their CityFibre expansion since then, which this month went live in Worcester and a few other places (locations that were on their phase 2 list). Suffice to say that we were keen to find out how close the ISP is to completion of this somewhat delayed project, although they declined to give any specifics about how many locations theyve activated or precisely when the programme might complete.

David Barber, Strategy Director for Zen Internet, said: We continue our nationwide rollout of FTTP over the CityFibre network. We are currently offering services to over 80% of the RFS (ready for service) homes on the network and plan to expand this offering throughout 2024.

The provider recommended that any prospective customers use the postcode availability checker on their website to check up on coverage. Quite why its taking Zen so much longer than originally anticipated to complete this expansion is unclear, although to be fair CityFibre has added a number of new locations since the last update. Likewise, onboarding new areas isnt always a quick or simple task.
Thanks to delays in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid process, millions of potential college students and their families will have to wait longer than usual to learn what their financial aid packages will look like.

Filling out the FAFSA is how potential college students prove their financial eligibility for aid that will help them cover tuition  Pell Grants, federal work-study, state-based financial aid and federal loans. The bureaucratic, confusing and often frustrating process adds to the anxiety many students and families feel in figuring out how to pay for college.

The FAFSA Simplification Act, which passed in 2020 and is being implemented for the coming academic year, aimed to support more low- and middle-income families by simplifying the process  a laudable goal. The new system aims to expand eligibility for Pell Grants and it imports all participants information straight from the IRS to shorten the forms, among other changes. But the rollout was botched. Parents and students reported various problems with the website. Many gave up; applications were down as of January, almost by half.

The glitches in the system will hopefully be fixed, and this month the Department of Education announced temporary measures to reduce the backlog. But the uncertainty and instability faced by low-income students hoping to attend college arent going anywhere. We need a more straightforward system of funding higher education that decreases instability and unpredictability in students lives rather than adding to it.

Like most other policies in the United States, FAFSA prioritizes only those who need the funds. But in crafting policy, there is a trade-off between narrowly targeting aid and making it simple or even possible for people to get help.

Proving that youre worthy of aid for college requires elaborate means-testing, or a demonstration of financial hardship comparable to what families have to do to qualify for welfare. Even if this approach is well-intended to protect resources for those who most depend on them, these complex and demanding vetting systems impose great mental costs on recipients. Many people living in poverty and in need of financial support are already cognitively and emotionally taxed. They are more likely to experience unstable housing and precarious employment. A health crisis or a car accident can be enough to lead them to lose one or both.

Some students from families in poverty dont even apply for college, sure that they cannot afford it. Those who do are often uncertain about how they will pay for it until they hear back about their FAFSA. And thats on top of the uncertainty they already face about where they will live, how they will pay for food and whether their families can actually afford to have them in college rather than working.

Students who are the first in their families to attend college and those from low-income families tend to have complicated financial situations. I know this firsthand: When I applied for college, my financial support was being cobbled together from multiple family members in a situation that would have been a nightmare to prove to FAFSA. The only reason I dodged that hurdle was because as an international student, I qualified for a need-blind aid package that ultimately made it possible for me to attend college and changed my life.

The child tax credit many Americans received during the Covid-19 pandemic wasnt entirely need-blind, but it similarly prioritized access over targeting: Most families with children got a monthly check in the mail. Some viewed the policy as wasteful because well-off people with children got checks too. However, it was one of the most effective measures this country has ever undertaken in reducing child poverty.

Given the enormity of the college affordability crisis, it seems worth seriously pursuing solutions that would also prioritize accessibility  for example, baby bonds, vouchers for higher education or, even better, free public college.

Many have rejected free college as wasteful and regressive, disproportionately benefiting affluent families. But that is because we are not accounting for society-wide benefits of universal programs, such as the economic gains that come from investing in human capital and the reduction of student debt. Middle-class families will undoubtedly benefit; so will families in poverty who are already jumping through many hoops to try to get the assistance for which they are eligible.

When we prioritize creating stability in peoples lives, we give them the scaffold to plan and aspire toward a better future. We should want all college students to enjoy that freedom.

Jennifer Morton is an associate professor of philosophy and education at the University of Pennsylvania and a Sara Miller McCune Fellow at the Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences at Stanford University.
By Ahmet T. Kuru, San Diego State University | 

(The Conversation)  I hadnt expected my book tour in Malaysia to end with a confrontation with men who identified themselves as police in a Kuala Lumpur airport.

I arrived in the Muslim-majority country in early January 2024 to promote the Malay translation of my book Islam, Authoritarianism, and Underdevelopment, an academic analysis of the political and socioeconomic crises facing many Muslim societies today.

But my visit attracted unwarranted attention. Some conservatives and Islamists labeled me in social media a liberal  a term used by Malaysias federal agency administering Islamic affairs to denote those against the official religion, Sunni Islam. This was followed by the cancellation of my book launch event.

Nonetheless, I continued my program of other talks. Two men who identified themselves as police officers came to my last event and questioned my publisher.

The following day, the same men interrogated me and tried to seize my passport in Kuala Lumpur International Airport as I was due to embark on a flight to Pakistan. Concerned over my safety, I canceled a series of talks planned for Lahore and Islamabad and returned home to the United States.

When the incident became national news, Malaysias police inspector-general denied that officers were sent to confront me. Yet, a human rights group has called for a more thorough investigation into my case.

As a scholar of religion and politics in comparative perspective, I dont see my ordeal as an isolated example of religious intolerance in Muslim-majority countries. Instead, it taps into something wider.

My research shows that there is a rising global trend against dissenting and minority religious views. Analyzing this trend is crucial to understand why right-wing populist leaders are now ruling diverse countries, such as Turkey, Russia, Israel and India, and how they may come to power in other places, including the United States.

All these countries have recently experienced the combination of three movements: religious conservatism, nationalism and populism.

Religion and nationalism: Old enemies, new allies

In both Christian and Muslim history, nationalism emerged in reaction to the religious establishment. Scholars of nationalism such as Benedict Anderson explain its origins in Europe after the 16th century by the expansion of vernacular languages, national churches and nation-states at the expense of Latin, the Vatican and divinely ordained dynasties.

Similarly, in many Muslim-majority countries, there was a tension between Islamists and nationalists. The Islamists pushed for traditional religious education and Islamic law, and emphasized global Islamic identity. Nationalists, however, modernized schools, established secular laws and stressed national identity.

This tension continued throughout the 20th century in Turkey, where nationalists led by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk founded a secular republic in the 1920s. There was a similar struggle in Egypt between the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood and the nationalist military officers who built the republic under the leadership of secularist Gamal Abdel Nasser in the 1950s.

Today, however, religious and nationalist forces are often political allies. For a decade, such an alliance has existed in Russia between the Orthodox Patriarch Kirill and President Vladimir Putin. Laws punishing insults to religious feelings have been expanded, and Orthodox Christian values returned to school curricula.

Analysts define Kirills strong support for Putins invasion of Ukraine as a reflection of the nationalist ideology they share.

In Turkey, the main religious authority is Diyanet, a government agency that controls mosques and pays the salaries of their imams. Although the Diyanet was established by Ataturk to serve secular nationalist policies, it has become an important pillar of President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government, which mixes Islamism with nationalism. While Erdogans Justice and Development Party represents Islamism, its coalition partner for a decade, Nationalist Action Party, has an explicitly nationalist agenda.

In the Arab world, there was a wrangling between Nassers secular nationalist Egypt and the Islamic state of Saudi Arabia in the 1950s and 1960s. No longer. Egypt, which has moved to Islamism with a constitution referring to sharia as the source of law since 1980, and Saudi Arabia, which has recently become less Islamist and more nationalist through Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans reforms, are now regional allies.

The age of populist leaders

What explains this transformation in the relationship between religion and nationalism? I believe that populism is the glue that brings them together.

Populists often claim that they are defending the people against both elites and minorities, especially immigrants.

Recently, populist nationalist leaders have used religious symbols to mobilize their followers. For example, in 2016, Putin established an Orthodox Cathedral in Paris on the banks of the Seine River, near the Eiffel Tower. And in 2020, Erdogan declared the Hagia Sophia a mosque again  it had been a church for over a millennium until the Ottoman conquest of Istanbul in 1453 and a mosque for about 500 years until Ataturk made it a museum.

Most recently, on Jan. 22, 2024, India Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated a Hindu temple in Ayodhya on the site of a mosque that had been built in 1528 but violently destroyed in 1992 by Hindu radicals, after a century of controversies over the land.



Photo by Gayatri Malhotra on Unsplash

And while former U.S. President Donald Trump did not establish a cathedral, he did give a photo-op holding up a Bible at a crucial moment  during the Black Lives Matter protests in June 2020  as a sign of his religious politics against the protesters.

In such acts, populist leaders aim to incorporate religion and nationalism to serve their political agenda. Yet, for religious minorities, this symbolism may imply that they are secondary citizens.

The future of religious minorities

In several countries, the alliances between religious forces and populist nationalists have threatened minority rights.

One such case is Malaysia, an ethnically and religiously diverse country, where Muslim Malays are the majority, while Buddhist, Christian and Hindu communities constitute a third of society.

As I learned during my recent visit, Islam is at the center of political debates about nationalism in Malaysia. For example, on Jan. 13, 2024, Mahathir Mohamad, the once powerful former prime minister, said ethnically Chinese and Indian citizens of Malaysia are not fully loyal to the country and offered assimilation as a solution.

Assimilation of ethnic minorities into the majority may not be limited by language and culture, because the countrys constitution connects Islam and the Malay identity, stating: Malay means a person who professes the religion of Islam, habitually speaks the Malay language, conforms to Malay custom.

For Malays and converts, leaving Islam officially is not an option  both civil courts and sharia courts have rejected that in various cases.

The strong connection between religion and Malay nationalism has helped Islamic authorities, such as sharia courts and sharia police, expand their influence. Increasing Islamization of Malaysian government, however, is a worry for non-Muslim minorities.

Meanwhile, Muslim minorities are worried about their rights in several non-Muslim countries ruled by populist nationalists.

According to democracy watchdog Freedom House, in India, Modis government has pursued discriminatory policies against the Muslim minority of about 200 million people. These policies have included the destruction of Muslim properties to the extent that bulldozers became Hindu-nationalist and anti-Muslim symbols in India.

In the United States, Trumps anti-immigrant policies included the so-called Muslim ban  an executive order that barred nationals of certain Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States. While campaigning for the upcoming 2024 elections, Trump vowed to bring back the ban in an expanded manner.

As the experience of many countries around the world shows, the trend of advancing a religious-nationalist agenda restricts minority voices. This trend constitutes a major challenge to the ideals of democracy and equality of citizens worldwide.

These concerns are also personal for me: As a Muslim American, I want to both keep enjoying equal citizenship in the United States and give talks about Islam in Muslim-majority countries without being harassed by the police.

Ahmet T. Kuru, Professor of Political Science, San Diego State University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
OtherWords OtherWords is published by the Institute for Policy Studies, a progressive think tank. All told, their freely syndicated op-eds reach millions of readers each year in the heartland communities often overlooked by traditional national media. They cover politics, policy, and social issues from a progressive but non-partisan perspective.
Orono, Maine (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  Our memories are often suppressed by trauma, a word derived from Traumatiko, a wound or mental shock. Examples of traumatic events are people being compelled to leave their homes due to war, disease, drought, famine or similar events. Recent sociological studies on the after-effects of war reveal feelings of apathy, resignation and hopelessness brought on by being forced to leave ones ancestral territory.

Kelly Borhaug, author of  Moral Injury and War Culture  quotes Hannah Arendts famous phrase on the banality of evil in reference to the Holocaust. The evil referred to was a failure to think [through the consequences of their actions], Evil has many guises, as Borhaug notes, and is most pernicious and dangerous when it is routinized and normalized.

Bombing civilians makes the victims hopeless and willing to leave which facilitates dispossession and depopulation. According to the Israeli historian, Illan Pappe, an Israeli historian recently wrote in his book:  Ethnic Cleansing  the aggressor nation masks their intent by dehumanizing the displaced in order to excuse themselves from the consequences of their actions. He also noted that the term Zionism is often confused with Judaism, but they are not the same. Zionism, including Christian Zionism, is an ideology, whereas Judaism is a religion.

In Aristotles Politics, wealth is the guiding principle of oligarchy and freedom the guiding principle of democracy. But when freedom is only freedom for those who are within the tribe it becomes ethnocracy, which concerns a nation favoring only one group, which is particularly true in Israel.

When one ethnic group is favored then empathy for others is in short supply. According to the 17th century Scottish philosopher, John Hume, the highest sensibility that humans should strive for Is empathy, Genuine empathy is not just a convenient word, it represents an identification with the suffering of others. When civilian populations are slaughtered in Gaza by incessant bombing, the devastating results are experienced by thousands of women and children, some now buried under the rubble of collapsed buildings. Such circumstances are so painful to contemplate that euphemisms are adopted to find blame with the victims. A former Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir, once said we can never forgive the Arabs for forcing us to kill their children; This tribal attitude asserts that only those who are within the group deserve to be protected, whereas those who are outside the group must be treated harshly.

Such tribal attitudes toward the Palestinians in Gaza has resulted in mass death in gruesome circumstances with the end result being starvation and disease. The enormity of the suffering numbs the mind, and the complicity of U.S. politicians betrays the reality that our leaders have become emotionally disconnected and unable to fully comprehend the devastating effects of what is taking place on a daily basis?



War, Trauma and Memory, Digital, Dream, Abstract v. 2, 2024

In her book on trauma, Borhaug quoted the Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh, who spoke to veterans: we know that war is not only in us, it is in everyone, veterans and non-veterans alike. We must share our insights [from the tragedies of war], not out of anger but out of love. Buddhists understand that suffering has causal factors which inevitably result in consequences to the victims, but also to those who cause suffering, since they too will inevitably suffer from the results of their actions.

We try to obliterate the memory of war victims but we do so by dehumanizing the victims, which, in turn, dehumanizes the military forces which are the causes of pain and suffering (Borhaug). Yet it is the policy makers, enabled by political leaders, who contribute to wrongful conflict and war, although everyone, to some degree, may be complicit. In order to atone for wars atrocities we need to face into the causes and deal with the results which cannot be effaced or blotted out.

There are those who adopt a form of amnesia as a way of disconnecting from a sense of responsibility, and who insist that they are merely carrying out orders. But what if the persons in command are unable to fully comprehend the harm caused by their decisions, and are themselves suffering from cognitive or emotional dissociation.

A journalist at VOX Media recently wrote an article titled: How Israels War against Hamas has gone horribly wrong stating that:the truth is that this nightmare was depressingly predictable. When a dozen experts were surveyed about the war they warned that Israel had a dangerously loose understanding of what the war was about. [and its] conduct in the war so far has vindicated these fears. [having] dragged Israel down to a moral nadir to an an era-defining catastrophe.

Israel, at one time, represented qualities admired by small nations, but it has descended into a moral quagmire which is taking place at a time in history when the world has become a Global Village and where communication takes place almost instantaneously around the world. The present war in Gaza is a slow-motion tragedy being viewed throughout the world community via video imagery.

What is taking place is a calamity with enormous ramifications, Israels pretense to being an exceptional nation is shown to be questionable, while Europe and Americas pretense to upholding humanistic and humane values, is shown as having very little value In these circumstances.

The only saving grace to the catastrophe taking place in Gaza are the dozens of peace groups within Israel and Palestine who continue to work toward a ceasefire and a permanent peace. Other groups, such as: Jewish Voices for Peace(JVP), with its ten of thousands of members are demonstrating daily in peace marches and rallies in cities of America and Canada, hoping that the moral sensibilities in the heart and soul of Israel can be re-awakened before it is too late.
All eyes were on the celebrity couple Song Joong Ki and Katy Saunders as they attended the "My Name is Loh Kiwan" premiere.

Katy Saunders Attends Husband Song Joong Ki's 'My Name is Loh Kiwan's' VIP Premiere

Song Joong Ki made his return to Netflix with his newest movie "My Name is Loh Kiwan."

In the news cited by a media outlet on March 3, the cast and other celebrities attended the film's VIP premiere. Among the familiar faces that caught the public's eye was Song Joong Ki's wife, Katy Saunders.

The couple was spotted at the event held at CGV Yongsan I-Park Mall in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

Katy attended the VIP Premiere to show her support to her husband Song Joong Ki and the rest of the "My Name is Loh Kiwan" cast.

An official from the media who attended the premiere night said that he was staring at a very beautiful woman and it turned out to be Song Joong Ki's wife. He added, "Even among actors, Katy's beauty stood out most."

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'My Name is Loh KiWan' Director Only Wanted Song Joong Ki to Play the Titular Role - Here's Why

Cast members present at the VIP preview were Song Joong Ki, Choi Sung Eung, Jo Han Chul, and Kim Seong Ryeong.

So Ji Sub, Oh Seung Hoon, Kim Yoo Jung, and Jo Bok Rae were also seen supporting their friends and colleagues at the gathering.

Media Insiders Reveal Song Joong Ki & Katy Saunders' Sweet Gesture Toward Each Other

According to the source, Katy Saunders was considerate by briefly talking with Song Joong Ki and her fellow actors as they greeted the guests, and quietly waiting behind her husband when he was busy with his stage greetings.

Song Joong Ki's co-star Jo Han Chul revealed that Katy gifted him olive oil on JTBC's variety show "Actors Association." It was where Katy's kind nature was revealed as she seems to maintain good relationships with her husband's colleagues.

In addition, it is known that Katy was very supportive during the filming of "My Name is Loh Kiwan" in Hungary. She invited Song Joong Ki's co-stars and staff to her place and served them food.

The British actress was also praised for watching the Korean movie without subtitles and with full concentration.

Song Joong Ki was said to have shown his loving side to the extent that while he was walking around the cinema greeting guests who attended the VIP screening when he entered the room, he only looked at his wife.

A media insider said, "I could feel how much they loved each other even from afar."

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Song Joong Ki's 'My Name is Loh Kiwan' Criticized by K-Media Ahead of Release

What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments!

For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars.

KDramaStars owns this article.

Shai Collins wrote this.
Quebec Premier Francois Legault speaks to the media in Montreal, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024, where he gave his reaction to the Quebec Court of Appeal's decision on the province's secularism law, known as Bill 21. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes


Saturday, March 02, 2024  American actor, Jussie Smollett has completed a five-month stint in rehab for substance abuse.

The former Empire star, 41, finished the outpatient program earlier this month, according to a source who spoke with TMZ.

While in rehab the actor is said to have focused on his health and being consistent with his workouts.

Jussie checked himself into an outpatient treatment facility back in October after what his reps called an 'extremely difficult past few years.'

Smollett is currently trying to get his December 2021 conviction for faking an anti-gay, racist attack on himself, and then lying to Chicago police about it, overturned again.

A source also told the publication that Jussie's new management team is working hard as they gear him up for the release of his new film and other projects.

A spokesperson for the actor said in a statement back when Smollett checked into rehab: 'Jussie has had an extremely difficult past few years.

He has quietly been working very hard for some time now and we are proud of him for taking these necessary steps.'

It's not known what exactly Smollett was in rehab for, but testimony during the trial hinted at heavy drug use.

Last month it was reported that Smollett is trying to get his conviction for faking an attack overturned again, this time claiming he should never have been prosecuted in the first place.

He is arguing he shouldn't have been charged with felony disorderly conduct in December 2021 because prosecutors made a deal to dismiss the first indictment.

Smollett's attorneys filed legal documents with the Illinois Supreme Court detailing the deal, which involved him doing community service and forfeiting his bond in return for charges being dropped.

The actor is taking his appeal to the state's highest court after it was previously denied by the Appellate Court of Cook County.

Smollett was jailed in 2021 for staging an anti-gay, racist hate crime on himself and filing a false police report in January 2019.

'What should have been a straightforward case has been complicated by the intersection of politics and public outrage,' Smollett's attorneys wrote in their filing with the state's highest court.

During the police probe into the incident, Chicago cops concluded that Smollett had hired brothers Abimbola and Olabinjo Osundairo to carry out the crime.

Smollett was convicted on five counts of disorderly conduct, sentenced to 150 days in jail, 30 months felony probation, and $120,106 in restitution to the City of Chicago, and a $25,000 fine.

However, he only served six days in jail before he was released on March 16, 2022, when his lawyers filed an appeal.

Now the Appellate Court of Cook County has denied the appeal Smollett may be required to complete the rest of his sentence.

During the original sentencing hearing, Smollett shouted at the judge that he was innocent, warning that he was not suicidal and that if he died in custody it was somebody else, and not him, who would have taken his life.

Smollett initially told Chicago police he had been accosted on a darkened street by two masked strangers.

According to his account of the attack, the assailants threw a noose around his neck and poured chemicals on him while yelling racist and homophobic slurs and expressing support for then-President Donald Trump.

The two assaulters were Nigerian brothers Abel and Ola Osundairo.

The brothers, who testified in court, told the jury Smollett hired them to fake the attack because he wanted to boost his celebrity profile.

Smollett later claimed that in the days before the stunt, when prosecutors said he and the brothers were rehearsing the attack, they were actually getting together to smoke marijuana.

He shocked the court by claiming he 'made out with' and 'masturbated' with Abimbola Osundairo during a visit to a bathhouse.

The actor told the jury he thought the brothers staged the attack on him to try to scare him into thinking he needed bodyguards and to give them the job.

The brothers were held in a Cook County detention cell for 47 hours before they cracked and owned up to taking part in Smollett's strange plot for the first time - which they said the actor designed with the ultimate goal of being viewed as a hero for not only the LGBTQ community but to black people as well.

In the aftermath, the brothers said they were dumbfounded by Smollett's public remarks about the experience.

The two brothers ultimately testified against their one-time friend in court and were able to walk away from the incident with just two years' probation and a small fine, after cooperating with police and unmasking the ruse.

In March 2022, three months after a jury found him guilty of felony disorderly conduct, a judge sentenced the actor to 150 days in jail.


Sunday, March 3, 2024 - A Kenyan woman has taken to social media to expose her marital woes after a lady identified as Grace Masila snatched her husband.

She travelled to her parents home in Tanzania after she had a marital dispute with her husband, only for Grace to move into her matrimonial home.

How do you shamelessly move into my home 1 week after my kids and I travel to Dar es Salaam. What's wrong with you, she ranted.

You think you can move into a home I have built with sweat and tears for 4 years, she further ranted.

Before Grace moved into the disgruntled womans matrimonial home, she had been meeting her husband in hotel rooms.

She has now occupied her matrimonial home.

Check out her posts.





















The Kenyan DAILY POST


Saturday, March 02, 2024  A small child's body was found burnt, mutilated and ravaged by stray dogs outside a construction site.

It is suspected that the child was abandoned shortly after birth in Mae Hong Son province, Thailand, close to a stone mill worker's camp.

A 24-year-old staff member told authorities that after work, at about 6pm local time, he was walking home and saw what he described as two dogs gnawing at what appeared to be human remains.

The child's abdomen had been torn and pieces of their limbs were missing, including the whole right arm. The child's head was also partially burnt.

Thaiger reported that police searched the area for missing body parts and interviewed the camps residents to check for recent pregnancies or disappearances. They identified no suspects.

KhaoSod reported that a mother might have given birth to the baby shortly before it died before she tried to burn it in a panic, with the scent attracting dogs.

Police are examining CCTV from the surrounding area.


Saturday, March 02, 2024  China has claimed to have successfully cloned two goats, and they plan on using the cloned animals to harvest wool.

Scientists working under Xi Jingping's plan to succeed the Western world in technological advancements believe they have successfully cloned two Tibetan goats.

It marks the very first time the success has ever been seen globally.

The cloning means Chinese farmers can use the extra animals to harvest further furs, used in the cashmere wool trade.

Su Jianmin, the chief scientist leading the cloning programme, has since claimed the team were successful in birthing a pair of cloned goats in Qinghai, northwest China.

A team of researchers at the Northwest A&F University were hard at work on somatic cell cloning.

Chief Jianmin said: "Two cloned goats have been born in Qinghai. The firstborn weighed 3.4 kilograms [7.4 pounds] and is healthy."

Details on the project are scant and China is unlikely to release any more unless a peer-reviewed paper is published, LiveScience reported.

Chinese media did release a video of the cloned kid, whose birth was part of a somatic cell cloning project, the details of which are few and far between.

Somatic cell cloning sees the nucleus of a somatic cell inserted into an egg cell which has been stripped of its own nuclei. Reconstructed cell work can then be stimulated, causing cell division and eventual development of an organism.

Similar somatic cell trials got underway in previous years, most notably with Dolly the Sheep.

The sheep, which was grown and formed from the mammary gland of a sheep, was the first mammal cloned under somatic cell sciences. Born on July 5, 1996, and dying on February 14, 2003, Dolly the Sheep marked an incredible breakthrough. Dolly birthed several lambs throughout their life and died of a lung disease unlinked to the cloning process.




Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Chief Justice Martha Koome has invited the Law Society of Kenya (LSK), top officials, to a meeting to resolve the grandstanding over the plan to avail Judicial services at Huduma Centres.

This is after realizing that it was wrong to cheapen Judicial services like that.

Last month, LSK faulted the Judiciary over failure to consult it before launching the services at Huduma Centres countrywide with the help of President William Rutos government

The Society further stated the move would lead to an increase in unethical practices and compromise its credibility.

According to former LSK President Eric Theuri, the Judiciary made a rushed decision that would attract people masquerading as lawyers and paint the industry in bad light.

Given the above, CJ Koome was prompted to convene a meeting between the two parties with the meeting scheduled for March 7, 2024.

In addition, to discuss the important issues affecting the administration of justice raised in your letter, the Honourable Chief Justice invites the LSK to a meeting on March 7, 2024, at 2 pm," read part of a statement by the Judiciary.

According to the Judiciary, the meeting would be held at the Supreme Court Buildings, in the Chief Justice's Boardroom, and would strictly involve LSK members from the national office.

On January 24, the Judiciary announced it was rolling out 9 services at Huduma Centres, a move which was aimed at enabling easy access to services.

The services included; filing civil cases, submitting documents for existing cases, as well as requesting and obtaining mention dates.

Kenyans will further benefit from e-filing support, virtual court assistance, and the seamless completion of payments for fines and deposits.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Saturday, March 02, 2024  A family gun massacre has left four dead after a soldier shot his ex-girlfriend, her child, her new boyfriend, and his mother in Germany.

The incident happened at 3:30 this morning.

Police armed with submachine guns stormed the property in Scheeel in the district of Rotenburg after reports of a shooting.

Police told German newspaper Bild there were 'several victims' inside the property.

The soldier's age and motive are not yet known, however, the police have said they do not rule out that it is 'a motive in the family environment'.

Police spokesman Heiner van der Werp told Bild that the incident was a 'family story'.

The police presence continued throughout the night and into the morning with officers at Rotenburg train station and houses being surrounded.

Then, at dawn, police say the suspect handed himself in.

Ammunition and explosives were found in the soldier's car, leading the police to begin a search of the von During barracks in Rotenburg.

The car was parked outside his barracks.

Police found a Molotov cocktail in the side compartment of the driver's door as well as several magazines for firearms and other ammunition, all of which were seized.

It is still unknown if the suspect's weapon was a military firearm.








Sunday, March 3, 2024  The proposed 5% Farm Produce Tax is now threatening the relationship between President William Ruto and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.

This is after Gachagua faulted Rutos government for imposing the tax on farmers, saying the tax was misguided.

In January this year, a withholding tax of not more than 5% on farm produce was proposed through the Medium-term Revenue Strategy by the National Treasury.

This would see farmers contribute to the government's initiative to raise more revenue.

For every Sh100 made in sales, a farmer would remit Sh5 to the taxman.

However, speaking in Embu during the county's Livestock, Dairy, and Fisheries Exhibition, Gachagua admitted that the tax proposition would exploit the farmers.

According to the DP, it was unreasonable to fight for the welfare of the local farmers and at the same time deprive them of their profits through taxes.

"On this tax issue, we saw some mistakes in it...It cannot help the farmer, and on the other hand, exploit them. Our government values farmers and listens to them," said Rigathi.

To right the wrong, the deputy president said he had engaged Ruto and the National Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u to review the proposition.

He promised that the lawmakers would be engaged in the matter for purposes of amendment in the National Assembly.

"We will meet with our MPs to seek a solution to this," Gachagua stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Saturday, March 02, 2024  Murehwa Magistrates Courts senior magistrate, Terence Mashaire, has been accused of accepting a bribe to manipulate a trial verdict.

Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) said Mashaire allegedly received groceries, stationery, and a Defy Microwave from the defendant, Allen Bhaswi, in September 2023. The gifts were purportedly given as a token of appreciation for the favourable ruling in Bhaswis case.

National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) also said the magistrate and Bhaswi went beyond a professional relationship, engaging in communication before and after court sessions. The case, which concluded in December 2023, resulted in a ruling in favour of Allen Bhaswi.

Law enforcement officers later discovered the stove at Mashaires residence, providing further evidence of the alleged bribery.

Even after the conclusion of the case, Mashaires involvement did not cease. The National Prosecuting Authority of Zimbabwe (NPAZ) appealed the judgment in the Allen Bhaswi case. Mashaire reportedly continued to advise Bhaswi on the legal proceedings at the High Court. An additional allegation states that Mashaire received USD450 through Ecocash from Bhaswi.

Terence Mashaire has been remanded in custody and is set to appear in court on 4 March 2024 for a bail ruling. The scandal has raised concerns about the integrity of the judiciary. The potential influence of external factors on legal decisions is being questioned.


Saturday, March 02, 2024  A 32-year-old man from Kuwadzana in Zimbabwe has allegedly taken his own life after getting a sad message from a native doctor.

The man identified as Solomon Kabanda committed suicide after the native doctor he consulted told him he had only a few days left to live.

His dead body was discovered hanging from a washing line at his residence, where he resided with his grandmother. This tragic incident follows a previous suicide attempt by Solomon, highlighting the depth of his despair.

A source told H-Metro;

I am told he visited a madzibaba at a shrine on Wednesday where he was told that his life was hanging in the balance.

Some residents of the area are also speculating that he was murdered. One of them said;

The way he was on hanging the washing line, doesnt look like it was a suicide. It looks like he was murdered but we will wait to see the results.

Authorities are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the circumstances surrounding his tragic death.


Saturday, March 02, 2024  Two men and one teenage boy have been arrested for ruthlessly thrashing a man they accused of stealing sugarcane.

The victim was stopped by some of the suspects while walking in the company of a friend near James Gumbis plot. The suspects accused the victim and his friend of stealing the sugarcane they were eating from Gumbis plot.

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) spokesperson Assistant Paul Nyathi said on Saturday, March 2, that the victim of the assault Beven Zenderani (25) has been located and taken to a local hospital for medical examination. Zenderani was assaulted on 18th February 2024.

Additionally, police disclosed that they had successfully identified and arrested three suspects in connection with the heartless incident. The individuals in custody so far are Hardlife Mananga (21), Luckson Ruzive (30), and a 15-year-old juvenile who has been released into the care of his parents.

After rounding up the trio, the police dispatched a team to hunt down and arrest the prime suspect, James Gumbi, in Harare. Security operatives are also actively pursuing three other individuals believed to be connected to the incident.


Saturday, March 02, 2024  An American mother of two died after suddenly falling ill on an American Airlines flight home from the Dominican Republic.

The 41-year-old woman  identified by a relative online only as an Indiana mother of two  was onboard American Airlines Flight 2790 from Punta Cana to Charlotte, North Carolina, when she suddenly became ill, the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Force announced on social media.

Flight crew tried to revive the woman as the plane was diverted to Providenciales International Airport in the Turks and Caicos so that further medical treatment could be provided, police said.

Officers said they received the call about the emergency landing at 6:12 p.m. that night and dispatched a medical team.

The woman was transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead, the police force said, noting a post-mortem will be conducted to ascertain the cause of death.

The passengers identity has not been released, but she was from central Indiana, according to Fox 59.

A woman on Facebook also identified the passenger as her sister-in-law.

We are in disbelief and our hearts are broken, Stephanie Quinn wrote in response to the Royal Turks and Caicos Island Police Forces announcement.

Quinn described her sister-in-law as the only girl out of five siblings and the mother of two beautiful children with big hearts and straight As.

She is still down there, so please take good care of her as she ventures home, pleaded Quinn.


Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Mombasa County Governor, Abdulswamad Nassir, has attacked Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for lying to Kenyans that he will arrest Mombasa drug barons.

Speaking at an official function on Saturday, the governor wondered why the government had failed to arrest the drug barons within the 4-day ultimatum that was issued by Gachagua and Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome.

According to Nassir, Gachagua was playing with the emotions of the residents, adding that the government has all powers to enforce the arrests.

"We do not have intelligence. Don't come here and cheat us every time by telling us that you will arrest them. Arrest them. Every time you keep talking about the former regime. You are now in government and you have intelligence, the DCI, and other agencies.

"All you do is teargas protesting doctors instead of arresting the drug barons. Then you can hear and say that you have given them a notice. We are tired of decades of notices. We want action as the people of Mombasa," he stated.

Last week, Gachagua, who was in Mombasa, said he would order the arrest of Mombasa-based drug barons whom he said he doesnt fear like local leaders

The Kenyan DAILY POST




Sunday, March 3, 2024 - A section of Mt Kenya leaders has warned President William Ruto for working with the opposition leader, Raila Odinga.

For the last few months, Ruto and Raila Odinga have been secretly meeting and according to political grapevine, the two political giants have struck deals that no one is aware of, including Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

The latest meeting between Ruto and Raila happened in Uganda and was mediated by Ugandan dictator, Yoweri Kaguta Museveni

Speaking during a burial ceremony in Gitero in Nyeri, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga expressed fears that Raila would easily infiltrate the government, following a meeting the Head of State held with Raila in the presence of Museveni.

He must be careful. We have seen in the past Raila utilising such an opportunity to infiltrate the Moi, Kibaki, and Uhuru governments and wreck the boat from within, Kahiga claimed.

On his part, Laikipia Governor Joshua Irungu noted that the opposition leader was not a trustworthy person, terming him as crafty.

Ruto should deal with Odinga in a situation where one has to sleep with one eye closed while the other open since he can start something fishy anytime, Irungu stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Saturday, March 02, 2024  US President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump made separate visits to the US-Mexico border in Texas on Thursday, February 29.

Speaking with border patrol agents, and law enforcement officials at Brownsville, Texas, on the US-Mexico border, Biden chided Republicans for blocking a Senate bill that would have provided billions of dollars in additional funding for border security.

It's time for the Speaker and some of my Republican friends in Congress who are blocking this bill to show a little spine, Biden told a crowd in Brownsville, referring to a recent bipartisan Senate bill that fell apart after Trump told allies on Capitol Hill not to advance it.

I understand my predecessor is in Eagle Pass today. So here is what I would say to Mr Trump: Instead of playing politics with this issue, instead of telling members of Congress to block this legislation, join me, or Ill join you, in telling the Congress to pass this bipartisan security bill.

Biden added: Instead of playing politics with this issue why dont we just get together and get it done.

Meanwhile, Trump blamed Biden for illegal crossings.

This is a Joe Biden invasion, said Trump, speaking on Thursday during a trip to Eagle Pass, a city at the centre of tense disputes between local and federal officials over powers to curb border crossings.

Border crossings could reach millions and millions by inauguration day in January, said Trump, who had once promised to build a wall along the border to halt migration from Mexico.

He added that Biden had the blood of countless victims of migrant crime on his hands.

FBI data shows a fall in violent crime recently, even as immigration has surged, with the number of violent crimes reported by the bureau down 8 per cent in the third quarter of 2023 versus the same period a year earlier.




Sunday, March 3, 2024  The proposed Farm Produce Tax which President William Rutos government is seeking to introduce as part of its revenue strategy is already causing ripples in Mt. Kenya.

As detailed in the Medium-Term Revenue Strategy, the government has proposed to set the tax at 5 percent of the total value of farm produce delivered to cooperatives and other organized groups.

In the document, Treasury Cabinet Secretary Njuguna Ndung'u proposed that the tax be effected between the upcoming Financial Year, 2024/2025 and 2026/2027.

Treasury explained that the tax was aimed at helping raise revenue for government programmes.

According to Ndungu, the agricultural sector has been undertaxed over the years and things need to change.

Notably, the government anticipated resistance from farmers with the Treasury, outlining a strategy to address the concerns.

The proposed tax has seen a split in the Mt Kenya political leadership. Notably, a section of leaders from the ruling party including Gatanga MP Edward Muriu have stated that they will not support the government proposal.

The leaders explained that the tax would negatively affect most of their supporters given that the region's economy is highly dependent on agriculture.

Some of the food items that are produced in the region include; avocado, tea, coffee, and milk among others.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Sunday, March 3, 2024  The government of President William Ruto has flagged off the first batch of National Youth Service (NYS) graduates to work in Saudi Arabia.

This comes even as the majority of Kenyans remain skeptical of these foreign jobs, considering many youths are enslaved, tortured, and even killed in the Middle Eastern countries.

According to the Labour Ministry, about 46 graduates are set to leave the country to secure different jobs in the foreign nation.

The flagging-off event was presided over by Labour Principal Secretary Shadrack Mwadime who stated that was the first cohort out of 273 NYS graduates set to depart for the same destination over the course of the current month.

"We want to establish an international brand as the source of excellent labour by focusing on NYS graduates because of their high discipline," the Ministry of Labour stated.

According to the PS, the graduates are set to secure jobs as health caregivers and administration assistants among other roles.

After flying the 46, the government will also release separate batches to different countries to create a pool of jobs for Kenyan youths.

In early February, Public Service Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria announced that Kenya was planning to export NYS officers abroad.

Kuria noted the exportation plans were in line with the government's Labour Exportation Programme aimed at leveraging the skills and capabilities of NYS graduates.

On December 8, 2023, Ruto directed that all Kenyans seeking jobs abroad must undergo NYS training before deployment.

The Head of State issued the directive during the pass-out ceremony held in Gilgil, Nakuru with Ruto stating that the move would assist jobseekers in understanding the nature of the jobs.

The Kenyan DAILY POST


Saturday, March 02, 2024  After a long battle with blood clotting on his leg, veteran actor, John Okafor aka Mr Ibu has died. The actor passed away in a hospital in Lagos on Saturday, March 2.

According to family sources, the actor has been on life support after he underwent a second surgery for his ailment recently.

The family source said that his blood pressure has been over 200 after he had the surgery and that efforts were being made to stabilize it before he sadly passed away this evening.

The actor battled with constant clotting of blood on his leg (diseased blood vessels) and other health challenges for years. In October 2023, he came out publicly to seek financial assistance to treat his ailment. There were plans to fly him abroad for further medical care but that plan was aborted by his doctors who believed he wasn't fit to fly.

During the cause of his treatment, his leg was amputated in November 2023.

The actor is survived by his wife and children. He was 62 years old.

The veteran actor was very famous for his sterling interpretation of humorous roles in movies.

May his soul rest in peace, Amen.




Sunday, March 3, 2024  Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas allies in Mt. Kenya are now skeptical about President William Rutos dalliance with Opposition Leader, Raila Odinga.

Led by Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga and his Laikipia counterpart, Joshua Irungu, the leaders cautioned President William Ruto to tread carefully with Raila because he could be up to no good.

Speaking during a burial ceremony in Gitero in Nyeri, Kahiga expressed fears that Raila would easily infiltrate the government, following a meeting the Head of State held with Raila at Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni's animal firm in Kisozi located in the Central part of the neighbouring country.

He must be careful. We have seen in the past Raila utilising such an opportunity to infiltrate the Moi, Kibaki, and Uhuru governments and wrecking the boat from within, Kahiga claimed.

Kahiga, further citing the handshake deal between former president Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga, cautioned that Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua might suffer the same fate unless Ruto treads carefully.

In the past, we have seen how the then deputy and now president William Ruto was treated when Raila was accommodated in Uhurus administration. We would not like a similar scenario to happen to our son, he added.

On his part, Joshua Irungu noted that the opposition leader was not a trustworthy person, terming him as crafty.

Ruto should deal with Odinga in a situation where one has to sleep with one eye closed while the other open since he can start something fishy anytime, Joshua Irungu stated.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Prominent city businessman Jimnah Mbaru was sued by a lady identified as Elizabeth Nadupoi Kimiti for allegedly neglecting his parental duties.

Elizabeth claimed that the flashy tycoon had not been sending her the agreed Sh 50,000 monthly upkeep for their son.

She moved to court and sought Sh600,000 yearly for the childs school fees and a further Sh320,000 monthly for upkeep.

She also wanted Mbaru compelled to take care of the child as his biological father, claiming that he is a respected businessman who runs businesses worth billions of shillings and is, therefore, able to support the child without any difficulties.

She gave birth in 2018 while she was still a student at Daystar University after meeting the wealthy businessman.

Elizabeth loves soft life as seen in the photos posted on her Instagram page.

Check this out.













































































The Kenyan DAILY POST.


Saturday, March 02, 2024  Thousands defied President Vladimir Putin to pay their final respects to Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny on Friday, March 1.

A photo taken inside the Church of the Icon of the Mother of God Soothe My Sorrows showed the 47-year-old politicians body resting in a coffin covered in red and white roses, with candles burning around him.

His parents, Lyudmila Navalnya and Anatoly Navalny, with their faces buried in grief, could be seen seated next to their dead son, surrounded by other relatives.

A hearse carrying his body then arrived at a Moscow cemetery following a brief funeral service with Navalnys allies claiming the presiding Russian Orthodox priest had been pressured to wrap the event as quickly as possible.

Navalny died in an arctic penal colony this month.. He had been imprisoned since returning from his homeland following a poisoning by a nerve gas. His family still maintains that he was killed by Putin.

Russian authorities still havent announced the cause of death for Navalny, 47, who crusaded against official corruption and organized big protests as Putins fiercest political foe.

As Navalny set out on his final journey to the Borisovskoye cemetery, thousands of people lined the streets along the route chanting, We will not forget and Russia will be free.

Hundreds of thousands more watched the proceedings as they were streamed live on YouTube.

Police in riot gear have been sent to the area around the service and snipers have been positioned on the Russian capitals rooftops as a precaution.

His supporters said several churches in Moscow refused to hold the service before Navalnys team got permission from one in the capitals Maryino district, where he once lived before his 2020 poisoning, treatment in Germany and subsequent arrest on his return to Russia.

Watch videos below

A long line of people is chanting Navalny! as Navalnys burial is close to commencing.



: Navalnys team pic.twitter.com/yqqGpGfT27  Novaya Gazeta Europe (@novayagazeta_en) March 1, 2024

Mourners gathered outside Borisovskoye Cemetery are chanting, Lyosha, were with you! and demanding entrance to the cemetery. Only the small crowd allowed to attend Navalnys church services were permitted to approach his grave for his burial. https://t.co/ohzKvfvMrC pic.twitter.com/fLK2127bgZ  Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) March 1, 2024


Saturday, March 02, 2024  US President Joe Biden mistakenly announced Friday March 1, that he was authorizing US airdrops of aid into Ukraine when he was supposed to say the Gaza Strip, another stumble that could increase the scrutiny of his mental acuity.

The 81-year-old American commander-in-chief mixed up the two places twice while hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office.

In the coming days, we are going to join with our friends in Jordan and others in providing airdrops of additional food and supplies into Ukraine and seek to continue to open up other avenues into Ukraine, including the possibility of a marine corridor to deliver large amounts of humanitarian assistance, Biden said.

The president later made clear he was referring to Gaza by adding, without noting his error, the truth is, aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough now.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed about 30 minutes later to reporters that Biden was referring to Gaza when he said Ukraine.

Twice in February, Biden told donors at fundraisers that Helmut Kohl, who left office as German chancellor in 1998 and died in 2017, spoke with him in 2021 about that years Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

Biden also said that former French President Francois Mitterrand, who left office in 1995 and died in 1996, joined that 2021 conversation.

Biden compounded his errors on Feb. 8 by referring to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the president of Mexico during a fiery press conference where he denied special counsel Robert Hurs finding that no jury would convict him of mishandling classified documents on the grounds of perceived senility.

Watch the video below

President Biden says they will be completing air drops of 'food and supplies into Ukraine', and the US is seeking to open up 'other avenues in Ukraine'. Mr Biden meant to say Gazahttps://t.co/GD1gLkuJSj pic.twitter.com/zvx5phNx5p  Sky News (@SkyNews) March 1, 2024
Sunday, March 3, 2024 - Former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa has criticised the government's move to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti.

In a statement on Saturday, Wamalwa who is also the Democratic Alliance Party(DAP) leader, wondered why the government was quick to deploy officers to a country that is over 12,000 kilometers away across the Atlantic Ocean when the same government is incapable of sending troops 200 kilometers away to deal with bandits terrorizing residents in Baringo and Suguta valleys.

He also stated that it was unrealistic that the government had neglected the bandit-prone areas when Member of County Assembly (MCA) Paul Meshimpiro was killed by the bandits.

"Why are we sending our Police to deal with gangs in Haiti over 12,000kms away across the Atlantic, when we can't send enough Police officers 200kms away to deal with bandits of Kerio and Suguta valleys who are killing our own citizens day and night and the other day killed a respected Member of the Samburu County Assembly Hon Paul Leshimpiro?" Wamalwa posed.

The former CS's remarks followed after Kenya signed an agreement with Haiti on the deployment of officers to Haiti.

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan T.D has called on the public to protect nature as Spring begins.

Damage to hedgerows and illegal and uncontrolled fires are some of the activities that can cause harm to nature and wildlife at the onset of the nesting and breeding season.

Minister Noonan said:

Our relatively low cover of native woodland means that our hedgerows are critical infrastructure for nature. These habitats provide food to eat, places to nest, and even corridors for many forms of wildlife to move through the landscape, in particular our nesting birds. Untrimmed, thorny hedgerows are favoured by birds as they provide cover from predators. We love to hear the sounds of our birds as they are a sign of nature waking up. So lets look after our them by leaving our hedgerows intact when we can, to provide them with the safety and shelter they need.

Legislation prohibits the cutting, grubbing, burning or other destruction of vegetation growing in any hedge or ditch between March 1 and August 31. This is to protect bird life during the nesting season, to help prevent forest fires, to protect vegetation and wildlife habitats at an important time for breeding and growth and to provide food for animals and birds. There are very limited exemptions, for example, for health and safety reasons. There is no exemption for the burning of vegetation during this period. Breaches of Section 40 of the Wildlife Act constitute a wildlife crime and will result in prosecution. In addition to the prosecution, the breach will be cross reported to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and a sanction may be applied under Conditionality to the farmer(s) area based payments.

Minister Noonan also called on the public to avoid lighting fires in nature settings. In recent years, illegal and uncontrolled fires have caused significant damage to protected areas and National Parks, notably Killarney National Park and Wicklow Mountains National Park.

Minister Noonan continued:

These illegal fires put communities, public and private properties at risk, they put our emergency services under pressure, and can cause irreparable damage to our natural heritage. The NPWS is ready to respond in the months ahead. Aerial surveillance is a highly effective tool to prevent the outbreak of fire in our National Parks and Nature Reserves, and our eyes in the sky patrols will be busy  day and night  over the coming weeks and months. Initially, we will concentrate mainly on the west coast and south to Cork and Kerry, with close surveillance on Killarney National Park and our Nature Reserves in the West and South. We will also cover the Slieve Blooms and the Wicklow and Dublin Mountains. NPWS staff will continue to work with the Gardai and Fire services and will run aerial surveillance, alongside ground patrols, with increasing regularity over the coming months right across the country, and across our network of National Parks and Nature Reserves.

Niall O Donnchu, Director General of the NPWS added:

Prevention remains key to our approach. We are now using nationwide air cover in early detection and to assist us in the prosecution of illegal burning. We have strengthened our approach to wildlife crime, formalised our co-operation with An Garda Siochana, and enhanced capacity for fire prevention through planning, specialist training, additional equipment, staff on the ground, public vigilance, volunteering and fire mapping data. This means that we are ready to respond quickly in the event of fire in our Parks and Nature Reserves, and our investigative capacity is significantly enhanced.

Minister Noonan concluded by calling on the public to remain vigilant and help protect nature.

Members of the public are our first responders, and can play their part in protecting nature by reporting any incidents or suspicious activity to the NPWS or An Garda Siochana. Where there evidence of offences is found, action will be taken and appropriate enforcement under wildlife legislation will be vigorously pursued.
Last week, Kilkenny IFA protested at the Kilkenny County Council buildings.

Over the past number of weeks, farmers across mainland Europe have been voicing their anger and frustration at the ever-increasing administrative burden being placed on farmers, which has had a major impact on farm family incomes.

These frustrations have broadened into anger with European and national lawmakers over the massive increase in regulations relating to agriculture.

The EU, the Irish government and local government are devising policies far from the farm gate with little or no consideration of the direct impact on farmers, says the farm organisation.

A Kilkenny IFA delegation met with Kilkenny county councillors and highlighted their frustration with the transformation of CAP away from supporting food production towards actually reducing farm output.

Farmers are being asked to do much more to receive a lot less funds in real terms, they say. As well as the more national issues and frustrations, several local government issues were raised with the councillors, such as delays in the planning process which is hindering on-farm investment, implementation of the zoned residential tax, a lack of dog wardens and the proposed increase in water charges.
Robert MacCulloch writes:

Our Worst Finance Minister Ever Grant Robertson (the one who created the cost-of-living crisis) wrote on his Facebook Page that Chippy (Labour Leader Chris Hipkins) is my mate first and foremost. I worked out the other day I have known him for nearly 25 years. I was best man at his wedding. And what do mates do for one another? Here's what: the government appoints four members to Otago University's Council, which in turn chooses the Vice Chancellor. On 23 December 2021, then Labour Education Minister Chris Chippy Hipkins appointed former Labour Party Cabinet Minister, Clare Curran, to the University of Otago Council. Yesterday, on 20 February 2024, it was announced Chippy's mate, Grant Robertson, had been chosen by that same Council to be the next Vice Chancellor (VC), on a salary of $629,000  Otago's first ever non-academic VC in its 155 year history.

Few Vice Chancellor's in the world come from non-academic backgrounds  NZ has selected several in the past, including the VC of waikato, former uk Labour Party politician, bryan gould, who once ran for the Leadership of that Party (he was brought up in NZ), and steve maharey, a former Labour Party Minister who was VC of Massey. Seems they're all part of the Labour Party Extended Families Association which gets mates rates  which in Labour's case means higher, not lower, rates paid by you, the tax-payer, to fund their own.

Politics is about the pursuit of power; business the pursuit of money; universities the pursuit of truth. It's a shame Otago University, with its proud history, has rejected the truth in favor of power and money. There should be a judicial enquiry into this scandalous use of public funds used to support a retiring politician who doesn't have the energy to go on in politics (in his own words, doesn't have much left), but is taking a job that requires far more energy than being an Opposition MP, at least to do it properly. Let's wish him a happy semi-retirement (as Vice Chancellor).
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.
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Palestinians walk through the destruction from the Israeli offensive in the Jabaliya refugee camp in the Gaza Strip on February 29, 2024.
B&M European Value Retail S.A. (OTCMKTS:BMRRY  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 300 shares, an increase of 50.0% from the January 31st total of 200 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 27,300 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days.

B&M European Value Retail Stock Up 1.5 %

OTCMKTS:BMRRY traded up $0.41 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $26.98. 63,625 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 11,619. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $27.05 and its 200 day simple moving average is $27.64. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.52, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 1.37. B&M European Value Retail has a fifty-two week low of $22.12 and a fifty-two week high of $30.98.

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B&M European Value Retail Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 22nd were issued a $0.8152 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, January 19th. This is a boost from B&M European Value Retails previous dividend of $0.14.

About B&M European Value Retail

B&M European Value Retail SA operates general merchandise and grocery stores. The company operates a chain of stores under the B&M, Heron Foods, and B&M Express in the United Kingdom; and stores under the B&M brand in France. It also provides property management services. The company was founded in 1978 and is based in Munsbach, Luxembourg.

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Shaftesbury Capital PLC (OTCMKTS:CCPPF  Get Free Report) saw a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 800 shares, a drop of 11.1% from the January 31st total of 900 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 4,700 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Shaftesbury Capital Stock Up 2.5 %

CCPPF stock traded up $0.04 on Friday, reaching $1.63. 22,053 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 9,791. Shaftesbury Capital has a one year low of $1.31 and a one year high of $1.75. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $1.66 and a 200-day simple moving average of $1.54.

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Shaftesbury Capital PLC ("Shaftesbury Capital") is the leading central London mixed-use REIT and is a constituent of the FTSE-250 Index. Our property portfolio, valued at 4.9 billion at June 2023, extends to 2.9 million square feet of lettable space across the most vibrant areas of London's West End.

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By Roselyn Fosuah Adjei

ACCRA  Over the past few years, intense media scrutiny has prompted a growing number of companies to pursue high-quality carbon credits. Seeking to avoid accusations of greenwashing, many of these firms are no longer content with merely offsetting their emissions and have been actively seeking credits that deliver tangible benefits to local communities.

The Ghanaian government is prepared to help. We have devoted more than 15 years to developing a robust forest-conservation program. After extensive planning and preparation, we are ready to offer high-integrity credits to buyers in the Global North who are eager to demonstrate their commitment to fighting deforestation.

To be sure, several forest-protection schemes have come under fire in recent years. Critics argue that instead of reducing deforestation, these offsets are primarily aimed at serving the interests of corporations seeking carbon credits to meet their climate targets and validate their claims of carbon neutrality.

But jurisdictional programs like Ghanas are different. Designed to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, these initiatives cover vast areas while addressing some of the problems facing individual projects. For example, they mitigate the risk of illegal deforestation outside of designated conservation zones.

The concept is not new. Article 5 of the 2015 Paris climate agreement encourages developed countries to offer results-based payments to developing countries for achieving emissions reductions. Over the past two decades, jurisdictional forest-protection efforts have been largely funded by public donors, while corporate support has flowed toward specific emissions-reduction projects through the voluntary carbon market. But this is now changing, and countries like Ghana are leading the way.

Ghanas High Forest Zone, located within the Guinean Forests of West Africa, is recognized as one of the worlds 36 biodiversity hotspots. In 2008, an alarming increase in deforestation rates prompted the Ghanaian government to join the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF) and develop its forest-conservation program with the goal of harnessing carbon finance to halt and reverse deforestation.

With financial support from the FCPF, the World Bank, and the Green Climate Fund, we identified five critical commodity-linked areas for intervention. Through community engagement, our teams devised benefit-sharing strategies tailored to the diverse needs of various stakeholders. They also developed specialized measurement technologies, enabling more accurate monitoring of the carbon stored in Ghanas forests.

After spending nearly two decades laying the necessary technical groundwork and establishing relationships with local communities, Ghana recently entered the voluntary carbon market. We are preparing to issue jurisdictional carbon credits through the Architecture for REDD+ Transactions (ART) process, thereby enabling domestic and international companies to support our conservation efforts.

Our objective is to transform carbon credits into a long-term revenue stream. To this end, Ghana recently became one of the first countries to sign an emissions-reduction agreement with the Lowering Emissions by Accelerating Forest Finance (LEAF) Coalition. As part of the deal, Ghana is set to receive $50 million for reducing carbon dioxide emissions by up to five million tons.

While buyers in the Global North may view carbon credits as instrumental in meeting their climate targets, in Ghana, they represent a more profound shift. The revenue generated from these credits translates into tangible income for local communities, enabling households to benefit financially from forest preservation. These credits are more than a financial resource; they are a testament to years of dedicated work and commitment to environmental stewardship.

But for this program to be effective, buyers must recognize that integrity and impact require substantial investment. High-quality credits should do more than bolster corporate climate strategies; they should also contribute to preserving the worlds forests.

In essence, this means providing communities with financial incentives to conserve trees instead of cutting them down. While the LEAF agreement, which values CO2 emissions at $10 per ton, represents a positive first step, it is not enough, because the returns on illegal deforestation are higher.

Given that carbon pricing appears to have been designed by and for those on the demand side, Global North buyers should consult countries like Ghana to understand the true cost of producing high-integrity credits. Based on our extensive experience fighting deforestation, prices should account for the necessary preparatory work and, crucially, exceed the rates paid to illegal loggers and miners.

Carbon credits are not like aid funds, which are distributed by donor countries according to their own assessments of what they can or should give. Rather, they are payments for emissions reductions that issuers like Ghana have worked hard to achieve  and that are crucial to limiting global warming to 1.5 Celsius. Potential buyers should visit, see for themselves the challenges we face in fighting deforestation, and then discuss pricing that reflects the real value of our accomplishments.





Roselyn Fosuah Adjei is climate change director at Forestry Commission and National REDD+ Focal Point for Ghana. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate.
Time to assess if nation learned properly from past

President Yoon Suk Yeol spoke about how and why South Korea and Japan need to work together at this critical juncture, but his speech didn't reveal much about the lessons the nation should learn from its traumatic past.

In a speech to mark the 105th anniversary of the March 1st Independence Movement, Yoon stopped short of criticizing Japan directly for the historic animosity that for decades has pitted the two nations against each other, even after Korea was liberated from Japan's colonial rule in 1945.

"Next year will mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between South Korea and Japan. On this occasion, I hope that the two countries will be able to forge productive and constructive bilateral relations," he said.

Yoon then switched gears to talk about North Korea, criticizing the regime for its human rights violations. He said unification of the two Koreas will represent the realization of freedom, stressing that the 1919 Declaration of Independence identified it as a universal value at the time. The statement calling for Korea's independence, drafted by Choe Nam-seon and co-signed by 33 representatives of the independence movement, was unveiled prior to the nationwide independence movement in 1919.

Yoon was cautious about mentioning Japan directly as the state responsible for South Korea's tragic past, seeking to divert attention to North Korea's abysmal human rights situation.

What he did is understandable. Yoon would not want to rock the boat. If he tried to hold Japan accountable for Koreans' suffering over three decades of the colonial period, he would have poured cold water on Seoul-Tokyo relations, which have been showing signs of improving lately due to their mutual efforts to defend against growing threats from North Korea and China.

South Korea would have nothing to gain, should its ties with Japan turn sour again at this critical juncture. It could pay a price on the security front because of the grave geopolitical circumstances. Tensions are escalating in East Asia, which some pundits have likened to a new Cold War-like standoff between two blocs, each consisting of three nations  one is a coalition of democratic countries, namely the United States, South Korea and Japan, and the other is the autocratic partnership forged among China, Russia and North Korea.

If Seoul-Tokyo ties are held back again due to disputes over historical issues, that will do a disservice to their trilateral partnership with the U.S. This kind of thinking seems to have played out when Yoon was determined to tone down on Japan and sharpen his criticism on North Korea instead. His approach makes sense.

However, there are still things that South Korea and its people need to keep in mind when they commemorate the 105th anniversary of the peaceful, non-violent independence movement that inspired several other non-violent independence protests in other countries.

Instead of blaming others, South Korea needs to learn from its past through introspection. It needs to figure out what went wrong with the nation when its fate was in peril and annexed by Japan. Based on this, the nation should confront itself by asking why that happened and what lessons it should learn from its tragic past.

History repeats itself. If not fully prepared, the nation can face a situation similar to what it had experienced in the early 1900s again. History is a dialogue between the past and the present, as British historian E.H. Carr asserted in his 1961 book "What Is History?"

Regarding Korea's colonial experiences, the question the country needs to ask now is obvious. Are we capable enough to protect ourselves from a possible invasion by North Korea or foreign forces? If we hesitate to answer this question without confidence, it's obvious that we are not yet there. If that is the case, it means that we didn't learn properly from the past.
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magnficent-seven

Greg Taylor, chief investment officer at Purpose Investments, talks with Financial Posts Larysa Harapyn about which stocks are attractive among the so-called Magnificent Seven, which includes Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Meta Platforms Inc., Microsoft Corp., Nvidia Corp., and Tesla Inc., and which ones to avoid.

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Champhai (Mizoram) [India], March 3 (ANI): In a joint operation, Assam Rifles and Mizoram police recovered drugs and foreign origin beer worth Rs 1.75 crore in Champhai district along the India-Myanmar border, Officials said.

The security personnel also apprehended four persons.

Also Read | Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Chair Council of Ministers Meet, To Discuss Viksit Bharat Plan and Upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

The Public Relations Officer of IGAR (East) said that, based on secret information, a joint team of Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police carried out two separate operations in New Hruikawn, Zokhawthar in Champhai district on March 1.

During the search operation, forces recovered 95 grams of heroin worth Rs 66.50 lakh in Zokhawthar and 155 grams of heroin and 10 cases of foreign origin Beer worth Rs 1.08 crore.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Six-Year-Old Girl Raped by Youth in Bahraich Village.

The PRO said that forces also apprehended four individuals.

"The entire consignment and four apprehended individuals were handed over to Police Department Zokhawthar for further legal proceedings," the PRO said.

On the other hand, in yet another success in its crusade against smuggling activities, Assam Rifles along with Special Narcotics Police Station, CID (Crime), Aizawl, recovered six soap cases containing 72.18 grams of heroin worth Rs 50,52,600 laks in general area Rangvamual, on February 29.

They also apprehended a Myanmar national during the operation."The recovered consignment and apprehended individuals were handed over to Special Narcotics Police Station, CID (Crime), Mizoram, for further legal proceedings," the PRO said.

Ongoing smuggling of illegal drugs is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram and India. Assam Rifles, rightly christened as the 'Sentinels of Northeast' have continued their efforts against illegal drug trafficking and has also doubled its efforts to nab the kingpins of the drug racket in Mizoram. (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], March 3 (ANI): The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested six persons including two NHAI officers in an alleged bribery case.

According to the central probe agency, one of the accused is the General Manager and Project Director, NHAI, PIU, Nagpur (bribe receiver) and another one Deputy General Manager and Project Director, NHAI Harda (MP) along with two directors, and two employees.

Also Read | Madhya Pradesh Road Accident: 12 Injured After Bus Hits Truck, Overturns in Raisen.

The accused of the said private company have been arrested in a case related to bribery of Rs 20 lakh. A cash recovery/seizure of Rs 1.10 crore(approx) including the bribe money has been made so far, the agency added.

CBI registered a case against four public servants of NHAI, a Bhopal-based private company, five private persons including two directors and employees and unknown others on allegations that directors of a Bhopal-based private company have been delivering bribes to various public servants of NHAI through their employees in lieu of issuance of completion certificates, processing of bills, smooth progression of awarded works, etc. in various road projects awarded by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Also Read | Ullu App: NCPCR Seeks Action From Government Against Streaming Platform for Distributing 'Obscene and Objectionable' Material.

It was further alleged that an employee of said company is in regular contact with the General Manager and Project Director, NHAI, PIU, Nagpur for clearing pending matters including processing of pending bills and issuance of completion certificate, in lieu of bribe, for Project Outer Ring Road.

It was also alleged that said employees of the private company delivered bribes to the public servants in Nagpur and in different locations in Madhya Pradesh.

Further, it was alleged that a bribe amount of Rs 25 lakh was likely to be delivered to said General Manager and Project Director, NHAI, PIU, Nagpur.

Searches are being conducted at different offices and residences of the accused including at Nagpur, Bhopal and Harda. Cash of Rs 1.10 (approx) including the trap money has been recovered/seized so far along with other incriminating documents, digital devices, etc during searches.

Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Gwalior, March 3: Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh used the 'washing machine' metaphor on Sunday to criticise the former members of his party who have now joined the BJP, adding that whoever has left Congress is a "beneficiary of the washing machine".

"The people who need a washing machine are leaving and going there (joining the BJP). You count the Congress leaders who have left the party, be it the chief minister of Assam (Himanta Biswa Sarma)...all are the beneficiaries of this washing machine," he said. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Congress Leader Jairam Ramesh Says Doors Still Open for Alliance With Mamata Banerjee-Led TMC in West Bengal.

"All need a washing machine; some need small, some need medium, and some need grand-size washing machines," he added. On Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The list includes 47 youth candidates, 28 women candidates, 27 Scheduled Caste (SC) candidates, 18 Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and 57 OBC/Backward Class candidates.

As per the list, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi again. Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2020, will contest from Guna in Madhya Pradesh. Nitin Gadkari Sends Legal Notice to Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh for Sharing Misleading News Contents on X.

Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Center and States, while two are former chief ministers who are on the list. Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, while Mansukh Mandaviya will contest from Porbandar.

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari will contest from North-East Delhi. Late leader Sushma Swaraj's daughter, Bansuri Swara, will contest from New Delhi. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh contested from Lucknow, and Smriti Irani will again contest from Amethi.

Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi secured a victory in Varanasi with 6,74,664 against Congress's Ajay Rai. The BJP-led National Democratic Party (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats. The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Lucknow, Mar 3 (PTI) The Election Commission has devised a plan to encourage voters in Uttar Pradesh, which recorded a tepid turnout of 59.11 per cent in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, to exercise their franchise in the upcoming general elections.

As part of its 'Turnout Implementation Plan' (TIP), the poll body has shortlisted 10 of the state's 80 Lok Sabha constituencies where the voter turnout was lower than the state's polling percentage.

Also Read | World Wildlife Day 2024: PM Narendra Modi Hails Those Supporting Wildlife Conservation Efforts.

These parliamentary constituencies are Phulpur (48.57 per cent), Kanpur (51.39 per cent), Allahabad (51.75 per cent), Shravasti (52.05 per cent), Gonda (52.11 per cent), Domariyaganj (52.26 per cent), Pratapgarh (53.36 per cent), Bhadohi (53.45 per cent), Amethi (54.05 per cent) and Sant Kabir Nagar (54.15 per cent).

Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar said the voter turnout in Uttar Pradesh in the 2019 elections was quite low at 59.11 per cent, even though the state has the highest number of voters.

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Election Commission Full Bench To Visit West Bengal on March 3, Take Stock of Poll Preparations.

"So, efforts are being made with utmost attention and in a concentrated manner... (to ensure) that more and more people are enrolled (as voters) ...and then subsequently, they cast their votes. We call this 'roll to poll'," he said.

"This time, a Turnout Implementation Plan has been made and constituencies and booths where polling has been low have been shortlisted.

"Now, why the voting has been less there, the (district) collectors will personally go there and see. They will try to convince, appeal and request them (voters) to participate in democracy (elections)," he said.

An overall voter turnout of 67 per cent was recorded in the country in the last Lok Sabha elections, according to the EC.

As part of TIP, Kumar flagged off three voter awareness express vans on Saturday that will go to 22 districts which saw a low voter turnout in the 2019 polls, the EC said in a statement.

It said these voter awareness express vans will go to Kanpur, Prayagraj, Bhadohi, Shravasti, Balrampur, Gonda, Siddharthnagar, Pratapgarh, Amethi, Rae Bareli, Ambedkar Nagar, Sant Kabir Nagar, Ghazipur, Ballia, Bahraich, Lucknow, Kaushambi, Azamgarh, Deoria, Jaunpur, Varanasi and Gorakhpur.

According to EC data, there are approximately 15.29 crore voters in Uttar Pradesh (as on January 23). This includes 8.14 crore male voters, 7.15 crore female voters and 7,705 transgender voters.

The number of first-time voters (18-19 age group) is nearly 20.41 lakh.

There are 1,62,012 polling stations in Uttar Pradesh and 38,959 of these are in urban areas. There are 1,23,053 polling stations in rural areas, according to the EC data.

In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP and its ally Apna Dal (Sonelal) won 64 Lok Sabha seats in the state, the Congress bagged one, the Bahujan Samaj Party 10 and the Samajwadi Party five.

(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], March 3 (ANI): Following the intervention of Union Minister of Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Google has restored its all apps, as per the government sources.

Sources added to discuss the matter further the minister has called a meeting with the tech giant on Monday.

Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Man Kills Younger Brother Over Trivial Dispute in Lucknow's Nishatganj Area.

After the intervention of Union Minister of Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Google has restored its all apps. The minister has called a meeting with Google on Monday, as per government sources.

Recently, Google announced that it will be removing certain Indian apps from its Play Store. The reason behind this decision is a disagreement over service fee payments, as per reports. (ANI)

Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Seasoned Campaigner Jyotiraditya Scindia To Contest LS Polls on BJP Ticket for First Time From Guna.

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Agartala (Tripura) [India], March 3 (ANI): Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Saturday that the state government and central government aim to stand with the people, not by creating problems, but by resolving them.

Addressing a press conference, Saha said that the tripartite agreement was signed in Delhi on Saturday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, focusing on the implementation of various constitutional rights for indigenous people.

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"Today marks a historic day for Tripura. This agreement holds immense significance at present. Tipra Motha has been actively engaging with the State and Central Governments for a long time to address their issues. Discussions have taken place on numerous occasions, and finally, the historic day has arrived," said Saha.

He emphasised the government's commitment to maintaining peace and harmony in Tripura, expressing the intention to be with the people by solving problems rather than creating them.

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The Chief Minister extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Tipra Motha Founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma for their roles in signing the agreement.

He said that February 2, 2024, indeed marked a historic day for Tripura with the signing of a tripartite agreement addressing the overall welfare of the people. The agreement involved the Central Government, the Tripura Government, and Tipra Motha.

During the press conference, Saha highlighted the Central Government's commitment to advancing development by establishing peace in the Northeastern states.

"Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritised the development of the Northeastern region, recognising that the country's progress is tied to the development of the region. Today's tripartite agreement is a significant step towards building Ek Tripura Srestha Tripura through collective efforts nationwide," said Saha.

He acknowledged the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in restoring peace in the north-eastern states.

Saha emphasised that the historic agreement addresses issues related to history, land rights, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, and language of the people of Tripura.

"The agreement also outlines the formation of a joint working group, based on mutual consent, to respectfully implement solutions to various problems faced by the indigenous people. Additionally, to maintain a conducive environment for agreement implementation, parties involved are urged to refrain from any form of protest or demonstration," he added. (ANI)

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Dumka, Mar 3 (PTI) Three persons who were arrested in connection with the gang rape of a Spanish tourist in Jharkhand's Dumka district were produced before a court on Sunday.

The woman from Spain was allegedly gang-raped at Kurumahat in Hansdiha police station area, around 300 km from the state capital Ranchi, on Friday night when she was spending the night in a tent along with her husband, police said.

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Dumka's Deputy Commissioner A Dodde said, "The embassy and chief secretary have been informed. The couple are under protection here."

The woman, aged around 28, and her 64-year-old husband reached Dumka from Bangladesh on two motorcycles, and were en route to Nepal via Bihar.

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Pune (Maharashtra) [India], March 3 (ANI): In a major breakthrough in the ongoing investigation of the MD drug seizure at Pimpri Chinchwad in Maharashtra's Pune, a police sub-inspector has been arrested for his alleged involvement in the drug racket in the local area.

According to the Police Inspector of Pimpri Chinchwad City Police, Vaibhav Shingare, the Anti-Narcotics Cell, recovered 42 kg of MD drug worth 42 crore from a peddler named Namami Jha on Friday.

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During the investigation, the officials found the involvement of a sub-inspector attached to the Nigdi police station.

During the investigation, police recovered a bag of 2.32 kg of mephedrone from the accused.

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The police sub-inspector, who was allegedly found involved in the incident, has been identified as Vikas Shelke.

As of now, two people have been arrested in the case, including police officers and a case has been registered at Sangvi police station under sections 8 (c), 21 (c), and 22 (c) of the NDPS Act with further investigation underway. (ANI)

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Modathir Bashir at CBC'S Edmonton AM studios talking about the federal government's program to bring Sudanese fleeing war to Canada. (CBC Edmonton - image credit)

Modathir Bashir, an Edmontonian originally from Sudan, is facing a heartbreaking dilemma. He desperately wants to help his sisters get out of war-torn Sudan but can only afford to bring one of them  and her four children  to Canada.

The east African country has been embroiled in a civil war since April 2023 after clashes between the army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces threatened a planned transition to a civilian government.

Bashir has five sisters. One lives in Calgary. Three have managed to flee Sudan to Egypt and Oman but one is still stuck in the eastern part of Sudan. Bashir said she had to flee within the country twice as the war kept reaching her.

"They are somewhat safe but I don't think they are completely safe at this time," he said.

Although Canada's federal government has created a program to allow Bashir and other Canadians to bring their families here, the applications are capped at 3,250.

"It is not enough," Bashir told CBC's Edmonton AM on Wednesday.

Canada is home to 17,485 people of Sudanese origin, according to Statistics Canada's 2021 Census Profile.

Bashir, who works with the Sudanese Cultural League of Edmonton, believes most, if not all will be trying to get their family members out of harm's way.

LISTEN | Not enough applications for those fleeing Sudan war:

A spokesperson for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada told CBC in an email that intake caps are "standard practice in public policies" and based on a number of factors, including available resources and other available immigration pathways.

The federal government announced the program last month. It came into effect on Tuesday and will last one year.

Applications are open to children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents and siblings of Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Each application is for an individual and their immediate family members only.

Story continues

Bashir said besides the limited number of applications, he and others hoping to help relatives get out of Sudan are also bound by the financial requirements.

The application fee for each individual is $570 for adults and $155 for a dependent child.

On top of that, applicants are expected to earn a certain salary  for four people it's roughly $51,000  and if they don't make that much money they are expected to have $9,900 in savings for each person they are applying for.

There are also fees for things like biometric collection, where individuals prove their identity via fingerprints and photos.

"I won't be able to bring them all because I cannot afford it," Bashir said of his sisters.

He is working on applying for one of his sisters to come to Canada via the federal government program. She and her children are currently in Egypt, he said.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NCR) estimates the war has displaced nine million people inside Sudan, and forced another 1.7 million people to flee the country.

Bashir said he is grateful to the Canadian government for creating the program but it would really help the thousands trying to bring their families safely home to change the application process.

"We ask the government to increase the amount of applicants as well as waive the application fees," he said.

He would also like the Canadian government to play a role within the international community to help end the war.
Mangaluru (Karnataka) [India], March 3 (ANI): Police apprehended three individuals for the destruction of a newly constructed 'Bhandara' house on government-owned land next to the Kondana Temple here on Sunday, officials said.

The three accused have been identified as Muttana Shetty, Dheeraj, and Shivraj.

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According to the police, "The Kondana Temple, located within the boundaries of Ullala, is managed by the endowment department. This morning, around 8 am, a newly constructed bhandara house, situated on government land next to the temple, was demolished by a JCB machine operated by unidentified individuals."

Following a complaint lodged by Chief Officer Anand, an FIR (CR No: 43/24 u/s 143, 147, 148, 295,427 r/w 149 IPC and 2A KPDLPA Act) was registered.

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As per Mangaluru Police Commissioner Anupam Agrawal, the motive behind their actions was a disagreement among the temple's 16 gurikararu's regarding the new bhandara house. The construction of the house was deemed illegal as it was being built without any permission. (ANI)

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Mumbai, Mar 3 (PTI) In the aftermath of Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Abhishek Ghosalkar's murder, the Mumbai police have ordered all units to verify the licences of people owning weapons for personal safety and those engaged in providing security services, an official said on Sunday.

As part of their crackdown against possession of unlicensed weapons, the Crime Branch units 6 and 7 arrested three people in 10 days, the official said.

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"Security guards and personal bodyguards hired to protect builders, politicians, etc are under the scanner, and their weapon licences are being verified," Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Lakhmi Gautam told PTI.

People who have licences from other states and use their weapons in Mumbai have to get their licenses transferred and submit documents related to their firearms to the city police, he said.

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The action has come following the murder of Abhishek Ghosalkar, son of Shiv Sena UBT leader Vinod Ghosalkar, who was fatally shot in Mumbai last month, the official said.

The assailant, Mauris Noronha, later shot himself with his bodyguard's pistol.

The incident took place during a Facebook live session, and the police later arrested Noronha's bodyguard, Amarendra Mishra, under the Arms Act.

"If a person with a weapon fails to provide sufficient details or documents related to it, he or she will be booked under the Arms Act. It must be noted that people who carry weapons, whether security guards or personal bodyguards, cannot show them off,' the official said.

In a recent action, the crime branch's Unit 7 arrested Jamrul Hanif Khan (26) and Mohammad Yasar Mohammad Iqbal (34) from Ghatkopar on February 21 after they were found in possession of firearms, which they claimed were given to them by an additional district magistrate in Poonch, Jammu & Kashmir for their safety, he said.

The duo, however, had not registered their weapons with the Maharashtra police, the official said, adding that a case was registered against them under the Arms Act.

Similarly, the crime branch on February 29 arrested Hanumant Pratap Vishnudatta Pandey (45) after a revolver and four cartridges were recovered from him in suburban Kurla, the official said.

Pandey allegedly provided security services independently and had not renewed the licence for the firearm, which he had procured from Uttar Pradesh, he said.

The accused had also not transferred the licence to Maharashtra or informed the authorities concerned, the official said.

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Gwalior, March 3: One person was injured in a firing after supporters of a BJP leader clashed with each other in front of the party's office in Madhya Pradesh's Gwalior city on Sunday, police said. The incident occurred close to a police outpost in the Maharaj Bada area in the afternoon, an official said.

According to party sources, a fight broke out between supporters of BJP leader Bharat Singh Kushwaha, who is the party's candidate from Gwalior seat for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Madhya Pradesh Firing: Four Killed, Many Injured in Shootout After Clash Erupts Between Two Groups in Datia (Watch Video).

"We were notified about the firing near BJ|P office. We rushed the injured man, Dharmendra Singh Gurjar, to a hospital," Kotwali City Superintendent of Police (CSP) Ayush Gupta told PTI. Gurjar sustained bullet injury to his arm, he said. Madhya Pradesh Firing Video: Two Killed, Six Injured After Man Opens Fire From His Balcony in Indore, Viral Clip Surfaces.

"The accused Rustam Singh was apprehended and a firearm was recovered from him. A probe has been initiated to find out the reason for the clash," the official said. A fight broke out between two groups minutes after Kushwaha left the party office and they exchanged blows and one of them opened fire, sources said.

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Kochi, Mar 3 (PTI) The KMSCL has told the Kerala High Court that an amount of Rs 90.88 crore was due to it from the state government.

The Kerala Medical Services Corporation Ltd (KMSCL) made this assertion before the court in response to a pharma company's plea alleging several months delay in payments by the state-run entity for medicines supplied under the Karunya Community Pharmacy project.

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Justice Devan Ramachandran said that if the assertion of the KMSCL was true, then "it is a very sorry state of affairs".

The court directed the state government's lawyer to obtain specific instructions with regard to KMSCL's assertion and inform it by the next date of hearing on March 19.

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The court also directed the KMSCL to hold discussions with the petitioner pharma companies to "explore ways and means of settling their claim as far as is practically possible".

"A report in this regard shall be made available by the next posting date," it said.

The court was hearing a plea by Sun Pharma, represented by senior advocate Jaju Babu, seeking directions to KMSCL to clear its pending bills of around Rs 9.5 crore for medicines supplied till December 31, 2023.

Babu said that during pendency of the petition, Rs 4.27 crore was paid by KMSCL towards the pending bills and around Rs 5 crore dues remained.

During the hearing of the matter, the KMSCL told the court that Rs 90.88 crore were due to it from the state government.

Sun Pharma, in its petition, has said that the Karunya Community Pharmacy is the largest pharmacy retail chain in the state with 52 outlets in different districts.

"The pharmacy is known to make a profit margin of 7 per cent and above for most of the drugs," it has said.

The pharma company has further claimed that while KMSCL assured to make payments within 45 days of supply of medicines, the same was delayed by five to six months many times.

However, as the drugs supplied by the company were required by patients continuously it did not stop the same as it had a moral responsibility to continue uninterrupted supply.

But the delay in payments were causing financial loss to it, the petitioner company has claimed.

The company has contended that the Karunya stores sell medicines on cash and carry basis and not on credit and if the revenue generated is not diverted, "there is no occasion for such huge arrears and pending dues".

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New Delhi, March 3: Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday contributed to the Bharatiya Janata Party to strengthen the efforts of building a Viksit Bharat and urged everyone to donate and help the efforts of the saffron party in nation-building. The Prime Minister donated Rs 2,000 to the BJP party fund.

"I am happy to contribute to @BJP4India and strengthen our efforts to build a Viksit Bharat. I also urge everyone to be a part of #DonationForNationBuilding through the NaMoApp," the Prime Minister posted on X. PM Narendra Modi Contributes Rs 2000 For Building Viksit Bharat, Urges People to Donate for Nation Building.

The call to donate money comes after the Supreme Court in February delivered a unanimous verdict, striking down the Electoral Bonds scheme as unconstitutional. While the Opposition parties hailed the Apex court decision, the ruling BJP said that the scheme was brought in for transparency in electoral funding.

The CJI while reading out his judgement said that the Supreme Court holds that anonymous electoral bonds are violative of Right to Information and Article 19(1)(a). The Supreme Court said that information about corporate contributors through Electoral Bonds must be disclosed as the donations by companies are purely for quid pro quo purposes. 12 States in Next 10 Days: PM Narendra Modis Gruelling Schedule Shows BJP in Mission 370 Mode Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024.

The purpose of curbing black money is not a sufficient justification to anonymise the identities of donors and the details of the contributions in the Electoral Bonds scheme, the SC said while striking down the Centre's Electoral Bonds scheme.

An Electoral Bond is an instrument in the nature of a promissory note or bearer bond which can be purchased by any individual, company, firm or association of persons provided the person or body is a citizen of India or incorporated or established in India. The bonds are issued specifically for the purpose of contributing funds to political parties.

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Visakhapatnam, March 3: Two persons were arrested for allegedly murdering a photographer and stealing his expensive cameras, police said on Sunday. According to the police, Shanmukha Teja (19) from Ravulapalem in Konaseema district got in touch with P Sai Vijay Pawankalyan (23), a photographer from Bakkannapalem area of the port city, for an assignment.

Teja informed Pawankalayan that both would work together on the 'Ravulapalem assignment' but he was actually planning to steal Pawankalyan's high-end cameras, estimated to be worth around Rs 15 lakh, Visakhapatnam Police said in a release. Nagpur Shocker: Former Press Photographer Vinay Punekar Shot Dead Inside House in Raj Nagar Area; Accused Absconding.

On February 26, Pawankalyan took a train to Rajamahendravaram, where he was picked by Teja in a hired car and proceeded to Alamuru mandal near Ravulapalem. Police said Pawankalyan sensed that he was in trouble and messaged a picture of the car's rear view and Teja's phone number to his mother P Ramanamma, saying that he was with strangers and if his phone didn't connect she could call Teja.

Ramanamma started worrying when she could not reach Pawankalyan on the phone, prompting her to approach P M Palem police station in Visakhapatnam and lodged a missing case. Visakhapatnam Zone-1 Deputy Commissioner of Police Manikanta Chandolu told PTI that Teja and his friend Vinod (20) had strangled Pawankalyan to death with a leather belt and buried him on the banks of river Godavari near Alamuru. Noida Horror: Gym Trainer Brutally Killed as Unknown Assailants Rain Bullets on Him in Sector 104, Disturbing Video Surfaces.

When police landed at Teja's home on March 1 at Mulasthana Agraharam near Alamuru, he was already on the run. However, they questioned Teja's parents and confirmed the murder and also recovered the cameras hidden in a room in the house.

As Teja went incommunicado, police lured him by making a girl from Kancharapalem, with whom he was friendly, to text him and laid a trap following which Teja and Vinod were arrested. The DCP said the police recovered Pawankalyan's body and handed it over to his parents. Teja and Vinod have been arrested for murder under IPC Section 302, police said.

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New Delhi [India], March 3 (ANI): Union Minority Affairs Minister Smriti Irani released Haj Guide 2024 and launched the Haj Suvidha Mobile Application on Sunday in New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion, the Minister said various Ministries in the NDA government have made coordinated efforts to provide a smooth and convenient Haj pilgrimage to people.

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"Facilities for the Hajis are not just the responsibility of the Ministry of Minority Affairs. Now, PM Modi government has established coordination between all departments to improve the facilities of the Hajis," she said.

She further said that over 5000 women have applied under the Lady without Mehram (LWM) category for Haj.

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"Last year, number of individual women Hajis was 4,300 which has crossed 5160 this year..." she added.

The Minister said the central government is continuously striving to improve the Haj experience for pilgrims.

"Haj Suvidha Mobile App will aid the pilgrims in providing their location to officials in case of any need. The App will help pilgrims to locate the nearest health facilities in times of need," Smriti Irani said.

Notably, a total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalised for Haj this year, after India signed the Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 with Saudi Arabia (KSA) at Jeddah in January this year.

The Bilateral Haj Agreement 2024 was signed between Union Minister for Women and Child Development and Minority Affairs Smriti Irani accompanied by V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs with Dr. Tawfiq bin Fawzan Al-Rabiah, Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia (KSA) in January this year.

"A total quota of 1,75,025 pilgrims from India has been finalised for Haj 2024 with 1,40,020 seats being reserved for pilgrims to proceed through Haj Committee of India which will greatly benefit the common first-time pilgrims intending to undertake the Haj pilgrimage in 2024 whereas 35,005 pilgrims would be permitted to proceed through Haj Group Operators," the Ministry of Minority Affairs said in an official press release.

Every year, millions of Muslims around the world embark on a sacred pilgrimage known as Hajj/Haj. This spiritual journey holds immense significance in the lives of believers, offering an opportunity to connect with Allah, seek forgiveness, and strengthen their faith. The heartfelt desire to be among those walking to Mina, echoing the Labaik with the crowd, and performing the rituals of Haj is a sentiment shared by countless individuals. (ANI)

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Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], March 3 (ANI): Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Sunday distributed appointment letters to 8 Assistant Accountants and 342 Gram Panchayat Development Officers of the Panchayati Raj department in the appointment letter distribution ceremony organised by the Panchayati Raj department at the Chief Sevak Sadan located at the Chief Minister's residence.

Assistant Accountants have been selected through the Public Service Commission and Gram Panchayat Development Officers have been selected through the Subordinate Services Selection Commission.

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While congratulating all the selected personnel, the Chief Minister said that the appointed accountants and Gram Panchayat Development Officers are not only the primary unit of the democratic system but are also its foundation.

"The stronger the Panchayati Raj system is, the stronger our democracy will be, only then Suraj's vision can be realized. All of you play an important role in conveying the problems of the people standing at the last end of the society, their complaints to the government and making the public welfare works done by the government reach the people," CM Dhami said.

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The Chief Minister said that the government itself is reaching out to the last person of society, empowering him and providing him the benefits of various schemes.

"Today, whether it is LPG gas connection, electricity connection, water connection, construction of Izzatghars under Swachh Bharat Abhiyan or other schemes, the deprived section of the society is also included in the centre of every scheme of the government. In the government running under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, our priority is to fulfil the needs of the deprived," he said.

He said that we are continuously making efforts that development should not be limited to cities only, but its benefits should reach all the people in rural areas.

The Chief Minister said that the soul of India resides in the villages, but in the past this was not given due attention and from the point of view of development, the villages were kept at the lowest position and the money sent for the villages did not reach there.

"The government led by Prime Minister Modi completely changed this situation. The government launched the Jan-Dhan Yojana, opened bank accounts of more than 50 crore village people across the country, and made Post Office Payment Bank reach to the villages using post offices and today its effect is visible in every village of the country. The money from the schemes is going directly into the people's accounts," he said.

The Chief Minister said that the state government is doing every work for the development of villages, which could not be done earlier due to lack of willpower.

He said that if youth remain dedicated to the development of villages with the spirit of upliftment of their villages, then there can be no hindrance in the development of villages. He appealed to the employees to work considering the villages as their home, so that the development of the villages can get wings.The Chief Minister said that earlier there was a lack of transparency in the recruitment examinations, but we worked to bring transparency in the recruitment examinations and after the enactment of the country's most stringent anti-copying law in the state, examinations are now being conducted in a time bound manner along with transparency.

He said that it is a result of the anti-copying law that we are working every day to provide employment to eligible youth in different departments by providing them with appointment letters.

The Chief Minister said that under the leadership of PM Modi, works of public interest are being carried out by moving forward on the mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas and Sabka Prayas. "Today, Uttarakhand is moving ahead in an unprecedented environment of development and trust, fulfilling the aspirations of the people. The goal of a developed Uttarakhand is the collective goal of all of us and it can be achieved only through collective efforts," he further said.

He appealed to all the youth of the state to cooperate in the efforts being made to fulfil "optionless resolution" to make Uttarakhand the best state of the country. (ANI)

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Guwahati (Assam) [India], March 3 (ANI): Assam BJP Chief Bhabesh Kalita on Sunday expressed confidence in his party's victory in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. He stated that the BJP will triumph in all 11 constituencies.

He further stated that the remaining three constituencies will be won by the BJP's coalition partners in the state.

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"Yesterday evening, the list of candidates was announced. The announced list has given us courage. We will win all the 11 seats in the upcoming elections, and with the alliance, we will win all the 14 seats," he said.

The Assam BJP Chief also said, "Considering the condition of Congress across the country, I don't think Congress will be able to win, that's why Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have not yet announced the list of candidates for the entire country."

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Kalita also mentioned that their partner, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), is expected to secure a victory in Dhubri. He alleged that the ruling AIUDF leader, Badruddin Ajmal, has not contributed to the area's development and is only engaging in communal politics.

"Badruddin Ajmal has been the MP from Dhubri for a long time. He has not done any work for development. He is only engaged in communal politics. But the people's expectation there is for development and they will vote for Modi ji and they will give their vote to our alliance party," he said.

Setting the pace ahead of its rivals, the BJP, on Saturday, released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The list included 47 youth candidates, 28 women candidates, 27 Scheduled Caste (SC) faces, 18 Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and 57 OBC/Backward Class nominees.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third straight term in the Lower House from Varanasi while Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2020, will contest from Guna in Madhya Pradesh.

Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Center and States, while two are former chief ministers who are on the list.

Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, while Mansukh Mandaviya will contest Porbandar.

BJP leader Manoj Tiwari will contest from North-East Delhi while late BJP stalwart and former Union Minister, Sushma Swaraj's daughter, Bansuri Swaraj, will contest from New Delhi.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will seek a fresh term in the Lok Sabha from Lucknow while his colleague in the central cabinet, Smriti Irani, will again contest Amethi.

Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi secured a victory in Varanasi with 6,74,664 against Congress's Ajay Rai.

The BJP-led National Democratic Party (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats.

The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)

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Abu Dhabi [UAE], March 3 (ANI): Over 65,000 pilgrims visited the recently opened BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi as it opened its doors on the first Sunday for public, according to an official statement.

As the temple opened, over 40,000 visitors came in busloads and carloads offered prayers in the morning and over 25,000 arrived in the evening

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To offer prayers on the first day, visitors came in busloads and carloads with over 40,000 in the morning and 25,000 during the evening and despite massive crowds, devotees grouped in batches of 2,000, and patiently queued, without pushing or shoving.

At the end of the day, over 65,000 people visited the temple and offered prayers.

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Quietly progressing into the mandir, people felt blessed; a great sense of peace marked the day as the mandir welcomed a staggering 65,000 visitors.

Visitors who visited the temple expressed their happiness over the opening of the temple and heaped praise on the BAPS volunteers and mandir staff for the suitable management.

Speaking on the occasion, Sumant Rai from Abu Dhabi said, "Never have I seen such amazing order in the midst of thousands of people. I was worried I would have to wait for hours and not be able to do darshan peacefully, but we had amazing darshan and were extremely satisfied. Hats off to all the BAPS volunteers and mandir staff."

Another pilgrim from London, Pravina Shah also shared her experience of her visit to the temple and said, "I have a disability and the care given by the staff despite thousands of visitors was remarkable. I could see the crowds of people being ushered peacefully from one zone to the next."

"I thought I would be lost in the sea of people, but I was so surprised with how well the visit was managed. I was able to peacefully enjoy darshan, can't wait until my next visit," Balchandra from Kerala said.

According to the statement, visitors were able to partake in the darshan of the beautiful Mandir and offer their prayers collectively. The enthusiasm to take part in the religious rituals of the abhishek and the arti left many people feeling emotional as they experienced peace and tranquillity.

"Many were also in awe of the mandir's intricate architecture. The vibrant colours of clothing worn by visitors created a sea of hues, adding to the festive atmosphere. Eagerly anticipating their visit, people travelled from far and wide, having expectations surpassed by the joy and serenity they experienced," the statement said.

Moreover, Neha and Pankaj who have lived in Dubai for 40 years exclaimed, "We have been awaiting this moment, and the Mandir has exceeded all our expectations. It's a true marvel. We feel blessed as now we have a place to come and offer our prayers and feel the spirituality!"

Piyush from Portland, USA, "The opening of this Mandir is a testament to the UAE's commitment to diversity and inclusion. It's a beautiful representation of unity among different communities."

Louis from Mexico stated, "The architecture and intricate details in the stones are amazing. I really appreciate getting to see the cultural heritage of India. People, come join!"

Additionally, Sadhu Bramhaviharidas, reflecting on the historic significance of the opening Sunday for the public, stated, "We are deeply grateful to the leaders of the UAE, and the local authorities for the new bus services and their all round support in making this day a reality. I would also like to thank the pilgrims who were so patient and so understanding during their visit. This Mandir will serve as a beacon of spirituality and a symbol of harmony, bringing together people of all backgrounds and beliefs."

The UAE government has also introduced a new bus route (203) from Abu Dhabu to the Mandir for felicitating the weekend visits.

The majestic BAPS temple, which is the first Hindu temple in Abu Dhabi, was inaugurated by Prime Minister Modi on February 14. Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence for the UAE, Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahyan, was also present at the inauguration.

The BAPS Hindu Mandir in Abu Dhabi is the first traditional Hindu stone temple in the Middle East, and stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between India and the UAE, embodying the spirit of cultural inclusivity, interfaith harmony, and community collaboration. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Sunday, March 3. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file on the war for Monday, March 4.

he Biden administration's rift with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became even more acute Sunday, when Vice President Kamala Harris called for a cease-fire in Gaza the day before a controversial meeting with a top Israeli official and longtime Netanyahu rival.

Israeli Cabinet minister Benny Gantz traveled to Washington without the endorsement of Netanyahu, who instructed the Israeli Embassy in the U.S. to withhold assistance in arranging his meetings, Israel Hayom reported.

An official from Netanyahus far-right Likud party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz and told him the country has just one prime minister.

Gantz, a centrist who joined Netanyahus hardline government following Hamas Oct. 7 attacks, arrives amid deep disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over the Israeli military's conduct in Gaza and a postwar vision for the enclave.

Gantz is scheduled to meet Monday with Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on Tuesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his National Unity Party said. They are expected to discuss the urgency of a hostage deal and cease-fire, the American commitment to increasing the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the imperative of reducing civilian casualties, a White House official told the New York Times.

At an event Sunday commemorating the 1965 Bloody Sunday attacks on demonstrators in Selma, Alabama, Harris told the audience: "Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table."

The U.S. has previously refrained from calling for a cease-fire but, along with Qatar and Egypt, has been trying to mediate a six-week truce that would lead to the release of hostages and enhanced aid for Gaza.

Story continues

A Palestinian girl carries a child through the rubble of houses destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza City on March 3, 2024.

Developments:

 Haim Rubinstein resigned as the spokesperson for the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, the second official to leave the organization in less than a month. Rubinstein was among the founders of the group, formed the day after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault during which more than 250 hostages were seized and taken to Gaza.

 The Israeli military said it has completed up a two-week raid in Gaza Citys Zeitoun neighborhood, destroying Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad sites and killing more than 100 operatives.

 The White House is sending senior adviser Amos Hochstein to Lebanon on Monday in an attempt to prevent tensions along the border with Israel from escalating.

Israel delays sending negotiating team to Cairo for talks

Hopes for a cease-fire agreement in Gaza took another setback Sunday when Israel refused to send a negotiating team to Cairo, citing Hamas' refusal to release the names of hostages who are still alive.

Representatives from Hamas, Qatar and the U.S. are in Cairo for the talks. Multiple Israeli news outlets including the Jerusalem Post were reporting that the Israel delegation will not make the journey until the list is provided and other details, including the health status of the hostages, are revealed.

Biden has been bullish on a deal, saying last week he hoped an agreement could be reached ahead of Ramadan. The Muslim holy month begins in a week.

Israel has said that more than 30 of the 130 hostages held since Oct. 7 are dead. The first phase of the deal in the works reportedly called for the release of 40 hostages, including women, children, the elderly and the sick, in the course of a six-week truce.

About 400 Palestinian prisoners would be freed by Israel.

Hamas, Israel still at odds over ending war in Gaza

Hamas will make no deal without Israel agreeing to end the war in Gaza or at least providing a path to end the war, CNN reported, citing "a highly placed source" in the militant group. That could be a deal-breaker  Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel won't end the war until Hamas has been eliminated.

On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited troops in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, calling progress on the ground "impressive" and pledging not to retreat from Gaza until Hamas has been dismantled.

Israeli military says it will expand humanitarian efforts

The Israeli military said it is stepping up efforts at providing humanitarian aid in Gaza, creating humanitarian corridors, establishing humanitarian pauses  and exercising caution in its use of force. The military said it had coordinated 21 airdrops of 450 packages in Gaza in collaboration with France, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, and the U.S.

Also Sunday, 50 incubators were shipped into Gaza, bound for five hospitals facing desperate shortages and overwhelming patient loads. A report last week indicated babies in some hospitals had to share incubators.

"We will continue expanding our humanitarian efforts to the civilian population in Gaza while we fulfill our goals of freeing our hostages from Hamas and freeing Gaza from Hamas," the military said in a statement.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war updates: US rift with Netanyahu grows; Gantz arrives
Karachi [Pakistan], March 03 (ANI): The Baloch Yakjehti Committee, a prominent Baloch rights organization,on Saturday organised a massive rally highlighting injustices and atrocities committed by the Pakistani administration against Baloch rights activists. The rally was organised on the sidelines of the occasion of Baloch Culture Day with an aim to to raise awareness about the atrocities faced by the Baloch community and commemorate forcibly disappeared individuals and those killed, The Balochistan Post reported.

According to the report, during the rally, the leader of Voice for Baloch Missing Persons and the daughter of forcibly disappeared Deen Muhammad Baloch, Sammi Deen Baloch stated, "What was done to us in Islamabad, no one does to their worst enemy. Baloch culture is a culture of resistance, protection, honour and dignity. We have to be Baloch in practice while understanding our responsibilities".

Also Read | Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N Leader, To Take Oath As Pakistan's 24th Prime Minister on March 4.

She urged the Baloch community to embody their culture while recognizing their responsibilities.

While addressing the participants according to the same news piece, Sami Baloch also said, "When we were being beaten with sticks on the square in Islamabad, water was being poured on us in the cold days and we were put in jails. They came out of their homes in large numbers and unitedly conveyed their voice to the state that the Baloch who is standing at your door in Islamabad is not alone".

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Furthermore, said that today is known as Baloch Culture Day, The Baloch Yakjehti Committee today commemorates our forcibly disappeared fathers, brothers, and children who have been missing or those children, youths, and elders who are responsible for the prosperous future of Balochistan or talking about their rights, talking about resistance, they disappeared or were martyred. Today, Baloch does not know where his son is, but the Baloch youth has been buried in an abandoned cemetery.

Sammi Deen also stated "Today we have gathered here in the name of culture. Culture is the resistance that has kept the Baloch alive. Baloch culture is not a day that you celebrate it, Baloch culture is its loyalty, identity, identity, language, clothes, home, standing, sitting, and manners, all these come into the culture and are known. Apart from March 2, Baloch sticks to their responsibilities under culture" the news report stated.

According to the report, by showing a picture of a Baloch woman's torn sleeve and injured hand, she stated that these are the pictures that are in front of our eyes, reminding us every day that our mothers and sisters were treated like this in Islamabad.

Giving a call to act, Sammi Deen urged the Baloch community to resist oppression, asserting that justice could not be expected from the country's constitution, law, police, or institutions.

Sammi Deen said that today "there is a so-called democracy in this country in which the judiciary is talked about". Today, those who oppress our children, women, and youth, but those criminals are not brought to justice. There is no way left for Baloch except resistance. There is no hope from the Constitution, law, police and institutions of this country. Whatever oppression is done to us in Balochistan, this country has nothing to do with it, the same state institutions are doing all this but the institutions of the same state cannot give us justice.

"If you want to keep Baloch alive, if you want to keep its identity, language alive, then you have to struggle for it. We don't have to limit ourselves to two-time bread, one government post, if Baloch lives, his future will be prosperous. What is done to our mothers, children, women and youth in Islamabad, no one does to his worst enemy, examples of Palestine are given here, but the police of Islamabad forcibly killed Baloch women and children. Is it not seen in many cases with the families of the missing persons," she 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)
Tel Aviv [Israel], March 3 (ANI/TPS): A squad of Palestinian terrorists in the Zeitoun area of Gaza were caught on film escaping in an ambulance in footage released on Sunday by the Israel Defense Forces.

According to the military, soldiers from the IDF's 162nd Division and 401st Brigade were searching for and destroying rocket launchers and launch pits when a Hamas terror squad fired an anti-tank missile at close range. Israeli aircraft responded, killing most of the members of the squad.

Also Read | Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N Leader, To Take Oath As Pakistan's 24th Prime Minister on March 4.

However, surveillance footage from an Israeli drone filmed the armed survivors entering an ambulance with Palestinian Red Crescent markings.

More than 100 terrorists were eliminated and 35 locations in Zeitoun belonging to the two terror groups were destroyed, including rocket launching sites, weapons manufacturing and storage facilities, tunnel shafts, and operational centers.

Also Read | Chinese President Xi Jinping Congratulates Shehbaz Sharif on Election as Pakistans PM For Second Time.

In a separate incident, Israeli forces spotted a Hamas sniper firing from an adjacent building and directed an airstrike killing him.

Israeli forces also destroyed terrorist infrastructure belonging to Ad Aladdin Haddad, a senior commander in Hamas's Gaza City Brigade.

According to IDF Spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, 85 per cent of Gaza's hospitals have been used by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad for terror.

In December, Ahmed Kahlot, director of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in the northern Gaza Strip, confirmed to Israeli interrogators that he and other staff were Hamas operatives.

During the interrogation, Kahlot described how Hamas used hospitals and ambulances to hide operatives, launch military activity, transport members of terror squads and even deliver a kidnapped Israeli soldier.

Other Gazans have told Israeli interrogators deeply embedded themselves in the Palestinian Red Crescent Society to use hospitals as a base for attacks.

As reported by the Tazpit Press Service, Hamas made extensive use of the Shifa Hospital, Gaza's largest medical center. Hamas launched rockets from its compound, hid hostages in the bowels of the building, tortured collaborators, and dug tunnels connecting Shifa to nearby sites. Israel also released a recording of a phone call confirming that Hamas also stores at least a half-million liters of fuel underneath the compound.

And in Jenin, in northern Samaria, Israeli soldiers disguised as doctors and nurses killed three terrorists hiding inside the Ibn Sina Hospital and planning an imminent terror attack.

At least 1,200 people were killed and 240 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage in Hamas's attacks on Israeli communities near the Gaza border on October 7. Of the remaining 134 hostages, Israel recently declared 31 of them dead. (ANI/TPS)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Bikaner (Rajasthan) [India], March 3 (ANI): Amid the ongoing 5th edition of the India-Japan joint exercise 'DHARMA GUARDIAN' being held in Rajasthan, the Commanding General, Eastern Army, Japan Ground Self Defence Force, Lieutenant General Togashi Yuichi paid a visit to the exercise site to take stock of the progress made on Sunday.

He also rendered words of encouragement to both Japanese and Indian contingents, strengthening the camaraderie between the Armies and enhancing the collaborative efforts between the two Nations.

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On Sunday, marking the 8th day of the joint exercise, both armies participated together and demonstrated how they work together and bring down the target.

https://x.com/ANI/status/1764287677992497219?s=20

Also Read | Chinese President Xi Jinping Congratulates Shehbaz Sharif on Election as Pakistans PM For Second Time.

Personnel also performed a mock drill to capture the militants hiding in a house and used specially trained animals (dogs and eagles) for the task.

The joint exercise signifies the deepening of military cooperation between India and Japan and underscores their commitment to enhancing interoperability and mutual understanding. The training activities aimed to strengthen the capabilities of both armies in counter-terrorism and disaster response scenarios.

Exercise Dharma Guardian serves as a platform for the exchange of best practices and the cultivation of trust and camaraderie between the Indian and Japanese armed forces. Through collaborative training initiatives, both nations aim to bolster regional stability and contribute to peace and security in the Indo-Pacific region.

As troops undergo rigorous training at the Mahajan field firing ranges, the bonds of friendship and cooperation between the two countries continue to strengthen, paving the way for enhanced strategic partnership in the years ahead.

The military exercise, aimed at fostering military cooperation and enhancing combined capabilities to execute joint operations in a semi-urban environment.

Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' is an annual exercise 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 is representing the Indian Army contingent

Recently, a Ministry of Defence press release read, "Exercise 'Dharma Guardian' will enable the two sides to share their best practices in tactics, Techniques and procedures for conducting tactical operations. The exercise will also facilitate the development of interoperability, bonhomie and camaraderie between troops on both 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)
Gaza Border, March 3: The United States, in collaboration with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, conducted an unprecedented humanitarian airdrop into Gaza, delivering 38,000 meals along the besieged coastal enclave, CNN reported, citing a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM). This initiative followed President Joe Biden's remarks that the US would pull out "every stop" to get more aid into the besieged coastal enclave.

The operation, executed by the US Air Force using C-130 aircraft, saw a total of 66 bundles dropped along the Gaza coastline, with each of the three aircraft contributing 22 bundles. Notably, the airdropped supplies consisted solely of meals, with no inclusion of water or medical provisions, as reported by CNN. "These airdrops are part of a sustained effort to get more aid into Gaza, including by expanding the flow of aid through land corridors and routes," CENTCOM said in their statement. Joe Biden's New Gaffe: US President Refers to Gaza As Ukraine Twice While Announcing Military Aid Airdrops (Watch Video)

White House officials hailed the operation as a success, viewing it as a pivotal test case for future endeavours. A senior administration official, during a call with reporters, said, "The fact that today's airdrop was successful is an important test case to show that we can do this again in the coming days and weeks successfully."

While applauding the accomplishment, President Biden acknowledged on social media that the amount of aid reaching Gaza was still insufficient. He reiterated the US commitment to spare no effort in increasing aid, aligning with his previous declaration to "pull out every stop" to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In response to the airdrop, the Defence Department plans to conduct additional operations in the coming days, though specific details were not disclosed.

Biden's commitment to securing more routes for aid into Gaza was reiterated, with the president saying, "We're going to insist that Israel facilitate more trucks and more routes to get more and more people the help they need, no excuses." Israel-Hamas War: Palestinian Death Toll in Gaza Rises to 30,228 As Israeli Military Killed 193 in Past 24 Hours, Says Health Ministry

This marks a historic move for the US, joining other nations like the United Arab Emirates and France in using airdrops to deliver aid. However, before the operation, several aid agencies criticized the US plan, citing concerns about its effectiveness. Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group's UN director, commented on social media, stating, "Humanitarian workers always complain that airdrops are good photo opportunities but a lousy way to deliver aid," CNN reported.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Washington, Mar 3 (PTI) As the BJP announced its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the Overseas Friends of BJP in the US has kicked off its 2024 election campaign pledging to volunteer and contribute towards the goal of winning 400 seats in the elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates out of which 51 are from Uttar Pradesh, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

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The Indian Diaspora is going to support the BJP in India, Adapa Prasad, president of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) USA told PTI after the conclusion of the kick-off event on Saturday in a Maryland suburb of Washington DC.

The event was attended by about 100 core members of the OFBJP.

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General elections are expected to be held in India between April and May 2024 to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha.

Indian-Americans made presentations on their analysis of the affairs in various Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

We reviewed the progress in each of the states and had a detailed presentation on the achievements of the prime minister Narendra Modi, he said.

So far more than 3,000 volunteers have signed up for various election-related activities being coordinated by OFBJP.

This includes social media, phone calls, voter analysis, direct campaigning and travel to India.

Plans are afoot to make around 25 lakh calls from the US to India urging Indians to vote for the BJP and re-elect Prime Minister Modi for the third consecutive term.

Among the series of events planned across the nation, in addition to call centres, include Modi Ki Guarantee, Mohalla Chai Pe Charcha, Car Rally and Holi Milan.

We are ready. Everybody's pumped up. Everybody's looking forward to it. This time we will cross 400 seats for the Prime Minister. He has done so much for the country and he is loved everywhere, said Kanwaljeet Singh Soni, convenor of the Sikh affairs wing of the OFBJP.

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
Quetta [Balochistan], March 3 (ANI): Mir Sarfraz Bugti from the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) has been sworn in as the Chief Minister of Balochistan, following his election earlier today, ARY News reported.

Governor Abdul Wali Kakar presided over the swearing-in ceremony at the Governor House in Quetta, attended by PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

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PPP's joint candidate with the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), Sarfraz Bugti, secured 41 votes during the Balochistan Assembly session, with the JUI-F and National Party abstaining from the CM election, according to ARY News.

Bugti's uncontested victory was achieved as no other nominee submitted papers for the position. The former caretaker interior minister had submitted four nomination papers to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), subsequently receiving full support from the PPP and PML-N.

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Having resigned from his role as caretaker interior minister in December of the previous year, Bugti joined the PPP led by Bilawal Bhutto.

The newly elected members of the Balochistan Assembly, including representatives from the PPP and PML-N, were sworn in during a session presided over by the presiding officer Engineer Zamrud Khan.

The assembly comprises 51 members elected on general seats, with PPP and PML-N emerging as the leading parties with 11 and 10 seats, respectively. The assembly also includes reserved seats for women and minorities, with the JUI-F and Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) holding 10 and five seats, respectively, ARY News reported. (ANI)

(This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body)
By Reena Bhardwaj

Washington, DC [US], March 3 (ANI): Little Hridyansh is fighting the most severe form of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type 2, which causes the wasting of voluntary muscles and impairs breathing.

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The boy's father, Naresh Sharma, who is a police sub-inspector posted in Rajasthan's Bharatpur range, is helpless, watching his 21-month-old son each day who needs constant care.

Just weeks ago, the family was informed that Hridyansh can sit but can't stand or walk independently.

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"We want to try gene therapy for our son, which the doctor has recommended as the only cure, but one dose alone costs around Rs 17.5 crore. It's a huge amount for me and my family. We simply can't afford it," Naresh Sharma, Hridyansh's father told ANI.

According to the family, SMA is causing irreversible damage to little Hridyansh's muscles, which can only be stopped with timely treatment.

The cure for Hridyansh is Zolgensma gene therapy is one of the most expensive drugs in the world. It is given as a one-time dose, usually to children under two - with just two months in hand, the boy's family is desperate and hoping for a miracle.

US-based Rajasthan Alliance of North American (RANA) and Jaipur Foot USA members have stepped forward to contribute and raise funds for little Hridyansh.

"We have formed a committee comprising four doctors: Dr Shashi Saha, Dr Raj Modi, Dr Sharad Kothari, and Dr Vijay Arya who have already begun working with Novartis (drug manufacturer) to explore avenues for providing the necessary injection to Hridyansh. We are optimistic about the potential benefits for this young boy," Prem Bhandari, the president of RANA told ANI.

Like Hridyansh, many parents in India cannot afford to buy Zolgensma and other SMA drugs.

While there is no official data on the number of Indians with the disease, existing literature shows that SMA affects nearly 1 in 10,000 live-born babies - (Spinal Muscular Atrophy Therapeutics in India: Parental Hopes and Despair! - PMC) according to a study, 1 in 38 Indians are carriers of the faulty gene that causes SMA, compared with 1 in 50 people in the West.

Prem Bhandari, a prominent Indian American community leader, is hopeful that his organizations may be able to pull together some funds to pay for Hridyansh's treatment.

He added that the Rajasthan diaspora will appeal for funds globally for the child's treatment on social media platforms and other networks. (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, March 3: A 41-year-old man got injured after he was allegedly shot at by an assailant over a minor argument in the Prem Nagar area of south Delhi, police said on Sunday. The police said they are checking CCTV footage of the area to identify the accused.

"In the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday, at about 2.26 am, a PCR call was received regarding a firing incident at Prem Nagar near Safdarjung Bus Terminal," said a senior police officer. On reaching the spot, a police team found that the injured was already shifted to a hospital, the officer said. Delhi Shocker: 14-Year-Old Minor Boy Brutally Thrashed to Death in Brahmpuri Area.

Upon enquiry, it was found that the injured victim, Rakesh Kumar of Himachal Pradesh, is a taxi driver by profession here, the police said. The incident occurred when Kumar questioned a man who was roaming around his car for some time. An argument broke out between the two, following which the accused fired at Kumar and fled the spot, they said. Delhi Shocker: Man Hires Gunmen To Stage Shooting Incident To Frame Sisters In-Laws Over Family Dispute, Three Arrested.

The police added that an FIR has been registered under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and Arms Act and efforts are being made to nab the culprit.
Visakhapatnam, March 3: Employees of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP) on Sunday conducted Maha Padyatra demanding the Centre to withdraw its move to privatise the plant. Leaders of various workers unions and the political parties supporting them participated in the Maha Padyatra from their protest camp at Kurmannapalem to the GVMC Gandhi statue. They demanded that the political parties should make it clear in their manifestos for the coming elections that they oppose the privatisation of VSP.

The protestors were carrying placards and raising slogans opposing the privatisation of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, commonly referred to as Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Leaders of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) joined the workers unions in the protest demanding withdrawal of the privatisation bid. RINL Privatisation: Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy Writes to PM Narendra Modi To Reconsider Decision

The participants including family members of the workers were carrying placards reading Visakha Ukku Andhrula Hakku (Visakha Steel a right of Andhras), stop the strategic sale of RINL, Re merge RINL with SAIL They warned that parties failing to protect VSP will be taught a lesson in the coming elections. Simultaneous elections to Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha are slated to be held in April-May.

The employees of VSP have been protesting for nearly three years, demanding the Centre to withdraw its move to privatise the public sector undertaking. The workers had intensified the protest in April last year after the Centre had stated that the disinvestment was in progress. The Ministry of Steel had stated that there is no freeze on the disinvestment process of RINL.

Employees said that the people of Andhra Pradesh made many sacrifices for the plant and they will not allow the sale of the plant. In 2021, the Andhra Pradesh Assembly had passed a resolution opposing the disinvestment plans and proposed privatization of VSP. Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy had also written to the Centre, opposing the move to privatise the VSP. He suggested that the Centre take measures to protect the plant, recover its losses and make it viable. Andhra Pradesh Train Accident: One Killed, Several Injured As Two Trains Collide in Vizianagaram, Terrifying Photos and Videos Surface

He also suggested the conversion of debts and loans into equity, allotment of captive iron ore and monetising the companys land bank for the continuation of the plant.
New Delhi, March 3: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a tight schedule for next 10 days. As per official details, PM Modi will attend 29 programmes across 12 states/Union Territories in next 10 days, thereby giving momentum to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) poll preparations ahead of the Parliamentary elections 2024.

The states where PM Modi will visit in next 10 days are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Bengal of the Hindi heartland while in South, he will visit Telangana and Tamil Nadau besides touring Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, where he will be launching projects as well as addressing public rallies. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: BJP Banking on Its Sitting MPs As It Targets To Win All 80 LS Seats in Uttar Pradesh

On March 4, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Adilabad, Telangana & address a public meeting in Adilabad. Thereafter, he will travel to Tamil Nadu and visit BHAVINI in Kalpakkam, where he will address a public meeting in Chennai and will then travel to Hyderabad.

On March 5, PM Modi will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Sangareddy, Telangana. Thereafter, he will address a public function in Sangareddy. He will then head to Odisha and will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects at Chandikhole, Jajpur. He will also address public meeting in Chandikhole and after that will leave for West Bengal.

On March 6, the PM will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Kolkata. There, he will also address a public meeting in Barasat and travel to Bihar and will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Bettiah, Bihar. Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Chair Council of Ministers Meet, To Discuss Viksit Bharat Plan and Upcoming Lok Sabha Elections

On March 7, the Prime Minister will travel to Jammu and Kashmir and will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects in Srinagar. Later in evening, he will attend a media event in New Delhi.

On March 8, the PM will participate in the first ever National Creators Award in Delhi. In the evening, he will travel to Assam.

On March 9, PM Modi will travel to Arunachal Pradesh. He will inaugurate Sela Tunnel in West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh and then inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Itanagar. From Arunachal Pradesh, the PM will travel to Assam and will unveil the statue of Lachit Barphukan in Jorhat, Assam. Thereafter, he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Jorhat. Then, PM Modi will visit West Bengal and inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Siliguri, West Bengal. Thereafter, he will also address a public meeting there.

On March 10, PM Modi will travel to Uttar Pradesh and will dedicate to the nation various projects in Azamgarh.

On March 11, the Prime Minister will attend an event related to Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi at PUSA, Delhi. Then, he will inaugurate the Haryana section of Dwarka Expressway. In the evening, the PM will attend a DRDO Programme.

On March 12, the Prime Minister will visit Sabarmati, Gujarat. Thereafter, PM Modi will travel to Rajasthan and will visit Pokhran in Jaisalmer district.

On March 13, the Prime Minister will lay foundation stone of three important semiconductor projects in Gujarat and Assam via video conferencing. Thereafter, the PM will also attend an outreach programme for disadvantaged sections of the society via video conferencing.
>>> 2024-03-01 listening in on the neighborhood (PDF)

Last week, someone leaked a spreadsheet of SoundThinking sensors to Wired. You are probably asking "What is SoundThinking," because the company rebranded last year. They used to be called ShotSpotter, and their outdoor acoustic gunfire detection system still goes by the ShotSpotter name.

ShotSpotter has attracted a lot of press and plenty of criticism for the gunfire detection service they provide to many law enforcement agencies in the US. The system involves installing acoustic sensors throughout a city, which use some sort of signature matching to detect gunfire and then use time of flight to determine the likely source.

One of the principle topics of criticism is the immense secrecy with which they operate: ShotSpotter protects information on the location of its sensors as if it were state secret, and does not disclose them even to the law enforcement agencies that are its customers. This secrecy attracts accusations that ShotSpotter's claims of efficacy cannot be independently validated, and that ShotSpotter is attempting to suppress research into the civil rights impacts of its product.

I have encountered this topic before: the Albuquerque Police Department is a ShotSpotter customer, and during my involvement in police oversight was evasive in response to any questions about the system and resisted efforts to subject its surveillance technology purchases to more outside scrutiny. Many assumed that ShotSpotter coverage was concentrated in disadvantaged parts of the city, an unsurprising outcome but one that could contribute to systemic overpolicing. APD would not comment.

I have always assumed that it would not really be that difficult to find the ShotSpotter sensors, at least if you have my inclination to examine telephone poles. While the Wired article focuses heavily on sensors installed on buildings, it seems likely that in environments like Albuquerque with city-operated lighting and a single electrical utility, they would be installed on street lights. That's where you find most of the technology the city fields.

The thing is, I didn't really know what the sensors looked like. I've seen pictures, but I know they were quite old, and I assumed the design had gotten more compact over time. Indeed it has.

An interesting thing about the Wired article is that it contains a map, but the MapBox embed produced with Flourish Studio had a surprisingly high maximum zoom level. That made it more or less impossible to interpret the locations of the sensors exactly. I'm concerned that this was an intentional decision by Wired to partially obfuscate the data, because it is not an effective one. It was a simple matter to find the JSON payload the map viewer was using for the PoI overlay and then convert it to KML.

I worried that the underlying data would be obscured; it was not. The coordinates are exact. So, I took the opportunity to enjoy a nice day and went on an expedition.

The sensors are pretty much what I imagined, innocuous beige boxes clamped to street light arms. There are a number of these boxes to be found in modern cities. Some are smart meter nodes, some are base stations for municipal data networks, others collect environmental data. Some are the police, listening in on your activities.

This is not as hypothetical of a concern as it might sound. Conversations recorded by ShotSpotter sensors have twice been introduced as evidence in criminal trials. In one case the court allowed it, in another the court did not. The possibility clearly exists, and depending on interpretation of state law, it may be permissible for ShotSpotter to record conversations on the street for future use as evidence.

This ought to give us pause, as should the fact that ShotSpotter has been compellingly demonstrated to manipulate their "interpretation" of evidence to fit a prosecutor's narrative---even when ShotSpotter's original analysis contradicted it.

But pervasive surveillance of urban areas and troubling use of that evidence is nothing new. Albuquerque already has an expansive police-operated video surveillance network connected to the Real-Time Crime Center. APD has long used portable automated license plate readers (ALPR) under cover of "your speed is" trailers, and more recently has installed permanent ALPR at major intersections in the city.

All of this occurs with virtually no public oversight or even public awareness.

What most surprised me is the density of ShotSpotter sensors. In my head, I assumed they were fairly sparse. A Chicago report on the system says there are 20 to 25 per square mile. Density in Albuquerque is lower, probably reflecting the wide streets and relative lack of high rises. Still, there are a lot of them. 721 in Albuquerque, a city of about 190 square miles. At present, only parts of the city are covered.

And those coverage decisions are interesting. The valley (what of it is in city limits) is well covered, as is the west side outside of Coors/Old Coors. The International District, of course, is dense with sensors, as is inner NE bounded by roughly by the freeways to Louisiana and Montgomery.

Conspicuously empty is the rest of the northeast, from UNM's north campus area to the foothills. Indian School Road makes almost its entire east side length without any sensors.

The reader can probably infer how this coverage pattern relates to race and class in Albuquerque. It's not perfect, but the distance from your house to a ShotSpotter sensor correlates fairly well with your household income. The wealthier you are, the less surveilled you are.

The "pocket of poverty" south of Downtown where I live, the historically Spanish Barelas and historically Black South Broadway, are predictably well covered. All of the photos here were taken within a mile, and I did not come even close to visiting all of the sensors. Within a one mile radius of the center of Barelas, there are 31 sensors.

Some are conspicuous. Washington Middle School, where 13-year-old Bennie Hargrove was shot by another student, has a sensor mounted at its front entrance. Another sensor is in the cul de sac behind the Coors and I-40 Walmart, where a body was found in a burned-out car. Perhaps the deep gulch of the freeway poses a coverage challenge, there are two more less than a thousand feet away.

In the Downtown Core, buildings were preferred to light poles. The PNM building, the Anasazi condos, and the Banque building are all feeding data into the city's failing scheme of federal prosecutions for downtown gun crime.

The closest sensor to the wealthy Heights is at Embudo Canyon, and coverage stops north of Central in the affluent Nob Hill residential area. Old Town is almost completely uncovered, as is the isolationist Four Hills.

Highland High School has a sensor on its swimming pool building. The data says there are two at the intersection of Gibson and Chavez, probably an error, it also says there are two sensors on "Null Island." Don't worry about coverage in the south campus area, though. There are 16 in the area bounded by I-25 to Yale and Gibson to Coal.

KOB quotes APD PIO Gallegos saying "We don't know, technically, where all the sensors are." Well, I suppose they do now, the leak has been widely reported on. APD received about 14,000 ShotSpotter reports last year. The accuracy of these reports, in terms of their correctly identifying gunfire, is contested. SoundThinking claims impressive statistics, but has actively resisted independent evaluation. A Chicago report found that only 11.3% of ShotSpotter reports could be confirmed as gunfire. APD, for its part, reports a few hundred suspects or victims identified as a result of ShotSpotter reports.

APD has used a local firearms training business, Calibers, to fire blanks around the city to verify detection. They say the system performed well.

But, if asked, they provide a form letter written by ShotSpotter. Their contract prohibits the disclosure of any actual data.
Hyderabad, March 3: Asaduddin Owaisi, whose party AIMIM overcame many challenges to hold on to Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat for 40 years, is likely to face tough battle this time with the BJP fielding businesswoman and philanthropist, Kompella Madhavi Latha, who has been working in Muslim-majority old city. The BJP has named Kompella Madhavi Latha, chairperson of city-based Virinchi Hospitals, as its candidate for the forthcoming polls. Owaisi, seen by many as the face of the Indian Muslims, may face spirited challenge from the BJP whose leaders are confident of wresting the seat from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

A professional Bharatanatyam dancer, Madhavi Latha has never been an active politician but multiple factors led to BJP picking her as its candidate to take on Owaisi in his stronghold. The BJP had never fielded a woman in Hyderabad and with Madhavi Latha said to be active in philanthropic activities in parts of the old city, the party is looking to tap the Muslim votes. Known for her pro-Hindutva speeches, Madhavi Latha also campaigned against triple talaq. She is said to be in touch with various Muslim women groups. AAP Leader Saurabh Bharadwaj Attacks BJP Ahead of Lok Sabha Elections 2024, Says Party Didnt Give Tickets to Four Big Names in Delhi (Watch Video)

The 49-year-old is a trustee of Lathamma Foundation and Lopamudra Charitable Trust and also runs a small fund for destitute Muslim women. She also runs a gaushala. Hoping for a BJP ticket, she had already started meeting women in some parts of the old city. Last month, she posted on social media her photographs distributing ration among burka-clad women. The programme was organised under the aegis of Lathama Foundation.

Madhavi Latha organises education, healthcare and food distribution programmes and offers to help the needy with a missed call to her mobile number. After BJP announced her as its candidate, she added Mission Hyderabad Parliament to her profile on social media. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President J. P. Nadda, Amit Shah and other leaders for giving her the opportunity to contest from Hyderabad. A bitter critic of AIMIM, she says that the party never tried to address the problems of poverty and poor civic amenities in the constituency.

A post-graduate in political sciences from Koti Womens College, she is looking to succeed where BJP stalwarts like Venkaiah Naidu had failed in the past. BJP, which has set the target of winning 370 Lok Sabha seats across the country, is focussing on Telangana, where it had bagged four out of 17 seats in 2019. The party is eyeing all the Lok Sabha seats in the state. Union minister and state BJP President G. Kishan Reddy recently exuded confidence that BJP will wrest Hyderabad from AIMIM. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Seasoned Campaigner Jyotiraditya Scindia To Contest LS Polls on BJP Ticket for First Time From Guna

He claimed that minorities in the city wish to see Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. The people of the old city are looking for a change. In the Assembly polls, the BJPs vote share increased considerably in the Hyderabad Parliamentary constituency while the Majlis vote percentage declined, said Kishan Reddy, who will be seeking re-election from Secunderabad constituency.

No matter who is in power in the state or in the country and no matter which wave is sweeping elsewhere, AIMIM retained its grip on Hyderabad in every election since 1984. On the 66th anniversary of AIMIMs revival on Saturday, Asaduddin Owaisi exuded confidence that he will retain the seat with increased majority. In 2019, he had retained the seat with a majority of 2.82 lakh votes against his nearest rival Bhagvanth Rao of BJP. The difference between the same rivals in 2014 was 2.02 lakh votes.

Asaduddin Owaisis father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was elected from Hyderabad six times. In 1996, he had defeated BJPs senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu. Salahuddin Owaisi opted out in 2004 due to ill-health and since then Asaduddin Owaisi has been representing the constituency. The delimitation of constituencies in 2008 helped the party further consolidate itself. As three urban Assembly segments replaced the rural segments which were earlier part of Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, AIMIM became virtually invincible. The partys strength in the Assembly also rose to seven, from its earlier highest tally of five.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Mar 03, 2024 01:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
Gwalior, March 3: Even as the Trinamool Congress has decided to contest all 42 Lok Sabha seats in West Bengal, the Congress on Sunday said doors are still open for an alliance with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC for the upcoming general polls. Ahead of the opposition's rally in Patna, Congress general secretary and in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh told PTI they are still hopeful and believe that when West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says she is in the INDIA alliance, her priority is to defeat the BJP.

"We take that as a statement of her priority and intent," he said in Gwalior. "We have not closed any doors. She has unilaterally announced that she will contest all 42 seats (in West Bengal), well that is her announcement. As far as we are concerned, talks are still continuing, the doors are still open and the final word will not be said till the final word is said," he said. On the rally to be held in Bihar capital Patna, Ramesh said it is a joint opposition rally and coming after the prime minister went there on Saturday. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Election Commission Full Bench To Visit West Bengal on March 3, Take Stock of Poll Preparations

"It's a very significant political rally and it shows the opposition unity to defeat the BJP and its allies," he said. Former Congress president and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi has also given a break to his ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra' to take part in the rally, he said. "Today is the 50th day (of the yatra), there has been a slight change because Rahul Gandhi has to go to Patna for the opposition rally and Congress president Malliarjun Kharge is also going to participate in it," Ramesh said.

"So this morning, he (Gandhi) is going to have an interaction on the Agniveer issue. Then there will be a road show in Mohna. After that there is no yatra today. But tomorrow, on the 51st day, as planned and as scheduled, we will start from Shivpuri (in MP), " he said. On the fifth day, he (Gandhi) will be in Ujjain and visit the holy Shri Mahakaleshwar temple, he said. Asked about the Lok Dal's participation in the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Uttar Pradesh recently, Ramesh said the "real" Lok Dal welcomed Rahul Gandhi during the yatra in Aligarh. Lok Sabha Elections 2024: TMC Lines Up Six Big Rallies Across West Bengal Between March 14 and 22

There were posters, banners and hoardings of former PMs Chaudhary Charan Singh, Indira Gandhi and the Lok Dal, he said. "That was the real Lok Dal, asli Lok Dal, RLD (Rashtriya Lok Dal) is the nakli Lok Dal," he claimed. The RLD joined the BJP-led NDA after the central government recently conferred the Bharat Ratna posthumously on former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh. Asked whether Rahul Gandhi will contest from the Wayanad Lok Sabha seat (in Kerala), Ramesh said, "That is under discussion and Rahul Gandhi will decide the seat."

On the BJP declaring its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, Ramesh said why should he comment on the saffron party's candidates. "We are finalising our manifesto, our candidates and our seats in different states. My concern is what we are doing and not what the BJP is doing," he added.
Rahul Gandhi also targeted the Central government over the Agniveer programme, saying: Centre is building two types of army in the country. One is having all respect like facilities of canteen and pension and others are those who have no facilities, he said.
Nayib Bukele confidently declared victory in El Salvador's 2024 Presidential election even before the official results were announced, according to Inter American Law Review.

Anticipated to win in a landslide, Secretary of State Antony Blinken conveyed congratulations on behalf of the U.S. government.

This election is particularly noteworthy for its historical twist - Bukele, the incumbent president, secured reelection, defying El Salvador's constitution, which prohibits immediate reelection.

Beginning his political journey as the mayor of Nuevo Cuscatan, Bukele assumed the presidency in 2019, promising enhanced education and healthcare accessibility, a pledge that resonated strongly with the less privileged.

His anti-corruption stance garnered widespread support in a nation burdened by years of corruption.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele's youthfulness and adept use of social media, particularly TikTok, set him apart.

Preferring TikTok over traditional media, he has amassed popularity, allowing him to express his eccentricities, self-proclaiming as an "instrument of God" and the "world's coolest dictator."

READ NEXT: Nayib Bukele Declares Victory with Over 85% of Votes

Early Life and Career

Nayib Bukele, born on July 24, 1981, spent his formative years in a middle-class family in San Salvador, the bustling capital of El Salvador, per the Facts.Net.

Before his presidential tenure, Bukele made a name for himself as the mayor of San Salvador, initiating various projects to uplift the city's infrastructure and tackle social issues.

Prior to stepping into the political arena, he ventured into the advertising industry and co-founded a successful marketing firm, showcasing his business prowess that would later influence his governance style.

At the youthful age of 37, Bukele made history by becoming the youngest president in El Salvador's annals.

His fresh perspective and vibrant approach found resonance with a new generation of voters.

In June, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele, a charismatic and dynamic leader, took the reins.

His electoral triumph marked a significant shift in the country's political landscape, signaling the arrival of a leader with a vision shaped by both business acumen and a commitment to addressing societal challenges.

Nayib Bukele and Violence in El Salvador

Nayib Bukele made a dramatic entrance into the Legislative Assembly in February 2020, accompanied by armed soldiers, in response to lawmakers' hesitation on a security loan proposal.

Bukele's symbolic act of assuming the chamber's presidency with military support sent a powerful message, AP News noted.

During the early days of the April 2020 coronavirus pandemic, Bukele's administration enforced strict measures, sending stay-at-home order violators to quarantine centers for up to 30 days.

When the Supreme Court declared this unconstitutional, Bukele openly defied the ruling, justifying it with a tweet.

Ongoing detentions occurred despite the court's objections.

In the following year, Bukele's party gained control of the congress, leading to the swift removal of the Supreme Court's constitutional chamber.

The new court interpreted the constitution differently, allowing for consecutive reelection.

In September 2021, it ordered the Supreme Electoral Tribunal to permit a second term.

Addressing gang influence, Nayib Bukele engaged in negotiations but denied granting benefits to gang leaders. In March 2022, escalating gang violence prompted Bukele to seek special powers for a crackdown marked by arrests without warrants, limited legal representation, and broad communication interception authority.

The crackdown involved thousands of troops making door-to-door arrests, resulting in over 76,000 arrests under extended congressional authority.

Despite criticism, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele justified the measures, claiming they reclaimed neighborhoods, freed small businesses from extortion, and provided safety for residents.

Bukele dismissed critics, asserting that the crackdown transformed El Salvador from a high-homicide-rate country a decade ago to one of the safest in the Western Hemisphere. He sees the present as an opportunity for progress after decades of suffering.

READ MORE: Daniel Noboa Net Worth

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Bert Hoover

WATCH: Who is Nayib Bukele, the 'CEO of El Salvador'? - From TRT World




Some Laois rivers are so clogged the swans wont be able to stretch their wings a council meeting was told.

Fine Gael Cllr Willie Aird invited the Irish Fisheries Board to attend a meeting of Laois County Council.

He tabled a motion, seconded by Fianna Fail Cllr John Joe Fennelly, asking, "that Laois County Council requests that representatives from the Irish Fisheries Board attend a Council meeting to inform this Council about criteria for removal of debris and cleaning of our waterways."

I just want those people to come here and explain to us what exactly do they want, he said.

Cllr Aird said he couldnt understand why trees and debris cant be removed from rivers despite serious flooding near waterways.

What trout want and what salmon want is fresh running water, said Cllr Aird.

We are in a position to do the work but we cant do it and there seems to be so much rules and regulations around it, he said.

Independent Cllr Aisling Moran described the condition of the rivers as a disgrace.

I cant understand it. Every other EU country uses the same law as we use and we wont clean out the rivers and they clean out the rivers, she claimed.

There is rivers near me that you can actually walk across now they are so full of debris and silt and everything else, she said.

Fine Gael Cllr PJ Kelly also supported the motion. He said the rivers dont look too bad at the moment due to the water levels but he said the situation will be evident in a few months.

The Barrow will be one of them that the swans wont be able to stretch their wings, theyll be that desecrated with dirt and leaves, he claimed.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (left), and UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan (center) at the launch of the Unified Payment Interface payment service system in Abu Dhabi, on February 13, 2024. - / AFP

From the Eiffel Tower to Mauritius, via Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan and the United Arab Emirates, the mobile payment system developed by India is being exported around the world. Since January 26, Indian tourists have been able to buy their tickets for the Eiffel Tower via Unified Payments Interface (UPI), India's mobile payment system, simply by scanning a QR code recognized by their usual payment application. This service was developed alongside French specialist Lyra, which has been in India for 17 years.

Read more Subscribers only India hopes its new electronic payment method will conquer the world

"One million Indians visit France every year, a number growing by 20% to 30% a year," said Christophe Mariette, Lyra's sales director. "UPI's target are famous monuments, hotels, transport, retailers, etc." Launched in 2016 by the nationalist government, the technology has revolutionized mobile payment in India, where paying in cash is the norm. Indians use it for online purchases, vegetables bought from street vendors or loose cigarettes for around 10 rupees, the equivalent of a few cents.

"UPI technology has been widely adopted by Indian consumers. In December 2023, 12 billion transactions were recorded: The system is used mainly for small amounts," explained Satish Meena, an analyst at Datum Intelligence. In 2023, the number of transactions carried out using this technology was over 100 billion, with a value of 2 trillion.

Open source system

The architecture of the system, developed in open source by the government, is used by third-party applications such as Google Pay, Amazon Pay and PhonePe. It connects over 500 banks and enables instant payments and bank transfers via mobile apps. "Unlike other systems, this is not an electronic payment wallet, but rather immediate transfers from bank account to bank account, via apps that use the UPI architecture," explained Meena.

The service is free of charge for users. "In a low-income country like India, the penetration rate of mobile payments, with huge volumes at low cost, can be considered one of this government's great success stories," said Hemindra Hazari, an independent analyst based in Mumbai. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government is also trying to use it as a diplomatic and soft power tool, particularly in the Global South. On February 12, the nationalist leader announced the launch of UPI for Indian tourists in Sri Lanka and Mauritius.

The system has already signed agreements with Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, Bhutan and Thailand. Indian workers living in Singapore and the Emirates should be able to send funds to their home country thanks to the interconnection of local mobile payment systems with UPI. This should soon be the case in Nepal too. "UPI technology can also be used by any government to develop its own mobile payment system, which could be useful in some low-income, unbanked African countries," explained Meena. India, which wants to become the voice of the Global South on the diplomatic stage, is particularly keen to share its technology with those countries.
A woman looks at a mural in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, Wednesday, March 1, 2023. AP

Around 170 people were "executed" in attacks on three villages in northern Burkina Faso a week ago, a regional public prosecutor said on Sunday, March 3.

Aly Benjamin Coulibaly said he received reports of the attacks on the villages of Komsilga, Nodin and Soroe in Yatenga province on February 25, with a provisional toll of "around 170 people executed."

The attacks left others wounded and caused material damage, this prosecutor for the northern town of Ouahigouya added in a statement. He said his office ordered an investigation and appealed to the public for information.

Survivors of the attacks told Agence France-Presse (AFP) that dozens of women and young children were among the victims.

Local security sources said the attacks were separate from deadly incidents at a mosque and a church in northern Burkina Faso that also happened a week ago. Authorities have yet to release an official death toll for those attacks.

Burkina Faso has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency waged by rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group that spilled over from neighbouring Mali in 2015. The violence has killed almost 20,000 people and displaced more than two million in Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries situated in the Sahel, a region wracked by instability.

Read more Subscribers only Mouthpieces close to the Kremlin announce the arrival of Russian 'military specialists' in Burkina Faso

Anger at the state's inability to end the insecurity played a major role in two military coups in 2022. Current strongman Ibrahim Traore has made the fight against rebel groups a priority.
A group of migrants on an inflatable dinghy, as they try to cross the English Channel from the coast of northern France, France, October 2, 2023. PASCAL ROSSIGNOL / REUTERS

A seven-year-old girl drowned on Sunday, March 3, when a small boat carrying 16 migrants heading from northern France to Britain capsized, the prefecture in France's Nord department said.

The boat "was not appropriately sized to carry so many people," the local authority said in a statement, causing it to capsize soon after people boarded in the Aa canal a few kilometres from the waterway's exit into the Channel. Police and firefighters rushed to the scene after a person out for a walk raised the alarm, the prefecture added.

The seven-year-old girl had died "on the spot of the effects of cardio-respiratory arrest," prosecutors in Dunkirk told Agence France-Presse (AFP), adding that rescuers' attempts to resuscitate her had been "in vain."

Read more Subscribers only Deaths in the Channel: 'Increasing the number of obstacles for border crossing only increases risks taken by refugees'

Prosecutors said that 10 children aged seven to 13 had been on the boat, with the prefecture identifying the other passengers as the girl's parents, another couple and two young men.

"Several people are in custody" over the incident, they added, with investigators probing possible charges including manslaughter, people-smuggling and forming a criminal gang. They added that the vessel was "apparently stolen. "

Sunday marks the third fatal incident in a Channel crossing attempt this year. A 22-year-old Turkish man died on Wednesday after falling overboard into the sea off Calais, while two more migrants remain missing. An Eritrean citizen suspected to be part of a gang has been charged with manslaughter in that case and held in custody since Saturday. Five more people including a 14-year-old Syrian boy were killed in mid-January as they tried to board a boat in chilly seas south of port city Calais.

"Border policy has killed again today," French migrant aid group L'Auberge des Migrants wrote on X. Last year, 12 people were killed in crossing attempts, while 29,437 reached Britain, according to figures from London's interior ministry. Around 20 percent were from Afghanistan, followed by contingents from Iran, Turkey, Eritrea and Iraq.

Read more Subscribers only How the French Navy tried to interfere in the 2021 Channel migrant shipwreck

Migrant crossings of the English Channel remain a sore point between Britain and France, with 671 reaching England in February. A deal struck in March 2023 provides for 541 million ($586 million) in British funding for hundreds of French police to prevent migrants from putting to sea. British interior minister James Cleverly told AFP last month that the two countries would "expand upon" cooperation he said had proved successful, citing figures showing a 36% reduction in crossings in 2023.

A major people-smuggling network organising Channel crossings in small boats was dismantled in an international operation on February 21, with 19 people arrested in Germany.

Read more Subscribers only Investigating the most prolific small boat network in Europe
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TRAGEDY has befallen a New York family, with connections to west Limerick, after a son and his mother died within days of each other.

Hannah T Duggan, who grew up in the mountains above Ashford in west Limerick, died surrounded by her family in her home of Nanuet in New York State.

She passed away on February 6, on what would have been her 64th wedding anniversary to her husband Andrew J Duggan who went to his God in 2021.

Only four days earlier, their son Andrew T Duggan, also of Nanuet, New York died.

Hannah departed west Limerick at the age of 18 and later met her husband Andrew J Duggan, described as the love of her life by her family.

Prior to New York, she had lived at Ormond Beach in Florida.

In a tribute, the family added: All her life, Hannah was a very hard worker, from owning and operating a model in the Catskills (a mountain belt in New York State) to flipping houses before it was a thing.

She never complained and was not afraid to roll up her sleeves and pitch in where needed. It did not matter if she was in New York, Florida or Ireland, she was loved by everyone who met her, they added.

Hannah, her family added, was energised by Irish music, dancing and playing the bagpipes.

She played the pipes marching up Fifth Avenue every St Patricks Day for years, they recalled.

Andrew T Duggan, who died unexpectedly on Friday, February 2, had graduated from Fordham University in New Yorks Bronx district, before crossing to Brooklyn Law School.

He worked as an engineer for more than 40 years.

His infectious smile and laughter could light up a room, said his family. He had a way of making everyone feel seen and loved. His passion and enthusiasm for life were contagious and he had a way of bringing out the best in all of us.

Among the passions Andrew - or Andy - had was travel.

READ MORE: Brave Dylan, 10, loses fight for life, a day after his baby brother is born

He revelled in the great outdoors, hiking and scuba-diving. But his greatest joy was spending time with family and friends, the tribute read.

Rest in peace, dear Andy. Your love, laughter and adventurous spirit will never fade from our hearts. We adored you.

Fianna Fail councillor Michael Collins, who represents Ashford on Limericks local authority said: The circumstances Ive heard and read about are tragic. For a mother and son to die within four days of each other. My sympathies go to all the family and all the surviving relatives, he said.

Hannah is survived by her children, Andy's brothers and sisters: Ann-Marie, Tommy and Cathy, as well as their relatives.

May both Hannah and Andy rest in eternal peace.
A Limerick student is hoping to reunite with her family, who are living between life and death in Gaza.

Tamar Nejem, a 25-year-old Limerick student, has appealed for help to reunite with her family members, whom she fears she could lose at any moment.

Tamars family home was damaged by bombings and her family sought shelter at her uncles house. Then, her parents, little sister and four brothers lived in tents after being told they had to evacuate.

They had to evacuate in 24 hours and leave. Suddenly, they have been targeted and the place around them has been erased so they left the house running for their lives without food, clothes or anything under bombing, live shooting and phosphorus gas, she told us.

Her family saw dead bodies all the way to Rafah, a city in the southern Gaza Strip, where they sought shelter.

They had to see dead people and bodies all the way. They had to evacuate to Rafah as they assume its a safe place and they had to live in hard conditions in a tent sharing a small space and eating canned foods. They got sick many times with no medical treatment, they have been targeted inside Rafah where they assumed its safe, Tamar explained.

My brothers got targeted twice and they were about to die. My dad had a heart attack as he couldnt handle the hard circumstances.

She explained that everything in Gaza is expensive as traders are using the situation to make more money.

Multiply the real price with ten nowadays. Its really hard for them to get food every day. They had to drink dirty water and when it rains the tent sink with water and they spend the night washing the tent and shivering. Sometimes they shower every 2 weeks as they lack clean water.

When they were living in a tent, women couldnt have access to bathrooms as they had to use a cover and use a bucket to relieve themselves. So, they only used to go twice a day and thats it, which led them to kidneys problems and they got sick. Its also harder when youre on your period, she says.

Despite the hardships her family faces every day, Tamar is trying to remain hopeful. Although, she finds it hard to, as there is a price on human life for those who want to cross the Egyptian border.

To go to Egypt you need to pay 7000 to 10 000, its like putting a price on your life as a human. Im doing all that I can but without help, its hard. Im hoping that people will understand how important it is, I can lose them any minute. I hope to be reunited with them once I get them out.

For 20 weeks without fail, crowds have been attending pro-Palestine rallies in Limerick city. A demonstration take place every Saturday on Bedford Row at 1pm.

Tamar has been touched by the support showed by the Limerick community, which makes her feel like people care and Palestinians are not dying in vain.

It makes me feel like I can do something for my people, it makes me feel like the world cares for us and that we arent just a number or animals. It makes me feel like somebody cares and our death isnt going in vain, it makes me feel loved and welcomed. It makes me feel at home, she shared.

According to health officials, more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.

Tamar points out the war should not be referred to as a conflict.

The definition of a conflict is that two equal parties in power are fighting. But in Gaza, there is only one side in this war that is systematically cutting water, electricity and food, starving people till death and making fun of their grief. Its not a religious war, its about humanity. We are humans, like anyone in the world. We want to live and have a decent life. We have limits, we arent heroes, we just want to live, have the right to travel, love and have a good education. We are brilliant people and an extraordinary nation.

Speaking of what she loves most about Gaza, she notes: The most precious thing that I love about home is the simplicity that lies in everything. Gaza might not be the fanciest city in the world, but it never fails to make us feel loved.

You can help Tamar's family by donating to the fundraiser here.
ONLY the fifth County Limerick State Solicitor since the foundation of the State has been appointed.

Brendan Gill, originally from Dromkeen, will take over from Aidan Judge at midnight on Thursday, March 7.

State solicitors are solicitors in private practice who are employed on a contract basis to act on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions, to present the prosecution case in the circuit court in their respective area or county.

Mr Judge has served as County Limerick State Solicitor for 25 years. Mr Judge, of Culhane Judge & Co, Newcastle West, will remain in private practice.

Mr Gill will continue as a partner in the firm of Maurice Power Solicitors LLP in Kilmallock, with the firm ceasing to carry out criminal defence work.

The firm has a long tradition of providing legal services to the State. The firms founder John J Power was appointed Limericks first State solicitor in 1922.

His son, Maurice Power, was the longest serving State solicitor in the country. He acted as State solicitor for Limerick City and County from 1940 to 1969 and for Limerick County from 1969 to 1993 - a remarkable 53 years.

His son, John Power, a current partner in the firm, served as State solicitor for Limerick County from 1993 to 1998.

Mr Gill now becomes the fourth member of the practice to be appointed to the role. He was educated in Cloverfield NS, Crescent College Comprehensive SJ, Trinity College Dublin and the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.

The Kilmallock-based solicitor carried out criminal defence work for the past 20 years in County Limerick and North Cork.

Padraig Mawe, Limerick City State Solicitor, paid tribute to Mr Judge for his professionalism and attention to detail.

The then Attorney General, Mr David Byrne appointed Aidan Judge as State solicitor for Limerick County on June 1, 1998. Mr Judge worked diligently and professionally on behalf of the Attorney General, the Director of Public Prosecutions and the people of County Limerick for almost 26 years.

He was an excellent colleague, very obliging and went about his business with little fuss. He took his role seriously and his paperwork was always immaculate and well organised. I will miss him as a fellow State solicitor and I wish him the best, said Mr Mawe.

He also congratulated Mr Gill on his recent appointment, which was well-merited.

I look forward to working with him and I have no doubt he will serve the people of County Limerick with the equivalent level of integrity and professionalism as Mr Judge, said Mr Mawe.

READ MORE: Limerick greenway considered 'no go' area after assault

Helena Kiely, chief prosecution solicitor, Director of Public Prosecutions, said during his tenure as State solicitor, Mr Judge acted on behalf of all four Directors of Public Prosecution, the late Eamonn Barnes, James Hamilton, Claire Loftus and most recently Catherine Pierse.

Mr Judge demonstrated great personal dedication and commitment to the role, providing a professional service to the Office of the DPP and to the people of County Limerick. Over those years, he dealt with many challenging and difficult cases.

The role of the State solicitor is a very demanding role, being a very public role, where you serve your community but must remain somewhat apart to retain the confidentiality and trust of the people you serve.

Mr Judge always demonstrated the independence and fairness essential to the role of State solicitor, earning the respect and trust of those with whom he worked, said Ms Kiely, who added that Mr Judge was a great colleague and always quick to offer assistance or advice to colleagues.

This generosity brought Mr Judge to many district and circuit courts in the Munster region, where he dealt with prosecutions on behalf of other colleagues. Mr Judge will be greatly missed by those who worked with him over the last 26 years, said Ms Kiely.

The Director wished Mr Gill all the best in his new role, saying he brings a wealth and knowledge of experience to the role from his 20 years in private practice and criminal defence.
Abbey Tauchen |

Lincoln University of Missouri will host the Lincoln NASA-USDA STEAM Summer Camp July 6-14, 2024. This free, nine-day residential summer camp will expose high school students to STEM and life-skills training. Campers will learn from Lincoln University and the University of Missouri experts on digital agriculture technology, data robotics and machine learning.

Rising high school sophomore and junior students who are interested in STEM are eligible to apply. The online application will close at 5 p.m. CST on April 15, 2024. The application has two parts  a student section and a parent section. Both sections must be completed, and all questions are mandatory. Students are also required to upload a letter of recommendation and an essay (maximum 750 words) describing their interest in STEM education and how attending this camp will benefit them.

Selected students will be notified via email/text on May 15, 2024. Parents and students must accept the selection by May 29, 2024, or the spot will be released to waitlisted candidates. Upon successful completion of the camp, each student will receive a $200 gift card.

This NASA-funded camp is supported by NASA MUREP PSI (Minority University Research and Education Project: Pre-college Summer Institute) and USDA-NIFA-NEXTGEN Program, which seek to raise interest in STEAM education among minority, underserved and underprivileged students.

For more information, contact Dr. Sougata Bardham at Bardhans@lincolnu.edu.
Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang on Friday said that artificial general intelligence could - by some definitions - arrive in as little as five years.

Huang, who heads the world's leading maker of artificial intelligence chips used to create systems like OpenAI's ChatGPT, was responding to a question at an economic forum held at Stanford University about how long it would take to achieve one of Silicon Valley's long-held goals of creating computers that can think like humans.

Huang said that the answer largely depends on how the goal is defined. If the definition is the ability to pass human tests, Huang said, artificial general intelligence (AGI) will arrive soon.

"If I gave an AI ... every single test that you can possibly imagine, you make that list of tests and put it in front of the computer science industry, and I'm guessing in five years time, we'll do well on every single one," said Huang, whose firm hit $2 trillion in market value on Friday.

As of now, AI can pass tests such as legal bar exams, but still struggles on specialized medical tests such as gastroenterology. But Huang said that in five years it should also be able to pass any of them.

But by other definitions, Huang said, AGI may be much further away, because scientists still disagree on how to describe how human minds work.

"Therefore, it's hard to achieve as an engineer" because engineers need defined goals, Huang said.

Huang also addressed a question about how many more chip factories, called "fabs" in the industry, are needed to support the expansion of the AI industry. Media reports have said OpenAI Chief Executive Sam Altman thinks many more fabs are needed.

Huang said that more will be needed, but each chip will also get better over time, which acts to limit the number of chips needed.

"We're going to need more fabs. However, remember that we're also improving the algorithms and the processing of (AI) tremendously over time," Huang said. It's not as if the efficiency of computing is what it is today, and therefore the demand is this much. I'm improving computing by a million times over 10 years."

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
Vedanta Resources, the parent firm of Mumbai-based mining conglomerate Vedanta Limited, is planning to deleverage as much as $ 3 billion in debt over the next three years, a senior official said at an analyst meeting. The company is not looking for another rollover of its loans in the coming years.

"Deleveraging is our priority. We would be deleveraging the debt of Vedanta Resources by USD 3 billion over the next three years. Vedanta Ltd's cash flow pre-growth capex is estimated to be USD 3.5-4 billion for the financial year 2025, sufficient for secured debt maturities of USD 1.5 billion," news agency PTI quoted Navin Agarwal, Vice Chairman, Vedanta Ltd and member of Promoter Group as saying. He was speaking at a recently concluded analysts' meeting.

No stake sale activity in the near term

Clarifying that the company is not considering any stake sale activity in the near term, Navin Agarwal said that the parent company has multiple avenues to meet its debt obligation.

The company plans to manage the financial year 2025 maturities of USD 1,100 million and close to USD 750 million of interest servicing through brand fees, dividends from operating companies, asset monetisation and other strategic initiatives.

"The recent dilution was part of a broader strategy to achieve optimal capital allocation. We believe the upcoming commissioning of growth projects will significantly enhance earnings potential, leading to a natural reduction in the cost of capital," he said.

The transaction has sparked considerable interest among market participants, especially among those who have been waiting for Vedanta's forthcoming demerger announcement. There has been a heightened interest among market participants for foreign institutional investors (FIIs), domestic institutional investors (DIIs), and retail investors.

Finsider International divests 1.76% of its share in Vedanta

Setting the stage for strategic manoeuvring within the company, Vedanta divested a significant portion of its shares through its promoter entity Finsider International in February.

Finsider International sold 1.76 per cent of its shares at an average price of 265 per share, raising a substantial sum of 1,737 crore. As a result, the promoter group's ownership stake has been reduced to 61.95 per cent.

The forthcoming demerger of the company is likely to simplify the Group's corporate structure with sector-focused independent businesses. The demerger would ensure the development of asset ownership and an entrepreneurship mindset that would help each company chart out its growth trajectory.

VEDANTA More Information

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BENGALURU : Indias top IT services company will grow at its slowest pace this year, but for the year ahead, it has nothing short of a growth blitz in mind.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) chief executive K. Krithivasan and Tata Sons chairman Natarajan Chandrasekaran huddled with the companys top 800 executives last week to sketch out a detailed plan for the companys future, two executives privy to the Abu Dhabi gathering said.

First, the headline goals. At the annual strategic retreat titled Blitz, CEO Krithivasan said he wants TCS to clock at least double-digit revenue growth in 2024-25. That would mean more than 10% growth, double the 5.2% dollar growth it is expected to report in 2023-24. Its slowest growth since it went public in 2004 was 5.3% in the year ended March 2010.

Even as he urged each executive to think of one bold idea that could become a big business opportunity, Chandrasekaran said he wants India to become a $10-billion market for TCSa big (eventual) aspiration of a more than seven-fold increase from the current $1.4 billion.

TCS clocked revenue of $27.9 billion in 2022-23. The company does not give any revenue or profit guidance, so these comments give an insight into the managements thinking.

Next, the more specific goals. Krithivasan outlined the firms strategy, titled Refresh, Realign, and Reinvent or RRR, coincidentally the name of a superhit Telugu movie. Under TCSs RRR, teams were pressed to modernize the companys offerings in the infrastructure management and application development areas.

The management expects businesses to scale up in emerging industries like electric cars, semiconductor designs and digital currencies, especially in light of the emergence of generative AI, according to some of the slides of a presentation that were reviewed by Mint.

On the geography front, TCS is expected to strengthen its offerings in European countries such as Spain and Italy, and in the Latin American continent as well.

A leadership refresh across the organization" was another important subject of discussion during the event, although Mint could not independently ascertain what it would entail.

Finally, TCS wants to further grow its share of business from some of its larger customers, even as Chandrasekaran and Krithivasan nudged the teams to collaborate with other group firms of the Tata group.

But above all, TCS expects faster growth next fiscal year, according to the executives cited above, because of a string of large deals. Earlier this year, TCS won a $2.5 billion deal over 15 years from British insurance group Aviva, which was the third such mega deal (IT contracts valued at over $1 billion) won by the company under Krithivasan, who took over as the boss last June.

In June itself, TCS bagged a $1.1-billion contract for 10 years from the National Employment Savings Trust, one of the UKs largest workplace pension schemes. And in September, Jaguar Land Rover, owned by Tata Motors, awarded $1 billion for work over five years to the IT company.

Chandra reminded us that as the market leader, we should not become complacent. He asked each of the business units to think of one audacious or bold idea that could eventually become a big business opportunity for the company," the first executive said on condition of anonymity as he is not the spokesperson of the company. The digital and platform story in India is one example which the chairman cited, saying how there is no reason why India should not become a $10 billion market for us (TCS)," said the executive.

Companies like Atos and Kyndryl are struggling for growth and customers of these companies is another area we need to tap better," said a second executive. For instance, the executive cited how National Employment Savings Trust first awarded a $1.8 billion, 18-year contract to French IT firm Atos in 2021 only to cancel the deal two years later, eventually leading to TCS winning the contract last year.

TCS is expected to do better in FY25 than in the current year," said a Mumbai-based analyst at a foreign brokerage. The problem is that the company does not give any guidance. So, its difficult to interpret if this double-digit growth is an aspiration or an internal target. (But) the sales engine is doing well and that shows up in large deal wins. I guess well need to hear the management post the first quarter performance on how the company will do in the next financial year."

The renewed vigour at this years Blitz was in contrast to the listless sentiment last year when a fortnight after the strategic event, incumbent CEO Rajesh Gopinathan abruptly resigned, paving the way for the appointment of Krithivasan.

For over two decades, TCS has served as the Tata group's crown jewel and cash machine, spewing billions of dollars of cash, almost all of which is returned to shareholders. Tata Sons, which owns 72.4%, has used that cash to fund the group's new bold bets, including building a digital business under Tata Digital and buying planes. With a market cap of $180 billion at the end of 1 March, TCS is the country's second most valuable company, behind Reliance Industries Ltd.

Incidentally, in 2022, Telugu movie RRR emerged as the highest-grossing Indian movie and even won an Academy Award for the song, Naatu Naatu. It remains to be seen if TCS can script a similar blockbuster.
Every year on December 31st a glimpse of an impenetrable world is revealed. On Chinese state television, Xi Jinping delivers his New Year address to the nation (pictured). Chinas netizens pore over the footage. On no other occasion do they get to see their leader sitting at what purports to be his desk. They swap analysis of Mr Xis collection of photographs, displayed on bookshelves behind him. And they parse his ponderously delivered words. Along the way, we are bound to encounter headwinds," he said this year. Many will see that as an understatement of Chinas woes .

Just over a year ago, Mr Xi abandoned his strict zero-covid" measures, which had been in force for nearly three years and had led to ever more frequent lockdowns. But the country did not experience what Mr Xi described in his speech as a smooth transition". Chinas under-vaccinated population was ill-prepared: according to some estimates, well over 1m people died of the disease as the country staggered back to normality (officials covered up the actual death toll). The economy failed to gather momentum. Youth unemployment soared, the property market continued to slump and foreign investors grew more nervous. The headwinds were fierce. The coming year looks hardly less troubled.

Mr Xi will try to put on a brave face. He will send an unusually large delegation to schmooze with plutocrats at the World Economic Forum in mid-January, an annual gathering of the rich and powerful in Davos, Switzerland. Reuters, a news agency, says the team will be led by Chinas prime minister, Li Qiangthe highest-ranking Chinese official to attend in person since Mr Xi himself showed up in 2017. Mr Li, a protege of Mr Xi, got the job in March 2023 after serving as Communist Party leader in Shanghai. He impressed foreigners there with his business-friendly ways.

He will find that much harder in Davos. When Mr Xi went there, it was different. Many officials and firms in the West were shuddering at the prospect of Donald Trumps presidency (he was about to be sworn in) and the impact that his threatened trade war with China would have on global growth. They were enraptured by Mr Xis efforts to portray himself as a champion of free trade. Now many of them see China as a source of risk, whether caused by the countrys faltering economy, strategic rivalry with America or Mr Xis own West-loathing politics, with their growing emphasis in all domains on the need to protect national and regime security.

In Western capitals and boardrooms the new year begins with much China-related worry. On January 13th a presidential election in Taiwan could whip up cross-strait tensions if the front-runner, William Lai of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, wins. China sees him as a diehard separatist.

By the normal political calendar, the partys Central Committeea body comprising more than 370 members of the political, military and business eliteshould have convened its third plenum" late in 2023. In the partys five-yearly cycle of gatherings, third plenums attract much attention because of their usual focus on economic reform. That no such meeting has yet been held in the current cycle has caused much speculation about disharmony among the elite over how to tackle Chinas long-term economic difficulties, such as an ageing population, shrinking workforce and high levels of debt. Senior officials did manage to hold an annual conference in December to discuss more immediate economic problems. Nothing that emerged from the gathering suggested any bold new measures to rev up growth.

View Full Image Graphic: The Economist

For the economy, 2024 will be no less bumpy than 2023. It will not enjoy the brief boost that it gained from the end of covid controls and the pickup in consumer demand. GDP growth this year may be slower than in 2023, when it was probably close to the governments target of around 5% (the lowest one in more than three decades). The World Bank predicts the economy will grow by 4.5% in 2024 and 4.3% in 2025. There will be continued fragility" in Chinas recovery, it says. Most economists seem to agree (see chart).

Some clues to the governments economic strategy will be revealed in March at the annual session of Chinas rubber-stamp legislature, the National Peoples Congress. In his report to the delegates Mr Li is likely to announce a growth target for 2024. If it matches the previous years, despite all the headwinds, that could signal that the state is prepared to boost stimulus measures to ensure the target is reached.

But investors will remain wary, not least because the governments messaging is becoming ever more untrustworthy (in 2023, for example, it stopped publishing data on youth unemployment). At Decembers meeting on the economy, officials were told to strengthen economic propaganda" and sing the praises of the bright prospects of the Chinese economy". Chinas Ministry of State Security went further. In a commentary on the meeting, posted on social media, it suggested that negativity about the economy was a serious political sin. The aim of people who air disparaging views, it said, was to attack and deny" Chinese-style socialism in a futile attempt" to subject the country to strategic containment and suppression".

On December 25th Caixin, a magazine in Beijing, published a pro-reform editorial, noting that during the Cultural Revolution the national economy was on the brink of collapse, yet the authorities insisted that the situation was very good and getting better and better." The article was quickly deleted from Caixins website.

In 2024 Mr Xi will be in no mood for dissent. A few days before the zero-covid policy was scrapped, he saw one of the most powerful displays of discontent with the government since the Tiananmen Square unrest of 1989. The protests, though brief and small, broke out in several big cities. Ostensibly they were against covid-related lockdowns, but they also had a political hue. People held up sheets of white paper to symbolise opposition to censorship. As their counterparts did in Tiananmen, they sang the communist anthem, the Internationale"loved by protesters in China not for its ideological message, but for its language of revolt. In Shanghai some even shouted Communist Party step down" and Xi Jinping step down". In a country so saturated with surveillance technology, it was an extraordinary moment of bravery. Mr Xi will remain haunted by it.

Throughout 2023 police tracked down participants, warning many and detaining some. Fear has taken hold again. A young resident of Beijing describes how the government ordered many of his friends to leave the city because of their roles in the protests. Theyve had to pay a huge price," he says. At a meeting on December 23rd to discuss their priorities in 2024, police chiefs around the country were ordered by their bosses in Beijing to tighten the strings of political security" and step up proactive" efforts to protect Chinas political system and its ideological sanctity.

In Hong Kong security will be a prominent theme of the political year, too. The territory is planning to adopt new laws in 2024 relating to crimes such as treason, secession, sedition and subversion. This is required by article 23 of Chinas mini-constitution for Hong Kong, the Basic Law, but previous efforts to enact such legislation have been frustrated by strong public opposition. Since an eruption of anti-government unrest in Hong Kong in 2019, Chinas sweeping clampdown on dissent in the territory has cleared the way for these laws to be passed. Few observers believe that residents would dare to organise any large protests. In the coming months verdicts will be reached in juryless trials of dozens of Hong Kongs most prominent pro-democracy activists. The outcomes could cast an even deeper chill over Hong Kongs shrinking space for free speech.

Turbulence at the top

Among Chinas leaders, the purges that have been an ever-present feature of Mr Xis rule will continue apace. The past year saw a dramatic display of these, with the ousting of a foreign minister, Qin Gang, and a defence minister, General Li Shangfuboth of whom had been in the job for just a few months. No reasons have been given for the dismissals, but it is believed that Mr Qins related at least in part to an extramarital affair and General Lis to corruption. Mr Qin was replaced by his predecessor, Wang Yi. After months without a defence minister, China named a new one on December 29th: Admiral Dong Jun, a former chief of the navy. On the same day, nine military officials were purged from the legislature, without explanation.

It is sometimes difficult to tell what motivates these shake-ups. Mr Xi is waging a relentless war on corruption as well as a campaign to enforce loyalty to his rule; there may be hidden political reasons why certain people are targeted for graft. But in the financial industry, fighting corruption appears to be the main reason for a sweeping clean-up in the past year. State media say that in 2023 more than 100 financial officials, mostly bankers, were rounded up for graft. The campaign is expected to be ratcheted up" in 2024, says Jiemian, a Shanghai-based business-news portal.

So is Mr Xis control of financial affairs generally. In March 2023 he announced the setting up of a new party-led agency, the Central Financial Commission, to take charge of all financial matters. Its duties include oversight of watchdogs such as the Peoples Bank of China, the central bank, and the newly established National Administration for Financial Regulation. He also re-established a long-disbanded bodythe Central Financial Work Commissionto enforce party discipline. Far from reinvigorating pro-market reforms, the third plenum, whenever it is held, will probably stress the partysand Mr Xisleadership of everything. The glumness that has settled over Chinas private sector is unlikely to be dispelled in 2024.

Mr Xi may hope that Chinas troubles will be offset by malaise in the West, such as divisions over support for Ukraine and Israels war in Gaza, and political strife in America as a presidential election looms. But the Wests anxieties about China will not abatewhoever wins Americas election, China will remain a bugbear in Washington. America will keep trying to handicap the development of cutting-edge technology in China with restrictions on investment and trade. Economic friction between China and the West will grow, not least as governments in Europe struggle to protect their car industries from a deluge of cheap electric vehicles (EVs) made in China. The European Commission is investigating whether Chinese EVs receive subsidies that violate trade rules. Punitive tariffs could ensue.

Mr Xi will exploit such moves to portray his country as a victim, hoping to nurture nationalist sentiment. Celebrations in October of Chinas 75th anniversary as a communist state will be milked for the same purpose. (A new law on patriotic education, which took effect on January 1st, will hammer home the point that sharing this sentiment is not optional.) But nationalism is not entirely effective as a bulwark against the partys critics: the protests in 2022 showed that. Murmurings about Mr Xis rule, fanned by the countrys troubles since then, will probably remain mostly private. But they are unlikely to subside in the upcoming year of the dragon.

Subscribers can sign up to Drum Tower, our new weekly newsletter, to understand what the world makes of Chinaand what China makes of the world.

 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
(Bloomberg) -- Alecta is losing its new chairman after just one week in the job, the second bungled appointment for that role within a few months, newspaper Dagens Industri reported.

Carina Akerstrom is resigning from Swedens biggest pension fund with immediate effect, she said, after the paper had highlighted an apparent conflict of interest with Heimstaden Bostad, a heavily-indebted landlord and Alectas largest single investment.

Akerstroms former employer, Svenska Handelsbanken AB, is Heimstaden Bostads creditor, Dagens Industri said. That means Alectas $4.8 billion investment in the landlord would have been one of Akerstroms key responsibilities to scrutinize.

Akerstrom stepped down as Handelsbankens chief executive officer at the start of the year and her contract, which runs until October 2024, will require full loyalty" with Handelsbanken until then, Dagens Industri said. She has signed lifetime non-disclosure agreements for all Handelsbanken related business, the newspaper said.

Read More: Swedens Property Crisis Threatens Its Biggest Pension Fund

Heimstaden Bostad is currently striving to offload properties amid credit-rating downgrades and a steep jump in borrowing costs. As chairman, Akerstrom would also have led the renegotiations surrounding the disadvantageous shareholder agreement with the companys co-owner, Norwegian billionaire Ivar Tollefsen.

Alectas stake in the landlord is currently under investigation by prosecutors, as well as Swedens financial watchdog.

Read More: Alecta Chair Says Fund Exiting Crisis of Confidence"

Akerstrom became chairman at Alecta on Feb. 22 and her resignation is Alectas second recruitment failure in short succession. The former Handelsbanken chief executive was tapped for the position after the nomination of former Danish Central Bank Governor Lars Rohde also fell through after a conflict of interest" as he was also appointed as candidate for the board of Nordea Bank Abp.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

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Chhattisgarh : A police constable and a Naxalite were killed in an encounter in Kanker district on Sunday, March 3, a police official informed.

When a joint team of security personnel was leading an anti-Naxal operation on March 3, a gunfight ensued in a forest near Hidur village that is under Chhotebethiya police station jurisdiction, a police official informed. The official further informed that this operation was launched based on specific input about the presence of Naxalites in the Hidur forest.

Constable Ramesh Kurethi who belonged to Bastar Fighters - a unit of state police, was martyred in the gunfight. Meanwhile, the body of a Naxalite and an AK-47 rifle were recovered from the spot, he said. A search operation was underway in the area when the fatal encounter took place.

In another incident that took place last week three Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh's Kanker. As per PTI's report, Kanker Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela said, Face-off took place in a forest in the Koyalibeda area when a joint team of the District Reserve Guard and the Border Security Force was out on an anti-Naxal operation."

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis received a death threat following which a 28-year-old man from Maharashtra's Beed was arrested from Satara on Saturday, March 2. Navle, who is a farmer, is in police custody and the probe is underway.

The accused, Kinchak Radhakrishna Navle had given an interview to a Youtube channel during which he made the death threat and made objectionable remarks against the deputy CM, the Santacruz police station official informed. Meanwhile, the police arrested, Yogesh Sawant from Panvel in neighbouring Raigad district on February 29 for allegedly sharing Navle's interview on social media platforms. Sawant has also been remanded in police custody to find out why the duo acted in this manner, a police official informed PTI.

Activist Akshay Panvelkar had filed a complaint following which the police took charge of the case and arrested the accused.

(With inputs from PTI)

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An army jawan allegedly shot himself with his service rifle, when he was on duty at the Radar Observatory Air Surveillance unit of Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in Odisha's Kendrapara district, police told PTI on Sunday.

According to the news agency, the 35-year-old jawan, identified as Sepoy Raj Sekharan was on duty at the facility of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Kiyarbanka village in Mahakalpada police station area. Sepoy Raj Sekharan, a native of Tamil Nadu, shot himself with his service rifle at around 2 am on Sunday.

Moments later, he was found lying in a pool of blood and was later rushed to a nearby government-run hospital. However, he was declared brought dead, a police officer told PTI.

According to the initial investigation, the incident appears to be a prima facie case of suicide and a further probe is underway. The service rifle of the army jawan has been sent for examination, Inspector Bimal Kumar Mallik of Mahalakpada police station told the news agency. So far there has been no official statement released by the army or DRDO about the incident.

In a similar incident, an Assam Rifles soldier opened fire at his colleagues in January. At last, he shot himself dead after injuring six army men at his battalion in south Manipur, reported Hindustan Times.

Soon after the incident, Assam Rifles released a statement informing about the incident that took place at Assam Rifles Battalion deployed close to the Indo-Myanmar border in South Manipur.

"One Assam Rifles Jawan opened fire on his colleagues injuring six of them (all injured are non-Manipuris); later the individual shot himself. All injured have been evacuated to Military Hospital for further treatment and reported to be stable" read the statement, according to HT.

Assam Rifles also clarified that the incident was not associated with the ongoing conflict in the state. No person injured in the incident belonged to Manipur. An investigation was initiated into the incident to ascertain the facts.

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The improvised explosive device (IED) explosion that left multiple people injured at Bengaluru's Rameshwaram Cafe on Friday would have been more fatal if it had exploded sideways, according to Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara.

Catch live updates on Bengaluru Cafe Blast here

The nuts and nails inside the IED had hit the roof at the time of the explosion. However, Parameshwara pointed out that if the device had exploded sideways bringing more people in contact with the nuts and nails, the intensity of the blast would have been severe.

"I too visited...and saw bolts and nails there. They all went up. If they had gone off horizontally then many people would have got hurt. It could have caused deaths too. Luckily all of them went up...," PTI quoted Home Minister G Parameshwara as saying on Sunday.

He met the police officials to take updates on the matter. Based on the structure of the IED, the Karnataka minister drew a parallel between the Rameshwaram cafe blast and the Mangaluru blast. However, he clarified that it is not possible to conclude the involvement of any specific organisation at this time.

There was the usage of battery, timer and other devices and they had been designed in a way similar to the Mangaluru blast but we cannot conclude any specific outfits involvement," said Parameshwara.

Karnataka Minister urges BJP to not politicise the issue

After holding meeting with the police officials, the Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara strongly condemned the opposition's stance on the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case and appealed them not to politicise the issue. He also urged the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) to refrain from issuing negative statements as the government continues its investigation.

"We are continuing our investigation. Eight teams have been formed, and all are working in different directions, examining various aspects. We have collected several CCTV footage. We are exploring every angle, including any jealousy factor. I also appeal to the opposition to cooperate with us and not politicize this issue. We do not know if there is any connection with the Mangaluru blast. They have used similar material and the same technical system," he said.

He also said that the investigation is considering multiple angles that could have led to the IED blast in Bengaluru including business rivalry, impending elections and terrorising investors coming to Bengaluru.

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In a first, Border Security Force (BSF) welcomes woman sniper, sub-inspector Suman Kumari. She has recently completed an eight-week sniper course at Indore's Central School of Weapons and Tactics (CSWT) to become the first woman sniper of the BSF. Suman has achieved 'instructor grade' at the course.

Welcoming the first 'Mahila Sniper', the BSF, in its post on the microblogging website, X (formerly Twitter), said that the force is truly becoming inclusive. "BSF is truly becoming an inclusive Force where #ladies are taking rapid strides everywhere. In a step in this direction, after rigorous training, #BSF has got the First #Mahila Sniper," the post read.

Hailing from Himachal Pradesh, according to a Times of India (TOI) report, Suman, who was commanding a platoon in Punjab, had volunteered for the sniper course after she witnessed the threat of sniper attacks from across the border. Determined for a "pay back", Suman got her superiors approval for the participation in the course.

In the sniper course, Suman was the only female among 56 men. The course is considered to be among the toughest trainings of the force, after the commando training.

In an interaction with the TOI, CSWT IG Bhaskar Singh Rawat hailed Suman's achievement and said that she will be an inspiration for other women. "She was the lone woman among 56 men and she put up an amazing performance in every activity. We are hoping that more female recruits will take up this course," he said.

Rawat explained that the trainees of the sniper course who perform 'exceptionally' get the Alpha and Bravo grading, but for the 'instructor grade' achieved by Suman, a separate screening test is taken. This grade makes her eligible to get posted as a sniper instructor.

"Trainees who perform exceptionally well get Alpha and Bravo grading, but a separate screening test is done for 'instructor grade' that Suman has achieved. She is the first woman sniper in BSF and will be an inspiration for other women to come forward. This course is one of the toughest after the commando training," Rawat told TOI.

One of her instructors told TOI how Suman excelled in the sniper course which even male trainees find difficult to survive.

The sniper course demands a lot of physical and mental strength. We have enhanced the trained regime this year with focus on concentration and camouflaging so that the sniper can get closer to the enemy without being detected. Most male trainees find it difficult to survive this training and do not even attempt the course but she volunteered," the instructor said.

"I am happy to say that she was leading in most activities during the course. Her hard work, determination and willingness to learn make her stand out."

Suman's background

The first woman snipper of the BSF comes from a humble family in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district. Her father works as an electrician, while her mother is a home-maker.

Suman joined BSF in 2021, and is also qualified in unarmed combat.

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Farmers' protest update: Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher on Sunday announced that they will resume their march to the national capital on March 6 (Wednesday). The protesting farmers will also be blocking the rail tracks across the country on March 10 (Sunday).

"We have decided to march to Delhi on March 6. Meanwhile, on March 10, we will block rail tracks (across the country) from 12 pm to 4 pm," said Pandher.

The fourth round of talks which took place over a week ago in Chandigarh was inconclusive, driving farmers to resume their Delhi chalo protest.

On Wednesday, Union agriculture and farmers' welfare minister Arjun Munda said that the government does not have an immediate plan to resume talks with protesting farmers, but it will find a solution soon.

There is no immediate plan to resume the talks, but the government will soon find a solution to address farmers' concerns," said Munda.

The farmers had paused their "Delhi chalo" march till 29 February but had stayed put along the Punjab-Haryana border.

On Saturday, the authorities partially reopened the Singhu and Tikri border points, almost two weeks after those were sealed in view of the farmers' "Delhi Chalo" march.

The two border points were sealed on February 13 as the protesting farmers from Punjab began their "Delhi Chalo" march to press the BJP-led Centre over their demands, including a minimum support price (MSP) for crops and farm loan waiver.

Farmer leaders had recently turned down the governments proposal of a 5-year assured purchase of cotton, pulses and maize at MSP saying that the proposal was not in their interest, adding that they want a legal MSP guarantee for all 23 crops, not just pulses, maize, and cotton.

Recently, ANI reported that Punjab is facing a major crisis of diesel and cylinder gas due to the farmers' protest. Supplies of Diesel and LPG Gas in Punjab are badly hit due to roadblocks and safety issues, the report said citing Ministry Sources.

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Three people lost their lives and four people were injured after their car collided with a truck on the Badarpur flyover in southeast Delhi, police said on Sunday. The accident took place Saturday late night when seven men were on their way to Okhla's Sanjay Colony from a wedding in Haryana's Faridabad.

The injured people are currently receiving treatment at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Rajesh Deo told PTI.

The police received information about the accident at 12:48 am, after which a team rushed on the spot and took the injured people to hospital. The accident took place on the Badarpur flyover near the Honda showroom, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Southeast) Rajesh Deo said. A police team reached the spot and rushed the injured to the trauma centre at AIIMS, Deo said.

The accident occured after the car driver lost control of his vehicle and hit a divider on the flyover. The collission was so severe that the car bounced off the divider and landed on the opposite carriageway, where it collided with the truck, the police official told PTI.

The victims have been identified as one Raj (21), Sanju (38) and Dinesh (22), the police said. Inured passengers have been identified as Ansul (18), who continues to be in a critical situation, and Neeraj (18), Ajit (28) and Vishal (28).

The victim of the accident, Raj was unmarried and was living with his family in Laxmi Nagar. His father is a tailor in Mathura while his mother has passed away.

Sanju, a resident of Sanjay Colony, was married with two children -- a son and a daughter. He worked as a labourer at a tailor shop. Dinesh, also a resident of Sanjay Colony, was unmarried. He was a cloth cutter at a shop in Okhla, they added. The accident was so severe that the car was completely mangled.

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A Ghaziabad man continued to live with the dead body of his wife for four days after strangulating her to death because of an altercation. Days later, he got himself arrested after confessing the crime to neighbours.

Also Read: Ghaziabad likely to be renamed soon amid demands by Hindu outfits; here's all you need to know

The incident came to light after the neighbours began experiencing a foul smell coming out of the rented flat. Later, the main accused in the case, Bharat Singh, started loudly confessing his crime after sitting in front of his house, reported NDTV.

Also Read: Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor: PM Modi inaugurates India's first Regional Rapid Transit System | Watch

After finding out about the crime, neighbours immediately informed the police about the incident. Soon, the 55-year-old man was arrested by the police. After finding the information about the case, police reached the spot and arrested Bharat Singh. The police also recovered the dead body of Bharat's 51-year-old wife, senior police officer Naresh Kumar told NDTV on Sunday. The investigation is going on in the matter.

Also Read: Indias emerging e-commerce hotspots: Visakhapatnam, Ghaziabad and Faridabad

Expressing their shock towards the incident, neighbours said that they were clueless about the crime and got to know about it only when Singh told them that he had killed his wife and wanted to surrender to the cops.

The police got the information about the crime from the neighbours. The neighbours told the police that Bharat had choked his wife Sunita to death, Kumar said. He also said that the accused has admitted his crime and accepted that he killed his wife during an altercation over a family issue.

"On reaching there, we found the body at their home. The murder appears to have happened at least three days back. We have arrested the accused. He has told us during questioning that he killed his wife during an altercation over a family issue. We have informed the womans family members and sent the body for autopsy," NDTV quoted Kumar as saying.

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Rahul Gandhi believes Prime Minister Narendra Modi has finished" small businesses in India. He, during a speech in Madhya Pradesh, was speaking about India's unemployment woes. He mentioned that Indias unemployment had surpassed Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan.

According to Gandhi, PM Modi's policies are responsible for it. His policies have adversely affected small enterprises, he said. The Congress leader specifically pointed to demonetisation and the Goods and Services Tax (GST) as critical blows.

"Today, there has been maximum unemployment in the country in the last 40 years. India has double the unemployment as compared to Pakistan. We have more unemployed youth than Bangladesh and Bhutan because Narendra Modi has finished small businesses by demonetization and implementing GST," ANI quoted Gandhi as saying in Gwalior.

India's youth unemployment rate stood at a staggering 23.22%. Pakistans unemployment rate stood at 11.3% and Bangladesh's 12.9%, as per a World Bank report from 2022.

Modi government's economic strategies have been specifically damaging to the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector, Gandhi said.

Rahul Gandhi on social injustice

Gandhi also spoke about social injustice. He noted that backward communities, tribal people and Dalits together constitute 73% of the population yet have negligible representation in major companies.

"Not a single person among these 73% will be found in big companies. Then, Modi Ji says that I am working for the poor," he said.

Gandhi also questioned the reluctance towards conducting a caste census. He suggested that it would reveal the actual socio-economic status of Dalits, tribals, and backward classes.

"Why would anyone object to this? Narendra Modi ji says that there is no caste in the country. There are only two, poor and rich. If so then how did you become OBC?" he asked.

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Key Events Today: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) unveiled its initial roster of 195 candidates for the impending Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to run for the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi once more, as per the first list. Among the 195 candidates, 34 individuals hold ministerial positions at both the Central and State levels.

Here are the top events of today:

1. PM Modi to chair Council of Ministers meet

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to preside over a session of the Union Council of Ministers on March 3rd, preceding the expected announcement of the Lok Sabha Polls by the Election Commission. This gathering carries notable importance, potentially marking the final such meeting for the Modi administration in its second term.

2. 'Delhi Chalo' protest to continue, say farmer leaders

Farmer leaders reaffirmed their dedication to the Delhi Chalo" movement on Friday, emphasizing their resolve to continue until their grievances are resolved. They announced their intention to reveal their next steps on March 3, following a memorial service for a protester who lost their life during confrontations with Haryana security forces in Khanauri, as reported by news agency PTI.

3. Maratha activist Jarange announces rasta roko

Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil declared a statewide 'Rasta Roko' (road blockade) on March 3 to push for the implementation of the 'Sage Soyare' (relatives from the family tree) ordinance notification in Maharashtra.

Despite the Maharashtra government passing a bill on Tuesday to provide quotas to Marathas, Patil opted to continue his hunger strike. While acknowledging the government's action, he voiced concerns about the bill's potential legal validity.

4. Shehbaz Sharif to be appointed as new Pakistan PM

Shehbaz Sharif is poised to assume office as Pakistan's new Prime Minister on Sunday, as announced by the National Assembly Secretariat on Thursday, which released the election schedule for the head of the government.

As per the schedule, candidates have until Saturday, 2 pm, to submit their nomination papers, with scrutiny of the papers set to conclude on the same day.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has put forward Shehbaz Sharif, aged 72, as its nominee for the prime ministerial position, while Omer Ayub Khan has been chosen by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, led by incarcerated former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

5. IMD predicts rainfall in THESE states

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday predicted that Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand are expected to experience snowfall and rain until March 3. In Uttarakhand, light to moderate rain, and snowfall have been predicted in many places accompanied by isolated thunderstorms and lightning on 3rd March.
Shehbaz Sharif, senior Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader is set to become the next Prime Minister of Pakistan on Sunday, March 3. He submitted his nomination on Saturday, March 2.

Shehbaz Sharif, 72, who is the consensus candidate of the PML-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), is set to lead a coalition government following last month's elections that produced a split mandate. His closest contender Omar Ayub Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) also filed his papers on Saturday ahead of Sunday's election that are expected to be a one-sided affair.

According to the National Assembly Secretariat, voting in the National Assembly to elect the new prime minister would be held on Sunday, March 3. The winning candidate will be administered the oath of office on Monday, March 4, at the Presidential mansion, Aiwan-e-Sadr.

Who is Shehbaz Sharif?

The PML-N president Shehbaz is the younger brother of former three-time prime minister Nawaz Sharif, 74, who was projected as the party's prime ministerial candidate ahead of the February 8 elections last month. He was marred by allegations of rigged vote.

Nawaz Sharif who has headed the country thrice earlier as PM decided against contesting as his PML-N party failed to garner majority seats in the February 8 elections to form a government on its own. Meanwhile, Sharifs-led party is the largest party with 75 out of 265 seats.

How is government formed?

A party requires to win 133 seats out of 265 contested seats to form a government while some 70 seats are reserved for women and minorities. In order to become the leader of the house, the candidate requires 169 votes in the 336-member house.

Moreover, these elections witnessed victory of over 90 independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khan's PTI that won majority seats in the 336-member National Assembly.

Shehbaz Sharif who is set for second term as PM, served as prime minister of a coalition government from April 2022 to August 2023 before Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.

Additionally, 304 lawmakers have taken oath at present but meanwhile the Election Commission of Pakistan has so far withheld the notification of 23 reserved seats for women and minorities.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is set to hold an election for the office of Pakistan's president by March 9. These elections are scheduled to take place two days before the retirement of half of the senators after completing their six-year term.

(With PTI inputs)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 3 March chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers in what is said to be the last such exercise during the second term of his government. The prime minister has been holding meetings of the entire Council of Ministers from time to time to discuss key policy and governance issues.

PM Modi meeting with Council of Ministers: What's on agenda?

- Given the impending AprilMay Lok Sabha elections 2024, today's meeting of the council of ministers is expected to have political significance.

-PM Modi will hold the meeting with the Council of ministers at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave.

- This meeting is also being held a day after the ruling BJP released the list of 195 candidates for the upcoming elections. The first list of 195 candidates featured high-profile names such as Prime Minister Narendra Modi who will again contest from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah who will be contesting from Gandhinagar in Gujarat. The list also has names of 34 Union Ministers and Ministers of State.

-The Election Commission (EC) is likely to announce the poll schedule in a couple of weeks. Reports had earlier stated that schedule will be out after 13 March.

-One of the key points to be discussed during the exercise could be the highlights of the government's performance as the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has expressed confidence of retaining power at the Centre for a third term under Modi on the back of its development and welfare planks, news agency PTI has stated.

Previous dates for Lok Sabha elections

Meanwhile, the EC has begun reviewing the preparedness of various states for holding the Lok Sabha elections. In the year 2014, the EC had announced the schedule for the nine-phase Lok Sabha elections on March 5 and the results were declared on May 16. Later in the 2019, the poll panel had announced the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections on March 10 and the results were declared on May 23.

(With inputs from PTI)

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(Bloomberg) -- Swiss voters backed a plan to raise pensions, the first time in the countrys history that social benefits got an increase via plebiscite.

The proposal to introduce a 13th annual payout to pensioners was supported by 58.2% of the electorate and also met the additional requirement of being passed in the majority of Switzerlands cantons. A second initiative to raise the retirement age  and subsequently tie it to life expectancy  was rejected, garnering only 25.3% of votes.

Polls ahead of Sunday had suggested that passing the measure that boosts pensions by about 8% would be a close call. Since 1848, Swiss voters had never approved plans to boost social benefits paid out by the state. The initiative was introduced by labor unions, who said higher costs of living had diminished pensions purchasing power.

The approval is a watershed moment for Switzerland," according to political analyst Georg Lutz. Just ten years ago, with bourgeois parties and business associations against it, such a proposal would have been without any chance," he told Bloomberg ahead of the vote.

The government-orchestrated rescue of Credit Suisse last year may have favored the result, according to Michael Hermann, head of pollster Sotomo.

Many think that the entrepreneurs and managers have broken the unwritten Swiss social contract: That managers are modest with bonuses and debauchery and the people are modest with social demands," he told newspaper SonntagsZeitung. People have been angry for a long time about the behavior of corporations, managers, tax evaders. So you often hear now: If they help themselves, then we also want something for us."

Pensions will be increased from 2026, according to the text of the initiative. The proponents didnt provide a plan to fund the estimated additional annual cost of 4.1 billion Swiss francs ($4.7 billion), so the vote is set to send the government  which had recommended its rejection  scrambling to find the money.

Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter has said that since Switzerland is already running a budget deficit, the approval will likely require an increase of value-added tax.

This is a dark day for young generations," lawmaker Christian Wasserfallen of center-right FDP said in a post on X. Im proud of all the young who are committed to secure pensions. Today we lost."

FDP  Keller-Sutters party  will reject any tax hikes for businesses to fund the higher pensions, unless they are tied to structural reforms saving money, the group said in an emailed statement.

The pensions boost saw particularly strong backing in French- and Italian-speaking cantons, while voters in the bigger German-speaking part were more skeptical, according to government data. Turnout across the country topped 58%.

The population showed that it really cares about the matter," Interior Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider told reporters in Bern, rejecting the suggestion of a so-called Rosti trench."

(Updates comment from minister in final paragraph)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com

2024 Bloomberg L.P.

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Parts of Pakistan, particularly in the northwest, were swept by heavy rains leaving at least 36 people dead and 50 others injured. According to authorities, several houses collapsed and roads were blocked due to landslides.

Out of the 30 people who died due to rains in the Swat Valley, Khyber district, most were women and children. Several people also died in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan.

Five people died in southwestern Baluchistan province after floods in the coastal town of Gwadar. Authorities used boats to evacuate people. According to Sarfraz Bugti, chief minister of Baluchistan, 700 homes had been damaged.

The reports said that authorities were sending emergency relief and heavy machinery to remove debris blocking highways.

Due to landslides, triggered by rainand snow, the Karakoram Highway, which links Pakistan with China, was blocked at some places. The spokesman for the northern Gilgit Baltistan region, Faizullah Faraq said the snowfall was unusually heavy for this time of year.

Authorities have also advised the tourists against traveling to the north of Pakistan due to weather conditions. Last week, several visitors were stranded there because of heavy rains.

This year, Pakistan has witnessed a delay in winter rains, which started in February instead of November. Monsoon and winter rains cause damage in Pakistan every year.

In 2022, rains and floods in many parts of Pakistan, killed over 1,739 people, and affected around 33 million and displacing nearly 8 million people. The disaster also caused damaged worth billions of dollars.

In Afghanistan also, authorities said that harsh winter killed more than 5,000 livestock and destroyed 403 homes in different parts of the country in the past three days. The Taliban-run administration said it allocated 50 million afghanis ($681,000) in assistance.

Mohammad Naseem Moradi, head of the national meteorological department, said similar weather conditions were last observed in 2015.

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Pakistan has started a low-key and low-risk" engagement with India by appointing Saad Ahmad Warraich as the new Charge dAffaires (CDA) at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, according to a report by The Indian Express .

Pakistan has also decided to hold its National Day celebrations in New Delhi for the first time since 2019.

For India until May this year -- when the Lok Sabha poll results would be declared, it will be a wait and watch situation to assess the vision of the Pakistans military-backed new Sharif-Zardari government.

The Indian Express report cited an official saying: It doesnt exactly matter what low-key or low-risk steps they are taking, what matters to us is whats in it for us."

Saad Ahmad Warraich assumed his responsibilities on February 26. He replaces Aizaz Khan who has completed his tenure.

Today, Saad Ahmad Warraich assumed responsibilities as Charge d'Affaires at the Pakistan High Commission, New Delhi. He has replaced Aizaz Khan, who has completed his tenure," the Pakistan High Commission had said in a statement.

Warraich has served as Pakistani envoy at the UN General Assembly in New York.

He also previously worked as the director general of the Afghanistan, Iran and Turkey desk in the Pakistan foreign ministry.

Both Pakistan and India did not had High Commissioners in each others capitals since 2019 after Islamabad recalled its envoy from New Delhi following the abrogation of Article 370 that granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir.

In 2023, the Indias ministry of external affairs (MEA) had appointed Geetika Srivastava, as the first woman charge d'affaires at the Indian High Commission in Islamabad.

The last Indian High Commissioner to Islamabad was Ajay Bisaria. He was withdrawn after Pakistan decided to downgrade the status of the High Commission following the abrogation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.

Pakistan celebrates its National Day on March 23. On this day in 1940 Lahore Resolution was adopted by the Muslim League for creation of an independent nation for Muslims.

The Pakistan High Commission celebrates the National Day in its embassy complex.

On the guest list are members of the Indian strategic community and the foreign diplomatic corps in the capital, said the report.

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Taiwan's foreign ministry strongly criticized China's response to an interview featuring Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu with an Indian media outlet, asserting that we are not puppets of the People's Republic of China." Earlier on Saturday, the Chinese embassy in India expressed concern regarding an Indian media channel's interview with Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, accusing it of allowing him to promote Taiwan independence. The Chinese embassy issued a statement condemning certain Indian TV channels for airing an interview with Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu on February 29, 2024. The embassy criticized the interview, and said, Taiwan's foreign affairs office Joseph Wu, which provided a platform for him to advocate 'Taiwan independence' and disseminate false information. It seriously violated the one-China principle, and is totally unacceptable." It's noteworthy that India adheres to the One China policy concerning Taiwan and does not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei. Also Read: Taiwan agrees to hire Indian workers to address labour shortages: Report In response to China's statement, Taiwan's foreign ministry said, Neither India nor Taiwan is part of the PRC [People's Republic of China] and we're not its puppets. We're both democracies with free and vibrant presses that can't be dictated to."

China asserts sovereignty over democratically governed Taiwan despite the island's steadfast rejections of such claims.

For the past four years, Taiwan has voiced concerns about heightened Chinese military manoeuvres, including frequent flights of fighter jets over the strait. These actions are perceived as part of a grey zone" involving the deployment of military aircraft and naval vessels across the median line and within Taiwan's ADIZ.

Despite never exercising control over Taiwan, China's Communist Party regards it as its own territory. While advocating for peaceful "reunification," Chinese officials haven't dismissed the possibility of employing force.

The historical backdrop of the Taiwan-China dynamic dates back to 1949, when General Chiang Kai-shek relocated with his nationalist forces to Taiwan following the victory of Mao's Red Army in the Chinese Civil War.

The United States maintains an informal relationship with Taiwan, acknowledging China's stance that Taiwan is part of its territory.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Former President Donald Trump swept two more Republican presidential nominating contests on Saturday, beating rival Nikki Haley in Missouri and winning all of Michigans remaining delegates.

The Associated Press called both races for Trump. Republicans in Idaho are also awarding delegates in a caucus on Saturday.

Trump has won every nominating contest so far by wide margins, putting him on track to have enough delegates to lock down the Republican presidential nomination by mid-March.

The latest Trump victories portends trouble for Haley, the final candidate challenging Trump. The former president won the first Michigan contest  a primary  on Tuesday by more than 40 percentage points.

Michigan Republicans, whose party rules dictated holding a second contest, held a party convention on Saturday to award the remaining 39 delegates. Trump swept those after receiving 1,575 votes from precinct delegates, compared to 36 for Haley, the AP reported.

The race will soon shift to Super Tuesday on March 5, when 15 states hold Republican nominating contests. Haley has vowed to stay in the race through then. She has continued to campaign and raise funds over the past week in the wake of a crushing loss to Trump last Saturday in South Carolina, the state where she was governor twice.

Haley has argued that she should stay in the race despite the unlikely odds in order to give voters a choice beyond the former president. She has made the case to voters that Trumps legal challenges would distract him from the campaign, making him a less desirable candidate to challenge President Joe Biden.

Despite the losses, Haley has beat expectations set by polls in several of the early voting states. She won more than 43% of the vote in New Hampshire and nearly 40% in her home state of South Carolina, both states where she spent significant time campaigning.

There are huge numbers of voters in our Republican primaries who are saying they want an alternative," Haley said last week.

Jai Chabria, a Republican strategist, said the latest win made clear that Haley had virtually no chance of clinching the nomination away from Trump.

This race has been over for a long time since Donald Trump announced he was gonna become president," Chabria said. There are a few in the donor class that want us to go on, but thats really it."

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This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.
Howard Schultz officially stepped down as chief executive officer of Starbucks in March 2023. But with Schultz [whose name has so closely been associated with the Starbucks story], youre never really sure that hes gone. Twice before has the coffee-chains longtime CEO handed over the companys reins to a hand-picked successor. And twice before has he boomeranged right back into the CEO job, claiming he had returned to fix the course of a company that had lost its way.

But this week, we got the surest sign yet that the Schultz era at Starbucks is now officially over. The company and the union representing its employees said they had agreed to start discussions about how to reach collective bargaining agreements. Its the first real indication of any sort of thaw between the two parties, which have been locked in a bitter battle over workers efforts to organize.

These initial steps toward an agreement were unlikely to ever have happened with Schultz in charge. Hed been adamantly opposed to a union at Starbucks; in fact, labour organizing itself at the company was one of the factors that precipitated his 2022 return.

Things had gotten nasty back then. Last year, Schultz testified in a Senate committee meeting about the companys alleged labour law violations, prompting Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders to describe Starbucks as waging the most aggressive and illegal union busting campaign in the modern history of our country." Schultz said repeatedly during the hearing that the company had not broken the law.

Seeing the company used as a proxy for union busting and corporate greed was a sharp turn for Starbucks, which has long been a favourite of latte-loving liberals. But Schultzs position on the union always seemed very much at odds with the kind of company he had tried to buildone with progressive benefits and progressive stances. The company was one of Americas first corporate giants to take a clear public stand on social issues like gun control and Black Lives Matter.

Schultz didnt start Starbucks, but he built it into the company it is today. And in him, we saw how the best and worst parts of founders and long-time CEOs are often one in the same: Everything is personal for them. They inject a company with passion and dedication, but that can also mean they make decisions using emotion rather than reason. Its understandable, having created a company in which its every failure and success is tied to their own identity. In Schultzs case, he always said he tried to make Starbucks the kind of employer his father, who had once been fired after injuring himself on the job as a delivery driver, never got the chance to work for.

So for Schultz, the arrival of the union was deeply personal. He believed that only badly behaved companies needed unions to protect their workers; in his mind, Starbucks was not that kind of a company, and he was not that kind of CEO.

When I wrote about the hearing last year, Wilma Liebman, a chairman of the National Labor Relations Board during the Obama administration, told me that Schultz was exhibiting the reflexive anti-unionism" often seen among company founders. Because its a group that tends to take worker activism so personally, it makes them more prone to anti-union behaviour. Its a huge disappointment," she said of Starbucks.

The coffee giant, however, has reached a point where CEO Laxman Narasimhan can no longer afford to uphold his predecessors position on the union. When Starbucks reported earnings earlier this month, posting its slowest sales growth in a year, analysts in part blamed the impact of consumer boycotts over the war in Gaza and the companys prolonged fight against the union.

Perhaps most worrisome, Starbucks had put itself at risk of losing its future customer base. Gen-Z has been called the most pro-union generation" and has shown a willingness to make sure its spending aligns with its values in a way we dont see with other age cohorts. Last week, for example, actions were planned at 25 college and universities by students who want Starbucks kicked off their campuses for its alleged anti-union activities.

Schultz built Starbucks into the coffeehouse behemoth it is today by not only keeping up with the cultural moment, but by informing it, selling not just coffee but also a set of values. His stance on unionswhich now have historic levels of support in Americawas a sign that he had fallen out of step. It seems to have taken an outsider to realize that moving forward with the union isnt a personal failing but rather a good business decision. bloomberg
All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi on Saturday visited Rameshwaram Cafe in Hyderabad to express solidarity with Bengaluru blast victims.

He condemned the incident, noting the cafe's connection to former President APJ Abdul Kalam's birthplace.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, Owaisi said in a post, "Visited Hyderabad's @RameshwaramCafe in solidarity. The food was lovely & it's very important to remember that the Cafe is named after APJ Abdul Kalam's birth place. #RameshwaramCafeBlast is an act of cowardice and an attack on India's values."

Owaisi was seen having a sumptuous meal and interacting with some of the visitors at the cafe.

As many as 10 people were left injured after an explosion took place at Bengaluru's popular Rameshwaram cafe in the Whitefield area on Friday. The incident took place around 1 pm when the popular hangouts was packed for lunch.

Police conduct search at Bengaluru Rameshwaram Cafe

Following an incident, an investigation was led by Karnataka Police on Sunday. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has urged a thorough probe, instructing police to employ technology for effective results.

He gave clear instructions to senior police officers to use the possibilities of technology effectively in investigations. CM Siddaramaiah suggested that protection should be provided to the people. He directed officials to identify densely populated areas and increase police patrolling in such areas.

Rameshwaram Cafe will reopen soon: Owner Raghavendra Rao

Meanwhile, the co-founder and CEO of the eatery, Raghavendra Rao, said that both the Union government and the state government should ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future and called for strict action.

"I request the government of Karnataka and India to make sure that this incident should not happen anywhere in India," Raghavendra told reporters, extending his solidarity with the people and staff who were injured in the incident.

"I want to convey my strong regards to people who have got hurt. I wanted to say that we are with them, their family" Raghavendra said.

"One woman lost her eyes, and we are there with her. We are with our staff, four or five people, who are hurt very badly. We need all your blessings to show what the power of youth is and to say we are Indians and we are no less than anybody. We're going to launch on Friday with a good bang. And we need all of your support," he added.

(With agency inputs)

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Calcutta High Court judge Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay, whose rulings on various education-related issues in the state stirred political debates, said that he will resign from his post on Tuesday, March 4.

Justice Gangopadhyay shared his intention of joining politics and said, "Only the political field can give people who want to take steps in respect of those helpless people a chance to act for them..."

Talking to media, Gangopadhyay said that for the last two years, he has been dealing with huge corruption", especially in the education sector.

I will resign from the post of Justice of Calcutta High Court on Tuesday," said Justice Gangopadhyay.

The Calcutta High Court judge is due for retirement later this year, and has said that he will submit his resignation to the President of India in Tuesday's first hour. The copies of his resignation will be sent to the Chief Justice of India and the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court.

Will resign from the post of a judge in High Court Calcutta. For the last two or more years I have been dealing with some matters, especially education matters, regarding which a huge corruption has been discovered and unearthed. A large number of important persons in the education sector of this government are now languishing in jail, under trial," said Justice Gangopadhyay.

He also claimed large employer scams" have been underway in West Bengal, especially in provident fund gratuity. I have passed certain orders in these respects. But I have failed while addressing the matters of labour, labour legislation."

Now I should go to the larger people," said Justice Gangopadhyay. In court, a judge deals with the matters which come before him if a person files a case. But in our country and also in our state, West Bengal, there are a large number of very helpless people."

Justice Gangopadhyay is known for his swift directives, occasionally mandating compliance within hours, has garnered appreciation from diverse segments of society, particularly aspiring candidates for school jobs.

He has issued several directives instructing the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to probe allegations of irregularities in the recruitment processes of teaching and non-teaching staff in West Bengal government-sponsored and -aided schools.

However, his remarks in specific cases have also stirred dissatisfaction among certain leaders of the ruling party in the state.

Following a tussle between his single bench and a division bench of the high court over instituting a CBI probe in an alleged scam in issuing caste certificates to candidates aspiring for reserved category MBBS seats in West Bengal, the Supreme Court had in January intervened and transferred to itself all petitions related to the matter.

Gangopadhyay, who was on leave for the past one week owing to personal reasons, said his resignation will be effective from the moment he sends it to the President.

He said he will answer all queries of journalists at 1:30 pm on Tuesday in front of legendary freedom fighter Masterda Surya Sen's statue in front of the high court buildings after tendering his resignation.

Justice Gangopadhyay, who practised law at the high court, joined the Calcutta High Court as additional judge on May 2, 2018. He was elevated as permanent judge on July 30, 2020, according to data in the high court's website.

(With inputs from PTI)

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Despite the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) revealing its list of 195 contestants, with 51 nominees designated for Uttar Pradesh's constituencies in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the suspense lingers over the candidate selection for Raebareli .

This constituency holds significant political importance due to its historical association with the Congress party. Raebareli, along with Amethi, has long been regarded as the bastion of the Congress until the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

Earlier, in 2019, Sonia Gandhi secured victory in Raebareli against BJP's Dinesh Pratap Singh, while Union Minister Smriti Irani defeated senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in Amethi.

Also Read: BJP candidate list Lok Sabha 2024 LIVE: Shivraj, Scindia in BJP's MP candidate list; Pragya Thakur out

The anticipation surrounding Raebareli stems from speculation that the Congress might nominate All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Priyanka Gandhi for this seat, while Rahul Gandhi may contest from Amethi. As such, numerous names are being circulated as potential BJP candidates for the Raebareli constituency.

Earlier, Uttar Pradesh Minister Dinesh Pratap Singh expressed his full support for whichever candidate the Bharatiya Janata Party chooses to field from the Raebareli constituency.

Also Read: Rajya Sabha route? Not any more for these 7 Union ministers. Details here

Singh, who contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from Raebareli and was defeated by Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, reiterated his commitment to backing the party's nominee in the upcoming elections.

Brothers and sisters of my Raebareli, whoever is sent by the leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party from Raebareli Lok Sabha with a lotus sign, I, with the people of Raebareli, will help him fight elections with all my heart, body, mind, and wealth. This is my resolve to make the lotus blossom. May Lord Shri Ram and the respected people of Raebareli support our resolve. Jai Shri Ram," Dinesh Pratap Singh said in a Facebook post.

Former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who had been representing the Raebareli constituency since 2004, conveyed to the voters of Raebareli that she would not be contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha elections due to health and age concerns.

Also Read: Meet Bansuri Swaraj  Sushma Swaraj's daughter, Lok Sabha poll debutant and BJP's New Delhi candidate

In a statement on February 15th, she announced her decision not to seek re-election to the Lower House from the Congress stronghold in the forthcoming polls. My family in Delhi is incomplete without you. It becomes complete after visiting Raebareli--meeting you all. This relationship is very old and deep, which I have received from my in-laws' house as fortune."

Sonia Gandhi secured her first victory as a Member of Parliament from Raebareli in 2004. Since then, she has continuously represented the Congress stronghold in the Lower House of Parliament.

(With inputs from agencies)

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Lok Sabha Polls 2024: As the BJP announced its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls , the Overseas Friends of BJP in the US has kicked off its 2024 election campaign pledging to volunteer and contribute towards the goal of winning 400 seats in the elections.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates out of which 51 are from Uttar Pradesh, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Varanasi.

The Indian Diaspora is going to support the BJP in India," Adapa Prasad, president of Overseas Friends of BJP (OFBJP) USA told PTI after the conclusion of the kick-off event on Saturday in a Maryland suburb of Washington DC.

The event was attended by about 100 core members of the OFBJP.

Also Read: BJP candidate list Lok Sabha 2024 LIVE: Done many things, says Hema Malini after fielded from Mathura seat

General elections are expected to be held in India between April and May 2024 to elect 543 members of the Lok Sabha.

Indian-Americans made presentations on their analysis of the affairs in various Indian states, including Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

We reviewed the progress in each of the states and had a detailed presentation on the achievements of the prime minister Narendra Modi," he said.

So far more than 3,000 volunteers have signed up for various election-related activities being coordinated by OFBJP.

This includes social media, phone calls, voter analysis, direct campaigning and travel to India.

Also Read: PM Narendra Modi's message after BJP announces first candidate list: I bow to

Plans are afoot to make around 25 lakh calls from the US to India urging Indians to vote for the BJP and re-elect Prime Minister Modi for the third consecutive term.

Among the series of events planned across the nation, in addition to call centres, include Modi Ki Guarantee", Mohalla Chai Pe Charcha", Car Rally and Holi Milan.

We are ready. Everybody's pumped up. Everybody's looking forward to it. This time we will cross 400 seats for the Prime Minister. He has done so much for the country and he is loved everywhere," said Kanwaljeet Singh Soni, convenor of the Sikh affairs wing of the OFBJP.

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The Vatican City, the spiritual and administrative center of the Roman Catholic Church, is home to some of the worlds most renowned artworks, housed within the Vatican Museums. These masterpieces span centuries of artistic achievement and reflect the rich cultural heritage of Christianity. Here, we explore some of the greatest artworks found in the Vatican:

Michelangelos Sistine Chapel Ceiling:

Arguably the most famous artwork in the Vatican, Michelangelos breathtaking ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel are a testament to his unparalleled artistic genius. Completed between 1508 and 1512, the ceiling depicts scenes from the Book of Genesis, including the iconic Creation of Adam where God breathes life into Adam. The ceilings intricate details, vibrant colors, and dynamic compositions continue to awe visitors from around the world.

The Sistine Chapel Ceiling, adorned with the breathtaking frescoes by Michelangelo Buonarroti, stands as one of the most iconic and revered artistic achievements in history. Located within the Vatican City, the spiritual heart of the Roman Catholic Church, this magnificent masterpiece has captivated visitors for centuries with its beauty, complexity, and profound symbolism.

Commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1508, Michelangelo embarked on the monumental task of decorating the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, a project that would consume him for four grueling years. The result of his labor is a stunning visual narrative that spans over 5,000 square feet and comprises nine central panels depicting scenes from the Book of Genesis, along with numerous ornate architectural elements and decorative motifs.

At the center of the ceiling, Michelangelos iconic depiction of the Creation of Adam has become one of the most recognizable images in art history. This iconic fresco portrays the moment when God, depicted as a majestic figure enveloped in billowing robes, reaches out to impart the spark of life to Adam, the first man. The powerful imagery of outstretched hands, poised on the brink of touching, conveys the divine act of creation with unparalleled emotional resonance.

Surrounding the central narrative are a series of intricately painted panels depicting various biblical stories, including the creation of Eve, the temptation and fall of Adam and Eve, and the Great Flood. Each scene is rendered with exquisite detail and dynamic composition, showcasing Michelangelos mastery of form, perspective, and anatomical accuracy.

In addition to the narrative panels, Michelangelo adorned the ceiling with a rich array of decorative elements, including ornate architectural frames, intricate drapery, and a host of cherubs, prophets, and sibyls. The ceilings design reflects Michelangelos deep understanding of classical architecture and his innovative approach to spatial composition, creating a harmonious and visually dynamic ensemble that envelops the viewer in a transcendent experience.

Despite the physical and artistic challenges he faced, including working in an uncomfortable position high above the chapel floor and mastering the complex technique of fresco painting, Michelangelo persevered and ultimately created a masterpiece that has stood the test of time. The Sistine Chapel Ceiling remains an enduring testament to the genius of one of historys greatest artists and continues to inspire awe and admiration in all who behold it.

Raphaels Stanze di Raffaello (Raphael Rooms):

Commissioned by Pope Julius II, the Raphael Rooms are a series of four interconnected chambers in the Vatican Palace adorned with frescoes by the renowned Renaissance artist Raphael and his workshop. The most famous of these is the School of Athens located in the Stanza della Segnatura, which features a gathering of ancient philosophers and thinkers, including Plato and Aristotle, in a grand architectural setting.

Nestled within the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican City lies one of the most exquisite treasures of the Renaissance era  the Stanze di Raffaello, or Raphael Rooms. These lavishly decorated chambers, painted by the esteemed Italian artist Raphael and his talented workshop, stand as a testament to the pinnacle of artistic achievement during the High Renaissance period.

Commissioned by Pope Julius II in the early 16th century, the Raphael Rooms served as the private apartments of the pontiff, intended to showcase the grandeur and magnificence of the papal court. Raphael was tasked with transforming the modest chambers into sumptuous spaces adorned with frescoes that would elevate the spiritual and cultural ambiance of the papal residence.

The four rooms that comprise the Raphael Rooms  the Stanza della Segnatura, Stanza di Eliodoro, Stanza dellIncendio del Borgo, and Stanza di Constantino  each feature a distinctive theme and a series of breathtaking frescoes that reflect Raphaels unparalleled skill and artistic vision.

The Stanza della Segnatura, considered the masterpiece of the Raphael Rooms, is adorned with a stunning array of frescoes that celebrate the realms of theology, philosophy, law, and poetry. The centerpiece of this room is the iconic School of Athens, a monumental composition that pays homage to the great philosophers of antiquity and epitomizes the harmony and balance of the Renaissance aesthetic.

In the Stanza di Eliodoro, Raphael depicted scenes from the Old Testament, including the miraculous intervention of God in the expulsion of Heliodorus from the Temple and the liberation of Saint Peter from prison by an angel. These dramatic frescoes serve as a testament to the divine power and providence of God, reinforcing the spiritual authority of the papacy.

The Stanza dellIncendio del Borgo commemorates the legendary intervention of Pope Leo IV in extinguishing a fire that threatened the Borgo district of Rome. Raphaels frescoes in this room depict the miraculous event and celebrate the heroic deeds of the pontiff, imbuing the space with a sense of divine protection and providence.

Finally, the Stanza di Constantino pays homage to the early Christian history of Rome, portraying the miraculous conversion of the Roman Emperor Constantine and the Battle of Milvian Bridge. These majestic frescoes serve as a testament to the triumph of Christianity and the spiritual legacy of the papacy.

Together, the Raphael Rooms represent a triumph of artistic achievement and cultural expression, showcasing the unparalleled talent and vision of Raphael and his workshop. These magnificent frescoes continue to inspire awe and admiration in visitors from around the world, offering a glimpse into the splendor and grandeur of the Renaissance era.

The Pieta by Michelangelo:



Located in St. Peters Basilica, Michelangelos Pieta is a marble sculpture depicting the Virgin Mary cradling the lifeless body of Jesus Christ after the Crucifixion. Carved from a single block of Carrara marble, the sculpture is a masterpiece of Renaissance art, renowned for its emotional intensity, delicate drapery, and exquisite detail.

The Pieta, a sublime masterpiece sculpted by the renowned Renaissance artist Michelangelo Buonarroti, stands as a testament to the pinnacle of artistic achievement and spiritual expression. Created between 1498 and 1499, this iconic work of art captures the poignant moment of Mary cradling the lifeless body of her son, Jesus Christ, after his crucifixion.

Commissioned by the French cardinal Jean de Billheres as a funerary monument for his tomb in St. Peters Basilica in Vatican City, Michelangelos Pieta immediately captivates viewers with its unparalleled beauty and emotional resonance. Carved from a single block of flawless Carrara marble, the sculpture exudes a sense of grace, serenity, and divine compassion that transcends time and space.

The Pieta is a study in contrasts, juxtaposing the youthful, idealized figure of Christ with the mature, sorrowful visage of his mother Mary. Michelangelos meticulous attention to detail, from the intricate folds of the garments to the delicate contours of the figures faces, imbues the sculpture with a sense of lifelike realism and emotional depth.

One of the most striking aspects of the Pieta is its composition, which achieves a perfect balance and harmony between the figures. Marys gentle embrace of her sons body exudes tenderness and compassion, while Christs limp form conveys a profound sense of resignation and sacrifice. The interplay of light and shadow further enhances the dramatic effect of the sculpture, casting Mary and Christ in a timeless aura of divine radiance.

Beyond its aesthetic beauty, the Pieta also serves as a powerful symbol of faith, redemption, and the enduring bond between mother and child. Michelangelos masterpiece invites viewers to contemplate the mysteries of life, death, and salvation, inviting them to find solace and inspiration in the transcendent power of love and compassion.

Throughout the centuries, the Pieta has inspired countless artists, scholars, and pilgrims, drawing admirers from around the world to marvel at its sublime beauty and spiritual resonance. Today, it remains one of the most revered and iconic works of art in the history of Western civilization, a testament to the enduring legacy of Michelangelo and the timeless power of artistic expression.

The Last Judgment by Michelangelo:

Another monumental work by Michelangelo, the Last Judgment fresco adorns the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel. Painted between 1536 and 1541, the fresco depicts the Second Coming of Christ and the final judgment of humanity. Michelangelos dramatic portrayal of heaven, hell, and the resurrection remains one of the most powerful and influential artworks in Western art history.

The Last Judgment, an awe-inspiring fresco adorning the altar wall of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City, stands as one of the crowning achievements of Renaissance art and a testament to the boundless creativity and spiritual fervor of its creator, Michelangelo Buonarroti. Painted between 1536 and 1541, this monumental work of art depicts the dramatic scene of Christs second coming and the final judgment of humanity, capturing the profound theological and existential themes of redemption, salvation, and divine justice.

Commissioned by Pope Clement VII and later completed under Pope Paul III, The Last Judgment occupies a central place in the iconography of Christian art, offering a vivid portrayal of the biblical narrative found in the Book of Revelation. Spanning over 1,000 square meters, the fresco unfolds as a sprawling tableau of dynamic figures, celestial beings, and tormented souls, rendered with Michelangelos characteristic blend of anatomical precision, emotional intensity, and spiritual grandeur.

At the heart of The Last Judgment stands the towering figure of Christ, depicted in a commanding pose with his right hand raised in a gesture of judgment and his left hand extended in a gesture of mercy. Surrounding him are the ranks of angels, saints, and apostles, each depicted with distinctive gestures and expressions that convey their role in the divine drama unfolding before them.

Below Christ, the souls of the dead rise from their graves and ascend to heaven or descend to hell, their bodies contorted in agony or exalted in ecstasy, depending on their deeds in life. Michelangelos masterful use of foreshortening and perspective creates a sense of depth and movement, drawing the viewer into the swirling vortex of divine judgment and eternal salvation.

The Last Judgment is not merely a static tableau but a dynamic narrative that unfolds across the entire wall of the Sistine Chapel, inviting viewers to contemplate the complexities of human existence, the inevitability of death, and the hope of redemption. Through his bold and innovative approach to composition, Michelangelo transforms the sacred space of the Sistine Chapel into a transcendent realm where heaven and earth, the temporal and the eternal, converge in a symphony of color, form, and emotion.

Despite its initial controversy and criticism, The Last Judgment has endured as one of the most celebrated and iconic works of art in Western civilization, inspiring generations of artists, scholars, and pilgrims with its profound spiritual depth and artistic brilliance. Today, it continues to captivate and provoke viewers with its timeless message of divine judgment and the enduring power of faith.

The Transfiguration by Raphael:

Completed shortly before Raphaels death in 1520, The Transfiguration is considered one of the artists masterpieces and is housed in the Vatican Museums. The altarpiece depicts the Transfiguration of Jesus on Mount Tabor, with radiant light emanating from the figure of Christ. The compositions dynamic interplay of light and shadow, along with its emotional intensity, showcases Raphaels mastery of the High Renaissance style.

The Transfiguration, painted by the Italian Renaissance artist Raphael between 1516 and 1520, stands as one of the crowning achievements of Western art. Located in the Vatican Museums in Vatican City, this monumental masterpiece is revered for its exquisite beauty, profound spirituality, and masterful composition, showcasing Raphaels exceptional talent and visionary genius.

Commissioned by Cardinal Giulio de Medici as an altarpiece for the Cathedral of San Giusto in Narbonne, France, The Transfiguration depicts the biblical episode of the Transfiguration of Jesus Christ, as recounted in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. According to the narrative, Jesus ascends a mountain with three of his disciples, Peter, James, and John, where he is transfigured before them, his face shining like the sun, and his garments becoming dazzling white. Alongside Jesus appear the figures of Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, who converse with him about his impending crucifixion and resurrection.

Raphaels composition is divided into two distinct scenes, with the Transfiguration of Christ depicted in the upper register and the dramatic episode of the possessed boy and the disciples below. The upper portion of the painting radiates with divine light and celestial splendor, as Jesus hovers above the mountain, surrounded by a luminous cloud and flanked by Moses and Elijah. The radiant figures of Peter, James, and John kneel in awe below, their faces illuminated by the transcendent glory of the transfigured Christ.

In contrast, the lower register of the painting is filled with intense emotion and dynamic movement, as the disciples struggle to heal the possessed boy in the midst of a chaotic crowd. The anguished expressions of the figures, the swirling drapery, and the dramatic gestures convey the urgency and desperation of the scene, contrasting sharply with the serene tranquility of the Transfiguration above.

Raphaels mastery of composition, color, and form is evident throughout The Transfiguration, as he seamlessly integrates the two narrative elements into a harmonious whole. The balance between light and shadow, the rhythm of gesture and expression, and the meticulous attention to detail all contribute to the paintings extraordinary beauty and emotional impact.

The Transfiguration is not merely a religious icon but a profound meditation on the mystery of divine revelation and the transformative power of faith. Through his transcendent vision and artistic skill, Raphael invites viewers to contemplate the eternal truths embodied in the biblical narrative and to experience the awe-inspiring beauty of the divine presence.

Today, The Transfiguration continues to inspire and captivate audiences with its timeless message of spiritual enlightenment and transcendent glory. As one of the greatest masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance, it stands as a testament to the enduring power of art to elevate the soul and illuminate the human spirit.

These are just a few examples of the countless treasures found within the Vatican City, each reflecting the enduring legacy of artistic excellence and spiritual devotion that has defined this sacred site for centuries.

The artworks in the Vatican, particularly those created during the period of the Council of Trent, reflect the influence of this pivotal event in the history of the Catholic Church. The Council of Trent, convened between 1545 and 1563, was a response to the Protestant Reformation and aimed to address doctrinal issues, reform the Church, and reaffirm Catholic teachings.

During this time, the Church sought to counter Protestant criticisms of religious art and reaffirm the role of art in promoting Catholic doctrine and spirituality. As a result, many artworks commissioned for the Vatican during and after the Council of Trent were intended to convey orthodox Catholic theology and counter Protestant iconoclasm.

One of the key concerns addressed by the Council of Trent was the use of religious imagery in art. While the Protestant Reformers criticized the veneration of religious images as idolatrous, the Catholic Church defended the use of art as a means of fostering piety and devotion among the faithful. As a result, artworks in the Vatican often depicted biblical scenes, saints, and religious themes in a manner that was both aesthetically pleasing and doctrinally sound.

The emphasis on clarity and realism in religious art, known as the moralizing style, became prevalent during the Counter-Reformation period. Artists sought to communicate religious truths in a direct and accessible manner, using vivid colors, naturalistic details, and dramatic compositions to engage the viewer emotionally and spiritually.

One of the most famous examples of religious art from this period is Michelangelos fresco painting of The Last Judgment in the Sistine Chapel. Completed in 1541, this monumental work depicts the Second Coming of Christ and the final judgment of souls, conveying the Churchs teachings on divine justice, redemption, and salvation. The dynamic composition and powerful imagery of The Last Judgment exemplify the Baroque style that emerged during the Counter-Reformation, characterized by its emotional intensity and theatricality.

Similarly, Raphaels Stanze di Raffaello, or Raphael Rooms, in the Vatican Palace, feature a series of frescoes that celebrate the glory of the papacy and the triumph of the Catholic Church. These paintings, executed between 1508 and 1524, reflect the humanist ideals of the Renaissance while also conveying the spiritual values of the Catholic faith. Scenes such as The School of Athens and The Disputation of the Holy Sacrament convey theological truths and affirm the authority of the Church as the arbiter of divine revelation.

The artworks in the Vatican created during the Council of Trent reflect the Catholic Churchs response to the challenges posed by the Protestant Reformation. Through their rich symbolism, theological significance, and artistic excellence, these works serve as enduring testaments to the enduring power of faith and the transformative potential of religious art.

Shayne Heffernan
if you see Matthew, or have any information, please call Chattanooga police at 423-698-2525 or the TBI at 1-800-TBI-find.
Longford County Council are to meet with undertakers about the enforcement of graveyard height restrictions in the county.

The meeting follows an observation at the February Longford Municipal District meeting in which one local elected representative said that the current restrictions are being ignored.



Cllr Seamus Butler raised the issue saying that the current regulation on the heights of headstones are being breached. Cllr Butler said: Can we insist on enforcing the regulation, they need to be strictly applied in future. What is the point in having the regulations if they are being ignored? It's one rule for some, and another rule for others.



At present Longford County Council have restrictions on the maximum size of memorial permitted. Under the regulations the height of any headstone on a place of burial can't exceed 1.2 metres above the ordinary level of the surrounding ground.

There is an exception to allow a Celtic Cross that does not exceed 2.5 metres.



Director of Services with Responsibility for Housing, Planning, Regeneration and Capital Projects, John Brannigan, said he would bring the issue to the attention of the Environmental Section of the council and liaise with undertakers on the issue.
Food, Wine, & Dining, Local News

By Long Island Published: March 03 2024

The company has sold more than 780 million donuts, and counting.

Entenmanns is synonymous with delicious bakery items found in your local grocery store. What started out as a small bake shop in Brooklyn became a national brand over 120 year later.

If youre from Long Island you definitely grew up with Entenmanns donuts and cookies in your house. And if you were from Bay Shore, well, that smell!

Below we listed some great facts and historical tidbits about Long Islands own Entenmanns.

Photo: Entenmann's Facebook page.

In 1898, William Entenmann opened his first bakery in Brooklyn

The first Entenmanns products were delivered by horse and carriage

Following doctors advice, Entenmann relocated his bakery to Bay Shore after his son William Jr. contracted rheumatic fever

Home delivery was a big part of the bakerys beginnings

In 1951, William Entenmann Jr. suffered a fatal heart attack and his three sons (Charles, Robert and William) ran the business with their mother Martha

In the 1950s, Frank Sinatra would call the Entenmanns Bay Shore bakery and place a weekly order for a crumb coffee cake

In the 1950s they changed the business from home delivery to supermarket sales

The famous see-through cake box was invented by Martha Entenmann in 1959

This design allowed customers to see the delicious bakery contents and boosted sales

Photo: Entenmann's Website.

Photo: Entenmann's Website.

Entenmanns has been sold numerous times since then

In 1978, the family sold Entenmann's to Warner-Lambert, a pharmaceutical company, for $233 million

Afterward, Robert Entenmann, turned a Long Island potato farm into a vineyard in 1995

The winery was called Martha Clara Vineyards , named after his mother

In 1982, the company was sold to General Foods for $315 million

In 1985, General Foods was acquired by Philip Morris, and Entenmann's became a part of Kraft Foods

Entenmanns is currently owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA

The iconic Entenmanns factory in Bay Shore shut down in 2014

Photo: Entenmann's Facebook page.
Evidence of foreign fighters operating in Lebanon under the Iran-led Resistance Axis has gradually surfaced following the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Oct. 7, 2023, which triggered the war in Gaza and on the Lebanon-Israel border.

On Nov. 22, 2023, Hamas announced that Israel killed a group of fighters in an airstrike while they traveled in a vehicle in southern Lebanon. The target of the attack was Khalil al-Kharaz, a missile commander belonging to the Lebanese branch of Hamas. Notably, the strike killed two Turkish nationals who were members of Hamas: Yakup Erdal and Seyfullah Bilal Ozturk.

Additionally, Syrian fighters have actively participated in border skirmishes with Israel. On Oct. 22, 2023, Islamic Jihad announced that Israel killed two Syrian fighters in Lebanon belonging to the Martyr Ali al-Aswad Brigade (named after an Islamic Jihad engineer killed by Israel in 23).

There have been several more instances where Israel has killed Syrian fighters belonging to Islamic Jihad in southern Lebanon, including two on Feb. 26.

The Israeli military said on Saturday that it had targeted a vehicle in southern Lebanon carrying members of the Imam Hossein Brigade, who had launched rockets into northern Israel earlier that day. This event is significant because it marks the first known time during the war that the Imam Hossein Brigade attacked Israel from Lebanese territory. Additionally, the fact that the Brigade typically operates in Syria suggests that Irans proxy groups have mobilized fighters to Lebanon to engage in attacks on Israel.

Other groups belonging to the Iran-led Resistance Axis may be conducting operations in Lebanon discreetly. One such example is the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which has taken credit for attacks on Israeli territory during the conflict. Some of these attacks have allegedly occurred against Israeli military installations in the Golan Heights. Still, other statements have claimed attacks on the port city of Ashdod and an unidentified target in the Mediterranean.

Its impractical for the Islamic Resistance in Iraq to launch drones on targets in Ashdod and the Mediterranean Sea from areas such as Iraq or Syria because they would likely be shot down before they reached their destination. However, if they were launched from Lebanon, it would be a more feasible operation.

Theres also the IRGC that is likely operating in Lebanon and assisting Hezbollah. However, all of the known Israeli eliminations of IRGC personnel related to the war have occurred in Syria.

Nevertheless, there may be more foreign actors operating in Lebanon against Israel that have not yet been publicly revealed. Iran has been cautious not to expand the current war with Israel. It has only given Palestinian armed groups, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and to an extent, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a longer leash to confront Israel compared to the other Axis partners. However, one can successfully argue that Iran and its network of clients have so far failed to deter and slow the Israeli militarys progress in the Gaza Strip.

Joe Truzman is a senior research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal focused primarily on Palestinian armed groups and non-state actors in the Middle East.
Failing to keep a dinner reservation with one of Luxembourgs top chefs could cost 100 or more per person as restaurants take steps to protect themselves from lost sales and wasted investments in ingredients.

The Grand Duchys exclusive restaurants are increasingly collecting credit card details when making the reservation, which can be charged in compensation for late cancellations or no-shows.

The traditional Frisange restaurant Lea Linster, where Louis Linster is the reigning Gault & Millau Chef of the Year, has been collecting 170 per person if a guest does not show up or cancels their reservation less than two days in advance.

Since we introduced this measure, the no-shows and short-term cancellations have noticeably improved, the 33-year-old Linster said.

So far, they have only debited twice.

The restaurant has the advantage of a long waiting list of customers who could be called in the event of cancellations. The restaurant is usually fully booked two months in advance on weekends.

Cutting losses

People are not aware that the restaurant is making losses if they dont show up to eat, Luxembourg restaurant industry association general secretary Francois Koepp told the Luxembourg Times sister newspaper Virgule. But if this happens again and again, it can endanger the company financially.

Anne-Sophie Molard, the managing director of the two-star restaurant Ma Langue Sourit in Moutfort, estimates her business lost 30,000 per year through unexpected no-shows. For around two years, they have reserved the right to demand a 100 euros bank deposit per guest for online reservations.

Even if the customer gives us just an hours notice, it can help us fill a table at the last minute, especially on weekends, she said.

Chef Louis Linster  Photo credit: Guy Jallay/LT Archives

Across the Moselle River, Victors Fine Dining by Christian Bau in Perl-Nennig began charging 250 per person from February. The German restaurant keeps the money if a reservation is cancelled in less than five days and the table cannot be refilled.

The Saarland restaurateur, who has maintained his three stars for 18 years, is aware his move prompted some negative public reaction. But with a multi-course standard menu costing 330, very few people will experience being held to account for failing to keep their commitment at his table, Bau said.

Social trend

A growing trend in society has been that agreed appointments  whether with an orthopedist, lawyer, in a restaurant or with another service provider  are simply not kept, he said.

A few weeks ago, ten out of 19 anticipated guests cancelled for the same evening, Bau said.

Not only did we lose several thousand euros in sales in one fell swoop. I could no longer use all the goods - the fresh lobsters, the turbot, the sole, the scallops that we had submitted for, he said.

(This article first appeared in the Luxemburger Wort. It was translated and edited by Emery P. Dalesio)
Business-related personal insolvencies are on the rise, as personal guarantees catch up to directors of previously wound-up businesses.

And while personal insolvency numbers are still not at pre-COVID levels, theyre likely to continue trending up, warns insolvency and business turnaround specialist Jirsch Sutherland.

According to the Personal Insolvencies Quarterly Report from the Australian Financial Security Authority (AFSA) for the December 2023 quarter, business-related personal insolvencies accounted for over a quarter (27.3%) of all new personal insolvencies in the December quarter 2023. And in the latest monthly (January 2024) update, 222 people who entered into a formal personal insolvency were also involved in a business. Malcolm Howell, Jirsch Sutherland Partner, says thats to be expected.

Generally, theres a lag of six to 18 months from the time a corporate insolvency occurs to when a business-related personal insolvency happens, Howell says. Were now hitting that post-COVID lag timeframe, as creditors call in their markers  that is, personal guarantees. Directors are often required to sign personal guarantees, which renders them personally liable for any debts that the company cannot pay. And were now seeing greater pressure being applied by second-tier financial institutions, while the ATO continues to issue a lot of Director Penalty Notices. The result will be even higher levels of bankruptcies.

Howell says one trend he has noticed is an increase in the number of Personal Insolvency Agreements (also known as Part X Agreements), which are an alternative to bankruptcy. During the December quarter, PIAs rose by 32.1%.

The numbers are still low but I anticipate more individuals will take advantage of these agreements. The main benefit is that creditors are unable to initiate further action to recover their debts, and this can prevent you from being forced into bankruptcy, Howell explains. Its a tailormade formal agreement with the individuals creditors thats structured specifically to suit the circumstances at that time. That could include a lump sum payment, payment over time, and/or disposal of some or all assets.

Howell gives some sage advice: Its important for directors to understand their obligations under a personal guarantee  especially how long those obligations apply. Many directors are shocked to discover they are liable for a companys debts owed under an agreement, even if its years after the original agreement was signed, the company has been wound up, or they havent been involved with the company for a very long time.

Summary of the national figures from AFSA for the December quarter 2023

There were 2,608 personal insolvencies

1,527 were bankruptcies

1,042 were debt agreements

37 were personal insolvency agreements

2 were insolvent deceased estates

713 personal insolvencies were business-related, up from 558 in the December quarter 2022.

Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
Manchester, VT (05254)

Today

Mainly cloudy with snow showers around this morning. High 38F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Occasional snow showers. Low 27F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
From sleeping on flour bags in his fathers Chelsea bakery to owning his own chain of bakeries, Sheldon Strasnick has watched as his fresh-baked muffins have gained a following in his neck of Massachusetts.

The demand for Muffin House Cafe muffins has supported the companys expansion from one to five locations in less than 10 years, with a sixth cafe under renovation and expected to open in Walpole this spring.

Strasnick, 71, is aiming to open the new cafe at 907 Main St., Walpole, in April, though it is depends on the construction schedule.

Muffin House Cafe's social media accounts are keeping customers updated during the renovation, and guests can hardly wait for opening day. In the meantime, people can visit the other cafes in Hopkinton, Medway, Mendon, Natick and Westwood.

Strasnicks son and Muffin House Cafe vice president, Josh Strasnick, said his father has been doing this his whole life, and previously ran several mom-and-pop shops, though the Muffin House Cafe has blossomed into a much larger business than his former endeavors.

21 1 / 21 Muffin House Cafe

The elder Strasnick said the secret ingredient to his sensational muffins are the love, and passion he has for those muffins.

They are handcrafted, he said. We watch every muffin being baked.

If a muffin falls anything short of perfect, Strasnick said they donate it to charities or local food pantries.

Of the 23 muffin flavors offered daily, blueberry muffins are the top-selling by far, he said.

Strasnick believes his muffins differ from others in how moist they are, and describes the blueberry muffins as having blueberries in every bite.

Josh Strasnick said the concept of Muffin House Cafe was conceived in 2009, when his father was operating a small muffin-shop in Wayland, known as Beyond Beans.

One day we had a customer get a box of muffins and bring it to his friends, said Strasnick. Our future investor, Dennis Crowley, happened to be there and tried it.

According to Strasnick, Crowleys reaction was something along-the-lines of find me the guy who made this, and get him.

Though Strasnick has since bought Crowley out of the business, he shared his appreciation for Crowley believing in us and the Muffin House.

Within a few years, Strasnicks signature muffins not only caught the attention of an investor, but various media outlets, as well.

Visitors often compare his muffins to Jordan Marshs famous and beloved muffins  the best blueberry muffins, Strasnick said  which many remember buying at the New England department stores until they closed in the early 1990s.

People would travel all over just to get those muffins, he said.

Though similar, Strasnick has tweaked his recipe throughout the years to create his own.

Muffin House Cafe offers a variety of sweet, fresh-baked pastries.Dallas Gagnon

While the Muffin House Cafe made its debut in Medway just about a decade ago, Strasnicks baking roots go much farther back, with origins in World War II.

Strasnicks father was a World War II medic, who, after returning home didnt know what he was going to do, said Strasnick.

He had three kids at home .... someone talked him into doing this and here we are  70 years later.

Strasnick, a Lynn native and current Medway resident, said his father joined the bakers union and operated a bakery in Chelsea for many years, where he eventually took over when he was about 25.

Strasnick has owned and operated bakeries ever since.

While he is known for his muffins, Strasnick said his father was more well-known for his breads, adding his fathers muffins were a typical, dry muffin.

And though muffins are the star of the Muffin House Cafe, it offers so much more, including fresh-baked breads, various pastries, bagels, pies, and hand-crafted, custom cakes.

Sandwiches are huge for us, said Josh Strasnick, 29. My favorite is The Cure.

The Cure features thick-cut bacon, eggs, cheese and a hash brown with bakers choice of bread.

Who doesnt like a bacon, egg and cheese with a hash brown? said Strasnick. Its our biggest seller.

In addition to 13 bread options, there are also 11 bagel flavors for guests to choose from, including plain, wheat, asiago, jalapeno cheddar, gluten free and everything. Guests craving a classic bagel and cream cheese combo also have three cream cheese options  plain, chive and veggie.

Muffin House Cafe offers hand-piped, custom cakes.Dallas Gagnon

Westwood Muffin House Cafe Manager Kendra Shaw said she believes part of the Muffin House Cafe's success is its friendly atmosphere, and unique menu offerings.

Youll always leave with a smile on your face, said Shaw. Weve accumulated more regulars. Our 5 a.m. employees know our regulars coffee and first names.

She said it has been awesome to see a company that is not a franchise, expand from four to six locations within the five-year span she has worked for the Muffin House Cafe.

The Westwood Muffin House crew shares a photo behind a fully-stocked pastry case.Dallas Gagnon

To stay updated on the opening of the 907 Main St., Walpole location, follow Muffin House Cafe on social media.

Here are Muffin House Cafe's locations and hours:
Theres a spot off Park Avenue in Worcester behind Peppercorns restaurant that used to be an old ice cream shop. The entrance is around a big storage container and faces the parking lot out back. The table options include four small high-tops, a four-seat bar and a barrel by the door.

It may not look like it at first, but going by the numbers, this may be the single best place in Massachusetts to open a brewery.

Since 2021, this tiny taproom has been the home to Double Down Brewing Company, which has been producing some of the most underrated brews in the city. Their Talia pilsner is everything you want in a crisp lager. Their Dublin down milk stout, made in collaboration with Guinness brewmaster Fergal Murray, is one of the best dark beers you can find in the Bay State.

But before it was Double Down, this small space behind Peppercorns was where you could find Flying Dreams Brewing. Going back even further, its also the same exact brewhouse where Wormtown Brewery started out.

The prior tenants have since gone on to bigger things  literally. Wormtown, which moved out in 2015, is now one of the states most recognizable craft beer brands. They now have two taproom spaces on Shrewsbury Street (make sure youre going to the right one) and a spot at Patriot Place in Foxborough. Flying Dreams, which left the nest in 2020, is currently thriving after moving to an expanded space in nearby Marlborough.

Now, its Double Downs chance to turn this hopped-up hole in the wall and turn it into a beer destination.

Its kind of cool, right? Its like an incubator, founder Christian McMahan says.

A look around Double Down Brewing Company in Worcester.(Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

Double Down occupies a unique space in the Bay States craft beer scene. Its the size of a trendy new start-up brewery, but operates with the efficiency and expertise of industry veterans. Its also connected to a restaurant thats a Worcester institution.

The easiest way to find Double Down Brewing Company is to head to the parking lot of Peppercorns Grille & Tavern. Or you can just walk into the restaurant itself.

Thats because Double Down and Peppercorns have a symbiotic relationship. Theyre separate businesses. But theres a door (and a large open window) connecting the two.

Peppercorns essentially operates as a kitchen-taproom for Double Down, devoting most of its 12 beer taps to the brews from next door. However, theyre technically separate businesses. So if you want food, sit at Peppercorns because you cant order food at Double Down but you can order both food and Double Downs beer at Peppercorns.

But if youre looking for just the beer  pints, flights or beers to go  Double Down represents an ideal stop for an intimate, tank-to-tap experience where you can get face time with the guys who started the brewery.

The tap list is the brainchild of head brewer Brian Wells, a Massachusetts native who came back home after years brewing at Left Hand Brewing out in Colorado. Back then, Wells says, he spent about 90% of his time working with the same beer, Left Hands flagship milk stout.

Now, he gets to shift the scale from being a production brewer to a more artistic side, which allows for much more creativity and experimentation.

Having the freedom to basically brew almost anything we want, Wells says. I mean, we have our mainstays. But we talk every few months about like, What are we doing next?

Two years into operation, Wells and McMahan had to stop for a moment and track how many varieties theyd cranked out. They got to about 35, which would be unheard of by most standard breweries, McMahan says.

Those mainstays include the Talia pilsner and their No. 1 seller, the Subconscious Haze New England IPA. But as Double Down enters year four, the brewery is starting to work in more seasonal brews into an annual rotation, including their Worcesteria Pumpkin Ale and Druids Irish Red Ale.

This past winter, they put out a brilliant Peppermint Bark imperial stout, served with a sweet and eye-catching chocolate-peppermint rim.

I was like, Who wants peppermint in their beer? Wells said at first. But after trying it, the two fell in love with it.

Rolling the dice on a peppermint beer is just one example of how Double Down represents the best of both worlds in a brewery. Theyre small enough that they can try experimenting with oddball ideas. But theyre also experienced enough to stick the landing and make it taste good consistently

If we just want to do some weird stuff, small enough that we can. We sell everything we make so its never a problem. I think for us, its kind of Its making me fall in love again with the beer business a little, McMahan says.

A look around Double Down Brewing Company in Worcester.(Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

How we got here: Worcesters unlikely beer incubator

Risk-taking is at the core of the brewhouse that Double Down now calls home. It started when Peppercorns owner Tom Oliveri tried putting an ice cream shop in the space. That didnt quite pan out. But the next idea did. Thats how Oliveri ended up as a co-founder of Wormtown.

Oliveri sold his share of Wormtown back in 2017. Since then, hes played a part in helping newcomers to the craft beer scene grow.

I think hes pretty proud of that legacy that he created here, McMahan says. His first idea was an ice cream stand. That didnt work. But he got it right after that.

The taproom may have some new decorations and better seating, but the backbone of the original brewhouse is still intact. Wells says that all the stainless steel equipment  the mash tun, kettle, fermenters and bright tanks  is original Wormtown equipment.

Wells even has an old wooden rod that he uses to measure volume. It was originally a hangar rod from the apartment of Ben Roesch, co-founder and original brewmaster at Wormtown.

Ben did a great job with the brewhouse. We havent had to do a ton of upgrades or changes to it. Its a great program, McMahan says. It was kind of nice that it was Push the button and everything still works.

In an industry where success isnt guaranteed, Double Down is the latest brewery in this space to flourish. So could they follow in the footsteps of Wormtown and Flying Dreams and move into a bigger space?

McMahan knows they can, and they might. But they dont want to grow too fast, too soon. If the right opportunity arises, theyll take it. If not, theyre perfectly happy with where theyre at right now.

Success is Just make good beer, he says. Its kind of the old saying. We make beer we love, and whatever we dont drink, we sell.

If Double Down does grow, would they move? McMahan is torn. He and Wells love the space and love making good beer there.

On the other hand, this brewhouse has spawned three great breweries. Could it create yet another?

I think part of me says we would always keep the space as our legacy here, McMahan says. Part of me says, if we do make that jump, then would we want to see the next young brewer come in here and do something with it as our tribute to pay it forward?

A look around Double Down Brewing Company in Worcester.(Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

Want beer and food? Try Peppercorns

Its one thing for a new brewery in a small space to make good beer. Its another to also have a solid kitchen.

Double Down doesnt serve food. Then again, they dont need to. If you want to eat, you dont even need to go outside to dip into Peppercorns, where they have great food and all of Double Downs beer on tap.

McMahan is a big fan of the restaurant next door. Hed been going to Peppercorns for years. But it wasnt until Double Down started that he realized how much of an institution it was, welcoming back a hardcore base of regulars.

If youd ranked, the best brewery taproom food, this would be No. 1. Its a legit, high-end awesome restaurant  foods amazing. You cant call it our food/taproom. But if you put it up against anyone else, literally this is the best menu and some of the best execution of food you could possibly have as a brewery.

A look around Double Down Brewing Company in Worcester.(Nick O'Malley, MassLive)

More stuff you should know about Double Down Brewing Company

Check them out: Website | Facebook | Instagram

Whats the address? - 455 Park Ave B, Worcester, MA 01610

Whats the parking situation? - Theres a full lot of free, off-street parking behind Peppercorns. (Theyre the same building)

Do they serve food? - No. However, food is available next door at Peppercorns. You cant order Peppercorns food at Double Down. But you can get the beer at the restaurant.

When are they open? - Here are the listed business hours at the time of writing.

Sunday: Noon - 5 p.m.

Monday: Closed

Tuesday: Closed

Wednesday: Closed

Thursday: Closed

Friday: 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Saturday: Noon - 8 p.m.

(On days the taproom is closed, pints are available inside Peppercorns. The restaurants hours are available here.)
A GoFundMe campaign has been created for an 8-year-old girl who was critically injured in a head-on car crash in Foxborough last month. Authorities allege that the Feb. 22 crash was caused by her mother, who was driving drunk at the time.

Rosie Wilson was in the backseat of her mothers Honda Pilot traveling south on Main Street when the SUV crossed over the middle line and hit an ambulance around 7 p.m., authorities said previously. At the time, the ambulance was carrying a patient in his 70s and two EMTs.

Read more: Foxborough woman charged with OUI in connection with ambulance crash

Rosie, her mother, the EMTs and the patient were all taken to a local hospital, but Rosie was soon flown to a Boston hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. It is unclear what condition the others are in.

Rosies mother, 40-year-old Foxborough resident Jenna Wilson, was arrested Feb. 29 in connection with the crash and arraigned Friday, authorities said. She is charged with two counts of operating under the influence of liquor causing serious injury and one count of child endangerment while operating under the influence, negligent operation of motor vehicle, marked lanes violation and reckless endangerment of a child.

Rosie is a second grade student at H. Olive Day School in Norfolk, according to the GoFundMe campaign. When the campaign was created last week, Rosie had already gone through three lengthy surgeries and had a long road ahead to recovery.

On Friday, campaign organizer Emma Daniels  who identified herself as a friend of Rosies family  posted that Rosie was recovering and that her medical team was happy with her progress. On Saturday, Daniels wrote that Rosie has a fractured vertebrae and needs an MRI to determine if more surgery is needed. She was still intubated and sedated, but is healing well overall.

Rosies parents are separated, but all the money from the GoFundMe campaign will be used to pay for Rosies recovery, Daniels wrote. The funds will go towards medical bills, caregiving needs and transportation expenses.

Everyone is entitled to their own opinions on this story. What I do know is that people have come together for this little girl, please dont let anything change that, she wrote.

By noon on Sunday, the campaign had raised nearly $21,000 of its $25,000 goal through nearly 400 donations. You can donate here.
Two Massachusetts men have been arrested in connection with allegations that they smuggled smokeless tobacco into the state for distribution, evading $2 million in taxes, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office.

Shrewsbury resident Mohammad Hanif Balaparya, 61, and Holden resident Rakesh Garg, 52, were arrested Friday following a federal grand jury indictment, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a press release. They are charged with one count each of conspiracy to transport, possess, purchase and distribute more than 500 units of contraband smokeless tobacco, and Balaparya is also facing one count of transporting and possessing over 500 units of smokeless tobacco.

Throughout 2017, Balaparya and Garg rented a box truck on an almost weekly basis to drive to Pennsylvania and purchase large quantities of smokeless tobacco, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Balaparya would buy product, bring it back to Massachusetts and store at his home.

Balaparya and Garg would then distribute the smokeless tobacco to Massachusetts convenience stores, the U.S. Attorneys office said. By smuggling the product, they evaded over $2 million in excise taxes that wholesale smokeless tobacco distributors in Massachusetts are required to pay.

The charges provide for a sentence of up to five years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a fine of $250,000 and restitution for each count, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Both men were arraigned in federal court in Worcester on Friday and released.
A bowl of bak kut teh, pork rib dish cooked in a broth flavored with various Chinese medicinal herbs, in Malaysia. Photo courtesy of Facebook/Malaysia Boleh SG

Malaysian netizens took to social media to express their outrage after their government has listed bak kut teh, a hearty dish of pork ribs simmered in herbs and spices, as one of "heritage" dishes in a Muslim-dominant country.

Bak kut teh, a popular meat and pork rib dish cooked in a broth flavored with various Chinese medicinal herbs, was added to a growing list of the countrys heritage food on Feb. 23 in a government gazette, along with nine other dishes, the Straits Times reported.

However, netizens in Malaysia where pork-abstaining Muslims make up more than 60% of the population have questioned whether the dish deserves national recognition, claiming a national heritage dish must be able to be consumed by all races and religions.

"Should a pork-based soup contend as a heritage dish in a Muslim-majority country?" one netizen asked.

An user on X, formerly known as Twitter, called it a "controversial choice" and said that bak kut teh shouldn't be considered a national heritage dish if half the population can't consume it.

According to Malaysian news publication The Star, opposition member of parliament Rosol Wahid also raised concerns about the probability of the move "[touching] on religious sensitivities."

He urged the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry to explain the decision.

The United Malays National Organisation's youth leader, Muhammad Akmal Saleh also expressed his outrage in a Facebook post, accusing Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Tiong King Sing of not considering "the sensitivity of the Malaysian people.

"It was better to acknowledge other cultural dishes that can be eaten by all citizens of Malaysia, regardless of race or religion. For instance, Chinese fried rice," Muhammad added.

However, some netizens supported the choice of bak kut teh, saying as the dish was created in Malaysia, it definitely should be part of the country's heritage.

Another argued that bak kut teh is well loved by foreign tourists who flock to Malaysia to try it.

It is widely believed that bak kut teh was brought to Malaysia, specifically to the area of Klang, by early immigrants from Chinas Fujian Province.

Over half of Malaysias population follows the Islamic faith, which prohibits the consumption of pork.
The National Weather Service is warning of dense fog in parts of Massachusetts Sunday morning that could greatly reduce visibility for drivers.

The weather service issued a special weather statement for Central and Eastern Massachusetts on Sunday.

Some of this fog may be locally dense...reducing visibility to one quarter of a mile or less at times. Motorists are urged to drive with extra caution early this morning and stay a safe distance behind the vehicle in front of you, it wrote.

Read more: Be prepared for fog in 9 Massachusetts counties until Sunday morning

Visibility should improve later this morning and during the afternoon, the service wrote.

The fog follows heavy rain over the last two days that caused some communities in southeast Worcester County, western Norfolk County and Bristol County to receive more than an inch and a half of rain, according to the service. But so far, flooding seems to be localized to Rhode Island.

Some parts of Massachusetts have received over an inch and a half of rain over the last 36 hours, according to the National Weather Service.National Weather Service

Some drizzle is expected to continue today, but skies should begin to clear around midday in Western Massachusetts. Warm, wet weather is predicted for Sunday and Monday, with highs in the mid 50s and clouds expected both days, according to the service. Lows in the low 40s are predicted for Sunday and Monday night.

The National Weather Service predicts highs in the upper 40s to high 50s across Massachusetts on Sunday.National Weather Service

After Monday, a rainy but warm week is expected, with highs jumping from the mid 40s on Tuesday to the low 60s and upper 50s on Wednesday, according to the weather service. Temperatures are predicted to drop back down into the mid 40s on Thursday, and lows in the lower 40s are expected all week.
A Quincy man has pleaded guilty to a fraud scheme in which he cashed more than 100 fake checks and netted over $1 million dollars, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office.

Hui Zhang, 41, pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud in federal court, the U.S. Attorneys office announced Friday. He was arrested and charged by criminal complaint in September 2023.

From around June 2020 through at least May 2022, Zhang opened fraudulent bank accounts under false identities and then electronically deposited fake 114 checks into them, the U.S. Attorneys office said. The deposits took money from a Boston-based retailers account, netting Zhang over $1 million, which he withdrew from ATMs.

The charge of bank fraud provides for a sentence of up to 30 years in prison, five years of supervised release and a fine of up to $1 million or twice the gross proceeds, the U.S. Attorneys office said. U.S. District Court Judge Myong Joun has scheduled Zhangs sentencing for May 28.
Vowing to bring voters a clear alternative to what she called more of the same, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley took the Republican primary fight to Donald Trump in the Bay State on Saturday night.

Your choice is we could either do more of the same, or we could go in a new direction, Haley told a cheering crowd at the Sheraton Needham Hotel in Needham.

More of the same is not just [President] Joe Biden. More of the same is Donald Trump. And 70% of Americans dont want Joe Biden or Donald Trump, Haley, who served as the former Republican presidents United Nations ambassador, said, citing an April 2023 NBC News poll. Sixty percent of Americans think Joe Biden and Donald Trump are too old to be president.

The closing argument rally before around several hundred people in a hotel ballroom in suburban Boston came four days before Super Tuesday, when voters in 15 states, including Massachusetts, and one U.S. territory, will head to the polls in what traditionally has been one of the most important dates on the American political calendar.

But the with the race for the White House now widely seen as a two-way contest between Trump and Democrat Biden, much of the drama surrounding the quadrennial volley of voting largely has dissipated.

Haley, who has stressed she intends to stay in the race, has repeatedly criticized those whom she has said have declared the primary campaign over.

That message was amplified by New Hampshires Republican governor, Chris Sununu, who took the stage before Haley.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu campaigns on behalf of Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, of South Carolina, in Needham, Mass., on Saturday, March 2, 2024 (MassLive photo by John L. Micek).John L. Micek

There are people who think this is wrapped up, Sununu said. But the voters decide. Does the Republican National Committee and the Republican establishment? No. Its always about the voters. And this is the most American thing we can do. "

Just before Haley took the stage on Saturday night, that same Republican establishment made its voice heard, as Trump was named the projected winner of GOP caucuses in Missouri, Michigan and Idaho, CBS News reported. All three states award delegates toward the Republican nomination.

Across remarks spanning about a half-hour, Haley, who trained as an accountant, lambasted Congress for its failure to pass an on-time federal budget, promised to rein in federal spending, and said shed delegate federal programs to the states, which she said were more qualified to determine the best way to spend public money.

You have to balance an budget. As governor, I had to balance a budget, she said. Why isnt Congress the only one who doesnt have to balance the budget?

Haley called for consensus policies around reproductive rights. She praised the Trump-appointed U.S. Supreme Court for toppling Roe v. Wade, an action that returned the debate over abortion access to state houses.

Cant we all agree to ban late-term abortions? she asked. Cant we all agree that contraception should be accessible? .... This is a personal issue. Its personal for every woman and every man, and it needs to be treated that way.

Referring to last months Alabama state Supreme Court ruling declaring that frozen embryos could be considered children under state law, Haley said she believed that we need to do whatever it takes to make sure [in-vitro fertilization] is accessible for every parent who wants it.

The Alabama high courts ruling brought a rush of warnings about the potential impact on fertility treatments and the freezing of embryos, which had previously been considered property by the courts, according to the Associated Press.

Speaking to NBC News in the wake of that ruling, Haley, who gave birth to one child through artificial insemination, said Embryos, to me, are babies.

Haley later clarified her remarks to say that she did not agree with the ruling, according to The Hill, a publication that covers Congress.

Well, first of all, I didnt  I mean, this is again, I didnt say that I agreed with the Alabama ruling. What the question that I was asked is, Do I believe an embryo is a baby? Haley told The Hill. I do think that if you look in the definition, an embryo is considered an unborn baby. And so, yes, I believe from my stance that that is.

On matters of foreign policy, Haley, whose husband is a South Carolina guardsman now deployed overseas, said the nation needs a leader with moral clarity. She took specific aim at Trump, who has spoken favorably of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

We need a leader that knows the difference between good and bad, between right and wrong. If you look a couple of weeks ago, Donald Trump said he would encourage Putin to invade our allies, she said. Hed side with a dictator who kills his political opponents ... He wants to side with Putin, whos made no bones about the fact that he wants to destroy America.

She called for better services for American veterans, repeating a widely circulated  and debated  statistic that 22 veterans die by suicide every day.

We cant cant just love our men and women when theyre gone. We gotta love them when they come home too, she said.

Her supporters echoed that sentiment.

[Trump] isnt a patriot, Cathy Cosgrove, 57, of Franklin, said as she waited in line with Susan Dewsnap, 56, also of Franklin.

The mother of a veteran, Cosgrove said she appreciated that Haley is much more serious on foreign policy and where we get involved.

Both women said they were independent voters who were put off the GOP by the twice-impeached Trump, who also faces four criminal indictments, and has been held liable in several civil actions.

Im one of those women who had enough, Dewsnap, a financial adviser, said. Haley has very moderate stances and shes fair and honest.

Cosgrove and Dewsnap were one of about a half-dozen voters who spoke to MassLive as they waited to enter the ballroom. All said they planned to vote on Tuesday.

That enthusiasm was evident in the numbers as well.

Through Friday, Massachusetts Secretary of State William L. Galvins office said it had mailed out 758,298 ballots to Bay State voters, while 25,995 had been returned. A total of 48,390 people already had participated in early voting.

All told, 467,718 Bay State voters had cast their ballots through Friday. An overwhelming majority, 312,026, were Democrats, compared to 150,163 Republicans, and 5,529 Libertarians, according to data provided by Galvins office. That amounted to a total turnout rate of 9.4%, that same data indicated.

Still, whether it will make a difference for Haley is another matter.

Headed into Saturdays rally, Trump held an average lead of 63.4% according to the Real Clear Politics polling average. That was well ahead of the average 15.8-point lead he held at the same time during his first campaign for the White House in 2016.

The only Republican candidate to come close to such a polling advantage was the late John McCain, of Arizona, as he sought the GOPs presidential nomination in 2008. McCain held an average 30-point lead over the Republican primary field that year. McCain, then a United States senator, nonetheless went on to lose to Democrat Barack Obama in the November general election.

The results [between Trump and Haley] have been baked in for a while now, Matt Barron, a veteran political consultant from western Massachusetts, told MassLive as he surveyed the Bay States political topography.

Trump carried Massachusetts in the 2016 Republican primary, taking 49.3% of the vote. His nearest competitor, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, followed with a distant 18%, according to the New York Times.

Four years later, in 2020, when Trump, the incumbent, faced only token opposition, the Republican took 87.7% of the vote. Former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld, who also sought the GOP nomination that year, scraped out just 9.3% of the vote.

Haley, who has yet to win a single Republican nominating contest, said Friday that her campaign raised $12 million in February, a hefty haul, even as she continues to pour resources into staying competitive during Tuesdays contests, NPR reported.

That $12 million tally is less than the $16 million that Haley raised in January, NPR reported.

The accountant in me stretches and stretches and stretches those dollars, she said, according to NPR, adding Were a lean mean operation. We dont have a ton of staff.

Haley picked up a pair of important endorsements on Friday from Republican U.S. Sens. Susan Collins, of Maine, and Lisa Murkowski, of Alaska, NBC-10 in Boston reported. Both states hold their respective primaries on Tuesday.

In a statement, Collins called Haley extremely well-qualified, to serve, USA Today reported, noting that Haleys experience as a successful Governor and as a strong representative of our country as ambassador to the United Nations makes her extremely well-qualified to serve as our first female president. She has the energy, intellect, and temperament that we need to lead our country in these very tumultuous times.

Haley is set to campaign in Maine on Sunday, but Collins will not be joining her for that event, USA Today reported.

On Saturday, Haley was looking ahead to Tuesdays contests, urging her supporters to bring friends and family to the polls.

We do have a country to save. Ill tell you how to save her, we need you to get out and vote, Haley said as she left the stage on Saturday night. Theres a lot of us. And they cant just ignore all of us. The way we do this, is we vote. If you join our movement, if you stay in our fight, I promise you, our best days are yet to come.

Lex Levin, 58, a technical writer from Northborough, acknowledged Haleys long odds. But, he added with a grin, politics is the art of the possible.

Its not over until she says its over, he said. As long as shes in this fight, Im hoping to see more from her.
SPRINGFIELD  Its been about three and a half years since a racist arsonist destroyed the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church in Springfield. But, ideally by Thanksgiving, a rebuilt house of prayer is expected to rise from the ashes.

On Saturday, at its first Agape Gala, the congregation and friends of the church gathered at the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel to sing, dance, eat and hopefully raise the money needed to rebuild the small church.

The gala, church pastor Rev. Dr. Terrlyn Curry Avery said, is a chance for her and her congregation to turn the hate of a racist around into something positive.

A hate crime burned our church down, Curry Avery said, but we want to show the community that only love can conquer hate, just like Dr. King said.

Thus, the Agape Gala  agape means love in Greek, she said.

More than 200 people gathered at the Sheraton in Springfield for the first annual Agape Gala to benefit the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Presbyterian Church and its rebuilding program after a racist arson fire.Dave Canton

In December 2020, Dushko Vulchev, traveled from Houlton, Maine, to Springfield and over the month tried to burn the small church on Concord Terrace at least twice, before accomplishing his goal in the early morning hours of Dec. 28.

He was indicted on federal hate crime charges after investigators found racist material on his electronic devices. Vulchev was later found incompetent to stand trial and is being held in a federal facility.

The congregation continues to hold services at the nearby MLK Community Center. Curry Avery said now is the time to move from being victimized to taking control and acknowledging the good in the community with appreciation awards.

We are coming together tonight and awarding people in the community who have practiced demonstrating and showing up in love every single day, she said.

The churchs Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award was presented to Dr. Marcus Ware, the Ida B. Wells Award was handed to Paul Bailey, while the Bryan Stevenson Award was presented to Zec Johnson. The first ever Agape Love Lifetime Achievement was awarded posthumously to two cornerstones of the church, building committee chair and church elder Leslie LKuicha Parks and U.S. Marshal John Gibbons.

We have already begun to rebuild, Curry Avery said. It will take about $2.5 million to complete the rebuild.

That was the second part of the evening, fundraising to pay the climbing costs.

The project manager for the rebuilding project, My-Ron Hatchett, said supply chain issues are driving costs up constantly, but the project is on schedule and should be completed later this year.

We are still running into problems with getting materials, getting equipment. The supply chain issues are real, he said. But everything is in place, all the contracts are in place, and we are wishing for the fall, if everything goes right.

Hatchett said he had been in the church before the fire and when he walked in after, he was stunned.

It was a beautiful church. But to see it in that condition, it broke my heart. You are not sure what can be done, because it was so messed up, he said. But then talking with LKuicha, after she finished with you, you said, Yeah, we can do anything.

Architect Al Nardi, with the Springfield firm Uncommon Architectural Places, said he too reacted when he walked into the burned church.

The damage was so extensive, maybe 70 to 80 percent of everything you could see was charred. But I could hear and feel that this was a place where people had been crying, praying, excited maybe getting married. You could feel it in the structure, he said.

The city of Springfield came through with a $500,000 grant from the federal American Rescue Plan Act. But still, that leaves at least $2 million more needed to cover the rebuild.

Nardi said everyone is pitching in to make the project work. He pointed out that Hatchett is donating his skills on the rebuild, while at the same time, he continues to oversee the city of Springfields construction program.

Besides Mayor Sarnos grant, Dimauro (Carpet & Tile) of East Longmeadow is donating all the flooring to complete the project, and other subcontractors are donating time and workmanship in many cases, he said.

Donations can be made for the rebuilding at the churchs website at mlkchurchma.org.
Fire officials across Western Massachusetts are sounding the alarm  the region is heading into what has been the deadliest time of year. Half of all fatal fires across the state last year roared through homes in March and April, and a staggering number of them were sparked in three of the four western counties.

What we saw last year was a spike, and there could be any number of factors, said Jake Wark, spokesperson for the Department of Fire Services. The fundamental message is smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives. Theyre going to give you faster notice than you might have if youre relying on your nose to smell smoke in the basement, attic or between the walls.
Business owners in the centre of Westport will be able to avail of free car parking in the town centre car parks after the local municipal district passed a motion to help support local businesses.

A motion to provide one car parking permit for eligible business owners was passed unanimously at the monthly meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District.

The motion was forwarded by Independent councillor Christy Hyland who said that local businesses are struggling with increased costs in recent years and the council have to do their bit to support them.

Let's be seen with the little bit of power we have left to try and give a token gesture to the ratepayers in the parking area of our town and they will be given a free parking permit. We need to be seen to give some help to the business people. They are facing serious challenges but my proposal might help them, he said.

The motion proposed to allow eligible business owners to apply annually for one parking permit in the blue zone or in one of the three town car parks which are James Street, Mill Street and High Street car parks.

To avail of the eligibility criteria businesses must be subject to local authority rates, must be located within the pay and display parking zones in Westport and have their local authority rates bill fully paid for the previous year before the last day of February of the current year.

Cllr Hyland also called on the Government to revert the VAT rate for the hospitality sector back to 9 percent saying that many businesses in Westport will struggle with the VAT increases.

Fellow Westport councillor Peter Flynn seconded the proposal saying that businesses in the centre of Westport were struggling and they should be helped to ensure they remain open.

It is a positive move in the right direction to recognise the challenges rate payers have. The closer you are to the centre of Westport the higher the rate bill so it makes sense that those businesses should have access to the car parks close to them. When you consider the rate payer in Bridge Street pays multiple of what Lidl are paying on the outskirts. It is absolutely crazy stuff and this is an easy one for all of us to support. It gives some hope to business ideas, he said.
Irelands top walking trails and hikes have been revealed, and of course Croagh Patrick made an appearance on the list.

The iconic trail in Glaspatrick, just outside Westport, is a very popular hike.

Each year, The Reek, as it is colloquially known, attracts about 1 million pilgrims each year.

Croagh Patrick is Ireland's holy mountain, from where St Patrick is said to have banished the snakes from Ireland.

At the top of the mountain there is a white chapel.

Individuals and groups come from all over the world and include pilgrims, hikers, historians, and nature lovers.

Betfair Casino drafted up the list of the best walking spots in Ireland, with the Cliffs of Moher in County Clare sitting high above the competition.

The popularity of each location was measured by a unique index score, which is based on Trip Advisor rankings, as well as Instagram hashtags and views - with the lower the overall index score, the higher the ranking.

See below the full list of Irelands best hikes and walks:
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, March 2, 2024

U.S. District Judge Kevin Castel approved class-action lawsuit by advertisers alleging that the company holds a monopoly in the advertising market.

Judge Castel had dismissed some claims, but now has allowed one to proceed. The charges made by advertisers allege that Google monopolized the ad-exchange market.

This decision marks a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of Google's dominance in digital advertising, and exemplifies a growing concern about the concentration of power and the outcome for competition and transparency from any company.

The lawsuit accuses Google of abusing its dominant position in the digital ad-exchange market.

Advertisers argue this has led to anti-competitive practices and has harmed the market for small advertisers that have buying, attribution and measurement tools.

advertisement advertisement Castel reviewed several cases against Google. He struck down many claims, but allowed at least one key set to proceed, according to Reuters. On page three of the 64-page document, Castel wrote that the advertisers "have not plausibly alleged antitrust standing in the markets for ad-buying tools used by large advertisers, but they plausibly allege antitrust standing as to injuries they purportedly suffered from anticompetitive practices in the ad-exchange market and the market for small advertisers buying tools." Castel wrote that Gannett, the publisher of USA Today, could try in a separate case to prove that Google fraudulently concealed anticompetitive effects of some technology. Gannett alleged that it sold some ad space directly to advertisers, but Google still made the inventory available for auction on its ad exchange to accrue transaction fees for its own benefit, Reuters reported.

Google also faces a recent $2.27 billion lawsuit from European publishers focused on market dominance and anti-competitive practices in digital advertising. It highlights a push for greater accountability.

The European lawsuit argues these companies have incurred losses due to a less competitive market, which is a direct result of Google's misconduct."
by Ray Schultz , March 3, 2024

The Pensacola News Journal is joining a host of other Gannett newspapers in switching to postal delivery of its print editions.

As we continue to expand the many ways we reach our growing audience through our print newspaper, pnj.com, our apps and an expanding list of social media platforms, we are changing how we distribute the paper, writes Lisa Nellessen Savage, executive editor of Pensacola News Journal. Starting Monday, we are partnering with the U.S. Postal Service to deliver the Pensacola News Journal.

Subscribers who avail themselves of the papers digital news will find bonus content, and they will have access to the entire USA Today network, Nellessen Savage adds.

In addition, the print edition will arrive the day of publication, except on weekends, when the Sunday issue will hit on Saturday.

This is in line with the change being seen throughout the news business, particularly in Gannett titles.

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The transition from carrier to Postal Service delivery will ensure we can provide a more consistent experience for our valued subscribers, Michael A. Anastasi, vice president of Local News at Gannett, recently said.

The move may make sense for Gannett, at which digital now accounts for 41% of its revenue. The publisher achieved a 2.9% increase in total digital revenues to $277.1 million in Q4 2023.
Four people carried a gun to rob around 20 taels of gold jewelries from a shop in the southern province of Binh Duong Sunday.

Camera footage shows four alleged robbers outside a gold shop in Binh Duong Province, March 3, 2024.

The two men and two women arrived at the shop on two motorbikes at around noon. One of them pointed a gun at the owners as others broke glass cabinets to take a large amount of jewelries.

They left before the police arrived to inspect the scene.

Quy, the shop's owner, said the robbery happened in just more than a minute. Quy said he and his wife did not dare to fight back as the gang had a gun while their children were inside the house.

He said around 20 taels of gold worth nearly VND1 billion (US$40,560) were taken. A tael of gold equals 37.5 grams or 1.2 ounces.

Police are looking for the robbers.
  Trusted Source

Can they hear you now: Noise and headphone use in children



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Need for increased awareness and proactive strategies to mitigate potential noise-induced health risks from prolonged usage of earbuds and headphones among children sparks concerns. #children #earbuds #headphones 

Alarming Trend of Children's Headphone Dependency

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Did You Know?

Hearing loss can impact a child's language development, academic performance, and social interactions if not detected and addressed early.

Insights from a Nationwide Survey

Monitor volume levels

Use noise-cancelling or volume-limiting headphones

Ensure kids take breaks from personal listening devices

Be mindful of early signs of hearing loss

Can they hear you now: Noise and headphone use in children - (https://mottpoll.org/reports/can-they-hear-you-now-noise-and-headphone-use-children)

National poll indicates a worrisome trend where an increasing number of children , including those as young as elementary age, are extensively using earbuds and headphones, raising concerns about potential health risks associated with noise exposure ().Two in three parents say their child ages 5-12 uses personal audio devices, with half of parents of children ages 5-8 reporting elementary-aged kids use a device.Among parents whoseor their child includes at least two hours of use, according to the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Childrens Hospital National Poll on Childrens Health.Over recent years weve mostly been concerned about teens overusing audio devices. But earbuds have become increasingly popular and prevalent among younger kids, exposing them to more intense noise on a regular basis, said Susan Woolford, M.D., M.P.H., Mott pediatrician and co-director of the Mott poll.Noise exposure risks to young children have historically involved loud singular events like concerts or fireworks, but parents may underestimate the potential harm from excessive use of listening devices. It may be difficult to know whether their childs exposure to noise is healthy.Children are most likely to use these devices at home, school, and in the car, report findings show. About a fourth of parents also say children occasionally use audio devices on airplanes while less than 10% say kids use them on the bus, outside, or in bed.Half of parents agree that headphones or earbuds help keep their child entertained.The American Academy of Pediatrics released a statement in 2023 on the need to reduce noise risks to children, with increasing evidence that children and teens may be more exposed through personal listening devices.Prolonged or extreme exposure to high volumes of noise can result in long-term health issues, including hearing loss or tinnitus , Woolford says.Young children are more vulnerable to potential harm from noise exposure because their auditory systems are still developing. Their ear canals are also smaller than adults, intensifying perceived sound levels, Woolford said.Tiny hair cells inside the inner ear pick up sound waves to help you hear. When these get damaged or die, hearing loss is irreversible.Noise exposure among children can also affect their sleep, academic learning, language, stress levels, and even blood pressure , she adds.to be higher among the older age group, the poll suggests.However, only half of parents share theyve tried to limit their childs audio device usage, citing strategies such as asking the child to take a break, having set hours for use, and using a timer.Parents whose child uses headphones for more than two hours a day are also less likely to set time or volume limits, compared to parents who report less headphone use for their child.Woolford offers four tips to reduce risks of noise exposure to children through headphones and earbuds:Parents can minimize the negative impact of audio device usage by monitoring and adjusting the childs volume and time on devices, Woolford says.She recommends parents follow the 60/60 rule  children should be limited to no more than 60 minutes of audio devices a day at no more than 60% of the maximum volume.The sound levels on listening devices that are less than 70 dBA (relative loudness of decibels heard) are very unlikely to cause noise-related damage.A good way to tell if an audio device is too loud is if a child wearing headphones cant hear you when youre an arms length away, she said.Parents can also limit their childs risk by setting specific hours for audio device use or using a timer to keep track.Parents should consider the risk of noise exposure when purchasing audio devices for their children by checking the information on device packages to identify products that limit the volume.But some products marketed as kid-safe, Woolford warns, do not limit the volume to 70 decibels.However,Noise-cancelling devices may help prevent children from increasing the volume to levels that are too high, Woolford said. But these devices shouldnt be used when a child is engaged in activities where its important to hear their surroundings for their safety, such as walking or bike riding.Parents should help children intentionally have daily device-free time, Woolford says. This may involve putting away or locking the childs audio devices when time limits are up.They may also encourage kids to enjoy things like music on a low volume in their rooms instead of using earbuds to reduce noise intensity.Personal audio devices should also be avoided when children are sleeping or at bedtime, Woolford says.If parents feel their child may be at risk of hearing loss due to using audio devices, Woolford recommends checking with a pediatrician, an audiologist, or an ENT (ear, nose, and throat) specialist.Early signs of hearing loss may include asking for repetition, hearing ringing noises often, speaking loudly to people nearby, delayed speech, or lack of reaction to loud noises, Woolford said.Healthcare providers may be of assistance to parents by offering a simple explanation about hearing loss to help the child understand the reasons for limiting their use of audio devices.Source-Eurekalert
KYIV, Ukraine (AP)  The death toll rose to 10 on Sunday from a Russian drone strike that destroyed an apartment block in Ukraines southern port city of Odesa the previous day when a local official reported that the body of a third child was pulled from the rubble, along with that of the child's mother.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Western allies to boost Ukraine's air defenses in the wake of the deadly attack.

Ukraine's interior ministry on Sunday reported that rescue workers that morning retrieved the remains of a woman and infant.

The mother tried to cover the 8-month-old child with her own (body). She tried to save them. They were found in a firm embrace, said a Telegram post published on the ministry's official channel.

On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities reported that another young baby was among those killed after falling debris from an Iranian-made drone hit the apartment building  one of eight Russian drones reported by officials. Later that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a second child had also died, and called on Kyiv's Western partners to send more air defense systems.

Tymofiy was 4 months old. Mark was about to turn 3 years old. My condolences to all of their close ones, Zelenskyy wrote in English on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added that a 3-year-old girl and seven other people were injured in the attack.

Delays in the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, as well as air defense to protect our people, unfortunately result in such losses. ... Ukraine has never requested anything more than what is necessary to protect lives, Zelenskyy wrote.

Four more people may be trapped in the rubble in Odesa, the local branch of Ukraine's main emergency service said in a Facebook update Sunday. Oleh Kiper, the local governor, said that rescue workers continue to comb through the site, and regional authorities announced a day of mourning for the victims.

REPORTS OF EXPLOSIONS AT AN OIL DEPOT IN CRIMEA

In Russian-occupied Crimea, loud explosions were heard near an oil depot in the early hours of Sunday, according to a local pro-Kyiv Telegram news channel, while Kremlin-installed officials in the territory said that a nearby stretch of highway was closed to traffic for over eight hours.

Videos shared with pro-Ukrainian channel Crimean Wind showed explosions lighting up the night sky, followed by loud booms. The channel said they were taken by local residents near Feodosia  a coastal town in northeastern Crimea. It was not immediately possible to verify the circumstances in which the videos were shot.

An anti-Russian, Crimean Tatar-led underground group claimed later that day that the blasts destroyed a pipeline, causing colossal damage.

The group, Atesh  which means fire in Crimean Tatar  did not directly claim responsibility for the strike, and said it had learned about its consequences from informers among Russian-appointed officials. Authorities in Kyiv did not immediately acknowledge or comment on the claims.

Traffic was halted early on Sunday along a four-lane Russian federal highway near Feodosia, according to an adviser to Crimea's Kremlin-installed leader. The Telegram post by Oleg Kryuchkov did not give the reasons for the move. More than eight hours later, Crimea's local transport minister reported that traffic had partially resumed. A bridge that connects Crimea to Russian territory was also closed to traffic for about two hours early on Sunday morning.

Russias defense ministry on Sunday did not comment on the reports but claimed that 38 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight into Sunday over the peninsula.

CHINA'S UKRAINE ENVOY HOLDS TALKS WITH RUSSIAN DIPLOMATS IN MOSCOW

In Moscow, Chinas special envoy on Ukraine held talks on Saturday evening with senior Russian diplomats in the first leg of a European trip that will also take him to Brussels, Poland, Germany and France, Chinese and Russian state media reported.

In a readout published on Sunday morning, Chinas foreign ministry said that Special Representative Li Hui and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin agreed that negotiations are the only way to end the fighting in Ukraine.

Lis trip, the second since last May, comes as Kyiv seeks Beijings participation in peace talks that Switzerland is trying to organize this spring. China claims its neutral in Russias war on Ukraine but maintains close ties with Moscow, with frequent state visits and joint military drills between the two nations.

We will continue to play our unique role, carry out shuttle diplomacy, build consensus among all sides and contribute Chinas wisdom to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday.
Nancy Black Tribune Content Agency

Linda Black Horoscopes for Sunday, March 3, 2024

Todays Birthday (03/03/24). Your creative muses serenade this year. Develop passions into accomplishments with dedication. Dive into a lucrative springtime with your partner, before adjusting for income changes this summer. Grow personal capacities this autumn, before adjusting shared financial strategies this winter. Communication is your superpower.

To get the advantage, check the days rating: 10 is the easiest day, 0 the most challenging.

Aries (March 21-April 19)  Today is a 9  Widen your exploration despite obstacles or delays. Break free from old routines. Try new flavors and ideas. Discover new appreciation for something taken for granted.

Taurus (April 20-May 20)  Today is an 8  Give each other a boost. Combine efforts to save time, resources and trouble. Simplify for more savings. Secure the ground taken. Pull together.

Gemini (May 21-June 20)  Today is a 7  A formidable barrier blocks the path. Work with someone who sees your blind spots. Stay flexible. A shared challenge can deepen your connection.

Cancer (June 21-July 22)  Today is an 8  Move quickly to maintain an advantage. Practice to build strength and endurance. Draw upon hidden resources. Monitor conditions to avoid delays. Stick to stable ground.

Leo (July 23-Aug. 22)  Today is a 7  Go for the fun option, despite an obstacle or challenge. Patiently clarify misunderstandings. Stay flexible. Discover romance and beauty where least expected. Get creative.

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22)  Today is a 6  Domestic comforts draw you in. Cook, clean and then lounge away. Prepare something delicious. Simplify for greater peace of mind. Rest and recharge.

Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 22)  Today is a 7  Words can get lost in translation. Actions could backfire. Edit carefully before sending. Dont share a creative project until its ready. Polish, prepare and refine.

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21)  Today is an 8  Monitor details carefully to avoid costly mistakes. You may need to move quickly. Things could seem volatile. Watch for hidden opportunities. Lucrative connections could spark.

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21)  Today is an 8  Let your heart lead. Changes could require adaptation. Watch for hidden dangers. Ignore rumors or gossip. Nurture yourself with personal care and attention.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19)  Today is a 6  Escape the noise and chaos. Prepare for a dreamy project. Organize and strategize. Imagine how youd like things to go. Put the pieces in place.

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18)  Today is a 7  Have fun with friends. Discuss social changes, solutions and strategies for success. Strengthen connections. Share ideas, contacts and resources. Pull together for a common cause.

Pisces (Feb. 19-March 20)  Today is an 8  Youre on a roll. Dont worry about the money, or lack of it. A fascinating discovery opens new doors. Prepare to launch a dream project.

Astrologer Nancy Black continues her mother Linda Blacks legacy horoscopes column. She welcomes comments and questions on Twitter, @LindaCBlack. For more astrological interpretations like todays Gemini horoscope, visit Linda Black Astrology by clicking daily horoscopes, or go to www.nancyblack.com.

2024 Nancy Black. All rights reserved. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency.
EAST LANSING, MI - The Michigan State University Board of Trustees will meet at 10 p.m. Sunday to discuss the results of an investigation that found Board Chair Rema Vassar and Trustee Dennis Denno had committed such serious violations of Board policy that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should consider removing them from office.

The investigation, conducted at MSUs request by the Washington, D.C., law firm Miller & Chevalier, found that both Vassar and Denno conspired with students to publicly embarrass interim President Teresa Woodruff and to attack Jack Lipton, the chair of MSUs Faculty Senate and a professor of neuroscience, after he introduced a resolution calling for Vassar to resign.
WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI  The health department has confirmed a case of measles in Washtenaw County and is warning of a potential exposure spot at one local emergency department.

Washtenaw County health officials say the exposure possibly happened between 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Friday, March 1, in the waiting and triage areas at Trinity Health Ann Arbor Emergency Department, at 5301 McAuley Drive in Ypsilanti.

There is no ongoing risk of exposure from the identified case, health officials said in a news release on Sunday, March 3.

RELATED: First measles case confirmed in Michigan since 2019

Measles is a highly contagious, vaccine-preventable disease that is spread by direct person-to-person contact, and through the air. Symptoms of measles usually begin 7-14 days after exposure but can appear up to 21 days after exposure.

Anyone present at the above time and date should receive the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine within 72 hours or no later than Monday, March 4, if they are not already considered immune to measles.

For vaccination and guidance, contact your health care provider, pharmacy or the Washtenaw County Health Department at 734-544-6700.

Anyone potentially exposed should monitor themselves for symptoms for 21 days. If symptoms develop, call ahead before visiting a doctor, urgent care or emergency room so they can take precautions to avoid exposing others.

Symptoms may include:

 High fever (may spike to over 104 Fahrenheit).

 Cough.

 Runny nose.

 Red, watery eyes.

 Tiny white spots on the inner cheeks, gums and roof of the mouth two to three days after symptoms begin.

 A rash that is red, raised, blotchy  usually starts on face, spreads to trunk, arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Two Grand Rapids police officers are on administrative leave after exchanging gunfire with a man late Saturday night during a traffic stop.

The incident unfolded around 11:44 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, as two officers performed a traffic stop in the 1900 block of South Division Avenue.

Police said the officers were doubled up in a two-officer unit.

Shortly after pulling into a parking lot, a man fled from the passenger side of the vehicle and into an alley. As officers were chasing the man, he ran in between two houses in the 1900 block of Horton Avenue SE.

Police said the man produced a semi-automatic handgun and fired multiple rounds in the direction of the two officers who were chasing him. Both officers also returned fire with their department-issued handguns.

No officers were struck by gunfire, but its unclear if the man was hit. The man is still had not been located as of Sunday morning.

Michigan State Police were asked to investigate the shooting, which is standard protocol.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Grand Rapids Police Department at 616-456-3380 or through Silent Observer at 616-774-2345.

Want more Grand Rapids-area news? Bookmark the local Grand Rapids news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Grand Rapids daily newsletter.
Doctors and nurses during a busy shift at a hospital in Hanoi, February 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Thuy An

The government targets to have 15 doctors per 10,000 people by 2025, an increase of 3 from the current rate.

The current rate of 12.5, already up from 9.81 in 2020, puts Vietnam on par with India, higher than Indonesia, but lower than some countries such as Australia at 36, France 34, and China 22.

The current capacity for training doctors nationwide is about 13,000 graduates per year, according to the Health Ministry. This is the basis for Vietnam to achieve the goal of 15 doctors per 10,000 people by 2025, as per a government decision signed this week to approve the Health Network Planning for 2021-2030 and with a vision towards 2050.

The government also aims to achieve 25 nurses per 10,000 people by 2025, given the current nurse to population ratio in Vietnam is very low compared to the world, averaging 11.4 per 10,000 people.

Globally, there are three to four nurses per doctor, and in Japan, there are 9-10 nurses per doctor, while in Vietnam, there are less than two nurses per doctor.

Experts assess that the lower ratio of nurses and doctors compared to the global average leads to inadequate patient care.

The health ministry says it will gradually ensure the sufficient number and quality of healthcare staff at all levels, introduce appropriate remuneration policies and increase preferential allowances for preventive healthcare staff and primary healthcare.

It will also establish regulations to ensure hospitals' operational autonomy, contributing to increasing income for staff.
GRAND RAPIDS, MI  Habitat for Humanity of Kent County hopes to break ground this fall on a 27-unit housing development in Grand Rapids Roosevelt Park neighborhood now that the city planning commission has signed off on the plan.

The project, known as Pleasant Hills, would bring a combination of townhomes and duplexes to the 400 block of Pleasant Street SW, less than half a mile from Habitats completed 17-unit Plaza Roosevelt development on Rumsey Street.

This is just a continuation of our investment in the Roosevelt Park neighborhood, said Sarah Hotchkiss, director of development and communications at Habitat for Humanity of Kent County. Were really excited to be able to take land that we have and give it back to the community in the form of affordable home ownership opportunities.

Overall, the project is expected to cost $10 million. Homes would be reserved for low- to moderate-income residents.

Designs show the project would consist of the 27-homes built within a 3-acre property bordered by Pleasant Street, Osgood Place SW and Church Place SW. Two churches that officials say have been vacant for decades, including Matthews Temple, would be demolished to make way for the project.

The project would be comprised of 11 duplex buildings (containing 22 units) and a five-unit townhome building. Ground would be broken for the first units this fall, but the whole project is expected to take until the end of 2026 or later to complete, Hotchkiss said.

With construction projects, its always your best guess, she said.

Related: Transformational housing, new school brings hope to Grand Rapids neighborhood

The Roosevelt Park neighborhood is located along Cesar E. Chavez Avenue SW, between Wealthy Street SW and Alger Street SW. Its immediately west of U.S. 131 and just south of downtown Grand Rapids. Heavily Hispanic, the neighborhood has 5,615 residents, according to the neighborhoods 2017 area specific plan.

During a recent planning commission meeting, during which Habitat officials provided an overview of the project and answered questions, Commissioner Susan Shannon praised the project, saying it would help Roosevelt Park become an even stronger neighborhood.

Its a great addition for the neighborhood but also a great addition for affordable housing, she said.

To pay for the project, Habitat is looking at a various funding sources, including federal, state and city dollars, as well as private fundraising, Hotchkiss said. She said Habitat is just starting this project, but has raised over $1 million in the last six- to eight-months.

Habitat for Humanity of Kent County was formed in 1983. The organization builds, repairs and rehab homes, and provides financial and homeownership training to homebuyers. Since its founding, the organization says it has helped more than 500 families become homeowners, and has partnered with an additional 900 families to repair and improve their homes.

The cost of the homes, a mix of two-bedroom, three-bedroom and four-bedroom units, hasnt been finalized, Hotchkiss said. But they would be reserved for families earing up to 80% of Kent Countys area median income, said Andrew Claucherty, neighborhood revitalization director at Habitat.

For a three-person household, 80% of Kent Countys area median income is $68,240, according to the Michigan State Housing Development Authority.

All of these homes will be sold affordably, Claucherty told the Grand Rapids Planning Commission. Most of them will be sold to families below 80% AMI. But we are setting aside the potential for 20% to be sold to families in that missing middle up to 120% AMI.

For a three-person household, 120% of Kent Countys area median income is $102,360.

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KENT COUNTY, MI  Three district courts in Kent County are offering, for those who quality, an amnesty program to waive late fees, bench-warrant fees and show-cause fees.

The program is offered in March and April in Grand Rapids District Court, Kentwood District Court and 63rd District Court in Grand Rapids Township. It is a way to encourage those with outstanding issues to resolve cases without additional penalties.

Our aim with this amnesty program is to provide a pathway for individuals to address their outstanding issues without fear of excessive penalties, Danielle Castillo, the 63rd District Court administrator, said in a statement.

Sara Smolenski, one of two 63rd District Court judges, said: As judges, our foremost concern is justice served with compassion. Through this initiative, we seek to balance accountability with understanding, ensuring that those with outstanding matters can come forward, address their issues, and move forward with dignity.

Here are terms for the amnesty program:

People can call the appropriate court to discuss balances and making payments. Those with bench warrants must appear in person.

Eligible cases for amnesty include all misdemeanor cases, traffic tickets, and civil infractions, including those that have warrants for failure to pay, and in which late fees, show cause fees, and/or bench warrant fees have been assessed.

Eligible cases include misdemeanors, traffic tickets and civil infractions. That includes warrants for failure to pay and in which late fees, show-cause fees and bench-warrant fees assessed.

Such fees will be waived once the original amount is paid in full. The warrant will be cancelled.

Payments can be made by cash, certified check or credit car but personal checks will not be accepted.

For those whose drivers licenses has been suspended by the state of Michigan for non-payment of a traffic ticket, drivers must pay the $45 reinstatement fee, which will be turned over to the state.

The courts will work with those who make a significant payment but cannot make a full payment. The court can set up a new payment plan and will not jail those who cannot pay in full.

The announcement of the amnesty program will not prevent an arrest before a defendant shows up at court.

Here is information on the courts taking part:

Grand Rapids District Court, 180 Ottawa Ave. NW. The court is open 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. weekdays.

Kentwood District Court, 4740 Walma Ave. SE, open 7:30 am. to 4:30 pm. on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday; 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Tuesday and 7:30 a.m. to noon on Friday.

63rd District Court, 1950 E Beltline Ave. NE, Grand Rapids Township, open 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
EAST GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- What is now a placid, community lake was once a battlefield of fierce competition. The prize? Tourists paying 10 cents for a boat ride.

The history of Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids dates back to 1834 when the Reed family settled on large shares of land. But the excitement  rollercoasters with 85-foot drops, burlesque shows and hot air balloon races  came later.

RELATED: East Grand Rapids own slice of Coney Island. See the 85-foot drop that drew crowds 70 years ago.

Nothing was more dramatic than the tales of dueling steamboat captains vying for customers.

Although the boats have been dismantled, burned and sank, their stories are preserved through the East Grand Rapids History Room.

The History Room, located in the Kent District Librarys East Grand Rapids branch, has unique items from the past  including a ship wheel and the ships wooden nameplate.

Through newspaper articles, postcards, personal donations and oral storytelling, Mary Dersch, the history rooms curator, has all the juicy details about the temperamental captains who almost came to fisticuffs over premium dock space.

There were steamboat wars out on this lake, Dersch said.

Increased traffic raises the stakes for competition

Activity on Reeds Lake was ramping up in the 1870s as public transportation brought Grand Rapidians just three and half miles southeast to the newly established resort town of East Grand Rapids.

RELATED: Wool bathing suits, water toboggans and hot air balloon races: East Grand Rapids was a resort haven

In 1883, Captain John Poisson, a Frenchman from Quebec, Canada, began what would be his familys steamboat legacy.

His first boat was a 54-foot steel hull, the SS Florence, which traveled from Frankfort to Grand Rapids via the Grand River and was then carted by horse down Wealthy Street to Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids.

Originally a single-decked vehicle, Poisson added a second deck and lengthened the boat to take on more passengers. The lake already had steep competition to get to the bigger docks first to take on passengers.

Boats would circle the lake and entertain guests with music and food or be used a transportation vessel for those staying in cottages around the lake.

In the late 1880s, Poissons fiercest competitor was Captain Sigo Tyroller, a Grand Rapids businessman. Tyroller controlled the SS Belknap, and a smaller passenger steamer named the Trixie.

The two captains clash over docking rights. The Grand Rapids Press reported protocol was that any steamer holding a dock must move upon the approach of another, but this often did not happen cordially.

The fiery French versus the fighting Irish

In 1891, Tyrollers boat hand Michael McCarthy took over the fleet, captaining the SS Belknap and Trixie.

Whenever McCarthy was seen on a steamer on Reeds Lake, as a boat hand or captain, he feuded with Capt. Poisson, Dersch said.

The fight on the water became a clash between the French captain, Poisson, and the Irish captain, McCarthy. A reporter with The Grand Rapids Press described their frequent clashes and disdain for each other as follows:

If there is a little spot of fresh water on this Earth that has seen the Irish and French at war it is the same Reeds Lake.

In 1892, Poisson built the SS Major A.B. Watson, the largest of his fleet at 130-feet long and 26-feet wide. He could then carry a maximum of 700 guests at a time.

Not to be outdone, McCarthys response was to build the SS Hazel A, named for his daughter Hazel Amberg. Although smaller in length at 100-feet long with a capacity of 350 guests, the Hazel As advantage was its speed.

Smaller and quicker, the vessel could consistently beat Poissons ship to the docks  fueling their rivalry.

Terrible Naval Battle on Reeds Lake

In 1894, The Grand Rapids Press reported yet another spat between the captains in August: And once again war is disturbing the placid bosom of classic Reeds Lake.

The paper describes a sunset brawl where black bearded McCarthy and his piratical Hazel A. pursued the Major A.B. Watson as it made its way across the lake, heading for patrons waiting at the Manhattan bathing beach.

Despite Poissons ship head start, the Hazel A gained on the larger ship and crashed into it sharply, throwing Poisson off his post at the captains wheel and tossing McCarthy onboard his enemys ship.

McCarthy reportedly gave Poisson a drubbing or a beat down. The Irishman won the tourists that evening.

The two captains ended up in the prosecutors office the following morning, swearing at each other and pleading their case to not have a warrant against them.

The prosecutor interviewed said they both should pay a bond to keep the peace before lives are lost due to their monkeying.

Steamboat Squabble

By 1897, these clashes were becoming so frequent the newspaper described an August battle as the usual Navy display.

The 11th annual picnic for the Schwaben society brought 1,200 Germans to East Grand Rapids. Poisson and McCarthy, of course, wanted their business.

The excitement on the water began as the Major A.B. Watson approached the dock when the Hazel A was still there. Watson insisted upon instantaneous compliance with the rules of the lake.

The Watson, as reported, came up at full speed, smashing into the Hazel and crushing it so badly that there was no hope of it being used again that summer.

Once the wreckage of the Hazel A was towed away, Watson had a monopoly upon the business of the day.

However, McCarthy did not give up. An hour later he brought out the little pleasure steamer Trixie to accommodate 20 passengers. But his backup plan was foiled.

By 4 p.m. the Trixie was smashed and towed away by the French captain, once more leaving the Watson in possession of the field.

However, the Major A.B. Watson, full of passengers, crashed ashore two hours later after heavy winds pushed it inland.

The captains met again in court weeks later over the dispute. The sheriff seized Poissons ship and held it on bond for $2,400. Poisson indicated he would immediately pay the bond and get back to business.

Monopoly on the water

In April 1900, McCarthy opted to build his own dock.

The war between steamboats promises to be more interesting than ever, The Grand Rapids Press reported, teeing up the summer season.

McCarthy had paid the railway company $500 per season for the rental of the dock closest to the highly popular Ramona Pavilion. In 1900, the railway company upped the price and McCarthy dropped the deal.

McCarthy moving his dock toward another pavilion gave Poisson the advantage to point its boat toward the railway crowd.

This new war strategy was disrupted, though, by McCarthys passing in May of that year.

In July 1900, the Poissons bought the Hazel A.

Thus, the steamboat business at Reeds Lake, after many years of fierce warfare, has practically become a monopoly, with the Poissons in control, The Press reported.

At this time, it was Poissons sons, Joseph and Charlie, running the steamboat business. Poisson died in February 1901. The family continued to run steamboats until 1955, the last season for any steamers on Reeds Lake.

The last vessel, the SS Ramona, joined the fleet in 1923, after the Hazel A was decommissioned and was being dismantled. The ship took on water and sunk to the bottom of the lake.

Those looking for more information or to share stories about East Grand Rapids history can contact curator Mary Dersch at egrhistoryroom@gmail.com.
BERRIEN COUNTY, MI  Authorities are investigating a fire that started in an apartment complex causing damage to a dozen units.

In total, 12 families were displaced from their residences at Fountainview Apartments due to a dryer fire, Lincoln Township firefighters said. No injuries were reported.

The fire was reported around 9 p.m. on Saturday, March 2, at the apartment complex on Red Arrow Highway.

While enroute, dispatch advised fire crews that the blaze had spread, and people were trapped on the third floor. Upon arrival, firefighters were able to rescue six people from a third story window.

Those six people were transported to an area hospital and expected to recover, fire officials said.

A majority of the fire was contained to the apartment of origin, fire officials said. However, all 12 units in the building suffered water and smoke damage and displaced 12 families.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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The Dambri waterfall in Bao Loc, Lam Dong Province in the Central Highlands. Photo by VnExpress/Duc Hung

An Australian national of Vietnamese origin was found dead next to a stream in a forest of the Central Highlands' Lam Dong Province.

Police of Bao Loc District on Saturday cooperated with local authorities to inspect the scene where the body of the man, reported to be 70 years old, was found next to a stream in Loc Tan Commune, Vietnam News Agency reported. The man lived in Australia and has relatives in Bao Loc.

The man had been traveling to several Vietnamese localities. Before his death, he was staying in a hotel in Bao Loc.

An investigation is ongoing.
At the scene of the case (Source: Ashahi)

The case is under investigation and Japanese police have arrested a suspect, the ministry said on March 1.

Along with coordinating with local authorities in clarifying the case, Vietnamese representative offices in Japan have worked with relevant agencies at home to identify the victim and contact the family of the deceased to prepare for his funeral in line with the law of Vietnam and Japan, it added./.
Swiss Re AG (OTCMKTS:SSREY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 9,400 shares, a drop of 41.6% from the January 31st total of 16,100 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 49,600 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.2 days.

Swiss Re Price Performance

SSREY stock remained flat at $30.14 during mid-day trading on Friday. 12,206 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 24,411. The stocks 50 day moving average is $28.77 and its two-hundred day moving average is $27.36. Swiss Re has a 52-week low of $23.41 and a 52-week high of $30.42.

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Swiss Re AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides wholesale reinsurance, insurance, other insurance-based forms of risk transfer, and other insurance-related services worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Property & Casualty Reinsurance, Life & Health Reinsurance, and Corporate Solutions.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 3. Azerbaijani Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov has met with Algerian Minister of Energy and Mining Mohamed Arkab as part of participation in the 7th summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF) in Algiers, Trend reports.

During the meeting, the sides expressed satisfaction with the constructive development of cooperation within the GECF, OPEC+, and bilateral format.

The current state of energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Algeria was reviewed. An agreement was reached to speed up the process of establishing a joint working group in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding on oil and gas cooperation signed between Azerbaijan and Algeria in 2022.

The sides also discussed issues related to the expansion of cooperation between SOCAR and Sonatrach, state-owned oil companies of the countries, and the establishment of an intergovernmental commission.

The Azerbaijani energy minister invited his Algerian counterpart to visit Azerbaijan.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
Singapore Exchange Limited (OTCMKTS:SPXCF  Get Free Report) saw a significant increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 851,800 shares, an increase of 66.6% from the January 31st total of 511,200 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 293.7 days.

Singapore Exchange Stock Performance

OTCMKTS:SPXCF remained flat at $7.00 during trading hours on Friday. Singapore Exchange has a 52 week low of $6.22 and a 52 week high of $7.35. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $7.07 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.06.

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Singapore Exchange Limited, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated securities and derivatives exchange, and related clearing houses in Singapore. It operates through Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities; Equities; and Data, Connectivity, and Indices segments. The Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities segment offers fixed income issuer, trading and clearing, and collateral management services.

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Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS:SUTNY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 420,000 shares, a growth of 40.9% from the January 31st total of 298,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 253,400 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.7 days.

Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Price Performance

Shares of SUTNY stock traded up $0.17 on Friday, hitting $4.25. The stock had a trading volume of 28,370 shares, compared to its average volume of 64,268. Sumitomo Mitsui Trust has a 1 year low of $3.35 and a 1 year high of $5.00. The companys 50 day moving average price is $3.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.82.

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Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Holdings, Inc operates as a trust bank in Japan and internationally. It offers supervising services for management strategies, and financial and human resource management; and general affairs, business process, corporate administration, operational process, risk, and compliance management services; and internal auditing services.

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Banco Santander, S.A. (OTCMKTS:BCDRF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 2,094,300 shares, a drop of 34.1% from the January 31st total of 3,176,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 3,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 616.0 days.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Banco Santander from $21.00 to $20.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th.

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Banco Santander Price Performance

About Banco Santander

Shares of OTCMKTS BCDRF remained flat at $4.16 during midday trading on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 1 shares, compared to its average volume of 30,278. Banco Santander has a fifty-two week low of $3.10 and a fifty-two week high of $4.49. The stocks fifty day moving average is $3.93.

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Banco Santander, SA provides various retail and commercial banking products and services to individuals, small and medium-sized enterprises, and large companies worldwide. The company operates through Retail Banking, Santander Corporate & Investment Banking, Wealth Management & Insurance, and PagoNxt segments.

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Commerzbank AG (OTCMKTS:CRZBY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 26,800 shares, a drop of 13.0% from the January 31st total of 30,800 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 43,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.6 days.

Commerzbank Stock Up 1.6 %

CRZBY stock traded up $0.18 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $11.75. 6,642 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 25,191. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $11.82 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $11.38. Commerzbank has a 1-year low of $9.48 and a 1-year high of $13.00. The company has a market cap of $14.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.53 and a beta of 1.11.

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Commerzbank AG provides banking and capital market products and services to private and small business customers, corporate groups, financial service providers, and institutional clients in Germany and internationally. It operates through two segments, Private and Small-Business Customers, and Corporate Clients.

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Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:DHY  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 62,000 shares, a decrease of 60.1% from the January 31st total of 155,300 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 527,600 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund news, CIO Thomas J. Flannery bought 20,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The stock was acquired at an average price of $1.96 per share, with a total value of $39,200.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive now directly owns 215,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $421,400. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders bought a total of 59,704 shares of company stock valued at $118,005 in the last 90 days. Corporate insiders own 14.35% of the companys stock.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund

Several hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in DHY. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC lifted its stake in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund by 5.9% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 99,881 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $188,000 after acquiring an additional 5,527 shares during the last quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. grew its stake in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund by 28.0% in the 4th quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 26,889 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $53,000 after buying an additional 5,882 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund by 6.2% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 105,569 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $200,000 after buying an additional 6,197 shares during the last quarter. Royal Bank of Canada boosted its stake in Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund by 4.1% during the 2nd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 165,157 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $312,000 after purchasing an additional 6,485 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MML Investors Services LLC boosted its stake in Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund by 54.5% during the 3rd quarter. MML Investors Services LLC now owns 19,837 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 6,996 shares during the last quarter. 15.49% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Trading Up 0.5 %

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Dividend Announcement

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund stock traded up $0.01 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $1.96. 957,137 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 793,600. Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund has a one year low of $1.65 and a one year high of $2.04.

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 16th were given a $0.0155 dividend. This represents a $0.19 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.49%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 15th.

Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund Company Profile

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Credit Suisse High Yield Bond Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Credit Suisse Asset Management, LLC. The fund invests in the fixed income markets of the United States. It invests in the securities of companies across diversified sectors. The fund primarily invests in below-investment-grade corporate bonds with an average credit quality lower than BBB by Standard & Poor's and an average duration of 5.07 years.

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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (NYSE:BBVA  Get Free Report) and Intercorp Financial Services (NYSE:IFS  Get Free Report) are both finance companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two companies based on the strength of their profitability, dividends, earnings, risk, valuation, analyst recommendations and institutional ownership.

Analyst Recommendations

This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and Intercorp Financial Services, as reported by MarketBeat.

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Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria 0 1 3 0 2.75 Intercorp Financial Services 0 0 2 0 3.00

Intercorp Financial Services has a consensus price target of $31.45, indicating a potential upside of 10.62%. Given Intercorp Financial Services stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Intercorp Financial Services is more favorable than Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria.

Dividends

Profitability

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria pays an annual dividend of $0.27 per share and has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Intercorp Financial Services pays an annual dividend of $1.12 per share and has a dividend yield of 3.9%. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria pays out 19.4% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Intercorp Financial Services pays out 45.0% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Both companies have healthy payout ratios and should be able to cover their dividend payments with earnings for the next several years.

This table compares Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and Intercorp Financial Services net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria 27.15% 14.85% 1.04% Intercorp Financial Services 17.52% 11.20% 1.20%

Institutional & Insider Ownership

2.8% of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.0% of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term.

Risk & Volatility

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has a beta of 1.31, indicating that its stock price is 31% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Intercorp Financial Services has a beta of 1.34, indicating that its stock price is 34% more volatile than the S&P 500.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria and Intercorp Financial Services gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria $29.54 billion 2.04 $8.68 billion $1.39 7.27 Intercorp Financial Services $1.63 billion N/A $286.85 million $2.49 11.42

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria has higher revenue and earnings than Intercorp Financial Services. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Intercorp Financial Services, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria beats Intercorp Financial Services on 8 of the 15 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

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Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A., together with its subsidiaries, provides retail banking, wholesale banking, and asset management services. It offers current accounts; and demand, savings, overnight, time, term, and subordinated deposits. The company also provides loan products; deals in securities; leasing, factoring, brokerage, and asset management services; and manages pension and investment funds. In addition, it offers credit cards; corporate and investment banking services; insurance products and services; and real estate services. The company provides its products through online and mobile channels. It operates in Spain, Mexico, South America, the United States, Turkey, Asia, and rest of Europe. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. was founded in 1857 and is headquartered in Bilbao, Spain.

About Intercorp Financial Services

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Intercorp Financial Services Inc. provides banking, insurance, wealth management, and payment services for retail and commercial clients in Peru. The company provides loans, credit facilities, deposits, and current accounts; life annuity products with single-premium payment and conventional life insurance products, as well as other retail insurance products; and brokerage and investment management services. It also engages in management, operation, and processing of credit and debit cards. The company was incorporated in 1897 and is based in Lima, Peru. Intercorp Financial Services Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Intercorp Peru Ltd.

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Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance (NYSE:ARI  Get Free Report) and Ladder Capital (NYSE:LADR  Get Free Report) are both small-cap finance companies, but which is the better business? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, risk, earnings, valuation and institutional ownership.

Risk & Volatility

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance has a beta of 1.67, indicating that its stock price is 67% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Ladder Capital has a beta of 1.92, indicating that its stock price is 92% more volatile than the S&P 500.

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Dividends

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance pays an annual dividend of $1.40 per share and has a dividend yield of 12.4%. Ladder Capital pays an annual dividend of $0.92 per share and has a dividend yield of 8.5%. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance pays out 466.7% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future. Ladder Capital pays out 113.6% of its earnings in the form of a dividend, suggesting it may not have sufficient earnings to cover its dividend payment in the future.

Institutional and Insider Ownership

Profitability

53.7% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 60.9% of Ladder Capital shares are owned by institutional investors. 0.6% of Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance shares are owned by company insiders. Comparatively, 11.7% of Ladder Capital shares are owned by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that large money managers, hedge funds and endowments believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

This table compares Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and Ladder Capitals net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 16.87% 6.51% 1.57% Ladder Capital 18.92% 9.70% 2.64%

Analyst Ratings

This is a summary of recent ratings for Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and Ladder Capital, as reported by MarketBeat.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance 0 4 0 0 2.00 Ladder Capital 0 0 3 0 3.00

Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance currently has a consensus price target of $10.33, suggesting a potential downside of 8.39%. Ladder Capital has a consensus price target of $12.00, suggesting a potential upside of 10.80%. Given Ladder Capitals stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Ladder Capital is more favorable than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance.

Valuation & Earnings

This table compares Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance and Ladder Capitals gross revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation.

Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance $344.59 million 4.65 $58.13 million $0.30 37.60 Ladder Capital $268.99 million 5.10 $101.12 million $0.81 13.37

Ladder Capital has lower revenue, but higher earnings than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance. Ladder Capital is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Summary

Ladder Capital beats Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance on 13 of the 16 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance

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Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. operates as a real estate investment trust (REIT) that originates, acquires, invests in, and manages commercial first mortgage loans, subordinate financings, and other commercial real estate-related debt investments in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Europe. It is qualified as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code. As a REIT, it would not be subject to federal income taxes, if the company distributes at least 90% of its REIT taxable income to its stockholders. Apollo Commercial Real Estate Finance, Inc. was incorporated in 2009 and is based in New York, New York.

About Ladder Capital

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Ladder Capital Corp operates as an internally-managed real estate investment trust in the United States. It operates through three segments: Loans, Securities, and Real Estate. The Loans segment originates conduit first mortgage loans that are secured by cash-flowing commercial real estate; and originates and invests in balance sheet first mortgage loans secured by commercial real estate properties that are undergoing transition, including lease-up, sell-out, and renovation or repositioning. It also invests in note purchase financings, subordinated debt, mezzanine debt, and other structured finance products related to commercial real estate. The Securities segment invests in commercial mortgage-backed securities, U.S. treasury and agency, corporate bonds, and equity securities. The Real Estate segment owns and invests in a portfolio of commercial and residential real estate properties, such as leased properties, office buildings, student housing portfolios, hotels, industrial buildings, shopping center, and condominium units. The company qualifies as a real estate investment trust for federal income tax purposes. It generally would not be subject to federal corporate income taxes if it distributes at least 90% of its taxable income to its stockholders. The company was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in New York, New York.

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Japan Display Inc. (OTCMKTS:JNNDF  Get Free Report) saw a significant decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 9,508,400 shares, a decline of 13.1% from the January 31st total of 10,944,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 1,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 5,282.4 days.

Japan Display Price Performance

Shares of Japan Display stock remained flat at $0.14 during midday trading on Friday. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $0.17 and a 200 day simple moving average of $0.22. Japan Display has a 52 week low of $0.14 and a 52 week high of $0.29.

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Japan Display Company Profile

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Japan Display Inc designs, manufactures, and sells displays in Japan and internationally. The company offers products for healthcare and medical fields, such as interfaces, display devices, high resolution display devices, and VR systems; industrial use LCD modules; LCD modules for automotive and mobile applications; color OLED display modules for wearables; and Landscape IPS LCD modules for single-lens reflex and high-end compact digital cameras.

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Seiko Epson Co. (OTCMKTS:SEKEY  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 41,300 shares, a growth of 81.9% from the January 31st total of 22,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 31,200 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 1.3 days.

Seiko Epson Trading Up 1.9 %

Shares of Seiko Epson stock traded up $0.16 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $8.19. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,550 shares, compared to its average volume of 16,640. The company has a quick ratio of 1.51, a current ratio of 2.52 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.23. The company has a market capitalization of $6.30 billion, a PE ratio of 13.42 and a beta of 0.97. The business has a fifty day moving average of $7.67 and a 200 day moving average of $7.54. Seiko Epson has a 1-year low of $6.67 and a 1-year high of $8.34.

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Seiko Epson (OTCMKTS:SEKEY  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The company reported $0.16 EPS for the quarter. Seiko Epson had a return on equity of 7.49% and a net margin of 4.23%. The firm had revenue of $2.50 billion for the quarter. As a group, equities analysts forecast that Seiko Epson will post 0.63 EPS for the current year.

Seiko Epson Company Profile

Seiko Epson Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, sells, and provides services for products in the printing solutions, visual communications, manufacturing-related and wearables, and other businesses. It operates through three segments: Printing Solutions, Visual Communications, and Manufacturing-related and Wearables segments.

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BK Technologies Co. (NYSEAMERICAN:BKTI  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant increase in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,400 shares, an increase of 131.6% from the January 31st total of 1,900 shares. Approximately 0.2% of the companys stock are sold short. Based on an average trading volume of 6,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.7 days.

Insider Activity

In other news, major shareholder Fundamental Global Gp, Llc sold 2,454 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $13.00, for a total value of $31,902.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 269,934 shares in the company, valued at $3,509,142. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Insiders own 25.59% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Trading of BK Technologies

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in BK Technologies in the 1st quarter valued at about $2,574,000. Uniplan Investment Counsel Inc. increased its position in BK Technologies by 21.8% in the 1st quarter. Uniplan Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 577,324 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,645,000 after acquiring an additional 103,303 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its position in BK Technologies by 3.2% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 536,136 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,528,000 after acquiring an additional 16,500 shares during the period. Worth Venture Partners LLC increased its position in BK Technologies by 10.8% in the 1st quarter. Worth Venture Partners LLC now owns 345,434 shares of the companys stock valued at $881,000 after acquiring an additional 33,750 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its position in BK Technologies by 11.0% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 231,851 shares of the companys stock valued at $661,000 after acquiring an additional 22,904 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 30.58% of the companys stock.

BK Technologies Price Performance

About BK Technologies

NYSEAMERICAN:BKTI traded down $0.01 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $11.81. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,452 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,370. The firm has a market capitalization of $40.85 million, a PE ratio of -16.17 and a beta of 1.15. BK Technologies has a 52-week low of $8.79 and a 52-week high of $17.00.

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BK Technologies Corporation, through its subsidiary, BK Technologies, Inc, engages in design, manufacture, and markets wireless communications products in the United States and internationally. The company offers two-way land mobile radios (LMR) and related components. It offers KNG Series and BKR Series radios operate in both the P25 digital and analog modes which are used primarily in government, public safety, and military applications; and BK radio products for intellectual property applications.

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BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 3. The mines laid on the lands of Azerbaijan by Armenia continue to pose a threat to people's lives, Commissioner for Human Rights (Ombudsperson) of Azerbaijan Sabina Aliyeva said, Trend reports.

The next victim of a mine explosion was a civilian who was engaged in agriculture. Thus, on March 3, 2024, as a result of a mine explosion that occurred near Ahmadaghaly village of Aghdam district, a civilian was seriously injured.

As a result of mine explosions since the conclusion of the Second Karabakh War in 2020 until the present, more than 340 of our compatriots have been killed or injured.

The international community must put pressure on the Armenian authorities so that they provide our country with accurate maps of the mined areas, said Sabina Aliyeva.
Canadian Critical Minerals Inc. (OTCMKTS:RIINF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,200 shares, a decline of 54.7% from the January 31st total of 18,100 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 124,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 0.1 days.

Canadian Critical Minerals Stock Performance

Shares of RIINF remained flat at $0.03 during midday trading on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 114,651 shares, compared to its average volume of 52,793. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $0.03 and a 200-day moving average price of $0.02. Canadian Critical Minerals has a 1 year low of $0.01 and a 1 year high of $0.06.

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About Canadian Critical Minerals

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Canadian Critical Minerals Inc, an exploration stage company, acquires, develops, and explores for mineral properties primarily in Canada. The company explores for gold, copper, nickel, platinum, palladium, and silver deposits. Its principal project is the 100% owned Bull River Mine located in the Cranbrook, British Colombia; and the Thierry project that covers approximately 4,700 hectares located in the west of Pickle Lake, Ontario.

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Cementos Argos S.A. (OTCMKTS:CMTOY  Get Free Report) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 4,000 shares, a decrease of 20.0% from the January 31st total of 5,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 2,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.9 days.

Cementos Argos Price Performance

Shares of CMTOY stock traded up $0.42 on Friday, hitting $8.92. The stock had a trading volume of 5,815 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,532. The stocks 50 day moving average is $8.22 and its 200-day moving average is $6.70. Cementos Argos has a 52-week low of $1.60 and a 52-week high of $9.07.

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About Cementos Argos

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Cementos Argos SA offers cement, concrete, aggregates, ready-mix concrete, and hydrated lime products in Colombia, the Caribbean, Central America, and the United States. The company also engages in the reinsurance; property management; transport; and seaports operation businesses. In addition, it exports its products.

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Huaneng Power International, Inc. (OTCMKTS:HUNGF  Get Free Report) saw a large increase in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 10,731,000 shares, an increase of 131.4% from the January 31st total of 4,637,000 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 11,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 933.1 days.

Huaneng Power International Stock Performance

OTCMKTS HUNGF remained flat at $0.55 on Friday. 360 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 23,442. Huaneng Power International has a 12 month low of $0.41 and a 12 month high of $0.67. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $0.54.

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Huaneng Power International, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, generates and sells electric power to the regional or provincial grid companies in the People's Republic of China and internationally. It develops, constructs, operates, and manages power plants and related projects. The company generates power from gas turbine, hydro, wind, photovoltaic, coal-fired, and biomass resources.

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Sweet Earth Holdings Co. (OTCMKTS:SEHCF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large drop in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 900 shares, a drop of 40.0% from the January 31st total of 1,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 1,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.5 days.

Sweet Earth Price Performance

Shares of Sweet Earth stock remained flat at $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday. 27,900 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 8,274. Sweet Earth has a 1 year low of $0.02 and a 1 year high of $0.93. The firms 50 day moving average is $0.10 and its 200-day moving average is $0.13.

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Sweet Earth Company Profile

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Sweet Earth Holdings Corporation cultivates, processes, and sells hemp cannabidiol (CBD) products in the United States and internationally. The company offers CBD and hemp infused facial products, including CBD hydration creams, oat and honey cleansers, and soothing CBD lip balms; and botanicals and essential oils, such as balancing CBD jasmine oils, soothing CBD bath salt soaks, invigorating CBD neem and turmeric scrubs, and aloe-infused CBD hand sanitizers for body and skin care.

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The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI  Get Free Report) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,260,000 shares, a growth of 133.4% from the January 31st total of 3,110,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,060,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 3.5 days. Currently, 2.5% of the companys stock are short sold.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other The Cigna Group news, CEO David Cordani sold 38,065 shares of The Cigna Group stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.22, for a total transaction of $12,760,149.30. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 329,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $110,394,985.62. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, CEO David Cordani sold 38,065 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $335.22, for a total transaction of $12,760,149.30. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 329,321 shares in the company, valued at approximately $110,394,985.62. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, insider Eric P. Palmer sold 6,083 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $340.00, for a total value of $2,068,220.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 44,649 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,180,660. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 60,424 shares of company stock valued at $20,347,634 in the last ninety days. Insiders own 0.60% of the companys stock.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On The Cigna Group

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CI. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in The Cigna Group by 154,255.6% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 11,954,841 shares of the health services providers stock worth $3,961,117,000 after buying an additional 11,947,096 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in The Cigna Group during the 4th quarter worth $1,006,348,000. Parnassus Investments LLC acquired a new position in The Cigna Group during the 3rd quarter worth $731,041,000. FMR LLC grew its holdings in The Cigna Group by 13.8% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 15,967,363 shares of the health services providers stock worth $4,567,783,000 after acquiring an additional 1,939,554 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Point72 Asset Management L.P. grew its holdings in The Cigna Group by 13,563.1% during the 2nd quarter. Point72 Asset Management L.P. now owns 596,121 shares of the health services providers stock worth $167,272,000 after acquiring an additional 591,758 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.32% of the companys stock.

The Cigna Group Trading Down 0.9 %

NYSE CI traded down $3.18 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $332.96. 1,473,261 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,602,947. The Cigna Group has a 1-year low of $240.50 and a 1-year high of $347.14. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $317.75 and its 200 day simple moving average is $298.75. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.43 billion, a PE ratio of 19.15, a PEG ratio of 1.03 and a beta of 0.55. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.67.

The Cigna Group (NYSE:CI  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The health services provider reported $6.79 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $6.54 by $0.25. The Cigna Group had a net margin of 2.64% and a return on equity of 13.59%. The company had revenue of $51.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $48.91 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $4.96 earnings per share. The Cigna Groups revenue was up 11.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that The Cigna Group will post 28.36 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The Cigna Group Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be paid a dividend of $1.40 per share. This is an increase from The Cigna Groups previous quarterly dividend of $1.23. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 5th. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.68%. The Cigna Groups payout ratio is 28.29%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Oppenheimer reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $360.00 target price on shares of The Cigna Group in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised shares of The Cigna Group from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $355.00 to $370.00 in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of The Cigna Group from $334.00 to $348.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Cantor Fitzgerald raised shares of The Cigna Group from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price target for the stock from $334.00 to $372.00 in a report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of The Cigna Group from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and increased their price target for the stock from $330.00 to $372.00 in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, nine have given a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $357.15.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on The Cigna Group

About The Cigna Group

(Get Free Report)

The Cigna Group, together with its subsidiaries, provides insurance and related products and services in the United States. Its Evernorth Health Services segment provides a range of coordinated and point solution health services, including pharmacy benefits, home delivery pharmacy, specialty pharmacy, distribution, and care delivery and management solutions to health plans, employers, government organizations, and health care providers.

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The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decline in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 3,790,000 shares, a decline of 12.9% from the January 31st total of 4,350,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,660,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 2.3 days. Approximately 1.3% of the companys stock are sold short.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Price Performance

HIG traded down $0.92 on Friday, reaching $94.45. The stock had a trading volume of 1,208,877 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,770,469. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The company has a market capitalization of $28.08 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.88. The Hartford Financial Services Group has a fifty-two week low of $64.25 and a fifty-two week high of $96.64. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $87.24 and a 200-day moving average of $78.64.

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The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The insurance provider reported $3.06 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.44 by $0.62. The Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 10.21% and a return on equity of 19.82%. The firm had revenue of $6.40 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.84 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $2.31 EPS. The companys revenue was up 6.4% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that The Hartford Financial Services Group will post 9.94 EPS for the current year.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Announces Dividend

Insider Activity at The Hartford Financial Services Group

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be given a $0.47 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 1st. This represents a $1.88 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.99%. The Hartford Financial Services Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 23.53%.

In related news, CEO Christopher Swift sold 53,596 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.23, for a total value of $4,300,007.08. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 170,180 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,653,541.40. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In related news, SVP Allison G. Niderno sold 1,332 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.74, for a total value of $119,533.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 630 shares of the companys stock, valued at $56,536.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, CEO Christopher Swift sold 53,596 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.23, for a total transaction of $4,300,007.08. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 170,180 shares in the company, valued at $13,653,541.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 323,245 shares of company stock worth $27,739,927. 1.80% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On The Hartford Financial Services Group

A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Guidance Capital Inc. acquired a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the second quarter valued at approximately $514,000. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in The Hartford Financial Services Group during the third quarter worth $2,828,000. Teza Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group in the third quarter worth $2,087,000. Stifel Financial Corp increased its stake in The Hartford Financial Services Group by 5.2% in the third quarter. Stifel Financial Corp now owns 229,461 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $16,271,000 after purchasing an additional 11,345 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Amalgamated Bank boosted its position in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 7.5% during the 3rd quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 85,139 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $6,037,000 after purchasing an additional 5,911 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.81% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on HIG. Roth Mkm upped their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Oppenheimer initiated coverage on The Hartford Financial Services Group in a report on Thursday, November 16th. They set a market perform rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded The Hartford Financial Services Group from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their price target for the company from $94.00 to $91.00 in a report on Monday, January 8th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted 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 research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, TD Cowen began coverage on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued an outperform rating on the stock. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $90.60.

Check Out Our Latest Report on The Hartford Financial Services Group

About The Hartford Financial Services Group

(Get Free Report)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, 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, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

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Adrija Chatterjee is an Assistant Editor at Moneycontrol. She has been tracking and reporting on finance and trade ministries for over eight years.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, March 3. A new venture fund bybcapital has been launched in Kazakhstan to support technology startups in Kazakhstan and other countries around the world, Trend reports.

According to information from the Sabi fund, the first investors in bybcapital will be entrepreneurs Kenes Rakishev and Asel Tasmagambetova.

Thus, bybcapital will support start-up B2B-SaaS companies focused on Central Asia/Caucasus, cross-border expansion, and entry into large markets such as the US and Europe.

The managing partner of the firm will be Askar Bilisbekov, a graduate of the Stanford Graduate School of Business with extensive experience in Kazakh business and the corporate sector.

"At bybcapital we don't just invest in startups, we invest in the future of Kazakhstan and the entire region. Our mission is to develop the next generation of technology leaders and entrepreneurs by providing them with the resources and support they need to succeed on a global scale," said one of the investor, Kenes Rakishev, commenting on the launch of the company.

It was noted that bybcapital is committed to leveraging the extensive experience and networks of its founders to propel Kazakh and Central Asian startups to global success, with a focus on innovation and sustainable growth.

Based at the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC) in Astana, bybcapital will seek to make best use of Kazakhstan's financial and innovation ecosystem, benefiting from the AIFC's regulatory framework and business-friendly policies.
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, March 3. Kyrgyzstan's Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers, Akylbek Japarov, has urged Chinese banks to consider investing in the country and participating in projects aimed at constructing hydroelectric, solar, and wind power stations, Trend reports.

As per the Kyrgyzstan's Cabinet of Ministers, Japarov made these remarks at a meeting with representatives from various companies and bank leaders from China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Kashgar. He emphasized the high level of political dialogue, which opens opportunities for advancing economic issues between Kyrgyzstan and Chinese regions.

"Today, Chinese companies are implementing international and infrastructure projects in Kyrgyzstan, including construction, energy, road construction, and airport modernization," Japarov stated.

Additionally, Japarov held a meeting with the management of a major company specializing in processing, storing, and exporting agricultural products, located in the Kyrgyz autonomous region of Kyzyl-Suu in the western part of the Xinjiang.

During the discussions, views were exchanged on the supply of environmentally friendly agricultural products from Kyrgyzstan to China, storage in control warehouses, and further market promotion. The name of the company was not specified.

Akylbek Japarov arrived in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region for a working visit.
Sohil Sehran is a journalist with 10 years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital media. He covers politics and national affairs at Moneycontrol. He tweets @SohilSehran
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Deepali Singh is a Mumbai-based freelance journalist who writes on movies, shows, music, art, and food. Twitter: @DeepaliSingh05
March 03, 2024 / 11:30 AM IST

Sowmya Rajendran is an independent film reviewer. Views expressed are personal
ASHGABAT, Turkmenistan, March 3. The total volume of trade turnover between Turkmenistan and the UK for the period from October 2022 through September 2023 amounted to 66 million British pounds, Trend reports.

According to the data from the UK Department for Business and Trade, this figure is 43.5 percent, or 20 million British pounds more than in the same period of previous years.

During the reporting period, the volume of exports from the UK to Turkmenistan amounted to 49 million British pounds, which is 36.1 percent, or 13 million British pounds more than in the period from October 2021 through September 2022.

Imports from Turkmenistan to the UK increased by 70 percent over the corresponding period, reaching 17 million British pounds, which is seven million British pounds more than in the previous reporting period.

Meanwhile, among the main commodity groups that the UK exports to Turkmenistan, chemical products, general industrial equipment, aircraft, and electrical goods stand out.

And the main product categories imported to the UK from Turkmenistan include inorganic chemicals, mechanical generators, general industrial equipment, metal ores, and scrap.

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Moneycontrol Features is the home of news and features on entertainment, travel, health and lifestyle, books, sports, art, music, culture, food, environment, and Indian and world history on Moneycontrol. Film reviews, actor interviews, box office collections, book reviews, book excerpts, author interviews, books recommendations, restaurant recommendations are all regular features on Moneycontrol. See more: https://www.moneycontrol.com/features/
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 4. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov hsa met with Foreign Minister of Slovakia Juraj Blanar, Trend reports.

According to the information, the Foreign Minister of Uzbekistan emphasized that a constructive dialogue was heldduring the meeting within the framework of the Diplomatic Forum in Antalya.

It is reported that the ministers paid attention to strengthening ties between the two countries and plans for the near future. Bakhtiyor Saidov expressed his readiness to further expand cooperation at various levels.
Talking about the impact of his songs on his Ive Tried Everything But Therapy album, Teddy says: Im watching people connect with the messages and stories and realizing not only are the songs helping me, but theyre also helping them too.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 3. Iranian Oil Minister Javad Owji and Russian Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov have held a meeting on the sidelines of the 7th summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Trend reports.

According to the information, the meeting covered discussions on collaborative endeavors in oil and gas production, cooperation regarding oil field development, and strategies for safeguarding Iran's pipeline infrastructure.

The potential for joint initiatives aimed at import substitution and enhancing technological sovereignty for both countries was also reviewed. Shulginov extended an invitation to the Iranian delegation to attend the Russian Energy Week (REW) International Forum, slated to take place in Moscow from September 26 to 28, 2024.

Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
US carries out first airdrop of aid into Gaza
Seated with family, Carol Anderson displays a poster of her late son, Xavier Anderson Tedtaotao, during a Guam Police Department oversight hearing at the Guam Congress Building in Hagatna on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024. Tedtaotao was fatally wounded during a 2020 officer-involved shooting.
Flu shots are doing OK vs. virus, US numbers indicate

NEW YORK (AP)  Early estimates suggest flu shots are performing OK in the current U.S. winter flu season.

The vaccines were around 40% effective in preventing adults from getting sick enough from the flu that they had to go to a doctors office, clinic or hospital, health officials said during a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention vaccines meeting Wednesday. Children who were vaccinated were roughly 60% less likely to get treatment at a doctors office or hospital, CDC officials said.

Officials generally are pleased if a flu vaccine is 40% to 60% effective.

The shots tend to do better when they are well matched against the circulating flu strains. Officials say thats whats happened during this  relatively typical  flu season.

Annual flu vaccines are recommended for everyone 6 months and older in the U.S. About half of eligible kids and just under half of adults got flu shots in the last several months, according to CDC data.

The CDC uses several systems to track the vaccines. One is a network of hospitals that offer information on how well the vaccines prevent flu-related illnesses bad enough to require admission. Another draws on outpatient data from urgent care clinics and hospital emergency departments.

Estimates from four different surveillance systems were presented at Wednesdays meeting of a committee that advises the CDC on vaccines. The findings were reported as ranges, but their midpoints hovered close to 40% for adults and around 60% for children.

The adult effectiveness estimate is similar to what CDC initially reported for last flu season. The shots proved less effective in some other recent seasons, the results influenced by what virus strain was dominating and how well the vaccines were matched to it.

One committee member expressed disappointment at recent effectiveness findings.

There seems to be diminishing returns for annual influenza immunization, said Dr. Sarah Long, of Drexel University.

Long asked whether repeated vaccinations, year-after-year, might be leading to lower immune system responses. A CDC official said some researchers have been exploring that question, so far without conclusive results.

One thing that does seem to arise consistently from these things is that in general you are better off if you got vaccinated than if you didnt, said the CDCs Dr. Lisa Grohskopf.

___

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.

By MIKE STOBBE

AP Medical Writer
Texas police arrest suspect in abduction of 12-year-old girl who was found safe after 8 days

COLUMBUS, Texas (AP)  Police in Texas have arrested a man suspected in the disappearance of a girl who was missing for eight days before she was safely located.

Sirterryon Preston, 27, of Houston was charged with evading authorities after he attempted to flee from officers on Friday, the Columbus Police Department said in social media post Saturday.

The police learned around 12:40 p.m. Friday that a 12-year-old girl who was the subject of an Amber Alert search was in Columbus, about 94 miles (150 kilometers) west of Houston.

The girls identity was confirmed and she was transported to Texas Childrens Hospital in Houston for evaluation, police said.

The Houston Police Department issued the alert notifying the public about the missing girl after she was last seen on Feb. 22 getting into a pickup truck in the city, news reports said.

Preston was being held in the Colorado County jail with additional charges possible, pending an investigation by the FBI, the Columbus police said.

A message left Sunday at a phone number listed for Preston was not immediately returned.

The arrest comes shortly after another abduction case involving a girl in the Houston area.

A memorial service was held Saturday for 11-year-old Audrii Cunningham, who was allegedly killed by a family friend with a history of violence.

Don McDougal was charged with capital murder in connection with Cunninghams death. Prosecutors say he was supposed to take her to a school bus stop when she disappeared Feb. 15. Her body was found Feb. 20 in a river near Houston.
2 police horses on the lam cause traffic jam on I-90 in Cleveland area

CLEVELAND (AP)  Drivers on an Ohio interstate came upon an unusual traffic hazard over the weekend  a pair of police horses trotting against traffic on the highway.

The two animals on the lam caused an unusual traffic jam Saturday afternoon as they wove through slowing traffic and then stopped it on Interstate 90 in the downtown Cleveland area.

Cleveland.com reports that video from the Ohio Department of Transportation showed the animals trotting on the side of the road near the units stables at about 12:15 p.m. Saturday. Another video showed them headed westbound in the eastbound interstate lanes, slowing and then halting traffic.

The camera follows the animals, ultimately trailed by a police cruiser with flashing lights, heading further along the highway and then down an onramp before cutting across a grassy section onto a side street and out of view.

Cleveland Police Sgt. Wilfredo Diaz told reporters that the horses were members of the departments mounted division. He said they inadvertently strayed during routine care and exercise.

Mounted officers promptly recovered both horses, ensuring their safety, and no further incidents ensued, Diaz said.

Video of the horseplay prompted a good deal of online hilarity, with even the transportation department getting into the snarky act.

Some real horsepower on I-90 in downtown Cleveland today. Any injuries? Neigh, the department posted on Twitter/X.
Kamala Harris leads Bloody Sunday memorial as marchers voices ring out for voting rights View Photo

SELMA, Ala. (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris told thousands gathered for the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday attacks on civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama, that fundamental freedoms, including the right to vote, are under attack in America even today.

Harris joined those gathered at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where voting rights activists were beaten back by law enforcement officers in 1965. The vice president praised the marchers bravery for engaging in a defining moment of the civil rights struggle.

Today, we know our fight for freedom is not over, because in this moment we are witnessing a full on attack on hard-fought, hard-won freedoms, starting with the freedom that unlocks all others, the freedom to vote, Harris said.

She criticized attempts to restrict voting, including limits on absentee voting and early voting, and said the nation is again at a crossroad.

What kind of country do we want to live in? Do we want to live in a country of freedom, liberty and justice? Or a country of injustice, hate and fear? Harris asked, encouraging people to answer with their vote.

She paid tribute to the civil rights marchers who walked across the bridge in 1965 knowing they would face certain violence in seeking a future that was more equal, more just and more free.

Decisions by the Supreme Court and lower courts since 2006 have weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was passed in the wake of the police attacks in Selma. The demonstrators were beaten by officers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, as they tried to march across Alabama to support voting rights.

Harris drew parallels between those who worked to stifle the Civil Rights Movement and extremists she said are trying to enact restrictions on voting, education and reproductive care.

She said other fundamental freedoms under attack include the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body, a reference to state abortion bans. She also stressed the Biden administrations support for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza to get the hostages out and a significant amount of aid in.

Under a blazing blue sky, Harris then led the crowd across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the march that concludes the annual commemoration. Thousands followed, sometimes singing hymns and anthems of the Civil Rights Movement including, Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round.

Earlier Sunday, Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke at a Selma church service marking the anniversary of the attack by Alabama law officers on civil rights demonstrators. He said recent court decisions and certain state legislation have endangered voting rights in much of the nation.

Since those (court) decisions, there has been a dramatic increase in legislative measures that make it harder for millions of eligible voters to vote and to elect representatives of their choice, Garland told worshippers at Selmas Tabernacle Baptist Church, the site of one of the first mass meetings of the voting rights movement.

Those measures include practices and procedures that make voting more difficult; redistricting maps that disadvantage minorities; and changes in voting administration that diminish the authority of locally elected or nonpartisan election administrators, he said. Such measures threaten the foundation of our system of government.

The march and Garlands speech were among dozens of events during the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which began Thursday and culminated Sunday.

The commemoration is a frequent stop for Democratic politicians paying homage to the voting rights movement. Some in the crowd gathered to see Harris speak about the upcoming November election and what appears to be a looming rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Khadidah Stone, 27, part of a crowd gathered at the bridge Sunday in light rain before the march, said she sees the work of todays activists as an extension of those who were attacked in Selma in 1965. Stone works for the voter engagement group Alabama Forward, and was a plaintiff in the Voting Rights case against the state that led to creating a second Alabama congressional district with a substantial number of Black voters. Voters will cast their first ballots in that district on Tuesday.

We have to continue to fight, because they (voting rights) are under attack, Stone said.

Nita Hill wore a hat saying Good Trouble, a phrase associated with the late Rep. John Lewis, who was beaten on the bridge during Bloody Sunday. Hill, 70, said it is important for Biden supporters to vote in November.

I believe Trump is trying to take us back, said Hill, a retired university payroll specialist.

Decades ago, images of the violence that at the bridge stunned Americans, which helped galvanize support for passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The law struck down barriers prohibiting Black people from voting.

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat of South Carolina who is leading a pilgrimage to Selma, said he is seeking to remind people that we are celebrating an event that started this country on a better road toward a more perfect union, but the right to vote is still not guaranteed.

Clyburn sees Selma as the nexus of the 1960s movement for voting rights, at a time when there currently are efforts to scale back those rights.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 became a reality in August of 1965 because of what happened on March 7th of 1965, Clyburn said.

We are at an inflection point in this country, he added. And hopefully this years march will allow people to take stock of where we are.

___

Associated Press reporters Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Stephen Groves in Washington, D.C.; and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.

By KIM CHANDLER

Associated Press
Chicago mansion tax to fund homeless services stuck in legal limbo while on the ballot

Chicago mansion tax to fund homeless services stuck in legal limbo while on the ballot View Photo

CHICAGO (AP)  An unusual legal challenge may upend the future of a Chicago ballot measure that would hike a real estate tax on high-end property sales to fund services for homeless people.

Such citywide ballot measures are rare in the nations third-largest city, but other cities, including Los Angeles, have approved similar so-called mansion taxes.

A Cook County judge last month rejected the measure, but backers of the effort, called Bring Chicago Home, hope it will be overturned.

Early voting for the March 19 primary in Chicago has already started, so the measure remains on the ballot as its being settled in the courts.

Heres a closer look at the ballot measure and the issues surrounding it.

THE REFERENDUM

The referendum asks Chicago voters to support an increase on a transfer tax for properties over $1 million. Its a one-time buyers fee.

Chicagos rate is currently 0.75% on all property sales. The proposal overhauls the tax structure: 2% for properties over $1 million, 3% on properties over $1.5 million and down to 0.6% on properties under $1 million.

Most Chicago property sales are under $1 million, so the majority of home buyers will pay less. Analysis by the proponents shows roughly 95% of homebuyers would see a decrease.

The Chicago areas median sales price is roughly $350,000, according to the National Association of Realtors. A buyer would currently pay $2,625 to the city. That would drop to $2,100 under the new structure.

Also, its a marginal tax, meaning the increased rate applies to only the portion above $1 million. For example, on a $1.2 million property, $1 million would be taxed at 0.6% with the remaining at 2%. Currently, the buyer pays $9,000, which would jump to $10,000.

THE REVENUE

Backers of Bring Chicago Home estimate the change will generate $100 million annually. It will be set aside solely for homeless services, including mental health care and job training.

Chicago spends about $50 million of city funds for such services. Advocates say having a bigger dedicated funding source would make a huge difference, including for prevention.

It allows us to move the needle in a way we cant do now, said Doug Schenkelberg, executive director of the Chicago Coalition for the Homeless.

Roughly 68,000 Chicagoans experience homelessness and racial disparities exist, according to the coalition. Roughly half are Black. The definition of homeless covers people without fixed addresses, whether they are sleeping on a friends couch or the streets.

Brian Rodgers, 50, struggled with homelessness for years after serving time for a theft conviction. Not knowing where he was going to stay made it hard to find work.

It feels like you are off balance. It feels like you dont know where or when it is time for you to leave or it is time for you to have a bed to sleep, he said. Unstable situations like that create unstable decisions.

About 17,000 of Chicagos homeless population, or 25%, are children.

Electa Bey, 66, became homeless when her husband unexpectedly died from illness in 2019. They were evicted. It took months to find public housing for the four grandchildren shes raising.

Family took them in, but it was far from the childrens school. They spent more than two hours each way commuting on public transportation.

They couldnt play with their friends. Their homework wasnt always done They were falling asleep on trains and buses, she said. Children are affected so profoundly.

THE OPPONENTS

Real estate groups say the new tax will disproportionately affect commercial real estate as downtown recuperates from a coronavirus pandemic downturn.

Vacancies in downtown offices reached a record high at the end of 2023 at 23.8%, according to CBRE Group Inc., a real estate services company.

We dont think its right to penalize one industry, the real estate industry, said Amy Masters of the Building Owners and Managers Association of Chicago, one of the groups that is suing. We need to think about other ways that we can work together to support those who are unhoused.

They call the tax an unfair burden to Chicagoans and say the change will discourage business.

After suing in January, a Cook County judge sided with them in February.

THE LEGAL FIGHT

There isnt much legal precedent in Chicago for ballot questions.

For one, such binding citywide ballot initiatives are unusual in the city. The last one was in 1993 and focused on new ward maps, according to the Chicago Board of Elections.

Real estate groups argue the proposed change violates state law because its asking voters to approve a tax cut and increase simultaneously.

However, supporters have questioned how the lawsuit was filed.

The lawsuit names the Chicago Board of Elections, which says it isnt the proper defendant. Instead, the board, which prints ballots, maintains it should be the city of Chicago, which put the question on the ballot with a City Council vote in November.

Judge Kathleen Burke has rejected Chicagos effort to intervene, which would allow the city to join the lawsuit. The city and Board of Elections have each appealed.

In the meantime, the judges written order says votes on the measure cant be counted even as the question remains on the ballot. Those votes are sequestered until the measure is approved by the courts, even if that happens after the election.

Votes are still being collected, said Max Bever, an elections board spokesman. They wont be tabulated, counted or made public at this moment.

The fate of the measure is high stakes for first-term Mayor Brandon Johnson, who championed the effort.

We firmly believe the referendum is legally sound and the final arbiter should be the voters of the city of Chicago, Johnsons office said in a statement after the judges ruling.

PRECEDENT

Other cities have raised the so-called mansion tax with mixed results.

In 2019, voters in suburban Evanston agreed to an increase from 0.5% to 0.7% on sales greater than $1.5 million and to 0.9% on sales over $5 million. Leaders there reported little impact on housing sales, noting a steady increase in revenues annually, which is being used in part for reparations to Black residents who faced decades of racist housing practices.

Voters in Santa Fe, New Mexico, approved a referendum in November to support affordable housing initiatives.

Los Angeles voters backed a similar measure in 2022. But its also under a legal challenge. Los Angeles measure includes a 4% tax on properties between $5 million and $10 million and a 5.5% tax on those over $10 million. It has generated less than anticipated and some blame it for a drop in luxury property sales.

Backers in Chicago say they studied those referendums to determine the citys proposed rates.

Its an historic opportunity, Bring Chicago Home spokesman Jose Sanchez said.

By SOPHIA TAREEN

Associated Press
BAKU, Azerbaijan, March 2. Italian Duilio warship shot down a drone in the Red Sea, the Italian Ministry of Defense says, Trend reports.

According to the information, the UAV was flying towards the ship.

The drone reportedly had the same characteristics as those that had already carried out attacks. He was seen about six kilometers from the ship.
Hatch watch is underway at bald eagle nest monitored by a popular online camera feed View Photo

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. (AP)  Hatch watch is underway in Southern California mountains. Three bald eagle chicks could emerge this week from eggs laid in a nest monitored by nature lovers via a popular online camera feed.

The mother, Jackie, laid the eggs in late January atop a tree overlooking Big Bear Lake high in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. She diligently sat on the eggs for more than two and a half days straight when a recent winter storm blanketed the nest with snow.

This is the longest time she has ever stayed on the nest incubating her eggs without a break! 61 hours 58 minutes! said the nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley, which installed the nest camera in 2015 and documents the successes and failures each breeding season.

Since the storm, Jackie has shared incubating duties with the watchful father, Shadow. Biologists expect the eaglets could begin to hatch Thursday or Friday. The process of chicks breaking out of their shells is also known as pipping.

Among those monitoring the eggs progress from afar is biologist Kelly Sorenson, executive director of the Ventana Wildlife Society in central California. While his group is not involved with the Big Bear eagles, he sees their breeding as emblematic of the comeback the species has made in the state over the past decades.

American bald eagles teetered on the brink of extinction until the pesticide DDT was banned in the 1970s and other protections were established, leading the species to rebound.

We love keeping track of nesting pairs like this, he said Wednesday. They show that conservation works and that the habitat is intact.

Jackie has been using the nest, built by other eagles, since 2017. Last year, she laid eggs in January and spent weeks incubating them. The eagle pair then began leaving them unattended. In March, ravens breached the eggs, revealing no obvious development, according to Friends of Big Bear Valley.
By Sara Talpos, a contributing editor at Undark and a freelance writer whose recent work has been published in Science, Mosaic, and the Kenyon Reviews special issue on science writing. Originally published at Undark.

For several years, biologist Nathan Donley has worried about the future of a pesticide database run by the U.S. Geological Survey, a federal agency devoted to environmental science. The Pesticide National Synthesis Project provides information about the use of agricultural chemicals in each U.S. county, with year-by-year records dating back to 1992. At its most comprehensive, the project tracked hundreds of pesticides.

In 2019, the USGS reduced the number of tracked pesticides to just 72. Then, last March, a USGS employee casually mentioned to Donley that the agency intended to stop updating its database every year, and instead update it every five years.

Donley was floored. Totally blew my mind, he recalled in a recent email. The database, Donley knew, had developed a loyal following among academic researchers, environmental nonprofits, educators, and even other federal agencies. It had also been used or cited in more than 500 peer-reviewed papers. The proposed changes, Donley worried, would hamper efforts to understand and communicate how agricultural chemicals influence human health and the environment.

After hearing the USGS employees remark, Donley, a senior scientist at the nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity, helped organize two open letters asking the USGS to reverse the changes. Both were published last May. One letter was signed by more than 250 scientists, and the other was signed by more than 100 environmental, farmworker, and public health organizations. Since then, scientists have continued to lobby the USGS.

These efforts drew little public attention, and they failed to sway the federal agency  or at least it appeared that way until recently. On Feb. 27, the USGS announced on its website that, by 2025, the agency plans to continue to update the database annually and will expand it to include about 400 pesticides. The USGS did not immediately respond to a question from Undark about what prompted the shift.

In an era of limited budgets and competing priorities, its impossible to say whether these announcements represent a permanent restoration of the federal database, but the scientists who spoke with Undark praised the USGS for moving in that direction. This is a BIG change from what we last heard from USGS, wrote Maggie Douglas, an ecologist at Dickinson College in Pennsylvania, in an email.

My hats off to USGS for hearing the concerns of U.S. scientists and the broader public, said Donley. He added, theyve done the public a huge service by saving this resource.

***

In a given year, American farmers put hundreds of millions of pounds of pesticides on crops. The Pesticide National Synthesis Project allows researchers to see which chemicals are being used where, and on what crops, all across the United States.

Much of the information comes from a market research company called Kynetec, which surveys farmers about their pesticide use. Unlike other purchasers of that information, the USGS then makes the data available to the public, through an interface that offers a level of detail and ease of use that many researchers say is simply unmatched by any other source.

The database is especially good at doing two things, said Alan Kolok, a professor of ecotoxicology at the University of Idaho. First, it can illustrate how use of a particular pesticide has changed over the past few decades. Kolok cited atrazine as an example: A researcher can go to the databases alphabetized menu and select the popular herbicide. This produces a color-coded map showing where and how much atrazine was used in 2019. From there, the researcher can click to go back in time and see maps from past years.

The maps also allow researchers to conveniently make comparisons across regions, said Kolok. In a 2022 paper, he and his colleagues used the database to obtain details about pesticide use in 11 western states. Their study found a correlation between state- and county-level cancer rates and the use of fumigants, a class of pesticides that form a gas when applied to soil. The study was possible, said Kolok, because the Pesticide National Synthesis Project covers all states. Without this resource, researchers would need to go county by county or state by state looking for relevant information, slowing down their research.

Joseph G. Grzywacz, an associate dean for research at San Jose State University who studies pesticide exposure in farmworkers, said that he plans to use the database to study the relationship between pesticides and childrens health in a rural part of Florida. The federal government, he said, tends to put its environmental monitoring equipment in densely populated areas, which means that exposure to toxic substances may be undercounted in those who live in less populous parts of the country. The database will help determine which pesticides to look for in the blood and urine samples of the children in the study. Any cuts, he said, would require his group to work with information that is less precise.

The database has been crucial for many other studies, including recent research on pesticide resistance and on the use of neonicotinoid insecticides, which are toxic to pollinators and aquatic invertebrates.

Researchers also use the Pesticide National Synthesis Project when they give presentations. Lynn Sosnoskie, a weed scientist at Cornell University, uses screen-captures when she talks to growers: explaining to growers exactly how much glyphosate were using, where were using it, how much paraquat were using, where were using it. These details help convey how repeated use of a chemical contributes to pesticide resistance, she said.

Last spring, some researchers mobilized, hoping to persuade the USGS to avert the cuts. After the open letters were published, Donley, Douglas, Grzywacz, and another colleague put together an informal survey to better understand how people outside of USGS use the database. In just two weeks, said Douglas, the survey generated more than 100 responses from people working in agriculture, conservation, public health, farmworker safety, and water quality.

The USGS has put a lot of effort into communicating their data in a way that makes it possible for a range of audiences to engage with it, Douglas said during an interview in early February, when it still appeared USGS was going to scale back the database. Thats something that I think is really valuable and that we would lose if the cuts remain in place.

***

Douglas, Kolok, Grzywacz, and Donley are part of a larger group that met twice with USGS staff over Zoom, hoping to persuade the agency to maintain the project as it existed prior to the 2019 changes. The meetings were cordial, the scientists said, but at the time, they were told that maintaining such a comprehensive database was beyond the scope of the USGS mission. (The agency did not respond to Undarks questions about these meetings.)

Its a real shame, said Donley in a January interview, because its probably one of the biggest bangs for its buck they have going on in the entire agency.

According to the USGS, the agency currently pays just under $100,000 per year for the raw data. The USDA and EPA also have contracts with the market-research company, said Douglas, but they use the data internally rather than making it public.

Its not the first time that public access to federal data has been threatened, said Christopher Sellers, an environmental historian who sits on the advisory committee of the nonprofit Environmental Data and Governance Initiative. The group was founded in late 2016, with the goal of preserving public access to environmental data following the election of President Donald Trump. On paper, the Biden administration is more supportive of data transparency, said Sellers, but in practice, federal agencies tend not to prioritize it.

He mentioned the EPAs 2022 proposal to sunset its online archives. The agency delayed its decision after pressure from the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative and other groups. Today, the archive is no longer being updated. The EPA states that once every four years, the agency will provide a snapshot of its website. Were unsure about the current status of the archive itself, said Sellers. He added, the snapshots provided are no substitute for a searchable and comprehensive archive of EPAs past documents, digital and otherwise.

As the USGS moves to restore its database, Douglas hopes the agency will consider paying an additional fee for information on the use of seeds treated with neonicotinoids, which are widely used in U.S. agriculture. Seed treatments used to be included in the Kynetec dataset, she said, but their data are now sold separately. If cost is a barrier, she added, Congress should allocate additional funding. USGS is taking an important step, she wrote in an email to Undark, but no pesticide dataset in 2024 is complete without seed treatments, which include the most widely used insecticides in the country.

Undark asked the USGS if, going forward, the agency would consider adding data about seed treatments. Spokesperson Mikaela Craig replied: we contacted Kynetec about the data in the slide deck you linked to. Kynetec informed us that the data are not the same type of seed treatment data that we received prior to the removal of seed treatment data from the Pesticide National Synthesis Project database.

USGS did not respond to follow-up questions, including whether it might collaborate with other federal agencies, such as the EPA, which has recently identified and purchased seed-treatment data that meet the EPAs standards.

For his part, Kolok said the recent news from USGS is fantastic. He suspects decision-makers simply werent aware of the number and variety of people using the database. In a recent interview, he started listing them off: The weed scientists, the bee activists, the researchers who look at links between pesticide use and human health.

He added: I dont think USGS had any inclination that that type of work was going on.
Aamar the Muslim: GLOBALISTS have driven a wedge between Christians and Muslims, encouraging them to hate each other

According to Muslim believer Aamar, the globalists have driven a wedge between Christians and Muslims  forcing them to hate each other.

The Health Ranger Mike Adams opened his live interview with Aamar, who recently visited the Brighteon.com studios, by saying that people are living in a world where the powers that be want animosity between Muslims and Christians. This, he added, is entirely artificial and appears to be unnatural. Adams pointed out that people are programmed by the globalists, through the nefarious governments they control, to hate each other.

Aamar agreed with the Health Ranger's sentiments, explaining: "That's right; they have wedged a stake between us and everyone. Not just Muslims and Christians  but people who want to create, do well, and live autonomously, or live in communities in peace. They have wedged that stake in so that we don't talk."

According to the Muslim believer, such wedges are present even in the Muslim world. Adams concurred, saying that these same wedges can be found in the Christian world as well. Ultimately, this idea of both religions hating each other that globalists are pushing is complete nonsense, the Health Ranger said.

Aamar also told Adams that the Zionists who want to rule the world are also trying to get ahead of the end of times. These Zionists know more about Christianity and Islam, alongside the end times predictions from both religions. "These people who are this One World agenda, they know exactly what your tradition  [and] our tradition is, what we believe and what is coming [at] the end of time," said Aamar.

We are building the infrastructure of human freedom and empowering people to be informed, healthy and aware. Learn about our free, downloadable AI tools on nutrition, health and preparedness at this article link. Every purchase at HealthRangerStore.com helps fund our efforts to build and share more tools for empowering humanity with knowledge and abundance.

In response, Adams remarked that these people are hijacking the religious narratives to pit people against each other  lining up with the endgame of total control.

Globalists pushing Christians to hate Muslims since 9/11

The Brighteon.com and Natural News founder lamented that many people who claim to be Christians and follow Jesus' teachings have called for the death of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and Arabs in general following the Oct. 7 terror attack in Israel by Hamas. The reaction of some Christian channels that pushed for death and violence took him aback, given that such ideas contrasted with the teachings of both Jesus Christ and the Prophet Muhammad. (Related: Christian Zionism harbors a contradiction  genocide can't be reconciled with the teachings of Jesus Christ.)

He then turned to Aamar, asking if these things were shocking to him. The Muslim believer replied in the negative, explaining that he has been used to seeing it. Such hatred has been pushed for more than two decades now  most especially after the Sept. 11 terror attacks, he added.

Adams replied that 22 years later, Muslims are again being pitted against other groups. People are being told that it is time to hate Muslims again in America. Aamar agreed, saying that other people only hate Muslims because they were taught to do so.

Moreover, Aamar said leaders in the Muslim world have been bought and paid for to follow the Zionist agenda. Adams added that these people who bribed Muslim leaders are the same puppet masters running the whole world and influencing major nations.

Ultimately, the Health Ranger said Muslims and Christians don't have to fight. Hatred is not the right answer, and people need to learn to live together and find common ground. He also reiterated the need for both to work together to set humanity free, for a new golden age to appear.

Follow Globalism.news for more stories about the globalists and their agenda of dividing people.

Watch the full conversation between Aamar the Muslim and the Health Ranger Mike Adams below.

This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

WWIII IS INEVITABLE: Every time economies falter, the globalists plunge the world into catastrophic war.

World Economic Forums Young Global Leaders helping advance its quest for global governance.

Palestinian Christians in Gaza fear Israels ongoing bombing campaigns will lead to their EXTINCTION.

Muslims and Christians WILL UNITE to fight the Antichrist, Aamar the Muslim predicts in live interview with Mike Adams.

Sources include:

Brighteon.com

Britannica.com
At least one fourth of Gazans are facing famine as food scarcity is weaponized against the innocent

As Israel allegedly seeks retribution in Gaza, the innocent ones are forced to suffer through multiple stages of war, grief, hunger and disease. According to a new report from the United Nations , (UN) at least one fourth of Gazans are one step away from famine and full-blown starvation. Food scarcity is being weaponized against the innocent, and the international community cannot keep up with the humanitarian needs in Gaza because they are being blockaded and attacked.

Most Gazans need food aid now, as their agricultural operations are annihilated

According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), most of the population in Gaza is in desperate need of food aid. The Israeli military has barred the delivery of essential goods into Gaza. Israels restrictions have shuttered agriculture and food production across Gaza.

The Director of the OCHA coordination division, Ramesh Rajasingham, addressed the UN Security Council about the bleak situation in Gaza. At least 576,000 people in Gaza  one-quarter of the population  are one step away from famine; with 1 in 6 children under 2 years of age in northern Gaza suffering from acute malnutrition and wasting, Rajasingham warned.

Practically the entire population of Gaza is left to rely on woefully inadequate humanitarian food assistance to survive. Unfortunately, as grim as the picture we see today, there is every possibility for further deterioration, Rajasingham added.

According to the analysis, if the conditions in Gaza continue until May 2024, the country will be headed toward a total collapse, with agricultural systems decimated and food supplies vanquished. Evacuation orders have left farmland vacant. The displacement of people and the burning of resources has shuttered processing plants and factories. Israels military campaign has rendered much of Gazas productive assets inaccessible. In fact, the five mills in Gaza have been shuttered since November. Electricity, fuel and water shortages have shut down food production at almost all the major plants.

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.

Gazan children now suffering from malnutrition and disease

The shortages have driven infants and children into a state of serious malnutrition that leads to disease. A journalist named Hossam Shabat reported the death of multiple infants in intensive care units because of malnutrition. The Israeli military blockade on Northern Gaza is having harsh repercussions that affect the lives of tens of thousands of innocent children. How many innocent people must suffer for Israels reprisal? Lack of food reverberates many more issues, including disease.

Hunger and the risk of famine are exacerbated by factors that go beyond just the availability of food, OCHA officials warned. Inadequate water, sanitation, and health services create a cycle of vulnerability, where malnourished people  become more susceptible to disease that further depletes the bodys nutritional reserves.

Approximately 1.7 million Gazans live in an area that is aided by the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees. Thats about three fourths of Gazas population, and they are all at risk of starvation because the international community cannot keep up with food donations and providing shelters for those who have lost everything.

Jordans military has stepped in and has begun airdropping much needed supplies and food. The World Food Program has stepped in, too, warning that Gaza has the worst level of child malnutrition anywhere in the world. The World Food Program sought to resume food deliveries in Gaza on February 18, after being blockaded for three weeks. Their plan was to send ten trucks of food into Gaza every day to help stave the hunger, but their food deliveries were shut down again, with gunfire and looting halting their humanitarian effort.

According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, there have been more than 70,000 injuries since the war began, and nearly 30,000 people have lost their lives. "We fear widespread famine in Gaza is almost inevitable, the Ministry stated in an urgent message to the UN Council.

Sources include:

TheCradle.co

UNOCHA.org

Twitter.com
Mayor Eric Adams rebukes NYCs sanctuary city status because it prevents him from deporting criminal illegal aliens

New York City Mayor Eric Adams wants to amend the Big Apple's sanctuary city status laws because it prevents him as a city government official from deporting illegal immigrants and asylum seekers who have committed violent crimes.

During a town hall event on Monday, Adams said there should be more options for lawmakers when it came to deporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes. The existing sanctuary system, which is based on local laws in numerous sanctuary cities, counties and states including New York City, prevents local officers from working with federal immigration officials for deportation processes.

In the system, the city protects illegal aliens from federal authorities who may seek to deport them. Adams believes that for most migrants who want to work in the cities, the process works and is beneficial. But the story becomes different for criminals and gangs that illegally crossed the borders and were bused to sanctuary cities. "The overwhelming number of migrants that are here, they want to work; I still don't understand why the federal government's not allowing them to work," Adams said. "They need to have the right to work like all of us that have come to this country could do so." Current law prevents asylum seekers from automatically gaining working papers. Illegal immigrants who have applied for asylum must wait before they are permitted to find work legally.

"But those small numbers that are committing crimes," he added, "we need to modify the sanctuary city law that if you commit a felony, a violent act, we should be able to turn you over to [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] ICE and have you deported. It is a right to live in this city, and you should not commit crimes in our city."

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.

Adams' reaction came on the heels of a series of high-profile violent crimes committed by illegal immigrants in the city. Several Venezuelan gang members have been charged with brutally beating New York Police Department (NYPD) officers in Times Square last month. A tourist was also shot this month in a clothing store robbery in the area. There have been concerns among law enforcement that the Venezuelan gangs may team up with the violent MS-13 gang. Just this week, cops responded to a stabbing at a Manhattan shelter.

"The mere fact that we cannot share with [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] ICE that this person has committed three robberies and this person is part of an organized gang crew ... The mere fact we can't say that and communicate that is a problem for me," Adams said.

New York City became a sanctuary city in the 1980s under Democrat Mayor Ed Koch and has since taken in countless illegal immigrants. In 2020, former President Donald Trump's last year in office, there were fewer than 500,000 apprehensions of illegal immigrants at the U.S.-Mexico border. Meanwhile, since President Joe Biden assumed office, the number has skyrocketed to over two million.

Since September, Adams has been warning that the influx of migrants will "destroy" the city and has led to an "unprecedented state of emergency." We are past our breaking point.  For each family seeking asylum through the city's care, we spend an average of $383 per night to provide shelter, food, medical care, and social services. With more than 57,300 individuals currently in our care, on an average night, it amounts to $9.8 million a day, almost $300 million a month, and nearly $3.6 billion a year," he lamented back then. (Related: BREAKING POINT reached: NYC, other sanctuary cities "tired" of illegal immigrants influx, struggle with local resources.)

NYC council speaker opposes Adams' call for city's sanctuary laws amendment

NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams appears to be at odds with Mayor Adams' harsh rebuke of the city sanctuary laws. For the speaker, it is imperative to protect migrants who historically have felt threatened because of their status. "We are not considering laws, changes to laws," she said. "These laws have been in effect for decades." She also believes that collaborating with ICE isn't the answer.

"People are penned up in HERCS, and other places, in respite centers, whatever we want to call them," she said. "These places with different policies, with nothing to do... So for me, it's going to be the work status."

Meanwhile, City Councilman Joe Borelli said that they are going to introduce a bill, a total repeal of the 2011, 2014 and 2017 sanctuary city laws. "I don't anticipate much support from the other side, unfortunately. They should come back with their new version of the city's sanctuary city in noncompliance with ICE rules that allows the mayor to properly get people out of here who are committing violent and repeated crimes," he stated.

Moreover, Enforcement and Removal Operations New York City Field Office Director Kenneth Genalo released a statement on behalf of ICE, saying: "ERO New York City continues to uphold its mission to protect the citizens and residents of New York by removing those who pose a public safety threat to our community. We welcome the opportunity to work with Mayor Adams and New York City officials and look forward to forging a mutually beneficial path that benefits all New Yorkers."

InvasionUSA.news has more stories on Biden's immigration policies.

Sources for this article include:

ThePostMillennial.com

CBSNews.com

ABC7NY.com
Illegal immigrant, who was arrested and released twice, murders GA nursing student

A Venezuelan man attacked a popular nursing student named Laken Riley while jogging on the University of Georgia campus and later dragged the woman into the bushes and murdered her. The suspect is an undocumented migrant who has been arrested and released twice, a clear demonstration of gross negligence in allowing him to enter the country much less reside freely in Georgia.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection records show that Jose Antonio Ibarra was first arrested near the U.S.-Mexico border on September 8, 2022, because he entered the country illegally. However, he was released, left Texas and took refuge in the sanctuary city of New York. There, he was even able to find gainful employment as an Uber driver.

He was reportedly arrested again in the Big Apple. According to a statement made by Immigration and Customs Enforcement: "New York City police also arrested Ibarra last September and charged him "with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation." It is unclear as to why University of Georgia Chief of Police Jeff Clark stated that Ibarra did not have an "extensive" criminal history at the time of his arrest following Riley's murder.

The New York Police Department released him before the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could issue a detainer to process him for deportation. He left NYC and moved to Athens, Georgia.

Because of the controversy, Big Apple officials have challenged ICE's account stating that it did not have any record of Ibarra's previous arrest in NYC. Unlike following his arrest in NYC, the Atlanta Field Office of ICE Enforcement And Removal Operations stated that they had successfully issued a detainer for Ibarra following his arrest in Georgia.

According to speculation, Ibarra's illegal immigration has been assisted by the Hebrew Immigration Aid Society (HIAS), a Jewish-American NGO that facilitates immigrants from South America with their arduous journey to North America. HIAS dedicates its resources to assisting migrants in their dangerous journey across the 60-mile uninhabited tropical wilderness. According to HIAS, nearly 250,000 migrants crossed the Darien Gap in 2022 alone. That number is expected to have risen above 500,000 in 2023 due to the assistance of HIAS. Ibarra's former employer Uber is one of many corporate sponsors of HIAS, highlighting the fascist-like synthesis of corporations and the state fueling the immigration crisis.

Thanks to your generous support, we are building the infrastructure of human freedom and actively donating our technology to independent publishers, authors and home schooling organizations. Learn about our game-changing non-commercial AI project here. Support our ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance human knowledge by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com.

911 dispatcher received Riley's call for help until Ibarra violently interfered

Law enforcement did not release the audio recording. Still, the cops have confirmed that the 22-year-old murder victim was able to place a call to 911 as she was struggling and fighting for her life and was able to connect to an operator until Ibarra violently interfered, cut the call and battered her to death.

The Athens-Clarke County police issued more documents from their investigation, including the family background of the alleged killer. Ibarra has been charged in Riley's killing with felony murder, false imprisonment, kidnapping and concealing the death of another. The police had previously said they received a non-emergency call from a friend of the 22-year-old Augusta University student reporting her missing when she failed to return from her morning run on Thursday.

Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz faced a furious backlash after it was revealed that police found multiple undocumented immigrants living in Ibarra's apartment in the city. Girtz denied that his city is a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants. An angry crowd gathered on February 28 to condemn the mayor. One was shouting "You're a liar. You're the one who is guilty and got blood on your hands for this murder, sir!" Others called for him to resign. Other protesters also held signs that read: "Blood on your hands" and "Make Athens safe again."

The mayor insisted that Athens is not officially a sanctuary city and that the state of Georgia doesn't take in illegals. "There's been no legislation from this government that's created sanctuary city status," he explained. "We are deeply sorry for this tragedy ... Responsibility for this crime rests solely upon the perpetrator."

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump lambasted Democrat border security and law enforcement policies for the said murder. He vowed that when elected, he would "immediately seal the border" and begin the "largest deportation operation of illegal criminals in American history." (Related: Illegal immigrant charged with VEHICULAR HOMICIDE in Colorado had already been deported FOUR TIMES.)

Check out InvasionUSA.news for more stories on how the present U.S. regime is allowing illegal immigrants with questionable backgrounds into the country.

Sources for this article include:

ZeroHedge.com

DailyMail.co.uk

FoxNews.com
The Israeli paper the Jerusalem Post ran a column on Tuesday calling for "antisemitism" to be "criminalized" worldwide in order to stop criticism of Israel amid their genocidal ethnic cleansing campaign in Gaza.

(Article by Chris Menahan republished from InformationLiberation.com)

From The Jerusalem Post:

This should neither be taken lightly nor minimalized. It needs to be treated as a major and legitimate cause of concern [...]

Since the October 7 brutal Hamas terrorist incursion into Israel and the reprehensible massacre of Israeli and foreign civilians and the taking of hostages, the world is witnessing an unprecedented and utterly dangerous resurgence of pure antisemitism.

Tragically, from time immemorial, genocidal antisemitism has figured as a major recurring phenomenon. It has caused the brutal mass murder of millions of Jews, and has generated death and suffering through massacres, pogroms, inquisitions, lynching, torture, enslavement, and property confiscation, to mention but a few of its evils.

Since the October 7 brutal and reprehensible massacre of Israeli and foreign civilians and the taking of hostages, the world is witnessing an unprecedented resurgence of pure antisemitism.

Not surprisingly, the column makes no mention of Israel slaughtering women and children in Gaza by the thousands in the name of "wiping out Amalek."

(The Jerusalem Post in December claimed Palestinians were faking their own children's deaths with crisis actors.)

However, the international community as a whole has never considered criminalizing antisemitism in a manner similar to the criminalization of other odious phenomena such as genocide, racial discrimination, piracy, hostage-taking, crimes against humanity, war crimes, and terrorism.

Considering the plethora of material dealing with antisemitism, and the horrific tragedies that it has wrought for thousands of years, the present reawakening of antisemitism on such a large and dangerous scale requires international action. Indeed, one might have expected that, over the years, some effort would have been made by the international community to criminalize and declare antisemitism to be an international crime with a view to ensuring that perpetrators, inciters, and all those involved in it would be dealt with as international criminals, and would not enjoy impunity.

[...] With a view to correcting this international historic injustice, the present author, through the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, attempted in 2015 to circulate within the international community and in Jewish communities a draft "International Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Anti-Semitism" for adoption by the United Nations.

This draft convention summarizes the history of antisemitism and the various attempts to deal with it in international instruments, resolutions, and statements.

It presents an all-embracing definition of an international crime of antisemitism and its component elements, based on the various definitions that have been adopted over the years by Jewish as well as international groups and institutions.

The premise of this convention is that any manifestation of antisemitism that involves, results in, or is intended to result in violence should be universally criminalized, and its perpetrators tried and punished.

States would be required to criminalize antisemitism in their own domestic legislation and to cooperate and exchange information on perpetrators and on actions taken to prosecute or extradite them.

The draft calls for the formation of national and international educational programs to combat antisemitism, as well as for the establishment of an International Antisemitism Monitoring Forum for coordinating actions by states and international organizations.

Acceptance of this convention would require mustering the support and sponsorship of states and international organizations that would accompany its processing as an international convention.

Given the large-scale resurgence of international antisemitism today, it is now essential to universally criminalize antisemitism. This must be done despite anticipated negative reactions by Muslim groups and despite the apathetic and misplaced sense of political correctness that is most prevalent in Europe and North America.

[...]

The writer, a leading international lawyer, served as the legal adviser to Israel's Foreign Ministry, and as ambassador to Canada. He presently heads the international law program at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs.
Media heavily reported on Alexei Navalnys death, but completely ignored Gonzalo Liras death  HERES WHY

Two very controversial figures who notoriously criticized the government died under mysterious circumstances in recent weeks, but only one of them received media attention.

Most people who follow the news now know that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is dead, with the media heavily reporting that he likely, in their view, was murdered by the Russian government.

Media report after media report continues to be published speculating as to what became of Navalny, whose family believes that he was murdered because of his beliefs and influence.

Then there is journalist Gonzalo Lira, who also died, though one month earlier in January, under similarly suspicious circumstances. If you have not heard of Gonzalo Lira, there is a reason for that: his life came to an end while rotting away in a Ukrainian prison.

Because the Western media hates Russia, it cannot publish enough stories about Navalny in an effort to sway public opinion against Russia and its leader, Vladimir Putin. And because the Western media loves Ukraine, it has barely published a peep of anything about Lira's death.

(Related: Did you catch our earlier report speculating that Alexei Navalny may have been "murdered via vaccine" while in prison?)

Nobody trusts Western media anymore anyway

MintPress recently conducted a quantitative analysis of the media's coverage of these two controversial figures: Navalny who died mysteriously in an Arctic penal colony after being arrested by Russia, and Lira who was "abandoned by the pro-Kiev government in Washington, D.C.," to quote The Burning Platform.

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.

Because Lira's death makes the D.C. establishment look really bad, there has been only one report on him by Fox News. The New York Times, The Washington Post, ABC News and CNN have not said a single word about Lira in any of their respective reporting.

Then we have Navalny, whose death, no matter what really happened, is easily spun to make Russia look like the bad guy that the Western media for years has been trying to get Americans to believe as well. Here are the number of Navalny stories that have been published by these same media outlets over the past several weeks:

The New York Times: 151 stories about Navalny

The Washington Post: 75 stories about Navalny

ABC News: 177 stories about Navalny

Fox News: 215 stories about Navalny

CNN: 113 stories about Navalny.

All in all, these five prominent Western media outlets have covered Navalny's death a total of 731 times, while only one of them, Fox News, has ever reported on Lira's death  talk about biased reporting.

Another important little tidbit worth mentioning is the fact that Navalny is Russian, while Lira is American. One would think that these American media outlets would be willing to report on one of our own, even if doing so makes the establishment look bad, but nope.

"They don't give a **** about Americans," wrote one incensed commenter about the lack of Lira coverage in Western media.

"They only care about hyphen-Americans," responded another, referring to the anti-white bias of Western media in only reporting and caring about non-white Americans.

"Or only 'undocumented' Americans," joked another, referring to the illegal aliens who are not American at all, but whom the Western media cares about more than American citizens.

"Gonzalo was a hero committed to telling the truth about conditions and politics in the Ukraine," suggested another about why the Western media could not care less about reporting on Lira's death. "He was murdered because of it."

"One of these things is not like the other and thus 'deserved' to die," wrote another about the explicit bias of how Western media outlets mishandle these two deaths in their comparative reporting  or rather non-reporting, in the case of Lira.

The latest news about media bias and corruption can be found at Propaganda.news.

Sources for this article include:

TheBurningPlatform.com

NaturalNews.com
Mother exposes Manitoba school for giving students condoms, sex tools and gay porn book

A recent social media post by a concerned parent exposed how the Virden Collegiate Institute in Manitoba, Canada, may be grooming children

Janine Stephanie Penner, mother of a grade 10 student, took to Facebook on Feb. 19 to say that her son received a condom demonstration tool  a wooden phallus  as well as condoms and a graphic flipbook titled "Who's Got The Condom?" as part of the school's sex education curriculum.

"My grade 10 son was given a gay porn graphic flip book at school as a method of learning how to use condoms and in addition, received 15 condoms and a wooden pecker for practice," she posted. (Related: Kooth mental health portal is GROOMING underage children into transgender LGBT lifestyles.)

The flip book was created in collaboration with a leading HIV charity, a youth group and an organization for supporting Canadian First Nations two-spirited people. It shows two men, a young teenager and an older, larger man, engaged in sexual activity.

CATIE, the HIV charity that helped make the book, described it as "graphically modeling condom use between two men." However, Doug Mainwaring, writing for Life Site News, argues that the drawings do not depict two "men," but rather depict one man and a teenage boy, which strongly implies male homosexual pederasty  or sexual behavior between an adult man and an underage boy.

Graphic book not about sex education but pornography

Based on the uploaded photos on Facebook, the older man is wearing a condom, while the younger one is engaging in sexual activity with him. Even though the book is supposed to be about condoms, pages 2 to 51 have no words or instructions. Instead, they show a series of drawings showing sexual activities between the two men. In the end, the book has an animated sequence of the two men engaging in intercourse when the pages are flipped quickly.

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Moreover, Penner claimed that instead of receiving a flip book with a bit over 50 pages, her son got a longer version with about "120 pages of these explicit images." Penner also claimed that her older son, who attends the same school, only received condoms last year.

"Y'all, they don't even hide this anymore," wrote Penner. "Robbing our children and seducing their minds. We need to push back. This is what needs to be protested."

The post quickly gained attention from parents in the community and exposed other grooming practices in schools.

"How is this not conditioning?" commented one concerned parent. Another parent, whose daughter attends the same school, confirmed the availability of the materials outside the school's office, reportedly brought in by a public health nurse.

"The teacher, the principal and the school trustee would be getting an earful from me," said one concerned parent. "I got my kids out in time, I couldn't handle my kids being stuck in that system. I was fighting with them all the time about age appropriateness and now it's just evil content."

Parents from other regions, including one from Ontario, have also come forward, claiming that their children received similar educational materials.

The latest news about America's transgender obsession can be found at Gender.news.

Watch this video calling out parents to disconnect from Disney because the company is grooming children.

This video is from the Thrivetime Show channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

TARGET's sacrilegious "Christmas" and LGBTQ grooming invites mega boycott.

Grooming? Woke schools brainwash kids using the same tactics deployed by pedophiles.

Political correctness has hindered efforts to tackle Asian grooming gangs, claims British PM.

Tax-funded Ohio group sponsors monthly drag tutorials grooming children to be drag queens.

British PM: Political correctness is preventing efforts to stop grooming gangs in the UK.

Sources include:

LifeSiteNews.com

Reduxx.info

Brighteon.com
Bak. Trend:

Israel will not end military operations in the Gaza Strip until Hamas is destroyed, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Galant said, Trend reports.

"We will not end this war until we destroy Hamas," he said.

Galant also noted that there will be no situation in which the war in Gaza will end without the destruction of Hamas.

A combined attack was carried out on Israel on October 7. From the beginning, a massive rocket attack began from the territory of the Gaza Strip, followed by the penetration of militants by land, water, and air.

Israel declared a state of war after a massive rocket attack from the Gaza Strip. Moreover, Israel Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced a mass gathering of reservists.
Ted Cruz expects Supreme Court to rule in Trumps favor in presidential immunity case

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) has said in an interview that he hopes the Supreme Court of the United States will put an end to the enormous abuse of power that has resulted in former President Donald Trump having to come before the countrys highest court.

The Supreme Court announced that it will issue a ruling on whether or not the former president can be criminally prosecuted for allegations that he attempted to overturn the official results of the 2020 election. (Related: Tucker Carlson: Misuse of judicial system to go after Trump could threaten the future of democracy in America.)

"I have to say, I'm glad the Supreme Court is taking the case," he said on Feb. 28 during an interview with NewsNation. "I have to say what weve seen in the past year  about the targeting from the left, the targeting from Democrat prosecutors of Donald Trump  has been an enormous abuse of power."

"We've never in our history had a president or former president indicted, and in the past year, Donald Trump has been indicted four different times by both [President Joe Biden's] Justice Department and by two Democrat Das [district attorneys]," he added. "And I think this is an abuse of power and persecution of President Trump. And I very much hope that the Supreme Court puts a stop to it."

Federal prosecutors pushing to deny Trump presidential immunity

The senator's comments come after the Supreme Court agreed on Feb. 28 to consider an inquiry into whether or not Trump's presidential immunity applies to Trump in the federal criminal case regarding the four felony counts the Department of Justice has levied against him regarding his role in the events of Jan. 6, 2021, which allege that he was involved in a conspiracy to defraud the United States and stood at the center of a campaign to block the certification of electoral college votes on that day.

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Federal prosecutors argue Trump enjoys no immunity from criminal prosecution. The former presidents lawyers claim he has complete immunity under federal law, pointing to the 1982 Supreme Court case Nixon v. Fitzgerald, which granted sitting and former presidents immunity from civil lawsuits for acts within the outer perimeter of the presidents official responsibilities.

"Without presidential immunity, a president will not be able to properly function or make decisions in the best interest of the United States of America," wrote Trump in a statement welcoming the Supreme Court's decision to make a ruling.

Oral arguments have been scheduled for the week beginning on April 22, although it is not yet clear when the court's final decision will be released after that.

The Supreme Court's decision to take up the cases also forces Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith to pause his investigation into the former president, an order considered by the administration to be a blow following his past efforts to keep the cases time frame on track to be completed before the election in November.

Watch this clip from Fox News discussing the Supreme Court's decision to take on the case regarding Trumps claim of presidential immunity.

This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

The Atlantic: Democrats should not certify Trump's 2024 election win if Supreme Court keeps him on ballot.

Poll shows more young voters are turning away from Joe Biden in favor of Donald Trump.

Democrats expect "dictator" Trump to win in 2024 and are already plotting to TOPPLE him.

Gov. Hochul admits NY courts SINGLED OUT TRUMP for prosecution, desperately warns other real estate developers it wont happen to them to prevent them from LEAVING.

SC Justice Alito: Red states can also take Biden off the ballot if Trumps b allot ban in Colorado is upheld.

Sources include:

TheEpochTimes.com

TheHill.com

Brighteon.com
Ukraine general says rift between civilian and military authorities is growing amid discontent over inability to defeat Russia

Ukraine's quest for military strategies to counter Russia has encountered a significant hurdle : the growing rift between the armed forces and the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky.

General Viktor Nazarov, an adviser to former Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny, suggested in an interview with the New York Times that the gap between the country's military and civilian authorities has widened in the past year.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine is dealing with the dilemma of developing a "road map for victory," according to Nazarov. But this overall strategy can't be developed without essential information from the government regarding manpower, ammunition and military reserves.

Meanwhile, Kyiv is demanding that the armed forces provide strategic plans without specifying the critical resources needed for their execution. (Related: Former high-ranking official says Ukraine has 500K CASUALTIES, urges Zelensky to be transparent about losses.)

This lack of clarity, as highlighted by Nazarov, was a factor that the civilian authorities either failed to comprehend or chose to overlook when seeking military guidance. Nazarov's comments align with the sentiments expressed by his former superior, Valery Zaluzhny, before his dismissal.

Zaluzhny, in an opinion piece, criticized the "imperfections of the regulatory framework" and the partial monopolization of the national defense industry. He attributed these issues to production bottlenecks and an increased reliance on foreign arms shipments, further complicating Ukraine's military efforts.

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Zaluzhny's observations back in November suggested that the conflict with Russia was at a "stalemate," an assessment criticized by Zelensky's government. Zaluzhny argued that both sides possessed technological capabilities enabling the monitoring of adversarial troops and making advances on the battlefield challenging, if not outright impossible.

"The challenge for our armed forces cannot be underestimated," said Zaluzhny in his opinion piece. "We already possess capabilities to eliminate the enemy and ensure the existence of our state. Our goal must be to seize the moment."

Ukraine has only reclaimed 54% of territory occupied by Russia since 2022

Ukraine has only reclaimed 54 percent of the territory occupied by Russia in its initial offensive two years ago. Russian troops, including pro-Russian separatist groups in Donetsk and Luhansk, still maintain control over 18 percent of Ukraine.

Despite Ukraine's 2023 offensive resulting in minor territorial gains, the frontlines have remained stable for almost a year. Both sides have entrenched themselves, making breakthroughs increasingly challenging, and the military casualty count has surged to an estimated half a million dead and wounded.

Continuing hostilities involve Russia using its superior air force to bombard Ukrainian military targets, while Ukraine has increasingly relied on its growing drone fleet to target Russian naval assets and infrastructure.

The conflict has also taken a heavy toll on the civilian population of Ukraine. The fighting, air strikes and artillery bombardments have caused nearly 22,000 civilian casualties.

The internally displaced population of Ukraine has risen to 5.1 million. Another 6.2 million have already fled Ukraine. The crisis has also caused 17.6 million people to be in dire need of humanitarian assistance.

Learn more about the state of the conflict in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com.

Watch this video reporting on Russian President Vladimir Putin's warning of the rising possibility of nuclear war should the North Atlantic Treaty Organization send troops to the frontlines of Ukraine.

This video is from the Vampire Slayer channel on Brighteon.com.

More related stories:

U.S. officials warn of increasingly "catastrophic" shortage of ammunition, air defenses in Ukraine; urge Congress to pass $61B aid bill.

Russia primarily wants Ukraine out of NATO  but the West prefers to spend BILLIONS on a PROXY WAR.

Pentagon probing dozens of cases of FRAUD and CORRUPTION related to aid provided to Ukraine.

U.S., other countries impose sanctions on over 500 Russian economic targets to mark the second anniversary of war in Ukraine.

U.S. weapons bound for Ukraine are ending up in the hands of Mexican cartels.

Sources include:

RT.com

Edition.CNN.com

CFR.org

Brighteon.com
West destroying its own financial system  Putin

The West is discrediting its own currencies and banking system, while established monopolies in the global economy are crumbling, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his annual address to the Federal Assembly on Thursday.

(Article republished from RT.com)

Russia together with so-called friendly nations will focus on creating new financial infrastructure that will be free from politics as it seeks to unite efforts in the face of global challenges, he said.

The West itself is discrediting its own currencies and banking system. Theyre sawing off a branch theyve been sitting on for decades, Putin said.

The president was referring to the growing global trend of using national currencies in trade rather than the US dollar, which has gained significant momentum since Russia was cut off from the Western financial system and had its foreign reserves frozen in 2022.

A number of Russian and foreign officials have repeatedly warned that the US dollar has long been used as a weapon, noting that such actions have prompted countries around the world to reduce their dependence on the greenback.

Putin emphasized that Moscow is working with its allies on the basis of equality and respect of mutual interests. Because of this, he said, more and more countries are seeking to join groups such as BRICS, the Eurasian Economic Union, and Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Together with its partners Russia will continue building safe transport corridors based on new technology and create a new global financial network free from political interference at a time when the world economy, trade and finance are undergoing rapid changes, the president noted.

Read more at: RT.com
A stork bird is making headlines recently after visiting a fisherman in Turkey's Bursa province for the 13th consecutive year. The long friendship between the Turkish man and the stork named "Yaren" shows that even wild animals can remember humans, even from afar. Recent reports this week said that Yaren the stork migrated earlier this year and landed on the fisherman's boat as of Thursday, February 29. Last year, the bird arrived on March 17.

This is not the first time that a bond formed between a human and an animal. In previous decades, related stories have been reported from South America to East Asia. Certain persons between these regions seemed to have developed an unbreakable friendship with their furry or scaly companions in unexpected ways. These stories involve lone animals that travel long distances consistently just to be with their human friends.

Stork Visits Turkish Man

Yaren settles in her nest in the village of Eskikaraagac in northwest Turkey every spring, a time when she comes back from migration. During her visit, the stork spends time with the fisherman named Adem Yilmaz while navigating through the waters of Uluabat Lake while on a boat, local sources reported. Below is a photo showing the unusual duo of Yaren and Adem uploaded on the platform X (formerly Twitter).

Stork and fisherman unite in Bursa for 13 consecutive years https://t.co/s4jgvutrKP pic.twitter.com/zeTSgiwCej  Hurriyet Daily News (@HDNER) March 2, 2024

During the span of their remarkable bond, the relationship between the bird and the Turkish man gained international fame since more than a decade ago, especially after their photo on the lake was taken. Their story also drew inspiration as a performance in a shadow place in Greece. It also became a popular subject of textbooks in Austria and Germany, according to local Greek media. Furthermore, a documentary entitled "Yaren" also came out in 2019.

Also Read: WATCH: Japanese 'White Stork' Successfully Captured, Installed at the International Space Station [VIDEO]

Long Distance Animal Visitors

Some animal visitors, as mentioned earlier, come back to a familiar human face, even at great distances and between long periods. Related cases started as either a chance encounter or a person rescuing an animal, with the latter showing gratitude. Below are some stories worth mentioning as related record-breaking visits of Yaren to Adem.

In Brazil, a Magellanic penguin named "Dindim" visits a man who lives in Proveta Beach in Ilha Grande every year. Scientists believe that the penguin is showing its loyalty to the man, who rescued the animal that was covered in oil and on the brink of death back in 2011. However, there have been no official reports that Dindim the penguin is still visiting its friend in Brazil as of 2024.

In Japan, a man named Hiroyuki Arakawa also made an unusual friendship with a fish for 25 years. Arakawa, a local diver, met Yoriko the fish, an Asian sheepshead wrasse almost three decades ago when Araka was monitoring the construction of an underwater Shinto temple gate in Japan's Tateyama Bay.

Related Article: New Stork Nest Photographed in Ukraine Becomes 'Symbol of Hope' for Country
Challenging weather conditions are expected to bring blizzard and snow outlook as a significant winter storm could impact the Western United States.

Homeowners should stay alert for heavy snowfall in mountainous regions widespread, causing damaging winds. The strong winds can lead to slower commutes and travel disruption, according to a National Weather Service (NWS) report.

Additionally, dry conditions in the central and southern High Plains could cause potential critical fire conditions. Meanwhile, possible brief showers could unload on the weekend in the Grapevine corridor.

People traveling this week should stay alert for the poor weather conditions, including threats of mudslides and rockslides, especially on canyon roads where such incidents are more likely to occur.

NWS Sacramento warned of slow travel conditions on Interstate 80 over the crest due to a developing winter storm. According to the forecast, the weather outlook could deteriorate, with snowfall that is expected to intensify. Travelers should plan, and stay updated on weather forecasts and road outlook.

Blizzard Conditions Threats in the Western US This Week

According to the latest forecast, a dangerous blizzard threat could unfold in the Sierra Nevada, causing slower commutes, travel disruption, and home damage. Limiting outdoor plans is recommended to keep safe from troublesome weather outlooks.

The start of March brought massive blizzard conditions and heavy snow in portions of the Western US. The potential winter storm could bring life-threatening threats to residents, especially for motorists.

In Sacramento, the NWS forecast monitors the development of a second weaker system in the early week. The forecast warns of one to two feet of snow, which could lead to a mountainous snow threat.

The challenging weather conditions could cause damaging winds, road closures, and power outages. Hypothermia and frostbite are also possible due to the weather outlook this weekend.

On Monday, residents can anticipate dry weather conditions in Cedar City, Las Vegas. Phoenix, San Diego, Los Angeles and Albuquerque. Meanwhile, a mix of rain and snow could unfold in Redding and Reno.

Meanwhile, the NWS forecast noted a possible gradual increase of heavy snowfall in portions of the central Sierra Nevada range in California. Homeowners should check for snowfall rates reaching from two to three inches per hour.

Also Read: Wyoming, Colorado Weather Forecast: Snowy Outlook, Stronger Winds Likely to Impact This Week

Blizzard Threats: How Can Americans Stay Safe?

The latest weather forecast warned of a dangerous blizzard outlook in the Western US this week, causing power outages and travel disruptions. Motorists should stay alert for dangerous commutes in the Western US and Sierra Nevada.

Motorists should check for challenging driving commutes in the US. Preparing emergency winter kits is essential to keep safe from a potential winter outlook.

In addition, homeowners should limit outdoor plans or travel, especially when it is unimportant.

Related Article: California's Blizzard Threat: Impactful Storm to Bring Travel Disruption, Road Closures

For more similar, don't forget to follow Nature World News
At the Doha International Maritime Defence Exhibition and Conference (DIMDEX) 2024, the Pakistan Navy presented the PNS Khalid (S-137), a diesel-electric fast-attack submarine that has been part of its fleet since 1999.

Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link

Pakistani Agosta-90B-class submarine PNS Khalid. (Picture source: Navy Recognition)

The submarine, which features an air-independent propulsion (AIP) system, is the lead ship of the Agosta 90Bravo/Khalid-class. This class was developed as part of a contract signed with the French contractor DCNS in September 1994, following detailed negotiations between the governments of Pakistan and France.

The PNS Khalid was constructed in Cherbourg, France, and represents the first of three submarines in its class designed for the Pakistan Navy. Launched on 18 December 1998 after comprehensive sea trials by the French Navy, the submarine is noted for its construction using 80 HLES high elasticity steel, a material also used in Rubis-class nuclear submarines, allowing for greater operational depth.

Commissioned into the Pakistan Navy on 6 September 1999 with General Pervez Musharraf in attendance, the PNS Khalid was named in honor of Khalid ibn al-Walid, a prominent military commander in Islamic history. Its commissioning marked a notable moment for Pakistan, with the event being linked to strategic advancements in naval capabilities.

Over the years, the PNS Khalid has undergone significant upgrades, including an overhaul in 2011 to retrofit its propulsion system with AIP technology, extending its submerged endurance and operational capabilities.

Despite DCNS, its original builder, losing a bid for further upgrades to a Turkish firm in 2018, the submarine received modernizations to its weapon system, combat control system, missile rooms, and periscope by 2020, after works completed in Turkey.

As of January 2023, the PNS Khalid has been upgraded and returned to active service, now equipped with advanced torpedoes, naval mines, and strategic missile systems, including the Exocet SM 39 and BaburIII.
Pita bread is a versatile flour product that can be used to wrap any filling. There are several types of pita bread, one of which is a Mexican taco. It is with this type of pita bread that we propose to cook a delicious dish today.

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Food blogger Olha Riabenko suggested making a burger in pita bread. On Instagram, she told us which products are best suited for this.

Ingredients

tacos

minced meat

processed cheese

burger sauce

salad

tomato

onion

avocado

The way of preparation

1. Add salt, pepper and your favorite spices to minced meat. Mix well and form balls.

2. Put a ball of minced meat on a taco sheet and press well. Put it on a preheated frying pan with the minced meat side down.

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3. When it is ready, turn the taco over and put the cheese on top of the stuffing. Cover with a lid.

4. When the cheese is melted, fold the taco in half.

5. Pour burger sauce over the filling and add the rest of the vegetables.
Champaign, IL (61820)

Today

Some snow flurries during the morning hours will give way to cloudy skies this afternoon. High 39F. Winds NW at 10 to 20 mph..

Tonight

A few passing clouds. Low 26F. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph.
Smoking changes the way genes are expressed, which later contributes to the development of lung cancer and other smoking-related illnesses. But the link between epigenetics (the study of mechanisms that impact gene expression) and smoking is not fully understood, especially in terms of differences across racial and ethnic groups.

We know that smoking affects people differently based on their race and ethnicity, but identifying epigenetic signatures of smoking would help us better predict risk for smoking-related diseases." Brian Huang, PhD, assistant professor, Department of population and public health sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC and first author of the new study

In a National Institutes of Health-funded effort, researchers from the Keck School of Medicine analyzed the link between smoking and DNA methylation, a specific type of epigenetic change that can alter a number of biological processes. The study included data from 2,728 people across six distinct racial and ethnic groups. Researchers found 408 DNA methylation markers (known as "CpG sites") related to smoking, including two that differed depending on race or ethnicity. The results were published in the American Journal of Human Genetics.

Most past research on smoking and epigenetics has looked at just one or two racial groups at a time, making the new effort one of the largest multiethnic studies yet. In addition, the researchers quantified smoking by calculating participants' total nicotine equivalents (TNEs), a biological measure of nicotine uptake that measures levels of nicotine and several other metabolites of cigarette smoke with a urine sample. That enabled a more accurate calculation of smoking dose compared to much of the existing research, which relies on self-reported measures.

"This study gives us some additional information about the mechanism by which smoking can affect health, and how that could differ across various populations," Huang said. "Ultimately, that can lead to better prediction, early detection and treatment for smoking-related conditions."

Insights from the epigenome

The research team conducted their primary analysis using data from the Multiethnic Cohort Study, a collaboration between USC and the University of Hawaii that includes African Americans, European Americans, Japanese Americans, Latinos and Native Hawaiians. Using biological samples from 1,994 participants, the researchers determined each person's smoking dose (by measuring TNEs), as well as the levels of DNA methylation at CpG sites across the genome (through an epigenome-wide association study, or EWAS).

Across the epigenome, smoking was linked to DNA methylation at 408 sites. That total includes 45 new sites that were not identified in previous studies that relied on self-reports of smoking behavior.

"This gives us an indication that TNEs can provide more information beyond what we already know from self-reported measures of smoking," Huang said.

Of the 408 sites identified, two carried a significant risk difference depending on race or ethnicity. One site on the gene CYTH1 only showed changes in African American people who smoked; another site on MYO1G was more strongly linked with epigenetic changes in Latinos who smoked, compared to other racial and ethnic groups. Those genes perform functions that relate to cancer progression and other disease processes.

The new insights could improve scientists' understanding of why some populations face a higher lung cancer risk than others, Huang said. African Americans who smoke face a higher risk of lung cancer than non-Hispanic whites who smoke, while people of Hispanic origin may face a lower risk.

To further confirm their findings, Huang and his team collected TNE and DNA methylation data from two other groups of participants: 340 people in the Singapore Chinese Health Study and 394 people in the Southern Community Cohort Study. The researchers identified many of the same CpG sites found in the Multiethnic Cohort Study, including the sites most strongly associated with TNEs. That provides evidence that the strongest epigenetic markers of smoking are consistent across multiple racial and ethnic groups, Huang said.

Better prediction of disease risk

In their next study, the researchers will conduct an EWAS of DNA methylation and lung cancer risk: How do epigenetic changes increase a person's risk for lung cancer?

"By conducting these joint studies, we can understand the mechanism by which DNA methylation acts as a mediator between smoking and lung cancer, which can in turn improve our ability to predict lung cancer risk," Huang said.

He and his team also have research underway to study epigenetic changes associated with additional biomarkers of smoking, including biological levels of cadmium, a heavy metal found in cigarette smoke.

About this research

In addition to Huang, the study's other authors are Yesha Patel, Christopher Haiman, Kimberly Siegmund and Daniel Stram from the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC; Alexandra Binder, Brandon Quon, Annette Lum-Jones, Maarit Tiirikainen, Lenora Loo, Lynne Wilkens, Loic Le Marchand and Sungshim L. Park from the University of Hawaii Cancer Center; Sharon Murphy and Stephen Hecht from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota; Alika Maunakea from the John. A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii; Woon-Puay Koh from the National University of Singapore; Woon-Puay Koh, William Blot and Melinda Aldrich from the Vanderbilt University Medical Center; and Jian-Min Yuan from the University of Pittsburgh.

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health/National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI) [P01CA138338]. NIH also supported the Multiethnic Cohort Study [U01CA164973], the Singapore Chinese Health Study [R01CA129534, R01CA144034, UM1CA182876] and the Southern Community Cohort Study [U01CA202979, R01CA092447].
Millionaire cookies are a world-famous British dessert that can be easily prepared in your kitchen.

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The food blogger recepti_dariko told us how to do it correctly to make the cookies really tasty. She shared a detailed recipe on Instagram.

Ingredients for the base

Flour - 1 tbsp

Butter - 120 gr

Brown sugar - 4 tbsp

Ingredients for the toffee cream

Condensed milk - 380 gr

Butter - 50 gr

Brown sugar - 4 tbsp

Ingredients for the coating

Milk chocolate - 150 gr

Butter - 20 gr

Roasted nuts (any kind to taste) - 50 g

Method of preparation

1.Sift the flour into a bowl, add the butter, cut into pieces, add sugar, grind into crumbs.

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2. Cover a baking sheet or baking dish with parchment, add the crumbs, and tamp with a glass.

3. Bake in a preheated 180 degree oven for 15-20 minutes. Cool the cake in the mold.

4.Pour the condensed milk into a Teflon saucepan or frying pan, add butter and sugar. Bring to a boil over low heat, stirring constantly, and cook for 10 minutes after boiling until the mass darkens slightly, thickens, and begins to separate from the walls.

5. Pour the toffee layer onto the shortbread base.

6. Melt the chocolate in a water bath, add the butter, mix and pour over the layer.

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7. Put the nuts on the chocolate and press lightly. Cool completely.
In a collaborative effort to improve the food industry, Dr. Mustafa Akbulut, professor of chemical engineering, and Dr. Luis Cisneros-Zevallos, professor of horticultural science, have developed a two-step coating solution for galvanized steel that is more hygienic and reduces the risk of corrosion.

Galvanized steel containers and surfaces are used for harvested produce because of their durability, strength and lower cost compared to stainless steel. However, bacteria residing in storage containers can cause corrosion.

The new coating will reduce corrosion by at least 70 percent, Akbulut said.

This material is more durable and doesn't experience corrosion. The surface itself can repel the bacteria so it doesn't get germs stuck on it. Normal steel tends to collect pathogens and microorganisms, but the coated steel is overcoming that issue. These are the main benefits of this technology." Dr. Mustafa Akbulut, professor of chemical engineering

The coating method for galvanized steel exhibits superhydrophobicity and antifouling capabilities, effectively inhibiting the attachment of fungi, bacteria and mud. This research was published in the Journal of Food Engineering.

"This will have an impact because the people that consume fruits and vegetables trust that they're buying something safe, and it will not affect their health," Cisneros-Zevallos said. "Right now, the industry does their best to reduce those risks, but you will hear about outbreaks of these contaminations and people getting sick. There are sometimes reported deaths because of these events."

During the coating process, the material properties, structural properties and mechanical strength of steel do not change. Only the very top layer of the steel is coated, since that is where food comes in contact with the surface, Akbulut said.

Research shows that this coating decreases bacterial strains over seven days and reduces adherence to Aspergillus, a foodborne fungi.

This coating technology can potentially be used on grain storage silos, along with other food-related storage units and containers, according to the article. This is a significant boon to the multidisciplinary fields of food engineering, safety and processing.

The galvanized steel coating will also benefit agricultural farmland, according to Akbulut.

"Many of the food-produced commodities come to the industrial setting in some sort of soil, debris or mud," Akbulut said. "So, even if the produce is washed, these commodities can cause contamination. With this technology, we are reducing mud-related contamination."

With the information gathered from the research, Cisneros-Zevallos said they could eventually adapt and utilize these technologies to revolutionize fewer outbreaks and positively impact the food industry.

"Our goal is to make the industry adopt this," Cisneros-Zevallos said. "Processors will benefit in the sense that they will be handling something that they can deliver in a trustful way to consumers, and consumers will benefit because they will have something that will be safe for them."

From the field to the consumer, contamination can be minimized by using these kinds of surfaces and avoiding cross-contamination, as explained by Cisneros-Zevallos.

"With this research, we are ensuring that the technological developments from other fields are being pursued and implemented in agriculture," Cisneros-Zevallos said. "The agricultural field is catching up with other technologies. This coating directly impacts our daily life and the food we're trying to make safer."

Contributors to the research include doctoral students Wentao Zhou, Shuhao Liu, and William DeFlorio from the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, along with Professor Jun Kyun Oh and doctoral students Sang Ha Song and Hayoung Choi in the Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Dankook University.

A Food Manufacturing Technologies Program grant and Specialty Crop Research Initiative grant from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture supported this work.

This work is also partially supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea grant funded by the Korean government. The Department of Polymer Science and Engineering was supported through the Research-Focused Department Promotion & Interdisciplinary Convergence Research Project as a part of the University Innovation Support Program for Dankook University in 2022.
When participating in research studies, moderately anxious or highly anxious children from minoritized groups are likely to be hypervigilant to threat, further compounding the effects of their general state of anxiety, a research study led by a University of California, Riverside, psychologist reports.

The study, which involved the participation of 46 Inland Southern California preadolescent Latina girls (813 years), has implications also for children from families with low socioeconomic status.

"Psychological research is often conducted in white, educated, and affluent communities," said Kalina Michalska, an associate professor of psychology, who led the research team. "People from minoritized groups or people with low income and/or limited access to education are often not exposed to scientific research, and have historically been exploited by science, which contributes to their discomfort or legitimate mistrust."

In the study, the girls first completed a laboratory testing session during which they and their caregivers reported on family demographics as well as the girls' behavior, anxiety, and other mental health outcome measures. The girls then completed an emotion processing task while in an MRI scanner. They viewed images of fearful and happy faces projected into the scanner bore while the researchers measured their brain responses.

"Trait anxiety" is a constant state of anxiety. "State anxiety" is defined as a momentary feeling of anxiety, the kind one might experience going to the doctor's office to learn the results of tests or when giving a public lecture.

The researchers found that among girls with average or high levels of trait anxiety, their state anxiety before being MRI-scanned was associated with greater brain responses -; specifically, an increased amygdala-hippocampal response -; to fearful faces (threat stimuli) versus happy faces. This means a generally anxious participant experienced high levels of momentary anxiety when situated in a distressing environment, such as the MRI scanner.

Undergoing an MRI scan is anxiety-inducing not just for children but also, more generally, for people unfamiliar with the scanning environment." Kalina Michalska, associate professor of psychology, UCR

In the study, which appears in the open access journal BMC Psychiatry, girls who rated their families as having a lower community standing tended to have elevated pre-scan state anxiety, suggesting that factors such as social status can influence children's reactions to the research environment.

Michalska, an expert on pediatric anxiety disorders, urges neuroimaging researchers to control for state anxiety and help participants from all backgrounds feel as comfortable as possible during testing sessions.

"Without accounting for state anxiety, data from experiments such as ours could be misattributed to temperamental, environmental, or cultural factors rather than apprehension of the research environment," she said.

According to Michalska, when children who are at risk for anxiety disorder (trait anxiety) are anxious "in the moment" (state anxiety), the differences in brain activity are due to the momentary anxiety, not the anxiety disorder.

"When interpreting the data, it is important not to misattribute the findings to an anxiety disorder or to a whole community when it is only momentary and situational anxiety," she said. "Brain responses in experiments like ours need to be attributed not necessarily to the fact that the participants are, say, Latina, but to their historical experiences with science. Our participants had high anxiety because they were entering a space that has historically been hostile to them."

Michalska is hopeful the team's findings can lead to new conversations about mental health.

"Doctors can change the way they think about patients' mental health and teachers can think differently about the mental health of their students," she said. "Our data show that socioeconomic status can play a significant role in patients' and students' anxiety and suggest that the scanning environment may be particularly anxiety-inducing for participants who feel marginalized relative to other members of society."

Next, the researchers plan on measuring social experiences, such as parents' experiences of ethnic racial discrimination and children's experiences of the same. The researchers also plan to measure children's vicarious experiences resulting from watching their parents' encounters with ethnic racial discrimination.

Michalska was joined in the research by her former graduate student and first author of the paper Dana E. Diaz, now at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in New York, and Wan-Ling Tseng of Yale University in Connecticut.

The research was funded by a grant from the Hellman Fellows Program and a National Institute of Health subaward from the UCR Center for Health Disparities Research.

The title of the research paper is "Pre-scan state anxiety is associated with greater right amygdala-hippocampal response to fearful versus happy faces among trait-anxious Latina girls."
The total number of children, adolescents and adults worldwide living with obesity has surpassed one billion, according to a global analysis published in The Lancet.

These trends, together with the declining prevalence of people who are underweight since 1990, make obesity the most common form of malnutrition across the majority of countries worldwide.

The new study was conducted by the NCD Risk Factor Collaboration (NCD-RisC), a network of over 1,500 researchers and practitioners around the world including from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) and Imperial College London, that provide rigorous and timely data on major risk factors for non-communicable diseases.

The research, conducted in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), showed that obesity rates among children and adolescents worldwide increased four times from 1990 to 2022, while obesity rates among adults have more than doubled.

Martin Mckee, Professor of European Public Health at LSHTM, who contributed to the study, said:

"This analysis is the product of a remarkable international collaboration led by our colleagues at Imperial College.

"The increase in obesity is extremely alarming and risks setting back so many of the advances in medicine that we have benefitted from over recent decades.

"It also points to something very wrong with our food system, with its growing reliance on the industrial production of energy-dense foods.

"This can only be tackled by concerted action that places health at the heart of discussions on policy in areas such as agriculture and trade."

Island nations in the Pacific and the Caribbean, and countries in the Middle East and North Africa were countries with the highest combined rates of underweight and obesity in 2022.

Across the UK, the obesity rate for adults increased from 13.8% in 1990 to 28.3% in 2022 for women and 10.7% to 26.9% in 2022 for men. For children and adolescents, the obesity rate increased from 4.7% in 1990 to 10.1% in 2022 for girls and 4.3% to 12.4% in 2022 for boys.

In the USA, the obesity rate increased from 21.2% in 1990 to 43.8% in 2022 for adult women and 16.9% to 41.6% in 2022 for men. The obesity rate increased in children and adolescents across the USA from 11.6% in 1990 to 19.4% in 2022 for girls and 11.5% to 21.7% in 2022 for boys.
Paytm Payments Bank has recently been slapped a penalty of Rs 5.49 crore by the Financial Intelligence Unit-India for violations of its obligations under the PMLA rules, while edtech major Byjus was late in reporting its earnings for recent few years to regulators. While the two companies are currently undergoing a tough period, experts say startups and companies need to step up their compliance to avoid such a situation.

Mathew Chacko, partner at Spice Route Legal, said startups in India, buoyed by some adventurous investors that encourage this behaviour, are loose on compliances and they carry this forward even after they become much larger.

This generates a large level of suspicion amongst the regulators and enforcement authorities. Startups would be well advised to consider legal and regulatory compliances as a regular part of their mandate  focussing on building companies and products that last  as opposed to those that play the venture capital game, Chacko said.

Sandeep Agrawal, director and co-founder at Teamlease Regtech, said ensuring startup compliance is not just a legal obligation, its a strategic imperative for entrepreneurs in India. Beyond avoiding penalties, compliance fosters trust, a cornerstone for any business. It signals our commitment to ethical practices, building a reputation that resonates with customers and investors alike.

From company registration under the Companies Act, 2013, to complying with tax laws like the Income Tax Act, 1961, and the GST Act, 2017, startups need to dot their is and cross their ts. Safeguarding intellectual property through patents, trademarks, and copyrights is another critical step, as is adherence to employment laws, providing benefits like provident fund and gratuity, he said.

Necessary Compliances for Startups

Highlighting key areas of compliance for startups in India, Bhuvan Rustagi, co-founder and COO of Per Annum, said compliance is important for startups to avoid penalties, protect assets, build trust and credibility, and for smooth operations and growth.

Company registration: Choosing the right business structure and registering with relevant authorities like Registrar of Companies (ROC).

Tax compliance: Adhering to tax regulations, including filing returns and paying taxes on time.

Labour laws: Following labour laws regarding employee benefits, wages, and working conditions.

Intellectual property: Protecting your intellectual property (IP) through patents, trademarks, and copyrights.

Data privacy: Complying with data privacy regulations like the Personal Data Protection Bill (PDPB) when collecting and storing user data.

Industry-specific regulators: If youre a fintech business then you will be regulated by either RBI or SEBI or both; if youre an e-commerce platform then the IT Act and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry are the institutions overseeing that; if youre into food and beverages then you have to answer to FSSAI which comes under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. These are just some examples and startups must look into all the regulations which may apply to them to ensure utmost compliance.

An expert also said that startups also need to comply with financial reporting with the regulator on a regular basis.
Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) is an insurance scheme offering life insurance cover for death due to any reason. It is a one-year cover, renewable from year to year. The scheme is offered by banks/post offices and administered through life insurance companies. All individuals who are account holders of participating banks/ post offices in the age group of 18 to 50 years are entitled to join.

What Is The Nature Of The PMJJBY Scheme?

The scheme is a one-year term life insurance scheme, renewable from year to year, offering life insurance cover for death due to any cause.

How Will The Premium Be Paid?

The premium will be deducted from the account holders bank/post office account through an auto debit facility in one instalment every year, as per the consent to be given on enrolment.

Benefits of Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana

PMJJBY offers a one-year term life cover of Rs 2 Lakh to all subscribers in the age group of 18-50 years.

PMJJBY covers death due to any reason.

The premium payable is Rs 436 per annum per subscriber, to be auto-debited from the subscribers bank/post office account.

Are NRIs Eligible For Coverage Under PMJJBY?

Any Non-Resident Indian (NRI) possessing a qualifying bank account with a branch situated in India is qualified to procure coverage under the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, provided they meet the stipulated terms and conditions of the program. Nevertheless, in the event of a claim, the beneficiary/nominee will receive the claim benefit solely in Indian currency.

Key Things To Know;

Eligibility: An NRI can enrol if they have an eligible bank account with a branch located in India. This means the account must be with a participating bank or post office.

Terms and Conditions: NRIs enrolling in PMJJBY need to comply with all the schemes terms and conditions set by the government.

Claim Payment: In case of a claim, the benefit amount will be paid to the beneficiary or nominee only in Indian rupees.
This candidate fielded by the BJP in urban south Kolkatas Jadavpur Lok Sabha constituency, has evoked the curiosity of many. Won by TMCs actor-turned-politician Mimi Chakraborty last time, the saffron party has fielded scholar-turned-politician Anirban Ganguly, whose name was announced alongside 19 others from the state on Saturday (March 2).

A breakup of the seven assembly segments in Jadavpur and an analysis of its history  especially those who have won elections here and held the seat in the past, as well as its demography  will show how this constituency is a combination of the political complexities of Bengal.

Ganguly contested the West Bengal assembly election in 2021 as a BJP candidate from the Bolpur-Santiniketan constituency and came in second by polling more than 94,000 (40.89%). In the same polls in 2016, the BJP had won 19,000 votes.

A first-timer in the 2021 polls, his contest was against a candidate who is now a state cabinet minister. Like south Bengal, Birbhum district of which Bolpur is a part, is located on the western front of the state and is a TMC stronghold.

Ganguly lost by a margin of 22,000 votes to TMCs Chandranath Sinha, but increased the BJP tally by at least 32 percent while the regional party lost its vote share by around 4.5 percent.

The chairman and trustee of the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Research Foundation (SPMRF), which is a New Delhi-based think tank of the BJP, Ganguly is known as an author. He has written at least 10 books, including one on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his governance style as well as another on union home minister Amit Shah and his organisational politics.

Jadavpur and its complexities

Jadavpur counts among its previous MPs present chief minister Mamata Banerjee and Somnath Chatterjee, the late Lok Sabha speaker from the 1980s. The seat has witnessed tough contests, as it has continued to vote alternately, and has had MPs from the CPI(M), Congress and TMC in the last four decades. It is considered one of the most challenging Lok Sabha seats in the state.

Coming to its complexities, its composition must be considered. The Lok Sabha constituency comprises seven assembly segments  Baruipur Purba, Baruipur Paschim, Sonarpur Dakshin, Sonarpur Uttar, Bhangar, Jadavpur and Tollygunge.

Barring Jadavpur and Tollygunge, which come under south Kolkata proper, five assembly segments are a mix of rural and semi-urban areas. Bhangar, in fact, has been a political flash point with violent clashes in the past. Sonarpur and Baruipur segments are not much different.

Out of the seven assembly segments, the TMC has MLAs in six while the Indian Secular Front (ISF) won Bhangar in 2021. There is a dominance of Muslim votes in at least three of these seven segments.

After delimitation in 1977, Somnath Chatterjee won from the newly formed Jadavpur seat. He was a two-term MP there, until Mamata, who was then in the Congress, fought against all odds and won the seat in 1984. After 1989, the seat swung back to the CPI(M) for two terms and, in 1996, Krishna Bose won for two consecutive terms  once as a Congress MP and another from the TMC. In 2004, CPI(M)s Sujan Chakraborty swept the seat but, since 2009, Jadavpur has voted for the TMC.

Since 1977, Jadavpur has voted for academicians barring twice  once in 1984, when the fiery Youth Congress leader Mamata won the seat and, in 2019, as Tollywood actor Mimi Chakraborty was fielded from the TMC and won. Last month, however, she resigned citing her inability to work as a politician and obstacles to work for the people. Another former MP, a senior academician-historian Sugata Bose, also expressed displeasure at several forums citing similar difficulties.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday chaired the last meeting of the council of ministers, where they brainstormed on a vision document for Viksit Bharat 2047 and a detailed action plan for the next five years before the Lok Sabha elections. The council also worked on a 100-day agenda for quick implementation on formation of the new government in May.

Earlier, the prime minister and union home minister Amit Shah posted on social media about donations via NaMo app towards the Viksit Bharat campaign.

According to government sources, the Viksit Bharat roadmap is a result of more than two years of preparation. It involves a whole-of-government approach with all the ministries and wide-ranging consultations with state governments, academia, industry bodies, civil society, scientific organisations and youth mobilisation, they said.

Sources said over 2,700 meetings, workshops and seminars were held at various levels, while suggestions of more than 20 lakh youngsters were received. The roadmap is a blueprint with national vision, aspirations, goals and action points based on economic growth, sustainable development goals (SDG), ease of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure, and social welfare.

Prime Minister Modi has asked his colleagues to focus on Viksit Bharat and the idea of making life easier and better for the general public. This will also be reflected in the full budget presented by the new cabinet in June, sources said.

In the last cabinet meeting held recently, Modi had told his colleagues that they will need to deliberate on the idea of India in 100 days after the new government is formed, and also devise a plan for the next five years. Ministers were asked to submit ideas that the cabinet secretariat would follow up with from time to time.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday contributed Rs 2,000 to the Bharatiya Janata Party as party fund ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. He also urged everyone to take part in the nation building and be a contributor via the NaMo App.

Taking to the microblogging site X, the prime minister said, I am happy to contribute to @BJP4India and strengthen our efforts to build a Viksit Bharat. I also urge everyone to be a part of #DonationForNationBuilding through the Namo App! nm-4.com/donation.

I am happy to contribute to @BJP4India and strengthen our efforts to build a Viksit Bharat.I also urge everyone to be a part of #DonationForNationBuilding through the NaMoApp! https://t.co/hIoP3guBcL pic.twitter.com/Yz36LOutLU  Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 3, 2024

This comes a day after the saffron party released its first list of 195 candidates for the general elections. PM Modi will contest from Varanasi for a third time in the upcoming polls, while Union Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gujarats Gandhinagar.

The partys donation campaign, on March 1, was started by national President JP Nadda, who made a contribution of Rs 1,000 to the BJP.

He said that the donation is a mark of his individual support to PM Modis visions of making the country a Viksit Bharat.

I have donated to the BJP to pledge my individual support to PM Modis visions for making India a Viksit Bharat. Let us all come forward and join this #DonationForNationBuilding mass movement using the NaMo App, Naddas post on X said.

Last week, the six national parties of the nation declared their total income in the 2022-24 fiscal year. Of these, the BJP had the highest declared income of nearly Rs 2,361 crore.

The Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) on February 28 said that the ruling BJPs income constitutes 76.73 per cent of the total income of the six national parties during FY 2022-23.

The saffron party received Rs 1294.15 crore through electoral bonds, while Opposition parties Congress and Aam Aadmi Party received Rs 171.02 crore and Rs 45.45 crore respectively.

Citing its records submitted to the Election Commission, ADR said that the BJP spend only 57.68 per cent of its declared income  Rs 2360.844 crore  which comes to be a sum of Rs 1,361.684 crore of the total income.

SC STRIKES DOWN ELECTORAL BONDS SCHEME

Notably, the Supreme Court  on February 15  struck down the electoral bond scheme that allows anonymous donations to political parties by purchasing electoral bonds from the State Bank of India (SBI), saying that anonymous electoral bonds violated citizens right to information.

A five-judge Constitution bench of the top court, headed by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, delivered two separate but unanimous verdicts on pleas challenging the scheme.

Calling electoral bonds unconstitutional, the apex court said, Infringement of the voters right to know is not proportionally justified by saying black money is being curbed.

Pronouncing the verdict, the CJI said that the scheme is violative of freedom of speech and expression under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution.

The top court also directed banks to stop issuing electoral bonds. It asked SBI to submit a report on the electoral bonds and details of the ones encashed by political parties to the Election Commission of India by March 6.

It further directed the poll body to publish the data received on electoral bonds on its website by March 13. The Supreme Court asked the political parties to refund the amount to the voters thereafter.

(With PTI inputs)
One more bad move and poof, it may all be gone. Well, this is what world champion Max Verstappens father believes may be the case with Red Bull Racing, if Christian Horner continues to stay on as the boss.

Horner has had his fair share of controversy recently, as it was only last week when the Red Bull boss was cleared of all his allegations of misconduct with a female employee. News of the same controversy had persistently made headlines all over through the pre-season till now, with Horner still standing in the limelight.

Verstappens father Jos believes that this aspect of Horner in essence would ultimately bring about the eventual downfall of the Red Bull team.

In conversation with UK tabloid Daily Mail, Jos exclaimed about the danger that the Red Bull team faces in the long run this season due to the scrutiny Horner brings with his personal off-track scandals.

There is tension here while he remains in position. The team is in danger of being torn apart. It cant go on the way it is. It will explode. He is playing the victim, when he is the one causing the problems.

Jos though applauded Horner for his professional exploits, stating that the teams collective hunger for success proves to be the harbinger of them all.

Listen, when I look at how Christian operates within the team, he has been an incredible team boss. So absolutely, from the performance side of things, you cant even question that. So thats what Im also dealing with, stated Jos.

I speak to Christian a lot. And also, of course, throughout the weekend here, hes fully committed to the team. Hes also here for the performance, of course. Probably a little bit distracted.

But like I said before, we just focus on the performance side of things. And thats how we all work together.

Another factor that placed Horner back into the limelight lately was an email from an anonymous sender, purporting to contain evidence submitted to the investigation, was distributed to media and key figures in the sport.

When asked whether he had anything to do with regards to the same anonymous email, Jos denied all claims vehemently.

That wouldnt make sense. Why would I do that when Max is doing so well here?, exclaimed the three-time world champions father.
Get ready for a tunnel ride as work to complete a 3.9-km underground road to ease Bengalurus traffic congestion will begin before the Lok Sabha elections. At a cost of Rs 690 per km, the project will cost the state exchequer Rs 2,700 crore.

The first of these tunnel roads will be built along the Ballari Road  from the Esteem Mall area near Hebbal to the Bangalore Palace grounds, said a senior official close to the project.

The tunnel, which will initially be 3.9 km, will later be extended to around 17 km towards South Bengalurus Silk Board. We want to do this before the elections, lets see how it works out, said the senior officer from the Bengaluru Development Authority (BDA).

The brainchild of Karnataka deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, he has been pushing for this underground tunnel project as Bengaluru is one of the most congested cities in the world. To ease surface traffic, divert vehicles in choke-point areas, he had earlier proposed the construction of a 190-km urban tunnel, aiming to establish east-west and north-south corridors across the city.

It will stretch between Ballari Road, Old Madras Road, Esteem Mall Junction to Mekhri Circle, Miller Road, Chalukya Circle, Trinity Circle, Sarjapur Road, Hosur Road, Kanakapura Road to Krishna Rao Park, Mysore Road to Sirsi Circle, Magadi Road, Tumakuru Road to Yeshwantpur Junction, Outer Ring Road, Goraguntepalya, KR Puram, Silk Board areas have been identified, the officer added.

Additional chief secretary of the urban development department, Rakesh Singh told News18 that the project proposal was initiated after much deliberation and working out details of the economics as it is extremely expensive, difficult project and time consuming.

However, it has two to three great advantages. One major advantage is that there is no need to separately acquire land, and we have also been able to identify proper entry and exit points, he said.

Singh said as part of this project, the BDA has also issued an expression of interest to a company that will suggest different forms of intervention to alleviate traffic, including elevated roads, flyovers and tunnels. He further said the first tunnel of 3.9 km will be built between the north and south stretch, which will become a component of a major tunnel along this route.

If the project of tunnelling takes flight, then Karnataka also has a proposal to create a north-south-east-west tunnel for Bengaluru, which will span 42 km each. The initial part of the project we are doing with our own money, but we will also ask the Centre to contribute. Deputy CM Shivakumar, who is the man behind this ambitious project, met union transport minister Nitin Gadkari in this regard, he added.

Another plan to create a tunnel road along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) of Bengaluru is also in the works. The ORR corridor, which is Bengaluru citys information technology corridor, spans between Silk Board and Marathahalli up to Tin factory (around 35 km).

We are contemplating how well we can do it. The road already exists on the surface and we have already identified the entry and exit points, which are major choke points. We will build them so that cars or vehicles can zip past seamlessly, Singh said.

He also said for city infrastructure, intervention should not be one that will last 20 to 30 or 40 years, it should be imagined and implemented so that it will last 200 to 500 years. In a city like Bengaluru, we are still making roads that are 9 metres, 18 or 24 metres broad. We should imagine roads to be built that are 1-km broad like in Myanmar. We have tried to replicate a big road like Kempegowda Bandavane on the outskirts of the city; it is a 100-m road and is almost complete. The peripheral road is also similar, he added.

In the recently presented budget, Siddaramaiah also spoke about widening existing roads but expressed how difficult it is due to scarcity of land and problems in land acquisition. In this backdrop, the state government has decided to resolve traffic congestion in the city by constructing underground tunnels, Singh added.

Under Sugama Sanchara-Brand Bengaluru, an expert organisation of international repute has been engaged, the state government said. Based on their report, measures will be taken to ease congestion in Bengaluru.

On a pilot basis, a tunnel will be constructed this year at Hebbal junction where there is high congestion. A novel concept of constructing all-weather roads by using space available within the canal buffer zone is being implemented. Under this scheme, a 100-km road is already being developed at a cost of Rs 200 crore. Additional 100-km roads will be developed this year, the CM had announced as part of his budget speech.
Lithuania has reminded that the country will soon start confiscating cars with Russian license plates. Vehicles registered in Russia must leave Lithuania and the entire territory of the European Union by March 11 this year.

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It is also possible to re-register such cars in Lithuania. This was reported on the official website of the Customs of the Republic of Lithuania.

If people who own cars with Russian license plates fail to do so, they will be considered lawbreakers. They may be held liable, which includes a fine and confiscation of the car.

The exemption applies to citizens of the Russian Federation traveling in transit to or from the Kaliningrad region in vehicles registered in Russia under a simplified travel document. Such transit through the territory of Lithuania cannot last longer than 24 hours. During the transit, the vehicle must be accompanied by its owner. If this person is not in the car, the vehicle will not be allowed to enter the territory of Lithuania.

It should be noted that in this way the country fulfills the EU requirements for the import and export of goods from Russia.

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Russians who managed to import cars into Lithuania were obliged to take measures to ensure that their cars leave the territory of the Baltic country. However, they will not be able to travel to another EU country.

The restrictions also prohibit the importation into Lithuania of any vehicles registered in Russia and bearing Russian license plates even for temporary use. The ban applies to such vehicles regardless of the nationality of the driver.

Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Calcutta HC judge Justice Abhijit Ganguly, who had ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the teachers recruitment scam in West Bengal last year, has said he will resign from his post on Tuesday.

The judge hinted at joining politics, without mentioning the name of any political party and expressed interest in working for the common people.

I would like to enter the political arena to work towards the betterment of the common people and address grassroots issues. That journey starts on Tuesday, the judge told a Bengali news outlet.

Clearing the air on speculations about him contesting the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, he said he hadnt decided about it.

Have not taken decisions regarding my candidature for Lok Sabha polls, but I would like to thank the ruling party in West Bengal (Trinamool Congress) for challenging me to enter the political field, the judge told Live Law.

Justice Ganguly had irked the Supreme Court last year by his remarks on a TV interview relating to the Bengal school job-for-bribe case, a matter he was hearing at that point in time.
Amid the ongoing farmers agitation, farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal on Sunday gave a four-hour rail roko countrywide for March 10 in support of their various demands. They also called upon farmers across the country to reach the national capital on March 6.

The farmer leaders stressed that the agitation will be intensified at existing protest points until their demands are met by the government.

The two farmer leaders made the announcement while speaking in Bathindas Balloh village, the native village of farmer Shubhakaran Singh, who died recently during clashes with the Haryana security personnel in Khanauri.

The farmers from far away states, who cannot reach on tractor trolleys, should head to Delhi by trains and by other means of transport. It will also become clear whether the government allows those farmers to enter (Delhi) who go without tractor trolleys, Pandher said addressing the gathering at Balloh.

At Shambhu and Khanauri, the agitation will continue like before and will be further intensified. Our agitation will continue till the demands are met, he added.

Pandher further said that the rail roko protest will be held in the country from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm on March 10 to pressure the government to meet the farmers demands.

The Centre is trying to build a perception that the current agitation is limited to Punjab and the fight is led by only two forums. But we want to make it clear that more than 200 outfits in the country are part of the two forums, he said.

Alleging the Centre does not want to resolve the farmers issue, Pandher also accused the BJP of playing divisive politics to win the elections. Farmers and farm labourers are not on their agenda, he claimed.

But our fight will continue. The perception being created that the agitation may die down when the Model Code of Conduct for the polls come into force is not correct. We may have to fight today, tomorrow, but we will continue to fight for our rights, he said. Pandher also stressed that India should come out of the WTO agreement.

Talking to reporters later, farmer leader Dallewal said, I want to clarify that our programme of Delhi Chalo stands. We will continue to protest peacefully. We will increase numbers on the borders where we are agitating.

Dallewal further noted that though the Centre has not invited them for a fresh round of talks, they have never said no to talks whenever the government has invited them.

He stated that the sacrifice of 21-year-old Shubhakaran will not go in vain and the struggle will continue until the demands are met.

(With PTI inputs)
A 55-year-old man has been apprehended for allegedly murdering his wife and keeping her body at their residence in Ghaziabad.

According to a report in NDTV, the distressing incident came to light when an overpowering stench emanated from their rented flat. Bharat Singh, the accused, sat in front of his house, loudly confessing to the crime and urging neighbors to contact the police.

Senior police officer Naresh Kumar mentioned that the body of 51-year-old Sunita was discovered in the flat on Saturday. He added that the investigation is ongoing.

We were informed by the Senior police officer Naresh Kumar said that the body of 51-year-old Sunita was discovered in the flat on Saturday. He added that the investigation is ongoing.neighbours that Bharat had choked his wife Sunita to death. On reaching there, we found the body at their home. The murder appears to have happened at least three days back. We have arrested the accused. He has told us during questioning that he killed his wife during an altercation over a family issue. We have informed the womans family members and sent the body for autopsy, stated Kumar.

A neighbor disclosed that they were unaware of the crime until Singh confessed to his actions, expressing his desire to surrender. Her body was at home for 4-5 days before police arrived and recovered the body, the neighbor said.

Another neighbor recounted Singhs actions as he sat outside his home, informing every passerby that he had murdered his wife.

We dont know what happened. He sat here and screamed, I have killed my wife, get me arrested. So we called the cops and they found the body. We do not need anything else, he said
The Gyanvapi structure belongs to Hindus and I will continue to fight for it until Hindus get what belongs to them, said Shailendra Kumar Pathak Vyas, who filed the petition to carry out puja archana in the basement area of the disputed mosque, in an interview to News18.

Shailendra, currently the head priest of the Acharya Ved Vyas Peeth temple, has claimed that the Gyanvapi structure was under the possession of his family for 500 years and that his grandfather, priest Somnath Vyas, offered puja in the cellar until it was closed by authorities in December 1993.

On January 31, a district court had ruled that a Hindu priest can perform prayers before the idols in the southern cellar of the mosque. The prayers are now being conducted by a Hindu priest nominated by the Kashi Vishwanath temple trust and Shailendra Vyas.

Speaking to News18, Shailendra said he was confident that Sanatan Dharma would emerge victorious in the case.

I always thought of re-claiming possession of the basement of the Gyanvapi mosque. But following pressure, fear and hesitation, I couldnt muster enough courage to come forward and lead the battle from the front. Of late, several Hindu parties came forward and filed various cases related to the Gyanvapi mosque. Hence, I thought of coming forward and filed the lawsuit on September 25, 2023, he said.

In his plea, Shailendra Vyas had sought rights to offer prayers in the cellar on southern side of the Gyanvapi mosque and the appointment of a district magistrate as receiver of the cellar.

Vyas Ji Ka Taikhana: The Bone of Contention

The taikhana or cellar is in the barricaded southern part of the Gyanvapi mosque that is located just opposite the idol of Nandi in the Kashi Vishwanath temple. It is one of the four cellars of the Gyanvapi mosque, which was built in the 17th century. The cellar is about 7 feet high and has an area of 40 square feet. Shailendra Vyas said there are idols inside that were worshiped before the cellar was sealed in 1993.

He said his family has been associated with the Kashi Vishwanath temple since 1551 and shifted to the area, now a part of the Gyanvapi complex since 1883, the records of which, he said, are available with the family.

Vyas told News18 that his family had been performing Rag-Bhog (worship) inside the cellar, which used to be called Garbgriha, for more than three centuries. The taikhana, he said, was under the familys possession even during British rule. It was after riots broke out in 1819 that the British administration came up with a balancing act and gave control of some parts of the Gyanvapi premises to Hindus, he said.

According to his petition, members of the family continued to offer prayers in the cellar even after Independence. He claimed the cellar is named Vyas Ji Ka Tehkhana after the family name.

The Legal Battle

Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committees counsel Akhlaque Ahmad said the plea was barred by the Places of Worship (Special Provisions) Act, 1991, which locks the religious character of the shrines as they existed on August 15, 1947, with the exception of Ayodhya. The cellar is part of the Gyanvapi mosque. So, worship could not be performed. Therefore, puja should not be allowed, he had said.

On February 26, the Allahabad High Court dismissed the Muslim sides appeal against the Varanasi Districts court order, allowing Hindus to continue prayers inside the Vyas Ji Ka Taikhana.

What Next

The Anjuman Intezamia Masjid Committee, which maintains the mosque complex, is set to approach the Supreme Court. SM Yaseen, secretary of the committee, said their legal counsels are going through the court order after which they will approach the apex court.

On the other hand, Vishnu Shankar Jain, the advocate representing the Hindu side, said: The Allahabad High Court has dismissed the appeal from the mosque committee. If the Muslim side approaches the Supreme Court, we would file a caveat before the top court.

Other Hindu petitioners have also filed several cases related to the Gyanvapi mosque, seeking prayer rights. A report by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), ordered by the court in a related petition, says that a large Hindu temple existed before the construction of the Gyanvapi Masjid.

The extensive report of the ASI cited its in-depth study of the existing structures, and alluded to features and artefacts recovered from the site to conclude that there existed a large Hindu temple prior to the construction of the existing structure in the 17th century.
The Indian Navy commissioned its first squadron of the newly inducted submarine-hunting MH 60R Seahawk multi-role helicopter at INS Garuda in Kochi on March 6. A maritime variant of the Blackhawk helicopter, MH 60R Seahawk is armed with Hellfire missiles, MK-54 torpedoes, and precision-kill rockets.

The MH 60R helicopter would enhance Indias blue-water capabilities, extending the operational reach of the Navy and supporting sustained naval operations across spectrums and over vast maritime domains, read a statement from the Indian Navy.

ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT MH 60R
KERALA LOTTERY AKSHAYA AK-641 RESULT ON SUNDAY, MARCH 3, LIVE UPDATES: The Kerala State Lottery Department has announced the results of Akshaya AK- 641 lucky draw for Sunday, March 3. Check the full list of winning numbers below.

ALSO READ: Kerala Lottery Result Today LIVE: Nirmal NR-370 WINNERS for March 8, 2024; First Prize Rs 70 Lakh!

FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-641

WINNING NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE WORTH RS 8,000 ARE

AA 750171

AB 750171

AC 750171

AD 750171

AE 750171

AF 750171

AG 750171

AH 750171

AJ 750171

AK 750171

AM 750171

WINNING NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE WORTH RS 70 LAKH IS AL 750171 (ALAPPUZHA)

Agent Name: SHAJEER C V

Agency No.: A 3100

WINNING NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE WORTH RS 5 LAKH IS AJ 571457 (MOOVATTUPUZHA)

Agent Name: ARUN M A

Agency No.: E 8614

WINNING NUMBER FOR 3RD PRIZE WORTH RS 1 LAKH ARE

AA 288574 (IRINJALAKUDA)

AB 521093 (VAIKKOM)

AC 278230 (NEYYATTINKARA)

AD 745297 (PUNALUR)

AE 739444 (CHERTHALA)

AF 145015 (THRISSUR)

AG 940026 (CHITTUR)

AH 416202 (KOLLAM)

AJ 573921 (ADOOR)

AK 753194 (PATHANAMTHITTA)

AL 292219 (IRINJALAKUDA)

AM 544496 (KOTTAYAM)

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE WORTH RS 5,000 ARE

0085 0420 0649 0907 2087

2503 4608 4951 4968 5629

7177 7373 7984 8014 8667

8840 9152 9752

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE WORTH RS 2,000 ARE

2462 2755 2797 3817 8540

8954 9483

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE WORTH RS 1,000 ARE

0368 0691 1217 1487 1565

1820 1849 2465 2758 3016

3172 3330 4544 4626 5324

5647 6182 6199 6292 6534

6656 6965 7669 7990 8748

9562

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE WORTH RS 500 ARE

0084 0124 0162 0169 0205

0537 0758 0809 0926 1023

1079 1553 1562 1865 2080

2511 2678 2742 2831 2971

3129 3165 3248 3297 3454

3769 4088 4187 4227 4264

4399 4529 4642 4915 5044

5214 5469 5571 5698 5713

5868 5971 6034 6079 6221

6236 6260 6798 6998 7056

7058 7272 7355 7467 7654

7810 7964 8016 8115 8162

8263 8264 8400 8601 8827

8927 9217 9443 9602 9732

9916 9997

WINNING NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE WORTH RS 100 ARE

0299 0356 0813 1025 1063

1137 1161 1184 1313 1316

1467 1478 1582 1652 1677

1749 1907 1980 2044 2062

2132 2325 2376 2471 2497

2582 2617 2763 2807 2826

2862 3052 3098 3130 3208

3228 3516 3581 3776 3831

3848 4258 4363 4525 4548

4581 4590 4635 4692 4739

4741 4759 4792 4927 4970

5053 5169 5264 5308 5315

5401 5433 5564 5684 5805

5819 5871 5963 6116 6194

6284 6285 6311 6362 6433

6618 6737 6808 7071 7156

7176 7273 7361 7383 7433

7441 7453 7495 7520 7549

7649 7675 7783 7815 7892

7913 7922 7928 8026 8077

8116 8232 8262 8278 8351

8358 8500 8539 8613 8739

8835 8881 8971 8974 9046

9141 9247 9359 9452 9774

9780 9801 9969

AKSHAYA AK-641: PRIZE STRUCTURE

1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakh

2nd Prize: Rs. 5 Lakh

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 1,000

6th Prize: Rs. 500

7th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

HOW TO CHECK AKSHAYA AK-641 RESULTS?

To check the results of the Kerala Akshaya AK-641 lottery, you can visit the official website of the Kerala Department at www.keralalottery.info. Alternatively, you may also visit the Kerala Government Gazette Office to cross check the results. For detailed information, contact the Kerala Lottery Department.

HOW TO CLAIM YOUR PRIZE MONEY?

Participants can verify their ticket numbers against the winning numbers published in the Kerala Government Gazette. If your ticket number matches any of those listed in the official announcement, you are entitled to a prize. Winners must claim their prizes within 30 days of the results being announced by visiting the Kerala Lottery Office in Thiruvananthapuram. Ensure you bring valid proof of identification and your winning ticket for verification when you visit the office.
Assam has bolstered its standing by securing a substantial investment for a semiconductor plant, placing it alongside industrial behemoths like Gujarat and Maharashtra. In a major development on Friday (March 1), Prime Minister Narendra Modi said India will become a global centre for semiconductor manufacturing following the cabinet nod on February 29 to establish three semiconductor units.

These units will be located in Dholera and Sanand in Gujarat, and notably in Assams Morigaon. Construction for all three units is set to begin in the next 100 days.

The plan for a semiconductor unit in Assam stands out. Assam and the northeast have never been synonymous with technological advancement or manufacturing. Much of the talent from this region tends to seek opportunities outside the state.

But, with its first semiconductor unit  backed by the largest-ever private investment of Rs 27,000 crore  the northeast has been presented with an opportunity to overcome barriers and showcase its capabilities. It is being said Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made an extensive push to win this massive strategic investment.

To be set up by Tata Semiconductor Assembly and Test Pvt Ltd (TSAT), this unit will be the biggest private investment in Assam so far. With this development, the state will cater to the worlds advanced semiconductor needs, including for Elon Musks Tesla.

Not only will the plant promote self-reliance in a strategically crucial sector, but it will also enhance Assams reputation as a technological manufacturing base with significant potential in electronics.

Often viewed as an unstable region and geographically distant from New Delhi, the northeast has been neglected in terms of the emergence of strategic industries. The current leadership in Delhi, supported by Sarmas leadership, aims to change that.

A dream come true for Assam

The two semiconductor units announced for Gujarat do not come as a surprise; after all, Gujarat is a leading industrial state with all the markings of a successful bet for industry giants, and Micron is already building a semiconductor plant there.

However, for Assam, which has come out of nowhere to bag a crucial investment in chip-building, this is nothing less than a dream come true. The facility will create direct employment opportunities for at least 15,000 people and generate indirect employment for an estimated 11,000 to 16,000.

Not only this, but the placement of such a strategically crucial plant in Assam sends a message to other industry giants in the realm of manufacturing that the state indeed means business. It is a cue for more big-ticket investments to land in Assam.

Until recently, Assam had never been seen as a favourable investment destination by private players for a number of reasons. The state has a history of militancy, prolonged agitations and is far-flung from the power centres of Delhi or Maharashtra. Poor connectivity and infrastructure had further plagued the state for decades.

All this left Assam with an undesired reputation in business. For job seekers, the options have remained limited, with the public sector being their sole available avenue. In the last decade, however, Assam has witnessed a sea change in terms of connectivity and infrastructure development. It has become the gateway to the northeast.

Since 2016, it has become a bustling hub of economic activity. With the states GDP growing at around 15 percent, Assams economic renaissance is spilling over to neighbouring states. It is wise to bet on its growth story.

Assams economic renaissance

The guarantee of all-round stability from the Himanta-led government, bolstered by the Centres dedicated efforts to revamp the states infrastructure, has ushered a new dawn in Assam. The state forms a core part of the central governments strategy to transform the northeast from a militancy-ridden to a strategically leveraged, prosperous region.

Investments of Rs 3.37 lakh crore have been injected between 2014-15 and 2021-22, revolutionising the regions infrastructure. Formerly narrow pathways have transformed into expansive roads, highways and expressways. Rail infrastructure has expanded, airports have sprouted up, and waterways have been established including bridges spanning the formidable Brahmaputra river.

The Bogibheel bridge, Indias longest railroad bridge, is just one of the numerous monumental infrastructure projects that have come to fruition in the last decade. Additionally, the government is actively developing national waterways like NW-2 on the Brahmaputra and NW-16 on the Barak.

A significant accomplishment has been the resolution of numerous longstanding border disputes, although a few challenges persist. With Bodoland issues subsiding, there has been a noticeable upswing in economic activity. Remarkably, Assam has even garnered Rs 1,500 crore in oil revenue from areas that were previously troubled, such as Tinsukia and Jorhat.

Assam has been quietly adopting business-friendly policies. The states pioneering initiatives such as the Ease of Doing Business Bill 2016, online registration, and clearances facilitated by a single window clearance system, along with the early adoption of the GST bill, have simplified the establishment of industries.

The state began attracting private investment only in the last decade, with FMCG giants such as Hindustan Unilever and Emami leading the way by establishing manufacturing units in the state. Additionally, some pharmaceutical companies also established operations. However, none of these investments come close to the scale of the semiconductor project.

Moreover, Assam comes in with significant economic potential that is finally getting its due recognition. The state contributes 14 percent of total crude oil and 10 percent of total natural gas production in the country. It is also the largest producer of tea in India.

Its geographical location,which has long been perceived as a drag on its fortunes, is also a major strength waiting to be harnessed. Not only is it a major link between all other northeastern states, but also favourably positioned for the Act East policy owing to its proximity with Indias eastern neighbours such as Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Nepal, Thailand. This offers tremendous opportunities for the entire region.

A semiconductor push for posterity

India is ambitiously building a leading semiconductor industry from scratch. In the aftermath of a major semiconductor crunch triggered by chip wars between the US and China in recent years, India realised the urgency of the matter and answered its calling with a dedicated push to indigenously build this strategically crucial industry.

The Centre earmarked $10 billion under a production-linked incentive scheme, and Prime Minister Modi has pushed for major developments in this realm inviting industry leaders globally to invest in India. While India is already well-placed in the realm of chip design, its role in chip fabrication has remained negligible. The aim is to propel Indias abysmal semiconductor manufacturing scene into a high growth orbit, achieving in the next 10 years what China did in three decades. Those efforts are already bearing fruit.

In a short period of time, four major successes have been registered in this aspect. Apart from the three plants announced recently, Micron  an Idaho-headquartered semiconductor giant  is already building a plant in Sanand with a total investment of $2.75 billion. Owing to these milestones, India expects its chip-making industry to be worth $63 billion by 2026.
In todays edition of News18 morning digest, we are examining the takeaways from BJPs first list of 195 Lok Sabha candidates and delving into the agenda of the last Council of Ministers meeting.

Confidence And A Sense Of Purpose: Takeaways From BJPs First List Of 195 Lok Sabha Candidates

In 2019, the first BJP list of 180-odd candidates came out on March 21  11 days after the election announcement that year. This time, the BJPs first list coming at least a week to 10 days before the election announcement shows the party is hitting the ground running in its aim of winning 370 seats in 2024, senior party leaders told News18. READ MORE

Wont Base My Stand on Fake Contenders: Shashi Tharoor to News18 on Lok Sabha Fight from Thiruvananthapuram

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has often being called an outsider by his own party colleagues, told News18 that he is not anxious about BJPs resurgence in Kerala or Tamil Nadu. Tharoor said he has earned respect and love of people. READ MORE

PM Modi to Chair Last Council of Ministers Meeting Ahead of 2024 LS Polls: Whats on the Agenda?

This meeting holds great significance as it comes just a day after the BJP announced its first list of candidates for the general elections. READ MORE

Cant Be Dictated: Taiwan Hits Back At China After Indian TV Channel Rebuke Over FM Joseph Wu Interview

Chinese embassy criticises Indian media for hosting Taiwan Foreign Minister, sparking debate over Taiwans status. India-Taiwan relations examined. READ MORE

They Wanted To Kill Us: Spanish Woman Gang-Raped in Jharkhands Dumka Shares Chilling Details on Instagram

The woman and her partner, who had travelled from Bangladesh to Dumka on two motorcycles with plans to continue to Bihar and then Nepal, encountered the incident during their travels. READ MORE

SRK, Salman, Aamir Set Stage on Fire With EPIC Naatu Naatu Dance in Jamnagar, Videos Go Viral; Watch

Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan bring the house down with their Naatu Naatu performance at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchants pre-wedding bash. READ MORE
A man, Kiran Verma, alleged that an Ola cab driver physically assaulted him in front of his 6-year-old son. Verma detailed the incident in a LinkedIn post on Friday, recounting how it transpired in Delhi last month when he and his son booked an Ola cab to pick someone up from the airport.

According to Verma, a disagreement arose when the driver insisted on cancelling the ride and using cash as the payment method, leading to a confrontation. The situation escalated when the driver opted for a completely different route, citing a traffic jam.

Verma wrote: Last month when I was in Delhi on a medical break from my 21,000kms Walk for blood donation awareness, I was going to pick someone from the airport. My son went along with me and we booked an #OlaCab. The driver asked me to cancel the ride and pay him in cash. I denied and with unwanting will he started the trip. He took completely opposite direction from our house and when I said he replied there is a traffic jam."

Verma described how the ordeal frightened his son, prompting him to call both the Ola support executive and the police for help.

We havent went even a kilometre, where he stops the car and asked me to pay extra or else pay whatever comes in that ride. Since the guy started shouting without any reason, my 6 years son got scared and asked me to leave the car. I couldnt see my son so scared and thought to calm him down. I dialed security helpline from the #OlaApp instantly and called Police Helpline. Me and my son was standing outside, and this guy took my bag. Meanwhile when I refused to pay him and click his picture with my bag. He came out and slapped me", Verma added.

Outcry Over Accountability and Safety Reforms

The post has sparked widespread discussion on social media, with numerous individuals expressing support for Verma and urging Ola to take action. Concerns about passenger safety have been raised, emphasising the need for ride-hailing companies to exercise greater responsibility.

Both Ola and Uber operate without any accountability. Theres no grievances redressal mechanism, whatever exists is merely optical. High time the government looked into this and cracked a whip on this sellers only" business malpractices," a user wrote on Vermas post.

While another commented, Kiran Verma You need to file an FIR against Bhavish Agarwal & OLA both, as my Support I will never use OLA again till your case finds a justified solution, as this driver needs to be behind bars at any cost."

Another user shared a similar experience with the ride-hailing company, she wrote: I had a similar experience with Ola where the driver abused me n threatened me in front of my kids. I was constantly on call with Ola helpline and from my second mobile called up police. Knowing this well he dropped me to my apartment n I instructed guards to be careful. The driver came out following me n when apartment guards tried to stop him, he started hitting them. The complaint was lodged but no action was taken. Customer care requested me cctv footage which I provided and still from their end, no action. Security head of my apartment took that guy to the police station but Ola didnt intervene at all. I uninstalled the Ola app that day its been more than 7 years.."

Another user recalled, I remember when I had an issue with an Ola driver a few years back, the only thing Ola call centre people were keen on was on to stop me from registering a police complaint against the driver.

After the post gained traction on the platform, Verma shared a follow-up video on Saturday, commending a different cab driver who intervened when he encountered harassment from his Ola cab driver in the initial incident.

Meet the Hero, who stopped the #OlaDriver to slap me further (after I was slapped twice)," the caption of the video read, as he provided additional context to the incident in his latest post.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will next week inaugurate Kolkata Metro Railways Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section, touted to be the first transportation tunnel under any mighty river in India, a government release said on Sunday.

The PM will also inaugurate in Kolkata the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay and the Taratala-Majerhat metro sections, with a focus on enhancing avenues for ensuring ease of urban mobility, it said.

Modi is scheduled to visit Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar from March 4-6, the release said.

The Howrah Maidan-Esplanade section (East West Metro corridor) has the first transportation tunnel under any mighty river in India, said the release.

It passes under the River Hooghly, on the east and west banks of which are situated Kolkata and Howrah cities, respectively.

Kolkata Metro created history in April 2023, when its rake ran through a tunnel under a river, the Hooghly, for the first time in the country.

Modi will also launch the Kavi Subhash-Hemanta Mukhopadhyay metro section of the Kavi Subhash-Airport line and the Taratala-Majerhat section, which is a part of the Joka-Esplanade line, the release said.

The Howrah metro station is also the deepest metro station in India.

The 4.8-km stretch between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade is the second section of the East West Metro corridor between Howrah Maidan and IT hub Salt Lake Sector V.

The Esplanade-Sealdah stretch of the East West alignment is awaiting completion.

Metro Railway General Manager P Uday Kumar Reddy had earlier said it is targeting June-July this year to start commercial operation in the entire route of East West alignment.

Completion of the project has suffered delays owing to an aquifer burst at Bowbazar in central Kolkata on August 31, 2019, leading to severe ground subsidence, and the collapse of a number of buildings there and two more water leakage incidents at the same site in 2022 during tunneling and construction work.

The Salt Lake Sector V to Sealdah stretch of the East-West Metro corridor is commercially operational at present.

Out of the total 16.6 km length of the East West Metro, the underground corridor constitutes 10.8 km between Howrah Maidan and Phoolbagan, with the tunnel under the Hooghly river. The rest of the stretch is elevated corridor.

The release said that the Majerhat metro station, on the Taratala-Majerhat section, is a unique elevated metro station across railway lines and platforms.

Metro services on the 6.5 km stretch between Joka and Taratala of the Joka-Esplanade project are already operational
Russian occupants have changed the tactics of shelling the power system and started to attack individual energy facilities more intensively.

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This was stated by the head of Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytsky.

He noted that this winter, the Russians have changed their tactics. Instead of massive missile strikes, they are launching more targeted and intense drone attacks on specific energy facilities.

"If last season they launched about 400 drones during the entire heating season, now they launch this many in a month or 3 weeks," Kudrytsky said.

As an example, the head of Ukrenergo cited the latest attack on the energy infrastructure of Dnipropetrovsk region. Back then, the number of drones launched by the Russians at power facilities was almost comparable to the number of drones that hit power facilities last winter.

"That is, the intensity has increased significantly. And they are clearly concentrating their efforts on a small number of facilities, unlike last year, when they tried to damage both substations and power plants in a carpet pattern. Now they are obviously using a niche tactic," he said.

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Kudrytskyi added that the aforementioned attack in Dnipropetrovsk region was aimed at shutting down large industrial facilities.

As a reminder, the occupants recently attacked one of DTEK's frontline thermal power plants, injuring 9 power engineers.

In total, the occupiers have attacked the company's TPPs more than 40 times this winter.

Earlier, Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko said that the Russians had changed their tactics of shelling the energy system and were now actively shelling energy facilities in industrial regions to damage Ukraine's economy.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend 29 programmes spread across 12 states and union territories over the next 10 days ahead of the likely announcement of the Lok Sabha polls. Officials said he will be visiting Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi.

On Monday, he will unveil multiple development projects in Adilabad in Telangana and later visit the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) in Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu. He will address public meetings in Adilabad as well as Chennai, the officials said.

Modi will launch several projects in Sangareddy in Telangana on March 5 and address an event before travelling to Odisha where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of numerous development initiatives. He will then address a public meeting in Chandikhole in Odisha before travelling to West Bengal.

On March 6, he will unveil development projects in Kolkata and address a public meeting in Barasat. He will then travel to Bihar and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects in Bettiah, the officials said. The prime minister will be in Jammu and Kashmir on March 7 and attend a media event in Delhi in the evening.

On March 8, he will participate in the first-ever National Creators Award in Delhi and then leave for Assam in the evening. Modi will inaugurate the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradeshs West Kameng and then unveil multiple development projects in Itanagar.

Later, he will unveil a statue of legendary Ahom army commander Lachit Borphukan in Jorhat, Assam. Thereafter, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects in Jorhat, the officials said.

He will also visit West Bengal and launch development projects in Siliguri and address a public meeting there. On March 10, Modi will be in Uttar Pradesh and will dedicate to the nation various projects in Azamgarh, they said.

He will attend an event in Delhi the next day related to Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi programmes. Then, he will inaugurate the Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway. In the evening, he will attend a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) programme. On March 12, he will visit Sabarmati in Gujarat and Pokhran in Rajasthan and then lay the foundation stones of three important semiconductor projects in Gujarat and Assam via video conferencing on March 13.

He is also scheduled to attend an outreach programme for disadvantaged sections of society via video conferencing, they said. The prime minister has been unveiling a slew of development projects running into lakhs of crores of rupees at various places as he turns the spotlight on his governments development and welfare agenda in the run-up to the general elections expected to be held in April-May.
Mothers possess a remarkable level of intuition or gut feeling. Numerous documented instances exist where mothers have demonstrated an innate ability to sense when their children are about to get into trouble even when physically distant.

Bengaluru-based 24-year-old techie Kumar Alankrits mother just proved the fact that even doctors and scientists acknowledge. Her unusual midday call helped save her son during the Rameshwaram cafe blast, reported the Times of India.

If it wasnt for my mothers call, who knows what would have happened to me, said Alankrit, who walked away from the spot where the bomb exploded a few seconds later.

Alankrit, who lives in Bengalurus Brookefield and works in hybrid mode, said his mother saved his life even when she was far away.

I cook every day, but that day I was too hungry to cook and wanted to go out to have brunch. Whenever I work from home, I step out for a snack in the evening, so this was unusual for me, he told TOI.

After ordering a plate of idli and dosa for himself, Alankrit sat near a tree, where the blast would take place.

After eating my plate of idli, I walked towards the counter to collect my plate of dosa. All of a sudden, my phone rang. Puzzled, I read the name of the caller and it was my mom. I remember feeling that it was unusual for my mom to call me at this time, he told TOI.

When Alankrit picked the call, his mother complained that his voice was muffled. To get a better connection, he stepped out and immediately, he heard a loud explosion behind him.

There was black smoke everywhere. It felt like I was in a Bollywood movie. It took me a few moments to comprehend what had happened. I quickly ran towards the injured and tried to help them in the way I could, he said.

Moments later Alankrits mother called to ask about his safety. As soon as I answered the call, I whispered thank you to my mother. I was fighting back tears. That moment I realised mothers are really God, Alankrit said.

He said his bond with his mother was great. I was inseparable from my mom when I was growing up. She was my best friend and she still is. To this day, I call her every day and tell her how my day has been and check up on her. While our calls usually happen in the evening, right after my shift, it was different on Friday, he said.

The Brookfield outlet of The Rameshwaram Cafe where a low-intensity blast occurred on Friday leaving 10 people injured will be reopened on March 8, said the co-founder and CEO of the popular city eatery. In the blast that occurred on Friday afternoon, both staff and customers at the cafe sustained injuries but they are all recovering, police said.

Following the incident, the eatery was cordoned off as part of investigation by the city police. We extend a warm invitation to all authorities and customers to join us for our reopening. Let us unite in solidarity and demonstrate that together, we are unyielding in our commitment to moving forward, he said.

Bengaluru Police Commissioner B Dayananda said that the investigation into the incident, suspected to be caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED), is on in full swing. Several teams are working on different leads obtained so far, he said.

Meanwhile, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara said, We are continuing our investigation. 8 teams have been formed and all are working in different directions and looking at different aspects. We have collected several CCTV footage. We are examining every angle including if there is any jealousy factor. I also appeal to the opposition to cooperate with us and not to make this a political issue. We do not know if there is any connection with the Mangaluru blast.
A Spanish travel vlogger, allegedly gangraped in Jharkhands Dumka on Friday night, shared the harrowing incident in an Instagram post. Displaying visible bruises on her face, she conveyed the message in a video in Spanish, stating, Seven men have raped me.

The woman and her partner, who had travelled from Bangladesh to Dumka on two motorcycles with plans to continue to Bihar and then Nepal, encountered the incident during their travels.

We are in the hospital, and something happened to us that we wouldnt wish on anyone. Seven men raped me, and they have beaten us and robbed us, although not many things (were taken) because what they wanted was to rape me. We are in the hospital with the police, it happened tonight in India, the 28-year-old Spanish travel vlogger shared in her video post on IG, where she has almost 2 lakh followers.

They attacked us, beat us, put a knife to our necks and said they were going to kill usThere were seven people, she added.

The incident occurred at Kurumahat in the Hansdiha police station area, approximately 300 km from Ranchi, on Friday when the couple were spending the night at a makeshift tent.

The woman and the man stopped a patrol van around midnight. Initially, the patrolling party did not understand much of the incident because the woman was speaking partly in English and partly in Spanish. They were taken to a nearby health centre, Dumka Superintendent of Police Pitamber Singh Kherwar said. The doctors then informed the police that the woman had been raped. I received a call around 1.30 am and rushed to the spot for verification, he added.

Four held so far

Jharkhand Director General of Police Ajay Kumar Singh informed that all seven accused had been identified and that four had been arrested. The remaining three will be arrested soon, Singh told The Indian Express.

Dumka District Civil Surgeon B P Singh noted that, according to the doctor who treated her, the woman did not exhibit any apparent injuries.

However, her partner posted on social media said, My mouth is destroyed, but my partner is worse than me. They have hit me with the helmet several times, with a stone on the head, thank goodness she was wearing the jacket and that stops the blows a little.

The woman said in her complaint that she had pitched her tent in a deserted area near Hansdiha market. While she was sleeping, some local youths entered the tent and took turns raping her, the woman added. The accused also beat her up, according to her complaint. Following the incident, she was admitted to Saraiyahat CHC for treatment. An investigation into the case is underway.
The uncle of the classical dancer, who was shot dead in the US, said on Saturday that he is still in the dark about the details of his nephews death, even as four days have passed since he was killed.

Amarnath Ghosh, a Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer who hailed from West Bengals Birbhum district and migrated to the US last year to follow his dancing dreams, was shot dead in a neighbourhood in Missouri state. We had informed the district police and administration about what we had heard from various sources. But till today we dont have any details about his death, Amarnaths uncle Shyamal Ghosh was quoted as saying by PTI in Suri.

Hope we get the update of this heinous crime as early as possible. If i am not wrong this is 5th or 6th murder of Indian Students in 2 months. We all are worried here & griefing. https://t.co/4Nu5bRy4wd Devoleena Bhattacharjee (@Devoleena_23) March 2, 2024

Amarnath, whose parents are no more, used to stay at Subhas Pally locality of Suri town. He is the only child of his parents. Local councillor Suparna Roy also said that they didnt have any information about the killing. So far, no official of the Birbhum district administration was available for comment on this issue, the report said.

On March 1, Amarnaths actor friend Devoleena Bhattacharjee first alerted the authorities on social media about Ghoshs death. Hope we get the update of this heinous crime as early as possible. If I am not wrong this is 5th or 6th murder of Indian Students in 2 months. We all are worried here & griefing, Bhattacharjee said in a post on X on Saturday.

She tagged the X handles of the Indian Embassy in the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar to look into the matter. Only child in the family, mother died 3 years back. Father passed away during his childhood. Well the reason, accused details everything are not revealed yet or perhaps no one left in his family to fight for it except his few friends. He was from Kolkata, she said on Friday.

(With agency inputs)
The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) demolished the Chhatarpur farmhouse of liquor baron late Ponty Chadha worth around Rs 400 crore, officials said on Saturday. The demolition took place on Friday and Saturday.

Quoting a senior police official, a Hindustan Times report said it was the same farmhouse where Ponty Chadha and his younger brother Hardeep were killed in 2012.

According to an NDTV report, officials noted that the demolition was carried out in continuation with the governments exercise to reclaim government land over which unauthorised occupation and illegal construction has been done.

#WATCH | Delhi Development Authority demolished the Farmhouse of high profile liquor baron, Late Ponty Chadha alias Gurdeep Singh, spread over about 10 acres in Chhatarpur, South Delhi, worth about 400 crores, yesterday. Today, the exercise of demolition of the main building over pic.twitter.com/yqE9cBPNDP ANI (@ANI) March 2, 2024

Continuing with its exercise to reclaim government land over which unauthorised occupation and illegal construction has been done, the DDA on Friday demolished the farmhouse of high-profile liquor baron late Ponty Chadha alias Gurdeep Singh, spread over about 10 acres in Chhatarpur worth about Rs 400 crore, the officials said.

The farmhouse was currently in the possession of Ponty Chadhas son Manpreet Singh alias Monty.

Who Was Ponty Chadha?

One of Indias most powerful businessmen, Ponty Chadha was killed in a shootout with his estranged brother Hardeep in 2012 following an argument between them over property. He was 55 years old at the time of his death. According to police officers, Hardeep opened fire at Ponty, following which the latters security officer shot Hardeep.

As per reports, the brothers were fighting over their family business  estimated at around Rs 6,000 crore- spread over four states, following the death of their father Kulwant Singh Chadha the previous year.

Ponty Chadha was the sole liquor distributor in Uttar Pradesh. His other businesses included real estate, sugar mills and film production, which he used to manage along with his two brothers  Hardeep and Rajinder.

Ponty Chaddha also owned the Wave Group and ran a popular chain of multiplexes under the brand in the Delhi-NCR region.
Anant Ambani, Radhika Merchant Pre-Wedding LIVE: The three-day pre-wedding festivities of Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambanis youngest son Anant Ambani and industrialist Viren Merchants daughter Radhika Merchant began on Friday (March 1) in Gujarats Jamnagar.

The third and final day of the grand celebrations concluded on Sunday. The finale was a mix of adventure and tradition. Attendees started the morning with Tusker Trails and explore Jamnagars green expanses in casual chic attire. A Hashtakshar ceremony, which was held in the evening, signified the official union of the couple in the presence of their loved ones.

The second day of Anant-Radhikas pre-wedding festivities were set to the themes of A Walk on the Wildside with jungle fever as the suggested dress code and Mela Rouge, a potpourri of desi activities in the guests favourite south Asian attire. The Walk on the Wildside was held outdoors in Vantara, the Ambanis animal rescue and rehabilitation centre in Jamnagar.

Close to 2,000 guests, including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, Bollywood stars Deepika Padukone, Ranbir Kapoor, Sidharth Malhotra are attending the celebration hosted at the Reliance Greens Complex in Jamnagar. All of these guests brought out their floral, birds, tiger and animal-printed outfits to match the second days theme.

The inaugural day, March 1, was set to the theme of An Evening in Everland, where guests adorned themselves in sophisticated cocktail attire. A performance by Cirque du Soleil, a drone show, and Rihannas first-ever performance in India remained the highlights of the first day of festivities.

The festivities took place in Jamnagar as the city holds a special significance for the Ambani family due to their deep-rooted familial ties.
One of the most admired music composers from the Hindi film industry, Salim Merchant, turned a year older today. Born on March 3, 1974, in Mumbai, Salim went to Trinity College of Music in London after graduation to enhance his piano playing skill. Be it pop music, Hindi songs or qawwali, Salim has aced it all and has delivered some chart-topping songs in his musical career.

Apart from composing and singing music, Salim has also been a part of various music reality shows as a judge, including Indian Idol Junior Season 2, Indian Idol Season 5 and Season 6, and The Voice of India. As he turns 50 today, here is a rundown of some of his unmissable songs that he has sung to date:

Ainvayi Ainvayi (Band Baja Baarat)This energetic and peppy number from the movie Band Baja Baarat is a popular choice at weddings and celebrations. The song, written by Amitabh Bhattacharya and crooned by Salim Merchant and Sunidhi Chauhan, was a hit when it was released in 2010. Its catchy beats and vibrant music video featuring Ranveer Singh and Anushka Sharma make it a sure-shot dance number. Ishq Wala Love (Student Of The Year)The song was well received and popular among the younger generation, particularly those who fell in love for the first time. Ishq Wala Love from the movie Student Of The Year, starring Sidharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan, and Alia Bhatt, Rishi Kapoor, is a soft ballad sung by Neeti Mohan, Shekhar Ravijiani, and Salim Merchant. The beats are light, and the mush factor is high. Shukran Allah (Kurbaan)This soulful and emotional song from the movie Kurbaan is a beautiful blend of Sufi elements and modern music. The powerful vocals of Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal and the heart-touching lyrics make it a timeless classic. Featuring Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan, this song celebrates the feeling of love in the most magical way possible. Jigar Da Tukda (Ladies vs Ricky Bahl)Isnt it just amazing how music composer Salim Merchant has composed or sung songs from various genres? Talking about this upbeat Bollywood song from the movie Ladies vs Ricky Bahl, this song celebrates the joy of love and playful banter between lovers. The song was a huge hit upon release and remains popular at weddings and dance parties due to its catchy beats and energetic music video featuring Ranveer Singh and Parineeti Chopra. O Re Piya (Aaja Nachle)This slow-paced song is nothing less than a cool breeze on a hot day. Rendered by music legend Rahat Fateh Ali Khan in 2007, O Re Piya still holds a special place in our personal playlist. It showcases a beautiful fusion of qawwali and classical touches in terms of music and lyrics. Aye Khuda (Paathshaala)Aye Khuda from the Bollywood film Paathshaala starring Shahid Kapoor and Ayesha Takia is a very pleasant number that lifts the mood. Salim Merchant sang this track in his mellifluous voice, and the lyrics were penned down by Hanif Shaikh. The song has a soft rock tinge with soft western instruments, which makes listening very soothing and enjoyable. Maula Mere Le Le Meri Jaan (Chak De India)Anyone who has watched the movie Chak De India knows that this beautiful composition by Salim-Sulaiman can make anyone emotional. Portraying Bollywood heartthrob Shah Rukh Khan in the lead role, this popular song embodies a feeling of love and patriotism towards the country. Maula Mere Le Le Meri Jaan remains a favourite even years after the release of the film. Mar Jaawan (Fashion)This song remains a memorable track from the Bollywood movie Fashion, featuring Priyanka Chopra and Kangna Ranawat. The lyrical song sung by Shruti Pathak, Salim Merchant, continues to be appreciated for its distinct composition, and the music was composed by Salim-Sulaiman. The lyrics were penned down by lyricist Irfan Siddiqui. Rab Rakha (Love Breakups Zindagi)Listen to the Rab Rakha song in the soothing voice of Sonu Nigam and Shreya Ghoshal from the movie Love Breakups Zindagi. Starring Zayed Khan, Tisca Chopra, Dia Mirza, and Cyrus Sahukar, among others, the lyrics of the song are penned by lyricist Javed Akhtar, while the music is given by my music duo Salim Sulaiman. The serenity in this melodious song has a direct connection to the heart, doesnt it? Khudaya Ve (Luck)This song is a romantic ballad that expresses the emotions of love and longing. Its a popular choice for romantic playlists and wedding celebrations. The soulful track pictured on Imran Khan and Shruti Haasan has won the hearts of many. It has been written by Shabbir Ahmed for the Bollywood film titled Luck.

Happy Birthday, Salim Merchant!
The countdown of the rocket inspires lakhs of children in India, and those making paper planes today dream of becoming scientists. In this Amrit Kaal, an Indian astronaut will land on the moon in an Indian rocket, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Most of the millennials born between the 1980s and 1990s must have faced some dilemma. When someone expressed their wish to become a scientist a few decades ago, they would have got the reply that there is no hope for a career in the field of research or science in India.

Indias giant leap into space

With enthusiasm, the prime minister introduced the four astronauts of Gaganyaan, the first human spaceflight mission of India, and announced that India will have its own space station by 2035. One noticeable point is that most of the apparatus of Gaganyaan is Made in India.

The four astronaut-designates are not just four names or individuals, they are four shakti carrying the aspirations of 140 crore Indians into space. The four astronaut-designates symbolise the trust, courage, valour and discipline of todays India, Modi said.

Here is the Naya Bharat under PM Narendra Modi.

The government has given a big boost to research and innovation in all fields since the beginning and the results are evident now. Prime Minister Modi last month inaugurated three new space infrastructure projects worth around Rs 1800 crore during his visit to Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

In March 2019, India successfully conducted Mission Shakti and tested the anti-satellite missile system. India was the only country to successfully land on the south pole of the Moon on August 23, 2023, through Chandrayaan-3. The nation has established various records like reaching Mars in the first attempt of Mission Mangalyaan, launching 100 satellites in a single mission and the successful insertion of the Aditya L1 solar probe in its orbit 15 lakh kilometres from Earth. India launched 400 satellites in the last 10 years of the Modi government, as compared to just 33 before 2014.

Namaste World: From the G20 presidency  This was the first message from an 8-kg micro-satellite developed by 750 girls from rural India. The number of youth-based space startups has increased to over 200 now from just two in 2014. India has earned over Rs 4,000 crore by launching over 430 satellites for foreign nations, including Australia, Brazil, France, Israel, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the US. This era of Prime Minister Modi has undoubtedly resulted in a watershed moment in the history of Indian research and innovation. The future projects also are ambitious and interesting. The Indian government aims to explore the deep sea through Samudrayaan.

What made the difference?

The policies of the Modi government have given a huge impetus to space research, which was previously subjected to gross negligence. The government increased the allocation of funds to space research. Participation of private partners was also encouraged. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation Bill, 2023, was rolled out with a budget of Rs 50,000 crore for five years. This public private partnership (PPP) model could be a game changer with investments of more than Rs 36,000 crore estimated to be coming from the private sector and Rs 14,000 crore from the government.

The budget of Chandrayaan-3 was Rs 615 crore, while the unsuccessful Russian lunar mission cost Rs 16000 crore. This became a case study for space missions. Modi government has allocated a budget of over Rs 9023 crore to Gaganyaan.

Several incentives were provided to startups through schemes like Stand-Up India, Credit Linked Guarantee Scheme, PLI scheme, etc. A new initiative was launched by the Modi government which made it mandatory for corporates to earmark 10 per cent of Corporate Social Responsibility funds for research and development. Students across the country from high schools, colleges and universities were enrolled in space research training programs. Satellites developed by students were successfully launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).

The government recently approved the FDI policy to allow 100 per cent foreign investments in the space sector. This will further increase the arena of space research in India with the involvement of bigger players.

Scientists have gotten full support irrespective of the results of missions. This is the moment when a nation stands tall, India is with you, saying these words, PM Modi had consoled the then ISRO chief K Sivan, who broke down into tears at the failure of Chandrayaan-2, an attempt at a soft landing on the Moon in 2019.

In science, experiment failures lead to success ultimately. The government has increased awareness about space research. People celebrated the success of Chandrayaan-3 with huge pomp and fervour. The scientists became role models and heroes for many aspiring young Indians. ISRO director, S Somanath, receiving a standing ovation on a flight was a memorable unforgettable sight.

Space Technology for all

Space technology has been utilised in varied fields of communications, agriculture, irrigation, climate change, weather prediction, navigation, fisheries, health, education, border security, internal security, forestry, mining, etc, helping citizens from all walks of life. Farmers and fishermen are able to get accurate predictions of the weather. Army and police can monitor and track the activities and even cross-border infiltrations accurately. India now has the capability to destroy satellite-based communication mechanisms in space and intercept inter-continental ballistic missiles.

The Modi government has been successful in bringing social, economic and developmental transformations utilising space technology and research. By the next decade, Indias space economy is expected to grow by five times and touch Rs 3.96 lakh crore ($44 billion). The youth of the nation have huge opportunities to further explore the unexplored domains of research.

All of you, ISRO and the entire space sector have a huge role in building a Viksit Bharat, these words of PM Modi are absolutely true.

(Dr Vinusha Reddy is the author of the book India Before & After 2014, Delegate of BRICS Political Parties Plus Dialogue Summit, Official Spokesperson, in charge of policy & Research, Mahila Morcha BJP Andhra Pradesh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views)
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed that India has double the unemployment as compared to Pakistan, saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modis poor financial decisions are the reason behind this.

At his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Madhya Pradeshs Gwalior, Rahul Gandhi addressed the public and said that Indias performance is worse than that of Bangladesh and Bhutan.

The country is facing injustice on many fronts. There is economic and social injustice. Farmers are facing injustice. Our country is facing the worst unemployment rate in the last 40 years. Indias unemployment rate is double that of Pakistan. 23 per cent of youth were unemployed in India and 12 per cent in Pakistan, he said.

We have more unemployed youth than Bangladesh and Bhutan because Narendra Modi has finished small businesses by demonetisation and implementing GST Gandhi added.

According to a 2022 World Bank report, Indias youth unemployment rate was recorded at 23.22 per cent, whereas  recording lower unemployment rates  its neighbouring nations Pakistan and Bangladesh stood at 11.3 per cent and 12.9 per cent respectively.

The former Congress President also attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government for not taking measures towards carrying out a nationwide caste census.

He noted that the ownership of businesses in several sectors is not held by the backward classes, adding that, the government does not wish to let this fact out into the public domain.

Caste census is the X-ray of India. No one should have a problem with it. They (BJP) dont want the country to know the truth. In the private sector, look at the owners of hospitals and colleges. These owners will not be coming from backward classes. Look at the MGNREGA list and labourers data, there you will find adequate representation from backward classes, Gandhi said.

On February 24, Rahul Gandhi took his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra to Uttar Pradesh. Addressing a gathering in Sambhal, he had said that the youths would not be using their mobile phones for 12 hours a day had there been no unemployment in the country.

Gandhi had said, There is no employment in India, that is why you use your mobile phone for 12 hours. Did you know that the sons of big businessmen dont watch Reels, they count money 24 hours (a day)?

If you get employment, you will watch Reels for half an hour and work for 12 hours, the Congress leader said.

(With ANI inputs)
The BJP-led ruling alliance and the opposition bloc are united in their belief that winnability is the only formula for seat-sharing in Maharashtra, which sends the second-highest number of 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha after 80 from Uttar Pradesh.

Maharashtra, the countrys most industrialised state and its premier FDI magnet, however, has seen a political churn since 2019, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena breaking its long-time alliance with the BJP, and then suffering a split, just like the Sharad Pawar-founded Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

A major chunk of the Shiv Sena is now with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and it is allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

The NCP also met a similar fate as Ajit Pawar walked away with a legislative majority last year and is also part of the ruling alliance. The splits and realignments have made seat-sharing an arduous task with claims and counter-claims, leaders from the ruling and opposition parties said.

The BJP, which along with the then undivided Shiv Sena won a cumulative 41 out of the 48 seats in 2019, is looking to better the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tally to 45.

In contrast, the opposition Congress will seek to put behind its disastrous 2019 outing when it won just one seat. The seat-sharing issue is being discussed with the central leadership, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule told PTI.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP and the Congress, is wooing the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, but the grandson of legendary social reformer Babasaheb Ambedkar is yet to make a formal announcement about his allegiance.

As per sources, the BJP is expected to contest more than 30 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which has sought 10 seats, is likely to get four. The Shinde-led party wants to contest 18 seats, the number the undivided Shiv Sena won in the 2019 polls.

Amol Mitkari, spokesperson of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, said his party wants to contest 10 seats, including Baramati in Pune. A senior BJP leader said discussions were underway at the top level of the party leadership, adding that it would contest more seats than it did last time.

Speaking about seat-sharing, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the MVA has completed discussions and an announcement will be made soon by the top leadership of the constituent parties.

However, Congress leaders said the discussion continues on seats that it was traditionally contesting as part of its alliance with the undivided NCP but were won by the Shiv Sena in the 2019 polls. The MPs from these seats are now part of the Shinde faction.

The Congress is ready to contest a maximum of 20 seats, while the NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar could field candidates in nine to 10 constituencies. A senior Congress leader told.
A genetic mutation that occurred 25 million years ago caused great apes to lose their tails. We are talking about changes in the TBXT gene.

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The theory of tail loss was published by researchers led by geneticist Bo Xia in the journal Nature. Interestingly, Xia's research was prompted by an injury sustained during a cab ride, and the work of Ukrainian scientist Nadiia Dobrovolska-Zavadska helped solve the mystery.

Xia admits that since childhood he has been interested in the question of where and why his tail disappeared. However, he decided to seriously study this question a few years ago when he was recovering from an injury to his coccyx, the bone in the lower back from which monkeys grow their tails.

Now Xia and his colleagues have an answer. The researchers have identified a genetic change shared by humans and other apes that may have caused their ancestors to lose their tails about 25 million years ago.

Unlike most apes, humans do not have tails. However, they still have the coccyx, which is the remnant of the vertebrae that form the tail in other animals. After suffering an injury to his coccyx, Xia decided to solve the mystery of the disappearance of tails.

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Luckily, he came across a 1927 study in which Ukrainian scientist Nadiia Dobrovolska-Zavadska described a species of short-tailed laboratory mouse. The scientist then suggested that the mouse had a mutation in a gene called T. This gene is the equivalent of the human gene TBXT.

Xia's further research revealed that humans and other great apes carry a DNA insertion in TBXT that is not present in other tailed primates, such as monkeys.

Further investigation revealed that the monkey "insertion" could lead to a shortened form of the protein that encodes TBXT. The shortening, according to the scientists, occurred after the gene was transcribed into messenger RNA, and when several segments of the gene transcript encoding the protein were joined together.

However, the problem was to prove this not only on paper. The first experiments with a genetic insert transplanted into the mouse genome did not yield the desired result, as the experimental mice had normal tails.

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Then the researchers created mice with a different insertion in the T gene. By chance, this led to the gene being incorrectly spliced, just as it happens in humans. Mice with this insertion were born with short or completely absent tails.

In addition to this change in DNA, other variations in genetic changes that are unique to great apes have also been identified and may also play a role in tail loss.

In addition to great apes, there are other primates that do not have tails. According to Xia, this suggests that there are multiple evolutionary pathways for tail loss.

"There are probably several ways to lose a tail during development. Our ancestors chose this path," Xia said.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Union Council of Ministers on Sunday, probably the last such exercise ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. The meeting will be held at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in the Chanakyapuri diplomatic enclave in Delhi.

The prime minister holds meetings of the entire Council of Ministers from time to time to discuss key policy and governance issues. This meeting holds great significance as it comes just a day after the BJP announced its first list of candidates for the general elections.

The Election Commission (EC) is likely to announce the poll schedule in a couple of weeks.

PM Modis Council Meeting: Whats On The Agenda

The prime agenda for the Council of Ministers meeting is to formulate a strategy for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the country and to review the performance of the NDA government over the past two terms of the Narendra Modi government.

Reportedly, PM Modi will also seek feedback from the Union ministers regarding the implementations of multiple government welfare schemes and initiatives launched by the NDA in the past decade. He will also discuss strategies for the future given the elections.

BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has expressed confidence in retaining power at the Centre for a third term under Modi on the back of its development and welfare planks. The EC has begun reviewing the preparedness of various states for holding the Lok Sabha elections.

PM Modi Congratulates BJP Candidates

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday congratulated the BJP leaders named in the partys first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha polls, expressing confidence that people will elect the saffron outfit to power again.

We are going to the people on the basis of our track record of good governance and ensuring the fruits of progress reach the poorest of the poor, Modi said in a post on X.
Taking a swipe at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday suggested the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to get insurance for the NDA government in the state citing the JDU chiefs history of repeated U-turns.

Addressing the Jan Vishwas Rally at the Gandhi Maidan in Patna, the RJD leader said that BJP keeps saying Modi Ki Guarantee, but who will take the guarantee of Nitish Kumar?

He slammed the saffron party over nepotism allegations while questioning the presence of Samrat Choudhary, Ram Vilas Paswans brother in the BJP. ..Manjhis son has been made minister, it doesnt look like any nepotism to them, Yadav added.

Due to the U-turn taken by Nitish Kumar, it seems that the state government should get its insurance done. They say Modi ki Guarantee, but who will take the guarantee of Nitish Kumar, the RJD leader further said.

Referring to his uncle Nitish Kumar, Yadav hoped that he remains happy wherever he is, even though he has turned away from them. However, he pointed at the employment means Nitish Kumar posters in Patna and said, From whom did you first hear about 10 lakh jobs? We respect and honour Nitish Kumar because he is our uncle but he is getting posters up in Patna that employment means Nitish Kumar.

In between this, Yadav thanked and hailed the grand old Congress party for supporting RJD during tough times.

He slammed the Bihar chief minister and said that he had question RJDs promise of providing jobs, saying This is the same Nitish Kumar when we had promised jobs, he had asked from where will we get them.

Yadav also highlighted his partys work and said that during its tenure, caste census was done, reservation limit was expanded. He said, During out tenure, we got the caste census done, got the reservation limit increased by 75 per cent, and increased the reservation limit for extremely backward people by 24 per cent. We did the work in Bihar which was not done in the country since independence.

He said that his party, R in RJD stands for Rise, J for Job and D for Development. He further asserted that while some claim that the RJD is a party of the M-Y (Muslim and Yadav), it is in fact a party of the M-Y and BAAP, where B stands for Bahujan, A for Agda (upper caste), A for Aadhi Aabadi (women) and P for poor.

Again, launching a scathing attack at the BJP, Yadav said that though they keeping toppling the state governments, how will they buy the public.

The public will respond, he said, adding that, Some people have bowed their knees in front of Modiji but I am proud of my father (Lalu Prasad Yadav), he fought many times but never bowed down. When Laluji is not afraid, will his son be afraid?

He hailed the Mahagathbandhan government and said what it did in the last 17 months in the state, Nitish Kumar  who joined hands with the BJP  could not do that in the last 17 years.

In fact, he even pulled out a Hrithik Roshan song reference to hit out at the Bihar chief minister. He referred to the Bollywood song Idhar Chala Main Udhar Chala and said, Nitish chacha (uncle) does something like this and frequently changes sides.

Further, Tejashwi Yadav maintained that he will fight the battle till the very end, saying that this is the fight of ideology.

Yadav also hit out at the summons that are being received by the INDIA bloc leaders. Sometimes Rahul Gandhi is set summons and now when there is an alliance in Uttar Pradesh, CBI is going after Akhilesh Bhai. No matter how big a corrupt person is, if he goes into the BJP washing machine, he gets cleaned. But now BJP has become a dustbin where every partys waste is going into it, he said.

In attendance at the rally were several opposition leaders, including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav.

Akhilesh Yadav, in his comment, said On one hand, Uttar Pradesh is giving the slogan of 80 harao, Bihar is also raising the slogan of 40 harao. What will happen to BJP if both UP and Bihar make them lose 120 seats In 2024, Samvidhaan Manthan is going to take place.

On one side, there are the protectors of the Constitution and on the other side, there are the destroyers of the Constitution, Akhilesh added.

(With ANI, PTI inputs)
Trained to negotiate crisis as a former UN under-secretary-general and diplomat, Shashi Tharoor will be fighting Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekar  BJPs Lok Sabha candidate from Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala  for his fourth term.

In 2004, when Tharoor took the poll plunge, it was to use his stronger vocabulary carefully than being in the minefields of Bosnia. But he managed to not only defeat the then reigning champions but continued to hold on to the Lok Sabha seat despite the Left giving a tough fight to him, and infighting from the Congress where even today many consider him to be an outsider and maverick.

Tharoor lost the Congress presidential election against Mallikarjun Kharge in 2022 because he was not the favourite with many of his party colleagues who also labelled him as a traitor. But he put up a decent fight by securing 1,072 votes. He is also not trusted by many within his party, especially those from Kerala, because of his frequent praising of Prime Minister Narendra Modis policies.

Tharoor told News18 in an interview that even though he knows that the BJP may put up a fight, there will be voter fatigue. I am confident even though its my fourth term as I have a good track record of service to constituents and major development initiatives and consistent responsiveness to voters and their needs, I wont base my stand on other contenders; there have been contenders each time. Each has their own strengths and policies and so do I. We will let the voters judge who they want to represent in Parliament. As for the BJP mission in south, I am very confident that it will leave with zero in their report column. I am not anxious about any major BJP resurgence in either Kerala or Tamil Nadu. They have had some success in the recent past in Telangana and Karnataka but I am sure they will have less success this time. There is not such as anti-incumbency Being familiar with a face you have seen on the ground for a long time might want you to see a change. But I have earned the affection of the people and their trust and I will never let them down.

Its over to the people now. The man, who has a way with words and his impeccable English, hopes that he has the last word in the battle this time in Thiruvananthapuram.
Taiwan has hit back at China after it expressed outrage against an Indian TV channel for broadcasting an interview with Foreign Minister Joseph Wu of the democratically elected island, which Beijing considers as its territory despite decades of separate rule.

In an exclusive interview with NewsX released on February 29, Wu raised concerns over Chinas military pressure and its growing assertiveness in the South China Sea. Taiwans longest-serving foreign minister, who plans to vacate his post in the coming months, said they are working hard to ensure bilateral relations are moving forward in every way.

In a statement issued on March 1, the Chinese embassy in India said the interview provided a platform for advocating Taiwan independence and disseminating false information, which it deemed a serious violation of the one-China principle. This principle asserts that there is only one China in the world, Taiwan is part of China, and the government of the Peoples Republic of China is the sole legal representative. The Chinese embassy stressed that the one-China principle is widely accepted and forms the political foundation for diplomatic ties between China and countries worldwide.

Despite separatist forces advocating for Taiwans independence, historical and legal facts cannot be altered, the Chinese embassy claimed. In the statement, the Chinese mission also urged Indian media to uphold Chinas sovereignty and territorial integrity. Responding strongly to Chinese criticism, the Taiwan Foreign Office said, Neither India nor Taiwan is part of the PRC and were not its puppets. Were both democracies with free and vibrant presses that cant be dictated to. Beijing should worry about its own economic slump, not bullying its neighbours, the statement added.

This row came less than a month after the Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India and the India Taipei Association (ITA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on labour cooperation. India-Taiwan relations, while unofficial, have gradually strengthened in recent years, driven by economic, strategic, and cultural factors. Despite not having formal diplomatic ties, both sides have sought to enhance bilateral trade and investment through various mechanisms. Taiwans technological expertise in areas like chipmaking aligns with Indias goals of promoting innovation and digitalisation.
Irans judiciary has executed a terrorist over a drone attack that targeted a defence ministry site in central Iran last year, state media reported on Sunday.

According to state TV, the person planned to explode the workshop complex of the Ministry of Defence in Isfahan under guidance of the intelligence officer of Mossad, Israels spy agency.

The date of the execution and the identity of the accused person were not immediately clear.

Iran has several known nuclear research sites in the Isfahan region, including a uranium conversion plant. The countrys sanction-hit nuclear programme has been the target of sabotage, assassinations of scientists and cyber-attacks.

Tehran has accused Israel of carrying out several covert actions on its soil.

Irans intelligence ministry said in February 2023 that it had arrested the main actors involved in the drone attack on a defence ministry site in Isfahan, home to the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility.

The previous month, an anti-aircraft system destroyed a drone, and two others exploded during an attack on a defence ministry facility in the province, officials said at the time.

According to the defence ministry, the night-time attack left no casualties and only caused minor damage.

Authorities did not elaborate on activities at the site, but IRNA said the strike had targeted an ammunition manufacturing plant.

Iran has been engaged in a shadow war for years with its arch-enemy Israel.

In August last year Iran claimed to have foiled a very complex Mossad-initiated project to sabotage its ballistic missile industry.

In January, Iran hanged four members of its Kurdish minority on charges of spying for Israel. They were convicted of collaborating with Israel on a plan to sabotage an Iranian defence site in Isfahan.

In April 2021, Tehran announced it had started producing 60 percent enriched uranium at the Natanz site, a day after accusing Israel of an attack there.

Since last October Israels war in the Gaza Strip against Hamas militants has sent tensions soaring. Iran has supported Hamas in the war, but denied any direct involvement in its attack, or in military action launched by allied armed groups in countries from Lebanon to Yemen.
The United States has carried out the first of what it said would be a series of humanitarian airdrops of food into Gaza, as aid agencies warned of a growing humanitarian disaster in the Palestinian enclave in the absence of a ceasefire deal.

On Saturday, three C-130 military planes delivered more than 38,000 meals into a territory with the help of Jordanian forces. With talks in Egypt set to resume on Sunday, the framework for a deal on a six-week ceasefire was in place, with Israels agreement, and depended on the militant group Hamas agreeing to release hostages.

United States Central Command and Royal Jordanian Air Force Conduct Combined Airdrops of Humanitarian Aid Into GazaU.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Gaza on March 2, 2024, between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. pic.twitter.com/yiJoQTWeZW  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2024

Israelis march in Jerusalem

Media reports said that thousands of Israelis marched in Jerusalem to demand the release of about 134 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. Protesters, led by families of hostages seized during Hamas deadly rampage through southern Israel on Oct. 7, arrived at the city at sundown. In Gaza, the health ministry said at least 11 Palestinians were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent in Rafah.

Gaza Ceasefire

The Israeli military said its forces killed eight militants in Khan Younis, around 20 militants in the central Gaza Strip and three more in Rimal, near Gaza City. More than a million Palestinians have been seeking refuge in the Rafah area, fleeing an Israeli offensive that has laid waste to much of Gaza, killing more than 30,000 people, according to the Hamas-run enclaves health authorities. Israel launched the offensive in response to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas, in which 1,200 people were killed in Israel and another 253 abducted, according to Israeli tallies.

Israel and Hamas have been negotiating via mediators including Egypt and Qatar. Two Egyptian security sources said delegations from both sides were expected in Cairo on Sunday to resume indirect talks, but an Israeli report cast doubt on this.

There was no immediate comment from Israel or Hamas. The Egyptian sources told Reuters that the parties had agreed on the duration of a truce, as well as hostage and prisoner releases, adding that completion of the deal still required an agreement on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Gaza and a return of residents.

However, Israels Ynet news cited an unnamed senior official as saying Israel would not send a delegation to Cairo until it received a full list of hostages who were alive. A Palestinian official familiar with mediation efforts did not immediately confirm the Cairo talks. When it comes to ending the war and pulling out forces out of Gaza, gaps remain unbridged, the official said.

(With agency inputs)
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuked a top Cabinet minister arriving in Washington on Sunday for talks with U.S. officials, according to an Israeli official, signaling widening cracks within the countrys leadership nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahus wartime Cabinet following Hamas Oct. 7 attack, comes as friction between the U.S. and Netanyahu is rising over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and what the postwar plan for the enclave should look like.

An official from Netanyahus far-right Likud party said Gantzs trip was planned without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz and told him the country has just one prime minister.

Gantz is scheduled to meet on Monday with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on Tuesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to his National Unity Party. A second Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity said Gantzs visit is intended to strengthen ties with the U.S., bolster support for Israels war and push for the release of Israeli hostages.

In Egypt, talks were underway to broker a cease-fire before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins next week.

Israel did not send a delegation because it is waiting for answers from Hamas on two questions, according to a third Israeli government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israeli media reported that the government is waiting to learn which hostages are alive and how many Palestinian prisoners Hamas seeks in exchange for each.

All three Israeli officials spoke anonymously because they werent authorized to discuss the disputes with the media.

On Saturday, the U.S. airdropped aid into Gaza. The airdrops came after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from an Israel-organized convoy were killed last week, and they circumvented an aid delivery system that has been hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues and fighting in Gaza. Aid officials say airdrops are far less effective than deliveries made by trucks.

U.S. priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahus Cabinet, which is dominated by ultranationalists. Gantzs more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight.

Netanyahus popularity has dropped since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls. Many Israelis hold him responsible for failing to stop the Oct. 7 cross-border raid by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took roughly 250 people as hostages into Gaza, including women, children and older adults, according to Israeli authorities.

More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Around 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and U.N. agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Israelis critical of Netanyahu say his decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu wants Israel to maintain open-ended security control over Gaza, with Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The U.S. wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantzs party has questioned the handling of the war and the strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahus government, Israels most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews. Many of them are exempted from military service so they can pursue religious studies. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7, and the military is looking to fill its ranks.

Gantz has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood. Polls show he would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today.

A visit to the U.S., if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantzs support.

Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior U.S. official said Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

Israelis, deeply traumatized by Hamas attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defense, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last years demonstrations against the governments judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

At least 14 people were killed in a strike on a home in the southernmost city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, according to Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of the hospital where the bodies were taken.

Israeli airstrikes also hit two homes in the Jabaliya refugee camp, a dense, residential area in northern Gaza, killing 17 people, according to the Civil Defense.

Amid concerns about the wider regional conflict, White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein was going to Lebanon on Monday to meet officials, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment. White House officials want Lebanese and Israeli officials to prevent tensions along their border from worsening.
A grenade was found in the back seat of an Uber in Times Square on Saturday, with the New York Police Department (NYPD) bomb squad facing difficulties reaching the scene due to anti-Israel protesters obstructing traffic.

Several protesters participating in the pro-Palestine demonstration were apprehended for impeding the path of the police vehicle responding to the incident, the New York Post reported, citing law enforcement officials.

Happy Saturday to all! Except the people who thought it was a good idea to block an NYPD ESU vehicle on the way to a bomb threat call. They will be spending their Saturday where they belong  in jail! pic.twitter.com/C0adj5waUj NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Operations Kaz Daughtry (@NYPDDaughtry) March 2, 2024

This is dangerous

NYPD released footage showing demonstrators surrounding a police vehicle at Times Square before officers intervened to disperse them. In a social media post, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry condemned the obstruction of an NYPD vehicle on its way to a bomb threat call.

New York police officials were furious over protesters bid to stop first responders. This is dangerous! One day when the call is real and people get hurt, then what? I will tell you what..silence and cowardice from all the people who advocate for protesters to be allowed to disrupt the streets. Then the first responders will arrive to do the best they can! Chief John Chell, NYPD Chief of Patrol said in a post on X.

After the reports emerged about the discovery of the grenade, the police managed to establish a security perimeter around the vehicle and closed off traffic on 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry has condemned Indias seizure of a consignment meant for the countrys nuclear program and denounced New Delhis high-handedness in the handling of what it described as commercial equipment.

This came after Indian security agencies at Mumbais Nhava Sheva port intercepted and seized the consignment of a Karachi-bound ship from China after it was found carrying a dual-use consignment with implications for Pakistans nuclear and ballistic missile programmes, news agency PTI reported, citing government officials.

This is a simple case of import of a commercial lathe machine by a Karachi-based commercial entity which supplies parts to the automobile industry in Pakistan. Specifications of the equipment clearly indicate its purely commercial use. The transaction was being conducted through transparent banking channels with all the relevant documentation, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Saturday. Pakistan condemns Indias high handedness in seizure of commercial goods. This disruption of free trade underscores the dangers inherent in arbitrary assumption of policing roles by states with dubious credentials, it added

Acting on intelligence, Indian customs officials earlier stopped the Malta-flagged merchant ship  CMA CGM Attila  en route to Karachi on January 23. During its inspection, it was found that the consignment had a Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machine, manufactured by an Italian company, known for its precision and efficiency controlled by a computer system. After thorough examination, the consignments potential usage in Pakistans nuclear initiatives was confirmed, notably in manufacturing crucial components for missile development.

CNC machines fall under the Wassenaar Arrangement, an international arms control regime aimed at curbing the spread of items with dual civilian and military applications. Further probe showed many discrepancies in the shipping details, indicating potential evasion tactics to conceal the true recipients. The agency report said this incident follows past seizures of dual-use military-grade items being transhipped from China to Pakistan, raising concerns over illicit procurement activities. The ongoing probe aims to ascertain if the suspected Pakistani entities receiving these items are linked to the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DESTO), responsible for Pakistans defence research and development.

The port officials, with specific intelligence, had alerted the Indian defence authorities who inspected the heavy cargo and reported their suspicions. According to government officials, the seizure falls under the prevention of possible proliferation by Pakistan and China. According to documents such as bills of loading and other details of the consignment, the consigner was mentioned as Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd and the consignee as Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd of Sialkot. However, further investigation by the security agencies indicated that the consignment, weighing 22,180 kilogrammes, was shipped by Taiyuan Mining Import and Export Co Ltd and meant for Cosmos Engineering in Pakistan.

On Sunday, the Chinese mission in India said it has noted relevant reports and is verifying its authenticity. As a responsible major country, China has been strictly fulfilling its international non-proliferation obligations and commitments. As a responsible major country, China has been strictly fulfilling its international non-proliferation obligations and commitments, Chinese spokesperson Wang Xiaojian said in a post on X.

(With agency inputs)
Pakistan Prime Minister Designate Shehbaz Sharif, by mistake, called himself the Leader of Opposition while addressing the National Assembly on Sunday, Geo News reported.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader became the prime minister of Pakistan for a second time to lead a coalition government after he won a majority in the newly-elected Parliament amid the ruckus created by Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) members.

Sharif is expected to take oath on Monday, sources were cited as saying by ARY News. President Arif Alvi will administer the oath to the newly elected PM at a ceremony at the Presidents House at 3 pm on Monday.

The 72-year-old leader received 201 votes, which was 32 more than what was required to become leader of the House in the 336-member Parliament. Meanwhile, PML-Ns opponent Omar Ayub Khan of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) secured 92 votes.

After winning the majority in the assembly, Sharif said, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all the members who elected me as the leader of the opposition with their votes and affection.

He also raised the Kashmir issue and demanded the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians.

Lets all come together and the National Assembly should pass a resolution for the freedom of Kashmiris and Palestinians, the PML-N leader said in his victory speech.

He also hailed his brother, Nawaz Sharif, in his speech. When my Quaid (leader Nawaz) was elected the prime minister thrice, the development that followed in the country is an example of its own, An it is not wrong to say that Nawaz Sharif is the one who built Pakistan, he said.

Shehbaz Sharif earlier served as a prime minister of a coalition government from April 2022 to August 2023 before the Parliament was dissolved to hold general elections.

Besides being backed by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Shehbaz also enjoys support from the Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM-P), Pakistan Muslim League (Q), Balochistan Awami Party, Pakistan Muslim League (Z), Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party and the National Party.

(With ANI inputs)
On the afternoon of March 3, Russian terrorists launched a missile in the direction of Odesa region. A tactical aircraft launched an Kh-31P missile.

ADVERTISIMENT

Air defense forces destroyed the enemy target over the Black Sea. This was reported by the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine.

Russian occupants fired a Kh-31P missile from a tactical aircraft in the Black Sea towards the southern regions of Odesa region. The enemy tried to attack around 12:00,

The defense forces noted that the missile lost its combat capability over the sea.

The military also noted that the Russians continue their tactics of targeted missile attacks, testing and reconnaissance of air defense systems. Therefore, Ukrainians were urged to be careful and take cover when warned of danger.

The air alert in Odesa region lasted from 11:53 to 12:12. The Air Force Command warned of a missile threat.

As a reminder, on the night of March 2, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 17 drones . Air defense forces shot down 14 of them.

ADVERTISIMENT

In Odesa, a Shahed hit a residential high-rise building and destroyed the entire entrance. As of 9 a.m., at least ten people were reported dead.

Among the victims are three children: boys aged 3 and 4 months, and an 8-month-old girl. In particular, a 4-month-old baby died with his mother. A three-year-old boy was killed with his father, and the child's mother was hospitalized in intensive care in serious condition. Another mother and child were found under the rubble on the morning of March 3.
Shehbaz Sharif, who is known to be an astute politician and a good administrator, has once again donned the mantle of prime ministership of cash-strapped Pakistan by a quirk of fate and his amicable ties with the powerful establishment in the coup-prone country.

The 72-year-old President of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), the younger brother of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, always played the second fiddle to the 74-year-old party supremo, who returned to Pakistan in October last year, in his bid to script history by becoming the premier for a record fourth time in 2024.

However, the outcome of the February 8 elections crushed Nawaz Sharifs dream of becoming the prime minister for the fourth time.

The PML-N, which was hoping to form a government on its own, won only 75 seats, trailing behind independent candidates backed by jailed former prime minister Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf: in the 336-member National Assembly.

With the election leading to a hung Parliament, the PML-N did not have much of a choice, but to form a coalition government to prevent Khans .
In confidential briefings to their lawmakers, high-ranking British security officials have expressed grave concerns about the escalating terrorist threat linked to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. The surge in extremist communication intercepted by UK intelligence agencies mirrors the heightened levels observed before the September 11 attacks in the United States, UKs Daily Mail reported.

The officials flag the possibility of coordinated terrorist activities or lone wolf attacks, underlining the potential risks posed by individuals radicalised by the ongoing Gaza conflict. They caution that the Middle East conflict serves as a recruitment platform for global terror organizations, exploiting the tensions to lure new members.

British politicians are warned of the increased risk of extremist activity during the upcoming Muslim holy month of Ramadan, a period historically associated with heightened tensions and potential security threats. The alarming volume of extremist rhetoric, described as off the scale by insiders, raises fears of an imminent attack reminiscent of the spike in hate speech following the 9/11 attacks, according to the Daily Mail.

Former UK Home Office Minister Robert Jenrick also voiced concerns about the stretched resources of intelligence services and law enforcement agencies in combating Islamist extremism. Security officials disclosed details of confidential meetings held with lawmakers since December, highlighting the urgency of the situation. Underlining worries about the long-term impact of radicalisation, particularly among young British Muslims, British officials flagged the potential for attacks similar to the 7/7 bombings or the murder of Lee Rigby by Islamist extremists,

A senior Conservative official said that terrorist groups are exploiting the Gaza conflict to enhance their fundraising and recruitment efforts, leveraging the heightened tensions for their benefit. Conservative Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, Alicia Kearns, slammed the governments failure to raise the national threat level in response to the escalating situation. She stressed the gravity of the crimes committed by Hamas and called for a stronger response to the heightened global terrorism risk.

Jonathan Hall KC, the independent reviewer of counter-terrorism legislation, echoes concerns about the surge in extremist rhetoric and hate speech targeting specific groups. He warns of the danger posed by individuals and groups motivated by a grievance narrative, targeting the UK due to its alliances with the US and Israel. In response to these threats, calls for proactive measures to counter extremism and hate speech online gain momentum.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) has underscored the need to protect civilians in Gaza in the wake of the deadly incident at an aid convoy on Thursday, drawing grave concern from across the world, including India.

Members issued a statement on Saturday expressing their deep concern over reports that more than 100 individuals lost their lives, with several hundred others sustaining injuries, including gunshot woundsin an incident involving Israeli forces at a large gathering surrounding a humanitarian assistance convoy southwest of Gaza City.

Read More: Israel-Hamas War: Stampede or Massacre? Over 100 Killed While Seeking Aid In Gaza; US, UN, EU, Middle East React

In a statement issued on Saturday, they noted that an Israeli investigation is underway. The Council stressed the need to take all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, adding that all parties to conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law. Parties were urged to refrain from depriving civilians in Gaza of basic services and humanitarian assistance. The Council expressed grave concern that the entire population, more than two million people, could face alarming levels of acute food insecurity.

Members reiterated their demand for parties to allow, facilitate, and enable the immediate, rapid, safe, sustained and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip. They urged Israel to keep border crossings open for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, to facilitate the opening of additional crossings to meet humanitarian needs at scale, and to support the rapid and safe delivery of relief items to people across the enclave.

United States Central Command and Royal Jordanian Air Force Conduct Combined Airdrops of Humanitarian Aid Into GazaU.S. Central Command and the Royal Jordanian Air Force conducted a combined humanitarian assistance airdrop into Gaza on March 2, 2024, between 3:00 and 5:00 p.m. pic.twitter.com/yiJoQTWeZW  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 2, 2024

US Aid

The United States on Saturday carried out the first of what it said would be a series of humanitarian airdrops of food into Gaza, as aid agencies warned of a growing humanitarian disaster in the Palestinian enclave in the absence of a ceasefire deal. Three C-130 military planes delivered more than 38,000 meals into a territory with the help of Jordanian forces.

With talks in Egypt set to resume on Sunday, the framework for a deal on a six-week ceasefire was in place, with Israels agreement, and depended on the militant group Hamas agreeing to release hostages. Israel and Hamas have been negotiating via mediators including Egypt and Qatar. The delegations from both sides were expected in Cairo on Sunday to resume indirect talks, but an Israeli report cast doubt on this.

There was no immediate comment from Israel or Hamas. The Egyptian sources told Reuters that the parties had agreed on the duration of a truce, as well as hostage and prisoner releases, adding that completion of the deal still required an agreement on the withdrawal of Israeli forces from northern Gaza and a return of residents.

(With agency inputs)
After two false starts, the billionaires behind a plan to build an eco-friendly city from scratch are behind schedule to put their proposal before California voters this November. Former Goldman Sachs trader Jan Sramek unveiled his closely guarded ballot initiative for the proposed community between San Francisco and Sacramento in January, a plan that envisions 20,000 homes, transit infrastructure, schools, jobs, and green space for an initial 50,000 residents, per the AP.



Background: Sramek needs Solano County voters to allow urban development on rural land his company has stealthily purchased since 2018 for at least $800 million, to build what he's pitched as a walkable community for (eventually) up to 400,000 residents. Sramek hasn't said how much he's prepared to spend on the effort.

Sramek needs Solano County voters to allow urban development on rural land his company has stealthily purchased since 2018 for at least $800 million, to build what he's pitched as a walkable community for (eventually) up to 400,000 residents. Sramek hasn't said how much he's prepared to spend on the effort. Signature-gathering: The county counsel's office issued a ballot title and summary for the initiative last week, allowing signature gatherers to hit the streets in search of the 13,000 they needand preferably thousands more as a cushion.
The University of Florida has shut down its diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts, an administrative memo revealed on Friday, in response to new state restrictions on the use of funding. The memo says the school closed the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer, "eliminated DEI positions and administrative appointments, and halted DEI-focused contracts with outside vendors," ABC News reports. The move eliminated about a dozen full-time positions, per Politico . "DEI is toxic and has no place in our public universities," Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has led the move against DEI efforts, posted on X . "I'm glad that Florida was the first state to eliminate DEI and I hope more states follow suit."

Three senior university officials said in the memo that the school nevertheless will carry on with "our commitment to universal human dignity." The steps against DEI have been overseen by Ben Sasse, the former Republican US senator whose appointment elicited opposition. US Rep. Steven Horsford, chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, took issue with DeSantis' comment, saying "intolerance is toxic," per NBC News. A state legislator called the firings "the most recent manifestation of the policies of an out of touch legislature, and a Governor's failed Presidential bid," per the Gainesville Sun. "We can't call ourselves the 'free State of Florida' when children aren't free to learn the truth of their history, and see the diversity of humanity," Democratic Rep. Dianne Hart said. Every public college and university in Florida will be affected by the new law, per the AP. (More Florida stories.)
Oil and Gas Trader Convicted for Role in Foreign Bribery and Money Laundering Scheme

A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted an oil and gas trader today for his role in a scheme to bribe Ecuadorean and Mexican government officials and to launder money to secure contracts worth hundreds of millions of dollars for his then-employer, Vitol Inc. (Vitol), the U.S. affiliate of the largest independent energy trading firm in the world.

According to court documents and evidence presented at trial, Javier Aguilar, 49, of Houston, paid more than $1 million in bribes to officials of Petroecuador, the Ecuadorean state-owned oil and gas company, and PEMEX Procurement International (PPI), a subsidiary of PEMEX, the Mexican state-owned oil and gas company, to obtain lucrative contracts for Vitol.

Javier Aguilar bribed officials at state-owned oil and gas companies in Ecuador and Mexico using shell companies and sham invoices to obtain business for Vitol Inc., where he worked as an oil and gas trader, said Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri of the Justice Departments Criminal Division. With todays verdict, the jury has held him accountable for his role in a sophisticated bribery and money laundering scheme that netted Vitol hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts. Foreign bribery erodes the rule of law, disadvantages honest companies, and emboldens corrupt government officials. The Criminal Division will continue to vigorously pursue wrongdoers who bribe foreign officials and bring them to justice.

Todays verdict represents another victory in this offices commitment to rooting out corruption in the international marketplace, said U.S. Attorney Breon Peace for the Eastern District of New York. The defendant and his co-conspirators sought to enrich themselves through criminal backroom deals. The people of Ecuador and Mexico deserved better and companies that play by the rules should know that the process is not rigged. The Justice Department and my office will continue to prioritize holding to account individuals who enrich themselves through bribery.

As demonstrated by this case, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act has a long reach, said Special Agent in Charge Jeffrey B. Veltri of the FBI Miami Field Office. Aguilars egregious attempt to get away with bribing officials in Ecuador and Mexico failed, and he will now face tough penalties. I want to commend our partners in the Justice Departments Criminal Division and at the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York for their close cooperation on this case.

The trial evidence showed that, between 2015 and 2020, Aguilar was a trader in Vitols Houston office. As a part of the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators agreed to bribe senior Ecuadorian officials to obtain a $300 million contract to purchase fuel oil for Vitol. Aguilar and his co-conspirators used another Middle Eastern state-owned entity to circumvent Petroecuadors restrictions on contracts with private companies. In return for the promise and payments of bribes, the Ecuadorian officials then ensured that the Middle Eastern state-owned entity and Vitol were awarded the contract. Following the 2017 Ecuadorean presidential election, the officials who received bribes were replaced by new senior officials. To ensure continuity under the then-existing fuel oil contract and to obtain additional business, Aguilar and his co-conspirators agreed to bribe them as well.

To conceal the scheme, Aguilar and his co-conspirators used a series of fake contracts, sham invoices, and shell entities incorporated in Curacao, Panama, and Cayman Islands. Aguilar also used alias email accounts to communicate with his co-conspirators rather than his Vitol email.

The evidence at trial also demonstrated that Aguilar used the same system of shell entities and sham invoices to launder bribe payments to two officials at PPI. In total, Aguilar paid approximately $600,000 in bribes to these officials to obtain numerous contracts for Vitol to supply hundreds of millions of dollars of ethane gas to PEMEX.

The jury convicted Aguilar of conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA), violating the FCPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He faces a maximum penalty of five years in prison on each of the FCPA counts and 20 years in prison on the money laundering count. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.

Seven of Aguilars co-conspirators have pleaded guilty to their roles in the scheme and are awaiting sentencing. These individuals have agreed to forfeit more than $63 million.

In December 2020, Vitol admitted to bribing officials in Ecuador, Mexico, and Brazil in violation of the anti-bribery provisions of the FCPA. Vitol entered into a deferred prosecution agreement with the Criminal Divisions Fraud Section and Money Laundering and Asset Recovery Section (MLARS) and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of New York. As a part of the resolution, Vitol agreed to pay a combined $135 million in penalties as part of a coordinated resolution with the Justice Department, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and authorities in Brazil.

FBI Miamis International Corruption Squad investigated the case.

Trial Attorney Clayton P. Solomon and Assistant Chiefs Derek J. Ettinger and Jonathan P. Robell of the Fraud Section, Deputy Chief Adam J. Schwartz and Trial Attorney D. Hunter Smith of MLARS, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Jonathan P. Lax, Matthew R. Galeotti, and Nick M. Axelrod for the Eastern District of New York are prosecuting the case. The MLARS Special Financial Investigations Unit and Justice Departments Office of International Affairs also provided substantial assistance.

The Criminal Divisions Fraud Section is responsible for investigating and prosecuting FCPA matters. Additional information about the Justice Departments FCPA enforcement efforts can be found at www.justice.gov/criminal/fraud/fcpa.

This story has been published on: 2024-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
The Atesh military movement of Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars confirmed the drone strike in Feodosia. According to the movement, an oil pipeline was damaged, and the occupiers were repairing the damage until the morning.

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The guerrillas estimated the damage suffered by the invaders as enormous. This is stated in a message on the Atesh Telegram channel.

"The occupiers' oil pipeline was destroyed in Feodosia. Atesh agents from the occupation authorities report that last night there was an attack on the oil pipeline in the city. The consequences were eliminated until the morning. The damage is enormous!" the statement reads.

After the powerful explosions in the temporarily occupied Feodosia on the night of March 3, the Russian Defense Ministry said that Ukraine had launched 38 drones in Crimea, but all of them, according to the aggressor state, were allegedly shot down.

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At the same time, after the night attack, massive ambulance departures were recorded in Crimea, and the invaders blocked a section of the Tavrida highway near Feodosia.

As of 12 p.m. Kyiv time, the so-called Minister of Transport of the occupation "government" of Crimea, Nikolai Lukashenko, announced the launch of reverse traffic on the previously blocked section of the Tavrida highway. However, for some unknown reason, despite the fact that Russian air defense "shot down all the drones," the occupiers hope to fully restore traffic on this road only by the evening.

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As a reminder, on the night of March 3, explosions were heard in occupied Feodosia. According to eyewitnesses, they heard sounds similar to the humming of Shaheds, as well as shooting at drones and Russian air defense.

According to preliminary information, voiced at night, the "cotton" this time visited an oil depot near Feodosia. According to Crimeans, firefighters and ambulances went there.
A teenager has been arrested on suspicion of stabbing and critically wounding an Orthodox Jewish man on the streets of Zurich, Swiss police said Sunday. And French authorities were searching for the assailant who beat a man leaving a synagogue in Paris, an assault that the nation's interior minister called an antisemitic attack. Throughout Europe, antisemitic acts have increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war on Oct. 7even in Switzerland, where the Swiss Organization of Jewish Communities, in expressing its shock after the stabbing, said physical attacks have been rare for the past two decades. Police said they'll increase security at sites with Jewish ties, the AP reports.
The advice to Media and Communications Minister Melissa Lee said any further delay to a law change forcing Google and Facebook to pay local media companies for using their news content could lead to job losses.

"The industry considers the [Fair Digital News Bargaining] bill is the best mechanism to support a free and independent news media that is not reliant on government funding," officials told Lee.

"The government may come under pressure from news media entities to consider other more interventionist and costly options for supporting the news media industry, such as bailouts."

The briefings obtained by RNZ made it clear Lee was on notice about media job losses, months before Warner Bros Discovery said last week it would close down Newshub in June with the loss of about 300 jobs.

It will be at least May before the bill progresses any further, however, as Lee told RNZ she would wait for a report from the select committee considering it before going any further.

Bargaining bill worth tens of millions to media

The digital news bargaining bill, introduced by Labour in August 2023, aims to allow local news publishers to negotiate on "more equal terms" with digital platforms such as Google and Facebook.

The bill creates a bargaining and arbitration process, penalties for not complying, and exemptions for digital platforms who can show they are making a "fair contribution" to the production of local news content.

"The bill is designed to reduce reliance on government funding by providing pathways for local news media to enter commercial deals with digital platforms that are using their content to drive engagement, and make money, but not paying the original content makers," officials told Lee.

The documents said local media would benefit by between $30 million and $50 million each year under the law and that this revenue could triple over time.

"International examples show that New Zealand may see higher returns - approximately $134 million - as online news markets develop and news companies are encouraged to enter the market."

While politicians debate the digital news bargaining law, Google has done its own deals with 20 New Zealand media outlets under its Google News Showcase programme, launched in August 2022.

Lee was told that without these deals some of those media companies would have gone bust.

"News media stakeholders have informed officials that without a News Showcase deal there is a high likelihood they would shut down."

But officials told their minister that Google may pull out of these deals if the digital news bargaining law does not go through.

"There is a risk that Google will pull out of its current commercial deals or will not renew its commercial partnerships in the future. This would leave the industry without a viable pathway to transition to online operating models."

The documents said most media companies did not support government subsidies and that schemes such as the $55 million Public Interest Journalism Fund was "not financially sustainable" and could "compromise the perception of a free and independent news media industry".

Officials told Lee that the US, UK, Canada, Australia, the EU and France had, or were implementing, bargaining legislation, requiring digital platforms to compensate media.

The Australian bargaining code was providing about $215 million each year to local news media. In Canada, Google had agreed to contribute $119 million a year and in France $135 million, the documents state.

Meta's threat to block news content

But multinational tech giants are opposed to New Zealand introducing digital bargaining legislation.

"Large digital platforms who occupy dominant positions in the online marketplace such as Google and Meta (Facebook's parent company) do not support the bill," officials told the minister.

"Meta has informed officials that if the government passes the bill, Meta will block New Zealand news content, like it has in Canada."

Officials told Lee that they were confident that other digital platforms would fill the gap left by Facebook and that Microsoft assured them it would remain in the online news market place.

"Alternatively, consumers can access news directly from a media company's website, ensuring revenue is directed to the companies who pay to make the news."

The documents show that Lee met with Google executives on 12 December.

In notes prepping Lee for that meeting officials said Google made "significant revenue" from New Zealand.

"In 2022 Google sent $870 million to its parent company, up from $698 million in 2021. Officials estimate that Google generated approximately $1.18 billion from search engine advertising in New Zealand in 2022."

It outlined to the minister how the Google business model worked.

"Google monetises audience engagement using online advertisements or on-selling personal data to third parties to generate revenue. Google uses content to drive audiences to its platforms and keep them using its services. News content is a popular driver of engagement."

Officials said that Google had used this business model to generate substantial wealth.

"However, generally the entities that create the content used to generate this wealth only share in the revenue if a user clicks on the link and navigates to the entity's webpage," officials said. "If users do not click, and many do not, Google keeps all the advertising revenue that comes from that engagement."

Media advertising revenue has collapsed in recent years.

Newspaper advertising revenue fell from $533 million in 2011 to $210 million in 2020 and led to a halving of the number of journalists in New Zealand, according to the Ministry of Culture and Heritage.

Officials told Lee that Google argues it does not use news content to generate revenue and, in its view, the bill requires digital platforms to compensate news media entities for freely linking to news content.

But officials pointed Lee to a Columbia University study analysing what Meta and Google owed the US media industry.

"The research concludes that Meta's platform Facebook owes $3.1 billion (NZD) annually and Google owes $16.3 billion (NZD) annually to US news publishers."

Lee has been lukewarm on supporting the Fair Digital News Bargaining Bill, previously describing it as like "another tax".

In Parliament last week Labour MP Reuben Davidson asked Lee whether she would fast-track the bill in the wake of the Newshub shutdown.

Lee said the government's position on the legislation would "take into account these latest developments in terms of the wider media landscape".

She declined an interview with RNZ for this story but issued a statement saying she was waiting for the select committee to report back in May.

"Once the report is back I'll consider it and take advice from officials on the best way forward."

RNZ
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A large military family was killed in a Russian terrorist attack in Odesa. Rescuers found a man with his wife and one child under the rubble.

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Two more of their children are missing. This was reported by the Suspilne news media outlet.

The media, citing close friends of the victims, reported that the bodies of Oleh and Tetyana Kravets, as well as their seven-month-old daughter Liza, were found under the rubble. Two other children are still missing.

An acquaintance of the deceased family said that Oleh and Tetiana were military men, they met while serving. Later, the woman resigned to take care of their newborn daughter. It is also known that the man was the last son of his parents - his brother Yevhen was killed in the ATO zone in 2014.

The media reported that the deceased girl, Liza, was the only child of the couple, and she turned seven months old on February 29. Tatyana had three other children from a previous marriage, two of whom, nine-year-old Serhiy and eight-year-old Zlata, are still being searched for under the rubble.

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"He took her with the three children, and they gave birth to Lizonka. The eldest boy, Volodymyr, went to Raukhivka to live with his grandparents and survived, but three died: a child they had together and two from their first marriage," said a friend of the victims.

Another friend of the victims told reporters that the SES officers were trying to find one of the spouses. At the time of the strike, the man, his wife and young daughter were in the bedroom. The rescuers went upstairs to the surviving part of the apartment, calling for them, but it was obvious that they had not survived.

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On the night of March 2, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 17 drones. Air defense forces shot down 14 of them.

In Odesa, a Shahed hit a residential high-rise building and destroyed the entire entrance. As of 9 a.m., at least ten people were reported dead.

Among the victims are three children: boys aged 3 and 4 months, and an 8-month-old girl. In particular, a 4-month-old baby died with his mother. A three-year-old boy was killed with his father, and the child's mother was hospitalized in intensive care in serious condition. Another mother and child were found under the rubble on the morning of March 3.
The warhead of the kamikaze drone used by the Russians to hit a multi-story building in Odesa could have been modernized. This factor may explain the significant destruction of the entire entrance.

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However, final conclusions can only be drawn after the conclusion of experts and law enforcement agencies. This was reported by Natalia Gumenyuk, head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine, during the telethon.

According to her, the remains of the drone and the nature of the destruction of the high-rise building are being studied. At the same time, search and rescue operations continue, so experts may find additional parts of the UAV.

"Experts are working to assess what happened - the type of hit, the remains of the drone and the type of damage. In addition, the search and rescue operation is still ongoing. While dismantling the rubble, it is possible that some more parts of the barrage munition will be found," said Humeniuk.

She also does not rule out the possibility that the drone could have had a reinforced combat unit. The spokesperson for the "South" military command emphasized that Russian terrorists are constantly working to improve their weapons.

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"We have already seen modifications of missiles, they are trying to adjust them to their plans. They use air bombs, which is also a certain modification. Therefore, we understand that changes in the weapons the enemy will use continue," said Humeniuk.

In a comment to journalists, the spokeswoman for the South military command added that the enemy has recently been trying to launch drones at very low altitudes. This to a certain extent moves the UAVs away from air defense systems and makes them harder to detect. She also said that in addition to the warhead, Russians are modifying the drones' engines.

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On the night of March 2, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 17 drones. Air defense forces shot down 14 of them. In Odesa, a Shahed hit a residential high-rise building and completely destroyed the entrance. As of 9 a.m., at least ten people were reported dead.

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Earlier it was reported that a large military family was killed in a Russian terrorist attack. Rescuers found a man with his wife and one child under the rubble. Two more of their children are missing.

The victims include three children: boys aged 3 and 4 months, and an 8-month-old girl. In particular, a 4-month-old baby died with his mother. A three-year-old boy was killed with his father, and the child's mother was hospitalized in intensive care in serious condition. Another mother and child were found under the rubble on the morning of March 3.




A five-year-old boy has been reportedly killed in a fatal motor accident involving an unregistered Bus Rapid Transit, BRT on Saturday at about 1: 30pm in Palmgroove area of Lagos.

The toddler identified as Maliki alongside his mother Rofiat and sibling Basit were crossing the BRT lane at Palmgroove inward Onipanu when they were knocked down by the BRT bus driven by Sunday Bukola.

It was learned that the hit-and-run driver, Sunday Bukola drove off while Malik died on the spot.

His mother Rofiat and brother Basit were rushed to the hospital where they are currently receiving treatment for various degrees of injuries.

Confirming the incident, the Spokesperson Lagos State Police Command SP Benjamin Hundeyin said: The corpse has been evacuated and deposited at the mortuary. The driver was later arrested and is in police custody. The investigation is ongoing.

In a related development, a ten-year-old boy identified as Chukwudi was killed by Nissan Coastal Commercial Bus at Doyin Bus stop along Orile Mile 2 Expressway Lagos on Sunday 3rd March 2024.

It was learned that Chukwudi was going to church with his father Bernard at about 7: 30am when they were hit by the commercial bus with registration number JJE 134 XK.

Chukwudi, whose skull was smashed, died instantly on the spot.

According to the deceased father Bernard who reported the incident at Bode, We were on our way to church this morning when the accident happened. My son and I were standing at the curvet when the driver who was at high speed when the vehicle hit my son and smashed his skull.

Confirming the incident the Spokesperson Lagos State Police Command SP Benjamin Hundeyin said: On the receipt of the complaint the DPO moved to the scene with operatives, but in the course of evacuating the corpse some miscreants attacked them with stones and bottles and the officers were able to repel them after the patrol teams came for reinforcement.

However, the corpse has been taken to the morgue at Yaba General Hospital. The driver was later arrested and the accident vehicle is in police custody. The investigation is ongoing, he added.
Mr Emeka Anyaoku, former Secretary General of the Commonwealth, has said that Nigerias current constitution would not adequately address the nations economic predicaments and other myriad challenges.

Anyaoku spoke to newsmen on Saturday in his country home, Obosi village of Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

He said the current challenges being faced in the nation like poverty, insecurity, and dilapidated infrastructure, among others, were serious challenges bedevilling the country.

I am on record for saying that these challenges cannot be effectively addressed under the constitution and governance system we have at the moment.

Tinubus Headache: How multi-billion dollar corruption under Buhari hit economy  Investigation

We cannot effectively address these challenges that have assumed nationwide dimension, especially insecurity which has pervaded the Northern part of the country and other communities, he said.

He stressed that the current constitution was a departure from the constitution that the nations founding fathers negotiated and agreed upon.

The constitution for a pluralistic state as Nigeria; we have to return to those principles of the constitution as earlier agreed by our founding fathers.

Until we do that, I am afraid that we cannot effectively deal with the challenges facing the nation, he added.

When asked about the Monday sit-at-home observed in the Southeast region and the negative effects on the economy, the elder statesman said that the sit-at-home was causing great damage to the economy of the country.

The sit-at-home home is doing great damage to the economy of the South East region. I do not support the idea. I think it is doing great damage to the economy.

We have to deal with the root cause of the sit-at-home, which is the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu.

Even though the court of law had ordered his release, that word gives those who advocate and participate in sit-at-home the reason for doing so.

I think that the cause of the sit-at-home should be addressed. I do not think that the sit-at-home should be maintained, it should be stopped, he suggested.

On the Ito-Ogoto traditional event that was being celebrated every three years in the community, he observed that those who attained the age of 80 years were celebrated.

He noted that the Igbo culture respects age because it was believed that age brings wisdom.




President Bola Tinubu has signed an agreement with Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Emir of Qatar, to improve cooperation in seven sectors of the economy.

The sectors include education, enterprise development, investment promotion, youth empowerment, mining, tourism, and sports.

The two countries entered the agreement on Sunday in Doha, according to a statement by Ajuri Ngelale, presidential aide on media and publicity.

Before the signing ceremony, Tinubu was said to have assured his host of Nigerias preparedness to welcome investors into the country, adding that the ongoing reforms favour innovation, return on investments, and multiculturalism.

Our greatest strength is our people. Our strength lies in the capacity of Nigerian youths, Tinubu said.

They have energy, talent, and self-belief. They are quality partners for the Qatari industry. They are educated and reliable, and they are proactively seeking to add value wherever they are.

A few cannot give a bad name to the many. Nigerian youths are ready to be unleashed for the mutual benefit of both nations.

We have seen clearly the rapid pace and thorough quality of Qatars development process. It is impossible not to be moved by what you have accomplished. The leadership in the country has proven its mettle, and we are here to gain deeper insight.

There is nowhere in the world where you will find return on investment at the level of what you will see in Nigeria. A massive market of over 200 million skilled Nigerians, always industrious and ready to work.

We face some short-term turbulence at the moment, but we have a government today that reflects the dynamism and talent of the Nigerian people.

We are implementing the right solutions. This team works collaboratively with each other and our partners. Nigeria is ready for serious business.

On his part, Al Thani, emphasised that Qatar is open to Tinubus investment push.

He also recalled that he travelled to Nigeria in 2019 due to his belief that Nigeria is an important and strategic ally on its own and within the context of its role in regional affairs.

I have no doubt about the great capacity of the Nigerian people. Everywhere in the world, they are known for their brilliance and hard work, he said.

We only need to ensure that this is happening inside of Nigeria rather than outside. The investments we have made around the world have been very fruitful.

This is because we take our time and study opportunities before we invest in the commonwealth of our people. It is not my money. The money we invest belongs to the future generations of Qatar.

Mr. President, I am very encouraged by your actions and your passion to create new opportunities. We are very open to this, and follow-up is everything at this point.

The will is there for both of us, but we must follow up. I will send a team of officials to Nigeria after Ramadan, and we will advance discussions on what some of the actionable investment opportunities are.

EDUN TO HEAD QATAR INVESTMENT IMPLEMENTATION

According to the statement, Tinubu named Wale Edun, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, as the leader of the government team that will interface with Qatari authorities on investment identification and implementation moving forward.

Ngelale said the agreements signed are; cooperation agreement in the field of education; regulation of employment of workers with the government of Qatar; establishment of a joint business council (JBC) between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA); a cooperation agreement in the field of youths and sports.

Other agreements include: cooperation in the field of tourism and business events, and a memorandum of understanding combating illicit trade in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances.
Akin Rotimi, the spokesperson of the house of representatives, has faulted Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, over her comment asking women to keep quiet during arguments with their husbands.

On Wednesday, Kennedy-Ohanenye, during a conference of commissioners of state ministries of women affairs, reportedly advised women to act like fools during heated conversations with their husbands.

In a statement on Thursday, Rotimi, lawmaker representing Ekiti north federal constituency 1, said the ministers advice that women should avoid confrontation with their spouses overlooks the complexity of the issue.

The federal lawmaker said the ministers advice does not address the root causes of violence and can further perpetuate damaging stereotypes.





Rotimi averred that many victims of gender-based violence are submissive and quiet but end up being beaten up or killed.

I hold conservative views shaped by my Christian faith and culture as a Yoruba man about gender roles, the lawmaker said.

It is, however, important to note that the Bible, taken in context, never provided for the subjugation or abuse of women, nor does our culture undermine the place of honour and value of women in our society.





Again, the importance of mutual respect and understanding in a marriage cannot be over-emphasised. It must, however, not be used as an excuse for violence or abuse.

I urge the minister and all stakeholders to engage in constructive dialogue and action to address gender-based violence, encourage victims to speak out, and ensure the safety and well-being of all individuals.

In this regard, I welcome other suggestions from the Minister, especially on the need to expedite the administration of justice in cases of GBV, and democratising access to legal aid and support.

The lawmaker said his comment on the advice of the women affairs minister is not on behalf of the 10th house of representatives.
The Essex County Prosecutors Office is investigating a shooting from Saturday morning that left a 22-year-old dead, officials said Sunday.

Jaheem Futrell of Newark was found by Newark police officers at approximately 10:47 a.m. Saturday on the 300 block of South 8th Street suffering from a gunshot wound, the office said. He was pronounced dead at the scene a half-hour later.

No arrests have been made and the investigation is ongoing.

Authorities are asking for the publics help with identifying any suspects. Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the office at 1-877-847-7432. Calls will be kept confidential.

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Matthew Enuco may be reached at Menuco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Matt on X
Imagine its a winter night at a cafe near the Sorbonne in Paris. A large table crowded with students, artists and professors energetically debate city life over glasses of Bordeaux with a cloud of Gauloises cigarette smoke spreading around.

That was the spirit Jersey City sought to emulate Friday evening at the Night of Ideas, an evening of discussion and arts. It was the first event organized locally by Centre Pompidou, the iconic Paris museum thats building an American branch in Journal Square, and Villa Albertine, a cultural outreach program of the French government.
Let me start with a big thanks to all of you who reached out after introducing myself. I heard from readers from just about every corner in the state.

Of the nearly 200 responses, the biggest takeaway for me is you really wanted to talk. Some of you found me during my morning office hours (9-10 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday.) Others, Ive had to call or email back later.
Gov. Phil Murphys historic boost in funding for New Jerseys public schools, proposed last week, is great news  a tremendous achievement more than a decade in the making.

Its the first time that well be fully funding our schools, with a record $908 million increase in state aid, for a total of $11.7 billion. Thats huge.

And hes right: This is a top priority. New Jerseys schools are among the best in the nation, which wouldnt happen without decades of investment. Thats critical for our workforce, our economy, and economic justice, too  helping kids overcome poverty and learning loss from the pandemic.

This is also the culmination of a years-long effort, led by former Senate President Steve Sweeney, D-Gloucester, and joined by the governor, to bring more fairness to the system. The way we dole out state aid isnt perfect, and may still need some tweaks. But those trashing the governor right now are missing the moment: This is a big funding boost, overall, and a real milestone for New Jersey schools.

This will be the most significant investment into our public schools in history, as Murphy said. There is a simple reason we are keeping this promise. Its because we need to cultivate the potential of every student any way we can  whether they live in Cranbury or Camden.

The goal was to revert back to the sensible funding formula approved by the Supreme Court in 2009, before the Legislature inserted all kinds of mischief. That formula, developed after hearings by a bipartisan Senate committee, starts by weighing the needs of a district and giving extra help to those with high poverty or kids who need special services, whether they live in the suburbs or the city. It accounts for a districts ability to pay its own way, gives extra help if its enrollment grows, and scales it back if it dwindles.

Thats how its supposed to work, anyway. But its been chronically underfunded over the years, a shortage that landed harder on some districts than others that used their political clout to evade the worst of it. Weve since been undoing the effects of that unfair meddling, over seven years, so districts have time to adjust. Now, having a system to disperse state aid that passes constitutional muster enables us to treat kids with more equity.

Certainly, it makes sense to periodically review the formula to see if some areas could be improved, as the chair of the Senate Education Committee, Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), is calling for  like how we fund special education, for instance. Hes planning a hearing later this month and bringing in superintendents to discuss potential changes. There need to be tweaks, and there needs to be transparency, he told us.

And while were at it, we desperately need a robust strategy to fight learning loss with more state funding behind it, as Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz has been advocating.

Still, overall, this budget is a big win for schools. The way we dole out aid is much improved from years ago, before we rectified these inequities. The district of Freehold, for example, had long been shortchanged, getting less than half of what the formula called for because the Legislature added a growth cap that limited increases in state aid, even as a districts enrollment boomed. Had we just followed the formula, state aid would have kept pace.

On the flip side, Jersey City was getting more aid than it should, given the rapid growth of its local tax base; it was overfunded by the same amount that Newark and Paterson combined were underfunded. That needed to be fixed. So, a minority of districts are now facing cuts. The Legislature has provided funding over the last few years to ease some of that pain, and if they have to do so again for some districts facing real hardship, fine.

But we need to get back to the formula, and as promised, thats what Murphy is doing. This is a big investment, a promise kept, and a moment to celebrate.

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On a chilly Saturday morning last month, a smiling First Lady Tammy Murphy walked into the wooden-floored Portuguese Club of Long Branch, just a few blocks off the beach, where hundreds of Monmouth County Democrats gathered to decide who theyd endorse for U.S. Senate.

As she glad-handed her way through the packed room, greeting rank-and-file voters, so did her husband, Gov. Phil Murphy, the most powerful politician in New Jersey.

Both the governor and his wife appeared in good spirits as they worked the room. And why not? She was considered the races favorite heading into the partys first nominating convention in a state where such events can make or break candidates. And it was on her home turf. Even though chief opponent U.S. Rep. Andy Kim represents a third of the county, the Murphys have lived not far from the old hall for 25 years.

But a funny thing happened on Tammy Murphys way to her coronation as the Democrats replacement for indicted U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez in the June primary.

After a secret ballot, Monmouth voters went for Kim, and it wasnt close. When the results were announced, the room was stunned. And just like that, the mood turned. Murphy walked over to the three-term congressman and shook his hand. Then she quickly left.

Since then, nothing has been the same in what is now considered one of the hottest primaries in the nation.

With a new narrative that the seemingly invincible first lady is in for a real race, there is real fear Gov. Murphy and party leaders could punish party members who openly support Kim over his wife, Democrats told NJ Advance Media, which interviewed more than three dozen local officials, delegates, political insiders, and experts over the past three frenetic weeks.

One Monmouth County Democratic official who backed Kim said it feels like were talking about the mafia.

Veteran environmentalist Jeff Tittel agrees.

Ive heard people say: This is like Tony Soprano having a sitdown. You dont know if youre be gonna hugged or shot, joked Tittel, a longtime critic of the Murphy administration. Trenton is really like fear city.

But underneath, there is this anger and rebellion boiling more toward the surface.

It could all come to a head Monday night, when another secret Democratic ballot is held, this time in Bergen County, New Jerseys most populous county.

While nobody said they were directly threatened, many stress there is deep concern because Murphy holds so much power over state government jobs, appointments, and what dollars are doled out from the state budget. Several local officials and party delegates say the worry is their town could lose state aid or they could jeopardize their government job or business they do with the state if they dont publicly back the first lady.

And the incentive also applies to the powerful: The Democratic chairs of five counties representing more than 1 million Democrats hold jobs linked to the state.

Kims campaign and other critics allege that county leaders have maneuvered to benefit Tammy Murphy, including making sure some county votes are not secret, so all can see who votes for whom. The interviews with Democrats also found the fear has fostered a level of loathing from some against the Murphy campaign.

Murphys campaign and her supporters have steadfastly pushed back, saying the governor has not strong-armed anyone, Tammy Murphy is working hard to reach voters on her own accord and with her own record, and the whole argument about nepotism in the race is colored by sexism. Some insiders say concerns of retribution are overblown and accuse Kims campaign of playing victim.

I think the fact shes married to the governor really has nothing to do with it, former Flemington Mayor Betsy Driver said of Tammy Murphy, who is vying to become New Jerseys first-ever female U.S. senator. Shes a qualified candidate. When somebody said being a wife is not a qualification, I wonder if they would say the same if it was the husband of a female governor.

The machine is very careful

Other spouses of top elected officials have run for office before. See: Clinton, Hillary.

Its even happened in New Jersey, where former First Lady Helen Stevenson Meyner served two terms in the U.S. House more than a decade after her husband, Robert Meyner, ended his years as governor in 1962.

What makes this different is Phil Murphy is a sitting governor and a powerful one at that, with the ability to appoint people to countless government posts and overseeing a $55.9 billion state budget. The primary election comes just before Murphy and lawmakers must finalize a new budget by July. He also has two years left in his term.

On top of that is the states long-debated county line system, in which party leaders hold great influence over primaries. Under this only-in-Jersey setup, candidates backed by the county party are bracketed together on the primary ballot, while others are listed to the side. That, critics say, makes it easier for voters to simply vote down the line for the endorsed candidates and helps keep party bosses, machine politics, and incumbents in power.

The line is considered crucial to Murphy, a first-time candidate who quickly received the backing of many of the states top Democrats, including eight county party chairs who represent more than half of the states registered Democratic voters. Its a big reason why Kim has been portrayed as an underdog despite registering a double-digit lead in a poll last month.

Whoever emerges from the primary as the Democratic nominee is favored in Novembers general election, in large part because Republican hasnt won a U.S. Senate seat in New Jersey in 52 years.

Spouses of a governor would have advantages that exist in every state, said Hena Patel, director of the Democracy & Justice Program at the New Jersey Institute for Social Justice. In New Jersey, you have this additional, unique problem.

First Lady Tammy Murphy speaks to the crowd at the Monmouth County Democratic Party convention last month at the Portuguese Club of Long Branch.Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Critics note many of the top county party leaders who help decide the line have extra reason to push for Murphy because they hold jobs connected to state or local government:

LeRoy Jones, chair of both the state Democratic Party and the party in Essex County, home to the most Democratic voters in New Jersey, is a registered lobbyist.

Paul Juliano, chair of the Bergen County party, was appointed by Murphy to a $280,000-a-year state job as chief executive of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority.

Kevin McCabe, chair of the Middlesex County party, is also a lobbyist and was re-nominated by Murphy to the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

John Currie, chair of the Passaic County party, holds a $92,000-a-year job as a consultant to the countys Board of Social Services.

Peg Schaffer, chair of the Somerset County party, runs a politically connected law firm and in January benefitted from a law Murphy signed that could help her continue to represent clients in the cannabis industry despite holding a post on the Sports and Exposition Authority.

Julia Sass Rubin, a Rutgers University professor, found in a recent study the county line gave congressional candidates in New Jersey an advantage of up to 38 percentage points.

When you give a small number of people with that amount of power, youre opening up for corruption, Rubin said.

Jones, Juliano, and Currie did not return messages seeking comment. McCabe declined comment.

Schaffer, also vice chair of the state party, said while a part of my law practice may require some interaction with state agencies, it is at arms length and not impacted by my relationship with any office holder.

My endorsement, however, results from Tammys relationship to Somerset where she has been ubiquitous for the last decade, my belief that she will make the most difference in the Senate due to her many relationships with prominent members, and that it is high time we sent a woman to that chamber, Schaffer said. She is eminently qualified. Her path to this office is non-traditional, but so too was Bradleys, Lautenbergs, Corzines, and Hillarys.

Murphys office did not return messages seeking comment for this story. But shortly after his wife entered the race in November, Gov. Murphy rejected concerns about nepotism, saying he was not making any deals on her behalf and that she will earn this on her own back and not on my back.

Kim filed a federal lawsuit last week seeking to end the county line, claiming it leads to voters being cynically manipulated and saying Murphy is weaponizing the setup. Murphys campaign called the suit a sad hypocritical stunt, noting Kim ran on the line in his three congressional campaigns and is seeking lines in this election, while Murphy herself has argued we are all running in the same system.

After the first primary debate two weeks ago, Kim said the first lady and governor made phone calls putting a tremendous amount of pressure on delegates in Burlington County, his home turf, for the two candidates to share the line there.

I thought he said she was gonna earn this on her own, Kim said.

Alex Altman, a Murphy campaign spokeswoman, denied the accusation, saying Kim wants his supporters seeing ghosts around every corner.

Chad Coleman, a Bergen County Democratic committee member from Tenafly and a Kim supporter, said he has not felt personally pressured, noting he doesnt hold public job and isnt a candidate for elected office. But he agreed people are afraid to publicly support Kim.

Why would they risk it? This is writ large, Coleman said. The machine is very careful. Theyre doing things by the book, but the book is stacked.

Patricia Campos-Medina, who along with Lawrence Hamm is a long-shot candidate in the primary, said she frequently hears the same thing when she tries to line up support.

I like you, I think you have a great message. But we dont want to upset the governor. Were waiting for the next budget. We need to negotiate the next budget. I am a lobbyist, I cant put my access to the governor at risk. Those are real things I have heard, Campos-Medina said.

The situation is heightened in Bergen, where many of the delegates hold public jobs, said James Janakat, who has served as chair of East Rutherfords Democratic Party.

At some point, everyone who has their jobs had to get their blessing from the party apparatus, Janakat said. Everyone wants to show how loyal they are and how appreciative they are.

Several officials and party delegates declined to speak on the record, noting they were nervous the governor or party may find out.

In Monmouth County, Ocean Mayor John Napolitani said he received two phone calls from the governor seeking his support. He said he declined, noting he wanted to stay neutral in the race.

Napolitani was, however, surprised to see his name show up in a Murphy campaign press release listing endorsements from officials in Monmouth County.

Its no big deal, the mayor said. It is what it is.

Murphys campaign said the list was triple-checked and he was entitled to a change of heart.

Privately, some top Democrats said they backed the first lady because they knew her better than Kim. Murphy is a prolific fundraiser and has pushed her own initiatives as first lady, including on maternal health and climate change. Six of Kims Democratic colleagues in New Jerseys U.S. House delegation endorsed Murphy.

State Sen. Troy Singleton, D-Burlington, who has publicly endorsed Kim, recently called for an end to the county line but stressed the governor has never threatened me one day in his life to do anything.

Those who support Tammy Murphy say the criticism she faces is unfair, noting every statewide candidate tries to win support from county leaders. Clinton Mayor Janice Kovach also said the governor has never shown, to me, that he is vindictive, that if youre not on his side, you wont get what you want.

If people are afraid, they should take a long, hard look, Kovach added. If youre working hard for your community, theyre gonna work to help you. (The governor) was making phone calls on behalf of a candidate. Hes done that for all of us.

Funny business?

Kim has pointed to a few cases in which he believes party leaders sought to undermine his candidacy.

He said Murphy appeared alongside the Bergen County chair to speak to voters in January, but when he asked for a similar courtesy, he was given a date of March 7  three days after the countys convention.

What good is that? Kim asked.

A Bergen County Democratic Party official said it was a local group that meets regularly but is not officially a part of the party. The official said the partys goal is to make sure Mondays convention is done fairly and transparently and by the book.

Kim hosted his own town hall in Ridgewood last month. Supporters noted party officials scheduled a fundraiser for a local official the same night, which diverted Democrats away from him.

In Hunterdon County, where Kim was expected to win, party chairwoman Arlene Quinones Perez proposed a last-minute rule change that would have allowed Kim and Murphy to share the line there. But angry delegates voted it down, with some cursing and charging it was a maneuver to help Murphy. (Perez argued that Kim was the one who suggested sharing lines in the race, though Kim said he would do it only in every county, not some). Kim won Hunterdons backing.

On Thursday, Schaffer sent a letter to Somerset delegates urging them to back Murphy because she would be a force in the Senate, saying the party has helped people get responsible, rewarding government jobs, and rebutting the anti-organization, anti-county line sentiment in the race. Schaffer told Politico she rejected that this is political patronage and said the county party is well equipped to suggest people for positions.

The primarys first three conventions  Monmouth, Burlington, and Hunterdon, all won by Kim  were conducted via secret ballot in which party leaders do not know which candidate members supported. But the process varies by county, and many of the upcoming decisions on the county line are either made privately by party municipal chairs, or, in the case of Middlesex and Somerset counties, with a raised-hand vote in front of party leaders.

In Somerset, some officials and delegates are openly pushing for a secret ballot.

In Bergen, the vote will be a secret but paper ballot rather than a machine vote. There, critics say, the fear is this could reveal Kim supporters because they might be more likely to shield their ballots.

Sources said many people told the Murphys at the Monmouth convention they would support the first lady but didnt vote that way in the privacy of the booth. One Democratic official said the governor made dozens of phone calls to lobby delegates there and the Murphys were optimistic they would win easily. A Murphy source denied this, saying it was uncertain because Kim represented several large towns in the county.

Shortly after her Monmouth convention loss, Murphy held a meeting at her familys home in Middletown with a handful of county party chairs to discuss the campaign. A few weeks later, Murphy parted ways with her campaign manager. This past week, she released her first television ad, targeting the National Rifle Association.

On Friday, Tammy Murphy adviser Daniel Bryan, who previously worked for the governor, announced the campaigns account on social media site X had been suspended, citing bullying and hostility from the Kim campaign and its supporters. It came after a parody account criticizing Tammy Murphy took over a former campaign handle.

In response, Lizzie K. Foley, who helped found the progressive group NJ 11th For Change and is a vocal Murphy critic on social media, said calling out the first lady is part of the democratic process. (NJ 11th For Change notes it does not endorse any candidates before the primary.)

Kims campaign replied that one of its goals is rebuilding trust and urged everyone to be careful with fake accounts.

For her part, Murphy has routinely downplayed concerns about nepotism and how her husbands power helps her, citing her experience as a fundraiser and surrogate to the governor.

Ive been on the ground for the last eight years, literally building the party, Murphy said. Ive showed up to all the red counties where they needed help. I showed up canvassing. I was knocking on doors. I was getting out the vote. Im surrogating. Im raising money. Ive done it. All of these people, theyre in my rolodex. No one else is doing this for me.

Besides that, I would say to you: My husband has been my husband. Hes been my partner for over 30 years. He knows me better than anybody else. Hes doing probably less than he would be able to do if he were a normal spouse. So the whole nepotism piece is crazy to me.

An uprising?

A former Goldman Sachs executive and diplomat who never held elected office, Phil Murphy was boosted by New Jerseys party-line political system when he won the governorship in 2017, securing the support of county party leaders to jump over more seasoned politicians. Murphy had donated hundreds of thousands from his own fortune to local parties and officials in the run up to his campaign.

To many, it was natural his wife would use the same model when she launched her Senate bid in the wake of the charges against Menendez, who has not said if he will run for re-election despite his poll numbers plummeting.

Dan Cassino, a pollster at Fairleigh Dickinson University, said New Jersey doesnt usually have competitive primaries because both parties have been very good at maintaining discipline by picking candidates and presenting them to voters. He argues that can be good because they tend to get relatively moderate candidates ... the party believes are the most electable.

But he said the fight over the line has blown up in this race because Kim and Tammy Murphy have similar policy stances. He said because Murphy is linked to the party establishment, Kim is perceived as the more liberal candidate  a perception he notes could be seen as unfair to the first lady.

Theres been this anger boiling among progressives since 2018, Cassino said. It is boiling over at this point.

U.S. Rep. Andy Kim speaks to the crowd at the Monmouth County Democratic Party convention last month at the Portuguese Club of Long Branch.Brent Johnson | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Former U.S. Rep. Tom Malinowski, who has endorsed Kim, said the party changed and the party leaders didnt notice after the blue wave of 2018, when he, Kim, and several other Democrats were swept into office in then-President Donald Trumps first midterms.

Andy is appealing to the Democratic party as it currently exists in New Jersey, he said. The first lady is running a race designed to appeal to the party as it existed 10 years ago.

Kim  who gained national attention for helping clean up the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 riot  entered the race the day after Menendez was indicted in September. He said he was so fed up with the broken politics and some of that manifested in Sen. Menendez, but it was also about the system that protected him so long.

The race took a turn, but its the same thing, Kim said. It should be about public service. But what Ive experienced is: So much of it unfortunately is about control.

Ross Baker, a former Rutgers professor, called this a serious grassroots uprising in New Jersey that is potentially the greatest threat to county party leadership in recent state history.

But it might require a greater surge in the northern counties where party bosses are more entrenched to be a full-on tidal wave, Baker said.

A few notable New Jersey candidates have beaten the line.

In 1978, Gov. Brendan Byrne helped his state treasurer, Richard Leone, get the endorsement in several counties. But former basketball star Bill Bradley won the U.S. Senate nomination.

Former Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler won the Republican nomination over party-backed Robert Franks in the 2001 race for governor. He said it helps that Kim has established relationships.

Being on the line is better than not being on the line, but it doesnt mean its prohibitively advantageous, Schundler said. Its not something that cant be overcome.

Schundler had a strong core of backers who were able to find him on the ballot. Kim would have to accomplish that if Murphy wins the lions share of county endorsements.

One insider said he expects Murphy to right the ship and Kims momentum to stall in the coming weeks with the bigger counties doling out their lines, including Camden, Essex, and Middlesex.

Murphy on Saturday picked up the endorsement of Union County Democrats, who use a screening committee of municipal party chairs to bestow their line.

Altman, the campaigns spokeswoman, said the first lady moves forward continuing to gain momentum and respects the results when the county lines and endorsements dont go her way, rather than make excuses and attack fellow Democrats.

Kim won Sussex on Saturday and Warren on Sunday. Both counties have a small number of Democrats.

The congressman said the Sussex victory was another example of the energy we feel across the state when people get a real choice in their democracy and we need to have more open conventions with secret ballots where people are free to vote without pressure or intimidation.

The biggest upcoming convention is Monday evening in Bergen County. Cassino said it will be a test of the first ladys strength.

Shes like Thanos. She is inevitable. You can get on board or you can get run over. That traditionally has been the way New Jersey primaries go, he said. Whenever we see a loss in a contested convention, that does cut into that narrative.

NJ Advance Media staff writer Ted Sherman and Research Editor Vinessa Erminio contributed to this report.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription.

Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on X at @johnsb01.
Louisiana Inspired

For years, the Telos Group has worked on peacemaking in the Holy Land  and imagining a world where Israelis and Palestinians can both flourish. Their work continues despite the war in Gaza. And they've also begun to apply the principles of peacemaking to Americas polarization.
On the morning of Sunday, March 3, an air alert was declared in the eastern and southern regions of Ukraine due to the possibility of enemy ballistic missile attacks. After the alert was lifted, it became known that a Russian Iskander-M missile had struck Pokrovsk in Donetsk region, causing damage and casualties.

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The threat lasted for about half an hour, as reported by the Ukrainian Air Force. The Donetsk Regional Military Administration and the regional prosecutor's office described the consequences of the enemy shelling.

In particular, at 06:24, the air alert covered Donetsk, Kharkiv, Poltava, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Mykolaiv regions (Luhansk and Crimea remain always on red alert).

Following the air raid alert in Donetsk region, the sounds of explosions were reported in the Pokrovsk district. At 06:50, the military announced that the threat was over.

According to local administrations, Pokrovsk came under enemy fire for the tenth time since the beginning of this year.

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Officers of the 9th State Fire and Rescue Unit eliminated the fire of passenger cars on the area of 10 square meters, which occurred as a result of shelling.

The strike damaged nine high-rise buildings, three private households and two educational institutions, as well as residents' cars.

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It is noted that the enemy shell hit a gas pipe, causing a fire and leaving 1883 apartments without gas. The emergency crew localized the damage and continued restoration work.

"Fortunately, there were no fatalities. All emergency services are on site to inspect the buildings and help the residents. As of 08:00, the contact center has already received about 50 calls about damage to the premises. The work is ongoing," said Pokrovska CMA.

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The Donetsk regional prosecutor's office clarified that at 06:30 on Sunday, March 3, a Russian Iskander-M missile hit one of the residential neighborhoods of Pokrovsk. Houses were also in the epicenter of the explosions. Two women, aged 24 and 52, sustained shrapnel wounds. Later it became known about another victim.

Earlier, around midnight, Russian troops hit a school and a lyceum in the neighboring town of Myrnohrad with four rockets. The educational institutions were destroyed, nearby high-rise buildings were damaged, and three residents were injured.

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In both cases, under the procedural control of the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor's Office, pre-trial investigations were initiated in criminal proceedings on violations of the laws and customs of war (Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

As reported by OBOZ.UA, the Ukrainian Air Force reminded that ballistic missiles are difficult to shoot down and are particularly dangerous. This is one of the most difficult targets for air and missile defense, as the missiles fly along a ballistic trajectory, meaning they are in uncontrolled motion.

Only verifiedinformation is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Guest column: Helping teachers be their best will help students
The occupying Russian forces appear to be willing to risk further losses of tactical aviation for the sake of success in eastern Ukraine. Their main target is probably the frontline along the Avdiivka-Donetsk sector.

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This fact was pointed out by analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). They praised the "stubbornness" of Russian pilots in their intention to use guided bombs after Ukrainian defenders had already shot down more than a dozen enemy aircraft since mid-February.

The day before, the Ukrainian Air Force reported the destruction of another Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber, which had been conducting strikes at Ukrainian positions in the east on the morning of March 1.

The commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, later stated that Ukrainian forces attempted to shoot down two more Su-34s and one Su-35 of the occupiers but only one Su-34 was destroyed.

In particular, since February 17, Ukrainian defenders have already shot down 15 Russian aircraft in the east (at the Avdiivka and Mariupol directions, over the Sea of Azov).

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Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Colonel Yurii Ihnat also said that Russia has stopped using A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft over the Azov Sea for the past six days after losing an upgraded A-50U on February 23. According to him, the absence of the radar aircraft forces Russia's Su-34 and Su-35 to fly closer to targets to launch strikes.

Analysts reminded that previous losses of Russian aviation prompted the Russian Armed Forces to temporarily reduce its activity along the entire front line. However, the level of aircraft losses, which has increased in recent weeks, has not yet forced the aggressor to significantly reduce the activity of tactical aviation.

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ISW states that Russian forces temporarily established a limited and localized air superiority in the last days of the Avdiivka capture. They are now likely trying to regain it in order to continue to support their tactical offensive in the Avdiivka sector, and have decided that continuing these attacks with air support outweighs the risk of losing more aircraft.

"The loss of 15 aircraft and possibly several highly skilled pilots in about two weeks may not be significant for the Russian military, given that Russia probably has about 300 different Sukhoi design bureau fighters," ISW emphasized.

The spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yurii Ihnat, explained that the units received additional tools that allowed them to shoot down Russian aircraft more often. The loss of aviation has become a serious psychological blow to Russian military pilots.

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Only verified information is available on our Telegram OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
Torridge and West Devons MP, Sir Geoffrey, recently paid a visit to Shebbears Little Bears Pre-School and Shebbear Primary School, where he engaged in a lively exchange with pupils and staff.

Visiting local schools regularly to catch up on their progress, Sir Geoffrey has aimed to stay connected with the community, and understand the challenges faced by educational institutions.

With this he will offer his support wherever possible.

The MP's connection to village schools runs deep, as his own children attended the village school in West Devon.

Hence, he holds a special place in his heart for small rural schools like Shebbear.

During his visit, which was prompted by a promise made during his Shebbear surgery over the summer, Sir Geoffrey met with Nick Alford, the Principal of Shebbear Primary School, to discuss the school's progress, particularly in core subjects such as reading, following its Good rating by OFSTED in May 2022.

Beginning his visit at Little Bears Pre-School, Sir Geoffrey engaged with staff members to gain insights into the nursery's activities and progress.

He was then guided through Shebbear Primary School by Principal Nick Alford, where he made stops in various classrooms to observe lessons and interact with students.

The visit culminated in a spirited question and answer session, during which Sir Geoffrey answered questions from inquisitive pupils on a range of topics.

Reflecting on the visit, Sir Geoffrey commended the improving standards in education, stating: I am very proud of our village schools, which are essential to the life of our small rural communities. I'm also proud of how standards are improving."

Citing statistics, Sir Geoffrey said: Since 2010, the proportion of schools rated good or outstanding by Ofsted has increased from 68 per cent to 88 per cent based on latest data and England is ranked 11th in the world for maths (up from 27th in 2009) and 13th for reading, higher in both than the United States, and higher than any EU country other than Finland and Estonia. England came 4th internationally for primary school reading proficiency in the International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) results."

Appreciating the warm atmosphere and the enthusiasm of the children during his visit, Sir Geoffrey concluded by thanking all involved for the hospitality and engaging dialogue.

He particularly acknowledged the budding journalists among the pupils, stating: We finished with a lively question and answer session from budding Jeremy Paxmans. My thanks to all!
There may be children under the rubble of a high-rise building in Odesa that was destroyed by a Russian kamikaze drone on the night of March 2. The rescue and search operation is ongoing.

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This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky. He spoke about the situation at the site of another Russian war crime.

The Head of State noted that rescuers, police and public utilities had been working at the site of the destroyed high-rise building for the second day in a row.

"A total of 215 people are involved. I am grateful to every volunteer who helps," the President emphasized.

Zelensky reminded that as of 2 p.m. on March 3, ten people had died, including three children.

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"Mark, who is not even three years old yet, Elizabeth, eight months old, and Timothy, four months old. Ukrainian children are Russia's military targets. That's who these non-humans are fighting. My condolences to all the families and friends," the Head of State noted.

He assured that all victims are being provided with the necessary assistance. However, he added that the number of victims of Russia's crime may not be final.

"Five people were rescued. We know that there may still be children under the rubble. The search operations will continue until the fate of everyone who was in the house is clarified," Zelensky emphasized.

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He once again thanked everyone who is clearing the rubble and helping the victims physically and psychologically.

"I thank everyone who is involved in the rescue operation, who supports people, who helps the wounded. And I thank each and every one who is destroying the occupiers, Russian equipment and logistics. Every Russian loss at the front is our country's response to Russian terror. The world must respond to every manifestation of Russian evil and repel Russia's actions. Every Russian terrorist act ignored by the world allows Russia to continue killing. We must win this war. Only Ukrainian power will be able to provide Ukrainians with a normal life," the President summarized.

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On the night of March 2, Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 17 drones. Air defense forces shot down 14 of them.

In Odesa, a Shahed hit a residential high-rise building and destroyed the entire entrance. As of 9 a.m., at least ten people were reported dead.

Among the victims are three children: boys aged 3 and 4 months, and an 8-month-old girl. In particular, a 4-month-old baby died with his mother. A three-year-old boy was killed with his father, and the child's mother was hospitalized in intensive care in serious condition. Another mother and child were found under the rubble on the morning of March 3.
A director from Northwest Indiana has been working for the past decade on her first full-length feature film, which she shot in the Region and will soon premiere at the prestigious South by Southwest festival.

Anu Valia, who grew up in Schererville and Highland, filmed "We Strangers" a year ago in Gary and the south suburbs. She wrote and directed the movie, which will premiere at 4 p.m. Saturday, March 9th at the Stateside at the Paramount movie theater at SXSW, a renowned combination film, music and interactive media festival in Austin, Texas.

It's one of the country's premiere film festivals and has featured appearances from Danny Boyle, Richard Linklater, Robert Rodriguez, Matthew McConaughey, Ryan Gosling, Nicolas Cage, Tilda Swinton, Ava DuVernay, Mark Duplass and Alejandro Jodorowsky of "Jodorowsky's Dune" fame over the years.

"I'm so excited. I've been working on this film for the past 10 years," she said. "It's been so important to me to make a movie with so many themes I've been preoccupied with. To do that in Indiana was important to me. We weren't sure we would be able to film in Indiana but were finally able to make it."

She's long been writing and rewriting the screenplay over the past decade as she sought to put together funding for the indie film. Last year, she returned home to "We Strangers" in February.

"It was such a trip to make the film in and around Northwest Indiana," she said. "It was a two-fold process of making the film and discovering more about Northwest Indiana as people opened their businesses, bars and homes to me. I visited places I've dreamed of capturing as a filmmaking and filmed them in the way I've kind of dreamed of. I'm nervous and excited for people to see it. You're trying to express yourself and you hope people can connect to it. It's a chance to see yourself in this place."

"We Strangers" filmed many exteriors in Gary and scenes at Hunter's Inn, which is the oldest continuously operating tavern in Gary with a rustic hand-built wooden bar.

"The owners were so kind," she said.

The production also shot in Flossmoor, Lansing and Chicago Heights.

"We shot in Indiana and Illinois," she said. "Illinois has 30% tax incentives."

Valia has directed short films and several episodes of the Disney+ series "She-Hulk: Attorney at Law," the Peacock series "Based on a True Story" and the Apple+ series "The Afterparty" and "The Big Door Prize." She's also directed episodes of shows like "A.P. Bio," "At Home with Amy Sedaris" and "Aquafina is Nora from Queens."

The 80-minute film stars Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Tina Lifford, Sarah Goldberg, Maria Dizzia, Kara Young, Hari Dhillon, Paul Adelstein and Mischa Reddy. It stars Howell-Baptiste, who has appeared in shows like "The Sandman," "The Good Place," "Barry," "Killing Eve" and "Veronica Mars," as well as in films like "Queenpins" and "Cruella."

"The cast understood the tone so deeply and created three-dimensional characters," he said. "It was satisfying to see them come off the page and become three-dimensional characters with a past, present and future."

Howell-Baptiste stars as Rayelle Martin, a commercial cleaner in Gary who is hired by the therapist Dr. Neeraj Patel to serve as his housekeeper and later to take a second job to clean his mistress's house. A background character in others' lives, she impulsively tells a lie about being able to speak to the dead and finds herself in a position of power.

"The film has transformed so much since I first wrote it in 2014. It's changed along with me. A movie takes so long to make and if it's going to be honest it's got to change alongside you," she said. "The impetus of the film comes from its theme, the idea of assimilation and what it does to a person. You feel like an outsider and enter a space that's not welcoming and need to assimilate. There's a good to that and a bad to that. To be able to be a chameleon is a superpower. It lets you manipulate people and gain and control power. It also takes from you. You can learn how to be a chameleon and fill your own coffers but what is true freedom? This film is exploring that. The main character cleans people's houses and is a fly on the wall. She's not the main character. She's a supporting person until she makes the decision to tell a lie that puts her at the center of these people's stories."

To ensure authenticity, she shadowed domestic workers from a cleaning company on Broadway and brought the owner on as a consultant.

"The movie is rooted in questions about the people whose stories deserve to be told," she said. "If you're attempting to create a story, and it's an amalgam of different people who live in the real world, who do domestic work and are professional cleaners, it's more truthful and emotional if it's accurate. The whole film falls apart if people don't believe they're a cleaner."

Her screenplay went through many international over the past decade. She wrote 37 drafts, including about 10 during the production.

"It was an amorphous thing," she said. "It continued to evolve. Every draft aimed to be more truthful. The whole goal with this film is to make people constantly feel what Rayelle is feeling. It's to go through this world with her and feel what she feels. Every draft got closer and closer to that."

Valia studied filmmaking at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Her influences include acclaimed directors Lynne Ramsay, Ruben Ostlund and Michael Haneke.

Her short films "Lucia, Before and After" and "Drifters" have won a number of awards, including at the New Orleans Film Festival, the Aesthetica Short Film Festival and the Sundance Film Festival.

Her father Hardarshan Singh Valia, who still lives in Northwest Indiana, said she's very accomplished and noted the French journal Cinewomen Cahiers featured her in a feature "honoring the influence of women in video art and cinema" and that was presenting "a selection of powerful and surreal visions from seven uncompromising outsiders."

"Anu received the best compliment that any student of filmmaking desires from them when they wrote, 'your expressive cinematography and sapient use of temps mort reminding us of Agnes Vardas early work,'" he said. "Anu has passionately followed her passion for showcasing the entirety of the meandering path of human emotions, emphasizing that the journey always follows an abstract pathway."

He noted she's had her NYU senior college thesis "Figs" selected by Torino International Film Festival in Italy and served as an American Film Showcase film envoy representing the country's cinema on trips to Saudi Arabia and Uganda.

"We as parents were happy to see her labor of love getting recognized by Sundance, BAFTA Qualifying ASFF Short Film Festival, Torino International Film Festival and various other honors and awards at home and abroad," he said. "It was a great honor for her to be selected as U.S. Film Envoy from American Film Showcase. And, we have no doubt, good things await her professional pathway."

Valia plans on screening her new movie somewhere in Gary but is still looking for a venue.

"It's not for me to say what people take away from it," she said. "I'm curious to what other people feel when they watch it. My desire is that they stay close to Rayelle for about 80 minutes and take a walk through her world."
For nearly an hour, the driver of a tractor-trailer was trapped in its cab as it dangled high above the Ohio River off the side of a Kentucky bridge after a multivehicle crash on Friday.

From the bridge, emergency responders shouted directions to the driver. Emergency crews set up a rope system and lowered a Louisville, Ky., firefighter, Bryce Carden, to rescue her.

Thank God, the driver said when Mr. Carden drew even with the trucks cab, he recalled at a news conference on Friday.

Initially, Mr. Carden said, he struggled to free the driver from her seatbelt.

We were given a free pocketknife during our trainings, and I had that pocketknife on me, so I was able to cut her out of her seatbelt, he said in a phone interview on Saturday. I was able to get her out and get the rest of the harness on her.
An Israeli strike outside a hospital in Rafah, in southern Gaza, on Saturday killed at least 11 people and injured dozens of other displaced Palestinians, including children, who were sheltering in tents nearby, the Gaza Health Ministry said.

At least two health care workers, including a paramedic, were among those killed after the strike near the gate of the Emirati maternity hospital, the health ministry said.

Photos taken by news agencies showed colleagues of the paramedic, whom the health ministry identified as Abdul Fattah Abu Marai, taking his body to the nearby Kuwaiti hospital, as well as injured children lying on stretchers, as other children looked on and cried.

The Israeli military said later Saturday that, with help from Israels domestic security agency, it had carried out a precision strike against Islamic Jihad terrorists near the hospital. The military declined to respond to reports that the strike had injured children.

The Israeli military had previously declared that Rafah, Gazas southernmost city, would be a safe zone for civilians, and more than half of the enclaves entire population is now crammed into it, with many living in makeshift tents over nearly every inch of available space.

But airstrikes on Rafah have continued even as the number of people sheltering there has swelled to around 1.5 million. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has vowed that his forces will invade the city whether or not a temporary cease-fire deal is reached, despite dire warnings from humanitarian groups and many of Israels allies that any military operation in Rafah would have catastrophic consequences for civilians.

The news of Saturdays strike was outrageous and unspeakable, the leader of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said on social media, reiterating calls for a cease-fire and for the protection of health care workers and civilians.

The victims of the strike were sheltering near the Emirati maternity hospital, one of the last hospitals still functioning in Gaza. Despite having only five beds remaining for women giving birth, the hospital is managing more than half of the estimated 180 births happening daily in the enclave, said Dominic Allen, the State of Palestine representative for the United Nations Population Fund, a sexual and reproductive health agency known as U.N.F.P.A.

The Emirati hospital is essentially the last hope for pregnant women in the whole of Gaza, Mr. Allen said. A strike so close to the hospital poses a terrifying risk to pregnant women, newborns and the overloaded health care workers trying to care for them, he added.
A lot of climate discussion revolves around time. Lines rise across charts predicting the next century. Scientists set deadlines for the coming decades. Each month seems to bring news of a new heat record. The sense that time is running out can be heady.

As the Earth warms, natural wonders  coral reefs, glaciers, archipelagos  are at risk of damage and disappearance. This has motivated some travelers to engage in last-chance tourism, visiting places threatened by climate change before its too late.

For thousands of years, humans have raced to be the first to scale a peak, cross a frontier, or document a new species or landscape, Paige McClanahan writes in a piece for The Times. Now, in some cases, were racing to be the last.

A vanishing glacier

One such destination is the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in the French Alps, where thousands of people go each year to ski. (Early tourists included Mary Shelley and Mark Twain.)
The ruling party of Germany, the SPD (Social Democratic Party), is concerned about the conflict between Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron. SPD members are calling on politicians to cooperate, noting that the leaders of the two countries must act together.

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The German Social Democrats expect Scholz and Macron to unite. This was stated by Michael Roth, chairman of the Bundestag's foreign affairs committee, in a commentary to Spiegel.

Now, he said, there is a "deep-rooted misunderstanding between the two politicians."

"We cannot afford a Franco-German dispute. It is dangerous for Ukraine... The Chancellor is right that France should do more... Ukraine needs pragmatic and quick help now, especially ammunition and air defense equipment. In Europe, people are hiding behind each other, and the Kremlin is smiling," Roth said.

At the same time, another SPD member, Axel Schaefer, noted that German chancellors from this party have always had "extraordinary relations" with French presidents. "When it comes to military issues, Germany should behave differently than France," he said, saying that Macron depends on Scholz.

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"France alone hardly has the economic strength to become a leader in Europe. But we often practice self-righteous modesty - Scholz must now take on a leadership role in Europe, as he did in his dispute with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban," Schaefer emphasized.

As reported by OBOZ.UA:

- German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says that if misused, the Taurus missile (which Ukraine wants to receive) can hit a certain target somewhere in Moscow. In addition, if Germany were to supply the missiles, it would have to be directly involved in their launch.

- Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has said that his every word on the war in Ukraine is "balanced and thoughtful." This also applies to his statement about the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine. Scholz opposed this idea.

Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!
CVS Health, the nations largest pharmacy chain with more than 9,000 locations, has been fined more than $1.5 million by Ohio regulators over problems connected to understaffing and patient safety, officials said.

The fines are part of a settlement of 27 cases involving various safety concerns that were uncovered during a series of inspections of 22 pharmacies between 2020 and 2023, the State of Ohio Board of Pharmacy said in a statement on Thursday.

The board said that it found, among other things, improper drug security, errors dispensing drugs, prescription delays, lack of general cleanliness, understaffing and failure to report losses of controlled substances.

The settlement comes as pharmacies nationwide have been plagued by labor issues. In November, some pharmacy workers called in sick or walked off the job to call attention to what they say is inadequate staffing and growing work demands.
In vitro fertilization creates life, in the most literal sense. The procedure offers a chance to make a baby, with eggs that are fertilized and develop into embryos in a lab. I.V.F. has helped countless people have children, including couples struggling with infertility and an increasing number of L.G.B.T.Q. parents. In a sense, its the opposite of an abortion, which ends a pregnancy.

But in Alabama about 10 days ago, I.V.F. came to a sudden halt because of a State Supreme Court ruling that achieved a central goal of the anti-abortion movement. By a vote of 8 to 1, the court held that a fertilized egg outside the womb is a person. It said that couples could sue a hospital for the wrongful death of their embryos (which in this case were destroyed when someone dropped a frozen vial of them in a storage room) just as they could for the wrongful death of a child.

The ruling vaulted the question of fetal personhood to the center of the debate that has followed the U.S. Supreme Courts 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Until now, the post-Roe battle consisted of familiar clashes over how much to restrict access to a single procedure  abortion.

Now, the framework has shifted. The Alabama court decision made clear that this stance on the definition of life can broadly rewrite reproductive rights and send states, and perhaps the country, down unpredictable paths. In response, Alabama legislators, led by Republicans who have opposed abortion, rushed to pass bills last week so that I.V.F. can resume.
Tony Rupp didnt intend to become a fighter for the First Amendment. He was really just out for some pasta.

In December 2016, Mr. Rupp, a Buffalo-area lawyer, was leaving Chefs Restaurant, a popular Italian place in the citys downtown, when he said he saw a black SUV  its lights off  bearing down on two women crossing the street.

The driver came to a halt just short of the women, and then, disaster averted, kept going as Mr. Rupp shouted, Turn your lights on, asshole!

Little did the lawyer know that the driver was a Buffalo police officer, Todd C. McAlister, who turned into the parking lot, followed Mr. Rupp and told him that he was being detained. After about a half-hour, which Mr. Rupp spent arguing with the police in the parking lot, he was stunned when the police handed him a ticket for violating the citys noise ordinance, despite the argument occurring on a nonresidential street near a buzzing freeway.
To the Editor:

Re Its Not as Easy as Just Getting Biden to Drop Out, by Jamelle Bouie (newsletter, nytimes.com, Feb. 24):

Mr. Bouie claims that if President Biden were to step aside as the Democratic nominee and the Democratic Party convention were to spurn Vice President Kamala Harris as his replacement, this would likely result in a divisive nominee  who had neither earned the votes of Democratic voters nor weathered the vetting process of a primary campaign  and a fractured coalition.

However, the truth is that Ms. Harris has never been vetted in a competitive primary race at the national level. As a presidential candidate, she dropped out of the 2020 primary race before the first contest because her candidacy was not appealing to the primary electorate.

Moreover, Ms. Harris usually polls more poorly than Mr. Biden does among the general electorate. Thus, if Mr. Bidens polling is still bad enough come July that he feels the need to step aside, the most heroic thing that Ms. Harris could do to defend American democracy against Donald Trump would be to allow the convention to select another candidate with better prospects of defeating him.

Justin Delacour

Romeoville, Ill.

The writer is an associate professor of political science at Lewis University.
Claude Folmer was about 40 years old the first time he visited the Mer de Glace, the largest glacier in the French Alps. He remembers enjoying the panoramic view from the observation platform, then taking a short hike down to the ice, where he toured the ice cave thats carved into the glaciers surface.

Four decades later, on a mild, sunny morning in early February, Mr. Folmer  now 80 and accompanied by his adult son, Alain  was taking in a view of the same glacier. He was shocked by the change.

The difference is enormous. The glacier used to be just below, Mr. Folmer said, gesturing to the gravel-covered river of ice that now lies more than 800 vertical feet below the viewing platform. For someone who doesnt know how it used to be, its a beautiful scene. But when you know the difference, it really is sad, he said.

Mr. Folmer, who lives near the French city of Albertville, traveled by train to Chamonix, the mountain town from which visitors can easily visit the glacier. He and his son happened to be there on the opening day of a gondola that transports visitors between the viewing platform and the ice below. The Folmers werent aware of the new lift  which replaces an older gondola built in 1988  but when they learned of the news, neither was pleased.
The first thing Representative Marie Gluesenkamp Perez told donors gathered at a recent wine-and-cheese campaign fund-raiser was of the role she played in securing $600 million in federal funding to rebuild one of the regions main arteries, the aging Route I-5 bridge.

Bringing that grant home was a dogfight, said Ms. Perez, 35, a first-term Democrat from a rural, working-class district in Washington State that twice voted for former President Donald J. Trump, and who is facing one of the toughest re-election races in the country this year.

My community is going to build that bridge, she told the roomful of gray-haired donors gathered in a packed living room in Washougal, Wash., with giant windows overlooking the Columbia River. This is our work.

Ms. Perez considers this funding to be a major coup for her district and her re-election campaign. But the bridge in one of the countrys most competitive districts has become a political pinata in the race, which is all but certain to pit Ms. Perez against the far-right Republican Joe Kent, whom she beat in 2022 by less than 1 percentage point.
Follow live updates on Trump and Haley after Super Tuesday.

Widespread concerns about President Bidens age pose a deepening threat to his re-election bid, with a majority of voters who supported him in 2020 now saying he is too old to lead the country effectively, according to a new poll by The New York Times and Siena College.

The survey pointed to a fundamental shift in how voters who backed Mr. Biden four years ago have come to see him. A striking 61 percent said they thought he was just too old to be an effective president.

A sizable share was even more worried: Nineteen percent of those who voted for Mr. Biden in 2020, and 13 percent of those who said they would back him in November, said the 81-year-old presidents age was such a problem that he was no longer capable of handling the job.

The misgivings about Mr. Bidens age cut across generations, gender, race and education, underscoring the presidents failure to dispel both concerns within his own party and Republican attacks painting him as senile. Seventy-three percent of all registered voters said he was too old to be effective, and 45 percent expressed a belief that he could not do the job.
As Democrats look to wrest control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November, their fight will fully begin with Tuesdays primaries in California.

And their immediate trouble is not Republicans. Its Democrats themselves.

In the Republican-held Central Valley district stretching from Bakersfield to Fresno, which would have favored President Biden by 13 percentage points in 2020, a battle between two Democrats has become so personal that some in the party fear they could divide the vote, leaving the incumbent, Representative David Valadao, competing in November against another Republican running to his right, Chris Mathys.

With so few truly contested seats to fight over this year, the prospect of an early lockout in California  where the top two finishers regardless of party affiliation compete in the general election  has brought out some heavy hitters, including Dolores Huerta, the 93-year-old labor and civil rights leader who co-founded the United Farm Workers with Cesar Chavez in 1962. She is suiting up again on behalf of former California Assemblyman Rudy Salas, the top choice of institutional Democrats. So is Californias governor, Gavin Newsom, who will rally voters for Mr. Salas on Sunday in an effort to box out the other Democratic candidate, State Senator Melissa Hurtado.

Im scared, Ms. Huerta said on Thursday from the unassuming offices of her foundation, which is based in Bakersfield. We need to do a lot more work.
In a blow to government efforts to combat money laundering, a federal court has ruled that the Treasury Department cannot require some small businesses to report personal details about their owners.

Under a section of a 2020 law that took effect Jan. 1, small businesses must share details about their so-called beneficial owners, individuals who hold financial stakes in a company or have significant power over their business decisions. The law, the Corporate Transparency Act, passed with bipartisan support in Congress and was intended to help the Treasury Departments financial-crimes division identify money launderers who hide behind shell corporations.

But in a ruling issued late Friday, Judge Liles C. Burke of the U.S. District Court in Huntsville, Ala., sided with critics of the law. They argue that asking a companys owners to present personal data  names, addresses and copies of their identification documents  was a case of congressional overreach, however well intended.

Congress sometimes enacts smart laws that violate the Constitution, Judge Burke wrote in a 53-page filing. This case, which concerns the constitutionality of the Corporate Transparency Act, illustrates that principle.
Former President Donald J. Trump and former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina will face off today in a Republican primary in Washington, D.C., a day after Mr. Trump easily swept Ms. Haley in nominating contests in Michigan, Missouri and Idaho, doubling his delegate count to 244. Ms. Haley did not earn a single delegate on Saturday and remains at 24. A candidate needs 1,215 to clinch the Republican nomination.

All 19 of the districts delegates will be awarded to the candidate who receives a majority of the vote in the primary. Voting began on Friday  with just one polling location, at the Madison Hotel in northwest Washington  and the polls will close at 7 p.m. tonight.

But neither candidate will be there to watch the results roll in. Ms. Haley is maintaining her breakneck campaign schedule, visiting two states in New England on Sunday that will hold primaries on Tuesday. After a rally in South Burlington, Vt., at 1 p.m., she will head to Portland, Maine, for another at 7 p.m.

The frenzied pace at which Ms. Haleys campaign is operating underscores just how little time left she has to make an impact. On Tuesday  a.k.a. Super Tuesday  she will face daunting challenges in the 15 states that will hold their nominating contests. Mr. Trump, the races dominant front-runner, has wide leads in both national polls and in upcoming states. Recent polls in Texas, for example, show him with about 80 percent support ahead of Tuesdays primary. He has a similar, if slightly smaller, lead in California.
A network of right-wing activists and allies of Donald J. Trump is quietly challenging thousands of voter registrations in critical presidential battleground states, an all-but-unnoticed effort that could have an impact in a close or contentious election.

Calling themselves election investigators, the activists have pressed local officials in Michigan, Nevada and Georgia to drop voters from the rolls en masse. They have at times targeted Democratic areas, relying on new data programs and novel legal theories to justify their push.

In one Michigan town, more than 100 voters were removed after an activist lobbied officials, citing an obscure state law from the 1950s. In the Detroit suburb of Waterford, a clerk removed 1,000 people from the rolls in response to a similar request. The ousted voters included an active-duty Air Force officer who was wrongly removed and later reinstated.

The purge in Waterford went unnoticed by state election officials until The New York Times discovered it. The Michigan secretary of states office has since told the clerk to reinstate the voters, saying the removals did not follow the process laid out in state and federal law, and issued a warning to the states 1,600 clerks.
Follow live updates on Trump and Haley after Super Tuesday.

Rarely have intraparty battles between Republicans in Texas been as bitter, protracted and consequential as the primary contests culminating in Election Day on Tuesday.

The fights have primarily focused on members of the Texas House who angered many conservative voters last year by impeaching the Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, on charges of corruption and abuse of office. Mr. Paxton, who was acquitted in the Texas Senate, vowed revenge, and number one in his sights has been the house speaker, Dade Phelan.

Gov. Greg Abbott has also been going after a number of Republicans in the Texas House, seeking to unseat those who opposed his plan to use public money to help families pay for private and religious schools.

Aggressive campaigning by both statewide leaders is amplifying tensions that have simmered for years between the partys old guard and a more socially conservative faction aligned with former President Donald J. Trump that sees Tuesdays vote as a chance to shift the balance of power in the Texas House, which has served as a moderating force in the states politics.
Gangs attacked two prisons in Haiti, including the countrys largest penitentiary, and allowed prisoners to escape on Saturday night, according to Haitian officials, the latest instance of escalating violence and disorder in the countrys capital, which has been ravaged by gang violence for more than two years.

While details of the attack remained murky, the government of Haiti released a statement Sunday saying that police officers were unable to prevent gang members from releasing a large number of prisoners, adding that several inmates and prison staff were injured.

Haitis national penitentiary held nearly 4,000 inmates at the time of the attack and the other facility, the Croix-des-Bouquets Civil Prison, held roughly 1,400, according to local human rights groups.

At least two of the countrys police unions went on social media on Saturday requesting that all police officers report to the national prison in Port-au-Prince, the capital, to help control the situation and prevent the inmates from fleeing.
The two women lifted a stiff corpse from the ground, revealing a squirming bug in the dirt.

That one is a live larva! said Alex Smith, the lab manager of Colorado Mesa Universitys Forensic Investigation Research Station, plucking the larva off the ground and stuffing it into a glass tube. Maggots arent just maggots, Mr. Smith explained  theyre potential evidence.

You can actually test the larvae and pupa casings for drugs, he said, excitedly.

His audience was a group of Mexican medical examiners who last month traveled to the Colorado facility, known as a body farm, where dozens of donated dead bodies are laid out in the sun to be studied as they decompose.

The Mexican forensic specialists came to learn about testing cadavers for fentanyl, which is how they wound up in a field of corpses, observing as a researcher foraged in the dirt for maggots.
The German police conducted a raid in Berlin on Sunday in their longtime search for three fugitives connected to the Red Army Faction, originally known as the Baader-Meinhof gang, Germanys most infamous postwar terrorist group.

The police arrested one of the three last week. That woman, Daniela Klette, had been on the run for decades, and was found in Berlin. The police were seeking two accomplices, Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg.

But Mr. Staub and Mr. Gaweg were not among the 10 people arrested in Sundays raid in the trendy Berlin district of Friedrichshain. All were released on Sunday after the police were able to confirm their identities.

The Red Army Faction, was Germanys most infamous postwar terrorist group. Ms. Klette, who evaded the police for decades, was wanted in connection with the bombing of a prison in 1993.
Rescue workers in the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa pulled the bodies of a mother and baby from the rubble of an apartment building on Sunday, as the death toll in a Russian attack two days earlier rose to 12. President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine said delays by allies in supplying air defenses had contributed to the deaths.

The denunciation by Mr. Zelensky appeared to reflect frustration that Ukraines capacity to resist Moscows military campaign and protect its own citizens has been undermined by the failure of the U.S. House of Representatives to pass a multibillion-dollar military aid package.

A drone hit the building overnight on Friday, and since then emergency workers have been picking through its rubble. Odesa, a port city on the Black Sea, was a key initial target of Moscows full-scale invasion two years ago, and in recent months Russian forces have frequently targeted it with drone strikes, often launched from Crimea. This weekends attack, however, has caused particular outrage among Ukrainians.

Rescue workers said that the woman and baby were found together. The mother tried to cover her 8-month-old child, said a statement by the State Emergency Service posted on the Telegram social messaging service. They were found in a tight embrace.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday for talks aimed at achieving a cease-fire in the war in Gaza and an exchange of hostages held by militants there for Palestinian prisoners, according to an official in the group, Basem Naim. But a breakthrough in the negotiations did not appear to be imminent, as Israel decided not to attend.

Israel made the decision after Qatars prime minister informed David Barnea, the head of Mossad, Israels foreign intelligence service, on Sunday that Hamas had refused an Israeli request to provide a list of the hostages who were still alive, according to an Israeli official.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel said on Thursday that he had requested the names of hostages who would be freed in an agreement.

Another factor that figured into Israels decision was that Hamas declined to consent to the terms for swapping hostages for Palestinian prisoners that the United States presented in Paris about 10 days ago, said two Israeli officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized publicly.
An appeal has been lodged with An Bord Pleanala against a decision by Offaly County Council to grant permission for the construction of a sterilisation technology facility at Ballyduff, Tullamore,

The local planning authority gave the green light to Synergy Health Ireland Limited, in January of this year. A number of nearby residents have lodged an appeal.

The development will front the Clara Road at Ballyduff and include the repositioning and upgrade of the two existing entrances to the site from Clara road. The provision of internal roads, footpaths and a bicycle path and 42 car parking spaces.

Enda Scally is one of those appealing the application. He lives near the development site.

In his submission to Offaly County Council, Mr Scally said there was no indication of how the proposed industrial facility is designed to achieve compliance with the Radiological Protection Act 1991 (Ionising Radiation Regulations 2019 or International Atomic Energy Agency guidelines and standards).

In addition he said that the overall height of the proposed industrial sterilisation facility is 2.4 times the height of the nearby units in Axis Business Park. He maintained that if built the industrial facility would have a direct effect on the visual amenities of the dwellings to the north and adjacent properties. ''Such an overbearing facility is contrary to proper planning and sustainable development,'' he said.

He said the application proposes bulky, large, high units that would result in overshadowing and appear visually dominant as viewed from the amenity space of the dwellings to the north. ''It would seriously injure the residential visual amenities,'' he claimed.

Mr Scally stressed that under the county development plan, Arden Road and Ballyduff is zoned to facilitate strategic large-scale employment. He said that the proposed facility will employ just 32 staff members.

''The indicative masterplan will depreciate the value of domestic property in the vicinity and thereby be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the surrounding townlands. It will lead to unsustainable development on the land north of the grand canal and the town's northern environs,'' said Mr Scally.

An Bord Pleanala will make known its decision in June.
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The Worst Man for the Job

(Image by The Washington Examiner) Details DMCA



Let's begin with the basics.

The Democratic Machine is anti-worker, pro-Neoliberal, pro-corporate control and, as a result, is thoroughly corrupt. It's not even a debate. Party leaders regularly lie about policy, consistently cheat their working-class base and shamelessly promote the crooks in their ranks: Insider Nancy Pelosi, Wall Street Chuck Schumer, Slick Willy, the Drone Assassin, Hillary the Hawk and, now, Butcher Biden, to name a few.

Who can forget the Machine "rigging the primaries" against Bernie Sanders in 2016? Or forcing a progressive candidate to drop out in 2018, even though the progressive was favored by a majority of voters in his Colorado district. Or earlier this year throwing its support behind an anti-union woman-hater from Texas who's running against another true progressive. There are more examples but you get the picture.

This happens, to paraphrase America's favorite war criminal, because the "issues are too important to allow the American people to decide". Or, in this case, the voters of California.

Which brings us to Adam Schiff and his race for the US Senate.

No matter what happens in the March primary, whether Katie Porter or Barbara Lee or hapless stooge, Steve Garvey, comes in second, whether progressive voters turn out en masse, whether Genocide Joe pulls out of Gaza or whether the clock turns backwards and the sun crashes into the Pacific ocean, Congressman Schiff will be the next Senator from the great state of California. The Machine has already decided.

It's not hard to understand why. He's one of them.

Like the Machine, Congressman Schiff is a dedicated enemy of progressives. "Schiff's record on foreign policy, civil liberties, human rights and other key issues," according to International Affairs scholar Stephen Zunes, "has often put him more in line with Republicans than with liberal Democrats."

Like the Machine, Congressman Schiff is an enthusiastic supporter of eternal war, particularly illegal wars fought in foreign countries - Iraq, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Ukraine and now Gaza. Congressman Schiff supports these illegal wars not because he thinks they will make the US or the world safer. They've done the opposite, and he knows it. The reason the Congressman supports the violent expansion of the US Empire is because he's paid lots of money by defense contractors and weapons manufacturers, including Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, Orbital ATK, Harris Corporation and Raytheon. Patriotism comes at a price.

Like the Machine, Congressman Schiff is fond of lying to the public about policy. He pushed hard for the invasion of Iraq, for example, even though he'd been briefed by the CIA that Iraq did not have any WMDs, and in spite of the fact that a majority of the voters in his district were solidly against the war. Call me churlish, but the war Schiff promoted killed half a million civilians and leveled an entire country: war crime after war crime after war crime, including dropping cluster munitions on populated areas and "renditioning" innocent people. Remember Abu Ghraib?

How can the man show his face, let alone run for public office? The Machine.

Like the Machine, Congressman Schiff is a rabid supporter of Israeli genocide. [Schiff is fond of saying Israel has a "right to defend itself". According to the UN, Amnesty International and the International Court of Justice, Israel is by definition an "occupying power" and therefore cannot claim self-defense when it is slaughtering the people it already has complete power over.]

Like the Machine, Congressman Schiff was deeply involved in the illegal coup to subvert the 2016 presidential election, lying again and again about Russia-gate. He was Chair of the House Intelligence Committee when he told the American people there was "evidence" of Russia's involvement in the 2016 Presidential election: there was none. He called it a "Russian Influence Operation": it did not exist. Subsequent investigations revealed that Russia-gate was actually a covert operation carried out by Democratic elites. When Republicans took control of the House in 2023, they immediately removed Congressman Schiff from the Intelligence Committee due to his repeatedly "lying to the American public".

Like the Machine, when confronted with his Russia-gate falsehoods, Congressman Schiff doubles-down and lies some more.

For those keeping score, Congressman Schiff's participation in a covert operation to subvert a democratically-elected administration is somewhere in the neighborhood of Treason, with a capital "T". If you're wondering why Congressman Schiff has not been disqualified from running for public office, a la Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, ask the Machine. The day Congressman Schiff was censored by the House, every member of the Democratic caucus gave him a standing ovation.

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Although the popular new Netflix film, Einstein and the Bomb, purports to tell the story of the great physicist's relationship to nuclear weapons, it ignores his vital role in rallying the world against nuclear catastrophe.

Aghast at the use of nuclear weapons in August 1945 to obliterate the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Einstein threw himself into efforts to prevent worldwide nuclear annihilation. In September, responding to a letter from Robert Hutchins, Chancellor of the University of Chicago, about nuclear weapons, Einstein contended that, "as long as nations demand unrestricted sovereignty, we shall undoubtedly be faced with still bigger wars, fought with bigger and technologically more advanced weapons." Thus, "the most important task of intellectuals is to make this clear to the general public and to emphasize over and over again the need to establish a well-organized world government." Four days later, he made the same point to an interviewer, insisting that "the only salvation for civilization and the human race lies in the creation of a world government, with security of nations founded upon law."

Determined to prevent nuclear war, Einstein repeatedly hammered away at the need to replace international anarchy with a federation of nations operating under international law. In October 1945, together with other prominent Americans (among them Senator J. William Fulbright, Supreme Court Justice Owen Roberts, and novelist Thomas Mann), Einstein called for a "Federal Constitution of the World." That November, he returned to this theme in an interview published in the Atlantic Monthly. "The release of atomic energy has not created a new problem," he said. "It has merely made more urgent the necessity of solving an existing one.... As long as there are sovereign nations possessing great power, war is inevitable." And war, sooner or later, would become nuclear war.

Einstein promoted these ideas through a burgeoning atomic scientists' movement in which he played a central role. To bring the full significance of the atomic bomb to the public, the newly-formed Federation of American Scientists put together an inexpensive paperback, One World or None, with individual essays by prominent Americans. In his contribution to the book, Einstein wrote that he was "convinced there is only one way out" and this necessitated creating "a supranational organization" to "make it impossible for any country to wage war." This hard-hitting book, which first appeared in early 1946, sold more than 100,000 copies.

Given Einstein's fame and his well-publicized efforts to avert a nuclear holocaust, in May 1946 he became chair of the newly-formed Emergency Committee of Atomic Scientists, a fundraising and policymaking arm for the atomic scientists' movement. In the Committee's first fund appeal, Einstein warned that "the unleashed power of the atom has changed everything save our modes of thinking, and thus we drift toward unparalleled catastrophe."

Even so, despite the fact that Einstein, like most members of the early atomic scientists' movement, saw world government as the best recipe for survival in the nuclear age, there seemed good reason to consider shorter-range objectives. After all, the Cold War was emerging and nations were beginning to formulate nuclear policies. An early Atomic Scientists of Chicago statement, prepared by Eugene Rabinowitch, editor of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, underscored practical considerations. "Since world government is unlikely to be achieved within the short time available before the atomic armaments race will lead to an acute danger of armed conflict," it noted, "the establishment of international controls must be considered as a problem of immediate urgency." Consequently, the movement increasingly worked in support of specific nuclear arms control and disarmament measures.

In the context of the heightening Cold War, however, taking even limited steps forward proved impossible. The Russian government sharply rejected the Baruch Plan for international control of atomic energy and, instead, developed its own atomic arsenal. In turn, U.S. President Harry Truman, in February 1950, announced his decision to develop a hydrogen bomb--a weapon a thousand times as powerful as its predecessor. Naturally, the atomic scientists were deeply disturbed by this lurch toward disaster. Appearing on television, Einstein called once more for the creation of a "supra-national" government as the only "way out of the impasse." Until then, he declared, "annihilation beckons."

Despite the dashing of his hopes for postwar action to end the nuclear menace, Einstein lent his support over the following years to peace, nuclear disarmament, and world government projects.

The most important of these ventures occurred in 1955, when Bertrand Russell, like Einstein, a proponent of world federation, conceived the idea of issuing a public statement by a small group of the world's most eminent scientists about the existential peril nuclear weapons brought to modern war. Asked by Russell for his support, Einstein was delighted to sign the statement and did so in one of his last actions before his death that April. In July, Russell presented the statement to a large meeting in London, packed with representatives of the mass communications media. In the shadow of the Bomb, it read, "we have to learn to think in a new way.... Shall we... choose death because we cannot forget our quarrels? We appeal as human beings to human beings: Remember your humanity, and forget the rest."

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still from The Old Oak (2023)

(Image by Sixteen Films) Details DMCA



This article first appeared in Counterpunch on March 1, 2024

Time To Plant An Acorn

by John Kendall Hawkins

The Old Oak is a new film by Ken Loach, who has now directed some 57 of them. The title refers to a standard issue pub (originally, The Victorian, renamed for the film), in County Durham, northeast England. Oak is not only symbolic of strength and endurance, but the pub represents the one place residents of an old mining town seeing downward trending times since Brexit can gather and drink a pint and think aloud and vent their considerable grievances against malignancies of fate and the indifferent state.

The film was written by Paul Laverty and stars Dave Turner as TJ Ballantyne, Ebla Mari as Yara, Trevor Fox as Charlie, and Claire Rodgerson as Laura. Turner previously starred in Loach's 2016 system-fighter film, I, Daniel Blake. Fox has starred in several Shakespearean productions and is a lead in the 2023 British TV series, Rain Dogs. Mari and Rodgerson are relative newcomers to film. The storyline of The Old Oak is straightforward:

The future for the last remaining pub, The Old Oak, in a village of Northeast England, where people are leaving the land as the mines are closed. Houses are cheap and available, thus making it an ideal location for Syrian refugees. [IMDB]

The village is indeed a bleak looking place to do time in. Bad things happen in such places. During my high school teaching internship, I lived for awhile in an old mill town where, not long after I arrived, a nutter dressed up like Jason (think horror movie) and chased, causght, and killed a girl before hanging himself. The girl's boyfriend was in my literature class and just stared vacantly ahead, spooking me, ordealing my humanity.

The old dilapidated pub reminded me of many a rough-and-tough unclean, unwell-lit places I frequented as an undergraduate philosophy major at university in Boston. One pub, in Dorchester, where I was living at the time, attracted because it offered fish-and-chips that brought a huge serving of haddock and french fries for a measly 5 bucks, which made no sense, until I realized the fish may have come from filthy Boston Harbor, and that haddock are bottom-feeding detritivores. I mean, the fish they served up were morbidly obese. For all I knew (know) they may have been fished off some landing near Southie's waste treatment facility. If Durham had an ocean nearby, that might have been what they served up.

But mostly it reminded me of a couple of pubs where I'd sat to drink me Kilkenny in Dublin, one summer after a year teaching English in Istanbul. One place, near where we (my future bride and I) bed-and-breakfasted, was so dark and dreary, and my presence so unwelcome to the grim-faced locals, who sat around in the near dark like Van Gogh's potato eaters, that I hurried with me ale and hoofed it out of there. Making sure I still had me wallet. That could have been The Old Oak. But a better fit came in troubled Derry (Londonderry, say the Protestant Orangemen), where all eyes seemed to be on me, relaxing only when the bartender spoke with me and it became clear I was an American -- from Boston -- and so, maybe a potential supplier of weapons against the hated Brits. At least that's how I remember it. And, really, when you think about it, what good is memory if it doesn't flatter? I sat there drinking, and thinking how I couldn't wait to get out of Ireland: we'd come into town after a visit to the Cliffs of Mohair, where I'd suffered a bout of amazing vertigo: I mean bonafide Hitchcockian stuff -- violins, whirlpools of the sordid mind. E.T. want to go home. Anether point? the barkeeper asked. I said, sure, why not? Make it a double.

Loach delivers an excellent working class vibe. The Old Oak could very well be a stage play, with the pub providing excellent drabbiness to complement the emptiness that has taken the town by storm. That and a massive exodus of miners, leaving behind cheap real estate, and thus, the opportunity for refugees and other migrants to come to town and move in. That's where the Syrian refugees come in.

Yara, and her family (her mom and sibs, minus the father who has been imprisoned in a Syrian prison), are new arrivals. They create local tension when Yara is out snapping photographs with her beloved camera. The locals don't like what they're seeing:

[woman] She's taking your f*cking photo! [man] Taking my photo without my say-so? It's a f*cking disgrace, TJ! [TJ Ballantyne] She's a bairn. Howay.

The newcomers are barely off the bus and already they are being accosted. The locals fear that what little value their property has remaining will be further depressed by the indigent newcomers unable to properly maintain the value of their digs, bringing everyone's value down. One character, Rocco, intentionally breaks Yara's camera. She refuses to accept this as her reality, and, after her family is settled in, she goes to TJ in The Old Oak, and asks him to assist her in identifying the person who broke her camera, so that she can seek reparations. This is essential opening tension. What will TJ do? He'll side with the girl, and, for a while, change his relationship to the town. He begins by promising to have the camera fixed.

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"I believe that the community... should give input into the needs and priorities of the District."

- LAUSD BD5 Candidate Karla Griego



Karla Griego (from the candidate's website)

(Image by Karla Griego) Details DMCA



For the January entry in the series, the candidates were asked five questions related to the budget. For background on this subject please read the article LAUSD Candidate Forum: The Budget.

These are Griego's answers, edited only for format:

Would you have a financial professional independently evaluate the budget presented by the Superintendent before voting on its approval? YES

At a board meeting on September 26, 2023, Chief Business Officer (CBO) David Hart stated that the Superintendent's budget overestimates expenditures and underestimates revenues. Do you agree with his claims that this is a best practice? NO

At the September board meeting, Hart also stated that expenditures in 2022-23 that should have come from the general fund had come from COVID-restricted funds. Will you take the steps necessary to ensure that in the future LAUSD complies with rules regarding one-time funding? YES

The ending balance projected for 2023-24 reported in the first interim financial report is nearly $5.6 billion. This effectively reduces the total amount of funds spent on schools. Should the ending balance be allowed to reach this level? NO

Year after year, past and present Superintendents have warned of an impending "fiscal cliff," where the current and following year's budgets are in balance but the third year's budget is dangerously close to running a deficit. In no case has this deficit shown up when the next year's budget was presented. Would you commit to being more transparent with the public in how the budget is presented? YES

Do you have any other thoughts that you would like to express about this subject?

We must ensure that LAUSD funds are utilized and not siphoned into reserves. At the beginning of this year, LAUSD, was still refusing to spend the $5 billion of tax dollars in the reserves, which placed the burden of increased costs of salaries, health benefits, food, supplies, and services on individual schools.

The state of California requires LAUSD to keep just $2 million in reserves. This model of alleged "fiscal responsibility" is starving schools and disproportionately affects schools in low income communities that are not able to independently raise funds/donations like more affluent communities.

Los Angeles is experiencing the climate crisis and our district should be ready to use funds to protect the safety, health, and wellness of students, teachers, and staff through investing funds in schools in a proactive manner.

In addition, LAUSD should continue to lobby to increase school funding through progressive state-wide taxation of the ultra wealthy, whether through a similar model of Proposition 15 or any updated model. Currently a large portion of school funding is dependent on local property tax, which results in disproportionate amounts of school funds in areas with a lower property tax. I support the exploration of alternative funding sources to ALL schools in order to untether the investment in schools from the real-estate market, such as a wealth tax or an industry tax.

I believe that the community: students, parents, caregivers, labor partners and community organizations, should give input into the needs and priorities of the District. To this end, I will hold listening sessions with community members throughout the District to help inform my decisions on how funding should be allocated and prioritized in regards to programs and expenditures.

As a current teacher and during my campaign I already know that families and educators want more mental health and socio-emotional support for students; supports for students in the special education program; safe passages; green spaces; and enriching curriculum with electives and career pathways. This has informed my platform around supporting the whole child. Furthermore, as a Community Schools Coordinator working with the most vulnerable populations, I know the importance of continuing to fund community schools and BSAP.

Carl Petersen is a parent advocate for public education, particularly for students with special education needs, who serves as the Education Chair for the Northridge East Neighborhood Council. As a Green Party candidate in LAUSD's District 2 School Board race, he was endorsed by Network for Public Education (NPE) Action. Dr. Diane Ravitch has called him "a valiant fighter for public schools in Los Angeles." For links to his blogs, please visit www.ChangeTheLAUSD.com. Opinions are his own.
Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) March 3, 2024: Recently I read Carol Glatz's news story "Eliminating differences with gender ideology is a terrible danger, pope says" (dated March 1, 2024) at the website of the National Catholic Reporter:

Click Here

In her news story, Glatz reports the views that Pope Francis expressed in his opening remarks at an international congress at the Vatican on March 1-2, 2024. Speaking off-the-cuff, before his prepared remarks, Pope Francis said, "'Today the worst danger is gender ideology, which erases differences and makes everything equal.'"

Glatz also says, "'As he often has done in the past, the pope referenced the dystopian science fiction novel Lord of the World, written in 1907, by [Monsignor] Robert H. Benson, a former Anglican vicar, encouraging his audience to read it. He reiterated that he considers the novel to be "prophetic because it shows this trend erasing all differences."'"

Disclosure: I have not read Benson's 1907 dystopian novel. However, Wikipedia has an entry devoted to it - and another entry about the prolific but short-lived convert Monsignor Robert Hugh Benson (1871-1914).

Ah, but is Pope Francis' critique of gender ideology and his defense of gender differences just another manifestation of the doctrinally conservative pope's conservatism? Or are there certain real gender differences?

I have profiled the doctrinally conservative Pope Francis in my OEN article "Pope Francis on Evil and Satan" (dated March 24, 2019):

Click Here

Now, this morning, I read the op-ed commentary titled "Men Are From Mercury, Women Are From Neptune" (dated February 29, 2024) at the website of the New York Times by the conservative columnist since January 2023) David French (born in 1969; J.D., Harvard University, 1994), a lifelong civil libertarian - and an evangelical Christian.

Click Here

Toward the end of French's op-ed commentary, he explicitly mentions John Gray's 1992 book Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus. Obviously, French's title "Men Are From Mercury, Women Are From Neptune" is a take-off on Gray's book title. However, French does not explicitly explain what he means by the imagery of Mercury and Neptune.

But the main thrust of French's op-ed commentary is to accentuate differences between men and women - which he repeatedly characterizes as culturally conditioned.

Now, inasmuch as the evangelical Christian libertarian French maintains that men and women are different, his view of gender differences may be consonant with Pope Francis' view of gender differences. Consequently, if Pope Francis is correct in claiming that contemporary gender ideology militates against gender differences, then contemporary gender ideology also militates against the gender differences that French describes as culturally conditioned.

Now, the American Jesuit Renaissance specialist and cultural historian and pioneering media ecology theorist Walter J. Ong (1912-2003; Ph.D. in English, Harvard University, 1955) suggests that certain gender differences are real in his 1981 book Fighting for Life: Contest, Sexuality [Gender], and Consciousness (Cornell University Press), the published version of his 1979 Messenger Lectures at Cornell University - which Cornell University Press has made available in a print-on-demand paperback edition.

I have discussed certain aspects of Ong's 1981 book in my 3,500-word OEN article "Walter J. Ong on Historical and Other Humanistic Studies" (dated September 10, 2023):

Click Here

But here is the key passage from Ong's 1981 book that I quote in my 3,500-word OEN article from Ong's important subsection "Procedures: Understanding and Asymmetric Opposition" in his 1981 book Fighting for Life: Contest, Sexuality [Gender], and Consciousness (pp. 29-34):

"The Procedure here [in Ong's 1981 book], like virtually all interpretations of historical developments, is to work from hypotheses. These hypotheses are sometimes declared but often simply implied. The hypotheses cannot always be articulated in full. Not infrequently, in studies of historical developments and in other humanistic studies, hypotheses are far more explicit at the conclusion of the work than at the beginning. The hypotheses may first reveal themselves at the end as 'conclusions.' The reason for this deferred fuller articulation of hypotheses appears evident enough. The hypotheses in historical and other humanistic studies are usually complex in the sense that they contain a great many interrelated and nuanced details, so that they cannot be adequately stated until a large body of discussion has been assimilated, and also in the sense that they commonly leave generous margins of what has been called 'productive ambiguity.' Generally speaking, in such historical interpretations as this book [Ong's 1981 book] proposes, there can be no total verification of the sort that the natural sciences commonly achieve and that the social sciences frequently ambition (but seldom achieve) for the reason that in material of the sort considered here [in Ong's 1981 book], total verification would mean massive and disastrous fragmentation of observations and data and all but certain trivialization of categories, as well as impossible complications in the conclusions. This is not to say that verification should not be attempted or is not attempted at all - it should be worked out to the absolute maximum practicable. Nor is it to say that massively verified conclusions available from various sciences or quasi-sciences should not be respected, for they are often invaluable and should also be used to the maximum whenever they are relevant, pro or con" (Ong, 1981, p. 30).

Now, in the present essay, I want to focus on Ong's emphasis on biological gender differences in his 1981 book Fighting for Life: Contest, Sexuality [Gender], and Consciousness.

Inasmuch as Ong sees certain gender differences as biological, not just cultural and social, his views are not compatible with French's cultural views.

I have drawn on Ong's views on certain key biological gender differences in my article "The Female and Male Modes of Rhetoric" in College English, volume 40 (1978-1979): pp. 909-921.

I have also drawn on Ong's views in my essay "Faulkner and Male Agonism" in the book Time, Memory, and the Verbal Arts: Essays on the Thought of Walter Ong, edited by Dennis L. Weeks and Jane Hoogestrraat (Susquehanna University Press and Associated University Presses, 1998, pp. 203-221).

In a nutshell, in Ong's 1981 book Fighting for Life: Contest, Sexuality [Gender], and Consciousness, he suggests that human males are psychologically more insecure than human females are. However, he does not deny that human females are also insecure.

Here's an image that I would propose to illustrate what Ong means by "more insecure": If it were possible to quantify and measure human insecurity, we would expect that the measures of human male insecurity would be distributed and represented by a bell-shaped curve. Similarly, the measures of human female insecurity would also be distributed and represented by a bell-shaped. However, the mean distribution of those two bell-shaped curves would be statistically significantly different.

Ah, but would Pope Francis be impressed enough by Ong's account of gender differences to call people's attention to Ong's 1981 book Fighting for Life: Contest, Sexuality [Gender], and Consciousness? Your guess is as good as mine about this. Ong's 1981 book was translated into Spanish - which Pope Francis speaks - in 1982.

(Article changed on Mar 06, 2024 at 9:48 AM EST)
There's a guide at wordsaboutwar.org to some of the standard war language used for big bucks by professional propagandists and for free by almost everyone else who has normalized it and not given it another thought. Manufacturing tools for mass murder is called "the defense industry," those murdered are called "collateral damage," the purpose is labeled "the national interest," etc.

The trouble with talking like the Pentagon or CNN is not just that it helps to -- in the words of George W. Bush -- catapult the propaganda, but also that it makes war in general seem more acceptable and less horrific than it is.

I want to add a friendly amendment to efforts to reduce the use of Pentagon language. I think CIA language is a problem as well. I think it's at least as present as war language in Hollywood productions, and in massive child-focused cultural efforts like the International Spy Museum in Washington, D.C.

"Intelligence" is used to mean information acquired through spying, or stealing from, or torturing enemies -- none of which actions is in the least intelligent, and all of which are typically packaged in the phrase "gathering." One "gathers intelligence" like rosebuds. The "intelligence" is both random information of unspecified relationship to reality and information with which the general public cannot be trusted and which requires the general public to place its trust in unaccountable powers that know better than it does.

But "intelligence" is then also used to mean all of the activities of secret agencies that spy, lie, steal, torture, murder, foment coups d'etat, sabotage elections, bribe, blackmail, and "analyze" the "intelligence." There are no spies, much less murderers, but rather "intelligence officers" working in an "intelligence network" on their "foreign intelligence" and "domestic intelligence" and even their "counterintelligence" (which does not typically mean, as it sounds, misinformation aimed at making you stupider, but rather anything done by an "intelligence officer" and blamed on the threat of enemy "intelligence officers").

Talking like the CIA not only catapults the propaganda, but also normalizes lying, cheating, and stealing. It normalizes hostility and distrust toward other nations. It provides an excuse for your government to spy on you. It reinforces the idea that democracy is a bad and naive concept, that self-governance isn't possible, that proper governance requires secrets that the riffraff simply have to trust in. Above all, it spreads fear, paranoia, and what might be called a pandemic of mild Havana Syndrome, which weakens the intellectual immune system against "operations" like Russiagate or reports of mass rapes by Hamas as justification for genocide.

Of course, governments should have information. They should hire intelligent, skilled people, including as diplomats, rather than campaign sugar daddies. They should hire people who read multiple languages. They should hire people who've studied the impacts of policies, rather than the impacts of sound bytes. The point, I assume you grasp, is not that they should be uninformed, but that they should stop watching people with cameras and blowing them up with missiles as a substitute for behaving intelligently and respectfully, and for godsake shouldn't call the stuff they do the work of "intelligence operatives." And we shouldn't watch movies glorifying it.

So, here are some recommendations for using better language:

Intelligence (including human intelligence, signals intelligence, etc.):

Claimed basis for government assertions that a government refuses to make public.

Assessed with high confidence:

Asserted by a government that refuses to make its evidence public.

Assessed with moderate confidence:

Asserted by a government that refuses to make its evidence public and is worried people will learn the truth.

Assessed with low confidence:

Asserted by a government that refuses to make its evidence public, doesn't really expect anyone to believe it, but wants you to act as though you believe it as a matter of duty.

Chatter:

Asserted by a government that refuses to make its evidence public and admits it's nothing but hearsay, unless it's lying even about that.

Intelligence Agency:

Governmental mafia.

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The American elites have already divided into "bad" and "good" parts in order to turn Europe into food for Russia. Trump will take on the role of the "bad" American while his political opponents will remain "good" for the Europeans. Together they will make America Great Again!

The Greatness of Western Democracy as it is

Voters don't have to die and suffer for political goals. With technological, financial and political advantages, Western democracies have learned to solve political problems without creating problems for voters. Live in paradise without stress! It is this internal policy that is the main result of the dominance of Western democracies in the world. The loss of this opportunity will indicate the deprivation of Western democracies of a dominant role in the world.

At this moment, only one event can threaten the democratic paradise. This is a long-term conflict of high intensity. Direct entry into this conflict will force Western democracies to change their internal policies. That is, voters will again have to die and suffer in order to achieve political goals. And this will destroy the main result of Western dominance!

To maintain their dominant position, Western democracies need to avoid direct involvement in long-term, high-intensity conflicts. But if possible, force your enemies to participate in such conflicts. To implement such a strategy, it is necessary to fight with someone else's hands.

World War III=America Great Again

The events in Ukraine show how this happens in reality. Russia is directly involved in the conflict. But Western democracies are participating in the conflict indirectly, through Ukraine. Ukraine, like Russia, is directly involved in a long-term conflict of high intensity. But Ukrainians have less potential than Russians. Therefore, Ukraine will inevitably be destroyed. In fact, the West has turned Ukraine into food for Russia. When this political fodder runs out, a new portion of food will be prepared!

Which countries will become this food shows Trump's desire to leave NATO. It is a mistake to think that this is Trump's desire. Leaving NATO is the consolidated desire of all American political elites. Blame the Republican President smart solution. This will allow the allies' displeasure to be concentrated on one of the politicians. Other American politicians will remain friends of European democracies. This will make it possible to maintain political ties with Europe. Political connections will make it possible to provide assistance to Europe during the war. It is Europe that will become the next political fodder for Russia.

Using its unique geographic position, the United States will continue to keep Russia engaged in a long-term, high-intensity conflict. But in the second stage, European countries will be used for this. Since Ukraine will be eaten by Russia at the first stage of the conflict.

That is, leaving NATO is the United States preparing for a continuation of the conflict with Russia in Europe. The US will leave NATO. This will give the United States the opportunity not to fight with Russia. But America will continue to maintain the ability to provide assistance to its European allies, who, like Ukraine, will fight with Russia. By providing assistance, the United States will become richer. America already did this in the first and second world wars. World War III will be no exception!

That is, from the point of view of the American voter, this is normal. On the path to Paradise, the ends justify the means!

Donald Trump will get a lot of criticism. But he will endure it for the good of America. Other American politicians who criticize Trump for leaving NATO will then be able to enrich America by organizing supplies to Europe. So bad Trump and good other American politicians will work together to make the "America Great Again" project.

Bottom line

Of course we feel sorry for the Europeans. But these people sentenced themselves to death when they believed that the Russians are the enemies of the Ukrainians! The slaughter has already begun! Those who support this massacre today become victims tomorrow.

Apparently Orban and Fico began to guess about something. Their political position in the EU will help Slovakia and Hungary avoid destruction. France, which has nuclear weapons, will survive. And the UK, which left the EU in advance, will remain independent.

Russians know everything. And the Russians agree to participate in the project. Only Russian aggression can ensure US prosperity. Vladimir Putin said that Germany has lost its sovereignty to the whole world. American journalist Tucker Carlson helped him do this. The American and Russian nations are already collaborating on the project. Only both nations do this in their own national style. The Russians achieve victories at the cost of millions of victims and suffering. Americans achieve victories by trading and relaxing. To each his own! Everything is fair!
It didnt even last 24 hours on stage. In 1832, The King Amuses Himself  a play by Victor Hugo  premiered in Paris. It was banned the next day. It couldnt be performed in France, but the text was still published. It ended up in the hands of Giuseppe Verdi, a famous Italian composer known for his operas. To him, it seemed like the perfect plot for his next project: Rigoletto.

The Italian censors tried to prevent it from being performed, but Verdi proved to be a great negotiator. His opera premiered successfully and began touring theaters throughout Europe except for France. And not because of censorship: this time, it was Victor Hugo himself who didnt consent to it being performed, while his original work was still prohibited.

How did the opera get past censorship, when it utilized the same script of Hugos banned play? Well, this was thanks to the genius of Giuseppe Verdi.

Two centuries later, Rigoletto continues to raise controversy: the last production premiered in Spain, directed by Miguel del Arco. However, it was booed at its premier at Madrids Royal Theater, in December 2023. The production is now in Bilbao and will later stop in Seville.

This work by Verdi is a great example of how opera was censored and how a composers intelligence managed to outwit the authorities. Thats why its a central part of the Opera and Censorship course, taught at the Royal Theater by musicologist and music critic Mario Munoz.

When the censors found out that Verdi was trying to make an opera that was about how the king of France tries to sleep with whoever he wants, they told the composer and the librettist that they had chosen very poorly and that they should look for another work that didnt question the established institutions and the king. Above all, they didnt want a diplomatic problem with France, Munoz explains.

There were many elements of the opera that scandalized the censors, but there was one scene that made their hair stand on end: a king raping a woman. The negotiations were very tough and Verdi made many concessions. He demoted the king and made him a duke. He couldnt be French, either, so they chose an Italian duchy that was already extinct by then: Mantua. The tug of war was constant, until only the main obstacle remained: the rape scene. When Verdi decided to remove it, the opera went ahead.

The funny thing, the musicologist notes, is that its recently become known that under no circumstances did Verdi intend to portray that scene but he pretended that he was and used it as a tool to negotiate and get even more out of the censors.

Verdi knew very well what he was doing when he chose The King Amuses Himself as the plot for his opera. He didnt want to entertain the audience with pretty music, but rather give them something to think about. Joan Matabosch  the artistic director at Madrids Royal Theater  explains that its a tremendously uncomfortable work. If you want to understand what it says, of course. If we believe that watching Rigoletto is like humming La donna e mobile, thats absolutely not the case. By not taking the time to understand this opera, you betray it. And you betray Verdi in the process.

Its important to note how cruel the censorship of the time was towards the opera. The premiere was as controversial as expected, with numerous viewers complaining that the topic dishonored the glorious institution, while the critics were baffled.

If Verdi stood out for his ability to negotiate with the censors, what the great Gioachino Rossini was good at was avoiding them entirely. But he also had some headaches, for example, with La Cenerentola (Cinderella), which Munoz also analyzes: Its the daughter of direct censorship. Rossini was going to do another work, but the censorship prevented it, so he had to choose [the story by Charles] Perrault quickly. And even a seemingly harmless childrens story had the censors sink their teeth in. They considered the shoe scene too erotic, because it forced the womans ankle to be shown. So, they changed the shoe for a bracelet, the musicologist adds.

The mezzo-soprano Cecilia Bartoli, holding the bracelet in the legendary production of 'La Cenerentola.'

When the nobility was criticized, the piece was censored. If something appeared that could seem erotic, it was censored. If the religious authorities considered any content to be dangerous, it was censored. At face value, these may seem like the great taboo themes in the history of opera, but according to Muno, ideological issues were less critical than another factor: I think what was penalized was the individuals loss of control. Not so much what the author spoke about, but the fact that he spoke about whatever he wanted that can be the fuse for critical thinking to spread.

But while control was imposed over words, the composers most powerful weapon wasnt taken into consideration by the censors. Such was the case of Dido and Aeneas (1689), an opera by Henry Purcell. For the morals of the time, suicide was an unforgivable act that forever condemned the soul of the person who committed it. The censors werent going to allow this to be portrayed on stage, so Purcell didnt make Dido kill herself. Rather, she dies of heartbreak.

Deaths out of love were the most useful things in the history of opera, because they allowed for the listeners to be absolved, the musicologist explains. But Purcell didnt want to be left without telling  at least in some way  the story as it originally was. So what does a composer do when theyre not allowed to express something in words? Well, they can express it through music.

As she dies, a continuous descending musical staircase plays, to explain that shes eternally condemned to hell. One thing is what the text tells you, and another is what the music tells you.

Munoz notes that something else emerges while analyzing the history of opera: censorship usually ends up benefiting the work. In general, it doesnt usually have a negative effect, because when censorship tightens the parameters of a work, in the end, the artist manages to turn the subject around to say what they want, but in a different way. So, on many occasions, what the censors have managed to do is turn top-notch operas into masterpieces.

Its no coincidence that Rigoletto, La Cenerentola, Tristan und Isolde or Salome  examples of great operatic works marked by censorship  were created in the 19th and early-20th centuries. At first, [censorship] wasnt so problematic, because opera was born at the end of the 16th century and was totally linked to power. But when issues of political, religious and individual freedom were mixed with art, thats when everything was at its worst, which was in the 19th and early-20th centuries. Thats when censorship had the greatest power.

And today, does it still exist? Of course not, Joan Matabosch responds emphatically, from her post at the Royal Theater. But what about self-censorship? Can a scandal encourage a producer or a stage director to cut a work by themselves, for fear of the publics reaction?

The recent production of Rigoletto  with Miguel del Arco as stage director  caused a stir at its premiere in Madrid. Some spectators booed the performance; the criticism spread to social media. While there were many positive comments, the boos at the premiere stood out.

Its symptomatic that when a current stage director decides to truly explain  with all his force  what Verdi denounces in Rigoletto, there are still those who accuse the show of the same thing that they accused Verdi of at the time: of depravity, of being in bad taste and of being inappropriate for a glorious institution. This shows that the issue is still very topical and continues to hinder us, Matabosch says.

Del Arco  to whom the criticism was directed  acknowledges that he tries to block out the comments, although something always ends up getting to him. Theyve said ferocious things to me. A lady wrote to me saying that she will never forgive me because I ruined a wonderful afternoon of Verdis music, and that for no reason should I bring the outside world to the stage.

The director doesnt censor himself, but he does recognize that all that pressure from the public can affect a theater or a stage director with less experience. Yes, it can affect you. I may be speaking very casually, but it hasnt been easy for me to withstand all the media pressure, he admits.

The baritone Etienne Dupuis, during a performance of 'Rigoletto,' which premiered at Madrids Royal Theater in December 2023. Javier del Real

This isnt the first time that hes faced this kind of pressure. Back in 2016, his operetta  Como esta Madriz!  was targeted by a boycott by members of the public. I remember that, when we [members of the production] went to Oviedo  where no one had seen it yet  we found a demonstration and banners that said: If youre a Christian, dont go to see this performance. Sometimes, you feel the need to say: why are you spending your time protesting something if you havent seen it? Come in and then well discuss it. That attitude has a lot to do with censorship, he notes.

But just as the opera censors achieved the opposite of what they were trying to do, these scandals  according to Del Arco  also have a positive effect. Sometimes, they come in handy. With Rigoletto, weve appeared everywhere. Suddenly, a minority thing like opera experiences a brutal media explosion at a time when its difficult to gain a foothold. Because of a scandal, you become moderately noticeable. And thats good. It means that you havent gone unnoticed.

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Political pundits, commentators, analysts, and Democratic party officials had a field day laughing at, ridiculing and mocking Trump's braggadocio boast before a Black conservative political outfit in Georgia before the GOP primary in February that Blacks adore, identify even love him. He claimed that legions of Blacks walk around with tee shirts on with a picture of his infamous mug shot of him being booked in Georgia after being charged with vote tampering.

To hear him tell it, since Blacks routinely get a raw deal in the criminal justice system they instantly identify with his alleged endless self-described claim of legal persecution.

We can skip past Trump's usual overblown self-promoting gaslight. However, what can't be so mockingly dismissed is polls that show that more Blacks than ever do say they back Trump. There's good reason to believe and worry about this deeply troubling reality.

In his presidential victory in 2016 and loss in 2020, he did marginally better with Black voters than prior GOP presidential candidates. That alone was not much cause for concern, let alone cause to get out the worry beads that Trump and the GOP had made any kind of real breakthrough in prying Blacks aways from the Democrats.

Despite all the supposed grousing among Blacks about Biden, he did even better with Black voters in the bellwether South Carolina primary in January than he did in 2020. There was no break in the solid Democratic ranks by Blacks. That pattern almost certainly would be duplicated in other crucial primary elections in 2024. Focus groups of Black voters confirm that while more than a few Blacks continue to voice criticism and concern about some of Biden's policies, and even dredge up his enthusiastic support of the punitive Clinton Crime Bill, almost none say they have any love, like of, or desire to throw their lot in with Trump.

Yet, the harsh reality is that thousands of Blacks did vote for Trump in 2020. Their reasons are easy to explain. Trump touched a tiny nerve with his shout that poor, underserved Black neighborhoods are supposedly a mess with lousy public schools, high crime and violence, and chronic joblessness and poverty.

He dumped the blame for that squarely on the Democrats who run and have run most of these cities for decades. Trump doubled down on that slam with a handful of carefully choreographed appearances with high-profile Black preachers, at name Black churches. This was just enough to take the hard and sharp edge for some Blacks off the almost-set-in-stone image of Trump as a guy with a white sheet under his suit.

There was more. As far back as the 2004 presidential election, there was a sign that more than a few Blacks, most notably Black conservative evangelicals, were deeply susceptible to GOP conservative pitches on some issues. A considerable number of them voted for Bush that year and that was enough to give him the cushion he needed to bag Ohio and win the White House.

The same polls that election that showed black's prime concern was with bread-and-butter issues--and that Bush's rival Democrat rival John Kerry was viewed as the candidate who could deliver on those issues--also revealed that a sizable number of Blacks ranked abortion, gay marriage, and school prayer as priority issues. Their concern for these issues didn't come anywhere close to that of white evangelicals, but it was still higher than that of the general voting public.

In 2008 and 2012, Black GOP advocacy groups ran ads hammering the Democrats again for their alleged indifference to and outright aid and abet of black suffering in the inner cities, and touting the GOP's emphasis on small business, school choice, and family values as the best path to black advancement. This pitch has always had some appeal to many Backs. And though it would never trigger any kind of stampede to the GOP by even most of these conservative-leaning Blacks, it was enough to take some of the sting out of the GOP's naked history of racial abuse.

Trump understood enough of that history. He tailored the few pitches he made to Blacks for their votes to reflect the stock GOP pro-business, free enterprise, and the healthy economy line as something that blacks also could and should embrace. He's using the same template in 2024 with the added twist that he's supposedly a victim of a horribly racially skewed criminal justice system just as Blacks are.

The ten to twelve percent of Blacks who voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, combined with the numbers who didn't vote at all, or didn't vote for Clinton or Biden, did not help elect Trump. He won with an Obama like crusade among less educated white male and female, blue collar, and rural voters. However, enough Blacks did buy his pitch that a conservative, Republican businessman, with a horrific tainted racial history, was a better bet in the Oval Office than a Democrat. This again makes Trump's 2024 pitch to Blacks even more fraught with peril.

Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. His recent book is Biden Really Too Old? The Politics of Age and Ageism in America (Middle Passage Press). He is the host of the weekly Earl Ofari Hutchinson Show on KPFK 90.7 FM Los Angeles and the Pacifica Network.
The Score, All Classical Radios nationally syndicated program that celebrates film music with inspiring and informative one-hour shows, is having a moment. Now on the cusp of its 18th year, weekly episodes of The Score are carried by 60 stations and reach an estimated 1 million listeners  not counting those online worldwide. With such an expansive audience, this distinctive show about music in the movies may be the most popular radio show ever produced in Portland.

One reason for the success of The Score is its exploration of wide-ranging themes. A sampling of recent programs includes seasonal topics such as the music that underscores the holidays (Christmas Through the Years and Thanksgiving Stuffing), serious matters (The Building Blocks of America: Immigrants), pure fantasy (Dragons: Flights of Fancy), and science fiction (They Came from Outer Space). Some shows are dedicated to the music of specific composers, such as Terrance Blanchard and James Newton Howard.

The Score is the brainchild of Edmund Stone, who has created and produced more than 825 episodes.

I was doing the Saturday afternoon request show one gloomy November day, recalled Stone. I thought that to cheer things up I would play Erich Wolfgang Korngolds music for The Adventures of Robin Hood. I received some emails saying how much it was enjoyed. The next week, I did it again with two or three pieces and got more emails. In April of 2006, I asked listeners to let me know if they wanted to hear more film music or not. I got so many emails that I stopped counting at 92. All were positive except for two of them.

So, The Score was off and running, but initially it was slow going.

The show was publicized through word of mouth, Stone said. There was no advertising budget for it, and we hardly had any soundtracks here. I went to music stores, garage sales and Goodwill and tried to buy inexpensive, marked down soundtracks. The studios werent interested in helping until I mentioned that our CEO at the time, Jack Allen, intended to syndicate the show throughout the U.S. That opened the gates, and they couldnt help me enough from that moment forward. Ive had amazing relationships with composers, publicists, managers and studios. Syndication started in 2009. The first station to sign on was up in Alaska.

When Stone lands on a theme, he leaves no rock unturned. Each hourlong segment provides musical samples and delicious background information layered with nuggets that you may not have been aware of.

I typically spend two and a half days doing research and crafting the script for each show, said Stone. Sometimes All Classical does not have the music. Sometimes I need music that has not been released commercially, so I write to the composer and invariably get a response that is fully cooperative. Composers want their music heard even if it is not commercially available. Outside of hearing it in the movie itself, The Score is a terrific venue for them.

Each edition of The Score displays Stones skill, luck, talent, theatrical training, Hollywood connections, film knowledge and music knowledge. He threads it all together to make a compelling storyline.

In the radio business, we have a talk-to-music ratio, explained Stone. I have about 16 to 18 minutes of talk during the hourlong show and 41 to 43 minutes of music. Because we pay a license fee to BMI  Broadcast Music Inc.  and ASCAP  The American Society of Composer, Authors and Publishers  we can use the music and dialog if the dialog is included in the soundtrack recording. Sometimes we use sound effects like the show we did on the history of flying in movies. I used the starting sound of a propellor bi-plane and later the engine starting on an aircraft carrier.

Stones fascination with radio, cinema and film music goes back to his days growing up in rural England near Birmingham. As a teenager, he had a deep desire to join the BBC drama department. But the way he talked made that a nonstarter.

I realized that the BBC wouldnt hire me with my regional dialect, said Stone. So, I had to retrain the way I spoke, every syllable. It took me about three years.

That worked, and in 1979 Stone landed a job as a BBC journalist in Hollywood. Over the next four years, he did a monthly broadcast on the lifestyles of the rich and famous.

I would spend a week as a houseguest and write pretty scathing things about their lifestyles, said Stone. The pay was awful, but I had terrific access to all sorts of celebrities. There wasnt an entourage surrounding them like nowadays.

With the knack of a raconteur, Stone knocked about and survived Los Angeles, interviewing and rubbing shoulders with legends such as George Burns, Mel Blanc and Alfred Hitchcock. After moving to Portland in 1990, Stone worked at KPDX Fox49 before joining All Classical as an on-air host in 2001.

Stone is a member of the Portland Critics Association and closely monitors awards in the film industry. He loves the Oscars and without hesitation gives his best guess as to the winners.

" Oppenheimer will win Best Picture, he predicted, along with more for the film. Christopher Nolan will win Best Director, Cillian Murphy will win Best Actor, and Ludwig Goransson for music.

But right or wrong, Stone enjoys every minute of assembling each show of The Score. Many of his fans instantly know his voice, which has been described as chocolate over gravel. And he enjoys it when people imitate his signature signoff statement: Lets do this again soon!

 James Bash, for The Oregonian/OregonLive
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced last week he would step down from his leadership post in November after 17 years. McConnell is the longest-serving Senate leader, Republican or Democrat. Editorial cartoonists focused on McConnells vote against impeaching former President Donald Trump over the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.

In the gallerys lead image, Bill Bramhall sees the Kentucky senator as paving the way for a second Trump term. Mike Luckovich, Jack Ohman and Drew Sheneman hold McConnell responsible for putting democracy in peril.

On the other side of the Capitol, House Speaker Mike Johnson is coming under increasing pressure from the White House and European allies to provide more U.S. military aid to Ukraine. He is being pulled in the other direction by Trump and the Freedom Caucus, who want him to reject Ukraine aid not linked to a border security deal. David Horsey draws Johnson cowering in the trenches over the prospect of angering the partys right flank.

In presidential campaign news, GOP frontrunner Trump beat challenger Nikki Haley in her home state of South Carolina. Haley seems undeterred despite losing every primary contest so far. She vowed to stay in the race at least until Super Tuesday, March 5. Dana Summers sees the Haley campaign as a smashed-up race car. Scott Stantis affixes a Haley bumper sticker to the toppled-over Odysseus moon lander.

Other news events depicted in the editorial cartoon gallery include Russian leader Vladimir Putins space nuke ambitions; Trumps effort to raise a bond to cover the $450 million New York court judgment against him; widening repercussions of the in-vitro fertilization ruling in Alabama; dueling appearances at the Southern border by Trump and President Joe Biden; and Bidens medical exam that omitted a cognitive test.

Cartoons were drawn by Jack Ohman, Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Mike Luckovich, Steve Breen and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.

View more editorial cartoon galleries.
A Washington State Patrol trooper was killed early Saturday after being struck by a motorist on southbound Interstate 5 near Marysville, the agency said in a news release.

Snohomish County sheriffs deputies responded to the crash by 136th Street Northeast just before 3 a.m. The trooper, identified as Christopher Gadd, died at the scene.

Gadd, 27, was with State Patrol for 2 1/2 years and worked out of Marysville.

We will honor Chris, even in sorrow, but as an agency, we will go on, State Patrol Chief John Batiste said at a news conference Saturday afternoon. The people of this great state need to know that we will continue to serve them with humility. Because he served, its our duty to continue to serve. [We need to] honor him and never forget his ultimate sacrifice.

According to the sheriffs office, the trooper was parked on the right shoulder when someone driving at a high speed slammed into the back of the patrol car. A van then crashed into the suspects car.

The suspect and the driver of the van were taken to the hospital, according to the sheriffs office. Five passengers in the van were not hurt in the crash.

The sheriffs office identified the suspect as a 32-year-old Lynnwood man. He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of vehicular homicide. A judge approved a search warrant to test a sample of his blood.

Gadd was the 33rd WSP trooper killed in the line of duty and the first since Detective Eric Gunderson died after contracting COVID-19 at a work conference in September 2021. Before that, Trooper Justin Schaffer was hit and killed March 24, 2020, while placing spike strips on I-5 near Chehalis.

All lanes on I-5 southbound near the scene were closed during the large police response Saturday morning. The freeway was cleared and opened for traffic about noon, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

In a post on the social platform X, Gov. Jay Inslee said it is an incredibly sad day for the State Patrol. He said he and first lady Trudi Inslee send their condolences to the family.

Born in Pasco, Washington, Gadd graduated from Kentlake High School before receiving an emergency medical technician certification, the State Patrol said in a news release. He began working for the department in September 2021 as a trooper cadet and was assigned to Grandview, Yakima County.

During his time in the trooper academy, Gadd received the Top Academic Award, given to the cadet with the highest grade point average after 30 exams.

After completing basic training, he was assigned to patrol in Marysville in November 2022.

Gadd is survived by his wife, Cammryn, and daughter Kaelyn, the release said, as well as his father David Gadd, a former state trooper, his mother Gillian, and his sister Jacqueline, a state trooper in Texas.

(c)2024 The Seattle Times

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
The Portland Timbers look to build on their season-opening victory as they play host to D.C. United on Saturday night.

The Timbers are set to face D.C. United at 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET Saturday at Providence Park in Portland, with the broadcast on Apple TVs MLS Season Pass.

Portland and D.C. each are coming off impressive victories in their openers, with the Timbers routing Colorado 4-1 and D.C. United beating New England 3-1.

Here are the match details and how to watch:

ODDS (via DraftKings): Portland Timbers (+110) | Draw (+255) | D.C. United (+220)

What: Portland Timbers take on D.C. United in an MLS regular-season match

When: 7:30 p.m. PT/10:30 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 2

Where: Providence Park, Portland

TV channel: None

How to watch live stream online: This game is available to stream on the Apple TV app on your TV, phone or tablet with a subscription to MLS Season Pass. A subscription grants access to every MLS match  including the Timbers  for the whole season with no blackouts. MLS Season Pass is $14.99 per month or $99 for the season. Already an Apple TV+ subscriber? Then the cost drops to $12.99 per month or $79 for the full season.

Portland radio: KXTG 750 (English), KGDD 93.5/1150 (Spanish)
On Monday at 2:22 a.m. the National Weather Service issued an updated winter storm warning in effect until Tuesday at 4 p.m. for South Central Oregon Cascades.

Winter driving essentials: Recommendations from the weather service for safe journeys

Winter weather can make driving treacherous, leading to over 6,000 weather-related vehicle fatalities and over 480,000 injuries each year. When traveling during snow or freezing rain, prioritize safety by slowing down. In near-freezing temperatures, it's safest to assume that icy conditions exist on roadways and adjust your driving accordingly. Be cautious of ice accumulating on power lines or tree branches, which can lead to snapping and falling hazards. If possible, avoid driving in such conditions. If you must venture out, opt for routes with fewer trees and power lines. Never touch a downed power line, and immediately dial 911 if you come across one. Here are additional winter driving tips from the weather service:

1. Share your travel plans:

When traveling out of town in hazardous winter weather, inform your family or friends of your destination, planned route, and estimated time of arrival.

2. Prepare your vehicle:

Ensure your gas tank is full and equip your vehicle with essential winter supplies such as a windshield scraper, jumper cables, a small shovel, flashlight, cell phone, blanket, extra warm clothing, drinking water, and high-calorie non-perishable food.

3. Stay calm when stranded:

If you become stranded, remain composed. Inform someone about your situation and location. Avoid attempting to walk to safety. Indicate that you need assistance by attaching a cloth to your car's antenna or mirror, and make your vehicle more visible by using the dome light and flashers

4. Be aware of snow plows:

Keep an eye out for snow plows and provide them with ample room to pass. Only overtake a plow when you have a clear view of the road ahead.

5. Check road conditions:

Before embarking on your journey, check the latest road conditions to make informed travel decisions.

Stay safe on wintry roads with these valuable winter driving tips from the weather service, and reduce the risk of accidents during challenging weather conditions.

Advance Local Weather Alerts is a service provided by United Robots, which uses machine learning to compile the latest data from the National Weather Service.
Photo: (Photo : William Thomas Cain / Getty Images)

A Pennsylvania man is now arrested and facing multiple charges for allegedly killing a pregnant Amish woman.

In a heart-wrenching twist of fate, the peaceful idyll surrounding Spartansburg, Pennsylvania, was shattered when the arrest of 52-year-old Shawn C. Cranston unfolded in connection with the brutal slaying of 23-year-old Rebekah A. Byler.

The somber echoes of this gruesome incident now reverberate through the serene rural community, casting a pall over its once-unblemished tranquility.

Unsettling Arrest and Array of Charges

The arrest of a Pennsylvania man, Shawn C. Cranston, has injected an unsettling undercurrent into the tapestry of life in this quiet town.

Facing charges that include criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary, and criminal trespass, Cranston's denial of bail at a preliminary arraignment amplifies the gravity of the situation.

Behind the walls of the Crawford County jail, Cranston awaits a March 15 preliminary hearing, a date that looms with a palpable tension that hangs thick in the air.

As the investigation unfolds, the harrowing details of Rebekah A. Byler's untimely demise emerges from the shadows.

Found lifeless in her home just last week, Byler's body bore the stark evidence of cutting wounds to her neck and head.

The court documents chillingly allege that Cranston, the Pennsylvania man at the center of this tragedy, extinguished her life through a brutal combination of shooting and slashing.

The warrant requests for the home and surrounding structures, filed by Investigator Trooper Adam Black, detailed that Andy Byler, the victim's spouse, discovered her lifeless body inside their residence shortly after noon.

According to Black, a woman described as a family friend called 911 at 12:36 p.m., reporting the unresponsiveness of Rebekah Byler upon her and Andy Byler's arrival.

Trooper Cynthia Schick mentioned that the investigation and autopsy have provided insights into a potential murder weapon, although it remains unrecovered. Schick clarified that two young Byler children at the home were unharmed.

At the crime scene, state police officers, following Black's account, found Rebekah Byler on her back in the living room. The warrants specifically sought items such as knives, blades, cutting instruments, and other relevant objects.

These revelations cast a chilling veil over the close-knit community that once thrived on its peaceful coexistence.

Read Also: Puerto Rico Students Go Viral on TikTok, Unveiling Shocking Decay in Schools - Demanding Urgent Educational Reform

The Community Grieves, Seeking Answers

As the community grapples with the weight of grief, investigative filings related to search warrants offer a glimpse into the circumstances surrounding the discovery of Byler's lifeless form by her husband, Andy Byler.

Yet, the haunting absence of details regarding the murder weapon lingers, a puzzle piece yet to be uncovered.

Authorities appeal to the public, urging anyone with information to come forward and assist in untangling this web of mystery.

The poignant mourning within the Amish community intertwines with the collective sorrow of their non-Amish neighbors, creating an atmosphere of shared loss in the heart of Spartansburg.

In the aftermath of this devastating event, the local residents find solace in communal support, rallying together during calling hours held amidst the narrow country roads.

The Amish, deeply ingrained in the local culture, share in the communal grief, further strengthening the bonds woven through years of harmonious coexistence.

The ongoing investigation weaves through the fabric of this tight-knit community, as its members yearn for justice, closure, and a return to the serenity that once defined their rural haven.

As the shadows of uncertainty linger, Spartansburg navigates the challenges of reconciling with a tragedy that has left indelible marks on its landscape.

The search for answers continues, propelling the community forward, determined to restore the peace that once defined their quaint Pennsylvania town.

Related Article: CVS, Walgreens Revolutionize Reproductive Health: Abortion Pill Mifepristone Dispensation Begins Following FDA Rule Change
Too many people  many of whom call themselves witches  are unable to recognize when their magic works. They never experience the thrill that comes when something you worked spells for manifests in the ordinary world. More importantly, theyre unable to learn from both their mistakes and their successes, and they never build the confidence they need to work magic effectively when they have an urgent need.

For the last several years Ive been encouraging my newsletter readers to work magic at every full moon. Too often we neglect to hone our skills, and then whenever you have need of anything happens were unable to respond as well as wed like as well as is necessary.

Practicing magic is good. So is reviewing our magical workings. And celebrating our magical successes? Thats awesome.

What do we mean by magical success?

If you summon a demon to bring you a bag of gold, at the end of the night either youve got a bag of gold that smells faintly of sulfur or you dont. Most magic, though, isnt so black and white.

Lets say you need a new job. So you pray to your Gods and ancestors, and you make special offerings. You anoint candles and burn them. You meditate on the 8 of Pentacles, the 3 of Pentacles, and perhaps The Fool (for new beginnings).

And also, you update your resume and include all the current hot keywords. You load it on all the job search websites, and you sift through those sites looking for promising matches. You talk to your friends in your field and see if any of them know anyone whos hiring. You visualize all this coming together in multiple phone calls, several in-person interviews, and at least one good offer. Six weeks later youre starting a new job that, while not perfect, is a good fit with your skills and needs.

Is that a success? Inarguably.

Is it a magical success? Maybe.

On one hand, if you dont do the mundane stuff youre not likely to get any offers. Its not impossible  I once had a former boss call me up out of the blue and offer me a job  but its not likely either. On the other hand, each posting has dozens if not hundreds of applicants. What makes your resume grab a recruiters attention, and then a hiring managers? What makes you cruise through an interview with all the right responses instead of fumbling over your words  or makes the hiring manager hear what you meant to say instead of what you actually said?

What moved the odds on getting a particular job from 2% to 25%, and then from 25% to 75%? Thats the magic.

Maybe you really are that much better than everybody else at this particular job. Or maybe your magic shifted the odds in your favor.

What does recognizing your magical successes accomplish?

You arent trying to build up evidence to convince materialists and skeptics that magic is real. Their metaphysics doesnt allow for magic and trying to change their minds is a waste of time. Pagans dont proselytize and witches dont recruit (well, I imagine some do, but most witches I know have more would-be students than they want).

Rather, recognizing your successes convinces you that magic is real, and encourages you to practice more and more deeply.

We live in a society that says fairy tales are for kids and that uses magical thinking as an insult of the highest order. For most of us, whatever natural magic we had as small children was shamed out of us by late elementary school. So of course were not exactly sure that magic works.

Its OK to fake it till you make it. But at some point, we need to stop faking it and begin each working from the assumption that the magical working were planning will accomplish what we target.

The second reason we need to recognize our magical successes is so we can learn from them. If something worked once its likely to work again. If something didnt work, we need to figure out why and what we need to do differently next time. In 2022 I wrote The 5 Real Reasons Your Spells Didnt Work. I wont repeat that here, but I will re-emphasize the importance of studying both our failures and our successes so we can learn from them.

And the third reason? Because recognizing that your magic worked feels good. Its a sense of accomplishment  and a recognition of a blessing  that feels amazing. I like to feel that way any time I can.

Keep good notes!

OK, thats why we should do this. Now, how do we actually do it?

It starts with keeping good notes. What did you do, how did you do it, and when did you do it? What else was going on at the time? What was the phase of the moon? Dont bury yourself in minutiae, but record as much as you can.

Maybe you hand write it in your Book of Shadows. Maybe you keep it in an online journal. Mine is in a Notepad text file  and its backed up in three places. Do whatever works for you, just do something.

Writing everything down has the additional advantage of making it less likely youll forget a critical step in the process, whether youre doing an elaborate formal working or an impromptu spell.

If I had to condense this post down to one line, I would only need three words: keep good notes.

Review your notes periodically

Sometimes you recognize your magical successes because they smack you in the face. You get the job you worked magic for last month. Your money spell brings the exact amount you targeted in an ordinary but completely unexpected fashion.

Other times your success is not so obvious. I did a major magical working out of the PGM a few years ago. It wasnt until four months later I realized my reaction to stress had improved dramatically.

Reviewing your notes every month or so reminds you of what you did, why you did it, and what you were trying to achieve. From there its a simple matter to determine if it worked, if it didnt work, or if it went in a direction you werent expecting.

I have two long-term hypersigils going. The first has been going for over ten years  the second for about three years. The final outcome wont be determined for three more years, and perhaps longer. But so far so good. If things had blown up the workings would be clear failures by now. Im making progress toward the goals  thats a partial success, and thats worth recognizing.

Learn to estimate probability

How do you know what worked was magic and not mundane effort?

Demons bringing bags of gold notwithstanding, most magic works indirectly. It doesnt make things happen  it improves the odds that they will happen. If you work magic for a very low probability event, even a very powerful spell is unlikely to bring the results you want. This is why lottery magic doesnt work  the odds are simply too long.

On the other hand, good magic can move an event with a 25% chance of happening to 75%. Thats not going to bring what you want every time, but if it works three times out of four, thats a good thing.

The lower the odds that something will happen, the more likely that magic was the deciding factor when it does.

See the chart below. Your best results are always going to come from the upper right quadrant: the things that already have a high probability, where you have skill in the kind of magic that will move the odds. Theres no sense in working magic for something you can accomplish with mundane effort 100% of the time. But if the odds are 85% in your favor, working magic to move them to 95% can still be useful  and is still a magical success.

The more you do magic, the more you recognize your successes and deconstruct your failures, the more you deepen your knowledge and refine your techniques, the better your magic is going to get. That moves things upward on the chart  and improves the overall odds that youll get what youre working for.

Han Solo said never tell me the odds! Theres something to be said for diving into a low probably event driven by need and expecting it to work out of confidence and arrogance. But if you can learn to estimate the odds  something that comes with observation and lots of practice  you can do a better job of recognizing your magical successes.

Avoiding lust of result

Aleister Crowley warned against lust of result  worrying so much about whether a spell works or not that you dont give it time and space to work. A traditional chaos magic working includes the line does not matter, need not be. Do the magic and then forget about it, at least until its time to review your notes.

Of course you cant just forget about your money spell when youre trying to make rent before the end of the month. But you can follow the lead of the Zen Buddhists: acknowledge where your mind is going, release it, and then go back to something ordinary. Buddhists say to go back to focusing on your breathing. I do better with a brief prayer and then returning to some mundane activity.

Thumper Forge has his own recommendations for avoiding lust of result, told as only Thumper can.

Do your magic, and then learn to let it go so it has the room it needs to work.

Building better magic

For years I have said magic doesnt work by belief  magic works by action. The best way to believe in magic is to do magic, because if you do the spells right youll get results, and sooner or later it gets easier to accept that the magic is working than to keep rationalizing your results away.

I still think thats a valid approach. But the more I practice, the more I read, and the more I talk to people who do this kind of work, the more Im starting to think that belief is not irrelevant.

People who believe in magic get better magical results.

Some of this is because people who believe in magic tend to work more magic, and more tries means more hits. But especially in the realm of visualization, confidence makes a big difference. Theres planting a seed in your subconscious and letting it germinate and grow, and then theres creating something in the world of spirit and knowing that it will manifest in the ordinary world.

As I will it, so mote it be.

That kind of confidence only comes with recognizing success after success after success.

Do I have that level of confidence? I have a lot more than I did five years ago, and tons more than I had when I first started this journey. But I still have room to grow, and so Ill do my best to recognize my magical successes, and celebrate them, and learn from them.

And I hope you will too.
John Lennon in New York in 1977. At the left of the image are Yoko Ono and the couple's son, Sean.

In 1980, Yoko Ono took a photograph of the end of a collective dream. It featured the most recognizable glasses in history, stained with blood, placed next to a glass of water that was clearly half empty. In the backdrop, was a hazy view of the trees in Central Park and behind them the Manhattan skyline. The artist was still in the Dakota, where Mark David Chapman had just murdered John Lennon, and that photo  which later illustrated her 1981 album Season of Glass  became a relic. It was the symbol of the violent end of something greater than the most famous musician in history: a pop culture saint, a symbol of pacifism and hippie ideals. It was an end to that world, without countries, without heaven or hell, without wars or religions that a whole generation imagined, an end to the kind of life that Lennon wanted to see through his round glasses.

The rebellious spirit of those glasses is still recognized today: a few days ago, the political scientist and co-founder of Spanish political party Podemos, Juan Carlos Monedero, who wears lenses very similar to the Beatles, cited his disobedient Lennon glasses (which he implied shaped how he sees and understands things) as the reason for his umpteenth break with politician Pablo Iglesias. Here, we review the history and symbolism of these glasses, which began as a piece of craftsmanship in Germany, became the most popular spectacles in England, ended up as the most recognizable element of the man more famous than Jesus and wound up being a statement in themselves.

The cover of Yoko Ono's 'Season Of Glass.' Alamy Stock / CORDON PRESS

Lennon did not wear glasses at first. Despite having significant myopia (his prescription was -8.25 in the right eye and -7.50 in the left, according to a 2019 analysis by St Pauls Eye Unit), he wore contact lenses for years. The first time he was seen in his iconic round wire lenses was in Almeria, Spain, where he shot Richard Lesters film How I Won the War (based on Patrick Ryans 1963 novel), a black comedy in which he played a soldier named Gripweed. The film went unnoticed, but Lennon found himself comfortable wearing the Windsor-rimmed glasses for which he would become known all over the world.

John Lennon as a British soldier in the 1967 film 'How I Won the War.' John Springer Collection (Corbis via Getty Images)

Those black acetate glasses were made of coiled metal wire. Traditional Windsor glasses feature a circular wire frame, round lenses and a saddle-shaped bridge, also known as a W bridge, which sit directly on the nose, without nose pads (they arrived in 1920 and the glasses have been common since 1880). Because of their small, rounded shape they are also called teashades.

After the film, Lennon began wearing this style of glasses, specifically the Panto 45 model from the London manufacturer Algha Works, the oldest in the UK; the brand is now known as Savile Row. Since 1932, the factory has produced wire frames using late 19th-century machinery from a factory in Rathenow, Germany, which was founded by Max Wiseman in 1898. In 2020, the headquarters moved to Italy, where the company continues to produce handmade 18-karat gold frames.

A pair of Lennon's glasses on display in Berlin in 2017, after they were recovered by German police following a robbery against Yoko Ono in New York, in which some of the couple's personal effects were stolen. MAURIZIO GAMBARINI (DPA/AFP via Getty Images)

In its heyday, Algha manufactured 1.5 million frames a year as part of the British health systems (NHS) free eyeglasses program and employed up to 150 people, before Margaret Thatcher suspended the program in 1988. In addition to Lennon, the brands famous customers included Elizabeth II, Sean Connery, Daniel Radcliffe in the Harry Potter saga, Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Denzel Washington and Johnny Depp.

Soon, Lennon tried the orange tint, a shade customized by Agha in the 1970s; thanks to it, the Englishman saw the world in a warmer color, and not only figuratively. That orange filter stayed with him forever (he composed songs like Imagine wearing those glasses), and it also probably helped reduce the visual stress on his eyes: Lennon is believed to have suffered from an optical disease known as Irlen syndrome, which made him particularly sensitive to bright light.

Moreover, the artist considered orange to be an inspiring color: apparently, Lennon believed in Feng Shui, which says that the color orange is conducive to creativity.

Lennon at his home in Tittenhurst Park, near Ascot, in 1971. Michael Putland (Getty Images)

Lennon was one of the first artists to understand his glasses not so much as a visual aid but as a style statement. At the height of Beatlemania, the round wire-rimmed frames were an integral part of his expression, a kind of amulet: not only did they serve an obvious functionality, but they also helped him handle the persona of the most famous man in the world (even more so than Jesus Christ, as he himself said in a 1966 London Evening Standard interview). At that time, such glasses were already associated with important people like Ghandi, James Joyce, Groucho Marx and Ernest Hemingway, and Janis Joplin had started to wear them in the 1960s.

Janis Joplin in Columbus, Ohio, in 1970. John Byrne Cooke Estate (Getty Images)

Thus, Lennons glasses began to signify him and his causes, ideals and quirks: Im not going to change the way I look or feel to suit anything is one of the phrases attributed to him at the time. As he became a countercultural icon and a staunch activist against the Vietnam War, he began to collect dozens of glasses, usually round but some also had thicker frames. He bought them at flea markets (it is said that one of his favorite stalls was in Londons Camden Passage), as well as from an optometrist on New Yorks Upper West Side (Dr. Gary Tracy still practices to this day). One of Lennons favorites were a pair of flip-up spectacles called Green Japanese that were handcrafted in Tokyo. He also had them in 14-karat gold with an earlier version of photochromic glass (a lens that reacts to light and dark). Lennon also liked the Kolus model with a beveled silhouette designed in 1962 by Oliver Goldsmith, a brand that is still sold today.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono, protesting against the Vietnam War. Frank Barratt (Getty Images)

Their hallmark was their eyewear, and today the brand still recalls their products impact on popular culture: When the Beatles arrived in the United States in 1964, they brought with them a fresh and exciting fashion sensibility that captivated American youth. Young fans on both sides of the Atlantic sought to emulate their style, sparking a global frenzy for anything remotely related to the Fab Four. As the 1960s progressed, so did the Beatles musical and fashion sensibilities. Their breakthrough album Revolver, released in 1966, marked a turning point in both the bands sound and style. Designed by Klaus Voormann, the cover featured a bold, psychedelic collage that reflected the bands evolving creative spirit. This album cover and their experimental fashion choices of the time became emblematic of the psychedelic era.

Lennon wore his round glasses for his legendary bed-ins, a curious silent protest in which he and Yoko Ono did not get out of bed for a whole week: first, in March 1969, in room 702 of the Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam and two months later, in May, in suite 1742 of Montreals Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth Hotel. He also wore the glasses in the video clip for Imagine (released in 1971); the spectacles were so identified with Lennon that the cover of his 1974 album Walls and Bridges featured Lennon with multiple lenses (photographed by Bob Gruen).

Thus, those wire frames became charged with meaning and synonymous with hippie ideals, pacifism, youth counterculture and other 1970s social issues.

In recent years, some of the glasses that belonged to Lennon have been sold at auction (an anonymous British man paid $2 million in 2007 for a pair of glasses that the artist gave away on his 1966 tour of Japan, and in 2019 an American who was the Beatles chauffeur and assistant, Alan Harring, auctioned off another pair for about $178,000 at Sothebys). This is how the glasses of pacifism ended up capitalizing on their symbolism.

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The government has indicated it is targeting the end of March 2024 to sign off the debt restructuring agreement reached with Independent Power Producers (IPPs).



According to sources, the government has also stated that the debt owed the power producers have been reduced to about $700 million.



We are targeting the end of March to conclude the restructuring. We have also been able to reduce the debt to $700 million, which we believe is a significant step in the negotiations, a source told the paper.



Already, the government has indicated that it has made payments since 2023 to some IPPs.



The payments commenced after the government reached some agreements with about 5 Independent Power Producers in July 2023 when the debt was pegged at $1.6 billion.



In 2023, some IPPs threatened to cut power supply to power if debt owed them are not cleared.



According to the persons working on the negotiations, the debt got to alarming levels, which prompted the IPPs to issue the threats after which the payments began.



The term sheets have already been exchanged with about five of the independent power producers for further scrutiny as at February 28, 2024, the source who refused to be named stated.



There has not been any objection raised yet with the terms proposed.



Also the government is working to bring two more independent power producers to participate in the negotiations to restructure the debts.



It is expected that the restructuring will be concluded by end of March 2024 after the agreement is signed.



The government has also made some agreements with the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to receive some payments.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Introduction:



Globally renowned for its professionalism and integrity, KPMG is a world class auditing firm, which is also one of the top four accounting firms. Nonetheless, there are a number of issues with the firms decision to accept an engagement to conduct a special audit of a supposedly contentious contract between SML and the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA). Some of the criticisms have come from IMANI-Ghana, ACEP, and the Fourth Estate (supported by MFWA).



Some of the main arguments against KPMGs decision to accept the Government of Ghanas request to conduct the special audit include:



a. the difficulty to complete the assignment within the stipulated time period,

b. the independence of KPMG considering the fact that it has accepted multiple public sector engagements, and

c. the inadequate terms of reference in the contract or narrow scope of assignment.





Audit assignment completion deadlines



It has been argued that the deadlines established for finishing the audit present additional challenges to KPMG for the special audit assignment. Thus, with the complexity of the contract and the need for close examination, the two weeks allotted to KPMG are not sufficient to conduct a comprehensive audit.



However, we find this argument untenable because KPMG is a globally recognised audit firm with a large pool of the creme de la creme audit professionals ready to execute the assignment within the allotted time period, timeously and professionally.



Again, if after the expiration of the time period and the assignment has not been completed, KPMG could negotiate with government for an extension of time to enable KPMG to carry out an exhaustive audit without sacrificing the content of their output.



Independence challenges



In Ghana, think tanks such as IMANI-Ghana and ACEP have expressed concerns about the possible impact on KPMGs independence with their acceptance of this special audit engagement. They maintain that the Ghanaian government has given KPMG multiple public sector contracts, which might lead to a conflict of interest. Therefore, accepting this special audit engagement might make it more difficult for KPMG to evaluate the GRA-SML contract objectively.



Again, we find this argument weak. Professionally, in order to preserve their independence in accepting this special audit engagement, KPMG needs to make sure that sufficient safeguards are in place. This entails assigning an independent team to carry out the special audit that is unrelated to their other agreements with the Ghanaian government. When these safeguards are in place, then KPMG is absolved from arguments of independence.



Terms of reference for the special audit engagement



Another area of concern levelled against KPMGs acceptance of the special audit engagement is the contracts terms of reference. The argument continues that crucial topics like the procurement procedure, which are necessary to assess the contracts validity, are left out of the contract. Hence, KPMG might not be able to carry out an exhaustive audit that covers all pertinent facets of the GRA-SML contract without a comprehensive scope. When this happens, it could result in erroneous or incomplete conclusions drawn by KPMG, which would damage the audits credibility.



The crux of the matter regarding terms of reference for an audit engagement lies with the assignor of the contract. KPMG has the right to accept the special audit engagement. However, in order to incorporate important aspects and expand the audit scope like the procurement process in the audits terms of reference, KPMG and the assignor of the contractshould collaborate.



Again, KPMG could propose to the assignor/President to expand the scope of the special audit based on the preliminary audit findings. This would make it possible for KPMG to carry out a more thorough audit that covers every pertinent facet of the contract.



Summary



In conclusion, KPMG in Ghana has legally and professionally accept the special audit engagement considering its tract record of public sector audit engagements. The potential impact on their independence, the inadequacy of the contracts terms of reference, and the challenging two week timelines set for completion are all significant concerns that were taken into consideration before the acceptance of the engagement. In this case KPMG prioritised once again integrity and professionalism in their decision-making process to uphold their reputation as a trusted audit firm.





Source: Prof Samuel Antwi Dean of School of Graduate Studies University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA)









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In a collaborative effort to instil values of integrity and accountability in the upcoming workforce, the Government Secretarial School has joined forces with the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP). The school, dedicated to providing high-quality secretarial training to civil service and the public, welcomed the OSP's Youth Against Corruption Initiative, which focuses on educating trainees about the implications of corruption on society and the importance of countering corrupt practices from an early age.



As part of this initiative, OSP officials conducted training sessions at the school, covering topics such as the role and functions of the office, its specialised nature as an autonomous agency dedicated solely to the fight against corruption, and the definition of corruption and related activities.



A key component of the training was a detailed presentation on whistleblowing and its significance in upholding transparency and accountability. Trainees were introduced to the concept and importance of fostering a culture of reporting, emphasizing the crucial role whistle-blowers play in ensuring ethical conduct and creating a responsible and accountable environment nationwide. The presentation also provided insights into the various reporting mechanisms available at the OSP.



Furthermore, trainees were educated on the protection and reward schemes offered by the OSP to individuals who successfully assist the office in uncovering corruption and securing convictions.



The OSP's visit sparked valuable feedback from both students and teachers, expressing interest in future interventions and collaborations with the OSP. The collaborative effort between the Government Secretarial School and the OSP signifies a proactive approach to shaping a future workforce that prioritises ethical conduct, transparency, and accountability in the public sector.









Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Ghana Catholic Bishops Conference has advised the President, Nana Akufo Addo to have a careful look at the necessary amendments to the Proper Human Sexual Rights and Family Values Bill, commonly referred to as the Anti-LGBTQ Bill, before assenting his powers thereof.



The President of the Catholic Bishops Conference, Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, in an interview on Citi News monitored by Peacefmonline.com hammered on the importance of focusing on reforms aimed at reintegrating individuals into society.



He said, The president is the father of the nation, and we believe he will do what is in the best interest of the country. I cannot imagine the president not seeing the good in this law. He may make certain corrections on reformation and reintegration of victims, but I dont think the president will say he will not assent to it when he knows an overwhelming majority is in support of this law.



Speaking further, Most Reverend Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi opined that, incarceration, which is part of the penalties for persons who engage in the practice or support, sponsor or promote the practice of the any LGBTQ+ activities, is not the way to go considering the current state of the Ghanaian prisons. He added that,



In the views of the most revered Sunyani Diocesean Bishop of the Catholic Church, putting persons in prison based on their sexual orientation could potentially exacerbate such activities.



He emphasised the need for more reformative and corrective sanctions.



We think that in the case of this particular law and the way it is being implemented, being placed in prison as the punishment that they have chosen, it is not going to solve the problem. Because you see if you round up same-sex people and you know our prisons, they are going to end up in the same room and what is going to prevent them from going through these activities in the prison?



And you are not going to put them there forever because they are going to be there for three months to six months. And then they practice this and come out as more experts at it than when you sent them there. Then you release them back into society. So, what is going to happen?









Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com









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The Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA) and the Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers have hailed the contribution of the Second Lady of Ghana, Samira Bawumia, to the fashion industry, since assuming office in 2017.



In a citation jointly presented by the leadership of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA), and the Ghana Association of Beauticians and Hairdressers at the launch of the 2024 Wear Ghana Festival, they asserted that the fashion industry has seen remarkable growth since 2017.



According to them, the Ghana Export Promotion Authority valued Ghanas export revenues from the fashion industry at 43 million dollars in 2020; a huge increase from value of the industry which was near collapse due to excessive importation of second-hand goods and the influx of cheap replica fabrics.



The Queenmothers Foundation, led by Nana Serwaa Bonsu, Queenmother of Offinso-Kayeraalso named the Second Lady as Dwabisohemaa Adwoa Adepa, recognizing her distinct role in promoting Ghanas culture through fashion and for promoting decency among young people. According to the Queen mother, Ghanas Kente and local print have seen increased patronage since the Second Lady assumed office in 2017.



Organized by the Commission on National Culture, under the auspices of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture, in partnership with the Ghana Tourism Authority, the Wear Ghana Festival is an annual festival instituted to promote national identity and encourage the patronage of local fabrics in Ghana.



Speaking at the event, the Second Lady of Ghana, who has dazzled Ghanaians, over the years, with breathtaking, bespoke Ghanaian designs, advocated for the increased patronage of made-in-Ghana textiles and designs. She noted that  Every day should be a Ghana Day, not only Fridays. Le t us infuse our daily lives with the vibrancy of our culture. Whether in the office, at school, or during leisure, let us proudly wear Ghana. Our clothing is a canvas that tells the story of our nation.



She further appealed to employers to allow their staff to wear Ghana every day. When employees wear Ghana, they not only express their patriotism but also contribute to the growth of our economy. Let us create a workplace culture that celebrates our identity, she remarked.



Mrs. Bawumia has been celebrated widely for her fashion statements, particularly on Independence Day Celebrations. Styled by big brands and not-so-big brands, she skillfully blends locally sourced fabrics to produce intricate designs that have become signature pieces being replicated across the country and internationally.





Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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The Convoy of Hope, an American faith-based non-profit humanitarian and disaster relief organisation, has donated $20,000 through the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Ghana to support the victims of the recent Volta Dam spillage.



Speaking to the media in a press conference in Accra on Thursday, February 29, 2024, the General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Ghana, who doubles as the Vice President of the Africa Assemblies of God Alliance, Rev. Dr. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, said that when he first heard about the news of the floods, he promised the victims, after an initial donation, to use his office to reach out to international partners to solicit for extra help for the flood victims across the country.



Rev. Dr. Wengam stated he placed the request through AG Care Ghana, the relief wing of the Assemblies of God Ghana.



According to him, the church first sent a proposal to the Convoy of Hope, USA, detailing the situation at hand and the urgency of their request.



He said Convoy of Hope was swift to respond to their request by giving them a whopping $20,000 to be used to purchase relief items such as vegetable oil, tin tomato paste, bags of rice bars, and cakes of bathing soap, among other things.



You do recall that at a news conference here on October 18, 2023, I announced our modest response to the devastating flooding in parts of Ghana and promised to reach out to our international partners in my capacity as the Vice President of the Africa Assemblies of God Alliance to solicit help for our brothers and sisters who have been affected by the flooding, he said.



Rev. Dr. Wengam expressed appreciation to the Convoy of Hope for being swift with their requests.



So with a thankful heart, we bless Convoy of Hope for igniting hope in the flood victims through this remarkable generosity. This handsome donation complements the humanitarian gestures by the Assemblies of God Church as well as its ministries, departments, and agencies, he furthered.



In addition, he prayed the Convoy of Hope would consider Ghana a centre for entrepreneurship by giving skills training to both women and girls in rural communities to help alleviate poverty in the country.



He revealed the donation coincided with the 30th anniversary since the creation of Convoy of Hope, which is based in Scramento, California, USA.



The renowned minister commended the media, especially Citi FM and Citi TV, for breaking the news and ensuring that the victims have been supported diverse ways.



He encouraged the government and other benevolent organisations and individuals to come to the aid of victims of the Volta spillage amid the ravaging effects of floods triggered by climate change.











Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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Development Economist and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Ghana, Dr. George Domfe, has told Isaac Adongo to stop parading himself as an economist when he didnt read economics at the university.



Dr Domfe, who clashed with Isaac Adongo on Accra-based Hot 93.9 FMs Morning Dew show hosted by Kwabena Prah Jnr, told the NDCs legislator for Bolga Central to stop feeding Ghanaians with his ignorance because he is not an economist and does not understand most of the things he shares his opinions on.



I wonder why you carry yourself as an economist and speak to economic issues as though you are an authority in that field. You and I know that you are not an economist Dr. Domfe stated.



You read Business Administration as your first degree, MBA and Chartered Accountant as your courses. What makes you an economist with these courses you pursued? You are an accountant and not an economist Dr. Domfe explained further.



Most of the things the NDC MP speaks to, according to Dr. Domfe, are beyond him because he doesnt understand them.



Adongo in his defence said that he read courses in micro and macroeconomics while having his first degree and read managerial economics as one of the courses in his MBA and that makes him an economist.



In his rebuttal, Dr. George Domfe pointed out to Adongo that he has taught managerial economics at the University of Ghana Business School and that cannot aid one to be an economist and parade himself as such.



Reading Managerial Economics in a semester is not enough for you to be referred to as an expert in economics for which reason youd be granting interviews as if you are an economist



The University of Ghana economist further explained to Adongo that reading such courses in one or two semesters as part of a whole program does not adequately help one to fully understand Ghanas economy or any other economy for that matter.



As a business student, these are basic things you are taught to grasp a few concepts and they do not make you an economist. These are far away from understanding economics. Stop misinforming the general public about the program you pursued, for you are not an economist but an accountant Dr. George Domfe scolded him.







Source: Peacefmonline.com









Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.

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TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP)  A Pennsylvania woman faces a life term after being convicted of murder and weapons offenses last week in the shooting and stabbing deaths of her father and his longtime girlfriend 2 1/2 years ago in New Jersey.

The Asbury Park Press reported that 57-year-old Sherry Lee Heffernan of Landenberg, Chester County, showed no emotion when the jury foreperson in Ocean County announced Friday that she had been found guilty of the murders of her father, John Enders, 87, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, Enders longtime live-in girlfriend. She faces life in prison when she is sentenced May 10.

One of Pitoys daughters, Valerie Lewis Evans, put her head down and clasped her husbands hand, then turned and smiled at Enders grandson, Andrew Vero, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The bodies of the victims were discovered in the fall of 2021 at his waterfront home in Surf City on Long Beach Island. Police said both had been shot in the jaw and stabbed dozens of times.

New Jersey authorities alleged that Heffernan was upset with her father because she had been cut out of his will, and she traveled to the home in her recreational vehicle on the night of Sept. 29, 2021. Prosecutors cited evidence tracking the vehicle and Heffernans cellphone along that route, as well as three footprints identified as hers on blood-stained areas of the homes kitchen floor.

Defense attorneys Steven Altman and Phil Nettl argued there was no evidence that Heffernan was in the vehicle and cited testimony taking issue with the idea that a person seen climbing over a fence at the home was her. Altman said defense attorneys believed they had raised enough issues to bar a guilty verdict, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Heffernan was arrested in October 2021 and has been held in Ocean County jail ever since. The Daily Local News reports that she was extradited from Pennsylvania after a brief appearance in Chester County Court of Common Pleas during which she told a reporter she was not guilty and was being framed.

Evans said she was happy with the verdict, adding that prayers do work. Sandrine Lewis, Pitoys other daughter, said she felt justice had been done, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Its pure relief, and we can move on now, Vero said.
By Susie Blanne, The Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine  The death toll rose to 10 on Sunday from a Russian drone strike that destroyed an apartment block in Ukraines southern port city of Odesa the previous day when a local official reported that the body of a third child was pulled from the rubble, along with that of the childs mother.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Western allies to boost Ukraines air defenses in the wake of the deadly attack.

Ukraines interior ministry on Sunday reported that rescue workers that morning retrieved the remains of a woman and infant.

The mother tried to cover the 8-month-old child with her own (body). She tried to save them. They were found in a firm embrace, said a Telegram post published on the ministrys official channel.

On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities reported that another young baby was among those killed after falling debris from an Iranian-made drone hit the apartment building  one of eight Russian drones reported by officials. Later that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a second child had also died, and called on Kyivs Western partners to send more air defense systems.

Tymofiy was 4 months old. Mark was about to turn 3 years old. My condolences to all of their close ones, Zelenskyy wrote in English on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added that a 3-year-old girl and seven other people were injured in the attack.

Delays in the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, as well as air defense to protect our people, unfortunately result in such losses. ... Ukraine has never requested anything more than what is necessary to protect lives, Zelenskyy wrote.

Four more people may be trapped in the rubble in Odesa, the local branch of Ukraines main emergency service said in a Facebook update Sunday. Oleh Kiper, the local governor, said that rescue workers continue to comb through the site, and regional authorities announced a day of mourning for the victims.

REPORTS OF EXPLOSIONS AT OIL DEPOT

In Russian-occupied Crimea, loud explosions were heard near an oil depot in the early hours of Sunday, according to a local pro-Kyiv Telegram news channel, while Kremlin-installed officials in the territory said that a nearby stretch of highway was closed to traffic for over eight hours.

Videos shared with pro-Ukrainian channel Crimean Wind showed explosions lighting up the night sky, followed by loud booms. The channel said they were taken by local residents near Feodosia  a coastal town in northeastern Crimea. It was not immediately possible to verify the circumstances in which the videos were shot.

An anti-Russian, Crimean Tatar-led underground group claimed later that day that the blasts destroyed a pipeline, causing colossal damage.

The group, Atesh  which means fire in Crimean Tatar  did not directly claim responsibility for the strike, and said it had learned about its consequences from informers among Russian-appointed officials. Authorities in Kyiv did not immediately acknowledge or comment on the claims.

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency workers clear the rubble on the site of a destroyed multi-store building after a Russian attack on residential neighbourhood in Odesa, Ukraine, Saturday, March 2, 2024. (Ukrainian Emergency Service Office via AP)AP

Traffic was halted early on Sunday along a four-lane Russian federal highway near Feodosia, according to an adviser to Crimeas Kremlin-installed leader. The Telegram post by Oleg Kryuchkov did not give the reasons for the move. More than eight hours later, Crimeas local transport minister reported that traffic had partially resumed. A bridge that connects Crimea to Russian territory was also closed to traffic for about two hours early on Sunday morning.

Russias defense ministry on Sunday did not comment on the reports but claimed that 38 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight into Sunday over the peninsula.

CHINAS UKRAINE ENVOY HOLDS TALKS

In Moscow, Chinas special envoy on Ukraine held talks on Saturday evening with senior Russian diplomats in the first leg of a European trip that will also take him to Brussels, Poland, Germany and France, Chinese and Russian state media reported.

In a readout published on Sunday morning, Chinas foreign ministry said that Special Representative Li Hui and Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin agreed that negotiations are the only way to end the fighting in Ukraine.

Lis trip, the second since last May, comes as Kyiv seeks Beijings participation in peace talks that Switzerland is trying to organize this spring. China claims its neutral in Russias war on Ukraine but maintains close ties with Moscow, with frequent state visits and joint military drills between the two nations.

We will continue to play our unique role, carry out shuttle diplomacy, build consensus among all sides and contribute Chinas wisdom to promote the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said Wednesday.
By Tia Goldenberg, Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy, The Associated Press

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  A top Israeli Cabinet minister headed to Washington on Sunday for talks with U.S. officials, sparking a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli official, in a sign of widening cracks in Israels wartime government nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahus hard-line government in the early days of the war following Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, comes amid deep disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and create a post-war vision for the enclave.

The U.S. was prompted to airdrop aid into Gaza on Saturday after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from trucks were killed last week. The airdrops circumvent whats been a prohibitive aid delivery system, which has been hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues within Gaza as well as the fighting inside the tiny enclave. Aid officials say the airdrops are far less effective than the aid sent via trucks.

U.S. priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahus hard-line Cabinet, where ultranationalists dominate. Gantzs more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight to Netanyahus far-right allies.

An official from Netanyahus Likud party said Gantzs visit was without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz about the trip and told him the country has just one prime minister.

An Israeli official said Gantz had informed Netanyahu of his intention to travel to the U.S. and to coordinate messaging with him. The official said the visit is meant to strengthen ties with Washington, to bolster support for Israels ground campaign and to push for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Gantz is set to meet with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to his National Unity party.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the dispute with the media.

Humanitarian aid is dropped by the United States over Gaza City, Gaza Strip, on Saturday, March 2, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammed Hajjar)AP

Netanyahu has tanked in popularity since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls, with many Israelis holding him responsible for Hamas cross-border raid that left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead and roughly 250 people, including women, children and older adults, abducted and taken into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

The subsequent fighting has killed at least 30,410 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Around 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and U.N. agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Critics say Netanyahus decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu has released a proposal that would see Israel maintain open-ended security control over the territory with local Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The U.S. wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantzs party has questioned the handling of the war and the countrys strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahus government, Israels most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews, many of whom are exempted to pursue religious studies. The issue has come up as hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7 and the military is looking to fill its ranks as the war drags on.

Gantz, who polls show would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. But he has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood.

A visit to the U.S., if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantzs support. Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior U.S. official said Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

Palestinians wounded in an Israeli strike while waiting for humanitarian aid on the beach in Gaza City are treated in Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, Thursday, Feb. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmoud Essa)AP

Israelis, deeply traumatized by Hamas attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defense, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last years demonstrations against the governments judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Jerusalems Hebrew University.

There is a lot of anger, he said, listing grievances that were building well before Oct. 7. The moment you have that anger and a coalition that is disconnected from the people, there will be fireworks.

Netanyahus government wont collapse if Gantz exits, but it could lose legitimacy in the eyes of much of the public.

Talks aimed at brokering a Gaza cease-fire restarted Sunday in Egypt. International mediators hope to broker a deal that would pause the fighting and free some of the remaining hostages before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10.

In the meantime, fighting raged on in Gaza with Israeli strikes late Saturday killing more than 30 people, including women and children, according to local health officials.

At least 14 were killed in a strike on a home in the southernmost city of Rafah, on the Egyptian border, according to Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of the hospital where the bodies were taken. He said the dead, including six children and four women, were all from the same family. Relatives said another nine people were missing under the rubble.

Israeli airstrikes also hit two homes in the Jabaliya refugee camp, a dense, residential area in northern Gaza, killing 17 people, according to the Civil Defense.

Shurafa reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip and Magdy from Cairo.

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
In 1999, he left his small hometown in El Salvador where he lived with his grandparents, and embarked on an arduous 3,100-mile (5,000-kilometer), nine-week journey to the United States. He braved a treacherous boat voyage from Guatemala to Mexico and crossed the suffocating Sonoran Desert on foot to reach Arizona. Accompanied by strangers, entrusted to coyotes and polleros (people smugglers, in English), he journeyed north on boats, trains, buses and trucks. He used fake identities, evaded soldiers, mimicked local accents, and embraced the migrant label  a word he had never associated with himself until then. Along the way, some of his fellow travelers perished and vanished, but the boy managed to survive. He aimed to reunite with his parents in California, where they had settled after fleeing their war-torn homeland years ago. Javier Zamora was only nine years old at the time.

Now 33, Zamora narrates his harrowing journey in Solito: A Memoir (Random House Group, 2022), a New York Times bestseller and a Jenna Bush Hager Book Club pick. Theres been so much talk about migrant children, but its always from the perspective of adults. Its actually easier to listen to what a child has to say... Thats why I think this book is really successful, said Zamora, in a video call from Tucson.

Tucson was where he arrived 25 years ago after his journey from El Salvador. After a long time away, he has returned to settle there. During the pandemic, he attempted to write Solito in a small New York apartment, but had a hard time capturing the mood  the big city wasnt for him. He went to Tucson with his partner, planning to only stay for two weeks. Weve been here for four years now. At first, I was scared of coming back here because it brought me nothing but suffering. But you know what? Day by day, weve managed to create some really great memories. Its like were slowly erasing all the trauma.

Javier Zamora, author of 'Solito: A Memoir' GERARDP DEL VALLE (PENGUIN RANDOM)

What sets Solito apart is the childs perspective on the journey. Rather than approaching it as an odyssey, Zamora embraces it with a sense of wonder. He finds amazement in the places he discovers, the people who accompany him, and the adventures he experiences. His curiosity and humor shine through, as he truly embodies the essence of a child. This is not just a migration, but a transformative voyage, a quest for knowledge and growth. I think its like a defense mechanism. Because I sensed that something big was happening, but instead of fixating on that, my brain was thinking about nature, music, food and other stuff, said Zamora, who narrates the journey with high-definition descriptions. He says this method helped to express and process the trauma. I thought that the more details I put in, the better the healing would be.

Coyotes  the guides who lead migrants to the U.S. border  play a big role in Zamoras book. While they are typically depicted in fiction as unscrupulous villains, in Solito they have a certain humanity, and some like Don Dago are part of the community. Don Dago helped many people leave the country, said Zamora, but back then the cartels werent involved in the migration business. That changed in the early 2000s and I can tell you that coyotes like the ones in my book no longer exist. Now they have bosses who are drug traffickers.

The inner journey

The journey theme has been deeply ingrained in the history of literature since its earliest beginnings, as seen in ancient works like the Sumerian epic of Gilgamesh and Homers The Odyssey. Among all the types of journeys, migration stands out as one that carries immense emotional weight. Its a journey where people are often forced to leave behind their homelands and loved ones in search of safer, better lives. Tragically, they often face rejection from those who await them in their destination. Perhaps thats why we have so many firsthand accounts during the current immigration crisis.

In his Spanish-language book The Moon is in Duala: and My Destiny, in Knowledge (Plaza y Janes, 2023), Sani Ladan narrates his journey as a 15-year-old to gain an education that was impossible in his native country of Cameroon. He dreamed of becoming a journalist, so for a year he secretly saved money for his trip to Europe. Boko Haram terrorists, human trafficking gangs, and European immigration officials failed to deter Ladan, who ultimately made it to Spain through Ceuta, a Spanish exclave city bordering Morocco on the north coast of Africa.

Luis Miguel pulls his suitcase across the plateau near Colchane, a Chilean town on the border with Bolivia; July 2022. Nicolo Filippo Rosso

Ousman Umar, a Ghanaian, shared a similar yet distinct journey in another Spanish-language novel, Voyage to the Country of the Whites (Plaza y Janes, 2019). Umar was also nine like Javier Zamora when he embarked on a boat journey to Spains Canary Islands that took five years. Along the way, he ran into dangerous gangs, endured hunger and hardships in Libya, and crossed the treacherous Sahara desert. Only two people survived out of the 40 that started the journey with Umar. Other books in Spanish with personal migration stories include Three Days in the Sand (La Imprenta, 2021) by Ibrahim Bah from Guinea, and 3052. Chasing a Dream (Punto Rojo, 2013) by Mamadou Dia from Senegal. Ladan and Umar, who faced near-death experiences and endured Spains Foreigner Detention Centers (CIE), are inspiring success stories. They seamlessly integrated into Spain, pursued higher education, and now have a powerful voice to share their stories.

Javier Zamora is an American success story. As an aspiring poet, he won scholarships from prestigious universities like Harvard and Stanford. Writing became his outlet for dealing with trauma. At first, he resisted coming to terms with the pain he experienced as a migrant. However, as he reached adolescence, his past began to resurface. One of his first literary attempts to deal with his past was his first poetry collection, Unaccompanied, published in 2017 by Copper Canyon Press. Thats the kind of book you write when you havent been to therapy, said Zamora. Solito is what came out when I started writing while going to therapy and with the support of a partner.

Zamora got his start in poetry when his language teacher introduced him to Chilean poet Pablo Neruda and he read Twenty Love Poems and a Song of Despair. Neruda wrote it when he was really young, around the same age as me, and its one of the most well-known poetry collections out there. Plus, it reminds me of my homeland. Like so many others before him, Zamora was inspire to write verse by the Chilean poet. In Unaccompanied, Zamora included a quote from from the Serbian-born American poet Charles Simic, who died just a year ago. He was born in Serbia and won a Pulitzer, so he became a role model for me, said Zamora. A role model that would be joined by June Jordan and Salvadoran poets such as Roque Dalton and Claribel Alegria. Another American immigrant with a Pulitzer (in fiction) is Junot Diaz, who won for The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao (Penguin Group, 2007), another book about the migration experience by a humorous, mixed-race Dominican who settled in New Jersey.

Zamora experienced extreme situations similar to those of Mediterranean migrants: a terrifying 20-hour boat trip from Guatemala to Mexico. Shipwrecks were not uncommon, and they endured fear, seasickness, and the unrelenting noise and nauseating smell of diesel engines. The desert journey was plagued by the constant fear of getting caught by La Migra (U.S. border police). However, Zamora says the most emotional part of the trip was leaving some of the people who accompanied him. Saying goodbye to Chino, Patricia, Carla... It always makes me cry... Losing the only three people who truly understood everything Ive been through... Two of them were adults. I wonder how they remembered it as grown-ups. I can only imagine how terrifying it must have been.

Other perspectives

Migration stories are not always told in the first-person point of view. Canto per Europa (Song for Europe, in English), is an epic, Homeric poem written in Italian by Paolo Rumiz about the adventures of a Syrian refugee and the modern Argonauts who pick her up in the ocean. Together, the ship sets off to discover the true meaning of Europe. For Rumiz, migration is not just a transitory crisis, but an enduring condition of the European continent that we need to comprehend. Its unfortunate that in modern times, we often overlook the context and fail to grasp the significance of history, said Rumiz in a recent interview with EL PAIS. Another journey from Syria is Hakims Odyssey (Graphic Mundi, 2021) a graphic novel by Fabian Toulme about the real-life adventures of a young Syrian who leaves his war-ravaged country and family hoping to find a future in Lebanon, Jordan and then Turkey. Another graphic novel, El cielo en la cabeza (The Sky in the Head, in English), by Antonio Altarriba and Sergio Garcia is about a child who migrates to Spain after escaping the African coltan mines that produce those all important minerals for our smartphones.

My Fourth Time, We Drowned by Irish journalist Sally Hayden, is a story that begins when she receives a plea for help on Facebook from an Eritrean refugee in a Libyan detention center. The story that unfolds about the migration crisis in North Africa sheds light on the plight of hundreds of refugees trapped in Libya while attempting to reach Europe.

'Solito: A Memoir' by Javier Zamora

The purpose of literature

People arent really interested in migration anymore, said Zamora. There was a time around 2016 when people were more interested, but that wasnt even the biggest wave of migration. Actually, more people arrived back in 1999, when I first got here. He believes that interest in migration is often driven by politics. Trump brings it up in campaign speeches, and the progressive media also leverages it to criticize Trump. However, it tends to get forgotten afterwards. With the upcoming U.S. elections, Zamora predicts that the issue will resurface.

Why do we spill so much ink discussing migration? Does it serve any purpose? I wrote Solito for myself, you know, to heal, but also so that other folks hearts can heal too. And so that they learn to have empathy, said Zamora. In El Salvador, the Committed Generation refers to a group of writers from the 1950s who strongly believed in the connection between art, literature and political and social commitment.

Zamoras native country often makes headlines due to its young president, Nayib Bukele, who has implemented controversial policies such as adopting Bitcoin as legal tender and his iron-fisted approach to eradicating gang violence. Zamora sees significant changes ahead for his country but chooses not to offer any opinions. His silence speaks volumes. We need to dream of a world we dont have yet. In 2024, people still dont see migrants as complete human beings. Were just migrants, defined only by what weve suffered. But were also people who are contributing to this world.

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By Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel (TNS)

ORLANDO, Fla.  SpaceX is set to hit a milestone in human spaceflight as it aims to bring up another four passengers to the International Space Station, but will have to wait another day as weather forced a scrub on Saturday night.

The Crew-8 mission with three NASA astronauts and one Roscosmos cosmonaut will be riding in the Crew Dragon Endeavour when it launches atop a Falcon 9 rocket from Kennedy Space Centers Launch Pad 39-A now targeting liftoff Sunday at 10:53 p.m. with a backup Monday at 10:31 p.m.

Space Launch Delta 45s weather squadron had only given a Saturday night attempt a 40% chance for good conditions, and with less than four hours before the planned Saturday night launch with the astronauts suited up and about to walk out for their trip out to the launch pad, teams declared they were standing down from the attempt because of bad weather on the launch corridor. Weather chances improve to 75% for Sunday.

The ascent corridor is the path Crew Dragon takes, and weather has to be good up the eastern seaboard and over the Atlantic in the event the spacecraft would have to make an emergency landing. NASA and SpaceX had already delayed the launch from Friday because of bad weather on the ascent corridor.

The astronauts will now have to take off their spacesuits at the Neil Armstrong Operations & Checkout Building and do it all over again Sunday. Their families were awaiting their walkout along with NASA Administrator Bill Nelson and other NASA officials alongside the fleet of black Teslas, with a license plate that reads YAYSP8C.

The first-stage booster is flying for the first time and will attempt a recovery landing at nearby Cape Canaveral Space Force Stations Landing Zone 1, which could mean one or more sonic booms might be heard in parts of Central Florida.

Once they launch, they will mark 50 humans flown to space among SpaceXs four Crew Dragon spacecraft, with only one repeat flyer among the 50. Endeavour was the first to ferry passengers when it launched on the Demo-2 mission in May 2020 carrying up astronauts Bob Behken and Doug Hurley.

This marks its fifth flight.

Its our fleet leader, said NASA Commercial Crew Program manager Steve Stich. So weve taken a lot of extra time  to go through all of the systems and in particular the prompt system is to make sure were really ready to go fly.

Flying up for NASA are commander Matthew Dominick, pilot Michael Barratt and mission specialist Jeanette Epps along with Russias mission specialist Alexander Grebenkin. They are set to join Expedition 70 on board the ISS docking on Sunday afternoon for about a six-month stay during which they will work on more than 200 science and technology experiments.

All but Barratt, who flew on both a Soyuz mission in 2009 and the last Space Shuttle Discovery mission in 2011, are spaceflight rookies.

I cant wait to fly this new spaceship, and I cant wait to fly with this crew, Barratt said when the quartet arrived to KSC last Sunday, noting it had been 13 years and one day since he flew on Discoverys STS-133.

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 carted away from here, Kennedy Space Center was very quiet, he said about when the shuttle was taken away to be put on display at the Smithsonian.

The space shuttle program ran from 1981-2011 flying 135 missions carrying 355 crew, with many making multiple flights.

It was so empty compared to what we were all used to for all this time, he said. We were all pretty sure that KSC was going to come back. But we had no idea how much. I would say KSC has come back with a vengeance.

Now SpaceX is making its 13th Crew Dragon flight, the ninth flight for NASA as part of the Commercial Crew Program. The other four human spaceflights have been private missions for Axiom Space for short visits to the ISS plus the orbital flight Inspiration4 for billionaire Jared Isaacman.

Only former astronaut and now Axiom Space employee Michael Lopez-Alegria, who was on this years first human spaceflight on the Ax-3 mission that launched in January, has made the Dragon flight twice among the 50.

SpaceX has three more Dragon flights planned this year including Crew-9 as early as August and the fourth Axiom Space mission as early as October plus another flight for Isaacman on the Polaris Dawn mission that could fly this summer.

Meanwhile, the other company in the Commercial Crew Program, Boeing, is finally set to catch up to SpaceX with its first crewed test flight launching as soon as April 22 from Cape Canaveral. NASAs goal was to have two active spaceflight providers to guarantee access to the ISS.

The five Dragon flights plus Starliner means 22 astronauts could make it to space from the U.S. this year, the most since 2009 during a busy year of the space shuttle program.

It almost seems routine to the uneducated eye that SpaceX is putting them up one after another, said Nelson this week. You never want to get to the frame of mind that it is so routine that its like getting in your car and taking a Sunday afternoon drive.

2024 Orlando Sentinel. Visit orlandosentinel.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Former WWE star Billy Jack Haynes appeared in court this week following the shooting death of his wife back on Feb. 8.

Police took the 70-year-old, whose real name is William Albert Haynes, into custody back then after a reported near two-hour standoff at his home. KOIN 6 reported that he was not cooperative with police, prompting a tactical team to be called in.

Police said they found his wife, 85-year-old Janette Becraft, shot to death in the home.

According to Oregons FOX 12, Haynes is facing a second-degree murder charge as well as an unlawful use of a weapon charge. The station said trial has been set for April 11.

The 6-foot-3, 246 pounder wrestled for the WWE, then the WWF, from 1986-1988. He resurfaced in May 1991 in WCW, but was reportedly fired from the company that July.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, right, meets with Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni in Toronto on Saturday, Mar. 2, 2024. In a joint statement, the two prime ministers say the agreement will further deepen their countries' political, economic, and strategic ties by setting out plans to collaborate over the next three to five years in priority areas. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Toronto Police shoulder bage is shown during press conference announcing new gun control laws in Toronto on Friday, Aug. 5, 2022. Toronto Police say they have charged a Toronto officer with assault and unlawful confinement. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Cole Burston
Fatimah Hossaini, 31, has been chased down the street by men who have insulted her and threatened her. They have sometimes managed to prevent her from doing her job: portraying the beauty of women in Afghanistan. The only problem was that I was a woman with a camera on the streets of Kabul, says this Afghan artist, who was born in Iran. However, despite the harassment, she remembers that stage in her life  the one which took place in the years before the Taliban returned to power in her country, in August of 2021  as one of periods of the greatest freedom she ever experienced in her life.

To understand why Hossaini has focused her photographic project on capturing the beauty of Afghan women, work that she continues to do from her current exile in Paris, its necessary to turn to the identity crisis that she has experienced for a good part of her life. She has been the victim of triple discrimination: as an Afghan in Iran, as a woman in countries with strong patriarchal domination and as a member of the Hazara minority (a group of Shia Muslims in Afghanistan).

Migration, identity and gender are the three most important themes of my work, she says during an interview with EL PAIS in Barcelona, within the framework of the Human Rights Defender project, organized in several Catalan municipalities at the end of last year.

An Afghan woman in traditional garb poses while sipping tea. A photo from Hossainis collection, 'Pearl in the Oyster.' Fatimah Hossaini

The granddaughter of Afghans who fled the country in the 1980s during the Soviet invasion, the artist led a very Iranianized life.

I was completely integrated into Iranian society, because I was born there. But you can only be Iranian if your parents are, so three generations after my familys migration, I was still Afghan. And while she claims that she owes her artistic career to her Iranian teachers and the influence of Persian culture, she suffered discrimination from school to university.

Fatimah Hossaini in Barcelona, October 2023. massiliano minocri

My life would have been easier if I had had Iranian nationality. [Since that] identity crisis was a part of my life, I tried to discover Afghanistan, especially the women, she notes. The first Afghan women she met were her mother and her sisters. However, when she tried to find out what the others were like, she only found the cliche of Afghan women portrayed in the media as victims, forced to cover themselves with a burqa.

The search for the Afghan feminine essence was one of the reasons why she returned to Afghanistan in 2018, where she worked as a professor of photography at the University of Kabul. I found many interesting, different and very valuable stories from Afghan women that made me reflect on why were always presented as a symbol of the victims of the world, she reflects.

Hossaini is mindful that the restrictions imposed by the patriarchal society of Afghanistan  even before the return of the Taliban  were numerous. I used to have problems with the parents, brothers or husbands of the women I wanted to photograph. And thats why I used to turn to artists, musicians and actresses, who were familiar with the camera and let me publish their photos. And, above all, they allowed her to show the beauty hidden in the midst of war and misery that femininity and that halo of hope.

An Afghan artist poses for Fatimah Hossaini, in an image from the 'Pearl in the Oyster' collection. Fatimah Hossaini

In Iran, the government controls everything and forces you to [wear a hijab] if youre a woman. But in Kabul, at that time, there were no police officers to tell you what to do or what not to do, Hossaini recalls. I wore the hijab on the street for my own safety, but not in classes, where I also had more female students than male students, she explains.

Hossaini remembers the time before the return of the Taliban regime with some nostalgia. There was a new lifestyle in Kabul, thanks in part to the fact that the new generations, especially those of us who came from the diaspora, returned to the country and tried to build something and bring a little freedom and many new ideas.

Therefore, despite being a woman and a Hazara in a sexist society  a traditional target of the Taliban  she emphasizes that it was fantastic to be in her country of origin and to feel so free.

We had women in all sectors: women doctors, women professors and women business owners and leaders of important institutions.

An Afghan woman poses in traditional dress. Fatimah Hossaini

Last days in Kabul

However, the Talibans return to power threw women into a gender apartheid that makes their lives impossible. Even today, its difficult for her to believe the horrors that took place. On August 14, 2021, just one day before the fall of Kabul, in an interview with CNN, she denied the possibility of the Taliban regaining power: I said very confidently that the new generation of Afghans would never allow a terrorist group [to take over Afghanistan again] and that the international community was also there to protect us. Reality hit her the next morning, when, from her balcony, she saw Taliban fighters in the streets, with their flags and their motorcycles.

I stayed at home for two days without eating, shocked and exhausted, until some friends came and we went to the airport together, she says. She was able to escape three days later, because  in the middle of the chaos in the commercial terminal  the French ambassador recognized her. He had attended her photo exhibitions in Kabul. [He helped get me out] and I flew to Paris, she continues. For me it was incredible that this happened before the eyes of the international community I saw how everyone left, how my friends fled to other countries, how Afghanistan lost all its human talent, how no one resisted after four decades of wars and conflicts, how all our dreams and hopes were destroyed.

Aqila Rezai, an Afghan actress, poses for Hossaini in Paris. Fatimah Hossaini

Paris made her relive the feeling she had experienced in Iran, of feeling like a foreigner. Its a beautiful and inspiring city to be an artist, but its not my home, she sighs. However, she hasnt given up her efforts to portray Afghan women: she looked for those who had taken refuge in France and found, once again, her hidden beauties. I even photographed them with Afghan clothes and accessories, but on this occasion, as expatriates. That beauty, she explains, also emerges amid adversity, because living in exile requires courage and resilience it forces you to live disconnected from your origins and integrate into a new language, living with a new people and a new culture, while, at the same time, you deal with the traumas that you carry.

English version by Avik Jain Chatlani

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SNLs cold open featured Democrats, administration officials, and celebrities all touting the incredible physical feats of Joe Biden.

SNLs version of Karine Jean-Pierre ran down Bidens morning schedule, Pleasure to be with you to talk about the most vigorous man Ive ever known, Joe Biden. I was just with him, and behind closed doors, hes a whirlwind. Look at his schedule. 7:00 AM, soul cycle class, and he leads it: 8:30 AM, play speed chess in the park. 8:32 AM wins chess game, points at the opponent, and says next time, young blood. 9:30 AM, meet with joint chiefs for a military strategy meeting and pushup contest. 10:02 AM Wins contest, points at the head of the joint chiefs, and says, next time, young blood. Then, train time. Thats all before a lunch where he eats five whole chickens and a raw potato.

Then DHS Secretary Mayorkas told his Biden tale, I was just with him, and behind closed doors, hes a dynamo. This weekend, we went down to the border town of Brownsville, Texas, and Joe went into beast mode. He said, we got to tighten this border, then he Parkored up to the top of the border wall, front flipped into the Rio Grande, and came back up with a fish in his mouth. But you didnt report that because it doesnt fit your little narrative.

Draymond Green claimed that Biden has that old man monkey strength and windmill dunked on him. He concluded his bit with, You dont mess with Joe.

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SNL Dana Bash said that Democrats dont have to exaggerate about Biden because everyone knows the elections stakes.

Of course, the joke was that when Joe Biden was brought in via phone, he went to turn the volume up and hung up.

The point was that Democrats dont have to try so hard to prove Bidens fitness for the White House, but the reality is that they do.

The New York Times and other corporate media outlets have decided that Bidens age is the most critical issue in the election. They have been relentlessly running stories about his age and promising to continue to attack the President, so Democrats do need to be on offense about Bidens age because they cant risk that people fully understand the threat and wont fall for the media framing.

It was a funny cold open, but these opens still arent to the level of the parodies of Trump.

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In a Sunday afternoon meltdown, Donald Trump demanded that Jack Smith stop his prosecution because the election is going on.

Trump posted on Truth Social:

Were in the middle of an Election. We have Super Tuesday coming up very shortly. According to Justice Department guidelines, they shouldnt be prosecuting me: Federal prosecutors and agents may never select the timing of any action, including investigative steps, criminal charges, or statements, for the purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party. THIS IS ELECTION INTERFERENCE, AND SHOULD BE STOPPED IN THE COURTS!

Trump is reacting to Jack Smith announcing in court that the 60-day rule does not apply to criminal trials, so Trump can be on trial through election day if necessary.

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One of the main reasons that Trump is running for the presidency again is that he is trying to get out of being prosecuted. Trump had the incorrect notion that if he was a candidate, he could not be prosecuted.

The reality is that there is no such rule that prohibits the DOJ from prosecuting political candidates. Running for office does not give a candidate immunity from prosecution.

Instead of Make America Great Again, Trumps slogan should be keep me out of jail again, because that is the point of his 2024 presidential campaign.

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Donald Trump revealed a dangerous part of his agenda in Virginia, where he promised to strip federal funding from any schools that mandate vaccinations.

Trump said, I will sign a new executive order to cut federal funding for any school pushing critical race theory transgender insanity and other inappropriate racial sexual or political content onto our children, and I will not give one penny to any school that has a vaccine mandate.

Video:

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Trump didnt mention COVID vaccination because the vast majority of public schools dont require COVID vaccinations. Donald Trump was talking about something much more dangerous. Trump was talking about punishing schools that try to prevent polio, measles, mumps, rubella, chicken pox, diphtheria, whooping cough, and hepatitis outbreaks.

Essentially, Donald Trump is promising to endanger the health of children to appeal to extremist anti-vaxxers. Trump doesnt talk much about policy in his campaign speeches, but the policies he touches on are far-right extreme. It is early in the campaign, and most voters wont start paying any attention until Labor Day, but Donald Trump isnt hiding anything about what a second term would look like.

Trump is willing to promise to endanger the health and well-being of children if that is what it takes for him to pick up a few more votes.

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Trump once again forgot who the current president is during his campaign rallies before Super Tuesday.

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Trump once again forgets who is currently president, says he is running against Obama pic.twitter.com/cqXH2YBFg7  Biden-Harris HQ (@BidenHQ) March 3, 2024 To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.

Trump said, And Putin, he has so little respect for Obama that he is starting to throw around the nuclear word.

Barack Obama is not the current president. The current president is Joe Biden. Donald Trump doesnt seem to know this.

The inability to remember who the current president is has become such a standard part of Trumps speeches that he is claiming that his cognitive decline is intentional.

The media has decided that Joe Bidens age is a problem in this election, not Donald Trumps, but it Trump who is demonstrating signs of serious cognitive decline. The corporate media is refusing to objectively discuss the ages of the two candidates and their relative fitness for office.

Trump doesnt know who the current president is, but the media has no problem with it, but if Biden confuses a name of a leader of a foreign country, it is a stop the presses moment.

The coverage is absurd, but what is dangerous is the corporate media looking the other way at Trumps mental decline.

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Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Sunday she no longer feels bound by a pledge that required all GOP contenders to support the partys eventual nominee in order to participate in the primary debates.

The Republican National Committee had made the pledge a prerequisite for all candidates, and nearly every major contender signed, except for Donald Trump, the current front-runner, who skipped the debates.

When Haley, Trumps lone remaining major challenger for the nomination, was asked on NBCs Meet the Press whether she was compelled to honor that commitment, she said, No. I think Ill make what decision I want to make.

She said the the RNC is now not the same RNC as it was at the time of the debates. She also maintained that she has always said she had serious concerns about Trump, for whom she served as U.N. ambassador.

The RNC is in the midst of major changes, with the chair, Ronna McDaniel, set to leave the job on Friday. She was Trumps hand-picked choice to lead the RNC shortly after the 2016 election, but Trump now is poised to install loyalists atop the organization. He has announced his preference for North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley, a little-known veteran operative, to replace McDaniel. Trump also has picked his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as committee co-chair.

Haley dismissed questions about whether she would drop out and eventually endorse Trump.

Right now, my focus is, How do we touch as many voters? How do we win? she said. I want the American people to see that you dont have to live this way. There is a path forward. And we can do it with someone who can put in eight years, that can constantly focus on results and not the negativity and the baggage that we have right now.

Trump on Saturday continued his march toward the nomination, winning caucuses in Idaho and Missouri and sweeping the delegate haul at a party convention in Michigan.

Trumps count is now 244, compared with 24 for Haley. A candidate needs to secure 1,215 delegates to clinch the nomination.

The next event on the Republican calendar was Sunday in the District of Columbia. Two days later is Super Tuesday, when 16 states will hold primaries on what will be the largest day of voting of the year outside of the November election. Trump is on track to lock up the nomination days later.

Ive always said this needs to be competitive. As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, Im going to continue to fight, Haley said.

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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
NORTH AUGUSTA  Forty-eight years after the Vietnam War ended, a group of Vietnam-era veterans received an official welcome home pin and proclamation Saturday.

Last year, Wreaths Across America partnered with a group, the Vietnam War Commemoration, to hold welcome home ceremonies for veterans as the Wreaths' mobile education exhibit makes its way around the country. The mobile exhibit stopped at American Legion Post 71 in North Augusta on Saturday.

Ralph Wainwright, an Army veteran, and Kevin Joy, a Marine, were among those who received pins and proclamations welcoming them home.

Wainwright said he thought about his brother, who died in a 1973 industrial accident, when he received his pin. He saidd his brother likely served another half of a tour of duty in Vietnam so he wouldn't have to go. Wainwright said he served in Germany instead but is still considered a Vietnam-era veteran.

"It's an honor," Wainwright said.

Joy said he thought about "all my brothers and sisters that went over there, served and some of them didn't come home."

Joy said he entered Parris Island, which has long been the site of a boot camp for Marines, on Dec. 14, 1973 and his series (graduating class) was the first not to be sent to Vietnam in several years.

An estimated 500,000 Marines served in Vietnam from 1965-1975. Nearly 13,000 Marines were killed and 52,000 were wounded.

"A lot of people have no concept of what it's like to go into a war situation and never knowing from one day to the next whether or not you're going to come home," Joy said.

The recognition also extends to the Navy, Wainwright said. He added Navy veterans who served in the brown water of the Mekong Delta or the blue water of the South China Sea were also eligible to be welcomed home.
The internet search and advertising giant that tracks everything about its users wants to keep its own activities secret.

But legal experts say Google's argument for hiding the drain its data centers put on public resources and local utilities doesn't hold water.

The company has told Dorchester County that the amount of water it needs from the county's utility to cool computer server farms and other equipment it plans to build  one west of Summerville, the other near St. George  is a closely guarded "trade secret."

Dorchester County has dutifully redacted the projected usage totals from documents available to the public, in direct contradiction to state laws defining what information must be made available to the public, according to lawyer Jay Bender, widely regarded as South Carolina's foremost expert on the S.C Freedom of Information Act.

More about that in a bit.

The water issue is not the only concession the county has made in the name of economic development.

Officials also agreed to what amounts to a company-imposed gag order by entering into a confidentiality agreement that forbids those elected to serve the public from telling the public anything about the project.

Even after Google revealed last month that it was the company behind a slew of aliases buying land and making deals, the county was limited to issuing a carefully worded, two-sentence statement  attributed to council chairman Todd Friddle  saying it's "thrilled" Google deemed the county a suitable place to do business.

Council approved historic tax breaks for Google, without telling the public who was getting the financial incentives and how many jobs might be created.

Google's data centers typically aren't big employers.

The electric utility that will provide power to one of the sites gave the Silicon Valley titan a deeply discounted rate that amounts to less than half of what it charges residential customers.
Its not nearly as splashy as the wave of forever-chemical pollution cases filed at the Four Corners of Law.

But a complaint targeting another vexing and costly problem for U.S. water suppliers and their ratepayers is nearing the finish line in federal court in downtown Charleston.

Remarkably, financial damages and hefty legal fees didnt factor into the proposed settlement, which was described as "game changing" and has been approved by a whos who of corporate America, from Walmart to Costco.

The source of the litigation was the infrastructure havoc that disposable wipes can wreak once they hit the wastewater stream. A few years ago, Charleston Water System decided enough was enough and made a federal case out of its pricy and time-consuming plumbing problem.

In a lawsuit filed in early 2021, the St. Philips Street municipal utility alleged that scientific testing traced wipes that had been marketed and labeled as flushable to backed-up pipes and pumps.

"They do not disintegrate as effectively as toilet paper and can co-mingle to cause clogs and treatment problems, making them costly and difficult to manually remove," Charleston Water said in court documents.

An unpleasant but memorable exhibit was the photographed account of a dive crew's 90-foot descent into the bowels of the Plum Island sewage plant to deal with a tangled 12-foot mass in 2018. The cost of the icky extraction was pegged at $140,000.

The utility took aim at a boldface lineup of U.S. companies that make and sell the wipes. The defendants included manufacturers Kimberly-Clark Corp. and Procter & Gamble. Walmart, Costco, Target, Walgreens and CVS Health also were named in the complaint.

"It was a bit like David and Goliath," said Paul Calamita, a Richmond, Va.-based environmental attorney whose AquaLaw represents Charleston Water in the wipes case and in other legal matters. "No other public utilities went after these companies. Charleston was willing to do it."
A onetime Mount Pleasant-based business owner who was among the first to be charged in the government's "Operation Brace Yourself" probe is to be sentenced this week. Read moreMajor SC Medicare fraud case shifts to the penalty phase after 5 years
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
Former president Donald Trump, on Saturday at a campaign event in Richmond (Virginia). JIM LO SCALZO (EFE)

Former U.S. president Donald Trump  the front-runner to win the 2024 Republican presidential nomination  continues to score points in the race. Despite his wide-ranging legal woes  four criminal cases involving 91 charges in total , Trump won on Saturday the 39 delegates at stake at a Republican convention in Michigan, where the Republican Party has split into rival factions, unified only by Trump.

Trump also won the Missouri and the Idaho caucuses, where 51 and 32 delegates were up for grabs, respectively. With this, he secured all 122 delegates at stake on Saturday, bringing his total to 244, while his rival, Nikki Haley, remains at 24. A candidate needs to secure 1,215 delegates to clinch the Republican nomination.

The former presidents landslide victory has appeared to calm the Republican Partys leadership battle in Michigan, where the group has been fighting over where to hold the convention and who would be in control of it. Trump easily defeated Nikki Haley in the Republican primary in that state last Tuesday, securing 12 of the 16 delegates at stake.

Michigan is one of the six swing states that Republicans and Democrats hope to win in the November presidential election. According to the latest polls, Trump is leading in all six over his Democratic rival, President Joe Biden. Given its importance, some factions of the Republican Party feared that the groups in-fighting would harm their campaign and take away votes that could be crucial in November.

In Michigan, Trump defeated Haley in all 13 districts that took part in the caucuses, according to the Michigan Republican Party. In total, Trump won with almost 1,575 votes, compared to 36 for Haley. Pete Hoekstra, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, called it an overwhelming, dominating victory. For this election, Michigan Republicans devised a hybrid nomination system, divided between primaries and caucuses, which took place over two days of voting.

In Idaho, Trump won 84.9%, compared to 13.2% for Haley, taking all 32 delegates at stake. In Missouri, voting was carried out through caucuses. Trump cinched 100% of the 924 delegates who will formally caucus at a state convention on May 4 and will then award Trump the 51 delegates that will attend the Republican National Convention.

With his victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the Virgin Islands, South Carolina and now Michigan and Missouri, Trump is by far the favorite to win the race. Haley is only holding on thanks to the support of donors eager for an alternative to the former president.

His clear advantage over Haley, the last Republican candidate in the running in a primary that began with 14 contenders, brings him one step closer to his partys nomination for the White House. Trump may even win the nomination before the Republican National Convention, which will take place in July in Milwaukee. Once nominated, not even the legal hurdles he is facing  or the proceedings to disqualify him for his role in the assault on the Capitol, pending resolution  could prevent him from running for office in a repeat of the 2020 showdown against Biden.

The next event on the Republican calendar is the primaries in the District of Columbia, which will take place on Sunday. It is followed by the North Dakota caucuses on Monday. And the following day is Super Tuesday, when 15 states and one territory will vote in both the Republican and Democrat primaries. Trump spent Saturday at rallies in North Carolina, where Haley has also campaigned, and in Virginia.

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Does it seem to you that a lot of the controversies in education (homework, grading, punishment, curricula) exist because people arent considering things from the students point of view and what they might need? Read more'Luxury beliefs' leaving some kids in the dark
Mike Weisskopf leaned off a boat dock, bucket in hand, and scooped water from Wappoo Creek. Nearby, an empty plastic liquor bottle bobbed up and down.

Weisskopf, a volunteer for Charleston Waterkeeper, strained the creek water through a sieve system designed to capture anything larger than 63 microns  roughly the width of a human hair  before pouring the contents into a glass jar.

The samples needed to sit in a chemical mixture for a few days, so he would have to wait to know how much microplastic was in the water. Andrew Wunderley, Charleston Waterkeeper's executive director, wasn't optimistic.

"Have we ever not found microplastic in a sample?" Wunderley asked.

"No, (it's been in) every single sample," responded Britney Prebis, a College of Charleston graduate student who designed the sampling process.

Plastic never biodegrades, but it does break down into tiny microplastic particles. Those particles are found in every ecosystem on Earth, including in South Carolina, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Across the Charleston area and over a six-month preliminary testing period from July to December 2023, Waterkeeper volunteers like Weisskopf have documented average concentrations of about 1 microplastic per liter of water at the lower end to an average of nearly 4.5 MP/L at the highest end. (Microplastic concentrations rise and fall throughout the year.)

Despite their ubiquity, much is still unknown about microplastics. The pollutant is largely unregulated, and there are no statewide testing projects or microplastic-specific pollution standards in South Carolina. So detailed information about concentrations across the Lowcountry is largely a mystery.

Addressing microplastic and plastic pollution mostly falls to local governments, a spokesperson for the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control wrote in an email. Municipal sewer systems also carry part of the weight of regulating pollutant discharge into the state's waters.

Its impact on human health and the environment is becoming more clear by the day. But the EPA reports there's still a "pressing need to develop standardized methods of collection, extraction, quantification, and identification" of the pollutant.

That pressing need is what brought Weisskopf, Wunderley and Prebis out to the Riverland Terrace Boat Landing on Feb. 15.

Waterkeeper's new microplastic survey program is designed to determine how much of the stuff is in Charleston's waters. The relatively cheap and easily replicable sampling program is largely handled by the nonprofit's volunteer citizen-scientists, with staff members overseeing the final testing and results.

Since mid-2023, volunteers have fanned out across the watershed, refining the testing process as they gathered samples of water from local creeks, streams and rivers.

Results from the six-month preliminary testing cycle in 2023 revealed that sites along the Ashley River have some of the highest concentrations of microplastics. Wappoo Creek separates West Ashley from James Island, connecting the Stono and Ashley rivers. That makes it an ideal testing location, and one of a dozen other sites Waterkeeper is pulling samples from.

Wunderley said the nonprofit wants to use data gathered from the testing project to help local and state lawmakers craft new policies to mitigate microplastic pollution. While Waterkeeper is focused on the Charleston watershed right now, this testing approach could be scaled up statewide, he said.

"We know there's plastics in the marine environment," he said. "Now we have to spend time and resources trying to understand what their impact is on the health of wildlife and on human health."

The need for that data has become more pressing. Increased flooding and storms supercharged by climate change threaten to wash more microplastics in landfills, and on roads and concrete, into the vulnerable waters around Charleston.

Microscopic mysteries

The first synthetic plastic was created by the Belgian chemist Leo Baekeland in 1907. Microplastics, as a concept, began appearing in academic literature in the 1970s. But it wasn't until the 2010s that widespread research into the pollutants began. The field of study is littered with blank spots and caveats, indicators of the century-wide knowledge gap.

For example, a 2022 analysis by the World Health Organization couldn't find a strong connection between microplastics and negative health effects in humans. But the report's authors noted that's likely due to significant gaps in our current knowledge.

Other studies on the potential health impacts of microplastics contain similar disclaimers, although there is some evidence the pollutant can cause reproductive and hormonal issues. Microplastic particles have even been found in breast milk and heart tissue.

Barbara Beckingham, an associate professor at the College of Charleston and an expert in microplastics, is one of the people trying to close the knowledge gap. She said most research has focused on the ecological impacts of the pollutants. Scientists have only recently turned their attention toward the human health impacts.

"It's not that microplastics are a new problem," she said. "It's just one that we're now cognizant of and able to research."

One local water body has provided researchers with reliable data on microplastic concentrations: Charleston Harbor.

Beckingham, who helped Prebis and Charleston Waterkeeper design their microplastic testing process, said levels in the harbor are within "an uncomfortable margin" of harming aquatic life.

A 2018 study co-authored by researchers from the College of Charleston, The Citadel and the University of North Carolina at Greensboro found a "high abundance" of black microplastic, likely from car tires, in the harbor. The authors reported that the average concentration in the harbor was about 6.6 microplastic particles per liter, plus or minus about 1.3 particles, at the water's surface. The harbor's intertidal sediment (the mud left behind when the tide pulls out) contained an average of nearly 414 microplastic particles per square meter, plus or minus 76.7 particles.

The study was the first of its kind to document microplastic pollution in estuaries in the southeastern United States, according to its authors  another indicator of how relatively new the field of study is.

Waste washout

Charleston is flooding now more than ever. The city hit a "moderate" flood stage a record number of times in 2023, and Charleston has seen its annual flood events increase 3,650 percent since 1922. Flooding in the area will become more frequent as sea levels rise roughly a foot by 2050.

As the city copes with rising seas, another threat looms. The same warming waters that fuel sea-level rise can supercharge hurricanes and tropical storm systems. Those storms then often drop large volumes of rain on the Lowcountry.

"The more we experience the impacts of climate change, the more plastic you're getting in the water," Wunderley said, adding that once plastic hits the water and breaks down, it can become impossible to fully extract. In the salt marshes of coastal South Carolina, that breakdown can happen in eight weeks, according to the 2018 Charleston Harbor study.

"You can't drain the harbor and drain all the rivers and filter it out," Wunderley said.

Wastewater and sewage is a major contributor to microplastic pollution. Beckingham said local wastewater utilities have taken significant steps toward addressing the problem, and Charleston's waste systems can filter up to 99 percent of the pollutants out of sewage and "greywater" from household utilities like washing machines.

Many modern clothes are made using polyester and acrylic materials, both variations of plastic. Those clothes shed fibers when washed. Eventually, that water is flushed into waterways. Many of the plastics Waterkeeper has identified during testing are clothing fibers.

Meanwhile, stormwater management systems are getting better at capturing plastic pollutants in runoff. But Beckingham said those methods are far from perfect, and they won't work well under the strain of supercharged storms. Even with high filtering efficiency, a single stormwater outfall can dump millions of microplastics into bodies of water during a storm.

"Scaling this up to an entire urban area is rather mind-boggling," she said.

Bans on single-use plastic, like Charleston's recently amended plastic bag ban, can be an important regulatory tool to combat pollution and prevent some of the tiny particles from washing into stormwater systems, she said.

Test results

Weisskopf peered through a microscope at the water samples he collected from the Riverland Terrace Boat Landing days earlier. Hydrogen peroxide had dissolved most of the biological components, leaving several small blue strands and flecks of dirt, illuminated by a bright spotlight. He poked at them with a metal pick. If the strands break, they're organic. If not, they're likely plastic.

The results: Not terrible, but not great either. The slide was littered with several strands of microplastic. But they weren't in concentrations Waterkeeper has documented in other areas of the watershed.

Prebis, the College of Charleston grad student, said Wappoo Creek had some of the lowest concentrations of microplastics documented during the six-month preliminary testing period. Coosaw Creek at Taylor Plantation Boat Landing and a site on the Stono River also had some of the lowest amounts.

She pulled out a sample previously taken from Northbridge Park on the Ashley River and slid it under the microscope. Flecks of blue, neon green and black dotted the slide. Of all the sites the Waterkeeper has tested during the preliminary phase of the project, the park ranks among the highest for microplastic pollution. Higgins Pier, just downstream on the Ashley River, also ranked among the worst.

"Our winner for the six months of the preliminary study  the site with the highest concentration per liter  was Shem Creek, right here off the dock," she said.

The creek contained an average concentration of nearly 4.5 microplastics per liter, with concentrations hitting their lowest point in July (1.4 MP/L) and peaking in December (6.2 MP/L)

Charleston Waterkeeper's office overlooks the Mount Pleasant water body, which flows under or around parking lots and major roadways. Prebis hypothesized that those roads and lots, along with the plastic kayaks used by paddlers and the well-trafficked public pier, all contribute to making the waterway the most impacted by microplastics in the region.

Wunderley said Waterkeeper wants to use collected data to improve stormwater filtering methods. The information could be used to change manufacturing practices to limit microplastics from industrial activity, essentially reducing the pollutant at the source. Wunderley also envisions more "surgical" changes to pollution laws, folding small-scale regulations into existing policies.

"You've got to identify what's out here and understand what the likely sources are, and then you start to work backwards from the data," he said.

While microplastics in water are a pressing problem  the United Nations estimates at least 85 percent of all marine litter is plastic  Beckingham said people can be exposed to the pollutant directly.

"The levels that we are finding in water and sediment are probably diluted compared to the levels in our homes and offices," she said. "We're probably more likely to be exposed to microplastic through inhaling or consuming plastic dust or packaging fragments than, for example, eating fish from Charleston Harbor."

Take a piece of tape, stick it on a desk and remove it. The attached dust is likely riddled with microplastic, Beckingham explained.

"We can find plastics in our tap water, but the plastics in our water bottle are likely to be higher  much higher," she said.

Plastic is everywhere. One study estimated that, as of 2018, nearly 360 million tons of plastic were being produced every year.

Those millions upon millions of tons aren't going anywhere. Pulverized by waves, crushed in a compactor or broken down by the radiation of direct sunlight, they will continue to fracture into smaller and smaller pieces  a microscopic, ever-present reminder of humanity's impact on the world.
The American Red Cross of the Lowcountry is often the unsung hero in any disaster. Its bright red cross is unmistakable, but the agency that relies on volunteers is usually forgotten  until they are needed. Read moreCity honors Red Cross of the Lowcountry
PR-Inside.com: 2024-03-03 13:04:19

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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / March 3, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is investigating potential claims on behalf of purchasers of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated ("UnitedHealth" or "the Company") (NYSE:UNH). Investors who purchased UnitedHealth securities are encouraged to obtain additional information and assist the investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/UNH Investigation Details:On February 27, 2024, The Wall Street Journal ("WSJ") reported that the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") has launched an antitrust investigation into UnitedHealth. Specifically, the WSJ reported that DOJ investigators have been interviewing healthcare industry representatives in sectors where UnitedHealth competes to determine the possible impacts of acquisitions made through its health services arm, Optum. On this news, UnitedHealth's stock price fell $27.04 per share, or 5.15%, over the following two trading sessions, to close at $498.28 per share on February 28, 2024.What's Next?If you are aware of any facts relating to this investigation or purchased UnitedHealth securities, you can assist this investigation by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/UNH . You can also contact Peretz Bronstein or his law clerk and client relations manager, Yael Nathanson of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC: 332-239-2660.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Yael Nathanson332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC
President Bola Tinubu has assured global investors that his administration would remove all obstacles hindering the ease of doing business in Nigeria.

The president gave the assurance at the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum held in Doha on Sunday.

He urged genuine investors to report to him directly, any official who obstructed progress or asked for a bribe in the course of any dealings in Nigeria.

The president said Nigeria was ready for serious business as his administration would deal with entrenched interests that had been undermining investors confidence in the countrys economy.

Mr Tinubu pledged to remove all bottlenecks standing in the way of profitable and legitimate enterprise.

I am here to give you the assurance that reforms are going on; forget about whatever you heard in the past.

Whatever is the obstacle or problem that some of you might have experienced, it is in the past, because there is no obstacle in the future.

Do not offer a bribe to any of our people, and if it is requested or taken from you, report to us. You will have access to me.

Nigeria will no longer be defined by the past, but by what we do now and moving forward. Do not let perceptions become a hindrance to your will to invest.

Nigeria is serious about revolutionising investment promotion. We are removing obstacles today and we are going to continue to remove all obstacles.

We have done so much within nine months. And I am assuring you, it is free entry and free exit. Your funds will flow smoothly into and out of our country, Tinubu further assured.

He noted that the war against corruption and insecurity in Nigeria had been strengthened with the appointment of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, as National Security Adviser.

My responsibility is to tell you that Nigeria is open for business and to assure you that your investments are safe in our hands.

We have men and women of great reputation here. And we believe we can forge a good committee that will advance our discussions to fruitful conclusions.

A nation is an artificial entity unless there are good people to drive it. People build great nations and we have great people. We are ready, President Tinubu stressed.

He observed that Nigeria possesses vast opportunities in various fields.

We have oil and gas; we have solid minerals. I do not see why we cannot become prolific partners in exploring iron ore, as well as steel production, and energy across the board.

I am here to give you assurances in all spheres: tourism, hospitality, healthcare, and many other opportunities that abound around us.

Do not be the investors who miss out on the golden opportunity we present, the president admonished.

In his remarks, Mohammed Al-Thani, the Qatari minister of Commerce and Industry, said Qatar looked forward to exploring opportunities in Nigeria, owing to its large market.

READ ALSO: Alake pledges mineral data to aid Qatari businessmen eyeing Nigerian lithium

He said Qatar was prioritising new investments in low-carbon initiatives, mineral products, petroleum chemicals, industry, and consumables.

We look forward to working with our Nigerian counterparts to achieve our joint objectives in these sectors, the minister said.

Mr Tinubu was accompanied to the event by governors, ministers, Mr Ribadu and members of the Nigerian business community. (NAN)

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Asiya (real name withheld) was nine years old when she was raped by a 20-year-old man last year in Nassarawa Local Government Area of Kano State. The rapist, Kamilu, was well known to the little girl as a frequent visitor to her parents house.

I know him. He used to come and collect food from my mummy and he always called me to give me sweets and money, Asiya told this reporter in the presence of her mother. That day, he took me into an uncompleted building and removed my clothes. He started with his finger and then inserted his penis in my vagina. He warned me not to tell anyone, that if I did, he would kill me.

When the mother realised what had happened to her little daughter, she called her husband. The family immediately reported the incident to their community leaders and then the police. With the help of the officers, Asiya was taken to a hospital where tests showed that she had contracted a sexually transmitted disease.

The case was also reported to the Kano office of the National Human Rights Commission which ensured that Mr Kamilu was arraigned in court. But the judge ruled that the offence was sexual assault and not rape. So Mr Kamilu escaped with a slap on the wrist  he was sentenced to three months imprisonment.

Rape and the Law

Despite the signing of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act into law by the Nigerian government on 25 May 2015, rape remains one of the most common crimes in the countrys north-western states, particularly in Kano.

The VAPP Act was meant to, among others, ensure due punishment for perpetrators of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) and ensure justice for the victims. Unfortunately, Kano is the only Nigerian state yet to domesticate the law.

Halima Faruk of the states Sexual Referral Centre at a recent stakeholders forum, during the 16 days of Activism on the issue, said Kano has the highest rate of gender-based violence in the North-west region.

The VAPP Act outlaws and stipulates punishment for acts such as sexual abuse, domestic violence and harmful traditional practices such as female genital mutilation/cutting (FGM/C) and forced marriage.

The Child Rights Act (CRA), a federal law, was earlier enacted in 2003 to protect the rights of children. Section 31 (1) and (2) of the CRA stipulates that any person who has sexual intercourse with a child commits an offence of rape and is liable on conviction to imprisonment for life.

The CRA provides that it is immaterial that 

(a) the offender believed the person to be of or above the age of eighteen years; or

(b) the sexual intercourse was with the consent of the child.

The CRA does not restrict victims of rape to the female gender and also recognises that rape can be committed by either a male or female. Therefore, under the two laws, boys and girls can be victims of rape.

However, just as it is yet to domesticate the VAPP Act, Kano is also yet to domesticate the CRA.

Mr Kamilu was tried under the Penal Code Act, a law applicable in the northern states of Nigeria.

Section 283 of the penal code stipulates that: Rape is said to occur where a man has sexual intercourse with a woman in any of the following circumstances:

I. Against her will,

ii. Without her consent,

iii. With her consent, when her consent has been obtained by putting her in fear of death or hurt,

iv. With her consent when the man knows that he is not her husband and that her consent is given because she believes that he is another man to whom she is or believes herself to be lawfully married,

v. With or without her consent, when she is under fourteen years of age or of unsound mind.

The law further states that if any of the above circumstances occur, rape has been committed and it provides imprisonment for life or any less term and or a fine as punishment.

Significantly, the penal code does not recognise men or boys as victims of rape and does not recognise marital rape where the woman has attained the age of puberty. Yet, young married women and young boys have been victims of rape in many reported cases in Kano State.

Kanos Rape Scourge

The Director of Research, Planning and Statistics of the Kano State Ministry of Women, Children and Disabled Affairs, Yakubu Salihu, said his ministry is currently tackling about 300 rape cases and the survivors include young girls and boys.

Mr Salihu said in an interview with BUK FM, Kano, that the incidents mostly happened in the victims homes, neighbourhoods, and communities and on their way to school and were mostly perpetrated by the victims loved ones, relatives and also strangers.

Unlike Asiya who survived her ordeal, 17-year-old Saratu did not.

Saratu found out that she was pregnant five months after she was drugged and raped in her uncles house. According to her sister, Hadiza, Saratu told her family that she suspected Auwal, an adopted son in her uncles house, was the one who raped her. He had told her he liked her and wanted to marry her but she had turned his request down because she already had a suitor.

Hadiza said Saratu remembered that Auwal bought her a drink one night but she could not remember what happened after she took the drink.

When the family confronted Auwal, he denied it, so the family took the case to the Human Rights Commission, which sent the matter to court. The court ordered a DNA test and adjourned the matter until after Saratu had her baby. Hadiza said her sister received messages from an unknown number threatening her life if the family did not drop the case.

After Saratu was delivered of her baby, the DNA was conducted for the baby and the suspect, Auwal. But before the results were released, Saratu went missing. Her corpse was later discovered in a pond on their street. No suspect has been arrested for the crime. The baby is now with Hadiza, Saratus sister and the family does not know what else to do to ensure justice for the deceased.

In the course of the investigations for this report, PREMIUM TIMES interviewed many rape victims, between the ages of four and 17, in the presence of their guardians. The victims were interviewed in Nassarawa, Tarauni and Dawakin Tofa local government areas of Kano State.

One of them, four-year-old Khadija (not her real name) was raped by a young man running a provision shop on their street. As in the case of Asiya, the rapist had also lured the child with sweets, as she narrated to our reporter in the presence of her mother.

The mother said she suspected Khadija had been raped after noticing a white discharge coming out from her vagina.

I became curious and started asking her questions. That was when she told me what happened. I called my sister, and we took her to a hospital but they said they would not admit us because the case had to be recorded and handled by the Sexual Referral Centre first to check if she had injuries or complications before referring her to the hospital. At the centre, they called the police before conducting the test and the result said it was a severe infection.

But the mother said she and her sister decided not to report the perpetrator to the police because of fear of stigma and that the suspect might hurt or kill the girl. This reporter made efforts to trace and speak with the suspect but he could not be found. Khadijahs mother said he stopped coming to his shop and had not been seen in the community since the incident.

This reporter also tried to speak with Kamilu, the 20-year-old man who assaulted nine-year-old Asiya, but his family members denied access to him. His cousin, Musa Yau in Unguwan Nassarawa said: We cant allow him to be seen or heard in the media on an allegation that the court has already passed judgment.

Six-year-old Abubakar Adamu (not real name) was sexually assaulted by a 17-year-old boy in the neighbourhood where he lives. The victims mother said the boy had severe stomach pains after the incident, which made them take the case to court through the police and the Human Rights Commission.

The perpetrator was found guilty and sentenced to six months imprisonment and a fine of N25,000. He was also asked to pay N25,000 for the victims medication but since his release, he has not paid for Abubakars treatment.

Even more atrocious is the case of a 15-year-old girl who was allegedly raped by her father in her room in their house. She had a severe infection from the incident. She said he threatened to kill her if she told anyone. She later informed her aunt about it because her mother was dead, but the aunt pleaded with her to bury the issue so as not to tarnish her fathers image.

In the case of 13-year-old Zahrau, she was raped and impregnated by a young man in her village in Dawakin Tofa. Since Zahrau was delivered of a baby, she has been suffering from ill health. According to the lawyer handling the case, Badamasi Suleiman, her family tried to bury the case because of shame and stigma. But after she was put to bed and became unconscious, a family member reached out to him to take the case to the police and the court.

The court ordered the State Criminal Investigation Department at the Bompai Police Headquarters in Kano to investigate the matter. The investigation is still on.

Growing Public Concern

A community head in Nassarawa LGA, Bala Shehu, said the community frequently received complaints of rape. Mr Shehu noted that there are no sufficient laws to deal with the issue.

He said the state needs to introduce new laws so that offenders will start serving proper punishment. I believe if the new law ensures punishment of the perpetrators, most of them will stop doing it.

The Kano State Sexual Referral Centre (SARC), Waraka, was established by the state government to tackle issues of sexual assault in the state. The Protocol Officer at the Centre, Aminu Usman, said it receives about 100 cases in a month.

It is (getting) out of hand. In a month we can receive 95-100 cases of rape. Currently, in this month, January, so far, we have received over 50 cases. Just last week, 17 cases were brought to us on a single day from one community that I cannot disclose because of confidentiality.

Mr Usman agreed with Mr Shehu that cases are increasing because perpetrators are not being handed proper punishment. He estimated that 60 per cent of offenders escape justice and return to the community to continue their atrocities. He said the centre had been advocating for the VAPP Act to be domesticated in the state as the only way to mitigate SGBV in Kano.

Common Health Effects of Rape

Rape affects the victim physically, psychologically and sociologically, according to experts.

Medical, surgical and psychological conditions are mostly the three complications rape victims always experience during and after the incidence, Hassan Abubakar, who is a theatre nurse at the Sexual Referral Centre, explained.

Medical complications and conditions are the worst because there are diseases that can be transmitted through sexual intercourse. The sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) include HIV/Aids, Hepatitis, Gonorrhea and Syphilis. These kinds of diseases can cause a lot of problems and even death.

The scary part is that the victim might not know if she contracted any of these diseases unless she is taken to a hospital on time for a test until the victim starts to exhibit signs and symptoms. A victim may become pregnant too, which brings a whole lot of different repercussions.

For surgical conditions, it may warrant carrying out surgery for the victims. The incident may result in the victim having complications such as fistula, vascular vaginal fistula, a slit/vaginal cut or abnormal communication between the urinary bladder and the vagina, that is abnormal leakage of urine, and this may lead her to get severe infection unless the condition is treated immediately.

Some victims may also lose their lives. And for victims that were assaulted through anal sex, they may experience complications such as faeces leakage and this needs surgical intervention to be treated.

Mr Abubakar said psychological complications experienced by the victims may include depression, trauma and worry over whether she might get someone that will marry her and issues like that.

He said some victims do not fully express themselves to medical personnel because of fear and stigma. He urged the state authorities to domesticate the VAPP Act to curtail the menace of sexual assault and ensure justice for the victims.

Police, Human Rights Commission Helpless

How are the police handling the increasing trend of rape cases? According to the spokesperson of the police in Kano State, Abdullahi Kiyawa, there is a Gender Desk at the police headquarters that handles SGBV cases.

Yes, we do have a Gender Desk at the police headquarters and we treat such cases diligently and professionally by taking the victims statements, carrying out our investigations and taking the victims and culprits to court for prosecution.

However, Mr Kiyawa said the police had not noticed an increase in rape cases in Kano, though he could not provide the number of cases handled by the police in the state.

The State Coordinator of NHRC, Abdullahi Shehu, said the agency responds promptly to rape and other cases of sexual assault.

We work diligently alongside relevant stakeholders, including the law enforcement agencies, particularly the Nigerian police, Mr Shehu said. Anytime we receive such a call on a rape case, especially if it is in a rural area, we would tell them to go to the nearest police station to report the case and then we will call and speak to the officer on the desk and tell him about the situation and will take the report. The reason we do this is to ensure that all evidence is intact so that the offender will not have a reason to lie or deny what he did.

After the police report, we take an appropriate step in bringing justice to the victims by arraigning the suspects. An investigation will be conducted and the case will go to the court of jurisdiction for prosecution.

He said the commission follows the cases to ensure that justice is done. However, there are insufficient laws to tackle rape in Kano, he said.

We put a lot of effort in such cases but our challenge now is the issue of not domesticating the VAPP Act. You know when there is a legal framework, it will assist in the promotion of justice, Mr Shehu said.

Also, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Kano State chapter, said it is putting more effort into fighting against SGBV through advocacy programmes and ensuring that offenders face the consequences of their crimes.

A Senior Magistrate at the Kano State Judiciary and Vice Chairperson of FIDA, Hajara Hamza, said rape has become a worrisome issue in Kano State.

She said the existing laws do not directly render significant help to rape victims because there is a gap in the legal framework.

She said the federal VAPP Act is the only law that contains all the necessary provisions for the punishment of the offenders, adding that its domestication is the best way to eliminate or mitigate the incidence of rape and other sexual assault cases in the state.

Kano State Government on SGBV

Meanwhile, the Kano Ministry of Women, Children and Disabled said it has been working towards dealing with the issue of SGBV and creating a safer environment for both girls and boys.

According to Yakubu Salihu, the Director of Planning Research and Statistics in the ministry, who spoke for the commissioner, the state government is aware of the increasing incidence of rape.

We do receive cases of GBV incidents from SARC and the report includes all forms of abuses from different local governments. Currently, we have recorded 300 rape cases, and it is because of the increasing incidence that the government is making more effort to establish additional sexual referral centres across the three emirate councils while the Rano LGA is awaiting equipping.

He suggested that the Kano State government was working towards putting in place a tougher law against SGBV.

We have put a multi-sectoral responsive and preventive mechanism in place. We also advocated to the Kano Ministry of Justice to revisit the draft copy of the harmonized state VAPP Bill with the review of the Kano Penal Code. The review of the referral mechanism is awaiting validation soon, he said.

When asked about the kind of help the ministry renders to rape victims, Mr Salihu said they offer psycho-social support and empowerment services.

However, Mr Salihu said, domesticating the VAPP Act has been the major challenge to addressing SGBV. He said the lack of political will was the reason the national law had not been domesticated.

Are Current Efforts Enough?

The various organisations working towards eliminating SGBV in Kano pointed out that the efforts put in place by the state government are not enough to check rape and other forms of sexual abuse.

The Centre for Awareness on Justice and Accountability (CAJA), an NGO working around public awareness on the dangers of SGBV, said it has done a lot of advocacy and enlightenment programmes to educate the public and young girls on the dangers of the menace and how to go about it.

Akibu Hamisu, the Programme Officer of CAJA, said they have done a series of advocacies and sensitization programmes for girls and the general public on the issue, but that alone is not enough unless relevant laws are put in place.

He said the government needs to put in more effort by domesticating and implementing the VAPP Act and Child Protection Act in the state, adding that only that can solve the problem and reduce the menace, thereby creating a safe environment for our wards and sons.

The Centre for Information Technology and Development advocates the use of technology to tackle SGBV in Kano.

As part of our initiatives to eliminate SGBV in Kano, we created, designed and deployed a Gender-Based Violence Mobile Application (GBV App) in 2021, which is available on Google Play Store, to monitor and report cases of SGBV to connect survivors with the support they need and also yield an extensive database on SGBV cases across Kano State, particularly in public schools, so that Kano citizens especially women and girls can plan safer education for themselves and their loved ones, the organisations Gender Technical Officer, Zainab Aminu, said.

She said that the GBV App monitored and recorded 171 SGBV cases between November 2022 and February 2023, mainly cases of rape and other sexual abuses.

She said her organisation, based on its findings, has written to the Kano State Government to domesticate the VAPP Act.

This report was done with the support of the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, under its Promoting Democratic Governance in Nigeria Project.

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KYODO NEWS - Mar 3, 2024 - 10:02 | All, Japan

Japan's financial watchdog is considering obliging companies listed on the top-tier section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange to disclose information on greenhouse gas emissions throughout their supply chains.

The Financial Services Agency will set up a panel this month to work out the details of the envisioned policy in support of global efforts to accelerate decarbonization, according to its plan proposed at a meeting of the Financial System Council.

One option would be to first target major firms facing increasing scrutiny by global institutional investors, rather than applying the envisaged rule to all of the roughly 1,600 companies listed on the Prime Market at once, according to the government plan.

Japan is seeking to develop sustainability disclosure standards based on those unveiled in 2023 by the International Sustainability Standards Board, a global body that sets financial reporting rules. The country's draft standards are expected to be released by the end of March.

Since the start of the business year through March 2023, Japanese companies have been required to include information in their financial statements on how they are tackling sustainability issues, in addition to such information as wage disparities between men and women.

Some companies already disclose emissions data, even without a specific requirement to do so.

With greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming, the European Union is strengthening its sustainability reporting rules for companies. There are also similar moves in the United States.

The Japanese government has set a target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. It has been trying to encourage more private sector investment to achieve green growth.

In a survey of roughly 11,300 companies conducted last year by research firm Teikoku Databank, 17.3 percent said decarbonization efforts would have a negative impact, while 14.1 percent responded operations would be positively impacted. The remaining companies said they expected little impact or were not sure.

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Manchester City emerged victorious in a dramatic Manchester derby, overcoming an early deficit to defeat their rivals 3-1 on Sunday in the Premier League.

Marcus Rashford put Manchester United ahead in the 8th minute, igniting the away fans at the Etihad Stadium.

However, the lead proved short-lived as Phil Foden equalised for City in the 56th minute with a stunning strike into the top corner.

The goal sparked a period of dominance for the Citizens, with Foden adding his second goal in the 80th minute after a well-worked one-two with Julian Alvarez.

Erling Haaland sealed the win for City in stoppage time.

The Norwegian striker capitalised on a defensive lapse by Uniteds substitute, Sofyan Amrabat, and finished with his trademark clinical efficiency, making amends for an earlier miss.

Despite a valiant effort in the first half, Manchester United crumbled under Citys second-half pressure.

The Red Devils frustration was evident when manager Erik ten Hag received a yellow card for protesting a non-existent foul in the build-up to Fodens first goal.

READ ALSO: Messi beats Haaland to FIFA Best Player award in tight polls

While United held on in the first half, they were ultimately outplayed by a resurgent City side in the second.

Fodens brace was the difference, while Haaland ensured the victory with his late strike.

This victory is quite crucial for City in the three-horse title race.

The maximum points earned puts City just one point behind Liverpool on the Premier League table, setting up a mouthwatering clash between the two sides at Anfield next week.

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Some residents of the Nigerian capital, Abuja, broke into a government warehouse in the city to loot food items.

The incident happened on Sunday morning, Daily Trust reports. It started around 7 a.m. and continued till about 9 a.m., residents told the newspaper.

Sundays incident happened amid the current economic crisis in the country which has seen the prices of goods and services increase by over 200 per cent without a corresponding increase in income.

The cost of living crisis was caused by the removal of subsidies on petrol and the floating of naira; policies justified by the government as necessary for the economy.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the cost of living crisis has led to protests in several parts of Nigeria.

The warehouse looted by the Abuja residents on Sunday was also reportedly looted during the COVID-19 crisis in 2020.

The police, however, told Daily Trust that police officers had arrived at the scene and normalcy had been returned.

PREMIUM TIMES will provide more details of Sundays incident in subsequent reports.

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The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, says the Wuye/Wuse Flyover is 85 per cent completed and will be inaugurated in May.

Mr Wike stated this in Abuja on Saturday, after inspecting the project, along with the vice-presidents residence and the 11-kilometre (km) six-lane dual carriage expressway linking the Airport Expressway to Kuje.

Mr Wike added that the road from Kuje to Airport Expressway when completed, would open the area for transformative economic growth and development.

The minister, who equally visited the vice-presidents residence being handled by Julius Berger, expressed optimism that the project would be completed in May.

I must commend the various contractors, the Arab Contractors and Julius Berger.

The first site we went to is almost 85 per cent completed, that is, one of those interchanges in Wuye District. The contractors are keeping faith with their commitment to hand over the project by May.

Then we also went to Kuje to inspect the six-lane road of about 11km. The road from the Airport Road down to Kuje will open that area of the Area Council.

The last time when I went to flag off one of the rural roads, we didnt see much about the contractors, and I did say that the contractors are not serious.

Going back there today, I am very impressed with the level and quality of work, he said.

Speaking at the official residence of the vice president, the minister said the contractors were at the stage of electrical installations, adding that a lot of changes would be seen in the next few weeks.

We were at the VPs residence which is being handled by Julius Berger and like I said, they have made further commitment that by May, they are going to hand it over.

They are known for quality, and we are financing them well, the minister said.

Mr Wike reiterated that no ongoing project in the FCT would be abandoned, adding that the projects were considered a priority and have been included in the FCTs 2024 statutory budget to ensure adequate funding.

(NAN)

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Operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have intercepted a 40-year-old businessman, Ejike Chibuke with 1.45 kilograms of cocaine at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

This was contained in a statement by the NDLEA, Director, Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Sunday in Abuja.

Mr Babafemi said the drugs were concealed in the suspects luggage, while he attempted to board an Ethiopia Airlines flight number 950 to Vietnam via Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from the NAIA.

He said the suspect was arrested at the Abuja airport on Saturday 2 March after NDLEA officers subjected him to a thorough search.

He also said that it was in the process, that the illicit substance was discovered concealed, factory-fitted, in his bag.

In his statement, the suspect claimed he was on a business trip to Vietnam, he said.

READ ALSO:

Meanwhile, operatives of a special unit of the agency on Friday 1 March, swooped on members of a syndicate that deals in methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin in their hideouts in parts of Lagos.

Mr Babafemi said the operatives assigned for the operation raided the home of Esimone Amachukwu at 14 Arochukwu Street, Ejigbo.

This, he said, was where 10.012 kilograms of methamphetamine were found in the possession of his associate, 40-year-old Evelyn Nneka.

Esimone is currently at large.

While the Ejigbo operation was going on, another set of officers were simultaneously busy in the residence of another member of the syndicate, 45-year-old Ebele Iwuegbunam.

The suspect located at Plot 1604 Close D, 4th Avenue, Festac town, Lagos was arrested and 429.5 grams of cocaine and 7 kilograms of heroin were recovered from him, he said.

(NAN)

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The 94 sacked lecturers of Enugu State College of Education, Technical (ESCET), have appealed to Governor Peter Mbah for reinstatement.

The group made the appeal in a letter to Mr Mbah, signed by Egbo Doris, Njideka Frank and others, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Enugu.

In the letter, the group said if nothing was done about it, their disengagement would bring untold hardships to their families.

Mr Mbah, in October 2023, constituted a seven-member investigative committee to probe alleged fraud and corrupt practices in the school.

According to the sacked lecturers, they wrote to the governor as responsible and dedicated indigenes of Enugu State who were employed at the college on 22 October 2021.

They stated that they received the distressing news of their disengagement from service on 26 February which was communicated to them through the Acting Registrar of the school, Pat Aneke.

The sacked lecturer said Mr Aneke informed them that the directive to sack them was from the Government Implementation Committee.

Appeal for reinstatement

The sacked lecturers appealed to Governor Mbah for reinstatement.

It is only our set and Alvan Ikoku College of Education Owerri that were successful in the whole of the South East in the 2023 TETFAIR programme. We believe that the sudden termination of our employment does not accurately reflect our contributions, they wrote in the letter to the governor.

According to the lecturers, upon their employment, they had remained dedicated and committed to the growth of the college and never deterred from discharging their duties in spite of irregular payment of staff salary.

It is equally sad to state that two of our colleagues lost their pregnancies at their duty post, right inside the examination hall while selflessly and diligently serving the institution as invigilators.

May the blood of those innocent babies be enough atonement and cry for justice on behalf of all the disengaged staff.

It is quite unfortunate that both the investigation and implementation committees set up to look into the various challenges of the ESCET, never deemed it fit to have a word or two with any of us.

We strongly believe that the challenges of the institution could be tackled without depleting the already understaffed institution.

After our employment, proper documentation was done and regularisation, through verification of our documents for relevance and our names were duly added in ESCET Payroll.

The sacked lecturers alleged that they were being owed 13 months of salary arrears.

We are those fathers, mothers, aunties, uncles, sisters, brothers, who have found excuses explaining to our children, and families, why lunch and dinner are no longer available on the table.

(NAN)

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A Nollywood veteran, Jide Kosoko, says he is putting his 70th birthday celebration on hold because of the current economic situation in the country.

Kosoko, in an Instagram post on Sunday, appreciated his colleagues and fans who came up with the idea of celebrating his contributions to the industry while he is still alive.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Jide Kosoko clocked 70 years on 12 January, and celebrated this feat with friends, family, and well-wishers to express gratitude to God at a thanksgiving service.

Colleagues and fans of the veteran had plans to honour him with a glamorous birthday celebration.

He said: I want to use this opportunity to offer my sincere appreciation to my colleagues who came up with the idea of celebrating me for my contributions to the industry growth and development of our industry while I am still alive and kicking.

This also falls within the year of my 70th birthday.

It is my sincere prayer that they will all remain relevant in all areas of human endeavours they find themselves in.

I have discussed with them, and they reasoned, that the celebration should be put on hold, basically because of the current situation in the country and what the people are going through.

I am very sure that very soon, the challenges facing the country will be over and we will all be happy for it.

I am putting it on hold because of the masses, of which I am part of. Thank you all for your understanding!.

(NAN)

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National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has declared that the warehouse looted in Abuja on Sunday did not belong to it.

Hoodlums broke into a storage facility in the Gwagwa area of Abuja on Sunday and looted stored food items.

Residents of the area said youths broke into the warehouse located around the Tasha area of the community in the early hours of Sunday and looted bags of maize and other grains.

Some said residents of neighbouring Jiwa and Karmo communities trooped toward the site to partake in the loot.

This is to clarify that the looted warehouse does not belong to NEMA.

However, the agency sympathises with owners of the looted facility, NEMAs spokesperson, Manzo Ezekiel, stated on Sunday in Abuja.

The Director-General, Mustapha Ahmed, has directed Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations, to strengthen security in and around NEMA offices and warehouses nationwide.

The directive is to forestall any security breach at NEMAs facilities across the country, Mr Ezekiel added. (NAN)

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President Bola Tinubu has assured the international business community that Nigeria is ready for serious business as his administration will deal decisively with any and all entrenched interests in the country who undermine investor confidence in the Nigerian economy, pledging to remove all bottlenecks standing in the way of profitable and legitimate enterprise.

Speaking at the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum in Doha, on Sunday, President Tinubu told Qatari investors that Africas largest economy and its systems are being reformed and upgraded, and asked Qatars captains of industry to report any government official who demands a bribe or any form of inducement at any point in their business endeavour moving forward with full assurance of their direct access to the Presidents Office.

I am here to give you the assurance that reforms are going on; forget about whatever you heard in the past. Whatever is the obstacle or problem that some of you might have experienced; it is in the past, because there is no obstacle in the future.

Do not offer a bribe to any of our people, and if it is requested or taken from you, report to us. You will have access to me. Nigeria will no longer be defined by the past, but by what we do now and moving forward. Do not let perceptions become a hindrance to your will to invest. Nigeria is serious about revolutionizing investment promotion. We are removing obstacles today and we are going to continue to remove all obstacles. We have done so much within nine months. And I am assuring you, it is free entry, and free exit. Your funds will flow smoothly into and out of our country. Bring your investments, the president stated.

Moreover, the president noted that the war against corruption and insecurity in Nigeria had been significantly strengthened with the appointment of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nuhu Ribadu, as National Security Adviser (NSA).

We have a man who has won many global awards for anti-corruption as an anti-corruption czar.

My responsibility is to tell you that Nigeria is open for business, and to assure you that your investments are safe in our hands. We have men and women of great reputation here. And we believe we can forge a good committee that will advance our discussions to fruitful conclusions.

A nation is an artificial entity unless there are good people to drive it. People build great nations and we have great people. We are ready, the President affirmed.

The president also noted that Nigeria possesses vast opportunities in various fields, telling his host: We have oil and gas; we have solid minerals. I do not see why we cannot become prolific partners in exploring iron ore, as well as steel production, and energy across the board.

I am here to give you assurances in all spheres: tourism, hospitality, healthcare, and in many other opportunities that abound around us. Do not be the investors who miss out on the golden opportunity we present, the president added.

Welcoming the Nigerian delegation in the presence of Qatari captains of industry, Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Qassim Al Abdullah Al Thani, Qatars Minister of Commerce and Industry, said his country looks forward to exploring opportunities in Nigeria, owing to its population demography and market, as it seeks to prioritize new investments in low carbon initiatives, mineral products, petroleum chemicals, industry, and consumables.

We look forward to working with our Nigerian counterparts to achieve our joint objectives in these sectors, the Minister said.

READ ALSO: Alake pledges mineral data to aid Qatari businessmen eyeing Nigerian lithium

Accompanying the President to the Nigeria-Qatar Business and Investment Forum were: Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum; Kaduna State Governor, Uba Sani; Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu; Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Wale Edun; Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake; Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate; Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola; Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite; Minister of Youth, Jamila Ibrahim; and the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperipe Ekpo.

Also at the meeting were the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu; Special Adviser on Energy, Olu Verheijen; and the President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA), Dele Oye.

Ajuri Ngelale

Special Adviser to the President

(Media & Publicity)

March 3, 2024

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Good things have been overrated and bad things have been underrated.

My first name means God loves me. When God called me to ministry in 1994, He called my name three times. Then He said to me: I have loved you from the foundation of the world.

The Bible says:

The Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. (Hebrews 12:6).

God so loved me, He sent armed robbers to waylay me and shoot me. He told me so Himself and validated this with scripture:

Who gave Jacob for plunder, and Israel to the robbers? Was it not the Lord, He against whom we have sinned? For they would not walk in His ways, nor were they obedient to His law. (Isaiah 42:24).

Goodness of God

Why does a loving God do this to those He loves? He does this because He is determined to show us His glory and to reveal His glory in us.

When the armed robbers attacked me, God appeared to me for the very first time, just as He did to the three Hebrew children in the fiery burning furnace. He then gave me a lifetime message which said bad things may happen to me, but they would always amount to nothing. He would work all things together for my good. (Romans 8:28-30).

Jesus gave the same assurance to His disciples on His way to Calvary. He said:

These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. (John 16:33).

Accordingly, I experienced the peace that surpasses all understanding during my armed robbery attack. (Philippians 4:7). I was surrounded by armed robbers, there was a bullet in my leg, and I was anxious about nothing. Given the situation, the peace I had did not make any sense.

In the middle of the attack, I heard the voice of God for the very first time. Later, He said to me: Femi, blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear. (Matthew 13:16).

And then, the miracle of miracles, He healed the broken bone in my bullet-ridden leg.

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it! Shout, you lower parts of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest, and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob and glorified Himself in Israel. (Isaiah 44:23).

Blindness Redeemed

I discovered to my surprise that I was born blind. Indeed, all men are born blind. As a result, we can only see the temporal and transient glory of men but cannot see the eternal and everlasting glory of God.

In the Scriptures, when Jesus opened the eyes of a man who was blind from birth, the unbelieving Pharisees queried him, asking:

What did He do to you? How did He open your eyes? He said to them, He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and I see. (John 9:15).

I can imagine skeptical latter-day Pharisees asking me the same question today: Femi, how did Jesus open your eyes? This is my answer: He sent armed robbers to waylay me and shoot me on Airport Road. When He did this, scales fell out of my eyes and my ears popped open.

The same phenomenon happened to Job. God afflicted him with the loss of his children, his wealth, and his health. But at the end of his ordeal, Job had this testimony. He said to God:

I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees You. (Job 42:5).

God made Job go through his ordeal for the same reason He sent armed robbers to me. He did this because of His amazing love. He does this to show us how much He loves us by redeeming our losses.

Accordingly, my leg was miraculously healed. As for Job, the Lord restored his losses and gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10).

That is the principle behind Gods redemption. The redeemed get double for our trouble. (Zechariah 9:12).

The big bonus, of course, is the knowledge of God that our redemption brings. Therefore, Paul says:

What things were gain to me; these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ. (Philippians 3:7-8).

Kingdom Dynamics

When God loves us, when He adores us, He makes something bad happen to us.

John makes sure we know that Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters. Nevertheless, he delayed going to see him when He heard he was sick:

Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. (John 11:5-6).

In so doing, He made sure Lazarus was not only sick but that he died. He did this because He wanted them to see the glory of God.

He reassured His disciples about Lazarus affliction:

This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it. (John 11:4).

When He finally got to Bethany four days after Lazarus death, He told Martha, Lazarus sister:

If you would believe you would see the glory of God? (John 11:40).

The glory they saw was Jesus resurrection of Lazarus from the dead. That glory blew their minds. They were never the same again, and they came to much greater knowledge of Jesus, which is the gateway to eternal life.

Jesus says to God the Father:

This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent. (John 17:3-4).

Look at what Mary did because of this new knowledge:

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was who had been dead, whom He had raised from the dead. There they made Him a supper; and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at the table with Him. Then Mary took a pound of very costly oil of spikenard, anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. (John 12:1-3).

Mary, who had been upset that Jesus came late to Bethany when Lazarus was sick, was now so grateful to Jesus for coming late and allowing Lazarus to die because she saw the glory of his resurrection.

So, Christians need to understand this. Good things have been overrated and bad things have been underrated. If we want to see the good of God, we must endure the bad.

For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:17-18).

Faribisala@yahoo.com; www.femiaribisala.com

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The true tragedy this time is that it is not a dictator, soldier, or politician who wants to ransack the ECOWAS Court before killing it. Rather, it is Chief Justices of the region, wielding with maximum malevolence an appearance of commitment to due process and the rule of law. This is why citizens of the sub-region have a duty to resist them. On 6-7 May, the Chief Justices propose to convene again in Abuja to deliberate on the reports and recommendations of the Committees for adoption. The citizens of ECOWAS States may have less than three months to save the ECOWAS Court.

On Sunday, 24 February, the Heads of State and Government of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) concluded an extraordinary summit in Abuja, the capital city of Nigeria, precipitated by the announcement on 28 January by Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic of their joint decision to denounce the Revised Treaty of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and leave the regional bloc without delay. From within Nigeria, the anchor state in the region, many around government exuding hubris under the guise of patriotism claimed that the three countries would have more to lose.

By the time they finished counting the costs of the possible withdrawal of these three countries, however, the extraordinary summit found the costs to the Community rather prohibitive. Between them, Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger represent 10 per cent of the GDP of the region; 17.4 per cent of the population, and 54.35 per cent of the landmass. The Summit concluded that their departure will have political, socioeconomic, financial and institutional implications for the three countries as well as for ECOWAS as a group and will constitute a reduction of the market size of ECOWAS. They, therefore, issued an appeal to Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger Republic to reconsider the decision [to withdraw from ECOWAS], in view of the benefits that all ECOWAS Member States and their citizens enjoy for being part of the Community.

To sweeten the appeal, the Summit decided to withdraw most of the existing sanctions against the three countries and to invite them to technical and consultative meetings of ECOWAS as well as to all security-related meetings.

One of the institutions adversely affected by the issues concerning these three countries is the Court of Justice of ECOWAS. In existence since 1991 and functioning since 2006, the Court is the judicial organ of the Community and is composed of five judges elected by the Heads of State and Government for a tenure of five years.

At the end of July 2022, three judges of the ECOWAS Court, respectively from Ghana, Cote dIvoire, and Nigeria, were due to rotate out at the end of their terms, to be replaced by judges elected from Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali. This would have enabled the two surviving judges from Cape Verde and Sierra Leone to become the senior members judges of the court, all but assuring their succession to the offices of President and Vice-President of the Court. The current Judge President is from Ghana and his Vice is from Cote dIvoire.

In a manner of speaking, this amounts to killing the ECOWAS Court of Justice with an effusion of high judicial attention. In nearly every one of the attending ECOWAS countries, the office of Chief Justice is a shrine of judicial despotism. The word of the Chief Justice is not open to question. Cases linger in court until the day after eternity, except those which affect senior politicians to whom most Chief Justices seem beholden.

However, while they are suspended, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Guinea from ECOWAS cannot propose any candidates or their nationals for election into vacancies in any of the institutions of ECOWAS. Confronted, as a result, with an inability to fill judicial vacancies in the ECOWAS Court, the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Community decided at the end of their Summit in Guinea Bissau on 12 July, 2022 that in order to facilitate the functioning of the Court of Justice in its task of administering justice in the Community. the judges, nationals of Ghana, Cote dIvoire, and Nigeria, are maintained in office until the appointment and entry into office of their successors.

The effect of this was to maintain the status quo with respect to both the composition of the court and of its leadership, in effect extending the tenure of the judges from the three named countries. In turn, the judges whose ambitions of becoming the new leaders of the court it also frustrated or deferred, did not take this lightly.

The week after the conclusion of the extraordinary summit of the ECOWAS Heads of State in Abuja at the end of last month, the Chief Justices of the Member States of the Community convened also in Abuja as the ECOWAS Judicial Council. The meeting of the Judicial Council also marked the passing of the baton of leadership of the Chief Justices of the Community from Guinea Bissaus Antonio Andre Lima to Nigerias Olukayode Ariwoola.

The Chief Justices grappled with two things. First, almost assuredly instigated by their Judges on the ECOWAS Court, who now want to become leaders of the court, the Chief Justices of Cape Verde and Sierra Leone, at the meeting of the Judicial Council, loudly complained about the expiration of the tenure of the judges from Ghana, Cote dIvoire and Nigeria. At their behest, the Judicial Council resolved to advise the Heads of State to set in motion the process of filling those vacancies to avoid potential infraction of statutory provisions governing appointment of Judges to the Court. They were unable to offer any advice to the Heads as to how to do this, while the countries from which the putative judges would come remain suspended from ECOWAS. Theres a limit to what the incredible powers of even Chief Justices can accomplish.

The second thing they grappled with was the low level of compliance with decisions of the ECOWAS Court of Justice. On this, they received and considered a report from the Judge President of the Court, Ghanas Edward Amoako Asante. Thereafter, the Chief Justices divined that the main reason for the low level of compliance with decisions of the Court of Justice is that litigants do not have to exhaust domestic remedies in their respective countries as a criterion for admissibility before proceeding to the ECOWAS Court of Justice.

It is, of course, a misconception to take the machete of exhaustion of domestic remedies to a regional court of Justice. The design, treaty law and doctrine applicable to the legal system of the Community make the idea of exhaustion of domestic remedies anathema to an integrated regional system. Imposing the doctrine on the Court of Justice will render it both irrelevant and impotent.

To address this problem, the Chief Justices promptly decided to constitute a sub-committee of themselves, comprising their peers from Cape Verde, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Senegal, and Togo, in order to review the treaties and protocols governing the ECOWAS Court of Justice, so as to write into them a requirement for exhaustion of domestic remedies and also explore the possibility of creating a pool of qualified judges to serve as appellate judges on an ad hoc basis.

In a manner of speaking, this amounts to killing the ECOWAS Court of Justice with an effusion of high judicial attention. In nearly every one of the attending ECOWAS countries, the office of Chief Justice is a shrine of judicial despotism. The word of the Chief Justice is not open to question. Cases linger in court until the day after eternity, except those which affect senior politicians to whom most Chief Justices seem beholden. In comparison, the ECOWAS Court of Justice has been something of a judicial miracle in West Africa. Cases receive prompt attention, the judgments are clear and understandable, and litigants are treated as if their issues deserve serious attention. The ECOWAS Court is everything that the national courts of the member states are not.

It is, of course, a misconception to take the machete of exhaustion of domestic remedies to a regional court of Justice. The design, treaty law and doctrine applicable to the legal system of the Community make the idea of exhaustion of domestic remedies anathema to an integrated regional system. Imposing the doctrine on the Court of Justice will render it both irrelevant and impotent.

Around 18 years ago, beginning in 2006, former Gambian dictator, Yahya Jammeh, sought to get ECOWAS to implement similar ideas. A concert of concerned citizens and governments in the region rallied and killed it. The true tragedy this time is that it is not a dictator, soldier, or politician who wants to ransack the ECOWAS Court before killing it. Rather, it is Chief Justices of the region, wielding with maximum malevolence an appearance of commitment to due process and the rule of law. This is why citizens of the sub-region have a duty to resist them. On 6-7 May, the Chief Justices propose to convene again in Abuja to deliberate on the reports and recommendations of the Committees for adoption. The citizens of ECOWAS States may have less than three months to save the ECOWAS Court.

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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KYODO NEWS - Mar 3, 2024 - 09:00 | All, Japan

The ratio of pet dogs in Japan that have received rabies vaccinations has fallen to around 70 percent in recent years from nearly 100 percent, according to government data, with a lack of reported cases likely leading to diminishing fears of a disease that is almost always fatal.

In a case that highlighted the decline in the percentage, which stood at 70.9 percent in fiscal 2022 in the latest data made available by the health ministry, a dog that attacked a dozen people, including children, in February in Gunma Prefecture had not been vaccinated against rabies.

"I thought vaccinations were bad for the body," the owner of the dog said, explaining one of his dogs had died following an inoculation.

Under Japan's Rabies Prevention Law, owners are required to vaccinate their dogs against rabies once a year, with those who fail to do so fined up to 200,000 yen ($1,300).

The country has not seen active cases in humans since 1956 and in animals since 1957.

Almost all pet dogs were vaccinated against rabies around the mid-1990s, but the rate sunk below 80 percent in fiscal 2000, according to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare. The total number of dogs registered with local governments in the past 20 years stands at around 6 million.

Naoto Ito, a professor at Gifu University who specializes in zoonotic diseases, said the lack of infections and the proliferation of misleading information online regarding the effectiveness and safety of inoculations are responsible for the fall in vaccination rates.

The likelihood of rabies entering Japan remains low due to strict quarantine measures. However, the spread of the disease in 2013 among ferret badgers in Taiwan, where there were no confirmed rabies cases for over 50 years, underscores the need to be vigilant.

"There are many unknown factors when assessing risks," as wildlife is not monitored sufficiently in Japan, Ito said.

Related coverage:

Dog that bit 12 people northwest of Tokyo not vaccinated for rabies

12 bitten in dog attack northwest of Tokyo, 5 sent to hospital
Fake drugs reveal the underbelly of a porous and ineffective regulation process and laws. While the history of drug fakery in Nigeria can be traced to as far back as the colonial times, its expansion is driven by the countrys hydra-headed economic crises, the troubles in the pharmaceutical industry, and the collapse of Nigerias healthcare system, which began in the 1980s.

Irish poet and one of the foremost figures of 20th Century literature, William Butler Yeats, aptly put it in his famous The Second Coming. When things fall apart, wrote Yeats, not only can the centre not hold, even the falcon cannot hear the falconer. I find a corollary in this cause and effects thesis offered by Yeats in the narration of Reverend Richard Henry Stone, one of the earliest American missionaries to come to Africa during the Nineteenth Century. He was a representative of the Southern Baptist Convention who spent quality time among the people of Western Nigeria. Stone lived in Ijaye, Abeokuta and Lagos, and, in the process, travelled to places like Ibadan, Lahlookpon (Lalupon), Ewo (Iwo), Ogbomishaw (Ogbomoso), and Oyo, located in todays Osun and Oyo states.

Reverend Stone observed, first-hand, the destructive Ijaye war of 1860-62, alongside his wife, Susan Broadus Stone, who helped in caring for the wounded soldiers. He also conveyed the brutal war orphans to Abeokuta. More tellingly, Stone met Aare Kurumi of Ijaye, the generalissimo of the war and ruler of the place he called Ejahyay (Ijaye). He had a very condescending impression of the war general, who he called a notorious free-booter and slave hunter. Kurumi was also a despot who beheaded his subjects for even small infractions. As such, one day Stone was speaking with one of his aides in his house. Having heard that Kurumi was mortally ill, he asked the aide if he was not afraid that Kurumi could die of his illness. The aide looked across his shoulders and whispered, excited, in Stones own words, Be kawlaw bah koo, adieh ko sookoon, a corrupted version of the Yoruba wise-saying, Bi kolokolo ba ku, adiye o le sunkun. In English, this translates as, if the fox dies, the chicken will rejoice.

In the jungle, when the fox dies, the chicken is happy. The death of the fox is an opportunity for the chicken to engage in its ancient vagabond walk. In Nigeria of today, the fox is dead, long live the vagabond walk of the chicken. This seems to sound true for any hope of sanity or anything good in so many aspects of the Nigerian life. The moment sanity died in virtually all aspects of our lives in Nigeria, impunity and impudence took over. They strut with peacock pride, everywhere. The one that seems most frightening is the epidemic of counterfeiting in Nigeria. There is virtually nothing in Nigeria today that is impervious to the magic wand of fakery. It is so bad that if you want a human being faked, you would get the dross in a twinkle of an eye.

Drug cloning is the most lamentable aspect of this Nigerian fakery. Almost every minute, a Nigerian kisses the canvass after consuming fake drugs. Last week, the Nigeria Customs Service Area Controller, Oyo/Osun Command, Dr Ben Oramalugo announced that the command had intercepted fake drugs including Augmentin tablets, Ampiclox and Amoxycillin capsules. These fake drugs were concealed in 53 sacks, which had a Duty Paid Value of N1,739,000,000.00. A few months ago, police officers from the Okokomaiko Division of the Lagos State Police Command also intercepted a Volkswagen LT bus loaded with 70 cartons of expired drugs. The Commands Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, disclosed this. The cartons contained Feed Fine Cyproheptadine Caplets 4g, with an expiry date of 2016. When quizzed, one of the suspects confessed that the expired drugs were being carted to an individual in Alaba, who had been contracted to change the expiry dates of the drugs so that they could be freighted to Port Harcourt for sale. In August 2023, the Kano State Police Command similarly confiscated 820 cartons of suspected fake and expired drugs at the Mallam Kato Market, Fagge Local Government Area of the state.

Long before now, in 2009, a shipment of counterfeit anti-malarial drugs was intercepted in Lagos. A Nigerian businessman had colluded with a Chinese drug exporter who outsourced the job to an employee of a Chinese drug manufacturing company. The drug ring included a team of packaging experts, as well as another man with the assignment to ship the drugs into Nigeria from China. In some instances, drugs are made up chalks, which unsuspecting consumers just swallow as such.

On the surface, this epidemic of drug counterfeiting may look benign to any non-perceptive person. But, drug fakery has reached such a frighteningly alarming rate in Nigeria and it harvests deaths into its pouch. Almost on a daily basis, scores of our fellow countrymen kiss the canvass for ailments which, with genuine and affordable drugs, they could survive on earth for almost an eternity longer. A couple of years ago, a diabetic uncle of mine who once lived in the United States and whose drugs were sent to Nigeria periodically ran out of his American supply. So, he hopped into one of the most famous pharmacies around to procure the diabetics drugs. He took them for about three weeks. Feeling somehow unwell, he decided to check his blood sugar rate. What he recorded was a figure almost in a handshake with the heavens, immediately requiring an emergency insulin injection. That was what rescued him from death.

The history of drug counterfeiting in Nigeria is synonymous with the history of the country. Indeed, drug cloning precedes the existence of Nigeria as an independent country. The roots of unregulated trade in drugs can be clearly linked to the colonial times when the trade was not particularly law-abiding. The colonial archives are replete with evidence that the trade in Medicines in Nigeria were grossly unregulated.

The pestilence called counterfeit drugs has led international organisations to observe how this lethal trade works in Nigeria. In 2006, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had to put together a global programme on poor-quality drugs, with particular focus on Africa. Similarly in 2010, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), in its Global Crime Threat Assessment, stated that drug fakery had become a major global threat, in concert with cocaine trafficking and allied crimes. So also did Interpol, which signed, for the first time, an agreement with pharmaceutical corporations to criminalise what it called pharmaceutical crimes.

Fake drugs reveal the underbelly of a porous and ineffective regulation process and laws. While the history of drug fakery in Nigeria can be traced to as far back as the colonial times, its expansion is driven by the countrys hydra-headed economic crises, the troubles in the pharmaceutical industry, and the collapse of Nigerias healthcare system, which began in the 1980s. Scholars who study this malaise have discovered that unless Nigeria solves its economic and political problems, no matter how policies are made to regulate fake drugs, they would forever encounter failures. Such efforts can be compared to a Babalawo who abandons a more bothersome ailment of leprosy to treat eczema. Nigerian governments have been addressing symptoms of the crisis, leaving untouched the nexus between drug faking and a more fundamental political and economic problem that the country faces.

The history of drug counterfeiting in Nigeria is synonymous with the history of the country. Indeed, drug cloning precedes the existence of Nigeria as an independent country. The roots of unregulated trade in drugs can be clearly linked to the colonial times when the trade was not particularly law-abiding. The colonial archives are replete with evidence that the trade in Medicines in Nigeria were grossly unregulated. From Richard Bailey, who became the first licensed African pharmacist to operate a chemist shop in Lagos in 1887, the number of pharmacy shops began to increase into the early post-colonial period. It was not until 1990, however, that Nigeria first had its comprehensive drug policy. In the 1940s, drug counterfeiting and the illegal sale of drugs were so widespread that a 1946 colonial archive said the streets were full of innumerable market women and itinerant vendors selling small quantities of the common brands of medicine and to attempt to enforce a licensing system against such persons would require a special staff and inspectorate.

An 18 April, 1976 a report with the title, Drugs Shortage: Federal Military Gvmt orders probe, in The PUNCH newspaper said that the bid to look outside of hospitals for drugs was necessitated by drug shortages in the mid-1970s onwards. During this time, doctors were forced to ask their patients to find drugs outside the hospitals. This gave birth to government licensing more patent medicine dealers, a system that first came up in the late colonial period. The dealers were empowered to sell first-aid drugs over the counter, especially in rural areas where hospitals were absent. However, the greatest calamity that befell the Nigerian healthcare system came in the 1980s during the military government of General Ibrahim Babangida and his Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) policy. With a colossal and sudden reduction in public spending on healthcare, as well as devaluation of the naira, importing drugs became a herculean task. To keep the drug trade running, counterfeiting of imported Western drugs became rife, and an unheard of practice of in-hospital mixing of paracetamol began, according to Gernot Klantschnig and Huang Chieh in their Fake Drugs: Health, Wealth and Regulation in Nigeria, (2018). It manifested in scant adherence to quality control.

Though the 1970s witnessed an upsurge in the domestic manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, local companies couldnt survive without imported raw materials, which the naira devaluation made unapproachable. As it is now under the Bola Tinubu government, foreign Nigeria-based drug manufacturing companies began to divest and relocate out of the country. By the mid-1990s, they had almost totally vacated Nigeria. This left local drug manufacturers, who not only operated at low capacity, but had to make do with the lowering of standards. This resulted in poor quality. In the late 1980s, the press reported two high-profile cases of the result of Babangidas asinine policy. The first was in Ibadan where paracetamol poisoned more than 100 children, as well as in Jos in 1990, where falsely labeled poisonous ingredients in a drugs manufacturing became a health scandal. It was linked to a leading drug wholesale market with its roots in the Netherlands. Yet, another was the national scandal which erupted in 2008 and 2009 as a result of a Nigeria-manufactured teething syrup named My Pikin, which led to the poisoning of children.

The cause of Nigerias healthcare palaver is complex to decipher. Its economic and leadership crises seem to be at the core of its lifelong disease. Other ancillary issues like the greed of the Nigerian and the perception of healthcare as a business, rather than a life-saving venture, also rank high. The Tinubu government must stem the daily deaths of our productive countrymen through counterfeit drugs enveloped by a collapsed healthcare system.

The advent of Dora Akunyili as director general of the drugs regulatory agency, NAFDAC, however helped to substantially curtail the phenomenon. Hitherto, Nigeria was a haven of counterfeit drugs. Importers of fake drugs, whose main attention is on drugs that are most consumed and sell fast in the Nigerian market, were fiercely combated by Akunyili at a personal cost. The Obasanjo government also funded the huge publicity given by Akunyili to falsified drugs.

Things have since worsened ever since. The twin policies of fuel subsidy removal and unification of exchange rates of the Tinubu government, like the Babangidas SAP, have sapped authenticity out of drugs in Nigeria. Like the dead fox, they have let loose the chicken of counterfeit drugs on society. The unaffordable costs of drugs have returned Nigerians to their primordial conception of sickness and the return of herbs as potent healing drugs. Its effects are kidney diseases being battled on a large scale in Nigeria. In Yorubaland, for instance, prior to the advent of the white man, it was held that illness was as a result of attack by either enemies (ota), which can be further classified into witches (aje), wizards (oso) or to a god (orisa) and deity (ebora). The understanding of Europeans, on the converse, which gave birth to the philosophy of drugs and hospitals, is based on the belief in the germ theory. This holds that physiological and anatomical disorders show up in man due to the activities of germs and viruses inside the body system. Unable to afford the exorbitant prices of drugs, Nigerians are today forced to patronise a litany of counterfeit drugs. They are cheaper and affordable but have, regrettably, led to a spike in deaths.

In saner societies, drug regulation is a matter of life and death. Americas Food and Drug Administration (FDA) jealously protects the peoples health by ensuring the safety, efficacy and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products and medical devices. Like the proverbial dog that guides the home of Eledumare, it scrutinises Americas drug supply. More often than not, the FDA provides accurate, science-based health information to the public. It is assisted by an American health system that prioritises the well-being of its people.

I was moved to tears a couple of weeks ago as I witnessed the American health system in action. My host in New Jersey had taken ill, nearly collapsing in the bathroom. He and I were all alone. We managed to call 911 and in about five minutes, three fully-kitted men in an ambulance and another vehicle, emerged by my friends Old Bridge apartment. They were kitted with emergency equipment. In a stretcher, they carried my friend down the building and into the ambulance. We were at the Hackensack Meridian Medical Centre, Piscataway in a jiffy. This hospital is strictly dedicated to emergencies. Though I was told this was miniature in Americas investment in its citizens healthcare, any Nigerian who manages to be at Hackensack would weep if drawn into comparison between what it is and, for instance, Nigerias rich in fossils Ibadan-based UCH. The equipment available were the latest. In four days, Hackensack drilled into the probable causes of my friends collapse. One of the doctors on ground was a young Nigerian lady said to be a top-notch doctor in America. Hackensack never demanded a dime from my friend. The cost of this first class treatment was borne by insurance, his place of work, with a tiny fraction shipped to the patient.

The cause of Nigerias healthcare palaver is complex to decipher. Its economic and leadership crises seem to be at the core of its lifelong disease. Other ancillary issues like the greed of the Nigerian and the perception of healthcare as a business, rather than a life-saving venture, also rank high. The Tinubu government must stem the daily deaths of our productive countrymen through counterfeit drugs enveloped by a collapsed healthcare system. In the words of the Muhammadu Buhari junta when it struck on 30 December, 1983, hospitals had become mere consulting clinics. Today, they have become slaughter slabs and the pharmacies, dispensers of death. While governments proposed Executive Order to reduce identified barriers to local drug manufacturing, to enable the industry to thrive, is a necessary immediate remedy, the problem is beyond the skyrocketing cost of essential medicines. Nigerias healthcare system is an emergency which needs a holistic and immediate intervention.

Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist.

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In January, Ikharebha Ehis, a father of two, was shot dead by armed robbers who invaded Dagbana, a border community between Abuja and Nasarawa State.

It was not the first time the community was attacked by robbers but the killing was a new twist to the frequent attacks since 2018.

We lost one of our people here in this last raid. The man has two kids and a very young wife. We heard the gunshot that night and it was terrific. We all gathered the next morning to mourn and console his wife.

They use local guns. But they come in their numbers, sometimes 40s, 30s. Its not something vigilantes can handle, Abah Fransisco, chairman of White View Estate in Dagbana, told PREMIUM TIMES.

It was gathered that the robbers shot Mr Ehis for refusing to release his car key to them during the raid.

Shedding more light on the travails of the community, Mr Francisco said the robbers operate from house to house around the estate almost every day.

They rob almost every day. Sometimes we will be out, we will pursue them into the bush, and you will see them back again.

It was every month before. They come this Wednesday and come the next Wednesday. Its like a tradition for them. So they somehow look at it as a daily pay for them. So once they come, they go around different compounds, and they will go back and come back again.

They used to operate for four to five hours. When they come like that, they strike different places at the same time. They usually go with accessories and gadgets like phones, laptops and money. But recently, they tried to steal the deceased (Ehis) car, he told PREMIUM TIMES.

Police disappointment

Worried by the incessant attacks, the Dagbana residents approached the police for protection.

They approached the nearest police stations in Nasarawa State and another one in Jikwoyi, Abuja. But they were disappointed.

Mr Francisco said they reported their predicament to the police in Jikwoyi but were told that Dangbana does not fall under their jurisdiction.

Consequently, they went to the Abacha Road Police Division in Nasarawa.

Sadly, the division wanted to help but complained of a lack of operational vehicles and resources to fuel their vehicles even if they were available.

According to him, the residents agreed to offer them N50,000.

Mr Francisco said that the police officer who was deployed in the community spent a week and left.

We understand that even the police station (Jikwoyi) here has only one vehicle. So when there is a problem getting to them, you will be hearing all sorts of complaints like we dont have our vehicle. Its becoming too annoying.

And the distance from the one in Nasarawa is another thing. Before they get here, maybe two to three hours later.

We paid them N50,000 for the transport and all that. And if you actually look at it, they used to complain about no fuel and vehicles and all sorts.

Because we paid N50,000 for that, they came just for one week. They spent just a week here. They will come every day around 12 oclock. They will stay till 4 a.m.

Even when they come, they will only be outside when we are with them, but once we enter our house, they also go, Mr Francisco said.

Another resident, Apollo Pleasant, lamented the response of the police.

They said we should contact the Nasarawa Police Command which is very far from us, he said. We will need to go back to the city and then go there. And do you think it makes sense for the police in Nasarawa to now be coming into Abuja, then get to us to save us from this?

They told us at Jikwoyi Police Station that our community is not in their jurisdiction, but they are the closest to us and they have raided here before.

Emmanuel Samuel recalled a night when the robbers were operating in the area, the residents called the police at Jikwoyi but they refused to respond, claiming that they had no money to fuel their vehicles.

There was a time they were also operating, we called the police at Jikwoyi but they asked us if we would pay for the fuel, Mr Samuel said.

Self-policing, vigilantes

The residents of Dangbana have now resorted to self-policing and hiring vigilantes.

They stay awake from midnight till about 4 a.m. or 5 a.m. every night, alongside members of a neighbouring community, to secure their area.

According to Mr Francisco, the residents also hired four vigilantes.

We used to pay them (vigilantes) N5,000 monthly and we also come out in numbers, knocking on every door in the neighbourhood to check on them and also call them to come out so we can be going around together, the chairman explained.

The residents, however, said they know the limitations of their efforts.

You know why we are engaging with the police? Mr Francisco asked rhetorically. Vigilantes have a limit. Whatever bullet they are going to use is not going to be more than a few rounds. Those guys come in their 30s.

And nothing has been done apart from the one we engaged to come and stay around. Nobody has come to us to ask how far, how is it going, what is happening. We are just here finding a solution ourselves, Mr Francisco said.

Although it is risky, as many of the youth do not have security experience, the measure has helped as the attacks have reduced.

Taking a toll

Mr Pleasant said because he joins in securing the community at night, he has not had normal sleep for a long time and this is affecting his regular work.

I go to work in the morning and I work at home in the evening, and at night. I still have to wake up every day with others. If we dont do it, who will help us?

Its not only me, everyone in the community has to wake up every night now to ensure everybody is secure. For the past two weeks now, the majority of the male, especially, youth, in all households in the community have been awake every night making sure that they prevent another attack.

Build police station

Mr Francisco said the Dangbana community has resolved to build a police station in the estate and then plead with the government to send some officers to the station.

We are even willing to construct a police station here. All we are asking for is the police to give us some of their officers. Let them give us at least four or five armed people in that place.

We are not asking the government to construct the police station, we will do that for them. All we want is four or five police with guns to protect us.

Police speak

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the Nasarawa State Police Command, Ramhan Nansel, said he did not know the community let alone their predicament.

He, however, promised to get in touch with the police division the community approached.

I have not heard of this or the name before, but if there is such, we will surely help.

Please get me the name of the police division so that I can confirm and know what they are doing on the case, he said.

On the plan by the community to build a police post, Mr Nansel also asked the community leaders to come forward with their request to the police headquarters in Nasarawa State to meet the police commissioner.

If there is such a community that could do that, we will help. Tell them to come to the headquarters here. They will meet with the commissioner and I am sure we will provide them with officers in the community, he said.

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The seven northwestern states in Nigeria have signed the Kano Declaration on Climate Change and Environment to address the climate crisis in the region.

The representatives of the states  Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, and Zamfara  made the commitment on Thursday at the North-west Commissioners Summit on Climate Change hosted by the Kano State Ministry of Environment.

Convened by Surge Africa, the summit was aimed at promoting dialogue, collaboration, and fostering inter-state strategies on climate change in the North-west region of Nigeria.

According to a statement Friday by Surge Africa, the Kano declaration underlined the states pledge to the conservation of biodiversity, rural integration, enhanced collaboration and partnerships, adaptation finance, sustainable development, and climate security among others in the region.

The summit had the state commissioners and other stakeholders from the seven states in Nigeria deliberate on vital issues that intersect climate change, sustainable development, and climate security, and also develop action plans and climate funds to drive the actualisation of the commitments.

States collaboration

In his remarks, the Kaduna State Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Abubakar Buba, said that climate security is a regional problem and must be addressed as such because the bush that runs from Sokoto to Kaduna and down to Niger State is the same.

Therefore, we must look at it beyond state-level and collaboration to address these issues as a regional threat, Mr Buba said.

The Founder of Surge Africa, Nasreen Al-Amin, also underscored the need for the government and stakeholders to collaborate on climate change.

The summit revealed the readiness of states to collaborate with civil society organisations (CSOs) and development partners to advance state initiatives, Ms Al-Amin said.

Ms Al-Amins organisation is a non-profit collaborating with governments and stakeholders to promote, design and implement innovative measures that improve approaches to climate adaptation in Nigeria and Africa.

Not only is the summit timely in terms of the critical issues that were discussed, it also presented a unique opportunity for CSOs to partner with state actors in scaling tangible climate solutions, she said.

This is also where Surge Africa plays an integral role, by bringing together key stakeholders to discuss strategic frameworks such as the State Climate Action Plan and Climate Fund that needs to be developed to integrate climate adaptation at the state level.

About Summit

According to Surge Africa, the key objectives of the summit included promoting resilience development, exploring strategies to enhance community and facilitating the collaborative development of State Action Plans on Climate Change for each of the seven North-west states.

With the escalating climate crisis in Nigeria and the passage of the Climate Change Bill into law, Surge Africa believes that state governments must urgently increase their ambitions around mitigating the social, economic and environmental crises exacerbated by climate change, especially in fragile ecosystems like Northern Nigeria, the statement read in parts.

State governments, partners and relevant stakeholders expressed strong support for Surge Africas proposals for the adoption of a State Climate Action Plan and State Climate Fund.

It added that they acknowledged the importance of these frameworks in fostering a sustainable and resilient future for the region as enshrined in the Kano Declaration on Climate Change and Environment.

The event is its first series of ecosystem summits to facilitate climate adaptation solutions through policy, media & communications and resilience.

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The police in Katsina State have offered a N50 million reward to anyone who provides vital information that leads to the arrest of two notorious terrorists operating in the state.

Katsina is one of the Nigeria states most affected by terrorism, locally called banditry.

Usman Modi Modi and Jan Kare are two of the notorious terrorists operating in the state, especially around Kankara and Safana, two of the most vulnerable local government areas in the state.

The police said the decision to place the bounty was part of efforts to tackle crime in the state.

This reward serves as a testament to our dedication to ensuring justice prevails, as the issue of security is a collective responsibility, Abubakar-Sadik Aliyu, the commands spokesperson, said in a statement to PREMIUM TIMES.

Communities in Batsari, Kurfi, Kankara, Bakori and Faskari have in the last few days suffered attacks by terrorists. One of the communities, Wurma in Kurfi LGA, was attacked repeatedly last Sunday, Monday and Thursday.

On Friday, residents of some of the affected communities staged a protest over their plight and blocked the Dutsin Ma-Katsina highway for several hours.

This initiative aims to enhance security operations in our dear state and combat the activities of these criminal elements. The identity of the informant and the information provided will be kept strictly confidential to ensure their safety and protection, the police said.

Mr Aliyu said those willing to share information on the terrorists could do so by going to the command headquarters in Katsina or any nearest police station or by calling 07015142112 and 08023871144.

Not the first time

This is not the first time the police have placed a bounty on a terror kingpin in Katsina.

In 2019, the then Katsina police commissioner, Sanusi Buba, said the command would pay N5 million to anyone who provided information that would lead to the arrest of Ado Aleiro, another terror kingpin.

Mr Aleiro is believed to have led the attack on the Kadisau Community in Faski Local Government Area, killing 52 residents. That attack was in protest of the arrest of his son, Sulaiman, by the police.

Three years after the bounty was placed, Mr Aleiro was turbaned as the Sarkin Fulanin Yandoto as exclusively reported by PREMIUM TIMES.

Later, the police in Katsina State said the turbaning was a Zamfara affair as it would continue to hunt for Mr Alero.

Mr Aleiro, who is still alive, attended a peace deal meeting with representatives of the federal government in Katsina State last year as exclusively reported by PREMIUM TIMES.

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NEW YORK, March 2, 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.
NEW YORK, March 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of American Depositary Shares ("ADSs") of Evolution AB (publ) (OTC: EVVTY) between February 14, 2019 and October 25, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important March 25, 2024 lead plaintiff deadline.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Evolution 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 Evolution class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22119 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 throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements regarding Evolution's and Evolution's customers' compliance with governing laws; the effect of non-compliance on Evolution's revenue; and Evolution's predicted growth and growth strategies. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Evolution class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=22119 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.
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New Delhi, March 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday thanked the people of Kashi (Varanasi) for their blessings as the BJP fielded him from the parliamentary seat for the third time in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday thanked the people of Kashi (Varanasi) for their blessings as the BJP fielded him from the parliamentary seat for the third time in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

After the BJP released its first list of 195 candidates, PM Modi wrote on X, "I look forward to serving my sisters and brothers of Kashi for the third time."

Prime Minister Modi bowed to the crores of selfless party workers for their faith in him as well as thanked the party leadership for making him the Lok Sabha candidate from Varanasi for the third time.

Prime Minister Modi in a statement on X said, "In 2014, I went to Kashi with a commitment to fulfill the dreams of the people and empower the poorest of the poor. Over the last 10 years, we have made significant progress in various sectors and are working towards a better Kashi. These efforts will continue with even greater strength. I would also like to express my special gratitude to the people of Kashi for their blessings, which I value very much."

He also congratulated all the party candidates and said in a post on X, "Our party has announced candidates for some seats and the remaining seats will be announced in the coming days. I congratulate those who have been nominated as our party's candidates and wish them all the best."

"We are going to the people based on our track record of good governance and ensuring that the benefits of progress reach the poorest of the poor. I am sure that the 140 crore people of India will bless us again and give us even more strength to fulfill their aspirations and build a developed India."
KYODO NEWS - Mar 3, 2024 - 22:14 | All, Japan

Japan should pursue women's involvement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts as a key foreign policy to further contribute to global peace, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said in a recent interview while acknowledging the "many challenges" her own nation faces in gender equality issues.

Kamikawa, 71, who became Japan's first female foreign minister in around two decades when she took the post in September last year, also expressed her resolve to become a "role model for women after her" as she carries out her diplomatic duties.

The interview with Kyodo News took place ahead of International Women's Day as Japan continues to lag in gender equality, particularly in the political and economic spheres. Kamikawa herself has recently been a target of sexist remarks by former Prime Minister Taro Aso, who commented on her appearance as that of an "old lady."

"I feel there are many challenges (in advancing female participation in politics in Japan), given that we have hardly seen a change in gender role awareness and in the basis of our social structure," she said.

Kamikawa emphasized that women in leadership positions in areas of conflict prevention and reconstruction work are crucial for sustainable peacebuilding, touching on a U.N.-promoted concept that underscores women's equal and meaningful participation in peace and security, known as "Women, Peace and Security," or WPS.

"I am certain that if we advance 'Women, Peace and Security' as a key diplomatic policy for Japan, the country will be able to contribute to a peaceful international community more than ever," she said.

She also called for urgent attention to protect and provide relief for women and children who are in vulnerable conditions amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East.

Regarding support for Ukraine, Japan plans to focus on providing shelters and protection for victims of sexual assault, alongside educational assistance for children, among other issues, the minister said.

"From the initial stages of humanitarian aid through the longer-term goals of rebuilding people's lives, we will take the WPS approach at every stage and promote concrete measures," she said.

When asked about her experience with gender issues on the diplomatic stage, Kamikawa recalled a Group of Seven meeting she attended last year in New York. There, she noted that the eight foreign ministers, including from the European Union, were evenly split between men and women, a development that members welcomed.

"The female foreign ministers are all very articulate and have rich personalities," she said. "I also see many women in diplomatic delegations. I strongly feel the need for more active participation of women."

She also vowed to foster a better working environment for women and men in Japan's Foreign Ministry and diplomatic missions abroad to help them balance work and family life.

"I feel communication tools with beefed up information security is essential to promote opportunities to work from home," she said.

Kamikawa, a seventh-term House of Representatives member, has served as justice minister and gender equality minister in the past.

After graduating from the University of Tokyo, Kamikawa joined a Japanese think tank and later earned a master's degree in public administration at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. She also worked as a policymaking staffer for a U.S. senator.

She has been advocating WPS as her life's work before and during her tenure as foreign minister.

In the World Economic Forum's Global Gender Gap Report in 2023, Japan ranked 125th out of 146 countries, its worst recorded result and the lowest in the East Asia and Pacific region. Japan also ranked the lowest among G7 members.

Related coverage:

Japan eyes providing $32 mil. in additional humanitarian aid to Gaza

Japan, South Korea agree to work on North Korea issues

Japan, U.S., South Korea agree on closer cooperation over North Korea
Baghdad, March 3 : The Iraqi National Intelligence Service (INIS) has said that its members rescued a Yazidi woman kidnapped ten years ago by the extremist Islamic State (IS) group.

Acting on intelligence reports, the Iraqi intelligence agents carried out an operation inside Syria and were able to reach Kufan Eido Khorto, a Yazidi woman who was kidnapped by IS militants in 2014 when they took control of the town of Sinjar, nearly 120 km west of Nineveh's provincial capital Mosul, an INIS statement said on Saturday.

The Iraqi intelligence returned Khorto to Iraq and handed her over to her family, it added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report.

The Yazidis are an Iraqi ethnic and religious minority.

In 2014, the extremist IS militants abducted and enslaved hundreds of Yazidi women and children.
Washington, March 3 : The decks are clear now for India to take the next steps in acquiring 31 MQ-9B SkyGuardian armed drones with ammunition with the lapse on Friday of the 30-day period for Congressional review of the deal.

These armed drones are meant for intelligence gathering, surveillance, reconnaissance and for land, air and sea warfare. India has two of these drones -- MQ-9A -- company-lease-and-operation basis from the manufacturers, General Atomics.

The entire package of drones with ammunition that India has sought will cost an estimated $3.99 billion.

The drones will come with 161 embedded global positioning and inertial navigation systems; 35 L3 Rio Grande Communications Intelligence Sensor Suites; 170 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles; 16 M36E9 Hellfire Captive Air Training Missiles; 310 GBU-39B/B Laser Small Diameter Bombs; and eight GBU-39B/B LSDB Guided Test Vehicles with live fuzes.

The proposed sale of these drones were announced by US President Joe Biden during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington D.C. in June 2023. The administration notified Congress of the deal, as it must for all military exports of a certain value, on February 1, giving lawmakers 30 days to raise objections to the proposed deal, which will be deemed cleared of no there is opposition to it.

"The Congressional review period will conclude at the end of the 30th calendar day after notification and the posting of the media announcement," said a US official.

The announcement came on February 1.

"After that it's up to the parties to conclude and sign a Letter of Offer and Acceptance."

A wrinkle in the deal had emerged before the notification period when Ben Cardin, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, which is a key Congressional body for clearing foreign military sales, linked his support for the the deal to assurance from the Biden administration that India would cooperate in the murder-for-hire case involving the alleged to murder a Khalistani activist. He subsequently announced his support for the deal shortly after Congress was notified.

General Atomics says that the SkyGuardian "is designed to fly over the horizon via satellite for up to 40-plus hours in all types of weather and safely integrate into civil airspace, enabling joint forces and civil authorities to deliver real-time situational awareness anywhere in the world--day or night". And apart from his combat capabilities, "it can be used for humanitarian assistance/disaster relief, search and rescue, law enforcement and border enforcement".
Los Angeles, March 3 : Actor Jack Black, who is returning to his role as Po in the new chapter of action-comedy 'Kung Fu Panda 4', has talked about the franchise tagging it as his "happy place".

The franchise revolves around the endearing panda, Po, voiced by Black, who talks about lessons of self-discovery, overcoming fear and the power of teamwork.

The fourth instalment, the narrative takes a turn, guiding Po on an internal journey of growth and change.

Talking about playing Po again, Black said: "Returning to play Po feels like reconnecting with an old friend who's still as awesome and goofy as ever. Po's journey this time around as the Spiritual Leader adds a whole new layer to his personality."

"He has a new depth to him, like this whole 'wise and all-knowing' thing, but, at the same time, part of him wonders, 'Can I really do this? Am I wise enough to step into these shoes? Can you be the wisest dude in the room and still crack a joke?' Po thinks so. And he's out there trying, and that's what makes Po so awesome," he added.

Black said that the "most rewarding part" is seeing his character Po evolve emotionally.

He added: "Going from a noodle-slurping warrior to a spiritual leader with a heart as big as his appetite."

Black shared: "When Po steps into the shoes of the spiritual leader, you get to see his whole internal struggle. He has the staff of wisdom, but he's scratching his head wondering if he knows anything about wisdom at all. This chapter is like Po's mid-kung fu-life crisis. More wisdom, fewer dumplings, but the same lovable Po."

Black shared that the Po and the film had profound effect on him.

"Kung Fu Panda is like my happy place - Po and the gang are like family. It's the humour, the heart, the whole package that brings me back. My perspective on Po has grown, too. He started as this bumbling panda with dreams of being a kung fu master, and now he's becoming the spiritual leader."

"And just knowing that Po's adventures have resonated with audiences worldwide and being part of that legacyit's an honor, man."

A DreamWorks Animation, 'Kung Fu Panda 4', which is directed by Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Ma Stine, will be released in India on March 15 in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.
Nottinghamshire, March 3 : Darwin Nunez scored a 99th-minute winner to give Liverpool a dramatic 1-0 victory away at Nottingham Forest in the Premier League.

The striker returned from injury to net in the final seconds at the City Ground late on Saturday night to send Liverpool four points clear of Manchester City at the top of the table.

After a slow start, Divock Origi nearly opened the scoring in the 15th minute with a thunderous left-footed strike from range that just went wide. At the other end, a Luis Diaz shot took a deflection off Andrew Omobamidele and found the side-netting.

Forest came close again in minute 23, launching a counter-attack after Mac Allister could not flick Harvey Elliott's cut-back towards goal. Origi sent Anthony Elanga through on goal but he was thwarted by the legs of Caoimhin Kelleher in a one-on-one situation.

A pair of opportunities then fell Diaz's way. The first, off a rebound from Clark's scuffed shot, was stopped by a last-ditch block from Murillo, while the Colombian later dragged an effort wide from an encouraging position inside the Forest penalty area.

In the final moments of the half, no one in Liverpool was in position to meet Cody Gakpo's header back across goal when Mac Allister lifted a ball into the box.

Liverpool had a huge opportunity to take the lead five minutes into the second half when the ball broke to Robertson but Omobamidele produced a brilliant goalline block to divert his shot behind a post. Diaz then put an effort inch wide of the right post.

Matz Sels produced an outstanding reflex save in stoppage time after Nunez had flicked the ball on and Murillo diverted it towards his own goal. But just as Forest through that they had rescued a point they lost it.

Forest failed to clear a corner as they opted to dribble the ball out of danger but that proved fatal as Liverpool won the ball back. Mac Allister sent it back into the box and Nunez got the vital touch to secure a first league win at the City Ground since October 1984 for Liverpool.

A fourth straight league win puts Liverpool on 63 points. Forest will continue to look anxiously over their shoulders as they remain four points above 18th-place Luton Town, who have one matches in hand.
San Diego, March 3 : Marta Kostyuk of Ukraine stunned top seed American Jessica Pegula 7-6(4), 6-1 in the semifinals of the San Diego Open.

The 21-year-old Ukrainian overcame a 5-1 deficit in the first set to surge past the World No.5 in 1 hour and 35 minutes and will face Katie Boulter for the title on Sunday.

Pegula led the head-to-head 2-0 and looked primed to maintain her perfect record over Kostyuk. Down 5-1, Kostyuk increased her aggression and turned the tables quickly.

Kostyuk won four consecutive games to level the set at 5-5 and then wiped out a break point to hold to 6-5. Pegula held serve to force the tiebreak, but Kostyuk's momentum carried her through to seal the opening set.

Having settled on her winning game plan, Kostyuk continued her domination in the second set. She finished the match with 26 winners to 23 unforced errors. Pegula struck 16 winners to 19 unforced errors and was broken five times, WTA reports.

World No.49 Boulter, Kostyuk's final opponent, advanced to her first hard-court final by defeating No.3 seed Emma Navarro 6-3, 6-1.

The victory is Boulter's second win over a Top 3 seed this week, having defeated No.2 seed Beatriz Haddad Maia in the first round.

Sunday's final will be the first career meeting between Kostyuk and Boulter. Both players are bidding to capture their second career titles. Like Boulter, Kostyuk broke through to win her first title last year, winning in Austin.
New Delhi: In the background of India's clear stand on the Hamas-Israel conflict denouncing the "terror" attack of Hamas on Israel on October 7 last year and endorsing the support of the US for the initial Israeli response to the same, and the country's independent line on the much older Ukraine-Russia military confrontation which led India to even abstain from voting on the anti-Soviet resolution moved early on by the US in the UNGA, it was no surprise that at the Munich Security Conference held from February 16 to 18, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S. Jaishankar faced some searching questions on India's foreign policy, in one of the interactive sessions.

The EAM did extremely well in detailing India's policy approach in clear convincing terms, which is a tribute to his grip on India's international relations as much as it is a confirmation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's successful stand that India's foreign policy essentially rested on bilateral -- and even multilateral -- bonds meant to serve mutual security and economic interests without prejudicing the cause of world peace and global advancement of human development.

S. Jaishankar chose the words "smart policies" to describe India's handling of international relations in this light and in reply to a reference to "non-alignment" made by the convener of the session, explaining that the global security environment is not "static" and that ideologically "fixed positions" could only come in the way of evolving a pathway of progress towards solution-finding for complex geopolitical and geoeconomic problems of today.

He indicated that being "smart" is being "positive" about serving the countryas national interests without hurting anybody else's and embracing transparency in policy formulation.

Munich Security Conference is the world's largest gathering of its kind debating pressing security concerns of the times under its mission of 'Peace through Dialogue'.

This time it brought together heads of state and government of a large number of countries, foreign and defence ministers, security experts, military leaders besides defence industry captains and provided a venue for important diplomatic initiatives and interactions. Its membership cuts across BRICS and G7, and includes representatives of NATO and EU countries.

S. Jaishankar, in a brilliant exposition, explained that India was not "anti-West but non-West" and affirmed that India's relationship with the US and Europe was getting strengthened constantly.

He highlighted the positive role of India in BRICS and the country's contribution towards the expansion of G7 into G20 -- all through the process of discussions and meetings -- and succeeded in presenting India as a major independent power helping the cause of world peace and economic development.

He interacted with the Chinese Foreign Minister on the sidelines and had a separate extensive discussion with US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to review the situation in West Asia, Ukraine and the Indo-Pacific.

The Munich Security Conference confirmed that India's participation was acknowledged by the world as being of crucial importance and that it helped to evolve shared perspectives for leveraging the collaborative effort of India and the US to address common challenges and harness mutual benefits.

In today's unsafe world environment and an uneven trajectory of the global economy, India is registering rapid growth, moving towards self-reliance in various spheres including defence and security and pushing up a sense of nationalism among Indians based on Indiaas civilisational strength that unites rather than divides the people.

India and the US, the two largest tested democracies of the world, recognise the importance of working together to save the 'rules-based order' at a time when forces of Marxist dictatorship and 'fundamentalist' dispensations were joining hands to destabilise the world.

The strategic alliance between China and Pakistan now developed to the point where these two adversaries are collaborating in conducting covert operations against India, particularly in the border states of J&K and Punjab, which is a prime security threat for India and validates India's policy of strengthening Indo-US relations generally and stepping up its association with the Quad.

Terrorism resulting from the spread of radicalisation in the Islamic world is another common concern that binds India and the US together in leading the democratic world against this new global threat.

An important task before India is to get policymakers of the US to see Pakistan without tinted glasses and overcome the legacy of the Pentagonas commitment to the Pak generals.

It would do them good to recall that Pakistan was a reluctant partner of the US in the 'war on terror' and that it managed to keep an equation with Al Qaeda, Taliban and ISIS.

Pakistan helped the installation of the Taliban Emirate at Kabul in 1996 and ensured the subsequent return of Taliban rule to Afghanistan in 2021 on the conclusion of Doha peace talks that were held to facilitate the withdrawal of American troops from the messy Afghan territory.

Pakistan had pretended to be a mediator in these talks but was in fact advancing its duplicitous policy of remaining on the right side of the US without giving up on its faith-based commitment to sustaining Islamic radical outfits.

The US is hopefully coming out of the flawed old policy of trying to create a balancing interface between Indo-US and US-Pakistan relationships.

Pakistan has made the Pak-Afghan belt a home ground for Islamic radical forces and supported Chinaas ingress into Afghanistan through the latteras Belt& Road Initiative (BRI).

It had already allowed the China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) to pass through the Northern Areas of POK against strong protestation by India.

The Sino-Pak axis is influencing the current geopolitics in a major way and the American administration must take a call on this as a shared concern of India and the US.

In the recent election in Pakistan, the Army came in the way of Imran Khan who had consistently condemned the US and who was compelled to fight the election from prison without availing of any party symbol.

This, however, should bring no comfort to America because in the uncertain political scene in Pakistan that prevailed through the polls, 'radicalism' in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Afghanistan region did become stronger.

Both the US and India realise that the Israel-Hamas conflict sparked off by the planned attack of radicalised Hamas on Israel on October 7, 2023, drew attention to a worrying new factor in the Middle East - the constant advance made by Islamic radical forces wedded to 'faith-based' terror, in the Muslim world.

The old 'political' dispute between Israel and Palestine is now overtaken by a confrontation driven by 'religion and Jehad' -- this should cause serious concern to the world at large.

India under Prime Minister Modi has been exceptionally successful in countering this trend by pushing up economic development in West Asia to the top of the regional agenda and pitching on the "connectivity" of the Middle East with the rest of the world as a means of furthering that project.

Again, Indiaas initiatives in this regard rest on the fundamental policy of forging bilateral bonds for mutual security and economic benefits.

As a consequence of this, there is now a dividing line between close US friends like Saudi Arabia and UAE with their approach of moderation towards Israel and the radical states like Yemen, Syria and Qatar who supported Hamas' stand of refusing to recognise the very existence of the Israel state.

There is also a new level of Shia-Sunni conflict in West Asia because the fundamentalist regime of Ayatollahs in Iran with its total antipathy towards the US and Israel was actively encouraging its 'proxies' in the region to fight for Hamas and against Israel.

India has done the right thing in denouncing the terror attack of Hamas on Israel and calling for caution on the part of Israel so that in its pursuit of Hamas, civilian casualties of the Palestinian population did not throw up a 'human' crisis.

India also made it clear that it favoured the "two-state solution" in Palestine.

India has joined hands with the US and Europe to launch the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor to promote the cause of global economic growth and check the spread of Islamic radical forces in the region.

India understands the US anxiety about the release of hostages captured by Hamas for using them as a "weapon" against Israel and hopes that with the mediation of a country like Egypt, a pause in the military drive of Israel would strengthen the prospect of the release of hostages.

India has taken an independent-looking stand on the Middle East just as it had shown an upright response to the Ukraine-Russia military conflict, with Prime Minister Modi declaring at the beginning of that confrontation itself that "this is not an era of war" and calling for a cessation of hostilities in favour of talks for peace in which security concerns of both sides would be given due attention.

The stand of India has been understood by the world at large. At the Munich Security Conference, S. Jaishankar convincingly reiterated how India's responses to the Ukraine-Russia and the Israel-Hamas conflicts best served the cause of global peace without letting the old political constructs of "alignment" come in the way.

For India, the priority was to constantly seek the betterment of its people through the pursuit of bilaterally useful economic benefits that did not hurt anybody else.

Munich has helped -- because of the interventions of S. Jaishankar -- to project India's foreign policy as the voice of sanity in today's conflict-prone global scenario.

(The writer is a former Director of the Intelligence Bureau. Views are personal)
United Nations, March 3 : The United Nations Security Council has expressed "deep concern" over more than 100 deaths in Gaza around a humanitarian convoy and to cite the "involvement" of Israeli defence forces in the incident.

The Council issued the consensus statement on Saturday evening that said all "parties to conflicts must comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law and international human rights law".

While the statement does not have the power of a resolution that at least in theory is binding, it expresses the sentiment of the members even if they are not ready to endorse a resolution.

The statement came under the Council presidency of Japan's Permanent Representative Yamazaki Kazuyuki, who has the difficult task of forging consensus in a rigidly divided body.

The statement, citing observations by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) "lent credence" to reports that the people at the site of the incident were shot by Israeli forces, while that country has to pass off the incident as a stampede and vehicles running over people.

"The Council Members express deep concern regarding reports stating that over 100 individuals lost their lives with several hundred others sustaining injuries, including people with gunshot wounds as observed by UN-OCHA in an incident involving Israeli forces at a large gathering surrounding a humanitarian assistance convoy southwest of Gaza City," it said

It added, "The Council Members take note that an Israeli investigation is underway".

The consensus on the statement is a sign that the administration of US President Joe Biden has under domestic and international pressure scaled back its opposition to anything that can be seen as criticising Israel.

Last month, the US, in line with Israel's position, vetoed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

On Thursday, when the Council held consultations soon after the Gaza incident, the US opposed a statement on the incident, according to diplomats.

US Deputy Permanent Representative Robert Wood told reporters before the meeting, "We do not have all the facts yet on the ground."

Besides getting the facts, he said, any Council action must reflect that "we have done the necessary due diligence with regard to culpability" for the incident.

The statement issued on Sunday acknowledged that it was "an incident involving Israeli forces" but stopped short of directly assigning blame.

While vetoing on February 20, the ceasefire resolution proposed by Algeria, the US said that it was proposing its own resolution on Gaza.

It is expected to be taken up on Thursday when Yamazaki Kazuyuki said the Council would meet on the Gaza situation.

The Council warned that all the 2.2 million people in Gaza "would face alarming levels of acute food insecurity" and demanded that all parties to the conflict allow "the immediate, rapid, safe, sustained and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip."

The statement urged Israel "to keep border crossings open for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, to facilitate the opening of additional crossings to meet humanitarian needs at scale, and to support the rapid and safe delivery of relief items to people in all of the Gaza Strip".

In another sign of the Biden administration's slight manoeuvring away from backing for Israel, US Air Force planes on Saturday began dropping food supplies over Gaza.

(Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis)
New Delhi, March 3 : IIT Madras researchers have developed a green technology to tackle Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) in wastewater.

In 2029, bacterial AMR was directly responsible for the deaths of 1.27 million people globally. World Health Organization (WHO) has said that AMR is one of the top global public health threats.

IIT Madras said that the technology developed is an integrated water and wastewater purification process known as 'Advanced Oxidation Processes' (AOPs), which is eco-friendly.

The institute said that the research on developing a technology to tackle AMR was undertaken by Prof Indumathi's former student Dr. Sasikala Rathnavelu.

It said that presently, the pilot project on the Advanced Oxidation Processes to tackle Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is being led by Prof. Indumathi Nambi and her Student Ms. Thara M V., PhD scholar.

"The misuse and overuse of antimicrobials in humans, animals and plants are the main drivers in the development of drug-resistant pathogens," IIT Madras told IANS.

The institution said that the human waste, carrying AMR components, reaches Wastewater Treatment Plants through excreted urine and faeces which contributes to AMR including hospital wastewater and bulk-drug manufacturing effluents, rich in antibiotics, ARB, ARGs, and other pharmaceuticals.

It said that this unique technology eliminates the need for external chemical addition, simplifies handling, and allows seamless retrofitting into existing treatment systems, significantly lowering capital investment.

The IIT said the WHO's 'One Health framework' is increasingly recognised as an effective strategy to manage AMR across humans, animals, plants, and the environment.

"In India, rising antibiotic consumption influenced by seasonality, prescription frequency, availability, and price intensifies antibiotic concentrations in environmental matrices," the IIT said.

The institute said that the researchers found that less than 45 per cent of Indian hospitals have wastewater treatment facilities, and discharge standards for treated hospital effluent are not stringent.

"Unauthorised discharge into domestic sewer systems contributes to a 95 per cent increase in resistant bacteria in Wastewater Treatment Plants, with only 20-30 per cent of sewage being treated in India, and 83 per cent is discharged after secondary treatment," it said.

Prof Indumathi M Nambi said a recent study conducted by our team along the 18-km stretch of Adyar River, spanning from upstream to within Chennai City, provides crucial insights into water quality and AMR dynamics during both dry and wet seasons.

"Employing advanced molecular techniques such as quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Resistomap HT-qPCR, the researchers analysed water and sediment samples for various parameters including Antibiotic Resistance Genes (ARGs)," Nambi told IANS.

He said that, unlike traditional disinfection methods such as chlorine and ozone, this process created by the team of researchers at IIT Madras achieves complete pollutant mineralisation, preventing the generation of toxic by-products.

"It inhibits bacterial regrowth post-disinfection, ensuring irreversible cell damage, a distinction from UV and ozone methods. The technology's prowess extends to comprehensive removal of emerging pollutants, Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria (ARB), and Antibiotic Resistance Genes, curbing AMR dissemination in the environment," he said.
Hyderabad, March 3 : Asaduddin Owaisi, whose party AIMIM overcame many challenges to hold on to Hyderabad Lok Sabha seat for 40 years, is likely to face tough battle this time with the BJP fielding businesswoman and philanthropist, Kompella Madhavi Latha, who has been working in Muslim-majority old city.

The BJP has named Kompella Madhavi Latha, chairperson of city-based Virinchi Hospitals, as its candidate for the forthcoming polls.

Owaisi, seen by many as the face of the Indian Muslims, may face spirited challenge from the BJP whose leaders are confident of wresting the seat from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM).

A professional Bharatanatyam dancer, Madhavi Latha has never been an active politician but multiple factors led to BJP picking her as its candidate to take on Owaisi in his stronghold.

The BJP had never fielded a woman in Hyderabad and with Madhavi Latha said to be active in philanthropic activities in parts of the old city, the party is looking to tap the Muslim votes.

Known for her pro-Hindutva speeches, Madhavi Latha also campaigned against triple talaq. She is said to be in touch with various Muslim women groups.

The 49-year-old is a trustee of Lathamma Foundation and Lopamudra Charitable Trust and also runs a small fund for destitute Muslim women. She also runs a gaushala.

Hoping for a BJP ticket, she had already started meeting women in some parts of the old city. Last month, she posted on social media her photographs distributing ration among burka-clad women. The programme was organised under the aegis of Lathama Foundation.

Madhavi Latha organises education, healthcare and food distribution programmes and offers to help the needy with a missed call to her mobile number.

After BJP announced her as its candidate, she added 'Mission Hyderabad Parliament' to her profile on social media. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President J. P. Nadda, Amit Shah and other leaders for giving her the opportunity to contest from Hyderabad.

A bitter critic of AIMIM, she says that the party never tried to address the problems of poverty and poor civic amenities in the constituency.

A post-graduate in political sciences from Koti Women's College, she is looking to succeed where BJP stalwarts like Venkaiah Naidu had failed in the past.

BJP, which has set the target of winning 370 Lok Sabha seats across the country, is focussing on Telangana, where it had bagged four out of 17 seats in 2019.

The party is eyeing all the Lok Sabha seats in the state. Union minister and state BJP President G. Kishan Reddy recently exuded confidence that BJP will wrest Hyderabad from AIMIM.

He claimed that minorities in the city wish to see Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. "The people of the old city are looking for a change. In the Assembly polls, the BJP's vote share increased considerably in the Hyderabad Parliamentary constituency while the Majlis vote percentage declined," said Kishan Reddy, who will be seeking re-election from Secunderabad constituency.

No matter who is in power in the state or in the country and no matter which wave is sweeping elsewhere, AIMIM retained its grip on Hyderabad in every election since 1984.

On the 66th anniversary of AIMIM's revival on Saturday, Asaduddin Owaisi exuded confidence that he will retain the seat with increased majority.

In 2019, he had retained the seat with a majority of 2.82 lakh votes against his nearest rival Bhagvanth Rao of BJP. The difference between the same rivals in 2014 was 2.02 lakh votes.

Asaduddin Owaisi's father Sultan Salahuddin Owaisi was elected from Hyderabad six times. In 1996, he had defeated BJP's senior leader M. Venkaiah Naidu.

Salahuddin Owaisi opted out in 2004 due to ill-health and since then Asaduddin Owaisi has been representing the constituency.

The delimitation of constituencies in 2008 helped the party further consolidate itself. As three urban Assembly segments replaced the rural segments which were earlier part of Hyderabad parliamentary constituency, AIMIM became virtually invincible.

The party's strength in the Assembly also rose to seven, from its earlier highest tally of five.
Kolkata, March 3 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's speech in the Assembly on February 15 virtually convinced the people of the state that she and her party, Trinamool Congress, will throw full weight behind the then absconding party strongman, Sheikh Shahjahan.

On that day, on the floor of the House the Chief Minister held the Enforcement Directorate (ED), whose officers along CAPF personnel were beaten up in Sandeshkhali on January 5, as responsible for the on-going tension there. She also said that the ED went to Sandeshkhali targeting Shahjahan and with the intention of creating trouble there.

From that speech, it was felt that she was trying to give the message of solidarity with Shahjahan and was trying to describe him as a "victim of circumstances".

Party general secretary and Lok Sabha member Abhishek Banerjee also spoke on similar lines. He even questioned the ED saying that Shahjahan, as per his information, was not at the place when the attack took place.

After the two spoke on the issue, other party leaders also started issuing statements in support of Shahjahan.

However, the tone of the chief minister significantly changed on February 28 when she addressed an administrative review meeting, where she claimed that she never nurtured or supported injustice. "I do not want oppression or bloodshed anywhere. I do not indulge in injustice. If something happens beyond my knowledge I do not support that," the Chief Minister said February 28.

On February 28 night, the state police arrested Shahjahan from an unknown location at Sandeshkhali- adjacent Minakhan, 55 days after the attack on the ED and CAPF personnel.

"Probably, the changed tone of the Chief Minister at that administrative review meeting was an indication that time is over for Shahjahan to continue enjoying the backing of the ruling dispensation and the luck-factor changed for him within just 13 days," said sources.

Now there comes the question on why it took 13 days for the Chief Minister and the leadership of her party to change the stand on Shahjahan and suddenly he turned into a "liability" from an "asset".

There are multiple reasons that prompted this swift change in the stand of the ruling dispensation. On February 15 when the chief minister defended Shahjahan in the House, probably her party and the administration strongly believed that the protests by the local women in Sandeshkhali against the Trinamool Congress leadership was a temporary affair and can be snubbed by describing it as "opposition-orchestrated" affair.

However, probably the ruling party and the state administration then made a mistake in understanding the pulse of the agitation by the local women which was a spontaneous gush of angst against years of oppression, violence and even sexual harassment against them. At the same time, as the momentum of the local agitation aggravated, the ruling party and the state administration made some strategic mistakes in toning down that agitation that brought the national focus on Sandeshkhali.

The first mistake was preventing the leaders of opposition parties, central commissions and central fact-finding teams from reaching Sandeshkhali, while selectively allowing certain state ministers and ruling party leaders to go there.

The second mistake was the arrest of a Bengali television channel journalist who was reporting on-ground from Sandeshkhali on flimsy grounds, which was thoroughly trashed by the Calcutta High Court.

These developments brought the focus of the entire national and to an extent international media on Sandeshkhali and to the inconvenience of the Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress the trend started of equating the movement by Sandeshkhali women with that by the farmland owners between 2007 and 2009 at Nandigram in East Midnapore district and Singur in Hooghly district, which actually gave political mileage to Trinamool Congress as the-then principal opposition party.

At that point the Chief Minister made an attempt to send a message that the Sandeshkhali developments could not be compared with Singur and Nandigram.

"Singur is Singur and Nandigram is Nandigram. The natures are different. There is a definite attempt to create a riot by comparing one with another," the Chief Minister said.

The third and final mistake was a fragile attempt to hold the Calcutta High Court responsible for creating obstacles for the state police in arresting Shahjahan. This section of the ruling dispensation started claiming that the state police were unable to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan because of a stay on it by the Calcutta High Court.

However, on February 28 morning the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam clearly said that there was no stay on the arrest of Shahjahan and any investigating agency, whether under the state government or the Union government, was empowered to arrest him.

The observation of the Chief Justice, felt by political observers, was an eye-opener for the ruling dispensation and also a realization that any further attempt to guard the absconding leader will result in a bigger political hara-kiri for them. On the February 28 afternoon, the Chief Minister changed her tone and on the same night the state police arrested Shahjahan after he remained absconding for 55 days.
Al Balad Development Company, a subsidiary of Saudi wealth fund (PIF), has been signed up by Saudi Ministry of Culture to operate all the heritage hotels in the Jeddah Historic District.

The move is aimed at developing the tourism sector in the area, enhance the level of services provided to tourists and visitors, and offer exceptional experiences to visitors of Jeddah Historic District that enable them to learn about the history of Jeddah and experience Saudi Culture, said Al Balad in a statement.

Jeddah Historic District Program oversees the regeneration of Al Balad, which includes over 600 historic buildings and is restoring the heritage hotels while preserving the unique architectural features according to the highest international standards aligned with the guidelines of Unesco, which classified Jeddah Historic District in 2014 as a World Heritage Site.

These properties will be handed over to Al Balad after the completion of the restoration and rehabilitation work, it stated.

Speaking on this occasion, Abdulaziz bin Ibrahim Al Issa, the Director General of Jeddah Historic District Program, said: "As part of our efforts to provide an exceptional experience for our visitors in a destination that has been and will always be on the map of hospitality inherent in its people, we are pleased today to complete the restoration of some heritage buildings to be an ideal hotel accommodation for our guests, in partnership with Al Balad Development Company to manage and operate them, in an integration that represents an important step in our endeavor to revive the area and provide a series of interconnected options for visitors to live an integrated experience. This is just the beginning of a larger cooperation aimed at providing a diverse hospitality experience."

Al Balad Development Company CEO Jamil bin Hassan Ghaznawi, said: "As the main developer for Al Balad, we work in close integration with the Jeddah Historic District Program to achieve a common goal, which is to revive the Jeddah Historic District Al Balad and make it an attractive destination for business and investment and a global tourism destinations. This signing is just a step on the way to greater cooperation between the two parties.

Jeddah Historic District Program said as per the agreement, once the restoration and rehabilitation work get completed, it will hand over the heritage hotels to the Saudi PIF compaany for operating them through its Al Balad Hospitality arm.

The hotels include 34 heritage houses that will offer unique and authentic hotel experiences for visitors, combining authenticity, history, and modern amenities in the heart of Jeddah Historic District.-TradeArabia News Service
KYODO NEWS - Mar 3, 2024 - 14:24 | All, Japan

Tokyo police mistakenly arrested a Filipino man Saturday for allegedly overstaying his visa even though he was in the process of renewing his residence card, police said.

The technical intern in his 30s went to a police station voluntarily after an officer approached him at Ueno Station in Tokyo and asked him to show his residence card, which had expired. The man was quoted by police as saying he had "forgotten to apply."

Police released the man and offered an apology about an hour after arresting him at around 7:10 p.m. Saturday, they said.

Prior to his arrest, police contacted the Immigration Services Agency about the man's residence status via the Metropolitan Police Department's section that handles international crime.

Despite the agency responding that the man was in the process of renewing his residence card, he was arrested, police said.

Individuals in the process of renewing their residence status are deemed legal residents and the information is usually reflected on their cards. The man's card did not have the information as he had apparently applied online, they said.
Los Angeles, March 3 : Actor Dave Bautista adopted his pet pup Talulah with the help of his celebrity friends Chris Pratt and Millie Bobby Brown.

Bautista shared the story of how he adopted one of his four dogs, Talulah, a pitt bull, on The Tonight Show, reports people.com.

According to the actor, his 'Guardians of the Galaxy' co-star Pratt was shooting for 'The Electric State' with Brown, when he "got wind" that the actress was trying to help find Talulah a forever home.

Bautista, an ardent animal lover, told host Jimmy Fallon that Pratt "hit me up and he said, 'I know you're a fan of this breed, and my co-star is trying to adopt her out'."

"And I said, 'I'm sorry man, you know I've already got threeI just kept looking at her picture, and I was just I just fell in love with her."

Bautista decided to bring his new four-legged friend home.

"He said, 'Well let me hook you up with my co-star, Millie,' and I said, 'Wait a minute - Millie Bobby Brown?' " Bautista recalled, adding that his reaction was, "No way!"

Bautista added: "I like telling people this story. It sounds weird to me when I say, 'And Chris Pratt hit me up, and I got my dog, you know, from Millie Bobby Brown'."

He added: "I sound, like, super Hollywood."

Bautista said he was also working on a film at the time and would take the puppy in a week, to which Brown said: "Don't worry about it, I'll have someone drop her off."

"So literally the day I got home I was overseas in Rome  I got home, and I was there, and I waited, and these two guys showed up, like, in the middle of the night. They drove her down from Atlanta, and dropped her off, and I took her in," he said.

"She's been with me ever since."
New Delhi, March 3 : Shark Tank India has transformed the Indian startup ecosystem, helping budding entrepreneurs in various forms and democratising access to capital, Ankit Agrawal, Founder and CEO, InsuranceDekho, said on Sunday.

Agrawal has also made significant appearances on platforms such as Shark Tank India and has a substantial social media presence.

"The business reality shows have grabbed the eyeballs across age groups; indeed, they have not just gained popularity but have helped budding entrepreneurs in various forms," he told IANS.

Agrawal said that shows like Shark Tank India have contributed to boosting the entrepreneurial and startup landscape in the country.

"Altogether, they have become a platform democratising access to capital, amplifying visibility and awareness, validating startup ideas, and inspiring aspiring entrepreneurs to pursue their dreams," the InsuranceDekho CEO stressed.

Agrawal is a mentor and an angel investor on the popular investment show 'Indian Angels' on Jio Cinema. He is also the recipient of 'Bharat Fintech Leader of the Year 2023'.

InsuranceDekho recently joined India's soonicorn list after raising $150 million which is one of the biggest series A funding (from South Asia) in recent times.

The company clocked Rs 1,930 crore premium in FY23 and is on course to do more than Rs 3,600 crore premium in FY24.

"The insurtech industry is focusing on promoting technology-driven distribution by harnessing the benefits of mobile technology and digital platforms to effectively expand the reach in remote areas," Agrawal said.

He said that the strengthening the digital initiative with simplification of the application process along with customised solutions can invariably contribute to eliminating the hassles of dealing with lengthy processes.
New Delhi, March 3 : Artificial Intelligence-(AI) enabled hearing devices can revolutionise solutions for people living with hearing impairment, said experts here on World Hearing Day on Sunday.

World Hearing Day is observed every year on March 3 to raise awareness about hearing impairments as well to fight social stigmas.

About 430 million people worldwide suffer from hearing loss, as per estimates from the World Health Organization (WHO).

While currently, one in four people over 60 are impacted by hearing loss, by 2050, it could impact one in ten people, including millions of children and young adults.

"Now, the world is becoming more and more dependent on hearing aids. The ear plays an important role in amplifying sound and converting sound into neural pulses. But those pulses are sent to the brain, which is where AI-enabled advanced hearing aids help," Dr. Aparna Gupta, Associate Director, Neurology, Indian Spinal Injuries Centre (ISIC), New Delhi, told IANS.

Dr. Virendra Singh, Senior Consultant, ENT, Sri Balaji Action Medical Institute, New Delhi said that they take up surgery as one of the options, but with some limitations, advanced AI-based hearing aids are breaking sound barriers these days.

"Hearing aids stand as a beacon of hope. Through coordinated efforts between ENT specialists, audiologists, the hearing aid industry, and governmental support, we can ensure that no one is left in silence. Advanced devices can bridge the gap between silence and symphony," added Dr. Singh.

India is also confronted with a formidable challenge as hearing loss impacts millions of people spanning various age brackets. The WHO reports that roughly 63 million individuals in India grapple with notable auditory deficiencies, emphasising the critical requirement for viable remedies and disruptions.

As India's elderly populace is forecasted to double by 2050, surpassing the number of children who are also these days prone to hearing loss, the incidence of hearing impairments is anticipated to escalate, accentuating the necessity for preemptive actions to tackle this urgent health concern.

Dr. Aparna noted that hearing is also crucial to a person's health and well-being.

"When you live with hearing loss, the brain uses sound dysfunctions and neurons tend to die out if you're not sending the signals. Hence, it is important to understand what's going on in the brains of hearing-impaired patients. Moreover, a growing body of research and assessments is revealing the connection between early-stage Alzheimer's, stroke, depression, and auditory well-being," she explained.

Despite millions grappling with hearing loss worldwide, the adoption rate for hearing aids remains surprisingly low, barely surpassing 10 per cent. This is majorly due to high cost devices as well as social stigma, said the experts.

"While issues such as access and affordability undoubtedly factor into this equation, stigma also plays a significant role in perpetuating this disparity. Many people associate hearing aids with outdated stereotypes, mistakenly believing they are exclusively for the elderly or those with disabilities," said Brandon Sawalich, President and CEO of Starkey, a global hearing technology company.

He said that however, today's technology has transformed hearing aids, enhancing people's lives and improving their hearing.

The introduction of AI-enabled hearing aids thus marks a significant stride in tackling hearing impairment. These cutting-edge devices provide unmatched sound clarity, health monitoring features, and a tailored user interface, heralding a new era in hearing aid technology.

Experts said that AI allows processing of sounds in a way that can enhance speech, reduce noise, and delineate all different complexities of sound 80 million times an hour without the patient doing anything. AI is helping hearing aids perform their core functions of helping people hear better.
We freed UP from the status of BIMARU state: Yogi. Image Source: IANS News

Lucknow, March 3 : To foster entrepreneurship among the youth of Uttar Pradesh, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath will soon launch his ambitious scheme, 'Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Abhiyan' (MYUVA), soon.

The chief minister has directed officials of the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department to promptly devise a comprehensive action plan for the initiative and submit it to the government as soon as possible.

Under this scheme, the state government aims to prepare one lakh young entrepreneurs every year by providing interest-free loans for projects of up to Rs 5 lakh. The government has allocated Rs 1,000 crore in the budget for the financial year 2024-25 to support this initiative.

According to the government spokesman, this innovative scheme is designed to empower educated and skilled youth across the state, facilitating self-employment opportunities and fostering the establishment of new MSMEs.

By promoting entrepreneurship, the initiative seeks to generate employment opportunities in both rural and urban areas.

Under the scheme, interest-free loans of up to Rs 5 lakh will be provided to projects in the industry and service sectors. The goal is to directly benefit one million units over the next 10 years by financing 1,00,000 units annually.

Beneficiaries who have undergone training in various government-run schemes, such as the Vishwakarma Shram Samman Yojana, One District One Product Training and Toolkit Scheme, Scheduled Caste, Tribe, Other Backward Class Training Scheme, and Skill Upgradation (Kaushal Unnayan) run by the Uttar Pradesh Skill Development Mission, will be eligible for assistance.

Youth having certificates, diplomas, and degrees from educational institutions will also be entitled to benefits under this scheme.

Upon successful repayment of the first loan, units will be eligible for second-stage financing, where a composite loan of double the initial amount or up to Rs 7.50 lakh can be provided. Furthermore, arrangements for grants have also been made to promote digital transactions.

The application process for the scheme will be conducted online. In this, Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE) coverage will be provided to all loans received from banks and financial institutions. Funding for this scheme will be available from nationalised, scheduled, rural banks, SIDBI and all financial institutions notified by the Reserve Bank of India, the spokesman said.
Sindri: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Jharkhand Governor C. P. Radhakrishnan and Chief Minister Champai Soren at the foundation stone laying and inauguration of multiple developmental projects. Image Source: IANS News

New Delhi, March 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has a tight schedule for next 10 days. As per official details, PM Modi will attend 29 programmes across 12 states/Union Territories in next 10 days, thereby giving momentum to Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) poll preparations ahead of the Parliamentary elections 2024.

The states where PM Modi will visit in next 10 days are Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Delhi and West Bengal of the Hindi heartland while in South, he will visit Telangana and Tamil Nadau besides touring Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, where he will be launching projects as well as addressing public rallies.

On March 4, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Adilabad, Telangana & address a public meeting in Adilabad. Thereafter, he will travel to Tamil Nadu and visit BHAVINI in Kalpakkam, where he will address a public meeting in Chennai and will then travel to Hyderabad.

On March 5, PM Modi will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Sangareddy, Telangana. Thereafter, he will address a public function in Sangareddy. He will then head to Odisha and will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects at Chandikhole, Jajpur. He will also address public meeting in Chandikhole and after that will leave for West Bengal.

On March 6, the PM will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Kolkata. There, he will also address a public meeting in Barasat and travel to Bihar and will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Bettiah, Bihar.

On March 7, the Prime Minister will travel to Jammu and Kashmir and will lay the foundation stone, inaugurate and dedicate to the nation multiple development projects in Srinagar. Later in evening, he will attend a media event in New Delhi.

On March 8, the PM will participate in the first ever National Creatoras Award in Delhi. In the evening, he will travel to Assam.

On March 9, PM Modi will travel to Arunachal Pradesh. He will inaugurate Sela Tunnel in West Kameng, Arunachal Pradesh and then inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Itanagar. From Arunachal Pradesh, the PM will travel to Assam and will unveil the statue of Lachit Barphukan in Jorhat, Assam. Thereafter, he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Jorhat. Then, PM Modi will visit West Bengal and inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects in Siliguri, West Bengal. Thereafter, he will also address a public meeting there.

On March 10, PM Modi will travel to Uttar Pradesh and will dedicate to the nation various projects in Azamgarh.

On March 11, the Prime Minister will attend an event related to Namo Drone Didi and Lakhpati Didi at PUSA, Delhi. Then, he will inaugurate the Haryana section of Dwarka Expressway. In the evening, the PM will attend a DRDO Programme.

On March 12, the Prime Minister will visit Sabarmati, Gujarat. Thereafter, PM Modi will travel to Rajasthan and will visit Pokhran in Jaisalmer district.

On March 13, the Prime Minister will lay foundation stone of three important semiconductor projects in Gujarat and Assam via video conferencing. Thereafter, the PM will also attend an outreach programme for disadvantaged sections of the society via video conferencing.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 3 : Kerala Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J. Chinchu Rani on Sunday announced the suspension of Dr. M.K. Narayanan, Dean of Pookode Government Veterinary College.

This comes after the family of Siddharth, the second year BVSC student who died in the campus hostel, alleged that he was tortured to death by the students of the college led by the Students Federation of India (SFI). The college authorities and the Left government has been maintaining that Siddharth died by suicide.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who is the Chancellor of the University, on Saturday suspended Vice Chancellor M.R. Saseendranath.

The post-mortem report of the deceased student has revealed that he was subjected to brutal torture and there were no signs of even the boy drinking a glass of water for 72 hours prior to his death.

The opposition Congress and BJP have alleged that Siddharth was tortured to death by the SFI students with the full support of the College dean.

Dr. Narayanan, while speaking to media persons, said that he was not aware of what had happened to Siddharth and did not know whether the student was beaten up. He said that immediately after he had come to know of the incident, he had rushed to the college hostel and found that the boy had been taken to hospital where he was declared brought dead. The dean also said that he was not responsible for the boy's death as it was not his duty.

However, on Sunday he was finally suspended.

Meanwhile, the suspended Vice Chancellor of the University, Dr Saseendranath told media persons that managing the student hostel was the responsibility of the Dean. He also said that he was not informed of the developments taking place in the college, including the torture of Siddharth.
Shimla, March 3 : An avalanche was reported on Sunday in Himachal Pradesh's remote Lahaul-Spiti district following heavy snowfall, officials said.

Shimla, March 3 (IANS) An avalanche was reported on Sunday in Himachal Pradeshas remote Lahaul-Spiti district following heavy snowfall, officials said.

An official statement quoting the revenue officer said that an avalanche occurred near the Tandi bridge in Lahaul subdivision. Some shops have been partially buried under it.

However, there was no loss of life reported in the disaster.

Himachal Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority has also issued a travel advisory after the avalanche. The officials said there was an avalanche threat in the interiors of Chamba, Lahaul-Spiti, Kinnaur and Kullu districts.

Meanwhile, the western disturbances -- storm systems originating from the Caspian Sea and moving across the Afghanistan-Pakistan region -- will start withdrawing in the region from Tuesday, Met Office said.

It said that under the influence of an active western disturbance, there was widespread rain and snowfall at many places in the state in the past 24 hours.

It said that another western disturbance is likely to be active in the region from Tuesday night.
Two killed in road accident in Odisha. Image Source: IANS News

Damascus, March 3 : At least six people were killed and dozen others injured on Sunday after a bus they were travelling in overturned in Syria's Hama province, local media reported.

The incident occurred near the Maarin Al-Jabal village intersection, south of Hama, said local Sham FM radio.

The bus overturned on the busy highway while transporting the passengers from Lebanon to Syria's northern Aleppo province, Xinhua news agency reported.

The cause of the accident is under investigation.

Details are awaited.
New Delhi, March 3 : India's first 'Beer Museum', spread across 6.000 square meters, is all set to open its doors in six months in Goa.

Being set up by artist Subodh Kerkar, the man behind the Museum of Goa (MOG), the new space will house works of contemporary art in response to beer history, not to mention 365 days of beer festivals while connecting bars and restaurants.

"I have created a new methodology for museums. I have been working on this project for the last 10-15 years. Normally, any museum has old artefacts with labels, sculptures, and weapons, used to narrate the history. But in my museums, nothing is old. It is just contemporary art in response to Goa's history and culture and even the 'Beer Museum' is a response to it. It has a very interesting history," he says.

Kerkar, who participated in the recently concluded Goa Open Arts festival, emphasises on the importance of holding more such festivals.

Stressing that most people continue to feel that contemporary art is for the rich, considering many of them are in five-star spaces.

"They are essentially business spaces, thus not interested in getting school kids and non-buyers. Common people are scared to press the bell of a gallery. So, it is paramount that people get a chance to connect with art, and the Goa Open Arts festival which is about contemporary art facilitates that."

Agreeing that it is tough to financially sustain independent festivals, the artist says it has always been a challenge.

"A lot of things keep happening in Goa, which is a positive sign. Artists do get approached for participation. I recently got a call from someone who wanted me to participate in an exhibition related to astrology, imagine!"

Talk to him about new developments at MOG, and he says it is constantly changing and has been conceived not as a storehouse but as a laboratory of experiences.

"We are always adding and subtracting works. It is a hybrid of a gallery and museum, and there are also works for sale. We also buy artwork and have kept a budget for that each month. Although I founded it, but it is now run by my daughter," he says.

Even as there is a constant exodus of artists from across the country to the coastal state, Kerkar asserts that it is not just artists who are settling there in huge numbers.

"Goa is basically inside every Indian. I went to Calcutta recently and on the Hooghly River, I heard someone announcing - this is almost like a Goan cruise. This place has always been equated with fun and frolic. Someone was asking me about Portuguese houses here, and I told them they are Goan ones. Eventually, you can call them Delhi houses," smiles the artist.

Feeling that a massive number of people from other areas has enhanced the culture of Goa, like all cultures, Kerkar points out, "There is nothing called pure culture, and they are in a constant state of migration. They will continue to change, globalisation started long ago and there has always been an exchange happening. So much of what we eat today has come from somewhere else. In my lecture, 'Food against Fanaticism; I argue that foods cooked by our great ancestors were 'foreign'."

Pleased to observe a boom in art and literature festivals across the country, he feels there is no overdose. "Art must be an important part of life. That is what makes us human. We must always fight for civilisation and that is born from the womb of art. And there is right or wrong in art -- art takes you beyond that realm," concluded the doctor-turned-artist.
Krishnanagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi with West Bengal Governor C. V. Ananda Bose and BJP leaders Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar during foundation stone laying ceremony of multiple development projects. Image Source: IANS News

Hyderabad, March 3 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch infrastructure projects worth over Rs 62,000 crore during his visit to Telangana on March 4 and 5.

He will inaugurate, dedicate to the nation and lay the foundation of multiple developmental projects related to power, rail and road sector in Adilabad and Sangareddy districts.

The infrastructure projects to be launched at a public meeting in Adilabad are worth Rs 56,000 crore, while the projects to be launched in Sangareddy are worth Rs 6,800 crore.

According to an official release, the major focus of the projects to be launched at Adilabad will be on the power sector.

He will dedicate NTPC's 800 MW (Unit-2) of Telangana Super Thermal Power Project in Peddapalli, Telangana. Based on Ultra-Supercritical Technology, the project will supply 85 per cent power to Telangana and will have the highest power generation efficiency of approximately 42 per cent among all power stations of NTPC in India. The foundation of the project was also laid by the Prime Minister.

PM Modi will also dedicate the newly electrified Ambari - Adilabad - Pimpalkhuti rail line to the nation.

He will also lay the foundation for two major national highway projects connecting Telangana with Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh through NH-353B and NH-163, respectively.

On March 5, the Prime Minister will dedicate to the nation the Civil Aviation Research Organisation (CARO) Centre in Hyderabad.

Built at a cost of more than Rs 350 crore, it has been set up at Begumpet Airport, Hyderabad by Airports Authority of India to upgrade and enhance the Research and Development (R&D) activities in the civil aviation sector.

It is envisaged to provide a global research platform for the aviation community through in-house and collaborative research to provide indigenous and innovative solutions.

PM Modi will subsequently leave for Sangareddy, where he will inaugurate, dedicate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth Rs 6,800 crore.

These projects encompass multiple key sectors like road, rail, petroleum and natural gas.

The Prime Minister will inaugurate and lay the foundation for three national highway projects. Two national highway projects that will be inaugurated by PM Modi include four-laning of 40-km long Kandi to Ramsanpalle section of NH-161.

The project is a part of Indore - Hyderabad Economic Corridor and will facilitate seamless passenger and freight movement between Telangana, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

The section will also substantially reduce travel time between Hyderabad and Nanded by about 3 hours.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the upgradation of 47-km long Miryalaguda to Kodad Section of NH-167 to two lanes with paved shoulders.

The improved connectivity will boost tourism as well as economic activity and industries in the region. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation stone for the six-laning of the 29-km long Pune-Hyderabad Section of NH-65.

The project will also provide improved connectivity to major industrial centres in Telangana like Pashamylaram industrial area near Patancheru.

During the programme, the Prime Minister will inaugurate, doubling and electrification of Sanathnagar - Moula Ali rail line along with six new station buildings.

The entire 22-km route of the project has been commissioned with automatic signalling and has been completed as part of the MMTS (Multi Modal Transport Service) Phase-II project.

As part of it, six new station buildings have come up at Ferozguda, Suchitra Centre, Bhudevi Nagar, Ammuguda, Neredmet and Moula Ali Housing Board stations.

Doubling and electrification work paves the way for the introduction of passenger trains for the first time in this section. It will help improve punctuality and overall speed of trains in the region by reducing the burden on other highly saturated sections.

The Prime Minister will also flag-off the inaugural MMTS Train Service from Ghatkesar - Lingampalli via Moula Ali - Sanathnagar.

This train service extends the popular suburban train service in the Hyderabad - Secunderabad twin city regions to new areas for the first time.

It connects the new areas in the eastern part of the city like Cherlapalli, Moula Ali with the western part of the twin city region.

The safe, fast and economic mode of transport connecting the eastern with the western part of the twin city region will be highly beneficial for commuters, officials said.

The Prime Minister will also inaugurate the Indian Oil Paradip-Hyderabad Product Pipeline.

The 1,212-km product pipeline with a capacity of 4.5 MMTPA traverses through the states of Odisha (329 km), Andhra Pradesh (723 km) and Telangana (160 km).

The pipeline shall ensure safe and economical transportation of petroleum product from Paradip Refinery to delivery stations at Visakhapatnam, Atchutapuram, and Vijayawada (in Andhra Pradesh), and Malkapur near Hyderabad (in Telangana).
KYODO NEWS - Mar 3, 2024 - 22:30 | All, Japan, World

The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Japan upper house ethics panel arranging LDP funds scandal hearings

TOKYO - Japan's upper house is preparing to hold hearings on a political funds scandal that has rattled the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, the LDP secretary general in the chamber said Sunday.

The House of Councillors "will arrange a schedule so it does not hamper deliberations on a fiscal 2024 draft budget," Masaji Matsuyama said on a TV program, after the lower house's political ethics committee held sessions on the matter last week, one of which was attended by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.

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Tokyo police mistakenly arrest Filipino man for allegedly overstaying

TOKYO - Tokyo police mistakenly arrested a Filipino man Saturday for allegedly overstaying his visa even though he was in the process of renewing his residence card, police said.

The technical intern in his 30s went to a police station voluntarily after an officer approached him at Ueno Station in Tokyo and asked him to show his residence card, which had expired. The man was quoted by police as saying he had "forgotten to apply."

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Japan foreign minister says women's involvement key to peace efforts

TOKYO - Japan should pursue women's involvement in conflict prevention and peacebuilding efforts as a key foreign policy to further contribute to global peace, Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa said in a recent interview while acknowledging the "many challenges" her own nation faces in gender equality issues.

Kamikawa, 71, who became Japan's first female foreign minister in around two decades when she took the post in September last year, also expressed her resolve to become a "role model for women after her" as she carries out her diplomatic duties.

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Malaysia mulls resuming search of missing MH370 as 10th anniv. nears

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian government said Sunday it is open to resuming the search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 that went missing en route to Beijing nearly 10 years ago, citing a potential collaboration with a U.S. ocean exploration company.

Speaking at a ceremony organized by family members of the crash victims ahead of the anniversary of the Boeing 777's disappearance, Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook said he will try to persuade the Cabinet to approve the search.

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Athletics: Kenya's Kipruto, Ethiopia's Kebede win Tokyo Marathon

TOKYO - Kenyan Benson Kipruto and Ethiopian Sutume Kebede won Sunday's Tokyo Marathon with respective men's and women's race records.

Kipruto came home in 2 hours, 2 minutes, 16 seconds after outdueling countryman Timothy Kiplagat over the final stages.

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Japanese model with Down syndrome fulfills dream, walks in Paris show

PARIS - A Japanese model with Down syndrome made a guest appearance at Paris Fashion Week on Saturday, making her dream come true as she walked down the runway in a glamorous kimono-inspired dress.

Nao Saito, known by her stage name Nao, walked in the show of international designer Samina Mughal, clad in a red gown tied with a gold "obi" sash. The dress was made by a Japanese company hoping to share Japan's culture with the world.

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Boxing: Abe outgunned in IBF featherweight title shot against Lopez

VERONA, New York - Japanese boxer Reiya Abe fell short in his bid to unseat Mexico's Luis Alberto Lopez as IBF world featherweight champion on Saturday, losing a one-sided bout via eighth-round technical knockout.

The 30-year-old Abe suffered a setback early in his first world title shot at Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York when a hook from Lopez left him with a badly swollen right eye.

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Rugby: Steenkamp, Paltridge lead Dynaboars to upset over Spears

TOKYO - Lock Walt Steenkamp and winger Ben Paltridge each scored a brace of tries to lead Sagamihara Dynaboars to a 34-28 upset win against defending Japan Rugby League One champions Kubota Spears on Sunday.

In a see-sawing contest, Steenkamp edged the Dynaboars ahead 29-28 in the 70th minute before player of the match Paltridge extended the margin with his second try at Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground.

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Japan eyes rules for firms to disclose greenhouse gas emissions data

TOKYO - Japan's financial watchdog is considering obliging companies listed on the top-tier section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange to disclose information on greenhouse gas emissions throughout their supply chains.

The Financial Services Agency will set up a panel this month to work out the details of the envisioned policy in support of global efforts to accelerate decarbonization, according to its plan proposed at a meeting of the Financial System Council.

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Japan agency warns of more quakes as temblors continue east of Tokyo

TOKYO - Japan's weather agency has warned of more earthquakes in Chiba Prefecture east of Tokyo following a series of temblors in recent days, detecting a movement known as "slow slip" in tectonic plates off the coast.

The slow-slip event is believed to be occurring off the Boso Peninsula on the boundary between the continental plate and the Philippine Sea plate, according to the Geospatial Information Authority.

Video: Test flight for flying vehicle in Miyazaki Prefecture
New Delhi, March 3 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday announced its first list of candidates for more than one-third of Lok Sabha constituencies, headed for polling in the upcoming 2024 Parliamentary elections. The nominee list features many heavyweight leaders, 34 serving Union Ministers and Ministers of State, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi leading from the front.

While the release of BJP's mammoth list of 195 candidates, a month ahead of elections has set the political landscape buzzing, nation's leading psephologist Pradeep Gupta, in an exclusive conversation with IANS has decoded the pros and cons of it, and whether this will give the party a head-start for its 'Abki Baar 400 Paar' ambition.

Pradeep Gupta, the CMD of Axis My India, hailed the party's attempt to pre-empt its rivals despite a strong saffron undercurrent, by declaring candidates well in advance. Though he refrained from making any predictions, he explained the areas where the party will need to plug the gaps and also where it will need to solidify gains for the ambitious 400 mark.

He opined that the BJP's early and 'socially engineered' list of candidates will give it the first mover advantage and also help connect across various strata of society.

Notably, Axis My India is the nation's most popular polling survey agency with most credible predictions, with accuracy amounting to more than 92 per cent.

Pradeep Gupta welcomed the healthy mix of experienced and young faces in the party's list and said that this will send the right message to people that 'non-performers' would not continue to occupy the chair.

"Replacing Meenakshi Lekhi by Bansuri Swaraj for the New Delhi seat is one such example," he said.

He further said that the party, while finalising the candidates, did not have second thoughts and went precisely by means of the MPs' public connect and performance.

Dropping all big names from the 7 Lok Sabha seats of Delhi, except Manoj Tiwari, is a case in point.

However, the party has been cautious with allies' concerns this time, citing the example of Bihar and Maharashtra, where no candidate was announced.

Notably, BJP has set a target of winning 370 seats in 2024 Lok Sabha polls, giving 'rightful tribute' to Article 370 abrogation, and hoping to push it beyond the 400-mark with support from its allies.

The Axis My India chief said that BJP commands huge support in the Hindi heartland, which has gone many notches higher after Ram Mandir inauguration.

The region where the party needs to apply a big thrust is South India, where its presence remains minimal despite the top party brass making frequent visits and also galvanising the local leadership.

In the 2019 elections, the BJP-led NDA bagged 352 seats. For spiking it to 400, the alliance will need victory in 48 more constituencies.

Tamil Nadu and Puducherry (UT), together adding 40 seats, Kerala (20), Andhra Pradesh (25) and Punjab and Chandigarh (14 seats -- 13 from Punjab and 1 from the UT) seats could be the BJP's biggest bets for realising its dream of the 400-mark, says Gupta.

Together, they account for about 100 seats and BJP/NDA's winning record here is less than 5 per cent.

"A lot will depend on BJP's alliance formation with regional satraps, de-facto, the bigger political force in these states. The 400 seats target will depend heavily on the party's ability to form an alliance, be it AIADMK in Tamil Nadu or Akali Dal in Punjab," said Gutpa.

He further explains that another area to plug the '48 seat gap' would be those seats and states where the BJP wave swept away the rivals in 2019 and still stands a chance of accelerating its victory march a bit more.

Breaking down the BJP's tremendous show in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal in 2019 polls, Pradeep Gupta explains that the party decimated its rivals but this time, the number charts could go up a few notches more, given the renewed vigour of 'Brand Modi' and also realisation of Ram Temple dream, a topic that evokes strong emotions in North India, in particular.

In 2019 polls, the BJP won 64 of 80 Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh and 18 of 42 seats in West Bengal. Together, the seats that went to rival parties stand at 40. If BJP penetrates more into their voter base and does better than in 2019, it will help plug the '48-seat gap', thus helping realise its goal of 'Abki Baar 400 Paar'.

However, there remains a rider a" the party must retain those 212 seats, which it won in 2019 elections by a thumping majority.

(Mukesh Ranjan can be contacted at mukesh.r@ians.in)
New Delhi, March 3 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The ruling party's list has come at a time when the opposition's INDIA bloc is still struggling to arrive at a seat-sharing agreement in several states. So, it is believed that the BJP is in a position to capitalise on first-mover advantage in several states, which understandably augurs well for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's '400 plus Lok Sabha seats dream' for the BJP-led NDA.

In an interview with IANS, Pradeep Gupta, Chairman and MD of Axis My India -- country's renowned Consumer Data Intelligence Company -- spoke about some key factors that might impact the poll outcome.

Pradeep Gupta believes that apart from the southern region, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh are the two major states where the BJP has chances to improve its tally as compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. In the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, BJP had won 62, while NDA had got 64 seats out of total 80 seats in UP. So, there is obviously an "elbow room" for BJP to improve in UP. Similarly, BJP had won 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha seats in Bengal in the last LS polls. It means the party has tremendous scope to improve its strength in Bengal as well.

When asked about whether the Sandeshkhali incident would enhance BJP's poll prospects in Bengal, Gupta said that it is a regional issue in the state. "Regional issues affect the entire society and state. Such issues could also make a decisive impact on the elections." He recalled the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, saying that a cabinet minister's son was facing some charges there. But it did not harm BJP in the polls that followed the incident. The reason is that such issues impact a limited part of the state. The decisive effect would be felt when the issue assumes a larger national proportion. To another query, the Axis My India boss said that the Sandeshkhali happening might impact the elections in Bengal seats. "But I am not in a position to say how much impact it will create," he added.

Talking about southern states, Gupta said that BJP has been making massive efforts to lift its electoral fortunes in Kerala for quite some time now. It is static on double digit vote percentage for a long time there. However, the votes could not bring it seats in assembly and Lok Sabha elections earlier in Kerala. This time, some possibility would be there for the BJP in this southern state. It will move ahead from 'zero' at least.

Talking about Karnataka, Pradeep Gupta, a renowned psephologist, pointed out that two major changes happened in Karnataka in a period of five years. One, Congress registered an impressive victory in Karnataka in the last assembly elections. The outcome boosted the morale of the Congress party. Two, Congress contested the last Lok Sabha election in alliance with JD(S) when BJP was in power in Karnataka. Both parties could then get one seat each. This time, JD(S) is with the BJP-led NDA. The state is obviously ruled by Congress this time. But the alliance is different now. With this in view, Karnataka would be an interesting state to see during the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Ludhiana, March 3 : To ensure access of quality education to students, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday dedicated 13 new Schools of Eminence to the people.

Interacting with the media here, the Chief Minister said the government is giving wings to dreams of students for soaring high in life by constructing these schools.

He said after Delhi, now Punjab is witnessing a major revolution in the field of education and these schools are a reflection of that. Mann said this is a momentous occasion and the day is not far when Punjab will be a front ranking state in the country.

The Chief Minister said this initiative of the government will ensure access of students, especially from poor and underprivileged sections, to the quality education. He said the day is not far when students from these schools will excel in every field and bring laurels for the state.

Mann said with this effort, the process has begun to transform the destiny of students, adding a paradigm shift is being witnessed in the education sector as students from private schools are now taking admission in government schools.

The Chief Minister said these schools are just a curtain raiser as more such schools will be opened for the wellbeing of the poor students. He envisioned that these schools will be the modern day temples which will bring a qualitative change in the lives of the students.

Delhi Chief Minister Kejriwal said the Punjab CM is custodian of the interests of the people of the state and the need of hour is to strengthen his hands so that he can vehemently combat the Centre for its regressive and anti-Punjab stance.

He assailed the Union government for stalling funds worth around Rs 8,000 crore of the state, adding these funds could have been used duly for development of the state.

He said in the last two years unprecedented work has been done in the state to give a push to development, adding the hands of Mann must be strengthened by giving all the 13 seats of Lok Sabha in the favour of the Aam Aadmi Party.
New Delhi, March 3 : A majority of apps that were delisted by Google Play last week are yet to be relisted, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) said on Sunday.

Expressing deep concern, the association, in a statement, said that it "considers such harsh measures as unfair and disproportionate" even as the legal procedures are still ongoing.

Google had delisted more than a dozen apps by major Indian digital companies including Matrimony, and Shaadi.com from Play Store. The move comes after Google announced its plan to take action against 10 developers who had refused to comply with its payment policy, despite following the payment policies of other app stores.

Applications from companies like Altt, Stage, and Aha streaming platforms, Truly Madly and Quack Quack dating apps, Kuku FM audio content platform, and FRND social networking app were also delisted by Google.

After facing criticism the tech giant reinstated some of the apps such as Shaadi.com, Info Edge's Naukri, 99acres and NaukriGulf, but many others continue to be delisted.

"Such measures are discriminatory in reference to the practice followed by Google in other jurisdictions, where it has offered preferential terms to app developers in deference to ongoing legal proceedings or legislative developments," the industry body said.

"Needless to say, the Indian tech ecosystem needs to be protected and provided favourable terms that are attuned to the dynamics of the Indian market and support the growth and development of an open internet ecosystem in the country," it added.

On Saturday, Union IT and Telecom Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said he has called Google for a meeting next week and noted that the startup ecosystem is the key to the Indian economy and one big company cannot decide their fate.

"I am hopeful that Google will be reasonable in its approach. We have a large startup ecosystem and it's crucial to protect their interests."

"We will take all necessary steps to safeguard our startup ecosystem, and I trust that Google will approach this matter reasonably," the IT Minister noted.

Lauding the government's "proactive response, and its commitment to help resolve the issue", the IAMAI again urged "Google to restore status quo of the apps and re-list them on Play Store".
Hyderabad, March 3 : An accused in a cyber fraud case has been arrested from Kerala, Hyderabad Cybercrime Police said.

According to police, Shabi N.H., 46, was providing various bank accounts and also conducting fraudulent transactions, in collusion with cyber fraudsters to cheat innocent people.

The arrest was made during police investigation following a complaint received from a resident of Hyderabad's Chikkadpally, that cyber fraudsters cheated him on the pretext of investing in institutional trading to get huge returns and made him to transfer Rs 18.60 lakh to the bank accounts provided by them.

The Cybercrime Police had registered a case under Section 66(C), (D) of the IT Act and Sections 419, 420 of the Indian Penal Code and took up investigation.

Police said accused Shabi, and his friend Nishanth, colluded with cyber fraudsters, who were operating from abroad including Dubai, Hong Kong and China and cheated the public on the pretext of investing in institutional trading to get huge returns.

Shabi had provided nine bank accounts to cyber fraudsters to cheat innocent people.
New Delhi, March 3 : The first list of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) featuring 195 candidates left out some prominent leaders like Pragya Thakur (Bhopal MP) and a couple of sitting MPs from Delhi including Parvesh Singh Verma (West Delhi) and Ramesh Bidhuri (South Delhi), leaving many surprised. Their omission from the list left many baffled.

However, Pradeep Gupta, the country's leading psephologist and the CMD of Axis My India, told IANS that the BJP has done the 'perfect' thing by dropping the motormouth MPs as this will send a strong message to people that the lawmakers with 'tainted' image do not enjoy place in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government's priorities.

He also opined that this shows BJP's clear and tactical strategy to distance itself from 'troublemaker MPs' especially at a time when the opposition parties have ganged up against the BJP with the intent of dislodging it from power.

Notably, all three Parliamentarians have been accused of making hate speeches and inciting hatred.

Pragya Thakur, the BJP MP from Bhopal, found herself in major controversy when she was named BJP nominee in 2019 polls. Though she got elected on a BJP ticket, her brush with controversies did not stop.

Her labeling of Nathuram Godse as 'patriot' left the BJP red-faced and drew stern reproval from Prime Minister himself.

"She has sought an apology, but I would never be able to forgive her fully," PM Modi had said.

BJP MP Ramesh Bidhuri's series of jibes at fellow MP Danish Ali inside Parliament seems to have gone against him.

His abusive and hateful remarks created a huge row, and he also apologised later.

Axis My India CMD told IANS that the BJP, by omitting Bidhuri from the list, has taken high moral ground and this may cushion the adverse public backlash to a great extent.

"By not giving tickets to the likes of Pragya Thakur and Bidhuri, the BJP is hitting the right buttons and sending across a message that PM Modi's developmental agenda remains supreme for the party and the nation's growth remains its biggest poll plank," he further said.

The dropping of Parvesh Singh Verma, a two-time BJP MP, has been most surprising.

Pradeep Gupta, also a bit surprised, says that Verma too probably faced the price of hate speech but believes that he could find a place in the larger game plan of the party for building a groundswell of support in the run-up to the 2024 elections.

He also ruled out the growing threat of AAP-Congress combine as the reason behind the baffling BJP's Lok Sabha list for Delhi. However, in the case of New Delhi seat, represented by Meenakshi Lekhi, he did see the BJP's poor performance in MCD elections as a probable reason behind dropping her.

"Overall, the party is clear on focusing on candidates' winnability factor and also ensuring that motormouth MPs do not remain in the fray as this will give fodder to the INDIA bloc to embarrass the BJP," he said.
Patna, March 3 : Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Sunday that India is known for love and not for the hatred.

"If you want to understand our alliance, I want to explain it to you in one line. We have opened 'Nafrat Key Bazar Me, Mohabbat Ki Dukan'. Why is hatred spreading in the country? This country is not known for hatred. It is a country known for love," Gandhi said while addressing a huge gathering in Gandhi Maidan Patna during Jan Vishwas Maharally.

He said that the reason for spreading hatred across the country is due to injustice.

"Injustice is taking place with youths and farmers. There is social and financial injustice in the country. These factors are responsible for hatred. The Central government waived loans of industrialists to the tune of Rs 16 lakh crore. I want to ask you how many farmers and labourers got the same benefits," Rahul Gandhi asked.

He said that the Central government is working only for a few people in the country and penalising farmers, youths and the poor.

"They are supporting some special people of the country while the participation of backward castes, extremely backward castes, Dalit, tribals and other deprived sections of society remains minimal," he said.

Rahul Gandhi also targeted the Central government over the Agniveer programme, saying: "Centre is building two types of army in the country. One is having all respect like facilities of canteen and pension and others are those who have no facilities," he said.

RJD's Jan Vishwas Maharally in Patna was attended by Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mallikarjun Kharge, Akhilesh Yadav, Tejashwi Yadav, D Raja, Sitaram Yechuri, Dipankar Bhattacharya and others.
J&K LG hands over appointment letters to kin of civilians killed in Poonch. Image Source: IANS News

Jammu, March 3 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor L-G Manoj Sinha on Sunday handed over the appointment orders under SRO-43 to the next of kin of the civilians killed in Poonch, an official statement said.

The appointment orders were handed over to Zareena Begum, Mohd Kabir and Mohd Razaq, all residents of village Bufliaz, Surankote, District Poonch.

"Allotment orders of land measuring one Kanal each were also handed over to the families for the residential purpose," the statement said.

It said that the L-G assured the family members of all possible support from the J&K Administration in the future.
Agartala, March 3 : A day after signing a tripartite agreement with the Centre and the Tripura government, the Tipra Motha Party (TMP) on Sunday ended its 5-day-long demonstration at Hathai Kotor on National Highway-8, the lifeline of the state.

The TMP, led by former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman, has been agitating for constitutional solutions to the tribals' economic and political issues for the past few years and on Saturday, signed the tripartite agreement in New Delhi in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and others.

Addressing a mammoth gathering of tribal men and women at Hathai Kotor (Baramura hill), Deb Barman said that with the signing of the tripartite agreement, "we have achieved 60 per cent and with our hard work we would achieve the remaining 40 per cent".

"Our struggle is to protect the land and political rights, economic development, identity, culture, language etc of the indigenous people and to ensure a better life of the future generations. We are not against the non-tribals or any other community. We would not deprive others, we are only to uplift the tribals," he said before the end of the demonstration, which began on February 28 to press for the TMP's demands.

The TMP chief quoted the Union Home Minister as saying that the agreement was signed to respect history, correct past mistakes, and consider present-day realities to look into a bright future for Tripura.

Deb Barman, a few hours after launching the demonstrations at Hathai Kotor on February 28, claimed that he was called by the Central government to Delhi to discuss their demands and accordingly went there, with his other party leaders.

"We have to implement our land rights, funding pattern, language (script) issue, political representation and also restore our historical and cultural pride. What we are asking is as per the Constitution. We want the government to fulfill the tribals' constitutional and land rights-related issues," the TMP leader told the media.

Tribals constitute one-third of Tripura's four-million population. According to the tripartite agreement, a joint working group/committee would be formed to work out and implement the mutually-agreed points in a time-bound manner to ensure a honourable solution.

"Government of India, government of Tripura and TIPRA (TMP) agreed to amicably resolve all issues of the indigenous people of Tripura relating to history, land rights, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, language etc.," the agreement said.

Besides Deb Barman, senior TMP leader Animesh Debbarma, TMP President Bijoy Kumar Hrangkhawl, Tripura Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, and Home Ministry's Additional Secretary (NE) Piyush Goyal signed the tripartite agreement.

Ever since the TMP wrested power in the Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) in April 2021, it has been demanding 'Greater Tipraland' or a separate state for the tribals under Articles 2 and 3 of the Constitution. However, the demand had been strongly opposed by the ruling BJP, the opposition Left Front, Congress, Trinamool Congress and other parties.

The TTAADC, which has jurisdiction over two-third 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, the second-most important constitutional body after the Assembly.
Thiruvananthapuram, March 3 : Kerala's Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheeshan on Sunday called for a CBI investigation into the death of J.S. Siddharth, a second-year student of Veterinary Science at the Pookode Government Veterinary College in the state's Wayanad district.

In a letter to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, he called him to recommend a CBI investigation into the death of Siddharth, who was found hanging in his hostel room on February 18, as senior leaders of the ruling CPI-M were threatening the police officers and feared that the investigation would be torpedoed.

Satheeshan said that the family of Siddharth had also called for a CBI Investigation.

The BJP has also called for a CBI inquiry into the death of Siddharth.

BJP leader and leading Malayalam actor, Suresh Gopi, who is also the party candidate from the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat, made the demand after visiting the family of Siddharth at Nedumangad in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday.

Siddharth's father Jayaprakash said that his son would never commit suicide and alleged that he was tortured and killed by the SFI students of the college. As many as 14 SFI workers, including college unit President and Secretary, are in police custody in this connection.

Governor Arif Mohammed Khan had, in his capacity as Chancellor of the varsity, suspended Vice Chancellor Prof M.R. Saseendranathan on Saturday, while state minister for Animal Husbandry and Diary Development, J.Chinchurani on Sunday suspended college dean, Dr M.K. Narayanan, who is under the scanner for aiding and supporting the SFI students.

The post-mortem report of Siddharth has revealed that he had multiple injuries across his body and his jaw bone was fractured. The autopsy of his intestine had revealed that his stomach was empty since 72 hours before his death and there are allegations that he was tortured cruelly without even being provided food or water.

--IANS

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Yonas Akele shows a photo of him attending a graduation ceremony when he was studying in China, in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)

ADDIS ABABA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Inside the Luban Workshop in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Yonas Akele, a 39-year-old Ethiopian educator, explains the operation of an assembly line to students with the help of an automation control platform from China.

Akele, currently a faculty member at the FDRE (Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia) Technical and Vocational Training Institute, is engaged in the Luban Workshop's training program. This initiative integrates theoretical knowledge with practical applications, providing students with a unique opportunity to translate classroom teachings into tangible skills.

The Luban Workshop in Ethiopia, a collaborative effort between the FDRE Technical and Vocational Training Institute and China's Tianjin University of Technology and Education, was inaugurated in 2021.

Offering specialized courses in industrial robotics technology, mechatronics technology, industrial control technology, and industrial sensor technology, the workshop aims to foster the cultivation of modern industrial technology talents much needed in Ethiopia's evolving industrial landscape.

Over the past five years, more than a dozen workshops in the name of Lu Ban, a craftsman in ancient China, have emerged across the African continent. Providing high-level vocational education for young Africans, these workshops symbolize an integral facet of Sino-African cooperation in talent development.

"Young people in Ethiopia are fortunate to study here, and I anticipate more Luban workshops will be established in Ethiopia in the future," Akele said.

Akele's journey as an advocate for the Luban Workshop began in 2018 when he pursued his master's degree at Tianjin University of Technology and Education. It was over there that he encountered the EPIP teaching model developed by the Luban Workshop. EPIP stands for engineering, practice, innovation and projects, which integrates theoretical learning with hands-on engineering applications.

"The most difficult part of my study was the practical part at the beginning, but under the guidance of my fellow Chinese classmates, I gradually improved through a lot of efforts," said Akele.

Upon his return to Ethiopia, Akele volunteered to join the teaching team at the Luban Workshop. Keen to advancing this innovative approach, he believes it will significantly enhance the effectiveness of teaching and learning.

"Four teachers are working at the Luban Workshop to guide students through practical training courses. I'm the only Chinese teacher," said Jiang Jiang, head of the workshop, adding that the long-term goal is to train enough Ethiopian talents that will eventually be able to teach Ethiopian students.

In collaboration with partners such as the African Union headquarters, the Ethiopian Luban Workshop extends its impact beyond Ethiopia's borders.

Through the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP), a joint initiative by the World Bank and African governments to improve the quality of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programs, the workshop has organized five training sessions so far, benefiting nearly 200 TVET talents from Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, and other nations.

"The workshop is not only dedicated to boosting our local strength and industrial capacity but also serves as a center of capacity building for the wider East African region," said Haftom Gebregziabher, deputy director-general of the FDRE Technical and Vocational Training Institute. 

This photo taken on Feb. 15, 2024 shows a view of the Luban Workshop in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)

This photo taken on Feb. 15, 2024 shows a classroom of Luban Workshop in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Jiang Jiang, head of the Luban Workshop in Addis Ababa, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Yonas Akele (R) and Jiang Jiang, head of the Luban Workshop in Addis Ababa, work together in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Yonas Akele speaks in an interview with Xinhua in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)

Yonas Akele (L) and Jiang Jiang, head of the Luban Workshop in Addis Ababa, work together in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Feb. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Yahui)
Imphal/Guwahati, March 3 : The CBI has filed a charge sheet in a Guwahati court against seven accused in a case of looting of arms and ammunition from the Manipur Rifles camp in Manipur last year, officials said on Sunday.

CBI sources said that a large number of attackers looted around 300 arms, approximately 19,800 rounds of ammunition and around 800 pieces of munitions and other accessories from the headquarters of the 2nd Battalion of Manipur Rifles (Indian Reserve Battalion) at Narenseina under Moirang police station in Manipur's Bishnupur district in August last year.

The CBI registered a case on August 24 last year and took over the investigation of the case registered at Moirang Police station following notifications issued by the Manipur government, and subsequently the Centre.

Further investigation against other suspects involved in looting of arms and ammunition and other aspects is continuing. The ethnic violence in Manipur broke out on May 3 last year and several cases of arms looting took place in the northeastern state. The Manipur government on a number of occasions urged the arms looters to return the arms and ammunition to the security authorities.

A senior Manipur Police official said that most of the looted arms and ammunition was recovered and massive search and numerous efforts were on to recover the remaining.

Officials in Imphal said that the Manipur government handed over 29 cases of incidents, which took place during the violence, to the CBI and one to the NIA for independent and transparent investigation. Four FIRs are in the process of transfer to the CBI and another five FIRs to the NIA.
Jaipur, March 3 : Japan Ground Self Defense Force's Eastern Army commander, Lt General Togashi Yuichi on Sunday visited the Foreign Training Node at Mahajan Field Firing Ranges, Rajasthan to witness the ongoing India-Japan joint military exercise 'Dharma Guardian'.

The primary objective of the visit was to take stock of the progress made in the exercise, encourage both the Japanese and Indian contingents, strengthen the camaraderie between the armies and enhance the collaborative efforts between the two nations, Defence PRO, Col Amitabh Sharma, said.

aDharma Guardiana is a crucial bilateral exercise which focuses on fostering combined capabilities to operate effectively as a joint task force in semi-urban environments, aligning with the United Nations mandate. It marks a significant step in the strategic partnership between India and Japan, emphasising their commitment to regional security and stability.

The ongoing exercise at Mahajan Ranges is the 5th edition of the exercise, Col Sharma added.

Army's Chetak Corps' commander Lt General Nagendra Singh also attended the event, with his participation underlining the shared commitment of the Indian Armed forces to the success of the joint exercise.

During the visit, Lt General Yuichi observed the troops in action during a captivating combat shooting practice. Additionally, nuances of a raid by a small team skillfully inserted into the target area by helicopters was also demonstrated.

This event serves as a testament to the strong bond and cooperation between the Japanese & Indian Armed Forces, further strengthening the strategic partnership between the two nations.
New Delhi, March 3 : Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday made a contribution of Rs 2,000 to the BJP's party fund.

Home Minister Shah's contribution came alongside a request for widespread participation in the donation drive. "Every person's support is crucial to building a Viksit Bharat. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has been working towards making Bharat a developed nation. Let us all stand shoulder-to-shoulder and make the #DonationForNationBuilding a nationwide campaign using the NaMo App," he posted on 'X' while sharing a picture of his donation.

The donation campaign of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gained momentum after the party's national president, J.P. Nadda, initiated the drive on March 1 by contributing Rs 1,000 to the party.

J.P. Nadda had emphasised the importance of people's support towards PM Modi's vision for a developed India. "I have donated to the BJP to pledge my individual support to PM Modi's vision for making India a 'Viksit Bharat'. Let us all come forward and join the 'Donation for Nation Building' mass movement using the NaMo app," the BJP President posted on 'X'.
Visakhapatnam, March 3 : A 23-year-old professional photographer from Andhra Pradesh's Visakhapatnam was murdered by two men for his camera, police said on Sunday.

After calling the victim, P. Sai Pawan Kalyan, on the pretext of a photo shoot, the accused killed him and looted his camera and other equipment.

The shocking incident occurred on February 26 near Ravulapalem in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district and the accused had buried the photographeras body at Mulasthanam in the same district.

The Visakhapatnam police, which had taken up the investigation on February 29 after Kalyanas parents had lodged a missing complaint, cracked the case on Sunday and exhumed the body after the accused were taken to the place where they had buried it.

According to police, Kalyan, a resident of Madhurawada in Visakhapatnam, used to eke out a living through photography, taking photos and videos at weddings and other events. He was taking bookings online and visiting remote places for the assignments.

Main accused Shanmukh called him for a photo shoot to Ravulapalem, and Kalyan left on February 26 with his camera and other equipment. After reaching Rajamahendravaram railway station, he was picked up by Shanmukh and his friend in a car.

As per their plan, they attacked him near Ravulapalem and strangled him to death. They later buried the body at a deserted place and took away his camera and other equipment.

When Kalyan did not return even after three days and his mobile was not reachable, his parents lodged a complaint with PM Palem police station in Visakhapatnam. Based on the call data, police picked up Shanmukh for questioning. He confessed to committing the crime with the help of a friend for the sake of Kalyan's camera, said to be valued at Rs 10 lakh.
Agartala, March 3 : The Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council (TTAADC) has declared a holiday on Monday to celebrate the signing of the tripartite agreement between the Centre, the Tripura government and the Tipra Motha Party (TMP), officials said on Sunday.

The TTAADC's Chief Executive Officer, C.K. Jamatia, in a notification, said that the council declared the holiday to celebrate the "historical agreement signed between Government of India, Government of Tripura, and The Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance (TIPRA), popularly known as Tipra Motha Party on Saturday".

"... the agreement was signed to amicably resolve all issues of the indigenous people of Tripura relating to their history, land rights, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, language etc," the notification said.

However, the ongoing Madhyamik and Higher Secondary exams, conducted by the Tripura Board of Secondary Examinations, would remain out of the purview of the holiday.

The TTAADC has been governed by the TMP since April 2021. The party, led by former royal scion Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman, had been agitating for the past few years to demand constitutional solutions of the tribalsa economic and political issues. On Saturday, the TMP signed the tripartite agreement in New Delhi with the Centre and Tripura government in presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha and others.
New Delhi, March 3 : A six-year-old child died after the motorcycle he was riding with his father and grandfather was hit by a van in east Delhi on Sunday, police said.

Police said that information was received at New Usmanpur police station on Sunday evening about an accident involving a van and a motorcycle. Upon reaching the spot, it was found that the accident had taken place near 1st pusta, New Usmanpur and the motorcycle had been crushed by the van.

"The child, his father and grandfather were riding on the motorcycle at the time of the incident," Deputy Commissioner of Police, Northeast, Joy Tirkey said.

"The injured child, a resident of Brahmpuri, was rushed to JPC Hospital, where he was declared brought dead," he added.
Guwahati, March 3 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has said that 2023 was the most successful year for anti-drugs operations in the state.

"In 2023, Assam Police seized drugs valued at Rs 718 crore and arrested over 4,700 drug traffickers, making it the most successful year for anti-drugs operations in the state," CM Sarma posted on 'X' on Sunday.

"Narendra Modi-led government has been deploying a whole-of-government approach to build a #DrugsFreeBharat," he added.

Meanwhile, two persons were arrested in Guwahati for having links with a narcotics syndicate. Drugs were also seized from their possession by the police.

The Assam Chief Minister in another post on 'X' said: "Based on actionable intelligence, @STFAssam apprehended two individuals, Abidur Rahman & Munnes Khan, after a hot pursuit in Guwahati.

"Search and seizures were conducted on their premises and 34 soap boxes of heroin weighing 500 gm were recovered," he added.
Kolkata, March 4 : West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress and other opposition parties, including the BJP, expressed mixed opinions to the possibility of Calcutta High Court's Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay joining politics as he did not rule out such a course while announcing his decision on Sunday to resign from his post.

Rebel Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh, who, as party spokesman, had been most vocal in his criticism against Justice Gangopadhyay over the latter's verdicts and observations against the West Bengal government, whole-heartedly welcomed the possibility.

"I wish Justice Gangopadhyay a happy new innings. It is better if such people come to politics," he said.

However, at the same time, he queried whether the judge's decision will confirm the questions raised about his prior judgements and observations.

However, Trinamool youth leader Debangshu Bhattacharya made a more direct attack on Justice Gangopadhyay over his decision to resign from judicial service, claiming his announcement confirmed Trinamool allegations against him.

State BJP President Sukanta Majumdar expressed hope that considering the judge's constant battle against corruption in West Bengal, the BJP will be the natural choice. "If people like him join politics, it will benefit the common people of the country," he said.

State Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the doors of his party are always open for a person like Justice Gangopadhyay who started a crusade against corruption. "I still hope that he will not tread in any political path that propagates narrowness," he said.

CPI-M Rajya Sabha member and senior Calcutta High Court advocate Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, who Justice Gangopadhyay himself accepted as his professional mentor during his early days as a lawyer, said that he is still hopeful that the latter will not join the BJP, as per the prevailing rumours.
Hyderabad, March 4 : The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has formed a six-member committee to inspect and study the design and construction of Medigadda, Annaram, and Sundilla barrages of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS), on the request of the Telangana government.

Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy said on Sunday that the expert committee is scheduled to arrive on March 6 for a thorough examination of the Kaleshwaram project, and assured full cooperation from the state government to the team for its investigation.

He emphasised that the government would prioritise the recommendations of the NDSA.

The minister said that the committee, led by J. Chandrashekar Iyer, former Chairman of the Central Water Commission, would investigate the reasons behind the sinking of Medigadda barrage pillars and observe distress in the two upstream barrages, Annaram and Sundilla.

The committee, which has been given a deadline of four months to submit its report to the NDSA, includes U.C. Vidyarthi, a scientist from the Central Soil and Materials Research Station, Pune; R. Patil, a scientist from the Central Water and Power Research Station; Shiv Kumar Sharma from the CWC; Rahul Kumar Singh; and Amitabh Meena, both Directors of NDSA, as official members.

The minister said that the committee was formed following a request for a comprehensive investigation into the sinking of Medigadda barrage piers and potential damage to the Annaram and Sundilla barrages.

A NDSA team, which had inspected Medigadda barrage in October last year, recommended the immediate emptying of water. Following inspections of the Sundilla and Annaram barrages, it had identified similar issues and directed that they be emptied. Based on the NDSA directions, the state government promptly released the water.

However, Uttam Kumar Reddy said that the BRS leaders were trying to politicise the issue by demanding the filling up of those barrages. He said that BRS leaders lacked technical knowledge and criticised the previous BRS government for its careless execution of the Kaleshwaram project, neglecting quality, maintenance, construction, and designs, and breaking all rules.

Noting Medigadda barrage was like the heart of the Kaleshwaram project, which was built for Rs 94,000 crore, he expressed disappointment that BRS leaders were trying to play down the incident by stating that only one pillar had collapsed and accused the party of risking the state and farmers' interests for political gains.
Rajasthan: BJP flags off 'LED Raths' with suggestion boxes to collect input for poll manifesto. Image Source: IANS News

Jaipur, March 4 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and state unit BJP president C.P. Joshi on Sunday flagged off the party's 'LED Raths' (LED-installed vehicles) fitted with suggestion boxes to collect input from the people for the party's election manifesto.

C.P. Joshi, while addressing the programme, said that during the Assembly elections last year, BJP had prepared its manifesto by taking suggestions from the common people, organisations and institutions.

Joshi said that for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, a 'Viksit Bharat' manifesto is being prepared with the suggestions of the common people.

The 'LED Raths' were flagged-off from the party's Rajasthan unit headquarters in Jaipur.

Common people and workers can also give their suggestions by giving a missed call on 9090902024 through NaMo app and social media.

C.P. Joshi said the 'LED Rath' initiative would be launched in the district headquarters as well.

Two 'LED Raths' would visit villages in each Lok Sabha constituency.

Suggestion boxes will also be kept at party campaigns and public meetings.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma said that on the lines of the Assembly elections, "we have flagged-off 'LED Raths' for the Lok Sabha elections with the aim of fulfilling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of Viksit Bharat 2047".

"Just as we had prepared a manifesto during the assembly elections by seeking suggestions from the people, similarly, this time as well, suggestions from the common people will be collected by visiting the Lok Sabha constituencies, and we will include the good suggestions in our manifesto," the Chief Minister said.

Bhajan Lal Sharma further said "we are working rapidly towards fulfilling the promises made in the manifesto at the time of the Assembly elections".

BJP state co-in-charge Vijaya Rahatkar, party's National Vice President Vasundhara Raje, MP Ghanshyam Tiwari, former leader of opposition Rajendra Rathore among other leaders were also present on the occasion.
WUHAN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- President of the Republic of Sierra Leone Julius Maada Bio on Saturday visited Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province, marking his first trip to the Chinese city that has close ties with Sierra Leone in multiple fields such as trade, education and agriculture.

During this visit, Bio went to the Institute of Food Crops of Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, where he learned about the research achievements in rice cultivation. Noting that rice is a staple food for many African countries, including Sierra Leone, he expressed hope for collaboration between Sierra Leone and Hubei in this field.

Bio, who was on a state visit to China from Feb. 27 to March 2, was awarded an honorary doctorate degree on Saturday by the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan). Expressing his gratitude, Bio said that this accolade is "not just a personal achievement, but a testimony of the enduring friendship between our two countries."

Speaking at the university, Bio said his visit to China is aimed at strengthening diplomatic relations and economic and trade partnership between the two countries, as well as promoting deeper exchanges between universities in both countries.

He also noted that since Sierra Leone joined the Belt and Road Initiative in 2018, the country has "benefited immensely from projects under this initiative."

Hubei and Sierra Leone share a longstanding friendship. Over the years, the province has sent agricultural technicians to Sierra Leone to share expertise in cultivation and breeding techniques. Moreover, the China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) has provided training to over 20 high-level professionals from Sierra Leone in disciplines such as geological resources and engineering, environmental science and engineering, among others. 
Cairo, March 4 : A Hamas delegation has joined Qatari and US mediators in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, for talks on a new ceasefire amid indications that Israel had "more or less accepted" a six-week phased hostage and truce deal before the beginning of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

The US on Sunday said that the six-week pause would see the release of more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners, the BBC reported.

Hamas is reported to have said that an agreement on a truce could be reached within the next 24 to 48 hours, with a source from the group telling Egyptian media a deal depended on Israel agreeing to its demands, the British news broadcaster reported.

Pressure for a deal intensified after February 29's incident outside Gaza City in the north of the territory where over 100 people were reportedly killed as crowds rushed an aid convoy. Hamas had accused Israel of shooting at civilians as they attempted to get food. Israel has denied this.

On Sunday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said: "Our initial review has confirmed that no strike was carried out by the IDF towards the aid convoy."

"The majority of Palestinians were killed or injured as a result of the stampede," Hagari said.

"From the information we gathered from the commanders and forces on the ground, our initial review has indicated that following the warning shots fired to disperse the stampede and after our forces had started retreating, several looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat to them," he said.

"According to the initial review, the soldiers responded towards several individuals," Hagari added.

According to the IDF, residents surrounded the trucks on Al-Rashid Street and looted the supplies, with many Palestinians being struck by the trucks or crushed by the crowd.

Gaza's Hamas-run Health Ministry reported that 104 people died and 280 were injured in the incident.
Stadler has signed two more locomotive contracts with KiwiRail, New Zealand's national railway operator, for the supply of nine DM Class mainline locomotives for operation on the North Island, and 24 hybrid battery-diesel shunting locomotives.

The mainline locomotives will be fitted with ETCS (European Train Control System), whilst the order for shunting locomotives includes spare parts, specialised tools, and technical support.

Stadler is currently building 57 DM class narrow gauge locomotives for KiwiRail that were ordered in 2021 for use on mainline services on the South Island.

The last ten of this delivery will also be fitted with ETCS, which will enable DM class locomotives to operate on the lines in the Auckland Metro area that is fitted with ETCS Level 1 trackside signalling system.

Stadler shunting locomotive for KiwiRail. // Credit: Stadler

They will also be able to operate in the Wellington Metro area when that is upgraded to ETCS.

DM locomotives have a low-emission diesel engine with a 3,000 kW output and are complete with the latest European emission standard (Stage V), and are designed for the use with HVO bio-fuels.

They produce 80% less CO2eq emissions (calculated along the entire value chain of the product) and substantially reduced pollutant emissions, while also optimising combustion with lower fuel consumption and fewer greenhouse gases emissions.

Stadler main line locomotive for KiwiRail. // Credit: Stadler

The shunting locomotives will have a central cab and a maximum axle load of 16 tonnes, and are specifically designed to operate on all KiwiRail shunting yards.

A safe and resilient remote-control system will enable them to be operated from outside the driving cab within the limits of shunting yards.

An on-board battery module enables the locomotive to primarily operate as a zero-emission vehicle.

They are fitted with an Automatic Engine Start-Stop System (AESS) that minimises fuel consumption, noise, and emissions, and incorporate a remote diagnostic and conditioning monitoring system.

Inigo Parra, Executive Vice President Stadler Division Spain, expressed his pride in the ongoing collaboration, stating, Stadler stands at the forefront of green drive technologies globally, offering a diverse range of solutions for our clients. We are very proud that KiwiRail has once again entrusted Stadler with the renewal of its locomotive fleet, and we are delighted to support them on their journey towards a zero-emission rail service.

KiwiRail Chief Customer and Growth Officer Adele Wilson said the new locomotives were part of a $1.7b investment in rolling stock that would enable KiwiRail to deliver better service to its customers and further enhance the New Zealand freight market's access to low carbon emission transport. The locomotives will also be deployed on the tourism routes where travellers demand low carbon options.

New mainline locomotives and shunts mean less maintenance time in the depots and more time on the track reliably serving our customers. We welcome the advantages in up-to-date technology our long-term relationship with Stadler brings, especially to our goal of decarbonisation.
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The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) holds a meeting to mark International Women's Day and honor China's female role models in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. Chinese State Councilor and President of the ACWF Shen Yiqin attended the event and delivered remarks. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) held a meeting on Sunday to mark International Women's Day, which falls on March 8, and honored China's female role models.

A total of 310 individuals and 200 groups were awarded at the event.

Chinese State Councilor and President of the ACWF Shen Yiqin attended the event and delivered remarks. She extended festive greetings to all Chinese women and congratulated the awardees.

Speaking at the event, she called on all women to embrace self-respect, self-confidence, self-reliance and self-empowerment, and strive for fulfilling lives. She also encouraged women to contribute their wisdom and strength to the cause of building China into a stronger country and national rejuvenation through concrete actions and accomplishments. 
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to attend 29 programmes spread across 12 states and union territories over the next 10 days ahead of the likely announcement of the Lok Sabha polls.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at foundation stone laying for multiple development projects at Aurangabad, in Bihar on March 02, 2024. Photograph: Press Information Bureau

Officials said he will be visiting Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Jammu and Kashmir, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Delhi.

On Monday, he will unveil multiple development projects in Adilabad in Telangana and later visit the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Limited (BHAVINI) in Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu.

He will address public meetings in Adilabad as well as Chennai, the officials said.

Modi will launch several projects in Sangareddy in Telangana on March 5 and address an event before travelling to Odisha where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of numerous development initiatives.

He will then address a public meeting in Chandikhole in Odisha before travelling to West Bengal.

On March 6, he will unveil development projects in Kolkata and address a public meeting in Barasat. He will then travel to Bihar and inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects in Bettiah, the officials said.

The prime minister will be in Jammu and Kashmir on March 7 and attend a media event in Delhi in the evening.

On March 8, he will participate in the first-ever National Creator's Award in Delhi and then leave for Assam in the evening.

Modi will inaugurate the Sela tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh's West Kameng and then unveil multiple development projects in Itanagar.

Later, he will unveil a statue of legendary Ahom army commander Lachit Borphukan in Jorhat, Assam.

Thereafter, he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of multiple development projects in Jorhat, the officials said.

He will also visit West Bengal and launch development projects in Siliguri and address a public meeting there.

On March 10, Modi will be in Uttar Pradesh and will dedicate to the nation various projects in Azamgarh, they said.

He will attend an event in Delhi the next day related to 'Namo Drone Didi' and 'Lakhpati Didi' programmes. Then, he will inaugurate the Haryana section of the Dwarka Expressway. In the evening, he will attend a Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) programme.

On March 12, he will visit Sabarmati in Gujarat and Pokhran in Rajasthan and then lay the foundation stones of three important semiconductor projects in Gujarat and Assam via video conferencing on March 13.

He is also scheduled to attend an outreach programme for disadvantaged sections of society via video conferencing, they said.

The prime minister has been unveiling a slew of development projects running into lakhs of crores of rupees at various places as he turns the spotlight on his government's development and welfare agenda in the run-up to the general elections expected to be held in April-May.
Indicating a change of guard in Himachal Pradesh, Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur on Sunday asked his party workers to get ready and said that anything can happen in the coming days.

IMAGE: Himachal Pradesh Leader of Opposition Jai Ram Thakur. Photograph: @jairamthakurbjp

Thakur said it is "difficult for the Congress to stay in power" as the political situation in Himachal Pradesh is grim for the party.

"Even the ministers are now walking out of the cabinet meeting," he added.

Thakur's remarks come as high drama was witnessed during the cabinet meeting on Saturday with Revenue Minister Jagat Negi leaving the meeting in between and Education Minister Rohit Thakur also walking out after heated arguments.

The two ministers, however, later maintained that they had their engagements and Thakur returned after being pacified by Deputy Chief Minister Mukesh Agnihotri.

Thakur further said the Congress government has morally lost the right to be in power after nine MLA, including six Congress rebels, had voted in favour of the BJP during the Rajya Sabha polls on August 27.

The Leader of Opposition was talking to the media persons on the sidelines of the Tridev Sammelan in Shimla.
An Indian Navy seaman is reported missing from a naval ship since February 27 and a massive search operation has been launched to trace him.

Image used for representational purpose only. Photograph: ANI Photo

The Mumbai-headquartered Western Naval Command said the sailor has been identified as Sahil Verma and that a high-level board of inquiry has been ordered into the "unfortunate incident".

"In an unfortunate incident, Sahil Verma, Seaman II, has been reported missing at sea from Indian Naval Ship whilst on deployment since 27 Feb 24.

"The Navy immediately launched a massive search operation with ships and aircraft, which is still continuing," it posted on X.

"Naval board of enquiry has been ordered for detailed investigations," it added.

The exact circumstances leading up to the incident are not immediately known.
Ahead of the formation of a new government in Pakistan, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday ruled out any immediate possibility of revival of regional grouping South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation in view of Islamabad's "toolkit" of using terrorism in different ways, including against other members of the bloc.

IMAGE: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar meets Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates, in New Delhi, February 29, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

In an interactive session at a think-tank, Jaishankar, without directly naming Pakistan, said the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation is in trouble as one of its member nations has been relentlessly backing terrorism.

"If you ask me whether I see a future for SAARC, in some ways, actually you are asking me if I see a future for that country. Because of that country does not really let go of those kinds of options in its armoury or its toolkit, then it is not just SAARC which is in danger. I mean, very frankly, you are looking at the state of that country as well," he said.

To a question on whether India is perceived by its neighbours as a bully, Jaishankar countered, saying, "A big bully does not provide $4.5 billion when the neighbours are in trouble. Big bullies do not supply vaccines to other countries when Covid (pandemic) was on and make exceptions to their own rules to respond to food demands, fuel demands, fertiliser demands because some war in some other part of the world has complicated their lives."

Jaishankar was speaking at the Ananta Aspen Centre.

The external affairs minister said the SAARC is in trouble as one of its members has been supporting terrorism.

"The SAARC is in trouble basically because -- how do you have a regional organisation when one member does not hide the fact, in fact, sometimes proclaims the fact that they undertake, I am using the most neutral word possible, violent actions against other members?" he asked.

"If we are to sit as a group, but you reserve the right to attack me in the night, how long are we going to sit as a group? We have kind of obfuscated this issue for too long," Jaishankar said.

The SAARC is a regional bloc comprising India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

"We found excuses that there is a constituency out there, there is a reason for why they are doing it. The bottom line is that we have to be clear in our own minds. Is it the view that we should proceed with SAARC even if one member of SAARC actually has training camps, trains terrorists, pushes them across (the border), supports them in different ways?" he asked.

"It was heading for a crisis. It was just a certain succession of events, finally precipitating what happened," Jaishankar said.

The external affairs minister added: "Our problem in the neighbourhood, very honestly, is with one country."

At the same time, he said "in diplomacy, you always hold out hopes", adding "who knows one day what the future holds".

The SAARC has not been very effective since 2016 as its biennial summits have not taken place since the last one in Kathmandu in 2014.

The 2016 SAARC Summit was to be held in Islamabad. But after a terrorist attack on an Indian Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir on September 18 that year, India expressed its inability to participate in the summit due to "prevailing circumstances".

The summit was called off after Bangladesh, Bhutan and Afghanistan also declined to participate in the Islamabad meet.

The external affairs minister said unlike the SAARC, cooperation under the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) is moving ahead.

"I think there is today an appetite to grow under BIMSTEC," he said.

"It is not like there are no problems there. The situation in Myanmar is very challenging. But I would say, we do not have the kind of issues in BIMSTEC which we do have in SAARC. There is a will to cooperate, there is a desire to take it forward," he said.
People gather around a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, March 3, 2024. At least 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in Israeli overnight airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

GAZA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- At least 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in Israeli overnight airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said on Sunday.

The sources told Xinhua that Israeli warplanes launched more than 50 raids last night across Gaza, targeting homes, agricultural lands, and military sites in the cities of Rafah, Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and Jabalia.

Sixteen Palestinians, including children and women, were killed in an Israeli raid on an inhabited house in the Al-Salam neighborhood in Rafah, southern Gaza, said local medical sources.

Israeli aircraft bombed a house in the Al-Saftawi neighborhood, north of Gaza City, killing four Palestinians and wounding several others, according to local sources and eyewitnesses.

In the Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza Strip, 10 Palestinians were killed as a result of an Israeli raid that targeted an inhabited house near a UNRWA school housing displaced persons.

The Israeli military said that three of its soldiers were killed on Saturday in the city of Khan Younis, south of the Gaza Strip.

The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), said in a brief statement on Saturday that its members "blew up a house that had been previously booby-trapped with two anti-personnel devices of an Israeli force."

They said that Israeli soldiers were killed and wounded in the Al-Satar area, north of the city of Khan Younis.

As fierce fighting continued in Gaza, Cairo was preparing to host talks on a ceasefire in the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave, with the participation of all concerned parties, Egypt's Al-Qahera News TV reported Saturday.

A high-level Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials on a ceasefire deal, according to an official security source on Sunday.

During the past 24 hours, a total of 90 Palestinians were killed and 177 others wounded in Israeli strikes on Gaza, bringing the total death toll to 30,410 and injuries to 71,700 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Sunday.

Egypt, along with Qatar and the United States, has tried to broker a truce deal before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which is expected to start in about a week in Egypt, as part of the diplomatic efforts to end a conflict that has incurred a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 

People gather around a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, March 3, 2024. At least 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in Israeli overnight airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

People gather around a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, March 3, 2024. At least 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in Israeli overnight airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

People gather around a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, March 3, 2024. At least 30 Palestinians were killed and dozens of others wounded in Israeli overnight airstrikes in the Gaza Strip, Palestinian security and medical sources said on Sunday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led ruling alliance and the Opposition bloc are united in their belief that winnability is the only formula for seat-sharing in Maharashtra, which sends the second-highest number of 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha after 80 from Uttar Pradesh.

IMAGE: BJP president JP Nadda (third from right) with Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis (second from right) during the BJP election management committee meeting ahead of Lok Sabha elections, in Mumbai, February 21, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo

Maharashtra, the country's most industrialised state and its premier Foreign Direct Investment magnet, however, has seen a political churn since 2019, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena breaking its long-time alliance with the BJP, and then suffering a split, just like the Sharad Pawar-founded Nationalist Congress Party.

A major chunk of the Shiv Sena is now with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and it is allied with the BJP.

The NCP also met a similar fate as Ajit Pawar walked away with a legislative majority last year and is also part of the ruling alliance.

The splits and realignments have made seat-sharing a herculean task with claims and counter-claims, leaders from the ruling and opposition parties said.

The BJP, which along with the then undivided Shiv Sena won a cumulative 41 out of the 48 seats in 2019, is looking to better the National Democratic Alliance tally to 45, whereas the Opposition Congress will seek to put behind its disastrous 2019 outing when it won just one seat.

The seat-sharing issue is being discussed with the central leadership, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule told PTI.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray, Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP and the Congress, is wooing the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, but the grandson of legendary social reformer Babasaheb Ambedkar is yet to make a formal announcement about his allegiance.

As per sources, the BJP is expected to contest more than 30 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which has sought 10 seats, is likely to get four.

The Shinde-led party wants to contest 18 seats, the number won by the undivided Shiv Sena in the 2019 polls.

Amol Mitkari, spokesperson of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, said his party wants to contest 10 seats, including Baramati in Pune.

A senior BJP leader said discussions were underway at the top level of the party leadership, adding that it would definitely contest more seats than what it did last time.

Speaking about seat-sharing, Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut said the MVA has completed discussions and an announcement will be made soon by the top leadership of the constituent parties.

However, Congress leaders said the discussion continues on seats that it was traditionally contesting as part of its alliance with the undivided NCP but were won by the Shiv Sena in the 2019 polls.

The MPs from these seats are now part of the Shinde faction.

The Congress is ready to contest a maximum of 20 seats, while the NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar could field candidates in nine to 10 constituencies.

A senior Congress leader told PTI there was a lack of clarity on how many seats Prakash Ambedkar may demand, but added. "We will keep trying till the end (for alliance with VBA)".

Another Congress leader said Ambedkar can damage the grand old party's prospects in at least half a dozen seats, just like in 2019, in case an alliance does not materialise.

He said the Congress is ready to give Akola seat to Ambedkar.

The MVA has agreed in-principle on seat adjustments and the next round of talks will take place at the central leadership level in Delhi, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said.

Another senior Congress leader said there is unanimity on 30 seats between his party and the NCP (faction led by Sharad Pawar), while there are differences on five to six of the 18 seats won in 2019 by the then undivided Shiv Sena.

"The Congress wants Yavatmal, Ramtek, Hingoli, Bhiwandi and an additional seat in Mumbai. We have more MLAs, Zilla Parishad and market committee members in these constituencies and, hence, we should get to contest. The issue will be resolved soon,' the leader added.
Brattleboro, VT (05301)

Today

Partly cloudy. High 44F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

Some clouds. A few flurries are possible. Low 29F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
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.
Hundreds of people brought flowers to the grave of Russian opposition leader Aleksei Navalny on March 2, a day after his burial in Moscow. Visitors included Navalny's mother, Lyudmila Navalnaya, and mother-in-law, Alla Abrosimova, who can be seen visiting the grave together at the beginning of this video. Police who were deployed along the sidewalk leading to Borisovskoye cemetery searched mourners at the entrance and urged them not to stand too long by the grave.
Watch to see a beautiful sight: families of agile and graceful saiga antelopes gather in the Xinjiang wilderness.
Since Moscows full-scale invasion of Ukraine more than two years ago, the United States, Britain, the European Union, Australia, Canada, and Japan have imposed thousands of sanctions on Russia.

The main target of the measures has been Russian finances, especially the networks that fund Moscows war effort. Amid the grinding conflict thats claimed tens of thousands of lives, the companies, entities, and individuals connected to Russias defense and security sector have been added to ever-growing lists compiled by Brussels, Washington, and their partners meant to curb Moscows capacity on the battlefield.

But as the war enters its third year, a growing body of evidence shows Moscow can circumvent many of these sanctions and get key items for its military from third countries despite Western attempts to stop those efforts.

To better understand the cracks in Western sanctions and how Russia has been able to exploit them, RFE/RL spoke with Tom Keatinge, the director of the Center for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London. A former investment banker, Keatinge is also an adviser on illicit finance to the British Parliaments Foreign Affairs Committee.

RFE/RL: We're now in year three of the war. Shortly after the invasion happened, there was lots of talk about how Russia would become the most sanctioned country ever. Looking at things now, how does this hold up?



Tom Keatinge: Those statements are all true. Theres never been so many sanctions on one country or so many individuals and companies and industries being sanctioned -- and never has a country so integrated into the West economically been sanctioned like this before, either.

I think its also important to keep in mind that the goal of this response has mainly been to restrict the funding and resourcing of the Russian military. And when we look at how thats going, the answer is not great.

Its wrong to say that theyre not having any impact, they clearly are having an impact because the Russians are having to find circumvention mechanisms. So some would argue that sanctions are working. Others would say [that were actually] pulling apart drones that are smashing into Kyiv every night and finding Western components that are relatively recent and certainly have been shipped since the start of the war. Both arguments are true, but the bottom line should be whether we are doing enough and I think, bluntly, that the answer is no, were not.

And thats true whether [were talking about] the provision of ammunition and advanced weaponry or whether we look at the application and implementation of sanctions.

The United States now has the power to designate foreign financial institutions that it finds is facilitating sanction circumvention, but it hasnt been used yet because it will be bloody when it is used and will basically put that particular bank out of business. So until the West broadly is willing to make some examples out of some big violators then I think people at these places will continue to think that sanctions are something that someone else needs to worry about and not what they as an organization need to worry about.

RFE/RL: Earlier this week [Aleksei Navalnys wife], Yulia Navalnaya, spoke to the EU parliament and, among other things, she was saying that more needs to be done to block these channels and networks of banks and lawyers in the West that allow Russia to move money around and navigate around sanctions. Youre based in London, which has been famous as one of the main hubs for this over the decades, and despite many events over the years -- including the 2022 invasion -- it seems there hasnt been a total shift. So, if the war isnt a wake-up call, then what would be?



Keatinge: Thats a legitimate and valid challenge that she makes. I think the thing you have to remember is that the target of sanctions -- whether it's an individual, a company, or a country -- does not sit there and simply say, Okay, I give up. I will do what you want me to do because of the sanctions you've leveled against me.

There is a whole industry of people, both inside the country and outside the country, whose job it is to develop new procurement networks. [Russia's Federal Security Service, the FSB], in particular is heavily involved in developing these procurement networks. Theyre taking all of this very seriously. Its existential for them and so that means that we need to treat it in a similar fashion if we don't want to be outplayed and outmaneuvered.

The West wanted to be heavy in its response, but it didn't want to destroy its own economies in the process. So we have the whole conundrum thats played out with energy dependence on Russia in Europe. Its more than two years now, so we should have organized ourselves to be in a position to completely embargo Russia, if we choose to, but right now there are simply too many gaps.

[Al-Qaeda founder] Osama bin Laden once famously said that his financiers knew the cracks in the Western financial system as well as the cracks on the backs of their hands, which shows how if you leave cracks then they will get abused. So I would endorse what Yulia said, and I think that, again, if we want Ukraine to win, then we have to be willing to lean in much more than we are currently [and] we may have to be willing to potentially damage our own economies.

Ultimately, if it costs us something today, it's going to cost us an awful lot more over the next five, 10, or 15 years if were not forceful now. So I think it's a false economy, frankly, to be lighter today than we could be. Even for the politicians where it might be a tough explanation to their populations.



RFE/RL: You said earlier that there are still tools on the table that could potentially be very effective, but they're just not being used. So that leaves me with two questions: Why aren't they being used? And what could they accomplish if they were?



Keatinge: The tools that aren't being used are the tools that would create, to put it mildly, diplomatic difficulties.



The EU, for instance, has its anti-circumvention toolbox and it could start naming and shaming countries and companies as circumvention risks, but it's treading very, very carefully and tiptoeing around [having to use it.]



As I said before, the United States could use some of the big hammers in its toolbox on foreign financial institutions, too, but the reality is that I just don't think we are brave enough to use those tools because there would be blowback [at home]. But the calculation for whether that blowback is worth it, I suppose, looks different depending on where you are.

If youre sitting through nightly aerial bombardments in Kyiv, Odesa, or somewhere like that, I think you'd think that the blowback faced by Europe would be worth it. But if you're facing an election this year in London, Brussels, or anywhere else -- including on the mega list of countries holding elections this year -- maybe you think it's not worth it and you'll leave it for after the election or for the person who ends up taking over after you.

So I think there's a big dose of realpolitik in all of this, which for those of us who want to see an end to this war immediately and Russia expelled from Ukraine, is disappointing.

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.
Gardai in Cork County have this morning arrested three males for organised crime related offences.

The males, in their 30s and 40s, are currently detained in Garda Stations in Cork under section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act 2007.

This morning investigating Gardai searched five locations in County Cork and two locations in County Roscommon. In addition to arrests, items of evidential value were seized during the courses of the searches.

"Over 100 Gardai were involved in operations this morning led by detectives from the Divisional Protective Service Unit, Cork County and supported by uniform and plain clothes Gardai, Garda Dog Unit, Armed Support Unit, and Scenes of Crime Unit, amongst others," a statement from the Gardai said.

The investigation team in Cork is supported by sworn Garda members and specialist Garda Staff from national units including the Human Trafficking Investigation & Coordination Unit (HTICU) at Garda National Protective Service Bureau (GNPSB), the Garda National Cyber Crime Bureau (GNCCB), Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB) Garda Mutual Assistance Section and the Garda Siochana Analysis Service (GSAS).

Gardai are investigating the activities of an organised crime group (OCG) based in Ireland, with Eastern European connections, involved in the alleged trafficking of persons into Ireland for the purpose of labour exploitation. The investigation is being supported by Europol.

"An Garda Siochana continues to appeal to any person who may be the victim of human trafficking or labour exploitation to speak to a member of An Garda Siochana, either at your local Garda station, or to call the Garda Confidential Phone Number 1800 666 111," the statement continued.

"An Garda Siochana understands that victims of these crimes may not always be in a position to report themselves, maybe there is opportunity to speak to a Garda who you might meet at any location.

"Importantly, An Garda Siochana appeals to any person with any information on these heinous crimes or suspects that any person is the victim of human trafficking to speak up - talk to a member of An Garda Siochana, either at your local Garda station, on the Garda Confidential Phone Number 1800 666 111 or to any members of An Garda Siochana."
The final episode of the TG4 series Sloinne visits County Roscommon this evening, Sunday, with a journey back in time to trace the history of the OConnor surname.

Sloinne series delves into the fascinating stories behind Ireland's most common surnames, bringing history to life in a way that's accessible and enjoyable for everyone. The first series showcases surnames like O Flaithearta, O Murchu, O Ceallaigh, O Suilleabhain, O Domhnaill, Seoighe, and O Conchubhair.

Each episode features a special guest exploring their family surname, taking us on a journey back in time. We'll visit ancient strongholds tied to these names, reliving epic battles and feuds over land and possessions. From the famous to the infamous, modern-day stories of surname bearers add a personal touch, highlighting our enduring connection to our ancestors.

Daniel Curley at Rathcroghan Visitor Centre in Tulsk.

In this Sundays final episode of Sloinne, today Sunday, March 3rd the programme follows Frankie O Conchubhair (Ros a mhil, Galway) as he goes on a journey back in time to trace the history of his OConnor surname.

He finds out about the different variations and spellings of the OConnor surname when he meets with Dr. Kieran OConor (lecturer at University College Galway) and discusses the knowledge of owned land in Barnabelonging to his OConnor family with series geneologist Paul MacCotter.

Frankies journey also takes him to County Roscommon. There, he visits the picture-perfect Clonalis House, Castlerea where Pyers OConor Nash shows him around The OConor Don Estate, that was passed down through generations and maintained by his family. He also meets historian Rena Burke at Felim OConnors tomb in the Dominican Priory of St.Mary and Dr. Daniel Curley (historian and archaeologist) at the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk.

The episode features other conversations with harpist Una Ni Fhlannagain (Galway), poet Micheal O hAodha (Galway) and historian Sharon Slater (Limerick).
Kung Fu Panda 4 movie OTT Platform Release update Date News

Kung Fu Panda 4 is an English,Telugu,Tamil and Hindi animation film

Kung Fu Panda 4 Movie OTT Release Date Update: "Kung Fu Panda 4", which is set to be release on March 8, 2024, is an English language film which is also dubbed in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi. The animation film features actors like Jack Black, Awkwafina, and Viola Davis, while it is directed by Mike Mitchell and Stephanie Stine.

"Kung Fu Panda 4" continues the beloved saga with a thrilling new animation as Po steps into the role of Spiritual Leader, facing the daunting task of finding and training a successor.

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However, the stakes skyrocket when a malevolent sorceress threatens to unleash the past villains Po has defeated. With a blend of humor, heart, and epic martial arts action, the movie promises to captivate audiences as Po and his allies confront their greatest challenge yet

"Kung Fu Panda 4 " OTT Platform Release Date Update News: You can watch with the film on Netflix.
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on his election as prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Xi noted he believes that under the leadership of Sharif and the new Pakistani government, and with the united efforts of all walks of life in Pakistan, the country will definitely achieve new and greater accomplishments in the cause of national development and progress.

Xi stressed that China and Pakistan should continue their traditional friendship, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all fields, jointly build an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, continue to deepen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, so as to bring more benefits for the people of the two countries.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Sharif. 
After updating the Creta to new design and tech features, Hyundai is now getting ready to update the Alcazar

Creta recently got a facelift with a completely redesigned fascia, rear section and interiors. Some of these attributes will make their way to the upcoming Alcazar facelift as well. Launch is expected sometime around June 2024. Alcazar facelift has already been spied testing. Based on these spy shots, Pratyush Rout has created digital renders of the upcoming 2024 Alcazar.

2024 Hyundai Alcazar Facelift Render

New Alcazar features similar design traits that we saw with the Creta facelift launched earlier this year. Hyundai maintained distinct and subtle design differences between the pre-facelift models of Creta and Alcazar. The same strategy might continue between facelifted Creta and Alcazar too.

Were talking about a slightly more premium and chrome-loaded fascia with Alcazar facelift with a unique front grill, headlights and bumpers. However, Hyundai might choose to align both Creta and Alcazars designs as well.

We say this because the Alcazar facelift test mules spotted, have shown similar LED DRL signatures as Creta. In profile, Alcazar facelift will offer a different alloy wheel design than Cretas. These will most likely be 18-inch alloys. Rear section will feature connected LED tail lights that could be similar to Cretas.

On the inside, Alcazar facelift will sport an identical dashboard to the new Creta. This new dashboard features twin horizontal displays (one for infotainment and one for instrumentation). There will be a new dual-zone climate control panel, new steering wheel, new centre console along with other attributes that Creta facelift gets.

Feature upgrades and powertrains

In April last year, Hyundai launched a refreshed Alcazar. This refresh featured a slightly revised fascia along with a major overhaul in its powertrain department. The 2.0L 4-cyl NA petrol was discontinued for good and Alcazar was offered with the new 1.5L 4-cyl turbo petrol engine that developed 160 PS and 253 Nm.

Another powertrain option is the tried and tested 1.5L turbo diesel with 115 bhp and 250 Nm. Gearbox options include a 6-speed manual, a 6-speed torque converter and a 7-speed DCT. Where feature upgrades are concerned, Alcazar will benefit from the new Level-2 ADAS suite that debuted on Creta facelift.

Other highlights include sequential LED turn indicators, an electronic parking brake, ventilated front seats, a panoramic sunroof, powered front seats, auto-dimming IRVM, Hyundai Blue Link telematics suite and more. We wish there are rear ventilated seats on offer with Alcazar facelift too, owing to its product positioning. Currently the Alcazar is priced in the range of Rs 16.77 lakh to Rs 21.28 lakh, ex-sh. Expect a price hike with the launch of facelifted version.
There were multiple new developments in automotive industry from Vinfast, Ford, Hyundai, Skoda, Yamaha, Royal Enfield, BYD, Honda, Hero and Bajaj

Last week, the automotive world witnessed a lot of developments. Some big, some small and some set to take effect in the future, while others sprung with immediacy. The Indian automotive industry is turning into an interesting pudding of new vehicle launches and updates to existing ones. These are the major developments that happened last week in the Indian auto industry.

1. Vinfast Electric Car Factory in India

Vietnams leading electric car maker, Vinfast, is poised to make it big in India. The company recently broke ground for its first electric car manufacturing facility in India. This is Rs. 4,000+ Crore investment from the company which will transform into a facility with 1,50,000 vehicle annual production. Vinfast VF3 electric car and Klara S electric scooter were patented in India too and we can expect them to go on sale here.

2. Hyundai i20 N Line Facelift

Just months after launching i20 N Line facelift in India, Hyundai has revealed i20 N Line Facelift for global markets with a slightly different design. When we say global markets, Europe can be striked out from that list as all ICE powered N Line vehicles were discontinued in the old continent. This version of i20 N Line could come to the Indian market in the coming years.

3. Yamaha India Sponsored Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP Team

In a bid to associate more with motorsports and to excite Indian MotoGP enthusiasts, India Yamaha Motor Pvt Ltd has officially sponsored Monster Energy Yamaha MotoGP team for the 2024 season. Fabio Quartararo and Alex Rins Yamaha R1 M race-spec bikes will feature Yamaha Indias iconic The Call Of The Blue slogan. Aint that exciting!

4. Skodas India 2.5 Strategy

Last week, Skodas event took place, giving a glimpse of the companys future roadmap. In the event, the company teased its upcoming sub 4m SUV for India based on MQB A0 IN platform and confirmed an upcoming EV. Kushaq Explorer Edition was revealed in the same event as well. Skoda has also confirmed the incoming diesel engine-equipped new Superb sedan.

5. Royal Enfield Scram 450 Close To Production

Have you seen the New Himalayan 450? Imagine it in a Roadster format and you will get Scram 450 or Roadster 450. The latest spy shots reveal a production-ready motorcycle. Smaller alloy wheels, tubeless tyres, less ruggedness and less weight are primary highlights. It misses out on USD front forks and touring-ready luggage mounts.

6. BYD Seal Bookings Officially Live

Electric car juggernaut, BYD, is gearing up to launch its 3rd vehicle in India, Seal seadan. Part of the companys Ocean lineup, Seal EV is the first of this series to launch in India. First showcased in India at 2023 Auto Expo, BYD Seal prices will be revealed soon.

7. Hyundai Alcazar Facelift Spotted

The 3-row brother for Creta Facelift is cooking in Hyundai labs in the form of Alcazar Facelift. It will feature similar styling updates as Creta facelift, with slight design distinctions. The longer wheelbase will ensure comfort for 3rd row occupants. Powertrain will continue from the current Alcazar, but the new facelift will get the ADAS suite. Rushlanes render for Alcazar facelift went live recently too.

8. Honda Elevate Sold Through CSDs

After Amaze and City sedans, Honda has made Elevate SUV available on sale through Military Canteen Store Departments across India. This was in a bid to offer Indian armed personnel Hondas most expensive and high-riding non-hybrid vehicle.

9. Hyundai Creta N Line Bookings Open, Pictures Revealed

The sportier N Line version of Hyundai Creta compact SUV is set to launch with a bang. The official bookings have commenced and the company have revealed images as well. The same 1.5L turbo petrol will continue, but with a stiffer suspension setup, a throatier exhaust and larger 18-inch wheels.

10. Hero Vida V1 Plus Re-Launched

After a long time of selling the sole top-spec Vida V1 Pro, Hero has brought back the Vida V1 Plus. This will feature a smaller battery and lesser range, but packs most of the tech and features as the Pro model. Price difference from Pro is a good Rs. 30,000 less, and it rivals Ola S1 Air and Ather 450S.

11. New Bajaj Pulsar NS Lineup

There is a new design for Pulsar NS and all the NS variants (Pulsar NS125, Pulsar NS160 and Pulsar NS200) get this update. Pulsar NS125 was launched for a starting price of Rs. 1.05 lakh (ex-sh).

12. Fords India Re-Entry Speculations  JV With Tata?

The speculations of Fords re-entry to Indian market have taken new turns. New reports suggest Ford India sticking to a formula that has worked worldwide  Large SUVs, EVs and Hybrids. For EVs, Ford is speculated to be partnering with Tata and consolidating its manufacturing position in India at Chennai plant, which is strategically close to the port for exports to ASEAN nations.

13. 2024 Honda Amaze

The third generation of Honda Amaze will bring a brand new chassis, shared with City and Elevate. This will strike cost-effectiveness for Honda by having a sole platform with variations. Launch could happen sometime around festive season.

14. Mahindra Thar Earth Edition

Countrys best-selling lifestyle off-road SUV, Mahindra Thar, received a new Earth Edition. This new Earth Edition pays homage to the mighty and vast Thar desert. Priced from Rs. 15.4 lakh (ex-sh), Thar Earth Edition comes with exclusive exterior shade and interior trim options.
A self-driving bus made by China's CRRC Electric Vehicle is seen during its trial run in Paris, France, Sept. 17, 2021. A 12-meter-long self-driving bus made by China's CRRC Electric Vehicle went on trial run on open road in Paris over the weekend. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

The "battery valley" in northern France aims to leverage strengths from various countries, including Chinese players with a notable advantage in battery and electric vehicle technology.

LILLE, France, March 3 (Xinhua) -- In the "battery valley" in northern France, Chinese enterprises actively join in local projects to produce electric vehicles and their batteries, a partnership widely appreciated by a region keen on green re-industrialization.

With four "gigafactories" announced in three years, the "battery valley" is interested in "taking on strengths from all countries, including Chinese players who have gained a real lead in battery and electric vehicle technology so that we can also benefit from their know-how," said Yann Pitollet, CEO of Nord France Invest.

The ACC gigafactory, announced in 2020 and in production since May 2023, is a joint venture of TotalEnergies, Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz. For the other three, invested respectively by the Chinese group Envision AESC, the French start-up Verkor and the solid battery specialist Prologium, the region has "put in place administrative processes that make it possible to go fast," said Pitollet.

"We have no worries that everything will go well," he said, adding that the Envision AESC plant, announced in 2021, is under construction and will be commissioned shortly, and the Prologium plant, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in May 2023, is in the study phase.

In addition, at the end of 2023, Chinese group XTC New Energy, a leader in the manufacture of cathodes (a battery component), and French nuclear fuel cycle group Orano announced a project to manufacture cathodes and recycle batteries, not far from the Verkor and Prologium plants.

In January this year, in the joint venture set up by Renault group and the Chinese automotive supplier Minth in Ruitz in the "battery valley," two new production lines began to manufacture battery boxes for electric vehicles.

"What really interests us is to have this partnership so that we can benefit from the know-how of these Chinese companies that have made very, very rapid progress, particularly in electric vehicles, but also in upstream technologies," Pitollet said.

For Renault Group, which has partnered with Envision AESC for the battery gigafactory, the success of the joint venture with Minth is a model for other projects. Launched on July 13 last year, the joint venture managed to start production in less than three months with two new lines installed.

A battery box seems to be just a box, but it actually must fulfill three main functions -- sealing, cooling and precision, said Jean-Luc Bois, director of the Renault Electricity site in Ruitz.

"Minth's experience on these lines of production is the culmination of a number of other lines that allowed them to learn," he said. "One of the benefits of working with a Chinese partner is this know-how about the product and the process. We are stronger working together than starting alone from zero."

A self-driving bus (R) made by China's CRRC Electric Vehicle is seen during a trial run at the suburb of Paris, France, Dec. 7, 2022. The self-driving bus made by China's CRRC Electric Vehicle has completed its trial run on open road and been ready to start official operations with passengers. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Renault is committed to concentrating industrial activities on its electric cars in France. It has grouped all activities around electric cars in Ampere, a new branch officially launched in November 2023.

Renault Ampere aims to produce 400,000 electric vehicles per year in 2025 in France. The national goal is to produce nearly 2 million electric and hybrid vehicles in France by 2030. To this end, nearly all the elements linked to the electric car value chain must be localized in France.

Thus the "battery valley" has to work fast, Pitollet said. "What is expected by car manufacturers -- Stellantis, Renault or customers elsewhere in Europe, such as major German brands, is that production must be effective and at an industrial level by 2025."

The CEO of Nord France Invest described his region as "already effectively the heart of the electric sector in France" with an ambition to become "one of the poles for electric vehicles in Europe."

Apart from assets such as the availability of land and electricity, he relies on access to a skilled workforce to attract more investments. The region is pushing for an alliance of training organizations to train 20,000 people in the coming years.

The University of Artois in the region opened a new school in September to "train engineers of the future who will work in a more electrified world." Students of the university are already being trained at the Minth-Renault plant.

"We put them in an industrial situation where they see the reality of current technology," said Gabriel Velu, vice president of the university. "France took its turn on electricity a little late, therefore we need others to help us catch up."

For the region of Hauts-de-France, building a "battery valley" within a few years' time marks an upturn in its green reindustrialization.

This "allows us to think about the equipment, the local production of parts for the vehicle, all the questions of supply and eventually the recovery of waste," said Olivier Gacquerre, mayor of Bethune and also president of a group of some 100 nearby municipalities including Ruitz.

"So for us, it is a fundamental economic question that will also allow us to deal with social issues -- when you have the economy, it helps families to settle down, helps children to build a future," he added.
EasyJet founder Sir Stelios Haji.Ioannou has called time on his long-running feud with the "scoundrels" running the carrier. Haji-Ioannou has admitted that his war with easyJet boss Johan Lundgren was motivated by his fear that it would not get through Covid-19. His latest remarks come as the company is preparing to re-enter the ranks of the FTSE 100. They also come after attempts by easyJet to fill the gap in the market left by the collapse of Monarch and Thomas Cook, with Lundgren and chairman Stephen Hester having tried to shift focus towards selling holidays instead of just flights. - The Sunday Times

Sir Peter Wood believes that Direct Line, the insurer he founded in 1985 has been "terribly" managed for years, leaving it a potential target for bidders. Indeed, given a decent price, that is exactly what he thinks should happen, Wood told the Mail on Sunday. Belgium's Ageas tabled a 3.1bn bid during the previous week, but that was not enough, Wood added. Wood further described the share and cash deal offered by Ageas as "messy". He was also "sure" that other offers would materialise. - Financial Mail on Sunday

A delegation of Hamas officials arrived in the Egyptian capital for talks to try and reach a ceasefire deal. It followed indications that Tel Aviv was ready to accept a phased six-week agreement for the release of hostages and a truce before the start of Muslims' holy month of Ramadan. Negotiators from Qatar and the U.S. had also arrived in Cairo to take part in the talks. A response from Hamas was anticipated on Sunday or Monday. - Guardian

Ministers are under pressure to present their plans should Thames Water collapse, an outcome that could cost taxpayers billons of pounds. The rescue plans drawn up by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs are known as "Project Timber" and according to Thames Water executives have a value of 5bn. The supplier is facing a 190m loan in April that its bosses have already said that it will not be able to meet. - The Sunday Telegraph

St.James's Place has put aside 426m to cover compensations to clients who allege that it fraudulently charged for annual reviews of client portfolios that were never conducted. The provision also follows the 15,000 complaints lodged with law firm AMK Legal on their behalf over the past three months. - The Sunday Times
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The announcement of a new, inclusive St. Patricks Day Parade on Staten Island has reached far and wide  so far, in fact, Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update poked fun at the situation.

Hosted by Staten Islander Colin Jost and Michael Che, the segment revolves around reporting on worldwide news with a humorous SNL spin to it. On Saturday, Che discussed the new parade in front of a live audience.

Staten Island officials are holding a separate St. Patricks Day Parade that will welcome LGBTQ groups who were banned from the official parade. Cuz sadly, on Staten Island, LGBTQ stands for Lets go bully the queers, Che said.

The crowd erupted as Che shook his head, laughing. I know... Thats not what it should stand for, he said.

Jost, who was raised in Grymes Hill, also shook his head: I feel attacked, the comedian said.

The St. Patricks Parade planned by the Staten Island Parade Committee, while a decades-old Staten Island staple, has outraged the community for purposefully excluding LGBTQ+ groups in recent years. The Pride Center of Staten Island, long hoping to participate, has repeatedly been denied the right to march, with the planning committee citing teachings of the Catholic Church as a reason to exclude the group.

The New York City St. Patricks Day Parade in Manhattan ended a two-decade ban of LGBTQ+ groups in 2014. Parades in Boston and Dublin have done the same. The traditional Staten Island event is likely one of the only St. Patricks parades left in the world to continue to exclude LGBTQ+ groups from marching under their own banners.

The new parade comes following an advocacy project launched last year by the Advance/SILive.com which highlighted the ongoing LGBTQ+ exclusion by the original parade organizers through a series of stories that explored the large amount of city resources used to support the event, as well as the overwhelming support from the community of the Pride Center of Staten Island.

The Pride Center of Staten Island, which has been at the forefront of fighting for inclusion in the boroughs original parade, was among the first to receive an invitation to march in the new event.

Congratulations and support from across the globe have been pouring in for the new St. Patricks Day Parade, set to take to Forest Avenue on March 17, the actual St. Patricks Day holiday.

GLAAD, one of the worlds foremost LGBTQ+ advocacy groups, offered praise for the move.

Elvis Duran and Z-100s Morning Show donated $20,000 to the parade, which is supported by Duran and his husband, Staten Islander Alex Carr.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Amid all the controversy over the exclusion of the LGBTQ+ community from our boroughs St. Patricks Parade comes a much welcomed breath of fresh air.

Her name is Melanie Grace Knapp-Patterson and shes officially been crowned this years Miss Hibernia. And to say the newly-crowned 19-year-old from West Brighton enthusiastically received her title would be somewhat of an understatement.

The brown-eyed beauty who will march in Sundays St. Patricks Parade along Forest Avenue became the new titleholder during the 2024 Miss Hibernian Ball, staged at LiGrecis Staaten in West Brighton on Saturday, Feb. 17.

Prior to her being crowned Miss Hibernia 2024, the astute 19-year-old  whos the youngest of eight siblings  was required to appear before a panel of judges where she expressed her deep rooted feelings about her Irish heritage  and ultimately her heartfelt thanks.

Melanie Grace Knapp-Patterson, Miss Hibernia, with her siblings, from the left, Michael Patterson, Robert Patterson, Michael Knapp, Kelli Gomez and Crystal Knapp. (Photo courtesy of Tara Patterson)Staten Island Advance

For me, the St. Patricks Day Parade on Forest Avenue has always been the best day of the year. I want to thank Doc Campbell and the Miss Hibernia Committee for this honor, said the West Brighton resident.

Melanie Knapp-Patterson, Miss Hibernia, with Dr. Craig Campbell, who was on the Miss Hibernia selection committee at this year's Hibernian Ball. (Photo courtesy of Tara Patterson)Staten Island Advance

She went on to explain that she was raised in a Staten Island Irish Catholic community and she knows that the selection is taken very seriously.

The fact that I am the first biracial Miss Hibernia demonstrates clearly that love and knowledge of the Irish heritage, history and culture is all that the committee takes into consideration when determining their choice, she added. I hope that the ongoing controversy ends so that West Brighton can continue to enjoy one parade on the first Sunday in March. I pray that all of the issues surrounding the parade are resolved so that little girls can grow to love this neighborhood tradition, and aspire to be a future Miss Hibernia.

Melanie is adopted, her mom Tara Patterson said with a smile. And through 23 and Me the family learned Melanie is biologically Irish which was all part of her profile speech. She won whether it was by luck or God  as well as because of her feelings for her Irish heritage.

A LITTLE ABOUT MISS HIBERNIA

A graduate of St. Adalberts elementary school and Notre Dame Academy High School, Melanie is currently a sophomore at the College of Staten Island, where she majoring in criminology.

In a Facebook message, Melanies elated mom offered several comments:

The title of Miss Hibernia goes to our amazing daughter Melanie Grace Knapp-Patterson. Irish eyes will be smiling from the heavens and the sidelines as you take your once in a lifetime ride down Forest Avenue on the first Sunday in March. As the youngest member of our Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and the girl who loves everything about her Irish heritage, music and culture  there isnt anyone more deserving of the title of Miss Hibernia 2024 than you. Enjoy every single moment of this time. We all know how much this means to you and we are incredibly proud of you.

Melanies dad is Edward Patterson, the president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians of Richmond County and mom, Tara is president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians Division 10 of which Melanie is a member and handles all social media.

Melanie Grace Knapp-Patterson is all smiles along with Margaret DelBagno, county president of the Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians and Edward Patterson, Melanie's dad, the president of the County Ancient Order of Hibernians. (Photo courtesy of Tara Patterson)Staten Island Advance

She takes it all very seriously, Tara added. The Hibernians and the Parade Committee who run the parade, are both deeply connected. We want for everyone to enjoy what we call Christmas in West Brighton. And that day is second only to Christmas for our family.

The parade is part of the fabric of our family and Melanies life, Tara said. Its something she has done every year since shes a little girl. We even took her to Dublin to get her sweater for Sundays Parade. Ever since she was 4 years old she would say she was Irish. And the Irish music has grasped her soul. Shes an Irish kid who is so excited since she received her title. And shes also talking about a life of service in the future.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The third annual Women in Business Expo, hosted by Councilwoman Kamillah Hanks, was a success.

The event, held at the St. George Theatre hosted close to 40 vendors of women entrepreneurs from Staten Island.

Hanks noted that many new small businesses were formed during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Janice Johnson at the third annual Women in Business Expo, held on Sunday, Mar. 3, 2024, at the St. George Theatre. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island AdvanceKayla Simas

During COVID, I started the Women in Minority Business Association, and it was mainly because while we were home, so many businesses were started, said Hanks. While COVID was a global pandemic, it came with so many challenges economically, and what people dont know or appreciate is how many women started businesses in their homes during the pandemic, so this is a celebration of the women who did that and for them to showcase their work.

Hanks also expressed that in its third year, the Expo being held at the St. George Theatre is symbolic.

The St. George Theatre is run by two women, and this is Women in History Month, said Hanks. Our first year, the Expo was held at the Pavilion on Terrace, and then Empire Outlets. This Expo is to celebrate the economic development and diversity that is in female business.

The third annual Women in Business Expo was held on Sunday, Mar. 3, 2024, at the St. George Theatre. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island AdvanceKayla Simas

Hanks reminisced back to her days of being an early entrepreneur. She recalled the challenges that accompanied her commitment.

She told the Staten Island Advance/SILive that the Expo is a way for people to meet one another and network and showcase their businesses.

Michelle Swiney McCombs, executive administrator to the CEO of St. George Theatre, noted this years Women in Business Panel speakers consisted of small business owners and women in executive positions including Lorona Harris, Dana Walker-Boyd, and president and CEO of St. George Theatre, Doreen P. Cugno.

The third annual Women in Business Expo was held on Sunday, Mar. 3, 2024, at the St. George Theatre. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island AdvanceKayla Simas

Lorona Harris, one of the panelists who described herself as a cultural advocate and businesswoman, told the Advance/SILive she has a consultant business that deals with individuals for solutions and planning.

The people I work with are led by visionaries, Harris noted. The name is Visionary GPS. Those I work with are leaders. They know how to make decisions and have the skills, talents, and gift to see what is next. I work with these individuals and help them realize their business dreams and goals.

While this is Harriss first time as a panelist, she is no stranger to the Women in Business Expo. This year, she stated she was thrilled to be a part of for the economic stability and opportunity to make connections and collaborate with those in the community.

Its very critical to individual growth and community growth, said Harris. And this is the best way to grow.

Michelle Swiney McCombs, Executive Administrator to the CEO of St. George Theatre, who also sells body butter, was at the third annual Women in Business Expo, held on Sunday, Mar. 3, 2024, at the St. George Theatre. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island AdvanceKayla Simas

Another panelist and business owner, Dana Walker-Boyd, told the Advance she is a childhood friend of Hanks, and said shes glad to celebrate businesses owned by women and non-profits at the Expo.

Being a native Staten Islander, women-run business and various enterprising is important and continues to evolve, said Walker-Boyd. We have great vendors, a sense of collaboration and community, and we are at the crown jewel of Staten Island  the St. George Theatre  which I am a proud board member of.

Dana Walker-Boyd at the third annual Women in Business Expo, held on Sunday, Mar. 3, 2024, at the St. George Theatre. (Kayla Simas/Staten Island AdvanceKayla Simas

Other highlighted women-owned businesses include Edje Wear Designers by Evaleen J. Drake, who designs all of her clothes using denim. Janice Johnson started her business nine years ago and has been selling pocketbooks as a small business owner.

The Women in Business Expo was also a partnership with Senator Jessica Spanton-Scarcella, who told the Advance/SILive.com how excited she was for this years event.

Its really important to shine the light on our female business owners and entrepreneurs, so that people patronize their shops on Staten Island, said Spanton-Scarcella. Its not easy to have a business in New York, but especially here on Staten Island.
When will the Democrats learn?

Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter in Illinois has removed former President Donald Trump from the GOP primary ballot in that state because of his participation in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

Oh, excuse me, the insurrection at the Capitol, as the Dems like to call it. Listen to them long enough and you get visions of Fort Sumter in your head. Did I miss the Second Civil War somehow?

Porter, who ran as a Democrat, said that the prohibition contained in the Civil War-era 14th Amendment against insurrectionists holding office was compelling.

Its the same rationale used by a Colorado judge in an attempt to ban Trump from the GOP ballot in that state. The U.S. Supreme Court has taken up that case.

Being a judge, youd think that Porter would know whats in the U.S. Constitution when it comes to eligibility to run for president.

There are three requirements: the person must be at least 35 years of age, a natural born citizen of the United States, and a resident of the country for 14 years.

Thats it. Satisfy those requirements, as Trump certainly does, and youre free to run for president. State judges dont get to make that call.

But even if you wanted to invoke the 14th Amendment, Trump hasnt been convicted of insurrection when it comes to Jan. 6. So how can the 14th Amendment be used against him?

On top of that, Jan. 6 wasnt even an insurrection, at least not as 19th century lawmakers whod been through the Civil War and wrote the amendment understood the word.

They were dealing with the fallout from an actual armed rebellion that spread across several states, killed an estimated 620,000 people, and was waged by military and political leaders who had turned their backs on the United States and sworn allegiance to another government.

Thats an insurrection.

If oral arguments are any indication, the Supreme Court will find Colorados effort to bar Trump unconstitutional.

As Justice Elena Kagan wondered at the time, why should a single state get to determine who gets to be president of the United States? Why should that state make that decision not only for its own citizens but for the whole nation?

Kagan, appointed by Democratic President Barack Obama, called such a possibility extraordinary. It would open up a Pandoras box of GOP states bouncing Dem candidates from the ballot and vice versa.

But Democratic-led states will no doubt keep trying to bar Trump, no matter what the court rules.

And theyll also do their best to continue to wage lawfare against Trump on other matters, such as the ridiculous fraud case launched by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

If real estate types are going to be prosecuted for inflating the value of their properties, wed better start building a lot more prisons.

And, yes, Trump can still run for president even if he finds himself in jail because of the myriad legal cases against him.

Eugene V. Debs ran on the Socialist Party line for president in 1920.

Debs, a trade unionist and founding member of the Industrial Workers of the World, was in a federal penitentiary in Atlanta, Ga., during the campaign after being convicted of sedition against the United States.

And Debs didnt do badly either, getting 914,000 votes that year.

Oh, and Debs pledged to pardon himself if elected.

Something else for Dems to chew on should Trump win in November.
STATEN ISLAND N.Y.  Though the mild winter of 2024 in New York City certainly had its advantages, this spring wont likely be an easy one for those suffering from seasonal allergies.

The months of March, April and May are when Staten Islanders start heading to their allergist and primary-care physician in droves, looking for relief from a runny nose, headache, cough and sore throat brought on by spring seasonal allergies, doctors say.

And since this winter was a mild one compared to average temperatures recorded in Central Park, allergists are preparing for an onslaught of patients this spring.

Dr. Christopher V. Lisi, an ear, nose and throat specialist and the chief of the division of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery at Richmond University Medical Center in West Brighton, said hes expecting a significant increase in the number of patients hell treat in the Richmond Health Network Center for Advanced ENT, Sinus and Voice Care in Bulls Head this spring, as the pollen  and the reaction to it  will be more extreme.

After a warmer winter, we may see things booming earlier, he said. And the allergy symptoms usually correlate with how intense the blooms are.

He said hes preparing for a flood of patients in March, April and May.

WINTER 2024

During the winter of 2023-2024, meteorologists recorded warmer high and low temperatures in Central Park than averages recorded since 1990, according to Bryan Ramsey, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service.

In December 2023, the high temperature average was 50 degrees, and we hit an average of 42 degrees in January 2024 and 45 degrees in February 2024, Ramsey said. Lows averaged 40 degrees for December 2023, 32 degrees for January and 33 degrees for February, he said.

These numbers were warmer than the average expected temperatures, Ramsey said.

Historically, the average high temperature in Central Park is 45 degrees in December, 40 degrees in January and 43 degrees in February. The historical average low temperature for Central Park is 33 degrees in December, 28 degrees in January and 29 degrees in February.

And long-range forecasters from the national Climate Prediction Center continue to paint a gloomy picture for snow fans  and a pleasant one for snow haters.

They are calling for a high probability of warmer-than-average temperatures in most of the northeastern United States through most of March as well.

That doesnt mean there wont be any cold days, but the atmospheric trend is favoring more mild temperatures and limited opportunities for snowstorms, according to forecasters.

That means lots of blooms and misery for allergy sufferers, Lisi said.

If weather is much warmer, and a lot of flowers and trees and grasses are blooming, allergy season will be a lot more intense, Lisi said. Sometimes people come in and say their allergies have never been this bad.

While the most common spring allergy symptoms include a stuffy, congested nose or a watery, runny nose, itchy and runny eyes, a watery discharge from the eyes, post-nasal drip and a cough, allergies can also trigger more serious issues in those with asthma, or those in certain sensitive breathing groups.

Also, the allergic reaction often triggers other problems in healthy people, including sinus infections, snoring and breathing problems, Lisi said.

Nasal steroid sprays, such as Flonase and Nasonex, reduce inflammation in nasal passages, Lisi said, helping allergy sufferers. And they also work as a preventative measure. They produce little to no side effects as they get right to the problem, and are not absorbed into the whole body as oral medications, like Zyrtec and Claritin do.

And in-home air purifiers have really improved in recent years, and those equipped with HEPA air filters do a great job keeping outdoor allergens out of your indoor spaces, Lisi said.

Air purifiers, either stand-alone or part of you AC system, are shown to be very effective at reducing the pollen burden in the air inside of houses, he said, noting that HEPA filters are the best at filtering out viruses, bacteria, pollen and dust from the air.

NYC SPRING ALLERGY TRIGGERS

The biggest allergy triggers around New York City during springtime are trees, Lisi said.

Oak, maple, cherry blossom trees, any of these trees are the biggest offenders, he said. In the summer, its actually grasses that trigger the most reaction.

Allergy sufferers may get a break  though itll be short lived  when we get spring rain, Lisi said.

Rain tends to dampen the allergies on the actual day, he said. The air is more humid and the pollen tents to fall to the ground. But, the plants tend to bloom because of a good watering, so theyll get worse down the line.

Wind, on the other hand, always makes things worse, he said.

The windier the day, the worse its going to be, he said. When the pollen count is higher, you can expect a bigger increase in symptoms.
* A string of new technologies deployed in biodiversity conservation in Hoh Xil plays a crucial role in rangers' routine work on the "roof of the world."

* On this year's World Wildlife Day, observed on Sunday, attention has turned to the remarkable progress achieved in Hoh Xil, as well as the pivotal role played by advanced technology in safeguarding wildlife.

* Researchers believe the introduction of AI technology will further enhance the efficiency of ecological protection and scientific research in Hoh Xil.

XINING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- On the eastern edge of northwest China's Hoh Xil, a nature reserve encompassing the country's largest area of uninhabited land within the Sanjiangyuan National Park, stands a striking statue of a Tibetan antelope against the backdrop of the azure sky.

This symbolic figure marks the first protection station in the region. Established in 1997, the Sonam Dargye Protection Station pays homage to a renowned guardian of Hoh Xil and now spearheads wildlife conservation efforts in the area. Sonam Dargye, a government official and advocate for wildlife preservation, tragically lost his life in 1994 at the hands of antelope poachers who turned their weapons against him.

Though Sonam Dargye has passed, his spirit endures. Thirty years on, his extraordinary commitment has inspired more people in Hoh Xil to guard this land with passion and dedication. "I heard about his deeds at a very young age, and I was deeply moved. I was determined to follow in his footsteps and become a guardian of this land," said Tsering Lozang, 24, the youngest ranger at the Sonam Dargye Protection Station. Last June, after graduating from university, he arrived at Hoh Xil to take on this job.

For the new generation of rangers like Tsering Lozang who patrol the expansive plateau landscape, beyond the spiritual inspiration, a string of new technologies deployed in biodiversity conservation in Hoh Xil also play a crucial role in their routine work on the "roof of the world."

On this year's World Wildlife Day, observed on Sunday, attention has turned to the remarkable progress achieved in these nearly uninhabited areas, with an average altitude of over 4,600 meters, as well as the pivotal role played by advanced technology in safeguarding wildlife.

Pregnant Tibetan antelopes move across the Qinghai-Tibet highway in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 29, 2023. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)





Nestled deep in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the Hoh Xil nature reserve had long grappled with a dearth of communication signals, save for the route along the Qinghai-Xizang Highway.

The convenience of sending frequent updates to colleagues and sharing photos of Tibetan antelopes roaming in the wilderness was once unimaginable for many rangers in the nature reserve. "Entering the nature reserve meant being isolated from the outside world, especially in the Zonag Lake area. We could only contact families through expensive satellite phones," recalled Tsesogyal, a 28-year-old ranger in Hoh Xil.

During the last Tibetan antelope breeding season, a 5G base station began operations at the protection station near Zonag Lake, known as the "delivery room" for Tibetan antelopes, a species under first-class state protection in China.

This marked the expansion of the 5G network throughout the core territory of this UNESCO natural heritage site. Now it is possible to livestream one of the world's most breathtaking scenes, migrations of hoofed animals, to the global audience.

According to Zhan Jianglong, a local forest police official, the change still feels "like a dream." "Having cellphone signals in the wilderness used to be unbelievable," he said. Nowadays, there is uninterrupted 5G signal, with the peak internet speed reaching 860 Mbps.

"In the past, communication with the outside world was difficult during the journey. Now, when we reach the area near Zonag Lake, everyone can easily call their families and colleagues via phone or WeChat," Zhan said.

As early as 2016, Qinghai Province began to build a networked, remote real-time observation system to strengthen the monitoring and protection of key ecological areas.

Known as the "window of ecology," the remote monitoring system has 76 observation points across the area. It can not only closely observe and study the migration process of Tibetan antelopes but also facilitate data collection and observation of rare wildlife species, providing detailed data support for biodiversity conservation in the Sanjiangyuan National Park.

A ranger feeds a rescued Tibetan antelope cub at the Sonam Dargye Protection Station in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province, Jan. 18, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)





"It is a significant step in Sanjiangyuan National Park's pursuit of intelligent ecological protection," said Sun Lijun, deputy director of the Sanjiangyuan National Park administration.

Sun noted that based on the geographical factors and ecological monitoring requirements, the park chose to set up the 5G base station in the Zonag Lake area, which can better monitor the migration and delivery of Tibetan antelopes.

According to deputy station chief Guo Xuehu, staffers of the nature reserve rescue many Tibetan antelope calves separated from their herds at the Zonag Lake Protection Station every year. "Now, when a calf falls ill, we can also use video calls to connect with veterinarians, who can guide the treatment remotely."

"Livestreaming Tibetan antelope migration and birth also helps foster public awareness for biodiversity conservation," Sun added.

According to local authorities, more 5G base stations are expected to be built in the nature reserve, while the combination of 5G remote inspection, on-site patrol and helicopter patrol will be introduced to bolster the anti-poaching and monitoring capabilities of the reserve.

An aerial drone photo taken on June 17, 2023 shows the 5G base station at the Zonag Lake Protection Station in Hoh Xil, northwest China's Qinghai Province. (Xinhua/Zhang Hongxiang)





Research on Tibetan antelopes, one of the flagship species on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, has always been important for protecting the plateau's biodiversity, according to Lian Xinming, a researcher at the Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Hailing the technological advancements in wildlife conservation atop the "roof of the world," Lian noted that in the future, AI technology can be used to monitor the reproductive status of Tibetan antelopes. This approach would reduce human resource input and statistical errors, thus enhancing the efficiency of ecological protection and scientific research in Hoh Xil.

(Video reporters: Li Zhanyi, Wang Jinjin, Zhou Shengsheng, Zhang Hongxiang and Han Fangfang; Video editors: Hong Jing, Hui Peipei, Zheng Xin and Zhang Qiru) 
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  In honor of those who have died, here is a compilation of obituaries posted on SILive.com. Viewing times and guest books can be seen here.

Hans Raymond Nybro, 84, died Thursday, Feb. 29. A retired member of the FDNY, Raymond worked in the East Village and Westerleigh, leaving after 35 years as a lieutenant. Ray loved the camaraderie of the fire department and never missed marching in the St. Patricks Day Parade in Manhattan and the Norwegian Day parade in Bay Ridge, reads his obituary. He loved spending time with his grandchildren, and was a fan of the Yankees and Giants. For the full obituary, click here.

Mary Jane Duffy, 86, of Tinton Falls, N.J., died Tuesday, Feb. 27. The Staten Island native met her husband while working as a traveling nurse in Puerto Rico. Mary Jane had a passion for traveling and caring for others. Mary Jane and Joe resided and raised their family in Wantagh, Long Island. Mary Jane resided in Tinton Falls, NJ for the past 10 years. Mary Jane was a Registered Nurse at Belaire Nursing Home for many years before her retirement. She loved hosting holidays with her family, a good game of bingo, or an episode of Law and Order. For the full obituary, click here.

Roy Hettler Jr., 75, died in New Jersey, leaving behind a legacy of love. Hettler worked for over 30 years at ADP, where he commuted to NYC and everyone on the Staten Island Ferry knew him well. He was a member of the Holy Name Society at St. Teresas, the Exceptional Childrens Social Club of S.I., and Lifestyles for the Disabled. Hettler is survived by his sister, Cheryl Hettler, and many cousins and beloved friends who cared for him. For the full obituary, click here.

Richard Paul Downing, 71, of Williamsville, Vt., passed away only days before his 72nd birthday. Born in Princes Bay, Downing was a graduate of St. Peters High School. Later, Downing began working as a tug-boat deckhand for Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, before working for the Reinhauer Transportation Company. Downing is survived by his wife Peg, sons Richie, Mark, Donnie, Robbie, and grandchildren Trenton, Marcus, Landyn, Aurora, and Kaylee. For the full obituary, click here.

RECENT OBITUARIES

Theresa P. Clark, 94, of Washington, N.J., passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 28. Clark, born on Staten Island, was known for her strength and determination. She had a childhood battle with polio that persisted throughout her life, but persevered. Clark married Joseph B. Clark, and they raised a family in Bridgewater, N.J. She worked at a cardiologists office in Manhattan, where her love of learning about health and medicines began. Clark is survived by her five children, eight grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. For the full obituary, click here.

John J. Connelly, 91, of Eltingville, passed away on Wednesday, Feb. 28. A devoted family man, Army Military Police Corps veteran, and retired FDNY firefighter, Johns life was characterized by a deep commitment to service and love for his family. Originally from Brooklyn Heights, John began a new chapter in 1963, moving to Staten Island with his wife Marion, and their firstborn daughter, Tara. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, his son Stephen, his daughter, daughter-in-law Nancy, and four grandchildren. John will be remembered as a beloved individual who left a lasting legacy of service, love and dedication. For the full obituary, click here.

Ida Merlino, 103, a guiding light and proud advocate of Italian heritage, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 27. Ida played a pivotal role in her familys life, both as a pioneering businesswoman and a nurturing figure to her 12 younger siblings. Contributing to her familys photography business, Merlino Photo Studio, Ida was also recognized for her professionalism and community service as a prominent Staten Islander of Italian heritage in 2003. Idas enduring legacy lies in her dedication to family, hard work, and a proud celebration of her heritage. For the full obituary, click here.
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  The 60th annual St. Patricks Parade will step-off Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Hart Boulevard and Forest Avenue.

The procession will travel down Forest Avenue  rain or shine  from Hart Boulevard to Jewett Avenue, bringing with it music, dancers and more.

The thoroughfare will be closed starting around 10 a.m. The marchers entrance is located at Castleton Avenue and Hart Boulevard.

This years grand marshal is Timothy OSullivan. The title of Miss Hibernia goes to Melanie Knapp-Patterson.

The event is traditionally kicked off with a Mass in honor of St. Patrick, the patron saint of the Archdiocese of New York and the patron saint of Ireland. This years Mass will be celebrated at Blessed Sacrament Church, West Brighton, at 9:30 a.m.

The parade has been mired in controversy over the past several years over the Staten Island Parade Committees refusal to allow the boroughs LGBTQ+ community to march. Due to the LGBTQ+ exclusion by the committee, the first inclusive St. Patricks Day parade, sponsored by the Forest Avenue Business Improvement District, will be held on Sunday, March 17, on Forest Avenue.

ROAD CLOSURES

According to the Department of Transportation, the following roads along the parade route will be closed on Sunday, beginning around 10 a.m.

Hart Boulevard, between Forest Avenue and Revere Street

Forest Avenue, between Hart Boulevard and Jewett Avenue

Forest Avenue, between Jewett Avenue and Ordell Avenue

Other nearby streets may be closed at the discretion of the NYPD.

Additionally, bus routes may be affected by the parade and road closures.
If you're wondering who's at the center of all the parade controversy, this stained glass window in Saint Patrick Cathedral depicts Saint Patrick preaching to the Druids in Ireland in the 5th century. The Druids were high priests and legal scholars, who no doubt would have had an opinion on Staten Island's "Tale of Two Parades." (Mark Pynes | pennlive.com)Mark Pynes | mpynes@pennlive.com
From family-friendly days out to proper mad all-night raves, Edinburgh is the place to be this Easter.

Head over to Gladstones Land for an Easter weekend of food, historical activities and chocolate - the perfect blend of fun and learning! Or check out one of the many live performances going down in the city. Another top shout is tearing it up in La Belle Angele for California Love, a 00s and 90s hip hop and RnB night that transports you back to when music was almost too good to be true. Or maybe you could head to The Late Show for some laughs, bringing a perfect close to your Easter weekend in Edinburgh.

Its safe to say there are loads of Edinburgh Easter events going down. Secure your place at the best Easter events in Edinburgh now to avoid disappointment.

Check out the complete Edinburgh Easter listings below.
You can always count on the capital of the north to deliver the goods. Easter weekend in Manchester is bursting with events from the family-friendly, to the sophisticated, to straight-up madness.

Choose from dozens of exhilarating events that will hurt to miss including stand up by the hottest names in the circuit, live jazz bands, Jurassic live, the biggest gay club night in the UK, and, of course, Easter shutdown raves and student-friendly seshes. The Easter events in Manchester this year are as diverse as ever, meaning theres something for everyone, leaving you in awe, ready to go back for round two.

If youre thinking about checking out some Manchester Easter events, nows the perfect time. With everyone ecstatic about the four-day weekend, you can bet everyones eager to get out and about, meaning tickets wont last long.

Head below for Easter events in Manchester.
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In far eastern Russia, where current temperatures are sub-zero and polar bears are roaming wild, a little-known publicly listed company backed by Australian billionaire philanthropists Paul Little and Jane Hansen is mining coal and shipping it to Asia.

While most Australian businesses left Russia after Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine two years ago  partly in protest against the war and partly because of the Commonwealths strict sanctions regime  Tigers Realm Coal ploughed ahead with its operations, expanding from China to the rest of the Asian market, and reaping a net profit of $46 million in the past year.

Tigers Realm Coal, which operates in Russia, has launched legal action against DFAT. Credit: Tigers Realm

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade warned Tigers it was likely in breach of the Autonomous Sanctions Act, but the miner was unconvinced, describing DFATs non-binding finding as untenable, and launching legal action in June in the hopes of having the finding overturned.

The saga, which could have wide-scale ramifications for Australias sanctions regime, will finally play out in Federal Courts chambers in Canberra on Monday when lawyers for Tigers will seek to convince Justice Geoffrey Kennett that sanctions on importing, purchasing and transporting Russian coal does not apply to their client.
After seasons of barbiecore , gothcore , cottagecore and balletcore we are out of adjectives and back to the core of trying to make money in challenging times.

Out of the trenches: Acne Studios, Courreges, Balmain, Isabel Marant and Rochas autumn/winter 2024 at Paris Fashion Week, Credit: Getty, supplied

Fashion can be fabulous and ridiculous. This season, designers at most of the luxury houses showing at Paris Fashion Week chose the safe middle ground with countless trench coats, a paddocks worth of leather skirts and more sheer dresses than a strip club.

For people happy to shop their existing wardrobes its inspiring but for those who revel in the boundary-pushing ridiculousness of exaggerated silhouettes, unexpected historical references and flights of fancy its a bore.

Trench warfare

This season, the trench coat became as basic as a white T-shirt. The challenge is to find designers pushing the trend far enough to make you tap your credit card.

If you already own a trench coat, follow the runway approach of Swedish brand Acne Studios and French label Courreges by doing up the buttons and flipping your collar like youre a Cold War spy in a 70s movie.

Olivier Rousteing at Balmain was more playful with proportion, exaggerating shoulder flaps, but it was Alessandro Vigilantes debut as creative director at Rochas that took the wardrobe essential beyond basic.
Saudi Arabia has granted licences to 450 foreign investors to open their regional headquarters in the kingdom in a major boost to the country's economic growth as it will create immense employment opportunities, said Minister of Investment Engineer Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Falih.

He was addressing the gathering at the 'Human Capability Initiative,' the first-ever global co-operative platform set up in Riyadh designed to unify the international efforts and enrich the global dialogue on the challenges and opportunities for developing human capabilities.

A two-day event, HCI was held under the theme of #FutureReadiness  getting ready for the future starts now.

It brought together policymakers, thought leaders, investors and entrepreneurs to catalyze international collaboration and maximize resilience, exploring opportunities and promoting innovative policy design and solutions.

Speaking at the event, Al Falih said these investments will encourage the workforce to develop and acquire new skills and achieve their full potential.

It hosted more than 60 sessions with 150+ speakers, including global leaders and experts from the policy, corporate, investment, and academic sectors who will exchange expertise and develop new concepts to optimize human capability within our rapidly changing modern world.-TradeArabia News Service
CAIRO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A high-level delegation of the Gaza-ruling Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) has arrived here Sunday for talks with Egyptian officials on a ceasefire deal in the Gaza Strip, according to an official security source.

The delegation headed by Hamas' deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya, is expected to negotiate a truce in the coming holy month of Ramadan that will start next week, the source told Xinhua on conditions of anonymity.

The expected deal will include a swap of 40 Israeli hostages for 400 Palestinian prisoners, and increasing aid trucks into the besieged enclave, he said, adding that an Israeli delegation is likely to arrive later on Sunday for truce talks.

Israel waged a massive campaign on Gaza after Hamas attacked Israeli towns, killed about 1,200 and took over 200 as hostages on Oct. 7 last year.

Since then, the Israeli retaliation has killed 30,320 Palestinians and wounded 71,533 others, according to the latest data released by Gaza's health ministry on Saturday. 
An extra 2.5 million Australians are now classified as obese compared with a decade ago, as the federal government considers a proposal to limit junk-food advertising targeted towards children.

While the proportion of Australians considered overweight (but not obese) has fallen in the past four years, about a third of Australian adults  or 6.3 million people  were considered obese at the last census. It was 3.9 million people a decade ago.

Andrew Wilson has lost 70 kilograms since 2020, and believes weight stigma is stopping many people from seeking help for obesity Credit: Dean Sewell

The growth is mainly being driven by those in the highest-risk category, which has jumped 48 per cent since 2012, and moderate risk obesity, which rose by 23 per cent over the same period, a new analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data by the Obesity Collective shows.

People with a body mass index above 40 are considered high-risk and those between 35 and 39.9 are considered to be at moderate risk of developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, dementia, asthma and cardiovascular disease.
NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory is running 41 missions, but its deputy director has an extra one: helping Aboriginal students along the path to becoming astronauts.

Last year NASA JPL hosted the first cohort of First Nations interns who went to Pasadena, California to study space science for 10 weeks, and last week the research institute visited Melbourne to hear about the interns experiences.

NASA JPL deputy director Larry D. James (left) and Professor Christopher Lawrence from Monash University. Credit: Eddie Jim

One of our missions is to inspire the next generation, said Larry D. James, a retired lieutenant general with the US Air Force and now the deputy director of NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

And this is showing young men and women what they could be in the future  and they may never have realised that without this kind of experience.
The University of Sydney is ditching the advanced mathematics prerequisites for scores of degrees in response to the declining number of HSC students taking the subject.

Vice chancellor Mark Scott said maths teacher shortages meant too many students could not study the subject in year 12, providing a barrier for diverse students to study at the university.

Two unit maths prerequisites for dozens of degrees were introduced in 2019. Credit: iStock

Mathematical skills and knowledge are vital for students to succeed at university and thrive in the workplaces of the future, he said.

Yet through no fault of their own, many students dont have the opportunity to take advanced mathematics at school, a situation exacerbated by ongoing maths teacher shortages that affect some schools more than others.
How would it look if you called a big protest rally but no protesters turned up? It would look a lot like the weekend byelection for the federal parliamentary seat of Dunkley.

After 21 months of complaining and catastrophising, fuming and foaming about the Albanese government, the Liberal Party told us to expect a mighty protest vote.

And its true that it was the perfect set-up for one. It was held amid a painful cost surge and a tripling of mortgage interest rates. In a seat that rejected the Voice. An electorate that feels overlooked, on the furthest fringes of a big city.

Credit: Artwork: Marija Ercegovac

It was the ideal opportunity to do what Peter Dutton had urged: Send Anthony Albanese a message that he needs to do a better job in addressing the cost-of-living crisis.
Subang Jaya, Malaysia: The Malaysian government appears certain to back a fresh search for the wreckage of flight MH370, the jetliner that disappeared 10 years ago this week with 239 people on board, including six Australians.

American company Ocean Infinity has put forward a new proposal for a 15,000-square-kilometre search of the Southern Indian Ocean on a no-find, no-fee basis.

Malaysias Transport Minister Anthony Loke, right, addresses reporters on Sunday. Credit: Zach Hope

It would be the first major search for MH370 since Ocean Infinity tried  and failed  to find the Malaysia Airlines plane in 2018.

As far as the Malaysian government is concerned, we are committed to justice and the search must go on, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at a 10-year remembrance service near the capital Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
As Vladimir Putins war enters its third year, it is time to count the bodies. Ukraine admits to 31,000 deaths suffered by its troops. The actual toll is probably much higher, not to mention all the serious injuries. Tens of thousands of its civilians have lost their lives, including hundreds of children, while 21,000 young people have been kidnapped and taken by force to Russia.

Damage to infrastructure and housing and the environment has been huge. Russia has not dared to admit to the number of its military casualties, estimated at more than four times that of Ukraine. It is thought that by the end of this year, half a million people will be dead or disfigured.

What does international law say about all this?

Hear no evil? Russian President Vladimir Putin Credit: Sputnik, Kremlin Pool via AP

It says, very clearly, that Putin is guilty of invading another country for no good reason and, as one of the founders of international law, Emmerich de Vattel, said centuries ago, the Russian leader bears legal responsibility for all the evils, all the horrors of war; all the effusion of blood, the desolation of families, the rapine, the ravages are his works and his crimes.
PHILIPSBURG:--- The House of Parliament will sit in a Central Committee meeting on March 4, 2024.

The Central Committee meeting is scheduled for Monday at 14.00 hrs. in the Legislative Hall at Wilhelminastraat #1 in Philipsburg.

The agenda points are:

1. Advice regarding the installation and composition of the Permanent and Ad hoc Committees of Parliament

2. Advice regarding the installation and composition of the Committees of the Latin American Parliament (Parlatino)

Members of the public are invited to the House of Parliament to attend parliamentary deliberations. All persons visiting the House of Parliament must adhere to the house rules.

The House of Parliament is located across from the Court House in Philipsburg.

The parliamentary sessions will be carried live on TV 15, Soualiga Headlines, via SXM GOV radio FM 107.9, via Pearl Radio FM 98.1, the audio via the internet www.sxmparliament.org, www.pearlfmradio.sx and www.youtube.com/c/SintMaartenParliament
PHILIPSBURG:--- One of the exciting Spring 2024 classes at the University of St. Martin (USM) is English 112 Composition.

The subject is aimed at helping students develop their critical reading, analytical, argumentative, and writing skills through the study of literature, said course lecturer Dr. Yadira Boston.

The course includes students from St. Maarten, Saba, and St. Eustatius who have read the required text, Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin by Dr. Rhoda Arrindell and discussed the phenomena mentioned in the title of the book through the perceived lens of the author, said Dr. Boston.

But the discussion didnt end with the authors findings and conclusion in the book, which has been called a unique groundbreaking work by Dr. Alma Simounet of the University of Puerto Rico.

The students then contribute to this discussion by looking through their lens of the phenomena and sharing with the other students and their instructor, said Dr. Boston.

As the semester progresses, author Rhoda Arrindell, herself a lecturer at Howard University, will visit the English 112 class to engage and contribute to these discussions and it will be an honor to have her, said Dr. Boston.

Language, Culture, and Identity in St. Martin is available at ARNIA Bookstore (Bush Road/Zagersgut Road), and online at SPDbooks.org, said Jacqueline A. Sample, president of HNP, the books publisher.
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Delegations of deputies attending the second session of the 14th National People's Congress (NPC), China's national legislature, have all registered for the NPC annual session scheduled to open in Beijing on Tuesday.

Preparations for the session have been completed, according to the press center of the session on Sunday. 
'Who will call me mother?': Gazan woman mourns twin babies killed in strike



Gaza Strip, Palestinian Territories, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2024



As men searched for survivors beneath a Gaza home pummelled by an air strike, Rania Abu Anza gazed down on Sunday at two children who did not survive: her infant twins.

The Palestinian woman said she had gone through multiple rounds of fertility treatment to achieve her dream of becoming a mother, only to have it taken away by the carnage in the Gaza Strip.

"Who will call me mother from now on? Who will call me mother?" she said through tears on Sunday as she clutched her lifeless babies, the face of one still spattered with blood.

The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Wissam and Naeem, not yet six months old, were among 14 people killed in the overnight strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah, which it blamed on Israel.

All of the dead were members of the Abu Anza family.

They joined the 30,410 fatalities, most of them women and children, reported by the ministry since Israel launched military operations to eliminate Hamas last October.

The campaign came in response to the Palestinian militant group's unprecedented October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people, according to an AFP tally of official figures.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to AFP's request for comment on the Rafah strike.



- 'All of them children' -



While Rania Abu Anza waited to bury her son and daughter, back at the rubble of the family home men shouted the names of those they hoped had survived: "Yasser! Ahmed! Sajjar!"

Israel says its campaign is intended to eliminate Hamas fighters, but Shehda Abu Anza, who said the home belonged to his uncle, insisted it housed only civilians.

"They were sleeping at eleven-o-clock at night. All of them children. Honestly there was no military presence in the house, only civilians," he said.

"No soldiers, only civilians."

Another relative, Arafat Abu Anza, bemoaned the lack of equipment to extract possible survivors.

"There are 15 people in the house... I'm cleaning the area. We are trying to extract people, to see where they are. Four floors fell."

Nearly 1.5 million Palestinians have sought refuge in Rafah, raising fears of mass casualties should Israel go ahead with a planned invasion of the city.

Mediators are trying to lock in a truce that would at least temporarily halt the fighting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins on March 10 or 11, depending on the lunar calendar.

A senior Hamas official told AFP the group had sent a delegation to Cairo, and Egyptian state-linked media said envoys from the United States and Qatar had also arrived for talks on Sunday.

Any deal will come too late for Rania Abu Anza, who recounted the chaos of the strike and how she was told her children were gone.

"I started shouting, 'My children, my children,'" she said.

"I asked the rescuers to search for my kids in the rubble. They pulled them. They told me, 'Your children are dead.'"
Mr Hunt said: Were sticking with our plan by backing the industries of the future with millions of pounds of investment to make the UK a world leader in manufacturing, securing the highly skilled jobs of the future and delivering the long-term change our country needs to deliver a brighter future for Britain.
They have no marker for their loved one. And they say this is his or her memorial. This is their grave. And he or she is together with all these other people, and it gives them comfort.
Typically used to prevent people who pose known security concerns from coming to the UK, it is understood the new plans will extend the powers to include those preaching racism, incitement or using intimidation or violence to undermine the democratic process.
LOS ANGELES, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Tens of thousands of protesters gathered and marched in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday, denouncing U.S. Palestine policy, especially the Biden administration's consistent pro-Israel stance.

Many of the protesters wore Palestinian keffiyeh, a distinctly patterned black-and-white headdress regarded as a symbol of Palestinian nationalism since the beginning of the conflict between Palestinians and Jewish settlers which dates back to the 1936 to 1939 Arab revolt in Palestine.

They marched through the main streets of downtown Los Angeles with Palestinian flags, chanting slogans against U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, like "stop genocide" and "free Palestine."

A middle-aged man was seen handing a placard with a portrait of Aaron Bushnell and shouting his words: "I will no longer be complicit in genocide."

Bushnell, a 25-year-old serviceman of the U.S. Air Force, died after setting himself on fire outside the front gate of the Embassy of Israel in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 25, to protest against U.S. support for Israel's attacks on Gaza since last October.

"Gaza is facing famine, its hospitals are besieged, threats of ground invasion in Rafah loom near, and Israel continues its onslaught on the over 2 million Palestinians in the Gaza Strip," Code Pink, one of the organizers for Saturday's rally, said on its official website. "We must show our full strength now to ensure a lasting ceasefire and an end to the siege on Gaza."

Code Pink is an internationally active left-wing anti-war group based in Los Angeles.

Dozens of cultural workers also gathered outside Santa Monica Airport on Saturday morning, where the Frieze Los Angeles show was held, to protest continued U.S. funding for Israel's attacks on Gaza.

Frieze Los Angeles is a leading international art fair focusing on contemporary art. Many fairgoers drove by honking and cheering with their fists out while protestors held signs that read "Let Gaza Live" and "What good is art that ignores genocide?"

"We're out here today because the silence from the art world has been incredibly loud," a protester who preferred to remain anonymous told Hyperallergic, an online arts magazine based in Brooklyn, New York. 
The boat was 20 miles inland of Calais when it capsized at 6.30am on the Aa river at the town of Watten, according to reports.
"Yemen will continue to sink more British ships, and any repercussions or other damages will be added to Britain's bill," Hussein al-Ezzi, deputy foreign minister in the Houthi-led government, said in a post on X.
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming annual sessions of China's national legislature and political advisory body provide a prime opportunity for observers to gain a unique vantage point to witness the country's democracy in action.

From group deliberations to discussions with lawmakers and political advisors, President Xi Jinping will be active in China's democratic policy formulation and decision-making.

Xi, acting in his capacity as one of the nearly 3,000 deputies elected to the National People's Congress (NPC), will join his fellow deputies to review and vote on the performance of the central government, the national legislature, the top court and the top procuratorate over the past year. He will also cast his vote on any new law and major revision submitted to the session for deliberation.

Throughout his career, the Chinese leader has championed people's democracy.

"Democracy is a value shared by all humanity and an ideal that the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Chinese people have always upheld," said Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee.

As the top leader of both the Party and the state, he has spearheaded efforts to pursue whole-process people's democracy, a key concept put forward by Xi himself to advance China's political landscape after seeing the shortfalls of Western democracy.

Under his guidance, China has made all-around progress in improving the institutions, standards, and procedures of socialist democracy, and advanced socialist consultative democracy by way of extensive participation.

He has strongly advocated for unity between leadership by the Party, the running of the country by the people, and law-based governance to ensure that state governance escapes the historical cycle of rise and fall.

Zhang Weiwei, director of the China Institute of Fudan University, highlighted that Chinese democracy diverges from the Western model that is centered around multi-party rotation and universal suffrage for leaders.

Chinese democracy, Zhang said, emphasizes extensive public participation, policy consultations, and the pursuit of good governance.

PEOPLE AS MASTERS

Half a month before this year's "two sessions," the Party's flagship magazine Qiu Shi published an article by Xi on democracy, expounding on the people's congress system.

"The system is an important institutional vehicle for realizing whole-process people's democracy," Xi wrote, drawing attention to its essence -- that all power of the state belongs to the people and the people's position as masters of the country should be protected to the greatest extent.

After re-elected Chinese president and chairman of the country's Central Military Commission at the annual session of the national legislature in March 2023, Xi emphasized the imperative of adopting a people-centered development philosophy.

He underscored the need for ensuring equitable distribution of the gains of modernization and pledged to drive notable and substantive advancements in fostering prosperity for all.

Observers say a key feature of China's whole-process people's democracy is to ensure it works for the vast majority of the people instead of serving the interests of capital or the elite class.

This can be seen through Xi's active interactions with grassroots people during the annual "two sessions" in forming policies. Over the past 11 years, he has participated in 56 deliberations and discussion sessions during the annual sessions, directly interacting with over 400 lawmakers and political advisors.

At one event in 2019, national lawmaker Li Liancheng, who was a village Party chief, articulated the "eight dreams" of Chinese farmers to Xi, emphasizing priorities such as local education for children, healthcare access, and local employment opportunities.

Xi, intimately familiar with rural affairs from his time in the countryside as an "educated youth" half a century ago, acknowledged the significance of Li's message, saying it resonated with the aspirations of rural residents nationwide.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to serving the people and pledged to advance step by step toward realizing the dreams of a better life for all.

Li advocated for a more targeted approach to technological assistance, emphasizing the importance of aligning it with the real needs of villagers.

Following the meeting, government ministries conducted field research and took tailored measures in Xixinzhuang Village, Li's hometown, to enhance agricultural technology extension services.

During his participation in discussions with political advisors in 2022, Xi listened keenly as scientist Wang Jing proposed what she called green "radar" in farm fields to detect agricultural product quality and safety issues in real time.

Within a year, her proposal was put into practice nationwide, and related regulations were introduced. The technology was included as a new clause in the revised Agricultural Products Quality and Safety Law.

Xi's dedication to empowering the public and prioritizing the people's needs traces back to the early days of his political career.

In October 1984, as Party chief of Zhengding County in north China's Hebei Province, he initiated a questionnaire survey.

He stood on the streets, distributing questionnaires to residents and inviting them to sit down and have a chat.

This practice became routine and over time, evolved into the online solicitation of opinions.

Nearly four decades later, as the Party's top leader, Xi elevated this democratic practice to a whole new level. Before the Party convened its 20th National Congress, Xi ordered a massive online public opinion solicitation to listen to the people's views for drafting a keynote report he would deliver at the Party congress.

In a month, about 8.54 million public suggestions were collected to shape policies, spanning topics like carbon neutrality and education quality. These contributions were refined into 1,675 items and shared with the drafting group for the report.

As Xi has stated: Whether a country is democratic or not depends on whether its people are truly the masters of the country.

THE WHOLE PROCESS

In 2021, Xi convened the Party's first-ever Central People's Congress Work Conference. At the high-profile meeting, he expounded on the whole-process people's democracy and made a thinly veiled criticism of the bogus democracy practiced in certain countries.

"If the people are only engaged with to solicit votes and then are left in the dark, if they must listen to grandiose election slogans but have no voice when the elections are over, or if they are only treated well by candidates during elections and are ignored after, this is not true democracy," Xi said.

In 2019, when he first put forward "whole-process democracy," Xi said people's democracy is a type of whole-process democracy.

Observers say whole-process democracy involves more than just a matter of voting, rather, it is forged into every single link in the running of state power. This breaks from a solitary focus on voting and ensures the people's rights to democratic elections, consultations, decision-making, management, and oversight.

Xi pays close attention to each of the above-mentioned democratic processes and has no time for practices that hamper democracy.

In 2014, he discussed at length a vote-buying case in the election of local lawmakers in Hunan Province. Visibly angered, Xi fired a barrage of questions: Where did the Party members go? Where did their sense of Party discipline and law go? Where did their conscience go?

Afterward, Xi referred to this case on at least two other occasions. Eventually, 467 people were held accountable.

"In this socialist country led by the CPC, all power of the state belongs to the people," Xi told investigators of China's top graft-buster. "Political power should never be distributed according to one's social status, wealth, or personal relationships."

Xi's push for consultative democracy, which involves political consultation between the governing CPC and other political parties, dates back to his tenure as a local Party cadre.

In 1988, as Party chief of Fujian's Ningde prefecture, Xi facilitated the establishment of the first prefectural committee of the China Democratic League, a non-CPC political party. Xi initiated regular visits by CPC leaders to members of other political parties and intellectuals, emphasizing the importance of the united front.

As a top leader, Xi still allocates time to democratic decision-making and management at the grassroots.

In February 2019, he paid a visit to an inconspicuous courtyard in a central Beijing hutong that neighbors call a "courtyard meeting hall" when residents were discussing renovating their homes.

On the whiteboard were listed suggestions raised by residents: cleaning up clutter in the courtyard; ensuring fully functional kitchens, storage, and bathrooms; and bringing in professional design teams.

"When will the renovation start?" "Are there many houses with historical and cultural value?" ... Xi joined the discussion.

Hailing the courtyard meetings as a mechanism that empowered community members to discuss and decide their own affairs, Xi said, it was conducive to improving precision in community governance and services.

Xi's pursuit of an effective oversight mechanism found its embodiment in the development of China's first village affairs supervision committee in Houchen Village, Zhejiang Province.

The supervision committee was set up in 2004 amid escalating tensions between villagers and village officials regarding the management of a substantial land acquisition compensation totaling about 20 million yuan.

The committee captured the attention of Xi, who was then Zhejiang's Party chief. He visited Houchen on the committee's first anniversary, and emphasized the inevitability of its creation in a community grappling with numerous challenges.

He hailed it as the "Houchen model," lauding its role in pioneering grassroots democratic supervision in rural areas.

Over two decades, this initiative has evolved from a localized measure to a nationally recognized policy and has taken root in over 690,000 administrative villages nationwide.

Xi said that to measure whether a country is democratic, a key element is to see whether the rules and procedures for the exercise of power are democratic, and more importantly, whether the exercise of power is genuinely subject to public oversight and checks.

DEMOCRACY IS NOT COCA-COLA

In Xi's view, there is no uniform or single model of democracy; it comes in many forms.

The whole-process people's democracy practiced in China is based on the country's reality, history, and culture, and it reflects the people's will, he said, while repeatedly stressing the effectiveness of this democracy.

Officials and scholars have gone further to explain that democracy is not Coca-Cola, tasting the same across the world as the syrup is produced in one single country.

China experts view whole-process people's democracy as pivotal to the country's remarkable achievements of rapid economic growth and sustained social stability.

This role is evident in the country's formulation of effective laws to enhance governance.

In 2019, during a visit to a legislative outreach office in Shanghai, Xi talked with both Chinese and foreign residents participating in a consultation on a draft law.

Draft laws are disseminated to local legislative outreach offices to facilitate discussions among ordinary citizens, enabling their voices to be heard by the national legislature.

Xi inquired about the process of soliciting opinions on the draft law, and attentively reviewed the materials containing suggestions.

Acknowledging the office's beneficial explorations, he encouraged the maintenance of open channels for public opinion and the enrichment of democratic mechanisms.

The preparation and implementation of five-year plans for national economic and social development are an important means by which the Party governs China.

To incorporate people's wisdom into the blueprint, democracy was in full swing.

In 2020, during an inspection in Hunan Province before the formulation of the country's 14th five-year plan, Xi sat down with 30 grassroots representatives at a meeting in the provincial capital to hear their views and suggestions.

During the two-hour discussion, Pan Jiuren, a rural teacher of the Yao ethnic group, candidly addressed the deficiencies in basic education in remote regions, highlighting issues such as teacher shortages and challenging working conditions.

In response, Xi acknowledged China's progress in universalizing compulsory education since the reform and opening up. However, he underscored the escalating issue of uneven distribution of educational resources and the imperative to address this problem.

Before the five-year plan was ready for discussion at a key plenary meeting of the Party's Central Committee, Xi hosted seven such symposiums, meeting citizens from diverse backgrounds, including migrant workers, farmers, truck drivers, legal professionals, and restaurant owners.

"China's democracy is no verbal mirage," said Robert Lawrence Kuhn, an American scholar and chairman of the Kuhn Foundation.

Democracy in the Party-led system involves various feedback and interactive mechanisms, especially people's congresses at various levels, and it also entails ensuring adequate standards of living for all Chinese citizens, he said.

During the 2019 "two sessions," a lawmaker from Gansu Province voiced local residents' desire for an expressway to accelerate local prosperity. Turning to an official seated beside him, Xi inquired about the number of counties in the province lacking expressways.

The interactions expedited the construction of transportation infrastructure for those in need.

In November 2023, the long-awaited expressway was put into operation. One month later, after a 6.2-magnitude earthquake struck the province, the expressway became a vital lifeline for delivering aid and transporting the injured to hospitals.

This is an example of how Xi's discussions with national legislators and political advisors during the "two sessions" concentrate on addressing challenges and proposing new methods for economic and social development.

Through these interactions, innovative governance strategies have been considered, suggested, refined, and matured.

Observant of Xi's post-deliberation actions, keen observers note his consistent selection of provincial areas for focused on-site research, addressing specific issues raised during deliberation sessions.

In 2014, he explored the Shanghai free trade zone; in 2018, he traveled to the remote Daliang Mountain in Sichuan to inspect poverty alleviation efforts; in 2021, he examined ecological protection measures on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau in Qinghai. Many of his research priorities align with concerns voiced by national legislators and political advisors.

In navigating the complexities of governing a vast nation like China, Xi often invokes a quote from a Chinese political commentator dating back two millennia: "A bird cannot soar into the sky using only one feather, and a horse cannot gallop using only one hoof."

This ancient wisdom underscores Xi's belief that the collective strength of China's over 1.4 billion citizens must be harnessed to build a strong nation and advance national rejuvenation.

The reason why China has been so successful has been its ability to enthuse, involve and mobilize the people in the political process and thereby contribute to the country's future, said British scholar Martin Jacques.

"Too many Western politicians seem to think the point of democracy is democracy. It is not," he said. "Ultimately, democracy is about representing the people, involving the people, and creating the best form of governance, the most acceptable and the most successful form of governance." 
National leader of Romania's Social Democratic Party (PSD) Marcel Ciolacu says that Europe needs more social policies, humanisation, "the energy and ideas that European social-democracy supports."

"When we say that no one should be left behind, we must also take action. And, I humbly say it, we have always been the ones who have done it. Whether we are talking about Pedro Sanchez in Spain, Antonio Costa in Portugal, Stefan Lofven in Sweden, Mette Frederiksen in Denmark, Olaf Scholz in Germany or the Social Democratic Party in Romania, we were the ones who increased the minimum wage, increased pensions, created jobs, supported young people and developed our countries. And another example is Nicolas Schmit, the incumbent commissioner for jobs and social rights, the man who developed the SURE programme under which we've saved millions of jobs. Under SURE, Romania has benefitted from over EUR 3 billion," Ciolacu wrote in a social media post on Saturday.

Ciolacu on Friday and Saturday attended the Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in Rome ahead of the June 2024 European Parliament election.
Romania's Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu, national leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), on Saturday met Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez to establish the "last details" on awarding dual citizenship to Romanians living in Spain.

"Today, I had a meeting with the President of the Council of Ministers of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, to discuss joint Romania-Spain projects. I took the opportunity to thank the Spanish prime minister for the support offered by the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU for Romania's accession to the Schengen area by air and sea at the end of March. At the same time, we established together the last details regarding the award of dual citizenship to Romanians living in Spain. Soon that wish of Romanians in Spain will become reality as a result of the efforts made by the two social democratic parties in Spain and Romania," Ciolacu wrote on Facebook, Agerpres informs.

Ciolacu on Friday and Saturday participated in the Congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES) in Rome ahead of the June 2024 European parliament election.
The Right Force Party has picked its candidates for the Bucharest district mayoralties and reiterated their endorsement of incumbent Bucharest General Mayor Nicusor Dan for re-election.

They are Horia Grigorescu - District 1 City Hall; Oana Nicolescu - District 2 City Hall; Catalin Nitu - District 3 City Hall; Ciprian Grigore Pericleanu - District 4 City Hall; Bogdan Francu - District 5 City Hall, and Ionel Puscas - District 6 City Hall, Agerpres informs.

Right Force national leader Ludovic Orban says the party has decided to endorse incumbent Bucharest General Mayor Nicusor Dan for re-election.

At a Bucharest Right Force conference on Saturday, Orban said that the decision to hold the local elections at the same time with the European Parliament election is a "vile, undemocratic, anti-constitutional" decision, being taken against the alliance of Save Romania Union (USR), People's Movement Party (PMP) and the Right Force.

"This wicked, undemocratic, anti-constitutional decision to force Romanians to come to the polls to elect their mayors, local councillors, county chairs and county councillors is taken for several perverse reasons. First and foremost, it is taken against us. That is the real reason, because they know very well that we, in the first phase, laid the foundations only of an alliance for the elections to the European Parliament, that we are three distinct political parties which, faced with the obligation to prepare for local elections, will have to do these things within a month. A month to harmonise, to establish our mayoral candidates, when in many settlements there are good candidates for mayors from USR, the Right Force and PMP, to try to prepare strategically for such a battle as local elections, given that we will be up against 2,900 mayors belonging to PSD and PNL," Orban said.

He added that city hall officials are "half turned into electioneering agents" and are joined by local councillors.

"More than 30,000 local councillors, hundreds of thousands of city hall employees, are half transformed into electoral agents, especially in rural areas and small towns, with all sinecure holders smuggled through the back door, to public bodies, ministries state-owned companies that will become electoral agents overnight."

The leader of the Right Force added that the decision to combine elections is an "attempt to hijack the citizens' vote, (...) to impede the free exercise of citizens' vote."

"I cannot believe that 34 years after the Revolution, a government in Romania can dare announce that it is amending the electoral legislation just three months before the elections without any public consultation, by emergency ordinance, and we have quite many confirmations of the fact that such attempts clearly represent an attempt at electoral fraud, an attempt to hijack the citizens' vote, an attempt to prevent the free exercise of citizens' vote. And what these fearful people propose, who plot everything they are up to out of fear, out of fear of people, out of fear that sooner or later the revolt against their callousness will manifest itself, propose some things that are absolutely unacceptable; with three months and a few days they say that the election date will be June 9.
LIMA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- At least six people were killed in the southern Peruvian region of Apurimac after the Chumbao River was flooded by heavy rain, said local media on Saturday.

The incident occurred early Friday when the victims were allegedly traveling in a black vehicle that rushed into the waters and there was a surge in the river's flow due to heavy rainfall, according to the local radio station Exitosa.

Local authorities evacuated people from the Kaspichaka district after the National Emergency Operations Center reported Friday that an overflow of the Chumbao River caused damage to homes in the Talavera district in southern Peru. 
LOS ANGELES  Security comes with an Oscar nomination.

Or so Bobi Wine and his wife Barbie Kyagulanyi discovered when Bobi Wine: The Peoples President was nominated for Best Documentary in this years Academy Awards race.

As a result of the attention, we have a bit of protection, Kyagulanyi says. There is some shame to the government because they know the world is watching.

A former member of the Ugandan Parliament and a superstar musician, Wine ran against the dictatorial regime in the 2021 presidential election. He had a groundswell of support but the party in power repeatedly arrested him during the campaign. On Jan. 16, the electoral commission announced that Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, the incumbent, had won with more than 58 percent of the vote. Wine refused to accept the results and said the election was the most fraudulent in Ugandas history.

The Ugandan dictatorship has been in power for 38 years, says Moses Bwayo, director of the documentary. Before that, there was about 24 years of coups. Uganda has never had a smooth transition to power. It has never had a democratic system in place. The people of Uganda, led by Bobi Wine, continue to fight for this and the repression continues back in Uganda. This is a current story. It has not stopped.

Music, Wine says, introduced him to the nation. That endeared me to the people, he adds. Initially, my music was about the girls and the party and the beer. At the height of my success, I had a situation where I was attacked and beaten by security. I was not safe and thats when my music changed to address the social issues and injustices.

That prompted others to view him as a spokesperson for the underprivileged. When I ran for office, I was already popular  not a popular artist, but a popular public spokesperson. The regime back home (thought) it was just the music. They banned my music and paid other popular artists to come and contradict the message that I give, but it did not work.

Unofficially, Wines music has been banned in Uganda; the venue he bought has been blocked. So many people are in prison for being found playing my music publicly because its seen as dangerous to the minds of society.

Still, Wine continues to record and uses social media to spread the word. I perform, only not in Uganda.

To chronicle his political journey, Bwayo spent six years following him.

He was enemy No. 1 of the state, and it was very dangerous covering this story, Bwayo says. I was shot in the face at close range. I was arrested, locked up in prison, interrogated. Just before we released the film, my wife and I had to flee the country. We live here and were seeking political asylum.

Before word spread about the documentary, the participants had to worry about abduction.

These days, Kyagulanyi says, They wait for the dark. They make sure there is no camera record around. They use more tactics.

The Wines have been allowed to leave the country, even when they know we are coming (to the United States) to cause more damage, Kyagulanyi says. I know theyre waiting for when the lights and cameras stop so they can resume the shameless and more intense crackdown on us.

A week before the Oscar nominations, the couple were under house arrest. On the very day at the film came out, the military withdrew from our home, Wine says. Museveni invited a director to make a documentary about the beauty of Uganda. Theyre not sharing (information) about the schools and hospitals but there has been more safety for us and more effort to cleanse the image. It is thanks to this film that the mask was pulled off.

Wine laughs at the idea he and his wife are campaigning for the Oscar.

For us, its a campaign for life, he says. For us, this is a lifeline. Every opportunity we get to show the situation in Uganda, we are extending our lease on life. The more Americans see this film, the more Europeans see this film, the more attention will be drawn to our home. Our greatest achievement is to make sure that we achieve conditions put on the $1 billion U.S. dollars that are given to General Museveni by the U.S. every year. If the U.S. doesnt facilitate General Musevenis rule anymore, it will be the end of the story for him.

Bobi Wine: The Peoples President is currently streaming on Disney+ and Hulu. The Academy Awards air March 10 on ABC.

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Global investment banking firm Goldman Sachs has launched a rural communities investment program in Missouri, part of its national 10,000 Small Businesses program.

The companys Investment in Rural Communities initiative started last year in Arkansas and North Dakota and promises to reach small business owners in 20 states over the next five years through a $100 million investment.

The program is a 10-week course that provides business education from industry experts, access to capital and support services to small business owners looking to expand, increase revenue and grow customer base.

Missouris first cohort of 35 people have already begun classes, Asahi Pompey, Goldman Sachs head of corporate engagement and president of the Goldman Sachs Foundation, said. Nine of the businesses are from St. Louis: The Pilates Lab, Proficient Chiropractic, Freddie Lees Gourmet Sauces, Refuge and Restoration, Grab My Bag, Fulfill Food and Beverages, Reimagine Resources, Moss Restoration, and DEMIblue Clean Vegan Nail Polish.

Clementines Naughty and Nice Creamery owner Tamara Keefe was part of the 10,000 Small Businesses national cohort in 2018 and has since grown her ice cream business from one to eight locations. Keefe said the program helped her construct a solid business plan that she uses to this day and that the Goldman Sachs program gave her access to business experts she previously couldnt tap.

I was so buried in the weeds, Keefe said of operating Clementines prior to the 10,000 Small Businesses program. It was a turning point.

Pompey described Missouris small business ecosystem as dynamic. Small businesses make up 99% of the states businesses, and over 1 million people are small-business employees.

We understand that if we want to reach everyone, we need to go deeper and be boots on the ground to administer the program, she said. We saw how small businesses were adversely impacted by the pandemic but also how many were able to launch and expand. This is the perfect time to go deeper.

According to a Goldman Sachs survey, 86% of small businesses in rural communities have plans to grow their business, but only 7% believe that they are receiving sufficient private sector resources to support growth.

We believe that we have a playbook and track record that works, Pompey said. We have the know-how and access to resources to help business owners.

The multimillion-dollar investment includes $75 million to community development financial institutions that provide loans to small businesses, $15 million in funding for the business education programs at local community colleges and $10 million in access to capital capacity-building grants.

Since its inception in 2009, the initiative has served more than 14,500 small businesses around the country.
ST. LOUIS  Committed Republicans flocked to school gyms and community centers across the region and the state Saturday morning to renominate former president Donald Trump for his old job.

And before some could even finish counting the actual votes, the Associated Press declared Trump the winner.

The Show-Me State victory will help add to the former presidents already formidable delegate lead over former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley as he seeks his partys nomination to return to the White House next year. And a short glance at local caucus events showed it was a foregone conclusion: Trump supporters, flags, banners and artwork dominated caucus events in St. Louis and St. Louis County.

Voters here cast the onetime television star and business mogul as salvation from malevolent Democrats driving the country into the ground.

Hes our only hope, said Joe Finn, 63, as he waited in line outside the city GOPs event at St. James Center on Tamm Avenue. Hes our only hope against crime, death by fentanyl, and poverty.

Even Haley, who served in Trumps cabinet, has been co-opted to global elites working against Americans best interest, Finn said.

Thomas Henry, who stood a few places ahead in line, said the country needs the former president back to fix the crisis at the southern border, where people have been entering the county without authorization in record numbers in recent months. The economy needs a reboot, too, he said.

When (Trump) was in office, gas was $1.86, said Henry, 53.

Ron Winschel, 79, of Affton, had similar concerns about the border and the economy as he stood in line at a St. Louis County GOP event. He also said that Democratic President Joe Biden, 81, is too old and out of it to be president any longer, repeating a popular Republican talking point that Biden allies have repeatedly dismissed as ageist.

Hes walking around not knowing where he is, Winschel said.

The events Saturday also marked the first test of a new caucus system run largely by volunteers. In 2022, state lawmakers canceled the traditional presidential preference primaries as part of a broader elections bill that also imposed photo identification requirements for voting. And while Republican and Democratic Party leaders urged lawmakers to reinstate them last year, the Legislature failed to act.

But it made no difference for Trump, who after winning the GOP presidential primaries in 2016 and 2020, notched his third straight Missouri win on Saturday.

JUST ANNOUNCED: Missouri goes 100% for President Trump! Trump has definitively won all 114 counties and the city of St. Louis. We're ready for a Red November  pic.twitter.com/QTmSFBT5RC  Missouri GOP (@MissouriGOP) March 2, 2024

Missouri will send 54 delegates to the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee in July. Fifty-one of them are awarded to candidates through the monthslong process that began Saturday. Eleven delegates will be awarded to candidates at the statewide level, while five delegates will be awarded from each of Missouris eight congressional districts. The remaining three delegates are the state party chairman and Missouris Republican national committeeman and committeewoman, who may support any candidate they wish regardless of caucus results.

The individuals who will serve as national convention delegates will be selected at congressional district conventions on April 6 and the state convention on May 4.

The next contest is the GOP caucus Sunday in the District of Columbia. Two days later is Super Tuesday, when 16 states and American Samoa will hold primaries on what will be the largest day of voting of the year outside of the November election. Trump is on track to lock up the nomination days later.

Missouri Democrats will hold their party-run primary on March 23.

Includes reporting by The Associated Press.
RAFAH, Gaza Strip  Israel essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior U.S. administration official said Saturday, a day before talks to reach an agreement were to resume in Egypt.

International mediators have worked for weeks to broker a deal to pause the fighting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10. A deal likely would allow aid to reach hundreds of thousands of desperate Palestinians in northern Gaza who aid officials worry are under threat of famine.

The Israelis have more or less accepted the proposal, which includes the six-week cease-fire as well as the release by Hamas of hostages considered vulnerable, which includes the sick, the wounded, the elderly and women, the official said.

Right now, the ball is in the court of Hamas and we are continuing to push this as hard as we possibly can, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

Officials from Israel and Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A senior Egyptian official said mediators Egypt and Qatar are expected to receive a response from Hamas during the Cairo talks scheduled to start Sunday. The official also spoke on condition of anonymity.

There is increasing criticism over the hundreds of thousands struggling to survive in northern Gaza, which has borne the brunt of the conflict that began when the Hamas militant group attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and seizing about 250 hostages.

Gazas Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll from the war climbed to 30,320. The Hamas-run agency doesnt differentiate between civilians and combatants in its figures, but says women and children make up about two-thirds of those killed.

In the southernmost city of Rafah, where more than half of Gazas people now seek refuge, an Israeli airstrike struck tents outside the Emirati hospital, killing 11 people and wounding about 50, including health workers, the Health Ministry said. Israels military said it was targeting Islamic Jihad militants.

The U.S. began dropping food in pallets over Gaza on Saturday. It was the opening stage of an emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by President Joe Biden after more than 100 Palestinians who surged to pull goods off an aid convoy were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops this past week.

Three planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza in southwest Gaza. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, and the militaries of Jordan and Egypt said they also conducted airdrops.

Aid groups say airdrops should be only a last resort and instead urge the opening of other crossings into Gaza and the removal of obstacles at the few that are open.

On Thursday, people rushed about 30 trucks bringing a predawn delivery to the north. Palestinians said nearby Israeli troops shot into the crowds. Israel said they fired warning shots toward the crowd and insisted many of the dead were trampled. Doctors at hospitals in Gaza and a U.N. team that visited a hospital said large numbers of the wounded had been shot. The European Unions diplomatic service urged an international investigation.

Gazas Health Ministry raised the death toll from Thursdays violence to 118 after two more bodies were recovered Saturday. It said the wounded remained at 760.

Israels chief military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said Israel organized Thursdays convoy and claims that we attacked the convoy intentionally and that we harmed people intentionally are baseless.

Residents in northern Gaza say they are searching rubble and garbage for anything to feed their children, who barely eat one meal a day. Many families began mixing animal and bird food with grain to bake bread.

At least 10 children have starved to death, according to hospital records in Gaza, the World Health Organization said.

Israels offensive reduced much of densely populated northern Gaza to rubble. The military told Palestinians to move south, but as many as 300,000 people are believed to have remained.

Roughly one in six children under 2 in the north suffer from acute malnutrition and wasting, the worst level of child malnutrition anywhere in the world, Carl Skau, deputy executive director of the World Food Program, said this past week.

People overwhelmed trucks and grabbed what they could, Skau said, forcing the WFP to suspend deliveries to the north.

Soad Abu Hussein, a widow and mother of five, said more than 5,000 people  mostly women and children  living with her in a school at the Jabaliya refugee camp have not received aid for more than four weeks. A group of people went to the shore to fish, but three were killed and two were wounded by gunfire from Israeli ships, she said.

The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Biden said the U.S. would look for other ways of delivery including possibly a marine corridor.

Also Saturday, Israel said three soldiers were killed and 14 injured Friday when they inadvertently triggered explosives in a booby-trapped building outside Khan Younis in southern Gaza.
It was a beautiful day, filled with joy and celebration. Until it turned dark, the joy replaced with fear, the celebration replaced with sorrow.

A party meant to celebrate the world champion Kansas City Chiefs back-to-back Super Bowl win ended abruptly on Feb. 14 after gunshots rang out in the crowd, resulting in one dead and 22 others injured, including 11 children. Authorities have charged two adults with second-degree murder and two juvenile suspects with gun-related offenses.

According to an analysis by ABC News and the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive, 2024 by that point  just six weeks into the year  had seen almost 5,000 shooting deaths in the United States, including deaths from almost 60 mass shootings (defined as a minimum of four victims shot).

The statistics on gun violence are astounding, including how the US compares to other countries, the disproportionate burden of gun deaths on young adults, males, and racial and ethnic minorities, and the astronomical cost of gun violence to the US economy annually.

In 2016, the American Medical Association, a professional organization including over 270,000 physicians, declared gun violence a public health crisis. Public health professionals, including the American Public Health Association, named gun violence in the US an epidemic and called for a public health solution.

But what does a public health solution mean? According to a 2015 editorial by APHA Executive Director Georges Benjamin, we need to treat the gun violence epidemic as we would any public health outbreak. Track it, find the root causes, create policy solutions and use mass public education campaigns to eradicate the threat, he said.

Benjamin recounts how this has worked not only for infectious diseases like Ebola, but also for other public health threats such as highway deaths. This call to action came almost 10 years ago, and scenes like those in Kansas City suggest we have not heeded the call to action.

Since then, have we made any progress?

Available data documenting the extent to which gun violence occurs in the US are shocking and says no  every single day, around 100 people die in our country by gun violence. Policy solutions lag far behind where we could be, especially in Missouri. Our state ranks 38th in the country in terms of the strength of state gun laws, as charted by Everytown for Gun Safety, and has among the highest gun death rates. St. Louis alone had almost 160 homicides last year, mostly by firearms.

While numerous common-sense regulations to prevent senseless gun deaths have been enacted in other states, Missouri has gone in the other direction in recent years, dismantling gun restrictions that were previously in place. Today the state has no required background checks for gun purchases, no waiting periods, no permit requirements, few restrictions on carrying guns in public and no prohibition for those convicted of misdemeanor domestic abuse. The list goes on.

Importantly, legislation prohibiting the sale of guns to minors has been enacted in Missouri; however, there is not legislation regulating firearm possession among youth. In St. Louis, the Board of Aldermen passed a bill that restricts children under the age of 19 from openly carrying a weapon, legislation that was signed by Mayor Tishaura Jones in 2023. However, Missouri has a law that generally prohibits county, city, town, village, municipalities or other political subdivisions of the state from regulating firearms.

So what can we do?

We can implement a multi-pronged public health approach to gun violence prevention. We can advocate for more research dollars to support data surrounding gun violence, and work with community-based organizations to find local and national solutions.

We can engage in educational activities that provide information to the public about the problem and potential solutions. We can expand our educational offerings to create a more educated public health workforce, better prepared to combat gun violence.

And we can work with policy makers to help enact common sense gun laws, that are supported by evidence-based research to minimize gun violence.

Gun violence is happening in communities around Missouri and around the US. It is a public health problem and demands a public health solution. The health of our communities will continue to be at risk until positive changes are made.
Say this for Donald Trump: His unprecedented transgressions have provided opportunities for real-life constitutional tests regarding issues that were, until his presidency, strictly hypothetical.

Before Trump, more than 40 presidents over more than two centuries managed to get through their terms without committing a single indictable felony. So the question of what happens after an allegedly criminal president leaves office has always been an academic one. No more.

The U.S. Supreme Court announced last week that it will decide the question in Trumps pending election-interference trial. It should. But with the courts baffling decision to slow-walk the case well into election season, it has all but guaranteed that, whatever constitutional clarity eventually comes of it, the whole matter will only complicate the fall presidential election, to Trumps clear political benefit.

Trump is under federal indictment for his election interference schemes in 2020 and for fomenting the Jan. 6, 2021, mob assault on the Capitol. His defense team is posing a legal question that has never before had to be answered by any American court: Does presidential immunity from criminal prosecution, which generally protects presidents for official actions taken while in office, also extend to their post-presidential lives?

The answer strikes us as obvious (more on that in a moment). Still, there is value in having the Supreme Court settle the question, either by declining to review the lower courts rejection of Trumps argument, or with an immediate hearing and opinion.

Instead, the court has chosen the worst of all worlds: It will hear the case, but not until April 22. Thats faster than a typical Supreme Court case, but nowhere near as fast as it can move in emergency situations.

The timing effectively guarantees that, even if Trumps trial goes forward, it will not be decided in time to let voters in November know whether one of the candidates on the ballot will ultimately be judged a felon.

This far-right-tilted court does nothing to help its own flagging credibility by choosing a hearing date that looks as if it was picked by Trumps own campaign strategists. As one lawyer close to Trump told Rolling Stone magazine after the hearing date was announced: Literally popping champagne right now.

The question itself  does presidential criminal immunity extend into post-presidential civilian life?  shouldnt be a difficult one.

As two lower courts have already ruled, such a structure would allow unacceptable scenarios, such as a sitting president ordering the military to assassinate his political rivals without fear of ever being prosecuted for it.

Trumps attorneys argue that the remedy for a lawless president is impeachment and removal from office, and that only after that process could an ex-president face criminal prosecution for official acts. The Senate in 2021 specifically declined to convict Trump of these very offenses after he was impeached by the House. So, they argue, criminal prosecutors cannot come after him now.

One of several problems with that argument is that it assumes a functioning Senate capable of holding a president of its own party accountable for high crimes and misdemeanors. Can anyone really say with a straight face that that description would apply to the Republican-held Senate during Trumps term?

In the aftermath of Jan. 6, then-Majority Leader Mitch McConnell shrugged off the Senates outlandish failure to convict Trump by saying the courts could punish him after he left office. Trump now claims the Senates inaction back then requires the courts to stand down now. How could any president ever be held accountable to the rule of law if such a circular argument is allowed to stand?

The Supreme Court ruled more than 40 years ago that ex-presidents do enjoy immunity from civil suits related to their official actions in office. That makes sense. Anyone can file a lawsuit; absent immunity protection, all ex-presidents would spend the rest of their civilian lives in civil court.

Criminality is different. Trump isnt accused of civil fraud (in this case, at least), but of committing felonies in his attempt to undermine and then overturn an election. The bar for such criminal charges is far higher than that faced by civil plaintiffs.

Trumps team also argues that denying him post-presidential immunity invites a future in which every ex-president will be dragged into criminal court anytime a president of the other party takes office.

The danger of that partisan tit-for-tat is real  as House Republicans have recently demonstrated with their pathetic, blatantly retaliatory (and now utterly discredited) impeachment proceedings against President Joe Biden. But the solution to that problem is to elect more responsible political leaders, not to let the current ones commit crimes in office without fear of punishment.

Jack Smith, the Justice Department special counsel prosecuting Trump, asked the Supreme Court back in December to settle the immunity question so it wouldnt hold up the trial. The court refused.

Trumps argument is weak enough that, when he appealed his lower court defeat to the Supreme Court last week, it would have made sense for the court to just decline the case and let the lower rulings stand.

Upon deciding to take the case, the court could have recognized the immense political importance of settling it immediately, on an emergency basis, as it did more than 20 years ago in Bush v. Gore, which was argued and decided in four days.

Yet the court has taken every opportunity to stall this case. Which, coincidentally or not, has been the Trump teams clear strategy from the beginning. Given Trumps unconcealed contempt for the rule of law (particularly regarding himself), theres no question what would happen to the pending criminal case should it be unresolved if and when he returns to the presidency.

Having appointed three members of its conservative supermajority, Trump is fond of referring to this court as if its one of his wholly owned subsidiaries. With its handling of this case, that assessment looks disturbingly accurate.
March 3, 2024: The Shia Houthi rebels in Yemen continue attacking international shipping traveling up the Red Sea to the Suez Canal. This has reduced Suez Canal traffic by nearly 50 percent. Egypt normally collects nearly ten billion dollars a year in transit fees, and recently spent a lot of money deepening the canal. This made it available to larger ships which pay larger transit fees. Since December 2023 Houthi rebels in Yemen have been attacking commercial shipping headed north up the Red Sea to the Suez Canal and vice versa.

Yemens Shia rebels, led by the Houthi tribe, have used their large stockpile of Iranian missiles to attack ships moving up the Red Sea, with targeting assistance from their Iranian Quds Force sponsors. This capability developed over the last decade as the rebels launched attacks on more distant targets. The rebels obtained more powerful weapons as well, including Iranian ballistic missiles, which were disassembled so they could be smuggled from Iran to Yemen, where Iranian technicians supervised the missiles being assembled and launched into Saudi Arabia. In the last few years, the rebels have received longer range ballistic missiles fired from northern Yemen across Saudi territory to hit Saudi and UAE oil production facilities on the Persian Gulf coast. The rebels also acquired the reconnaissance capability to accurately fire missiles at ships moving up the Red Sea towards the Suez Canal. This has forced many ships to take the longer and more expensive and time consuming route around the southern tip of Africa. This has always been a potential threat to ships using the Red Sea to reach the Suez Canal. Egypt and Iran are enemies and reducing Suez Canal income is a win for Iran, which supported the Yemen rebels for more than a decade to make such an interdiction possible.

Western nations reacted slowly to this interdiction effort and only recently began attacking Yemen Shia rebel targets with missiles and gunfire from warships as well as air strikes from air bases in the region. Western warships close to the Yemen shore used their defensive weapons to defeat attacks launched from the Yemen coast. The war in Yemen dragged on into 2024 and it is unclear when or if Iran will halt support for the Houthi. Currently, the Houthi avoid firing on Iranian or Chinese cargo ships in the Red Sea. China is a trading partner of Iran, despite the sanctions imposed on Iran.

Before the recent Israeli attacks on Hamas in Gaza and Iran-backed militias in Lebanon, Iran was under widespread internal pressure from Iranians protesting the expensive foreign wars in Syria and Yemen. Despite that, Iran smuggled in more and more weapons. These were not intended for the ongoing Yemen civil war but for use against targets designated by Iran. But then Iran suddenly had its own domestic uprising to deal with. The Iranian religious dictatorship held onto power and supported more violence against real or perceived enemies of Iran, even if they were Iranian citizens protesting the economic losses Iranians have suffered because the religious dictatorship continues supporting foreign wars.

One of those wars was in Yemen. In 2015 Iran admitted it had been quietly supporting the Houthi Shia rebels for a long time but now was doing so openly, and that support was increasing. Many Yemenis trace the current crisis back to the civil war that ended, sort of, in 1994. That war was caused by the fact that, when the British left Yemen in 1967, their former colony in Aden became one of two countries called Yemen. The two Yemens finally united in 1990 but another civil war in 1994 was needed to seal the deal. That fix didn't really take and the north and south have been pulling apart ever since. This comes back to the fact that Yemen has always been a region, not a country. Like most of the rest of the Persian Gulf and Horn of Africa region, the normal form of government until the 20th century was wealthier coastal city states nervously coexisting with interior tribes that got by on herding or farming or a little of both plus smuggling and other illicit sidelines. This concept of nationhood is still looked on with some suspicion by many in the region. This is why the most common forms of government are the more familiar ones of antiquity like kingdom, emirate, or modern variation in the form of a hereditary secular dictatorship.

For a long time, the most active Yemeni rebels were the Shia Houthis in the north. The Houthis have always wanted to restore local Shia rule in the traditional Shia tribal territories, led by the local imam, a religious leader who was a Houthi. This arrangement, after surviving more than a thousand years, was ended by the central government in 1962. Yemen also became the new headquarters of AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) when Saudi Arabia was no longer safe for these Islamic terrorists after 2007. Then came the even more radical ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and an invading army composed of troops from oil-rich neighbors like Saudi Arabia, which was very upset by Iranian/Houthi missile attacks.

By late 2017 the rebels were slowly losing ground to government forces who, despite Arab coalition air support and about five thousand ground troops, were still dependent on Yemeni Sunni tribal militias to fight the Shia tribesmen on the ground. While the Shia are only a third of the population, they are united while the Sunni tribes are divided over the issue of again splitting the country in two and with no agreement on who would get the few oil fields in central Yemen. Many of the Sunni tribes tolerate or even support AQAP and ISIL. The Iranian smuggling pipeline continued to operate, and the Yemen rebels were able to buy additional weapons from other sources because they received cash from nations or groups hostile to the Arab Gulf state, especially Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The Shia Houthi rebels were from northern Yemen and controlled the Yemen border with Saudi Arabia.

Over the last decade the rebels launched more and more attacks on Saudi targets. After Hamas attacked Israel in October 2023, Iran ordered its Houthi proxy to attack commercial shipping moving past Yemen to reach the Suez Canal. The world has long ignored the Yemen civil war but, now that the Yemen Houthi rebels are interdicting the Suez Canal, there are incentives for some Western nations, in Europe and North America who are most dependent on this trade route, to do something as long as it does not involve acting against Iran who is the real cause of the problem. Warships from several Western nations, as well as air strikes by Western aircraft, are pretending to do something by making demonstration attacks against Yemens Houthi. This cant work so there is a small possibility that someone, most likely Arab states along the Persian Gulf, might send in ground troops. There are problems with that. They tried that before and gave up the effort. On the other hand, a traditional Arab solution for such problems is to hire mercenaries, and the Saudis have in the past hired thousands of Pakistani mercenaries. They could again.

The UAE, a small Persian Gulf oil state, has only 20,000 troops in its military. But in 2015 the UAE sent 3,500 troops to Yemen but by 2020 nearly all these soldiers had been withdrawn. While in Yemen the UAE forces helped organize and improve local Sunni forces in southern Yemen to better deal with the Shia rebel forces in the north. While the Shia rebels have held the traditional Yemen capital of Sanaa in central Yemen, the more numerous Sunni forces in the south use the port of Aden as their capital. Aden and the Red Sea port of Hudaydah, where most of the foreign aid for hungry people in northern Yemen enters.
LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The authors and screenwriters behind the film American Fiction and the series Slow Horses won the 36th-annual USC Libraries Scripter Awards on the evening of Saturday, Mar. 2. Selection committee chair Howard Rodman announced the winners at a black-tie ceremony at USCs Doheny Memorial Library.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240303142807/en/

From left to right: Cord Jefferson, Percival Everett, Dean Melissa Just, Mick Herron, and Scripter Selection Committee Chair Howard Rodman. Photo: Sarah Golonka

The Scripter Awards recognize the years most accomplished adaptations of the written word for the screen, including both feature-length films and episodic series.

In a Scripter first, novelist Mick Herron and screenwriter Will Smith repeated as winners in the episodic series category. They took home the award for their contributions to the episode Negotiating with Tigers from season three of Slow Horses, which Smith adapted from Herrons book Real Tigers.

Smith could not attend due to work on the next season of Slow Horses but relayed his sentiments through Herron.

This award is very important to me, Smith said, because it also celebrates the author, without whom the show would not exist.

In the film category, author Percival Everett and screenwriter/director Cord Jefferson won for their contributions to American Fiction, based on Everetts novel Erasure.

Jefferson told the audience that he read Everetts book in December 2020.

It felt like I was reading a book written specifically for me, he said. It felt like I understood what was going on in these characters with the story at a molecular level.

Everetts win marks another Scripter milestone, as he is the first USC professor honored with the prize.

Saturday also marked USC Libraries dean Melissa Justs first turn as host of the annual ceremony since her appointment last November. In her opening remarks, Just hailed libraries as creators of community and belonging.

I believe libraries are great connectors of people, like all of us here tonight, with information, ideas, and the preserved record of human knowledge and experience, she said. We enable people to gather, to learn together, and to find common ground with each other and with the past--and in doing so, create a brighter future.

Earlier in the evening, Linda Cassady accepted the Ex Libris Award, which honors exceptional commitment to the USC Libraries, on behalf of her late husband, George Cassady. Cassady was a longtime USC Board of Councilors member and in 2000 donated the G. Edward, M.D. and Margaret Elizabeth, R.N. Lewis Carroll collection, one of the worlds most significant collections of works by and related to the Alice in Wonderland author.

In-kind donors included Andrew Murray Vineyards.

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240303142807/en/

Tyson Gaskill

Executive Director, Communications

[email protected]

Source: USC Libraries
PHILADELPHIA, PA, March 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Despite the existence of legal provisions, creditors do not always act in a fair or ethical manner when collecting debts. Instances of aggression or harassment are not uncommon, which further aggravates the plight of individuals already dealing with difficult situations. Creditor Law Group has made it its mission to uphold the rights of debtors and challenge unacceptable creditor practices, constantly proving itself to be a trusted ally to individuals facing debt-related challenges.

Over the years, Creditor Law Group has built an enviable track record of protecting consumers against creditor overreach. The firm has adopted an approach that combines advocating for debtor rights, holding creditors accountable for violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), and offering strategic legal guidance to help individuals navigate complex financial situations. By leveraging its expertise in debt collection laws and regulations, Creditor Law Group empowers consumers to stand up for themselves and put an end to harassment by aggressive debt collectors. Its website features comprehensive FAQ sections that educate consumers about their rights and inform them of their options when faced with unfair debt collection practices.

The attorneys at Creditor Law Group are deeply committed to defending debtors against unethical methods commonly employed by creditors. They have addressed head-on instances of harassment and abuse, including incessant and intimidating phone calls, false representations of the amounts owed, and deceptive communication tactics. By doing so, the team at Creditor Law Group contributes to creating a fair financial environment for all.

Unfortunately, examples of debt collectors acting unethically remain widespread. Some resort to false or misleading representations in an attempt to coerce payment. Creditor Law Group has successfully challenged such practices, ensuring that consumers are not manipulated into paying money they do not owe. The firm has also defended individuals who have been the victims of false debt status reports to credit bureaus, unauthorized disclosures to third parties, and attempts to collect unauthorized fees or charges.

Creditor Law Group emphasizes the importance of awareness and education when it comes to debt collection. The company empowers individuals to take control of their financial situation by providing them with the knowledge they need to identify and challenge unfair practices. Through its commitment to transparency and ethical legal practices, it sets a high standard in an industry where trust and integrity are of critical importance. Creditor Law Group combines legal expertise with a passion for protecting debtor rights to create a formidable consumer advocate and a potent force against unethical creditor practices.

Creditor Law Group is an award-winning legal services provider headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. The company specializes in garnishment reversal and relief, legal representation of individuals in lawsuits filed by creditors, and defense against debt collector harassment. Its team of experienced attorneys provides assistance to individuals in or out of court, with a firm commitment to ensuring the protection of consumer rights and the best possible outcome for clients.

Creditor Law Group: https://clglaw.com

Best-in-Class Creditor Law Group Invalidates over $1 Billion of Debt: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/best-class-creditor-law-group-032700327.html

Award-Winning Law Firm Creditor Law Group Committed to Challenging FDCPA Violations: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/award-winning-law-firm-creditor-033200728.html

David Glanzberg Creditor Law Group 1515 Market Street Suite 1200 Philadelphia PA 19102 https://www.clglaw.com [email protected] (800) 216-7211

Source: Creditor Law Group
BOSTON, March 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ibogaine By David Dardashti, an organization focusing on providing ibogaine treatment to those afflicted with opiate addiction, recently visited Ohio to explore the potential economic benefits if the state were to legalize the substance.

"Ibogaine Legislation" Led by David Dardashti, a successful real estate entrepreneur since his 26th year, and Chief Operations Officer Cole Barressi, Ibogaine By David Dardashti flew out to Cleveland to discuss potential opportunities that would arise if the state of Ohio were to pass ibogaine legislation. With the housing market in Cleveland becoming increasingly inexpensive, this could prove to be a great opportunity for those in recovery as housing in the area is much more accessible for those of limited financial means. Our dream is to one day provide ibogaine treatment to people of all socioeconomic classes, said Barressi. No one wanting to break an addiction should have to endure the pain of opiate withdrawal. Ibogaine By David Dardashti has seen success with other states, and has been pushing for legalization for many years. The organization is hopeful that Ohio will become the first state to legalize ibogaine for medical use in the United States.

Ibogaine By David Dardashti is advocating for the legalization of ibogaine in Ohio in order to provide seamless access to treatment for all people, regardless of socioeconomic status.

Ibogaine By David Dardashti encourages those suffering from opiate addiction to speak to their lawmakers and voice their support for the legalization of ibogaine in the state of Ohio.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bbfa5397-d8a8-40bb-8b80-189efa08f74f

David Dardashti Ibogaine By David Dardashti

Source: Ibogaine By David Dardashti
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- At the sight of the scientific facilities such as water quality monitoring laboratories and photobioreactors, all set beside a swath of farmland, not many people would associate them with farming.

The tech-empowered fields, spanning more than 130 hectares in the city of Chibi, central China's Hubei Province, have been reshaped into an eco-agricultural base after years of continuous efforts by Tian Shuxian, a farmer with a master's degree and grassroots lawmaker.

Tian, 35, was elected as a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) in 2023. Using her agricultural and technological knowledge, she has led locals to prosperity by working to develop modern eco-agriculture.

Tian grew up in the countryside and decided to dedicate herself to farming when she was in high school. She majored in biotechnology as an undergraduate and later completed a master's degree in fishing science.

"I chose my major to prepare for farming," she said.

After working at an IT company in east China's Zhejiang Province for two years, she left the booming internet industry in 2017 and returned to her hometown of Anfeng Village to begin a career of raising crayfish.

Some locals had already been raising crayfish, but their production faced the bottlenecks of low output and low quality. Determined to make a change, Tian established a laboratory right next to her contracted field, monitoring water conditions and improving forage.

Utilizing her knowledge of aquatic bait science, she was successful in improving water quality and refining the feeding system, earning more than 10,000 yuan (about 1,390 U.S. dollars) in one breeding season.

Profits were not all that Tian pursued. After every fishing season, locals used to pour pesticides into the water, which Tian knew polluted the water and the soil.

To solve these environmental problems, Tian developed a comprehensive, eco-friendly farming model to raise crayfish and ducks together in rice paddies, wherein ducks feed on the remaining crayfish and fertilize rice with their feces.

The new model proved successful, and an increasing number of locals began to follow it. In 2018, Tian established a specialized, eco-friendly crayfish-raising cooperative, which currently has 226 members and is estimated to generate a total output value of 8 million yuan this year.

After she was elected as an NPC deputy, Tian made two suggestions related to promoting agricultural informatization and strengthening the protection of plowlands.

She also plans to introduce a new agricultural model that integrates crayfish raising, rice planting and eel breeding this year, and promised to offer door-to-door technical guidance and assistance to locals.

"She has been leading us to do things together. We trust her, as she really works for the benefit of us all," said villager Chen Honghu.

Tian has also helped local farmers expand their sales channels through online stores and livestreaming. "In the past, farming depended on the elderly in the village. But now, with Tian's efforts, more young people are willing to return," said Luo Jinhe, then Party chief of Anfeng Village.

For the upcoming annual session of the NPC, Tian has prepared a suggestion on supporting an integrated rice planting and aquaculture farming model to help advance rural revitalization and promote low-carbon agricultural development.

"This model can reduce production input and cut carbon emissions," Tian said. "With improved industries and environment, people will live better lives and the countryside will become more beautiful." 
Davenport, Iowa, March 03, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A pair of longtime platelet donors have reached significant donor milestones with ImpactLife, highlighting the importance of consistent donation patterns to meeting patient needs. Pete Bischoff, of Robins, Iowa, made his 1000th donation and Jim Parker, of East Moline, Illinois, hit 800 donations, both in February.

The two are part of a small group who have donated more than 100 gallons (800 donations or more) in the ImpactLife service region. The nonprofit blood provider based in Davenport, Iowa, has approximately 6000 active platelet donors who have made at least one donation in the last two years.

Jim Parker gave blood for the first time while serving in the U.S. Marine Corps in the 1960s. He continued as a whole blood donor after returning from Vietnam, and recalls being asked to give platelet donation a try. His first donation was successful, and he soon joined a group of frequent platelet donors. Parker says he appreciates the feeling of community that has developed over years of giving on a routine basis. You really get to know the staff and your fellow donors, said Parker. Ive now had platelets drawn by two generations of phlebotomists.

Pete Bischoff, of Robins, Iowa, gave blood for the first time during his military career as well, when the Army offered a brief period of leave for soldiers who gave blood. I sure didnt mind having the leave, said Bischoff, but I would have gladly done it for free. Bischoff has maintained good health and eligibility to donate consistently for many years, reaching his 1000th donation earlier this year and placing him atop the list of ImpactLifes list of most frequent donors.

Platelet donation process

During a platelet donation (known as plateletpheresis), an automated collection unit is placed next to the donation chair. The donors blood is drawn into the collection unit where a centrifuge spins to separate blood components. Once separated, a port opens inside the machine to remove platelets and the remaining blood components are returned to the donor. The entire process, including pre-donation screening and post-donation refreshments, can last approximately 70 minutes to two hours.

To help grow its base of platelet donors, ImpactLife is offering a $50 electronic gift card for those who donate platelets for the first or second time with ImpactLife. For information on eligibility for platelet donation, see www.bloodcenter.org/platelets.

How platelets are used in patient care

Platelets are the component of blood that helps stop bleeding. When a blood vessel is damaged, platelets help stop or prevent bleeding by moving within the circulatory system to the damaged area. After collecting in the damaged area, platelets extend fibers, changing their shape to form a clot and stop bleeding.

Some people can develop a condition called thrombocytopenia, or a low platelet count, due to cancer or other underlying causes. Patients with thrombocytopenia might bruise easily, experience internal bleeding, or be unable to stop bleeding because their body doesnt produce enough platelets. Platelets are frequently given to patients with thrombocytopenia, and with patients in treatment for cancer, for open heart surgery, organ and bone marrow transplants, and with victims of trauma.

Jim Parker has those recipients in mind when he comes to the Donor Center every two weeks. Every time you donate, you either save a life or you extend someones life, said Parker. What could be better than that?

Attachments

Kirby Winn ImpactLife (563) 349-1571 [email protected]

Source: ImpactLife
SAN JOSE, CA - (NewMediaWire) - February 20, 2024 - BitFrontier Capital Holdings, Inc. (OTCMKTS: BFCH), a leading provider of crypto mining hardware and liquid immersion hosting centers, today announced a new south Texas hosting facility is now on-line and at 100% capacity.

More than just a liquid immersion hosting facility, we've created a successful liquid immersion and air cooled hosting model with two industry-leading partners that can be replicated at scale for future sites. The new BFCH liquid immersion hosting facility houses 360 miners and is now up and running at 100% capacity. This facility will generate $115K/mo of recurring revenue and $35K/mo in profit.

Hosting is a very important part of our mission statement. All miner slots have been booked with a two-year lease which will provide BFCH market resilient recurring revenue. Partnering with an energy provider and a liquid immersion data center expert assures of a success model that we can replicate again and again. - Andrew Gilton, CEO of BFCH.

Power accounts for approximately 80% of the OPEX in a mobile data center like ours. Controlling power costs is key to protecting the recurring revenue stream weve developed. To keep our power budget in check, BFCH has signed a 5-year fixed price agreement with partner, 10NetZero, to provide us with power generated on site in south Texas.

10NetZero works with Oil and Gas providers to monetize stranded natural gas deposits, reducing environmental impact, and enabling them to meet ESG guidelines. Instead of allowing natural gas to be released into the atmosphere, 10NetZero can deploy equipment to harness stranded gas deposits and convert it to power right on site. By doing this, 10NetZero and their O&G customers are protecting the environment while providing a reliable source of power for this site.

Gas previously released into the atmosphere can now be harvested for applications like these, reducing emissions, and protecting the environment. 10NetZero is excited to partner with BFCH and Digital Carpenters to utilize the massive power we can generate on site to mine cryptocurrency. Were excited for the future. - Joel Fulord of 10NetZero.

To bring this site online, BFCH has partnered with Digital Carpenters, a pioneer in immersion-cooling applications for data centers. Digital Carpenters is the designer and operator of a 25 MW facility in West Texas that is the 3rd largest immersion cooled data center in the world, and the most power dense site at 3.3 KW sq. ft.

We have over 7 years of experience designing and operating data centers in the heat of south Georgia and West Texas and have anticipated what this facility will need to continue to run smoothly for BFCHs hosted customers. Were excited to partner with BFCH and 10NetZero on a modular data center deployment here in South Texas and look forward to replicating this environmentally-friendly data center model across the region. - John Mathews, Founder & CEO of Digital Carpenters.

Supporting Video https://youtu.be/xaAV-zmoAo4

About BitFrontier Capital Holdings, Inc.

BitFrontier Capital Holdings, Inc. is a leading provider of Crypto Mining Hardware and Hosting Centers. Consisting of ASIC Miners US, Inc. and Liquid Immersion Worldwide, Inc., BitFrontier is a one stop shop for purchasing the very latest mining equipment and strategically located hosting centers throughout the US.

To keep up with further announcements in between our scheduled press releases, please follow our new twitter account https://twitter.com/bfchco

https://www.bfchco.com/

https://asicminersus.com/

https://www.liquidimmersionhosting.com/

https://digitalcarpenters.io/

https://10netzero.com/

Contact- [email protected]

Forward-Looking Statements.

This press release may contain forward-looking statements. The words "believe," "expect," "should," "intend," "estimate," "projects," variations of such words and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, but their absence does not mean that a statement is not a forward-looking statement. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ significantly from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's respective filings at www.otcmarkets.com.
Paid press release content from The Financial Capital. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation.

Mighthouse Realty LLC has a reliable track record of closing successful deals as a trusted partner for businesses and individuals seeking prime properties in the dynamic Dubai real estate market. The firm focuses on locating properties that resonate with their clients goals.



Mighthouse Realty LLC is where real estate dreams set sail. The firms co-founder and CEO, Yaroslav Krestovsky, understands that real estate transactions are about much more than business. Purchasing property can be the first step on a journey toward ones dreams and aspirations, allowing them to build the future they envision. Krestovsky wanted to redefine the real estate experience in Dubai to make the process fun and exciting for clients while working with skilled and transparent professionals.

We pride ourselves on being more than just a real estate agency, Krestovsky said. We are your dedicated partners on the journey to finding the perfect property.

Mighthouse Realty LLC stands out in the competitive Dubai real estate market because the firm is unwaveringly dedicated to client satisfaction. With a team of experienced and passionate real estate professionals on site, the firm has the skills, connections, and expertise to guide clients through every step of the buying, selling, or leasing process. From first-time homebuyers looking for a wonderful place to start a family to experienced investors seeking a way into the Dubai market or businesses trying to find an ideal commercial space, Mighthouse Realty LLC tailors its services to each individual clients needs.

Integrity, Transparency, and Professionalism

When clients work with Mighthouse Realty LLC, they can count on more than the firms proven track record of successful deals and client satisfaction. They can also rely on the firms staff to display impeccable integrity through all dealings, transparency to ensure informed decision-making at every step of the process, and adherence to the highest standards of professionalism and ethics.

We believe in building lasting relationships with our clients, and our commitment extends beyond the dealwe are here for you before, during, and after your property journey, Krestovsky said.

Incredible Investment Opportunities

The consistently growing Dubai real estate market is one of the most desirable and lucrative in the world. Mighthouse Realty LLC specializes in matching investors with the ideal Dubai investment property to meet their needs. The firm has more than 12 years of experience in the international real estate market and many skilled agents who excel at partnering people with their perfect property. Through Mighthouse Realty LLCs industry connections, clients can find the best offers from Dubai developers with interest-free installments for seven years after an initial payment of 10 percent.

Discover Different Dubai Areas

Mighthouse Realty LLC has connections to properties in many areas of Dubai, and the firm is among the first to hear about new listings. The agency has listings in Mohammed Bin Rashid City, Dubai Harbor, Damac Hills, Business Bay, Downtown, Dubail Hills Estate, and City Walk.

Discover a new standard in real estate with Mighthouse Realty LLCwhere your dreams set sail, Krestovsky said.

Clients seeking residential homes can turn to Mighthouse Realty LLC, with an experienced team who can find the perfect apartment, single family home, villa, studio, or condo to fit their needs. The firm also specializes in commercial listings, such as office or shop space, and investment properties of all kinds.

Stress-Free Rental Arrangements

Living in Dubai but not looking to buy a property? The team at Mighthouse Realty LLC assists with the rental agreements on more than 100 properties each year. From visiting dignitaries and business professionals to individuals and families, the firm learns their needs and helps get them into the perfect property.

Conclusion

Visit the Mighthouse Realty LLC website to learn more about the firms diverse real estate listings or schedule a consultation with an agent. Reach out on Instagram to connect with the brand through social media. The company also offers a blog with tips on buying, selling, renting, or investing in Dubai, finding the right property, and updates on the active Dubai real estate market.



Contact Info:

Name: Yaroslav Krestovsky

Email: Send Email

Organization: Mighthouse Realty LLC

Address: sidra tower, Floor 14th, office 1401, Dubai, UAE

Phone: +971585889763

Website: https://www.might-house.com



Release ID: 89123114

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BEIJING , March 3, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Pu Lianggong knows the art of incense-making, just like his Arab ancestors.

Now nearly 70 years old, Pu produces incense in Yongchun County in Quanzhou, a coastal city in east China's Fujian Province .

The incense-making craft has its roots in the ancient Maritime Silk Road , which served as a vital conduit for both trade and cultural exchange between China's southeastern coastal regions and foreign countries.

Pu belongs to a 10th-generation family of Arab descent who settled in Quanzhou, known as the starting point of the ancient Maritime Silk Road , in 1646. As China's seaborne trade thrived during Song (960-1279) and Yuan (1271-1368) dynasties, Quanzhou became the largest port in eastern China .

Pu's Arab ancestors brought aromatic ingredients with them along the ancient Maritime Silk Road , made a living by selling them and gradually integrated into life in Quanzhou, marrying locals and adopting the Chinese surname Pu.

The Pu family made incense with bamboo and aromatic ingredients from their homeland, which is different from the scented chips called "bakhoor" in most Arab countries. It is similar to a Chinese incense stick, with bamboo sticks wrapped in ground aromatic ingredients.

Boosted by the Pu family's influence, incense has become a thriving industry in Yongchun. At present, there are nearly 300 incense-producing factories there, selling products to both domestic and foreign markets.

Thanks to the increase in international orders, workers and their families are enjoying more comfortable lives, an improvement partly driven by the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Proposed by China in 2013, the initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and beyond along the ancient Silk Road trade routes for common development and prosperity.

Serving as a platform to foster cross-cultural exchange and mutual understanding as well, the initiative presents an opportunity to promote diversity and inclusivity.

Chinese President Xi Jinping once quoted an ancient Chinese saying, "Delicious soup is made by combining different ingredients," to explain the importance of diversity.

A shared future for mankind

"Delicious soup is made by combining different ingredients."

The saying comes from the Chinese classic "History of the Three Kingdoms," literally reflecting the Chinese culinary tradition of using a variety of ingredients, such as herbs, spices and vegetables, to create a flavorful soup. It highlights the power of collaboration and that the value of diversity in human civilization is the source of human progress.

Xi cited it in a keynote speech at the United Nations Office at Geneva in January 2017 , saying diversity is "an engine driving the advance of human civilizations."

"There are more than 200 countries and regions, over 2,500 ethnic groups and multiple religions in our world. Different histories, national conditions, ethnic groups and customs give birth to different civilizations and make the world a colorful one," said Xi.

"We should make exchanges among civilizations a source of inspiration for advancing human society and a bond that keeps the world in peace."

Xi emphasized the necessity of building an open and inclusive world through exchanges and mutual learning, adding that exchange among civilizations is "a source of inspiration for advancing human society" and "a bond to keep the world in peace."

The old Chinese saying is very much in line with the history of incense-making in Yongchun. Centuries ago, Arabic aromatic ingredients came to China as "messengers," integrated and developed with Chinese aromatic ingredients, and finally spread around the world.

Nowadays, the Arab states, which were important participants along the ancient Silk Road trade routes, are crucial partners with China in the BRI.

Over the past decade, the BRI has positively impacted local residents in partner countries by providing them with job opportunities, as well as facilitating international trade.

From 2013 to 2022, the total trade between China and BRI partner countries reached $19.1 trillion , with an average annual growth rate of 6.4 percent, according to a white paper. By June 2023 , China had signed more than 200 BRI cooperation agreements with more than 150 countries and 30 international organizations across five continents, yielding a number of signature projects and small-scale yet impactful projects.

China has also worked to bring BRI partner countries and organizations together through joint cultural activities, including the establishment of international alliances of theaters, museums, art festivals and libraries such as the International Alliance of Museums of the Silk Road and the Silk Road International League of Theaters.

By connecting diverse cultures and different countries, the BRI promotes cooperation, openness and inclusivity around the world, bringing China closer to its goal of building a community with a shared future for mankind to promote common development.

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People leave an event where Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was supposed to meet with Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau but was cancelled due to protestors outside at the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 2, 2024. REUTERS

By Carlos Osorio

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Saturday canceled a joint visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto for security reasons, according to a Canadian spokesperson.

Two groups of protesters, one against Trudeau's government and another of pro-Palestinian protesters, had gathered outside the gallery. There were also numerous police.

Jenna Ghassabeh, a spokesperson for Trudeau's office, confirmed the event was called off for security reasons but referred questions to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which had no immediate comment.

Meloni is visiting Canada in Italy's role as president of the Group of Seven nations for 2024 after visiting Washington on Friday.

Earlier in the day, Canada and Italy agreed to enhance cooperation in various areas, including energy security and the shift to a sustainable energy future, over the next three to five years, according to a statement.

(Reporting by Carlos Osorio, writing by Steve Scherer; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
PORT-AU-PRINCE (Reuters) -Haiti's government declared a state of emergency on Sunday evening, following violent clashes in the capital that have damaged communications and led to two prison breaks as a major gang leader seeks to oust Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

In order to restore order, the government has imposed with immediate effect a curfew throughout the West territory for a "renewable period of seventy-two hours," the statement said.

"Between six in the evening and five in the morning on Monday 4, Tuesday 5, Wednesday 6 and this Sunday, March 3 2024," the curfew will apply.

Law enforcement, firefighters, ambulance drivers, health personnel and duly identified journalists would not have to comply with the curfew, the statement added.

The emergency decree follows a dramatic escalation in violence over the weekend that has paralyzed parts of the capital, damaged communications and led to two prison breaks, including one at the country's largest prison.

The chairman of Digicel, a major telecoms provider to the Caribbean country, said that lines had been affected following days of street violence in parts of the capital.

Field teams on Sunday afternoon managed to fully restore the connection, Digicel Chairman Maarten Boute said in a post on X, thanks to the "brave technicians who worked tirelessly, in very precarious conditions to make this possible," he added.

Heavy gunfire has caused panic in recent days after calls by gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, a former police officer, for criminal groups to unite and overthrow Henry. Cherizier heads an alliance of gangs and faces sanctions from the U.N. and the United States.

Armed groups on Saturday night attacked the country's largest prison, defying Haitian police forces who had called for help. Reuters visited the National Penitentiary on Sunday where there were no signs of police officers and the main prison doors remained open.

"I'm the only one left in my cell," one unidentified inmate told Reuters. "We were asleep when we heard the sound of bullets. The cell barriers are broken," he said.

It was unclear how many inmates were on the run. Sources close to the institution said it was likely an "overwhelming" majority. The penitentiary, built to hold 700 prisoners, held 3,687 as of February last year, according to rights group RNDDH.

One voluntary prison worker on Sunday said that 99 prisoners had opted to remain in their cells for fear of being killed in the crossfire. These included several retired Colombian soldiers who were jailed for their alleged involvement in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise.

The bodies of three inmates who had attempted to flee lay dead in the courtyard of the jail complex on Sunday.

Cherizier this week warned locals to keep children from going to school to "avoid collateral damages" as violence surged in the prime minister's absence.

Nearly 15,000 people have been forced to leave their homes in recent days, with 10 sites hosting internally displaced people emptied over the weekend, according to the U.N. International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Prime Minister Henry, who came to power in 2021 after the assassination of the country's last president, Moise, had previously pledged to step down by early February. He later said security must first be re-established in order to ensure free and fair elections.

(Reporting by Harold Isaac and Steven Aristil; Writing by Lucinda Elliott; Editing by William Mallard, Mark Porter and Michael Perry)
SDEROT, Israel (Reuters) - Cheerful music welcomed children apprehensively returning to school amid heavy security on Sunday in Sderot, one of the Israeli towns near the Gaza border attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7.

Gunfire could be heard from the direction of Gaza, just a few kilometres away, as education officials said thousands of children are set to return this week to Sderot schools, after Israel's military said it was safe for them to do so.

"Very, very scary, but the children are strong and practiced. There is also security here, we're being secured, soldiers, and it will be okay," said Eti Irfan, one of the parents outside an elementary school in town.

Sderot, which for years has been a frequent target of Palestinian rocket attacks, was one of the larger towns targeted by Hamas in the cross-border attack that sparked the war which has been raging in Gaza for nearly five months.

It was the site of major street battles as Israeli forces tried to retake control from the Palestinian militant group.

"There is still fear of occasional shooting but the IDF promised that people can return to Sderot. Together with the mayor, together with the residents who I think really want to come back, we open Sderot's education system for all children," said Education Minister Yoav Kisch.

(Reporting by Herbert Villarraga; Writing by Ari Rabinovitch; Editing by Alexander Smith)
Families of passengers from both China and Malaysia, who were aboard the missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, are seen during a remembrance event commemorating the 10th anniversary of its disappearance, in Subang Jaya, Malaysia March 3, 2024. REUTERS/H

By Danial Azhar and Mandy Leong

KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - Malaysia is pushing for a renewed search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the transport minister said on Sunday, as the 10th anniversary of its disappearance in one of the world's greatest aviation mysteries approaches.

Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 carrying 227 passengers and 12 crew, vanished en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8, 2014.

Malaysian investigators initially did not rule out the possibility that the aircraft had been deliberately taken off course, and debris, some confirmed and some believed to be from the aircraft, has washed up along the coast of Africa and on islands in the Indian Ocean.

Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said U.S. seabed exploration firm Ocean Infinity had been invited to discuss its latest search proposal after two previous failed attempts.

"The Malaysian government is committed to the search (for MH370) and the search must go on," Loke said at a remembrance event on Sunday.

Malaysia engaged Ocean Infinity in 2018 to search the southern Indian Ocean, offering to pay up to $70 million if it found the plane.

Malaysia, China and Australia earlier had ended a fruitless two-year, A$200 million ($130.46 million) underwater hunt in January 2017.

Loke said Malaysia would talk to Australia about cooperation in resuming the search once Ocean Infinity's proposal is approved by Malaysia's cabinet.

V.P.R. Nathan, whose wife Anne Daisy was onboard the flight, said Ocean Infinity's proposal, which includes a "no find, no fee" option, was welcome.

"We want the search to carry on but we also have to be realistic. We cannot expect the government to spend billions (on the search)," Nathan said.

Jiang Hui, a Chinese national whose mother was a passenger on MH370, called on Malaysia to provide relatives with the latest information it receives.

"As long as there is communication, we can avoid misunderstanding," said Jiang, who is among family members who filed a lawsuit in China demanding compensation over the plane's disappearance.

A Beijing court began compensation hearings in November.

More than 150 Chinese passengers were on the flight, with relatives demanding compensation from Malaysia Airlines, Boeing, aircraft engine maker Rolls-Royce and the Allianz insurance group among others.

(Reporting by Danial Azhar and Mandy Leong; Editing by Nick Macfie)
German special police secures the area as they search for long-sought members Ernst Volker S. and Burkhard G. of Germany's notorious Red Army Faction (RAF) militant group, after decades on the run from armed robbery and attempted murder charges, in Berlin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Police said that their search on Sunday for two individuals wanted for their involvement in Germany's notorious Red Army Faction (RAF) militant group ended unsuccessfully.

Berlin police said that about 130 officers had been on the ground looking for Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, members of the so-called third generation of the militant RAF group.

They are wanted for suspected involvement in a series of robberies and at least one attempted murder.

A third member, Daniela Klette, was arrested last week after three decades on the run.

A police spokesperson from the German state of Lower Saxony, which was participating in the effort, had earlier said two people had been arrested but later said the two they sought had not been not found. A number of people briefly detained had been freed, a spokesperson said.

Police on Saturday published a series of photos it believed to be of Garweg in the years between 2021 to 2024, including one of him seated between two dogs while eating a bowl of pasta on a sofa.

(Reporting by Oliver Denzer and Tom Sims; Editing by Alison Williams and Jan Harvey)
BEIRUT (Reuters) - U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein is due to visit Beirut on Monday to continue diplomatic efforts aimed at de-escalating the conflict across the Lebanese-Israeli border and bringing stability, a senior Lebanese official said on Sunday.

The Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah and Israel have locked in hostilities for months in parallel to the Gaza war. It has marked the worst conflict between the heavily armed adversaries since a 2006 war, fuelling fears of an even bigger confrontation.

Lebanon's deputy parliament speaker Elias Bou Saab, one of the officials due to meet Hochstein, told Reuters he believed the timing of his visit pointed to progress in efforts to secure a Gaza truce "within the next few hours or days".

"If this happens, I believe that Hochstein's visit this time will be of great importance to follow up on the truce on our southern borders and to discuss what is needed for stability and ending the possibility of the expansion of the war with Lebanon," he said.

Washington has insisted a ceasefire deal in the Gaza war is close and should be in effect by the start of Ramadan, a week away.

Israel however boycotted talks in Cairo on Sunday after the Palestinian militant group Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list of hostages that are still alive, an Israeli newspaper reported.

Hezbollah has publicly indicated that it would halt its attacks on Israel from Lebanon when the Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip stops, but that it was also ready to keep on fighting if Israel continued hostilities.

Lebanon's caretaker prime minister Najib Mikati told Reuters on Thursday a halt to fighting in the Gaza Strip as early as this week would trigger indirect talks to end hostilities along Lebanon's southern border with Israel.

Bou Saab said Hochstein had "serious ideas that may provide the beginning of a sustainable solution, stability, and banishing the spectre of war that will not be in anyones interest".

Hochstein, who visited Beirut in January, previously brokered a rare diplomatic deal between Lebanon and Israel in 2022 to delineate their maritime border.

Designated a terrorist group by the United States, Hezbollah has not been a direct party to his diplomatic efforts. Instead his ideas have been passed on by Lebanese mediators. The group wields significant influence over the Lebanese state.

The Gaza war began when Hamas stormed Israel on Oct. 7, in an attack that killed 1,200 people and resulted in another 253 being abducted, according to Israeli tallies.

More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip in the Israeli offensive launched in response, according to Gaza health authorities.

(Writing by Tom Perry; editing by Giles Elgood)
BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Procuratorial organs in China prosecuted more than 50,000 people for committing telecom and online fraud in 2023, the country's top procuratorate said Sunday.

In addition, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) also confirmed that over 140,000 people who assisted in information network criminal activities were prosecuted last year.

Procuratorial organs cooperated with the Ministry of Public Security and oversaw the handling of 13 major cross-border telecom and online fraud cases in 2023. Special campaigns targeting such activities in northern Myanmar affecting Chinese citizens were also launched.

The SPP noted that minors, senior citizens, and full-time mothers were the three types of people most likely to fall victim to such crimes, adding that more attention should be paid to educating people in these three categories. 
U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet 2nd Class Tristen Burton, left, and Chong Hirthler, right, a longtime food-service worker. (U.S. Air Force Academy)

The U.S. Air Force Academy is mourning the loss of a 21-year-old cadet and a beloved, longtime food-service worker who died within hours of each other in separate incidents.

Cadet 2nd Class Tristen Burton of Granger, Texas, was killed in an off-base motorcycle crash Thursday, the academy announced Saturday on its Facebook page.

Tristen was studying mechanical engineering and hoped to be a special warfare officer, superintendent Lt. Gen. Richard Clark said in the statement. He will be remembered as a trusted peer and respected wingman, who excelled in the classroom and in the gym as an avid weightlifter.

Colorado State Patrol said the crash happened on Highway 24 near Manitou Springs, according to a Saturday report by KRDO 13 News. It appears Burton was taking a curve and ventured out of the lane, colliding with a guardrail, it said.

A second rider stopped to help, but Burton died at the scene, FOX 21 reported Saturday.

Chong Hirthler, a 23-year member of the Mitchell Hall Cadet Dining Facility, was found dead in her parked car Wednesday, according to the same academy statement. A family member had contacted school officials after she failed to return home from work.

She was well-known and loved across the 10th Air Base Wing, the Preparatory School, and throughout the Cadet Area, Col. Dan Werner, 10th Air Base deputy commander, said in the statement. Cadets, faculty and staff enjoyed her thoughtfulness and mentorship. She will be missed by everyone.

Clark ordered academy flags at half-staff Friday, the statement said. Chaplains, mental health professionals and other support services were available to everyone over the weekend.

Colorado State Patrol continues to investigate the motorcycle accident, the statement said. In both incidents, official cause and manner of death will be determined by the El Paso County Coroners Office.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families, friends, and loved ones of both Cadet Burton and Mrs. Chong, the academys statement said. May you find blue skies and tailwinds as you rest forever in peace.
THeMIS, an uncrewed ground vehicle from the Dutch military, fires a .50-caliber machine gun during an Army Expeditionary Warfare Experiment demonstration of robotics capabilities in an infantry platoon on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at Fort Moore, Ga. The experiment is testing the viability of building robotic capabilities into light infantry platoons in the future. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

FORT MOORE, Ga.  A grenade exploded off in the distance, launched from a small drone hovering just over a cluster of trees on a hilly live-fire range during training last week at the Army post.

The 50-pound drone continued hovering, firing three more grenades before a ground robot outfitted with a .50-caliber machine gun moved forward, unloading automatic fire toward the direction the drone had shot. The weapons continued shooting in a scenario designed to mimic the opening salvos of a battle, as the soldiers controlling the machines remained hidden, safely out of the reach of return fire.

The drill conducted Tuesday during Fort Moores annual Army Expeditionary Warrior Experiment, or AEWE, demonstration is one long envisioned by military planners who hope to integrate soldier-operated machines into infantry and armor formations to keep troops safer in battle.

Infantrymen with Fort Moores Experimental Company have spent months conducting AEWE operations, working with aerial drones and ground robots to lead the Armys effort of incorporating machines directly into infantry formations. They tested nearly 50 different technologies including small drones that collect intelligence or jam radio frequencies, near-silent electric motorbikes, signal-blocking camouflage materials and robots that can fire weapons or sneak up on enemy positions.

The main takeaway from the units work, said Capt. Timothy Young, the Experimental Companys commander, is the concept is sound, and at least some of the technology is nearly ready to deploy into the broader Army.

This formation increases the lethality of infantry formations and allows commanders to have greater situational awareness early on, on the battlefield, Young said after his soldiers conducted the live-fire demonstration. Ground robotics  have the potential to provide direct fire and effects on the enemy beyond the [forward line of troops]. And today ground robotics are proving to be a high-payoff target for the enemy to draw indirect and direct fire away from our troops, allowing us to trade blood for machinery.

New unmanned aerial systems are tested during an Army Expeditionary Warfare Experiment demonstration of robotics capabilities in an infantry platoon on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at Fort Moore, Ga. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

AEWE has tested emerging Army technology at Fort Moore for nearly two decades, said Justin Strayer, the chief of persistent experimentation for the installations Maneuver Battle Lab, which oversees the annual testing event. This year, Army Futures Command tasked AEWE with focusing on robotics that could be integrated into light infantry formations, Strayer said. The experiment will have similar orders next year, as the Army looks to integrate at least some of the tech being tested there into Army platoons by 2030.

AEWE is one of dozens of experimental events throughout the Army that is feeding technology into the services primary experimentation program, known as Project Convergence. The service will host a high-level Project Convergence demonstration this week in California at the Marines Camp Pendleton and the Armys National Training Center at Fort Irwin, where it will show how some of the latest emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence capabilities, can come together to conduct major combat operations, according to the Pentagon.

Strayer said some of the work that Fort Moores Experimental Company has done in recent months will be tested at Project Convergence, which will also include the Defense Departments other military services, and troops and technology from several allied countries.

On Tuesday, Experimental Company soldiers demonstrated the capabilities of nearly a dozen small drones, most weighing less than 50 pounds and capable of being toted by foot soldiers. They used several ground robots, including TheMIS  an uncrewed ground vehicle armed with a .50-caliber machine gun and provided by the Dutch military. They also used a small robot that can launch a tethered surveillance drone and carry some 2,500 pounds of gear.

A soldier with the Armys Experimental Platoon participates in an Army Expeditionary Warfare Experiment demonstration of robotics capabilities in an infantry platoon on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, at Fort Moore, Ga. (Corey Dickstein/Stars and Stripes)

While the experiments proved fruitful, they did not go without issue. During the demonstration, one drone fell out of the air and crashed, and TheMIS experienced firing issues. Young said such things are to be expected. What is clear, the captain added, is the aerial drone technology is much farther along than the ground robotics.

Some of the drones demonstrated Tuesday can perform autonomous missions, where a soldier sets a mission plan, presses a button, and the drone flies itself to look over an enemy target or search a portion of the battlefield, he said. That ability would be very beneficial to todays platoon leaders and company commanders, Young said.

I would dare say its ready to go, he said of the semiautonomous drone technology. The entire time [the drone flies] I know where its hovering, I can see what its looking at, and it can tell me if it finds  a human or a vehicle, which is enough to [act on].

In some cases, the surveillance drones can find an enemy target, alert a commander via a tablet, that can then quickly relay that information to another hunter-killer drone to move into position and fire on the enemy. Within minutes those drones can conduct a real-time damage assessment, Young said.

Thats a huge advantage for a commander, he said. And thats why I want this air stuff [in formations] right now.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte addresses a speech on the Netherlands' involvement in slavery, in the National Archives in The Hague, on Dec. 19, 2022. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Rutte on Friday, March 1, 2024, signed a bilateral security agreement that includes the donation of patrol boats and other watercraft. (Robin Van Lonkhuijsen/ANP/AFP/Getty Images/TNS)

(Tribune News Service)  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte signed a bilateral security agreement that includes the donation of patrol boats and other watercraft.

The pact inked on Friday is similar to the deals Ukraine has secured recently with the U.K., Germany, France, Denmark, Italy and Canada.

It will provide Ukraine with $2.16 billion in military aid from the Netherlands this year and further defense assistance over the next 10 years, Zelenskyy said in a statement on the social media platform X.

The aid will include air defense, artillery and long-range weapons and assistance for Ukraines air force. The Dutch Ministry of Defense said it will provide Ukraine with 14 rigid-hull inflatable boats, eight paramilitary river patrol boats, and CB90-class fast assault craft.

Some of the watercraft will be supplied from Dutch militarys own inventory while others will be sourced from industry.

Rutte said the Netherlands would also participate in an initiative announced last week by the Czech Republic to help finance the purchase and delivery of about 800,000 rounds of ammunition for Ukraine.

The Dutch ministry said it would increase its contribution to $271 million from $108.5 million announced earlier.

On X, Rutte said the agreement meant that Kyiv is assured of our continued support and commitment: across the full breadth of our defense cooperation, but also when it comes to reconstruction, sanctions and the search for truth and justice.

The Dutch premier, whos likely to become the next leader of NATO later this year, also attended a briefing with Ukraines army chief and defense minister in Kharkiv focused on reinforcement of air defenses, Zelenskyy said. Kharkiv, he said, is a city that Russian President Vladimir Putin is trying to destroy with brutal air strikes.

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Jordanian Air Force members ensure the container is correctly positioned on the track for an efficient unloading process. King Abdullah II Air Base, Al Ghabawi, Jordan. (Hussam Hasan for The Washington Post)

The United States on Saturday became at least the fifth country to drop aid to Gaza since the start of the war in October.

Between 3 and 5 p.m. local time, U.S. Central Command said, Air Force C-130s, working with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, dropped containers packed with more than 38,000 halal meals onto the besieged enclave. The containers, equipped with parachutes, were dropped over enclaves Mediterranean coastline to allow civilian access to the critical aid, Central Command said.

Aid professionals say dropping aid from planes is an expensive, inefficient way to deliver aid to a population, and that the missions now being flown are insufficient to meet the needs of the more than 2 million people trapped inside Gaza.

Heres what to know: How dire are conditions in Gaza?

Over the past week, when people in the enclave have spotted parachutes swaying in the skies above them, they have run to meet them. Since Sunday, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and France have dropped tons of prepared meals, diapers and other essential supplies.

After nearly five months of war, Gazans have resorted to eating grain ordinarily used to feed livestock or plants they scavenge.

Famine, U.N. officials warned on Monday, is almost inevitable. Twenty-four of the enclaves 36 hospitals have been destroyed by Israeli bombardment, the World Health Organization reported Tuesday; those that remain are functioning only partially. The Israeli military campaign against Hamas has killed more than 30,000 people in Gaza, the health ministry there says.

Hamas and allied fighters who streamed out of Gaza early on Oct. 7 killed around 1,200 people in Israel and took 253 more as hostages, Israeli officials say, triggering the current conflict. But the densely populated, impoverished territory relied on aid long before then. Its been under strict blockade by Israel and Egypt since Hamas seized power in 2007.

After the Hamas attack, Israel tightened the blockade. Eventually, aid was allowed to trickle in, but it has amounted to a fraction of the number of trucks that entered before the war.

Jordan was the first to try airdrops. On Nov. 6, Jordanian forces delivered medical and emergency supplies to a Jordanian field hospital, the first of several such missions.

Over the past week, the country was joined by Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and France in a new effort to drop aid directly to civilians. In the most recent indication of the Biden administrations growing frustration with the civilian toll of the Israeli military campaign, President Biden on Friday announced authorization for U.S. airdrops to Gaza.

How do airdrops work?

Jordanian troops on Thursday loaded tightly wrapped crates containing prepared meals, medicine, diapers and feminine hygiene products onto C-130 Hercules cargo planes at the King Abdullah II Air Base outside Amman. With Washington Post journalists on board, the planes took off, flew west over Tel Aviv to the Mediterranean Sea and swiveled south toward Gaza.

Jordan coordinates the airdrops with Israel. Israel gives Jordan a window during which the missions may be flown safely and vets people aboard the planes, including visitors, before granting permission.

The drops on hospitals are coordinated with contacts on the ground, who know to expect the large, GPS-guided parcels containing medical equipment, medicine and food. A C-130 can hold four such bundles.

The airdrops to civilians arrive unannounced. The boxes are packed smaller to reach more civilians; a C-130 can hold 16. On the Jordanian mission this week, they were dropped from 10,000 feet at a rate of one every 30-60 seconds. Theyre dropped along the cost, where sight lines unimpeded by buildings mean civilians are more likely to spot them.

When aid has landed in the sea, Gazans have launched skiffs to recover it.

Whats wrong with airdrops?

Airdrops are exorbitantly expensive. The Jordanian military declined to give details on cost, but Philippe Lazzarini, the head of UNRWA, the principal U.N. agency for Palestinian affairs, described them as a last-resort, extraordinarily expensive way of providing assistance.

Airdrops can make logistical sense in some cases - to meet the urgent needs of hospitals, for example - but aid professionals say they should not be the main avenue to feed Gazas more than 2 million people.

I dont think that the airdropping of food in the Gaza Strip should be the answer today, Lazzarini said. The real answer is: open the crossings and bring convoys and medical assistance into the Gaza Strip.

Janti Soeripto, the head of Save the Children, called the Gaza airdrops theater, and warned that they fueled chaos on the ground.

You cant really guarantee who gets it and who doesnt, she told The Post. You cant really guarantee where it ends up. You might put people at risk. She described children wading into the sea to try to retrieve the heavy parcels.

Its difficult to track where airdropped aid ends up. Soeripto said some morphine intended for hospitals were found elsewhere.

The best answer is open up more crossings, allow trucks in, do it in an orderly fashion, let the U.N. and other agencies do the distribution, she said. That is the safest and most effective way to do it.

Why has the United States joined the effort?

The need for the safe delivery of more aid was made excruciatingly clear on Thursday, when Gaza suffered one of the deadliest episodes of the war: More than 100 people were killed when a crowd descended on an aid truck convoy.

Palestinian officials and witnesses blamed gunfire from Israeli forces tasked with providing to provide security for the convoy. Israeli officials said they fired above the crowd after people moved toward soldiers in a threatening manner; they blamed a stampede.

U.N. officials transporting medicine and fuel to al-Shifa hospital on Friday reported seeing a large number of gunshot wounds among the injured, according to Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

The disaster drew sharp condemnation, including from Israeli allies. Britain, France, Italy and Germany called for an investigation. Biden said it would hinder ongoing negotiations over a pause in fighting.

Biden authorized U.S. military airdrops onto Gaza the next day. Washington, he said, is also going to insist that Israel facilitate more trucks and more routes to get more and more people the help they need.

No excuses, because the truth is aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough, he said. I wont stand by, we wont let up and were trying to pull out every stop we can to get more assistance in.

National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Friday the airdrops were intended to supplement delivery on the ground, not replace it.

You cant replicate the size and scale and scope of a convoy of 20 or 30 trucks, he said. The administration, he said, was also considering sending aid on ships. That would require permission from Israel, which controls Gazas maritime border.
Valentino Perez uses a snowblower in front of a restaurant north of Lake Tahoe during a powerful multiple day winter storm in the Sierra Nevada mountains on Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Truckee, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images/TNS)

SAN FRANCISCO (Tribune News Service)  The most powerful California blizzard of the winter sent gusts of up to 190 mph to the Sierra Nevada, and heavy snow and strong winds forced officials to shut some roads in the Lake Tahoe and Mammoth Mountain areas.

Roads that were forced to shut overnight into Saturday morning included a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 80 between Drum Forebay and the Nevada state line and a 50-mile stretch of Highway 395 north of Mammoth Lakes to Bridgeport.

Highway 395 between Mammoth Lakes and Southern California remained open as of Saturday morning, but weather conditions were dicey because of strong winds, as well as heavy rain in some areas. On Friday afternoon, a truck tipped over because of high winds in the Olancha area of Inyo County, the California Highway Patrol said.

On Interstate 80 over the Sierra on Friday, multiple vehicles spun out and a big rig jackknifed. At one point overnight, we had a mass amount of vehicles over Donner Summit and it took several hours for emergency vehicles and tow trucks to reach motorists, the California Highway Patrol office in Truckee said.

At one point, emergency personnel and tow trucks had a difficult time getting to motorists due to blizzard conditions, the CHP said. Officials will still need to remove vehicles left abandoned on Interstate 80 after motorists were rescued.

We suggest you stay home, the CHP added. Stay warm and dont put yourself and your family in a dangerous position.

A gust of 190 mph was detected Friday night at Palisades Tahoe at an elevation of 8,700 feet, according to the National Weather Service. Forecasters warned of extreme avalanche danger across the greater Tahoe region in the Sierra backcountry through Sunday afternoon.

Around Mammoth Mountain in Mono County, peak winds clocked in at 114 mph Friday afternoon.

The record in California for the fastest wind gust verified by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration was 199 mph on Feb. 20, 2017, at Ward Mountain, also known as Ward Peak, at Palisades Tahoe.

Forecasters urged people to stay where they are unless theres an emergency, and warned that it could take time for plows to dig out communities. Meteorologists say the storm, which may dump up to 12 feet of snowfall in the highest elevations of Californias mightiest mountain range by Sunday, could result in one of the top 10 snowiest days of the central Sierra since 1970.

The crest of the Sierra overall is expected to get 6 to 10 feet of snow; Mammoth Lakes, 2 to 4 feet; and the Tahoe Basin, 3 to 6 feet. Snow could be falling at a rate of 1 to 6 inches per hour, the weather service said.

The UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab by Saturday morning had received 3 feet of snow, and expected several more feet by Monday morning.

Mammoths ski resort forecast a high of 15 degrees Saturday and, besides the blizzard, forecast thundersnow, in which lightning can occur within a snowstorm.

Light, fluffy snow will be easily blown around, creating whiteout conditions with near-zero visibility at times, the weather service office in Reno said. For those who do venture out, pack an emergency kit and prepare to be stranded in your vehicle for an extended period of time.

Sierra ski resorts reported Friday being forced to close at least some sections of their mountains, or had to shut operations entirely, because of the intensity of the blizzard. It will take time to dig out chair lifts, they said.

Life-threatening blizzard conditions were expected through Saturday morning, according to the National Weather Service office in Reno, which issued a rare blizzard warning for this storm that will last through Sunday morning. The blizzard warning extends from Lassen Volcanic National Park in Shasta County to Kings Canyon National Park in Fresno County.

Blizzard warnings for the Sierra Nevada are issued only either once annually or once every other year.

Snow showers in the Sierra are expected to continue through Sunday and Monday, and there are more chances of snow on Wednesday.

That break that we were expecting on Tuesday may not be so much of a break for the Sierra, the weather service office in Reno said. The Sierra could see up to 6 inches of snow in the valleys, and up to another foot near the crest, between Tuesday and Wednesday. After that, drier weather appears to return by Thursday and into the weekend, the weather service said.

Hundreds of customers in the Tahoe area were without power for at least some period of time late Friday and early Saturday, according to the Truckee Donner Public Utility District and Liberty Utilities.

Other areas of California are also forecast to be affected by the strong winter storm. A stretch of Interstate 5 in Siskiyou County, near the Oregon border, could get more than 1 foot of snow.

And Highway 101 in Mendocino, Humboldt and Del Norte counties could see snowfall. Highway 101 at Ridgewood Summit in Mendocino County could get up to 1 foot of snow; at Prairie Creek Summit in Humboldt County, up to 1.5 feet; and south of Crescent City in Del Norte County, about half a foot of snow.

Yosemite National Park was ordered shut down starting Friday and its visitors told to leave by noon. The park will remain closed at least through noon Sunday, and its closure could be extended.

Some 6 to 12 inches of snow could fall in Yosemite Valley  the most popular part of Yosemite National Park, the National Weather Service office in Hanford said. A winter storm warning will take effect there between Saturday morning through Sunday morning.

A more intense blizzard warning was already in effect for the rest of Yosemite National Park outside of Yosemite Valley, which will last through Sunday morning.

Some 2 to 3 feet of snow could fall at the Big Oak Flat entrance to Yosemite National Park along Highway 120, a route often taken by travelers from the San Francisco Bay Area.

Along Highway 41, a route to the park often taken by those from Fresno and Southern California, 3 to 5 feet of snow could fall at the entrance to the park, around Mariposa Grove. At the historic Victorian-era Wawona Hotel, 3 to 6 feet of snow could fall.

In the Sacramento Valley, gusty winds could result in power outages and falling trees through early Saturday.

The winter storm was expected to be more mild for Southern California. The wettest period of the weekend was expected on Saturday, but theres still a chance of rain that exists on Sunday.

Still, there could be isolated and brief bursts of heavy rain likely through Saturday night, mainly in the foothills and coastal slopes, the weather service office in Oxnard said. There is the potential for mudslides and rockslides on canyon roads and below steep hillsides, and ongoing land movement in recent landslide areas.

For the weekend storm, downtown L.A. could get 0.6 inches of rain; Long Beach, 0.44 inches; Pomona, 0.74 inches; Pasadena, 1.33 inches; Santa Clarita, 0.77 inches; Oxnard, 0.65 inches; and Santa Barbara, 0.92 inches.

San Diego could get up to 0.2 inches; Irvine, San Clemente and Riverside could get up to 0.3 inches; Anaheim, up to 0.4 inches; Ontario and Temecula, up to 0.7 inches; and San Bernardino, up to 1 inch.

The San Francisco Bay Area was facing thunderstorms Friday night, which were expected to continue Saturday, with increasing winds. Gusts of up to 50 mph are possible through Saturday morning. Cities in the Bay Area were generally forecast to get between 1 and 1.5 inches of rain through Sunday.

Four people were hurt in San Francisco on Friday evening after a tree fell on their car at Golden Gate Avenue and Laguna Street, firefighters said.

2024 Los Angeles Times.

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JERUSALEM, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Flag carriers Air India and Italia Trasporto Aereo (ITA) on Sunday resumed their flights to Israel after they were suspended in October last year following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

The Indian airline partially resumed its flights on the route between the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi and Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Until the conflict, the route included six weekly round-trip flights.

The Italian airline resumed its operations in Israel with three weekly flights between Fiumicino airport in Rome and Tel Aviv.

ITA said in a statement that the restart of flights between Tel Aviv and Rome was possible thanks to cooperation with Italian and Israeli authorities, adding that "it is strategically important for ITA Airways as it strengthens the commercial, social and cultural relations between the two markets."

Three other flagship airlines, British Airways, Spain's Iberia, and Dutch airline KLM recently announced that they will resume their flights to Israel on April 1. 
Former president Donald Trump takes the stage at a Republican primary watch party in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 24, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post)

Donald Trump drew closer to the Republican presidential nomination on Saturday, winning Missouris contest and sweeping the Michigan GOPs remaining delegates to the national party convention.

Michigan Republican officials and other preselected party members awarded Trump all 39 of the delegates up for grabs at their caucus convention in Grand Rapids. The former president also won most of the 16 delegates that were allotted based on Michigans statewide primary earlier in the week.

In Missouri and Idaho, Republican voters across the state also made their selection at party-run meetings Saturday. The Associated Press projected that Trump had won Missouri but has yet to call the race in Idaho.

Trump has won every state contest so far in a landslide and expects to clinch the nomination by mid-March. But Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador urging her party to move on from the former president, has pledged to remain in the race at least through Super Tuesday next week, when 15 states will vote at once along with American Samoa. Haley has argued that voters deserve a second option and the chance to make their voice heard, even as it appears unlikely that she will win a single state.

Republicans in D.C. are also holding a primary from Friday through Sunday at a downtown hotel. The city backed Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) over Trump in 2016 and could be more favorable to Haley. And North Dakota Republicans will hold their presidential caucuses Monday.

Trump won Michigans primary Tuesday with 68 percent to Haleys 27 percent, and Saturdays process is widely seen as favorable to him because of his loyal following among the partys most engaged activists.

Michigan Republicans are using a hybrid system because the states Democratic-led legislature moved up its primary date in a way that violated RNC rules, prompting state and national GOP officials to work out an unusual two-part system.

Michigans process is further complicated by turmoil at the state party. Party officials voted to oust Kristina Karamo as chair at a January meeting; Karamo, a fervent advocate of Trumps false claims to victory in 2020, claimed the meeting was unauthorized and said she would not step down.

Trump and the national GOP recognized the new chair, former congressman Pete Hoekstra, who is overseeing Saturdays caucus convention in Grand Rapids. But Karamo planned her own convention in Detroit, which the state partys website and social media accounts promoted up until a last-minute cancellation. Some local Republicans are still planning to hold separate gatherings, according to the Detroit Free Press.

The Michigan Court of Appeals this week rejected Karamos bid to reinstate herself.

She basically has no standing on anything to do anything, said Saul Anuzis, a former Michigan GOP chairman.

Republicans in Idaho and Missouri have also shifted away this year from the statewide primary system favored by most states, creating some confusion.

Missouris governor and legislature canceled the states primary as part of a broader 2022 elections bill requiring voters to show photo identification - then never rescheduled it. As a result, the Missouri GOP will hold caucus meetings at a specific time - 10 a.m. local time - for registered voters who state their allegiance to the Missouri Republican Party on the spot.

Idaho leaders canceled their primary while trying to save the state money and hold multiple contests on the same date. They then missed the deadline to reinstate it, despite concerns from both Republicans and Democrats who said the cancellation was an oversight. The Idaho GOP had urged the legislature to reinstate the primary in the name of voter access and portrayed the caucuses - which require voters to show up at a specific time - as a backup plan.

The Idaho caucuses are open to registered Republicans, a contrast to some other contests where non-Republicans have been able to vote and have boosted Haley.

While there is little suspense about who will win Saturday, the contests will provide more gauges of Republicans feelings about Trump, their presumptive nominee, and the lingering appetite for an alternative.

Haley has been racing from state to state in the lead-up to Super Tuesday. On Saturday, she and Trump will both hold rallies in North Carolina, a Super Tuesday state where early voting is underway. Trump is speaking in Greensboro; Haley is speaking in Raleigh.

Azi Paybarah contributed to this report.
Lt. Col. Eli Adams, Maj. Lyle Milliman and 1st Lt. Stacey Acapana of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District stand in front of a buffalo statue outside the VA Western New York Medical Center in Buffalo, New York, Nov. 10, 2021. The medical center hosted current and former members of the military during the ceremony to honor veterans and recognize their service for Veterans Day 2021. (Avery Schneider/U.S. Army)

(Tribune News Service)  A veteran from Buffalo, N.Y., who allegedly threatened in September to blow up Veterans Administration Medical Centers in Buffalo and Washington, D.C., has been arrested, federal officials said Friday.

A criminal complaint filed this week in U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York accused Demont Coston, 56, of making the threats in phone calls and text messages.

The complaint alleges that Coston called the Veterans Crisis Line Sept. 12 and threatened to blow up the VA Medical Center in Buffalo.

Coston, court papers said, is recorded as telling the crisis line: If I cant get help, cant nobody else get help. Thats how I feel. The next VA around me, aint gonna be the next VA around me no more.

Coston had served in the U.S. Navy and received an Other Than Honorable discharge, making him ineligible for VA benefits and services, court papers said. Coston has tried to get benefits and was denied, according to the complaint.

Following the threat, Buffalo police tried to do a welfare check on Coston but were unable to find him.

Coston then threatened to blow up the VA Medical Center in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 14, according to court papers.

Coston faces a penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine if he is convicted, according to federal prosecutors.

He eventually was found at a family members home in Maryland.

A federal judge on Thursday placed Coston under 24-hour-a-day home incarceration, with GPS monitoring. Coston also was prohibited from applying for a pistol permit and from contacting the VA.

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Sources said an investigation into this incident and other incidents that may have predated it is now underway

Gardai have confirmed they are investigating a number of potentially related incidents after video circulated online of an alleged assault on a Transport for Ireland (TFI) Bus.

Shocking footage shared yesterday showed a group of men assaulting a teenager in the upstairs of the vehicle on Thursday evening.

A number of the men in the video appeared to be armed with metal pipes.

Sources said an investigation into this incident and other incidents that may have predated it is now underway.

In a statement to the Sunday World, a garda spokesperson confirmed: Gardai are aware of and are investigating a number of potentially related incidents which occurred in Tallaght, Dublin 24 on the evening of Thursday 29th of February and Friday, March 1, 2024.

An Garda Siochana appeals to any person with information on these incidents to contact Tallaght Garda Station at 01 6666000.
The case will be heard again on March 8

A man accused of attempting to murder a woman in east Belfast has appeared in court on Saturday.

Stephen Kennedy (42) is charged with attempted murder and possessing a hatchet with intent to commit an offence on February 29.

Both charges are said to be aggravated domestic abuse.

Kennedys solicitor said he would be challenging the domestic abuse element of the charges, telling the court there was no personal connection between Kennedy and his alleged victim.

He added that there had been no statement of complaint from the woman concerned.

The lawyer asked District Judge Rosalie Prytherch to adjourn the case to next week for a decision on whether bail would be sought.

The case will be heard again on March 8.

Following the incident, police said they were called to the scene off the Newtownards Road at around 11pm.

The PSNI added: Officers attended and discovered a woman with serious injuries to her head and back.
Mr Volkov, a Ukrainian national, who appeared in court with crutches, was charged with one count of assault causing harm to Mr Nabiev, on February 25th last, at the Dundrum House Hotel accommodation centre.

A man has been charged in connection with a fatal assault in Dundrum in Co Tipperary last Thursday.

Ivan Volkov (65) with an address at Dundrum House Hotel, Dundrum, Co Tipperary, appeared before a special sitting of Newcastle West District Court in Limerick charged in connection with the fatal assault of Shamil Nabiev (69), a native of Azerbaijan.

Mr Volkov, a Ukrainian national, who appeared in court with crutches, was charged with one count of assault causing harm to Mr Nabiev, on February 25th last, at the Dundrum House Hotel accommodation centre.

He was also charged with one count of affray at the same location on the same date.

The judge ordered that an independent post-mortem be conducted.

A Ukrainian interpreter was provided to Mr Volkov to explain what was happening during todays court hearing.

Garda Pat Ahern, Tipperary town, gave evidence of arresting Mr Volkov at 9.18am, on Saturday, March 2 and charging him at 10pm that night with the two offences before the court.

Garda Ahern said Mr Volkov replied to the assault charge, I didnt attack, I was defending myself.

He said Mr Volkov made no reply to the charge of affray.

Inspector Paul Slattery, Tipperary, told the court gardai had no objection to bail.

Philip English, solicitor for Mr Volkov, said he was not making an application for bail but he said he would likely be seeking bail on behalf of the accused at a later date.

Mr English made an application for an independent post-mortem be conducted on the victims body, and he told the court there is a certain urgency in respect to that.

He said Mr Volkov was living in Dundrum on temporary protection refugee status, that he has serious health issues, and is in receipt of a weekly disability payment of 236.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican granted the solicitors application for an independent post-mortem.

Judge Coolican also granted the accused free legal aid and ordered that he receive all necessary medical assistance while in custody.

The judge remanded Mr Volkov in custody to appear before Nenagh District Court when a bail hearing is likely to proceed.

Gardai stated in an earlier press release that the injured man was taken to Tipperary University Hospital last Thursday to be treated but later died.

A post-mortem was due to be carried out today by the State Pathologist Dr Margot Bolster. The scene of the alleged assault has been preserved for technical examination, gardai said.
Evil monster who dubbed himself Devil's disciple', hated God and punched puppy to death

A monster dubbed Ulsters Fritzl was buried this week in a funeral attended by nobody.

This is the unmarked grave where Alistair Henrys body was placed on Thursday morning at Coleraine Cemetery.

There was no service, no eulogy, no gravestone, no flowers.

A source said: He went straight into the ground.

The silence of his final moments above ground was in stark contrast to the violence he dished out to his ex-wife and others who crossed his path.

The 62-year-old, who remains the only person to be convicted in connection with the murder of OAP Norman Moffatt, died last Friday at the pensioners fold he was surprisingly placed in last year.

Alistair Henry's unmarked grave at Coleraine Cemetery

Police confirmed last night they were not treating his passing as suspicious at this time, but added they are continuing to make inquiries surrounding the circumstances of the death.

Local sources have reported that the monster who called himself the devils disciple had been the victim of a nasty beating a few weeks ago. There were even rumours he had suffered a stab wound.

They also said there was blood everywhere when his body was discovered and there had been near-constant anti-social behaviour and noise while Henry had lived there.

The PSNI said: The mans death, at this time, is not being treated as suspicious. Police, however, are continuing to make inquiries surrounding the circumstances of the death.

Dubbed Ulsters Fritzl after notorious Austrian Josef Fritzl  who kept his daughter captive for 24 years and raped her thousands of times  Henry subjected his then-wife to a catalogue of horrendous abuse, much of which cant be published as it is too disturbing.

Last night, a former friend who knew Henry all his life said: He was an evil bastard and he will not be missed. He was a bully and brought nothing but misery to his wife, his family and his neighbours who had to put up with his drink and drug parties.

He was given the send-off he deserved, which was to be buried without anyone there to pay any respects. He died a drug addict and alcoholic who never apologised for what he put his wife and family through. He left so much pain and anger in his wake.

We first reported on Henry in May 2008. He had subjected his wife to a chilling seven-year campaign of terror which ended when he was jailed for two years.

Even then, he vowed he would kill her when he was released. Back in 2008, she told how the abuse started.

We were only married and I was sitting on the bed as he was getting ready to go to work, she said. The next thing, he punched me full-on, on the side of the face.

He broke my jaw and permanently damaged my eye that day for no reason. There was no warning, no row. That was the start of my hell. It was every day after that.

Evil Alistair Henry

The beatings came daily and she was gagged and bound in her own home. If she was allowed out, he had to be by her side and she was told to keep her head down at all times.

It was as if he knew I had no one now, no one who could tell what he was doing. At this stage, I wasnt allowed to see any of my family and friends and Alistair had given up his job so he could be with me 24/7.

He had nothing to do all day other than torture me  and thats what he did.

He has broken every bone in my body, he has abused me in terrible ways and forced me to do terrible things. I hate him for all of it and I wish he was dead.

Him being dead is the only way I will know I will be safe.

Henry even broke his wifes ankle because she had put 10 peas on his plate instead of eight.

He was also a horrific animal abuser and even forced his wife to watch him perform sex acts on himself while he chanted the twisted mantra: Roses are red, violets are blue. Theyll need dental records to identify you.

She told us in 2008: He was evil to everyone  everyone weaker than him. He microwaved one of our cats and put the other in the washing machine.

He cut the girls goldfish in half and then taped it back together.

He punched our wee Labrador puppy so hard he broke his neck and he just dumped him in the bin. Thats what he did to amuse himself when he wasnt abusing me.

She revealed how he referred to himself as the devils disciple as he tore pages out of the Bible.

Alistair hated everything religious, she said. He banned anything religious from the house. He hated crosses and used to rant about how he hated God and Jesus.

He told me that he worshipped Beelzebub and that it was his fault he did the things he did.

Henry was jailed in 2013 after he falsely accused a drinking pal hed fallen out with of murdering 73-year-old Moffatt. He had made it all up.

Norman Moffatt. Henry was jailed in 2013 after he falsely accused a drinking pal hed fallen out with of murdering the 73-year-old

Evil Henry had taken revenge after a squalid drinking fallout to accuse his mate of the murder. The innocent man had to live with that hanging over him for 11 years.

Last December, police apologised to the family of Mr Moffatt after a watchdog review found multiple failings in an investigation of his murder.

The OAP was attacked as he walked along Railway Road in Coleraine in January 2001. He died two months later.

A subsequent review from the Police Ombudsman identified shortcomings in the police investigation.

Henry was convicted of perverting the course of justice and jailed for two years after deliberately lying to police that a fellow drinking buddy had been the man who stabbed Mr Moffatt to death.

The court was told at the time that Henrys outrageous lie had hampered their investigation by directing their efforts away from the real main suspect.

In recent years, Henry caused mayhem for his neighbours and was forced to move home by paramilitaries after his late-night parties came to their attention.

Last year, we reported that he had been put in a new home within specialist sheltered accommodation. This was a shock to residents and their families who were well aware of his anti-social reputation.

Henry had been using a mobility scooter for the last two years and we pictured him going about his business on his new vehicle complete with personalised number plate AL1.

We were also sent a video of him driving his mobility scooter erratically down the street towards The Heights area of the town, where he used to live before he was effectively put out for causing constant trouble.
Its understood gardai had to use pepper spray to subdue the man before climbing over a counter to arrest him.

A man in his 30s is in custody after being arrested by gardai during an armed robbery at a Dublin filling station.

The alarm was raised after a man armed with a large-bladed knife entered a Circle K on the Kennelsfort Road in west Dublin, and threatened staff on Saturday evening, March 2, 2024 at approximately 5.30pm.

Its understood gardai had to use pepper spray to subdue the man before climbing over a counter to arrest him.

Footage seen by sundayworld.com shows a hooded man behind a counter in the premises while an observer can be heard saying thats a knife. A garda approaches the counter and the man behind covers his face after having been apparently sprayed.

Two gardai clamber over the counter, one of whom hits the man several times with a baton before pinning him on the ground. The second garda takes out handcuffs and the man is restrained as a third officer climbs over the cash desk to assist with the arrest.

A garda spokesperson told sundayworld.com: A knife, a sum of cash and a number of stolen items were recovered.

The male is currently detained at a garda station in South Dublin under provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984.

"Investigations are ongoing.
Murdered gangster is listed as owning his own business

Richie Carberry (left) was gunned down outside his home and Robbie Lawlor was killed in 2020

SLAIN mobster Richie Carberry left a will in which all his estate went to the sister of murdered gang boss Robbie Lawlor.

Carberrys wife Eileen, Robbie Lawlors sister, was also named as the executor of the will registered in September 2018, at the height of the lethal Drogheda gangland feud.

As is standard in a will, it was set down that in the event of Eileens death within 30 days of her husband, then his assets would go to Eileens sister Charlene Lawlor and brother-in-law Shane Dillon.

Just a month after the legal document was registered, it was reported that a new house belonging to Carberry at Balrath in Co Meath was targeted in an arson attack.

Carberry had become a target of the Maguire faction after he aligned with a rival gang and supplied them with weapons in the bitter feud.

Robbie Lawlor had been the prime suspect for the gun attack on Owen Maguire in July 2018 that left the gang boss permanently disabled.

The Maguire faction also saw Carberry as being close to the leaders of their rival Drogheda gang.

Richie Carberry was gunned down outside his home

In March 2019, the Maguire gang is believed to have targeted Carberry at his home in Bettystown, where shots were fired at the house.

Details of the attack emerged in a 2022 CAB case against Owen and his brother Brendan Maguire.

It was stated that confidential information was received that shots were fired into the home of Richie Carberry.

It was reported that a man approached the house and Richard Carberry opened the door to him, the case heard.

The door was immediately closed on the caller who fired three shots into the front of the house, causing damage to the front door and window, before fleeing the scene in a vehicle.

Carberry didnt report the matter and refused to co-operate with officers investigating the incident.

When his house was later searched, bullet casings were found and CCTV footage of the attack was also recovered.

That attack prompted Carberry to install extra security at his home, which included bulletproof windows.

But the measures didnt protect him in November 2019 when the 39-year-old father-of two was gunned down outside the house after getting out of his car.

He was shot a number of times in the back and arm as he attempted to escape from the gunman.

His body was found outside his home on a footpath.

While members of the Maguire faction were initially prime suspects, there was a theory that his murder had been given the go-ahead by a major drugs boss in north Dublin over a separate issue.

At the time, Carberry, who is originally from Coolock, Dublin, was seen as a major player in the drugs trade and had been linked to a 3.2m cannabis seizure before his murder.

His brother, Stephen Carberry, was given an eight-year jail term after being convicted over a massive haul of ecstasy and cannabis.

The 1.5million worth of drugs were seized in 2013 in Donabate, Co Dublin but the criminal case was only finalised in court last year because of uncontrollable delays.

Stephen Carberry, it was heard in court, suffered a nervous breakdown on the first anniversary of his brothers murder.

Robbie Lawlor was behind the savage killing of teenager Keane Mulready-Woods, which was regarded as revenge for the death of his brother-in-law.

Robbie Lawlor

Lawlor himself was then the victim of a complex gangland murder plot in which he was shot dead in Belfast in April 2020.

While Richard Carberrys will does not detail his assets, at the time of his murder he was listed as owning a firm, RPC Enterprises, based in Laytown, Co Meath.

It is described in official documents as being involved in the motor and building trade and was registered at the Companies Office in 2016.

But death is no protection from the Criminal Assets Bureau, which has previously won a case to seize cash from the estate of a dead criminal.

Just over 92,000 in bank deposits and cash were seized after John Gibsons murder in 2017, and were deemed the proceeds of crime.

The evidence establishes that the cash seizures are related to drug dealing and that the money accumulated in the two bank accounts also had its origins in drug dealing, the judge said.

John Gibson was a drug dealer who was involved in organised crime in west Dublin. While his convictions were minor, garda intelligence associated him with significant drugs-related activity and with major criminals.

Marlene Walsh, Gibsons partner and the mother of his two young children, was appointed by the court to represent his estate in the proceedings.

Judge Alexander Owens found she had not succeeded in making out any defence to the bureaus application.
People check the wreck of a truck hit during an Isreali attack in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, March 3, 2024. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli warplanes bombed a small truck carrying humanitarian here, killing at least eight, according to the state-run Palestine TV. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

GAZA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Dozens of Palestinians were killed and injured in an Israeli attack while they were waiting for aid in Gaza City, said Hamas-run Health Ministry Spokesman Ashraf al-Qedra in a press statement on Sunday.

Palestinian security and medical sources told Xinhua that Israeli forces opened fire on people at the Kuwait roundabout, south of Gaza City, while they were waiting for aid trucks loaded with flour.

Earlier on Sunday, Israeli warplanes bombed a small truck carrying humanitarian aid in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, killing at least eight, according to the state-run Palestine TV.

There was no immediate comment from Israel on the incidents. 

People check the wreck of a truck hit during an Isreali attack in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, March 3, 2024. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli warplanes bombed a small truck carrying humanitarian here, killing at least eight, according to the state-run Palestine TV. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

People check the wreck of a truck hit during an Isreali attack in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, March 3, 2024. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli warplanes bombed a small truck carrying humanitarian here, killing at least eight, according to the state-run Palestine TV. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)

People check the wreck of a truck hit during an Isreali attack in Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip, March 3, 2024. Earlier on Sunday, Israeli warplanes bombed a small truck carrying humanitarian here, killing at least eight, according to the state-run Palestine TV. (Photo by Yasser Qudih/Xinhua)
Haynes was eventually taken into police custody following a two-hour-long standoff with SWAT teams

A former WWE wrestling star has been charged with murder after his wife was found shot to death at the couples home.

Former wrestling star William Albert Haynes Jr (70) was officially charged last week after allegedly shooting his wife inside their Portland, Oregon home earlier this month.

Haynes was taken into custody following a two-hour standoff with SWAT teams.

Billy Jack Haynes, as he was known during his wrestling heyday, was released from the hospital and transferred to Multnomah County Detention Centre on an arrest warrant, the Portland Police Bureau announced.

Billy Jack Haynes (WWE)

He has been charged with murder in the second degree and unlawful use of a weapon in the February 8 killing of Janette Becraft (85).

Police were called at approximately 9:50am on the morning of February 8, when the sound of shots being fired were reported on the 6000 block of Southeast 100th Avenue in the Lents neighbourhood.

Armed police responded and a siege began. The elderly woman was found dead inside the home by officers after the 80s star was eventually taken into custody.

Her death was ruled as murder by gunshots.

Janette Becraft ( US Police)

You are now flying with the angels, Becrafts daughter, Kim Becraft Finlay, wrote on social media They are lucky to have such a beautiful soul. Love you Mom.

Haynes was treated for a medical condition unrelated to the homicide or his contact with law enforcement, in a local hospital.

Haynes married Becraft, his fourth wife, in 2022. It has been reported that he was close friends with her son.

He was previously married to his wrestling manager.

Haynes in later years

During his 15-year career Haynes competed on several different wrestling circuits in the US before making the jump to the then named World Wrestling Federation in 1986.

He stayed on the promotion for two years where he earned a spot on the famed 1987 Wrestlemania III card in Detroit.

He retired from the sport in 1996 after his career began to decline

Former showman Haynes has given a number of interviews since retirement, and mentioned the presence of cocaine associated with the sport.

In 2018, Haynes claimed to have witnessed the 1987 beating death of two Arkansas teens after they stumbled on a drug deal being conducted by corrupt local police.
The 60-year-old is best known for playing Jimmy Cooper in The OC and guest starring in Friends as Joshua Burgin.

American actor Tate ODonovan has revealed that the greatest week of my life was spent playing the fiddle and pub hopping in Donegal.

The 60-year-old, who is best known for playing Jimmy Cooper in The OC and guest starring in Friends as Joshua Burgin, has Irishness in his blood.

His great-grandparents emigrated from the Emerald Isle to Brooklyn, New York, which later inspired him to join a trad band in the States.

Speaking to the Tis Yourself podcast, he described the experience as really fun.

I was in a traditional Irish band. I played fiddle for years and years. We played at a pub called Molly Malones here in LA every Thursday night and it was hilarious, Tate said.

"At the time traditional Irish music wasnt too big in Los Angeles. For a couple of years it was an amazing scene, it was really fun.

He said he decided to join the band after the music drew him in, although he joked that playing the fiddle didnt catch the ladies attention the way he expected it to.

He explained: I played violin since I was a little kid and when I was in my twenties, it was always classical music and I sort of got bored with classical music and I went to the Irish Arts Centre.

"I saw this young guy playing traditional Irish music on his violin and all these gorgeous women were dancing in front of the band. And I was like, Man what is that? I got to learn how to do that.

There isnt anything less Hollywood than a trad band. I was single at the time and I always heard that musicians just rake in the women and just go nuts over musicians.

"Well, let me tell you something, if you play traditional Irish music on the fiddle, you are not raking in the women. Its not something women find attractive.

However, the New Jersey native did take his fiddle with him on a trip to Ireland after befriending Love/Hate star Brian OByrne, who he believes is a genius.

I became good friends with him and I went to Ireland to see him in a play in Dublin and he set me up in his grannys house in Donegal. His granny had passed away and he just left me alone with a bicycle and my fiddle.

He added: It was the greatest week of my life where I would just go from one pub to the other. Each night I would mix it up and just listen or play or just hang out.

"To me, the pub life is just extraordinary in Ireland. The conversations you get into - its just the best. Its just the greatest culture, Im madly in love with it.
Fire and Emergency is warning a rise in what people pay it through their insurance premiums will not be enough.

The levy on vehicle, house and other property insurance is set to rise by 12.8 per cent in July - the first rise in seven years.

The insurance industry argues the levy is unfair, allowing the uninsured to free ride, and have lobbied to have it dropped but says there is no sign of that happening.

Fire and Emergency in its briefing to the incoming minister, or BIM, says even with the pending near-13 per cent rise, the levy is only a stopgap.

"Levy funding will not cover the demand on the asset base in its current condition, and there is work underway to identify the financial shortfall," it says.

Its expenses have been rocketing up - they are $200 million higher than in 2018.

The briefing shows FENZ knows it faces a big hole, but not just how big it is.

"The identified shortfall to bring our assets to the required standard needs to be reassessed."

The BIM warned the minister of still further pressures ahead from having to respond to more climate change-induced weather emergencies.

A new form of levy, called the Part 3 levy, is due to kick in in 2026.

It is aimed at broadening the base of residential, commercial and vehicle policy holders who have to pay.

The minister must decide by the end of the year on the exact size and shape of this new levy, FENZ warned.

"Delaying these decisions would place pressure on the insurance industry to be ready in time ... and so avoid incurring penalties for incorrectly collecting the levy."

The insurance industry says it will comply, even though it opposes the levy in principle.

"If you want to address fairness, then you wouldn't ... enable people to free ride on FENZ because they simply don't bother to insure themselves," the Insurance Council's Tim Grafton said on Thursday.

But successive governments had resisted paying directly for FENZ, and there was no sign that would change, he says

"The chances of a change of tack are very low indeed unfortunately, but doing the right thing, that is what ought to happen."

Direct Crown funding of FENZ is just $10 million a year.

Proceeding with Part 3 would lock policy-holders into being tapped for increasingly unsustainable costs for emergency services for years to come, Tim says.

FENZ's costs are forecast to rise to $760m in two years, $50m ahead of its revenues.

To break even on current revenues would require cutting almost 280 staff, including 141 firefighters and 136 backoffice staff, a FENZ document discussing levy options said last year.

Already, costs are rising faster than forecast, hitting $737m last year against a $713m forecast, partly as a result of a big pay deal with firefighters, whose ranks have been thinning out due to retirement and staff leaving, with the union arguing that low pay was undermining recruitment.

Firefighters have regularly told RNZ they do not see evidence of enough of this being invested on the front line, in the likes of new trucks or gas meters.

Some of the largest but ageing fire trucks have been breaking down regularly; one malfunctioning large ladder-truck in Wellington was out of action when the fatal Loafers Lodge fire broke out last May.

The BIM says that natural disasters and severe weather were forecast to have "the most significant growth in committed hours" in future, even as hours spent actual firefighting declined a little.

Demand was growing in the regions where FENZ had less resources to respond with, rather than in cities, and storms would likely intensify that trend, it says.

In 2020, FENZ estimated it would need $2.9 billion over 20 years, which posed a shortfall up against levy and other revenues of $900m - and this had only been growing since.

The agency had a lot of work to do "before we will be fully ready for a significant fiscal conversation with central government".

- RNZ/ Phil Pennington
There is little evidence that requiring schools to teach maths, reading and writing for an hour a day will improve children's achievement, a briefing paper shows.

In fact, the document says international tests indicate more teaching results in worse performance.

The policy was "likely to have a positive impact on student achievement" if combined with guidance on quality teaching methods, the Ministry of Education's advice to education minister Erica Stanford.

However, elsewhere it says the policy "may" have a positive effect and its impact on achievement across the entire curriculum, including other subject areas, could be both positive and negative.

The Cabinet paper containing the advice also says the policy would essentially cost nothing.

The paper says there were few studies or reports about the effects of mandated teaching hours on student achievement in language and maths.

It says a study in Italy found mandated teaching hours improved student achievement in maths, but not in language.

However, international tests of reading and maths showed student achievement declined very slightly as teaching time increased.

It says international studies showed New Zealand teachers of Year 5 pupils taught maths for an average of 51 minutes per day, one minute short of the international average, and reading for about five-and-a-half hours per week or about 23 per cent of teaching time which was much higher than the international average of 16 per cent.

The report says teachers spent a further three hours per week on other language-related teaching, equivalent to 10 per cent of teaching time, which was in line with the international average.

But the paper says some schools were not teaching the subjects for an hour a day and the policy could have a positive impact on student achievement.

"Many schools across New Zealand routinely schedule minimum class time each day for the basics.

"But this is not consistent - which means each student over time and all students across the system are not getting the same opportunities to learn the basics.

"There is an opportunity to ensure students get access to regular and quality teaching about key matters, such as reading, writing, and maths, as this could help lift student achievement."

The report says mandating an hour a day for each subject carried risks.

"Teachers may need to spend additional time on a subject just to meet the time requirements, even if this does not fit with the specific needs of their students.

"The easier ways to meet the time requirement may not necessarily be the most effective teaching for these subjects or for all students," it says.

"Progress in other learning areas could be negatively impacted, if there is only an hour or two for other learning areas (e.g., technology, science)."

Erica has previously told RNZ the policy was designed to ensure consistency across schools.

She says most were already teaching the subjects for an hour a day and the policy would act as a reminder that schools needed a "laser focus" on reading, writing and maths.

The Cabinet paper including the ministry advice says the rule would not apply to specialist schools, which work with children with disabilities, until 2025.

It says consultation with kura kaupapa Maori and kura-a-iwi was required before the policy could go ahead for them.

"Kaupapa Maori education providers may want a different approach, and it is their expectation that given the Treaty principle of partnership, we should engage with them in advance of any decisions affecting their kura.

"In initial conversations, Te Runanga Nui o Nga Kura Kaupapa Maori o Aotearoa and Nga Kura a Iwi o Aotearoa (the two main representative bodies of kaupapa Maori education) have raised the need for more time to work with the government to design a mutually agreed accountability framework," the Cabinet paper says.

"Given this and the potential risk of legal challenge on Te Tiriti grounds, I recommend that the teaching time requirements come into force in term one 2025 for specified kura.

"This will allow time for officials to engage with kaupapa Maori education providers in advance of these decisions affecting their kura."

The paper says the policy had no direct financial implications and the Ministry of Education's work on it would be covered by its regular funding.

The paper says testing indicated only 35 per cent of Year 8 students were writing at their expected curriculum level, 56 per cent were reading at the expected level, and 42 per cent were reaching the expected level for maths.

Results from the OECD's most recent Pisa study showed 21 per cent of New Zealand 15-year-olds were poor readers and 29 per cent were poor at maths.

Both figures were better than OECD averages but worse than New Zealand's previous performance.

- RNZ/ John Gerritsen
The brother of a man killed in the Whakaari/White Island eruption says news his family will receive about $250,000 in reparations is "bittersweet".

Twenty-two people were killed and 25 injured when the island - a popular tourist destination - erupted in December 2019.

In the Auckland District Court on Friday, Judge Evangelos Thomas sentenced five companies and one Crown-owned entity for health and safety failings in the lead-up to the disaster.

Collectively, they were ordered to pay $10.21 million in reparations and about $2 million in fines.

Judge Thomas says the people injured, and the families of those killed, would each receive $250,000 - but that figure would be adjusted, for example, in cases where children were left without parents or where families lost more than one loved one.

Mark Inman's brother Hayden Marshall-Inman was a Whakaari/White Island guide and the first person confirmed dead in the eruption.

Mark was in court on Friday for the sentencing and told Checkpoint it was "bittersweet".

Hayden Marshall-Inman was one of 22 people killed in the Whakaari/White Island eruption. Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas

"No matter what way you look at it, it doesn't bring anybody home.

"To try and point blame doesn't [make it] better or any easier, to be honest."

It had been an "emotionally draining" week in court, he says, with the ripple effect from the eruption plain to see. The victims and their families were not the only ones hurting - the lawyers and even the judge were clearly emotionally affected, he says.

Inman told Checkpoint he kept in touch with many of the survivors and families from the eruption, many of whom live overseas.

"I guess you become sort of an exclusive club, in some ways, that you don't really want to be a part of, but you are.

"After this week, the club's become tighter and closer and you do share stories and talk and communicate and you check in with each other.

Twenty-two people died when Whakaari/White Island erupted in December 2019. Photo: Screengrab / YouTube / Allessandro Kauffman.

"I guess that's the important lesson learned out of this whole week, is you're not alone in your troubles and the way you deal with grief. There's other people out there in a similar situation and [they] understand where you're coming from."

Mark says he still loved Whakaari/White Island and looked at it every day from his home.

He describes it as a "natural wonder of the world" and says he would be happy to visit again in future.

"I'm not afraid of the island. I think it's a beautiful place, and even just the marine life around there is just amazing and incredible to go and view."

He also says he would be happy for tourism to start back up there in the future.

Tourists had visited the island for decades before the eruption, he says, which was a tradition worth keeping.

"If there's a car accident on the Kaimais, we don't shut the Kaimais down for the rest of the lifetime of the Kaimais, so if we did some real good homework around protective measures and what it would take to get back on the island, perhaps you could [run tours again]."
Ignacio Lillo Malaga Sunday, 3 March 2024, 09:06 Compartir Copiar enlace

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The El Chorro natural area near Ardales, north of Malaga city and famous for the El Caminito del Rey gorge walk, has become a site of refuge and hope for the Ruppell's vulture, an African species that is in critical danger of extinction on that continent. However, in the province it has found an ideal place to live and, for the first time, to also breed... Although the mating couple did not turned out to be the one that was expected.

The first reliable evidence that the Ruppell vulture had settled in the area of the Guadalhorce reservoirs came from Juanita, a female that was marked with a GPS tag by the team of researchers led by Antonio-Roman Munoz, ornithologist and professor of Biology at the UMA University of Malaga, together with Raimundo Real, professor of Zoology. This specimen, since it settled in the area has been trying to breed every year but had been unable to do so. "Whenever it found a mate, it was always with a griffon vulture, which is a different species. We saw it copulate with a male and even build a nest, but it didn't lay eggs.

At the same time, another Ruppell vulture arrived in Malaga, a male that the researchers christened Atlas. This one also paired up in El Chorro, but like Juanita, he looked for a mate of the other species, a female griffon. But on this occasion, the pair have managed to raise a chick, which is a hybrid of both species and has not yet been given a name.

Several milestones

There are several milestones surrounding this event: "This is - as Antonio-Roman Munoz explains - the first record of a Ruppell's vulture nesting in Europe, in Malaga province; and it has also done so by hybridising with a griffon vulture, making it the first time that a crossbreeding of these two species has been recorded in nature".

Griffon vulture specimens on the left and Ruppell's vulture on the right. SUR

Asked whether this could give rise to a new variety, the scientist clarified: "At the moment there is a chick with a Ruppell father and a griffon mother, which we have fitted with a GPS transmitter and we know it is in Mali. For now, the young bird looks more like its mother, although it will change its plumage three or four times until it acquires its definitive plumage, and it is not known what it will look like as an adult.

Early hypotheses pointed to climate change, although other more likely causes are now being investigated

Vultures breed between the fourth and fifth year of life. If it manages to survive in the wild and with humans during this time, it will be possible to check whether this first scientifically proven hybrid is fertile or not.

Ruppell's vulture is a species of which there are fewer and fewer in Africa, and the current population is around 20% of what it was 30 years ago, due to poisoning, electrocution and human persecution, as their feathers are used in traditional medicine. In this context of extreme threat of extinction, some specimens are arriving in southern Europe and are beginning to establish themselves here.

Several scientific publications and conferences have reported on this milestone This research has been compiled in an article published in the scientific journal Ardeola, written by Antonio-Roman Munoz together with Raimundo Real and Juan Ramirez. The conclusions have also been presented at the International Vulture Congress, recently held in Caceres, and at the International Ornithology Fair. In addition, a meeting will be held in Malaga in May to set up an international group of experts on this endangered species, organised by the UNIA-UICN chair.

Although the first theories pointed to climate change as the trigger for the species' upward movement, studies now point to other reasons. It is a species that occupies purely tropical areas in Africa, so its arrival on the Iberian Peninsula may be conditioned by the winter migrations of the tawny owls. "Juveniles go to Senegal, Gambia and other sub-Saharan countries to spend the winter. In this process, they mix with the Ruppell, and when they return to Europe they bring them with them; they are two very social species".

Climate change?

"What we propose in the scientific article we have published is to reflect on whether the occupation of Europe by the Ruppell's vulture is an opportunity for its conservation or a trap for the species, because they are specimens that stop breeding in Africa and, once here, either do not reproduce, as in the case of Juanita, or do so in hybrid pairs, which we have called a genetic amalgamation trap".

The latter is justified by the population imbalance: in Spain there are around 100,000 griffon vultures and "a few dozen" (20 to 40 specimens) of Ruppell, so that, when it comes to pairing up, it is much easier for a crossbreeding to occur as a mere statistical matter. At present, Spain is the safest country in the world and the one with the best-preserved populations, the expert ornithologist stresses. "It's a good place to be a vulture, and once they settle here they don't return to Africa.
Gonzalo Bosch Rodriguez Valencia Sunday, 3 March 2024, 09:42 | Updated 11:01h. Compartir Copiar enlace

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Eight days after the fire tragedy that killed ten people and devastated 131 homes in the adjoining apartment buildings in Campanar (Valencia) on Thursday 22 February, firefighters have found Coco, the pet cat of one of the residents affected, alive.

The miraculous discovery happened at around 12.30pm on Friday and its owner, Andrea, was embraced by firefighters who found the feline. "The cat is fine, we thought he was lost forever," his owner told the media who were in the area.

According to Andrea, the cat was found on the 13th floor, two storeys above the flat where they lived. Firefighters were clearing the facade when they saw the cat moving through the rubble. A team, which was searching Andrea's flat to collect belongings, was able to catch the cat when they were alerted. It was a miracle come true. Andrea left the area full of joy to have the animal in her arms again, and went straight to a veterinary centre in Mislata to have Coco checked over to make sure he was in the best possible condition.

On 22 February last, during the blaze, Andrea spoke to a sister newspaper of SUR as she watched the building burn. "My cat Coco is inside the flat," she cried during that dark Thursday afternoon. Andrea found out about the fire from a phone call from her mother who was following the tragedy on television. "Coco is inside," she kept repeating. Andrea stood there unable to do anything as she watched her home burn to the ground. "I'm losing everything," she cried over the possible loss of her pet.

Este es el momento en el que la propietaria se reencuentra con su mascota #IncendioCampanar pic.twitter.com/a15BEiAFjm  PoliciaLocalValencia (@policialocalvlc) March 1, 2024

Now, eight days later, Andrea has been reunited with her pet and experienced a moment of immense joy amidst so much sadness caused by the fire. In addition, the resident has been able to recover some money, jewellery, documents, computers, some clothes and shoes, suitcases, books and some small electrical appliances from her burnt apartment. Andrea, who couldn't quite believe that Coco was still alive, wiped away tears of joy as she left the area. And Coco, stuffed into her carrier bag, left with her.
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BEIJING, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China's top political advisory body, the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, will hold its annual session from March 4 to 10 in Beijing, according to a spokesperson.

The second session of the 14th National Committee of the CPPCC will begin at 3 p.m. on Monday and conclude on the morning of March 10, lasting for a total of six days, said Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the session, during a press conference on Sunday.

Liu stated that all preparations for the session had been completed, and various activities had been arranged. The opening and closing meetings will be observed by foreign diplomatic envoys to China.

GOOD START

Reviewing the CPPCC National Committee's work in 2023, which marked the start of the 14th National Committee's term, Liu highlighted that it had made a good beginning. He emphasized that the CPPCC's work was completed under the overall leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC).

Political advisors over the past year have focused on providing suggestions for Chinese modernization. A total of 94 consultation activities were held throughout the year, covering various topics including the creation of a new development pattern, with 138 research and inspection activities conducted by political advisors, according to Liu.

The CPPCC, as a crucial channel and specialized consultative body for socialist consultative democracy, aims to ensure that the voice and will of the people are integrated into its work of political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in and deliberation of state affairs, he said.

Liu added that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the establishment of the CPPCC. He expressed the CPPCC's commitment to improving its ability in terms of political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in and deliberation of state affairs.

HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

Economic issues have been a priority for national political advisors in performing their political consultation duties, according to Liu. The CPPCC National Committee has engaged in consultations and provided advice on various macroeconomic and other important economic issues, with a particular focus on high-quality development.

Recognizing the private sector as a strong driving force for Chinese modernization and an important foundation for high-quality development, the CPPCC National Committee has collaborated with local committees and authorities to address practical challenges faced by private enterprises. Efforts have been made to establish platforms for coordinated development between state-owned and private enterprises, thereby bolstering the expansion of the private sector.

Addressing concerns surrounding employment, political advisors and participating units have conducted thorough investigations and studies on promoting high-quality employment. Proposals have been put forward to facilitate full employment for college graduates and broaden their job-seeking and business-starting channels. In total, 91 proposals were submitted to address practical employment issues.

Over the past year, political advisors have also offered solutions to help deepen the integration and coordinated development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, a significant national strategy. This includes accelerating the establishment of a unified market in the area, advancing digitalization in industries, and establishing cross-regional talent sharing mechanisms.

Looking ahead, the CPPCC National Committee will continue to focus on the targets and tasks of Chinese modernization, providing advice on major policies of the CPC Central Committee, significant strategic needs of the country, and major practical development issues.

The spokesperson expressed confidence in China's economy, highlighting its strong resilience, potential, and vitality. With a solid foundation and favorable conditions for high-quality development, the long-term positive trend of the Chinese economy is expected to be reinforced and strengthened.

Regarding foreign affairs, the CPPCC National Committee considers building a community with a shared future for humanity as an important task. Over the past year, the top political advisory body has engaged in exchanges and interactions with over 200 institutions from 50 countries, established connections with 41 foreign think tanks and 12 non-governmental organizations, and formed a China-Africa friendship group under the 14th CPPCC National Committee.

In 2024, the top political advisory body will conduct extensive and in-depth foreign exchanges to contribute to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, the spokesperson said. 
Cape Canaveral, Fla.  Bad weather has again postponed the SpaceX-Crew 8 mission to the International Space Station. The launch was scheduled for 11:16 p.m. Saturday.

NASA will attempt another launch Sunday at 10:53 p.m.

If the launch goes as planned, Jeanette Epps, a Syracuse native and Le Moyne College grad, will join three other astronauts on the trip to the ISS.

The astronauts will spend six months on the station, conducting experiments that will give more information about the long-term effects of living in space.

The trip from Florida to the space stations dock is expected to take five hours.

High winds delayed the originally planned launch on Friday morning.

Epps grew up on Syracuses South Side, graduating from Corcoran High School and Le Moyne College before heading off to the University of Maryland for her doctorate degree. She was an engineer for Ford and worked for the Central Intelligence Agency before becoming an astronaut.

Staff writer Fernando Alba covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, story idea, question or comment? Reach him at falba@syracuse.com.
Syracuse, N.Y.  After his laser shot at the halftime buzzer was ruled a no-goal, Syracuse mens lacrosse attack Owen Hiltz lit up out of the locker room.

He scored his first goal with 8:46 to go in the third period. His second came man-up with 5:34 left. He netted his third 33 seconds after, when the Orange was back even.
Liam DeBonis/Taos News file photo

State police gather at the home of Porfirio and William Brown on Cabresto Road in Questa on July 28, 2023. A murder trial begins this week in 8th Judicial District Court for Porfirio Brown, who is accused of fatally shooting 13-year-old Amber Archuleta. As a juvenile, Brown is being charged as a youthful offender and could face an adult sentence if convicted of the crime.
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Pics: Tata's In-House Crash Test Facility, Pune







The Integrated Safety Centre or the crash test facility is situated inside Tatas passenger and commercial vehicle manufacturing plant in Pune:





We had a quick briefing session before we got to see the different areas of the facility. This facility has been functional since August 1, 1997. The first vehicle to be tested in-house was the Tata Indica:





Heres a look at the timeline of when different types of tests were introduced:





ADAS-related tests arent carried out at this facility. As of now, Tata cars are tested at the NATRAX (National Automotive Test Track), Indore:





Before the cars are subjected to an actual crash test, a CAE (Computer-aided engineering) simulation is done to understand how the car would perform:





Then we moved on to the structural model of a Safari. The aim here was to show how the load dissipation takes place to keep the passenger cabin structurally intact:





The parts marked in blue are high-strength steel and the parts marked in red are hot-stamped steel which youll usually see in the pillar areas:





Frontal area is the crumple zone and is meant for absorption of the impact. The bulkhead area is where the front airbag sensor is placed. It works in collaboration with a unit inside the passenger cabin to determine if the impact is worthy of deploying the airbags:





The small yellow arrows indicate how the impact force is transferred:





Reinforcements inside the doors also help in dissipating the impact force:





Some amount of force is also directed to the floor structure. You can see the arrows here as well:





The model was coded in blue and red for frontal collision. In case of a rear impact, the boot area would be responsible for absorbing the force:





There was another cutout of the Tata Safari on display which showed the airbag positioning:









The driver gets a knee airbag:





Next up we moved on to the crash test dummy calibration area. These Anthropomorphic Test Devices or crash test dummies are manufactured by a company called Humanetics. These are a global standard and are used by all crash assessment programs across the world. Heres a female crash test dummy with a child dummy:





Heres a look at 2 male crash test dummies which look similar but are quite different. The one on the left is a 50th percentile male design which is the most widely used crash test dummy in the world for frontal crash testing. The 50th percentile model is indicative of an average male who would be 5'9" tall and would have a mass of 78 kg (approximately). Next to it is a 95th percentile large male crash test dummy. The 95th percentile means that he is larger than 95% of the males in the population. Theyre heavier and are used for seatbelt integrity testing. The standards are based on USA anthropometry studies of the adult population:





Dummies for the side impact crash test are different as the placement of sensors is on the side:





This futuristic hoverboard-like thing is actually the platform on which a dummy person or car is mounted while testing ADAS-related features:





Heres a look at the ADAS test dummy:





The two battery-like devices on top are data acquisition centres. Its essentially the black box into which all the sensors are plugged and it collects all the data. All the others are sensors placed in various regions of the crash test dummy to collect data. From right to left, you have the Tibia sensor, Lumbar sensor, Knee sensor, Chest displacement sensor and lastly Femur sensor:





The two balls on the right are used for the pedestrian impact test. The suit and gloves next to it are used by the officials while retrieving parts after the crash:





These are used in case of electric car crash tests to check if theres a current leakage and the temperature of the battery:





Sensors need to be calibrated regularly for the most accurate results. In fact, the temperature and humidity of this lab were also constantly maintained at 20 degrees Celsius and 54% RH (Relative Humidity) respectively for the best results. There are these rigs for different sensors to calibrate them regularly:





Heres the foot impact test rig. Fun fact  Humanetics has even standardized the shoes for each crash test dummy:





This is the knee impact testing rig:





This is the neck flexion/extension rig. The arm on which the neck is mounted is swung and brought to a sudden halt to check the flexion in the neck:





As mentioned on the sticker, this is the head drop test rig:





This rig is to check the chest displacement sensor. The thorax impact probe is allowed to swing and hit the dummy in the chest:





After checking out the dummies, we moved on to the Servo Acceleration Sled Test Facility. This is a crucial step between the crash test CAE simulation and the physical crash test. As you can see, this is a passenger compartment buck that is mounted on a movable rig. An actual crash is not conducted here, but it is simulated (keep reading):





The test is primarily used to check all the crash factors inside the cabin. This is where the engineers calibrate the airbag opening time, seatbelt pretensioners, impact on the dashboard, etc. The smallest of details like the placement of the touchscreen so that it doesnt hit the driver or the passenger in the event of a crash are also tested out here. Every part of the cars interior is thoroughly tested for all possible outcomes here:





So, how does this thing work? Its based on inertia. In case of a real-world crash, your car is the object in motion that suddenly comes to a halt. The passengers of the cabin continue their trajectory and keep moving and are restrained by seatbelts and airbags. In the servo test sled, the process is reversed to simulate the crash. The passengers inside the cabin are stationary and the rig which has the buck mounted on it is accelerated in reverse (in the context of the cabin). Essentially, the passengers inside are stationary and the cabin is moving back. Pretty ingenious to be honest as this serves 2 purposes  it allows engineers to simulate a crash without crashing a full vehicle and they can do this test multiple times to fine-tune each and every aspect of the interior. Just for reference, an actual crash test that you might have seen in GNCAP or as you will see later on takes about 3-4 days for preparation. Engineers can conduct about 2 of these Servo Acceleration Sled Tests in 1 day!





You can see a few of the data acquisition centres that we saw earlier (blue boxes). The 4 plates that you see next to it are, in fact, disc (not round, but yes) brakes to slow down the rig. From the real crash data, engineers calculate the force of impact and then replicate the same in propulsion. It is further fine-tuned by application of these hydraulic brakes:





Seattle Safety is the company that provides the propulsion system:





This is a pneumatic actuator thats capable of accelerating the rig from a standstill to 100 km/h in barely 2 meters!





Pneumatic cylinders with compressed gas:





Theres a stopper at the end to halt the rig:





High-speed cameras are placed to record the test:





Engineers monitor everything from the control room:

Tata Motors picked up the baton for safety early and that has worked very much in their favour. Nowadays, everyone associates Tata cars with safety. Their cars have proven themselves in the GNCAP crash tests as well as the recently introduced BNCAP crash tests. In an attempt to showcase how they reached this point, the company had arranged a plant visit for the media to display how they crash-test their cars before sending them to GNCAP or BNCAP. So buckle in your seatbelts as we go behind the scenes at Tatas in-house crash test facility.The Integrated Safety Centre or the crash test facility is situated inside Tatas passenger and commercial vehicle manufacturing plant in Pune:We had a quick briefing session before we got to see the different areas of the facility. This facility has been functional since August 1, 1997. The first vehicle to be tested in-house was the Tata Indica:Heres a look at the timeline of when different types of tests were introduced:ADAS-related tests arent carried out at this facility. As of now, Tata cars are tested at the NATRAX (National Automotive Test Track), Indore:Before the cars are subjected to an actual crash test, a CAE (Computer-aided engineering) simulation is done to understand how the car would perform:Then we moved on to the structural model of a Safari. The aim here was to show how the load dissipation takes place to keep the passenger cabin structurally intact:The parts marked in blue are high-strength steel and the parts marked in red are hot-stamped steel which youll usually see in the pillar areas:Frontal area is the crumple zone and is meant for absorption of the impact. The bulkhead area is where the front airbag sensor is placed. It works in collaboration with a unit inside the passenger cabin to determine if the impact is worthy of deploying the airbags:The small yellow arrows indicate how the impact force is transferred:Reinforcements inside the doors also help in dissipating the impact force:Some amount of force is also directed to the floor structure. You can see the arrows here as well:The model was coded in blue and red for frontal collision. In case of a rear impact, the boot area would be responsible for absorbing the force:There was another cutout of the Tata Safari on display which showed the airbag positioning:The driver gets a knee airbag:Next up we moved on to the crash test dummy calibration area. These Anthropomorphic Test Devices or crash test dummies are manufactured by a company called Humanetics. These are a global standard and are used by all crash assessment programs across the world. Heres a female crash test dummy with a child dummy:Heres a look at 2 male crash test dummies which look similar but are quite different. The one on the left is a 50th percentile male design which is the most widely used crash test dummy in the world for frontal crash testing. The 50th percentile model is indicative of an average male who would be 5'9" tall and would have a mass of 78 kg (approximately). Next to it is a 95th percentile large male crash test dummy. The 95th percentile means that he is larger than 95% of the males in the population. Theyre heavier and are used for seatbelt integrity testing. The standards are based on USA anthropometry studies of the adult population:Dummies for the side impact crash test are different as the placement of sensors is on the side:This futuristic hoverboard-like thing is actually the platform on which a dummy person or car is mounted while testing ADAS-related features:Heres a look at the ADAS test dummy:The two battery-like devices on top are data acquisition centres. Its essentially the black box into which all the sensors are plugged and it collects all the data. All the others are sensors placed in various regions of the crash test dummy to collect data. From right to left, you have the Tibia sensor, Lumbar sensor, Knee sensor, Chest displacement sensor and lastly Femur sensor:The two balls on the right are used for the pedestrian impact test. The suit and gloves next to it are used by the officials while retrieving parts after the crash:These are used in case of electric car crash tests to check if theres a current leakage and the temperature of the battery:Sensors need to be calibrated regularly for the most accurate results. In fact, the temperature and humidity of this lab were also constantly maintained at 20 degrees Celsius and 54% RH (Relative Humidity) respectively for the best results. There are these rigs for different sensors to calibrate them regularly:Heres the foot impact test rig. Fun fact  Humanetics has even standardized the shoes for each crash test dummy:This is the knee impact testing rig:This is the neck flexion/extension rig. The arm on which the neck is mounted is swung and brought to a sudden halt to check the flexion in the neck:As mentioned on the sticker, this is the head drop test rig:This rig is to check the chest displacement sensor. The thorax impact probe is allowed to swing and hit the dummy in the chest:After checking out the dummies, we moved on to the Servo Acceleration Sled Test Facility. This is a crucial step between the crash test CAE simulation and the physical crash test. As you can see, this is a passenger compartment buck that is mounted on a movable rig. An actual crash is not conducted here, but it is simulated (keep reading):The test is primarily used to check all the crash factors inside the cabin. This is where the engineers calibrate the airbag opening time, seatbelt pretensioners, impact on the dashboard, etc. The smallest of details like the placement of the touchscreen so that it doesnt hit the driver or the passenger in the event of a crash are also tested out here. Every part of the cars interior is thoroughly tested for all possible outcomes here:So, how does this thing work? Its based on inertia. In case of a real-world crash, your car is the object in motion that suddenly comes to a halt. The passengers of the cabin continue their trajectory and keep moving and are restrained by seatbelts and airbags. In the servo test sled, the process is reversed to simulate the crash. The passengers inside the cabin are stationary and the rig which has the buck mounted on it is accelerated in reverse (in the context of the cabin). Essentially, the passengers inside are stationary and the cabin is moving back. Pretty ingenious to be honest as this serves 2 purposes  it allows engineers to simulate a crash without crashing a full vehicle and they can do this test multiple times to fine-tune each and every aspect of the interior. Just for reference, an actual crash test that you might have seen in GNCAP or as you will see later on takes about 3-4 days for preparation. Engineers can conduct about 2 of these Servo Acceleration Sled Tests in 1 day!You can see a few of the data acquisition centres that we saw earlier (blue boxes). The 4 plates that you see next to it are, in fact, disc (not round, but yes) brakes to slow down the rig. From the real crash data, engineers calculate the force of impact and then replicate the same in propulsion. It is further fine-tuned by application of these hydraulic brakes:Seattle Safety is the company that provides the propulsion system:This is a pneumatic actuator thats capable of accelerating the rig from a standstill to 100 km/h in barely 2 meters!Pneumatic cylinders with compressed gas:Theres a stopper at the end to halt the rig:High-speed cameras are placed to record the test:Engineers monitor everything from the control room: Last edited by Aditya : 2nd March 2024 at 12:19 .
The 13th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (MC13 WTO), held in Abu Dhabi, recently concluded with a mixed bag of outcomes, with the highlight being the decision to prolong the moratorium on e-commerce tariffs for an additional two years until 2026.

Though the conference (February 26-29) could not reach a consensus on significant issues such as agricultural and fisheries subsidies, it demonstrated a collective willingness to bridge divides.

What is e-commerce moratorium?

The e-commerce moratorium provides worldwide businesses, companies in developing nations, especially small enterprises, and consumers with access to a broad spectrum of innovative and cost-effective electronic services.

This enables them to tap into new markets or audiences and engage in international value chains or discussions.

The essential nature of the internet relies on the free flow of data across borders. However, with the burgeoning e-commerce, many governments were looking to impose customs duties and control data moving across borders.

While this was being considered by various governments on the basis that they are protecting their own data, these actions are difficult to monitor and quantify across international boundaries.

Since 1998, WTO members have been debating whether to apply customs duties to e-commerce and electronic transactions and decided to establish a WTO e-commerce moratorium which was set to expire in 2024.

Approximately a quarter of worldwide trade is currently conducted through digital channels, and this proportion is expected to increase at a rate surpassing that of conventional goods trade in the coming ten years.

The ongoing debate at the WTO revolves around how to effectively manage and tax the burgeoning digital economy without stifling its growth.

After lengthy discussions which extended 16 hours into the early hours of the final day, WTO members reached an agreement to extend the e-commerce moratorium until MC14 in 2026.

This means that trade in online services such as apps, games, and software, along with digital content like music, videos, and other files, remains free from duties for at least till 2026.  TradeArabia News Service
ADDIS ABABA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The African share of global trade remained at less than 3 percent as African countries continue to trade with the rest of the world more than among themselves, said a new UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) report.

The report on the assessment of progress on regional integration in Africa, among other things, showed that Africa's regional integration agenda is progressing, albeit slowly, the UNECA said late Friday. It said African countries have not met the macroeconomic convergence criteria despite progress in monetary and financial integration.

According to the report, infrastructure development through the Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) achieved mixed results, in which while roads and information and communications technology advanced, rail transport and energy infrastructure progressed little. It said infrastructure financing remains a challenge for Africa.

The PIDA is the strategic framework of the African Union (AU) for regional and continental infrastructure development.

The report indicated that there has been some progress in the fulfillment of the first ten-year implementation plan (2014-2023) of the AU's 50-year continental development blueprint, Agenda 2063. The achievements include the adoption of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement and the creation of the Single African Air Transport Market.

According to the report, despite trade under the AfCFTA having officially started in January 2021, the envisaged changes in intra-African trade are yet to appear. Intra-African trade as a share of global trade of the continent declined from 14.5 percent in 2021 to 13.7 percent in 2022.

Over the same period, intra-African exports declined as a percentage of total exports from 18.22 percent to 17.89 percent, and intra-African imports declined from 12.81 percent to 12.09 percent, it said.

It also noted that the African continent has not performed well in bridging the gender digital divide, in which in 2023, about 32 percent of the female population used the internet compared with 42 percent of the male population, against a global average of 65 percent of females and 70 percent of males.

According to the report, Africa still faces a "massive annual infrastructure financing gap," which is estimated between 130 billion and 170 billion U.S. dollars. It recommended innovative infrastructure financing instruments, which include blended finance, green, social and sustainability-linked bonds, and debt-for-nature swaps.

The report was released on the margins of this year's edition of the UNECA's Conference of Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development, which runs from Feb. 28 to March 5 under the theme "Financing the transition to inclusive green economies in Africa: Imperatives, opportunities, and policy options," in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. 
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Join Date: Nov 2019 Location: Kolkata Posts: 17 Thanked: 64 Times

A Hilarious Himalayan Adventure: Tales of Trekking Triumphs and Mishaps



It all started with a solo decision, after my school friend bailed on me. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a wild escapade.



Day -1 (30th Dec):



Having meticulously packed my rucksack, I was ready to retire early.

Phone rings:

Friend: Souvik, we're having a party in my hostel room. Come fast.

Me: Can't come. Have to wake up early to board a train in the wee hours tomorrow.

Friend: We can party all night, so there's no need to 'wake' up tomorrow.

Me: (foolishness prevails as usual) You've got a valid point. Coming.



Day 0 (31st Dec)



So, after a night full of revelry, I boarded the famed Vande Bharat train at Bhopal to take me to the capital. Alas, I soon found myself in a foggy predicament, realising that I would miss my connecting train to Dehradun. I promptly cancelled and booked a later train, only to miss that too.



Determined to make it to Dehradun, I set off on a harrowing overnight bus ride which left me on the deserted streets of Dehradun at 4am. The absence of local transport forced me to take up a chilly 3km (pre)trek to my hotel.



Day 1 (1st Jan)



Having bid adieu to the past year in style, I met up with my fellow adventurers, and embarked on our scenic 10 hour drive to the Kotgaon base camp via Mussoorie. We bonded over a sumptuous breakfast of aloo parathas, maggi, bread omlets, dosas and coffee. Lunch, on the other hand, was quite lacklustre. However, the scenic location by the banks of the Tons river more than made up for it.









Soon, we reached Kotgaon, where our trek leader, Suvankar, promptly informed us about the IndiaHikes no dustbin and zero waste policy. This left me wondering whether the chewing gum in my mouth would have to remain there till I reached the city, 5 days later!



The rest of the day was spent in trek briefing, a basic health check and collecting rental gear. We were introduced to our trek guides Kanhaiya and Mahesh.



Day 2 (2nd Jan)



This was D-day, the start of our grand adventure. In an effort to curb our (over)enthusiasm we were advised on how NOT to put out the eyes of fellow trekkers using the trek poles.



Accompanied by a few canines and equines, we gradually ascended through dense coniferous forests, a tad disappointed at the lack of snow in peak winter. Our first stop was a quaint woodland shack serving bun omelet and bun maska prepared over a wood fire and served at quite steep prices. Imagine buying a Brezza at the price of a Kodiaq! The trail further led us through a snow patch and a precarious broken bridge over a frozen stream, to finally reach our first camp site Khujaai at an elevation of around 9,500 feet.















The evening at Khujaai camp introduced us to the dreaded dry toilet tents and the challenge of conserving water in freezing temperatures, concluding with a warm meal and shared camaraderie around a traditional angeethi. An hour into struggling to enter 2 sleeping bags, the inevitable debate arose. Whether to try to sleep with a full bladder or to brave the biting cold and return to step 1 all over again!



Day 3 (3rd Jan)



We woke up to find our water bottles frozen, yet with a fire burning within us, we were determined to trek on. A quick warm up after breakfast and we were on our way. The day's trek was a short one, hence we stopped at a clearing and was introduced to a fun game of "Ek Machli Paani Main Gyi Chapaak". Soon we reached our second camp site Bhoja Dadhi.



Our trek leader decided to turn the evening into a storytelling session. He asked us all to spill the beans on why we were there and what reaching the summit meant to us. As I listened to everyone's awe-inspiring tales, it put my pragmatic self in quite the pickle!



As for the drama of health check-ups at high altitudes, the pulse oximeter stubbornly refused to detect any sign of life in my frozen fingers. I couldn't help but ponder whether I was a "dead man walking" or a spectre haunting the Himalayan trails. After a frantic session of hand-rubbing the machine finally relented, acknowledging my status as alive and kicking!



Day 4 (4th Jan)



Ah, the legendary summit day on our Kedarkantha trek! Picture this: We ventured into the pitch-black darkness at an unearthly hour with nothing but the moon, stars, and our trusty headlamps to guide us. As we ascended, leaving the tree line behind, the silhouette of the majestic Kedarkantha emerged like a scene straight out of a fantasy novel.











Strapping on our spikes to conquer the snowy terrain, we trudged forward, eagerly anticipating the sunrise spectacle. And oh, what a sight it was! Witnessing the alpine glow paint the mountain peaks in hues of pink and gold was like watching nature's own canvas come to life.











Finally, at the summit, we were greeted by a panorama of majestic views. The legendary peaksSwargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Black Peakall standing tall and proud, as if welcoming us to their lofty domain. Of course, no summit is complete without an extensive photoshoot to capture the moment for posterity.



















But wait, the fun didn't end there! On our descent, we couldn't resist the temptation to indulge in some snow play like kids in a winter wonderland.







Back at Bhoja Dadhi, fueled by a quick lunch, we embarked on the next leg of our journey to Khujaai. And what better way to end a day filled with epic adventures than with a grand stargazing session? Alas, despite the celestial spectacle above, tiredness got the best of me, and I dozed off, leaving my comrades to enjoy the cosmic show while nestled in our sleeping bags under the open sky.







Day 5 (5th Jan)



The next day of our Kedarkantha adventure dawned with a mix of excitement and unexpected twists. After a hearty breakfast, we decided to kick things off with a lighthearted frisbee session, soaking in the crisp mountain air. We also delved into the cultural fabric of the region, learning a tribal dance that was a whole lot of fun.



However, fate had a curveball in store for me. While navigating the rugged terrain on our way back to basecamp, I encountered a slippery patch and found myself taking an unintentional tumble. The sharp pain shooting through my ankle and the telltale signs of swelling confirmed my worst fear  an ankle fracture. As I struggled to bear weight on my injured foot, our dependable trek guide, Kanhaiya, swooped in like a true hero, carrying me piggyback the rest of the way to base camp.







Arriving at base camp, I resigned myself to a period of rest, with my foot elevated and wrapped snugly. Meanwhile, the spirit of camaraderie among our group shone brighter than ever as my fellow trekkers rallied around to lift my spirits. As the evening descended, we engaged in a spirited game of dumb charades.



Despite the unexpected turn of events, the day ended on a high note, with the warmth of friendship shining through.







Day 6 & 7



The final day of our Kedarkantha adventure marked the beginning of our journey back to reality, as we bid farewell to the serene mountains.



As we descended from the tranquil wilderness, civilization gradually encroached upon us with the return of mobile network connectivity. I received a piece of welcome news  I had passed my DM final exams, an achievement that lifted my spirits.



Upon reaching Dehradun, we made a pit stop at a local hospital. An X-ray confirmed the severity of my ankle fracture. Temporary stabilisation was undertaken and the pain of fracture reduction allowed me to experience stargazing session 2.0!



I soon encountered my steadfast companion for the days to come  The Crutch. Our team gathered for a final night of revelry at a pub in Dehradun, cherishing the memories forged and promising to stay connected despite the miles that would soon separate us.



Fortune smiled upon me once again as two fellow trekkers, bound for Delhi, offered their assistance on the journey ahead. I boarded a connecting train to Bhopal, where a friend awaited my arrival. Late into the night, we made our way to the hospital, where I was promptly admitted.



Day of Surgery



Surgery had to be delayed in order for the swelling to reduce despite me elevating the limb high up above. So 4 days after admission I was wheeled into the OR. Experiencing the patient's point of view opened up a completely new perspective. Spinal anaesthesia and an opioid-narcotic administered to 'calm my nerves' gave me a sensation of floating in the clouds with no legs! It was after the surgery that I received the dreaded news. 6 weeks of non weight bearing with leg in a cast followed by gradual rehabilitation where I would learn to walk again on 2 legs. Damn!



So, as I sit in my cast, reminiscing about the highs and lows of the Himalayan escapade, I know one thing for certain: no matter where life takes me next, I'll always have the laughter, the camaraderie, and the sheer absurdity of that unforgettable trek in the mountains. Once upon a time in the mystical mountains of the Himalayas, a motley crew of 22 trekkers embarked on a 6-day journey of epic proportions. With representatives from every corner of India and even a couple of NRIs thrown into the mix, it was bound to be an adventure to remember.It all started with a solo decision, after my school friend bailed on me. Little did I know, this was just the beginning of a wild escapade.Day -1 (30th Dec):Having meticulously packed my rucksack, I was ready to retire early.Phone rings:Friend: Souvik, we're having a party in my hostel room. Come fast.Me: Can't come. Have to wake up early to board a train in the wee hours tomorrow.Friend: We can party all night, so there's no need to 'wake' up tomorrow.Me: (foolishness prevails as usual) You've got a valid point. Coming.Day 0 (31st Dec)So, after a night full of revelry, I boarded the famed Vande Bharat train at Bhopal to take me to the capital. Alas, I soon found myself in a foggy predicament, realising that I would miss my connecting train to Dehradun. I promptly cancelled and booked a later train, only to miss that too.Determined to make it to Dehradun, I set off on a harrowing overnight bus ride which left me on the deserted streets of Dehradun at 4am. The absence of local transport forced me to take up a chilly 3km (pre)trek to my hotel.Day 1 (1st Jan)Having bid adieu to the past year in style, I met up with my fellow adventurers, and embarked on our scenic 10 hour drive to the Kotgaon base camp via Mussoorie. We bonded over a sumptuous breakfast of aloo parathas, maggi, bread omlets, dosas and coffee. Lunch, on the other hand, was quite lacklustre. However, the scenic location by the banks of the Tons river more than made up for it.Soon, we reached Kotgaon, where our trek leader, Suvankar, promptly informed us about the IndiaHikes no dustbin and zero waste policy. This left me wondering whether the chewing gum in my mouth would have to remain there till I reached the city, 5 days later!The rest of the day was spent in trek briefing, a basic health check and collecting rental gear. We were introduced to our trek guides Kanhaiya and Mahesh.Day 2 (2nd Jan)This was D-day, the start of our grand adventure. In an effort to curb our (over)enthusiasm we were advised on how NOT to put out the eyes of fellow trekkers using the trek poles.Accompanied by a few canines and equines, we gradually ascended through dense coniferous forests, a tad disappointed at the lack of snow in peak winter. Our first stop was a quaint woodland shack serving bun omelet and bun maska prepared over a wood fire and served at quite steep prices. Imagine buying a Brezza at the price of a Kodiaq! The trail further led us through a snow patch and a precarious broken bridge over a frozen stream, to finally reach our first camp site Khujaai at an elevation of around 9,500 feet.The evening at Khujaai camp introduced us to the dreaded dry toilet tents and the challenge of conserving water in freezing temperatures, concluding with a warm meal and shared camaraderie around a traditional angeethi. An hour into struggling to enter 2 sleeping bags, the inevitable debate arose. Whether to try to sleep with a full bladder or to brave the biting cold and return to step 1 all over again!Day 3 (3rd Jan)We woke up to find our water bottles frozen, yet with a fire burning within us, we were determined to trek on. A quick warm up after breakfast and we were on our way. The day's trek was a short one, hence we stopped at a clearing and was introduced to a fun game of "Ek Machli Paani Main Gyi Chapaak". Soon we reached our second camp site Bhoja Dadhi.Our trek leader decided to turn the evening into a storytelling session. He asked us all to spill the beans on why we were there and what reaching the summit meant to us. As I listened to everyone's awe-inspiring tales, it put my pragmatic self in quite the pickle!As for the drama of health check-ups at high altitudes, the pulse oximeter stubbornly refused to detect any sign of life in my frozen fingers. I couldn't help but ponder whether I was a "dead man walking" or a spectre haunting the Himalayan trails. After a frantic session of hand-rubbing the machine finally relented, acknowledging my status as alive and kicking!Day 4 (4th Jan)Ah, the legendary summit day on our Kedarkantha trek! Picture this: We ventured into the pitch-black darkness at an unearthly hour with nothing but the moon, stars, and our trusty headlamps to guide us. As we ascended, leaving the tree line behind, the silhouette of the majestic Kedarkantha emerged like a scene straight out of a fantasy novel.Strapping on our spikes to conquer the snowy terrain, we trudged forward, eagerly anticipating the sunrise spectacle. And oh, what a sight it was! Witnessing the alpine glow paint the mountain peaks in hues of pink and gold was like watching nature's own canvas come to life.Finally, at the summit, we were greeted by a panorama of majestic views. The legendary peaksSwargarohini, Bandarpoonch, Black Peakall standing tall and proud, as if welcoming us to their lofty domain. Of course, no summit is complete without an extensive photoshoot to capture the moment for posterity.But wait, the fun didn't end there! On our descent, we couldn't resist the temptation to indulge in some snow play like kids in a winter wonderland.Back at Bhoja Dadhi, fueled by a quick lunch, we embarked on the next leg of our journey to Khujaai. And what better way to end a day filled with epic adventures than with a grand stargazing session? Alas, despite the celestial spectacle above, tiredness got the best of me, and I dozed off, leaving my comrades to enjoy the cosmic show while nestled in our sleeping bags under the open sky.Day 5 (5th Jan)The next day of our Kedarkantha adventure dawned with a mix of excitement and unexpected twists. After a hearty breakfast, we decided to kick things off with a lighthearted frisbee session, soaking in the crisp mountain air. We also delved into the cultural fabric of the region, learning a tribal dance that was a whole lot of fun.However, fate had a curveball in store for me. While navigating the rugged terrain on our way back to basecamp, I encountered a slippery patch and found myself taking an unintentional tumble. The sharp pain shooting through my ankle and the telltale signs of swelling confirmed my worst fear  an ankle fracture. As I struggled to bear weight on my injured foot, our dependable trek guide, Kanhaiya, swooped in like a true hero, carrying me piggyback the rest of the way to base camp.Arriving at base camp, I resigned myself to a period of rest, with my foot elevated and wrapped snugly. Meanwhile, the spirit of camaraderie among our group shone brighter than ever as my fellow trekkers rallied around to lift my spirits. As the evening descended, we engaged in a spirited game of dumb charades.Despite the unexpected turn of events, the day ended on a high note, with the warmth of friendship shining through.Day 6 & 7The final day of our Kedarkantha adventure marked the beginning of our journey back to reality, as we bid farewell to the serene mountains.As we descended from the tranquil wilderness, civilization gradually encroached upon us with the return of mobile network connectivity. I received a piece of welcome news  I had passed my DM final exams, an achievement that lifted my spirits.Upon reaching Dehradun, we made a pit stop at a local hospital. An X-ray confirmed the severity of my ankle fracture. Temporary stabilisation was undertaken and the pain of fracture reduction allowed me to experience stargazing session 2.0!I soon encountered my steadfast companion for the days to come  The Crutch. Our team gathered for a final night of revelry at a pub in Dehradun, cherishing the memories forged and promising to stay connected despite the miles that would soon separate us.Fortune smiled upon me once again as two fellow trekkers, bound for Delhi, offered their assistance on the journey ahead. I boarded a connecting train to Bhopal, where a friend awaited my arrival. Late into the night, we made our way to the hospital, where I was promptly admitted.Day of SurgerySurgery had to be delayed in order for the swelling to reduce despite me elevating the limb high up above. So 4 days after admission I was wheeled into the OR. Experiencing the patient's point of view opened up a completely new perspective. Spinal anaesthesia and an opioid-narcotic administered to 'calm my nerves' gave me a sensation of floating in the clouds with no legs! It was after the surgery that I received the dreaded news. 6 weeks of non weight bearing with leg in a cast followed by gradual rehabilitation where I would learn to walk again on 2 legs. Damn!So, as I sit in my cast, reminiscing about the highs and lows of the Himalayan escapade, I know one thing for certain: no matter where life takes me next, I'll always have the laughter, the camaraderie, and the sheer absurdity of that unforgettable trek in the mountains.
Why it matters: The ruling that NSO Group must hand over information regarding the "full functionality" of Pegasus is a key win for WhatsApp and other entities following this issue. Once the code is in hand, WhatsApp may be able to prove its central claim that Pegasus can intercept communications sent to and from a device.

WhatsApp has won a major legal victory in a US court over the Israeli company NSO Group, which makes a highly sophisticated cyber weapon called Pegasus. US District Judge Phyllis Hamilton has ordered NSO Group to hand over its code for Pegasus and other spyware products to WhatsApp  something the Meta-owned communication app has been seeking since 2019 when it alleged that 1,400 WhatsApp users were subject to surveillance by the spyware, which gained access to their sensitive data, including encrypted messages, over a two-week period.

Hamilton ruled that NSO Group must produce "all relevant spyware" between April 29, 2018 and May 10, 2020, a period before and after the alleged attack. Hamilton also ruled that NSO must hand over information regarding the "full functionality" of Pegasus. The company had argued that it should only be required to hand over information about Pegasus' installation layer.

In a win for NSO, Hamilton also ruled that it does not have to provide the names of its clients or divulge information about its server architecture.

The decision no doubt caused much dismay in Israel's defense apparatus as the code for Pegasus and its other surveillance products is a closely guarded state secret and any licenses sold to foreign governments must first be approved by the country's Defense Ministry.

Pegasus has gained notoriety around the world for its ability to hack into supposedly secure devices. A rough explanation is that it allows its users to commandeer the device itself, gaining access to everything on it by obtaining administrative privileges. It does this through zero-click exploits, which rely on bugs in apps such as iMessage, WhatsApp, and FaceTime.

Several governments around the world have reportedly used Pegasus to target political dissidents, journalists and human rights activists. In 2021 the US blacklisted the NSO for allegedly spreading "digital tools used for repression."

This decision will allow WhatsApp to move forward with its central legal claim: namely that Pegasus can "intercept communications sent to and from a device, including communications over iMessage, Skype, Telegram, WeChat, Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and others" and that it could also be "customized for different purposes, including to intercept communications, capture screenshots, and exfiltrate browser history." To prove the allegation, WhatsApp needed access to the full functionality of Pegasus, which Hamilton granted.

WhatsApp is not the only entity pursuing Pegasus and the secrets it might hold. Amnesty International claims that it found evidence that Pegasus has been spying on individuals since 2014. It began its own investigation after discovering Amnesty International staffer and Saudi activist, Yahya Assiri, had been targeted in 2018. Thus was born a collaborative investigation that involved more than 80 journalists from 17 media organizations in 10 countries with technical support of Amnesty International's Security Lab.

That, though, did not appear to stop the spyware's activities. In 2023, Citizen Lab, which is based at the University of Toronto in Canada, reported that Pegasus could affect iPhones running iOS 15 and early versions of iOS 16. The researchers warned Apple about the vulnerabilities the prior year. Cupertino fixed them, but not before researchers claimed the spyware had been deployed against human rights activists looking into the 2015 disappearance of 43 student demonstrators in Mexico. Apple went on to reportedly warn multiple Russian journalists last year that they were the targets of state-sponsored cyberattacks, most likely by Russia, after discovering that Pegasus had been installed in the iPhone of Russian journalist Galina Timchenko.
General Stephen Whiting, head of the US Space Command, has recently sounded the alarm over China's rapid advancement in space technology, emphasizing the potential threats posed to American interests both on Earth and in orbit.



Speaking before the US Senate Armed Services Committee, Whiting highlighted China's "breathtaking" progress in military space and counter-space capabilities, aimed at denying the US and its allies access to space assets when necessary.

China's Rapid Space Tech Development

China's ambitious plans for 2024 include 100 rocket launches to deploy 300 spacecraft into orbit, a testament to its growing space capabilities. Additionally, Whiting projected that by 2030, China would attain world-class status in most space technology areas, indicating its determination to emerge as a global military power, challenging US dominance in space.

While Whiting's warnings underscore the urgency for the US to address China's space advancements, China's defense ministry has dismissed these concerns as excuses for US military expansion. South China Morning Post reports that Ministry spokesman Zhang Xiaogang urged the US to abandon its "cold-war zero-sum mentality" and instead advocate for peaceful cooperation in space.

Read Also: China Manned Moon Mission Unveils New 'Mengzhou' Crew Spaceship, 'Lanyue' Moon Lander

US General Urges Upgrading Space Capabilities

The United States, heavily reliant on space assets for intelligence gathering, early warnings, and communications, faces growing vulnerabilities due to China's advancements. General Whiting emphasized the urgent need for new space capabilities and capacity to maintain a competitive advantage and safeguard American interests.

Meanwhile, China's rapid progress extends beyond space technology. General Anthony Cotton, head of US Strategic Command, noted China's strides in developing a nuclear triad, including a stealth bomber. By 2035, China's nuclear arsenal could reach 1,500 warheads, a significant increase from the current 500, posing further challenges to US security.

In response to China's actions, the US Space Force plans to deepen cooperation with allies like Japan, dispatching personnel to enhance operational coordination in space. This move aims to deter potential threats from China and bolster regional security, strengthening alliances in the face of growing challenges.

Despite efforts to establish norms of responsible behavior in space, challenges persist due to the lack of universal rules governing space operations. In November 2023, General Chance Saltzman, chief of space operations for the US Space Force, highlighted China's experimentation with satellite-grabbing robotic arms, raising concerns about the militarization of space activities and the potential for escalation.

Efforts to establish norms of responsible behavior in space are underway. The US, through Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's guidelines, aims to lead discussions on acceptable conduct in space. However, reaching a consensus remains challenging, particularly regarding the definition of offensive capabilities and enforcing international norms.

Stay posted here at Tech Times.

Related Article: DOJ Says US Engineer Contacted China Before Stealing Government Tech Used to Detect Nuclear Missile Launches





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Artists perform a lion dance at a Chinese New Year Fair in Cotonou, Benin, March 2, 2024. A Chinese New Year Fair, showcasing the diversity and richness of Chinese culture to the public in Benin, was launched on Saturday evening in the Esplanade des Amazones Square in Cotonou, Benin's economic capital. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

COTONOU, March 3 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese New Year Fair, showcasing the diversity and richness of Chinese culture to the public in Benin, was launched on Saturday evening in the Esplanade des Amazones Square in Cotonou, Benin's economic capital.

Numerous stalls displaying a wide range of Chinese products, Chinese cuisine, martial arts, paper-cutting, calligraphy, traditional Chinese medicine, and the lion dance, demonstrated the charm of Chinese culture.

Speaking at the launch of the fair, China's Ambassador to Benin Peng Jingtao said the Chinese Spring Festival has become an international celebration.

"All over the world, Chinese people celebrate this festival with local people. It's a time for sharing joy through cultural activities," he said.

Carole Borna, representative of Benin's Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts, was delighted with the organization of the fair in Cotonou, which in her view enables the Beninese public to appreciate Chinese culture at its true value. 

Locals visit a Chinese New Year Fair in Cotonou, Benin, March 2, 2024. A Chinese New Year Fair, showcasing the diversity and richness of Chinese culture to the public in Benin, was launched on Saturday evening in the Esplanade des Amazones Square in Cotonou, Benin's economic capital. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)

Artists perform a dragon dance at a Chinese New Year Fair in Cotonou, Benin, March 2, 2024. A Chinese New Year Fair, showcasing the diversity and richness of Chinese culture to the public in Benin, was launched on Saturday evening in the Esplanade des Amazones Square in Cotonou, Benin's economic capital. (Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua)
LILONGWE, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Six Malawian students stand a chance to battle it out in the Huawei ICT Competition 2023/2024 Global finals in May in China after they secured entry to the Southern Africa Regional Finals.

Huawei Malawi announced that 400 students from 12 tertiary institutions participated in the annual competition. After registering from September to November 2023 and taking preliminary and national exams in December, six students advanced to the regional finals held Friday.

Huawei's Southern Africa Region countries includes South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Angola, Rwanda, Ghana, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and other countries.

"This is the second year in a row that Malawi has made it to the regional finals level in two tracks: Network, and Cloud," read the statement.

The winners in the regional finals are expected to be released Wednesday.

If the Malawian teams win, they will fly to China to represent the region in the Global Finals in May 2024.

Huawei organizes an annual competitive ICT talent exchange event for global university students. The initiative aims to "promote the healthy development of the ICT talent ecosystem and foster integration between industry and education." 
Venezuela military evicts hundreds from illegal gold mine



Caracas, March 3 (AFP) Mar 03, 2024



Venezuelan soldiers have evicted more than 1,200 people, many of them children, from an illegal gold mine that claimed 16 lives when it collapsed last month, the armed forces said Sunday.

The group included 131 minors evicted from the Bulla Loca mine in the Bolivar state in the Amazon region, general Domingo Hernandez Larez of the armed forces' operational command said in a message on X. He did not provide a time frame.

Evictions were continuing, as was the dismantling of illegal mining structures erected in the La Paragua Forest Reserve, he added.

"Protecting nature is everyone's task!" said Hernandez Larez.

The Bolivar region is rich in gold, diamonds, iron, bauxite, quartz and coltan. Aside from state mines, there is also a booming industry of illegal extraction.

Sixteen people died when the Bulla Loca open pit mine caved in last month. In December last year, 12 died when a mine in the Indigenous community of Ikabaru, in the same region, collapsed.

The NGO SOS Orinoco says at least 54 people died in 17 mining incidents in the Bolivar and Amazonas states between 2017 and 2022.

Activists denounce "ecocide" in the area and the exploitation of children who work long hours without protection.

Authorities say illegal miners fell and burn trees, contaminate water and engage in underground drilling that is damaging to the environment and harmful to Indigenous communities.

Last July, President Nicolas Maduro ordered the deployment of the armed forces to counter a scourge he said was "destroying the Amazon of South America... and Venezuela."

Since then, some 14,000 illegal miners have been evicted from the Yapacana National Park in Amazon state, where vast areas were devastated by mining.

Rights activists have denounced excessive use of force during evictions of illegal mines where foreigners from Colombia, Brazil and Ecuador also operate.
ISLAMABAD, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Three terrorists were killed and four others injured during a clash with security forces in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military has said.

The security forces conducted an intelligence-based operation in the Karak district of the province on the reported presence of terrorists, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said in a statement on Saturday.

"During the conduct of the operation, intense fire exchange took place between troops and terrorists, as a result of which three terrorists were killed while four terrorists got injured," the ISPR said, adding that a huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives were recovered during the operation.

The killed terrorists were actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against law enforcement agencies as well as innocent civilians, the ISPR said.

A clearance operation of the area is being carried out to eliminate the presence of terrorists from the area, it added. 
Call it an epic troll by Elon Musk if you want, but the billionaires lawsuit against OpenAI puts a refreshing spotlight on the endless humanitarian posturing by AI businesses.

Musk has sued the world-leading AI company and its chief executive officer, Sam Altman, for breaking their founding agreement about building powerful AI systems for the benefit of humanity.

Elon Musk and Sam Altman. Credit: Bloomberg, AP

OpenAI still touts that mission on its website, but Musk is calling BS: In reality OpenAI Inc. has been transformed into a closed-source de facto subsidiary of the largest technology company in the world: Microsoft, his lawsuit, filed in a San Francisco court on Thursday, says.

Hes right. But first, lets bear in mind why Musk might be suing. The billionaire is notoriously thin-skinned and known for holding a grudge.
The stress contributed to a deterioration in Gos mental health until she ended up in hospital for six months, and her sister Wendy Lee, also a pseudonym, became her legal guardian. Shed been living without electricity for almost a year, the water was dripping because she couldnt pay the water bills and there was nothing in the fridge. The only food I could see was one packet of on-sale chocolate cake mix, Lee said. What was really distressing was the fact that [Karen] was paying whatever money she had left over from the little amount she was eating to make payments to strata, and it all just went to legal. Lee notified the strata management company about the hospitalisation and made a personal payment to bring the debt below $10,000, but more legal fees were added, and the company said it would push ahead with bankruptcy.

Lee sought legal advice but ultimately paid to clear the entire debt. The court figures provided to the Herald show owners corporations (or strata management companies on their behalf) attempting to use forced bankruptcy against owners, but not whether they succeeded. Whos who in strata All the owners in a strata scheme automatically belong to the owners corporation (previously called the body corporate)

The strata committee (previously called an executive committee) is elected by the owners corporation to help it make decisions for the scheme

A strata manager or strata managing agent is a professional appointed to assist running of the strata scheme In 2023, there were 47 applications in NSW, 11 per cent of all forced bankruptcy matters filed with the courts. The five-year average was 60 applications, 12 per cent of all bankruptcy filings. It was higher in 2020 and 2021 when there was a backlog of bankruptcies that arose during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A Financial Counselling Australia analysis of court data suggests strata bankruptcy is particularly high in NSW and the ACT, as it was less than 5 per cent of personal forced bankruptcies in all other states and territories. The organisations strata bankruptcy expert, Lody Stewart, said bankruptcy was being misused. Its unjust and unfair. Essentially, strata managers are using a sledgehammer to crack a peanut, Stewart said. In one case outlined by Stewart, an age pensioner in NSW was widowed and left with a reduced income. She kept asking for a payment plan and being refused. A financial counsellor helped her apply for the Home Equity Access Scheme, a federal government-backed reverse mortgage, so she could pay the strata levies.

Despite being notified of the plan, the owners corporation pushed on with bankruptcy proceedings rather than wait a couple of months for the government to release the funds. Loading In another NSW case, an older man with cognitive difficulties inherited a flat outright, and was two years off being able to access the pension and the reverse mortgage scheme. Rather than arrange a payment plan, the owners corporation is suing him into forced bankruptcy over levy arrears. In a Victorian case, a young woman bought an apartment using the government guarantee for first home buyers where she only needed to put down a 5 per cent deposit. She was hit with an unexpected $60,000 special levy and pursued with legal action, even though there was not enough equity to actually pay the owners corporation in the event of bankruptcy. Stewart said any money raised through bankruptcy would first be used to discharge the mortgage, then pay the trustee in bankruptcy an average of $50,000, then secured creditors, and finally unsecured creditors including the owners corporation.

She added that debt collection options included garnishing wages or bank accounts, and seizing and selling belongings. In NSW, they could also obtain a writ of levy over the residential property for a sheriff to seize and sell it, which Stewart said was still less harmful than bankruptcy. Loading Minns, the strata commissioner, said he was consulting about potential reforms in the interests of all owners in strata. Sources close to government say changes could include improved information in levy notices, more options before debt recovery action, and dispute resolution for strata debt. NSW Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading, Anoulack Chanthivong, said he would work with Minns on fairer rules. He said the government had already introduced a requirement for owners corporations to get at least two quotes for significant work, and expanded the mediation team within Fair Trading. The Owners Corporation Network of Australia, which represents owners corporations, is backing reform. Executive director Karen Stiles said people in genuine hardship should be treated with more compassion.

The current debt recovery process is skewed against them and towards debt collection and legal firms doing brisk business in this area, Stiles said. Many of these firms are related to the strata management company, so theyre feeding them business. Loading But Brett Harrison, from Taylor Insolvency, said in a submission to a federal consultation on personal bankruptcy that in his 20 years experience, owners corporations generally had no other prospect of recovering unpaid levies, which was unfair to other owners. He described one bankruptcy where there were only two units in the strata complex, and one owner was carrying all the costs, while the bankrupt owner had inherited the property from her grandmother, was on Centrelink benefits, had a drug habit and was uncooperative. The federal Attorney-Generals Department was consulting over a proposal to increase the threshold to $20,000 and the timeframe for debtors to respond to 28 days. The consultation was last September, but the department is yet to release anything further.
Eclectic Australian guitar-pop pair Royel Otis appear to be on the cusp of being propelled into the stratosphere after a knockout, sold-out performance at Freo Social on Saturday night.

In Perth for their Pratts and Pain tour, childhood friends Otis Pavlovic and Royel Maddell have been steadily gaining traction since they formed in 2019.

Royel Otis are destined for the big time. Credit: Frontier Touring

With Royel shredding his guitar on the left and Otis singing on the right the pair opened the night with Sonic Blue from their debut album released in February.

Their hour-long set flew by featuring songs from their EPs Sofa Kings and Bar and Grill with singles like Bull Breed, Velvet and Adored keeping the crowd hooked.
Premier Jacinta Allan is facing a caucus uprising over proposed changes to Victorias workers compensation scheme, with unions branding the proposal offensive and pressuring state MPs to ditch its draft legislation.

On Monday Labor MPs will hold a caucus meeting that is being described as a litmus test of cabinets control as Labor MPs, backed by Trades Hall, push back on Allan and Minister for WorkSafe Danny Pearson over the proposed bill.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Worksafe Minister Danny Pearson are facing internal pressure to dump draft changes to Victorias workers compensation scheme. Credit: Wayne Taylor

Members of Allans own Socialist Left faction are among those angry with cabinets decision to  as they describe it  ram through the changes, with one MP telling The Age the issue was going to blow up.

The backlash comes after Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Luke Hilakari wrote to all 70 Labor MPs urging them to lobby Pearson to ditch the draft laws over fears Labor had reached a deal with the opposition, securing a passage through parliament.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Alexander Denza was in class at the University of North Carolina when he heard the wail of sirens outside. Seconds later, his phone started buzzing, confirming his worst fears. Emergency: armed, dangerous person on or near campus, said the message from the universitys emergency notification system. Go inside now; avoid windows. Alexander Denza in front of Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Credit: Josh Tu For three hours, the 30,000-member Chapel Hill campus was paralysed in lockdown as police searched for a gunman who had opened fire on the campus, killing an associate professor in yet another senseless US shooting. Some students barricaded themselves in dorm rooms and gyms; others crouched in corners or lay on the floor as helicopters circled overhead. It was terrifying, Denza recalls. I remember hearing the siren and a chill ran down my spine before I even knew what it was  I think its because weve been trained to respond to this sort of thing. You always know theres a high chance of it happening in America.

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Six months on from the August 2023 shooting, eliminating gun violence  along with tackling climate change and the war in Gaza  are front of mind for students like Denza as the US heads towards another presidential election in November. Loading This week, a pivotal moment in the 2024 election cycle also takes place, when 15 states, including the battleground of North Carolina, hold their presidential nominating primaries and caucuses in the event known as Super Tuesday. But Denza and many other young voters feel disillusioned by the political landscape they face. Theyre frustrated by politicians who dont represent their interests, theyre angered by the glacial pace of policy reform, and theyre uninspired by the prospect of a rematch between 81-year-old President Joe Biden and his 77-year-old rival, Donald Trump. If Im being honest, I think this election is one that students are least excited for, even though its so necessary for our future, says Denza, an organiser with March for Our Lives, the youth-led movement advocating for gun control laws in America. Young people want someone who they know will represent their interests and I think the fact that we have more of the same or the status quo is tiring students out.

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Almost four years ago, young people came out to vote in record numbers to help propel Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to victory and oust Trump after only one term. According to the US Census Bureau, the 2020 turnout for American voters under 30 was 54.1 per cent  10 percentage points more than in 2016 when Trump beat Hillary Clinton, and three percentage points higher than the previous record set in 2008 for Barack Obamas history-making win. Now, however, data shows much of that cohort is sceptical or apathetic towards his years race, and some are questioning whether they want to vote at all, which can make all the difference in a close election. Young voters say theyre uninspired by a presidential race between Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Credit: Artwork: Marija Ercegovac The latest Harvard Public Opinion Project, which provides the most comprehensive look at young Americans political opinions and voting trends, recently found that fewer people aged 18 to 29 intended to vote at this years November 5 election than they did at the same point during the 2020 election cycle. The decline in voting intention was most pronounced among black voters and hispanics, who form a core part of the Democrats traditional base. Biden maintains a solid lead over Trump, according to the poll, but his approval rating only stands at 35 per cent, and the risk of losing voters becomes greater for him than Trump when the field expands to include potential third-party candidates, such as vaccine sceptic Robert F Kennedy, the cousin of Caroline Kennedy, the US ambassador to Australia.

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Harvard polling director John Della Volpe says the good news for Biden is that there is still enough time to make the case to young people that their vote matters. Loading We know what Gen Z and young Millennials want to see and hear, he says. They want evidence that democracy works, that government can address our challenges, and that theres a meaningful difference between the two parties. Whether they can be convinced is an open question. This is a generation, after all, that is entering the workforce loaded with student debt, while the cost of housing and other basic needs continues to soar. Theyre united by their fear of what they see across the world, but according to Harvards poll, most neither trust Biden nor Trump on important issues like Ukraine, climate change, gun violence, healthcare, crime and the Israel-Hamas war. Pro-Palestinian demonstrators during an All Out For Palestine protest in Times Square in New York on Friday. Credit: Bloomberg Indeed, across the US, young activists have been at the forefront of the backlash over Bidens support for Israel and his refusal to demand a ceasefire in Gaza.

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Last week in Michigan, their rage manifested in the form grassroots campaign with Arab-Americans and other progressives to vote uncommitted in the Democratic primary race to send a message to the White House. In a warning sign for the president, more than 100,000 people did that, with many of the biggest protest votes recorded at polling booths near university precincts. But voters who spoke to this masthead during the presidential primary races in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina revealed discontent with personality as much as policy. Loading Biden is already Americas oldest president and faces lingering concerns about his mental acuity and ability to do the job for another four years. But Trump is only four years younger, has 91 criminal charges against him and is also having his fair share of gaffes on the campaign trail. As Trumps last remaining challenger, Nikki Haley argues, both are two old men who are only getting older and Americans deserve a new generational leader to unite the country.

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COLOMBO, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The Maldives Elections Commission is to formally urge the government to designate April 21, the day of the parliamentary elections, as a public holiday, local media reported on Sunday.

Following the ratification of the amended General Elections Act by President Mohamed Muizzu, the Elections Commission has scheduled parliamentary elections for April 21, in accordance with the stipulation that elections must occur ten days after Ramadan, local media said.

Elections are usually held on Saturdays, but April 21 is a Sunday, which is the beginning of the working week in the Maldives, local media said, adding that most election officials are full-time staff at government institutions.

Elections Commission President Fuad Thaufeeq told the media on Saturday that the decision to hold the election on April 21 is based on the necessity to avoid insufficient time for formalities and the swearing-in of new members, as delaying the election to the next possible Saturday would risk missing the deadline stipulated by law. 
Bengaluru cafe blast Central Crime Branch to investigate: Police





Karnataka Chief Miniter Siddaramaiah visits the Rameshwaram Cafe blast site in Bengaluru on Saturday. (PTI)

BENGALURU ;

BENGALURU Police Commissioner B Dayananda on Saturday said that the investigation of the Rameshwaram cafe blast in which 10 people were injured has been handed over to Central Crime Branch and that no arrest has been made in connection with the incident. In a post on X, he said, Investigation of the case has been handed over to the Central Crime Branch (CCB). All the injured are recovering. No arrest (have been) made. Earlier in the day, police sources said that four persons have been detained for questioning in connection with Fridays low-intensity bomb blast at a Bengaluru eatery. They were picked up from Dharwad, Hubballi and Bengaluru. Dayananda said that the investigation into the incident, caused by an IED, is in full swing.

Several teams are working on different leads obtained so far, he said. Keeping in mind the sensitivity of the case and the security concerns, we appeal to the media to not indulge in speculation and cooperate, Dayananda said. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday expressed confidence about nabbing the culprit involved in the blast at the citys popular eatery, as his movement has been captured by the cameras. He said, it is still not known whether any organisation was involved in the incident. Later in the day, he visited the Rameshwaram Cafe and inspected the spot, and met the injured, who are undergoing treatment at the hospital. The blast has happened. One person wearing a mask and cap has come by bus, he has purchased Rava Idly from the counter at the cafe and has sat at a place. Then he set the timer and left.

The blast has occurred, 10 people are injured. All are out of danger, Siddaramaiah told reporters in Mysuru. Asked about some reports suggesting similarities between the 2022 Mangaluru cooker blast and the Fridays incident, Siddaramaiah said serious investigations are on. To a question on whether it was a terrorist act, the CM said: investigation is going on, we will take action based on what comes out of it. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday said that there seems to be a link between the blast at the citys popular eatery Rameshwaram Cafe, and the cooker explosion that took place in the coastal city of Mangaluru in 2022, and all angles are being looked into by the police. He said the Government is committed for a fair probe, and police have been given a free hand to investigate the incident at the quick-service eatery in Brookefield area in information technology corridor in east Bengaluru that left ten people injured There seems to be a link between Mangaluru incident and this incident, according to police officers... Materials used (for explosions), we can see a similarity, we can see a link, timer and other things, Shivakumar said.
BJPs door-to-door campaign from 7th, to seek suggestions from masses for poll manifesto





Chandrashekhar Bawankule addressing the press conference on Saturday. Vikrant Patil, Rahul Lonikar, Sudhakar Kohale, Chandan Goswami and others also are seen.

Staff Reporter

The party hopes to get 10 lakh suggestions from Maharashtra

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has gone into poll mode. State BJP President Chandrashekhar Bawankule has announced launch of the partys public contact drive ahead of Lok Sabha elections. Addressing mediapersons at a press conference at Patrakar Club of Nagpur on Saturday, Bawankule said, From Maharashtra, 10 lakh suggestions will be sent to the partys central office for BJPs election manifesto for ensuring elections. Under the drive, 33,323 BJP workers across the State will reach every house with a box to collect suggestions.

Greetings from Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be conveyed to the beneficiaries, he added. Bawankule also said, From March 7 to 15, BJP workers across the State will directly contact the beneficiaries of the various schemes implemented by the Modi Government in the last 10 years. There are several schemes which Modi Government launched for the benefit of people from all strata. Through our reach, we want to make people aware of those schemes and convey greetings from Prime Minister Modi to the beneficiaries. Bawankule hit out at Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and leader Jairam Ramesh for their mischievous post on Union Minister Nitin Gadkari.

He remarked, Congresss move was aimed at creating discontent in the ruling party. Gadkari is an asset for the BJP. Gadkari has been working with Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the development of the country. Bawankule made the statement a day after Gadkari sent legal notices to Kharge and Ramesh for allegedly sharing misleading and defamatory news contents about him on X. BJP condemns the post shared by THE Congress (leaders) about Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. People will not spare such individuals, commented Bawankule. Replying to a query on the statement of Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) President, Adv Prakash Ambedkar, that Nagpur Lok Sabha seat was very easy to contest, Bawankule pointed out, National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will win this constituency (currently represented by Gadkari) by securing more than 65% votes, adding in the same breath that, there was no possibility of the BJP joining hands with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena in future. Sanjay Bhende, BJP State Vice President; Vikrant Patil, General Secretary; Rahul Lonikar, President of Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha; Sudhakar Kohale, Nagpur District President of BJP; Anil Nidhan, District General Secretary; Chandan Goswami, State Spokesperson were present in the press conference.
Business leaders should develop great work culture to succeed: KS Cheema





Business Reporter :

Highlighting the importance of leadership and human capital in business, Karnail Singh Cheema, Chairman and Managing Director of KS Cheema Group of Companies said, Business leaders should develop a great work culture for success. Empowering employees and providing them opportunities for growth can add value to the organisation. He was speaking on the session on Importance of Leadership and Human Capital at CIMCON 24 organised by Vidarbha Management Association (VMA) at IIM, Nagpur on Saturday. Rajeev Aggarwal, Faculty of IIM, Nagpur was the Moderator the session.

KS Cheema gave real life examples from his entreprenerial journey and how he transformed several loss making businesses into profitable ventures with the efforts of his team. KS Cheema said that the business leaders should maintain a very strong association with employees so that they are motivated to achieve the objectives of the organisation. There are many companies that offer more salaries to employees but the difference is in the work culture. As a business leader, he has set the tone for the groups culture, emphasising on ethics, quality and customer satisfaction. Every company must have a set of policies. Business leaders should realise that human beings are hungry for love, affection, security, respect and trust. When the goals and mission are aligned it becomes easy to achieve the targets. KS Cheema believes in that the successor must prove to be better than the rest of the team. He credits his groups success to the hard work of its team members.
Classical dancer Amarnath Ghosh from India shot dead in US





NEW YORK :

IN YET another deadly attack on Indians and Indian-Americans in the US in recent months, a 34-year-old trained classical dancer from India and a student of Washington University, was shot dead in St Louis, Missouri. Kuchipudi and Bharatnatyam dancer Amarnath Ghosh, who migrated to the US from Kolkata last year to follow his dancing dreams, was shot several times near the border of St Louis Academy and Central West End neighbourhoods. He died on the spot. According to the St Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened at 7:15 pm on Tuesday at Delmar Boulevard and Clarendon Avenue, news portal 5 On Your Side reported on Friday. Ghosh was pursuing his masters in the Performing Arts Department of Washington University.

Calling him a very friendly and very talented, Ghoshs friends Hima Kuppa and Ravi Kuppa said, He was always travelling a lot for his performances. A lot of organisations called him for performances, but he always wanted to come back to St Louis. Ghosh was learning ballet and dance. I think it was a full scholarship at Wash U. His ultimate dream was to get his PhD in dance and work full-time with us at our Kuchipudi Art Academy, Hima was quoted as saying by 5 On Your Side. He enjoyed volunteering as a dance instructor at a local studio and also taught children between the ages 5 and 18. His friends told the news outlet that Ghosh was the only child of his parents; his mother died three years ago and his father died when he was a child. Goshs killing has prompted Indias consulate in Chicago to take up the issue with local police and the university. Asserting that the mission is extending all help to the relatives of deceased Amarnath Ghosh, Indias Consulate in Chicago posted on X that it has taken up the case strongly with St Louis police and the University for investigation of the reprehensible gun attack. Offering deep condolences to family and friends of the deceased in St Louis, Missouri, it said, We are following up forensic, investigation with police and providing support. Washington University, where Gosh was a student, has condemned his killing as senseless violence beyond comprehension.

There are no words to express the pain and anguish Amarnaths family and friends are experiencing. His death is a terrible shock to us all. This type of senseless violence is beyond comprehension and we are devastated by this loss. To have this happen in our own St. Louis community is especially heartbreaking, Anna Dr G Gonzalez, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs said in a statement released to all Washington University students, faculty and staff. It was actor Devoleena Bhattacharjee, who first alerted the authorities on social media about Ghoshs death. Taking to X, she posted, The reason, accused details everything are not revealed yet or perhaps no one left in his family to fight for it except his few friends. He was from Kolkata. Excellent dancer, was pursuing PhD, was taking an evening walk and suddenly he was shot multiple times by an unknown. She tagged the X handles of the Indian Embassy in the US, Prime Minister Narendra Modi among others and said, Some friends in US are trying to claim the body but still no update about it and requested the Embassy to look into it. At least we should know the reason of his murder, she said in the post on March 1.

Since the beginning of 2024, there have been at least half a dozen deaths of Indian and Indian-origin students in the US. The alarming rise in the number of attacks has caused concern among the community. Sameer Kamath, a 23-year-old Indian-American student at Purdue University, was found dead in a nature preserve in Indiana on February 5. On February 2, Vivek Taneja, a 41-year-old Indian-origin IT executive, suffered life-threatening injuries during an assault outside a restaurant in Washington, making it the seventh death of an Indian or Indian-American in recent months in the US. A week before that, Syed Mazahir Ali, an Indian student was attacked by robbers in Chicago. Earlier, 25-year-old Indian student Vivek Saini was fatally attacked in Georgia States Lithonia city by a homeless drug addict. In January, 19-year-old Shreyas Reddy Beniger, a student at the Lindner School of Business in Ohio State was found dead. However, local authorities had ruled out foul play.
IS IT POSSIBLE?





PITCHING for ethical political discourse during the campaigning for the upcoming general elections the Election Commission of India (ECI) has released an advisory asking parties to refrain from seeking votes on the basis of caste, religion and language. The earnest appeal has come just days ahead of the Lok Sabha elections for which parties are already in election mode.

The advisory, thus, comes as a valiant effort to cut clutter in the campaigning but in reality it serves merely as a lip-service. For, in a country where caste and sub-castes play a dominant role in choosing of public representatives, believing in ethical discourse during campaigns still remains a distant dream. Election campaigning is a tricky and sensitive subject where many a stalwart has stepped on the banana skin in ones political career. Striking a balance between ethical discourse and appealing to the core base of voters according to their identities is not an easy task. The election machinery and electoral thought process in India itself has revolved around ethnic identities as well as religious affiliations. This is a fact that each Indian will have to accept without any conditions. Against these realities, how much power the EC advisory for political parties can hold is anybodys guess.

That caste and religion still form the essence of electoral strategies can be seen from the continuous debate and demands over holding caste census across the country. The Bihar caste census has set the tone for these demands despite the opposition some political and intellectual sections have shown for the exercise. The electoral gains to be leveraged from a caste census are on the radar of every political party and hence the growing discussion on holding it across the country. When such a demand overwhelmingly makes its presence felt in election rallies and public talks, forcing political parties to shun the appeals based on these lines is almost impossible. The issue is very complex. And though Chief Election Commissioner Mr. Rajiv Kumar has warned of stern action for violation of the model code, there is a very thin line that will differentiate whether an appeal for votes is made on the basis of caste or religion or language. The ECI will have to be extra cautious and extremely mindful of the local traditions before flagging political discourses that it will deem as a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. The ECI has put the responsibility of star campaigners and candidates to foster ethical and respectful political discourse which can inspire and not divide, which can promote ideas instead of personal attacks.

Yet, given the level of campaigning in the current political atmosphere there is a strong question mark on the implementation of this idea. The subject of caste-based politics itself is very tricky and requires a massive change in mindset. It entails sweeping reforms in the election process which is not easy given the deep impact caste and religion have on the society. It will need a shake-up of gigantic proportions to keep caste out of elections. It includes cancellation of seat reservation on the basis of caste and an open election allowing voters to choose on merit of the candidates and not ethnicity. This, in turn, calls for a high level of awareness among voters. The ECI advisory is truly welcome but it seems only an academic exercise.
Sharp decline in ACB traps





By Dheeraj Fartode :

The unexpected downturn in corruption traps of ACB  triumph or trouble ?

In a surprising revelation, the State Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has reported a significant drop in the number of traps set for corrupt government officials over the past decade. According to the latest statistics released by the ACB, the number of registered traps has steadily declined and reached a noteworthy low in 2023. Comparing the data from 2014 to 2023, a clear downward trend is visible. In 2014, the ACB recorded a total of 1,245 traps, with the numbers decreasing steadily over subsequent years.

The trend continued with 1,234 traps in 2015, 985 in 2016, 875 in 2017, 891 in 2018, 866 in 2019, 630 in 2020, 764 in 2021, 728 in 2022, and finally hitting 795 traps in 2023. While a decrease in the number of traps may initially suggest progress in the fight against corruption, it has also raised questions about the effectiveness of the ACB's strategies. The decline raises a question about potential underreporting or a shift in corruption methods that elude traditional tactics employed by the bureau. Cases related to Disproportionate Assets (DA) have mirrored this decline. In 2014, there were 48 registered cases of DA, but by 2023, this number plummeted to just 12 cases. The downward trajectory continued over the years, with 35 cases in 2015, 17 in 2016, 22 in 2017, 28 in 2018, 5 in 2019, 21 in 2020, 2 in 2021, 9 in 2022, and a mere 5 cases in 2023. A senior police official has questioned the effectiveness of the State ACB and attributed the shift to the common mans trust in the agency. The decrease in traps may indicate a lack of complainants reaching out to the ACB, possibly due to hesitation or fear. The official suggests that building trust with the public is crucial for encouraging more people to come forward with complaints.

The official stressed on the importance of proactive steps which include an enhanced focus on fieldwork, to address bribery demands effectively. He expressed concern over the reduced emphasis on fieldwork and stressed the need for reinstating such measures to boost public confidence. Despite the decline, a police official suggested that the ACB's shift from mere traps to quality traps aimed at securing convictions in court could be a strategic move. Scrutiny of information from SP to Police Inspector helps eliminate potential blackmailing by complainants against government officials. The public is urged to avoid engaging in corruption through agents and instead approach the ACB to lodge complaints. Former Director-General of Police (ACB), Praveen Dixit told The Hitavada that the need for training programs for judicial officials, prosecutors, and investigators to understand and appreciate technical evidence, including social media and digital evidence.

DG ACB appeals public to approach ACB Director General (ACB) Jai Jeet Singh told The Hitavada, Trap cases are contingent on active support and cooperation from the affected party. People need to come forward in greater numbers to complain to us. We've simplified our processes and procedures. Our field officers are better trained and supportive, he said. He further requested the public to please not bow down to the demand for a bribe in any case. Please approach us; we'll do the needful, he appealed. All corrupt public servants must have a fear of the law. Corruption is a cancer for society. We can fight it - with greater public support, of course, claimed the DG ACB.
Value-based leadership goes a long way: Nitin Gadkari





Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressing the inaugural session of CIMCON-2024 at IIM Nagpur campus on Saturday while Saurabh Mohta, Vishal Agrawal, Dr Bhimraya Metri, K S Cheema and Brij Sarda are also seen. (Pic by Anil Futane)

Business Reporter

Two-day CIMCON-2024 inaugurated

Inaugurating the two-day Central India Management Conclave CIMCON-2024 at IIM Nagpur campus in MIHAN on Saturday, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said, a leadership based on human values and ethics goes a long way. When a leader incorporates honesty, transparency and clarity into his management then it adds to his overall assets. We need such leaders who can take the country to a new level, Tata Group is one such business organisation that gave due importance to ethics and values in its businesses, said Gadkari. The Union Minister also said, management based on human values is the best. Stressing on importance of innovation, Gadkari urged researchers to go for need-based and region-based research and said, Chandrapur has the best quality iron ore in India. Now, we need industries to add value to this iron ore and come out with allied products and make it a profitable equation for the entire region, he said addressing a gathering of over 500 business leaders participating in the conclave jointly organised by Vidarbha Management Association (VMA) and IIM Nagpur.

Apart from this, he urged the participants to identify strong points of the region and also the shortcomings so that strengths can be further elevated, while shortcomings can be removed. Gadkari laid emphasis upon business leaders of Vidarbha Region to think big in order to fetch larger investments for this region. Gadkari congratulated the team of CIMCON for keeping MSMEs as the central theme of the two-day event. He wished success to this convention and expected that it would help in bringing socio-economic change. He also appreciated the efforts of VMA and IIM-N for their efforts in organising such conventions. Dr Bhimraya Metri, Director of IIM Nagpur; Vishal Agrawal of R C Plasto; K S Cheema of Central Star Motors; Saurabh Mohta, President of VMA; and Brij Sarda, Organising Chairman of CIMCON were seated on the dais.

Earlier, Dr Bhimraya Metri, in his introductory remarks highlighted the objective of holding the conventions and said it will facilitate guidance of industry experts for the entrepreneurs, start-ups, MSMEs and local businesses. Taking MSMEs to the next orbit is being prominently focused in this convention, he added. On this occasion, Main Sponsors Vishal Agrawal of RC Plasto and K S Cheema of Central Star Motors were felicitated by Nitin Gadkari. A book on Temple Economics written by one of the key speakers Sandeep Singh, was presented to Gadkari on this occasion. Organising Chairman Brij Sarda moderated the inaugural function and also proposed a vote of thanks.
Viral for wrong reasons? Cops are watching







By Vaishnavi Pillay :

Nagpur Police monitoring offensive social media trends

In the age of instant fame and fleeting virality, some content creators resort to offensive language and questionable humour to grab attention on the social media. Nagpur has witnessed a concerning trend of individuals creating social media videos and reels with immoral themes. Recognising the negative impact of such content, the Cyber Police Station has taken a firm stance against it, launching an initiative to hold creators accountable. Archit Chandak, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Economic Offences Wing (EOW) and Cyber, informed The Hitavada that till now the Department has taken action on about 15 such cases. The creators are primarily youth, aged between 16 and 24 years old, although some juveniles and adults are involved as well. These individuals were called to the police station and were made to delete their offensive posts themselves.

DCP Chandak stated, We have a Social Media Monitoring Cell with 10 personnel monitoring prominent social media platforms for such activities. We take action against those who openly abuse, threaten, show allegiance to goons, abuse communities or women, or disrupt social harmony. This initiative was launched due to a significant rise in negative content and numerous complaints received through various channels. We use a combination of online patrolling, reports from citizens, and collaboration with city-based social media influencers and positive content creators to track down individuals violating community guidelines, explained DCP Chandak. The officers counsel the individuals involved, emphasising on zero tolerance for such content, and also take diary entries and keep a record of them. DCP Chandak explained that creators often resort to offensive content because the current societal environment allows such content to go viral easily and gain popularity through social media algorithms, giving creators a false sense of validation and encouraging them to continue.

These actions, however, tarnish the image of the city, he added. The public apologies by content creators serve as a deterrence to others from engaging in similar behaviour. Recognising that people, especially young individuals are prone to making mistakes during their formative years, the focus is to counsel them and not register offence against them, he added. Acknowledging that social background plays a role in this issue, he explained that sometimes, young people do not understand the difference between right and wrong, often due to weak educational or social backgrounds. DCP Chandak noted the challenges faced by the cyber department, including the difficulty of tracking down content creators and identifying individuals who operate behind fake accounts. DCP Chandak stated that the department actively engages in public talks at schools and colleges, educating students on cybercrime, the dangers of online harassment and abuse. They also encourage them to become cyber volunteers by assisting their families and elders who might be less familiar with online threats and safety measures. The initiative has met with positive responses, with citizens expressing appreciation for the actions taken on such content, he concludes. Varun Jangade, who manages a social media account focused on Nagpur news and updates, recognised the problem firsthand and noticed a rise in complaints from city youths regarding content creators using unethical methods to gain popularity. Varun actively collaborates with DCP Chandaks team by directly sending them such offensive reels. Varun applauded their swift action in taking down these negative content.
NEW DELHI, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Two persons were killed and a few others injured when an iron grill fell on them inside a shopping mall near Delhi on Sunday.

The incident happened in the Greater Noida area of northern state of Uttar Pradesh. Both the deceased were local residents.

A local police told Xinhua over phone that "an iron grill fell from the fifth floor of the Galaxy Blue Sapphire shopping mall in Greater Noida over some persons on the ground floor. Two persons have died and a few others were injured."

The police registered a formal complaint to book the owner of the shopping mall. 
Photo: Sunday afternoon in Seward Park. Its not quite spring yet but it sure felt spring-like today!

In the news this past week:

The battle over unionization at the Trader Joes store at Essex Crossing is continuing, and some employees say management is engaging in retaliatory tactics against union organizers. [Hell Gate]

Lower Manhattan State Senator Brian Kavanagh, chair of the Senate housing committee, talks about top priorities in the push to address the housing crisis. [NY1]

A Lower East Side tenant took to TikTok to share her story after realizing her landlord had been overcharging her for a rent regulated apartment. The video went viral and now a whole lot of NYC tenants are requesting their rent histories. [The City]

Andrea Gordillo and Sarah Batchu are already in the running to succeed District 2 City Council member Carlina Rivera in next years election (Rivera is term limited). State Assemblyman Harvey Epstein might join the race. [The Village Sun]

A pedestrian struck by the driver of a city bus in 2017 at East Houston Street and Avenue D has won a $72.5 million judgement against the MTA. [New York Post]

As part of a pilot project the city unveiled an e-bike battery charging station in the East Village, the first of several sites meant to provide delivery workers with a safe place to charge their bikes. [ABC 7]

Muoi Truong has been a fixture in Chinatown for almost three decades, running the fruit stand at Mulberry and Canal streets through, snowstorms and hailstorms, as well as during extreme heat and cold. [Gothamist]

Community Board 3s March meeting agendas. [CB3]
Synovus Financial Corp acquired a new position in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (NYSEARCA:FNDX  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor acquired 8,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $458,000.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. lifted its position in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. now owns 7,484 shares of the companys stock worth $431,000 after acquiring an additional 183 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its position in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 2.6% during the 3rd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 7,301 shares of the companys stock worth $398,000 after acquiring an additional 187 shares during the last quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 4.2% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 4,830 shares of the companys stock worth $258,000 after acquiring an additional 194 shares during the last quarter. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC lifted its position in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Future Financial Wealth Managment LLC now owns 24,955 shares of the companys stock worth $1,397,000 after acquiring an additional 201 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC lifted its position in Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF by 14.8% during the 3rd quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 1,567 shares of the companys stock worth $88,000 after acquiring an additional 202 shares during the last quarter.

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Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF Price Performance

Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF stock opened at $64.92 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $13.09 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.88 and a beta of 1.00. Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF has a fifty-two week low of $51.90 and a fifty-two week high of $64.99. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $62.71 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $59.29.

About Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF

The Schwab Fundamental U.S. Large Company Index ETF (FNDX) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the Russell RAFI Large Company US index. The fund tracks a fundamentally selected and weighted Russell index based on sales, cash flow and dividends\u002Fbuybacks. FNDX was launched on Aug 15, 2013 and is managed by Charles Schwab.

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Alps Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in Energy Fuels Inc. (NYSEAMERICAN:UUUU  Free Report) (TSE:EFR) by 16.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,763,538 shares of the basic materials companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,212,972 shares during the period. Energy Fuels comprises about 0.6% of Alps Advisors Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 19th largest holding. Alps Advisors Inc. owned about 5.43% of Energy Fuels worth $72,036,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Energy Fuels by 17.2% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 6,879,065 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $56,546,000 after buying an additional 1,009,007 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia lifted its holdings in Energy Fuels by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 312,266 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $2,566,000 after buying an additional 2,443 shares during the last quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in Energy Fuels by 186.3% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 32,443 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $267,000 after buying an additional 21,110 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in Energy Fuels by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 1,050,743 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $8,637,000 after buying an additional 2,803 shares during the last quarter. Finally, EAM Investors LLC purchased a new stake in Energy Fuels during the 3rd quarter worth about $2,708,000. 40.71% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Daniel Kapostasy sold 6,100 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $6.85, for a total value of $41,785.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 24,657 shares in the company, valued at approximately $168,900.45. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.30% of the companys stock.

Energy Fuels Stock Performance

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Shares of UUUU traded up $0.22 on Friday, reaching $6.55. The stock had a trading volume of 2,675,487 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,693,930. Energy Fuels Inc. has a twelve month low of $4.85 and a twelve month high of $9.02.

Several analysts have recently weighed in on UUUU shares. StockNews.com raised Energy Fuels to a sell rating in a report on Sunday, November 12th. Roth Mkm boosted their target price on Energy Fuels from $9.25 to $10.50 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd.

View Our Latest Report on UUUU

Energy Fuels Company Profile

(Free Report)

Energy Fuels Inc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the extraction, recovery, exploration, processing, permitting, evaluation, and sale of uranium, vanadium, and rare earth elements. It also targets heavy mineral sands, including ilmenite, rutile, zircon, and monazite. The company owns and operates the Nichols Ranch project located in Wyoming, White Mesa Mill located in Utah, the Pinyon Plain project located in Arizona, the Roca Honda project located in Central New Mexico, the Sheep Mountain project located in Wyoming, the Bullfrog project located in Utah, and the La Sal project located in La Sal West and La Sal East.

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Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Acuity Brands, Inc. (NYSE:AYI  Free Report) by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 164,059 shares of the electronics makers stock after buying an additional 3,460 shares during the period. Acuity Brands accounts for approximately 1.1% of Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 18th largest position. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings in Acuity Brands were worth $27,941,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Pathstone Family Office LLC boosted its stake in Acuity Brands by 12.7% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Family Office LLC now owns 6,936 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $1,181,000 after buying an additional 784 shares in the last quarter. New York Life Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Acuity Brands in the 2nd quarter valued at $271,000. Genus Capital Management Inc. raised its position in Acuity Brands by 15.3% in the 3rd quarter. Genus Capital Management Inc. now owns 39,135 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $6,665,000 after purchasing an additional 5,205 shares during the last quarter. Spire Wealth Management bought a new position in Acuity Brands in the 3rd quarter valued at $4,183,000. Finally, Comerica Bank bought a new position in Acuity Brands in the 2nd quarter valued at $5,706,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.58% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at Acuity Brands

In related news, SVP Dianne S. Mills sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.11, for a total value of $1,350,660.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 8,554 shares in the company, valued at $1,925,590.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, SVP Dianne S. Mills sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $225.11, for a total value of $1,350,660.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 8,554 shares in the company, valued at $1,925,590.94. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Barry R. Goldman sold 1,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $226.01, for a total value of $429,419.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 8,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,946,172.11. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 1.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Acuity Brands Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of AYI stock traded up $0.37 on Friday, reaching $251.61. 142,523 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 180,261. The stock has a market cap of $7.75 billion, a PE ratio of 21.52, a P/E/G ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 1.49. Acuity Brands, Inc. has a one year low of $149.30 and a one year high of $252.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24, a current ratio of 2.45 and a quick ratio of 1.85. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $229.91 and a 200 day moving average price of $192.88.

Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 9th. The electronics maker reported $3.72 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.23 by $0.49. The company had revenue of $934.70 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $935.14 million. Acuity Brands had a return on equity of 21.43% and a net margin of 9.56%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 6.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $3.04 earnings per share. Equities research analysts forecast that Acuity Brands, Inc. will post 13.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Acuity Brands Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 5th were given a dividend of $0.15 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 2nd. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.24%. This is an increase from Acuity Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.13. Acuity Brandss payout ratio is presently 5.13%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several equities analysts have issued reports on the company. StockNews.com downgraded Acuity Brands from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Acuity Brands from $200.00 to $236.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Acuity Brands currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $193.80.

View Our Latest Report on AYI

About Acuity Brands

(Free Report)

Acuity Brands, Inc provides lighting, lighting controls, building management system, location-aware applications in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls (ABL); and the Intelligent Spaces Group (ISG). The ABL segment provides commercial, architectural, and specialty lighting solutions, as well as lighting controls and components for various indoor and outdoor applications under the A-Light, Aculux, American Electric Lighting, Cyclone, Dark to Light, eldoLED, Eureka, Gotham, Healthcare Lighting, Holophane, Hydrel, Indy, IOTA, Juno, Lithonia Lighting, Luminaire LED, Luminis, Mark Architectural Lighting, nLight, OPTOTRONIC, Peerless, RELOCWiring Solutions, and Sensor Switch.

Further Reading

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Shares of Skeena Resources Limited (TSE:SKE  Get Free Report) have earned an average recommendation of Buy from the six ratings firms that are presently covering the stock, MarketBeat.com reports. Five analysts have rated the stock with a buy recommendation and one has issued a strong buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price target among brokers that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is C$15.86.

Several research analysts have recently weighed in on SKE shares. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Skeena Resources from C$12.50 to C$13.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Friday, January 12th. BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Skeena Resources from C$16.50 to C$18.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. CIBC raised their target price on Skeena Resources from C$16.50 to C$17.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Finally, Desjardins raised their target price on Skeena Resources from C$18.25 to C$19.75 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th.

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Check Out Our Latest Analysis on SKE

Insider Activity

Skeena Resources Trading Up 8.8 %

In other news, Director Walter Coles Jr. sold 12,000 shares of Skeena Resources stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$6.01, for a total transaction of C$72,120.00. Company insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock.

Skeena Resources stock opened at C$5.44 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of C$490.80 million, a P/E ratio of -4.86 and a beta of 1.66. Skeena Resources has a fifty-two week low of C$4.20 and a fifty-two week high of C$10.38. The firms fifty day moving average price is C$5.69 and its 200-day moving average price is C$5.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.27, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 1.35.

Skeena Resources Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Skeena Resources Limited explores for and develops mineral properties in Canada. The company explores for gold, silver, copper, and other precious metal deposits. It holds 100% interests in the Snip gold mine comprising one mining lease and four mineral tenures that covers an area of approximately 1,932 hectares; and the Eskay Creek gold mine that consists of eight mineral leases, two surface leases, and various unpatented mining claims comprising 7,096 hectares located in British Columbia, Canada.

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AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in Molina Healthcare, Inc. (NYSE:MOH  Free Report) by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 178,299 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,975 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLCs holdings in Molina Healthcare were worth $58,462,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Molina Healthcare by 18.4% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,449,375 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,151,448,000 after acquiring an additional 1,001,372 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new stake in Molina Healthcare in the 4th quarter valued at $214,801,000. Durable Capital Partners LP bought a new stake in Molina Healthcare during the 1st quarter valued at $214,363,000. Boston Partners raised its holdings in Molina Healthcare by 225.3% during the second quarter. Boston Partners now owns 915,861 shares of the companys stock worth $275,899,000 after buying an additional 634,279 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Research Global Investors lifted its stake in shares of Molina Healthcare by 90.4% in the second quarter. Capital Research Global Investors now owns 1,304,218 shares of the companys stock valued at $392,883,000 after buying an additional 619,352 shares in the last quarter. 98.11% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on MOH shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their target price on shares of Molina Healthcare from $367.00 to $392.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Wells Fargo & Company raised Molina Healthcare from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $367.00 to $420.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Truist Financial lifted their target price on Molina Healthcare from $435.00 to $460.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Cantor Fitzgerald increased their price target on Molina Healthcare from $374.00 to $406.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Molina Healthcare from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Molina Healthcare presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $380.80.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 711 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $384.06, for a total transaction of $273,066.66. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 12,207 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,688,220.42. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Molina Healthcare news, Director Richard M. Schapiro sold 711 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $384.06, for a total transaction of $273,066.66. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 12,207 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,688,220.42. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CFO Mark Lowell Keim sold 15,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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 directly owns 36,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,121,423.36. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 16,711 shares of company stock valued at $6,472,517. Company insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock.

Molina Healthcare Stock Performance

Shares of Molina Healthcare stock opened at $387.21 on Friday. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is $377.31 and its 200 day simple moving average is $354.28. The company has a current ratio of 1.54, a quick ratio of 1.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Molina Healthcare, Inc. has a 12 month low of $256.19 and a 12 month high of $410.00. The firm has a market capitalization of $22.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.47.

Molina Healthcare (NYSE:MOH  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $4.38 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $4.31 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $9.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.35 billion. Molina Healthcare had a return on equity of 32.34% and a net margin of 3.20%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $4.10 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Molina Healthcare, Inc. will post 23.62 EPS for the current year.

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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Quadrature Capital Ltd trimmed its holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM  Free Report) by 61.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 34,611 shares of the companys stock after selling 54,273 shares during the quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltds holdings in Archer-Daniels-Midland were worth $2,611,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. acquired a new stake in Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 2nd quarter valued at about $25,000. Legacy Financial Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Operose Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the third quarter worth about $30,000. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the third quarter worth about $43,000. Finally, Strengthening Families & Communities LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 37.3% in the third quarter. Strengthening Families & Communities LLC now owns 641 shares of the companys stock worth $48,000 after buying an additional 174 shares during the period. 77.73% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

ADM has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Roth Capital cut shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Roth Mkm lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $98.00 to $66.00 in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Robert W. Baird lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price target for the stock from $96.00 to $61.00 in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Barclays lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from an overweight rating to an underweight rating and set a $60.00 price objective on the stock. in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com lowered shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and thirteen have issued a hold rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $67.08.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:ADM opened at $54.24 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.93 billion, a P/E ratio of 7.55 and a beta of 0.75. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company has a 1-year low of $50.72 and a 1-year high of $87.30. The company has a current ratio of 1.69, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $60.43 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $70.21.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 8th were issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This is a boost from Archer-Daniels-Midlands previous quarterly dividend of $0.45. This represents a $2.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 7th. Archer-Daniels-Midlands payout ratio is currently 27.86%.

Archer-Daniels-Midland Profile

(Free Report)

Archer-Daniels-Midland Company procures, transports, stores, processes, and merchandises agricultural commodities, products, and ingredients in the United States, Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates in three segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, and Nutrition.

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Ariel Investments LLC reduced its stake in BorgWarner Inc. (NYSE:BWA  Free Report) by 4.6% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,274,443 shares of the auto parts companys stock after selling 61,176 shares during the period. Ariel Investments LLC owned about 0.54% of BorgWarner worth $51,449,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its position in BorgWarner by 25.2% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 371,687 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $14,458,000 after buying an additional 74,902 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. boosted its position in BorgWarner by 86.7% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 22,086 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $859,000 after buying an additional 10,257 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC boosted its position in BorgWarner by 23.1% during the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 65,231 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $2,537,000 after buying an additional 12,257 shares during the period. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in BorgWarner by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 32,082 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,248,000 after buying an additional 1,987 shares during the period. Finally, Yousif Capital Management LLC boosted its position in BorgWarner by 1.8% during the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 46,314 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $1,802,000 after buying an additional 840 shares during the period. 92.35% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

BWA has been the topic of several recent research reports. Robert W. Baird downgraded shares of BorgWarner from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the stock from $45.00 to $39.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Barclays lowered their price target on shares of BorgWarner from $43.00 to $40.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Guggenheim upgraded shares of BorgWarner from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $41.00 price target for the company in a report on Thursday, November 16th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on shares of BorgWarner from $47.00 to $45.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, November 14th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered their price target on shares of BorgWarner from $59.00 to $52.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $44.12.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other BorgWarner news, CEO Frederic Lissalde sold 225,900 shares of BorgWarner stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were 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 of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,148,455.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other BorgWarner news, CAO Tonit M. Calaway sold 35,603 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $32.15, for a total transaction of $1,144,636.45. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 83,348 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,679,638.20. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, CEO Frederic Lissalde sold 225,900 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $31.08, for a total transaction of $7,020,972.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 455,227 shares in the company, valued at $14,148,455.16. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.45% of the companys stock.

BorgWarner Stock Up 0.1 %

BWA stock traded up $0.02 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $31.15. 2,754,922 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,956,832. The company has a market cap of $7.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.99 and a beta of 1.29. The firms fifty day moving average price is $33.10 and its 200-day moving average price is $35.89. The company has a quick ratio of 1.30, a current ratio of 1.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61. BorgWarner Inc. has a 52 week low of $29.51 and a 52 week high of $51.14.

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 analysts consensus estimates of $0.93 by ($0.03). The business had revenue of $3.52 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.62 billion. BorgWarner had a net margin of 3.94% and a return on equity of 14.69%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.26 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that BorgWarner Inc. will post 3.9 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

BorgWarner Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.11 per share. This represents a $0.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. BorgWarners dividend payout ratio is 16.48%.

BorgWarner Profile

(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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AXQ Capital LP bought a new stake in shares of Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund bought 25,000 shares of the oilfield services companys stock, valued at approximately $1,012,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Schroder Investment Management Group increased its position in shares of Halliburton by 56.8% during the 2nd quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 333,133 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $10,990,000 after purchasing an additional 120,734 shares during the last quarter. CX Institutional purchased a new stake in shares of Halliburton in the 3rd quarter worth $344,000. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its stake in shares of Halliburton by 13.1% in the 3rd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 2,037,646 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $82,525,000 after purchasing an additional 235,906 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in shares of Halliburton by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,342,520 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $135,372,000 after purchasing an additional 44,901 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Washington Capital Management Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Halliburton in the 3rd quarter worth $1,869,000. 82.09% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and set a $45.00 target price on shares of Halliburton in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Barclays decreased their target price on shares of Halliburton from $55.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. StockNews.com raised Halliburton from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Raymond James decreased their price target on Halliburton from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price target on Halliburton from $49.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Halliburton presently has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $48.63.

Halliburton Price Performance

NYSE HAL traded up $0.57 during trading on Friday, hitting $35.64. 5,703,504 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,458,817. Halliburton has a 12-month low of $27.84 and a 12-month high of $43.85. The company has a market capitalization of $31.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.99. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $35.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $37.83. The company has a quick ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 2.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81.

Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The oilfield services company reported $0.86 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.80 by $0.06. Halliburton had a net margin of 11.46% and a return on equity of 31.59%. The business had revenue of $5.74 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.78 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.72 EPS. The businesss revenue was up 2.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Halliburton will post 3.43 EPS for the current year.

Halliburton Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced 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 a boost from Halliburtons previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 5th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.91%. Halliburtons 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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YANGON, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Veterinary vaccine production can be conducted systematically by setting up dedicated experimental animal units with the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) funding, Myanmar's Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Dr. Aung Gyi said on Sunday.

Two experimental animal units funded by the LMC special fund 2021 were inaugurated at the Livestock, Breeding and Veterinary Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation in a ceremony in Yangon.

The Livestock, Breeding and Veterinary Department produces vaccines for cattle, goat, sheep, and pig. The test animals were used to systematically and accurately test the effects of vaccines, Aung Gyi told Xinhua during the opening ceremony for experimental animal units.

The animal breeders can also benefit by vaccinating their animals, which can reduce the incidence of disease, he added.

This project was applied with the aim of exchanging vaccine production technologies and developing basic infrastructures, Dr. Min Thein Maw, director of the Livestock Breeding and Veterinary Department said.

By constructing experimental animal units with the help of LMC, the experimental animals such as mice, guinea pigs and goats can be raised with good biosecurity, and the quality of the vaccine can be improved by testing the drug without harming the animal's welfare, he added.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation has so far received 31 LMC-funded projects, Aung Gyi said. 
Axxcess Wealth Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM  Free Report) by 59.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 27,839 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 10,407 shares during the quarter. Axxcess Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $2,577,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 5.7% in the 3rd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 2,089,877 shares of the companys stock worth $193,481,000 after acquiring an additional 112,398 shares during the last quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.7% in the 3rd quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 14,923 shares of the companys stock worth $1,402,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Logan Capital Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.8% in the 3rd quarter. Logan Capital Management Inc. now owns 144,140 shares of the companys stock worth $13,344,000 after acquiring an additional 2,551 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association raised its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International by 1.8% in the third quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 344,718 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,914,000 after purchasing an additional 6,169 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Waverly Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 7.5% during the third quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 8,404 shares of the companys stock valued at $778,000 after purchasing an additional 588 shares in the last quarter. 79.70% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Redburn Atlantic assumed coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. They issued a neutral rating and a $95.00 price objective for the company. UBS Group downgraded Philip Morris International from a buy rating to a sell rating and decreased their price target for the company from $105.00 to $86.50 in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Philip Morris International from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Finally, Societe Generale raised Philip Morris International from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $87.50 price target for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Philip Morris International has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $105.40.

Philip Morris International Stock Performance

NYSE:PM traded down $0.13 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $89.83. The stock had a trading volume of 5,093,400 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,840,366. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $92.22 and a 200 day simple moving average of $92.72. 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 $139.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 17.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.03 and a beta of 0.61.

Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.36 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.44 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $9.05 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.99 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 116.29% and a net margin of 8.53%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 11.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.39 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Philip Morris International 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 paid a $1.30 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 20th. This represents a $5.20 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.79%. Philip Morris Internationals payout ratio is 103.59%.

About Philip Morris International

(Free Report)

Philip Morris International Inc operates as a tobacco company working to delivers a smoke-free future and evolving portfolio for the long-term to include products outside of the tobacco and nicotine sector. The company's product portfolio primarily consists of cigarettes and smoke-free products, including heat-not-burn, vapor, and oral nicotine products primarily under the IQOS and ZYN brands; and consumer accessories, such as lighters and matches.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) had its price target decreased by Desjardins from C$135.00 to C$133.00 in a research report released on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. Desjardins currently has a buy rating on the banks stock. Desjardins also issued estimates for Bank of Montreals Q2 2024 earnings at $2.80 EPS, Q3 2024 earnings at $3.13 EPS, Q4 2024 earnings at $3.07 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $11.55 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $12.80 EPS.

Several other research analysts have also weighed in on BMO. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lowered their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$138.00 to C$128.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, November 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$134.00 to C$130.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. National Bankshares upgraded Bank of Montreal from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the company from C$117.00 to C$141.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Cormark cut their price target on Bank of Montreal from C$128.00 to C$127.00 in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$145.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$132.70.

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View Our Latest Research Report on Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal Stock Up 0.2 %

TSE BMO opened at C$123.07 on Wednesday. Bank of Montreal has a twelve month low of C$102.67 and a twelve month high of C$132.11. The company has a market cap of C$88.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 21.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.18. The businesss fifty day moving average is C$127.45 and its 200 day moving average is C$118.33.

Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last announced its earnings results on Friday, December 1st. The bank reported C$2.81 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$2.86 by C($0.05). The company had revenue of C$8.36 billion for the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a return on equity of 5.91% and a net margin of 15.04%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Bank of Montreal will post 12.0940171 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Bank of Montreal Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 26th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.91%. Bank of Montreals payout ratio is 106.34%.

Bank of Montreal Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The company's personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products.

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Budweiser Brewing Company APAC Limited (OTCMKTS:BDWBF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,716,900 shares, an increase of 79.3% from the January 31st total of 4,860,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 1,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 8,716.9 days.

Budweiser Brewing Company APAC Stock Performance

BDWBF opened at $1.65 on Friday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $1.63 and a 200 day moving average of $1.85. Budweiser Brewing Company APAC has a 52-week low of $1.48 and a 52-week high of $3.11.

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About Budweiser Brewing Company APAC

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Budweiser Brewing Company APAC Limited, an investment holding company, produces, imports, markets, distributes, and sells beer and other non-beer beverages primarily in China, South Korea, India, Vietnam, and the other Asia Pacific regions. The company offers a portfolio of beer brands, including Budweiser, Stella Artois, Corona, Hoegaarden, Cass, and Harbin.

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Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec cut its stake in Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK  Free Report) by 33.9% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 95,900 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 49,200 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebecs holdings in Duke Energy were worth $8,464,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC increased its stake in shares of Duke Energy by 28.6% in the 3rd quarter. Catalyst Financial Partners LLC now owns 4,023 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $355,000 after acquiring an additional 894 shares during the last quarter. Adviser Investments LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Duke Energy during the 3rd quarter worth about $304,000. Guggenheim Capital LLC increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 13.1% during the 2nd quarter. Guggenheim Capital LLC now owns 191,379 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $17,174,000 after purchasing an additional 22,100 shares during the last quarter. Northern Trust Corp increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 1.9% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 7,918,910 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $698,923,000 after purchasing an additional 144,612 shares during the last quarter. Finally, HHM Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Duke Energy by 10.0% during the 3rd quarter. HHM Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 2,397 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $212,000 after purchasing an additional 217 shares during the last quarter. 63.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts recently issued reports on the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price objective on Duke Energy from $98.00 to $101.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. Evercore ISI raised Duke Energy from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $90.00 to $108.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. KeyCorp raised their target price on Duke Energy from $106.00 to $107.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Duke Energy from $103.00 to $100.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their target price on Duke Energy from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $100.00.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Louis E. Renjel sold 3,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,213 shares in the company, valued at $1,315,697.41. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Duke Energy Stock Performance

Shares of DUK opened at $90.86 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $95.14 and a 200-day simple moving average of $92.26. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a current ratio of 0.74. The stock has a market capitalization of $70.04 billion, a PE ratio of 25.59, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.46. Duke Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $83.06 and a 1 year high of $100.39.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.53 by ($0.02). The company had revenue of $7.21 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.24 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 9.78% and a return on equity of 8.93%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 1.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.11 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.98 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced 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. This represents a $4.10 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.51%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. Duke Energys payout ratio is 115.49%.

About Duke Energy

(Free Report)

Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through two segments, Electric Utilities and Infrastructure (EU&I) and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure (GU&I). The EU&I segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, solar and wind sources, renewables, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity.

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California State Teachers Retirement System lowered its stake in shares of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC  Free Report) by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 313,107 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 17,634 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System owned approximately 0.16% of Omnicom Group worth $23,320,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in OMC. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Omnicom Group by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 18,744,473 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,783,537,000 after buying an additional 749,118 shares during the period. State Street Corp raised its position in shares of Omnicom Group by 3.1% during the second quarter. State Street Corp now owns 11,303,089 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,083,214,000 after purchasing an additional 337,392 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Omnicom Group by 5.1% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 7,434,922 shares of the business services providers stock worth $631,076,000 after purchasing an additional 362,985 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its position in Omnicom Group by 8.6% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 4,745,400 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $353,437,000 after purchasing an additional 374,874 shares during the period. Finally, Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. increased its stake in Omnicom Group by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Beutel Goodman & Co Ltd. now owns 4,712,072 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $448,353,000 after purchasing an additional 72,036 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.71% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

OMC has been the subject of a number of analyst reports. Macquarie upgraded shares of Omnicom Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price objective for the company from $80.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, January 5th. UBS Group initiated coverage on Omnicom Group in a report on Thursday, January 11th. They set a buy rating and a $117.00 price objective for the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Omnicom Group from $85.00 to $91.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their price target on Omnicom Group from $106.00 to $104.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on Omnicom Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $99.22.

Omnicom Group Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE OMC opened at $88.44 on Friday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $88.00 and a 200-day moving average of $81.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $17.51 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.78, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.96. The company has a current ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16. Omnicom Group Inc. has a 12 month low of $72.20 and a 12 month high of $99.23.

Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.04. Omnicom Group had a net margin of 9.47% and a return on equity of 39.07%. The business had revenue of $4.06 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $2.09 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts expect that Omnicom Group Inc. will post 7.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Omnicom Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be given a dividend of $0.70 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 8th. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.17%. Omnicom Groups payout ratio is 40.46%.

Insider Transactions at Omnicom Group

In related news, Director Linda Johnson Rice sold 507 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.66, for a total value of $43,936.62. Following the sale, the director now directly owns 9,753 shares of the companys stock, valued at $845,194.98. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.30% of the companys stock.

Omnicom Group Profile

(Free Report)

Omnicom Group Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services. It provides a range of services in the areas of advertising and media, precision marketing, commerce and branding, experiential, execution and support, public relations, and healthcare.

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California State Teachers Retirement System trimmed its holdings in shares of PPL Co. (NYSE:PPL  Free Report) by 6.7% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 1,066,349 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 76,682 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System owned approximately 0.14% of PPL worth $25,123,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the business. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its holdings in shares of PPL by 28.2% in the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 50,008 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $1,178,000 after purchasing an additional 10,988 shares in the last quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its position in PPL by 0.5% in the 3rd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 324,313 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $7,641,000 after buying an additional 1,640 shares during the last quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC raised its position in PPL by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Mutual Advisors LLC now owns 46,833 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $1,103,000 after buying an additional 415 shares during the last quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. raised its position in PPL by 18.5% in the 3rd quarter. Epoch Investment Partners Inc. now owns 25,376 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $598,000 after buying an additional 3,970 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jacobi Capital Management LLC raised its position in PPL by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. Jacobi Capital Management LLC now owns 100,099 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $2,358,000 after buying an additional 2,869 shares during the last quarter. 73.09% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on PPL shares. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $30.00 price target on shares of PPL in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley increased their price target on PPL from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Barclays increased their price target on PPL from $25.00 to $27.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on PPL from $32.00 to $30.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, StockNews.com lowered PPL from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research report on Saturday, February 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, PPL has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $32.33.

PPL Stock Performance

Shares of PPL opened at $26.14 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $19.28 billion, a PE ratio of 26.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.05 and a beta of 0.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.05. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $26.54 and a 200-day moving average price of $25.64. PPL Co. has a 12-month low of $22.20 and a 12-month high of $29.03.

PPL (NYSE:PPL  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.38 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.03 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.56 billion. PPL had a return on equity of 8.45% and a net margin of 8.90%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 11.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.28 EPS. As a group, equities analysts forecast that PPL Co. will post 1.72 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

PPL Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $0.2575 per share. This represents a $1.03 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.94%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. This is an increase from PPLs previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. PPLs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 96.00%.

PPL Company Profile

(Free Report)

PPL Corporation, an energy company, focuses on providing electricity and natural gas to approximately 3.6 million customers in the United States. It operates through three segments: Kentucky Regulated, Pennsylvania Regulated, and Rhode Island Regulated. The company delivers electricity to customers in Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and Rhode Island; delivers natural gas to customers in Kentucky and Rhode Island; and generates electricity from power plants in Kentucky.

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Lazard Asset Management LLC cut its stake in shares of Exxon Mobil Co. (NYSE:XOM  Free Report) by 17.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 229,546 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 49,917 shares during the quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLCs holdings in Exxon Mobil were worth $26,988,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Intrepid Capital Management Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Exxon Mobil by 1.2% in the 2nd 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 increased its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 0.5% in the second quarter. Lee Financial Co now owns 20,454 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $2,194,000 after buying an additional 94 shares during the last quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Exxon Mobil by 4.2% in the third quarter. Traynor Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,346 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $276,000 after buying an additional 94 shares in the last quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp lifted its holdings in Exxon Mobil by 3.1% during the 3rd quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 3,119 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $367,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Defined Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Exxon Mobil by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Defined Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,051 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $476,000 after acquiring an additional 96 shares in the last quarter. 58.53% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Exxon Mobil Stock Up 1.3 %

XOM stock opened at $105.84 on Friday. Exxon Mobil Co. has a one year low of $95.77 and a one year high of $120.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18, a quick ratio of 1.09 and a current ratio of 1.48. The company has a fifty day moving average of $101.69 and a 200-day moving average of $105.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $419.96 billion, a PE ratio of 11.91, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.85 and a beta of 0.96.

Exxon Mobil Announces Dividend

Exxon Mobil ( NYSE:XOM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 2nd. The oil and gas company reported $2.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.20 by $0.28. The company had revenue of $84.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $90.03 billion. Exxon Mobil had a return on equity of 18.51% and a net margin of 10.45%. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 11.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $3.40 EPS. As a group, analysts expect that Exxon Mobil Co. will post 9.15 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 11th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 14th will be issued a dividend of $0.95 per share. This represents a $3.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.59%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 13th. Exxon Mobils dividend payout ratio is currently 42.74%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Exxon Mobil news, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total transaction of $1,231,800.00. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 220,678 shares in the company, valued at $22,652,596.70. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, VP Darrin L. Talley sold 2,400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $105.00, for a total transaction of $252,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 30,189 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,169,845. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, VP Leonard M. Fox sold 12,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $102.65, for a total value of $1,231,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 220,678 shares in the company, valued at approximately $22,652,596.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.06% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Erste Group Bank restated a hold rating on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. UBS Group lowered their target price on shares of Exxon Mobil from $133.00 to $132.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. TD Cowen upgraded 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. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and issued a $120.00 price objective on shares of Exxon Mobil in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Mizuho cut Exxon Mobil from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $117.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Nine analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $127.53.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on XOM

Exxon Mobil Company Profile

(Free Report)

Exxon Mobil Corporation engages in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and internationally. It operates through Upstream, Energy Products, Chemical Products, and Specialty Products segments. The Upstream segment explores for and produces crude oil and natural gas.

Further Reading

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Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC trimmed its position in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:FMX  Free Report) by 3.3% in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 1,052,957 shares of the companys stock after selling 36,071 shares during the quarter. Fomento Economico Mexicano comprises 4.4% of Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 8th biggest holding. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano were worth $114,930,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Schroder Investment Management Group grew its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 5.6% during the second quarter. Schroder Investment Management Group now owns 4,199,431 shares of the companys stock valued at $465,465,000 after purchasing an additional 223,708 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 11.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 3,056,875 shares of the companys stock valued at $191,820,000 after purchasing an additional 302,363 shares during the period. Baillie Gifford & Co. lifted its holdings in Fomento Economico Mexicano by 118.0% during the 3rd quarter. Baillie Gifford & Co. now owns 2,495,474 shares of the companys stock worth $272,381,000 after purchasing an additional 1,350,922 shares in the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 4.1% in the second quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 1,687,041 shares of the companys stock worth $186,992,000 after buying an additional 67,086 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano by 6.0% in the second quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. now owns 1,551,523 shares of the companys stock worth $165,712,000 after buying an additional 87,950 shares in the last quarter.

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Fomento Economico Mexicano Stock Performance

NYSE FMX traded up $0.59 on Friday, reaching $124.83. 387,564 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 727,345. Fomento Economico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. has a 12 month low of $85.66 and a 12 month high of $143.43. The company has a quick ratio of 1.64, a current ratio of 1.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $132.40 and a 200 day simple moving average of $121.64.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on FMX. HSBC raised shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a hold rating to a buy rating and increased their price target for the stock from $124.00 to $152.00 in a report on Friday, February 9th. Citigroup started coverage on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a research note on Thursday, December 7th. They issued a neutral rating and a $134.00 target price on the stock. Bank of America reaffirmed a neutral rating on shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano in a research note on Monday, February 26th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Finally, UBS Group downgraded shares of Fomento Economico Mexicano from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Fomento Economico Mexicano presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $130.60.

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Fomento Economico Mexicano Company Profile

(Free Report)

Fomento Economico Mexicano, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, operates as a bottler of Coca-Cola trademark beverages. The company produces, markets, and distributes Coca-Cola trademark beverages in Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay.

Further Reading

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Armistice Capital LLC lowered its position in GSK plc (NYSE:GSK  Free Report) by 5.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 285,000 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock after selling 15,000 shares during the quarter. Armistice Capital LLCs holdings in GSK were worth $10,331,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of GSK. Fairfield Bush & CO. acquired a new stake in GSK in the second quarter valued at $28,000. Larson Financial Group LLC raised its stake in GSK by 271.8% during the 3rd quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 885 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 647 shares during the period. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC increased its stake in shares of GSK by 61.3% in the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 968 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock worth $42,000 after acquiring an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. increased its position in GSK by 52.9% during the first quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,090 shares of the pharmaceutical companys stock worth $39,000 after buying an additional 377 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in GSK during the third quarter worth $40,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 13.53% of the companys stock.

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GSK Stock Performance

Shares of GSK traded up $0.13 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $42.03. The stock had a trading volume of 2,324,675 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,557,324. The firm has a market cap of $86.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.96, a PEG ratio of 1.89 and a beta of 0.64. GSK plc has a 52 week low of $33.20 and a 52 week high of $42.69. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.70. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $40.16 and a 200-day moving average price of $37.37.

GSK Increases Dividend

GSK ( NYSE:GSK Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The pharmaceutical company reported $0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.76 by ($0.04). GSK had a net margin of 16.24% and a return on equity of 52.25%. The company had revenue of $10 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.79 billion. On average, equities research analysts expect that GSK plc will post 4.11 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.3564 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $1.43 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.39%. This is a boost from GSKs previous quarterly dividend of $0.34. GSKs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 52.82%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently weighed in on GSK shares. Citigroup raised GSK from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of GSK from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley initiated coverage on shares of GSK in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an equal weight rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating, three have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, GSK has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

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About GSK

(Free Report)

GSK plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development and manufacture of vaccines and specialty medicines to prevent and treat disease in the United Kingdom, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Pharmaceuticals, Pharmaceuticals R&D, Vaccines, and Consumer Healthcare.

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Shares of Ingredion Incorporated (NYSE:INGR  Get Free Report) have been assigned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the six research firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat.com reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and four have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12-month target price among brokers that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is $124.67.

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on INGR shares. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $130.00 price target on shares of Ingredion in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Ingredion from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the company from $122.00 to $135.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Finally, UBS Group boosted their price objective on Ingredion from $132.00 to $136.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, November 13th.

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Ingredion Price Performance

NYSE INGR opened at $117.13 on Tuesday. Ingredion has a fifty-two week low of $89.54 and a fifty-two week high of $118.15. The stocks 50-day moving average is $110.52 and its two-hundred day moving average is $103.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.49, a current ratio of 1.92 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $7.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.20, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.11 and a beta of 0.81.

Ingredion (NYSE:INGR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.87 by $0.10. Ingredion had a return on equity of 18.57% and a net margin of 7.88%. The business had revenue of $1.92 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.07 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $1.65 EPS. The firms revenue was down 3.3% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts anticipate that Ingredion will post 9.6 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ingredion Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 23rd. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 2nd were given a dividend of $0.78 per share. This represents a $3.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.66%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 29th. Ingredions dividend payout ratio is currently 32.50%.

Insider Activity

In related news, SVP Larry Fernandes sold 2,369 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $115.08, for a total value of $272,624.52. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 28,966 shares in the company, valued at $3,333,407.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 2,371 shares of company stock valued at $272,842. Insiders own 1.68% of the companys stock.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ingredion

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of INGR. Hsbc Holdings PLC increased its stake in shares of Ingredion by 436.0% in the second quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 15,490 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,644,000 after buying an additional 12,600 shares in the last quarter. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Ingredion by 2.9% in the third quarter. Cutter & CO Brokerage Inc. now owns 34,577 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,402,000 after purchasing an additional 990 shares in the last quarter. Equity Investment Corp increased its holdings in shares of Ingredion by 1.4% in the third quarter. Equity Investment Corp now owns 908,776 shares of the companys stock valued at $89,424,000 after purchasing an additional 12,427 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB increased its stake in shares of Ingredion by 73.0% in the 3rd quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 752,456 shares of the companys stock valued at $74,019,000 after buying an additional 317,509 shares during the period. Finally, Smith Graham & Co. Investment Advisors LP acquired a new stake in shares of Ingredion in the 3rd quarter valued at $3,022,000. 84.80% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ingredion Company Profile

(Get Free Report

Ingredion Incorporated, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures and sells sweeteners, starches, nutrition ingredients, and biomaterial solutions derived from wet milling and processing corn, and other starch-based materials to a range of industries in North America, South America, the Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

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An actress performs during the Battle of the Flowers parade during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

An actress performs during the Battle of the Flowers parade during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

An actress performs during the Battle of the Flowers parade during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

Actresses perform during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

An actress performs during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

An actress performs during the Battle of the Flowers parade during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

Participants perform during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

An actress performs during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

An actress performs during the Battle of the Flowers parade during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

An actress performs during the Battle of the Flowers parade during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

Actresses perform during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)

An actress performs during the Battle of the Flowers parade during the 2024 Nice Carnival in Nice, France, March 2, 2024. The 2024 Nice Carnival is held here from Feb. 17 to March 3 with the theme of "The King of Pop Culture". (Photo by Serge Haouzi/Xinhua)
Insigneo Advisory Services LLC grew its holdings in The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB  Free Report) by 2.9% during the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 10,476 shares of the pipeline companys stock after buying an additional 298 shares during the period. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Williams Companies were worth $353,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in WMB. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A acquired a new position in Williams Companies in the second quarter worth approximately $25,000. Missouri Trust & Investment Co increased its holdings in Williams Companies by 300.0% in the second quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 800 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 600 shares during the last quarter. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Williams Companies in the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new position in Williams Companies in the third quarter worth approximately $29,000. Finally, Salem Investment Counselors Inc. increased its holdings in Williams Companies by 52.5% in the second quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 915 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 315 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.76% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts recently commented on WMB shares. UBS Group increased their price objective on Williams Companies from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Mizuho increased their price objective on Williams Companies from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 7th. Seven 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, Williams Companies has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $37.27.

Williams Companies Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of WMB stock opened at $36.40 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $44.29 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 5.83 and a beta of 1.04. The Williams Companies, Inc. has a one year low of $27.80 and a one year high of $37.45. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $34.75 and a 200 day moving average price of $34.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 0.77 and a quick ratio of 0.73.

Williams Companies (NYSE:WMB  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.48 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.01. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 16.20% and a net margin of 29.22%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.53 earnings per share. Analysts predict that The Williams Companies, Inc. will post 1.78 earnings per share for the current year.

Williams Companies Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.75 per share. This is a boost from Williams Companiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 8.24%. Williams Companiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 68.32%.

About Williams Companies

(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.

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Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its position in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S (NYSE:NVO  Free Report) by 638.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 480 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 415 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllps holdings in Novo Nordisk A/S were worth $44,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of NVO. Copeland Capital Management LLC increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 282 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 141 shares in the last quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 79.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bell Investment Advisors Inc now owns 286 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after buying an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Citizens National Bank Trust Department now owns 300 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management increased its stake in Novo Nordisk A/S by 100.0% during the 3rd quarter. Tyler Stone Wealth Management now owns 292 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after buying an additional 146 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Centerpoint Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. 6.41% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Novo Nordisk A/S Trading Up 3.7 %

Shares of Novo Nordisk A/S stock opened at $124.23 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $557.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.93, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.41. Novo Nordisk A/S has a fifty-two week low of $67.66 and a fifty-two week high of $124.86. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 0.82. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $112.61 and a 200 day moving average of $93.85.

Novo Nordisk A/S Increases Dividend

Novo Nordisk A/S ( NYSE:NVO Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The company reported $0.71 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.05. The company had revenue of $9.51 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.14 billion. Novo Nordisk A/S had a return on equity of 90.36% and a net margin of 36.03%. As a group, research analysts predict that Novo Nordisk A/S will post 3.32 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a Semi-Annual dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 25th will be paid a dividend of $0.664 per share. This represents a yield of 0.9%. This is a boost from Novo Nordisk A/Ss previous Semi-Annual dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 22nd. Novo Nordisk A/Ss dividend payout ratio is 22.92%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. UBS Group assumed coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a neutral rating for the company. Morgan Stanley assumed coverage on Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an overweight rating and a $120.00 price target for the company. TD Cowen upped their price target on Novo Nordisk A/S from $105.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald restated an overweight rating and issued a $140.00 price target on shares of Novo Nordisk A/S in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Two 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. According to data from MarketBeat, Novo Nordisk A/S has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $121.25.

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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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Jones Financial Companies Lllp reduced its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 52.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 203 shares of the investment management companys stock after selling 223 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllps holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $66,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. Cambridge Trust Co. raised its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 82.0% during 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 during the last quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC raised its stake in The Goldman Sachs Group by 88.0% during the 3rd quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 94 shares of the investment management companys stock valued at $31,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $33,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Finally, PCA Investment Advisory Services Inc. purchased a new stake in The Goldman Sachs Group during the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $34,000. 69.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:GS opened at $388.10 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $384.26 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $348.72. The stock has a market cap of $126.35 billion, a PE ratio of 17.01, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.76. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a one year low of $289.36 and a one year high of $396.79.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $1.86. The firm had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.80 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 8.03% and a net margin of 7.85%. The Goldman Sachs Groups quarterly revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $3.32 EPS. On average, analysts forecast that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.86 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be issued a dividend of $2.75 per share. This represents a $11.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.83%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 48.20%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts have commented on GS shares. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $357.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. UBS Group increased their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $382.00 to $440.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Morgan Stanley raised The Goldman Sachs Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $333.00 to $449.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on The Goldman Sachs Group from $398.00 to $421.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and set a $440.00 target price on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, The Goldman Sachs Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $409.93.

View Our Latest Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group

Insider Transactions at The Goldman Sachs Group

In other news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total transaction of $5,001,372.40. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 29,417 shares in the company, valued at $11,602,947.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, insider Brian J. Lee sold 3,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $376.39, for a total value of $1,129,170.00. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 10,121 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,809,443.19. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total value of $5,001,372.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,417 shares in the company, valued at $11,602,947.31. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 39,064 shares of company stock worth $15,082,153 over the last quarter. 0.54% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

The Goldman Sachs Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc, a financial institution, provides a range of financial services for corporations, financial institutions, governments, and individuals worldwide. It operates through Global Banking & Markets, Asset & Wealth Management, and Platform Solutions segments. The Global Banking & Markets segment provides financial advisory services, including strategic advisory assignments related to mergers and acquisitions, divestitures, corporate defense activities, restructurings, and spin-offs; and relationship lending, and acquisition financing, as well as secured lending, through structured credit and asset-backed lending and involved in financing under securities to resale agreements.

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Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE:PHM  Free Report) by 92.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 431,282 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 207,405 shares during the period. Lazard Asset Management LLC owned about 0.20% of PulteGroup worth $31,935,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund boosted its stake in PulteGroup by 24.9% in the third quarter. Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund now owns 26,341 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,951,000 after buying an additional 5,257 shares in the last quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 161.1% in the second quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 1,253,791 shares of the construction companys stock worth $97,376,000 after acquiring an additional 773,543 shares during the last quarter. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 25.2% in the third quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,517 shares of the construction companys stock worth $186,000 after acquiring an additional 506 shares during the last quarter. PGGM Investments boosted its stake in shares of PulteGroup by 14.9% in the 3rd quarter. PGGM Investments now owns 158,404 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $11,730,000 after purchasing an additional 20,564 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. grew its holdings in shares of PulteGroup by 6.4% during the 3rd quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 18,623 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,379,000 after purchasing an additional 1,127 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 89.84% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at PulteGroup

In other news, VP Brien P. Omeara sold 2,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.09, for a total transaction of $206,180.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now owns 15,389 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,586,452.01. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Insiders own 0.83% of the companys stock.

PulteGroup Trading Up 2.6 %

PHM opened at $111.21 on Friday. PulteGroup, Inc. has a twelve month low of $52.24 and a twelve month high of $111.41. The company has a fifty day moving average of $104.30 and a 200-day moving average of $89.65. The stock has a market cap of $23.59 billion, a PE ratio of 9.47, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.19.

PulteGroup (NYSE:PHM  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The construction company reported $3.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.21 by $0.07. The firm had revenue of $4.29 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.47 billion. PulteGroup had a return on equity of 25.97% and a net margin of 16.20%. The businesss revenue was down 15.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $3.63 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts predict that PulteGroup, Inc. will post 11.77 EPS for the current year.

PulteGroup announced that its board has approved a share repurchase program on Tuesday, January 30th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.50 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the construction company to purchase up to 6.5% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are usually a sign that the companys management believes its stock is undervalued.

PulteGroup Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.72%. PulteGroups payout ratio is currently 6.81%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on PHM shares. Raymond James raised their target price on shares of PulteGroup from $100.00 to $120.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. StockNews.com cut PulteGroup from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Saturday. UBS Group downgraded PulteGroup from a buy rating to a neutral rating and increased their target price for the company from $93.00 to $120.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on PulteGroup from $91.00 to $105.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on shares of PulteGroup in a research report on Monday, November 27th. They set a buy rating and a $107.00 target price on the stock. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $102.31.

View Our Latest Analysis on PHM

PulteGroup Company Profile

(Free Report)

PulteGroup, Inc, through its subsidiaries, primarily engages in the homebuilding business in the United States. It acquires and develops land primarily for residential purposes; and constructs housing on such land. The company also offers various home designs, including single-family detached, townhomes, condominiums, and duplexes under the Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, and American West brand names.

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Mutual Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Teledyne Technologies Incorporated (NYSE:TDY  Free Report) by 25.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 734 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after acquiring an additional 149 shares during the quarter. Mutual Advisors LLCs holdings in Teledyne Technologies were worth $300,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of TDY. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in Teledyne Technologies by 93.4% in the 1st 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 acquiring an additional 1,965 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its position in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 4.0% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 1,911 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $903,000 after buying an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its position in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 40.1% during the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 796 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $376,000 after buying an additional 228 shares in the last quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its position in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 62.5% during the 1st quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 1,370 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $648,000 after buying an additional 527 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board grew its position in shares of Teledyne Technologies by 1,272.5% during the 1st quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 1,400 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $662,000 after buying an additional 1,298 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 87.57% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In related news, CEO Robert Mehrabian sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The shares were 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 in the company, valued at approximately $80,528,359. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Robert Mehrabian sold 50,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $410.75, for a total value of $20,537,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 196,052 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $80,528,359. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Sue Main sold 9,461 shares of the companys 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 sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 40,127 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,907,110.18. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 74,206 shares of company stock valued at $30,707,174. Company insiders own 2.14% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on TDY shares. StockNews.com raised Teledyne Technologies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Saturday, February 10th. Needham & Company LLC dropped their price target on Teledyne Technologies from $522.00 to $510.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average target price of $515.67.

View Our Latest Stock Analysis on TDY

Teledyne Technologies Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE TDY opened at $425.00 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29, a current ratio of 1.69 and a quick ratio of 1.17. The stock has a market capitalization of $20.14 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.97, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 1.02. Teledyne Technologies Incorporated has a 1-year low of $364.98 and a 1-year high of $448.71. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $432.68 and a 200 day moving average price of $413.67.

Teledyne Technologies (NYSE:TDY  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 24th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $5.44 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.04 by $0.40. The firm had revenue of $1.43 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.46 billion. Teledyne Technologies had a return on equity of 10.81% and a net margin of 15.72%. The firms quarterly revenue was up .5% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $4.94 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that Teledyne Technologies Incorporated will post 20.55 EPS for the current fiscal year.

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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Direct Line Insurance Group plc (LON:DLG  Get Free Report) insider Neil Manser acquired 93 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were purchased at an average price of GBX 162 ($2.05) per share, for a total transaction of 150.66 ($191.10).

Neil Manser also recently made the following trade(s):

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On Monday, January 29th, Neil Manser purchased 87 shares of Direct Line Insurance Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 114 ($1.45) per share, for a total transaction of GBX 9,918 ($125.80).

On Wednesday, December 27th, Neil Manser purchased 80 shares of Direct Line Insurance Group stock. The shares were acquired at an average price of GBX 188 ($2.38) per share, for a total transaction of 150.40 ($190.77).

Direct Line Insurance Group Trading Up 2.8 %

Shares of LON:DLG opened at GBX 207.70 ($2.63) on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of 2.72 billion, a PE ratio of -2,307.78, a P/E/G ratio of 2.22 and a beta of 0.43. Direct Line Insurance Group plc has a 1 year low of GBX 132.12 ($1.68) and a 1 year high of GBX 210.60 ($2.67). The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 172.68 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 172.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 21.28.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have weighed in on DLG shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Direct Line Insurance Group to a buy rating and lifted their target price for the company from GBX 170 ($2.16) to GBX 250 ($3.17) in a research note on Wednesday, November 29th. Berenberg Bank restated a buy rating and set a GBX 195 ($2.47) price target on shares of Direct Line Insurance Group in a report on Thursday. Citigroup restated a buy rating on shares of Direct Line Insurance Group in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Barclays raised Direct Line Insurance Group to an equal weight rating and upped their target price for the stock from GBX 188 ($2.38) to GBX 219 ($2.78) in a research report on Thursday. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of GBX 197.50 ($2.51).

View Our Latest Analysis on Direct Line Insurance Group

Direct Line Insurance Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Direct Line Insurance Group plc engages in the provision of general insurance products and services in the United Kingdom. The company operates through four segments: Motor, Home, Rescue and Other Personal Lines, and Commercial. It offers motor, home, rescue, travel, creditor, and pet insurance products, as well as insurance for mid-to-high-net worth customers; and commercial insurance for small and medium-sized enterprises.

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Trexquant Investment LP lifted its position in Nomad Foods Limited (NYSE:NOMD  Free Report) by 169.1% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 116,453 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 73,173 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LPs holdings in Nomad Foods were worth $1,772,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Paradice Investment Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Nomad Foods by 13.9% in the 3rd quarter. Paradice Investment Management LLC now owns 2,522,621 shares of the companys stock valued at $38,394,000 after purchasing an additional 307,496 shares during the period. Townsend & Associates Inc boosted its position in shares of Nomad Foods by 54.1% in the 3rd quarter. Townsend & Associates Inc now owns 693,791 shares of the companys stock valued at $10,559,000 after purchasing an additional 243,640 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its stake in Nomad Foods by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 842,880 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,829,000 after acquiring an additional 28,210 shares during the last quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Nomad Foods by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,502,678 shares of the companys stock valued at $22,871,000 after acquiring an additional 34,837 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jump Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Nomad Foods during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $1,225,000. 74.44% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

NOMD has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com raised Nomad Foods from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, November 16th. Barclays upped their price objective on Nomad Foods from $20.00 to $22.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd.

Nomad Foods Stock Up 5.8 %

NOMD opened at $19.50 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $3.40 billion, a PE ratio of 15.85 and a beta of 0.75. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $17.75 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $16.56. Nomad Foods Limited has a 52 week low of $13.56 and a 52 week high of $19.76. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81.

Nomad Foods (NYSE:NOMD  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 29th. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.31 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $761.00 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $766.56 million. Nomad Foods had a return on equity of 10.35% and a net margin of 6.34%. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $0.34 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Nomad Foods Limited will post 1.91 EPS for the current year.

Nomad Foods Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 26th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $0.15 per share. This represents a $0.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.08%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. Nomad Foodss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.78%.

Nomad Foods Profile

(Free Report)

Nomad Foods Limited manufactures, markets, and distributes a range of frozen food products in the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany, France, Sweden, Austria, Norway, Spain, Serbia, Croatia, Switzerland, and rest of Europe. The company offers frozen fish products, including fish fingers, coated fish, and natural fish; ready to cook vegetable products, such as peas and spinach; and frozen poultry and meat products comprising nuggets, grills, and burgers.

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Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (NYSE:TLK  Free Report) by 39.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,807 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 6,709 shares during the quarter. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk were worth $574,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC grew its position in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 1.1% during the second quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 3,920,814 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $104,568,000 after buying an additional 41,000 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP acquired a new position in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk during the first quarter worth about $42,586,000. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 1.4% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,239,145 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $35,749,000 after purchasing an additional 17,079 shares during the last quarter. Martin Currie Ltd. grew its position in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 4.5% in the third quarter. Martin Currie Ltd. now owns 864,673 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $20,839,000 after purchasing an additional 37,268 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 47.5% in the first quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 780,254 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $21,278,000 after purchasing an additional 251,090 shares during the last quarter.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com lowered shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th.

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Trading Down 1.2 %

Shares of TLK stock traded down $0.31 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $25.27. The companys stock had a trading volume of 385,595 shares, compared to its average volume of 156,227. The business has a fifty day moving average of $25.69 and a 200-day moving average of $24.62. Perusahaan Perseroan has a twelve month low of $21.67 and a twelve month high of $29.58. The company has a quick ratio of 0.70, a current ratio of 0.72 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18.

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Profile

(Free Report)

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk provides information and communications technology, and telecommunications network services worldwide. The company operates through mobile, consumer, enterprise, Wholesale and International Business, and Other segments. The Mobile segment offers mobile voice, SMS, value added services, and mobile broadband services.

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Profund Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Free Report) by 5.1% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 6,737 shares of the basic materials companys stock after selling 363 shares during the quarter. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in WestRock were worth $241,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Fifth Third Bancorp lifted its stake in WestRock by 14.2% in the third quarter. Fifth Third Bancorp now owns 9,433 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $338,000 after acquiring an additional 1,174 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in WestRock by 13.3% in the second quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 43,318 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $1,259,000 after acquiring an additional 5,073 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its stake in WestRock by 635.3% in the third quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 657,681 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $23,406,000 after acquiring an additional 568,232 shares during the period. Qsemble Capital Management LP purchased a new stake in WestRock in the third quarter worth $1,171,000. Finally, FMR LLC lifted its position in WestRock by 140.3% during the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 2,173,923 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $77,826,000 after buying an additional 1,269,375 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.51% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other WestRock news, insider Vicki L. Lostetter sold 3,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $42.77, for a total value of $149,695.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 92,117 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,939,844.09. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.49% of the stock is owned by insiders.

WestRock Trading Down 0.6 %

WRK opened at $45.02 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $42.00 and a 200-day moving average price of $38.54. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. WestRock has a 1 year low of $26.84 and a 1 year high of $45.96.

WestRock (NYSE:WRK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The basic materials company reported $0.20 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.35 by ($0.15). WestRock had a positive return on equity of 6.87% and a negative net margin of 8.58%. The company had revenue of $4.62 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.79 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.55 EPS. WestRocks revenue for the quarter was down 6.2% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that WestRock will post 1.95 EPS for the current fiscal year.

WestRock Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 21st. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th were given a $0.3025 dividend. This represents a $1.21 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.69%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. WestRocks dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -18.01%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have recently commented on WRK. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of WestRock in a report on Wednesday. They set a hold rating on the stock. Argus upgraded shares of WestRock from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of WestRock from $40.00 to $48.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Royal Bank of Canada restated a sector perform rating and set a $42.00 target price on shares of WestRock in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn cut shares of WestRock from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, WestRock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $39.43.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on WRK

About WestRock

(Free Report)

WestRock Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides fiber-based paper and packaging solutions in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. It operates through four segments: Corrugated Packaging, Consumer Packaging, Global Paper, and Distribution. The Corrugated Packaging segment produces containerboards, corrugated sheets, corrugated packaging, and preprinted linerboards to consumer and industrial products manufacturers, and corrugated box manufacturers.

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Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its position in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC (NYSE:CCEP  Free Report) by 3,226.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 192,955 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 187,155 shares during the quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltds holdings in Coca-Cola Europacific Partners were worth $12,056,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Envestnet Portfolio Solutions Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in the third quarter valued at $685,000. Korea Investment CORP increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 4.1% during the 3rd quarter. Korea Investment CORP now owns 252,644 shares of the companys stock valued at $15,843,000 after acquiring an additional 9,893 shares during the last quarter. WS Portfolio Advisory LLC increased its stake in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 82.0% during the 3rd quarter. WS Portfolio Advisory LLC now owns 198,327 shares of the companys stock valued at $12,391,000 after acquiring an additional 89,383 shares during the last quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co lifted its holdings in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Varma Mutual Pension Insurance Co now owns 112,812 shares of the companys stock worth $7,048,000 after acquiring an additional 8,515 shares during the period. Finally, Legacy Wealth Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners in the third quarter worth approximately $1,675,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 29.50% of the companys stock.

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Coca-Cola Europacific Partners Trading Up 1.1 %

CCEP stock opened at $69.40 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a current ratio of 0.91 and a quick ratio of 0.66. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $67.49 and a 200-day simple moving average of $63.59. Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC has a twelve month low of $53.53 and a twelve month high of $71.71.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners ( NYSE:CCEP Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The company reported $1.85 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $1.85. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC will post 4.18 EPS for the current year.

A number of equities analysts have weighed in on CCEP shares. Barclays increased their price target on shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $74.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. UBS Group raised their price target on shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $74.00 to $78.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from $72.50 to $77.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. BNP Paribas raised Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and set a $79.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Friday, January 12th. Finally, StockNews.com raised Coca-Cola Europacific Partners from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Coca-Cola Europacific Partners currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $72.24.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on CCEP

About Coca-Cola Europacific Partners

(Free Report)

Coca-Cola Europacific Partners PLC, together with its subsidiaries, produces, distributes, and sells a range of non-alcoholic ready to drink beverages. It offers flavours, mixers, and energy drinks; soft drinks, waters, enhanced water, and isotonic drinks; and ready-to-drink tea and coffee, juices, and other drinks.

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LILLE, France, March 3 (Xinhua) -- In the "battery valley" in northern France, Chinese enterprises actively join in local projects to produce electric vehicles and their batteries, a partnership widely appreciated by a region keen on green re-industrialization.

With four "gigafactories" announced in three years, the "battery valley" is interested in "taking on strengths from all countries, including Chinese players who have gained a real lead in battery and electric vehicle technology so that we can also benefit from their know-how," said Yann Pitollet, CEO of Nord France Invest.

The ACC gigafactory, announced in 2020 and in production since May 2023, is a joint venture of TotalEnergies, Stellantis and Mercedes-Benz. For the other three, invested respectively by the Chinese group Envision AESC, the French start-up Verkor and the solid battery specialist Prologium, the region has "put in place administrative processes that make it possible to go fast," said Pitollet.

"We have no worries that everything will go well," he said, adding that the Envision AESC plant, announced in 2021, is under construction and will be commissioned shortly, and the Prologium plant, announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in May 2023, is in the study phase.

In addition, at the end of 2023, Chinese group XTC New Energy, a leader in the manufacture of cathodes (a battery component), and French nuclear fuel cycle group Orano announced a project to manufacture cathodes and recycle batteries, not far from the Verkor and Prologium plants.

In January this year, in the joint venture set up by Renault group and the Chinese automotive supplier Minth in Ruitz in the "battery valley," two new production lines began to manufacture battery boxes for electric vehicles.

"What really interests us is to have this partnership so that we can benefit from the know-how of these Chinese companies that have made very, very rapid progress, particularly in electric vehicles, but also in upstream technologies," Pitollet said.

For Renault Group, which has partnered with Envision AESC for the battery gigafactory, the success of the joint venture with Minth is a model for other projects. Launched on July 13 last year, the joint venture managed to start production in less than three months with two new lines installed.

A battery box seems to be just a box, but it actually must fulfill three main functions -- sealing, cooling and precision, said Jean-Luc Bois, director of the Renault Electricity site in Ruitz.

"Minth's experience on these lines of production is the culmination of a number of other lines that allowed them to learn," he said. "One of the benefits of working with a Chinese partner is this know-how about the product and the process. We are stronger working together than starting alone from zero."

Renault is committed to concentrating industrial activities on its electric cars in France. It has grouped all activities around electric cars in Ampere, a new branch officially launched in November 2023.

Renault Ampere aims to produce 400,000 electric vehicles per year in 2025 in France. The national goal is to produce nearly 2 million electric and hybrid vehicles in France by 2030. To this end, nearly all the elements linked to the electric car value chain must be localized in France.

Thus the "battery valley" has to work fast, Pitollet said. "What is expected by car manufacturers -- Stellantis, Renault or customers elsewhere in Europe, such as major German brands, is that production must be effective and at an industrial level by 2025."

The CEO of Nord France Invest described his region as "already effectively the heart of the electric sector in France" with an ambition to become "one of the poles for electric vehicles in Europe."

Apart from assets such as the availability of land and electricity, he relies on access to a skilled workforce to attract more investments. The region is pushing for an alliance of training organizations to train 20,000 people in the coming years.

The University of Artois in the region opened a new school in September to "train engineers of the future who will work in a more electrified world." Students of the university are already being trained at the Minth-Renault plant.

"We put them in an industrial situation where they see the reality of current technology," said Gabriel Velu, vice president of the university. "France took its turn on electricity a little late, therefore we need others to help us catch up."

For the region of Hauts-de-France, building a "battery valley" within a few years' time marks an upturn in its green reindustrialization.

This "allows us to think about the equipment, the local production of parts for the vehicle, all the questions of supply and eventually the recovery of waste," said Olivier Gacquerre, mayor of Bethune and also president of a group of some 100 nearby municipalities including Ruitz.

"So for us, it is a fundamental economic question that will also allow us to deal with social issues -- when you have the economy, it helps families to settle down, helps children to build a future," he added. 
Rehmann Capital Advisory Group raised its position in Robert Half Inc. (NYSE:RHI  Free Report) by 9.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,925 shares of the business services providers stock after acquiring an additional 512 shares during the quarter. Rehmann Capital Advisory Groups holdings in Robert Half were worth $434,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. LPL Financial LLC grew its holdings in Robert Half by 8.4% in the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 44,397 shares of the business services providers stock worth $3,340,000 after purchasing an additional 3,450 shares during the period. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board lifted its stake in shares of Robert Half by 151.9% in the third quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board now owns 72,505 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,313,000 after buying an additional 43,726 shares in the last quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC lifted its stake in shares of Robert Half by 17.8% in the third quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 785,690 shares of the business services providers stock worth $57,594,000 after buying an additional 118,800 shares in the last quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB lifted its stake in shares of Robert Half by 88.5% in the third quarter. Nordea Investment Management AB now owns 27,740 shares of the business services providers stock worth $2,048,000 after buying an additional 13,026 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of Robert Half by 28.0% in the third quarter. Nomura Asset Management Co. Ltd. now owns 67,176 shares of the business services providers stock worth $4,923,000 after buying an additional 14,691 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.63% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on RHI shares. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Robert Half in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. They issued a sell rating and a $60.00 target price on the stock. Truist Financial upped their target price on shares of Robert Half from $66.00 to $72.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research note on Thursday, January 25th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Robert Half from $85.00 to $80.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Robert Half currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $68.57.

Robert Half Trading Up 0.4 %

Shares of RHI stock opened at $80.76 on Friday. Robert Half Inc. has a 12-month low of $64.65 and a 12-month high of $88.39. The firms 50 day moving average is $81.85 and its 200 day moving average is $78.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $8.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 20.87, a P/E/G ratio of 20.13 and a beta of 1.26.

Robert Half (NYSE:RHI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The business services provider reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.82 by $0.01. The business had revenue of $1.47 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.47 billion. Robert Half had a net margin of 6.43% and a return on equity of 25.73%. The companys revenue was down 14.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.37 EPS. As a group, equities analysts predict that Robert Half Inc. will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current year.

Robert Half Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be given a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.63%. This is an increase from Robert Halfs previous quarterly dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. Robert Halfs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 54.78%.

Robert Half Company Profile

(Free Report)

Robert Half Inc provides talent solutions and business consulting services in North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. The company operates through three segments: Contract Talent Solutions, Permanent Placement Talent Solutions, and Protiviti. The Contract Talent Solutions segment provides contract engagement professionals in the fields of finance and accounting, technology, marketing and creative, legal and administrative, and customer support.

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Shelton Capital Management raised its stake in shares of MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI  Free Report) by 745.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 4,310 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 3,800 shares during the period. Shelton Capital Managements holdings in MSCI were worth $2,211,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in MSCI. Schechter Investment Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of MSCI in the third quarter worth about $434,000. Alphinity Investment Management Pty Ltd lifted its stake in shares of MSCI by 3.0% in the third quarter. Alphinity Investment Management Pty Ltd now owns 430,676 shares of the technology companys stock worth $220,971,000 after buying an additional 12,495 shares in the last quarter. SeaTown Holdings Pte. Ltd. lifted its stake in shares of MSCI by 9.5% in the third quarter. SeaTown Holdings Pte. Ltd. now owns 66,896 shares of the technology companys stock worth $34,323,000 after buying an additional 5,796 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Financial Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of MSCI in the third quarter worth about $6,662,000. Finally, Vancity Investment Management Ltd lifted its stake in shares of MSCI by 66.5% in the third quarter. Vancity Investment Management Ltd now owns 35,332 shares of the technology companys stock worth $18,128,000 after buying an additional 14,108 shares in the last quarter. 88.61% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

MSCI has been the topic of several research reports. Oppenheimer raised their price target on shares of MSCI from $572.00 to $601.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 8th. Edward Jones assumed coverage on shares of MSCI in a research report on Friday, December 22nd. They set a buy rating for the company. Raymond James restated a market perform rating on shares of MSCI in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Redburn Atlantic cut shares of MSCI from a neutral rating to a sell rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $620.00 to $470.00 in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of MSCI from $600.00 to $700.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $578.21.

MSCI Stock Up 0.8 %

MSCI stock traded up $4.51 during trading on Friday, reaching $565.48. The stock had a trading volume of 260,588 shares, compared to its average volume of 455,322. MSCI Inc. has a 52-week low of $451.55 and a 52-week high of $617.39. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $564.80 and a 200 day moving average price of $535.17. The stock has a market cap of $44.72 billion, a PE ratio of 39.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.07.

MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The technology company reported $3.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by $0.39. MSCI had a net margin of 45.42% and a negative return on equity of 111.17%. The company had revenue of $690.11 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $662.64 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.84 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 19.8% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts predict that MSCI Inc. will post 14.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

MSCI Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th were paid a $1.60 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $6.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.13%. This is an increase from MSCIs previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. MSCIs payout ratio is currently 44.44%.

MSCI Company Profile

(Free Report)

MSCI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides critical decision support tools and solutions for the investment community to manage investment processes worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial product, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct.

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SRS Capital Advisors Inc. cut its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J  Free Report) by 15.3% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 870 shares of the companys stock after selling 157 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc.s holdings in Jacobs Solutions were worth $119,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Mirabella Financial Services LLP purchased a new position in shares of Jacobs Solutions during the third quarter worth approximately $202,000. Covestor Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 64.9% during the second quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 666 shares of the companys stock worth $79,000 after purchasing an additional 262 shares during the period. Cibc World Market Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 1.1% during the second quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 15,233 shares of the companys stock worth $1,811,000 after purchasing an additional 167 shares during the period. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. lifted its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 9.9% during the third quarter. Mirae Asset Global Investments Co. Ltd. now owns 691,955 shares of the companys stock worth $94,452,000 after purchasing an additional 62,259 shares during the period. Finally, Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 11.7% during the second quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 31,410 shares of the companys stock worth $3,734,000 after purchasing an additional 3,286 shares during the period. 84.77% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities research analysts recently weighed in on the company. Benchmark reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Raymond James downgraded Jacobs Solutions from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Jacobs Solutions from $151.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a buy rating and issued a $150.00 target price on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, KeyCorp started coverage on Jacobs Solutions in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued a sector weight rating for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $152.11.

Insider Activity

In related news, Director Ralph E. Eberhart sold 3,500 shares of Jacobs Solutions stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.86, for a total transaction of $454,510.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 26,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,474,274.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, Director Ralph E. Eberhart sold 3,500 shares of Jacobs Solutions stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.86, for a total transaction of $454,510.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 26,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,474,274.44. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Steven J. Demetriou sold 6,666 shares of Jacobs Solutions stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.75, for a total value of $851,581.50. Following the sale, the insider now owns 581,138 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $74,240,379.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 19,018 shares of company stock worth $2,475,578 over the last 90 days. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Jacobs Solutions Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of J stock opened at $146.62 on Friday. Jacobs Solutions Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $109.00 and a fifty-two week high of $149.17. The stock has a market cap of $18.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.73. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $137.29 and a 200-day simple moving average of $134.09. The company has a quick ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42.

Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by $0.46. Jacobs Solutions had a return on equity of 14.57% and a net margin of 4.20%. The business had revenue of $4.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.02 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.67 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 10.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts forecast that Jacobs Solutions Inc. will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Jacobs Solutions Increases Dividend

The company 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 $0.29 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.79%. This is a boost from Jacobs Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. Jacobs Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 20.71%.

About Jacobs Solutions

(Free Report)

Jacobs Solutions Inc provides consulting, technical, engineering, scientific, and project delivery services for the government and private sectors in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Critical Mission Solutions, People & Places Solutions, Divergent Solutions, and PA Consulting segments.

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Synovus Financial Corp cut its holdings in shares of Centene Co. (NYSE:CNC  Free Report) by 8.5% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 6,774 shares of the companys stock after selling 632 shares during the quarter. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in Centene were worth $467,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in CNC. Operose Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Centene in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. acquired a new position in Centene in the 4th quarter valued at $25,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. acquired a new position in Centene in the 2nd quarter valued at $26,000. OFI Invest Asset Management acquired a new position in Centene in the 3rd quarter valued at $26,000. Finally, KB Financial Partners LLC acquired a new position in Centene in the 1st quarter valued at $36,000. 90.92% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Centene

In other Centene news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.41, for a total value of $774,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 11,455 shares of the companys stock, valued at $886,731.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Centene news, Director Lori Jean Robinson sold 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $77.41, for a total value of $774,100.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 11,455 shares of the companys stock, valued at $886,731.55. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, President Kenneth J. Fasola sold 12,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 7th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.07, for a total value of $900,840.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 235,365 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,668,850.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.33% of the companys stock.

Centene Trading Down 0.6 %

NYSE CNC opened at $77.98 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $76.74 and a 200 day simple moving average of $72.25. Centene Co. has a one year low of $60.83 and a one year high of $81.42. The stock has a market capitalization of $41.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.88, a P/E/G ratio of 0.97 and a beta of 0.38. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 1.11 and a quick ratio of 1.11.

Centene (NYSE:CNC  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $0.45 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.43 by $0.02. Centene had a return on equity of 14.26% and a net margin of 1.75%. The business had revenue of $39.46 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $36.16 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.86 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 11.0% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts expect that Centene Co. will post 6.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently weighed in on the company. Cantor Fitzgerald upped their price objective on Centene from $82.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Truist Financial increased their target price on Centene from $83.00 to $86.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. UBS Group increased their target price on Centene from $72.00 to $79.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upgraded Centene from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $82.00 to $90.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, six have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $83.57.

View Our Latest Analysis on Centene

Centene Profile

(Free Report)

Centene Corporation operates as a healthcare enterprise that provides programs and services to under-insured and uninsured families, commercial organizations, and military families in the United States. It operates in two segments, Managed Care and Specialty Services. The Managed Care segment offers health plan coverage to individuals through government subsidized programs, including Medicaid, the State children's health insurance program, long-term services and support, foster care, and medicare-medicaid plans, which cover dually eligible individuals, as well as aged, blind, or disabled programs.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) had its price target trimmed by TD Securities from C$140.00 to C$135.00 in a report released on Wednesday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the banks stock.

A number of other research firms have also commented on BMO. Cormark reduced their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$128.00 to C$127.00 in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Canaccord Genuity Group increased their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$137.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Scotiabank increased their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$145.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 20th. Desjardins increased their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$130.00 to C$135.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, December 19th. Finally, CIBC reduced their price target on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$126.00 to C$125.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$132.70.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal Trading Up 0.2 %

BMO stock opened at C$123.07 on Wednesday. Bank of Montreal has a one year low of C$102.67 and a one year high of C$132.11. The firm has a market capitalization of C$88.72 billion, a PE ratio of 21.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.18. The firm has a 50-day moving average of C$127.45 and a two-hundred day moving average of C$118.33.

Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, December 1st. The bank reported C$2.81 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$2.86 by C($0.05). Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 15.04% and a return on equity of 5.91%. The firm had revenue of C$8.36 billion for the quarter. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Bank of Montreal will post 12.0940171 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of Montreal Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 28th. Investors of record on Monday, April 29th will be issued a $1.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 26th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.91%. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is currently 106.34%.

Bank of Montreal Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The company's personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products.

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The Toronto-Dominion Bank (NYSE:TD  Get Free Report) (TSE:TD) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, March 1st, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Tuesday, April 9th will be paid a dividend of 0.7519 per share by the bank on Tuesday, April 30th. This represents a $3.01 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.01%. The ex-dividend date is Monday, April 8th. This is a positive change from Toronto-Dominion Banks previous quarterly dividend of $0.75.

Toronto-Dominion Bank has raised its dividend payment by an average of 7.3% annually over the last three years. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a payout ratio of 49.5% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Toronto-Dominion Bank to earn $6.27 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $3.06 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 48.8%.

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Toronto-Dominion Bank Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of TD opened at $59.99 on Friday. Toronto-Dominion Bank has a 12-month low of $54.69 and a 12-month high of $66.15. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.00 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.09. The firm has a market capitalization of $106.47 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.82, a P/E/G ratio of 1.71 and a beta of 0.86. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $61.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $60.42.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Toronto-Dominion Bank ( NYSE:TD Get Free Report ) (TSE:TD) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, November 30th. The bank reported $1.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.04). The firm had revenue of $13.19 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $9.02 billion. Toronto-Dominion Bank had a net margin of 11.16% and a return on equity of 14.08%. The companys revenue was up 7.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.64 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts predict that Toronto-Dominion Bank will post 5.81 earnings per share for the current year.

A number of research firms have weighed in on TD. Scotiabank downgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector outperform rating to a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. CIBC downgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on Toronto-Dominion Bank in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. They set a hold rating on the stock. StockNews.com raised Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Finally, Bank of America downgraded Toronto-Dominion Bank from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, December 18th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $89.33.

Get Our Latest Report on TD

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of TD. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 4th quarter worth $1,484,341,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 40.7% during the 1st quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 15,905,184 shares of the banks stock worth $952,719,000 after buying an additional 4,604,833 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 38,639.3% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 3,121,614 shares of the banks stock worth $193,571,000 after buying an additional 3,113,556 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc lifted its holdings in Toronto-Dominion Bank by 28.1% during the 4th quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 13,443,725 shares of the banks stock worth $872,906,000 after buying an additional 2,947,453 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in Toronto-Dominion Bank during the 4th quarter worth $154,577,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 51.52% of the companys stock.

Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking.

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United Services Automobile Association increased its position in shares of Genpact Limited (NYSE:G  Free Report) by 12.9% during the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 12,207 shares of the business services providers stock after buying an additional 1,396 shares during the quarter. United Services Automobile Associations holdings in Genpact were worth $442,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Parallel Advisors LLC grew its stake in Genpact by 69.1% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 773 shares of the business services providers stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 316 shares during the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV grew its stake in Genpact by 71.2% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,039 shares of the business services providers stock worth $38,000 after buying an additional 432 shares during the last quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC grew its stake in Genpact by 136.7% during the 4th quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 878 shares of the business services providers stock worth $41,000 after buying an additional 507 shares during the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Genpact during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $48,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its stake in Genpact by 140.2% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,549 shares of the business services providers stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 904 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 96.33% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

G has been the subject of a number of recent research reports. Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a neutral rating and set a $38.00 price objective on shares of Genpact in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Citigroup increased their price objective on Genpact from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Genpact from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Mizuho initiated coverage on Genpact in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. They issued a neutral rating and a $40.00 price target for the company. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reissued a buy rating and issued a $40.00 price target on shares of Genpact in a report on Friday, February 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Genpact currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $40.11.

Insider Activity at Genpact

In related news, SVP Heather White sold 11,450 shares of Genpact stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.00, for a total value of $412,200.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 21,175 shares in the company, valued at $762,300. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. 2.62% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Genpact Stock Performance

Genpact stock opened at $33.94 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37, a quick ratio of 1.91 and a current ratio of 1.44. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $35.25 and a two-hundred day moving average of $35.28. The company has a market capitalization of $6.15 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.90, a PEG ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.08. Genpact Limited has a fifty-two week low of $29.41 and a fifty-two week high of $47.79.

Genpact (NYSE:G  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The business services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.65 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $1.15 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. Genpact had a return on equity of 23.19% and a net margin of 14.10%. On average, analysts anticipate that Genpact Limited will post 2.71 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Genpact Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 26th. Investors of record on Monday, March 11th will be issued a $0.153 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. This represents a $0.61 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.80%. This is a boost from Genpacts previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. Genpacts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.03%.

Genpact Company Profile

(Free Report)

Genpact Limited provides business process outsourcing and information technology (IT) services in India, rest of Asia, North and Latin America, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Financial services; Consumer and Healthcare; and High Tech and Manufacturing. The company offers CFO advisory services; and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) services, such as data management, carbon accounting, human rights assessment, sustainability diligence, and ESG reporting.

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VanEck 1-3 Month US Treasury Bond ETF (ASX:TBIL  Get Free Report) declared a interim dividend on Friday, March 1st, MarketIndexAU reports. Investors of record on Sunday, March 17th will be given a dividend of 0.20 per share on Sunday, March 17th. This represents a yield of 0.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th.

VanEck 1-3 Month US Treasury Bond ETF Stock Performance

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Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its holdings in WEC Energy Group, Inc. (NYSE:WEC  Free Report) by 7.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 97,046 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 6,427 shares during the quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc.s holdings in WEC Energy Group were worth $7,817,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 3.0% in the second quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 7,008,729 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $616,906,000 after acquiring an additional 203,181 shares during the last quarter. Deutsche Bank AG grew its holdings in shares of WEC Energy Group by 3.0% during the 3rd 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 during the period. Magellan Asset Management Ltd increased its position in WEC Energy Group by 17.0% during the 2nd 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. Invesco Ltd. raised its holdings in WEC Energy Group by 3.8% in the third quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,216,264 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $339,620,000 after buying an additional 155,437 shares during the period. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC lifted its position in WEC Energy Group by 3.4% during the second quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 3,998,540 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $352,831,000 after buying an additional 131,280 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.75% of the companys stock.

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WEC Energy Group Stock Down 0.1 %

WEC stock traded down $0.10 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $78.39. 2,399,892 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,896,237. 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, Inc. has a twelve month low of $75.13 and a twelve month high of $99.26. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $80.71 and a 200 day simple moving average of $82.21. The company has a market capitalization of $24.74 billion, a PE ratio of 18.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.73 and a beta of 0.40.

WEC Energy Group Increases Dividend

WEC Energy Group ( NYSE:WEC Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The utilities provider reported $1.10 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.08 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $2.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.82 billion. WEC Energy Group had a return on equity of 12.17% and a net margin of 14.98%. WEC Energy Groups revenue for the quarter was down 13.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $0.80 earnings per share. On average, research analysts forecast that WEC Energy Group, Inc. will post 4.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 14th were paid a dividend of $0.835 per share. This is a positive change from WEC Energy Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.78. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 13th. This represents a $3.34 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.26%. WEC Energy Groups payout ratio is presently 79.15%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Barclays cut their target price on shares of WEC Energy Group from $79.00 to $75.00 and set an underweight rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Wells Fargo & Company reduced their price objective on WEC Energy Group from $93.00 to $91.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Bank of America reiterated an underperform rating and issued a $78.00 target price (down previously from $84.00) on shares of WEC Energy Group in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on WEC Energy Group from $95.00 to $90.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, KeyCorp lifted their price objective on shares of WEC Energy Group from $94.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Four investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $86.17.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on WEC Energy Group

WEC Energy Group Company Profile

(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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Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui (R) meets with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin in Moscow, Russia, on March 2, 2024.

Li arrived Saturday evening in Moscow to begin the second round of shuttle diplomacy concerning the Ukraine crisis.

Li met with Galuzin and exchanged views in depth on China-Russia relations and the Ukraine crisis. (Xinhua)

MOSCOW, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui arrived Saturday evening in Moscow to begin the second round of shuttle diplomacy concerning the Ukraine crisis.

Li met with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and exchanged views in depth on China-Russia relations and the Ukraine crisis.

Noting that this year marks the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Russia, as well as the beginning of the 2024-2025 China-Russia Years of Culture, the two sides agreed that they should fundamentally follow the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and push forward the development of bilateral relations.

Li said that it has been two years since the full escalation of the Ukraine crisis. History shows that conflicts in the end have to be settled through dialogue and negotiation. The more acute the problem is, the more important it is not to give up efforts for dialogue.

China is ready to continue its efforts to promote peace talks, carry out shuttle diplomacy, mediate and build consensus among Russia, Ukraine, and other relevant parties, and promote a final political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.

Galuzin agreed that the Ukrainian crisis should ultimately be resolved through negotiations, and appreciated China's unique and constructive role in this regard.

He spoke highly of China's second round of shuttle diplomacy and expressed hope to continue to strengthen communication with China. 
Two innovation and technology flagships in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Science and Technology Parks Corporation (HKSTP) and the Hong Kong Cyberport, are collaborating to co-host the first-ever Hong Kong Pavilion at LEAP 2024 in Riyadh.

The event from March 4 to 6 will showcase 16 cutting-edge technologies from Hong Kong to over 172,000 visitors, symbolising a significant milestone for the Hong Kong I&T industry on the global stage.

Eight forward-looking startups and tech ventures from HKSTP will be featured at the Hong Kong Pavilion, with cutting-edge innovation from sectors such as biotech, healthtech, logistics, AI, robotics, and new energy.

Partnerships

HKSTP aims to establish partnerships with Saudi businesses and inject new energy into the Belt and Road Initiative, which encompasses over 180 countries and international organisations, including the Middle East.

Albert Wong, CEO of HKSTP, stated: "A golden era of innovation and technology is emerging in Hong Kong, the Greater Bay Area, and across Asia, and we see incredible co-innovation potential in the joining of our two ecosystems in Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia.

HKSTP's participation in LEAP 2024 signifies our commitment to leaping into new worlds and embracing the new cradle of global innovation, which is multilateral and impactful. Our mission is to propel success by advancing in the journey from research to commercialisation, from innovation to financial success, for both home-grown and international startups."

HKSTP has forged strong connections between two of the world's rapidly rising forces in global innovation. Hong Kong's vibrant startup scene ranks second in the world and first in Asia among the Top 100 Emerging Ecosystems, with an estimated value of the city's startup ecosystem at $70 billion, twice the global average. In parallel, the Saudi tech market reached an impressive $40 billion by the end of 2022, solidifying its position as the largest in the Mena region.

High-profile discussion

As part of the LEAP 2024 event, HKSTP will host a high-profile discussion panel focused on the growing biotech and healthtech sectors, which are key areas for collaboration as both Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia have prioritised them as pillars for economic diversification and future growth.

Titled "Hong Kong Healthtech Innovations Driving Global Transformation for Generations to Come" the panel will be moderated by HKSTP's CEO Albert Wong and feature leaders in the Hong Kong biotech and healthtech innovation scene: Prof Samuel Au, President of Cornerstone Robotics; Chi Man Lam, Founder and CEO of Applied Technology Group; and Dr Zhu Tian, Co-Founder and CEO of GenEditBio.

Saudi Arabia's Minister of Communication, Information and Technology (MCIT) Eng Abdullah Al-Swaha visited Hong Kong Science Park at the "One Gateway Shared Vision - Hong Kong Special Administrative Region x Kingdom of Saudi Arabia" event in July 2023, presenting boundless opportunities for tech companies, start-ups and talent. Supported by MCIT Saudi Arabia, LEAP 2024 shall deepen cooperation of two I&T forces and fortify the Hong Kong-Saudi relations in the Belt and Road region.--TradeArabia News Service
KIEV, March 3 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and eight others injured when a drone hit an apartment building in Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa on Saturday morning, the State Service for Emergencies said on Telegram.

According to the Prosecutor General's Office, the drone fired by Russian forces hit a nine-story apartment block in Odesa's residential area, destroying 18 apartments.

As of Saturday evening, the search operation at the site of the attack was still underway.

Russia's defence ministry said its air defences destroyed a Ukrainian drone over Leningrad region, which borders the Gulf of Finland, and a second one in Belgorod region on Saturday. No casualties or damage were reported. 
Reality demands a resolution It cannot go on like this

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The ground reality demands it and Manipur also demands it. This is not the time to identify political parties on the basis of where they sit inside the Assembly, whether on the Opposition bench or on the Treasury bench, but for all to strike a common stand and present a united face to the people. Whether any attempts have been made towards this end or not is best known to the political parties themselves, but it is significant to note that the Congress walked out of the Assembly on March 1, the day the House reaffirmed its earlier stand to update the National Register of Citizens. The Congress has its reason for lodging such a protest and it is best left to the people to decide whether their mode of protest was in line with the need of the time to address the many issues besieging the State or not, but the very fact that the single largest Opposition party decided to walk out should also jolt the BJP to the fact that this is the time to take everyone along. Or if the Kangla Meepham of January 24 is a subject not desirable to be discussed on the floor of the Assembly, the same could have been explained to the Congress. Whatever the case it may be, it certainly did not paint the two political parties in any good light. There is also food for thought in the points raised by Sugnu Assembly Constituency MLA K Ranjit of the Congress, who pulled no punches in asserting that the Chief Minister did not deem it fit to even pick up the phone and inquire how situation was like at Sugnu, a place which has been hit hard by the ongoing clash. Sugnu AC was amongst the first Constituencies in the State to form a peace committee, the members of who were drawn from different communities and while Manipur went up in flames on May 3, 2023, evening, a sense of peace and normalcy reigned at Sugnu till May 27. And the credit for this should go to MLA K Ranjit, who wasted no time in reaching out to different communities. It was only on May 28 that violence engulfed Sugnu AC and readers and the people of Manipur will know how it became a sort of an epicentre of the violence for quite a number of days. In fact today Sugnu AC stands as one of the most hard hit Assembly Constituencies and MLA K Ranjit has every reason to feel being let down by the Government. One does not expect a direct answer to come from the Government on the points raised by the Congress MLA, but it is significant to note that there are misgivings between some legislators and the Chief Minister and this cannot be good for Manipur as a whole.

The challenges before Manipur are many. The ongoing clash between the Kukis and the Meiteis obviously tops the list but there are also other issues which the State Government will need to deal with. The emergence of different power players and power centres is one such reality. This is where the moderates, those who are able to see beyond the immediate and study where Manipur may find itself four or five years down the line need to start raising their thoughts and suggestions. Given the dicey situation at the moment, this will seem too far fetched but how long can Manipur afford to continue like this ? Apart from the need to raise the voice of sanity under the knowledge that the longer the situation is allowed to continue it is Manipur which will lose out more in the long run, it is the Government here at Imphal which should start exploring ways to start the process of talking things over with both sides. This is where the announcement of the Chief Minister that due process has been initiated for a dialogue sounds encouraging. Letting Nungba AC MLA and Chairperson of the Hills Area Committee of the Assembly D Gangmei get in touch with folks on either side of the clash divide to create a conducive atmosphere to sit down and talk things over is perhaps one of the better news that Manipur has heard in a long, long time. Apart from this, efforts may also be made to get in touch with voluntary organisations such as the United Naga Council, the Naga Peoples Organisation of Senapati, Tangkhul Naga Long of Ukhrul, Chandel Naga People Organisation etc and urge them to take up some proactive roles to set the ball rolling for a dialogue. As noted, Manipur cannot afford to continue like this and maybe New Delhi may step in and see what more it can do to defuse the situation.
NEW YORK, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Central China's Zhengzhou City on Saturday made its debut at the 2024 Philadelphia Flower Show which runs from Saturday to March 10.

Zhengzhou, the capital city of Henan Province, presents a floral exhibition that showcases the charm of its culture to visitors.

The exhibition sparks inspirations from Zhengzhou's famed Songshan Mountain, known for its stunning natural and cultural heritages. Visitors can enjoy the beauty of Songshan Mountain and the Zhengzhou's city flower, Chinese rose, said a press release by the Zhengzhou delegation.

Visitors can also experience local traditional culture such as paper cutting, dough sculpture, and Henan opera, all embodying the cultural richness of this city with a history of over 3,000 years.

The delegation hosted a cultural and tourism promotion event on Saturday morning at the gala, where Chen Hongmin, vice mayor of Zhengzhou, invited more Americans to visit his city.

With the theme of "United by Flowers" for 2024, the Philadelphia Flower Show dates back to 1829 and is famous for its stunning visual displays, world-class plant competitions, family activities, artisanal crafts, educational offerings, and curated shopping. 
Full bench of the Election Commission of India (ECI) headed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar will be in city on Sunday on a three-day visit to review law and order situations in the state, probably a week before dates of the Lok Sabha (LS) polls in the country are announced by the ECI.

The bench will hold series of meetings separately with state chief electoral officer (CEO) Ariz Aftab, senior administrative officers like chief secretary (CS) B P Gopalika, home secretary (HS) Nandini Chakraborty, director general of police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar, commissioner of police (CP), Kolkata, district magistrates (DMs), superintendents of police (SP) and representatives of political parties.

The bench members may stay in a five-star hotel in central Kolkata, its learnt. The meetings will be held in different phases from Sunday evening in the hotel.

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They will hold a meeting with Mr Aftab and other senior officers of the state CEO office, state nodal officer of police Ananda Kumar on Sunday evening.

On Monday, they will meet political parties recognized in both national and state levels respectively, at different times to know issues related to elections. The bench will also hear complaints if any political party wants to raise it in the meeting, sources in the CEO office said.

Second meeting will be held with DMs, SPs, CPs, inspectors general of police (IGPs) to take stock of preparatory measures in connection with the general elections.

On Tuesday, the commission will also sit with different enforcement agencies in the first session. The second session meeting will be held with the CS, HS and DGP. It will also hold a press conference after the meeting with top bureaucrats and cops on the same day.

The bench will hold meetings with concerned departments of state government to discuss about facilities to be made available for the elections.

On the other hand, the commission has already deployed 100 companies of central forces in the city and districts much before the election dates are announced.

The central forces have already started patrolling as confidence building measures among citizens.

Fifty more companies of central forces are also scheduled to be deployed on 7 March in the state.

The dates of parliamentary polls in the country may be announced by the ECI during the second week of March.
A day after Trinamul Congress leader Kunal Ghosh resigned from all party posts on Friday, he intensified his attacks slamming Sudip Bandopadhyay, party MP from North Kolkata on Saturday.

Mr Ghosh on his X handle today made serious allegations against the veteran MP.

Mr Ghosh raised questions saying, Who paid medical bills for Sudip Bandopadhyay, when he was admitted at a private hospital in Bhubaneswar. He fell ill and was taken to the hospital after he was arrested in connection with Saradha chit fund scam?

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An inquiry should be conducted by the ED (Enforcement Directorate) and CBI to probe it. His bank account should also be checked, he wrote on his handle X handle.

On Friday, he resigned from the posts of party spokesperson and state general secretary, and slammed a section of old guards for being hand-in-glove with the BJP.

He also said on Friday that he is a misfit within the system, but rubbished rumours of him joining any other party.

I dont want to stay in the post of state general secretary and spokesperson. I am a misfit in the system. I am unable to continue like this. I am a soldier of the party and will continue to work for the party. Please stop this rumour that I am planning to join another party, he had posted on his social media.

Mr Bandopadhyay was not available for comment.
In a departure from earlier public meetings in Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi refrained from any personal attacks on the Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee or the recently-expelled parliamentarian from Krishnagar, Mahua Moitra.

Instead, PM Modi chose to focus on his governments developmental initiatives, both nationally and in West Bengal.

In his address, PM Modi highlighted a slew of developmental projects worth over Rs 22,000 crore, aimed at bolstering West Bengals infrastructure and fostering economic growth. These projects encompass improvements in connectivity, electricity, petroleum infrastructure and port facilities, with a primary focus on stimulating investment and job creation, especially for the youth.

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Prior to the public rally, PM Modi participated in a government programme held at a site near the public rally ground of Krishnagar Government College, where he inaugurated several development projects for West Bengal. Later, he addressed the enthusiastic crowd at the rally, paying homage to Chaitanya Mahaprabhu. He extended warm greetings to the women present, emphasizing their vital role in the society.

However, amid the backdrop of progress, PM Modi expressed deep concern over the governance in the state, alleging a pattern of oppression, autocracy, corruption, and nepotism. He highlighted the disappointment among the people of West Bengal, citing a perceived betrayal of trust and a lack of inclusive development under the current administration.

PM Modi cited the case of obstruction faced in establishing the first AIIMS in West Bengal. Despite assurances, hurdles, particularly regarding environmental permissions, impeded the progress of the Kalyani AIIMS project.

The PM reiterated the BJPs commitment to healthcare improvement in the state, emphasizing the significant expansion of government medical colleges over the past decade. He pledged continued efforts to enhance healthcare facilities, underscoring the BJPs dedication to the welfare of West Bengals youth.

Turning to the jute industry, PM Modi praised the BJP governments initiatives to revive jute cultivation and industry, including the mandatory use of jute bags for packaging essential commodities. He hailed the positive impact of these measures on jute mills and reiterated the governments commitment to supporting the sector.

PM Modi also criticized the TMC governments alleged failure to effectively implement central schemes aimed at womens safety and empowerment, citing instances such as the Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign and the Ujjwala scheme.

He called upon party workers to disseminate his message of progress and change to every corner of West Bengal.
Reacting to the BJPs first list of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Aam Aadmi Party here that the saffron party brings people who neither work nor do they visit their constituencies after the elections.

Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Atishi pointed out that it is a pattern with the BJP now to give tickets to people who do not work. After the five-year tenure, the party would accuse them of the same absolving itself of the blame for the nonperformance. Then they would bring in new faces.

She said now that the people of the city understand the BJP they wont give into their tactics anymore.

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On the selection of Bansuri Swaraj as the candidate for the New Delhi seat, Atishi questioned the antecedents of Swaraj who, as a lawyer, fought the case of Lalit Modi who fled the country with the countrys wealth.

Her colleague, AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, said the denial of tickets to Ramesh Bidhuri, Parvesh Verma, Meenakshi Lekhi Gautam Gambhir is BJPs admission that the leaders failed to deliver. Since they have failed to stand up to the expectations of the people of their respective constituencies the party shied away from repeating them.

Taking exception to the candidature of Bansuri, daughter of Late Sushma Swaraj, who was a senior leader of the party, he said it proves that the BJP has no qualms about practicing dynasty politics while blaming others for the same.

The BJP announced the names of Praveen Khandelwal from as its candidate from Chandni Chowk, Kamaljeet Sehrawat from West Delhi, Bansuri Swaraj New Delhi, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri South Delhi, and Manoj Tiwari from North East Delhi, the sitting MP from the constituency.

Meanwhile, the AAP announced the names of Somnath Bharti as its candidate from New Delhi, Sahi Ram Pehalwan from South Delhi, and Mahabal Mishra from West Delhi.
Delhi Chief Minister and AAP National Convener Arvind Kejriwal said here on Sunday that a common man would always want his children to be provided with a good education so that the family could alleviate poverty.

Speaking after the inauguration of 13 Schools of Eminence in Punjab in Ludhiana, including the one in the city, the Delhi chief minister expressed joy over providing good education to poor children. He said following in the footsteps of Delhis pioneering efforts, the endeavor has been undertaken by the Punjab government with a commitment to revolutionising its educational infrastructure.

We are giving good education to poor children, who can eradicate poverty from their families, he asserted, adding that when one enters the new schools, he/she wont believe it is a government school.

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The AAP leader said if the private sector had built the kind of classrooms, laboratories, and other facilities available at the Schools of Eminence, it would be charging a monthly fee of at least Rs 10,000.

The children of labourers, the poor, farmers, electricians, plumbers, and others will get modern facilities in the School of Eminence, he said.

He complained that the Centre was not giving Rs 8,000 crore to Punjab, otherwise, many more schools, hospitals, and roads could have been built.

Kejriwal urged the people to further strengthen the hands of CM Bhagwant Mann by ensuring victory from all the 13 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections so that the Central government wont be able to stop money from Punjab. The way you blessed us with 92 of the 117 seats in the Assembly polls, give us 13 seats in the Lok Sabha, it would strengthen Manns hands and he can fight for your rights with greater strength, he said.

Speaking on the occasion, the Punjab CM said the AAP does politics of development and not politics of hate or caste and also expressed that he wished such facilities in schools were available during his school days.

He added that AAPs aim is to build good schools, good hospitals and create better infrastructure.
The Delhi Police conducted a mock drill at the Connaught Place on Sunday. The simulated scenario involved an unclaimed bag.

Following the mock drill, the Delhi Police crime team, bomb squad, and fire department reached the spot.

Talking to ANI, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Devesh Kumar Mahla emphasised the routine nature of mock drills. Mock drills are routine for us. In Delhi, considering the sensitivity, we regularly conduct mock drills at important locations. This was part of our routine, and todays drill took place at the CPs theatre. Mock drills follow a standard procedure, with different types prepared according to specific scenarios. Coordination is observed to assess how effectively teams work together, implementing standard procedures. Its a practice within the mock drill, Devesh Kumar said.

Addressing security concerns in the wake of the Bangalore blast, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Devesh Kumar Mahla, declined specific comments but emphasised the citys heightened sensitivity as the national capital.

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I wont comment on this specifically, but in general, due to Delhi being the national capital, sensitivity is at its highest. Whether its upcoming elections or being the national capital, we consistently monitor places like cafes, hotels, and restaurants for peoples safety. Increased checks have been implemented at borders, and weve deployed our petroleum team to ensure a robust security system, Devesh Kumar Mahla said.

Earlier on March 1, at least four people were injured in a blast reported at Bengalurus popular Rameshwaram Cafe outlet in Whitefield, according to initial reports.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday exuded confidence that INDIA alliance will defeat the BJP in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and form government at the Centre. Addressing a massive gathering during INDIA blocs joint Jan Vishwash Rally in Patnas Gandhi Maidan, the Gandhi scion said that Bihar is the nerve centre of Indian politics and that whenever there is a change in the country, it starts from here only.

Bihar is the nerve center of the countrys politics. Whenever there is change in the country, it starts from Bihar only, the Congress leader said.

Gandhi said that the INDIA alliance stands for love, brotherhood and respect, while the BJP has the ideology of hatred, violence and ego.

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Today there is a fight between two ideologies in the country. On one side there is hatred, violence and ego, on the other side there is love, brotherhood and respect. If you want to understand INDIA alliance then there is only one line for that. We open a shop of love in the market of hatred, he added.

Speaking at the mega rally, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge called Prime Minister Modi lord of lies and accused him of not fulfilling his promises of making Patna a smart city and providing two crore jobs every year among others.

Modi ji always says my guarantee but let me tell you what is his guarantee. Will provide 2 crore jobs every year. Will bring black money from abroad. I will put 15 lakhs in everyones account. By 2022 every person will have a permanent house. Farmers income will double by 2022. Will make Patna a smart city. No one got all this  that means Modi ji is the lord of lies, Kharge said.

The Congress chief also accused Modi government of using central.probe agencies to intimidate the Opposition.

Modi government uses ED, CBI and IT to intimidate the opposition. Lalu ji is being threatened continuously, but he does not bow down. Whereas Nitish Kumar joined BJP and now he is saying  We will remain at your feet, he added.
Chandini Chowk MP and veteran BJP leader Harsh Vardhan on Sunday announced his decision to quit active politics and concentrate on his medical practice.

The development comes after he was denied a ticket for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. The Delhi BJP had on Saturday announced candidates for five constituencies, including Praveen Khandelwal in Chandni Chowk, on Saturday.

Vardhan, a five-time MLA and two-time MP from the constituency, has served as Union minister of health and as Union environment minister. In the announcement he also hinted at returning to his career as an ENT surgeon and resuming duties at his clinic in East Delhis Krishna Nagar.

Announcing his decision in a long series of posts on X, Vardhan said he is returning to his ENT clinic at Krishna Nagar.

After over thirty years of a glorious electoral career, during which I won all the five assembly and two parliamentary elections that I fought with exemplary margins, and held a multitude of prestigious positions in the party organisation and the governments at the state and centre I finally bow out to return to my roots, he said.

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Service to mankind was my motto when I joined MBBS in GSVM Medical College, Kanpur fifty years back with a desire to help the poor and needy. A swayamsewak at heart, I have always been an ardent admirer of Deen Dayal Upadhyay jis Antodaya philosophy of striving to serve the last man in the queue. It was at the insistence of the then RSS leadership that I jumped into the electoral fray. They could convince me only because for me politics meant opportunity to fight our three main enemies  poverty, disease and ignorance, he added.

The former ministers post added: Without remorse, I must say that it has been a marvelous innings during which my passion to serve the common man was quenched. I served as Delhi Health Minister as well as twice Union Health Minister, a subject close to my heart. I had the rare opportunity bestowed upon me to be able to first work towards creating a Polio free Bharat and then to take care of the health of millions of our countrymen grappling with the dreaded COVID-19 during its first and second phases.

In the long history of mankind, only a few have been granted the privilege to defend their people in hours of gravest danger! And I can proudly claim that I didnt shirk responsibility, but welcomed it. My gratitude to Ma Bharati, my reverence to my fellow citizens and my obeisance to the values enshrined in our Constitution. And yes, that was the biggest privilege that Bhagwan Shri Ram bestowed upon me, the privilege of being able to save human lives !!, Harsh Vardhan said.

I would like to thank all my party karyakartas, my fans and supporters amongst the common citizens as well as my party leaders .. all of whom have contributed to this remarkable journey spanning over three decades,he wrote.

I must acknowledge that I consider it a great privilege to have worked closely with the most dynamic Prime Minister in Indias history, Shri Narendra Modi ji. The country wishes him a heroic return to power again.

I shall continue to pursue my work against tobacco and substance abuse, against climate change and teaching simple and sustainable lifestyles. A big shout out for all those who stood by me like a rock while I clocked many firsts and led a fulfilled political life, he wrote.

My ENT clinic at Krishna Nagar too awaits my return, he said.
The five candidates, who have been fielded by the Bharatiya Janata Party from different seats in Delhi for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, on Saturday expressed confidence that they would win and also thanked the partys top leadership for placing their trust in them.

The BJP has shortlisted Bansuri Swaraj as its candidate from New Delhi LS constituency, Kamaljeet Sehrawat from West Delhi, Praveen Khandelwal from Chandni Chowk, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri from South Delhi and Manoj Tiwari, sitting MP, the North-East Delhi seat.

On her candidature from New Delhi constituency, Bansuri Swaraj said that she was thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda and other leaders of BJP.

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Talking further about the BJP governments tenure she highlighted that the economy has now reached the fifth spot, and added that the people of the capital are smart and aware.

Swaraj was present at the Shakti Vandan program held at the Sanatan Dharm Mandir in New Delhi, which was organised in a bid to empower the self-help groups and NGOs and to make them a part of the VIksit Bharat pledge.

Reacting to the AAPs comments over her candidature, she said that the party should first look into their camp and see whom they have chosen for the seat and also about his reputation amongst the own party.

Swaraj gave it back to them, saying that they have named a candidate who, she claimed, is not liked by his own party members, and added that the people will give a reply to all the allegations in the polls.

Kamaljeet Sehrawat has expressed that she will get support from the people as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has worked for everyone, which shows from the response of the people, while she thanked PM Modi, BJP president JP Nadda and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva.

BJP MP from North East Delhi, Manoj Tiwari, who will again contest from the seat has thanked PM Modi, BJP president JP Nadda, HM Amit Shah and other leaders of the party.

He further said that the target is to have a Namo Hattrick, while he added that this time the party aims to increase their vote share with the blessings of people.
The BJP unveiled its lineup of 195 candidates for the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections on Saturday. Chhattisgarhs entire spectrum of 11 seats has been addressed in the initial declaration. Among the 11 contenders finalised by the BJP for Chhattisgarh, two incumbent MPs have been renominated. It is noteworthy that the BJP has denied Lok Sabha tickets to 7 out of its 9 current MPs.

Saroj Pandey, the National Vice President of BJP, has been granted a ticket from Korba, while minister in the Chhattisgarh government, Brijmohan Agrawal, gears up for the electoral battle from Raipur in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Its noteworthy that out of the 11 seats, the BJP has allocated tickets to three women candidates. This unveiling of BJP candidates for Lok Sabha elections hints at a strategic shift of the BJP from heavyweights towards the new generation of leaders in the state, as the Central leadership seems to be fostering the emergence of new leadership under its guidance.

The inclusion of Chintamani Maharaj, a former Congress MLA in the Bhupesh Baghel government, marks a significant transition. Chintamani joined BJP after Congress denied him a ticket in the state assembly elections, with BJP leaders committing him a Lok Sabha ticket at that time. Chintamani Maharaj, whose name had surfaced in certain investigations, has been nominated by BJP from the Sarajuga constituency, demonstrating the partys commitment to its promise.

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Despite the Congress governments incumbency in the state, the BJP clinched victory in 9 out of 11 seats during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The current allocation of seats reflects BJPs intent to assert its presence more vigorously, especially in regions like Bastar and Korba, traditionally held by Congress. The party has introduced nine fresh faces for the Lok Sabha elections 2024, amplifying its electoral footprint.

The allocation of tickets also underscores strategic calculations, with emphasis placed on maintaining caste equations and ensuring a balance within the party ranks. This includes Brijmohan Agrawal, who boasts a strong caste backing and has secured resounding victories in the past.

In the broader context, the nomination process reflects BJPs concerted effort to steer clear of allegations of dynastic politics. Notably, prominent figures like Madhusudan Yadav and Abhishek Singh, son of former Chief Minister Dr. Raman Singh, have been sidelined in favour of newer candidates. Dinesh Kashyap, former MP from Bastar, son of BJPs prominent tribal leader late Baliram Kashyap and brother of the present minister in Chhattisgarhs BJP government, Kedar Kashyap, has been denied Lok Sabha ticket by the party. This strategic shift underscores BJPs dedication to fostering a political environment based on competence and individual merit rather than familial lineage.

The diverse backgrounds of the nominated candidates reflect BJPs inclusive approach, embracing individuals from various socio-economic strata. Moreover, the partys strategic manoeuvering in key constituencies, including Raigarh and Raipur, underscores its intent to consolidate its foothold across the state.

Chhattisgarh PCC Chief Deepak Baij wasted no time in commenting on the BJPs candidate list. He stated that denying tickets to 7 out of 9 current MPs in Chhattisgarh clearly indicates the peak of public anger against the Modi government. Baij emphasised that the BJPs decision to field the states most frequently victorious BJP legislator and Education Minister, Brijmohan Agrawal, as a candidate from the Raipur Lok Sabha seat, is an attempt by the BJP leadership to scapegoat him, effectively sidelining him from the state politics.

As the political landscape heats up in Chhattisgarh with BJPs candidate announcements, all eyes are now on the forthcoming declarations from the main opposition party, Congress. The unfolding dynamics promise an intriguing electoral battle, with BJPs preemptive move setting the stage for an engaging political showdown in the days ahead.
Capital Ones (COF) $35 billion deal for Discover Financial (DFS) and Walmarts (WMT) $2.3 billion acquisition of smart TV maker Vizio (VZIO) sent a signal that corporate America is willing to spend big on M&A again.

But that optimism may be short-lived.

The Federal Trade Commissions (FTC) recent bid to block Krogers (KR) $25 billion acquisition of Albertsons (ACI) may deter dealmaking activity, posing a potential risk for investors.

[The Biden administration] has sent a clear message that mergers will be looked at more carefully and with a broader approach, former FTC commissioner Mozelle Thompson told Yahoo Finance Live. The Biden administration has sent a signal that may have a chilling effect to mergers, and the market is responding to that.

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Since stepping into the White House in January 2021, the Biden administration has made antitrust a priority. The FTC brought 24 merger enforcement challenges in fiscal year 2022, according to the annual Hart-Scott-Rodino Report. It's the second-highest figure in the past decade.

The FTCs suit to challenge the Kroger-Albertsons tie-up is the latest in a long list of moves taken by the Biden administration to block consolidation across industries, from Big Tech to airlines.

Recent wins include a federal judge siding with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and blocking JetBlues (JBLU) $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines (SAVE), as well as biotech firm Illuminas (ILMN) decision to sell Grail.

A JetBlue Airways Airbus A320, left, passes a Spirit Airlines Airbus A320 as it taxis on the runway, July 7, 2022, at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File) (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Experts warn the offensive on corporate America consolidation will likely continue, regardless of who wins the 2024 presidential election.

The populist movement is shifting how a lot of Republicans look at antitrust, Stifel's chief Washington policy analyst Brian Gardner told Yahoo Finance. For those who think there's going to be some big M&A boom if Trump wins are going to be sorely disappointed.

Gardner added, The M&A antitrust moves that the Biden administration has undertaken originated at the end of the Trump administration. The Biden administration took the ball and ran with it.  I see a subtle shift [if Trump is elected], but I don't see a big shift.

Continuar leyendo la historia

Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) recently commended FTC chair Lina Khans antitrust crackdown, telling attendees at Bloombergs RemedyFest technology forum that shes doing a pretty good job.

Bipartisan pushback on Krogers deal to buy Albertsons was evident from the start. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Lee (R-Utah), the chair and top Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee's antitrust panel, both expressed concern that the transaction would reduce competition and consumer choice during a bipartisan hearing shortly after the deal was announced.

And the bipartisan opposition extended to the state level as well. A group of nine state attorneys general joined the FTC in the lawsuit, including Nevada attorney general Aaron Ford, who told Yahoo Finance a merger would eliminate pricing competition, and erode product quality.

Its also important to point out that the FTCs challenge of Krogers deal to buy Albertsons is among the first to come under new merger guidelines published by the FTC and DOJ, which includes consideration of how mergers affect labor market competition.

The expanded guidelines could reshape the business landscape for years to come, as a wider range of mergers will likely be questioned as a result.

The antitrust climate is going to be tough, Thompson added. Companies looking to merge are going to have to not only look at the timing of those mergers but be able to showcase some real benefits.  Deals may still get through, but it will be more expensive and take more time.

Seana Smith is an anchor at Yahoo Finance. Follow Smith on Twitter @SeanaNSmith. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations, or anything else? Email seanasmith@yahooinc.com.

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The Congress on Sunday sought a CBI probe into the torture, public trial, and subsequent death of a second-year student, Sidharth, in the hostel of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University at Pookode in Wayanad on February 18.

Opposition leader VD Satheesan, in a letter addressed to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said on Sunday that the details of the brutal assault that led to the death of 20-year-old Sidharthan J S on February 18, are emerging from the university.

His parents are alleging that a mob led by SFI leaders held a public trial for days without giving him food or water and brutally assaulted him to death before hanging him. Its a matter of grave concern that even teachers were involved in this act of brutality, Satheesan said.

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He alleged that there were serious lapses in the police investigation and that the police even attempted to protect the accused in the case.

The opposition leader demanded a CBI probe into Sidharths death to unravel the conspiracy behind the incident. He said that a fair probe cannot be expected from the state police.

We cannot expect a fair investigation from the police. Such an incident should not be repeated in Kerala. The family is demanding a CBI probe. The state government should consider all the factors and hand over the case to the CBI to bring out the facts and conspiracy behind the incident, Satheesan said.

Meanwhile, Kerala Minister for Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development J Chinchu Rani ordered the suspension of the dean and the assistant warden of the Pookode Veterinary College in Wayanad for the barbaric torture, public trial, and subsequent death of the second-year student in the hostel on February 18.

The minister said that there was a lapse on the part of the dean and the assistant warden and that the dean should have been in the hostel.

Lapses have been found on the part of the dean. As the warden, he was supposed to be in the hostel. He doesnt need to talk about the shortage of staff. He has failed to discharge his duties, Chinchu Rani said.

She also announced that CCTV cameras would be installed in the hostel in the wake of the violence that led to Sidharths death.

The remand report has made severe allegations against the 18 accused in the case. According to the report, Sidharth was beaten up because he was accused of misbehaving with his classmate. Sidharth, who had proceeded home on February 15, was summoned back with a grim warning that if he did not return to the college a police case would be registered against him. He was even assured that the issue could be settled as per the unwritten rules of the hostel. Accordingly, on February 16 morning, Sidharth returned to the college but the accused detained him and did not allow him to leave the hostel.

At 9 pm that night, the accused started beating Sidharth. The accused also took him to different places on the campus and brutally beat him up. They brought him back to the hostel and resumed beating him in room number 21. Later, he was taken to the courtyard of the hostel where, after stripping him to underwear, the accused beat him up with a belt and a cable wire. The beating continued till 2O clock in the morning on February 17. According to the remand report, the accused brought things to such a level that there was no escape for Sidharth, except death.

Meanwhile, in a significant revelation that could shed more light on Sidharths death, a WhatsApp message allegedly sent by his classmate Nakshatra to a mutual friend came to light on Saturday.

Sidharths father Jayaprakash said he received a screenshot of the message which said she knows what happened to Sidharth. The details have been passed on to the investigation team, he said. The message cryptically mentioned that Nakshatra knew what had happened but she would not divulge more details. Jayaprakash said he would pursue the matter further.

Sidharth stood by Nakshatra through all her hardships when others hesitated to support her. Yet she refuses to reciprocate when he needs it. I am ready to take on anyone trying to cover up the truth. Theyre all at fault. Next, Ill lodge a complaint against Nakshatra. If investigations falter, Ill approach the higher authorities or pursue legal action, Jayaprakash said.

Talking about the lack of support from his classmates, Sidharths mother M R Sheeba said, Sidharth was a vocal supporter of Nakshatra when she was allegedly sexually assaulted by a fellow batchmate, a livestock inspector, who stays in the institution. Sidharth even urged for the perpetrators suspension. Can he ever misbehave with any other girl? she asked.

I am determined to bring out the truth behind my sons death. Come what may, I will expose every single person involved in his death, she said.
The concerted efforts of the Yogi Adityanath government to bring white revolution in Uttar Pradesh have resulted in investments exceeding Rs 9000 crore pouring into the dairy sector. This surge in investment is poised to create extensive employment opportunities for the youth of the state on a significant scale.

Notably, Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently launched the Banas Kashi Complex in Varanasi, which is expected to generate employment, directly or indirectly, for lakhs of people in Purvanchal.

Additionally, through GBC 4.0, several major dairy companies in the state have taken steps to bring their investments to fruition.

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It is believed that the establishment of these dairy companies will not only strengthen the dairy sector in the state but also become a powerful means of employment for the people.

State Dairy Commissioner Shashi Bhushan Lal Susheel said here on Sunday that after Varanasi, Banaskantha DCMPU Limited is planning to set up a dairy unit with a handling capacity of 10 lakh liters of milk per day in the first phase, which can be increased to 15 lakh liters per day in the second phase. The company has invested Rs 800 crore in Baghpat which will create 4000 employment opportunities.

Similarly, CP Milk and Food Products Private Limited is currently providing its services through three manufacturing units in UP. This is providing direct and indirect employment to thousands of people in the state.

In order to expand its units in UP, the company has now invested Rs 300 crore in Barabanki, creating job opportunities for 90 people. CP Milk retails 17 high-quality dairy products manufactured from fresh milk procured directly from over 1.65 lakh dairy farmers.

In addition to this, Smart Grid Pvt. Ltd. is planning to establish its unit in Gonda at a cost of Rs 1100 crore, providing employment opportunities for more than 3000 people.

Similarly, Rinku Dairy Prop Bareilly is setting up an enterprise with an investment of Rs 490 crore, and another unit in Shahjahanpur with an investment of Rs 300 crore, creating job opportunities for more than 1300 people.

Similarly, Bareilly Dairies Ltd. is investing Rs 300 crore. Mitra Seva Insurance and Fintech Pvt. Ltd. is investing Rs 300 crore, Gopal Ji Dairy is investing Rs 252 crore in Hapur, Creamy Foods is investing Rs 250 crore in Bulandshahr, Pradhan Milk Chilling Plant is investing Rs 250 crore in Meerut, and Dairy Craft is investing Rs 212 crore in Bareilly, generating employment for thousands of people.

Through these companies, the Yogi government is confident that not only will UP become self-reliant in the dairy sector but will also play a significant role for other states. Moreover, it will be capable of providing employment to people on a large scale.

It is noteworthy that the Banas Kashi Complex is ready to be the driving force for employment in Purvanchal. On February 23, PM Modi inaugurated the largest plant of Amul, Banas Dairy.

This project will provide indirect employment to about 1 lakh people. With its commencement, the income of farmers and cattle herders in Purvanchal will also double. At the end of the year, the dairy producers will also receive a percentage of the companys dividend.

Notably, the foundation stone for this plant, built at a cost of Rs 622 crores, was laid by PM Modi on December 23, 2021. Banas Dairy Amul Industrial Area is situated in 30 acres in Karkhiyaon, Agro Park.

This will bring employment to about 1346 villages of Purvanchal. With this project, about 750 people will get employment in the factory, and approximately 2,350 people will get employment in the field.
Farmer leaders on Sunday announced that they would increase their strength at the border points where they have been protesting since February 13. They denied having stepped back from their march to Delhi.

Jagjit Singh Dallewal, one of the farmer leaders, told reporters on Sunday that the farmers have decided to increase their number and camp at other border points as well to intensify their agitation.

Speaking after a prayer meeting organised in commemoration of a young farmer Shubhkaran Singh who died during the protests, Dallewal said the farmer organisations have discussed taking the protest forward in a more effective way while maintaining peace.

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On March 10, the leaders gave the call for a 12 pm-to-4 pm Rail Roko, and asked all the farmers to be a part of the event.

He further said that the befitting homage to the departed soul of the young farmer would be that all take part in this Rail Roko, and take it as a responsibility towards the ongoing protest.

He said the agitation is not confined to the farmers of Punjab and Haryana, but a national protest.

The last rites of the young farmer were performed after the Punjab government filed a case in connection with his death.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann announced an ex gratia of Rs 1 crore for the family of Shubhkaran and a government job for his sister. He said due to the pressure on the government relief was given to the farmers in sugarcane prices and several other things.

Dallewal alleged that the farmers of Haryana are not being allowed to venture out to support the protest.

Meanwhile, the farmers continued to camp at the Shambhu and Khanauri borders, and are preparing to carry on with their protest. They have been camping at the Punjab-Haryana Shambhu and Khanauri borders since February 13 when they were stopped by the police from entering Haryana on their way to Delhi.

The Centre, after having four rounds of talks with the farmers that ended inconclusively, invited them for a fifth round. However, people travelling to Haryana, Chandigarh, and Punjab via roads are facing difficulties due to multiple route diversions in the wake of the farmer stir. Traffic is diverted to narrow roads and other alternative routes.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday said that some people of the society were not happy with his becoming the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh and they felt pain in their stomach.

He said that the Yadav community is a society that follows the path of religion and he has never left religion behind.

Dr Yadav was addressing the Yadav Mahakumbh held in Bijnor area of Lucknow on Sunday. Apart from MP CM Dr Mohan Yadav, senior BJP leaders were also present in the Mahakumbh.

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Dr Yadav said that UP is the land which gives slogans and also makes them come true.

Referring to his relationship with the state, he said that his ancestors had gone to Madhya Pradesh from Azamgarh 400 years ago. Besides, his wife also belonged from UP.

Targeting Akhilesh Yadavs family, Dr Mohan Yadav said: Yadav politics and vote bank is occupied by a single family but what do they do for Yadavs.

Without naming anyone, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav said that his father was not a Chief Minister but still the BJP gave him opportunities to serve in various positions.

He also highlighted contributions of Lord Krishna, who was a Yaduvanshi. He invited everyone to visit Lord Krishnas education centre near Ujjain and pledged to turn it into a pilgrimage centre.

He said that Lord Krishna suffered hardships but did not bow down and similarly Sanatan Dharma also did not bow before anyone.

Expressing his gratitude to the BJP, he said that he was given the post of CM , whereas Yadav does not have 500 votes in my assembly constituency. I have been winning elections for three terms, he said.

Addressing the program, Yadav leaders said that the Yadav community was united through the Yadav Mahakumbh. A family has exploited the Yadav community and kept it as its own property but now the society is with Dr Mohan Yadav, they said.

Earlier, the MP CM paid a courtesy visit to Raj Bhawan to meet Governor Anandiben Patel. UP Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak welcomed Dr Yadav at the airport and accompanied him to Raj Bhawan and Yadav Mahakumbh.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday said that the unemployment rate in India is higher than that of Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Bhutan.

Rahul held the Narendra Modi government responsible for the alarming unemployment rate, which, he claimed, resulted from its wrong policies and decisions.

Addressing people at Mohana in Gwalior during his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, currently in Madhya Pradesh, Rahul asserted that the country is grappling with its highest unemployment figures in the past 40 years.

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Rahul claimed that Indias current unemployment rate stands at 23 per cent, while that of Pakistan is around 12 per cent.

He criticised PM Modi for decisions like demonetisation and implementation of GST, which, he claimed, had a detrimental effect on small businesses across the country.

Later in the day, Rahul temporarily halted his yatra for a day to travel to Patna and participate in a rally organised by the opposition INDI Alliance.

According to Congress leaders, the yatra will resume in MP on 4 March.
Ahead of the Lok Sabha polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday contributed Rs 2000 to BJP to strengthen the efforts of building a Viksit Bharat and appealed to everyone to donate and help the efforts of his party in nation-building.

I am happy to contribute to @BJP4India and strengthen our efforts to build a Viksit Bharat. I also urge everyone to be a part of #DonationForNationBuilding through the NaMoApp, the PM wrote on X.

The call to donate money comes after the Supreme Court last month struck down the Electoral Bonds scheme as unconstitutional. While the Opposition parties hailed the Apex court decision, the ruling BJP said that the scheme was brought in for transparency in electoral funding.

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The CJI while reading out his judgement said that the Supreme Court holds that anonymous electoral bonds are violative of Right to Information and Article 19(1)(a).

The PMs donation to the BJP fund came a day after the BJP released the first list of party candidates for the Lok Sabha elections to be held in April-May. The first list contains the names of BJP candidates for 195 seats. PM Modi will again contest from Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh while Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah have been named as BJP candidates for Lucknow and Gandhinagar seats. The party has denied tickets to many non-performing MPs and brought in several new faces in the electoral fray. The party has asked 34 central ministers and state ministers to contest the Lok Sabha elections. Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan has been fielded from Vidisha in the state.

The BJPs election committee is expected to meet shortly to finalise candidates for other seats. The party is also in talks with its allies in the NDA for seat sharing in certain states. The BJP has set a target of winning 370 seats on its own and 400 seats along with its allies in the NDA.

The Election Commission, meanwhile, is expected to announce the poll schedule any time soon. Ahead of the poll announcement, PM Modi has been undertaking whirlwind tours of different states, announcing development schemes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held the last meeting of the Union Council of Ministers before the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections and discussed with ministers their action plans in the next five years to achieve Viksit Bharat by 2047.

The Council of Ministers held a brainstorming session on a vision document for Viksit Bharat 2047 and a detailed action plan for the next five years.

According to government sources, A 100-day agenda for immediate steps was also worked upon for quick implementation after formation of the new Government in May 2024.

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The roadmap for Viksit Bharat has been finalised after more than two years of intensive preparations. It involved a Whole of Government approach involving all Ministries and wide-ranging consultations with State Governments, academia, industry bodies, civil society, and scientific organisations and mobilization of youth for seeking their ideas, suggestions, and inputs.

More than 2,700 meetings, workshops, and seminars were held at various levels. Suggestions of more than 20 lakh youth were also received.

The roadmap for Viksit Bharat has a comprehensive blueprint with a clearly articulated national vision, aspirations, goals, and action points. The goals include areas like economic growth, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), ease of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure, social welfare, etc.

Mr Modi has presented before the nation his vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047 at several public meetings and conferences. He has set before the Government the target of Viksit Bharat (developed India) to be achieved by the year when India celebrates the 100th year of its Independence.

The governments numerous welfare schemes envisage ease of living and elimination of poverty by 2027. Over 25 crore people have already come out of poverty. The government initiatives give the remaining poor confidence that they too can end their life of deprivation by participating in various schemes offered by the government.

The Council of Ministers met at the Sushma Swaraj Bhawan in Chanakyapuri here. The next Lok Sabha elections are expected to be held in April-May this year.

The government initiatives cover pucca housing, tap water in homes, toilets, free medical treatment up to Rs 5 lakh under the Ayushman scheme, free cooking gas connections, financial loans to start businesses, and Kisan Samman Nidhi to poor farmers in villages.

These schemes are administered by Central ministries with the help of State governments. The government took steps to see that the burden of compliance was reduced to the minimum, and the common man enjoyed an environment of minimum government, and maximum governance.
Congress Daman and Diu President Ketan Patel on Sunday claimed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra could her poll debut from the Union Territory and that the party has asked him to collect data for the same.

Priyanka Gandhi may be a possible candidate from Daman and Diu. I welcome this proposal, he said.

Patel said that South Gujarat and Sourashtra has been with the Congress and that after Priyankas arrival, it will benefit the party in PM Modis home state.

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The high command has given us the responsibility of data collection. With the arrival of Priyanka ji, the entire South Gujarat which has always been with Congress and Saurashtra which is adjacent to Diu, will benefit here. In Data collection, points like ground reality, voters and past performance will be seen, Patel added.

Daman and Diu constituency is a BJP stronghold. The seat is being represented by BJPs Lalubhai Patel since 2009.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced its first list of 195 candidates for the Lok Sabha polls. The saffron party has fielded PM Modi from the Varanasi constituency, which he has been representing since 2014.

Earlier, there were speculations that the Congress will field Priyanka Gandhi from Varanasi against PM Modi. However, the party understands the move could backfire and ruin Priyankas poll debut plans.

Another constituency the Congress general secretary may contest is Raebareli. The seat was presented by Sonia Gandhi until she became a Rajya Sabha MP from Rajasthan recently.
There was a sharp deterioration in India-Canada relations during the 1970s, following Indias Peaceful underground nuclear explosion (PNE) conducted on 18 May 1974, in Pokhran (Pokhran-1). India-Canada co-operation for peaceful uses of nuclear energy began in the 1950s, when Canada agreed to build a 40 MW Research Reactor for India, known as the CIRUS (Canada-IndiaUS) reactor, in 1955. India promised that both the reactor and the related fissile materials would be used only for peaceful purposes.

Canada supplied half the initial uranium fuel for the reactor ~ while the US supplied the other half ~ and the heavy water for moderation. Both the US and Canada reacted negatively to the Pokhran1 nuclear explosion, with the latter blaming India for using nuclear materials from the reactors provided by Canada, although the Government of India asserted that no agreement with Canada had been violated, nor had any international agreement been violated, as India was not a signatory to the Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which New Delhi considered to be discriminatory. Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau ~ father of the current Prime Minister ~ wrote to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi warning her of the consequences of developing nuclear weapons, while Foreign Minister Mitchell Sharp declared that trust between the two countries was gone. The Government of Canada, declared Sharp, without dissent immediately suspended its nuclear cooperation with India and all other forms of assistance, except food and fertilizer assistance and an agreement to roll over debt. Indias PNE and Canadas response to it had dealt a severe blow to bilateral relations.

It is important to note, however, that Mitchell Sharp had announced the decision for suspension of nuclear cooperation with India, not its termination, and a divided Canadian government did envisage the possibility of resumption of nuclear partnership with India and reconciling that with Ottawas commitment to non-proliferation. But Sharps successor in the Foreign Office, Allan MacEachen, supported by several of his Cabinet colleagues, nullified that possibility because of what they considered duplicity on the part of India.

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The 1974 nuclear explosion, and the imposition of Emergency by Indira Gandhi in the following year brought about a dramatic change in Canadian perceptions about India and led to a deliberate re-orientation in Canadas foreign policy, with its foreign aid policy now focusing on Africa while the policy towards India and South Asia was marked by what Ashok Kapur called Canadas own policy of, benign neglect or indifference. New Delhi also downgraded Canadas importance in its global policy perspectives, and became more concerned with developments nearer home: the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and its ramifications for India, particularly in the context of the US decision to evict Soviet forces by arming Afghan Mujahideen. In this Great Game, Pakistan emerged as a frontline state receiving substantial US economic and military assistance, that it was using to bolster its military strength against India, and sponsoring terrorist attacks on India. New Delhi, on its part , tried to forge closer ties with neighbouring states in South Asia through the development of regional cooperation, as envisaged in the SAARC.

During the 1980s, deep fissures developed in India-Canada bilateral ties over the activities of a section of Sikh immigrants who had migrated to Canada, in the wake of the development of the Khalistan movement that espoused a separate independent Sikh state of Khalistan comprising territories from the Indian State of Punjab, (and also from the Pakistani State of Punjab). Initially, the Khalistan movement was being funded by the Sikh diaspora in Canada (and the US), while Pakistan allegedly provided sanctuary and military training to the Sikh militants.But when the latter realised that maps of Khalistani organizations envisaged Lahore as the capital of the Khalistan state, Pakistans support petered out.

The violent Khalistan movement leading to the death of thousands of innocent people, followed by Operation Blue Star to flush out terrorists from the Golden Temple in Amritsar; the suppression of pro-Khalistan activities by India; the assassination of Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards and the subsequent anti-Sikh riots in Delhi had a direct impact on IndiaCanada relations during the 1980s and beyond. These developments gave a spur to the anti-India activities of a section of Canadas sizeable Sikh community. By the middle of the 1980s, their anti-India activities reached a new high as demonstrated by the bombing of Air India Flight 182 in 1985, en route to London from Montreal, by activists of the Babbar Khalsa group that resulted in the death of 329 people, including 268 Canadian citizens, mostly of Indian origin, and also some 24 Indian nationals and others.

Earlier in the decade, India had requested the extradition of Talwinder Singh Parmar, a leader of the Babbar Khalsa group who was subsequently identified as one of the principal conspirators behind Air India bombing, but that request was turned down by Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. This and the tardy handling of the attack investigation by Canadian authorities were severely criticised in India, and by the families of the victims in Canada and India. Activities of the Pro-Khalistan elements in Canada thus became the principal obstacle to the development of friendly relations between India and Canada, replacing the nuclear issue. However, in a bid to develop cooperation for containing terrorism then Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Martin Brian Mulroney met in November 1985 and a bilateral extradition treaty was signed in 1987.

This was followed by the Agreement to set up a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, a decade later, in 1997, to coordinate policies against the Khalistan separatist groups. The Mulroney years (1984- 1993) did see some improvements in Canada-India relations, but there was no revival of the India-Canada special relationship, despite their cooperation in ending racism in Rhodesia and South Africa; nor did the extradition treaty expedite the process of extradition, as only six fugitives were returned to India between 2002 and 2020 because of the lengthy paper work and strong lobbying by the separatists. It was the policy of economic reforms in India initiated by Dr. Manmohan Singh, who was Finance Minister in P V Narasimha Raos Cabinet, that brought about fresh hope for improvements in India-Canada relations during the 1990s, especially after the Liberal Party came to power in Canada in 1993 in a landslide victory.

The new government viewed India as an attractive destination for trade, investment and economic cooperation and in October 1994, a major trade mission came to India under the leadership of Roy MacLaren, the Minister for International Trade. A document, Focus India, prepared the ground for the revival of India-Canada relations and this was followed by the visit of Prime Minister Jean Chretien to India in January 1996 ~ the first Prime Minister to visit India in 25 years ~ accompanied by a large team comprising several provincial ministers, two Cabinet ministers of the federal government, and business persons from 204 companies.

That the main thrust of the visit was on revival of economic cooperation could be seen from the fact that 75 commercial agreements worth $3.4 billion were signed. Prime Minister Chretien declared: Canada is back in India and we are here to stay. However, the euphoria was short-lived as Indians did not appreciate the visiting Prime Ministers demand, while in India, that India should give up the nuclear option, nor his criticism of Indias child labour policies. A follow up visit by the Governor General of Canada in January 1998 failed to generate any reciprocal diplomatic visits from India. But it was the nuclear issue again that caused further setbacks to Canada-India relations, particularly because of the evangelical approach of Canadas Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy (January 1996-Septembor 2000) whose pursuit of the doctrine of human security was causing damage even to Canadas own interests. Nor was his policy always consistent, as demonstrated by Canadas participation in the Kosovo air war, under the pretext of the end justifying the means. So far as Indias tests (Pokhran-II) were concerned, these were criticised not merely by the P-5 states, but also by others.

No state, however, reacted to it as strongly as Canada did. The US also had criticised India and imposed economic sanctions (virtually mandatory under US law), and a ban on dual-use technology transfer. It was this, more than the economic sanctions, that hit India hard; but the US also kept the option open to start negotiations with New Delhi to be able to influence Indian policy, and it was with this end in view that the Strobe Talbot-Jaswant Singh negotiations began in July 1998 and continued till January 1999. What facilitated these negotiations were Indias unilateral declaration of a moratorium on further tests, its pledge not to use nuclear weapons against a non-nuclear weapon state, and the declaration that India would not be the first state to use nuclear weapons against a nucleararmed adversary. Perhaps equally important was the role of the Indo-American community, the wealthiest demographic group in the US, in transforming the image of India within the US Congress. But Axworthy refused to take note of Indias postPokhran declarations. Canada recalled its High Commissioner in New Delhi, cancelled Canadian International Development Agencys consultations regarding $54.5 million of non-humanitarian assistance over five years, suspended talks on the expansion of trade and banned all military exports to India.

Banning of military exports to India was not unexpected; but Axworthy did not stop here. He opposed non-humanitarian assistance to India by the World Bank and announced that Ottawa would oppose New Delhis attempts to secure permanent membership of the UN Security Council. Canada took the lead in diplomatically isolating India in G-8 and other international fora. India-Canada relations reached a new low because of Axworthys evangelical policies; Ottawa lost the opportunity to influence Indias evolving nuclear doctrine, and of improvements in India-Canada relations.

Preston Manning, leader of the Opposition Reform Party, though critical of Indias nuclear explosions, called for withdrawal of economic sanctions against India and urged the Canadian government to invite Prime Minster Vajpayee to visit Canada so that he could explain the reasons for conducting the nuclear tests. Since his comments were made while he was visiting New Delhi, these were not given much importance and were viewed as an attempt to win the hearts of the traditionally pro-Liberal Indo -Canadian community.

(The writer is Professor (retired) of International Relations and a former Dean, Faculty of Arts, Jadavpur University)
Facing intense criticism, Google on Saturday started to reinstate some of the apps of Indian digital companies it delisted from the Play Store.

Sources confirmed that the tech giant reinstated some of the apps such as Shaadi.com, Info Edges Naukri, 99acres and Naukri Gulf, and others.

Info Edge co-founder Sanjeev Bikchandani also confirmed the development in a post on X.

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Many of the Info Edge apps are back on the Play Store. An effort very well led by Hitesh (Hitesh Oberoi) and the entire Info Edge team. People were up all night for this. Great crisis management, he posted.

Earlier in the day, the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) slammed removal of Indian companies apps and asked Google to reinstate those delisted apps on its Play Store.

Google had delisted more than a dozen apps by major Indian digital companies including Matrimony, and Shaadi.com from Play Store.

The move comes after Google announced its plan to take action against 10 developers who had refused to comply with its payment policy, despite following the payment policies of other app stores.

Applications from companies like Altt, Stage, and Aha streaming platforms, Truly Madly and Quack Quack dating apps, Kuku FM audio content platform, and FRND social networking app have also been delisted by Google.
Pakistan Muslim League- Nawaz (PML-N) leader Shehbaz Sharif was Sunday elected as Prime Minister of the country for the second time. Pakistan National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq announced Shehbaz Sharif as PM after he secured 201 votes against PTI candidate Omar Ayub Khans 92 votes.

Sadiq asked the Assembly staff to ring the bell for five minutes so that any member that is not present in the house could come to the floor for the PMs election.

After the bells were rung, Sadiq directed the National Assembly staff to lock the doors and announced the method for electing PM, according to Geo News report.

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Following this, the Pakistan National Assembly speaker informed the lawmakers about the candidates who were contesting for the PMs post.

He said, Valid nominated candidates are Shehbaz Sharif and Omar Ayub. Honourable members who wish to vote in favour of Shehbaz may proceed to the lobby on the right side designated as Lobby A.

The session started with the oath-taking of PML-N leader Jam Kamal. However, the House soon started echoing slogans and chants raised by SIC members in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the eight-party alliance backing Shehbaz Sharif.

In the controversial elections, Imran Khans PTI-backed independents secured victory in 97 of the 265 seats, followed by Nawaz Sharifs PML-N which won 76 seats. As many as 54 seats were won by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

The PTI alleged rigging in the counting of votes and claimed that its candidates were winning on more than 150 seats.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday took over the countrys premiership for the second time after he bagged 201 votes in the National Assembly, becoming the 24th prime minsiter.

Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has been elected prime minister with 201 votes. [While] Omar Ayub Khan obtained 92 votes, announced National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq amid protest by the SIC lawmakers.

The speaker then invited Shehbaz Sharif, the only politician to be elected as the PM for the second consecutive time, to sit in the prime ministers seat and asked him to address the house, The News reported.

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In his maiden speech as the prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, surrounded by party leaders, thanked PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif for nominating him for the coveted post and expressed gratitude to his allies for supporting him.

Without taking any names, Shehbaz Sharif took a jibe at the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for hounding the then-opposition, going against the countrys national interests while resorting to levelling serious allegations against the armed forces.

It is sad that the nation had to witness the [state] institutions including the GHQ, Corps Commander Houses being attacked, he said while recalling the May 9 riots that were triggered after the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan in a graft case last year, The News reported.
The Office of the Consulate General of India in Chicago said on Saturday that it is extending all possible help to relatives and deceased of Amarnath Ghosh, the Kuchipudi dancer from Kolkata, who was shot dead in the US state of Missouri.

In a post on X, the Consulate said that it has strongly taken up the case with the St Louis police.

Consulate is extending all help to relatives of deceased Amarnath Ghosh. Taken up the case strongly with St Louis police and the University for investigation of the reprehensible gun attack, the post read.

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On Friday, the Consulate had offered condolences to Ghoshs family and friends and posted: We are following up forensic, investigation with police & providing support.

The incident was brought to notice by popular TV actress and Bigg Boss regular Devoleena Bhattacharjee who in a post on X sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankars help, seeking early repatriation of her friends body.

She wrote in the post that Ghosh was the child in the family whose mother died three years back and father passed away during his childhood.

Calling him an excellent dancer who was pursuing PhD, Devoleena said that Ghosh was taking an evening walk when he was shot multiple times by an unknown person on Tuesday.

A series of attacks beginning this year has put the focus back on the security and safety of Indian students across the US, which has seen at least five of them dying in mysterious circumstances in the last couple of months.


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Hundreds of inmates have fled Haitis main prison after armed gangs stormed the facility overnight in an overnight explosion of violence that engulfed much of the capital
Winston Churchill famously said, Democracy is the worst form of government except for all those other forms that have been tried. But, over the years, democracies have absorbed many sins of autocracies, theocracies, aristocracies and gerontocracies. Experts say democratic backsliding today begins at the ballot box with voters electing corrupt, divisive and authoritarian leaders. Their governments may then implement racist, undemocratic, uneconomic and unethical policies. Nearly two centuries ago, French historian Alexis de Tocqueville warned that, Tyranny of the majority endangers democracy. Today democracy seems torn by the tyranny of the majority and minoritythat even fuels war.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ignores global outrage and pleas from the US, bolstered by his two fringe, extremist, ultranationalist coalition partnersreligious Zionism Partys Bezalel Smotrich, the finance minister, and Jewish Power Partys Itamar Ben-Gvir, the national security minister. They have publicly threatened to withdraw support if Netanyahu backs down. Netanyahu in 2024 is far more afraid of Ben-Gvir than he is of Joe Biden. The Israeli government is the Ben-Gvir government, at the expense of all of us, mourns Israeli commentator Ben Caspit.

Illustration: Job P.K.

Jewish hardliners refuse emergency food and medical supplies to starving, injured Palestinian children. The loudest protestors blocking aid are women ultranationalists. In their book, Tyranny of the Minority, focusing on the US, Harvard political scientists Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt assert, Minorities of all kinds have become the decision-makers; they dominate, tyrannise or terrorise. The tyranny of the elite minority in democracies is overtaken by the atomised tyrannies of outliers, populists, conspiracy-theorists and demagogues.

The biggest demagogue that democracy has thrown up in recent times is Donald Trump. Even Europe is wary. Quoting a German parliamentarian, prominent historian Anne Applebaum said, Europe may face a world in which we are competing with three autocraciesChina, Russia and the US. The fear is that the second Trump administration will be aggressive. He has no government job, but controls a minority in the US Congress and dictates US policy.

Europe is shell-shocked that this years elections in the big democracies could bring leaders who are well-disposed to their enemy, Vladimir Putin. Trump is a Putin-admirer, describing him as a geniusstrong and smart. Narendra Modi is friendly with Putin. Indonesian leader Prabowo Subianto is a Putin fan. Kornelius Purba, managing editor of The Jakarta Post, noted that many Indonesian voters support General Prabowo because they are fanatical fans of President Putin. Indonesian liberals fear Prabowo will rule like a Putin-style strongman.

In Britain, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak turns to rightwing populism to lure fleeing voters. He is under pressure from his minority of Tory English nationalists who threaten to topple him unless he tightens immigration, slows climate goals and lowers taxes. Economists agree these are bad policies for recession-mired Britain and for Tories; general voters want solutions to their crushing problems. Identifying democracys flaw, European leader Jean-Claude Juncker remarked, We all know what to do, but we dont know how to get re-elected once we have done it.

Germanys current polarised, fragmented political landscape is frighteningly similar to the 1930s that gave rise to Hitler, warns German pollster Forsa Institute. The post-war law mandating parties to secure at least 5 per cent share of votes to enter parliament, kept extremist, peripheral groups out. Disillusioned by mainstream parties, voters are now flocking to radical movements. Polls show one in five Germans would vote for a fringe party. An exasperated Winston Churchill once quipped, The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.

Pratap is an author and journalist.
There are two aphorisms about Pakistans army and its politics. One, that their politicians have been riding a tiger, the tiger being the army. Two, that the army has been losing all the wars, while winning all the elections.

Both aphorisms were proved wrong by events in the last two years that culminated in last months general election, the countrys 12th. For one, the army lost the election, though they managed the selection of the post-poll rulers. Two, the events showed that it is the army that is riding the tiger, the tiger being electoral politics.

It had looked like the politicians had been riding the tiger earlier, ever since prime minister Mohammad Ali Bogra invited General Ayub Khan to join his cabinet as defence minister in 1954. That proved to be like the merchant letting the fabled camelor shall we say tiger?into his tent. Since then Pakistan has had three coups, three constitutions, and 30 prime ministers, all of whom came to power on the pleasure of the generals and went out of power when the pleasure was withdrawn.

Illustration: Job P.K.

In between, the generals got into party politics, founding, funding, fashioning and sometimes finishing political parties. So much so, all the three leading parties of Pakistan owe their birth, growth or both to the army. General Yahya Khan nurtured Zulfikar Bhuttos Pakistan Peoples Party as a counter to Mujibur Rahmans popular Awami League in East Pakistan; Zia-ul Haq nourished the Islamist Pakistan Muslim League to seek political legitimacy for his military regime; and the post-Musharraf generals funded and cheered the growth of Imran Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf.

The PPP and PML have been coming to power on the armys pleasure, and losing power when the army withdrew pleasure. So it should have been with the PTI. Thats where the army lost the plot.

The post-Musharraf generals, less Islamists than the namazi faujis of the Zia-ul Haq generation, had betted heavily on the handsome batsman who looked like a playboy, had had a Jewish English wife, looked harmless, and was called Im the Dim. They funded his party, got their ISI to do dirty work for him, and put him in the prime ministers crease.

But soon the batter started hitting it all off-side, and the umpires in khakhi withdrew their pleasure. Out went the batter, but unlike the Sharifs and the Bhuttos before him, Khan made a loud appealnot to any umpires clad in white or khaki, but to the ill-clad masses in the galleries. As the galleries exploded, the outgoing army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa declared that the army would slowly withdraw from politics; his successor Asim Munir seemed to nod his peak-capped head.

It was then that the army realised it had been riding the political tiger. Since last April we have been seeing things that were once impossible to imagine in Pakistanmobs abusing the army, burning flag cars, ransacking flagstaff bungalows, looting command houses and more.

Look at what happened since. When the elections came, the generals got Imran arrested, his supporters booked, his party banned, his bat symbol frozen, his partys meetings broken up, and finally the counting rigged. The masses still sought out his batless candidates, and stamped the ballots on their myriad symbols in so large numbers that even the rigged results gave them more seats than the military-favoured Sharifs and Bhutto-Zardaris.

For the first time in Pakistans history, peoples will power prevailed over the armys firepower. And the world came to know who was the tiger and who was the rider.

prasannan@theweek.in
As someone who admires France, its people, their refinement, their language, and their cultureespecially their literature and cinemaI was deeply humbled recently to be conferred their highest civilian honour, the Chevalier de la Legion dHonneur. For me, France is not just its world-renowned cuisine or the enchanting lavender fields of Provence. It is, in the famous expression, France, mother of arts, arms and laws.

To my mind, the conferral of this award to an Indian is also an acknowledgement of the deepening of Franco-Indian relations, and the continuity of the warmth that has been a feature of this relationship for a very long time. We have come a long way from the days the French colonisers fought with the British for land and resources in India, and the French lost. During World War I, some 1.3 lakh Indians served in and around the Somme, and nearly 9,000 died, in a combat that was not theirs. One hundred years later, things are much better.

President Emmanuel Macron said during his visit to India in 2018: The trust we share protects us while our interests are aligned. We want India to be our first strategic partner here, and we want to be Indias first strategic partner in Europe. As they adjust to the collapse of the post-war order, India and France recognise the urgency of building partnerships that can provide some stability in an increasingly unstable world. France, which had sought strategic autonomy as part of its alliance with the US, and India, which valued an independent foreign policy, are natural partners in building new partnerships for uncertain times.

Shutterstock

My relationship with France was forged principally through my United Nations experiences. I enrolled in the UN French classes at the Palais des Nations in Geneva and found I had something of a facility for the language. Living in Geneva, I was a frequent visitor to neighbouring parts of France, and once I had left Europe, returned as a writer, for various literary conferences. I observed with great delight that the French have a remarkable ability to engage with ideasthe very hallmark of a civilised societyand also to put forth their viewpoints in the most civil, intelligent and courteous manner. The art of deliberation and discussion is on daily display in Franceyou can turn on your television at midnight and find thoughtful people discussing complicated issues with erudition and insight. No wonder it was a French philosopher, Rene Descartes, who said, I think, therefore I am. The Frenchman can give stiff competition to the argumentative Indian!

Inevitably, I have also nurtured a sense of profound respect for French democracy. Its not too much to claim that the idea of a nation belonging to the people, the idea of a democratic state, was born in the land of liberte, egalite, fraternite where the people first replaced the king as the nucleus of the nation. Ive been impressed by the French reverence for the republics genesis and its founding principleswhich has given me, in turn, a deep-rooted appreciation of French democracy.

My association with France and its people is thus one of my most cherished relationships. And Im not alone. More than 1,09,000 Indians live in France, including about 10,000 Indian students, and the numbers are steadily increasing.

An episode that encapsulated the beauty of the French spirit came during my trip to France in 2002 with a delegation of eminent Indian writers, including the likes of Mahasweta Devi, Javed Akhtar, M. Mukundan and U.R. Ananthamurthy, the Belles Etrangeres. Our writers, returning from a reception at the majestic Hotel de Ville, found themselves accidental witnesses to the interment of the nineteenth-century novelist Alexandre Dumas, more than a century after his death, in the magnificently lit Pantheon. The Roman columns of this great Parisian monument were bathed in purple, red and blue light; a military band played outside, while an honour guard escorted the coffin of the author of The Three Musketeers its final resting place. Ananthamurthy, the doyen of our group, put it simply to me. The French, he said, really know how to honour their writers.

May I now add: I am glad they are honouring ours, too.

editor@theweek.in
Byju Raveendran, founder and CEO of beleaguered edtech company BYJU'S, said the company will not be able to pay salaries to its employees as the funds raised through a rights issue recently cannot be accessed by the company due to a legal dispute with certain investors.

In a letter to the employees of BYJU'S, Raveendran assured that the salaries will be paid "the moment we are permitted to do so as per law."

The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) had recently asked BYJU'S to keep the funds, raised through rights issue, untouched.

Earlier this week, the court had asked BYJU'S to consider extending the closing date of the $200 million rights issue. The Bengaluru bench of the court had said the funds received by the company through the rights issue should be kept in a separate escrow account, and it should not be withdrawn till the disposal of the matter.

Raveendran said in the letter that the rights issue has been closed successfully.

"This was supposed to be a happy correspondence. After all, we now have funds to meet our short-term needs and clear our liabilities. However, I regret to inform you that we will still be unable to process your salaries," he said.

He said last month, BYJU'S was facing a tough time due to a lack of capital, and "now we are experiencing a delay despite having funds".

"Unfortunately, a select few (4 out of our 150 plus investors) have stooped to a heartless level, ensuring that we are unable to utilise the funds raised to pay your hard-earned salaries," Raveendran said.

"At their behest, the amount raised through the rights issue is currently locked in a separate account," he noted.

"It is an agonising reality that some of these investors have already reaped substantial profits - in fact, one of them has made a staggering eight times their initial investment in BYJU'S. And yet, their actions convey a callous disregard for our lives and livelihoods."

Raveendran said he is "leaving no stone unturned" to find a way to honour the company's commitment to employees.

"Countless hours have been spent exploring every possible avenue, engaging our legal teams, and advocating for your rights. However, despite our best efforts, we are left with no option but to confront the heart-wrenching reality that we are temporarily unable to provide you with the financial support you deserve," he said.

(With PTI inputs)
FlamingoImages / iStock/Getty Images

Real estate has long been regarded as one of the best assets for building long-term wealth. However, the high capital required to invest in physical properties puts this out of reach for many Americans. Fortunately, real estate crowdfunding now allows accredited and non-accredited investors to earn passive income from real estate with much lower investment minimums.

Explore More: Barbara Corcoran Says Now Is the Best Time To Buy a House: Heres Why

Find Out: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Keep reading to discover 11 top-rated platforms that provide easy access to vetted real estate investments.

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Fundrise

Founded in 2010, Fundrise has financed over $7 billion in commercial real estate assets and has over 150,000 users. Investors can start with just $10 and earn dividend income from Fundrises portfolio of apartments, hotels, and commercial buildings across the country. The platform projects long-term returns between 7-12%.

RealtyMogul

With over 300,000 members, RealtyMogul offers one of the most popular real estate crowdfunding platforms. Investors can choose from public, non-traded REITs and private real estate funds, with minimums starting at $5,000. RealtyMogul vets each deal thoroughly and has achieved realized returns averaging 12-20% annually.

Groundfloor

Groundfloor offers investments in short-term real estate loans, providing regular monthly interest payments. Groundfloor finances fix-and-flip projects, new construction, and more across 43 states. Investors can start with minimum investments as low as $10, with historical returns averaging 9-12% annually.

EquityMultiple

EquityMultiple focuses exclusively on commercial real estate equity deals available to accredited investors. It offers the vets institutional-quality office, retail, industrial, and multifamily properties in top US markets. Minimum investments start at $5,000. EquityMultiple projects target returns for its offerings between 7-15% per year.

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DiversyFund

DiversyFund makes owning commercial real estate easy through its diversified private REIT (DF Growth REIT) available to accredited and non-accredited investors. Its portfolio includes multifamily, industrial, and retail properties, with a minimum of just $500 to invest. DF Growth REIT has a 5-year CAGR of 18.42% net of fees, with steady dividend payouts.

AcreTrader

AcreTrader brings farmland investing to both accredited and non-accredited investors. Its farmland portfolio is diversified across crop types and geographic regions for reduced risk. Offerings have minimums from $15,000 to $50,000. AcreTrader projects annual returns to investors between 6-11% over a 5-10 year hold period.

FarmTogether

Similarly, FarmTogether allows individuals to invest in sustainable farmland. Each deal is thoroughly vetted, aiming to provide annual returns to investors in the 6-11% range over 5-10+ years. Offerings require accredited investor status with minimum investments between $15,000 to $50,000.

RealCrowd

RealCrowd vets and selects the highest quality commercial real estate offerings across property types, including industrial, multifamily, self-storage, and more. Investors can expect 8-16%+ projected returns from fixing and flipping to long-term holds. Investments start at $25,000 and are only open to accredited investors.

CrowdStreet

CrowdStreet is one of the largest real estate crowdfunding platforms, with over $4 billion invested in nearly 800 projects. Offerings include equity and debt investments in commercial properties and real estate companies, with minimums starting at $25,000. Historically, realized CrowdStreet deals have achieved 17-20%+ annual returns.

ArborCrowd

ArborCrowd focuses specifically on multifamily apartment investments located in many of the fastest-growing US housing markets. Their offerings require accredited investor status with minimums between $25,000 to $50,000. Target annual returns range from 7-12% from property appreciation over 5-10-year hold periods.

Streitwise

Streitwise allows non-accredited investors to invest in commercial real estate through public non-traded REITS. Offerings have a low minimum investment of $1,000. Streitwise vets each property purchase thoroughly, focusing on appreciating assets projected to achieve returns averaging 8-12% annually.

Bottom Line

Real estate crowdfunding has allowed ordinary investors to earn passive income from an asset class previously only accessible to the ultra-wealthy. By pooling money with others to invest in vetted real estate projects, Americans can build significant wealth over time through cash flow and appreciation. Just be sure to only risk what you can afford to lose.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 11 Best Real Estate Crowdfunding Platforms: Heres How Investors Can Earn Passive Income
A few more apps came back on Play Store on Sunday after they complied with Google's billing policy, even as the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) expressed concerns as the majority of apps removed remained delisted.

Murugavel J, founder and CEO of matrimony.com, said only eight of the company's apps, including Bengali Matrimony, Marathi Matrimony, Tamil Matrimony, Jodii and Bharat Matrimony were reinstated on Sunday, but only after they accepted Google's terms.

A vast majority of its 100-plus apps are still not restored on Play Store, he said.

"In spite of the government's clear message on the issue, Google has not taken steps to reinstate all the apps that had been delisted by it over billing policies," Murugavel told PTI.

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday made it clear that the removal of apps by Google was unacceptable and that "startups will get the protection they need".

Tension between Google and some Indian apps flared on Friday after the tech giant removed certain apps from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments. The apps and well-known startup founders are up in arms and have called out Google for its action.

Decrying the continued delisting of the concerned Indian apps, IAMAI, in a statement, said it considers such harsh measures as unfair and disproportionate, at a time when a legal process is ongoing.

"The association is also of the view that such measures are discriminatory in reference to the practice followed by Google in other jurisdictions, where it has offered preferential terms to app developers in deference to ongoing legal proceedings or legislative developments," it said.

IAMAI expressed deep concern as the majority of apps continued to be delisted.

It is pertinent to mention here that the government is likely to meet Google and representatives of concerned apps on Monday to resolve the issue.

Naukri, 99acres, and Shaadi.com were among the few apps back on the Google Play Store on Saturday apparently after they complied with the tech giant's norms even as the government made it clear that delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted and scheduled a meeting with the two sides.

IAMAI has said the Indian tech ecosystem needs to be protected and provided favourable terms that are attuned to the dynamics of the Indian market and support the growth and development of an open internet ecosystem in the country.

"The association also appreciates the proactive response of the government to the issue, and the government's commitment to help resolve the issue," IAMAI said.

The industry body urged Google to restore the status quo of the apps and re-list them on the Play Store in the manner they have been operating since inception.

"We urge Google to discuss the matter with the stakeholders and work towards a reasonable and mutually beneficial solution," it said.
Actor Dulquer Salmaan has expressed shock at the Spanish tourist being gang raped in Jharkhand. The actor, on his Instagram stories, wrote, This news broke me. Both of you had recently arrived in Kottayam. Had dinner with my close friends. This should not happen to anyone anywhere.



The couple, who were touring India on a cycle, were en route to Nepal and had stopped at Dumka, to pitch a tent, when the incident took place.

The couple had said the men robbed them and beaten them. But, did not steal many things as their main motive was to rape her.

The incident took place at Kurumahat in the Hansdiha police station area, around 300 km from the state capital Ranchi, on Friday night when a tourist couple from Spain was spending the night at a makeshift tent.

"Superintendent of Police Pitamber Singh Kherwar himself went to the spot last night and is still camping there. Investigation is underway, and forensic teams have visited the spot. The survivor has been admitted to a hospital.

The crime occurred on the day Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in Jharkhand and had expressed serious concerns over deteriorating law and order and extortion in the state, according to a PTI report.
The AAP on Sunday attacked the BJP for fielding Bansuri Swaraj from the New Delhi constituency in the Lok Sabha elections, claiming she had represented "anti-national forces" in court, even as she hit back at Delhi's ruling party over its choice of candidate from the seat.

Delhi Minister Atishi said at a press conference that Swaraj -- the daughter of late BJP leader and former Union minister Sushma Swaraj -- should apologise to the people of the country for taking up such cases and also demanded that the saffron party replace her.

"Swaraj has repeatedly defended in court fugitive Lalit Modi, who has fled the country after embezzling lakhs of crores of rupees. From 2012 to 2014, she consistently defended Lalit Modi from lower courts to the high court to the Supreme Court in the case of his passport," the senior AAP leader alleged.

"He fled with his passport before the division bench's order came and has not returned since. Not only that, Lalit Modi had also thanked Bansuri Swaraj via tweet for fighting his case," she claimed.

When two women were stripped and paraded during the violence in Manipur, Swaraj stood for the BJP-led Centre in the Supreme Court, Atishi claimed at the press conference.

"Today, she will go to women in the New Delhi constituency and ask them for votes," Atishi said.

The Delhi minister further alleged, "When the Chandigarh mayoral elections were held and there was an attempt at vote theft, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court called that election a 'murder of democracy', Swaraj stood for the 'fake mayor' from the BJP in the Supreme Court."

Atishi also demanded that the BJP replace Swaraj as its candidate from the constituency.

Somnath Bharti, the INDIA bloc candidate from the New Delhi constituency, also demanded that Swaraj and the BJP should "apologise for such a blunder".

During the press conference, Atishi also spoke about outgoing BJP MP Harsh Vardhan's decision to bow out of electoral politics.

Vardhan is known for his honesty and hard work for the country, the people of his parliamentary constituency and his assembly constituency, she said.

"He always raised issues of public interest and spoke for them. I think it has become very clear that just as he was removed from the position of health minister at one time for raising some issues, today, it seems that perhaps his ticket has been cut due to his honesty," she claimed.

Barring North East Delhi, where the BJP has named Manoj Tiwari for a third term, the saffron party has fielded new faces from four constituencies -- New Delhi (Swaraj), West Delhi (Kamaljeet Sehrawat), South Delhi (Ramvir Singh Bidhuri) and Chandni Chowk (Praveen Khandelwal).

The BJP is yet to name its candidates for East Delhi -- where MP Gautam Gambhir has said he requested party chief JP Nadda to relieve him of his political duties -- and North West Delhi.

Hitting back, Swaraj questioned the AAP on its choice of candidate, who was allegedly beaten up by his own cadre in Rajendra Nagar on Saturday.

Responding to the AAP's allegations, she said, "I would like to ask the AAP -- why have you fielded a candidate who was beaten up by his own cadre in Rajendra Nagar yesterday (Saturday)?"

"They have named a candidate who is not liked by his own party members. They can put allegations against us but people will give them a reply in the elections," she said.
The greatest chunk of seats in the list announced on Saturday evening by the Bharatiya Janata Party has gone to the Other Backward Castes, while general castes make for the second place and Scheduled Castes for the third.



To the first category have gone 20 seats, 19 to the second and 12 to the third.

It is also noteworthy that none of the sitting MPs in the 51 seat list for the state have been denied tickets.

However on seats that the BJP lost, there are new names. Saket Mishra, currently a member of the legislative council, is the partys candidate from Shravasti. He is the son of Nripendra Mishra, the chairman of the Ram Mandir construction committee.

In Ambedkar Nagar, BSP deserter Ritesh Pandey, who joined the party just a week ago, has been given a ticket. Pandey is a sitting BSP MP. Soon after switching sides, he aired several grievances against the party, including one that he had been sidelined by not being invited to important party meetings despite working tirelessly in his constituency.

Kripa Shankar Singh, former home minister of Maharashtra, has been given a ticket from Jaunpur. Originally from the Congress, he had joined the BJP in 2021.

The fourth new name is Om Kumar who is a two-time MLA from the BJP. He had started his political career from the BSP.

The surprise factor in this list was the retaining of all sitting MPs. However the greater surprise is expected to come in list number two.

There is speculation that among those who will not receive tickets are Varun Gandhi, Maneka Gandhi, Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Brij Bhushan, Sharan Singh, Santosh Gangwar and Sanghmitra Maurya.

Denying Singh a ticket will be a challenge for the party because he has the following to win even as an independent. Gangwars exclusion will be surprising given that he is extremely popular and accessible to his constituents in Bareilly. Mauryas exclusion will be a fallout of her father Swami Prasad Mauryas outlandish statements and also of the recent controversy regarding her marriage.
The Madhya Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party targets door-to-door campaign in all 64,523 booths in the state and has pressed 41 lakh party workers to distribute a letter from PM Narendra Modi and to put stickers on every house.



Modis letter addressed to the states voters says that in the last 20 years, the state has come out of the 'BIMARU'. Who can forget the time in 2003 when basic facilities like roads, electricity and water were lacking in the state. I have full confidence that in the upcoming Assembly election too, the people will once again extend their support to me and the BJP always had a special connection with Madhya Pradesh due to which the people here have helped the BJP to register victory in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, it said.

State party president Vishnudutt Sharma has asked party workers to highlight schemes like Ujjwala Yojana, Ayushman Bharat, the street vendor license and other similar programmes. These are bringing big changes in the lives of people, said Sharma. Due to these schemes, 1.36 crore people have come above the poverty line in the state. Now 2.5 crore more people will come out of poverty. This is the strength of the Prime Minister's welfare schemes for the poor.

This outreach programme has to be preceded by greeting people with Ram Ram. Selfies are also mandatory. The party is aiming to increase 370 votes in every booth in the state, thereby increase its vote share by 10 per cent in Madhya Pradesh.

Sharma said, The PMs welfare schemes for the poor are realising the goal of making MP self-reliant. These schemes are a guarantee of making MP a developed state. These welfare schemes are working to change and raise peoples standard of living.

Sharma also instructed party workers to talk about the failures of the Congress. The party has a history of breaking the country, and even today, it is doing the same. Rahul Gandhi, in his last visit, had walked step by step with the members of the Tukde-Tukde gang who raised slogans of disintegrating the country. What right does the Congress party, which stands with the opponents of the country, have to talk about uniting India?

He also labelled the Bharat Jodo Yatra a white lie. He is dishonest and attempting to fool the public, said Sharma.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav took a dig at Chief Minister Nitish Kumars frequent flip-flops and said the latter should stick to his word of staying with the BJP at least this time.



Tejashwi told presspersons, We wish him all the best. This time he said that he would remain where he is. At least this time he should stick to his word. Nitish in January announced his decision to snap the alliance with the RJD and the Congress to join the BJP-led NDA, his fifth flip-flop in a decade.

Kumar took oath as the chief minister of Bihar for a record ninth time on January 28, hours after he resigned from the post following his exit from the Mahagathbandhan and formed a fresh government with the support of the BJP. He resigned as the chief minister, saying "things were not working well" for him in the Mahagathbandhan and the INDIA alliance.

The Bihar chief minister shared the stage with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday and the JD(U) president asserted he would remain with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) forever.

You (Modi) had come to Bihar earlier as well but I disappeared (from NDA) for some time. Now I am again with you and assure you that I will remain with the NDA forever, Kumar said on Saturday.
Pakistans foreign office confirmed on Sunday the seizure of a Chinese shipment headed to that country by Indian agencies on the suspicion of it being masked to assist its nuclear programme.

The seizure has triggered a diplomatic row, with China joining in by saying it strictly fulfils its international non-proliferation obligations and commitments.

As reported by THE WEEK, the consignment was seized by Indian agencies on January 23 at Nhava Sheva port in Mumbai on the suspicion that it was a possible dual-use consignment that could be used for Pakistans nuclear and ballistic missile programme.

While China said it is verifying the authenticity of the reports, the Pakistan foreign office termed the seizure an innocuous case of import of a commercial lathe machine by a Karachi-based commercial entity which supplies parts to the automobile industry in Pakistan.

The Chinese embassy in India, in a post of X, said that as a responsible major country, China strictly fulfils its international non-proliferation obligations and commitments.

The embassy also noted that in March 2020, some Indian media hyped up the Chinese ship, Da Cui Yun, for transporting so called dual use materials. They have now learnt that the materials seized by India were by no means a piece of military equipment or a dual use item covered by Chinas non-proliferation export control regime, it said.

Now, the Indian officials contention is that if Chinese authorities were still verifying the authenticity, then a response is premature about the nature of the consignment at this stage.

Indian officials have also debunked Pakistani claims as an acceptance of complicity in masking the seized items that could easily be used in its nuclear and ballistic missile programme.

They added that if it were a simple case of the import of a commercial lathe machine, then there was no need to mask the real recipient of the consignment.

Indian agencies allege Pakistan is using China as a conduit to procure dual-use and restricted items from Europe and the United States.

But the Pakistan foreign office said that the specifications of the equipment indicated its purely commercial use.

The transaction was being conducted through transparent banking channels with all the relevant documentation. The relevant private entities are pursuing the matter against this unjustified seizure, said a Pakistan foreign office spokesperson following THE WEEKs news break, which was widely followed up in Indian as well as Pakistani media.

Pakistan has also termed the seizure Indian highhandedness.. But Indian officials pointed out that Pakistans nuclear and ballistic missile programme is questionable and worrisome for the international community, which has been documenting the role of Pakistan as a repeat offender in order to build its nuclear and ballistic missile programme.

Indian officials referred to Pakistans role in the black market of nuclear technology, in which uranium enrichment centrifuges, nuclear designs and other technical know-how were clandestinely sold to countries like North Korea, Libya, and Iran.

But the latest action by Indian authorities has given rise to fresh worries on Indian as well as foreign shores of proliferation concerns by Pakistan and China.

It also triggered a diplomatic row, with Pakistans foreign office spokesperson on Sunday claiming such acts (seizure by India) highlight the growing impunity of certain states in violating international norms and taking arbitrary measures in violation of international law. This disruption of free trade underscores the dangers inherent in the arbitrary assumption of policing roles by states with dubious credentials, said the Pakistani spokesperson.

But Indian agencies have evidence of how Pakistan is using China as a conduit to procure dual-use and restricted items for possible use in its nuclear programme.

Top port authorities told THE WEEK that the ship was loaded at Shekou port in China and was carrying CNC machinery, originally manufactured by an Italian firm. CNC means Computer Numerical Control, and such machines are basically controlled by a computer and produce a scale of efficiency, consistency, and accuracy that is not possible manually.

After port authorities stopped the Malta-flagged Karachi-bound merchant ship, CMA CGM Attila, at Nhava Sheva port, they alerted the Indian defence authorities, who inspected the heavy cargo and reported their suspicions.

According to documents like bills of lading and other details of the consignment, the consigner was mentioned as Shanghai JXE Global Logistics Co Ltd and the consignee was Pakistan Wings Pvt Ltd of Sialkot.

As per the website of Pakistan Wings, it is a leading sea and air freight consolidator and third-party logistics provider. However, when Indian officials dug deeper, it was found that the consignmentweighing 22180 kilogrammeswas shipped by Taiyuan Mining Import and Export Co. Ltd and was meant for Cosmos Engineering in Pakistan.

This is not the first instance when Indian port officials have seized such dual-use military-grade items that were being shipped from China to Pakistan. Cosmos Engineering, which is a Pakistani defence supplier, has been on the watch list since March 12, 2022, when Indian authorities interdicted a shipment of Italian made thermoelectric instruments at Nhava Sheva port.

Indian officials suspect that these thermoelectric instruments were meant for a Pakistani uranium enrichment facility. Indian officials also believe that Pakistan Wings was mentioned as a consignee in a deliberate ploy to hide the name of the original consignee, which was Cosmos Engineering.

Indian officials have long suspected that the Pakistani military is using the services of Pakistan Wings to facilitate shipments of dual-use and restricted items from different parts of the world.

Such shipments, they said, are noticed coming from China, Italy, and Turkey to Pakistani defence entities. They also suspect that Pakistan Wings has close ties with Quantum Logix, a sanctioned entity by the US for acting contrary to national security interests. It was added to the US's Department of Commerces Export Administration Regulations (EAR) entities list on June 14, 2023. Indian officials say Chinese support for Pakistans nuclear and missile programme is an area of grave concern.

Even in February 2020, a consignment of industrial autoclaves, a dual-use technology that can be used to produce rocket motors for missiles, was seized from a Chinese vessel, Dai Cui Yun, at Kandla port in Gujarat. It was masked as a consignment of industrial drier and was loaded at Jiangyin port in China, and was meant for Pakistans Port Qasim. It was hidden in the ships bottom cargo.

Indian agencies are now examining whether the suspected Pakistani entities receiving the dual-use items were further supplying them to the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DESTO), which conducts the bulk of the research and development for the Pakistan Ministry of Defence Production.

Even though both Pakistan and China deny the claims, officials say the seizure of such clandestine shipments shows both countries continuing cooperation in possible proliferation trading, violating international commitments.
Amid escalating tensions, both Israel and Hamas are facing significant challenges in reaching a truce deal, prolonging the conflict and raising concerns about the hostages. However, providing a ray of hope, a Hamas official said that the truce is possible "within 24 to 48 hours" if Israel accepts their demands.

Mediators US, Qatar and Egypt are struggling to work out a truce plan before Ramadan (on March 10/11). Reportedly, envoys of these countries have arrived in Cairo for a meeting with the Hamas officials on agreeing on a ceasefire deal.

"Pave the way for an agreement within the next 24-48 hours," a senior Hamas official told AFP adding Israel to accept Hamas' demands.

The meeting in Cairo, led by Hamas' deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil Al-Hayya is viewed as the final hurdle towards an agreement to halt the fighting for six weeks.

While speaking to the reporters, a US official said that "The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And there's a deal on the table. There's a framework deal."

Ahead of the ground offensive in Rafah, a ceasefire plan would allow more aid to be brought into Gazans and ramp up initiatives to save innocent lives as well.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, as many as 30,410 Palestinians have been killed and 71,700 injured since the October 7 attacks.

Meanwhile, after concluding the preliminary review of the killing of over 100 Palestinians waiting for aid in Gaza, IDF said the military did not strike the convoy.

The IDF has concluded an initial review of the unfortunate incident where Gazan civilians were trampled to death and injured as they charged to the aid convoy, IDF spokesperson R Adm Daniel Hagari said.

Hagari also said the troops had mostly fired only warning shots, although they also "responded towards several individuals" after "looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat".

However, the UN officials, who had visited those injured in the incident being treated at the hospital, said most of them suffered bullet wounds. Palestinian authorities condemned the incident and said the Israeli forces carried out a massacre.

With Gaza reeling under severe health crisis, the ministry said around 15 children have died from malnutrition and dehydration at the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza City.

Amid aid crisis, US military airdropped about 38,000 of meals into Gaza on Saturday, though aid agencies say this can have only a marginal impact given the hundreds of thousands of people who are now in desperate need of food.
After days of gunfire in the capital, Port-au-Prince, Haiti's armed groups were now eyeing its largest and main prison holding high-profile prisoners. Reportedly, hundreds of prisoners have escaped from Haiti's National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince after the gangs stormed the prison.

Haiti's police forces pleaded for help on Saturday after major gang fights broke out in the city.

"We are done. No one will be spared in the capital because there will be 3,000 extra bandits now effective," one of Haiti's police union said in a statement.

According to Gazette Haiti newspaper, a "significant" number of inmates fled from the prison. Police officers assigned to the prison had vacated the premises on Saturday, according to reports by local media AyiboPost.

According to rights group RNDDH, the penitentiary, built to hold 700 prisoners, held 3,687 as of February last year.

Reportedly, it was after the attempt to take control of the capitals main container port, causing traffic disruptions that the prison attack took place.

Why Haiti is witnessing severe gang violence

The Caribbean country, Haiti, has been witnessing unrest in recent years. However, the violence and attacks surged after Prime Minister Ariel Henry came into power. Henry came to power after the assassination of the nation's last president, Jovenel Moise, in 2021.

The armed groups want to topple Henry. Though Henry had pledged to step down by early February, citing the re-establishment of security to ensure free and fair elections, he reversed his decision.

Panic gripped Port-au-Prince after gang leader Jimmy Cherizier called on the criminal groups to unite and overthrow Henry. Heavy gunfire occurred in the region causing many causalities. Cherizier, a former police officer, also heads an alliance of gangs that faces sanctions from the UN and the US.

To avoid collateral damage, Cherizier asked the parents to keep their children from going to school.

The fights had intensified only on Thursday last week targeting police stations, airports and prisons.

We ask the Haitian National Police and the military to take responsibility and arrest Ariel Henry. Once again, the population is not our enemy; the armed groups are not your enemy. You arrest Ariel Henry for the countrys liberation, Cherizier said on Friday.

Caribbean leaders said Wednesday that PM Henry had agreed to hold general elections no later than August 31, 2025. This in turn had angered the gangs.

The recent fighting, which broke out Thursday, came as Henry was visiting Kenya to finalise details with Kenyan President William Ruto for the expected deployment of a multinational security support mission to Haiti.

The US Embassy in Haiti issued a security alert on Friday, warning of gunshots and disruptions to traffic near the domestic and international terminals, as well as surrounding areas including a hotel and the Central Directorate of the Judicial Police.
A top Israeli Cabinet minister headed to Washington on Sunday for talks with US officials, sparking a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli official, in a sign of widening cracks in Israel's wartime government nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahu's hard-line government early in the war following Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel, comes amid deep disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and create a post-war vision for the enclave.

Talks aimed at brokering a Gaza cease-fire were underway in Egypt. International mediators hope to broker a deal that would pause the fighting and free some of the remaining hostages before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10.

The US was prompted to airdrop aid into Gaza on Saturday after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from an Israel-organised convoy were killed last week. The airdrops circumvent an aid delivery system that has been hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues in Gaza and the fighting inside the tiny enclave. Aid officials say airdrops are far less effective than aid sent via trucks.

US priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahu's hard-line Cabinet, where ultranationalists dominate. Gantz's more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight to Netanyahu's far-right allies.

An official from Netanyahu's Likud party said Gantz's visit was without authorisation from the Israeli leader. The official said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz about the trip and told him the country has just one prime minister.

An Israeli official said Gantz had informed Netanyahu of his intention to travel to the US and to coordinate messaging with him. The official said the visit is meant to strengthen ties with Washington, bolster support for Israel's ground campaign and push for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Gantz is set to meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to his National Unity party.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to discuss the dispute with the media.

Netanyahu has tanked in popularity since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls, with many Israelis holding him responsible for Hamas' cross-border raid that left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead and roughly 250 people, including women, children and older adults, abducted and taken into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

The subsequent fighting has killed at least 30,410 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Around 80 per cent of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and UN agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Critics say Netanyahu's decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu has released a proposal that would see Israel maintain open-ended security control over the territory with local Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The US wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantz's party has questioned the handling of the war and the strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahu's government, Israel's most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews, many of whom are exempted to pursue religious studies. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since October 7, and the military is looking to fill its ranks.

Gantz, who polls show would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today, has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood.

A visit to the US, if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantz's support. Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior US official said Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

Israelis, deeply traumatised by Hamas' attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defence, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last year's demonstrations against the government's judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

There is a lot of anger, he said, listing grievances that were building well before Oct. 7. The moment you have that anger and a coalition that is disconnected from the people, there will be fireworks.

Fighting raged on in Gaza, with Israeli strikes late Saturday killing more than 30 people, including women and children, according to local health officials.

At least 14 were killed in a strike on a home in the southernmost city of Rafah on the Egyptian border, according to Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of the hospital where the bodies were taken. He said the dead, including six children and four women, were from the same family. Relatives said another nine people were under the rubble.

Israeli airstrikes also hit two homes in the Jabaliya refugee camp, a dense, residential area in northern Gaza, killing 17 people, according to the Civil Defence.
In this article, we look at 25 countries with the strongest armies in the world. You can skip our detailed analysis on trends in the defense industry and head over directly to the 10 Countries with the Strongest Armies in the World.

The world has been embroiled in one-after-another conflict since the last few years. Afghanistan has collapsed to the Taliban. Azerbaijan and Armenia exchange regular fire in the Caucasus after the former seized parts of the Nagorno-Karabakh region from Armenian control in 2020. Russias war on Ukraine has gone beyond two years (737 days), with no immediate end in sight. And if that was not it, the Middle East is facing what analysts describe as the worst crisis in the region since 1973 after Israel launched a full-scale invasion of Gaza in response to Hamas attacks on Israel in October last year.

Defense spending reached a record-high of $2.2 trillion in 2022, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, with Europe witnessing its steepest rise in military expenditure in three decades. While final figures for 2023 are still awaited, the need for weapons across the world amid ongoing escalations suggests the defense industry is set to continue booming, with companies such as Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT), RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX), General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD), and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) financially benefiting from the situation.

Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s revenue has grown 2.4% compared to 2022, to total a whopping $67.6 billion in 2023. The companys net earnings are also $1.2 billion higher than in the previous financial year. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX)s annual revenue figure of $68.9 billion was also 3% higher than in 2022. On the other hand, General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) posted its record highest revenue in history of $42.3 billion in 2023, registering a 7.7% growth in comparison with 2022.

In October last year (2023), it was reported that Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT)s stocks had risen 2% after the company beat estimates and posted a higher than anticipated revenue during the third quarter of the year. According to analysts, the improved financial performance was owed to a sustained demand for weapons amid the ongoing military crises in different parts of the world.

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RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) has received orders worth $3 billion since Russia waged war on Ukraine in February 2022, with the aim being to replenish Kyiv. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD)s combat systems unit also generated a 25% YoY higher revenue during the third quarter of 2023. The unit, which manufactures tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery, has already seen the output of its artillery increase from 4,000 rounds per month to 20,000. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is the sixth largest defense contractor in the world heading into 2024. You can read more on this here.

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)s share price has risen 6% since the declaration of Israels war against Hamas in Gaza in October last year. The company expects its revenue to be between $40.8 billion and $41.2 billion in 2024 due to an increasing demand for its weapons. The US Army awarded a $522 million contract to Global Military Products and Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) in early 2023 to manufacture artillery ammunition for Ukraine.

Lets now head over to the list of the strongest armies in the world.

25 Countries With The Strongest Armies In The World

BPTU/Shutterstock.com

Methodology

Several weighted metrics have been considered in preparing the list of countries with the strongest armies in the world. These include manpower (10%), tanks (10%), armored fighting vehicles (10%), rocket projectors (10%), attack helicopters (15%), nuclear weapons (15%), GDP (10%), defense spending (10%), and technological capabilities (10%).

Data on tanks, manpower and nuclear weapons have been sourced from our recent article 24 Most Powerful Militaries in the World in 2024. For the fleet size of armored fighting vehicles, attack helicopters, and rocket projectors, we referred to figures stated by the Global Firepower Index 2024.

25 Largest Economies in the World in 2024 and 20 Countries With Highest Military Spending In The World were consulted for data related to GDP and defense spending. It must be noted that the GDP figures are for 2023, while for defense spending, 2022 is the latest year for which data is currently available. Lastly, the Global Innovation Index 2023 was used to determine the technological capabilities of countries.

We observed where countries ranked on each metric, and then multiplied their ranking with the weight for that metric. That gave us a weighted ranking for that country on a particular metric. For example, if a country ranked 1st on a metric weighed at 10%, it received a weighted ranking score of 0.1 (1x10%). This was done for all metrics considered in our research. Finally, all weighted ranking scores were aggregated to get an overall weighted ranking. Our list of the 25 countries with the strongest armies in the world is sorted in descending order of their overall weighted rankings.

Please note that the list is about strongest armies, not necessarily strongest militaries.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

25 Countries with the Strongest Armies in the World

25. Australia

Manpower: 57,350

Tanks: 59

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 16,162

Rocket Projectors: None

Attack Helicopters: 22

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $1.69 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $32.3 billion

Technological Capabilities: 24/132

Weighted Ranking: 21.30

Australia boasts one of the most powerful armies in the world. Its personnel and officers are deployed in various overseas locations as well to safeguard Australian interests.

24. United Arab Emirates

Manpower: 65,000

Tanks: 354

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 12,253

Rocket Projectors: 162

Attack Helicopters: 30

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $509 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $22.7 billion

Technological Capabilities: 32/132

Weighted Ranking: 20.80

The United Arab Emirates is next on our list. It is one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East, and a key ally of the United States in ensuring security in the region. The Emirati Army plays an active role in regional conflicts  most notably in Yemen.

23. Vietnam

Manpower: 600,000

Tanks: 2,029

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 18,578

Rocket Projectors: 450

Attack Helicopters: 0

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $433 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $5.5 billion

Technological Capabilities: 46/132

Weighted Ranking: 19.70

Vietnam is among countries with the strongest ground forces in the world, with a sizable manpower of about 600,000 troops, and a large fleet of battle tanks and armored fighting vehicles.

22. Poland

Manpower: 202,100

Tanks: 612

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 13,956

Rocket Projectors: 221

Attack Helicopters: 30

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $842 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $16.6 billion

Technological Capabilities: 41/132

Weighted Ranking: 18.95

The Polish armys strength is set to be further enhanced after a $1.4 billion deal with General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) last year for 116 M1A1 Abrams tanks. Poland's defense spending as a share of the GDP (2.42%) is the fourth highest among NATO member nations.

21. Brazil

Manpower: 360,000

Tanks: 469

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 44,044

Rocket Projectors: 78

Attack Helicopters: 0

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $2.13 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $20.21 billion

Technological Capabilities: 49/132

Weighted Ranking: 18.45

Brazil has the ninth largest economy in the world. The country is leveraging its economic strength to build a strong armed forces. Its ground forces are 360,000 personnel strong and boast a large fleet of armored fighting vehicles. Brazil spent over $20 billion on defense expenditure in 2022, according to SIPRI.

20. Algeria

Manpower: 325,000

Tanks: 1,632

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 35,990

Rocket Projectors: 236

Attack Helicopters: 75

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $224 billion

Defense Spending (2022):$9.14 billion

Technological Capabilities: 119/132

Weighted Ranking: 17.95

Algeria is the third most powerful military in Africa, with its ground forces considered to be among the strongest in the world. The country has the fifteenth largest fleet of battle tanks, along with a huge number of armored fighting vehicles and attack helicopters. Algeria ranks low on technological capabilities and sources most of its military equipment from Russia.

19. Iran

Manpower: 610,000

Tanks: 1,996

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 65,765

Rocket Projectors: 775

Attack Helicopters: 13

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $366 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $6.84 billion

Technological Capabilities: 62/132

Weighted Ranking: 17.70

Despite being under heavy sanctions from the West for several decades, Iran still manages to boast a powerful, battle-hardened army that is over 600,000 personnel strong, and has a large fleet of battle tanks and armored fighting vehicles. The Iranian military has been actively involved in the conflicts in the Middle East, especially in Iraq and Syria.

18. North Korea

Manpower: 1,320,000

Tanks: 5,845

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 24,696

Rocket Projectors: 2,920

Attack Helicopters: 20

Nuclear Weapons: 40

GDP (2023): $21 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $1.6 billion

Technological Capabilities: Not Listed

Weighted Ranking: 17.25

North Korea has one of the largest standing armies in the world, with a manpower in excess of 1.3 million people. Much of the equipment possessed by their soldiers, however, is old and outdated. The size of the North Korean economy coupled with international sanctions hinders the military upgradation efforts of Pyongyang.

17. Ukraine

Manpower: 900,000

Tanks: 1,777

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 22,110

Rocket Projectors: 491

Attack Helicopters: 33

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $173 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $44 billion

Technological Capabilities: 55/132

Weighted Ranking: 16.10

Ukraines resistance against Russian invasion has received wide praise from defense experts across the world. The country channeled about $44 billion in defense spending in 2022, and has been aided by its western allies as well in the form of financial, military and humanitarian support  most notably, the United States. RTX Corporation (NYSE:RTX) is working on providing six advanced surface-to-air missile system batteries to Kyiv under a $1.2 billion order placed by the US. You can read more about this in our article, 15 Countries that Provided the Highest Military Aid to Ukraine.

16. Italy

Manpower: 165,500

Tanks: 200

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 61,892

Rocket Projectors: 21

Attack Helicopters: 57

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $2.19 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $33.49 billion

Technological Capabilities: 26/132

Weighted Ranking: 16.10

Next on our list of countries with the strongest armies in the world is Italy, whose troops are well known for their contribution to peacekeeping missions worldwide. The country has high military technological capabilities and spent over $33 billion in 2022 to upgrade its armed forces.

15. Saudi Arabia

Manpower: 257,000

Tanks: 1,485

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 20,694

Rocket Projectors: 490

Attack Helicopters: 34

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $1.07 trillion

Defense Spending (2022): $75 billion

Technological Capabilities: 48/132

Weighted Ranking: 15.25

Saudi Arabia was the fifth largest military spender in the world in 2022, having incurred about $75 billion in defense expenditure that year. The Saudi army has a sizable manpower of over 250,000 active troops, and a large number of battle tanks, armored fighting vehicles, rocket projectors, and attack helicopters.

14. Israel

Manpower: 170,000

Tanks: 1,370

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 43,407

Rocket Projectors: 150

Attack Helicopters: 48

Nuclear Weapons: 90

GDP (2023): $522 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $23.41 billion

Technological Capabilities: 14/132

Weighted Ranking: 14.95

Israel is the most technologically advanced country in the Middle East and while much of its military strength is derived from its aerial power, it still boasts one of the strongest armies in the world. It is among the few nations of the world to be equipped with nuclear weapons.

13. Taiwan

Manpower: 215,000

Tanks: 1,010

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 19,868

Rocket Projectors: 223

Attack Helicopters: 91

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $752 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $12.51 billion

Technological Capabilities: 7/132

Weighted Ranking: 14.90

Taiwan has one of the strongest armies in the world. The government in Taipei, right since independence, has focused on building a potent armed forces due to the perceived threat of aggression from China. The country ranks high on military technological capabilities, and spent over $12 billion on defense expenditure in 2022.

12. Pakistan

Manpower: 654,000

Tanks: 3,742

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 50,523

Rocket Projectors: 602

Attack Helicopters: 57

Nuclear Weapons: 165

GDP (2023): $340 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $10.33 billion

Technological Capabilities: 88/132

Weighted Ranking: 14.25

Pakistan boasts one of the strongest militaries in the world. Its battle-hardened ground forces are one of the rare armies that have managed to push back terrorist groups, having achieved great success against militants in the volatile Af-Pak border region. Another key strength of Pakistans army is its access to nuclear weapons. The country has leaped ahead of arch-rival India as well in the nuclear realm.

11. Egypt

Manpower: 440,000

Tanks: 5,340

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 77,596

Rocket Projectors: 1,119

Attack Helicopters: 100

Nuclear Weapons: None

GDP (2023): $398 billion

Defense Spending (2022): $4.65 billion

Technological Capabilities: 86/132

Weighted Ranking: 14.15

Egypt is the most powerful military in Africa. The countrys ground forces have a sizable manpower of 440,000 troops, and are equipped with large fleets of armored fighting vehicles, battle tanks, and attack helicopters. Instability in Libya and rising terrorist activities in Egypts Sinai peninsula have forced the government led by President Sisi to increase defense expenditure to further strengthen the armed forces.

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Disclosure: None. 25 Countries with the Strongest Armies in the World is originally published on Insider Monkey.
Adding to the long list of mysterious deaths of Pakistan-based terrorists, it has been reported that a most wanted commander of United Jihad Council (UJC) was found dead in Abbottabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman, the secretary general of UJC and self-styled emir of Tahreek-ul-Mujahideen (TuM) was killed mysteriously in Abbottabad, The Times of India quoted sources as saying.

Who was Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman?

Sheikh Jameel-ur-Rehman hails from Pulwama and the Centre had designated him as a terrorist in October 2022 over his involvement in terrorist activties.

TuM, which was formed in 1990, was banned by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in February 2019 after it was found to be involved in terrorist activities and supporting terror groups such as Hizb-Ul-Mujahideen and Lashkar-e-Taiba.

Rehman reportedly coordinated with Pakistan's intelligence agency ISI and was involved in multiple terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
Lights dim in Dongri, the bustling port town in Maharashtra that was once home to smuggler-gangsters Karim Lala, Haji Mastan and Dawood Ibrahim. As crowds leave the market streets, shutters are rolled down and gunnysacks are heaved into cars, carts and two-wheelers.

The DRIone of the leanest Central agencies, with 800 personnelhas doubled its efforts to bust domestic and international smuggling syndicates. Every day, tonnes of gold smuggled by the transnational network with roots in Sudan make their way into Indias huge grey market. Evidence says it is commercial smuggling that costs the government more. With better intelligence, chances of seizing illegal consignments, identifying kingpins, and prosecuting and penalising them are increasing. The stretch of sea between the Jaffna peninsula in Sri Lanka and Mandapam in Tamil Nadu offers several options to fishermen-turned-kuruvis.

Sleuths of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence make frequent visits to the deserted alleys at this hour, hoping to stumble upon consignments of gold, that might have escaped the airports and seaports of the financial capital. In January alone, the Mumbai airport customs seized gold worth more than Rs3 crore in different casesgold wired in trolley bags and inner wear in flights from Jeddah, and gold dust from Dubai. The identity of the suppliers and whether the gold was meant to be sold in shops dotting Dongri have become a matter of investigation.

What the customs caught is just a drop in the ocean. Dongri made a rude comeback on the smuggling map in 2019 as the melting pot for smuggled gold from around the globe. In April that year, as much as 4,522.75kg gold worth Rs1,473 crore was seized from just one Dongri-based syndicate. It was the largest such cache seized from a smuggling group in recent history.

The DRI said the Dongri operation employed 18 Sudanese women. They were arrested while trying to evade scanners at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. The women carried gold worth Rs10 crore eachas gold dust and paste on skin, and gold capsules in body cavities. They did not know each other. Their mission: obtain Customs clearance and contact a handler, who would extract the gold, melt it and hand it over to a middlemanYunus Shaikh in Dongri. Yunus, in turn, would deliver it to a jeweller at Kalbadevi.

Point of entry: The Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in Mumbai, which saw seizure of gold worth more than Rs3 crore in January alone.

Of late, India has become a hub for Sudanese syndicates running a booming trans-Saharan gold racket. Sudanese nationals enter India through the porous Indo-Nepal border or fly in from the UAE. In 2023, more than a dozen Sudanese gold smugglers were caught in Patna, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi and Kochi.

Sudan is Africas third largest, and the worlds tenth largest, producer of gold. With the Russia-Ukraine war having caused a spike in global gold prices, Sudanese mines are being plundered. The army and rebel forces are fighting each other for control of the mines; hundreds of tonnes of gold are being smuggled out of the country every year. As one of the worlds biggest gold smuggling markets, India has become a hub of this illicit trans-Saharan gold trade. Long-dormant smuggling networks in the country are being activated and new ones created.

**

In 2022-23, gold smuggling in India touched a four-year high. Almost 4,000kg of smuggled gold were seized in the first 11 months of the fiscal year. The Union finance ministry told Parliament that the figure was nearly equal to the combined seizures of the previous two years, and 10 per cent higher than the pre-Covid year of 2019-20.

The DRIone of the leanest Central agencies, with 800 personnelhas since doubled its efforts to bust domestic and international smuggling syndicates. Under its radar are airports and seaports in Gujarat, Mumbai, Kochi, Chennai and Kolkata, and borders between India and Nepal, Myanmar, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

On the hunt: DRI and Coast Guard personnel during a joint operation on February 8, 2023, to intercept an illegal gold consignment.

Even as old and new smuggling routes come alive, traditional smuggling methods are being combined with commercial fraud, whereby unscrupulous manufacturers misuse government schemes that allow import of gold bullion without payment of Customs duties. These manufacturers divert gold to the grey market, while fulfilling their obligations under government schemes by exporting copper and other non-precious material.

The increase in the price of gold in the international market and the substantial change in rupee-dollar parity have increased the landing cost of gold, said B.V. Kumar, former director general of the DRI. Smuggling provides an easy opportunity to make quick profits.

Gold articles weighing 17.74kg that were seized.

The Dongri bust in 2019 led DRI investigators to the Gulf of Kutch and the Mundra port in Gujarat. Nisar Aliyar, the alleged kingpin of the syndicate, had been smuggling gold from the UAE into these places. To avoid detection, the gold is painted black and concealed in brass scrap. Over two years, Nisar and co. allegedly smuggled in 4,522kg of gold in 55 consignments of brass scrap. The gold was later shipped to several metros.

Gold has always been a strong substitute for hard cash in India, and considered a safe investment in times of financial uncertainty, says A. Sakthivel, president of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO). India is one of the top gold importers, but since it hiked import duty on the metal to 15 per cent, the country has recorded a steep fall in imports. It has since incentivised illicit trade.

Lure of the sea: Tamilarasan, a fisherman-kuruvi of Mandapam in Tamil Nadu, claims to have smuggled 35kg of gold before he was caught by the DRI | Dinesh Gowshick

The Dongri chase resulted in the arrest of smuggler Shoeb Zarodarwala and his son Abdul. Shoeb told investigators that he was running a tour and travel business when he met Nisar, who introduced himself as a trader of aluminium and brass scrap in Dubai. Nisar offered Shoeb a cut if he helped him move gold in India.

Shoeb personally delivered the first gold consignment of 50kg, and made hawala payments to Nisar in Dubai through operators in Mumbai. A popular identification technique in smuggling was used to deliver the money. The carriers show the image of a currency note on WhatsApp, and it is matched with the note in the hands of the hawala operator. The smuggled gold, meanwhile, reaches buyers who melt it in tiny shops in crowded jewellery markets in several cities.

Illegal gold weighing around 18kg that was seized from nine Kenyan women who were arrested in Mumbai in April.

According to the DRI, 90kg gold worth Rs29.57 crore was siphoned off from the Dongri consignment even before the DRI could lay its hands on it. The agency invoked the stringent provisions of the 1974 Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities Act (COFEPOSA) against the accused. But Nasir still got a reprieve after 18 months, the maximum detention period under the law.

Correct enforcement of the law is a problem for agencies, which mostly conduct investigations based on information that may or may not be true. It is a situation of wheels within wheels, said Sujay Kantawala, lawyer at the Bombay High Court. Kantawala has handled several cases of smuggling, money laundering and tax evasion.

In 2022, the government raised the monetary threshold for prosecution and arrests in commercial fraud and smuggling cases from Rs1 crore to Rs2 crore. The threshold for duty evasion and outright smuggling was raised from Rs20 lakh to Rs50 lakh. It means if the value of the smuggled gold is less than Rs2 crore, the smuggler can get bail on the spot.

As profits overtake risks, smuggling goes up. When the RBI decided to withdraw Rs2,000 currency notes from circulation, there was a rush to offload the notes. What better incentive than to buy gold? asked Kantawala.

Every day, tonnes of gold smuggled by the transnational network with roots in Sudan make their way into Indias huge grey market. The network is so vast that both private and public companies have come under the DRI scanner. The agency recently found that several well-known private jewellers and the government-owned Metals and Minerals Trading Corporation (MMTC) were part of transactions that flouted provisions of the Special Economic Zone Act, 2005, and misused tax-incentive schemes to manufacture gold jewellery. In 2021, the Enforcement Directorate found that a jewellery firm had laundered money through its transactions with MMTC. The jewellerys assets worth hundreds of crores of rupees were seized.

Indias appetite for gold is driving commercial frauds as well. In one instance, the air cargo (export) wing at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi received intelligence that a company based in a special economic zone in Noida had mis-declared one of its consignments. The company, which was trading with a jewellery firm, had declared a gold consignment weighing 26.9kg, valued at Rs5.62 crore. But when DRI personnel broke the seal on the package, they found a locked metal trunk with 16 cardboard boxes. Fifteen boxes were labelled traditional sweets, and the sixteenth one was a big red box whose invoice said studded jewellery.

A jewellery appraiser was soon called in and all boxes were opened. They contained more than 500 pieces of polished yellow jewellery made of copper, nickel and silver. The red box had gold earrings with non-precious beads. The whole consignment had just 3.16kg of gold, against the declared 23.49kg.

The accused told the DRI that the gold was imported duty-free into the special economic zone, and it was sold secretly to buyers in jewellery hubs in Karol Bagh and Chandni Chowk in Delhi. Hawala payments were made to Dubai. According to the DRIs rough estimates, the Noida company diverted at least 450kg gold using the method.

Officials say they continue to bust such rackets across the national capital region. The biggest impact is on the exchequer, which not only loses Customs revenue, but also the foreign exchange that could have been earned had the items manufactured from imported gold were actually exported. More often than not, such practices lead to generation of black money and [drive] money laundering, said Sreekumar Menon, former director general of the National Academy of Customs, Indirect Taxes and Narcotics.

Gold is smuggled into India primarily through two means. Commercial smuggling, where various export and import schemes are misused, and outright smuggling by individual carriers who evade Customs duty. Evidence says it is commercial smuggling, rather than smuggling by individuals, that costs the government more. With better intelligence, chances of seizing illegal consignments, identifying kingpins, and prosecuting and penalising them are increasing.

But kuruvis remain a conundrum. Kuruvis, or sparrows, is a popular name for human mules who smuggle gold into India in various forms and pass them on to anonymous handlers. Once these kuruvis succeed in evading Customs check at airports and coastal areas, there is little chance of recovering the gold, say investigators. For syndicates and kingpins, kuruvis are also expendablethey are lone agents who know neither their handler nor the larger network behind the operation.

The payout involved in gold smuggling lures individuals to become kuruvis. Also, it is easier to carry gold than sandalwood, narcotics or foreign currency. Gold is biologically inert, and it can even pass through the digestive tract without being absorbed. The variety of ways by which gold can be smuggled lures many people to take the risk.

THE WEEK met Munna, 40, a former sandalwood smuggler from Chennai who has had many successful runs both as a kuruvi and as a handler of kuruvis. Munna said he started smuggling gold because he wanted to fill his undiyal (piggy bank) as fast as possible. He smiles when asked about his undiyal. It is a very lucrative business, he said. The risk is very high, but each successful consignment can fetch a few crore rupees. The profits depend on quantity.

Munna ran a network of 300 kuruvis and devised a method using iPhones to double his profits. Each iPhone can carry 225gm of gold inside. So nearly 40 people can carry up to 9kg gold a day. We used to send people in batches; there were around 300 agents doing the work.

Even though the DRI is on its feet, Munna said corrupt officials at local level aid the smuggling syndicates. In 2019, though, he got unlucky and one of his consignments was intercepted. Bribe is paid at various levels of one agency. If all the authorities do their job properly, this wont be possible, he said. These days, gold is carried as paste. Once rubbed with toothpaste or vaseline, it does not get detected during baggage screening.

According to Munna, airports are the preferred landing point for many gold consignments. The markings on the gold are removed in big factories in NCR and taken to open markets in Chennai, Hyderabad and Kozhikode. The best market for gold these days is Hong Kong, which offers the highest price.

A frequent flyer, Munna says a smugglers favourite flight would be a transit flight like Dubai to Colombo via Chennai. Since Sri Lankan authorities check direct flights from Chennai, transit flights are better, he said.

The stretch of sea between the Jaffna peninsula in northern Sri Lanka and Mandapam in Tamil Nadus Ramanathapuram district offers several options to fishermen-turned-kuruvis. The sandy islets off the Mandapam coast, for instance, can serve as landing points. By evening, the landing points become active and everyone knows that boats will be coming in at certain points, said Tamilarasan, a fisherman-kuruvi who claimed to have smuggled 35kg of gold before he was caught by the DRI.

Tamilarasan said it was common for fishermen in the region to moonlight as kuruvis. The proceeds from the smuggling boost the local economy in many ways. The Sri Lankan boats confiscated and abandoned by Customs, for instance, come in handy for fishermen near Mandapam. Often, local fishermen remove the Sri Lankan markings, paint them and refurbish them, and use them as regular boats, said Tamilarasan.

But there are those who have burnt their fingers. THE WEEK met a carrier who was caught in 2020 while trying to smuggle gold on a two-wheeler from Rameswaram to Chennai. He said he wanted to make a quick buck because his mother had fallen ill. I simply had to pick the packet from the landing point at Mandapam and deliver it to an agent in Chennai. I am probably the only gold smuggler in the entire region who got caught the very first time. I lost more than I earned, he said.

Gold smuggling has been causing political storms as well. In 2020, the Customs in Thiruvananthapuram seized 30kg of 24-carat gold from a diplomatic bag meant to be delivered to the UAE consulate. This was the first case that pointed to the existence of a transnational network involving diplomats, bureaucrats and smugglers. The Enforcement Directorate said it cracked encrypted voice recordings of conversations between hawala operators and gold smugglers. In February 2023, the Financial Action Task Force, a global anti-money laundering agency, said smugglers were using alternative banking systems (hawala) to facilitate currency exchange for purchasing gold in the Middle East, illegally transporting it to India through diplomatic bags, selling it on the black market, and turning them into jewellery for retailing.

The growing demand for purity has smugglers focusing on the India-Myanmar border. Intelligence reports say armed ethnic groups that illegally run gold mines in states such as Kachin, Kayin, Mon and Shan in Myanmar are driving the cross-border gold trade. The groups refine gold by crude methods and take it to border towns where it is converted into gold bars.

Smugglers have been exploiting the free movement regime on the India-Myanmar border that came into effect in 2018. Apparently, gold from Myanmar enters India mainly through border towns such as Zokhawthar in Mizoram and Moreh in Manipur. It is then taken by carriers on customised cars, vans, buses and trucks to Aizawl, Silchar, Guwahati, Kolkata, Delhi and Chandigarh. Apparently, demand has so grown that crude gold from Thailand and China is now entering India via Myanmar. On February 8, the Union government announced the scrapping of the free movement regime.

M. Ajay, advocate at the Kerala High Court, said the first step in curbing smuggling was to make it less lucrative. Also, he said, law enforcement agencies needed to keep pace with the changing nature of offences. Often, they take the easier option of detaining offenders under COFEPOSA, which Ajay said was not a punishment for offences committed but a law to prevent the commission of more crimes.

I have not seen many cases where end-users who put [smuggled gold] to commercial use are investigated, he said. It is only small fish that get trapped in long years of litigation.

Sample this

Mumbai saw the most seizures in January 2024; three sample case studies

BOOTY UP THE BOTTOM

Two residents of Thane, Maharashtra, travelled from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to Mumbai by Vistara Airlines flight no UK236 on January 18. They were intercepted based on specific intel and eight pieces of 24-carat gold dust in wax were found concealed up the rectum. The haul weighed a combined 2.42kg and was valued at Rs1.34 crore.

SEAT EXCHANGE

A resident of Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, flew from Thiruvananthapuram to Mumbai on IndiGo flight 6E5108 on January 17. The flight had come from Sharjah earlier the same day. The authorities got a tip that during the international leg, gold was concealed under seat 10C and that during the domestic leg the passenger in 12C would recover it and try to exit from Terminal 1. Upon arrival in Mumbai, Customs officers nabbed the passenger and recovered two pieces of 24-carat melted gold bars weighing 1.448kg, valued at more than Rs80 lakh.

WATCH YOUR STEP

A resident of Dwarka, Gujarat, flew from Dubai to Mumbai on Emirates flight EK500 on January 23-24. Four pieces of 24-carat crude gold jewellery were found concealed in the shoes worn by the passenger. They weighed 1.419kg.
Tell an Asian to exercise, and she will probably hear it as extra rice. There is more than a grain of truth in that old joke. For Asians, rice is life.

So it came as a shock for Aravinth Kumarasamy, artistic director of Apsaras Arts Dance Academy, Singapore, when his friend, a schoolteacher, told him that students in his class thought that rice came from a packet in the supermarket. He was taken aback by the fact that in a country where rice is a staple, students had no clue about its origin. A few days later, he visited an Indian school in Singapore. He noticed a patch of paddy on the campus, and asked the principal about it. The children think that rice comes from the supermarket, said the principal. Hence the show and tell.

That is when Kumarasamy thought that the younger generation needs to be educated on rice. He did not want to be preachy, and so Arisi: Rice-Grains of Lifea multidisciplinary dance show involving bharatnatyam and Balinese dancerstook form.

Rice is the staple food for at least half the worlds population, connecting cultures and civilisations. I thought that this should be a subtle message and the main show should talk about the rice cycle and the rice culture, says Kumarasamy, a Sri Lankan based in Singapore. He sat down to write the script with that one-liner in mind. But before that, he travelled the world, researching the significance of rice in the life of Asians. So, Arisi takes you through the paddy fields of Tamil Nadus Thanjavur to Indonesias Bali, weaving in the traditions, festivals and celebrations rooted in and around rice.

The diversity shows through in the production, too. Kumarasamy brought together creative minds like Mohanapriyan Thavarajah of Apsaras Arts, Balinese arts Prof I. Wayan Dibia and dramaturg Lim Ho Ngean for choreography and other aspects of the production. In November 2022, bharatnatyam dancers from India and Singapore, Balinese dancers, dramaturgy experts from Singapore, lighting and set designers, and members of the Singapore-Chinese orchestra came together for the first show in Singapore. Today, the 75-minute dance show, tracing the journey of a new generation farmer from Thanjavur to Singapore, has been performed in rice bowls across the world.

In Chennai, 20 dancersseven from Bali and the rest from India and Singaporeperformed the show during the Margazhi music season in January. Singaporean Wong Chee Wai put up a unique set with around 600 rice stalks, each about 1.6m tall. This is played around with to show a paddy field, a decorative element and rainfall, said Kumarasamy.

Apart from the props, what made the stage come truly alive was the music. At one point, a babys cry rent the air. For a while, the audience thought there was a toddler among them. But then the curtains went up, and it was clear the babys cry, signifying the connection between rice and childbirth, came from the stage.

The music was by Indian composer Rajkumar Bharathi, who blended his compositions with Balinese instruments. The lyrics have elements from the works of Tamil poets like Manickavasagar, Kambar and Subrahmanya Bharathi. We had to work through several challenges, such as integrating Chinese notes, western music and Indian ragas, said Bharathi. I was very particular that we should not mimic each other's genre and worked towards getting a perfect synergy. The whole production was a surreal experience, and I wanted the audience to experience a seven-dimensional sound with both recorded music and live orchestra. Ace music producer Sai Shravanam was in charge of the engineering and sound design, and light design was by Gyandev Singh from India.

Sound? Check. Lights? Check. All set, it was a moonwalk (figuratively, of course) for the dancers. But why combine bharatnatyam and Balinese dance? The southeast Asian-Indian link has always fascinated me, says Kumarasamy, who has trained in bharatnatyam from Kalakshetra in Chennai. Bharatnatyam and Balinese dance are rooted in natyasasthra. Also, Balis rice culture is very strongIndonesia was the first country to export rice in the 10th century BCE.

There may be several cross-cultural references in the production, but it all comes down to this core idea that Kumarasamy hadI only want to tell people how rice is rich in culture and tradition, he said, and how it is something more than a grain.
Annpurna Kaur Navina Gyawali David Bogacz Daniel Aronoff Katarzyna Bukowska

Esref Armagan was born blind, but boy can he see!

Born in 1953 into an impoverished family in Istanbul, Armagan paints, in colours, shapes and shades. His artrarely abstract, mostly landscapehas astounded many, particularly because his paintings have the right scale and perspective. He has even been the subject of a 2008 study by the University of Toronto and Harvard University. Researchers monitored his brain and found his visual cortex lighting up as he sketched, just as it does for people with sight. Armagan and his art challenge our ideas about colour and understanding of sight. It took him decades of work and perseverance to master the method of using his fingertips and mind as visual aids. And yet, some critics have discredited his workexhibited in Turkey, the Netherlands and the Czech Republicas not his own. Armagans amazing ability has been often dwarfed by his disability. And, he is not alone.

Daniel Aronoff, who won the peoples choice award for best recipe among the partially blind, finds it frustrating when someone asks who cooks for him. Excuse me? I have a million gadgets in my kitchen. I use my stove with my iPhone. I have talking thermometers, says the New Yorker based in Basque Country, Spain.

Participants of Golden Eye Chef 2023, an annual cooking contest for the blind since 2019, know what it means to have your identity distilled down to your disability. When we held the competition in 2019, we went live on YouTube, and one of the first comments we received was even they feel the need to cook now? They are blind, how do they even eat? recalls Akhil Srivastava, managing trustee of NGO Antardrishti and the brain behind the competition. People do not know what they are capable of. We realised that more than motivating blind people, we need to create awareness among the sighted.

The 2019 event was held in Agra, where Srivastava is based, and was restricted to participants in India. In 2020, the pandemic struck and the competition went onlineparticipants were asked to send videos of them cooking a dish, and were judged on parameters like how well the recipe went with the theme of the competition, how accessible the kitchen was, how the participants had arranged the ingredients and how skilful they were, says chef V.K. Iyer, who has been part of the jury for the last three editions. In 2022, the contest went international, with five overseas participants sending in videos. Last year, there were 32 participants, 11 of whom were from countries like the US, Uruguay, Mauritius and North Macedonia. Unfortunately, prejudice knows no borders.

KATARZYNA AGNIESZKA BUKOWSKA- Mexico. Recipe: Green Salsa chicken tamales. Winner: jury award for best recipe, totally blind

Poland-born, Mexico-based Katarzyna Agnieszka Bukowska, 46, would know. The former languages teacher (Polish, English and German) has been asked some very inane questionshow do you brush your teeth? Why get married when you cannot see your husband? That is why she started her own YouTube channel to try to overcome this kind of prejudice.

Bukowska won the jury award for best recipe among the totally blind. She was born with visual impairment, but could read with help of glasses. As a teenager, I developed glaucoma, she says, and then as an adult, I lost sight completely. Keeping with the theme of the 2023 contesttraditional recipe with locally sourced ingredientsshe made green salsa chicken tamales, a Mexican dish.

Bukowska has been living in Mexico for 18 years with her husband, Juan, who helped record the video, dog Imbir (meaning ginger in Polish), and cat Nebbiolo, named so after the Italian wine. Around the time she was finishing her masters in English philology, with specialisation in cognitive linguistics, she wanted to move out of the family home in Mlawa, Poland, and was wondering what to do and where to go next. Around that time, I was Skyping a lot with people and that is how I met my husband, she recalls. After finishing my masters thesis, I felt like I needed some kind of reward and went to Mexico on vacation. Mexico was warm and welcoming, and she just stayed put.

Bukowskas love for cooking comes from her mother. As a child, she went to boarding school, but would visit home on weekends, most of which were spent observing her mother whip up a yummy cake with just some flour, eggs and butter. I thought, This is magic, she says. She baked her first cake when she was 11 under her mothers supervision and has not looked back since.

ANNPURNA KAUR- New Delhi. Recipe: Vegetarian momos. Winner: jury award for best recipe, partially blind

If cooking is magical for Bukowska, it is an adventure for Daniel Aronoff, 44. He won the peoples choice award for best recipe and was the second runner-up in the jury award for the same among the totally blind. He lost his eyes to a tumour around the optic nerve, which first showed up when he was all of three.

As far as he can remember, Aronoff has always loved cooking. He wanted to be a chef when he was 20, but admits that he did not have the skills for it then. It has taken years of trial and error, says Aronoff, who had a website, called the Blind Taste Test, where he would post restaurant reviews. My wife [Ania] is from the Basque Country in Spain, I am from New York. Just having that relationship, learning about new food, it inspired me to do moreto try different cuisines, do more cooking of my own.

Ania, adds Aronoff, has been a constant source of inspiration. It was Ania who encouraged him to participate in the contest, even as he was following its social media handle and retweeting its posts. And his dishhake (a local fish in Basque Country) in green sauce (made from parsley) reflects his admiration and gratitude for his wife. Aronoff met Ania online in 2011. She had questions about cupcakes in America and places to eat in New York, says Aronoff, who has a double masters degree in social work and visual rehabilitation therapy. And then we met the next year in person and got married two years later. They have a four-year-old son, Mikel.

Aronoff, who now lives in Basque Country with his wife and son, finds it frustrating when someone asks who cooks for him. Excuse me? I have a million gadgets in my kitchen. I use my stove with my iPhone. I have talking thermometers, says Aronoff, who now teaches English online. He says he cannot understand why people think blind people cannot cook when there are so many good cooks like Christine Ha, the first-ever blind person to win the MasterChef title. Obviously, taste is very important to us, he says. It is one of those senses that we use a lot. With our four senses we do what you can with five. It might take them some time, some different trials, different alternative techniques, he says, but they can do what they set their mind to.

NAVINA GYAWALI- Kathmandu. Recipe: Dhido and gundruk. Winner: jury award for the most creative recipe, totally blind

Aronoffs parents are chuffed about their sons cooking skills. They actually exaggerate to their friends, says Aronoff, laughing. They say, Our son is doing gourmet things in the kitchen. And I am like, I am making a piece of fish; it is not gourmet.

Not all parents are as encouraging though, at least not initially. Annpurna Kaur, 28, was 13 when she first made a dish on her own. Her parents and sisters were away when she made aloo ki sabzi (a side dish made of potatoes). The dish turned out okay, but she got an earful for cooking when there was no one at home. But slowly my father supported me, says Kaur, who won the jury award for best recipe among the partially blind. Whenever he would cook, he would make me sit next to him.

Kaur was born with visual impairment and underwent a surgery at three that gave her partial vision. She made vegetarian momos, her speciality, for the competition. She has her own restaurant called Krafty Momos near Delhi Universitys north campus. She never saw cooking as a challenge, she says. Initially, it took me time to distinguish between the masalas, but I figured it out, she says. It was more difficult to convince my parents and society.

The reluctance to let visually challenged people cook or do just about anything on their own largely stems from safety concerns. Navina Gyawali, 33, from Kathmandu was often dissuaded from cooking for fear of sustaining burns or injuries. I then asked my family, You can also get burns, right? How is it any different from when I get them? I get burns not because I am blind, but because I am not mindful, says Gyawali, who was born blind. I need to cook to survive, right?

DAVID BOGACZ - Uruguay (in pic with granddaughter Vera). Recipe: Kennys Lamb. Winner: jury award for the most creative recipe and peoples choice award for best recipe, partially blind

Her family finally saw reason in her argument. Today, when there is a puja at her house, it is a given that she will make the pickles and side dishes. Her cooking skills improved when she went to the US to study international relations and US history at the University of Southern Indiana on a Fulbright scholarship. She was living alone there and missing Nepali food, so she got cooking. Convincing her family that she can cook and also teaching her blind husband to cook have been her biggest achievements, says Gyawali.

For the Golden Eye Chef, she made dhido (black millet porridge) and gundruk (fermented leafy vegetable). But what probably got her the jury award for the most creative recipe among the totally blind was the effort she put in to make it as traditional as possible. Dhido and gundruk were staples almost a century ago when people did not have enough to eat, says Gyawali. She not only dressed like a woman of that time but also travelled 300km to cook in a mud house with a chulha (earthen stove). That is why, she says, she was expecting an award for her creativity.

But David Bogacz, 66, from Montevideo, Uruguay, was not even sure he would participate in the contest. He always loved cooking but never had a chance to learn it. Last March, the now retired neurophysiologist began taking cooking classes, and it was his teacher there who pushed him to participate. My family (wife Mariella, a psychologist and theatre actor, and two sons) was surprised with my decision to participate, he says. They were very happy when I won [the jury award for most creative recipe and the peoples choice award in best recipe among the partially blind]. They are happy not just for the prize but for the fact that I am able to accept the challenge.

Bogacz, who makes a mean pizza that he learnt from his mother, made Kennys Lamb for the competition. I wanted to cook something that was relatively new, with some ingredients that were typical to my country. I discussed it with my friend Kenny, who is a good cook but not a professional, says Bogacz, who developed vision problems in 2001. In 2009, he lost vision in the right eye and then began to have problems in the left eye, too.

Bogacz wants to continue cooking and try his hand at making Indian dishes, as do Bukowska and Aronoff. Bukowska is hoping she can travel to India this year as the competition may have an offline edition. Aronoff is a huge Julia Child fan and is exploring French cuisine through her shows, videos and books. Kaur, meanwhile, wants to employ other blind people at her restaurant to create awareness in society and also provide job opportunities to those like her. Gyawali, who runs a small kitchen called Tick Tick Bites in Kathmandu (tick tick comes from the sound the white cane used by the blind makes), wants to open a restaurant run fully by the blind and expand the work of her NGO Supportive Action Towards Humanity (SATH).

I think making all these videos [for the contest] gives people a glimpse into our kitchen, into our lives, says Aronoff. It shows them that we are no different from the next person.

Clearly, the competition will have a ripple effect, at least in the community. As for the society, Gyawali has a request: Please do not connect everything with my blindness. My blindness comes with me, not before me.
Jamshedpur, Mar 3 (PTI) Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Sunday said the conglomerate would continue to uphold the legacy of its founder Jamsetji Tata, and remain committed to the principles of integrity, innovation and social responsibility.

Chandrasekaran was addressing a gathering at the Postal Park in Bistupur in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur after paying homage to Jamsetji Tata on his 185th birth anniversary. He was accompanied by Tata Steel CEO and MD TV Narendran.

"Our founder, Jamsetji Tata, envisioned a future where industry would be a force for positive change, and it is with great pride that we continue to uphold his legacy. In this occasion, we reaffirm our commitment to the principles of integrity, innovation, and social responsibility that have guided us since our inception," Chandrasekaran said.

"We will continue to work together with the community to build a brighter, more prosperous future for Jamshedpur and its residents," he added.

Later, he inaugurated an exhibition at Steelennium Hall at Jamshedpur Works of Tata Steel, where various departments presented their technology-led initiatives.

Various programmes were organised to celebrate Founder's Day across various units of the group.

Chandrasekaran also flagged off green-fuel-powered commercial vehicles of Tata Motors, meant for Tata Steel.

The fleet included Prima tractors, tippers and the Ultra EV bus, powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) and battery electric technologies, the company said in a statement.
New Delhi, Mar 3 (PTI) A few more apps came back on Play Store on Sunday after they complied with Google's billing policy, even as the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) expressed concerns as the majority of apps removed remained delisted.

Murugavel J, founder and CEO of matrimony.com, said that only eight of the company's apps, including Bengali Matrimony, Marathi Matrimony, Tamil Matrimony, Jodii and Bharat Matrimony were reinstated on Sunday, but only after they accepted Google's terms.

A vast majority of its 100-plus apps are still not restored on Play Store, he said.

"In spite of the government's clear message on the issue, Google has not taken steps to reinstate all the apps that had been delisted by it over billing policies," Murugavel told PTI.

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday made it clear that the removal of apps by Google was unacceptable and that "startups will get the protection they need".

Tension between Google and some Indian apps flared on Friday after the tech giant removed certain apps from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments. The apps and well-known startup founders are up in arms and have called out Google for its action.

Decrying the continued delisting of the concerned Indian apps, IAMAI, in a statement, said it considers such harsh measures as unfair and disproportionate, at a time when a legal process is ongoing.

"The association is also of the view that such measures are discriminatory in reference to the practice followed by Google in other jurisdictions, where it has offered preferential terms to app developers in deference to ongoing legal proceedings or legislative developments," it said.

IAMAI expressed deep concern as the majority of apps continued to be delisted.

It is pertinent to mention here that the government is likely to meet Google and representatives of concerned apps on Monday to resolve the issue.

Naukri, 99acres, and Shaadi.com were among the few apps back on the Google Play Store on Saturday apparently after they complied with the tech giant's norms even as the government made it clear that delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted and scheduled a meeting with the two sides.

IAMAI has said the Indian tech ecosystem needs to be protected and provided favourable terms that are attuned to the dynamics of the Indian market and support the growth and development of an open internet ecosystem in the country.

"The association also appreciates the proactive response of the government to the issue, and the government's commitment to help resolve the issue," IAMAI said.

The industry body urged Google to restore the status quo of the apps and re-list them on the Play Store in the manner they have been operating since inception.

"We urge Google to discuss the matter with the stakeholders and work towards a reasonable and mutually beneficial solution," it said.
Islamabad, Mar 3 (PTI) Amidst serious concerns over the continued disruption of the social media platform X in Pakistan for over a fortnight now, a member of the Senate has demanded a permanent ban on all social media due to its negative impact on the younger generation.

Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, who was recently expelled by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after he moved a resolution seeking the delaying of the February 8 polls, in the resolution called for a complete ban on all social media platforms, deeming them detrimental to the future of the young generation, Dawn News reported.

The resolution is listed on the agenda of the Senate session for Monday.

Senator Tangi, who is set to retire on March 11, said: Social media platforms are adversely affecting the young generation in the country [and] being used for promotion of norms against our religion and culture, creating hatred among people on the grounds of language and religion."

The resolution notes with concern the use of such platforms against the interests of the country through negative and malicious propaganda against the armed forces of Pakistan and calls upon the Senate to recommend to the government to ban Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube to save the young generation from their negative and devastating effects.

The X website has been largely offline since February 17, with occasional service restorations, mainly after former commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chatta made a statement in front of the media claiming that the elections were rigged.

Separately, reports said authorities are considering a blanket ban on all Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), prompting the IT and services sector to express concerns that such action could severely harm the cash-strapped countrys economy.

A majority of users are using VPNs to access the platform.

Numerous posts have been mocking the authorities, including caretaker IT Minister Umar Saif, for using a VPN. Saif uses a VPN as his current location in recent tweets is showing Hong Kong.

So far, no authority has taken responsibility for restricting the services of X, which activists see as a dangerous trend.

This way, those in power are saying that they can ban any platform without any reason or being answerable to anyone, said Nighat Dad, a digital rights activist and member of the UN Secretary Generals advisory board on AI.

She added that such a blanket ban on any platform is a violation of fundamental rights, and those in power are not considering the reputation of the country worldwide, especially concerning those who are being invited to invest in Pakistan.

Rumours that even VPNs will be banned in the country have rung alarm bells in the Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA).

P@SHA, expressing concern, said such a proposal for a blanket ban on VPNs would have detrimental consequences for Pakistans economy and its burgeoning reputation as a tech and innovation hub.

P@SHA said that a VPN ban would not only disrupt business operations but also stifle growth for companies and individuals heavily reliant on dynamic IPs for their work.

The banking sector, in particular, faces severe financial repercussions due to restricted access to VPNs, hindering their ability to manage international transactions effectively, a statement by P@SHA said, adding that such bottlenecks would obstruct the governments vision of achieving the USD 15 billion exports target for the IT and IT services and also undermines the extensive endeavours of SIFC to facilitate the ease of doing business.

Without losing reputational credibility, competitive advantage, and clientele, we advocate for the formation of a joint working group with the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority to ensure the uninterrupted operation of internet services while addressing regulatory concerns, P@SHA said.

Currently, all commercial users are mandated to get their VPNs registered at PTA in two categories for companies and freelancers. Organisations and companies are required to undertake IP Whitelisting for call centres and video conferences.

Today, more than 3,540 VPNs and 25,085 IP addresses have been registered with the PTA, but there is no bar on individuals using VPNs for non-commercial purposes.
Colombo, Mar 3 (PTI) Hundreds of Sri Lankan fishermen on Sunday protested against their Indian counterparts for their alleged poaching in the island nations waters by sailing to the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) in their trawlers.

The fishermen from Jaffna, Mullaitivu, and Mannar districts are agitated by the alleged recurring illegal fishing by their counterparts from India.

They urged the authorities to stop the Indian fishermen from coming to Sri Lankan waters and vowed stronger protests in the future if the situation remained unchecked.

In recent months, the fisher organisations have led several protests, including organising a protest opposite the Indian consulate in Jaffna.

The fishermen issue is a contentious one in the ties between India and Sri Lanka, with Sri Lankan Navy personnel even firing at Indian fishermen in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats in several alleged incidents of illegally entering Sri Lankan territorial waters.

The Palk Strait, a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both countries.

There have been periodic instances of Indian fishermen being arrested by Sri Lankan authorities for allegedly crossing the International Maritime Boundary Line and fishing in Sri Lankan waters. More than 40 Indian fishermen were arrested by the Sri Lanka Navy this month.

In 2023, the island nation's Navy arrested 240 Indian fishermen along with 35 trawlers for allegedly poaching in Sri Lankan waters.
Beijing, Mar 3 (AP) One burning issue dominates as the 2024 session of China's legislature gets underway this week: the economy.

The National People's Congress annual meeting, which opens Tuesday, is being closely watched for any signals on what the ruling Communist Party might do to reenergise an economy that is sagging under the weight of expanded government controls and the bursting of a real-estate bubble.

That is not to say that other issues won't come up. Proposals to raise the retirement age are expected to be a hot topic, the state-owned Global Times newspaper said last week. And China watchers will parse the annual defense budget and the possible introduction of a new foreign minister.

But the economy is what is on most people's minds in a country that may be at a major turning point after four decades of growth that propelled China into a position of economic and geopolitical power. For many Chinese, the failure of the post-COVID economy to rally strongly last year is shaking a long-held confidence in the future.

A CEREMONIAL ROLE

The National People's Congress is largely ceremonial in that it doesn't have any real power to decide on legislation. The deputies do vote, but it's become a unanimous or near-unanimous formalising of decisions that have been made by Communist Party leaders behind closed doors.

The congress can be a forum to propose and discuss ideas. The nearly 3,000 deputies are chosen to represent various groups, from government officials and party members to farmers and migrant workers. But Albert Wu, an expert on governance in China, believes that role has been eroded by the centralisation of power under Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Everyone knows the signal is the top, said Wu, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore and a former journalist in China. Once the top says something, I say something. Once the top keeps silent, I also keep silent.

Nonetheless, the reports and speeches during the congress can give indications of the future direction of government policy. And while they tend to be in line with previous announcements, major new initiatives have been revealed at the meeting, such as the 2020 decision to enact a national security law for Hong Kong following major anti-government protests in 2019.

A TARGET FOR GROWTH

The first thing the legislature will do on Tuesday is receive a lengthy work report from Premier Li Qiang that will review the past year and include the government's economic growth target for this year.

Many analysts expect something similar to last year's target of around 5 per cent, which they say would affirm market expectations for a moderate step up in economic stimulus and measures to boost consumer and investor confidence.

Many current forecasts for China's GDP growth are below 5 per cent, but setting a lower target would signal less support for the economy and could dampen confidence, said Jeremy Zook, the China lead analyst at Fitch Ratings, which is forecasting 4.6 per cent growth this year.

Conversely, a higher target of about 5.5 per cent would indicate more aggressive stimulus, said Neil Thomas, a Chinese politics fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

There will be positive messages for private companies and foreign investors, Thomas said, but he doesn't expect a fundamental change to Xi's overall strategy of strengthening the party's control over the economy.

Political signals ahead of the National People's Congress suggest that Xi is relatively unperturbed by China's recent market troubles and is sticking to his guns on economic policy," he said.

A NEW FOREIGN MINISTER, MAYBE

China's government ministers typically hold their posts for five years, but Qin Gang was dismissed as foreign minister last year after only a few months on the job. To this day, the government has not said what happened to him and why.

His predecessor, Wang Yi, has been brought back as foreign minister while simultaneously holding the more senior position of the Communist Party's top official on foreign affairs.

The presumption has been that Wang's appointment was temporary until a permanent replacement could be named. Analysts say that could happen during the National People's Congress, but there's no guarantee it will.

Wang Yi enjoys Xi's trust and currently dominates diplomatic policymaking below the Xi level, so it would not be a shock if Wang remained foreign minister for a while longer, Thomas said.

The person who has gotten the most attention as a possible successor is Liu Jianchao, a Communist Party official who is a former Foreign Ministry spokesperson and ambassador to the Philippines and Indonesia. He has made several overseas trips in recent months including to Africa, Europe, Australia and the US, increasing speculation that he is the leading candidate.

Other names that have been floated include Ma Zhaoxu, the executive vice foreign minister. Wu said it likely depends on whom Xi and Wang trust.

I don't know how Wang Yi thinks about it, he said. If Wang Yi likes somebody like Liu Jianchao or likes somebody like Ma Zhaoxu. And also Xi Jinping. So it's more about personal relations. (AP) PY

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Worcester (US), Mar 3 (The Conversation) By September 2020, just six months after COVID-19 triggered shutdowns across the US, it was clear that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, had mutated from its original form.

The question quickly arose whether existing rapid antigen tests could detect newly emerging variants.

Using clinical samples obtained from diagnostic labs throughout the US from 2020 to 2023, the National Institutes of Health, through its Variant Task Force, analysed the effectiveness of more than 100 rapid antigen test kits on over 300 variants.

The vast majority of the kits were able to detect new as well as prior previously known variants.

We are a team of researchers who have spent the past few years researching COVID-19 tests for their accuracy and performance. We understand why the public may still have questions about whether these tests are reliable, particularly as new variants continue to appear.



Do these tests work?

There are two major types of tests for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.

The first, called a RT-PCR test, is more than 95 per cent accurate for detecting the virus. These were the tests that most Americans were given at drive-through and walk-in testing sites early in the pandemic.

The vast majority are now done at a doctors office or clinic, though there are some home PCR tests, which typically cost five to 10 times more than rapid antigen tests.

The other type is an antigen test, commonly known as a rapid test, with an accuracy rate of more than 80 per cent. Most of these tests are sold over the counter at supermarkets and pharmacies.

Rapid antigen tests are relatively inexpensive, can be used without prior training and give quick results, typically within 10 or 15 minutes. One drawback is that they are less accurate than PCR tests, especially early in an infection when there is less virus present in the body.

Despite these inherent limitations, our team has demonstrated that these tests perform as well in 2024 as they did earlier in the pandemic, when different variants were circulating  even though our initial study was completed in January 2022. Thats because the virus protein detected by antigen tests has not changed much over the last two years, unlike other parts of the virus that have undergone many mutations. Another study, which tested the accuracy of rapid antigen tests from 2020 to 2022, found similar results.

That said, researchers like us continue to test the tests, both in computer simulations and in the lab, to detect new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

Researchers wearing masks and other protective gear sit under tents collecting samples during a COVID-19 testing study.



I have symptoms. When should I take a test?

If you have symptoms, take a rapid test as soon as possible. If you test positive, you can be reasonably certain that youre infected. If youre negative, wait two days and test again.

This waiting period is important because it takes a few days for the virus to build up to levels that are detectable by the rapid test. Recent research has shown that the time it takes for this to happen is slightly longer with the omicron family of variants compared to variants from a few years ago.



I was exposed, but have no symptoms. When do I test?

If youve been exposed to somebody but dont have symptoms, the current recommendation is to wait four to five days before taking a rapid test. If youre negative, wait two days and then test again.

If youre still negative, take a third test two more days later. This is the best way to detect COVID-19 infection without symptoms.

Its also recommended that you take a rapid test as close as possible to the time youre visiting someone who is at risk for getting sick, especially if you think you may have been exposed.



When am I contagious?

Most people who have symptoms and test positive are contagious. If you no longer have symptoms and are no longer testing positive, its likely that youre not contagious.

But there are some exceptions to this general rule. Its possible to be infected, have no symptoms and be contagious. This is especially true early on in a persons infection.



Should I swab my nose or throat?

The best advice is to follow the instructions that come with your test. For antigen tests in the US, this means taking a swab of your nose.

Although one study from Denmark reported that antigen tests were more sensitive when a health care provider swabbed the throat, the same study said that when a person swabbed themselves, nose samples were more accurate than throat samples. Other studies have shown that swabbing the throat was no better than swabbing the nose.

A new programme funded by the National Institutes of Health and rolled out in late 2023  the Home Test to Treat study  offers free testing, telehealth and treatment for COVID-19 and the flu without leaving home. To date, more than 60,000 people have enrolled. The study uses commercially available rapid tests and typically arrive a few days after theyre requested.

For those millions of Americans who are unable to travel, are without insurance, dont live near a clinic or simply dont want to expose others to their symptoms, this new programme could help save lives. (The Conversation) PY

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The 3 states where 'Big Short' investor Kyle Bass is buying real estate to capitalize on migration trends

Kyle Bass is investing in Texas, Florida, and Tennessee, he said in a recent interview with the Investor's Podcast Network.

These states should benefit from migration to lower-cost states, a trend that's already happening.

Bass has been buying rural land to capitalize on demand for environmental credits.

Billionaire investor Kyle Bass is scooping up land in Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, touting the states' upside potential as both workers and companies shift to more affordable markets.

"When you think about the US, you look at the coastal region, the West Coast and the Northeast being very high cost, very high tax  one could say mismanaged  jurisdictions," he said in a recent interview with Investor's Podcast Network. "They're moving to pro-business, lower costs, lower, or no-tax jurisdictions."

Bass' success in real estate is well established. His winning bet against the 2008 housing market was immortalized in the classic book "The Big Short." And his focus on property in lower-cost states is a strategy he's pursued for years now, offering a similar explanation in 2022.

Between then and last year, Florida's population jumped over 365,000, while Texas grew by more than 473,000, census data shows. Tennessee's population climbed 77,513.

Meanwhile, the exodus of large firms from states such as California and New York has weighed heavily on those markets, with $1 trillion worth of assets having moved away over the past three years, Bloomberg found.

"You have to move real companies where there's affordability, where there's expansive activity, where there are natural resources to accommodate that movement, so I want to buy real estate in front of that macro movement," the Hayman Capital founder said.

But Bass' attention on land doesn't stop there. By expanding his holdings, he's also looking to capitalize on environmental mitigation, a market that sells credit to firms that want to offset the ecological impact of their operations.

Story continues

To that end, Bass established Conservation Equity Management in 2021, a private equity firm that sells federal credits in exchange for services such as wetland repair on owned property.

"As more companies and people move to Texas and other pro-business, low-tax states, there will be devastating environmental consequences, forcing firms to consider their physical environmental impacts, carbon footprints and mitigation options," he said in 2022.

By September of that year, the firm had snapped up $90 million worth of properties in Texas alone, Bloomberg reported. By then, the price-per-acre of rural land had appreciated 123% over the decade, the outlet cited.

But price appreciation isn't Bass' only reason for buying so much land. He also touted property investments as a significant hedge against macroeconomic uncertainties. He previously noted a preference for land over gold as a safe haven.

"When I think about gold versus rural land again, I have the population demographic in my tailwind," he said in 2022. "I also have something that I can drive to."

As to forthcoming risks, Bass' main concern is China. He says economic turmoil in the country, as well as the threat of geopolitical fallout with the US, offers little room for market positivity.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Tel Aviv (Israel), Mar 3 (AP) A top Israeli Cabinet minister headed to Washington on Sunday for talks with US officials, sparking a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli official, in a sign of widening cracks in Israel's wartime government nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahu's hard-line government in the early days of the war following Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel, comes amid deep disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and create a post-war vision for the enclave.

The US was prompted to airdrop aid into Gaza on Saturday after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from trucks were killed last week. The airdrops circumvent what's been a prohibitive aid delivery system, which has been hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues within Gaza as well as the fighting inside the tiny enclave. Aid officials say the airdrops are far less effective than the aid sent via trucks.

US priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahu's hard-line Cabinet, where ultranationalists dominate. Gantz's more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight to Netanyahu's far-right allies.

An official from Netanyahu's Likud party said Gantz's visit was without authorisation from the Israeli leader. The official said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz about the trip and told him the country has just one prime minister.

An Israeli official said Gantz had informed Netanyahu of his intention to travel to the US and to coordinate messaging with him. The official said the visit is meant to strengthen ties with Washington, to bolster support for Israel's ground campaign and to push for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Gantz is set to meet with US Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to his National Unity party.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorised to discuss the dispute with the media.

Netanyahu has tanked in popularity since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls, with many Israelis holding him responsible for Hamas' cross-border raid that left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead and roughly 250 people, including women, children and older adults, abducted and taken into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

The subsequent fighting has killed at least 30,410 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters.

Around 80 per cent of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and UN agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Critics say Netanyahu's decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu has released a proposal that would see Israel maintain open-ended security control over the territory with local Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The US wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantz's party has questioned the handling of the war and the country's strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahu's government, Israel's most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews, many of whom are exempted to pursue religious studies. The issue has come up as hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since October 7 and the military is looking to fill its ranks as the war drags on.

Gantz, who polls show would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today, is viewed as a political moderate. But he has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood.

A visit to the US, if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantz's support. Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior US official said on Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

Israelis, deeply traumatised by Hamas' attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defence, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last year's demonstrations against the government's judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

There is a lot of anger, he said, listing grievances that were building well before October 7. The moment you have that anger and a coalition that is disconnected from the people, there will be fireworks.

Netanyahu's government won't collapse if Gantz exits, but it could lose legitimacy in the eyes of much of the public.

Talks aimed at brokering a Gaza cease-fire restarted Sunday in Egypt. International mediators hope to broker a deal that would pause the fighting and free some of the remaining hostages before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10.

In the meantime, fighting raged on in Gaza with Israeli strikes late Saturday killing more than 30 people, including women and children, according to local health officials.

At least 14 were killed in a strike on a home in the southernmost city of Rafah, on the Egyptian border, according to Dr. Marwan al-Hams, director of the hospital where the bodies were taken. He said the dead, including six children and four women, were all from the same family. Relatives said another nine people were missing under the rubble.

Israeli airstrikes also hit two homes in the Jabaliya refugee camp, a dense, residential area in northern Gaza, killing 17 people, according to the Civil Defence. (AP) PY

PY
Thane, Mar 3 (PTI) Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Sunday said the Mahayuti alliance has resolved to win 45 seats in the state in the Lok Sabha polls to support Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to make India a top economy.

Shinde inaugurated several projects and laid the foundation stones for others in Kalyan, the Lok Sabha constituency of his son Shrikant Shinde.

Addressing a gathering, the chief minister highlighted the achievements of the state government across various sectors and the benefits of a "double engine government".



"Maharashtra will support PM Modi's vision of making the country a top economy by electing 45 MPs (out of 48)," Shinde said.

The Prime Minister had said India would soon become a USD 5 trillion economy and was poised to become the growth engine of the world in the coming years.

The ruling parties of the Mahayuti alliance include the BJP, Shiv Sena led by Shinde, and Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party.

Shinde said cashless facilities will be introduced in all state hospitals with a recent hike in medical benefits from Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 5 lakh.

"Free health check-up has benefited around 4 crore women," he said.

Shinde said Maharashtra is leading in foreign investment, infrastructure development, and adding substantially to GDP.

The chief minister also spoke about plans to construct the Mumbai-Goa greenfield super expressway.

"Ongoing industrial developments are expected to generate employment for 3 lakh individuals. The interim budget for 2024-25 underscores an inclusive approach, catering to all sections of society," he said.



Shinde performed ground-breaking ceremonies for various initiatives, including a new fish market in Dombivli, a cancer-cum-maternity hospital, and an auditorium.
Raipur, Mar 3 (PTI) Conservationists have expressed concerns and called for better wildlife management after a latest report highlighted that the estimated population of leopards in Chhattisgarh declined to 722 in 2022 from 852 in 2018.

"Status of Leopards in India 2022", a report released by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on February 29, has listed poaching, habitat loss, and prey depletion as major causes for the decline in the leopard population and occupancy in the state.



Raising concerns about the drop in the number of big cats, conservationists have called for measures to prevent poaching, creating awareness among people and better wildlife management.

The report is the outcome of the fifth cycle leopard population estimation, carried out by the National Tiger Conservation Authority and Wildlife Institute of India, in collaboration with state forest departments, as part of the quadrennial "monitoring of tiger, co-predators, prey and their habitat" exercise in tiger range states.

"The estimated population of leopards in Chhattisgarh is 722 in 2022, showing a decline as compared to the previous estimate of 852 in 2018," the report stated.

Chhattisgarh has a forest cover of 55,717 sq km, which is 41.21 per cent of the state's total area, it said.

Although leopard distribution is interconnected in Chhattisgarh, the population and occupancy can be categorised into three blocks based on the connectivity and eco-geographic zones  Northern, Central and Southern Chhattisgarh.



Northern Chhattisgarh is home to Guru Ghasidas National Park-Tamor Pingla Wildlife Sanctuary, which are connected to Achanakmar Tiger Reserve through the forests of Madhya Pradesh.

Central Chhattisgarh includes Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve and adjacent forest divisions along with Gomarda Wildlife Sanctuary, while the southern region houses Indravati Tiger Reserve and the territorial forests of the Bastar region, it said.

As per the report, the Achanakmar, Udanti-Sitanadi and Indravati tiger reserves have an estimated population of 76, 28 and three leopards respectively, while the number of big cats utilising these areas is 108, 52 and three respectively.



Two sites were camera trapped in Chhattisgarh that yielded 96 unique leopard individuals. Majority of the leopard population (75 per cent) are outside protected areas and concentrated in the territorial forests, it said.

Leopard density at the Achanakmar Tiger Reserve was 7.19 per 100 square km, which is not significantly different from the previous estimate of 2018, the report said.

However, Udanti Sitanadi Tiger Reserve showed a decline, it said.

Talking to PTI, deputy director of Udanti-Sitanadi tiger reserve Varun Jain said forest personnel have increased foot patrolling in the reserve to monitor wildlife and an anti-poaching team has been actively working on strengthening information networks to prevent illegal activities.

"During the 2018 leopard status assessment exercise, the reserve had 283 trap cameras locations, while in 2022, the number was reduced to 142. One of the major reasons for this decline is Left Wing Extremism in the area of the reserve that shares a border with neighbouring Odisha," he said.

There was no tiger photograph available between 2019 and 2022 in the reserve due to the LWE menace, despite the presence of tigers there, he said.

In October 2022, trap cameras were set up in the LWE affected areas and a picture of a tiger was captured after a gap of three years, he said.

"This year, we have deployed 280 cameras and are getting pictures of leopards frequently in the ongoing camera trap exercise," he added.

Poaching along the Chhattisgarh-Odisha border is also one of the main reasons for the decline in the number of leopards, Jain said.

"The Odisha special task force seized more than 30 leopard skins last year. We have deployed an anti-poaching team and are focusing on strengthening our network of informers. In the last one year, our anti-poaching team has arrested 120 people," he said.

The foot patrolling has been increased from 55,000 km (2020-2022) to over 1,10,000 km (2023) to monitor wild animals and check illegal felling of trees, he said, adding the scope will be expanded further.

Bilaspur-based wildlife conservationist Mansoor Khan said live electric wires laid by villagers to poach wild boar and other small animals was one of the main reasons for leopard deaths.

"Degradation of natural forests because of illegal encroachment, and mining and agricultural conversions have forced leopards to wander near human settlements in search of prey. They survive on stray dogs and small cattle. Sometimes they are attacked and killed by villagers. Leopard sightings inside human settlements are common in Kanker, Gariaband and Mahasamund districts," he said.

Regular patrolling and creating awareness among people towards wildlife will help deal with these problems, he added.

Wildlife activist Nitin Singhvi cited poaching as a major cause for decline in leopard numbers in the state.

Depleting prey base inside forests has resulted in the movement of leopards near human settlements. The forest department should create a prey base for leopards in the jungles like it has done for tigers and protect them (prey base) from being poached," he said.
Bhopal, Mar 3 (PTI) An FIR was registered on Sunday against the vice chancellor of state technological university of Madhya Pradesh and four others in connection with alleged financial irregularities after an inquiry was ordered by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

The case was registered against Rajiv Gandhi Proudyogiki Vishwavidyalaya's (RGPV) vice-chancellor Sunil Kumar, who is on leave, varsity's financial controller Rishikesh Verma, former registrar RS Rajput, a purported beneficiary of the fraud, and an organisation.

Yadav, who returned from Lucknow on Sunday night, stated that an incident of ongoing financial irregularities in RGPV, also known as the State Technological University, has come to his notice.

"I have given instructions to immediately register an FIR in this matter and to remove all the officers posted in the university's account section and conduct an investigation by a high-level committee," Yadav stated on X.

The government will take strict action against the guilty, he said.

After the CM's instruction, an FIR was registered based on a letter written by the incumbent registrar of RGPV, Mohan Sen, to the Gandhi Nagar police station in Bhopal.

The FIR identified the purported beneficiary of the fraud as one Mayank Kumar and also named Dalit Sangh, based in Sohagpur in Narmadapuram district, it said.

The accused are allegedly involved in transferring Rs 19.48 crore to private accounts and fraudulently making four fixed deposits (FDs) worth Rs 25 crore each through a criminal conspiracy, as per the First Information Report.

Police invoked Indian Penal Code sections for cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy along with the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, it stated.

No arrest has been made.
Guwahati, Mar 2 (PTI) The Assam government on Saturday inaugurated a new cancer hospital, developed in association with the Tata Group at a cost of nearly Rs 400 crore, for offering advanced treatment to patients with critical ailment.

At a function here, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma dedicated to Assam the State Cancer Institute (SCI) along with the extended emergency department at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH).

The SCI is part of the state government's 'Vikash Yatra', under which inauguration and foundation for projects worth Rs 661.03 crore were done for Kamrup Metropolitan district during the day.

The cancer institute will have 350 beds and offer medical services like radiation, chemotherapy, robotic surgery, nuclear medicine, bone marrow transplant, academics and research.

Moreover, the SCI is equipped with facilities like MRI, CT, mammography, digital X-ray, endoscopy, laboratory and blood bank and the total cost of the project is Rs 395 crore.

Speaking on the occasion, Sarma said, "For creating an advanced cancer care system in the state, our government signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Tata Trusts on February 3, 2018. To implement the project, a special purpose vehicle -- Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) -- was formed."

He said that taking it forward, an apex referral centre at SCI (L1), five comprehensive cancer care centres (L2s) at Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Silchar, Diphu and Dhubri, and 11 diagnostic and day care clinics (L3s) were set up.

These clinics were set up at Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Jorhat, Kokrajhar, Darrang, Tinsukia, Golaghat, Nalbari, Nagaon, Sibsagar and Goalpara.

Sarma said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated seven hospitals at Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Lakhimpur, Tezpur, Jorhat, Darrang and Kokrajhar in April 2022.

The chief minister said that with an investment over Rs 3,600 crore, the state government is building a cancer care network in Assam, that will offer proton beam therapy to facilitate advanced and targeted cancer treatment.

"The state government with the help of the Centre is working to make Assam a destination for medical tourism with all advanced healthcare facilities to cater not only to the patients of Northeast but South East Asian nations as well," he added.

In another programme, Sarma dedicated to the state a PET-CT machine at Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati with a project cost of Rs 13.14 crore.

"Approximately 2,000 patients will be benefitted from the project every year. The state in association with the central government is working to make the BBCI a centre of excellence, where patients are able to get cutting-edge treatment facilities without having to go outside the state," he added.

At the same function, the chief minister also kick-started the process of direct benefit transfer of Rs 9,000 each to one lakh households for the construction of individual toilets under the 'Swachh Bharat Mission' in the state.

Among other projects inaugurated by the CM are Kar Bhawan built with Rs 122 crore, a night shelter for building and construction workers and the expanded Purabi Dairy Plant with an outlay of Rs 49 crore, an official release said.

The projects for which the foundation stone was laid are Umananda Modular Terminal- IWT at Umananda Ghat involving a budgetary provision of Rs 56 crore and a patient guest house at GMCH for the Tea Tribes community worth Rs 7 crore.
Guwahati, Mar 2 (PTI) Former AICC secretary Rana Goswami, who had joined the ruling BJP in Assam two days back, was appointed as a state vice-president of the party on Saturday.

State BJP president Bhabesh Kalita appointed the ex-Congress MLA to the position in the saffron party.

"Rana Goswami has been appointed as the state vice-president of Bharatiya Janata Party, Assam," the one-line organisational appointment letter signed by Kalita said.

Goswami, who was the working president of the Congress, had resigned from the grand old party and joined the BJP on Thursday.

He had maintained that the Congress is facing a 'leadership deficit' and rued that people like Ghulam Nabi Azad and Jyotiraditya Scindia, with whom he had worked closely, had to leave the grand old party.

He was a close associate of former CM Tarun Gogoi, and was elected to the assembly in 2006 and 2011 from Jorhat.
Ranchi, Mar 2 (PTI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Champai Soren on Saturday alleged that the BJP would loot tribal land and uproot them from forests and coal-bearing areas, if the saffron party is not defeated in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.

He said that the BJP government at the Centre attempted to amend various laws that protect tribal rights but the coalition dispensation in the state would be protesting against such attempts.

The CM was delivering his concluding remarks in the state assembly, amid the walk-out of BJP legislators from the House.

The seven-day budget session of the assembly, which started from February 23, was adjourned sine die by Speaker Rabindra Nath Mahto. As many as four bills, including an



International University Bill, 2024, were passed on the concluding day of the session.

This budget session highlighted the achievements of the government in past four years. A budget of Rs 1,28,900 crore was passed for the fiscal 2024-25 and the government set a target to make Jharkhand a Rs 10 lakh crore economy by 2029-30, Mahto said.

The chief minister said that the "BJP government has made amendments in the forest right Act, under which the power of gram sabha has been snatched. Similarly, an attempt is being made to amend the Coal Bearing Areas (Acquisition and Development) Act and Chotanagpur Tenancy Act".

The Centre has planned to strategically drive out tribals from forest, coal-bearing areas and other places through the amendments. If BJP is not defeated in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, tribals will be uprooted from their land, the CM claimed.

He urged the ruling alliance legislators to make people aware about BJPs intention.

Soren said that former chief minister Hemant Soren had understood the strategy of the BJP.

So, he was put in jail on land issue, while his name is not there anywhere, the CM claimed.

He said the coalition government has worked to strengthen the education, social and economic system of the state so that "roti, kapda and makaan could be ensured for everyone".
Agartala, Mar 3(PTI) Tipra Motha chief Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma on Sunday hailed the tripartite accord as a historic agreement aimed at securing the future of Tripuras indigenous people.

He emphasised that the key to success lies in the proper implementation of the pact on the ground.

Tipra Motha, the main opposition party in the northeastern state, signed the tripartite agreement with the Centre and the state government to address the issues faced by indigenous people. It was inked in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi on Saturday.

Debbarma noted that while several agreements were previously signed with various groups such as the Tripura National Volunteers (TNV), All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), and Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT), they failed to deliver tangible results.

He stressed the importance of implementing the accord with integrity, patience, and humanity, and called for the involvement of experts in academia, law, and those knowledgeable about land rights, history, culture, and language of the state in the joint working committee.

"We want the best minds from the academics, law and persons who have a grip on land rights, history, culture and language of the state in the joint working committee," he said.

Debbarma highlighted the decline in indigenous people's control over land compared to 75 years ago and urged for the restoration of land rights, improved education, and healthcare facilities for rural residents.

"Today, the indigenous people don't have control over land which they had 75 years ago. Union Home Minister Amit Shah himself admitted there was a historical mistake and it is time to find its remedy. We have to ensure land rights, better education and healthcare facilities for the people living in rural areas," he said.

He criticised the BJP, suggesting that their slogan of 'Ek Tripura, Shrestha Tripura' (One Tripura, Best Tripura) would remain unfulfilled if the indigenous people are neglected.

Following his return from Delhi, Debbarma received a warm welcome at the MBB Airport here and announced the conclusion of his fast-unto-death movement upon his arrival at Hatai Katar in West Tripura.
Bhubaneswar, March 3 (PTI) The Odisha BJP on Sunday launched a campaign to collect people's suggestions for its manifesto ahead of the assembly and Lok Sabha polls.

State BJP president Manmohan Samal launched the 'Viksit Odisha, Viksit Bharat Sankalp Patra' campaign at the party office, in the presence of the party's election in-charge for Odisha, Vijaypal Singh Tomar, and Bhubaneswar MP Aparajita Sarang.

Samal announced that the campaign, scheduled to continue until March 15, aims to reach out to one crore people to collect suggestions for the election manifesto.

The party will to deploy two campaign vehicles for each parliamentary constituency, equipped with boxes where people can submit their written suggestions, a party leader said.

Additionally, suggestions can be submitted through the NaMo app or by dialing 9090902024 and leaving a voice message, the party said.

Highlighting the achievements of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government, Samal said 222 out of 235 promises made during the 2019 general elections have been implemented. He assured that the BJP would fulfill its promises in its third term as well.
Basirhat (WB), Mar 2 (PTI) A large number of DYFI supporters on Saturday demonstrated outside the office of Basirhat Superintendent of Police after they were stopped from submitting a deputation there in connection with the Sandeshkhali incidents.



DYFI West Bengal state secretary Minakshi Mukherjee led the activists to break past the police barricades erected to block them from going towards the office of Basirhat Police District SP near Sangrampur.



DYFI activists got into a clash with the police deployed there following which they put up a road blockade outside the SP office.



"Police cannot arrest the prime accused in the Sandeshkhali case Shajahan Shiekh for 55 days, but they are stopping us from submitting a deputation, Mukherjee said.



Sandeshkhali, located on the fringes of the Sunderbans, in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, has been engulfed in turmoil for over a month due to accusations against TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his cohorts of sexual abuse and land usurpation.

The area is under the jurisdiction of the Basirhat police district.

Sheikh was arrested by police on Thursday after being on the run for 55 days.
Key Insights

Institutions' substantial holdings in Grit Real Estate Income Group implies that they have significant influence over the company's share price

A total of 5 investors have a majority stake in the company with 54% ownership

Ownership research, combined with past performance data can help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock

Every investor in Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited (LON:GR1T) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. And the group that holds the biggest piece of the pie are institutions with 35% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn).

Because institutional owners have a huge pool of resources and liquidity, their investing decisions tend to carry a great deal of weight, especially with individual investors. As a result, a sizeable amount of institutional money invested in a firm is generally viewed as a positive attribute.

Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Grit Real Estate Income Group, beginning with the chart below.

See our latest analysis for Grit Real Estate Income Group

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Grit Real Estate Income Group?

Institutions typically measure themselves against a benchmark when reporting to their own investors, so they often become more enthusiastic about a stock once it's included in a major index. We would expect most companies to have some institutions on the register, especially if they are growing.

As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Grit Real Estate Income Group. This implies the analysts working for those institutions have looked at the stock and they like it. But just like anyone else, they could be wrong. 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 Grit Real Estate Income Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters.

Story continues

Grit Real Estate Income Group is not owned by hedge funds. Our data shows that Public Investment Corporation Limited is the largest shareholder with 22% of shares outstanding. With 15% and 6.8% of the shares outstanding respectively, M&G Investment Management Limited and Eskom Pension and Provident Fund are the second and third largest shareholders. Furthermore, CEO Bronwyn Knight is the owner of 2.9% of the company's shares.

Our research also brought to light the fact that roughly 54% of the company is controlled by the top 5 shareholders suggesting that these owners wield significant influence on the business.

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 is a little analyst coverage of the stock, but not much. So there is room for it to gain more coverage.

Insider Ownership Of Grit Real Estate Income Group

While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. The company management answer to the board and the latter should represent the interests of shareholders. Notably, sometimes top-level managers are on the board themselves.

I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions.

Our most recent data indicates that insiders own some shares in Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited. As individuals, the insiders collectively own UK7.0m worth of the UK106m company. It is good to see some investment by insiders, but we usually like to see higher insider holdings. It might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying.

General Public Ownership

The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a 31% stake in Grit Real Estate Income Group. While this size of ownership may not be enough to sway a policy decision in their favour, they can still make a collective impact on company policies.

Private Company Ownership

We can see that Private Companies own 5.5%, of the shares on issue. It's hard to draw any conclusions from this fact alone, so its worth looking into who owns those private companies. Sometimes insiders or other related parties have an interest in shares in a public company through a separate private company.

Next Steps:

It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand Grit Real Estate Income Group better, we need to consider many other factors.

I like to dive deeper into how a company has performed in the past. You can access this interactive graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow, for free.

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.
New Delhi, Mar 3 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes to social reformer Sri Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal on his birth anniversary.

In a post on X, Modi said, "On his birth anniversary, I bow to Sri Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal. We are all proud of his innumerable efforts to build a compassionate and harmonious society where the poorest of the poor are empowered."

"We reiterate our commitment to fulfilling his vision for humanity," the prime minister said.

Ayya Vaikunda Swamikal was a thinker and social reformer of the 19th century.
New Delhi, Mar 3 (PTI) A sub-inspector of Delhi Police died by allegedly shooting himself with a pistol at his flat in east Delhi, in a suspected case of suicide, officials said on Sunday.

According to police, the deceased has been identified as K Ganesh, a resident of Telangana who was currently posted at the Madhur Vihar police station here.

"In the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday at around 2 am, the police got a call from the family members of the SI, saying the officer was not responding to their calls," a senior police officer said.

This raised suspicion and the local police rushed to the Ganesh's flat in Madhur Vihar, the officer said.

As the apartment was found locked from inside, the police team climbed up to the balcony of the flat, situated on the building's first floor. On peeping through the glass pane, they spotted SI Ganesh lying dead inside with a pistol on his lap, the officer added.

"Crime and forensic teams were called to the spot. Prima facie, it seems the SI committed suicide using a firearm," the officer said

No suicide note has yet been recovered from the spot, the officer said, adding that further probe is underway in the matter.
Gorakhpur (UP), Mar 3 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Sunday said everyone is benefiting from the schemes without any discrimination under the Narendra Modi government.

He said a good government's priority is to serve all and exhorted the people to support the Modi government once again in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, stating that the double-engine government focuses on both development and the welfare of the poor, ensuring prosperity along with security, livelihood and respect for faith.

According to a press statement issued by the state government, the chief minister performed the bhoomi-pujan and laid the foundation stone of the first Veterinary Science College of eastern UP at Tal Nador in Gorakhpur. The construction of this college, to be built on 80 acres, will cost around Rs 350 crore.

Addressing the crowd, Adityanath said, "In the previous governments, people were troubled by goons and mafia. Only a few benefited from the schemes, while the majority of the public kept watching helplessly."

He emphasised that under the current government, everyone is benefiting from the schemes without any discrimination.

The chief minister mentioned that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, the strength of the new India is resonating worldwide. Such a government has never been seen before, and it is essential to understand this and support the Modi government once again in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, realising the slogan of "Abki Baar, Chaar Sau (400) Paar", he stated.

CM Adityanath assured the people that the Veterinary Science College being built at Tal Nador will be transformed into a university in the future. This would make Gorakhpur home to five universities.

He mentioned that the college will not only focus on animal healthcare but also undertake breed improvements. Fisheries related programs will also be taken forward here. The college aims to provide education for aspiring veterinarians, offering them a new platform to build their careers.

The chief minister explained that the design of the college is inspired by the vision of King Shalihotra of Shravasti, who, in the third century, composed the Shalihotra Samhita and contributed to the prosperity of the livestock sector.

He further mentioned that Dakshinanchal, which remained underdeveloped for a long time, is now progressing rapidly under the double engine government.

Discussing the development of Gorakhpur, the chief minister mentioned that the fertiliser factory, which was closed during the Congress government, was restarted by the Modi government. A new AIIMS has been established in Gorakhpur, and the link expressway is about to become operational.

The establishment of large-scale industries in GIDA has provided employment to 5,000 youths in the region, he said.

Seeking support for MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, who is the candidate from Gorakhpur in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, Adityanath said every party worker will go door to door posing as Ravi Kishan and ask for votes.

UP Minister of Livestock and Dairy Development Dharmapal Singh, MP Ravi Kishan Shukla, MLA Vipin Singh, Mayor Dr Manglesh Srivastava, MLAs Rajesh Tripathi, Shriram Chauhan, Mahendrapal Singh, Pradeep Shukla, MLC and BJP state vice president Dr Dharmendra Singh, BJP district president Yudhishthir Singh and metropolitan president Rajesh Gupta were present during the event.
Jammu, Mar 3 (PTI) NHAI authorities on Sunday morning stepped up efforts to resume traffic movement on Jammu-Srinagar national highway following improvement in weather, officials said.

As the 270-km highway, the only all weather link connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country, remained shut for a second day, police shifted a large number of stranded passengers, including over 200 tourists to safer places in Ramban district, they said.

The highway was closed early Saturday following landslides, mudslides and shooting stones, triggered by heavy rainfall at over a dozen places between Nashri and Banihal including Dalwas, Mehad-Cafetia and Hingni in Ramban, the officials said.

A portion of the road near Panthiyal was also washed away, they said.

The traffic department said the highway continues to remain blocked and advised people to avoid journeys on the highway, also known as NH44, till the completion of the restoration work.

With the improvement in weather this morning, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has stepped up efforts to ensure early opening of the arterial road.

While higher reaches experienced fresh snowfall, moderate to heavy rains lashed wide parts of Jammu and Kashmir on March 1 and 2. Dozens of residential houses and other structures, including several government schools, were also damaged by strong winds and hailstorm in different parts of the Union Territory.

The police have set up control rooms in all district headquarters after incessant rains flooded the water bodies to meet any eventuality, the officials said, requesting people to stay away from the swollen rivers, rivulets, streams and ponds.

A police spokesperson said several families who were trapped in the Bowli Bazar area of Ramban due to a heavy mudslide were rescued late Saturday night.

Over 200 tourists from Kerala who were left stranded in Banihal on their return from Kashmir were relocated to a safe shelter house on Saturday night and provided with essential amenities like food, blankets, and quilts, the spokesperson said.

He added that a vehicle got stuck in a mudslide at Cafeteria Morh along the highway but prompt action by the police rescued all the individuals safely.

In another instance, six men, four women and a child who were stranded at Nachlana due to heavy rain and shooting stones were rescued and shifted a safer place, the spokesman said.

Expanding their efforts, the police provided essential relief to stranded passengers on the blocked highway, offering water, food, tea, and more, he said.

Anticipating unforeseen circumstances due to heavy rainfall, the police, in collaboration with the Disaster Response Team and Quick Response Team, are on high alert, the spokesperson said, adding that these dedicated teams are prepared to reach any area within 15 minutes.

Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar highway has been restricted to one-way since February 26 and was being used alternatively from Jammu and Srinagar after heavy rains and snowfall damaged the arterial road at several places last week.
Pathanamthitta, Mar 3 (PTI) Senior politician P C George, who recently joined the BJP, expressed his displeasure on Sunday over the saffron party fielding Anil K Antony as the candidate from Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, and said the move has scuttled the party's chances to win the polls.

The BJP had announced yesterday that it would be fielding Anil, son of former union defence minister and Congress stalwart A K Antony, from the Pathanamthitta seat.



George expressed displeasure as there were reports suggesting that the saffron party was considering him for the Pathanamthitta seat.



Addressing the media, he also attacked BDJS leader Thushar Vellappally and SNDP Yogam leader Vellappally Natesan, alleging that they had conspired to scuttle his chances to contest in Pathanamthitta.



George claimed that he had better chances in Pathanamthitta as he has got the support of the bishops and the Christian community, which has a substantial presence in the area.



Stating that Anil Antony has got no experience and is a complete stranger to the constituency, he remarked, "No one knows him. The BJP will have to go around and introduce him to the people."



However, Anil Antony told the media that he is confident of winning in the constituency.



Both George and Anil Antony joined the BJP recently.
Bengaluru, Mar 3 (PTI) The BJP in Karnataka on Sunday slammed the Congress government for turning the city into 'Bomb Bengaluru' instead of 'Brand Bengaluru', drawing condemnation from Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and his deputy D K Shivakumar.

The saffron party posted a poster on 'X' which read, "They said Brand Bengaluru. They made it Bomb Bengaluru."

BJP state president B Y Vijayendra claimed there was a link between the 'Pakistan Zindabad' slogan shouted inside Vidhana Soudha on February 27 and the blast in Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru on March 1, which left 10 people injured.

Speaking to reporters, he claimed that he has information that the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) investigation report on the sloganeering has already been submitted to the Congress government but it is yet to be made public.

Alleging that the ruling government in the state was trying to cover up the FSL report, the BJP leader said he would not be surprised if they brought out another FSL report.

Vijayendra said people of Bengaluru are feeling unsafe due to these incidents.

Siddaramaiah hit out at the BJP for their statement.

"What should we call it when there were four bomb blasts during the BJPs tenure? Who was ruling when the Mangaluru cooker blast took place? There was a blast in front of the BJPs office in Malleswaram. Who was ruling then? Who is in charge of NIA, IB? Its not their failure?" Siddaramaiah sought to know while talking to reporters in Chikkamagaluru.

"I am not supporting the bomb blast. I am condemning it but BJP should not do politics over it," he clarified.

Shivakumar too lambasted the BJP for tarnishing the image of Karnataka for petty political gains.

"The BJP is exploiting the opportunity to gain political mileage. They are tarnishing the image of Bengaluru and Karnataka in the process. They may have forgotten things that happened during their term. I don't want to do politics over that, but they should introspect. At times like these, they should be aware of the nation's unity, integrity and peace," he said.

On BJP's statement that it is 'Bomb Bengaluru' and not 'Brand Bengaluru', Shivakumar said, "BJP leaders don't have basic sense. No one in a responsible position will talk like this."

He said the police have been given a free hand to investigate the blast case.

"The government has taken serious note of it and we will do whatever it takes to protect the reputation of Bengaluru. The police are looking into all possible angles to find out the perpetrators," he added.
Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 4 (PTI) Criticising the SFI, which is under attack for its members' alleged role in the death of a veterinary student in Kerala, senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar on Sunday likened the student outfit of the CPI(M) to the Popular Front of India (PFI), a banned Islamist organisation.

In a hard-hitting post on social media platform X, Javadekar accused the SFI of engaging in a range of criminal activities and even murder.



The BJP Kerala-in charge alleged that SFI has targeted media channels and disrupted the convoy of Governor Arif Mohammad Khan, going as far as protesting during official functions.



These allegations draw parallels between SFI's actions and those attributed to PFI, the BJP leader said.



"SFI is PFI of CPM", he said on X, blaming the Left student organisation for alleged criminal activities.



"It attacks media channels. Not only this, but they stop the convoy of Governor & protest in his function. What else we can describe? These tendencies are exactly like that of PFI a banned organisation," Javadekar said in his post.



Strongly reacting to the BJP leader's post, SFI said it will take legal action over the baseless allegations.



"The BJP leaders are equating the SFI with terror organisations. They should take responsibility and bring out evidence, if any, on the baseless allegations they are raising. They are trying to tarnish the image of SFI, and we will deal with such matters legally," SFI state President K Anusree told PTI.



Javadekar's remarks came close on the heels of a statement by Kerala Governor Arif Mohammad Khan alleging that SFI and the banned organisation PFI were working together.



Anusree attacked the governor, who had claimed that the SFI workers who showed him black flags were PFI workers.



"There is video evidence of news channels and many other related videos available on social media. He should point out to whom he is referring. The governor, the BJP leaders, and the media are attacking SFI because they feel threatened by the good work we are doing for the student community," Anusree said.



In connection with the veterinary college issue, she said everyone was targeting SFI for political reasons.



"In this case, we immediately ousted those associated with the SFI who were accused in the matter. Let the police take the necessary action. However, there are other students associated with other political parties. But in this case, only the SFI is targeted," she said.



The student leader said SFI is an organisation that takes a stern stand against ragging on all campuses across the state.



"We undertook the campaign against drugs. Now the campuses are drug-free and ragging-free because of the SFI. And this is evident from the fact that we are being elected to power in almost all colleges across the state," she added.



Sidharthan, who was a second-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry student in Wayanad district, was found hanging in the bathroom of his hostel on February 18.



His parents have claimed that some of his collegemates told them that he was beaten to death by some local SFI leaders and activists.



The father contended that according to the postmortem report, his son's body had three days' worth of injuries and an empty stomach, which indicated that he was brutally beaten up and not given any food.



Following the parents' claims, the Congress and the BJP accused the ruling CPI(M)'s student wing of beating Sidharthan to death.



Police have arrested all 18 accused and they have been remanded in judicial custody.
Westerly, RI (02891)

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A mix of clouds and sun. High near 50F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph..

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Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low 31F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.
A veteran British political disruptor has won a special election in a town in northern England with a big Muslim minority following a contest that was mired in chaos and controversy and dominated by the war in Gaza.

George Galloway, 69, swept to victory in Thursdays contest, winning almost 40% of the vote in the parliamentary seat of Rochdale.

In his victory speech, the fedora-wearing Galloway took aim at Keir Starmer, the leader of the main opposition Labour Party, who according to opinion polls is likely to become Britains prime minister at the general election this year.

Keir Starmer, this is for Gaza, he said. You have paid, and you will pay, a high price for the role that you have played in enabling, encouraging and covering for the catastrophe presently going on in occupied Palestine in the Gaza Strip.

Galloway, a former Labour member of parliament who was expelled from the party in 2003, also declared Labour is on notice and hailed what he called a shifting of the tectonic plates.

Labour said Galloway only won because the party pulled its support for its candidate, Azhar Ali, for claiming Israel was complicit in Hamas attack on Oct. 7.

In the absence of Labours backing and with many of Rochdales Muslim voters dismayed at the partys reluctance to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, Ali ended up coming fourth.

George Galloway is someone who stokes up division and fear, said Ellie Reeves, Labours deputy national campaign coordinator. This isnt how we would have wanted this by-election to play out.

Galloways victory means that from next week, Parliament will once again be home to one of the most provocative orators from the left wing of U.K. politics, who will clearly use his position to raise his opposition to Israels operation in Gaza.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the largest Jewish community organization in the UK, said Galloways victory marks a dark day for the U.K.s Jewish community.

George Galloway is a demagogue and conspiracy theorist who has brought the politics of division and hate to every place he has ever stood for Parliament, it said in a statement.

The constituency of Rochdale has traditionally been a Labour seat. Galloway said the Workers Party of Britain will contest similar seats, where theres a sizeable Muslim minority, in the upcoming general election, which must take place within the next 11 months.

The governing Conservative Party, which has not historically performed well in Rochdale, came in third.

Galloway started out his political career half a century ago as a firebrand left-wing Labour MP for a constituency in Glasgow.

He has been a controversial figure for decades, and faced widespread opposition for meeting in 1994 the then Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and telling him: Sir, I salute your courage, your strength, your indefatigability.

In 2004, he returned to Parliament as a lawmaker for the anti-war Respect Party after a special election in a heavily Muslim seat in east London, but was defeated at the general election the following year.

He was elected again at a special election in 2012 with a swing of 37% from Labour to Respect but lost his seat once more in the election of 2015.

In 2019 Galloway was fired from a talk-radio show for an antisemitic social media post.

(AP)
(Bloomberg) -- Alecta has lost its chairman just weeks after retracting the nomination for another, pushing Swedens largest pension fund deeper into a crisis.

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Carina Akerstrom  one of the countrys best known financial executives  resigned from the post on Sunday, a little over a week after getting appointed on February 22. The former chief executive officer of Svenska Handelsbanken AB was tapped for the position after Alectas supervisory board, led by Kenneth Bengtsson, retracted the nomination of former Danish Central Bank Governor Lars Rohde in late January.

The sudden departure of Akerstrom compounds a leadership crisis at the pension fund, which manages 1.2 trillion kronor ($116 billion) of retirement savings for a quarter of Swedens population. Alecta has replaced a string of top executives and directors including the CEO and the previous chairman since it lost $2 billion on an investment in several US regional banks.

The turmoil deepened later in the year when Alectas investment in commercial landlord Heimstaden Bostad AB plunged in value too, pushing the pension funds total writedowns on those investments to 32.7 billion Swedish kronor. Executives that have left over the span of the year also include the head of equities, the chief investment officer, the general counsel and the head of real assets.

The chairmans resignation follows a report by newspaper Dagens Industri highlighting a potential conflict of interest with Heimstaden Bostad. Akerstroms previous employer, Handelsbanken, is Heimstaden Bostads creditor, the report said, possibly putting one of her key responsibilities at Alecta  to scrutinize its $4.8 billion investment in the landlord  at odds with her contractual demands with the Swedish bank.

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Akerstrom stepped down as Handelsbankens CEO at the start of the year, but her contract runs until October 2024 and requires full loyalty with the company until then, Dagens Industri said in the report. She has signed life-long non-disclosure agreements for all Handelsbanken-related business, the newspaper said.

It is regrettable that Carina Akerstrom has made a changed assessment of her opportunities to complete the assignment as chairman of the board in Alecta and has chosen to resign, Bengtsson said in the release on Sunday. No new information has come to light that we didnt already know. During the process, we have of course asked extensive questions to Carina Akerstrom about this. Our view is that there was no conflict of interest that could not be handled in the usual way.

Akerstrom couldnt immediately be reached for comment.

Vice Chairman Jan-Olof Jacke will replace Akerstrom, Alecta said in the statement. Jacke had steered the fund since October in an interim capacity after Ingrid Bonde stepped down as chairman.

Theres no need to convene a shareholder meeting to sign off on his appointment, an Alecta spokesperson said.

Alecta took a 19% writedown in the value of its Heimstaden Bostad stake in the fourth quarter, shaving 8.7 billion kronor off the holding.

Heimstaden Bostad is currently striving to offload properties amid credit-rating downgrades and a steep jump in borrowing costs. As chairman, Akerstrom would also have led the renegotiations surrounding the disadvantageous shareholder agreement with the companys co-owner, Norwegian billionaire Ivar Tollefsen.

Read More: Swedens Property Crisis Threatens Its Biggest Pension Fund

Europes property sector is in turmoil after years of zero rates ended with central banks jacking up rates at a fast pace, causing real estate valuations to fall and squeezing landlords who need to refinance large debt piles. In Sweden, the financial regulator has warned the full effect of rate increases is yet to be seen.

The Heimstaden Bostad debacle is the second high-profile crisis for the retirement fund, after it lost $2 billion on risky investments in US niche banks, including Silicon Valley Bank a year ago. The fiasco led to the departures of a number of top executives and even prompted an investigation by the countrys financial authorities.

Alectas stake in Heimstaden Bostad is also under investigation by Swedens financial watchdog, as well as the prosecutor. The losses, while attention-grabbing, do not threaten Alectas stability or solvency, the fund has said previously.

Read More: Alecta Chair Says Fund Exiting Crisis of Confidence

(Updates with context throughout)

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A New Jersey businessman pleaded guilty Friday to trying to bribe U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, agreeing to a deal with prosecutors that calls for him to testify in the corruption case against the powerful Democrat and his wife.

Jose Uribe, of Clifton, New Jersey, entered the plea in Manhattan federal court to seven charges, including conspiracy to commit bribery from 2018 to 2023, honest services wire fraud, obstruction of justice and tax evasion. Prosecutors allege that he gave the Menendezs wife a Mercedes-Benz.

According to a plea agreement, Uribe could face up to 95 years in prison, though he could win leniency by cooperating and testifying against the other defendants, which hes agreed to do. He also agreed to forfeit $246,000, representing proceeds traceable to his crimes.

Uribe was among three businessmen charged in the corruption case against Menendez and his wife, Nadine Menendez, which was revealed last fall. Authorities say the couple accepted bribes of cash, gold bars and the luxury car in exchange for his help and influence over foreign affairs.

The defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Uribe entered the plea before Judge Sidney H. Stein on Friday during a proceeding that the media was not told about in time for reporters to attend. He remains free on a $1 million bond, which was set when he was arrested. His plea deal, dated Thursday, was signed by him on Friday.

Uribe had been charged with providing Nadine Menendez with a Mercedes-Benz convertible after the senator called a government official about another case involving an associate of Uribe.

Uribes attorney, Daniel Fetterman, declined to comment.

Menendez, his wife and the two other New Jersey businessmen are scheduled to go on trial in May.

Federal prosecutors allege that Menendez, the former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, used his position to take actions that benefited foreign governments in exchange for bribes paid by associates in New Jersey.

An indictment contends that Menendez and his wife took gold bars and cash from a real estate developer, and that the senator used his clout to get that businessman a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund.

Menendez is also accused of helping another New Jersey business associate get a lucrative deal with the government of Egypt. Prosecutors allege that in exchange for bribes, Menendez did things that benefited Egypt, including ghostwriting a letter to fellow senators encouraging them to lift a hold on $300 million in aid.

Menendez also has been charged with using his international clout to help a friend get a multimillion-dollar deal with a Qatari investment fund, including by taking actions favorable to Qatars government.

Uribe was accused of buying a luxury car for Nadine Menendez after her previous car was destroyed when she struck and killed a man crossing the street. She did not face criminal charges in connection with that crash.

The indictment says the senator helped Uribe by trying to persuade prosecutors to go easy on one of his business associates who was the subject of a criminal investigation.

Attorneys for Menendez and his wife did not immediately comment.

(AP)
Boeing is in talks to buy Spirit AeroSystems, which builds fuselages for Boeing 737 Max jetliners, including the one that suffered a door-panel blowout in January, according to a person knowledgeable about the discussions.

The timing of a deal  or whether the two sides even reach a final agreement  is uncertain, according to the person, who spoke about the private talks on condition of anonymity.

The Wall Street Journal first reported the talks. The newspaper said Friday that Spirit hired bankers to consider strategic options and has held preliminary discussions about a sale back to Boeing, its former owner.

Boeing and Spirit AeroSystems declined to comment.

Shares of Spirit jumped 15% in afternoon trading.

A deal could help Boeing respond to critics who have blamed the companys manufacturing problems in large part on outsourcing key work to Spirit and other suppliers.

Boeing spun off Spirit in 2005 as part of a strategy to outsource the supply chain for its commercial planes. In recent years, quality problems have mounted at Spirit, including fuselage panels that didnt fit together precisely enough and holes that were improperly drilled. Those and other flaws held up deliveries of Boeing 737s and 787s.

Spirit removed its CEO in October and replaced him with Patrick Shanahan, a former Boeing executive who served as acting defense secretary in the Trump administration.

Scrutiny of Spirit  which is not related to Spirit Airlines  grew even stronger after an emergency door plug that it made blew off an Alaska Airlines 737 Max 9 over Oregon on Jan. 5.

Investigators said the panel had been removed at a Boeing factory to let Spirit workers fix damaged rivets, and bolts that help hold the panel in place were missing after the repair job. It is not clear who removed the bolts and failed to put them back.

Two weeks later, Boeing CEO David Calhoun toured the Spirit factory in Wichita, Kansas. Calhoun and Shanahan pledged to work together to improve manufacturing quality. Shanahan said Spirit would work with Boeing, regulators and airlines, and he vowed, We will restore confidence.

Calhoun has long defended Boeings outsourcing, but his tone changed in recent weeks. On Jan. 31, as Boeing reported a fourth-quarter loss, Calhoun said that outsourcing probably went too far.

About 70% of Spirit AeroSystems revenue last year came from work done for Boeing, according to Spirits latest annual report. That is up from 60% two years earlier. Most of the companys other revenue comes from making parts for Airbus, Boeings European rival.

Spirit also is looking into selling operations in Ireland that make parts for Airbus, the Journal reported.

Spirit lost $616 million last year and hasnt turned a full-year profit since 2019. Since then, it has lost more than $2.5 billion. Boeing agreed in October to give more financial help to Spirit. Boeing said it would provide $100 million for Spirit to retool its factory and adjust prices to give the supplier another $455 million over two years.

Boeing has its own manufacturing problems. This week, the Federal Aviation Administration gave the company 90 days to submit a plan to improve quality and to address safety concerns raised by a panel of experts who spent a year studying Boeing.

(AP)
The Justice Department is pushing back against a new set of subpoenas quietly sent out by House Republicans related to the Hunter Biden criminal investigation in another brewing faceoff in the President Joe Biden impeachment inquiry.

The department said it has already taken extraordinary steps to rebut claims of political interference in the investigation into the presidents son despite a lack of hard evidence for the allegations, according to a letter obtained Friday by The Associated Press.

The letter to Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan is a response to previously unreported subpoenas the committee sent last week as part of the impeachment inquiry into President Biden. The subpoenas went to two rank-and-file attorneys in the Justice Departments tax division as well as two officials who have previously testified before the committee, U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., Matthew Graves and former Delaware prosecutor Lesley Wolf.

The Judiciary Committee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Hunter Bidens tax and business affairs have been under investigation in Delaware since 2018. He is has pleaded not guilty to gun and tax charges filed after the implosion of a plea deal that would have spared him jail time.

Republicans who blasted that proposed agreement as a sweetheart deal have been probing allegations from Internal Revenue Service agents that the Justice Department investigation into the presidents son was slow-walked and mishandled.

Six senior Justice Department officials have testified that there was no interference into the investigation from President Biden or the White House, addressing a central question in the impeachment probe, according to the letter from Assistant Attorney General Carlos Uriarte, the head of congressional affairs. Its rare for the Justice Department to have rank-and-file attorneys give congressional testimony.

A deposition from the investigations top prosecutor, Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, marked the first time a special counsel has ever appeared before lawmakers while a probe was still ongoing.

Jordan has said that, for him, Weisss testimony reinforced rather than dispelled allegations the special counsel didnt have the full authority.

The letter, which was first reported by NBC, asks the committee to send specific written questions.

News of the Justice Department subpoenas comes days after Hunter Biden testified behind closed doors as part of the 14-month probe that has largely centered on his overseas business dealings. Republicans have long questioned whether they involved corruption and influence peddling by Joe Biden, particularly when he was vice president.

Yet after conducting dozens of interviews and obtaining more than 100,000 pages of documents, Republicans have yet to produce direct evidence of misconduct by the president. Meanwhile, an FBI informant who alleged a bribery scheme involving the Bidens  a claim Republicans had cited repeatedly to justify their probe  is facing charges from federal prosecutors who accuse him of fabricating the story.

(AP)
Elon Musk is suing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman over what he says is a betrayal of the ChatGPT makers founding aims of benefiting humanity rather than pursuing profits.

In a lawsuit filed at San Francisco Superior Court, billionaire Musk said that when he bankrolled OpenAIs creation, he secured an agreement with Altman and Greg Brockman, the president, to keep the AI company as a nonprofit that would develop technology for the benefit of the public.

Under its founding agreement, OpenAI would also make its code open to the public instead of walling it off for any private companys gains, the lawsuit says.

However, by embracing a close relationship with Microsoft, OpenAI and its top executives have set that pact aflame and are perverting the companys mission, Musk alleges in the lawsuit.

OpenAI declined to comment on the lawsuit Friday.

OpenAI, Inc. has been transformed into a closed-source de facto subsidiary of the largest technology company in the world: Microsoft, the lawsuit filed Thursday says. Under its new Board, it is not just developing but is actually refining an AGI to maximize profits for Microsoft, rather than for the benefit of humanity.

AGI refers to artificial general intelligence, which are general purpose AI systems that can perform just as well as  or even better than  humans in a wide variety of tasks.

Musk is suing over breach of contract, breach of fiduciary duty and unfair business practices. He also wants an injunction to prevent anyone, including Microsoft, from benefiting from OpenAIs technology.

Those claims are unlikely to succeed in court but that might not be the point for Musk, who is getting his take and personal story on the record, said Anupam Chander, a law professor at Georgetown University.

Partly theres an assertion of Elons founding role in OpenAI and generative AI technology, in particularly his claim he named OpenAI and he hired the key scientist and that he was the primary funder of its early years, Chander said. In some sense its a lawsuit that tries to establish his own place in the history of generative AI.

Musk was an early investor in OpenAI when it was founded in 2015 and co-chaired its board alongside Altman. In the lawsuit, he said he invested tens of millions of dollars in the nonprofit research laboratory.

Musk resigned from the board in early 2018 in a move that OpenAI said at the time would prevent conflicts of interest as the Tesla CEO was recruiting AI talent to build self-driving technology at the electric car maker. This will eliminate a potential future conflict for Elon, OpenAI said in a February 2018 blog post. Musk has since said he also had disagreements with the startups direction, but he continued to donate to the nonprofit.

Later that year, OpenAI filed papers to incorporate a for-profit arm and began shifting most of its workforce to that business, but retained a nonprofit board of directors that governed the company. Microsoft made its first $1 billion investment in the company in 2019 and the next year, signed an agreement that gave the software giant exclusive rights to its AI models. That license is supposed to expire once OpenAI has achieved artificial general intelligence, the company has said.

Its unveiling of ChatGPT in late 2022 bought worldwide fame to OpenAI and helped spark a race by tech companies to capitalize on the publics fascination with the technology.

When the nonprofit board abruptly fired Altman as CEO late last year, for reasons that still havent been fully disclosed, it was Microsoft that helped drive the push that brought Altman back as CEO and led most of the old board to resign. Musks lawsuit alleged that those changes caused the checks and balances protecting the nonprofit mission to collapse overnight.

One of Musks claims is that the directors of the nonprofit have failed to uphold their obligations to follow its mission, but Dana Brakman Reiser, a professor at Brooklyn Law School, is skeptical that Musk had standing to bring that claim.

It would be very worrisome if every person who cared about or donated to a charity could suddenly sue their directors and officers to say, Youre not doing what I think is the right thing to run this nonprofit, she said. In general, only other directors or an attorney general, for example, could bring that type of suit, she said.

Even if Musk invested in the for-profit business, his complaint seems to be that the organization is making too much profit in contradiction to its mission, which includes making its technology publicly available.

I care about nonprofits actually following the mission that they set out and not being captured for some kind for profit purpose. That is a real concern, Brakman Reiser said. Whether Elon Musk is the person to raise that claim, Im less sure.

Whatever the legal merits of the claims, a brewing courtroom fight between Musk and Altman could offer the public a peek into the internal debates and decision-making at OpenAI, though the companys lawyers will likely fight to keep some of those documents confidential.

The discovery will be epic, posted venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya on Musks social media platform X on Friday. To which Musk replied in his only public commentary so far on the case: Yes.

(AP)
Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Friday that she raised $12 million in February, a haul that will likely allow her to remain in the Republican primary against former President Donald Trump past next weeks Super Tuesday  even though she cant point to an upcoming state where she expects to beat him.

The former ambassador to the United Nations noted that she outraised Trump in January and insisted that the donations have continued to flow despite her not having a long-term plan to challenge  or even really dent  the former presidents commanding lead in the primary.

When I go into a fundraiser, she said during a meeting with reporters in Washington, They dont ask me, Whats your strategy? They dont ask me, Whats your plan? All they say is, Thank you for giving me hope.

Haley got some good news later in the day, when moderate Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins became the first senators to endorse her, defying most top GOP leaders who have lined up behind Trump. Murkowski has her own personal history with the former president, who in 2021 vowed to personally campaign against her when she was up for reelection the following year  though that threat didnt stop the senator from winning another term in 2022.

Collins said late Friday that Haleys experience as a successful Governor and as a strong representative of our country as ambassador to the United Nations makes her extremely well-qualified to serve as our first female president. She has the energy, intellect, and temperament that we need to lead our country in these very tumultuous times.

Murkowskis home state of Alaska and Collins home state of Maine are among the 15 holding GOP primaries Tuesday.

Haleys announced February total has not yet been verified by official campaign finance filings. Still, Haley argues that another strong month with donors shows that Republicans are hungry for a viable alternative to Trump. Haley, who is also a former South Carolina governor, is the last Trump challenger standing from a field that was once crowded with more than a dozen Republican White House candidates.

Trump has swept every early GOP contest heading into Saturdays primary in the nations capital  including trouncing Haley in South Carolina. But Haley outraised Trump in January, taking in $11.5 million while her allied super PAC brought in another $12 million. The former presidents campaign raised $8.8 million in January with his primary super PAC taking in another $7.3 million.

Asked about Haley announcing her strong February fundraising, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said, Our focus is now on Joe Biden and the general election.

Republican voters have delivered resounding wins for President Trump in every single primary contest and this race is over, Cheung said.

As Biden steps up his own fundraising and travel around the country amid his own reelection campaign, the president has also zeroed in on Trump while largely assuming the race with Haley is over  calling his presidential predecessor a threat to the nations core values and very democracy.

Haley says shes not anti-Trump and doesnt fault Republicans for voting for him in the primary. After her meeting with reporters, she held a campaign rally in Washington ahead of its GOP primary on Saturday  though there are only about 23,000 registered Republicans in an overwhelmingly Democratic city.

Who says theres no Republicans in D.C.? Haley joked to a crowd of more than 500 in a Washington hotel ballroom. She was finishing Friday in North Carolina, another Super Tuesday state.

In her earlier discussion with reporters, Haley ducked questions about where she might win a primary on Super Tuesday or beyond, saying, I dont look all the way down the road. She has repeatedly refused to comment about long-term plans aside from saying that she will reevaluate after Tuesday.

Super Tuesday, were gonna try to be competitive. I hope we go forward. But, this is all about like, how competitive can we be? Haley said. Can we continue to show that there is a big number of Americans who are saying they want to go in this direction?

She has said previously that she has no interest in mounting a third-party presidential challenge against Biden and Trump with the centrist No Labels group. Haley said Friday that shed not spoken to No Labels but didnt plan on mounting a White House bid with them because she said it would require her to team up with a Democratic running mate.

If I ran for No Labels that would mean its about me, Haley said. Its not about me, its about the direction I think the country should go.

Dick Best, a retired civil servant and Republican from Washington who described himself as a strong supporter of Haley, said he thought she had a good chance of winning the District of Columbias GOP primary. He pointed to her background on defense and willingness to stand up to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

I think thats a real strength that she has, is foreign policy and that shes not an inherent pleaser, Best said contrasting Haley with Trump, who has often seemed accommodating to Putins interests.

Its a real challenge, Best said of Haleys long-term primary chances. But you never know whats going to happen with the rest of the year.

(AP)
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed what would have been one of the most far-reaching social media bans for minors on Friday, and lawmakers are proposing new language that seeks to keep children under under 14 off of addictive platforms.

The bill sent to the governor last week would have banned minors under 16 from popular social media platforms regardless of parental consent. DeSantis had concerns about privacy issues and parental rights, but appears to be on board with a new proposal that would allow 14- and 15-year-olds on social media with parental consent and ban access for younger children.

The Legislature is about to produce a different, superior bill, DeSantis said in his veto message. Protecting children from harms associated with social media is important, as is supporting parents rights and maintaining the ability of adults to engage in anonymous speech.

He said he anticipates signing the new bill, which will go before the Senate on Monday, just days before the legislative session ends March 8.

Lawmakers were expecting the veto and worked with DeSantis on the compromise. The issue is a top priority for Republican House Speaker Paul Renner, who believes social media is causing psychological damage to children.

My personal view is we ought to go to 18. It is bad. It is poison, Renner said. Their business model is addiction that causes harm to children for profit. Thats not good.

But Renner expressed optimism after the veto and said the new proposal is an improvement to the original bill and will have broader public support.

Its a good product of compromise, he said. It will have a better chance of getting through the courts.

Several states have considered similar legislation. 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 the bill will withstand legal challenges because it would ban social media formats based on addictive features such as notification alerts and autoplay videos, rather than on the content on their sites.

(AP)
Far-left libtard filmmaker Michael Moore has issued a stark warning to Joe Biden, cautioning that his stance on the Gaza conflict could cost him the presidency in November. In an interview with MSNBC, Moore declared that he is sounding the alarm to save Biden from himself.

Moore argued that Bidens position on Gaza is alienating a crucial segment of the Democratic base, particularly in Michigan, which has a significant Muslim population. He noted that over 100,000 voters in Michigan cast their ballots for uncommitted in Tuesdays Democratic primary, signaling a protest against Bidens stance.

This issue has sparked concerns among Democrats, as Michigan is a critical battleground state that could determine the elections outcome. Moore warned that if Biden fails to reverse course, Trump could capitalize on the discontent and win the state by a narrow margin, just as he did in 2016.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
National Unity chairman Benny Gantz is flying to Washington on Motzei Shabbos for a series of meetings with US officials.

Gantz is scheduled to meet with US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan as well as senior members of Congress. Reuters reported that he is also meeting with Vice President Kamala Harris.

According to a Ynet report, Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu is furious as Gantz planned his trip without the prime ministers approval and contrary to government regulations, which requires every minister to approve his travel in advance with the prime minister, including approval of the travel plan.

According to Netanyahus associates, the Prime Minister made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel has only one prime minister.

Following his trip to Washington, Gantz will fly to London for a series of high-level meetings, his office said.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior U.S. administration official said Saturday, a day before talks to reach an agreement were to resume in Egypt.

International mediators have been working for weeks to broker a deal to pause the fighting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10. A deal would likely allow aid to reach hundreds of thousands of desperate Palestinians in northern Gaza who aid officials worry are under threat of famine.

The Israelis have more or less accepted the proposal, which includes the six-week cease-fire as well as the release by Hamas of hostages considered vulnerable, which includes the sick, the wounded, the elderly and women, said the official.

Right now, the ball is in the court of Hamas and we are continuing to push this as hard as we possibly can, the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

Officials from Israel and from Hamas did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

A senior Egyptian official said mediators Egypt and Qatar are expected to receive a response from Hamas during the Cairo talks scheduled to start Sunday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not publicly authorized to discuss the talks.

(AP)
Negotiations for a hostage deal and ceasefire in Cairo hit a major impasse early Sunday afternoon as Hamas refused Israels demand to provide a list of the hostages who are still alive, Israeli news outlets reported.

Instead, Hamas sent a partial response to a hostage release/ceasefire proposal without even mentioning the demand for the list of live hostages. Hamas also did not respond to Israels request for an answer to the number of Palestinian prisoners it is demanding for the release of each hostage.

Israel does not intend to send a delegation to Cairo under these circumstances, senior Israeli officials said on Sunday.

Earlier on Sunday, Egyptian news outlets reported that delegations from Qatar and the United States arrived in Cairo on Sunday for another round of negotiations on an agreement for a temporary ceasefire and hostage release deal and Israeli and Hamas delegations are expected to arrive later in the day.

According to an Axios report on Friday, Israel told Egypt and Qatar that it will not continue negotiations until Hamas provides a list of hostages who are still alive and provides a serious response to the number of Palestinian prisoners that the mediators proposed to be released as part of the deal.

Senior Israeli officials said last week that the Israeli delegation returned to Israel on Thursday without answers. The mediators promised that Hamas would give numbers and that didnt happen, said an Israeli official.

There is no point in starting another round of talks until we receive the lists of which of the hostages are alive and until Hamas gives its answer regarding the ratio that defines how many prisoners will be released for each hostage, an Israeli official said.

A senior American official said on Saturday that the framework for a six-week ceasefire was approved by Israel and it now depends on Hamas agreeing to release hostages.

A senior Palestinian official briefed on the talks told Reuters that they are still not close to finalizing a deal. A senior Hamas official told the French news agency AFP that if Israel meets Hamas demands, which include a full military withdrawal from Gaza and the introduction of increased humanitarian aid, this will pave the way for an agreement within the next 24-48 hours.

(YWN Israel Desk  Jerusalem)
One of the most important pillars in artificial intelligence (AI) is semiconductors. These chips, commonly referred to as graphics processing units (GPUs) and central processing units (CPUs), play critical roles across generative AI applications.

Nvidia, which is estimated to own up to 95% of the addressable market, dominates the AI GPU industry. As of now, its market cap is roughly $1.98 trillion. To put this extreme growth into perspective, the company reached the trillion-dollar mark over the summer. But in the roughly nine months that followed, the company has added almost another $1 trillion in value.

As demand continues to surge for all things AI, investors may be curious what other chip manufacturers could follow Nvidia's path to a $1 trillion enterprise. The No. 2 player in AI chips is Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD), which develops a host of rival computing processors to that of Nvidia.

With a market cap of $311 billion, AMD will need to triple in value to reach entry to the trillion-dollar club. Let's break down AMD's business and analyze some industry trends to help forecast whether AMD can reasonably increase threefold by 2030.

AMD is firing on all cylinders, but...

For the full year 2023, AMD reported total revenue of $22.7 billion. While this was a decrease of 4% year over year, much of the decline can be attributed to the waning demand in the personal computing (PC) market. AMD's artificial intelligence (AI) data center business was actually up 7% year over year.

Although 7% growth may appear a bit muted, consider that AMD's management predicts the addressable market for data center AI chips will reach $400 billion by 2027. This implies that AMD could have massive upside as manufacturing for its MI300X chips begins to scale.

Image source: Getty Images.

...the company has some catching up to do

Despite the potential market size, AMD has a lot of catching up to do to help close the gap with Nvidia. The graphs below illustrate the consensus revenue forecasts for Nvidia versus AMD for the next couple of years.

Story continues

While AMD is projected to grow at slightly faster rates, the overall volume of business compared to Nvidia is much smaller.

Candidly, these estimates could end up being quite conservative. Nvidia's A100 and H100 chips are the hottest items in the world of GPUs. However, the company is not resting on its laurels. Nvidia plans to launch next-generation products later this year, including its highly anticipated B100 chip.

The path to $1 trillion

AMD's path to a $1 trillion valuation is going to be tough. Should the company grow its sales in the mid-20% range through 2030, AMD could reasonably achieve $90 billion in revenue by 2030. By using the company's long-term price-to-sales (P/S) ratio of 4.8, I arrive at a valuation of $432 billion.

While the above analysis is merely a fun exercise with numbers, it helps shed light on a couple of key items. My suspicion is that it is going to become increasingly challenging for AMD to keep up with Nvidia's pace of innovation. As such, I would not be surprised to see the company's valuation multiples start to compress. Eventually, growth investors may sour on AMD's prospects relative to its rival, which could lead to precipitous selling activity.

On the other hand, some investors may prefer to play a much longer game and see AMD as a worthy investment prospect over the coming decades. My caution to that viewpoint is that demand for AI products will start to plateau at some point, and the already cyclical nature of the semiconductor business will likely be hit pretty hard. Another very important thing to consider is the development of AI chips outside of Nvidia and AMD. Namely, competition from the likes of Microsoft and Amazon could put a sizable dent in AMD's and Nvidia's growth over the long term.

I see AMD as a decent hedge to other chip stocks you may own. However, I struggle to see how the company will close the gap with Nvidia in the long run. While the company could very well remain a respectable player in AI GPUs, I do not see it becoming a trillion-dollar company.

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The IDF has announced the completion of a two-week-long operation in the Zeitoun neighborhood of Gaza City, during which troops from the 401st Armored Brigade and additional forces from the 162nd Division destroyed Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad sites and killed more than 100 terrorists.

According to the IDF, the operation resulted in the destruction of 35 sites, including weapon depots and manufacturing sites, tunnel infrastructure, rocket launching sites with hundreds of launchers, and a site belonging to the commander of the Gaza City Brigade, Izz ad-Din Haddad. The IDF also used drones to identify and capture dozens of Hamas operatives, who provided intelligence information following interrogations.

The IDF reported that at least 113 Hamas operatives were killed in Zeitoun over the past two weeks, with troops coming under gunfire, RPG fire, and explosive devices during the operations. Four soldiers were killed and several more were wounded.

The IDF noted that most attacks on troops occurred during the day, rather than at night, and that Hamas gunmen were operating in small cells without a military framework after the IDF dismantled the terror groups battalions in the area.

The operation in Zeitoun was the 401st Brigades fourth mission in Gaza, and the IDF will soon decide where to send the brigade for its next mission.

(YWN World Headquarters  NYC)
In a world where uncertainty looms and anti-Semitism shows its face more boldly than ever, the decision to invest in a home in Israel is not just wiseits exhilarating! Whether youre eyeing a move through Aliyah in the future, seeking a vacation spot, or aiming for a solid investment, its time to start planning. But where do you begin?

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Barclays Bank is certainly making life difficult for many customers as it continues to take an axe to its branches.

Already this year, it has announced plans to shut 62 branches with the first of them closing next month.

This is on top of the 1,140 it has closed since the beginning of 2015, according to consumer group Which? No other bank, says Which?, has been so ruthless in expunging its presence from our towns.

Businessman Mike Ridgway is among those customers impacted by Barclays' determination to pare back its branch network to the bone.

Comfort: The banks can take away their branches  but they can't touch a walk across Ilkley Moor

Mike, a consultant for the packaging industry, lives in Ilkley, West Yorkshire, and bemoans the fact that Barclays now makes his banking life somewhat of a chore.

Although Mike, a customer of Barclays for 55 years, embraced online banking for a while, he was scammed 18 months ago.

While he eventually got his money back from the bank, he eschewed online and mobile banking in favour of branches and telephone banking.

Barclays shut its branch in Ilkley two years ago although in its defence it hasn't been the only bank to desert the town.

HSBC closed its branch in June last year, just after NatWest pulled the plug, while Halifax shut up shop just two months ago. Only Santander now has a footprint in the town.

'It's crazy,' says Mike. 'Ilkley is a prosperous town with high property values and provides a perfect base for people who work in Bradford, Leeds, Manchester and further afield. Yet the banks have almost given up on us.'

What irritates Mike the most is that Barclays has not stopped at Ilkley. Branches have been swept away in nearby Guiseley (April 2023) and Settle (February 2022).

To compound his banking misery, the Skipton branch shuts for good this week while the Keighley branch gets the heave-ho in August.

'Barclays customers who like face-to-face banking are quite literally being debanked,' he says.

Mike says that to visit a 'local' Barclays branch, he must now catch a train to either Bradford or Leeds  a 35-minute journey, provided the trains are running on time (50:50).

Or in extremis, he will bank the occasional cheque he receives at a Barclays branch when he is down in London on business.

'I was in London five days ago,' he says, 'and I went into its branch in Berkeley Street, Mayfair, to deposit a cheque. How crazy is that.'

Banking expert Derek French believes Barclays  more than any other bank  is on a mission to shut many of its branches outside of the big cities.

This is because it doesn't want to be in the position of being last bank in town when new rules come in from the City regulator (the Financial Conduct Authority), potentially restricting the right of banks to pull the plug on the last branch.

'It's interesting that among the latest closures announced by Barclays,' says Derek, 'it has targeted branches in large towns where it is the first or second bank to pull out.'

They include towns such as Andover in Hampshire; Barking, Essex; Bracknell and Maidenhead, Royal Berkshire; Gravesend, Kent; Hartlepool, County Durham; and Lancaster in Lancashire  all with populations of 50,000 plus.

Bank branch closures, I fear, will be a recurring theme this year.

The last word goes to Mike. 'Ilkley is becoming a banking desert,' he says. 'The only thing that comforts me is the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales on my doorstep. The banks can't destroy that, can they?'

ln the interests of balance, I would like to give the thumbs-up to both Nationwide Building Society and HSBC for some welcome branch-friendly initiatives.

Nationwide, which prefers to keep rather than close branches, has agreed to donate a maximum of 10,000 to local causes in Windsor, Royal Berkshire  a town where it is (scandalously) the sole surviving bank or building society.

For every new current and savings account opened by residents between now and March 26, it will earmark 200 for a community fund  with local people deciding how the money is used. Well done, Nationwide.

Meanwhile, HSBC has just opened a new 'flagship' branch in Huddersfield, based in the town's Kingsgate Shopping Centre. It follows hot on the heels of a similar state-of-the-art branch opening for business in Sheffield.

Unlike Barclays, HSBC has said it won't be announcing any new branch closures for the rest of this year. It's not quite all doom and gloom on the bank branch front.

Will Jeremy Hunt make us happier?

Smile: Finland has the highest happiness score at 7.8 out of 10

I receive a shedload of emails from companies every day.

I ditch most, only keeping those I need for my work and my own personal finance education (I'm constantly in learning mode).

Occasionally, the emails are so left-field they make me smile  such as the one I received last week from online casino comparison website CasinoTop3.

It has conducted research which it claims indicates a clear link between money and happiness  and life expectancy and happiness.

In other words, the more money you have, and the longer you can expect to live, the happier you are.

According to CasinoTop3, the nation which currently has the highest happiness score (7.8 out of 10) is Finland.

Its residents are also ranked within the top third of the 60 countries analysed in terms of average salary and life expectancy.

Finland is followed by Denmark, Holland, and Sweden. As for the UK, it comes in 17th with India being bottom of the pile.

If I am reading the runes correctly, Wednesday's Budget could well be devoid of the tax cuts most people are desperate for.

If so, my guess is that the UK's happiness score could well slip further down the world league table as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt continues to grab more of our income and savings in a myriad of stealth taxes.

And again, if Labour triumphs at the next Election and hits the middle classes with yet more taxes.

The United Nations has deemed the 20th of this month to be the International Day of Happiness. Bah humbug.

A big thank you

Finally, a big thank you to all those readers who have contacted me in recent days to express their condolences over the loss of my mother (Helen of Troy) at the ripe old age of 88.

The Prestridge family celebrated her life three days ago in Sutton Coldfield near Birmingham. For the most part, we laughed  broken up by the intermittent shedding of tears.

I am sure I won't be laughing in the weeks ahead as I strive to get probate granted.

I'm already losing sleep over the battles that inevitably lie ahead. Probate is a nightmare, and I can't imagine it will be any different for Jeff Prestridge.
What a joke: You won the case but the court keeps the cash

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.

C.I. writes: I issued a court claim for 350 against LG, a white goods maker, relating to a washing machine guarantee.

The firm did not put up a defence to the claim and it was paid after I engaged bailiffs at Kingston-upon-Thames County Court.

Bailiffs collected payment last November and the money is, they say, now with the court.

Despite numerous emails, the money is still outstanding and the court's phone goes unanswered.

I have also emailed the Courts and Tribunals Service complaints department, to no avail.

Tony Hetherington replies: It is like a bad joke. You make a claim at the court, and you win. Bailiffs collect the money. They hand the cash to the court  and the court keeps it.

You called in the bailiffs on November 1 last year, and in mid-December you asked them what had happened. Had they succeeded in collecting your money?

The bailiffs replied: 'This was paid on November 15. If you have not received the money, you need to contact Kingston County Court. The bailiffs' office does not deal with payments out.'

You emailed the court on December 13 and again the next day. Nobody replied. The bailiffs told you to expect a response within ten working days, failing which you should try writing to the court. You wrote on January 9. Nobody replied.

After you contacted me, I emailed the Clerk to the Court on January 14. Nobody replied. On January 20, I emailed again, and this time I involved the Ministry of Justice. After all, what is the point in a justice system that simply doesn't work.

The Ministry slowly moved into action, and it took until February 9 for officials to push the court into contacting you.

An unsigned email explained: 'On behalf of Kingston County Court, I can confirm the money is currently going through our payment system.

Unfortunately, we have moved to a new system which has caused some issues and delays with the payout process.'

I went back to the Ministry. Could I have a comment from the Justice Minister Alex Chalk MP, please?

On February 13, the Ministry promised me that you would be paid within a couple of days, but on the same day it also told me your money was actually 'released' on January 30. Released? After three months in the clutches of Kingston County Court, I reckon it escaped.

Two days passed and your money was still on the run. A lot of Ministry of Justice work has been outsourced to a private company called Liberata, so I contacted it and asked whether staff there knew who had your cash. They did.

Within 24 hours, Liberata's chief executive Charlie Bruin told me: 'Liberata manages payments for HM Courts and Tribunals Service, and we can confirm all necessary procedures were followed with the utmost care and attention.

'A payment has been disbursed in accordance with the contractual requirements.'

The Liberata boss helpfully explained his company holds no money. Courts ask Liberata to make a payment from the court's own bank account.

So when did Liberata receive the request to hand over your money? It was on February 12, almost three months to the day since the bailiffs had handed it in at the court.

On February 19, you received a cheque for 433, including costs. But this was not quite the end of the story.

A week ago you received an apology from the Ministry of Justice, on behalf of the Minister, Alex Chalk.

An official explained: 'I contacted the court and they informed me they have experienced problems with processing the payment due to issues with the computer system.'

I have always resisted the phrase 'Broken Britain', but sometimes they are the only words that apply.

You'd need a pool for this water bill

A.B. writes: Thames Water rang me out of the blue to say I had an unpaid balance of almost 4,400 on my account.

I live in a small North London flat with my wife and two young children, and the charges relate to an 'anomalous' meter reading by a Thames Water employee in 2020, showing we had used 2,000 units of water.

In fact, our usage is about 100 units a year.

Tony Hetherington replies: Back in 2020, when you first spotted the huge meter reading, you contacted Thames Water and were told an engineer would investigate within days. Of course, nobody did, no matter how many times you called.

Then in 2021, you were told Thames Water would rebase future bills, with a fresh starting point.

The previous incorrect reading would be ignored. Suddenly, almost three years later, Thames Water resurrected the clearly wrong reading and again told you that an engineer would visit.

Meanwhile, it claimed you owe 4,494. This time, the engineer did turn up, and after examining the meter he explained to get the reading shown on bills, you would have had to open a swimming pool.

Thames Water told me: 'Our customer service teams have investigated and found this was due to an abnormal meter reading.' Your account has now been recalculated and the result is that you are now 500 in credit!

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.
It is time for a refresh. A major refresh that would breathe new life and fire into our tax-friendly investment portfolios  while giving a big boost to UK businesses up and down the country.

A win-win, a must-must. A flag-waver for Great Britain post-Brexit, a country that collectively we do down more than we big up  a result, I think, of our lack of brashness (the Americans have nicked all of that) and innate inclination towards conservatism.

No, I'm not talking about a 'refresh' of government, although I would understand if some of you thought I was thinking along those lines (Labour hasn't won the forthcoming General Election quite yet).

I'm referring to the urgent need to reinvigorate the investment habit in this country, undermined by years of government and regulatory meddling.

Best of British: The time has come to get investing in our country, says Jeff Prestridge

An objective that can be met by rebooting the tax-friendly Individual Savings Account  and turning it to the advantage of our great nation while keeping its tax-free status (on both capital gains and income) 100 per cent intact.

Ladies and gentlemen, its time has come  bring on the patriotic Great British Isa and let's get investing in OUR country.

An extra annual Isa allowance  5,000 on top of the existing 20,000  that can only be used to invest in UK-listed companies.

The UK's Magnificent Seven

An investment vehicle which I am sure could put the 'great' back in Great Britain and help stimulate the economy by encouraging the likes of me and you to buy British (shares) rather than go overseas in search of investment opportunities.

That is, to hold equities in companies such as AstraZeneca, BAE Systems, BP, Diageo, GlaxoSmithKline, Rolls-Royce, and Unilever  the creme de la creme of UK plc.

And then to raise an occasional glass of Johnnie Walker's Black Label (Diageo-owned) and toast them as they rise in value or provide us with a healthy dividend.

Yes, the UK's own version of the Magnificent Seven  maybe not as tech sexy and Artificial Intelligence-infused as the seven across the pond (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Nvidia and Tesla).

But companies that are global leaders in their respective fields and deserve our investment backing.

What could happen in the Budget?

Its moment could come this Wednesday when Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt delivers the last Spring Budget of this Conservative Government.

In the past few days, most of the Budget rumours emanating from the London offices of His Majesty's Treasury on Horse Guards Road have taken on a cautionary note: 'no' to income tax cuts (boo); 'no' to a reduction in stamp duty on house purchases (boo); and a fat 'no' to a more benign inheritance tax regime (boo).

If these rumours are factual  rather than a cunning Treasury wheeze to damp down our expectations of an end to austerity so that Mr Hunt can look saintly come Wednesday  it will mean few tidings of joy coming our way.

Maybe, another one per cent cut in National Insurance and an extension of the fuel duty freeze.

And just maybe, an announcement confirming the launch of the Great British Isa. Let's hope so.

Certainly, Treasury officials seem keen on the idea as do swathes of business leaders, investment houses and former politicians such as Baroness Altmann.

The former Pensions Minister believes a Great British Isa would boost British businesses, ignite UK financial markets and benefit both the economy and society.

A big fly in the ointment could be Prime Minister Rishi Sunak who apparently is of the view that the Government should not be telling investors where they must be investing their hard-earned money.

If true, this would be a great shame  and represent a betrayal of the foundation stones upon which Isas are built.

The history of the Isa

Although Isas came into being nearly 25 years ago (April 1999), they were for all intents and purposes a remoulding of the Personal Equity Plan (Pep) that went before.

Introduced in 1986 by then Chancellor Nigel Lawson, the objective of the Pep was simple: to encourage investment in the UK stock market by UK investors, not in overseas equity markets.

The Pep went on to play its part in the revolution of the 'City' in the 1980s  Big Bang  turning London into one of the world's go-to financial centres, attracting overseas capital by the bucketload.

Investing, fuelled by an ongoing programme of privatisations (for better and for worse), suddenly became de rigueur.

On Friday, Baroness Altmann told me: 'It is so important to ensure any investment tax breaks are used to support Britain and not to bolster overseas companies and markets.

'The UK stock market has been devalued as our once strong investor base has eschewed domestic assets in favour of low-cost internationally invested funds that hold precious little in the UK.'

She added: 'Backing Britain through Isas will help revive the UK stock market, bring about better investor returns and help boost the economy too.

'A win-win-win. If people want to invest overseas that's fine, but why should they receive taxpayer subsidies.

'There should be encouragement to buy British as we have so many great companies that are languishing on low market ratings relative to the rest of the world  when they clearly shouldn't be.'

Fine words which I trust Mr Hunt will take on board ahead of Wednesday's Budget.

Toast: Investors could raise a glass of Johnnie Walker if owner Diageo's shares rise

Why we need a Great British Isa

There are so many reasons why the Chancellor should launch the Great British Isa.

For a start, the Isa regime has been a longstanding success story, fuelling many people's desire to invest for their retirement.

Although governments have fiddled with it over the years  for example, bringing out versions to help people buy their own homes or to use as quasi-pension funds  most people understand how it works.

In simple terms, you can invest 20,000 in any one tax year and any gains (capital or income return) are tax-free.

While not as attractive as pensions because contributions do not benefit from tax-relief, they are easier to grasp and are not submerged in the complicated rules that pensions are entwined in.

Latest data from His Majesty's Revenue & Customs indicates that around 742 billion is held in Isas by adults, 460 billion of which is in equity-based plans.

A Great British Isa would build on this success.

It is also time that the Isa was made more attractive. The 20,000 annual allowance has been frozen since April 2017 and is ripe for an increase. The Great British Isa would do this, topping it up to 25,000.

But the biggest reason why we should have the British Isa is because it would provide a great fillip to the UK stock market  and boy does it need one.

As a result of a toxic mix of City complacency, crass City regulations dissuading many institutional investors (insurance companies and pension funds) from investing in UK equities, and widespread private investor disinterest, the UK stock market is going nowhere.

Indeed, it is leaking companies as they are either bought by private equity at rock-bottom prices  or decide to list elsewhere such as the United States to drum up greater investor interest in their shares.

The investment house Premier Miton says that the Great British Isa could raise more than 200 billion in five years for British businesses  and push up company share prices in response to investor demand.

Of course, not everyone is so gung-ho about the Great British Isa. Some claim it would add to the complexity of Isas while others say it would increase risks for investors. It has even been described in some quarters as a gimmick.

Although I'm respectful of their views, I think they are wrong. The Great British Isa is not the answer to all the ills of the UK stock market, but it would provide a boost to both investors and UK plc.

And if countries such as France, Italy and Japan already have similar schemes to encourage investment in their homegrown companies, why shouldn't we.

Win-win  or as Baroness Altmann would say: 'Win-win-win.'
Catwalk client: Elixirr clients include LVMH, home of Louis Vuitton

Management consultants have a bad name.

Accused of charging thousands and delivering very little, they are associated with some of the worst excesses of the corporate world.

Elixirr chief executive Stephen Newton knows the industry's pitfalls only too well.

A former managing partner at consulting giant Accenture, he left in 2009 to start something different, an advisory firm that provided practical, hands-on help for companies.

The strategy is working. Having grown steadily as a privately owned business, Elixirr listed on the junior AIM market in July 2020, one of a handful of businesses to float at that troubled time.

It is also one of the most successful listings of recent years, joining the market at 2.17, since when it has more than doubled to 5.50.

The soaring price reflects strong growth in sales and profits and there should be plenty more to come.

Companies spend around 200 billion a year on management consultants and the industry is growing by 10 to 12 per cent annually around the world.

With a stock market valuation of 260 million, Elixirr is a minnow by comparison with giants such as Accenture and McKinsey, but the group has increased sales by an average of more than 30 per cent a year over the past decade and is expected to grow faster than the rest of the market for some time to come.

Industry leaders are often criticised for selling customers whatever they have on the shelf, regardless of whether it truly fits the bill.

Newton and his crew pride themselves on offering a more bespoke approach, based on practical advice, tailored to customers' individual requirements.

The group has also developed close relationships with cutting-edge technology entrepreneurs in Silicon Valley, New York, London, Tel Aviv, Cape Town and Sydney.

When businesses come to Newton with problems, therefore, the network can be called upon for clever ideas above and beyond normal advice.

Sometimes, Elixirr distils the network's best suggestions for its customers. Other times, businesses meet members of the network directly.

Whatever the process, the emphasis is on initiatives that can make a tangible difference, rather than airy-fairy notions that sound good on paper but have no basis in the real world.

Newton is also keen to make his staff feel and act as if they own the business. To that end, employees are given share options and access to a generous share scheme, under which Elixirr matches any stock that employees buy, in effect doubling the number of shares they hold.

Bespoke advice, technological knowledge and committed workers have created a potent cocktail.

Surveys indicate that many businesses rate Elixirr more highly than much larger rivals and customer numbers are on the rise, including high-profile names such as Tesla, Burger King, HSBC and luxury goods group LVMH, home to fashion brand Louis Vuitton.

Elixirr generated revenues of 30 million and profits of 5.8 million in 2020, its first year as a public company.

Figures for 2023 will be unveiled in April but a recent trading statement confirmed that sales will amount to almost 90 million, with brokers forecasting profits of around 24 million.

Continued growth is expected, with revenues of 108 million pencilled in for this year and 119 million next.

Profits growth should be equally robust, with earnings climbing to 28.5 million in 2024 and more than 31 million next.

The group has always been committed to paying dividends but, in a sign of confidence and maturity, Newton recently announced a move from annual to twice-yearly payments.

A total dividend of 12.3p is now expected for 2023, rising to 14p for 2024.

Midas verdict: Some management consultants have had a tough time recently, forced to lay off staff and streamline costs in response to difficult economic conditions. Elixirr is moving in the opposite direction, adding new customers, expanding its workforce and acquiring boutique operators that complement the business.

Newton and his team are determined to continue in that vein, setting their sights on a 1 billion stock market valuation over the next few years.

Progress has been encouraging to date and, with 28 per cent of the shares, Newton is certainly motivated to deliver results. At 5.50, the shares are a buy.

Traded on: AIM Ticker: ELIX Contact: elixirr.com or 020 7220 5410
Retiring with a million-pound pension pot and the luxury lifestyle it affords may sound like the stuff of dreams. But it could be in closer reach than you think.

It's unlikely to happen by accident, however. Use these top tips  and invest a good bit of time  and a retirement of frequent holidays, treating loved ones and enjoying the finer things could just be attainable.

1. Start early

It is never too late to start saving for retirement, and even a few years of putting money aside can make a tangible impact on your future lifestyle.

However, the earlier you start, the less you need to save to reach 1 million by retirement.

That is because the contributions you make to your pension have longer to grow and benefit from the power of compound interest.

In fact, so valuable are early contributions that someone who starts saving at the age of 21 and then stops at 30 could end up with a bigger pension pot when they retire than someone who starts savings the same amount at age 30 and doesn't stop until their retirement.

If you start saving in your 20s you would need to pay in 460 a month throughout your working life to hit 1 million by the time you retire at age 65, according to calculations from wealth manager, Investec Wealth & Investment. That's the equivalent of 15 a day.

This assumes you save into a workplace pension using a salary sacrifice scheme and your fund benefits from investment growth of 3.8 per cent a year net of charges and that your contributions increase by 2.6 per cent every year.

Salary sacrifice is a common pension option offered by employers to make your pension saving more tax efficient.

You agree to reduce your salary and your employer pays the difference into your pension, which means you benefit from lower National Insurance contributions as well as tax relief.

Wait until you're in your 30s to start saving and you need to save 775 a month to get to 1 million; in your 40s it rises to 1,400 a month.

Hopefully, by the age of 50 you have some pension savings squirreled away. To get to 1 million from a standing start would be tough for even the very highest earners.

You'd need to put away 3,450 a month. To hit a million, you would really need to make lump sum contributions to try to catch up.

Faye Church, chartered senior financial planner at Investec Wealth & Investment, says that if you're making larger contributions, you should make sure they are within the Annual Allowance, which limits the amount you can put into your pension each year and benefit from tax relief at 60,000 a year (previously 40,000 until this tax year).

She adds: 'People in their 60s would struggle to reach a 1 million pension by the time they reach age 65 if they have no other provision, due to the Annual Allowance and short timeframe.'

If you have not used your Annual Allowance in the previous three years, you can make a one-off contribution of four years' worth  a total of 180,000.

After that, you would have four more years that you could make 60,000 contributions, which would get you to 420,000 by the age of 65.

2. Snap up free money

The figures above for how much you need to put aside every month to hit 1 million include tax relief and contributions from your employer.

That means that  once you subtract these perks  the amount that you personally have to save every month could be considerably less.

Take someone in their 20s, who is a basic rate taxpayer and has an employer that matches their pension contributions.

To put aside 460 a month, they would only have to put in 184. That is just over 6 a day.

Their employer would put in half  230  and the Government would top up their contribution by 20 per cent thanks to tax relief on pensions. With salary sacrifice, they would have to pay in 152.

Similarly, someone in their 30s who is a higher-rate taxpayer and had their pension contributions matched by their employer would only have to pay in 254.50 a month to have 775 added to their pension, using salary sacrifice.

3. Ride the waves

These figures  and indeed most pension projections  assume that you will be in employment throughout your working years and that your income will rise steadily over that time.

That may prove to be the case, but there is a very good chance that your working life will look far bumpier, with time out for caring responsibilities, health, retraining or redundancy along with other periods of higher earning power or even the odd windfall.

The key is to ride the waves. At the times when you work for an employer with a generous pension scheme, up your contributions if you can.

If you get a cash lump sum, such as an inheritance, bonus or redundancy payment, shovel a bit of it into your pension.

That way, you're more likely to stay on track to hit 1 million even if you do have times when you can't pay in as much as you would like.

And what would you get for 1 million?

A 1 million pension pot could afford you an income after tax of 40,375 if you are a basic-rate taxpayer, and 33,250 if you are a higher-rate taxpayer.

That would last you until the age of 95, according to Investec Wealth & Investment's calculations.

This assumes that your remaining pot grows at 3.8 per cent a year after fees and that you receive the full state pension.

The income is just shy of what pension industry standards suggest a single person would need for a comfortable retirement.

A single person requires 43,100 for a comfortable retirement, according to the Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association.

This would afford you a two-week four-star break in Europe every year, three long weekend breaks in the UK, 70 a week for food and a new car every five years.
Reflecting on the journey that led me to establish Starling Bank, I am reminded of the countless meetings and the sheer determination it took to secure our first investment.

It was a gruelling process, one that involved close to 300 meetings over two years! But beyond the challenges of building a business from scratch, what struck me most profoundly was the glaring inequality that pervaded every room I entered.

I was often the lone woman amidst a sea of men, all dressed in similar attire, almost to the tee (gilets seemed to be a big hit).

'Uneven playing field': Anne Boden says female-led companies still face struggles when it comes to securing funding

Despite being armed with a compelling vision to disrupt the banking system and a solid plan, most people couldnt perceive how this middle-aged Welshwoman could be a tech entrepreneur.

It was clear that I was playing in an uneven playing field. And it wasnt that men were keeping women out, it was that men were maintaining the status quo.

There has been a lot of progress in terms of female representation on company boards over the last few years, but inequality in terms of the backing that female led or founded companies receive remains.

Access to funding is one of the most consistent barriers to the progress of female led enterprises  for every 1 of equity investment in the UK, just 2p goes to fully female-founded businesses, representing no improvement over the past decade.

The irony is that in the world of entrepreneurship and fundraising, you are told to 'choose your investor'. Most of the time, women dont get to choose. We get what we are given.

We dont need to temper our personalities to suit the environment. The status quo needs to shift

I often get asked by aspiring female entrepreneurs: 'so what must be done to change these attitudes?'

First, women arent the problem. We dont need to change, the system does. Women have ideas, drive and skills.

There is nothing wrong with our ambition or desire to build high-growth ventures. We dont need to temper our personalities to suit the environment. The status quo needs to shift.

Second, female entrepreneurs must find a supportive ecosystem. This is something I understand all too well.

Because there are very few successful high-growth female entrepreneurs, it can be very lonely. However, there is a network, small as it may be, of brilliant women founders willing to lend a hand, give access to their contacts and sometimes even invest.

Founder: Anne Boden is the woman behind the award-winning challenger bank, Starling

My supportive team came in handy when I needed it most. Dont underestimate the power of a good support system.

Finally, while an idea is important, execution is everything. I understand the anxiety that comes with wanting to get everything right as a leader but do not let that stop you from acting. Shut out the naysayers and get it done!

We stand on the cusp of the fifth industrial revolution (or industry 5.0) which will be driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and deep learning.

I think it is a game changer for female entrepreneurs because it represents a shift in focus from economic value to societal value.

The focus of the innovations that come next will be to solve some of the most pressing issues of the day; health, social care and climate change. People orientated issues: where female entrepreneurs have already proven they excel.

But, for us to fully reap the benefits we need to create the environment where everyones creativity is allowed to flourish and we field our full resource of talent.

This means including women from ideation to leading high growth businesses. This time, we wont be pushed away when things start getting interesting.

Anne Boden founded the award-winning Starling Bank. She has recently published her latest book: Female Founders Playbook  Insights from the superwomen who made it.
Tireless: Margaret Hodge's determined crusades have resulted in her treading on toes on both sides of the political divide

It is a lovely cold but sunny day in Westminster, but veteran Labour MP Margaret Hodge has little time to enjoy the weather. Instead she is packing.

The member for Barking in East London and her staff are sorting through boxes and cupboards bursting with paperwork and books ahead of her departure before the General Election.

'If you're standing down they only give you five days' notice to clear out when an election is called, so we're getting ahead of it,' she laughs.

Hodge, 79, has held her seat since 1994. She announced in 2021 that she wouldn't be standing again.

Much of the paraphernalia that is being sifted through relates to tackling tax evasion and the dirty money she says is sloshing through Britain's financial system  arguably the campaign that will define her career.

For years she has argued that the UK's growing status as a laundromat for tainted cash is imperilling its economic prospects and national security.

'Britain makes a lot of money from being one of the world's key financial centres and our prosperity has been built on the back of being a trusted jurisdiction,' Hodge says. 'But that trustworthiness is ebbing away.

The Googles and Amazons of this world are particularly guilty

'We are increasingly becoming the choice for dirty money. And in the long term that is bad for the economy. The Chinese and the Russians  all of the potential threats to national security  exploit our lack of rules and toothless regulators.'

Hodge argues there is a 'spectrum of bad behaviour' in Britain  from paying your cleaner in cash to tax avoidance by tech giants.

'The Googles and Amazons of this world are particularly guilty. Economic crime costs our economy around 350 billion a year. That's 15 per cent of our GDP.'

It is a timely subject. Jeremy Hunt is scrambling to find ways to provide room for tax cuts in next week's Budget in an attempt to stave off Tory electoral oblivion.

Hodge says the Chancellor is missing a trick by not clamping down on tax avoidance. 'You've got to be able to follow the money to make sure people are paying the right tax on their wealth,' she says.

If HMRC worked harder and more effectively in pursuing those who deliberately avoid tax, then maybe there would be more money in the public coffers to fund services

'You should be getting the money in from the people who don't pay according to their means, so it goes into the common pot for the common good.'

This would provide additional cash to invest in areas such as healthcare, Hodge points out.

'Every penny lost to dodgy tax schemes is one which could be spent on public services.'

She adds: 'If HMRC worked harder and more effectively in pursuing those who deliberately avoid paying their fair share of tax, then maybe there would be more money in the public coffers to fund services.'

Recent efforts Hodge championed in Parliament to push laws clamping down on dirty money have, in her words, been watered down too much by Ministers  even those who previously supported her from the backbenches.

She cites the Economic Crime and Corporate Transparency Act, which became law in October after a lengthy back and forth between the Commons and the Lords.

'When that Bill landed it was wimpish and we did a lot of work to strengthen it. But did it go far enough? No.'

Hodge points out that the new law failed to properly fund enforcement to fight economic crime as well as not creating a specific offence for businesses that fail to put adequate measures in place to prevent money laundering.

She also criticises Tory MPs Kevin Hollinrake and Tom Tugendhat, who she says supported crackdown efforts but 'lost their nerve' once in government.

Hodge maintains that trying to root out dirty money remains a cross-party issue, but it often requires 'challenging' what she calls the 'practices of the financial services sector'. 'These tax avoidance schemes are constructed by bankers, accountants, lawyers and estate agents. So stopping them is the best way of piercing this growing balloon of dirty money.'

She believes the Government's attempts to keep the City on side following Brexit played into the hands of tax dodgers and dirty money agents.

'Because of Brexit, the Government is very nervous about doing anything that they think could damage financial services in the short term.'

Last year, Hodge's anti-corruption efforts drew the ire of Tory donor and businessman Mohamed Amersi. He was accused by ex-Conservative Minister David Davis of trying to suppress a report by Hodge into the influence of corrupt money in politics.

But she's used to difficult battles. During the Jeremy Corbyn years, she famously confronted the former Labour leader in Parliament to criticise him over the rise of anti-Semitism in the party. And in 2010 she crushed an electoral challenge from the fascist British National Party.

We need to protect our financial system

Overcoming adversity is part of her heritage. Born in Egypt to German and Austrian-Jewish refugees, Hodge's family moved to Orpington, south-east London, in 1948 to escape anti-Semitism during the first Arab-Israeli War.

Her father, industrialist Hans Oppenheimer, co-founded steel trading firm Stemcor in 1951. Hodge was a shareholder buy is no longer one

She entered politics in 1973 after winning a seat on Islington Council, then became an MP 21 years later.

So will Labour make cleaning up the dirty money problem a key promise ahead of the election? Hodge laughs, saying she has been promoting it to the leadership. 'If I were writing the manifesto, it would be in it. But we'll have to wait and see.'

Hodge points out that the issue of dirty money is not party political.

'Both Labour and the Conservatives created this situation,' she says  a bold statement from a Minister in the last Labour Government. She admits: 'Labour deregulated like mad and we became an attractive place to hide money.'

Labour deregulated like mad and we became an attractive place to hide money

She says Foreign Secretary David Cameron and ex-Chancellor George Osborne were among those who helped to create the first register of beneficial ownership in 2016.

The register discloses who owns a company or property and is a key tool in the fight against corruption. But efforts to extend this to Britain's overseas jurisdictions have so far come to nothing.

Hodge insists that this allows the UK's financial system to be exploited by rogue nations. She points to organisations such as Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps  a proscribed terrorist organisation in the US but not the UK  which allegedly uses Iranian banks with branches in London to funnel money to groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

'It's completely barmy that we allow this,' she says. 'People associated with the IRGC also have millions in property here.'

Allegations have recently emerged that banks including Lloyds, HSBC and Standard Chartered have provided services to entities tied to Islamic theocracy.

Hodge has also been calling for mandatory checks on the origin of political donations. She also wants to bring back the ability of elections watchdog the Electoral Commission to start criminal proceedings against rule breakers.

'Dirty money has infected dirty politics,' she says, adding that this risks depriving the UK of clean money that is vital for investment.

'We don't need the kleptocrats, the criminals and drug smugglers. You can't grow an economy on the back of dirty money.'
British savers are at risk of losing out in a crisis that is threatening the existence of a popular and low-cost way of building a nest egg, campaigners have warned.

Investment trusts have been a key part of the stock market for more than 150 years.

In the Victorian era, they were used to raise money to build railways and other projects around the world.

More than 360 trusts, with 267 billion of assets, are listed in the City.

True to their roots, today's trusts raise capital for areas such as renewable energy and infrastructure. They are one of the few ways that enable small savers to have a piece of the action.

Drawing a line: Post-Brexit, the UK is under no obligation to apply the EU regulations in question

But campaigners, including peers in the House of Lords, say trusts are caught by a bizarre remnant of EU law that is starving them of cash and exposing them to foreign predators.

Post-Brexit, the UK is under no obligation to apply the regulations in question.

But opponents say the City watchdog is imposing them in a 'unique' way that is putting British savers, companies and the stock market at a disadvantage.

They warn that the City regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is using a 'flawed system' to calculate how fees are charged.

This makes it appear as though investing in the trusts is more expensive than it really is.

This has sparked a sell-off which has pushed down the value of shares in the trusts and made them vulnerable to overseas vultures.

Baroness Altmann said the FCA has 'taken these EU rules and uniquely applied them in a way that disadvantages UK companies. It is the opposite of what Brexit was meant to achieve'.

She added that 'the regulator has misled everybody' by forcing the trusts to declare costs that do not in reality exist.

As they are listed on the stock exchange, an investment trust's share price includes its running costs, including management fees and general business expenses.

But under the current rules, these must be presented to potential investors as if they are paid directly by shareholders. This, campaigners say, amounts to double-counting.

For example, the FTSE 250 Abrdn Private Equity Opportunities Trust, which invests in private companies and has a market value of nearly 800 million, is listed on the Hargreaves Lansdown investment platform as having an 'ongoing charge' of 6.25 per cent.

This implies that an investor buying its shares would expect to pay additional fees on top of their initial investment, when in fact they will not.

And according to data from the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), the 6.25 per cent figure is in itself inflated and is in fact only 2.84 per cent.

Altmann has tabled a bill in the House of Lords asking that trusts no longer need to comply with the rule. Lib Dem peer Baroness Bowles said it is 'an FCA-sponsored failure of consumer duty that has killed off investment.'

William MacLeod, managing director at boutique investment firm Gravis Capital, warned the sector faces 'a crisis' with trusts' share prices having 'collapsed'.

AIC data showed the average discount across the investment trust industry stands at 10.8 per cent compared with an average since 2008 of around 6.5 per cent.

Investment trusts explained

Q: What is an investment trust? A: Investment trusts invest in assets like shares, infrastructure and small growth businesses which most investors could not buy directly. The trusts are listed on the stock market, so investors can buy and sell their shares. Q: What is the problem? A: An investment trusts market share price takes into account its running costs such as management and administration fees. However, the UK City watchdog, the FCA, forces these trusts to present the costs as if investors pay them directly. Using leftover EU rules  not followed by any EU or other country  makes British investment trusts appear uniquely expensive and uncompetitive. This double-counting of expenses has led to UK investment trusts being excluded from investment platforms and pension investors are switching to overseas companies, causing big share price falls  all based on flawed figures.




Beyon, a leading technology group based in Bahrain, has appointed Maitham Abdulla as the CEO of its key unit Batelco, while Shaikh Mohamed bin Khalifa Al Khalifa will be the new CEO of Beyon Digital Growth and Isa Alsabea the Chief Investment Officer.

Announcing the key appointments, Beyon said all the three appointments were promotions from within the company and aligning with programmes implemented over the past five years to support executive succession planning, and as part of Beyons initiatives towards the development of national talents.

Abdulla has held the role of Batelco Chief Operating Officer since 2022, and prior to that was General Manager of Batelcos Consumer division.

He brings over 15 years of experience in mobile & fixed telecom, connectivity solutions, Data Centres, and content services. Maitham has also been instrumental in driving digitisation of products & services to elevate customer experience.

Shaikh Mohamed Al Khalifa joined Beyon in 2020 from the EDB to lead its digital growth ambitions and played a crucial role in the creation of Beyons digital companies.

Led by Shaikh Mohamed, Beyons digital companies have achieved significant growth through acquisitions and partnerships and through the launch of innovated products and services for Bahrain and the region.

Isa Alsabea has served as Beyon Director of Mergers and Acquisitions since joining the company in 2020, from UBS Bank in Dubai. Isa has been responsible for driving Beyons mergers and acquisitions strategy and the execution of related projects.

Isa has over 15 years of industry experience gained in several investment banking, private equity and corporate M&A roles.

Lauding the appointment, Beyon said all these three top executives in their respective roles will make immense contribution towards achieving Beyon and Batelcos strategic goals. They will be reporting directly to Beyon CEO Mikkel Vinter.-TradeArabia News Service
Asian Pay Television Trust (SGX:S7OU) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: S$266.4m (down 6.8% from FY 2022).

Net loss: S$406.5m (down from S$45.3m profit in FY 2022).

S$0.23 loss per share (down from S$0.025 profit in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Asian Pay Television Trust shares are up 1.2% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

You should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Asian Pay Television Trust (including 2 which are potentially serious).

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.
Outspoken: Sir Peter Wood, who set up Direct Line in 1985

The insurance tycoon who founded Direct Line believes the company has been run 'so abysmally' that it deserves to be taken over.

Sir Peter Wood, 77, set up Direct Line as the UK's first telephone-only insurer in 1985. He left the company in 1997.

Wood told The Mail on Sunday that the group had been managed 'terribly' for years, making it a sitting duck for predators. He said it should be sold to a bidder offering a 'decent' price.

Belgian rival Ageas proposed a 3.1 billion takeover last week, which Wood, who does not own any shares, said was not enough.

Direct Line, which owns brands including Churchill and Green Flag, rejected the Ageas bid.

The offer was announced just two days before new chief executive Adam Winslow started his role at the FTSE 250-listed firm.

Wood, 77, said Direct Line's board was right to rebuff Ageas. He said executives should consider any higher bids tabled in future.

'They had no option but to turn that deal down,' he said. 'But the business has been run so abysmally for so long that I don't think they've got any right not to take a decent offer.'

Ageas had proposed paying Direct Line investors through a mixture of cash and stock, which Wood described as 'messy'.

'It's obviously been a target because the share price was so low,' he said. 'It's got great brands and is a fairly large business so I'm sure other people will come for it.'

Direct Line has warned on profits multiple times over the past few years. In January 2023 the company scrapped its dividend after admitting it had been caught out by a surge in claims linked to bad weather. Within weeks it parted ways with chief executive Penny James.

Direct Line posted a loss of 76 million in September and sold a commercial insurance unit for 520 million in an effort to shore up its balance sheet.

The firm was once the biggest motor insurer in the UK and its 'little red telephone' was synonymous with the brand. Wood controlled the business but did not own a direct stake  receiving huge pay packets instead.

The tycoon is one of Britain's most successful insurance entrepreneurs. He has started seven businesses including Esure and he was an early backer of GoCompare. In 2021 he founded the investment group SPWOne, which was part of a consortium that took over funeral firm Dignity last year.

Direct Line is the third London-listed company to receive an approach in recent days. Electricals retailer Currys rejected two bids from American hedge fund Elliott and rebuffed interest from Chinese online retailer JD.com.

Meanwhile a bid for logistics firm Wincanton from French rival CMA CGM was gazumped by American group GXO. Direct Line declined to comment.
The number of reports about suspected fraud filed by banks is set to hit one million a year for the first time, the Mail can reveal.

Fraud is one reason individuals or companies may have their account forcibly shut down, otherwise known as being 'debanked'.

The latest figures, which are due to be released later this month by the National Crime Agency, will fuel concerns about the scale of de-banking in the aftermath of the Nigel Farage affair. The former Ukip leader had his account closed by Coutts because of his political views.

The surge in the number of 'Suspicious Activity Reports' (SARs) will spark fears that innocent customers may be wrongly labelled as criminals and frozen out of the financial system.

As well as fraud, customers are also being stripped of their bank accounts for other reasons, including controversial opinions or because they are branded as not being profitable enough.

Increase: Banks and building societies made up the bulk of the 900,000 suspicious activity reports in 2022

More than 140,000 businesses had their accounts closed by the UK's biggest banks in 2023, MPs said last week.

Banks and building societies made up the bulk of the 900,000 suspicious activity reports in 2022.

The figures about to be published are expected to hit a new high, up from 634,000 in 2017.

This is partly because of sanctions imposed on Russia.

However, experts worry that the banks are becoming trigger-happy.

Jason Hungerford, from law firm Mayer Brown, said: 'Many banks are filing SARs as a matter of course in sanctions matters when perhaps they don't need to.'
A collection of Jack the Ripper-related items once owned by a police inspector involved in the notorious unsolved Victorian case goes up for auction this month.

It includes a mortuary photo of first victim Mary Ann 'Polly' Nichols, as well as photos and details of a suspect, Michael Ostrog.

Also included is a facsimile copy sent to the police of a 'Dear Boss' letter and a 'Saucy Jack' postcard  both from anonymous senders claiming to be the Ripper.

The pieces are being sold as one lot by auctioneer Whitton & Laing in Exeter on March 22 with a 10,000 estimate.

Gruesome: The Ripper stalked the streets of Whitechapel in East London, killing and mutilating five women between August and November in 1888, before vanishing

Fascination in Jack the Ripper and other historical crimes is reflected in the increased value of related artefacts.

In the Ripper's case, it is not just the grisly crime that attracts attention  but the stories surrounding the perpetrator of this dark mystery.

The Ripper stalked the streets of Whitechapel in East London, killing and mutilating five women between August and November in 1888, before vanishing.

Andrew Frazer Cole, of Whitton & Laing, says: 'The Ripper continues to capture our imagination. Items connected to his crimes rarely come up, so we expect huge interest.

'Although it may seem ghoulish, as it relates to the Victorian era rather than modern times, it is far enough removed to be acceptable to collect related items.

'A key part of the appeal is it taps into the natural fascination that we have for unsolved murder mysteries.'

As with all historic collectables, provenance is key. The hoard was originally owned by Inspector Joseph Henry Helson, who was in charge of the investigation for the first murder. It was kept in Helson's family and is being sold by his great grandson.

Other Ripper items recently sold include a postcard sent in 1888 by someone warning how the killer's knife 'is still in good order'.

It was sold at auction for 22,000 in 2018, showing there is a keen appetite for the macabre.

Another hoard of Ripper artefacts, which included handcuffs, a truncheon, whistle and a notebook carried by Police Constable Edward Watkins on the night he discovered fourth victim Catherine Eddowes was sold for a total of 18,000 ten years ago by JP Humbert Auctioneers in Northamptonshire, since renamed Humbert & Ellis.

There is something about the era and place  gas lit streets, foggy nights and the brick lanes of East End London  that is irresistible to the mind. Jonathan Humbert - JP Humbert Auctioneers

Founder Jonathan Humbert says: 'Just holding items such as the whistle in your hand sends shivers down the spine.

'The body of Catherine Eddowes was discovered on Watkins' beat and the murder was believed to have only just occurred.

'The Ripper may well have heard the whistle or even passed the policeman.' The whistle alone sold for 2,600.

Humbert says: 'There is something about the era and place  gas lit streets, foggy nights and the brick lanes of East End London  that is irresistible to the mind.

'With an unsolved murder where the suspects people talked about included a Royal surgeon and even the Prince of Wales, it is no surprise this story has created a collectable market.'

It is not just gruesome crimes of the Victorian era that capture the imagination, but minor misdemeanours as well.

A 500-page police ledger containing hundreds of mugshots of those arrested between 1890 and 1920 in Derbyshire and other areas was sold for 10,500 a couple of years ago by Hansons Auctioneers  more than three times its estimate. It had been rescued from a skip.

Jim Spencer, head of Hansons library department, says: 'The images of this bygone age are incredible  drawing you into a fascinating snapshot of time and history.

'Many look like characters from the TV period drama Peaky Blinders, dressed in cloth caps and charged with bizarre petty crimes such as stealing a bag of soot. There are also gentlemen wearing bowler hats charged with embezzlement.'

The biggest find in the convict snapshots was pacifist Alice Wheeldon, who was convicted of plotting to kill Prime Minister David Lloyd George in 1917.

Despite being sentenced to ten years, she was released that same year after going on a hunger strike. It is believed the charges were trumped up and she died two years later.

Macabre fascination: Jack the Ripper items still attract huge interest including a letter claiming to be from the Ripper

Other recent sales revealing an interest in the macabre include a notebook that belonged to Britain's most famous hangman Albert Pierrepoint, who executed 400 people over a 25-year period up to 1956.

One of the last he hanged was Ruth Ellis in 1955, the final woman to be executed in Britain.

Her story is being turned into a TV drama this year.

The hangman's book included details of height, weight and neck type of each person so he could work out the 'drop' required.

The notebook was sold along with photos of himself and his father, also a hangman, for 12,400 by SAS Auctions of Newbury in Berkshire, last year.

Humbert also believes an interest in how law breakers do not play by the rules that others in society abide by also adds to the appeal of crime memorabilia.

He says: 'The Great Train Robbery of 1963 is almost a modern-day Robin Hood or highway robbery tale  with the audacious theft of 2.6 million in used bank-notes from a train hijacked by putting up a false red signal.'

Humbert sold Great Train Robbery memorabilia in 2015 that fetched a total of 20,000. Items included Monopoly money played with when the gang was lying low after the robbery, which sold for 400.

A watch worn by Ronnie Biggs  who later escaped prison and fled to Brazil  fetched 900, while a 1 note taken by the robbers went under the hammer for 750.

Humbert says: 'Gangsters who like to play by their own set of criminal rules also have a glamourous appeal for collectors  despite the often unsavoury nature of what they actually did to gain their notoriety and fame.

'A great example of this is the Kray Twins, leading East End gangsters during the 1950s and 1960s. The twins Ronnie and Reggie still command huge attention.'

A decade ago, JP Humbert Auctioneers sold items owned by Ronnie. These included a miniature rotating clock birdcage complete with 'canary' that the twin kept in his Broadmoor cell that sold for 3,200.

At a sale in 2009 held by Chiswick Auctions in London, a Ronnie Kray piece of art 'Crucifixion' went for 4,800.

But Humbert warns: 'Be wary of buying items relating to criminals off auction websites as the market is flooded with fakes.

'Ideally, use a reputable auction house who can validate provenance. Kray art is a classic example as it is almost childlike  so easy to copy. Otherwise, you may unwittingly become a victim of crime.'
Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) had its price objective reduced by CIBC from C$126.00 to C$125.00 in a research report released on Wednesday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a neutral rating on the banks stock.

BMO has been the subject of a number of other reports. Canaccord Genuity Group boosted their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$137.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. National Bankshares upgraded shares of Bank of Montreal from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from C$117.00 to C$141.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Cormark decreased their price objective on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$128.00 to C$127.00 in a report on Monday, December 4th. Desjardins boosted their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$130.00 to C$135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Finally, Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$145.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Bank of Montreal has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$132.70.

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Bank of Montreal Stock Up 0.2 %

Shares of BMO opened at C$123.07 on Wednesday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is C$127.45 and its 200-day moving average price is C$118.33. Bank of Montreal has a 52 week low of C$102.67 and a 52 week high of C$132.11. The stock has a market cap of C$88.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.67, a P/E/G ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.18.

Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, December 1st. The bank reported C$2.81 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$2.86 by C($0.05). Bank of Montreal had a return on equity of 5.91% and a net margin of 15.04%. The company had revenue of C$8.36 billion during the quarter. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Bank of Montreal will post 12.0940171 EPS for the current year.

Bank of Montreal Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 28th. Investors of record on Monday, April 29th will be issued a $1.51 dividend. This represents a $6.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.91%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 26th. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is currently 106.34%.

About Bank of Montreal

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Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The company's personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products.

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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Barnwell Industries (NYSE:BRN  Free Report) in a research report released on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

Barnwell Industries Price Performance

BRN opened at $2.27 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $22.77 million, a PE ratio of -8.41 and a beta of 0.19. The business has a 50-day moving average of $2.38 and a 200-day moving average of $2.49. Barnwell Industries has a fifty-two week low of $1.89 and a fifty-two week high of $3.10.

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Barnwell Industries (NYSE:BRN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 12th. The company reported ($0.07) EPS for the quarter. The company had revenue of $6.16 million for the quarter. Barnwell Industries had a negative net margin of 11.35% and a negative return on equity of 14.70%.

Insider Activity

Institutional Trading of Barnwell Industries

In other Barnwell Industries news, Director Joshua Horowitz bought 14,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, December 22nd. The shares were purchased at an average price of $2.38 per share, with a total value of $33,320.00. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 241,517 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $574,810.46. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . 16.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in Barnwell Industries by 7.7% in the 1st quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 57,848 shares of the companys stock valued at $127,000 after buying an additional 4,144 shares during the last quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP bought a new stake in shares of Barnwell Industries in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $40,000. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Barnwell Industries by 145.1% in the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 40,745 shares of the companys stock worth $104,000 after acquiring an additional 24,118 shares during the period. Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of Barnwell Industries in the 1st quarter worth approximately $75,000. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its position in shares of Barnwell Industries by 15.0% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 637,622 shares of the companys stock worth $1,639,000 after acquiring an additional 83,286 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 9.38% of the companys stock.

Barnwell Industries Company Profile

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Barnwell Industries, Inc acquires, develops, produces, and sells oil and natural gas in Canada. The company operates through three segments: Oil and Natural Gas, Land Investment, and Contract Drilling. It also acquires and develops crude oil and natural gas assets in the province of Alberta, as well as invests in land interests in Hawaii.

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Yiren Digital (NYSE:YRD  Get Free Report) and loanDepot (NYSE:LDI  Get Free Report) are both small-cap computer and technology companies, but which is the superior stock? We will contrast the two businesses based on the strength of their risk, analyst recommendations, dividends, profitability, valuation, institutional ownership and earnings.

Earnings and Valuation

This table compares Yiren Digital and loanDepots gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation.

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Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Yiren Digital $497.97 million 0.98 $173.24 million $3.13 1.76 loanDepot $1.26 billion 0.71 -$273.02 million ($0.93) -2.97

Yiren Digital has higher earnings, but lower revenue than loanDepot. loanDepot is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Yiren Digital, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks.

Risk and Volatility

Analyst Recommendations

Yiren Digital has a beta of 0.74, meaning that its share price is 26% less volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, loanDepot has a beta of 3.14, meaning that its share price is 214% more volatile than the S&P 500.

This is a summary of current ratings and target prices for Yiren Digital and loanDepot, as reported by MarketBeat.com.

Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Yiren Digital 0 0 0 0 N/A loanDepot 1 3 0 0 1.75

loanDepot has a consensus target price of $2.50, suggesting a potential downside of 9.42%. Given loanDepots higher probable upside, analysts clearly believe loanDepot is more favorable than Yiren Digital.

Profitability

This table compares Yiren Digital and loanDepots net margins, return on equity and return on assets.

Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Yiren Digital 42.38% 29.54% 22.22% loanDepot -17.51% -28.80% -3.82%

Insider & Institutional Ownership

1.3% of Yiren Digital shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 53.0% of loanDepot shares are owned by institutional investors. 42.2% of Yiren Digital shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 83.9% of loanDepot shares are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that endowments, large money managers and hedge funds believe a stock will outperform the market over the long term.

Summary

Yiren Digital beats loanDepot on 7 of the 12 factors compared between the two stocks.

About Yiren Digital

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Yiren Digital Ltd. operates an AI-powered platform. Its platform provides a suite of financial and lifestyle services in China. The company delivers digital financial services, insurance solutions, as well as consumption and lifestyle services. It supports clients at various growth stages, addressing financing needs arising from consumption and production activities, and augmenting the well-being and security of individuals, families, and businesses. The company was formerly known as Yirendai Ltd. and changed its name to Yiren Digital Ltd. in September 2019. Yiren Digital Ltd. was founded in 2012 and is based in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. Yiren Digital Ltd. operates as a subsidiary of CreditEase Holdings (Cayman) Limited.

About loanDepot

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loanDepot, Inc. engages in originating, financing, selling, and servicing residential mortgage loans in the United States. It offers conventional agency-conforming and prime jumbo, federal assistance residential mortgage, and home equity loans. The company also provides settlement services, which include captive title and escrow business; real estate services that cover captive real estate referral business; and insurance services, including services to homeowners, as well as other consumer insurance policies. loanDepot, Inc. was founded in 2010 and is headquartered in Foothill Ranch, California.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Arch Resources (NYSE:ARCH  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report report published on Wednesday.

Several other research firms have also recently weighed in on ARCH. BMO Capital Markets increased their price objective on Arch Resources from $170.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. B. Riley dropped their price objective on Arch Resources from $232.00 to $223.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 16th.

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Arch Resources Trading Up 2.2 %

Shares of ARCH stock opened at $169.00 on Wednesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.10 billion, a PE ratio of 7.03 and a beta of 0.69. Arch Resources has a 1-year low of $102.42 and a 1-year high of $187.45. The business has a 50-day moving average of $170.90 and a 200 day moving average of $158.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.07, a current ratio of 2.49 and a quick ratio of 1.83.

Arch Resources (NYSE:ARCH  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The energy company reported $6.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $6.90 by ($0.83). The company had revenue of $774.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $704.53 million. Arch Resources had a net margin of 14.75% and a return on equity of 32.20%. The companys revenue was down 9.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $23.18 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Arch Resources will post 23.25 earnings per share for the current year.

Arch Resources Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be given a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 0.59%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Arch Resourcess dividend payout ratio is currently 4.16%.

Insider Transactions at Arch Resources

In other news, VP John A. Ziegler sold 3,299 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $169.42, for a total value of $558,916.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 33,618 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,695,561.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, VP John A. Ziegler sold 3,299 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $169.42, for a total value of $558,916.58. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 33,618 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,695,561.56. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, VP John A. Ziegler sold 148 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $172.33, for a total value of $25,504.84. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 23,232 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,003,570.56. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 14,138 shares of company stock valued at $2,471,868. Corporate insiders own 5.40% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its position in Arch Resources by 11.9% during the 4th quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,061,209 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $342,037,000 after buying an additional 219,094 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Arch Resources by 24.4% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,261,637 shares of the energy companys stock worth $142,262,000 after purchasing an additional 247,238 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Arch Resources by 2.3% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 1,234,347 shares of the energy companys stock worth $169,575,000 after purchasing an additional 28,274 shares in the last quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its holdings in shares of Arch Resources by 2.7% in the 4th quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 918,052 shares of the energy companys stock worth $152,343,000 after purchasing an additional 23,959 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Gendell Jeffrey L increased its holdings in shares of Arch Resources by 20.6% in the 2nd quarter. Gendell Jeffrey L now owns 502,298 shares of the energy companys stock worth $56,639,000 after purchasing an additional 85,792 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 85.03% of the companys stock.

Arch Resources Company Profile

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Arch Resources, Inc engages in the production and sale of metallurgical products. It operates in two segments, Metallurgical and Thermal. The company operates active mines. It owned or controlled primarily through long-term leases of coal land in Ohio, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Wyoming, Kentucky, Montana, Pennsylvania, Colorado, and Illinois; and smaller parcels of property in Alabama, Indiana, Washington, Arkansas, California, Utah, and Texas.

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Shares of Manulife Financial Co. (TSE:MFC  Get Free Report) (NYSE:MFC) have been given an average recommendation of Moderate Buy by the ten research firms that are currently covering the company, MarketBeat reports. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among brokerages that have issued ratings on the stock in the last year is C$35.80.

MFC has been the subject of several recent research reports. Evercore raised their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$30.00 to C$36.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Scotiabank raised their target price on shares of Manulife Financial from C$35.00 to C$40.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 16th. Desjardins raised shares of Manulife Financial from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from C$29.00 to C$36.00 in a report on Friday, February 16th. TD Securities cut shares of Manulife Financial from an action list buy rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from C$35.00 to C$37.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, Cormark raised shares of Manulife Financial from a market perform rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from C$33.00 to C$36.00 in a report on Friday, February 16th.

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Manulife Financial Trading Up 0.5 %

Manulife Financial Increases Dividend

TSE MFC opened at C$32.38 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 3.79, a quick ratio of 2.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 45.69. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$30.13 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$27.22. Manulife Financial has a 12-month low of C$23.69 and a 12-month high of C$33.59. The stock has a market cap of C$58.61 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.41, a P/E/G ratio of 12.56 and a beta of 1.10.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 19th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be given a $0.40 dividend. This is a positive change from Manulife Financials previous quarterly dividend of $0.37. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 27th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.94%. Manulife Financials dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 61.30%.

Insider Activity

In other news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 10,294 shares of Manulife Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total value of C$337,231.44. In other news, Senior Officer Steve Finch sold 10,294 shares of Manulife Financial stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total value of C$337,231.44. Also, Director Brooks Tingle sold 3,317 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of C$32.76, for a total transaction of C$108,664.92. Company insiders own 0.03% of the companys stock.

About Manulife Financial

(Get Free Report

Manulife Financial Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides financial products and services in the United States, Canada, Asia, and internationally. The company operates through Wealth and Asset Management Businesses; Insurance and Annuity Products; and Corporate and Other segments. The Wealth and Asset Management Businesses segment offers investment advice and solutions to retirement, retail, and institutional clients through multiple distribution channels, including agents and brokers affiliated with the company, independent securities brokerage firms and financial advisors pension plan consultants, and banks.

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Shares of Magna International Inc. (NYSE:MGA  Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) have earned an average rating of Hold from the fifteen ratings firms that are covering the firm, MarketBeat reports. Ten analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and five have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $63.93.

MGA has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. CIBC dropped their price objective on Magna International from $63.00 to $61.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 12th. The Goldman Sachs Group cut Magna International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $73.00 to $58.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on Magna International from $67.00 to $65.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 12th. StockNews.com upgraded Magna International from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price objective on Magna International from $65.00 to $63.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th.

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Magna International Price Performance

Shares of MGA opened at $54.05 on Friday. Magna International has a 12-month low of $46.71 and a 12-month high of $65.27. The businesss fifty day moving average is $56.15 and its 200 day moving average is $55.10. The company has a quick ratio of 0.71, a current ratio of 1.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34. The stock has a market cap of $15.50 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.81, a P/E/G ratio of 0.53 and a beta of 1.70.

Magna International (NYSE:MGA  Get Free Report) (TSE:MG) last issued its earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The company reported $1.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by ($0.13). Magna International had a return on equity of 13.15% and a net margin of 2.83%. The firm had revenue of $10.45 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.44 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.91 earnings per share. Magna Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 9.3% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Magna International will post 6.23 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Magna International Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd will be issued a $0.475 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. This represents a $1.90 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.52%. This is a positive change from Magna Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.46. Magna Internationals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 45.02%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Magna International

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Rhumbline Advisers increased its holdings in Magna International by 5.0% in the 3rd quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 4,773 shares of the companys stock worth $256,000 after acquiring an additional 226 shares during the last quarter. S.A. Mason LLC increased its holdings in Magna International by 24.4% in the 4th quarter. S.A. Mason LLC now owns 1,166 shares of the companys stock worth $69,000 after acquiring an additional 229 shares during the last quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp increased its holdings in Magna International by 9.6% in the 3rd quarter. Van ECK Associates Corp now owns 3,576 shares of the companys stock worth $192,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. FNY Investment Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in Magna International in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Finally, EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Magna International by 131.6% in the 2nd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 880 shares of the companys stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 500 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 62.21% of the companys stock.

About Magna International

(Get Free Report

Magna International Inc designs, engineers, and manufactures components, assemblies, systems, subsystems, and modules for original equipment manufacturers of vehicles and light trucks worldwide. It operates through four segments: Body Exteriors & Structures, Power & Vision, Seating Systems, and Complete Vehicles.

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Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM  Free Report) had its target price decreased by Morgan Stanley from $285.00 to $275.00 in a research note published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. Morgan Stanley currently has an underweight rating on the stock.

Several other analysts also recently weighed in on the stock. Roth Mkm lifted their price objective on shares of Boston Beer from $406.00 to $422.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Sanford C. Bernstein raised Boston Beer from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $280.00 to $335.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $337.00 price target on shares of Boston Beer in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Boston Beer in a report on Monday, November 13th. They set a hold rating and a $375.00 price target on the stock. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Boston Beer has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $343.58.

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Boston Beer Price Performance

Shares of SAM opened at $304.48 on Wednesday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $349.11 and its 200 day moving average price is $354.66. Boston Beer has a 12-month low of $296.27 and a 12-month high of $395.52. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.71 billion, a PE ratio of 49.11, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.02.

Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The company reported ($1.49) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.22) by ($1.27). Boston Beer had a return on equity of 8.13% and a net margin of 3.61%. The firm had revenue of $393.72 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $413.57 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned ($0.93) earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Boston Beer will post 10.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Insider Activity at Boston Beer

In related news, insider Carolyn L. Oboyle sold 102 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.72, for a total transaction of $35,773.44. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 2,630 shares in the company, valued at $922,393.60. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 23.30% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its position in Boston Beer by 2.0% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 16,610 shares of the companys stock worth $6,452,000 after buying an additional 333 shares during the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. grew its position in Boston Beer by 64.3% in the first quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 1,778 shares of the companys stock worth $691,000 after buying an additional 696 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. grew its position in Boston Beer by 3.3% in the first quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 2,961 shares of the companys stock worth $1,151,000 after buying an additional 95 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its position in Boston Beer by 220.8% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,080 shares of the companys stock worth $2,414,000 after buying an additional 4,185 shares during the last quarter. Finally, MetLife Investment Management LLC grew its position in Boston Beer by 42.6% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 6,488 shares of the companys stock worth $2,520,000 after buying an additional 1,938 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 64.10% of the companys stock.

About Boston Beer

(Get Free Report)

The Boston Beer Company, Inc engages in the production and sale of alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, Angel City, Coney Island, and Havana Lager brand names.

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apple pay

Major banks have called for a crackdown on Apple over claims the tech giants access to millions of iPhone users transactions will give it an unfair advantage as it pushes further into financial services.

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)s Practitioner Panel, consisting of bank and insurance executives, has written to the regulator saying there are multiple imbalances in how tech giants can gather and use consumer spending data.

The letter, signed by Barclays UK chief executive Matt Hammerstein, specifically references Apple and Amazon, warning that there is a pressing need to address their access to data.

It says that Apple, which allows customers to connect their bank accounts to their iPhones Wallet app, will account for the majority of activity in open banking  a system paid for by major banks  by the end of this year.

It also raises concerns over Amazon and how its wealth of data on shopping habits could also give the company an advantage.

Consistent access to information across competitors is essential for fairness in the market, the letter said. The ability of big tech to access private and public retail data and combine it with AI and advanced analytics may create the conditions for market dominance.

While we have no doubt that big tech often does deliver good experiences and outcomes for their customers, they are under no obligation to do so, let alone demonstrate that, while big tech obtains these data privileges for free and have no obligations on how it is used.

The FCA is investigating whether big tech companies enjoy unfair access to customers data in a way that could make them dominant in the market. It expects to report on a call for input by the summer.

Last year, Apple began allowing iPhone users to see their bank account transactions and balances through the Wallet app, taking advantage of the open banking protocol pushed through by regulators that allows bank accounts to be linked to other apps.

Story continues

It came after the company bought UK fintech start-up Credit Kudos for a reported $150m (119m) in 2022.

Open banking access requires authorisation by the FCA.

Barclays boss Matt Hammerstein has led calls for the regulator to better police big tech's use of consumer data

The tech giant company has offered contactless payments through Apple Pay in Britain since 2015. In the US it has pushed heavily into financial services, offering a credit card, savings account and buy now, pay later services.

It is unclear if the company plans to bring those to the UK but banks are believed to be concerned that its potential access to data could give it an advantage if it chose to do so.

The Practitioner Panels letter suggests the FCA could bring tech companies payment systems under financial services regulation, or limit what data big tech companies could use when launching finance products.

The panel is chaired by Mr Hammerstein and includes representatives from Lloyds, Nationwide, KPMG, Vanguard, Aquis Exchange, UBS, NatWest, Admiral, Rathbones and digital bank Chetwood.

An FCA spokesman said: Big tech firms have the potential to boost innovation in financial services but their unique access to large sets of data, such as retail or social media, could give them an advantage in the future if combined with financial data that firms already hold.

Thats why we launched a call for input to better understand how this data and access to advanced technology could affect consumers and businesses.

Meanwhile, we are setting standards for critical third parties, like cloud or AI services, so we can manage risks and protect the integrity of the market.

A Barclays spokesman said Mr Hammerstein had signed the letter in an independent capacity and that the letter represented the views of the panel.

Apple said it does not use Apple Pay data to build profiles on users and that transaction information is stored on users devices, not the companys servers.

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Kontoor Brands (NYSE:KTB  Free Report) had its target price trimmed by Barclays from $75.00 to $65.00 in a research report sent to investors on Thursday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the stock.

A number of other equities analysts have also recently issued reports on KTB. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $56.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $83.00 to $85.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Stifel Nicolaus upped their target price on shares of Kontoor Brands from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their target price on shares of Kontoor Brands from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Edward Jones lowered shares of Kontoor Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $70.40.

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Kontoor Brands Trading Down 0.1 %

Kontoor Brands Announces Dividend

Shares of KTB stock opened at $59.08 on Thursday. Kontoor Brands has a 52-week low of $37.10 and a 52-week high of $64.49. The stock has a market cap of $3.29 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 1.10 and a current ratio of 2.66. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $60.43 and a 200-day moving average of $52.75.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Kontoor Brandss dividend payout ratio is currently 49.26%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Kontoor Brands

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Kontoor Brands by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,294,678 shares of the companys stock worth $401,379,000 after acquiring an additional 153,205 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Kontoor Brands by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,426,658 shares of the companys stock valued at $282,195,000 after purchasing an additional 20,964 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC boosted its stake in shares of Kontoor Brands by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 3,866,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $169,796,000 after purchasing an additional 117,815 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its stake in shares of Kontoor Brands by 0.6% in the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,079,112 shares of the companys stock valued at $87,531,000 after purchasing an additional 13,277 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Kontoor Brands by 60.1% in the 4th quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,602,908 shares of the companys stock valued at $100,054,000 after purchasing an additional 601,646 shares during the last quarter.

About Kontoor Brands

(Get Free Report)

Kontoor Brands, Inc, a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brad name. The company sells its products primarily through mass merchants, specialty stores, mid-tier and traditional department stores, company-operated stores, and online.

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Dundee Precious Metals Inc. (OTCMKTS:DPMLF  Get Free Report) rose 3.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as $7.07 and last traded at $7.03. Approximately 11,866 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 49% from the average daily volume of 23,183 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.78.

Dundee Precious Metals Stock Up 3.7 %

The company has a market cap of $1.28 billion, a PE ratio of 7.03 and a beta of 0.67. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $6.33 and its 200-day simple moving average is $6.48.

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Dundee Precious Metals (OTCMKTS:DPMLF  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 14th. The company reported $0.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The business had revenue of $139.30 million for the quarter. Dundee Precious Metals had a net margin of 32.28% and a return on equity of 17.55%.

Dundee Precious Metals Announces Dividend

Dundee Precious Metals Company Profile

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Investors of record on Sunday, March 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.04 per share. This represents a $0.16 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.28%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Dundee Precious Metalss payout ratio is 15.38%.

(Get Free Report)

Dundee Precious Metals Inc, a gold mining company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, development, mining, and processing of precious metals. The company primarily explores for gold, copper, and silver deposits. It holds a portfolio of projects located in Bulgaria, Namibia, Serbia, and Ecuador.

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Minera Alamos Inc. (CVE:MAI  Get Free Report)s share price shot up 10.9% during mid-day trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$0.31 and last traded at C$0.31. 559,561 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 124% from the average session volume of 249,740 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.28.

Minera Alamos Trading Up 10.9 %

The stock has a market capitalization of C$141.22 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.50 and a beta of 1.27. The companys 50-day moving average is C$0.32 and its 200-day moving average is C$0.31. The company has a quick ratio of 3.89, a current ratio of 5.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77.

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Minera Alamos (CVE:MAI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, November 29th. The company reported C($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Minera Alamos had a negative return on equity of 8.41% and a negative net margin of 30.26%. The firm had revenue of C$1.79 million for the quarter. Research analysts anticipate that Minera Alamos Inc. will post 0.0395078 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

About Minera Alamos

Minera Alamos Inc, a junior mining and exploration company, acquires, explores for, and develops mineral properties in Mexico. The company explores for gold, silver, molybdenum, and copper deposits. Its property portfolio includes the 100% owned Santana project consisting of 9 mining claims with an area of approximately 3,100 hectares located in the east-southeast of Hermosillo, Sonora; 100% owned Cerro de Oro project covering an area of 6,500 hectares situated in Zacatecas, Mexico; and 100% owned La Fortuna project covering an area of 6,100 hectares located in Durango State, Mexico.

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Profund Advisors LLC lowered its position in shares of Bank of Hawaii Co. (NYSE:BOH  Free Report) by 16.1% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 4,871 shares of the banks stock after selling 938 shares during the quarter. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in Bank of Hawaii were worth $242,000 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. Bessemer Group Inc. lifted its position in Bank of Hawaii by 160.9% during the 4th quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 647 shares of the banks stock worth $50,000 after acquiring an additional 399 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd lifted its position in Bank of Hawaii by 72.4% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 707 shares of the banks stock worth $59,000 after acquiring an additional 297 shares during the period. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd lifted its position in Bank of Hawaii by 27.9% during the 1st quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 710 shares of the banks stock worth $60,000 after acquiring an additional 155 shares during the period. Cullen Frost Bankers Inc. acquired a new stake in Bank of Hawaii during the 3rd quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in Bank of Hawaii by 2,197.1% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 781 shares of the banks stock worth $39,000 after acquiring an additional 747 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 82.46% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently issued reports on BOH. StockNews.com raised Bank of Hawaii to a sell rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods decreased their price target on Bank of Hawaii from $57.00 to $55.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Piper Sandler lowered their price objective on Bank of Hawaii from $70.00 to $69.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Bank of Hawaii from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Friday, December 8th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating and one has assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Reduce and an average target price of $52.40.

Bank of Hawaii Trading Down 0.2 %

Bank of Hawaii stock opened at $60.13 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.70, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. Bank of Hawaii Co. has a 12 month low of $30.83 and a 12 month high of $75.35. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $65.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $58.32. The firm has a market cap of $2.39 billion, a PE ratio of 14.49, a P/E/G ratio of 2.04 and a beta of 1.06.

Bank of Hawaii (NYSE:BOH  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, January 22nd. The bank reported $1.01 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.00 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $252.63 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $161.03 million. Bank of Hawaii had a net margin of 17.35% and a return on equity of 14.35%. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $1.50 EPS. Analysts anticipate that Bank of Hawaii Co. will post 3.69 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of Hawaii Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 14th. Investors of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.66%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. Bank of Hawaiis dividend payout ratio is presently 67.47%.

About Bank of Hawaii

(Free Report)

Bank of Hawaii Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Bank of Hawaii that provides various financial products and services in Hawaii, Guam, and other Pacific Islands. It operates in three segments: Consumer Banking, Commercial Banking, and Treasury and Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers checking, savings, and time deposit accounts; residential mortgage loans, home equity lines of credit, automobile loans and leases, personal lines of credit, installment loans, small business loans and leases, and credit cards; private and international client banking, investment, credit, and trust services to individuals and families, and high-net-worth individuals; investment management; institutional investment advisory services to corporations, government entities, and foundations; and brokerage offerings, including equities, mutual funds, life insurance, and annuity products.

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United Services Automobile Association increased its holdings in Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK  Free Report) by 27.7% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 20,625 shares of the industrial products companys stock after purchasing an additional 4,479 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Associations holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $460,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in GPK. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new stake in Graphic Packaging during the second quarter worth about $26,000. ST Germain D J Co. Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the second quarter valued at approximately $29,000. AllSquare Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the second quarter valued at approximately $31,000. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC grew its stake in shares of Graphic Packaging by 870.7% during the third quarter. FinTrust Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,291 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 1,158 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Roffman Miller Associates Inc. PA bought a new stake in shares of Graphic Packaging during the second quarter valued at approximately $57,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.67% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Raymond James cut shares of Graphic Packaging from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, November 27th. StockNews.com cut shares of Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Citigroup raised their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their target price on shares of Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and five 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 $28.22.

Graphic Packaging Stock Down 1.8 %

Shares of NYSE GPK opened at $25.48 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $7.80 billion, a PE ratio of 10.84 and a beta of 0.83. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 12-month low of $20.07 and a 12-month high of $27.56. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $25.39 and its 200 day simple moving average is $23.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 1.10 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66.

Graphic Packaging (NYSE:GPK  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The industrial products company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.69 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.40 billion. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.67% and a return on equity of 35.66%. Graphic Packagings revenue was down 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.59 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.57%. Graphic Packagings payout ratio is 17.02%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Graphic Packaging news, EVP Joseph P. Yost sold 70,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.20, for a total transaction of $1,834,000.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 205,231 shares in the company, valued at $5,377,052.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Corporate insiders own 1.20% of the companys stock.

Graphic Packaging Profile

(Free Report)

Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides paperboard packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Manufacturing, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging.

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Profund Advisors LLC cut its stake in shares of BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ  Free Report) by 12.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,630 shares of the companys stock after selling 514 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in BJs Wholesale Club were worth $259,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Cibc World Market Inc. acquired a new position in BJs Wholesale Club during the second quarter valued at $1,063,000. Jump Financial LLC acquired a new position in BJs Wholesale Club during the third quarter valued at $685,000. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. raised its position in BJs Wholesale Club by 46.2% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 558,667 shares of the companys stock valued at $39,872,000 after buying an additional 176,494 shares during the period. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. raised its position in BJs Wholesale Club by 0.5% during the second quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 32,172 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,027,000 after buying an additional 172 shares during the period. Finally, Barclays PLC raised its position in BJs Wholesale Club by 64.2% during the third quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 131,362 shares of the companys stock valued at $9,375,000 after buying an additional 51,349 shares during the period. 98.60% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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BJs Wholesale Club Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:BJ opened at $71.47 on Friday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $67.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $67.71. BJs Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. has a twelve month low of $60.33 and a twelve month high of $78.88. The company has a market cap of $9.53 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.11, a PEG ratio of 2.59 and a beta of 0.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.12, a current ratio of 0.73 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently weighed in on BJ shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on BJs Wholesale Club from $58.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday. Roth Mkm restated a neutral rating and issued a $63.00 target price on shares of BJs Wholesale Club in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Citigroup lowered their target price on BJs Wholesale Club from $74.00 to $72.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Gordon Haskett downgraded BJs Wholesale Club from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $70.00 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft downgraded BJs Wholesale Club from a buy rating to a hold rating and lowered their target price for the company from $79.00 to $71.00 in a research note on Monday, November 6th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $73.63.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on BJs Wholesale Club

Insider Buying and Selling at BJs Wholesale Club

In other BJs Wholesale Club news, SVP Joseph Mcgrail sold 1,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.87, for a total value of $65,870.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 10,464 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $689,263.68. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Insiders own 2.20% of the companys stock.

BJs Wholesale Club Company Profile

(Free Report)

BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates warehouse clubs on the eastern half of the United States. It provides perishable, general merchandise, gasoline, coupon books, promotions, and other ancillary services. The company sells its products through the websites BJs.com, BerkleyJensen.com, and Wellsleyfarms.com, as well as the mobile app.

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Qube Research & Technologies Ltd bought a new stake in The Bank of New York Mellon Co. (NYSE:BK  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund bought 282,081 shares of the banks stock, valued at approximately $12,031,000.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Summit Financial Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon during the 3rd quarter worth about $250,000. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina raised its stake in Bank of New York Mellon by 23.0% during the third quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 449,834 shares of the banks stock worth $19,185,000 after purchasing an additional 84,053 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP acquired a new position in shares of Bank of New York Mellon in the 3rd quarter valued at $1,669,000. Vinva Investment Management Ltd grew its stake in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 83.0% during the 3rd quarter. Vinva Investment Management Ltd now owns 209,845 shares of the banks stock valued at $8,956,000 after buying an additional 95,146 shares during the period. Finally, Portland Investment Counsel Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Bank of New York Mellon by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter. Portland Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 174,000 shares of the banks stock worth $7,421,000 after buying an additional 7,100 shares during the last quarter. 81.29% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

BK has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. Citigroup boosted their price target on Bank of New York Mellon from $60.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Bank of New York Mellon from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $54.50 target price on the stock in a report on Monday, December 18th. UBS Group increased their price objective on shares of Bank of New York Mellon from $54.00 to $62.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised Bank of New York Mellon from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and upped their target price for the company from $52.00 to $62.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Bank of New York Mellon has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $54.75.

Bank of New York Mellon Stock Performance

BK opened at $55.49 on Friday. The Bank of New York Mellon Co. has a twelve month low of $39.65 and a twelve month high of $56.42. The stock has a market cap of $41.86 billion, a PE ratio of 13.98, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.17 and a beta of 1.12. The businesss 50 day moving average is $54.38 and its 200-day moving average is $48.36. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87.

Bank of New York Mellon (NYSE:BK  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The bank reported $1.28 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.16. Bank of New York Mellon had a return on equity of 11.63% and a net margin of 10.01%. The company had revenue of $4.31 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.30 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.30 EPS. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.0% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts predict that The Bank of New York Mellon Co. will post 5.24 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of New York Mellon Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 2nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 22nd were issued a $0.42 dividend. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.03%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 19th. Bank of New York Mellons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 42.32%.

Insider Activity at Bank of New York Mellon

In other news, VP Catherine Keating sold 4,498 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.81, for a total value of $246,535.38. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 123,490 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,768,486.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, VP Hanneke Smits sold 15,425 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $55.16, for a total transaction of $850,843.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 119,656 shares in the company, valued at $6,600,224.96. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, VP Catherine Keating sold 4,498 shares of Bank of New York Mellon stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $54.81, for a total transaction of $246,535.38. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 123,490 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,768,486.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock.

About Bank of New York Mellon

(Free Report)

The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation provides a range of financial products and services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through Securities Services, Market and Wealth Services, Investment and Wealth Management, and other segments. The Securities Services segment offers custody, trust and depositary, accounting, exchange-traded funds, middle-office solutions, transfer agency, services for private equity and real estate funds, foreign exchange, securities lending, liquidity/lending services, and data analytics.

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Toronto Dominion Bank cut its holdings in shares of Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR  Free Report) by 3.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 102,723 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 4,145 shares during the quarter. Toronto Dominion Banks holdings in Entergy were worth $9,502,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also made changes to their positions in ETR. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Entergy by 2.7% in the first quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 3,269 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in Entergy by 15.5% during the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 739 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $86,000 after acquiring an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Smith Moore & CO. boosted its holdings in shares of Entergy by 3.1% during the first quarter. Smith Moore & CO. now owns 3,339 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $360,000 after acquiring an additional 100 shares during the period. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY increased its stake in shares of Entergy by 1.2% during the second quarter. Metropolitan Life Insurance Co NY now owns 9,214 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $897,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the period. Finally, Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC boosted its stake in Entergy by 1.8% in the 2nd quarter. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC now owns 6,287 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $612,000 after purchasing an additional 113 shares during the period. 86.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, EVP Marcus V. Brown sold 38,417 shares of the 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 sale, the executive vice president now owns 9,380 shares of the companys stock, valued at $952,351.40. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Company insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several research analysts have recently commented on ETR shares. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $117.00 target price on shares of Entergy in a report on Monday, February 26th. Barclays upped their target price on Entergy from $99.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Entergy from $117.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, December 1st. UBS Group raised shares of Entergy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $103.00 to $118.00 in a research report on Monday, November 6th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Entergy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $94.00 to $110.00 in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $110.73.

Read Our Latest Research Report on ETR

Entergy Stock Performance

NYSE:ETR opened at $100.47 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $100.66 and its 200-day moving average is $98.14. The stock has a market cap of $21.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.70. Entergy Co. has a 1-year low of $87.10 and a 1-year high of $111.90. The company has a current ratio of 0.57, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57.

Entergy (NYSE:ETR  Get Free Report) last posted 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 previous year, the firm posted $0.51 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Entergy Co. will post 7.22 earnings per share for the current year.

Entergy Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were issued a $1.13 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $4.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.50%. Entergys payout ratio 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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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC trimmed its stake in Phillips 66 (NYSE:PSX  Free Report) by 32.6% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 3,146 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after selling 1,523 shares during the period. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Phillips 66 were worth $378,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Phillips 66 by 2.1% during the second quarter. YHB Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 12,991 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,239,000 after buying an additional 265 shares during the period. Choate Investment Advisors acquired a new stake in Phillips 66 during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $247,000. First Dallas Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Phillips 66 in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $753,000. Pinebridge Investments L.P. raised its stake in shares of Phillips 66 by 8.9% during the second quarter. Pinebridge Investments L.P. now owns 210,402 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $20,068,000 after purchasing an additional 17,226 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Phillips 66 by 17.7% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 238,106 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $28,608,000 after purchasing an additional 35,829 shares during the period. 71.83% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Phillips 66 Stock Up 1.2 %

Shares of NYSE:PSX opened at $144.20 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a current ratio of 1.26. The stock has a market capitalization of $61.69 billion, a P/E ratio of 9.32, a PEG ratio of 1.84 and a beta of 1.36. Phillips 66 has a 1 year low of $89.74 and a 1 year high of $150.08. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $138.83 and a 200-day simple moving average of $125.45.

Phillips 66 Announces Dividend

Phillips 66 ( NYSE:PSX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The oil and gas company reported $3.09 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.37 by $0.72. Phillips 66 had a return on equity of 22.10% and a net margin of 4.68%. Equities analysts forecast that Phillips 66 will post 13.06 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, February 20th were paid a dividend of $1.05 per share. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 16th. This represents a $4.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.91%. Phillips 66s dividend payout ratio is currently 27.15%.

Insider Activity

In other Phillips 66 news, VP Joseph Scott Pruitt sold 1,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.23, for a total transaction of $133,230.00. Following the completion of the sale, the vice president now directly owns 6,593 shares in the company, valued at approximately $878,385.39. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Vanessa Allen Sutherland sold 3,700 shares of Phillips 66 stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.18, for a total transaction of $492,766.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,567 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,334,973.06. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Joseph Scott Pruitt sold 1,000 shares of Phillips 66 stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $133.23, for a total value of $133,230.00. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 6,593 shares of the companys stock, valued at $878,385.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 31,887 shares of company stock valued at $4,543,437 over the last three months. Insiders own 4.57% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently issued reports on PSX shares. Raymond James increased their price target on shares of Phillips 66 from $140.00 to $155.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Citigroup began coverage on shares of Phillips 66 in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $132.00 to $139.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $151.00 to $163.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, TD Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Phillips 66 from $134.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, December 4th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $138.21.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on PSX

About Phillips 66

(Free Report)

Phillips 66 operates as an energy manufacturing and logistics company in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Midstream, Chemicals, Refining, and Marketing and Specialties (M&S). The Midstream segment transports crude oil and other feedstocks; delivers refined petroleum products to market; provides terminaling and storage services for crude oil and refined petroleum products; transports, stores, fractionates, exports, and markets natural gas liquids; provides other fee-based processing services; and gathers, processes, transports, and markets natural gas.

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Synovus Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Westlake Co. (NYSE:WLK  Free Report) by 100.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,212 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,607 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in Westlake were worth $650,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its position in shares of Westlake by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 17,569 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $2,190,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares in the last quarter. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Westlake by 9.5% during the 3rd quarter. MFA Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,629 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $452,000 after purchasing an additional 316 shares in the last quarter. MQS Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Westlake during the 3rd quarter valued at about $790,000. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Westlake by 4.0% during the 3rd quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC now owns 13,009 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $1,622,000 after purchasing an additional 500 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Northern Trust Corp boosted its position in shares of Westlake by 1.7% during the 3rd quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 321,888 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $40,130,000 after purchasing an additional 5,401 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 28.40% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Westlake

In related news, CFO Mark Steven Bender sold 4,854 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.57, for a total transaction of $667,764.78. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 50,110 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,893,632.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 74.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

WLK has been the topic of a number of research reports. Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. raised Westlake from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 2nd. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Westlake from $139.00 to $134.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 26th. UBS Group upped their price target on Westlake from $139.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Piper Sandler upped their price target on Westlake from $144.00 to $150.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, November 20th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $131.31.

Read Our Latest Report on WLK

Westlake Stock Performance

Shares of Westlake stock opened at $137.38 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $17.61 billion, a PE ratio of 37.13, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.44 and a beta of 1.30. Westlake Co. has a 52 week low of $102.64 and a 52 week high of $145.98. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $138.92 and a 200-day moving average price of $130.87. The company has a quick ratio of 1.79, a current ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43.

Westlake (NYSE:WLK  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 20th. The specialty chemicals company reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.81 by ($0.09). The company had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.85 billion. Westlake had a return on equity of 9.70% and a net margin of 3.82%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 14.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.79 earnings per share. Equities analysts anticipate that Westlake Co. will post 6.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Westlake Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 14th. Investors of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $0.50 per share. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.46%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 27th. Westlakes payout ratio is 54.05%.

Westlake Company Profile

(Free Report)

Westlake Corporation manufactures and markets performance and essential materials, and housing and infrastructure products in the United States, Canada, Germany, China, Italy, Taiwan, and internationally. The Performance and Essential Materials segment offers polyethylene, styrene monomer, ethylene co-products, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), vinyl chloride monomer, ethylene dichloride chlor-alkali, chlorinated derivative products, and epoxy resins.

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The board of BlackRock, Inc. (NYSE:BLK) has announced that it will be paying its dividend of $5.10 on the 22nd of March, an increased payment from last year's comparable dividend. The payment will take the dividend yield to 2.5%, which is in line with the average for the industry.

View our latest analysis for BlackRock

BlackRock's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage

While it is always good to see a solid dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is feasible. Prior to this announcement, BlackRock was quite comfortably covering its dividend with earnings and it was paying more than 75% of its free cash flow to shareholders. The business is earning enough to make the dividend feasible, but the cash payout ratio of 80% indicates it is more focused on returning cash to shareholders than growing the business.

Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 33.2% over the next year. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 45%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend.

BlackRock Has A Solid Track Record

The company has a sustained record of paying dividends with very little fluctuation. The dividend has gone from an annual total of $6.72 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of $20.40. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 12% over that duration. Rapidly growing dividends for a long time is a very valuable feature for an income stock.

BlackRock Could Grow Its Dividend

The company's investors will be pleased to have been receiving dividend income for some time. BlackRock has seen EPS rising for the last five years, at 6.6% per annum. Since earnings per share is growing at an acceptable rate, and the payout policy is balanced, we think the company is positioning itself well to grow earnings and dividends in the future.

Our Thoughts On BlackRock's Dividend

Overall, we always like to see the dividend being raised, but we don't think BlackRock will make a great income stock. The low payout ratio is a redeeming feature, but generally we are not too happy with the payments BlackRock has been making. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.

Companies possessing a stable dividend policy will likely enjoy greater investor interest than those suffering from a more inconsistent approach. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. As an example, we've identified 1 warning sign for BlackRock that you should be aware of before investing. Is BlackRock not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Treasurer of the State of North Carolina grew its holdings in Genpact Limited (NYSE:G  Free Report) by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 128,969 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 571 shares during the period. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina owned approximately 0.07% of Genpact worth $4,669,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the business. Parallel Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Genpact by 69.1% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 773 shares of the business services providers stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 316 shares in the last quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC lifted its stake in Genpact by 136.7% during the 4th quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 878 shares of the business services providers stock worth $41,000 after acquiring an additional 507 shares in the last quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in Genpact by 71.2% during the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 1,039 shares of the business services providers stock worth $38,000 after acquiring an additional 432 shares in the last quarter. Janiczek Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Genpact during the 3rd quarter worth about $48,000. Finally, State of Wyoming acquired a new position in Genpact during the 4th quarter worth about $66,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 96.33% of the companys stock.

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Genpact Trading Down 0.2 %

NYSE:G opened at $33.94 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $35.25 and its 200 day moving average price is $35.28. The company has a market capitalization of $6.15 billion, a PE ratio of 9.90, a P/E/G ratio of 1.59 and a beta of 1.08. The company has a quick ratio of 1.91, a current ratio of 1.44 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Genpact Limited has a 52-week low of $29.41 and a 52-week high of $47.79.

Genpact Increases Dividend

Genpact ( NYSE:G Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The business services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.03. The firm had revenue of $1.15 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.12 billion. Genpact had a return on equity of 23.19% and a net margin of 14.10%. On average, research analysts anticipate that Genpact Limited will post 2.71 EPS for the current year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 26th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be given a dividend of $0.153 per share. This represents a $0.61 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.80%. This is a boost from Genpacts previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 8th. Genpacts dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 16.03%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on the company. Citigroup increased their target price on Genpact from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 17th. Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a buy rating and issued a $40.00 price target on shares of Genpact in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Mizuho began coverage on Genpact in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They issued a neutral rating and a $40.00 price target on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Genpact from $42.00 to $43.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Robert W. Baird reaffirmed a neutral rating and issued a $38.00 price target on shares of Genpact in a research report on Friday, December 15th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating, one has given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $40.11.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Genpact

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Genpact news, SVP Heather White sold 11,450 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.00, for a total transaction of $412,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 21,175 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $762,300. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 2.62% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Genpact Company Profile

(Free Report)

Genpact Limited provides business process outsourcing and information technology (IT) services in India, rest of Asia, North and Latin America, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Financial services; Consumer and Healthcare; and High Tech and Manufacturing. The company offers CFO advisory services; and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) services, such as data management, carbon accounting, human rights assessment, sustainability diligence, and ESG reporting.

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Teza Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in W.W. Grainger, Inc. (NYSE:GWW  Free Report) by 262.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,032 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 747 shares during the period. Teza Capital Management LLCs holdings in W.W. Grainger were worth $714,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. OFI Invest Asset Management bought a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger during the third quarter worth about $25,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC acquired a new stake in W.W. Grainger during the second quarter valued at approximately $34,000. Clear Street Markets LLC bought a new position in W.W. Grainger during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. Cornerstone Planning Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of W.W. Grainger in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $39,000. Finally, Retirement Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of W.W. Grainger by 2,450.0% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 51 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. 71.24% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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W.W. Grainger Stock Up 0.8 %

W.W. Grainger stock opened at $980.90 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $893.49 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $795.34. The stock has a market cap of $48.23 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 27.09, a PEG ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 1.14. W.W. Grainger, Inc. has a 52 week low of $625.97 and a 52 week high of $983.14. The company has a current ratio of 2.88, a quick ratio of 1.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.66.

W.W. Grainger Dividend Announcement

W.W. Grainger ( NYSE:GWW Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Friday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $8.33 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $8.05 by $0.28. The firm had revenue of $4 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.04 billion. W.W. Grainger had a return on equity of 56.54% and a net margin of 11.10%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $7.14 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that W.W. Grainger, Inc. will post 39.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Monday, February 12th were paid a dividend of $1.86 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 9th. This represents a $7.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.76%. W.W. Graingers dividend payout ratio is currently 20.55%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,813 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $968.88, for a total value of $3,694,339.44. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 4,909 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,756,231.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,122 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $950.22, for a total transaction of $2,966,586.84. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 4,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,664,629.98. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, VP Paige K. Robbins sold 3,813 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $968.88, for a total value of $3,694,339.44. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 4,909 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,756,231.92. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 7,185 shares of company stock valued at $6,861,301 over the last three months. Company insiders own 9.90% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

GWW has been the subject of a number of research reports. Stephens lifted their price objective on shares of W.W. Grainger from $775.00 to $1,000.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com lowered shares of W.W. Grainger from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their target price on W.W. Grainger from $809.00 to $907.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Oppenheimer increased their price target on W.W. Grainger from $800.00 to $930.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on W.W. Grainger from $800.00 to $925.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $864.44.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on W.W. Grainger

W.W. Grainger Profile

(Free Report)

W.W. Grainger, Inc distributes maintenance, repair, and operating products and services in the United States, Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, High-Touch Solutions N.A. and Endless Assortment. The company provides safety and security supplies, material handling and storage equipment, pumps and plumbing equipment, cleaning and maintenance supplies, and metalworking and hand tools.

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Synovus Financial Corp decreased its position in shares of Graphic Packaging Holding (NYSE:GPK  Free Report) by 33.9% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 28,546 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 14,640 shares during the quarter. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in Graphic Packaging were worth $636,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 85.7% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 30,419,429 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $730,979,000 after purchasing an additional 14,040,222 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in Graphic Packaging during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $216,432,000. Wellington Management Group LLP increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 70.0% during the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 10,911,606 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $218,669,000 after purchasing an additional 4,493,702 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 114.8% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 7,690,896 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $171,122,000 after purchasing an additional 4,111,129 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC increased its stake in Graphic Packaging by 67.2% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 10,133,955 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $225,785,000 after purchasing an additional 4,074,508 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 99.67% of the companys stock.

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Graphic Packaging Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE GPK opened at $25.48 on Friday. The companys fifty day moving average price is $25.39 and its 200 day moving average price is $23.36. Graphic Packaging Holding has a 1 year low of $20.07 and a 1 year high of $27.56. The company has a market capitalization of $7.80 billion, a PE ratio of 10.84 and a beta of 0.83. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.66, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a current ratio of 1.10.

Graphic Packaging Announces Dividend

Graphic Packaging ( NYSE:GPK Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The industrial products company reported $0.75 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.69 by $0.06. Graphic Packaging had a net margin of 7.67% and a return on equity of 35.66%. The firm had revenue of $2.25 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.40 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.59 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Graphic Packaging Holding will post 2.71 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 5th. Investors of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.57%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Graphic Packagings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 17.02%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have issued reports on GPK shares. StockNews.com lowered shares of Graphic Packaging from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Robert W. Baird upped their price target on shares of Graphic Packaging from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Citigroup increased their price objective on shares of Graphic Packaging from $29.00 to $32.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, Raymond James lowered shares of Graphic Packaging from a strong-buy rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Monday, November 27th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $28.22.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Graphic Packaging

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Joseph P. Yost sold 70,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $26.20, for a total transaction of $1,834,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 205,231 shares of the companys stock, valued at $5,377,052.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. 1.20% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Graphic Packaging

(Free Report)

Graphic Packaging Holding Company, together with its subsidiaries, provides paperboard packaging solutions to food, beverage, foodservice, and other consumer products companies. It operates through three segments: Paperboard Manufacturing, Americas Paperboard Packaging, and Europe Paperboard Packaging.

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Truist Financial Corp increased its stake in shares of Crown Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:CCK  Free Report) by 24.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 717,885 shares of the industrial products companys stock after acquiring an additional 140,172 shares during the quarter. Truist Financial Corp owned approximately 0.60% of Crown worth $63,518,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Equitable Holdings Inc. increased its stake in shares of Crown by 4.5% in the second quarter. Equitable Holdings Inc. now owns 2,681 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $233,000 after buying an additional 116 shares during the period. DB Fitzpatrick & Co Inc increased its position in shares of Crown by 0.9% in the third quarter. DB Fitzpatrick & Co Inc now owns 16,258 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,439,000 after acquiring an additional 142 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale increased its position in shares of Crown by 1.3% in the third quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 13,715 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,205,000 after acquiring an additional 180 shares during the period. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its holdings in shares of Crown by 0.4% during the third quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 48,116 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $4,257,000 after purchasing an additional 180 shares during the period. Finally, Aurora Investment Counsel grew its stake in shares of Crown by 1.3% in the second quarter. Aurora Investment Counsel now owns 14,097 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $1,225,000 after purchasing an additional 182 shares during the last quarter. 95.18% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Transactions at Crown

In other Crown news, CEO Timothy J. Donahue sold 7,500 shares of Crown stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $90.96, for a total value of $682,200.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 651,264 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $59,238,973.44. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Company insiders own 0.90% of the companys stock.

Crown Stock Down 0.4 %

CCK stock opened at $76.32 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 1.15 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.34. The business has a 50 day moving average of $84.82 and a 200 day moving average of $85.65. Crown Holdings, Inc. has a twelve month low of $69.61 and a twelve month high of $96.35. The firm has a market cap of $9.22 billion, a PE ratio of 20.30, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.58 and a beta of 0.91.

Crown (NYSE:CCK  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.43 by ($0.19). Crown had a return on equity of 25.75% and a net margin of 3.75%. The company had revenue of $2.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.96 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.17 EPS. Crowns revenue for the quarter was down 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Crown Holdings, Inc. will post 5.91 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Crown Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 14th will be issued a $0.25 dividend. This is a positive change from Crowns previous quarterly dividend of $0.24. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 13th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.31%. Crowns dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.53%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

CCK has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Mizuho dropped their price objective on Crown from $105.00 to $96.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Robert W. Baird reissued a neutral rating and set a $90.00 price objective on shares of Crown in a research report on Tuesday, February 6th. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Crown in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. They issued a buy rating and a $112.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their price target on shares of Crown from $110.00 to $97.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Crown from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and set a $85.00 price objective for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Crown currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $101.23.

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Crown Company Profile

(Free Report)

Crown Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, supplies rigid packaging products in Pennsylvania and internationally. It operates through Americas Beverage, European Beverage, Asia Pacific, and Transit Packaging segments. The Americas Beverage segment manufactures recyclable aluminum beverage cans and ends, glass bottles, steel crowns, and aluminum caps.

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AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS  Free Report) by 5.8% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 942,806 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 52,025 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC owned 0.16% of General Mills worth $60,330,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Stansberry Asset Management LLC increased its stake in General Mills by 21.3% in the 3rd quarter. Stansberry Asset Management LLC now owns 30,118 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,927,000 after buying an additional 5,297 shares during the last quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC increased its position in shares of General Mills by 5.4% in the third quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLC now owns 4,004 shares of the companys stock valued at $256,000 after acquiring an additional 206 shares during the last quarter. Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of General Mills in the third quarter valued at about $3,150,000. United Services Automobile Association raised its holdings in General Mills by 8.7% during the third quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 15,167 shares of the companys stock worth $971,000 after acquiring an additional 1,219 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its stake in General Mills by 5.9% in the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 342,794 shares of the companys stock valued at $21,935,000 after purchasing an additional 19,209 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 75.31% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have recently commented on GIS. Mizuho cut their price objective on General Mills from $70.00 to $65.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus lowered their price objective on shares of General Mills from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of General Mills from $74.00 to $72.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 21st. Bank of America lowered their price target on General Mills from $72.00 to $68.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, December 21st. Finally, Citigroup started coverage on General Mills in a research report on Thursday, February 1st. They issued a neutral rating and a $67.00 price objective for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $72.67.

Insider Activity at General Mills

In other news, CEO Jeffrey L. Harmening sold 60,056 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.44, for a total transaction of $3,870,008.64. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 318,483 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,523,044.52. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other General Mills news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 7,671 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, January 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.15, for a total transaction of $492,094.65. Following the sale, the insider now owns 102,924 shares of the companys stock, valued at $6,602,574.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Jeffrey L. Harmening sold 60,056 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $64.44, for a total value of $3,870,008.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 318,483 shares of the companys stock, valued at $20,523,044.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.24% of the stock is owned by insiders.

General Mills Price Performance

GIS stock opened at $63.94 on Friday. The companys 50-day moving average price is $64.28 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $64.95. General Mills, Inc. has a 12 month low of $60.33 and a 12 month high of $90.89. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09. The firm has a market cap of $36.31 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.56, a P/E/G ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 0.15.

General Mills (NYSE:GIS  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, December 20th. The company reported $1.25 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.16 by $0.09. General Mills had a return on equity of 25.44% and a net margin of 12.06%. The company had revenue of $5.10 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.35 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.10 EPS. General Millss revenue was down 2.3% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts anticipate that General Mills, Inc. will post 4.49 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

General Mills Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.59 per share. This represents a $2.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.69%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 9th. General Millss dividend payout ratio is 57.42%.

General Mills Company Profile

(Free Report)

General Mills, Inc manufactures and markets branded consumer foods worldwide. The company operates through four segments: North America Retail; International; Pet; and North America Foodservice. It offers grain, ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and salty snacks, ice cream and frozen desserts, nutrition bars, and savory snacks, as well as various organic products, including frozen and shelf-stable vegetables.

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SRS Capital Advisors Inc. grew its stake in Cable One, Inc. (NYSE:CABO  Free Report) by 43.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 153 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 46 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc.s holdings in Cable One were worth $94,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of CABO. Capital International Investors boosted its holdings in shares of Cable One by 74.9% in the 1st quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 204,285 shares of the companys stock valued at $300,489,000 after buying an additional 87,503 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank acquired a new position in shares of Cable One in the 4th quarter valued at $33,659,000. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Cable One by 24.8% in the 3rd quarter. Burgundy Asset Management Ltd. now owns 155,097 shares of the companys stock valued at $95,484,000 after buying an additional 30,831 shares in the last quarter. London Co. of Virginia boosted its holdings in shares of Cable One by 122.1% in the 2nd quarter. London Co. of Virginia now owns 52,199 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,299,000 after buying an additional 28,696 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its holdings in shares of Cable One by 40.0% in the 2nd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 76,510 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,273,000 after buying an additional 21,844 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 98.60% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts recently weighed in on CABO shares. KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of Cable One from $1,110.00 to $900.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. BNP Paribas started coverage on shares of Cable One in a research note on Monday, December 4th. They set an underperform rating and a $418.00 price target for the company. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Cable One from $550.00 to $460.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $650.75.

Cable One Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of Cable One stock opened at $457.63 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $2.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.13 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.94, a quick ratio of 1.81 and a current ratio of 1.69. Cable One, Inc. has a one year low of $405.75 and a one year high of $768.75. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $519.96 and a two-hundred day moving average of $567.55.

Cable One Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, February 20th will be given a dividend of $2.95 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 16th. This represents a $11.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.58%. Cable Ones payout ratio is currently 26.12%.

Cable One Profile

(Free Report)

Cable One, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides data, video, and voice services in the United States. The company offers residential data services, a service to enhance Wi-Fi signal throughout the home. It also provides various residential video services from basic video service to digital services with access to hundreds of channels; and provides a cloud-based DVR feature that does not require the use of a set-top boxes.

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O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLC lowered its position in shares of RB Global, Inc. (NYSE:RBA  Free Report) (TSE:RBA) by 45.0% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 22,080 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 18,029 shares during the quarter. O Shaughnessy Asset Management LLCs holdings in RB Global were worth $1,380,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in RBA. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its holdings in RB Global by 5.9% in the second quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 3,388 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $203,000 after purchasing an additional 189 shares during the last quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC increased its holdings in RB Global by 1.6% in the second quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 14,874 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $892,000 after purchasing an additional 237 shares during the last quarter. Claret Asset Management Corp increased its holdings in RB Global by 1.7% in the third quarter. Claret Asset Management Corp now owns 14,217 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $889,000 after purchasing an additional 238 shares during the last quarter. Mariner LLC increased its holdings in RB Global by 2.4% in the first quarter. Mariner LLC now owns 10,469 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $618,000 after purchasing an additional 248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System increased its holdings in RB Global by 0.3% in the third quarter. State Board of Administration of Florida Retirement System now owns 103,115 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $6,445,000 after purchasing an additional 280 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.24% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at RB Global

In related news, insider Darren Jeffrey Watt sold 1,094 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.94, for a total transaction of $72,138.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 14,880 shares of the companys stock, valued at $981,187.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, insider Darren Jeffrey Watt sold 1,094 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $65.94, for a total transaction of $72,138.36. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 14,880 shares of the companys stock, valued at $981,187.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CRO James J. Jeter sold 3,750 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.84, for a total value of $243,150.00. Following the transaction, the executive now directly owns 23,140 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,500,397.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 5,944 shares of company stock valued at $400,043. Insiders own 4.32% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently commented on RBA. Raymond James upped their price objective on RB Global from $78.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. Scotiabank increased their price target on RB Global from $76.00 to $88.00 and gave the stock a sector outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on RB Global from $75.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. StockNews.com upgraded RB Global from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, National Bankshares increased their price target on RB Global from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, November 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued 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 target price of $79.67.

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RB Global Stock Up 1.1 %

RBA stock opened at $76.74 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.61, a current ratio of 1.35 and a quick ratio of 1.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $14.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 90.28, a P/E/G ratio of 5.83 and a beta of 0.87. The business has a 50-day moving average of $67.01 and a 200-day moving average of $64.65. RB Global, Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $51.07 and a fifty-two week high of $77.99.

RB Global (NYSE:RBA  Get Free Report) (TSE:RBA) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 23rd. The business services provider reported $0.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $1.04 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.04 billion. RB Global had a return on equity of 4.19% and a net margin of 5.61%. RB Globals revenue for the quarter was up 134.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $0.40 earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that RB Global, Inc. will post 1.88 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

RB Global Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 9th were given a dividend of $0.27 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. This represents a $1.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.41%. RB Globals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 127.06%.

RB Global Company Profile

(Free Report)

RB Global, Inc, an omnichannel marketplace, provides insights, services, and transaction solutions for buyers and sellers of commercial assets and vehicles worldwide. Its marketplace brands include Ritchie Bros., an auctioneer of commercial assets and vehicles offering online bidding; IAA, a digital marketplace connecting vehicle buyers and sellers; Rouse Services, which provides asset management, data-driven intelligence, and performance benchmarking system; SmartEquip, a technology platform that supports customers' management of the equipment lifecycle; Xcira that provides live simulcast auction technologies; and Veritread, an online marketplace for heavy haul transport solution.

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California State Teachers Retirement System lessened its holdings in Essex Property Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ESS  Free Report) by 5.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 98,078 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 5,803 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement System owned about 0.15% of Essex Property Trust worth $20,801,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the business. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC boosted its position in Essex Property Trust by 100.0% during the 4th quarter. Steward Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 120 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 60 shares during the period. Clear Street Markets LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Essex Property Trust by 89.4% during the first quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 125 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 59 shares during the period. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new stake in shares of Essex Property Trust during the first quarter worth approximately $30,000. Advisory Services Network LLC acquired a new position in Essex Property Trust in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, Financial Gravity Asset Management Inc. acquired a new position in Essex Property Trust in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 92.93% of the companys stock.

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Essex Property Trust Trading Up 1.3 %

Shares of NYSE:ESS opened at $234.37 on Friday. Essex Property Trust, Inc. has a 52-week low of $195.03 and a 52-week high of $252.85. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 2.63 and a current ratio of 3.26. The company has a market cap of $15.05 billion, a P/E ratio of 37.14, a P/E/G ratio of 2.98 and a beta of 0.79. The stocks 50-day moving average is $238.21 and its 200-day moving average is $227.73.

Essex Property Trust Increases Dividend

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be given a $2.45 dividend. This is an increase from Essex Property Trusts previous quarterly dividend of $2.31. This represents a $9.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.18%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. Essex Property Trusts payout ratio is currently 146.43%.

Several equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on shares of Essex Property Trust from $237.00 to $239.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Essex Property Trust from $227.00 to $230.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Mizuho raised Essex Property Trust from a neutral rating to a buy rating and cut their price target for the stock from $255.00 to $250.00 in a research note on Wednesday. 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. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Essex Property Trust in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a hold rating and a $240.00 price objective on the stock. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $242.39.

View Our Latest Research Report on ESS

About Essex Property Trust

(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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Alberta Investment Management Corp acquired a new stake in shares of Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 126,500 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,878,000.

A number of other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Glenmede Trust Co. NA purchased a new stake in shares of Albertsons Companies in the 3rd quarter worth $351,000. AQR Capital Management LLC increased its position in Albertsons Companies by 25.5% during the 3rd quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 71,833 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,634,000 after buying an additional 14,590 shares in the last quarter. Bluefin Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in Albertsons Companies during the 3rd quarter valued at about $455,000. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec acquired a new position in Albertsons Companies during the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,119,000. Finally, Pentwater Capital Management LP acquired a new position in Albertsons Companies during the 3rd quarter valued at about $2,048,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 68.64% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ACI has been the topic of a number of research reports. Tigress Financial reissued a buy rating and issued a $27.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Friday, January 12th. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $24.00 price objective on shares of Albertsons Companies in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Roth Mkm increased their price objective on Albertsons Companies from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, Telsey Advisory Group restated a market perform rating and issued a $27.25 target price on shares of Albertsons Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $25.56.

Albertsons Companies Stock Performance

Shares of ACI traded down $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $20.25. The company had a trading volume of 4,411,082 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,756,306. Albertsons Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $19.14 and a 52-week high of $23.88. The company has a quick ratio of 0.19, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $11.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.65, a PEG ratio of 0.92 and a beta of 0.49. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $21.87 and a two-hundred day moving average of $22.14.

Albertsons Companies (NYSE:ACI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 9th. The company reported $0.79 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.65 by $0.14. The company had revenue of $18.56 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $18.36 billion. Albertsons Companies had a return on equity of 83.38% and a net margin of 1.71%. Albertsons Companiess revenue for the quarter was up 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.82 earnings per share. On average, analysts expect that Albertsons Companies, Inc. will post 2.75 earnings per share for the current year.

Albertsons Companies Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 26th were given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 25th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.37%. Albertsons Companiess dividend payout ratio is currently 20.51%.

Albertsons Companies Company Profile

(Free Report)

Albertsons Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of food and drug stores in the United States. The company's food and drug retail stores offer grocery products, general merchandise, health and beauty care products, pharmacy, fuel, and other items and services. It also manufactures and processes food products for sale in stores.

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Gotham Asset Management LLC raised its holdings in Schlumberger Limited (NYSE:SLB  Free Report) by 10.9% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 69,071 shares of the oil and gas companys stock after buying an additional 6,794 shares during the quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLCs holdings in Schlumberger were worth $4,027,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Schlumberger by 1.1% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 106,818,561 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $5,246,928,000 after buying an additional 1,129,628 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in shares of Schlumberger by 1.0% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 83,794,992 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $4,136,112,000 after purchasing an additional 861,439 shares in the last quarter. Capital World Investors grew its holdings in shares of Schlumberger by 85.7% during the 2nd quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 43,080,354 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $2,116,107,000 after purchasing an additional 19,885,771 shares in the last quarter. FMR LLC grew its holdings in shares of Schlumberger by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 27,171,516 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,584,099,000 after purchasing an additional 282,709 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Schlumberger by 2.5% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 25,983,683 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $1,272,434,000 after purchasing an additional 635,716 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.43% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several analysts have recently weighed in on SLB shares. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Schlumberger from $63.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Schlumberger from $69.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Susquehanna reissued a positive rating and set a $77.00 price objective on shares of Schlumberger in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Barclays decreased their price target on Schlumberger from $77.00 to $74.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and issued a $66.00 price target on shares of Schlumberger in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $70.67.

Schlumberger Trading Up 2.1 %

Shares of SLB opened at $49.35 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $49.78 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $53.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a quick ratio of 1.00 and a current ratio of 1.32. Schlumberger Limited has a 52-week low of $42.73 and a 52-week high of $62.12. The company has a market cap of $70.44 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.90, a PEG ratio of 0.89 and a beta of 1.59.

Schlumberger (NYSE:SLB  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 19th. The oil and gas company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.84 by $0.02. Schlumberger had a return on equity of 21.97% and a net margin of 12.68%. The firm had revenue of $8.99 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $8.96 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $0.71 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 14.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts predict that Schlumberger Limited will post 3.54 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Schlumberger Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 4th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, February 7th will be given a $0.25 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 6th. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.03%. Schlumbergers payout ratio is 34.25%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Schlumberger

In other news, CAO Howard Guild sold 22,853 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.66, for a total transaction of $1,180,585.98. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 22,181 shares in the company, valued at $1,145,870.46. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, CFO Stephane Biguet sold 6,250 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $53.86, for a total transaction of $336,625.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 163,515 shares in the company, valued at $8,806,917.90. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CAO Howard Guild sold 22,853 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.66, for a total value of $1,180,585.98. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 22,181 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,145,870.46. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 178,441 shares of company stock worth $8,972,947. 0.26% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Schlumberger

(Free Report)

Schlumberger Limited engages in the provision of technology for the energy industry worldwide. The company operates through four divisions: Digital & Integration, Reservoir Performance, Well Construction, and Production Systems. The company provides field development and hydrocarbon production, carbon management, and integration of adjacent energy systems; reservoir interpretation and data processing services for exploration data; and well construction and production improvement services and products.

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(Bloomberg) -- Bank of America Corp.s Savita Subramanian is the latest equity strategist to ratchet up her target for the S&P 500 Index to among the highest on Wall Street after this years rally left forecasters blindsided.

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Subramanian now expects the benchmark to end the year at 5,400, compared with her earlier target of 5,000  implying a gain of about 5% from Fridays close. Indicators are flashing bullish signals on stronger earnings growth ahead and surprising profit margin resilience, she said.

Bull markets end with euphoria  were not there yet, Subramanian, the banks head of US equity and quantitative strategy, wrote in a note to clients on Sunday. Sentiment has improved, but areas of euphoria are limited.

BofAs 5,400 price target for the S&P 500 in 2024 now ranks as one of the most bullish on Wall Street, according to about two dozen sell-side strategists tracked by Bloomberg. She joins the ranks of Ed Yardeni of Yardeni Research and Jonathan Golub of UBS Group AG, who both hold the same year-end outlook.

The artificial-intelligence frenzy has surprised Wall Street forecasters and spurred a race among strategists to keep up with a stock market rally thats already blowing past their expectations. In recent weeks, Piper Sandler & Co., UBS and Barclays Plc have all boosted their targets. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and UBS have both already raised their outlooks twice since December, following the Federal Reserves dovish policy shift.

The S&P 500 closed above the significant 5,100 milestone on Friday for the first time in history, with the index already beating the average year-end forecast of 4,899.40. Leading indicators argue for upside to BofAs earnings-per-share forecast of $235, with the consensuss $243 seeming like a reasonable expectation for stronger economic growth and higher profits, the firms strategists said.

Story continues

The S&P 500 has climbed 7.7% to start the year after rising 24% in 2023. Fourth-quarter earnings season reaffirmed that corporate profits are improving. Out of the 98% of the benchmarks market capitalization that have reported so far, 76% have beaten expectations.

Investors have broadly rewarded the stocks that beat on both profit and sales expectations, with those shares outperforming the benchmark by a median of 1.5% within a day of results, according to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence.

That said, Subramanian sees risk of a near-term pullback on growing bullish sentiment across Wall Street. Take the firms Sell Side Indicator, which tracks the average recommended allocation to stocks by US sell-side strategists. It edged higher last month, moving closer to flashing a contrarian sell signal than a buy for the first time since April 2022.

Read more: What to Remember If the Stock Market Takes a Dive

Piper Sandlers Michael Kantrowitz, who had the most bearish US stock outlook on Wall Street in 2023, lifted his S&P 500 forecast to 5,250 last month. That surpasses calls from some of his bullish peers, including John Stoltzfus, chief investment strategist at Oppenheimer Asset Management, and Thomas Lee, head of research at Fundstrat Global Advisors, who both see the S&P 500 hitting 5,200 by year-end.

Even Morgan Stanleys Mike Wilson  among the most prominent bearish voices on Wall Street  is now expecting gains in the US equity market to broaden into less loved corners than the big tech companies that have dominated the rally so far. His 2024 target is still 4,500, implying a roughly 12% drop from Fridays close.

While Subramanian argues that the S&P 500s rally has remained concentrated by a handful of megacap shares, she expects leadership to broaden as the gap between earnings growth of the so-called Magnificent Seven stocks  Nvidia Corp., Microsoft Corp., Meta Platforms Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Apple Inc., Alphabet Inc. and Tesla Inc.  and the rest of the S&P 500 will begin to narrow.

Although Nvidia, Meta, Amazon and Microsoft exceeded earnings expectations, Tesla and Alphabet disappointed, while Apple flagged weakness in China. Investors are largely anticipating earnings due later this week for further clues on the health of the consumer, including results from Target Corp., Kroger Co., Gap Inc. and Foot Locker Inc.

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2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC lowered its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines Limited (NYSE:AEM  Free Report) (TSE:AEM) by 13.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 845,354 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 126,929 shares during the period. Agnico Eagle Mines accounts for about 1.5% of Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 16th largest holding. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC owned 0.17% of Agnico Eagle Mines worth $38,421,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Quilter Plc bought a new position in Agnico Eagle Mines during the 1st quarter valued at about $204,981,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions Corp. bought a new position in Agnico Eagle Mines during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Islay Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Agnico Eagle Mines by 413.0% during the 2nd quarter. Islay Capital Management LLC now owns 513 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 413 shares during the period. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in Agnico Eagle Mines during the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Finally, Almanack Investment Partners LLC. bought a new position in Agnico Eagle Mines during the 3rd quarter valued at about $37,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 59.37% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on AEM shares. TD Securities lowered their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $64.00 to $62.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Jefferies Financial Group started coverage on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note on Thursday. They issued a hold rating and a $54.00 price objective on the stock. National Bank Financial reiterated an outperform overweight rating on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. CIBC lowered their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $72.00 to $69.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Raymond James increased their price objective on shares of Agnico Eagle Mines from $66.00 to $71.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, January 12th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Agnico Eagle Mines currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $63.71.

Agnico Eagle Mines Stock Performance

Agnico Eagle Mines stock traded up $1.56 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $49.62. The stock had a trading volume of 5,007,703 shares, compared to its average volume of 3,237,909. The firms fifty day moving average is $50.07 and its two-hundred day moving average is $49.34. The company has a market capitalization of $24.71 billion, a PE ratio of 12.07, a P/E/G ratio of 22.23 and a beta of 1.03. Agnico Eagle Mines Limited has a 52-week low of $43.22 and a 52-week high of $61.15. The company has a current ratio of 2.09, a quick ratio of 0.74 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10.

Agnico Eagle Mines (NYSE:AEM  Get Free Report) (TSE:AEM) last released its earnings results on Friday, February 16th. The mining company reported $0.57 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.48 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $1.76 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.72 billion. Agnico Eagle Mines had a net margin of 29.29% and a return on equity of 5.54%. The firms quarterly revenue was up 26.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.41 EPS. On average, research analysts forecast that Agnico Eagle Mines Limited will post 2.27 EPS for the current year.

Agnico Eagle Mines 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 dividend of $0.40 per share. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.22%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 29th. Agnico Eagle Miness payout ratio is currently 38.93%.

Agnico Eagle Mines Profile

(Free Report)

Agnico Eagle Mines Limited, a gold mining company, exploration, development, and production of precious metals. The company's mines are located in Canada, Australia, Finland and Mexico, with exploration and development activities in Canada, Australia, Europe, Latin America, and the United States.

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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS  Free Report) by 18.5% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 3,935 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 615 shares during the quarter. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $401,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Mine & Arao Wealth Creation & Management LLC. boosted its holdings in Novartis by 49.5% during the second quarter. Mine & Arao Wealth Creation & Management LLC. now owns 299 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. boosted its holdings in Novartis by 1.2% during the second quarter. Montag A & Associates Inc. now owns 8,267 shares of the companys stock worth $834,000 after purchasing an additional 99 shares during the last quarter. Crawford Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its holdings in Novartis by 4.6% during the second quarter. Crawford Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 2,345 shares of the companys stock worth $237,000 after purchasing an additional 104 shares during the last quarter. Brady Family Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in Novartis by 3.4% during the third quarter. Brady Family Wealth LLC now owns 3,370 shares of the companys stock worth $343,000 after purchasing an additional 110 shares during the last quarter. Finally, 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Novartis by 1.3% during the second quarter. 1620 Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 8,836 shares of the companys stock worth $892,000 after purchasing an additional 111 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 7.00% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have commented on NVS. HSBC cut shares of Novartis from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, December 18th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Novartis in a research note on Wednesday, December 6th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Morgan Stanley began coverage on shares of Novartis in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. They issued an equal weight rating and a $114.00 price target for the company. Finally, BMO Capital Markets started coverage on shares of Novartis in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. They issued a market perform rating and a $114.00 price target for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $104.33.

Novartis Price Performance

Shares of NVS opened at $102.06 on Friday. The firm has a market capitalization of $216.33 billion, a PE ratio of 14.21, a PEG ratio of 1.58 and a beta of 0.54. The companys 50-day moving average is $103.87 and its 200-day moving average is $100.11. Novartis AG has a fifty-two week low of $79.98 and a fifty-two week high of $108.78. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.15 and a quick ratio of 0.93.

Novartis (NYSE:NVS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 30th. The company reported $1.53 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.64 by ($0.11). The company had revenue of $11.42 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.69 billion. Novartis had a net margin of 29.83% and a return on equity of 29.90%. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $1.51 earnings per share. Equities analysts forecast that Novartis AG will post 7.18 EPS for the current year.

Novartis Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared an annual dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 7th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a dividend of $3.7772 per share. This represents a yield of 3.1%. This is a positive change from Novartiss previous annual dividend of $3.47. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 7th. Novartiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 31.62%.

Novartis Company 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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Ariel Investments LLC reduced its holdings in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW  Free Report) by 5.3% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The institutional investor owned 993,749 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 55,775 shares during the period. Ariel Investments LLCs holdings in Charles Schwab were worth $54,557,000 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 SCHW. State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Charles Schwab by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 60,391,016 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $3,422,963,000 after buying an additional 398,367 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its position in Charles Schwab by 26.3% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 29,775,952 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,634,700,000 after purchasing an additional 6,195,934 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its position in Charles Schwab by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 27,050,168 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,413,244,000 after purchasing an additional 391,238 shares during the period. Morgan Stanley increased its position in Charles Schwab by 62.5% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 22,255,649 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,853,005,000 after purchasing an additional 8,563,389 shares during the period. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC increased its position in Charles Schwab by 7.8% during the 2nd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 18,007,328 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,020,655,000 after purchasing an additional 1,302,697 shares during the period. 81.61% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Charles Schwab Stock Performance

NYSE:SCHW traded down $0.31 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $66.47. 7,875,353 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,242,530. The stock has a market capitalization of $117.88 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.17, a PEG ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.00. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 52-week low of $45.00 and a 52-week high of $77.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.82, a current ratio of 0.43 and a quick ratio of 0.66. The companys 50 day moving average price is $65.03 and its 200-day moving average price is $60.04.

Charles Schwab Announces Dividend

Charles Schwab ( NYSE:SCHW Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $0.68 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.64 by $0.04. Charles Schwab had a net margin of 26.90% and a return on equity of 21.33%. The company had revenue of $4.46 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.49 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $1.07 EPS. Charles Schwabs revenue was down 18.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Charles Schwab Co. will post 3.34 earnings per share for the current year.

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 9th were paid a dividend of $0.25 per share. This represents a $1.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.50%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 8th. Charles Schwabs payout ratio is 39.37%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Charles Schwab

In other Charles Schwab news, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total transaction of $257,960.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 37,611 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,425,533.39. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, Chairman Charles R. Schwab sold 16,390 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $63.94, for a total value of $1,047,976.60. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 61,331,688 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,921,548,130.72. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, CFO Peter B. Crawford sold 4,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, January 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.49, for a total transaction of $257,960.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 37,611 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,425,533.39. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 172,616 shares of company stock worth $11,181,109. Company insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms have commented on SCHW. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and cut their target price for the company from $75.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Redburn Atlantic began coverage on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday, December 1st. They set a sell rating and a $52.00 target price on the stock. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $64.00 to $68.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Citigroup downgraded shares of Charles Schwab from a buy rating to a neutral rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $75.00 to $70.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Finally, JMP Securities reaffirmed a market outperform rating and issued a $77.00 price objective on shares of Charles Schwab in a research report on Thursday, January 18th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $69.92.

Read Our Latest Analysis on Charles Schwab

About Charles Schwab

(Free Report)

The Charles Schwab Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a savings and loan holding company that provides wealth management, securities brokerage, banking, asset management, custody, and financial advisory services in the United States and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Investor Services and Advisor Services.

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Envista Holdings Co. (NYSE:NVST  Get Free Report) saw a significant drop in short interest in February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 8,180,000 shares, a drop of 17.1% from the January 31st total of 9,870,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 2,520,000 shares, the short-interest ratio is presently 3.2 days.

Envista Price Performance

NYSE NVST traded up $0.27 during trading on Friday, reaching $20.92. 3,492,945 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,921,730. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a quick ratio of 1.90 and a current ratio of 2.23. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $23.40 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $25.25. The company has a market cap of $3.59 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -34.29, a P/E/G ratio of 3.90 and a beta of 1.35. Envista has a 1-year low of $20.00 and a 1-year high of $40.92.

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Envista (NYSE:NVST  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, February 7th. The company reported $0.29 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.33 by ($0.04). The business had revenue of $645.60 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $638.37 million. Envista had a positive return on equity of 6.31% and a negative net margin of 3.90%. The firms revenue was down 2.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.52 earnings per share. As a group, analysts anticipate that Envista will post 1.43 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research firms have weighed in on NVST. TheStreet lowered Envista from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. UBS Group began coverage on Envista in a research note on Friday, January 5th. They issued a neutral rating and a $26.00 price objective on the stock. Leerink Partnrs reiterated an underperform rating on shares of Envista in a research note on Monday, February 26th. William Blair downgraded Envista from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 8th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group downgraded Envista from a buy rating to a sell rating and set a $22.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, December 11th. Three research analysts have 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 MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $29.60.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Envista

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. American International Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Envista by 0.3% in the 4th quarter. American International Group Inc. now owns 231,461 shares of the companys stock worth $5,569,000 after acquiring an additional 650 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its position in Envista by 10.5% in the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 125,507 shares of the companys stock worth $3,020,000 after purchasing an additional 11,925 shares during the last quarter. GSA Capital Partners LLP bought a new position in Envista in the 4th quarter worth approximately $379,000. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio raised its position in Envista by 74.1% in the 4th quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 119,975 shares of the companys stock worth $2,887,000 after purchasing an additional 51,072 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Mercer Global Advisors Inc. ADV bought a new position in Envista in the 4th quarter worth approximately $226,000.

About Envista

(Get Free Report)

Envista Holdings Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells dental products in the United States, China, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Specialty Products & Technologies, and Equipment & Consumables. The Specialty Products & Technologies segment offers dental implant systems, guided surgery systems, biomaterials, and prefabricated and custom-built prosthetics to oral surgeons, prosthodontists, and periodontists; and brackets and wires, tubes and bands, archwires, clear aligners, digital orthodontic treatments, retainers, and other orthodontic laboratory products.

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Advisors Asset Management Inc. reduced its stake in Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J  Free Report) by 10.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 73,195 shares of the companys stock after selling 8,461 shares during the quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. owned 0.06% of Jacobs Solutions worth $9,991,000 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 J. Third Point LLC raised its stake in Jacobs Solutions by 629.4% in the 2nd quarter. Third Point LLC now owns 1,354,982 shares of the companys stock valued at $161,094,000 after acquiring an additional 1,169,217 shares during the period. Mackenzie Financial Corp raised its stake in Jacobs Solutions by 1,162.8% in the 1st quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 866,765 shares of the companys stock valued at $119,449,000 after acquiring an additional 798,125 shares during the period. Boston Partners bought a new stake in Jacobs Solutions in the 3rd quarter valued at about $106,946,000. Select Equity Group L.P. raised its stake in Jacobs Solutions by 12.6% in the 1st quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 4,717,432 shares of the companys stock valued at $554,345,000 after acquiring an additional 529,557 shares during the period. Finally, Baupost Group LLC MA bought a new stake in shares of Jacobs Solutions during the third quarter valued at about $66,583,000. 84.77% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insider Activity at Jacobs Solutions

In related news, EVP Patrick Hill sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.48, for a total transaction of $701,140.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 62,719 shares in the company, valued at $7,995,418.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Patrick Hill sold 5,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $127.48, for a total transaction of $701,140.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 62,719 shares in the company, valued at $7,995,418.12. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, EVP Shelette M. Gustafson sold 1,852 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total value of $274,096.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 28,791 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,261,068. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 19,018 shares of company stock worth $2,475,578 over the last quarter. 1.00% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Jacobs Solutions Trading Down 0.0 %

Shares of NYSE:J traded down $0.03 during trading on Friday, reaching $146.62. 477,193 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 761,582. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.42 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.73. Jacobs Solutions Inc. has a 52-week low of $109.00 and a 52-week high of $149.17. The company has a current ratio of 1.37, a quick ratio of 1.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42. The businesss fifty day moving average is $137.29 and its 200-day moving average is $134.09.

Jacobs Solutions (NYSE:J  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.56 by $0.46. The firm had revenue of $4.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.02 billion. Jacobs Solutions had a return on equity of 14.57% and a net margin of 4.20%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.67 earnings per share. As a group, analysts forecast that Jacobs Solutions Inc. will post 8.06 EPS for the current year.

Jacobs Solutions Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 22nd. This is a positive change from Jacobs Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. Jacobs Solutionss dividend payout ratio is 20.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have recently weighed in on J. Raymond James cut Jacobs Solutions from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Jacobs Solutions from $151.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Benchmark reiterated a buy rating and set a $160.00 price target on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a buy rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, KeyCorp began coverage on Jacobs Solutions in a report on Wednesday, January 10th. They set a sector weight rating for the company. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Jacobs Solutions has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $152.11.

Read Our Latest Stock Report on J

Jacobs Solutions Profile

(Free Report)

Jacobs Solutions Inc provides consulting, technical, engineering, scientific, and project delivery services for the government and private sectors in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Critical Mission Solutions, People & Places Solutions, Divergent Solutions, and PA Consulting segments.

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Alps Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE:EPD  Free Report) by 20.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 37,951,428 shares of the oil and gas producers stock after acquiring an additional 6,369,350 shares during the quarter. Enterprise Products Partners comprises approximately 8.6% of Alps Advisors Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its biggest holding. Alps Advisors Inc.s holdings in Enterprise Products Partners were worth $1,038,731,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Enterprise Products Partners by 104,195.1% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 132,364,055 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $3,192,621,000 after purchasing an additional 132,237,142 shares during the last quarter. Cowa LLC boosted its stake in shares of Enterprise Products Partners by 9,906.0% in the 1st quarter. Cowa LLC now owns 7,753,281 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $2,001,000 after purchasing an additional 7,675,795 shares during the last quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON boosted its stake in shares of Enterprise Products Partners by 803.7% in the 2nd quarter. BROOKFIELD Corp ON now owns 4,497,730 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $118,515,000 after purchasing an additional 4,000,004 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in shares of Enterprise Products Partners by 17.6% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 20,745,030 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $500,370,000 after purchasing an additional 3,102,695 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Blackstone Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Enterprise Products Partners by 12.0% in the 3rd quarter. Blackstone Inc. now owns 23,133,885 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $633,174,000 after purchasing an additional 2,472,847 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 26.54% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts have recently issued reports on EPD shares. Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of Enterprise Products Partners from $35.00 to $36.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Enterprise Products Partners from $31.00 to $32.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com lowered shares of Enterprise Products Partners from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday. Truist Financial lifted their price objective on shares of Enterprise Products Partners from $31.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and set a $35.00 price objective on shares of Enterprise Products Partners in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Enterprise Products Partners currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $32.42.

Enterprise Products Partners Stock Up 1.1 %

EPD stock traded up $0.30 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $27.75. 3,664,228 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 4,573,502. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.95, a quick ratio of 0.65 and a current ratio of 0.93. The firm has a market cap of $60.17 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.01 and a beta of 1.02. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $26.87 and its 200 day simple moving average is $26.78. Enterprise Products Partners L.P. has a 1-year low of $24.66 and a 1-year high of $27.95.

Enterprise Products Partners (NYSE:EPD  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The oil and gas producer reported $0.72 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.68 by $0.04. Enterprise Products Partners had a net margin of 11.12% and a return on equity of 19.65%. The firm had revenue of $14.62 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.43 billion. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.65 EPS. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 7.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Enterprise Products Partners L.P. will post 2.63 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Enterprise Products Partners Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 14th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, January 31st were issued a $0.515 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, January 30th. This is an increase from Enterprise Products Partnerss previous quarterly dividend of $0.50. This represents a $2.06 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 7.42%. Enterprise Products Partnerss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 81.75%.

Enterprise Products Partners Company Profile

(Free Report)

Enterprise Products Partners L.P. provides midstream energy services to producers and consumers of natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), crude oil, petrochemicals, and refined products. The company operates through four segments: NGL Pipelines & Services, Crude Oil Pipelines & Services, Natural Gas Pipelines & Services, and Petrochemical & Refined Products Services.

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Quadrature Capital Ltd acquired a new position in shares of Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm acquired 29,257 shares of the specialty retailers stock, valued at approximately $2,705,000.

Several other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in LW. Appian Way Asset Management LP acquired a new stake in Lamb Weston in the third quarter valued at approximately $11,406,000. Logan Capital Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Lamb Weston by 33.1% during the third quarter. Logan Capital Management Inc. now owns 48,241 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $4,460,000 after buying an additional 11,996 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted its position in shares of Lamb Weston by 60.9% during the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 60,321 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $5,577,000 after buying an additional 22,821 shares during the last quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Lamb Weston by 121.7% during the third quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 746,424 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $69,014,000 after buying an additional 409,810 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new position in shares of Lamb Weston during the third quarter valued at approximately $796,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.77% of the companys stock.

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Lamb Weston Price Performance

Lamb Weston stock opened at $102.05 on Friday. Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. has a 52 week low of $81.25 and a 52 week high of $117.38. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $104.85 and a 200 day simple moving average of $98.98. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.95. The stock has a market cap of $14.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.27, a PEG ratio of 1.15 and a beta of 0.72.

Lamb Weston Increases Dividend

Lamb Weston ( NYSE:LW Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, January 4th. The specialty retailer reported $1.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.03. Lamb Weston had a return on equity of 63.19% and a net margin of 17.71%. The firm had revenue of $1.73 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.70 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.28 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 35.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. will post 5.94 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 2nd were paid a $0.36 dividend. This represents a $1.44 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.41%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 1st. This is a positive change from Lamb Westons previous quarterly dividend of $0.28. Lamb Westons payout ratio is 18.73%.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of brokerages recently commented on LW. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Lamb Weston from $115.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Friday, January 5th. Wells Fargo & Company began coverage on Lamb Weston in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. They issued an overweight rating and a $120.00 target price on the stock. Citigroup began coverage on Lamb Weston in a research note on Thursday, February 1st. They issued a buy rating and a $132.00 target price on the stock. Finally, StockNews.com lowered Lamb Weston from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Friday, January 5th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Lamb Weston presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $127.11.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Lamb Weston

Lamb Weston Company Profile

(Free Report)

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc produces, distributes, and markets frozen potato products worldwide. The company operates through four segments: Global, Foodservice, Retail, and Other. It offers frozen potatoes, commercial ingredients, and appetizers under the Lamb Weston brand, as well as under various customer labels.

Further Reading

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Bonia Corporation Berhad (KLSE:BONIA) Second Quarter 2024 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: RM117.4m (up 4.7% from 2Q 2023).

Net income: RM11.8m (down 38% from 2Q 2023).

Profit margin: 10.0% (down from 17% in 2Q 2023). The decrease in margin was driven by higher expenses.

EPS: RM0.059 (down from RM0.095 in 2Q 2023).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Bonia Corporation Berhad Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 5.9% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 9.2% growth forecast for the Specialty Retail industry in Malaysia.

Performance of the Malaysian Specialty Retail industry.

The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

We should say that we've discovered 3 warning signs for Bonia Corporation Berhad that you should be aware of before investing here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A statement released to the media today and news link info regarding the ongoing crisis:



Victims applaud arrests at Christian boarding school in Missouri



Statement by David G. Clohessy of St. Louis, volunteer director of Missouri SNAP



(Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests)



We are gratified to see that two key staff at Lighthouse Christian Academy in Piedmont Missouri have at long last been arrested and are being held without bond. We hope the Musgraves are kept locked up for a long time.

Two charged for kidnapping in Wayne County



Missouri authorities jail owners of Christian boarding school on kidnapping charges



At the same time, we believe others who are or were at this facility have also hurt kids and must be brought to justice . . . Who also abused youngsters at Agape School in Stockton Missouri.



Arrests are not convictions. So now is not the time for complacency. Children will only be substantially safer and victims can best heal only if these and other wrongdoers are tried, found guilty and imprisoned. That means that everyone else with knowledge or suspicions of crimes and cover ups at Lighthouse Academy must summon the strength to call law enforcement.



The credit for these arrests goes to the five desperate, suffering but courageous boys who recently ran away from this facility and the several brave adults who were abused as kids at Lighthouse Academy and have reported to law enforcement. Without their gutsy actions, law enforcement could not have investigated this horror and arrested some of the perpetrators.



May their courage inspire others who saw, suffered or suspected wrongdoing of any sort at this school  or any of the dozens of similar largely invisible institutions across Missouri  to take similar steps to protect kids and expose crimes.

################



Developing . . .
Strolling through Roma Norte, Mexican producer and activist Barbara Arredondo Ayala is in her element, showing off the central Mexico City neighbourhoods cool mix of tradition and trend. With its century-old facades, green spaces, and design-forward shops and restaurants, this is the capitals artistic heart. Its the energy in Mexico City, the layers of history in every corner, and the sense of feeling alive, says Arredondo Ayala of what she observes here. Her day job keeps her plugged into the citys creative culture: Shes reshaping the narrative for Latin American and Spanish women in the film and TV industry through Anonima Media, a production company she co-founded.

In her leisure time, too, Arredondo Ayala throws her support behind the women in her city, whether shes grabbing a bite at the curbside stand of the famous quesadilla lady, shopping from local designers, or indulging in a cocktail at the bar of the worlds best female chef. Here are some of Arredondo Ayalas top picks for immersing yourself in the local scene while supporting vibrant, women-owned businesses in Mexico City.

For the best street food in town: Jennis Quesadillas

Every morning around 10 a.m., Jenni, the quesadilla lady, sets up her stand at the corner of Colima and Merida in Roma Norte, drawing locals and tourists alike for her famed quesadillas, tlacoyos (stuffed masa cakes) and pambazos (salsa-dunked sandwiches). With options ranging from meaty chicharron and tinga to vegetarian delights like pumpkin quelites (wild greens), hongos (Mexican-style sauteed mushrooms) and flor de calabaza (pumpkin flowers), theres something for everyone. Arredondo Ayala swears by the quesadillas with huitlacoche (corn smut, also known as Mexican truffle) with green salsa. Its such a treat. I get excited just thinking about it.

For a cherished souvenir: Sangre de mi Sangre

Some of Arredondo Ayalas favourite jewelry is by designer Mariana Villarreal, whose flagship shop, Sangre de mi Sangre, is in Roma. I get hooked on a piece for some time, and its very telling of that moment Im living in, says Arredondo Ayala. Here, youll find handcrafted pieces made with recycled metal and natural stones, including elegant rings that marry minimalist design with the intricate details of Mexican heritage, and bespoke bracelets that combine traditional metalworking techniques with contemporary flair. You can also venture to the nearby Colonia Juarez neighbourhood to explore Villarreals studio at General Prim 30, a 20th-century mansion that also showcases photography and contemporary art exhibitions.

For posh sips and snacks: Salon Rosetta

In Roma Norte, an elegant 19th-century mansion houses Rosetta  the restaurant of Elena Reygadas, recently named the Worlds Best Female Chef 2023 by the Worlds 50 Best. And tucked away on the second floor, youll find a lesser-known gem that complements its famous sibling: Salon Rosetta. Bathed in the warm glow of vintage lighting and adorned with lush greenery, the intimate bar feels both cosy and luxuriously bohemian. Known for its creative cocktails and elegant tea service, it also serves snacks and small bites, from crystallized Jerusalem artichokes to risotto croquettes with dried chilies, and tiny, perfect seasonal desserts.

For statement fashion: Maison Manila

This local label sets the sartorial standard for the cool kids of Mexico City, offering what Arredondo Ayala describes as the uniform of Roma and Juarez, its neighbour to the north, where the shop is located. Designed by Rossana Diaz del Castillo, the fashion house is known for its unisex looks and limited-run collections in luxurious fabrics, such as Japanese linen and Italian silk and wool. Solid, mostly neutral shades with occasional pops of colour define the esthetic, and pieces can be worn from day to evening. They did this series of kimono jackets in wool, and I am obsessed, says Arredondo Ayala. I want one in every colour.

For contemporary food and drinks: Meroma

This Roma hot spot, from restaurateur Mercedes Bernal and her chef husband, Rodney Cusic, is celebrated for its farm-to-table cuisine, with unexpected dishes like quail marinated with harissa, and comfort-food favourites like handmade agnolotti. But its also the duos passion for wine, spirits and cocktails that keeps locals coming back for more. The constantly evolving menu of cocktails especially strike the perfect blend of everything, says Arredondo Ayala, who considers this her Cheers, a place where everyone knows your name. Her go-tos include the whisky sour and the Hot Rita, the latter made with maracuya (golden passion fruit) and mescal, showcasing the bars flair for combining traditional ingredients with a fresh twist.
Moldovan President Maia Sandu said that the Russian attack on Odesa demonstrates Ukraine's urgent need for help.

The politician wrote about this on the social network X, Ukrinform reported.

Another Russian drone attack in Odesa has claimed lives, serving as a stark reminder that Ukraine urgently needs more help. Every day counts, and delaying aid puts more innocent lives at stake, Maia Sandu wrote.

As reported, on the night of March 2, Russian invaders attacked Odesa with attack drones. An enemy drone hit a multi-story residential building in a residential area of the city, destroying a part of the entrance with 18 apartments.

As of Saturday evening, eight people were known to have been killed as a result of the Russian military strike on the residential building. The search and rescue operation at the site of the attack continues.

Earlier on March 2, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Theodoros Rousopoulos condemned Russia's latest attack on Odesa.
Since the beginning of this week, Russia has already used almost 400 glide bombs, more than 50 Shahed one-way attack drones and more than 40 missiles against Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in his video address, Ukrinform reports.

"In total, since the beginning of this week alone, Russian terrorists have already used nearly 400 guided aerial bombs, more than 50 Shahed drones and more than 40 missiles. No country in Europe could have withstood such pressure and evil alone. And that is why it is important that we all stand together now  everyone who values life and who does not want this terror to reach other nations," Zelensky said.

He added that all leaders and international organizations must respond to Russia's actions and their response must be tough.

"Putin does not want any peace  he only wants war and death. He does not care whom he kills. The main goal is to destroy. First, Ukraine and Ukrainians. And then you, dear partners. That is why it is a matter of survival, and not only for Ukraine, that the world reacts to Russian evil and exerts pressure, and hits back," Zelensky said.

He noted that Ukraine managed to shoot down seven Russian military aircraft this week.

According to him, since the beginning of February, Russia has lost 15 military aircraft, and this is the proper dynamics of their losses.

"This war must become hopeless for Russia, for the terrorists. And they must feel to the fullest extent possible that there is a force that destroys those who want to destroy life. We are capable of providing this. Each partner knows what is needed. The key is the political will to implement everything. To provide exactly the level of supply that will help," Zelensky said.

According to the president, if this does not happen, "it will become one of the most disgraceful pages in history  if America or Europe are defeated by Iranian Shahed drones or Russian fighter jets." "Russian evil should not be encouraged by weak decisions, delays in deliveries, or hesitation," Zelensky said.

"The joint success of everyone in the world who values life should be tangible. We went through the winter, we preserved the energy sector and prevented blackouts. Russia's energy terror failed. We continue to restore security at sea, and our maritime exports are operational," he added.
A Waymo self-driving car parked on a street in San Francisco on April 29, 2023.

The autonomous driving technology company Waymo was just given the green light to expand its service into Los Angeles and San Mateo counties

The California Public Utility Commission said it received 81 letters in support of expanding the driverless taxi service outside of just San Francisco and five objections.

Waymo, previously known as the Google self-driving car project, is a subsidiary of tech company Alphabet, the parent company of Google.

Despite the green light from CPUC, it's unclear when the robotaxis will become available in Los Angeles.

Waymo has been running driverless test drives in San Francisco since 2018 and became just one of two companies to provide paid rides in the city in August. It began testing its driverless white Jaguars in Los Angeles last year and gave residents a chance to test out the service through an invitation-only period.

Robotaxis: Self-driving taxis get 24/7 access in San Francisco. What historic vote means for the city.

In a statement to USA TODAY, Waymo said the company plans to "take a careful and incremental approach to expansion by continuing to work closely with city officials, local communities and our partners to ensure were offering a service thats safe, accessible and valuable to our riders."

Lawmakers have safety concerns

The expansion of Waymo's self-driving taxis has promoted some backlash and concern among local lawmakers.

"This was an irresponsible decision by the PUC," San Mateo County Supervisor Dave Canepa told KTVU.

Car set on fire: Waymo driverless car set ablaze in San Francisco: 'Putting out some rage'

Canepa told the outlet the county was concerned about safety and wanted more communication with Waymo to discuss the concerns of local stakeholders.

L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn called CPUCs decision to expand Waymo dangerous.

These robotaxis are far too untested and Angelenos shouldnt be Big Techs guinea pigs. Decisions like this one should be informed by cities, not made over city objections, Hahn said in a post on X.

Sarah Al-Arshani covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at salarshani@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Waymo gets green light to expand robotaxis to LA, San Mateo counties
iStock.com

Ask most Americans today if they know who Dave Ramsey is, and youre likely to get an enthusiastic Yes!

Ramsey, now 62, has become one of the most well-known personal finance gurus in the country. His radio show and podcast reach over 18 million weekly listeners. Hes authored numerous bestselling books. And hes built a massive multimedia empire in Nashville, Tennessee, dedicated to helping people get out of debt, budget properly and build wealth.

Find Out: 6 Ways to Tell If Youre Financially Smarter Than the Average American

For You: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity.

An Early Start

Dave Ramsey wasnt always Americas favorite financial advisor. His journey to becoming a debt-free money expert started one day when he was 12 years old. He went to his dad asking for money to buy an Icee.

As Ramsey tells it, his dads response was, You need a job. You dont need money. Taking the advice to heart, Ramsey started his first business, Daves Lawns, mowing his neighbors lawns.

Throughout high school and into college, Ramsey continued to work hard and earn his own money. He passed his real estate exam right after high school and worked upwards of 40 hours per week during college to help pay tuition. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in finance and real estate.

After getting married and moving back to Nashville, Ramsey began building wealth through buying and selling property. By 26 years old, he was rich  and had amassed a small real estate empire. He bought luxury cars, jewelry and vacations. By all appearances, he had achieved the American Dream.

Learn More: Grant Cardone: Heres How To Become Rich If Youre Earning an Average Salary

A Great Fall

But Ramseys fortune was a house of cards waiting to collapse. He had borrowed up to his eyeballs to fund his lifestyle. And when the banks started calling in loans during a real estate downturn, Ramsey had 90 days to repay millions. His overleveraged bets quickly unraveled. Ramsey was forced to declare bankruptcy, and the sheriff seized all of Ramseys possessions to settle his unpaid debts.

Story continues

Hitting rock bottom was devastating on many levels. Ramsey felt financially ruined and spiritually broken, and his marriage was pushed to the brink.

Revelation of Purpose

But in the darkness, Ramsey had a moment of total surrender and a renewed faith in God. While the bankruptcy left deep scars, Ramsey credits his faith for helping him recover hope during the low point.

In the years that followed, Ramsey discovered a passion for counseling others in their money journeys based on what he had learned. He still felt shame and regret about the past, but he had emerged on the other side transformed. He realized he could connect with people struggling with financial problems, because he had been there.

Ramsey knew he could now help guide others out of dark money situations. Millions of Americans were wrestling with similar issues, and he understood the stress, risk and seductions of debt intimately.

This revelation  that overcoming his own monetary failures allowed Ramsey to lift up others  became the defining money lesson of his career. Leaning into this purpose, he built his financial counseling work into books, courses, radio shows and live events. What started as one-on-one advice became a multimedia mission.

Helping Others Go Debt-free

Decades later, Ramsey has achieved financial stability and wealth again, this time rooted in hard work and discipline, not debt. Hes living proof that sound money principles can work even after major setbacks.

Millions of Ramseys followers, from all walks of life, connect with his message that you can take control of your money rather than being controlled by it. You can avoid unnecessary debt that leaves you stressed and vulnerable. You can budget, save, invest and build wealth steadily. It just takes common sense and commitment.

While Dave Ramseys first business at 12 sparked his entrepreneurial drive, it was the hard lessons learned from bankruptcy and rebuilding that defined his money legacy. Most importantly, Ramsey embraced the purpose that his journey could help others avoid financial dangers and stresses.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Dave Ramseys First Job Led to Riches at 26: The Most Valuable Money Lesson He Learned
(@FahadShabbir)

PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Mar, 2024) Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Sunday announced compensation package for the affected families due to rains in the province.

The Chief Minister directed the Relief Secretary to compile reports on the affected and the damages incurred due to rains.

Detailed information about the life and property losses across the province should be collected, the Chief Minister's instructed.

He announced relief checks of Rs1 million for the killed, Rs 300,000 for severely injured and Rs 50,000 for those who received moderate injuries.

Financial compensation will also be provided for property damages caused by the rains.

The Chief Minister has instructed the concerned Divisional Commissioners to coordinate efforts and promptly provide relief to the affected.

Immediate relief measures are to be taken on an emergency basis, focusing on essential needs such as temporary shelter, food, and other necessities for owners of damaged homes.

Ali Amin Gandapur directed urgent provision of medical assistance to the injured.

He also directed to restore the closed roads due to heavy snowfall and rain.

The Chief Minister has stressed the utilization of all available resources for this purpose.

In light of any emergency situations, preparedness measures should be in place to tackle the challenges effectively, Ali Amin Gandapur asserts.

He emphasizes that the provincial government stands with the affected during this difficult time and ensures that every possible assistance will be extended to them.

Acknowledging the shared grief with the families of the deceased, Ali Amin Gandapur expresses solidarity, reaffirming that no effort will be spared in providing support to those affected by the calamities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

APP/ash/
ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Mar, 2024) During the ongoing anti-power theft campaign, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has imposed fines totaling 539.23 million against people involved in power theft.

Spearheaded by IESCO Chief Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan, the campaign, initiated on September 7, 2023, has backing from both the government and the Ministry of Energy.

With the unwavering support of governmental bodies, provincial administrations, and law enforcement agencies, detection teams deployed by IESCO have made notable strides in curbing electricity pilferage across its operational circles.

In February 2024 alone, 311 power thieves were apprehended by these vigilant teams, resulting in fines amounting to 22.

9 million. Moreover, 28 individuals involved in electricity theft were promptly arrested by the police.

Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan said that the ongoing campaign has helped to reduce power theft cases and company line losses, coupled with a substantial increase in revenue.

He reaffirmed IESCO's steadfast commitment to eradicating this menace, vowing no compromises in the fight against power theft. Encouraging community participation, he urged customers to report any instances of power theft promptly to relevant authorities via the dedicated helpline number, 118.
(@FahadShabbir)

GWADAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Mar, 2024) Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti on Sunday reached Gwadar to review the situation caused by heavy rains in the coastal city and the measures being taken for the rescue of affected people.

He was accompanied by Members of Provincial Assembly (MPAs) including Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Ali Madad Jattak, Maulana Hidayat ur Rehman, Mir Obaid Girgij and Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan on his one-day visit to Gwadar.

The Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti will also meet the affected families by the recent torrential rains and floods during his maiden official visit to Gwadar.

The Commissioner Makran Division will brief the newly elected Chief Minister of Balochistan regarding the situation caused by recent rains and flood-affected families, the losses, and the steps taken for rescue and relief operation.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti will preside over a high-level meeting on rescue and relief operations in rain-affected areas.

However, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari during media talks on Saturday at CM House Quetta announced that the newly elected Chief Minister of Balochistan will visit Gawadar soon after assuming the office, a city severely affected by recent rains, and added: "The Chief Minister will personally assess the situation in Gawadar, conduct a thorough review, and make announcements regarding assistance for the affected people".
BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 3rd Mar, 2024) Chinese authorities on Saturday released a circular on the launch of a campaign to expand basic medical insurance coverage for children, aiming to safeguard the rights, interests and health of children in the country.

The circular, issued by the National Healthcare Security Administration, the Ministry of education and the National Health Commission, sets the goal that by the end of 2024, over 80 percent of newborns are covered by national basic medical insurance in the year of birth.

The document sets out various arrangements for the campaign, including improving the supply of medical services, strengthening data-sharing between departments, and optimizing procedures for newborns to be included in the national insurance scheme.

Infants should, in principle, be covered by national medical insurance within 90 days of birth, and all eligible medical expense incurred during this period should be reimbursed, according to the circular.

It also outlines specific requirements to ensure children in need of medical assistance and subsidies are covered by medical insurance in a timely manner.
Iran's hard-liners were leading in an initial vote count Saturday in the capital, Tehran, following a record-low turnout in a parliamentary election. Officials have not yet released turnout figures, but the state-run IRNA news agency said it was 41%, based on unofficial reports.

After the closure of the polls, videos and reports suggest that many people used their national ID numbers to vote. Until this election, birth certificates had been required as voter identification. Without that requirement, voters used their national ID numbers, resulting in a declared participation rate of 25 million people, according to the newspaper Hamshahri, a staunch supporter of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's government.

About 25 million voters would equal a turnout of about 41%, a historic low.

Another report was more detailed. It said 86% of voters in Friday's elections cast their ballots using their national ID cards, 11% with birth certificates, 3% with driver's licenses, and less than 1% with passports and military service completion cards.

According to images released by the official media of the Islamic Republic, the processes of identity verification and ballot paper issuance have been conducted manually. Without a nationwide electronic voting registration system, it remains unclear how authorities can ensure that individuals with various identity documents cannot cast multiple votes across different branches and constituencies.

The statistics, viewed as misleading by social media users because of the election day's atmosphere, suggest that the Islamic Republic is engaged in alleged "statistical manipulation," registering citizens' national ID numbers in the system.

In the final hours of voting, numerous videos circulated on social media depicting various Iranians suggested that some citizens' national ID numbers had been recorded in the system, showing them as having voted before they actually cast their ballots. As of the time of compiling this report, official authorities have yet to provide an official response to these electoral suspicions.

The subdued voter turnout for Iran's elections was notable, as evidenced by the newspaper Ham-Mihan, which initially featured the headline "Silent Majority" on its front page. However, reports indicate that Iranian security forces compelled the newspaper to change the headline of its Saturday edition to "Presence and Absence."

The circulated videos also underscore Iranians' grievances regarding census manipulation, with some users reporting that upon visiting polling stations, they found themselves registered as having voted in the system hours before.

The Hal Vash news site reported that Friday morning, residents of Sital village in the Sarbuk District of Qasr-e Qand County prevented poll workers from setting up and deploying ballot boxes in their community.

Hal Vash reported that to prevent a zero-vote record in the Sital village, the governor of Qasr-e Qand ordered the registration of votes in the names of the villagers using their national identification numbers. Subsequently, ballot papers were deposited into the ballot box.

Despite the low turnout and considering Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's past criticism of 40% turnout in elections in certain countries as "shameful," government-affiliated media declared voter participation in the March 1 elections to be more than 40% minutes after the voting deadline had passed.

Videos submitted by VOA's audience and images disseminated by other Persian-language TV services outside the country and on social media contradict these assertions.

On Friday, Abram Paley, deputy special envoy for Iran in the State Department, shared his views on the elections in the Islamic Republic on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, stating, "The Iranian regime is attempting to showcase these elections as a display of democracy, yet it has already disqualified thousands of candidates. The Iranian people are fully aware that these elections, regardless of their results, do not truly represent them, and we stand with them in this belief."

He reiterated the United States' commitment to stand alongside the Iranian people, stating, "The United States will continue to shine a light on regime officials involved in such human rights abuses, who deny Iranians their basic freedoms. And we will continue to stand with Iranians in their fight for a free and democratic future."
Investors are often guided by the idea of discovering 'the next big thing', even if that means buying 'story stocks' without any revenue, let alone profit. But the reality is that when a company loses money each year, for long enough, its investors will usually take their share of those losses. Loss making companies can act like a sponge for capital - so investors should be cautious that they're not throwing good money after bad.

If this kind of company isn't your style, you like companies that generate revenue, and even earn profits, then you may well be interested in Soup Holdings (SGX:5KI). While this doesn't necessarily speak to whether it's undervalued, the profitability of the business is enough to warrant some appreciation - especially if its growing.

Check out our latest analysis for Soup Holdings

How Quickly Is Soup Holdings Increasing Earnings Per Share?

The market is a voting machine in the short term, but a weighing machine in the long term, so you'd expect share price to follow earnings per share (EPS) outcomes eventually. Therefore, there are plenty of investors who like to buy shares in companies that are growing EPS. It certainly is nice to see that Soup Holdings has managed to grow EPS by 24% per year over three years. If the company can sustain that sort of growth, we'd expect shareholders to come away satisfied.

One way to double-check a company's growth is to look at how its revenue, and earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) margins are changing. Our analysis has highlighted that Soup Holdings' revenue from operations did not account for all of their revenue in the previous 12 months, so our analysis of its margins might not accurately reflect the underlying business. The music to the ears of Soup Holdings shareholders is that EBIT margins have grown from 2.6% to 6.3% in the last 12 months and revenues are on an upwards trend as well. Both of which are great metrics to check off for potential growth.

Story continues

You can take a look at the company's revenue and earnings growth trend, in the chart below. For finer detail, click on the image.

Soup Holdings isn't a huge company, given its market capitalisation of S$25m. That makes it extra important to check on its balance sheet strength.

Are Soup Holdings Insiders Aligned With All Shareholders?

Many consider high insider ownership to be a strong sign of alignment between the leaders of a company and the ordinary shareholders. So those who are interested in Soup Holdings will be delighted to know that insiders have shown their belief, holding a large proportion of the company's shares. In fact, they own 80% of the company, so they will share in the same delights and challenges experienced by the ordinary shareholders. This makes it apparent they will be incentivised to plan for the long term - a positive for shareholders with a sit and hold strategy. With that sort of holding, insiders have about S$20m riding on the stock, at current prices. That's nothing to sneeze at!

It's good to see that insiders are invested in the company, but are remuneration levels reasonable? A brief analysis of the CEO compensation suggests they are. The median total compensation for CEOs of companies similar in size to Soup Holdings, with market caps under S$269m is around S$531k.

Soup Holdings offered total compensation worth S$350k to its CEO in the year to December 2022. That comes in below the average for similar sized companies and seems pretty reasonable. CEO remuneration levels are not the most important metric for investors, but when the pay is modest, that does support enhanced alignment between the CEO and the ordinary shareholders. It can also be a sign of a culture of integrity, in a broader sense.

Should You Add Soup Holdings To Your Watchlist?

If you believe that share price follows earnings per share you should definitely be delving further into Soup Holdings' strong EPS growth. If you still have your doubts, remember too that company insiders have a considerable investment aligning themselves with the shareholders and CEO pay is quite modest compared to similarly sized companiess. Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to investing but it definitely makes Soup Holdings look rather interesting indeed. Still, you should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with Soup Holdings (including 1 which doesn't sit too well with us).

Although Soup Holdings certainly looks good, it may appeal to more investors if insiders were buying up shares. If you like to see companies with insider buying, then check out this handpicked selection of Singaporean companies that not only boast of strong growth but have also seen recent insider buying..

Please note the insider transactions discussed in this article refer to reportable transactions in the relevant jurisdiction.

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.
Around 170 people were "executed" in attacks on three villages in northern Burkina Faso a week ago, a regional prosecutor said on Sunday as jihadist violence flares in the junta-ruled country.

On that same day, February 25, separate attacks on a mosque in eastern Burkina and a Catholic church in the north left dozens more dead.

Aly Benjamin Coulibaly said he had received reports of the attacks on the villages of Komsilga, Nodin and Soroe in Yatenga province on February 25, with a provisional toll of "around 170 people executed."

The attacks left others wounded and caused material damage, the prosecutor for the northern town of Ouahigouya added in a statement, without apportioning blame to any group.

He said his office ordered an investigation and appealed to the public for information.

Survivors of the attacks told AFP that dozens of women and young children were among the victims.

Local security sources said the attacks were separate from deadly incidents that happened on the same day at a mosque in the rural community of Natiaboani and a church in the village of Essakane.

Authorities have yet to release an official death toll for those attacks but a senior church official said at the time that at least 15 civilians were killed in that attack.

Burkina Faso has been grappling with a jihadist insurgency waged by rebels affiliated with Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group that spilled over from neighboring Mali in 2015.

The violence has killed almost 20,000 people and displaced more than two million in Burkina Faso, one of the world's poorest countries situated in the Sahel, a region wracked by instability.

Anger at the state's inability to end the insecurity played a major role in two military coups in 2022. Current strongman Ibrahim Traore has made the fight against rebel groups a priority.


The China Embassy in the Philippines said Sunday it "strongly" condemns the Philippine ambassador to Washington's recent China-related remarks, saying they "disregarded basic facts."

The remarks "wantonly hyped up the South China Sea issue and made speculations and malicious smears against China," the embassy said in a statement.

Jose Manuel Romualdez said Wednesday that while the United States sees both the South China Sea issue and a potential Taiwan conflict as "serious concerns," he believed the "real flashpoint is the West Philippine Sea" given "all of these skirmishes happening there."

The Chinese Embassy said, "Inviting wolves into the house and engaging in small circles will not only not help resolve the differences in the South China Sea, but on the contrary will complicate the regional situation, and undermine regional peace and stability."

It urged Romualdez to stop spreading the "China threat theory" and "paranoia of persecution," and to refrain from "acting as a spokesperson for other countries."

The Philippine Embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Tensions have flashed over maritime disputes in the South China Sea, with Beijing and Manila trading sharp accusations over a slew of run-ins.

China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion of annual ship-borne commerce, including parts claimed by the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brunei. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said China's claims had no legal basis. But Beijing does not recognize the courts authority.
A Native American tribe with one of the largest outstanding claims to water in the Colorado River basin is closing in on a settlement with more than a dozen parties, putting it on a path to piping water to tens of thousands of tribal members in Arizona who still live without it.

Negotiating terms outlined late Wednesday include water rights not only for the Navajo Nation but the neighboring Hopi and San Juan Southern Paiute tribes in the northeastern corner of the state. The water would come from a mix of sources: the Colorado River that serves seven western states, the Little Colorado River, and aquifers and washes on tribal lands.

The agreement is decades in the making and would allow the tribes to avoid further litigation and court proceedings, which have been costly. Navajo officials said they expect to finalize the terms in the coming days.

From there, it must be approved by the tribe's governing bodies, the state of Arizona, the other parties and by Congress.

We have the right Congress, we have the right president, and it's very hopeful, Navajo President Buu Nygren told The Associated Press on Wednesday. Because next year might be a whole different ballgame. It's going to be very uncertain.

The proposal comes as Native American tribes, states in the Colorado River basin and Mexico are working on a long-term plan to share a diminishing water source that has served 40 million people. Tribes, including the Navajo Nation, were left out of a landmark 1922 treaty that divided the water in the basin among seven states.

The Navajo Nation has long argued that states treat the tribe as an afterthought. Any settlement reached would be separate from that long-term plan and stand on its own.

About one-third of the homes on the Navajo Nation do not have running water. Infrastructure projects outlined by the Navajo Nation include a $1.7 billion pipeline to deliver water from Lake Powell to tribal communities. The caveat being that there is no guarantee that Congress will provide the funding.

Both the Navajo and Hopi tribes are seeking the ability to lease water and to store it in existing or new reservoirs and impoundments.

Some of our families that still live within those communities still have to haul water to cook their food, to make lemonade in the summer for their kids, to make ice, all little simple things to make your daily life easy and convenient," Navajo Nation Council Speaker Crystalyne Curley said.

On Wednesday, the Navajo Nation cited climate change, cost, competition for water and the coronavirus pandemic as reasons to move toward a settlement. Arizona, in turn, would benefit by having certainty over the amount of water that is available to non-tribal users. The state has had to cut its use of Colorado River water in recent years because of drought and demand.

Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, said Wednesday that while progress is being made on a settlement with the Navajo Nation, the agreement isn't complete.

Sarah Langley, a spokeswoman for Flagstaff, the largest city that is a party to the settlement, said it is hopeful the negotiations are productive.

Arizona  situated in the Colorado River's Lower Basin with California, Nevada and Mexico  is unique in that it also has an allocation in the Upper Basin. Under the settlement terms, Navajo and Hopi would get about 47,000 acre-feet in the Upper Basin  nearly the entire amount that was set aside for use at the Navajo Generating Station, a coal-fired power plant on the Navajo reservation that shut down in late 2019.

The proposal also includes about 9,500 acre-feet per year of lower-priority water from the Lower Basin for both tribes. An acre-foot of water is roughly enough to serve two to three U.S. households annually.

While the specific terms for the San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe remain under discussion, Congress could be asked to establish a small reservation for the tribe whose ancestral land lies in Utah and Arizona. The tribe's president, Robbin Preston Jr., didn't immediately respond to emailed questions from the AP.

The Hopi Tribe's general counsel, Fred Lomayesva, declined to comment.

The Navajo Nation, whose 27,000 square-mile (70,000 square-kilometer) reservation also stretches into New Mexico and Utah, already has settled its claims to the Colorado River basin there.

The Navajo and Hopi tribes came close to reaching a pact with Arizona to settle water rights in 2012. Both tribes rejected federal legislation that accompanied it, and the tentative deal fell through. It also wasn't broadly supported by Navajos and Hopis who saw negotiations as secretive, leading to a loose effort to recall then-Navajo President Ben Shelly and then-Hopi Chairman LeRoy Shingoitewa.

Recently, the Navajo Nation Water Rights Commission has been holding public hearings across the reservation to ensure tribal members are aware of what is involved in a settlement and why the tribe pursued it, tribal officials said.

We have a united front to our chapters, our schools and even our small businesses, families," Curley said. It's inclusive of everyone. Everybody should be able to know what the terms are.

The federal government in recent years has poured money into tribal water rights settlements. The U.S. Supreme Court also ruled the government does not have a treaty duty to take affirmative steps to secure water for the Navajo Nation, complicating the tribe's fight for water.
A delegation from Hamas was in Cairo on Sunday to discuss a possible weekslong cease-fire in its five-month war in Gaza with Israel, although it was not clear that Israeli negotiators were attending.

The U.S., which has pushed for a six-week halt in the fighting, said a deal is on the table, essentially already approved by Israel and now awaiting an okay from the militants. Still, the state of the talks mediated by Egyptian and Qatari officials was uncertain.

An agreement would bring about the first extended pause in the fighting since a weeklong truce in late November. Under proposed terms, dozens of the remaining 100 or so hostages held by Hamas would be freed in exchange for the release of hundreds of Palestinians held by Israel.

A U.S. official told reporters, "The path to a cease-fire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And there's a deal on the table. There's a framework deal."

Yet, as the Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo, a Palestinian official told Reuters the deal was "not yet there." There also was no official confirmation that Israel was sending a delegation to the talks.

Israel reportedly is demanding that Hamas give it a full list of hostages who are still alive, a demand that a Palestinian source said Hamas had so far rejected as premature. The deal would also stop short of the Hamas demand for a permanent end to the war.

Israel has vowed to end the threat of another Hamas assault like the October 7 terror attack on the Jewish state that killed 1,200 people. Israels counteroffensive since then has killed more than 30,000 people in Gaza, about 70% of them women and children.

Israel has said it plans to attack the town of Rafah on the Egyptian border to root out more militants. More than a million Palestinians have taken refuge from the war in the region, with Israel saying it will move them to an undisclosed location to avoid a new assault by Israeli forces.

If a truce is agreed to, humanitarian aid into Gaza would be sharply increased for famished Palestinians. In one sign of the crisis, the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said at least 16 children had died of malnutrition in recent days as "famine spreads" in the north.

The U.S. has begun airdrops of aid, but a Hamas official said the group is demanding "the entry of at least 400 to 500 trucks per day" carrying food, medicine and fuel as part of a truce deal.

Gaza health officials said 118 people were killed in Gaza City during an attempted aid delivery Thursday. Hamas attributed the deaths to Israeli attacks, while Israel said most of the victims were trampled as they rushed for the food or were run over by the aid trucks.

U.S. President Joe Biden said last week that a deal could be reached as soon as Monday, but then backed off that timetable. The goal, however, is to halt the fighting for the Ramadan Muslim fasting month, which begins in a week.

Meanwhile, fighting continues, with the Gaza health ministry reporting that at least 90 Palestinians had been killed in the last day, including 14 family members whose house in the southern Rafah refugee camp had been hit.



Harris, Gantz to meet

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is planning to meet with Israeli war Cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House Monday, as Washington tries to secure a temporary cease-fire and an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The talks are expected to focus on Palestinian civilian casualties, securing a temporary cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza as well as increasing aid into the enclave, a White House official said.

"The vice president will express her concern over the safety of as many as 1.5 million people in Rafah," the official said, adding that Israel has a "right to defend itself in the face of continued Hamas terrorist threats."

In a statement, Gantz confirmed that he would meet with Harris, as well as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Republican and Democratic members of Congress.

Gantz, a former Israeli military chief and defense minister, is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rival in opinion polls. According to Haaretz.com, an independent Israeli news site, a senior official close to Netanyahu reportedly said Saturday that the prime minister does not approve of Gantz's visit to Washington.

Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
Negotiations are to resume in Cairo on Sunday for a cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza with mediators from Egypt and Qatar expect to receive a response from Hamas on the latest proposed framework, reports say.

Israel has more or less accepted the framework, a senior Biden administration official said Saturday.

"Right now, the ball is in the court of Hamas, and we are continuing to push this as hard as we possibly can," said the official, who spoke to reporters anonymously because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the talks.

The deal, if accepted as proposed, is for a six-week cease-fire and the release of hostages considered vulnerable. It would also allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

"I dont want to create expectations one way or the other," the official added, according to Reuters.

Hamas has not backed away from its position that a temporary truce must be the start of a process toward ending the war altogether, according to Egyptian sources and a Hamas official.

Agence France-Presse reported Sunday morning that a senior Hamas official had said a cease-fire might be possible within 24 to 48 hours if Israel accepts Hamas damands.

"If Israel agrees to Hamas demands, which include the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and increasing humanitarian aid, that would pave the way for a [truce] agreement within the next 24 to 48 hours," AFP quoted the official as saying.

Mediators have been working to lock in a truce before Ramadan, the Muslim fasting month beginning March 10 or 11, hoping for an end to the almost five-month conflict that has ravaged Hamas-ruled Gaza.

U.S. President Joe Biden has also expressed hope for a cease-fire by Ramadan but told reporters Friday, "Were not there yet."

Biden and other world leaders are under pressure to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinians. Five months of war and severely reduced aid deliveries have left an estimated one-fourth of Gazas population near famine.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas, a designated terrorist organization, attacked Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking about 240 hostages. Israel responded with an air and land assault on Gaza, killing more than 30,000, according to the local health ministry. Nearly three-quarters of Gaza's 2.3 million population is displaced.

Residents reported tanks and shelling on Sunday around Khan Younis. In Rafah, authorities said 25 people were killed in two Israeli strikes.

Harris, Gantz to meet

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Israeli war Cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House Monday, as Washington tries to secure a temporary cease-fire and an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The talks are expected to focus on Palestinian civilian casualties, securing a temporary cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza as well as increasing aid into the enclave, a White House official said.

"The vice president will express her concern over the safety of as many as 1.5 million people in Rafah," the official said, adding that Israel has a "right to defend itself in the face of continued Hamas terrorist threats."

In a statement, Gantz confirmed that he would meet with Harris, as well as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Republican and Democratic members of Congress.

Gantz, a former Israeli military chief and defense minister, is Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rival in opinion polls. According to Haaretz.com, an independent Israeli news site, a senior official close to Netanyahu reportedly said Saturday that the prime minister does not approve of Gantz's visit to Washington.

Airdropped meals over Gaza

The U.S. military airdropped food and aid over Gaza on Saturday  the first round of emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by Biden, U.S. officials said.

Palestinians posted videos on social media showing boxes of aid being dropped by U.S. military C-130 cargo planes. The first stage of the humanitarian operation saw more than 35,000 meals and aid airdropped on pallets into the enclave, where the United Nations reports one-quarter of the population is just one step from famine.

The White House has said the airdrops will be a sustained effort and that Israel is supportive of the operation.

The militaries of Jordan and Egypt said they also have conducted airdrops.

Biden gave the go-ahead for the humanitarian operation, the first of many, after at least 115 Palestinians were killed while swarming to get supplies from the aid convoys being delivered Thursday. Hundreds more were injured during the mayhem, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Biden gave the go-ahead for the humanitarian operation, the first of many, after at least 115 Palestinians were killed while swarming to get supplies from the aid convoys being delivered Thursday. Hundreds more were injured during the mayhem, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

Gaza health authorities said 118 people were killed in Thursday's incident, attributing the deaths to Israeli fire and calling it a massacre. Israel disputed those figures, saying most victims were trampled or run over during the chaotic aid delivery. An Israeli official also said troops had "in a limited response" later fired on crowds they felt had posed a threat.

The Israel Defense Forces said Sunday it had concluded an initial review of the incident "where Gazan civilians were trampled to death and injured as they charged to the aid convoy."

IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a statement carried on X, formerly known as Twitter, that Israel had been involved in facilitating the aid convoy, but said the majority of Palestinians

"were killed or injured as a result of the stampede," although he said that after looters approached Israeli forces, "the soldiers responded toward several individuals."

He also said the IDF has launched a further examination, to be handled by an "independent, professional and expert body."

The latest violence pushed the Palestinian death toll in the nearly five-month war to more than 30,000, with another 71,000 injured and many more missing under the rubble, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Some information was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
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Germany admits to leaked details of a military meeting outlining future munitions and battle plans for Ukraine. Russia calls Germany its age-old rival that is again its sworn enemy. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has the story.
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For students with a disability, career options can appear limited. But in Ghana, one journalist is using photojournalism to encourage students at a deaf school to broaden their horizons. For VOA, Senanu Tord reports from Savelugu, Ghana.
Iranian womens rights activist Fariba Balouch will be among 13 recipients being honored in Washington Monday at the annual International Women of Courage (IWOC) Awards ceremony at the White House.

On Friday, the State Department announced that Balouch was one of those being recognized at the ceremony hosted by first lady Jill Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

In its 18th year, the Secretary of State's IWOC Award recognizes women from around the globe who have demonstrated exceptional courage, strength, and leadership in advocating for peace, justice, human rights, gender equity and equality, and the empowerment of women and girls.

Fariba Balouch is an Iranian human rights activist residing in London.

The State Department press release recognizing her said, She is from Iran's Sistan and Baluchistan Province and a member of Iran's marginalized Baluchi ethnic group. She is outspoken about women's rights and the human rights crisis in Sistan and Baluchistan, which has been disproportionately affected by regime violence, executions, and systemic discrimination.

As a result of her activism and in an effort to intimidate her, Iranian authorities have threated her life and detained her son and brother in Iran. Yet, Ms. Balouch believes the only way forward is resistance, and she persists in her activism. Ms. Balouch continues to advocate for Iranian women's rights and to draw attention to the Iranian regime's gender-, ethnicity-, and sect-based discrimination, the State Department said.

The documentary film "In This Cage," created by Hojjat Tavakoli, a journalist from the Persian service of VOA, chronicles the life of Fariba Balouch. It offers insight into her challenging journey and illuminates the collective struggles of the inhabitants, particularly women, in Sistan and Baluchistan.

Benafsha Yaqoobi from Afghanistan, Rina Gonoi from Japan, Martha Beatriz Roque Cabello from Cuba, and Fawzia Karim Firoze from Bangladesh are also recipients of the 2024 International Women of Courage Award.

Since March 2007, the Department of State has recognized more than 190 women from 90 countries with the IWOC Award.

During the 2023 International Women of Courage Award ceremony held on March 8, 2023, the Madeleine Albright Honorary Group Award was bestowed upon the Women and Girl Protestors of Iran.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and China's special representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, said it is impossible to discuss a Ukraine settlement without Moscow's participation, the Russian foreign ministry said Sunday.

The Chinese envoy met with Galuzin during his second trip to Europe promoting a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, a tour that will also include Poland, Ukraine and Germany.

"A very engaged and thorough exchange of views took place on the topic of the Ukrainian crisis," the Russian foreign ministry said in the statement posted on its website.

"It was stated that any discussion of a political and diplomatic settlement is impossible without the participation of Russia and taking into account its interests in the security sphere."

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, calling it a "special military operation" to "denazify" its neighbor.

Kyiv and its Western allies call the war, which two years later continues to kill civilians nearly on daily basis, an unprovoked land grab.
Thailand has in the last week helped facilitate the transfer of some 900 Chinese nationals who had been trapped in scam centers in a Myanmar border town back to China, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Sunday.

Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, has become a hub for telecom and other online fraud, according to the United Nations, with hundreds of thousands of people trafficked by criminal gangs and forced to work in scam centers and other illegal operations.

The operation, which Thai police say started last Thursday and was completed on Saturday, involved transporting the Chinese nationals from Myanmar's bonder town of Myawaddy to an airport in the Thai border district of Mae Sot, where they were transferred to Chinese planes.

"This was a joint voluntary operation between three countries, China, Myanmar and Thailand," Prime Minister Srettha said.

"The process was done voluntarily, based on humanitarian principles, it was not forced," Srettha said, adding that Thailand had facilitated the transfer to the flights at Mae Sot.

Thai deputy police chief Surachae Hakparn said the operation involved 15 flights over three days to return Chinese scam victims to China.

The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Myanmar's military spokesperson also did not respond to a call seeking comment.

Last November Myanmar authorities handed over 31,000 telecom fraud suspects to China in a joint crackdown against online scams in Myanmar.

China and Myanmar also helped facilitate the transfer back to Thailand of more than 200 Thais, both victims and those involved with telecom fraud gangs, who were trapped in fighting between Myanmar military and armed ethnic-minority groups in Laukkaing in Myanmar's northern Shan state.
London Stock Exchange Group plc (LON:LSEG) came out with its full-year results last week, and we wanted to see how the business is performing and what industry forecasters think of the company following this report. Statutory earnings per share fell badly short of expectations, coming in at UK1.38, some 54% below analyst forecasts, although revenues were okay, approximately in line with analyst estimates at UK8.4b. Earnings are an important time for investors, as they can track a company's performance, look at what the analysts are forecasting for next year, and see if there's been a change in sentiment towards the company. We've gathered the most recent statutory forecasts to see whether the analysts have changed their earnings models, following these results.

Check out our latest analysis for London Stock Exchange Group

Following the latest results, London Stock Exchange Group's 14 analysts are now forecasting revenues of UK8.71b in 2024. This would be a credible 3.9% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to surge 63% to UK2.30. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of UK8.69b and earnings per share (EPS) of UK3.56 in 2024. So there's definitely been a decline in sentiment after the latest results, noting the pretty serious reduction to new EPS forecasts.

The consensus price target held steady at UK102, with the analysts seemingly voting that their lower forecast earnings are not expected to lead to a lower stock price in the foreseeable future. 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. Currently, the most bullish analyst values London Stock Exchange Group at UK115 per share, while the most bearish prices it at UK81.00. This shows there is still a bit of diversity in estimates, but analysts don't appear to be totally split on the stock as though it might be a success or failure situation.

Story continues

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that London Stock Exchange Group's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues to the end of 2024 expected to display 3.9% growth on an annualised basis. This is compared to a historical growth rate of 34% over the past five years. Juxtapose this against the other companies in the industry with analyst coverage, which are forecast to grow their revenues (in aggregate) 2.7% per year. Even after the forecast slowdown in growth, it seems obvious that London Stock Exchange Group is also expected to grow faster than the wider industry.

The Bottom Line

The biggest concern is that the analysts reduced their earnings per share estimates, suggesting business headwinds could lay ahead for London Stock Exchange Group. Happily, there were no major changes to revenue forecasts, with the business still expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have forecasts for London Stock Exchange Group going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Before you take the next step you should know about the 1 warning sign for London Stock Exchange Group that we have uncovered.

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 march by thousands of Israelis demanding the release of hostages held in Gaza reached Jerusalem on Saturday as negotiators prepared to resume cease-fire negotiations in Cairo that would include a swap deal with Hamas.

A column of protesters, led by families of hostages seized by Palestinian militants during Hamas' deadly rampage through southern Israel on October 7, walked up the winding highway to Jerusalem, arriving at the city at sundown.

Holding up Israeli flags, yellow balloons and posters of the hostages, they concluded a four-day march that began at one of sites hit by the October terror attack and were expected to be joined by more protesters at a rally outside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's residence.

"We're here marching in support of the families of those who are kidnapped, wishing that they will be released soon and that they will be safe. We're praying for them in every step that we take," said Danny Cuperman, one of the marchers.

Gaza truce talks are expected to resume in the Egyptian capital Sunday. U.S. President Joe Biden has said he hopes a cease-fire will be in place by the time of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which starts on March 10.

Dozens of hostages could be freed if a deal is reached.

"This is the only humane thing that can happen," said Yair Mozes, whose 79-year-old father Gadi was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz. "They must be (coming) home. That's it."

The United States, Egypt and Qatar have been mediating truce negotiations since January. The last deal led to a weeklong pause in fighting in November, during which Hamas released more than 100 hostages, mostly women, teens and children, and Israel freed about three times as many Palestinian female and teen prisoners.

Almost five months into the war in Gaza, 134 hostages are still being held incommunicado in the coastal enclave, according to Israeli authorities. Among them are soldiers and civilians, men and women, a child and his baby brother.

Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in southern Israel and abducted 253 in their October 7 attack, Israel said. Israel responded with a military assault on Gaza that has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians there, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave.

Israelis have been protesting nearly every week under different banners, though in numbers far smaller than the mass demonstrations that gripped the country in 2023. Some demand the government quit over the October 7 security failure while others focus on the release of hostages and aid to Gaza.
As Mexico prepares for the largest elections in its history, organized crime is once again preying on local candidates across swaths of the country where cartels dominate, raising concerns among experts that these could be Mexico's bloodiest elections ever.

Julian Lopez, coordinator for the Citizen Movement party in the southern state of Guerrero, experienced it firsthand when rifle-toting gunmen abducted him and two colleagues while they were driving on February 7. The 43-year-old Lopez was beaten, stripped of his possessions, made to kneel near a remote garbage dump and ultimately abandoned in the middle of the night.

Two mayoral hopefuls in the town of Maravatio in neighboring Michoacan state were not so fortunate. They were killed by gunmen within hours of each other Monday. One was from the governing Morena party of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, the other from the conservative National Action Party. A third mayoral hopeful from that town was abducted and found dead in November.

On February 10, a man running for Congress for the Morena party in the sprawling Mexico City suburb of Ecatepec was fatally shot in the street alongside his brother. He had allegedly received threats from a local union.

A month earlier, on January 5, the local leader of the Institutional Revolutionary Party and candidate for mayor of Suchiate, Chiapas, was killed. The same day, in the northwestern state of Colima, a mayoral candidate of the Citizen Movement party in Armeria was shot by gunmen while in his vehicle.

Lopez, the candidate in Guerrero, has refused to travel in armored vehicles with armed security since his abduction.

"How will it look to see a leader moving around the state of Guerrero with armed officials and in armored cars?" he asked. "I don't think that's the way to get closer to the people or promote citizen participation."

Thousands of local candidates find themselves in a similar quandary ahead of the June 2 elections, which will occur in all 32 jurisdictions, with more than 20,000 positions up for grabs, making it Mexico's largest election, according to the National Electoral Institute.

While federal authorities offer security details to national candidates, those running for local offices  the ones that drug cartels really want to control  are completely exposed and acutely aware of the optics of running from within a security bubble.

The group Data Civica had tallied 30 attacks on political hopefuls and party officials from September  when most started pre-campaign activities  through February 10. Its spokesperson, Itxaro Arteta, said they were "worried" after recording eight attacks on pre-candidates in January, more than double what they had seen before in that month since 2018.

Political scientist Manuel Perez Aguirre coordinates the College of Mexico's Violence and Peace Seminar's research into electoral violence. Their investigation around the killings of 32 local candidates in the 2021 elections found that the lethal electoral violence is "predominantly local, because 85% of the victims were running for municipal posts."

"Local power is extremely important to organized crime," Perez Aguirre said. "That's why they look to establish control at the municipal level."

Those local candidates have become more vulnerable under the security regime of the current president. Lopez Obrador created the quasi-military National Guard, disbanded the federal police and what remains of local police forces can put up little resistance to heavily armed cartels.

"Local power has really been abandoned and municipal police haven't really been strengthened," Perez Aguirre said.

Lopez Obrador was dismissive of the concerns of growing electoral violence earlier this week following the killings in Maravatio. "The same tendency of declining crimes is going to continue, above all homicides," he said.

He said the federal government would protect candidates for president, governor and Congress, and he asked state and local governments to provide security for those running for local posts.

Guillermo Valencia, president of the Institutional Revolutionary Party in Michoacan said Saturday, "Four candidates have already resigned on me and I'm struggling to find candidates in other [races]," he said. The party's candidate for Congress in the port of Lazaro Cardenas already asked for protection, he said.

In Maravatio where the three potential candidates from other parties were already killed, Valencia said he's trying to pact with two other opposition parties to present a common candidate.

"In Michoacan and Mexico democracy is threatened," he said.

Political risk firm Integralia Consultores published a report in February noting that some parts of the country faced higher risk of organized crime interfering in elections because of an accumulation of illegal markets, conflict among armed groups and weak rule of law.

Cartels have diversified beyond the drug trade. They extort protection payments from all sizes of businesses and even local government. They exert their will not only through political assassinations but also by financing the campaigns of candidates who will allow them to operate or even putting up their own candidates, according to Integralia's report.

Marko Cortes, national president of the National Action Party, demanded more federal security for those participating in the elections as he condemned the killing of his party's candidate in Maravatio this week.

"It can't be that they're killing candidates from different parties," he said. "No one is protecting them, there are no risk maps, there are no protocols or security mechanisms and the indifference of those governing now continues."

Because of the violence, at least two candidates from his party have dropped out of the June election race. He declined to say where out of concern for their safety.

But Lopez, who survived his abduction, refused to back down.

"We absolutely cannot surrender, we can't give up," he said. "Those of us who believe things can get better have to continue working."
Vice President Kamala Harris told thousands gathered for the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday attacks on civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama, that fundamental freedoms, including the right to vote, are under attack in America even today.

Harris joined those gathered at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where voting rights activists were beaten back by law enforcement officers in 1965. The vice president praised the marchers' bravery for engaging in a defining moment of the civil rights struggle.

"Today, we know our fight for freedom is not over, because in this moment we are witnessing a full on attack on hard-fought, hard-won freedoms, starting with the freedom that unlocks all others, the freedom to vote," Harris said.

She criticized attempts to restrict voting, including limits on absentee voting and early voting, and said the nation is again at a crossroad.

"What kind of country do we want to live in? Do we want to live in a country of freedom, liberty and justice? Or a country of injustice, hate and fear?" Harris asked, encouraging people to answer with their vote.

She paid tribute to the civil rights marchers who walked across the bridge in 1965 knowing they would face certain violence in seeking "a future that was more equal, more just and more free."

Decisions by the Supreme Court and lower courts since 2006 have weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was passed in the wake of the police attacks in Selma. The demonstrators were beaten by officers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, as they tried to march across Alabama to support voting rights.

Harris drew parallels between those who worked to stifle the Civil Rights Movement and "extremists" she said are trying to enact restrictions on voting, education and reproductive care.

She said other fundamental freedoms under attack include "the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body," a reference to state abortion bans. She also stressed the Biden administration's support for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza to "get the hostages out and a significant amount of aid in."

Under a blazing blue sky, Harris then led the crowd across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the march that concludes the annual commemoration. Thousands followed, sometimes singing hymns and anthems of the Civil Rights Movement including, "Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me 'Round."

Earlier Sunday, Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke at a Selma church service marking the anniversary of the attack by Alabama law officers on civil rights demonstrators. He said recent court decisions and certain state legislation have endangered voting rights in much of the nation.

"Since those (court) decisions, there has been a dramatic increase in legislative measures that make it harder for millions of eligible voters to vote and to elect representatives of their choice," Garland told worshippers at Selma's Tabernacle Baptist Church, the site of one of the first mass meetings of the voting rights movement.

"Those measures include practices and procedures that make voting more difficult; redistricting maps that disadvantage minorities; and changes in voting administration that diminish the authority of locally elected or nonpartisan election administrators," he said. "Such measures threaten the foundation of our system of government."

The march and Garland's speech were among dozens of events during the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which began Thursday and culminated Sunday.

The commemoration is a frequent stop for Democratic politicians paying homage to the voting rights movement. Some in the crowd gathered to see Harris speak about the upcoming November election and what appears to be a looming rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Khadidah Stone, 27, part of a crowd gathered at the bridge Sunday in light rain before the march, said she sees the work of today's activists as an extension of those who were attacked in Selma in 1965. Stone works for the voter engagement group Alabama Forward and was a plaintiff in the Voting Rights case against the state that led to creating a second Alabama congressional district with a substantial number of Black voters. Voters will cast their first ballots in that district on Tuesday.

"We have to continue to fight, because they (voting rights) are under attack," Stone said.

Nita Hill wore a hat saying "Good Trouble," a phrase associated with the late Rep. John Lewis, who was beaten on the bridge during Bloody Sunday. Hill, 70, said it is important for Biden supporters to vote in November.

"I believe Trump is trying to take us back," said Hill, a retired university payroll specialist.

Decades ago, images of the violence that at the bridge stunned Americans, which helped galvanize support for passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The law struck down barriers prohibiting Black people from voting.

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat of South Carolina who is leading a pilgrimage to Selma, said he is seeking to "remind people that we are celebrating an event that started this country on a better road toward a more perfect union," but the right to vote is still not guaranteed.

Clyburn sees Selma as the nexus of the 1960s movement for voting rights, at a time when there currently are efforts to scale back those rights.

"The Voting Rights Act of 1965 became a reality in August of 1965 because of what happened on March 7th of 1965," Clyburn said.

"We are at an inflection point in this country," he added. "And hopefully this year's march will allow people to take stock of where we are."
One burning issue dominates as the 2024 session of China's legislature gets underway this week: the economy.

The National People's Congress annual meeting, which opens Tuesday, is being closely watched for any signals on what the ruling Communist Party might do to reenergize an economy that is sagging under the weight of expanded government controls and the bursting of a real-estate bubble.

That is not to say that other issues won't come up. Proposals to raise the retirement age are expected to be a hot topic, the state-owned Global Times newspaper said last week. And China watchers will parse the annual defense budget and the possible introduction of a new foreign minister.

But the economy is what is on most people's minds in a country that may be at a major turning point after four decades of growth that propelled China into a position of economic and geopolitical power. For many Chinese, the failure of the post-COVID economy to rally strongly last year is shaking a long-held confidence in the future.

A ceremonial role

The National People's Congress is largely ceremonial in that it doesn't have any real power to decide on legislation. The deputies do vote, but it's become a unanimous or near-unanimous formalizing of decisions that have been made by Communist Party leaders behind closed doors.

The congress can be a forum to propose and discuss ideas. The nearly 3,000 deputies are chosen to represent various groups, from government officials and party members to farmers and migrant workers. But Alfred Wu, an expert on governance in China, believes that role has been eroded by the centralization of power under Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

Everyone knows the signal is the top, said Wu, an associate professor at the National University of Singapore and a former journalist in China. Once the top says something, I say something. Once the top keeps silent, I also keep silent.

Nonetheless, the reports and speeches during the congress can give indications of the future direction of government policy. And while they tend to be in line with previous announcements, major new initiatives have been revealed at the meeting, such as the 2020 decision to enact a national security law for Hong Kong following major anti-government protests in 2019.

A target for growth

The first thing the legislature will do Tuesday is receive a lengthy work report from Premier Li Qiang that will review the past year and include the government's economic growth target for this year.

Many analysts expect something similar to last year's target of around 5%, which they say would affirm market expectations for a moderate step up in economic stimulus and measures to boost consumer and investor confidence.

Many current forecasts for China's GDP growth are below 5%, but setting a lower target would signal less support for the economy and could dampen confidence, said Jeremy Zook, the China lead analyst at Fitch Ratings, which is forecasting 4.6% growth this year.

Conversely, a higher target of about 5.5% would indicate more aggressive stimulus, said Neil Thomas, a Chinese politics fellow at the Asia Society Policy Institute.

There will be positive messages for private companies and foreign investors, Thomas said, but he doesn't expect a fundamental change to Xi's overall strategy of strengthening the party's control over the economy.

Political signals ahead of the National People's Congress suggest that Xi is relatively unperturbed by Chinas recent market troubles and is sticking to his guns on economic policy," he said.

A new foreign minister, maybe

China's government ministers typically hold their posts for five years, but Qin Gang was dismissed as foreign minister last year after only a few months on the job. To this day, the government has not said what happened to him and why.

His predecessor, Wang Yi, has been brought back as foreign minister while simultaneously holding the more senior position of the Communist Party's top official on foreign affairs.

The presumption has been that Wang's appointment was temporary until a permanent replacement could be named. Analysts say that could happen during the National People's Congress, but there's no guarantee it will.

Wang Yi enjoys Xis trust and currently dominates diplomatic policymaking below the Xi level, so it would not be a shock if Wang remained foreign minister for a while longer, Thomas said.

The person who has gotten the most attention as a possible successor is Liu Jianchao, a Communist Party official who is a former Foreign Ministry spokesperson and ambassador to the Philippines and Indonesia. He has made several overseas trips in recent months including to Africa, Europe, Australia and the U.S., increasing speculation that he is the leading candidate.

Other names that have been floated include Ma Zhaoxu, the executive vice foreign minister. Wu said it likely depends on whom Xi and Wang trust.

I dont know how Wang Yi thinks about it, he said. If Wang Yi likes somebody like Liu Jianchao or likes somebody like Ma Zhaoxu. And also, Xi Jinping. So, it's more about personal relations.
Israel has more or less accepted a framework for a cease-fire in Gaza, including the release of hostages, a senior Biden administration official said Saturday.

"Right now, the ball is in the court of Hamas, and we are continuing to push this as hard as we possibly can," said the official, who spoke to reporters anonymously because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the talks.

The deal, if accepted as proposed, is for a six-week cease-fire and the release of hostages considered vulnerable. It would also allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Talks are to resume in Egypt on Sunday and mediators Egypt and Qatar expect to receive a response from Hamas, the official said.

"I don't want to create expectations one way or the other," the official added, according to Reuters.

Hamas has not backed away from its position that a temporary truce must be the start of a process toward ending the war altogether, according to Egyptian sources and a Hamas official.

Mediators have been working to lock in a truce before Ramadan, the Muslim-fasting month beginning March 10 or 11, hoping for an end to the almost 5-month conflict that has ravaged Hamas-ruled Gaza.

U.S. President Joe Biden has also expressed hope for a cease-fire by Ramadan but told reporters Friday, "We're not there yet."

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with Israeli war Cabinet member Benny Gantz at the White House Monday, as Washington tries to secure a temporary cease-fire and an increase in humanitarian aid into Gaza.

The talks are expected to focus on Palestinian civilian casualties, securing a temporary cease-fire and the release of hostages held in Gaza as well as increasing aid into the enclave, a White House official said.

"The vice president will express her concern over the safety of as many as 1.5 million people in Rafah," the official said, adding that Israel has a "right to defend itself in the face of continued Hamas terrorist threats."

SEE ALSO:

In a statement, Gantz confirmed that he would meet with Harris, as well as U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan and Republican and Democratic members of U.S. Congress.

Gantz, a former Israeli military chief and defense minister, is Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's main political rival in opinion polls. According to Haaretz.com, an independent Israeli newspaper, a senior official close to Netanyahu reportedly said Saturday that the prime minister does not approve of Gantz's visit to Washington.

Biden privately has been critical of Netanyahu over Israel's "indiscriminate" bombing of Gaza, according to news reports.

Meals dropped over Gaza

The United States military airdropped food and aid over Gaza Saturday  the first round of emergency humanitarian assistance authorized by Biden, U.S. officials said.

Palestinians posted videos on social media showing boxes of aid being dropped by U.S. military C-130 cargo planes. The first stage of the humanitarian operation saw more than 35,000 meals and aid airdropped on pallets into the enclave, where the United Nations reports one-quarter of the population is just one step from famine.

The White House has said the airdrops will be a sustained effort and that Israel is supportive of the operation.

The militaries of Jordan and Egypt said they also have conducted airdrops.

Israel promises investigation

Biden gave the go-ahead for the humanitarian operation, the first of many, after at least 115 Palestinians were killed while swarming to get supplies from the aid convoys being delivered Thursday. Hundreds more were injured during the mayhem, according to the Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

The Israeli military pledged Saturday it would conduct an exhaustive investigation into the cause of those deaths as international calls for an investigation have grown.

Gaza Health authorities said 118 people were killed in Thursday's incident, attributing the deaths to Israeli fire and calling it a massacre.

Israel disputed those figures, saying most victims were trampled or run over during the chaotic aid delivery.

An Israeli official also said troops had "in a limited response" later fired on crowds they felt had posed a threat.

"It was a humanitarian operation we were running and the claim that we deliberately attacked the convoy and deliberately harmed people is completely baseless," IDF spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters in Tel Aviv adding that it was the fourth such operation in that area.

The incident also points to a collapse of orderly aid deliveries in areas of Gaza under Israeli military occupation, with no administration in place and the main United Nations agency UNRWA rendered inoperative during an inquiry into alleged links of some of its staffers with Hamas.

The latest violence pushed the Palestinian death toll in the nearly five-month war to more than 30,000, with another 71,000 injured and many more missing under the rubble, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry.

Margaret Besheer contributed to this report. Some information was provided by The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters.
By Vitalio Angula

WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA 

Reactions have been mixed on Namibias call last month for an international boycott of Israeli goods and companies in response to Israeli policies and practices in the Palestinian territories.

If implemented, such a boycott could harm Namibias economy, as Israel is a key trading partner with the nations diamond mining industry.

Diamonds are Namibias largest export earner, bringing in at least 10% of the countrys gross domestic product. Trade figures from 2022 show Namibia exported $59 million worth of goods annually to Israel, mostly diamonds. The same year, Namibia imported $3.8 million in goods from Israel, mainly diamond-polishing equipment.

A Namibian businessman involved in the diamond trade, who did not want to use his name so that he could speak candidly about the industry, questioned the efficacy of such sanctions.

You have to ... ask, [Does] that business directly support or in any way affect the support of IDF or that regime in what they are currently doing? he said, referring to the Israeli Defense Forces. I mean, where do you even start to find that type of connection.

Some analysts express concern over the impact of international sanctions against Israel on African nations.

Benji Shulman, director of public policy at the South African Zionist Federation, a pro-Israel umbrella organization, said African nations derive many benefits from trade with Israel.

If Namibia were to follow a path [of sanctions], it would only hurt Africans who stand to benefit from Israeli innovations in water, health care, agriculture and technologies, Shulman said.

Political analyst Rakkel Andreas said Namibia could rely on other buyers for its diamonds.

I do not necessarily see Namibian diamonds not getting other buyers just because Israeli companies can no longer buy diamonds from Namibia, Andreas said.

I think there is no country that has ever supported the issue of sanctions on another country and not considered its own national interests and counted the cost, she said. If thats the cost Namibia should carry in order for Palestine to be free, for the war to end ... for the carnage to end, then so be it.

The call for sanctions came at a hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands. Namibia is among 52 countries that sought a nonbinding advisory opinion on the legal consequences of Israeli policies and practices in the Palestinian territories, including East Jerusalem.
Supporters of Job Sikhala and Nelson Chamisa clashed at the burial of Citizens Coalition for Change activist Moreblessing Ali who was killed by a Zanu PF member Pius Jamba almost two years ago. Her mutilated remains were at Chitungwiza General Hospital mortuary for more than one and half years.
Nordic American Tankers Limited (NYSE:NAT) missed earnings with its latest yearly results, disappointing overly-optimistic forecasters. Nordic American Tankers missed earnings this time around, with US$262m revenue coming in 2.9% below what the analysts had modelled. Statutory earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.47 also fell short of expectations by 10%. 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. With this in mind, we've gathered the latest statutory forecasts to see what the analysts are expecting for next year.

Check out our latest analysis for Nordic American Tankers

Following the latest results, Nordic American Tankers' four analysts are now forecasting revenues of US$284.9m in 2024. This would be a decent 8.7% improvement in revenue compared to the last 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to swell 16% to US$0.55. Before this earnings report, the analysts had been forecasting revenues of US$297.9m and earnings per share (EPS) of US$0.65 in 2024. From this we can that sentiment has definitely become more bearish after the latest results, leading to lower revenue forecasts and a real cut to earnings per share estimates.

The analysts made no major changes to their price target of US$5.40, suggesting the downgrades are not expected to have a long-term impact on Nordic American Tankers' valuation. The consensus price target is just an average of individual analyst targets, so - it could be handy to see how wide the range of underlying estimates is. There are some variant perceptions on Nordic American Tankers, with the most bullish analyst valuing it at US$6.00 and the most bearish at US$4.50 per share. Still, with such a tight range of estimates, it suggeststhe analysts have a pretty good idea of what they think the company is worth.

Another way we can view these estimates is in the context of the bigger picture, such as how the forecasts stack up against past performance, and whether forecasts are more or less bullish relative to other companies in the industry. The analysts are definitely expecting Nordic American Tankers' growth to accelerate, with the forecast 8.7% annualised growth to the end of 2024 ranking favourably alongside historical growth of 0.4% per annum over the past five years. Compare this with other companies in the same industry, which are forecast to grow their revenue 1.8% annually. Factoring in the forecast acceleration in revenue, it's pretty clear that Nordic American Tankers is expected to grow much faster than its industry.

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The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. They also downgraded Nordic American Tankers' revenue estimates, but industry data suggests that it is expected to grow faster than the wider industry. There was no real change to the consensus price target, suggesting that the intrinsic value of the business has not undergone any major changes with the latest estimates.

With that said, the long-term trajectory of the company's earnings is a lot more important than next year. We have forecasts for Nordic American Tankers going out to 2026, and you can see them free on our platform here.

Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for Nordic American Tankers 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.
When King Charles III visited France in September, a lavish dinner in his honour at the Palace of Versailles featured Champagne Pol Rogers Sir Winston Churchill cuvee.

The choice was a boost to the 175-year-old family-owned vineyard, one of nine champagne makers that enjoy special status as official suppliers to the UK royal household. Their royal warrants allow them to display the coats of arms on bottles and By appointment to... as well as reap the financial benefits that can come from the endorsement.

French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Britains King Charles III toast during a state dinner in the Hall of Mirrors at the Chateau de Versailles in Versailles last year. Credit: Reuters

While some producers have held their warrants for more than a century  Queen Victoria first awarded one to Champagne Bollinger in 1884 and to Champagne Lanson in 1900  all of them could lose the highly coveted designation. By September 8, the second anniversary of Queen Elizabeth IIs death, King Charles is due to communicate which of the 800 or so current holders across all sectors will have their status renewed.

While the 75-year-old monarch has cancelled his public engagements as he receives treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, hell continue state business and official paperwork, Buckingham Palace said on February 5. A representative of the Royal Warrant Holders Association, which acts as an intermediary between the purveyors and the royal household, confirmed the review process is ongoing but declined to give any details.
Its been heralded as supermodel Elle Macphersons return to the runway after 16 years, but the fashion industry has never been good with dates.

When Macpherson, who turns 60 at the end of the month, walks on Monday night for the first major show of the Melbourne Fashion Festival (MFF), it will be nearly 14 years since her runway appearance for Louis Vuitton in Paris.

Elle Macpherson is returning to the runway for the Melbourne Fashion Festival.

Blurring the timeline further is a runway appearance in Sydney 13 years ago, where Macpherson dressed as a sexy pilot to launch Virgin flight crew uniforms as a favour to entrepreneur Richard Branson.

Even Macpherson, who has a good head for numbers  having turned being The Body into big business through a series of calendars, underwear collections and her ingestible beauty brand WelleCo  is confused.
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim says he would be happy to re-open the investigation into the disappearance of flight MH370 if compelling new evidence emerges, while stopping short of backing an immediate resumption of the probe.

Ahead of the 10-year anniversary of the flights disappearance this Friday, Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke said at a remembrance service over the weekend: As far as the Malaysian government is concerned, we are committed to justice and the search must go on.

This would be the first major search for MH370 since American company Ocean Infinity tried  and failed  to find the Malaysia Airlines plane in 2018.

A woman walks past a banner filled with signatures and well-wishes for the missing Malaysia Airlines jetliner MH370 at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in the days after the plane went missing. Credit: AP

Loke added that cost would not be an issue for the Malaysian government, buoying the hopes of relatives of the 239 people who were on board the flight.

Speaking on the sidelines of the ASEAN-Australia special summit in Melbourne, Ibrahim said that the flights disappearance had affected so many lives that anything that could be done must be done.

If there is compelling evidence that it needs to be reopened, we will certainly be happy to reopen it, he told reporters.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said world leaders deeply regret the aircraft has been unable to be located despite past searches of the area.

It will be a very difficult time for people because they are not given the certainty that would come with a successful search mission, he said.

It is a difficult time for our friends in Malaysia. We certainly acknowledge that.

Following a meeting at Government House in Melbourne, Albanese and Ibrahim announced new deals to boost bilateral co-operation on issues including cybersecurity and nuclear non-proliferation.

Malaysia is one of Australias oldest and most important friends in the region, Albanese said.

Australia stands ready to play a bigger role in Malaysias pursuit of economic opportunity, investment, development and growth.
Not long after the first surviving kangaroo rescued from the Bayindeen fire came through the door of a wildlife shelter this week, he kicked his new housemate/carer Manfred Zabinskas in the stomach.

Fortunately, the young roos paws were bandaged by then  his big clown feet burnt but likely to heal, said Zabinskas OAM. Also fortunately, he added, the kick wasnt any lower.

Alfred the roo checking on Manfred Zabinskas OAM as he cares for an older roo. Credit: Jason South

It turns out the lucky animal already had a name: Alfred. The landowner where he was found knows him. He later called in a mum and a joey too, and, you know what? The roos all know each other too, Zabinskas said. Theyre the same mob. So Alfreds settled right down, theyre sleeping cuddled together now.

On Thursday, a week after monster fires started roaring through western Victoria, the state mobilised its wildlife emergency network of volunteer rescuers and vets. Theyre now in the field, trained to work alongside fire crews, assessing animals, and rescuing those they can.
Dubai: A ship attacked by Yemens Houthi rebels has sunk in the Red Sea after days of taking on water, officials said, the first vessel to be fully destroyed as part of their campaign over Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

The sinking of the Rubymar, which carried a cargo of fertiliser and previously leaked fuel, could cause ecological damage to the Red Sea.

The Rubymar takes on water before sinking in the Red Sea. Credit: Al Joumhouria

Persistent Houthi attacks have already disrupted traffic in the crucial waterway for cargo and energy shipments moving from Asia and the Middle East to Europe. Already, many ships have turned away from the route.

The sinking could see further detours and higher insurance rates put on vessels plying the waterway  potentially driving up global inflation and affecting aid shipments to the region.
Clinique La Prairie and One&Only One Zaabeel, have launched the Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie. The first of its kind in Dubai, the hub offers pioneering treatments that combine the latest in transformative health science, cutting-edge aesthetics, and tailored wellness solutions.

Within an exclusive three-storey space, the hub is set to deliver ultra-personalised wellness journeys through a distilled version of the Swiss brands science and services focusing on three interconnected pillars: Longevity, Wellbeing, and Aesthetics.

Cristian Fumado, Vice President of One Zaabeel said: The opening of the inaugural Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie in the UAE is a testament to the brands aligned core values and the commitment to delivering the highest standards of services to discerning guests.

Together, the synergy between both iconic brands will deliver ultra-personalised wellness journeys through the Swiss brands unrivalled science and holistic approach to health and wellness for the first time in the country.

Simone Gibertoni, CEO of Clinique La Prairie, said: Were excited to be expanding our Longevity Hubs into Dubai, joining forces with the renowned One&Only One Za'abeel.

As we continue to establish cutting-edge urban centres across the world, were honoured to be partnering together to deliver progressive health and wellness programmes that focus our three interconnected pillars: Longevity, Wellbeing, and Aesthetics.

The hub comprises 29 treatment rooms for wellbeing and clinical therapies, a Movement Studio boasting state-of-the-art gym facilities, a Longevity Bar, as well as the first Longevity Index lounge in the region.

Within this exclusive three-storey space, guests can discover pioneering treatments that combine the latest in transformative health science, cutting-edge aesthetics, and tailored wellness solutions for an all-encompassing experience.

Proprietary Longevity Index

Introducing a Longevity Index lounge, inaugural to the region, the hub offers a unique diagnostic experience that is exclusive to Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie, which delivers a seamless and unparalleled assessment and personalised wellbeing journey.

It is designed to analyse several aspects of internal and external health and provides a unique expert-led profile which is paramount to the personalisation of all therapies.

The longevity solutions include cutting-edge therapies such as Neuro Wave Stimulation, an acoustic and vibrational therapy guided by technology that trains the brain to succumb to deeply calming techniques, enabling even the busiest of minds to enter a deep state of relaxation.

Adding to the offering are sought-after treatments such as Cryotherapy, the science of exposing the body to sub-zero temperatures; Far Infrared, a technology which uses long infrared rays to detoxify the body, and IV Drips, using infusions which contain a carefully selected combination of rejuvenating vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants.

Aesthetics and Detoxification

The Longevity Hub offers exclusive experiences for quick recovery from daily age-inducing life stressors that can be physically draining, impair the ability to fight infections and diminish the vitality of skin and physical appearance.

Drawing on the extensive expertise in preventive and restorative aesthetics, Longevity Hub offers a range of minimally invasive cosmetic procedures such as Mesotherapy, Hyaluronic Acid, Botox, and Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP), as well as laser treatments, combining expert knowledge and advanced technology to improve skin tone, texture, and colouration.

The beauty boosters range from Laser Photo-rejuvenation to machine-specific procedures such as Focused Ultrasound, Fat Reduction, and Micro-needling with radiofrequency.

Treatments with a strong focus on detoxification have been exclusively crafted. These include the Longevity Path to Detox, Underwater Hydro Jet Massage, Anti-Pollution Facial, Lymphatic Face Drainage, Turkish Bath, Body Atelier Signature Experience and Garshana Body Polish.

Also available are Signature Therapies such as the Energise Experience, a 150-minute journey designed to aid in recovery from fatigue and depletion, as well as the 180-minute Glow Experience, dedicated to enhancing skin and combating the effects of ageing.

Finally, the Rebalance Experience helps eliminate toxins through detoxifying and immunity-boosting treatments, each leaving guests with a newfound sense of balance.

Membership Programme

Exclusive year-round membership programmes are available with the full spectrum of benefits at Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie.

The Longevity Hub by Clinique La Prairie at One&Only One Zaabeel serves as an extension of Clinique La Prairie Montreux, Switzerland, whereby guests can stay for renowned revitalising week-long programmes, and later return to the hub in Dubai for follow-ups and to maintain year-long wellness and healthy lifestyles.
What are the early trends we should look for to identify a stock that could multiply in value over the long term? Firstly, we'll want to see a proven return on capital employed (ROCE) that is increasing, and secondly, an expanding base of capital employed. Basically this means that a company has profitable initiatives that it can continue to reinvest in, which is a trait of a compounding machine. However, after briefly looking over the numbers, we don't think EDAG Engineering Group (ETR:ED4) has the makings of a multi-bagger going forward, but let's have a look at why that may be.

What Is Return On Capital Employed (ROCE)?

For those that aren't sure what ROCE is, it measures the amount of pre-tax profits a company can generate from the capital employed in its business. The formula for this calculation on EDAG Engineering Group is:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.074 = 36m  (682m - 192m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to September 2023).

So, EDAG Engineering Group has an ROCE of 7.4%. Ultimately, that's a low return and it under-performs the Auto Components industry average of 11%.

See our latest analysis for EDAG Engineering Group

roce

In the above chart we have measured EDAG Engineering Group's prior ROCE against its prior performance, but the future is arguably more important. If you'd like, you can check out the forecasts from the analysts covering EDAG Engineering Group for free.

What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us

When we looked at the ROCE trend at EDAG Engineering Group, we didn't gain much confidence. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 7.4% from 13% five years ago. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line.

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On a related note, EDAG Engineering Group has decreased its current liabilities to 28% of total assets. So we could link some of this to the decrease in ROCE. Effectively this means their suppliers or short-term creditors are funding less of the business, which reduces some elements of risk. Some would claim this reduces the business' efficiency at generating ROCE since it is now funding more of the operations with its own money.

What We Can Learn From EDAG Engineering Group's ROCE

In summary, EDAG Engineering Group is reinvesting funds back into the business for growth but unfortunately it looks like sales haven't increased much just yet. Additionally, the stock's total return to shareholders over the last five years has been flat, which isn't too surprising. In any case, the stock doesn't have these traits of a multi-bagger discussed above, so if that's what you're looking for, we think you'd have more luck elsewhere.

Since virtually every company faces some risks, it's worth knowing what they are, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for EDAG Engineering Group (of which 2 shouldn't be ignored!) that you should know about.

While EDAG Engineering Group may not currently earn the highest returns, we've compiled a list of companies that currently earn more than 25% return on equity. Check out this free list here.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
The report in this newspaper that Councillors in Ballina have been asking about the possibility of finding extra car spaces at the back of Tesco put me in mind of the differences on this between Dublin and the west. In the west, its a priority to accommodate cars in town centres; getting them out of the city centre is the priority in the east.

The situation in the two places is different for many reasons, not least the availability of public transport.

For people in Dublin, traffic is a love/hate. Everyone complains about it. Everyone gets into their car to contribute to it. Everyone is therefore stuck in it. The traffic is a topic of conversation up here the way that the rain is in the west. Thats why the radio stations in Dublin talk about it all the time. Traffic reports on the half hour. Any accident on the M50 is a disaster for those in it and much less importantly, headline news if your plan is to get home by anything close to 7pm after work. This is why people in the west and in Dublin have such a different conception of time and distance. To go five miles in Mayo is the journey of a moment: in Dublin it can be the journey of a morning.

James Joyce famously said that it would be a good puzzle to cross Dublin without passing a pub. Nowadays, the puzzle would be to find a time when you can cross Dublin without getting stuck in traffic. For the city centre is clogged, choked, congested. Getting across the river  even on a bus  is a slow slog. Youd think therefore that any initiative to try and do something about traffic levels in the city centre of Dublin would be welcome.

Well, it turns out that this is not so. There is an old line about a prisoner loving their chains, and there is a touch of that to be seen when any effort is made to reform car usage in Dublin. As soon as anyone tries to do anything to set people free, you can hear those chains clanking as they are hugged close.

Why the noise lately? Dublin City Council is putting in place a new plan to stop traffic driving through the city centre when it is en-route to other places. The engineers behind the plan reckon that up to 60% of traffic in the core city centre area is travelling through the city centre to somewhere else, so the plan involves drivers having to take other routes  diverting them from the city centre  to get where they are going. Now in the west of Ireland, such a plan would often involve a by-pass. But Dublin being clogged as it is, by-passes are cardiac only.

You would need to know the city centre pretty well to be able to grasp the gist of the plan.

As well as restrictions on cars, there will be a lot more cycle lanes and infrastructure and many more improvements for buses and pedestrians to move around in the city. As a specific example of the effect on cars, no private cars will be permitted along Bachelors Walk and Aston Quay, two quays either side of the river at OConnell Bridge. Another is that traffic going north on Westland Row (at the back of Trinity) will now be right-turn only, instead of the left-turn which is in place now  taking traffic away and not into the city centre.

The idea is not to prevent people driving to a destination in the city, but to make them choose different routes when they are not stopping, and using the city centre purely as a carriageway. It will be done in a phased manner allowing for people to get used to the changes over time.

The plan is due to take effect from August, but when it was announced in the last few weeks, the temperature took an early rise. The objections, as well as being loud, were many. Generally, the view was that this was an attempt to stop people driving into the city centre at all. It appears that driving through a city is considered by many to be a fundamental liberty. Using that as the theme, every category of individual in every possible circumstance of life who might be inconvenienced by such a move got a good hearing  and there is more of that to come before the summer.

There were points made  and these arguments the west well knows  that commercial life in the city would be badly affected by the plans. There was some talk about Diageo being concerned that the Guinness lorries would not be able to drive down the quays. Presumably they would have to float the barrels down the Liffey and onto the canals. Oh hang on, isnt that what they used to do?

Many of the wider arguments are as well used as they are tired. No one is trying to stop anybody from driving to places they need to go to. What the plan is trying to do is stop people driving through areas in the centre of the city which have become overwhelmed by traffic levels. And yes, it is of course a goal to try and reduce traffic levels everywhere in the city, even if the promoters of the plan might not want to say it openly just now, but to do that by enhancing all the other ways of getting into the centre. And you cant do that while the city centre is as congested as it is.

Some of the debate around cars and cities has a certain snobbery to it as well. Some people who like to think they have made it dont want to take the bus, or any public transport. Its like some failure to have to do so, when in fact it is a sign of what should be normal and necessary if you live in a built up urban area. The new plan is designed to speed up bus journeys, bringing large volumes of people to places they want to go to at the right time. That is a bigger fundamental liberty than your right to get into your own metal container on your own and go wherever you like.

There is also a need to make the city centre more appealing to visit and anyone who has been around it recently will know how high a priority that should be. The commercial future of any location  in an online commercial world  is not whether you can park there, but whether you would like to spend any time there.

Changes like this are being carried out in cities all over Europe, cities which we then praise lavishly for how much better they do so many things than us. And the other thing is this  change has to come. If we rattle our chains  on housing, on metros, on roads  when we need to do new and necessary things to live better, we are going to continue to be stuck in a wider gridlock than faces a driver on the quays in Dublin today.

Im not a traffic engineer so I dont know for definite that the new plan will work. But it is obvious to anyone that the current arrangements arent working. Anyone sitting in traffic in Dublin city centre should have plenty of time to think about it.
Key Insights

AYER Holdings Berhad's estimated fair value is RM8.14 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity

With RM7.08 share price, AYER Holdings Berhad appears to be trading close to its estimated fair value

AYER Holdings Berhad's peers are currently trading at a premium of 127% on average

Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of AYER Holdings Berhad (KLSE:AYER) 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. Before you think you won't be able to understand it, just read on! It's actually much less complex than you'd imagine.

We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. If you want to learn more about discounted cash flow, the rationale behind this calculation can be read in detail in the Simply Wall St analysis model.

View our latest analysis for AYER Holdings Berhad

The Model

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, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value:

Story continues

10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate

2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (MYR, Millions) RM40.9m RM42.4m RM44.0m RM45.6m RM47.3m RM49.0m RM50.8m RM52.6m RM54.4m RM56.4m Growth Rate Estimate Source Est @ 3.94% Est @ 3.82% Est @ 3.74% Est @ 3.68% Est @ 3.64% Est @ 3.61% Est @ 3.59% Est @ 3.57% Est @ 3.56% Est @ 3.56% Present Value (MYR, Millions) Discounted @ 10% RM37.1 RM34.9 RM32.8 RM30.8 RM29.0 RM27.2 RM25.6 RM24.0 RM22.5 RM21.2

("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St)

Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = RM285m

After calculating the present value of future cash flows in the initial 10-year period, we need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all future cash flows beyond the first stage. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 3.5%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 10%.

Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033  (1 + g)  (r  g) = RM56m (1 + 3.5%)  (10% 3.5%) = RM864m

Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= RM864m ( 1 + 10%)10= RM324m

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 RM609m. In the final step we divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of RM7.1, the company appears about fair value at a 13% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out.

dcf

The Assumptions

We would point out that the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate and of course the actual cash flows. Part of investing is coming up with your own evaluation of a company's future performance, so try the calculation yourself and check your own assumptions. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at AYER 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 10%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.064. 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 AYER Holdings Berhad

Strength

Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry.

Currently debt free.

Dividends are covered by earnings and cash flows.

Weakness

Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average.

Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Real Estate market.

Opportunity

Current share price is below our estimate of fair value.

Lack of analyst coverage makes it difficult to determine AYER's earnings prospects.

Threat

No apparent threats visible for AYER.

Looking Ahead:

Valuation is only one side of the coin in terms of building your investment thesis, and 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 AYER Holdings Berhad, there are three fundamental aspects you should look at:

Risks: Case in point, we've spotted 2 warning signs for AYER Holdings Berhad you should be aware of, and 1 of them doesn't sit too well with us. 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.
BETHLEHEM, Pa.  The train derailment happened around 7:15 a.m. Saturday along the Lehigh River in Lower Saucon Township, near the 2200 block of Riverside Drive on Saturday.

"There was a diesel fuel spill into the Lehigh River from the accident and containment booms have been deployed," said Lower Saucon Police Chief Thomas Barndt.

Police said there was also a spill of polypropylene pellets. That is a type of plastic.

"There are currently no evacuations or hazardous material threat to the community," said Chief Barndt.

According to the NTSB, an eastbound train struck a stopped train on the same track.

The agency said the wreckage from the striking train spilled onto an adjacent track and then was struck by a westbound train coming in the opposite direction.

All of the involved trains are from Norfolk Southern, according to the NTSB.

"There were no reported injuries to the crews from the trains," said Chief Barndt.

In a statement, Norfolk Southern said in part:

"Our crews and contractors will remain on-scene over the coming days to cleanup, and we appreciate the public's patience while they work as quickly, thoroughly, and as safely as possible. We are always working to advance safety. We will investigate this incident to understand how it happened and prevent others like it."

Officials said first responders will remain on the ground in the days moving forward.

Northampton County emergency management had previously done train derailment training following what had occurred in East Palestine, Ohio, last year, according to the county executive.

"I want to thank all of our first responders who truly are the heroes in this scenario," said Lamont McClure, Northampton County Executive.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said his administration is continuing to monitor the situation and is communicating with local officials.

Investigators have yet to say why the trains ended up crashing into each other.
LOWER SAUCON, Pa. - Another Lower Saucon Township official is on the way out.



Township Manager Mark Hudson will leave as of March 28, township Council President Priscilla deLeon said Saturday.



She said Hudson submitted his resignation Friday and gave no reason for leaving.



"It's a loss for the township," deLeon said. "I wish him the best in his future endeavors. He's one of the good guys."



Council's meeting agenda for Wednesday includes "Accept resignation of township manager" and "Discussion and possible action on township manager search."



In January, Solicitor Mark Freed resigned after a short tenure as the township's legal adviser. He gave no reason for leaving, but Councilwoman Laura Ray said "the chaos and craziness" of recent township meetings may have played a role.



Steven N. Goudsouzian was named interim solicitor.



Township Council is split 3-2, with Democrats deLeon, Ray and Victoria Opthof-Cordaro versus Republicans Jason Banonis and Tom Carocci.



The two sides do not agree on much except perhaps the nature of meetings. Carocci has referred to the sessions as "a clown show."



Township meetings can be long and at times include personal insults. On Feb. 21, Carocci referred to deLeon as a "gavel Nazi" and as "Vladimir deLeon."



Hudson was appointed manager in 2022, succeeding Leslie Huhn.



Township Council will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, at the Lower Saucon municipal building, 3700 Old Bethlehem Pike.
SELMA, Ala. (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris told thousands gathered for the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday attacks on civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama, that fundamental freedoms, including the right to vote, are under attack in America even today.

Harris joined those gathered at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where voting rights activists were beaten back by law enforcement officers in 1965. The vice president praised the marchers' bravery for engaging in a defining moment of the civil rights struggle.

Today, we know our fight for freedom is not over, because in this moment we are witnessing a full on attack on hard-fought, hard-won freedoms, starting with the freedom that unlocks all others, the freedom to vote, Harris said.

She criticized attempts to restrict voting, including limits on absentee voting and early voting, and said the nation is again at a crossroad.

What kind of country do we want to live in? Do we want to live in a country of freedom, liberty and justice? Or a country of injustice, hate and fear? Harris asked, encouraging people to answer with their vote.

She paid tribute to the civil rights marchers who walked across the bridge in 1965 knowing they would face certain violence in seeking a future that was more equal, more just and more free.

Decisions by the Supreme Court and lower courts since 2006 have weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was passed in the wake of the police attacks in Selma. The demonstrators were beaten by officers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, as they tried to march across Alabama to support voting rights.

Harris drew parallels between those who worked to stifle the Civil Rights Movement and extremists she said are trying to enact restrictions on voting, education and reproductive care.

She said other fundamental freedoms under attack include the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body, a reference to state abortion bans. She also stressed the Biden administration's support for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza to get the hostages out and a significant amount of aid in.

Under a blazing blue sky, Harris then led the crowd across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the march that concludes the annual commemoration. Thousands followed, sometimes singing hymns and anthems of the Civil Rights Movement including, Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round."

Earlier Sunday, Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke at a Selma church service marking the anniversary of the attack by Alabama law officers on civil rights demonstrators. He said recent court decisions and certain state legislation have endangered voting rights in much of the nation.

Since those (court) decisions, there has been a dramatic increase in legislative measures that make it harder for millions of eligible voters to vote and to elect representatives of their choice, Garland told worshippers at Selmas Tabernacle Baptist Church, the site of one of the first mass meetings of the voting rights movement.

Those measures include practices and procedures that make voting more difficult; redistricting maps that disadvantage minorities; and changes in voting administration that diminish the authority of locally elected or nonpartisan election administrators, he said. Such measures threaten the foundation of our system of government.

The march and Garlands speech were among dozens of events during the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which began Thursday and culminated Sunday.

The commemoration is a frequent stop for Democratic politicians paying homage to the voting rights movement. Some in the crowd gathered to see Harris speak about the upcoming November election and what appears to be a looming rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Khadidah Stone, 27, part of a crowd gathered at the bridge Sunday in light rain before the march, said she sees the work of today's activists as an extension of those who were attacked in Selma in 1965. Stone works for the voter engagement group Alabama Forward, and was a plaintiff in the Voting Rights case against the state that led to creating a second Alabama congressional district with a substantial number of Black voters. Voters will cast their first ballots in that district on Tuesday.

We have to continue to fight, because they (voting rights) are under attack, Stone said.

Nita Hill wore a hat saying "Good Trouble, a phrase associated with the late Rep. John Lewis, who was beaten on the bridge during Bloody Sunday. Hill, 70, said it is important for Biden supporters to vote in November.

I believe Trump is trying to take us back, said Hill, a retired university payroll specialist.

Decades ago, images of the violence that at the bridge stunned Americans, which helped galvanize support for passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The law struck down barriers prohibiting Black people from voting.

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat of South Carolina who is leading a pilgrimage to Selma, said he is seeking to remind people that we are celebrating an event that started this country on a better road toward a more perfect union, but the right to vote is still not guaranteed.

Clyburn sees Selma as the nexus of the 1960s movement for voting rights, at a time when there currently are efforts to scale back those rights.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 became a reality in August of 1965 because of what happened on March 7th of 1965, Clyburn said.

We are at an inflection point in this country, he added. And hopefully this years march will allow people to take stock of where we are.

Associated Press reporters Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Stephen Groves in Washington, D.C.; and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON (AP)  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley said Sunday she no longer feels bound by a pledge that required all GOP contenders to support the party's eventual nominee in order to participate in the primary debates.

The Republican National Committee had made the pledge a prerequisite for all candidates, and nearly every major contender signed, except for Donald Trump, the current front-runner, who skipped the debates.

When Haley, Trump's lone remaining major challenger for the nomination, was asked on NBC's Meet the Press whether she was compelled to honor that commitment, she said, No. I think I'll make what decision I want to make.

She said the "the RNC is now not the same RNC as it was at the time of the debates. She also maintained that she has always said she had serious concerns about Trump, for whom she served as U.N. ambassador.

The RNC is in the midst of major changes, with the chair, Ronna McDaniel, set to leave the job on Friday. She was Trumps hand-picked choice to lead the RNC shortly after the 2016 election, but Trump now is poised to install loyalists atop the organization. He has announced his preference for North Carolina GOP Chair Michael Whatley, a little-known veteran operative, to replace McDaniel. Trump also has picked his daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, to serve as committee co-chair.

Haley dismissed questions about whether she would drop out and eventually endorse Trump.

Right now, my focus is, How do we touch as many voters? How do we win? she said. I want the American people to see that you dont have to live this way. There is a path forward. And we can do it with someone who can put in eight years, that can constantly focus on results and not the negativity and the baggage that we have right now.

Trump on Saturday continued his march toward the nomination, winning caucuses in Idaho and Missouri and sweeping the delegate haul at a party convention in Michigan.

Trump's count is now 244, compared with 24 for Haley. A candidate needs to secure 1,215 delegates to clinch the nomination.

The next event on the Republican calendar was Sunday in the District of Columbia. Two days later is Super Tuesday, when 16 states will hold primaries on what will be the largest day of voting of the year outside of the November election. Trump is on track to lock up the nomination days later.

I've always said this needs to be competitive. As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, Im going to continue to fight," Haley said.
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP)  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuked a top Cabinet minister arriving in Washington on Sunday for talks with U.S. officials, according to an Israeli official, signaling widening cracks within the countrys leadership nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahus wartime Cabinet following Hamas Oct. 7 attack, comes as friction between the U.S. and Netanyahu is rising over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and what the postwar plan for the enclave should look like.

An official from Netanyahus far-right Likud party said Gantzs trip was planned without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz and told him the country has just one prime minister.

Gantz is scheduled to meet on Monday with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on Tuesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to his National Unity Party. A second Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity said Gantz's visit is intended to strengthen ties with the U.S., bolster support for Israels war and push for the release of Israeli hostages.

In Egypt, talks were underway to broker a cease-fire before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins next week.

Israel did not send a delegation because it is waiting for answers from Hamas on two questions, according to a third Israeli government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israeli media reported that the government is waiting to learn which hostages are alive and how many Palestinian prisoners Hamas seeks in exchange for each.

All three Israeli officials spoke anonymously because they werent authorized to discuss the disputes with the media.

The U.S. began airdrops of aid into Gaza on Saturday, after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from an Israel-organized convoy were killed last week. The airdrops circumvented an aid delivery system hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues and fighting in Gaza. Aid officials say airdrops are far less effective than deliveries by truck.

U.S. priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahus Cabinet, which is dominated by ultranationalists. Gantzs more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight.

Netanyahu's popularity has dropped since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls. Many Israelis hold him responsible for failing to stop the Oct. 7 cross-border raid by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took roughly 250 people as hostages into Gaza, including women, children and older adults, according to Israeli authorities.

More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Around 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and U.N. agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Israelis critical of Netanyahu say his decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu wants Israel to maintain open-ended security control over Gaza, with Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The U.S. wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantz's party has questioned the handling of the war and the strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahu's government, Israel's most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews. Many of them are exempted from military service so they can pursue religious studies. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7, and the military is looking to fill its ranks.

Gantz has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood. Polls show he would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today.

A visit to the U.S., if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantzs support.

Israel and Hamas are negotiating over a possible new cease-fire and hostage release deal. Vice President Harris said on Sunday it is now up to Hamas to agree to it. Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table, Harris said.

Israelis, deeply traumatized by Hamas attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defense, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last year's demonstrations against the government's judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

At least 12 people were killed, including five women and two children, in an Israeli strike on Sunday that hit a house in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, according to an Associated Press journalist at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah. And two Israeli strikes southwest of Deir al-Balah killed at least five people and destroyed an aid truck, according to witnesses and staff at the hospital.

Amid concerns about the wider regional conflict, White House senior adviser Amos Hochstein was going to Lebanon on Monday to meet officials, according to an administration official who was not authorized to comment. White House officials want Lebanese and Israeli officials to prevent tensions along their border from worsening.

Shurafa reported from Rafah, Gaza Strip and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writers Melanie Lidman in Jerusalem, and Aamer Madhani and Seung Min Kim in Washington, contributed to this report.

Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
ISLAMABAD (AP)  Lawmakers in Pakistans National Assembly have elected Shehbaz Sharif for a comeback term as prime minister, as parliamentary allies of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan shouted in protest, alleging rigging in last months election.

Sharif, who held the same office from April 2022 to August 2023, is the younger brother of three-time premier Nawaz Sharif.

Khan is currently serving prison terms in multiple cases and has been barred from seeking or holding office. Shehbaz Sharif replaced him as prime minister after his ouster in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council, who got 92 votes. The winner only needs 169 votes for a majority.

Ayub was backed by Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, whose candidates could not get enough seats to form a government on their own. The PTI refused to hold talks with its rivals to form a coalition.

Following days of negotiations, Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League party and his supporters formed an alliance after the Feb. 8 election, which was overshadowed by militant violence, a nationwide mobile phone shutdown, Khan's exclusion from the vote, and an unusual delay in announcing the result.

Authorities said cutting communications was necessary to avoid attacks on candidates and security forces.

However, the delay drew criticism from Khans party, which insists the vote was rigged to stop it from getting a majority. The party claims it has evidence that its victory was stolen during the vote count, a charge the Election Commission denies.

In his acceptance speech in parliament Sunday, Sharif said: "We were subjected to political victimization in the past but never took any revenge. Without naming Khan, he said the previous ruler jailed many political rivals, including himself and his ally Asif Ali Zardari.

He also accused Khans supporters of attacking military installations while protesting his ouster in 2022, adding that now parliament and the courts would decide whether those involved in the attacks deserved a pardon.

Holding portraits of Khan, some lawmakers stood in front of Sharif when he began his speech, shouting vote thief and shame. Sharif denounced their actions, saying they were causing chaos in parliament. He also said they should present their evidence of vote rigging to the relevant authorities.

Sharif then addressed the opposition, saying, I am offering you reconciliation. Let us sit together to work for the betterment of Pakistan. But he was greeted with more protests and shouts.

The premier also spoke of repairing ties with the United States. Relations between the two countries came under strain after Khan accused the U.S., Sharif and the Pakistani military of conspiring to keep him out of office, following his ouster.

Sharif also said his biggest challenge was the economic situation as Pakistan has been relying on foreign loans to run the economy. His government faces multiple issues, including how to respond to a surge in militant attacks, improve relations with the neighboring, Taliban-run Afghanistan, repair crumbling infrastructure, and resolve year-round power outages. It must also maintain political stability as Khans party has vowed to continue protests against the alleged vote-rigging.

After losing to Sharif, Ayub addressed the parliament, commending my leader Khan for his bravery while facing the cases against him. He denounced the arrest of thousands of Khan's supporters last year.

Ayub repeated the allegations of vote rigging and demanded a probe into last months poll. He said PTI votes were tampered with and votes were stolen to stop Khan's party from forming a government.

He said Sharif can rule the country but he cannot win hearts and minds because he came to power through a rigged vote.

Last week, Khan wrote a letter to the International Monetary Fund, urging it to link any talks with Islamabad to an audit of February's election. Khans move, which Sharif criticized in his speech, comes days before the IMF releases a key installment of a bailout loan to Pakistan.

Pakistan has been relying on bailouts to prop up its foreign exchange reserves and avoid default, with the IMF and wealthy allies like China and Saudi Arabia financing the country to the tune of billions of dollars. During his previous term as prime minister, Sharif had to struggle for months to get a $3 billion bailout from the IMF.

Sharif has said he will seek a new IMF bailout after the end of March when the current one expires.

He is due to be sworn in on Monday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the first to congratulate Sharif on his election as Pakistans prime minister, the official Xinhua news agency reported Sunday
Alta Fox Capital Management LLC bought a new position in MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. (NYSE:MYTE  Free Report) in the third quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm bought 510,132 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,734,000. MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. comprises about 1.9% of Alta Fox Capital Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 14th largest position.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Avalon Global Asset Management LLC raised its stake in MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. by 8.5% in the 3rd quarter. Avalon Global Asset Management LLC now owns 637,000 shares of the companys stock worth $2,166,000 after acquiring an additional 50,000 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG raised its stake in MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. by 27.9% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 34,018 shares of the companys stock worth $116,000 after acquiring an additional 7,420 shares during the last quarter. Northside Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. in the 3rd quarter worth $54,000. Vontobel Holding Ltd. raised its stake in MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. by 12.0% in the 3rd quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 154,900 shares of the companys stock worth $527,000 after acquiring an additional 16,570 shares during the last quarter. Finally, XTX Topco Ltd acquired a new stake in MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. during the 2nd quarter worth about $46,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 12.23% of the companys stock.

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MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE:MYTE traded up $0.01 during trading on Friday, reaching $3.46. 46,911 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 82,227. MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. has a fifty-two week low of $2.05 and a fifty-two week high of $8.62. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.10, a current ratio of 2.02 and a quick ratio of 0.25. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $3.01 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.17.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, UBS Group cut their price target on MYT Netherlands Parent B.V. from $5.00 to $4.75 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, February 16th. Five research 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 company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $6.04.

View Our Latest Stock Report on MYTE

About MYT Netherlands Parent B.V.

(Free Report)

MYT Netherlands Parent B.V., through its subsidiary, Mytheresa Group GmbH, operates a luxury e-commerce platform for fashion consumers in Germany, the United States, rest of Europe, and internationally. It offers womenswear, menswear, kids wear, and lifestyle products. The company sells clothes, bags, shoes, accessories, and fine jewelry through online and retail stores.

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Advisors Asset Management Inc. lessened its stake in Pinnacle West Capital Co. (NYSE:PNW  Free Report) by 22.0% during the third quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 113,384 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 31,916 shares during the quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.10% of Pinnacle West Capital worth $8,354,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pacific Center for Financial Services bought a new stake in Pinnacle West Capital during the 1st quarter valued at $40,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in Pinnacle West Capital during the 3rd quarter valued at $44,000. Retirement Group LLC raised its holdings in Pinnacle West Capital by 200.0% during the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 600 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $46,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares during the period. First Command Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in Pinnacle West Capital during the 3rd quarter valued at $52,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in Pinnacle West Capital by 235.5% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 718 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 504 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.95% of the companys stock.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, EVP Robert Edgar Smith sold 1,610 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.95, for a total value of $122,279.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,178 shares in the company, valued at $697,069.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. 0.31% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Pinnacle West Capital Price Performance

Pinnacle West Capital Announces Dividend

Shares of Pinnacle West Capital stock traded down $0.28 on Friday, hitting $68.05. The companys stock had a trading volume of 3,184,521 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,684,028. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.67. Pinnacle West Capital Co. has a 1 year low of $65.20 and a 1 year high of $86.03. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $69.99 and a 200-day moving average price of $73.18. The company has a market capitalization of $7.72 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.62 and a beta of 0.48.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 1st were paid a dividend of $0.88 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, January 31st. This represents a $3.52 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.17%. Pinnacle West Capitals dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 79.82%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

PNW has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, November 21st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH initiated coverage on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. They set a neutral rating and a $69.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho lowered their price objective on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $79.00 to $77.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Guggenheim raised shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $78.00 price target for the company in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price target on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $83.00 to $80.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Pinnacle West Capital presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $73.80.

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Pinnacle West Capital Profile

(Free Report)

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities.

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Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of CRH plc (NYSE:CRH  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 1,775,478 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $97,172,000. CRH accounts for 3.7% of Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest position. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC owned about 0.25% of CRH as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Several other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of CRH. Financial Management Professionals Inc. boosted its position in CRH by 139.0% during the 3rd quarter. Financial Management Professionals Inc. now owns 545 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $30,000 after acquiring an additional 317 shares in the last quarter. KB Financial Partners LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the 1st quarter worth $30,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Allworth Financial LP boosted its position in shares of CRH by 59.3% in the 3rd quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 776 shares of the construction companys stock worth $42,000 after purchasing an additional 289 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Operose Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CRH in the 3rd quarter worth $47,000. 8.21% 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 analysts have recently weighed in on the company. Truist Financial assumed coverage on CRH in a research report on Thursday, December 14th. They issued a buy rating and a $81.00 price objective for the company. DA Davidson assumed coverage on CRH in a research report on Friday, January 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $82.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com upgraded CRH from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on CRH in a research note on Monday, November 6th. They issued a neutral rating and a $58.00 target price for the company. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $60.70.

CRH Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE CRH traded down $0.71 during trading on Friday, reaching $83.60. 4,234,616 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,809,846. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $72.37 and its 200 day simple moving average is $63.28. CRH plc has a 12-month low of $46.84 and a 12-month high of $84.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.35, a quick ratio of 0.96 and a current ratio of 1.34.

CRH Announces Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a Variable dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 17th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.262 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a dividend yield of 2%.

CRH Profile

(Free Report)

CRH plc, through its subsidiaries, manufactures and distributes building materials in Ireland and internationally. It operates through three segments: Americas Materials, Europe Materials, and Building Products. The company manufactures and supplies cement, lime, aggregates, precast, ready mixed concrete, and asphalt products; concrete masonry and hardscape products comprising pavers, kerbs, retaining walls, and related patio products; It also offers precast concrete and polymer-based products, such as underground vaults, drainage pipes and structures, utility enclosures, and modular precast structures to the water, energy, communication, transportation, and building structures markets; and construction accessories, such as engineered anchoring, fixing, and connection solutions, as well as lifting systems, formwork accessories, and other accessories used in construction applications.

Further Reading

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Ameriprise Financial Inc. decreased its position in Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT  Free Report) by 3.3% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 16,076,218 shares of the medical technology companys stock after selling 540,170 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc.s holdings in Medtronic were worth $1,259,831,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Missouri Trust & Investment Co raised its stake in Medtronic by 209.0% in the 2nd quarter. Missouri Trust & Investment Co now owns 309 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $27,000 after acquiring an additional 209 shares during the last quarter. Hartford Financial Management Inc. raised its stake in Medtronic by 425.0% in the 3rd quarter. Hartford Financial Management Inc. now owns 315 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 255 shares during the last quarter. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in Medtronic in the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Certified Advisory Corp purchased a new position in Medtronic in the 1st quarter worth $31,000. Finally, Princeton Global Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Medtronic in the 3rd quarter worth $31,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.75% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at Medtronic

In other Medtronic news, EVP Brett A. Wall sold 4,997 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.17, for a total value of $410,603.49. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 28,910 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,375,534.70. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Sean Salmon sold 30,695 shares of Medtronic stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.13, for a total transaction of $2,613,065.35. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 48,289 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,110,842.57. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Brett A. Wall sold 4,997 shares of Medtronic stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.17, for a total transaction of $410,603.49. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 28,910 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,375,534.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.30% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Medtronic Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:MDT traded up $0.24 during trading on Friday, reaching $83.60. 4,266,698 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 6,239,895. Medtronic plc has a fifty-two week low of $68.84 and a fifty-two week high of $92.02. The company has a quick ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 2.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. The firm has a market cap of $111.01 billion, a PE ratio of 26.62, a P/E/G ratio of 2.86 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $85.26 and a 200-day simple moving average of $80.36.

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The medical technology company reported $1.30 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.26 by $0.04. Medtronic had a return on equity of 13.71% and a net margin of 13.00%. The firm had revenue of $8.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.95 billion. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.30 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that Medtronic plc will post 5.2 earnings per share for the current year.

Medtronic Dividend Announcement

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 12th. Investors of record on Wednesday, December 20th were paid a $0.69 dividend. This represents a $2.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.30%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 19th. Medtronics dividend payout ratio is presently 87.90%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages have weighed in on MDT. Oppenheimer increased their price target on Medtronic from $89.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Truist Financial increased their price target on Medtronic from $87.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Mizuho increased their price target on Medtronic from $95.00 to $98.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley cut their price target on Medtronic from $104.00 to $98.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $92.00 price target on shares of Medtronic in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $94.91.

View Our Latest Stock Report on MDT

Medtronic Profile

(Free Report)

Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software.

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Armistice Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Spotify Technology S.A. (NYSE:SPOT  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 16,873 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,609,000.

A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Ieq Capital LLC grew its position in shares of Spotify Technology by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 24,540 shares of the companys stock worth $3,795,000 after buying an additional 85 shares during the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in shares of Spotify Technology by 0.3% in the 2nd quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 34,504 shares of the companys stock worth $5,540,000 after buying an additional 98 shares during the last quarter. First Manhattan Co. boosted its stake in Spotify Technology by 65.8% in the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 252 shares of the companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. lifted its stake in Spotify Technology by 5.1% during the 3rd quarter. Everhart Financial Group Inc. now owns 2,151 shares of the companys stock valued at $333,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Finally, Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC lifted its stake in Spotify Technology by 7.8% during the 3rd quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 1,457 shares of the companys stock valued at $225,000 after acquiring an additional 105 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.89% of the companys stock.

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Spotify Technology Stock Up 2.9 %

Shares of Spotify Technology stock traded up $7.34 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $263.75. 2,303,948 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 2,354,806. Spotify Technology S.A. has a 1 year low of $114.64 and a 1 year high of $263.82. The company has a market capitalization of $52.00 billion, a P/E ratio of -89.10 and a beta of 1.63. The business has a fifty day moving average of $219.06 and a two-hundred day moving average of $184.18.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Spotify Technology ( NYSE:SPOT Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported ($0.36) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.37) by $0.01. Spotify Technology had a negative net margin of 4.01% and a negative return on equity of 23.43%. The business had revenue of $3.67 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.72 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned ($1.43) earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 16.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Spotify Technology S.A. will post 3.58 EPS for the current year.

SPOT has been the subject of several research reports. TheStreet upgraded shares of Spotify Technology from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Barclays lifted their price objective on shares of Spotify Technology from $186.00 to $216.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. DZ Bank upgraded shares of Spotify Technology from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $240.00 price objective for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Spotify Technology from $185.00 to $225.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Spotify Technology from $250.00 to $270.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 7th. Six 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 currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $226.83.

View Our Latest Analysis on SPOT

Spotify Technology Company Profile

(Free Report)

Spotify Technology SA, together with its subsidiaries, provides audio streaming subscription services worldwide. It operates through two segments, Premium and Ad-Supported. The Premium segment offers unlimited online and offline streaming access to its catalog of music and podcasts without commercial breaks to its subscribers.

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AXQ Capital LP bought a new position in shares of Vistra Corp. (NYSE:VST  Free Report) during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund bought 23,300 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $773,000.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Vistra by 2.1% during the 2nd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 19,446 shares of the companys stock worth $510,000 after purchasing an additional 396 shares during the period. TD Asset Management Inc increased its position in Vistra by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. TD Asset Management Inc now owns 25,535 shares of the companys stock worth $670,000 after purchasing an additional 400 shares during the period. Advisors Asset Management Inc. increased its position in Vistra by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 11,090 shares of the companys stock worth $368,000 after purchasing an additional 405 shares during the period. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vistra by 2.3% during the 2nd quarter. Commonwealth Equity Services LLC now owns 20,391 shares of the companys stock worth $535,000 after acquiring an additional 460 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC boosted its stake in shares of Vistra by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Knights of Columbus Asset Advisors LLC now owns 188,873 shares of the companys stock worth $6,267,000 after acquiring an additional 476 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 91.31% of the companys stock.

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Vistra Price Performance

VST stock traded down $0.04 on Friday, reaching $54.50. The company had a trading volume of 7,128,396 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,878,819. Vistra Corp. has a 1 year low of $21.18 and a 1 year high of $55.98. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.34, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.22. The companys fifty day moving average is $42.44 and its 200 day moving average is $36.68. The company has a market cap of $19.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.22 and a beta of 1.02.

Vistra Increases Dividend

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 20th will be paid a $0.215 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, March 19th. This represents a $0.86 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.58%. This is a positive change from Vistras previous quarterly dividend of $0.21. Vistras dividend payout ratio is presently 23.74%.

Several equities research analysts have recently commented on VST shares. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on Vistra from $43.00 to $52.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on Vistra from $40.00 to $41.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st.

View Our Latest Report on Vistra

Vistra Company Profile

(Free Report)

Vistra Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an integrated retail electricity and power generation company. The company operates through six segments: Retail, Texas, East, West, Sunset, and Asset Closure. It retails electricity and natural gas to residential, commercial, and industrial customers across 20 states in the United States and the District of Columbia.

Further Reading

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Axxcess Wealth Management LLC boosted its position in The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS  Free Report) by 191.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 8,217 shares of the investment management companys stock after purchasing an additional 5,397 shares during the period. Axxcess Wealth Management LLCs holdings in The Goldman Sachs Group were worth $2,659,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the company. Cambridge Trust Co. boosted its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 82.0% during the 3rd quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 91 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $29,000 after acquiring an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC boosted its stake in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group by 88.0% during the 3rd quarter. Truvestments Capital LLC now owns 94 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 44 shares during the last quarter. Pacific Center for Financial Services purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 1st quarter worth $33,000. Finally, First Capital Advisors Group LLC. purchased a new position in shares of The Goldman Sachs Group during the 2nd quarter worth $34,000. 69.06% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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The Goldman Sachs Group Trading Down 0.2 %

GS stock traded down $0.95 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $388.10. 1,573,017 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,110,598. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.29, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.76. The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. has a one year low of $289.36 and a one year high of $396.79. The stock has a market capitalization of $126.35 billion, a PE ratio of 17.01, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 1.42. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $384.26 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $348.72.

The Goldman Sachs Group Dividend Announcement

The Goldman Sachs Group ( NYSE:GS Get Free Report ) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, January 16th. The investment management company reported $5.48 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.62 by $1.86. The firm had revenue of $11.32 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $10.80 billion. The Goldman Sachs Group had a return on equity of 8.03% and a net margin of 7.85%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.32 earnings per share. Equities research analysts expect that The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. will post 32.86 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 29th will be paid a dividend of $2.75 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, February 28th. This represents a $11.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.83%. The Goldman Sachs Groups dividend payout ratio is 48.20%.

Insider Transactions at The Goldman Sachs Group

In other news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total value of $5,001,372.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 29,417 shares in the company, valued at $11,602,947.31. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, CFO Denis P. Coleman sold 12,680 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $394.43, for a total value of $5,001,372.40. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 29,417 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,602,947.31. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, Treasurer Philip R. Berlinski sold 11,650 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $390.64, for a total value of $4,550,956.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the treasurer now directly owns 18,408 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,190,901.12. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders have sold 39,064 shares of company stock worth $15,082,153. Insiders own 0.54% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research analysts recently issued reports on the company. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $357.00 to $360.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 18th. UBS Group increased their price target 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. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on The Goldman Sachs Group from $398.00 to $421.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 9th. Morgan Stanley upgraded The Goldman Sachs Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and increased their target price for the stock from $333.00 to $449.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 30th. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $440.00 price target on shares of The Goldman Sachs Group in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $409.93.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on The Goldman Sachs Group

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 financing under securities to resale agreements.

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AQR Capital Management LLC reduced its holdings in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Free Report) by 16.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 243,555 shares of the medical instruments suppliers stock after selling 47,054 shares during the quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC owned 0.08% of Becton, Dickinson and Company worth $62,966,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. OFI Invest Asset Management purchased a new stake in Becton, Dickinson and Company during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Indiana Trust & Investment Management CO acquired a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 3rd quarter worth $27,000. OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A purchased a new position in Becton, Dickinson and Company in the 2nd quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, CGC Financial Services LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company during the second quarter valued at about $37,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 86.72% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays raised their price target on shares of 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. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on shares of Becton, Dickinson and Company from $310.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 4th. Raymond James boosted their price objective on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $269.00 to $275.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 3rd. Piper Sandler reduced their target price on Becton, Dickinson and Company from $305.00 to $280.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, November 10th. Finally, TheStreet downgraded Becton, Dickinson and Company from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Thursday, November 9th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $279.17.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Price Performance

Shares of BDX opened at $235.31 on Friday. Becton, Dickinson and Company has a one year low of $228.62 and a one year high of $287.32. The stocks fifty day moving average is $239.70 and its 200-day moving average is $249.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.56, a quick ratio of 0.64 and a current ratio of 1.08. The firm has a market capitalization of $67.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 55.76, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.94 and a beta of 0.42.

Becton, Dickinson and Company (NYSE:BDX  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The medical instruments supplier reported $2.68 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.39 by $0.29. Becton, Dickinson and Company had a net margin of 6.44% and a return on equity of 13.57%. The business had revenue of $4.71 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.73 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.98 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 2.6% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts anticipate that Becton, Dickinson and Company will post 12.94 EPS for the current year.

Becton, Dickinson and Company Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be paid a $0.95 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $3.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.61%. Becton, Dickinson and Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 90.05%.

About Becton, Dickinson and Company

(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 started coverage on shares of China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday. The firm issued a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock.

China Green Agriculture Price Performance

NYSE:CGA opened at $2.80 on Wednesday. The firms fifty day moving average price is $2.58 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $2.30. The company has a market cap of $38.70 million, a P/E ratio of -2.31 and a beta of 0.49. China Green Agriculture has a one year low of $1.61 and a one year high of $4.37.

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China Green Agriculture (NYSE:CGA  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 9th. The basic materials company reported ($0.40) earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $17.80 million for the quarter. China Green Agriculture had a negative return on equity of 12.68% and a negative net margin of 14.54%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On China Green Agriculture

China Green Agriculture Company Profile

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Renaissance Technologies LLC lifted its stake in China Green Agriculture by 67.8% during the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 19,051 shares of the basic materials companys stock valued at $192,000 after acquiring an additional 7,700 shares in the last quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP bought a new stake in shares of China Green Agriculture during the first quarter valued at about $175,000. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP purchased a new position in shares of China Green Agriculture during the first quarter worth about $115,000. 0.74% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

(Get Free Report)

China Green Agriculture, Inc, through its subsidiaries, engages in the research, development, production, and sale of various fertilizers, agricultural products, and bitcoin in the People's Republic of China and the United States. The company operates through four segments: Jinong (Fertilizer Production); Gufeng (Fertilizer Production); Yuxing (Agricultural Products Production); and Antaeus (Bitcoin).

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StockNews.com downgraded shares of Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR  Free Report) from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note released on Saturday.

EXR has been the subject of several other reports. Morgan Stanley raised shares of Extra Space Storage from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $115.00 to $150.00 in a report on Thursday, December 21st. TheStreet upgraded shares of Extra Space Storage from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Wells Fargo & Company upgraded shares of Extra Space Storage from an underweight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price target for the stock from $120.00 to $155.00 in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. Scotiabank assumed coverage on shares of Extra Space Storage in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. They issued a sector underperform rating and a $131.00 price target for the company. Finally, Truist Financial increased their target price on shares of Extra Space Storage from $138.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, December 28th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating, four have given a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $149.75.

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View Our Latest Analysis on EXR

Extra Space Storage Stock Performance

Shares of EXR stock opened at $143.36 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $148.23 and its 200-day simple moving average is $133.40. Extra Space Storage has a 52 week low of $101.19 and a 52 week high of $170.30. The company has a current ratio of 0.30, a quick ratio of 0.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The company has a market cap of $30.29 billion, a PE ratio of 29.02, a P/E/G ratio of 3.62 and a beta of 0.74.

Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The real estate investment trust reported $1.02 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.03 by ($1.01). The firm had revenue of $797.77 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $778.05 million. Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 31.81% and a return on equity of 8.34%. Extra Space Storages revenue for the quarter was up 57.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $2.09 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Extra Space Storage will post 8.17 EPS for the current year.

Extra Space Storage Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $1.62 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.52%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio is presently 131.17%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Extra Space Storage

In other news, Director Joseph Saffire sold 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $154.10, for a total transaction of $3,852,500.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 42,344 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,525,210.40. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. Company insiders own 1.55% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of EXR. First Horizon Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Extra Space Storage by 1,272.7% in the 1st quarter. First Horizon Advisors Inc. now owns 151 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 140 shares during the period. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Creekmur Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Extra Space Storage during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Money Concepts Capital Corp acquired a new stake in Extra Space Storage in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. increased its position in Extra Space Storage by 241.9% in the 3rd quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 212 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $26,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.40% of the companys stock.

About Extra Space Storage

(Get Free Report)

Extra Space Storage Inc, headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, is a self-administered and self-managed REIT and a member of the S&P 500. As of September 30, 2023, the Company owned and/or operated 3,651 self-storage stores in 42 states and Washington, DC The Company's stores comprise approximately 2.5 million units and approximately 279.0 million square feet of rentable space operating under the Extra Space, Life Storage and Storage Express brands.

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Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lifted its stake in shares of General Electric (NYSE:GE  Free Report) by 2.9% in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 123,719 shares of the conglomerates stock after purchasing an additional 3,431 shares during the period. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebecs holdings in General Electric were worth $13,677,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. raised its stake in shares of General Electric by 2.0% in the second quarter. Pinnacle Wealth Planning Services Inc. now owns 4,412 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $485,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. increased its holdings in General Electric by 2.8% during the 2nd quarter. Vise Technologies Inc. now owns 3,261 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $358,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the period. King Wealth raised its position in General Electric by 3.2% in the 3rd quarter. King Wealth now owns 2,988 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $330,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC raised its position in General Electric by 5.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 1,776 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $196,000 after purchasing an additional 92 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Macroview Investment Management LLC boosted 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 buying an additional 96 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 74.83% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several brokerages recently weighed in on GE. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of General Electric from $124.00 to $136.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. Barclays raised their price objective on shares of General Electric from $153.00 to $181.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday. Citigroup increased their target price on General Electric from $135.00 to $148.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. StockNews.com raised General Electric from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 1st. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased their price objective on General Electric from $144.00 to $148.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, General Electric has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $135.57.

General Electric Trading Up 1.1 %

NYSE:GE opened at $158.65 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $172.66 billion, a PE ratio of 18.95, a P/E/G ratio of 2.36 and a beta of 1.28. General Electric has a 52-week low of $83.38 and a 52-week high of $159.32. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $136.55 and its 200 day moving average price is $122.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.18 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69.

General Electric (NYSE:GE  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.90 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $19.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.27 billion. General Electric had a net margin of 13.95% and a return on equity of 10.88%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 15.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.24 earnings per share. On average, research analysts anticipate that General Electric will post 4.53 EPS for the current 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. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, December 27th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.20%. General Electrics payout ratio is 3.82%.

Insider Transactions at General Electric

In other General Electric news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of General Electric stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $135.55, for a total value of $1,843,615.55. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,339 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,552,351.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 22,055 shares of General Electric 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 sale, the senior vice president now owns 56,284 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,153,863.08. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, SVP Michael J. Holston sold 13,601 shares of General Electric 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 completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 48,339 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,552,351.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock.

About General Electric

(Free Report)

General Electric Company operates as a high-tech industrial company in Europe, China, Asia, the Americas, the Middle East, and Africa. It offers gas and steam turbines, full balance of plant, upgrade, and service solutions, as well as data-leveraging software for power generation, industrial, government, and other customers.

Further Reading

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Tim Brown / Getty Images

Ah, the magic of Disney. Not much can beat it  well, if you can afford it.

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Miranda, a busy mom of three from Orlando, Florida, has been a loyal Disney Parks annual passholder for over a decade. She and her family visited Walt Disney World frequently, enjoying spontaneous park trips and exclusive passholder perks. However, after recent price hikes and changes at Disney World, Miranda made the difficult decision not to renew her familys annual passes this year.

Heres why Miranda gave up the parks  and exactly how much money shell save.

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Saying Goodbye

Giving up our passes was bittersweet, said Miranda. The parks have always been a big part of our lives. As Florida residents, Mirandas family took advantage of the lower-priced Florida Resident annual pass options. However, she said even those prices have risen exponentially each year. What used to cost around $500 per pass now costs over $1,000, she explained.

Miranda also noted changes at Disney World that have recently chipped away at the passholder experience. You need reservations just to get into the parks now, which takes away a lot of spontaneity, she said. Its harder to justify the high price tag when the magic of just being able to drop in whenever is gone.

Crunching the Numbers

According to Disneys website, current Florida Resident annual pass options range from $459 per pass for the Pixie Dust Pass to $1,519 per pass for the top-tier Incredi-Pass. Mirandas family of five held the middle-tier Pirate Passes, which are currently $819 per pass. So, for her family, not renewing their annual passes saves them a whopping $4,095 this year.

As much as we will miss our passes, thats money we can use for other expenses right now, said Miranda. College tuition for her oldest child is looming, so putting thousands of dollars towards Disney passes is less feasible.

Story continues

Of course, her family will still visit Disney World in the future. It just means carefully budgeting for tickets when we do go, Miranda said. She plans to take advantage of discounted multi-day tickets and even time their trips around lower-cost seasons.

Exploring Other Options

While Mirandas family will miss the convenience of having Disney annual passes, they look forward to trying new Orlando attractions and parks. Weve really only gone to Disney World all these years, Miranda admitted. Now theres more incentive to check out other places.

A trip to Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure theme parks is top of their list. The Harry Potter stuff looks awesome and I think my son will love the thrill rides, said Miranda. Annual passes at Universal Orlando cost less than Disneys for Florida residents.

Miranda also wants to visit LEGOLAND, Florida, with her younger daughter, who loves all things LEGO. Local attractions like Fun Spot, ICON Park, and area waterparks are now more viable options without Disney annual passes dominating their budget.

Orlando has so much great stuff beyond Disney World, Miranda said. Her family even discussed taking weekend trips to check out other Florida cities now that their schedule isnt dictated by renewing Disney annual passes year after year.

While they will miss certain aspects of Disneys annual passes, Miranda feels that exploring Orlandos many treasures will be a blessing in disguise. Who knows  we may find a new favorite family destination, she said.

Bottom Line

While giving up her familys Disney World annual passes was difficult, Miranda found solace in the significant money they would save and opportunities to explore Orlandos many other theme parks and attractions. Forgoing Disney will allow her family to prioritize other expenses while still enjoying what the worlds theme park capital has to offer.

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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: I Gave Up My Disney Parks Annual Pass: Heres How Much Money Ill Save
Gotham Asset Management LLC reduced its position in shares of Mueller Industries, Inc. (NYSE:MLI  Free Report) by 15.8% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 52,958 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 9,921 shares during the period. Gotham Asset Management LLCs holdings in Mueller Industries were worth $3,980,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Mueller Industries by 0.7% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 8,779,865 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $475,606,000 after buying an additional 64,501 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Mueller Industries by 1.9% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 6,341,321 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $343,510,000 after purchasing an additional 116,393 shares during the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP boosted its position in Mueller Industries by 284.1% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,701,964 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $198,540,000 after purchasing an additional 1,998,534 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its position in Mueller Industries by 3.9% during the third quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 2,640,071 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $198,428,000 after purchasing an additional 99,633 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its position in Mueller Industries by 2.6% during the second quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,064,756 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $180,211,000 after purchasing an additional 51,651 shares during the last quarter. 94.50% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages recently commented on MLI. Northcoast Research reissued a neutral rating on shares of Mueller Industries in a research report on Friday, January 19th. StockNews.com cut Mueller Industries from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, January 22nd.

Mueller Industries Stock Up 0.1 %

NYSE:MLI opened at $51.44 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $48.01 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $42.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.68 and a beta of 1.08. Mueller Industries, Inc. has a 12-month low of $32.94 and a 12-month high of $51.90.

Mueller Industries (NYSE:MLI  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The industrial products company reported $1.05 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $732.38 million for the quarter. Mueller Industries had a return on equity of 27.59% and a net margin of 17.63%.

Mueller Industries Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a $0.20 dividend. This is a positive change from Mueller Industriess previous quarterly dividend of $0.15. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.56%. Mueller Industriess dividend payout ratio is currently 11.29%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Mueller Industries

In other Mueller Industries news, insider Steffen Sigloch sold 58,522 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.11, for a total value of $2,639,927.42. Following the sale, the insider now owns 321,766 shares in the company, valued at $14,514,864.26. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other news, CFO Jeffrey Andrew Martin sold 47,280 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $49.25, for a total transaction of $2,328,540.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 370,840 shares in the company, valued at $18,263,870. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Steffen Sigloch sold 58,522 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $45.11, for a total value of $2,639,927.42. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 321,766 shares in the company, valued at approximately $14,514,864.26. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 164,602 shares of company stock worth $7,775,459 over the last 90 days. Company insiders own 2.80% of the companys stock.

About Mueller Industries

(Free Report)

Mueller Industries, Inc manufactures and sells copper, brass, aluminum, and plastic products in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea, the Middle East, China, and Mexico. It operates through three segments: Piping Systems, Industrial Metals, and Climate. The Piping Systems segment offers copper tubes, fittings, line sets, and pipe nipples; PEX plumbing and radiant systems; and plumbing-related fittings and plastic injection tooling.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday morning.

HAL has been the topic of several other research reports. Susquehanna restated a positive rating and issued a $49.00 target price on shares of Halliburton in a report on Tuesday, February 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $45.00 price target on shares of Halliburton in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. UBS Group lifted their price target on shares of Halliburton from $44.00 to $48.00 in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Raymond James dropped their price target on shares of Halliburton from $49.00 to $47.00 and set a strong-buy rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Halliburton from $55.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $48.63.

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Halliburton Price Performance

Shares of HAL opened at $35.64 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $31.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.88 and a beta of 1.99. The company has a quick ratio of 1.48, a current ratio of 2.06 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $35.28 and a 200 day moving average of $37.83. Halliburton has a twelve month low of $27.84 and a twelve month high of $43.85.

Halliburton (NYSE:HAL  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The oilfield services company reported $0.86 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.80 by $0.06. Halliburton had a net margin of 11.46% and a return on equity of 31.59%. The company had revenue of $5.74 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.78 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.72 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Halliburton will post 3.43 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Halliburton Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, March 27th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be given a $0.17 dividend. This represents a $0.68 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.91%. This is a boost from Halliburtons previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 5th. Halliburtons payout ratio is 21.84%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Halliburton

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. MCF Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Halliburton by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter. MCF Advisors LLC now owns 4,643 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $188,000 after acquiring an additional 232 shares in the last quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI raised its stake in shares of Halliburton by 0.7% during the 3rd quarter. Arcadia Investment Management Corp MI now owns 37,010 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $1,499,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Vantage Consulting Group Inc raised its stake in shares of Halliburton by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Vantage Consulting Group Inc now owns 10,093 shares of the oilfield services companys stock worth $333,000 after acquiring an additional 256 shares in the last quarter. Syntax Advisors LLC increased its stake in Halliburton by 2.6% during the 2nd quarter. Syntax Advisors LLC now owns 10,093 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $333,000 after purchasing an additional 256 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nvwm LLC increased its stake in Halliburton by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 22,759 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $922,000 after purchasing an additional 259 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 82.09% of the companys stock.

About Halliburton

(Get 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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StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Hess (NYSE:HES  Free Report) in a research note issued to investors on Thursday morning. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the oil and gas producers stock.

A number of other brokerages have also recently commented on HES. Susquehanna reduced their target price on Hess from $160.00 to $152.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 26th. Mizuho raised their price objective on Hess from $170.00 to $200.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. Argus raised shares of Hess from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $171.00 target price on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, November 7th. Sanford C. Bernstein cut shares of Hess from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and reduced their target price for the company from $189.00 to $166.00 in a research report on Thursday, November 2nd. Finally, UBS Group decreased their price target on shares of Hess from $210.00 to $195.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $174.29.

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Hess Price Performance

Hess stock opened at $148.19 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.88, a quick ratio of 1.20 and a current ratio of 1.05. The companys fifty day moving average price is $144.06 and its 200 day moving average price is $147.82. The stock has a market capitalization of $45.52 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.93 and a beta of 1.27. Hess has a 1 year low of $113.82 and a 1 year high of $167.75.

Hess (NYSE:HES  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The oil and gas producer reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.43 by $0.20. Hess had a net margin of 12.98% and a return on equity of 17.00%. The business had revenue of $3.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.76 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.78 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was down .6% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Hess will post 7.56 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Hess Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, December 29th. Investors of record on Monday, December 18th were issued a dividend of $0.4375 per share. This represents a $1.75 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.18%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, December 15th. Hesss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 38.89%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Hess

In other news, COO Gregory P. Hill sold 56,925 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.35, for a total value of $8,330,973.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 78,287 shares of the companys stock, valued at $11,457,302.45. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other Hess news, CEO John B. Hess sold 73,885 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $145.87, for a total value of $10,777,604.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 138,718 shares in the company, valued at $20,234,794.66. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, COO Gregory P. Hill sold 56,925 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $146.35, for a total value of $8,330,973.75. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 78,287 shares in the company, valued at $11,457,302.45. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 9.93% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Hess

Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Raymond James Trust N.A. acquired a new position in shares of Hess during the first quarter worth about $446,000. Blair William & Co. IL grew its holdings in Hess by 17.1% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 4,276 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $458,000 after acquiring an additional 625 shares in the last quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH increased its position in shares of Hess by 3.7% in the 1st quarter. Allianz Asset Management GmbH now owns 114,120 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $12,216,000 after purchasing an additional 4,027 shares during the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers acquired a new stake in shares of Hess in the 1st quarter valued at $410,000. Finally, Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of Hess by 2.2% during the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 30,928,530 shares of the oil and gas producers stock worth $3,310,590,000 after purchasing an additional 667,979 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 81.72% of the companys stock.

About Hess

(Get Free Report)

Hess Corporation, an exploration and production company, explores, develops, produces, purchases, transports, and sells crude oil, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and natural gas. The company operates in two segments, Exploration and Production, and Midstream. It conducts production operations primarily in the United States, Guyana, the Malaysia/Thailand Joint Development Area, and Malaysia; and exploration activities principally offshore Guyana, the U.S.

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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC purchased a new stake in Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL  Free Report) in the third quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund purchased 6,773 shares of the transportation companys stock, valued at approximately $251,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Capital World Investors increased its stake in shares of Delta Air Lines by 3.9% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 26,563,427 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,262,825,000 after acquiring an additional 995,107 shares during the period. Perigon Wealth Management LLC grew its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 10.4% in the third quarter. Perigon Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,329 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $382,000 after purchasing an additional 969 shares during the last quarter. Shelton Capital Management acquired a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines in the second quarter valued at approximately $244,000. Cozad Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Delta Air Lines by 150.3% in the third quarter. Cozad Asset Management Inc. now owns 178,080 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $6,589,000 after purchasing an additional 106,940 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Qsemble Capital Management LP acquired a new stake in shares of Delta Air Lines in the third quarter valued at approximately $3,297,000. 71.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

DAL has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. TheStreet raised shares of Delta Air Lines from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Thursday, January 4th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Delta Air Lines has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $55.54.

Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Edward H. Bastian sold 71,840 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $39.20, for a total value of $2,816,128.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 428,768 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,807,705.60. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Insiders own 0.89% of the companys stock.

Delta Air Lines Stock Performance

Shares of DAL stock opened at $42.16 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $40.16 and its 200-day simple moving average is $38.48. Delta Air Lines, Inc. has a 52 week low of $30.60 and a 52 week high of $49.81. The company has a current ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.54. The company has a market cap of $27.12 billion, a PE ratio of 5.90, a P/E/G ratio of 0.76 and a beta of 1.42.

Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Friday, January 12th. The transportation company reported $1.28 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.17 by $0.11. Delta Air Lines had a net margin of 7.94% and a return on equity of 46.35%. The business had revenue of $14.22 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $13.55 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $1.48 EPS. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Delta Air Lines, Inc. will post 6.59 EPS for the current year.

Delta Air Lines Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 26th will be paid a $0.10 dividend. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.95%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, February 23rd. Delta Air Liness dividend payout ratio is presently 5.59%.

About Delta Air Lines

(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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InterContinental Hotels Group (LON:IHG  Free Report) had its price objective upped by Berenberg Bank from GBX 6,000 ($76.10) to GBX 7,400 ($93.86) in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat.com reports. Berenberg Bank currently has a hold rating on the stock.

Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on IHG. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on InterContinental Hotels Group from GBX 5,400 ($68.49) to GBX 6,100 ($77.37) and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. Citigroup reiterated a sell rating on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a report on Thursday, February 22nd. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group restated a buy rating and set a GBX 6,400 ($81.18) price objective on shares of InterContinental Hotels Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, InterContinental Hotels Group has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of GBX 6,415 ($81.37).

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InterContinental Hotels Group Stock Performance

InterContinental Hotels Group Increases Dividend

Shares of LON:IHG opened at GBX 8,356 ($105.99) on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of 13.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 2,401.15, a PEG ratio of 1.05 and a beta of 0.97. InterContinental Hotels Group has a one year low of GBX 5,086 ($64.51) and a one year high of GBX 8,790 ($111.49). The businesss 50-day simple moving average is GBX 7,579 and its 200 day simple moving average is GBX 6,651.74.

The company also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 4th will be given a $1.04 dividend. This is a positive change from InterContinental Hotels Groups previous dividend of $0.48. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 4th. This represents a dividend yield of 1.04%. InterContinental Hotels Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 3,477.01%.

InterContinental Hotels Group Company Profile

(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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Jones Financial Companies Lllp boosted its stake in Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE:KTB  Free Report) by 121.4% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,304 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 715 shares during the period. Jones Financial Companies Lllps holdings in Kontoor Brands were worth $57,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC raised its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 5,710.0% during the third quarter. Cary Street Partners Investment Advisory LLC now owns 581 shares of the companys stock worth $26,000 after purchasing an additional 571 shares during the period. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 524.8% during the second quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 731 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after purchasing an additional 614 shares during the period. West Tower Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Kontoor Brands during the second quarter worth $34,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Kontoor Brands by 225.8% during the third quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 1,098 shares of the companys stock worth $46,000 after purchasing an additional 761 shares during the period. Finally, Quarry LP acquired a new stake in shares of Kontoor Brands during the first quarter worth $52,000.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of analysts have weighed in on KTB shares. Wells Fargo & Company increased their target price on shares of Kontoor Brands from $56.00 to $68.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 22nd. Edward Jones cut shares of Kontoor Brands from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $60.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Barclays dropped their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $75.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on shares of Kontoor Brands from $56.00 to $64.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Thursday. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $70.40.

Kontoor Brands Stock Performance

Shares of KTB opened at $59.08 on Friday. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $60.43 and a 200 day moving average price of $52.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $3.29 billion, a PE ratio of 14.55, a P/E/G ratio of 1.57 and a beta of 1.14. The company has a quick ratio of 1.10, a current ratio of 2.66 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05. Kontoor Brands, Inc. has a 52-week low of $37.10 and a 52-week high of $64.49.

Kontoor Brands Announces Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Investors of record on Friday, March 8th will be given a $0.50 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. This represents a $2.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.39%. Kontoor Brandss dividend payout ratio is presently 49.26%.

Kontoor Brands Company Profile

(Free Report)

Kontoor Brands, Inc, a lifestyle apparel company, designs, produces, procures, markets, distributes, and licenses denim, apparel, footwear, and accessories, primarily under the Wrangler and Lee brands. It licenses and sells apparel under the Rock & Republic brad name. The company sells its products primarily through mass merchants, specialty stores, mid-tier and traditional department stores, company-operated stores, and online.

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Ariel Investments LLC lessened its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NYSE:NCLH  Free Report) by 8.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The firm owned 6,059,104 shares of the companys stock after selling 563,578 shares during the quarter. Ariel Investments LLCs holdings in Norwegian Cruise Line were worth $99,854,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in NCLH. Covestor Ltd grew its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 5,020.8% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,229 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,205 shares during the period. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 272.7% in the first quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 1,856 shares of the companys stock valued at $40,000 after purchasing an additional 1,358 shares during the period. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 46.2% in the second quarter. Stonebridge Capital Advisors LLC now owns 1,900 shares of the companys stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 600 shares during the period. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in the third quarter valued at about $42,000. Finally, Larson Financial Group LLC grew its position in shares of Norwegian Cruise Line by 38.0% in the third quarter. Larson Financial Group LLC now owns 3,574 shares of the companys stock valued at $59,000 after purchasing an additional 984 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 60.49% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

NCLH has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $23.00 to $19.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 12th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from $20.00 to $21.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Norwegian Cruise Line from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Wells Fargo & Company reissued an equal weight rating and issued a $18.00 price target on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a research note on Friday, January 5th. Finally, Tigress Financial reaffirmed a strong-buy rating and set a $32.00 price objective on shares of Norwegian Cruise Line in a research report on Friday, December 15th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating, three have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $20.96.

Norwegian Cruise Line Stock Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE NCLH traded down $0.10 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $19.29. The company had a trading volume of 12,104,912 shares, compared to its average volume of 13,669,283. The company has a market capitalization of $8.21 billion, a PE ratio of 68.90, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.45 and a beta of 2.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 40.94, a current ratio of 0.22 and a quick ratio of 0.27. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. has a 1-year low of $12.15 and a 1-year high of $22.75. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $17.69 and its 200 day simple moving average is $16.63.

Norwegian Cruise Line (NYSE:NCLH  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The company reported ($0.18) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($0.13) by ($0.05). The company had revenue of $1.99 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.99 billion. Norwegian Cruise Line had a net margin of 1.94% and a return on equity of 108.69%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted ($1.10) earnings per share. On average, analysts predict that Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. will post 0.87 earnings per share for the current year.

Norwegian Cruise Line Company Profile

(Free Report)

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a cruise company in North America, Europe, the Asia-Pacific, and internationally. The company operates the Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises brands. It offers itineraries ranging from three days to a 180-days calling on various locations, including destinations in Scandinavia, Russia, the Mediterranean, the Greek Isles, Alaska, Canada and New England, Hawaii, Asia, Tahiti and the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand, Africa, India, South America, the Panama Canal, and the Caribbean.

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Owens & Minor, Inc. (NYSE:OMI  Get Free Report) has earned a consensus recommendation of Hold from the seven ratings firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat reports. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, five have assigned a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have updated their coverage on the stock in the last year is $22.29.

Several brokerages have commented on OMI. Citigroup lifted their price target on Owens & Minor from $23.00 to $24.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. UBS Group decreased their price objective on Owens & Minor from $28.00 to $26.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a report on Monday, January 29th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Owens & Minor from $21.00 to $23.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. SVB Leerink initiated coverage on Owens & Minor in a report on Monday, February 26th. They set a market perform rating and a $24.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Leerink Partnrs reissued a market perform rating on shares of Owens & Minor in a report on Monday, February 26th.

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Owens & Minor Stock Up 1.3 %

Shares of OMI stock opened at $24.64 on Friday. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $20.50 and its 200 day simple moving average is $18.56. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 0.52 and a current ratio of 1.11. Owens & Minor has a twelve month low of $11.79 and a twelve month high of $25.39. The company has a market capitalization of $1.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -45.63, a PEG ratio of 0.77 and a beta of 0.41.

Owens & Minor (NYSE:OMI  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The company reported $0.69 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.66 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $2.66 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.67 billion. Owens & Minor had a positive return on equity of 11.62% and a negative net margin of 0.40%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.28 EPS. As a group, research analysts predict that Owens & Minor will post 1.54 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity at Owens & Minor

In related news, SVP Jonathan A. Leon sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.08, for a total value of $135,600.00. Following the sale, the senior vice president now owns 83,213 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,504,491.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Owens & Minor news, SVP Jonathan A. Leon sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.08, for a total value of $135,600.00. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 83,213 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,504,491.04. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, SVP Jonathan A. Leon sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $21.34, for a total value of $106,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now directly owns 93,213 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,989,165.42. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 22,500 shares of company stock valued at $492,300 in the last 90 days. 3.59% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Owens & Minor

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in OMI. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. raised its position in shares of Owens & Minor by 10.1% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 4,858 shares of the companys stock worth $214,000 after acquiring an additional 444 shares during the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. raised its position in shares of Owens & Minor by 31.9% during the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 29,981 shares of the companys stock worth $1,320,000 after acquiring an additional 7,258 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE raised its position in shares of Owens & Minor by 67.4% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 1,145 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 461 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its position in shares of Owens & Minor by 21.9% during the first quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 14,557 shares of the companys stock worth $641,000 after acquiring an additional 2,612 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of Montreal Can raised its position in shares of Owens & Minor by 20.0% during the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 28,979 shares of the companys stock worth $1,305,000 after acquiring an additional 4,823 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 98.04% of the companys stock.

About Owens & Minor

(Get Free Report

Owens & Minor, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a healthcare solutions company worldwide. It operates in two segments, Products & Healthcare Services and Patient Direct. The Products & Healthcare Services segment offers a portfolio of products and services to healthcare providers and manufacturers.

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Profund Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC  Free Report) by 12.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,772 shares of the business services providers stock after purchasing an additional 419 shares during the period. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in Omnicom Group were worth $281,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in OMC. First Trust Advisors LP lifted its stake in shares of Omnicom Group by 683.2% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 2,957,307 shares of the business services providers stock worth $251,016,000 after purchasing an additional 2,579,717 shares during the period. Boston Partners raised its stake in Omnicom Group by 414.5% during the 2nd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 3,062,901 shares of the business services providers stock worth $289,324,000 after acquiring an additional 2,467,632 shares during the period. Principal Financial Group Inc. raised its stake in Omnicom Group by 106.4% during the 2nd quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 1,835,810 shares of the business services providers stock worth $174,677,000 after acquiring an additional 946,369 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its stake in Omnicom Group by 4.2% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 18,744,473 shares of the business services providers stock worth $1,783,537,000 after acquiring an additional 749,118 shares during the period. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD raised its stake in Omnicom Group by 81.0% during the 1st quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 1,527,561 shares of the business services providers stock worth $144,111,000 after acquiring an additional 683,810 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 92.71% of the companys stock.

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Omnicom Group Trading Up 0.1 %

Shares of OMC opened at $88.44 on Friday. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $88.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $81.66. Omnicom Group Inc. has a 1 year low of $72.20 and a 1 year high of $99.23. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 0.95 and a quick ratio of 0.86. The firm has a market cap of $17.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.78, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.96.

Omnicom Group Announces Dividend

Omnicom Group ( NYSE:OMC Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Monday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.16 by $0.04. Omnicom Group had a net margin of 9.47% and a return on equity of 39.07%. The firm had revenue of $4.06 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.09 earnings per share. Omnicom Groups revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts expect that Omnicom Group Inc. will post 7.64 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Investors of record on Monday, March 11th will be issued a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 8th. Omnicom Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 40.46%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have commented on OMC shares. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Omnicom Group in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. They set a buy rating and a $117.00 target price on the stock. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Omnicom Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Monday, January 29th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on shares of Omnicom Group from $85.00 to $91.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley upgraded shares of Omnicom Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their target price for the stock from $90.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Macquarie raised shares of Omnicom Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and increased their price objective for the company from $80.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, January 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Omnicom Group has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $99.22.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Omnicom Group

Insider Activity at Omnicom Group

In related news, Director Linda Johnson Rice sold 507 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.66, for a total value of $43,936.62. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 9,753 shares of the companys stock, valued at $845,194.98. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 1.30% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Omnicom Group Profile

(Free Report)

Omnicom Group Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services. It provides a range of services in the areas of advertising and media, precision marketing, commerce and branding, experiential, execution and support, public relations, and healthcare.

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Qube Research & Technologies Ltd reduced its stake in Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:VIST  Free Report) by 12.0% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 418,503 shares of the companys stock after selling 57,073 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltds holdings in Vista Energy were worth $12,718,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Citigroup Inc. boosted its position in shares of Vista Energy by 62.7% during the third quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 3,137,987 shares of the companys stock worth $95,363,000 after buying an additional 1,209,254 shares during the period. Helikon Investments Ltd boosted its holdings in Vista Energy by 27.8% during the 3rd quarter. Helikon Investments Ltd now owns 5,370,330 shares of the companys stock valued at $163,204,000 after acquiring an additional 1,166,933 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its position in Vista Energy by 525.9% in the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 650,923 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,810,000 after acquiring an additional 546,923 shares in the last quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board purchased a new stake in Vista Energy during the first quarter worth about $3,748,000. Finally, Kensington Investments B.V. lifted its position in shares of Vista Energy by 2.6% during the third quarter. Kensington Investments B.V. now owns 12,822,581 shares of the companys stock worth $389,678,000 after purchasing an additional 322,581 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 45.68% of the companys stock.

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Vista Energy Stock Performance

Shares of VIST stock opened at $37.53 on Friday. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $32.02 and its 200 day moving average price is $29.73. The company has a quick ratio of 1.16, a current ratio of 1.19 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.49 billion, a PE ratio of 9.45 and a beta of 1.96. Vista Energy, S.A.B. de C.V. has a 52-week low of $15.90 and a 52-week high of $37.86.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Separately, UBS Group began coverage on shares of Vista Energy in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th. They set a buy rating and a $40.00 target price on the stock.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Vista Energy

About Vista Energy

(Free Report)

Vista Energy, SAB. de C.V., through its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and production of oil and gas in Latin America. The company's principal assets located in Neuquina basin, Argentina and Vaca Muerta. It also owns producing assets in Argentina and Mexico. In addition, the company involved in drilling and workover activities located in Argentina.

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germany urkaine scholz putin

A spectre is haunting Europe  the spectre of an unholy alliance of Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

What is driving European politics at present is fear. Fear of who Russia might invade next if Ukraine were to collapse. Fear of what might happen if Trump were to abandon Nato and leave Europe to the mercy of Putin.

To adapt Dr Johnsons adage: depend upon it, sir, when leaders fear they may be invaded in a matter of months, it concentrates their minds wonderfully.

And so last week, when some two dozen European leaders assembled in Paris for a Ukraine summit, their host, Emmanuel Macron, gave voice to the rising sense of panic about the looming threats from east and west.

This is a European war, he told the gathering. Should we delegate our future to the American electorate? The answer is no, whatever their vote. We mustnt wait to find out what the result [of the US Presidential election] is. We must decide now.

But decide what, exactly? Theres the rub. The European Union has already promised Ukraine a package of aid worth 50bn (43bn) over several years. That package required an extraordinary amount of bribery and arm-twisting to get it past Viktor Orban.

A growing body of opinion across the Continent believes that the war is unwinnable for Ukraine and a large minority is actively pro-Russian. There is simply no consensus in favour of stepping up EU assistance to Kyiv.

So Macron decided to cast any attempt to find consensus aside. Instead, he echoed Marshal Foch in 1914: My centre is giving way, my right is in retreat, situation excellent. Jattaque!

Macron declared: Theres no consensus today to send, in an official manner, troops on the ground. But in terms of options, nothing can be ruled out.

Ruling out sending ground troops, however, is exactly what all the major Nato allies immediately did  especially when the Kremlin warned that such a step would render war between Russia and Nato inevitable.

The Biden administration has been struggling for months to overcome a Congressional Republican block on $60bn in new military aid to Ukraine. In an election year, putting American lives at risk in a European war is out of the question.

Story continues

The British were almost as quick to scotch the idea. Beyond the small number of personnel in-country supporting the [Ukrainian] armed forces, we do not have any plans to make large-scale deployments, Downing Street insisted.

But the most vehement attempt to shoot down Macrons kite came from Berlin. Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, dismissed any such suggestion, now or in future.

There will be no ground troops, no soldiers sent [to Ukraine] by European countries or Nato states, he declared.

Robert Habeck, Scholzs Green vice-chancellor in Germanys centre-Left ruling coalition, was even more pointed: Im pleased that France is thinking about how to increase its support for Ukraine, but if I could give it a word of advice  supply more weapons.

Habeck was referring to the notorious reluctance of Paris to pull its weight in Ukraine. The French military commitment so far has been just 500m, a fraction of Germanys 15bn or the UKs 7.8bn.

Yet Macron still goaded Scholz by alluding to his habit of buckling: refusing a Ukrainian request for military assistance, wavering under pressure from allies, and then handing it over anyway.

Many of the people who say never, never today were the same people who said never, never tanks, never, never planes, never, never long-range missiles, Macron told an audience that included Scholz. I remind you that two years ago, many around this table said: We will offer sleeping bags and helmets.

The antipathy between Scholz and Macron is mutual but seldom has it burst into the open like this. No wonder Franco-German relations are worse than at any time since 1990, when Francois Mitterrands reservations about the reunification of Germany, like those of Margaret Thatcher, were brushed aside by Helmut Kohl.

Macrons conduct was what we have come to expect from a man whose modus operandi is, in reverse of Teddy Roosevelts advice, to bellow loudly and carry a rather small stick.

But it is Scholz who, in his eagerness to rebut his rival, has done far more damage to the cause of freedom.

At a time of maximum danger when Ukraine is crying out for help, Scholz and Germany at large are hesitant. Cowed by Putins threats, propaganda and a deep-seated public reluctance to engage again in war, Berlin is desperate to draw a line in the sand regardless of what it may mean for Kyiv.

A shameful refusal

For months, a heated debate has raged in Germany over whether to supply Kyiv with its Taurus cruise missiles. Taurus has a range of 310 miles, nearly twice as far as the Anglo-French Storm Shadow and Scalp missiles, which have already been used to great effect by the Ukrainians. Bluntly, Taurus can hit Moscow  and Scholz is terrified of Putins possible retaliation.

So far, Scholz has absolutely refused to hand over the missiles, leaving not only Nato allies but even his own supporters exasperated.

Last month the Bundestag voted in favour of delivering long-range missiles to Ukraine  including all three of the ruling coalition parties. To spare their Chancellor a vote of confidence, the resolution did not name Taurus, but there was no disguising the fact that his foot-dragging is costing Ukrainian lives.

Scholz has given all kinds of justifications for his intransigence on Taurus, but in explaining himself last Monday he let slip vital information that has infuriated his Nato allies.

[Taurus] is a very long-range weapon. That which the British and French do in the way of target control and accompanying target control, cannot be done in Germany, Scholz said. German soldiers can at no point and in no place be linked with the targets that this system [Taurus] reaches. Not even in Germany.

In Whitehall, Scholzs comments were greeted with outrage because they inadvertently suggested that British troops were helping to aim and launch Storm Shadow  and were thus engaged not only in training but also in battle.

For a German chancellor, of all people, to disclose such sensitive intelligence was completely irresponsible, according to Norbert Rottgen of the opposition Christian Democratic Union. Many others have echoed him.

An MoD spokesman swiftly denied that British personnel in Ukraine had been involved in missile launches. True or not, this denial suggests that British involvement isnt necessary. Nor, indeed, would Taurus require German troops to operate it. So Scholzs excuse is bogus.

The episode highlights the contrasting German and British attitudes to war. Having quietly trained and equipped Ukrainian soldiers for years before February 2022, the British are now giving Zelensky the tools to finish the job  and perhaps also risking their own lives.

Meanwhile, Germanys formidable Taurus missiles are withheld, even as the Russians rain down death and destruction on Ukraine. For many Germans, this contrast is shameful.

In his annual address in Moscow last Thursday, Putin himself seized on the issue of Nato troops on the ground, capitalising on the loose talk by both Macron and Scholz.

There has been talk about the possibility of sending Nato military contingents to Ukraine, he said. The consequences for possible interventionists will betragic. By way of explanation he added: All this really threatens a conflict with the use of nuclear weapons and the destruction of civilisation. Dont they get that?

The main destination for this sabre-rattling by Putin was Berlin. He intends to intimidate Scholz: sending Taurus to Ukraine would be treated by the Kremlin as crossing a red line. Yet the British have already crossed that line. So far civilisation has survived.

Not only does Scholz show every sign of being susceptible to this kind of intimidation by Putin, but he probably also believes that his own political survival depends on not angering the Russian bear.

The respected Korber Foundations latest poll finds that just 38pc of the electorate want Germany to be more strongly engaged in international crises, while 71pc are opposed to their country playing a military leadership role in Europe.

Two thirds (66pc) still agree that Ukraine should receive military support, but of those only just over half (54pc) are in favour of restoring Ukraines lost territories, while 41pc merely want Russia to be held in check.

Rottgen accuses Scholz of focusing on next years German election at the expense of Ukraine. He presents himself as the Friedenskanzler  the peacemaker Chancellor  who can act as an honest broker between Russia and Ukraine. Most Germans just want to be kept out of war at all costs.

Berlin knows that Taurus missiles would be a major addition to the Ukrainian arsenal, enabling them to retaliate against attacks on major cities such as Kyiv and Kharkiv. But their very effectiveness renders them escalatory in German eyes. Scholz prefers to follow rather than lead public opinion.

A reluctance to confront Russia is deep-seated. Successive governments led by chancellors Kohl, Schroder and Merkel were culpable for leaving Germany economically dependent on Russia.

Angela Merkel staked Europes future on detente with Putin. She knew he was no Gorbachev, but had little inkling that she was dealing with a mini-Stalin. Yet when Putin showed his true colours by invading Georgia, it was she who kept Ukraine out in the cold by blocking the country from joining Nato.

The Germans do not share the responsibility for protecting Ukraine as the US and Britain do, both of whom signed the 1994 Budapest Memorandum along with Russia. In return for promises not to use military force against Ukraine, Kyiv handed over its nuclear arsenal to Moscow, trusting in security assurances that proved worthless.

However, Berlin has a moral duty to support Ukraine given its historic mistake on Nato membership.

Putins grim message

There is one member of Scholzs government who has shown himself capable of strong leadership: Boris Pistorius, the defence minister. Plucked from provincial obscurity just over a year ago by Scholz after a similar row over Leopard 2 tanks, Pistorius soon eclipsed his boss.

Boris Pistorius plans to double German defence spending to 2pc of GDP - Daniel LA/DPA via AP

Easily the most popular politician in Germany, the defence minister has made it his business to educate the nation on the harsh realities of war and peace. His catchphrase is kriegstuchtig  by which he means not only ready for war but ready to win that war.

After decades when the Federal Republic spent only 1pc of GDP on defence, Pistorius has persuaded his reluctant colleagues to double it to Natos 2pc minimum. But, as he told the Munich Security Conference last month, I am realistic enough to see that this might not be enough in the years to come.

In January, Pistorius warned his compatriots that Putin might attack a Nato country within five to eight years, the time frame required to replace equipment lost in Ukraine. He knows better than anyone how unprepared for combat the German army, the Bundeswehr, actually is. A planned deployment of a single brigade to Lithuania in 2027 still looks problematic.

Unlike the supine Berlin elites, Pistorius grasps that the military vulnerability of Europes largest economy is an open invitation to Russian aggression. He has convinced Scholz to back the Czech President Petr Pavel, who is crowdfunding 800,000 shells from beyond Europe to resupply Ukraine.

What really needs to happen, though, is for German industry to switch from making cars to armaments  from butter to guns  before it is too late. If America is starving Ukraine of ammunition, Europe must step up production.

Pistorius sees the death of Alexei Navalny, not just as the assassination of a rival but as a provocation.

Putin is sending a grim message to his critics, especially in Berlin, the traditional exile of Russian dissidents. There, in the Charite Hospital, Navalny had recovered from Novichok poisoning before returning to Russia.

Legacy of propaganda

While so far Pistorius has remained loyal to Scholz, it is clear that if the Chancellor were to fall, perhaps over the Taurus issue, the defence minister would be the obvious candidate to take over until federal elections in 2025.

Germanys predicament has echoes of the mid-1970s, when Helmut Schmidt replaced the charismatic but flawed Willy Brandt as chancellor. When Schmidt died in 2015, Scholz, a fellow Hamburg Social Democrat, praised him as his role model. Yet it is Pistorius, not Scholz, whose steady focus on national security and Atlanticism bears comparison with Schmidt.

There are echoes of the 1970s, too, in the fact that Germany is now once again being targeted by hostile intelligence agencies  the Russian successors to the KGB officers who included the young Vladimir Putin. Though there is still plenty of espionage, this time the main threat comes from Russian cyber warfare, disinformation and propaganda.

Despite the closure of Moscows German-language RT television station, pro-Russian online influencers still reach large audiences. Alina Lipp, a former RT presenter, claims to have up to two million views for her posts.

Former German Green Party activist Alina Lipp gained 200,000 followers for her pro-Russia war reports

A year ago Berlins Centre for Monitoring, Analysis and Strategy revealed that public approval of pro-Russian narratives in Germany had increased significantly, particularly in the formerly communist East.

Since then, Germany has been saturated with Kremlin talking points, some echoing Putins lies about Nato, others much older propaganda conspiracy theories.

One Russian tactic is to turn the tables on Nato. Here is Putin himself last Thursday: The West provoked the conflict in Ukraine, in the Middle East, in other regions of the world, and continues to lie, without any embarrassment, saying that Russia allegedly intends to attack Europe.

Last October a poll found that 40pc of all Germans at least partially believe Putins claim that Nato provoked the invasion of Ukraine. In the former East German provinces this figure rises to 59pc.

According to a resident of Chemnitz quoted in Foreign Policy, most people here are anti-US. Here in Saxony the people remember the Dresden firebombing. For the people here, Americans are warmongers.

The Free Saxon secessionist who gave the quote is a far-Right extremist, but his reference to the Dresden raid of February 1945 is revealing. This idea that the bombing was an example of USAF and RAF terrorism was promoted heavily by the Nazi and the narrative was then adopted by the Communists as a propaganda tool during the Cold War.

This narrative of Anglo-American terror has in turn been taken over by the far-Right, who give it an anti-Semitic twist with the phrase Bombenholocaust, holocaust by bombs.

The false figure of 135,000 dead in Dresden was propagated by David Irving, the historian who was later sued for Holocaust denial, and popularised by the American novelist Kurt Vonnegut in Slaughterhouse Five. Today Dresden is trotted out as evidence that Churchill was a war criminal.

Putins trolls know how to exploit the legacy of Nazi and Communist disinformation, appealing to extremes of Left and Right.

The Kremlins destabilising activities are widening an already deep divide in Germany. In depressed regions of the East, the far-Right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is now the most popular political party.

Meanwhile, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance, a new far-Left movement, and its demagogic leader, the eponymous Sahra Wagenknecht, feed on nostalgia for the era before 1989. The East German red wall would like the Berlin Wall back, please.

Inherited guilt

Faced with a fracturing country, Chancellor Scholz is paralysed by fear. Rather than seek to unify his people and provide leadership, he is shrinking.

The Russo-Ukrainian war has marked a new generation of young Europeans, just as the Second World War scarred their grandparents and the Cold War shaped their parents.

Postwar Germans, too young to have participated in Nazi crimes or to have ignored the Holocaust happening around them, used to talk about the grace of a late birth.

Not anymore. For the men and women now leading Germany, there is no avoiding moral responsibility for stopping the Russian war of conquest. Either they act now to make good their vow, summed up in the words never again, or their entire lives have been built on a lie.

That is why the debate in Germany is so heated, fraught as it is with the inherited guilt of an older generation, cast unwillingly into confrontation with younger cohorts who reject that burden. The 30-something millennials and the even younger Generation Z often care more about Gaza than Ukraine  regardless of national interest.

Despite Berlins reluctance to pull its weight in Nato, Germany still holds the key to Europes response to the most dangerous onslaught on the West since 1945. This is not just because of the countrys geopolitical situation and its economic weight, but an inescapable consequence of its history.

The Ukrainian war of independence is an epochal struggle for the defence, not just of freedom, democracy and national sovereignty, but of Western civilisation itself. The Germans, whose forefathers endangered that civilisation twice in the last century, have a duty in the present one to come to its rescue.

Scholz is a decent man, but he is unequal to this task. He has failed not only Ukraine, but his Nato allies too. Ukraine is paying the price.

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Rehmann Capital Advisory Group trimmed its position in Prologis, Inc. (NYSE:PLD  Free Report) by 4.4% during the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 2,897 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after selling 132 shares during the period. Rehmann Capital Advisory Groups holdings in Prologis were worth $325,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

A number of other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of PLD. Gotham Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Prologis by 53.1% in the third quarter. Gotham Asset Management LLC now owns 43,359 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $4,865,000 after acquiring an additional 15,047 shares during the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC boosted its stake in Prologis by 14.1% in the third quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 874 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $98,000 after acquiring an additional 108 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC boosted its stake in Prologis by 110.1% in the third quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC now owns 3,991 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $448,000 after acquiring an additional 2,091 shares during the last quarter. Verde Capital Management boosted its stake in Prologis by 10.2% in the third quarter. Verde Capital Management now owns 12,373 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $1,388,000 after acquiring an additional 1,145 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Knollwood Investment Advisory LLC bought a new position in Prologis in the third quarter valued at approximately $1,357,000. 90.90% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director James B. Connor sold 103,331 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $133.20, for a total transaction of $13,763,689.20. Following the sale, the director now owns 21,419 shares in the company, valued at $2,853,010.80. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. 0.50% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of equities analysts have issued reports on the stock. Scotiabank raised their price objective on shares of Prologis from $134.00 to $143.00 and gave the company a sector outperform rating in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Robert W. Baird lifted their price objective on shares of Prologis from $133.00 to $137.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Prologis from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $123.00 to $148.00 in a research note on Monday, December 18th. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a buy rating and set a $130.00 price objective on shares of Prologis in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Prologis from $128.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $141.73.

View Our Latest Stock Report on Prologis

Prologis Trading Up 1.0 %

NYSE PLD opened at $134.60 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $124.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 40.91, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 1.00. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $131.08 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $120.68. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.50, a quick ratio of 0.30 and a current ratio of 0.30. Prologis, Inc. has a 52 week low of $96.64 and a 52 week high of $137.52.

Prologis (NYSE:PLD  Get Free Report) last released its earnings results on Wednesday, January 17th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.68 EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.26 by ($0.58). The firm had revenue of $1.89 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.85 billion. Prologis had a net margin of 38.13% and a return on equity of 5.29%. The companys revenue was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.24 EPS. As a group, analysts anticipate that Prologis, Inc. will post 5.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Prologis Increases Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 18th will be paid a $0.96 dividend. This is a boost from Prologiss previous quarterly dividend of $0.87. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 15th. This represents a $3.84 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.85%. Prologiss payout ratio is presently 105.78%.

Prologis Profile

(Free Report)

Prologis, Inc is the global leader in logistics real estate with a focus on high-barrier, high-growth markets. At December 31, 2023, the company owned or had investments in, on a wholly owned basis or through co-investment ventures, properties and development projects expected to total approximately 1.2 billion square feet (115 million square meters) in 19 countries.

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Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR  Free Report) (TSE:QSR) had its target price upped by Evercore from $88.00 to $93.00 in a research report sent to investors on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. They currently have a buy rating on the restaurant operators stock.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Royal Bank of Canada lowered their target price on Restaurant Brands International from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Guggenheim upped their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $70.00 to $74.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Oppenheimer upped their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $83.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 5th. BMO Capital Markets upped their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus upped their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $72.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have given a hold rating and seventeen have issued a 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 $82.30.

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View Our Latest Report on QSR

Restaurant Brands International Trading Up 0.1 %

QSR opened at $77.71 on Wednesday. Restaurant Brands International has a 12 month low of $59.99 and a 12 month high of $79.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.61, a PEG ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.78, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $77.13 and a 200 day moving average price of $71.68.

Restaurant Brands International (NYSE:QSR  Get Free Report) (TSE:QSR) last released its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The restaurant operator reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.73 by $0.02. Restaurant Brands International had a return on equity of 32.20% and a net margin of 16.95%. The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.80 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $0.72 EPS. Restaurant Brands Internationals revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts expect that Restaurant Brands International will post 3.39 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Restaurant Brands International Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 21st will be issued a $0.58 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 20th. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.99%. This is a boost from Restaurant Brands Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. Restaurant Brands Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 58.36%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Thomas Benjamin Curtis sold 2,682 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total value of $205,307.10. Following the sale, the insider now owns 23,322 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,785,299.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Restaurant Brands International news, insider Thomas Benjamin Curtis sold 2,682 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, January 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total transaction of $205,307.10. Following the sale, the insider now owns 23,322 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,785,299.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, CEO Joshua Kobza sold 161,353 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.57, for a total value of $12,193,446.21. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 578,125 shares in the company, valued at approximately $43,688,906.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 414,074 shares of company stock worth $31,405,529 in the last quarter. Company insiders own 1.25% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Restaurant Brands International

A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of QSR. Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel Lllp boosted its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 13.9% during the second quarter. Obermeyer Wood Investment Counsel Lllp now owns 3,409 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $264,000 after purchasing an additional 416 shares during the last quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. boosted its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 49.9% during the second quarter. Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria S.A. now owns 7,571 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $588,000 after purchasing an additional 2,519 shares during the last quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 36.7% during the second quarter. Franklin Resources Inc. now owns 117,311 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $9,094,000 after purchasing an additional 31,522 shares during the last quarter. Capital International Inc. CA boosted its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 16.7% during the second quarter. Capital International Inc. CA now owns 94,162 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $7,299,000 after purchasing an additional 13,450 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Restaurant Brands International by 47.3% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 403,990 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $26,914,000 after purchasing an additional 129,713 shares during the last quarter.

About Restaurant Brands International

(Get Free Report)

Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products.

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Royal Bank of Canada reissued their sector perform rating on shares of Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM  Free Report) in a report published on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. Royal Bank of Canada currently has a $337.00 price objective on the stock.

Other equities analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Roth Mkm lifted their price target on shares of Boston Beer from $406.00 to $422.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on shares of Boston Beer in a research report on Monday, November 13th. They set a hold rating and a $375.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised shares of Boston Beer from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $280.00 to $335.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Boston Beer presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $343.58.

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Boston Beer Price Performance

Shares of Boston Beer stock opened at $304.48 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $3.71 billion, a P/E ratio of 49.11, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of 1.02. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $349.11 and a 200 day simple moving average of $354.66. Boston Beer has a fifty-two week low of $296.27 and a fifty-two week high of $395.52.

Boston Beer (NYSE:SAM  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The company reported ($1.49) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.22) by ($1.27). The business had revenue of $393.72 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $413.57 million. Boston Beer had a net margin of 3.61% and a return on equity of 8.13%. Boston Beers revenue was down 12.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted ($0.93) earnings per share. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Boston Beer will post 10.59 EPS for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling at Boston Beer

In other Boston Beer news, insider Carolyn L. Oboyle sold 102 shares of Boston Beer stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $350.72, for a total value of $35,773.44. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 2,630 shares in the company, valued at approximately $922,393.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Company insiders own 23.30% of the companys stock.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of SAM. Covestor Ltd increased its stake in shares of Boston Beer by 88.4% during the 3rd quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 81 shares of the companys stock worth $32,000 after purchasing an additional 38 shares during the last quarter. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Boston Beer during the 2nd quarter worth about $32,000. Main Street Group LTD acquired a new position in shares of Boston Beer during the 4th quarter worth about $35,000. Quarry LP acquired a new position in shares of Boston Beer during the 4th quarter worth about $42,000. Finally, KBC Group NV acquired a new position in shares of Boston Beer during the 4th quarter worth about $46,000. 64.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Boston Beer

(Get Free Report)

The Boston Beer Company, Inc engages in the production and sale of alcohol beverages primarily in the United States. The company's flagship beer is Samuel Adams Boston Lager. It offers various beers, hard ciders, flavored malt beverages, and hard seltzers under the Samuel Adams, Twisted Tea, Truly Hard Seltzer, Angry Orchard, Dogfish Head, Angel City, Coney Island, and Havana Lager brand names.

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StockNews.com upgraded shares of Shinhan Financial Group (NYSE:SHG  Free Report) from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report issued on Wednesday.

Separately, Bank of America raised Shinhan Financial Group from a neutral rating to a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 16th.

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View Our Latest Stock Analysis on Shinhan Financial Group

Shinhan Financial Group Trading Up 0.1 %

Shinhan Financial Group Dividend Announcement

NYSE:SHG opened at $32.61 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.37, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 1.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.72 billion, a PE ratio of 5.58, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.87 and a beta of 0.90. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $30.68 and its 200-day simple moving average is $28.41. Shinhan Financial Group has a fifty-two week low of $24.99 and a fifty-two week high of $33.98.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, January 1st were paid a $0.3953 dividend. This represents a $1.58 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.85%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 22nd. Shinhan Financial Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 21.06%.

Institutional Trading of Shinhan Financial Group

A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. UBS Group AG increased its position in Shinhan Financial Group by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 35,302 shares of the banks stock worth $1,087,000 after buying an additional 341 shares during the period. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 27.6% in the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,612 shares of the banks stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its holdings in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 3.1% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 11,791 shares of the banks stock worth $395,000 after buying an additional 349 shares in the last quarter. Citigroup Inc. raised its stake in Shinhan Financial Group by 5.0% during the first quarter. Citigroup Inc. now owns 9,660 shares of the banks stock worth $260,000 after acquiring an additional 462 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its stake in shares of Shinhan Financial Group by 16.1% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,387 shares of the banks stock valued at $90,000 after purchasing an additional 470 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 2.81% of the companys stock.

Shinhan Financial Group Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

Shinhan Financial Group Co, Ltd. provides financial products and services in South Korea and internationally. The company operates through six segments: Banking, Credit Card, Securities, Life Insurance, Credit, and Others. It offers retail banking services, including demand, savings, and fixed deposit-taking; checking accounts; mortgage and home equity, and retail lending; electronic banking and automatic teller machines (ATM); and bill paying, payroll and check-cashing, currency exchange, and wire fund transfer services.

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Synovus Financial Corp increased its position in shares of The AZEK Company Inc. (NYSE:AZEK  Free Report) by 39.7% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 18,108 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 5,146 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in AZEK were worth $539,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in the company. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina boosted its position in shares of AZEK by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolina now owns 57,926 shares of the companys stock worth $1,723,000 after acquiring an additional 4,370 shares in the last quarter. Trexquant Investment LP boosted its position in shares of AZEK by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Trexquant Investment LP now owns 107,136 shares of the companys stock worth $3,186,000 after acquiring an additional 1,321 shares in the last quarter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP boosted its position in AZEK by 5,090.1% in the third quarter. Westfield Capital Management Co. LP now owns 1,168,290 shares of the companys stock valued at $34,745,000 after buying an additional 1,145,780 shares in the last quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in AZEK in the third quarter valued at approximately $4,668,000. Finally, Algert Global LLC boosted its position in AZEK by 378.9% in the third quarter. Algert Global LLC now owns 86,678 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,578,000 after buying an additional 68,578 shares in the last quarter.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 13,000 shares of AZEK stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.79, for a total transaction of $452,270.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 1,197,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at $41,650,657.58. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. In other AZEK news, CEO Jesse G. Singh sold 13,000 shares of AZEK stock in a transaction on Monday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.79, for a total value of $452,270.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,197,202 shares of the companys stock, valued at $41,650,657.58. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Jonathan Skelly sold 10,000 shares of AZEK stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.78, for a total transaction of $467,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 180,784 shares of the companys stock, valued at $8,457,075.52. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 58,000 shares of company stock valued at $2,342,230 over the last quarter. Insiders own 3.10% of the companys stock.

AZEK Price Performance

Shares of NYSE AZEK opened at $48.95 on Friday. The AZEK Company Inc. has a twelve month low of $21.34 and a twelve month high of $49.24. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $40.85 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.51. The company has a market capitalization of $7.23 billion, a PE ratio of 61.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.92. The company has a quick ratio of 1.67, a current ratio of 2.99 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43.

AZEK (NYSE:AZEK  Get Free Report) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $0.08 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.03 by $0.05. AZEK had a net margin of 8.57% and a return on equity of 9.61%. The business had revenue of $240.44 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $234.12 million. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that The AZEK Company Inc. will post 1 EPS for the current year.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have weighed in on AZEK. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft restated a hold rating and issued a $37.00 target price (down previously from $38.00) on shares of AZEK in a research report on Friday, December 8th. B. Riley raised their target price on shares of AZEK from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Stephens raised their target price on shares of AZEK from $40.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Wolfe Research began coverage on shares of AZEK in a research report on Tuesday, December 12th. They issued an outperform rating and a $43.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus raised their target price on shares of AZEK from $44.00 to $52.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. 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, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $39.72.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on AZEK

AZEK Profile

(Free Report)

The AZEK Company Inc engages in the design, manufacturing, and selling of building products for residential, commercial, and industrial markets in the United States and Canada. It operates through two segments: Residential and Commercial. The Residential segment designs and manufactures engineered outdoor living products, such as decking, railing, trim and molding, siding and cladding, pergolas and cabanas, and accessories under the TimberTech, AZEK Exteriors, VERSATEX, ULTRALOX, StruXure, and INTEX brands.

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Synovus Financial Corp cut its position in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IJJ  Free Report) by 8.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 5,598 shares of the companys stock after selling 510 shares during the quarter. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF were worth $565,000 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. Capital Investment Counsel Inc purchased a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Sheets Smith Wealth Management purchased a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $31,000. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 4th quarter worth approximately $48,000. Finally, Union Savings Bank purchased a new stake in iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $55,000.

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iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Price Performance

NYSEARCA IJJ opened at $113.13 on Friday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $111.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $106.04. The stock has a market capitalization of $7.53 billion, a PE ratio of 13.54 and a beta of 1.17. iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF has a 1 year low of $92.79 and a 1 year high of $115.39.

iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF Company Profile

iShares S&P Mid-Cap 400 Value ETF, formerly iShares S&P MidCap 400 Value Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P MidCap 400 Value Index (the Index). The Value Index measures the performance of the mid-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P MidCap 400 Index exhibiting the strongest value characteristics.

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Toronto Dominion Bank lowered its stake in Entergy Co. (NYSE:ETR  Free Report) by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 102,723 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 4,145 shares during the period. Toronto Dominion Banks holdings in Entergy were worth $9,502,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in ETR. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in Entergy in the first quarter worth $29,000. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in shares of Entergy by 157.1% in 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 during the period. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its holdings in shares of Entergy by 108.8% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 307 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $28,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares during the last quarter. Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Entergy during the 3rd quarter worth about $32,000. Finally, OLD Point Trust & Financial Services N A bought a new position in Entergy during the 2nd quarter valued at about $34,000. 86.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Entergy Stock Down 1.1 %

NYSE:ETR opened at $100.47 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57, a current ratio of 0.57 and a quick ratio of 0.32. The firm has a market cap of $21.42 billion, a PE ratio of 9.06, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.99 and a beta of 0.70. The company has a 50-day moving average of $100.66 and a 200 day moving average of $98.14. Entergy Co. has a 1-year low of $87.10 and a 1-year high of $111.90.

Entergy Announces Dividend

Entergy ( NYSE:ETR Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 22nd. The utilities provider reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $0.52. The firm had revenue of $2.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.27 billion. Entergy had a net margin of 19.41% and a return on equity of 10.54%. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.51 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Entergy Co. will post 7.22 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 9th were given a $1.13 dividend. This represents a $4.52 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.50%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 8th. Entergys payout ratio is 40.76%.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Entergy news, EVP Marcus V. Brown sold 38,417 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The shares were 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 in the company, 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 company insiders.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several brokerages have issued reports on ETR. Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on shares of Entergy from $92.00 to $94.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Entergy from $117.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, December 1st. Barclays upped their price objective on Entergy from $99.00 to $104.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 2nd. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Entergy from $110.00 to $113.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 26th. Finally, UBS Group upgraded shares of Entergy from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the stock from $103.00 to $118.00 in a report on Monday, November 6th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $110.73.

Read Our Latest Stock Analysis on Entergy

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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Toronto Dominion Bank lessened its stake in Tyler Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:TYL  Free Report) by 7.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 22,456 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 1,735 shares during the period. Toronto Dominion Bank owned 0.05% of Tyler Technologies worth $8,671,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TYL. Norges Bank purchased a new position in Tyler Technologies during the 4th quarter valued at about $164,642,000. William Blair Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in Tyler Technologies during the 2nd quarter valued at about $185,458,000. Alliancebernstein L.P. increased its position in Tyler Technologies by 26.3% during the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 1,719,257 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $554,306,000 after purchasing an additional 357,779 shares during the period. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans increased its position in Tyler Technologies by 242.8% during the 2nd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 258,641 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $107,716,000 after purchasing an additional 183,187 shares during the period. Finally, Select Equity Group L.P. increased its position in Tyler Technologies by 101.0% during the 1st quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 327,305 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $116,075,000 after purchasing an additional 164,478 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.28% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

TYL has been the topic of a number of recent analyst reports. JMP Securities restated a market outperform rating and issued a $490.00 price target on shares of Tyler Technologies in a report on Friday, February 16th. DA Davidson lifted their target price on shares of Tyler Technologies from $412.00 to $434.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. Needham & Company LLC lifted their target price on shares of Tyler Technologies from $475.00 to $500.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Piper Sandler lifted their price objective on shares of Tyler Technologies from $480.00 to $520.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 16th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on shares of Tyler Technologies from $500.00 to $526.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 15th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and ten have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $457.86.

Insider Transactions at Tyler Technologies

In other news, Director Glenn A. Carter sold 1,650 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $437.84, for a total transaction of $722,436.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,011 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $880,496.24. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other Tyler Technologies news, Director Glenn A. Carter sold 1,650 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $437.84, for a total value of $722,436.00. Following the transaction, the director now owns 2,011 shares of the companys stock, valued at $880,496.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, Chairman John S. Marr, Jr. sold 7,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, December 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $405.78, for a total transaction of $2,840,460.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now directly owns 6,400 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,596,992. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 52,650 shares of company stock valued at $22,569,396 over the last 90 days. 2.20% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Tyler Technologies Price Performance

Tyler Technologies stock opened at $440.90 on Friday. Tyler Technologies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $305.06 and a 52-week high of $454.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $18.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 113.34, a PEG ratio of 4.32 and a beta of 0.82. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $428.20 and a 200-day simple moving average of $406.04. The company has a quick ratio of 0.86, a current ratio of 0.86 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.20.

About Tyler Technologies

(Free Report)

Tyler Technologies, Inc provides integrated information management solutions and services for the public sector. It operates in two segments, Enterprise Software and Platform Technologies. The company offers platform and transformative technology solutions, including cybersecurity for government agencies; data and insights solutions; digital solutions that helps workers and policymakers to share, communicate, and leverage data; payments solutions, such as billing, presentment, merchant onboarding, collections, reconciliation, and disbursements; platform technologies, an application development platform that enables government workers to build solutions and applications; and outdoor recreation solutions, including campsite reservations, activity registrations, licensing sales and renewals, and real-time data for conservation and park management.

Further Reading

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Trexquant Investment LP bought a new position in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IWN  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund bought 14,231 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,929,000.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC bought a new position in iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF in the 3rd quarter worth about $686,000. Summit Financial LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. Summit Financial LLC now owns 9,696 shares of the companys stock worth $1,323,000 after acquiring an additional 555 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 8.6% in the 2nd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 3,108 shares of the companys stock worth $463,000 after acquiring an additional 245 shares during the period. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 2.4% in the second quarter. Johnson Investment Counsel Inc. now owns 128,287 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,063,000 after acquiring an additional 3,060 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearstead Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF by 8.3% during the third quarter. Clearstead Advisors LLC now owns 10,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,375,000 after acquiring an additional 778 shares during the period.

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iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF Price Performance

Shares of NYSEARCA:IWN opened at $154.10 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $151.07 and its 200 day moving average price is $142.84. The stock has a market cap of $12.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.40 and a beta of 1.15. iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF has a 12 month low of $124.97 and a 12 month high of $158.87.

iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF Profile

iShares Russell 2000 Value ETF, formerly Ishares Trust Russel 2000 (the Fund), formerly iShares Russell 2000 Value Index Fund, is an exchange traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the Russell 2000 Value Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of equity securities of Russell 2000 Index issuers with relatively lower price-to-book ratios and lower forecasted growth.

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Trexquant Investment LP acquired a new position in shares of Meritage Homes Co. (NYSE:MTH  Free Report) in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 17,128 shares of the construction companys stock, valued at approximately $2,096,000.

Several other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Hollencrest Capital Management acquired a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the 1st quarter worth approximately $29,000. Carmel Capital Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $38,000. Quantbot Technologies LP acquired a new position in shares of Meritage Homes during the 1st quarter worth approximately $48,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Meritage Homes by 339.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 431 shares of the construction companys stock worth $53,000 after purchasing an additional 333 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in shares of Meritage Homes by 108.3% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,337 shares of the construction companys stock worth $106,000 after purchasing an additional 695 shares during the last quarter. 99.48% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Meritage Homes news, CAO Alison Sasser sold 231 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.99, for a total transaction of $35,340.69. Following the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 1,859 shares in the company, valued at $284,408.41. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, CAO Alison Sasser sold 231 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.99, for a total transaction of $35,340.69. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 1,859 shares of the companys stock, valued at $284,408.41. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, COO Clinton Szubinski sold 797 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $152.62, for a total value of $121,638.14. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 5,234 shares in the company, valued at approximately $798,813.08. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 1,498 shares of company stock worth $228,196 over the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 2.00% of the companys stock.

Meritage Homes Stock Up 1.2 %

NYSE:MTH opened at $159.61 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 1.77, a current ratio of 1.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.22. The stocks fifty day moving average is $163.44 and its two-hundred day moving average is $144.42. Meritage Homes Co. has a 52 week low of $103.61 and a 52 week high of $179.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.77 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.01 and a beta of 1.76.

Meritage Homes (NYSE:MTH  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 31st. The construction company reported $5.38 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $5.18 by $0.20. Meritage Homes had a return on equity of 17.03% and a net margin of 12.03%. The company had revenue of $1.65 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.52 billion. Research analysts anticipate that Meritage Homes Co. will post 17.72 EPS for the current year.

Meritage Homes Increases Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.75 per share. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.88%. This is a boost from Meritage Homess previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Meritage Homess dividend payout ratio is 5.42%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MTH has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com cut Meritage Homes from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Zelman & Associates upgraded Meritage Homes from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Monday, February 26th. Wedbush reiterated a neutral rating and issued a $170.00 price objective on shares of Meritage Homes in a report on Thursday, February 1st. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Meritage Homes from $151.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Seaport Res Ptn cut Meritage Homes from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $167.25.

Get Our Latest Analysis on Meritage Homes

About Meritage Homes

(Free Report)

Meritage Homes Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, designs and builds single-family attached and detached homes in the United States. The company operates through two segments, Homebuilding and Financial Services. It acquires and develops land; and constructs, markets, and sells homes for entry-level and first move-up buyers in Arizona, California, Colorado, Utah, Texas, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.

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By Lefteris Papadimas and Angeliki Koutantou

ATHENS (Reuters) -The sale of a 27% stake in Piraeus Bank by Greece's bank bailout fund (HFSF), worth about 1.3 billion euros ($1.41 billion), was oversubscribed by more than three times on Monday, sources close to the process told Reuters.

Greece's third largest lender will be the third of the country's four big banks to be fully privatised since last autumn after the Greek economy was raised to investment grade.

Interest in the Piraeus sale, which was announced on Sunday, is a positive sign for the Greek economy after a decade-long debt crisis that saw the Mediterranean country nearly fall out of the euro before receiving three international bailouts.

HFSF said it had decided to sell the entire 27% stake due to strong demand, confirming an earlier Reuters report.

"The offering has been oversubscribed in a few minutes after the books opened," the first source said, adding that up to 25% will be offered to institutions and 2% to retail investors.

A few hours later, two sources said that the Piraeus stake sale, which will run until Wednesday, was more than three times oversubscribed.

The initial price range was set between 3.7 and 4 euros per share, the state-controlled HFSF said late on Sunday.

"The majority of the bids from investors are in the upper part of the price range," the first source added.

Shares in Piraeus, which has a market value of around 4.98 billion euros, were up 4.18% to 4.19 euros at 1314 GMT.

After injecting about 50 billion euros to prop up Greece's four largest banks in return for shares during the debt crisis which ended in 2018, HFSF began divesting its stakes last year.

It divested its holdings in Eurobank and Alpha Bank and sold part of its stake in National Bank last autumn.

BofA Securities, Goldman Sachs Bank and UBS are acting as joint coordinators for the offering of Piraeus stake.

($1 = 0.9223 euros)

(Reporting by Lefteris Papadimas and Angeliki Koutantou; Editing by Edward McAllister, David Evans and Alexander Smith)
United Services Automobile Association raised its stake in OGE Energy Corp. (NYSE:OGE  Free Report) by 25.5% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 13,373 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 2,716 shares during the quarter. United Services Automobile Associations holdings in OGE Energy were worth $446,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other large investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of OGE Energy during the 2nd quarter worth $28,000. Sunbelt Securities Inc. acquired a new position in shares of OGE Energy during the 1st quarter worth $32,000. Authentikos Wealth Advisory LLC acquired a new position in shares of OGE Energy during the 3rd quarter worth $43,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of OGE Energy by 572.5% during the 3rd quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,466 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $49,000 after purchasing an additional 1,248 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in shares of OGE Energy by 45.0% during the 2nd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 1,417 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $51,000 after purchasing an additional 440 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 66.99% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

OGE has been the topic of several analyst reports. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of OGE Energy from $38.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH lowered shares of OGE Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and lowered their target price for the company from $36.00 to $34.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 16th. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of OGE Energy from $34.00 to $35.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 28th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of OGE Energy from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Finally, TheStreet lowered shares of OGE Energy from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 21st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $33.60.

OGE Energy Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of OGE Energy stock opened at $32.84 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.58 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.86 and a beta of 0.73. The company has a quick ratio of 0.30, a current ratio of 0.65 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.96. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $33.65 and a 200 day simple moving average of $34.17. OGE Energy Corp. has a 12-month low of $31.25 and a 12-month high of $39.09.

OGE Energy (NYSE:OGE  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 20th. The utilities provider reported $0.24 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.20 by $0.04. OGE Energy had a net margin of 15.59% and a return on equity of 9.37%. The firm had revenue of $566.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $986.67 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.25 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 20.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts expect that OGE Energy Corp. will post 2.14 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

OGE Energy Cuts Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 8th will be given a dividend of $0.418 per share. This represents a $1.67 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.09%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 5th. OGE Energys dividend payout ratio is 80.68%.

About OGE Energy

(Free Report)

OGE Energy Corp., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy services provider in the United States. The company generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electric energy. In addition, it provides retail electric service to approximately 896,000 customers, which covers a service area of approximately 30,000 square miles in Oklahoma and western Arkansas; and owns and operates coal-fired, natural gas-fired, wind-powered, and solar-powered generating assets.

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Glenmede Trust Co. NA increased its position in shares of Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM  Free Report) by 121.7% during the 3rd quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The fund owned 181,291 shares of the restaurant operators stock after acquiring an additional 99,518 shares during the period. Glenmede Trust Co. NAs holdings in Yum! Brands were worth $22,650,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of YUM. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Yum! Brands by 1,190.5% during the 3rd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 271 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $34,000 after acquiring an additional 250 shares in the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC increased its holdings in Yum! Brands by 28,400.0% during the 4th quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC now owns 285 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $37,000 after purchasing an additional 284 shares during the period. Legacy Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in Yum! Brands during the 3rd quarter worth about $40,000. Vestor Capital LLC increased its holdings in Yum! Brands by 303.5% during the 2nd quarter. Vestor Capital LLC now owns 2,163 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $41,000 after purchasing an additional 1,627 shares during the period. Finally, KB Financial Partners LLC purchased a new stake in Yum! Brands during the 2nd quarter worth about $41,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.17% of the companys stock.

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Yum! Brands Stock Down 0.7 %

NYSE:YUM opened at $137.42 on Friday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $131.48 and its 200 day moving average price is $127.71. The company has a market capitalization of $38.66 billion, a PE ratio of 24.58, a P/E/G ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 1.10. Yum! Brands, Inc. has a 52-week low of $115.53 and a 52-week high of $143.24.

Yum! Brands Increases Dividend

Yum! Brands ( NYSE:YUM Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The restaurant operator reported $1.26 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.39 by ($0.13). Yum! Brands had a negative return on equity of 17.76% and a net margin of 22.57%. The company had revenue of $2.04 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.11 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.31 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up .8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Yum! Brands, Inc. will post 5.73 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The firm 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 $0.67 dividend. This is a boost from Yum! Brandss previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. This represents a $2.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.95%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, February 20th. Yum! Brandss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 47.94%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,756 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.21, for a total value of $485,312.76. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 57,325 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,406,963.25. The transaction 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 3,756 shares of Yum! Brands stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.21, for a total value of $485,312.76. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares in the company, valued at $7,406,963.25. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, CEO David W. Gibbs sold 3,792 shares of Yum! Brands stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $130.17, for a total value of $493,604.64. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 57,325 shares in the company, valued at approximately $7,461,995.25. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 17,467 shares of company stock valued at $2,264,717 in the last three months. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several brokerages have weighed in on YUM. Oppenheimer upgraded Yum! Brands from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $154.00 price target on the stock in a report on Friday, January 5th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price target on Yum! Brands from $145.00 to $141.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 9th. Barclays cut their price target on Yum! Brands from $146.00 to $144.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Stifel Nicolaus reiterated a hold rating and issued a $135.00 price objective on shares of Yum! Brands in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Citigroup increased their price objective on Yum! Brands from $164.00 to $166.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th. Nine investment 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 stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $144.75.

Get Our Latest Stock Analysis on Yum! Brands

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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BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua)  The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee held the 12th group study session on new energy technology and China's energy security on the afternoon of Feb. 29. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, while presiding over the session, stressed that energy security bears heavily on the overall economic and social development. To respond to global climate change, the international community has reached the consensus to actively develop clean energy and promote the green and low-carbon transition in economic and social development. We should follow this general trend, seize the opportunities, and intensify efforts to promote high-quality development of new energy in China. In this way, we will secure safe and reliable energy supply for advancing Chinese modernization, and make greater contributions to the building of a clean and beautiful world.

Professor Liu Jizhen, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Engineering and director of the State Key Laboratory of Alternate Electrical Power System with Renewable Energy Sources, gave a lecture on the topic and offered his advice on the related work. Members of the CPC Central Committee Political Bureau listened attentively and had a discussion.

Xi delivered an important address following the lecture and discussion sessions. He said that China has stepped up its efforts to establish a new type of energy system since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012, which has continuously consolidated the foundation for energy security and provided strong support for the country's economic and social development. At the same time, it should be noted that China still faces challenges in the development of energy resources, including high pressure from energy demand, multiple constraints on energy supply as well as the arduous tasks posed by the imperative of achieving a green and low-carbon transition. The solution is to vigorously promote the development of new energy resources.

Xi stressed that China is abundant in resources such as wind power and photovoltaics, and has tremendous potential for developing new energy. Through continuous efforts and the accumulation of experience, China's new energy technologies and equipment manufacturing have led the world. China has built the world's largest environmentally clean power supply system. New-energy vehicles, lithium batteries, and photovoltaic products are highly competitive in the international market. China has established a solid foundation for developing new energy resources, playing a significant part in driving the global energy transformation and responding to climate change.

Xi noted the need to ensure both the development of new energy and national energy security, adhere to the principle of making plans first, strengthening the top-level design, and doing a good job in overall consideration for coordinated development of the energy sector. It is imperative to properly handle the relationship between new energy and traditional energy, overall and local interests, government and market, energy development and its conservation and utilization, so as to promote the high-quality development of new energy.

Xi stressed that it is imperative to set sights on the global frontiers of energy science and technology and focus on the key fields and major needs in the sector. It is essential to choose the right path for technological innovation, leverage the strength of the new system for mobilizing resources nationwide in a joint effort to achieve breakthroughs in core technologies in key fields, and strengthen the application of scientific research outcomes, so as to develop energy technology and its related industries into a new growth driver to boost the upgrading of China's industries and promote the development of new productive forces.

Xi pointed out that it is imperative to respond to the needs of energy transition by building a robust infrastructure network for new energy. This includes advancing the intelligent transformation of power grid infrastructure and the construction of smart microgrids, so as to boost the grid's capability to integrate, distribute and regulate clean energy. It is also important to accelerate the building of a charging infrastructure network to support the rapid development of new energy vehicles.

Xi stressed the need to deepen international cooperation in the innovation in new energy technology. The cooperation along the new energy industrial chain should be advanced in an orderly manner to establish a new model of win-win cooperation for green and low-carbon energy transition. It is essential to get deeply involved in the transformation of international energy governance and promote the establishment of a global energy governance system that is fair, just, balanced and inclusive.

Lastly, Xi emphasized that achieving self-reliance and strength in science and technology requires not only grasping the general direction of current sci-tech development, but also giving prominence to our own imperatives, taking problem- and demand-oriented approaches, and thus promoting the efficiency and effectiveness of input in scientific and technological innovation.

(Source: Xinhua)
250 nurses and doctors from Kerala to join NHS Wales as part of new agreement

250 nurses and doctors will be coming to Wales under a new agreement between Welsh Government and the Kerala Government.

As part of Wales in India, Health Minister Eluned Morgan has signed an agreement with the Government of Kerala to bring qualified healthcare professionals from India to work in NHS Wales.

During the visit to Kerala, the health minister met with some of the nursing and medical professionals, and their families, who will soon be taking up roles in Wales at a reception to thank them and celebrate their contribution to NHS Wales.

Siji Salimkutty came to Wales as a nurse from Kerala in 2004 and has spent the last twenty years working within NHS Wales.

Since coming to Wales Siji has continued to encourage international recruitment helping to support other nurses to make Wales home.

His nephew, Sharoon, will be one of the 250 healthcare professionals who will be coming to Wales from Kerala the next year and his daughter is a medical student at Cardiff University who also hopes to use her skills and knowledge in Wales.

Siji Salimkutty said: I came to Wales seeking opportunity, but what I found was a home.

For the past 20 years, working in NHS Wales has been an enriching journey filled with camaraderie, growth, and a deep sense of belonging.

Its not just a job; its a testament to the warmth and spirit of this remarkable place.

Sharoon Kolickatharayil Nowshad (Sharoon K Nowshad) said: Moving to Wales as a nurse offers me the chance to reunite with my uncles and family who have lived in Wales and worked in the NHS for 20 years.

I know when I arrive, Ill be able to settle in and progress in my career, and theres already a strong Kerala community where I can make new connections, while reconnecting with my family.

Ethical international recruitment is a key part of NHS Waless workforce implementation plan and last year over 400 internationally educated nurses were recruited from overseas through a nationally delivered programme.

A further cohort of internationally educated nurses as well as medical staff will be recruited this year alongside a 5 million programme to support targeted recruitment including further ethical international recruitment.

Alongside significant investment to increase homegrown supply of nurses and other healthcare professionals, recruiting internationally helps to close the vacancy gap in the short and medium term.

In recognition of the importance of the NHS workforce and to support the development of Wales grown doctors and nurses, the Health Minister announced last month that over 283 million will be invested in the education and training of healthcare professionals in Wales this year; helping to increase the number of training places available.

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan said: Despite record number of nurses and other healthcare professionals in NHS Wales, the demand for health care workers globally has significantly increased.

International recruitment, alongside our investment and commitment to home grown healthcare staff, is one of the ways we can fill the workforce gaps and rely less on agency staff.

Kerala has a long history of training health care professionals and supporting them to come to Wales.

I have seen first-hand the tremendous impact these dedicated nurses, doctors and other health care staff have had on our health care services and it was an honour to meet some of Wales future workforce as they prepare to come to Wales.

I am also delighted that despite the challenging financial climate we have been able to maintain our budget for training healthcare professionals in Wales. This shows our commitment to building a high quality, professional workforce fit for the future.

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Campaign calls for recognition and support for inspiring young carers in north and mid-Wales

A new campaign is calling for recognition and support for the thousands of inspiring young carers in north and mid-Wales.

Credu has appealed for businesses, schools, colleges, universities, and communities across the region to help shine a light on the dedication and commitment of more than 2,400 young carers in Wrexham, Conwy, Denbighshire, Powys, and Ceredigion.

Ahead of Young Carers Action Day on Wednesday March 13  organised by Carers Trust  they are pushing for more organisations to recognise bilingual resources including an identity card offering discounts, fast-track and incentives to young people with unpaid caring responsibility for a family member or loved one, often for up to 50 hours a week on top of their work or studies.

This latest appeal, entitled Fair Futures for Young Carers, also wants education settings to demonstrate more empathy and understanding of the challenges they face and come up with solutions to alleviate pressure and create a positive learning environment.

Young Carers Coordinator Sally Duckers said Bangor University is a role model for other institutions, having invited young adult carers to attend a residential taster while recognising the barriers they face in accessing higher education, given they are traditionally likely to be living in areas of high deprivation, compared to their peers.

Young carers are consistently telling us they wish their schools would understand them better, which is disheartening, said Sally.

Credu has been working on a programme of resources to address that, which includes free bilingual lesson plans aimed at key stages two and three that follow the Welsh curriculum and new promotion of the Young Carers ID card, which invites support from our communities.

Some businesses and attractions are already on board, but we would like it to be more noticed and prevalent in the communities we work in.We hope others will offer that support to the young carers given the economic and social obstacles they often face.

She added: To have the support of Bangor University and other educators is vital, as it gives them something to strive for, a pathway to their future careers.

Statistics from UCAS revealed young carers tend to apply to universities within 30 minutes of their home, so having FE and HE providers in North Wales showing so much support and understanding is key  we are really thankful for that.

Lowrian Williams, Widening Participation Officer for UK Recruitment and Admissions at Bangor University, said the institution is dedicated to supporting young carers in Wales and pleased to support the campaign.

A highlight for us is our annual Young Carers Residential, happening every Easter, said Lowrian.

With support from our partners at Reaching Wider North and Mid Wales Partnership, we invite young carers from all over Wales, and during their stay on campus, they experience a taste of university life, connect with our friendly staff and students, and take part in workshops and academic talks.

Its not just a break from caring; its a chance for them to focus on their own goals and aspirations and we look forward to welcoming them again this Easter.

She added: Young carers bring a unique and enriching perspective to our university student community. Their resilience, compassion, and diverse life experiences contribute greatly to the academic community and beyond.

Eve Lambrick, a Raising Awareness Coordinator with Credu, hopes to see more people become Champions for young carers to ensure they do not miss out on activities, adventures, or job opportunities because of a lack of transport, lack of finances or lack of social connections.

We hear many inspiring stories where some positive support in a timely way has led to young carers being able to flourish and develop skills after being given a platform to succeed, she added.

We would love to see businesses especially identify opportunities for young carers, to give them a voice and opportunities they might never have thought were possible.

Thats the community we are looking to build so they have all the transferable skills, maturity and resilience needed to thrive  that will give them a fair future.

You can access the Credu resources pack here. For more information, email [email protected] or [email protected] or visit the website. Alternatively, email [email protected]

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Last week saw the newest full-year earnings release from Heineken Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:HEIM), an important milestone in the company's journey to build a stronger business. It was a credible result overall, with revenues of RM2.6b and statutory earnings per share of RM1.28 both in line with analyst estimates, showing that Heineken Malaysia Berhad is executing in line with expectations. 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Heineken Malaysia Berhad

Taking into account the latest results, the most recent consensus for Heineken Malaysia Berhad from ten analysts is for revenues of RM2.76b in 2024. If met, it would imply a reasonable 4.8% increase on its revenue over the past 12 months. Per-share earnings are expected to increase 5.0% to RM1.34. Yet prior to the latest earnings, the analysts had been anticipated revenues of RM2.80b and earnings per share (EPS) of RM1.38 in 2024. So it looks like there's been a small decline in overall sentiment after the recent results - there's been no major change to revenue estimates, but the analysts did make a minor downgrade to their earnings per share forecasts.

The consensus price target held steady at RM28.28, with the analysts seemingly voting that their lower forecast earnings are not expected to lead to a lower stock price in the foreseeable future. It could also be instructive to look at the range of analyst estimates, to evaluate how different the outlier opinions are from the mean. The most optimistic Heineken Malaysia Berhad analyst has a price target of RM29.94 per share, while the most pessimistic values it at RM25.21. With such a narrow range of valuations, the analysts apparently share similar views on what they think the business is worth.

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These estimates are interesting, but it can be useful to paint some more broad strokes when seeing how forecasts compare, both to the Heineken Malaysia Berhad's past performance and to peers in the same industry. It's pretty clear that there is an expectation that Heineken Malaysia Berhad's revenue growth will slow down substantially, with revenues to the end of 2024 expected to display 4.8% growth on an annualised basis. This is compared to a historical growth rate of 6.5% over the past five years. Compare this to the 6 other companies in this industry with analyst coverage, which are forecast to grow their revenue at 4.5% per year. So it's pretty clear that, while Heineken Malaysia Berhad's revenue growth is expected to slow, it's expected to grow roughly in line with the industry.

The Bottom Line

The most important thing to take away is that the analysts downgraded their earnings per share estimates, showing that there has been a clear decline in sentiment following these results. They also reconfirmed their revenue estimates, with the company predicted to grow at about the same rate as the wider industry. The consensus price target held steady at RM28.28, with the latest estimates not enough to have an impact on their price targets.

With that in mind, we wouldn't be too quick to come to a conclusion on Heineken Malaysia Berhad. Long-term earnings power is much more important than next year's profits. We have forecasts for Heineken Malaysia Berhad 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 1 warning sign with Heineken Malaysia Berhad , and understanding this should be part of your investment process.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Space Enterprise Lab opens at Wrexham Universitys OpTIC Technology Centre

A Space Enterprise Lab which will support the growth of the space sector across the UK has officially opened at the OpTIC Technology Centre, located at Prifysgol Wrecsam/Wrexham Universitys St Asaph campus.

The lab, which will provide users with the latest collaborative technology, resources and expertise, is the latest addition to the Satellite Applications Catapults countrywide network.

The new Space Enterprise Lab provides a range of essential capabilities for space sector companies and innovators, enabling them to work together more effectively.

It is part of a linked network of 14 such facilities around the UK which are responding to the way in which businesses and organisations now work.

The Space Enterprise Lab will provide an innovative service by facilitating the virtual delivery of meetings, business sprints, user engagement spark sessions and other services such as virtual whiteboards and built-in video conferencing, for everyone within the UK space sector to use.

Based on the St Asaph Business Park, OpTIC Technology Centre is a unique business and technology centre owned and operated by Wrexham University. It links research and development, industry and academia and has a proven track record in providing technology companies with high-quality facilities and a community spirit to grow and develop their business.

OpTIC Technology Centre also specialises in innovative optical systems, product development, engineering and technology consulting  and has developed cutting-edge technology with an unparalleled array of highly specialist equipment and laboratory space.

The launch of the Space Enterprise Lab at OpTIC Technology Centre will facilitate collaborative work and engagement between organisations in North Wales and South Wales, where Newports lab was launched in June 2023.

Professor Caroline Gray OBE, Director of OpTIC Technology Centre, said: We are delighted to be launching a Space Enterprise Lab to support the growth of the space sector across the UK.

These unique facilities embrace the new hybrid way in which we all now engage, fostering UK-wide space innovation and discussion. We are enabling businesses across the UK to collaborate across high-innovation subjects, to develop ideas, explore new products and engage with customers more effectively.

Professor Richard Day, Pro Vice Chancellor for Research at Wrexham University, said: We are excited to be hosting the first Space Enterprise Lab in North Wales. We thank Satellite Applications Catapult for the opportunity to collaborate on this project.

This is an excellent facility for individuals and companies to explore the growing world of space technologies, applications and services.

Dr. Nafeesa Dajda, Director of National Capabilities at the Satellite Applications Catapult, added: We are delighted to be launching the new Space Enterprise Lab at the OpTIC Technology Centre to fully connect Space Wales to our space ecosystem.

The UKs vibrant space sector is active in every part of the country, and this lab will encourage collaboration between innovative organisations as they reimagine how we use satellite technology and create new applications to solve our biggest global challenges.

To find out more, including the latest launch and booking details for each Space Enterprise Lab location, email: [email protected] or visit: www.sa.catapult.org.uk/sel.

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Wrong to scrap lifeline free meals in holidays for youngest and most vulnerable in Wales, says Plaid Cymru

Plaid Cymru has reacted to the announcement by the Education Minister and First Minister Candidate, Jeremy Miles, that support for food for the youngest and most vulnerable children in Wales had been scrapped indefinitely.

The Welsh Government had been subject to a judicial review after initially providing free meal support for children throughout Covid, and then cancelling this support on the eve of the summer school holidays in 2023.

The free school meals scheme, which provided support to many families during periods of school holidays, was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic as a means to combat holiday hunger. 

The free school meals scheme, which has provided support to many families during periods of school holidays, was introduced during the Covid-19 pandemic as a means to combat holiday hunger. 

It has now been stopped abruptly by the Welsh government on the eve of the 2023 summer holidays.

The High Court has declaring that the Welsh Government unlawfully terminated its free school meal scheme during school holidays last year, following a challenge spearheaded by two families, represented by the Public Law Project (PLP).

The conclusion came about without the need for a court hearing, after Welsh Ministers acknowledged their failure to consider the impact of their decision on children and various demographic groups, including disabled individuals, ethnic minorities, and single mothers.

Plaid Cymru has called on the Labour-run Welsh Government to reverse its decision, citing research by charities aimed at tackling the cost of living and child poverty who have emphasised the increasing pressures on families and the effect this is having on children.

The Expert Group on the Cost of Living Crisis, established by the Welsh Government, has also called for schemes that support free meals for children during the holidays to be expanded.

However, in an announcement made on 29 February 2024, Education Minister Jeremy Miles MS said that given the ongoing financial pressures on the Welsh Governments budget, the decision was taken not to reintroduce the provision for October 2023 half term and subsequent holidays, and to cease the provision indefinitely.

Plaid Cymru negotiated universal free school meals for primary school children during term-time as one of its main policies in the partys Co-operation Agreement with the Welsh Government.

Party representatives Education and Social Justice have both responded to the cut to support over the holidays, calling for the Labour Government to change its mind.

Heledd Fychan MS, Plaid Cymrus spokesperson for Education said: The news that the Labour Government has indefinitely scrapped the scheme to provide food to children in poverty during the school holidays will be devastating news to all those who have previously benefited.

The Labour First Minister hopeful, Education Minister Jeremy Miles, said that cost is the main reason, which echoes an attitude to poverty that we usually hear from the Conservatives.

Latest figures show that 28% of children in Wales are living in relative poverty once housing costs have been taken into account, so for many families, the holiday free school meals scheme has been a lifeline. I urge the Welsh Government to reconsider this regressive step.

Sioned Williams MS, Plaid Cymrus spokesperson for Social Justice said: Charities who support children in poverty say that this winter has been even more difficult than last year for families in poverty, because of the cost-of-living crisis and because so many programmes of support have now disappeared.

Even the Welsh Governments own expert group on the Cost of Living recommended that support for childrens meals throughout the school holidays was expanded.

Considering all of this, it is incredibly shocking to see the Government not find a way to prioritise this relatively small budget which has such a huge impact on the lives of the youngest and most vulnerable people in Wales.

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Palestinian Authority (PA) Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh submitted his resignation and that of his cabinet to President Mahmoud Abbas Monday. He did so amid reports that Abbas has agreed to appoint a new government of non-affiliated technocrats to ostensibly administer the Gaza Strip when Israels war of genocide and ethnic cleansing ends.

Abbas has asked Shtayyeh, an economist who has held the post since 2019, to continue in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed. Shtayyeh said he had resigned as part of a broader effort to form a new government and political formation given the new reality of the war and the need to achieve reconciliation among the various Palestinian political factions, extending the PAs rule over both the West Bank and Gaza.

Mohammad Shtayyeh at the UN headquarters in New York, USA on September 22, 2022 [Photo: European Union/Johanna Leguerre]

Abbas and the Fatah-dominated PA are ready to do whatever the US and the Arab regimes demand. A revitalized PA, insisted on by the Biden administration, would serve as Israels prison guard in the West Bank and Gaza.

The Palestinian Authority

The PA was set up under the 1993-95 Oslo Accords as the supposed government-in-waiting of a future Palestinian state, including the West Bank and Gaza, illegally occupied by Israel since the 1967 Arab Israeli war. It administers less than 40 percent of the West Bank and, following the 2006 parliamentary elections, the only ones ever held, it has been excluded from Gaza.

Benjamin Netanyahus Likud party never accepted the Oslo Accords, denouncing Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin as a traitor for signing the agreement. Likud and other right-wing Zionist formations declared it incompatible with Israels right to security and the Jewish peoples right to the whole land between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea. Netanyahu worked to undermine and subvert the agreement when he became prime minister in 1996 after Rabins assassination in 1995 by a right-wing Jewish fanatic.

The current Netanyahu government is made up of fascists, settlers and religious bigots committed to Jewish Supremacy from the Jordan to the Mediterranean. Not only has Israel withheld the PAs tax revenues, leading to the late, partial, or even non-payment of wages for its 144,000 employees, it has also withdrawn the entry permits of Palestinian workers in Israels construction industry and the settlements, leading to the loss of 276,000 jobs (32 percent of employment) by December. It has set up 400 checkpoints in the West Bank, impeding the movement of people and goods. As a result, the West Banks economy shrunk by more than 20 percent in the last quarter of 2023, with one third of businesses closed or on short time and daily losses of $25 million, creating the most explosive social conditions.

Under Netanyahus declared plans for post-war Gaza, Israel would maintain security control indefinitely. At the very least, it would be a ruined wasteland, with its Palestinian population massively reduced by war, starvation, and disease. Though if Netanyahu can fully realise his aims, the Palestinians would be ethnically cleansed, not just from Gaza but the West Bank also, and driven into the desert.

Abbas and the PAs role is being discussed within the context of some form of continued Palestinian presence.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas [AP Photo/Ludovic Marin]

At least publicly, without mentioning the PA, Netanyahu insisted instead on a demilitarized Gaza, the removal of all military capability beyond that necessary for public order and a Southern Closure on Gazas border with Egypt to prevent smuggling, while ceding the administration of civilian life to Gazans without links to Hamas. He also called for the dismantling of UNRWA, the UN agency that delivers aid and public services to Palestinians displaced from their homes in the 1947-49 and 1967 Arab Israeli wars and their descendants in the West Bank, Gaza, East Jerusalem, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria.

Netanyahu has ruled out any recognition of a Palestinian state, the phantom once again waved around by Washington and its imperialist allies to suggest an end point for the Gaza genocide other than ethnic cleansing. He noted that the Knesset had voted by an overwhelming majority days earlier to reject the unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state, which would not only fail to bring peace but would endanger the State of Israel.

The fraud of a revitalized PA

The plans for a revitalized PA first saw the light of day in Doha last December at a meeting of US imperialisms key Arab allies in the region, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar and Jordan. The Butcher of Cairo, Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, set out his plans for a new provisional PA government paving the way for parliamentary and presidential elections to determine the post-war administration of the West Bank and Gaza.

With the inclusion of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), both more popular than Fatah, in any Palestinian government unacceptable to Israel, the Arab despots have proposed Abbas appoint a government of technocrats with no explicit political affiliations which they would support financially.

The pretense of elections is an attempt to counter the massive hostility to the PA, which is despised for its corrupt, autocratic and ineffective rule and subservience to Israel. Following the first and only presidential elections in 2005, Abbass term was indefinitely extended in 2009. Having held no parliamentary elections since the first in January 2006, when Hamas achieved a surprise win over Fatah, Abbas dismissed parliament and has largely ruled by decree, cancelling parliamentary elections planned for 2021 fearing another defeat.

No election would be possible in Gaza anyway, with much of the infrastructure destroyed. And no legitimate election could take place in the West Bank, especially given that the most popular candidate to head the PA is Marwan Barghouti, currently serving several life sentences in an Israeli jail.

The Arab regimes proposed this revamping of the PA as part of a wider strategy, including an immediate and permanent ceasefire, a swap of hostages and prisoners, the reconstruction of Gaza, full UN recognition of Palestine and an international conference to agree the establishment of a Palestinian statelet.

This rosy scenario will never be realized. Discussions on a temporary ceasefire continue at time of writing, with Netanyahu and Biden receptive to a hostage/prisoner swap in return for a brief pause in plans for a ground invasion of Rafah. But Netanyahu has insisted that once the formalities of sending more aid in for a few weeks, hostilities will resume. Moreover, a permanent ceasefire is unacceptable to any of Israels political factions, all of whom support the expansion of the settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and the transport networks linking them that make a contiguous statelet impossible.

Palestinians inspect the damage following an Israeli airstrike on the El-Remal aera in Gaza City on October 9, 2023. [Photo by Palestinian News & Information Agency (Wafa) in contract with APAimages / CC BY 3.0

With both Jordan and Egypt hell-bent on preventing a mass flight of destitute Palestinians into countries that are already social powder kegs, the PAs actual role would be to guard an open-air prison that the Arab regimes have been complicit in creatingnot only in Gaza but also in the West Bank.

To carry out its repressive role, the PA would require the backup of an international force, whose troops would most likely come from the Arab states who had already signed normalization agreements with Israel and would be financed jointly by them and the imperialist powers.

Egypts fundamental aim was to provide a political mechanism for maintaining stabilitymeaning suppressing all opposition to Israels military occupation of the Palestinian territories and preventing it igniting a wider regional struggle against Arab regimes that have colluded for decades with Israel. Their ultimate fear is that the global popular support for the Palestinians will coalesce with the growing anger over the deteriorating social conditions of their own citizens.

To this end they are determined to cobble together a Palestinian mechanism for administering the territories that is acceptable to US imperialism, but with an Arab stamp of approval to protect Washington as the real author of the Gaza genocide.

The quid pro quo is Washingtons commitment to back their security in the event of a new Arab Spring or mass movement to unseat them, to neutralize the Houthi threat to Saudi Arabia and to wage war against Iran, which has backed opposition forces to their rule, as part of the preparations for war on China.

While Shtayyeh stated publicly that Hamas is an integral part of the Palestinian political arena, he insisted that they drop their programme of armed struggle. He declared, In order for Hamas to be a member of the PLO [Palestine Liberation Organisation], there have to be prerequisites that Hamas has to acceptthe political platform of the PLO, an understanding on the issue of resistanceand we are calling for popular resistance and nothing else. They need to come to our political agenda. Our ground is very clear. Two states on the borders of 1967 through peaceful means.

On Tuesday, Tel Aviv agreed to begin transferring funds, withheld since October 7, to the PA. The previous Sunday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen had written to Netanyahu, warning that Israels actions are seriously impairing the West Bank economy, reducing income, and also at the same time having an adverse impact on Israel.

On Thursday, Hamas and PIJ fell into line and joined the other Palestinian factions in further discussions on the makeup of a future Palestinian government in Moscow. That such discussions are taking place amid the Gaza genocide signifies the complete dead-end of the two-state solution, which was never more than a cruel deception aimed at suppressing the legitimate political, economic and social aspirations of the Palestinian people.

Bourgeois nationalist movements all over the world that once sought independence from their colonial masters have ended up ever more dependent upon outside powers to impose their rule. Palestinian statehood and independence have degenerated into a mechanism for a handful of familiesin both the West Bank and Gazato enrich themselves through the exploitation and suppression of the Palestinian workers and rural poor. Coming later to independence than the other bourgeois nationalist movements, that wealth could only be achieved and maintained by presiding over impoverished Bantustans in the West Bank and an open-air prison in Gaza.

Trotskys Theory of Permanent Revolution demonstrates that the colonial and semi-colonial peoples cannot achieve any of their most basic needsfreedom from imperialist oppression, democratic rights, jobs, and social equalityunder the leadership of any section of the national bourgeoisie. Trotsky insisted that in the imperialist epoch, the realization of the basic democratic and national tasks in the oppressed nationstasks associated in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries with the rise of the bourgeoisieposes the taking of power by the working class. This in turn could be achieved only as part of the struggle for world socialist revolution, to place all the resources of the national and international economy under the control of the workers and oppressed masses.

The growing international movement against the Gaza genocidein the US, Europe, Israel/Palestine, the Middle East and elsewheremust break with all the old organisations, parties and institutions that have been utterly discredited by their complicity with imperialism and build a unified, international movement of the working class against capitalism and for socialism.
Just because a business does not make any money, does not mean that the stock will go down. By way of example, Kuros Biosciences (VTX:KURN) has seen its share price rise 260% over the last year, delighting many shareholders. But while the successes are well known, investors should not ignore the very many unprofitable companies that simply burn through all their cash and collapse.

In light of its strong share price run, we think now is a good time to investigate how risky Kuros Biosciences' cash burn is. For the purposes of this article, cash burn is the annual rate at which an unprofitable company spends cash to fund its growth; its negative free cash flow. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves.

View our latest analysis for Kuros Biosciences

How Long Is Kuros Biosciences' Cash Runway?

You can calculate a company's cash runway by dividing the amount of cash it has by the rate at which it is spending that cash. As at June 2023, Kuros Biosciences had cash of CHF17m and no debt. Looking at the last year, the company burnt through CHF7.7m. That means it had a cash runway of about 2.2 years as of June 2023. That's decent, giving the company a couple years to develop its business. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time.

How Well Is Kuros Biosciences Growing?

We reckon the fact that Kuros Biosciences managed to shrink its cash burn by 34% over the last year is rather encouraging. On top of that, operating revenue was up 35%, making for a heartening combination We think it is growing rather well, upon reflection. Of course, we've only taken a quick look at the stock's growth metrics, here. You can take a look at how Kuros Biosciences is growing revenue over time by checking this visualization of past revenue growth.

How Hard Would It Be For Kuros Biosciences To Raise More Cash For Growth?

While Kuros Biosciences seems to be in a decent position, we reckon it is still worth thinking about how easily it could raise more cash, if that proved desirable. Companies can raise capital through either debt or equity. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn.

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Since it has a market capitalisation of CHF196m, Kuros Biosciences' CHF7.7m in cash burn equates to about 3.9% of its market value. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money.

Is Kuros Biosciences' Cash Burn A Worry?

It may already be apparent to you that we're relatively comfortable with the way Kuros Biosciences is burning through its cash. In particular, we think its cash burn relative to its market cap stands out as evidence that the company is well on top of its spending. Its cash burn reduction wasn't quite as good, but was still rather encouraging! Looking at all the measures in this article, together, we're not worried about its rate of cash burn; the company seems well on top of its medium-term spending needs. On another note, we conducted an in-depth investigation of the company, and identified 3 warning signs for Kuros Biosciences (2 are a bit concerning!) that you should be aware of before investing here.

If you would prefer to check out another company with better fundamentals, then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt or this list of stocks which are all forecast to grow.

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 release date and time for The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 22 have been revealed. The episode will air on Crunchyroll and follow Maomao, as she carefully navigates the palatial intrigues with the help of a handsome palace official.

Heres when the episode is coming out.

When is The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 22 release date and time?

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 22 release date is Saturday, March 9, 2024. The episode is set to premiere in Japan on Nippon TV on Sunday, March 10, 2024.

The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 22 release time (simulcast) is:

10:45 a.m. PT

1:45 p.m. ET

6:45 p.m. GMT

7:45 p.m. CET

Where to watch The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 22

Viewers can watch the upcoming episode on Crunchyroll.

To watch Episode 22, you can create an account on Crunchyroll and subscribe. The platform offers three options to its viewers. The Fan Plan costs $7.99 monthly, the Mega Plan is $9.99, and the Ultimate Fan Plan is priced at $14.99. All three plans come with a 14-day free trial at the start.

An anime adaptation of the namesake light novel series written by Natsu Hyuga and illustrated by Touko Shino, The Apothecary Diaries follows Maomao, the eponymous apothecary living in a fictional rendition of Ming-era China. She had a mostly happy childhood residing in the pleasure district with her father, who taught her everything she knew about her profession. However, Maomao is forcefully brought to the palace and is told that she must forget everything about her former life. Intelligent and resourceful, she saves the lives of two princes and suddenly, her luck turns again. Soon, Maomao becomes the palace apothecary.

The official synopsis for The Apothecary Diaries reads:

Maomao lived a peaceful life with her apothecary father. Until one day, shes sold as a lowly servant to the emperors palace. But she wasnt meant for a compliant life among royalty. So when imperial heirs fall ill, she decides to step in and find a cure! This catches the eye of Jinshi, a handsome palace official who promotes her. Now, shes making a name for herself solving medical mysteries!

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The post The Apothecary Diaries Season 1 Episode 22 Release Date & Time on Crunchyroll appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
Warning: The following article includes descriptions of sexual assault.

Details of the NCIS investigation into Ashley Massaros allegations that she was sexually assaulted while on a WWE tour have come to light.

As previously reported by VICE News Tim Marchman, Ashley Massaro accused Vince McMahon of sexually preying on female talent in a statement before her death in 2019. In the statement, Massaro noted that she was punished for rejecting his advances. The statement was not initially released, but it was made as her lawyers worked on a sworn affidavit regarding Massaros allegation that she was raped on a Kuwait military base and that WWE covered it up.

In June 2019, the United States Naval Criminal Service launched an investigation into the allegations. Wrestling-Online.com has obtained the report through a freedom of information request. The full report can be found here. (H/t Ian Carey of F4WOnline.com)

In the report, it is stated that Air Force Office of Special Investigations (AFSOI) and NCIS conducted inquiries into the allegations. An interview with Massaros physician was conducted, as was an attempt to locate the alleged crime scene. The report notes that all logical leads were exhausted, and no scene, witnesses, or subjects were identified. As a result, the case was closed, as Massaro had passed away, and no road forward was found.

Interview With Physicians Assistant Who Treated Ashley Massaro

The report states that NCIS was unable to determine the exact location of the camp where Massaro was treated. In 2019, NCIS interviewed the physicians assistant who treated Massaro in 2006. This individual stated that Massaro was with a man was seemingly acting skittish and strange at the time of treatment, when she was complaining of abdominal and pelvic pain.

This assistant stated that Massaro seemed to be drowsy, but they did not have a lot of experience treating patients who were on drugs, so they were not sure. and she had a pelvic exam. In her affidavit, Massaro claimed that someone banged on the door while she was being treated, and the assistant corroborated these claims. According to the assistant, Massaro was lucid, and it did not seem like she was upset. The assistant said that he did not see Massaro crying or seem upset, and there was no reason to think that she had been sexually assaulted.

Additionally, it was noted that the Officer in Charge of the clinic did not want to be interviewed, and they would not do so without a subpoena. NCIS tried to speak with them as part of the investigation, but he was not listed as a suspect.

An attorney for John Laurinaitis has said that most of WWE management knew about Ashley Massaros allegations. More information is available here.

The post Details Of NCIS Investigation Into Ashley Massaros Sexual Assault Claims Released appeared first on Wrestlezone.
It only took 44 years for a new adaptation of Shogun to come along and remind viewers that the late James Clavell was an incredible writer. Clavell was a solider in the British army during World War II, and he endured a harsh stint as a POW before his eventual release. Those experiences informed his writing as he went on to become an acclaimed screenwriter, director, and novelist. Shogun may be Clavells most famous work, but its far from his only masterpiece.

Because the new version of Shogun is currently airing on FX and streaming on Hulu, were taking a look back at the five best James Clavell movies and shows. Even some film aficionados may not have realized that Clavell was behind some of these flicks. Thats why its important to shine a light on his work, even if some of these projects arent readily available to be streamed.

5. Noble House (1988)

NBC

Noble House scored quite the coup by landing future James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan for the leading role of Ian Dunross shortly after he lost his first chance to play James Bond. Unlike Shogun, Noble House isnt an action-packed story. Instead its a tale about the rivalry between Dunross and Quillan Gornt (John Rhys-Davies) over the Hong Kong-based trading company Struan & Company.

Its Dunross job to guide Straun, the titular Noble House, out of its severe financial difficulties. But because Gornt is so eager to destroy Dunross and take his company away, Dunross is forced to seek out some unsavory alliances in order to save Straun. And sometimes, the stakes are more than just financial.

Noble House isnt currently available to stream.

4. King Rat (1965)

Columbia Pictures

King Rat was based on Clavells experiences as a prisoner, but fictionalized as both a novel and a feature film. Clavells fictional counterpart in the story is Marlowe (James Fox), a British pilot who is held alongside other POWs in a Japanese prison camp. Thats where Marlowe meets the title character, Corporal King (George Segal), an American who thrives in the camp because he runs the black market for goods.

Marlowe works with King at the camp, and they develop a rapport. But King is a little bit too comfortable on his throne, and his power starts to wane as the war winds down.

Rent or buy King Rat on Prime Video or other digital outlets.

3. Shogun (1980)

Paramount TV

The new version of Shogun may be critically acclaimed, but so too was the original adaptation for television in 1980. Shogun is now widely regarded as one of the greatest miniseries ever made, and it ran for a staggering nine hours over the course of five nights. Richard Chamberlain stars as John Blackthorne, an English sailor who is trapped in Japan during the early 17th century.

Lord Yoshi Toranaga (Toshiro Mifune, star of some of the best Japanese movies ever) allows Blackthorne to live as long as he serves his new master. Toranaga also assigns Lady Mariko (Yoko Shimada) to teach Blackthorne the Japanese language and culture. Sparks fly between Blackthorne and Mariko despite her marriage to another man, but the tension explodes when Toranagas enemies move against him and Blackthorne has to prove his loyalty.

The original Shogun isnt currently available to stream.

2. To Sir, with Love (1967)

Columbia Pictures

Clavell wrote and directed one of his most acclaimed films, To Sir, With Love, which was based on the novel by E. R. Braithwaite. Sidney Poitier stars in the film as Mark Thackeray, an immigrant from British Guiana who reluctantly accepts a job as a teacher because he cant secure work as an engineer. Thackeray also finds himself leading a class of at-risk students who dont have much desire to learn anything.

When his students defy him, Thackeray decides to offer them the chance to set the class subjects and be treated with respect as adults. Some of the students constantly challenge Thackerays resolve, but his approach does get results.

Watch To Sir, With Love on Prime Video.

1. The Great Escape (1963)

United Artists

Although Clavell co-wrote The Great Escape, it wasnt based on his own experiences as a POW. Instead, it was a fictionalized version of Paul Brickhills book of the same name, with legendary director John Sturges at the helm. This epic war drama also has a dream cast that includes Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, James Donald, Charles Bronson, Donald Pleasence, and James Coburn.

During the height of World War II, Captain Virgil Hilts (McQueen) and his fellow POWs devise a bold plan to divert Nazi resources from the frontline by staging a breakout for 250 prisoners at once. Its a tall order even under the best of circumstances. And if the men actually get out of the prison camp, escaping enemy territory with their lives may prove to be too dangerous.

Rent or buy The Great Escape on Prime Video or other digital outlets.
Regular readers will know that we love our dividends at Simply Wall St, which is why it's exciting to see Rogers Communications Inc. (TSE:RCI.B) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 4 days. The ex-dividend date occurs one day before the record date which is the day on which shareholders need to be on the company's books in order to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is important as the process of settlement involves two full business days. So if you miss that date, you would not show up on the company's books on the record date. This means that investors who purchase Rogers Communications' shares on or after the 8th of March will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 3rd of April.

The company's next dividend payment will be CA$0.50 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed CA$2.00 to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Rogers Communications has a trailing yield of 3.3% on the current share price of CA$60.39. Dividends are an important source of income to many shareholders, but the health of the business is crucial to maintaining those dividends. So we need to investigate whether Rogers Communications can afford its dividend, and if the dividend could grow.

View our latest analysis for Rogers Communications

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Rogers Communications distributed an unsustainably high 123% of its profit as dividends to shareholders last year. Without extenuating circumstances, we'd consider the dividend at risk of a cut. That said, even highly profitable companies sometimes might not generate enough cash to pay the dividend, which is why we should always check if the dividend is covered by cash flow. Over the last year, it paid out more than three-quarters (79%) of its free cash flow generated, which is fairly high and may be starting to limit reinvestment in the business.

Story continues

It's disappointing to see that the dividend was not covered by profits, but cash is more important from a dividend sustainability perspective, and Rogers Communications fortunately did generate enough cash to fund its dividend. Still, if the company repeatedly paid a dividend greater than its profits, we'd be concerned. Very few companies are able to sustainably pay dividends larger than their reported earnings.

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. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. Readers will understand then, why we're concerned to see Rogers Communications's earnings per share have dropped 17% a year over the past five years. Such a sharp decline casts doubt on the future sustainability of the dividend.

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. In the last 10 years, Rogers Communications has lifted its dividend by approximately 1.4% a year on average.

The Bottom Line

Has Rogers Communications got what it takes to maintain its dividend payments? Earnings per share have been shrinking in recent times. What's more, Rogers Communications is paying out a majority of its earnings and over half its free cash flow. It's hard to say if the business has the financial resources and time to turn things around without cutting the dividend. Overall it doesn't look like the most suitable dividend stock for a long-term buy and hold investor.

Although, if you're still interested in Rogers Communications and want to know more, you'll find it very useful to know what risks this stock faces. We've identified 5 warning signs with Rogers Communications (at least 1 which shouldn't be ignored), and understanding these should be part of your investment process.

If you're in the market for strong dividend payers, we recommend checking our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Israel has agreed to change the lyrics to the countrys most likely Eurovision 2024 song candidate. The Israeli broadcaster Kan had previously insisted it had no intention to replace the song, but on Sunday Kan said that it had asked the writers of the song October Rain to adjust the words while maintaining the integrity of the song.

Two lines in particular are at issue: Theres no air left to breathe and They were all good children, each one of them. Both are apparent references to people who spent hours in shelters on Oct. 7, 2023, as Hamas attacked Israelis at kibbutzim and an outdoor music festival.

Kan only agreed to the change after the countrys president Isaac Herzog made the request.

The president emphasized that at this time in particular, when those who hate us seek to push aside and boycott the state of Israel from every stage, Israel must sound its voice with pride and its head high and raise its flag in every world forum, especially this year, Kan said in a statement. Their full statement is below.

In late February, the European Broadcasting Union said it would consider disqualifying Israel from Eurovision if their song was too political. Euronews writer Sacha Roytman Dratwa, who is Israeli and Belgian and is also the CEO of the Combat Antisemitism Movement, took issue with the stance.

He wrote of the song, No mention of politics or even overt mentions of the war Israel is waging against Hamas. It is little more than a ponderance on overcoming challenges and encapsulates the mood of many in the face of the single greatest loss of Jewish life since the end of the Holocaust.

Israels story cannot be silenced, just as we would not silence the stories of others, Dratwa added.

In February, 400 actors, musicians and Hollywood executives signed a letter in support of Israels inclusion in this years Eurovision. Signees included Helen Mirren, Gene Simmons, Liev Schreiber, Scooter Braun, Boy George, Mayim Bialik, Sharon Osbourne and Debra Messing.

Kan explained in a statement, The Israeli Broadcasting Corporation has been working in recent weeks to take the necessary steps to enable Israels participation in this years Eurovision Song Contest.

Despite disagreements with the position of the Eurovision supervisory committee, which requested to disqualify the two songs submitted by Israel to the competition because they were political, the Corporation adopted President Herzogs advice to make necessary adjustments to enable Israels representation on the Eurovision stage.

The President said that precisely when our enemies seek to push and exclude the State of Israel from every stage, it is up to Israel to make its voice heard with pride and dignity and to raise its flag in every international forum, especially this year, the statement concluded.

The post Israel Backtracks, Agrees to Change October Rain Lyrics for Eurovision appeared first on TheWrap.
Season 1 of Franc Roddams culinary reality show MasterChef Mexico brings the flavors, foods, and culture of Mexico as contestants compete to win the title of MasterChef Mexico. The Azteca Trece Network aired the show in June 2015.

Heres how you can watch and stream MasterChef Mexico Season 1 via streaming services such as Disney Plus.

Is MasterChef Mexico Season 1 available to watch via streaming?

Yes, MasterChef Mexico Season 1 is available to watch via streaming on Disney Plus.

Season 1 opens with 300 contestant chefs creating their masterpieces of choice in the kitchen, moving to the classic format of the show, and working with mystery ingredients. The ingredients include protein sources, including beef steak, pork ribs, shrimp, and vegetables such as asparagus. The challenges include creating international cuisines, Mexican specials, breakfast menus, childrens meals, a wedding banquet, and for the final round, a three-course menu for the gala night.

Betty Vazquez, Adrian Herrera Anette Michel Benito Molina, Tatiana, and Claudia Lizaldi, among others, star in the show.

Watch MasterChef Mexico Season 1 streaming via Disney Plus

MasterChef Mexico Season 1 is available to watch on Disney Plus. Disney Plus is a subscription-based streaming service that offers exclusive access to content generated by Walt Disney Studios, Disney Television Studios, Pixar, Marvel, and National Geographic.

You can watch via Disney Plus by following these steps:

Visit DisneyPlus.com Select Sign Up Now Enter your email and password Select a subscription plan $7.99 per month (Basic)

$13.99 per month or $139.99 per year (Premium) Enter your payment information

The Disney Plus Basic plan allows users to stream the services content with ads, while the Premium plan lets users stream with no ads and download content to supported devices. There are also a variety of bundle packages, scaling from Bundle Duo Basic, which pairs Disney Plus with Hulu for $9.99 per month, to the Disney Bundle Trio Premium for $19.99 per month, which bundles Disney Plus, Hulu, and ESPN Plus.

The synopsis of MasterChef Mexico is as follows:

Gastronomic competition in search of the best amateur chef in Mexico.

NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing.

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Wendy Bednarzs Yellow Bus, which follows a mothers quest for justice after suffering an unthinkable tragedy, won the prize for best film at the Joburg Film Festival during an award ceremony Saturday night at the Sandton Convention Center in Johannesburg.

The film, which world premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, is set in an unnamed Arabian Gulf country and follows an Indian family that endures a tragedy when their daughter is neglected on a school bus in the sweltering desert heat. Consumed by grief, mother Anada (Tannishtha Chatterjee) sets out to find the truth about who is accountable.

More from Variety

In its citation for the prize-winning film, the jury noted: This film spoke to the core challenges faced by marginalized immigrants. The protagonists nuanced performance brought to light the resilience and determination needed when an individual faces a social-political system.

Bednarz was not in attendance to accept the award. Speaking to Variety ahead of the films Toronto premiere, the director said she was inspired to provide a voice to people who are marginalized or face unconscious prejudice in Middle Eastern society. Its a dance here to tell these stories truthfully, to give voice to these stories, even invisible people, I was challenged on that, she said.

Arab distributor MAD Solutions is handling international sales on Yellow Bus.

The award for best African film went to Ian Gabriels topical political thriller Death of a Whistleblower, which premiered in Toronto and follows an investigative journalist who, with insider help, tries to expose the state capture of a corrupt South African security group thats fueling warfare in Africa and beyond. The pic had its African premiere in Johannesburg and quickly shot to the top of Amazon Prime Videos local charts with its same-day release.

This brave and important story highlights the plight faced by journalists in their often dangerous and uncharted quest to expose the truth, said the jury. This fast-paced political thriller gives urgency to the matter at hand, that of whistleblowing.

Gordon Mains apartheid-era documentary London Recruits, which opened the festival with its world premiere, won the award for best documentary. The film sheds light on a pivotal moment during the freedom struggle in South Africa, when the politician and activist Oliver Tambo hatched a plan to infiltrate young British activists posing as tourists into the country, to help inspire ordinary South Africans to join the liberation movement.

This film brought a fresh and different perspective to a well-known subject matter, said the jury. The use of humor and brilliant storytelling connects us all in our humanity.

During his acceptance speech, Main expressed solidarity with the people of Gaza, as well as the victims of conflicts in Congo, Sudan and elsewhere. I think if you can make a better world, we need to heal the terrible scars that are still unfolding around these tragic events in all of our recent history and current history, he said.

Describing it as a childhood dream to make films that can have a lasting impact, he added: Of course, films dont change the world. But they can inspire and bring hope and encourage all of us to do better things with this short life that we have on this earth.

The jury also awarded a special mention to Who I Am Not, director Tunde Skovrans exploration and celebration of life as an intersex person in South Africa. The Young Voices Award went to Ntokozo Mlaba for his short film Everything Nothing. Veteran curator, programmer and founder of New Yorks Africa Film Festival Mahen Bonetti, meanwhile, was feted with a Special Recognition Award for her decades-long work to promote African cinema.

The Joburg Film Festival wraps March 3 with the world premiere of Snake, a psychological thriller by South African filmmaker Meg Rickards, ending a sixth edition that screened more than 60 titles from 30-plus countries.

What a time to be alive in Johannesburg, said festival founder Timothy Mangwedi on Saturday. What a time to be alive in Gauteng [province]. What a time to be alive in Africa.

Best of Variety

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Shawn Cranston, 52, was charged with the murder of Rebekah A. Byler on March 2

TIM HAHN/ERIE TIMES-NEWS/USA TODAY NETWORK Pennsylvania State Police troopers searched a residence on Fish Flats Road in Sparta Township, Crawford County, on Tuesday in their investigation into the suspected homicide of a 23-year-old Amish woman.

A suspect has been arrested in the murder of a 23-year-old pregnant Amish woman.

According to a criminal complaint from the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania that was obtained by PEOPLE, Shawn Cranston from Corry, Pennsylvania, was arrested on March 2 by Crawford County police in relation to the murder of Rebekah A. Byler.

Cranston, 52, has been charged with criminal homicide after Byler was found dead on Monday inside her home in Pennsylvanias Sparta Township. He allegedly killed the expectant mother by shooting her in the head and/or slashing her throat, the court documents state.

The victim was six months pregnant with her third child at the time of her death, ABC 6 reported.

Cranston was also charged with the homicide of Byler's unborn child and faces life sentences for each crime. He is also accused of burglary and bodily injury crime, for which he could face a 20year sentence, and trespassing, for which he could receive a 7-year sentence, per the court documents.



Related: A Pregnant Amish Woman Was Found Dead in Her Pa. Home, and Police Suspect Homicide

According to the Erie Times-News, this is thought to be the first homicide within this Amish community in the state since 1993.



The outlet reported that Byler was found dead by a family member and a friend shortly after 12:30 p.m. local time when she had been taking care of her two young children at home that same day. The children who were home at the time were not injured.

Bylers husband is said to have discovered her body inside the familys home, according to ABC 6.

Pennsylvania State Police previously told the outlet that authorities were aggressively investigating all available leads ahead of Cranston's arrest.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Spartanburg resident Randy Eaton shared his reaction to the homicides with ABC 6. Its definitely shameful that anything like this could go on here. Everyones surprised," he said.

Charleen Hajec, a neighbor in nearby Spartansburg, told the outlet that the killing of Byler was very shocking to the local community.

Were just a very tight-knit community and Im just absolutely heartbroken that this has happened, she said.



For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.
A huge brawl broke out at Six Flags Georgia on its opening day, leaving one teenager injured after police shot him.

Cobb County Police said officers responded to an "unruly" crowd call at the amusement park around 6:15 p.m. local time on Saturday, March 2.

'Violent Mob Storms Six Flags In Georgia'

"Last night a violent mob stormed the Six Flags in Georgia. Chaos erupted involving 500-600 teens that viciously beat and stomped out one another," one person shared on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "The mob then began to shoot at the police."

One teenager was shot.

Part of the incident was caught on camera, which was shared on X. In the clip, you can see several teens beating each other up, stomping one another, and throwing punches.

ICYMI: last night a violent mob stormed the Six Flags in Georgia: Chaos erupted involving 500-600 teens that viciously beat and stomped out one another. The mob then began to shoot at the police. 1 teen was shot. Scores were arrested & taken to jail.pic.twitter.com/2HQ3nJYiKl  Dapper Detective (@Dapper_Det) March 3, 2024

According to reports, the Cobb County Police Department said about 500 to 600 people were "running through the park and fighting."

In the video clip, you can see one group kicking someone on the ground as many others were seen scrambling and running after gunshots were fired.

"As officers followed the crowd out, ensuring they left the property, an unknown number of suspects fired at officers. An officer returned fire, striking one of the suspects," Cobb County Police Department said.

The suspect, whose name was not released by police, was transported to Grady Memorial Hospital after receiving medical treatment at the scene. His condition is unknown at this time.

DEVELOPING: SHOOTING AT SIX FLAGS GEORGIA Opening day at the amusement park in Georgia turned violent, with brawls erupting inside the park and ending in a shooting involving Cobb County officers. pic.twitter.com/yr8mifsDao  Kacee Allen (@kaceerallen) March 3, 2024

Independent journalist Kacee Allen shared another video of the shooting, writing, "Opening day at the amusement park in Georgia turned violent, with brawls erupting inside the park and ending in a shooting involving Cobb County officers."

Six Flags Addresses The Shooting

Six flags shooting  pic.twitter.com/9xRUXCfIIe  Fake throwed fights (@itshoggs) March 3, 2024

Six Flags Over Georgia addressed the shooting that took place on Saturday, however, they claim it did not happen on Six Flags property.

"It is incredibly disappointing that our community is disrupted at public events throughout the region by groups of underaged youth," Six Flags Over Georgia said in a statement.

"Just like other venues in the area, we are committed to keeping this type of trouble outside our park and off our property. There was police activity involving gunshots; we want to confirm there was no shooting at our property or parking lot," the company said, adding, "This took place on South Service Road which is not owned or operated by Six Flags. However, we join our community and the Atlanta region in our commitment to safety and security."

"We won't put up with that type of activity here," Six Flags said.
Apple TV+ "The New Look" shines a light on Coco Chanel's murky history as a Nazi informant and spy.

The fashion designer was recruited to be a part of a failed Nazi operation named 'Modelhut' in 1943.

Declassified documents revealing the extent of her Nazi collaboration were released in 2011.

"The New Look," Apple TV+'s new historical drama about the lives of France's leading mid-century fashion designers, offers a take on Coco Chanel that's never been committed to screen before.

Previous iterations have given audiences Chanel the tortured artist, Chanel the romantic, and Chanel the underdog who rose to become one of the world's most renowned fashion icons. Todd A. Kessler's new 10-part series presents audiences with a more complex, controversial portrait: Chanel, the secret Nazi agent.

While "The New Look" is ostensibly about how Christian Dior ushered in a new era of haute couture with the launch of his first collection after World War II, it also tells the arguably more fascinating story, of how Chanel was recruited by Nazi-German military intelligence service in 1941, and spent the rest of her life trying to hide the truth.

Juliette Binoche and Emily Mortimer as Coco Chanel and Elsa Lombardi in "The New Look." Roger Do Minh/Apple TV

How deep the fashion icon's Nazi collaboration ran was made public for the first time in "Sleeping with the Enemy: Coco Chanel's Secret War," by Hal Vaughan, published in 2011.

The foreign service officer-turned-journalist, who relied on freshly declassified documents provided by French and German authorities, believes Chanel was not only a willing participant in Nazi operations but a lifelong antisemite.

Chanel's antisemitism was 'noxious and notorious'

Born in 1883, Chanel spent her adolescence in Catholic-run convents and boarding schools after her mother died when she was 11.

During these formative years, Chanel was exposed to rampant antisemitism, Vaughan theorizes, pointing to the Dreyfus affair in 1894 that divided French politics for a generation. The scandal involved a Jewish-French artillery officer named Alfred Dreyfus, who was wrongly convicted of treason.

"Chanel could not have escaped the Catholic Church's propaganda campaign against the Jewish officer Dreyfus," Vaughan writes, adding that later in life, the founder and namesake of the Chanel brand's "fear and hatred for Jews was noxious and notorious."

Coco Chanel, photographed in 1929. Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images

When World War II broke out in 1939, Chanel closed her couture house, which many interpreted was for patriotic reasons. At the time, she was living in the Hotel Ritz, which was seized by the German military in 1940 when the Nazi occupation of Paris began.

It was while the hotel was used as a Nazi headquarters that Chanel began a relationship with Baron Hans Gunther Von Dincklage, a German-British aristocrat working in the German embassy with links to the Nazi military intelligence organization, the Abwehr.

The early years of World War II

Chanel's love affair with the high-ranking intelligence officer proved beneficial; through Von Dincklage, nicknamed Spatz  German for sparrow  she rubbed shoulders with senior-ranking Nazi officials and was able to secure the release of her nephew and heir, Andre Palasse, who was a prisoner-of-war in Germany.

Coco Chanel, photographed in 1944 in Paris. AFP via Getty Images

She also leaned on her Nazi associates to help her wrangle back her perfume company which she had sold to her Jewish business partners, Pierre and Paul Wertheimer, in 1924. She petitioned German officials to invoke newly established Nazi legislation that forbade Jewish people from owning property and business enterprises.

What Chanel didn't realize was that the Wertheimers, anticipating the forthcoming mandates against Jewish people, had temporarily given a Christian French businessman ownership of Parfums Chanel. He returned the business to them after the war ended.

"Chanel was the consummate opportunist who was going to get what she wanted," Vaughan writes of the designer. "She knew exactly what she was doing. She didn't see any harm in it."

However, Chanel's entanglement with the Nazis came at a price.

Operation Modelhut

Coco Chanel and Winston Churchill, photographed boar hunting together in 1928. Bettmann/Getty Images

In exchange for the release of her nephew and their attempts to seize control of her company, Chanel was asked to use her Allied connections to help the Nazi cause in 1943.

Given the codename "Westminster" (possibly an allusion to her decadelong relationship with the Duke of Westminster), Chanel was tasked with delivering a message to the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, on behalf of Walter Schellenberg, a Nazi spy. According to Vaughan, who relied on contemporary intelligence documents, Schellenberg wanted the SS to "broker a separate peace deal with Britain" without the Fuhrer.

The operation, named "Modelhut," saw Chanel travel to neutral Madrid accompanied by Vera Bate Lombardi, who was to act as an intermediary and pass over a letter written by Chanel to Churchill. It fell apart when, upon arrival in Madrid, Lombardi  who had been duped into believing that the trip was intended to explore launching Chanel couture in the Spanish capital  discovered the real purpose and denounced Chanel as a Nazi spy.

Chanel's later years and complicated legacy

Shortly after the liberation of Paris in August 1944, Chanel was arrested and questioned about her relationship with the Nazis.

Without any evidence to support their suspicions of her covert espionage activities, she was freed within hours, telling her grand-niece when she returned home that Churchill had orchestrated her release.

In 1949, and then living in Switzerland, she was asked to appear before the war crime trial of a former associate, Baron Louis de Vaufreland, who had claimed that she had been involved in a Nazi operation. She again denied the accusations.

Per Vaughan, after that, "the details of her collaboration with the Nazis were hidden for years in French, German, Italian, Soviet, and US archives" until he stumbled upon them while researching the life of a man who the Wertheimer family sent to Paris to stop Chanel's attempts to reclaim control of Chanel No.5 under Aryan laws.

Coco Chanel photographed at her home in 1969, two years before she died. James Andanson/Sygma via Getty Images

After Vaughan's book was published in 2011, the Chanel Group released a statement acknowledging the founder's wartime relationship. It pointedly referred to Dincklage not as a Nazi but as "a German aristocrat."

"Clearly it wasn't the best period to have a love story with a German, even if Baron von Dincklage was English by his mother and she (Chanel) knew him before the War," it continued.

Chanel, who died in 1971 at 87, continued her relationship with Von Dincklage after the war for several years. In 1954, she reopened after her couture house. While the French press gave her a lukewarm welcome due to the rumors about her wartime associations, the collection was praised worldwide and she cemented her position in the history books of fashion as a name to remember.

The first five episodes of "The New Look" are now streaming on Apple TV+. Subsequent episodes will be released weekly on Wednesdays through April 3.

Read the original article on Business Insider
On Wednesday, Mitch McConnell announced that hell be stepping down as Senate Republican Leader later this year. While hell remain in his current position until November, Saturday Night Lives Colin Jost and Michael Che came to Weekend Update ready to roast the hell out of the sometimes-glitchy senator from Kentucky.

Che began the running gag by announcing McConnells retirement, complete with a photo of McConnell smiling from ear to ear, which he described as a photo of the senator catching up on news from the Middle East.

Colin Jost and Michael Che with Weekend Update! pic.twitter.com/GcP7PGc9a9  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) March 3, 2024

McConnell has been leader for almost 20 years, Che said, but he first got involved in politics back in 1968 when he lost a fiddle contest to the devil.

Che went on to joke that while McConnell is apparently leaving his post due to a difficult relationship with Donald Trump, just because you hate somebody doesnt mean you cant still have a very successful working relationship with them, as the camera panned over to Jost.

The gag then shifted over to Jost, who showed the same beaming photo of McConnell, which he claimed was of Mitch walking out of a theater after watching 12 Years a Slave then shared it again, this time describing it as what McConnell might look like after rearranging a blind womans furniture. He joked that McConnell would soon be replaced by a frozen embryo holding an assault rifle.

Finally, he switched to a photo of a still-smiling McConnell giving an enthusiastic thumbs up, which Jost said was of the senator watching a single mother sell her blood for diaper money.

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Credit: NBC/SNL

Saturday Night Lives Weekend Update took aim at Donald Trumps bizarre moment at the southern border this week, as well as Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell announcing hell step down as his partys Senate leader.

Trump, who toured the Texas-Mexico border Thursday alongside the increasingly militant Gov. Greg Abbott, at one point waved at migrants through a barbed wire fence and claimed, They like Trump, can you believe it?

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Co-anchor Colin Jost offered a rational response, given Trumps Hilter-adjascent rhetoric about migrants poisoning the blood of our country.

No, I cant believe it! The migrants dont like you! he said. They just walked a thousand miles to get to the edge of this river and theyre probably thinking: is that weirdo in a Trump costume waving us into the country?

Colin Jost and Michael Che with Weekend Update! pic.twitter.com/GcP7PGc9a9  Saturday Night Live  SNL (@nbcsnl) March 3, 2024

As for McConnell, whose face alone has long been the target of Weekend Update jabs, Jost and Michael Che pulled no punches.

A smiling McConnellseen here catching up on news from the Middle East, as Che jokedhas been leader for almost 20 years, but he first got involved in politics back in 1968 when he lost a fiddle contest to the Devil.

Many are saying he is leaving because of his bad relationship with Donald Trump, but come on: just because you hate somebody doesnt mean you cant still have a very successful working relationship with them, Che continued, before glancing in Josts direction.

Jost then described the grinning Kentucky senator as having just seen the 2013 drama film 12 Years a Slave. McConnells replacement, he continued, will be the Senates current number two Republican: a frozen embryo holding an assault rifle.

Jost concluded with a few more parting shots at McConnell: seen here after rearranging a blind womans furniture.

McConnell gave a moving speech on the Senate floor announcing his retirement, Jost added, which honestly made me start to admire Mitch McConnell, seen here watching a single mother sell her blood for diaper money.

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Dean MacNeil couldnt eat. Couldnt sleep. He was on emotional autopilot because something tore a hole in the soul of my family and me.

It was the summer of 1991, and MacNeil had taken a road trip from Connecticut to Vermont with his younger brother, Scott. They hiked, jet-skied and spent much of the time listening to Scotts favorite musician, reggae superstar Bob Marley.

A couple of weeks after the trip, a phone call came at midnight. Scott had been killed in a car accident. He was a passenger in another teenagers car when it slammed into a tree. He was on his way home from a reggae concert. MacNeil was devastated.

He found refuge, though, in Marleys music. He started listening to Marleys songs again and discovered something: Biblical verses were scattered like gems through virtually every one of them. The lyrics werent just nods to the Bible but lengthy scriptural quotations that called the listener to believe that no matter what kind of changes and rages they were experiencing, they could never be blue, as Marley says in Forever Loving Jah, a nod to the Rastafarian religions name for God.

That accident really sent my sister, mom, dad and myself into a tailspin, MacNeil says today. But Bob Marleys music is what got us through. It helped us deal with the grief and the despair by listening to these messages of hope and perseverance. I went to the classroom of Bob Marley, because my very survival depended on it.

MacNeil found new meaning in the Marley adage: You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice. He started leading Bible studies at his church and completed a masters degree in theology. He also became a musician and author of a book, The Bible and Bob Marley: Half the Story Has Never Been Told.

Today, as Marleys life is celebrated in a new hit movie, MacNeil and others make a bold claim: Marleys spiritual impact is as significant as his musical legacy. The two are, in many ways, inseparable. These Marley fans and scholars say its time to stop glossing over or editing out Marleys subversive spirituality.

The Bible was as important to Marleys music as his guitar, MacNeil says. You really need to know the Bible to understand Marleys message.

Marleys lyrics are saturated with Biblical verses

Thats not the typical message about Marleys legacy that his fans get today. Since Marleys untimely death in 1981, he has been defined as a musical icon.

His smiling visage adorns T-shirts, bags, key chains, scented candles, lip balm, iPhone cases and posters in college dorm rooms. His album, Exodus, was selected as the best album of the 20th century by Time magazine. His song, One Love was named the song of the century by the BBC. Some critics even say Marley was the most influential songwriter of the 20th century.

This is the version of Marley that primarily appears in the current hit film, Bob Marley: One Love. It offers a glimpse into Marleys life in the late 70s, when he became a symbol of reconciliation in his home country of Jamaica.

But theres another reason why many people dont see Marley as a religious figure. Theres a less savory aspect to his personal life that the current film only touches on: Marley was a married man who reportedly fathered at least 11 children, some of them outside of his marriage to Rita Marley.

Kingsley Ben-Adir as Marley in "Bob Marley: One Love," now in theaters. - Chiabella James/Paramount Pictures

So how can a man who fathered illegitimate children and smoked marijuana be considered a holy man?

The answer can be found in the way that Marley lived and died. Start with his music. His musical career began and ended with a Biblical verse.

Marley would often start concerts by reciting Biblical passages, MacNeil says. His first published song, Judge Not, recorded when he was 17, was based on Matthew 7:1  a passage in which Jesus warned his followers to Judge not, that ye be not judged.

The last track on his final album was Redemption Song (How long shall they kill our prophets while we stand aside and look?). It was based on Luke 13:34, (Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you).

His faith was central not only to his music but to what Rastafarians would call his livity, which is his whole lifestyle, his whole approach to life, says Vivien Goldman, a British journalist and educator who befriended Marley while working as his publicist.

Marley invented a new species of musician: the holy rocker. Other musicians like Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash sang about their faith. But none cherished the Bible like Marley. Several biographers have noted that while on tour, Marley would often withdraw to a secluded spot on his bus to ponder scripture. He would then return to the rest of his bandmates and debate  not over women or song credits  but the meaning of biblical verses.

There are classic stories of musicians who were inseparable from their instruments. Jimi Hendrix supposedly slept with his guitar. Marley had the same attitude toward his Bible.

Goldman says that Marley never went anywhere without his weathered King James Bible, which had a photocopied portrait of the Lion of Judah in full regalia pasted on the cover, and photos of Haile Selassie I, the former emperor of Ethiopia, on the inside cover. Rastafarians consider Selassie, who died in 1975, as the second coming of Jesus, a Black messiah.

His spiritual practice was absolutely a crucial part of his life, says Goldman, author of The Book of Exodus: The Making and Meaning of Bob Marley and the Wailers Album of the Century.

He would make time no matter what  if he was in a busy airport, he would retreat to the side so he could sit and study his Bible.

For some, God and the Bible are symbols of oppression. Both have been used to justify slavery, homophobia and imperialism. But Marley saw God as a liberator, a deliverer from political and personal oppression.

In his song Exodus, he sang: Jah come to break downpression, rule equality, wipe away transgression, set the captives free.

MacNeil says its almost impossible to listen to any Marley song without bumping up against the Bible. He examined 83 Marley songs and identified 137 Biblical references, comprised of 39 quotations and 98 allusions.

Marleys song, Forever Loving Jah, is a prime example. When Marley sings, Because only a fool lean upon his own misunderstanding, hes quoting a scripture from Proverbs 3. And Marleys album Exodus is named after a famous book in the Bible, revered by Jews and Christians.

Hes not just quoting the Bible, MacNeil says. Hes actively engaged with it. Hes interpreting it. Hes making it relevant to his own experience. Hes making it relevant to a wide audience.

Rastafarians beat on African drums to mark the 59th birthday of late reggae legend Bob Marley on February 6, 2004, in Kingston, Jamaica. - Collin Reid/AP

He was the apostle of the Rastafari religion

Marley also made something else relevant to a wider audience: the Rastafari religion. No musical figure has, arguably, done more to popularize a religion than Marley. His beliefs revolved around Rastafarianism.

But in the years since Marleys death, his religious and political beliefs have been sanded down, reduced to a fuzzy, marijuana-inspired haze call for One love, one heart. One destiny. Some critics call this the Disneyfication of Marleys legacy.

But the Rastafari religion has a much gritter and more defiant edge. It was spawned by the tremendous suffering Afro-Jamaicans experienced for centuries. The slave trade, for example, was even more lethal in Jamaica, where Marley was born, than the Deep South of the US. More than twice as many slaves were shipped to Jamaica alone than all thirteen North American colonies. Most were tortured, raped and worked to death, according to Adam Hochschild, author of Bury the Chains, a history of the abolition movement in the United Kingdom.

The Caribbean was a slaughterhouse, Hochschild wrote, describing the regions slave trade.

The grinding poverty, suffering and political disenfranchisement of Afro-Jamaicans persisted under British colonial rule. Marley was born in rural Jamaica to an Afro-Jamaican teenage mom and a White father. It is impossible to understand him and the Rastafari faith, which emerged in Jamaica during the 1930s, without knowing the countrys violent history.

Rastafari is a religion of resistance that blended Afrocentrism, Judaism, and Christianity, says Deepak Sarma, a religious studies professor at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

Though it is often categorized as a religion, it is also a revolutionary ideology to right the wrongs of British imperialism, the slave trade, and colonization of Jamaica and other Caribbean islands.

Marley saw his music as a divine calling.

God sent me on earth. He send me to do something, and nobody can stop me, he once said. If God want to stop me, then I stop. Man never can.

Rastafarians, though, are known primarily by many casual observers for two elements of their religion: dreadlocks and the smoking of marijuana. The dreadlocks are inspired by an Old Testament passage from Leviticus 21:5, (They shall not make baldness upon their head, neither shall they shave off the corner of their beard, nor make any cuttings in the flesh). Marijuana, or ganja, was seen as a sacrament for Rastafarians to deepen spiritual awareness.

Marcus Garvey was a Jamaican activist whose teachings on Black self-pride and self-reliance are credited with inspiring the formation of the Rastafarian religion. - MPI/Getty Images

If there is a founder of the Rastafari religion, many point to Marcus Garvey, a Black Jamaican and activist who preached Black self-reliance, self-pride and led a Back to Africa movement in the first half of the 20th century. Selassie is also a central figure to Rastafarians in ways that puzzle some outsiders: How can Rastas worship a Black political figure who was also seen by some as a dictator?

Goldman, Marleys former publicist, recalled asking Marley about the wisdom of worshipping Selassie. She wrote that he was stunned by her question, asking:

So, you want me to worship a white god?

The universality of Marleys spiritual message is why it endures

If an outsider fixates on the bitterness of Marleys quote about a White god, its easy to fall for the myth that Rastafarians demonize White people. But one of the reasons Marleys spiritual beliefs still resonate is his religion didnt go that route.

Marley didnt limit oppression to one color.

I cant be prejudiced against myself, he once said when someone asked him if he was prejudiced against White people.

My father was a White and my mother Black, you know. Them call me half-caste, or whatever. Well, me dont dip on the Black mans side nor the White man side. Me dip on Gods side, the one who create me and cause me to come from Black and White.

Marley didnt just live for his beliefs. He also died, in part, because of them.

In 1977, Marley visited a doctor after noticing a blackened lesion under his big toenail. He was diagnosed with a rare form of skin cancer. The doctor advised Marley to amputate his toe to prevent the spread of cancer. But he refused because he thought it would violate the Rasta prohibition against the cutting of the flesh, and opted for a less invasive procedure.

The cancer eventually spread. Marley died on May 11, 1981, in Miami while trying to return to his beloved Jamaica for his final days. A man who was a fitness and health food fanatic died at 36.

Children play in the Trench Town neighborhood of Kingston, Jamaica on May 18, 2019. In the 1960s, Trench Town was known as the Hollywood of Jamaica and is the birthplace of reggae music, as well as the home of Bob Marley. - Angela Weiss/AFP/Getty Images

Marley was honored with a state funeral in Jamaica at the National Arena in Kingston. He was buried with his favorite Gibson Les Paul guitar and his personalized Bible, opened to Psalm 23, which begins with, The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

In an interview several years before his death, Marley said a person achieves a sense of immortality by having a right relationship with God.

I dont believe in death, neither in flesh nor in spirit . . . Death does not exist for me. I truly know God, Marley said.

His musical legacy has found an afterlife. Marleys stature on the international stage has only grown in the decades since his death. Its ironic that Marley, a fierce critic of capitalism and materialism, posthumously generated $16 million through his estate in 2023, according to Forbes magazine, right behind John Lennon of the Beatles.

That type of immortality, of course, wasnt what Marley was talking about. He alluded to an ever-living legacy. Its the faith of an abandoned kid from the slums of Jamaica who knew hardship and abandonment but assured his listeners in his classic Three Little Birds, Dont worry about a thing, Cause every little thing is gonna be alright.

Somewhere in the world right now someone is playing a Bob Marley song to help them get through a difficult time  the kind that tears a hole in someones soul.

Marley was right. When it comes to his music and his spiritual message  death does not exist.

He is more alive today than ever before.

John Blake is the author of More Than I Imagined: What a Black Man Discovered About the White Mother He Never Knew.

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Some investors rely on dividends for growing their wealth, and if you're one of those dividend sleuths, you might be intrigued to know that Qualitas Limited (ASX:QAL) is about to go ex-dividend in just 4 days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before a company's record date, which is the date on which the company determines which shareholders are entitled to receive a dividend. 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 Qualitas' shares before the 7th of March to receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 28th of March.

The company's next dividend payment will be AU$0.0225 per share. Last year, in total, the company distributed AU$0.077 to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that Qualitas has a trailing yield of 2.9% on the current share price of AU$2.65. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether Qualitas's dividend is reliable and sustainable. As a result, readers should always check whether Qualitas has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut.

View our latest analysis for Qualitas

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Qualitas paid out 93% of its earnings, which is more than we're comfortable with, unless there are mitigating circumstances.

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?

Companies with falling earnings are riskier for dividend shareholders. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. Qualitas's earnings have collapsed faster than Wile E Coyote's schemes to trap the Road Runner; down a tremendous 74% a year over the past five years.

Story continues

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. In the last two years, Qualitas has lifted its dividend by approximately 39% a year on average. 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. Qualitas is already paying out a high percentage of its income, so without earnings growth, we're doubtful of whether this dividend will grow much in the future.

To Sum It Up

Is Qualitas worth buying for its dividend? Earnings per share are in decline and Qualitas is paying out what we feel is an uncomfortably high percentage of its profit as dividends. It's not that we hate the business, but we feel that these characeristics are not desirable for investors seeking a reliable dividend stock to own for the long term. These characteristics don't generally lead to outstanding dividend performance, and investors may not be happy with the results of owning this stock for its dividend.

With that in mind though, if the poor dividend characteristics of Qualitas don't faze you, it's worth being mindful of the risks involved with this business. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for Qualitas you should be aware of.

If you're in the market for strong dividend payers, we recommend checking our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Taylor Swift announces "The Black Dog" edition of 'The Tortured Poets Department' on March 3, 2023 in Singapore - Credit: TAS

Taylor Swift announced the fourth and final variant of her upcoming album The Tortured Poets Department Sunday at her second Eras Tour show in Singapore: The Black Dog.

During the Surprise Songs portion of the show, following the debut live performance of Evermores Long Story Short, Swift revealed the fourth and final edition of her upcoming album, out April 19.

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Old habits die screaming

File Name: The Black Dog 

Pre-order the final new edition of THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT with exclusive bonus track The Black Dog on my website nowhttps://t.co/BAtr2MpPIs



: Beth Garrabrant pic.twitter.com/6hs4wd5gHr  Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) March 3, 2024

The Black Dog joins The Manuscript, The Bolter, and The Albatross as variant-exclusive bonus tracks for The Tortured Poets Department. Like the previous editions, The Black Dog variant features unique packaging and photos in addition to the bonus track, and like its predecessors, its only available for a limited time: Fans can preorder The Black Dog edition now through March 6th at Swifts webstore.

Swift revealed her new album at the 2024 Grammys when she took the stage to accept the award for Best Pop Vocal Album (Midnights). The fact that it marks her 13th Grammy win (her lucky number) caused fans to speculate that Swift would make an announcement. (Her backup plan, if she didnt win, was announcing TTPD at her Tokyo concerts.)

Tortured Poets is an album, Swift told a Melbourne, Australia audience in February, I think more than any of my albums that Ive ever made, I needed to make it. It was really a lifeline for me. Just the things I was going through and the things I was writing about. It kind of reminded me of why songwriting was something that actually gets me through my life.

Swift also previously shared the albums 16-song (plus bonus track) track list, which includes features from Post Malone and Florence + the Machine.

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NEW YORK  Thousands of protesters opposed to Israels bombardment of Gaza rallied in Manhattan Saturday calling for a cease-fire as estimates of the death toll in the conflict climb past 30,000.

The protest, billed by organizers as a global day of action, gathered in Washington Square Park around 1 p.m., and its ranks swelled despite the rain.

I think its really cool when folks come out in the rain and the sun and the snow and the sleet, said protester Tova Greene, 23. Its really affirming to see so many folks even though its annoying, but we have to do it.

Its packed. Its like sardines, but in a good way, Greene said of the crowd.

Many protesters left the park and were marching up Sixth Avenue by around 3 p.m., followed closely by police.

As the march reached Bryant Park in Midtown, police arrested several protesters, according to video posted online. It wasnt clear what sparked the arrests.

In Washington, D.C., protesters shut down streets near the Israeli Embassy, as global calls for a cease-fire have grown in recent weeks.

Israeli officials have more or less accepted a six-week cease-fire proposal, according to a senior U.S. official with the Biden administration, the Associated Press reported Saturday.

Similar pro-Palestinian protests in the city have drawn New York Police Department enforcement in recent weeks. Police made a number of arrests when President Joe Biden visited Rockefeller Center last Monday.

In January, activists shut down the Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Williamsburg bridges and the Holland Tunnel entrance, snarling traffic.


Originally appeared on E! Online

Remember the early aughts when everyone was trying to figure out which of the crop of new heartthrobs was destined to be the next Brad Pitt or Leonardo DiCaprio? And what an embarrassment of riches, the hot actor class at the turn of the millennium including Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Ryan Phillippe and Orlando Bloom.

Then there was Josh Hartnett, who very much wanted to be excluded from that narrative.

Just 22 at the time, he was poised to follow up 1999's The Virgin Suicides with a turn in 2001's splashy war epic Pearl Harbor.

A sure-to-be blockbuster with a $135 million budget and a cast that included Kate Beckinsale, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Ben Affleck, it was the type of film, Vanity Fair wrote in a 5,000-word opus, "that will virtually overnight make an international movie star out of a comparative unknownwho, in this case, would be Josh Hartnett, a kid whose dark good looks are of the type usually referred to as brooding, and whose eyes, though squinty, can read on film as having profoundly soulful depths."

Grey's Anatomy's Departed Doctors: Where Are They Now?

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The piece was filled with predictions about how the Minnesota native's life would change, from producer Jerry Bruckheimer saying he'll have "girls and people wanting his autograph running after him" to costar Affleck insisting, "Simply put, Josh will get very famous very quickly and runs the very real risk of becoming a sort of one-man embodiment of the Backstreet Boys to hormone-crazed 15-year-old girls from Minnetonka to Tarzana."

Even Beckinsale gushed that her counterpart was "earth-shatteringly handsome in a slightly surprised wayhe can't quite believe when everyone is falling over him and teasing him about being so good-looking."

Touchstone/Jerry Bruckheimer Inc/Kobal/Shutterstock

And Hartnett absolutely hated it.

"Oh, that was an awful piece," Hartnett, now a 45-year-old married dad of four living in Surrey, England, reflected to The Guardian in 2020. "Was there even a quote from me in it, or was it just everyone talking about how hot I was? People got a chip on their shoulder about me after that. They genuinely thought I'd been thrust on them. It was a very weird time."

Bristling at the lofty expectations it created, he said, "It's just that it happened at a time when I wasn't that famous, and it seemed to already be asking whether I should be or not. I felt like: 'Oh my God! I'm not the tallest poppy yetdon't cut me down!' I was being compared to Tom Cruise and Julia Roberts and that's insane. It was a set-up-to-fail moment."

Facing a fork in the roadtake a stab at mega-fame and everything that includes or run, fast, in the opposite directionhe went with the latter.

He turned down the lead role in 2006's Superman Returns and avoided any other parts that would continue him down the path of magazine covers and persistent, trailing paparazzi. He made a series of indies and a life for himself across the pond with British actress Tamsin Egerton and their four children.

Though the actor noted that some saw his retreat as "someone who had bitten the hand that fed me," he simply wasn't interested in becoming this blockbuster-starring brand name guy. "I'm happy to be done with that era and to be making films that are more personal to me," explained Hartnett, taking part in the interview to talk up his new thriller Target Number One. "Directors are coming to me to play characters as opposed to versions of a hero I played in a movie once."

Not that he had any qualms about saying yes to something as big as, say, Oppenheimer. Having director Christopher Nolan choose him for the blockbuster, that's earned 13 Oscar nods "was the winning goal," Hartnett exclusively told Live From E!: SAG Awards host Laverne Cox before joining his cohorts to accept a trophy for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture at the Feb. 24 SAG Awards. "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."

And Hartnett certainly wasn't the firstor the laststar to take a breather from the biz.

Ian Somerhalder revealed to E! News last November that he "stepped away from acting," following his turn on Netflix's V-Wars in 2019. And IMDB is filled with well-known names that have defected from the Hollywood fraternity.

Some have returned for guest appearances and one-off performances (hi, Cameron Diaz!) or gone on to even more high-profile parts (cough, Meghan Markle), but at one point or another they've all made the declaration that they're done. Here's what inspired them to explore new roles.

<p>Ian Somerhalder</p>

The Vampire Diaries alum hasn't sunk his teeth into a new role since Netflix's 2019 series V-Wars. Instead, the dad of two (with wife Nikki Reed) has dug a little deeper into a passion project, namely his mission to combat climate change by improving the world's soil.



"I stepped away from acting a little over four years ago to raise my kids, build my companies and get these films launched," Somerhalder told E! News in November of launching the 2020 documentary Kiss the Ground and its newly released follow up Common Ground, each detailing the need for regenerative farming.



When he looks years down the road, he continued, "I will be a rancher and building legacy brands, whether it's my bourbon or my health and wellness company, and the regenerative agriculture and healthy soil management practices that I live by and our family lives by. That's where my life was going. So when people say 'Why do you care?' That's why I care. Because that's who I am, that's what I'm going to become."





Jennette McCurdy

On a February 2021 episode of her podcast Empty Inside, the iCarly alum told guest Anna Faris that she decided to stop acting a few years back and is now focused on opportunities in writing and directing, in addition to hosting the podcast.



"My experience with acting is, I'm so ashamed of the parts I've done in the past," revealed Jennette, who detailed her experience in her 2022 memoir I'm Glad My Mom Died. "I resent my career in a lot of ways. I feel so unfulfilled by the roles that I played and felt like it was the most cheesy, embarrassing. I did the shows that I was on from like 13 to 21, and by 15, I was already embarrassed. My friends at 15, they're not like, 'Oh, cool, you're on this Nickelodeon show.' It was embarrassing."



Though she hasn't totally written off a second act. "I do feel like only through writing the book have I gotten to a place where I think there might be a way of exploring acting that doesn't carry that baggage that I carried with me for so long," she told E! News in October 2022. "Maybe if I write something for myself. I think that'd really be maybe one of the only ways I could kind of try exploring it again."





Meghan Markle

This felt like something of a no-brainer. If we had a shot to marry Prince Harry, dedicate our life to the philanthropic causes that matter most to us and gain access to the Queen's impressive collection of tiaras, bidding ta-ta to Tinseltown would feel like an okay sacrifice.



Following in the path Grace Kelly took from Hollywood to the Palace of Monaco, Markle left behind her home in Torontoand her breakout role on Suitsfor a life in The Firm. Though, now that she and Harry have shed their senior roles, she's edging back into the business thanks to their new multi-year production deal with Netflix.





Cameron Diaz

Having made upwards of 40 movies since her debut in 1994's The Mask, the actress was long overdue for a break when filming wrapped on 2014's Annie. "I just decided that I wanted different things out of my life," she explained to pal Gwyneth Paltrow of her ultimate act of self-care. "I had gone so hard for so long, working, making films and it's such a grind. When you're making a movieit's a perfect excusethey own you. You're there for 12 hours a day for months on end and you have no time for anything else."



And there was plenty more she'd like to explore, from writing (she followed up her 2013 New York Times best-seller The Body Book with 2016's The Longevity Book) to starting a family with husband Benji Madden. But while she confessed to InStyle in 2019, "I don't miss performing. Right now I'm looking at the landscape of wellness and all that," apparently she could be swayed into making at least one encore.



"We just begged and pleased on my knees, like, 'Just give the people one more again,'" Jamie Foxx told E! News of getting Diaz to sign on for the upcoming Netflix film Back in Action. "We love her, we've been waiting on her and this is just gonna be fantastic."





Terrence Howard

The actor insisted there'd be no encore after he finished his five-year run on Empire. When Extra asked the Oscar nominee about his future ahead of the musical drama series' sixth and final season in 2019, he responded, "Oh, I'm done with acting. I'm done pretending."



And though he returned to set for a handful of projects, he again announced his plans to quit acting while promoting his Peacock series The Best Man: The Final Chapters in 2022. "I've gotten to the point where now I've given the very best that I have as an actor," he told ET. "Now I'm enjoying watching other new talent come around, and I don't want to do an impersonation of myself."





Jack Gleeson

Once his time as King Joffrey came to a sudden, purple-faced end in 2014, the then-21-year-old told EW he was getting out of the game. "I've been acting since age 8," the Game of Thrones star explained of his decision. "I just stopped enjoying it as much as I used to."



No longer a child star, a bit of the magic had worn off. "Now there's the prospect of doing it for a living, whereas up until now it was always something I did for recreation with my friends, or in the summer for some fun," he continued. "I enjoyed it. When you make a living from something, it changes your relationship with it. It's not like I hate it, it's just not what I want to do." But after a six-year break, he may just be ready to resume his reign, joining the cast of BBC's upcoming series Out of Her Mind.





Phoebe Cates

When Fast Times at Ridgemont High's dream girl (Jennifer Aniston took on her part in September's virtual table read) wed fellow actor Kevin Kline in 1989, they "agreed to alternate so that we're never working at the same time," he told Playboy of their plan to care for son Owen and daughter Greta (a singer who now goes by the stage name Frankie Cosmos). However, he continued, "whenever it's been her slot to work, Phoebe has chosen to stay with the children." Though she made a cameo in pal Jennifer Jason Leigh's 2001 indie The Anniversary Party, Cates devotes most of her time to operating her New York City boutique Blue Tree.





Rick Moranis

At the height of his Ghostbusters and Honey, I... fame, the '80s star stepped away from filmmaking not long after his wife passed away from breast cancer in 1991 to focus on raising his kids Rachel and Mitchell. Though he hasn't had a live-action role since 1997, even passing on a cameo in Paul Feig's 2016 Ghostbusters remake, he's remained a treasured cultural icon, as evidenced by the outrage over reports that he'd been assaulted while walking in New York City Oct. 1. Thankfully there's good news for fans: he'll make his triumphant return alongside Josh Gad in the forthcoming Disney reboot Shrunk.





Leelee Sobieski

Once she wed fashion designer Adam Kimmel in 2010, the Never Been Kissed standout hinted that she was maybe kinda done with movies. "Ninety percent of acting roles involve so much sexual stuff with other people, and I don't want to do that," she explained to Vogue. "It's such a strange fire to play with, and our relationship is surely strong enough to handle it, but if you're going to walk through fire, there has to be something incredible on the other side."



Her decision was solidified after son Martin joined older sister Louisanna in 2014. "I don't do movie stuff anymore. I am totally an outsider! I  am just a mom and an outsider," she noted to Us Weekly at a 2016 event, explaining that she helps Kimmel with his business and paints on the side. "I am just focused on my kids. I think that's mainly why I stopped."





<p>Portia de Rossi</p>

She'd done Ally McBeal. And Nip/Tuck. Then Arrested Development and finally Scandal when the Aussie realized that maybe she was ready to turn the dial. "I was approaching 45 and I just kind ofwas wondering is there something that I could tackle now that I've never done before that would be really challenging and different," she explained on wife Ellen DeGeneres' eponymous talk show in 2018. "I kind of knew what acting would look like for me for the next 10, 20 years, so I decided to quit and start a business."



Her consumer-art company, General Public, already a work in progress, she had just one piece to finish. "I called Mitch Hurwitz, who's the creator of Arrested Development and I said, 'If there is a season 5, I won't be doing it because I quit acting. And he seemed really understanding and he totally got it. We had a great conversation, and then he wrote me into five episodes."





Daniel Day-Lewis

To be fair, once you've won three Academy Awards, what's left to accomplish? Shortly after receiving his sixth Oscar nod for his final film, 2017's Phantom Thread, the thespian had his rep issue a statement informing fans that he "will no longer be working as an actor. He is immensely grateful to all of his collaborators and audiences over the many years. This is a private decision and neither he nor his representatives will make any further comment on this subject."





<p>Bridgit Mendler</p>

The Good Luck Charlie alum took a step back from the spotlight in 2018 when she began pursuing a master's degree from MIT, later earning a PhD from the institution. She's also pursuing a law degree from Harvard Law School. And as if that weren't enough, Bridgit also launched her own startup Northwood Space, which aims to build ground satellite stations to help send and receive data from space, which she became CEO of in Feb. 2023.





(This story was originally published on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2020 at 12 a.m. PT.)
Willie and Christina Geist have been married since 2003

Bryan Bedder/Getty Willie Geist and Christina Geist in 2022.

Sunday Today and Morning Joe anchor Willie Geist and his wife, Christina Geist, have been together since they were teenagers.

They met in sixth grade and their friendship eventually turned into love. I have a very romantic secret. I made out with her on the roof of my friends house with some warm Bud Light in the red-hot fall of 1991, Willie recalled of the big turning point in their relationship during a 2022 appearance on Today. We were like, was that a thing, or was it just a moment? And it turned out it was a thing.

Fast-forward several decades later and the pair are happily married, living in New York City and raising their teenage children Lucie and George.

This is a long game. Weve been partners in life since such a young age since  long before having children or having the careers we have now  and we'll be partners on the other side of it, Christina told Glamour. I can look backward and appreciate how far weve come, and I can look forward to all the chapters that are coming down the road.

According to Willie, laughter keeps them going even in hard times. Something funny happens and you get to enjoy it with the girl you saw across the room in sixth grade, who's every bit the person youd hoped they would be 33 years later," he added.

Heres everything to know about Christina Geist, writer and wife of Todays Willie Geist.

Shes from New Jersey

Willie Geist Instagram Willie Geist and Christina Geist at Ridgewood High School in New Jersey.

Christina Sharkey spent her youth in Ridgewood, New Jersey, and attended Vanderbilt University in Tennessee alongside Willie. According to her website, she grew up with a loud, loving family.

Shes a childrens book author

Nathan Congleton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal/Getty Christina and Willie Geist in 2019.

Christina is a New York Times-bestselling childrens book author, entrepreneur and brand strategist. Her first book, Buddys Bedtime Battery, was published in 2016. Shes written several more books for kids, including Sorry Grown-Ups, You Cant Go To School! and Buddy's New Buddy.

Christina, who previously worked for several large agencies and Johnson & Johnson, founded two companies after taking a short break to raise her children. The brand strategy and design firm True Geist, which she founded with a former coworker, does everything from naming work to brand identity and packaging. Christina also launched an online memory box company called Boombox, inspired by memory boxes she and her friends made in college.

Christina and Willie were good friends as kids

Willie Geist Instagram Willie Geist and Christina Geist in high school.

Willie and Christina attended middle school, high school and college together, but were friends before anything turned romantic. For people who dont know, I met my wife in the sixth grade, Willie told Hoda Kotb of their love story. We went to high school together, we went to college together, but we were buddies first. And I think even today, all these years later, thats the foundation of our relationship is that we were always friends. (At first, Christina had a crush on Willies best friend, who later served as best man at their wedding.)

The two immediately noticed one another, young as they were. On the first day, Christina had a bunch of friends from elementary school, whereas I was the new kid from the other side of town, standing alone and scanning the room, Willie remembered. And I know it sounds like revisionist history, but this is true. I really remember thinking in my little 11-year-old brain, Oh, she seems cute and cool. And it turns out I was right.

Christina and Willie dated in high school, even going to prom as each other's dates, and continued their relationship in college, though they did break up in attempts to date other people during their time at Vanderbilt University. They briefly split after graduation as they pursued post-grad careers, but reunited in 2000.

"I was so tired about having that same old conversation about how much we loved each other that I said yes,'' Christina told The New York Times of their on-again, off-again relationship status. This time it stuck, and the two got engaged shortly thereafter.

Willie proposed to her in their homeroom class

Willie Geist Instagram Willie Geist and Christina Geist at their college graduation in 1997.

In 2002, Willie popped the question to Christina in their middle school homeroom  a full circle moment for the school sweethearts.

They were married in Puerto Rico

Willie Geist Instagram Willie Geist and Christina Geist on their wedding day in 2003.

Willie and Christina tied the knot on May 24, 2003, in Puerto Rico, though their destination wedding didnt go quite according to plan. As noted by their New York Times wedding announcement, the resort and hotel where they planned to stay and host their reception went bankrupt, so Christina, Willie and their families pivoted. Willie and Christina were married in a Spanish church and had their reception and dance at Palmas del Mar Country Club.

They have two children

Bryan Bedder/Getty Willie Geist, Christina Geist and their children in 2016.

Christina and Willie have two kids: daughter Lucie was born in 2007 and a son George joined the family in 2009.

According to Willie, the children help him prep for important celebrity interviews. "I'm definitely pushing 50 at this point, so when somebody who is on the younger end of celebrities come in, I do a gut check with my kids," he told PEOPLE. "They said I had to interview Machine Gun Kelly, which turned out to be one of the best experiences we've had on the show, challenging and fun. And then there was Sydney Sweeney, when I mentioned it, my daughter was like, 'Oh my God, you're going to have Sydney Sweeney on?!' "

They split their parenting duties into morning and night

Manny Hernandez/WireImage Willie Geist and Christina Geist in 2014.

The parents established a system when their kids were young and they were trying to juggle their demanding careers and a busy family life. I started doing Morning Joe in April 2007, and our daughter was born in June of 2007, Willie shared. So Ive been getting up in the middle of the night ever since we had kids. It was harder back then, for obvious reasons, especially when we had a second child and I was walking out at four in the morning and Christina had a crying baby in her arms and one tugging at her leg. But we've always had an agreement: Christina has the mornings, and Im around at night. Christina did briefly put her career on hold to raise the kids, but returned to work after a few years.

In early 2023, Christina praised her husbands dedication to his family despite his hectic early-morning schedule. Todays word is STRENGTH. This is WG for me, she wrote on Instagram. Not because hes physically strong. But because he relentlessly stands up for those he loves. Even if that looks like sitting on the kitchen floor petting a sleeping puppy together after finishing the dishes last night. Quietly focusing on me, listening to my day and a challenge Im facing - even though his day began at 4am and carried its own story - and told me (for the thousandth time) what I know in my heart  but still needed to hear.

They celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in 2023

Kristin Callahan/Ace/Shutterstock Willie Geist and Christina Geist in 2017.

Christina and Willie have been married for two decades, and Christina marked the momentous occasion with a heartfelt post and a sweet photo from their wedding day. 20 years ago, I didnt marry a TV host. I married a promising young TV producer who worked overnights and weekends and whose original time off request for our wedding was declined (it was a holiday weekend, especially tough to staff), she shared. I didnt marry the guy you love on the Today Show. I married the guy I sat next to in 6th grade English class, who was so smart and funny, the spotlight just landed on him in life. I didnt marry the guy you may recognize on the street. I married the love of my life. Not because we imagined what life would bring. But because we both knew we simply couldnt imagine it unfolding without each other.

Willie shared the same photo with a moving caption of his own. Turns out even the wildest fantasy of what our life would look like 20 years after this photo was taken has fallen well short of the reality, he wrote. We are so lucky.

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In 2024, two years on from the start of the full-scale invasion of his country, Andrey Kurkov has no illusions about Russias intentions in Ukraine and what it means for the West.

Putin will not give up while hes alive. If he manages to destroy Ukraine, he will fight against the West in Moldova, in Lithuania, in Poland. And European leaders and politicians should understand that this is a potential Third World War. And it will reshape Europe and the European Union.

We meet in Kurkovs flat in central Kyiv. One of its high windows is crisscrossed with tape, a technique used to minimise the impact of shattering glass after a missile strike or shelling. He tells me about the dinner he made for close friends on the night before the invasion.

I cooked borscht, and we were joking. I was saying that this is probably the last borscht in Kyiv. After midnight, when we were saying goodbye to each other, suddenly everybody started exchanging mobile numbers, just in case. And I took photos of this moment. All the faces of my guests were very worried and very concerned, and there were no smiles at all.

By morning, Russias war of aggression had started in earnest. Tanks and troops were rolling across the border and missiles were striking major cities. For Kurkov, the full-scale invasion was a shock. A veteran of travelling to the front lines, the author was no stranger to death and violence, but it was the size of the invasion that surprised him.

It was clear that this frozen war is not going to stay like this forever. Russia will never be happy with Crimea. For me, it was no surprise that a full-scale invasion started, although I didnt expect this scale of it. I was expecting an escalation in Donbas. I wasnt expecting a 1941-style of bombing the whole country, like Hitler did.

Now 62, with a neat moustache and bright eyes, Kurkov is at the height of his fame. Born in St Petersburg, he had a string of eclectic jobs, including prison warder and screenwriter, before gaining international success as a novelist. His first, translated into English as Death and the Penguin, became a worldwide bestseller and was translated into 30 languages. Often surreal, bitingly funny and eerily prescient, Kurkovs work reflects the profound cultural changes in Ukraine and Russia over the past 30 years.

Even prior to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (he and his English wife, Elizabeth, escaped to their house in the country initially, before returning to the capital), Kurkov had written about working out how to live through a war.

'European leaders must realise that this is a potential Third World War' - AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky

In his 2018 novel Grey Bees, his pro-Ukrainian protagonist, Sergey Sergeyich, is caught up in the Donbas war. His village lies near-abandoned as Ukrainian and Russian forces shell each other over the disputed grey zone, and Sergeyich must walk a delicate line between two rival armies and his frenemy in the village.

However, Kurkov tells me that the war curbed his ability to write fiction. He abandoned a new novel for which he had written 70 pages. On the first day, I almost couldnt write anything. Just a couple of sentences in the diary. For me, writing is pleasure. And when I write, I am living in two worlds, the world I created for the novel and the world with my real friends, my real family and real problems. So my imaginary life was immediately removed from me. (His latest novel, The Silver Bone, which is published in the UK on Tuesday, was written before the war.)

Following the start of the war, Kurkov threw himself into journalism instead, writing hundreds of articles for publications across the globe. The full-scale invasion also changed how the people of Ukraine thought about the Russian language.

A local civilian in Ocheretyne, a village near the Avdiivka district, recently claimed by Russian troops in Donbas - Narciso Contreras/Anadolu via Getty Images

Although the Ukrainian language is historically oppressed (in the 1930s, the Soviet authorities carried out a brutal purge of Ukrainian culture and language), more and more people have started speaking Ukrainian in recent years, and many are bilingual. Since the 2022 full-scale invasion, some have even abandoned Russian altogether, rejecting any association with the aggressor country.

Kurkov, whose mother tongue is Russian, tells me: My books are now not published in Russian, because bookshops in Ukraine dont want to sell books in Russian, because Putin turned the language into the language of the enemy, in spite of the fact that 30 to 40 per cent of Ukrainians are Russian-speakers. Now, lots of people are changing language, switching to Ukrainian.

Kurkovs own works were banned in Russia in 2014, the year he first began to go to the front lines. But, he says: There will be a niche for Russian-language literature. I dont know if it will be a ghetto, or whether it will be a kind of club, closed-community literature. But it will survive.

You can listen to David Knowles interview Andrey Kurkov on Ukraine: the Latest, The Telegraphs daily podcast on war in Ukraine, using the audio player at the top of this article or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favourite podcast app.

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.
There is no doubt Basil Hayden is one of the most famous names in the bourbon market. Known for its smoothness and clean-tasting profile, yet it often splits opinions among whiskey lovers. Crafted in the heart of Kentucky, it has often been seen as the ideal introductory bourbon for budding connoisseurs.

With classic notes of vanilla, oak, and subtle spiciness, there is no doubt Basil Hayden is a significant step up from what you'll find on the bottom shelf. But why does it divide opinion, and is it the right whiskey for you? Here, we'll have an answer to all your questions.

With our experience of enjoying Basil Hayden on multiple occasions, we'll give you an insight into its tasting notes and how to enjoy this popular bourbon. Along with this, we'll also give you some fascinating insights into its history and production. Join us as we journey deep into everything that makes Basil Hayden one of the most accessible bourbons on any liquor shelf.

Read more: The 27 Best Bourbon Brands, Ranked

History Of Basil Hayden

Basil Hayden bottle close-up - Basil Hayden / Facebook

Some bourbons have a history dating back hundreds of years, so by that measure, Basil Hayden is a relative newcomer. Making its first appearance in 1992, it was created by the legendary master distiller Booker Noe. The inspiration behind the drink was Meredith Basil Hayden Sr., a farmer who made his bourbon with a high percentage of rye. Booker Noe used this as inspiration to make a high-rye whiskey with a more delicate flavor profile compared to many of its rivals. The experiment was a success, and ever since the early '90s, Basil Hayden has become synonymous with smooth bourbon, which has undoubtedly helped its immense popularity.

Booker Noe wasn't just any old master distiller. Being the grandson of Jim Beam, he had bourbon in his blood. But, rather than relying on his family history, Booker carved out his own legend. Along with Basil Hayden, he also created Booker's bourbon under his name, which is another highly revered spirit. Noe also coined the phrase "small batch," which helped to give uncut bourbon a more premium feel. Small-batch bourbons helped revive the industry after the increasing popularity of vodka and gin had hurt sales throughout the '60s and '70s. The creation of Basil Hayden was one of his last acts before he retired in the same year as its release.

How Is Basil Hayden Made?

Charring of Basil Hayden barrels - Basil Hayden / Facebook

Basil Hayden Kentucky straight bourbon is meticulously made through a time-honored whiskey-making process at the James B. Beam Distilling Company. The first part of the process comes from selecting high-quality grain, and in the case of Basil Hayden, that includes a high percentage of rye. These grains are combined with limestone-filtered water to create the mash. After being heated, yeast is added to initiate the fermentation process, which helps convert the sugars found in the grain to alcohol. In what can be confusing terms to those new to the process, this fermentation creates "distiller's beer" before this liquid is then distilled twice to create what's called "high wine." For Basil Hayden, the first distillation happens in a copper still before it undergoes a second round in a pot still, called a doubler.

This liquid is then aged in charred oak barrels, where it will undergo the maturation process changing it into the Kentucky whiskey we know and love. Whereas most standard bourbons will have a rye percentage hovering around between 15% and 20%, Basil Hayden's is dialed up to 27%, making for a unique mash bill. The rest of the mixture comprises 63% corn and 10% barley all of which contribute to a flavor profile and spiciness not found in many other expressions. Along with the thorough process, it all adds up to a high-quality whiskey that stands out from the crowd.

What Does Basil Hayden Taste Like?

Basil Hayden bottle - Basil Hayden/Facebook

With the high rye percentage, you'd be forgiven for thinking this would be a powerful and robust bourbon. However, the opposite is true. While the spice is notable on the palate, Basil Hayden is one of the smoothest whiskeys around. But, before we dive deeper into the palate, let's talk about the nose. There is a delightful range of smells, with mixed berries and hints of peach being the most obvious. Beyond that, you get some expected pepper due to the rye content. The relatively low 80-proof means the nose isn't overpowering but it's still one of the best low-proof bourbons you can buy.

On the palate, Basil Hayden provides a light-tasting experience, which is to be expected with a lower ABV. Many common bourbon-tasting notes shine, including vanilla, oak, and pepper. Those hoping for a big pepper kick may be a little disappointed, and this is where opinions can be divided. Some love its light and smooth profile, whereas others criticize it for a lack of depth. Our opinion lies somewhere in the middle. It lacks the complexity of many other bourbons at this price point, yet it's a great pour for when you want an approachable and easy-drinking bourbon. It's ideal for lazy summer drinking rather than those cold winter nights.

It's A Member Of The Jim Beam Family

James B. Beam Distilling Co. - Althom/Getty Images

That iconic bottle of Jim Beam found on nearly every liquor shelf is far from the only expression made at its distillery. Along with its impressive range of whiskeys, James B. Beam Distilling Company is also responsible for producing many other brands, including Basil Hayden. Founded in 1795 by Jacob Beam, the distillery has remained in family hands for over two centuries -- and continues to make some wonderful expressions. Along with Basil Hayden, the distillery owns Baker's, Little Book, Legent, Booker's, Knob Creek, and Old Grand-Dad, among several others. The story of the Beam ownership doesn't end there, as the distilling company is a part of Beam Suntory, a global leader in spirits.

Basil Hayden Kentucky straight bourbon also forms a part of Jim Beam's small batch collection. These are four small-batch bourbons from the distillery that all have their distinctive flavor profile, and trying each of them is a great way to explore different types of bourbon. Along with Basil Hayden, the other two are Baker's 7-year, and Knob Creek 9-year.

Basil Hayden Vs. Knob Creek, Booker's, And Baker's

Selection of Jim Beam bourbons - Gabriel Bancora/Getty Images

We mentioned them all there, so let's see how these small-batch bourbons compare. While all four bourbons share a similar heritage, they each possess distinct characteristics. Basil Hayden is the lightest and most delicate of the collection and stands in stark contrast to the more robust Knob Creek 9-year. With its higher proof of 100 and longer aging process, it offers an intense tasting experience dominated by spice along with its sweeter vanilla notes. With an average price of just over $35, it's also excellent value for money and one of the best bourbons under $50.

Booker's is another robust bourbon. The proof can vary slightly but is usually around 125. It has an intense caramel flavor but also gives you a complex flavor with toasted nuts and a hint of smoke also being noticeable on the palate. The only downside is that it's the most expensive of the four at an average price of nearly $140. Baker's 7-year completes the quartet. It still has a bold flavor with plenty of spice but isn't overpowering. It is even nuttier than Booker's but offers plenty of sweetness with vanilla and cherry. At an average price of $70, it's pretty good value. If you want something smooth and mellow, choose Basil Hayden. If you want something with a little more character, any of the others will satisfy your palate.

Basil Hayden Vs. Basil Hayden Toast

Bottle of Basil Hayden Toast - Basil Hayden / X (Formerly Twitter)

There are a few variations of the classic Basil Hayden, with a relative newcomer being Basil Hayden Toast, released in 2021. It gets its name because it has a secondary finish in toasted barrels, but that isn't the only difference. The most significant is that the 27% of rye found in the Kentucky straight bourbon is replaced by 27% brown rice. But, what do these two changes do to the whiskey? Firstly, the additional finishing helps to give it a richer caramelized flavor, along with a light smoke.

Using brown rice instead of rye removes much of the spiciness from the expression. It also gives it a more delicate profile with a creamier mouthfeel. With the already mellow and smooth nature of the flagship bourbon, the toast is very easy to drink. It also perfectly complements havarti cheese for those who love to pair their bourbon with food. Is it better than the classic Basil Hayden? We think it's a close call, but with it being around $15 more expensive, many will prefer to stick to its more accessible counterpart. Both expressions are good bourbons, and it's worth trying both. There are also several other variations of Basil Hayden for those looking to explore the brand further.

Is Basil Hayden Expensive?

Basil Hayden with glasses - Basil Hayden/Facebook

Of course, whether something is expensive or not is subjective. However, we'd say that Basil Hayden sits in the mid-level price range. At an average cost of a little over $40, it's comfortably pricier than budget bourbons. However, it is still affordable for most people who want to enjoy high-quality whiskey without a premium price tag. Not only is it affordable, but you can find it pretty much everywhere, and it will often be offered for around $10 cheaper than its average price. If that's too expensive for you, many liquor stores stock a half-bottle of Basil Hayden that is often priced under $25.

A heart-breaking moment for any budding enthusiast is spending a little extra on whiskey only to realize it's not good value for money. You'll have no such worries when buying a bottle of Basil Hayden. Its impressive smoothness, lightness, and delicate flavor profile appeal to a wide range of palates so your purchase won't disappoint you. The bottom line is that while Basil Hayden may not be the cheapest bourbon on the liquor shelf, its reasonable price point makes it an attractive option for anyone looking to take a significant step up in quality.

How To Drink Basil Hayden

Basil Hayden with food - Basil Hayden/X (Formerly Twitter)

Spirits should be enjoyed however you want to, but try enjoying Basil Hayden neat, without ice, for a few reasons. The main reason for doing so is Basil Hayden's biggest weakness: lack of depth. Due to this, its flavor can easily get lost when added to cocktails and mixers. And, with its low proof, adding ice to the drink can dilute it and dull those flavors even more. Want to add whiskey to cocktails? If so, we'd recommend getting something cheaper or more robust than Basil Hayden.

To properly savor Basil Hayden, or any spirit, you want to choose your glassware correctly. And for this bourbon, you'll want a snifter glass. These have short stems, a wider body, and a narrow opening. This allows you to swill the spirit, which helps to concentrate the aromas. The Glencairn glass is commonly used for Scotch whisky, but there are many similar examples. After your first tasting, switch to a tumbler if you don't enjoy drinking from a snifter glass. Enjoying it straight may be the recommendation but it can still be enjoyed in cocktails, especially if you prefer your whiskey not to dominate the tasting experience.

Named After The Father Of High Rye Bourbon

Bottle of Old Grand-Dad - Cory Zig Smith/Facebook

We've talked about Jim Beam and Booker Noe, but you may have wondered who Basil Hayden is. We briefly touched on him earlier, but his full name was Meredith Basil Hayden Sr. He's a historical figure and has commonly been known as the "King of High Rye Bourbon." Born in Maryland in the mid-18th century, he was a pioneer who, as you may have guessed, became famous for having a high percentage of rye in his mash bills. However, his mark on the bourbon world goes well beyond that, as he also helped found Bardstown in Kentucky. Known as the world's bourbon capital, it has become the home of many brands, including Jim Beam, Willett, and Heaven Hill.

The use of rye was a revelation in the bourbon community as it showed the drink could differ from the corn-heavy mash bills that dominated the landscape. Hayden's bourbon has a unique flavor profile, especially with its increased spiciness, and it has influenced many other whiskey makers. His legacy continued long after his death. Having died in 1804, his grandson created Old Grand-Dad whiskey in 1885, with Basil Hayden's image adorning its bottles. Both of these bourbons honor the legacy of a whiskey pioneer whose innovative spirit inspires bourbon enthusiasts worldwide.

It Recently Had A Major Redesign

Older bottle of Basil Hayden - Basil Hayden / Facebook

There are many older bourbon drinkers for whom this brand will always be Basil Hayden's, as that, was the name from its creation in 1992 until rebranding in 2021. That year, the brand transformed its iconic bottle by dropping the apostrophe in Hayden's. The old bottle had two highly distinctive features: the protruding paper label and the metal band around the middle. The paper label made it look old-fashioned, and with many younger bourbon drinkers, that feature wasn't seen as a good thing. The protruding beige text-heavy label was replaced with a non-protruding white label with minimal text, to make it look more modern. It's a fresher look, but lovers of the old bottle design will be happy the brand kept the distinctive metal band around the middle.

Not only was it kept, but it was made wider, with the "BH" on the front being much larger. In rebranding, Basil Hayden found a great middle-ground for bringing the brand into the modern world while preserving its heritage and character. Some may prefer the old bottle but consumer tests have shown people prefer the new design. Many modern rebrandings can look soulless, but we think Basil Hayden did a pretty good job here. The new design not only enhances the visual appeal of Basil Hayden but also reflects its status as a premium bourbon with timeless appeal.

Methodology

Bottle of Basil Hayden - Basil Hayden/Facebook

The opinion in this article comes from personal experience from the many occasions I've had the pleasure of drinking Basil Hayden. The historical aspects of this bottle guide were heavily researched with each back backed by a reputable source. The result of these two approaches yields a thorough bottle guide that you can trust.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Wed been sat in our Toyota Hilux, still as statues, for five full minutes. Those 300 seconds felt like an eternity, as the elephant paced towards us like a beered-up thug barreling down a cramped corridor in a nightclub.

We had driven down a track and come face to face with the bull, blocking our path. He was in musth, his penis dripping, his mouth dribbling, with six times as much testosterone as normal coursing through his body. He was aggressive and we were in his way, so now he was agitated. Charles Ndhlovu, our guide, had immediately cut the engine and instructed no noise or movement.

Elephants dont always break branches and kick up dust before they charge; even when hot-tempered, they are animals with reputable intelligence. He was being territorial, asserting his dominance, and our stillness and silence showed our subservience, calming his temper. As he snorted and stomped his way past the front of the 4x4 and around to its side, though, that reputable intelligence suddenly terrified me.

ABOVE: Watch my vlog on my photo safari experience!

Does he understand that there are no bull bars at the side of this vehicle, as there are at the front? Does he know that if he charges side-on  my side-on  there is no protection and he will certainly kill me?

The path in front now clear, Charles saw his opportunity and started the engine. The noise angered the elephant and, despite Charles efforts not to rev too much, he felt that we were now challenging him. Enraged, he trumpeted as we pulled away  and, as I mourned the poor acceleration of the Hilux, he charged us.

Without exaggeration, it was a beat-for-beat recreation of the T-rex chase scene in Jurassic Park. Charles drove the vehicle as fast as it would go down the dirt track, but our speed never seemed enough as the elephant gained more and more momentum, trumpeting in rage and intent on driving its massive tusks through the backside of the Hilux  again, my side, and again with no protective bull bars.

Clearly, we survived to tell the tale. The bull gave up chase (though not before pretending to slow down, giving us a false sense of security, then resuming full charge), and for the rest of the trip we regarded every elephant  despite being mostly placid females and playful infants  with heightened trepidation.

An elephant chasing down our truck during a photo safari

Into the wild

We had traveled to Davisons Camp in Zimbabwe, a private concession in Hwange National Park run by Wilderness Safaris. Founded in 1983, the group offers authentic African safaris with integrity, operating community and conservation initiatives that protect wildlife areas and ensure that the financial benefits flow back to the region and its people.

The purpose of the trip wasnt just to get charged by elephants and photograph animals, but also to visit local villages, meet the people of Hwange, work with anti-poaching units and see some of the projects tasked with invigorating one of Africas most economically challenged regions.

Wilderness was working in partnership with Olympus (now OM System) with each camp offering loan kit to visitors, and the guides being skilled at finding and advising on the best shooting opportunities. Whether your dream is to photograph lions drinking at a watering hole during the dawn golden hour, or backlit elephants dusting as the sun sets, people like Charles can do their best to make those moments happen.

Photograph of an elephant, backlit by the sunset

Because we were traveling to the camp by light aircraft (a six-seat Cessna 210) with a strict 10kg limit for kit, I had to pack very selectively. I knew that Olympus pro tag team, the OM-D E-M1X and E-M1 Mark II, would be light enough to travel yet powerful enough to do the job  particularly with their weather sealing, as dust would be a big issue.

The lightness and slightness of Micro Four Thirds lenses meant that I could take the M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 Pro (a 24-80mm full-frame equivalent), 40-150mm f/2.8 Pro (80-300mm), 300mm f/4 Pro (600mm), along with the 9mm f/8 body cap lens (18mm) on my old E-M5 Mark II as a vlogging camera. On top of that, I had both the MC-14 1.4x teleconverter and the new Olympus MC-20 2x teleconverter at my disposal, giving me a total of 3 bodies and a focal range of 18mm to 1200mm  all in a 10kg bag, with weight to spare.

After 30 hours of travel we landed around 18:30 at Linkwasha, the Wilderness airstrip where there were already elephants congregating. Wasting no time, we jumped straight from the Cessna into the Hilux and embarked on a sunset game drive en route to camp, where my very first frames in Africa were of elephants backlit by the sunset and frolicking at a water hole.

A lioness, photographed on safari in Zimbabwe

Tradition meets innovation

While our first full day in Hwange was scheduled to take in a number of the initiatives run by Wilderness, every destination was at least 45 minutes away (depending on traffic, as Charles put it, as you never know when your path will be interrupted by something like an elephant in musth). This meant that there were constant intermissions to shoot all manner of wildlife, from preening secretary birds to clownish baboons to elusive leopards.

We visited a village where the community is overcoming 21st Century problems by combining traditional techniques with modern materials. Plastic litter and glass bottles are a big problem in the area, as there is no way to dispose of or recycle them. So groups of female basket weavers, 25-30 strong, have begun incorporating waste plastics into their weaving, producing unique and innovative baskets, mats and ornaments that can be taken to markets and sold to tourists.

Masonry in the region is benefitting from similar ingenuity. Empty glass bottles are being hand-crushed by groups of 10-12 workers, who then use the crushed glass as a compound for brick mortar. The shards glisten like jewels in the painstakingly produced brickwork, which is used to provide modern materials to build sturdier structures in the area.

Pupils head to class after recess (Olympus E-M1II, M.Zuiko 12-40mm, 1/2000 sec, f/2.8, ISO200)

In the same village we visited Ngano Primary School, where the results of Wilderness Safaris initiatives are being directly felt by the next generation. The school has benefitted from a well-stocked library and childrens laptops, as well as banks of solar panels that enable the devices to be powered by the countrys greatest natural resource.

In addition, a Solar Literacy project means that students can receive individual book-sized solar panels  enabling them to power lights and continue to read, even when the sun goes down.

One of the highlights of the entire trip was visiting the Scorpion anti-poaching unit, which had apprehended a pair of poachers the day of our arrival: a man in his thirties and a teenage boy, who had been caught setting snare traps.

The Scorpions explained that the men were not poaching for the black market, but rather for the animals meat that they would either eat or sell. It was enlightening to see the reality that not all poachers are evil; some are just trying to feed their families, in a country where there is 95% unemployment and 10 million people are going hungry.

Patrolling for animal traps with the anti-poaching unit (Olympus E-M1II, M.Zuiko 12-40mm, 1/1000 sec, f/2.8, ISO200)

The lion sleeps tonight

Our accommodation at Davisons Camp was plush. While described as tents, and though certainly sheathed in canvas, that does the quarters quite a disservice. With full porcelain bathroom suite, super king size bed and multiple power points to charge batteries, it was a blissful place to rest your head at the end of the day  though we were warned that animals roam the camp after dark, so we had to be escorted to and from our rooms by armed guides, which made bumps in the night a little less easy to ignore.

Each morning heard a 5am Wakey wakey! friendly wakeup call from a guide, after which we breakfasted and set off by 05:45 for a sunrise game drive. We struck gold on our very first morning, not just because of the pristine golden hour dawn but because a pride of lions were feasting on an elephant carcass at a nearby watering hole. This was a fantastic opportunity to photograph the matriarchs eating, as well as youngsters pawing and playing around between bites.

Having recently decided to start a YouTube channel, I took advantage of the opportunity to shoot some footage for my vlog. Pairing the 300mm lens and MC-20 teleconverter, exploiting the 5-stop Sync-IS of the E-M1 bodies, it was possible to shoot 4K video at an equivalent 1200mm focal length handheld. I knew that Olympus stabilization was fantastic for stills, but this video performance truly blew me away.

After dinner comes play time! (Olympus E-M1X, M.Zuiko 300mm + MC-14, 1/1000 sec, f/6.3, ISO200)

The lions didnt stay playful and sleepy for long, however. A buffalo had, brazenly or foolishly, wandered down to the other side of the watering hole for a drink. Despite already having full bellies, plus the rest of a carcass to eat, the pride couldnt help itself and began maneuvering round to stalk its fresh prey.

Charles likewise repositioned our vehicle, joining a couple of other Wilderness 4x4s up on an embankment for a better vantage point. As a guest in another Hilux wrestled a pair of tank-like DSLRs out of his bags and struggled to stabilize his bazooka-sized lenses on an awkwardly raised knee, I was grateful to be using Micro Four Thirds kit.

Hot-swapping between the two bodies and their 40-150mm and 300mm lenses, I was able to get shoot the lions as they flanked, surrounded and attacked the buffalo  though the full bellies were their downfall, as the buffalo was able to fend off their half-hearted offense.

Lions encircle a cape buffalo (Olympus E-M1X, M.Zuiko 300mm + MC-14, 1/1250 sec, f/5.6, ISO200)

Some of the E-M1 pairs other tricks came in handy elsewhere on the trip, namely Pro Capture  a feature that starts buffering frames as soon as you half-press the shutter. By recording the last 15 frames before you fire the shutter and the 20 frames afterwards, you never miss that decisive moment  which was perfect for capturing birds in flight, cubs play fighting, or getting the perfect cloud of dust on a sandbathing elephant.

While Wilderness doesnt pitch itself as a photographic safari tour operator, the images I came home with were at least 50% down to the experience and expertise of our guide. Without Charles asking what we wanted to shoot and where we wanted the light to be, and then putting us in the right place at the right time, all the Pro Capturing in the world wouldnt have got me the shots.

At the same time, when a full-frame 600mm f/4 lens is 3.9kg and 13 grand (as opposed to 1.2kg and 2,300 bucks for the Olympus), I simply couldnt have brought my equivalent full-frame kit within that 10kg limit. While the gear is never more important than the idea, when weight and travelability are crucial, sometimes it makes all the difference.

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Zebras in Africa, in monochrome

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A hippo photographed in Africa

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Wild hornbill photographed in Africa

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Wild giraffe photographed on safari in Africa

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Wildebeest photographed on safari in Africa at sunset

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Wild elephant mother and baby drinking, in Africa

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Wild baboon in the tall grass, photographed in Africa

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Baby elephant dusting itself, taken on safari in Africa

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Photographer James Artaius, walking the African plain with an Olympus OM-D E-M1X in hand

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African schoolchildren in class

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African schoolchildren on their way to class

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The well-stocked library at an African school

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Solar panels on top of an African school

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African schoolchildren playing

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African woman weaving traditional baskets out of modern materials

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The Scorpions anti-poaching unit

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Anti-poaching officer measures a snare discovered on a tree

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Anti-poaching unit apprehending poachers with a truck full of contraband

There are photographs of Hwange that Ill cherish forever. A baby elephant with a feather in its mouth like Dumbo. A mother cheetah crying out for her cub. A hippo snapping its jaws. However, Ill never again be able to hear the Jurassic Park theme without thinking of a five-ton elephant charging right at me.

For more information, visit www.wilderness-safaris.com. A vlog of the trip can be seen at www.youtube.com/c/Artaius.

A worker crushes glass bottles to add to brick mortar (Olympus E-M1II, M.Zuiko 12-40mm, 1/1600 sec, f/2.8, ISO200)

You might be interested in the best cameras for wildlife photography and the best lenses for bird and wildlife photography.
Few pairings captivate the palate like chocolate and spice. Historically, spicy chocolate has existed since the Mayans drank hot chocolate infused with chile peppers around 1500 BCE. Since then, pairing chocolate with chile powder has been popular in the food world, extending beyond hot chocolate. These days, you can find spicy chocolate, cocoa spice rubs for your proteins, spicy brownies, spicy truffles, and spicy chocolate ice cream.

Chocolate thumbprint cookies also benefit from the addition of chile powder, which elevates the sweet treat with the perfect flavor kick. Infusing chocolate with chile powder is quite simple. Let's take Tasting Table recipe developer Rika Hoffman's chile chocolate hazelnut thumbprint cookies recipe, for example. In her recipe, Hoffman makes a velvety ganache and adds cayenne pepper and chipotle chile powder to infuse the chocolate with heat and a kick. Hoffman adds a pinch of salt and a dash of cinnamon to the mix to further balance the flavors. For those who love spicy foods, Hoffman recommends adding more cayenne powder for extra heat. If you're craving even more heat, once you fully assemble the cookies, consider dusting the tops of the chocolate ganache with chile powder. For a pop of red color and no extra heat, opt for a dusting of paprika.

Read more: 25 Chocolate Brands, Ranked Worst To Best

Cutting Through The Sweetness And Richness

Chocolate thumbprint cookies on cooling rack - Rika Hoffman/Tasting Table

Chocolate and chile powder are a master pairing because chocolate has nuanced sweetness and mild bitterness, which the heat from chile powder can harmonize with and balance. Chocolate can also sometimes feel a little rich and indulgent  this is where the chile powder comes in, cutting through the richness and sweetness. At the same time, chocolate's creaminess and milder flavors help mellow out and temper the heat of the chile powder.

On the food science level of why the flavor combo works so well, science has shown that eating chocolate helps your body release endorphins, otherwise known as feel-good chemicals. On top of that, the heat and kick from chile powder also help you release endorphins; hence, your pleasure can double when you eat chocolate and chile powder together. The next time you feel your chocolate thumbprint cookies -- or any chocolate desserts, like brownies or dark chocolate truffles, for that matter -- need a kick, use chile powder.

Read the original article on Tasting Table.
Noticing that younger generations don't sound so Southern anymore? It's not your imagination, according to new research out of Georgia.

Researchers have concluded Peach State residents are talking differently now, or at least Millennials and Generation Z kids do. Younger folks haven't picked up the Southern twang, evidenced by the fact that they pronounce words like "dress" and "face" with one vowel sound instead of two. (Linguists call that drawn-out pronunciation a diphthong, or gliding vowel, in case y'all were wondering.)

Our study includes speakers from across the state, and while we do see more Southern pronunciations in some rural speakers, even they sound far less Southern than even the urban speakers from the Boomer generation, says Georgia Tech linguist and assistant professor Lelia Glass in a news release. She conducted the study along with researchers from University of Georgia and Brigham Young University.

Researchers talked to White Georgians "whose birth years span over 110 years" and found a generational "cliff" for the Southern accent that started with Generation X. Glass said additional research is underway with Black residents.



The paper notes that the decline of "regional vowel systems" isn't exclusively occurring in the Southit's showing up in places like Michigan, too.

"It's challenging to pinpoint the exact reasons, Glass says. While we don't have definitive answers, there were significant social shifts during that period. Factors such as increased migration, with many people moving into the South from other regions, and urbanization could have played roles."

Related: What's The Difference Between Y'all And Ya'll?

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Read the original article on Southern Living.


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Groundwater aquifers provide vital freshwater to homes, farms, and industries, but decades of mismanagement and political action are draining this resource around the world.

A new study from an international team of scientists concluded that depleted aquifers are impacting countries around the world and could threaten both local ecosystem stability and water security.

However, the report also comes with a ray of hopeevidence that regulation and other restorative efforts can help restore previously declining aquifers.

Groundwater in the U.S. and throughout the world is an out-of-sight, out-of-mind resource. As rain, melted ice, and snowpack seep into the soil, its stored in large subsurface aquifers that provide fresh water for drinking, agriculture, industry, and even energy production. Groundwater is vital to humanitys survival on the planet, as it provides 99 percent of all liquid freshwater on Earth, and roughly 2.5 billion people rely on these systems for survival.

Despite its importance, measuring our impact on aquifersand galvanizing support to protect themcan be an uphill battle because of their locked-away and subterranean nature. But a new study, published in the journal Nature, is raising the global alarm for protecting these resources while also providing examples of policy changes and other methods that have helped restore previously declining groundwater aquifers.

In the study, scientists from University College London, University of California at Santa Barbara, and ETH Zurich curated groundwater measurements gathered from 170,000 wells in 1,700 aquifer systems. According to the researchers, this is the first global view into groundwater levels from ground-based data, providing a level of detail thats impossible to achieve with just satellite or computer-generated models. While their findings are mostly bad news, there is a dash of good news mixed in as well.

The study has found that groundwater levels are declining by more than 10 cm per year in 36% of the monitored aquifer systems, the researchers report in a UCL press statement. It has also reported rapid declines of more than 50 cm per year in 12% of the aquifer systems with the most severe declines observed in cultivated lands in dry climates.

This is consistent with last years New York Times report , which revealed that out of the U.S.s 80,000 groundwater wells, 40 percent had reached all-time lows within the past decade. As the report also emphasizes, the hardest hit places were states like Arizona, which is even restricting new development due to water concerns. Other, non-Western states also showed signs of groundwater depletion.

This new study identifies sharp groundwater declines in Iran, Chile, Mexico, and the U.S., and warns that drained aquifers can lead to seawater intrusion and land subsidence (sinking). It can also impact the natural function of wetlands and rivers, and previous studies have even suggest that groundwater pumping is causing the entire planet to tilt .

But in a rare moment (especially when talking about climate change), the study also comes with some good news, reporting that a future of completely depleted aquifers is far from a foregone conclusion. The researchers note that aquifers in Thailand, Spain, and even some in the U.S. that showed signs of decline in the 1980s and 1990s, have recovered due to improved regulation and other water-restoring methods, such as interbasin transfers.

Although buried beneath the Earths surface, groundwater is finally getting the attention it deserves, and evidence shows that smart management can help sustain these life-supporting aquifers for generations to come.

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The value of Saudi Arabia's dates export increased by 14% in 2023, reaching SAR1.462 billion ($390 million), compared to SAR1.28 billion in 2022, a report said, citing date from National Center for Palms and Dates (NCPD).

By the end of 2023, the number of countries importing Saudi dates stood at 119. The total value of date and date-byproduct exports increased by 152.5% since 2016, from SAR579 million in 2016 to SAR1.462 billion in 2023, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3%, Saudi Press Agency said, quoting NCPD data.

NCPD Chief Executive Dr Mohammed Alnuwairan attributed the success to collaborative efforts among the leadership, date producers and exporters, and public-sector agencies.

The efforts involved participating in local and international exhibitions, organising business missions, facilitating export procedures, and working in partnership with the private sector under a unified strategy aiming to support the date exports.

Alnuwairan highlighted advancements in the quality and production of processed date products, alongside local and international marketing initiatives, to further solidify the position of Saudi dates in global markets.

Exports to China saw a remarkable 121% surge in 2023 compared to 2022, while exports to France saw a 16% increase. Singapore and Korea also recorded significant growth in date imports from Saudi Arabia, with increases of 86% and 24%, respectively.

According to Alnuwairan, NCPD, in collaboration with the private sector, has set ambitious goals that aim to make Saudi dates the preferred choice for global consumers through various initiatives.

These include expanding national exports of dates and date byproducts, enhancing agricultural and industrial practices for improved quality, providing essential marketing services and industry information, and empowering the date sector through various support measures.
A Ukrainian 152 mm self-propelled howitzer Dana fires at the Russian positions in Donetsk region. (Alamy) (Roman Chop, Associated Press)

Both sides of the conflict in Ukraine have "reached the limits of what they can get by war", Turkey has said, as it pushes for a ceasefire between the two nations.

Having met his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on Friday, Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan told reporters on Sunday: "We think that it is time to start a dialog for a ceasefire. That doesn't mean recognising the occupation (by Russia), but issues of sovereignty and ceasefire should be discussed separately."

Meanwhile China has said it ready to promote peace talks and act as a mediator, adding that would be impossible to discuss a peace settlement without Moscow's participation.

More than two years into the war, Ukraine and Russia have been engaged in sluggish attritional warfare, with heavy casualties on both sides, and Kyiv's prospects have been looking increasingly bleak as Congress members in the US continue to stall over additional military aid.

Here, Yahoo News takes a look at how likely a Ukraine ceasefire could be, what negotiations could look like, and what could happen next.

How likely is a ceasefire in Ukraine?

In January, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a ceasefire would not lead to political dialogue and would only benefit Russia, giving it a chance to boost its supply of munitions.

Mikhail Khodorkovsky, a Russian oligarch and opposition activist who was jailed in Russia, made a similar point last year. Writing for Politico, he said: "Such attempts to persuade Ukraine to negotiate with him would be an error  and no ceasefire agreed under the current circumstances would bring peace in the long-term."

He added that Putin doesn't view the war as "catastrophic", and that Russian society "at large seems to accept his narrative of a 'defensive war' and is prepared for significant hardships". Having put the Russian economy on the war footing, the president appears ready to play the waiting game.

Story continues

Khodorkovsky added that Western sanctions are biting, but are not crippling the Russian economy, adding that Putin is "banking on the West growing weary of the war, hoping and waiting for an American government more willing to abandon some of its European interests".

Putin has previously said he is open to peace talks, but Western officials have suggested he is waiting for the US presidential elections in November, in the hope Trump will be mediating the process, Euractiv reported.

Kyiv has remained firm on its demand for Russian forces to leave Ukraine's territory, including Crimea and the Donbas regions, which are contested by Moscow in particular.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Russia must leave all of Ukraine's territory as a condition for peace. (Getty Images) (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

How could peace in Ukraine be negotiated?

Conflict negotiator Pierre Hazan has given some insight into how peace talks between Ukraine and Russia could look.

In an interview with British think tank Chatham House, he suggested the role of the United Nations in such processes has been "marginalised" as the international order becomes increasingly "fragmented".

He suggests this role is being taken on by key players who have "entered the field of mediation" in international conflicts, including Qatar, China and Saudi Arabia.

Turkey is in a fairly unique position, as it is a Nato member that has managed to maintain friendly relations with Russia and has been unwilling to impose its own sanctions on Moscow. This put Ankara in a position to help negotiate a deal to allow grain shipments to pass peacefully through the Black Sea.

On Wednesday Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country is ready to host negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, arguing not enough progress has been made to establish peace.

Speaking at the Southeast Europe summit in the Turkish city of Antalya, he said he agreed with President Zelenskyy's 10-step peace formula in "principle".

However, writing for the Council on Foreign Relations, Nona Mikhelidze, a senior fellow at the Institute of International Affairs, and research coordinator Riccardo Alcaro, suggested a negotiated settlement could simply result in a "frozen conflict" in which both parties "continue to pursue their original objectives".

"What would such a settlement look like? Surely, it would not be a peace treaty," they said. "Russia would not agree to withdraw its troops from territory it has formally annexed.

"Ukraine would never recognise Russias territorial acquisitions, which would continue to be Ukrainian land under international law. The West would keep the sanctions regime in place. The frontline would remain militarised."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's relatively close relationship with Russia could put his country in a position as mediator. (Getty Images) (Anadolu via Getty Images)

Could China get involved?

In February Swiss foreign minister Ignazio Cassis said he hoped China would "give us a hand" in Ukraine peace talks, after Switzerland agreed to host a global summit on peace in Ukraine in the near future.

China's Xi Jinping and President Putin declared a "no limits" partnership in Beijing just three weeks before Russia's invasion. Since then, China has dramatically increased its Russian energy imports.

While the US expressed deep scepticism over a proposed peace plan by China in March 2023, Beijing also accused Washington and Nato of a "Cold War mentality" over the conflict. Referring to Ukraine's ambition to join Nato  a major sticking point for Russia  the Chinese proposal said: The security of a region should not be achieved by strengthening or expanding military blocs.

Despite the White House's suspicions, Cassis said he wants China at the table precisely because of its great relations with Russia. Cheng Chen, professor of political science at the University of Albany, told the South China Morning Post that Beijing is the only major power that could exert substantive pressure on Russia, but said it would only "do so when it feels like it is in Chinas interest".

Read more
Fears have been raised that proposals to reduce the abortion deadline by two weeks could inflict cruelty on vulnerable women and actually increase the number of pregnancy terminations.

The warnings come after Tory MP Caroline Ansell proposed an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill to decrease the legal limit to have an abortion from the current deadline of 24 weeks to 22 weeks  with MPs set to vote on the proposals in due course.

But healthcare leaders and abortion providers told The Independent that Ms Ansells plans, which have gained the backing of a cross-party group of 26 MPs, were incredibly cruel and not grounded in clinical fact.

Dr Ranee Thakar, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president, said they are against any reduction in abortion time limits.

She added: Only one per cent of abortions happen after 20 weeks, but these are often undertaken because significant foetal anomalies are detected or because of serious maternal health issues.

Late recognition of the pregnancy or unforeseen changes in a womans personal circumstances can also mean women access a later term abortion. Regardless of the reason, we firmly believe that no woman should be forced to continue a pregnancy against her will.

Dr Thakar called for greater investment in local abortion services to ensure women are not forced to endure lengthy waiting times or embark on long trips to access terminations.

Her comments come as MPs are also set to vote on an amendment to the Criminal Justice Bill next month that would see pregnancy terminations wholly decriminalised in England and Wales.

Jonathan Lord, medical director of MSI Reproductive Choices, the UKs leading abortion provider, added: When a couple get the awful news of a scan anomaly at 18-20 weeks, they are distraught and rightly want diagnostic tests.

Those can take a few weeks, so reducing the limit to when these tests arent ready will pressurise this group into having to consider an abortion whilst they can, rather than wait for any reassurance that the tests may indicate.

Dr Lord, who is co-chair of the British Society of Abortion Care Providers, warned that curbing the cut-off point could actually increase the number of abortions taking place, adding that it is highly rare for terminations to be carried out after 22 weeks.

But in these unusual cases, women are often exceptionally vulnerable, the consultant gynaecologist at the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust added, citing examples of patients who are in denial that they are pregnant due to suffering extreme distress and cases involving young pregnant teenagers.

Members of Parliament should not be fooled by this predictable move from anti-abortion MPs to try and move focus away from the fact that they believe that in 2024, women should be jailed for having an abortion

Rachael Clarke

He also cited examples of patients falling pregnant after being raped, domestic abuse victims living in fear of their partners, and those with mental health issues.

Forcing them to give birth would be incredibly cruel and reinforces the abuse some have already suffered, Dr Lord said.

Explaining why she wants the abortion limit to be cut, Ms Ansell recently told The Daily Telegraph: "Our current time limit is an outlier compared with our European neighbours and my hope is this amendment will command widespread support across the house.

In France and Spain, the cut-off point for an abortion is 14 weeks.

Professor Katie Morris, president of British Maternal and Fetal Medicine Society, added: For the most vulnerable women in our society, such as those who suffer domestic abuse or rape as examples, being able to access abortion after 20 weeks could be lifesaving.

For all of these women in complex and distressing situations we must have compassion and be able to offer abortion as a form of healthcare.

Abortions can legally be carried out within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy in England, Scotland and Wales. But pregnancy terminations must be approved by two doctors, with the health professionals agreeing that continuing with the pregnancy would be riskier for the physical or mental health of the woman than having an abortion.

If a medical professional delivers an abortion outside of the terms of the 1967 Abortion Act, they are at risk of being prosecuted. Legislation passed in 1861 means any woman who ends a pregnancy without getting legal permission from two doctors can face up to life imprisonment.

We must trust women to know what is best for their own bodies, lives and families

Louise McCudden

Rachael Clarke, chief of staff at the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, a leading abortion provider, said: These proposals are not supported by any medical bodies, are not based in clinical fact, and do not have the support of the British public.

Members of Parliament should not be fooled by this predictable move from anti-abortion MPs to try and move focus away from the fact that they believe that in 2024, women should be jailed for having an abortion.

In light of the roll back in womens rights in the US, none of us should be surprised to see American-funded anti-abortion groups leading attempts to deny thousands of British women every year the legal abortions they need.

Abortions can legally be carried out after 24 weeks in a number of highly limited situations, such as when the mothers life is at risk or the child would be born with severe disabilities.

But government data shows abortions performed at 24 weeks or over only make up 0.1 per cent of the total  with 276 such abortions in 2021.

Louise McCudden, of MSI Reproductive Choices UK, warned curbing the cut-off for abortions would be devastating for the small number of women in the incredibly difficult position of needing to consider an abortion at this point in their pregnancy.

She added: Women would be forced to choose between continuing an unwanted or dangerous pregnancy and risking criminal prosecution.

Ms McCudden explained that women already tend to do the lions share of childcare and caring for relatives and we must trust women to know what is best for their own bodies, lives and families.

Some foetal anomalies are not picked up until 22 weeks, she added. Forcing people to make a decision before they have all the information is heartless and, ironically, will leave some people feeling they have no option but to end an otherwise wanted pregnancy.

Ms Ansell has been approached for comment.
Just because the phrase "steak and potatoes" is synonymous with "basic" doesn't mean your steak dinner has to be. When you're in the mood for a dish that's classic but uncommon, look no further than Mashed recipe developer Mackenzie Ryan's grilled steak au poivre. With origins in 19th-century Normandy, the dish features a cracked-pepper crust and a creamy cognac sauce. But with Ryan's American twist on the traditional recipe, there's a bit more flexibility regarding which cut of beef you can use.

Typically, steak au poivre is made with pan-fried filet mignon. Because fat equates to flavor and filet mignon is a leaner cut of beef, more traditional recipes use the drippings in the pan to create a fuller steak flavor via the dish's signature sauce. Because Ryan's recipe calls for grilled steak, however, New York Strip is her go-to cut. "The New York Strip is a more economical alternative," she explained to Mashed, "Especially if you aren't extremely confident with the grill."

Read more: Cuts Of Steak, Ranked Worst To Best

Try Cuts Other Than The Classic Filet Mignon

Steaks on grill - Mackenzie Ryan / Mashed

While New York Strip is tender like filet mignon, it's also rich in fat, making it the perfect candidate for low-pressure grilling. When a steak is pan-fried, the juices collect around it, keeping the meat supple and moist. On the grill, however, released fat tends to fall through the grates. The marbling interspersed throughout a strip steak adds moisture during the grilling process so the meat doesn't dry out.

The additional fat also provides the dish with plenty of meaty flavor. This is helpful, as the sauce in Mackenzie Ryan's recipe is made without pan drippings. While strip steaks can be pan-fried for a more traditional take on the French favorite, Ryan told Mashed, "Grilling the steak adds a smoky flavor that otherwise wouldn't exist."

Although you get more bang for your buck when you opt for New York Strip, Ryan points out that it's not the only cut that can be used to make steak au poivre. "Really, any steak can be used," she noted, "So don't miss the opportunity to enjoy the recipe because the right steak wasn't available." Even more important than the steak's cut is how well it's cooked. For recipes like Ryan's, which put the beef at center stage, experts recommend an internal temperature of 135 degrees Fahrenheit. As long as it's cooked to medium-rare perfection, grilled steak au poivre can have the same tender texture and rich flavor as the pan-fried variety.

Read the original article on Mashed.


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It may be time to say goodbye to your local Macy's. The department store chain has announced plans to close approximately 150 stores across the country through 2026, including 50 locations this year alone.



Macy's described the stores set to be shuttered as "underproductive locations." While the brand has not yet released a full list of the Macy's stores that are closing, one of these locations has been confirmed by San Francisco Mayor London Breed's office as Macy's Union Square flagship store (though it will remain open indefinitely until the property is sold).

In a statement released on February 27, Macy's revealed its new strategy  coined as "A Bold New Chapter"  will include closing the 150 stores and prioritizing investments in the remaining 350 locations. The strategy will also include opening new Bloomingdale's locations and Bluemercury stores, which are Macy's luxury brands.

Macy's, Inc. is hoping this move will re-strengthen the company's brand, digital presence and relationship with customers. According to Macy's, the strategy aims to solidify Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury's positions in the luxury space by opening more physical locations and offering more immersive customer experiences.



Tony Spring, who stepped into his position as the chief executive officer of Macy's in February, said in the statement:

"We are making the necessary moves to reinvigorate relationships with our customers through improved shopping experiences, relevant assortments and compelling value."

This isn't the first time Macy's has announced unfortunate news about store closings in recent years. The department store chain has closed roughly 300 stores since 2015, including closing 45 Macy's locations in 2021 and 28 locations in 2020. In January, Macys announced it was laying off about 3.5% of its workforce (around 2,350 employees) and closing five stores. The "Bold New Chapter" strategy includes focusing remaining resources on top-performing stores in order to improve customer shopping experiences and sales.

The recent store closures and downsizing can be attributed to multiple factors (ahem, online shopping), but experts say the drop in the company's stock price most likely drove the plans to refocus on currently successful locations and luxury brands. Macy's stock price peaked at $73 a share in 2015, but nine years later it's dropped to $18 a share  that's a whopping 75% decrease.

"Our threshold to keep a store open has become more stringent," Spring said in a conference call with investors, per CBS News. "In the past we may have continued to operate a store that was cash flow positive. Now the bar has been raised."

A List of Macy's 2024 Store Closings

Including the store closures announced in January, here is a list of the Macy's stores facing closure this year. Note: This list will be updated as more store closures are officially announced.

California

San Leandro: Bayfair Center

Simi Valley: Simi Valley Town Center

Hawaii

Lihue: Kukui Grove Center

Florida

Tallahassee: Governors Square

Virginia

Arlington: Ballston Quarter

Luckily for loyal shoppers, the remaining 350 Macy's locations will be reinvested in and improved upon  and if it turns out your local store is set to close and you're in need of a new dress or bottle of perfume, there's always Macys.com.

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In a Madrid suburb, behind the doors of an anonymous warehouse, lies what looks like a dismembered classical statues enormous head. Its skull is smashed open, its gaze fixed imperiously on the floor. Scattered among the workbenches, palettes and the din of machinery are more outsized body parts: a curled right hand, its index finger half-raised; a left foot with implausibly long toes.

This surreal assortment (the head is roughly the size of a small car) is a series of resin tests for an ambitious heritage project: a reconstruction of the Colossus of Constantine statue, on display at the Musei Capitolini in Rome since last month.

Thats the head, the arm whatever that piece is, says Otto Lowe, one of a team of specialists who led the reconstruction. He waves in the direction of items lying about the workshop of Factum Foundation, the non-profit organisation behind the museums facsimile of the ancient, 42ft-tall portrait of the fourth-century Roman emperor.

The original statue, probably commissioned by Constantine himself, once adorned the Basilica of Maxentius in the Roman Forum. In the 16th century its surviving stone fragments  including the head, arm, hand, knee and feet  were moved to a courtyard in what is now the Musei Capitolini and arranged, possibly by Michelangelo, into a sculptural collage, where they remain today.

What makes Constantines facsimile achievable now is ultra-high-resolution technology combined with expert research, which is where Otto Lowe and Factum come in.

Otto Lowe: 'Even some restoration techniques of 20 years ago are now considered bad practice' - Massimo Siragusa

Despite being politically neutral, the organisations work goes straight to the heart of fraught debates about authenticity, demands for the restitution of objects by major museums to their countries of origin, and which institutions are best equipped to care for them. It also raises questions about what our leading museums might do with their vast stores of unexhibited objects.

Madrid-based Factum specialises in startlingly accurate copies of cultural artefacts from thousands of years of human civilisation  everything from the interiors of ancient Egyptian tombs (both 3D-printed and virtual) to sacred Amazonian caves to African stone carvings to Italian Renaissance treasures. Its experts take precise digital measurements using cutting-edge scanning techniques, then build replicas using accurate colour-matching and 3D-printing technology. Conservationists have long made facsimiles with casts and samples. The difference today is that, with advanced techniques, equipment and human hands need never touch fragile originals. Everything we do is non-invasive, says Lowe.

Lowe, 34, is almost supernaturally calm and speaks with an English accent so plummy that it is hard to reconcile with his outsized hoodie, tattooed arms and silver thumb rings.

His father, the British artist and art historian Adam Lowe, co-founded Factum Arte  which produces large-scale installations for contemporary artists including Marina Abramovic  in 2001, and Factum Foundation for Digital Technology in Preservation eight years later. Ottos mother is Japanese and he grew up between the UK and Spain.

Adam Lowe, founder of the Factum Arte foundation, prepares a replica of an Assyrian protective deity - AFP

Otto recalls his fathers work being an integral part of his childhood. School holidays were spent watching a laser progress very slowly across the wall of an Egyptian tomb while everyone else was on a beach, he says.

After studying international relations at the University of Leeds and working for Lib Dem MP Simon Hughes, he joined the family business, unable to resist the combination of adventure and the recording of vital parts of culture that shaped his early life.

Lowe selects words carefully, always choosing the least inflammatory adjective, always assuming good intentions. He seems like a man well-suited to risky situations.

The artefacts that Factum is asked to document and replicate are often under threat of destruction, from natural disasters, encroaching development, war, terrorism and  increasingly  extreme weather and tourism. Others are for exhibition: to reassemble Constantine for a special display, the foundation worked with the Musei Capitolini and the Fondazione Prada.

Were incredibly obsessed with detail, says Lowe. Theres a lag between what computers are capable of creating and what our data could do. So we always keep a raw, unprocessed data set on our servers for future historians.

Facsimiles could even play a role in resolving stand-offs between countries and institutions. Factum has already been involved in the returning to Nigeria of a 500-year-old Bakor monolith from the collection of the Chrysler Museum in Virginia last year.

Originally, there were about 300 carved-stone portraits of important ancestors. Dr Ferdinand Saumarez Smith, Factum Foundations director in London, estimates that roughly a third were stolen, possibly looted in the 20th century during and after the Biafran War, ending up in public and private collections in Europe and America.

When the Chrysler Museum returned its carving, it received a Factum replica. The original is very hard, made of granite. This [replica] is resin, and 3D-printed, Lowe explains. The process of creating a replica is surprisingly short: A couple of hours and just a couple of tests, mostly to test various finishes, says Lowe.

Ultimately the data set is measurements; youre creating millions and millions of points. And then you create vertices between any two given points in order to create a triangulated mesh, a 3D model.

On the day we meet in Madrid, a test model sits on a filing cabinet in the workshop. It looks uncannily like solid rock, until I tap it and realise it is hollow.

I pick up a miniature column. It looks like marble but my grasp falters as it turns out to be almost weightless  an exact replica of a stone column in the 11th-century chapel at Durham Castle, where Factum has recorded the colour and surfaces to provide information for restoration.

Lowe is part of a team of 60 people across Factum Foundation and Factum Arte, but his job is to travel the world, high-tech scanners in tow, to record artefacts  work that is typically commissioned by governments, museums, universities and other institutions. Home is Helsinki, where the foundation has an office (Lowes wife is a Finnish painter), but he spends up to a third of the year on location. Some projects can take a decade, he says, with multiple return trips. He describes scanning the news constantly, preparing mentally for future projects.

Last year Lowe spent time in Istanbul recording in meticulous detail the intricate bronze Serpent Column placed at Delphi in 479BC, to celebrate the victory of the Greeks over Persia, and later moved to the Hippodrome of Constantinople.

The data we record is also cultural heritage and the Turkish cultural authorities have thought about that, he says. Here, and on every Factum project, collected data is given over to the custodians of the original artefact. Turkey is rightly very protective of its cultural heritage.

The foundation is funded by a mix of donations and by its sister organisation, Factum Arte. Lowes work gathering information about precious and fragile heritage demands diplomacy, patience, tenacity, technical expertise, a steady temperament and an iron nerve.

As he shows me around a warren of rooms piled high with replicas, Lowe describes descending cliff faces and trekking for days in the Middle East; on another occasion, being escorted under armed guard in Somaliland, while recording the 5,000-year-old painted chambers of Laas Geel. Ive never particularly felt unsafe, he says. Danger can be a bit overplayed. As long as youre not an idiot. Nothing bad has happened so far.

Rock art at Laas Geel Site, rock art paintings depicting cows and human being - Corbis News

Once, in Saudi Arabia, he found himself followed by secret police. He was working on remote, sacred monuments, for a project in partnership with the government: Im not sure if they were looking after me, or if it was another government. It happens quite often and you learn to know them when you see them. Youre kind of meant to spot them.

You just take it in your stride, he says of the risks of travelling in remote or unstable parts of the world. Ive never been in a situation where Ive felt the need to panic.

The fastest-growing demand for the foundations work, says Lowe, comes from the Gulf peninsula, and in particular Saudi Arabia as the kingdom attempts to diversify its economy from oil towards heritage and tourism, as part of its so-called Vision 2030 plan.

Lowe descended cliffs at the Nabataean archaeological site at Al-Hijr, formerly known as Hegra (They just threw a rope around me and said, Off you go), where several years ago he was capturing scans of the monumental sandstone tombs and rock art, recording their condition before the arrival of the hoped-for streams of tourists.

Cliffs at Al-Hijr in Saudi Arabia, formerly known as Hegra - Corbis News

Factum has also advised on the kingdoms wildly ambitious Neom project, a $500 billion plan for a giga-city roughly the size of Belgium. The earmarked region includes undocumented ancient monuments which are vulnerable, says Lowe, though he stresses that the state is keen to act responsibly.

These things are safe when theyre not known, says Lowe. The second they become known a value gets ascribed and thats when they are the most at risk from overtourism: that point when they are discovered but they havent yet sent guards to sit there all day.

Sometimes his team arrives at a new site with no information from the authorities. They dont always know what they have sometimes I have to say very clearly, There is a neolithic carving HERE. He jabs his finger at an imaginary map.

One of Lowes favourite projects has been recording fragments of the Tomb of Seti I in Egypts Valley of the Kings, which are scattered all over the world. Since the tomb was found in 1817 by Giovanni Battista Belzoni, an Italian explorer and former circus showman, some wall decorations and treasures have been removed, looted, damaged and destroyed. Much of the original paint is scarred and defaced. They even handed out plaster-cast-making sets to tourists up until the early 20th century, says Lowe.

Fragments of artefacts ended up in museums worldwide, including a pair of decorated gate panels: one in the Louvre in Paris, the other in the Museo Archeologico in Florence. Setis massive sarcophagus is in Sir John Soanes Museum in London  Belzoni scratched his name into the rim. Other fragments are in the US and elsewhere in Europe.

Giovanni Battista Belzoni - Hulton-Deutsch Collection/Corbis via Getty Images

One of the difficulties is trying to find all the missing pieces, says Lowe. A lot are in peoples houses in the Home Counties. Theyre not catalogued anywhere, theyre just family heirlooms. Others are just listed as an Egyptian piece at auction, because its not known where it came from.

Big museums tend to keep more accurate records. Factum has scanned both the French- and Italian-kept gate panels in their respective museums, then printed ultra-precise replicas. They rest against a wall in the Madrid warehouse (not far from an exact replica in resin of Setis sarcophagus).

Both panels were carved and painted more than 3,000 years ago, probably by the same artists at the same time. Both had been marked by graffiti and soot and scorching caused by intruders torches when they were in situ. Today, they look radically different from one another.

Displaying the highly precise replicas side by side has highlighted what happened to each panel in the decades after they were separated, and how they have been treated by their respective custodians. The differences are arresting. The French replica is suspiciously vibrant and perfect; the Italian reveals much of the scarring and damage. Their colour palettes are entirely different.

Culturally, Italian restoration takes time as part of the story of the object, says Lowe. If the object shows the effects of time, they leave it. The French approach is to take it back to how it was when it was created.

The contrast is a reminder of how rapidly humans can damage ancient monuments beyond recovery, intentionally or not. The panels original colouration is lost for ever. Even some restoration techniques of 20 years ago are now considered bad practice, says Lowe.

Another example of the value of facsimiles is the Tomb of Tutenkhamun, whose real curse might be overtourism (Factum has worked on a recreation). The tomb was uncovered by the British colonial archaeologist Howard Carter in 1922 after lying hidden for more than 3,000 years. Some wall paintings have recently been restored.

The biggest impact, says Lowe, has been tourism You have millions of people visiting each year. Its hot, they sweat and they breathe. They change the local atmosphere

It lasted perfectly well for 3,000 years. Tombs were not meant to be opened. Since its discovery, its deteriorated very quickly. What, if anything, does Lowe think should be done? Short of cutting people off from the site theres nothing much you can do to stop that kind of thing, he says.

The tomb of Seti I at Valley of Kings, Luxor, Egypt - Anadolu

Will restrictions on tourism be inevitable in the future? We never take a political stance, says Lowe. Speaking as a private citizen, I dont want to not be able to see these things. But since Covid, market forces have been doing the job for us. Flights are more expensive, people arent travelling so much. Its given heritage a bit of breathing space. But I dont think theres any way you can prohibit peoples access to culture.

The wider question of the restitution of objects and the role that facsimiles might play in that is, he says, fraught with complexity. Culture is something people get very possessive about, so we always try to find a solution where someone doesnt need to lose in order for someone to win.

Current disputes include the fate of the 16th-century Benin Bronzes, exquisite artefacts looted and scattered across the globe after British troops sacked the west African kingdom in 1897. They are vital evidence of the Benin peoples spiritual beliefs before the introduction of Christianity, and many are in the British Museum.

Also heavily contested is another British Museum centrepiece, the Parthenon sculptures. With the Parthenon, were we to be invited into that conversation, we would love to be a part of that, absolutely, says Lowe.

Ultra-detailed facsimiles  like Factums copy of the Bakor monolith in Virginia  could form part of a temporary solution to some restitution claims, perhaps via loans and temporary exhibitions. Our goal is never to stop people seeing the original, says Lowe. Its partly to let them know what effect they are having. And to make people aware of what humans presence does over time.

But copies are not always appropriate, says Professor Dan Hicks of the School of Archaeology at the University of Oxford, author of The Brutish Museums, a book about the cultural restitution debate. The British Museum has been paralysed by the Parthenon issue. Were faithful facsimiles of the Parthenon sculptures to be installed in the Acropolis Museum in Athens, for example, it would miss the point.

Visitors view the Parthenon Marbles, also known as the Elgin Marbles, at the British Museum, London - AFP

Its not a silver bullet, says Hicks. Most museum-goers value not just patina. There is something about being present in the room with an object of such significance.

In other words, an objects aura is unrepeatable. And it is that intangible sense that is valuable when it comes to visitor numbers.

In any case, says Hicks, museums storage rooms are bursting with objects that are never displayed or catalogued (as highlighted last year, when a longstanding British Museum curator was sacked after stolen items were offered for sale on eBay; missing objects dated as far back as the 15th century BC).

Lets imagine the Parthenon marbles are returned in the coming years, says Hicks. What should the British Museum do? Should it make 3D prints and reproduce that space again? Or should it start to understand its vast array of objects from antiquity to tell new stories? Are we going to nostalgically copy what weve given back? Or are we going to do something else? Because were not going to run out of stuff.

Lowe agrees. Each case is different, and its not for us to make those decisions, he says. Factums place is to create a dialogue and show options for where the debate might go next, as with the Bakor monoliths.

In the meantime, Constantine has taken up his new position at the Musei Capitolini in Rome.

His body and clothes have been digitally reconstructed. The original Constantine is thought to have been a recarving of an existing statue of Jupiter, the Roman sky god. The museum has all kinds of theories [about what the original looked like], so we asked them, What would have been the language? says Lowe. We looked at others in collections and tried to recreate the same language, for example the cloak, and the orb he would have been carrying as a symbol of Roman divinity.

In other words, Constantine is partly guesswork. But then, isnt that what we are applying when we gaze at ancient ruins, or artefacts in museums and galleries, with their layers of residues, patinas and scars?

Objects have a biography, just like people, says Lowe. And its not necessarily a good thing to try to stop that process. But we can record it, and that helps us imagine.

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You made me the worlds oldest starlet.

So said Iris Apfel after the rousing success of the Metropolitan Museum of Arts Costume Institute exhibition devoted to her.

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Former curator in charge of the Costume Institute and fashion scholar Harold Koda reminisced about her Saturday. I wouldnt call Iris pleasure in getting dressed a hobby, unless you think of Matisse as a hobbyist who cut out colored papers as a diversion. Dressing up for Iris was a vocation. She did have a hobby  it was shopping. Not you and me shopping, big-game hunter shopping. She might have looked like a bird-of-paradise, but on the hunt, she was a raptor.

Provenance didnt matter to Apfel, because she was such an independent thinker and creative. It was purely based on visuals, Koda said, recalling how she once paired a pink Lanvin jacket with all of this turquoise jewelry from the southwest, Tibet and other ports of call. It wasnt about matchy-match. It was about what goes together to make this the strongest statement. She was completely original in terms of that. Rules really didnt apply to her.

Apfels aesthetic principles were not articulated in a conventional way, and her purchases were not motivated by where something was from or whether it was expensive, said Koda, who orchestrated the Mets 2005 show Rara Avis: Selections from the Iris Apfel Collection, at the Costume Institute. That helped further spark her popularity and made Apfel the first living person, who was not a designer, to have her clothing and accessories exhibited at the museum.

It was the contemporary fashion historian Caroline Milbank who had tipped off Koda to the fact that the greatest collection of fashion accessories in this country, not fine jewelry  bags, costume jewelry, hats and gloves  belonged to this woman, who lived in New York.

Without knowing Apfels identity due to Milbanks discretion, Koda tucked away the information and later when another exhibition fell through, Koda liked the prospect of staging a show about accessories  not fine jewelry  at the Costume institute for the first time. During his first visit to Apfels apartment, it was difficult to determine its size, since boxes of the clothes that she had acquired over the years occupied the better part of the three bedrooms and the living room.

Part of what made Apfels collection so exceptional was the context in which it was shown  on her. She collaged all these different patterns, colors, eras and cultures, and ended up with something quite lucid, Koda said. As a costume historian, I thought she was peculiarly American.

At the opening at The Met, after Apfel showed the Tunisian ambassador to the United Nations a Tunisian bridal tunic that she had styled into a dressy, informal evening ensemble, he said, In a thousand years, no Tunisian bride has been dressed as beautifully.

Unlike Anna Piaggis or Isabella Blows strong persons style, Koda said, With Iris, as eccentric as she was due to the boldness and layered character of what she did, there was still a graphic principle. It never looked discordant.

At a Connecticut antiques show, Apfel spied two mannequin hands that were beautiful. But who needs two mannequin hands? Koda said. In another barn, she found a rosary for a santo, one of those religious figures, with beads the size of gumballs that were made in the same tone of wood as the hands that she has just bought. In the show, she used them with the mannequin hands grasping each other. She bought things that interested her not to match them. It was a fortuitous thing that it all converges.

At the time of the Rara Avis show, Koda advised, Dont attempt this at home, because the rest of us might throw things together in what we think is an artful way but it would not read as graphically considered as Iris always did.

Despite the exhibition rocketing Apfels into a new realm of endorsement and influencer deals, the exhibition was more about how the collection came together than the individual designers that comprised it. The fact that the collector was an artist, who took all of these things that were in her fashion palette meant that she was ending up herself as self-created art, Koda said. While he made all of his selection adhering to The Mets criteria for museum-worthy material, he asked Apfel to style the mannequins to make the story her own.

Many would be mistaken to think that great women of style are narcissistic, vain or like bobblehead dolls, the ones that are identified with bringing something really original to fashion are all really smart, according to Koda. The consummate dinner companion, who engaged in extraordinary conversations, Apfel kept the stories coming. Her many travels always involved meeting people and enriching her wide circle of friends. Her tales included the time a Times Square pimp offered her husband Carl cash for his Ferrari, while Iris was visiting Duke Ellington in a recording studio, Koda said. And the one when she got an Irish antiques dealer to sell her a Ptolemaic ring that once belonged to King Farouk even though it was reserved by the mayor of Dublin for the Grand Rebbe of Jeruselums upcoming visit.

Even in her 90s, she was made for social media, not only because of her exceptional persona, but also because her gimlet world view was an endless source of epigrammatic pronouncements. She was, an Oscar Wilde with googly glasses. And despite her age, she had the uncanny ability to connect with the young, especially teens. To the questioning adolescent, her message of Be bold, express yourself, declare your originality resonated, Koda said.

Apfels slimness and stature enabled her to carry off some adventurous silhouettes and choices, like her standard practice of wearing a raincoat as a dress on occasion  as another American style arbiter, C.Z. Guest, loved to do, Koda said.

Even weekend visits in the country couldnt stop Apfel from shopping. During a jaunt to see Koda in upstate New York in the early 2000s, he made the mistake of going with her to the Stormville Flea Market instead of dropping her off. By that point, the market was mainly cheap jeans from Sri Lanka and Home Depot-style plants. You didnt find the contents of the attic of a house on the Hudson. I tried to discourage her. For her, being in the country was nothing  it was about shopping.

What was expected to be a one-hour outing turned into three hours. Three stalls into a flea market with hundreds of stalls, she unearthed knockoff Kate Spade mini shoulder bags in all of these striped patterns and colors, and bartered with the vendor to sell them for $3 for the six. She was such a haggler. I found it upsetting. But thats just who she was whether high-end or low-end, she just bargained you like an 18th-century rug merchant, Koda said. By the time we brought her back to New York City, you couldnt use the rear-view mirror in our station wagon.

Iris Apfel in the front row

Iris Apfel

Iris B. Apfel attends the "Cartier I Love You" dinner at La Grenouille.

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Launch Gallery: Iris Apfel Through the Years

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Royal family member Thomas Kingstonwho died last Sunday, February 25, at age 45died from a traumatic head wound caused by suicide, an inquest into his death revealed.

Thomas Kingston

Kingston, a financier, was the husband of Lady Gabriella Windsor, who he married in 2019. Lady Gabriella, who often goes by Ella, is the daughter of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and is currently 56th in line to the British throne; she is the second cousin of King Charles. The Telegraph reported that the death was self-inflicted and occurred at Kingstons parents home in the Cotswolds, shortly after Kingston had lunch with them and before his father took their dogs on a walk.

Katy Skerrett, senior coroner for Gloucestershire, said that, upon his fathers return home, Kingston was not in the house. According to Sky News correspondent Dan Whitehead , Kingston was found in a locked outbuilding with a catastrophic head injurya gun was found at the scene.

Thomas Kingston

A statement released on February 27, two days after Kingstons death, on behalf of Lady Gabriella Kingston, Martin and Jill Kingston, Joanna Connolly, and Emma Murray said, It is with the deepest sorrow that we announce the death of Thomas Kingston, our beloved husband, son, and brother. Tom was an exceptional man who lit up the lives of all who knew him. His death has come as a great shock to the whole family, and we ask you to respect our privacy as we mourn his passing.

The King and Queen Camilla sent their heartfelt thoughts to Lady Gabriella, and a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, The King and The Queen have been informed of Thomas death and join Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and all those who knew him in grieving a much-loved member of the family. In particular, Their Majesties send their most heartfelt thoughts and prayers to Gabriella and to all the Kingston family.

Thomas Kingston

Kingston was a director at Davenport Capital and a former hostage negotiator in Iraq; the Kingstons were married at St. Georges Chapel at Windsor Castle just one year after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and, later in 2018, Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank were married at the same location. Harry made a surprise appearance at Lady Gabriellas wedding on May 18, 2019, just 12 days after his son Prince Archie was born that May 6. Other guests in attendance were Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip and Pippa Middleton Matthews, who once dated Kingston.

Thomas Kingston

Lady Gabriella is not a working member of the royal family and works as a freelance journalist; that said, the Kingstons were frequent fixtures at royal family events following their marriage nearly five years ago. They did not share any children, and were last seen less than two weeks before his death at a Celebration of Shakespeare event alongside Queen Camilla on Valentines Day. At the event, the Kingstons beamed as they posed for cameras with their arms lovingly wrapped around each other, The Sun reported. The outlet added they had smiles from ear-to-ear and friends who saw the two last week said they seemed happy and chatty.

Thomas Kingston

Thomas Kingston

They seemed happy and positive as ever, a friend told MailOnline . Ella was particularly chatty. Another friend added Its utterly shocking. None of us saw it coming. I cannot understand it.

Before marrying into the royal family, Kingston survived a suicide bombing in Baghdad, Iraq, that killed 22, The Sun reported. His job was to mediate conflicts in Iraq and was said to have had countless brushes with death, the outlet wrote.
ADAPTED FROM THE bestselling historical novel, FX's new limited series Shogun is fast becoming appointment television. The show focuses on the political ascent of daimyo regent Yoshii Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada) in feudal Japan amidst cultural and religious tension with Portuguese interlopers, as witnessed by stranded English navigator John Blackthorne (Cosmo Jarvis). Both of these characters, as well as many other figures in the sprawling cast, are inspired by real-life figures from the 17th century, and the factually-based narrative unfolds in rich, often brutal detail.

In addition to the critically-praised central performances, the period setting and lavish scenery makes Shogun a visually arresting watchbut you might be surprised to learn that much of the series was not filmed in Japan. The show was originally intended to be shot entirely in Japan, but lengthy delays caused by Covid led to production being relocated. However, some establishing shots of significant locations were captured there.

Fox

Shogun was filmed in British Columbia, Canada.

A number of locations in the scenic, forest-filled Canadian province of British Columbia stood in for Japanese settings. For instance, a beach in Ucluelet on the western coast of Vancouver Island provides the backdrop for Shogun's opening sequence, in which the Dutch trading ship Erasmus comes ashore in Japan.

"We wanted to open the show with the beautiful scenery of the Wya Point Beach in Ucluelet," producer Erin Smith told CTV. "Its a very beautiful place. We have a lot of cast and crew from Japan that were quite fascinated and blown away by the resemblance of that spot to Japan."

Port Moody was also a primary filming location, with many sets for the show being built there, where its proximity to the ocean and green hills made it a perfect stand-in for the island nation of Japan.

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The threat of a terror attack in the UK is rising due to the war in Gaza, MPs have reportedly been told in security briefings, with intercepted extremist activities said to have reached the highest level since 9/11.

Global terrorist groups have been using Israels war in Gaza as a recruitment advert and there are concerns this could culminate in violence during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan from next Sunday, MPs were told at the briefing.

There is a real risk of coordinated terrorist activity or a lone isolated attack, one insider with knowledge of the briefing told the Daily Mail.

People take part in a Day of Action for Palestine protest in London organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (Samuel Montgomery/PA Wire)

The new intelligence warning has come after prime minister Rishi Sunak called out Islamist extremists and far-right groups for spreading the poison of extremism in a sharply worded speech outside 10 Downing Street.

He expressed his support for a crackdown on pro-Palestinian demonstrations, telling police we will back you when you take action and urging pro-Palestine protesters to reject extremism.

One of the MPs who was aware of the recent intelligence briefing told the Mail: The level of extremist chatter is off the scale. This is something theyve seen growing and growing.

Comparing it to 9/11 in the US, the politician said the spike in hate speech was similar to what was witnessed around the al-Qaeda attack that killed close to 3,000 people.

Its like when the Twin Towers came down in 2001, there was a big spike of hate, the person said, referring to intelligence from the last two weeks.

International anger and condemnation has been rising over the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, where the local health ministry says more than 30,000 Palestinians have died during Israeli military operations. Israel launched its ground offensive after the 7 October massacre by Hamas that killed some 1,200 Israelis and saw hundreds taken hostage.

People cry as they mourn while receiving the dead bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on 2 March (Getty Images)

The ground operation has sparked tensions in the US and UK as pro-Palestinian and pro-Israeli groups have led protests over the war, demanding stronger responses from their respective governments.

Following Mr Sunaks speech, the police in London on Saturday used powers to block a pro-Palestine protest. Some of the protesters who marched to Barclays Bank expressed anger at Mr Sunaks speech linking their protests to extremism.

Raising a signboard that read: Do I look like an extremist?, Paul Wood, 64, from Dulwich, called on politicians to witness the protests first-hand.

These people ought to go on a march and see the sort of people who are on these marches, a lot of whom are Jewish, he said.

Pro-Palestine protests protest following Rishi Sunaks warning that democracy is being targeted by extremists (Samuel Montgomery/PA Wire)

Its astonishing the rhetoric, he said, adding: They know it isnt true. They are talking to their grassroots faithful to try and stir up division in this country.

As hopes for an urgent ceasefire in Gaza are rising, Israel is facing mounting international pressure for an investigation of the 112 deaths of Palestinians who were killed as they desperately gathered around an aid convoy.

More than 760 injured were injured in alleged firing by Israeli soldiers and were taken to al-Shifa hospital where doctors said a large number of people had bullet wounds.

Children look for salvageable items amid the rubble of a Mosque destroyed in Israeli strikes in Deir El-Balah in central Gaza (AFP via Getty Images)

The Israeli assault, which aims to eradicate Hamas, has devastated Gaza with much of the Hamas-run enclave laid to waste. Around Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have been seeking refuge on the border with Egypt, authorities said 25 people were killed on Saturday and into Sunday morning.

They included 11 who died when an Israeli airstrike hit a tent near a hospital and another 14 in one family, who died when a strike hit a house.


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Many cultures have their own version of Easter eggssome in pastel Easter colors or even hand-painted floral designsbut Ukrainian pysanky eggs elevate the tradition to an art form. Named after the Ukrainian word pysaty, which translates as "to write," pysanky eggs have intricate patterns that stop you in your tracks. The craft has been passed down from mother to daughter since well before the 10th century, when Ukraine adopted Christianity and the Easter holiday. Sofika Zielyk, a pysanka artist and art historian who studied the tradition as a Fulbright scholar, started making the hand-dyed eggs when she was six with her mother, who immigrated to New York after World War II. "They could bring good luck, health, wealth, and a bountiful harvest," Zielyk explains. "People believed that by making patterns on the eggshell, they could send tributes and entreaties to the pagan gods."

While the Ukrainian eggs are less of a pagan offering and more of a classical art form these days, they've taken on new meaning as a prayer for peace. Read on to learn more about the history and symbolism of pysanky eggs, as well as how they're made.



What Are Pysanky Eggs?

Pysanky eggs are real, raw, un-hollowed-out eggs that have had symbols written on them in beeswax and then been dipped by hand in richly colored, sometimes natural dyes. According to Zielyk, dye recipes were incredibly secretive and passed down from mother to daughter orally. Pysanky eggs were made in the dead of night as each intention and manifestation imbued in the symbols was highly personal and kept secret.

Only in recent decades have these Ukrainian eggs become known for their artistry. Zielyk refers to these more intricate eggs as diaspora eggs rather than traditional pysanky eggs. Historically, she says, it didn't matter if the lines were straight or the design was symmetrical; it was the intent of the maker while crafting the eggs that determined their significance. There's a legend that says that for as long as people write pysanky, the world will continue to exist, Zielyk says. The original inhabitants of what is now Ukraine used to carry a pysanka egg with them everywhere in hopes of warding off evil.

How Pysanky Eggs Are Made

step2626 - Getty Images

Pysanka are made using a copper funnel, called a kistka, and a wax-resistant process. Think of the kistka as a heated fountain pen that uses melted beeswax "ink." The beeswax, which turns black when heated, is used to write symbols directly onto the eggshell. The wax acts as like masking tapeanywhere you put it won't get dyed. Today, the maker might trace the design onto the eggshell in pencil, then go over it in beeswax. After finishing the design, the maker dips the egg into a light color of cool dye, hardening the wax. Then more wax is applied and the dye process repeated to add progressively darker colors. At the end, the egg is heated to remove the wax, leaving an intricate white pattern surrounded by different colors.

Pysanky Egg Meaning and Significance

Thousands of years ago, the agrarian people living in the area now known as Ukraine depended on the sun for survival and successful crop-growing seasons, so the eggs were made as offerings for the sun to return after a long winter and sustain them through the summer. Traditionally, the egg yolk represented the sun, so the eggs were used whole, never hollowed out. The intricate symbols on the eggshell were intended as prayers to the gods. Some shifted in meaning as the culture evolved from pagan to Christianthe fish went from a sign of harvest to a symbol of the Christian church, and the equal cross became better known as a symbol of Christ himself than of the sunwhile other common motifs like flowers and wheat still stand for prosperity and luck.

Today, thousands of people around the world craft their versions of pysanky eggs each year around Easter. Amid the turmoil in Ukraine, the eggs have become a hope for peace and an artistic prayer to bring the ongoing war to an end. In partnership with the World Federation of Ukrainian Womens Organizations, Zielyk is curating an installation at the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York called "A Symbol of Hope," which offers a modern take on the Pysanky eggs' original purpose: to protect from evil and usher in a season of light. Anyone who feels inspired can make eggs and deliver them to the institute to be displayed. The installation is ongoing, but when the war is over, the eggs will be delivered to Ukraine as a symbol of peace. Some will be left on display in town halls and placed at sites of rebuilding, and many will be placed in the coffins of children who have died in the war.

Sofia Zielyk

FAQ

How Long Do Pysanky Eggs Last?

Pysanky eggs will last indefinitely if you store them carefully and don't break them. The oldest known pysanky eggs still on display date back to the 10th century. Zielyk describes it as the eggs having a birth certificate; historians can even trace eggs back to their original towns.

What Do Ukrainian Easter Eggs Mean?

Traditional Ukrainian eggs are dyed in many colors, each one conveying a specific meaning. These days, many people make pysanky eggs in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow, to show support for peace.

White: purity, light, birth

Yellow: sun, stars, moon, harvest, warmth, youth, happiness

Orange: endurance, strength, ambition

Red: happiness, hope, passion

Are Ukrainian Easter Eggs Hollow?

No. The yolk, in Ukrainian folklore, represents the sun. Because the eggs were originally intended to honor the return of spring, leaving them intact is essential to the tradition.



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Jeremy Hunt has been lobbying senior figures in Shein to list the business on the London stock exchange - Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street

Jeremy Hunts bid to convince Chinese fast fashion giant Shein to list in London is facing opposition from some of Britains biggest retailers.

High street leaders are understood to be lobbying ministers over Sheins alleged use of tax loopholes, which comes as the retailer considers choosing the UK over New York for its planned $90bn float.

Complaints stem from Shein shipping directly to customers from China, as it imports parcels of a smaller size which helps them avoid paying the relevant taxes.

Rivals are alleging that Shein has exploited the tax system unfairly by doing so, allowing it to pay much lower customs duty bills than UK competitors.

Retail chiefs have recently launched a campaign to convince ministers to crack down on the practice, which they say disproportionately helps online retailers that import hundreds of millions of individual packages.

Spearheading criticism is the Retail Sector Council, which counts the bosses of Boots, Amazon and Sainsburys among its members.

It is co-chaired by Kevin Hollinrake, the parliamentary under secretary at the Department for Business and Trade, and former Co-op boss Richard Pennycook CBE.

Kevin Hollinrake co-chairs the Retail Sector Council - James Manning/PA Wire

In a recent discussion paper, the group called for restrictions on the way that some online retailers avoid import duty by packaging products overseas in small quantities.

It is to the detriment of the economy and to the outlook of those retailers that pay full taxation, including VAT, the group wrote.

Without the playing field being evened, there will be more business failures, less taxation and more unemployment.

The issue was raised at an industry event attended by at least one government minister last week, with a senior retail executive publicly criticising the low levels of tax paid by businesses such as Shein.

Others have privately lashed out at the Chinese fast fashion outlet, with one FTSE 100 chief accusing Shein of evading normal controls and tax thresholds.

The most recent UK figures show its revenue hit 1.1bn in the 16 months to December 2022, paying just 2.3m in tax.

Story continues

A spokesman for Shein said: Sheins success comes from our ability to produce fashionable products for our customers.

We keep prices affordable through our on-demand business model and flexible supply chain. This reduces inefficiency, takes out wastage of material, and lowers our unsold inventory. We pass this advantage to our customers and this has driven our growth.

The Treasury is understood to have been approached over closing the loophole ahead of the Budget, although sources said there were no imminent plans to introduce any changes.

Richard Allen, from the Retailers Against Market Abuse Alliance, said: Its almost as if the Government has lost sight of what customs duties are for.

Theyre there to protect our economy. There has to come a point where we think about the country and the economy, and all the money from those sales goes straight to China.

The lack of action has fuelled concerns that the Government is prioritising plans to lure Shein to the London Stock Exchange.

It emerged last week that Jeremy Hunt met with Sheins executive chairman Donald Tang earlier this year, during which the Chancellor urged the business to list in the UK.

Shein's executive chairman Donald Tang met with Jeremy Hunt last week as the Chancellor pushed for the business to float in London - Heathcliff O'Malley

That followed reports that the US Securities and Exchange Commission could block Sheins float in New York because of its close ties to China.

Anda Rowland, director of the tailor Anderson & Sheppard: Bending over backwards for people who are bringing no jobs or skills to the country... I find it very confusing.

A Shein spokesman said the company was proud to support many aspiring fashion designers in the UK and around the world.

Shein, which is based in Singapore, has offices in London and Manchester and is growing its headcount in the UK, having last year bought the British brand Missguided

Adam Mansell, chief executive of the UK Fashion & Textile Association whose president is the Princess Royal, said there was value in allowing companies to import low-value items, but said this should not apply to large-scale retailers.

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We're currently living in an era of diverse, fun aesthetics in the design world. Cottagecore, coastal grandmother, and grandmillenial styles have dominated for the past few years, but there's a new sheriff in town.

According to the latest Pinterest Predicts Report, we're going to see a lot more Western-themed designs this year. This is basically a mashup of the rustic, ranch, and southwestern looks.

Bedrooms are such personal spaces, so they are great places to show off your style. If you identify with this aesthetic, we've rallied up 16 Western bedroom ideas to help you hone the look.

Draw Inspiration from the Desert

The Western decor trend is a sister to the Southwestern style. Think patterns and colors from the landscape you'd find in Arizona or New Mexico but with a bit more of a vintage and rustic flair. You can achieve the look by pairing vintage rugs and throw pillows with bold geometric prints with a few aged wood pieces.

Hang Your Hats

Your favorite cowgirl and wide-brim hats can actually double as art. Above your bed is the perfect spot for this eclectic take on a gallery wall, and you can even mix in framed pieces with it.

Mount a Bull Skull Above Your Bed

Bull skulls have become an iconic symbol of the rugged, wild West. You'll normally find bull skulls in the focal point of a room, such as above a fireplace in a living room. A bed is an obvious visual anchor in a bedroom, so consider hanging one above there.

Scout for Horse Art

A Western-themed bedroom is the perfect place to embrace your inner horse girl. Decorating with beautiful horse-themed abstract art and sculptures is a grown-up, refined way to show off your love for these animals.

Take an Equestrian Approach

A horse theme naturally lends itself well to a little girl's room. Rather than leaning full-on into a Western theme, you can take it in more of an equestrian direction. It will still read as a bit cowgirl but in a polished way.

Hang Western Wallpaper

Design by Max Humphrey x Chasing Paper / Photo by Anna Spaller

Wallpaper is the perfect medium for infusing a Western flair into a room, especially a children's room. Look for wallpaper showing off cowboys and mountains or perhaps cacti and desert landscapes.

Put a Vintage Quilt on Your Bed

Take a nod from Little House on the Prairie and add a few handmade touches to your space, such as a beautiful vintage quilt. To complete your bedding set, layer in other Western-inspired textiles, like a faux animal fur throw blanket and leather and feed sack accent pillows.

Combine Modern and Country Styles

A good Western bedroom mixes a few different styles in one, and it's all about balance. For example, denim pillows paired with galvanized steel cow art definitely leans country, but when you add an industrial black bed frame and white walls, the room suddenly looks more clean and modern.

Keep It Minimal

You don't need to change every detail in your room to give it a Western touch. Take the quality over quantity approach, and invest in one large piece of art that represents your favorite aspect of the region.

For example, an oversized black and white photo of a bull in a custom frame is an investment piece that you won't grow tired of, even long after the trend is over.

Decorate With Faux Animal Hides

Cowhides and wolf pelts offer texture with a side of Western flair. Faux versions are ethical and affordable alternatives to the real deal. A cowhide makes a beautiful rug, while softer hides are great throw blankets and pillows.

Choose Neutrals and Earth Tones

Design by @dwellingjh / Photo by @davidagnellophotographer / Instagram

Keeping a limited color palette is one way to prevent a Western-style bedroom from looking a bit too kitschy. Draw inspiration from landscapes in Colorado and Wyoming, and decorate with neutral and earth tone colors like greige and burnt orange.

Throw in a Few Victorian Pieces

The Western expansion in the United States took place in the Victorian era, so antique furniture from this time period works well with this style. An ornate Eastlake hall tree can look right at home next to a quilt with a Southwestern-inspired pattern.

Grow a Cactus

Just like cows, cacti are another classic Western emblem. If you've got ample natural light in your bedroom, put it to good use and grow a cactus in there. The larger, the better in terms of making a statement.

Plan Around a Statement Piece

Design by @thrive.interiordesigna / Photo by @averynicolephoto / Instagram

Deciding where to start when decorating your Western bedroom is sometimes the hardest step. If you're feeling lost, start by sourcing art. Mountain or desert landscape paintings are beautiful Western-themed options. Draw inspiration from the art's color palette when choosing accent furniture, bedding, and drapery.

Take a Coastal Cowgirl Approach

"Coastal cowgirl" is a riff on the Western design style. It brings in beachy elements to the Western and Southwestern styles. In a coastal cowgirl room, you'll see bright and airy colors with pops of burnt orange. Macrame art might hang next to a cow skull, while lush greenery lives next to driftwood.

Go All in on Pattern

Design by @jwj_interiors / Photo by Jonathan Bond / Instagram

We've already talked a lot about patterns and their role in the Western design style. This example is proof that you don't have to stick to just one or two pattern touches in a Western bedroom.

Go ahead and toss a few gingham throw pillows onto a quilt with patchwork stripes, and place a storage chest with a geometric print right alongside it. If you're a maximalist, embrace it.

Read the original article on The Spruce.
PEMBROKE, N.C. (WBTW)  A University of North Carolina Pembroke student was killed and two others hurt in an early morning shooting near the Commons apartment complex.

I am devastated that such violence has touched our campus and send my sympathy and condolences to the family of the victim and of those who were injured, Chancellor Robin Gary Cummings said in a message posted to the universitys website just after 3 p.m.

The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m., according to a university alert.

Details were scarce Saturday afternoon and the victims name was not immediately available. Cummings said the Pembroke Police Department and North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation are leading the probe.

Run, get safe: Coastal Carolina student recounts shooting near Halloween party

Cummings said no arrests have been made, but the incident appears to be isolated.

Its the second time in less than a month that gun violence has broken out near UNC Pembroke.

On Feb. 7, 19-year-old Khalil Alford, a former UNC Pembroke student, was killed in a shooting near University Courtyard Apartments.

A week later, Kendall T. Brown, 22, was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and discharging a firearm on educational property in connection to the incident.

The Commons at Pembroke are minutes from campus, according to its website.

UNC Pembroke officials said updates on the incident will posted to uncp.edu/alert, the schools emergency response communication board.

A tragedy like this impacts us all. Gun violence has unfortunately become far too common in our country, and lately, these incidents are far too close to BraveNation, Cummings said in his statement. Violence is never the answer and has no place here.

Cummings said UNC Pembroke will continue to engage in dialogue with officials in our surrounding area to safeguard our campus community.

This is a developing story. Count on News13 for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
One person was injured after a house fire in Shaler Township.

Allegheny County dispatchers say the fire happened on the 2900 block of Manuel Drive at around 7:08 a.m. on Saturday.

The injured person was taken to a hospital. Their condition is unknown at this time.

Police closed Burchfield Road from Wilruth Drive and Dressel Road as emergency crews put out the flames.

The fire marshal is investigating.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.

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TRENDING NOW:

Frightful flight: Plane headed to Pittsburgh makes emergency landing after battery ignites on board I-79 to see traffic restrictions in several Allegheny County communities this weekend Man arrested in death of Amish woman in northwestern Pennsylvania VIDEO: Multiple local police departments warn of phone service scam DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Ten people were hurt in falls off a 30-foot border wall between the United States and Mexico, California officials told news outlets.

Border Patrol agents encountered the injured migrants in the Tijuana River Valley near San Diego around 4 p.m. Saturday, March 2, officials told KGTV.

San Diego Fire-Rescue Department firefighters took the people, some of whom had broken bones, to hospitals for treatment, KNSD reported.

We did have some children that were accompanied there, so we did transport those children with the parents to the trauma centers throughout the city, Battalion Chief Oscar Rodriguez told the station.

Several others who also climbed the 30-foot wall near Border Field State Park but did not fall were detained by Border Patrol agents, KUSI reported.

In 2023, border-area hospitals treated an average of one patient per day with injuries from trying to climb the border wall, USA Today reported.

Falls from the wall have a mortality rate that is higher than COVID in the general population, Dr. Susan McLean, surgical ICU medical director at University Medical Center in El Paso, Texas, told the publication.

Woman seriously hurt in 25-foot fall off cliff onto rocks, California rescuers say

11-year-old girl bitten by possible reef shark at popular beach, Hawaii rescuers say

Explosion of homemade fireworks kills man at dog park, Colorado police say
A demonstrator holds a sign while gathering on the National Mall during the Women's March in Washington D.C., U.S., on Jan. 21, 2017. Credit - Eric ThayerBloombergGetty Images

The U.S. and other countries, including the U.K. and Australia, are celebrating Womens History Month in March, featuring International Womens Day on March 8.

This year, President Joe Biden said in his proclamation declaring Womens History Month that during this time, we celebrate the courageous women who have helped our Nation build a fairer, more just society.

Here are 10 surprising facts about Womens History Month.

International Womens Day was first recognized in Europe

Many reports trace the origins of a holiday honoring women to New York City in 1909, to the commemoration of a garment workers strike.

In 1910, German activist Clara Zetkin suggested to the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen the creation of an international holiday to honor women. Europeans recognized International Womens Day in 1911, although the U.S. did not follow suit.

International Womens Days date was chosen because of the Russian revolution

The date of March 8 became significant in 1917, when women in the Russian capital of Petrograd protested and went on strike, demanding food and the end of the empire. A week later, the Tsar abdicated. Zetkin reportedly suggested in 1921 that March 8 become International Womens Day as a result.

Womens History Month started as a local week

Womens History Month began as a local week-long celebration in Santa Rosa, California in 1978, according to the online National Womens History Museum. The Education Task Force of the Sonoma County Commission on the Status of Women planned the week and timed it with International Womens Day.

Local advocates then formed the National Womens History Project, now the National Womens History Alliance, to share womens achievements. One of the groups members, Molly Murphy MacGregor, participated in The Womens History Institute at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, where others were inspired to start their own week celebrations, according to the groups website. By 1986, 14 states had already declared March as Womens History Month.

It took years for Womens History Month to be federally recognized

In 1980, the National Womens History Project led a coalition of womens groups successfully lobbied President Jimmy Carter to issue a proclamation recognizing National Womens History Week, National Geographic reported. It took until 1987 for Congress to pass a law designating March as Womens History Month.

The U.S. president designates Womens History Month every year

Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed resolutions requesting and authorizing the president to proclaim the special month. Since 1995, each president has issued an annual proclamation designating Womens History Month.

Former President Barack Obamas 2011 proclamation paid homage to the 100th anniversary of International Womens Day, saying the holiday is a chance to pay tribute to ordinary women throughout the world and is rooted in women's centuries-old struggle to participate in society on an equal footing with men. This day reminds us that, while enormous progress has been made, there is still work to be done before women achieve true parity.

There is an annual theme for Womens History Month

The National Womens History Alliance sets a theme for the month every year. This years theme is Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.

The theme recognizes women throughout the country who understand that, for a positive future, we need to eliminate bias and discrimination entirely from our lives and institutions, a statement from the alliance on its choice read.

Womens History Month is celebrated differently in Canada

Womens History Month has spread around the world, from the Philippines to the U.K. In the latter, Mothers Day is also celebrated in March. While Womens History Month is generally commemorated in March, Canada holds their celebrations in October.

International Womens Day is an official holiday in some countries

Some countries mark International Womens Day as an official holiday, Sky History reported. In China, many women can take a half-day holiday. In Serbia and Albania, International Womens Day is also Mothers Day.

International Womens Day is celebrated with certain colors

Purple, green, and white are the colors of International Women's Day, according to the International Womens Day website. The colors reportedly originated from suffragists in the Women's Social and Political Union (WSPU) in the U.K. in the early 1900s and were transported to the U.S.

Actions this year will focus on abortion rights

The Womens March organization, which ran its first prominent march in 2017 a day after Donald Trumps inauguration, is planning a rally in Washington D.C. on March 26, when the Supreme Court will begin hearing oral arguments in a case about the abortion pill.

The Supreme Court issued a temporary order in 2023 that put on hold a Texas federal judges order to suspend the federal governments approval of the abortion pill. The March hearing will be the first major case concerning abortion since the Supreme Courts Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
An 11-year-old girl suffered a possible shark bite to her foot at a Hawaii beach popular with surfers, emergency workers told news outlets.

A 911 caller reported the injury at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, March 2, from a beach known as Rainbows near Kaaawa on Oahu, officials told Hawaii News Now.

Honolulu Ocean Safety, Emergency Medical Services and the Honolulu Fire Department responded to the incident, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.

The girls parents declined to have her taken to a hospital, officials told KHON.

An onlooker reported seeing an aggressive 3- to 4-foot reef shark in the area, according to the station.

Ocean Safety officials posted warning signs, Hawaii News Now reported.

What to know about shark attacks

Shark attacks are extremely rare, according to John Carlson of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

You have a better chance of getting in a car accident and being injured on your way to the beach than you do actually when you get to go swimming, he said in a video posted to NOAAs website.

In 2023, the Florida Museum of Natural Historys International Shark Attack File investigated 120 shark-human interactions worldwide. Of those interactions, 69 were unprovoked shark bites, and there were 14 shark-related fatalities.

If you see a shark in the water, however, dont panic, Richard Peirce, former chair of the Shark Trust and Shark Conservation Society, told CNN.

Dont start splashing around  youre just going to excite, incite and encourage the sharks interest, he told the news outlet.

Instead, maintain eye contact with the shark and read its body language. If the shark appears to be in attack mode, you should make yourself as large as possible, CNN reported. If it seems to just be swimming by, try to stay small.

If the shark attacks, experts told CNN you shouldnt play dead.

You must try and keep the animal in sight and very slowly and gently try and swim backwards and get into shallow water, Peirce told CNN. Again, youve got to be careful  large sharks can attack in very shallow depths.

Large shark washes up on beach in Rhode Island. But how it died remains a mystery

Teeth in walls of Kentucky cave belong to sharks that lurked 325 million years ago

Shark kills 39-year-old surfer off Maui, Hawaii officials say. Beaches closed
A 13-year-old Brooklyn boy who was shot on his way home from a Nets game was targeted for his affiliation with a street crew, police sources said.

Troy Gill was a member of the Trench Crew and was gunned down by members of a rival gang at Brooklyn Avenue and St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights around 10 p.m. Thursday, the sources said.

He was definitely targeted, a police source said, adding that cops have video of members of the rival crew.

Troy Gill, 13, was killed by gunfire in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, on Thursday. Michael Dalton

The NYPD Crime scene Unit investigating where the 13-year-old was fatally shot in Brooklyn on Thursday. Christopher Sadowski

Gill had just returned to his neighborhood from Barclays Center in an Uber, cops said.

He was alone when he was shot and frantically called his mom to tell her before he collapsed about two blocks away, sources told The Post. An ambulance rushed him to Kings County Hospital, but the teen couldnt be saved.

Four bullets struck Gill in the chest and arm, cops said.

A woman who lives in his building said his heartbroken mom was too distraught to talk on Saturday.

The 13-year-old was targeted because of his affiliation with the Trench crew, police sources said. Michael Dalton

Naya Edmonds, who lives in a building next to the scene, said she had just ordered food when she heard a barrage of bullets.

It sounded like they were shooting back and forth at each other, the 28-year-old said.

When I found out it was a 13-year-old, I was like, all those shots for a 13-year-old? she asked. Its not a grown man, its not a group of people. Its just one kid.

A memorial for Troy Gill was set up in front of his residence on St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights Saturday. Michael Dalton

Nadia Lopez, who does advocacy work for women previously incarcerated, has lived in the building where he was shot for her entire life, now with her 22-year-old daughter and parents.

Lopez, 47, returned home around 11:20 p.m. Thursday to find cops canvassing for shell casings outside.

In this particular area, there have been a number of incidents related to gang activity that have resulted in shoot-outs or someone passing away, she said.

The memorial outside the slain teens building, where a neighbor said his mother was too distraught to talk. Michael Dalton for NY Post

She said she and her mom were robbed in the same spot when she was a kid.

This is not the safest neighborhood, even if you see it changing constantly, its still the same, she said. Its so sad.
DALLAS - Dallas police are investigating a shooting Friday night that left a 16-year-old boy dead.

The shooting happened just before 9 p.m., in the 3300 block of Southern Oaks Boulevard.

Responding officers found the teen with a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The teens name is not being released because he is underage.

No further details have been released at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Timothy Johnston at 214-671-3523 or email timothy.johnston@dallaspolice.gov.
SALT LAKE COUNTY, Utah (ABC4)  An 18-year-old man was arrested in connection to a shooting in South Salt Lake on Friday night that left his friend dead, according to arrest documents.

Anthony Raymond Woodrow was arrested on Friday on seven different charges  including murder, category 2 restricted person transaction  firearm, felony discharge of a firearm and four counts of aggravated assault.

READ NEXT: High winds causing delays, closures across the state

Police said Woodrow was intoxicated and had admitted to consuming several alcoholic beverages and using marijuana earlier in the day. According to police, Woodrow and the victim were in a text messaging altercation, when the victim went to Woodrows home.

According to arrest documents, the victim said he was going to leave after a verbal altercation and was making his way toward the door, when Woodrow said he was going to shoot the victim and the victim reportedly charged at Woodrow.

Woodrow then pulled a firearm he had concealed on his person and shot the victim five to six times, according to arrest documents. He then called police and made a spontaneous statement to a dispatcher, where he reportedly said he shot someone, as stated in the affidavit of probable cause.

According to the probable cause statement, Woodrow was taken into custody and his parents were detained after police arrived at the scene. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he later died, according to police.

Before the victim was shot, and when he first arrived at the residence, police say both Woodrow and his father  who officials say was also intoxicated  reportedly armed themselves with firearms, as stated in arrest documents.

According to the affidavit, Woodrows mother went outside to speak with the victim before he was allowed inside the home, and Woodrows father reportedly said things sounded calm before suggesting he and Woodrow put down the weapons.

Woodrows father reportedly put his gun on the kitchen table, before Woodrow said he didnt want to speak to the victim and went into his bedroom, according to arrest documents.

However, when the victim was inside the home, he allegedly got into a verbal altercation with Woodrows mother and threatened to assault Woodrow before Woodrow came out of his bedroom and also engaged in a verbal altercation with the victim, according to the affidavit.

Flights cancelled, delayed at Salt Lake City Airport amid severe weather

Woodrows parents reportedly separated Woodrow and the victim, but the two continued the verbal altercation, according to the probable cause statement. When the victim said he was going to leave, Woodrows mother reportedly pulled on his clothes before Woodrow said he was going to shoot the victim.

After the incident, police obtained a search warrant and processed the crime scene, where they found several firearms and collected footage from security cameras in the home as evidence.

Woodrow was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail. Both of his parents were also detained by police after they got to the scene.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
NEW JERSEY (PIX11)  At least two people were killed in a fire in Passaic Sunday morning, according to Passaic Mayor Hector Lora.

The flames burst out Sunday morning on Spruce Street near Autumn Street. The two who died were husband and wife and parents, according to Lora.

Ricky Mejia said at first, he had no idea two of his neighbors were trapped. Sources identify the victims as Fred and Yvonne Edwards, an elderly couple and long-time residents of the community.

There was a lot of smoke coming out of the roof and the window. We noticed it was a big smoke, said Mejia.

Another neighbor told PIX11 she saw the hands of one of the victims pressing on one of the windows, trying to get out.

More New Jersey News

Certainly, all resources went to search and rescue. We had reports of several people trapped and missing. Firefighter efforts were dedicated mainly to rescue of occupants, said Chief Patrick Trentacost of the Passaic Fire Department.

Authorities said by the time fire crews could get in there, it was too late. The couple that lived inside the first floor apartment on Spruce street, were declared dead at the scene. Family members rushed there to learn the devastating news.

Normally this is a very happy neighborhood. Everybody tries to get along. And this is very sad, very depressing, said Mejia.

Fire crews were able to keep the fire from spreading to most of the other apartments before putting it out, but some adjacent homes were still evacuated out of extra caution. The family of the victims was too heartbroken to speak but the mayor of Passaic says the couple had plans to visit Sunday service at Mt. Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church, but never made it there.

We are trying to console the family, but we are in mourning. We are a community in mourning. We have lost the lives of two lifetime residents of Passaic. And as a city, we will come together to offer support, said Lora.

There were no other injuries in the fire, and it remains under investigation.

Emily Rahhal is a digital reporter from Los Angeles who has covered local news for years. She has been with PIX11 since 2024. See more of her work here and follow her on Twitter.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Schaffer Corporation Limited (ASX:SFC) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in four days. The ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date, which is the cut-off date for shareholders to be present on the company's books to be eligible for a dividend payment. The ex-dividend date is of consequence because whenever a stock is bought or sold, the trade takes at least two business day to settle. Accordingly, Schaffer investors that purchase the stock on or after the 7th of March will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 15th of March.

The company's upcoming dividend is AU$0.45 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of AU$0.90 per share to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Schaffer has a trailing yield of 4.2% on the current share price of AU$21.60. 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.

Check out our latest analysis for Schaffer

Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. Schaffer is paying out an acceptable 71% of its profit, a common payout level among most companies. Yet cash flows are even more important than profits for assessing a dividend, so we need to see if the company generated enough cash to pay its distribution. Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 38% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio.

It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Click here to see how much of its profit Schaffer paid out over the last 12 months.

Story continues

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Stocks with flat earnings can still be attractive dividend payers, but it is important to be more conservative with your approach and demand a greater margin for safety when it comes to dividend sustainability. If earnings fall far enough, the company could be forced to cut its dividend. With that in mind, we're not enthused to see that Schaffer's earnings per share have remained effectively flat over the past five years. We'd take that over an earnings decline any day, but in the long run, the best dividend stocks all grow their earnings per share.

Many investors will assess a company's dividend performance by evaluating how much the dividend payments have changed over time. Schaffer has delivered 14% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years.

The Bottom Line

From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Schaffer? The payout ratios appear reasonably conservative, which implies the dividend may be somewhat sustainable. Still, with earnings basically flat, Schaffer doesn't stand out from a dividend perspective. To summarise, Schaffer looks okay on this analysis, although it doesn't appear a stand-out opportunity.

With that being said, if dividends aren't your biggest concern with Schaffer, you should know about the other risks facing this business. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Schaffer (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant).

Generally, we wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see. Here's a curated list of interesting stocks that are strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
A Greensboro-based artist is responsible for the melody of Beyonces newest country song, according to our news partners at WTVD.

Just a few weeks ago, Beyonce took the internet by storm when she announced her new country music album at the Super Bowl and has now made history as the first Black woman to be No. 1 on the country billboards.

Before 16 Carriages became the song it is today, Gavin Williams was at a piano developing the melody less than five years ago, WTVD reports.

Ive done a lot of work, but this is Beyonce, Williams said.

WTVD says his opportunity to work with Grammy-award-winning artists was similar to Williamss previous work.

A guy by the name of Dave Hanley called me and sent me a couple of tracks to play to. He wanted organs for 16 Carriages, which had no name at the time, he said.

ALSO READ: Arts, culture come together at Black-owned winery

The country song Williams wrote in just a few minutes and thought would never be heard is topping the charts and joining the larger conversation of Black influence in country music, WTVD says.

I think what Beyonce is helping us do is to look back at both the music and the people who are at the heart and the roots of the music, Williams told WTVD, and also the experiences they sang of in their music originally, and try to balance that against the market-driven perception of country music that the market wants us to have.

North Carolina Central University professor, Dr. Timothy Holley, is well acquainted with country musics roots. He shared his excitement about well-known banjo artist Rhiannon Giddens being featured in Beyonces song, Texas Hold Em..

She, of course, had a lot to say about the history of the banjo and her desire to reclaim African American history associated with it, Holley told WTVD.

Holley continued by saying the inclusion of the two artists shows Beyonces strong connection to her roots.

Her ancestry is both Texan and Louisiana Creole. So, in 16 Carriages and Texas Hold Em, she is celebrating her reinvented heritage. What could be more American than that? He said.

Both of her songs are now streaming wherever you get your music, and her Act II Renaissance album is expected to drop on March 29.

(WATCH BELOW: Beyonce gives $10K grants to 10 local business owners)




























When Tashaun Bryant was five, his mom introduced him to the piano. She wanted to provide her son with an outlet to express himself creatively and to process his emotions. While Tashaun has since found dance, choreography, singing and guitar, the piano has been a steady force since the first time he sat on the bench, his feet unable to reach the pedals.

Now a high school senior and 2024 recipient of a STRIVE Award, which recognizes students who have overcome significant challenges to succeed, Tashaun has made an unlikely journey to Sarasota Military Academy, a free charter school near downtown Sarasota.

To leave behind the big city, when he was two days old his mother moved him from Baltimore, Maryland, to Columbus, Georgia, where Tashauns aunt served in the U.S. Army at Fort Moore (then Fort Benning).

While Tashaun liked the elementary school he attended in Columbus, it posed its own challenges. He was bullied for his love of the arts, and he experienced the pain of discrimination.

Tashaun took refuge in playing the piano and his ability was noticed. While in fifth grade, he was invited to audition for Rainey-McCullers School of the Arts, a 6th- through 12th-grade magnet fine arts academy. Tashaun did and was accepted. The school nurtured his artistic nature, and he continued to study piano at the high school level while fueling his love of chorus and choreography.

He also made a difference in the lives of those less fortunate by working with his mom at the nonprofit she started in 2007 called Isaiah House, which helped women and children access food, clothing, and shelter. They fed people without homes, held clothing drives, and supported children with behavioral issues.

However, at the start of his junior year, Tashauns mom experienced a financial setback of her own, and their house was foreclosed. She moved Tashaun and his sister to Sarasota County, where music and the arts flourish. Through the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program, she found a house in North Port, and the three, along with the piano, moved in right before Hurricane Ian blew ashore, which made for an even more traumatic new beginning.

Tashaun began taking classes remotely through Florida Virtual School, but his mom wanted him to enroll at Sarasota Military Academy. The contrast between a military academy and a performing arts school seemed stark, and Tashaun was confused. His mom, though, explained that she wanted him to test his ability to adapt.

Adapt he did. Despite his long commute to school, Tashaun joined the Precision Drill Team and got involved with JROTC leadership, as well as the National Honor Society. The new school was an adjustment, but he found his way  only to face more change.

On September 9, 2023, Tashaun and his mom were doing yardwork while his sister watched the gopher tortoise that had burrowed into their backyard. Tashaun had gone to the kitchen to get a glass of water when his sister appeared, telling him to hurry, something was wrong with their mom.

Tashauns mom couldnt feel her legs and was unable to stand. She was hospitalized, and after many days and tests was diagnosed with a spinal cord stroke.

His mom returned from the hospital in a wheelchair and is still unable to walk. Tashaun has become a caregiver, driving her to appointments, helping her around the house, and being there for his sister. While he has had to drop many of his extracurricular activities and again adapt to a new reality, he is grateful that he can help his mom.

Tashauns mom has served as his unending source of inspiration. Shes pushed me, even when I didnt see anything in myself," he said. "She made sacrifices to ensure I had success in whatever I did. Shes an amazing person.

He also credits his little sister. Her compassion has taught me how to treat others, to give people multiple chances and see the best in them even if they dont see it in themselves, Tashaun said.

And, of course, his piano, which he hopes to play at his graduation ceremony. After graduation, he will pursue a career in music production and, with the help of his college advisor, he is preparing for life after high school. He hopes to attend a pre-college program at Brown University this summer before going to college in Florida or Georgia, where he could access much-needed financial assistance.

Tashauns advice for students facing change and uncertainty: Focus on the little steps. It might not seem like youre getting anything done, he said, but when you look back, you might see that youve done a lot.

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: 2024 STRIVE Award Student Stories: Tashaun Bryant
CHICAGO  Chicago police say a 22-year-old man was shot in the head and killed and a teenage male was also wounded when someone opened fire on their car late Saturday night in the Little Village neighborhood on the citys Southwest Side.

According to police, the two victims were in a vehicle at a stop sign in the 2500 block of South Trumbull Avenue just before midnight when occupants of a two-door white sedan opened fire.

UPDATE: 17-year-old killed, 15-year-old injured in South Loop shooting, police say

Police say a 22-year-old man was taken by the Chicago Fire Department to an area hospital with a gunshot wound to the head, where he was pronounced dead. Authorities later identified the 22-year-old man as Brandon Alcaraz.

A 17-year-old male was also taken to an area hospital by CFD in fair condition with a gunshot wound to the left leg, police say.

Firefighters battle massive, gas-fueled warehouse fire on Near West Side overnight

There is nobody in custody, according to police, and Area Four detectives are investigating the incident.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Warning: Graphic descriptions of sexual violence.

A picturesque travel day in India turned into a nightmare for a touring influencer couple who was brutally attacked by a gang of assailants who allegedly took turns raping the woman, local police said Saturday.

Fernanda and Vicente, who document their world travels by motorcycle for an audience of more than 140,000 Instagram followers, were passing through the Dumka district in India on their way to Nepal when they were viciously attacked. They had stopped in Dumka to camp there in a tent overnight, multiple outlets reported.

In videos posted to Instagram, the couple appeared with swollen, purple bruises on each of their faces and started to tear up as they recounted in Spanish what happened to them.

Something has happened to us that we would not wish on anyone, Fernanda said in the video, seven men have raped me, they have beaten us and robbed us. She added that the attackers didnt steal many things, however, because what they wanted was to rape me.

Police said Fernanda reached a patrol van around 11 p.m. and was taken to the hospital for treatment, according to local reports. Pitamber Singh Kherwar, the police superintendent of the district, said they had arrested three people in connection with the attack and were actively searching for more.

In another post, Vicente showed viewers his busted lip and stitches all around his mouth. My mouth is destroyed, but Fernanda is worse than me, he said, adding that the attackers had repeatedly hit him with a helmet and a rock to the head.

The case thrust Indias frightening record of sexual violence into the spotlight. The country is considered one of the worst for sexual violence against women and had nearly 90 reported rapes per day in 2022, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. But rapes often go underreported because of victim-shaming and low faith in law enforcement outcomes.

In Fernanda and Vicentes most recent posts as of Saturday, they said they remained in the hospital with police. The investigation is ongoing.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now.

Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now.
BEAVER DAM, Wis. (WFRV)  Fire units in Wisconsin were on the scene of a chemical spill for six hours after 30-50 gallons of a corrosive chemical leaked from a container in the back of a delivery truck.

According to the Beaver Dam Fire Department, crews were sent to the intersection of South Center Street and West Mill Street in Beaver Dam around 3:10 p.m. on Friday, March 1.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Car going over 100 mph pulled over in Fond du Lac County, 4 men headed to party arrested with illegally owned guns

The initial dispatch indicated a delivery truck had a container inside of the truck leaking Nitric Acid. The Dodge County Hazmat Team was immediately called in to help.

Upon arrival, firefighters found a container turned over on its side inside of the delivery truck. The container was leaking slowly from its cap and the chemical was dripping out of the truck along the curb.

Authorities say the chemical was identified as being highly corrosive and acidic.

Personnel from the Dodge County Emergency Management Office and the Dodge County Hazardous Materials Team arrived and assisted with containment, along with the Wisconsin DNR. An environmental contamination and clean-up company arrived and fully mitigated the hazards.

Two taken into custody stemming from Fridays shots fired incident in Clintonville

Beaver Dam Fire units were on the scene for roughly six hours. No injuries occurred and responding emergency personnel reportedly stopped the leak from reaching a nearby storm sewer.

Authorities estimate that roughly 30 to 50 gallons of the chemical leaked from the container.

No additional details were provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
I used to be a registered Republican for 40 years, but switched to unaffiliated in reaction to activities of then-President Trump and the obeisance of the GOP to him. I am a social conservative, and in particular pro-life. But the activities of Trump and the GOP, who overlook or excuse his incitement of the Jan. 6 insurrection and their slavish deference to Putin as he tries to destroy Ukraine, makes it clear that Trump and his defenders in the GOP are an existential threat to our Constitution. I will not vote for any Republican who does not denounce both Trump and Putin.

Mark Costello, Matthews

Aid to Ukraine

The writer is a former Charlotte mayor.

North Carolinas Congressional delegation members  Republicans and Democrats  should support the bipartisan legislation now pending in the U.S. House that would provide much needed support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, as well as additional authority to secure Americas Mexican border. And they need to do so soon. I care not whether former draft-dodger Donald Trump opposes such legislation. Instead, Im with former President Reagan on this one: We win. They lose!

Richard Vinroot, Charlotte

Who Trump is

During Black History Month Donald Trump had the audacity to compare his legal troubles to discrimination Black people endure. He went further by suggesting Black people like him because Black people (being the criminals we are), have something in common with him. You know ... kindred spirits.

Im glad he said it. What better timing to remind Americans  especially people of color  why Trump should never be president again. He continues to freely expose who he is: a bigot, racist, misogynist, narcissist. Believe him.

Sham Ostapko, Huntersville

Save the tree

I commend Amanda Davis efforts to protect a 100-year-old oak tree against construction of a sidewalk on Margaret Wallace Road, especially as Charlotte City Council has abandoned its goal of 50% tree coverage by 2050. Trees capture atmospheric carbon, thus reversing climate change. We have no magic carbon-capture technologies more effective than trees, and oaks like this one are the most efficient carbon sinks. Were all guests on this planet and must leave it better than we found it. That means we have to protect heritage trees like this one.

Sandra ONeill, Cornelius

A losing battle?

I admire Amanda Davis for trying to save the 100-year-old oak in her front yard. Years ago, the city wanted to add sidewalks in my neighborhood, but it was voted down because felling the old growth trees and large shrubs would have destroyed the neighborhoods charm. Even being a tree-hugger myself, if I were offered roughly $15,000 for the tree and the right of way, I would ask to borrow the persons pen to sign the document. I hope Amanda wins, but I doubt it, for the government has eminent domain. She could lose the fight and the $15,000.

Augie Beasley, Charlotte

Immunity

I am pleased that the Supreme Court has decided to review Trumps claim that he is entitled to immunity from crimes he allegedly committed while he was president. Putting Trump aside, this issue is important for Biden and all future presidents who leave office and are succeeded by an opponent.

If presidents are not entitled to this immunity after they leave office, they will need to issue a pardon to themselves prior to leaving office to avoid federal charges from an opponent who replaces them. If the court decides that former presidents are not entitled to immunity after leaving office, it raises the issue of whether a pardon they grant themselves prior to leaving will be effective after they leave.

Craig A. Reutlinger, Charlotte

Nikki Haley

Nikki Haley seems like an intelligent, reasonable, mainstream candidate. She doesnt hurl childish insults, hasnt been arrested and doesnt dabble in wild conspiracy theories. I guess that makes her an outlier in todays MAGA-dominated Republican Party. Sorry, Nikki, youre running for president in the wrong era.

Arnie Grieves, Huntersville
The issue of cross-district busing profoundly polarized metro Detroiters in the early 1970s after courts ruled students should be transported between the city and 53 suburban districts to equalize access to education for Black students. At the time, Detroit schools were about 70% Black and suburban schools were more than 90% white. Fifty years ago, lawyers squared off before the U.S. Supreme Court in the landmark case known as Milliken v. Bradley. Spoiler alert: In July 1974, the court ruled against cross-district busing in a 5-4 decision.

The following article appeared in the Free Press on Feb. 28, 1974.

WASHINGTON  The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments in the Detroit school integration case Wednesday, but there were none of the spirited exchanges between members of the court and attorneys that have marked hearings in similar cases.

Michigan Attorney General Frank Kelley, right, stops to chat with journalists outside the Supreme Court in Washington in February 1974. Kelley and other people from Michigan went to court for a hearing on the Detroit school busing case.

The case, which the NAACP has said may be the most important since the Supreme Court's 1954 school integration decision, raises the question of whether or not a busing order for a mostly Black city school system like Detroit's should include white students living in the suburbs or must stop at the city line.

The routine hearing Wednesday captured none of the drama of that issue, however. Many of the questions by the justices indicated they are not as familiar with the details of the Detroit case as they were with a similar metropolitan school integration case a year ago from Richmond, Va. They will not likely issue a decision before June, based largely on written briefs already filed by the conflicting parties in the suit.

Attorney General Frank Kelley opposes the NAACP

Justice Lewis F. Powell, whose decision not to participate in the Richmond case helped produce the 4-4 deadlock that left the issue of metropolitan school integration unsettled, asked only a few minor, technical questions Wednesday.

The court's two other swing justices, Potter Stewart and Byron R. White, also asked questions that gave little insight into their feelings on the Detroit case.

The NAACP, which brought the suit, has contended successfully in lower courts that the state is guilty of deliberate segregation of Detroit area schools.

Michigan Attorney General Frank J. Kelley has argued that the state is not guilty, and several suburban attorneys have contended that even if the state is guilty, suburban school districts can't be involved in any busing plan unless they are individually found to have acted in discriminatory fashion.

Suburbs say only Detroit has discriminated

The U.S. Justice Department has supported that view. The Supreme Court has before it only the principle of metropolitan school integration, not any specific plan since the U.S. Sixth Circuit of Appeals told U.S. District Judge Stephen J. Roth to hold mere hearings before ordering a plan. The Supreme Court members nevertheless seemed interested Wednesday in just how such a plan might work.

Judge Stephen Roth

Justice William J. Brennan asked: "What happens if a school system finds itself with more students than it has budgeted for?" And Justice White asked if suburban Detroit taxpayers can "fairly be taxed to pay the expenses of the desegregation of Detroit?"

More: Before joining high court, Thurgood Marshall made history in Detroit

Nathaniel R. Jones, general counsel of the NAACP, responded to both questions by saying those were issues Judge Roth would have to consider in ordering any particular integration plan. Jones and J. Harold Flannery, who also argued for the NAACP, said repeatedly that there is no integration order and the court faces only the question of whether a school integration order must stop at the Detroit city limits.

The suburban districts' attorney, William Saxton, argued that school integration should stop at the city line.

"Absolutely no school district in the state, with the exception of Detroit," Saxton said, "has committed any act of segregation."

Nathaniel R. Jones was general counsel of the NAACP in the school busing case.

Saxton said there should be a Detroit school integration plan. But, he added, suburbs should not be included because the "mere existence" of white schools in the suburbs "does not offend the Constitution."

Harvard students camp out all night

A similar position was taken by U.S. Solicitor General Robert Bork, who argued that a school integration plan limited to Detroit would be the proper solution for the segregation Judge Roth found. A metropolitan plan "is so disproportionate to the violation that it is an impermissible exercise of judicial power," Bork said.

Bork urged that the case be sent back to Roth, where the NAACP could be permitted to demonstrate, if it can, that suburban schools are illegally segregated.

Robert Bork, who at the time this photo was taken was acting attorney general, answers a question during an appearance before a House Judiciary subcommittee in Washington in 1973.

Flannery said the NAACP viewed that as a "middle ground" the Supreme Court could take. But Saxton and Attorney General Kelley, who argued for the state, told the court they want the metropolitan idea rejected out-of-hand without a remand of the case to Judge Roth.

Kelley and Saxton won a small victory Wednesday when they successfully blocked the NAACP's use of a giant map showing schools in Detroit to be mostly black and those in the suburbs to be mostly white. NAACP attorneys presented each justice with a small version of the map instead, and Saxton also objected to that.

Justice Stewart indicated the court was not likely to use the map in its discussion of the case. NAACP Executive Director Roy Wilkins was present for the arguments, as were a variety of Detroit and Michigan officials. The room was filled with so many attorneys and other spectators linked with the case that only a few seats were available to the general public.

One spectator with deep interest in the case was Mary Ellen Riordan, president of the Detroit Federation of Teachers. Some seats went to a group of Harvard law students who camped on the steps of the court building all night.

Judge Stephen Roth's effigy sat on a toilet, got hanged and then was drowned by foes against his decision to force busing of students to schools in other areas.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: 50 years ago this week, US Supreme Court heard Michigan schools case
9 of the most notorious serial killers in history

Unimaginable, horrific and unlawful acts have been committed by serial criminals, especially killers, throughout history.

Surrounding the murderous rampages that have occurred, there is much horror and mystery intertwined. Years after their crimes and convictions, certain individuals, like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, have become a common conversation among true-crime followers and featured on podcasts. Their lives are the focal point of documentaries, scripted films, books, television shows and more.

These are some of the most notorious serial killers in history.

John Wayne Gacy is one of the most well-known serial killers in history.

WATCH MY SON JEFFREY: THE DAHMER FAMILY TAPES ON FOX NATION

Jack the Ripper killed at least five women between August and November 1888. On Aug. 31, 1888, Jack the Ripper claimed his first victim, Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, 43. She was last seen around 2:30 a.m. and her body was found on the street just over an hour later by a delivery driver who thought her body was a tarp.

The identity of the person who committed the murders remains unknown to this day, and the killings are some of the most famous unsolved mysteries to date.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The mutilated bodies of five sex workers, the "canonical five," were found near the Whitechapel district of London's East End.

Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes and Mary Jane Kelly were all killed by the person who is now known by the pseudonym Jack the Ripper.

Jeffrey Dahmer was a convicted killer who took the lives of 17 men and boys between 1978 and 1991.

Jeffrey Dahmer was killed in prison while serving his sentence of 15 consecutive life terms.

Dahmer found most of his victims at bars and bus stops, according to the New York Times, and lured them to his home with promises of alcohol, money or posing for nude photography.

THE RAILROAD KILLER' AND THE LONE SURVIVOR OF HIS BRUTAL ATTACKS, HOLLY DUNN

After lacing victims' drinks with drugs, he strangled them to death, consuming and storing the remains. An investigation led police to an apartment full of preserved human heads, body parts and photographs of mutilated men.

While serving his 15 life terms in prison, he was killed by inmate Christopher Scarver in 1994.

Several television shows and movies have been made about Dahmer. In 2022, a Netflix television series was released called "Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story." In the show, Evan Peters plays the killer.

During Dahmers 1992 trial, Tracy Edwards described how he escaped Dahmer and how the killer "was listening to my heart" at knife point. His story is described in the first episode of the series.

"At that point, he told me he was going to eat my heart," Edwards told the court.

In 2023, Fox Nation produced "My Son Jeffrey: The Dahmer Family Tapes," a four-episode docuseries featuring police and a high school friend of the serial killer.

Harold Shipman was a doctor who was believed to have killed at least 215 of his patients by injecting them with lethal doses of painkillers, according to Biography.com.

Shipman was a married man and father of four. His murderous acts were left unnoticed until the daughter of his last victim, Kathleen Grundy, brought a suspicious will to the police.

Shipman had forged the will, leaving Grundy's money and estate to him. When Grundy's body was exhumed, there was heroin found in her remains, according to the New York Times.

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He was first convicted of murdering 15 elderly patients. Further investigation unveiled that the doctor was responsible for 250 deaths, according to the Associated Press. While he was in prison throughout the investigations, he maintained his innocence, according to Biography.com.

Shipman was found dead in his Wakefeld, England, prison cell on Jan. 13, 2004, after hanging himself.

H.H. Holmes, born Herman Webster Mudgett, admitted to the murder of at least 27 people, according to Smithsonian Magazine, but it's suspected that the man was responsible for more than 200 deaths.

Most of the murders were committed in Holmes' "Murder Castle," a three-story hotel into which Holmes lured his victims. The castle stood during the 1893 World's Fair in Chicago as millions came to the city.

H.H. Holmes lured many of his victims into what was known as the "Murder Castle."

According to the Crime Museum, the castle was built with chutes, elevators, trapdoors, peepholes and stairways leading to nowhere.

The basement served as his lab, which included a dissecting table, stretching rack and crematory.

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Holmes is widely thought to be America's first serial killer. He was hung for his murderous acts in May 1896.

Ted Bundy was a convicted murderer who killed at least 30 women, but that number could have been higher.

Bundy's killing spree went on from 1974 to 1978. His targets were often college girls. He lured in his victims through evoking sympathy. He often wore an arm sling or a leg cast, according to the Crime Museum. Impersonating authority was another common way he gained trust with his victims.

Once they reached his vehicle, Bundy would hit the women with a crowbar or pipe, handcuff them and throw them in the passenger side of his car, where he had removed the seat, according to the source.

He raped many of his victims, beat or strangled them and mutilated their bodies, per the Crime Museum.

Ted Bundy's targets were often college girls.

After his initial arrest in August 1975 for trying to flee from a police car, he was released but brought into custody again for kidnapping and assault.

While in custody, Bundy escaped twice, according to Biography.com. After his second escape in Colorado, he went to Florida, where he broke into the Chi Omega sorority house at Florida State University and attacked four victims. Two of these women were killed.

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The killer was sentenced to death and died in the electric chair on Jan. 24, 1989.

There have been several movies made about Bundy, including "Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile," "No Man of God," "The Deliberate Stranger" and "The Stranger Beside Me."

Richard Ramirez, known as "The Night Stalker," went on a murderous rampage through California in 1984 and 1985.

Born in Texas, Ramirez is believed to be responsible for the deaths of at least 13. His first victim was 9-year-old Mei Leung, but this case wasn't tied to him until 2009, according to The Independent.

Ramirez often left satanic symbols at the crime scenes. He was caught mainly through clues like fingerprints and footprints.

Richard Ramirez was a serial killer who took on the name "The Night Stalker."

The Night Stalker was convicted on 13 counts of murder, five attempted murders, 11 sexual assaults and 14 burglaries, according to The Independent. He was sentenced to death by gas chamber but died in 2013 before his execution.

Pedro Alonso Lopez, also known as the "Monster of the Andes," is a Colombian serial killer whose crimes occurred in Columbia, Peru and Ecuador.

Lopez was first put in jail after stealing a car. He was arrested again in 1980. In July 1981, he pleaded guilty to 57 murders, according to Biography.com, but is believed to have murdered more than 300.

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After spending 14 years behind bars in Ambato, Ecuador, for a 16-year sentence, he was released for good behavior, according to Biography.com. He was deported to Colombia, where he was institutionalized and later set free.

Albert Fish, known as "The Brooklyn Vampire" for cannibalizing and consuming human blood in his crimes, was found guilty after 10 days of trial, where he descriptively laid out the nature of his crimes. Fish was executed in 1936.

Fish's targets were typically young boys. Even though he was believed to have killed 10, according to History.com, he was put on trial and convicted of young Gracie Budd's murder, who he invited to accompany him to a birthday party. After accepting the offer, she never returned.

Albert Fish was convicted of murdering Gracie Budd, though he was believed to have killed 10 people in his life.

Gracie's family received a detailed handwritten note detailing her murder six years after her disappearance, which matched an earlier handwritten note they received from Fish, who was using the false name Frank Howard.

After many handwritten tests and detailed descriptions, detectives tracked down Fish and arrested him.

John Wayne Gacy, who often worked as "Pogo the Clown" at birthday parties, murdered 33 young men and boys throughout the Chicago area in the 1970s by luring them into his home, according to the Associated Press.

It was December 1978, when police found a victim's remains in a crawl space in his Chicago home, the Associated Press reported. In March 1980, he was convicted of killing 33 and was executed by lethal injection in 1994.

In the more recent years since his execution, more of his victims have been identified, the latest in 2021. However, there are still five victims whose identities are unknown, according to the Associated Press.

In 2021, there was a Peacock miniseries called "John Wayne Gacy: Devil in Disguise" about Gacy. It was reported by several outlets in February 2024 that the streaming service ordered a scripted series about the murderer.

Netflix put out a documentary about the killer in 2022 called "Conversations with a Killer: The John Wayne Gacy Tapes."





Original article source: 9 of the most notorious serial killers in history
Texas conservatives, led by Gov. Greg Abbott, are seeking to cement control of the state government by trying to purge rural legislators who have stood in their way.

Abbott, along with Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and Attorney General Ken Paxton, have gone on the attack against 16 GOP incumbents.

That attack has been carried out with public statements and campaign ads ahead of Tuesdays primary  much of it funded with out-of-state money.

The turn of Abbott against his former allies reflects a broader shift in the tenor of state politics. It has always been contentious, but the rhetoric in these races represents the new cast of Texas GOP politics in the era of Trump.

Its gotten meaner and more personal, former Republican state board member Thomas Ratliff told The Hill. A lot of members will tell you theyre not having fun anymore.

Publicly, the conservative line of attack centers on the issue of the southern border and the recent impeachment of Paxton  both areas where the Texas elections have drawn the focus of former President Trump.

In January, Trump endorsed David Covey, the primary opponent of House Speaker Dade Phelan (R)  a nemesis of Abbott and Patrick who presided over the impeachment trial of Paxton, which Trump called fraudulent.

Phelan has endorsed Trump. But the former president has said that endorsement does not mitigate the Absolute Embarrassment of the Paxton impeachment.

And in his endorsement of Liz Case in her challenge of state Rep. Stan Lambert (R), Trump offered a laundry list of culture war bonafides.

Case would Champion School Choice, Secure our Elections, Lower your Taxes, Defend our Second Amendment, Advocate for Border Security, and Fight Back against the Woke Mob destroying our Country, the former president wrote.

Trumps involvement is a reflection of the stark change in the nationalization of Texas politics  and its new position as a front line in the Republican civil war.

The ads saturating Texas television and filling up mailboxes focus on the border, where state Republican leaders have sought to tar incumbents as overly moderate on immigration  a charge experts argue is incorrect.

Contrary to political messaging, there is no moderate wing of the party, said Joshua Blank of the Texas Policy Project, a combined project of the Texas Tribune and the University of Texas.

He clarified: Theres a share who are more business oriented, more focused on the state economy than social issues, but added that even those members mostly vote lockstep with the party.

But experts told The Hill the border rhetoric covers a deeper ideological conflict: The embattled and largely rural Republicans were critical in killing more conservative Republicans plans for school vouchers, which were seen by opponents as an attempt to pull money from the states public schools and give it to private  and often  religious ones.

And behind all this lies a question of power. These Republicans have stood as a bulwark against attempts by state executives to take control of the Republican faction inside the House  which is the last bastion of Texas state government outside their control.

That race is leading to amounts of money pouring into the state  much of it from out-of-state PACs and right-wing billionaires.

Abbott, for example, just received $6 million from Pennsylvania businessman and school voucher supporter Jeff Yass. And Paxton-backing Christian oilman Tim Dunn has put in $2.5 million to attack anyone who voted to impeach Paxton, as well as $3.4 million in ad buys, according to the Texas Tribune.

Meanwhile, the AFC Family Empowerment Coalition PAC  a pro-voucher group that took in $2.5 million last month from fewer than a dozen donors  has put three-quarters of a million dollars into pro-voucher incumbents, as well as nearly half a million on direct mailers.

For Abbott, this money funds an attempt to make good on his threat to destroy any Republican legislator who defied him on establishing school vouchers  a unified priority of Abbott, Patrick and Paxton. The effort failed five times against the combined opposition of Democrats and largely rural Republicans in the House.

The real subtext of this whole thing is a hostile takeover of the Texas House by Christian nationalists, said Harvey Kronberg, who runs the venerable Austin political newspaper The Quorum Report.

Kronberg characterized the united campaign as an attempt to replace independent Republicans with ideological folks more on the model of the U.S. Congress.

Abbott, Patrick and Paxton are a fractious coalition, with competing egos, ambition and priorities  a distinction that can be seen in the many races where the three have endorsed competing primary challengers.

Paxton opposes legislators who voted for his impeachment. Patrick is at open war with the Texas House and leadership for its unwillingness to bend to his preferences exactly  and an ongoing conflict between two chambers, Blank said.

And Abbott  who has staked his bid for national prominence on defending the border and school vouchers  is attacking legislators who defied him on both.

The irony of the contentious border-themed ad wars playing out across rural Texas is that much of that legislation ultimately passed, like the controversial Senate Bill 4  which makes undocumented migration a state crime, and which was just slapped down by a federal judge.

But in the debate over those bills, House Republicans often questioned the governors priorities and whether it was a good use of resources for Texas to pursue an independent border policy.

You look at a bill that it takes the Senate 20 minutes to pass  and it takes the House week to pass, said Sherry Sylvester of the Texas Public Policy Foundation, a right-wing think tank that backs the governor on vouchers and the border.

While the border is the major issue that has galvanized Republican primary voters, vouchers are what is pulling that flood of money to Texas  and motivating Abbott himself.

It has forced Abbott into a grinding counterinsurgency against popular incumbents, who portrayed vouchers as an attempt to take money from local schools and give it as subsidies to the tony Houston and Dallas neighborhoods of River Oaks and Highland Park.

In contrast, conservative proponents have argued vouchers were an effort to open up to competition districts dominated by what TPPs Sylvester called the educational industrial complex.

In the contentious ad battles across Texas, the themes of border and vouchers have merged  both from incumbents and challengers.

Last year I stopped a bill that would have handed out school vouchers  your tax dollars  to illegal immigrants, incumbent state Rep. Gary VanDeaver (R) of North Texas said in a TV ad obtained by The Texas Tribune.

In a press conference, Abbott shot back that all the representatives hes targeting have used state $$ to support public education for illegal immigrants. So, theyre just a bunch of hypocrites.

But the question of whether to educate undocumented children is out of the hands of local governments  a 1982 Supreme Court decision makes it illegal to do otherwise.

One representative of a pro-voucher PAC told the Texas Tribune that the border rhetoric was cover for vouchers.

For people who oppose us on school choice, we will use the issues that are most important to voters to communicate our preference, said Leo Linbeck of the Family Empowerment Coalition PAC (FECPAC), which the Tribune reported had taken in $350,000 from a pair of billionaire investors.

In an interview with North Texas news station KXI, VanDeaver told reporters his vote to oppose the governor on vouchers was one he knew the governor was not going to be happy about. His staff had told me, you take that vote, were coming after you.

In his campaign against the 16 incumbents, Abbott has targeted in hostile terms members he once endorsed. He has filed cease-and-desist letters against members like state Rep. Travis Clardy (R)  whom he once endorsed  for not removing those endorsements from their websites.

Abbott has given $405,000 to Clardys primary challenger Joanne Shofner  five times larger than Clardys war chest. He called Shofner the kind of new conservative voice we need in Austin to help deliver key Republican victories that are important to Texans, including border legislation and vouchers.

In interviews, Clardy has been defiant. Right now, the price to get [Abbotts] endorsement was I had to bend the knee and kiss the ring and say that I will vote for vouchers and vote against the best interest of the people I represent, he told Capital Tonight.

In its turn against the rural incumbents  many of whom are longtime allies of Abbotts, the state party finds itself in a place where were doing purity tests  the same thing the Democrats were doing in the 1970s and 1980s  rather than building a broad coalition, former state board member Ratliff said.

Thats an idea echoed by some retiring legislators. Retiring East Texas state Rep. John Raney (R) wrote an op-ed in the Waco Tribune attacking Abbott for backing challengers to members of his party who could not, in good conscience, vote for his voucher plan.

Shame on you, Gov. Abbott, he added.

The big question on Tuesday is whether Abbotts attempt to pick off members is going to work  a question on which polling is wildly inconsistent.

In her work in Austin, TPPFs Sylvester told The Hill, Ill talk to one group of people  had Phelan, and Phelan was 6 points down. And another group  could be close 5-6 points off. And both sides are citing exit polling. So who knows?

Ratliff argued that Abbotts flood of money was largely going into easily ignored mailers and TV spots  and that the anti-establishment cast of contemporary Trump-style politics played much better against Washington, or even Austin, than it does against local incumbents.

Theres no anonymity in these rural districts. And those guys, generations of families know those people  they see members in Walmart, they see him in Lions Club, and people start seeing commercials saying a bunch of stuff, a lot of which is not true or half true  people get pissed off.

The motivation behind Abbotts focus on vouchers  which polling suggests motivates few voters  is a hard question, Texas Policy Projects Blank told The Hill.

Its very unclear why this session Abbott decided that vouchers  and establishing a voucher program  was such a priority, he said.

One possibility is that Abbott is trying to avoid being outflanked by Patrick, whose far-right credentials are far stronger.

But another is that it is simply about the exercise of power.

He decided that this was an issue, he was going to focus on this session. And then ultimately, maybe he got dragged into a much bigger conflict than he originally expected, Blank said.

At some point, when you say youre gonna punish people who go against you, if you dont punish them  your word doesnt really mean anything.

But the decision to go all in on ousting his voucher opponents puts Abbott in a precarious position, said Ratliff, the former Republican State Board of Education member and voucher opponent.

This is Abbotts legacy election, and if he doesnt pick off a bunch of these members that hes gone all in for, then hes going to have a tough time going forward  because members are going to know he cant hurt them.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
For the record:

2:41 p.m. March 7, 2024: An earlier version of this story incorrectly named the law school at Northern Kentucky University. It is the Salmon P. Chase College of Law, not the Samuel P. Chase College of Law.



We dont know whether former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen, had any leftover embryos after they availed themselves of the advanced reproductive technology known as in vitro fertilization to become the parents of their three children, who are now adults.

In November 2022, after the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion, the virulently antiabortion Pence told CBS' "Face the Nation" that the couple had struggled with infertility for years and that he would never dream of trying to stop others from using such technology to have kids.

I fully support fertility treatments, and I think they deserve the protection of the law, said Pence, who also avidly supports fetal personhood, that is, the idea that every fertilized egg is entitled to full protection under the law.

Well, guess what? You cant do both.

Last month, the Alabama Supreme Court ruled 8 to 1 that under the states Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, frozen embryos are people, putting a harsh spotlight on the hypocrisy that drives so much of the fight against abortion. Three IVF clinics in the state quickly announced they were putting their programs on hold.

Read more: 'What is this, "The Handmaids Tale"?' Exploring moral questions posed by controversial IVF ruling

A lot of state legislators right now are scratching their heads  whether youre a Republican, Democrat, pro-life, pro-choice  and saying, What are our laws on IVF?  Billy Valentine, the vice president of political affairs at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, told Politico. For us, its about making sure that IVF is available but that these embryos arent needlessly discarded.

Hoping to have it both ways, the Alabama Legislature rushed to pass a law that shields patients and healthcare providers from prosecutions and lawsuits related to IVF services.

A similar effort is taking place in Congress, albeit with a different motivation. After Roe vs. Wade was overturned, Democratic Sens. Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Patty Murray of Washington introduced legislation that would provide federal protections for fertility treatments. They feared abortion bans would lead to an assault on IVF, in which couples routinely create more embryos than they can use and then discard them or donate them to research. The bill would protect doctors and insurance companies from prosecution and give parents the right to determine the fate of their embryos.

Read more: LA Times Today: What does Alabamas IVF ruling mean for the future of IVF here in California?

Republicans blocked the measure again last week, prompting Murray to accuse them of hypocrisy.

Its been incredible to watch Republicans now scramble to suddenly support IVF while many of these same Republicans are literally, right now, co-sponsors of legislation that would enshrine fetal personhood, Murray told reporters. You cannot support IVF and support fetal personhood laws. They are fundamentally incompatible. You are not fooling anyone.

Last year, Judith Daar, dean of the Northern Kentucky University Salmon P. Chase College of Law, published a prescient article in the Journal of Law, Medicine and Ethics, speculating on the effect that outlawing abortion would have on practices such as IVF, in which embryos are routinely frozen, tested for genetic anomalies, discarded or selectively aborted in the case of multiple pregnancies after implantation.

Applied to IVF, wrote Daar, who studies the legal and ethical issues raised by advanced reproductive technologies, embryo discard could be considered homicide, while cryopreservation could amount to some kind of battery on the frozen embryo.

Read more: Granderson: Newsom's ads against red states' abortion travel bans aren't just a stunt

Once a couple is finished with the IVF process, she told me Thursday, any decision about what to do with the remaining embryos  donation to research, compassionate transfer to another couple, destruction  could raise a claim that there was mistreatment, wrongful handling, wrongful death. It would be up to the state to decide if it wants to bring criminal charges.

Pre-implantation genetic testing, in particular, presents a dilemma in states where embryos are considered people, she said. Would it ever be in the best interest of an embryo to perform a test, the very point of which is to discard unhealthy embryos? Would you test a person for the purpose of ending their life?

More than 2% of births in the United States each year are the result of advanced technology like IVF. Last year, Daar said, that amounted to about 100,000 babies. Since 1978, when the first IVF baby was born, the count is now well over 8 million. It is estimated that between 1 million and 5 million frozen embryos live in suspended animation in the United States, which, unlike some other countries, does not limit the number of years embryos may be stored.

Although the Alabama Supreme Court did not specifically address a couple's choice to destroy frozen embryos, its ruling has uncorked a potent dilemma that antiabortion states will have to face: How can lawmakers criminalize abortion while allowing, or turning a blind eye to, the destruction of "people" conceived through IVF?

This a phenomenon Daar calls IVF exceptionalism.

IVF, which is not covered by most insurance plans, is very expensive. A single cycle, which includes stimulating ovaries, retrieving eggs, fertilization and implantation, can cost between $15,000 and $30,000, Forbes reported last year. A majority of women go through more than one cycle.

The simple fact, Daar wrote, is the majority of patients who seek IVF are of higher socioeconomic status and white; the majority of patients who seek abortion are of lower socioeconomic status and people of color.

Indeed.

To put it in the crudest terms: For antiabortion zealots who support advanced reproductive technologies, "killing babies" in the pursuit of parenthood is entirely justifiable, but "killing babies" to avoid parenthood is murder.

Are we even the least bit surprised?

@robinkabcarian





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Key Insights

Dicker Data's significant insider ownership suggests inherent interests in company's expansion

The top 2 shareholders own 62% of the company

Recent sales by insiders

If you want to know who really controls Dicker Data Limited (ASX:DDR), 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 individual insiders with 63% ownership. In other words, the group stands to gain the most (or lose the most) from their investment into the company.

Insiders own the top position in the companys share registry despite recent sales and as a result, were the biggest beneficiaries of last weeks 3.7% gain.

In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Dicker Data.

View our latest analysis for Dicker Data

What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Dicker Data?

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.

Institutions have a very small stake in Dicker Data. That indicates that the company is on the radar of some funds, but it isn't particularly popular with professional investors at the moment. So if the company itself can improve over time, we may well see more institutional buyers in the future. It is not uncommon to see a big share price rise if multiple institutional investors are trying to buy into a stock at the same time. So check out the historic earnings trajectory, below, but keep in mind it's the future that counts most.

Dicker Data is not owned by hedge funds. With a 31% stake, CEO David Dicker is the largest shareholder. With 31% and 1.4% of the shares outstanding respectively, Fiona Brown and The Vanguard Group, Inc. are the second and third largest shareholders. Interestingly, the second-largest shareholder, Fiona Brown is also Top Key Executive, again, pointing towards strong insider ownership amongst the company's top shareholders.

Story continues

A more detailed study of the shareholder registry showed us that 2 of the top shareholders have a considerable amount of ownership in the company, via their 62% stake.

Researching institutional ownership is a good way to gauge and filter a stock's expected performance. The same can be achieved by studying analyst sentiments. There are a reasonable number of analysts covering the stock, so it might be useful to find out their aggregate view on the future.

Insider Ownership Of Dicker Data

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.

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.

It seems that insiders own more than half the Dicker Data Limited stock. This gives them a lot of power. Given it has a market cap of AU$2.2b, that means insiders have a whopping AU$1.4b worth of shares in their own names. It is good to see this level of investment. You can check here to see if those insiders have been selling any of their shares.

General Public Ownership

With a 32% ownership, the general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, have some degree of sway over Dicker Data. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run.

Next Steps:

While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. To that end, you should learn about the 3 warning signs we've spotted with Dicker Data (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant) .

If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future.

NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Last month, a jury convicted Jennifer Crumbley of four counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection to the 2021 Oxford High School shooting  one count for each student her son killed.

The historic trial, and stunning verdict, tested the limits of whos responsible for a mass shooting.

The conviction potentially holds heavy implications for her husband, James Crumbley, who is facing the same charges and scheduled for trial Tuesday. He was the parent who physically purchased the firearm for their son and the one in charge of securing weapons in their Michigan home, his wife testified at her trial.

The prosecution of both parents, and an uptick in other criminal prosecutions and civil lawsuits tied to mass shootings, indicates attorneys are increasingly seeking to hold responsible people  and companies  who didnt pull the trigger.

An aggressive and innovative approach

Prosecutors over the past few years have been slowly, but steadily, expanding the notion of who can be held accountable for a mass shooting, said CNN Senior Legal Analyst Elie Honig, a former federal and state prosecutor.

While he cautioned each case rests on its own merits, weve seen groundbreaking prosecutions of parents and security personnel, he said, and Id expect that trend to continue.

After the conviction of Jennifer Crumbley, her husband, James Crumbley, now goes to trial. - Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Aside from the Crumbleys, there have been other high-profile prosecutions of non-shooters in recent years: last year, the father of the Highland Park, Illinois, shooter pleaded guilty to seven counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct  like the Crumbleys, one count for each person his son killed after opening fire at a Fourth of July parade in the Chicago suburb in 2022.

The father, Robert Crimo Jr., struck a plea deal with prosecutors, downgrading felony charges stemming from sponsoring his sons gun license application months after local police responded to reports of concerning behavior on the part of the younger Crimo.

Crimo Jr. was sentenced to 60 days in jail as part of the plea bargain and was released from jail in December of last year. The shooters trial is slated to begin in February 2025.

Lake County States Attorney Eric Rinehart, who prosecuted both father and son, told CNN he was willing to compromise the felony charges so the shooters father would face consequences  and to put down a beacon that parents can be held responsible.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly called the prosecution aggressive and innovative at a news conference after the plea deal was announced.

You may not be the person pulling the trigger. You may not be the person with the firearm, but you could be held accountable for that conduct if you have knowledge that someone is a threat and you dont act on that  particularly if youre a family member and you fail to do that, Kelly said.

Robert Crimo Jr., left, pleaded guilty to seven counts of misdemeanor reckless conduct. - E. Jason Wambsgans/Pool/Chicago Tribune/AP

And in a rare prosecution of a law enforcement officer over his response to a mass shooting, state prosecutors sought to hold a former school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School accountable after he remained outside during the 2018 shooting that took 17 lives in Parkland, Florida.

The state brought child neglect charges under a Florida statute that governs caregivers, arguing Scot Peterson, as a school resource officer, had a duty to protect students.

Peterson was ultimately acquitted last year seven counts of felony child neglect and three counts of culpable negligence. After his acquittal, he spoke to reporters, saying, the only person to blame was that monster, speaking about the shooter.

Even in shootings with fewer victims, parents are being held accountable for the triggers their children pull: The mother of the Virginia 6-year-old who shot his first-grade teacher was sentenced to 21 months in prison for federal felony offenses last year, and a man in Michigan was the first person to be charged under the states new safe firearms storage law  spurred by the shootings at Oxford and at Michigan State University  after his 2-year-old daughter shot herself in the head with his gun.

The question remains whether prosecution of non-shooters will be effective in reducing the number of mass shootings in the United States. But undoubtedly, it has expanded prosecutors tool boxes, said Ekow Yankah, Thomas M. Cooley Professor of Law at the University of Michigan.

It gives different prosecutors something to aim at  it gives them a new theory, it gives them something to try, he told CNN. It gives prosecutors who are frustrated, are facing a devastating crime, a mass shooting thats hurt their community, some set of actions that they can take.

Prosecutors can use the precedents set in cases like Jennifer Crumbley and Crimo Jr. in plea bargaining, Yankah said.

But the expanded ways of holding people liable, he warned, will result in more jail time in many cases, including those that dont get high-profile press coverage like mass shootings.

Its always been the case that as prosecutors get more and more tools, the people who end up being prosecuted, or especially for vicarious liability, are almost always the politically most vulnerable, Yankah said. Especially people of color and the poor.

State prosecutors sought to hold a former school resource officer at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School accountable after he remained outside during the shooting that took 17 lives in Parkland, Florida, in 2018. The officer was ultimately acquitted of charges of child neglect and culpable negligence. - Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Going after gun manufacturers and social media companies

No one was criminally charged in the Sandy Hook shooting that took the lives of 20 children and six adults in 2012. The shooter, like many other mass shooters, took his own life.

The shooters mother, who also was fatally shot by her son, legally purchased all the firearms recovered in the case. A states attorney report and a report by the state Office of the Child Advocate following the shooting revealed she declined multiple recommendations by medical professionals to treat her son for mental health issues and would discontinue his medications almost immediately after they were prescribed.

Ultimately, the states attorney concluded that the shooter was solely criminally responsible for his actions of that day.

Stephen J. Sedensky, who authored the states attorney report in 2013, told CNN his evaluation of the Sandy Hook case focused on and considered only the shooters behavior and not his mothers role because he killed her before going to the school.

While there were no criminal charges in the Sandy Hook case, families of victims sought accountability in another way: with a landmark $73 million civil settlement with Remington, the now-bankrupt manufacturer of the AR-15-style rifle used in the massacre.

An image of the weapon used during the 2012 Newtown school shooting is displayed while attorney Josh Koskoff speaks February 15, 2022, during a news conference in Trumbull, Connecticut, after Sandy Hook Elementary families agreed to a $73 million lawsuit settlement with gun-maker Remington. - Seth Wenig/AP

The families sued Remington in 2014, alleging the gun maker should be held partially responsible for the shooting because of its marketing strategy. A 2005 federal law protects many gun manufacturers from wrongful death lawsuits brought by family members  but the marketing argument was a new approach.

Others have followed suit: Survivors and family members of the victims who died in the racist mass shooting in a Buffalo grocery store sued social media companies, the shooters parents, and gun companies, alleging they facilitated and equipped Payton Gendron to kill 10 people and injure three others.

Federal prosecutors are seeking the death penalty against Gendron, who already is serving a life sentence after pleading guilty last year to New York state terrorism and murder charges.

Oral arguments have finished in the civil case, and the defendants have filed motions to dismiss the suit, said John Elmore, who is representing the plaintiffs. While attorneys are still awaiting decisions on some of the motions, one filed by a social media company and another by a gun manufacturer, have been denied, Elmore said.

And the family of a 10-year-old who was killed in the massacre at Robb Elementary in Uvalde, Texas, filed a suit against nearly two dozen people and entities, including the gun manufacturer and store that provided the rifle used in the attack and law enforcement officials who responded to the scene.

Defendants in the case have also moved to dismiss the lawsuit and the parties are now awaiting a decision from the judge, according to Eric Tirschwell, executive director of Everytown Law, which is representing the plaintiff.

The Buffalo and Uvalde suits against the gun manufacturers follow the Sandy Hook methodology, targeting gun manufacturers for their marketing methods.

Theres been, for about a decade, what you call innovative and entrepreneurial litigators whove been trying to impose what we think of as market share liability on a host of people, including most especially gun manufacturers, for producing weapons, Yankah said.

And so for many years, these cases have faced loss after loss after loss, he said. Slowly, I think youre starting to see cracks in the armor.

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San Franciscos Board of Supervisors and the county have issued an official apology to the citys Black residents for centuries of systemic and structural discrimination, targeted acts of violence and atrocities, according to a seven-page resolution from the board.

The citys supervisors formally apologized on Feb. 27 in a resolution signed by all 11 board members, the Associated Press reported.

San Francisco issues official apology to Black residents for structural discrimination and racism. (Photo credit: Pexels)

The document acknowledges San Franciscos lengthy history of creating and enforcing laws, policies and institutions that have led to racial inequity in the city, where the effects of redlining since 1937 are still seen today.

Eighty-seven percent of redlined neighborhoods in San Francisco are low-income neighborhoods currently undergoing gentrification and Black residents have the lowest home ownership rates at 31%, according to the resolution brought forth on Feb. 15 by the citys supervisory board.

The citys move to issue an official, blanket policy to its Black community for slavery and its lasting effects makes San Francisco one of fewer than 20 local or state governments to do so, according to the African American Redress Network.

We have much more work to do but this apology most certainly is an important step, said supervisor Shamann Walton, the resolutions chief proponent and the boards only Black member, according to the AP.

Boston became the first major United States city in 2022 to pass a similar resolution apologizing for its role in slavery with a pledge to repair past and present harms done to Black people.

Nine states including Florida, Maryland, New Jersey and North Carolina have issued apologies for their histories of discrimination, violence and impact in the enslavement of Black people, according to the resolution. California was admitted to the union in 1850 as a free state.

San Francisco County is made up of around 5.7 percent Black people and 50.8 percent white people, according to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data.

The resolution noted that Black families living in redlined neighborhoods were denied loans and infrastructure upgrades while property values and wealth rose in majority-white neighborhoods.

The city also pointed out that its actions have played a role in a lack of affordable housing access, living-wage jobs and quality education for Black San Franciscans.

An apology for grievous injustices cannot erase the past, but admission of the historic wrongdoings committed can aid us in solving the critical problems of discrimination and racism facing San Francisco and the broader United States today, the resolution stated.

Last July in a nearly 400-page report, the San Francisco African American Reparations Advisory Committee, formed in December 2020, published final recommendations to include that both San Franciscos city and county issue an apology for those past harms.

The committees report submitted last year also called for reparations in the form of providing a one-time lump sum payment of $5 million to eligible people as compensation for the decades of harms that they have experienced, and supplementing the income of Black residents to reflect the area median income  at least $97,000  annually for at least 250 years.

San Franciscos Black mayor London Breed has said she believes reparations should be dealt with at the national level, and her office has had to cut a proposed $4 million for a reparations office from the budget this year amid a budget crunch, the AP reported.

Sheryl Davis, the executive director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, said she felt the apology goes a long way.

I think people want to be able to hold on to something that says that you realize and understand that there are impacts to the things that have been done, the systems that have been created, and the things that we have to sit and endure that are almost kind of reminiscent of, watch yourself because you might be next, Davis said on Feb. 15 at a government audit and oversight committee meeting.

Cheryl Thornton, who identified herself as a concerned resident of San Francisco in a public comment emailed to the committee earlier in February, said she urged the committee to recognize that it will take more than an apology to address the deep-rooted damage.

Thornton wrote, While this resolution is a commendable step forward, it is imperative that we also prioritize reparations to rectify historical injustices.

A report and poll from the University of California, Berkeley last September showed that while 60 percent of California voters felt that slaverys legacy still impacted the states Black residents today, 59 percent of California voters opposed the states Reparations Task Forces recommendation to make cash payments to the descendants of enslaved Black people, with 44 percent saying they were strongly opposed to the idea.

The poll found that 76 percent of Black voters were most likely to back the idea of cash payments.

Admission: San Francisco Issues Official Apology to Black Residents for Centuries of Systemic and Structural Discrimination
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has set its sights on progressive candidates who dare to criticize Israel or its leaders, funding negative attack ads during their primaries, Politico reported. The group is expected to spend about $100 million on the efforts, sources told the outlet.

AIPACs goal is to make the statement this cycle that no one is safe from their wrath, that if you speak out, you can be targeted no matter how popular or how many cycles of incumbent you are, Connor Farrell, president of the progressive fundraising group Left Rising, told Slate in November. A significant portion of funding for the organization comes from wealthy Republicans and Trump donors.

With such a large amount of money to burn, most candidates wont be able to withstand the negative campaigning, meaning AIPAC can be quite successful in wiping them out, former Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.) told Politico. Levin would know. AIPAC targeted him during a 2022 primary because he, a self-proclaimed Zionist and former president of his synagogue, had vocally defended Palestinians. He lost the primary as a result.

AIPAC has much more funding this election because of Israels assault on Gaza, a reaction to the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed approximately 1,200 Israelis. The conflict has galvanized donors who have poured money into the organization to ensure pro-Israel candidates are elected. Israels military has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, the Gaza Health Ministry reported.

AIPACs super PAC, United Democracy Project, is monitoring between 15 and 20 House races, a person directly familiar with UDPs strategy informed Politico.

Theyll have so much money, wherever theres an opportunity, they will take it, a Democratic donor advisor told the outlet. Its unlikely that many of these candidates will be able to out fundraise the pro-Israel group, even if they team up with progressive Jewish groups.

AIPAC is likely looking to oust members of The Squad, progressive House Democrats including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.)  the only Palestinian-American member of Congress  and others. All eight current Squad members have co-sponsored a ceasefire resolution introduced by Bush.

Even Dave Min, a candidate running for Rep. Katie Porters (D-Calif.) congressional seat, is suffering the wrath of AIPAC. Min, a Democrat, has not even called for a permanent ceasefire, but he has criticized new Israeli settlements in the West Bank and disparaged Netanyahu for lapses in security ahead of the Oct. 7 attack. AIPAC has unleashed a torrent of attack ads targeting Min, who was arrested for DUI last year. AIPAC has used the DUI against Min, sending mailers and running TV ads capitalizing on what he has acknowledged was the worst mistake of his career.

Maybe AIPAC wants a rubber stamp. Im not going to be a rubber stamp, Min said at a campaign event in Irvine, Semafor reported.

Levin fears that AIPAC is setting a dangerous precedent by targeting candidates in this way.

Its Israel today. It could be the fossil fuel industry tomorrow, Levin warned in a 2022 interview with The Guardian. It could be the tobacco industry, big pharma, any industry or any group that wants to have Democrats who are pliable and will do what they want.

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Russian air activity over Ukraine has reduced over the past week after the Russian military suffered significant aircraft losses, Yuri Ihnat, the Air Force's spokesperson, confirmed in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda on March 3.

Official reports indicate that 13 Russian warplanes were downed in February, with three Su-34 attack planes reportedly shot down on Feb. 29 alone.

The downed aircraft in February include 10 Su-34 fighter bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and one rare A-50 military spy plane.

Russia also lost two A-50 spy planes in January and February. After the second loss, Russia has likely halted flying such aircraft in support of military operations in Ukraine, the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote in its March 2 report.

Yet another Su-34 was downed on March 2 while reportedly trying to attack Ukrainian positions on the eastern front with guided aerial bombs, according to Ukraine's Air Force.

Ihnat attributed this success to air defense systems supplied by Ukraine's allies.

"The means of resistance provided to Ukraine by Western partners demonstrate their effectiveness. This is evidenced by the number of enemy aircraft shot down in February," Ihnat told Ukrainska Pravda.

"The current task is to secure the front-line territories from the enemy's use of guided aerial bombs."

Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk also wrote on his official Telegram channel on March 2 that although Russian drones remained active in the south the airspace over eastern Ukraine was clear.

Russia's total aircraft losses since the start of the full-scale invasion on Feb. 24, 2022 include 347 aircraft and 325 helicopters, according to the March 3 update from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces.

Read also: Ukraine destroyed 13 Russian military aircraft in 2 weeks. How?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Over the course of the pandemic, both the French and German governments invested billions of euros in their state airlines. It was supposed to provide the capital for long-term decisions. It would make sure the market was stable. And it would help relaunch the Continents economic competitiveness.

But hows that going? Last week, we found out. And as it turns out, not so well.

Were frequently lectured about how the state needs to be more active in industry, and be willing to take strategic stakes in leading players  and yet the aviation sector has just reminded us that it never works. All that happens is that you end up carrying huge losses for uncompetitive, inefficient companies.

It has been a turbulent few days for anyone who follows the European aviation sector. IAG, the company that owns British Airways and Iberia, reported on Thursday that operating profit rose to 3.5bn (3bn) last year, its highest ever level, and easily beating the last record set before the pandemic in 2019. Luis Gallego, IAGs chief executive, said he was optimistic about the year ahead, as both tourist and business travel returns to normal levels.

BA may not have quite the same levels of service it used to have, and the computers have an unfortunate tendency to go haywire, but it is only a small part of the operation. By any reasonable standards, IAG is a decent business doing pretty well.

At Air France-KLM, however, the outlook is not so good. While it also reported healthy levels of demand, it posted a 256m fourth-quarter loss, which it blamed on rising costs, as well as geopolitical uncertainty impacting routes to the Middle East and elsewhere.

The shares fell 10pc on the results, as investors noticed that despite its highest ever revues, it was also starting to lose money heavily. Its shares are now down by 40pc over the last year.

Lufthansa, the German flag-carrier airline, is not expected to be much better. Reuters reported last week that analysts and investors expect the company to miss its profits targets as it was hit by prolonged strikes, which had forced it to cancel many of its flights, while staff are demanding higher wages. Its shares are now down by 27pc over the last year.

Company results vary all the time of course, even within the same industry, with some doing well while rivals perform poorly. And yet, one point surely jumps out: both Air France and Lufthansa have heavy state involvement.

The French government now owns 28.6pc of Air France-KLM, while the Dutch government owns another 9.3pc. It is not quite government-owned, but it is so close to it that it does not make much practical difference.

Frances President Emmanuel Macron, first took a stake in the airline as finance minister, and then increased it after the Dutch government annoyed him by taking a matching shareholding in the airline, and then again as part of a recapitalisation after its planes were grounded during the pandemic.

The president has made it clear that he sees it as a vital strategic interest, even though it is facing heavy losses on the shareholding, losing almost 1bn in value over the last 12 months (but heck, its taxpayers money, and French presidents dont need to bother themselves with details like that).

The German government took a 20pc stake in Lufthansa during the pandemic, and although it has now sold off the last of its shares, government influence may well remain. Neither company could be described as completely private in the usual sense of the word.

The 20pc jump in Ryanair's shares shows budget airlines are booming - JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP

It is not hard to see the contrast with IAG, or indeed with the booming budget airlines such as Ryanair, with its shares up by over 20pc over the last year, or easyJet, with its shares up by 13pc over the last 12 months. In truth, state ownership, whether it is outright, or just creeping control, never works out well in practice.

First, it creates companies that indulge their unions, and prioritise them over the business itself, and certainly over the customers. The unions have votes and political influence, and that means that airline bosses may well concede higher rates of pay, or easier working conditions, because that is what their government shareholder wants.

Next, the subsidies, and the cheap capital the state can provide, mean that there is no real incentive to maintain efficiency. The airline industry is brutally competitive, and margins are often wafer-thin, and that means that you have to stay very lean to afford all the planes and landing slots that you have to pay for. Cheap capital is great for a while, but if it makes you flabby it can damage a company as well.

Finally, if you know the state will always bail you out there is no discipline. In the end, it is the terrible knowledge that the receivers might be called in that keeps the board on their toes, stops them from ever letting up on cost control, and drives them to keep the balance sheet in a healthy state. Take that away and standards inevitably start to slip. In the worst-case scenario, the government will just bail you out all over again.

France, and to a lesser extent Germany, will now be weighed down by huge, uncompetitive airlines. If history is any guide, those losses will just grow and grow until someone decides to bite the bullet, and put them back on a sound commercial footing.

During the pandemic there were endless calls for Britain and others to match the ambition of France and Germany and offer state support to their airlines. One point is now clear, however. The UK and Spain had a very lucky escape  because privately owned airlines will always perform better in the medium term.

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Near-misses between aircraft are increasingly common.

The head of the FAA told Congress how its panel is examining sleep science to help.

A shortage of air traffic controllers means mandatory overtime, which can lead to fatigue.

An initiative to help prevent close calls between aircraft was announced by the Federal Aviation Administration this week.

Arrival Alert Notices are aimed at stopping "wrong-surface" events, such as a plane landing on the wrong runway or lining up on the wrong taxiway  creating the risk of a collision.

The notices, which the FAA started testing in 2022, give pilots an aerial view of an airport during pre-flight planning. They include important safety information like one runway being farther away than another, or noting that pilots sometimes confuse runways.

General aviation pilots account for 83% of wrong-surface events, the FAA said. But there have also been several recent instances involving commercial airlines.

Last year, The New York Times found that near-misses between aircraft were happening more often than previously thought.

In January 2023, an American Airlines plane taxied onto the runway at JFK Airport while a Delta Air Lines flight was about to take off.

And in July, an Allegiant Air flight attendant was injured when the plane suddenly shot upwards to avoid a nearby private jet at the same altitude.

Despite the best efforts of pilots and air traffic controllers, sometimes collisions do happen.

Earlier in February, two JetBlue planes collided, with one plane's wing hitting the other's tail in a de-icing area at Boston Logan International Airport. It was the third plane collision at the airport within a year, although nobody was injured.

The dangers were made clear in January when a Japan Airlines A350 caught fire after hitting a smaller plane on the runway at Tokyo Haneda Airport.

No one on the Japan Airlines Airbus A350 died following the incident in January. Richard A. Brooks/AFP/Getty Images

During a congressional hearing on February 5, the head of the FAA outlined its efforts to prevent such incidents.

Mike Whitaker said close-calls and runway incursions  when a plane is incorrectly situated on a runway  were his first area of inquiry when he took over as administrator last October.

He said the FAA is looking into "improved airport signage, and runway and taxiway redesign."

An FAA representative told Business Insider its plans included "technologies that provide capabilities to improve controller situational awareness and reduce runway incursions," such as a device that gives an audible and visual alert to controllers.

In January, the National Transportation Safety Board released its findings about the plane collision at JFK Airport a year earlier. It said the captain was distracted and confused by instructions from air traffic controllers, while the co-pilot lost track of the plane's location.

A collision was only avoided because the controller shouted at the pilots of the other plane to abort their takeoff.

"Overall, our data shows a recent downward trend in the rate of runway incursions," Whitaker said. "But to drive the number of runway incursions to zero, we must continue to focus on and invest in this priority."

Mandatory overtime

One major cause of near-misses is the strained workload of air traffic controllers.

Rich Santa, president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association, previously told Business Insider that many controllers are working six-day weeks and ten-hour days.

And The Times reported that some controllers have turned to alcohol and sleeping pills to cope with their grueling schedules.

Long hours and irregular shifts also cause fatigue, which in turn leads to more problems at airports  as pointed out by Jennifer Homendy, chair of the National Transportation Safety Board, during a Senate hearing last November.

"Air traffic controllers are being required to do mandatory overtime," she said. "It ends up leading to fatigue and distraction, which is exactly what we're seeing as part of these incident investigations. And it all just comes down to the shortage of staffing."

A government audit released last June found 77% of critical ATC facilities are understaffed.

Paul Rinaldi, a former NATCA president, told Forbes that shortages began back in 2013 due to funding restrictions from budget sequestration.

"They closed the air traffic control academy," he said. "They looked at reducing hours and many air traffic facilities. They looked at closing and cutting more than 100 federal contract towers, and stopped most modernization projects."

It's also a notoriously difficult job, so there are lots of training requirements. When the world was struck by the COVID pandemic, many training programs were paused, in turn delaying certification for controllers.

The FAA is trying to combat the shortage in a variety of ways, like streamlining training programs.

An FAA spokesperson said it is "accelerating air traffic controller hiring by moving to a year-round hiring track for experienced controllers from the military and private industry," and enhancing training with modernized simulators.

"We are continuing to work on our culture, processes, systems, and integration of safety efforts to maintain our stellar safety record," they added.

Fatigue measures

It's also put together a panel to review air traffic controller fatigue.

"The panel will examine how the latest science on sleep needs and fatigue considerations could be applied to controller work requirements and scheduling," Whitaker said during the congressional hearing.

That includes "risks associated with controller fatigue resulting from shifting schedules and excessive overtime."

For pilots and cabin crew, dealing with fatigue is more apparent because they travel through different time zones, unlike controllers whose biggest risk is exhausting work schedules.

Boeing has developed an "alertness model" used for an app called CrewAlert, which anyone can download to assess fatigue risk.

Brad Surak, Boeing's vice-president for digital aviation solutions, told BI at last year's Paris Air Show: "Its main purpose is for an aircrew who's operating on a complex schedule.

"They're changing multiple time zones, they're getting schedules disrupted, and the airline has to replan where they might be based," he added. "We don't just operate the schedule for economics, we take into account the fatigue level of the crew."

Now it looks like controllers' sleep schedules are set to receive more attention too. Not because they're unavoidably changing time zones like pilots, but because the work is so demanding.

Do you work in air traffic control? Contact this reporter in confidence at psyme@businessinsider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
Alabama state Rep. Terri Collins, R-Decatur, sponsored a bill to allow in vitro fertilization processes to proceed in Alabama after a Feb. 16 state Supreme Court decision shut down most IVF programs in the state. The bill passed the state House and Senate Feb. 29. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

All but six state legislatures are now in session, and abortion-related bills continue to be introduced, especially in states where the procedure is already banned. It can be hard to monitor them all, so States Newsrooms Reproductive Rights Today team will track certain bills that could become law in their respective states in a biweekly legislative roundup. Depending on the partisan makeup of a states legislature and other state government officials, some bills have a higher chance of passing and becoming law than others.

Alabama

Following an explosive Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos count as children under state law, which shut down in vitro fertilization programs in Alabama, the state legislature on Thursday passed Republican-sponsored bills to protect IVF.

House Bill 237: Alabama Reflector reported the measure would protect IVF providers from criminal or civil action except for an act or omission that is both intentional and not arising from or related to IVF services. The bill sponsors in both chambers called the measure, which will automatically repeal next year, a temporary fix aimed at reopening IVF programs. State Democrats have criticized the bill for not addressing the state Supreme Courts findings about when life begins. The controversial ruling that a frozen embryo is an unborn child was based in part on a 2018 Sanctity of Life constitutional amendment. If in fact, we have a constitutional amendment that requires us to adopt public policy that these embryos have a right to life, can we pass a law that authorizes life to be taken in fertility clinics? said Rep. Chris England, D-Tuscaloosa.

Status: Passed Feb. 29 in the House 94-6 and in the Senate (SB 159) 34-0.

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Terri Collins, Decatur

Alaska

Despite the political fallout in Alabama, states continue to introduce proposals to give personhood rights to embryos. Abortions are currently protected under Alaskas constitution, but a proposed bill could change that by defining a fetus as a person in the criminal code.

House Bill 107: Alaska Beacon reported the bill would establish the definition of life and person in criminal law. The proposal has received pushback in the wake of the controversial Alabama IVF ruling. John Skidmore, the deputy attorney general for the criminal division of the Department of Law, said that if passed, it would allow the state to file criminal charges for abortion, though courts would likely rule that unconstitutional.

Status: Introduced in 2023 and heard in the House Judiciary Committee.

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Kevin McCabe, Big Lake

Florida

As Floridas legislative session comes to an end for the year (last day of the session is March 8), Republicans postponed a bill that would have let people file wrongful death lawsuits for embryos and fetuses.

Senate Bill 476: Florida Phoenix reported the bills sponsor said the measure needs more work but would not have applied to IVF. As written it would permit lawsuits to recover damages for the wrongful death suit of unborn children at any stage of development.

Status: Temporarily postponed.

Sponsor: Republican Sen. Erin Grall, Vero Beach

Iowa

Abortion is currently legal in Iowa after a court last year blocked a six-week abortion ban. The Iowa House just passed a controversial bill that Democrats warn could result in pushing anti-abortion views and potential misinformation in public schools.

House File 2617: Iowa Capital Dispatch reported the bill would require instructors of human growth and development and health classes to show seventh through 12th grade students ultrasounds and animations that demonstrate the processes of fertilization and fetal development. As an example of acceptable material, the bill cites the Meet Baby Olivia video produced by the longtime anti-abortion activist group Live Action, best known for trying to entrap Planned Parenthood into criminal activity with undercover videos. A version of this legislation has been enacted in North Dakota and introduced in Kentucky, Missouri, and West Virginia.

Status: Passed 59-35 this week, going to the Senate for consideration (formerly numbered HF 2031).

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Luana Stoltenberg, Davenport

Kansas

Abortion is currently legal in Kansas through 22 weeks gestation. Two new bills would add abortion-related restrictions, one that would make abortion coercion a felony and one that would require ultrasounds before abortions.

House Bill 2813: Kansas Reflector reported this bill would make it a felony to try to convince someone to get an abortion using coercion or threats.

Status: Referred to House Committee on Federal and State Affairs.

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Rebecca Schmoe, Ottawa

House Bill 2814: Kansas Reflector reported this bill would create the Kansas Ultrasound Act, requiring an obstetric ultrasound to be performed before an abortion. The proposal would allow a woman to avert her eyes from such images.

Status: Referred to Committee on Federal and State Affairs

Sponsor: Republican Leah Howell, Derby, on behalf of anti-abortion groups Kansans for Life and Kansas Family Voice

Kentucky

Republicans continue trying to apply personhood to fetuses and embryos. The next foray in Kentucky, where abortion is banned, is child support. The support obligation begins as soon as that life begins, said the bills sponsor.

Senate Bill 110: Kentucky Lantern reported the proposal would allow Kentuckians to collect child support for fetuses, if an order is in place within a year of the childs birth. But the bills sponsor says that county attorneys cannot use federal resources to enforce this law, and that he would support a new state appropriation to help fund the enforcement. The bill also has support from Democrats, some of whom want it categorized as maternity care support instead of child support. I worry about this being a stepping stone to things like in-utero visitation and  the downstream consequences that could arise, said Sen. Cassie Chambers Armstrong, D-Louisville.

Status: Passed unanimously by Senate committee Feb. 27.

Sponsor: Republican Sen. Whitney Westerfield, Fruit Hill

House Bill 711: Kentucky Lantern reported this bill would expand state abortion exceptions to pregnancies caused by rape and incest, but no later than six weeks after the first day of the womans last menstrual period. The proposal would leave it to the physician to determine if rape or incest had occurred. The bill would also clarify abortion exceptions for fatal fetal anomalies, ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages.

Status: Introduced Feb. 26.

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Ken Fleming, Louisville

South Dakota

Abortion is currently illegal in South Dakota, but that could change with a potential ballot-question decision. In an attempt to thwart the measure, Republicans have advanced a bill that would allow people to remove their signatures from ballot-question petitions.

House Bill 1244: South Dakota Searchlight reports that an emergency clause in the legislation would make it effective immediately, ahead of this springs deadline for petitions to place questions on the Nov. 5 general election ballot. Initiated measures and referendums need 17,508 signatures from registered voters to make the ballot; initiated constitutional amendments need 35,017. Rick Weiland of Dakotans for Health said the abortion-rights ballot petitions already have 50,000 signatures.

Status: Passed 59-9 Feb. 20; passed Senate State Affairs Committee Feb. 28.

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Jon Hansen, Dell Rapids

Utah

Abortion is currently legal in Utah up to 18 weeks gestation, awaiting a state Supreme Court decision on whether to uphold a trigger abortion ban. In an attempt to try to speed up the courts decision, Republican lawmakers, on the last day of the legislative session, passed a bill that would repeal last years legislation that bans abortion clinics.

House Bill 560: Utah News Dispatch reported the bill would repeal portions of HB 467 that are already enjoined in court. Democrats have argued the bill disrupts the separation of powers by interfering in ongoing litigation.

Status: Passed House 59-10 on Feb. 21; passed Senate 24-0 on March 1.

Sponsor: Republican House Majority Whip Karianne Lisonbee, Clearfield

West Virginia

Abortion is currently illegal in West Virginia. This week state senators voted to require high schoolers to watch a video created by the anti-abortion activist group Live Action.

Senate Bill 468: West Virginia Watch reported the bill would require eighth and 10th grade public school students to view a video called Meet Baby Olivia, which depicts insemination fetal development. Republican Sen. Tom Takubo, a doctor, voiced concerns about the measure during debate, saying there were discrepancies in the video that are grossly inaccurate.

Status: Passed the Senate 27-6 on Feb. 27; referred to House Health and Human Resources Committee.

Sponsor: Republican Sen. Patricia Rucker, Jefferson

Wyoming

Abortion is currently legal in Wyoming, but Republican lawmakers are trying to increase regulations for clinics by requiring them to be licensed surgical centers and for their doctors to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. In 2016 the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a similar law in Texas was unconstitutional.

House Bill 148: WyoFile reported this bill was amended last week to require patients to undergo an ultrasound at least 48 hours before the abortion. Currently, having an ultrasound is optional.

Status: Passed the House 53-9 on Feb. 23 and the Senate 24-6 on March 1.

Sponsor: Republican Rep. Chip Neiman, Hulett

U.S. Congress

Meanwhile, this week the U.S. Senate failed to pass a bill to protect IVF access nationwide.

S. 3612: States Newsroom reported the bill, introduced earlier this year, would bar limitations on assisted reproductive technology services that are more burdensome than limitations or requirements imposed on medically comparable procedures, do not significantly advance reproductive health or the safety of such services and unduly restrict access to such services. In the wake of the recent IVF situation in Alabama, the SenateDemocratic sponsor asked for unanimous consent in the Senate to avoid having to send the bill to the House. But Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi blocked the bill.

Status: Introduced in January; failed unanimous consent request Feb. 28.

Sponsor: Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Illinois

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The post Alabama passes IVF protections while red states still push personhood abortion laws appeared first on Colorado Newsline.
(KRON)  Its been over two years since the disappearance of Alexis Gabe. A documentary is now set to be released this spring to tell the tragic story of the 24-year-old Oakley womans death.

Gabes story will be featured on an episode of true crime series On the Case With Paula Zahn that will air this spring, Alexis father Gwyn Gabe announced on Facebook. The exact air date is unknown at this time, but the episode will air sometime in March or April.

Alameda DA apologizes for poorly developed and untested technology

On the Case with Paula Zahn can be watched on subscription-based streaming services such as Discovery+, MAX, FuboTV and Amazon Prime. It can also be watched via cable on Investigation Discovery.

We are happy to announce the upcoming release of the documentary. The producer has just given us the green light, and it will be featured in the new season 27 of On the Case with Paula Zahn. The first episode is set to premiere on March 6th, Gwyn Gabe said. Although we dont have the exact episode number and date yet, we will be informed as soon as it is determined. Fingers crossed it falls in March, as its Alexis birthday month!

A short snippet of the show was posted on the Justice for Alexis Gabe Facebook page. It showed Alexis mother, Rowena, being interviewed.

The first episode of Season 27 of On the Case with Paula Zahn will air on Wednesday, March 6. Episodes will air live on Wednesdays on the Investigation Discovery channel, which is available on Xfinity, DISH and DirectTV. Check your local cable provider for what channel it will air on.

Alexis was reported missing on Jan. 26, 2022. A search went on for months with hopes she was still alive. However, in June, police said Alexis was a victim of homicide. Her body was never fully recovered, but authorities found her partial remains in Plymouth, a city approximately 45 miles east of Sacramento.

Alexis Gabe disappearance timeline released

In August of 2022, Going West: True Crime podcast released an hour-long episode about the story of Alexis disappearance. For previous KRON4 stories on the Alexis Gabe case, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
An MP said his close friend Lee Anderson should not apologise over comments he made about London mayor Sadiq Khan.

Mr Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, is sitting as an independent after claiming Islamists had control of Mr Khan and accusing the mayor of giving the capital away to extremists.

Marco Longhi, a Conservative MP who represents Dudley North in the West Midlands, defended him and said he should not have been suspended from the party.

He said there was no evidence his friend was Islamophobic or racist and that he should be re-instated.

The Ashfield MP was suspended from the Tory party after he refused to apologise for the remarks, which the prime minister's official spokesperson said were wrong.

Mr Longhi told Politics Midlands: "I think where there might be a slight weakness in his argument is making an assertion that Sadiq Khan is closely associated to Islamist and therefore, by inference, an Islamist himself.

"I think it's right that Lee works this out and I would like to see him return in the Conservative fold as soon as possible."

Lee Anderson has represented Ashfield since 2019

Mr Longhi made the remarks during a debate about so-called no-go zones.

Another Conservative MP, Paul Scully, apologised last week for suggesting there were "no-go" areas in parts of London's Tower Hamlets and Sparkill in Birmingham.

The Dudley North MP said those comments were wrong but it did not show the Conservatives were out of touch.

Mr Longhi said he represented a diverse community and there was not a corner of the United Kingdom he would personally describe as a no-go zone.

"We know that Britain's diversity is a great strength," added Mary Creagh, former MP for Wakefield, and Labour Party candidate for Coventry East.

"We can see good people trying to paper in the cracks that have been left by 14 years of Tory austerity and cuts to public services."

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, X, and Instagram, Send your story ideas to: newsonline.westmidlands@bbc.co.uk

More on this story
Its safe to say that Scott Swift and his wife Andrea, aka Taylor Swifts mom, were the first ever Swifties.

The parents are fixtures at Taylor Swift's concerts and events and can often be spotted interacting with fans, holding up a phone to record a memory or looking on at their daughter with pride.

The singer has often spoken about the love between her family and thanked them for the sacrifices they've made for her career. After winning top new female vocalist at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards, Swift said "there are so many people that deserve to be thanked for this," but she dedicated her acceptance speech to just one.

"And thats the person that used to love to go to lunch with her friends and cook dinner for her family and sleep in her bed every night, and she gave that all away and left it all behind to go on the road with her 16-year-old daughter," she said. "And so, Mom, thank you so much. I love you. This is for you."

More than 15 years later, she continues to gush about her family. During her March 2 "Eras Tour" show in Singapore, Swift discussed her mom's ties to the country.

My mom actually spent a lot of her childhood with her mom and dad and sister growing up in Singapore, actually," she said during the show. So a lot of the time when wed come here on tour, my mom would take me and drive me past her old house, where she used to go to school. So, Ive been hearing about Singapore my whole life."

During the "Eras Tour" setlist, Taylor Swift performed "Marjorie," a touching track about her grandmother. In Singapore, she thanked the crowd for singing along.

"To get to come here and play a show this big with so many beautiful, generous people who are essentially honoring my family with what you just did with that song, it means the world," she said.

Read on to learn more about Taylor Swift's parents.

Who are Scott and Andrea Swift?

Scott and Andrea Swift welcomed their daughter, Taylor Swift, on Dec. 13, 1989  a date significant to many Swifties as 13 is the singer's lucky number and her fifth album is named "1989."

They later became parents of two when they welcomed Taylors brother, Austin, in 1992.

Mama Swift, as Swifties know her, is frequently seen with her daughter and her fans.

Andrea shows up in support of her daughter to multiple events, appearing at many of the Eras Tour shows and even being her daughters plus-one at award shows.

Andrea is the daughter of American opera singer Marjorie Finlay.

Taylor Swift frequently alludes to her maternal grandmother, who passed away in 2003, and her impact on her singing career, dedicating her track marjorie to her grandmother on her album evermore.

The pop star's relationship with her mother is shown in a heartwarming compilation of pictures and videos from her childhood in the music video for her song "The Best Day (Taylor's Version)."

She shows a rare glimpse of family photos, touching on her relationship with her mother from the age of 5 until her young adult years.

"You're the prettiest lady in the whole wide world," she sings. "I love you for giving me your eyes."

She also mentions her father, Scott Swift, in the song.

"I have an excellent father," she sings. "His strength is making me stronger."

After her Santa Clara "Eras Tour" show on July 28, she posted a video of him riding a Segway on Tik Tok.

The financial advisor worked at Merrill Lynch, and later established Swift Group.

Andrea and Scott Swift tied the knot in 1988, about a year before their daughter was born in 1989.

They moved from Pennsylvania to Tennessee

Andrea and Scott Swift moved to Tennessee in 2003.

Another one of her videos showing a compilation of memories with her family, "Christmas Tree Farm, came out in 2019.

She alludes to the Christmas tree farm where she was raised.

Their kids were born in Reading, Pennsylvania, and Taylor Swift briefly mentions Pennsylvania in her songs, one example being "seven" on her album "folklore."

In 2003, they moved to Nashville to support their daughter's singing career.

"At 13, I was offered a development deal by a major record label," Swift told TIME in 2014.

"My parents gave in and we moved from Pennsylvania (to Nashville)."

Swift announced the release of "Speak Now (Taylor's Version)" in Nashville during "The Eras Tour" on May 5.

In an Instagram post, she wrote about how she felt when first writing the album.

"I first made Speak Now, completely self-written, between the ages of 18 and 20," she wrote in the caption.

At the time, she lived in Nashville.

"The songs that came from this time in my life were marked by their brutal honesty, unfiltered diaristic confessions and wild wistfulness."

Scott and Andrea Swift's cancer journeys

Both Andrea and Scott Swift have battled cancer, Taylor Swift revealed in a 2019 essay for Elle.

Ive had to learn how to handle serious illness in my family, she wrote. Both of my parents have had cancer, and my mom is now fighting her battle with it again.

Taylor Swift revealed that her mother was battling cancer in 2015, then again in 2019, though she did not share the type of the cancer.

Her daughter shared her distress over her mom's diagnosis in her music.

Who am I supposed to talk to? What am I supposed to do if there's no you, she sang in her 2019 track Soon Youll Get Better.

Youll get better soon, cause you have to.

In a 2019 interview with CBS News, she said she "can't even listen to" the song.

"I don't think I have written a song quite like that before," she said. "It's just not something we deal with until we have to. Writing about it was really emotional."

She performed the song live for the first time in August 2019.

In 2020, Taylor shared that her mother was diagnosed with a brain tumor.

She told Variety that her mother was diagnosed with the tumor while undergoing chemotherapy treatments for cancer.

Scott Swift's political disagreements with his daughter

The 2020 Netflix documentary Miss Americana showed Taylor Swift and her father having political disagreements.

Taylor Swift decided to voice her political opinions on social media, a choice her father didnt agree with at the time. In 2018, she released a lengthy statement on Instagram.

She said she does not support Marsha Blackburn running for Senate in the state of Tennessee, saying she "votes against equal pay for women," and the "Violence Against Women Act."

"These are not MY Tennessee values," she wrote.

The documentary shows her father saying he was "terrified" about Taylor sharing her political views.

Taylor Swift went through with the post.

I need to do this, she told her father. Dad, I need you to forgive me for doing this, because Im doing it.

Andrea and Scott Swift at 'The Eras Tour'

Selena Gomez, Scott Swift and Andrea Swift (Kevin Mazur / Getty Images)

To this day, the star's parents publicly support her career.

On the North American leg of "The Eras Tour," Andrea and Scott Swift attended many of the shows.

One TikTok user posted a video in May which shows the two at her Philadelphia show.

The two are walking into the venue together and fans are giving them friendship bracelets.

Another TikTok video, posted in July, shows them inside the VIP tent at their daughter's Seattle show.

They're singing along as their daughter performs her track "You Belong With Me," and Scott Swift takes out his phone to record his daughter's performance.

Scott Swift and Travis Kelce have attended 'Eras Tour' concerts together

Scott Swift also appears to be a Travis Kelce fan.

The senior Swift has cheered on his daughter at her "Eras Tour" shows alongside Kelce, her boyfriend, during at least two shows  a Nov. 11 show in Argentina and Feb. 23 in Sydney.

During the Buenos Aires concert, instead of singing, Karma is the guy on the screen / Coming straight home to me, Taylor Swift said, Karma is the guy on the Chiefs / Coming straight home to me, making Scott immediately turn to Kelce to give him a high-five.

However, in a video that a fan posted online, it looks like Kelce doesnt appear to notice the high-five that Scott was trying to give him as hes too busy celebrating the moment.

When asked about the missed high-five on his New Heights podcast, Kelce said he did leave Scott hanging, but not on purpose.

Yeah, Mr. Swift, I apologize big guy and I missed that, he said. I never miss a high-five too. Big high-five guy. Its the most electric thing you can do at an event, so sorry, Mr. Swift.

CORRECTION (Oct. 19, 9:10 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article stated Andrea Swift battled breast cancer. It has been updated to reflect that the type of cancer she was diagnosed with has not been publicly disclosed. This story also incorrectly stated Scott and Andrea Swift had reportedly ended their marriage in 2011, and the story has been updated.

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Just Stop Oil protesters outside Rishi Sunak's London home last year - PA

A leading Just Stop Oil activist has confirmed that the group will continue targeting businesses and MPs homes despite Rishi Sunak warning against the rise of mob rule in Britain.

Dr Grahame Buss, a retired scientist who previously spent 40 years working for oil giant Shell, has said Just Stop Oils demonstrations will not stop even as the Prime Minister tries to halt intimidatory protests.

The spotlight has been thrown on protecting MPs following an increase in threats in recent months, albeit these have been linked to the conflict in Gaza rather than environmental issues.

Dr Buss said: Were going to be standing outside the homes and offices of MPs but in an entirely non-violent way.

His comments come after Conservative backbencher Tobias Ellwoods home was targeted by pro-Palestine protesters last month, while Tory MP Mike Freer has said he will step down over safety fears after arsonists attacked his office.

Dr Buss said Just Stop Oil needs to distinguish itself from violent mobs, as he claimed that his groups actions were legitimate, justified and safe.

He said: I think that if you look at the attacks on MPs, theyve not been from activists. Theyve been from lone wolves, people with mental health problems and other issues.

The risks to other people associated with [environmental] activism are extraordinarily low. This whole [mob rule] thing has been cooked up by the Government.

Mr Sunak, whose home in Yorkshire was targeted by Just Stop Oil activists last year, spoke out on Friday against a shocking increase in extremist disruption and criminality.

He said that people had a right to protest but should do so decently, peacefully and with empathy for your fellow citizens.

Just Stop Oil has refused to say which politicians may be targeted.

Businesses will also remain a key target, as Just Stop Oil activists last Friday occupied the Colmore Building in Birmingham - which is home to leading insurance companies that work with fossil fuel firms.

Story continues

Despite spending 40 years at Shell, Dr Buss said that most of the research he worked on was largely greenwash.

He said: Ive looked back on my career, and I think it was wasted. It was very interesting. I had a lot of fun. A lot of the time I had a lot of money. But I dont think I achieved anything of any value.

Dr Buss said his time at Shell had shown him that the millions of pounds being invested in technological solutions to climate change, such as sustainable aviation fuel, were being misspent.

He opted to join Just Stop Oil shortly after his retirement, where he is now a spokesman and an organiser.

Its now my life, he said.

A Home Office spokesman said: While the right to protest is a pillar of our democracy, so is the right for democratically elected officials to go about their daily lives and we utterly condemn the targeting of MPs family homes.

We will do whatever is necessary to defend our democracy which is why we have given the police a comprehensive range of powers to tackle protests that cause harassment, alarm, distress or intimidation, including those outside MPs homes, offices and Parliament.

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Farmer Tom Lim had been raising poultry for 20 years when the company he worked for as a contractor terminated him without warning, leaving him saddled with debt and unsure of where to turn. My heart just dropped, he said. I didnt know where to make money to pay off our loans.

Lim was born in rural Cambodia, where his parents tended rice fields with water buffalos, raised a smattering of chickens and grew vegetables around their home. That lifestyle shaped his love of farming, but was a far cry from what he found himself doing as an adult, raising 540,000 chickens a year in North Carolina for Pilgrims Pride, one of the largest meat producers in the US that supplies chicken to Walmart, Costco and KFC.

The longer he stayed in industrial-scale poultry farming, the more aware Lim became that it hurt the environment and that many poultry farmers get sick due to breathing inside the [chicken] house, he said, referencing the ways that the ammonia in factory-farmed chicken waste harms ecosystems and human health alike.

But he didnt feel like he had other options  every season seemed to require a new loan from the bank to pay for an upgrade that Pilgrims Pride demanded but wouldnt help pay for. They told us that if we cannot upgrade what they want us to, wed lose the contract, Lim said. The result was an endless cycle of debt that made leaving the business feel impossible.

Lims predicament is an increasingly common one for farmers in the US, where about a quarter of all farm operations are in debt and family farms are increasingly bought up by large agribusinesses. Many of the small farms that do remain are like Lims, running operations where growers take their orders from multinational agriculture companies, which often prioritize the bottom line over the health and wellbeing of growers, their animals, and the water and land they depend on.

To make a living growing vegetables on my land is my dream. This is the healthy way of making food Tom Lim

Lim is one of a number of farmers transitioning away from industrial animal agriculture in favor growing vegetables and mushrooms.

Though Lims contract ending forced him to take a job off the farm, it opened him up to other possibilities of what he could do with his land. Lim and his wife, Sokchea, are currently in the process of converting their former chicken barns into greenhouses where they can grow vegetables, and theyve already converted an old refrigerated truck bed into a specialty mushroom-growing chamber.

To make a living growing vegetables on my land is my dream, he said. This is the healthy way of making food. In the chicken house, you deal with ammonia, the smell, insects, all that. Versus the greenhouse, you go in there it just feels fresh and healthy.

***

Making such a dramatic shift isnt easy, but the Lims had help through an organization called Transfarmation, which provides farmers with technical support and small grants of $10,000 to $20,000 on their journey to transition away from factory farming.

Transfarmation is a project of the animal rights advocacy group Mercy for Animals, and arose from the relationship of its president, Leah Garces, with farmer Craig Watts, a whistleblower who made national news after 20 years of contract poultry farming for Perdue. (Watts had become troubled by the discrepancy between the picture that Perdue painted in its advertising and the conditions that Perdue chickens actually lived in. I felt, as a farmer, that [the consumers] needed to know what was happening, he said.)

According to Transfarmations director, Tyler Whitley, leaders at the organization realized that if they wanted to help end factory farming, they needed to create resources to help farmers do something else.

Weve been told by the farmers that we work with that the biggest barrier is a knowledge gap. Its very different raising chickens versus raising fresh fruits and vegetables, very different working for Tyson versus having to find your own customers, said Whitley.

Transfarmation is partnering directly with farmers like Lim and Watts to transition their farms, as well as paying them a small stipend to collect data about their transition that will be made freely available online for other farmers who want to make a similar pivot. The organizations farmer resources hub includes reports and YouTube webinars for learning about programs in each US state, sample plans for turning a shipping container into a mushroom-growing chamber, economic analysis of different crops, and guides on how to sell to restaurants and retailers and at farmers markets.

Tanner Faaborg grew up on a farm in rural Iowa where his parents contracted with a commercial pig farming operation, filling two barns with 1,100 pigs each.

But like the Lims, the Faaborgs soon found themselves stuck on what Tanner described as a financial treadmill, where the operation was always requiring that they invest money to upgrade or fix something but never delivering high enough returns.

Plus, doing that kind of work in those conditions takes a toll on your body. Its a lot of hard work and there are a lot of injuries involved, and its not the best air quality, said Faaborg, describing chores that would begin each morning with dragging any 250-pound pig that had died overnight out of the barn.



When he went away to college and started getting interested in sustainability, Faaborg found himself unable to imagine himself working on the farm unless something changed.

I just couldnt escape the environmental impact that it was having with these concentrated animal feeding operations Tanner Faaborg

I just couldnt escape the environmental impact that it was having with these two Cafos [concentrated animal feeding operations] and the open pit lagoon and everything that goes along with that, he said. (Research has shown that living near industrialized hog farms can shorten the lifespan not just of farmers, but of their neighbors, too, due to the air and water pollution they create.)

I dont think its a coincidence that Iowa has one of the highest cancer rates in the country, and we have constantly contaminated wells, he said.

And so I started talking to my parents about it, he said, first convincing them to install a solar array on their land, and then more recently, to get out of the hog business altogether and start growing mushrooms. The farm recently began selling its fresh specialty mushrooms as well as mushroom products like tinctures and mushroom salts.

***

At first blush, former livestock farmers  many of whom are not opposed to eating meat  and an animal rights non-profit that promotes veganism might seem like an odd pairing. But whether the players involved were first animated by concern about the exploitation of animals, land or people, they end up having enough in common to work together. What we find is that the more that you talk to a farmer about why they want to exit and what they dislike about the system, we agree on 90% of things, Whitley said.

Its still too early to declare any of these farm transitions a resounding success, and only time will tell if the Faaborgs, Watts and the Lims will be able to find the market to financially support their new endeavors. But they all seem encouraged at what could be possible, and appreciate the solidarity that comes from knowing theyre not alone.

Faaborg recalls the feeling he had when they first installed solar panels on his parents farm  their neighbors were skeptical, and some even made fun of what seemed like a hare-brained idea. But over time, the solar array paid itself off, and Faaborg noticed that some of those same skeptics began installing solar equipment on their own land. He hopes that his family can once again influence their little corner of the agricultural landscape by shutting down their Cafos in favor of something gentler on themselves and on the land they farm.

The hope is to take on this challenge, find success, and then showcase that change is possible, he said.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  El Paso Animal Services and its nonprofit organization  Friends of El Paso Animal Services  hosted a Kitten Shower on Saturday, March 2 to prepare the community for the busy litter season, a news release said.

The event was held at Aurellia`s Bottle Shop & Brewhouse, 1620 Resler Dr.

Photos by Sebastian Esquivel/KTSM

Kittens are already brewing in our community, and we want to prepare for their arrival as best as possible, and thats with the help of our community, said Terry Kebschull, El Paso Animal Services director. Every year, El Paso Animal Services sees thousands of kittens and puppies being brought to the shelter. Our community needs more foster caregivers to help us keep these abandoned kittens and puppies alive, happy and healthy.

Staff and other volunteer organizations were at the event to share information about available community programs such as the Foster Program and Community Cat Program and they will also help families sign up to be new foster parents.

In addition, Friends of El Paso Animal Services will be accepting donations from the Kitten Shower registry to support lifesaving programs, the news release said.

The event also featured games, arts and crafts, refreshments, educational demonstrations, and an opportunity to pet and play with foster kittens.

For more information on the event or to view the Kitten Shower registry, you can click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Headlines in early March 2023 implied Fox News mogul Rupert Murdoch had made a damning confession. He had affirmed that some of his most important journalists were reporting that the 2020 presidential election was a fraud  even though they knew they were propagating a lie.

It was an admission during pretrial testimony in a libel lawsuit filed against Fox by a voting machine company that says it was defamed by the lie. For journalism practitioners and devotees, the admission should signal the end of the Fox News empire.

Nope. It didnt.

Such a disgraceful demise would seem inevitable when journalists  professionally trained truth gatherers, employed by a news organization, which is an institution that exists to provide truthful information  choose not to do so.

Nope.

Thats because a business that calls itself a news organization actually does not have to be one - but it does have to be a business. Businesses exist primarily to make a profit and doing actual news isnt essential. Adam Serwer, reporting for The Atlantic, wrote sources at Fox told me to think of it not as a network per se, but as a profit machine.

News businesses or profit machines can hire anybody who falls off a turnip truck and label them journalists because the job has no standardized requirements.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics lists None as requirements for work experience and on-the-job training for journalists but indicates a bachelors degree is typical. Accordingly, the Fox News business people could choose to spread election lies and insist, as court documents indicate, that it made good business sense to do so because much of their audience did not want the actual truth about that topic.

These are some of the troubling takeaways from Murdochs defense of his news business against a libel lawsuit filed by Dominion Voting Systems, the company implicated by Foxs election fraud allegations. Fox essentially admits to publishing false information about Dominion, but argues it is nonetheless protected from liability. It is a defense grounded in the First Amendment, which protects press freedom so robustly that it also protects the irresponsible use of that freedom.

Lachlan Murdoch, left, and his father, Rupert Murdoch, lead the Fox corporation. Jean Catuffe/GC Images

Theres lying  and theres defamation

Murdochs admission was contained in court documents and was revealed in a New York Times story published on March 7, 2023. The story was about the US$1.6 billion libel lawsuit filed against Fox News by Dominion, the company Fox journalists repeatedly - and falsely - accused of rigging the 2020 presidential election to make sure Donald Trump lost.

Internal Fox communications, reported by the New York Times, revealed that network journalists and their news executive bosses knew the 2020 election was not fraudulent, yet continued to allow lies about the election - told by hosts and their guests - to be spread to the public.

Dominion claimed Foxs audience recoiled when its journalists truthfully reported that Trump had lost the election. Dominions attorneys asserted that Fox feared the audience would switch their viewing allegiance to upstart conservative news organizations Newsmax and One America News.

In a March 31, 2023, ruling, the judge hearing the case cited examples of Foxs internal communications that demonstrated how journalism values were supplanted by the language and values of business. Among them was this quote attributed to a Fox Corporation board member: If ratings go down, revenue goes down. The judge also referred to Dominions claim that Fox chose to publish the (false) statements to win back viewers.

Court documents show Dominions attorneys asked Murdoch: What should the consequences be when Fox News executives knowingly allow lies to be broadcast? Murdoch replied: They should be reprimanded, maybe got rid of.

That response aligns with principles widely touted by professional news organizations and established in the ethical practice of journalism. Although journalism scholars and practitioners vary in their definitions of what a news organization is and who can claim to be a journalist, there is firm agreement that reporting facts, or at least making a good faith effort to do so, is an indispensable mandate for both.

Yet Murdoch has not indicated an intention to discipline en masse Fox News employees who violated that ethical principle. Nor is he required to.

Even the Society of Professional Journalists, the nations foremost advocate for ethical journalism, rejects punishments for those who violate its principles. Its ethics code says in part: The code is entirely voluntary.  It has no enforcement provisions or penalties for violations, and SPJ strongly discourages anyone from attempting to use it that way. The organization concedes that news outlets can discipline their own journalists. Because journalists and their employers may be considered to be one entity, any disciplinary action is voluntary self-discipline. Neither journalists nor the news organizations they personify have to be truthful unless they want to.

Lying in the press is unethical but does not necessarily strip liars of the protections provided by the First Amendment. There is an exception to this: the defamatory lie, one that injures a person or organizations reputation. That is what got Fox News sued.

The lawsuit filed by the maker of this voting machine, Dominion Voting Systems, charges that Fox News disseminated lies claiming that Dominion rigged the 2020 presidential election against Donald Trump. AP Photo/Ben Gray

Assumptions fall

Murdochs surprising statements were revealed in the lawsuit because his attorneys sought whats called a summary judgment by the judge to decide the case without a trial, in order to avoid the prospect of facing a jury. That move makes sense given that some law scholars have found that juries rule against media defendants three times out of four.

By law, summary judgment is available only when the parties agree on the material facts of the case.

That meant Fox and Murdoch had to admit to Dominions most damning allegations, including confessing to broadcasting untrue statements and engaging in other unethical journalism practices. Even with those admissions, the First Amendments protection could still give Fox a chance to win the lawsuit - particularly if a jury did not hear the case.

Without reaching trial or a verdict, the Dominion Voting Systems v. Fox News lawsuit has already produced some unsettling results. It has challenged journalism disciples assumption that news organizations exist to provide the public with truthful information about the most important issues in their civic lives. It has shaken journalisms faithful who assume that good journalism is never bad for the business of journalism.

Neither assumption is necessarily valid at Fox or anywhere. Anyone can claim to be a journalist, irrespective of their actual function. Any business can claim to be a news organization. Functioning irresponsibly in either role is largely protected by the First Amendment and is therefore optional.

Ethics imposed by independent state bar associations and state medical boards have made professional attorneys and physicians accountable by law as a means of ensuring responsible behavior in their roles, which are considered essential to society. Journalism ethics, which are news organization ethics, are wholly voluntary and can be set aside if they compromise profits.

But if the ethics violations are defamatory, a successful libel lawsuit can impose accountability with a financial cost - money damages.

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: John C. Watson, American University

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John C. Watson does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
A total eclipse means the sun suddenly disappears at a time of day when it shouldn't  and that can have some surprising effects on animals' behaviors.

During previous eclipses, people around the globe have noticed a surreal silence as birds, bugs and animals interrupted their normal activities.

And researchers have observed all sorts of unusual things at zoos: Flamingos gathered in a circle around their babies to protect them. Giraffes began galloping around their enclosure. Swarms of birds large enough to appear on radar suddenly left the sky and roosted in trees. Gorillas marched to their dens, expecting their final meal of the day. The ancient Galapagos tortoises started mating.

With a full solar eclipse coming to a large swath of the United States on April 8, scientists are gearing up to observe animals at multiple zoos in the path of the totality, in part because they were so surprised at what they discovered in 2017 during the last total solar eclipse in the U.S.

I thought it was going to be nonsense, I didnt think animals were going to be affected. at all, said Adam Hartstone-Rose, a professor of comparative anatomy at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC. Clouds pass over and they dont react. It was so ephemeral.

Best place to see the Eclipse? One state appears to be the best place to see the April 2024 solar eclipse

For the 2024 eclipse, scientists will be watching the birds and beasts  and inviting citizen scientists to offer their observations as well  as the celestial curtain falls.

Pets, too, are being included in the surveys, though veterinarians say overall the biggest effect on their behavior will not be the sudden darkness, but rather the behavior of the humans around them.

"They're going to react more to our reactions, our excitement and our anxiety than anything actually from the actual eclipse," said Dr. Rena Carlson, president of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

2017 eclipse provoked some odd animal behavior

To set up the study, Hartstone-Rose and his collaborators set more than 40 people to watch 12 animal exhibits at the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden in Columbia, South Carolina. They began a few days before the eclipse so they could gauge how much the animals' behavior changed.

It was a perfect place to do the experiment. At 2:41 pm on August 21, 2017 the greater Columbia, S.C., area experienced the longest period of totality of any city on the East Coast, slightly more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds of total darkness.

More than two-thirds of the animals exhibited changed behavior.

Gorillas : Marched all together to be let in for the evening and were kind of perplexed, like Why arent you letting us in? Hartstone-Rose said.

Flamingos : All of the adults gathered around the perimeter and clumped around the juveniles and the babies, he said.

Giraffes : Some of the zoo's herd began running around their enclosure, only calming down when the sun came back.

Bears : Couldn't care less. One of them lifted his head during the eclipse, but they basically couldnt be bothered to react, he said.

Galapagos tortoises: The Riverbanks zoo has a group of 35 of the slow-moving giants which can reach 900 pounds and live for more than 150 years. During the peak of the eclipse, they started breeding.

Scaling up for the 2024 eclipse

For 2024, Hartstone-Rose is scaling up animal observations across the country. There will be studies at multiple zoos in the path of the totality, which will allow a larger number of animals to be observed. Hell be stationed at the Fort Worth Zoo.

The sun is eclipsed by the moon and the sun's corona can be seen during a total solar eclipse on Monday, August 21, 2017. This image was captured in Deep Creek, Bryson City, North Carolina. (Joseph Forzano / The Palm Beach Post)

Given what they found with the tortoises, hes curious to see what the bonobos will do.

Theyre very sexual animals, he said. When they get stressed out, their reaction is to have sex. Im very curious to see if they react by mating."

Bird fall silent, head to their roosts

Almost anyone whos been outdoors during an eclipse notices two things  the eerily light and the sudden silencing of the birds and insects.

Animals simply dont know what to do with eclipses because theyre not something their biology is adapted for, said Andrew Farnsworth, a visiting scientist at the Cornell University Lab of Ornithology who has studied bird behavior during eclipses.

Eclipses arent common but theyre not rare and we humans can plan for them. But for short-lived animals that may not be tracking astronomy with math, its pretty unexpected.

In 2017 he and a group of researchers used radar to see just what the birds were doing during the eclipse, a project they plan to expand during this years April eclipse.

Using 143 weather radar stations, they watched the behavior of several types of birds.

Daytime soaring birds, raptors such as turkey vultures and red-tailed hawks, tended to go to roost. They depend on the thermals off the suns energy to soar so when it gets dark they head down to the Earth because they expect the thermals to go away, he said.

Birds that forage for insects during flight, such as swallows and purple martins, also leave the sky.

Theyre foraging for insects while theyre flying but when night comes theres a decline in their food source and they cant see as well, he said.

When Farnsworth and his collaborators watched radar images in 2017, the extent of birds behavior was surprising.

For me, the take home from the 2017 eclipse was the magnitude of the response we saw, he said. Their study shows huge clouds of birds that had been wheeling through the sky swooped down to the surface in numbers so large it showed up clearly on radar scans.

This year researchers plan on expanding the number of stations they are monitoring and expect to see the behavior across a much larger swath of the country, from Texas to Maine.

A call to all Americans to observe in April

To get the maximum number of eyes watching to see what animals do, there's also a citizen science project that will let people across the country gather information about what wild, farm and domestic animals do.

The project is called SolarEclipseSafari.org. Taking part wont interfere with peoples eclipse experience but will allow scientists to collate information about how animals react both inside the totality and in areas where theres only partial darkness.

Were hoping to have thousands watching, he said.

A NASA-funded study will also listen for the distinct quiet that falls when the sun is eclipsed and animals fall silent. Americans will be invited to capture sound as part of the Eclipse Soundscape Project.

Go outside and pay attention

All the researchers USA TODAY interviewed had one piece of advice  the most important thing about an eclipse is to simply go outside and experience it. Dont fiddle with phones and cameras or computers the whole time.

Just listen and look, said Farnsworth. Its easy to get wrapped up in the technology. Its really important to do the observations with your eyes and ears and make the connection to nature that comes with that.

The experience, as Hartstone-Rose learned, can be life-altering.

Its awe-inspiring, he said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: April 2024 total solar eclipse will confuse animals and cause silence
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  Albuquerque Public Schools (APS) invited high schoolers around the metro to the third annual African American Student Empowerment Summit on Saturday.

The summit allowed students to build their social knowledge, develop skills around being a strong ally, and learn about and celebrate their culture and community.

This years event was themed U in Community.

Proposed city resolution looks to streamline housing development in downtown Albuquerque

The African American and Black population is not the largest population, so what were really wanting is for our students to feel seen, to feel like theyre part of the community, and that they can communicate and collectively work with each other, said Coordination School Health Senior Director Daphne Strader.

The summit is part of one of the districts goals to emerge stronger by expanding opportunities for students to develop, nurture/strengthen their skills, mindsets, and habits for success post-graduation.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
As the temperature outside warms, spring cleaning and significant home repairs may lead to thoughts of selling your home. For those who cant or dont want to tackle those bigger projects required to sell, Archway Homes, owned by husband and wife team Jon and Stacy Bichelmeyer, provides a convenient alternative to the traditional, lengthy home selling process. They buy houses As Is in any condition: houses needing little to no repair, houses needing everything repaired from leaking roofs to bad foundations, cluttered houses, or those simply in need of cosmetic updating. Archway provides a no-obligation offer within 24 hours, can pay cash and close within three days or on a future date of the sellers choice, and there are no fees or commissions to pay.

One of the advantages of working with us is selling as is, said Jon. That means you dont have to do any extensive and expensive renovations to make your home appeal to todays buyers or have it ready to show at a moments notice, wait for the right buyer, wait for it to close, and then pay a real estate agents commission or sellers closing costs. We personally purchase every house.

A third-generation real estate investor with roots in the Kansas City community for over 40 years, Jons extensive experience really makes a difference. The ability to sell a house quickly, in lieu of the traditional, lengthy home selling method, to an established and reputable company has been the perfect solution for numerous homeowners all over the Kansas City area, including Juanita P. who recently sold her home in Shawnee to Archway.

We had lived in our home for over 40 years but decided to move for health reasons. I knew we could not have gotten all the work done that would have been necessary to get the house market-ready, she said. I had heard of a few other direct buyer companies from friends, but they did not have good experiences. I wanted a local company, and after a Google search, came upon Archway. They had many positive reviews, and I was familiar with the Bichelmeyer name from the community, so I called. I met with Mike and Jon, both were professional, nice, and seemed honest. I think what they offered was a fair price. Everything went very smoothly, even when the home we were moving into changed the availability date, Jon was flexible and easy to work with. I would definitely recommend Archway to others.

Archway has purchased homes in all sorts of situations. Sometimes the properties need extensive repairs. Archway Homes will buy the home and make the needed repairs, relieving the sellers of the hassle and expense. Sellers can even leave the unwanted contents, saving time and expense.

We are committed to working with sellers, even in difficult situations, to find a solution for all, Stacy said.

They strive to make the difficult process of selling a home as stress-free as possible, especially in these challenging times. We even wrote the book on it. Literally! Home to Home Local Edition  Kansas City Metro outlines the steps homeowners can take to sell their home and our experiences helping people do just that, Jon said.

Weve seen some great times; we lived through the real estate crash in 2008-2010 and have come through the other side. We plan to keep working with sellers no matter what the market is doing, said Jon. I know people are being cautious and careful, so we are using smart technology and every health precaution to make sure our sellers feel comfortable.

Archway Homes features a no-obligation offer process. The first step is to call the office at 913-599-5000 to schedule an appointment. Jon will then walk through the home and can provide an offer price within 24 hours. Archway Homes can pay cash and close in as fast as three days. However, some sellers need the opposite approach, needing a delayed closing several months away. They may need time to find their next home, or they are building a home and need time for it to be completed. Coordinating closing schedules in a traditional sale can be challenging. Archway Homes sets a closing date that will meet the sellers needs.

Anyone who wants to sell a home quickly for cash should call Jon Bichelmeyer at 913-599-5000 or email him at jon@archwayhomesinc.com. Or they can visit Archway Homes website at archwaypropertieskc.com to fill out an online form or to get a free copy of our book Home to Home Local Edition  Kansas City Metro, Kansas and Missouri, call our office.

Archway Homes

Location: 15301 W. 87th St. Parkway, Suite B35 in the UMB Bank building

Contact: Jon Bichelmeyer at 913-599-5000 or jon@archwayhomesinc.com

Website: archwaypropertieskc.com
Armed gangs attacked Haitis National Penitentiary on Saturday, allowing several notorious gang leaders and other prisoners to escape the vastly overcrowded facility, a high-level police source confirmed.

The prison houses some of the countrys highest-profile inmates  including indicted suspects in the July 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.

The break occurred after gangs had besieged the Port-au-Prince prison for days.

The siege unfolded while Prime Minister Ariel Henry was visiting Kenya. He is in the East African nation to finalize an agreement for the deployment of a United Nations-backed Multinational Security Support mission to help the Haiti National Police combat gang violence that has destabilized the country.

In his absence, terrorizing gangs launched an attack on the capital that led to the deaths of at least five police officers when they overtook a police station, and the cancellation of international flights. After shots were fired near the domestic and international airports on Thursday, both U.S.-based carriers, American Airlines and Spirit Airlines, canceled flights from South Florida while Haiti-based Sunrise Airways also canceled flights after bullets struck several of its airplanes. International flights resumed Friday.

As gangs continued their attack on Friday, however, the U.S. embassy issued a security alert to warn U.S. citizens that multiple locations in the capital were under heavy gunfire from violent gangs and that civilians should take precautions.

The attacks mark an escalation of already dangerous levels of violence in Haiti, where over 314,000 people have been forced from their homes and the toll is expected to rise with the latest wave of unrest.

READ MORE: Gang attacks at Haiti airport damage jetliners; airlines cancel flights from South Florida

The National Penitentiary in downtown Port-au-Prince is Haitis most overcrowded prison. It was designed for 1,300 inmates, but had 3,696 prisoners before the prison break. They included 17 Colombians accused in the assassination plot against Moise, as well as the late presidents palace security chief, Dimitri Herard, and security coordinator, Jean Laguel Civil. All were recently indicted by a Haitian investigative judge in the killing. Multiple sources said that the Colombians did not leave the prison.

Gangs using drones

Earlier Saturday, a video circulated online with an image of the prison from a drone reportedly being operated by the leader of the Baz 5 Segon gang, Izo. A voice could be heard monitoring the penitentiary and reporting on the lack of police presence in the prison yard and informing gang members they could progress. In another recording, an unidentified voice could be heard confirming the prison break.

Izo also shared a drone video on TikTok from on top of an office building in the palace yard. Specialized police officers from the National Palaces security unit could be seen lying flat on the roof as a voice mocked them and said keep shooting at them.

A Haiti National Police spokesman did not respond to a Miami Herald request for comment, and the high-level police source did not provide additional details.

In separate social media posts on X, formerly Twitter, two Haitian police unions launched a SOS, asking for police officers to unite to protect the prisons and strategic intersections, such as the road leading to the international airport.

Gang members, who now appear to be more coordinated and united than ever, had been trying for months to breach the countrys main prison. Unsuccessful attempts on both the prison and National Palace were reported on Friday as automatic gunfire rang out across the capital and armed gangs continued to target police officers and government facilities.

Earlier in the week, former policeman-turned-gang member Jimmy Cherizier, aka Barbecue, took credit for the latest wave of violence, saying in a video shared online that the goal is to topple Henry and his government.






Agents from the occupation authorities said that there was an attack on the oil pipeline in the temporarily occupied Feodosia, which led to its destruction, the ATESH guerrilla movement reported on Telegram on March 3.

According to the guerrillas, only in the morning Russians eliminated the consequences of the attack.

The losses are enormous! the movement added.

Read also: Ukrainian missile sets Russian military communication center in Crimea on fire after direct hit

On the night of March 3, explosions were heard in Feodosia. The Crimean Wind Telegram channel reported that the explosions were heard near the oil depot, where firefighters and ambulances went. At the same time, traffic on the so-called Crimean Bridge was blocked.

The occupation authorities have not yet commented on these reports.

At the same time, the Russian Defense Ministry announced the attack of 38 Ukrainian drones in Crimea. The ministry claims that all the drones were shot down.

Read also: Head of HUR announces new strikes on Crimea, advising civilians "not to use the bridge"

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
AUSTIN (KXAN)  The city just opened its newest combined fire/EMS station in Southeast Austin.

The new station, located on E. Slaughter Lane near the Goodnight Ranch neighborhood, will help reduce response times for people living in the area, according to ATCEMS.

Those who attended were able to check out the new station, but they also were able to participate in EMS training, learn how to use a fire hose, try on gear and take a tour of the firetrucks and ambulances.

In 2018, the Austin Fire Department released a study detailing multiple areas the city was failing to respond under eight minutes. These areas had experienced significant development and increased population. Goodnight Ranch was one of the areas identified.

We know the city of Austin continues to grow as well as our outlying suburbs, said Selena Xie, president of Austin EMS Association. So, the city of Austin, with their foresight and also looking into areas that are underserved for public safety, be it EMS or fire, created a plan that would develop five new stations in six years.

Currently Austin-Travis County EMS has four stations running out of apartment complexes, with one in Bee Cave, one in Manor and two in Lakeway.

ATCEMS said it is in the process of renovating and expanding two existing stand-alone EMS stations to add additional capacity.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
HERMAN, Wis. (WFRV)  Authorities in Sheboygan County are looking for the driver of a pursuit Saturday night on WIS 32, where during the incident a passenger shot several rounds at deputies and was later found dead.

According to the Sheboygan County Sheriffs Office, the incident began with a traffic stop around 11:20 p.m. on March 2 on WIS 32 and County Road FF in the Town of Herman. The suspect vehicle fled the scene and was pursued by law enforcement.

Rural searches with help from neighboring Wisconsin counties continue for Elijah Vue, DNR searches Lake Michigan shoreline

After the vehicle stopped a second time in the area of County Road M and County Line Road, the passenger reportedly exited the car and fired several rounds at the deputies. The passenger, a 25-year-old man, then fled on foot and the driver, later identified as, and believed to be, 28-year-old Mario Rezall Dajaun Doyle Jr., fled the scene in the vehicle.

No officers were injured during the alleged shooting.

Members of the Sheboygan County and Manitowoc Drone Teams were sent to the scene to help apprehend the 25-year-old.

As the drone was approaching the area they believed him to have fled to, responding officers reported hearing a distant gunshot. Authorities then found him dead with a gunshot wound.

The Sheboygan County Sheriffs Office requested assistance from the Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office to conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into this incident. No Law Enforcement Officers discharged their firearms during this incident. Sheboygan County Sheriffs Office

Deputies do not think that Doyle is still in Sheboygan County and are asking the public to not approach him if spotted but to call their local law enforcement instead.

Armed subject shot, killed by Janesville officer during standoff, Wisconsin DOJ investigating

The following agencies assisted the Sheboygan County Sheriffs Office during the incident:

Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office

Manitowoc County Sheriffs Office

Manitowoc Police Department

Canine Sheboygan Police Department

Elkhart Lake Police Department

Wisconsin State Patrol

Sheboygan County Highway Department

Sheboygan County Drone Team

Manitowoc County Drone Team

Orange Cross Ambulance

Ada Fire Department

No additional information was provided.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Surgeon generals. Theyre just like us. Dr. Jerome Adams, Purdue Universitys Health Equity Initiatives director who formerly held the title of the nations 20th U.S. surgeon general, proved as much when recounting his unpleasant bill after visiting instant care.

Opening up on Twitter about his medical trip to an out-of-town ER facility, Adams posted a picture of his bill of $4,896.43 simply for the ailment of dehydration. After getting some lab tests and three IV bags, Adams was hit with a multiple-thousand-dollar bill post-insurance. Yes folks. THIS is America. Land of the free, and home of the medical bankruptcy, he said, noting that he opted for a monthly plan to manage tackling the large payment.

In a subsequent interview with Business Insider, Adams describes how mentally taxing it was, trying to figure out the reason for his bill. If Im in this situation with my knowledge and with my financial resources and with my bully pulpit, then the average Joe doesnt stand a chance. The system is just broken, Adams told the outlet. Going on to explain that his stay was deemed a Level 5 visit, the most extreme classification that requires more intensive care, Adams said he contested the bill in part because he thought his visit should receive a lower-level code.

Adams noted that his struggle with the health care system is a sign of a larger problem posed to most Americans. While I can manage this, even as a physician, a $5K surprise bill is unsettling, and such an expense is financially crippling for most Americans, he tweeted, adding that its no surprise that medical debt is the top cause of bankruptcy in the U.S. Indeed, almost half of U.S. adults (41%), or more than 100 million people, have been burdened with medical bills they cant foot, per analysis from a KFF Health News investigation with NPR and CBS News. While pervasive, the debt isnt spread across the nation equally, as Black Americans are 50% as likely as whites to owe money for medical care, according to the investigation.

Story continues

The health care system isnt just pricey, its also confusing. More than half (51%) of adults with insurance say theyve experienced some difficulty understanding at least one aspect of their health insurance, per a 2023 KFF Survey of Consumer Experiences With Health Insurance, based on responses from more than 3,600 participants. It all means that some Americans postpone important visits for fear of medical debt. People are so scared of these bills due to lack of transparency. They actually just dont go in at all until it truly does become an emergency, Adams said.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), a regulatory group which in part polices said debt, is looking to introduce rules that remove medical debt from Americans credit scores. The fact that the CFPB is involved in what seems like a health care issue is because our system is so dysfunctional that when people get sick and they cant afford all their medical bills, even with insurance, it ends up affecting every aspect of their financial lives, Chi Chi Wu, a senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center, recently told KFF Health News.

Even people with insurance, like Adams, find themselves swimming in oversized medical bills. The former surgeon general lambasting the system he was once atop of explains that like those in many middle- to high-income households, he has a high-deductible plan.

The bottom line is high-deductible plans are the least worst option for most people in a broken system. But health care coverage in the U.S. is a gamble, and the house always wins. I didnt drink enough water while traveling, and I crapped out, he tweeted.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
An effort to address concerns surrounding a property on Pine Road has culminated in the successful shutdown of a notorious drug house.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Working in collaboration with the Nassau County Sheriffs Office (NCSO), county officials have been addressing complaints from residents regarding drug activity and deteriorating conditions in the area.

Multiple agencies, including Code Enforcement, Law Enforcement, and various departments within Nassau Countys administration joined forces to devise strategies to tackle the longstanding issue.

Their concerted efforts came to completion the morning of February 29 when the NCSOs narcotics unit, in partnership with the Fernandina Beach Police Department, took decisive action to formally close the drug house on Pine Road.

The closure of the property represents a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts to combat illicit activities and improve the quality of life for residents in Fernandina Beach.

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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.
I was autographing melons in the produce aisle of a Cape supermarket, part of a strategy to grow my brand, when a shopper asked me what I had been up to this winter.

This somehow cued a flashback, where all my cold season accomplishments appeared before me like a movie, the kind that no one ever chooses on Netflix. There I was, napping, drinking beer, trying unsuccessfully to repair the flap on my union suit and eating endless bags of Pepperidge Farm Goldfish crackers. The crumbs were everywhere!

Well, friends, this has to stop. So, I have set a target date, March 19, that nicely coincides with the start of spring. As cod is my witness, I will get back out there, explore new places and revisit some of my favorite spots on the Cape. Why, I've even come up with a list, which I am billing as "Great Spring Hikes on Cape Cod." Here it is!

Rolf E. Sylvan Gardens Conservation Area, Chatham

Every spring I tell myself to get down to Sylvan Gardens in Chatham to see the flowers, and every year I forget to do it. The town of Chatham acquired the approximately 9.5-acre parcel about 20 years ago and with the help of a group called The Friends of Sylvan Gardens, has been working on improvements to the property.

According to The Friends of Sylvan Gardens website, Rolf Sylvan "established Lower Cape Nursery here mid-20th century. He planted extensive ornamental and native gardens and experimented with grafting and hybridizing flowers and shrubs. In spring, customers delighted in strolling through the gardens to view, select and order from thousands of blooming bulbs clustered throughout the gardens." Parking and access to the area are located on Old Main Street off Route 28 in West Chatham.

A giant rock along the Cliff Pond Trail in Nickerson State Park in Brewster.

Cliff Pond Trail, Nickerson State Park, Brewster

As a noted pinchpenny, I love a good deal. That's where the Cliff Pond Trail at Nickerson State Park in Brewster comes in. As you may know, there is an in-season parking fee at splendid Nickerson State Park in Brewster, but it's only in effect from mid-May through the end of October. So, the early part of spring is a sweet freebie!

The trail offers a beautiful 3.2-mile loop hike around a 204-acre kettle pond with almost continuous water views and plenty of spots to take a refreshing early season dip. There are a few hills along the trail (and at least one giant rock), but it's generally pretty flat and easy. Parking is located at the end of Flax Pond Road.

Grassland at the Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area. The area consists of 2,466 acres in Bourne and Falmouth.

Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area, Falmouth and Bourne

Last October, I made my first foray into the Frances A. Crane Wildlife Management Area, on a quest to summit Mt. Zig. It was an epic journey, but it just scratched the surface of hiking possibilities in the amazingly large (2,466-acre) area. I've got to get back there on another expedition this spring.

I really want to see Crane's sandplain grassland. At nearly 400 acres, it is "one of the largest warm season grasslands in coastal New England," according to the state Division of Fisheries and Wildlife, and, along with the adjoining pine/oak woodland, it's home to "more than 20 species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern under the Massachusetts Endangered Species Act." Maps with trail and parking information are available on The 300 Committee's website.

A map of the Province Lands Bike Trail in Provincetown.

Province Lands Bike Trail, Provincetown

I haven't hiked the Province Lands Bike Trail for a long time, mainly because it's a tough walk. But spring is the ideal time to take the trail on, because there are less folks out there, and the cooler temperatures are a big help. It's a 5.45-mile loop through the wild, wonderful Province Lands, with spurs that take you to Herring Cove Beach and Race Point Beach. I suggest parking and picking up the trail at the Province Lands Visitor Center.

Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X: @capecast.

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Hiking Cape Cod: Great spring hikes to swing into the season
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Bakersfield Police Department is asking for the communitys assistance in identifying a robbery suspect.

On Feb. 14, police say a suspect entered the Cottonwood Market around 9:43 p.m. allegedly brandishing a firearm. The suspect proceeded to allegedly steal money from the register and flee the scene.

Bakersfield police search for suspect in Carls Jr. theft

Police describe the suspect as 6 feet, 1 inch in tall, with a thin build. He is between the ages of 19 and 22 with curly hair, brown eyes and a thin moustache. Surveillance cameras showed the suspect wearing a black jacket, blue jeans and white shoes.

Anyone with information regarding this case is encouraged to call Detective S. Glenn at

661-326-3554 or BPD at 661-327-7111.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17.
When sci-fi writer Melinda M Snodgrass sat down to write Star Trek episode The High Ground, she had little idea of the unexpected ripples of controversy it would still be making more than three decades later.

"We became aware of it later... and there isn't much you can do about it," she says, speaking to the BBC from her home in New Mexico. "Writing for television is like laying track for a train that's about 300 feet behind you. You really don't have time to stop."

While the series has legions of followers steeped in its lore, that one particular episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation has lived long and prospered in infamy.

It comes down to a scene in which the android character Data, played by actor Brent Spiner, talks about the "Irish unification of 2024" as an example of violence successfully achieving a political aim.

Originally shown in the US in 1990, there was so much concern over the exchange that the episode was not broadcast on the BBC or Irish public broadcaster RTE.

At the time, US TV shows often debuted internationally several years after their original broadcast.

Satellite broadcaster Sky reportedly aired an edited version in 1992, cutting the crucial scene. But The High Ground was not shown by the BBC until 02:39 GMT, 29 September 2007 - and BBC Archives says it is confident this is its only transmission.

The decision not to air the episode reflects a time when a bloody conflict continued to rage in Northern Ireland, with the Provisional IRA - a paramilitary group with the stated aim of ending British rule in Northern Ireland - one of its main protagonists.

Now it is 2024 - and Sinn Fein, which emerged as the political wing of the IRA, is the largest party in the devolved Stormont assembly.

The party's leader in Northern Ireland, Michelle O'Neill, became first minister last month and has predicted a referendum on Irish unity within a decade.

She strikes a very different tone to Sir Keir Starmer, favourite to be the UK's next prime minister, who has said such a poll is "not even on the horizon".

On social media, people have been sharing screenshots of Data's prediction and drawing links to Sinn Fein's electoral success.

Back when Ms Snodgrass was writing the script, she did not think it would cause any problems. "Science fiction is incredibly important because it allows people to discuss difficult topics - but at arm's length," she says.

In the episode, Data's line does not come out of the blue.

The High Ground is based on the theme of terrorism, after the Starship Enterprise's chief medical officer Dr Beverly Crusher is abducted by the separatist Ansata group, who use murder and violence to pursue their aim of independence.

"I've been reviewing the history of armed rebellion, and it appears that terrorism is an effective way to promote political change," says Data.

"Yes it can be," responds Captain Jean-Luc Picard, played by Patrick Stewart, "but I have never subscribed to the theory that political power flows from the barrel of a gun."

"Yet there are numerous examples of when it was successful," Data says. "The independence of the Mexican state from Spain, the Irish unification of 2024, and the Kenzie rebellion."

Star Trek: The Next Generation featured Sir Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, in what has become one of his most iconic roles

"I'm aware of them," says Picard, to which Data asks: "Would it then be accurate to say that terrorism is acceptable when all options for peaceful settlement have been foreclosed?"

"Data, these are questions that mankind has been struggling with throughout history. Your confusion is only human."

The story has parallels with the situation in Northern Ireland at the time - something Ms Snodgrass says was deliberate.

"I was a history major before I went to law school and I wanted to get into that; discuss the fact that one man's freedom fighter is another man's terrorist," she says.

"I mean, these are complicated issues. And when do people feel like their back is so much against the wall that they have no choice but to turn to violence? And is that actually ever justified?

"I think what I wanted to say was: if we're talking and not shooting, we're in a better place."

Melinda M Snodgrass says science fiction provides a way of examining current issues through a different lens

In 1992, when the episode was due to air in the UK, the IRA ceasefire of 1994 and 1998 Good Friday Agreement were still years away.

In April of that year, the Baltic Exchange bombing carried out by the IRA in the heart of London's financial centre killed three people, and injured more than 90.

Such was the atmosphere from 1988 to 1994, a ban was enforced on broadcasting the voices of members of certain groups from Northern Ireland on television and radio. Restrictions were seen as specifically targeting Sinn Fein.

It resulted in the bizarre situation where prominent politicians including Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams had their voices dubbed by actors (Mr Adams, famously, was voiced at times by Oscar-nominated actor Stephen Rea).

Reflecting on the Star Trek episode, Prof Robert Savage of Boston College says: "It was amazing it was censored."

His latest book - Northern Ireland, the BBC, and Censorship in Thatcher's Britain - covers the period when the episode was pulled.

"The argument I think the robot [Data] asks you is basically just: does terrorism work? If there are no alternatives, if you've tried every other avenue to try to affect change, is it acceptable? To use terrorism?

"And it's a very human question. But [Jean-Luc Picard] doesn't answer the question! That would have unsettled somebody like Thatcher," Prof Savage adds.

There is some murkiness about how a decision was reached not to broadcast the programme at the time.

BBC Archives confirmed the 2007 broadcast of the episode and was "satisfied" any other screening would have been listed.

The BBC's press office said it had spoken to "a number of people" about why a ban may have been implemented, but was unable to get this information "as it dates quite far back".

A spokesman for Sky said he had looked into it, but could not confirm it had broadcast an edited version of the episode in 1992 - or what its reasoning might have been for doing so.

RTE noted that TV guides from the time show it had broadcast Star Trek: The Next Generation, but did not have further information in its acquisitions system, and could not find anyone from the time to speak to.

"I think this would probably have stirred a memory if I had been made aware of this at the time, but I am afraid it rings no bells at all," said Lord John Birt, who was director general of the BBC from 1992 to 2000, and before this served as deputy director general.

If the episode had been removed, it would probably have been a decision made at operational level in Network Television, he said.

More than three decades on, the picture in Northern Ireland has changed.

Ms Snodgrass says she was "thrilled" when the Good Friday Agreement was signed, adding it had allowed Northern Ireland to prosper.

She notes Games of Thrones, a television series based on books by George RR Martin (who she knows well and has co-authored work with) was filmed in the region in recent years - something which has given a big boost to the economy.

"[At the time] 2024 seemed a long way away. I probably should have made it, you know, 2224! I just pulled that number and it didn't occur to me that suddenly we would be here."
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Barnett Harley-Davidson is being honored by Americas Blood Centers for 20 years of hosting blood drives.

The business will receive the Outstanding Blood Drive of the Year Award on Tuesday, March 5 in Washington, D.C.

The family-owned Barnett Harley-Davidson has collected more than 32,000 units of blood over more than 20 years of hosting blood drives, according to a news release sent to announce the award.

The Barnett Harley-Davidson Blood Drive is truly a unique effort; one of the most successful in the country. Vitalant is thrilled that Americas Blood Centers selected them for this much deserved award, said David Veloz, Sr. director of Donor Recruitment for Vitalant.

Americas Blood Centers, a national blood banking organization representing more than 80 blood banks throughout the country, chose the blood drive not just because of the incredible number of units collected, but because of the Barnetts ongoing commitment to blood collection in the community, according to the news release.

Our Dad always taught us that it was important to give back and do things for the right reasons. This is why weve been so committed to this effort all these years, said Kim Barnett. Kim Barnett will be representing the Barnett family at an awards dinner and reception on Capitol Hill.

The Barnett family started hosting blood drives at their El Paso and Las Cruces Harley-Davidson dealerships more than 20 years ago. Mark Barnett, owner of the El Paso dealership, was diagnosed with cancer in 2003 and received several blood transfusions as part of his treatment. It was at this point that the Barnetts understood the critical demand for blood transfusions and made the commitment to help patients, according to the news release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Vincent Decamps opened Maison Le Votre, on Silver Street, Bedford in December and chose the location due to the buildings renovation

A 1.76m project to restore historical features on buildings in a market town has attracted new business.

Bedford Borough Council said six buildings have now been repaired along the High Street where new paving was unveiled in 2021.

The High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) Programme began four years ago.

Vincent Decamps, from Maison Le Votre, said he chose Bedford over St Albans as the place to open his patisserie and bakery because of the restorative work.

The outside of the Salvation Army charity shop on the High Street now has a heritage sign showing it was once a Drapers

He said the renovations to the High Street and Silver Street, where he is based, brought "uniformity" and marked a "new start for Bedford".

When looking for a location "the first goal was to go to St Albans", he said, and when he first looked around Bedford it was "a no, no".

"The only thing that attracted me to this position was the renovation of the building itself; if it was not restored I would have gone to St Albans, period, simple as that," he said.

The now empty Goldings shop, which closed in 2019, has been restored to showcase its past

He said he "took a massive risk" and the area was now welcoming customers "who haven't been in Bedford for two, three, four, five and six years".

The restoration programme, which started in January 2020, was a joint project between the council and Historic England, in partnership with Bedford BID and SEMLEP, and had been "instrumental in preserving and enhancing the historic fabric of Bedford's town centre", the council said.

Two new businesses had moved into "units that have been long term vacant", the authority added.

Bedford High Street looked very different in the 1920s

A new display celebrating its completion and featuring photographs, artwork, and information about the evolution of the town's High Street has opened at The Higgins Bedford - and runs until 1 April.

Bedford's Evolving High Street exhibition "offers a fascinating journey through the decades, showcasing the transformation and vitality of our beloved High Street", the council said.

The outside of the Blue Monk restaurant was restored

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830
John Nettles played DS Jim Bergerac in the original series, which was broadcast from 1981 to 1991 - Shutterstock

Bergerac is poised to return to British screens, with Aidan Turner tipped to star.

The crime drama revolving around the fictional detective Jim Bergerac had largely been confined to the history books since its decade-long run of shows finished in 1991.

Now Jersey, which provided the idyllic backdrop to the hit Eighties show, is trying to revive it.

Parliamentarians on the Channel Island are debating whether to approve 1.8 million in public funding for a new series.

Many failed attempts

Deputy Lyndon Farnham, the islands chief minister, confirmed the proposal during a States Assembly session, which is due to be discussed this week. It is hoped that filming will take place this summer if approved.

It is the closest that Bergerac has come to an official reboot in years following many failed attempts.

John Nettles, 80, who played the original Jim Bergerac and went on to star in Midsomer Murders, is tipped to be returning for a possible cameo but he is not expected to star, the Sunday Express reported.

Aidan Turner is among the actors tipped to play the lead in the new version of the drama - Dave Benett/BAFTA

It has been rumoured that the Poldark actor Turner, Doctor Who star David Tennant or Happy Valleys James Norton could be poised for the title role.

One source close to the talks, who asked not to be named, told the Daily Mail: Those involved are in the final stages of contracts. But its almost a done deal.

Bergerac was a major success when it aired on the BBC between 1981 and 1991, regularly attracting 15 million viewers. It remains to be seen whether any reboot would be as popular or prove a flop.

The first of the nine series saw divorced father DS Jim Bergerac return to work after recovering from alcoholism and breaking his leg, before the shows charted subplots about his love life.

The final episode was the 1991 Christmas special, titled All for Love, in which the detective was tipped for a promotion in a larger Bureau des Etrangers overseeing the whole of the Channel Islands.

Great boost for the island

Deputy Kristina Moore, Jerseys former chief minister, said the new series would be a great boost for the island after the initial shows brought a major tourism surge.

The company are ready to go, there are scripts written, they could start filming in the spring for broadcast in November and December of this year, she said.

Westward Studios and Banijay  and the latters company BlackLight  have bought back the script from the owners of Paramount and renewed rights to develop the series along with a partnership of other companies.

It is thought that another broadcaster, not the BBC, is lined up to bring the series back to screens.

A spokesman for the Government of Jersey said: The Council of Ministers will be considering a request for funding for a series of Bergerac when they meet next week.

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.
From the Dispatch Weekly on The Dispatch

Hello and happy Sunday. Two news storiesone last week and one this coming weektell us pretty much everything we need to know about the Republican Party in 2024.

Last Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader McConnell announced that he would be stepping down from his leadership role in November. The move was unsurprisinghes had a series of health issues over the past yearbut the timing caught his Senate colleagues off guard.

And this coming Tuesday, voters in 15 states and American Samoa will go to the polls. For the Republicans, 854 delegates are at stake, and Trump is expected to win almost all of them, putting him close to the 1,215 he needs to become the presumptive nominee.

But that is not stopping Haley from campaigning earnestly. From Dispatch Politics:

This may be the last stand for the last remaining Republican challenger to Donald Trump, who is likely to become the presumptive nominee soon after Super Tuesday, when most of the remaining states will award all their delegates to the winner of their states primary or caucus. The multi-state blitz could be Haleys final opportunity to make a case against nominating Trump in front of actual Republican primary voters.

As I discuss a little bit below in my summary of Nicks newsletter, Haleys burn-it-all-down approach to her campaign has been refreshing, even providing a kind of catharsis for those who oppose Donald Trump and despise his takeover of the party. (To hear her discuss all this herself, check out the special episode of The Dispatch Podcast where she sat down with our own David Drucker.)

We know how Tuesday is going to go. Nikki Haley is almost assuredly not going to win any of those primaries. She may pick up some delegates in states where its not winner take all, and she may continue her campaign past Tuesday. But Donald Trump will become the nominee.

Which is why it makes sense that McConnell is stepping down. He will be remembered for many accomplishments during his decades in the Senate and his 17 years as the Republican leader, and he is in many ways responsible for the conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Hes always been a staunch defender of the Senate as an institution, but navigating his roles as Senate majority and minority leader since Donald Trump became the head of the party has been exceedingly difficult. He gave a forceful speech declaring Trump practically and morally responsible for the events of January 6, 2021, but then voted to acquit the former president during his second impeachment trial. In recent months McConnell has faced growing pushback from his colleagues on Ukraine aid and its obvious that Trumps sway over some Senate Republicans has diminished McConnells influence.

As we noted in The Morning Dispatch:

McConnells speech stepping away from leadership revealed him as a man increasingly out of step with the party he spent his career serving. He mentioned Reagan no fewer than five times in his eight-minute-long remarks.  Tellingly, though, he didnt mention or even allude to Trump a single time, an indication of just how profoundly the former president has transformed the party of McConnells youth into the party it is today.

It wouldnt be accurate to say that the GOP really is Donald Trumps party now because that has been true for years. Whats happening now is the last remaining guardrails attempting to keep him in check are vanishing.

Thanks for reading. And a note: I am likely taking off newsletter duties next weekend as our son will be home from college for spring break.

Not a member? Join now!

If youre feeling a little glum about the state of the presidential race, take a spin through Nicks Boiling Frogs from Monday, which we unlocked for all to read. No, he doesnt see a way for anyone besides Donald Trump to be the Republican nominee in 2024. But he does note that Nikki Haley has begun to conceptualize her bloc as a discrete dissident faction of the right. The former South Carolina governor might not be able to win, but shes still raking in donations, and her campaign events have a certain joie de vivre. No one is under the illusion that she might prevail; her candidacy has become a protest vehicle in a party that typically brooks no protest against Trumps leadership, Nick wrote. Every vote for Haley at this point is a show of righteous rebellion against him and an affront to his stultifying cult of personality. Why wouldnt her supporters feel exuberant about participating in a cause like that? For a somewhat related piece, David M. Drucker spoke with some of those disaffected Republican voters in South Carolina whom Haley is attracting. Many dont sound willing to vote for Trump this time aroundeven if they did beforeand most dont feel welcome in todays GOP. I dont like being told that if I dont believe a certain way, that Im not a Republican, Mike Brantley, a 56-year-old Army veteran, told Drucker.

In Wanderland, Kevin lamented the state of affairs regarding U.S. support for Ukraine. But before he got to his main point, he argued that Republicans have become the party of self-harm. From vaccine reluctance and New Age quackery during the pandemic to squandering an opportunity to make progress on immigration because Sen. James Lankford deigned to work with Democrats on a package to enhance border security and provide more Ukraine assistance, Kevin wrote, Republicans in recent years have consistently shot themselves in the foot. History handed the United States an absolute lay-up in February 2022, when Vladimir Putins puffed-up and incompetent forces marched into what turned out to be a Ukrainian meat grinder, Kevin noted. Russian forces can, of course, do a great deal of damage, and have  but they already have failed in their main objective, which was to demonstrate how effortlessly Putins forces could swoop across a neighboring country and impose Moscows will on it. And yet, Ukraines fate remains in jeopardy: House Republicans are sitting on Ukraine aid because they are in thrall to a middling game-show host.

It can be hard to keep track of all the different legal entanglements in which Donald Trump finds himself, but Mike and Sarah do their best to organize it all in the latest edition of The Collision. They check in on the status of the election interference case, which saw a major development this week when the Supreme Court decided to hear arguments late next month on whether former presidents enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office. Then theres the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case, the 14th Amendment disqualification case, the New York hush money payment case brought by Alvin Bragg, and the Georgia racketeering casewhere most of the news involves District Attorney Fani Willis and not any of the actual defendants. Sarah and Mike review the latest and tell you what to expect. And dont worry: They promise that next week theyll cover President Joe Bidens own legal woes.

Not a member? Join now!

Heres the best of the rest:

As the war in Ukraine enters its third year, Leon Aron handicapped what the next 12 months could bring. Substitute the Cold War for World War I, Ukraine for Czechoslovakia, ethnic Russians in southeast Ukraine for Sudetenland Germans, and the U.S. and its allies for the Anglo-Saxons, he wrote, and Vladimir Putins war eerily resembles Hitlers prelude to World War II.

Iranian-made drones were used in an attack that killed three American soldiers in Jordan, and they are also showing up on battlefields in Ukraine. How will the U.S. respond to this emerging threat? Charlotte reported a piece looking at that question.

In Capitolism (), Scott Lincicome highlighted research showing that the level of remote work has remained steady since 2022. He says working from home is here to stay and that its generally for the better.

Charles Murray reviewed Rob Hendersons new memoir, Troubled: A Memoir of Foster Care, Family, and Social Class. Henderson is half-Korean and half-Hispanic, but his childhood experience in the foster care system and being adopted by a blue-collar family offer many lessons on the problems bedeviling the white working class.

Brian Riedl has been banging the drum on the need for Social Security reform for ages, but it can seem like no one is paying attention. So he offered up a list of 10 myths that are holding us back from taking such reform seriously, debunking each and every one.

And the pods: Last weekend, Steve, Jonah, Sarah, and Mike did a roundtable discussion about the future of the GOP at the Principles First conference. We published the conversation as a Dispatch Podcastcheck it out. On The Remnant, Jamie Kirchick joins Jonah to discuss his new book, Secret City: The Hidden History of Gay Washington and also how gay culture has changed since the 1980s. And on Advisory Opinions, Sarah interviews former Assistant Attorneys General Stephen Boyd and Jody Hunt, as well as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama Prim Escalona.

Read more at The Dispatch

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An exhibition featuring exhibits from Georgian times is set to open in Beverley, East Yorkshire.

"Through the Eyes of a Georgian Gentleman" takes inspiration from the work of prominent English diarist John Courtney, who lived in the town from 1734 to 1806.

It also features artefacts and information about what life was like in Beverley at the time.

The free exhibition opens at the town's guildhall on 6 March.

Curator Fiona Jenkinson said: "The Georgian period was a time of great agricultural and industrial change, dominated by class, culture and consumerism.

"Fashion, society, and leisure were key to people like John Courtney, who travelled extensively around England and took part in much of the social life of Beverley, York and London," she said.

"He also spent much time searching for a suitable wife, and his diary is full of accounts of unrequited love, giving us an insight into romance and courting during that time," she added.

Reproductions from William Hogarth's moralistic art series will also be on display.

Councillor Nick Coultish, East Riding of Yorkshire Council's Cabinet member for culture, leisure and tourism, added: "This will be a fascinating exhibition, and promises to be a revelation about the Georgian period in Beverley.

The exhibition runs until 28 June.

Follow BBC East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastyorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk
Biden admin accused of using taxpayer funds to help his own campaign with student voter registration scheme

An effort championed by the Biden administration to have the federal government pay college students to register voters ahead of the 2024 election could have serious legal ramifications if it's being done to aid President Biden's "own re-election efforts," according to some legal experts.

Vice President Kamala Harris announced an election initiative to boost voter turnout during a meeting with voting rights activists at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building this week.

"We have been doing work to promote voter participation for students, and, for example, we have, under the federal work study program, now allowed students to get paid through federal work study to register people and to be nonpartisan poll workers," Harris said Tuesday. "As we know, this is important for a number of reasons."

One reason for the effort, Harris said, is to "engage our young leaders" in the process and "activate them in terms of their ability to strengthen our community."

KAMALA HARRIS PRAISES 'NONPARTISAN POLL WORKER,' WHICH IMMEDIATELY BACKFIRES WHEN PEOPLE LEARN WHO HE IS

Vice President Kamala Harris

Jason Snead, executive director of Honest Elections Project, told Fox News Digital the effort is being carried out by the Biden administration to "aid its own re-election efforts."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"The Biden administration is weaponizing the federal government to aid its own re-election efforts. Using tax dollars to pay overwhelmingly liberal college students to register and turn out voters is only the latest scandal," Snead said.

"With Executive Order 14019, President Biden turned the entire federal government into a get-out-the-vote operation, and agencies are collaborating with left-wing nonprofit groups to get the job done.

"Using the levers of the federal government to aid an incumbent is an abuse of power and a threat to the democracy President Biden claims to cherish."

WASHINGTON POST EDITORIAL BOARD SAYS BIDEN SHOULD IGNORE LIBERAL 'WISH LISTS,' SECURE BORDER TO BEAT TRUMP

Hans A. von Spakovsky is a senior legal fellow at the Heritage Foundations Meese Center for Legal and Judicial Studies who serves as manager of the think tanks Election Law Reform Initiative. He told Fox News Digital the taxpayer-funded effort is an "outrageous abuse of power" by the Biden administration.

"This is the unauthorized use of taxpayer funds to get out the vote for the Biden campaign and Democratic candidates," he said. "It is a violation of the Hatch Act as well as the Anti-Deficiency Act. It is an outrageous abuse of power."

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris stand onstage and wave to the crowd during a rally at George Mason University Jan. 23, 2024, in Manassas, Va.

In a memo published Monday, the Department of Education clarified that federal work study funds could be used to support voter registration activities.

"The Department is today clarifying that FWS funds may be used for employment by a Federal, State, local, or Tribal public agency for civic engagement work that is not associated with a particular interest or group," the memo stated.

Harris' comments announcing the effort sparked backlash from some conservatives and Republican lawmakers on social media, including Tennessee Republican Sen. Bill Hagerty, who accused President Biden of supporting the move to "mobilize (his) voters" ahead of the 2024 presidential election.

"Biden signed EO14019 ordering federal govt to use taxpayer $ to mobilize (his) voters. [Stephen Miller] has FOIAed details, and Ive sought them in Congress, but Biden is hiding them. Sounds like the election-year plan is underway," Hagerty wrote in a Tuesday evening post to X.

In a statement to Fox, a spokesperson for Hagerty insisted the senator is "very concerned" the Biden administration is using government resources to "boost" its own re-election chances.

"Sen. Hagerty is very concerned that the Biden Administration is using government resources to target Democrat voter groups and boost its re-election chances," the spokesperson said. "The administration continues to hide these taxpayer-funded voter mobilization plans despite his multiple requests for basic transparency.

"And now Vice President Harris says they are paying nonpartisan poll workers  with her example being a left-wing partisan activist. If theres nothing to hide, then the Biden administration should release the plans."

Harris said the effort by the federal government to pay students to register voters is to "engage our young leaders" and "activate them in terms of their ability to strengthen our community."

In social media post Tuesday morning, Harris applauded poll workers for their efforts ahead of the 2024 presidential election. However, her complimentary remarks quickly backfired.

"Our democracy could not function without nonpartisan poll workers like Vasu and Rob whom I met in Georgia. President Biden and I thank you and we support you," she wrote in a post on X, sharing a photo of her appearing to listen to Vasu Abhiraman.

Xs Community Notes immediately tagged the tweet with additional context that readers "might want to know," that the supposed nonpartisan poll worker Abhiraman was actually a liberal advocate who promotes the progressive movement.

"The nonpartisan poll worker on the left is Vasu Abhiraman, a staffer at the left-wing Alliance for Justice and formerly of ACLU Georgia," said on Harris tweet.

Fox News Digital contacted the Biden administration seeking a response to the abuse of power allegations.

Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.





Original article source: Biden admin accused of using taxpayer funds to help his own campaign with student voter registration scheme
gorodenkoff / Getty Images

What work looks like, including the hours people are willing to work, is changing. TikToker Brielle recently posted about how hard it is as a recent college grad working a traditional 9-to-5 job. The cost of living is extremely high and living in a city or closer to work is almost impossible for many Gen Z workers.

Check out: 7 Creative Sources of Passive Income to Consider in 2024

Discover more: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

While some might dislike her videos message, she explained to Business Insider that the younger generation wants to start an open discussion about reforming how and when we work. One solution to that is a four-day, 32-hour work week.

This would allow for an extra day off each week, freeing up time for workers personal and social lives. It could also open the ability to further their education or personal development. This change would most impact workers required to work traditional in-person hours and with little or no ability to work remotely.

Sponsored: Protect Your Wealth With A Gold IRA. Take advantage of the timeless appeal of gold in a Gold IRA recommended by Sean Hannity.

Is It Possible To End The 40 Hour Work Week?

Ending the 40-hour work week will likely come with some sacrifices. You may find that the hours at your bank might change, your Amazon deliveries might take longer and your gym might close more often. However, despite these risks, the movement is gaining steam.

One case study for this movement is 4 Day Week Global, a reform initiative supporting companies and non-profit organizations that wanted to try a four-day, 32-hour work week with no reduction in pay. In 2022, the organizations efforts led to the worlds first coordinated trials in the U.S. and Ireland. The results found it to be successful.

Companies who participated saw increased performance and productivity among employees. and almost all participating organizations are committed to continuing the new structure.

Story continues

While this may seem anecdotal, it is a good starting point that demonstrates that, despite reservations, reduced work hours can be successful.

With change-making organizations like this one, along with a push from Gen Z (even older workers whod like more of a work-life balance), aiming to reform traditional work culture, the four-day workweek could be the way of the future.

More From GOBankingRates

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: What Itll Take To End the 40-Hour Workweek
Sen. Chris Murphy is urging President Joe Biden and his fellow Democrats to "go on the offense" on immigration after a bipartisan border deal he helped negotiate was tanked by Republicans, led by former President Donald Trump, who called it insufficient.

"The vast majority of the country believes that we should have robust legal immigration but they want tighter control of the border. And right now, there's only one party that can deliver that -- only the Democrats support pathways to citizenship, support expanding legal pathways into the country and a tough border law," Murphy, a Connecticut lawmaker, told ABC News "This Week" co-anchor Jonathan Karl.

Murphy also lauded Biden for visiting the border last week, where Biden publicly urged Trump to drop his opposition to the border agreement, as polls show immigration remains top of mind for some Americans at the same time that Biden's handling of it is widely disapproved of.

"Republicans use the issue of immigration to try to divide us from each other," Murphy argued, "and now, on the record, [they're] opposing the toughest border reform bill, the toughest border security bill, in decades."

MORE: Immigration is at the center of the 2024 election for many. Why?

The Senate proposal would have tied billions of dollars in new foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan to funds for enhancing security at the southern border -- as well as an overhaul of immigration laws, including conservative priorities around restricting who can cross into the U.S. in certain situations.

But Republicans quickly shot down the bill, claiming its changes didn't go far enough and wouldn't adequately improve the situation.

Since then, Biden has been looking at the possibility of taking executive action to tighten asylum restrictions, ABC News previously reported.

Murphy told Karl on "This Week" that "I can't tell you whether President Biden is going to move forward on executive action. What I can tell you is that the bipartisan bill had $20 billion of new resources. He can't conjure $20 billion with an executive order that that bill gave him to shut down the border in between the ports of entry. I don't think he can do that by executive action."

He also downplayed the potential for Biden himself to be able to change the rules around asylum: "The president can't modify those statutes with executive orders. And Republicans know this."

PHOTO: Sen. Chris Murphy (D-CT) speaks at a news conference after a weekly policy luncheon with Senate Democrats at the U.S. Capitol Building on Feb. 06, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

"The reality is President Biden needs that legislation because it is just not true that he has the existing authority to issue executive actions that get the border under control," Murphy said, reiterating the Democratic view that Republicans should be to blame for the border.

"Donald Trump and the Republicans decided that they want the border to be chaotic. It helps them politically, and polls show that if Democrats just tell that story, if the president tells that story, Republicans' political advantage on the border is erased," Murphy said.

However, ABC News/Ipsos polling show voters trust former President Trump more than Biden on the issue of immigration.

Karl pressed Murphy about Biden's poor poll numbers on immigration and he deflected by pointing to issues at the border under the Trump administration.

Karl also pressed Murphy on Biden's handling of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and whether he believes Democrats should be "concerned" at anger with the president for not pushing for a permanent cease-fire or curbing military aid to Israel.

More than 100,000 people voted "uncommitted" in Michigan's Democratic primary last week in protest of Biden's stance, underscoring frustration with the way he has approached Israel's prosecution of its operations against Hamas in the wake of Hamas' terror attack.

"I don't think we should be concerned about this as a political matter, because this is such a critical issue relative to America's national security and the security of the Middle East," Murphy said. "I would hope that the president doesn't make decisions about what to do in Gaza or the Middle East based upon how the votes line up."

"Listen, I think it is time for the president to use all the levers that he has to get a long-term cease-fire. I think if that cease-fire doesn't come in, it's in Israel's interest for them to pause military activity to solve the humanitarian crisis," Murphy continued.

The stakes for the Palestinians were too high, he said: "I think this is a critical moment where social order is unraveling inside Gaza."

Biden has to 'go on the offense' on immigration and not let Republicans 'divide us,' Sen. Murphy says originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Joe Biden, the US President, told negotiators holding talks on a Gaza ceasefire to get me a deal, according to US officials.

The President made the remarks to the emir of Qatar and the president of Egypt, who are helping negotiate the terms of a temporary ceasefire, on Thursday, Axios reported.

Mr Biden is under major pressure from voters over the US alliance with Israel, and the president was punished at the ballot box by protesting young Democrats in the primaries last week.

Negotiators are working towards an agreement prior to the beginning of the holy Muslim month of Ramadan on March 10.

A potential deal could include a six-week pause in fighting, the release of approximately 400 Palestinian prisoners in return for the freeing of 40 Israeli hostages, as well as preparation for a gradual return of Palestinian citizens to the northern part of the Gaza Strip.

Meanwhile, vice president Kamala Harris called for an immediate ceasefire as she prepared to meet Israeli cabinet minister Benny Gantz.

Speaking in Selma Alabama she called for a minimum six week pause in the fighting.

This would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is secure and to respect the right of the Palestinian people to dignity, freedom and self-determination, she said.

04:58 PM GMT

Thank you for following todays blog

Thats all for today. Follow our live blog again tomorrow for all the latest developments in the war in Gaza.

04:57 PM GMT

Todays headlines

Representatives from Hamas, Qatar and the US arrived in Cairo today to resume a new round of negotiations for a temporary ceasefire.

Israel did not attend the negotiations, after Hamas refused to supply a list of the remaining surviving hostages. Hamas said that a truce would be possible within 24 to 48 hours, if Israel accepted its terms.

A Hamas official also said that there would be no deal without a permanent ceasefire.

The Israel Defence Forces have claimed that the majority of Palestinians killed or injured in the incident near aid trucks in Northern Gaza died as a result of a stampede

The number of civilians killed in Gaza has risen to 30,410, according to Gazas Hamas-run health ministry.

A top Israeli Cabinet ministers trip to Washington for talks with US officials has angered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli source.

Houthi rebels have vowed to continue targeting British ships in the Gulf of Aden following the sinking of the UK-owned vessel, the Rubymar.

04:23 PM GMT

No deal without permanent ceasefire, says Hamas official

Unless Israel includes a permanent ceasefire in its terms, there will be no ceasefire deal, an official from the terrorist group has told CNN.

The official said that three terms of the proposed deal made it highly unlikely any deal would be agreed in the next 48 hours.

The conditions that Hamas are still demanding include a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the entire Gaza Strip and the return of displaced people to the north of the strip.

Israel did not send a delegation for the talks in Cairo after Hamas rejected its demand to provide a list of all remaining surviving hostages.

04:04 PM GMT

Analysis: How a potential ceasefire is dividing Israeli society

The terms of a potential ceasefire deal are sparking a critical divide in Israeli society, Melanie Swan writes from Tel Aviv.

While there is a broad agreement on the need to bring back hostages, an exchange deal to release hundreds more Palestinian prisoners, many of whom are in prison on terror charges, is being met with fierce resistance.

Israel security officials have told me the swap deal is raising alarming memories of the 2011 Gilad Shalit deal in which over 1,000 Palestinians were released in return for one Israeli soldier. To see it repeated would signal disaster for those who remember one official said.

The government is walking a fine line in the face of accusations of abandoning the hostages held in Gaza, while being under fire for the hundreds of soldiers lost on the ground in a rising death toll in the hundreds.

The war has taken far longer and caused a far higher death toll in Gaza due to the complexities of fighting a war where Israels hostages are on the front lines. In spite of the divisions in society, one thing unites Israelis; that the war must go on, ceasefire or otherwise, for the eradication of Hamas.

03:49 PM GMT

Watch: IDF strikes into Khan Younis amid speculation on Gaza ceasefire deal

The Israel Defence Forces have released a video showing strikes on Hamas targets in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis, after it announced it had intensified operations in the region.

The claimed strikes come as ceasefire negotiations continue today.

03:36 PM GMT

Gaza ceasefire deal: What each step could look like

Further ceasefire talks are underway in Egypt following the arrival of a Hamas delegation in Cairo.

Both Israel and Hamas will have to make significant compromises under the drafted deal.

The general aim is to have a ceasefire deal in place in time to stop fighting for the holy Muslim month of Ramadan, which begins on March 10th.

What could the proposed deal look like?

In the first phase of the deal, there could be a six-week ceasefire, the first extended truce of the war.

Fighting would cease in time to stop the planned Israeli assault on Rafah, where more than half of Gazas 2.3 million people are sheltering.

Dozens of hostages held by the militants would be freed in return for 400 of Palestinian prisoners - although initially, Hamas would free only women, children, the elderly and the sick.

In the second phase of the deal, aid to Gaza would be significantly increased, including the provision of tents, caravans and the rehabilitation of hospitals and bakeries.

Read more on what a ceasefire agreement could look like here.

A Palestinian boy weeps, following an Israeli airstrike killing one person. - Abed Rahim Khatib//DPA/Cover Images

03:18 PM GMT

Israeli security minister barred after leaking sensitive information

Itamar Ben-Gvir, Israels hardline security minister, has been barred from intelligence briefings after leaking a number of sensitive documents.

Israels Shin Bet domestic intelligence chiefs also refused to meet with the security minister any more last month, following clashes in weekly security meetings.

A senior Israeli intelligence source told The Telegraph: The biggest threat to Israel from within is Ben-Gvir. He acts within his own rules and tries to disregard everyone around him, in spite of his not having any background in national security and defence issues himself. He is a liability.

Read more from Melanie Swan here.

Israel's Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir - ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

02:47 PM GMT

Pictured: UK-owned vessel Rubymar sunk in the Red Sea

The first aerial pictures of the UK-owned vessel, the Rubymar, which was sunk by a Houthi missile, has been released by the US Central Command.

In a statement on X, the Central Command said the Rubymar was carrying 21,000 tonnes of ammonium phosphate sulphate fertiliser, posing an environmental risk to the Red Sea.

Greenpeace MENA also reported on the imminent danger the shipwreck poses to marine ecosystems and coastal communities.

The carrier sank yesterday after being struck by an Iranian-backed Houthi anti-ship ballistic missile on February 18th.

The UK-owned vessel Rubymar has sunk in the Red Sea after being struck by a Houthi Missile

02:16 PM GMT

Houthis vow to continue sinking British ships

Houthi rebels have vowed to continue targeting British ships in the Gulf of Aden following the sinking of the UK-owned vessel, Rubymar.

The US military confirmed on Saturday that the UK-owned vessel, Rubymar, had sunk after being struck by a missile fired by the Yemeni militant group on February 18.

Houthi rebels, who control much of Yemen, have been attacking commercial shipping in support of Hamas and in protest at the war in Gaza.

Yemen will continue to sink more British ships, and any other repercussions or damages will be added to Britains bill, Hussein al-Ezzi, deputy foreign minister in the Houthi-led government said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Britain is a rogue state that attacks Yemen and partners with America in sponsoring ongoing crimes against civilians in Gaza, he added.

01:33 PM GMT

Pope Francis calls for end of Gaza conflict

Pope Francis has appealed for the end to the conflict in Gaza, as he recovers after suffering from bronchitis.

Francis stressed the consequences of the conflict on children and asked for the release of all the hostages taken by Hamas on October 7th.

Do you really think you can build a better world in this way? Do you really think you will achieve peace? Enough please! Let us all say enough please! Stop! Francis said.

01:04 PM GMT

Twins born during war buried in Rafah

Infant twins Wesam and Naeem Abu Anza, born a few weeks into the war, have been buried in Rafah.

They were the youngest of 14 family members who were killed in an Israeli strike on a house overnight, according to the Hamas-run Gaza health ministry.

A mourner reacts during the funeral of the Palestinian twins Wesam and Naeem Abu Anza, who were born during the conflict between Israel and Hamas and were killed in Israeli air strikes - Mohammed Salem/REUTERS

Palestinians search for missing people under the rubble after an Israeli air strike on a house belonging to the Abu Anza family - Abed Rahim Khatib/Avalon

A Palestinian woman reacts in front of the Abu Anza family home destroyed in an overnight Israeli air strike in Rafah - SAID KHATIB / AFP/Getty Images

12:15 PM GMT

Israels wartime Cabinet rattled by dispute between Netanyahu and top political rival

A top Israeli Cabinet ministers trip to Washington for talks with US officials has angered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli official, in a sign of widening rifts in Israels wartime government.

According to an anonymous Israeli official from Netanyahus Likud party, Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahus government in the early days of the war, made the trip without permission from the Israeli leader.

The official said Netanyahu subsequently had a tough talk with Gantz about the visit and told him the country has just one prime minister.

However, another official remarked that Gantz informed Netanyahu of his visit, with the aim of strengthening ties with Washington, bolstering support for Israels ground campaign and pushing for the release of Israeli hostages.

US priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahus hard-line Cabinet, dominated by ultranationalists. Gantzs more moderate party has at times acted as a counterweight to Netanyahus far-right allies.

11:48 AM GMT

Palestinian Authority president Abbas to visit Turkey next week

Mahmoud Abbas, the president of the Palestinian Authority, will visit Turkey next week for talks about the Gaza war and reconciliation efforts between Palestinian factions, the Turkish foreign minister said on Sunday.

The visit comes as intensive diplomacy is underway to pause the fighting in the almost five-month-old war between Israel and Hamas.

Hakan Fidan, Turkeys Foreign Minister, said There is a serious desire and effort to reach a ceasefire before Ramadan

11:31 AM GMT

Hamas says Gaza truce possible within 24 to 48 hours if Israel accepts terms

A senior Hamas official has said that a ceasefire in Gaza could be secured within 24 to 48 hours if Israel accepts the groups demands in ongoing talks.



The anonymous official said that these terms would include the return of displaced Palestinians to northern Gaza and an increase in humanitarian aid.



Negotiations are set to resume in Cairo today, with the arrival of the Hamas delegation. However, another source briefed on the talks said that Israel would not send a representative until it got a full list of the hostages who are still alive.

A ceasefire could start today if Hamas agrees to release the defined category of vulnerable hostages... the sick, the wounded, elderly and women, a US official said on Saturday.



Right now, the ball is in the camp of Hamas.

10:58 AM GMT

At least 15 children dead from malnutrition and dehydration at Gaza hospital, according to Gaza health ministry

At least 15 children have died over the past few days from malnutrition and dehydration at Gazas Kamal Adwan hospital, the Hamas-run health ministry said in a statement.

10:45 AM GMT

Pictured: Pro-Palestinian protests in New York

Protestors gather at Washington Square Park in New York to demonstrate against Israeli attacks on Gaza - Fatih Aktas/Anadolu/Getty Images

Police officers detain some pro-Palestinian protestors in Washington Square Park, New York - Fatih Aktas/Anadolu/Getty Images

10:31 AM GMT

Delegations from Qatar and US arrive in Cairo in addition to Hamas officials

Delegations from Qatar and the United States have arrived in Egypt in addition to officials from the Hamas terror group to resume a new round of negotiations for a ceasefire in Gaza, Egypts state-linked Al-Qahera News reports.

It remains uncertain if Israel will send a delegation without receiving a list of the remaining living hostages from Hamas.



10:18 AM GMT

Pictured: IDF troops operational activities in the Gaza Strip

IDF troops' operational activities in the Gaza Strip - IDF/IDF

10:07 AM GMT

Gaza civilian death toll rises to 30,410

The number of civilians killed in Gaza has risen to 30,410 after 90 people were killed in the past 24 hours, Gazas Hamas-run health ministry has said.

It added 71,700 people have also been wounded in Gaza since the war between Israel and Hamas broke out on October 7.

09:58 AM GMT

IDF claims stampede killed Palestinians in disputed aid truck deaths

The IDF has claimed the majority of Palestinians killed or injured in the incident near aid trucks in Northern Gaza died as a result of a stampede

IDF spokesperson Daniel Hagari said that warning shots were fired to disperse the stampede west of Gaza City on Thursday.

Hagari said the IDFs review of the incident gathered information from commanders and forces in the field and determined that no strike was carried out towards the aid convoy.

After our forces had started retreating, several looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat to them. According to the initial review, the soldiers responded toward several individuals, he said.

09:26 AM GMT

Hamas arrives in Cairo for ceasefire talks

A Hamas delegation has arrived in Cairo for ceasefire talks, according to a Reuters report.

The delegation is being led by Hamas deputy chief in Gaza, Khalil al-Hayya.

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Former US president Donald Trump is flanked by supporters as he celebrates victory in South Carolina -- but there were signs of weakness for his presidential bid in the voting statistics (TIMOTHY A. CLARY)

Donald Trump is sweeping all before him in the race for the Republican presidential nomination, but the primary votes have unveiled some worrying obstacles in his path to a second term in the White House.

Despite having a virtual lock on the nomination ahead of next week's 15-state "Super Tuesday" voting bonanza, the 77-year-old has been hemorrhaging moderate Republicans, who have signaled they'd prefer someone else -- anyone else -- in the Oval Office.

His double-digit victories over Nikki Haley in the early voting states have also obscured flashing red lights over his standing with the independents he'll need to prevail against President Joe Biden in November.

In New Hampshire, independents broke two-to-one for Haley, and she bested Trump among South Carolina's suburban voters, a key constituency that will likely hold the keys to the White House.

Some 40 percent of her supporters in the Palmetto State, where she was governor for six years, said in exit polls that they were opposed to Trump.

Alyssa Farah Griffin, a communications director in the Trump White House, warned that Haley's vote share was a "five-alarm fire" for her former boss.

"Somebody who's running as virtually an incumbent -- Donald Trump -- getting 60 percent, and 40 percent being against him? That's not a mandate," she said on a CNN discussion panel.

- 'Trump has a problem' -

Trump waved away Haley's 43 percent share in New Hampshire, pointing to regulations allowing for mass participation by non-Republicans in a state deemed the former UN ambassador's best chance for success.

But he had no such excuse in deeply conservative South Carolina, where pollsters found that just five percent of voters in the Republican primary identified as Democrats. Meanwhile almost half of Republican caucus-goers backed other candidates in deeply conservative Iowa.

"Donald Trump has a problem, whether he wants to admit it or not," Haley said in a statement putting a gloss on her 42-point defeat to Trump in the latest primary in Michigan on Tuesday.

"Forty percent of the Republican primary electorate wants nothing to do with him, and he is doing absolutely nothing to bring them into his increasingly shrinking tent."

It's Haley's job to talk down Trump's appeal and he expects to win back some of her support, particularly the 23 percent in South Carolina who said in exit polls that they would not be upset if he were reelected.

Trump backers have also pointed to Biden's poor polling with independents, including a recent NBC survey that gave him a 27 percent approval among the group.

Charlie Kolean, the chief strategist at conservative political consultancy RED PAC, points to a new Morning Consult poll giving Trump leads over Biden of two to nine points across the seven swing states where elections are won and lost.

"Trump is well positioned to win the general election. He focuses on issues that clearly matter to voters and win at the ballot box -- government transparency, fiscal responsibility, energy independence and jobs," he told AFP.

- 'Happy talk' -

But the Biden campaign is banking on some of the swing state races narrowing as voters reacquaint themselves with Trump, get used to the idea of the former president as a nominee again and catch up with his multiple criminal indictments.

Keith Nahigian, a veteran of six presidential campaigns and former member of Trump's transition team, believes the embattled tycoon's legal woes, rather than his primary performances, are the biggest threat to his reelection.

"The most valuable thing on a campaign is time -- time to raise money, time to meet people, time to travel to media markets -- and anything that steals from that could be harmful," he told AFP.

"However the opposite effect has been occurring so far in this cycle as the news around his indictments has rallied supporters."

Bill Kristol, a former chief of staff to Republican vice president Dan Quayle and a Trump critic, says that if the ex-president were able to win back two-thirds of Haley's supporters he'd likely end up with around 92 percent among Republicans -- a repeat of his 2020 performance.

"(That) was enough to elect Biden, but barely. People who are glorying at the fact that he's only at 59 or was only at 55 in New Hampshire -- that's a little too much happy talk," Kristol said on a podcast for center-right publication The Bulwark.

"But the people are saying that there's no resistance to speak of in Republican Party, that's too pessimistic."

ft/bfm
Its probably not wise to roll out a 44-page package of changes in Floridas election laws in the last few weeks of a legislative session, but its too bad House members couldnt have salvaged the restoration of runoff elections.

That idea died with a few other things in a bill that popped up suddenly  and sank just as quickly  in the House State Affairs Committee. But it would be good if the idea gets a thorough hearing next year.

Stock photo.

Historically, Florida was among a handful of mostly southern states requiring runoffs if no candidate got at least one vote over 50% in a primary. In a crowded field, unless there was a powerful incumbent or some celebrity superstar, three or four candidates might splinter the turnout  so then the top two contenders would slug it out about a month later.

The state ended runoffs in 2002. Keeping polls open 12 hours for a tiny trickle of voters in a runoff cost the same as running any other election, and the first-round leader usually prevailed in the elimination round, so why bother?

But there were notable exceptions, like Lawton Chiles and Reubin Askew. Both men were little-known state senators in 1970, when Chiles ran for the U.S. Senate and Askew went for governor. They trailed more-famous Democrats in the first go-round  former Gov. Farris Bryant leading Chiles for the Senate and Attorney General Earl Faircloth ahead of Askew for governor  but they leapfrogged the leaders and went on to become two of Floridas most distinguished leaders.

The same happened eight years later. Florida Attorney General Bob Shevin, with two statewide victories behind him, led the Democratic race for governor over a less-known state senator from Miami Lakes, Bob Graham  who would slingshot past Shevin in the runoff and win two terms as governor and three in the U.S. Senate.

Runoffs also work the other way, showing when an incumbent is in trouble. Republican Gov. Claude Kirk had to fight off two challengers in the 1970 GOP primary. He survived but being forced into a runoff for his own job weakened Kirk considerably, and Askew knocked him off in November.

A solution for the current situation might be suggested by a GOP runoff that never was. In 1994, Jeb Bush polled 47% of the Republican vote for governor in a seven-way primary. Former Attorney General Jim Smith was a distant second at 18% and  realistically assessing the staggering odds against him  decided to concede the runoff to Bush.

Maybe legislators could do that this time  only have runoffs if the runner-up candidate is within 10 or 15 percentage points of the first-round leader.

Bush lost in 1994 to Chiles but won four years later  which was, coincidentally, the election that gave Republicans control of the executive branch, along with both legislative chambers.

Former Governor Jeb Bush waves to the crowd during the 2019 inauguration ceremony on the steps of the Historic Capitol Building in Tallahassee Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2019.

Perhaps not so coincidentally, they set about making lots of changes  like ditching runoffs. The conventional wisdom around the Capitol was that U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno was sure to be the Democratic nominee against Bush in 2002, so the GOP-run Legislature sought to smooth the way for her by getting rid of that pesky runoff requirement.

This being Florida, of course, they should have expected the unexpected. There was a three-way Democratic primary and attorney Bill McBride wound up beating Reno 44.4% to 44%. If thered been a runoff, the better-known Reno probably would have beaten McBride, but it probably wouldnt have mattered much against Bush.

The same speculation might be apt for 2018. Former Tallahassee Mayor Andrew Gillum led a field of five Democrats and, if there had been a runoff, ex-U.S. Rep. Gwen Graham might well have caught him. Black voters rallied strongly behind Gillum, though, and he became the nominee  narrowly losing to Gov. Ron DeSantis.

Restoring runoffs could be crucial in two years, especially for the Republicans. All three Cabinet officers and two members of Congress are plausible candidates for governor, meaning somebody could win the GOP nomination with a small segment of the vote if theres no second round.

But the best reason for returning runoffs is simple math. Winning a nomination with 33 or 40 percent support is nice, but if youre going to be the nominee of a party, you ought to get the votes of at least half of the members casting ballots  even if it takes two tries.

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: Cotterell: FL legislators need to consider restoring runoff elections
When George Floyd was brutally murdered in the summer of 2020, a wave of activism spread throughout the country.

People protested. Anti-racism books became bestsellers. Diversity, equity and inclusion jobs increased by 55%, and the top 50 U.S. public companies pledged $49.5 billion to tackle racial justice issues.

At the same time of this racial reckoning, COVID-19 was disproportionately affecting communities of color in the number of cases, hospitalizations and deaths. In addition, anxiety and depression rates were rising rapidly among Black people.

As an assistant professor of practice in social work and the executive director of the nonprofit Coalition of Black Social Workers, I felt it was necessary to assess how Black social workers were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and heightened racial tensions.

As social workers, we are trained mental health professionals who prioritize social justice.

But how do we cope when faced with the collective trauma of a global pandemic and the mental and emotional effects of racism?

A lack of empathy

My research team conducted a study to assess social workers symptoms of depression, anxiety, discrimination-related trauma and quality of life in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the systemic racism that led up to 2020.

The results showed that there was a significant increase in depression and anxiety among the 113 Black social work professionals we surveyed.

Arguably, a more surprising finding was that 85% of Black social workers were deeply disappointed in the lack of empathy shown to them from their white social work colleagues.

A Black social worker listens to a client. Silvia Jansen/Getty Images

One Black respondent discussed having a conversation with a white colleague about the racial protests and reported that the colleague was nonchalant and dismissive.

Another Black respondent recalled that their white social work supervisor did not offer any type of mental health support.

Black social workers expected compassion and empathy from their peers, but instead, their issues were met with minimization and dismissiveness. The results showed that they were disappointed and hurt by their colleagues lack of understanding.

The limits of diversity efforts

The inauthentic behavior of some social workers to appear supportive and engaged in social justice issues  when they are not  is known as performative allyship.

In my view, this is akin to checking items off a list for the appearance of progress when the reality is far different.

Instead of Black social workers finding genuine support at their workplaces, our research found that many reported feeling disappointed and exhausted and chose to limit their workplace interactions with their white colleagues in order to protect themselves from further pain.

Where most Black social workers found the most support for their well-being and mental health is not surprising. Throughout 2020, 95% reported that family and close friends were critical to their well-being.

The limits of mere words

Since the 2020 racial reckoning, social workers have prided ourselves on working to eliminate social justice disparities.

Eliminating Racism, for instance, became an official grand challenge of social work in 2020. For its part, the National Association of Social Workers published two volumes of Undoing Racism in Social Work. In addition, the Council of Social Work Educations, anti-racism standards became a part of the 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards.

But as a profession, the use of terms such as anti-racism in book titles and standards alone means very little if Black social workers reported that they still feel neglected by their white colleagues.

When social work leaders are concerned more about writing statements of solidarity on social media or joining an anti-racism book club or checking another diversity box, Black social workers feel unseen, unheard and, worse, not important.

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: Carmen Reese Foster, University of Tennessee

Read more:



Carmen Reese Foster is affiliated with the Coalition of Black Social Workers. I am the executive director of this non-profit.
The Perucetus colossus was a 17-metre-long whale, believed to have weighed as much as 340 metric tonnes - ALBERTO GENNARI/PA

A 40-million-year-old fossilised whale previously thought to be the heaviest animal of all time is now thought to weigh less than a blue whale.

The huge, 17-metre-long whale, which was believed to have very dense bones, was initially thought to weigh as much as 340 metric tonnes - equivalent to 150 cars piled on top of one another.

But American scientists have now downgraded its weight  saying it wouldnt have been able to survive or even swim if it weighed as much as previously predicted.

In a new study, published in the journal PeerJ, the ancient animal was returned to the scales and slimmed down to a weight less than half that of the largest known blue whales.

The fossil skeleton of the whale, known as Perucetus colossus, was previously thought to be the heaviest animal ever to have roamed the Earth.

The first vertebra of the sea giant was discovered in Perus Ica River Valley more than a decade ago.

Its estimated to have lived around 39 million years ago and belonged to an extinct group of early whales called the Basilosaurids.

Scientists found the Perucetus bones to be unusually dense.

Mammal bones normally have a solid exterior and a spongy or hollow centre, but some animals bones have a centre more filled-in with solid bone, making the bones extremely dense and heavy.

In aquatic animals, heavy bones can offset buoyancy from body fat and blubber, allowing the animal to maintain a neutral buoyancy in water or  in the case of the hippopotamus  to walk on river beds.

The Perucetus bones were found to have both extensive in-filling and extra growth of bone on the outside as well; a condition called pachyostosis also seen in some modern aquatic mammals such as manatees.

Based on a series of assumptions, scientists originally estimated the whales body mass to have weighed around 180 metric tons, ranging up to a maximum of 340 metric tons  more than 23 double-decker buses.

These estimates put the Perucetus as being as heavy as or heavier than the biggest blue whales ever known  even though its considerably shorter at just 17 metres long, compared to blue whales which can measure up to an incredible 33 metres (110ft).

However, a new study undertaken by palaeontologists at the University of California (UC) Davis and the Smithsonian Institution, disputes these weights and insists such estimates would have made the Perucetus impossibly dense.

Blue whales which can measure up to an 33 metres (110ft) - DENIS SCOTT

Prof Ryosuke Motani, a paleobiologist at the UC Davis Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, explained: It would have been a job for the whale to stay at the surface, or even to leave the sea bottom.

It would have required continuous swimming against the gravity to do anything in the water.

Dr Motani, along with Dr Nick Pyenson of the Smithsonian Institute National Museum of Natural History, reexamined the assumptions used to make those estimates to come up with their own revised weight for the colossal beast.

The first problem they identified with previous weigh-ins was the fact they used fossil bones to estimate the weight of the skeleton and extrapolated this to the weight of the entire animal, assuming that the skeletal and non-skeletal mass would scale at the same rate with increasing body size.

But Dr Motani and Dr Pyenson argue that measurements of other animals show this not to be the case.

They therefore believe the original estimates overestimated how much body mass increases as a result of pachyostosis  a condition of the thickening of bones.

Evidence from manatees, for example, shows that their bodies are relatively light relative to their skeletal mass.

Size comparison of a modern blue whale (Balaenoptera musculus) and the extinct Perucetus colossus - CULLEN TOWNSEND/SWNS

The researchers now estimate that the 17-metre-long Perucetus actually weighed between 60 and 70 tonnes.

According to the new estimates, a Perucetus that grew to 20 metres could weigh over 110 tons, still well short of the largest blue whales at 270 tons.

The new weight allows the whale to come to the surface and stay there while breathing and recovering from a dive like most whales do, Dr Motani said.

Palaeontologists have not yet uncovered the skull or teeth of a Perucetus, so it is therefore difficult to grasp what they ate.

Sustaining a huge body takes a lot of food, and the previous researchers from Italy suggested the Perucetus might have feasted on coastal fish and shellfish, or scavenged carcasses as some sharks do.

The newly slimmed-down size estimate puts the Perucetus in a similar weight range to sperm whales  at 80 tons and 20 metres long  which hunt large prey such as giant squid.

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Ex-Boeing senior manager Ed Pierson criticized the company, airlines, and regulators over 737 Max issues.

He told BI that Alaska Airlines "ignored" his warnings to ground its jets back in April 2023.

Pierson called on investors to demand new management because execs are "crushing the company."

A Boeing whistleblower slammed the manufacturer, airlines, and regulators for their response to problems with the 737 Max, in a wide-ranging interview with Business Insider.

Ed Pierson is a former Boeing senior manager who testified before Congress in 2019 amid the fallout over the two Max 8 crashes that killed 346 people.

Boeing's newest narrowbody jet is back under scrutiny after a Max 9 operated by Alaska Airlines lost a door plug in midair on January 5. All 171 such jets with a door plug were subsequently grounded by the Federal Aviation Administration for more than 40 days.

Pierson told BI that he tried to warn Alaska Airlines months before the incident, having examined its service difficulty reports  which can cover a wide range of defects and malfunctions.

He said he wrote to Alaska's CEO Ben Minicucci in April 2023: "There's lots of red flags that are coming up and saying that your planes could be not safe. And I recommended he ground them."

"We sent a certified return receipt letter, and they just ignored it," Pierson added.

Alaska Airlines did not respond to a request for comment from BI on Pierson's letter.

Several airline bosses, including Minicucci, have criticized Boeing since the blowout. But Pierson said airlines "are a huge part of the problem."

That's because airline CEOS also said they have confidence in Boeing executives. Pierson noted that they still have to do business with the manufacturer  Airbus doesn't have the capacity to build everybody's planes.

'Who the hell is running this ship?'

Pierson said his work included overseeing a team that responded to problems with Boeing's quality-control processes. He retired in 2018, two months before the first Max 8 crash.

He believes all 737 Max jets should be grounded due to production problems.

In its preliminary report about Alaska Airlines Flight 1282, the National Transportation Safety Board said four critical bolts designed to secure the door plug weren't installed when the plane left Boeing's factory.

"That's symptomatic of a much bigger problem, which is dangerous manufacturing processes all around," Pierson told BI.

He pointed to a safety-exemption request that Boeing submitted last December, before withdrawing it after the blowout.

The Federal Aviation Administration said the Max jets' engine anti-ice system could cause the engine to overheat  and potentially result in debris breaking off and hitting the plane, resulting in a loss of control. Boeing said in its request that such a scenario is "extremely improbable."

Pierson said that Dave Calhoun, Boeing's CEO, is "pushing the system to the breaking point" by having planes "rushed through the factory" and overworking employees.

Following the blowout, the FAA stopped Boeing expanding production of the 737 Max until it was satisfied with its quality control. Boeing is producing 38 such jets a month, down from 59 before the Max 8 grounding in 2019, per CNN.

"Investors should be outraged at all these failures that are occurring, and that are just risking this company's future," Pierson said.

Employees working on a Boeing 737 Max at the factory in Renton, Washington. JASON REDMOND/AFP via Getty Images

"I believe in the people of the Boeing Company. What I don't believe in is their senior leadership," Pierson told BI. "I think their senior leadership is horrible."

He said executives are "completely out of touch" with what's happening in the factory  noting its distance from the headquarters. 737 production is based near Seattle, while the company is headquartered in Arlington, Virginia.

Pierson also pointed to the Boeing CEO commuting via private jet from his New Hampshire home. The Wall Street Journal previously reported this, adding that employees mocked Calhoun with souvenir mugs.

Pierson said: "You add all this up, and you're like: 'Who the hell is running this ship?'"

"And that's why we've been advocating that the leadership at the Boeing Company needs to get out," he added. "The shareholders need to get the board out, and get the C-suite out, because they're crushing the company."

The Federal Aviation Administration released the findings of its resulting investigation into Boeing on Monday. It said there was "a disconnect between Boeing's senior management and other members of the organization on safety culture."

Boeing declined to comment on Pierson's remarks.

What is the FAA doing?

"The FAA has been horribly asleep at the wheel here in their oversight responsibilities," Pierson said. "It's much safer to help find these problems in the factory than wait until they get out and they escape the factory. And then you have potentially tragic situations."

A representative said: "The FAA made significant improvements to its delegation and aircraft certification processes in recent years and took immediate action following the January 5 Alaska Airlines door plug incident to address concerns about the quality of aircraft that Boeing and its suppliers produce."

The FAA has sent "approximately two dozen" safety inspectors to review production lines at Boeing and its supplier Spirit AeroSystems.

That includes "all elements and stations" of the production systems; how Boeing transfers suppliers' unfinished work to its own production lines; and employee training and qualifications.

However, Pierson said the number of inspectors is "completely insufficient for the task."

The FAA pointed to several other actions including an investigation into whether Boeing failed to maintain its quality system in accordance with regulations, and "increased data monitoring to identify emerging risk."

Pierson believes not enough is being done to improve Boeing: "We're getting closer and closer to another major preventable catastrophe."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Border Patrol union mocked President Biden on Saturday for his trip to the Texas border this week.

"Board AF1, take nap. Wake up in place called Brownsville," the union wrote on X, formerly Twitter, in a joke itinerary of his day, along with a photo of Biden resting in a beach lounge chair. "Read large teleprompter message, It's all Trump's fault. Board AF1, ask who people in green uniforms were, told they strap illegal aliens, express horror, take nap. Wake up, call a lid, hit beach, take nap."

While in Brownsville on Thursday, Biden lamented that the bipartisan immigration bill failed to pass in the Senate, blaming Trump for using it as a political issue. Many Republicans have expressed their opposition to the bill, which they say doesn't do enough.

"The majority of Democrats and Republicans in both houses support this legislation," Biden said in Brownsville, "until someone came along and said don't do that that'll benefit the incumbent. That's a hell of a way to do business in America for such a serious problem."

WATCH: BORDER PATROL UNION CHIEF EXPLODES ON BIDEN IN FIERY PRESS CONFERENCE, SAYS AGENTS P----D AT POLICIES

President Biden made a border visit to Brownsville, Texas, Thursday.

The president faces increasing scrutiny over his handling of the border as the Border Patrol continues to report a record number of migrant encounters.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

In December alone, there were more than 300,000 encounters  an all-time record.

The issue also threatens to hurt Biden politically ahead of Novembers presidential election.

Trump was also at the border in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Thursday which he said is "being overrun by the Biden migrant crime," invoking the murder of Georgia student Laken Riley allegedly by a Venezuelan migrant last week.

BIDEN, TRUMP MAKE US-MEXICO BORDER STOPS THURSDAY AS MIGRANT CRISIS ROILS ELECTION

"The parents are devastated and theyre incredible people," Trump said. "This is a Joe Biden invasion. A Biden invasion. I call him crooked Joe the most incompetent president we've ever had."

Biden and his administration have sought to shift the blame for the crisis onto the shoulders of Republicans. The administration says that it is working with a broken system that needs significantly more funding and comprehensive immigration reform. It introduced a bill on Biden's first day in office that included a mass amnesty for millions of migrants already in the U.S., which was immediately rejected by Republicans.

Republicans in the House introduced and passed legislation of their own that would fund more Border Patrol agents, resume wall construction, restart the Remain-in-Mexico policy and severely limit the ability of migrants to claim asylum.

The Border Patrol union frequently mocks the president over illegal immigration.

The organization wrote in part on X on Friday, "Wasn't it Biden who encouraged people from all over the world to surge the border? Didn't Biden immediately void all the successful Trump EO's that were keeping our border under control? Didn't he publicly and viciously accuse BP agents of criminal assault, then told the world those people will pay, and the entire thing was made up BS? Has he apologized or taken responsibility for any of it, or asked forgiveness from the victims of some of the millions of illegal aliens he imported into this country?"

And before Biden went to the border, the group posted, "Attention President Biden: Keep our name out of your mouth today."

Fox News' Adam Shaw contributed to this report.





Original article source: Border Patrol union mocks Biden over Texas visit: Call a lid, hit beach, take nap
Bradley Cooper is getting real about parenthood and what he's learned while being a father to his 6-year-old daughter, Lea de Seine.

In a Feb. 26 episode of the Armchair Expert podcast, the 49-year-old agreed with host Dax Shepard that he couldnt have achieved true self esteem without becoming a dad. Then, Cooper took it a step further.

Honestly, Im not sure Id be alive if I wasnt a dad, he admitted.

The "Maestro" actor was also candid about his initial thoughts on being a father after welcoming Lea with Irina Shayk.

If Im being honest, the first eight months, Im like, I dont even know if I really loved the kid, he said. Its dope. Its cool. Im watching this thing morph ... fascinated by it. Love taking care of it. Would I die if someone came in with a gun? I dont know.

But Cooper recalled that eventually a moment came when he all of a sudden realized that he would die for his daughter with no question.

Bradley Cooper and Lea De Seine Shayk Cooper (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic)

Your DNA is going to tell you that theres something more important than you, he added.

Read on learn more about Cooper's daughter, Lea.

Lea was born in March 2017

Cooper and Shayk welcomed their first daughter in March 2017 and named her Lea de Seine Shayk Cooper, sharing the last names of both her parents.

The part-Greek, part-French name certainly makes sense for their new arrival, given that Lea means bringer of good news in Greek. As for de Seine, thats a reference to the river that runs through Paris  and Elle speculates that part may have been inspired by Bradley Cooper's love of all things French.

The parents split in 2019 after having dated since 2015, but have continued to fully embrace their respective roles as mom and dad.

In March 2021, Shayk told Elle Magazine that she doesn't believe in the idea of "co-parenting," but rather that she and Cooper remain parents together.

I never understood the term co-parenting, Shayk said at the time. When Im with my daughter, Im 100% a mother, and when shes with her dad, hes 100% her dad. Co-parenting is parenting.

The couple has been teaching Lea about the importance of kindness from a young age, as Shayk revealed in an April 2023 interview with Harpers Bazaar.

Were teaching our daughter that the most important thing is to be kind to people. Every time we send her to school, were like, Just remember kindness and love, she said.

Bradley Cooper has spoken about tough conversations with his daughter

While speaking with Emma Stone during an Actors on Actors conversation for Variety, released on Dec. 8, Cooper recently gave the 411 about a rather deep conversation he and Lea had.

I was with my daughter the other day, shes like, So what happens after, when you die? he said.

I was like, I actually dont know, he continued. Because I always tell her the truth.

Doesnt Google know? she asked him.

I was like, Oh, my God, he continued. I was like, Maybe?

Cooper said he held off asking Google then and there because he doesnt want to be on his phone around Lea.

Lea was dad Bradley Coopers date to the Maestro premiere in December 2023

Cooper took a very special date to the premiere of his new movie, Maestro.

The Oscar-nominated actor was accompanied to the Dec. 12. 2023 event at Los Angeles Academy Museum of Motion Pictures by his daughter, Lea.

Cooper gave off classic Hollywood pizazz vibes, sporting a dark suit and buttoned-up vest, while Lea arrived in an animal print dress, with a red and black purse.

Bradley Cooper and Lea De Seine Shayk Cooper (Axelle/Bauer-Griffin / FilmMagic)

This article was originally published on TODAY.com
Ben Milam was an average man who traveled the early frontier. But the course of events would place him in the middle of the fight for Texas independence and into legend. Milams decisive actions made him one of the early heroes of the Texas Revolution.

Benjamin Rush Milam was born in 1788 in Frankfort, then just a tiny village on the Kentucky River in what was not yet Kentucky. His life was defined by the early frontier. He had very little formal education, as almost no schools were available.

As a young man, he was mostly interested in trade and bartering. Struck by wanderlust, he drifted from one adventure to the next. In 1812, he enlisted in the Kentucky militia and served honorably as a lieutenant in the War of 1812.

Ken Bridges

Milam made his first, brief foray into Texas in 1818. By the next year, he found himself in New Orleans, caught up in the excitement of a potential raid into Texas to seize it for the United States from Spain. In what became known as the Long Expedition, James Long made Milam a colonel and led his rag-tag army that crossed the Sabine River into Spanish Texas. They quickly took Nacogdoches and declared Texas independent of Spain. When the Spanish Army arrived, the Long Expedition fell apart.

Milam and Long attempted to reorganize at Galveston in 1820, but the effort quickly faltered. Milam then went to Veracruz and on to Mexico City. Instead of finding the cities defended by monarchists, he and his party found that the rebels had already taken the cities. He and the dozens of men with him were thrown in prison. An American diplomat later arranged their release.

He returned to Mexico in 1824 in the aftermath of yet another revolution, one that established Mexico as a republic. And with a new government came a new attitude. All was forgiven, and Milam was made a colonel the Mexican Army as well as a citizen. Times were good for Milam. He soon teamed up with a British immigrant, Gen. Arthur G. Wavell, and started a silver mine in Nuevo Leon, a northern Mexican state adjacent to Texas. In 1825, they also gained empresario grants in Texas land grants that allowed them to sell or lease lands in order to attract residents to what was still a lightly-populated region.

Events, however, soon turned sour for Milam. The Nuevo Leon mine started to falter, and he and Wavell soon leased out a mine to a British company. In the meantime, Mexican officials grew increasingly concerned about American designs on Texas in light of offers by the United States government to buy Texas and raids such as the Long Expedition. In 1830, the Law of April 6 banned all immigration from the United States into Texas and expressly forbade the introduction of new slaves into the area even though Mexico had officially banned slavery the year before. This imperiled Milams empresario contract.

Agustin Viesca became governor of Coahuila y Texas in 1835. Ben Milam believed he could work with him to secure new land titles for Texas settlers. On his visit to the new governor, he found a willing audience in his attempt to secure legal protections for their lands. However, Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna had overthrown the elected government. His officials arrested Viesca and Milam both. Milam, however, was able to talk their way out of jail thanksto Viescas political allies. Milam reached Texas in October and joined George Collinsworths column as they marched to take Goliad on October 10.

After Goliad, Collinsworths forces met with other armed Texans marching toward San Antonio. Gen. Martin Perfecto de Cos held the city for Santa Anna. Mexico had a large armed force occupying the city. It was now December 4. With the weather growing cold, many Texans considered holing up for the winter, building their forces, and preparing for an attack in the spring.

Milam recognized that point was the time to try to consolidate their gains and was determined to lead the charge himself. With the permission of his superiors, he made an impassioned plea and declared to the troops, Who will go with old Ben Milam into San Antonio? Three hundred men stepped forward and marched into the lions den. They attacked at dawn the next morning.

After two days of fighting, Milams forces were making progress. On the morning of December 7, they were charging steadily forward for the third day. Milam stood at the fore of the battlefield, eyeing the positions of their attackers. A chance shot rang out. He was then struck in the head by the rifle fire and collapsed into the arms of his friends. He died at the scene at the age of 47 just as the Texas Revolution was heating up. Texas forces took the city two days later.

Milam was widely honored in the years after his death. In addition to streets, schools, and parks, a memorial site stands in San Antonio. Residents of the Sabine County community of Red Mound renamed their city after Milam in 1836. The Texas Republic established Milam County in Central Texas in 1837 and is now boasts nearly 25,000 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: From Kentucky, Ben Milam was early hero in Texas revolution
One of my favorite sayings in the news industry is 'hurry up and wait.' That is certainly what this week has been.

Hello A-J readers!

One of my favorite sayings in the news industry is "hurry up and wait." That is certainly what this week has been on the business beat.

In business news, we had announcements and are awaiting confirmations, so while this week may seem light, be ready for an avalanche of news coming soon. And yes, the term "avalanche of news" is what the name of our publication came from.

On Tuesday, the Economic Development Administration awarded the Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority a $2 million grant to create a new business park, which will be known as the Reese East 90 Business Park.

"The Reese East 90 Business Park will be a new development that will fill the ongoing need for industrial space," said Murvat Musa, CEO of Lubbock Reese Redevelopment Authority. "This project will bring new jobs and private investment to Lubbock and could not have happened without our partners at the South Plains Association of Government and our long and successful relationship with EDA."

More: $2 million federal grant to fund new Lubbock business park

On Wednesday, I met with Chef Kirk DeLong of Ziggy's Island Grill, an upcoming Pacific fusion food truck. The in-depth story on how a West Coast chef ended up in Lubbock, and how he is now achieving his dream at the age of 52, will come out next week, so stay tuned.

Also on Wednesday, I spoke with the owners of Lite Bite Mediterranean Market as part of the International Tastes of Lubbock project I'm launching this year. This is just one of many cuisines that will be featured in the coming weeks, so make sure you have the A-J app and subscribe to catch all of the 20+ articles in the series. That's more parts than most TV series have episodes now.

Next weekend, the A-J will publish the Chilton project I hinted at last week, pending any changes. I'm also hoping to hear back from several businesses. It is a busy time in the newsroom, but I think you will enjoy what we're working on.

As always, thank you for reading and supporting the A-J.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Lubbock business news includes international food, grant, more
State Rep. Jim Lucas won nearly 74% of the vote when he ran for reelection to a safe Republican Indiana House seat in 2022. Now, he might be vulnerable.

Lucas' troubling pattern of behavior, including a history of posting racist memes to social media and a guilty plea for operating a vehicle while intoxicated and leaving a crash scene, has opened a door for Democrats.

Trish Whitcomb is planning to walk through it. The Seymour Democrat is the daughter of former Indiana Gov. Edgar D. Whitcomb. She's challenging Lucas in House District 69, which includes portions of Jackson, Bartholomew, Jennings, Scott and Washington counties.

"People who I know to be Republicans come up to me and say, 'I'm so glad you're running against him,'" Whitcomb told me. "They're embarrassed. They're just embarrassed. And they see me as a viable alternative. Part of that is because my family name is known in southern Indiana. They know I come from a legacy of public service."

State Rep. Jim Lucas faces a strong Democratic challenger in November.

Lucas also has a primary opponent, Brian Savilla. Assuming Lucas clears that hurdle, the far-right Republican could be in for his most competitive general election since he first won his House seat with 58% of the vote in 2012.

Whitcomb is a learning adviser for an education software company and former executive director of the Indiana Retired Teachers Association.

She managed Glenda Ritz's winning campaign for state superintendent of public instruction in 2012 and then served as a special adviser to Ritz. Whitcomb has spent a lot of time on campaigns, accompanying her Republican father on the trail and later helping to elect Democrat Birch Bayh.

She's trying to appeal to bipartisan sensibilities that have gone out of style and hoping Republicans will give her a chance. Whitcomb views it as a math problem. Her campaign has identified 16,000 Republican-leaning voters who might be willing to hear her out and she wants to persuade at least one-third of them to give her a chance.

"I'm going to have more money than any candidate ever before (in District 69)," she said. "I already have more money than anybody ever had before.

"I've got a statewide perspective. I was a municipal adviser. I know about state finance. I worked at the state Department of Education. That's where most of our tax dollars are spent, and I know education policy like the back of my hand. Those are very important things that will make me a different kind of candidate."

Trish Whitcomb is challenging state Rep. Jim Lucas in November.

Yet, Whitcomb knows, her resume and her family name likely wouldn't be enough to put a Democrat over the top if Lucas weren't making news for all the wrong reasons. Most recently, Lucas received national attention for showing his gun to students who went to the Statehouse to advocate for gun control policies. Lucas later said he shouldn't have done that.

"He has created a gigantic opening for me," Whitcomb said.

I noted to Whitcomb that former President Donald Trump is likely to be on the ballot in November. He's boosted Indiana Republicans in past elections and could make her job even harder. But, even there, Whitcomb found signs of hope, noting Lucas has not received as many votes as Trump when they've appeared on the same ballot before.

"Lucas generally ran well behind Donald Trump," she said. "That means somebody walked into a voting booth and they voted for Donald Trump and they did not vote for Jim Lucas. There's a gap. And I'm going to make that gap even bigger."

Lucas for years has ignited controversies while making Indiana a punchline. He's reaped few consequences for his behavior. Whitcomb is asking a Republican-leaning district to look beyond partisanship and say enough is enough.

Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or james.briggs@indystar.com. Follow him on X and Threads at @JamesEBriggs.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2024 Indiana election: Jim Lucas targeted by Democrat Trish Whitcomb
A couple who were given free tickets to Saturday's Brit Awards by Radio 1 DJ Greg James have described their "whirlwind" experience.

"It was mental," said Meg and Charlie, both 29, who live in Swansea.

James gifted the couple the tickets for the show, which took place at London's O2 Arena, as an engagement present.

The DJ also spent the night itself at the couple's home in Swansea, babysitting their daughter, Maisie, seven - where he got his nails painted.

"Maisie absolutely loved it," said Meg, who's originally from Pontypridd, joking that James had a "similar mindset of age" to their daughter.

James appeared to enjoy himself as well, posting a picture of him playing with Maisie's doll house, as well as a video of them together at the park.

He also posted a list of chores Maisie had given him, which included washing the dishes with pink gloves, reading time, and salon time.

A photo posted later in the night showed James with a set of pink nails.

The relationship between the couple and the DJ started when Charlie appeared on a segment of James' show called What's my Age Again, and "stupidly" got his own age wrong.

It developed from there, with both Charlie and Meg appearing on the show, both individually and together, in the last few months.

They appeared again on Friday and were expecting to take part in a "Mr and Mrs" style quiz, which Meg said she had researched for.

Radio 1 DJ Greg James spent the night at the couple's home in Swansea

"But it was a complete ploy - they told us the truth, that they wanted us to swap lives," she said.

James said he had attended the show before, and wanted to give away his and his wife's tickets.

He offered to babysit the couple's daughter, and on Saturday Meg and Charlie travelled to London where they were put up in a hotel.

"The only thing we had to worry about what was finding something to wear," Meg said.

They said they had an "amazing time" at the show, with seats close to the stage, and indulged in a fair amount of celeb-spotting.

They were also full of praise for James, describing him as a "selfless" and "genuine person".

Meg is a maternity worker for the NHS, and Charlie a field technician for an advertising company, and the couple joked they had a "very romantic story" of meeting online.

Meg is originally from Pontypridd and Charlie from Essex, and James has described the couple as "a real life Gavin and Stacey".

"To be honest, we're more like Nessa and Smithy," said Meg, referring to the characters played by James Corden and Ruth Jones. "We like KFC too much."

It was a night out the television characters would likely have embraced.

"We were back by 2am. We ended the night with a McDonald's - that's our kind of night," Meg said.

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She was too cruel for school.

A Brooklyn Catholic school teacher allegedly put a 3-year-old student in a cardboard box inside a locked closet, and threatened the terrified child that the Grinch was coming for him, The Post has learned.

Alexis Breeden, the lead 3-K teacher at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy in Windsor Terrace, was arrested on Feb. 28 and charged with unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child, four weeks after allegedly imposing the twisted timeout, according to a criminal complaint.

A lead 3-K teacher at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy in Brooklyn was arrested after allegedly putting a child in a cruel time out in a closet in February. J.C. Rice

Alexis Breeden was fired from St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy following the February incident that led to the 3-K program being shut down while investigations were underway. Facebook St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy

Simply put, there are no imaginable circumstances where this can be called anything but child abuse, said John Elefterakis of Elefterakis, Elefterakis & Panek, which is working with the family of the child, who have requested anonymity.

This incident is extremely troubling, and we intend to fully investigate and force accountability, Elefterakis said.

On Feb. 2, the school nurse witnessed Breeden holding the handle of the storage closet door shut as a child cried inside, according to a complaint filed with the Brooklyn District Attorneys Office.

The nurse told Breeden to open the door and when Breeden unlocked it, the nurse observed a 3-year-old child crying inside the closet in a large cardboard box, the complaint stated.

The freaky mask was kept in the classroom closet and had been used by the teacher for weeks to threaten kids, according to parents. The Grinch is in there, the teacher would tell the tots, according to a parent with knowledge of the incident.

The nurse reported the disturbing discovery and the K-3 program was immediately shut down as the city Health Department and NYPD began probes of child-abuse allegations.

The tax-payer-funded, city-run Universal 3-K program, which is located on Prospect Park West behind Holy Name of Jesus Church, reopened Tuesday.

Breeden, of Castleton Corners, Staten Island, was fired soon after the incident. She was charged with unlawful imprisonment and endangering the welfare of a child, according to the district attorneys office. She pled not guilty and was released on her own recognizance, according to court records.

The teacher allegedly told the boy the grinch was coming for him. fun.com

The Brooklyn diocese says it took immediate action upon learning of a safe environment code of conduct violation, according to the Catholic newspaper The Tablet.

The child did not sustain any injuries and out of respect for the student, we will not provide any additional details about this incident, a diocesan statement said.

The $6,600-a-year-tuition Catholic school serves about 280 students.

The shocking incident was allegedly not the only case of alleged bullying toward children at the school, which touts its nurturing parochial environment, according to Elefterakis.

Unfortunately, our initial inquiry has revealed that this is not the first instance at this school where helpless children were subject to abusive behavior, he said.

Parents bashed the school in online reviews for a pervasive culture of bullying among students and staff, teachers that make kids cry and a harsh disciplinarian principal, Stephanie Ann Germann.

Parents were concerned about 3-K teacher Alexis Breedens teaching and disciplinary approaches and had voiced their worries to the school, according to sources. Facebook Alexis Breeden

Parents tell The Post that there have been concerns about Breeden since she started in 2020.

Its just outrageous and unacceptable that this could have happened in the first place, said one parent, who pulled her son from the school last year over safety concerns. The principal has been warned about this teachers behavior for years now.

Weve had concerns since the beginning of the year, another parent told The Post. All the kids in her class started acting differently. They werent their usual 3-year-old selves anymore.

Her 3-year-old is now on a waiting list for another school.

Another class parent said the scenario since February has been horrific and will have lasting psychological consequences. It goes beyond one bad apple, she wrote in a parent Facebook group.

The school has completely ignored the parents in the affected class, she added.

Another Windsor Terrace mom also pulled her son from the K-3 program over safety concerns as well as dissatisfaction with the teaching practices, she said.

I also think about all the other kids who witnessed this, she told The Post. You never know how trauma affects small childrens brains  its very delicate with 3-year-olds.

Breeden was arrested following an investigation regarding an allegation of child abuse at St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy in Brooklyn. J.C. Rice

Breeden, 30, did not have a valid teaching certification until March 2021, according to state records, despite starting at the school in 2020.

The emergency COVID license  which allowed teachers to work before passing the required exams amid pandemic-related delays  expired in August 2023 and no license was reissued for the current school year in which she was teaching.

Breeden taught for four years before starting at SJWCA, according to the schools social media, but it was not immediately clear where.

St. Joseph the Worker Catholic Academy is a 3-K through 8th grade Catholic academy located in Windsor Terrace. J.C. Rice

Principal Stephanie-Ann Germann in October told an education site that the school saw consistent leadership turnover in recent years with four principals in four years.

Germann described lots of negativity within our parent culture and our student culture, teachers leaving and low enrollment, according to an article from the social-emotional learning program Responsive Classroom. Germann employed the model, which she said helped increase collaboration and kindness, at SJWCA.

Breeden said she would not comment on the incident and her lawyer said he had no comment.

Additional reporting by Kathianne Boniello and Susan Edelman
Guest Opinion. I know that the Cherokee Nation is a wonderful place to live. The people, culture and natural beauty of our 7,000-square-mile reservation in northeast Oklahoma make me proud to call it home. As more Cherokees choose to stay here or return from living in other places, our communities and economy will grow even stronger.

Still, we face a barrier to that hopeful future. Too many Cherokees struggle to find a safe home where they can raise a family or age in place. To meet this need, the Cherokee Nation has launched an unprecedented building and housing rehab boom.

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.

The newly reauthorized Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act makes a transformative $120 million investment in housing across our 14 counties. The scale of ongoing construction projects is impressive. We have already completed about 120 homes, and hundreds more are in development. Subdivisions of Cherokee homes are taking shape in Tahlequah (24 new homes), Collinsville (16), Stilwell (15), Muskogee (12), Sallisaw (12) and Jay (10). Over 80 homes are being built now, and another 72 lots are ready. With a total of 523,220 square feet of homes under construction, the scale and impact of the housing initiative are undeniable. We also currently have another 126 individuals with land across the Cherokee Nation Reservation that we are building new homes on.

The Council of the Cherokee Nation, Deputy Chief Bryan Warner and I are committed to providing safe and affordable homes for Cherokee families to thrive. We are bringing a special focus on housing for populations who need it most. In our capital city of Tahlequah, we have a joint effort with the Department of Defense to build homes for veterans facing housing insecurity. In Ochelata, located in Washington County, we are opening rental units for elders and for specialty health professionals needed for our health care growth. Stilwell is also home to several one-bedroom rental units designed specifically for elders.

We are proud of these new home building efforts, and another major part of the Housing, Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act is home rehabilitation. Through the Housing Authority of the Cherokee Nation (HACN), we have extensively rehabbed more than 500 homes for Cherokees and provided over 1,000 homes with emergency rehab, for things like roofing and flooring emergencies that could jeopardize safety.

The HACN has also acquired land for new subdivisions to be built in Grove, Muldrow and Marble City. The tribe is actively investing in small, rural communities where Cherokee culture thrives. We are creating safe environments for families so these precious communities can remain whole.

Cherokee Nation Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr.

Every part of the Cherokee Nation should be a place where Cherokees can thrive. We are also exploring investing in home units in north Tulsa for Cherokees in this part of the reservation.

Besides providing excellent housing for families and elders, the Cherokee building boom creates quality jobs for hundreds of individuals and Cherokee-owned companies in the building and contracting industry. Cherokee Nation Career Services is doing its part to recruit, train and connect skilled workers with contractors on our numerous projects.

There is more work to be done on housing. In the coming months, Deputy Chief Warner, the Housing Authority and I will announce an effort to take a comprehensive look at housing needs across the reservation. We are proud of the progress we have made on housing, but we must be willing to recognize there is much more to do. Leadership on this vital subject requires nothing less.

Our housing efforts will benefit our nation for generations to come, by making sure Cherokees young and old continue to live side by side, supporting and learning from each other. I hope that all Cherokees, no matter where they might live in the world today, will feel confident that they can call the Cherokee Nation Reservation home.

Chuck Hoskin, Jr. is the principal chief of the Cherokee Nation.
Then-Konawa City Manager Jeremy Kemper talks about the city's water treatment plant Feb. 8. Kemper has since left for another job.

When Albert and Sherry Martin moved back to Oklahoma two and a half years ago, they settled down on a plot of land in the small rural city of Konawa, about 75 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.

They knew beforehand that plumbing in the house was bad, but they didn't realize the city had ongoing, longstanding issues providing water to its residents.

After they moved in, the couple went without service for three months.

"We were hauling water," Albert Martin said.

With a little outside help from a state agency and the Oklahoma Rural Water Association, the Martins finally got a reliable connection to their home, but the pressure was still very low. Since then, they've been plagued by similar issues as the city struggles to balance the demand for water with aging, decayed pipes that threaten to burst when exposed to normal water system pressure.

A water tower is pictured Feb. 8 in Konawa, a small community about 75 miles southeast of Oklahoma City.

In early February during his last week on the job, former Konawa City Manager Jeremy Kemper told The Oklahoman that he wasn't able to fill the city's water tower to the top because the pressure would be too much for the miles of century-old underground pipe that makes up the Konawa's water system. Kemper left for another job after about a year in town.

Konawa also struggles with a reliable water source. Several wells adjacent to the nearby Canadian River draw what is technically surface water. The municipal water system has no access to an aquifer or large body of water, but officials in the city have been seeking a new source for years, Kemper said.

Unfortunately, reliable water service isn't just a Konawa problem. Hundreds of rural communities in Oklahoma, and many more across the nation, suffer from aging water systems that are time-consuming and expensive to replace.

It can be a challenge for a city like Konawa, population of about 1,300, to pay for upgrades to a multi-million-dollar water system on its own.

The big freeze, and a water crisis in Konawa

The situation reached a critical level in January when temperatures fell below freezing.

Pipes burst throughout the city, and one of the two pumps that move the city's water from the rivershed to a treatment facility stopped working. Kemper made what he described as a tough but important decision to temporarily shut off the entire city's water supply to give time for water tanks to refill.

Things got so bad that the city set up a portable water tank in front of city hall and handed out donated packs of bottled water. Residents who needed to shower were let into the high school fieldhouse.

Storage tanks are pictured Feb. 8 at Konawa's water treatment plant in Konawa.

A Sonic franchise, one of the city's few restaurants, had to close for more than two weeks. Like the Martin residence, it sits on the side of town with a higher elevation. That means when water pressure drops, homes and businesses there are the first to lose service and the last to get it back.

More: How to keep your pipes from freezing and bursting during OKC ice storm

The Sonic general manager directed questions to the corporate office, which did not respond to The Oklahoman's inquiry.

In many ways, the freeze was a tipping point for Konawa. When the water came back, the debris and silt common in under-pressured pipes reached homes. Residents began posting photos of dirty water coming out of the faucets and telling their personal stories in a community Facebook group. The Martins also created their own Facebook group specifically to discuss water issues with other Konawa residents.

"I was like, now you guys see what we've been dealing with for two and a half years," Albert Martin said.

Water is a widespread rural problem

Paying for water system maintenance and upgrades are tough for cities that can't afford the millions of dollars it would cost, said Robby Short, a spokesman for the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. The agency awards millions of dollars worth of grants and loans to water systems across the state.

Short said a lack of resources and the menagerie of priorities faced by small communities doesn't help. Maintenance and replacement can be deferred for lack of funding. Hiring and keeping qualified technicians is a challenge, and all of those drawbacks can put towns in a precarious position when something goes wrong with their water system.

A pipeline marker is pictured Feb. 8 in Konawa.

"Some (problems) are being addressed in emergency situations because they are so expensive," he said.

Still, he said, not every community is the same.

"The difference between a Konawa or Asher or Wannette can be leaps and bounds different because they're in different situations and have different needs," said Short.

More: How to stay warm, avoid hypothermia during Oklahoma's frigid temperatures

In many communities, access to water isn't the only threat. Older pipes are more likely to be made of lead, a toxic metal.

The Biden administration's 2021 infrastructure law included $50 billion for upgrades to the nation's drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. That funding includes $15 billion to cover lead pipe replacement and another $11.7 billion earmarked to help states to comply with the Safe Drinking Water Act.

A water tower is pictured Feb. 8 in Konawa.

In February, Konawa's interim city manager notified residents that tests by the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality showed high lead levels in water samples. The letter noted that some of the readings came from homes that had been unoccupied for years, and that more recent independent testing at other locations showed acceptable levels.

Problems with city water haven't stopped development, however. Business owner Scott Duck opened a small grocery and meat processor next door to city hall, right in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. His store, which includes a deli counter, had to shut down during the January freeze but only for a few days.

"It's going to take time, and it's going to take a good three, four or five-phase plan to fix the problems," said Duck. "It's a 100-year-old system, and there never was any foresight of how to really maintain and replace it. So I just feel like we need to look ahead and quit looking behind, and let's pull together and get a good plan."

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Konawa Oklahoma struggles with water infrastructure
ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC)  The 25th Annual Farm, Ranch & Wildlife Expo was held at the Taylor Telecom Arena from February 29 through March 1.

The Farm, Ranch, and Wildlife Expo is the longest-running farm show in Texas and boasts all kinds of vendors who are involved in agribusiness. Visitors can find anything from tractors and knives to bucking chutes and even coffins.

Texas Dept. of Agriculture awards $200k+ to 15 meal programs across the Big Country in 2024

Its an event that the Abilene Chamber of Commerce helps put on each year. Ashley Dimauro, Senior Director of Operations for the Chamber, explained how the Expo goes beyond the business aspect.

Theres just so much pride. Theres so much strong heritage with a lot of these folks because theyre usually a lot of family-owned businesses, or their fathers, or parents, or grandparents are usually in this trade, and so you really get a sense of their pride for this industry and all that comes with it, Dimauro said.

GALLERY: Gearing up for the Sweetwater Rattlesnake Roundup

With wildfires ravaging our neighbors to the north, many within the same industry are dealing with many struggles. Brad Bevel, a Crop Insurance Agent of Big Country Crop Insurance, is familiar with the fact and feels that its best to consider a plan for any similar occurrences in our area.

A lot of times it takes an event like that to kind of spear those thoughts a little bit about what could happen. I think anytime you have an investment, whether its in your property or in your crops Whatever your program looks like, I think its certainly wise to want to protect that and put some things in place where you hope it never happens, but if it does, youve got some things in place to help recover and then move forward, Bevel said.

While the Expo focuses on agriculture and AG-related business, all members of the public are encouraged to attend. Unique events were slated for the event, such as raffles with prizes ranging into the hundreds of dollars.





For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTAB - BigCountryHomepage.com.
Caldwell County RESTART will be holding a remembrance ceremony to honor those who have lost their lives to an overdose.

The event is set to take place on March 6 from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Caldwell County Health and Human Services building in recognition of Black Balloon Day.

It will feature recovery resources from across Western North Carolina and Naloxone education, as well as food and coffee trucks.

Black Balloon Day is a time to wrap our arms around the families and friends of individuals who lost their lives to overdose, said RESTART Program Coordinator Jason Powell. Its an opportunity to share the recovery resources available in our area.

The organizers said Black Balloon Day is just one way the RESTART team advocates for individuals and families affected by substance use disorders and misuse.

ALSO READ: Family faces dark times after womans fentanyl overdose

During 2023, the team received 398 referrals. The majority of those referrals came from Caldwell County EMS, others came from the department of social services, emergency departments, detention centers, and law enforcement, and some were self-referrals.

RESTART has made 919 participant contacts and connected 131 participants to a range of resources, such as detox, inpatient and outpatient treatment facilities, housing, and 12-step programs.

The program also responds to calls for assistance. In 2023, the teams answered 62 911 calls and made 47 after-hours emergency department consultations. Additionally, 463 doses of Naloxone were administered.

To learn more about Caldwell County RESTART, click here.

VIDEO: Family faces dark times after womans fentanyl overdose








EL CAJON, Calif. (KSWB)  A dentist is dead and two others are wounded after a man, believed to be a disgruntled former patient, allegedly opened fire in a southern California dentists office last week.

Police in El Cajon, about 15 miles east of San Diego, were called to Smile Plus Dentistry and Orthodontics shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday for an active shooting.

When officers arrived, they found three victims, El Cajon police explained. One of those victims, later identified as 28-year-old Benjamin Ariel Harouni by the San Diego County Medical Examiners Office, was pronounced dead at the scene from apparent gunshot injuries to the body.

The other victims, a man in his 40s and a woman in her 20s, were taken to the hospital in stable condition. Details about their injuries and their association with the dentists office were not released. Police noted others were in the building at the time of the apparent shooting but did not say whether they had been injured, or whether they were employees or patients.

Harouni was a dentist at the Smile Plus Dentistry and Orthodontics location, according to the companys website.

My heartfelt condolences go out to Ben Harounis family and friends. The Harouni familys contributions to dentistry are renowned across the state, making this loss deeply felt in our community. Thank you to law enforcement for their prompt investigation into this heinous act of violence. The perpetrator must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law, said Brian Jones, California Senate Minority Leader Senate District 40 of San Diego, in a post on X.

Im in a hard spot now. Patients left in limbo following deadly dental office shooting

The suspect, identified as 29-year-old Mohammed Abdulkareem, was believed to be a disgruntled former customer of the dental office, authorities said. However, El Cajon Police said the relationship between the victims and Adbulkareem is unclear as of Friday.

Abdulkareem allegedly left the scene of the shooting and was on the run for several hours until police located him as well as the U-Haul pickup truck he was believed to be driving in the Balboa Park area. Police said they found a loaded handgun and several loaded magazines on him, which records show were legally purchased by Abdulkareem just two weeks before the shooting.

Abdulkareem has been booked into the San Diego County Central Jail on multiple felony charges, records show. He is facing one count of murder and two counts of attempted murder, but police also noted that further investigation into the incident could reveal additional felony charges.

He is scheduled to be arraigned this week.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
As primary election day nears, California Senate contenders are gearing up for a fierce battle to replace the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

Four hopefuls are vying for Feinsteins seat including Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Republican candidate Steve Garvey, Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.).

There are two primary elections on the ballot to replace Feinstein: one is to fill the remaining months of her current term and the other is for a full six-year term starting in January 2025.

California has a top-two primary system in which all candidates appear on the same ballot regardless of party, and the top two finishers advance to the general election, Associated Press reports.

On Saturday, Schiff was welcomed by a crowd in Orange County as the Democratic representative continued campaigning on the last stretch.

Theres so much at stake on Tuesday: our democracy, our economy and our planet, Schiff said. The challenge today is not that people arent working, its the promise of working harder than ever and yet you still cant afford to get by. We need to make the economy work for people. That means building housing thats affordable, attacking these grocery chain mergers that are driving up food prices.

FILE -Candidates, from left, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., and former baseball player Steve Garvey, stand on stage during a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., is joined by Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif. left, and Rep. Barbara Lee D-Calif. center, pose for photos after a U.S. Senate Candidate Forum hosted by the National Union of Health Care Workers (NUHW) in Los Angeles on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)

FILE -Candidates, from left, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., and former baseball player Steve Garvey, stand on stage during a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Candidate Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., takes questions from reporters after a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., speaks with reporters after a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Former baseball player Steve Garvey speaks during a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) addresses reporters during a press conference on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 to discuss Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) rejecting the assignments of Reps. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) to the House Intelligence Committee.

Candidates, from left, U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, D-Calif., and former baseball player Steve Garvey, stand on stage during a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Rep. Katie Porter casting her vote in California Primary election alongside her son Luke on Mar. 2, 2024. (KTLA)

LOS ANGELES, CA  OCTOBER 07: Los Angeles Dodgers legend Steve Garvey throws out a ceremonial first pitch before the Dodgers take on the Atlanta Braves in Game Four of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 7, 2013 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

The leading candidates for U.S. Senate participated in an Inside California Politics debate on Feb. 12, 2024. From left to right: Barbara Lee, Steve Garvey, Adam Schiff, Katie Porter. (Nexstar Media/Benton Huang)

U.S. Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., left, and U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., react during a televised debate for candidates in the senate race to succeed the late California Sen. Dianne Feinstein, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Photos of Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, Barbara Lee (Getty Images) Photo of Steve Garvey (AP)

U.S. Senate candidate Adam Schiff (D) is shown during a Feb. 12, 2024 debate hosted by Nexstar.

The Massachusetts-born former federal prosecutor first stepped into the national spotlight as he led the first impeachment effort against former President Donald Trump.

Schiff also served on the congressional panel investigating the insurrection at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

A challenger for the same senate seat is Congresswoman Katie Porter. She cast her ballot in Irvine Saturday, alongside her son Luke, a first-time voter at the age of 18.

Porter is considered a rising star in the Democratic Party. She currently represents Californias 47th congressional district, which includes Irvine and a portion of Orange County, and has held her seat since 2019.

I think its important that people make their voices heard, Porter said. There are really important things on the ballot like issues about how were going to deal with homelessness and mental health with Prop. 1.

Governor Gavin Newsom also hit the campaign trail, joining L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna in San Fernando to support Prop. 1, a measure focused on tackling the states growing homelessness and mental health crisis.

Proposition 1 will include modernizing the Mental Health Services Act and Assembly Bill 531, along with a $6.38 billion bond to build new mental health housing and substance abuse treatment centers across California.

It really starts looking at the problem holistically and it gives more options or alternatives to our men and women in uniform who are out there just trying to help out, Luna explained.

A new poll now shows former L.A. Dodger player and businessman Steve Garvey leading the race for Feinsteins Senate seat, with Schiff not far behind.

A poll from the Institute of Governmental Studies (IGS) at the University of California, Berkeley shows that Garvey is favored by 27% of likely voters compared to Schiffs 25%. Katie Porter finishes with 19%.

However, that same poll showed Schiff would have a significant lead over Garvey in a two-way matchup  53% to 38%, respectively.

The California presidential and state primaries will be held on Tuesday, March 5. Polls will close at 8 p.m. PT. To find the nearest voting center, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Not even whipping winds and highway closures could wipe smiles from the faces of Alexander Ruiz Gonzalez and his family  they had just seen snow for the first time.

The Gonzalezes, who mostly spoke Spanish, were visiting California from Colombia. They were among several travelers Saturday on Highway 50  most of whom were tourists rather than locals  who braved blizzard-like conditions and chain controls en route to Lake Tahoe.

Card travel along Highway 50 near Pollock Pines on Saturday. Chain controls were in effect from Pollack Pines to Echo Summit.

The blizzard that swept across the Sierra Nevada east of Sacramento has already dumped 3 feet or more of snow. The severe winter storm has also created life-threatening conditions on major roadways, forced closures and delays at Tahoe ski resorts and plunged thousands of residents east of Sacramento into darkness. Authorities from the National Weather Service to Caltrans and the California Highway Patrol have strongly discouraged travel through the mountains due to the storm through Sunday.

But the fierce storm couldnt stop the Gonzalezs from relishing their first tastes of snow  and a snowball fight  on the side of the road just west of Pollock Pines. They filmed the flurries on their phones and phoned their family members while a technician installed snow chains on their silver sedan. They had hoped to reach the basin before the roadway was closed again.

Mari Gonzalez from Colombia smiles as she watches the snow fall while stopping at a chain control station on Highway 50 near Pollack Pines on Saturday.

Beautiful! Its beautiful! said Mari Gonzalez as she danced around in the snow, flakes landing gently in her hair and along the collar of her coat.

While the Gonzalez family frolicked in the flurries, truck driver Derrick Pitts was just trying to get back on his way home to Washington, D.C. Hed already been away for five weeks toting loads around Oregon and California. His original goal Saturday was to make it to Wyoming. But hed never seen such dismal road conditions in his three years of professional trucking.

I really dont know whats ahead, Pitts said. I think theyre saying its supposed to be like a blizzard or something.

After trying  and failing  to install snow chains on his own, Pitts figured just getting out of the blizzard would be victory enough for one day. Hed pay the $40 to get the chains on, push through the Sierras and then pull over and rest up until the morning.

A little further west on 50, Halima Gamez and William Membreno struggled as they worked to put chains on their plum-colored Kia Forte. The San Jose residents said in Spanish that they were on their way to Lake Tahoe and had very little experience driving in the snow.

William Membreno of San Jose puts on chains along Highway 50 near Camino on Saturday. Chain controls were in effect from Pollack Pines to Echo Summit due to blizzard conditions.

Thankfully, Sacramento resident Jaime Cervantes had pulled off the road in front of the couple and offered to lend a hand with the chains. He was also on his way to Lake Tahoe. Not to ski, he said, but just to watch the snow.

At a Safeway in Pollock Pines, courtesy clerk Hailee Lind shoveled mounds of freshly fallen snow out of the corrals so customers could return their shopping carts. As a local, Lind said shed seen far gnarlier storms in the past.

Oh yeah, its been much worse, she said. Weve had years where weve had four or five feet of snow. Were used to it.

Lind said the store mostly gets tourists on the weekends, and people who visit from out of town often dont expect the snow to be as bad as it is. Her advice: Carry chains just in case.

Hailee Lind shovels snow from the shopping cart corral in the parking lot of Safeway in Camino on Saturday.
Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (KLSE:MRCB) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: RM2.51b (down 22% from FY 2022).

Net income: RM101.0m (up 56% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 4.0% (up from 2.0% in FY 2022). The increase in margin was driven by lower expenses.

EPS: RM0.023 (up from RM0.015 in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad Earnings Insights

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 1.7% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 9.5% growth forecast for the Construction industry in Malaysia.

Performance of the Malaysian Construction industry.

The company's shares are down 3.3% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Before we wrap up, we've discovered 1 warning sign for Malaysian Resources Corporation 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.
Polls consistently show that a significant number of voters would not vote for Donald Trump if he's a convicted felon. (Bloomberg / via Getty Images)

Well, my fellow Americans, its up to us to hold Donald Trump accountable at the ballot box. We cant count on the courts before election day.

This was supposed to be the opening week of Trumps Jan. 6 trial, the first ever of a former president facing criminal charges, for his unprecedented attempt to overturn a U.S. election and remain in power. A verdict could have come down well before November.

But there is no trial today in Washington, thanks to the Republican-super-majority Supreme Court, one-third of whose members are Trump appointees. The courts decision last week to spend months considering Trumps spurious claim of absolute immunity from criminal charges will likely postpone the Jan. 6 trial so long that a verdict before Nov. 5 is nearly impossible .

Pundits who suggest otherwise underestimate Trumps talent for forcing delays and the willingness of some judges and justices to accommodate him.

Whether theres a preelection verdict obviously matters. Polls consistently show a significant number of voters would spurn the presumptive Republican presidential nominee if hes a convicted felon, enough of them to swing a close election to President Biden. (Trump has, remember, already been found liable for financial fraud and for sexual assault and defamation in civil courts.)

Read more: Supreme Court will hear Trump's claim of immunity from Jan. 6 prosecution, delaying his trial

Only the least significant of the four criminal trials Trump faces seems likely to start anytime soon. The New York state case, alleging that he falsified business records to cover up hush money paid to adult-film star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election, is scheduled for March 25.

Meanwhile, the Georgia election-skullduggery case is up in the air as the judge considers whether Fulton County Dist. Atty. Fani Willis can keep trying it amid questions the Trump side raised about her conduct.

And most of us long ago gave up hope that rookie federal Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, would do anything other than what shes done: indulge his stalling tactics in the Mar-a-Lago case, in which hes charged with taking top-secret documents, lying about it and obstructing justice.

Read more: Editorial: More delays? Supreme Court was wrong to put off Trump immunity decision

But it is the Jan. 6 case that is  was  the most crucial, preelection. Americans deserve to see whether a jury would find Trump guilty of conspiring to subvert the 2020 election before they vote on returning him to office in 2024.

Rarely has the saying justice delayed is justice denied seemed so apt. In this instance, the wrong will be done to us, the voters.

We can spread the blame around. Atty. Gen. Merrick Garland has been so consumed with erasing the stain of politicization that the Trump gang left at the Justice Department (a thankless task, as Republicans baseless yammering about its weaponization attests) that he dallied before naming special counsel Jack Smith to investigate Trump. Willis indeed has shown bad judgment . And Cannon appears to be auditioning for promotion to a higher court by a reelected Trump.

Smith, at least, moved with alacrity, along with the federal judge in the Jan. 6 case, Tanya Chutkan. But the Supreme Court has all but foiled their efforts.

Read more: Litman: Without even ruling on Trump's immunity claim, the Supreme Court handed him a huge victory

The justices could have  should have  taken up Trumps immunity claim in December. That month Chutkan rejected Trumps argument for what she called a lifelong get out of jail free pass and when Trump appealed, Smith urged the Supreme Court to cut out the middleman  the D.C. appeals court  and quickly decide the historic matter. It refused.

Then, after the appeals court panel unanimously ruled against Trump, the justices could have  should have  accepted its widely praised opinion as the final word. They didnt.

Worse, in a case thats more consequential to a presidential election's outcome than any since Bush vs. Gore, one of the Supreme Courts members, Clarence Thomas, has a clear conflict of interest, and hes refusing to recuse himself. Thomas wife has been implicated in the pro-Trump machinations to overturn Bidens victory.

A ruling from the justices could come as late as the end of June. They arent expected to support Trumps immunity claim but they could send the case back to the appeals court, further postponing a trial. A verdict on Trumps attempt to hold onto power is now much more unlikely before the election, conservative former appeals court Judge J. Michael Luttig told MSNBC.

That's why the voters' verdict is all the more critical. As Liz Cheney often says , Trump shouldnt be allowed to get anywhere near the Oval Office again. If he does get reelected, he can scuttle the federal cases against him, and hes vowed to pardon those already convicted for their actions on Jan. 6.

Dan Pfeiffer, the former Obama White House advisor, told readers of his newsletter on Thursday that Democrats should make some chicken salad out of this chicken s. Call out the already unpopular Supreme Court, he argued, and hammer the argument that Donald Trump is running for president for one reason and one reason only  to avoid accountability for crimes he committed.

We should stop looking at calendars and calculating on fingers when Trump can be convicted in a courtroom. Were the jury weve been waiting for.

And then, once Trump is defeated again, the trials can play out. And those other juries can finish the job of holding Citizen Trump accountable.

@jackiekcalmes

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A murky tale of misogyny and class prejudice has been unearthed from the ledgers of Cambridge University's prison.

Throughout the 19th Century, it locked up women it suspected of soliciting students or dons in the Spinning House.

No evidence was needed, no fair trial was offered and sentencing was arbitrary.

For the women caught up in in this system, "being poor, pretty and petulant seemed the biggest crime", according to historian Caroline Biggs.

So, how did a teenager called Daisy Hopkins help bring about its demise?

She is one of four women whose stories were traced by Ms Biggs, whose book on The Spinning House is out on Friday.

"I'd known about the story for a while and was intrigued about the legend of a prostitute that brought about the demolition of the prison," the Museum of Cambridge trustee said.

"When I started a creative writing MA, I looked into it and discovered so much more than I expected to find."

Daisy Hopkin's case of wrongful imprisonment in 1891 made national and international headlines, but so did those of Elizabeth Howe, Emma Kemp and Jane Elsden in the preceding half century.

"Each of them caused the university enough embarrassment to make small changes to how they ran the prison," said Ms Biggs.

In December 1846, a coroner's inquest found Elizabeth Howe, 19, died from "being put to a damp bed in the Spinning House".

Her death caused national outrage and forced the university to improve the prison's conditions, having ignored similar calls by prison inspectors for years.

Jailing women in the Spinning House also ruined their reputation making it hard for them to find employment.

Emma Kemp, 24, had the courage to take to court her arresting proctor over a wrongful arrest in 1860. Proctors were university officials who patrolled the streets, responsible for maintaining discipline.

She was cleared, but the dressmaker and her mother both lost trades they had carefully built up over years.

The origins of the university's control over the right of women to walk in Cambridge after dark go back to an Elizabethan charter.

This allowed its senior members to arrest and imprison any woman "suspected" of prostitution.

It was introduced to prevent the town's mayors from releasing women jailed by university.

Then in 1825, an Act of Parliament gave the university a private police force of special constables, nicknamed the Bulldogs by townspeople, to accompany the proctors.

Ms Biggs said: "Bulldogs took pride in sniffing out every morsel of tittle tattle about the young women living in Cambridge."

Those arrested were taken to the university's vice-chancellor for sentencing.

But they were only meant to target women found "in the company" of a member of the university.

So when Jane Elsden, 17, was dragged to the Spinning House in 1891, despite being alone, the subsequent furore exposed the lack of due process faced by all the women.

Ms Biggs has examined more than 6,000 arrests of women "suspected of evil" by university officials during the 19th Century.

None had a fair trial, no law was broken, no evidence of wrongdoing was recorded and sentencing by the vice-chancellor was arbitrary, usually dependent on the woman having "come quietly", she said.

Most were teenagers and more than half single offenders.

"I'm not naive enough to think some weren't prostitutes, but the point is we don't know as there was no evidence," she said.

The main goal was to remove women and temptation from the streets.

Ms Biggs said: "Parents were terrified their precious sons might fall prey to immoral behaviour. It was argued that it was the university's duty to protect men destined for greatness.

"Of course, dons and undergraduates kept mistresses... the double standard was alive and kicking."

A few months after Jane Elsden's case, Daisy Hopkins, 17, was jailed despite a man admitting to soliciting her.

A case of habeaus corpus was brought - so a judge could decide whether she was being kept in prison legally or not - in a landmark case still referred to today, securing her release.

The university had been slowly evolving during the 19th Century, with male academics allowed to marry from the 1880s, and women's colleges opening up.

In 1894, an Act of Parliament revoked the university's Elizabethan charter, terminating the vice chancellor's right to arrest and imprison women who were suspected of prostitution.

Ms Biggs said: "It is a fact that many were innocent, but their association with the Spinning House ruined them regardless."

The building was demolished and replaced with a police station in 1901.

Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@bbc.co.uk or WhatsApp 0800 169 1830
On Saturday, the Camp Jackson fire station in Cahokia Heights was struck by gunfire for the third time this year.

Assistant fire chief Sharon Davis said Illinois State Police determined in a previous investigation that the station had been hit by ricocheting bullets from target practice in the area. She thinks thats what happened again.

Davis estimated that over 300 shots were fired Saturday. She said no one was injured and the station didnt have any major damage this time. She thinks the buildings brick exterior was hit.

In the last two incidents, bullets came through the glass of the stations front bay doors on New Years Eve and again in late January. Davis previously told the BND that a firefighter was almost hit in the New Years Eve incident.

The fire station is located in a residential area. Davis said police officers investigating Saturdays gunfire couldnt find any shell casings at the fire station, but nearby homeowners had some on their front porches.

Law enforcement agencies couldnt immediately be reached Saturday for additional information about the investigation.
Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly announced on March 3 that Canada is imposing another round of sanctions against Russia over the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

Navalny, Putin's most prominent political opponent, died on Feb. 16 in a penal colony in Russia's far northern Yamal-Nenets Autonomous District.

Leaders around the world pointed at Putin as to blame for Navalny's death. It remains unclear whether the harsh prison conditions caused his death or if he was intentionally murdered.

According to Jolys statement, the latest sanctions will be imposed on six Russian officials, including senior officials and high-ranking employees of Russia's prosecution, judicial, and correctional services.

"Alongside our partners, Canada will maintain pressure on the Russian government to conduct a full and transparent inquiry into the death of Mr. Navalny," Joly said.

"This increased pressure on the Russian government sends a clear signal that human rights must be unequivocally respected," she added.

U.S. President Joe Biden earlier in February announced an additional package of sanctions against Russia for "its ongoing war of conquest on Ukraine and for the death of Alexei Navalny."

The new sanctions targeted individuals connected to Russia's financial sector, the defense-industrial base, and procurement networks, as well as those involved in Navalny's imprisonment and sanctions evaders.

The EU and the U.K. also imposed additional sanctions on Russia shortly after Navalny's death and on the second anniversary of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Read also: Navalnys death preceded by long list of Putin critics murders

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Editors Note: Jack Becker is the editor of Caprock Chronicles and is a Librarian Emeritus from Texas Tech University. He can be reached at jack.becker@ttu.edu. Todays article about the 1947 Lubbock trial of George Holland is the first of a three-part series by frequent contributor Chuck Lanehart, Lubbock attorney and award-winning history writer.

The accused man had a name, but in newspaper headlines throughout Texas and beyond, he was referred to as "The Negro."

In the mid-20th Century, it was common for newspapers to refer to persons of color accused of crimes as Negro and Mexican. Occasionally, other racial slurs were seen in print. No racial slurs were used in news coverage of the George Holland trial, but anyone who read about the case knew he was a Black man accused of killing a white sheriff.

Julius Jewell Pierce and his wife Carl Clemmie were parents of eight children.

Born on Valentines Day, 1914, in Oklahoma, George was one of six children reared by his mother in Ralls, Crosby County, Texas. He completed the fourth grade and learned to read and write. As an adult, he was rather smallfive feet nine inches tall and 145 pounds  with a dark complexion, black hair and brown eyes. He did not drink or use tobacco and attended the Baptist church.

At age 19, Holland was married to Hattie Garrett in Ralls. Three years later, he spent two years in prison for a perjury conviction. In 1944, he joined the US Army. He was injured in action in WWII, and he was dishonorably discharged for unknown reasons in 1946.

Holland returned to Ralls, a dry town. The State of Texas outlawed most alcohol sales, and there were lots of thirsty folks in Crosby County. Holland, unable to find work in his previous jobslaundryman and linemanbecame a bootlegger, a dangerous business. Twenty years earlier, Crosby County bootleggers were involved in a feud which resulted in violent deaths.

Julius Jewell Pierce was born in 1900 in Hill County, Texas. His father Quill was a farmer and former Sheriff of Hill County. Jewell dropped out of high school and in 1920, he married a local girl, Carl Brantley. The couple began farming and raising kids. The growing family moved to rural Crosby County in 1929, rented a farm and joined the Mt. Blanco Missionary Baptist Church. By 1934, they owned their own small farm and a new Ford sedan.

Pierce presented a dashing figure, six feet three inches tall and slim, with brown hair, brown eyes, a square jaw and a tough countenance. He could have passed for a movie Texas lawman. With encouragement from friends and the support of his family, he followed his fathers example and ran for Crosby County Sheriff. He was elected and took office January 1, 1947. His wife and eight children were proud, but they worried about his dangerous new job.

George Holland, 1947, accused murderer of Crosby County Sheriff J.J. Pierce.

Pierce  known as J.J. in news accounts  immediately began enforcing liquor law violations. One of the sheriffs targets was George Holland, who Pierce arrested several times on liquor law and vagrancy charges in the first few months of his term.

Trouble was brewing.

On the night of Saturday, Aug. 2, 1947, Sheriff Pierce told his family he was going to Ralls to make a raid. He went alone to Hollands neighborhood in The Flats. He found a cache of liquor in an outhouse and lay in wait until shortly before midnight, when he observed Holland leave a house and remove bottles from the shack.

According to news accounts, the lawman challenged the negro, who submitted to arrest, but as the two were walking from the scene, 35 to 50 feet from the (man's) house, the black, walking on the sheriff's right, jerked the officer's gun from its holster and started shooting.

The first of five shots tore through the Sheriffs right arm, into his side and into his heart. Pierce fell, grabbing for his gun as bullets swiftly ripped through his hand, head and cheek. He was left to die lying on his side in a weedy vacant lot, with large powder marks on his head, indicating shots were fired at point blank range.

George Holland's draft registration card, circa 1940.

Witnesses provided a license plate number for the late-model car Holland was seen driving as he fled the scene. An army of law enforcement officers traversed West Texas in search of the vehicle.

The license plate described was spotted on a car Sunday morning in a segregated neighborhood of Amarillo. News accounts reported Holland appeared at the home of an Amarillo negro woman and told her he was in trouble. At 7 a.m., police found him asleep on her divan, and he was arrested.

Chuck Lanehart

The prisoner should have been taken to the Crosby County Jail, in the jurisdiction where the crime occurred. However, threats of a lynch mob had been reported, so Holland was housed in the more secure Lubbock County Jail to await his fate.

Wire services spread the news, and on Aug. 4, dozens of bold headlines used the word negro to tell the story. In Lubbock, Negro Held in Ralls Shooting. In Amarillo, Hold Negro in Murder of Sheriff. In San Angelo, Negro to be Charged in Shooting.

Part Two of this series will be published in next Sundays Lubbock A-J.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Caprock Chronicles: A racially charged trial in Lubbock part one: The bootlegger and the sheriff
FOND DU LAC COUNTY, Wis. (WFRV)  Four men from southeastern Wisconsin were arrested in Fond du Lac County on Saturday morning after being pulled over for speeding on I-41 and being found with three illegally possessed handguns.

According to the Fond du Lac County Sheriffs Office, a car carrying four men from the Milwaukee area was pulled over on I-41 near Lost Arrow Road for going over 100 mph. The men reportedly said that were headed to Fond du Lac to party.

During the traffic stop, three handguns were found, one of which was reported stolen out of Georgia.

Two taken into custody stemming from Fridays shots fired incident in Clintonville

Deputies say that none of the four suspects were eligible to legally carry a concealed weapon and that two of them were under the age of 21 and had been drinking alcohol. It was also noted that the firearms will be tested to determine if they are linked to any other criminal investigations.

Arrested during the incident were:

20-year-old driver Operating While Intoxicated Operating after Suspension Possession of a Stolen Firearm Carrying a Concealed Weapon

20-year-old passenger Possession of a Stolen Firearm Carrying a Concealed Weapon

20-year-old passenger Possession of a Stolen Firearm Carrying a Concealed weapon

23-year-old passenger Possession of a Stolen Firearm Carrying a Concealed Weapon Probation Hold



No further information was released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Burns High School celebrated the grand opening of its new auditorium last week. Crest High will have a similar celebration next month.

Burns High School celebrated the grand opening of its new auditorium last week. Crest High will have a similar celebration next month.

After years of waiting, dreaming and planning, Cleveland County Schools celebrated the grand opening of a new auditorium at Burns High School.

A ceremony was held recently with a ribbon cutting and was attended by current and past school board members, staff, students and teachers. A similar ribbon cutting will be held for the new Crest High auditorium on March 28 at 7 p.m.

Holland & Hamrick architects and Beam Construction started the project in 2022, and it was completed early this year. The total cost for both auditoriums was $30 million.

According to Cleveland County Schools, approximately $14.25 million for each facility came directly from the North Carolina Lottery Funds, with local funds providing a 5% match totaling approximately $15 million each.

"As we inaugurate these beautiful, much-needed auditoriums at Burns High and Crest High, it is important to know that these cutting-edge additions are not merely the culmination of bricks and mortar but a testament to our collective vision, perseverance and commitment to the cultivation of excellence," said Robert Queen, chairman of the Cleveland County Board of Education. "I believe these spaces will inspire creativity, foster community, and will provide our students with a state-of-the-art venue for showcasing their brilliance and talents for generations to come."

The auditoriums will seat approximately 1,000 people.

Reporter Rebecca Sitzes can be reached at rsitzes@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: CCS celebrates grand opening of new auditorium
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)- On Saturday afternoon people gathered at Cessna Park to celebrate the life of 1-year-old Taidyn Anderson, the boy who was killed in a shooting on Feb. 19th.

A local business  Party Rockerz ICT  hosted the celebration of life to help generate donations for Taidyns family.

I said you know I have to help this family. This mother she just lost her child so I said whatever we can do, were there to help,' Party Rockerz ICT owner and event organizer Kayla Lawrence said.

Structurally deficient bridge over I-70 closed by KDOT

The event had donuts for donations and they had kids characters like Spiderman, princess Belle and two dogs from Paw Patrol.

Lawrence said she just wants to help the family with hospital, funeral and relocation expenses.

I mean its hard. They lost a baby. I cant even imagine. You know were just going to be here for the family. Were going to be here for anything they need, Lawrence said.

If you wish to help Taidyns family, click this link to the GoFundMe page.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Its an absolute masterclass in how to portray a united front. Youve got a kiss, a firm hand hold, confident but neutral smiles, a look of slight sheepishness on him, an outfit that says dont any of you go thinking Im remotely phased by all this on her (the sleek white dress and pearls are really projecting an easy breezy, faintly minor Royal at Wimbledon aesthetic). Truly, the pictures of Geri and Christian Horner tick every box.

The couple walked in front of the cameras at the Bahrain Grand Prix on Saturday, appearing to be very much together in the wake of reports of his allegedly controlling behaviour, and sending a clear message that they are brushing off the whole sorry business. WhatsApp messages? What WhatsApp messages?

The pair shared a kiss before the Bahrain Grand Prix - David Davies

No matter how far we travel from the kind of showbiz gossip that filled column inches in the Nineties and early Noughties, a celebrity couple in the midst of a scandal in 2024 seems to have the exact same weapons in their arsenal as they always have done. The rules remain the same  namely, if you are choosing to weather the storm, youve got to prove it in front of the cameras. Youd better get yourselves a nice set of pictures taken, then. Big smiles, a bit of staged affection, and you can deal with the real feelings behind closed doors.

There is an art to the united front shot. Here are some true classics of the genre.

Hillary and Bill Clinton, 1998

Hillary Clinton appeared unfazed as her husband denied allegations of an affair - getty

It is January 26, 1998 and Bill Clinton is taking a press conference in the White House, telling America he categorically did not have sexual relations with that woman. I never told anybody to lie, not a single time; never. These allegations are false, he said.

Behind him, in a canary yellow suit, is Hillary, her face fixed with an expression somewhere between stern and neutral. Her body language is sending a clear message  she isnt rattled by this.

By that point, Hillary had had some practice in the art of projecting marital harmony. In 1992, when Bill was governor of Arkansas and a presidential candidate, a tabloid published an interview with a woman who claimed to have been his mistress for 12 years. The Clintons appeared on CBSs 60 Minutes in the slot after the Super Bowl to respond to the story. You know, Im not sitting here, some little woman standing by my man like Tammy Wynette, Hillary said.

Im sitting here because I love him, and I respect him, and I honour what hes been through and what weve been through together. And you know, if thats not enough for people, then heck  dont vote for him.

They did, though commentators later suggested this particular moment (and the interviews she gave after the Lewinsky affair) haunted Hillary during her own presidential campaign. She projected a set of complicated, even conflicting images, wrote one Politico commentator during the 2016 election. Forthright but defensive, feisty but dutiful  triggering the mix of sceptical, antagonistic feelings that have defined her with a share of the American public ever since.

David and Victoria Beckham, 2004

'Victoria does a lot of the heavy lifting here,' says Steafel - getty

In 2004, amid the media frenzy that followed news of his alleged affair with Rebecca Loos, David and Victorias PR team released a statement dismissing the claims and, days later, happily posed for a scrum of photographers after a family dinner to celebrate Poshs 30th birthday. They emerged smiling from the restaurant as they appeared determined to give the impression they were a happy couple despite the week-long series of allegations about Davids private life, so the story went in the next days Daily Mail.

It was classic Brand Beckham. Their publicist released a statement rubbishing the absurd claim  all they needed to do was give the papers a set of pictures that said were very much in love, very much still the peoples Posh and Becks.

In hindsight, Victoria does a lot of the heavy lifting here. Walking out of Gordon Ramsays restaurant at Claridges, David looks awkward and shiny with a smile that is borderline sheepish. Posh, meanwhile, holds his hand, smiles brightly and convincingly, and off they go into the night. Mission accomplished.

Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel, 2020

Timberlake and Biel appeared sporting 'big smiles and sunglasses to hide any lingering resentment' - AKGS

This appears to be something of a theme in the annals of celebrity united front photos  dress alike and youll appear more like a partnership. Two months after photos emerged in 2019 of Timberlake looking rather cosy with a co-star on a night out in New Orleans, the couple stepped out for a walk in New York presenting what could be called the united front trifecta: firstly, linked arms; secondly, big smiles and sunglasses to hide any lingering resentment; and thirdly, a bag to hold so you look like youre having a totally normal morning running errands.

Timberlake denied claims of an affair, but admitted to participating in an embarrassing situation, citing his strong lapse in judgement in a letter on Instagram in which he apologised to his amazing wife.

Dominic West and Catherine FitzGerald, 2020

The couples appearance came after West was photographed kissing Lily James in Rome - MEGA

You slightly felt as if you had blinked and gone back in time 20 years when the Wests stepped outside their house to tell the world our marriage is strong and were very much still together. Pictures had emerged days before of West kissing actress Lily James in Rome while they were filming the BBC drama The Pursuit of Love.

But this was 2020  the unwritten showbiz rules had changed. The couple could easily have simply ignored the stories and waited for them to go away. Instead, they took back control, coming out and doing what could only be described in tabloidese as packing on the PDA in front of the waiting cameras. Dominic looked oddly formal in a crisp shirt and coat; his wife Catherine looked the picture of calm confidence in a polo neck and jeans. It seemed to do the trick, and they are still together today.

Liz Hurley & Hugh Grant

Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley were all smiles at Cannes in 1996 - getty

Hurley and Grant showing exactly how its done here. It was May 1996 and youll recall Grant had been in a spot of bother the year before, when he was caught with a sex worker in Los Angeles and got himself arrested. He and Hurley hadnt been seen together much since. A year later, still very much together  and with the film she had produced and he had starred in to promote, Extreme Measures  it seems they decided to send a message that all was well.

All eyes were turned seaward for a stage-managed move worthy of any of the films presently showing at the Cannes Film Festival, wrote the Associated Press at the time.

British celebrity couple Hugh Grant and Liz Hurley let it be known they would be sailing up to the waterfront to attend a cocktail hour screening of clips from their latest project.

As a result, more than 200 cameramen and photographers and more than a thousand interested onlookers crammed onto the foreshore for a glimpse of the duo.

Some journalists even hired boats to get a better shot of the couple on board.

They were all smiles as they walked straight up to the huge crowd and posed for photos, dodging any questions lobbed at them by the hungry mob. Hurley looks powerful, in control, utterly unphased. Grant, meanwhile, looks about as awkward as William Thacker in Notting Hill. They were together for another five years, and are still great friends. In fact, he is godfather to Hurleys son Damian.

Tess Daly and Vernon Kay, 2010

A month after Kay was found to have been sending explicit texts to a glamour model, he and Daly were hosts at the Prince's Trust Celebrate Success Awards - Dominic Lipinski

Theres nothing like having to host an awards ceremony after your husband has been caught sexting a glamour model  that must surely be a specific kind of hell. A month after Kay was found to have been sending explicit texts to Rhian Sugden, he and Daly were hosts at the Princes Trust Celebrate Success Awards. Reports from the night tell how they slipped in a side entrance rather than walking the red carpet. There was no staged photo of them holding hands  rather, they presented as a professional team. They were Tess and Vernon, here to get the job done.

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.
Chef Jose Andres is pushing back on criticism surrounding the humanitarian airdrops into Gaza, arguing food must be delivered there in any way it can be.

Andres, the founder of World Central Kitchen, responded to a recent statement from Oxfam International stating they do not support U.S. airdrops in Gaza, where Andress organization has been sending food. Oxfam International said the airdrops would mostly serve to relieve the guilty consciences of senior U.S. officials whose policies are contributing to the ongoing atrocities and the risk of famine in Gaza.

Yeah, this is probably written by somebody that doesnt have  who has a lot of time on his hands. Listen, we need to bring food into Gaza any way we can, Andres said on ABCs This Week.

We should be bringing it by the sea, maritime. We should be putting boats in front of Gaza. I hope its going to happen soon, where we can be bringing hundreds of thousands, if not millions of meals, he added.

Andres said that bringing aid by tricks is not safe enough in Gaza. This comes days after more than 100 Palestinians in Gaza City were killed as they were reportedly trying to get humanitarian aid from trucks.

Why are we doing the air? Why are people doing, thinking about coming by  by the sea? Because the political situation is not allowing [us] to bring safely enough trucks. Therefore, we need to be bold. I dont think we need to be criticizing that Jordan [and] America are doing airdrops. If anything, we should be applauding any initiative that brings food into Gaza, Andres said.

The U.S. started its humanitarian airdrops in Gaza on Saturday morning. The 66 bundles dropped contained about 38,000 meals, two officials told The Associated Press.

Democrats nominated Andres and the World Central Kitchen for the Nobel Peace Prize earlier this year, citing his effort to provide 40 million meals to feed the hungry across the world through his nongovernmental organization.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MGI - Media and Games Invest (ETR:M8G) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: 419.4m (up 19% from FY 2022).

Net income: 46.7m (up from 20.3m loss in FY 2022).

Profit margin: 11% (up from net loss in FY 2022).

EPS: 0.29 (up from 0.13 loss in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

MGI - Media and Games Invest Revenues and Earnings Beat Expectations

Revenue exceeded analyst estimates by 5.9%. Earnings per share (EPS) also surpassed analyst estimates by 25%.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 2.8% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 4.0% growth forecast for the Media industry in Germany.

Performance of the German Media industry.

The company's shares are up 20% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

It's necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with MGI - Media and Games Invest (at least 2 which are 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.
CHICAGO  Charges have been filed against a Chicago man accused in a road rage-related shooting along I-57 that left a person injured on Wednesday.

According to Illinois State Police, 25-year-old Mikyael Harris has been charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm.

Police say the charge stems from a shooting that allegedly unfolded in the southbound lanes along I-57 at Halsted Street, just before 3:30 p.m.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

The victims vehicle was hit once by gunfire and the victim suffered a graze wound to the head.

After the shooting, officers say the victim told police that they got into a road rage incident with the suspect before the shooting broke out.

Following an investigation, officers were able to determine a suspect in the shooting.

Police search for 6 involved in robbery at South Side Red Line stop

Harris was later taken into custody just before midnight on Wednesday after ISP SAVE troopers identified the suspects vehicle at the GoLo Gas Station in Chicago.

Officers say Harris will be held at the Riverdale Police Department until his initial

hearing.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
CHICAGO - A man was charged with murder in connection to a fatal stabbing in Brighton Park on Friday.

Chicago police say Hugo Reza-Valdespino, 43, was arrested after he stabbed a man to death in the 4200 block of South California Avenue.

He was arrested in the same block approximately 40 minutes after the incident, at 5:06 p.m. The stabbing happened in the same block where Reza-Valdespino lives.

Reza-Valdesoino was charged with first-degree murder. The victim was a 48-year-old man.

His detention hearing was scheduled for Sunday.
CHICAGO - A 25-year-old Chicago man is behind bars in connection with a road rage shooting on I-57 that left another driver injured.

Mikyael Harris is charged with aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony, for a shooting that occurred at 3:30 p.m., Feb. 28 on I-57 southbound at Halsted Street.

Harris was firing rounds at another vehicle on the expressway before leaving the scene, according to Illinois State Police.

The victim's vehicle was struck once after a bullet went through the driver's side window and grazed the driver's head, according to police.

During the investigation, the victim told police they were involved in a road rage argument with Harris moments before the shooting happened.

Several hours later, at 11:56 p.m., troopers tracked down Harris' vehicle at a gas station and took him into custody.

Harris is currently being held at the Riverdale Police Department until his initial hearing. The date for the hearing hasn't been announced.

Anyone who believes they are a victim of road rage is urged to call 911 or go to the nearest police department.
Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), speaks at the opening ceremony of the 14th World Health Summit. The WHO chief responded with outrage to reports of the deaths of several Palestinians in a suspected Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah. Carsten Koall/dpa

The head of the World Health Organization (WHO) responded with outrage to reports of the deaths of several Palestinians in a suspected Israeli airstrike on the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah.

These are "outrageous and unspeakable," Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter on Saturday.

"Reports that tents sheltering displaced people in Rafah were bombed - reportedly killing 11 people and injuring 50, including children - are outrageous and unspeakable," he said.

His comments came in response to the statement by the Gaza health authority, controlled by Islamist Hamas, saying at least 11 Palestinians were killed and 50 were injured in the suspected Israeli attack. The information could not be independently verified.

Two health workers were among those killed, according to the WHO chief.

Health workers and civilians must be protected at all times, he said. "We urge Israel to cease fire."

In the evening, the Israeli military said it attacked a group of fighters from the Islamic Jihad militia, aligned with Hamas.

The Rafah attack was aimed specifically at the terrorists and no damage had been caused to a nearby hospital, it said, although this information also could not be independently verified.

Hamas said tents belonging to refugees in front of the entrance to a hospital were hit and that a paramedic and a nurse at the hospital were among the casualties.

Some 1.5 million people have crowded into Rafah, the southernmost city in Gaza on the border with Egypt. Most are refugees who have fled fighting in other parts of the coastal strip and are housed in tents without adequate sanitary facilities or health care.
FILE - A voting sign is seen near a voting center at Croft Baptist Church, Feb. 24, 2024, in Spartanburg, S.C. A small but substantial chunk of GOP primary and caucus voters have said they'd be so dissatisfied if Donald Trump became the Republican Party's presidential nominee that they would ultimately not vote for him in November, according to AP VoteCast. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

WASHINGTON (AP)  A small but substantial chunk of Republican primary and caucus voters say they would be so dissatisfied if Donald Trump became the party's presidential nominee that they would not vote for him in November's general election, according to AP VoteCast.

An analysis of the data shows that many of those voters were unlikely to vote for Trump, some even before this year, but it still points to potential problems for the former president as he looks to consolidate the nomination and pivot toward an expected rematch with Democratic President Joe Biden.

According to AP VoteCast surveys of the first three head-to-head Republican contests, 2 in 10 Iowa voters, one-third of New Hampshire voters, and one-quarter of South Carolina voters would be so disappointed by Trumps renomination that they would refuse to vote for him in the fall.

This unwillingness to contemplate a presidential vote for Trump isnt confined to voters in the earliest states.

Lee and Bill Baltzell defected from the Republican Party to register as independents a year ago. They attended a rally for supporters of Trump's last major rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, last week in Centennial, Colorado, to encourage her to keep running against Trump.

We dont know that Trump will run into more legal problems and be disqualified, and Id rather not see Biden in there for another four years, said Bill Baltzell, 60.

If its between Biden and Trump, Lee Baltzell, 58, said she would consider writing in an alternative.

I dont know. I did not vote for Biden the last time; I dont know that I could do it this time. But I dont know if I could vote for Trump.

Opposition from voters like the Baltzells hasnt slowed Trumps march toward the nomination, but it could be an issue for him later on. Its not clear how much of a problem, though, because a dive into the numbers shows that many of the never-Trump voters in the early states were unlikely to vote for him in the general election to begin with.

Many of the voters who said they wouldnt vote for Trump as the nominee arent Republicans at all. In the first three head-to-head contests, anywhere from 17% to 31% of the voters who said they wouldnt support Trump in the general election identified as Democrats, and between 14% and 27% identified as independents.

Even for some of those Republicans, voting for Trump was already a tough sell. Anywhere between one-half and two-thirds of the staunchly anti-Trump voters in the early contests said they had voted for Biden in 2020.

Then there is the fact that primaries tend to draw out the people with the most passionate opinions. Voter turnout in primaries and caucuses, particularly ones that are relatively uncompetitive, is typically lower than it would be in a general election.

Still, about 1 in 10 early contest voters who said they supported Trump in the 2020 general election said they wouldnt be doing so this year.

One question, though, is whether that means they would vote for Trumps opponent instead.

I wont vote for Trump, Ill just say that. I voted for him twice; I could never vote for him again, said Linda Binkley, 74, a registered Republican who isnt pleased by the prospect of a Trump vs. Biden matchup. She added, Im not sure I can vote for Biden.

If Trump becomes the nominee, he will likely need to win over some of the moderates who supported Biden in 2020 if he wants to return to the White House. From that perspective, even a small amount of opposition from within his own party  not to mention broader skepticism among independents  could be a problem in the future.

-

AP VoteCast is a series of surveys conducted among 1,597 Republican caucus voters in Iowa, 1,989 New Hampshire voters who took part in the Republican primary and 2,466 Republican primary voters in South Carolina. The surveys were conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

___

Bedayn reported from Centennial, Colorado.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Financial leaders with the City of Austin cautioned Austin City Council Tuesday about assigning additional dollars to programs or staff until the city can better understand a possible budget deficit for the 2024 fiscal year largely caused by an unexpected dip in sales tax revenue, they said.

The Citys Financial Services Department said its short more than $8 million so far this fiscal year in sales tax revenue versus predictions and suggested if that revenue stream remains flat, the deficit could go up to $15 million by the end of the fiscal year. The fiscal year starts October 1.

Austin City Council approved a record-large $5.5 billion budget last year.

We built our FY 24 budget assuming 4% sales tax growth so flat is not good enough. If our sales tax remain flat against that 4% assumption that we made in the budget, we are going to have a budget deficit that well need to deal with, said City of Austin Chief Financial Officer, Ed Van Eenoo.

Interim City Manager Jesus Garza said hes had conversations with administrative staff about what the possible budget shortfall could mean. Financial leaders will come back to council in the next couple of months with a more detailed look at the budget and a five year projection of revenue.

The last thing we want to do is begin to hire individuals who then begin to make commitmentsand then three months later find out that we can no longer afford that individual because we dont have the income to pay for it, Garza said. Were not quite there yet but those are things where we temper ourselves in terms of not getting over our skis.

ARPA funds running out

As the City of Austin moves forward on its budget process, Van Eenoo also reminded council members that the surge of money from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) is running out. Those dollars need to be assigned no later than this year and spent by the end of 2026.

Were heading towards a fiscal cliff with our ARPA spending, he described it to council members.

The City of Austin received $188 million in federal ARPA funding, according to Van Eenoo. Austin City Council approved a spending framework of more than $250 million though, which included additional grants and some general fund reserves.

A $266 million influx of funding into our budget, that allowed us to elevate services in a number of areas and over the next three years that funding is going to start dropping off, Van Eenoo said.

Whether the ongoing programs and services payed for with ARPA dollars are funded through other sources or go away will be something the city has to address in its budget process moving forward.

Aside from directly addressing COVID-19, the City of Austin has largely used ARPA money to address homelessness and provide rental assistance.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Mayor Paul Young, Police Chief C.J. Davis, and District Attorney Steve Mulroy were in attendance at Senator London Lamars town hall meeting, where Memphiss top officials discussed topics impacting you and your family.

Public safety, economics, and education were the main topics discussed at the town hall meeting held at the Hickory Hill Community Center on Saturday.

Tennessee Commissioner of Education Lizzette Reynolds also joined in on the conversation.

Tennessee is on its way to being one of the top states in this country for public education, said Reynolds.

Facebook post leads to shots fired at Lyft vehicle, teen in custody

Young detailed his top three priorities for the city of Memphis: economic development, blight, and more ways to engage the youth.

Its not a negotiation. Its a conversation. I asked what it would take to have a ceasefire. They told me what they thought it would take to change our community. I think thats valuable insight, said Young.

He also discussed criticism regarding his recent conversations with gang leaders for a ceasefire.

Interim Memphis Police Chief C.J. Davis went over numerous initiatives the department is doing to reduce crime.

We cant arrest our way out of crime, said Davis.

She says she wants to put attention on investing in prevention by hiring more officers to increase community engagement.

Pair robs, assaults victims in Dixie Queen drive-thru

We are going to start putting our officers back in the community. We also created 50 positions for retired officers. Weve filled 25 of those positions already, she said.

During the topic of juvenile crime, she says she is working with the juvenile court to come up with innovative ways to hold parents accountable for their childrens crimes.

Judge Sugarmon and I have talked about mandatory parental classes that some parents would also have to take, said Davis. If your child commits a crime, and you know, or this child has done this over and over again, and you know that that child is involved. If a car shows up in front of your house, you know thats not your car.

Mulroy says his office continues to prioritize violent crime and reducing the recidivism rate. He also claims that there has been a lot of misinformation circulating regarding bail and the D.A. offices role in it.

The revolving door that Im worried about is the revolving door at the other end of the system, where people go into the system, they dont get much rehabilitative intervention, they come out, and they go right back to the life they know, which is a life on the streets, said Mulroy.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
Editor's note: The Kyiv Independent is exclusively re-publishing reports prepared by the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) of the University of Alberta. CIUS launched its Media Monitoring Service (MMS) in the spring of 2022 to identify and critically assess dominant narratives, with a special focus on disinformation, in selected key Canadian and U.S. publications regarding contemporary Ukraine.

Find the latest report on the North American media coverage below:

Six publications (Politico,Foreign Policy, The National Interest, Wall Street Journal, Vancouver Sun, and Toronto Star) were selected to prepare this report on how Ukraine has been portrayed in the North American press from Feb. 18 through Feb. 24, 2024. The sample was compiled based on their impact on public opinion as well as on their professional reputation, popularity among the readership, and topical relevance. These publications represent centrist viewpoints on the political spectrum.

Topics featured in the selected articles:

The world and Ukraine: Intelligence diplomacy plays a key role in countering Russian aggression; four myths about Ukraine that are not true.

Russia at war: EU must respond to the murder of Alexei Navalny; five ways the EU can help stop Russian aggression.

Four myths about Ukraine that are not true. Eric Edelman and David J. Kramer (Politico) note that the two years of Russias war against Ukraine have dispelled some myths about Ukraine, yet also created new ones. These new myths, fuelled by Russian propaganda, could hinder Washingtons support for Kyiv and thus harm the US itself. According to the authors, four myths in particular weaken US support for Ukraine. The first myth states that U.S. support will feed an endless war with no possibility of Ukrainian victory. This belief is manifestly not true. During these two years of full-scale war, Kyiv has liberated a significant part of the territory occupied by Russia since 2014. Moreover, Ukraine has cut Russias conventional capabilities in half, according to estimates from the U.K. chief of defense and the U.S. Director of Central Intelligence. According to Estonias Foreign Intelligence Service, Russia has lost 8,300 armored fighting vehicles in Ukraine; this includes 2,600 tanks, 5,100 armored personnel carriers, and 600 self-propelled artillery units. These impressive results cost the United States less than 4 percent of the Pentagons annual budget. The endless war myth fuels a second myth, that now is the time to reach a cease-fire and start peace talks. In actuality Russia does not want to negotiate, despite its public statements, which are belied by Russian actions on the ground, including the apparent execution of wounded Ukrainian POWs in Avdiivka and the continued bombardment and killings of Ukrainian civilians, atrocities denied by Russian officials. Moreover, a ceasefire would simply give Moscow the opportunity to recover its losses and start a new round of violence in Europe. The third myth is that Ukraine is corrupt and run by neo-Nazisthis is also nonsense. Ukraine is led by a Jewish president, and according to an Anti-Defamation League survey, Ukraine has experienced a significant drop in antisemitic attitudes in recent years. Similarly, tolerance for corruption among Ukrainians after the full-scale invasion has dropped significantly. The last myth is that support for Ukraine would distract the US from key challenges: China and the Middle East. But the threat from China is hypothetical, while the threat from Russia is a going concernafter all, Russia invaded a neighbouring state and seriously damaged the security system of Europe, a key partner of the US. In dollar terms, Europe is providing more economic assistance to Ukraine than we are []. As a percentage of GDP, the United States ranks 15th globally in terms of security assistance provided to Ukraine. According to the authors, the best strategy for the United States should be Ukrainian victory and Russian defeatdriving every Russian occupying soldier off Ukrainian territory, holding Russia accountable for the war crimes it has committed, and seizing Russian frozen assets to help cover the cost of the destruction Putin has caused.

US leaders fail to deliver crucial narrative on Ukraine strategy. William McGurn (Wall Street Journal) argues that the prevailing current discourse on Ukraine juxtaposes Joe Biden and Donald Trump as opposites, particularly regarding military aid to Kyiv, but both leaders lack a strategic articulation of their positions. Biden emphasizes the importance of not conceding victory to Putin without explicitly backing a Ukrainian triumph, while Trump dismisses providing anything to Kyiv except loans as stupid. The lack of a substantial debate between the two leaves the American populace without a vital discussion on desired outcomes and their rationales. As a result, US policy on Ukraine has drifted into ambiguity and fails to address key geopolitical implications, such as deterring aggression from adversaries like Russia and China. As expensive as aid might be, the Ukrainians are inflicting enormous damage to a U.S. adversary with a history of aggression toward its neighbors, the author stresses.

West uncertain on responding to Putin critic Alexei Navalnys death. Allan Woods(Toronto Star) writes that the death of Russian political activist Alexei Navalny in a Siberian prison camp has sparked international concern and calls for action against President Putin. Navalnys supporters suspect foul play, citing unusual signs of bruising on his body consistent with convulsions and attempts to restart his heart. However, with Russia conducting its own investigation, including an autopsy, definitive answers are unlikely. In response to Navalnys death, world leaders are considering various options, including economic sanctions, public condemnation, and support for opposition parties. Yet, there is hesitation due to concerns about potential escalation and the broader implications of such actions: At its worst, escalation could lead to a wider war that spills over Ukraines borders and compels NATO member states to fight, or to a nuclear conflict. Escalation could also lead to harsher treatment or imperil the negotiated release of other political prisoners or opposition figures currently serving time in Russian jails, including figures like Vladimir Kara-Murza.

Continue to the full report here.

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A pair of suspicious-looking rollerblades whose wheels were infused with cocaine led local authorities to seize thousands of dollars worth of drugs from a house in Kenosha, Wisconsin, the Kenosha County Sheriffs Department said Saturday.

Homeland Security first flagged a suspicious package from Bogota, Colombiacontaining the rollerbladesthat was marked for delivery to a house in Kenosha last week, the sheriffs department said. Customs and Border Patrol assisted as they determined the wheels of the rollerblades were suspicious and then subjected them to a number of laboratory tests.

It was then discovered the wheels were infused with a gelatin-like substance that tested positive for the presence of cocaine, the sheriffs department said in their statement.

Hunter Bidens Lawyers Say Feds Mistook Lines of Sawdust for Cocaine

Authorities quickly secured a search warrant and then delivered the package to the home in Kenosha on Friday. Once the residents accepted the cocaine-encrusted skates, a thorough search of the property ensued.

Local police discovered 1,048 grams of cocaine worth $35,000 in street value, the sheriffs department said. They also discovered evidence of an illicit international trafficking scheme in the form of money transfers between Kenosha and Bogota totaling over $30,000, and numerous forged documents including fake permanent resident cards, social security cards, and Colombian IDs.

The sheriffs department did not give any information about potential suspects in the case, but said the investigation was ongoing with potential charges being sought on the individuals involved. They didnt say whether the residents had any ties to criminal organizations in the U.S. or Colombia.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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People protest the pride flag ban bill at the capitol in Nashville, Tennessee, on 26 February 2024.

People protest the pride flag ban bill at the capitol in Nashville, Tennessee, on 26 February 2024. Photograph: Seth Herald/Reuters

Tennessee is poised to become the first state to in effect ban Pride flags in public and charter school classrooms, prompting outrage from the LGBTQ+ community.

The Tennessee house advanced a bill, HB 1605, that forbids schools, teachers or faculty from displaying flags other than the US flag and the Tennessee state flag in public schools. The bill would also allow a parent of a child who attends, or who is eligible to attend a Tennessee public or charter school to sue their school district if a Pride flag is displayed anywhere students may see the object.

Related: LGBTQ+ people protest in Florida over Republican conversion therapy bill

The bill does not mention LGBTQ+ Pride flags or Black Lives Matter outright, but some Republican lawmakers have made it clear that the bill is meant to restrict them.

The bill is expected to clear the senate as early as next week.

Members voted for the bill after a verbal showdown between the state representative Justin Jones, a Democrat, and the Republican house speaker, Cameron Sexton. Jones was blocked from speaking on the house floor after likening the anti-LGBTQ work of the Tennessee legislature to a neo-Nazi rally held in Nashville earlier this month. When Sexton moved to end the debate and proceed to a chamber-wide vote, Jones blasted the speaker for silencing criticism of the proposed ban on Pride flags.

Despite opposition, house Republicans comfortably passed the bill with a final vote of 70 to 24, splitting predictably along party lines.

The vote sparked backlash from LGBTQ+ advocates, who noted that the bills advancement comes just weeks after Nex Benedict  a non-binary teenager in Oklahoma  died following a fight at the public high school they attended.

The flag is a symbol of acceptance, so if a teacher has a small Pride flag on the desk, or a pin on their bag, that signals to students, oh, this is a safe person, said Chris Sanders, executive director of the Tennessee Equality Project. When there is an affirming adult in schools, it sends a signal that there is a place in the building that is safe for LGBT youth.

LGBTQ+ youth consistently report higher rates of bullying, physical threats and other forms of harassment, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. In 2021, nearly two-thirds of all LGBTQ+ youth reported feeling persistently sad and hopeless, compared to roughly one-third of heterosexual youth.

And this is hardly the only attack on LGBTQ+ people in the state of Tennessee: just this year, lawmakers have filed at least 33 bills targeting LGBTQ+ individuals, according to the American Civil Liberties Union.

Sanders warned that the proposed ban on Pride flags harms all of Tennessee, not just LGBTQ+ and Black residents.

They are targeting our communities, but creeping restrictions on peoples expression and speech should be a concern for everyone, he said.

The bills primary sponsor, the Republican state representative Gino Bulso, said that the bill was inspired by parents in his district, who complained about that certain teachers and counselors were displaying a Pride flag in some of Williamson countys schools.

Related: Floridas new anti-gay bill aims to limit and punish protected free speech

Bulso said in a January interview with the local news station WKRN that the LGBTQ+ Pride flag represents values and ideas that he opposes, including the 2015 US supreme court ruling that legalized same-sex marriage.

Fifty years ago, we had a consensus on what marriage is, we dont have that anymore, Bulso told reporters. So the values that I think most parents want their children exposed to are the ones that were in existence at the time that our country was founded.

When pressed by Democratic colleagues to explain the proposed ban, Bulso declined to say if the bill prohibits the display of the Confederate flag in Tennessee classrooms.

Bulsos office did not respond to the Guardians multiple requests for comment.

Outside of his work as a state lawmaker, Bulso is a private attorney who helps parents pursue legal action against public school districts. He is currently representing a group of parents in their lawsuit against the Williamson county board of education for allegedly violating the Age-Appropriate Materials Act of 2022, colloquially referred to by critics as a book ban, which requires schools to remove books that are deemed inappropriate for students.

Notably, one of the four plaintiffs in the case, Aundrea Gomez, does not have children who are enrolled in Williamson county public schools. She has children who are eligible to be enrolled in the county school system, according to the lawsuit. Gomez also works as the Tennessee director of Citizens for Renewing America, a rightwing Christian non-profit that stands against cancel culture.

Theres obviously the risk of a conflict of interest between what Bulso is doing in his private practice, and what hes doing as a legislator, said Bryan Davidson, policy director at the American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee. A huge part of his practice is representing plaintiffs who do not have children in the school system they want to sue.

Related: Trans people are finding safe haven in an unexpected place: upstate New York

Like the states book ban, the house version of Bulsos bill would allow parents like Gomez, whose children are eligible but not enrolled in the county public school system, to bring lawsuits against local education officials.

Between ethical concerns about the wellbeing of LGBTQ+ students and the conflict of interest presented by Bulsos private litigation work, Davidson said the bill presents an obvious first amendment issue.

If the bill becomes law, it will likely face a legal challenge from attorneys at the ACLU of Tennessee, Davidson said.

He said the bill belies the first amendment and 100 years worth of supreme court precedent on free speech and expression.
National flag carrier Royal Jordanian (RJ) has announced that it has launched its new twice-a-week flight to the ancient Saudi city of AlUla from its hub Queen Alia International Airport (QAIA) in Amman, Jordan.

The inaugural RJ flight was given a grand welcome on its arrival yesterday (February 16) at AlUla International Airport flying all the way from the Jordanian capital.

The launch of the new flight route to AlUla reflects the interest shown in this governorate with a rich heritage and diverse nature, which hosts a variety of events and activities throughout the year.

The Jordanian flag-carrier pointed out that the new route also constitutes a historical bridge that extends to a great era when the two regions witnessed the prosperity of the ancient Nabataean civilization, which left its traces firmly rooted in both Petra, in Jordan, and Al Hijr in AlUla.

The new trips enable history and culture lovers to explore the historical connection between the two regions and the ancient civilization shared by both destinations, it added.-TradeArabia News Service
Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad (KLSE:NESTLE) has announced that it will be increasing its dividend from last year's comparable payment on the 16th of May to MYR1.28. Despite this raise, the dividend yield of 2.2% is only a modest boost to shareholder returns.

See our latest analysis for Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad

Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions

If it is predictable over a long period, even low dividend yields can be attractive. Prior to this announcement, the company was paying out 95% of what it was earning, however the dividend was quite comfortably covered by free cash flows at a cash payout ratio of only 68%. Generally, we think cash is more important than accounting measures of profit, so with the cash flows easily covering the dividend, we don't think there is much reason to worry.

EPS is set to grow by 27.4% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, our estimates say the payout ratio could reach 75% - on the higher side, but we wouldn't necessarily say this is unsustainable.

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 MYR2.35, compared to the most recent full-year payment of MYR2.68. This means that it has been growing its distributions at 1.3% per annum over that time. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited.

Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad May Find It Hard To Grow The Dividend

Growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor when considering the past fluctuations in the dividend. Although it's important to note that Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad's earnings per share has basically not grown from where it was five years ago, which could erode the purchasing power of the dividend over time. So the company has struggled to grow its EPS yet it's still paying out 95% of its earnings. Limited recent earnings growth and a high payout ratio makes it hard for us to envision strong future dividend growth, unless the company should have substantial pricing power or some form of competitive advantage.

Story continues

In Summary

In summary, while it's always good to see the dividend being raised, we don't think Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad's payments are rock solid. The company is generating plenty of cash, which could maintain the dividend for a while, but the track record hasn't been great. We don't think Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad is a great stock to add to your portfolio if income is your focus.

It's important to note that companies having a consistent dividend policy will generate greater investor confidence than those having an erratic one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Nestle (Malaysia) Berhad that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Families in a Welsh county are facing the UKs highest council tax increase of more than 16 per cent.

Pembrokeshire, which is run by a coalition of Labour, Liberal Democrats and Plaid Cymru, was accused of using strong-arm tactics on Sunday to pressurise councillors into approving the plans.

They will vote on Thursday on a budget including a 16.31 per cent increase in council tax, the highest proposed increase in the country for 2024-25.

It would add more than 200 to the council tax bill of a Band D household and would be the highest increase in Wales since 2000-01.

In England, councils are limited to a council tax rise of five per cent, unless they are effectively bankrupt and get special dispensation from the Government.

Birmingham, for example, will increase its council tax by 10 per cent this year and 10 per cent the next.

But none have come close to Pembrokeshires 16 per cent rise in one year.

In Labour-run Wales, there is no maximum increase in council tax.

Councillors receive intense pressure

In an email sent to all councillors from the S151 officer (equivalent to a chief financial officer) and the monitoring officer, councillors are told that if they vote against the budget, it would be unlawful.

They are told: Wilfully or recklessly failing to set a budget would be contrary to the principles of public life set out in the constitution  particularly the principle of stewardship, and would undoubtedly bring the council into disrepute; which is a code of conduct issue.

The email, seen by the TaxPayers Alliance, also says: It is important that every member is absolutely clear that no amendments which affect the level of council tax increase for 2024-25 will be accepted at council on March 7.

Elliot Keck, head of campaigns, said: It is deeply concerning to see councillors receive such intense pressure from council officials who do not have to answer to voters.

The council is proposing a record-breaking tax hike which will deal a devastating blow to household finances.

Councillors should feel free to vote according to what they think is right.

Mike Stoddart, an independent councillor, said: Trying to strong-arm elected members into approving this massive council tax increase against their better judgment was likely to be counterproductive.

For myself, I will do what I think is right by my constituents and no amount of threats will divert me from that path.

Meanwhile, TPA analysis reveals that the average household will pay more than 1.2 million in tax in their lifetime, meaning they would have to work for 19.5 years just to pay off the taxman.

The research is the first part of a series of papers celebrating 20 years since the group was founded in 2004.

Even before Rishi Sunak froze income tax thresholds at April 2021 levels, the average family would pay almost 588,000 in income tax over their lifetime.

This is alongside nearly 214,000 in employee and employer national insurance contributions and 182,000 in VAT, although this does not account for the recent 2p cut to national insurance.

Previous TPA research found that the number of people paying income tax has surged by 4.5 million since 2010, with more than half of the increase coming since thresholds were frozen.

Meanwhile, the bottom 20 per cent of households, or families with a household gross income of 19,599, will work for almost 23.4 years to pay off their lifetime tax bill, the longest of any group.

The lifetime tax bill for the top 20 per cent of households, or families with an income of 144,685, would be 2,962,905 in direct and indirect taxes, which would take them 20.5 years to pay off.

The figures show that the average lifetime tax bill has only fallen on four occasions since 1977. During the Covid pandemic, the lifetime tax bill briefly fell from 1.2 million to 1.1 million.

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Patricia McCarron and Diane Devine lost their mum to Covid in April 2020

Diane Devine and Patricia McCarron lost their mother to Covid less than 24 hours after she started having breathing difficulties.

The sisters shared their experience during a day of reflection at Scotland's Covid Memorial in Glasgow.

And they told how Eileen McCarron, 79, rapidly deteriorated after she was admitted to hospital in April 2020.

Ms Devine told BBC Scotland News: "There were no symptoms whatsoever, she hadn't been ill.

"She was peeling her potatoes the night before and the next day she couldn't breath."

On Sunday they took part in a minute's silence at Pollok Country Park for those who died during the pandemic.

I remember: Scotland's Covid Memorial was created in the park in 2022 following a campaign by The Herald newspaper.

The 250,000 tribute, which is made up of 40 tree supports, was designed by artist and poet Alec Finlay.

The structures are designed to mimic a person supporting a tree, to demonstrate the support shown in communities during the global health crisis.

Sunday's events include a candlelit vigil at the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow, organised by Scottish Covid Bereaved.

Ms Devine said the sisters raised the alarm when they couldn't get their mother on the phone and called round to her house.

She said: "They said her temperature was fine and took her to the Royal Infirmary just to check her over."

But just over an hour later, they were told the mother-of-three was in a critical condition.

"It was end of life, they couldn't save her," said Ms McCarron. "That's how quick it was for everybody."

Ms Devine said her mother was sitting up and chatting away happily in her hospital bed, albeit with an oxygen mask on.

But she added: "They showed us the X-ray of her lungs and said it had ferociously attacked her lungs and she wasn't coming out."

Those who lost loved ones during the pandemic walked through the memorial in Pollok Country Park

Ms Devine said she gave her mum her last rites by speaking to the local priest over the phone, as he could not come into the hospital with her.

She added: "Giving your mum the last rites is an honour, but it's not an honour anyone wants."

The sisters said goodbye and planned to visit the next day, but the former nursery teacher died in the early hours of the morning.

"We never got to see her again," said Ms Devine. "You don't get the body."

Ms McCarron added: "We had to wait 14 days before the funeral could take place and there were only ten of us allowed there."

Bailie Thomas Kerr, of Glasgow City Council, laid a wreath at the memorial along with Covid bereaved families

The sisters said they visited the memorial on Sunday to keep their mother's memory alive.

Ms Devine said: "Everybody loses their mum and you know you're going to lose them at some point.

"But I think you don't realise until you meet other people who lost their loved ones in the same circumstances, through the pandemic, and you know that they went through what you're going through."

Ms McCarron agreed and added: "It's not finished for us.

"For other people, now lockdown has finished, it's just a distant memory if they haven't lost anybody. But for us it's still there.

"You don't get the comfort from family that you would take for granted when somebody passes."

She said the memorial gave them a place to grieve with people who lost loved ones in the same circumstances.

Ms McCarron added: "You're the only ones who know what that was like, to do it on your own."

First Minister Humza Yousaf said he was very grateful to Marie Curie for holding a day of reflection "to honour those who have died".

He added: "Losing a loved one is one of the greatest challenges we will experience in life and the impact of the pandemic often made our grief even harder to bear."
Tony Rupp didnt intend to become a fighter for the First Amendment. He was really just out for some pasta.

In December 2016, Rupp, a lawyer in the Buffalo, New York, area, was leaving Chefs Restaurant, a popular Italian place in the citys downtown, when he said he saw a black SUV  its lights off  bearing down on two women crossing the street.

The driver came to a halt just short of the women, and then, disaster averted, kept going as Rupp shouted, Turn your lights on, asshole!

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Little did the lawyer know that the driver was a Buffalo police officer, Todd McAlister, who turned into the parking lot, followed Rupp and told him that he was being detained. After about a half-hour, which Rupp spent arguing with police in the parking lot, he was stunned when police handed him a ticket for violating the citys noise ordinance, despite the argument occurring on a nonresidential street near a buzzing freeway.

Nobody was offended by my noise, he said. This was about the content of my speech.

That interaction on a cold Buffalo night more than seven years ago has set off a winding legal battle that has reached the upper echelons of federal courts. In late January, the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that Rupp, 56, could continue a suit against the city and its police commissioner for malicious prosecution, First Amendment retaliation and wrongful arrest. The suit also names three officers involved in the incident at Chefs: McAlister, Nicholas Parisi and a lieutenant, Jeffrey Giallella.

The case could result in an important decision regarding how citizens can criticize public officials at a time of widespread reevaluation of the lengths and limits of free speech. That debate has raged everywhere from online forums and college campuses to protests over racial bias in law enforcement and the Israel-Hamas war. Book bans and other acts of government censorship have troubled some First Amendment experts.

Last week, the Supreme Court heard arguments about a pair of laws  in Florida and Texas  limiting the ability of social media companies such as Facebook to ban certain content from their platforms.

In the recent climate, theres been an erosion of the principles and values of First Amendment speech, said Norman Siegel, a former executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union. He said the Buffalo case could serve a valuable purpose in educating judges and the lower courts as to the meaning and significance of free speech.

In Rupps case, a district-court ruling  which the appeals court overturned in late January  had held that he did not deserve First Amendment protection, in part because he did not know he was addressing a police officer.

Such reasoning boggles Adam Steinbaugh, a lawyer with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, who said the Rupp case showed that were constantly fighting the same old battles.

The Supreme Court said long ago that what distinguishes us from totalitarian states is the ability to criticize police officers, often in colorful language, without having to fear that youre going to wind up in cuffs, he said. Police officers, above any other employee of the state, should be trusted or expected not to use the force of the state in response to verbal criticism. We expect them to have thicker skins.

Rupp says he never would have filed his suit had it not been for a far more serious incident involving the same officers about two months later, in February 2017.

McAlister and his partner, Parisi, confronted a 20-year-old man on suspicion of a drug offense. The officers tackled the man, Wardel Davis III, when he tried to flee and resisted arrest. Parisi admitted to punching Mr. Davis several times in the face, according to an investigation by the New York attorney general.

Davis  who had asthma  was handcuffed and placed on his stomach for several minutes. He stopped breathing and died shortly after. His death set off protests in Buffalo, though the attorney general cleared the officers in December 2017, saying Davis died because of his medical condition, not his injuries.

Rupp said that if the Police Department had responded to his complaints about the three officers at Chefs, outlined in a lengthy letter to the commissioner soon after, Davis might not have died.

Nobody heeded my letter, nobody gave them training and now a guy is dead, Rupp said. If they had just trained them on how to turn the other cheek and not be retaliatory, which they were with me, with the summons, I thought this guy might still be alive. So it troubled me.

Rupps noise ticket was dismissed in fall 2017, but he sued anyway, arguing that police had acted intentionally, maliciously and with a deliberate indifference in their treatment of him and issuing the noise citation. Four years later, however, a district court judge in Buffalo ruled against him, essentially saying he had been loud and crude.

Given both the volume and nature of Rupps yell in the presence of bystanders, a reasonable person of normal sensitivities could be annoyed and have their quiet, comfort and repose disturbed, wrote Judge William Skretny, of the Western District of New York, echoing Buffalos criminal code. The judge also wrote that because Rupp did not know that he was yelling at a police officer, his speech was not protected by the First Amendment in the form of law enforcement criticism.

Steinbaugh, the lawyer with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said Rupps speech seemed clearly protected, even though he used a profanity and didnt know at first that he was yelling at a police officer. It doesnt matter if its a police officer at all, he said, citing precedent dating back decades. You have the right to use four-letter words.

David Pozen, a professor of law at Columbia Law School, said criticism of public officials is a core constitutional right. It would be odd to think that a slightly salty version of critical speech loses First Amendment protection on that basis, he said.

State Sen. Patrick Gallivan, a former captain with the New York State Police and Erie County sheriff, said while he could see the rationale for both the district and circuit court decisions, the lawsuit also showed the challenges in navigating contentious situations amid changing societal norms. Theres a higher level of scrutiny, said Gallivan, a Republican, adding, This case simply illustrates how difficult it can be for a police officer to do their jobs.

Siegel said that Rupps initial defiance may have led to the ticket. My experience, after 54 years of doing this stuff, is that the cops dont like when you talk back that way, he said. Nobody does. But especially cops.

Faiza Patel, the senior director of the Brennan Center for Justices Liberty and National Security Program, says that Rupps case is happening during a period of tumult for free speech.

Were in a period of reevaluation, said Patel, mentioning thorny issues such as hate speech, social-media disinformation and online threats.

The city, the police force and a lawyer for the three police officers did not return requests for comment on the suit. McAlister, who has been active in a group in Buffalo that aims to bridge relations between the community and the police, was recently promoted.

The case has also altered the trajectory of Rupps career. After years of primarily working as a defense lawyer, he has expanded his firms practice into the realm of civil rights, taking up dozens of cases, parceled among a small coterie of newly hired lawyers.

Rupp is seeking only $1 in damages and legal fees, though he hopes to send a message to the city. And while he says he wasnt seeking this fight, he is hopeful that he will win and add to others understanding of free speech rights.

The most interesting famous case that Im ever going to be involved in is my own case, he said. I contributed to the body of constitutional law. And I feel pretty good about that.

c.2024 The New York Times Company
Jeremy Hunt has said he wants to emulate Nigel Lawson in next weeks Budget but fiscal constraints will force him to mirror a prudent Gordon Brown instead.

The Chancellor expressed admiration for his tax-cutting Conservative predecessor, Lord Lawson, who died last year aged 91. However, he downplayed expectations for any flashy pre-election giveaways.

Instead, Mr Hunt repeatedly emphasised how he would keep a tight hold of the purse strings with his prudent Budget.

He appeared to be referencing Gordon Brown, who often invoked prudence in his management of public finances in his early years at the Treasury.

Its going to be a prudent and responsible Budget for long term growth, Mr Hunt told Sky News Trevor Phillips on Sunday morning.

When it comes to tax cuts I do believe when you look around the world, the countries with lower tax tend to grow faster  America, Asia.

So in the long run, we need to move back to being a lower taxed, more lightly regulated economy, but it would be deeply unconservative to cut taxes in a way that increased borrowing.

I think of the great tax-cutting budgets of the past  Nigel Lawsons Budget in 1988. The reason that was so significant is because those tax cuts were permanent and people need to know that these are tax cuts we can really afford.

Nigel Lawson, a former Chancellor of the Exchequer, outside 11 Downing Street on Budget day in 1984 - HULTON DEUTSCH/CORBIS HISTORICAL

Sir John Redwood, who ran Margaret Thatchers policy unit during Lord Lawsons time at the Treasury, said Mr Hunt had misunderstood the example set by the former chancellor.

He doesnt understand the first thing about Nigel Lawson and Margaret Thatchers tax cutting strategy, he told The Telegraph.

The key to it all was that it raised more revenue wed found the magic way of taxing the rich more. The rich would stay and pay our taxes.

Raise defence spending

There are a number of demands for Treasury attention ahead of the Budget that Mr Hunt will deliver on Wednesday.

In addition to the usual pressure for a government giveaway before the election, Grant Shapps, the Defence Secretary, has urged the Chancellor to raise defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP amid tensions with Russia.

The bold action  which is expected to cost around 9 billion  would resonate with our allies and adversaries, Mr Shapps wrote to Mr Hunt, as reported by The Telegraph on Saturday.

However, Mr Hunt signalled that extra spending on the military first needed to be underpinned by a strong economy.

If were going to spend the money on defence as I believe we will need to do in the future, what we need to have is a healthy growing economy, he told the BBCs Laura Kuennsberg.

Every decision that I take will be a prudent and responsible long-term decision.

More efficient Civil Service

Mr Hunt also said he wanted public spending to be more efficient in order to satisfy voter demands for European-level services paid for by US taxation levels.

As part of this drive, he argued that the Civil Service should be reduced to pre-pandemic levels and hit out at mandarins for wasting taxpayers money on diversity officers.

What most people want is better public services and a lower tax burden. Its the old thing isnt it: can we have European public services and American levels of tax? Mr Hunt said.

The only way that we have a chance of delivering something like that is by spending the money that we spend on public services much more efficiently.

He added: I think that breaking glass ceilings should be the job of every boss in every public sector organisation but Im not convinced that paying people large sums of money specifically to do those jobs is the right thing.

I think thats subcontracting the responsibility. More broadly, I think the Civil Service should return to the levels that it was pre Covid.

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Interviewed later on Sunday on GB News by Camilla Tominey, The Telegraphs Associate Editor, Mr Hunt said he wanted to end the economys reliance on migrant workers. Net migration hit a record 745,000 in the year to December 2023.

Instead, he continued, the Budget will start to move Britain to a high-wage, high-skill economy that is not dependent on high levels of migration.

Mr Hunt denied that the Treasury was infatuated with high migration, adding: I think migration in limited numbers can be beneficial but what I think is wrong is this idea that you should get economic growth by allowing in more migrants.

The Chancellor used some of the strongest rhetoric of any cabinet minister to criticise Lee Anderson, a former deputy leader of the Conservative Party who claimed that Sadiq Khan, the London Mayor, was controlled by Islamists.

What Lee Anderson said was wrong. It was interpreted by many people as fuelling anti-Muslim hatred and divisions and he was given a chance to apologise  he didnt, he said.

Defending the partys decision to remove the whip from Mr Anderson, he added: We took very clear actions. I think everybody knows where the Conservative party stands.

Restore Britains social fabric

Mr Hunt said that Britains social fabric needed to be restored, amid warnings of a surge in extremist activity after Israel was invaded by Hamas on Oct 7. Hundreds of people were killed in the massacre.

Since Israel responded with military action in Gaza, several pro-Palestine marches have taken place in London and other major cities. Some participants have chanted jihad or from the river to the sea  generally interpreted as calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.

Im not Jewish, but Ive been contacted by Jewish people who told me that they are afraid to go outside their front doors when those marches are happening, Mr Hunt said.

And I think its very important that we restore the social fabric of this country so that people understand that when there are demonstrations, they will be peaceful and within the law, and that they are not intimidatory. And I think we have seen some of 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.
When there was no mention of Transnistria  Moldova's Russia-led breakaway republic  in Vladimir Putin's speech on Feb. 29, Moldovans sighed with relief.

A day prior, the leaders of the unrecognized breakaway entity, sandwiched between Ukraine and Moldova, had asked Russia for "protection"  a plea that some saw as an invitation for Moscow's covert attack against Chisinau.

There were fears that the Kremlin would repeat the February 2022 scenario when it recognized the "independence" of the Russian-controlled militant groups in eastern Ukraine to justify its all-out war against the country launched a few days later.

As Moldova is preparing for highly contested elections in October, and the pro-Russian opposition is seeking to increase its standing, experts agree that Russia can use the highly dependent region to increase the threat for Kyiv and Chisinau.

Read also: Russian media: Moscow to consider Transnistrias protection appeal

Plea for protection

There are several interpretations of what happened at the so-called "all-deputies congress" in Tiraspol, Transnistria's capital, on Feb. 28.

The gathering passed seven resolutions to Moscow, as well as the UN, OSCE, the European Parliament, and the Red Cross, asking them to stop the "pressures" coming from Chisinau.

Since Jan. 1, Transnistrian businesses trading with the EU are compelled to pay duty to Chisinau. With the trade between the EU and Transnistria reaching 70% of the entity's total turnover, the Russian-influenced region saw its customs revenues plummet.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu dismissed the Tiraspol congress' plea as an attempt to "ask for money.

Former minister for reintegration, Alexandru Flenchea, added that the monopoly of Sheriff, the largest enterprise in the breakaway region that controls everything from petrol stations and shops to TV channels and factories, is incompatible with further economic reintegration with Moldova.

But, the Moldovan government saw events in Tiraspol not simply as an economic protest but as a "Russian psyops."

The Transnistrian political elite has at least two known factions  the pro-Russian group led by "foreign minister" Vitaly Ignatiev, who holds a Ukrainian passport and is suspected of treason in Ukraine, and the Sheriff-linked group led by "president" Vadim Krassnoselsky and Sheriff founder Victor Gushan, who have EU passports and properties in Ukraine.

According to Moldovan analyst Victor Ciobanu, the plea for protection could have been a balancing act to put pressure on Chisinau and Kyiv but not to invite military action from Moscow.

Despite the fact that Moscow agreed to withdraw its army from Transnistria in 1999 at the OSCE Istanbul summit, Russian troops are still stationed in Transnistria.

But most of these 1,500 soldiers are locals and could be easily outnumbered by the Ukrainian army.

Read also: Investigation: Leaked document exposes Kremlins 10-year plan to undermine Moldova

Yet there was a plan to demand more from Russia, going as far as a request for annexation, Ciobanu said. "Russia is irrational," he added.

On Feb. 20, opposition politician Ghenadie Ciorba, a former "minister of communication" in Tiraspol, leaked the plan to the wider public.

"I noticed an attempt to try and cover up this failure, as the (pro-Russian) Socialists party (in Chisinau) immediately announced energy tariff protests," Ciobanu said, explaining this as an attempt to draw away attention.

Kremlin-linked Moldovan politician Renato Usatii demanded snap elections.

However, the majority of the people living in Transnistria are not supportive of increasing the level of conflict.

According to Chisinau, about 340,000 people in Transnistria, 97% of the region's population, hold Moldovan passports. Meanwhile, about 220,000 people also have Russian documents, according to Tiraspol.

"The passport queues at the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine showed that people in Transnistria do not want war and that the Moldovan passport is more attractive for them now," Ciobanu said.

Moldova's mounting problems

After the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Moldova has been walking a fine line. On one hand, Chisinau supported Ukraine and tailed Kyiv's move toward the EU. On the other hand, Moldova did little to provoke Russia, holding enormous sway over the country.

And with presidential elections and a foreign policy referendum scheduled for October, the country is awaiting Russian-led political turmoil.

"What we've seen in Transnistria was a show put on so that the Kremlin has a reason to disrupt the situation in Moldova, particularly the upcoming referendum on whether Moldova wants to join the EU and the presidential elections," Moldovan lawmaker Oazu Nantoi of the pro-European ruling party PAS told the Kyiv Independent.

"We will see the meaning of this show later on," he said, adding that while Ukraine continues to fend off the Russian onslaught and there is no direct corridor for Russia to reach Transnistria, there is a limited scope of how the Kremlin can use Tiraspol.

People pose for a photograph next to decoration in the colours of the Russian flag on Sept. 2, 2023 in Tiraspol, Moldova. (Peter Dench/Getty Images)

Experts agree that the crisis in Transnistria is set to help influence the upcoming elections, where pro-European incumbent Maia Sandu is set to see a runoff with one of the pro-Russian candidates, possibly her predecessor Igor Dodon, head of the Socialists Party, Chisinau Mayor Ion Ceban, who now claims he is pro-European, or former Governor of Gagauzia Irina Vlah.

"If a pro-Russian government comes to Chisinau, that would be a catastrophe for Ukrainians because it would open a second front," Ciobanu alleged. "Transnistria was created artificially in 1990 as a thorn not just in Moldova's rib but also in Ukraine's," he added.

Pulling Moldova apart

Unlike other Russian-controlled or occupied regions, Transnistria's dependence on Moscow is more economic and political than military.

After helping the breakaway region fight the government in Chisinau, Moscow kept a small illegal military presence in Transnistria, enough to keep pressure on Moldova. Yet, having no border with Tiraspol, Moscow focused on economic and political mechanisms of control.

Moscow kept supplying Transnistria with "free" gas and blackmailing Chisinau to pay for the "debt." Transnistria unilaterally adopted the Russian flag as one of its "national" symbols and kept the Soviet hammer and sickle on its own flag.

Read also: Kyiv, Moscows opposing attitudes toward Soviet past shape two different futures

When election campaigns in Moldova pick up the pace or Chisinau gets closer to Brussels, Russia increases economic and political pressure on the country through the region, not forgetting to saber-rattle.

Russia uses a similar tactic in another Russian-friendly Moldovan region  Gagauzia, located further west of Transnistria and home to 130,000 people.

According to Ciobanu, Gagauzia would have followed in Transnistria's footsteps had Tiraspol asked to join Russia. Gagauz independent journalist Mihail Sirkeli said there was an attempt to "provoke" Chisinau to interfere in Comrat, the region's capital, to create a precondition for more escalation.

Cars wait in line at the Bender crossing point between the self-proclaimed republic of Transnistria and Moldova on March 1, 2024. (Daniel Mihalescu/AFP via Getty Images)

In recent years, the EU has invested more than 100 million euros to build infrastructure and help repair Gagauzia's kindergartens, schools, and state institutions.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Transnistria too has increased its trade with the EU.

More and more people from Transnistria commute to work in Chisinau, which is located 70 kilometers west of the breakaway region.

In the first weeks of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine, people living in Transnistria formed queues to renew their Moldovan passports in order to be able to flee to Europe if war also came to Moldova.

"A victory for Ukraine would mean an end to the Transnistrian conflict," Ciobanu added.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Around dawn on any given Saturday morning in 2022, the sidewalk in front of the squat building that housed Bronx Abortion transformed into a tense ecosystem of people with signs, masks, rosaries, and colorful vests.

Anti-abortion protestors gathered outside the small, independent clinic in Morris Park to disrupt the women who sought its services. Chelsea, the clinic escort coordinator, would wake up at 4:15 to get to the clinic before it opened. By the time she arrived, the protestors usually had, too.

Sometimes it was just a few. Sometimes, it was more than 40. Some would kneel and pray the rosary or hold signs with "pray to end abortion" printed in capital letters. Others would block car doors or shout through megaphones. Designated "sidewalk counselors" wove in front of patients, trying to convince them not to enter the clinic. In a neighborhood with a high Catholic population, patients might see a priest or members of their congregation telling them they were committing a sin.

But the clinic escorts always came back, guiding patients to the door. In the freezing darkness of winter, the pouring rain of spring, and the sweltering heat of summer, they waited until the last protestor left.

"We are out there to ensure that somebody who is facing judgment as they enter an abortion clinic also receives support and kindness," said Chelsea, who began volunteering as a clinic escort at Bronx Abortion in 2017. (She asked to be identified only by her first name, citing safety concerns.)

Bronx Abortion was established in 1969, around the time New York State legalized the procedure. The red stucco corner building on Eastchester Road became a place people could go for safe abortions even before the Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.

Managed by a small staff, the independent clinic provided between one and two thousand abortions per year to mostly Black and Latinx patients. Clinic escorts said it was deeply loved by those who saw it as a pillar of reproductive justice.

Over the decades, employees came and went. Laws changed. But the clinic never stopped providing abortions to the patients who arrived at its doors  until last year, when one woman's sudden death brought Bronx Abortion to its knees.

Bronx Abortion was located in Morris Park and provided care to predominantly Black and Latinx patients. Allison Hess for BI

On Saturdays, while protestors and clinic escorts took their positions outside, a petite blond woman in her 80s named Irene Sylvor delivered steaming coffee to the staff inside.

Sylvor's official title was clinic director. In reality, she was "the heart, soul, everything of Bronx Abortion," Chelsea said. Born and raised in the Bronx, with a thick New York accent, Sylvor was sharp, funny, and generous.

The clinic's owner, Moshe Hachamovitch, founded Bronx Abortion while he was a trainee at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. "Whenever I went to the emergency room," he recalled, "it was cluttered with patients who had illegal abortions and were actually dying."

In its first few years, the clinic saw hundreds of patients. Eventually it grew, and Hachamovitch expanded and established abortion clinics across the country, from Long Island to Arizona to Texas.

While Bronx Abortion was expanding, Sylvor was a single mother juggling two kids and occasional stints selling art supplies. She cared about her neighborhood and its people. Her daughter, Aimee Anderson, remembered her tipping the doorman and superintendent of their building in the Bronx's Riverdale neighborhood generously every year.

But Sylvor also knew how to get her way. Once, Anderson said, after a rude driver cut her off, she parked right behind his car and blocked his exit. "She did that kind of stuff," Anderson said.

When Sylvor saw a job opening at Bronx Abortion, she applied without hesitation. A firm believer in a woman's right to choose, she had her work cut out for her. When Sylvor began working at the clinic about four decades ago, she became the "organizer, the leader, the mother of the clinic," said Destiney Kirby, a clinic escort. Hachamovitch described her as a "force." According to Sarah McNeilly, another clinic escort, Sylvor took on a workload proportional to multiple employees "to keep the lights on."

Destiney Kirby, who worked as a clinic escort at Bronx Abortion, stands outside the now-shuttered clinic. Allison Hess for BI

Clinic escorts said she managed to knit together a precarious system of staffing and resources to continue serving the community.

"She was like this little bird of a thing who would stand up to the biggest protester," Chelsea said. "When she spoke, you listened to her."

Unlike other clinics that offered a range of sexual health services, Bronx Abortion only provided medical and surgical abortions. The clinic advertised both scheduled appointments and walk-ins. A patient could arrive unannounced at 7:30 am on a Saturday and be out before noon.

Anderson remembered a small space that was often packed with patients. Tiffany Quiles, a resident of the nearby Westchester Square neighborhood, said she accompanied her friend to an appointment at Bronx Abortion in 2018. Quiles said that while the protestors outside were aggressive, it was a different story inside. The space was clean and the staff was pleasant, she said. It was like any doctor's office, a space "where people needed some medical care."

While there is also a Planned Parenthood and multiple hospitals in the Bronx, they come with certain obstacles to access.

Bronx Abortion was located near a handful of local hospitals and a police precinct. Allison Hess for BI

Kirby, who is also a medical student in the Montefiore Hospital system, said that many people seeking abortions are not yet registered patients in the hospital system. "If you call and try to make an appointment for a new provider, you have to wait around six months," she said. "And when you're thinking about abortion care, you can't wait six months."

"Cost continues to be a prohibitive factor to access abortion care," said Elizabeth Estrada, the New York Field and Advocacy Manager at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. In a borough where the poverty rate is around 25% and the median annual household income is around $45,000, a procedure that could cost up to $2,800 can be out of reach. While insurance sometimes covers abortions, a relatively high percentage of residents are uninsured or underinsured.

The process is all the more difficult for non-English speakers, those without internet access, those who are unfamiliar with public transportation routes punctuated by multiple transfers and at risk of long delays, those without childcare, and those whose jobs make it difficult to take time off.

Bronx Abortion was easy, fast, and affordable.

The clinic was grounded in the community and understood its people, said Chelsea. It also took Saturday walk-ins, unlike Planned Parenthood and hospitals. According to Hachamovitch, patients who could not afford an abortion did not have to pay. And patients could always reach out with questions and concerns to Sylvor. Anderson said her mother always had her phone and notepad beside her, even during Christmas and Thanksgiving. She took calls from patients at any hour of the night, scribbling down notes in messy handwriting.

"It felt like this deeply rooted communal space that people trusted and respected," said Chelsea. Staff members were usually born and raised in the same neighborhoods that patients were coming from. They chatted with patients to make them feel comfortable. Sylvor tried to keep the atmosphere bubbly and uplifting.

Chelsea believes that patients felt more comfortable going to a place they had driven or walked past. They knew what to expect, even if there were protestors outside. If patients had to travel to a new clinic far away, the unknown territory presented yet another layer of anxiety.

Advocates say that independent clinics  in 2022, Bronx Abortion was one of two in a borough of about 1.4 million people  are essential to providing abortion care. They offer an outsize share of abortion services across the country. Even though they represent only a quarter of facilities providing abortion care, they provide nearly two thirds of procedures nationwide.

But even in New York, a state that has committed to protecting and supporting abortion rights, independent clinics are at risk. Since 2015, a third of the independent clinics in the country have closed their doors. According to the Abortion Care Network, "threats to these clinics are a threat to abortion access overall."

Part of the risk is financial. Clinics that exclusively provide abortion care often struggle to stay afloat. Although Title X federal funding is designated to provide affordable reproductive healthcare, the Hyde Amendment bars the use of federal funds for abortion care. Desiree Caro, a Title X Coordinator at the non-profit organization Public Health Solutions, said she tried to find additional financial support for Bronx Abortion over the years. Federal laws, she said, made it practically impossible.

With the closure of Bronx Abortion, a borough of about 1.4 million people now has another barrier to care. Allison Hess for BI

On January 7, 2023, clinic escorts showed up in front of Bronx Abortion for their usual Saturday morning shifts, only to find the doors locked. This had never happened before. The volunteers had a close relationship with Sylvor, and she always told them in advance about schedule changes.

Confused, they waited in the cold in their bright rainbow vests. Patients walked up. Volunteers reluctantly told them that they needed to find somewhere else to go.

Two days later, Chelsea learned that Sylvor had died suddenly.

Anderson, Sylvor's daughter, said her mother was taking patient calls until two days before she died of pulmonary disease on January 8. "No matter what was going on in her personal life, she didn't let that stop her," Anderson said.

The Bronx Abortion community was devastated. Anderson called the two women who worked in administration in the clinic with her mother to share the news. "They were both screaming hysterically in the office," she recalled. "It was horrible."

Bronx Abortion immediately paused all operations. Clinic escorts kept coming back for the next several Saturdays, waking up early and braving the cold to make sure people showing up for care were not left alone without explanation. "We were turning away a lot of people," said Kirby. Some patients were angry. Others were scared. "It was so emotionally taxing to see these patients come in to get an abortion and we had to tell them 'we can't provide that for you today,'" she said.

Irene Sylvor and her daughter Aimee Anderson. Aimee Anderson

But the loss of its director would prove fatal to the clinic itself.

After Sylvor's death, no one knew what would happen. In his 80s, Hachamovitch was ready to retire and expressed interest in selling to another clinic. But after one clinic conducted an appraisal, its owners said it would cost too much. They backed out.

"There was this feeling of betrayal, but also I wasn't shocked," said Kirby, pointing to the repeated divestment of healthcare providers from low-income communities in boroughs like the Bronx. "We are a very marginalized, oppressed community that is unfortunately not going to bring [healthcare providers] a lot of money. There's really no buy-in from them."

Eventually, Hachamovitch sold the property to commercial developers. Its new owners said they plan to turn the building into a restaurant or a storefront.

Anderson could imagine her mother's reaction to the news. "I know that she would be heartbroken," she said.

With its closure  its website calls it temporary, but Hachamovitch and clinic escorts confirmed it was permanent  the Bronx is left with only one independent abortion clinic: Dr. Emily Women's Health Center, located in the South Bronx. The protestors who targeted Bronx Abortion have migrated to the sidewalk in front of Dr. Emily, joining others who already showed up there every week. Theresa Chong, Dr. Emily's director, said the group has "more than doubled" in number and become "more aggressive." (The clinic escorts have followed as well to help patients avoid them.)

"Even in places that we think are safe havens for abortion, we can't take for granted that providers are secure," said Chelsea. Allison Hess for BI

The borough's only Planned Parenthood can have long wait times. It takes about an hour to travel there or to Dr. Emily on public transportation from where Bronx Abortion once was. From neighborhoods further north, the time increases to upwards of an hour and a half.

Longer travel times and wait times can delay the termination of an unwanted pregnancy, making it more expensive after a certain number of weeks and causing emotional distress to the pregnant person.

In other parts of the country, particularly states that ban abortion altogether, pregnant people must travel hundreds of miles for access. New York's landscape can seem comparatively rosy. But difficulties of any kind can mean the difference between receiving abortion care and carrying an unwanted pregnancy to term.

"People see New York City as a safe haven for abortion care," said Kirby. "That's not the truth because it doesn't go into the details of what access really looks like." As access to abortion diminishes across the rest of the country, abortion providers in New York City are even more overburdened trying to serve every patient, whether they're coming from one or several hundred miles away.

Elizabeth Estrada said she has recently seen the cost of abortion rise and the wait times grow. People have to leave the borough or even the city to get timely care, and some people are unable to do so. And with a looming Supreme Court decision about access to mifepristone, a pill commonly used for medication abortions, that care may become still further out of reach.

"The long term impacts are innumerable," said Caro, of the closing of Bronx Abortion. "We see folks going into deeper levels of poverty than they already are in. And the cycle continues from there."

The building that once housed Bronx Abortion. Allison Hess for BI

Today, the building that once housed Bronx Abortion stands empty. A forest green awning hangs off the side of the building. Dark water stains decorate the walls. Discolored balloon ribbons blow in the wind. The sidewalk in front has no rosaries, no rainbow vests, no patients  only the occasional passerby who barely gives the building a second glance.

The clinic escorts and anti-abortion activists don't agree on much regarding abortion. But they agree on one thing: At any given moment, a small independent clinic like Bronx Abortion might be forced to shut down.

"We're one of the lowest income counties in the country," said Tiffany Quiles. "The last thing women who cannot afford to feed themselves need is another child."

"We need to be asking, how many independent clinics are one core person away from closing?" Chelsea said. "Even in places that we think are safe havens for abortion, we can't take for granted that providers are secure."

Read the original article on Business Insider
The death toll of a Russian drone attack against Odesa on March 2 has risen to 10 as the body of a woman and her eight-month-old infant was found under the rubble, Odesa Governor Oleh Kiper said on March 3.

The overnight strike hit a multi-story building in the southern city, destroying 18 apartments and trapping people under the rubble.

Among the 10 killed were four-month-old and three-year-old boys. Eight people were injured, including a three-year-old girl.

Search and rescue operations continue, according to the State Emergency Service.

Ukraine came under a drone attack on March 2, with the Air Force reporting 14 of the 17 Russian Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) shot down.

President Volodymyr Zelensky after the attack on Odesa urged allies to transfer weapons to Ukraine quicklier, saying that their "political games and disputes" are limiting the country's defense.

Due to the attack, Kiper announced a day of mourning on March 3.

Theodoros Roussopoulos, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink earlier condemned Russias overnight attack on Odesa.

Read also: Wests response to Macron comments on troops to Ukraine reveal discord, weakness, experts say

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
The death toll from Saturday's Russian aerial drone attack on Odessa has risen to 10, including a mother and her baby, who were pulled lifeless from a ruined block, Oleh Kiper, the regional governor of the southern Ukrainian city reported.

The baby was under a year old. The number of children killed in the attack during the early hours of Saturday now stands at three after a Russian drone struck a nine-storey residential block in the city on the Black Sea coast.

In response to the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for greater international assistance to Ukraine's air defences.

"Delays in supplying weapons to Ukraine and in air defences for the protection of our population unfortunately lead to losses of this kind," he said on Saturday evening.

"And when people die, while our partners lose themselves in political gameplaying or discussions, which limit our defence, this is incomprehensible and unimaginable," Zelensky added.

A general view of destruction following a Russian missile attack. -/Ukrinform/dpa
Scrubs could become an essential part of the wardrobe for millions more Americans as healthcare jobs grow across the country.

The aging U.S. population is rapidly increasing demand for many jobs in the health sector, which has become the fastest-growing part of the national economy. Although many medical jobs require advanced degreesphysicians, nurses, surgeons, etc.the role growing fastest across most states is generally accessible to anyone with a high school diploma.

The job? Home health and personal care aides. The U.S. expects to add close to a million jobs in this profession over the next decade. These aides monitor and assist people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, including hospice. They often work in individuals homes or in group homes and day services programs. After COVID-19 devastated nursing homes, surveys have found fewer Americans are willing to live in them as they age. As a result, even more families may discover ways to use full-time or part-time in-home aides for end-of-life care.

An analysis including more than 70 other healthcare jobs projected all but three states to add home health and personal care aides in the highest numbers. In just three statesColorado, Florida, and South Dakotadid registered nurse job growth outpace home health.

As a percentage of current jobs, roles seeing the most growth are slightly more varied. Most commonly, nurse practitioner jobs are growing the most among 40 of the 50 states and Washington D.C. In Arizona, for instance, the volume of nurse practitioner jobs is expected to grow 100.8% over the decadein other words, jobs will double. Massage therapist jobs are increasing fastest in six states, with the most significant change in New York at 75% growth. These statistics provide insight into how jobs are changing relative to their current employment. However, they dont shine as much light on which careers will offer the most job opportunities to future Americans.

To provide that insight to potential future healthcare workers across America, Medical Technology Schools identified the healthcare positions expected to add the most jobs in Ohio from 2020 to 2030, as part of its broader national analysis. Occupations are ranked by the number of jobs to be added in that time frame, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data compiled by Projections Central. Initial ties were broken by the percent growth in jobs, though some ties may remain.

1 / 25 Canva

#25. Nurse anesthetists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 230

 Percent growth in jobs: 7.6% (#26)

2 / 25 Goldsithney // Shutterstock

#24. Psychiatric technicians

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 230

 Percent growth in jobs: 16.0% (#12)

3 / 25 Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

#23. Surgical technologists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 280

 Percent growth in jobs: 7.3% (#27)

4 / 25 Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#22. Pharmacy technicians

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 420

 Percent growth in jobs: 2.5% (#51)

5 / 25 SofikoS // Shutterstock

#21. Diagnostic medical sonographers

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 490

 Percent growth in jobs: 16.0% (#12)

6 / 25 Canva

#20. Dental hygienists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 500

 Percent growth in jobs: 5.8% (#38)

7 / 25 Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#19. Dental assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 560

 Percent growth in jobs: 5.7% (#40)

8 / 25 lenetstan // Shutterstock

#18. Radiologic technologists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 580

 Percent growth in jobs: 6.4% (#35)

9 / 25 NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#17. Massage therapists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 610

 Percent growth in jobs: 16.7% (#11)

10 / 25 Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#16. Phlebotomists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 760

 Percent growth in jobs: 12.7% (#18)

11 / 25 anyaivanova // Shutterstock

#15. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 810

 Percent growth in jobs: 6.8% (#31)

12 / 25 ABO PHOTOGRAPHY // Shutterstock

#14. Occupational therapists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 810

 Percent growth in jobs: 13.3% (#17)

13 / 25 GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#13. Nursing assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 890

 Percent growth in jobs: 1.4% (#53)

14 / 25 Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#12. Physical therapists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,250

 Percent growth in jobs: 14.0% (#15)

15 / 25 Stokkete // Shutterstock

#11. Physician assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,290

 Percent growth in jobs: 28.5% (#4)

16 / 25 Canva

#10. Occupational therapy assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,370

 Percent growth in jobs: 31.4% (#2)

17 / 25 Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#9. Respiratory therapists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,390

 Percent growth in jobs: 21.4% (#9)

18 / 25 Canva

#8. Speech-language pathologists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,540

 Percent growth in jobs: 23.7% (#8)

19 / 25 Canva

#7. Physical therapist assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,700

 Percent growth in jobs: 26.6% (#6)

20 / 25 Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#6. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,720

 Percent growth in jobs: 4.2% (#46)

21 / 25 Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#5. Medical assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 3,560

 Percent growth in jobs: 13.5% (#16)

22 / 25 Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#4. Medical and health services managers

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 4,240

 Percent growth in jobs: 28.6% (#3)

23 / 25 Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#3. Nurse practitioners

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 4,690

 Percent growth in jobs: 48.6% (#1)

24 / 25 Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#2. Registered nurses

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 9,380

 Percent growth in jobs: 7.1% (#28)

25 / 25 Canva

#1. Home health and personal care aides

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 22,980

 Percent growth in jobs: 24.0% (#7)

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Scrubs could become an essential part of the wardrobe for millions more Americans as healthcare jobs grow across the country.

The aging U.S. population is rapidly increasing demand for many jobs in the health sector, which has become the fastest-growing part of the national economy. Although many medical jobs require advanced degreesphysicians, nurses, surgeons, etc.the role growing fastest across most states is generally accessible to anyone with a high school diploma.

The job? Home health and personal care aides. The U.S. expects to add close to a million jobs in this profession over the next decade. These aides monitor and assist people with disabilities and chronic illnesses, including hospice. They often work in individuals homes or in group homes and day services programs. After COVID-19 devastated nursing homes, surveys have found fewer Americans are willing to live in them as they age. As a result, even more families may discover ways to use full-time or part-time in-home aides for end-of-life care.

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An analysis including more than 70 other healthcare jobs projected all but three states to add home health and personal care aides in the highest numbers. In just three statesColorado, Florida, and South Dakotadid registered nurse job growth outpace home health.

As a percentage of current jobs, roles seeing the most growth are slightly more varied. Most commonly, nurse practitioner jobs are growing the most among 40 of the 50 states and Washington D.C. In Arizona, for instance, the volume of nurse practitioner jobs is expected to grow 100.8% over the decadein other words, jobs will double. Massage therapist jobs are increasing fastest in six states, with the most significant change in New York at 75% growth. These statistics provide insight into how jobs are changing relative to their current employment. However, they dont shine as much light on which careers will offer the most job opportunities to future Americans.

To provide that insight to potential future healthcare workers across America, Medical Technology Schools identified the healthcare positions expected to add the most jobs in Tennessee from 2020 to 2030, as part of its broader national analysis. Occupations are ranked by the number of jobs to be added in that time frame, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data compiled by Projections Central. Initial ties were broken by the percent growth in jobs, though some ties may remain.

DGLimages // Shutterstock

#25. Healthcare support workers, all other

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 360

 Percent growth in jobs: 19.3% (#22)

Canva

#24. Pharmacists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 370

 Percent growth in jobs: 5.0% (#52)

Canva

#23. Nurse anesthetists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 400

 Percent growth in jobs: 14.2% (#37)

SofikoS // Shutterstock

#22. Diagnostic medical sonographers

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 450

 Percent growth in jobs: 27.8% (#11)

Gerain0812 // Shutterstock

#21. Surgical technologists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 480

 Percent growth in jobs: 17.6% (#27)

David Pereiras // Shutterstock

#20. Psychiatric aides

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 530

 Percent growth in jobs: 28.5% (#9)

Canva

#19. Dental hygienists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 580

 Percent growth in jobs: 14.2% (#37)

lenetstan // Shutterstock

#18. Radiologic technologists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 620

 Percent growth in jobs: 15.6% (#35)

Tyler Olson // Shutterstock

#17. Phlebotomists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 680

 Percent growth in jobs: 28.2% (#10)

Stokkete // Shutterstock

#16. Physician assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 740

 Percent growth in jobs: 35.6% (#4)

| Check out more lists and rankings from across Tennessee 

Syda Productions // Shutterstock

#15. Dental assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 790

 Percent growth in jobs: 14.1% (#40)

Aykut Erdogdu // Shutterstock

#14. Physical therapists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 950

 Percent growth in jobs: 18.3% (#24)

Canva

#13. Speech-language pathologists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,010

 Percent growth in jobs: 31.1% (#7)

Dmytro Zinkevych // Shutterstock

#12. Respiratory therapists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,070

 Percent growth in jobs: 30.5% (#8)

NDAB Creativity // Shutterstock

#11. Massage therapists

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,070

 Percent growth in jobs: 32.1% (#6)

Canva

#10. Physical therapist assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,140

 Percent growth in jobs: 35.3% (#5)

Dragana Gordic // Shutterstock

#9. Pharmacy technicians

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,250

 Percent growth in jobs: 12.4% (#44)

anyaivanova // Shutterstock

#8. Clinical laboratory technologists and technicians

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 1,960

 Percent growth in jobs: 20.3% (#20)

Milkovasa // Shutterstock

#7. Medical assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 3,260

 Percent growth in jobs: 21.0% (#19)

Jacob Lund // Shutterstock

#6. Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 4,240

 Percent growth in jobs: 16.5% (#33)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#5. Medical and health services managers

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 4,490

 Percent growth in jobs: 42.8% (#2)

GagliardiPhotography // Shutterstock

#4. Nursing assistants

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 4,520

 Percent growth in jobs: 15.3% (#36)

Monkey Business Images // Shutterstock

#3. Nurse practitioners

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 4,680

 Percent growth in jobs: 57.2% (#1)

Rawpixel.com // Shutterstock

#2. Registered nurses

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 10,870

 Percent growth in jobs: 16.9% (#29)

Canva

#1. Home health and personal care aides

 Projected jobs added, 2020-2030: 13,270

 Percent growth in jobs: 42.2% (#3)

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

This story features data reporting and writing by Paxtyn Merten and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.



This story originally appeared on Medical Technology Schools and was produced and distributed in partnership with Stacker Studio.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The Berkeley Group Holdings plc (LON:BKG) stock is about to trade ex-dividend in 3 days. Typically, the ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date which is the date on which a company determines the shareholders eligible to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is of consequence because whenever a stock is bought or sold, the trade takes at least two business day to settle. Thus, you can purchase Berkeley Group Holdings' shares before the 7th of March in order to receive the dividend, which the company will pay on the 29th of March.

The company's upcoming dividend is UK0.33 a share, following on from the last 12 months, when the company distributed a total of UK1.19 per share to shareholders. Last year's total dividend payments show that Berkeley Group Holdings has a trailing yield of 2.5% on the current share price of UK46.70. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. As a result, readers should always check whether Berkeley Group Holdings has been able to grow its dividends, or if the dividend might be cut.

See our latest analysis for Berkeley Group Holdings

If a company pays out more in dividends than it earned, then the dividend might become unsustainable - hardly an ideal situation. Berkeley Group Holdings paid out just 14% of its profit last year, which we think is conservatively low and leaves plenty of margin for unexpected circumstances. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether Berkeley Group Holdings generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Dividends consumed 52% of the company's free cash flow last year, which is within a normal range for most dividend-paying organisations.

It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Story continues

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

When earnings decline, dividend companies become much harder to analyse and own safely. Investors love dividends, so if earnings fall and the dividend is reduced, expect a stock to be sold off heavily at the same time. Berkeley Group Holdings's earnings per share have fallen at approximately 7.5% a year over the previous five years. Ultimately, when earnings per share decline, the size of the pie from which dividends can be paid, shrinks.

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. Berkeley Group Holdings has delivered an average of 14% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past 10 years of dividend payments.

The Bottom Line

From a dividend perspective, should investors buy or avoid Berkeley Group Holdings? Its earnings per share have been declining meaningfully, although it is paying out less than half its income and more than half its cash flow as dividends. Neither payout ratio appears an immediate concern, but we're concerned about the earnings. To summarise, Berkeley Group Holdings looks okay on this analysis, although it doesn't appear a stand-out opportunity.

With that being said, if dividends aren't your biggest concern with Berkeley Group Holdings, you should know about the other risks facing this business. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Berkeley Group Holdings (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about.

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.
DENVER (KDVR)  Rain and snow showers move into Denvers weather forecast Saturday night into Sunday.





Red flag warnings expire Saturday evening, but winter storm warnings and winter weather advisories will remain in effect for the mountains due to difficult travel conditions through Monday morning.

Saturday night through Monday morning, some areas will pick up 9-18 inches of snow, with isolated snowfall totals closer to 2 feet. This paired with strong wind gusts up to around 70 mph will lead to blowing snow and low visibility.

Heavy snow likely to cause safety closures on I-70, Berthoud Pass

Weather tonight: Rain and snow showers begin

Saturday evening, clouds will increase ahead of rain and snow showers in the metro. Snow will pick up in the high country Saturday night and continue through Monday morning. Temperatures will be cool and fall near freezing.

Weather tomorrow: Rain and snow showers

Sunday morning will bring the best chance for a wintery mix of rain and snow showers. Little to no snowfall will accumulate in the Denver area thanks to warm ground from highs in the 60s the last few days, as well as warming temperatures.

How much snow is expected to fall in Colorado this weekend?

Highs on Sunday will climb to the 50s alongside a breeze gusting around 35 mph.

Looking ahead: Sunny, seasonal start to the workweek

Monday, snow showers will wrap up in the mountains. Snowfall totals will reach 9-18 inches widespread, with isolated totals closer to 2 feet.

Sunshine returns to the metro on Monday alongside seasonal temperatures around 50 degrees.

Tuesday, another system moves toward the state and increases the chance for mountain snow. The next best chance for rain and snow showers moves back into the forecast Thursday and Friday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
BRONX - A fatal fire in the Bronx led to the discovery of 17 illegally converted bedrooms inside an overcrowded home in the Bronx.

The fire had spread through much of the first and second floors of the home where they found one person dead.

The FDNY responded to the fire at the single-family home on Grand Avenue before calling in the NYC Department of Buildings to conduct an inspection.

During the inspection, officials found that the single-family home had been illegally converted into 17 single-room units on all levels of the building, including the basement and the attic.

DOB officials said most of the damage was concentrated in the back of the home, although there was severe fire damage throughout most of the first and second floors.

The DOB has issued a full vacate order and has ordered that the owner board up the house.

It is unclear who and how many people were occupying the rooms inside the home.

All the displaced residents have been offered emergency revocation assistance by the American Red Cross.

The DOB is still investigating the home for more information.

This is the third illegal conversion bust in less than a week, and the second in the Bronx.

Queens: Migrants found living inside building basement

On Tuesday, over 50 migrants were found being illegally housed inside an overcrowded and hazardous two-story building.

Officials found 14 bunk beds and 13 beds tightly packed in the cellar on the first floor of Sarr's Wholesale Furniture at 132-03 Liberty Ave. in South Richmond Hill.

Cell phone video showed the inside of the building packed with beds and people inside. So many people were living in the basement that they reportedly had to sleep in shifts.

Bronx: Store busted for housing dozens illegally

On Wednesday, another illegal migrant shelter was discovered.

Officials raided the building for illegally housing dozens of people under dangerous conditions. The NYC Department of Buildings issued a vacate order for a two-story commercial building on East Kingsbridge Road in Fordham.

Inspectors also found extension cords, e-bikes, space heaters and hotplates inside the Bronx building, the DOB said.

One man said he paid the building owner $300 a month and had lived at the location for two months.
Get ready to spring forward  daylight saving time is coming up soon.

On Sunday, March 10, at 2 a.m., daylight saving time begins, and Americans will lose an hour of sleep as the clocks are set ahead one hour. The perk is later sunsets, but the annual disruption has become increasingly unpopular  so unpopular that there's been a push in Congress to do away with the practice altogether.

Rhode Island Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is among those trying to eliminate the hassle of changing the clocks through the Sunshine Protection Act.

What is the status of the Sunshine Protection Act?

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse at his Providence office in April.

The legislation, of which Whitehouse is a sponsor, would stop the changing of the clocks by making daylight saving time permanent. The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Sunshine Protection Act in 2022, but it did not pass in the U.S. House of Representatives and was not signed into law by President Joe Biden.

A 2023 bill idled in Congress, but Whitehouse's office said he still supports the concept.

Many people spend all winter looking forward to that March weekend when we spring forward. But Rhode Islanders shouldnt have to wait to enjoy more afternoon daylight in the coldest months," Whitehouse said in a prepared statement. "Im working to build consensus in Congress to free us all from adjusting our clocks twice a year, and I believe making Daylight Saving Time permanent is the best route forward.

Has RI passed legislation to keep daylight saving time year-round?

Dave LeMote wipes down a post clock at Electric Time Company Inc. in Medfield, Mass., in 2014.

Some states have taken matters into their own hands, passing bills or resolutions to show their support for ending the fiddling with the clocks. But so far Rhode Island hasn't.

As of 2024, 19 states have passed legislation or resolutions to provide for year-round daylight saving time if Congress were to authorize such a change. They are Colorado, Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Idaho, Louisiana, Ohio, South Carolina, Utah, Wyoming, Delaware, Maine, Oregon, Tennessee, Washington, and Florida.

Which states don't observe daylight saving time?

In the U.S., Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation), Hawaii, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam and American Samoa do not observe daylight saving time.

Both Arizona and Hawaii previously opted out of daylight saving under an exemption statute in the 1960s.

What is daylight saving time?

According to the Old Farmer's Almanac, daylight saving  saving being singular  time "is the practice of moving the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months and changing them back again in the fall." The purpose of changing the clocks is to take advantage of natural daylight.

Benjamin Franklin, in his 1784 essay "An Economical Project," introduced the idea of a change in sleep schedules, but the concept of daylight saving time wasn't seriously proposed until more than a century later. Englishman William Willett prompted the first major push for it in the early 1900s.

The current daylight saving period in the U.S. was established with the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which went into effect in 2007. Before that, many pieces of legislation dealt with daylight saving time, particularly during World War I and II, including repeals and reinstatements. Germany was the first country to enact it as a means of saving electricity during World War II.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: When is daylight saving time 2024? Here's when to 'spring forward'
A city in northwestern Pennsylvania earned a $25,000 snow plowing grant, thanks to an effort by Dominos so people can carry out their favorite pizza  even in the worst of weather.

Over the winter, the chain restaurant launched the Plowing for Pizza program, which awarded 20 cities $25,000 to support snow-plowing efforts based on nominations from the public. Dominos reasoning for this program: their belief that nothing should stand in the way of a carryout pizza.

Oil City was one of the 20 cities to receive enough nominations from the surrounding community to earn a grant offer. Dominos says city officials have accepted the offer.

In addition to the funds, Oil City receives a Dominos Plowing for Pizza kit that includes winter hats, scarves, snow measuring stick and sign, vehicle magnets and other themed items.

Another northwestern Pennsylvania community, Erie, earned the grant. Dominos says Erie used the funds to purchase salt.

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Man injured after military vehicle crashes on I-79 in Butler County Man arrested after stand-off at bar in Beaver County Frightful flight: Plane headed to Pittsburgh makes emergency landing after battery ignites on board VIDEO: Barricaded man arrested after SWAT situation in Pittsburgh neighborhood DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) railed against the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to take up Donald Trumps argument that he is immune from prosecution for actions he took while president, urging the Court to move rapidly on a decision.

This was an obvious case not to take up, and just let the D.C. Circuit Court ruling stand, Raskin said Sunday during an interview on MSNBCs Inside with Jen Psaki.

The D.C. Circuit Courts decision, Raskin said, was completely exhaustive and totally compelling, and Trumps claims that a president could commit crimes with impunity while in office is utterly antithetical to everything that we know about our Constitution.

We don't have a king here, we had a revolution against a king and the Constitution is written so that [the] president's main job is to take care [that] the laws are faithfully executed, not faithfully violated in his own interest, Raskin said.



The decision by the Court on Wednesday is expected to delay Trumps federal trial for seeking to subvert the 2020 election for several more months while the justices consider the immunity claim. The court set an expedited schedule to hear the immunity issue, with oral arguments to be set during the week of April 22. Proceedings in the trial court will remain frozen at least until then. The move is a setback for special counsel Jack Smith, who has been pushing to bring Trump to trial this year ahead of Novembers presidential election.

But both he and Psaki argued that the Supreme Court could have moved faster at several points in the process.

If they really wanted to pronounce on his complete banality, this totally obvious point, they could've taken it up in December and sent it back a day or two later.  Theyre going to hear it on April 22, I hope we get a decision by April 23 or 24, because as we saw in Bush vs. Gore, they can move at Josh Hawley-type speeds when they want to get something done, Raskin said in reference to the ruling that settled the 2000 presidential election and seemingly the speed with which Hawley darted through the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Raskin also claimed that political motivations may be guiding the justices on the Supreme Court, three of whom were appointed by Trump.

Do you look at this court and say some of these justices want to delay these trials?, Psaki asked.

Well, yeah. If you don't believe that youre too innocent to be let out of the house by yourself at this point, Raskin said.

This is a court driven by the both Trump nominees and Bush nominees, and neither of those guys was elected with the popular vote, so we've got a Supreme Court that is representing the choices of minority presidents and they have been driving very hard to overturn a whole series of precedents that America has come to take for granted, like Roe v. Wade, Raskin added.
If Republicans were already winning the messaging and optics war over immigration when President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump boarded their airplanes for trips to the Texas-Mexico border Thursday, the GOP was still winning it when the two men strapped themselves in for their flights back home.

After the White House announced Monday that the Democratic president would head to Brownsville to see the immigration crisis firsthand and meet with the agents on the ground dealing with an escalating record number of unlawful crossings, speculation percolated that Biden would announce a set of actions to at least stabilize the border and perhaps allow him and his party to play offense.

Trump's visit to Eagle Pass, 325 miles upstream on the Rio Grande, was announced before Biden's trip and carried no expectation other than that he'd be his usual bombastic self on the immigration issue and that Gov. Greg Abbott would continue hammering Biden's border policies as wrongheaded and dangerous. Both Republicans fully lived up to their predictable expectations.

The flags of the United States, Mexico, Canada and Texas fly at the Gateway International Bridge in Brownsville on Wednesday, a day ahead of President Joe Biden's visit.

But Biden, making his second trip as president to the Texas portion of the nation's border with Mexico, came and went with no bold announcement. Nor were there any compelling visuals that showed he and his administration were slowing the pace of unauthorized border crossings or providing humanitarian relief for the migrants, many of whom braved an arduous journey through Central America and Mexico to make their way to the United States.

More: What's going on at the border? A dramatic standoff between Texas and the White House.

The president in his public remarks indoors with a backdrop of Border Patrol officers and a few Democratic officials chastised Trump and congressional Republicans for scuttling legislation to address immigration and border security and requested their cooperation to craft another bill.

Trump was outdoors with concertina wire that Texas has installed along the Rio Grande as part of the background. There, too, was a ranking member of the National Guard and the head of the Texas Department of Public Safety. Trump said the country has "a very dangerous border, and we're going to take care of it."

In a nutshell, Trump was telling what he plans to do; Biden was asking for Congress' help.

To be fair, the split-screen imagery was not completely one-sided. Biden was forceful when he faulted Trump for leaning on GOP members of Congress to stop border legislation that if signed into law would benefit the incumbent in an election year.

"That's a hell of a way to do business in America for such a serious problem," Biden said.

President Joe Biden participates in a briefing at the Border Patrol station in Brownsville on Thursday. Biden traveled to Texas to meet with those dealing with the immigration crisis and to discuss the need for Congress to pass border security legislation.

Trump, on the other hand, appeared to be using the death of 22-year University of Georgia student Laken Riley for political advantage. An undocumented migrant from Venezuela has been charged with kidnapping and killing her, and Trump was quick to point that out.

"She was a beautiful young woman, just so beautiful in so many ways, and brutally assaulted, horrifically, savagely murdered," he said.

Former President Donald Trump is greeted by Gov. Greg Abbott as he arrives at Shelby Park in Eagle Pass on Thursday.

The twin visits played out eight months before the expected rematch for the presidency. And that means the stakes were higher for the president than for the challenger, assuming nothing derails Trump's drive for the nomination.

A late February Gallup poll ranked immigration as the No. 1 issue on the minds of Americans. Only 28% of respondents approved of Biden's handling of border and immigration matters while 67% disapproved.

An ABC News/Ipsos poll from around the same time found that when it comes to whom to trust to tackle the border immigration crisis, 44% sided with Trump and only 26% with Biden.

Biden's numbers on immigration from the February Gallup poll are nearly unchanged from Gallup's poll six months earlier. That suggests a calcification in the public's attitude. For that to change, it would appear that Biden needs to do more than blame Trump and plead with Congress if he wants to change the narrative of the border debate.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Biden, Trump visit Texas-Mexico border; immigration narrative unchanged
JEFFERSON CO, Colo. (KDVR)  Family from across the country, along with a search and rescue team, gathered to look into the disappearance of a 33-year-old man.

Its been nearly three months since Nick Salvagni was last seen. Brian Salvagni, Nicks father, said his son was last seen in early December in Eagle. In January, Nicks car and dog were located at a park-n-ride lot off Interstate 70 in Jefferson County.

On Saturday, dozens gathered at the Stegosaurus Lot to continue the search.

Search continues for man missing from Eagle since December

Its the love in our family that keeps us together, Brian Salvagni said.

Brian Salvagni and several family members traveled to Colorado to assist a search and rescue team out of Wyoming.

We wanted to get some attention here today, Brian Salvagni said. We want everyone to know that Nick is missing.

Stacy Koester with WyoFind Search and Rescue said theyve mapped out the terrain to come up with the most effective search. Nicks dog was also in the mix, using his nose to sniff out answers.

Weve done a lot of training so we can go into the rougher spots most people arent used to going into, Koester said.

The search on Saturday was coordinated by Britney Hartman with Justice Takes Flight, a non-profit that helps find missing people in Colorado.

Not only are they here looking for Nick and trying to bring him home, but theyre here showing support for family and thats what they really need right now, Hartman said.

The family told FOX31 they are hoping to find answers.

We just want to know that hes okay. Seeing all these people come together and want to help us, we could never thank them enough, Hailey Salvagni, Nicks sister, said.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family fundraise for a permanent billboard to display Nicks information and help with search and rescue efforts.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
Editors Note: This story features an account of alleged sexual assault against minors. KXAN has withheld the names and identifying information for the privacy of those involved. If you are in distress or need someone to talk to, please call RAINNs National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673.

DRIPPING SPRINGS, Texas (KXAN)  A Dripping Springs ISD mother describes an Oct. 20 family dinner with her elementary student in heart-breaking detail.

During nightly family dinners, she, her husband and children do highs and lows  each tells the others about the best moment and worst moment from their day.

I dont have a high for the day, said one of her children.

We kept calm in the moment, said the mom, after learning her childs low for the day. I just kept thinking, what the f happened to them?'

The Incident

According to the mom, her child and another student were both on the playground at recess. She believes five teachers and more than 100 other students were also on the large playground. Security cameras were mounted around the area to monitor the students.

The two students, who knew each other from prior grades, were under a play structure and visible to teachers and cameras, according to the mom.

Were going to play vet, said the other student.

According to the mom, her child said thats when the other student reached into her childs pants. The mom said that the other student then sexually assaulted her child.

Her child told their parents that they told a teacher, but the mom said no one from the school contacted her. She said they only learned what happened when her child told the family during dinner.

After checking their child for injuries, the mom said they contacted a pediatrician, a child psychologist and the school. Since the incident, she said their child has received medical care and therapy.

The Investigation

The school responded to the mom the next day. It told her that a stay away order was put in place for the two students and that it verbally communicated the order to relevant teachers and staff.

The parents and school administrators met on Oct. 23. The mom said school officials presented two options at that meeting: an internal investigation by the school district or a Title IX complaint investigation. The mom said school officials told them that if a Title IX complaint was filed, then details about what happened and the names of everyone involved would be public information.

The mom said they filed a Title IX complaint on the same day.

KXAN has filed a public information request for more information on the Title IX investigation.

The mom said that on Nov. 7, investigators interviewed the two students and another child who had witnessed what happened. According to the mom, those interviews corroborated her childs story. She also said that the district deemed video footage too grainy to tell what happened, but it also couldnt show them the footage, saying it had automatically been deleted after 16 days.

According to the mom, the investigation closed on Nov. 20 and concluded that the other child did sexually assault her child.

This happened in broad daylight, the mom said. Where were the teachers? Is anyone being held accountable? Is anyone looking into the other students safety?

Jennifer Edwards, the executive director of communication with Dripping Springs ISD, told KXAN the, parents of the students who were involved were immediately notified of the incident as well as the Hays County Sheriffs Office and Child Protective Services. Dripping Springs ISD did not give details on the alleged incident or the Title IX investigation.

The day the investigation closed, the mom said the district told the parents and their child to sign a new order for their child to stay away from the other child. This upset the mom, who feels that signing the order would make her child feel like they did something wrong.

Edwards tells KXAN that state and federal laws protecting student privacy do not allow the district to provide specific details about this incident.

The Outcome

After the investigation, the mom said she asked their childs teacher about the stay-away order and to report any changes in their childs well-being or behavior.

The teacher said they didnt even know about the order, the mom said. The ISD said it wouldnt release a notice to parents about the assault because it would be a FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) violation.

Since then, the parents spoke with other parents, rallying others to support reforming district policies.

It breaks my heart, the mom said. The policies in place arent good enough. We used to not have to lock doors at schools, but because of school shootings, we have to now. Something needs to change. We have to do things different.

The mom, along with 10 other parents, met with Dripping Springs ISD and school leaders on Friday, March 1. They went armed with talking points: What is staff required to do if a student under the age of 10 tells about a sexual assault? How will the ISD support victims? How does the school teach students about boundaries and abuse?

Children deserve a trauma-informed and victim-centered response by the school system: asking a victim to sign stay-away documents appears to demonstrate a lack of understanding of proper child development, reads the talking points shared by the mom. Being asked to sign a document may be interpreted by the child that they have done something wrong, which is a common feeling expressed by children who have experienced abuse and often keeps them from disclosing.

She said her focus is on preventing other parents and students from experiencing what happened to her family.

Its an uncomfortable conversation that a school district doesnt want to have. But we need to have it, the mom said. I just hope the district doesnt retaliate against us because Im advocating for my child.

The Meeting

According to the mom, the Friday meeting felt like a step in the right direction, with leaders apologizing for perceived missteps in the process.

Its going to be a journey, but I think theyre willing to take appropriate steps, she said.

The mom said the group received verbal commitments from district leaders at the meeting, including:

New security cameras, already funded through state grants for school security

Better zoning and patrolling by adults supervising students during recess

The expansion of opt-in abuse prevention training to K-5 students

According to her, meeting attendees also discussed having further discussions with the district about safety policies.

Dripping Springs ISD provided a statement to KXAN Friday afternoon:

The safety of the students of Dripping Springs ISD is the districts first and most important priority. Our staff takes all reports of harm to students seriously and investigates incidents fully to determine the actions necessary to ensure the safety of all students. The incident was immediately reported to law enforcement and Child Protective Services. The districts Title IX Coordinator was notified and the appropriate procedures were followed in accordance with federal law. Jennifer Edwards, Dripping Springs ISD Executive Director of Communications

KXAN also asked Dripping Springs ISD officials if they intended to change any policies as a result of the investigation.

The district regularly reviews its policies and practices in order to best serve the students and families of DSISD; however, the district did not identify any concerns in the handling of this matter by campus administration, said Edwards in response to KXANs question. The campus took appropriate action to inform and support the involved families and ensure the safety of all students.

When told about the districts response, the mom was surprised and disappointed, calling it an unfortunate inconsistency.

This will make parents more upset, the mom said. I guess were back to square one if they dont think things need to change.

KXAN followed up with Edwards about those answers. She reiterated that the district did not identify any missteps or mistakes in its process, calling the moms account of the Friday meeting inaccurate.

In our investigation of how the administration handled the incident, the district did not identify any missteps or mistakes. As stated, the district is always willing to review our policies and procedures in an effort to improve operations and student safety, Edwards said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A driver was injured and taken into custody following a three-vehicle crash that began as a police pursuit Saturday afternoon in Kansas City.

Officers responded to the crash around 12:43 p.m. to the crash at the intersection of Truman Road and Van Brunt Boulevard, according to Capt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.

An orange Nissan Rogue was traveling west on Truman Road at a high speed when it drove through a red light and hit a Honda CRV at intersection of Van Brunt.

The Nissan then lost control and slid and struck an eastbound Cadillac DeVille nearly head on. The impact pushed the Cadillac into into a metal light pole.

Police said the Nissan continued moving after it hit the Cadillac before it came to a rest at 4933 Truman Road.

The Nissan driver wasnt wearing a seat belt and was taken to a hospital with minor injuries. The Honda and Cadillac drivers were not injured in the crash.

Police had pursued the Nissan driver prior to the collision because he allegedly was wanted for multiple aggravated assaults, Becchina said. At the time of the crash, police were a few blocks behind the driver and took him into custody.

A months-long investigation by The Star found that in two recent years, nine people have died after police chases in the metro including in Independence, Kansas City, Missouri, and Kansas City, Kansas. Eight of them were innocent bystanders.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich.  Every attendee to the Michigan Republican Partys official convention Saturday had it emblazoned on the badges that hung around their necks: Up from the ashes.

The organization is attempting to unite around former President Donald Trump and move on from deep divisions that have led to an ousted chair, a legal battle, and nearly empty campaign coffers heading into a presidential election year in a pivotal swing state.

Its unclear whether that optimism will yield success: A rump convention of dissidents to take place in Detroit Saturday was dissolved last-minute after a court ruling. Two other gatherings popped up in its place, as backers of former chair Kristina Karamo  who still claims to be the rightful Michigan GOP party leader  met after being refused credentials to the Grand Rapids convention for missing the registration deadline.

Delegates from those meetings wont be recognized by the Republican National Committee at its convention in Milwaukee this summer. So some party members from Michigans 1st and 4th Congressional districts came to Grand Rapids instead, hoping their votes would count.

Former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, the new Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, speaks with reporters at the Michigan GOP State Convention on March 2, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

After speaking with members of one of those divided districts Saturday, newly-crowned party chair Pete Hoekstra told USA TODAY his message was straightforward.

Send the message to anybody in your community: If you want to work with us to make Republicans successful in November, the door is open. We want you.

GOP screaming match

Theres still a ways to go. Most attendees to Saturdays convention who spoke with USA TODAY were hopeful the drama is in the past, and most of the caucuses went off without a hitch. But at least one devolved into a screaming match, and some Karamo-camp attendees were denied the chance to vote from their peers who say they hadn't registered in time.

The split isnt about loyalty to Trump  that much is clear from the former president winning 98% of the delegates votes.

Instead, it reflects a different growing pain within the modern GOP: Tension between party stalwarts who have funded, run or won elections in the past, and activists who see them as a cabal set on protecting establishment interests.

Theyve purged those people who have experience winning elections, said 3rd District delegate Keary Sawyer, 72, a lawyer from Grand Rapids Township whose father was a congressman and who has been involved in the Michigan GOP for years.

Boom, were out. Well thats OK, you can purge us all you want as long as youre going to go out and win elections and raise money. But they didnt do it.

Jim Copas is a staunch Karamo ally and former executive director of the Michigan GOP. He resigned his position a few weeks ago over frustrations with the leadership change. He said the divisions are not about conservative values or liberal values.

Its about keeping the system going the way its been going for a long time in a two party system where deals are cut in dark rooms, he said. Thats business as usual. Thats what the grassroots pushed back against. And what you saw today was the establishment stealing an election.

Kristina Karamo speaks to Michigan Republican Party delegates Feb. 18, 2023, in Lansing, Mich.

A dysfunctional dumpster fire

Karamo rose to prominence in 2020 as a vocal proponent of the unfounded theory that Trump won that years presidential election. She ran for Secretary of State in 2022 as part of a statewide wave of election deniers who gained Trumps endorsement. When she lost to incumbent Sec. Jocelyn Benson, she refused to concede. She also made headlines for some of her outlandish conspiracy theories, including saying that celebrities like Beyonce, and Cardi B were peddlers of paganism and that Jay-Z was a Satanist.

Democrats won big that year. They swept the top statewide offices and, for the first time in 40 years, took control of the state House and Senate. (As Hoekstra puts it: We got our clocks cleaned.)

Karamo was elected as chair in early 2023 and, over the course of the following months, allegations of financial mismanagement dogged the Michigan GOP.

They took out a loan to fly Jim Caviezel, an actor in the films "Sound of Freedom" and "The Passion of the Christ," to the partys annual policy conference on Mackinac Island when it was unclear they could even afford to host the gathering  which had sparse attendance Karamo blamed on the deep state.

They used $263,000 in campaign funds from the RNC for party expenses instead of campaigns, prompting a wrist slap from the national party. By the end of the year, they had just over $246,000 in their federal campaign fund and more than $884,000 in debts between the federal and state campaign funds.

Thats nonsense, Copas said in response to the allegations of financial mismanagement. The history in Michigan is donating money to the party with strings attached. One of the redeeming qualities of Kristina is shes incorruptible  as a consequence, she would not accept donations with strings attached.

The Michigan Republican Party convention in Grand Rapids was mostly calm, with the exception of one caucus that broke out into a squabble over the district chair.

Karamo did not respond to an interview request for this story.

A group of Republicans voted to oust Karamo over financial concerns in January. But only a portion of the state committee attended, and Karamo challenged it in court. A judge ruled against her earlier this week, though she is likely to appeal.

In the interim, another group of party members elected Pete Hoekstra as their new chair, a former GOP congressman from west Michigan who was former President Donald Trump's ambassador to the Netherlands.

Trump endorsed Hoekstra and the RNC dubbed him the official chairman in mid-February.

It is a dysfunctional dumpster fire, said Richard Czuba, founder of nonpartisan Michigan-based polling firm Glengariff Group. Not one thing occurring right now at the state GOP will help them to elect candidates. Nothing.

Charting a path forward

Inside the Amway Grand Central Hotel Saturday, most people were ready to shed the drama of the past year.

Were the closest weve ever been to putting it behind us, said state Rep. Matt Hall, the House minority leader.

Amid the discord, other state Republicans started getting worried that the party operation wouldnt be up to the task of electing conservatives in a swing state where just a handful of votes can impact the results. With the help of former Gov. Rick Snyder, the state House and Senate GOP arms stepped in to raise money for candidates under the assumption the party would continue to be in disarray.

Hoekstras leadership is an enormous boost to bring the party back into the mix, said Hall, who was a part of those efforts.

Former U.S. Rep. Pete Hoekstra (left), the new Chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, watches voting results being posted at the MI GOP State Convention on March 2, 2024 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

You take the Republican base and then you bring back all these individuals that have traditionally given to the party who are unifying around the idea that we need that balance, he said. What youre seeing here today is a major milestone in that movement.

Multiple party members said their hopes for the fall havent been dimmed, in part because there is at least one thing most people in the party can get behind: Reelecting Trump, who is leading in the most recent polls in the state he narrowly won in 2016 and lost in 2020.

Marian Sheridan, the partys vice-chair for grassroots organizing, said the base was very empowered by Karamo, but they understand the importance of the task ahead.

Once President Trump becomes the official candidate I think that will be a really uniting message across all the grassroots, Sheridan said. The focus will totally be on winning that election.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Michigan Republicans chart their path forward after months of disarray
Anti-obesity drugs rose in popularity last year, helping the leaders in this market -- notably Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk -- crush the market. However, some medical device specialists got the wrong end of the stick. That was the case with Abbott Laboratories (NYSE: ABT), whose diabetes care segment is perceived as its most important growth driver. Some investors thought GLP-1 medicines such as Ozempic could decrease demand for some of Abbott's key products.

But that's not the case. Anti-obesity medicines won't harm Abbott Laboratories' business. In fact, the opposite could be true. Let's find out why.

Complementary ways to help diabetics

Last year, Abbott's sales of $40.1 billion fell 8.1% year over year. The decline was due to a drop in demand for COVID-19 diagnostic products. Putting that segment aside, Abbott's top line increased by 11.6%. But even that pales in comparison to the company's continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) franchise, the FreeStyle Libre. In 2023, FreeStyle Libre sales jumped by 23.2% year over year to $5.3 billion.

Could Ozempic and competing weight-loss therapies lead to reduced demand for Abbott Laboratories' CGM devices? The numbers tell a different story. Abbott's management argues that patients often use GLP-1 medicines in combination with CGM solutions. An analysis of pharmacy data Abbott released last year strongly suggests that people on weight-loss therapies have higher rates of CGM adoptions.

DexCom, Abbott's most important competitor in the CGM market, echoes this sentiment. As DexCom CEO Kevin Sayer recently said: "The data clearly show that CGM usage grows faster in GLP-1 users than those who are not on therapy. This further demonstrates the complementary nature of DexCom CGM across all therapy regimes in diabetes." In other words, Abbott's most significant growth driver is safe, at least for now. It doesn't look like GLP-1 drugs will make its CGM devices obsolete. Quite the contrary.

Story continues

Here's another important point: The CGM market has a massive worldwide opportunity. More than half a billion adults now have diabetes, but only about 1% of them use this technology. True, many of them are in developing countries where Abbott Laboratories has yet to launch its FreeStyle Libre franchise. However, the potential is there, and few are better positioned than this medical device giant to pounce on it.

Picking up after Ozempic

Weight-loss therapies like Ozempic have proved extremely effective in helping patients achieve their goals. However, they lead to people shedding quite a bit of muscle along with fat. That can be a problem -- excessive muscle loss can have negative health consequences. Some studies have found that as much as 40% of Ozempic users lose weight from decreased muscle mass.

Abbott is looking to address this issue, too. The company launched Protality, a brand designed to develop products to aid people in their weight loss journey. Abbott's first launch within this business is a low-calorie protein shake. Getting enough protein is an essential part of maintaining muscle mass, and the "low-calorie" part of the equation should help patients keep their overall weight down.

In other words, this is a way to help people lose fat and not muscle. It's too early to tell how successful Abbott's new Protality brand will be, but it again shows that the rise of Ozempic is hardly a net negative for the company's business.

Abbott's prospects remain strong

Abbott Laboratories has an excellent track record of developing innovative medical devices. Even if its FreeStyle Libre franchise were compromised, the smart money would be on the company to find ways around that challenge. It did so during the pandemic. Procedure volume dropped like a rock, but the healthcare giant kept its revenue afloat by quickly becoming a leader in the COVID-19 diagnostic market.

However, it doesn't look like weight-loss medicines will negatively impact Abbott's long-term prospects at all. And there are many other reasons to invest in the company, including its streak of 52 consecutive years of dividend increases, making it an excellent income stock. Here's the bottom line: Abbott Laboratories is still a top pick for long-term investors.

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About 3.2 million Texans cast a ballot in the 2024 Texas primaries, with Republicans far outpacing their Democratic counterparts.

Republicans cast 2.3 million ballots on a ticket led by former President Donald Trump, and Democrats cast about 975,000 ballots, according to the Texas secretary of states office. That marks a significant drop from the 2020 primary election, when more than 4 million Texans voted, and turnout among Democratic voters surpassed Republican turnout.

This years drop in turnout came despite an uptick in the overall number of registered voters in Texas since 2020. Democratic turnout accounted for the entirety of the decline  Republican participation increased slightly compared to 2020 but not by not enough to counter the sharp decrease in votes cast in the Democratic primary.

One possible reason: The top of the ticket in the Democracy primary was much less competitive in 2024. Four years ago, Joe Biden used Super Tuesday to surge to the top of the hotly contested presidential primary and clear the path to the nomination.

Voters across all 254 counties again chose Democratic and Republican nominees for the presidential election, but there was little drama in those races. Voters also picked nominees for representatives in Congress and the Texas Legislature. Lower-level judges and county offices were also on the ballot.

A small majority of votes came through mail-in voting and during the early voting period, which ran from Feb. 20 to March 1. About 10% of registered voters, or 1.8 million people, cast a ballot during early voting. Thats 200,000 fewer votes compared to early voting in the 2020 primary, where 12.6% of registered voters participated early.

The decline in voter turnout was most pronounced in the states most populous, urban counties of Harris, Bexar, Dallas and Travis, where only 13.9% of voters turned out compared to 24% in 2020. Similar declines occurred in the states border counties as well as in the fast growing suburbs of Tarrant, Fort Bend, Collin, Denton, Hays and Williamson counties.

Turnout in the 216 mostly rural counties that historically vote strongly Republican had the smallest dip in participation rates, about 4.1 percentage points.

I think there is less enthusiasm for the big matchup in 2024, which is almost certain to be between former president Donald Trump and President Joe Biden, said Brandon Rottinghaus, a political science professor at the University of Houston. Weve been there, done that, and I think a lot of voters are kind of sitting on the sidelines until things change.

Rottinghaus said he was not surprised to see stable turnout in red counties, where Republican contests have drawn considerable attention and funding as Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton each seek revenge after an eventful legislative session. Paxton is fighting to unseat the House Republicans who voted to impeach him, while Abbott has publicly targeted Republicans who opposed school vouchers in last years legislative sessions.

Democrats did have a competitive statewide race that determined who will challenge U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz in November. But some voters may have written that race off because the U.S. Rep. Colin Allred significantly outraised his Democratic Senate primary opponents, including state Sen. Roland Gutierrez of San Antonio, Rottinghaus said. Allred easily defeated Gutierrez on Tuesday.

Its a kiss of death for voter turnout when people see elections as being not competitive, he said.

Voter turnout also tends to be lower among younger cohorts, and Texas has one of the youngest populations in the country. The median Texan is 35.5 years old, compared to the national median of 38.9, according to a 2023 U.S. Census report.

Only about 75,000 people under the age of 30 voted early this year, roughly equivalent to the number of people ages 85 and older who voted early, according to a report by Derek Ryan, a political consultant. (Election day numbers broken down by age are not yet available.)

Texas has experienced significant population growth in recent years, contributing to an overall increase in the number of registered voters. The population grew by 4% from January 2020 to January 2023, the majority of which was driven by migration, not new births. That growth did not necessarily translate into more early voters, though.

Bob Stein, a political science professor at Rice University who has studied voting behavior, said this may be because candidates dont usually target new residents, whose voter history may be unknown to them.

What really motivates people to vote is someone asking them to vote, Stein said. Candidates may not want to turn out those registered voters because they don't know much about them  they don't know where they came from, they don't know how they voted, we don't have party registration.

The early voting tally includes those who voted by mail. Mailed ballots accounted for 6.3% of early votes this year, a decline from 2020 when they made up roughly 10% of votes. In 2021, Texas added new requirements to voting by mail. The new law required voters to provide their drivers license number or part of their Social Security number on their ballot application. In Texas, the only people eligible to vote bail mail are 65 or older, confined to jail, expected to give birth within three weeks of Election Day, are sick or disabled or expect to be absent from their home county for the entire voting period.

The new law, among other changes to voting requirements, can confuse voters and contribute to low turnout, Stein said.

Even the most frequent and hardy voters are confused about their state laws, said Stein, who has studied voting nationally. I think Republicans are going to look at their laws and procedures in the next session. I think they are realizing that they are aggravating voters.

We cant wait to welcome you to downtown Austin Sept. 5-7 for the 2024 Texas Tribune Festival! Join us at Texas breakout politics and policy event as we dig into the 2024 elections, state and national politics, the state of democracy, and so much more. When tickets go on sale this spring, Tribune members will save big. Donate to join or renew today.
The family of an 11-year-old boy who died after being hit by a bin lorry in Edinburgh have described him as "the perfect son".

Thomas Wong was riding his bike when he was involved in a collision with the vehicle on Whitehouse Road, at about 08:20 on Friday.

Police Scotland said he was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement, released by the force on Sunday, Thomas' family said they were "utterly heartbroken".

It continued: "Thomas was the perfect son. He was the best little brother to his older sister and was adored by all his family.

"Thomas went to Cramond Primary School which he loved. He made good friends there. We will all miss him terribly."

The family, who live in Edinburgh, added they were very grateful for all the sympathy and heartfelt messages they had received.

The collision happened on Whitehouse Road in Edinburgh

On Friday, Helen Donaldson, head teacher of Cramond Primary School, said Thomas was "always smiling" and that he was a "positive, friendly and curious" boy.

She said: "We are utterly devastated by the tragic news of the sudden death of one our pupils. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time.

"He was kind and always eager to support others, and will be greatly missed by all of us."

Insp Andrew Thomson said: "Our thoughts are very much with Thomas's family and friends. Specially trained officers are supporting the family at this time.

"We are continuing with our inquiries to establish the full circumstances of the incident and would appeal to anyone who may have information, and has not yet contacted police, is to get in touch with officers."

Insp Thomson also urged anyone with private CCTV or dash cam footage to get in touch.

The bin lorry driver was not injured in the incident, which happened near the junction with Braehead Road.

Thomas is the second child to be killed after being hit by a bin lorry in Scotland this year.

Last month an 11-year-old girl died in hospital in Edinburgh a week after she was critically injured in the Borders.

Elizabeth Bell was struck by a vehicle on the A6105, near East Gordon, on 31 January.
Jofama Coleman, left, and his attorney, Ellen Eggers, react to his exoneration at the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles on Feb. 27. (Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

A day after being cleared of a crime for which he served 20 years in prison but did not commit, Jofama Coleman was asked Wednesday how he felt about the legal system that prosecuted, convicted, sentenced and imprisoned him.

Coleman considered the question for a moment as he stood alongside co-defendant Abel Soto, who was exonerated in January after also losing two decades to prison. With them was their lawyer, Ellen Eggers, and Dist. Atty. George Gascon, whose office has now cleared 10 people who were wrongly convicted and imprisoned.

Read more: Editorial: He spent 38 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. It's a stain on our justice system

Coleman said he was at first resentful. But then a supposed eyewitness who testified against him acknowledged that he never actually saw Coleman at the wheel of a white van used in the deadly shooting of 16-year-old Jose Chino Robles on May 10, 2003. Testimony that Soto fired the fatal shots was similarly rejected.

It wasnt until one of these individuals grew up and developed a conscience, or whatever it may be, and actually told the truth, Coleman said, that he could begin to make peace with what happened.

Read more: Editorial: The 1980s crack epidemic was a fork in the road. America chose racism and prisons over public health

Robles was one of thousands of victims of Los Angeles cruel street gang warfare in the 1990s and early 2000s. Coleman and Soto were likewise victims, not of killers but of sloppy if earnest police work and prosecution, and the tunnel vision of L.A. officials who were so adamant about cracking down on crime that they punished the wrong people. Very few, like Coleman and Soto, have won their release. Many likely remain unjustly imprisoned.

How did it happen? A few cops may have been corrupt. Los Angeles Police Department Officer Rafael Perez comes to mind, along with others who planted evidence and framed suspects in what became known as the Rampart scandal. Some prosecutors may have known they were trying innocent people. But the vast majority undoubtedly believed they were working hard to bring killers to justice and peace to the victims loved ones. They felt enormous pressure from elected officials, who felt enormous pressure from voters and constituents to stop the killing. In their zeal, they may have cut corners, or succumbed to prejudices about people they were convinced  incorrectly  were guilty.

Read more: She binged true crime on Netflix. Then she helped free two men from prison

Franky Carrillo Jr. was tried, convicted and imprisoned under circumstances remarkably similar to Colemans and Sotos. Witnesses testified that they saw Carrillo fire the murder weapon in a fatal 1991 drive-by. They were encouraged to do so, despite their misgivings, by investigators misusing ID photos in books and so-called six-packs. Nearly two decades later, they recanted.

Eggers, the same defense lawyer who helped to get Coleman and Soto cleared, worked with the Northern California Innocence Project to win Carrillos 2011 release and exoneration. Carrillo is now a county probation commissioner and an Assembly candidate in Tuesday's election.

Read more: Sentenced to life in prison as teens, two L.A. County men declared innocent on same day

"The Innocence Files," a 2020 Netflix documentary series, examined Carrillos harrowing journey. Sheriffs deputies, prosecutors and purported witnesses who at first were depicted as heroes later look like villains. Of those, a few  the ones who recognized their mistakes and the harm they caused, and who worked to repair it  became heroes again.

Our society is somewhere on that same path. We overbuilt our prison system and then overfilled it, too often carelessly. We failed to meet the scourge of violence with more constructive investments to deter crime. We continue to permit law enforcement to use unreliable techniques and technologies to solve crimes. We too often respond to crime spikes (mere blips compared with the violence of three and four decades ago) by rolling back hard-won criminal justice reforms.

Read more: Opinion: Exonerations of the wrongfully convicted are on the rise

Its time for our society to do what Coleman said the false witness against him eventually did  grow up and develop a conscience. That means supporting communities battered by crime with better education, employment opportunities, healthcare, even street lighting, and not just police and prison. It means atoning for past mistakes by insisting that every county, every state, the federal government, build up their conviction integrity and habeas corpus operations, as Gascon has done, to bring innocent victims of overzealous prosecutions home.

There is significant danger that comes with convicting the wrong person, Gascon noted Wednesday. There is the unimaginable loss suffered by people wrongly locked away, and the families that had to live without them, the stain on a justice system we tout as the worlds best, and the false justice given to crime victims.

Gascon's final point should catch the attention of every tough-on-crime adherent:

It also leaves the true perpetrators free to inflict further harm upon the community.

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.
What is Mitch McConnells legacy as leader of Senate Republicans? A lot of procedurally astute but brazenly hypocritical moves to strengthen the power of his party in the chamber.

He twisted the rules to set a pernicious, disrespectful, anti-democratic precedent that in an election year, a presidents Supreme Court nominee would be summarily denied hearings. And so, Justice Antonin Scalias replacement was not Merrick Garland, tapped by President Barack Obama, but Neil Gorsuch, chosen by Donald Trump.

Then, in a breathtaking turnabout in 2020, McConnell ignored his own rule to rush through another Trump choice, Amy Coney Barrett, to fill the seat vacated by the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

In early 2021, he voted to acquit Trump in his second impeachment trial over his role on Jan. 6 and his refusal to accept the 2020 election results  failing to take the one definitive step that would have barred the demagogue and wannabe dictator from holding any office again.

In practically the same breath, he took to the Senate floor and delivered pointed remarks truthfully stating that Jan. 6 was a disgrace, and that American citizens attacked their own government. They used terrorism to try to stop a specific piece of democratic business they did not like, and that they did this because they had been fed wild falsehoods by the most powerful man on Earth  because he was angry hed lost an election, and that former President Trumps actions preceding the riot were a disgraceful dereliction of duty.

When the president was named George W. Bush, McConnell pressed for unpaid-for tax cuts that gave the biggest benefits to highest-income Americans. When the president was named Obama, McConnell tacked hard in the wind, blaming the president for every dollar of budget imbalance and using the nations debt limit as a bargaining tool.

When the president was named Trump, McConnell again championed irresponsible tax hikes that again ballooned deficits and debt. And now, with Joe Biden in the big chair, McConnell has again assumed the role of fiscal mischief-maker, empowering those on the hard right who wanted to take the country to the brink.

The list goes on. McConnell insisted that the United States deliver military aid to Ukraine be yoked to immigration reforms  then, under pressure from Trump, folded like a T-shirt and voted to kill the deal. Other Republicans showed a modicum of courage. The leader buckled.

And though McConnell was a lead warrior against Obama nominees up and down the federal judiciary, he blindly pushed through judge after judge nominated by Trump, including many rated unqualified by the American Bar Association. The courts will live with the consequences of that brazen hypocrisy for generations.

Thats not all. In the wake of a threat on Justice Brett Kavanaughs life, McConnell demanded Democratic action on a bill stepping up security around Supreme Court justices homes  but has had no answer other than more guns everywhere for school shootings that have torn at the nations very soul.

Mitch McConnell will be remembered as a savvy tactician who, by skillfully manipulating the rules of the Senate, got the better of Democrats in many partisan battles. He will also be remembered as a man who, though claiming to put principle above all else, proved he had almost none.

___
A high-powered attorney who has represented the likes of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman and John Gotti Jr. has taken on the case of a disgraced doctor facing murder charges for walking a woman without a terminal illness through her nitrogen gas suicide in a New York motel room.

Stephen P. Miller of Tucson, Arizona, 85, is charged with second-degree manslaughter in the death of Doreen Brodhead, according to an indictment from the Ulster County District Attorney's Office. He also faces two counts of assault, according to the document.

Cleaning staff found 59-year-old Brodhead dead in a Kingston Super 8 Motel on Nov. 9, 2023, the office wrote in a press release. Miller traveled from his home in Tucson to meet with Brodhead and assist her in taking her own life with a plastic hood and nitrogen gas.

Miller turned himself in to the Kingston Police Department on Feb. 2, according to the agency. The Ulster County District Attorney's Office wrote that he pleaded not guilty to the charges and was released after posting a $1 million bond.

ASSISTED DEATHS MAY SOON BE A REALITY FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS IN CANADA

Stephen P. Miller, 85, faces one count of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of assault after bringing nitrogen gas to 59-year-old Doreen Brodhead from his home in Tucson, Arizona to her in the New York motel where she took her own life last November, officials said.

Miller transported the tank of gas to New York but did not affix the hood to Brodhead, and the exchange was videotaped, said his lawyer, Jeffrey Lichtman.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The attorney said Brodhead contacted his client through a national organization that advocates for the legalization of physician-aided suicide.

Worldwide, there are 80 organizations that are "Right to Die" societies, according to the World Federation of Right to Die Societies. Eleven states have legalized the practice for terminally ill patients  in May of last year, Vermont joined Oregon in allowing non-residents to travel there for their assisted suicide program.

Miller sits on the advisory board of Choice and Dignity, the organization confirmed to Fox News Digital. The Arizona-based nonprofit, which is about 500 members strong, advocates "right to die" laws.

The group hosts meet-ups and workshops, including advocacy trainings, "Advance Directives" classes that teach prospective assisted suicide recipients to establish power of attorney and "clearly state [their] end-of-life and medical care wishes."

LEGALIZED ASSISTED SUICIDE PUSH IN US ALARMS DOCTORS, DISABILITY ADVOCATES: 'WHERE DO YOU DRAW THE LINE?'

The group also teaches a "Life Completion Class," described as a "how to" in "ways to facilitate a peaceful death, including a demonstration of the inert gas method and [a discussion on] why not to use other methods."

"Exit guides"  individuals like Miller who walk prospective recipients through the process  are also trained by the group, according to their literature.

"We see Steve's volunteering, as a compassionate presence for people who do not wish to die alone, as a noble undertaking," Jim Schultz, the president of the organization, told Fox News Digital. "We were so saddened to learn of his arrest... as I am sure you are aware, the taking of one's own life is not illegal."

Schultz said the organization no longer offers its "Compassionate Consultant" services, which advise prospective terminally ill patients through the decision to take their own lives  however, the cessation predated Miller's arrest, with Schultz saying the group "didn't have the infrastructure to support the function."

Miller is one of two board members with a medical background, Schultz said, along with a psychiatrist based in California.

CANADA HALTS ASSISTED SUICIDE PROGRAM FOR MENTALLY ILL DUE TO LACK OF DOCTORS

Arizona Medical Board records show Miller's license to practice expired in 2005  the next year, he was convicted on one count of federal tax evasion in Texas for using sham trusts and limited liability companies to conceal income and hide it offshore, the Justice Department said in a press release. He was sentenced to just under four years in federal prison, and records show his license to practice was revoked in 2009.

Lichtman told Fox News Digital that his client "believes that people who are suffering from illness or pain should have some control over when their lives end."

Miller counseled the woman for "months" before their final meeting at the New York motel, he said.

"They sometimes want to talk to somebody  I think he wanted to make sure that this is something that she wanted to do and that there was no gray area," Lichtman said.

COLORADO DEMOCRATS PUSH TO ALLOW NON-RESIDENTS ACCESS TO MEDICALLY ASSISTED SUICIDE



Lichtman said that although the Ulster County woman was not diagnosed with a terminal illness, she suffered from chronic pain. He refuted claims from a source close to the court case who told Fox News Digital that mental illness may have played a factor in Brodhead's final decision.

"There was never a hint that Brodhead was suffering from mental illness," Lichtman insisted. "If she was, surely it would have been brought up at the bail hearing by the prosecutor. It wasnt. Zero evidence."

Lichtman also said that Miller's family, rather than the Choice and Dignity group, is funding his legal representation.

Miller's prosecution comes as Canada, which has some of the most liberal laws worldwide concerning physician suicide, delayed its plans to allow the mentally ill to opt into their programs last month, citing an insufficient number of psychiatrists for pre-death evaluations.

The country introduced medically assisted death following a 2015 decision by its Supreme Court that requiring people to cope with intolerable suffering infringed on their fundamental rights of liberty and security. In 2021, the law was expanded to include those experiencing "grievous and irremediable" conditions like depression and other mental health issues in 2021.

Previously, Southern California primary care doctor Jeff Barke described the growing Right to Die movement as a "terrible advancement" for society in an interview with Fox News Digital:

"To legislate and consecrate the idea that we purposefully expedite their death, to me, is not what medicine is all about, not what our healing profession is about and is emblematic of what's going on in our society in all aspects," Barke said.

"I think it's a terrible advancement that states are legislating the rights and the power of a physician to act God-like and create and expedite a patients death," Barke said.

Conversely, Choice and Dignity wrote in a statement on its website that it "deserves a death as free of pain and suffering as possible."

"Every individual should have control over the care they are given at the end of life, including the right to end medical treatments when they no longer add to the quality of life," the nonprofit said. "Choice and Dignity helps our members to have that control and tries to advocate for those rights."





Original article source: El Chapo lawyer defends disgraced doctor against manslaughter charge for gas-assisted suicide
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The El Paso Police Department, along with the El Paso Municipal Police Officers Association, renamed police headquarters at 911 N. Raynor on Sunday morning, March 3 in honor of longtime Police Chief Greg Allen who died unexpectedly last year.

Allen, who led the department for nearly 15 years, died on Jan. 17, 2023 at the age of 71.

March 3 would have been his 73nd birthday.

Courtesy of EPPD

Courtesy of EPPD

Courtesy of EPPD

Courtesy of EPPD

Courtesy of EPPD

Courtesy of EPPD

Courtesy of EPPD

Courtesy of EPPD

He had been in the hospital recovering from a medical procedure.

Allen served with the El Paso Police Department for more than 40 years and worked as a patrol officer, training specialist at the Police Academy, sergeant, lieutenant and deputy chief before becoming chief in March of 2008.

He also served in several high-profile units in the department, the Gang Task Force, SWAT, the Tactical Section, Auto Theft Task Force and commander of the Dignitary Protection Team.

He was widely beloved by the police officers throughout the department.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  A group of El Pasoans gathered Sunday morning, March 3 in Downtown El Paso to express support for the Palestinian people in the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.

KTSMs crew on the scene said there were 50 to 80 people at San Jacinto Plaza and it was peaceful.

People in attendance were chanting Cease fire now and Free Palestine now.

The conflict started back on Oct. 7 when Hamas launched at attack on Israeli communities. More than 1,000 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed in the initial attack and more than 250 Israelis and foreigners were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip, according to most casualty estimates.

Since then, CNN estimates that more than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza since then

Similar protests have been held all over the country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The now-12-day search for missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue continued Saturday with a large and coordinated rural search effort in Manitowoc County, Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinnert said in a statement Saturday.

Elijah has been missing since Feb. 20 despite daily search efforts by local, state and federal law enforcement officers that have included canvassing urban and rural neighborhoods; searching rivers, shores and a landfill in Calumet County; and K-9 teams "checking and rechecking various areas."

In a news release at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Meinnert wrote that firefighters, paramedics and dispatchers from Manitowoc, Sheboygan and Calumet counties, as well as various Wisconsin police officers, assisted the Department of Criminal Investigation and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in "conducting large rural searches of Manitowoc County."

Surrounded by law enforcement officials, Two Rivers Police Chief Ben Meinnert, center, speaks at the press conference held at Two Rivers city hall, about the missing three-year-old Elijah Vue, Tuesday, February 27, 2024, in Two Rivers, Wis.

"We will continue those rural searches for Elijah through the weekend," Meinnert said. "Thank you to all the property owners for their cooperation in this effort. We also give thanks to Hope Church for providing a space for today's operation."

According to the release, on Saturday, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources also searched the Lake Michigan shoreline, along with the Two Rivers harbor and West Twin River again, with the assistance of the Manitowoc County Dive Team.

"We also searched areas with drones and dogs, and we continue to follow up on all tips and leads reported to the tip line at 844-267-6648 or via the Manitowoc Co. Crime Stoppers P3 app," Meinnert said.

"Please continue your private search efforts for Elijah, while being considerate of other people's private property. We appreciate everyone's concern, dedication and assistance in locating Elijah."

Meinnert provided no further update on the search for Elijah in the March 2 news release.

Friday afternoon, Meinnert said people can support the effort to bring the boy home by displaying blue and green ribbons and lights. In a news release on March 1, Meinnert said Elijah's favorite color is blue, and green is a symbol of hope for the recovery of all missing children.

The FBI has offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to locating Elijah or convicting those responsible for his disappearance, and Manitowoc County Crime Stoppers has offered a $1,000 reward.

Elijah Vue was reported missing on Tuesday, Feb. 20

Police describe Elijah as being of Hmong and white ethnicity 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 also be carrying a red-and-white plaid blanket.

Elijah was reported missing from a Two Rivers apartment building in the 3900 block of Mishicot Road at 10:59 a.m. on Feb. 20. His caretaker and mother's boyfriend, 39-year-old Jesse Vang, said he'd last seen Elijah at 8 a.m. that day.

Vang was taking care of Elijah for a week before the boy went missing. Vang has since been charged in Manitowoc County Circuit Court with felony child neglect in relation to Elijah's disappearance and is being held on $20,000 cash bond at Manitowoc County Jail.

Vang's criminal history includes a number of felony and misdemeanor convictions, dating back to his teenage years. Those convictions include child abuse, bail jumping, disorderly conduct and even a federal drug trafficking charge that resulted in Vang spending three years in prison.

An apartment complex in the 3900 block of Mishicot Road in Two Rivers was where 3-year-old Elijah Vue disappeared from, as seen Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Two Rivers, Wis.

According to a criminal complaint, he and the boy's mother, Katrina B. Baur, 31, of Wisconsin Dells, were in a relationship, and Baur told police she wanted Vang to teach Elijah "how to be a man."

Baur is being held at Manitowoc County Jail on a $15,000 bond and is suspected of felony child neglect in connection with the disappearance of her son. A request to modify bail was filed Thursday on behalf of Baur, asking to change the cash bail to a personal recognizance bond, which would not require Baur to pay any money, "on the grounds that Ms. Baur is unable to post the cash bail as set."

More: What to know about Jesse Vang, the Two Rivers man charged with neglecting missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue

A woman leaves the Mikadow Theatre after attending a meeting for people wishing to volunteer in the search for missing 3-year-old Elijah Vue Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2024, in Manitowoc, Wis.

Police continue to ask for the public's help in locating Elijah Vue

The Two Rivers Police Department has asked the public in Two Rivers and Manitowoc County to check their own property with the following guidelines:

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.

Widespread community search efforts continue for Elijah Vue

Elijah's family, along with hundreds of people from the community, have turned out each day to search public properties.

A coordinated civilian search effort is being organized with the Mikadow Theatre, 1118 Washington St. in Manitowoc, as a base of operations. People coordinating the searches are now at the theater every day from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and will assign volunteers to areas that need to be searched.

People and businesses have also donated food and drinks to the law enforcement officers conducting the search. The Two Rivers police ask that anyone who wishes to donate contact their business line at 920-793-1191 to make arrangements.

Over the past nearly two weeks, the search for Elijah has expanded throughout east-central Wisconsin, including to Wisconsin Dells, where Elijah lived with his mother, and to Fond du Lac, where about 30 people searched Hobbs Woods near Interstate 41 and U.S. 151 on Feb. 29, according to a report by NBC 26 WGBA-TV.

The Fond du Lac search was organized by a local resident after they learned the criminal complaint stated Elijah's mother had dropped Elijah off with Vang in Fond du Lac, which is about 75 miles southwest of Two Rivers.

If you have information that could help the Two Rivers Police Department find Elijah Vue, contact their tipline at 844-267-6648 or submit information via the Crime Stoppers app P3.

Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter reporter Brandon Reid contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Numerous agencies conduct rural search for missing child Elijah Vue
File photo of a French Police officer looking out over a beach in France

A seven-year-old girl has died after a small boat attempting to reach the English Channel capsized in French waters, reports say.

Officials told French media the boat was carrying 16 migrants when it sank a few kilometres from the northern coast.

The boat "was not appropriately sized to carry so many people," the local authority said in a statement.

It added the girl's parents, who were travelling with three more children, were taken to a hospital in Dunkirk.

The latest death comes after three migrants died on Wednesday trying to cross the English Channel after their boat got into difficulty.

It was one of several incidents, with a total of 249 people rescued throughout the day.

Home Office figures show that more than 2,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year.
A bull elephant seal on a California beach shocked researchers in 2022 with an uncharacteristic good deed, a recent study reported.

The seal pushed a pup being swept out to sea back to shore at Point Reyes National Seashore, a Marine Mammal Science study published Jan. 25 said.

No one has ever heard of this before, Sarah Codde, a marine ecologist at Point Reyes who co-authored the paper, told SF Gate.

Normal elephant seal male behavior is they basically dont even acknowledge the pups existence, Codde said. This male was fasting. They really try to conserve their energy to fight with other males or mate with females. For this male to leave the beach and go into the water to interact with a pup, its a really big deal.

Co-authors Matt Lau and Sarah Allen spotted a 2-week-old elephant seal pup being carried away from Drakes Beach by the waves, the study said.

We noted that the pup was unable to swim as it struggled to keep its head above water, calling, the study said. A female elephant seal splashed after the pup on the beach and called to it, but could not reach the pup.

The bull elephant seal charged into the ocean after the pup and pushed it to shore with its head, the study said. It also used its body to block the pup from being pulled back out to sea.

Slowly but steadily, the male gently pushed the pup to shore until it could touch bottom, the study said.

The entire incident lasted about 20 minutes.

Codde said the behavior was unusual not only because the bull elephant seal took an active interest in the pup but because he left his harem of female elephant seals unprotected, SF Gate reported.

Elephant seals are complicated, Allen told The New York Times. We only see a small fraction of their life.

Daniel Costa, an ecologist at the University of California, Santa Cruz, told the publication that elephant seals may have more brainpower than he previously believed.

Maybe theres more going on up there than I thought, Costa said, according to The New York Times.

Male elephant seals can reach over 13 feet in length and can weigh up to 4,400 pounds, or 2.2 tons, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They typically live about 13 years. Females can reach up to 10 feet and 1,300 pounds and typically live about 19 years.

Point Reyes National Seashore is about 40 miles northwest of San Francisco.

Large colonies of elephant seals are also typically found at Piedras Blancas near San Simeon, at Ano Nuevo State Reserve and at the Channel Islands off Southern California.

Elephant seals are leaving California beaches. Where are they heading?

Whale seen propping up her calf possibly struck by ship near Hawaii. Not looking good

Thousands of photos from the public help track humpback whale population, study says
PWF Corporation Bhd (KLSE:PWF) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: RM559.5m (up 15% from FY 2022).

Net income: RM50.5m (up 240% from FY 2022).

Profit margin: 9.0% (up from 3.1% in FY 2022). The increase in margin was driven by higher revenue.

EPS: RM0.22 (up from RM0.056 in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

PWF Corporation Bhd shares are down 7.9% from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Before we wrap up, we've discovered 3 warning signs for PWF Corporation Bhd 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.
King Harald of Norway will be on sick leave for two weeks and will go straight to hospital in Oslo upon his return to the country - CORNELIUS POPPE/AFP

King Harald of Norway was returning home from Malaysia on Sunday after falling ill on holiday and spending several days in hospital, the royal palace said.

The oldest reigning monarch in Europe at 87 years old, Harald contracted an infection on a trip to the island of Langkawi and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday.

The palace said on Saturday that he had been fitted with a temporary pacemaker, which his personal physician said would make his return safer.

The palace said in a statement on Sunday that Harald would soon be on his way to Langkawi Airport for medical transportation, and would be joined by Queen Sonja.

Upon arrival in Norway, His Majesty will be admitted to the hospital Rikshospitalet in Oslo, the statement continued.

His Majesty will be on sick leave for two weeks.

A medical plane believed to be transporting the king took off from Langkawi on Sunday afternoon, after police escorted a convoy that included an ambulance from the hospital to the airport, an AFP journalist saw.

Langkawi air traffic control earlier told AFP that a medical plane operated by Scandinavian

airline SAS was to depart on Sunday.

The flight is due to land in Oslo at 22:59 GMT, according to specialist website Flightradar.

Harald needs crutches to get around and has suffered a series of health issues in recent years.

He caught a respiratory infection in January, days after dismissing speculation that he might abdicate, following the lead of distant cousin Queen Margrethe II in Denmark.

In his absence, Crown Prince Haakon, 50, has stepped in as regent.

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Sen. James Lankford stood before a group of conservative supporters this week and bemoaned the actions of his fellow Senate Republicans. Three weeks after the failure of his efforts to negotiate a border security package to pair with more aid to Ukraine, Lankford, now in his third term representing Oklahomans, outlined why he believes his own party tanked the deal he negotiated with Sens. Chris Murphy, a Democrat, and Kyrsten Sinema, an independent.

As introduced in early February, the 370-page bill would have forced the Biden administration to clamp down on border crossings, tightened up criteria for granting migrants asylum, revised parts of the U.S. visa program, and allocated more money toward the long-trumpeted wall on the southern border. Despite conceding virtually no immigration provisions Democrats have long hoped for, the package wasnt enough to please even his own party, Lankford said Tuesday at a Ripon Society event. The sense of an activist base that says, I want everything, or I want nothing, and nothing is better than something, does not align with many people across the country, Lankford said. Because many people across the country are saying, These are hard problems. Do something. Dont just stand theredo something.

Lankford, an ordained Baptist minister who spent years in youth ministry before running for Congress, sounds a lot like other evangelical Christians who responded to a new Lifeway Research survey released last week measuring attitudes on immigration and immigration reform: 77 percent said its either important or very important that Congress pass significant new immigration legislation this yearup 6 percent and 9 percent over similar surveys in 2022 and 2015, respectively. And 78 percent said theyd support changes to immigration law that both beef up border security and establish a pathway for legal status for immigrants already in the U.S. Among the self-identified evangelicals who participated in the surveyLifeway categorized respondents who self-identify as evangelicals separately from those who subscribe to four particular theological statementsthats even with 2022 results and up from 68 percent in 2015. The 1,010-individual sample size featured mostly white evangelicals, mostly women, and mostly those who voted for Donald Trump in 2020.

The survey points to an important political reality: Evangelical Christians are arguably the most reliable voters for a Republican party whose driving issue this year is immigration restriction. Yet the survey suggests evangelicals want nuanced immigration reform, the survey sponsors say: legislation that both secures the border and creates pathways to legal status for immigrants already in the U.S. illegally. And they want congressional action this year. Theres a disconnect between whats happening on social mediapeople who lost their minds over the Lankford/Sinema/Murphy billand reasonable Christians, Chelsea Sobolik, director of government relations for World Relief, told The Dispatch. (World Relief, a Christian humanitarian organization, was one of the sponsors of the aforementioned survey.)

Yet despite the desired evangelicals expressed in the survey, evangelical voters generally remain loyal to Donald Trump, who is now the standard bearer of a Republican Party skewing more and more toward hardline immigration restrictions, and who has said immigrants are poisoning the blood of our country.

The Lankford/Murphy/Sinema bills failure to gain any traction in the Senate is its own object lesson in how strong the political headwinds are against what evangelical Christians say they want, according to the Lifeway survey.

Lankford began working on the immigration package in late 2023 because many lawmakers in his own party demanded more border security as a precondition to considering more aid for Ukraine. The influx at the southern border had spiraled out of control, with record-breaking numbers of encounters between border agents and border crossers.

What turned the tide against the legislation among Republicans was the political victory it would have given President Joe Biden, with Trump urging Republicans to agree only to a perfect deal and GOP representatives saying they had no desire to do anything that helped the incumbent presidents fortunes. Now, other lawmakers seem to think immigration reform has no chance of passing Congress any time soon, with Murphy telling The Dispatch last month that hope for reform is dead as a doornail.

Particularly noteworthy is that the Lankford/Murphy/Sinema bill ceded so little ground to provisions Democrats have historically insisted on in immigration reform. Previous comprehensive immigration reform effortsin 2004, 2013, and 2016, for examplehave sought to balance tighter border security with more clearly defined pathways to legal status for immigrants already in the U.S., sometimes referred to as amnesty. But even with the Lankford package focusing almost solely on border securityand offering the Ukraine aid as the trade-off for Democratsfellow Republicans submarined it.

The Republican opposition to the compromise was very disheartening to see, Galen Carey, vice president of government relations for the National Association of Evangelicals, told The Dispatch. The contours of this package were strikingly different than past packages. Other than provisions for Afghans who fled following the 2021 Taliban takeover and adjustments to visas, the bill didnt have anything to ease things for migrants already here. Even the Dreamers have been left behind along with everybody else, Carey said, referring to those in the country now thanks to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program.

There are other indicators of the political zeitgeist working against what evangelical Christians indicated theyd like to see in terms of policy. The Heritage Foundation, making itself out to be one of the policy vanguards of the New Right, last year released its Mandate for Leadership 2025: The Conservative Promise, a policy blueprint for reforming the executive branch of the federal government and priorities for congressional legislation. New York Times columnist Carlos Lozada observed last week that many of the blueprints suggestions would beef up executive branch powers instead of shrinking them, as was once commonplace among conservative proposals. Its section covering immigration and border security would be no different, recommending the consolidation of several departments to create what would be the third-largest Cabinet-level agency to enforce border and immigration restrictions.

The Heritage Foundation project also suggests rolling back popular protections for illegal immigrants currently in the U.S., including victims of crimes. It also urges Congress to end the Flores Settlement Agreement, which limits how long the government can detain migrant childrenin 2019 a federal judge blocked the Trumps administrations effort to rewrite the regulation during the Trump administration. The Heritage document also suggests eliminating T and U visas, which are granted to migrant victims of human trafficking. Victimization should not be a basis for an immigration benefit, the Heritage document reads.

Further restricting pathways to legal status is the opposite of evangelical Christians broader desires. In the Lifeway survey, 75 percent of evangelicals say they support immigration legislation that establishes a pathway toward citizenship for illegal immigrants in the U.S. already. More than three-quarters of evangelicals80 percentwould support immigration reform that strengthens the border and establishes a pathway to citizenship for those here as part of DACA (referred to as Dreamers).

Meanwhile, Republican officials have even taken legal action against Christian groups trying to provide aid to undocumented immigrants. Early last month, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued Annunciation House, a Catholic ministry providing aid to immigrants crossing the southern border. Paxtonlike some other conservative commentatorsaccused the El Paso group and others like it of harboring illegal immigrants, leading the group to countersue on the grounds that Paxton is allegedly infringing on its religious liberties. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is backing the group in its lawsuit.

The Lifeway study didnt drill down into specific policies like Heritages proposals, and it didnt ask respondents about the degree to which religious migrant aid groups should be helping immigrants who come to the U.S. illegally. But it reports that 55 percent of evangelicals say Christians have a responsibility to assist immigrants who are here illegally, and 70 percent say Christians have a responsibility to care sacrificially for refugees and other foreignershighlighting the tensions inherent in evangelicals preference for a more nuanced and compassionate policy and their support for immigration hardliners.

So how do Christians working at the intersection of immigration policy and the church hold these realities in tension, as political commentators bring more heat than light to the issue?

I am a pastor, and as a pastor, Im a prisoner of hope, Gabriel Salguero, president of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, told The Dispatch. The coalition is another sponsor of the research conducted by Lifeway, and Salguero has been engaged in multiple rounds of immigration reform. He sees the push as a long-term battle.

Still, hes frustrated by what happened to the Lankford bill and what it indicates about the countrys politics. What is concerning to me beyond immigrationwhich is a third-rail issue in the U.S.is that we have very few solutionists, he said. Many congressmen and congresswomen prefer to do press conferences than they do sitting down and legislating. We want solutionists.

Salguero and others commenting on the Lifeway research were quick to point out to reporters last week that evangelicals have moved in one metric since Lifeway began conducting this research in 2015. In that year, only 12 percent of self-identified evangelicals said the Bible had most influenced their thinking on immigration. In 2022, that number bumped up to 21 percent, and this year, it moved up to 26 percent. But for a group that professes to believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God, that number seems shockingly low. Media ranked next at 15 percent.

One of the formative questions is, what is driving the views on immigration? Salguero said. Are we gospel-centered people, as Tim Keller would say, or are we partisan-focused people? He and others involved with the survey hope it emboldens pastors not to shy away from immigration issues in their teaching.

When it comes to partisan politics, one of the reasons the Evangelical Immigration Table and other sponsorsincluding World Relief, the National Association of Evangelicals, the National Latino Evangelical Coalition, and otherscommissioned the survey was to underscore the notion that evangelical Christian voters are interested in something different than fringe immigration policies.

We really wanted to get it out before Super Tuesday, Matthew Soerens, the national coordinator of the Evangelical Immigration Table and World Reliefs vice president of advocacy and policy, told The Dispatch. I think theres a lane on the Republican primary side for someone who has a more nuanced view on immigration to make some headway.

But what about Donald Trump, the likely GOP presidential nominee? What happens when he speaks out against nuanced immigration policies, as he spoke out against the Lankford bill? Soerens conceded that will probably erode evangelical support for those positions.

But you also alienate a fair number of evangelicals on the position, he added. I think that makes it harder for him to win the general election.

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.
The sounds of explosions were heard in the city of Dnipro on the night of 2-3 March.

Source: Suspilne Dnipro, a Dnipro-based branch of Ukrainian public broadcaster Suspilne; Ukraine's Air Force

Details: Suspilne reported that explosions had been heard in Dnipro.

In addition to the reports of explosions in Dnipro, Ukraine's Air Force issued a missile threat warning in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

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In August, Kelly Romanishan thought shed found the right school for her son  an innovative startup in a rented two-story house that promised STEM lessons, art activities and the necessary tools to take on the world.

The West Virginia mom paid the operator a $2,200 advance from her Hope Scholarship  an education savings account that gives families state funds for tuition or homeschooling expenses.

But events at The Hive Learning Academy quickly unraveled. Instead of structured meal times, children just grabbed lunch from the refrigerator when they got hungry. Her son would come home starving because he was too shy to just go into someone elses fridge, Romanishan said.

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Kathy Dailey, who enrolled her 13-year-old son there, had a similar experience. When she visited the school in the eastern panhandle town of Martinsburg, students were just hanging out, buried in their phones.

An exasperated Romanishan said she soon realized that The Hive was actually just a glorified babysitter.

Related

Growing Pains: Microschools Face Regulatory Maze as Approach Takes Hold

By Christmas, theyd joined several parents demanding their money back and scrambling to find other arrangements  inquiries that prompted Republican state Treasurer Riley Moore to include the school in an ongoing audit and investigation, an official said.

West Virginia state Treasurer Riley Moore launched an investigation into Hope Scholarship violations that included The Hive Learning Academy microschool. (West Virginia State Treasury)

The probe is believed to be the first government investigation anywhere into a self-identified microschool, providing an awkward milestone for a movement that mushroomed during the pandemic and now includes 125,000 schools nationwide, according to the National Microschooling Center.

Hailed by Republicans, and fueled by the spread of ESAs, microschools operate out of homes, storefronts and churches with a degree of freedom from government oversight. But the West Virginia episode shows that managing that freedom while maintaining public accountability can be a tricky balancing act, even for the movements fiercest advocates.

Kelly Romanishan, a parent who enrolled her son in The Hive, contacted the state treasurers office to ask about a refund of Hope Scholarship funds when the microschool closed. (Courtesy of Kelly Romanishan)

Were in a transitional market, said Jamie Buckland, who runs West Virginia Families United for Education, a nonprofit that advises both parents and vendors in the sector. She thinks states with ESAs should do a better job preparing school founders and helping families navigate their options.

If we dont want the government to provide the guardrails and the parameters, she asked, what is our movement doing to provide our own guardrails?

If we dont want the government to provide the guardrails and the parameters, what is our movement doing to provide our own guardrails? Jamie Buckland, West Virginia Families United for Education

Acknowledging theyd received allegations of specific Hope Scholarship violations, the treasurers office, which runs the ESA program, would not comment on the scope of the investigation or when it would be completed. In a November email shared with The 74, an assistant treasurer told Romanishan the office was considering the potential involvement of law enforcement if appropriate, but has yet to bring charges.

In an interview with The 74, Hive founder Kaela Zimmerman explained that she lacked the cash flow to make the venture work and struggled to get answers from the state when the program collapsed. She said she has since repaid the state over $15,000 in Hope funds.

Romanishan called the experience not only painful, but disruptive.

It makes it hard to trust anyone else, which is sad because the area needs a good microschool, she said.

We tried our best

Zimmerman thought so, too. The homeschooling mother opened The Hive with co-founder Kristin Volpe to give her own three children more opportunities to make friends. She rented the space, hung maps on the walls and culled curriculum materials from her favorite homeschooling programs.

When 30 families registered last summer, she had high expectations. To help get started, she asked parents in August to pay the bulk of their tuition up front  roughly $2,000 to $4,000 per student. But she had to dip into her own money to pay for furniture and supplies, and when fall came, only eight students showed up.

She said she and Volpe never intended to avoid our responsibilities. With far less revenue than expected, they didnt have enough to cover costs and pay themselves. To save money, Zimmerman moved out of the home she was renting and into the second floor of the microschool location. She and Volpe took jobs at a Macys warehouse to pay bills and Zimmerman began bartending a few nights a week.

But juggling multiple jobs made for a hit or miss schedule for students, Dailey said.

It was a fun environment, she added. But there wasnt any homework or a set curriculum.

Related

Next Wave of Microschool Founders are More Diverse, Less Likely to be Educators

The state doesnt ask potential vendors to submit a business or education plan up front. Anyone who wants to be an authorized Hope service provider, including a microschool, must sign a contract agreeing to get criminal background checks on staff working with students and to notify districts when they enroll. To receive funds, vendors need only submit a W-9, a tax form for an independent contractor, and document the Hope funds they receive from parents.

Their downfall, Zimmerman said, was a lack of startup cash. She applied for a grant from the Vela Education Fund, a foundation-funded initiative that has helped launch and expand microschools and other alternative education programs. But they turned her down, saying that they had received more applications than they could fund.

When she realized she couldnt keep the program going, Zimmerman said she asked state officials how to return the ESA funds, but didnt receive a lot of guidance. Thats why a November certified letter threatening criminal charges caught her off guard. She said she has since returned over $15,000, covering all of the scholarship funds she received minus payment for days students attended.

It was very stressful and upsetting for us, she said. We are just two working class mothers with a great idea, but no means to make it happen. We tried our best.

But it takes more than good intentions to run a quality program, said Rachelle Noble, founder of Microschool Solutions, an Arizona-based consulting firm that advises aspiring school leaders.

Rachelle Noble, center, runs Microschool Solutions, which advises aspiring microschool leaders. (Courtesy of Rachelle Noble)

Formerly with Prenda, a microschool network, Noble was in charge of the models growth. Two years ago, she made what she describes as a tough decision to close two programs that operated with a Kansas school districts virtual program. Both schools served families in low-income neighborhoods near Wichita.

We did it way too late, she said. The environment wasnt dangerous, she said, but it got to the point where it was clear that it was educational neglect. The schools, she said, lacked an emphasis on academics.

The reality is that many new microschools dont last beyond the first year, said Amar Kumar, CEO of KaiPod Learning, another microschool network. Before he accepts prospective founders into the organizations catalyst program, he ensures they have a solid financial plan.

Its the same as with any small business or startup  the chances of failure are very high, he said. Even with the best of intentions, if your microschool cant make ends meet, then youll end up disappointing families, and no one wants that.

The involvement of public money in the form of ESAs raises the stakes. While most microschools dont take ESA funds, Don Soifer, CEO of the National Microschooling Center, said his groups upcoming report will show that 32% of microschools now accept state school choice funds, up from 18% last year.

After The Hive ordeal, Zimmerman said she still loves the concept of microschools. But she doubts shell try to open another one.

They require more resources and business knowledge than most regular working class people [and] parents have, she said.

Doing due diligence

Thats why some critics dont think public funds should support them.

Chris Stewart, CEO of Brightbeam, an education advocacy network, once considered himself an ESA evangelist, and hoped theyd provide better educational options for marginalized children. But now he thinks the laws lack accountability and create potential for fraud and a huckster market of vultures who see ESAs as a business opportunity.

Last year, for example, a grand jury in Maricopa County, Arizona, indicted three women accused of fraud and theft of over $87,000 in connection with that states ESA program.

While its unclear if any of their businesses operated as microschools, the women allegedly created educational receipts and claimed reimbursements for bogus services, according to a prosecution report. Investigators examination of one womans account showed she used ESA funds for day-to-day living at retail stores and restaurants and spent money at Amazon, Uber and Airbnb.

Related

Road Scholars: When These Families Travel, School Comes Along for the Ride

For many in the movement, the attitude toward bad actors is, Let the buyer beware. They say its up to parents to do their homework before choosing a school.

Some parents do an inordinate amount of due diligence, said Noble, with Microschool Solutions. But others, she said, sign kids up and havent even seen the space.

Advocates believe the market will eventually weed out fraud and low-quality options.

But thats no consolation for parents like Romanishan, who eventually received a $1,340 refund for the days her son didnt attend. While waiting for scholarship refunds to appear in her account, she subscribed to an online homeschooling curriculum and enrolled her son in a cooking class. In the meantime, she said, he lost his friends and had to adjust to a new routine.

I feel like I failed my son, Romanishan said. I should have seen the red flags.

Disclosure: Stand Together Trust provides financial support to Vela Education Fund and The 74.
The family of an Illinois man shot and killed by police in his bedroom last month are calling for the officers involved to be identified and charged after authorities released portions of several body camera videos capturing the shooting.

We never got answers. We dont know anything, Kennetha Barnes, the older sister of Isaac Goodlow told CNN on Saturday. Justice for us is  the police  being charged, Barnes said.

Goodlow, 30, died on February 3 after being shot once in the chest, Carol Stream Police Chief Donald Cummings said in a video statement Friday.

The shooting is under investigation by the Public Integrity Team of the DuPage Metropolitan Emergency Response and Investigative Team, which is made up of investigators from county agencies and the DuPage County States Attorneys Office, Carol Stream officials said in a release last month. The officers have been placed on paid administrative leave pending that investigation, which will be reviewed by the states attorneys office.

In the meantime, Goodlows family is devastated, Steven Hart, an attorney for the family, told CNNs Omar Jimenez, as they grapple with so many questions that are unanswered.

Theyre in shock, dismay, mourning the death of their son and brother, Hart said.

On Friday, the Village of Carol Stream released a 33-minute video containing a compilation of police body camera videos of six Carol Stream Police Department officers. It begins with a five-minute statement from Chief Cummings, who details the incidents leading up to the shooting but notes the videos only capture the events of the shooting itself. He also noted authorities blurred the faces of the officers and Goodlow before releasing the footage.

Cummings said police responded on February 3 to reports of a domestic violence incident from Goodlows girlfriend, one that she said resulted in injuries. She said the altercation caused her to run barefoot out of the apartment the two shared, according to Cummings.

After assessing her, paramedics released her to return home. However, the door was locked, and she gave police consent to go inside, Cummings said.

Isaac Goodlow. - Family photo/Andrew M. Stroth

For the next 45 minutes, according to police, officers on scene unsuccessfully attempted to contact Goodlow by calling his cell phone and knocking on the door to the apartment and an exterior window. Cummings said police obtained a key from an apartment building representative.

In one body camera video, an on-scene supervisor uses a key to open the apartment. Four officers can be seen in a stacked formation making entry while announcing themselves twice.

As officers clear the one-bedroom apartment, an officer can be heard asking another officer, Go through this door here? The other officer responds, Yeah.

One officer kicks in the door and almost immediately one shot is heard. One officer yells: Oh f**k! Another gunshot rings out, followed shortly by the sound of a taser.

The scene quickly turns chaotic. Some officers pull back from the bedroom door. One officer yells: No! No! Stop! Stop! Stop!

Officers appear to trip and fall as they rush to retreat in the small apartment. Shortly after, officers begin assessing one another for injuries. No officers were hurt.

According to police, two officers each shot one round. One round hit Goodlow in the chest.

Hart, the familys attorney, told CNN on Saturday that, to them, it looks like vigilante law enforcement.

Shoot first, ask questions later, guns blazing, Hart said, when what they expected was that the police was there to serve and protect Isaac, that they were to not enter his house without his permission at 4:15 or 4:30 in the morning, and certainly not do it behind a ballistic shield, tiptoeing in and then shooting him in the heart while he lay in his bed in his own apartment.

In a statement, the Carol Stream Police Department confirmed the investigation remains ongoing, but said it could not provide details aside from those given in Cummings video statement Friday. Lastly, as the Carol Stream Police Department has not been a part of the investigative process, we are eager to learn additional facts as to what occurred that morning, the statement said.

The DuPage County States Attorneys Office declined to comment, citing the active and ongoing investigation into the shooting.

CNN has reached out to the local Fraternal Order of Police chapter for comment.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA) To show support for children and families impacted by the Israel-Hamas war, Friends of Palestine NWA hosted an event at Wilson Park. People came together in a shared desire for peace and a cease fire.

Im here to support Palestine and help the kids who havent had food in three months, said Lizzie, a supporter.

Tables were set up with different arts and crafts. Participants wrote letters for Palestinians, creating prayer cards and crafting Ramadan lanterns.

Mary Alice Larson lives in Fayetteville and she says shes heartbroken by the war.

Police and local students work together for Cooking With Cops

Any human being who knows what has been happening in Palestine is feeling the need to support the Palestinian, said Larson.

Mohammed Abdalhadi moved from Gaza to Northwest Arkansas in 2012. He says he wants to see a peaceful resolution for both Palestinians and Israelis.

Basically we need to support humanity more than anything else. And try to seek peace for everybody not only for Palestine but the Israel side because all of them human beings, said Abdalhadi.

Abdalhadi says its time to set differences aside.

Try to let more about how people should live as human beings. They have there own rights, live in peace, security, sustainability, Abdalhadi.

Abdalhadi says the amount of people who showed up to the event gives hope.

Thats an indication there is awareness going on among people and try to know more about Palestine and whats going on in Palestine, said Abdalhadi.

Abdalhadi says the show of support motivates him to continue educating people on the impacts the war is having on families.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KNWA FOX24.
PHOENIX - A wanted fugitive who was thought to be hiding out in Rocky Point or Phoenix has been captured in Mexico, the FBI said.

David Young, 43, was wanted after being indicted on drug charges.

"David D. Young remains at large after Operation Ghost Busted took place on January 11, 2023, across Southeast Georgia. Young is charged with drug trafficking conspiracy tied to the Ghost Face Gangsters criminal street gang," the FBI said.

In December 2022, a federal arrest warrant was issued after he was charged with "conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute a controlled substance."

The FBI said they believed Young had ties to Phoenix, and he may have been in Arizona.

On March 11, authorities said Young was taken into custody in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico.

David Young
According to UK Defence Intelligence, the average daily number of Russian casualties (killed and wounded) in Ukraine in February 2024 was the highest since the full-scale war began.

Source: UK Defence Intelligence review dated 3 March on Twitter, as reported by European Pravda

Details: According to the agency, in February, on average the Russian forces were losing 983 people per day.

According to UK Defence Intelligence, the Russian Federation has likely lost over 355,000 servicemen killed and wounded since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

According to the survey, the increase in daily average losses is almost certainly due to Russia's commitment to a massive attrition war.

Quote: "Although costly in terms of human life, the resulting effect has increased the pressure on Ukraines positions across the frontline," UK Defence Intelligence added.

The day before, UK Defence Intelligence assessed that one week after losing its second A-50U long-range radar detection aircraft, Russia has most likely ceased flights of this aircraft to support operations in Ukraine.

Earlier, they suggested that Russia's military-industrial complex is unable to fully meet the needs of its war against Ukraine but will be able to maintain superiority this year.

Before that, the UK intelligence stated that Russia is now trying to take advantage of the fact that after the loss of Avdiivka, Ukrainian forces do not have well-fortified defensive positions to fall back into.

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The Palisades nuclear plant in Michigan will reportedly be awarded a $1.5 billion federal loan, aimed at restarting operations after a 2022 closure. The federal funding could bolster state efforts to keep nuclear power on the grid, as leaders seek to transition to carbon-free electricity. (Photo courtesy of The Herald-Palladium).

In the coming years, a nuclear power plant on the shores of Lake Michigan could become the first in the country to restart operations after shutting down.

The Palisades plant in southwest Michigan could be revived by a $1.5 billion loan from the U.S. Department of Energy, Bloomberg reported. Federal officials have not yet confirmed the funding, but Dr. Kathryn Huff, assistant secretary in the agencys Office of Nuclear Energy, told Stateline that it would be exciting and historic to see the plant return to life.

The potential federal investment comes as state leaders in Michigan and elsewhere have worked to preserve their nuclear power capacity. Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer successfully pushed for $150 million in state funding last year to support the Palisades restart. The plant is owned by Florida-based Holtec International, which bought it in 2022 to decommission it.

Reviving the plant is really significant to make sure we can meet our clean-energy goals, said Kara Cook, chief of staff with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. This is really important to us not only from a climate perspective, but also the economic impact on the region.

As states seek to transition to carbon-free electricity, some leaders acknowledge their climate change goals may be out of reach if they cant keep their nuclear plants online. Nuclear has struggled to compete on cost with other power sources  while also facing concerns about safety risks and radioactive waste  but it provides 18% of the nations electricity. The closure of nuclear plants, some state officials fear, could lead to an expansion of fossil fuel-powered replacements, worsening the climate problem.

Youre starting to see a lot of states transition to a position where theyre supportive of nuclear, said Todd Allen, chair of the Nuclear Engineering and Radiological Sciences department at the University of Michigan. And compared to 30 years ago, the amount of federal support for nuclear is unbelievable.

California also received a boost of federal money in an award finalized last month to keep open a nuclear plant run by Pacific Gas and Electric, known as PG&E. Other states, including Connecticut, Illinois and New Jersey, have passed legislation in recent years to provide subsidies for existing nuclear plants.

Huff, the federal energy official, said U.S. nuclear production may need to reach 200 gigawatts  roughly double the current capacity  to provide clean, always-on power as less-constant solar and wind provide a growing share of the nations electricity. Last year, the Biden administration committed to an international pledge to triple nuclear capacity by 2050.

Were still going to need a significant amount of nuclear to back that all up, she told Stateline. Keeping existing plants online is the easiest way to ensure nuclear power can back up renewables.

Meanwhile, both red and blue states have taken steps to allow for the development of small modular reactors, an emerging technology that backers say can help to power rural areas or industrial operations without the demands of a large plant. Six states  Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Montana, West Virginia and Wisconsin  recently repealed bans on adding new nuclear power, in part to enable such reactors.

While some environmental groups have embraced the nuclear investments, others have pointed to long-standing concerns about safety issues, citing infamous accidents such as those at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl and Fukushima. Opponents also note the long-term issue of radioactive waste storage, and in some cases assert that nuclear can stall the growth of renewables such as wind and solar.

With the amount of money thats gone into this (Palisades) restart scheme already, you could develop brand-new renewable energy proposals that would be online in the same time frame producing more electricity, said Kevin Kamps, radioactive waste specialist at Beyond Nuclear, an environmental nonprofit that opposes nuclear energy.

While more states have passed policies to give nuclear a boost, federal funding in Michigan and elsewhere could supercharge efforts to ensure plants stay open. The Department of Energy is distributing $6 billion from the federal infrastructure law to help save reactors that were slated for closure. The agency awarded funding to the California plant in the first round but has not yet announced awardees from the second round, although applications closed last May.

The agency also is overseeing a loan program  which reportedly will provide the Palisades funding  to repower or repurpose energy infrastructure.

The Department of Energy is distributing $6 billion to help save reactors that were slated for closure.

The federal climate law passed in 2022 also opened tax credits for new and existing nuclear plants, designed to incentivize clean energy production in the same way existing credits support wind and solar. Since the passage of the tax credits, Huff said, federal regulators have seen an increased interest from plant operators pursuing license renewals to extend the operating life of their reactors.

Meanwhile, the CHIPS and Science Act passed by Congress also includes funding for federal nuclear research, university programs, new research reactors, isotope production and advanced reactors.

The federal support is providing huge stimulation to nuclear power while working in tandem with existing state efforts, said Christine Csizmadia, senior director of state governmental affairs and advocacy with the Nuclear Energy Institute, an industry trade association.

Michigan reboot

When Palisades closed amid financial struggles in 2022, it represented roughly 5% of Michigans electricity supply. That has been replaced largely with natural gas generation, Cook said. The expansion of fossil fuel-based power conflicts with legislation passed last year requiring the state to move to 100% clean energy by 2040.

So when the plants new owner, Holtec International, announced that it was aiming to bringing the 800-megawatt plant back online, state leaders were on board. The company plans to add a pair of small modular reactors to the existing plant, bringing its capacity to 1,400 megawatts  enough to power more than a million homes. Holtec did not respond to interview requests, but company spokesperson Nick Culp told Reuters the company expects the plant to have full power operation by the end of 2025.

The $150 million in last years Michigan state budget to support the plants restart will help pay for fuel purchases and infrastructure upgrades, Cook said. Whitmer has requested an additional $150 million in this years budget to help bring Palisades online.

This is really an all-hands-on-deck approach, said Cook, citing the hundreds of union jobs that could return to the region if the plant reopens. She said the state funding was critical to show both Holtec and federal officials that there was strong support in Michigan to save Palisades. Holtec has said it could employ about 520 people at the plant.

States support

In recent years, many states have provided financial support to struggling nuclear plants, made nuclear eligible for clean energy credits or repealed long-standing bans on the construction of new reactors.

Weve seen this incredible uptick of nuclear energy legislation, said Csizmadia, with the nuclear trade association.

Huff, the federal official, noted that several of the states that recently repealed bans on new nuclear power have many coal-dependent communities that could be left behind if their coal plants retire. Backers of nuclear, especially the emerging small modular reactor technology, believe old coal plants could be revived to put existing infrastructure to use in service of nuclear power and bring back high-wage jobs.

Nuclear electricity production across the country has been relatively stagnant for two decades, with plants struggling to compete with lower-cost options such as natural gas. Construction of new reactors has almost completely stopped amid regulatory hurdles and spiking project costs.

Opponents of nuclear point to the canceled projects, delays and cost overruns as proof that nuclear isnt viable.

This is just throwing good money after bad, said Kamps, the anti-nuclear advocate. We stand horrified at the actions being taken by Congress and certain state governments.

Kamps also cited previous nuclear disasters and warned of the risks of extending aging plants.

But as states look to clean up their energy grids, some leaders say they cant afford to lose their nuclear power.

A lot of people believe we can power California with renewables alone and batteries, said Carl Wurtz, executive director of Fission Transition, a pro-nuclear advocacy group. Were going to be tied to natural gas indefinitely if we try to do it that way.

Wurtz was among the advocates who pushed California to extend the life of PG&Es Diablo Canyon nuclear plant, which had been scheduled to close in 2025. He and others argued that the loss of the plants 2,240 megawatts  9% of Californias electricity  would force the state to import more power generated from fossil fuels.

As with the Michigan plant, state leaders in California, including Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, successfully lobbied the feds for money to keep Diablo Canyon open. Last month, the Department of Energy finalized a $1.1 billion payout to extend the plants operations. That followed a vote from state regulators to push the plants shutdown date back to 2030.

Supporters of nuclear say its a necessary complement to wind and solar because of the reliability it provides.

We need baseload power that runs 24/7, said Lisa Marshall, vice president of the American Nuclear Society and assistant extension professor with the North Carolina State University Department of Nuclear Engineering. If were going to make [carbon-free electricity] happen, nuclear has to be part of that mix.

The California plant is still awaiting the renewal of its license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. PG&E did not respond to an interview request.

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 Federal money could supercharge state efforts to preserve nuclear power appeared first on Daily Montanan.
A person holds a Nex Benedict sign during a vigil for the death of Benedict outside Stonewall Inn in New York on Monday. Benedict, 16, was a non-binary teenager who died a day after a fight in an Oklahoma school bathroom, which is still under investigation. Photo by Sarah Yenesel/EPA-EFE

March 2 (UPI) -- Oklahoma's Owasso Public Schools is under federal investigation for potential discrimination related to the last month's death of non-binary 10th-grader Nex Benedict.

Nex died on Feb. 8, a day after being hospitalized in the wake of a bathroom fight with three classmates accused of bullying the teen over their gender identity. Nex was released with minor injuries, but was rushed back to the hospital the following day and later died, grabbing national headlines.

In a preliminary finding, police have said the injuries sustained during the fight were not the cause of death, however the investigation is continuing, including waiting on further medical testing.

The Department of Education on Friday notified the Human Rights Campaign that its Office for Civil Rights has opened an investigation into whether officials at the school district failed to "appropriately respond" to allegations of sex- and disability-based discrimination at the school.

The activists filed a complaint with the Department of Education in which they accuse school officials of inappropriately handling known sex-based harassment during the current school year, allegedly violating Title IX sex-based and Title II disability-based discrimination.

Because the school district receives federal funding, it is subject to regulation by the Department of Education, but the probe doesn't necessarily mean violations occurred, the agency said. Rather, it is meant to assess evidence and determine if it supports the contention that a violation had occurred.

"The district is cooperating with federal officials and believes the complaint submitted by HRC is not supported by facts and is without merit," Owasso Public Schools spokesman Brock Crawford said in a statement issued to media outlets.

Local police released bodycam footage of a Feb. 7 police interview with Benedict regarding the bathroom fight.
Photo: Jim Allen - FreightWaves

Chart of the Week: Van Contract initial report of average base cost per mile, Van Outbound Tender Rejection Index  USA SONAR: VCRPM1.USA, VOTRI.USA

The post-pandemic trend of pricing long-term or contract rates to the floor is not over, but the data shows this is slowly ending.

Looking at the past six years of dry van contract rates (VCRPM1) and van tender rejection rates (VOTRI), we can see a lagging correlation between the two. Rejection rates tend to lead the slower-to-move contract rates.





Whats a tender rejection rate?

Tender rejections are a measure of carrier compliance or adherence to covering freight under a previously agreed-upon price. Load tenders are electronic requests sent from a shipper to a transportation service provider asking if it can cover a truckload move. The service provider accepts or rejects the load.

The tender rejection rate is the percentage of tenders the transportation provider declines to cover. The higher the number, the tighter the market. Historically, national figures below 5% have indicated that contract rates will fall as there is more carrier capacity than demand for freight. When the OTRI is above 7%-8%, rates tend to increase.

It should be noted that FreightWaves SONARs tender and contract rate data biases toward large shipper-to-carrier contract agreements, which represent the baseline and majority of the freight market.

Which era is trucking in?

There have been four general cycles of the transportation market over the past six years, when the tender data history started in 2018. That cycle began in 2017, but we only have history for the past 12 months. This market was characterized by rejection rates averaging above 17% and a strong single upward trend in contract prices that stabilized.

The 2019 market was characterized by a rebalancing of capacity after an overheated capacity growth period in 2018. The above chart shows net changes in active motor carrier of property operating authorities registered to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. It is not a pure measure of capacity since an authority can represent any number of trucks. It also biases toward growth. Periods of deterioration (in red) are not as common as growth (green).

Story continues

Rejection rates averaged just below 5% from February to December in 2019, with the market bottoming in August at 3.2%. This cycle lasted 14 months before COVID hit the U.S. in March 2020. There were signs that capacity was tightening before the black swan pandemic event hit, however. Holiday season rejection rates spiked above 14% that year.

The pandemic era was characterized by overwhelming demand and lasted roughly two years, with rejection rates averaging above 20% and rates increasing 50%. The capacity growth was subsequently historic as operators flooded the market, many leaving larger fleets to start their own ventures.

Unfortunately that growth proved to be an unsustainable bubble and began bursting in 2022. Contract rates fell rapidly from July 2022 to the spring of 2023 but have slowed since.

Rejection rates bottomed in May of last year around 2.5% and have been slowly trending higher since. While tender rejections are still hovering in deflationary territory, the indication is that they could move above the 5% threshold sustainably sometime in the next year.

What to do?

For carriers it is a game of survival. For shippers it is an exercise in risk management. For brokers/3PLs it is a balance of both. Shippers have the least sense of urgency but the most control. As with all freight markets, success is determined by how much preparation was made in the previous cycle. The controlling party has to prepare before its turn ends.

Shippers can do the most to control their destiny at this point. Maintaining service should be the goal for any bids implemented moving forward. Some lanes will be harder to cover in a tight market. Diversified route guides and not having rock-bottom rates compared to the market will be crucial.

Service providers need to be vigilant. Watching the market closely for signs of disruption is the easiest action but sometimes hard to do if only looking internally. Targeting customers who are willing to take the above approach is easier said than done, but it is certainly more attainable than in the pre-COVID world.

The timing of a cycle turning has been impossible to predict with precision, but there have been signals that it is approaching. Lets end this one with a timeless quote from Louis Pasteur, which has become somewhat cliche: Fortune favors the prepared mind.

About the Chart of the Week

The FreightWaves Chart of the Week is a chart selection from SONAR that provides an interesting data point to describe the state of the freight markets. A chart is chosen from thousands of potential charts on SONAR to help participants visualize the freight market in real time. Each week a Market Expert will post a chart, along with commentary, live on the front page. After that, the Chart of the Week will be archived on FreightWaves.com for future reference.

SONAR aggregates data from hundreds of sources, presenting the data in charts and maps and providing commentary on what freight market experts want to know about the industry in real time.

The FreightWaves data science and product teams are releasing new datasets each week and enhancing the client experience.

To request a SONAR demo, click here.

The post Is the rate rollercoaster about to turn appeared first on FreightWaves.
A soldier has quit the Army after she was scarred for life when a glass was smashed into her face by a young woman on a Beaujolais Day celebration in a bar.

Natalie Arthurs, 36, suffered wounds like a scene from a horror movie in the random attack by Emily Williams, 25.

She said that she has taken off her uniform for good as it would not be appropriate to wear with her scarred face in case people mistook her for a war hero.

Swansea Crown Court was told the women were both out separately in Swansea in November 2022 on Beaujolais Day, a traditional celebration in the town where bars and hotels open to celebrate the new crop of red wine.

Williams had confronted Ms Arthurs after her sister had her drink spilt in the bar.

Ms Arthurs was in the toilets at about 6pm when Williams, described as being intoxicated and looking angry or possessed, came in and started shouting at her.

Williams then smashed the glass she was carrying and slashed Ms Arthurs face.

Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, said Ms Arthurs was left with a 15cm wound along the left side of her chest and shoulder, as well as a 7cm wound to her cheek and wounds to her nose and neck.

Ms Arthurs suffered wounds to her face and neck and is now scarred for life - Wales News Service

Alycia Carpanini, prosecuting, said Ms Arthurs was left with a 15cm wound along the left side of her chest and shoulder, as well as a 7cm wound to her cheek and wounds to her nose and neck

Ms Arthurs, a former Army reservist, spent three days in hospital following the attack.

Jailing Williams for five years, Judge Huw Rees described what she did as wicked almost beyond belief.

In a victim impact statement Ms Arthurs told how her life was changed forever.

She said: The memory of the assault is etched vividly on my mind.

It was a scene from a horror movie. All I could think about is how scared my little girl would be.

I spent three agonising days in hospital. The pain was unbearable.

Every aspect of my life became demoralising and unbearable. Fifteen months on from the attack I am still learning to live with what happened.

Emily Williams was called 'wicked beyond belief' in court - Wales News Service

The mother-of-one said she had quit as an Army reservist because she felt ashamed wearing the uniform with her scars.

She didnt feel it was right, Judge Rees said.

She felt ashamed because she wasnt a war hero and she didnt want people to think she got her scar in that way. She is clearly a woman of admirable character.

Addressing Williams, Judge Rees said: What you did to someone who was a complete stranger and someone you had no prior argument with was wicked. Wicked beyond belief.

The effect of what you have done is plain for all to see.

Jon Tarrant, in mitigation, said Williams actions were impulsive and told the court that she was the carer for her two young children.

Williams was found guilty of wounding with intent. She was sentenced to five years in prison and her victim was granted a 10-year restraining order against her.

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After a 20-year-old University of Georgia student from Atlanta died from a fentanyl overdose over the Thanksgiving holiday, the man accused of giving it to him is in custody.

Abram Rincon turned himself back into custody on Friday night.

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On Saturday, Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Mark Winne was there as he waived his first appearance and was denied bond by a Fulton County judge.

Angela King said she believes her son Jack OKelley swallowed a counterfeit Xanax pill, not knowing what it contained while home for Thanksgiving break last fall.

When we found out there was fentanyl in the pill that Jack took, there was a real sense of rage and anger for the inhumanity, the evil, King told Winne.

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Atlanta police then went through OKelleys phone and found a conversation where hed placed an order with someone listed in the phone as AB, allegedly Abram Rincon, and in the ensuing weeks, an undercover officer made buys from Rincon.

Rincon was later arrested.

An Atlanta police narcotics lieutenant told Winne that a paperwork mistake may have helped Rincon get out of jail on a signature bond earlier this week, meaning he wouldnt have to post money to be released.

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Photo illustration by Getty Images.

Whenever Army, National Guard veteran Dean Murray steps into a restaurant, he immediately scans the room to profile people, looking for potential danger.

After making sure there isnt an immediate threat, he attempts to locate a back door to the restaurant that could serve as an entry point for dangerous people or an escape route in the case of trouble. Murray always tries to get seated at a table facing the front door to continue observing everything in the room as he dines.

Murray spent 28 years in the Army National Guard before he became one of more than 78,000 veterans living in Montana. According to a biennial report from the Montana Veterans Affairs released in 2022, veterans make up nearly 9% of the states adult population.

Some veterans, like 44-year-old Murray, are accustomed to constantly being in danger, so staying one step ahead of any potential threat is how theyre wired and is something veterans continue to do after they get out of the military.

During February and March, the Daily Montanan is collaborating with students at the University of Montana to present the School of Journalisms work on the topic of mental health in Montana. Each Sunday, the Daily Montanan will spotlight one of the stories that was featured in Byline magazine, which showcases the work of UM journalists and photojournalists. The entire series with complete photos can be found here. Students in the University of Montana School of Journalism produce a magazine every other year as part of their capstone experience. Please note that several of the stories contain potentially triggering material. Dont be reluctant to seek help if you or someone you know is in danger. Call or text the mental health crisis line at 988 or reach out to local resources to get the help you need.

About this series

The biggest thing I still deal with today is the anxiety, the stress and the hypervigilance, Murray said.

Murray lives in Billings,g iving him relatively easy access to a handful of mental health resources. However, veterans across Montana struggle to connect and dont always take advantage of the care thats offered.

Struggling with self-help

Rick Williamson, a 69-year-old Army veteran, said when he got out of the Army he didnt realize he was struggling with his mental health. When he finally recognized he was struggling he didnt know what to do. He said theres a stigma that leads veterans to thinking asking for help is a weakness.

Too many of us keep it to ourselves. We say its nothing, that theres no problem and its all because of stigma, Williamson said.

So, instead of reaching out to someone, veterans will often find their own outlets to help them cope. For Williamson, that outlet was alcohol. While he was in the service, Williamson said he drank hard and heavy to help him process his experience.

During that time that I was drinking, I kept everything bottled up inside me. It was after I quit drinking that I realized that I had mental problems, Williamson said.

He began having thoughts of suicide.

It was those thoughts of suicide that scared the daylights out of me. And thats when I decided, OK, I need to do something about this, Williamson said.

According to a report from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 53 Montana veterans died by suicide in 2019. The report stated this number was significantly higher than both the veteran and general population suicide rates nationwide.

Before they leave the military, veterans are encouraged to go through a screening to examine their physical and mental injuries, potentially allowing them to gain an understanding of the benefits available to them and recommended health care options.

Connecting through the Department of Veterans Affairs

The VA serves Montana veterans and connects them to health care. Erick Kahila, a case manager at the Missoula office, agreed there arent enough resources for veterans in Montana to get the mental health assistance they need. But he said the VA is doing what it can.

An app called VA: Health and Benefits allows veterans to securely access and manage their VA benefits and services. The department promotes community events like VetsGiving and encourages veterans to join organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars and American Veterans.

However, the way veterans across Montana view the VA varies. For Murray, the office in Billings has been helpful and quick to get him care. However, he acknowledged that there are some problems with the system.

Theyre not getting the best qualified doctors. Its been a year and I think Ive changed doctors twice and Ive never even met either one of them, Murray said.

Kahila admits the VA is short-staffed, and there is sometimes a struggle to meet urgent needs.

If theres someone in an acute mental health crisis, things can get shuffled around and the VA is going to ensure that that person gets seen, Kahila said.

That means veterans not in immediate crisis will have to wait longer before seeing a provider. In those cases the VA urges them to use other programs while theyre waiting to receive services.

One of these programs is the Community Care Network. This initiative allows veterans to access other providers near them when the VA cant provide for care they need.

For veterans to qualify for this program, they need to meet specific eligibility requirements like having a need their local VA cant meet or living a certain distance from VA services.

Williamson received help through the Community Care Network, but still struggled with his mental health. Then he stumbled across a program called Canine Companions. After going through the tedious process of adopting a trained service dog, he started to regain hope.

A month before I met my dog, I had all but given up. I had thoughts of suicide and had already made plans on how I was going to do it, Williamson said.

Williamsons Labrador Retriever, Waimea, had her paws on his lap as he sat at a desk in his home. Williamson said that after he got her, his nightmares started decreasing and he started struggling less with anxiety and depression.

I was averaging probably two to three nightmares a week. Now I might have one a month, Williamson said.

Asking for help

Most Montana veterans agree there are not enough mental health resources despite the states best efforts.

Williamson said asking for help and then putting in the work was the most beneficial thing he did. Williamson urges other veterans to reach out to someone if theyre struggling, despite the lack of resources available to them across Montana.

Swallow your pride, dont worry about the stigma because its not a weakness to ask for help, Williamson said. In fact, it takes a lot of courage to realize you have a problem and admit that you have a problem. And it takes a lot of courage to recognize the fact that you cant do it on your own.

The post Finding their own remedy: Veterans navigate a lack of mental health resources appeared first on Daily Montanan.
Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkianen at the NATO North Atlantic Council meeting at the level of defense ministers, February 15, 2024

Europe has not realized the seriousness of the war in Ukraine and must immediately find money to finance weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, stated Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen, reported Finnish outlet Yle on March 2.

According to Hakkanen, Ukraines European allies have not realized the seriousness of the war through the prism of history and have not provided sufficient support to the Ukrainians.

Read also: Zelenskyy discusses defense assistance with Czech counterpart at Munich Security Conference

According to the media, the EU aims to supply Ukraine with one million artillery shells this year. Earlier, the Czech Republic reported that it had found 800,000 artillery rounds outside the bloc. The country has asked other EU and NATO members to help finance the purchase.

The cost of the ammunition is about 1.3 billion euros ($1.41 billion). No decision on financing has been made yet.

The money to support arms for Ukraine must be found immediately, Hakkinen said.

Read also: Germany engages in covert diplomacy to source artillery shells for Ukraine from India  Spiegel

The Finnish Defense Minister also stated the importance of increasing the EUs own arms production and noted that some success has already been achieved.

European countries have been able to increase their own production, and they are close to achieving the goal, he added.

Read also: Zelenskyy to visit Germanys Scholz, Frances Macron ahead of address to Munich Security Conference

According to estimates, by the end of this year, about 1.3 million grandes will be produced in the EU, and further production growth is expected in 2025.

On March 1, it was reported that Ukraine would receive the first batch of shells in the coming weeks as part of the Czech initiative to purchase arms from third countries.

On Feb. 28, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said that Belgium would allocate 200 million euros ($217 million) to purchase ammunition for Ukraine outside the EU.

Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala spoke of great support for the initiative to purchase arms outside the EU.

In an interview with NV, Michael Roth, chairman of the Bundestags foreign affairs committee, said that three countries are blocking the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine outside the European Union: France, Greece and Cyprus.

On Feb. 17, Czech President Petr Pavel said that the country had found hundreds of thousands of artillery rounds abroad that it could transfer to Ukraine if it had the funding.

On Feb. 23, the Presidents Office said it will find money for 800,000 shells, as mentioned by the Czech president.

On Jan. 31, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell admitted that by March the EU would fulfill only 52% of its promise to provide Ukraine with one million artillery shells, and the European Commission said that the bloc would be able to produce one million only by the end of winter 2024.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A firefighter has been hospitalized after officials say he was fighting flames at a northeast Atlanta home.

Atlanta police told Channel 2 Action News crews received reports of a fire at a home on Terrace Avenue NE early Sunday.

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According to the investigation, while battling the blaze, a firefighter was injured. Officials said he suffered a broken rib.

The firefighter has been taken to Grady Memorial Hospital to be evaluated.

Officials have not said what caused the firefighter to be injured.

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No other injuries have been reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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The biggest inferno in Texas history was being fueled by winds and high temperatures as it raged Sunday, threatening to incinerate more buildings, cattle and livelihoods across the Texas Panhandle while residents sift through ashes of what used to be homes.

Critical fire weather conditions continued Sunday in the area, with one wind gust of 59 mph measured near the town of Texline, the National Weather Service reported. The Panhandle is under a red flag warning, according to the weather service. Conditions will be favorable for rapid rates of fire growth and spread, the agency said in its forecast.

The Smokehouse Creek Fire has been burning for nearly a week and has torched more than 1 million acres in Texas alone, making it the largest fire on record in the state  and it is only 15% contained. The fire, just one of five large blazes scorching the Texas Panhandle, has already killed two people and destroyed over 500 structures, state officials said Saturday. Others have been left without electricity as more than 120 miles of electric lines have been destroyed.

On Sunday, a new blaze, the 300-acre Roughneck Fire, had prompted officials to call for evacuations in the Hutchinson County town of Sanford, but fire crews were able to establish lines they believed would hold, according to Deidra Thomas, a spokesperson who posted a video on the City of Borger/Hutchinson County Office of Emergency Management Facebook page.

Youre going to continue to see smoke; youre going to continue to see flames, she said to residents who wanted to return, adding some proactive fires will be set by fire fighters through the night to prevent the existing fire from going farther.

Fire activity on the Smokehouse, Windy Deuce and Grapevine Creek fires picked up Saturday, due to weather conditions, Blue Team Operations Section Chief Mike Brod said in a video update posted to Facebook on Sunday morning.

Because the Texas Panhandle had higher-than-average rainfall this winter, there is more grass  or fuel  to burn. Crews hope that, after the weekend, they will inch closer to containment, Texas A&M Forest Service spokesman Jason Nedlo said.

High temperatures into the upper 70s are forecast in the area through Sunday, with a slight decrease Monday into the upper 60s, keeping temperatures well above average.

Firefighters survey hotspots following the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Miami, Texas, on Saturday. - Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Latest developments

 Officials work to identify hotspots: Fire officials used aviation assets to respond to flare-ups over the weekend, including a heat-detection flight to help pinpoint additional hotspots, Brod said.

 Four more fires burning: The Windy Deuce Fire in Moore County has burned through 144,000 acres and is 55% contained as of Sunday evening, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. The Grape Vine Creek Fire in Gray County has spread through almost 35,000 acres and is 60% contained. The Magenta Fire in Oldham County has destroyed 3,297 acres and is 85% contained. And the 687 Reamer fire in Hutchinson County has scorched 2,000 acres and is 10% contained.

 Two deaths reported: Truck driver Cindy Owen was working about 50 miles north of Pampa, Texas, on Tuesday when she got caught in the Smokehouse Creek Fire, her sister-in-law told CNN. She left her truck and tried running for safety but died in the blaze, according to Jennifer Mitchell, the wife of Owens brother. In nearby Hutchinson County, 83-year-old Joyce Blankenship was killed, her family said. The house was gone, her grandson Nathan Blankenship said. There was no way she couldve gotten out.

 Blaze hits state cattle industry: The fires are tearing through the Panhandle, which is home to 85% of the states cattle industry. The blaze has already killed thousands of cattle and has taken out other livestock, crops and equipment.

 Oklahoma finding success in Smokehouse fire battle: The Smokehouse Creek Fire perimeter looks good and will be turned back over to local departments tomorrow, Oklahoma Forestry Services spokesperson Keith Merckx said Sunday. The fire will be 75% contained by the end of shift today. More than 31,000 acres have burned in Oklahoma near the border with Texas, according to the service.

 How you can help: GoFundMe launched a platform for verified fundraisers benefiting people affected by wildfires in Texas. On the website, money is being collected for Texans who have lost homes, belongings and livestock. Hemphill County, where 400,000 acres have been burned and a truck driver was killed, is accepting wildlife relief supplies as well as monetary donations, according to the countys AgriLife Extension Facebook page. In the city of Fritch, CCS Connect Community Services is accepting monetary donations for residents.

The blaze is the biggest in the state's history. - Jordan Vonderhaar/Bloomberg/Getty Images

Family sifts through ashes of lost home

All that was left of Susan and Ronnie Johnsons five-bedroom ranch near Fritch was the ashes of what was their home of two decades. A dining table, pieces of white fine china, blue and red Dutch ovens, chairs and a smoker could be seen amidst a devastated background of dust, rubble and fallen trees.

Their home was surrounded by fire on Tuesday - and they tried desperately to save it - only to watch it all go up in flames.

You dont ever want to believe itll be your house that burns, Ronnie told CNN.

Weve seen others so well rebuild and start again.

Susan described losing her home as numbing, but said it wont mean losing her memories of where her family of nine lived.

Tyler McCain also lost his family home in the fires that roared through Fritch.

When McCain saw flames engulf the field across from his familys home before they evacuated, he was faced with the anticipation of returning, not knowing if their house was still standing.

An aerial view of a burned area after a wildfire in Stinnett, Texas, on Friday. - Lokman Vural Elibol/Anadolu/Getty Images

Until I saw my house, it wasnt it wasnt real, McCain told CNNs Danny Freeman.

Gov. Greg Abbott described widespread devastation during a news conference on Friday.

Frequently, when you see the aftermath of that damage, there is some semblance of a structure that is still there, Abbott said. When you look at the damages that are here, its just gone. Completely gone. Nothing left but ashes on the ground, so those who have gone through this have gone through utter devastation.

Devastating losses for farmers

State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller asked for hay and feed donations and prayers for residents who have lost homes and livestock in the monster fire, saying he expects the death toll for livestock to soar.

Its been very devastating, Miller told CNNs Omar Jimenez on Sunday, adding more than 500 structures were lost.

Theres no grass, theres no water for all the livestock, Miller added. Weve lost over 3,000 head, which is a very small number  that will double or triple easily. Weve got cattle that were going to have euthanized because of the damage to their hooves, their udders - well just have to put them down.

A homeowner cuts up the frame of his doublewide mobile after it was destroyed by the Smokehouse Creek Fire in Stinnett, Texas. - Scott Olson/Getty Images

Miller said seven grain and seed dealers in the state have completely lost everything, completely wiped out.

Its great damage here, he said.

Hemphill County had reported over a thousand missing or dead cattle and several dead horses, goats, and sheep, Miller said in a news release on Friday, adding that numbers in Hemphill County and other impacted areas are expected to rise as the fire subsides and assessment can be conducted.

Andy Holloway, of Hemphill County AgriLife Extension, told CNN on Sunday: The cattle that these ranchers have, have  greatly been burned up and so this is going to hurt our beef supply going forward in the nation.

CNNs Joe Sutton, Melissa Alonso, Rebekah Riess and Jamiel Lynch contributed to this report.

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First baseman C.J. Cron has agreed to a minor league deal with the Boston Red Sox that includes an invitation to big league camp for spring training.

The Red Sox announced the deal on Sunday.

The 34-year-old Cron played for Colorado and the Los Angeles Angels in 2023, batting .248 with 12 homers and 37 RBIs in 71 games. He was hampered by back issues for much of last year.

Cron was an All-Star in 2022, hitting .257 with 29 homers and a career-best 102 RBIs in 150 games for the Rockies.

Cron, who broke into the majors with the Angels in 2014, is a .260 hitter with 187 homers and 604 RBIs in 1,049 career games. He also has played for Tampa Bay, Minnesota and Detroit.

Cron has appeared in 16 games at Bostons Fenway Park, batting .328 (21 for 64) with six homers and 13 RBIs.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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RICHMOND, Va. (WFXR) Governor Glenn Youngkin announced that flags across the state of Virginia will be flown at half-staff in honor of Sterling Volunteer Fire Firefighter Trevor Brown.

Brown was tragically killed in the line of duty during a house explosion in Loudoun County on Feb. 16, 2024.

RELATED STORY: Firefighter killed, several injured in Loudoun County explosion

Here is the statement made by Governor Youngkin:

In accordance with the authority vested in me as Governor, I hereby order that the flags of the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia be flown at half-staff on all state and local buildings and grounds in the Commonwealth of Virginia in memory and respect of Sterling Volunteer Firefighter Trevor Brown, who tragically lost his life in the line of duty on February 16, 2024. I hereby order that the flags shall be lowered at sunrise on Monday, March 4, 2024, and remain at half-staff until sunset. -Governor Glenn Youngkin

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
The Florida House on Friday passed a measure that supporters say is designed to keep identity politics out of teacher preparation programs that lead to educators getting professional certificates  as Democratic members likened the bill to academic censorship.

Members of the Republican-dominated House voted 81-31 to pass the controversial measure (HB 1291), as a Senate version of the bill (SB 1372) is ready for consideration by the full chamber.

Under the proposal, teacher-prep programs at colleges and universities could not include instruction that would teach identity politics or be based on theories that systemic racism, sexism, oppression, and privilege are inherent in the institutions of the United States and were created to maintain social, political, and economic inequities.

A House analysis of the bill said that there are 57 initial teacher preparation programs in Florida at 10 state universities, 19 state colleges and 28 private colleges and universities.

Read: Exclusive: Seminole County Public Schools taken for $1.3 million in email phishing scheme

House Democrats gave impassioned arguments against the bill, with multiple members saying that the measure threatens to jeopardize educators ability to teach the realities of history.

This bill expands academic censorship of concepts that may make some uncomfortable. Its time to do away with fragility. Its time to stop rewriting history to make one feel better about it. And most importantly, its time to get comfortable with being uncomfortable, said Rep. LaVon Bracy Davis, D-Ocoee.

The measure also would require that such programs could not distort significant historical events when training teachers. The restrictions in the bill that would apply to teacher preparation programs also would apply to programs designed to enable prospective school leaders to earn certificates.

Read: Orange County teachers offered historic 9% salary increase

The bill came after the Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2022 approved a measure that restricted the way that certain race-related concepts can be taught in schools.

Rep. Johanna Lopez, an Orlando Democrat who is a former school board member and teacher, said the measure approved by the House Friday would compound existing difficulties for teachers.

I oppose this bill because it is going to exacerbate the fears our teachers and instructional leaders have on how to teach real history, Lopez said.

Read: Florida House signs off on school chaplains

Supporters of the measure, meanwhile, have argued that the proposal would prevent teacher preparation programs from indoctrinating educators. House bill sponsor Berny Jacques, a Republican from Seminole, said Friday that there are still loopholes to enforcing existing restrictions on instruction.

You cant really enforce it  when you have the educators themselves who are being indoctrinated along the way. They are being indoctrinated when they are coming up as teachers and now they are being indoctrinated in their continuing education courses, in their training courses. So it still seeps through. And this is what this bill is about, Jacques said.

Rep. Alex Rizo, R-Hialeah, contended that the text of the bill has been misunderstood by critics.

I heard the term erasing history, and I at no point read erasing history in the content of the bill, Rizo said during debate on the House floor Friday.

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A Florida woman and her ex-boyfriend robbed a senior citizen under the guise of a romantic date, police said.

According to the press release from the Volusia County Sheriff's office, Chelsea Wright, 34, and Andrew Marks, 33, were involved in a violent robbery scheme of a 73-year-old man whose injuries required treatment at an area hospital.

Police said that the elderly victim arrived at a local hospital around 5 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 29 and shared a sordid incident regarding his interaction with Wright and Marks.

The 73-year-old told hospital staff that he was meeting Wright at a Daytona Beach bar for a romantic date to discuss the couple's relationship, police said.

DRUG ADDICT USED BIZARRE OBJECT IN ATTEMPTED POST OFFICE ROBBERY: POLICE

Chelsea Wright, 34, and Andrew Marks, 33, were arrested they allegedly assaulted a 73-year-old man in Daytona Beach during a robbery

Police said that Wright suggested that the victim come back to her house and he agreed.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

The 73-year-old followed Wright to her Plantation Pines home in Ormond Beach, Florida and along the way, police said, she picked up Marks before dropping him off near a home.

When the man got out of his car at Wright's alleged home, Marks suddenly reappeared and allegedly hit the man in the head with a metal object.

Police said that he kept hitting him until he fell to the ground.

Marks then stole the man's wallet and fled the scene alongside of Wright.

FLORIDA COUPLE KIDNAPS WASHINGTON BABY, POSING AS AMAZON DRIVER

At the hospital, the victim was treated for numerous injuries to his head, torso, and arms, with significant lacerations to his head requiring staples, and his eye swollen shut.

After the victim's date turned sour, police conducted surveillance on Wright before pulling her over for a traffic infraction and finding narcotics in her car.

Wright and Marks were arrested on robbery with a weapon and aggravated battery on a victim over the age of 65.

During an interview with detectives, she lied and said that the attacker was an elderly woman with Alzheimer's who she picked up on the side of the road.

Detectives later discovered text messages between Marks and Wright, where they had planned the robbery together and had previously dated.

Marks was located and arrested early Friday in Holly Hill on charges of robbery with a weapon and aggravated battery on a victim over the age of 65.

Wright was arrested as principal on the same charges, police said.





Original article source: Florida woman, 34, accused of violently robbing 73-year-old date in romantic scheme with ex-boyfriend: police
What trends should we look for it we want to identify stocks that can multiply in value over the long term? Ideally, a business will show two trends; firstly a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an increasing amount of capital employed. This shows us that it's a compounding machine, able to continually reinvest its earnings back into the business and generate higher returns. However, after investigating Ariadne Australia (ASX:ARA), we don't think it's current trends fit the mold of a multi-bagger.

Return On Capital Employed (ROCE): What Is It?

If you haven't worked with ROCE before, it measures the 'return' (pre-tax profit) a company generates from capital employed in its business. To calculate this metric for Ariadne Australia, this is the formula:

Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT)  (Total Assets - Current Liabilities)

0.0066 = AU$1.4m  (AU$222m - AU$15m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2023).

So, Ariadne Australia has an ROCE of 0.7%. In absolute terms, that's a low return and it also under-performs the Commercial Services industry average of 10%.

View our latest analysis for Ariadne Australia

roce

Historical performance is a great place to start when researching a stock so above you can see the gauge for Ariadne Australia's ROCE against it's prior returns. If you'd like to look at how Ariadne Australia has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of Ariadne Australia's past earnings, revenue and cash flow.

What Can We Tell From Ariadne Australia's ROCE Trend?

On the surface, the trend of ROCE at Ariadne Australia doesn't inspire confidence. Around five years ago the returns on capital were 11%, but since then they've fallen to 0.7%. Given the business is employing more capital while revenue has slipped, this is a bit concerning. This could mean that the business is losing its competitive advantage or market share, because while more money is being put into ventures, it's actually producing a lower return - "less bang for their buck" per se.

Story continues

The Bottom Line On Ariadne Australia's ROCE

We're a bit apprehensive about Ariadne Australia because despite more capital being deployed in the business, returns on that capital and sales have both fallen. Investors haven't taken kindly to these developments, since the stock has declined 14% from where it was five years ago. With underlying trends that aren't great in these areas, we'd consider looking elsewhere.

On a separate note, we've found 2 warning signs for Ariadne Australia you'll probably want to know about.

If you want to search for solid companies with great earnings, check out this free list of companies with good balance sheets and impressive returns on equity.

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 Florida woman who was indicted nearly 10 years ago was convicted of tax fraud after authorities found her in New Mexico, according to the Department of Justice.

Judy Grace Sellers is facing up to 23 years in federal prison after she promoted the improper use of IRS form 1099-OID to commit tax fraud, the DOJ said.

Sellers operated a website where she "perpetuated the false premise that the U.S Treasury maintains secret accounts attributed to every U.S. citizen that can be drawn on by filing a series of bogus documents with the U.S. Treasury and other government entities."

As part of the scheme, Sellers and her co-conspirators promoted the use of form 1099-OID where they prepared and submitted fraudulent returns seeking massive refunds. One case exceeded more than half a million dollars.

According to the DOJ, all of the forms were based on non-existent 1099-OID income and withholdings. The scheme resulted in 22 forms being submitted requesting fraudulent refunds amounting to $3.4 million from the IRS.

In 2014, Sellers was indicted for tax fraud charges and for filing a false lien against two DOJ attorneys. She was placed on house arrest in 2015 along with a GPS ankle monitor.

At some point that year, Sellers was given permission to leave her home to get her hair done in preparation for her pretrial hearing. The next day, she cut off her ankle monitor and absconded.

Credit: DOJ

It took authorities eight and a half years to find Sellers in New Mexico.

Her sentencing hearing is scheduled for May 22, 2024.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A former bus driver for the Granite School District, Michael Austin Ford, 58  who has been accused of setting a school bus on fire on two different occasions  was ordered detained by a United States Magistrate Judge.

Ford, who is from West Valley City, was indicted by a federal grand jury on Feb. 21, 2024, for two alleged arson incidents while driving the bus, according to a press release from the United States Attorneys Office for the District of Utah.

PREVIOUS STORY: West Valley City bus driver faces federal charges after allegedly starting bus fires

Court documents reveal Ford allegedly lit a Granite School District school bus on fire while driving it in February 2022  that bus reportedly had 42 children on it, and was driving through traffic, according to the press release.

Ford was captured on video continuing to drive the bus, even after he allegedly used a device to start a fire and smoke was billowing past his face towards the back of the bus where children were seated, as stated in the release.

The U.S. Attorneys Office says Ford was again captured on video, apparently igniting another fire on a Granite School District bus while in traffic in April 2023. According to the release, Ford again continued to drive as smoke blew past his face.

Defendants behavior was captured in multiple video recordings, according to court documents dated February 2024. Fire investigators have reviewed the evidence from both fires alleged in the Indictment and have concluded that both stem from an incendiary source.

According to court documents, Ford reportedly waited to stop the bus until the children on the bus were seen and heard on video coughing, covering their faces, and complaining about smoke.

Ford was arrested by Granite School Police in April 2023, but was released after questioning, according to the release.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office, Ford is charged with two counts of arson of a vehicle of an organization receiving federal funds. A jury trial has been set for April 2024.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
Everyone needs to plan for the future. Fresno County is no exception. County leaders do that with a document known as the General Plan, the blueprint for land use.

The Fresno chapter of the League of Women Voters recently chastised the county for poor management of the General Plan over the years, and asked the Board of Supervisors to delay a vote to approve a new update.

However, on Feb. 20 the board voted unanimously to accept the updated General Plan. It is now the new blueprint for how the county will grow to 2042.

Opinion

The General Plan is a mammoth document, spanning hundreds of pages of dense prose. The plan covers topics like economic development, transportation, health and safety, open space, public facilities and environmental justice.

Critics have called out its shortcomings on a range of issues, like protecting farmland from sprawl development and air quality from pollutants.

I wanted to learn more about it, so I spent much of the past week reviewing the plan and also watched the supervisors two-hour hearing on it. I interviewed the board chairman as well as members of the Sierra Clubs local chapter, a farmland preservation group and the League of Women Voters.

Bottom line, I am no expert on the General Plan. But from what I have read in it, the plan wont enhance life in Fresno County. It may actually make it worse.

Farmland protection

The plan stresses that protecting agriculture remains a priority of county officials, and well it should be: Fresno County is one of the top farming regions in the nation, with growers earning billions annually in gross revenues.

But critics have honed in on changes they say will make it easier for fields and orchards to be converted to other uses.

The chief complaint is that the General Plan lacks tough enough requirements to lessen, or mitigate, farmland conversion. The plan says this:

The county may exempt discretionary land use projects from agricultural mitigation requirements if it finds that the loss of agricultural land caused by the proposed conversion is outweighed by specific overriding economic, legal, social, technological, or other benefits of the conversion...

There is lots of room for interpretation of what constitutes overriding benefits. This is where developers can use their influence  like campaign contributions  to get projects approved by elected officials. That is not being cynical; its being real.

Farmland could turn into houses or shopping centers.

Fresno County is part of the citrus belt in the San Joaquin Valley.

Think it wont occur here? Consider a case study just down Interstate 5.

From around 1910 to the 1950s, the top farming county in the United States was .... Los Angeles. Thats right. Todays giant metropolis was at one time the nations top ag county. Farmland got converted into homes, malls and freeways. Los Angeles is proof of how quickly agriculture can disappear with enough investor money.

Given the need for new housing in California, I suspect Fresno County will likely be an attractive bet for developers for years to come. Couple that with the fact farming is a challenging enterprise, so growers getting near retirement might actually like to cash out their land for something else.

Supervisor Nathan Magsig, current chairman of the five-member board, notes the General Plan calls for development to occur in the boundaries of the countys 15 cities. The priority is to preserve agriculture as much as possible, he told me.

But concerns over sprawl persist.

Sprawl worries

The updated General Plan includes a Special Study Area consisting of 7,000 acres that are located at Highway 180 and Trimmer Springs Road in the countys east side.

John Harris, of Harris Ranch and horse breeding fame, owns the land along the Kings River that now is pasture and zoned for agriculture. He is interested in building 400 to 500 homes on 700 acres within the 7,000.

Horses stand in shade at the Harris River Ranch property, over 7,000 acres near the Kings River along Trimmer Springs Road Thursday, July 14, 2022. The land has been proposed as a special study area, added to the county general plan, by John Harris. Proposed plans include a college campus, housing, commercial and recreational use including hiking trails along the river and more.

The updated General Plan approved by the supervisors calls on the county to evaluate the study area for possible future urban, residential, educational, office, and commercial land uses. Harris partner Ben Ewell has proposed a college be built as well.

Critics say building that far east in what is largely an agricultural area would represent sprawl development that the county should avoid. By including the project as a study area, impacts did not have to be identified now.

Sprawl leads to more vehicle trips, and thus more air pollution. There could be impacts to the river and its riparian areas as well. New development would involve land uses never before experienced in that part of the county.

Magsig stresses that the study would be an initial look at the feasibility of Harris ideas. If a formal project is proposed, it would require detailed environmental review, including how Harris would limit negative impacts, he said.

The Harris River Ranch property, over 7,000 acres near the Kings River along Trimmer Springs Road, has been proposed as a special study area, added to the county general plan. Owned by John Harris, the land may become home to a college campus, housing, commercial and recreational use including hiking trails along the river and more. Photographed Thursday, July 14, 2022.

Thats true. But, the General Plan could have said that no such community development would be allowed so far outside of Fresno. It could have said agriculture would remain the only land use.

Despite Magsigs assurances, the door is left open, for now, for Harris to proceed.

The contradiction with the General Plans ideal  that growth should remain within existing cities and towns  is obvious.

Another section of the updated plan says this: In adopting land use policies ... the County shall seek to protect agricultural activities from encroachment of incompatible land uses. That seems reasonable.

But notice the phrase, shall seek to protect. It does not say will protect.

An analysis done for the League contends the updated plan will allow urban growth anywhere in the county. Is that what county residents want?

Climate change

Appendix C of the updated General Plan is a thorough assessment of who will be particularly vulnerable to the weather impacts of a changing climate. Needless to say, no one in Fresno County will escape the impacts of things like increased heat, drought and wildfires.

But the General Plan does not offer significant policies for dealing with climate change, even though climate change is not a new phenomenon and is accelerating each year.

The county does want to undertake a climate action plan in 2026 once funding is available.

I did a word search on the term electric vehicle and hoped to see policies for implementing charging stations in rural communities. There were no results in my search.

New Tesla charging station at Kettleman City.

Bleak future?

In its letter to the supervisors, the League of Women Voters point out how often county staff failed to update the General Plan since 2000. Counties are supposed to do annual reviews of how well the plan is being implemented. The leagues latest analysis says the county has now dropped any such requirement.

Over 1 million people live in Fresno County. There are five elected county supervisors. Those board members have a huge responsibility for how Fresno County develops. Their General Plan is that blueprint for land use.

The critics believe this new plan wont properly protect the countys environment or farmlands. Theirs is a bleak assessment. I hope they are being too pessimistic. County officials will beg to differ.

But based on the countys past performance and the updates weak remedies for development impacts, the critics could well be right.
STILLWATER, Okla. (KFOR)  Mourners gathered at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater Saturday night to remember Gabrielle Long. She was a 19-year-old college student who was killed in a deadly hit-and-run on February 22, 2024.

She was crossing the street on campus when she was hit, later dying at the hospital.

| MORE LOCAL NEWS > Man found naked after allegedly driving a car on fire while on PCP >

She was bright. She was joyous. And she brought comfort, said her boyfriend who spoke at the candlelight service.

She was known to many as Gabi and was working on a degree in Fine Arts. Her father also spoke at the memorial service.

Im moved to see how many people are out here, said her father. It kind of speaks to Gabis personality. She was very accepting of everyone. She had a way of looking at life with a childlike wonder.

Her personality was described not just by family and friends speaking at the memorial Saturday but also through pictures on poster boards surrounding the event.

Loved ones and fellow students were also asked to sign a memorial card to leave messages and memories for the family.

I know that I love her and that her family loves her and that you all love her and that love isnt going away, said Longs boyfriend.

| MORE LOCAL NEWS > Strangers surprise OK woman with wheelchair accessible storm shelter >

Tyler Peters, 21, was arrested and charged for the deadly hit and run.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Ukrainians are being interrogated to gather information about military facilities and border with separatist enclave

Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) is recruiting Ukrainians who have illegally crossed the border into the unrecognized region of Transnistria, the National Resistance Center (NRC) reported on Mar. 2.

They are being interrogated to gather information about military facilities and the Ukrainian border with the separatist enclave. They are also regularly forced to work as freelancers and informants for the FSB, threatened with deportation to Ukraine if they refuse to cooperate.

Read also: Zelenskyy and Sandu discuss situation in unrecognized "Transnistria"

"Such hostile actions once again demonstrate that the PMR [Transnistria] is not independent and is in fact a territory occupied by the Russian armed forces, so we urge Ukrainians not to visit the republic, regardless of the legality of the route taken."

Deputies from the unrecognized breakaway region of Transnistria appealed to Russias Federation Council and State Duma, requesting protection for the region on Feb. 28.

Read also: New cross-border bus service connects Odesa to Chisinau airport

They claimed this is necessary due to alleged pressure from Moldova. In response, Russias Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated it is carefully considering Transnistrias request.

Moldova does not anticipate any escalation or destabilization in the Transnistrian region, Daniel Vode, a spokesperson for the Moldovan government, said following the so-called summit.

Washington firmly supports the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Moldova and is closely monitoring the situation in unrecognized Transnistria, The US State Department stated.

Earlier, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry said that Kyiv advocated a peaceful settlement of the Transnistrian conflict with respect for Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

On Feb. 28, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the situation in the Transnistrian region with his Moldovan counterpart Maia Sandu during the Ukraine-Southeast Europe Summit in Tirana, Albania.

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
An online fundraiser has been started for Joseph Martinez, the 13-year-old who died after being shot Thursday at a Kennewick house he was visiting.

A tragedy hit this family, said Angelica Gonzales, who identified herself as a close friend of Josephs mother, Sandra Ramirez, on a GoFundMe page.

A screenshot of a GoFundMe online fundraiser for the family of shooting victim Joseph Martinez, 13.

We lost Joseph at only 13 years old, Gonzales posted. This has been an extremely hard time for the family and we dont know all the answers yet, but we are asking for your help to cover this difficult time in need.

She called Joseph an amazing brave young man who loved his family.

He is being mourned by his mother, sister, aunts, uncles and friends, she said.

Limited details of the shooting have been released by Kennewick police, but they have emphasized the importance of firearms safety as a top consideration for any gun owner.

Educating our youth on gun safety and taking precautions to ensure juveniles dont have access to firearms is critical, said a statement by police. For the increased safety of all communities it is essential anyone who owns firearms is practicing responsible gun ownership, including safe and secure storage.

A release from Kennewick police on Friday said a Kennewick middle school student died overnight after being shot with a gun at a house on the 200 block of East Canyon Drive just before 5 p.m. Thursday.

The Benton County Coroners Office confirmed it was called to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland and that an autopsy is planned but police investigators are not releasing other information yet.

When the investigation is completed, information will be given to the Benton County prosecutor to review for possible charges, according to Kennewick police.

Joseph was visiting the Canyon Drive house, where other teens live.

Kennewick police determined there were three teens at the house when a gun was fired  two were 13 and one was 14. All were middle school students in Kennewick.

No one has been arrested and police are not looking for any other suspects, Kennewick police Commander Isaac Merkl said Friday. He could not confirm whether the shooting was accidental or on purpose.

A search of the house was done by Kennewick detectives on Thursday.

A 13-year-old boy died after being shot at a house on Canyon Drive in Kennewick on Thursday. Kennewick Police Department
Vice President Harris, Attorney General Merrick Garland and Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.) were among the procession that marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., this weekend in remembrance of Bloody Sunday, when police attacked hundreds of civil rights protesters in 1965.

In a speech early Sunday, Garland warned that the same voting rights the protesters demanded 59 years before were under attack again, referring to legal challenges to the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Since those [court] decisions, there has been a dramatic increase in legislative measures that make it harder for millions of eligible voters to vote and to elect representatives of their choice, Garland said, according to reporting from The Associated Press.

Those measures include practices and procedures that make voting more difficult; redistricting maps that disadvantage minorities; and changes in voting administration that diminish the authority of locally elected or nonpartisan election administrators, he said. Such measures threaten the foundation of our system of government.

Sewell, a Selma native who now represents the city in Congress, reflected on her participation in Sundays march at a press conference Thursday.

It is an honor to have the opportunity to walk back in time, to experience the places, to meet the people, to make sure this nation never forgets what happened on Bloody Sunday, she said.

Hundreds of people were injured in the police attacks, which included stampedes of horses and brutal beatings. The violence and subsequent marches urged the introduction of the Voting Rights Act and other civil rights legislation.

Sewell also remarked on the legal challenges to the Voting Rights Act today.

Old battles have become new again, not just for reproductive rights and reproductive freedoms, but for voting rights, she said. I would have never guessed that my cause would be the same cause that [the late Rep.] John Lewis fought for 59 years ago.

John was bludgeoned on a bridge for the right of all of us to vote, she continued. And we have seen Republicans roll back that, the Republican-led Supreme Court with the Shelby decision, and its simply unacceptable.

The courts Shelby County v. Holder decision in 2013 struck down key provisions of the Voting Rights Act, namely the federal oversight of state voting laws in the South.

The march Sunday is part of a four-day commemoration of events, in remembrance and celebration of the civil rights movement.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
An armed South Carolina man who barricaded himself inside his Midlands home during an hours-long standoff was arrested early Sunday morning, according to the Richland County Sheriffs Department.

Bryce Locklear, 30, was charged with aggravated breach of peace after law enforcement used gas to force him out of his Richland County home, the sheriffs office said in a news release.

The incident began at about 5 p.m. Saturday, when deputies responded to a report of a shooting in the 100 block of Sunderland Drive, according to the release. Thats in Elgin, near the intersection with U.S. 1/Two Notch Road.

Locklear lives at a home in the 100 block of Sunderland Drive, Richland County court records show.

When deputies arrived they saw Locklear on his porch, before he retreated inside as they approached, the sheriffs department said. Locklear refused to come out, according to the release.

Deputies saw multiple fired rifle rounds in front of the home, and the departments special response team was called, according to the release.

Law enforcement officers made contact with Locklear and continued to communicate with him for hours, the sheriffs department said. During this time, Locklear threatened to shoot the deputies, according to the release.

By early Sunday morning Locklear had gone silent, and deputies believed he had fallen asleep, the sheriffs department said.

As deputies began to leave, Locklear came out of the house with a high powered rifle and fired a round before returning back inside, according to the release. There was no word if the shot was fired at law enforcement officers or in another direction.

The special response team then deployed gas in an effort to have him peacefully exit the home, the sheriffs department said. It flushed Locklear outside into the backyard, still armed with the rifle, where deputies were able to take him into custody, according to the release.

No one else was inside the home, the sheriffs department said.

Deputies said that Locklear was taken to an area hospital, but no other injuries were reported.

Information about Locklears condition was not available, but he was released from the hospital and booked at the Alvin S. Glenn Detention Center, according to the release.

As of Sunday afternoon, no bond was set for Locklear, who remains behind bars, jail records show. Following a bond hearing, Locklear is scheduled to return to court on May 31, according to Richland County judicial records.

There was no word on a motive for the original shooting that prompted deputies to respond.

If convicted on the misdemeanor breach of peace charge, Locklear faces a maximum punishment of 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, according to South Carolina law.
(BCN)  Protestors calling for a Gaza cease-fire said San Francisco police used pepper spray and batons on pro-Palestinian marchers outside the Israeli consulate Saturday.

The confrontation took place about 2:30 p.m. at Montgomery and Sacramento streets, where barricades blocked access to the consulate, said Wassim Hage, a spokesman for the Arab Resource and Organizing Center.

Thousands rally for ceasefire in San Francisco

One person suffered a broken hand and five to 10 were affected by pepper spray as they pressed against the barricade, he said.

Hage said the protestors, who called for an end to U.S. support for Israel in the war with Hamas, were peaceful until the police attacked.

Police said the protest became violent.

The group began to commit crimes ranging from assault to felony vandalism and causing property damage, police said in a statement. A few of the officers at the scene suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

This remains an open and active investigation.

Protest organizers called the police tactics shameful.

SFPDs violence today against a peace protest is yet another appalling attack on our already vulnerable San Francisco community, Lara Kiswani, executive director of the Arab Resource and Organizing Center, said in a statement. We have the right to have our voices heard as Israel kills ten of thousands of our people in Palestine, with U.S. support.

Saturdays protest came one day before San Francisco Mayor London Breed is to join community leaders for the Unity March: Standing Together Against Anti-Semitism.

In San Francisco, we stand strong as we unite against all hate, including against anyone in our Jewish community, and we welcome all those who celebrate love and peace in our great city, Breed said in a statement released Friday by Unity March organizers.

The war began Oct. 7 when the militant group Hamas attacked Israel killing 1,200 people and seizing about 250 hostages.

Gazas Health Ministry said the Palestinian death toll from the war has surpassed 30,000.

Copyright  2024 Bay City News, Inc.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
As deadly Israeli bombardments and acute food shortages continue, and a threatened Israeli military operation in southern Gaza looms, more and more Palestinians are seeking a way out - if they can find the money for it.

This uncertain exit requires people to pay thousands of dollars and navigate scammers and misinformation to get their names onto a list of people approved to leave via the Rafah crossing to Egypt.

The crossing is closed to the vast majority of people under an Egyptian-Israeli blockade against Hamas. Only some foreign passport holders and their dependents have been able to leave, as well as some seriously wounded and sick people and those accompanying them.

However, a parallel system exists whereby Gazans pay Egyptian brokers to get on a list of people who can leave. Depending on who you talk to, prices range from $6,000 (4,800) per person to over $12,000 - exorbitant sums for most of Gaza's population.

Yet increasing numbers of people are trying to raise the money to flee. Among them are the Hammads, currently displaced along with more than a million others in Rafah next to the Egyptian border.

Their 15-year-old son Ibrahim has Down's Syndrome. For him, the Israeli bombardment is particularly traumatic. Video posted by the family shows him shaking in distress after each thunderous boom from nearby airstrikes. His father Abed Alqader says they have had to artificially resuscitate him three times after he stopped breathing due to severe panic attacks.

He says Ibrahim has been begging for the family to leave, saying "Please father, I cannot continue".

"For the last five months, all you hear are sounds of bombs, heavy bombing," Mr Hammad added. "You just sit home and pray you will not be next."

Their online fundraising page, like most, is being managed outside Gaza, in their case by another son Amjad, who lives in Europe. It is one fundraiser among thousands, appealing for donors to assist Gazans to "survive", "evacuate" and "escape genocide".

Some campaigns have been successful, raising over $100,000. However, the BBC spoke to several of these account holders who, even after achieving their fundraising goals, said their desperate attempts to help loved ones were mired in chaos and confusion.

In the words of one fundraiser, a New Jersey woman who asked to remain anonymous to avoid risking the chance of hindering her cousin's way out: "Every day is a toss-up."

Complex route out

The first challenge is determining the cost to leave. Fundraising account holders who spoke to the BBC said the most common price was $6,000 per person, allowing people to leave within 72 hours. Some people fundraise toward the goal of $12,000 per person, the price said to get an exit within 24 hours.

Once enough money is raised, the next challenge becomes getting tens of thousands of dollars into Gaza. There are few wire services like Western Union left in the devastated territory, and the line to enter is days-long. Some people have used cryptocurrency exchanges. Others have relied on PayPal accounts registered elsewhere, as the firm doesn't provide services to people in Gaza or the occupied West Bank.

Most people, however, wire the money to someone outside of Gaza - a relative or friend in Europe - who then withdraws the cash, and travels to Egypt to wait in a separate days-long line at the offices of Hala Travel in Cairo, an agency that facilitates travel between Egypt and Gaza. Footage from outside the Hala offices shows crowds thronging the street.

Hala has not responded to requests for comment from the BBC.

However, the BBC has obtained a copy of a receipt from Hala Travel dated 13 February for $6,000. The person's name on that receipt also appears with four others on a separate ticket indicating they have been cleared for entry into Egypt. Visas and onward travel to Cairo are included.

The final step is to check for approval online. Places like the Gaza Ministry of Foreign Affairs Facebook account publish daily lists of up to 250 approved names. All have paid thousands to get out, according to the person who provided the receipt, who asked to remain anonymous.

People whose names appear on the official list must leave the same day. However, due to spotty WiFi service and rolling blackouts, some people miss their window to exit and have to repeat the entire process, including paying again, this person says.

The man who provided the Hala receipt told the BBC that the names of those on the official list to enter Egypt only appear after they've been vetted by Egyptian intelligence.

"Is this new? No. It's not really new, but the price before the war was $600. Now it's 10 times higher," he says.

"Gaza is not only under bombardment, but people are profiting from their suffering."

Hamas, the Palestinian group which was governing Gaza and launched the attack targeting civilians in southern Israel that triggered the current war, has also accused "companies, individuals and people with influence" of exploiting Gazans by "making them pay exorbitant amounts to coordinate their travel".

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has told Sky News that his country is investigating.

We will take whatever measures that we need so as to restrict it and eliminate it immediately," he said, without giving further details.

In January, Egypt's State Information Service head Diaa Rashwan "categorically denied the allegations related to the collection of additional fees from travellers from Gaza, as well as claims that an unofficial entity collected fees for the passage to Egyptian lands".

Egypt was trying to help Gaza's Palestinians, he added, and did not want to impose extra burdens on them.

Large sums raised

Much of the crowdfunding is being led by friends and relatives who live abroad and have looked on helplessly as Israeli bombardment kills whole families and reduces neighbourhoods to rubble.

"It's heartbreaking to watch," says Shahd, a woman in the US state of Virginia who asked only to go by her first name.

She helped organise a campaign for her friends, two brothers, whom she met on TikTok in 2021. Her own relatives in Gaza were killed in October, she says.

Shahd felt compelled to aid her friends after witnessing their narrow escapes from death - on one occasion being hit by flying masonry as a nearby building exploded. Since then, they have been struggling to survive amid Gaza's deepening humanitarian crisis and, they say, navigating the gang rule that has replaced social cohesion.

"There's moments where [the brothers] are like, 'We really can't do this anymore. It might be better if we were killed'," Shahd says. "They're basically like family to me at this point. If anything were to happen to them, I'd probably lose it."

A man in Rafah clears rubble from a building hit by an airstrike

The fundraising page for Shahd's friends and some of their family has reached over $105,000. But sending it to them has been difficult. Their fundraising account was frozen for several days in February, blocking her from transferring the money. And the brothers' PayPal accounts were locked for weeks without explanation.

Multiple users raising money to aid people in Gaza have complained about having their accounts frozen. "People are literally trying to escape death," one New Jersey woman told the BBC. "It's just mind-blowing that every single corner we turn there's a new obstacle."

Having raised $36,000, she says she missed a window to get her cousin and his family on the list while the company froze her account for several days in early February and asked for more information. She said the request, the first she's had in a decade of using the platform, felt "discriminatory".

Nearly every person told the BBC they had the same experiences with delays, and multiple said they had to resort to legal threats before getting a response.

GoFundMe, one of the platforms people are using to raise money, told the BBC its priority was "protecting the generosity of donors".

"GoFundMe has already helped deliver tens of millions of dollars to individuals and organizations supporting those in both Israel and Gaza, and we will continue to do so as quickly, securely, and safely as possible," spokesman Jalen Drummond said.

"Any suggestion of discrimination is wholly without merit, baseless, and contrary to the values that guide our platform."

Jordan, from Brooklyn, New York, has hit his fundraising target of $50,000 and plans to wire it directly to his friend's bank in Gaza. His friend's family must leave to access life-saving medicine.

More than 1.5 million people are in Rafah, most of whom have fled there to escape the fighting, but only a slim minority have connections to people abroad who can help, a reality Jordan described as "really dark".

'I'm pretty much alive'

Ahmad, who lives in Gaza but has a friend in Canada fundraising for him, says he has to leave because of chronic knee inflammation, the medication for which is no longer available in Gaza.

"Me and anyone in Gaza may die in any second," he said from the rooftop of a building in Rafah, Israeli drones buzzing in the background.

Earlier that day, on 12 February, he sent the BBC a picture of two girls who he said died overnight in a nearby air strike. "I'm pretty much alive," he said in the same WhatsApp message. "Very depressed bro."

The 24-year-old has been fundraising for weeks but still hasn't found a way out of Gaza.

First, his fundraising account was frozen. As a result, he had to borrow thousands of dollars from his parents - who are resigned to staying in the war-zone - to pay some middlemen whom he trusted to facilitate getting him on the exit list.

His plan failed after giving them $5,000, and he had to fork out another $3,000 to resolve the issue. He promised his parents he would pay them back once he got to Cairo and could access the money raised by crowdfunding.

Ahmad is still waiting. On Thursday, reached by text message, he said he was in deep pain and feeling very anxious.

But he felt hopeful he was on the verge of finally getting out of Gaza. It's happening, he said, "anytime soon".
As the legal debate continues over whether sales of cryptocurrencies constitute securities, all eyes have been on a court case involving a Coinbase employee sharing insider information with his brother and a friend. While the main defendant, former Coinbase employee Ishan Wahi, and his brother have reached settlements with both the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission, the friendSameer Ramaniremains at large.

On Friday, a federal judge in the Western District Court of Washington issued a ruling in the case against Ramani. The ruling, which agreed in part to the SEC's request for a default judgment, could have serious implications for both Ramani and the broader crypto industry.

In the decision, Judge Tana Lin ruled that the case fell under the SEC's jurisdiction because the crypto assets at issue were securities, even though they were traded on Coinbase, a secondary market. As courts grapple with the question of when crypto assets are securities, the decision is the strongest decision yet by a federal judge to support Chair Gary Gensler's argument that the vast majority of the industry's activity falls under its remit.

Howey and its discontents

Since the rise of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether, regulators have wrestled with how to classify digital assets. Should they fall under the category of securities like bonds and stocks, or commodities like gold and wheat?

Currently, the only cryptocurrency with regulatory clarity is Bitcoin, which the Commodity Futures Trading Commission declared to be a commodity in 2015. Other assets have remained in a gray zone. As a result, when exchanges like Coinbase offer cryptocurrencies for trading, they have operated under legal risk, despite declaring their belief that certain crypto assets should not be classified as securities.

Starting with SEC Chair Jay Clayton, and continuing under Gensler, the SEC has pursued a campaign of enforcement actions against crypto firms, arguing the firms are issuing or selling unregistered securities. With high-profile cases against companies like Ripple, Coinbase, and Binance, the SEC has sought to expand its jurisdiction over the vast majority of crypto assets, taking advantage of a lack of legislative movement in Congress.

Story continues

Federal judges in the various cases have so far taken different stances on the securities question, adding to the uncertainty. In July, Judge Analisa Torres in the Southern District of New York sent shockwaves through the industry when she issued a ruling on the long-awaited Ripple case, arguing that direct sales of its XRP token to institutional investors like hedge funds constituted unregistered securities, while secondary sales on platforms like exchanges did not.

Later that month, Judge Jed Rakoff, also of the Southern District of New York, disagreed with her logic. In a ruling denying a motion to dismiss by the defendants, a crypto firm called Terraform Labs, he wrote that he rejected the approach.

"The Court declines to draw a distinction between these coins based on their manner of sale, such that coins sold directly to institutional investors are considered securities and those sold through secondary market transactions to retail investors are not," he wrote.

In December, Rakoff ruled in favor of the SEC and agreed that four crypto tokens offered by Terraform Labs constituted unregistered securities.

The matter has grown more complicated in two high-profile lawsuits brought by the SEC against major crypto exchanges, Coinbase and Binance. Unlike Ripple and Terraform Labs, the question with the two exchanges hinges solely on the trading of tokens on their venues, rather than the issuance.

Under U.S. case law, the definition of a security is drawn from a Supreme Court precedent called the Howey test, which defined a security as the investment of money in a common enterprise with the expectation of profits derived from the efforts of others. Both companies have sought to dismiss the cases, with their lawyers arguing that under Howey, securities must include an actual investment contract, which does not exist when purchasing crypto assets on an exchange. A third exchange, Kraken, employed the same logic when seeking to dismiss its own lawsuit by the SEC. Judges have yet to rule on the motions by Coinbase and Binance, and a hearing for Kraken's motion is scheduled for June.

Insider trading

The SEC's Coinbase insider trading lawsuit is a more complicated case because none of the defendants are crypto firms, but instead, individuals accused of using insider information for personal gain.

In two cases brought by the SEC and Department of Justice, prosecutors argued that a Coinbase employee, Ishan Wahi, shared confidential information with his brother and friend, who were able to net more than $1.5 million in trades.

From the beginning, the SEC's lawsuit has drawn concern from the crypto industry. To establish jurisdiction for the case, the SEC argued that the defendants were trading unregistered securities on Coinbasein this instance, little-known tokens such as AMP and DDX, and not major cryptocurrencies like Ether and Solana. Prominent crypto firms including Coinbase and Paradigm filed "friend of the court" briefs to challenge the SEC.

Wahi and his brother settled with both the SEC and the DOJ, avoiding the risk of a judge ruling in the SEC's favor on the question of the security status of the tokens. That wasn't the case with their friend, Ramani, who the SEC believes to be in India, leading the agency to seek a default judgment on the case.

On Friday, Lin ruled in favor of the SEC, agreeing that sales of the crypto assets constituted securities, even when sold on secondary markets. In her decision, she argued that the tokens were broadly promoted by issuers, therefore creating an expectation of increased value. Furthermore, the issuers facilitated trading on secondary trading markets like Coinbase.

"The Courts analysis remains the same even to the extent Ramani traded tokens on the

secondary market," Lin wrote, arguing that the promotional statements apply equally to tokens bought by an investor, whether directly from an issuer or on a trading platform. "Each issuer continued to make such representation regarding the profitability of their tokens even as the tokens were traded on secondary markets."

As a result, Lin ruled that every crypto asset that Ramani purchased and traded constituted investment contracts. Unlike Rakoff's ruling in the Terraform case, Lin's decision is significant because it involves secondary transactions, rather than sales directly from an issuer. At the same time, because it was a default judgment, there was no defense presented by the opposite side, as with the SEC's lawsuits against the major crypto exchanges.

Notably, the lawsuit is in the Western District Court of Washington, which is in the same appeals circuit as the Kraken lawsuit, which is being litigated in the Northern District Court of California. If one of the cases is appealed to the circuit court, the ruling from the three-judge panel will likely apply to the other case, although it is improbable that the Ramani case would be appealed because it was a default judgment. Regardless, because multiple lawsuits are being heard in different circuits across the country, the question of whether crypto assets constitute securities is likely to make its way to the Supreme Court.

A spokesperson for the SEC, Ramani, and Ramani's lawyer did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
(The Hill)  The death of a Georgia student has taken center stage in Washingtons battles over immigration, as former President Trump and his allies lean into the issue to attack President Biden and Democrats over the border.

Trump, whose signature issue is border security, has repeatedly criticized Bidens policies over the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley.

Riley, a nursing student at Augusta Universitys Athens campus, was found dead last Thursday after her roommate reported that she did not return from a run in the wooded area of the University of Georgia campus. A 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen named Jose Ibarra was arrested in connection to her death and charged with murder.

U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement has said Ibarra entered the country illegally in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, from Mexico and was released for further processing after being detained.

We have a new category of migrant crime, and its going to be more severe than violent crime and crime as we know it, Trump said during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week.

Democrats have criticized Republicans for linking Rileys death to Bidens handling of the border, arguing that the issues of immigration and crime should not be conflated.

A series of Cato Institute papers have found that immigrants  including undocumented immigrants  commit murders at a lower rate than native-born Americans.

Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) said a sense of outrage is normal following violent crime, but it shouldnt change broader policy.

I think the important thing to focus on is any one instance shouldnt shape our overall immigration policy, which has so many different facets, including economic choices about what workers to allow and how to create prosperity in America, she said during an interview on CNNs Erin Burnett OutFront on Monday.

The White House and Democrats also have been blistering in criticizing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan Senate bill aimed at tightening border security.

Republicans opposed to that compromise argued it didnt go far enough, but the White House is leaning into the argument that Trump and the GOP, by politicizing the border bill, have actually prevented the government from taking steps to tighten security at the border.

Trump and Republicans see a political advantage in highlighting Rileys death as emblematic of what they see as chaos at the border.

Both Trump and Biden visited spots on the border on Thursday, but the former president noted that he called Rileys parents the day before and directly blamed Biden for Ibarra entering the country.

I spoke to her parents yesterday. Theyre incredible people that are devastated beyond belief, he said.

Numerous GOP officials, from allies of Trump such as Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to GOP officials who have clashed with the former president, such as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, have linked the students death to immigration policies they say are too lenient.

Kemp, who had a falling out with Trump over the governors opposition to overturning the results of the 2020 election in the state, argued that the country has a nightmare with mass migration.

That is inexcusable in any absence of any real effort by the Biden administration to step up and address this crisis, as they continue to ignore the calls for meaningful policy change that governors like me had made for well over two years, he said.

The Georgia case gives Trump a dramatic story to point to, even as the investigation into exactly what happened continues.

Any time that you can put a face, especially a child or a young persons face, and attach it to a policy, whether its good or bad, its going to have a much more outsized impact, said Georgia-based Republican strategist Jay Williams. And the more personal you can make it, the more effective it becomes.

GOP strategist Brady Smith said the incident will make for an extremely effective attack for Republicans.

Its going to be that inflection point where this is going to be the one that especially stands out, and everything else is going to harken back to Laken Riley, he said.

Polls have shown immigration overtaking the economy as the top issue on voters minds. A Gallup poll released Tuesday showed it ranked as most important for the first time since 2019.

Biden is seeking to go on offense himself on the border. Its one reason he went to the border on Thursday, and its reflected in the White House attacks on Johnson over the border bill.

A senior Democratic operative argued that the assertion Biden is to blame for the killing is an absurdity. This operative said Kemp is more responsible for the incident as the governor overseeing the people of the state.

I didnt know Joe Biden was a beat cop in Athens, Ga., the operative said. Why is it that anytime anything happens with illegal immigrants that they have no responsibility? Why is it that they have no responsibility for crime?

Republicans have often argued that allowing migrants to continue across the border only increases the chances of crime or potentially an attack on U.S. soil.

However, several studies have found those who enter the country illegally are not more likely to commit other crimes than U.S. citizens.

Cato analyzed Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) figures because that agency keeps track of immigration status for people arrested and convicted of crimes in the state. DPSs figures from 2015 to 2019 consistently show a lower murder rate among undocumented immigrants.

Few people are murderers, and illegal immigrants are statistically less likely to be murderers. Still, some illegal immigrants do commit homicide, and that statistical fact is no comfort to victims and their families. More importantly, nobody should expect the statistics to comfort individuals affected by violent crime, wrote Alex Nowrasteh, author of the Cato papers.

Williams, the GOP strategist, said the specific details of the case further add to Republicans argument, given that Ibarra was previously arrested in New York City a few months ago.

ICE has said Ibarra was charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation, but New York officials released him before immigration officials could detain him.

Democrats have pointed to Rep. Tom Suozzis victory in the special election for New Yorks 3rd congressional district last month as an example of how they can still win races that are tied to the issue of immigration.

Suozzi flipped a seat for Democrats this month following a successful campaign in which he made his position on immigration clear and challenged his Republican opponent for her opposition to the bipartisan Senate border bill that Trump also opposed.

We need to do what Tom Suozzi did, which is to address the issue head on, the operative said.

Brett Samuels contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Eva Hoegl, Parliamentary Commissioner for the Armed Forces, presents her annual report in Parliament. Hoegl was the latest security official to demand far-reaching consequences for the Russian wiretapping scandal engulfing the military on Sunday. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German parliamentary defence commissioner Eva Hogl was the latest security official to demand far-reaching consequences for the Russian wiretapping scandal engulfing the military on Sunday.

"First of all, all those responsible at all levels of the defence forces must immediately be trained in protected communications," Hogl said in remarks to the Funke Media Group.

She was referring to the publication of a recording of German air force officers discussing support for Ukraine by a Russian media outlet.

The conversation between German defence officials was published on Friday by the head of the Russian state broadcaster RT, Margarita Simonyan.

"Secondly, it must be ensured that providing secure and secret information and communication can be done in a stable way," Hogl said. Change is needed in cases where this is not possible, she added.

Hogl also called for greater investment in countering espionage and for the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) to be beefed up.

The recording is sensitive as the senior air force officers can be heard discussing the theoretical possibilities of a deployment of German Taurus cruise missiles in Ukraine.

One reason why the officers whose discussion was intercepted by Russia were vulnerable to wiretapping was that they were not using an encrypted line for their conference, according to a report earlier on Sunday.

Sources told dpa on Saturday that the discussion was hosted on Webex, a US-made online conferencing platform.

The Webex meeting was set up on the officers' mobile phones via a Bundeswehr office landline, according to Bild am Sonntag newspaper, citing security sources.

A Ministry of Defence spokeswoman told Bild am Sonntag: "There are indications that an insufficiently secure means of communication was used in view of the content that was apparently discussed. This is one of the issues that is being investigated."

Air Force inspector Ingo Gerhartz was among those present at the meeting, which is said to have been in preparation for a briefing to Defence Minister Boris Pistorius.

The security level of the issues addressed is still being investigated.

Officials also seek to clarify whether the Webex version used is at least authorized for the exchange of information of the lowest level of classification, "classified information - for official use only," the report said.

The exchange heard in the recording addresses whether longer-range Taurus cruise missiles would theoretically be technically capable of destroying the bridge built by Russia to the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in violation of international law.

The discussion also addresses whether Ukraine could carry out the strike without the involvement of the German armed forces. It is made clear in the recording that German lawmakers are not willing to provide Kiev with cruise missiles.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly ruled out the supply of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, despite repeated requests by Kiev, arguing that he fears Germany could be drawn more deeply into the war launched by the Kremlin in February 2022.

The clip also contains a diplomatically sensitive reference to the British having "a few people on the ground" in Ukraine, in connection with the deployment of their Storm Shadow cruise missiles to the country.

The reference follows anger in Britain over what London saw as previous indiscretion on Scholz's part.

Scholz had said, in the context of the Taurus debate, that "what the British and French are doing in terms of target control and accompanying target control cannot be done in Germany," without elaborating further.

Some saw this as an indication that French and British forces are supporting the control of cruise missiles supplied to Ukraine. London immediately denied this was the case.

Meanwhile German lawmakers fear that other sensitive discussions may also be intercepted.

On Saturday, Scholz promised swift clarification of the incident, calling it a "very serious matter."

Pressed by a dpa correspondent about possible diplomatic fall-out from the intercepted Bundeswehr exchange, Scholz said: "That is why this is now being clarified very carefully, very intensively and very quickly. That is also necessary."
Boris Pistorius, Germany's Defence Minister, speaks during a press statement on the discussion following the publication of a recording of a conversation between German officers about Taurus cruise missiles by a Russian propagandist. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has described the publication of an internal conversation between German air force officers by Russia as a "hybrid attack for disinformation," after the scandal had one of Ukraine's main backers scrambling to save face.

"It is part of an information war being waged by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," said Pistorius in Berlin on Sunday. "It's about division. It's about undermining our unity. And accordingly, we should react in a particularly level-headed manner, but no less resolutely."

A recording of German air force officers discussing support for Ukraine was published on Friday by a Russian media outlet.

The senior officers can be heard discussing the theoretical possibilities of deploying German longer-range Taurus cruise missiles in Ukraine to destroy the bridge to the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, annexed by Moscow in violation of international law.

It was important "not to fall for Putin's tricks," Pistorius said, adding that the Russian president was attempting to drive a wedge in Germany's domestic politics, which he hoped Putin would not succeed.

The minister stated that he currently has no information about further leaks or eavesdropping on other phone calls.

He expects the results of an internal investigation early in the week - including whether the correct platform was chosen for the content discussed in the published conversation.

Sources told dpa the officers had connected via the Webex platform, a US-made online conferencing platform.

Pistorius assured that appropriate consequences would be drawn promptly after the investigation.

German security officials have been demanding far-reaching consequences for the Russian wiretapping scandal engulfing the military.

German parliamentary defence commissioner Eva Hogl on Sunday called for "all those responsible at all levels of the defence forces" to "immediately be trained in protected communications."

"Secondly, it must be ensured that providing secure and secret information and communication can be done in a stable way," Hogl told the Funke Media Group.

The meeting was set up on the officers' mobile phones via a Bundeswehr office landline, according to Bild am Sonntag newspaper, citing security sources.

Air Force inspector Ingo Gerhartz was among those present at the meeting, which is said to have been in preparation for a briefing to Defence Minister Pistorius.

The security level of the issues addressed is still being investigated.

The discussion topic is a sensitive one in Germany. In the leaked recording, it is made clear that Berlin is not willing to provide Kiev with cruise missiles.

According to the officers, a swift delivery and deployment of the Taurus missiles would only be possible under the involvement of German forces.

Deployment solely under Ukrainian command would be possible, but the necessary training for Ukrainian soldiers would likely take months.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has repeatedly ruled out the supply of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, despite repeated requests by Kiev, arguing that he fears Germany could be drawn more deeply into the war launched by the Kremlin in February 2022.

The clip also contains a diplomatically sensitive reference to the British having "a few people on the ground" in Ukraine, in connection with the deployment of their Storm Shadow cruise missiles to the country.

The reference follows anger in Britain over what London saw as a previous indiscretion on Scholz's part.

Scholz had said, in the context of the Taurus debate, that "what the British and French are doing in terms of target control and accompanying target control cannot be done in Germany," without elaborating further.

Some saw this as an indication that French and British forces were supporting the control of cruise missiles supplied to Ukraine. London immediately denied this was the case.

Meanwhile, German lawmakers fear that other sensitive discussions may also be intercepted.

On Saturday, Scholz promised swift clarification of the incident, calling it a "very serious matter."

Pressed by a dpa correspondent about possible diplomatic fall-out from the intercepted Bundeswehr exchange, Scholz said: "That is why this is now being clarified very carefully, very intensively and very quickly. That is also necessary."
A German opposition politician has called for a parliamentary investigation into Russias interception and leak of a conversation about Ukraine between senior officers from the German military, the Bundeswehr.

Source: European Pravda with reference to DW

"The reports are disconcerting in two different ways," said Alexander Dobrindt, a Christian-Social Union (CSU) politician."Firstly, because the Russians evidently listened in on sensitive security discussions, and also because the chancellor may have explained his refusal to send Taurus missiles with a false assertion."

Dobrindt stated that these matters require an investigation.

"The chancellor must explain himself in the Bundestag," he said. "Given this set of facts, a parliamentary inquest cannot be ruled out."

Roderich Kiesewetter, a Christian Democrat (CDU) defence policy expert, said he believed Russia had deliberately chosen this moment to publish the intercept in an attempt to "undermine the Taurus delivery by Germany".

He told public broadcaster ZDF that this showed how "deeply" Russian spy services had already investigated German communications on this matter.

Eva Hogl, Parliament's Special Commissioner to the military from Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats, called for improved training on secure communication for senior military officers.

"Firstly, all those responsible at every level of the Bundeswehr must immediately receive comprehensive training on secure communications. Secondly, the stable possibility for secure and secret information and communication transfer must be ensured," she stated.

She also advocated rapid and more active involvement in counterespionage work, particularly from the Military Counterintelligence Service.

Earlier, Germanys Ministry of Defence launched an investigation into whether the conversation between the members of the Air Force had been intercepted. According to Russian propaganda, the officers had discussed using Taurus missiles to blow up the Crimean Bridge.

The German Defence Ministry later confirmed that the conversation had indeed been intercepted.

The online conference between senior officers of the German Air Force, which was likely intercepted by the Russians on 19 February, was focused on the preparation of a half-hour-long briefing for German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius about the possibility of sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The officers talk openly, among other things, about what American and British soldiers are doing in Ukraine and discuss the possibility of Ukrainian personnel being trained in Germany to use Taurus missiles.

The scandal has prompted a number of German politicians to urge the Defence Ministry to clarify the situation around the alleged interception and spying in its ranks.

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An armoured vehicle is parked on the street during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Paul Zinken/dpa

Police seeking two fugitive far-left Red Army Faction (RAF) terrorists searched buildings in Berlin's Friedrichshain district on Sunday morning, a spokeswoman for the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Saxony in Berlin said.

They are looking for Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, two other suspected terrorist members of the RAF who are still on the run.

Sunday's operation began at an industrial estate at 07:30 (0630 GMT) and involved national and city police forces. The spokeswoman did not provide any further details.

A dpa reporter said the police took two men away but this was not initially confirmed by the spokeswoman.

The RAF murdered more than 30 people during their reign of terror

but disbanded in 1998.

Police officers stand by an armoured vehicle during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Paul Zinken/dpa
Ingo Gerhartz discussed the possible delivery of German Taurus missiles on the call - Maja Hitij/Getty

Germany accidentally leaked British military secrets to Russia by using off-the-shelf video phone technology to discuss missiles in Ukraine.

The head of the Luftwaffe told air force officers and a general who dialled in from his hotel room how British and French officials were delivering Storm Shadows to Ukrainian soldiers.

He also said British troops were on the ground, a highly sensitive detail that has already caused division and infighting among Nato allies.

Recordings of the call were broadcast by a Russian state television executive. The Kremlin maintains that Nato troops on the ground represent a serious provocation.

Boris Pistorius, the German defence minister, said on Sunday that Vladimir Putin was using the recording to try to destabilise Germany, sowing divisions with an information war.

In the call, Ingo Gerhartz, the Luftwaffe air force Lieutenant General, discusses the possible delivery of German Taurus missiles, which have a longer range and are more precise than Storm Shadows.

If were asked about delivery methods. I know how the British do this, he said. They do it completely in reach-back [a military term indicating close collaboration with military intelligence, skipping normal protocols]. They have several people on the ground.

Another participant on the call, believed to be Brigadier General Frank Graefe, discussed the training of Ukrainian troops on German soil. He said after they had been trained and were ready to return to Ukraine, the right course of action would be for Britain to take over.

Just imagine the uproar if the media were to find out, he added.

Roderich Kiesewetter. a German opposition politician, said it was likely that a Russian intelligence agent was simply able to join the call, which Luftwaffe officers were able to connect to on their mobile phones.

One participant on the call mentions that he could send further information via WhatsApp in a further possible security breach.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, described the leak as very serious and ordered an investigation.

It comes after he suggested last week that British troops were in Ukraine helping to fire Storm Shadow missiles. Emmanuel Macron had earlier faced a backlash from Nato allies for suggesting troops could be sent to Ukraine in a limited capacity.

The call also further damages the chances of Germany sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Mr Scholz has so far blocked the move over fears they could be used to strike Moscow.

In the call, officers also discussed whether Taurus cruise missiles could possibly strike the Kerch bridge between the Russian mainland and the occupied Crimea peninsula.

This was described by Dmitry Medvedev, the former Russian president, as proof that Germany was preparing for war against Russia.

The discussion between Gerhartz and several other senior officers was confirmed by the German defence ministry to be authentic.

A spokesman told tabloid Bild there are indications that an insufficiently secure means of communication was used in view of the content that was obviously discussed. This is, among other things, the subject of further investigations.

Bob Seely, a Conservative MP, called Germany incredibly complacent, while Alec Shelbrooke, a former defence minister, described the leak as an amateur blunder

The intercepted call marks one of Germanys worst security breaches since the Cold War.

The question arises as to whether this is a one-off incident or a structural safety problem, Konstantin von Notz, a member of the Greens, told German news agency RND.

The interception comes as Russia has made a series of battlefield gains, reversing much of Ukraines counter-offensive last summer.

Kyiv is pleading for more weapons and funding, much of which is blocked by allies of Donald Trump in the US Congress in a row over migration and the Mexico border.

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German authorities have launched an investigation after an audio recording of the country's military discussing aid to Ukraine was published in Russia.

In the 38-minute clip, officers discuss supplying Kyiv with long-range Taurus missiles - something repeatedly requested by Ukraine, but so far refused by Berlin.

On Saturday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called the leak - which is a source of embarrassment for the country's army - a very serious matter."

He added that authorities were working to clarify the matter very carefully, very intensively and very quickly.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Germany has debated whether to send the German-Swedish cruise missiles to Kyiv.

In January, Germany's Bundestag voted with a clear majority against the move, amid worries about the consequences if Ukraine used German weapons to attack Russia.

FILE - Two Leopard 2 tanks are seen in action during a visit of German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Augustdorf, Germany, Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023. - Martin Meissner/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.

Some fear possible retaliation from Moscow if targets deep inside Russian territory are hit, potentially drawing Germany more directly into the war.

Others claim the missiles would provide a much-needed boost to Ukraine's war effort, which has currently stalled and is facing renewed Russian advances.

In the leaked recording, military officers discuss how the Taurus missiles could be used by Ukraine.

Germanys Ministry of Defense said it was investigating whether communications within the air force were intercepted by Russia.

In a statement carried by the German Press Agency DPA, it said: According to our assessment, a conversation within the Air Force was intercepted. We cannot currently say with certainty whether changes have been made to the recorded or written version that is circulating on social media."

Margarita Simonyan, chief editor of Russian state-funded TV channel RT, posted the audio on social media.

In this... recording, high-ranking Bundeswehr officers discuss how they will bomb (attention!) the Crimean bridge, she wrote on the Telegram.

Within the conversation, one officer mentioned a planned trip to Ukraine to coordinate strikes on Russian targets, she claimed.

Germany is now the second-biggest supplier of military aid to Ukraine after the United States, where efforts to supply more assistance have been bogged down in Congress.

Berlin is expected to step up support this year.

Scholz has stalled for months on Ukraines request for Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometres.

The chancellor has long emphasised his determination to help Ukraine without drawing the NATO member into the war, stressing that no German soldiers will go to Ukraine.

We will not send European soldiers to Ukraine. We dont want a war between Russia and NATO. And we will do all we can to prevent it, Scholz told a meeting of the Party of European Socialists in Rome on Saturday.

On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron said the future deployment of Western troops on the ground in Ukraine was not ruled out."

Germany, Poland and other allied countries quickly distanced themselves from his suggestion.
(Bloomberg) -- President Vladimir Putin is looking to divide Ukraines allies with a disinformation campaign, Germanys defense minister said, days after Russian media published a leaked conversation about the possible deployment of German long-range missiles in Ukraine.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Its about division, its about undermining our unity, so we should react in a level-headed but not less determined way, Boris Pistorius said after a hastily-convened special meeting of the defense committee in Berlin on Sunday.

This is clearly about undermining our unity, he said. It is about using this recording to destabilize and unsettle us, adding that we should not fall for Putins line.

In the 38-minute audio recording obtained by the media platform Russia Today, German air force chief Ingo Gerhartz and highly-ranked officers discussed a possible delivery of German Taurus missiles to Kyiv, and their potential impact.

On Friday, immediately after it became known, I contacted the federal office for military counterintelligence (MAD) and instructed them to investigate the incident completely, Pistorius said, adding that he is getting regular updates.

Read more: Germany Probes Military Security Leak After Russian Wiretap

Der Spiegel and the German press agency DPA reported separately that the recording has been determined to be authentic, while potentially doctored, and that the conversation had been conducted on the commercial, non-encrypted video calling platform Webex  with invitations sent to mobile phones via a Bundeswehr office landline.

Pistorius said it was no coincidence that the revelation came amid funeral services for Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny and new revelations about the Wirecard scandal.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz has clearly positioned himself against the deployment of German Taurus missiles in Ukraine, causing tensions among some NATO members.

Read more: UK Is Pushing Germany to Send Long-Range Missiles to Ukraine

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Bottles of alcohol-free wines are pictured in Germany. Germany's government wants to change European Union rules to allow alcohol-free wines to be labelled as organic, its Agriculture Ministry said on Sunday. Helmut Fricke/dpa

Germany's government wants to change European Union rules to allow alcohol-free wines to be labelled as organic, its Agriculture Ministry said on Sunday.

"Whoever wants to drink alcohol-free wine should also be able to do so with organic quality," said German Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir in a press release.

Under the current EU rules, the process of removing alcohol causes an otherwise organic wine to lose its certified status, because that process isn't on the whitelist of approved methods for producing organic wine.

Berlin therefore wants to amend an annex to the EU regulation on organic production and labelling of organic products.

"With the support of other member states, Germany has submitted an application in Brussels for the dealcoholization of organic wine to be approved under EU law," the ministry's press release said.

The press release said that the European Commission - the only EU body that can formally propose new EU laws - has convened an independent group of organic production experts to consider the removal of alcohol by vacuum distillation.

According to the statement, the commission has promised to "promptly submit a draft regulation to include vacuum distillation" if the expert group gives a positive assessment of the method.

The ministry's statement was released in anticipation of Ozdemir's visit to the EUROVINO wine fair, being held on Sunday and Monday in Karlsruhe, southwestern Germany.
Boris Pistorius, Germany's Defence Minister, speaks during a press statement on the discussion following the publication of a recording of a conversation between German officers about Taurus cruise missiles by a Russian propagandist. Michael Kappeler/dpa

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has described the publication of an internal conversation between German air force officers by Russia as a "hybrid attack for disinformation."

"It is part of an information war being waged by [Russian President Vladimir] Putin," said Pistorius in Berlin on Sunday. "It's about division. It's about undermining our unity. And accordingly, we should react in a particularly level-headed manner, but no less resolutely."

It is now also about "not falling for Putin's tricks," Pistorius said. He added that Putin was attempting to drive a wedge in Germany's domestic politics, which he hoped Putin would not succeed.

The minister stated that he currently has no information about further leaks or eavesdropping on other phone calls.

He expects results of the internal investigation early in the week - including whether the correct platform was chosen for the content discussed in the published conversation. The officers had connected via the Webex platform.

Pistorius assured that appropriate consequences would be drawn promptly after the investigation.

A recording of German air force officers discussing support for Ukraine was published on Friday by a Russian media outlet. The senior air force officers can be heard discussing the theoretical possibilities of a deployment of German Taurus cruise missiles in Ukraine, a sensitive topic.

Boris Pistorius, Germany's Defence Minister, speaks during a press statement on the discussion following the publication of a recording of a conversation between German officers about Taurus cruise missiles by a Russian propagandist. Michael Kappeler/dpa

Boris Pistorius, Germany's Defence Minister, speaks during a press statement on the discussion following the publication of a recording of a conversation between German officers about Taurus cruise missiles by a Russian propagandist. Michael Kappeler/dpa
Sensata Technologies Holding (NYSE:ST) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: US$4.05b (flat on FY 2022).

Net loss: US$3.91m (down by 101% from US$310.7m profit in FY 2022).

US$0.026 loss per share (down from US$2.00 profit in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

Sensata Technologies Holding EPS Misses Expectations

Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) missed analyst estimates.

Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 5.4% p.a. on average during the next 3 years, compared to a 7.8% growth forecast for the Electrical industry in the US.

Performance of the American Electrical industry.

The company's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

Don't forget that there may still be risks. For instance, we've identified 1 warning sign for Sensata Technologies Holding 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 Scoop

ACCRA, Ghana  Looted Asante artifacts from two British museums are expected to arrive in Ghana and be presented to the Asante king on May 12, according to people familiar with the plans. It will mark the start of a three-year loan agreement between Ghanaian authorities and the British.

The loaned artifacts will be returning to their original home after 150 years under two main conditions: that they will be kept safely and are returned to the United Kingdom after the stipulated three-year term. The promises are straightforward, its been agreed upon, and we are committed to fulfilling our part of the bargain, Professor Osei-Bonsu Safo Kantanka, a researcher and spokesperson for the Asante kingdom, told Semafor Africa.

The agreement is also subject to an extension which could see the returned artifacts staying longer in Ghana than the initial three years.

Know More

Londons Victoria & Albert Museum and the British Museum have both agreed to return a total of 32 objects after negotiations that spanned nine months. The majority of the objects, including a gold ring, and a sword of state made from pure gold, were looted during conflicts between the British and Asante armies in the 19th century. In the Asante kingdom, every item made purposely to be used by the king is of at least 24 carat gold. Fifteen items from the British Museum are expected to be presented to the Asante King at a festival, which is expected to attract thousands of tourists from around the world.

Victoria & Albert Museum

The safety of the loaned objects has necessitated the rehabilitation of the Manhyia Palace museum located in Kumasi, Ghanas second largest city and the capital of the Ashanti region. Officials say the palace currently receives up to 80,000 visitors annually, mostly school children and foreign tourists. The Asantehene [the king] has made sure that he puts the museum in order awaiting the return of these items, Kantanka said.

The expansion and rehabilitation works at the palace museum is progressing speedily to publicly display the items stolen by the British colonial forces from the Asante kingdom. The need to return these items to the UK after the agreed three-year tenure is backed by international regulations, including the 1970 UNESCO convention which states that looted items are lost forever.

The View From Los Angeles

Ahead of the move by the two British museums, the Fowler Museum in California on Feb. 8 (main picture above) returned seven of what they also possess for free and in exchange for replicated ones. The recent developments are part of a campaign by the king, Otumfuo Nana Osei Tutu II, to recover the items he said in February were looted and destroyed by the white man, noting the significance of the spiritual links of these items to his throne and his people.

Room for Disagreement

The return of the looted objects on loan has sparked the debate about why the British are returning just 32 items and on loan. It is estimated that thousands of items are still in museums in Britain and around the world. Cultural historian, Professor Ebenezer Ayensu of Accras Heritage Christian University College, believes the number being returned is insignificant because the British took a lot more than that. Only God knows what they looted He argues the 1970 UNESCO convention is unfair and should be reviewed.

Notable

A new film Dahomey which follows the return of artifacts from France to the modern day Benin Republic, has highlighted the miniscule number of items being returned to African countries by former colonial powers, writes The Guardian.
A center for creative collaboration in the Queen City celebrated its second anniversary of promoting artists in Charlotte on Saturday.

VAPA, the Visual and Performing Arts Center, invited the community to a free party in celebration at the non-profits building in Uptown.

Part of the VAPA Centers work includes providing artists with low-cost studios and exhibition space.

SOON: Charlotte Shout brings music, art to Uptown

VAPA is not just a gift for artists, its a gift for the community. And were just so happy to be here, said Natalie Frazier Allen, a board member for the center.

The party, featuring food trucks and music, also showcased the artists work and served as a place to sell their art.

The goal of VAPA is to cultivate accessible exhibition and creative workspaces to inspire and nurture the relationship between artists and the community, according to their mission statement.

(WATCH: Local students create art exhibit spotlighting Black History Month)
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) said that Sen. Katie Britts (R-Ala.) rebuttal to President Bidens State of the Union address is an opportunity to cast herself as another option to be former President Trumps vice presidential pick.

Gingrich said that if the Alabama freshman senator rises to the occasion, she could insert herself on Trumps list of potential running mates.

Whats equally interesting is that Senator [Katie] Britt  who is the new freshman senator from Alabama, and who some very smart people believe will be Trumps vice presidential pick  she has her big audition that night because shes going to deliver the response to Biden, Gingrich told radio host John Catsimatidis in a Sunday interview on The Cats Roundtable on WABC 770 AM.

It will be interesting to see if Britt rises to the occasion. If she does, it will be a major step up in her potentially being Trumps vice presidential candidate.

In a Thursday post, Britt announced that she was chosen to give the GOP response to Bidens speech slated for next Thursday, saying she was truly honored and grateful for the opportunity to speak directly to my fellow Americans.

The Alabama senator was sworn into the upper chamber last year, becoming the first woman to represent her state in the Senate. She replaced former Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) who served six terms. Britt was also endorsed by Trump during her 2022 midterm race.

If Britt is in the running to be potentially considered as the former presidents VP pick, she would be in contention with a cadre of other GOP lawmakers.

Trump confirmed names on his VP shortlist two weeks ago. He listed some of his former GOP presidential rivals and current Republican lawmakers.

The former president is considering Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

Gabbard expressed willingness to be Trumps running mate on Friday, saying she would be open to that.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
If he could change one thing about the world, Glendell Bennett said, I would change the way people treat each other. Id make them love one another and enjoy one another. Thats what I would do.

In his 100 years, Bennett has seen some of the worst people can do to each other in the forms of oppression, segregation and discrimination, but he has, in his words, worked to try to get justice for all.

Bennett, a World War II veteran who worked alongside civil rights leaders in Chicago after the war, celebrated his 100th birthday Saturday with a party in Lexington.

His experiences during the war shaped his worldview and instilled in him a deep sense of duty and dedication, his family wrote in a news release marking the occasion. His early experiences with discrimination fueled his determination to fight for equality and justice.

Bennett was born in Chicago but moved to Texas with his fathers family, as he puts it, when I was wrapped in swaddling clothes.

He was a high school student when World War II broke out, and he and a friend jumped on a train and headed to Tuskegee, Ala., where they had heard an all-Black regiment of airmen was training, and they wanted to volunteer.

After they got there, Bennett spent time clearing brush for landing strips, working in the maintenance of the aircraft, and going up for test rides with the Airmen, a brief biography of his live states.

Ultimately, he returned to Texas after older airmen urged him to go home and come back when hed finished high school.

But his time in Tuskegee was over, as he was drafted into the Army and sent to Fort Eustis in Newport News, Va., then on to Europe, his bio states.

Hitler planned on taking the world over. We stopped that, Bennett said.

Bennett recalled serving with the Quartermaster Truck Company and the Red Ball Express in France.

We delivered all the goods and ammunition to the front lines, he said Saturday. Ive been on the front lines many times.

Was he scared?

When youre young, Bennett responded, you dont pay it no mind.

Service picture of WWII veteran Glendell Bennett during his 100th birthday celebration on Saturday, March 2, 2024. At the Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington Green, Lexington, Ky.

After the war, he enrolled at Prairie View A&M College in Houston, worked in farming and ultimately returned to Chicago, where he said he worked alongside civil rights leaders including the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Ive been successful all my life and thought I was failing, Bennett said in an interview Saturday. But if I was failing, I wouldnt be here today.

Bennett was father to nine children and three stepchildren. He has outlived four wives and several of his children.

I love all my children, he said. Gods been good to me.

A memory table features various keepsakes during WWII veteran Glendell Bennetts 100th birthday celebration on Saturday, March 2, 2024. At the Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington Green, Lexington, Ky.

Bennett has lived in Lexington since 2012, when he moved here to live with his daughter Glenda Bennett Mulder after his wife died.

Daughter Diane Minnifield, a Fayette Circuit Court judge, also lives in Lexington, as do his daughter Kimberly Bennett and son Brian Bennett.

Well into his 90s, Bennett was still driving and working at the Gainesway Community Center as part of the Kentucky Senior Community Service Employment Program and greeting patrons at the Goodwill Industries store on Leestown Road.

Minnifield said each year when his birthday rolled around, theyd usually go out to dinner.

I kept saying, You make it to 100, Daddy, and were having a big party, she said.

And so they did.

On Saturday, Bennett was clearly relishing being surrounded by his family, who had come from all over the country to celebrate with him.

He pointed out a granddaughter who lives in New York.

Ive got them New York to California, he said of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Later, Mayor Linda Gorton was expected to make an appearance at the party, and a resolution in Bennetts honor sponsored by state Sen. Reggie Thomas was to be presented.

Bennett said he didnt have any tips on longevity. He attributed his long life to the fact that the good Lord wasnt ready for me yet.

Bennetts cousin Jacqueline Williams said hes always been a loving, giving person.

He helped my mama feed us many times, she said.

Williams came in from California to be a part of the celebration.

I dont have many cousins that get to be 100, she said. Hes a good man.

I am Black History cup along side WWII veterans and Tuskegee Airman military cover of WWII veteran Glendell Bennetts 100th birthday celebration on Saturday, March 2, 2024. At the Embassy Suites by Hilton Lexington Green, Lexington, Ky.
Russian forces shelled the village of Poniativka overnight on March 3, killing one man, Kherson Oblast Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

The 58-year-old man's body was retrieved from underneath the rubble by rescue workers, according to Prokudin.

The shelling began around 2:10 a.m. local time, and the man's body was recovered at 12:45 p.m. local time, according to the Prosecutor General's Office.

Poniativka is located near the west bank of the Dnipro River. Ukraine's Armed Forces liberated the city of Kherson and regional settlements along the west bank of the Dnipro River in the fall 2022 counteroffensive.

Russian troops were pushed to the river's east bank. They have since been firing at the liberated territories, regularly resulting in civilian deaths as well as large-scale destruction of homes and infrastructure in Kherson Oblast.

Read also: The economic toll of 10 years of Russias war against Ukraine in charts

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
An inert grenade was discovered in the back seat of an Uber in Times Square Saturday  which the NYPD bomb squad struggled to reach due to anti-Israel protesters blocking traffic, The Post has learned.

An inert grenade was discovered in the back seat of an Uber in Times Square Saturday  which the NYPD bomb squad struggled to reach due to anti-Israel protesters blocking traffic, The Post has learned.

Several protesters marching up to Times Square as part of the Millions March for Palestine were arrested for blocking the way of the police vehicle as it responded to the scene, police and sources said.

An explosive device was discovered in the back seat of an Uber in Times Square Saturday which the NYPD bomb squad struggled to reach due to anti-Israel protesters blocking traffic, The Post has learned. Adam Gray for New York Post

After dropping off a passenger at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue in Times Square, an Uber driver turned around and saw a grenade in the back seat of his Nissan Altima, police sources said. Adam Gray for New York Post

The driver reported the explosive to police just after 4 p.m., and the Emergency Services Unit and Bomb Squad responded, cops said. William Miller

Cops managed to establish a security perimeter around the car containing the grenade and closed off vehicle and pedestrian traffic on 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues.

A police source said they believed the grenade was inert. William Miller

The Bomb Squad struggled to get to the explosive device due to the thousands of protesters marching up to Times Square as part of the Millions March for Palestine, a police source said. Adam Gray for New York Post

Video released by NYPD shows a mob of demonstrators at Times Square surrounding a police vehicle before officers were able to push them back. Adam Gray for New York Post

After dropping off a passenger at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, an Uber driver turned around and saw a grenade in the back seat of his Nissan Altima, police sources said. Adam Gray for New York Post

Cops eventually managed to establish a security perimeter around the car containing the grenade and closed off vehicle and pedestrian traffic on 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues. Adam Gray for New York Post

Video released by NYPD shows a mob of demonstrators at Times Square surrounding a police vehicle before officers were able to push them back.

Happy Saturday to all! Except the people who thought it was a good idea to block an NYPD ESU vehicle on the way to a bomb threat call, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry wrote in a social media post along side the video.

They will be spending their Saturday where they belong  in jail! he added.

After dropping off a passenger at 42nd Street and 7th Avenue, an Uber driver turned around and saw a grenade in the back seat of his Nissan Altima, police sources said.

Cops eventually managed to establish a security perimeter around the car containing the grenade and closed off vehicle and pedestrian traffic on 42nd Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues.

Police could not give details on the grenade but said it was inert.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
Groups representing defendants in the lawsuits that culminated in the Alabama Supreme Court ruling that frozen embryos are children have filed an application asking the court to rehear the case, according to court records.

In its ruling  stemming from two lawsuits over the destruction of frozen embryos at a Mobile hospital  the state Supreme Court said embryos are children, no matter if theyre within or out of a uterus, and those who destroy them can be held liable for wrongful death. The decision put back into national focus the question of when life begins as advocates warned of chilling effects on infertility treatments.

The defendants in the lawsuits  Center for Reproductive Medicine and the Mobile Infirmary  filed an application and brief with the states Supreme Court to rehear the case, and the Medical Association of the State of Alabama and the Alabama Hospital Association filed a brief Friday supporting the request for a rehearing, according to online records from the Alabama appellate courts.

Reconsideration is not typically granted, but the ruling has been contentious, with lawmakers scrambling to pass bills aimed at protecting in vitro fertilization as IVF clinics began pressing pause on parts of treatments.

The ruling alarmed health care providers and reproductive rights advocates, who warned it will send liability costs skyrocketing for IVF clinics and make it more difficult for parents struggling with fertility to have babies.

An Alabama court source told CNN that the group is asking the court to reconsider their ruling, and after reading the briefs, the justices could take more than six weeks before deciding whether to grant the application to rehear the case.

The groups filed for rehearing on the final day of their 14-day window following the courts ruling, the court source said.

How the ruling came to be

The first-of-its-kind ruling came after two lawsuits filed by three sets of parents who underwent IVF procedures to have babies and then opted to have the remaining embryos frozen.

The parents allege in December 2020 that a patient at a Mobile hospital walked into the fertility clinic through an unsecured doorway and removed several embryos from the cryogenic nursery, the ruling says. The patients hand was freeze-burned by the extremely low temperatures the embryos were stored in and the patient dropped them on the floor, killing them, according to the ruling.

The parents sued for wrongful death, but a trial court dismissed their claims, finding the cryopreserved, in vitro embryos involved in this case do not fit within the definition of a person or child, according to the ruling.

But the state Supreme Court disagreed, stating extrauterine children, or those located outside of a biological uterus at the time they are killed, are covered under the states Wrongful Death of a Minor law.

In 2018, a key constitutional amendment was passed in Alabama declaring that it is the public policy of the state to recognize and support the sanctity of unborn life and the rights of unborn children.

Although the amendment was passed to restrict abortions, the Alabama Supreme Court pointed to that 2018 measure to recognize embryos as persons under state law, saying the amendment allowed for a more expansive view of the law at issue in the case.

When it comes to the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, that means coming down on the side of including, rather than excluding, children who have not yet been born, the ruling reads.

The courts decision prompted IVF clinics in Alabama to pause parts of treatments and left many families in limbo.

In vitro fertilization is a common treatment for couples struggling with fertility issues, and about 2% of the US population was conceived using IVF.

During the treatment, an egg is removed from a womans body and fertilized with sperm inside a laboratory before being implanted into a womans uterus in hopes of leading to pregnancy. The embryos can be frozen for genetic testing or to keep them viable for future use.

Alabama lawmakers have raced to respond to the state Supreme Courts ruling, with the Alabama House and Senate each passing bills Thursday aimed at protecting in vitro fertilization.

CNNs Devon M. Sayers, Shirin Faqiri, Eric Levenson and Christine Maxouris contributed to this report.

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GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Police say two people were hurt in a Friday night stabbing in Grand Rapids.

The stabbing  which police described as a domestic incident  happened around 9:55 p.m. on Gold Avenue NW, according to the Grand Rapids Police Department. Police did not give a cross street.

Both people were treated at the hospital for minor injuries, police say. They have since been released.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

One person has been arrested, according to GRPD.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Tyres were set on fire outside the main prison in the Haitian capital, Port-au-Prince

Haiti's government declared a 72-hour state of emergency on Sunday after armed gangs stormed a major prison. At least 12 people were killed and about 3,700 inmates escaped in the jailbreak.

Gang leaders are demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Ariel Henry, whose whereabouts are unknown since he travelled to Kenya.

Gangs control around 80% of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

Gang violence has plagued Haiti for years.

A government statement said two prisons - one in Port-au-Prince and the other in nearby Croix des Bouquets - were stormed over the weekend.

It said the acts of "disobedience" were a threat to national security and said it was instituting an immediate night-time curfew in response, which started at 20:00 local time (01:00 GMT on Monday).

Haitian media reported that police stations were attacked, distracting authorities before the coordinated assault on the jails.

Speaking to the BBC from Haiti, Serge Dalexis from the International Rescue Committee said that many police stations were under gang control on Friday, with "many police killed over the weekend".

Among those detained in Port-au-Prince were suspects charged in connection with the 2021 killing of President Jovenel Moise.

Gang violence has further escalated since his assassination in 2021. Mr Moise has not been replaced and presidential elections have not been held since 2016.

In the capital, gangs have erected barricades to prevent security forces from encroaching on their territory, while their strongholds in Port-au-Prince's vast shantytowns are still largely on lockdown.

Schools and many businesses are closed, and there are reports of looting in some neighbourhoods.

People are scared and the streets are empty, Boby Sander from the humanitarian aid organisation Food for the Hungry told the BBC.

Since Friday, 15,000 people have been displaced from their homes and many are now staying in a school building in the centre of Port-au-Prince, Mr Sander said.

His organisation has only been able to provide them with hygiene kits to last a few days. "We don't have adequate capacity to deal with the complexity of the need increasing," he added.

The latest upsurge in violence began on Thursday, when the prime minister travelled to Nairobi to discuss sending a Kenya-led multinational security force to Haiti.

Gang leader Jimmy Cherizier (nicknamed Barbecue) then declared a co-ordinated attack to remove him.

Prison cells stood empty after the weekend prison break which saw thousands of inmates escape

"All of us, the armed groups in the provincial towns and the armed groups in the capital, are united," said the former police officer, who is accused of being behind several massacres in Port-au-Prince.

Haiti's police union had asked the military to help reinforce the capital's main prison, but the compound was stormed late on Saturday.

On Sunday the doors of the prison were still open and there were no signs of officers, Reuters news agency reported. Three inmates who tried to flee lay dead in the courtyard, the report said.

A journalist for the AFP news agency who visited the prison saw around 10 bodies, some with signs of being shot.

One volunteer prison worker told the Reuters news agency that 99 prisoners - including former Colombian soldiers jailed over President Moise's murder - had chosen to remain in their cells for fear of being killed in crossfire.

Anger at the shocking levels of violence, on top of the political vacuum, have led to several demonstrations against the government, with protesters demanding the resignation of the prime minister.

Under a political deal, he was due to stand down by 7 February - but planned elections were not held and Prime Minister Henry remains in post.

Speaking to the BBC's Newsday, Claude Joseph - who was serving as acting prime minister when President Moise was assassinated and who is now head of the opposition party called Those Committed to Development - said Haiti was living through a "nightmare".

"He [Ariel Henry] agreed to step down on 7 February. Now he decides to stay, despite the fact that there are huge protests throughout the country asking him to step down... now those criminals are using violent means to force him to step down."

Haiti: The basics

Population: 11.5 million (estimate)

Area: 27,800 sq km (slightly smaller than Belgium, about the same size as the state of Maryland in the US)

Location: Caribbean country sharing a border with the Dominican Republic

Languages: French, Haitian Creole

Map of Haiti

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Nikki Haley is making a last-ditch effort in the Virginia GOP primary, where she hopes she can take a sizable number of delegates or even win a state where demographics suggest her message could resonate.

Haley will need strong results in Northern Virginia, where suburban voters outside Washington, D.C., could offset former President Trumps strength in the south of the state.

But her campaign has signaled it is hopeful it can have a strong night in Virginia, even as questions rise about whether Haley will continue to challenge Trump beyond Super Tuesday.

Politically speaking and demographically speaking, its a favorable state for her, said Tucker Martin, a Virginia-based Republican strategist. Its a highly educated population. Theres a lot of traditional Republicans here.

However, with Trump dominating the Republican Party inside and outside of Virginia, Haley is facing the same dilemma she is facing elsewhere.

A Roanoke College poll released Friday showed Haley trouncing President Biden, 49 percent to 40 percent, in a hypothetical general election match-up. However, the same poll showed Trump with a massive lead over Haley among Republicans in the state; 75 percent of self-reported Republicans said they backed Trump, while 15 percent said the same about Haley. The Hills Decision Desk HQ polling average shows Trump holding a similarly commanding lead over Haley in Virginia, 78 percent to 19 percent.

Its a state that, if she were the nominee in the general election, I think she would win Virginia, Martin said. The problem is were talking about a Tuesday in March and not a Tuesday in November, and thats going to come down to the electorate that shows up.

Its that never-ending Republican irony of this era, Martin said.

Despite trailing Trump in the polls, Haleys campaign is still touting what it says is momentum going into Super Tuesday. On Friday, her campaign announced it raised $12 million in the month of February.

Which electorate will turn out is a big question going into Virginia on Tuesday. The commonwealth has an open primary, meaning Democrats and independents could theoretically participate in the GOP primary. However, Democrats will also be holding their own presidential primary in Virginia on Tuesday, which Biden is expected to sweep.

And while there is an educated, suburban electorate in Northern Virginia and the greater Richmond area, Trumps base west of Charlottesville has also proven to be a vital force in the state. Strategists point to Trumps base in rural areas that propelled Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) to victory in 2021.

Thats kind of a mythology that [Youngkin] did well in the suburbs, said Bob Holsworth, a veteran Virginia political analyst. He won Trump country.

There are still questions about how many voters will be motivated enough to come out to the polls on a Tuesday in March, as a Trump-Biden matchup appears increasingly inevitable.

I think in low-turnout elections, intensity matters a lot, Martin said. One thing we know about Trump voters is that they are highly motivated. They strongly support the former president, and I would anticipate they will be voting.

Trump will travel to Richmond on Saturday for a get-out-the-vote rally ahead of Tuesdays election. Meanwhile, Haley hit the campaign trail in the state Thursday, with stops in Richmond and the D.C., suburb of Falls Church.

As she campaigned outside of the nations capital, Haley addressed reproductive rights issues that have dogged Republicans across the country, particularly in Virginia.

I know in Virginia youve had a lot of conversations about abortion, Haley told the crowd in Falls Church. No more demonizing this issue  we have to humanize it.

Haley also addressed the ongoing national conversation surrounding in vitro fertilization (IVF), talking about her own experience with fertility treatments. Last week, Haley faced backlash for saying embryos are children following the Alabama Supreme Court ruling on the matter, later clarifying her remarks.

At the same event in Falls Church, Haley supporters piled into a ballroom at the Westin Hotel to hear the presidential candidate deliver her stump speech. According to her campaign, more than 1,000 people were in attendance.

Shes a viable alternative if some reason or another  I pray each night  Trump is either in the slammer or whatever, said Ed Linz, a Haley supporter from Northern Virginia who attended Thursdays rally. If she proves she can generate enthusiasm, then I think the party will say, Well, weve got a good alternative.

Barbara Knight, another Northern Virginia Haley supporter at the rally, echoed that point.

If she wants to stick around after Super Tuesday, Im good with that, Knight said. Im telling you, something could happen, and we need someone waiting in the wings ready to go.

But when asked whether Haley could win their home state Tuesday, her Virginia supporters said they were not betting on it.

God, I wish, Knight said. I just hope she gets a good showing, thats all. It could be 20 or 30 percent and I would be happy.

Michael Govan, another Haley supporter present Thursday, was not as certain.

I dont know. I really dont, Govan said. However, he said that Haleys logic for staying in the race was not necessarily to be on standby in the scenario Trump was unable to run.

Her heart is in the right place, he said. She wants to make this country better, and theres a lot of bad things happening here domestically and internationally, and she thinks she can make a difference.

And I believe it too, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
SMIS Corporation Berhad (KLSE:SMISCOR) Full Year 2023 Results

Key Financial Results

Revenue: RM159.8m (up 3.5% from FY 2022).

Net loss: RM357.0k (down by 102% from RM18.5m profit in FY 2022).

RM0.008 loss per share (down from RM0.44 profit in FY 2022).

All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period

SMIS Corporation Berhad's share price is broadly unchanged from a week ago.

Risk Analysis

It's still necessary to consider the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 1 warning sign with SMIS Corporation Berhad, and understanding it 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.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley said she does not feel bound by the Republican National Committees (RNC) pledge to support the partys eventual nominee.

NBCs Kristen Welker asked Haley in an interview for Meet the Press whether she still feels obligated to honor the RNC pledge she took last year to support the partys nominee. The pledge was one of the requirements candidates needed to see to make it on the debate stage.

I have always said that I have serious concerns about Donald Trump. I have even more concerns about Joe Biden, Haley first responded.

When pressed further on whether she feels bound by the pledge, Haley suggested that she just took the pledge to get on the debate stage.

The RNC pledge I mean, at the time of the debate, we had to take it to where, Would you support the nominee, and in order to get on that debate stage, you said yes. The RNC is now not the same RNC, she responded before Welker pushed her again on the topic.

No, I think Ill make what decision I want to make. But thats not something Im thinking about, she told Welker.

And I think that while you all think about that, Im looking at the fact that we had thousands of people in Virginia, were headed to North Carolina, were going to continue to go to Vermont, and Maine, and all these states to go and show people that there is a path forward. And so, I dont look at what if. I look at, How do we continue the conversation?' she added.

Haley has yet to win any of the early primary contests as Trump continues to expand his lead in the race. According to Decision Desk HQ, Trump has already clinched 192 delegates, while Haley significantly trails with 24 delegates.

Haley also vowed in a recent interview to stay in the race as long as we are competitive just days ahead of Super Tuesday.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Nikki Haley is attempting to take on Donald Trump ahead of the US election this year - Randall Hill/Reuters

Nikki Haley said she may not back Donald Trump for president as she faced a heavy defeat in the Super Tuesday primary elections this week.

Ms Haleys move risks widening the rift in the Republican Party, and comes after she claimed her supporters were being intimidated by Mr Trump at the ballot box.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) demanded that candidates pledged to support the partys eventual nominee in the US presidential election as a condition of participating in the televised debates.

Ms Haley said she no longer felt bound by the pledge during an interview on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday,

She said: I have always said that I have serious concerns about Donald Trump. I have even more concerns about Joe Biden.

I think Ill make what decision I want to make. But thats not something Im thinking about.

Ms Haley added: The RNC pledge  I mean, at the time of the debate, we had to take it to where, Would you support the nominee, and in order to get on that debate stage, you said yes. The RNC is now not the same RNC.

Ms Haley was referring to the shake-up at the RNC, with Ronna McDaniel, the chairman, being forced out as Mr Trumps supporters strengthened their grip on the partys governing body.

Lara Trump, the former presidents daughter-in-law, announced last week that she was running to become the partys co-chairman.

Defeated Republican candidates Ron DeSantis, Vivek Ramaswamy, Tim Scott and Doug Burgum have all thrown their weight behind Mr Trump.

Thus far only Chris Christie, the former New Jersey governor and fiercest Trump critic, has refused to do so.

Ms Haleys potential refusal to support Mr Trump could cost him among women voters and moderate Republicans in November, where polls show the former president is most vulnerable.

Ms Haley has secured the backing of Alaskas Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins of Maine, two prominent centrist female Republican senators.

Haley supporters were booed and jeered

The extent of the ill-feeling between Ms Haley and Mr Trump was laid bare in the wake of the former presidents crushing victories last week in the Missouri and Idaho caucuses and the Michigan nominating convention.

Her campaign attributed the defeat in Missouri to voter intimidation which saw her supporters being booed and jeered.

The Haley campaign said in a statement: Reports out of the Missouri caucus today show how the Republican Party under Donald Trump has become a shrinking party that bullies and rejects anyone who doesnt take the MAGA oath of allegiance.

Despite the rift within the Republican ranks, the latest polls are encouraging for Mr Trump and grim reading for Joe Biden.

Not only does Mr Trump have a five-point lead, but the poll shows that even Biden supporters in 2020 believe the 81-year-old president is too old to serve another term.

According to the New York Times/Siena College poll, 61 per cent of 2020 Biden supporters agreed he was just too old to return to the White House.

Among voters as a whole, the poll showed that 73 per cent believed he was too old to be an effective president.

By contrast, 42 per cent of registered voters felt 77-year-old Mr Trump was too old to serve another term.

Nevertheless, Mr Trump has also shown signs of mental confusion in recent months.

On Saturday night at a rally in Virginia, he appeared to believe that Barack Obama was still president for the third time in six months.

Putin has so little respect for Obama that hes starting to throw around the nuclear word, 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.
A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo, Egypt, on Sunday to engage in negotiations for a cease-fire after Israel put an agreement on the table this weekend.

The last-minute talks are a final push to secure a potential halt in fighting before the Muslim holiday of Ramadan begins. While Israel put forward an approved plan, it has yet to send a delegation of its own to the negotiations in Egypt.

"The path to a cease-fire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And there's a deal on the table. There's a framework deal," a U.S. official told reporters Sunday.

If Hamas rejects the current deal, Israel says it will only join the negotiations if Hamas first provides a full list of all the hostages who are still alive, a request Hamas has so far rejected.

BIDEN'S VISION FOR A PALESTINIAN STATE DOOMED, EXPERTS SAY: 'AN EXPLICIT RECOGNITION OF HAMAS'

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday to engage in negotiations for a cease-fire.

The potential six-week cease-fire would be the first lengthy pause in fighting since Israel began its retaliatory campaign in October of last year. There was a brief pause in fighting late last year as Israel and Hamas exchanged prisoners for hostages, but the deal broke down in a matter of days.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

ISRAELI PARLIAMENT BACKS NETANYAHU, REJECTS PUSH FOR 'UNILATERAL' RECOGNITION OF PALESTINIAN STATE

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that while he is ready for another temporary cease-fire to bring hostages home, the war will continue until Hamas is fully rooted out of Gaza.

Netanyahu said an Israeli invasion of the final Hamas stronghold in Rafah will move forward in the coming days or weeks depending on the success of negotiations.

Hamas has pushed for any deal to bring an end to the war, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted the war will continue until Hamas is fully rooted out of Gaza.

ISRAELI SECURITY EXPERTS SAY BIDENS PALESTINIAN STATE PUSH IS AN EXISTENTIAL THREAT

Meanwhile, the U.S. has warned that any invasion of Rafah must include a clear means of protecting civilians in the region, many of whom have been crowded into the border town as a result of Israeli strikes in more northern areas of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu has agreed with the position that Israel must take care to protect civilians.

The U.S. military partnered with the Jordanian Royal Air Force to airdrop some 38,000 meals into the region on Saturday.

The U.S. has also called for more aid to Gaza. President Biden's administration launched an aid campaign to airdrop food and supplies to Gaza. The U.S. military partnered with the Jordanian Royal Air Force to airdrop some 38,000 meals into the region on Saturday alone.





Original article source: Hamas delegation arrives in Cairo as Israel puts cease-fire agreement 'on the table'
A story about solving the mystery around a walking birch tree in Southampton was among our most read stories this week in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight.

A variety of local issues featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Solent and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

The mystery of Southampton's walking birch tree

A walking tree that went viral on social media left thousands wondering who could be behind the extravagant wooden costume.

Video of the art installation was watched thousands of times in January, with many speculating about what it could mean.

In a YouTube video, Portsmouth-based artist Olana Light has revealed she was responsible for the mystery, explaining it was part of her model birch tree collection that can be found at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Romsey.

The multidisciplinary artist said her work "reflects the multiplicities of identity and a never-ending pursuit of belonging".

Portsmouth to host UK's 80th D-Day anniversary events

Portsmouth will host the UK events to mark 80 years since D-Day, it has been announced.

Veterans will join service personnel in the naval city on Tuesday to mark 100 days until the anniversary.

The names of 13 veterans from 12 allied countries will be added to the city's Normandy Memorial Wall as part of the commemorations.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) also announced Portsmouth would hold a televised D-Day event on 5 June.

Wightlink passengers stranded after night ferries cancellations

Passengers were left stranded after a ferry company cancelled its late-night crossings.

Wightlink, which runs services between Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, suspended car ferries on 24 February, blaming "technical issues" in an email to customers.

No ferries ran after 22:00 GMT from Portsmouth and 23:00 from Fishbourne, according to Wightlink's social media.

New Forest warning over dog-flea chemicals in ponds

There is concern that anti-flea and tick treatments are washing into watercourses

Anti-flea and tick treatments for dogs could be harming sensitive streams and ponds in the New Forest, conservationists have warned.

A study by Wild New Forest and the Freshwater Habitats Trust showed high levels of imidacloprid, found in spot-on treatments, at four locations.

Previous research found it negatively affected insect species.

The New Forest Dog Owners Group (NFDOG) said owners should be made aware of less harmful alternative treatments.

Ronnie Kray warned of 'life of misery' to Fred Dinenage

A recording of gangster Ronnie Kray telling young people crime only brings "a life of misery" has been discovered.

Twin brothers Ronnie and Reggie Kray ran a gangland empire in London during the 1950s and 60s and were sent to prison for 30 years for murder.

Television presenter Fred Dinenage has uncovered recordings from one of his visits with one of the Kray twins.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2240.
Vice President Harris pressured the Israeli government to increase humanitarian aid to Gaza on Sunday, calling the situation in the war-torn region a humanitarian catastrophe.

What we are seeing every day in Gaza is devastating, Harris said in a Selma, Ala., speech on Sunday. We have seen reports of families eating leaves or animal food. Women giving birth to malnourished babies with little or no medical care, and children dying from malnutrition and dehydration.

The Biden administration has turned up criticism of Israel in recent weeks over humanitarian conditions in Gaza, especially after the killing of more than 100 civilians attempting to receive aid Thursday.

As I have said many times, too many innocent Palestinians have been killed, she said. Our hearts break for the victims of that horrific tragedy and for all the innocent people in Gaza who are suffering from what is clearly a humanitarian catastrophe.

People in Gaza are starving, she added. The conditions are inhumane. And our common humanity compels us to act.

President Biden announced Friday that the U.S. will airdrop humanitarian aid into Gaza as negotiations continue over a temporary cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war. Biden added to criticism of Israel on Friday over the amount of aid allowed into the region.

Innocent people got caught in a terrible war, unable to feed their families, and you saw the response when they tried to get aid. And we need to do more, and the United States will do more, Biden said.

The truth is, aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough now. Its nowhere nearly enough. Innocent lives are on the line, and childrens lives are on the line, he added.

The airdrops began early Saturday. Harris applauded the aid deliveries and noted that the U.S. will work to establish a sea route for aid to enter Gaza.

The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid, she said. No excuses.

Biden has faced growing pressure from Democrats to call for a permanent cease-fire between Israel and Hamas as the situation in Gaza worsens, and the Palestinian death toll from Israels attacks climbs above 30,000.

The Israeli government agreed to the framework of a proposed six-week cease-fire on Saturday, The Associated Press reported, a sign of progress in negotiations.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Heavy fighting is ongoing on the Bakhmut front in the village of Ivanivske. The Russians are also trying to attack the settlement of Bohdanivka.

Source: Illia Yevlash, head of the press service of the Eastern Grouping of Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, in the 24/7 nationwide newscast

Quote: "At the moment, the Russians continue to attack the settlement of Ivanivske on the Bakhmut front; heavy fighting is already ongoing within the borders of the village. Our soldiers are heroically resisting and trying to push the Russians back from their positions.

The Russians also try to attack the settlement of Bohdanivka located to the north from the settlement of Chasiv Yar. Landing units, motorised regiments and an attack army reserve are sent there."

Details: Yevlash stated that the Russians aimed to occupy Chasiv Yar "yet so far to no avail".

"Our defenders hold the line and do not let the Russians advance. Moreover, several defence lines and strong mine barriers were constructed, and dozens of platoon positions for the deployment of our personnel were set up near Chasiv Yar, taking into account the terrain and necessary requirements, so that our guys and girls could effectively strike the enemy while being well-protected from Russian attacks at the same time," he said.

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NOAAs responsibility

California lawmakers say marine sanctuary shouldnt be shrunk to cater to offshore wind, (sanluisobispo.com, Jan. 26)

Its wonderful to see Reps. Salud Carbajal and Julia Brownley urge the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to keep the originally proposed boundaries of the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary. Lawmakers are saying that the sanctuary shouldnt be shrunk to cater to offshore wind, and our organization, Brightline Defense, agrees completely. The onus is on federal agencies to establish clear permitting pathways for critical transmission while protecting vibrant marine habitats like the CHNMS. We sent a letter to NOAA  along with organizations like Greenpeace, The Climate Center and The Schwarzenegger Institute  echoing hopes that it takes this responsibility seriously.

Carefully planned transmission within the proposed CHNMS could set an enduring precedent for tribal co-stewardship and protect Chumash sacred sites. The CHNMS has been a decades-long organizing effort and the first Indigenous nominated national marine sanctuary. Offshore wind has the potential to bring necessary clean energy and economic development, all while protecting marine ecosystems. Its NOAAs responsibility to figure out how.

Eddie Ahn

Executive director, Brightline Defense

California needs recall reform

Gavin Newsom faces new recall effort from conservative activists (sanluisobispo.com, Feb. 26)

An organization that was part of the 2021 attempt to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom is trying to disrupt Californias government, again. The previous recall failed by nearly 24%. The current recall, if it gets onto the ballot, will also be a huge waste.

It is too easy to get a recall on the ballot; 12% of voters can initiate a recall of an elected state official who got over 50% of the vote. To initiate a recall because your candidate lost is a waste of time, money and effort. If one party loses, it is because the other party put forward either a better candidate or proffered a more acceptable platform.

California has moved past the political norms of 1911, when the state constitution was amended to allow the recall of elected officials. Current requirements to initiate a recall must change. When a recount is requested in San Luis Obispo County, the petitioner must pay the expenses associated with the recount. The state constitution should be amended to require the same of recalls, and to change the threshold to initiate a recall from 12% of total votes to 25%.

These changes might give pause to those who would file frivolous recall petitions while still giving the people a way to address real grievances.

Ron Gottesman

Arroyo Grande

Opinion

Generation Build supports Moreno

Buying a home is impossible for most young Californians. They have a right to be angry (sanluisobispo.com, Sept. 23, 2023)

San Luis Obispo County is at risk of becoming a retirement community that surrounds a college town. My generation cannot afford to live here, and employers cannot recruit talent to grow here.

With these beliefs, and with the mission of our organization to be to provide political support for more housing, we asked both Susan Funk and Heather Moreno for their opinions on housing.

We believe Moreno understands the difficulties related to adding new housing. In her answers, we found plans and action items to remove red tape, utilize excess county-owned land for affordable housing, respect property rights and minimize costs to build new units. Although our members would like to see 5-7% annualized growth in housing supply, we appreciated Morenos intent to help the county reach its 2% annual growth cap on new housing  something we havent come close to since enacted.

We are prepared to fight for housing with whoever wins the District 5 race, whether it be Moreno or Funk. But we write today to ask you to fight with us now  for our ability to afford to live here, your childrens ability to stay here when they grow up and the health of our local economies. Fight with your vote on March 5 by joining us in voting for Moreno, the most pro-housing candidate.

Michael Massey

Board of directors, Generation Build

Connection to the land

SLO: Toxic chemical found in soil at businesses, groundwater, (sanluisobispo.com, Feb. 9)

The loss of arable land is a threat with grave consequences not only to our environment and climate, but also to something that should concern us all: the ability of humanity to feed itself. Industrial farming practices have left our soils depleted, jeopardizing food production on a planet with a growing population, while substantially contributing to greenhouse gas emissions. Regenerative farming practices address both of these existential problems.

One claim over the reasons soil degradation has been widely ignored is because people who live in big cities have lost contact with the land. Thankfully, this is not the case in San Luis Obispo County, where a significant portion of the land is dedicated to farming.

We are also home to world-class agricultural education programs at Cal Poly. The Sustainable Land Initiative, a partnership between the university, Resource Conservation Districts and local nonprofits, provides resources like compost, biochar, cover crops and equipment, as well as funding and training, through a streamlined model that allows farmers to implement these solutions in months instead of years. Lets spread awareness of this important resource to our farming community.

Aline Kubiak

San Luis Obispo

Clearing up a misconception

Updates: Storm hits SLO County, new flood advisory issued, (sanluisobispo.com, Feb. 19)

A letter to the editor last Sunday suggested that concurrent warnings of water restrictions and flooding are somehow contradictory. In fact, those warnings are an accurate reflection of the effects of on-going climate change to our SLO County water resources.

County residents are no-doubt familiar with the multi-year extreme drought followed by the past two years of heavy rains and atmospheric rivers. An accepted phenomena of climate change is more weather extremes. So, while the rains have helped replenish surface water supplies, ground water levels in several water basins in our county remain at concerning levels due to past droughts and pumping.

The county and entities managing the basins are taking steps to manage groundwater in a sustainable way by balancing replenishment with extractions. It makes perfect sense to warn the public of the immediate hazards of flooding, while acting to ensure an adequate future water supply for all of us.

Thomas Burhenn

Arroyo Grande
Tesla attracted more than 3.6 million applications in 2022.

Tesla's hiring process can involve up to 9 interviews, a presentation, and a letter to Elon Musk.

10 Tesla engineers broke down the process and gave tips for getting a job at Musk's company.

Millions of people are lining up to work for Tesla.

The electric carmaker said it received more than 3.6 million applications in 2022. But engineers at Tesla say it's no small feat to land a role at Elon Musk's most well-known company.

Tesla's hiring process for engineers can require as many as 9 interviews, a series of tests, and in some cases, a letter to Musk himself.

Business Insider spoke with 10 current Tesla engineers about what it takes to work at the company. The employees spoke under the condition of anonymity to protect their employment, but their identities and roles at Tesla have been verified by BI.

Several engineers said it took multiple attempts to land a role at the company, and the process could be laborious. Typically, applicants must start from the beginning of the process when applying for a new role externally.

From start to finish, it can take up to six months to receive an offer letter.

The first step in the application process is pretty standard

Tesla typically responds to a successful application by setting up an interview with a recruiter or a human-resources employee.

Tesla engineers said they secured an initial interview by either sending their resume into an application on Tesla's careers page, chatting with a Tesla representative at a networking event, or having a colleague pass along their resume through the company's internal recommendation system.

"Sometimes it really is who you know at Tesla," one engineer who has worked at the company for six years said. "It helps to go to a feeder college where a classmate can help recommend you for a role."

Recruiters often sift through thousands of applications, giving interviews to a maximum of only 20 or so applicants, according to four engineers who've been involved in the hiring process. Only about half of those candidates would make it to the next step, they said.

Tesla employs more than 140,000 people globally. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

After the initial culture-fit interview  which includes traditional questions about why people want to work at Tesla and how they jibe with others  candidates who progress typically chat separately with a manager and at least one engineer from their prospective team. These interviews are more technical and sometimes include a take-home or live test.

"Tesla takes a no-bullshit approach," one engineer told BI. "At other companies, you can sometimes get away with saying something to sound impressive. You can't do that at Tesla. If you don't know something, own up to it because they will always ask the follow-up questions."

Panel interviews can last up to six hours

The next step in Tesla's hiring process includes a presentation and a series of rapid-fire interviews that can take anywhere from four to six hours.

Applicants are typically told to present on a previous project for 15 to 30 minutes, followed by a Q&A session on the project. Tesla workers said it was best for early-career applicants to present on college group projects or personal ventures.

Four to six engineers sit in on the presentation and later break off to interview the candidate on their own for about 30 minutes each.

"We try to leave it pretty open-ended because it's a good way to find red flags," an engineer who has been involved in the recruiting process said regarding the presentation prompt. "We tell them not to present something confidential, and that's the biggest red flag if they present something like that. It's an easy no if we know they won't be trustworthy."

Some Tesla engineers said they spent more than 40 hours preparing for the presentation over the course of several weeks. The panel can take place over Zoom or in person. It also includes a short break in the middle of the session to give panelists time to take lunch.

Tesla said it received more than 3.6 million applications in 2022. JOHN THYS / Getty

"You need to make sure you know the technical details of your project inside and out," one engineer said. "It doesn't have to be the most complicated tech so long as you can talk about what you've done in great detail. You need to be able to tell them why you approached it the way you did and address other ways of accomplishing it as well."

One engineer with knowledge of the process said that after the panel, the employees would meet to give a "blind vote" on the candidate, meaning the panelists all submit their scores at once. Candidates are scored on a scale of one to four. The engineer said that if a single panel member were to give the candidate a score of one and could back up their opinion, the individual's application would usually be rejected, while a score of a three or a four would be viewed as a sign of approval for the prospective hire.

Two engineers said only about half the applicants who made it to the panel stage would be selected.

Sit tight  it could take six months to land the job

Depending on the role, some applicants are offered the job after a successful panel interview. For higher-level positions, the candidates can go on to interview with director or VP-level employees.

Three workers said some applicants were required to fill out a form that would be sent to a VP or director-level worker outlining three reasons they would be a good fit for Tesla. Some of the notes would even be passed onto Musk, the engineers said. Last year, the Tesla CEO said in an email to staff that he must approve all new hires.

From start to finish, the entire process could take anywhere from one to six months, the engineers said. Seven engineers said Tesla had the most intensive application process they'd seen in the industry.

"Half the time, we miss out because we're too slow," an engineer with knowledge of the hiring process said. "We know it, but it's set up in some ways to find the people who are so gung-ho they're willing to wait. They're people who'd probably get a higher base pay at a different company, but they have the opportunity to cash in on Tesla stock too."

A Tesla spokesperson didn't respond to a request for comment.

Do you work for Tesla or have insight to share? Reach out to the reporter from a non-work email and device at gkay@insider.com

Read the original article on Business Insider
If you were making a movie about Ed Zwick, the Oscar-winning producer and director of various huge films, Act 1 would definitely feature the American Film Institute in Los Angeles as a backdrop. That is where, back in the 1970s, a twenty-something Zwick realized he was out of his depth and had to quickly start learning from his peers.

"It's very hands on; it's very deep-end-of-the pool-right-away," he said. "And your other students, or fellows as we are called here, will in fact become your own teachers."

That's something he hasn't stopped doing over his 40-plus-year career. During that time he's directed some of Hollywood's brightest: Denzel Washington ("Glory," "Courage Under Fire," "The Siege"), Tom Cruise ("The Last Samurai"), Brad Pitt ("Legends of the Fall"), Leonardo DiCaprio ("Blood Diamond"), Daniel Craig ("Defiance"), and almost Julia Roberts, who'd agreed to star in "Shakespeare In Love" before quitting without a word, shutting down the film for years.

It's all recounted in Zwick's new book, "Hits, Flops and Other Illusions" (Gallery Books)  the good, the bad and the ugly of working in Hollywood.

/ Credit: Gallery Books

"It's a crucible," Zwick said of filmmaking. "And in a crucible, among artists things fulminate. And there's actually something beautiful about that and often something very good comes of that. But, I wanted to tell it as it was."

Zwick and his producing partner, Marshall Herskovitz, have been in that crucible since the two met as students at AFI, and formed what they call the longest partnership in Hollywood history.

"We love to make epic films, big films," said Herskovitz. "But we also believe that people can achieve the epic in normal life."

Which is what they tried to achieve with their first TV series, "thirtysomething." They didn't think it would last one season, but it went on for four, and won 13 Emmys.

Zwick said, "We were really interested in ambivalence, and the ambivalence of being in a marriage, the ambivalence of being in your job, and you wanna just screw around but you have to work hard. All the contradictions of life. That upset people a lot. People often wanted to have just a very straight-up-and-down depiction of life. But that's not what life is."

While making "thirtysomething," Zwick got his hands on a script about a group of Black soldiers from Massachusetts during the Civil War. "Glory" was a sensation.

But battles on screen were matched by battles behind the scenes with, of all people, Matthew Broderick's mother, whom Zwick says fought for the director to enlarge the role her son was playing, that of the white leader of the African American regiment. It was an early lesson for Zwick in when to compromise, and when to hold your ground.

When asked about navigating the world as a creative and learning when to fight for something and when to realize it's not worth it, Zwick replied, "I don't know if this is fit for CBS television, but there's a poem by e.e. cummings. And the last line of the poem is: There is some s**t I will not eat. But that also suggests that there's a world of s**t that he will eat. And having to make that decision is really crucial."

Herskovitz said of Zwick's films, "People cry in those movies. They are affected by the movie. They remember the movie. But in order to give a profound experience, you have to put a lot of things together. And I think that's what Ed does so brilliantly. You have to have a great story, you have to have an amazing sense of casting. Then, you have to know how to deal with these very special people who are gonna go out there and be the face of this movie. And I think in the book he very eloquently talks about the different ways you have to handle different people."

Ed Zwick directing Tom Cruise during filming of

If the film about Ed Zwick has a villain, it might be Harvey Weinstein, who ended up buying the "Shakespeare in Love" script that Zwick had so lovingly developed, then kept him from getting to the microphone on the Oscar stage when it won best picture.

Watch: Ed Zwick barely gets a word in on the Oscar stage:

"Only in Hollywood can you end up feeling bad about something you're supposed to feel really, really good about," Zwick said. "But it turned out to be actually very important for me later. It wasn't about fairness, necessarily. It was about hard work and knowing what you've done, and then moving on, that you're gonna get knocked down. There is a cruelty in this business that you have to accept in terms of the vagaries of what happens. And what do you do then? Do you get up? And can you keep going?"



READ AN EXCERPT: "Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions" by Ed Zwick

The award-winning director-producer recounts four tempestuous decades in Hollywood, which included a fake TV newscast in which he blew up Charleston, S.C.



For more info:

"Hits, Flops, and Other Illusions: My Fortysomething Years in Hollywood" by Ed Zwick (Gallery Books), in Hardcover, eBook and Audio formats, available via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.org



Story produced by Anthony Laudato. Editor: Remington Korper.

Global outcry grows after carnage at Gaza aid convoy

Monster winter storm pounds West

Driver rescued after wreck leaves big-rig dangling off Louisville bridge
Hopes for a ceasefire continue as talks continue in Cairo (AFP via Getty Images)

A Gaza ceasefire deal is understood to be close as crunch talks continue in Egypt after five months of bloody fighting in the strip of land.

Despite this, Israeli diplomats boycotted the discussions in Cairo after Hamas reportedly rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages that are still alive.

Washington has insisted the deal is close and should be in place ahead of the holy festival of Ramadan on 10 March.

But three officials speaking on the condition of anonymity have said the government is also waiting to hear how many Palestinian prisoners the terror group seeks to exchange for each hostage.

Pressure grows for a ceasefire as aid organisations warn Gaza is on the brink of famine (Getty)

A Hamas official told CNN that certain terms of the deal made it highly unlikely any plan would be agreed in the next 48 hours, despite Israel agreeing to the proposed frameworks in Paris in late February.

The conditions that Hamas are demanding include a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli troops from the Gaza Strip.

The current proposed deal includes a six-week ceasefire deal, which could have the potential to be extended, and will ensure an increase in aid supplies reaching Palestinians, who are on the brink of famine.

Attending the talks are also representatives from Qatar and the US, with President Joe Biden envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running the enclave with a hope of eventual statehood.

This aim is opposed by Israels Benjamin Netanyahu and hardliners within his government. Since the outbreak of war, the prime minister has faced a drop in his popularity, with many Israelis holding him responsible for failing to stop the 7 October Hamas incursion, which killed 1,200 people.

Jordanian Armed Forces members airdrop aid parcels to several areas in northern Gaza (via Reuters)

Around 250 people were taken as hostages, including women, children and the elderly, with several killed in the subsequent bombardment of Gaza.

The Hamas-run health ministry has said that 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, since the Israeli Defence Forces invaded the region.

Around 80 per cent of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and UN agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine, with deliveries of aid frequently blocked or held at the Egypt border.

On Sunday, Israels military said that the majority of Palestinians killed last week died in a stampede after crowds massed near an aid envoy.

However, local health officials said casualties, which were more than 100 people, were brought into hospitals having been hit by large-calibre ammunition.

Palestinians walking through the rubble at Jabaliya refugee camp (AP)

Several countries have now called for a UN inquiry, while Israeli officials have dismissed the figures given but have not offered any estimates of their own.

On Sunday, Israels main military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, announced the result of a preliminary review which repeated earlier Israeli statements that most of those killed had been trampled underfoot as crowds rushed the aid trucks.

In addition, several individuals were targeted as troops fired on people who approached them in the aftermath in a manner that suggested an immediate threat, he said, adding that an independent inquiry had been opened but giving no details.

This comes as the US completed its first airdrop of humanitarian aid yesterday, delivering 66 pallets containing 38,000 meals, which was criticised as inadequate by charitable organisations operating in the area.
Chinese electric-vehicle (EV) maker Leapmotor has joined the widening discount war on the mainland, pricing its new SUV nearly 20 per cent lower than originally planned.

The C10, featuring autonomous driving technology and digital cockpit, will become affordable to more middle-income consumers as the Hangzhou-based carmaker enhances its production efficiency in the highly competitive market, according to Zhu Jiangming, founder and CEO of Leapmotor, in which Fiat owner Stellantis has a 20 per cent stake.

"We have been reiterating that Leapmotor prices its vehicles based on production costs," he said at a media briefing on Saturday to announce the launch of the deliveries.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The pure electric version of the C10 starts at 128,800 yuan (US$17,897), 17.3 per cent lower than the presale price of 155,800 yuan in January. It has a driving range of 410 kilometres.

Robotic arms assemble cars at Leapmotor's factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang province. Photo: China Daily via Reuters alt=Robotic arms assemble cars at Leapmotor's factory in Jinhua, Zhejiang province. Photo: China Daily via Reuters>

The price of the entry-level extended-range variant has been cut by 10.5 per cent to 135,800 yuan from 151,800 yuan. The car can go up to 210km on a single charge, with a 1.5-litre petrol engine acting as a range-extender.

The C10 is also Leapmotor's first model aimed at the global market, Zhu said. Exports to Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and Africa will start in the third quarter of this year, he added.

In China, Leapmotor plans to mainly target buyers in the 150,000 yuan to 200,000 yuan EV segment by offering cars fitted with best-in-class components, such as lidar sensors powered by Nvidia's Orin X chip and digital cockpit powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8295 chip.

Story continues

Founded in 2015 by Zhu, a veteran electronics engineer who co-founded surveillance giant Dahua, Leapmotor is now supported by investors including state-owned Shanghai Electric Group and Hongshan, formerly known as Sequoia Capital China.

In October, Stellantis agreed to invest 1.5 billion (US$1.58 billion) for a 20 per cent stake. The two companies said at that time that they would set up an overseas joint venture.

Leapmotor delivered 144,155 vehicles on the mainland in 2023, a year-on-year increase of 29.7 per cent.

The C10 will take on Li Auto's much-anticipated L6 SUV. Li Auto is the nearest rival to Tesla in mainland China. Beijing-based Li Auto's sales surged 182 per cent year on year to 376,030 units in 2023, while Tesla delivered 600,000 vehicles to mainland customers, an increase of 37 per cent from 2022.

"The prices of the C10 look attractive now that consumers are cautious on spending on big-ticket items," said Gao Shen, an independent analyst in Shanghai. "A low-price strategy will be adopted by more EV assemblers this year as they try to survive fiercer competition."

Most carmakers are set to offer discounts and engage in a price war to retain market share this year, Cui Dongshu, general secretary of the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA), said last month.

EV makers sold 8.9 million units in China last year, a 37 per cent year-on-year increase, according to the CPCA. But sales growth could slow to 20 per cent this year, according to a forecast by Fitch Ratings in November.

On February 18, BYD, the world's largest EV maker, launched a new version of its plug-in hybrid, the Qin Plus DM-i, with prices starting at 79,800 yuan, 20 per cent below the previous edition.

Three carmakers, including a General Motors joint venture, followed suit and priced their bestselling battery-powered cars below the 100,000 yuan threshold, escalating a price war that could accelerate the transition to EVs in China.

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner (R-Ohio) on Sunday claimed he was told by CIA Director William Burns were close to reaching a cease-fire deal in the Israel-Hamas war after weeks of negotiations and mediation with international leaders.

Turner told CBS Newss Face the Nation anchor Margaret Brennan he was briefed last Friday by Burns on the status of negotiations.

He believes that were close, and I think thats  very, very important to accomplish, Turner said Sunday. One, because there are hostages that are still being held as a result of Hamas and the murderous onslaught of October 7, but also because of the desperate need for aid to get into Gaza.

His remarks come just one day after Israel reportedly agreed to the framework of a proposed temporary cease-fire and hostage release deal. A senior U.S. administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press on Saturday that the Israelis have more or less accepted the framework, leaving the decision up to the Palestinian militant group Hamas.

If accepted, the deal would include a six-week cease-fire, and Hamas would release hostages considered at risk, according to the U.S. official. It would also pave the way for a larger influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been devastated by Israels military operations.

More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, and hundreds of thousands of others have been driven from their homes as Israel attempts to eliminate Hamas after the terrorist groups attack on Oct. 7 that killed more than 1,200 people in southern Israel.

Brennan pointed to President Bidens comments last week, when he said the U.S. will insist that Israel facilitate more trucks and routes for aid amid reports the country is blocking aid to Palestinians.

Asked if there should be consequences for Israel standing in the way of aid, Turner said, I think as Director Burns is negotiating, were really close to a cease-fire that is going to resolve this issue.

And its going to open up the aid corridors and certainly, I think in any conflict, both sides need to be held accountable, and I think certainly there are going to be questions as to what Israel has done and the manner in which it has operated, he continued.

But it doesnt take away from the issue that the Palestinians are in a crisis because of Hamas, and the fact that Hamas [attacked] Israel, and in the manner in which they have hidden during this conflict, have allowed the condition of Palestinians to be in this state, certainly says a lot about Hamas, he added.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The body was recovered from the St. Croix River in Hudson.

HUDSON, Wis. (FOX 9) - Police are investigating after a body was recovered from the St. Croix River at a park in Hudson, Wisconsin Saturday morning.

According to the Hudson Police Department, officers responded to Lake Front Park, south of Dike Road, just before 8:30 a.m. on reports of a body in the water. The body was located and recovered from the water.

Police say this is an active investigation, and there aren't any threats or danger to the community.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.
Humza Yousaf has been criticised for his promises to tackle Scotland's lack of affordable housing as homelessness reaches record highs - JANE BARLOW/PA

Humza Yousaf is gaslighting Scotland by claiming he is tackling poverty while overseeing cuts that condemns thousands of children to homelessness, the head of a major charity has said.

Alison Watson, director of Shelter Scotland, said the First Minister had no credibility on cutting child poverty as the SNPs Governments 2024/25 cuts funding for affordable and social housing by nearly 200 million.

She said the 26 per cent cut condemns 10,000 children to lives trapped in the homelessness system and there were glaring gaps between rhetoric and reality. She added: Its flabbergasting.

Official figures published last week found homelessness in Scotland has increased to record levels, with the number of children in temporary accommodation rising by eight per cent over the past year to 9,860.

Ms Watson also warned the housing budget cut had wiped out any progress achieved by the SNPs flagship Scottish Child Payment, a weekly benefit worth 25 per child payable to poorer families.

Her accusation of gaslighting  a form of psychological abuse that causes the victim to question their perception of reality  came after Mr Yousaf said last week it was utterly unacceptable that in 2024 children continue to live in poverty in Scotland.

Shona Robison, the SNPs finance secretary, said her Scottish Budget had been really challenging and blamed UK Government funding cuts for her decision to take an axe to affordable housing.

Ever more desparate

But Ms Watson told the Herald on Sunday: Its getting ever more desperate. We deliberately describe whats happening as a housing emergency. Thats not empty words.

What were seeing is exceptional  The Government says its doing great things, but these are the facts and figures. Thats why I call it gaslighting.

She added: The First Minister has no credibility when it comes to child poverty given his budget condemns 10,000 children to lives trapped in the homelessness system.

Promises by the SNP Government to build more social housing look like a pipe dream she said, and pledges to end homelessness cannot be considered as anything but an abject failure.

Ms Robison told BBC Scotlands Sunday Show that the SNP Government had a good track record on affordable housing and was aiming to deliver 110,000 such homes by 2032.

But with a 1.6 billion cut to capital and a 62 per cent cut to the financial transactions funding, that has an impact, she said.

Its very difficult within our restrained capital resources to find where money could have been shifted but its the number one priority and lets see what (the UK Spring Budget on) Wednesday brings.

The Prime Minister used a visit to last weeks Scottish Tory conference to hint at a cut in National Insurance, describing it as a Union tax cut as it would apply in Scotland.

But Ms Robison urged the Chancellor not to cut taxes in the Spring Budget and instead use any spare money to increase public spending. She argued that increasing capital spending would be a more effective way of boosting growth.

Liz Smith, the Scottish Tories shadow finance secretary, said: Its ridiculous of Shona Robison to be giving the UK chancellor advice on growth, when the SNPs dire record led to her savage tax-and-axe budget that means Scots will be paying more to receive fewer and worse services.

Its even more absurd for her to call for housing investment, when she has just cut Scotlands housing budget by 26 per cent, and Shelter Scotland say the SNP are gaslighting the public on the subject.

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A woman walks past bodies of inmates outside the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, March 3, 2024. Hundreds of inmates fled Haiti's main prison after armed gangs stormed the facility overnight. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph)

PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Haiti's government declared a state of emergency and nighttime curfew late Sunday in a bid to regain control of the streets after an explosion of violence over the weekend saw armed gang members storm the country's two biggest prisons.

The 72-hour state of emergency went into immediate effect as the government said it would set out to find the killers, kidnappers and other violent criminals that it reportedescaped from the prison.

The police were ordered to use all legal means at their disposal to enforce the curfew and apprehend all offenders, said a statement from Finance Minister Patrick Boivert, who is serving as acting prime minister.

Prime Minister Ariel Henry traveled abroad last week to try to salvage support for a bringing in a United Nations-backed security force to stabilize the country in its conflict with increasingly powerful crime groups.

The decree capped a deadly weekend that marked a new low in Haiti's downward spiral of violence. At least nine people had been killed since Thursday  four of them police officers  as gangs stepped up coordinated attacks on state institutions in Port-au-Prince. Targets included police stations, the country's international airport, even the national soccer stadium.

But the siege Saturday night of the National Penitentiary came as a shock even to Haitians accustomed to living under the constant threat of violence. Almost all of the estimated 4,000 inmates fled during the jailbreak, leaving the normally overcrowded facility eerily empty Sunday with no guards in sight and plastic sandals, clothing and furniture strewn across the concrete patio. Three bodies with gunshot wounds lay at the prison entrance.

In another neighborhood, the bloodied corpses of two men with their hands tied behind the backs lay face down as residents walked past roadblocks set up with burning tires.

Among the few dozen that chose to stay in the prison are 18 former Colombian soldiers accused of working as mercenaries in the July 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Amid the clashes Saturday night, several of the Colombians shared a video pleading for their lives.

Please, please help us, one of the men, Francisco Uribe, said in the message widely shared on social media. "They are massacring people indiscriminately inside the cells.

On Sunday, Uribe told journalists who walked breezily into the normally highly guarded facility, I didn't flee because I'm innocent."

Colombia's foreign ministry called on Haiti to provide special protection for the men.

In the absence of official information, inmates' family members rushed to the prison to check on loved ones.

I dont know whether my son is alive or not, said Alexandre Jean as she roamed around the cells looking for any sign of him. I dont know what to do.

The violence Saturday night appeared to be widespread, with several neighborhoods reporting gunfire.

A second Port-au-Prince prison containing around 1,400 inmates was also overrun. Gang gunmen also occupied and vandalized the nation's top soccer stadium, taking one employee hostage for hours, Haiti's soccer federation said in a statement. Internet service for many residents was down as Haitis top mobile network said a fiber optic cable connection was slashed during the rampage.

In the space of less than two weeks, several state institutions have been attacked by the gangs, which are increasingly coordinating their actions and choosing once unthinkable targets like the Central Bank. As part of coordinated attacks by gangs, four police officers were killed Thursday.

After gangs opened fire at Haiti's international airport last week, the U.S. Embassy said it was halting all official travel to the country and on Sunday night urged all American citizens to depart as soon as possible. The embassy said it would also cancel until Thursday all consular appointments.

The Biden administration, which has steadfastly refused to commit troops to any multinational force while offering instead money and logistical support, said it was monitoring the rapidly deteriorating security situation with grave concern.

A National Security Council official said violence serves only to delay a democratic transition while destroying the lives of thousands. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, reiterated U.S. support for elections, inclusive governance and the restoration of democracy.

The epicenter of the latest violence Saturday night was Haiti's National Penitentiary, which was holding several gang leaders. Amid the exchange of gunfire, police appealed for assistance.

They need help, a union representing police said in a message on social media bearing an SOS emoji repeated eight times. Lets mobilize the army and the police to prevent the bandits from breaking into the prison.

The clashes follow violent protests that turned deadlier in recent days as the prime minister went to Kenya seeking to move ahead on a proposed U.N.-backed security mission in Haiti to be led by that East African country.

Henry took over as prime minister following Moise's assassination and has repeatedly postponed plans to hold parliamentary and presidential elections, which havent happened in almost a decade.

Haitis National Police has roughly 9,000 officers to provide security for more than 11 million people, according to the U.N. They are routinely overwhelmed and outgunned by gangs, which are estimated to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.

Jimmy Cherizier, a former elite police officer known as Barbecue who now runs a gang federation, has claimed responsibility for the surge in attacks. He said the goal was to capture Haitis police chief and government ministers and prevent Henrys return.

The prime minister, a neurosurgeon, has shrugged off calls for his resignation and didnt comment when asked if he felt it was safe to come home.

___

Associated Press writers Joshua Goodman in Miami, Seung Min Kim in Washington and Danica Coto in San Juan, Puerto Rico, contributed to this report.
ST. LOUIS  A demonstration was held for the people of Gaza affected by the Israel-Hamas war in downtown St. Louis today. The protest, called Hands Off Rafah, was held at Keiner Plaza in downtown St. Louis.

Several organizations took part in the protest, which they say is in response to what they call the Recent murder of 112 Palestinian civilians attempting to access food aid.

Hundreds of people were there with many different signs advocating for the people of Gaza.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
One evening in the late 1980s, Carlis Thompson showed up at a New York City apartment owned by his cousin, the pioneering DJ Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC.

The group had a show that night, but when Thompson walked into the apartment, he wasnt greeted by Jay, Joseph Run Simmons or Darryl D.M.C. McDaniels. The men hanging out were strangers to Thompson, and they instantly rubbed him the wrong way.

You could tell they were grifters, said Thompson, who would go on to become a warden at the Rikers Island jail complex.

Thompson walked into the bedroom and embraced his cousin, who was born Jason Mizell. They caught up for a bit, Thompson said, and then it was time to head to the club.

Ill never forget it, he said. Jason pulled out an Uzi from a closet.

Thompson was stunned  and alarmed.

Cuz, are we going to a concert or are we going to war? he asked.

You never know, Mizell replied, according to Thompson.

The exchange proved prophetic. Mizell was shot dead inside his recording studio in Queens in 2002, a killing that stunned the hip-hop world and went unsolved for nearly two decades.

Run-D.M.C. on a rooftop with the Empire State Building in the background. (John R. Nordell / Getty Images)

Last week, two men from Mizells old neighborhood were convicted in the slaying after a trial that laid bare the difficult predicament he found himself in prior to the murder.

With Run-DMCs popularity fading, large paydays became more elusive for Mizell, who was known for showering cash on his family, friends and even acquaintances from his old haunts in Hollis, Queens. So he leveraged his old contacts from the neighborhood to carry out drug deals, according to courtroom testimony, a decision that ultimately led to his killing.

For some of those who had known Mizell the longest, the convictions were bittersweet. In the days since the trial, they have wondered how differently his life could have played out had he managed to leave behind the hustlers and hangers-on from his past.

That was my cousins downfall, said Ryan Doc Thompson, who grew up with Mizell and was among his closest confidants. It was just too late to wash his hands of these people.

Wendell Fite, a childhood friend of Mizells better known by his stage name DJ Hurricane, offered a similar take.

Jay was the kind of person who thought he could help anybody no matter who that person was, he said. Jay always had a big heart, which is why hes not here today, because he surrounded himself with the wrong people.

Family ties

Mizell grew up on 203rd Street, one of three siblings whose mother was a schoolteacher and father was a social worker. As a kid, Mizell didnt have to go far to visit one of his closest friends, a boy who came to be known as Darren Big D Jordan.

He lived directly across the street, Ryan Thompson said.

The two went way back. Their mothers were best friends who had attended the same church in Brooklyn. The Mizells moved to Hollis, a middle-class neighborhood at the time, to provide a better environment for their children.

Mizell fell in with a group of kids who were burglarizing homes and he served time in juvenile detention. When he got out, he focused his attention on his turntables and went on to become a founding member of Run-DMC.

But he remained tight with his old neighborhood pals. So after Jordans son, Karl Little D Jordan Jr., was born in 1984, it was no surprise that Mizell became like a godfather figure to him.

Thats how close these two families were growing up, Ryan Thompson said.

But that was then. In an almost Shakespearean twist, Jordan Jr. was one of the two men convicted in Mizells murder.

The then-18-year-old fired a bullet into Mizells head from inches away, a witness told the jury, in what prosecutors described as an act of revenge for being cut out of a lucrative cocaine deal.

It was an ambush, an execution, Assistant U.S. Attorney Miranda Gonzalez told the jury in her opening remarks, motivated by greed and revenge.

Jam Master Jay coffin in a white horse drawn carriage. (James Devaney / WireImage)

Jordan had long been implicated in the killing, but his arrest in 2020 still came as a surprise to some of Mizells relatives.

He had looked up to Jay, Ryan Thompson said. Before he got gangster, he was a nice little kid who respected his elders.

Prosecutors said in court papers that by the time of his arrest Jordan, an aspiring rapper, had been selling drugs for several years.

That a member of the Jordan family was involved in the murder was especially hard to fathom, some people close to Mizell said, because of the lengths he had gone to help them. The renowned DJ had secured Jordan Jr.s father a job at Russell Simmons artist management company in the late 1980s.

Jay literally pulled Big D out of the streets, said an industry source who spoke on the condition of anonymity out of fear of retaliation.

Mizell had also done favors for the second man convicted in the shooting, Ronald Tinard Washington.

Prosecutors said Washington was a career criminal who had been in and out of prison for much of his adult life. He served time on drug, gun and assault convictions.

He was a street thug, a tough guy, a former NYPD detective who worked on the case in 2002 said in an interview after Washingtons arrest.

But Mizell never turned his back on the man. In the days before the killing, Washington was sleeping on a couch at Mizells childhood home, where his sister resided, according to courtroom testimony.

A familiar conundrum

Run-DMC released its sixth album, Down With the King, in 1993. It would be the groups last to break into the top of the pop charts.

Run-DMC had blazed a trail for other rappers, bringing a sound (spare beats and socially conscious lyrics delivered with bravado) and style (black hats, Adidas jumpsuits, sneakers without laces) that made them famous around the world.

But the 1990s ushered in a sharper-edged brand of hip-hop, with the likes of Ice-T and Dr. Dre rapping about the grim realities in urban centers and the gangster lifestyle.

The members of Run-DMC faced a conundrum familiar to celebrities who attained fame and fortune only to see it slip away later in life: Now what?

Run-DMC Portrait Session (Al Pereira / Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Mizell launched his own label, JMJ Records, and saw immediate success with one of his first groups, Onyx. But the company sputtered and some of the people surrounding Mizell didnt have his best interests at heart, according to family members and industry veterans.

That he turned to drugs to make ends meet, acting as a middleman in occasional cocaine deals, was shocking to many who had known him well.

Its kind of jaw-dropping to me and terribly sad, said Bill Adler, Run-DMCs longtime publicist. Hed earned a reputation for himself as a very, very generous guy. When his ability to maintain that reputation began to slip, I think he felt forced to look for other ways to support himself.

DJ Hurricane said he sees it a bit differently. He thinks that Mizells drug activities came less out of financial necessity than out of the company he kept.

Jay wasnt a drug dealer. Thats for sure, Hurricane said. If anything, he knew somebody that needed something and he knew somebody that had the thing that person needed.

Its easy to get involved in something like this, he added. Its just being around the wrong people.

Carlis Thompson said that after the Uzi incident, he steered clear of his cousins Hollis crew because he didnt want to jeopardize his career in New York Citys correctional system.

But at family functions, Thompson did urge Mizell to take better care of his money  to invest in real estate or open up a clothing store to capitalize on the Run-DMC brand.

Thompson made a point to attend the murder trial. Following the guilty verdicts, he said he felt like he could breathe again.

But he couldnt stop thinking about Mizells other family members  his mother Connie, brother Marvin and sister Bonita.

As the years passed with no arrests in the murder, they had pleaded for witnesses and anyone else who knew something to come forward. But they never got any justice.

One by one, his family members all died in the years before Jordan and Washington were arrested.

His mother was the last one that we buried, Thompson said. At that time, we didnt have any arrests.

I try not to think about it, Thompson added, because it breaks my heart.

Run-DMC (Chris Carroll / Corbis via Getty Images)

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
INDEPENDENCE, La. (WGNO)  Organizers of the Independence Sicilian Heritage Festival hosted the annual Spaghetti Cook-Off event on Saturday, March 2.

WGNO spoke with this years Sicilian Heritage Festival Queen, Olivia Lee, who said the cook-off is about more than just who makes the best Sicilian pasta dish.

Norco thrift store helping the homeless through outreach

According to Lee, Theyre competing for the best gravy, best dessert, best table decorations.

The event was held one week before the Independence Sicilian Heritage Festival, which celebrates the culture, music and food of Sicilian families who settled in Tangipahoa Parish.

(WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin)

(WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin)

(WGNO/Renaldo Ruffin)

Its amazing. This is our second time to win, and were going for a third time, we hope, next year, said Wendy Carrier with the Tangipahoa Parish Fair.

The Independence Sicilian Heritage Festival will be held on March 8, 9 and 10. For more information, visit the festival website.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

Latest Posts

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGNO.
An Indian science graduate was promised a job in Dubai but was tricked into fighting for Russia, reports say

Indians are being duped into joining the Russian military through false employment promises.

One person said his brother had been promised a job in Dubai but ended up on the front lines in Ukraine.

About 20 Indians are thought to be caught in the conflict.

Some Indian nationals are being tricked into fighting for the Russian army after having been promised jobs in Dubai, Le Monde reported.

About 20 Indians are thought to have fallen victim to similar schemes and are now caught on the front lines in Russia.

One victim, Aazad Yousuf Kumar, 31, a science graduate, traveled from his home in northern India to Dubai in the hopes of working for an employment consultancy named Baba Vlogs, which is run by a man named Faisal Khan.

Kumar's mother told The Telegraph that after he arrived in the United Arab Emirates, he was told there were no jobs available and that he would have to go to Russia to do kitchen work.

But she said he was then brought to a military base where he was given weapons training.

"We lost touch with him for a while. When he finally phoned after about twenty days, he told us that he had been tricked and taken to an unknown place in Russia, where he had received weapons training for a fortnight, along with a dozen other Indians," his brother, Sajad Ahmad Kumar, told Le Monde.

"He was deployed near the front line with the Russian army. I spoke to him on December 26th. He cried constantly. He told me he wanted to come home," he added.

Another victim told Indian news outlet The Hindu that at least three Indians had been forced to fight for Russian forces after having been sent there as "army security helpers."

He said he had also found the job through Faisal Khan and that they had been "categorically told" that they would not be sent to the battlefield.

But after receiving basic weapons training, he said they were sent to Rostov-on-Don and then on to Donetsk, where they then were forced to join the fighting.

The man, who said that he had not received any of the money he had been promised for the job, told the outlet that he had been able to escape the conflict area and had been admitted to a hospital for frostbite.

He added that he was now struggling to get help from the Indian Embassy in Moscow, saying he had been "turned away several times."

A spokesperson for India's Ministry of External Affairs told The Telegraph that the government was working to secure the release of those stuck in Russia.

"We are trying our best and we are in touch, regular touch with Russian authorities both here in New Delhi and also in Moscow and we are trying to do our best," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Employees in PPE work inside a lab where the HPV vaccine is produced at the Serum Institute of India, in Pune

Employees in PPE work inside a lab where the HPV vaccine is produced at the Serum Institute of India, in Pune

By Manas Mishra

PUNE (Reuters) - Serum Institute of India aims to significantly boost supply of its human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as it gears up to provide its shots to the government at cheaper rates for an immunisation campaign this year against the cancer-causing virus.

Adar Poonawalla, the CEO of the world's biggest vaccine maker by the number of doses, told Reuters that he expects the vaccine to be a part of the government's programme by year-end.

The vaccine, currently available in the private market for 2,000 rupees ($24.13), is India's first indigenous shot against HPV that plays a role in causing most cervical cancers in the world.

"Our capacity at the moment is just a few million doses but the demand is infinite. If we were to roll out 50 million doses in India, they would be used up, both in the private market and the government procurement scheme," said Poonawalla.

The government is set to administer the HPV vaccine to girls aged between nine and 14 years as part of a campaign to fight cervical cancer, the second-most common type of cancer in women in India.

There is no contract yet with the government, Poonawalla said, adding that he expects the authorities to initially procure between 40 to 50 million doses through a tender process in December.

Other HPV vaccine makers include Merck & Co and GSK Plc, who could also bid for government contracts.

"It's still a bit early to say but we're just poised and very committed to this product," he said.

Poonawalla expects the vaccine to be "substantially, probably eight times, cheaper" when supplied to the government.

Serum produces AstraZeneca's COVID-19 vaccine under the brand name Covishield in India.

The company's HPV facilities, which were used during the pandemic to manufacture Covishield are still not entirely operational, restraining full capacity, according to Serum.

The company is in the process of applying for WHO's pre-qualification and Poonawalla expects to begin exporting the HPV shots to other countries in 2026.

($1 = 82.8768 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Manas Mishra in Pune; Editing by Sohini Goswami)
Just hours after a coalition of abortion rights groups launched a campaign to overturn Missouris near-total abortion ban at the ballot box, Republican senators called for action on the state Senate floor.

They were furious.

This is life or death, said Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican. Are we going to advance an initiative petition to solidify and protect that process to ensure that this evil, vile practice does not make its way into a constitution?

Many of us are pro-life in here, said Sen. Denny Hoskins, a Warrensburg Republican. We want to make sure that it is harder to get something passed in the Missouri Constitution.

Brattin and Hoskins, in their speeches on the Senate floor in January, demanded their colleagues take up and pass legislation that would make it harder for Missourians to amend the state constitution through the states century-old initiative petition process  a stark acknowledgment that Republicans must weaken direct democracy in order to stymie the abortion rights campaign.

The GOP-controlled Missouri Senate later approved a version of the measure, which supporters call initiative petition reform, sending the legislation to the House. If passed by both chambers, voters would have the final say  either in November or at an earlier election, potentially in August, called by Republican Gov. Mike Parson.

The renewed effort to overhaul the states initiative petition process, which some Republicans have touted as a way to block the abortion rights campaign, has drawn intense scorn from Democrats, voting rights advocates and attorneys who have framed the legislation as a broader attack on democracy.

The Republican-led push has created a world in which Missourians across the state are gearing up for what could be two of the states most consequential statewide votes related to abortion access either directly, or by perception: a vote to overturn the states abortion ban and a vote on whether to overhaul the initiative petition process.

Sen. Rick Brattin, a Harrisonville Republican, left, speaks with Sen. Denny Hoskins, a Warrensburg Republican, during session on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Jefferson City.

Some politicians and political observers on both sides of the abortion debate have raised questions about whether changes to the voter threshold, if approved by voters in August, would even impact the abortion rights vote if it were to reach the ballot in November.

But whats clear from conversations inside the Missouri Capitol is that access to abortion will be a key message for both supporters and opponents of the states initiative petition process in the coming months.

House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, is embarking on a campaign for governor focused in large part on overturning the near-total ban in Missouri, which had for years whittled away at access to the procedure even before the ban went into effect in 2022.

The potential campaign against Republican efforts to make it harder for voters to amend the constitution will include the idea that Missourians should be able to have their voices heard on abortion, she said.

They know Missourians want access to abortion and they know that when it makes it to the ballot box in the fall, that its going to pass, Quade said of Republican lawmakers. They have really pivoted their language towards, if we dont get this done, then abortion is going to become the law of the land.

Missouri House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat, speaks on the phone during a discussion of a bill on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Jefferson City.

But the debate over the states initiative petition process involves more than just abortion, Quade emphasized. Citizen-led campaigns have been utilized by voters of both parties to bypass the General Assembly and put measures to a statewide vote.

Republican criticism against the current process comes as voters have in recent years passed several progressive policies through initiative petitions, including marijuana legalization and Medicaid expansion.

While Rep. Brian Seitz, a Branson Republican, agreed that the initiative petition process and abortion are separate issues, he made the connection between the two efforts clear.

Were being extremely proactive to do everything that we can to make sure that abortion is not ensconced within our Missouri state Constitution, he said. We have to protect life in this state.

The dueling efforts could mirror what happened in Ohio last year, in which Republican lawmakers put a measure on the ballot that would have increased the approval threshold for constitutional amendments from 50% to 60% in an attempt to thwart a campaign to enshrine abortion rights in the Ohio Constitution.

An overwhelming majority of voters in Ohio rejected the measure during an August special election. And then roughly the same percentage of voters, 57%, voted in favor of abortion rights in November.

Sam Lee, a longtime anti-abortion lobbyist in Jefferson City, said that, in practice, the two potential campaigns in Missouri will be linked together. But Lee, who supports making it harder to amend the constitution, signaled thats not how he would like to see the two efforts framed, pointing to the votes in Ohio.

Even though abortion wasnt mentioned in that (Ohio) initiative petition, it was all about abortion. I mean, on both sides, they advertised on that, he said. Is that the way it should be? No, I think initiative petition reform is much broader than one particular issue.

Last ditch effort

Missouri Republicans have for years attacked the states initiative petition process, a more-than-100-year-old mechanism that requires an expensive and time-consuming signature-gathering campaign to get measures on a statewide ballot.

Republicans, for the most part, argue that its too easy for voters to change the constitution and the current process has allowed outside interest groups to influence elections.

But Republican messaging around the issue began to shift last year after abortion rights groups filed a series of petitions that would enshrine the right to an abortion in the state constitution.

House Speaker Dean Plocher, a St. Louis-area Republican, last year was one of the first prominent Missouri Republicans to directly connect abortion to the efforts to make it harder to change the constitution. He told reporters that he felt a majority of Missourians would vote to overturn the ban if the voter threshold was not increased.

I think we all believe that an initiative petition will be brought forth to allow choice, Plocher said at the end of last years legislative session in May. I believe it will pass. Absolutely.

Missouri House Speaker Dean Plocher bangs the gavel on the final day of session.

Plochers office, in a recent written statement to The Star, however, downplayed the link between abortion and making it harder to amend the constitution, pointing to the fact that the abortion rights campaign has not yet qualified for the ballot. He instead touted the legislation as a way to prevent foreign countries from sponsoring ballot measures, a practice that is already illegal under federal law.

I believe that Missouri voters will get to have a say on IP reform in November, he said.

The measure passed by the Senate last month would require amendments to the state constitution be approved essentially twice, a majority vote in at least five of the states eight congressional districts and a majority vote statewide. Currently, constitutional amendments only need a majority vote statewide.

The change would effectively weaken the power of urban residents votes and empower the votes of rural residents in statewide elections on constitutional amendments. A coalition of rural congressional districts would be able to reject amendments even if theyre supported overwhelmingly in the states two biggest cities of Kansas City and St. Louis.

Maggie Olivia is the senior policy manager for Abortion Action Missouri, which is part of the coalition called Missourians for Constitutional Freedom that is seeking to overturn the states abortion ban.

Anti-abortion politicians are the same anti-democracy lawmakers who have been attacking the initiative petition process for years, Olivia said in an interview.

This tie to the current abortion campaign in Missouri  its really just a last ditch effort by these anti-democracy politicians who know that theyre in a losing game, she said. They know that theyre not going to win unless they can get away with their dirty tricks.

Supporters of the states initiative petition process and of overturning the abortion ban signaled in interviews that voters will be prepared for both issues if they reach the ballot. Many pointed to the votes in Ohio.

Voters want to have a say in their democracy and want to maintain and restore their rights, said Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat.

Im not concerned about either of those, Arthur said of the two efforts. There have been so many examples of times when voters have felt like theyre not being heard, their priorities are not being addressed by elected officials. And theyve used the IP process as an important tool to make things happen in the state.

Sen. Lauren Arthur, a Kansas City Democrat, speaks on the Senate floor on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Jefferson City.

In late January, Ashley Jaworski, a volunteer for the campaign to overturn the abortion ban, traveled to the Missouri Capitol from St. Louis to talk with Missourians about the importance of the states initiative petition process.

Theyre trying to change the rules out from under us because they know that this petition process works, Jaworski said. Theyre scared of what real, everyday Missourians want. Missourians want to have their voices heard.

But if either measure reaches the ballot this year, supporters of abortion rights will have to campaign in a state that has grown staunchly Republican over the last decade. Even before the abortion ban, anti-abortion officials had whittled down access to a single clinic in St. Louis.

The abortion rights campaign may also drive to the ballot box people such as Matthew Sheffer, who traveled to the Missouri Capitol last month from Fenton to push for criminal penalties against women who get abortions. Sheffer said in an interview that he wasnt aware of the effort to change the initiative petition process.

But he had thoughts about the abortion rights campaign.

Its just more agreeing to shed innocent blood, he said. Its just more consent to murder.

Which election? It will be strategic

One of the biggest outstanding questions for both campaigns will be the timing of the elections.

If abortion rights supporters are able to garner roughly 171,000 signatures by May 5, the measure would go on the November ballot unless Parson, an anti-abortion Republican, calls a special election. The same goes for the initiative petition legislation if Missouri lawmakers successfully place it on the ballot.

Some abortion opponents may want to see the legislation raising the voter threshold placed on the August ballot so the changes, if approved, would be in place to block a potential vote on abortion in November.

But anti-abortion Republicans will also have to weigh another situation that could effectively cause their effort to backfire. If Missourians vote to raise the threshold for constitutional amendments and then vote to enshrine abortion rights, it would be much harder for abortion opponents to later strip legalized abortion from the state constitution.

Parson has given no indication of whether he might call a special election for changes to the initiative petition process, but he acknowledged during a news conference last month that it would be strategic.

Well talk about that and well see what the best strategy is for the state of Missouri, the Republican governor told reporters.

There are some Missouri Republicans who dont want to see either measure placed on the November ballot, fearing that the two measures would bring out Democratic voters in droves in a general election.

They dont want that to be the get out the vote type of measure thats on the ballot, said Lee, the anti-abortion lobbyist.

Sam Lee, director of Campaign Life Missouri, poses for a portrait at the state Capitol on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Jefferson City.

Quade, the Springfield Democrat, said that Democrats will likely come out in force if either abortion rights or the initiative petition measure are on the ballot. But putting an abortion rights proposal on the August ballot could also affect the GOP primary for governor  a factor that Quade said Republicans will have to consider.

If Im the governor and Im thinking about all of those things, I definitely think that that is also a factor in this decision, she said.

Senate Majority Leader Caleb Rowden, a Columbia Republican, said that the placement of either the initiative petition legislation, the abortion measure, or both, on the November ballot could have a significant effect on voter turnout.

I dont think it has a tremendous impact on statewide elections, because Missouri is a pretty bright red state, Rowden told reporters. But I certainly think it has a tremendous impact on the pivotal kind of swing elections in St. Louis County, Boone County, Greene County and some of the places that we know those swing districts are.

Rowden also noted that there are differing legal opinions on whether changes to the voter threshold would affect the abortion rights vote. He told reporters hes seen memos from at least two attorneys arguing that courts would probably allow the abortion rights campaign to live under the old rules in November.

Chuck Hatfield, a Jefferson City-based attorney who has worked on a slew of initiative petitions, said there is some indication of that from the courts. He pointed to a 2008 Missouri Supreme Court ruling that stated Missouri lawmakers could not negate in advance an initiative petition that has been approved for circulation but prior to the time it is adopted by the people at an election.

If voters approve changes to the voter threshold in August, Hatfield said he thinks there will be a lawsuit over when the changes take effect.

Since launching the effort in January, the abortion rights campaign has reported raising more than $4 million and thousands of people have signed up to collect signatures across the state.

At the same time, some Republican lawmakers have recently started to distance the effort to change the initiative petition process from the abortion rights campaign, including Sen. Mary Elizabeth Coleman, an Arnold Republican who sponsored the legislation.

I dont think that protecting the states constitution is about the abortion issue only, said Coleman, who is running for Congress. Certainly, I hope that people will decline to sign and that we wont see that proposal put on the ballot. But this is about a number of different issues.

Above the entrance to the state Senate floor reads Not to be served but serve on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, in Jefferson City.

No. 1 priority.

With Missouri Republican lawmakers intent on passing some version of a plan to overhaul direct democracy in the state, access to abortion will almost certainly play a key role in the upcoming elections this year.

Messaging, whether its a need to stop the abortion rights push or that outside groups are influencing elections, will be crucial to persuading voters to weaken a tool utilized by both parties for more than a century.

Over the last several weeks, several Republicans have touted changes to the initiative petition process as the top issue they want to accomplish this year.

Our entire Republican majority, 24 state senators, decided that this was our No 1. priority, Hoskins, the Warrensburg Republican said on the Senate floor the morning the abortion rights campaign launched.

That acknowledgment was extremely telling, Senate Minority Leader John Rizzo, an Independence Democrat, told reporters.

With all of the issues that are out there, the No. 1 priority of the Republican Party is to take peoples voice away at the ballot box, Rizzo said. That should tell you all you need to know about the Republican Party in the state of Missouri.
Statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the Extradition of Polad Omarov from Czechia to the United States

The Justice Department issued the following statement from Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on the extradition of Polad Omarov from Czechia to the United States:

Last year, I announced charges against three defendants for their roles in a conspiracy to murder a U.S. citizen who has long been targeted by the Government of Iran. At the time of the announcement, two of the defendants were in U.S. custody, and we said that the long arm of the law would find and bring to justice those who seek to threaten, silence, or harm American citizens. Today, we have done just that. The third defendant, Polad Omarov, was extradited to the United States to face charges for attempting to murder on U.S. soil, a journalist, author, and human rights activist who is a U.S. citizen of Iranian origin.

We are grateful to our Czech government counterparts for this extradition.

The Department of Justice will not tolerate attempts by an authoritarian regime to undermine the rights to which every American citizen is entitled.

This story has been published on: 2024-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
Saudi-based Al Balad Development Company, a subsidiary of the kingdom's wealth fund PIF (Public Investment Fund) has announced the official opening of the first three heritage hotels - Beit Jokhdar, Beit Al-Rayess, and Beit Kedwan - in Jeddah Historic District.

This is being implemented as per the Jeddah Historic District Programme under the patronage of the Ministry of Culture and Al Balad Development Company.

Under this programme, these hotels are not only restored and rehabilitated but their unique architectural features are preserved using the highest international standards and the guidelines of Unesco, which classified Jeddah Historic District as a World Heritage Site in 2014.

The three heritage hotels will help contribute to preserving, maintaining and highlighting the kingdom's heritage. Each building sheds light on the area's history and features a different architectural design.

Beit Jokhdar is distinguished by its ornately decorated wooden balconies, among the largest in the region; while Beit Al Rayes is characterised by its interior design, where all its rooms overlook a beautiful courtyard surrounded by columns topped with stone arches.

Beit Kedwan is distinguished by its location near Naseef Square in the Al-Alawi Market.

As per a recent agreement, the Al Balad Development Company will manage and operate the hotels as part of a package that includes 34 heritage buildings.

The programme will hand over the hotels to Albalad Hospitality, the operational arm of Al Balad Development Company, which aims to provide visitors with unique and authentic hospitality experiences.

The hotels will be characterized by the warmth derived from the deep-rooted culture of the region and the commitment to preserving its heritage and developing rich experiences to explore, making Jeddah Historic District a destination of choice for all visitors from across the world.-TradeArabia News Service
Brouwer and Meyer are historic Holland retail names. They share a common history.

Both men were carpenters. Brouwer, as a teenager, learned the trade from a man named Sakkers, an artistic cabinet maker, whom the Brouwer family had lived with after losing their home in the Great Holland Fire of 1871.

After the fire, furniture stores blossomed. In 1872, Hannes Meyer and James Brouwer opened a showroom on N. River Avenue to display pianos, organs, sewing machines, furniture and caskets. While Meyer focused on musical instruments and sewing machines, Brouwer focused on furniture and caskets.

Selling caskets wasn't unusual for furniture dealers in those days. In 1876, Meyer and Brouwer advertised having the finest coffins and caskets ever exhibited in this city at reasonable prices.

Hannes Meyers son, Albert, started working for his father as a teenager. Albert officially joined the partnership in 1877, when the business took the name Meyer-Brouwer Company. In the 1880s, the partners moved the business south into a new two-story frame building at 212-214 River Ave.

In 1890, the Meyers and James Brouwer dissolved their partnership and formed two separate businesses. Brouwer razed his two-story frame structure and replaced it with a three-story brick building. Meanwhile, the Meyers opened a music store across the street. As part of the dissolution, they sold their undertaking business to Koos Nibbelink, who combined it with his livery business at 22 E. Ninth St.

Jas. A Brouwer Furniture

After his father's death in 1899, Albert renamed the business A.H. Meyer. In 1903, Albert moved his namesake business to 17 E. Eighth St. and changed the name to Meyer Music House.

Brouwer kept innovating. He was one of Hollands first retail merchants to offer credit, enticing young newlyweds to purchase furniture and carpeting without cash. He also provided customers with the Home-Trade Price-Maker, a 250-page catalog rivaling Sears Roebuck.

Brouwer also expanded his storefront. In 1914, he purchased the adjacent three-story building on the corner of River Avenue and Ninth Street, with its curved corner facade. That gave the Jas. A. Brouwer Furniture Company a two-building storefront, which he elegantly covered with an 85-foot copper canopy. In 1928, Brouwers open house drew 4,500 visitors, equivalent to 33% of Hollands population.

Story continues

Meyer Music House also expanded. Albert son Harris, having worked with his father since 1917, opened a similar business in Kalamazoo in 1923. In 1926, Alberts son Frederick joined Albert at the Holland store. Similarly, in 1918, James Brouwers son William joined the Jas. A. Brouwer Furniture Company.

Jas. A Brouwer Furniture in the 1930s at Ninth Street and River Avenue.

Former employees of the Brouwer and Meyer businesses made an impact on downtown Holland. After being in business together for 10 years, Milo DeVries, a former salesman for Brouwer Furniture, and Cornelius Doornbos, a former salesman at Meyer Music, built, in 1925, the five-story DeVries and Doornbos Furniture Emporium (present-day Riverview Building, home of Butchs).

There, through large windows on every floor, they displayed their furniture in natural light.

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In 1926, in reaction to John Van Vyven purchasing the Goodyke Music House, Albert acquired the building adjacent to Meyer Music House and doubled his floor plan.

Reflecting their success, both Albert and James Brouwer lived in a prestigious district: Albert occupied his fathers Queen Ann-style home at 4 W. 12th St. and James lived at 54 E. 12th St.

James, who served on Hollands Board of Education for 30 years, also had a passion for electric automobiles. He bought his first electric car in 1912; his sixth in 1934. Still, he spent his life at his store, working until his death in 1950, the year he turned 96.

Albert died in 1952.

Meyer Music House

Richard VandeBunte purchased Meyer Music House in 1984. The Christian Music Center, founded by John Scripps in 1953, purchased the business in 1989, renaming it Meyer Christian Music Center, and later, Meyer Music. In 2001, the Holland store retained the Meyer name and relocated to 675 Lakewood Boulevard.

Aesthetically, the Jas A. Brouwer Furniture Company is also still with us: Resthavens The River Place sits on the site and reflects the buildings curved corner facade.

Information comes from The Holland Evening Sentinel, The Holland City News, Robert Swierengas "Holland, Michigan," and correspondence with Meyer Music.

 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: Jas A. Brouwer and Meyer Music
If I was to tell my fifth-grade self I would willingly stand less than two feet away from a snake, she would call me mad.

Let alone a venomous rattlesnake!

But when it comes to the job, you must be open to doing anything and everything.

Im just thankful my fear of snakes has drastically reduced since age 10. Even though this day I jumped at a pinecone...

Rebecca Castillo, 18, of Sweetwater turns her face away as Pascual Ortiz cuts the organs from the western diamondback rattlesnake she is skinning on a ranch outside Sweetwater Feb 23. Contestants for the 2024 Miss Snake Charmer skinned rattlesnakes during the Worlds Largest Rattlesnake Roundup Media Day as part of their introduction. The scholarship pageant competition will be Thursday March 7 at the Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium.

The Big Country, notorious for its rolling plains, rocky terrain and hot weather, is the perfect habitat for the rattlesnake.

The Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round Up was established 66 years ago with the goal of controlling the local snake population.

Throughout the years, the event has grown to include educational demonstrations, food and carnival rides, a vendor show and so much more.

A western diamondback rattlesnake tries to strike as a Sweetwater Jaycee holds it Feb. 23.

The Reporter-News was invited to attend the Rattlesnake Round-Up Press Day on Feb. 23 in preparation for the March event.

Sweetwater Jaycee President Justin Wilburn presented the 12 Miss Snake Charmer contestants participating in the scholarship pageant.

The contestants from schools in Sweetwater, Blackwell, Merkel, Roscoe and Roby connected in a matter of minutes as they were about to experience something unusual and totally Texan.

Nhu Le, 17, of Sweetwater prepares to separate the internal organs from a western diamondback rattlesnake Feb. 23.

Armored in protective boots, cowboy hats and a red vests, Sweetwater Jaycees dumped dozens of rattlesnakes on the dirt driveway of Palava Country Resort Ranch.

With the sun beating down, snakes were quick to rattle, but Jaycees were quicker with their snake hooks and tongs. For the safety of the contestants and other viewers, the snakes were milked for their venom and placed in a barrel.

The spectacle of the day was when the pageant contestants dressed in their country best attire learned the process of skinning a snake from start to finish. They had the opportunity to whack off the head and properly strip the skin of their very own rattlesnake.

The camaraderie between the students was enlightening, and a great kick off to the start of the 66th annual Sweetwater Rattlesnake Round-Up.

Linnea Elmore, 17, of Roscoe rolls the skin of the rattlesnake she just skinned as a Sweetwater Jaycee holds it taut for her Feb. 23.

The world's largest rattlesnake roundup will be held March 8-10 at Nolan County Coliseum, 220 Coliseum Drive, in Sweetwater, Texas.

Miss Snake Charmer Pageant is scheduled for Thursday, March 7, at Sweetwater Municipal Auditorium, 201 East 4th Street.

Rattlesnake Round-Up helps support Sweetwater Jaycees in their community projects throughout the year.

For a detailed schedule of events, check out rattlesnakeroundup.net.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Insight into Sweetwater Jaycee's Rattlesnake Round-Up Media Day
Gov. Greg Gianforte speaks at a press conference at the U.S.-Mexico border in Eagle Pass, Texas on Sunday. (Photo courtesy of the Governor's Office)

I am reading a history of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin and their role together in the creation of America. It depresses me greatly. It depresses me because of the stark contrast with the caliber of people we now elect to office.

The Senate recently created a bipartisan bill to address the border issue. It was spearheaded by one of its most conservative members, James Lankford of Oklahoma. It addressed issues of great concern to Republicans and did not address issues of great concern to Democrats, like a path to citizenship for longtime resident aliensthe dreamers. Nonetheless, it had substantial Democratic support. It was ripe for passage; our immigration policy has not been addressed in 40 years.

But then, former President Donald Trump said he didnt like it, and like buckshot on a tilting table those Republicans who had supported it rolled to the opposition side, and its chances for passage are slim.

That is spineless. It is cowardly, and it is servile. These people are not concerned about America, they are concerned about the prospects for their political futures if they incur the wrath of the MAGA movement. They are not worthy of their titles or of ouror anyonestrust.

We are electing people to office today whose intent is to not govern, only to tear down what Washington and Franklin carefully and lovingly put together for us. Anybody can destroyanybody, its easy. Its childs play and by golly, we have the elected children who can do it. And they are playing into the hands of our enemies by making us look weak and fractious. They are Putins playmates: Two years ago, Matt Rosendale was the sole vote against sending aid to Ukraine. Matt Gaetz brought down the speakership of Kevin McCarthy and held the Congress and our Nation helpless and vulnerable for three weeks while they played at electing a new Speaker. But at least those guys I understand. They are just petulant little kids who want nothing more than attention and know the fastest way to get it, no matter who it hurts.

The guys I dont understand and who have earned my anger and disrespect are those who cannot stand up to power because they fear for their political future. They should fear for their souls which they gladly sell for a bowl of political pottage.

Then, to help fuel the fire, Gov. Greg Gianforte goes to the southern border to join 17 Republican Governors to help Texas Gov. Greg Abbott thumb his nose at the United States Supreme Court. Maybe he went on his own dime, maybe he went on ours, but the point is that he went at all, representing the state of Montana. Their goal is to keep the entire border issue alive as political fuel for the coming election. Complain about inaction as you wish, but the point is that these politicians want someone to blame, which is a clever move, because the blame lies with themselves. They demanded a border solution, they got a solution of basically everything that they had asked for. They supported it, but then, suddenly, they didnt want the solution, they wanted to keep the problem.

I believe that it matters that America is respected around the world and the antics and games being played in Congress dont help our standing at all. Is it important that Rosendale thumbs his nose at Ukraine, giving Putin a big smile? Yes. Is it important that Gaetz strokes his importance by making the world laugh at us? Yes.

Congress is not a playground. It is a solemn and unique institution created by Americans to command respect from the leaders of other nations. The juveniles holding office need to know that, even if they cant understand it.

Washington and Franklin committed their lives to create and nurture a nation that they believed in, not just for themselves, but for their fellow citizens and the world. They risked being hanged for treason to give Americans a place of freedom. In 1785 Washington wrote to James Madison:

We are either a United people, or we are not. If the former, let us, in all matters of general concern act as a nation, which have national objects to promote, and a national character to support. If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it.

Let us then act like the great nation we are.

The post Instead of acting like children, our leaders should act like our Founders wanted appeared first on Daily Montanan.
JOLIET, Ill.  An investigation is underway after two people were found with gunshot wounds in Joliet early Saturday morning.

According to Joliet police, officers were first called to an apartment complex in the 300 block of North Broadway Street just after 5:30 a.m., on reports that a person had been shot in the area.

When officers arrived on the scene, they located a 28-year-old man who had been shot in the leg. Police say the man then told officers that he had been shot by an unknown individual near the third-floor hallway of the apartment complex.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

While officers were on the scene, they found a 45-year-old man, who had also been shot in the leg, across the street.

Police say the second victim was uncooperative, told officers that he had no knowledge of the other shooting, and refused to provide police any further information.

Officers say they were unable to locate crime scenes for either incident and have not been able to determine if the shootings were related.

Police search for 6 involved in robbery at South Side Red Line stop

Both victims suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

Currently, it is unclear what led to the shootings and an investigation is now underway.

Anyone with information that could help authorities in their investigation is asked to contact the Joliet Police Department Investigation Division at 815-724-3020 or Will County Crime Stoppers at 800-323-6734.

Visit the Will County Crime Stoppers website to submit tips online.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
Iran claims to allow the countrys Christian minority to practice its faith in peace. The reality for many Iranian Christians, however, is plagued by whippings, arrests, imprisonment, surveillance and harassment, according to a February report from the religious freedom NGO Article 18.

One shocking finding of the Article 18 40-page study, titled "Faceless Victims: Rights Violations Against Christians in Iran," states, "By the end of 2023, at least 17 of the Christians arrested during the summer had received prison sentences of between three months and five years, or non-custodial punishments such as fines, flogging, and in one case the community-service of digging graves."

The report noted, "Despite a comparable number of Christians being arrested in 2023 as in previous years  166 arrests were documented in 2023, compared to 134 in 2022  fewer names and faces could be publicized."

IRAN HAS WORLDS FASTEST-GROWING CHURCH, DESPITE NO BUILDINGS - AND IT'S MOSTLY LED BY WOMEN: DOCUMENTARY

"More and more Iranians are converting to Christianity every day," one Iranian Christian reports.

Rev. Johnnie Moore, the president of the Congress of Christian Leaders, told Fox News Digital, "The Department of States absolutely insane policy toward the Islamic Republic, which is wreaking havoc worldwide, also has real life-and-death consequences for the people in Iran. The mullahs presently feel they have a license to kill whoever they want and no one will do anything. So more people are being captured and killed and the terrorist leaders of the Islamic Republic particularly lust for the blood of women and Christians. "

Moore, an influential evangelical leader, explained that Irans regime persecutes Christians "Because these mullahs fear the power and resolve of Iranian women, and they know that Iranian Christians, who only fear God, do not fear the ayatollah himself. The more the mullahs threaten, imprison and kill us, our movement just multiplies. No church in the world is growing, secretly, and faster than the Iranian church and Irans women look very much forward to the day when the world greets the first woman president of a free Iran."

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He continued, "I predict she and her cabinet, inclusive of evangelical Christians, the Bahai and others, will make their maiden international trip to Jerusalem and Washington. The mullahs want to kill us for one reason: they know we are winning. It would be nice to have more help from the State Department but it isnt required."

A State Department spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "The persecution of Christians and other religious minorities in Iran is longstanding and well documented. The U.S. continues to condemn these actions and use all the tools at our disposal to address such egregious violations."

The spokesperson added, "The Departments most recent Report on International Religious Freedom in Iran notes, Officials continued to disproportionately arrest, detain, harass, and surveil Christians, particularly evangelicals and other converts from Islam, according to Christian NGOs."

When Fox News Digital asked if the State Department will impose new human rights sanctions on Irans regime for the persecution of Christians, the spokesperson said, "While the Department does not preview sanctions, Iran has been designated as a Country of Particular Concern and imposed Presidential Actions under the International Religious Freedom Act for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom every year since 1999."

IRAN PROXIES ENGAGED IN 'INVISIBLE JIHAD' AGAINST CHRISTIANS IN MIDDLE EAST, REPORT WARNS

The raw violence used by Irans theocratic state against Iranian Christians was documented in the Article 18 report. Ali Kazemian said his interrogators "discovered that I had a metal implant in my left leg from an historic break" and "for this reason, one of the agents kicked my left leg several times. Then they put me on a chair, tied my hands together, and the interrogator said: You are now in an electric chair Then they violently punched me several times."

He said the security forces threatened him, declaring: "Well harm your wife and children! Well bring your wife to the interrogation room and strip her naked in front of everyone, to see if you can really resist and stay quiet!"

Irans regime has targeted all forms of Christianity for persecution, including Protestants and the arrest of Catholics.

Article 18, which published the report in collaboration with Open Doors, Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Middle East Concern, said there might be as many 800,000 Christians in Iran. The report extrapolated the number 800,000 based on a "A survey of Iranians attitudes toward religion in 2020, conducted by a secular Netherlands-based research group, revealed that 1.5% of Iranians from a sample size of 50,000 self-identified as Christians."

A huge mural of Iran's supreme leader on Motahari Street on March 8, 2020, in Tehran.

The report was published on Feb. 19 to draw attention to the 45th anniversary of the Iranian regimes brutal execution of Anglican pastor Arastoo Sayyah in his church in Shiraz, a mere eight days after the Islamic Revolution. Sayyah was the first Christian murdered by the regime.

Sheina Vojoudi, an Iranian Christian who fled the Islamic Republic, told Fox News Digital, "Christianity in Iran is classified under political-security crimes, Despite this, more and more Iranians are converting to Christianity every day. Christianity is considered by the Islamic Republic in Iran as a Western religion and works against the Islamic Republic."

IRAN REGIME LEADERS ACCUSED OF MASS MURDER IN 2019 PROTESTS

An anti-U.S. design on a government building wall in the capital, adjacent to the Armenian Cathedral of Tehran.

Vojoudi, who is an associate fellow for the U.S.-based Gold Institute for International Strategy, added, "The persecution and killing of the Christians started after the occupation of Iran by the Islamic Regime and since then the Islamic Republic has murdered at least 15 Iranian pastors."

According to Vojoudi, Irans regime ramped up its persecution of the struggling Christian community following the Green revolution movement in 2009 against the widely documented fraudulent election of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

"The regime in Iran increased the persecutions and arrests due to fear of its downfall and that, of course, doesnt exclude the Christians in Iran," Vojoudi said.

She said, "The regime burned 300 Persian Bibles and seized 650 Bibles and until today having a Persian Bible is a crime. A prohibition on preaching in Persian in the churches was announced by the intelligence organizations."

Vojoudi converted to Christianity and fled to Germany due to religious persecution. Article 18s report stated, "Christian converts from Islam are numerically the largest Christian community in Iran, but they are not recognized by the state and are frequently targeted by the authorities and, in some cases, by their extended families and society. "

AYATOLLAH'S FAVORITE NEWS SOURCE DECLARES HORROR AND FEAR IRAN MILITARY CAMPAIGN AGAINST US, ALLIES

Vojoudi said, "I used to go to a church near this cathedral church in Tehran, of course secretly. This church was open to the public, but I forgot on which days, but is extremely under [the] watch of the regime.

"The picture of [Ayatollah Ruhollah] Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic regime, sits right next to the church, means that they watch everyone, and they have no respect for other religions."

Article 18 wrote, "With converts constituting the largest  albeit unrecognized  Christian community in Iran, the issue of apostasy is a central concern a Christian convert was sentenced to be hanged for apostasy in 2010, the charge of apostasy and death sentence were overturned in response to international pressure, but many converts have since been threatened with a similar fate upon arrest and during interrogations."

The dire fate of Iranian Christians has forced them to organize house churches as part of an underground movement.

Vojoudi said Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, declared in a speech the "importance of confronting the house churches and provoked his followers against the Christians by claiming that the house churches are created by the enemies of Islam and must be stopped."

Article 18 listed a number of demands for the international community, including that foreign nations urge Iran "to ensure and facilitate freedom of religion or belief for all its citizens" and "highlighting human rights infractions during bilateral and multilateral dialogues with Iran."

Fox News Digital sent numerous press queries to Irans U.N. mission and its Foreign Ministry in Tehran.





Original article source: Iran violently clamps down on Christians amid reports of torture, fines and floggings
The Chancellor is considering the introduction of a British ISA in this weeks Budget. Its aim would be to encourage investment in domestic firms. He has remarked that it fell into the category of things that might appear in the budget. He should think carefully before doing so.

Two versions of the scheme have been floated. The first, an additional 5,000 allowance for investing in British companies on top of the existing ISA scheme, is mostly harmless. People would still be free to invest as they would elsewhere, but would have an incentive to keep more of their money in British assets.

This isnt cost-free. Everyone living in Britain is already hugely exposed to the performance of the British economy; their job, their wages, their tax bills and public services are all tightly linked to whether the UK is in a boom or a bust. Investing in assets overseas is a way of hedging against Britain doing poorly. If Britain takes a hit and sterling drops, your UK assets are worth less; you can draw on your overseas holdings to tide you over.

In this context, its worth noting that British stocks have not performed particularly well, with the US S&P 500 significantly outstripping the FTSE 100 over the past 20 years. Diversification has been a prop to living standards, with lucrative foreign investments paying for a stream of imports.

But at least in this version of the scheme youd still be able to hold overseas assets in your main ISA balance. Thats not true for the alternative proposed by a long list of fund managers and City bigwigs. In that version, the existing ISA scheme would be replaced entirely with one where only UK equities could be held inside the tax-free wrapper.

This would be a complete disaster, hugely magnifying each of these problems. Blocking tax-efficient investment in overseas assets would put a little more money into less profitable British schemes, and heavily discourage saving. It would also leave savers with worse returns, making them more dependent on state largesse in times of need. There is no good economic rationale for this.

Its certainly true that Britain has a chronic problem of under-investment. Pick any year since 1980, and the chances are that well rank at the very bottom of the G7 for investment as a share of GDP. Our saving rates are nothing to write home about either.

Our businesses struggle to build workplaces and fill them with equipment, and our government seems to be incapable of finishing infrastructure projects on time and on budget. Small wonder productivity is so low, or that the state is tempted to try to intervene.

A British ISA, however, is pure cargo-cult economics. The world is awash with capital-seeking profitable opportunities, and British savers are already heavily over-exposed to their home market. If there were good projects crying out for investment, they would be funded. The problem is that these opportunities are lacking.

If we want British companies to invest more, we need to actually let them invest. Remove the planning restrictions that mean they cant build the factories, offices and warehouses they need to expand. Fix the energy policy mess that means weve got the most expensive electricity for industrial users in Europe, and stop loading hidden regulatory costs on businesses in mad attempts to micromanage the economy.

The problem for Britain is not that people are investing in Nvidia or Apple, but that Britain has no Nvidia or Apple to offer. Hammering savers with schemes mimicking the effects of capital controls or forced savings wont fix this any more than they fixed the socialist economies that tried them before us. It would, however, mark the end of the Conservatives as a free market party.

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Israel is deploying new and sophisticated artificial intelligence technologies at a large scale in its offensive in Gaza. And as the civilian death toll mounts, regional human rights groups are asking if Israels AI targeting systems have enough guardrails.

It's a push for accountability that could force Washington to confront some uncomfortable questions about the extent to which the U.S. is letting its ally off the hook for its use of AI-powered warfare.

In its strikes in Gaza, Israels military has relied on an AI-enabled system called the Gospel to help determine targets, which have included schools, aid organization offices, places of worship and medical facilities. Hamas officials estimate more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in the conflict, including many women and children.

Its unclear if any of the civilian casualties in Gaza are a direct result of Israels use of AI targeting. But activists in the region are demanding more transparency  pointing to the potential errors AI systems can make, and arguing that the fast-paced AI targeting system is what has allowed Israel to barrage large parts of Gaza.

Palestinian digital rights group 7amleh argued in a recent position paper that the use of automated weapons in war poses the most nefarious threat to Palestinians. And Israels oldest and largest human rights organization, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, submitted a Freedom of Information request to the Israeli Defense Forces legal division in December demanding more transparency on automated targeting.

The Gospel system, which the IDF has given few details on, uses machine learning to quickly parse vast amounts of data to generate potential attack targets.

The Israeli Defense Forces declined to comment on its use of AI-guided bombs in Gaza, or any other usage of AI in the conflict. An IDF spokesperson said in a public statement in February that while the Gospel is used to identify potential targets, the final decision to strike is always made by a human being and approved by at least one other person in the chain of command.



Still, the IDF noted in November that in addition to increasing accuracy, the Gospel system allows the use of automatic tools to produce targets at a fast pace. That same statement said that Israel had hit more than 12,000 targets in the first 27 days of combat.

The push for more answers about Israels AI warfare has the potential to reverberate in the U.S., creating demands for the U.S. to police tech of its allies abroad and creating a tricky policy area for U.S. lawmakers looking to use AI on future battlefields.

Some who track AI warfare policy in the U.S. argue Israel is distorting the technologys purpose  using it to expand target lists rather than protect civilians. And, they say, the U.S. should be calling out the IDF for that breach of ethics.

"It's been clear that Israel has been using AI to have what they call 'power targets' so they are using it intentionally  as opposed to what it's supposed to be, which is helping with precision  to target civilians," said Nancy Okail, president of progressive foreign policy think tank the Center for International Policy. She said the IDF appears to be allowing for a broad definition of these power targets  which the militarys intelligence branch defines as targets with security or perception significance to Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

With over 30,000 casualties in Gaza, its hard to tell if the IDF is using high-tech AI to identify targets or throwing darts at a map, said Shaan Shaikh, deputy director and fellow with the Missile Defense Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The U.S. should use its untapped leverage to shape these operations, but so far, the Biden administration has been unwilling to do so.

Yet so far Israels AI use in its military offensive hasnt caught much attention in Washington discussions of the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Human rights groups stateside say theyre more focused on Israels decision to target civilian infrastructure, rather than the technology used to do so. As POLITICO has reported, aid organizations and medical facilities have been struck even after their GPS coordinates were provided to Israeli authorities. And Israel has said it considers civilian infrastructure like hospitals and schools a fair target because Hamas has hidden fighters and weapons in these buildings.

U.S. officials have also largely avoided bringing up Israel's AI use.

I've been in a number of meetings with folks who are very human rights minded, in meetings with the administration, and I haven't heard AI come up specifically," Khaled Elgindy, the program director for Palestine and Palestinian-Israeli Affairs at the Middle East Institute, said.

Asked about the scale of Israels use of AI targeting in war, White House Deputy National Security Adviser for Cyber and Emerging Technology Anne Neuberger was quick to pivot to the dangers of the technology in warfare writ large.

We're really concerned about AI systems, Neuberger said in an interview. That's why the president worked so quickly to get out his executive order on AI and go from there. Absolutely.

The executive order she referenced  issued in October  provides guidelines for artificial intelligence use by the U.S. military and intel agencies, while also pushing to counter the weaponization of AI by foreign adversaries.

Another reason the technology may not be getting as much attention in Washington: The opaque nature of Israels military operations.

"Nobody has any insight including, I would say U.S. policymakers on how Israel is conducting this war," said Sarah Yager, the Washington director at Human Rights Watch.



We see the outcome in the civilian casualties and the destroyed buildings, but in terms of the technology and the proportionality calculus we just have no idea. Its like a black box.

But there are signs that Israel may not be employing oversight at the level the U.S. would want. Israel has not signed onto a U.S.-backed treaty pushing for the responsible use of AI in war. Among the more than 50 signatories are the United Kingdom, Germany and Ukraine  the other U.S. ally in an active war.

My concern is that AI technology has basically opened Pandoras box, Ron Reiter, the co-founder and chief technology officer for Israel-based cyber firm Sentra and a former Israeli intelligence officer, said in an interview.

Israels AI-targeting system, the Gospel, is used by its elite Unit 8200 cyber and signals intelligence agency to analyze communications, visuals and information from the internet from mobile networks to understand where people are, said Reiter, a former Unit 8200 officer.

8200 provides the signal for what they think in terms of confidence level  how confident they are that the target does not contain civilians, he said. While Reiter said he could not speak to potential for mistakes by the Gospel, he said that in general the Israeli targeting systems are very, very accurate and that is done accurately for the sole purpose of minimizing civilian casualties.

But experts argue that any AI targeting systems carry high risks.

Given the track record of high error-rates of AI systems, said Heidy Khlaaf, an engineering director of machine learning at the United Kingdom-based Trail of Bits cybersecurity firm, Imprecisely and biasedly automating targets is really not far from indiscriminate targeting.

The U.S. uses AI to help run drone navigation and surveillance in conflict zones, and is developing systems that would use AI-enabled targeting for offensive strikes. The Pentagon published an AI strategy late last year outlining how it plans to safely integrate AI technologies into its operations.

The U.S. is also testing out a variety of AI technologies that have been developed in Israel for use by U.S. forces  some with U.S. funding.

The United States provides Israel $3.3 billion annually in Foreign Military Financing grants, plus $500 million a year for missile defense programs under a decadelong pact on military aid.

Israel has used the funding in part to bolster its high tech war-fighting, anti-rocket and surveillance capabilities  though there are no indications money goes to the Gospel. In addition to strike systems, that includes AI-precision assault rifle sights, such as SMASH from Smart Shooter  which uses advanced image-processing algorithms to hone in on a target. Its use has been recorded in both Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

In October, the Pentagon opened up their own school on drone fighting at Fort Sill in Oklahoma, where its students train with the SMASH add-on.

Some in Congress have moved to push more rules around how the U.S. employs AI tech. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Reps. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), Donald Beyer (D-Va.) and Ken Buck (R-Colo.) introduced legislation last year that would take steps to ensure AI technologies are not in charge of nuclear command and control systems.

But few are arguing to abandon AI weaponry either in the U.S. or by American allies abroad.

Its used to decide targeting and best use of munitions and can be used, frankly, to try to minimize or avoid civilian casualties and unintended consequences, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) said.

Andrew Borene, executive director of global security at Flashpoint and former senior staff officer in counterterrorism at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, argued that todays wars are by default the test sites for figuring out what AI tech can work in warfare and what the rules should be.

These events in Ukraine, as well as Gaza, he said, Are like laboratories that are sadly doing some of the tragic, kinetic work needed to help us develop better AI policy and ethical considerations on a global level.

Matt Berg contributed to this report.
Pressure is growing for a ceasefire to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza and the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas

Mediators and Hamas have arrived in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, for talks on a new ceasefire, as Israel is reported to be demanding reassurances on the hostages' fate before attending.

An unnamed US official has said Israel has "more or less accepted" the deal.

But Israeli media say Hamas is refusing to confirm which of its hostages are still alive, so Israel will not attend.

The US says the six-week pause would see the release of more Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners.

Delegates from Qatar and the US are also understood to be in Egypt.

Pressure for a deal intensified after Thursday's incident outside Gaza City in the north of the territory where at least 112 people were killed as crowds rushed an aid convoy.

Hamas has accused Israel of shooting at civilians as they attempted to get food. Israel has denied this.

On Sunday, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesman Rear Adm Daniel Hagari said an initial review had been completed "of the unfortunate incident where Gazan civilians were trampled to death and injured as they charged to the aid convoy.

"Our initial review has confirmed that no strike was carried out by the IDF towards the aid convoy," he said. "Several looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat to them."

He said a full investigation would be conducted by "an independent, professional and expert body" of the army, and updates would be shared in the coming days.

The Israeli account is disputed. BBC Verify spoke to witnesses, who described being shot at.

Dr Mohamed Salha, interim hospital manager at al-Awda hospital, where many of the dead and injured were taken, told the BBC: "Al-Awda hospital received around 176 injured people...142 of these cases are bullet injuries and the rest are from the stampede and broken limbs in the upper and lower body parts."

Hamas is reported to have said that an agreement on a truce could be reached within the next 24 to 48 hours, with a source from the group telling Egyptian media a deal depended on Israel agreeing to its demands.

Egyptian officials, who have been running the talks with Qatar, said delegations from both Hamas and Israel were expected to attend the negotiations.

Expectations of a deal were raised after a senior US official said Israel for its part had "basically agreed" a framework for a six-week ceasefire.

The Israel military launched a large-scale air and ground campaign to destroy Hamas after its gunmen killed about 1,200 people in southern Israel on 7 October and took 253 back to Gaza as hostages.

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry says at least 30,410 people, including 21,000 children and women, have been killed in Gaza since then with some 7,000 missing and 71,700 injured.

Calls for ceasefire come as aid organisations have warned there is a risk of famine in northern Gaza.

Jan Egeland, head of the Norwegian Refugee Council, has just returned from a three-day visit to the territory.

"I was prepared for nightmare, but it is worse, much worse," Mr Egeland told the BBC on Sunday.

"People want to take your hand... saying 'we are starving, we are dying here'.

"I think there is famine in the north," he said, adding that there had been no aid for 300,000 people living in ruins, with Israel not allowing any through.

After Thursday's aid convoy incident, the US carried out its first airdrop of humanitarian aid for Gaza, with more than 30,000 meals parachuted in by three military planes on Saturday.

Elsewhere, Israel said on Sunday it carried out an intensive wave of air strikes in the southern Gaza city of Khan Younis. The number of casualties is not known.

At least 11 people were killed in an Israeli air strike at a camp for displaced people in Rafah in southern Gaza on Saturday, according to Hamas.

World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus called the attack "outrageous".

The Israeli army said it had carried out a "precision strike" against Islamic Jihad militants in the area.
Israel is not sending a delegation to Cairo for talks on a deal for a ceasefire and release of hostages from Gaza, an Israeli official told CNN Sunday.

The official said the reason was that Hamas had not responded to two Israeli demands: a list of hostages specifying which are alive and which are dead; and confirmation of the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for hostages.

The official asked not to be named as they discussed closed-door diplomatic maneuvers.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday, for the talks that are hoped to bring a halt to the fighting.

The decision not to send an Israeli delegation was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in coordination with Mossad director David Barnea  who has been a key Israeli negotiator  after Barnea received a message that Hamas had not responded to the conditions, the Israeli official said.

A high-ranking Hamas official did not immediately respond to a CNN question about whether the militant group had responded to Israels conditions.

Protesters hold signs and photos of hostages as they march during a protest calling for a hostage deal on January 18 in Tel Aviv, Israel. - Amir Levy/Getty Images

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outlined the terms in a speech on Thursday, saying: I demand to know in advance the names of all the hostages who will be included in the outline. I have yet to receive an answer on the two questions and it is too early to say, in spite of our willingness, if we will achieve an outline for an additional release in the coming days.

The Israeli decision that no delegation will go to Cairo comes a day after a senior Biden Administration official told reporters that Israel had basically accepted a proposal for a six-week ceasefire.

On Sunday a Hamas source said there were at least three sticking points remaining before the group would agree to a deal.

They are a permanent ceasefire; withdrawal of what the source called occupation forces  that is, Israeli troops  from the Gaza Strip; and the return of displaced people from the south to the north.

Another diplomatic source played down the prospects of an imminent deal, saying progress was slow and it was unlikely there would be a breakthrough within the next 48 hours.

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Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Sunday, March 3. For the latest news on the conflict in the Middle East, view our live updates file on the war for Monday, March 4.

he Biden administration's rift with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu became even more acute Sunday, when Vice President Kamala Harris called for a cease-fire in Gaza the day before a controversial meeting with a top Israeli official and longtime Netanyahu rival.

Israeli Cabinet minister Benny Gantz traveled to Washington without the endorsement of Netanyahu, who instructed the Israeli Embassy in the U.S. to withhold assistance in arranging his meetings, Israel Hayom reported.

An official from Netanyahus far-right Likud party, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz and told him the country has just one prime minister.

Gantz, a centrist who joined Netanyahus hardline government following Hamas Oct. 7 attacks, arrives amid deep disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over the Israeli military's conduct in Gaza and a postwar vision for the enclave.

Gantz is scheduled to meet Monday with Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on Tuesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, his National Unity Party said. They are expected to discuss the urgency of a hostage deal and cease-fire, the American commitment to increasing the flow of humanitarian aid to Gaza, and the imperative of reducing civilian casualties, a White House official told the New York Times.

At an event Sunday commemorating the 1965 Bloody Sunday attacks on demonstrators in Selma, Alabama, Harris told the audience: "Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table."

The U.S. has previously refrained from calling for a cease-fire but, along with Qatar and Egypt, has been trying to mediate a six-week truce that would lead to the release of hostages and enhanced aid for Gaza.

A Palestinian girl carries a child through the rubble of houses destroyed by Israeli bombardment in Gaza City on March 3, 2024.

Developments:

 Haim Rubinstein resigned as the spokesperson for the Hostage and Missing Families Forum, the second official to leave the organization in less than a month. Rubinstein was among the founders of the group, formed the day after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led assault during which more than 250 hostages were seized and taken to Gaza.

 The Israeli military said it has completed up a two-week raid in Gaza Citys Zeitoun neighborhood, destroying Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad sites and killing more than 100 operatives.

 The White House is sending senior adviser Amos Hochstein to Lebanon on Monday in an attempt to prevent tensions along the border with Israel from escalating.

Israel delays sending negotiating team to Cairo for talks

Hopes for a cease-fire agreement in Gaza took another setback Sunday when Israel refused to send a negotiating team to Cairo, citing Hamas' refusal to release the names of hostages who are still alive.

Representatives from Hamas, Qatar and the U.S. are in Cairo for the talks. Multiple Israeli news outlets including the Jerusalem Post were reporting that the Israel delegation will not make the journey until the list is provided and other details, including the health status of the hostages, are revealed.

Biden has been bullish on a deal, saying last week he hoped an agreement could be reached ahead of Ramadan. The Muslim holy month begins in a week.

Israel has said that more than 30 of the 130 hostages held since Oct. 7 are dead. The first phase of the deal in the works reportedly called for the release of 40 hostages, including women, children, the elderly and the sick, in the course of a six-week truce.

About 400 Palestinian prisoners would be freed by Israel.

Hamas, Israel still at odds over ending war in Gaza

Hamas will make no deal without Israel agreeing to end the war in Gaza or at least providing a path to end the war, CNN reported, citing "a highly placed source" in the militant group. That could be a deal-breaker  Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel won't end the war until Hamas has been eliminated.

On Sunday, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant visited troops in the Khan Younis area of southern Gaza, calling progress on the ground "impressive" and pledging not to retreat from Gaza until Hamas has been dismantled.

Israeli military says it will expand humanitarian efforts

The Israeli military said it is stepping up efforts at providing humanitarian aid in Gaza, creating humanitarian corridors, establishing humanitarian pauses  and exercising caution in its use of force. The military said it had coordinated 21 airdrops of 450 packages in Gaza in collaboration with France, the UAE, Jordan, Egypt, and the U.S.

Also Sunday, 50 incubators were shipped into Gaza, bound for five hospitals facing desperate shortages and overwhelming patient loads. A report last week indicated babies in some hospitals had to share incubators.

"We will continue expanding our humanitarian efforts to the civilian population in Gaza while we fulfill our goals of freeing our hostages from Hamas and freeing Gaza from Hamas," the military said in a statement.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israel Hamas war updates: US rift with Netanyahu grows; Gantz arrives
Benny Gantz's visit comes as the United States, Israel's strongest military and diplomatic backer, seeks a new pause in the nearly five-month war between Israel and Hamas (Mark Schiefelbein)

Benny Gantz, an influential member of Israel's war cabinet, will meet in Washington on Monday with top US officials to discuss efforts toward a temporary ceasefire in Gaza and increased humanitarian aid, a White House official said.

Gantz is to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and separately with White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan, the official said Sunday, speaking on grounds of anonymity.

"The vice president's meeting is part of our continued efforts to engage with a wide range of Israeli officials on the war in Gaza and planning for the day after," the White House official said.

Another US official said that Gantz would also meet with Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Gantz's visit comes as the United States, Israel's strongest military and diplomatic backer, seeks a new pause in the nearly five-month war between Israel and Hamas.

But the visit by centrist Gantz, a former military chief, appears to have caused some division in the right-wing government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Mr. Gantz, your entry into government was intended to create unity at a time of emergency, not to be a Trojan horse," said Doudi Amsellem, minister of regional cooperation, in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

Gantz, a current minister without portfolio, has long been a rival of Netanyahu's, and his centrist National Union party enjoys broad support at a time when the Israeli coalition government appears increasingly fragile.

The 64-year-old said Sunday on X that he had already met in Washington with the executive board of AIPAC, a powerful pro-Israel lobby group.

He said he conveyed his "profound appreciation" for the group's work to strengthen the US-Israeli alliance and "combating distressing levels of antisemitism across America."

The White House official said Harris would discuss with Gantz "the urgency of securing a hostage deal, which would allow for a temporary ceasefire, and the need to significantly expand and sustain aid flows into Gaza, given the dire humanitarian situation."

The United States launched its first airdrop of food into Gaza on Saturday, and the White House official said it was "prepared to do more to increase aid, including through airdrops" and a possible maritime corridor.

The Hamas attack on October 7 resulted in the death of around 1,160 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on official Israeli figures, with around 250 people believed to have been taken hostage.

The Israeli army says 130 hostages remain in Gaza, of whom 31 are believed to be dead.

Israel's military response has claimed 30,410 deaths, most of them women and children, according to the Hamas government's Ministry of Health.

With Palestinians in Gaza facing an increasingly untenable situation, including desperate shortages of food, international calls for a ceasefire have been multiplying.

President Joe Biden faces increasing pressure, including from fellow Democrats, to exert stronger pressure on Israel over its war conduct.

The White House official said "the vice president will reiterate Israel's right to defend itself in the face of continued Hamas terrorist threats" -- while insisting on the urgency of a hostage deal, increased aid and a ceasefire.

Meanwhile, negotiations in Cairo resumed Sunday in an effort to craft a truce during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which this year will begin on March 10 or 11.

aue-aem/ev/bbk/des
FILE PHOTO: Svenska Handelsbanken CEO Carina Akerstrom arrives for a news conference to present the company's third quarter results at Handelsbanken's headquarters in Stockholm

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) - Alecta's chairperson Carina Akerstrom has resigned only a week after she started in the position, the Swedish pension fund said on Sunday, adding it had reinstated its former interim chair.

Alecta said it would reinstate Jan-Olof Jacke, who was appointed Alecta's interim chairperson in November 2023 when its former chair resigned.

"It is regrettable that Carina Akerstrom has changed her assessment of her ability to fulfill her assignment as Chairman of the Board of Alecta and has chosen to resign," said Kenneth Bengtsson, chair of the nomination committee.

Alecta, which is Sweden's largest pension fund, did not give a reason for Akerstrom's resignation, but said that in its view there had been no conflicts of interest that could not be handled in the usual way.

Akerstrom did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

This is the second proposed chairperson that has not panned out after the nomination committee in January had to withdraw its proposal for former Danish central bank chief Lars Rohde due to a conflict of interest concern.

The committee said it had learned that Rohde was planning to take up another board post at a different firm, and would instead nominate Akerstrom.

Before starting her post as chairperson in Alecta, Akerstrom was the chief executive at Svenska Handelsbanken, where she stepped down last year.

Alecta has in the past year been the subject of two ongoing probes by the Swedish Financial Supervisory Authority (FSA) over risk taking.

The pension fund has been criticised for its large investment into the heavily indebted property group Heimstaden Bostad as well as its investments into failed banks First Republic, Silicon Valley and Signature in the United States.

(Reporting by Marie Mannes; Editing by Josie Kao)
Palestinians who were wounded in Israeli fire while waiting for aid, according to health officials, lie on beds at Al Shifa hospital, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Gaza City

JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israel's military said on Sunday most of the Palestinians killed last week as crowds massed near an aid convoy in Gaza died in a stampede but local health officials said casualties brought into hospitals had been hit by large-calibre ammunition.

Pressure has mounted on Israel over the deaths of dozens of Palestinians during a confused incident in the Gaza Strip on Thursday in which crowds surrounded a convoy of aid trucks and soldiers opened fire, with several countries backing a U.N. call for an inquiry.

Palestinian health officials say more than 100 people were killed in the incident in the early hours of the morning, most of them shot by Israeli troops. Israeli officials have dismissed the figures given by the Palestinians but have not offered any estimates of their own.

On Sunday, Israel's main military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari announced the result of a preliminary review which repeated earlier Israeli statements that most of those killed had been trampled underfoot as crowds rushed the aid trucks.

In addition "several individuals" were targeted as troops fired on people who approached them in the aftermath in a manner that suggested an immediate threat, he said, adding that an independent inquiry had been opened but giving no details.

Muatasem Salah, a member of the Emergency Committee at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, said there were more than 1,000 casualties, dead and wounded, from the incident and he dismissed the findings of the Israeli review.

"Any attempt to claim that people were martyred due to overcrowding or being run over is incorrect. The wounded and martyrs are the result of being shot with heavy-calibre bullets," he told Reuters.

Giorgios Petropoulos, head of the Gaza sub-office of the UN Co-ordinator for Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), who visited Gaza's Shifa hospital on Thursday and Sunday, said he had seen "a huge, overrun emergency department" at the hospital where many of the wounded were treated.

"There were a lot of heavy injuries, there were many, many surgeries," he told Reuters. "One surgeon told me he had to do 18 surgeries just the first night."

He said he had seen five or six people with bullet wounds including a young man shot in the right side of the chest who had taken himself to hospital as there were no ambulances. In addition, a smaller number of people had injuries consistent with falling over or being trampled in the dark.

Many of Israel's closest allies, including the United States, have called for an inquiry into the incident, which underscored the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the increasingly chaotic conditions in which the small amount of aid reaching the enclave is being distributed.

International aid organizations have warned that hundreds of thousands of people in Gaza are facing the threat of famine, some five months after Israeli troops launched their invasion following the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7.

The attack, which killed some 1,200 Israelis and foreigners, was the deadliest single-day incident in Israel's 75 year history and Israel has responded with a relentless assault that has so far killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to Palestinian figures.

As the diplomatic fallout spread, the military said it had launched a more thorough examination of the incident to be handled by "an independent, professional and expert body" which will share its findings as early as in the coming days.

Hagari's remarks suggested that some of the dead had been killed by Israeli fire after soldiers fired initial warning shots but he gave no details or figures.

"Following the warning shots fired to disperse the stampede and after our forces had started retreating, several looters approached our forces and posed an immediate threat to them. According to the initial review, the soldiers responded toward several individuals," he said.

(Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch, additional reporting by James Mackenzie and Ali Sawafta in Ramallah; editing by Elaine Hardcastle and Giles Elgood)
Itamar Ben-Gvir, the minister of national security, has been accused of leaking information and breaching protocol - ABIR SULTAN/SHUTTERSTOCK

Israels hardline security minister has been barred from intelligence briefings after a series of leaks of sensitive documents.

Itamar Ben-Gvir is accused of breaching the very security guidelines he is appointed to protect and is facing a boycott by the countrys national security council.

Since the Gaza war broke out in October, the Right-wing minister under Benjamin Netanyahus far-Right coalition, has been increasingly sidelined.

He has been accused of illegally photographing classified attendees of high-level intelligence meetings, according to Israels Haaretz newspaper.

Last month, Israels Shin Bet domestic intelligence chiefs also refused to meet with him any more after relations between the two sides became irreparable following clashes in weekly security meetings.

Shin Bet accused the minister of leaking information and breaching protocol such as bringing mobile phones into meetings.

The boycott by Israels two top domestic security agencies leaves Ben-Gvir, once convicted himself on terror charges, in the dark on key matters of intelligence.

A senior Israeli intelligence source told The Telegraph: The biggest threat to Israel from within is Ben-Gvir. He acts within his own rules and tries to disregard everyone around him, in spite of his not having any background in national security and defence issues himself. He is a liability.

It comes on the eve of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month when tensions in Israel are expected to spike following Hamas leader Ismail Haniyehs call for all Palestinians to march on Jerusalems Al-Aqsa mosque compound.

Last week, the terror groups political chief said: This is a call on our people in Jerusalem and the West Bank to march to Al-Aqsa since the first day of Ramadan, which Israeli government spokesperson Tal Heirich described as trying to drag us to wars on other fronts.

Ben-Gvir tried to push through legislation to limit the number of worshippers at the mosque compound, a flashpoint for Jews and Muslims, a holy site for both religions, but the war cabinet has banned his plans for fears it will take Israel into an ever-expanding war.

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Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) on Sunday ripped into congressional colleagues, who he argued are obsessed with funding for Ukraine, rather than the situation at the U.S. southern border.

Well, I think its so shameful  that you have all of these people whose job it is to look after American people and to lead this country, but theyre obsessed with Eastern Europe and with Ukraine, Vance said on Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures. Look, we have terrible problems because of our border. We have the fentanyl problem, the sex-trafficking problem.

Vance was responding to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumers (D-N.Y.) remarks after last weeks meeting between congressional leaders  including House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.)  and President Biden and Vice President Harris.

The meeting on Ukraine was one of the most intense I have ever encountered in my many meetings in the Oval Office. The overwhelming sentiment in that meeting is, We have got to do Ukraine now. There are other issues, including [the] border, which we should address, but not now, Schumer said last week.

Schumer and other congressional leaders have mounted pressure on Johnson to bring the Senates $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes $60 billion for Ukraine, onto the House floor. Johnson has indicated he will not bring the bill to the floor, however, as it lacks the border security provisions many House GOP members have demanded in recent months.

This is disgraceful. And if you are a leader of this country, of the United States of America, you should be getting fired up about that. You can believe that we should support Ukraine or not Ukraine, but if you are not most focused on the problems of this country, what are you doing in Senate leadership? Vance said.

I just think its so disgraceful. And, by the way  credit to Mike Johnson for being the one person in that meeting whos standing there saying, We have got to put the interest of our own citizens first.'

Vance has been a vocal critic of additional funding for Ukraine before passing border security provisions.

In December, the Ohio Republican claimed lawmakers were trying to cut Social Security benefits in favor of more Ukraine aid, which he argued would be used by one of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskys ministers to buy a bigger yacht.

Vance has also argued the United States needs to accept that Ukraine will likely need to cede some territory to Russia to end the fighting between the two countries.

Funding for the Eastern European nation has remained in limbo for nearly a year due to divisions among lawmakers. Congress has not passed a bill with funding for Ukraine since the end of 2022, and the Biden administration and defense officials have repeatedly warned that the U.S. is out of funding for the embattled country.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
MSNBCs Jen Psaki slammed Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnells (Ky.) real legacy as that of a cynic focused on power.

Psaki discussed McConnells announcement last week that he would be stepping down from his leadership role in the Senate Republican Conference next November. She said on Inside with Jen Psaki that his latest news is the perfect moment to discuss his legacy, specifically his unwavering devotion to winning and winning at any cost.

In heated remarks, Psaki suggested that McConnell was for or against issues based on how politically beneficial they were to him.

He was for campaign finance reform before he realized that opposing it would mean raising far more unrestricted money, and that could politically be helpful to him. He was for voting rights until he realized that suppressing the vote might help Republicans win elections, she said.

She then pointed to McConnell holding up former President Obamas nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court for 11 months in 2016, saying, at the time, it should be the choice of the American people in November.

But that didnt last long. Fast forward just a couple of years to 2020 when he flipped on his own McConnell rule to rush Amy Coney Barrett into the court just weeks before the election, because its never been about sticking with principles for him. Its been about power, she added.

She also said McConnell saw Trump as a means to an end because he could nominate conservatives to federal courts. She also noted that despite McConnell saying Trump was responsible for the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, he voted to acquit him in his second impeachment case.

And so, Mitch McConnell, [who] was arguably the most powerful figure in the Republican Party, is leaving his post as Republican Senate Leader diminished. Thats apparent from the lack of action on new Ukraine aid despite his insistence and his inability to keep his conference together to pass a bipartisan border bill, which tanked at the behest of Donald Trump, she said.

And yet, despite all that, McConnell thinks about Trump, which we know hes already said that if he is the Republican nominee, he will support him. And thats the real legacy of Mitch McConnell, a cynic focused on power only to be swallowed by the monster that he enabled to obtain it, she concluded.

The Hill has reached out to McConnells office for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Jeremy Hunt has insisted the government is "on track" to deliver a planned expansion of free childcare in April.

However, the chancellor told the BBC he could not give "an absolute guarantee" that the places needed would all be available in time.

From April, the government has promised working parents of two-year-olds in England 15 hours of free care a week.

Labour said the commitment was "in tatters", describing it as a "botched pledge without a plan".

Under proposals announced in last year's Budget, the government is rolling out the expansion of free childcare in stages.

Working parents of three and four-year-olds are already able to get 30 hours of free childcare.

From September, it will be extended to 15 hours for those aged nine months and above.

Then from September 2025, the government has pledged to offer 30 hours of free childcare to all under-fives.

However, nurseries and other early years providers have warned they will struggle to meet the expected demand for the scheme.

The sector argues that years of underfunding has led to a recruitment and retention crisis, meaning there are not enough staff to deliver the policy.

Nurseries have also complained of delays in confirming how much they will be paid to offer free hours.

Meanwhile, some parents have reported challenges finding local nurseries offering free hours which have places available.

Asked if he could give a guarantee to parents and childcare providers that all the places needed to deliver the pledge would be ready for April, Mr Hunt said the policy amounted to "the biggest expansion of childcare in a generation".

"It may mean that we need to employ 40,000 more people in the sector and that's why we're bringing it in stages," he told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme.

"You'll understand why I don't want to give an absolute guarantee. But am I confident we are delivering this programme and it will be on track for this April? Yes, I am."

Labour's shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson accused Mr Hunt of "rushing out" the commitment "with no plan to make it happen".

"Now it's working parents, who in the weeks and months ahead - when they go and try and access those places that have been promised - will discover that they just can't be delivered in the way that he set out," she told the programme.

She has written to the chancellor to demand the free childcare pledge will be delivered as scheduled and without parents facing extra charges.

Asked what provision Labour would guarantee if it wins power, Ms Phillipson said: "I'm not going to make the same mistakes the Conservatives have made - rushing something out without a plan to make it happen."

She added her party had commissioned a review of early years by the former chief inspector of Ofsted, Sir David Bell, which she said would look at how to drive up standards and ensure childcare places were available.

Elsewhere, Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association, said the chancellor needed to address "the huge challenges facing early years providers", including by offering sustainable funding rates and removing business rates.

"This is the only way that nurseries can plan for a sustainable future and be able to deliver the increased childcare offer being made to parents," she said.
Jersey Post is releasing stamps commemorating 200 years of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution's [RNLI] lifesaving work.

The stamps feature imagery from the charity's own library depicting key moments in the Island's RNLI history.

They will be released on 4 March to coincide with other tributes from across the nation on the day the charity was founded.

Jersey Post said the stamps capture the "enduring spirit of the RNLI".

A lifeboat was first established in Jersey in 1830, with a volunteer team and a boat, kept near Havre des Pas.

In 1884, the RNLI station in St. Helier was built at Albert Quay, where it still serves as the Island's RNLI headquarters.

Images chosen for the Jersey stamps include St Heliers Tamar class lifeboat, the dramatic scenes of the rescue of the yacht Fanny and Sir William Hillary, who founded the RNLI in 1824.

Jersey Post said the stamps were a tribute to the "generations of courageous volunteers and the generosity of those who give to support their vital life-saving work".

The release includes a booklet featuring further information about Jersey RNLI.

The stamps will be available to buy from all branches of Jersey Post from 4 March.

Follow BBC Jersey on X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook. Send your story ideas to channel.islands@bbc.co.uk.
First lady Jill Biden was interrupted by a group of pro-Palestinian hecklers while campaigning for her husband Saturday.

While speaking in Tucson, Arizona, the first lady was emphasizing the importance of the 2024 presidential election before she was interrupted by a rowdy crowd.

"To do what we did in 2020 and 2022, we're going to talk to our friends about why this election is so important," Biden said at the podium. "Tell them what's at stake.

"Sign up for phone banks and canvasing shifts. We're going to meet this moment."

POLL SHOWS BIDEN'S LEAD OVER TRUMP SHRINKING IN 2024 MATCHUP AS CONCERNS OVER PHYSICAL FITNESS GROW

First lady Jill Biden was heckled by a group of protesters Saturday who accused her of supporting genocide in Gaza.

The group of protesters then began yelling and accused the Bidens, who have been vocally supportive of Israel, of supporting "genocide" in the Israel-Hamas war.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"It's genocide!" one male demonstrator yelled. "You and your husband support the genocide of the Palestinian people!"

In a counterprotest, audience members began shouting, "Four more years," to quiet the disruptive group. After several seconds, the protesters were silenced.

The first lady thanked the supporters and continued with her speech.

EX-DEM LAWMAKER SAYS HIS PARTY APPROACHES LATINO VOTERS 'IN A VERY IGNORANT FASHION': 'THAT DRIVES ME NUTS'

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden during an event marking the three-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell, Pa., Jan. 5, 2024

"We are going to meet this moment as if our rights are at risk, because they are," she added. Around a minute later, the pro-Palestinian demonstrators started yelling and interrupted her again.

President Biden has had low approval ratings in recent months as the presidential race between him and former President Trump, the presumptive Republican nominee, heats up.

According to a New York Times/Sienna College poll released Saturday, 43% of respondents said they would vote for the sitting president if the election were held today. Forty-seven percent of respondents "strongly disapprove" of Biden's performance, and only 17% said they "strongly approve" of him.

Fox News Digital reached out to the White House for comment.

Fox News Digital's Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.





Original article source: Jill Biden heckled more than once at Arizona campaign stop
First lady Jill Biden, in Tucson on Saturday, blasted Republican efforts to restrict abortion in a speech that was punctuated by protests over U.S. support of Israels military campaign in the Gaza Strip.

Bidens speech in Arizona was the second stop in a tour geared towards rallying women voters around her husband, President Joe Biden.

It's no accident that Arizona is one of the places we've chosen to stop during our launch for Women for Biden this weekend. Because four years ago, Arizona, you put us in the White House, she told the crowd of mostly women at the Fox Tucson Theatre.

First lady Jill Biden addresses the crowd at Tucson's Fox Theatre.

Suburban women were a core part of the coalition that helped Democrats take the White House in 2020. The overturning of the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade in 2022 has galvanized many voters, and particularly women, to turn out in support of Democrats, and is thought to be a key factor driving Democratic wins in elections since that decision.

Over the course of the 15-minute-long speech, Biden was interrupted four times by protesters critical of her husbands handling of the latest wave of hostilities between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Israels military campaign into Gaza, waged in response to Hamas Oct. 7 attacks, has drawn outcry from progressives within the U.S. over its steep humanitarian toll.

The crowd drowned out each protester with chants of four more years.

Protestors gather outside the Fox Theatre in Tucson following Jill Biden's speech there.

Continuing the pointed tone from her first campaign stop in Atlanta, Georgia, Biden took direct aim at her husbands expected opponent in the general election, former President Donald Trump. Biden portrayed Trump as disrespectful toward women and highlighted his support for abortion restrictions.

Donald Trump has spent a lifetime tearing us down and devaluing our existence. He mocks women's bodies, disrespects our accomplishments, and brags about assault, Biden said. Now hes bragging about killing Roe v. Wade.

Trump last week said he is considering supporting a limit on abortion at 15 weeks into a pregnancy, which is toward the beginning of the second trimester.

Donald Trump is dangerous to women and to our families. We simply cannot let him win, Biden continued. When our bodies are on the line, when our daughters futures are at stake, when our country and its freedom hang in the balance, we are immovable and unstoppable.

Danielle Allen-Herried, an OB-GYN, introduced Biden on Saturday.

Republicans have plans to take this extreme agenda even further by banning abortion nationwide. We can stop them. And that starts here in Arizona, Allen-Herried said.

First lady Jill Biden embraces OB-GYN Danielle Allen Herried at Tucson's Fox Theatre.

Reached for a comment, the Trump campaign referenced the recent death of Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia who authorities believe was killed by an undocumented migrant.

"The horrifying murder of Laken Riley at the hands of an illegal immigrant is every woman's worst nightmare, and Joe Biden's policies have turned our nightmare into reality. Women want a President who will secure our nation's borders, remove violent criminals from our neighborhoods, and build an economy that helps hardworking families thrive  and that's exactly what President Trump will do, Karoline Leavitt, national press secretary for the Trump campaign, said in a written statement. Women know our nation will be safer and more prosperous under Donald Trump than it is under Joe Biden, and that's why President Trump is leading in every single battleground state poll.

The same day Biden appeared in Atlanta to launch the "Women for Biden" initiative, the Republican National Committee put out a statement emphasizing a different slate of womens issues.

The RNC argued Joe Biden has taken steps to erase the progress women have fought for by promoting language designed to be inclusive of transgender people, and that women and families are suffering economically under Joe Biden, citing the presidents high disapproval ratings on that issue.

Bidens radical policies have hurt women across the country, leading to women increasingly rejecting Biden  and the Democrat Party  for failing to represent them, the statement said.

Jill Biden is leading the "Women for Biden-Harris" initiative in 2024, an effort to mobilize women voters for the Democratic presidential ticket this year. Her Saturday appearance was held at an event honoring the 20th anniversary of the pro-choice political action committee Arizona List.

Maya Harris, a Democratic policy adviser and the sister of Vice President Kamala Harris, also spoke at the event held just days ahead of Super Tuesday, the day most states hold their presidential primaries or caucuses. Biden has cruised to an easy victory in all of the primary contests so far.

While the issue of womens rights may be an electoral strength to Democrats in 2024, progressives opposition to his handling of Gaza could be a vulnerability. In Michigans Democratic primary last week, the number of protest votes on the issue appeared to exceed the margin by which Trump won the state in 2016.

Kaliana Venet, one of the protesters who interrupted Bidens remarks, said she believes Israel is committing a genocide in Gaza and she will absolutely not vote for Joe Biden in the upcoming election.

I was really disappointed, when were talking about celebrating women, and the importance of women in positions of power, that this topic, of the femicide that is happening in Gaza, wasnt addressed, she said. There are women in Gaza having C-sections without anesthesia. There are children in the NICU who are dying because they dont have power in the incubators."

Next, the first lady will travel to Nevada and Wisconsin, two other states that are seen as up for grabs in 2024.

Laura Gersony covers national politics for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at lgersony@gannett.com or 480-372-0389.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jill Biden calls Donald Trump 'dangerous to women' in campaign rally
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan wrote a letter to Alphabet, Googles parent company, on Saturday, demanding the company explain what influence the Biden administration may have had on its controversial Gemini AI program.

The Judiciary Committee asked for documents on the creation and deployment of the artificial intelligence chatbot.

"The Committee is investigating how and to what extent the Executive Branch has coerced or colluded with Big Tech and other intermediaries to censor Americans' speech," the House Judiciary Committee said in a Saturday news release.

Gemini has faced backlash after it reportedly showed historical figures like George Washington appearing wrongfully as Black and a search for a "pope" prompting a Black woman in Vatican garb. White Supremacist Nazis also were not White.

GOOGLE GEMINI MAY BE LAUGHABLE NOW, BUT THE THREAT TO FUTURE GENERATIONS IS REAL, MARC THIESSEN WARNS

The chatbot also wasnt sure whether Adolf Hitler or Elon Musk was a worse influence on society.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A week ago, Google admitted to Fox News Digital that a failure by its AI chatbot to outright condemn pedophilia is both "appalling and inappropriate" and a spokesperson vowed changes.

"Recent reporting alleges that the Executive Branch, most notably the Biden White House, may have influenced the development of Alphabets Gemini AI model," Jordans letter to Alphabet said. "On October 30, 2023, President Biden issued an Executive Order on the Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence, which claimed to serve as an overarching guide to how the Biden Administration will approach issues like AI development and deployment."

Jordan added that a report from Googles Gemini Team said the tool was evaluated by external groups, "which were selected based on their alignment with the Biden White House Executive Order and White House Commitments" and the company "claimed that it worked with these external groups to help identify areas for improvement, including societal risk, such as alleged representational harms."

Jordans letter said the "improvements" to Gemini showed its "clear bias."

He added that reporting has suggested that Jack Krawczyk, who leads the Gemini program, and Jen Gennai, the Director of Googles Responsible Innovation team, "expressed significant racial and political bias."

He continued, "Given that Alphabet has censored First Amendment-protected speech as a result of government agencies requests and demands in the past, the Committee is concerned about potential First Amendment violations that have occurred with respect to Alphabets Gemini model."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Google and Jordan for comment.





Original article source: Jim Jordan, House Republicans demand Google explain if Biden administration influenced woke Gemini AI
JK Rowling reacted angrily to reports calling a transgender murderer a woman.

The conviction of Scarlet Brown has sparked intense discussion in Rowling's native Britain.

Some activists, like Rowling, object to the media and others respecting the self-identification of criminals.

JK Rowling posted about a lurid murder story in the UK, reopening a fierce debate about how society should talk about and punish transgender convicts.

Reacting to a Sky News clip on X, formerly Twitter, about the case, the "Harry Potter" author wrote: "I'm so sick of this shit. This is not a woman. These are #NotOurCrimes."

She was referring to Scarlet Blake, a transgender woman who was sentenced to life in prison in a UK court after she was found guilty of murdering Spanish national Jorge Martin Carreno in July 2021.

Per Rowling's argument, Blake's post-transition identity as a woman makes it harder to understand and respond to patterns of criminality properly.

"Crime statistics are rendered useless if violent and sexual attacks committed by men are recorded as female crimes," she wrote in a following post.

Rowling has become a central figure in Britain's gender-critical movement, which objects to society's increasing willingness to recognize a person's stated gender identity.

Critics have said the author's position is transphobic, and her position on the issue has complicated her status as a previously beloved children's author.

Rowling has said she felt strongly enough about the issue, even knowing it would harm her reputation.

The lurid details of Blake's crime have made her fertile ground for Rowling and others to advance their arguments.

Blake lured the 30-year-old to a secluded area, struck him in the head with a vodka bottle, and attempted to strangle him before finally pushing him into a river, where he drowned.

She also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and animal cruelty in the killing of a cat, an act which she live-streamed months before the murder.

Gender-critical figures say that Blake and others should be held in prisons that match their biological gender.

They argue that they represent a danger to the women held around them in single-sex prisons.

It's had an effect on policy. In 2023, the UK government changed its rules around housing transgender prisoners.

Perpetrators of sexual or violent crimes, it said, would no longer be held in women's prisons if they had male genitalia.

It said exceptions could be made if "explicitly approved at the highest level."

Critics of that position highlight the harm they say transgender people suffer from being held in prisons that don't match their identity.

The recent death of the transgender prisoner Tiffany Scott, who was told she could not move from a men's prison in Scotland to a women's one, has fueled that argument, though the circumstances of her death are yet to be determined.

In 2020, an NBC News report said that many transgender inmates were at serious risk of harm in the prison system, citing a 2015 DoJ report that said 35% of transgender people who had been in prison had reported being sexually assaulted in the prior year.

The NBC News report, based on data from 45 states, found that there were 4,890 transgender inmates in state prisons in the US, but it could only confirm that 15 of those inmates were incarcerated in a prison that matched how they self-identify.

It also noted that some have claimed such figures on sexual assaults are likely too low, as many cases aren't fully reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The closely-guarded semiconductor capabilities of US-sanctioned Huawei Technologies have come under fresh scrutiny after Nvidia identified the Chinese telecommunications equipment giant as a potential rival in artificial intelligence (AI) chips for the first time.

With Nvidia currently unable to ship its advanced graphics processing units (GPUs) to mainland China under Washington's export restrictions, a new AI chipset from Huawei has emerged as a replacement for the US firm's Chinese products, industry insiders and analysts say.

The Huawei Ascend 910B, already available via distributor channels on the mainland, is considered by some industry participants to be on par in terms of computing power with Nvidia's sought-after A100 data-centre GPUs. Huawei has not made any public comment on the 910B.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

The Ascend 910B is believed to succeed the Ascend 910, which was released by Huawei in August 2019, three months after it was put on a trade blacklist by the US Commerce Department. The chip can compete with Nvidia's A100 in terms of powering AI algorithms, according to Dylan Patel, chief analyst at San Francisco-based semiconductor research firm SemiAnalysis.

A Chinese flag is seen near the logo atop Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp's headquarters in Shanghai. The country's top contract chip maker is said to be the supplier of Huawei Technologies' new artificial intelligence chipset, the Ascend 910B. Photo: Bloomberg alt=A Chinese flag is seen near the logo atop Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp's headquarters in Shanghai. The country's top contract chip maker is said to be the supplier of Huawei Technologies' new artificial intelligence chipset, the Ascend 910B. Photo: Bloomberg>

Story continues

"It [the Ascend 910B] is a bit above the A100 theoretically," Patel said, adding that the chip is fabricated by China's top foundry, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp (SMIC), on a 7-nanometre process.

US sanctions since 2019 have restricted Huawei's semiconductor development and dealt a severe blow to its smartphone business. But the Shenzhen-based company has been quietly bolstering its chip business by partnering with various domestic suppliers, according to several people familiar with the matter, who declined to be identified due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Huawei showed its resilience in August last year, when it surprised the industry with the Mate 60 Pro, the company's first 5G smartphone release since the Mate 40 series in October 2020. Sales of the new handset propelled Huawei back to the top of the domestic smartphone market earlier this year.

The SMIC-made Kirin 9000s processor that powers the Mate 60 Pro sparked intense industry speculation over how Huawei managed to overcome a blanket US chip ban.

A Kirin 9000s processor, developed by Huawei Technologies chip design arm HiSilicon, is taken from a Mate 60 Pro 5G smartphone in Ottawa, capital of Canada, on September 3, 2023. Photo: Bloomberg alt=A Kirin 9000s processor, developed by Huawei Technologies chip design arm HiSilicon, is taken from a Mate 60 Pro 5G smartphone in Ottawa, capital of Canada, on September 3, 2023. Photo: Bloomberg>

At the domestic release of the Ascend 910, Huawei touted the chip at the time as "the world's most powerful AI processor", fabricated by the world's top contract chip maker, Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co, using a 7-nm process.

Huawei's new AI chip appears to have emerged around the same time as the Mate 60 Pro's release last August. Chinese online search and AI giant Baidu ordered 1,600 of Huawei's Ascend 910B chips in the same month, according to a Reuters report in November 2023 that cited a source.

Two weeks before Reuters published that report, Chinese AI company iFlytek launched its Feixing One computing platform based on Huawei's Ascend chips. This means the iFlytek Spark 3.0, the firm's updated large language model (LLM), may have been developed on AI chips. LLMs are the technology used to train generative AI services like ChatGPT.

Huawei declined to comment on the matter.

Jensen Huang, the co-founder, president and chief executive of US chip design firm Nvidia, attends a session of the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on February 12, 2024. Photo: Reuters alt=Jensen Huang, the co-founder, president and chief executive of US chip design firm Nvidia, attends a session of the World Governments Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on February 12, 2024. Photo: Reuters>

In an interview with tech media outlet Wired last month, Nvidia chief executive Jensen Huang described Huawei as a "really, really good company".

"They're limited by whatever semiconductor processing technology they have, but they'll still be able to build very large systems by aggregating many of those chips together," Huang said.

Amid the increased focus on generative AI in the past year and tighter US sanctions, Huawei and SMIC have allocated more capacity to AI chips, according to a Reuters report last month.

One GPU distributor, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, said that the Ascend 910B is "available for order, but supply is really tight at the moment".

A server used for AI training and embedded with eight Ascend 910B cards costs around 1.5 million yuan (US$208,395), which is roughly in the same range as A100 server prices quoted in black market channels, according to a separate person familiar with the matter who also declined to be named.

Huawei has not made any comment on the Ascend 910B, despite reiterating that AI is a "key strategy" ahead of the firm's exhibition at the four-day trade show MWC Barcelona in Spain last week.

Many analysts and industry professionals are reluctant to comment on the Nvidia and Huawei showdown, although they pointed out that the US chip designer has depth in GPUs and benefits from its software ecosystem CUDA, a computing platform that allows developers to unleash the full potential of semiconductors.

"CUDA is sticky, Nvidia did all of this hard work on its own and is reaping the benefits," said Brian Colello, technology equity strategist at Morningstar. "Huawei and its software partners will need to build out an ecosystem comparable [to Nvidia's CUDA] when it comes to tools to build AI models."

Despite lagging CUDA's 2 million-strong list of registered developers, Huawei has its proprietary Compute Architecture for Neural Networks, a platform that connects Ascend hardware and software, crucial to unlocking AI computing power.

Colello said Huawei might have to make similar [big] investments in mainland China to strengthen its software capabilities. He added that perhaps other companies will work on the software libraries, while Huawei focuses on chip design.

"Huawei's strength is not in the software stack," said one Shanghai-based tech investor who requested anonymity. "The US sanctions put limits on chip performance and production yields."

This article originally appeared in the South China Morning Post (SCMP), the most authoritative voice reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP app or visit the SCMP's Facebook and Twitter pages. Copyright  2024 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
Watch CNNs coverage of how Speaker Mike Johnson is handling aid to Ukraine on Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju at 11 a.m. ET.

Speaker Mike Johnson swiftly derailed the Senates bipartisan aid package for Ukraine, but hes left the door open to a new proposal emerging in the House.

Behind the scenes, Johnson has met privately with House Republicans who have been trying to build support for a new bipartisan foreign aid package that includes restrictions on the US border with Mexico. And now House Foreign Affairs Chairman Michael McCaul is taking a lead role in trying to finalize a proposal and build consensus within the conference as part of a push for floor action by late March or April.

Johnson has not yet taken a position on the plan or committed to giving it a floor vote, telling his colleagues that they need to finalize government funding legislation first. But once that process is done by mid-March, Republican backers of the plan believe he will let it come to the floor  even it risks backlash from hard-right members or even a vote for his ouster from the speakership.

More than you think, Pennsylvania Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a leader of the effort, said bluntly when asked about the support the GOP leadership team has given his bipartisan proposal. We have to get something done.

Still, getting legislation through the House remains an extremely tall order. Republicans are badly divided over Ukraine, and former President Donald Trump could effectively kill the bill with one social media post. Plus, ample Democratic support would be needed to pass it  a tall order given that the package includes new border restrictions and aid to Israel that would likely prompt a revolt on the left.

With Russia making gains in Ukraine, proponents say action is needed immediately. Fitzpatrick plans to begin a process this week to circumvent leadership and force a vote  known in the Capitol as a discharge petition, which would require support from a majority of House members to succeed. But even organizers of that effort recognize that it amounts to a long-shot bid and consider it a last resort. Their best bet: convincing Johnson to put the bill on the floor once its ready for action.

I think, first, the speaker wants to get through the normal appropriations process, which is not easy, McCaul said. And then after that is done, then we tackle the supplemental. We are currently working on a draft. I think youll see a House imprimatur on this supplemental.

McCaul, who briefed Republicans in the speakers office last week on the emerging plan, told CNN that Johnson has been very deliberate.

Other proponents of the measure say Johnson has clearly been open to their plan.

No, I dont think hes trying to kill it, said Rep. Mike Lawler, a freshman New York Republican who has signed on to the effort. I think he understands the need to get support for Israel, for Ukraine, for Taiwan.  Its a function of process and working through these issues within the conference.

Lawler added: Any threat to use the motion to vacate (the speaker) is idiotic. We need to be focused on solving the problems.

A Ukrainian serviceman of the National Guard takes part in radiation, chemical and biological hazard drills, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, near Kharkiv, Ukraine, on February 29. - Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/Reuters

Warnings on the right

Johnson has faced pressure on all sides. He has endured criticism internationally and from Democrats who say his failure to act immediately amounts to siding with Vladimir Putin. Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell has pressed him to allow a House vote on the Senates $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, warning that any House changes to that plan would simply delay action and make it harder for Ukraine to defeat Russia.

Yet Johnsons right flank has pointedly warned him not to approve a dime more of funding for Ukraine.

That would be a huge mistake, said Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a Georgia Republican and staunch opponent of Ukraine aid. The American people dont support it, and our job title is representative. Our job title is not fund the CIAs war against Ukraine. Thats not what were elected to do.

Rep. Bob Good of Virginia, the leader of the House Freedom Caucus and one of the eight Republicans who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as speaker last fall, would not say whether moving on Ukraine aid would cost Johnson his job. But he said that any aid package must be offset with spending cuts and should not be tied with Israel  a much different approach from the one Fitzpatrick and McCaul are taking.

Ukraine divides the Republican conference, Good said. I dont think it has majority support.  So if it doesnt have Republican majority support, it should not be brought.

The effort to approve more aid to Ukraine has been delayed for months amid GOP infighting. First, Republicans demanded Congress move on tougher border security measures before advancing aid to Ukraine. Then, after a bipartisan border security deal was cut after nearly five months of talks in the Senate, Johnson  along with Trump  immediately declared it too weak, effectively killing the effort.

After the Senate dropped the border deal amid Johnsons opposition and then approved the $95 billion aid package last month, McConnell said the House GOP could no longer wait to act.

If they change it and send it back here, we have further delay, the Kentucky Republican told reporters last week. Not only do we not want to shut the government down, we dont want the Russians to win in Ukraine. And so we have a time problem here. And the best way to move quickly and get the bill to the president would be for the House to take up the Senate bill and pass it.

Johnson has said he wont take up the Senate plan because its silent on the border. But on Thursday, he suggested that hes willing to consider measures being developed in the House.

The House is actively considering options on a path forward, Johnson said. And so, were getting government funding done, and then were going to turn to these other priorities.

Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick speaks to reporters as he leaves the House Republican Conference caucus meeting at the US Capitol on Thursday, February 29. - Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call/Getty Images

Ukraine backers make their move

The foreign aid plan being developed by the bipartisan group of members would provide $66 billion in military aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan  removing humanitarian aid that was a part of the Senate package and a priority of many Democrats.

Moreover, it would deny the entry of undocumented immigrants into the US until operational control of the border is achieved, while sending migrants to Mexico or their country of origin as they await adjudication of their claims in the United States  a policy known as remain in Mexico.

McCaul told CNN the group was looking at other changes to the bill as well, including seizing frozen Russian assets in the US and transferring those to Ukraine  a proposal known as the REPO Act. And he said the members were considering turning some of the aid into a US loan  an idea floated by Trump.

Asked whether he would sign onto a discharge petition to force a vote, McCaul signaled he was leery.

That would be a last resort, and it wouldnt sit well with a lot of Republicans, McCaul said. That usurps the speakers power.

But the proposal is bound to be a hard sell with many Democrats, who are opposed to the immigration restrictions as well as the lack of humanitarian aid. And a number of progressives want to place conditions on aid to Israel amid the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, an idea flatly rejected by Republicans.

While Fitzpatrick said he was open to adding humanitarian aid, he acknowledged that making too many changes could upset their bipartisan compromise.

Well, its like a water balloon  every change you make, youre going to add or lose votes, Fitzpatrick said. And thats why were trying to find that point of equilibrium, that sweet spot that we can get to 218 votes.

Some critics of Ukraine aid said they wouldnt be surprised if they ultimately get rolled.

Rep. Chip Roy, a Freedom Caucus member, said Johnson shouldnt endorse the bipartisan plan.

I dont think he will, the Texas Republican told CNN. But I know that theres obviously an interest to try to move forward on some of that.  Im going to be blunt. The defense hawks usually get their way. And thats just the way this town works.

CNNs Melanie Zanona, Lauren Fox, Sam Fossum and Morgan Rimmer contributed to this report.

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Ihar Karnei, a former freelance journalist with Radio Svaboda, the Belarus service of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), will be tried in Minsk on March 19.

Karnei is reportedly charged with "participation in an extremist group," the Belarusian service of RFE/RL reports, citing the human rights organization Viasna.

Authorities in Minsk searched the home of Karnei in July 2023, detained him, and ordered him to be held for 10 days, according to a Facebook post by his daughter Palina Karnei. Police seized computers and phones during the search of his apartment.

Since 2020, Belarusian authorities have intensified their crackdown on journalists, particularly amid mass protests following the disputed reelection of President Alexander Lukashenko. According to CPJ's latest prison census conducted on December 1, 2022, Belarus was ranked as the world's fifth worst jailer of journalists, with a minimum of 26 journalists imprisoned.

Karnei was held in Akrestina temporary detention center in Minsk, according to a report by the Belarusian Association of Journalists, an advocacy and trade group operating from exile.

The Committee to Protect Journalists 2023 prison census ranked Belarus as the world's third worst jailer of journalists, with a minimum of 28 journalists imprisoned.

Read also: Media investigation: Kremlin uses Russian Red Cross as propaganda tool, violating its tenets

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
JR Majewski, a controversial congressional candidate, confirmed that he will be dropping out of the Ohio House Republican race.

Majewski, an Air Force veteran, already mulled ending his bid earlier this week, just days after early voting started in Ohio, but solidified his decision in a post on Saturday.

He shared the announcement on X, formerly known as Twitter, where he blamed the deep state and said that former President Trump did not ask him to end his bid.

While I know I would win, and have a great shot in the general election now that my record was cleared, it is inevitable that the Deep State will do whatever it takes to fight against me, Majewski said. Even going as far as attacking my family and once again accusing me of stolen valor.

Majewski said the best way for him to fight for the people who feel as if their voices are being ignored by the DC Elite is to dedicate his energy to backing Trump in his 2024 presidential race.

Majewski was the GOP nominee in 2022 when he was endorsed by Trump, but his campaign fell into an irreversible downturn after it was revealed he lied about serving in combat in Afghanistan. He also faced backlash after using an ableist slur during a podcast appearance in February.

After joining the race last April, hoping to unseat Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), he dropped out in May, citing his mothers health. Majewski later rejoined the race.

The Ohio GOP primary is slated for March 19. The District has leaned Democratic in the past, but the new congressional map changed the prospects, giving the GOP a better opportunity to challenge Kapturs seat.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A Texas judge temporarily blocked state Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, from requiring an LGBTQ+ advocacy group to provide information about transgender children receiving gender transition treatment.

The ruling on Friday came a day after PFLAG National challenged Paxton's office in court to prevent it from collecting the information.

Travis County District Court Judge Maria Cantu Hexsel said providing the information would harm PFLAG and its members in several ways, including violating their rights of free speech, association and protection from unreasonable searches.

The judge also said it would be a "gross invasion" of privacy to force the group to hand over the information to Paxton.

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A Texas judge temporarily blocked state Attorney General Ken Paxton from requiring an LGBTQ+ advocacy group to provide information about transgender children receiving gender transition treatment.

A hearing was scheduled for March 25 to allow Paxton's office an opportunity to make its case as to why Friday's order should not be maintained.

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Paxtons office had made a request last month for "documents and communications" about PFLAG CEO Brian Bond's statement to court last year in which he said members were creating contingency plans after the state imposed a ban on gender transition treatment for minors.

The attorney general's office said in a statement Thursday that the information is highly relevant to investigations into whether medical providers are committing insurance fraud to bypass the ban.

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The attorney general's office said Thursday that the information is highly relevant to investigations into whether medical providers are committing insurance fraud to bypass the ban on gender transition treatment for minors.

The American Civil Liberties Union, representing FPLAG in court, said it will seek a permanent block on Paxton's request "so that PFLAG can continue supporting its Texas members with transgender youth in doing what all loving parents do: supporting and caring for their children."

PFLAG and Texas have previously been involved in court battles, including in 2022, when the state adopted a policy of investigating instances of gender transition treatment for children as child abuse cases.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Judge blocks Texas AG from requiring info on transgender kids receiving gender transition treatment
As Louisiana undertakes a massive overhaul of criminal justice laws, one of the most controversial changes is putting more 17-year-olds on trial for crimes as adults.

The changes backpedal on a measure passed seven years ago that treated teens under 18 as juveniles in most cases.

Anti-crime lawmakers, following the lead of sheriffs, prosecutors and a newly-elected Republican governor, are responding to a spike in juvenile violent crime  simple robbery, battery, carjacking, terrorism, kidnapping, assault and even murder and rape.

They and Gov. Jeff Landry say adult gangs have been recruiting teenagers 17 and younger to commit crimes for which penalties will be lighter than those for adults.

Opponents argue that juvenile crime rates had been coming down since the Raise the Age law was passed in 2016 before rising during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some question whether the new laws will have harmful side effects given that prosecutors already had leeway to charge juveniles as adults for the most violent crimes.

According to reports by the states Office of Juvenile Justice, the number of youths serving time began easing again last year.

Richard Pittman, a deputy public defender and the director of juvenile defender services for the Louisiana Public Defender Board, said the pandemic was more to blame for the juvenile crime rise than the Raise the Age legislation in 2016, and the curve could fix itself.

Louisiana Capitol, May 2023

Yes, there has been an uptick in juvenile crime," Pittman said. "But that uptick is abating.

In addressing the Legislature at the start of the Special Session on crime that ended Thursday, Landry warned that hardened gangs were using juveniles to commit higher-level crimes because they are likely to get out easier under more lenient rules than adults convicted of similar crimes.

Many of the new changes were embodied in bills sponsored by Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Turkey Creek. She proposed that besides their first offense, except in cases like carjacking and armed robbery, there would be zero possibility of modification or release of convicted youth until they had served 24 months in detention, or half of their sentence if it totaled 36 months or less.

Cloud said that the cost to society of letting teenagers go without longer juvenile or adult sentences is much greater than the cost of housing a juvenile for 36 months in jail.

She also said that the 36-month period would give juvenile services more time to prevent recidivism.

Critics countered that some of the efforts to prevent recidivism would be missing in adult prisons. They also said it would add to prison costs to isolate the 17-year-olds since there are laws that require separation of 17-year-olds from adults in prisons.

Hector Linares, a professor at the Loyola University New Orleans College of Law, said the debate over violent juvenile crime was in some ways misleading. Many prosecutors already try the most serious juvenile cases involving murder or rape in adult courts. Those most seriously impacted by the new legislation could be teens charged with hit-and-run traffic accidents, carjacking, shoplifting and other such crimes.

Im not trying to minimize any of these offenses, Linares said. But I think there are a lot of situations that result in adjudication where a typical member of the public would think that shouldnt follow a kid for the rest of his life.

The Legislature also passed a bill that would require clerks to turn over the minute entries for many cases in which juveniles are charged with crimes. This means that the defendants identity, defense counsel and criminal record must be made available to the public during the trial, even before conviction.

Its going to have a very dramatic effect, Linares said. Its going to put a damper on any post-secondary education prospects, its going to put a damper on future employment prospects and socially the stigma is going to have repercussions as well.

Mark Plaisance, an appellate attorney and a former public defender, has worked on many juvenile cases. He said he saw teenage boys and girls come in and out of the courts for repeatedly committing some of the most offensive crimes. Plaisance also feared that Louisianas adult court system could become overwhelmed. He said the new legislation ignores why juvenile courts are important.

Juvenile court is to try to help them understand their rights and help rehabilitate them, Plaisance said. We havent been doing that well enough.

Linares agrees that although juvenile courts have not done a great job, they are still the most effective and safe way to handle juvenile delinquents.

The reason the age was raised (to 18 in 2016) was because it was more effective to put youth in the rehabilitative system, Linares said.

There are a lot more services and resources available, he said. Its far from perfect, but generally, its recognized as being much more rehabilitative.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: What do juvenile justice experts think about Louisiana's new crime laws?
KALAMAZOO, Mich. (WOOD)  In Kalamazoo, community members gathered Saturday to march for Palestine and honor the life of a U.S. Air Force member who died protesting the war in Gaza.

Aaron Bushnell, 25, lit himself on fire outside the Israeli Embassy in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 25, saying he will no longer be complicit in genocide, according to a report from The Associated Press. The Air Force said Bushnell had served on active duty since May 2020.

US airman dies after setting himself ablaze outside Israeli Embassy in Israel-Hamas war protest

To honor Bushnell, members of the Kalamazoo Nonviolent Opponents of War and the Young Democratic Socialists of America of Greater Kalamazoo organized a candlelight vigil and march at Bronson Park.

Today is a global day of action called for by the Palestinian Youth Movement. On this day, millions across the globe are marching in solidarity with all of Palestine, Marissa Wagner, who runs the SW Michigan Voices for Humanity page, told attendees Saturday. As we stand here in this moment, the people of Gaza face famine while threats of ground invasion in Rafah loom near.  We must show our full strength now to ensure a lasting ceasefire and an end to the siege on Gaza.

Palestinians say Israeli troops fired at people seeking food. Israel says scene was deadly stampede

Signs at Saturdays march bore messages like Stop the genocide in Gaza, Hands off Rafah and Palestinian children are not collateral damage. There was also a photo collage of Bushnell surrounded by flowers and candles.

A March 2, 2024 rally for Palestine in Kalamazoo.

A March 2, 2024 rally for Palestine in Kalamazoo.

A March 2, 2024 rally for Palestine in Kalamazoo.

Palestine is our demand. No peace on stolen land, attendees chanted. From Michigan to Palestine, occupation is a crime.

The Associated Press reports that while critics have termed Israels military offensive in Gaza a genocide, Israel has adamantly denied these allegations.

Saturdays event in Kalamazoo ran from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the Edmund Pettus Bridge during an event to commemorate the 59th anniversary of "Bloody Sunday" in Selma, Alabama, on Sunday. SAUL LOEB AFP via Getty Images

Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza as Israels relentless bombardment of the region pushes forward.

The threat of Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated. And given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table Harris said Sunday in Selma, Alabama. Harris made her appearance at the Edmund Pettus Bridge for a speech on the anniversary of Bloody Sunday.

This will get the hostages out and a significant amount of aid in. This would allow us to build something more enduring to ensure Israel is secure and to respect the right of the Palestinian people to dignity, freedom and self-determination, she added.

Harris remarks followed President Joe Bidens recently watered-down optimism for the 6-week cease-fire, as well as his Friday approval of sending humanitarian aid into Gaza.

Earlier this week, a White House official said that the Israelis have more or less accepted the cease-fire proposal, which both Israel and Hamas militants would need to agree to.

Harris push for the cease-fire also comes days after Israel Defense Forces killed more than 100 people and injured more than 750 others who gathered outside of food aid trucks for food.

The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses, said Harris.

As President Joe Biden said on Friday, the United States is committed to urgently get more lifesaving assistance, to innocent Palestinians in need. Yesterday, the Department of Defense carried out its first airdrop of humanitarian assistance. And the United States will continue these airdrops. And we will work on a new route, by sea, to deliver aid, she added.

The current conflict most recently stems from Hamas Oct. 7 attack in Israel where the Palestinian militant group killed 1,200 people and took approximately 250 others hostage  but tensions between Israel and Gaza, as well as Israels atrocities against the people in the region, began further back. Since Oct. 7, Israel has killed more than 30,200 people and injured more than 71,000 others in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Many more are facing starvation.

Vice President Harriss push for a temporary cease-fire, or what the administration used to call a humanitarian pause, is half a step forward, IfNotNow national spokesperson Eva Borgwardt said in a statement emailed to HuffPost.

IfNotNow is an organization and movement working to stop the U.S.s support of Israels apartheid system and to ensure the welfare of all Palestinians and Israelis.

It makes the ongoing weapons transfers to Israel that much more indefensible. True peace requires the Biden-Harris administration to halt weapons transfers, demand Israels withdrawal from Gaza alongside a full hostage exchange, and lay out a timetable for Israel to end its apartheid rule over Palestinians, Borgwardt added.

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Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, calling on Hamas to accept a deal currently on the table and pressing Israel to allow additional aid into the area. Harris called the current conditions in Gaza inhumane and a humanitarian catastrophe. United Nations experts have warned that famine is imminent.

Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table, Harris said during remarks in Selma, Ala., to mark the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when police beat peaceful protesters during a 1965 civil rights march.

Vice President Kamala Harris calls for "an immediate ceasefire" in the Israel-Hamas war during a speech in Selma, Alabama. pic.twitter.com/z0a2TG5TsF  MSNBC (@MSNBC) March 3, 2024

People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act, Harris said. The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses.

The move comes amid pressure from progressives in Congress and the public to halt the assault on Gaza. Since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants killed approximately 1,200 Israelis, Israels military has killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. Biden early last week said he hoped for a ceasefire agreement by Monday. This past Thursday, more than 100 Palestinians lining up for food aid were killed when Israeli forces opened fire. Biden said that day that the incident complicated ceasefire talks.

Were trying to work out a deal between Israel and Hamas on the hostages being returned and immediate ceasefire in Gaza for at least the next six weeks and to allow the surge of aid through the entire Gaza Strip, the president said Friday.

Biden expressed hope that the sides could reach a deal before the beginning of Ramadan, the Muslim holy month that starts on March 10. The deal under discussion, with moderation from Qatar and Egypt, would have Hamas free approximately 40 Israeli hostages  including women, female soldiers, and men over the age of 50 or men who are in serious medical condition, Axios reported.

For its part of the deal, in addition to pausing hostilities, Israel would allow Palestinians to return to the northern Gaza strip. It is unclear how many Palestinian prisoners Hamas plans to ask for in return. Israel has an estimated 7,000 Palestinians in custody in its prisons, and many are without charges, according to human rights groups. The majority have never been convicted of a crime. As many as 134 hostages are currently being held by Hamas. Another 32 are confirmed dead. Hamas has refused to release a complete list of hostages that are currently alive, which led Israel to boycott peace talks on Sunday.

Hamas claims its wants a ceasefire. Well, there is a deal on the table. And as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal, Harris said Sunday. Lets get a ceasefire. Lets reunite the hostages with their families. And lets provide immediate relief to the people of Gaza.

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WASHINGTON  Vice President Kamala Harris called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza on Sunday, citing the "humanitarian catastrophe" caused by the Israel-Hamas War.

Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire, at least for the next six weeks, Harris said in Selma, Ala.

Harris' remarks were the most pointed statement yet by a member of the Biden administration on the need for an immediate pause in the fighting in Gaza.

President Joe Biden has been under immense pressure to demand a cease-fire in the five-month war, which started after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking 250 others hostage. Over 30,000 Palestinians have died in the war.

In Alabama, Harris said Israel must do more to increase the flow of humanitarian aid into the area.

"People in Gaza are starving," she said while marking the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when Alabama state troopers savagely clubbed peaceful civil rights marchers as they tried to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

"The conditions are inhumane, and our common humanity compels us to act," she said.

At the same time, she said, "the threat that Hamas poses to the people of Israel must be eliminated."

Vice President Kamala Harris speaks at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Ala., on Sunday March 3, 2024 during the 59th anniversary celebration of the Bloody Sunday March.

The Biden administration said Saturday that Israel has essentially agreed to a six-week cease-fire that would include the release of hostages, but that Hamas has yet to sign off on the deal.

The Israelis have more or less accepted the framework of a deal that would include a six-week cease-fire and the release of vulnerable hostages, including women, children and those who are elderly or wounded, said senior administration officials, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

But Hamas has yet to agree to the terms of the deal.

Biden has he hopes that a cease-fire deal can be in place by the start of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins March 10.

Also Saturday, the U.S. began airdropping humanitarian aid into Gaza on Saturday, days after over 100 Palestinians were killed when witnesses said Israeli forces fired at people waiting for food in Gaza City.

U.S. Air Force C-130 cargo planes, along with Jordan's air force, conducted airdrops of humanitarian aid into Gaza for two hours, according to U.S. Central Command. The planes dropped over 38,000 meals along the coastline of Gaza allowing for civilian access to the critical aid.

Officials said the airdrops would make sure that food and other commodities get to people who need them and help prevent the looting that has plagued the delivery of goods into the region on the ground.

Michael Collins covers the White House. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @mcollinsNEWS.

More: VP Harris presses Israel on civilian deaths in Gaza. What does international law say?

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Kamala Harris calls for 'immediate cease-fire' in Gaza
A bill that would have prohibited deceptive artificial intelligence-generated campaign advertisements didnt pass by the turnaround deadline in the Kansas House, but the rapidly evolving technology is already in use in campaigns in several different ways.

Pat Proctor, R-Leavenworth, introduced House Bill 2559, along with House Minority Leader Vic Miller, D-Topeka. The bill wouldnt ban AI in campaign ads, but it would make it a misdemeanor crime to create an advertisement that gives a false representation of a candidate without disclosing that it is artificially generated in the advertisement.

AI-generated political ads have already hit the airwaves over the past year.

NEW: @Axios w/ a first look at RNCs video response to Biden



It is also the committees first video that is 100% generated by AI software meant to create images that look and feel real (in this case an imagined dystopia look at the future of Biden wins) pic.twitter.com/S9qH0MXINc  Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) April 25, 2023

In April the Republican National Convention released an attack ad on President Joe Biden thats totally artificially generated. In July, a pro-Ron DeSantis super PAC released an ad that included artificially generated audio of former President Donald Trump. A consultant for longshot Democratic presidential candidate Dean Phillipss commissioned robocalls urging voters not to participate in the New Hampshire primary using AI to mimic Biden's voice.

Nobody knows what to do about it, but everybodys worried, Proctor said. I felt like we needed to try to do something this year, at least to alert voters when they were consuming media that was created with generative AI.

Though the bill didnt pass its chamber of origin, Proctor said theres still a chance the mirror bill proposed in the Kansas Senate could pass this year. Some senators, he said, were concerned they were moving too fast to address the novel issue of artificial intelligence.

I dont think that we can move fast enough on this because I guarantee you that right now campaigns, PACs and maybe even parties are looking at ways to use this technology," Proctor said, "and we need to put up some guard rails.

The rise of AI

More rudimentary forms of artificial intelligence existed for decades before the latest wave of AI products. Earlier versions had logic that was explicitly programmed by its creators, but new large-language models like OpenAIs Chat GPT use machine learning to refine itself.

Its really the fact that the machines, or the systems, can now learn from data rather than having to be explicitly programmed by humans, said Ross Gruetzemacher, a professor at Wichita State University who studies AI.

Humans arent programming the logic, but they are curating the data that AI systems feed off of, getting it to follow instruction and fine-tuning it to reflect the preferences of its users.

Sometimes these models come off training and theyre inherently not well aligned with human values," Gruetzemacher said. "They reflect a lot of stuff thats in Reddit threads, things that are biased or bigoted, and then you have to go and say no this is wrong."

ChatGPT is a well-known example of generative artificial intelligence, which refers specifically to AI tools that use algorithms to generate outputs and create content that can include text, audio, code, images and more. Experts warn the technology could disrupt political campaigns.

AI models can also be inaccurate. Chatbots repeatedly misstated election information for upcoming primary elections. The guardrails in place may also cause issues, like Googles Gemini AIs creation of ahistorical images that have been shared across the internet in the past week.

The fallibility of the technology could lead to dishonest depiction in political campaigns without human direction.

If there isnt fine-tuning of the model to make or remove a lot of the stuff that it learned from the internet, then it could have outputs that are consistent with negative political ads, or it could learn to potentially message the truth in ways that are in a gray area ethically but are commonly done in political ads, Gruetzemacher said.

The technology could also erode trust in candidates themselves. General counsel for the Kansas Secretary of States Office said the nature of AI could lead to whats called a liars dividend, where candidates can dismiss potentially harmful information as artificial intelligence. Offending campaigns could also shirk responsibility and blame missteps on the technology.

At some point youre going to get content that does get into ethical gray areas or crosses ethical lines," Gruetzemacher said, "and then theres a lack of accountability for the politicians.

AI already used in Kansas politics

You dont need to look for hypothetical ads to find AI in Kansas politics, its already being used in political campaigns. On Friday, the Kansas Republican Party announced a partnership with Numinar, an AI-assisted company specializing in creating voter profiles to aid campaigns.

Numinar uses data it receives from the Republican National Convention as a way to contact and survey voters. It then uses the information to create predictive models that show how likely a person is to vote and what issues are important to them.

It's not that voter scoring hasn't ever been done before. It's just that the process has usually been restricted to analytics firms. And those are often more cost prohibitive for campaigns, a Numinar spokesperson said. A lot of times people want to know what issue matters most in an election. Crime? Being pro-choice or pro-life? When they get that data back from people, it can help them adjust their own messaging so that they're reaching the right voters with the right message.

Numinar said content development and messaging are still going to be the sole responsibility of candidates. Last March, Numinar CEO Will Long told Reuters that it experimented with AI-generated audio and images, but the spokesperson said the priority for the company right now is building its content suite rather than generative AI.

Gruetzemachers immediate concern with AI in politics is with generative content, more so than the microtargeting of voter demographics that Numinar does. If microtargeting is joined with generative content, he thinks it would be difficult for a campaign to remain transparent in its messaging.

He also sees the boundless potential of the technology, even if there are issues that need to be accounted for.

What were going to have to do this time is deal with even more risks and manage them quickly," Gruetzemacher said. "If we can do that, I think theres a lot more potential than even the computer or the internal combustion engine and potentially more than electricity.

This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas consider regulating AI in campaigns; it's already being used
Americans are stoked for their spring break getaways.

About half of the adult travelers recently surveyed by Hopper, a travel booking app, expect to travel more this spring and summer than they did in 2023.

This is not, however, a lifestyle of the rich and famous rush for private jets, luxury yachts, and secluded islands. Nearly everyone, 90% of those traveling this spring, say price and affordability are top of mind as they plan their trips, said Hayley Berg, lead economist at Hopper.

I talked to several travel experts about the best ways to save on spring and summer travel, and the overall consensus was that travel this year is cheaper than a year ago.

What I also discovered was that while travelers are frugal, theyre realistic about what theyre likely to spend on their vacation. Three-quarters of those who are planning to take off in the next few months are expecting to spend the same or more than they did on trips last year, according to Hoppers research. For roughly half of travelers, that ballpark budget starts at $1,000.

Read more: The best travel credit cards

Spring break is nigh, but if you can wait until shoulder-season, good deals can be found at Caribbean islands like St Barths. (Getty Creative) (daniloforcellini via Getty Images)

Cheaper flights

Airfares domestically and to the Caribbean are below last years spring break months, per Hoppers data. And there are more deals for spring escapes than in the past few years.

Overall, airfare is down 3% for March and 8% for April vacations, according to KAYAK researchers. While that dip isnt eye-popping, it beats the alternative.

Airfare for vacations in March and April is averaging $256 per round trip domestic ticket, down 2% from this time last year and 11% lower than 2019 prices, Hopper found.

Prices for Caribbean and Mexican getaways, in particular, are below last year, with trips to the Antilles averaging $379, down 9%, and trips to Mexico and Central America averaging $447 per ticket, down 11%.

For those of you heading out for a longer-haul trip to Europe, fares are 7% lower than last year, averaging $640 per round trip ticket for March and April departures.

Story continues

Plan ahead

While many travelers give lip service to being budget-minded, nearly 8 in 10 survey respondents said they have not booked their spring and summer trips yet, Berg said.

Listen up: One of the best ways to save money on travel is to avoid last-minute bookings. To get the deals, you really should buy your tickets at least a month ahead of time, although two is best, she said.

Summer travelers, were talking to you here. Its already time to get cracking.

Airfares domestically and to the Caribbean are below last years spring break months, per Hoppers data. And there are more deals for spring escapes than in the past few years. (Getty Creative) (Ted Horowitz via Getty Images)

Spring break hotels not likely to cut a break

Hotel rates are sticky, so don't expect to find too many bargains this year, especially at the 11th hour. Early reservations may be your best bet.

"You should book your hotel stay anywhere from 10 to 14 days before check in to get the lowest room rate," Berg said.

Across the US the average nightly rate for a hotel during spring break is averaging $242, but prices can be found for as low as $154 per night for travelers looking for more budget-friendly accommodations, the Hopper research found.

Spring break getaways in the Caribbean and Mexico are especially pricey. The Hopper pros told me that hotel rates in Cancun are averaging $339 per night, while rates in Punta Cana are close to $500 per night. Globe-trotters will see high prices as well, with London averaging $440 per night and Florence $466 per night.

What day you travel

If you can book your flight to travel on a Tuesday or Wednesday, you could save nearly 40% on round-trip airfare compared to a weekend departure.

"Even for travelers bound by school schedules, avoiding the busiest travel days can offer cost and time saving," an Expedia spokesperson told Yahoo Finance. And for those with flexible schedules, traveling the last week of April should be half as busy as the rest of March and April, and cheaper as well, she added.

Monday returns rule. For three-day weekend trips within the US, a Saturday takeoff and Monday return can save an average of nearly $40 per ticket. Add in another day and depart Friday and return Monday to save just under $50 per ticket.

Where people are heading

Dallas and Austin are the US cities seeing some of the biggest year-over-year growth in flight searches, according to Expedia. One pull to the Lone Star state in April: For stargazers, if youre in Austin on April 8, you may see the total eclipse, the first one visible in North America since 2017  and the last one until 2044.

Cancun, Punta Cana, and Mexico City top Expedias list of trending international destinations. For US travelers headed overseas, Tokyos cherry blossoms remain a big draw, while others are looking to enjoy springtime in Paris ahead of the summer crowds descending on the city for the Olympics.

Paris in spring is especially alluring this year, according to Expedia's analysis. (Getty Creative) (Mint Images via Getty Images)

Where the deals are

Some of the cheapest US destinations according to KAYAKs most recent round-up for March: Baltimore, $265 average airfare; Nashville, $277; and Chicago, $288.

For those of you looking for an international escape, the most affordable destinations this month are Toronto, $303 average airfare; Guadalajara, Mexico, $336; and Montreal, $361.

Other cities where airfares have decreased by double digits for travel in March and April from a year ago include:

Saint Croix and Saint Thomas in the US Virgin Islands

Punta Gorda, Florida

Vail and Aspen, Colorado

Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

San Diego, California

Sydney, Australia

Nassau, Bahamas

Reykjavik, Iceland

When you go

The boilerplate advice to travel in the shoulder season if you want real deals never goes out of style.

"The time of year you travel really does matter," Catherine Prather, president of the National Tour Association, told Yahoo Finance.

Shoulder season is generally late spring and early fall between September and Thanksgiving. So while heading for spring break to snorkel in the Caribbean sounds like a dream, visiting St Barths, for instance, from May to early November can ring in at a quarter of the cost for villa rentals and airfares. So what if you miss the supermodels and la di da yachts, youll soak in those private beaches and gourmet French restaurants crowd-free  and you might even score a free rental car with your villa rental.

"Every destination has peak visitation times, and you should aim for the months just before or after those times," Prather said. "If youre visiting a destination with regular cruise departures, try to arrive the day the cruise departs; there will be more hotel rooms available that night."

Tap a price tracker

Once youve settled on a destination  or a few youre considering  set an airfare price tracker. When you see a dip, go for it. Airline pricing is always fluctuating.

Each of the major travel apps offers fare tracking, as does Google Flights. Some travel apps, such as Skyscanner and Hopper, feature a calendar view that shows prices, so you can quickly see how costs shift.

Use those loyalty points

The right credit card can make your trip lighter on your wallet. A reward credit card that offers no foreign transaction fees, for instance, is a must if youre heading out of the country. Be sure you have your purchases charged in the local currency for the best exchange rate.

Loyalty programs and travel rewards credit cards lure you in for a reason  they can supersize your savings via deep discounts and travel perks. When looking to book your spring sojourn, suss out what travel rewards you may already have from hotel and airline loyalty memberships in addition to credit card points.

Read more: The best rewards credit cards

You might be able to score an upgrade to a business class seat or scoop up two round-trip tickets to Zurich in April for only the cost of taxes and fees. Check if you have enough in your account for free hotel room nights too.

Bypass the baggage claim with carry-ons and save money and time. (Getty Creative) (izusek via Getty Images)

Travel light

Can you say carry-on? I have become a pro at this. I never check a bag. This is really getting down to the small stuff, but it adds up.

This week, United Airlines increased checked baggage fees by $5 in most markets. A first checked bag will now cost $40 (or $35 if you pay at least 24 hours in advance), and a second checked bag will now cost $50 (or $45 in advance). You can use your air miles to pay, of course.

Earlier this year, JetBlue increased its baggage fees by $10 and American Airlines increased its first checked bag fee to $40 for customers who dont prepay online. Thats as much as a 33% increase.

Extra bonus for being a carry-on pro: You dont have to cool your heels waiting for your luggage at the carousel or shelling out for new duds and a toothbrush if your bag gets lost.

Save that for the suntan lotion.

Kerry Hannon is a Senior Columnist at Yahoo Finance. She is a career and retirement strategist, and the author of 14 books, including "In Control at 50+: How to Succeed in The New World of Work" and "Never Too Old To Get Rich." Follow her on X @kerryhannon.

Click here for the latest personal finance news to help you with investing, paying off debt, buying a home, retirement, and more

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The Royal Family has had a difficult start to 2024 - uncertain in the face of health problems and surrounded by a backwash of rumour and speculation.

So what will they have to do to get back on track? And what are some of the challenges they may need to address?

What's happening with Kate?

Social media can't cope with an information vacuum. On WhatsApp groups, Facebook and TikTok, the speculation over the Princess of Wales is deafening.

She hasn't been seen in public this year, while recovering from planned abdominal surgery. The explanation for her absence until later in the year was reiterated by royal officials this week.

"Kensington Palace made it clear in January the timelines of the princess's recovery. We said we'd only be providing significant updates. That guidance stands."

On the positive side, people are interested because they care. Indifference would be worse. And I predict a big change when pictures eventually appear, which they will, and there's some reassurance.

Although it might raise some longer-term questions about what people want from a grown-up relationship with the royals. No-one should be expected to be flawless like a human statue. We're all full of vulnerabilities. But that means openness from the Palace as well.

Culture of secrecy

Everyone has a right to privacy, but for public figures, especially those who are publicly funded, there's a fine line between privacy and secrecy.

Part of the royals' current problem is the pile-up of unknowns: Catherine's illness. The nature of the King Charles's cancer. And then Prince William's "personal matter" that kept him away from his godfather's memorial.

King Charles III visits The Africa Centre on January 26, 2023 in London

It's a thickening fog of uncertainties. And it gives more energy to online rumours. It's the problem of feeding out small pieces of information, enough to prompt more questions and not enough to give answers.

There's a bigger question about secrecy for a modern monarchy. It needs some mystery to keep its mystique. But opaqueness can look like concealment.

Historians complain about excessive secrecy over archive documents. Should they be more willing to answer questions about their work? It seems odd in 2024 that they can go on visits or trips and not face a single question about what they're doing.

A virtual King

The absence of a figurehead is a major difficulty for any institution. The King is getting cancer treatment and so is understandably not attending public events. Getting well has to be a priority from him and his family.

But there is still pressure to be visible. There's the long-standing royal dictum that "the monarchy has to be seen to be believed".

It reflects how periods of unpopularity for monarchy have often been linked to being out of sight, such as when Queen Victoria, mourning the loss of Albert, withdrew from public life.

Prince Andrew, striding towards the memorial service for King Constantine of Greece

Expect more virtual appearances from the King - such as video messages and speeches or social media clips, in the way that he was recently seen enjoying get well cards. There could also be more interventions like the statement rallying support for Ukraine. His team will be trying to keep him in the headlines, even though he is out of sight and missing events.

It's also worth noting that in his case opinion polls showed most people thought the right amount of information had been released about his cancer. Only 13% expected more details, according to YouGov polling.

Non-working, but highly visible, royals

Prince Andrew was on the front pages again this week, which usually spells trouble for the royals.

He was striding towards the memorial service for King Constantine of Greece, heading up what was the monarchy's reserve team, and accused by the papers of grabbing the limelight too enthusiastically.

And it's safe to predict he'll be back in the headlines with next month's Netflix film about his 2019 Newsnight interview, which would be the prime exhibit if there was a museum of car-crash interviews.

All those questions about Jeffrey Epstein, Virginia Giuffre and Woking pizzas are coming back again to haunt the royals. He's become the boomerang of bad news.

In a very different set of circumstances, Prince Harry is another long-running unresolved tension for the royals. There has never been any proper resolution to his status. The position since he moved to the US has been "no half in half out royals". But he remains almost like a rival court, a prince over the water, a restless royal.

The Royal Family relies on being a unifying force, which is hard anyway in such a polarised era, but even harder when it seems to be a family at odds with itself.

Although, for a more positive take, I've heard people say that being a dysfunctional family is the one thing that makes the royals seem like everybody else.

Generation gap

The royals have got a youth problem. Or more to the point, a lack-of-youth problem. That was even more painfully visible this week without William or Catherine when the royals gathered for the memorial service in Windsor. They looked older and frailer. Not to say paler.

Queen Camilla, the Princess Royal and other royals at the Windsor Castle service

What makes this more of an issue is their lack of appeal to younger people, which is a consistent message from multiple surveys. There's clearly a big challenge for the monarchy not to look and sound out of touch. How can they find a lighter and more entertaining touch?

Even reaching younger people is tricky for a royal operation that still focuses on traditional TV news and newspaper front pages, which are increasingly unlikely to get to younger audiences. It all gets a bit creaky.

And if the age of deference is over, how should a modern monarchy speak to the people?

After a miserable winter, the royals must be hoping for some Spring sunshine.
Rep. Adam B. Schiff, left, and his allies have spent millions of dollars boosting a Republican rival. The strategy could prevent Rep. Katie Porter, right, from advancing to the general election. (Kent Nishimura, Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Rep. Katie Porter, famed among Democrats for grilling powerful corporate barons and right-wing ideologues testifying before Congress, faces a serious risk of falling short in Tuesday's California primary election, which would bring an end to her bid to win the late Dianne Feinsteins Senate seat in the fall general election.

Along with a once-formidable campaign account depleted by her tough 2022 reelection bid and expected low voter turnout, the Irvine congresswoman must overcome the millions of dollars Democratic rival Rep. Adam B. Schiff of Burbank and his allies have spent boosting GOP candidate Steve Garvey, the former Dodgers All-Star first baseman.

If Garvey and Schiff win the top two spots in Californias open primary, the two would be the only candidates to advance to the November general election  with Schiff being the heavy favorite because of California's strong Democratic tilt. Political experts say Schiffs strategy to prop up Garvey is largely driven by the threat he would face in a one-on-one face-off against Porter in the fall election.

She would give him a hell of a run in the general election  he would look like the establishment Washington, D.C., insider, and she could have contrasted herself with him, said GOP strategist Kevin Spillane, who is undecided in the race. Thats pretty remarkable. Schiffs working harder to get Garvey in the runoff than Garvey is himself.

Read more: Your guide to the California U.S. Senate election: The race to succeed Sen. Dianne Feinstein

Spillane said he could not recall anyone spending as much to buoy a statewide GOP candidate since then-Republican gubernatorial candidate Meg Whitman in 2010. Ad campaigns portray Garvey as a loyalist of former President Trump and the biggest political threat to Schiff, an effort largely expected to increase the former Dodger first baseman's appeal among Republican voters.

The strategy is partly driven by Californias top-two primary system approved by voters more than a decade ago, which allows only the two candidates who secure the most votes to advance to the general election, regardless of their political party affiliation.

But this years Senate contest  a rare open seat for a Californian in the nations top legislative body  is also shaped by the records and personalities of the top Democrats in the race.

Schiff and Porter are both liberal Democrats, prodigious fundraisers and well-known voices among cable news show viewers across the nation, but a contest between them in the general election would be much different from their current primary battle.

Schiff, who was elected to Congress as a moderate in 2000, has won over most of the Democratic establishment's leadership, starting with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-San Francisco ). He is now best known by many voters as the manager of Congress first impeachment trial of Trump over foreign interference in the 2020 election and his vocal role in the 2021 House investigation into Trumps accountability for the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Rep. Katie Porter, right, leaves with her son, Luke Hoffman, 18, who is a first-time voter, after casting their ballots at a voting station at University Hills Community Center on Saturday in Irvine. (Ringo Chiu / For The Times)

Although Porters voting record is practically identical to Schiffs, she has honed a populist patina, blasting corporate leaders during congressional oversight hearings and focusing on issues such as income inequality. The former UC Irvine law professors background as a minivan-driving single mother also appeals to moderate voters in her sharply divided suburban Orange County congressional district.

Read more: How Katie Porter harnesses her blunt style and single-mom experience in her Senate campaign

Part of her persona is that she's authentic. I think she is trying to connect with normal voters who face the same kitchen table issues she does and talks about as a single mom, said Thad Kousser, a political science professor at UC San Diego. Thats part of her appeal and could lead to her getting moderate support in the general.

Porters positioning  combined with Schiff being among the most prominent anti-Trump faces in the nation  could boost Porter in a general election contest because she could win anti-Schiff Republican voters, he added.

I dont think she has built up a wall against her with Republicans as he has because hes been such a prominent figure as a leader of the impeachment. That's helped him [in the primary] but thats a double-edged sword in the general election, Kousser said.

However, Porters prospects of reaching the November ballot are, at best, uncertain. A new poll finds her in third place in the primary, and early ballot returns show a sluggish turnout among the voters most likely to support her, compared with Schiff and Garvey.

Garvey and Schiff are in a statistical tie for the top two spots, according to a poll released Friday by UC Berkeley's Institute of Governmental Studies and the Los Angeles Times. Among likely primary voters, Garvey received the backing of 27%, while Schiff won 25%, within the polls margin of error. Porter received the support of 19%, and fellow Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland got 8%. Slightly more than 1 in 10 supported other candidates, while 9% said they were undecided.

Read more: Schiff and Garvey lead in Senate race, well positioned for runoff, poll shows

The mail-in ballots that already have been cast favor Garvey over Porter.

Though there are far more Democratic registered voters in the state than Republicans, GOP voters have cast a greater share of their ballots, 15% compared with 13% of Democrats through Friday, according to a ballot tracker run by PDI, a well-respected political data firm that caters to Democratic and nonpartisan candidates.

Paul Mitchell, a veteran Democratic strategist who is the vice president of PDI, expects low voter turnout in the election, reflecting a lack of enthusiasm driven by the reality that President Biden and Trump have all but secured their parties' nominations for president.

Its just an uninteresting national ballot, Mitchell said.

Low turnout would help Garvey, since Republicans appear to have a greater propensity to cast ballots in the primary. Plus, if, as multiple polls suggest, GOP voters have consolidated behind Garvey while Democrats are split among multiple candidates, that alone could be enough to help Garvey win one of the top two spots on Tuesday.

Additionally, young people and voters of color  who are more likely to support Porter in the Senate race  are voting with much lower frequency than older, white voters, according to the data.

One caveat is that Tuesday is the first presidential primary California has conducted since it began mailing ballots to every registered voter during the pandemic.

Its still too early to tell about turnout, but obviously its not trending very high. But every voter gets a ballot sent to them these days, noted Democratic pollster Ben Tulchin, who is not involved with any candidates in the race. I expect turnout to be lower for sure but its still too early to say how low its going to be. Porter seems to be in a tough spot, but I think there is still a chance she can make it through.

But he added that Porters challenges are compounded by how greatly Schiff has outspent her in this race and how much she had to spend in her tight 2022 congressional reelection campaign.

While both of them were among the most prodigious fundraisers in Congress, Schiff entered the race with far more money and has raised more than Porter has since.

More than $65 million has been spent in the race, making it the most expensive Senate contest in California history, according to data firm AdImpact. The firm tweeted Friday morning that 60% of Schiff's broadcast ads mention Garvey.

Most of these funds have been spent by Schiff and his allies, including independent expenditure committees funded by Native American tribes and cryptocurrency billionaires, not only supporting his Senate bid and attacking Porter but also boosting Garveys profile among Republicans.

Read more: Schiff's latest ad boosts Republican Senate rival Steve Garvey. Rep. Katie Porter hates it

Broadcast and cable stations have been blanketed by ads about the race, including a Schiff message about Garvey airing on Fox News, despite the candidate calling for a boycott of advertising on the cable station because of its false reporting about the 2020 election.

Speaking on MSNBC in 2023 after entering the Senate contest, Schiff referred to folks that continue to advertise on stations that deliberately put out lies and deliberately undermine our elections. They become culpable in this too.

In the last week, Schiffs campaign spent $390,152 highlighting Garveys candidacy on Fox News, according to Democratic media buyer Sheri Sadler, who is not working for any candidate in the race.

The Schiff campaign declined to comment about the candidates efforts to boost Garvey.

A Garvey spokesman said the Republican's improved standing in the polls was the result of Californians becoming "reacquainted" with the retired ballplayer and learning about his priorities.

"With Adam Schiff's aggressive campaign against Garvey and the latest primary poll results, our predictions are proving accurate," spokesman Matt Shupe said. "Garvey's half-century bond with Californians transcend politics, and will prove to be a formidable force in both the primary and general elections."

The Porter campaign did not respond to a request for comment, but the candidate has repeatedly fundraised off the Schiff campaign's focus on Garvey.

If I advance to the general election, theres a good chance we will win that race, Porter wrote in one of four email blasts to supporters on Thursday. Thats why super PACs and the Schiff campaign are doing everything they can to prevent me from advancing, and I wont BS you: their plan might work.

Get the best of the Los Angeles Times politics coverage with the Essential Politics newsletter.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) said he is not going to lie on behalf of the Republican Party when asked why he decided to not seek reelection.

Buck, who announced last November that he will not be running for reelection, said on NewsNations The Hill Sunday that while his goals for the country have not changed, the world around him has changed dramatically.

Weve gone from a time when the Tea Party stood for conservative principles, for constitutional principles, to a time where the [populists] have taken over the Republican Party and are really advocating things that I believe are very dangerous, he told host Chris Stirewalt in an interview that aired Sunday.

When asked why he decided to leave Congress, Buck said that numerous different factors led to his decision.

The MAGA crowd ran a primary against me last time. I won 75-25. Im not concerned about [a] primary, Im not concerned about losing a general election. You know, the time is right. Im at a point in my life where I want to do different things. I want to enjoy my family more, I want to [do] less business travel and more recreational travel. There are a lot of things that went into the decision, he said.

But really were at a time in American politics, that I am not going to lie on behalf of my presidential candidate, on behalf of my party. And Im very sad that others in my party have taken the position that, as long as we get the White House, it doesnt really matter what we say, he added.

Buck has criticized some members of his party for promoting false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Trump. Buck, who voted to certify the 2020 election results, withheld support from Judiciary Committee Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) when he was running for the Speakership last fall over concerns he had with Jordans actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Trump praised Bucks decision not to seek another term, saying it was a great thing for the Republican Party.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
KENOSHA, Wis. - A Kenosha police chase ended in Illinois on Saturday morning, March 2 with the 16-year-old driver in custody.

It started around 10 a.m. near 82nd Street and Sheridan Road. An officer spotted a vehicle speeding and driving recklessly and tried to pull it over, but the driver took off.

The chase continued south into Pleasant Prairie, where police successfully deployed a spike strip on the fleeing vehicle. However, the driver kept going and crossed the state line  heading into Winthrop Harper.

SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News

Winthrop Harbor police were waiting to assist in the chase, which ultimately came to a stop in their jurisdiction roughly five miles from where it began. Police there arrested the 16-year-old driver, who was one of five people in the vehicle.

The 16-year-old will be extradited and charged in Kenosha County, police said.
A Kentucky-based company that supplies eyewear to veterans has received some criticism for pressuring employees to upsell.

PDS Consultants was awarded a contract in October to supply veterans with eyeglasses through PDS Optical, replacing Superior.

Sources close to the matter told Fox News Digital that employees were given a monthly quota and pressured to upsell frames to veterans that are not covered by the VA  meaning that veterans, if the allegations are true, have had to pay more money out of pocket.

The US Department of Veterans Affairs building is seen in Washington, D.C. The agency said Friday it will offer abortions for veterans in certain cases.

One source said the company docked opticians pay, and opticians were told they could make up the loss in commissions by upselling veterans.

"For us to have a decent paycheck, we have to try to upsell everything to the veterans just to get a certain percentage of commission from the sales," the source said.

The source recalled one incident where a veteran was undercharged for eyeglasses, and the company forced an optician to call the veteran back and ask for more money.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"You feel uncomfortable calling somebody back and asking, can you give me your credit card number over the phone? I undercharged you. You still owe me $60," the source said.

VULNERABLE DEM SENATOR BREAKS SILENCE ON BIDEN ADMIN PROVIDING VETERANS MEDICAL RESOURCES TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS

Another source told Fox News Digital that they "personally found it offensive to do some of the things that [PDS] were doing."

"The upper management was terrible. Basically, called us liars. And then from there, setting sales goals. With the prior contract, with Superior, there were no sales quotas to be met," the source said.

The same source told Fox News Digital they received negative complaints from veterans "on a daily basis."

"We went from having a very wide array of frame selection that the veterans could choose from  that were very good frames  to very few frames," the source.

The source qualified that sales quotas are not bad in and of themselves, but felt that selling should not be the purpose when "you're brought in here to provide a service to the veterans."

"When you have a contract with a company that does that for the veterans, I mean, maybe I feel like it's wrong, other people may not," the source said. "But I feel that opticians sales on something should be provided to  especially the services, I don't think it's right."

WASHINGTON, DC - MAY 28: The United States Department of Veterans Affairs headquarters is seen on Wednesday, May 28, 2014, in Washington, D.C.

Internal emails reviewed by Fox News Digital appeared to confirm this portrayal, showing managers encouraging employees to surpass their sales goals from the month prior.

"As we gear up for December, I'm excited to challenge you to not only meet but surpass our sales goal," one email reads. "Building on your impressive performance in November, let's set our sights on a December goal of $30,000 in sales."

FORMER SPECIAL FORCES SOLDIER SEEKING TO FLIP VIRGINIA HOUSE SEAT LANDS VETERAN GOP LAWMAKERS' ENDORSEMENT

Don Overton, President of the Blind Veterans of America, said his organization has been receiving concerns from people close to the process and are displeased with PDS' quota system.

"We were beginning to learn that the issues weren't just at the interface of the way that these contracts were being awarded, but then it was the demands of the opticians to sell," Overton told Fox News Digital.

Overton explained a process whereby veterans go in for a pair of eyeglasses that should be part of their comprehensive healthcare benefits, but then are lured into buying a more expensive pair.

"[The veterans] go down to the optical shop and they see just horrendous antiquated, very inexpensive glasses on the board. And this is what they get," Overton said. "Or then the new shiny board comes out with what anybody is going to want. A better pair of glasses that are going to be more comfortable or are probably going to hold up better."

"This is how they're making up the difference right on the backs of veterans," Overton said. "And these should be earned benefits."

The VA employee source who spoke to Fox News Digital said: "It hurts me to my heart to see that because I know a lot of veterans are struggling financially and they say, I gotta see. Theres nothing I can do. I don't have a choice but to pay."

FILE: The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) seal hangs on the facade at the headquarters in Washington, D.C., U.S.

PDS pushed back against these criticisms when reached for comment by Fox News Digital and defended its business practices, noting that its majority owners are veterans of the U.S. Army, both having served deployments in Iraq.

"PDS stands by the quality of our eyeglass products and services, creating tremendous value for our Veterans and taxpayers every day," PDS Optical Vice President Robb Yopps told Fox News Digital.

Veterans are provided "no cost items" as agreed upon in the VA contract, Yopps said. If veterans wish to purchase an upgrade or a second pair, they do so out of pocket because it is in addition to their VA benefit. No veterans, Yopps said, are being pressured into upgrading their glasses or making additional purchases.

Yopps said allegations that employee salaries are compensated by commission have been "repeatedly rejected as speculative (and untrue) when raised before the Government Accountability Office (GAO), which administers the U.S. governments bid protest program."

Yopps added that prices for the VA, contrary to allegations, have "decreased substantially," compared to the previous vendor, benefiting the U.S. taxpayer.

"PDS is proud of the service we provide to the VA and our nations Veterans, providing value to those who served just like us," Yopps said.

The VA told Fox News Digital it has found no evidence of price increases after PDS won the contract, nor has it received any direct veteran complaints about the vendor.

"Veterans who are eligible for prescription eyeglasses from the VA do not pay higher out-of-pocket costs because the prescription eyeglasses are provided to veterans at no cost," VA Press Secretary Terrence Hayes said.

Contracts are awarded, Hayes said, based on fair and reasonable prices, subjected to a multi-step analysis.

The Federal Acquisition Regulation requires that all offers, with separately priced line items, be analyzed to determine if the prices are unbalanced. If price analysis determines a price is unbalanced  where one or more line items are significantly overstated or understated  a contracting officer will proceed to a two-party analysis to consider the risk of paying unreasonably high prices and the risk of unsuccessful performance.





Original article source: Kentucky company supplying eyewear to veterans criticized for quota system
Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna (Calif.) suggested Sunday that President Biden do something bold and call for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza as support from his base appears to be wavering.

CBS News Face the Nation anchor Margaret Brennan presented polling showing nearly twice as many Democrats rate Bidens presidency as fair or poor compared with Republicans who say the same about former President Trump and claimed the president is having a problem with his base.

And thats why I think he needs to do something bold  this is a problem, Khanna said Sunday. But if he can turn it around, not just by calling for a cease-fire  if he becomes the first American president to [convene] Gulf allies, to convene Israel, to convene municipal leaders in Palestine and civic society and said, Im going to get this done. Im going to recognize a Palestinian state, Im going to have a two-state solution, and Im going to recognize that the security of Israel matters, that the end of occupation matters, he can become a hero.

Earlier in the interview, Khanna said he has been very direct in his criticism of Bidens Middle East policy and argued what Biden needs to do is stop the killing, the suffering.

And my plea to this president, who I support deeply, is: Mr. President, call for a permanent cease-fire, Khanna said. Theres too much suffering. And the release of all hostages. The policy of bear-hugging Netanyahu has not worked.

Khannas suggestion comes as a temporary cease-fire deal between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas continues to be negotiated by the two parties, along with international leaders, including CIA Director William Burns.

Israel has reportedly agreed to the framework of a proposed temporary cease-fire and hostage release deal, according to a senior U.S. administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity with The Associated Press on Saturday. The official said the Israelis have more or less accepted the framework, leaving the decision up to Hamas, per the news wire.

If accepted, the deal would include a six-week cease-fire, and Hamas would release hostages considered at risk, according to the U.S. official. It would also pave the way for a larger influx of humanitarian aid into Gaza, which has been devastated by Israels military operations.

Immediately following Hamass Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel  which killed 1,200 people and took about 250 people hostage  the Biden administration offered its unwavering support to its allied nation.

As the war approaches the five-month mark, however, and the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza climbs past 30,000, U.S. leaders and much of the international community have mounted pressure on Israel to scale back its retaliatory military campaign to prevent civilian casualties.

Brennan asked Khanna if publicly criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an election year would bode well for Bidens reelection, to which he said, Yes. You know who was? President Obama, and he won two terms.

Brennan pointed out that then-Vice President Biden did not agree with Obama at the time on his approach.

The Hill reached out to the White House for comment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Plans for the King to visit Australia are still being drawn up despite his cancer diagnosis, as the government consults on the schedule for a royal tour in the autumn.

The King and Queen are pencilled in to travel in October and early November, coordinating with the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Samoa.

The Australian government is now inviting submissions from premiers and chief ministers, as they decide which states or territories to include in a forthcoming tour.

The King and Queen had been expected to visit Pacific Commonwealth nations in a major tour for the new reign.

The King has since been diagnosed with cancer and has postponed public engagements while he completes treatment.

The King and Queen are pencilled in to travel to Australia in October and early November - Chris Jackson

In a statement, Anthony Albanese, the Australian prime minister said his government was making preparations for a visit by the King later this year.

It is understood that any such visit would still include the Queen too, and further travel to countries including New Zealand.

The King has shown his compassion for Australians affected by recent natural disasters, just as Australians have shown compassion and support for the King following his cancer diagnosis, said Mr Albanese.

The King, Queen and members of the Royal family are always welcome in Australia.

My government is engaging with states and territories on options for a possible royal visit.

The trip would make him the first reigning monarch to visit Australia since 2011. He last went as Prince of Wales in 2018, with both Prince William and Prince Harry visiting with their own families in recent years.

The King last visited the country as the Prince of Wales with Camilla in 2018 - MARK METCALFE/POOL/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The country has a special place in the Kings heart, having made some 15 working trips there, and studying for a happy six months at the Timbertop, Geelong Grammar School in Victoria.

Buckingham Palace would not usually confirm travel arrangements until the autumn. The Kings programme will be decided based on his health, and how he responds to cancer treatment.

As Head of Commonwealth, he would ordinarily be expected at the heads of government meeting for the week beginning October 21.

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Editors note: This story includes descriptions of sexual abuse.

As Victoria stepped into Dr. Fabio Ortegas exam room in the summer of 2017, she had no idea the gynecologists career was hurtling toward destruction.

She didnt know that an angry husband had called more than five months earlier to complain about Ortegas treatment of his wife at a NorthShore University HealthSystem office in Skokie. The woman said the doctor had asked if it felt good when his fingers were inside her vagina, had conducted an ungloved breast exam, and had inquired about her sexual fantasies.

NorthShore, now called Endeavor Health, did not tell Victoria that Ortega was under police investigation as a result of that womans allegations, according to a lawsuit Victoria later filed. The Skokie Police Department had already gone back and forth with Endeavor about Ortega over a span of several months, police records show.

Nor was Victoria aware of Ortegas previous history, including a patient who public records show had complained to Endeavor back in 2012, contending he had behaved inappropriately during an appointment.

Had Victoria known those things, she never would have agreed to see Ortega at his Lincolnwood office, she said in an interview. Instead, she wound up in a room with a gynecologist who would later serve prison time for sexually abusing patients.

Thats what angers me the most, is NorthShore knew, she said. They could have done something. The Tribune is using a pseudonym for Victoria because the Tribune generally does not name people who report being sexually assaulted or abused without their permission.

At least 30 women, including Victoria, have filed lawsuits alleging that Ortega sexually assaulted them during appointments over a span of three decades at various Endeavor locations and, before that, at Swedish Hospital in Chicago, formerly Swedish Covenant. Most of the lawsuits allege that Endeavor and Swedish either knew or should have known that Ortega was a danger to patients. They contend the health system failed to protect them.

Now a Tribune investigation has pieced together the fullest picture yet of Ortegas troubled history with patients and Endeavors pivotal role in keeping the doctor in place, with access to vulnerable female patients, despite multiple complaints.

In court records, patient after patient described how Ortega had inquired about their sex lives while his fingers were inside them. They recalled the doctors attempts to sexually stimulate them and the vaginal and breast examinations they now believe were not medically necessary.

At Victorias appointment, she contends in her lawsuit, the doctor touched her thigh without medical gloves, joked about her boyfriends penis size and tried to stimulate her while stating he was touching her G spot. She left the appointment in tears, she told the Tribune.

Tamara Holder, an attorney who is representing nearly all of the women who have sued Ortega, Endeavor and Swedish, said an additional 123 of Ortegas former patients have retained her and her co-counsels, Johanna Raimond and Stephan Blandin, to represent them.

Ortega pleaded guilty in October 2021 to sexually abusing two former patients, including the woman whose husband called the Skokie medical office, and was sentenced to three years in prison.

Ortega and Endeavor have settled 21 lawsuits in the last five years, according to court records. Ortega and Swedish Hospital, which Endeavor acquired in 2020, have settled an additional two lawsuits, and six lawsuits against the doctor, Endeavor and/or Swedish are still pending.

The terms of the settlements are confidential, and Endeavor has never publicly admitted any wrongdoing or error in its handling of Ortega and the allegations against him.

By contrast, after ProPublica reported last year that Columbia University had protected gynecologist Robert Hadden, who faced allegations from hundreds of women, leaders of Columbia and Columbia University Irving Medical Center said in a November news release that they were deeply sorry that Columbia failed these survivors.

The release said Columbia would notify nearly 6,500 patients of Haddens crimes and establish a $100 million survivors settlement fund. It also said the university would commit to an external investigation to examine the failures that allowed Hadden to abuse patients and work with outside experts to review the hospitals patient safety policies and procedures.

Endeavor Health did not answer numerous written questions from the Tribune about the allegations and lawsuits against Endeavor, Ortega and Swedish, saying in statements that it was unable to comment on pending claims or litigation but that Endeavor Health has absolutely no tolerance for abuse of any kind.

The past events reported are incredibly upsetting and concerning, and we recognize the tremendous strength and courage it takes for survivors of abuse to come forward, Endeavor said in a statement. The statement said Endeavor is committed to meaningful review and response to each patient impacted.

In the time since Ortega last worked there, Endeavor has enhanced and evolved its processes and policies to support the reporting of abuse allegations, the statement said. Our policies require we investigate all allegations of abuse that are reported to us, (and) take prompt action in all matters, including removal from care or chaperoning for providers during investigation, it said. We also support patients in reporting allegations, and fully cooperate with law enforcement.

The health system offers chaperones for sensitive exams and has implemented sensitivity training for providers, another Endeavor statement said.

Ortega did not respond to requests for comment for this story. But at the court hearing where he pleaded guilty to sexual abuse, he denied that he ever meant to harm his patients.

Endeavor is a large health system with nine hospitals, including in affluent northern and western suburbs, and has a total of about 300 locations providing care. The health system had more than $5.3 billion in revenue in 2022.

Some of Ortegas patients say they wish Endeavor had devoted more of its resources to protecting them.

Something is very, very wrong

Elena kept what happened buried within her for more than a decade.

Elena (also a pseudonym) began seeing Ortega at Swedish Hospital in 2001, amid the excitement of her first pregnancy. Elena, who typically brought her husband or mother to appointments, told the Tribune she found Ortega to be trustworthy at the time.

The doctor, who is from Colombia, spoke to her and her mother in Spanish, which provided additional comfort, Elena said. She remembers her mother saying he seemed like a great doctor.

When Elena became pregnant again two years later, she didnt hesitate to turn to Ortega. But for this pregnancy, she went to most of the appointments by herself.

The appointments seemed different this time, she said. It seemed as if Ortega often wanted to do a vaginal exam, even during appointments where she thought she was there only to check on the babys heartbeat, she said.

The vaginal exams were rough and painful, according to the lawsuit she later filed. At one point, when she complained about the pain, Ortega made a comment about the size of her husbands penis, she contended in the suit.

The look on his face, at times, I had to just turn away because there was just something gross, she told the Tribune.

Still, she stuck with him throughout the pregnancy. Youre in this state of confusion, youre like: I know this guy. He helped deliver my first child.

She couldnt wait until the pregnancy was over, so she wouldnt have to see him anymore. She didnt say anything to anyone at the time, she said  she worried she wouldnt be believed.

Once her daughter was born, Elena tried to move on with her life but experienced anxiety and depression, she said. She could no longer stomach seeing male doctors, she said.

One day, more than 15 years later, Elena was scrolling through Facebook on her phone when she saw a headline about Ortega being arrested on a charge that he had sexually assaulted a patient.

In that moment, my heart sank to my stomach; everything just went pitch black, Elena said. Thats when reality set in, like, OK, wait a minute, something is very, very wrong.

She also, however, felt some relief. Now that Ortega had been arrested, and others had come forward, she felt safe talking about her own experience and she filed her lawsuit in December 2019. She withdrew the lawsuit in June 2023 so her attorneys could focus on an Endeavor case that was set for trial, but said she intends to file again in coming months.

Im hoping the fact that women like me, that have decided to come forward, even if its 20-plus years later, it can inspire somebody to say, Hey, its not too late, Elena said.

Women who have sued Ortega told the Tribune they felt uncomfortable during his examinations but didnt report the incidents earlier out of fear, disbelief or because they trusted that a doctor would do them no harm. In their lawsuits, the women said it wasnt until they learned of Ortegas criminal charges that they realized his behavior reflected something more sinister.

Jennifer, a patient who saw Ortega for an appointment in March 2016, told the Tribune: I drove home and I remember thinking to myself: No, that didnt happen. Youre overreacting. Hes a doctor. A doctor would never ever do that.

Jennifer  also a pseudonym  alleged that as her feet were in stirrups, Ortega began asking her questions about her husband and sex life. As he questioned her, he stroked her vagina in a rhythmic motion, explaining that he was rubbing her G-spot, prosecutors said at the hearing at which Ortega pleaded guilty.

She tried to squirm away from him, she said, but she couldnt move much.

During the breast exam, Ortega rubbed and groped Jennifers breasts, according to prosecutors. She told the Tribune she started counting the little holes in the ceiling tiles to take her mind off of what was happening.

Finally, he finished. He told her to get dressed, she said, and to come back for another appointment. She left and never returned.

Continuing to practice

Even before Skokie police began asking Endeavor Health questions about Ortega in 2017, there were signs that something was amiss with the doctors behavior.

One woman told police after Ortega was charged criminally that in 2006 or 2007 she had requested a chaperone during her appointments with Ortega after one exam left her in tears. She continued seeing the doctor until she got health insurance and was able to see another physician, according to a 2018 Skokie police report obtained by the Tribune.

Endeavor officials told police at the time that they had no records indicating the woman was ever a patient of Ortegas, but also acknowledged that records from the time period may have been purged, the police report states.

In addition, a patient told Endeavor in 2012 that Ortega had asked inappropriate questions and touched her inappropriately during an exam, according to a court transcript.

Leaders of obstetrics and gynecology at Endeavor met with Ortega and presented him with the patients complaint, according to a 2012 note from the health systems obstetrics director that a Cook County judge described last year at a hearing related to another patients lawsuit.

Its not clear from court documents how Ortega responded at the time, but he said last year, in response to written questions from Jennifers lawyers, that it was determined that my questions and exam were not inappropriate.

According to the judges description of the note, the patient ended up apologizing for her misconception about Ortegas actions.

A 2019 lawsuit filed against Ortega and Endeavor by another patient alleges that she told Endeavor staff on multiple occasions that she was refusing to see Ortega because she did not feel comfortable with him. In a 2016 Yelp post about the Lincolnwood clinic that is quoted in her lawsuit, the patient wrote that while most of the doctors are wonderful, I had a bad experience with one particular (Ortega) and I feel like my problem is being dismissed and like they dont care. I have told multiple people I do not feel comfortable with him, and I basically got told too bad.

A woman who sued Ortega and Endeavor in 2021 said in an affidavit that starting in April 2014 she told Endeavor schedulers on several occasions that she would not see Ortega.

Then came the patient whose angry husband called the Skokie medical office demanding to speak to Ortega after her appointment with the doctor in late January 2017. The woman also went to Skokie police, who first contacted Endeavor about a week after the incident, a police report states.

Endeavor allowed Ortega to see patients after police contacted the health system, court records show. Endeavor would not answer questions from the Tribune about whether it put Ortega on leave or at all restricted his duties in the months after the patient contacted police.

Officers spent more than a month going back and forth with an Endeavor office manager, an Endeavor attorney and the human resources department before they were able to question a medical worker and the physician who took the husbands phone call, according to the police report.

At one point in the investigation, the report states, police received a call back from the human resources director only after police attempted to call Ortega and instead reached his wife.

During the same period that police were beginning to investigate the womans complaint, Endeavor was discussing the patients allegation with Ortega and the other doctor, according to police and state disciplinary documents.

Endeavor would not answer the Tribunes questions about how it investigated the womans allegation. A complaint brought against Ortega by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in 2018 states that Endeavor discussed the allegation with Ortega on Feb. 10, 11 days after the womans husband contacted the medical group  and three days after being contacted by police.

The gynecologist who spoke to the patients husband told police in mid-March of 2017 that he had already been interviewed by the human resources director and another Endeavor manager, in the presence of two attorneys, according to the police report.

Police interviewed Ortega about six months after the patient went to police. Records show they also talked to him about another patient whose husband had reported the doctor to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in 2014, alleging inappropriate conduct. Police learned from the department, which oversees doctors licenses, that it had closed the complaint because it couldnt reach the man or his wife for follow-up.

A civil attorney representing Endeavor was present when the police interviewed Ortega, along with the doctors criminal attorney, according to a police report. Yet Ortega went back to work the next day, according to a lawsuit filed by a former patient who alleged Ortega sexually assaulted her on Aug. 12, the day after police questioned him. Endeavor agreed to a settlement in that lawsuit, court records show.

Ortega went on leave Aug. 14, 2017, and resigned from Endeavor about a year later, Ortega said in response to questions raised in one of the lawsuits against him. The resignation came around the time he was indicted in 2018 on one charge of criminal sexual assault, related to the woman who went to police in early 2017.

Shortly after Ortega was indicted, the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation temporarily suspended his license. He was no longer allowed to practice medicine.

Connecting the dots

Jennifer said she was standing in her kitchen washing dishes when she saw a story on the news about Ortega that noted his arrest. She dropped the dish she was holding and ran to her bedroom, where she fell to the floor.

In the years since her appointment, Jennifer had felt depressed and experienced debilitating migraines. She said she had panic attacks so severe they sent her to the emergency room.

It feels like youre failing your children, youre failing your husband, youre failing yourself because you cant figure out whats wrong with you, Jennifer told the Tribune.

It wasnt until she saw his photograph on her television screen that it all started to make sense.

I never would have connected the dots, she said. It was almost like a sense of relief. I wasnt crazy.

She then went to Lincolnwood police. Jennifer and her husband also filed a lawsuit against Ortega and Endeavor that was settled in July 2023. The amount of the settlement is confidential, and Jennifer spoke with the Tribune before the case was settled.

Carrie Ward, CEO of the Illinois Coalition Against Sexual Assault, said women who experience sexual abuse often dont come forward right away.

Women may worry theyll be blamed or wont be believed over a doctor, Ward said. And when assault occurs at the hands of a medical provider, she said, it sometimes can take a while for the victim to sort out what was and wasnt appropriate about the encounter.

Theyre expecting to be safe, Ward said. I think that does contribute to confusion for folks harmed in that setting.

About 14 months after Ortegas 2018 arrest, he was charged with a second count of criminal sexual assault related to Jennifers allegations.

At the 2021 hearing where he submitted his guilty pleas to charges of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, he tearfully told the courtroom: As a physician  I had never intended to hurt anyone. Never, never. I sincerely apologize to the women who felt that I acted inappropriately.

Jennifers attorneys asked Ortega in written questions, as part of her civil case, if he had sexually assaulted Jennifer.

No, Ortega answered last year. I plead guilty to the charge based on advice of my attorney.

He is now out of prison, and his medical license has been permanently revoked.

Silence and settlements

According to the Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, there have been 21 out-of-court settlements related to medical malpractice claims involving Ortega between December 2019 and March 2021 totaling more than $4.8 million.

Separately, in court, Endeavor and Ortega have reached settlement agreements in 21 lawsuits brought by women over the last five years, court records show. The settlement amounts have not been made public, and Endeavors recent financial statements make no mention of them.

Meanwhile, the Tribune found no records to indicate that Endeavor has been disciplined by the state or other regulators for its handling of the allegations against him.

That may be partly because of a loophole in Illinois law.

If a hospital worker or staff member has reasonable cause to believe a patient may have been abused at the hospital, the worker is required by law to report it to a hospital administrator. The hospital is then supposed to report the allegation of abuse to the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the hospital must take steps to protect patients, such as by removing suspected violators from further patient contact while hospital officials conduct a review. Hospitals may be required to come up with a corrective plan if the departments investigation finds problems.

But the allegation brought to police in 2017 involved an appointment with Ortega at an Endeavor clinic  not at a hospital. And state law does not require clinics and independent doctors offices to report allegations of abuse to the public health department.

The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services requires many medical facilities  including the two clinics where Ortega mostly practiced  to protect patients from abuse, and facilities can be cited for failing to do so. Federal records do not show any patient abuse citations against Endeavor related to Ortega.

The federal agency did cite Endeavor late last year after a woman alleged sexually inappropriate conduct by a patient care technician at Evanston Hospital. An investigation by the state health department found in October that the hospital did not have a written system in place for handling sexual abuse allegations. Endeavor submitted a corrective plan that included enhanced training and a new policy on how to handle sexual abuse allegations.

In a statement to the Tribune, Endeavor said its hospitals already had written policies and processes on how to handle abuse allegations. Nevertheless, we did update our policy to add specific information in the written policy for escalating allegations of sexual abuse, the statement said.

Endeavor has never publicly announced changes in its policies or procedures related to what happened with Ortega. And in addition to the confidential settlements reached with his patients, the Tribune found attorneys for Endeavor have also sought to control what information about lawsuits is accessible to the public before they are settled.

Court records show that, at a May 2023 court hearing related to the civil cases, a lawyer for Endeavor raised concerns about former patients of Ortegas having been to the media. The judge then issued a verbal protective order that prohibits any dissemination of discovery documents in the case except to the attorneys and certain others involved.

One of the pending cases the judge and attorneys continue to discuss is Victorias  the woman who alleges Ortega assaulted her in July 2017, months after Endeavor became aware the doctor was under police investigation.

Victoria was uncomfortable about going to that July appointment, she said in an interview. At an appointment with Ortega eight months earlier, she contends in her lawsuit, he asked her questions about her orgasms and sexual history while touching her intimately.

But by July she needed to visit a gynecologist urgently, she told the Tribune. In her lawsuit, Victoria alleges that she asked if her partner could go into the exam room with her but was told no.

The least they could have done was have someone in the room with me, Victoria told the Tribune. Protect him or protect me, but take a stance and have a chaperone there. I dont think thats asking too much.

When Victoria learned in April 2023 that Ortega had pleaded guilty to sexual abuse, she understood that she too had been harmed by him, according to her lawsuit.

Victoria realized she wasnt alone, she told the Tribune  she wasnt the only one who felt victimized by Ortega and Endeavor. She decided to reach out to Holder, the attorney, and file a lawsuit.

Her lawsuit is, at the moment, the only pending lawsuit against Endeavor and Ortega, after 21 others settled. Five lawsuits against Ortega and/or Swedish Hospital are also still pending.

Two of the settled lawsuits were filed by women who, like Victoria, alleged that Ortega sexually assaulted them at Endeavor facilities while he was under police investigation in 2017.

I would like to see (Endeavor) held accountable since they knew, and did nothing about it to protect me, Victoria said. Its an abuse of power. Its looking the other way.

Help the Chicago Tribune report on medical misconduct

The Tribune hopes to continue reporting on how hospitals and other medical institutions respond when patients report instances of sexual misconduct by health care providers.

If you have information to share, please fill out this form. Responses will not be published without your permission.

Name(required) Email(required) Are you reaching out as a patient or a provider? (required) Patient Provider Please summarize the incident that was reported, including the hospital system or medical office where it occurred. Be as detailed or as general as you are comfortable.(required) To whom did you report the incident? Please describe the response you received. (required) Have you kept any records related to the incident, such as a written complaint, medical records or emails with hospital officials?(required) Are you comfortable with a Tribune reporter reaching out to you? (required) Yes No Is there anything else you think we should know?

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Ukrainian authorities are worried that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be vulnerable to a Russian disinformation campaign that will seek to undermine his authority, Bloomberg reported on Mar. 3

Kyiv is bracing for a Kremlin-sponsored narrative that will seek to exploit misgivings about the Presidents in an effort to undermine public trust, particularly among Ukrainian frontline troops, according to a person familiar with Zelenskyy, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Read also: Ukraines surprisingly weak defense near Avdiivka  NYT

Central to the Kremlins effort will be a bid to erode Zelenskyys democratic legitimacy in the eyes of the public as his five-year term comes to a close without a vote to seek reelection.

The Ukrainian leader has made clear that he anticipates the Kremlin to latch onto the issue, even as dictator Vladimir Putin this month stages an election, whose outcome is a foregone conclusion, to once again extend his nearly quarter-century rule.

Read also: Ukrainians strongly support Zelenskyy, but number that think he should go post-war has increased

This is not an opinion held by Western partners or anyone inside Ukraine, but a narrative and program of the Russian Federation, Zelenskyy said, citing G7s intelligence verifying the Kremlins plan.

According to a poll conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology in early February, the overwhelming majority of Ukrainians (69%) believe that Zelenskyy should remain in office until the end of martial law.

Earlier, Zelenskyy said that elections in Ukraine could be held in wartime, provided that the legislation is amended and voting is organized in a way that is safe and that all Ukrainians, both at home, at the front, and abroad, can participate in the process.

He said later that in his opinion, elections in Ukraine are "not yet timely" because it is a time of defense and battle, on which the fate of the state and Ukrainians depends.

The Ukrainian parliament denied on Nov. 3 that it was preparing for a Presidential election during the war. The state budget for 2024 does not provide for spending on elections.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
George Galloway celebrates his win for the Workers Party of Britain at the Rochdale by-election - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe

Labour has pledged to win back Rochdale from George Galloway, accusing the new MP of stoking division during the contest.

Mr Galloway, a former Labour MP, is returning to Parliament under the banner of the Workers Party of Britain, having won the seat in a campaign marred by allegations of intimidation and death threats.

His path to victory was cleared when Labour was forced to disown its own candidate, Azhar Ali, when he claimed Israel had allowed its own citizens to be murdered in the Oct 7 massacre.

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said Labour had made great strides to root out anti-Semitism - Jonathan Brady/PA

Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, told Sky Newss Trevor Phillips that Labour would field a great candidate to take on Mr Galloway in the next general election.

She said she regretted that the party had been forced to withdraw support from its own candidate but said it showed that it was rooting out anti-Semitism.

Im very sorry that we ended up in that position but it was necessary and Keir Starmer took the action that was necessary in order to demonstrate that the Labour Party has changed, she said.

Come the general election, we will make sure that weve got a great candidate in place that can win back the support of people in Rochdale and can deliver an MP for that community that will bring people together rather than stoking division.

Strong processes in place

Ms Phillipson defended Labours robust selection process after claims that it had effectively surrendered the seat to Mr Galloway by fielding an unsuitable candidate.

The Labour Party has robust processes now in place to make sure that where complaints are received about unacceptable conduct there will be a full investigation, she said.

We do have strong processes in place because that was why we ended up in a position withdrawing our support from the candidate in Rochdale  because of the fact that we will not tolerate unacceptable conduct.

Mr Galloway, 69, ran a campaign relentlessly focused on the war in Gaza as he aggressively courted Rochdales substantial Muslim vote.

Conservatives accused his supporters of hounding and intimidating people, and said they had submitted a complaint about bullying behaviour to the local council.

Simon Danczuk with his wife, Claudine Uwamahoro, after the Reform candidate had received a death threat - Asadour Guzelian

Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, said the reports of intimidation in Rochdale were very concerning and labelled it one of the most divisive campaigns that weve seen in recent times.

Reform UK said its staff had had to be removed from the constituency for their own safety, while a burger van displaying a party poster was threatened with firebombing. A man was arrested after making an online death threat against Simon Danczuk, the partys candidate.

Richard Tice, the leader of Reform, claimed the behaviour of certain candidates and their supporters in this contest fell very far short of our traditional democratic standards.

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Tmall's "China Brand Carnival" in Shanghai showcased 13 top Chinese brands, blending traditional culture with modern tech, attracting young locals with interactive experiences and artistic performances.

Hangzhou, China--(Newsfile Corp. - March 3, 2024) - Tmall, a leading online retail platform, has inaugurated the "China Brand Carnival" at Shanghai INS New Park, bringing together 13 of China's elite brands for a groundbreaking spring brand event. The carnival, which ran from March 3rd to 4th, was notable for its fresh Chinese style and pioneering interactive experiences.

Tmall Announces the Launch of Shanghai's "China Brand Carnival"

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:

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In a bold move away from the conventional press conference format, the "China Brand Carnival" offered visitors a unique offline experience that skillfully blends traditional culture with cutting-edge technology. The event featured creatively designed Chinese-style exhibition areas and interactive installations, along with an array of artistic performances including dance, sitcoms, and light and shadow shows. Over the course of 48 hours, the event was open to the public, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in the latest spring and summer offerings from top Chinese brands and engage in interactive activities.

The 13 participating brands took this opportunity to unveil their most awaited new products and to set the tone for industry trends for the upcoming spring and summer seasons. This initiative by Tmall underscores its commitment to fostering innovation, enriching offline consumer experiences, and showcasing the vibrant creativity and cultural pride of Chinese brands.

About Tmall:

Tmall, headquartered in Hangzhou, is a premier online retail platform that offers a wide range of products from both Chinese and international brands. Known for its commitment to quality and innovation, Tmall continues to lead the way in enhancing the shopping experience for its millions of users across China.

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For further information, please contact:

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Name: Sine Ye

Email: yeshuai.ye@taobao.com

Organization: Tmall

Website: https://www.tmall.com

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/200027
Critics are contending Georgia nursing student Laken Riley might still be alive if it wasn't for sanctuary city policies adopted by former Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council when it was led by ex-Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito.

Murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley might still be alive if it wasnt for sanctuary city policies pushed by former Mayor Bill de Blasio and left-wing extremists on the City Council  who have blood on their hands, critics told The Post.

Nearly six months before the 22-year-old Riley was found dead Feb. 22 on the University of Georgias campus, her alleged killer Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, was arrested in Queens on Aug. 31 and charged with endangering a child.

However, because of migrant-friendly changes made to the sanctuary city policy in both 2014 in 2017 by de Blasio and the Melissa Mark-Viverito-led City Council, the NYPD had no choice but to cut the Venezuelan-born Ibarra loose  instead of turning him over to federal immigration officials  because he didnt have any major crime convictions.

The situation in New York City is outrageous, and any laws that protect criminals at the expense of New Yorkers must be repealed, said Queens Councilman Robert Holden.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was formed as a result of what occurred during 9/11, and preventing local law enforcement from communicating with the feds is lunacy, the centrist Democrat added.

The nursing student in Georgia would be alive today if we werent a sanctuary city, and the blood is on the hands of Bill de Blasio and Melissa Mark-Viverito.

Critics are contending Georgia nursing student Laken Riley might still be alive if it wasnt for sanctuary city policies adopted by former Mayor Bill de Blasio and the City Council when it was led by ex-Speaker Melissa Mark Viverito. NYC Mayors Office

Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) also said he believes theres a good chance Rileys death could have been avoided.

I cant be certain that Ibarra would have been detained and deported [before Rileys death], but I can say for certain that he wasnt because of a series of laws the previous City Council and de Blasio signed into law, he said.

De Blasio disputed that the NYPD had previously encountered Ibarra.

Murdered Georgia nursing student Laken Riley is at the center of a debate over whether NYCs sanctuary city laws jeopardize public safety. Facebook / Laken Riley

But its sickening that a young, promising life was cut short, the former mayor said.

Any way you slice it, we need tougher border policies and comprehensive immigration reform.

Mark-Viverito said she remains proud of the laws she helped pass to protect migrants.

Queens Councilman Robert Holden, a moderate Democrat, said blood is on the hands of de Blasio Mark-Viverito over the death of Laken Riley. Andrew Schwartz / SplashNews.com

It is clear [Holden] is unfamiliar with the law and how it works, the ex-speaker said.

So thats why I say he isnt serious. He just wants air and print time to spew his MAGA talking points.

The same reasons the law was put in place in the first place  and there is plenty of reporting on it  still are valid today, and I stand by the law as is.

Unlike NYCs current political climate where Mayor Eric Adams routinely bickers with the City Council, Bill de Blasio and Melissa Mark-Viverito had a close working relationship as mayor and City Council speaker. William Miller

Both Holden and Borelli told The Post they plan to introduce legislation to repeal the sanctuary city rules.

You have to start with introducing the bill, and then it is up to the public to remind Council members that they should prioritize the general public over repeat and violent criminals, said Borelli.

However, getting such a measure approved will likely be a long uphill battle  even if Mayor Eric Adams agrees to support it as most political insiders expect he would.

Both Holden and Council Minority Leader Joe Borelli told The Post they want to sponsor legislation to repeal de Blasio-led changes to the sanctuary city policy. Getty Images

Adams, a former NYPD captain, on Tuesday called for the rules to be loosened so that migrants suspected of serious crimes could also be turned over to ICE  as they once were under sanctuary city policies implemented as early as 1989 under ex-mayors Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg.

But Council Speaker Adrienne Adams shot down the idea a day later, saying she and the rest of the Councils progressive Democratic majority wont be considering any rule changes.
Laken Riley's mother, Allyson Phillips, on Saturday shared a public message for the first time since her daughter's Feb. 22 murder, calling it an "avoidable tragedy" in a Facebook post.

Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, was killed while jogging on trails around the University of Georgia campus. Jose Antonio Ibarra, a 26-year-old Venezuelan national who was living illegally in the United States, has been charged in her murder, which police described as a "crime of opportunity."

"As I sat down to write this message, I really just have no words," Phillips wrote on Facebook. "My family has faced the most devastating, unimaginable loss that anyone could ever be force [sic] to endure. I would like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, for being with me and my family during this heartbreaking time. I encourage everyone to have a personal relationship with Jesus. I give Him all the glory for getting us through this."

She added that "[i]t would be really easy to lose our faith in mankind because of this senseless and avoidable tragedy," but said her family has received an overwhelming "amount of love, support and help" during what she described as a "horrific nightmare."

LAKEN RILEY FUNERAL IN GEORGIA COMMEMORATES NURSING STUDENT ALLEGEDLY KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT

Laken Riley poses for a photo posted to Facebook. Riley, a nursing student, was found dead near a lake on the University of Georgia campus on Feb. 22, 2024.

"I cant begin to tell you all how much we appreciate all of the text, calls, flowers, meals, groceries, bows, pictures, personal gifts, memorials, gift cards and donations to Lakens foundation," she said. "We are beyond grateful for everyone who has stepped up to be here for us through this difficult time. The outpouring of love has been so enormous - that I felt this was the best way to thank you all in a timely manner. I hope that each and every one of you know how much we love you and appreciate all you have done."

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Phillips asked the public to "continue to pray" for her family as they "put one foot in front of the other moving forward." She also changed her profile picture to a photo of a black and red heart  UGA's colors  featuring Laken's name, along with the hashtag #sayhername.

LAKEN RILEY MURDER EXPOSED GLARING SECURITY LAPSES ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES, NEED FOR EMERGENCY BLUE LIGHTS

Hearse carrying casket of Laken Riley departs Woodstock City Church following a memorial with more than 1,000 attending, Friday, March 1, 2024.

Phillips laid her daughter to rest on a rainy Friday afternoon in Woodstock, Georgia.

LAKEN RILEY MURDER: STUDENTS ON UGA CAMPUS, JOGGERS NATIONWIDE SHOCKED AFTER ALLEGED ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT KILLING

"When the world loses someone like Laken, whose light consistently shined so bright, it seems that much darker in their absence," Woodstock City Church lead pastor Samer Massad said in a Friday statement to Fox News. "Laken was special. She was a gift to anyone who knew her. Smart, kind, compassionate, and thoughtful dont even begin to scratch the surface. She was a loving daughter, sister, and friend. She had a gift for making anyone she was around feel comfortable and seen. But the most special thing about Laken was her faith in Jesus."

Jose Ibarra and his brother, Diego Ibarra, lived together in an apartment complex in Athens located about a five-minute walk from the approximate scene near Lake Herrick on UGA's campus where Riley was killed.

LAKEN RILEY MURDER SUSPECT LIVED WITHIN 5-MINUTE WALK OF UGA CRIME SCENE

Jose entered the United States through the U.S.-Mexico border in 2022 and was freed on border parole. He initially lived in New York City before moving to the Georgia college town.

Jose Ibarra was arrested on Feb. 23 in connection with Laken Riley's Feb. 22 murder in Athens, Georgia.

He is charged with malice murder, felony murder, aggravated battery, aggravated assault, false imprisonment, kidnapping, hindering a 911 call and concealing the death of another.

Diego Ibarra was fired from a dishwashing job at UGA after presenting fake green card documents, the school previously told Fox News Digital.

Fox News' David Lewcowtik contributed to this report.





Original article source: Laken Riley's mother speaks out about 'avoidable tragedy' after daughter's funeral
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  The Las Cruces Public Schools (LCPS) is inviting the public to attend the first public meeting in a series of town hall-style gatherings at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 in the boardroom of the Dr. Karen M. Trujillo Administration Complex.

The Budget Town Hall meeting, which is led by the LCPS Finance Division, will demonstrate to the public the budget process, timeline and results of the budget survey, according to a news release sent by LCPS.

Chief Financial Officer Chenyu Alex Liu will present an overview of the upcoming fiscal year budget and the strategies the district employs to gather feedback from the public, according to LCPS.

LCPS says one strategy is the collaboration of the Budget Survey Committee, which includes teachers, administrators, community members and staff.

The public is invited to attend the meeting in person or view it online using this link.

There will be additional meetings in the first quarter of 2024. Those meetings are scheduled at 5:30 p.m. May 8 and May 21 in the boardroom.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
American businessman Elon Musk wrote in X that he did not understand why NATO still exists, Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics responded to this statement in X on March 3.

Read also: Elon Musk expresses another hot take on Russo-Ukrainian War

I have always wondered why NATO continues to exist, despite the fact that its enemy and reason for existence, the Warsaw Pact, has collapsed, he wrote.

The billionaire expressed this opinion in response to a statement by American businessman David Sachs that there is no reason for NATOs existence.

In 1991, the Soviet Union collapsed, and NATO faced an existential crisis: the reason for its existence no longer exists, Sachs said.

Elon Musk wrote that he agrees with this statement.

President of Latvia Edgars Rinkevics also responded to Musks statement. On March 3, he wrote in X that the reason for NATOs existence is Russia and other enemies of the free world.

Read also: Tech titan Musk condemns Ukraine aid, warns of endless war with no winners

Earlier, Musk had already gotten into a scandal for suggesting that Ukraine should improve relations with Russia and agree to give up the occupied territories to Russia to prevent World War III. He also noted that the situation for the Ukrainian Armed Forces at the front is hopeless, so a ceasefire would be the best solution.

The American businessman also stated that Ukraines position in the war against Russia is weakening every day, and Ukrainian soldiers are dying for no reason.

Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron!

Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
This is truly fighting for LGBTQ+ rights.

Laverne Cox is a passionate LGBTQ+ activist who's known for countless amounts of iconic moments.

After all, she's the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category, the first trans woman to cover multiple magazines, and so much more.

Although her acting and modeling credits are very impressive, her activism always stands out as her most important work to date.

With 2024 serving as an election year, Cox is calling on her fellow queer Americans to vote blue in November.

"It's a really scary time right now for LGBTQ+ people. We're more visible now than we've ever been and I'm grateful to be a part of that, but the backlash against that visibility is strong," Cox tells The Advocate.

Laverne Cox Encourages LGBTQ+ Americans to Vote Democrat in 2024 Election youtu.be

Hundreds of anti-LGBTQ+ bills have already been introduced to legislation this year alone, so this year is crucial for the community to ban together and fight off potential threats to equality.

"There's already 410 bills that have been introduced to state legislatures that would limit LGBTQ+ people all over this country. On the state level, we're being attacked. The conversation is really about eradicating trans people from public life. If we have a Republican president, we will have a national on gender-affirming care for trans people."

Cox also references Project 2025, which is an agenda created by Republicans to win the election and enforce legislative acts that will harm the LGBTQ+ community.

"If we have another Republican president, they have a plan to ban gender-affirming care nationally. They want to repeal marriage equality. There's a lot of stuff they want to do to target our community. It's exhausting."

The actress is also well aware that the election will likely come to a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, but she's not losing hope.

"I know our choices for voting are not so great. I know I'm not deeply inspired, but I'm going to vote. Unfortunately, I'm voting Democrat because it's the lesser of two evils and at least they're not trying to take away my ability to exist."

Visibility is more crucial than ever and Cox is showing her pride in all of her current projects, including her latest music video for her new song "Gretchen: A TripHopera Pt. 2." The empowering video showcases trans beauty at its finest.

"Ten years ago when I came onto the scene, trans representation was in such a different place. I'm this kid who grew up in Alabama with really big dreams. There's something that seems so impossible about me being here. Low and behold, I stayed around long enough and got lucky. It is possible."

"Gretchen: A TripHopera Pt. 2" is available now on all streaming platforms. To see the full interview with Laverne Cox, check out the videos above and below.

Laverne Cox Calls Out Red States for Watching the Most Trans Adult Films youtu.be
A member of the Texas House, Rep. Glenn Rogers, R-Mineral Wells, is calling for disbanding the Texas Education Agency.

A Texas lawmaker's recent call to dismantle the Texas Education Agency could reflect a growing discontent with the state office in charge of overseeing primary and secondary public schooling.

While education policy experts agree that disbanding the agency is unrealistic at best, the call  which comes during a primary election season  speaks more about increasingly bipartisan conversations at the state level about reforming education policy, even if lawmakers haven't yet agreed on solutions.

In a Jan. 25 letter, Rep. Glenn Rogers, R-Mineral Wells, noted he plans to file legislation in the 2025 session to eliminate the TEA. He railed against the states standardized test, called the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness, and the agencys increasing budget.

The edu-crat crowd at the TEA has limited experience in actual classroom settings, Rogers wrote in the letter. And yet, they put themselves forward as experts for what our kids need. In reality, we know that parents first, followed by teachers and local elected officials, are in a much better position to determine the educational needs of our students.

Rogers is facing a GOP primary challenge by Mike Olcott, who has gained Gov. Greg Abbott's endorsement. Rogers is among several Texas House Republicans who drew Abbotts ire after they joined Democrats in opposing a "school choice" program, which would use public money to help pay for students private school tuition and other costs.

Rogers didnt return several American-Statesman requests for comment. TEA staff declined to comment.

Eliminating the TEA is farfetched if not impossible, said David DeMatthews, a University of Texas professor of education policy.

The agency conducts federally required duties, such as distributing federal funds, and tracks data on student outcomes, special education services and literacy.

If there was no TEA, it would be virtually impossible for 1,200 school districts, individually, without any oversight or support, to comply with all the mandates, DeMatthews said. It's a silly idea.

Lawmakers do regularly review state agencies, and the TEA's next evaluation is scheduled for 2029.

However, Rogers complaints against the TEA reflect a growing discussion about reforming the agency, said Monty Exter, Association of Texas Professional Educators director of government relations.

On the one hand, many Texans, especially those who identify as Republicans, tend to have a distrust of large administrations, he said. And local communities and schools often feel they best know their students needs.

I think most of them feel if TEA comes in and tries to do this standardized approach at the local level, they cause more problems than they solve, Exter said.

A complete overhaul of the education system isnt unheard of.

In 1995, the Legislature went through a lengthy and comprehensive redesign of the TEA, revising and writing new codes, said HD Chambers, executive director of the Texas School Alliance, which represents 46 large school districts.

It might be time for our elected leaders to take a look at the education code or a significant portion of the education code and perhaps look at a rewrite of it, Chambers said.

Testing  one of the agencys most prominent programs  has garnered significant backlash in recent years, he said.

In August, several school districts filed a lawsuit that drew about 100 other districts support alleging that the TEA had unfairly changed the rubric for their accountability. The agency assigns districts an A-F rating based on how students perform on statewide standardized testing, how much students grow academically and other factors.

More: Texas superintendents applaud court decision to halt A-F school accountability ratings

A judge in October halted the TEAs release of the ratings, but the case is still tied up in appeals.

Lawmakers from both parties have also argued that the states system for testing students and keeping schools accountable needs to be overhauled.

In a comprehensive report from a House committee that met in July, lawmakers suggested revising the accountability system, along with numerous other programmatic and financial changes meant to improve education.

More: Texas House panel signals student success, school choice to top education special session

"There's a bipartisan commonality there," Exter said. "They dont agree on the solution, but they recognize there's an issue."

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texas schools: Lawmaker says abolish TEA. Education experts weigh in.
Children paint on a wooden fence during a 2014 fundraiser for the Children's Home Society. The organization partners with Healthy Families Florida, for which funding is set to expire in 2024.

Across Florida, nearly half of families are struggling to afford basic needs  necessities as critical as food, housing and childcare. For many Northeast Florida parents and caregivers, the rising cost of living has become a crushing challenge. And when stress is high, so is the risk for potential danger.

Parental stress is one of the strongest predictors of child abuse and neglect.

More than two decades ago, Healthy Families Florida was created as a child abuse prevention program to support parents who are experiencing stressful life situations and provide them the knowledge, resources and confidence to nurture healthy relationships and environments for children to thrive.

Locally, Childrens Home Society of Florida provides resources for Healthy Families Florida throughout Duval, Clay, Baker and St. Johns counties. Last year alone, our Healthy Families teams helped more than 700 local families find stable footing, healthy routines and a caring network of peers to guide them through their struggles.

Prevention is not merely about avoiding crises  it's about fostering resilience. By increasing access to support networks and community resources, the programs of Healthy Families help fortify families with the protective factors necessary to weather life's storms.

So, how does it work? A Healthy Families team member from Childrens Home Society visits the family weekly. They bring toys, games, books and educational materials to help families through each new phase of a babys development. They learn about the families unique needs, address concerns regarding developmental delays, stress, routines and peer support.

Through the voluntary program, parents and caregivers receive a guiding hand, listening ear and a community to lean on. Whats even more amazing is that the program is 100% free to families.

The data speaks volumes: 99% of participants in Healthy Families Florida remain free of maltreatment during services and one year after program completion. Even more impressive, 95% of program graduates continue to provide safe, stable environments for their children three years post-program. This success emphasizes the importance of providing families with the support and resources they need to thrive.

None of this would be possible without the support of our legislators. During the 2023 Florida legislative session, funding was granted to improve the stability of the Healthy Families workforce serving children and families. But now, the funding is set to expire. If we dont act now, how many families will slip through the cracks? How many children will suffer? This cannot happen.

Letters: Teachers enter classroom to educate children, not serve as armed guards

Thats why Childrens Home Society is requesting $2 million in recurring funds to continue and expand Healthy Families Floridas efforts. This investment will enable our organization and its partners throughout the state to reach more families, provide them with the resources and tools they need to overcome adversity and  ultimately  keep more children safe and families together.

The Florida Senate included the $2 million request into their budget proposal earlier this year and on Monday evening, the Florida House of Representatives elected to join the Senate in supporting the $2 million request by adding it to the appropriations bill for the 2024 budget. This is a fantastic win for children and families throughout Florida.

Our work is far from over, however. We urge our lawmakers to continue supporting Healthy Families, recognizing the profound impact they have on our communities. Together, we can build a future where every child grows up in a safe, loving and nurturing environment  and that's a future worth fighting for.

Visit the Childrens Home Society of Floridas Advocacy Center at chsfl.org/advocate to reach your local legislators directly and share this important issue.

Brian Crooke is chairman of the Childrens Home Society of Florida board of directors serving communities throughout Northeast Florida. He lives in Jacksonville Beach.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Struggling families need continued support from Florida lawmakers
ST. LOUIS  A group consisting of Girl Scout troop leaders and other advocates is pushing the Girl Scouts organization to issue a public apology to a St. Louis troop that disbanded last week and to take a stance in support of children in Gaza, among other demands.

The former troops adult leader, Nawal Abuhamdeh, says the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri warned her of legal action over a fundraiser plan to sell bracelets and donate money to a Palestinian childrens relief fund.

The fundraiser aims to help children amid the months-long armed conflict in Gaza, which has led to more than 29,000 deaths, including children and civilians, since October. In previous emails with Nawal, the local branch cited concerns that the fundraiser was political, partisan, and against Girl Scout policies. Nawals troop has since disbanded from Girl Scouts.

The Girl Scouts of the USA organization offered a statement on Tuesday, noting that they sincerely regret any hurt caused by developments leading up to the warning. Officials described the situation as a learning moment for our organization.

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Missouri branch considers the statement a positive first step in addressing the situation. Nawal feels it wasnt good enough.

During a roundtable Zoom conference on Thursday, Nawal says the former troops girls, which included two of her daughters, feel discouraged and unheard by Girl Scouts because no statements have been [directed] towards us, and our questions [about fundraising for causes in Gaza] were still unanswered.

Their silence is very loud to us, said Nawal.

Tasneem Manjra, an adult leader for a northern California Girl Scouts troop also on the conference call, said, To us, it looks like the Girl Scouts are backtracking because they got called out.

Local Girl Scouts Branch Responds

A spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri shared the following statement Saturday with FOX 2 on recent developments with the Girl Scouts organization and Nawals former troop.

The Girl Scouts celebrate young women finding their voices on causes they care about. Our council recognizes Troop 149 for identifying the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and creating a fundraiser to help. Our troops have always had the ability to support causes they care about, within the guidelines published by Girl Scouts.

This has never been about the cause, but rather meeting Girl Scouts governing documents and maintaining our tax-exempt status. We were in communication with Ms. Abuhamdeh for several weeks and provided her with multiple options to find a way to continue the work, which are still available to this troop. We are sorry that Ms. Abuhamdeh chose to disband. We would welcome them back to the Girl Scout family.

In previous communications with the spokesperson, FOX 2 was told, There was never any legal action taken against the troop or their leader, rather some legal language used in an email communications before Nawals troop disbanded.

New Demands

The aforementioned group of troop leaders and advocates seeking a public apology consists of nearly 100 Girl Scout troop leaders nationwide who have signed a petition and people who have sent 5,000 letters to the CEO and president of the Girl Scouts of the USA.

Supporters and troop leaders under these classifications demand the following courses of action from the Girl Scouts organization:

To issue a public apology to the St. Louis troop that was barred from fundraising in Gaza.

To issue a clear public declaration of support for the children of Gaza, emphasizing the urgency of their plight in light of the recent findings from the United Nations.

To issue a provision of resources and guidance for the Girl Scouts community on how to effectively support children in Gaza, particularly children, drawing upon the proactive stance previously taken by Ukraine as a model.

To offer reassurance that no Girl Scout state or local chapters will hinder members from supporting humanitarian causes, thereby insuring adherence to the Girl Scout promise and the law in its truest form.

Unless these actions are undertaken, the supporters that sent the 5,000 letters have vowed to stop buying Girl Scout cookies, said Manjra. The troop leaders that sign the petition will pause our participation in cookie sales. Many have already sold off their existing stocks to other troops.

She continued, This decision does not come lightly. Its born from a unified commitment to uphold justice, peace, and solidarity with all children and civilians affected by conflict. Notably, those in Gaza.

Policy At Center

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.

A public relations spokesperson, who spoke with FOX 2 on behalf of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and requested to remain anonymous, says the local branch wanted to work with Nawal to find a way to fundraise and support victims of Gaza within Girl Scout guidelines.

The spokesperson says conversations between Nawal and the local branch began in October after other adults informed the branch of troop activities that they werent quite sure followed Girl Scout policies. She adds that Nawal indicated to the local branch in January that her troop wanted to make friendship bracelets to support children victims of Gaza.

The spokesperson says the Girl Scouts of the USA opened a special fundraising window to support victims in Gaza from Oct. 10, 2023, to Jan. 10, 2024.

When everything was very much going on in Israel and Gaza, the Girl Scouts heard from a lot of their troops and troop leaders that the girls wanted to raise funds for both organizations in Gaza and organizations in Israel. So they opened up one of these windows, said the spokesperson.

Nawals troop launched the fundraiser sometime after the Jan. 10 window, according to the spokesperson. The Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri learned of her fundraiser through social media after the special fundraiser window and asked Nawal to remove any Girl Scouts branding associated with the bracelets.

The spokesperson says the Girl Scouts wanted the troop to hold a fundraiser, but within organization policies. They were presenting a lot of different options of how it was possible to do this and stay within regulations, the spokesperson said of the Girl Scouts organization.

After a series of emails, Nawal decided to disband the troop.

Nawal claims she was never informed of the window of opportunity to fundraise within the three-month window that ended Jan. 10.

I was never made aware of any of the lifts of these fundraising bans or any of these policies, said Nawal. Never made aware. It would have been nice to have been made aware. If we did know between October and January, we would have been the first ones to participate in these fundraisers.

Nawal adds she felt targeted unfairly, belittled, and unheard during communications with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri over the bracelet fundraiser.

We decided to disband because we felt it was in the best interest of our girls to be part of an organization that shares the values and principles [of the group], said Nawal. We felt that Girl Scouts was no longer a good fit for us. We aspired to be part of an organization that does not only advertise its desired values, but acts on them.

Following Nawals comments Thursday, FOX 2 was unable to confirm with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri whether Nawal was informed of the Girl Scouts fundraising window for supporting victims of Gaza.

Fundraising And Motives

Nawals group, which was formerly known as Girl Scouts Troop 149, is proceeding with the bracelet fundraiser independently of Girl Scout affiliation. She says the group has raised around $10,000 for a Palestinian childrens relief fund.

The group consists of former Girl Scout members from Palestinian and other backgrounds, many of whom are in the fifth or sixth grades.

When Hamas, a militant group that controls Gaza, launched attacks against Israel in October, Nawal says her former troop collectively felt something had to be done.

Like many of our sister troops, our girls were not comfortable selling cookies when their brothers and sisters in Gaza were forced to starve, said Nawal. Instead, they dedicated their efforts to crafting and selling bracelets to benefit a nonprofit that provides medical aid for the children of Palestine.

Several young Girl Scouts who joined Nawal on Thursday shared a similar sentiment.

A scout named Elika in California says, Its really heartbreaking to see that theyre going through something. I cant imagine my family being killed for being who they are.

Another scout named Aiya in California says, We know that there are Girl Scouts dying in Gaza. And that breaks our hearts. They are our Girl Scouts and sisters.

Nawal says her former troops bracelet drive is important to empower young girls to stand up for others and embrace values they believe are part of the Girl Scout Way.

We couldve done it in a different way, but we very much got the girls involved, said Nawal. They chose what they wanted to make. They chose the materials, how much of the beads, and what colors went where, and they had to work as a team. It taught them money management.

She continued, Although we did not participate in the cookie season, the entire project aligned with the values and commitments that Girl Scouts encouraged us [to embrace].

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story stated that discussions on the bracelet fundraiser between the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and Nawal began in December. The spokesperson for the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri issued a correction to FOX 2 and stated those discussions began in January.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has commented on the scandal surrounding Russias interception and leak of a conversation about Ukraine between top-ranking officers of the German armed forces, the Bundeswehr.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Tagesschau, which cites the statement by Pistorius

Details: The German minister believes this scandal is part of the "information war" being waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Quote: "This is a hybrid attack whose objective is to spread disinformation, cause a split, disrupt our unity. We must not fall for Putins schemes."

Pistorius noted that it is necessary to react calmly "but no less decisively".

He expects to receive information on the investigation by the Military Counterintelligence Service (MAD) concerning the exact conditions which led to the incident within the next few days. Only then will it be possible to make decisions about the consequences, including personnel changes.

Earlier, Germanys Ministry of Defence launched an investigation into whether the conversation between the members of the Air Force had been intercepted. According to Russian propaganda, the officers had discussed using Taurus missiles to blow up the Crimean Bridge.

The German Defence Ministry later confirmed that the conversation had indeed been intercepted.

The online conference between senior officers of the German Air Force, which was likely intercepted by the Russians on 19 February, was focused on the preparation of a half-hour-long briefing for German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius about the possibility of sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine. The officers talk openly, among other things, about what American and British soldiers are doing in Ukraine and discuss the possibility of Ukrainian personnel being trained in Germany to use Taurus missiles.

The scandal has prompted a number of German politicians to urge the Defence Ministry to clarify the situation around the alleged interception and spying in its ranks.

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The Reverend Sunny George says the community has been "badly impacted"

Faith leaders have spoken of the devastation caused by a recent spate of break-ins at places of worship in east Leicester.

Leicestershire Police confirmed seven reports between 21 January and 26 February.

Churches, mosques and temples were all targeted in what police describe as "a concerning series of incidents".

Religious representatives have expressed their sadness that the places of worship have been "violated".

A lock was broken off at All Saints Church

All Saints Church in Kerrysdale Avenue, Belgrave, was broken into on 23 January, with the thieves taking a television, laptop and a 1,000 donation to its food pantry, which has supported vulnerable members of the community for three years.

The Reverend Sunny George said: "We lost not only monetarily, but it's confidence that we have lost. It was a very devastating experience."

He said 40% of the congregation are from other faith backgrounds.

"They have the utmost respect for this place," Mr George added. "So they think the place has been desecrated, violated."

Mosques were also among the places of worship that suffered from the break-ins.

Suleman Nagdi said it was "extremely sad" that people would break into a place of worship

Suleman Nagdi, a spokesperson for the Federation of Muslim Organisations, said: "What we had is a number of places of worship that have been attacked, from the Muslim community, the Hindu community and the Christian community.

"A place of worship is a place of sanctuary, where people find peace, harmony, and to think it's been violated, is a terrible issue."

Mr Nagdi added that the break-ins constituted a "desecration of a holy space" and that such a space is "the last place we expect to be burgled".

He said: "That in itself I think is more upsetting to people. It's not just a matter of a few pounds that have disappeared but actually violating a place of worship, what we believe is God's home, where we think of God, I think is absolutely unacceptable.

"I don't think it's a focus on one particular faith community, it's across the board."

Mr Nagdi and Mr George both confirmed that additional security measures had been added.

Sgt Sian Harris-Ley, of Leicestershire Police, reassured those affected and the wider community that Leicestershire Police is thoroughly investigating each incident, and appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

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.
In this piece, we will look at the Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024. For more, head on over to Top 5 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024.

Navigating the intricate tapestry of the global oil market requires a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted factors that shape its dynamics. Entering the year 2024, the profound importance of oil as a linchpin commodity is unmistakable. The indisputable significance of this industry underscores the critical need to delve into insights about the Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries worldwide in 2024. Petroleum products, with their omnipresence in personal protective equipment, plastics, chemicals, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, and various other sectors, underscore the indispensability of crude oil.

The Crude Oil Market attained a value of $1424.38 billion in 2022 and is projected to reach $1613.84 billion by 2029, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.8% throughout the forecast period. This anticipated growth underscores the enduring importance of crude oil as a global commodity despite evolving energy landscapes and sustainability concerns. OPEC forecasts world oil demand to reach 2.25 million barrels per day in 2024, marking a significant increase compared to the IEA's projection of 1.1 million barrels per day for the same period.

According to U.S. Energy Information Administration, during the initial half of 2023, U.S. crude oil exports achieved a notable milestone, averaging 3.99 million barrels per day (b/d). This figure stands as the highest recorded for the first half of a year since 2015, coinciding with the repeal of the U.S. ban on most crude oil exports.

In terms of volume, Europe emerged as the primary regional recipient of U.S. crude oil exports for the first half of 2023, totalling 1.75 million barrels per day (b/d). Notably, exports to the Netherlands and the UK played a leading role in this considerable figure. Following closely, Asia stood as the second-largest regional destination, receiving 1.68 million b/d, for the same period, primarily attributed to exports directed to China and South Korea. Additionally, the United States engaged in the export of comparatively smaller crude oil volumes to Canada, Africa, Central America, and South America.

Story continues

Despite the uptick in exports witnessed in the first half of 2023, it's essential to note that the United States, as a net crude oil importer, continues to import more crude oil than it exports. This dynamic emphasizes the ongoing significance of the United States as a major player in the global crude oil trade, maintaining a delicate balance between export and import activities.

This article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024, shedding light on the evolving landscape of oil production and exportation. Amidst the ever-changing dynamics, the Russia-Ukraine war has emerged as a pivotal factor as well, exerting significant influence on the global oil market. Geopolitical developments have prompted Russia to redirect its crude and fuel exports to South and East Asia, a strategic move with profound repercussions.

Concurrently, former markets in Europe have witnessed a recalibration, as they are now being supplied with crude and products from the Middle East and Asia. As the geopolitical undercurrents reshape trade flows, the United States and the European Union have responded by imposing broad sanctions on Russia's exports. However, these measures are tempered by significant exceptions and a measured approach to enforcement.

Notably, the conflict has spurred a 70.72% change in WTI crude oil prices and a 73.62% change in Brent crude oil prices, underscoring the profound influence of geopolitical events on the volatility of oil markets.

In essence, this article provides a look at the Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024, encapsulating the global economic interdependencies, geopolitical nuances, and market dynamics that collectively shape the course of the oil industry in the present era. It is also imperative to mention some of the big titans of this industry like Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) and Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) that have made their mark.

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX)

Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX), an integrated energy company, specializes in crude oil and natural gas production, along with manufacturing transportation fuels, lubricants, and petrochemicals. Despite its diversified portfolio, Chevron (NYSE:CVX) experienced a notable decline in revenue in 2023, with a year-over-year decrease of 18.40%, totalling $200.95 billion. In the fourth quarter of 2023 alone, revenue dropped by 16.46% to $47.18 billion compared to the same period the previous year.

To bolster its fossil fuel reserves, Chevron has planned a $53 billion all-stock acquisition of Hess, particularly in Guyana's oil-rich assets, totalling over 11 billion barrels-equivalent of recoverable resources. However, in February 2024, Chevron revealed potential jeopardy for the deal as rival petroleum giants contested control of a crucial oil asset. This development underscores the inherent risks accompanying Chevron's strategic expansion efforts amidst fierce industry competition.

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP)

ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) is an exploration and production company operating through six segments: Alaska, Lower 48, Canada, Europe, Middle East, and North Africa, Asia Pacific, and Other International. These segments cover operations in various regions including the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific, and other international locations like Colombia. ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) reported a decline in revenue for 2023, with a year-over-year decrease of 28.70%, totalling $58.57 billion .

In February 2024, ConocoPhillips received approval from the Norwegian Offshore Directorate to commence the $1.24 billion Eldfisk Nord development in the Norwegian North Sea. The project includes two seabed templates for production and one for water injection, featuring nine production wells and five injection wells.

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM)

Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), an international energy and petrochemical company, operates a substantial CO2 pipeline network spanning over 1,300 miles in Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, alongside Gulf Coast and Rocky Mountain oil and gas operations. It manages 15+ onshore CO2 storage sites.

In 2023, revenue totalled $344.58 billion , down 16.70% year-over-year. Quarterly revenue for Q4 2023 was $84.34 billion, marking an 11.62% decrease compared to the same period in the previous year.

ExxonMobil (NYSE:XOM) and China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) are contemplating acquiring Hess' stake in the Stabroek block offshore Guyana. This action may disrupt Chevron's intentions to enter the Stabroek block via its proposed $53 billion acquisition of Hess.

Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024

A hand holding a crude oil sample from a well in Permian Basin.

Methodology

In compiling our list of the Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World for 2024, we have meticulously arranged nations based on their substantial contributions to the global crude oil market in terms of exported dollar value during 2022. Worlds Top Exports and CEIC have been used to source the data provided in these rankings.

By the way, Insider Monkey is an investing website that tracks the movements of corporate insiders and hedge funds. By using a similar consensus approach, we identify the best stock picks of more than 900 hedge funds investing in US stocks. The top 10 consensus stock picks of hedge funds outperformed the S&P 500 Index by more than 140 percentage points over the last 10 years (see the details here). Whether you are a beginner investor or professional one looking for the best stocks to buy, you can benefit from the wisdom of hedge funds and corporate insiders.

25. Ghana

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $5,591,254,000

Starting our list of Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World for 2024 with, Ghana, a key player in oil exports from the Gulf of Guinea, has undergone significant economic transformation since the discovery of offshore reserves. Leveraging strategic partnerships, it has successfully navigated the complexities of the industry, driving growth and diversifying its economy. As a beacon of progress in West Africa, Ghana's oil journey underscores its commitment to sustainable development and prosperity.

24. The Democratic Republic of Congo

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $6,691,573,000

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has become a notable oil exporter despite challenges. With substantial reserves, particularly in the east, Congo aims to leverage its oil wealth for economic growth amidst efforts to attract investment and improve infrastructure, highlighting its emergence as a significant player in the African energy sector. Congo is the 24th country on our list of Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024.

23. Malaysia

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $7,943,406,000

In December 2022, Malaysia's oil exports decreased to 203.333 thousand barrels per day from 209.182 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this, Malaysia remains a key player in global oil and LNG markets, highlighting the industry's dynamic nature and the country's ongoing efforts to maintain its position in Southeast Asia's energy landscape.

22. Australia

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $10,128,798,000

In December 2022, Australia's oil exports fell to 243.573 thousand barrels per day from 257.284 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this decline, Australia remains a significant exporter of oil, contributing to global energy markets and its economy. These fluctuating export figures highlight the dynamic nature of the oil industry, necessitating ongoing adaptation and innovation to maintain Australia's position in the global energy landscape.

21. Ecuador

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $10,834,642,000

Ecuador is 21st country on our list of Top Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024. In December 2022, Ecuador's oil exports declined to 313.333 thousand barrels per day from 315.833 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this, Ecuador remains a significant oil exporter, crucial to global energy markets and its economy. These fluctuations underscore the dynamic nature of the oil industry, necessitating ongoing strategies to maintain Ecuador's position in the global energy landscape.

20. Colombia

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $16,185,817,000

In December 2022, Colombia's oil exports rose to 487.000 thousand barrels per day from 422.167 thousand barrels per day in December 2021, affirming its role as a major global exporter. This increase underscores Colombia's significance in both energy markets and its economy, emphasizing the need for ongoing strategies to maintain and strengthen its position in the industry.

19. Algeria

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $17,466,958,000

In December 2022, Algeria's crude oil exports rose to 476.896 thousand barrels per day from 445.982 thousand barrels per day in December 2021, highlighting its role as a major global exporter. This increase underscores Algeria's significance in energy markets and its economy, emphasizing the need for continued efforts to strengthen its position in the industry.

18. Azerbaijan

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $19,483,624,000

In December 2022, Azerbaijan's crude oil exports dropped to 441.333 thousand barrels per day from 482.750 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this decline, Azerbaijan remains a significant oil exporter, vital to global energy markets and its economy. These fluctuations highlight the dynamic nature of the industry, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to maintain Azerbaijan's position in the global energy landscape.

17. United Kingdom

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $21,273,239,000

United Kingdom is at number seventeen in our list of Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World for 2024. The United Kingdom's crude oil exports dropped to 540.191 thousand barrels per day in December 2022 from 603.734 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this decrease, the UK remains a significant oil exporter, vital to global energy markets and its economy. These fluctuations highlight the industry's dynamism, stressing the need for ongoing efforts to maintain the UK's position in the global energy landscape.

16. Qatar

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $23,395,784,000

Qatar saw its crude oil exports increase to 475.353 thousand barrels per day in December 2022, marking a slight rise from 474.261 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite these fluctuations, Qatar retains its significance as a prominent oil exporter, playing a pivotal role in global energy markets and its economy.

15. Mexico

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $31,779,788,000

Mexico is a major oil exporter, leveraging its significant reserves and established industry to contribute to global energy markets and its economy. Despite challenges, Mexico remains a key player in international energy supply chains, underscoring its importance in the global energy landscape.

14. Libya

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $31,890,426,000

In December 2022, Libya's crude oil exports dropped to 919.828 thousand barrels per day from 1,090.621 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this decrease, Libya remains a significant oil exporter, highlighting the industry's dynamic nature and the need for ongoing adaptation to maintain its global position.

13. Oman

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $33,227,075,000

Thirteenth, on our list of Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024, is Oman. Oman's crude oil exports increased to 921.803 thousand barrels per day in December 2022 from 896.706 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite fluctuations, Oman remains a significant oil exporter, emphasizing the industry's dynamic nature and ongoing efforts to maintain its global presence.

12. Kazakhstan

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $35,367,741,000

In December 2022, Kazakhstan's crude oil exports dropped to 1,315.167 thousand barrels per day from 1,323.000 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this, Kazakhstan remains a major player in the global oil market, highlighting the industry's dynamic nature and the need for continual adaptation to sustain its position.

11. Angolo

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $37,400,459,000

Angola stands as a significant exporter of oil, with its rich reserves and established industry contributing to global energy markets and its economy. Despite occasional fluctuations, Angola maintains its role as a key player in the international oil trade, emphasizing the dynamic nature of the industry and the necessity for continual adaptation to uphold its position.

10. Brazil

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $42,688,099,000

Brazil is at number ten in our list of Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World for 2024. In December 2022, Brazil's crude oil exports increased to 1,346.417 thousand barrels per day from 1,292.333 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. This uptick underscores Brazil's significant role as an oil exporter, contributing to global energy markets and its economy.

9. Nigeria

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $49,871,423,000

In December 2022, Nigeria's crude oil exports dropped to 1,388.260 thousand barrels per day from 1,592.333 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this reduction, Nigeria remains a substantial player in the oil export sector, impacting global energy markets and its economy. Nigeria is the 9th country on our list of Top Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024.

8. Kuwait

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $54,328,256,000

In December 2022, Kuwait's crude oil exports surged to 1,878.852 thousand barrels per day from 1,740.452 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. This notable increase underscores Kuwait's significant role as a major oil exporter.

7. Norway

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $57,757,614,000

7th country on our list of Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024 is Norway. In December 2022, Norway's crude oil exports experienced a slight dip to 1,558.159 thousand barrels per day from 1,563.389 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. Despite this marginal decrease, Norway continues to play a pivotal role as a major oil exporter, impacting global energy markets and its economy.

6. Iraq

Crude Oil Exports in 2022: $82,288,984,000

Sixth, on our list of Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024, is Iraq. In December 2022, Iraq's crude oil exports surged to 3,712.420 thousand barrels per day from 3,439.550 thousand barrels per day in December 2021. This notable rise underscores Iraq's significant role as a major oil exporter.

Click to continue reading and find out about Top 5 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024.

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Disclosure: None. Top 25 Oil Exporting Countries in the World in 2024 is originally published on Insider Monkey.
An international street art festival will return to Leicester in May.

Bring The Paint, billed as "one of the biggest free art galleries in the world", is supported by De Montfort University (DMU).

The fourth instalment of the event is set to take place 20 to 26 May with what organisers say is "one of the largest line-ups of internationally-acclaimed street artists in the UK".

Exhibitions, workshops and large murals will be available throughout the city.

Fi Donovan, head of engagement and partnerships at DMU, said: "I am thrilled that DMU is once again supporting Bring The Paint.

"This dynamic event not only showcases Leicester's incredible creative talent but also fosters inclusivity and pride in the city.

"A commitment to student experience and on campus community engagement is at the core of our support, providing a unique platform for students to actively participate and contribute to the vibrant cultural fabric of Leicester.

"We are excited to collaborate on this festival that elevates our city's cultural landscape to an international level."

This year, headline artists include: SOFLES, SMASH, TAPS & MOSES, SUPER A, NUNO VIEGAS, FLYING FORTRESS, KINOS, KID ACNE, 45rpm, YARD WARRIORS, ERWTJE, JO-BER and SMUG.

There will be exhibitions, workshops, music, street art tours, live broadcasts and other family-friendly activities.

Izzy Peacock, artistic director of Bring The Paint, said: "Our world-class line-up speaks for itself, and we are proud to be working with such an incredible selection of artists.

"The festival is set to be one of the biggest street art events in the UK this year."

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In 1911, a team of three women with lesbian-like relationships  Jane Addams, Sophonisba Breckinridge and Anna Howard Shaw  took control of the suffrage movement, leading the nations largest feminist organization. They promoted a diverse and inclusive womens rights movement.

My research suggests that the personal lives of these suffrage leaders shaped their political agendas. Rather than emphasizing differences of gender, race, ethnicity and class, they advanced equal rights for all Americans.

Suffrage scholarship has long acknowledged a shift from justice to expediency  from an emphasis on natural rights to an emphasis on gender distinctions  in the movement at the turn of the century.

The 1848 Declaration of Sentiments, a founding document of the suffrage struggle, proudly insisted that all men and women are created equal.

However, by the early 20th century, many of the movements new adherents emphasized womens differences from men. To gain support, they argued that female voters would engage in social housekeeping and clean up corrupt politics.

Some suffragists, including womens rights pioneer Elizabeth Cady Stanton, also increasingly emphasized racial, class and ethnic differences. After the Civil War, when the 15th Amendment enfranchised Black men but ignored all women, white suffrage leaders excluded African American women from the movement.

By the 1890s, some had begun to advocate educated suffrage, code for literacy requirements that would extend voting rights to educated, white, middle-class women, but prevent many African Americans, immigrants and working-class citizens from casting ballots.

Jane Addams. Library of Congress

A new leadership team

At the 1911 meeting of the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), the membership elected Jane Addams as first vice president and Sophonisba Breckinridge as second vice president.

The new officers joined a leadership team headed by Anna Howard Shaw, an ordained minister who served as NAWSAs president from 1904 to 1915.

Anna Shaw. Library of Congress

For the next year, women who loved other women held the top three positions in the nations largest feminist organization.

None of these women publicly claimed a lesbian identity. Nonetheless, like other leaders in womens rights, higher education and social reform, all three women had significant same-sex relationships.

Shaw relied on her companion and secretary, Lucy E. Anthony  suffrage pioneer Susan B. Anthonys niece  to assist her in guiding the woman suffrage movement.

Addams, head of the Chicago settlement house Hull House, enjoyed a long and loving relationship with philanthropist Mary Rozet Smith, who supported her both emotionally and financially. As Addams nephew explained, Smith dedicated herself to making life easier for Jane Addams. That was her career.

And, as my biography of Breckinridge demonstrates, her intimate relationship with Edith Abbott, dean of the University of Chicagos School of Social Service Administration, helped her pioneer the social work profession and promote social welfare policy.

Promoting conventional femininity

Opponents of woman suffrage used images of suffragists as unattractive man-haters to discredit the movement.

To counter such stereotypes, suffrage leaders promoted a public image of conventional femininity. Shaw, who previously sported short hair, grew her hair long and wore it in a conservative chignon.

I learned that no woman in public life can afford to make herself conspicuous by any eccentricity of dress or appearance, she noted, because negative attention injures the cause she represents.

Suffrage leaders also emphasized womens roles as wives and mothers. Addams and Breckinridge were founding members of the Womans City Club of Chicago, which produced a popular pro-suffrage graphic that illustrated the connections between domestic life and local government. NAWSA adopted the image as its own, featuring it on suffrage posters.

To avoid criticism and gain support, NAWSAs leaders upheld conventional femininity. But this was not the whole story.

Demanding equality for all

In a 1910 speech, Breckinridge predicted that the time was coming when man and woman would stand on the same industrial plane and their wages would be equalized by an equal social condition.

Sophonisba Breckinridge. Library of Congress

Breckinridges lesbian-like lifestyle helps explain her stance on gender equality. As a single, self-supporting woman, she understood that many women, like herself, could not rely on men for financial security.

Thus, at the same time that she promoted equal voting rights, she also championed financial support for single mothers and maximum hour and minimum wage legislation for women workers.

As members of the Immigrants Protective League and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, both Breckinridge and Addams rejected exclusionary strategies.

Addams protested proposed literacy tests for immigrants. Breckinridge coauthored a report advocating education, rather than employment, for working class youth.

The new lesbian leadership team also welcomed African American participation in the movement.

W. E. B. Du Bois, editor of the NAACP publication The Crisis, had publicly criticized NAWSAs racism, warning that the movements mission was becoming Votes for White Women Only. He also published numerous editorials and articles in support of woman suffrage.

Breckinridge advocated inviting Du Bois to speak at the suffrage organizations 1912 meeting. His participation signaled NAWSAs growing commitment to racial equality.

In 1911, NAWSA had refused to allow a resolution linking woman suffrage with African American rights to be presented at its annual meeting. In 1912, however, NAWSA published Du Boiss speech, Disfranchisement, which did just that, advocating a Democracy of Sex and Color.

This lesbian leadership team lasted for only a year. But while it operated, these leaders made the suffrage movement more diverse and inclusive.

This is an updated version of an article originally published on January 24, 2020.

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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: Anya Jabour, University of Montana

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Anya Jabour receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
To the editor: The U.S. Supreme Court is well on its way to making its public approval rating lower than that of Congress  quite the achievement. In fact, it could become just as distrusted as used car dealers. ("More delays? Supreme Court was wrong to put off Trump immunity decision," editorial, Feb. 29)

In oral arguments last month, the justices ignored the facts of the Colorado Supreme Court's disqualification of former President Trump from that state's ballot and focused on trivialities, obviously trying to justify ruling against Trump's removal. This, despite his numerous acts in violation of his oath to support and defend the Constitution, and the fact that states run elections.

Most recently, it not only decided to consider the former president's appeal of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals' bullet-proof ruling on presidential immunity, but it also halted any progress of Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith's Jan. 6 case.

Keep it up, and the public will just consider the Supreme Court to be another wing of the Republican Party, bowing in servitude to Trump.

David Rynerson, Huntington Beach

..

To the editor: In 1974, Justice William Rehnquist recused himself from the case involving President Richard Nixon's White House tapes. Today, Justice Clarence Thomas should recuse himself from the presidential immunity case due to his wife's involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The court's impartiality, or the appearance of impartiality, has been damaged by granting certiorari and setting a seven-week briefing period, when the issue has been fully briefed in D.C. Circuit.

Is the court aiding an apparent strategy of delay so that the case will not be tried before Trump is nominated for president by the GOP or the election is held? It certainly appears so to the public.

Sidney Lanier, Long Beach

..

To the editor: The Supreme Court has limited the question of full immunity for any act a president might commit while in office to "whether and if so to what extent does a former president enjoy presidential immunity from criminal prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office."

With all due respect to the justices, I think the inclusion of the phrase "official acts" dodges the real issue, which is whether a president has blanket immunity for anything done in office.

By phrasing the question this way, the justices can, if they wish, hold that traditional functions and acts of the president  such as issuing executive orders and engaging in military activities  confer immunity, whereas non-official acts such as acting as a candidate do not.

The justices waited weeks to so carefully pose the question. I personally believe they already have an understanding as to what the decision will be and have framed the question to meet that result.

Barry S. Rubin, Beverly Hills

..

To the editor: Who is the reporter who will ask Trump this question, based on the scenario posed by a judge on the D.C. Circuit:

"In light of your adamant belief that the president must have complete immunity for his official actions, would you be willing to state that President Biden should never face prosecution should he order Navy SEAL Team Six to kill his political opponents?"

William P. Bekkala, West Hollywood

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
A vacationing New Hampshire couple was charged $8,000 to change their flight home on a New Zealand airline in the wake of learning the wife had roughly four months to live.

Todd and Patricia Kerekes, 60 and 75, had flown business class from New York to Auckland in January and were excited to start a 4-month long vacation.

She, however, fell ill six weeks in and was subsequently diagnosed with terminal gallbladder cancer.

Todd Kerekes followed the recommendation of their doctor and looked to change their return flight, calling Air New Zealand to help make the switch months for the first available flight.

Right away on the first call I told them my wife was gravely ill, and we were on holiday and we needed to go back home, Todd Kerekes told Radio New Zealand.

Todd and Patricia Kerekes flew Air New Zealand from NY to Auckland in January for a 4-month long vacation. AFP via Getty Images

The frantic husband claimed there was little help from customer service and was required to pay roughly $8,000 to return to the US.

It was a whole series of long pauses, and I couldnt tell whether they were conferring with co-workers or working at it on the computer, or what it was, Kerekes added. Sometimes the people would come back and basically tell me something I didnt want to hear, like it was gonna cost me $8,000 to change my flight.

The charge was nearly half of what the couple had paid for the original return flight in Business Premium, which cost $23,000, even though he stated it was an emergency and didnt care where they sat on the plane.

I was expecting a change fee, Kerekes told the New Zealand Herald, I was shocked.

The airline has since apologized for the inconveniences the Kerekes faced and even gave a full refund to the couple. Shutterstock

Todd Kerekes spent four hours on the phone with the airline while getting cut off three times.

He was frustrated with the representatives as they never gave compassionate options nor asked for proof of his wifes diagnosis.

They werent rude or unkind, but they were simply like, Look, this is the way it is and theres nothing we can do about it. And I was like, it was surprising to me that in a situation where I was that they couldnt be more helpful, Kerekes told RNZ.

Kerekes was surprised by the interaction because up until that point every other person hes talked to while in New Zealand had been nice, far different than the people he was used to back in America.

I grew up in New York, outside of New York City, and New Yorkers are unfriendly. We just tend to be brusque, Todd Kerekes said. But Kiwis are downright nice to the point where people were arguing with us that people arent really as nice as we thought they were.

Its not right by any standards, and its definitely not right by Kiwi standards.

Todd Kerekes says he was annoyed by how long it took to get the new seats, as every second with his wife is now more valuable.

I resent having that four hours taken away from whatever time I would have spent [with] her, and I do not appreciate the aggravation that my wife had to go through for this.

The couple eventually agreed to pay for the seat changes to fly back to New York on Feb. 26.

The airline has since apologized for the inconveniences the Kerekes faced and even gave a full refund to the couple.

Its clear we fell short of expectations and our compassionate care policy was not followed in this case, Air New Zealand general manager Alisha Armstrong said in a statement obtained by RNZ. We have reached out to Kerekes to apologize and issue a full refund for the additional costs incurred to change their original flights.

Our compassionate fare policy is in place to support our customers in times of unexpected medical emergency or bereavement to book a last-minute flight or provide flexibility to easily make changes to existing bookings.

Once again we apologize for how this case was handled and our thoughts are with Mrs Kerekes at this time.
Lithuanian Customs announced that all persons with Russian-registered vehicles have until March 11 to re-register the cars in Lithuania or leave the country and the EU altogether.

Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia all banned entry to vehicles with Russian registration in September 2023, following a recommendation from the European Commission.

According to Lithuanian Customs, drivers of vehicles with Russian license plates must apply for Lithuanian registration, or leave the country "and the entire territory of the European Union" by March 11.

Beyond the deadline, drivers of vehicles with Russian registration are subject to a fine and confiscation of the car.

An exception applies to Russian citizens traveling to or from the Russian exclave Kaliningrad with a simplified transit document. These drivers are allowed transit through Lithuania as long as the journey does not exceed 24 hours, and the registered driver of the vehicle is present.

The European Commission issued a guideline on Sept. 8 regarding sanctions imposed against Russia over its aggression against Ukraine. According to the document, if Russian citizens enter the European Union in their own vehicles, it will be considered an illegal import and their cars can be confiscated regardless of the purpose or period of the expected stay.

Poland and Finland issued their own entry bans on Russian vehicles following the recommendation.

Read also: The economic toll of 10 years of Russias war against Ukraine in charts

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Lithuanian customs have announced that vehicles with Russian number plates must leave Lithuania and the entire territory of the European Union by 11 March.

Source: Lithuanian customs report

Details: The customs service noted that some people in Lithuania still drive cars registered in Russia.

The report stated that such individuals must either register their vehicles in Lithuania or leave the EU by 11 March.

Quote: "Effective 11 March, individuals driving vehicles with Russian number plates will be considered to be in violation of the law and will be liable under Article 515 of the Code of Administrative Offences, which prescribes a fine and confiscation of the vehicle."

Details: The Lithuanian customs noted that the exception applies to citizens of the Russian Federation travelling in transit to or from Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast using vehicles registered in Russia with a simplified transit document.

Such transit through the territory of Lithuania cannot last more than 24 hours.

Furthermore, the vehicle owner must be present in the vehicle during the transit. In the absence of the owner, the car will not be allowed to enter the territory of Lithuania.

Background:

In October, the Latvian Saeima [parliament] approved in the first reading amendments to the Law on Road Traffic that would ban Russian-registered vehicles from entering Latvia.

All Baltic countries have now banned the entry of cars with Russian number plates. Poland, Finland, Norway and Bulgaria have also introduced such bans.

Meanwhile, Russians are using the Kaliningrad transit train to get to the EU via Lithuania.

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Lithuania to confiscate any car with Russian license plate after March 11

Cars with Russian license plates must leave Lithuania and the entire territory of the European Union by March 11, Lithuanian customs announced on March 2.

According to our information, there are still people who drive cars with Russian registration in Lithuania, the customs said.

By March 11, they must either register their vehicles in Lithuania or leave the EU."

Read also: Lithuania prohibits empty trucks from crossing Belarusian and Russian borders

After March 11, drivers of cars with Russian license plates will be considered violators of administrative law and will be subject to fines and confiscation of the car.

Read also: Latvia donates another batch of cars seized from drunk drivers to Ukraine

Lithuania refers to the EU sanctions requirements, which allowed the registration of cars imported before December 19, 2023, in the territory of the bloc. By March 11, 2024, cars registered in Russia must be re-registered or leave Lithuania.

Read also: Latvia to confiscate cars with Russian plates starting Feb. 15

An exception is made for Russian citizens traveling in Russian-registered cars in transit to or from the Kaliningrad region under a simplified transit document, Lithuanian customs officials added.

Such transit through the territory of Lithuania cannot last more than 24 hours. During the transit, the car must be driven by its owner - without the owner, the car will not be allowed into Lithuania.

At the end of September, Lithuania obliged cars with Russian license plates to leave the EU within six months. At the same time, similar decisions were made in Poland and Finland.

In November, it was reported that Lithuania plans to transfer confiscated cars with Russian license plates to Ukraine.

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Arvydas Anusauskas, Lithuania's Minister of National Defence, will travel to Washington, DC, on an official visit on 3-6 March, and will meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Source: Lithuania's Ministry of National Defence; European Pravda

Details: Anusauskas and Austin will discuss support for Ukraine and the upcoming NATO summit in Washington, DC this summer.

The two defence chiefs will also discuss bilateral defence cooperation, including the possibility of US troops being stationed in Lithuania and Lithuania buying US weapons.

Background:

Anusauskas hinted earlier that Ukraines allies were considering new forms of support.

Lithuanias latest aid packages for Ukraine have included winter military gear and clothes.

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Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuanias Minister of Foreign Affairs, has commented on the Russian attack on a multi-storey apartment building in Odesa on the night of 1-2 March, which claimed the lives of three children, among other civilians.

Source: Gabrielius Landsbergis on X, as reported by European Pravda

Details: "This is absolutely outrageous murder. By deliberately killing babies in their sleep, Russia is declaring a clear contempt for any peace agreements, past or future," Landsbergis wrote.

He added that there must be "serious and immediate consequences" for Russia, "not continued impunity".

Background:

Part of a multi-storey apartment building collapsed in the city of Odesa on the night of 1-2 March as a result of a Russian Shahed drone attack.

The attack destroyed 18 flats and damaged 7 more. The death toll currently stands at 12, including 5 children.

Moldovan President Maia Sandu believes that Russia's attack on the city of Odesa underscores Ukraine's urgent need for assistance.

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The votes are in! Night of Lights tours has chosen the winners of the 30th Anniversary Nights of Lights and Light Up the Nights Visitors Choice Awards.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

Each year, Nights of Lights tours vote for the top 3 hospitality businesses that displayed elaborate lighting during the annual Light Up the Night contest. Businesses and owners receiving top votes for lighting displays received customized trophies and $5,000 in complimentary advertising campaigns, cash and public recognition for their involvement and hard work.

The City of St. Augustines Nights of Lights is world-renowned for its more than 3 million sparkling lights stretching for nearly 20 blocks. The event was held from Nov. 18, 2023, to Jan. 28, 2024. The international visitor and local business experience started 30 years ago and is consistently voted as one of the Top 10 Best Holiday Lighting Displays in the World and Best Places To Spend Christmas In The U.S., along with additional acclaim by domestic and international publications, broadcasts and travel sites.

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This years Nights of Lights Visitors Choice Awards honors and prizes were presented to first-place winners at the Hilton St. Augustine Bayfront, and honors were presented to Scott Dial, general manager of the hotel, with the hotels management and engineering team.

This year exceeded our total lighting display with an additional 150,000 lights added to our more than one million illuminations, said Dial. Next year, we plan to surprise our guests and visitors with a new assortment of lighting to be placed in a very special location on the property. My team of engineers looks forward to the extensive work required to display our hotel in the friendly competition among businesses in historic, Downtown St. Augustine.

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Second-place winners were named at the Casablanca Inn On The Bay and the Tini Martini Bar with Eric Shaw, who heads up the Inns engineering team. According to Shaw, this years award is special and highlights the festive lighting throughout the property and the inclusion of new figurines and holiday characters inside and outside of the bayfront food and beverage establishment and guest inn.

Third place was awarded to Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel with honors presented to Adelaida Hume, assistant general manager, and her team of housekeeping and engineering departments.

Our guests and visitors really enjoy viewing the special lighting inside of the hotel and outside areas during Nights of Lights, said Hume. The hotels corner location in Downtown St. Augustine shows off our great visuals to locals, guests and visitors, which attracts them to visit the property. We appreciate the award very much.

Read: Walmart agrees to $45 million class action settlement; payouts may be as high as $500

To formally award the businesses, on Feb. 21, Dave Chatterton, Old Town Trolley Tours & Attractions of St. Augustine General Manager hosted an excursion and trophy awards plus check and prize presentations, and photo shoots with program sponsors and winning business leaders. Dial was presented with $1,000 in prize money for the Hilton St. Augustine Bayfront, Shaw was presented with $750 in prize money for Casablanca Inn On The Bay and the Tini Martini Bar and $500 was awarded to Hume in prize money for the Renaissance St. Augustine Historic Downtown Hotel.

During Nights of Lights, Old Town Trolley guests voted on the winning businesses and other establishments that were and were not directly on the tour route with a website, which includes photos of holiday lighting displays.

The ongoing efforts with this years winners and additional businesses are to be admired along with the City of St. Augustine, local merchants, their guests and visitors who add to the success of this high-profile and world-renowned seasonal event, said Chatterton. We look forward to our next grouping of awards during the spectacular illumination event to run from Nov. 23 until Jan. 31, 2025, throughout the city, he said. Old Town Trolley Tours began the awards program in 2013 and will continue to sponsor the recognition.

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A total nightmare: This NY couple bought a $2M retirement dream home in Queens  only to find a squatter inside, who theyre now struggling to evict because he's a 'tenant' under the law

When Susana and Joseph Landa dropped $2 million on their dream home in Douglastown, Queens, they thought they were laying down roots to live out their golden years in peace.

Sadly, that dream home has already turned into a total nightmare, according to Joseph.

When the Landas bought the house in October 2023, they discovered their spacious retirement pad came with an unwanted guest  a squatter by the name of Brett Flores.

Don't miss

Four months after signing on the dotted line, the senior duo told ABC 7s On Your Side they still hadnt managed to evict Flores  due to New Yorks squatter rights  or move into the property.

We're looking to hopefully retire and most of all provide for my son Alex, who has Down syndrome, said Susana, noting that all she can think about is: When is this guy going to come out?

Heres where things currently stand in the squatter saga  plus some alternative ways to invest in real estate if this nightmare puts you off home buying altogether.

Unfair squatter rights

The Landas have taken Flores, aged 32, to landlord-tenant court to try and get him evicted  but five hearings in civil court later and the couple are yet to achieve that goal.

According to court documents obtained by "On Your Side, Flores used to work for the former owner of the Landas home as his caretaker until the man passed away in January 2023. Flores was paid $3,000 a week for that work and he claims the previous owner gave him license to stay in the house after his death.

Story continues

Under New York state law, squatters are classified as tenants with rights after living in a property for 30 days. To reclaim property from a squatter, the owners must prove their right to the property and proceed with legal eviction proceedings  which is what the Landas are trying to do, but theyre up against roadblocks and delays.

If you have no lease and you're not paying rent, what is your right? Joseph asked, clearly frustrated by the obtuse eviction process and having paid all of the bills (including thousands of dollars in utilities) since buying the home.

It makes me feel completely forgotten in this legal system, [its] unfair and [were] not able to do anything, he added.

On Your Side reached out to Flores to get his side of the story but his attorney responded with no comment. The Landas hope the issue will finally be resolved in their next court date, scheduled for April, so that they can put this saga to bed and finally enjoy their retirement.

Read more: No landlord? No problem! Explore hassle-free real estate investments

Stress-free ways to invest

If the risk of squatters and the other trials and tribulations of owning a home or being a landlord dont appeal to you, there are other ways to invest in real estate without all that hassle.

For instance, you can invest in a residential real estate investment trust (REIT). REITs are publicly traded companies that own income-producing real estate like apartment buildings, shopping centers and office towers. They collect rent from tenants and pass that rent to shareholders in the form of regular dividend payments.

Another easy way to invest in real estate is to buy shares in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that give you exposure to a diverse portfolio of real estate assets. Two popular examples are the Vanguard Real Estate ETF (VNQ) and the Estate Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLRE).

You could also consider using an online crowdfunding platform, which allows investors to pool their money together to buy property (or a share of property)  from rental homes to office towers  as a group. These online platforms make real estate investing more accessible by simplifying the process and lowering the barrier to entry.

Whats attractive to some investors about all of these options is that they require very little active management. Once you put money in, you can sit back and watch it grow.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
Akron Public Library opened in March 1874 on the second floor of the Masonic Temple at South Howard and East Mill streets in downtown Akron.

A narrow staircase, grimy and dark, led up to a shimmering new world  a fascinating land beyond the muddy canal town of Akron.

Although the room was quite small, it was packed to the ceiling with colorful characters: Roman gladiators, Danish princes, British sailors, American presidents, Indian chiefs, African hunters, French revolutionaries, Chinese emperors, Amazon explorers and Greek philosophers.

All were tucked neatly into the pages of gold-leaf books.

The opening of Akron Public Library on March 1, 1874, led to a cultural transformation in Summit County. It brought the world home.

Weeks earlier, City Council had approved a half-mill levy to finance a free library for the community of over 10,000 people.

It will be gratifying to the citizens of Akron, and especially to those whose private libraries are deficient, that steps have been taken to establish a Free Public Library for the city, well stocked with choice books and open to the reading public, the Summit County Beacon reported Jan. 7, 1874.

A Library of this kind has long been regarded as one of the chief wants of the city, but the leading question which always presented itself when the subject was mentioned was how it should be supplied, the article continued.

The public library succeeded the Akron Library Association, which was incorporated in 1866 and had more than 100 life members paying $50 in dues for the use of a private reading room on South Howard Street. The defunct group turned over 4,000 books to the new library.

Akron Public Library moved in 1898 to the Everett Building at Main and Market streets.

John R. Buchtel, benefactor and namesake of Buchtel College, forerunner of the University of Akron, served as the first president of the board of control.

The library opened in a second-floor room at the Masonic Temple at South Howard and Mill streets, an intersection that no longer exists today. The building was located near the southwest corner of the present-day Akron Centre Parking Deck behind FirstEnergy Corp.

Former Summit County Auditor Theron A. Noble served as the first librarian and earned $500 a year, while assistant Mary Vosburg collected $300. The library had an annual budget of $2,000 (over $55,000 today).

Akron library access restricted

During its first year, the reading room offered more than 8,000 books, seven newspapers and two magazines. Access was carefully restricted.

The books were placed in cabinets behind heavy glass doors, historian Helen L. Pardee wrote in 1942. Railings barred the public from these cases, and rules forbade any except the Librarian and assistants and members of the Board to open a case or take books from shelves. Returned books were to be placed correctly upon the shelves before they might be drawn out again, and no book might be laid aside for a reader.

Patrons requested membership tickets, an early version of library cards. Despite it being a public library, the public wasnt always so welcome.

Mary Pauline Edgerton (1858-1931) was head librarian at the turn of the 20th century.

Secretary George Tod Ford, an Akron attorney, posted the boards original rules:

1. Residents of Akron, not under 12 years of age, known to the Librarian or vouched for, in writing, by some responsible citizen, and having a Membership Ticket, can draw one Book on his Ticket.

2. No book drawn from the Public Library must be retained for a period exceeding TWO WEEKS. For longer detention a fine of TWO CENTS each day will be imposed.

3. For turning down the leaves, marking, or otherwise injuring it, the holder will be fined up to the full value of the book, or the set to which it may belong.

Thats correct. Children 11 or younger werent welcome at the library. And since the facility was on the second floor, it wasnt easily accessible to older residents or people with disabilities. And what if you were new in town and didnt have a responsible citizen to vouch for you?

The library gradually loosened its rules and opened its facilities to all. From humble beginnings, it became a community pillar.

Library changed locations in Akron

Quickly outgrowing its space at the Masonic Temple, the library moved to larger quarters in 1898 on the second floor of the Everett Building at Main and Market streets. That didnt last long.

Industrialist Andrew Carnegie donated the money to build the Akron library at East Market and North High streets. This photograph is from 1933.

In 1901, U.S. industrialist Andrew Carnegie agreed to donate $70,000 to build a new library in Akron. He even threw in an additional $12,000 so the building could be made of stone instead of brick. Designed by Akron architect Frank O. Weary, the imposing, two-story building at North High and East Market streets opened in 1904.

When a city has the privilege of taking part in a dedication like this, it should rejoice, City Council President Ira A. Priest told the crowd at the grand opening. The occasion is unique. None of us will ever take part in a similar occasion for this building will stand long after you and I have passed away.

The building, which later served as the Akron Art Institute, still stands today as the home of Brennan, Manna & Diamond.

After Akrons population topped 255,000 in the early 20th century, the library moved to a larger space in 1942 at the former Beacon Journal headquarters at Summit and East Market streets (now the home of Summit Artspace).

Officials clear ground in 1965 at a demolished building to make way for a new library at 55 S. Main St. in downtown Akron. Pictured are Raymond Brown, Walter deBruin, Louis Miletti, Gordon Canute, Mayor Edward O. Erickson, C. Blake McDowell and R. Russell Munn.

Following the approval of a $3 million bond issue in 1962, Akron architects Joseph Tuchman and Gordon Canute designed a three-story library at 55 S. Main St. The $5.3 million complex opened in 1969.

I have seen most of the main libraries in this country. Not one is as good as this one, retired head librarian R. Russell Munn announced at the formal dedication. I hope you will accept it as a fact that, in its class, Akron has the best public library in the United States. And in the world.

Use it, support it  and take appropriate pride in it.

Grand reopening on Main Street

As the library celebrated its centennial in 1974, it announced a new name: Akron-Summit County Public Library. It added library branches, bookmobiles and other services.

In 1997, voters approved an $80 million bond issue for the Main Library and branches. In 2000, the board agreed to renovate and expand the downtown library for $50 million.

The library moved temporarily to a former department store on East Tallmadge Avenue before celebrating its grand reopening Oct. 10, 2004.

This investment is going to be here 100 years, Mayor Don Plusquellic told the crowd.

Akron-Summit County Public Library reopened downtown on South Main Street in 2004 after a $50 million expansion.

Twenty years later, the library is celebrating its 150th birthday with a year of special events and activities. In addition to the Main Library, there are 18 branch locations, two bookmobiles and a mobile services van with cart-based service to lobbies of residential buildings.

The library provides public access to more than 2 million items from its collection and can further obtain over 75 million items from the collections of other public and college libraries in Ohio.

At todays library, patrons can surf the internet, borrow a cake pan, play a board game, enjoy a concert, reserve artwork, view a microscope, watch a movie, use a 3D printer, complete a puzzle, experiment in physics, research genealogy, eat a coney dog, read a newspaper, inflate a bicycle tire and procure a portable karaoke machine.

Oh, and obviously there are books, too. Hundreds of thousands of them. The pages are filled with all those colorful characters from 1874 plus a century and a half of new additions.

The journey began 150 years ago with a climb up a narrow staircase.

Welcome to Akron-Summit County Public Library. Use it, support it  and take appropriate pride in it.

Mark J. Price can be reached at mprice@thebeaconjournal.com

Oops! Classic bloopers from the collection of Mark J. Price

Vintage photos: 50 memorable Cleveland TV personalities

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron-Summit County Public Library had humble beginning in 1874
Late Sunday afternoon, Feb. 3, 1924, former White House physician Dr. Cary T. Grayson pushed open the front door at 2340 S Street in Washington D.C. and stepped outside. A crowd of men, women and children had gathered on the street in front of the house, which police had blocked from traffic in both directions. Grayson let the door swing shut behind him and slowly made his way down the driveway, stopping a few feet in front of the sincere well-wishers. A solemn silence filled the air as the doctor raised a typed piece of paper to his eyes.

A clipping from the Chillicothe Gazette.

Mr. Wilson died at 11:15 this morning, he began. Several reporters strained to hear and called out, Louder! Louder! Grayson sniffled, raised his head, and started again. Mr. Wilson died at 11:15 this morning, he repeated, louder this time. His heart action became feebler and feebler, and the heart muscle was so fatigued that it refused to act any longer. Grayson pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed his eyes. The end came peacefully. Inside the three-story red brick house, Woodrow Wilson, the 26th President of the United States, lay dead in a second-floor bedroom.

Six months earlier Americans were shocked after President Warren G. Harding, the man who had replaced Wilson in office, unexpectedly died while on a speaking tour in California. The only thing surprising about Wilsons passing, on the other hand, was that he had managed to live for so long. He suffered a massive stroke in late 1919, in the middle of his second presidential term, and it left him partially paralyzed on his left side and practically blind in his right eye. Although he lived four more years, Wilson never fully recovered and was never the same.

A clipping from the Chillicothe Gazette.

In Chillicothe, Wilsons passing conjured up memories of the days, decades earlier, when little Tommy Wilson, as the future president was called in his early years, spent big chunks of his childhood visiting his uncles home on 62 South Paint Street, still standing and now known as the Reeves-Woodrow-Butler House.

Decades earlier, in 1836, Woodrow Wilsons maternal grandfather, the Reverend Thomas Woodrow, and his family boarded a ship in Liverpool bound for New York City. During the rough Atlantic crossing, his wife (Wilsons grandmother) fell ill and died shortly after arriving in America. Suddenly a widower with seven children, the reverend moved his family to Chillicothe, where he served as pastor of the First Presbyterian Church from 1837 to 1848. Young ten-year-old Jessie Woodrow, the presidents future mother, was one of the seven motherless children.

Jesse grew up in Chillicothe and on June 7, 1849, at 23 years of age, was married by her father to Joseph Ruggles Wilson, a pastor in nearby Steubenville, Ohio. The couple soon moved to Staunton, Virginia where on Dec. 29, 1856, Jesse gave birth to Thomas Woodrow Wilson, named after her favorite brother, who remained in Chillicothe at the house on 62 S. Paint Street.

Tommy Wilson often visited his Uncle Thomas, spending many happy summers in Chillicothe. In 1860, his uncle married Helen A. Sill, and the couple had a child named Harriet Augusta Woodrow, known as Hattie. If not for Hattie, Wilson might not have become President of the United States.

A clipping from the Chillicothe Gazette.

Four years younger than Wilson, the two first cousins played together on his visits to Chillicothe, but they were not particularly close. Later, however, when they were older and Wilson was in his last year at Princeton, he began to fall in love with his cousin. For two years, from 1879 to 1881, he wrote her many love letters, nine of which survive.

In September 1881, Wilson was invited by his aunt and uncle to visit Chillicothe and stay at the house on 62 S. Paint St. Hattie planned several parties for her now 24-year-old first cousin. Wilson was madly in love with her, and in the middle of one of the parties asked her to go for a walk outside. As they were strolling along the sidewalk, he told her how much he loved her and pleaded with her to be his wife.

Hattie was not in love with Wilson, but tried to spare his feelings, telling him that it would not be right for them to marry since they were first cousins. Wilson would not relent, and finally she admitted that she could never love him like he wanted and there was no chance she would marry him. Devastated, Wilson stormed from the house and checked into a hotel, where he could not sleep and wrote her a note on a torn piece of yellow paper begging her to change her mind.

Now, Hattie, for my sake, and for your own, he pleaded, reconsider the dismissal you gave me tonight. I cannot sleep tonightso give me the consolation of thinking there is still one faint hope left to save me from the terror of despair. He had a long talk with her the next morning but she repeated that she loved him as a cousin but that was all. She begged him to come back to the house, but Wilson abruptly headed to the train station and left Chillicothe.Perhaps it was a coincidence, but shortly after he got back home, Wilson dropped the name Tommy and began using the name Woodrow. He continued writing to his cousin, but she broke off all correspondence, hoping it would help him get over her. Eventually, the two resumed the cousinly friendship they had grown up with.

In the early morning of Oct. 26, 1916, near the end of his first term as president, Wilsons train stopped in Chillicothe to change engines. A crowd of about 4,000 people were there to greet him. He appeared on the rear platform of the train, smiling and removing his hat.

Its awfully nice and fine of you to come out and give me this greeting, he said. It has been nearly 15 years since I was here. Placing a hand to shield his eyes, he looked out at the crowd. I am just trying to get the lay of the land, things have changed since I was a boy here.

This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: Looking Back: Chillicothe's connection to President Woodrow Wilson
Its a wild CV. Louis Sarkozy, the son of the former President of France, spent part of his early childhood in the Elysee Palace surrounded by bodyguards, then went to military academy in Pennsylvania aged 13, to university in New York, worked for a bank in Bogota and for the French Embassy in Washington, DC, wrote a book with his mother, launched a range of luxury loafers, married a Croatian who grew up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and has just written a 440-page book about his hero, Napoleon, which historian Andrew Roberts has called tremendously impressive. Next he will become an officer in the US Army. Oh, and his stepmother is Carla Bruni. And hes only 26.

He lives in Washington with his wife, Natali, but right now they are staying in the house of his half-sister Jeanne-Marie Martin, in Fulham, west London. Louis Sarkozy is tall (surprise), handsome and impeccably polite, with an American-tinged-with-French accent. He may be 26 yet in some ways he seems much older, and in others much younger. There is something very childlike about him  if you can imagine a child with a moustache and tattoos and an epically good brain for history. And he loves to talk, less about himself, a lot about Napoleon.

There have been many, many books written about Napoleon  the man who transformed France and Europe in the space of 20 years  and there have also been numerous films. The most recent was Ridley Scotts much heralded epic, which cost about $180 million (140 million) to make and starred Joaquin Phoenix.

Usually a fan of Joaquin Phoenix, Sarkozy was not impressed by his performance as Napoleon - Alamy/Scott Free Productions

Louis Sarkozy had been looking forward to this film for a long time  he is a fan of both Scott and Phoenix  but doesnt need much goading to express his opinion of it now. I thought it was trash, he says cheerfully, and not because of the historical inaccuracies  though there were many. Ridley Scott himself has quite rightly said, Dont get your history from Hollywood, and he is 1,000 per cent right. And Scotts other historical epics are great  Kingdom of Heaven is one of my favourite movies of all time, full of inaccuracies but a wonderful movie.

So Im happy to forgive the inaccuracies. But this is also just a bad movie. The writing is cringeworthy.

I dont know who Phoenix is playing, but its not Napoleon. Its a tremendously vulgar movie and theres no secondary characters. And the much anticipated battles were not that good. The greatest cavalry charge of the Napoleonic era  at Eylau  is not even in the movie. But we have six sex scenes? With Napoleon humping like a cocaine-filled rabbit?

And the writing He is on a roll now. That scene where theyre all having dinner and he insults Josephine and she says, Youve grown fat. And he replies, I like my meals. Destiny brought me this lamb chop.

Destiny brought me this lamb chop? Destiny brought me this lamb chop? From a whole team of scriptwriters about the greatest man in European history? The great legislator, the great philosopher, the great warrior? Destiny brought me this lamb chop?

The film, he concludes, is a catastrophe.

Louis Sarkozy was born in 1997. His father, Nicolas, who became Minister of the Interior and Minister of Finance under Jacques Chirac, was elected 23rd President of France in May 2007. His mother, Cecilia, had been an adviser to her husband, but they separated and she moved to America, with Louis, aged 11, where she married businessman Richard Attias.

Pictured at the intronisation ceremony of his father, Nicolas, who was elected 23rd President of France in May 2007 - Shutterstock

What was growing up in Paris like? He was the only child  his half-siblings were all older and living elsewhere. Up until my 11th birthday I was in the highest circles of political life, he says. Ministry of Finance then Ministry of the Interior and then the Elysee Palace  and it was just the most privileged, blissful, amazing experience one might imagine  except I was too young to appreciate it. If I had been a few years older, then I would have had a much more cogent appreciation of everything that was happening.

Instead, he says, it was normal for him to come home from school and do his homework in the state kitchen among the chefs, and to be constantly surrounded by bodyguards. Bodyguards who became his best friends and mentors. And who were quite literally the best role models a child could hope for  well, for a young, insecure kid like me who liked military stuff. These guys are police officers who are ex-military, charged with my familys protection. I spent 24 hours a day with them, seven days a week and it was awesome  they left an indelible mark on me and I owe my military vocation to them.

In New York, Sarkozy went to the French Lycee for a year, and then at 13 joined a military academy. So within the space of one year I went from the Elysee Palace to a dirty barrack room in Pennsylvania  and thank God that happened.

Sarkozy says he was 'too young' to appreciate the political circles he was in as a child - Shutterstock

It was Valley Forge Military Academy. (JD Salinger is its most famous alumnus, sent to the Forge in 1934 after he flunked out of a Manhattan prep school.) It has lately been the subject of controversy and lawsuits, claimed to have a culture replete with assaults, verbal abuse, hazing, and sexual violence, but, says Louis, For all its recent troubles and controversies it was an awesome institution.

His father, he says, was all for him going there: He knew it was perfect for me. I was an insecure kid and this was a way to get discipline and something to take pride in. His mother, less so. He had to persuade her. Well, as much as a 12-year-old boy can. But she knew that the military thing was in my bones.

There were ordinary lessons, taught by civilians or military personnel  but there were also parades and field practice. Everything is governed by fellow cadets, who are given rank after their first year there. It sucks because cadets can be stupid, sometimes violent and masochistic and imbued with their own power, but its also one of the only places on earth where  as a 16- or 17-year-old  you could be a lieutenant and be in charge of 30 kids. Which was awesome.

Except Sarkozy was given responsibility for the company that nobody wanted. Theres three types of cadets: new guys, people of rank and  excuse my language  shit bags, people who got sent there but dont want to be there.

I was given that company. I was responsible for everything: their uniforms, their academic performance, their PT performance  it was an invaluable experience.

Anyway he flourished, going home only for holidays, and left in 2015, when he was 18. He was accepted into the US Naval Academy but decided hed had enough of the military thing for a while. He had by then, he told The Times, discovered clubs and music and theres another gender on this planet, and he wanted something more normal  so he went to NYU to study history and philosophy, graduating three years later.

While at NYU, he met his wife, Natali Husic, currently doing a masters in global human development on a very prestigious course at Georgetown University (only 30 out of 1,000 applicants are accepted) and also working at the events company owned by Attias, Sarkozys stepfather. Natali grew up in Kinshasa, in Democratic Republic of the Congo, where her father was a diplomat and her mother runs charitable foundations. They were married in 2022.

Sarkozy and his wife, Natali Husic, at a Ligue football game in January - BACKGRID UK

After university he worked for a political consulting firm in Denver, then a bank in Bogota, then for the French Embassy in Washington, DC. Somewhere along the line he wrote a book with his mother  about arguing, basically  called Agree To Disagree. Everyone in my family disagrees about myriad subjects. So that particular book was meant as an intergenerational dialogue between my mother and myself  and its a book about the recent imperative by some politicians to shut down conversations rather than discuss difficult topics. He admits that he is probably the most argumentative person in his family. I hope its not arrogant to say that, he says sweetly  as if being argumentative is something to aspire to.

He gets on well with all his siblings, argumentative or not, and with his stepfather, and his stepmother, Carla Bruni. Theyre awesome. (Clearly his favourite word.) Bruni, he says, is a massively successful and benign and nice individual who is also a great reader  it was nothing but the greatest honour and pleasure and privilege to be brought up with her. Shes awesome. Shes great. I love her.

He says he is close to his father  as close as a son can be  but will not comment about his current position. Nicolas Sarkozy retired from politics in 2017 but has since faced a number of legal investigations, and was convicted in 2021 for trying to bribe a magistrate for information about a legal case in which he was implicated. He appealed, but the conviction was upheld and he was sentenced to serve one years detention at home with an electronic bracelet. He is again appealing the decision with the Court of Cassation, Frances highest appeals court.

Louis aged 2 with his father, Nicolas Sarkozy and his mother, Cecilia - LANGE Jacques

All along, Louis Sarkozy knew that he would end up in the military. But first, rather unpredictably, came the loafers. That was a fun opportunity. A good buddy of mine had a loafer company in Spain [Boonper], and I suggested that instead of using models to sell shoes we should use intellectuals as muses and make shoes to honour them. And so was born the Enigma Collection  Fashion products to honour great thinkers  featuring the Sigmund (Freud), engraved with a dreamcatcher, the TJ (Thomas Jefferson), featuring 13 stars to represent the original colonies) and the William (Shakespeare), inscribed with a quote from Romeo and Juliet. There was also a pair for Marie Curie (she was such a bad ass). I wonder what they would have thought of the idea. Sartre, I suggest, might have enjoyed such an affectation, but he is not included in the line-up as Sarkozy is not a fan (he was deceived by Soviet Communism).

The loafers did well, Sarkozy maintains, although theyre no longer available and he doesnt have any himself. He only ever wears boots from Thursday Boot Company, the same ones he has worn for years. To the great misery of my wife. Ive worn them in Egypt, in Congo, in London, in Paris, in Denver and Tennessee and California. Ive never even had to change the laces!

The main obsession in Sarkozys life is Napoleon. It was a fire lit by Andrew Robertss bestselling 900-page biography, Napoleon the Great, which he read when he was about 17. Obviously he had learnt about Napoleon in school, but I had never thought about him in any depth. That biography was like a kick in the teeth. Napoleon, he says  a general at 24, an emperor at 34  was the star, and all around him are planets.

It is said that more books have been written about Napoleon than any other historical figure  with some estimates as wildly high as 60,000. But that didnt deter Sarkozy. He is excited when Napoleon is finally allowed into the conversation. He is the transcender. Everyone looked up to him as a military leader. He inspired devotion in his men  despite them suffering horrible war for decades  even when he had nothing left to offer, some still clung to him. He had an aura, a charisma, an energy that is seldom matched in world history.

Its stranger than fiction  this kid who comes from a backwater in Ajaccio and doesnt speak French becomes Emperor of France? And conquers Europe then loses everything and dies alone on a volcanic island 1,000 miles from the coast of Africa  nobody would believe a story like that. But it happened.

Sarkozy: 'Leadership, as a concept, fascinates me' - Rick Pushinsky

He chose Napoleons celebrated literary obsession as his way in. Napoleons Library: The Emperor, His Books, and Their Influence on the Napoleonic Era (Pen & Sword Books, 22), out next month, is well written and painstakingly researched, telling his heros story through his intellectual life and his obsessive hunger for books. Napoleon boasted that he had read Rousseau twice by the age of nine  which Sarkozy doubts. But, he says, Books were his constant companions, his loyal friends, and stayed with him until his death. At some point  though this never happened  he wanted a copy of every book published in Europe, in the original language and translated into French.

How on earth did he have time to read all these books? While conquering Europe. Thats the great revelation. We all know people who say, I wish I could read more but I dont have the time. Napoleon renders that excuse redundant.

Sarkozy has other heroes  Abraham Lincoln, Winston Churchill, Ulysses Grant  but none among todays politicians. As politicians go, though, he does respect Macron (not that I agree with all his policies), and on the American side, he is a Republican, although no fan of Trump. He lost me completely. I would have voted for him in 2016  he is an atheist, which I appreciate. And his policy proposals for the most part I agreed with. But he lost me when he contested the election  thats the sacred cow, something you dont touch. There is no evidence  none  that the election was stolen.

Time for the photoshoot: he hates being photographed. I am dying inside, he says, somewhat dramatically, as he is asked to pose, much to the amusement of his wife. Reluctantly he swaps his T-shirt for a long-sleeve shirt, revealing several more tattoos, including an American revolutionary symbol on his arm and a quote from John Locke, some medieval crusading tattoos, two Roman coins on his chest and ribs, and a Napoleonic battle standard on his back.

Whats next for Louis? He has been accepted into the United States Armys Officer Candidate School in Georgia. Hes signed the contract and taken the oath.

Its tough training, of course, but its 1,000 per cent worth it  its the highest responsibility and privilege known to man, to lead other men in combat. It is a harrowing, humbling prospect, and one that fills me with glee and anticipation and ambition. Leadership, as a concept, fascinates me.

I can see that. Do you identify with Napoleon in some way? I wouldnt compare myself to him, he says, modestly. That would be a recipe for depression. But I have tremendous affection for the man. I am enormously seduced by him. But I have huge anger towards him as well. He messed the whole thing up. He messed up.

He knows his stuff, doesnt he? says Roberts later, on the telephone. If Louis joins the American army, I think that will be a loss to history  because hes a talented historian, he has the wide reading but also the objectivity  which isnt always true of French people with regards to Napoleon, and he also has a kind of self-deprecating, witty, almost English sense of irony  hes a sophisticated writer. For someone of 26, its very impressive.

Napoleons Library: The Emperor, His Books and Their Influence on the Napoleonic Era by Louis Sarkozy, is published by Frontline Books (20)

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LUFKIN, Texas (KETK)  Lufkin ISD said that senior Cailyn Crow from Lufkin High School has impressed regional judges so much that she got a direct invitation to the International Science Fair in Los Angeles.

East Texas students get $10,000 in Women with Heart scholarships

Cailyn Crow, photo courtesy of Lufkin ISD.

In February, Crow competed at the East Texas Regional Science Fair in Kilgore and thanks to judges who were impressed by her project, shell now get to skip the state completion entirely, an honor only given to one project a year.

Crows project is about the effect that protists (things like red algae, amoeba and slime molds) have as a biofertilizer on the rate that plants grow. According to Lufkin ISD, Crow chose the topic because she realized that this is a new territory for research.

Crow is interested in a career in aviation, and she wants to attend LeTourneau University or Stephen F. Austin State University in the fall.

The Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair will be held by the Society of Science at the Los Angeles Convention Center from May 11 to 17.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
Penny Mordaunt held a 3.6kg sword steady for almost an hour during the King's coronation - WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe

Penny Mordaunt is selling her Coronation dress because it has become so recognisable that she feels can never wear it again.

The Leader of the House of Commons intends to sell the teal, caped gown to fund projects in her Portsmouth North constituency.

The dress  and its wearers ability to hold a 3.6kg sword steady for almost an hour  stole the show at the Westminster Abbey ceremony in May.

Ms Mordaunt, 50, told The Sunday Timess Style magazine: I can never wear it again  unless Im going to a fancy dress party as myself!

It struck me ... its such an iconic dress that it ought to go on and do some other good things.

The Conservative MP explained the thinking behind the dresss novel design to the magazine: My predecessor at the last coronation would have worn the court dress of the privy council, which is beautiful but obviously designed for a man.

And I was very conscious that although we were going to have the full coronation robes and all the amazing pageantry, it was also a modern coronation for a modern King.

So I wanted to wear something in which I could stand next to my female cabinet colleagues and not look out of place  while also standing next to the large number of clergy, the pursuivants of arms, all the military uniforms  and fit in.

The 1,200 dress was made by ready-to-wear label Safiyaa, a brand favoured by the Princess of Wales. The Jane Taylor hat was off the peg.

Both were embellished by Hand & Lock, an embroidery house founded in 1767 that works with the royal family and big fashion brands.

Penny Mordaunt had to hold a 3.6kg ceremonial sword steady for almost an hour during the King's coronation - WPA Pool/Getty Images Europe

Nod to the military

I looked at a lot of images for designs that ticked all the boxes and felt that a cape dress would work really well. Its got a sort of historical top to it but also gives a nod to the military, she said.

Having worked with the British Fashion Council on a school outreach pilot to enable more students to follow careers in the creative industries, the Leader of the Commons is also aware of the ability the fashion industry has to uplift those who work in it  especially women.

During her time as international development secretary, Ms Mordaunt supported Eden, a not-for-profit organisation that teaches jewellery-making skills to women in southeast Asia rescued from human traffickers.

I sent one of the necklaces to Meghan Markle. It was quite early on, at the time she was having difficulties. I wanted to demonstrate to her the opportunity she had and what she could potentially do. She had a lot of support from parliamentarians, a lot of people wrote to her and wanted to support her.

But when asked by the publication whether Ms Markle responded to her offer, Ms Mordaunt replied, No, she didnt. And, laughing, added: But it was worth a try.

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Maine is one of 16 states (and one U.S. territory) that will hold presidential primary voting on March 5. Known as Super Tuesday, its an important date in the race for nomination where more than a third of the total delegates will be awarded.

The race will see familiar players: former President Donald Trump and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley headline on the Republican ballot. President Joe Biden and Congressman Dean Phillips, D-Minnesota, are the only names listed on the Democratic ballot. Trump and Biden have been steamrolling to the nominations for their parties.

Former President Donald Trump and President Joe Biden are well ahead in the Maine polls heading into Super Tuesday primary voting on March 5.

Despite being a small state with just four electoral votes, Maine has stirred up some controversies in the run-up to the primary. Maines secretary of state sought to remove Trumps name from the ballot, and the Maine Republican Party has said it wont recognize the states ranked choice voting system.

Heres what to expect in Maines presidential primary:

Is Trump on Maines primary ballot?

In December, Maines Secretary of State Shannon Bellows ruled to remove Trump from the primary ballot under the Constitutions insurrection clause for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. But he remained on the ballot because the Supreme Court had yet to rule on a similar case in Colorado.

On Monday, one day before the primary, the Supreme Court ruled that Colorado cannot remove Trump from the ballot. The unanimous decision said that states may not bar candidates for federal office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars insurrectionists from holding office.

The decision effectively ended Maines similar challenge. On Monday, Bellows withdrew her ruling's conclusion.

I have reviewed the Anderson decision carefully. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that individual states lack authority to enforce Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment with respect to federal offices, wrote Bellows in a modified ruling. Consistent with my oath and obligation to follow the law and the Constitution, and pursuant to the Anderson decision, I hereby withdraw my determination that Mr. Trumps primary petition is invalid.

It won't change much on the Republican ballot, where Trump has been and will remain.

It certainly got Trump people feeling, 'Well, heres another way the system is stacked against us,' said Jim Melcher, a professor of political science at the University of Maine at Farmington. That, if anything, lit a fire under those people.

Trump expected to win in Maine, but Haley could see support from unenrolled voters

According to the Feb. 22 UNH Survey Center Poll on the Maine primaries, 77% of likely GOP primary voters say they will vote for Trump, and 19% are for Haley.

You would think on the one hand, this would be the kind of state where Nikki Haley would do relatively well, but the Maine Republicans have largely swung to Trump, said Melcher.

Maines northern second congressional district is more conservative than the rest of the state. Melcher pointed out it was the only electoral college vote in New England that went to Trump in the past two elections. But in the first congressional district, which includes Portland and other southern towns and tends to vote blue in presidential elections, Melcher thinks that Haley could pick up never-Trump and unenrolled voters.

Biden appears headed to an easy victory in Maine

The same poll shows Biden as the first-choice candidate of 75% of likely Democratic voters. Three percent support Phillips.

The Dean Phillips challenge to Joe Biden just doesnt seem to have gotten off the ground, said Melcher. There are Democrats who are unhappy with President Biden for whatever reason. Some people don't agree with his stance one way or the other on the Israel-Gaza conflict, or wish there was somebody younger, but there's no reason to expect that Joe Biden won't win by a commanding margin.

He said there wont likely be much of a protest vote against Biden.

Bidens support in Maine is strongest among self-described moderates and those over 65, according to a Feb. 22 UNH Survey Center poll. His lowest support of likely Democratic voters comes from self-described socialists and those aged 18-34, but still has the majority with 52% and 64%, respectively.

Maines tradition of political independence

Maine has long been known for voting for independents or splitting their party tickets. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, has been elected as an independent since 2013. And Jared Golden, a Democratic U.S. representative from Maine, was able to win the second district despite it going to Trump by seven points in 2020.

However, new voter registration numbers show that unenrolled voters, the states largest voting bloc just four years ago, have now fallen behind both major parties.

Still, this tradition could provide a boost to Haley. State law in Maine was changed just last year to allow unenrolled voters to vote in either primary, as is done in New Hampshire.

There has been a lot of speculation that since there's really not much of a race at all on the Democratic side, that some people might cross over to the Republican side maybe in an effort to slow Donald Trump down, vote for Nikki Haley, Melcher said. We really haven't seen much evidence of a lot of that happening, but that would be one thing to look for.

How do Maine voters feel about the election?

There has been little campaigning from candidates in the state, but that doesnt bother voters. Unlike New Hampshire, Melcher said, Maine doesnt expect it.

However, results from the UNH Survey Center poll show that Democratic voters are less enthusiastic about a Biden nomination than Republican voters are about Trump. Fifty-three percent of likely GOP primary voters say they would be enthusiastic if Trump was the Republican nominee. Thirty-two percent of likely Democratic voters said the same of Biden.

The border/immigration, cost of living, and jobs/economy are the most important issues to Republican voters, especially Trump supporters. Haley supporters are more likely to list protecting democracy, foreign policy, or winning the 2024 election as their top issues.

Bidens age has repeatedly emerged as a negative factor in this election, and Maine is no exception. Forty-five percent, a plurality, rate Trump as possessing higher physical and mental fitness than Biden.

However, a majority of Maine voters rate Biden higher than Trump on temperament, honesty and integrity, decision-making, policy positions on major issues, and ability to understand problems facing people like you.

What's the deal with ranked choice voting in Maine?

This year, Maine is implementing ranked choice voting for the first time in a presidential primary, meaning voters can vote for multiple candidates by ranking them by first, second, and third choice, for as many candidates as there are. Maine was the first state in the nation to use ranked choice voting in statewide offices.

More: How a new way to vote is gaining traction in states  and could transform US politics

However, Maines Republican Party says it wont recognize the results of ranked choice voting, and whoever gets the most votes will be awarded the states delegates.

They tend to feel that ranked choice voting was essentially a Democratic plot at revenge, said Melcher, noting a few governors races in Maines history had been won with less than 40% of the vote. Melcher doesnt think in this election, though, it will be a big deal.

Ranked choice voting will only come into play if no candidate gets above 50% of the vote, which both Trump and Biden are likely to do. Maines secretary of states office says the parties aren't required to recognize ranked choice voting results, meaning they can choose to simply award delegates to the top vote-getter.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine primary 2024: What to know about Trump, Biden, Haley, polls
Malaysias Ministry of Transport said Sunday a Texas-based company could revive its search for Malaysian Airlines Flight 370 (MH370), as the 10th anniversary of its mysterious disappearance approaches this week.

Ocean Infinity has proposed another no find, no fee search of the seabeds in the southern Indian Ocean, five years after the company ended its private search for the aircrafts remains, Transport Minister Anthony Loke said Sunday.

The Boeing 777 plane disappeared from the radar shortly after taking off from Malaysias capital, Kuala Lumpur, on March 8, 2014. The aircraft, which carried 239 people, was supposed to travel to Beijing. Satellite data indicated the plane veered off from its flight path, and it was believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

If credible evidence is presented to the Malaysian government, Loke said he will do everything possible to get the Cabinets approval for a new contract with Ocean Infinity. He said he invited the company to meet when they are ready to come to Malaysia.

The government is steadfast in our resolve to locate MH370, Loke told reporters during a remembrance event for the 10th anniversary of the planes disappearance. I hope the families and friends of the victims will remain strong. You have our deepest sympathies, and youll always be in our thoughts and prayers.

Ocean Infinity CEO Oliver Plunkett confirmed to The Hill the company submitted its proposal to the Malaysian government and said the company is in a position to return to the search.

Finding MH370 and bringing some resolution for all connected with the loss of the aircraft has been a constant in our minds since we left the southern Indian Ocean in 2018, Plunkett wrote in a statement to The Hill. Since then, we have focused on driving the transformation of operations at sea; innovating with technology and robotics to further advance our ocean search capabilities.

He said the search is arguably most challenging, but the company is working with several experts, including some outside of Ocean Infinity, to hopefully narrow the search down to one area.

The Malaysian and Chinese governments ended the official search for the aircraft remains in 2017, after they failed to find any leads, though some debris washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands, The Associated Press (AP) reported. Ocean Infinitys private search of the Indian Ocean also did not turn up any results.

Loke did not reveal how much the fee would be to Ocean Infinity if the proposed search yields results, though their 2018 agreement involved a $70 million fee if remains were found.

KS Nathan, a member of the Voice MH370 group that includes next of kin, told the AP Ocean Infinity originally planned a new search last year, but it was delayed by the delivery of its new fleet of ships and assets. He said the Texas-based company is now in a position to revive the search.

This story was updated at 12:45 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
In late February, a 32-year-old man broke into a Butler County house and attempted to rape one of the occupants, according to our media partners in Cincinnati, WCPO-9 TV.

Achyut Dhimal was arrested Monday, Feb. 26, and has been charged with attempted rape, abduction and aggravated burglary.

>> WATCH: Horses stampede down busy Ohio interstate, cause traffic jam

According to Monroe police, Dhimal allegedly entered a house on Meadowlark Lane and found a female inside a bedroom in the basement.

WCPO-9 reported that the complaint said Dhimal forced himself on her while she was lying in her bed. He attempted to hold her down, but the female began fighting back.

The victim got Dhimal off her, climbed onto him, and hit him, according to court documents.

Dhimal is being held at the Butler County jail on a $100,000 bond.

We will continue to follow this story.
A Thomasville man, and apparent SWAT Team medic, was arrested by state law enforcement officers after a shooting in a restaurant parking lot.

According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, Lucas Williams, 38, was arrested Thursday around 4:25 a.m. after an investigation by GBI.

GBI said they were called to assist by the Thomas County Sheriffs Office because Williams, who was involved in the shooting incident, is affiliated with the Thomas County Sheriffs Office SWAT Team, where he is a medic.

Williams is not a certified peace officer and served as a SWAT medic in a support capacity of the team. He was not involved with any SWAT operations at the time this incident took place, GBI said in a statement.

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According to the GBI investigation, Wiliams was at a Thomasville Whataburger when he got into some type of disagreement with another man going through the drive-thru line.

The GBI said Williams got out of his vehicle with a pistol and walked towards the driver of the car who was at the drive-thru window waiting for his food.

That man then got out of his car with his rifle and went to the rear of the parking lot away form Williams, where he ran into a neighboring business before crossing Highway 19.

As the man was crossing Highway 19, Williams allegedly shot at the man multiple times. The man never shot at Williams during the incident. Nobody was hit by the gunfire, however, one of the pistol rounds hit a gas pump at the Raceway gas station which was recovered across Highway 19 from the Whataburger, GBI said.

Williams was arrested on two counts of aggravated assault related to the shooting and booked into the Thomas County Jail, according to officials.

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A man is in custody after an hours-long stand-off in Beaver County.

Police say officers received a call about a man who was making threats in Beaver Falls at around 1:43 p.m. on Saturday.

Officers were familiar with the suspect involved so they tried to find him at his house but he was not there. They later found him at the CCs Catch 22 bar on 4th Avenue.

Beaver County ESU had to be called to help get the man out of the bar.

The Allegheny County Bomb Squad was also called after police received information that led them to believe explosives were in a nearby house. A search was made and no explosives were found.

A message was sent to nearby residents asking them to stay indoors while police were responding.

The man was taken into custody without incident, police say.

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Frightful flight: Plane headed to Pittsburgh makes emergency landing after battery ignites on board I-79 to see traffic restrictions in several Allegheny County communities this weekend Man arrested in death of Amish woman in northwestern Pennsylvania VIDEO: Multiple local police departments warn of phone service scam DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
On a cold January night before the New Hampshire primary, Donald Trump traveled to Rochester, a city of blue-collar, culturally conservative voters who swung his way in 2016 and again in 2020.

We will terminate every diversity, equity and inclusion program across the entire federal government, the former president declared to a packed auditorium.

It was more than just a popular applause line at Trump rallies. Behind the scenes, a coalition of dozens of conservative groups is preparing to make Trumps words a reality.

Led by the Heritage Foundation think tank, which has helped mold the policies of Republican administrations since the Reagan presidency, conservative interests have drawn up a sweeping plan known as Project 2025 in anticipation of Trumps return to power. Part of that agenda goes after the decadeslong corporate drive to increase racial diversity in cubicles and executive suites.

The Biden Administration has pushed racial equity in every area of our national life, including in employment, according to Project 2025, which runs nearly 900 pages.

Conservatives behind Project 2025 say the private sector has been corrupted by doctrines such as critical race theory which argues that historical patterns of racism are embedded in law and other American institutions, harming Black people and other people of color. They want to reverse the DEI revolution in labor policy in favor of more "race neutral" policies.

Getting rid of critical race theory from federal agencies, diversity, equity and inclusion policies, unconscious bias  we are certainly going to have ideas and proposals ready for a possible new administration, former Trump administration official Russ Vought, who is advising Project 2025, told USA TODAY in an interview.

Then-President Donald Trump listens while acting Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought speaks during an executive order signing regarding federal regulations at the White House on October 9, 2019.

Civil rights advocates say Project 2025 is the work of a small group of vocal conservatives who are laying the groundwork for a far-reaching rollback of civil rights laws that would water down federal safeguards against racial discrimination if Trump is reelected.

Story continues

They are trying to take apart the legacy of these laws that made us a multiracial democracy, said Alvin B. Tillery Jr., director of the Center for the Study of Democracy and Diversity at Northwestern University. Trump is just picking up the mantle."

What Trump would do on DEI if elected

The presidential transition plan calls for purging liberal policies and dismantling some federal agencies.

The next conservative president must make the institutions of American civil society hard targets for woke culture warriors, Kevin Roberts, president of the Heritage Foundation, wrote in the foreword to the policy agenda.

The think tank declined to comment, but Project 2025s director, Paul Dans, told Steve Bannon's "War Room" podcast, "We want everyone walking into office to be literally on the same page" for the first 180 days of the next Republican presidency.

The Trump campaign did not respond to a request for comment. Trump has said that he alone is responsible for the policies of a future administration, but Project 2025  which outlines an agenda that touches every government agency  offers insights into what those policies might look like.

Jonathan Berry, a veteran of the Trump administration and lead author of a chapter on the Labor Department and related agencies, says Project 2025 continues the work of the first Trump White House, which banned diversity training by the federal government and government contractors.

The plan broadly reflects where Trump's policy stood at the end of his presidency in 2020, Berry said, adding that "it also represents the direction you would expect to see a second Trump administration go.

Among the recommended measures:

Bar the federal government and government contractors from using taxpayer dollars to conduct training about systemic racism.

Abolish the Labor Departments Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs, which is responsible for ensuring that federal contractors comply with antidiscrimination laws.

Eliminate disparate impact liability  evaluating whether the impact of a policy varies based on race, ethnicity or other factors, even if the conscious intent was not to treat people differently.

Prohibit racial classifications and quotas and halt the collection of employment data on the racial and ethnic makeup of the American private sector workforce.

The Biden administration is abusing the law in ways that tend to flatten the human person into identity politics categories, Berry said. The goal here is to move toward colorblindness and to recognize that we need to have laws and policies that treat people like full human beings not reducible to categories, especially when it comes to race.

'Theyre advocating for the return of white privilege'

Marc Morial, president of the National Urban League, says Project 2025 peddles concepts like race neutrality to reverse the progress women and people of color have made in the workplace over the past 60 years.

Before the Civil Rights Act of 1964 made it illegal to discriminate, private-sector employment was mostly segregated. Even when Black people landed positions, they were mostly low-skill jobs with no authority or mobility.

They are not advocating for colorblindness. Theyre advocating for the return of white privilege. Theyre advocating for the policies that were used during a segregated America, Morial said. Lets just hide disparities. Lets just pretend they dont exist. Lets sanction things that appear to be race-neutral but are discriminatory.

National Urban League president Marc Morial in January 2019.

According to Justin Gomer, associate professor of American Studies at California State University, Long Beach, todays conservative playbook contains much of the same wish list as its first edition, which was prepared for Reagan's presidency: Ending reverse discrimination, repealing affirmative action, limiting the Justice Departments ability to file discrimination lawsuits and preventing the Labor Department from tracking employment statistics.

This is what Heritage does. It tries to entirely dismantle all government mechanisms from even assessing, let alone studying or addressing racial discrimination, Gomer said.

Anti-DEI attacks after George Floyd murder

As the nation grows more diverse and research studies suggest that diverse companies outperform more homogeneous peers, businesses are working to make their workforces and leadership better reflect the communities they serve.

After the 2020 murder of George Floyd forced a historic reckoning with race in America, corporations redoubled those efforts.

Racial parity in the business world is a long way off. A USA TODAY investigation of the nations largest companies found that the top ranks are predominantly white and male, while women and people of color are concentrated at the lowest levels with less pay, fewer perks and little opportunity for advancement.

Corporate diversity efforts are broadly supported by the American public. A vast majority of adults  81%  believe that corporate America should reflect the nations diversity, according to a recent study by The Harris Poll.

But the political environment shifted after Floyd's murder. Diversity pledges from businesses spurred a backlash against the woke policies of corporate America.

In September 2020, a Trump White House memo from Vought suggested rooting out "ideologies that label entire groups of Americans as inherently racist or evil" in diversity training materials by searching for keywords such as "white privilege," "systemic racism," "intersectionality" and "unconscious bias."

Soon after, a Trump executive order prohibited racial sensitivity training by the federal government and government contractors and the administration threatened to suspend or cancel federal contracts with companies that violated the order.

The order had an immediate chilling effect on reinvigorated efforts to reverse patterns of discrimination and exclusion in the workplace. Worried that the diversity training they routinely offered employees might run afoul of the new rules, companies protested.

Asked about his executive order during a presidential debate, Trump said: "They were teaching people that our country is a horrible place, its a racist place. And they were teaching people to hate our country. And Im not going to allow that to happen."

Joe Biden retorted, Nobodys doing that. Biden rescinded the executive order after taking office.

Over the past several years as president of The Center for Renewing America think tank, Vought has joined other conservatives in fighting what he says is taxpayer-funded state-sanctioned racism. Republican-led legislatures have introduced dozens of bills to restrict DEI in education but also state government, contracting and pension investments.

The anti-DEI backlash has only intensified in recent months.

Last years Supreme Court decision striking down affirmative action in college admissions set off a wave of legal threats against corporate diversity policies and programs from conservative activists like former Trump administration official Stephen Miller and anti-affirmative-action activist Edward Blum. Billionaires Elon Musk and Bill Ackman have also assailed DEI efforts as racist.

It gets to the very nature of what it means to be American, which is that we are all human beings made in the image of God and we should be equal in the eyes of the law, Vought said. And our law cannot be treating us differently based on our skin color.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump tried to decimate DEI. How the next GOP president might do it.
SPARTANSBURG, Pa. (AP)  A Pennsylvania man was arrested Saturday and charged with the slaying of a pregnant Amish woman whose body was found last week.

Shawn Cranston, 52, of Corry, has been charged with criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass, according to court documents.

He was denied bail at a preliminary arraignment early Saturday morning and is being held at the Crawford County jail with a preliminary hearing scheduled March 15; no defense attorney was listed and a number listed for Cranston was not in service. Calls and emails were made Saturday to state police, the district attorney and the public defenders office.

Detectives investigating after postal carrier shot in Warren

Cranstons arrest comes less than a week after authorities found the body of Rebekah A. Byler, 23, in the living room of her home a few miles from Spartansburg.

Police said she appeared to have cutting wounds to her neck and head, and a criminal complaint accuses the defendant of killing the victim by shooting her in the head and/or slashing her throat. A court spokesperson said an affidavit providing details of what police believe occurred would be released later along with other documents.

The killing shocked the rural community in northwestern Pennsylvania, where people say the Amish get along well with their neighbors in the area.

Police began their investigation Feb. 26 after Bylers husband, Andy Byler, found her body inside the home shortly after noon.

Trooper Cynthia Schick told The Associated Press on Thursday the investigation and autopsy have given police an idea of what murder weapon may have been used. Two young Byler children at the home were not harmed, Schick has said.

The Bylers home is located along a dirt road in a very remote farming area. Scores of Amish turned out for calling hours Thursday evening at a home in the community. Many arrived by buggies lit by headlights along the narrow country roads.

Residents said the Amish had a longstanding presence in the area and mix well with the surrounding community. Amish and non-Amish visit each others homes, and the Amish work jobs for the non-Amish and attend events like the fish fries, they said. Neighbors have been raising money to help the Byler family.

See loose horses run down I-90 in Cleveland traffic

The Amish generally follow basic Christian beliefs and practices but are not homogeneous, according to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania. They are known for simple clothing and for relying on horses and buggies for transportation. Local congregations maintain a variety of rules and restrictions regarding dress, the use of technology and participation in American society.

The overall Amish population is nearly 400,000 people in hundreds of settlements across 32 states, Canada and Bolivia. Pennsylvania has one of the greatest concentrations of Amish.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A man was found dead with an apparent gunshot wound in the drivers seat of a car that crashed into a building near Nellis Airforce Base, Las Vegas police said.

On Saturday around 12:41 a.m., Metro police responded to a report of a vehicle that crashed into a building in the 4400 block of East Lone Mountain Road near East Craig Road.

Medical personnel responded to the scene and pronounced the victim dead at the scene.

When officers arrived they discovered that the victim was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, according to police.

Police said that the victim was followed by an unknown vehicle prior to the shooting.

Anyone with any information about this incident is urged to contact the LVMPD Homicide

Section by phone at 702-828-3521, or by email at homicide@lvmpd.com. To remain

anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or at crimestoppersofnv.com.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
MEBANE, N.C. (WNCN)  A man is dead and a suspect injured after an apparent shootout during an alleged home invasion in central North Carolina early Sunday morning.

Shortly before 1 a.m., deputies with the Orange County Sheriffs Office were called to a reported home invasion in Mebane. Once they arrived, deputies found two people inside the home, as well as a victim suffering from a gunshot wound.

Deputies and emergency medical personnel rendered aid and transported the victim  identified as Jerry Lee Driggers, 58  to Duke University Hospital where he died while in surgery. The other residents at the home told deputies they were held at gunpoint, but were not physically harmed.

According to the sheriffs office, the preliminary investigation revealed Driggers fired a shotgun at three alleged intruders, who were reportedly armed as well. One of those individuals was struck, deputies determined. They also allege that someone in the group returned fire, hitting Driggers.

California dentist fatally shot at work, disgruntled ex-customer arrested

Deputies found one suspect, Clarence Brandon Hayes, 28, of Durham, in the parking lot of a business near the home with a gunshot wound to the abdomen. He underwent surgery at a nearby hospital and was still there Sunday afternoon.

Hayes is facing charges of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree kidnapping, felony conspiracy, and injury to real property.

A K-9 track suggested two other intruders left the scene in a vehicle. The residents of the home described them as men wearing masks and all-black clothing.

Our condolences go out to all who knew and loved Mr. Driggers, Orange County Sheriff Charles Blackwood said in a news release. We are asking for privacy for his family as they process this terrible crime and the loss of their loved one.

Blackwood added that they believe this was an isolated incident and there is no reason to believe the other perpetrators are still in the immediate area.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are asking those in the area to contact them if they saw or heard anything suspicious.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
An exchange of gunfire during a home invasion robbery in western Orange County early Sunday left one resident dead and one of the intruders injured, according to the sheriffs department.

Three armed men broke into a home on U.S. 70 near Buckhorn Road at about 12:30 a.m. and demanded money, according to the Orange County Sheriffs Office. Three people were in the house at the time, and one of them fired a shotgun at the intruders, hitting one of them.

One of the intruders returned fire, hitting the resident, before all three fled, according to the sheriffs office. The resident was taken to Duke University Hospital, where he died during surgery.

The sheriffs office has not released the mans name, pending notification of his family.

The two other residents of the home reported being held at gunpoint but were not physically harmed, according to the sheriffs office. Deputies arrived at the home about 12:40 a.m.

The sheriffs office says its deputies found one of the intruders in the parking lot of a business nearby. They say Clarence Brandon Hayes, 28, of Durham had a gunshot wound to the abdomen and underwent surgery at a nearby hospital.

A K9 unit tried to locate the other two intruders but concluded they were no longer around. The residents of the home described them as men wearing masks and all black clothing, according to the sheriffs office.

The sheriffs office asks anyone who saw or heard anything near the intersection of U.S. 70 and Buckhorn Road between 12:30 and 1 a.m. to call investigator Dylan Hendricks at 919-245-2951.
A man stumbled upon a 70-million-year-old dinosaur fossil but kept it secret for 2 years

A man in France found a massive dinosaur skeleton while walking his dog.

The titanosaur skeleton is nearly 70% complete and was kept under wraps to preserve the site.

The discovery has sparked a career change for the man who found it.

A man happened upon a 70-million-year-old fossil while walking his dog, but he and local archeologists kept it a secret for two years over fears that vandals would tamper with the find.

Damien Boschetto, 25, made the discovery in Montouliers in Herault, France, about two years ago, Newsweek reported.

Boschetto reported the discovery to the cultural, archaeological, and paleontological association in the nearby town of Cruzy, the outlet reported.

The group determined the fossil to be a nearly complete, 30-foot-long fossilized titanosaur.

While paleontologists routinely dig up bones from animals that existed millions of years ago, it's incredibly rare to find an entirely intact fossilized dinosaur skeleton. For instance, one study suggests there were 1.7 billion Tyrannosaurus rexes, which are thought to have lived 66 to 68 million years ago, but scientists have recovered fossilized remains of fewer than 100 of them.

Titanosaurs were a subgroup of sauropods, plant eaters with very long necks, according to Encyclopedia Britannica. The massive herbivores are some of the largest known dinosaurs and lived from about 150 to 66 million years ago on every continent.

Researchers discovered the titanosaur fossil discovered by Boschetto to be about 70% complete, Newsweek reported.

"While walking the dog, a landslide on the edge of the cliff exposed the bones of various skeletons," Boschetto said, according to the outlet, adding: "They were fallen bones, therefore isolated. We realized after a few days of excavations that they were connected bones."

Boschetto and the researchers kept the discovery under wraps for two years to protect the site from vandals, Newsweek reported.

When researchers are finished studying the bones, Boschetto's titanosaur is set to be on display at the Cruzy Museum, which is also home to another titanosaur femur uncovered in 2012.

Boschetto told The Washington Post he was a paleontology enthusiast. The director of the Cruzy museum, Francis Fages, told the Post that Boschetto's volunteering at the museum over the past two years had been valuable for its paleontology department.

"These discoveries are interesting from a scientific point of view because they contribute to the understanding of the species and ecosystems of the late Cretaceous of France and Europe," Fages told the outlet.

Boschetto quit his job in the energy sector in September to pursue a master's degree in paleontology, the Post reported.

Read the original article on Business Insider
All At Sea celebrates the island's place as the birthplace of the RNLI

A new exhibition strikes a "brilliant" balance between Manx maritime history and its catalyst for the RNLI's creation, the charity has said.

RNLI heritage manager David Weldon said he was "blown away" by the display, organised to coincide with the charity's 200th anniversary.

Sir William Hillary was living in Douglas and witnessed numerous shipwrecks around the coast when he petitioned for the institution.

Sir William founded the RNLI in 1824.

The exhibition features several items from the Manx National Collections

All At Sea, at the House of Manannan in Peel, was officially opened by the island's lieutenant governor ahead of the anniversary on 4 March.

The project, which was a collaboration between the charity and Manx National Heritage (MHH), features some "very special" objects, including the gold medal given to Sir William by the institution for founding it.

A medal awarded to Sir William Hillary himself by the RNLI is on loan from the RNLI

MNH curator Allison Fox said that was a significant feature because "we know that it was around the coast of the Isle of Man that the idea was formed".

She added: "He writes in Douglas in February 1823 that the idea of this national institution 'has only suggested itself to me since my residence on a part of the coast often exposed to the most distressing scenes of misery'.

"To have this illustration of that point in history, when this fantastic thing started, is great to have."

A first edition pamphlet written by Sir William Hillary is also on display

The medal has been loaned to MNH by the RNLI, but the exhibition also contains items relating to the formation from the Manx National Collections.

They include original pamphlets outlining what it should be founded on, including the earliest in which Sir William sets out why an organisation was needed, and what it should be.

"This particular one is a first edition and it's just got 'from the author' written on it, which is a nice touch," Ms Fox said.

Some of the more poignant items featured include a child's lifejacket

Reflecting on the mixture of the island's role as the birthplace of the lifesaving institution and broader Manx maritime heritage, Mr Weldon said the balance of "tales of endeavour and shipwreck" together with its place in the RNLI's history was "just right".

Why not follow BBC Isle of Man on Facebook and X? You can also send story ideas to IsleofMan@bbc.co.uk
Voters in particular states will encounter stricter voter ID requirements when they head to the polls as part of a wave of in-person voter ID laws enacted across the country during the last four years.

Eight states have enacted voter ID laws since the 2020 election, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures: Arkansas, Idaho, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, Ohio and Wyoming. The rash of new laws affects 29 million adults. One in 6 voters live in anticipated 2024 battleground states  Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin  with new ID requirements.

Policies vary widely from state to state. In Ohio, acceptable forms of identification are limited to those issued by state or federal governments, such as drivers licenses or passports, while North Carolina accepts student IDs, as well as military, public assistance and tribal cards. Certain states allow voters to request free ID cards or sign affidavits verifying their identities if they do not have IDs.

The stricter requirements ahead of Tuesdays primary elections were years in the making. North Carolinas law, passed in 2018, was blocked three years later by the state Supreme Court, which ruled the law was motivated at least in part by an unconstitutional intent to target African American voters.

The court reversed that decision last year after the election of two GOP justices, allowing the law to go into effect. A federal lawsuit against it is set to go to trial this spring, The Associated Press reported.

Arkansas new law no longer allows voters to sign affidavits verifying their identities in place of showing IDs  something many states still offer. Instead, voters are now required to return to the polling places with photo IDs within a set time frame for their provisional ballots to count.

Requesting some form of identification from voters dates to the 1950s, but two Supreme Court decisions in the past two decades have paved the way for states to require IDs. In 2008, the court ruled that an Indiana law requiring voters to present photo IDs did not violate the Constitution.

In 2013, another decision stripped a section of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that required states with histories of voter discrimination to get federal approval to make changes that affect voting.

Since that requirement was removed, at least 25 voter ID laws have been implemented  some of which have been struck down in court, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, a law and public policy group that tracks election laws.

Voter ID requirements are not inherently unpopular, and a recent Pew Research Center poll found more than 8 in 10 Americans supported requiring government-issued photo identification for voting.

Many of the recent ID laws gained momentum after former President Donald Trump and his allies made repeated, unfounded claims that voter fraud affected the outcome of the 2020 election. Trumps challenges to the election have consistently lost in court, and state officials across the country have debunked fraud claims.

Studies have found voter fraud rates to be exceptionally low, which Ohio state Rep. Thomas Hall, a Republican who sponsored a law to require state-issued photo IDs, acknowledges. Still, Hall believes the law gives voters peace of mind that elections are secure.

I think voter ID just took that exceedingly rare and made it almost impossible here in Ohio, he said.

Missouri state Rep. John Simmons, a Republican who sponsored legislation requiring a state-issued photo ID, said that election fraud cases are low priority for prosecutors and that requirement is a commonsense way to prevent such cases.

Just because I dont get broken into my home doesnt mean Im not going to lock my doors at night, Simmons said. Weve got to get back to making sure we have confidence in the government.

Voting rights advocates say strict ID laws have had a direct effect on voter turnout and disproportionately deter low-income people and people of color from voting.

The policy of voter ID is responding to a problem that is not there, and so we have to be skeptical as to why states would put these policies in place if the justification for them is lacking, said Eliza Sweren-Becker, senior counsel at the Brennan Center.

Sweren-Becker added that the barriers to voting created by ID laws are part and parcel of an overall effort to make it harder for Americans to participate in elections. States such as North Carolina, Georgia, Arkansas and Missouri implemented ID requirements alongside other election changes regarding absentee voting, early voting, signature matching and more.

Nearly 29 million Americans did not have current drivers licenses and 7.6 million did not have any nonexpired government-issued photo IDs in 2020, according to a University of Maryland report that used a representative sample from an American National Election Studies survey. Survey participants who identified as Black or Hispanic were twice as likely as other groups to lack photo IDs, and 18- to 29-year-olds in these demographics were the least likely to have drivers licenses or any photo ID out of all other groups.

The unfortunate reality is that lawmakers tailor these laws to exclude certain types of voters, said Molly McGrath, a voting rights attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union. And it works.

Identification requirements can bring about disparities in other ways. Texas 2021 voting law required mail voters to list their ID numbers or partial Social Security numbers on both mail ballot applications and ballot envelopes themselves, which must match the information on their voter registrations. The Brennan Center found that in the states 2022 primary election, Latino, Asian and Black voters were at least 30% more likely to have application or mail ballots rejected because of the new requirement compared to white voters. Some voters did not have matching information, and others left it blank because they did not see it or thought it was optional, NPR reported.

Transgender people can also be caught up by voter ID laws. The Williams Institute, a think tank at UCLA Law, estimated that 260,000 transgender people living in states with voter ID laws did not have a form of ID that accurately reflected their names or gender identities for the 2020 general election. In the 2015 U.S. Transgender Survey, 25% of respondents reported being verbally harassed by poll workers after having shown IDs that did not match their current names or gender identities.

Updating ID gender markers can be arduous for transgender people. Eight states require proof of gender-affirming surgery, and two states do not allow ID changes. All of those states also have voter ID requirements.

A Pew Research poll found that 1 in 5 registered voters did not know they would be asked to show IDs to vote going into the 2016 election.

Most people think about what they need to vote, meeting deadlines and everything else, just within the months or weeks before the election, said McGrath, who expects the new requirements will surprise voters during the primaries. Voters are busy; they have lives.

More voting laws are coming. Hall, the Ohio state representative who is running for re-election, said he and his colleagues hope to pass more legislation in the name of election integrity in the near future.

Those against ID requirements like Ohios say the push for stricter election laws will continue to inhibit voters.

We are seeing a sort of death-by-a-thousand-cuts approach to voting rights, Sweren-Becker said.

CLARIFICATION (March 4, 2024 5:20 p.m. ET): This article has been updated to clarify that the measures in question are specifically about identification for in-person voting, not for all voting in general.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
St. Patricks Day is right around the corner and what screams St. Paddys Day more than beer and an Irish pub.

According to 2023 data, Massachusetts has over 828 bars and 1,645 beer, wine, and liquor stores so its easy to find a place to celebrate...but what place is the best.

A recent article from Travel Channel looked at the 11 Best Irish Bars in the U.S. From Chicago to San Francisco to Philly and every big city in between, the list includes one bar from Massachusetts.

The Burren, Somerville, Massachusetts

Owned by two Irish fiddle players, this has become a must-stop spot for Irish music icons including U2 and the Chieftains. The Burren hosts live Irish music as well as Irish step dancing.

Doyles Cafe in Jamaica Plain was also on the list but has since closed.

For the full list of Best Irish Bars in the U.S., visit the link here.

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Rep. Larry Householder, center, takes the oath of office after being elected as the new Speaker of the Ohio House. He and previous Speaker Ryan Smith, not pictured, battled for the position for months. [Fred Squillante/Dispatch]

Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com

Last week, Larry Householder, Republican former speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, now serving a 20-year sentence on federal corruption charges, appealed his conviction and sentence to the U.S. Court of Appeals (6th Circuit).

One of Householders key arguments is that his sentence is excessive. And although many bystanders will likely disagree, Householder has a point.

What the Cincinnati-based court will make of Householders appeal is anyones guess. Prosecutors have a month to reply.

At the center of the case is $60 million-plus spent by or on behalf of Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp., aimed at helping elect Householder as House speaker and seeking to assure passage in 2019 of House Bill 6.

Householder attorneys: Biased judge, overzealous prosecutors led to corruption conviction

FirstEnergy scandal is still costing Ohioans millions

Thomas Suddes

HB 6, at consumers expense, would have bailed out two money losing nuclear power plants FirstEnergy owned, including Lake Countys Perry plant. As a consequence of the HB 6 affair, FirstEnergy agreed to pay a $230 million penalty to the federal government in exchange for a deferred prosecution agreement.

Even though partially repealed, HB 6 has cost Ohio electricity consumers almost a quarter-billion-dollars, and counting, in subsidies to AES, American Electric Power and Duke Energy.

Object: To cover the losses of two coal-fueled power plants, one in Indiana, the three utilities partly own. The legislature seems to think thats just swell, maybe because one of the coal-fueled plants is in the district of Republican House Speaker Jason Stephens, of Lawrence Countys Kitts Hill.

Some Democrats had their hands in House Bill 6

A factor worth remembering: HB 6 couldnt have become law without the yes votes of some of the General Assemblys Democrats. (Also voting yes on HB 6, along with most other Senate Republicans: Sen. Matt Dolan, of Chagrin Falls, running this year for the U.S. Senate.)

In 2019, among the 19 state Senate votes to pass House Bill 6  with 17 required  were three cast by Democrats. And of 51 House votes to pass HB 6  with 50 votes required  nine were cast by Democrats. So far as is known, none of those legislators lost his or her seat due to HB 6.

Where are the ethics reforms? Ohio has done almost nothing since 2020 Householder arrest

One of HB 6s two prime sponsors was then-Rep. Shane Wilkin, of Hillsboro., now a state senator seeking a Republican congressional nomination in southwest Ohios 2nd District for the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Brad Wenstrup (originally of Cincinnati, now also of Hillsboro).

The other prime co-sponsor of HB 6, Republican Rep. Jamie Callender, of Greater Clevelands Concord, is now perhaps best known for being the General Assemblys leading advocate for marijuana legalization. And Republican Gov. Mike DeWine signed the Wilkin-Callender bailout bill the day legislators passed it.

Is 20 years too long of a sentence for Larry Householder?

In his appeal, Householder, who is imprisoned in the Federal Correctional Institution in Columbiana Countys Elkton, cites numerous decisions, appeals, and sentences in other federal prosecutions of official corruption. And assuming the 6th Circuit agrees to consider the appeal, Householders arguments will have their day.

One Householder point concerns the length of the 20-year sentence he received from U.S. District Judge Timothy Black.

Householder will turn age 65 in June; hed be age 84 at the end of his sentence, and, practically speaking, theres no parole in the federal justice system.

True, if Donald Trump returns to the White House, theres the chance of presidential clemency, given that Householder was one of Trumps earliest Ohio supporters in 2016, while most Ohio Republicans marched in lockstep in the presidential campaign of then-Gov. John R. Kasich.

According to a study published in 2021 by the U.S. Office of Justice Statistics, the median sentence served in state prisons in the United States for murder in 2018 was 17.5 years  that is, half of all murder sentences served were shorter than 17.5 years, half of all such sentences, lengthier than that.

You dont have to like Larry Householder, and many people dont, but with life expectancy what it is, a 20-year sentence for someone age 64 may amount to a life sentence.

Looking at the HB 6 affair overall, outrageous though it is, Householders sentence seems excessive. And will his sentence deter others from the same kind of Statehouse misconduct?

Given the legislatures continuing antics, that seems doubtful.

Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Why Larry Householder maybe paying too high a price for House Bill 6
AUSTIN (KXAN)  Austin Mayor Kirk Watson lauded nonprofit organization United Way for Greater Austin for its efforts addressing economic barriers for Austinites at its sixth annual A Night United gala event Saturday night.

Not everyone can afford to live here, so we need to be looking for ways to help with that, Watson said. One of the key parts is having organizations like United Way that focus on people.

Watson specifically highlighted the organizations commitment to tackling childcare issues.

Childcare is the second highest cost in most households, Watson said. It makes a difference in whether people can take a full-time job  or take a job in, you know, at this place or that place  based upon what their childcare needs are.

United Way celebrated its 100-year anniversary at the gala event. The event featured an auction aimed at raising money to address economic barriers.

It helps the people in our community who need it most, said Kristin Marcum, the Chair-Elect for the United Way Austin Board. It helps with early quality education. For example, [incorporate] preschool for kids who may not otherwise get it.

Marcum also underscored the impact and sense of community United Way has fostered in Austin.

Anybody can get involved, whether you want to volunteer your time or give your treasure. It brings people from all walks of life together to help Greater Austin, Marcum said.

Watson echoed that sentiment, illustrating the greater impact United Way can have for the future.

We need organizations like United Way to help us so that we stay a complete city as we grow, Watson said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
The most common bus model registered in Britain, the Enviro bus, is built by Shenzhen-based BYD - Paul Thomas/Bloomberg via Getty Images

A 400m scheme set up to encourage the rollout of electric buses is effectively subsidising Chinese companies to the detriment of British ones, a group of transport businesses have claimed.

Under the so-called Zebra initiative, local authorities and bus operators can apply for grant funding to support the purchase of zero-emission buses.

It is part of the bus back better plan unveiled by the Government during the pandemic and aims to finance the purchase of 4,000 buses, accounting for around one-tenth of Britains total fleet.

But some companies have complained that the bidding rules exclude projects to convert existing petrol or diesel-fueled buses into electric ones  while aiding purchases of vehicles that depend on Chinese manufacturers.

Businesses such as Sheffield-based Magtec, Scarborough-based Kleanbus and Norfolk-based Equipmake argue that converting existing diesel buses  a method known as repowering  is a greener alternative than buying new vehicles.

But they say the Governments grant scheme currently incentivises new bus purchases instead of repowering, effectively distorting the market.

Currently, about 70pc of electric buses being purchased in the UK are Chinese-manufactured or contain Chinese-made components such as batteries, according to an analysis of official figures by Magtec.

For example, the most common bus model registered in Britain now is the Enviro bus, which is built by Shenzhen-based BYD.

But Magtec and others say operators and local authorities should also be allowed to receive grant funding for repowering. A scheme comparable to Zebra already allows for this in Scotland.

Doing so would also speed up the transition to electric buses overall, they argue, boosting the number that come into service each year.

Magtec's Marcus Jenkins urged the Government to help develop and growth the UK manufacturing industry

Marcus Jenkins, founder and director of Magtec, said: At the current rate, it will take more than 30 years to replace the diesel fleet with zero emission buses.

Will the Government continue to pump taxpayers money into buying new zero emission buses mainly from China, or will it take a more sensible approach?

Story continues

We urge both main parties to get behind the repowering of buses to help reduce harmful emissions and help develop and growth the UK manufacturing industry.

Last year Joe Tighe, the boss of Kleanbus, also warned the UK was waiting when it needs to be acting.

The Government said it did not recognise the claim that the Zebra scheme was subsidising Chinese manufacturers.

A spokesman added: Over 80pc of buses operating in our towns and cities are produced in the UK and British manufacturers make up more than half of buses ordered through our zero emission buses scheme, helping to create jobs across the country while kick-starting a new cleaner generation of bus manufacturing.

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.
Executive action alone cannot solve the immigration crisis at Americas southern border, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday, urging Congress to pass legislation to alleviate the issue.

While the White House is considering all its options, Mayorkas said during an interview on CNNs State of the Union, administrative action is no substitute for an enduring solution.

When we take administrative actions as we have done a number of times, we are challenged in court. Legislation is the enduring solution, Mayorkas told CNNs Dana Bash. "And by the way, we can, not, through administrative action, plus up the United States border patrol, customs and border protection by 1,500 personnel like this legislation proposes; we cannot through administrative action add 4,300 asylum officers so that we can work through the backlog and turn the system into an efficient and well working one, which it hasn't been for more than three decades."

Legislation seems unlikely to pass in a divided Congress, particularly after House Republicans tanked a bipartisan border bill negotiated in the Senate, with Speaker Mike Johnson declaring it dead on arrival.



Former President Donald Trump, the likely GOP nominee for president, has pushed members of his party to block the bipartisan proposal, denying President Joe Biden a signature immigration policy achievement ahead of the November election.

Both candidates traveled to the southern border last week as immigration tops Americans' concerns heading into the election this fall. Biden officials and surrogates have dialed up their rhetoric on the issue  in an effort to dull one of Trumps top campaign cudgels.

Trump and his allies argue that Biden can move to stem the flow of migrants across the southern border through executive action, without any assistance from Congress. Democrats have pointed out that Republicans have frequently been critical of Biden for the times he has acted on his own and issued executive orders, as with student loans.

While the Biden administration was reportedly considering new executive orders to adapt the asylum process, Mayorkas provided little detail about what was still on the table during the interview Sunday.

The important message that we communicated from Brownsville, Texas is the fact that Congress needs to act, he said.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday sought to clarify only one individual is responsible for the death of a Georgia student last month after Republicans linked the alleged suspect  a Venezuelan citizen  to the Biden administrations handling of the border.

Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta Universitys Athens Campus, was found dead last month after her roommate reported she did not return from a run in the wooded area of the University of Georgia campus. Jose Ibarra, a 26-year-old, was later arrested and charged with murder in connection to her death.

U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement (UCBP) said Ibarra entered the country illegally in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, from Mexico and was released for further processing after being detained.

When asked Sunday by CBS Face The Nation anchor Margaret Brennan if Ibarra should have been deported given his alleged crimes in other states after his release from detainment, Mayorkas said, First and foremost, an absolute tragedy and our hearts break and our prayers are with the family, number one.

Number two and importantly as a prosecutor, having prosecuted violent crime and other crimes for 12 years, one individual is responsible for the murder, and that is the murderer. And we work very closely with state and local law enforcement to ensure that individuals who pose a threat to public safety are indeed our higher priority for detention and removal, he continued.

Brennan then pressed the DHS secretary if the federal government was previously informed about Ibarras alleged past crimes he committed in the states, pointing out he could have been deported if that was the case.

She asked if there was a breakdown in the system, to which Mayorkas said, There are a number of cities around the country that have varying degrees of cooperation with immigration authorities. We firmly believe that if a city is aware of an individual who poses a threat to public safety, then we would request they provide us with that information so that we can ensure that individual is detained if the facts will warrant.

Brennan then suggested it sounded like authorities were not coordinating, to which Mayorkas said, Well, cities have different levels of coronation. We were not notified in this instance.

As former President Trump and his GOP allies attempt to use Rileys death to criticize Bidens border security policies, Democrats have argued issues of immigration and crime should not be conflated.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas responded to a "Saturday Night Live" sketch that used him to poke fun at President Biden's age on Sunday.

"SNL" depicted Mayorkas interviewing with CNN's Dana Bash, an interview that ended up taking place in reality on Sunday morning on CNN's "State of the Union."

On the show, the actor depicting Mayorkas rejected claims that Biden was moving slowly at the border during his visit last week, saying he saw the president carry out superhuman feats of agility and strength.

"Behind closed doors, he's a dynamo," the faux-Mayorkas said. "He went into beast mode. He said, We gotta tighten this border. Look how easy I can cross it.' Then he parkoured up to the top of the border wall. He front-flipped into the Rio Grande and came back up with a fish in his mouth."

WHITE HOUSE CALLS FOR SANCTUARY CITIES TO COOPERATE WITH ICE AMID FUROR OVER ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT CRIMES

Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas responded to an "SNL" skit that used him to poke fun at President Biden's age on Sunday.

Bash asked Mayorkas about the sketch Sunday morning, asking, "Does that happen every day?"

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

SALVADORAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT ARRESTED IN CONNECTION TO MARYLAND MURDER OF 2-YEAR-OLD BOY

"We all need a little comic relief now and then. I thought George Clooney did a terrific job," Mayorkas said, cracking a joke of his own. In reality, Marcello Hernandez played Mayorkas.

Bash noted that the joke has a kernel of truth, in that a number of Americans are concerned about Biden's age, while administration officials tend to point to supposed examples of the president's vitality not seen by the public. Mayorkas continued this trend in response to Bash.

"They should spend a bit of time with Joe Biden like I have done," he responded before offering an anecdote. "I prepare a lot for meetings with him and engagements with him because he's remarkably detail-oriented, probing and operationally focused."

"But no fishing in the Rio Grande?" Bash asked.

"Not for me," Mayorkas said.

Critics poked fun at Biden for moving slowly during his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border last week at Brownsville, Texas. (Getty Images)

Biden visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas, last week, holding a competing event with former President Trump, who visited the much more heavily trafficked Eagle Pass, Texas.

Data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection shows that Brownsville has seen just 46 migrant encounters over the past five days, compared to 2,106 in Eagle Pass. The former averaged 17 migrant encounters per day in February, while the latter averaged 462.





Original article source: Mayorkas responds to 'SNL' sketch that mocked WH defense of Biden's age by continuing running trend
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is hitting back at Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts criticism of the president, saying on Sunday that the governors suggestion that Joe Biden could hypothetically close the border couldnt be more wrong and the governor was trying to wreak havoc on other U.S. states.

Abbott suggested on State of the Union last week that Congress already imbued Biden with the power to close the border, arguing Biden needs a backbone to enforce current immigration laws instead of demanding new ones. Appearing on the same program on Sunday, Mayorkas said Abbotts preferred presidential candidate, Donald Trump, already tried that onceand failed.

As a matter of fact, former President Trump tried to close the border and it was enjoined in the courts and never saw the light of day, Mayorkas said. Trump attempted to close the Southern border through multiple channelsincluding travel bans, changes to asylum laws and the use of Title 42 during the COVID-19 pandemic. The latter effort stayed in place until Bidens first term.

Mayorkas also didnt hold back from criticizing Abbott directly, accusing him of bucking federal officials who sought to work with him and condemning him for sending buses of migrants to other U.S. cities.

This coming from an individual who is purposefully refusing to coordinate, communicate, collaborate with other officials and trying to wreak havoc in other cities and states across the country, Mayorkas said. That is not a model of governance, and he couldnt be more wrong.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called the publication of a leaked conversation between German military officers a disinformation attack on March 3, according to German media.

An audio recording of a conversation between German Air Force officers about the delivery of Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine and the training of Ukrainian troops was published on March 1 by the chief editor of Russias state TV channel RT.

"This is a hybrid disinformation attack, its about division, Pistorius said, according to the German television channel Tagesschau. We must not fall for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.

German military officials have confirmed that a conversation between Air Force personnel was intercepted and that they have opened an investigation into the leak. The audio has been circulating on Russian propaganda channels.

Pistorius does not have any information about potential further leaks, but believes that most of the content of the conversation was already publicly known, according to Tagesschau. Germanys military intelligence is expected to release an initial report about the incident early next week.

The wiretapping scandal comes as the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz continues to oppose Germany's provision of Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Scholz is reportedly against sending Taurus missiles to Kyiv over fears the move will draw Germany into the war. Ukraine has received other long-range missiles, such as the Storm Shadow from the U.K. and the French-made SCALP.

Taurus missiles, which have a range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles), have been a subject of extensive discussion since Ukraine submitted a request to acquire the weapons in May 2023.

The U.K. government has discreetly urged Berlin to supply Taurus long-range missiles to Ukraine, as Germany refuses to green light this critical capability, Bloomberg reported on March 1.

Read also: Germany investigates leaked recording of alleged discussion on missile supplies to Ukraine

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Six Ukrainian citizens were injured after a car drove into a crowd of pedestrians on March 1 in Szczecin, Poland, Ukrinform reported.

The Ukrainians injured in the incident included four women, an adult male, and a 5-year-old boy, Oleksandr Plodystyi, the Ukrainian consul in Gdansk, told Ukrinform.

One Ukrainian woman had been in critical condition and stabilized, while her 5-year-old son had a concussion, and that the lives of the Ukrainians were no longer in danger, according to Ukrinform.

A total of 20 people were injured when the car hit a group of pedestrians at a busy intersection during rush hour.

Plodystyi told Ukrinform that the boy and his mother would remain in the hospital for another two or three days.

Police deputy superintendent Marek Jaszczan told reporters that the driver was a 33-year-old Polish Szczecin resident, AFP reported on March 1.

Jaszczan also stated that local law enforcement are currently working to determine a motive behind the drivers decision to drive through the crowd at high speed.

The driver fled the scene in his vehicle before being detained by police. He has been charged with multiple attempts of murder, according to Ukrinform.

Read also: What danger does Transnistria pose to Ukraine, Moldova?

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Justice of the Peace Justin Kidd at the Marion County Justice Court on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024 in Salem, Ore.

This is part of a weekly series introducing readers to individuals who are passionate about our Mid-Valley community.

Justice of the Peace Justin Kidd keeps a bowl of rings handy in his courtroom for couples marrying on a budget.

Last Halloween, Kidd performed ceremonies donned in a Jedi robe while couples dressed as the Addams family and Day of the Dead skeletons. Every Valentine's Day, he and his staff bring in cupcakes and a loaner bouquet.

Kidd, a longtime Salem-area resident and former DOJ assistant attorney general who became a judge three years ago, conducts services in English and Spanish.

All those touches are his intentional way of making his courtroom as accessible and welcoming as possible, Kidd said.

The Marion County Justice Court is located in a strip mall at 4660 Portland Road NE. It lacks the architectural stature of the downtown circuit courts seen in many cities. But Kidd sees the modest location as a feature, not a drawback.

"Whereas many people might not feel comfortable in the marble temple of justice, I hope they feel comfortable in this strip mall," he said.

Kidd, a former foster and now adoptive parent, said he has a passion for being in the courtroom, working face-to-face with people and foster care issues. He serves on the Board of Directors with CASA of Marion County.

Since joining the bench three years ago, Kidd said he has worked with the Marion County Circuit Court to alleviate caseload and backlogs.

The Justice Court has the statutory authority to hear misdemeanor cases, eviction cases and civil cases of $10,000 or less.

Kidd worked with Marion County Circuit Court Presiding Judge Tracy Prall to transfer about 3,800 cases a year into the justice court.

The Justice Court has gone from having 17,438 cases in 2020 to 23,825 in 2023. The court had zero weddings and a handful of evictions and small claims cases in 2020. Last year, it had 174 weddings, 580 evictions and 137 small claims.

Weddings are particularly important to Kidd, who was with his husband for more than a decade before the state would legally recognize their marriage. The couple got married in 2014 as soon as it became legal in Oregon.

During the second annual "Day of Love" at the courthouse on Valentine's Day, celebrations were made extra special after volunteers from Center 50+ decorated the courtroom with balloon hearts, turtle doves and butterflies. Kidd reached out to service providers like ARCHES and Church at the Park to let couples know they are welcome.

"Whether youre rich or poor, the state should recognize the equal dignity of your marriage," Kidd said. "We want to make the day special, even for couples of modest means.

Justice of the Peace Justin Kidd officiates Valentines Day marriages in 2023 at Marion County Justice Court in Salem.

Kidd often works to connect people to groups like ARCHES during eviction cases.

"I think a lot of my work is making the courtroom accessible  not stuffy, not scary, not using words that people don't understand," he said. "My work, particularly in eviction cases, is applying the law but also applying the law in the kindest way a person can do it. A lot of it is delivering ... maybe the worst news a person's going to hear in their lifetime, but doing it compassionately and trying to link them with as many resources as we can."

If you have an idea for someone we should profile for this series, please email Statesman Journal executive editor Cherrill Crosby at crosbyc@statesmanjournal.com

For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on Twitter at @wmwoodworth

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Marion County Judge Justin Kidd works to make court open to all
President Biden is confronting a crucial few days in the Middle East as political pressures pile up both in the region and at home.

Biden is pushing for a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, though he has eased away from his earlier suggestion that such an agreement could come together by Monday.

The Associated Press reported Saturday that Israel had agreed in principle to a six-week cease-fire that would see elderly, female and sick hostages released by Hamas. The news agency cited an unnamed senior U.S. administration official saying it was now up to Hamas to agree to those terms.

The Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins March 10, adding urgency to the search for a deal.

Before that, on Thursday, Biden will deliver his final State of the Union address before the 2024 election.

Its important for the president to be able to point to some kind of tangible progress if he is to dial down rising tensions with progressives over his vigorous support for Israel as the death toll mounts in Gaza.

The Gaza Health Ministry contends that the total death toll in Gaza is now over 30,000. The ministry is controlled by Hamas but its estimates of casualties in previous phases of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict have been broadly accepted as credible.

Israels assault on Gaza followed the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas that killed around 1,200 people in Israel.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) told Time magazine on Thursday, Of course, my hope would have been  and continues to be  we should have accomplished a cease-fire by now.  But, absent that, I would certainly hope that [Biden] speaks to the necessity of that at the State of the Union.

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), speaking with MSNBCs Alex Wagner on Friday, took aim at Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu  and Bidens support for him.

Sanders said it was his view that there should be not another nickel for Netanyahus government if hes going to continue this wholesale slaughter of the Palestinian people.

Biden, by contrast, has continued to advocate for an additional $14 billion in aid to Israel, without conditions attached.

Also last week, six Democratic House members, led by Rep. Rosa DeLauro (Conn.), just back from a trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories, released a statement blasting Netanyahus utter disregard for Palestinian lives and expressed alarm that the Israeli prime minister was moving toward the total destruction of Gaza.

Beyond elected officials, the degree of disaffection within parts of the Democratic base over the presidents overarching support for Israel was underlined by last weeks Michigan primary.

More than 100,000 people cast ballots for uncommitted. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), a Palestinian American and a forceful critic of Bidens policies, was among those calling for the protest vote.

Outage over the reported deaths of more than 100 Palestinians as they sought food aid in northern Gaza on Thursday has intensified the political crisis even further.

The specifics of what occurred are disputed, and some deaths appear to have been caused by trampling. But the Israeli military acknowledges opening fire on the crowd  it says its troops felt endangered  and a local hospital reported seeing dead and injured people who had suffered gunshot wounds.

A cease-fire would increase the chances of alleviating the severe suffering in Gaza, where about 1.8 million people have been displaced and the United Nations has estimated that more than half a million people are living amid catastrophic levels of deprivation and starvation.

On Saturday, the first American airdrops of food to Gaza began. Around 38,000 ready-to-eat meals were dropped. More such missions are scheduled.

The airdrops had been announced by Biden the previous day. At a Friday White House media briefing, national security communications adviser John Kirby said this was part of an effort to pull out every stop to get more aid to people who desperately need it.

But that measure, too, has come under criticism from some quarters, with skeptical voices asking why the administration cannot use its leverage with Israel to ensure more border crossings are open and to expedite the delivery of aid by land.

Robert Ford, a former U.S. ambassador to Algeria and Syria  holding the first post under former President George W. Bush and the second under former President Obama  wrote on social media Friday that in recent decades, forcing USA to do airdrops of aid to Gaza  is Israels worst humiliation of USA Ive ever seen.

Biden aides argue his relatively mild criticisms of Israel are intended to preserve influence with Netanyahu and his government  widely seen as the most right-wing in the nations history.

The president also seemed sensitive, at least in the early stages following the Oct. 7 attacks, to Republican charges that he had emboldened U.S. enemies, including Iran, which is a major sponsor of Hamas.

But Biden faces the insoluble political problem that his own party is split over the broad issue of Israel and the Palestinians, partly along generational lines. As a rule, younger people are more likely to be sympathetic to the Palestinians, while older people are more favorable toward the Israelis.

A New York Times/Siena College poll released Saturday found that, among all registered voters, people under 30 sympathized with the Palestinians over the Israelis by 51 percent to 16 percent, whereas people 65 and over favored the Israelis 54 percent to 16 percent.

Among Democrats of all ages, a clear plurality backed the Palestinians, 42 percent to 26 percent.

The complex dynamics leave Biden with little room to maneuver  and in serious need of a cease-fire very soon.

The Memo is a reported column by Niall Stanage.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Police officers lead a man away during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Paul Zinken/dpa

The people detained in connection with the hunt for fugitive suspected terrorist members of the far-left Red Army Faction (RAF) are not the two wanted men, according to a spokeswoman for the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Saxony.

Police carried out large-scale raids in Berlin on Sunday morning, seeking Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, two suspected terrorist members of the RAF who are still on the run after going into hiding decades ago.

They detained two people and earlier were checking their identities.

The authorities have been searching for fugitive members of the RAF, also known as the Baader-Meinhof Group, for more than 30 years.

Sunday's raid began at 07:30 (0630 GMT) and involved members of the national and city police forces.

The sounds of gunshots were heard at one location during the detentions, but no one was injured, the spokeswoman said. The noises came "in connection with a door opening."

Sunday's provisional detentions came days after the arrest of suspected far-left RAF terrorist Daniela Klette last week.

Klette, 65, was arrested in her rental apartment in Berlin on Monday evening. She had been a fugitive for 30 years but was found living under a false name in the middle of the German capital.

The authorities accuse Klette, Staub and Garweg of attempted murder and a series of serious robberies between 1999 and 2016, some of which involved the use of firearms and a bazooka.

The RAF was founded in 1968 by far-left extremists Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Ulrike Meinhof, with members active well into the 1990s. It was also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang.

Like Klette, Staub and Garweg belonged to the third generation of the former RAF.

During their active time, the then Deutsche Bank boss Alfred Herrhausen (1989) and Treuhand boss Detlev Karsten Rohwedder (1991) were murdered and Herrhausen's driver seriously injured.

The RAF murdered more than 30 people during their reign of terror

but disbanded in 1998.

The group justified its attacks back then with the aim of destroying the capitalist social order in West Germany. There is widespread speculation they were part funded by the Communist East German state and its secret police arm, the Stasi.

Emergency services stand at a property during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Paul Zinken/dpa
Police officers lead a man away during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Paul Zinken/dpa

German police detained and then released two men in Berlin in connection with a major operation targeting the far-left Red Army Faction (RAF) on Sunday.

The operation followed the surprise arrest of RAF terrorist suspect Daniel Klette six days ago.

The men were not Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, two RAF suspects still on the run, Lower Saxony police, the force leading the operation, said, contradicting earlier speculation.

A spokeswoman said any links between those held temporarily and the RAF were the subject of the ongoing investigation. The detentions took place in Friedrichshain, a Berlin district neighbouring Kreuzberg, where Klette was arrested on Monday.

The men were not formally arrested and were released by midday after they were identified, a police spokesman said.

In total, police provisionally held 10 people on Sunday, according to the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office. "All of the people have already been released after the identity checks were completed," it said.

The search for Staub and Garweg continues, it said.

Staub, 69, and Garweg, 55, went underground more than 30 years ago at the same time as Klette, 65. All three were members of the so-called "third generation" of the RAF, often known in the English-speaking world as the Baader-Meinhof Group after two of its most prominent original members.

Sunday's raid began at 07:30 (0630 GMT) and involved members of the national and city police forces.

The sounds of gunshots were heard at one location during the detentions, but no one was injured, the spokeswoman said. The noises came "in connection with a door opening."

Klette was arrested in her rented apartment in Berlin on Monday evening. She had been a fugitive for 30 years but was found living under a false name in the middle of the German capital.

The authorities accuse Klette, Staub and Garweg of attempted murder and a series of serious robberies between 1999 and 2016, some of which involved the use of firearms and a bazooka.

The RAF was founded in 1968 by far-left extremists Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Ulrike Meinhof, with members active well into the 1990s.

During the time of the RAF third generation, the then Deutsche Bank boss Alfred Herrhausen (1989) and Treuhand boss Detlev Karsten Rohwedder (1991) were murdered and Herrhausen's driver seriously injured.

The RAF murdered more than 30 people during their reign of terror

but disbanded in 1998.

The group justified its attacks back then with the aim of destroying the capitalist social order in West Germany. There is widespread speculation they were part funded by the Communist East German state and its secret police arm, the Stasi.
(Bloomberg) -- Across the US and allied countries, owners of left-for-dead uranium mines are restarting operations to capitalize on rising demand for the nuclear fuel.

Most Read from Bloomberg

At least five US producers are reviving mines in states including Wyoming, Texas, Arizona and Utah, where production flourished until governments soured on the radioactive element following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan.

Most of those American mines were idled in the aftermath of Fukushima, when uranium prices crashed and countries like Germany and Japan initiated plans to phase out nuclear reactors.

Now, with governments turning to nuclear power to meet emissions targets and top uranium producers struggling to satisfy demand, prices of the silvery-white metal are surging. And thats giving those once-unprofitable uranium operations a chance to fill a supply gap.

Uranium has been used as an energy source for more than six decades, fueling nuclear power plants and reactors. About two-thirds of global production comes from Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia.

Uranium will be a topic of conversation as thousands of mining executives, geologists and bankers descend on Toronto for the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada gathering this week. The annual event has attracted at least 10 uranium firms, including Denison Mines Corp., Fission Uranium Corp. and IsoEnergy Ltd.

As countries increasingly consider nuclear power to address climate change, demand for uranium is expected to skyrocket. The International Atomic Energy Agency estimates the world will need more than 100,000 metric tons of uranium per year by 2040  an amount that requires nearly doubling mining and processing from current levels.

Story continues

Canadas Cameco Corp. and Kazakhstans Kazatomprom, which together account for half of global supply, have struggled to ramp up production. They have warned of some operational setbacks that will result in less uranium output than expected in the coming years.

Read More: Worlds Biggest Uranium Miner Warns of Production Shortfall

Were in an old-fashioned, plain-and-simple supply squeeze, said Scott Melbye, executive vice president of Texas-based Uranium Energy Corp. Demand is increasing again, with new reactors coming online.

Production hasnt kept pace due to years of underinvestment in mining and exploration, said Melbye, whose company is reopening mines in Wyoming and Texas that were idled in 2018.

Energy Fuels Inc. initiated plans late last year to restart operations in Arizona, Utah and Colorado, while Ur-Energy Inc. said it will dust off an idled mine in Wyoming. Mid-sized companies in Australia and Canada have announced similar plans.

To be sure, production from these mines  most of which are small and nearing the end of their lives  would comprise a small fraction of the worlds uranium supply.

The industry is clearly trying to respond with smaller mines reopening, but when you have a mine that hasnt operated for that long, its obviously not very substantive, said John Ciampaglia, chief executive officer of Sprott Asset Management, which operates the Sprott Physical Uranium Trust.

Top Producers

Supply constraints should ease with top producers churning out the millions of pounds of uranium they left in the ground when prices were low. Kazatomprom has been increasing output after years of operating well below its capacity.

Cameco has been ramping up production at the worlds largest high-grade uranium mine and mill  MacArthur River and Key Lake in the western Canadian province of Saskatchewan  after idling operations between 2018 and 2021 due to weak market conditions.

The two firms will be very concerned about losing their market share to a bunch of juniors, and so theyll want to claim that back, said Tom Price, a senior commodities analyst at London-based investment bank Liberum. That will take a lot of heat out of the market.

Still, US mine reopenings mark a revival for an American industry that was at risk of disappearing only five years ago. American uranium production hit an all-time low of 174,000 pounds in 2019  a drop from its 44-million-pound peak in 1980  as the US started increasing dependence on imports from countries like Canada, Australia, Kazakhstan and Russia.

Read More: The Long Arm of Russia and the Politics of Uranium

The US industrys push is also political, with the government seeking to secure access to supply amid geopolitical uncertainty. Sanctions on Russia following its 2022 invasion of Ukraine have posed challenges for uranium shipments en route from Kazakhstan, since the former Soviet states exports typically pass through Russian ports.

To keep up with demand, the Uranium Producers of America forecasts the US will need eight to 10 new, major mines to start production over the next decade.

(Corrects spellings of Ciampaglia and Liberum in story published March 3.)

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Mia was described as "creative, kind, entrepreneurial and highly intelligent" during an inquest into her death

Metropolitan Police said it was returning a sim card and mobile phone, which it lost, to the family of a schoolgirl who took her own life after she was bullied.

Mia Janin, 14, died after being bullied by other students at the Jewish Free School in north-west London, in 2021.

An inquest concluded she was being bullied by boys at the school.

Speaking to BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, her father said new laws were needed to tackle cyber-bullying.

Mariano Janin had previously said his family was "devastated" the Met Police had lost significant evidence.

The force, at the time, said the sim card and handset had been examined by specialists, before it was put in a property store at Barnet police station with the intention of them returning it to her family at a later date.

But when her family requested the items to be returned last year, police were unable to find them.

In a statement on Sunday, police said all evidence gathered during its investigation was passed to the coroner for the inquest and the force had since spoken to representatives of the family to arrange the return of the sim card from her main phone and a second handset.

The force was unable to clarify when it found the items, when asked by the BBC.

Earlier, Mr Janin told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg that cyber-bullying should be made a specific crime to protect children.

In the UK, there is no specific law on bullying or cyber-bullying and the courts rely on other legislation around harassment and malicious communications.

Speaking to the programme, Mr Janin said: "I think we need to do something against bullying. We need to revise the existing legislation about bullying, try to understand and try to act, do something."

He continued: "We need to transmit to our kids values, normal values, kindness, acceptance, understanding - then we need of course some kind of legal boundaries for social media."

Mia was found dead at her Harrow family home a day after returning to Jewish Free School (JFS) following the lifting of Covid-19 lockdown restrictions.

After her death, her parents began to piece together evidence that she was being bullied by a group of male students on social media, and in person.

In a voice note sent to a friend the night before she died, Mia said: "Tomorrow's going to be a rough day, I'm taking deep breaths in and out. I'm currently mentally preparing myself to get bullied tomorrow."

Earlier this week, the coroner for north London issued a report to JFS urging its leaders to take further action on bullying to prevent future deaths, particularly the targeting of female pupils by males.

A spokesperson for the school said Ofsted found pupils at the school felt confident to report bullying concerns to staff.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

If you've been affected by the issues raised in this report, the BBC Action Line has a list of organisations that may be able to help.

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
A Michigan woman who had been missing since 2017 was found in a motel room after police heard her screaming and crying.

State Police said on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, that the woman managed to call her stepmother on Monday and tell her she was being held against her will at a motel in Inkster, Michigan.

Detectives determined that the woman, now in her 30s, was being held at the Evergreen Motel in Inkster. Detectives and troopers responded to the motel, where they heard her screaming and crying from a motel room.

Troopers made forcible entry into the room and found her alone.

FAMILY OF 70-YEAR-OLD WHO DIED AFTER BEING PUNCHED BY DETROIT COP FILES $50M CIVIL RIGHTS SUIT

The woman was transported to Beaumont Dearborn for a medical evaluation and to be interviewed by detectives. She was reunited with her family and is receiving counseling.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

Police searched the motel room and found drugs, a cell phone and a gun.

A suspect has been identified, but no one has been taken into custody.

State Police's Trafficking and Abduction Group is investigating to determine if this was a case of human trafficking.

SUV CRASHES INTO SUBURBAN WALMART, INJURING AT LEAST 5

"We'll kind of look at whats next, right interview her if a crime did take place such as human trafficking or is it a domestic violence situation or is it different," Michigan State Police Lt. Mike Shaw told WXYZ. "I don't want to use the word kidnapping like somebody grabbed her and took her to that place. It may have started out as a relationship that turns into being held against your will and being trafficked."





Original article source: Michigan woman missing for 7 years located after police heard her screaming from motel room
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The owners of a secluded southeast Missouri Christian boarding school are behind bars after authorities served arrest warrants Friday night at their facility.

Larry and Carmen Musgrave are being held in the Wayne County Jail in Greenville, Missouri, without bond. They are charged with first-degree kidnapping involving a former student.

Authorities, who interviewed all the boys at the school Friday night, took Larry Musgrave Jr., 57, into custody at the ABM Ministries campus near Piedmont, according to a news release issued late Saturday afternoon by the Wayne County Sheriffs Department. And Carmen Musgrave, 64, was taken into custody hours later, the release said.

The Musgraves operate the school near Piedmont, a town of roughly 1,900 residents more than 300 miles southeast of Kansas City. First-degree kidnapping is a Class A felony that, if convicted, carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum of 30 years, or life in prison.

This investigation is far from being over, Sheriff Dean Finch said in his release. He said he anticipates more charges with more alleged victims coming forward.

The arrests and charges come more than a week after The Star published an article detailing how several boys had run away from ABM Ministries  which is also known as Lighthouse Christian Academy  since Jan. 13. Two of those boys were helped by a local resident who took them home after they flagged her down and asked her to call 911.

That resident, and another neighbor, told The Star that the boys were terrified and said the 12- and 14-year-old reported that they were hit for no reason or because they didnt finish chores fast enough. They also said they were berated by school staff, especially the Musgraves. Deputies picked up the boys and returned them to the school, but it isnt clear whether the youth remained there.

In interviews with The Star, former students have described how they said they were treated at the school over the past nearly 20 years. That included physical abuse, not being allowed to make eye contact with fellow students, standing for hours at a time looking at the wall when they were in trouble and being forced to do manual labor to benefit the school.

Several local residents said they reported the recent incident with the two runaways to the Missouri child abuse and neglect hotline but were told they didnt provide enough information to meet the criteria to launch an investigation.

After townsfolk saw the caravan Friday night of law enforcement vehicles  led by Finch  head to the boarding school, word spread through a group chat that includes residents and many former students. Those former students said the activity gave them hope that after feeling their stories had been ignored for years, someone was finally listening to them.

This will be the first night in almost 20 years that I will not have nightmares about ABM ministries, said Aralysa Baker, who attended the unlicensed boarding school from 2005 to 2007 when it also housed girls. I truly hope that the boys are doing OK. Our collective survivor base has been thinking about them since we first heard news of the runaways.

The bravery theyve shown through this situation led us to stand together and fight for their freedom.

Residents in the area celebrated with the former students theyve come to know through social media.

I got goosebumps and started crying, said Courtney Hall, who lives 2 miles from the school and called the hotline after the two boys had run away. I just pray to God that they are actually doing something and these poor boys will go home.

In Saturdays release, Finch said after his team arrived at the school Friday evening members of his department and state troopers with the Division of Drug and Crime Control interviewed all the children there. Nineteen boys were at the school, the sheriff said.

After the interviews, Larry was located at his camper on the property and placed under arrest, the release said. His wife was not at the residence. Around 3 a.m., Carmen came to the Wayne County Sheriffs Office checking on her husband, and she was placed under arrest for kidnapping in the first degree as well.

Teens in need of guidance

The boys remained at the school Friday night.

We will be doing well-being checks of the kids periodically, Finch told The Star Saturday evening.

ABM Ministries current director, according to state documents, is Julio Sandoval. The Star reported in February 2022 that he had moved to southeast Missouri.

Sandoval was dean of students at Agape Boarding School in February 2021 when the Missouri Highway Patrol launched an investigation into abuse of students at the Cedar County school in Stockton. In September 2021, the Cedar County prosecuting attorney charged five staff members with 13 counts of third-degree assault. Sandoval, who had been at Agape about 10 years, left to go to work for ABM Ministries soon after that.

In September 2022, The Star reported that Missouris child welfare agency had substantiated 10 reports of physical abuse at Agape. Those dispositions were final.

Multiple sources at the time told The Star several staffers appealed their findings. They said Sandoval was among them.

According to Missouris online court database, he still has a case pending against the Department of Social Services. His next hearing is scheduled for Feb. 26. State law allows staffers to still work with children while their case is under appeal.

Lighthouse Christian Academy takes in boys 10 and older from all over the nation. The 25,000-square-foot campus is tucked away near the Ozarks on 250 acres with rolling hills, a spring-fed pond, and fenced pasture with animals, its website says.

Operated by ABM Ministries, the school is dedicated to the training of children in a program of study, activity, and living that is Bible-centered, according to its parents manual. Discipline at the school is firm, consistent, fair, and tempered with love, the manual says.

Larry Musgraves LinkedIn page describes him as the founder and pastor of ABM Ministries.

He works directly with 40 families at a time by providing a boarding school environment for teens in need of guidance, the site says. With a staff of 11 people he works 24/7/365 to mentor Biblical principals.

Court records show that Larry and Carmen Musgrave and former school principal Craig W. Smith Jr. were the subjects of a 2009 civil lawsuit in federal court. It alleged that Smith groomed a female student after she enrolled in 2005, then committed multiple acts of sexual bodily contact with her  including intercourse  from September 2007 until June 2008.

The lawsuit says the girls parents notified the Musgraves in late 2007 that they were concerned about the degree of Smiths personal relationship with their daughter, but nothing was done to prevent further contact between them. The lawsuit was settled in 2010, court records show, with a $100,000 judgment entered against Smith and a $750,000 judgment against ABM Ministries and the Musgraves.

ABM Ministries is the latest unlicensed boarding school in Missouri to face scrutiny amid allegations of abuse. Since September 2020, The Star has investigated several schools, and the lack of regulations for them in the state, and has spoken to more than 80 students who attended facilities in southwest Missouri.

Those stories prompted lawmakers to pass legislation that for the first time placed some regulations on these schools. The main element of the 2021 law is that owners must register their facilities with the state and undergo fire and health inspections.

More charges coming?

David Clohessy, former national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, went to Wayne County a week ago to hand out leaflets and talk to residents about the concerns raised after the recent runaways. He said the charges are a first step in holding owners of unlicensed boarding schools accountable.

Were encouraged by reports of law enforcement action at the Lighthouse Christian Academy in Piedmont last night, Clohessy said.  We want to encourage everyone who cares about kids to remain vigilant and to realize that a real resolution to this horror must involve therapy for the victims, prosecution for the wrongdoers and reform of Missouris dreadfully weak child safety laws.

In 2021, another couple who operated a boarding school in southwest Missouri were arrested over their treatment of students. Boyd and Stephanie Householder, former owners of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, were charged with nearly 100 felony child abuse counts. They have pleaded not guilty, and their jury trial is scheduled to start in the fall.

In Saturdays release, Finch said he and his department had received several calls about runaways from the home, and he began an investigation several months ago.

Sheriff Finch was contacted by a former student and traveled to Albertville, Alabama, to interview the victim, the release said. After the interview, it said, Finch was able to make contact with several past students, and interviews are forthcoming.

Finch said he anticipates more charges will be filed and plans to travel to other states to conduct interviews of former students.

When it comes to children, he said, he will leave no stone unturned until all victims are interviewed.

We know the citizens are concerned as well that nothing was being done, however we cant disclose what we are doing on cases.

The sheriff said he hopes the public will remain patient.

When some things come to light, we will always be there investigating.
The owners of a secluded southeast Missouri Christian boarding school are behind bars after authorities served arrest warrants Friday night at their facility.

Larry and Carmen Musgrave are being held in the Wayne County Jail in Greenville, Missouri, without bond. They are charged with first-degree kidnapping involving a former student.

Authorities, who interviewed all the boys at the school Friday night, took Larry Musgrave Jr., 57, into custody at the ABM Ministries campus near Piedmont, according to a news release issued late Saturday afternoon by the Wayne County Sheriffs Department. And Carmen Musgrave, 64, was taken into custody hours later, the release said.

The Musgraves operate the school near Piedmont, a town of roughly 1,900 residents more than 300 miles southeast of Kansas City. First-degree kidnapping is a Class A felony that, if convicted, carries a minimum sentence of 10 years and maximum of 30 years, or life in prison.

This investigation is far from being over, Sheriff Dean Finch said in his release. He said he anticipates more charges with more alleged victims coming forward.

The arrests and charges come more than a week after The Star published an article detailing how several boys had run away from ABM Ministries  which is also known as Lighthouse Christian Academy  since Jan. 13. Two of those boys were helped by a local resident who took them home after they flagged her down and asked her to call 911.

That resident, and another neighbor, told The Star that the boys were terrified and said the 12- and 14-year-old reported that they were hit for no reason or because they didnt finish chores fast enough. They also said they were berated by school staff, especially the Musgraves. Deputies picked up the boys and returned them to the school, but it isnt clear whether the youth remained there.

In interviews with The Star, former students have described how they said they were treated at the school over the past nearly 20 years. That included physical abuse, not being allowed to make eye contact with fellow students, standing for hours at a time looking at the wall when they were in trouble and being forced to do manual labor to benefit the school.

Several local residents said they reported the recent incident with the two runaways to the Missouri child abuse and neglect hotline but were told they didnt provide enough information to meet the criteria to launch an investigation.

After townsfolk saw the caravan Friday night of law enforcement vehicles  led by Finch  head to the boarding school, word spread through a group chat that includes residents and many former students. Those former students said the activity gave them hope that after feeling their stories had been ignored for years, someone was finally listening to them.

This will be the first night in almost 20 years that I will not have nightmares about ABM ministries, said Aralysa Baker, who attended the unlicensed boarding school from 2005 to 2007 when it also housed girls. I truly hope that the boys are doing OK. Our collective survivor base has been thinking about them since we first heard news of the runaways.

The bravery theyve shown through this situation led us to stand together and fight for their freedom.

Residents in the area celebrated with the former students theyve come to know through social media.

I got goosebumps and started crying, said Courtney Hall, who lives 2 miles from the school and called the hotline after the two boys had run away. I just pray to God that they are actually doing something and these poor boys will go home.

In Saturdays release, Finch said after his team arrived at the school Friday evening members of his department and state troopers with the Division of Drug and Crime Control interviewed all the children there. Nineteen boys were at the school, the sheriff said.

After the interviews, Larry was located at his camper on the property and placed under arrest, the release said. His wife was not at the residence. Around 3 a.m., Carmen came to the Wayne County Sheriffs Office checking on her husband, and she was placed under arrest for kidnapping in the first degree as well.

Teens in need of guidance

Lighthouse Christian Academy takes in boys 10 and older from all over the nation. The 25,000-square-foot campus is tucked away near the Ozarks on 250 acres with rolling hills, a spring-fed pond, and fenced pasture with animals, its website says.

Operated by ABM Ministries, the school is dedicated to the training of children in a program of study, activity, and living that is Bible-centered, according to its parents manual. Discipline at the school is firm, consistent, fair, and tempered with love, the manual says.

Larry Musgraves LinkedIn page describes him as the founder and pastor of ABM Ministries.

He works directly with 40 families at a time by providing a boarding school environment for teens in need of guidance, the site says. With a staff of 11 people he works 24/7/365 to mentor Biblical principals.

Court records show that Larry and Carmen Musgrave and former school principal Craig W. Smith Jr. were the subjects of a 2009 civil lawsuit in federal court. It alleged that Smith groomed a female student after she enrolled in 2005, then committed multiple acts of sexual bodily contact with her  including intercourse  from September 2007 until June 2008.

The lawsuit says the girls parents notified the Musgraves in late 2007 that they were concerned about the degree of Smiths personal relationship with their daughter, but nothing was done to prevent further contact between them. The lawsuit was settled in 2010, court records show, with a $100,000 judgment entered against Smith and a $750,000 judgment against ABM Ministries and the Musgraves.

ABM Ministries is the latest unlicensed boarding school in Missouri to face scrutiny amid allegations of abuse. Since September 2020, The Star has investigated several schools, and the lack of regulations for them in the state, and has spoken to more than 80 students who attended facilities in southwest Missouri.

Those stories prompted lawmakers to pass legislation that for the first time placed some regulations on these schools. The main element of the 2021 law is that owners must register their facilities with the state and undergo fire and health inspections.

More charges coming?

David Clohessy, former national director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, went to Wayne County a week ago to hand out leaflets and talk to residents about the concerns raised after the recent runaways. He said the charges are a first step in holding owners of unlicensed boarding schools accountable.

Were encouraged by reports of law enforcement action at the Lighthouse Christian Academy in Piedmont last night, Clohessy said.  We want to encourage everyone who cares about kids to remain vigilant and to realize that a real resolution to this horror must involve therapy for the victims, prosecution for the wrongdoers and reform of Missouris dreadfully weak child safety laws.

In 2021, another couple who operated a boarding school in southwest Missouri were arrested over their treatment of students. Boyd and Stephanie Householder, former owners of Circle of Hope Girls Ranch, were charged with nearly 100 felony child abuse counts. They have pleaded not guilty, and their jury trial is scheduled to start in the fall.

In Saturdays release, Finch said he and his department had received several calls about runaways from the home, and he began an investigation several months ago.

Sheriff Finch was contacted by a former student and traveled to Albertville, Alabama, to interview the victim, the release said. After the interview, it said, Finch was able to make contact with several past students, and interviews are forthcoming.

Finch said he anticipates more charges will be filed and plans to travel to other states to conduct interviews of former students.

When it comes to children, he said, he will leave no stone unturned until all victims are interviewed.

We know the citizens are concerned as well that nothing was being done, however we cant disclose what we are doing on cases.

The sheriff said he hopes the public will remain patient.

When some things come to light, we will always be there investigating.
A man running for governor of Missouri whose ties to the Ku Klux Klan were recently made public said that the state Republicans who are now working to oust him from the race were already familiar with his beliefs.

The Missouri GOP knew exactly who I am, Darrell McClanahan III wrote on X. What a bunch of Anti-White hypocrites.

The Missouri Republican Party is working to remove Darrell McClanahan from the governors race after his ties to the Ku Klux Klan were made public. (Photo: X/ShamedDoganMO)

McClanahan is one of the contenders gunning for the Republican nomination in the Missouri gubernatorial primary election.

After the Missouri GOP tweeted that 279 Republicans submitted their bids on the first day of candidate filing, former Republican state Rep. Shamed Dogan responded with a pair of unsettling photos showing McClanahan with official KKK members and standing next to a hooded member doing a Nazi salute in front of a burning cross.

Hey @MissouriGOP I just learned the candidate listed first on our primary ballot for Governor is a cross-burning KKK member who ran for US Senate 2 years ago and freely admits his KKK membership & white supremacist beliefs. https://t.co/AZTGrAl7X0 pic.twitter.com/z7ilIo5k4d  Shamed Dogan (@ShamedDoganMO) February 29, 2024

While McClanahan confirmed he is in the photos, he told the Riverfront Times that he was never in the KKK and sent the outlet a statement that Dogans claim he is a cross-burning KKK member and white supremacist is false and damaging to his reputation.

Yet, whats bizarre about McClanahans reproach against Dogan is that he once stated in a lawsuit he brought against the Anti-Defamation League in 2022 that he is a Pro-White man, horseman, politician, political prisoner-activist who is dedicated to traditional Christian values and had a one-year honorary membership in the Knights Party Ku Klux Klan.

He also stated that he attended a private religious Christian Identity Cross lighting ceremony falsely described as a cross burning.

A judge dismissed that lawsuit against the ADL, which McClanahan filed over an alleged defamatory article. The judge wrote that the statements McClanahan wrote about himself in the complaint reflect the views ascribed to him by the ADL article.

The Missouri Republican Party tweeted on Thursday that party officials had been made aware that McClanahan filed his candidacy despite his affiliation with the Ku Klux Klan.

The party said his affiliation fundamentally contradicts the partys values and platform. The process to remove McClanahan from the race is currently underway.

We condemn any association with hate groups and are taking immediate action to rectify this situation, party officials wrote on X. Our party upholds respect for all individuals, and were dedicated to addressing any challenges to these principles decisively.

McClanahan directly replied to the post stating twice, The Missouri GOP knew exactly who I am, adding that Missouri GOP Party Chairman Nick Myers learned of McClanahans allegiance to the Christian Identity theology when McClanahan ran for U.S. Senate in 2022.

Myers just told him at the time that he was not to say anything bad about the Jews.

The Christian Identity movement circulates the racist, anti-semitic belief that white people, not Jewish people, are the true Israelites favored by God.

In response, the Missouri GOP knew exactly who I am. Chairman Myers told me when I signed up for Senate, paying my $500 fee, saying he had vetted me and knew I was a Christian identist; and that I should just not say anything bad about the Jews. When I met Prince lazy J Ashcroft pic.twitter.com/XoeNbU7Cwo  Darrell L McClanahan III (@Darrell4Mogov) February 29, 2024

McClanahan wasnt a well-known candidate in the governors race. He would have been up against Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe, and state Sen. Bill Eigel who are all vying to replace outgoing Gov. Mike Parsons.

McClanahan said that Ashcroft once told him, The Blacks are a problem.

The allegations against Darrell McClanahan are serious and the photos damning. Racism has no place in our party. The @MissouriGOP should immediately investigate them and, if confirmed, remove him from the ballot like they did Steve West two years ago!  Jay Ashcroft (@JayAshcroftMO) February 29, 2024

In his run for U.S. Senate, McClanahan lost the GOP primary with .2% of the vote, The Associated Press reports.

McClanahan isnt the only person with KKK affiliations to run for governors office.

David Duke, one of the more widely known white supremacists who is a former Klan leader, held office at one point. He was elected to Louisianas House of Representatives in 1989 and nearly won the Louisiana governors race in 1991.

Missouris Republican Party Seeks to Oust Man Running for Governor; He Claims Some Knew of His KKK Ties: Hypocrites
In a landslide victory, Missouri Republicans chose former President Donald Trump as its choice for the partys 2024 presidential candidate.

The Greene County Republican caucus concluded Saturday after only two hours. Participants had the opportunity to voice their choice for the presidential candidate.

The field of eligible candidates nationally had grown slim, with only Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and David Stuckenberg remaining in the race for the Republican nomination.

Party-reported results from the statewide caucuses arrived earlier than expected, with the Missouri Republican Party announcing that Trump had won all 114 counties and the city of St. Louis.

"Missouri Republicans have spoken loud and clear today, affirming their trust in President Trump's leadership and rejecting the failed policies of the Democrats in Washington", said Nick Myers, Chairman of the Missouri Republican Party.

Images from the Greene County Republican Caucus at the Oasis Convention Center in north Springfield on March 2, 2024.

The shift to a caucus system is a recent change, and this is the first presidential election in which county level caucuses were used since 1996. A county level caucus was held in 2012 by the Missouri Republican Party after the presidential preference primary was scheduled in February, in violation of the national party rules.

Both Democratic and Republican parties mandate that Missouris primary must be held no earlier than March. State lawmakers approved a shift back to the caucus system in 2022. Efforts to reverse the change in the 2023 legislative session were unsuccessful, and similar attempts have gained no traction this legislative session.

Some were concerned that this years caucuses would be chaotic, since it is the first caucus to be held since the impromptu caucuses in 2012.

However, Danette Proctor, chair of the Greene County Republican Central Committee, was pleased with how smoothly thing went. She indicated that the uniformity of rules used in county level caucuses across the the state simplified the process, which was much messier during the 2012 caucuses.

Trump easily wins the Greene County Republican Caucus

Participants gathered in the Oasis Convention Center in Springfield for the caucus. At 10 a.m. the caucus commenced with a prayer, and recognition of the local and statewide office-holders from Greene County, as well as veterans, law enforcement, firefighters and teachers. Various conservative groups shared information about their respective organizations.

Former U.S. Congressman Billy Long spoke to the crowd, capturing a selfie of the crowd in the background and voicing his intention to send it to former President Donald Trump. He signaled his intention to support Trump at the caucus.

Greene County Clerk Greene Schoeller, the head of the caucus credentials committee, said that 517 qualified participants were in attendance, meaning that any candidate with 259 attendees in support would win all of the Greene County delegates.

Greene County Clerk Shane Schoeller speaks during the GOP caucus at the Oasis Convention Center in north Springfield on March 2, 2024.

If no candidate received support from more than 50% of the caucus-goers, then the delegates would be split between candidates with at least 15% of attendees in support. At least 78 participants must support a candidate in order for that candidate to be eligible to receive delegates.

Danette Proctor was unanimously elected the caucus chair, and Sonya Anderson was unanimously elected as caucus secretary.

Proctor explained the caucus rules before opening the floor for nominees of the candidate to serve as the next U.S. President. Donald Trump, Nikki Haley and David Stuckenberg were the only candidates eligible for nomination. As Proctor announced the names of the candidates, the crowd erupted in cheers for Trump, but sharply turned to silence as Haley and Stuckenberg were announced.

As Proctor opened up the floor for nominations, Long took the floor to speak to his personal relationship with Trump, sharing the story of how he coined the phrase "Trump train." He encouraged caucus participants to board the "Trump train" with him and make Trump the 47th U.S. President, to thunderous applause from the audience.

Lori Kaczmarek directs those supporting Donald Trump during the Greene County Republican Caucus at the Oasis Convention Center in north Springfield on March 2, 2024.

When Proctor asked for additional nominations, the crowd again went silent. After a moment, caucus participant Becky Thomas came forward to nominate Nikki Haley. She said that Trump lost her support during his last campaign, and he had failed to regain her vote.

Thomas expressed disappointment that her husband, who serves in the military, was unable to participate in the caucus due to its in-person nature. Her speech in support of Haley earned scattered applause.

Stuckenberg received no nominations from the crowd.

As the crowd dispersed to break into groups supporting their chosen candidates, Trump overwhelmingly drew the majority of participants. The small group of Haley supporters was hard to spot through the throngs of Trump supporters, which included 479 of the participants.

Haleys group had only 38 supporters, missing the minimum of 78 people in support required to be eligible to receive delegates. Her supporters were invited to join the Trump crowd, although it was not required.

More: Mark your calendar with these important 2024 Missouri election dates

Former U.S. Rep. Billy Long celebrates a Trump victory in Missouri

Long, the spokesperson for the gathered group of Trump supporters, heralded the victory for Trump and shared that hed already sent the caucus selfie to the former president.

In an interview following the Greene County caucus results, Long touted Trumps popularity among Republicans and his presidential record as reasons for the quick victory.

None of us have ever seen a politician like this before in our lifetime, Long said. And I think that's worth noting he can fill any stadium, any arena, anywhere. It's a movement.

Long indicated that, if asked, he most certainly would work in the Trump administration, should Trump win the election.

He's mentioned that he wants me to do that, but he says a lot of things, and a lot of people get in his head between now and then, Long said.

The "Trump Caucus Captain" Billy Long was on hand during Greene County Republican Caucus at the Oasis Convention Center in north Springfield on March 2, 2024.

Following the proclamation of Trump's victory, caucus officials began the process of selecting delegates and alternates to represent the county at the state and congressional conventions.

The nominated slate of delegates and alternates were approved, advancing 42 people to represent Greene County at the GOP's state, congressional and national conventions, where other county delegates will continue the process of nominating the party's presidential candidate.

There were 42 alternates approved in case any of the 42 delegates are unable to attend any of the designated conventions.

Caucus attendees suggest changes to the Missouri Republican Party Platform

As the caucus shifted gears to revising the Missouri Republican Party Platform, the crowd began to grow sparse, with at least a third of participants leaving during the portion of the caucus reserved for discussing platform changes.

The Missouri Republican Party Platform is revised every 10 years, and each county has the opportunity to suggest changes and amendments. The changes approved by the body of the caucus will then be sent to the congressional conventions, where delegates will again discuss the suggested changes and decide which revisions are included in the new party platform.

Some of the changes that Greene County Republicans want to see in the new party platform include expressed support for the abolishment of the U.S. Department of Education and repealing the Outstanding Schools Act so that the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reverts to its original role in supporting locally elected school boards.

This measure passed with unanimous approval from caucus attendees, meaning that it will be considered by the Missouri Republicans congressional convention later this year.

Another suggested revision, from Steve Lampley of the Missouri Republican Assembly, pushed for phrasing in the platform that would indicate Missouris refusal to comply with federal laws on topics that should be under state jurisdiction.

Richard and Carol Portis arrive at the Greene County Republican Caucus at the Oasis Convention Center in north Springfield on March 2, 2024.

Our Missouri Republican elected officials should use anti-commandeering doctrine whenever the federal government exceeds its constitutional limits, Lampley said.

State Rep. Darin Chappell offered discussion on this suggested revision, pointing to the 10th amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits federal overreach into state affairs.

This ought to be our platform, and your elected officials ought to have the backbone and the determination to stand up as a father between a runaway national government and the sovereignty of this state, Chappell said.

This revision also passed with unanimous approval.

Another revision was suggested that would support Missourians having the right to refuse any medical treatment that they dont wish to have performed on them, with specific focus on the COVID-19 vaccine and the uproar tha ensued when that vaccine was mandated during the pandemic. This measure passed, with only a few members in opposition.

Another proposed was approved that would change the platform to indicate that it is the will of the Missouri Republican Party that no public official can infringe upon the freedom to worship or hold religious meetings, with an amendment approved to indicate that that freedom extends to worshiping God, like our founding fathers presented in the Constitution.

Rep. Melanie Stinnett proposed a revision to show support for all Missouri counties to establish a constitutional sheriff. This is not currently required in the state.

By having constitutional protection sheriff's can operate independently from political pressure and special interest, ensuring they prioritize upholding constitutional rights including due process, equal protection and freedom from unlawful searches and seizures, Stinnett said.

According to Stinnett, other benefits of this would be the ability for these constitutional sheriffs to serve as a vital check on potential abuses of power by other branches of government, including federal agencies or state authorities.

They serve as a last line of defense against overreach protecting citizens from potential violations of their rights by other governmental entities, Stinnett said.

Trump supporters express their support after former congressman Billy Long, left, speaks about his friendship with the former president during the Greene County Republican Caucus at the Oasis Convention Center in north Springfield on March 2, 2024.

Stinnetts proposed revision gained the approval of caucus-goers.

Another change called for the platform to include the following phrase: In order to maintain the integrity and branding of the Missouri Republican Party and fidelity to the principles of this platform, every candidate shall sign a pledge to our platform. Subsequently while in office, every office holder must maintain a voting record that demonstrates a preponderance of compliance to our platform and uphold their oath of office.

Failure to follow that rule would result in disassociation from the Republican party, which would not accept the would-be candidate's filing fee if they tried to run as a Republican. Those who spoke in opposition wanted to know who would decide which Republicans were worthy to run, voicing concerns that party insiders could block party outsiders from running for office.

Rep. Chappell indicated that he did not support the amendment, since the Republican Party Platform, as it stands, is not perfect and contains some items that he could not support.

This is why we struggle with vetting, Chappell said. I'm vetted; Ive got no problem being vetted. I've got nothing to hide, but the reality of it is a one-size-fits-all mentality when it comes to the platform, when the platform is not perfect, I'm sorry, I can't sign off on it.

The proposed revision failed to gain the approval of caucus attendees.

This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Donald Trump wins Missouri's Republican county level caucuses
Moldova's Ministry of Foreign Affairs has reacted to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's comments on Transnistrian lawmakers' appeals for assistance from Russia.

Source: Moldovan Foreign Ministry quoted by NewsMaker, as reported by European Pravda

Details: As the Moldovan Foreign Ministry emphasised, "Lavrov and the Kremlin regime have no moral right to school anyone on democracy and freedom."

"A country that jails opposition politicians and kills them, unreasonably attacks its neighbours, can offer the world nothing but blood and pain."

The Foreign Ministry added that Transnistria benefits from economic integration with the EU. Transnistria exports more than 70% of its goods to EU countries, the ministry says.

Quote: "Moldova is a democratic country where freedom and respect for human rights are core values. We are creating a European future in which all citizens, regardless of language or ethnicity, can live in peace and prosperity."

The day before, Lavrov stated that Moldova was impeding the 5+2-format negotiation process for the Transnistrian settlement (the 5+2-format negotiations involve Moldova and Transnistria as warring sides, Ukraine, Russia and OSCE as mediators, and the US and EU as observers  ed.)

The Russian minister also accuses Moldova of "blocking everything Russian, discrimination against the Russian language," and putting "serious economic pressure on Transnistria."

On 28 February, the so-called MPs from the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria requested at a congress that Russia "protect it against the pressure of Moldova."

In response, the Moldovan government issued a statement emphasising that the congress of the so-called lawmakers of the unrecognised breakaway state of Transnistria and its decisions do not pose a threat of escalation and destabilisation, calling the meeting a pure propaganda event.

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More than 40 percent of Americans now believe Israel has gone too far in its response to the militant group Hamas in Gaza, according to a new poll.

The survey conducted by The Wall Street Journal found that 42 percent of Americans believe Israels actions in Gaza following Hamass attack on Oct. 7 have gone too far. Nineteen percent of those surveyed said it has not gone far enough, 24 percent said its been about right and 15 percent did not know or refused to answer.

The Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel left about 1,200 people dead while another approximately 240 people were captured by militants and brought into Gaza as hostages. In the months since, Israel has waged attacks on Gaza in what it says are efforts to eliminate Hamas.

The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said last week more than 30,000 Palestinians have died in the fighting since the onset of the war. The authorities do not distinguish between fighters and civilians, but local health officials and the United Nations have indicated that most of the dead are women and children.

The poll also asked respondents about their thoughts on whether the U.S. is providing enough support to Israel and the Palestinian people. Thirty percent of those surveyed said the U.S. was doing too much to support Israel, 25 percent said it was too little and 32 percent said it was about the right amount.

The percentage of those believing the U.S. has done too much to support Israel has gone up since December, when just 22 percent said it was too much.

The percentage of those saying that the U.S. has done too little to support the Palestinian people has also gone up since December. The latest poll found that 33 percent said the U.S. is doing too little, up from the 26 percent who said so in December.

Twenty-four percent of those surveyed said the U.S. was giving the Palestinians too much support, and 25 percent said it was the right amount of support. This poll comes after the U.S. started to deliver humanitarian aid in Gaza with cargo planes on Saturday morning.

The poll was conducted among 750 registered voters Feb. 21-28 and has a margin of error of 3.6 percentage points.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Gildas Club Grand Rapids wants the public to know that cancer support groups dont have to be as scary or gloomy as they might sound.

There are a variety of different programs offered at Gildas Club that all aim to tackle the same thing: helping people overcome their grief and find the support they need.

I find a lot of people are surprised when they come in. Theyre like, Oh, theres this whole other journey that is supported here and also that it can be a fun space,' Maureen McKenzie, a program staff member at Gildas Club, said. If a support group is intimidating or doesnt feel like the right fit for you, you can really build what makes sense for support for you.

More than just laughs: LaughFests impact goes beyond comedy shows

In addition to traditional support group settings, the club offers yoga classes, knitting circles, outdoor activities and meditation. Theyre designed not only to help members get through the grief period, but also to find positive experiences.

Theres a relief to laughter, McKenzie said. Theres actually studies that say laughter and tears have the same release in your brain, and giving permission to laugh while going through one of these journeys is huge because its a way to really invite joy back into your life. Because it can be really easy to get stuck in those spaces.

The only problem with these programs, according to McKenzie, is that not enough people know about them. The 14th annual LaughFest, which kicks off Wednesday, will serve as a great way for people to learn about the programs Gilds Club offers.

Its usually one of the first ways people know of us. Its a name recognition. And when I get to say, Oh, have you heard of LaughFest? Because sadly not everybody knows who Gilda Radner is anymore. Theres kind of a generational gap there and that kind of lightbulb, McKenzie said.

LaughFest Trivia Night of Stars returning for 2024

If you are still on the fence if these programs are made for you, there is a message the club wants to pass along:

If youre not sure whether or not you could benefit from Gildas Clubs free services, come give it a try. Whether its just one to three times, give it an experience because we know that support comes in a whole different package, Wendy Wigger, the president of Gildas Club Grand Rapids, said.

If you would like to find out more or become a member of Gildas Club for free, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
VAALCO Energy, Inc. (NYSE:EGY) is about to trade ex-dividend in the next 3 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. The ex-dividend date is of consequence because whenever a stock is bought or sold, the trade takes at least two business day to settle. This means that investors who purchase VAALCO Energy's shares on or after the 7th of March will not receive the dividend, which will be paid on the 28th of March.

The company's next dividend payment will be US$0.0625 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of US$0.25 to shareholders. Looking at the last 12 months of distributions, VAALCO Energy has a trailing yield of approximately 5.6% on its current stock price of US$4.44. If you buy this business for its dividend, you should have an idea of whether VAALCO Energy's dividend is reliable and sustainable. So we need to check whether the dividend payments are covered, and if earnings are growing.

Check out our latest analysis for VAALCO Energy

Dividends are typically paid from company earnings. If a company pays more in dividends than it earned in profit, then the dividend could be unsustainable. VAALCO Energy paid out 69% of its earnings to investors last year, a normal payout level for most businesses. A useful secondary check can be to evaluate whether VAALCO Energy generated enough free cash flow to afford its dividend. Over the last year it paid out 63% of its free cash flow as dividends, within the usual range for most companies.

It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously.

Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends.

Story continues

Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing?

Stocks in companies that generate sustainable earnings growth often make the best dividend prospects, as it is easier to lift the dividend when earnings are rising. If earnings decline and the company is forced to cut its dividend, investors could watch the value of their investment go up in smoke. Fortunately for readers, VAALCO Energy's earnings per share have been growing at 13% a year for the past five years. VAALCO Energy has an average payout ratio which suggests a balance between growing earnings and rewarding shareholders. Given the quick rate of earnings per share growth and current level of payout, there may be a chance of further dividend increases in the future.

Another key way to measure a company's dividend prospects is by measuring its historical rate of dividend growth. VAALCO Energy has delivered an average of 39% per year annual increase in its dividend, based on the past two years of dividend payments. It's exciting to see that both earnings and dividends per share have grown rapidly over the past few years.

The Bottom Line

Is VAALCO Energy worth buying for its dividend? Higher earnings per share generally lead to higher dividends from dividend-paying stocks over the long run. However, we'd also note that VAALCO Energy is paying out more than half of its earnings and cash flow as profits, which could limit the dividend growth if earnings growth slows. Overall, it's not a bad combination, but we feel that there are likely more attractive dividend prospects out there.

In light of that, while VAALCO Energy has an appealing dividend, it's worth knowing the risks involved with this stock. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for VAALCO Energy you should know about.

Generally, we wouldn't recommend just buying the first dividend stock you see. Here's a curated list of interesting stocks that are strong dividend payers.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Yurievich Galuzin speaks during an interview with Reuters at the embassy in Tokyo

Russian Ambassador to Japan Mikhail Yurievich Galuzin speaks during an interview with Reuters at the embassy in Tokyo

(Reuters) - Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and China's special representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, said it was impossible to discuss a Ukraine settlement without Moscow's participation, the Russian foreign ministry said on Sunday.

The Chinese envoy met with Galuzin during his second trip to Europe promoting a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis, a tour that will also include Poland, Ukraine and Germany.

"A very engaged and thorough exchange of views took place on the topic of the Ukrainian crisis," the Russian foreign ministry said in the statement posted on its website.

"It was stated that any discussion of a political and diplomatic settlement is impossible without the participation of Russia and taking into account its interests in the security sphere."

China is ready to "continue its efforts to promote peace talks, mediate and build consensus among Russia, Ukraine and other relevant parties, and promote a final political settlement of the Ukraine crisis," China's foreign ministry said in a readout from the meeting.

Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, calling it a "special military operation" to "denazify" its neighbour.

Kyiv and its Western allies call the war, which two years later continues to kill civilians nearly on daily basis, an unprovoked land grab.

(Reporting by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne and Antoni Slodkowski in Beijing; Editing by Daniel Wallis, Matthew Lewis and Jamie Freed)
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A grand jury has indicted the mother of 5-year-old Grayson OConnor, who fell to his death from a Downtown Kansas City apartment building in November.

Corrine OConnor, was indicted with the Class A felony of endangering the welfare of a child in the first degree.

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She was initially charged back in January with first-degree endangering the welfare of a child.

The indictment states that OConnor acted in a manner that created a substantial risk to the life, body and health of a child.

It also stated she failed to supervise while she and Grayson were together in a 17-story apartment with a fully open window that was accessible to him, and that resulted in the death of the child.

Charging documents say investigators saw an open window on the top floor of the Grand Boulevard Lofts apartment building, noting it was the only open window on the entire wall.

Multiple injured in shooting at North Kansas City High School

Investigators were called to the 17th floor and found Corrinne OConnor inside and laying in front of the open window.

Court documents say when she was asked where her son was, she said, went out the window. They say she didnt call 911, and Grayson was found by someone walking out of the building.

The range of punishment for a Class A felony in Missouri is no less than 10 years and not to exceed 30 years or life imprisonment.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
DENVER (KDVR)  A man was killed after crashing into and going over a roadside guardrail Saturday afternoon.

Colorado State Patrol said the call came in at 3:51 p.m.

A motorcyclist struck a roadside guard rail on Highway 285 near Indian Hills. CSP said he went over the rail and died on the scene.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation, however, CSP said alcohol is not believed to be a factor.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
A woman lays flowers at the grave of Alexei Navalny after his funeral at the Borisovskoye cemetery. Navalny, who was the fiercest opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was buried under heavy police presence after a funeral attended by thousands of mourners. Ulf Mauder/dpa

Mourners continued to pay their respects to Alexei Navalny at Moscow's Borisovsky Cemetery on Sunday, two days after the Russian dissident was buried, as police looked on but did not intervene.

Mourners were permitted to lay flowers on the grave, a dpa journalist at the scene reported. Young people, the elderly and families with children laid flowers on the grave, which lies close to the cemetery's entrance. Many were in tears and embraced each other.

"Heroes do not die. Thank you Alexei" was written on a cardboard poster at the grave. Among the wreaths there were also children's toys. A Russian Orthodox cross with a photo of Navalny smiling stood out above the flowers.

Navalny's mother and mother-in-law had visited the grave again on Saturday.

According to the authorities, Navalny died on February 16 in a prison camp in the Yamal region, 1,900 kilometres north-east of Moscow, at the age of 47. The circumstances of his death have not been clarified.

Following Friday's funeral, Navalny's team emphasized once again that the opposition, which had fled into exile abroad, would continue its fight against corruption and the power apparatus of President Vladimir Putin.

Navalny's legacy will remain alive "as long as there are millions of people in Russia and the world who are not indifferent to this," they said. "That's why we must not give up."

Navalny's team thanked the mourners. The ovd.info civil rights website reported on Sunday that 105 people had been detained in 22 cities across the country in relation to events marking the dissident's death. Around 20 were arrested in Novosibirsk alone.

People bid farewell to Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny at the Borisovskoye cemetery despite a police presence. Navalny, who was the fiercest opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was buried under heavy police presence after a funeral attended by thousands of mourners. Ulf Mauder/dpa

People bid farewell to Kremlin opponent Alexei Navalny at the Borisovskoye cemetery despite a police presence. Navalny, who was the fiercest opponent of President Vladimir Putin, was buried under heavy police presence after a funeral attended by thousands of mourners. Ulf Mauder/dpa
NEW YORK - A man was hit by an MTA bus after tripping and falling into the street on Friday in the East Village.

According to police, 45-year-old Shawn Gooding tripped and fell near the intersection of Avenue D and East 10th Street when a bus made a right turn and hit him.

After the collision, the MTA bus allegedly took off without acknowledging the scene. On Sunday, the MTA president issued a statement saying the driver likely didnt realize what happened, the New York Post reported.

"There is no indication that the bus operator was aware of any impact," agency head Richard Davey said. "Nevertheless, this was a tragic incident, regardless of the circumstances, and our hearts go out to the victims family and friends at this terrible moment."

Police said the bus had a green light when making the turn but took off southbound on East 10th Street.

No arrests have been made at this time, and the investigation remains ongoing.
Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on Sunday slammed Republicans for not seeming to be interested in fixing border issues after a bipartisan deal that Murphy helped broker was scrapped.

On Sunday, ABCs This Week co-anchor Johnathan Karl pressed Murphy on President Bidens response to address the flow of migrants at the border. Murphy instead insisted the blame be placed on Republicans.

Republicans have made it very clear that they have no interest in coming to the table on immigration and border reformThey want the border to be a mess. Donald Trump has told them so, Murphy said.

Murphy pointed to Biden sending a comprehensive immigration and border reform to Congress on his first week in office, as an example of him attempting to act swiftly to address the border crisis.

Karl pushed back saying the bill was to provide a path to citizenship, not a border security bill.

The president instituted a very tough new regulation that does stop people at the border, does the asylum calculation. It, as expected, was blocked by the courts because he needs legislative action, Murphy responded.

Karl continued to question Murphy on Bidens effectiveness on addressing the border, citing polls that show Americans disapproval of how Biden has handled the issue.

Murphy continued to place the blame on Republicans.

What we also know is that under Donald Trumps presidency, crossings at the border were at 10-year high, and this is exactly why, Murphy said. I think the president and Democrats should go on the offense because the vast majority of the country believes that we should have robust legal immigration, but they want tighter control of the border. And right now, theres only one party that can deliver that.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
PATERSON  The final four hours and 52 minutes of Najee Seabrooks life started with a 911 call to the Paterson Police Department.

I need help, Seabrooks told an emergency dispatcher, his voice hushed and almost subdued, at 7:43 a.m. on March 3, 2023, as he asked for police to come to him, saying he thought someone waiting outside was looking to harm him. I need help bad.

From there, Seabrooks fate unfolded in a tragic and turbulent sequence of events as the emotionally disturbed young man engaged in a prolonged standoff with police. Eventually, Seabrooks charged through the doorway of the bathroom where he was hiding and lunged with a knife in his hand at cops standing behind protective riot shields.

Najee Seabrooks during a Paterson Healing Collective healing space event at School 6 in Paterson on Friday, May 13, 2022.

The officers gunshots ended Seabrooks life, but the controversy about what happened that day still casts a cloud over Paterson at the first anniversary of his death. Time has brought few answers to the myriad questions that continue to haunt the city, its Police Department and the Seabrooks family:

What could have been done differently to keep the 31-year-old father and community outreach worker from getting killed?

What caused Seabrooks erratic behavior, which people who knew him said was out of character?

Are New Jerseys law enforcement practices for dealing with people in emotional distress sufficient to save lives?

In the aftermath, government officials have launched new programs aimed at helping people in mental health crises with strategies other than sending SWAT teams to them.

For example, the New Jersey Legislature passed a law this year  one partly named after Seabrooks  that allocated $12 million to create community crisis response teams run by private violence intervention groups in Paterson and five other cities.

New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin also expanded the states Arrive Together initiative to include Paterson, with a health care firm providing mental health clinicians to work with law enforcement officials.

In Paterson, 48 city cops in January went through what some department members are calling unprecedented crisis intervention training for 40 hours over five days.

A lot of the changes have to come from the top, at the state level, not the municipal level, said Jason Williams, a justice professor at Montclair State University.

In speaking about its response to the Seabrooks shooting, the Attorney General's Office has said it wants to tailor mental health crisis programs to the needs of individual communities.

The department recognizes that in order to meet the vast and diverse needs of New Jerseys communities, we must make investments in multiple strategies, said an Attorney General's Office spokesperson. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, particularly when it comes to mental health support and the safety of our communities. The resources being deployed in Paterson and beyond speak to our commitment to helping every New Jerseyan gain access to the trauma-informed services they need, when they need them, and keeping all New Jerseyans safe.

Final hours spent in torment

The 12 police body-camera videos from the Seabrooks standoff, along with the seven audio recordings of his 911 calls, reveal a young man who spent his last hours in torment, suffering what family members said were hallucinations from something he had smoked. Several times, he told police he had a loaded gun that turned out not to exist. He talked about killing himself. He accused the cops of trying to make him seem crazy.

Over the course of the standoff, Seabrooks refused his sobbing mothers pleas to come out, began cutting himself with knives, ignited a small fire inside the bathroom and didnt give up when officers fired sponge-tipped, bullet-like projectiles at him.

People who knew Seabrooks said he seemed to be troubled in the weeks before the standoff. One of the things bothering him was that the mother of his daughter had moved the two of them to California, they said.

Seabrooks mother, Melissa Carter, said she has never watched any of the police videos, which were made public by the Attorney General's Office less than two weeks after his death.

That was not my son that day in that house, his mother said in an interview on Feb. 27. I never saw Najee like that. That was the first time, and the last.

Najee Seabrooks' mother, Melissa Carter, speaks during a meeting at St. Luke Baptist Church with New Jersey Attorney General Matthew Platkin in Paterson on Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Carter, wearing a red winter jacket, appears on the videos during the first hour of the standoff. Police allowed her to talk to her son through the bathroom door. Body-camera footage shows her asking Seabrooks for his keys, so she could move his car to prevent it from getting towed. He slid the keys under the door to her.

Then she repeatedly begged him to leave the bathroom. But her son wouldnt come with her, so she walked away from the closed bathroom door.

Every day is a struggle for me, Carter said. Its hard to face the reality that hes not here.

Platkins office has not yet concluded its investigation into whether the police shooting of Seabrooks was justified. No information has been released from toxicology reports regarding Seabrooks.

Most of the city cops who were in the apartment during the Seabrooks response have returned to regular duties, but some remain on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the attorney general's probe, law enforcement sources said.

Meanwhile, one of New Jerseys most prominent law firms has issued a formal legal notice saying it is working on a lawsuit against the city of Paterson on behalf of the Seabrooks estate. State law sets a two-year deadline for filing civil litigation.

First, we have to get the AGs evaluation whether the use of force in this case was appropriate, said Brian Higgins, a former Bergen County police chief who teaches at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan.

If they determine it was not appropriate, the question is whats being done to change things, Higgins continued. If the use of force was appropriate, it still resulted in somebodys death. So maybe there still need to be some changes.

Attorney general's control of Paterson police nears one-year mark

One colossal change took place 24 days after Seabrooks death. In the aftermath of multiple downtown protests and near-violent confrontations between cops and activists, Platkin seized control of the Paterson Police Department last March 27, a move that caught the mayor and other city officials off-guard  and one that many believe was triggered by Seabrooks' death.

Paterson Mayor Andre Sayegh at Hinchliffe Stadium on Thursday Sept. 28, 2023.

Mayor Andre Sayegh  long a staunch supporter of Gov. Phil Murphy  is one of the people behind a lawsuit attempting to overturn the attorney generals takeover of the city police force. Sayegh did not respond when asked to be interviewed for this story.

Platkin has said he started his search for someone to put in charge of the Paterson Police Department during the fall of 2022, saying the problems that plagued the city predated Seabrooks' death.

In September 2022, Sayegh fired the man he personally tapped to be Patersons chief, Ibrahim Baycora, accusing his appointee of being incompetent and not responsive to the citys crime problem.

At virtually the same time Seabrooks was killed, Patersons new police chief, Engelbert Ribeiro, was taking the oath of office in ceremony about a quarter-mile away. Ribeiro ended up being ousted and reassigned to a training job in Trenton as part of the state takeover.

As we mark the first anniversary of Mr. Seabrooks death, Platkin said, I join the Paterson community as they remember an individual who was committed to his community and to supporting others. Working together with the Paterson community, we have accomplished much in the last year, but we know there is more left to do.

New Jersey Attorney General, Matthew Platkin in Newark Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024.

Paterson Press recently asked city and state law enforcement officials what changes  if any  have been made in the way the city Police Department handles 911 calls from people in emotional distress.

A department spokesperson said Officer in Charge Isa Abbassi ordered a complete evaluation of those policies and procedures. The spokesperson said the department made significant improvements to the guidance, equipment, training and supervision available to maximize the likelihood of peaceful and positive outcomes.

These were the improvements cited by the Police Department:

Mandating the response of a supervisor to every scene of person in crisis who may be a danger to themselves or others.

Revised notification protocols to ensure appropriate resource support to field units.

Enhanced and expanded hostage negotiation and crisis intervention training for members of the department.

Equipping members on patrol with less lethal options to increase alternatives to deadly force, such as OC spray, commonly known as pepper spray.

Increasing mental health awareness of Paterson Police Department members through in-service training and briefings.

Participation in the Arrive Together program, as well as exploring a customized co-response model of crisis intervention for Paterson through the Connect and Protect grant obtained by the city.

What about mental health crises?

At protests last year, activists asserted that Seabrooks call for help should have been answered by mental health professionals, not by armed law enforcement officers.

But there doesnt seem to be any precedent for counselors to respond face-to-face to people with weapons going through emotional distress without the protection of cops. Several times, Paterson police called St. Josephs Universitys Medical Centers crisis team about armed individuals last year, and hospital workers said they could not go to the scene, according to audio recordings and police reports.

In December, Platkin issued his Arrive Together plan for Paterson, one that involved clinicians from a nonprofit health care provider, CBH Care. Officials said it would be a three-pronged program including cops giving out mental health care referrals, cops going with counselors to do outreach work at the Paterson bus terminal and a CBH Care clinician sharing best practices and gathering information about Patersons emergency dispatch system.

Seabrooks' mother said she has heard about various new mental health programs and the state Legislatures new law partly named for her son.

Theyre supposed to be changing things, but I dont know whats going to happen, Carter said. When it comes to mental health, they have got to get people the right type of health. Police officers just make everything worse. They need some type of special counselors, so this doesnt happen to somebody else.

Paterson Black Lives Matter leader Zellie Thomas said Platkins comments after Seabrooks death gave activists hope the city would get a program with counselors working crisis cases without cops.

We know what we wanted, but the AGs Office did their own thing, Thomas said.

Teddie Martinez, Hospital Based Violence Interventions Coordinator for the Paterson Healing Collective, speaks during a press conference calling for justice for Najee Seabrooks and local and state accountability at 200 Federal Plaza in Paterson on Thursday, March 16, 2023. Seabrooks, a member of the violence intervention group the Paterson Healing Collective, was fatally shot by Paterson police after a standoff while he was barricaded inside an apartment.

Along with Thomas, Corey Teague and Teddie Martinez were among the most outspoken city activists who condemned the police for killing Seabrooks.

The change in leadership at police headquarters has brought new roles for Teague, who is now an unpaid adviser to Abbassi, and Martinez, who was hired by the Attorney General's Office as a liaison between community residents and city cops.

If the old guard was still in there, Teague said, referring to the pre-state-takeover days, theres no way they would have had me in that capacity.

Teague and Martinez acknowledged that some activists have been critical of their current positions.

Its sending a mixed message to the community, Teague said. Its not helping.

Martinez said the rift in recent years between cops and activists has made things worse, not better, in the city. He said Paterson needs communication, not just accusations, asserting that he sees himself as a bridge builder.

Liza Chowdhury, Project Director of the Paterson Healing Collective, talks about the NJ Attorney General's takeover of the Paterson Police Department on Tuesday, March 28, 2023.

A year ago, Martinez was one of Seabrooks mentors at the Paterson Healing Collective, a violence intervention group. Martinez and others from the Healing Collective were at the apartment the day Seabrooks was killed but were denied access to him by police. He said if he had been a police liaison back then, he might have been allowed to talk to Seabrooks.

I might have been able to save his life, Martinez said.

Martinez was fired from the Healing Collective last October amid a clash with that groups director, Liza Chowdhury. The organization is getting $1.6 million in additional grant funding from the Attorney General's Office for its intervention programs.

Chowdhury did not respond to a message seeking her comments on the anniversary of Seabrooks death.

Najee Seabrooks case full coverage: From the Paterson police shooting to Platkin takeover

'He still ended up dead'

Meanwhile, Seabrooks' mother said her 5-year-old granddaughter, Sofia, visited from California during the holidays at the end of the year.

She says she wants to go visit heaven to see him, Carter said of her granddaughter.

Najee Seabrooks during a Paterson Healing Collective healing space event at School 6 in Paterson on Friday, May 13, 2022.

Carter recalled speaking with the police officers while she waited in the hallway during her sons bathroom standoff.

I said to them, Dont kill my son, Carter remembered. They told me, No, were here to help him. But somehow, he still ended up dead.

Higgins, the retired Bergen police chief who had commanded a SWAT team for several teams, said the Seabrooks case highlights an age-old question for tactical situations.

What use of force is appropriate when you have someone threatening to kill themselves? Higgins said. It doesnt seem like lethal use of force is appropriate in those situations. It almost seems counterproductive when youre trying to save someones life.

One tactic Higgins said he used over the years when someone was barricaded in a room was to attach a rope to the door handle. That way, he said, police could keep the person confined and wait the situation out.

In the Seabrooks case, the Paterson emergency response team couldnt simply leave him in the apartment, with him talking about hurting himself, Higgins said. On top of that, he said, the fire started by Seabrooks in the bathroom posed a danger to the rest of the building.

After looking at everything, I dont know if the police had any other options, Higgins said. But that doesnt mean we shouldnt try to figure out other options now, so this doesnt happen again.

Joe Malinconico is editor of Paterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Najee Seabrooks shooting: Paterson seeks answers 1 year later
SpaceX called off an attempt to launch three astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut on an already delayed flight to the International Space Station late Sunday due to high winds along the Crew Dragon spacecraft's trajectory.

"This is the LD," the SpaceX launch director said just before 8 p.m. EST. "At this time we are standing down from the launch attempt tonight due to elevated ascent winds."

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and the Crew Dragon Endeavor spacecraft stand poised atop pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center earlier this week awaiting launch on a mission to deliver three NASA astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to the International Space Station. / Credit: SpaceX

Crew 8 commander Matthew Dominick, co-pilot Michael Barratt, Jeanette Epps and cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin had just finished donning their white SpaceX pressure suits and were preparing to depart for the launch pad when the countdown was called off.

If all goes well, they'll be cleared for another launch try Sunday at 10:53 p.m. EST, setting up a docking at the space station's forward port around 3 a.m. Tuesday.

Launch originally was planned for 12:04 a.m. Friday, but high winds and rough seas in the Atlantic Ocean, where the crew might have to splash down in an abort, prompted a two-day delay. Offshore conditions were expected to improve somewhat Saturday, but the winds remained out of limits as the launch time approached.

Assuming an on-time launch Sunday, the Crew Dragon "Endeavour" is expected to catch up with the space station early Tuesday, moving in from behind and below. After looping up to a point directly in front of the outpost, Endeavour will press in for an autonomous docking at the lab's forward port around 3 a.m.

The Crew 8 astronauts during training in a Crew Dragon simulator (left to right): Russian cosmonaut Alexander Grebenkin, co-pilot Michael Barratt, commander Matthew Dominick and Jeanette Epps. Barratt is making his third trip to space while his crewmates are making their first. / Credit: SpaceX/NASA

Standing by to welcome Crew 8 aboard will be Soyuz crewmates Oleg Kononenko, Nikolai Chub and NASA astronaut Loral O'Hara, who were launched to the station last September.

Also on board: Crew 7 commander Jasmin Moghbeli, European Space Agency astronaut Andreas Mogensen, Japanese flier Satoshi Furukawa and cosmonaut Konstantin Borisov, launched from the Kennedy Space Center last August. Winding up a 198-day mission, they're being replaced by Crew 8.

After Moghbeli and her crewmates depart around March 12, the Russian federal space agency Roscosmos plans to launch veteran cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy, Belarus guest flier Marina Vasilevskaya and NASA veteran Tracy Dyson on March 21 aboard the Soyuz MS-25/71S ferry ship.

The goal of the mission is to ferry Dyson to the station for a six-month tour of duty and to deliver a fresh Soyuz for Kononenko and Chub, who are midway through a yearlong stay in space.

Novitskiy and Vasilevskaya will return to Earth April 2, along with NASA's O'Hara, using the Soyuz MS-24/70S spacecraft that carried Kononenko, Chub and O'Hara to the station last September.

Dyson will return to Earth next September, joining Kononenko and Chub aboard the Soyuz MS-25/71S spacecraft delivered by Novitskiy. Including four earlier flights, Kononenko will have logged more than 1,100 days in orbit overall, setting a new world record for most time in space.

Global outcry grows after carnage at Gaza aid convoy

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Judge appears skeptical of July trial date in Trump documents case
A mysterious new super PAC that has spent close to a million dollars promoting Satana Deberry in the Democratic primary for state attorney general is being funded by the Republican Attorneys General Association, new election filings show.

The group, And Justice For All, started buying TV, radio and digital ads last month in support of Deberry, the Durham County District Attorney who is running against U.S. Rep. Jeff Jackson of Charlotte and Fayetteville attorney Tim Dunn in Tuesdays Democratic primary.

Details initially available about the super PACs expenditures, such as the bank and media buyer it was using, showed ties to groups typically used by Republicans. But not much else was known about the group or who was behind it.

But the groups first filing with the N.C. State Board of Elections, now available on the boards website, shows that And Justice For All received $1 million from RAGA on Feb. 7, a day after it registered with the Federal Election Commission. The super PAC reported receiving no other contributions or donations.

As of Feb. 29, the group had spent more than $950,000 on TV and radio ads, digital ads, mailers, and text messages in support of Deberry.

The ads promote Deberrys liberal record and suggest shes the real progressive in the race, according to Charlotte radio station WFAE.

Jackson has raised nearly $3 million since he launched his campaign in October, leading U.S. Rep. Dan Bishop, the only Republican candidate. He has slammed the spending by the PAC, about which little was known earlier, as an effort to interfere in the Democratic primary.

In a statement to The News & Observer on Saturday, Jackson said: The Republican Attorneys General Association is spending $1 million dollars in a mass deception effort because they know we have the campaign to beat Dan Bishop in November.

A spokesperson for RAGA did not respond to a request for comment late Saturday.

Deberry, who has said her campaign has nothing to do with the super PACs spending, told The N&O she doesnt care what big money wants in this race, and only cares about what regular people need from their Attorney General.

Too often our system focuses on money over people. Thats not who I will be as AG, Deberry said in a statement. My qualifications, my character, and my integrity stand on their own, and are the reasons North Carolinians will elect me. That said, there is nothing deceptive about the fact that I am the most qualified candidate in this race.
WASHINGTON  In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently.

Native Youth Report Released

Late last month, the Alyce Spotted Bear and Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children (Commission) transmitted its official and final report and recommendations to the President and Congress as directed by bipartisan legislation Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) ushered into law (Public Law 114-244, as amended by Public Law 117-41) in 2016.

Congress created and directed the Commission to conduct an intensive study of federal, tribal, state and local programs and grants available to American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian children and to make recommendations for how to promote improved outcomes for Native youth.

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Senator Murkowski, Vice Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, issued a statement on the release of the Commissions report and recommendations.

I commend the Commission, the many witnesses, tribal leaders, experts, scholars, youth, and elders for examining the unique challenges confronting Native children while highlighting and lifting up the strengths of Native communities, said Vice Chairman Murkowski. The Commission conducted scores of hearings and site visits to understand the geographic and cultural diversity across Native communities as they developed recommendations. In particular, I want to thank Commission Chair Gloria ONeill (Cook Inlet Tribal Council) and Vice-Chair Dr. Tami DeCoteau (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) for their extraordinary work. I look forward to reviewing the Commissions report and continuing our work toward a future in which all Native children and youth thrive.

The Commission is named in honor of two advocates for Native children and youth, Alyce Spotted Bear (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation) and Walter Soboleff (Tlingit). Alyce Spotted Bear was a chairwoman of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation, an education leader and a cultural historian. Reverend Dr. Walter Soboleff was a spiritual leader for Alaska Native people, a Tlingit educator, and the first Alaska Native Chairman of the Alaska State Board of Education.

Click here for The Way Forward: Report of the Alyce Spotted Bear & Walter Soboleff Commission on Native Children.

ASPR Tribal Access to Federal Resources in a Pandemic Response Webinar

The Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) is holding a virtual information session on its approved strategy for "Improving Tribal and Urban Indian Organization (UIO) Access to Federal Resources During a Pandemic Response" on March 6 from 1:00  2:00pm EST. During the session, the Federal interagency Tribal Access Workgroup will provide an update on plans to further engage Tribes, Indian Health Service providers, Tribal Health Providers, and urban Indian organizations on the strategy. The Workgroup will also provide information related to technical assistance on requesting Federal assistance to access medical supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and other Federal stockpiles.



Tribal leaders and others may participate in the webinar via Zoom or telephone using the following:

Zoom registration:

https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/vJIscOuqrDkrHRFSFR585oiEBmTSsdn-cjw

Telephone number: (551) 285-1373 Meeting ID: 161-722-2217 Passcode: 181655



COPS Office Grant Announcement  New Funding Opportunity Open

The COPS Office is pleased to announce that the following grant funding opportunity is now open and accepting applications:

The 2024 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program is a competitive grant program that provides funding to improve the delivery of and access to mental health and wellness services for law enforcement. The 2024 LEMHWA program will fund projects that develop knowledge, increase awareness of effective mental health and wellness strategies, increase the skills and abilities of law enforcement, and increase the number of law enforcement agencies and relevant stakeholders using peer support, training, family resources, suicide prevention, and other promising practices for wellness programs.

All local, state, territorial, and tribal law enforcement agencies that have primary law enforcement authority are eligible to apply. Up to $9.8 million is available for this program.

Applications are due by April 30, 2024 at 4:59 PM ET. Please click here for more information on the 2024 Law Enforcement Mental Health and Wellness Act program.

Legislation Introduced Improve Conditions Exacerbating Health Inequities Among Black, Brown, Indigenous and People of Color

U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Representative Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-Calif.-44) introduced legislation to study and address how social, environmental, and economic conditions exacerbate health inequities in Black, Brown, Indigenous, and people of color. These conditions, known as social determinants of health (SDOH), are the result of institutional racism embedded in our society including in housing, employment, education, health care and more. While its often believed that good health is only due to medical care, one estimate found that clinical treatment accounts for only 10 to 20 percent of an individuals overall health. Meanwhile, around 80 to 90 percent of healthy outcomes are driven by social determinants.

The Improving Social Determinants of Health Act is endorsed by more than 150 organizations across the country. This legislation will:

Authorize the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to create a program to improve health outcomes, reduce health inequities, and improve capacity of public health agencies and community organizations to address SDOHs.

Coordinate across CDC to ensure programs consider and incorporate social determinants of health in grants and activities.

Award grants to state, local, territorial, and Tribal health agencies to address social determinants of health in target communities.

Award grants to nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education to conduct research on best practices for addressing the social determinants of health.

Coordinate, support, and align social determinant of health activities at the CDC with other federal agencies.

Collect and analyze data related to social determinant of health activities.

Authorize $100 million annually for program activities.

In addition to Senators Smith and Murphy, this legislation is cosponsored by Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Peter Welch (D-Vt), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) in the Senate.

You can read a summary of the bill here and bill text here.

About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. "

Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net
Vesuvius plc (LON:VSVS) will increase its dividend on the 31st of May to 0.162, which is 2.9% higher than last year's payment from the same period of 0.158. This will take the annual payment to 4.9% of the stock price, which is above what most companies in the industry pay.

View our latest analysis for Vesuvius

Vesuvius' Dividend Is Well Covered By Earnings

While it is great to have a strong dividend yield, we should also consider whether the payment is sustainable. The last dividend was quite easily covered by Vesuvius' earnings. This indicates that quite a large proportion of earnings is being invested back into the business.

Looking forward, earnings per share is forecast to rise by 34.6% over the next year. Assuming the dividend continues along recent trends, we think the payout ratio could be 40% by next year, which is in a pretty sustainable range.

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 0.19 total annually to 0.23. This works out to be a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 1.9% a year over that time. It's encouraging to see some dividend growth, but the dividend has been cut at least once, and the size of the cut would eliminate most of the growth anyway, which makes this less attractive as an income investment.

Dividend Growth May Be Hard To Achieve

Growing earnings per share could be a mitigating factor when considering the past fluctuations in the dividend. Vesuvius has seen earnings per share falling at 2.7% per year over the last five years. Declining earnings will inevitably lead to the company paying a lower dividend in line with lower profits. Earnings are forecast to grow over the next 12 months and if that happens we could still be a little bit cautious until it becomes a pattern.

Our Thoughts On Vesuvius' Dividend

Overall, this is probably not a great income stock, even though the dividend is being raised at the moment. The payments haven't been particularly stable and we don't see huge growth potential, but with the dividend well covered by cash flows it could prove to be reliable over the short term. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.

Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. Still, investors need to consider a host of other factors, apart from dividend payments, when analysing a company. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for Vesuvius that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Is Vesuvius not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks.

Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com.



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NATO's naval power is far superior to Russia's, which mainly exists to defend its motherland.

Russia's fear is that NATO ships could launch strike missiles at the Russian heartland.

It could force Russia to beef up maritime defenses and distract from rebuilding its battered army.

The age-old rivalry between continental and maritime nations has always been an exercise in frustration. For example, Napoleon and Hitler fumed at the English Channel and Royal Navy that kept their mighty armies from conquering Britain. Conversely, the British needed a continental power with a big army  usually Russia  to fight the French and Germans on land.

Today, NATO's naval power is far superior to Russia's. The problem is Russia has always been a continental power whose strength rested on its army. NATO may dominate the oceans, but that may not be much help if Russian tanks invade the Baltic States or Poland.

So, how can NATO exploit its naval advantage? Two British experts have an idea: use NATO's navies to wage psychological warfare against Russia. Or more specifically, use naval power to scare Moscow into allocating its scarce resources to defending its huge coastlines rather than invading neighbors.

"By forcing Russia to commit to its own defenses in the maritime domain, it would divert critical Russian resources to tasks that the Alliance [NATO] deems less threatening," wrote Sidharth Kaushal and Rene Balletta in an essay for Britain's Royal United Services Institute think tank.

For America and Britain, the sea has been a friend: a buffer against invasion, a highway to overseas empire, and a way to ensure that wars are fought on foreign soil. But for Russia, with nearly 24,000 miles of coastline across Europe and Asia, the sea has historically been a source of vulnerability. Though the Russian Navy is one of the world's largest, it mainly exists to protect the motherland, to support the army, and to provide strategic firepower such as from nuclear missile subs. Many of the cruise missiles that have pummeled Ukrainian cities for the past two years have been launched by the Black Sea Fleet.

But control of the seas, in the way that the famous 19th Century American naval theorist Alfred Thayer Mahan defined it, is not the Russian Navy's mission. "Rather than naval combat per se, the purpose of Russian sea power is to ensure that the Russian state can compete and engage in conflict safely and effectively," the essay said.

In the Crimean War of 1854, Russia was defeated by a British and French amphibious assault that captured Sevastopol. In 2024, the fear is that NATO ships could launch long-range guided missiles at the Russian heartland.

There are several ways that NATO can exploit this fear, according to Kaushal and Balletta. Western nations can conduct exercises, forward deploy nuclear submarines closer to Russia, invest in drones and hypersonic missiles, and even convert shipboard anti-aircraft missiles  such as the US SM-2 and SM-6  into land attack weapons.

As Russia rebuilds its military to replace the enormous losses of the Ukraine war, the Kremlin may feel compelled to divert resources to naval rather than ground forces. "To the extent that the Alliance can expand the area over which Russia must achieve sea denial in order to protect itself against long-range strikes, it can shape the contours of Russian force regeneration," the essay argued. "It can achieve this primarily in two ways: by expanding its long-range land attack capability, and by operating on new vectors that Russia has not historically had to defend."

The Kremlin will not find it easy to beef up its maritime defenses. "While Russia can achieve sea denial and a degree of sea control in its coastal seas, contesting freedom of action out to 1,000 kilometers and beyond will be difficult and costly for a country that must also rebuild its forces on land," said the essay. In particular, while Russia has a large arsenal of anti-ship missiles based on sea and land, it lacks the ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance) capabilities to detect distant naval targets and guide missiles toward them.

Ships  especially those intended for blue-water rather than coastal operations  are also expensive to build, maintain, and to crews at a time when the Russian Army and Aerospace Forces are in desperate need of skilled personnel. Russian shipyards are already overburdened, and new vessels may need imported components that are blocked by Western sanctions.

However, the West also suffers from constraints. As the authors acknowledge, some NATO members on Russia's border  such as Finland and Norway  may become nervous about making Russia nervous. And, of course, there is the fact that Russia has historically feared attack by the West  and it possesses the world's biggest nuclear arsenal. Stoking the Kremlin's fear of waves of cruise missiles streaking in from the sea carries a risk of nuclear escalation.

Nonetheless, this approach does leverage NATO's maritime advantage. Given a choice, the Kremlin would probably prefer to spend resources on buying tanks to fight in Ukraine rather than warships to guard the Baltic. NATO can make that choice even harder.

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds a MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The writer is a Durham activist.

Genocide is wrong. Any genocide, for any reason, involving any people. Many international authorities have declared that Israels actions constitute war crimes or genocide according to international law. And footage from Gaza makes it increasingly undeniable.

As a Jew and a mother, watching a genocide funded by my own tax dollars is unconscionable. And seeing President Biden further the destruction of the Palestinian people with an additional $14 billion of military aid to Israel is horrifying.

Ive been voting in North Carolina for Democrats for over 30 years, but I cannot in good conscience vote for Biden while he enables and funds genocide in Gaza. Tuesdays Democratic primary ballot includes a No Preference option in the presidential race. Ill be selecting it.

Ruby Sinreich, Durham

Frozen embryos

While Isaac Baileys Feb. 28 Opinion piece succinctly outlines the threat Christian nationalism poses to continued access to reproductive healthcare, his call to action to non-extremist Christians is shortsighted. We must call on all people of faith who stand for bodily autonomy and reproductive rights, not just Christians, to speak out forcefully against this arrogant, demeaning treatment of womens bodies. We must also remind our political leaders that our Constitution enshrines a separation of church and state, and that the Christian nationalist belief that personhood begins at fertilization is a religious opinion, not point of fact. Family planning is a deeply personal process, and government should not be involved in a persons decision to create, prevent or terminate a pregnancy.

Renee Beauclair Twersky, Hillsborough

Irrational logic

Once again the religious belief of some has become law for everyone. Consider implications of the Alabama Supreme Courts decision that an embryo is a person: Each embryo-person should have a Social Security number. Presumably its parents are responsible for its care indefinitely. If the parents die without wills, their embryos should be entitled to inheritance. If embryos are persons, they should be included in the U.S. Census. Whats more, when was it ever legal to freeze a person?

These may seem silly, but theyre logical extensions of an ideological belief that is irrational.

Don Clement, Greenville

Rep. Greg Murphy

Regarding Republicans cannot fumble on Ukraine aid, (Feb. 28 Opinion):

When I read Congressman Greg Murphys position that U.S. aid for Ukraine is essential, I thought that, perhaps there was one N.C. Republican who understood history and was willing to reject partisan group-think. But, as I read further and saw that his answer to the national debt was to focus on entitlements rather increasing taxes on the wealthiest Americans, I realized that his foreign policy acumen is just a fluke. He has consumed the Republican economic Kool-Aid and has no qualms about undermining the neediest Americans to further enrich the wealthiest.

Charles Putterman, Raleigh

Trump and NATO

Donald Trump is threatening to withdraw the U.S. from NATO and let Russia attack whoever it pleases in Europe, if reelected. This is a slap in the face to anyone who has ever worn the uniform, and its dangerous for the world order.

I served as a captain in the 82nd Airborne Division during the war on terrorism. I had the honor of working with elite paratroopers from many of our NATO allies. They were some of the best soldiers in the world and although we wore different flags on our uniforms, we knew we represented a greater good of serving, protecting and defending democracy together around the globe.

Trump has proven he is unfit to be commander in chief.

Scott Peoples, Raleigh

Young voters

I thank Aidan Seidman for his thoughtful and rational March 1 Opinion piece. The youth are our future. I can only hope that his message will reach and resonate with his peers. And that they will take their right to vote seriously by educating themselves on issues and candidates keeping in mind the greater good for all. Our democracy depends on it.

Robin Hamilton-Brooks, Raleigh
After the Alabama Supreme Court issued an unprecedented ruling that threatened access to in vitro fertilization across the state, Republican lawmakers nationwide have faced scrutiny. The ruling is rooted in the belief that life begins at conception, or fertilization  something that many Republicans have long professed and even tried to codify into law at the state and federal levels.

The fallout from the ruling has been swift. Nearly all IVF treatments were abruptly halted out of caution, and the Alabama legislature quickly passed a law to protect IVF in response to the ruling. But not everyone has acted so urgently. Though parts of the GOP have scrambled to declare support for IVF, Senate Republicans also blocked a bill last week that would have established federal protections for the procedure.

Few, if any, Republicans representing North Carolina at the state and the federal levels have commented on the Alabama ruling or publicly expressed support for IVF. So I contacted them. I reached out to the offices of Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (who is running for governor), House Speaker Tim Moore, Senate leader Phil Berger, U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis and Ted Budd and all seven Republicans representing North Carolina in the U.S. House.

This was the question I asked: Do you support access to IVF and other fertility treatments, and would you support legislative efforts to protect it?

I got just one response, and it was from Tillis. The other 11 Republicans I contacted did not respond.

Senator Tillis is a strong supporter of protecting access to IVF and other fertility treatments, which is about creating life, not destroying it, a spokesperson for Tillis told me. It is hard to imagine that North Carolina or any federal court would do something that would result in a similar outcome as the Alabama Supreme Court ruling and he is glad to see the Alabama legislature is taking swift action to protect access to IVF.

Though they didnt respond to my inquiry, its worth noting that most of North Carolinas Republican House delegation is listed as co-sponsors on a bill introduced last year titled the Life at Conception Act. The bill states that the term human being includes all stages of life, including the moment of fertilization, cloning, or other moment at which an individual member of the human species comes into being. Now-Sen. Ted Budd signed onto a similar bill when he was in the House. A similar bill exists on the Senate side, but that bill explicitly contains an exception that protects IVF. The House bill contains no such exception.

Its yet another example of the tricky political landscape Republicans now must navigate in the wake of the Dobbs decision that ended Roe v. Wade  a development they long advocated for and celebrated once it occurred. But restricting access to IVF is just as  if not more  unpopular as restricting access to abortion. A new poll shows that two-thirds of Americans oppose the Alabama ruling, including nearly half of Republicans.

Tillis is not the only Republican who is willing to stand up and publicly express support for IVF  many Republicans across the country are doing the same. Of course, words arent the same as actions, and its important for those who say they support IVF to also take steps to make sure its protected. They should also explain how they can support IVF while als osupporting legislation that would establish that life begins at conception, potentially jeopardizing the procedure.

But its particularly disheartening to see North Carolinas other leaders remain silent during an uncertain and, quite frankly, scary time for families and those trying to get pregnant. That silence says a lot about where they might stand. It also says a lot about how willing they are  or arent  to protect a right that feels increasingly threatened.
Michael OConnell for 3. D.J. Horne. D.J. Burns. Mohammed Diarra for 3. Burns. Horne. Horne. Casey Morsell. Morsell. Morsell. OConnell. Burns. OConnell. Horne. Jayden Taylor for 3.

Fifteen straight N.C. State misses in the second half. Fifteen. Shot after shot after shot. A season hanging in the balance. A 10-point lead flipped entirely around the other way. A rare chance to win in Chapel Hill going, going, going, going, gone in 10 minutes of slow-motion collapse.

N.C. State was on its way to carving out a new and unexpected chapter in this rivalry with North Carolina, up 10 points in the second half, within arms reach of the kind of win that would defibrillate the thready, irregular heartbeat of its faint NCAA tournament hopes.

For 21 minutes, the Wolfpack couldnt miss.

And then it could only miss.

Miss and miss and miss again.

Give North Carolina credit for never wavering even when it seemed like there was nothing it could do to stop N.C. State, a flashback in some ways to the debacle in Syracuse, but in the end the Tar Heels were really just in the right place at the right time to watch their opponent go on the kind of cold streak that makes casino magnates billionaires.

Let us turn to two sages of the hardwood to assess this 79-70 North Carolina win.

For the prosecution, Roy Williams, wearing on Saturday a sweater that melded UNC argyle with UCLA colors, and a proponent of the theory that shooting tumbles over whatever mental walls are supposed to contain it into defense and rebounding and hustle and everything, for better and worse.

Guys, you know what Im going to say, Williams would say, and everyone did know what he was going to say. Everything looks better when the ball goes in the basket.

The converse is also true. As his one time rival, arguing for the defense, would certainly concur. Sidney Lowe often summed up the Wolfpacks deficiencies under his leadership with one very simple maxim: Gotta make shots.

Gotta make more than none in 10 minutes, thats for sure.

N.C. State missed 15 straight, from Morsells jump shot that gave the Wolfpack a 10-point lead early in the second half to Taylors 3-pointer that cut the Tar Heels lead to 10 just after the midway point. The Wolfpack shot 57.6 percent in the first half, going 7-for-11 from long range. It made only six shots of any kind in the second half.

The play that put North Carolina over the top, on the way to a lead it would not relinquish, summed up the Wolfpacks second half collapse. Taylor stumbled while dribbling and fell slowly to the floor in stages, as if in stop-motion animation, his dribbles getting shorter and shorter as he approached the ground.

That was N.C States offense once the lead got to double-digits, a slow, inexorable procession to total collapse.

The Tar Heels came out of the scrum on the floor with the ball and JaeLyn Withers was left alone under the basket for a shot that was almost impossible to miss, although the Wolfpack certainly would have given it an honest go.

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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused a top Israeli cabinet official of effectively undermining him for coming to the U.S. on an unauthorized trip for war talks, widening the rift between Israel and the U.S. over the direction of the war in Gaza.

Netanyahu told Benny Gantz, a political rival who joined the cabinet following the Oct. 7 attack, that Israel has just one prime minister, a source told the Associated Press. Gantz is scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on Monday, along with Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday.

Official Says Israel Must Strike First in Inevitable War in Second Country

Netanyahus allies fear Gantzs trip risks undercutting the prime ministers positions on the war, and the Israeli embassy was ordered to boycott Gantz upon his arrival, according to the Financial Times. The U.S. meanwhile believes Gantz represents a better barometer of where Israels citizens stand on the war effort and a potential two-state solution, according to the Times.

The visit also allows the U.S., on American soil, to directly impress upon an Israeli government official its desire for the fighting to end. A White House official told NPR that Harris will reiterate civilian casualties must be reduced and "the importance of creating a hopeful political horizon for the Palestinian people once the fighting eventually ends.

The last week continued a precarious saga in the war as representatives met in Egypt to broker a ceasefireall while more than 100 Palestinians were killed while trying to get food from a convoy. Hamas has blamed Israeli troops for shooting them, while Israel maintained that people had trampled over each other. The U.S. has since airdropped more than 38,000 meals into the country, joining other nations such as the U.K. and France.

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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A top Israeli minister and political rival of Benjamin Netanyahu is visiting Washington this week for a series of meetings that have already earned a stern reprisal from the Israeli prime minister.

Benny Gantz is set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Bidens national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, on Monday while also holding meetings with top congressional leaders on Capitol Hill. The official agenda for his meeting with Ms Harris differs little from the readouts of Mr Bidens own past interactions with Prime Minister Netanyahu.

But its Mr Gantzs status as a centrist rival to Mr Netanyahu in the latters coalition government that has caused his trip to DC to rankle the prime minister and his allies. Mr Netanayhu himself issued a stern rebuke on a phone call with Mr Gantz this weekend, according to media outlets, while ordering officials with the Israeli embassy in Washington not to join the former defence minister for his meetings.

One source close to the prime minister was quoted by multiple media outlets as saying that Mr Netanyahu had made it clear to Minister Gantz that the State of Israel only has one prime minister.

The White House has only said that Ms Harris "will reiterate civilian casualties must be reduced and confirmed that the two will discuss a political future for the Palestinian people; US officials have not yet commented on the internal divisions clearly tested by this visit or whether the Biden administration was attempting to send a message by having high-ranking officials meet with Mr Gantz. The ministers visit comes as the president is reported to be feeling increasingly frustrated with Mr Netanyahu and his handling of the Israeli militarys assault on Gaza, where staggering numbers of civilians are dying to Israeli strikes and famine.

Mr Gantz has not commented publicly on his most recent dispute with his political rival.

The Biden administration is facing growing and intense criticism from progressives in his party over the issue of Israels military response to the deadly 7 October terrorist attacks in Gaza. A number of Americans are thought to still be held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza, and the shocking civilian toll of the Israeli assault has led to a growing contingent of Democrats, including some on Capitol Hill, to call on Mr Biden to force Israel and Hamas to reach a lasting ceasefire agreement. The president and his White House staff have fought back against that pressure, but are seeking to do so without alienating those same Democrats ahead of a tough reelection battle this fall  almost certainly against Donald Trump.

At some recent events, Mr Biden and other members of his administration including most recently first lady Dr Jill Biden have faced interruptions from protesters demanding a ceasefire in Gaza.
The spectacle of parachutes dropping on Gaza with food supplies is emblematic of the growing difficulties facing Israel as it seeks to destroy Hamas. The aid has been provided by its greatest ally, the United States, whose government has evidently grown weary of trying to persuade Benjamin Netanyahus government to back down.

The deaths of around 100 Palestinians at an aid post fired on by Israeli Defence Force troops appears to have hardened US opinion even though the IDF said most were killed in a stampede and not by their soldiers. These distinctions are increasingly problematic.

The airdrop, carried out jointly with Jordan, was more symbolic than transformational, delivering around 38,000 meals from three military planes. With hundreds of thousands of people said to be on the verge of starvation this is clearly nowhere near enough but it is intended to be a signal to Israel that Americas patience is wearing thin.

The expectation now is of an imminent Israeli agreement to a six-week ceasefire to allow further humanitarian aid to be brought in by land and sea to prevent a catastrophe. Briefings in Washington indicate this is almost a done deal with administration officials saying Israel had more or less accepted the terms. Hamas will agree to release a specified group of hostages taken on Oct 7, with the sick, the elderly and women given precedence. In exchange, Israel will set free jailed terrorist prisoners on a far greater pro rata basis, possibly 10 to one. This is similar to the last hostage release but this time hostilities are expected to be suspended for much longer.

Nothing is ever certain in the Middle East and this deal could yet collapse. Mediators reconvened in Cairo yesterday to meet delegations from both Hamas and Israel with certain technical issues still to be resolved. What is also still to be resolved is the fate of the Hamas leadership believed to be sheltering in the southern city of Khan Younis. Those demanding a ceasefire or a complete Israeli withdrawal must answer the key question  will they be allowed to survive and regroup to organise another atrocity like that seen on Oct 7?

Israel, on the other hand, cannot allow thousands to die of starvation in Gaza and risk losing the international support that followed the Oct 7 pogrom. If they are to agree to the terms for a six-week ceasefire, what are the Americans and most importantly other Arab nations proposing to do about neutralising the threat from Hamas?

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Hot wheels, cool cars and plenty of smiles could be found at the Oklahoma City Auto Show on Saturday.

The morning kicked off with Coffee and Cars, a parade of sorts that took place in the parking lot of the Bennett Event Center, featuring hot rods and classic cars. Its sort of a pre-show before you go into the Bennett Event Center to see all of the other amazing and futuristic automobiles and trucks.

2024 OKC Auto Show kicks off March 1

Some lucky visitors got to test drive some of the featured cars. Electric vehicles as well as classic cars going back decades got a lot of attention. Families certainly enjoyed all of the fun the OKC Auto Show brings.

News 4s Kevin Ogle and Joleen Chaney were on hand to meet and greet visitors. They also signed autographs and enjoyed sharing stories with our viewers.

The OKC Auto Show continues through Sunday at the Bennett Event Center at the Oklahoma State Fairgrounds.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Babatunde Apalowo, director of the gay-themed Nigerian film All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White, was shocked to learn that one of his college roommates was lynched for being gay.

Our residence was small rooms with bunk beds, Apalowo recently told Variety. It's difficult to move around in that small physical space and not get to know people well. Yet I never knew he was gay.

He was lynched, Apalowo continued. That really got to me because I thought perhaps I was part of the problem. He didnt trust me enough to tell me what he was going through. It made me wonder and think, even though we were living so close together in this same physical space, our reality was completely different. I couldnt imagine him going through all those things. And I had absolutely no idea.

All the Colours of the World Are Between Black and White, Apalowos first feature film, is a rare queer film to come out of Nigeria, where marrying someone of the same sex carries a 14-year prison term. Its a love story between two men, Bambino and Bawa, who meet while Bawa is taking pictures around the city of Lagos.

Apalowo had trouble finding actors who were willing to take gay roles, but eventually Tope Tedela was cast as Bambino and Riyo David as Bawa. The film has been a hit at festivals around the world, winning the Teddy Award, given to the best LGBTQ-themed feature, at last years Berlin International Film Festival.

It will not, however, screen in Apalowos home country. The government of Nigeria didnt put up any barriers to the making of the film, but the director knew it wouldnt be approved by the National Film and Video Censors Board for showing in Nigerian theaters. Hes encouraged about the possibility of getting it on streaming services, though.

Apalowo, 37, who now lives in the U.K., urged African filmmakers to address subjects theyre passionate about  including those that might be considered off-limits. I was so touched about what happened to my friend and it made me become aware. I became aware of what was going on, he told Variety.

If theres a topic you want to approach you just have to be passionate enough about it to do the work to make it extremely authentic, he added. Every African filmmaker should really dig when approaching any topic thats taboo  find the order in the story.
Thurst Lounge was created as a love letter to Washington D.C.s Black gay community and highlights decades of Black queer spaces.

On a recent Saturday night, it was crowded in Thurst Lounge. Music boomed from two dance floors with separate DJs in the new nightclub on 2204 14th St. NW in Washington, D.C.

A reveler enjoys an evening out at Thurst Lounge in Washington, D.C. (Photo: Courtesy of Thurst Lounge)

In December, Thurst opened its doors with co-owners Shaun Mykals and Brandon Burke at the helm. The duo built their reputation on Thursday Bliss, an open-mic night originally hosted at the legendary jazz establishment Bohemian Caverns. They quickly outgrew the space.

Of their newest venture, Burke said the name pays homage to the unique Black experience in D.C. and the traditional spelling [of thirst] when it comes to quenching the thirst for communities for the Black gay experience; but also we wanted to pay homage to our roots as the creators of Thursday Bliss. So we use u to do that  and then not to mention, were off of the U street corridor in D.C.

(Left to right) Thurst owners Brandon Burke and Shaun Mykals. (Photo: Courtesy of Thurst Lounge)

The pair describe Thurst as a love letter to the community, an idea that originated because we wanted to have a permanent space for our event because we had created such a good following, and people seem to really enjoy what we do, said Mykals, an independent recording artist and vocal instructor by trade.

When Thursday Bliss had to end amid the pandemic, Burke and Mykals reevaluated. [The pandemic] gave us the time to sit down and think  I think we were kind of waiting for someone else to kind of start a space, said Burke.

If thats what you want to see  if thats what you want to happen, who better to take the reins? said Burke, who spent his formative years in the DMV as a Baltimore native, a Hampton University graduate, and now a D.C. resident.

Thursts official grand opening is slated for this spring though doors are already open to the public on weekends starting at 2 p.m. It is currently the only Black-owned gay bar in D.C., but its launch continues a revered legacy, filling a void left since The ClubHouse closed in 1990.

The ClubHouse and the ENIKAlley Coffeehouse

Washington, D.C., used to have a significant number of Black gay and lesbian clubs in the 1960s and 70s, though none were Black-owned. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and over 1000 subsequent fires from riots in April of 1968, it was reported that seven or eight gay clubs in the area were destroyed.

Robert Michael Vanzant, a Reverend Elder in the community, joined DCs Black gay community in 1974, when he was in his early 20s and not yet out of the closet. Speaking with theGrio, he recalled his first drag shows at The Brass Rail, nights spent dancing at The ClubHouse and The Fireplace, and visits to the Delta Elite Social Club.

There were a lot of social clubs where you go to and get dressed up on a Sunday afternoon or a dance party. Those things no longer exist, said Vanzant, who would go on to help form the Lambda Student Alliance at Howard University, the first LGBT organization at an HBCU.

As the first minority-owned nightclub in DC, The ClubHouse was an icon in its time. Its founders, Aundrea and Paulette Scott, John Eddy, Chasten Morell, and Rainey Cheeks, pooled their own funds with the proceeds of community fundraising to open in 1975. Using only a few independent contractors, most of the work needed to construct the space was done by its future members and volunteer employees.

At the time, there were other clubs that served the Black queer crowd, though they were Black-managed rather than Black-owned. Nob Hill, which catered to Black gay men in DC, filled in as the unofficial granddaddy of Black gay clubs. Having opened in 1957, Nob Hill survived the destruction of other clubs in 1968, competed with membership-only clubs through the 70s and 80s, and outlasted its predecessors. However, it was often derided as being elitist, economically out of touch, gimmicky, and dated. It eventually closed in 2004.

Around the same time, the ENIKAlley Coffeehouse opened in a house near H Street, named for the streets that bordered it. Opened by Ray Melrose and the DC Coalition of Black Gays (established in 1978), this Black-owned social space became a local meeting place for queer Black artists interested in literature and performing arts. Talents such as Audre Lorde and Essex Hemphill performed on its small stage. It was also a meeting place for one of D.C.s first Black lesbian organizations, the Sapphire Sapphos.

An interior stairwell of Thurst honors Black gay icons. (Photo: Courtesy of Thurst Lounge)

However, as the AIDS epidemic hit the gay community hard in the 1980s, The ClubHouse lost 50% of its membership, according to Eddy. Without its paying members, the financial burden of continuing to operate became too great. By 1989, its owners saw the writing on the wall and did not renew their lease, commemorating The ClubHouse with one final bash in 1990. The Coffeehouse had closed the year before, also crushed by the AIDS epidemic.

Since the ClubHouse closed after serving its community for an unprecedented fifteen years, several LGBTQ+ bars in the D.C. area have catered to Black clientele. However, none had Black owners  and likely for good reason. According to Investopedia, the cost of opening a nightclub can range from $100,000 and $850,000. As Eddy explained to TheGrio, When all was said and done, I was probably $150,000 in debt building The ClubHouse. Nevertheless, he still maintains it was worth it.

The 90s and gentrification

Even after the worst of the AIDS epidemic tempered, the community was slow to recover, especially while lacking proper meeting venues. The ClubHouse had been deeply involved in the community and the site of several political rallies, church events, an AIDS clinic, and even a Childrens Hour and Mothers Day events.

We were pretty well infused within the neighborhood, said Eddy, a US Postal Service manager at the time. In our 15 years there, we never called the police for any reason  and sometimes, we had 3000 people [in the club].

Instead, what was left of the community found other routes to come together. In 1991, the first D.C. Black Pride event was held on Memorial Day weekend to raise funds for those diagnosed with AIDS. It continues to be held every Memorial Day weekend.

There was a whole lot more community prior to the AIDS epidemic in the 80s. It destroyed us. The generation after me did not have that community [we had], said Vanzant.

As the years progressed, the Black LGBTQ+ scene in D.C. inevitably changed, as well. Prices soared amidst gentrification, and Black citizens were pushed out of their homes. In the 1950s, D.C. had become the first major city to be majority Black, nicknamed the Chocolate City. However, over the next half-century, the Black population decreased from 59 to 41 percent, according to 2000 and 2020 U.S. Census reports. Many wealthy Black families moved to suburbs in nearby Maryland, such as Prince Georges County. Today, D.C. has one of the highest rates of displacement in the country.

A full-circle commitment

Today, Thurst Lounge hopes to bring the queer Black community a space to build  and not one solely devoted to nightlife, either. While they plan to host musical theme nights focused on R&B and hip-hop, they are also exploring the idea of lower-key events like sip-and-paint or game nights.

So far, the community has responded. Like their predecessors, Burke and Mykals leveraged personal assets and raised funds through friends and family to open Thurst. They also partnered with two nightlife professionals they knew from their time operating Thursday Bliss, bar owner Mosab Moe Salih of Club Elevate and his business partner, Doaa Aldoori.

Even ahead of an official opening, the D.C. City Council recognized their efforts to provide a new queer space for Black and brown people of D.C.

When youre authentic, and you are doing something for [the] community that even more people will be connected to than what you would have expected, it goes beyond your wildest dreams  and thats what were seeing, said Burke.

Its not all fun and games, however. With a nod to D.C.s Black queer legacy, the owners are taking a page from the community events that The ClubHouse used to host. We want to do things that are fun, but also things that give back to the community, said Burke, an author whose first book explored his experiences with his fathers Alzheimers diagnosis. So were looking to partner with organizations like Gay Mens Health Alliance, or mental health professionals, he added.

We love this community, added Mykals. Theres so many Black, gay, queer professionals in this area. And I just think that we deserve it.

Aja Hannah theGrio.com

Aja Hannah is a writer, traveler, and mama. As secretary of the Society of America Travel Writers: Central States Chapter, she prioritizes travel with an ecotourism or human-first focus. She believes in the Oxford comma, cheap flights, and a daily dose of chocolate.

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The post A new nightclub continues a long legacy for Washington D.C.s Black gay community appeared first on TheGrio.
Xcel Energy Amarillo employee Canda Henry named vice president of customer care

Canda Henry, a 23-year Xcel Energy employee based in Amarillo, has been named vice president over Xcel Energys Customer Care business organization that provides customer service for Xcel Energys 3.8 million electric customers and 2.1 million natural gas customers across eight states.

Our Customer Care team has the unique opportunity to put our values into action around the clock as we work to meet and exceed the needs of our customers, said Amanda Rome, Xcel Energy executive vice president and group president - Utilities, Chief Customer Officer and interim General Counsel. Throughout her journey of career advancement, Canda has been a big part of creating that culture of trustworthiness that keeps us connected with our customers needs. We are continually re-inventing our roles and processes to keep pace with rapid change, but Canda always puts people first and that wont change.

Canda Henry

The Customer Care organization includes the companys billing and regulatory compliance, customer policy, customer contact centers in Amarillo, Eau Claire, Wis. and Roseville, Minn., meter reading and the low-income energy assistance program groups along with performance measurement & analytics teams.

Henry is a native of McLean, Texas, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in business management from Wayland Baptist University. She joined Xcel Energy in 2001 as a customer service representative. In 2010 she was named manager of Credit and Collections and promoted to director in 2011. Prior to her new position, Henry was senior director over Customer Contact Operations. Henry has volunteered and supported several community organizations including Center City of Amarillo, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Faith City Mission and United Way. She has also been a volunteer at Code Blue Warming Station in Amarillo and with the United Way of Amarillo and Canyons Day of Caring.

Story continues

Jersey Mike's to help Children's Miracle Network of Amarillo, celebrate 14th annual 'Month of Giving'

Children's Miracle Network of Amarillo is joining forces with the Jersey Mikes Subs location at 2311 S. Georgia St. in Amarillo for the 14th Annual March Month of Giving campaign to support local charities. During the month of March, customers will have the option to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar or donate $1, $3, or $5 when placing their order.

The Month of Giving campaign will culminate with Jersey Mikes Day of Giving on Wednesday, March 27, when the local Jersey Mikes restaurant will give 100 percent of the days sales  not just profit  to Children's Miracle Network of Amarillo.

On Day of Giving, local Jersey Mikes owners and operators throughout the country will donate their resources and every single dollar that comes in  whether in-store, online or through the app  to more than 200 different charities including hospitals, youth organizations, food banks and more. This March, Jersey Mikes hopes to exceed last years record-breaking national fundraising total of $21 million and help local charities striving to fulfill their missions and make a difference.

I would like to extend a personal invitation to you and your family to visit Jersey Mikes Subs throughout the month of March, and especially on Day of Giving when 100 percent of sales  every penny  goes to help a great local cause, said Peter Cancro, Jersey Mikes founder and CEO, who started the company when he was only 17 years old. Since Month of Giving began in 2011, Jersey Mikes has raised more than $88 million for local charities.

For more information, visit jerseymikes.com or follow them on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms.

COA Office of Engagement & Innovation wins Best of Show at 2024 ADDYs

The City of Amarillo (COA) Office of Engagement & Innovation took home two awards for the Amarillo chapter on Feb. 22 during the American Advertising Federation (AAF) awards ceremony. The AAF is a national network of affiliated advertising clubs. The Amarillo awards ceremony, held each February, recognizes creative excellence in advertising and awareness campaigns.

The COA Office of Engagement & Innovation won awards in the following categories: a Gold Addy for Webisode Series: (The Amarillo 100th Police Academy) and Best of Show: (The Amarillo 100th Police Academy).

"This accomplishment underscores our department's commitment to excellence, innovation, and community impact," said COA Director of Engagement & Innovation Jordan Schupbach. "This is certainly a reflection of the amazing talent we have onboard, including the unwavering support from our city management team. Their recognition of our team's value and steadfast commitment to our success are invaluable assets contributing to our shared goals and aspirations. Together, we remain dedicated to serving our community with excellence."

The series, produced by the City of Amarillo's Multimedia Production Manager Chase Brady, saw impression engagement on the city's social media channels. Boasting 106,442 impressions across social media platforms and amassing 9,500 views on YouTube, the web series followed the rigorous journey of five recruits for Amarillo's 100th Police Academy.

The award-winning series can be seen by visiting YouTube.com/@CityofAmarilloTX.

For more information contact City of Amarillo Media Relations Manager Dave Henry at (806) 378-5219 or by email at David.Henry@amarillo.gov.

NAIFA-Texas 2024 Professional Association leadership positions announced

The following NAIFA-Texas members have been selected as representatives of the 2024 National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors Texas Chapter (NAIFA-Texas) Board of Directors. Jim Thompson, Owner and Founder of Thompson Financial in Amarillo, has been selected as the President of the Texas chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA-Texas).

"For any organization to accomplish its mission, there must be members willing to step up, give of their expertise and experience, and sacrifice valuable time for a cause that exceeds their individual grasp," Thompson said. "These individuals must be servant leaders and that is the case with the NAIFA-Texas Board of Directors for 2024. The men and women who volunteer for this Board provide the leadership and earned confidence of every agent and advisor associated with our financial professionals proud association: NAIFA!"

The following NAIFA-Texas members have been selected to serve as Directors for the NAIFA-Texas Board: Andrea Ames, Director of Life Insurance Marketing at EMG Brokerage in Austin; Ian Escalante, Agency Principal at Health Plans of Texas in El Paso; Debbie Gary, LUTCF, FSS, Agent with Texas Farm Bureau Insurance in Karnack; Joseph Hernandez, Partner at New York Life Insurance Company in Corpus Christi; and John Wheeler, CFP, CLU, ChFC, CRPC, LACP, CLTC, LUTCF, Executive Senior Partner with Totus Wealth Management in The Woodlands.

Rodney G. Mogen DBA, MBA, CRPC, AAMS, CAM, President and Chief Strategist with Solve UR Puzzles in Austin, serves as the Immediate Past President. Richard Demko, CLU, ChFC, RICP, LUTCF, LACP, President of The Guardian Group has been selected as the President-Elect of NAIFA-Texas. Joe Neal Kerr, Owner of Kerr Financial Services in Austin, has been selected as the Secretary-Treasurer of NAIFA-Texas.

The NAIFA-Texas Board develops strategies and provides oversight to ensure the continued success of the state chapter. Board members work to advance the chapters mission to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of our members within the state.

WT to launch new nurse practitioner degree program to tackle mental health crisis

CANYON  Nurses hoping to help tackle ongoing mental health needs in the Panhandle and beyond can soon enroll in a new online degree program at West Texas A&M University. Following approval from The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents on Feb. 9, WT will launch a new psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner degree program in fall 2024, pending final approval by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

This program creates a unique opportunity for WT to address the critical shortage of psychiatric health providers in Texas, particularly in rural and underserved areas, said Dr. Holly Jeffreys, dean of WTs College of Nursing and Health Sciences and the High Plains Christian Ministries Professor of Nursing Leadership. The timing is especially significant, as a new psychiatric facility soon will be built in Amarillo.

The degree is an expansion of a post-masters certificate program WT began offering in 2020 in the Department of Nursing in the College of Nursing and Health Sciences. It will allow students in WTs bachelor of science in nursing degree program, and others, to continue their education, increasing the number of available mental health providers in the region and state. In general, a certificate is awarded after completing a field-specific, shorter program, as opposed to an entire field of study.

Nurse practitioner is the second-fastest growing career in Texas, according to the Texas Workforce Commission, projected to grow 66 percent between 2020 and 2030. According to the Texas Department of State Health Services, 83 percent of Texas counties do not have a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner, and 98 percent of Texas counties are designated as mental health professional shortage areas.

The program is projected to begin with 12 students in fall 2024, eventually expanding to 24 students annually. Both Jeffreys and Neely are already certified as psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners. The new degree program will add another faculty member who will be certified in the area by spring 2025 and will hire a new certified faculty member by fall 2024.

NAIFA-Texas renames annual Lifetime Achievement Award to honor longtime member John Ruckel

The Texas Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA-Texas) announced the renaming of their Annual Lifetime Achievement Award to the John M. Ruckel Lifetime Achievement Award during this years Annual Conference that was held Feb. 16-18, 2024, in Clear Lake, Texas.

The NAIFA-Texas Board of Directors voted unanimously to rename the Lifetime Achievement Award to the John M. Ruckel Lifetime Achievement Award to honor John who has been a long-standing member of NAIFA. John began his career in June 1969 at American General Life and became a member of NAIFA at the same time. He worked as an agent at American General Life until 1982 when he left to join Mass Mutual. In 1994, he formed Ruckel Insurance and Financial Group in Nacogdoches, where he continues to work today. John is a graduate of Stephen F. Austin University and has attended hundreds of seminars on business, estate, and tax planning.

In 1975, John was honored by the Texas Senate with a Senate Resolution for contributions to his community and industry. In 2018, he was honored by both the Texas Senate and Texas House of Representatives with resolutions for contributions to the Lone Star Legislative Summit. John spearheaded the creation of the Lone Star Legislative Summit that brings legislators together from across the state of Texas for a two-day event that is held in Nacogdoches each year.

John served as President of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA National) from 1999 to 2000 and he served as President of the Texas Chapter of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA-Texas) from 1987 to 1988. John also received the NAIFA-Texas Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007 for his outstanding commitment and contributions to the organization.

It's an understatement that this is the single greatest honor of my 55-year career. said John. "I have truly, truly received much more over the last 55 years than I could ever contribute over the next 55 years."

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo area business news and developments for March 3, 2024
Nikki Haley pledged in August to support the eventual Republican presidential nominee. But with Donald Trump poised to take that mantle, shes much less committed to that vow.

The [Republican National Committee] pledgeI mean, at the time of the debate, we had to take it to where, Would you support the nominee, and in order to get on that debate stage, you said yes, she told Meet the Press in an interview that aired on Sunday. The RNC is now not the same RNC.

So, youre no longer bound by that pledge? moderator Kristen Welker said.

No, I think I'll make what decision I want to make, Haley said. But thats not something I'm thinking about.

WATCH: @NikkiHaley says she doesnt feel bound by the RNC pledge  which she took to get on the debate stage  to support the eventual Republican nominee.



I think I'll make what decision I want to make. pic.twitter.com/3H37jwOE5D  Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) March 3, 2024

The RNC demanded last year that Republican presidential candidates pledge to support the eventual nominee in order to appear on the first debate stage, a proposal that rankled the then-sprawling candidate field. Haley was an avid supporter of the RNC move, chiding candidates like Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for not immediately signing the pledge. (DeSantis eventually signed it, while Trump never did.)

Absolutely irresponsible that Trump, DeSantis, and others won't commit 100% to supporting the Republican nominee. Theres no room for personal vendettas in this battle to save our country, Haley wrote in an X post in June. Any Republican would be better than a President Kamala Harris.

But Sundays reversal comes ahead of Super Tuesday, where 15 states and one U.S. territory will vote and where Trump will presumably continue to glide his way towards clinching the Republican nomination. Haley has lost every state, including her home state of South Carolinabut that has not stopped her from pushing forward.

I think that while you all think about that, she told Welker, Im looking at the fact that we had thousands of people in Virginia, were headed to North Carolina, were going to continue to go to Vermont, and Maine, and all these states to go and show people that there is a path forward. And so, I dont look at what if. I look at, How do we continue the conversation?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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WASHINGTON  GOP presidential candidate Nikki Haley says she no longer feels bound by the Republican National Committee pledge to endorse former President Donald Trump if he becomes the partys nominee.

The RNC is now not the same RNC, the former South Carolina governor said on NBC's "Meet the Press'' in an interview that aired on Sunday. I'll make what decision I want to make."

Haley's stance is a shift from an earlier pledge to support the Republican nominee. The RNC required candidates to sign a loyalty pledge to get on the primary debate stage. Trump declined to sign and did not participate in any of the debates.

During the first GOP debate, Haley was among a handful of candidates who said they would vote for Trump if he were the Republican nominee, even if he were convicted of a felony.

Haley's comments about the RNC follow the resignation last week of its elected leaders, including outgoing chair Ronna McDaniel.

Trump is seeking to install his daughter in-law, a senior campaign adviser and the chair of the North Carolina Republican Party atop of the committee that exists to help elect Republicans up and down the ballot. Haley has accused Trump of trying to turn the national party into a campaign "slush fund" amid the contested presidential primary.

Haley has yet to win a single contest in the Republican race and is counting on a competitive showing on Super Tuesday to remain a candidate.

She has been sending mixed messages about what she will do if she drops out. The former ambassador to the United Nations asserted that her campaign was not "anti-Trump" at a roundtable with reporters on Friday, only to declare in an NBC News interview that was taped the same day that she no longer feels compelled to support the Republican nominee if its not her.

Haley told reporters on Friday morning that her campaign was about a movement to return to Republican ideals such as fiscal discipline and a push toward a younger generation of conservative leadership.

"I'm not anti-Trump," Haley said during the press roundtable, which included reporters from USA TODAY. "This is about the fact that I think America is better than this. And I think that the Republican Party is better than this, and I think we can do more than this."

But asked directly by "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker if she has taken the possibility of endorsing him off the table, Haley said, "It's not anything I think about."

"If you talk about an endorsement, you're talking about a loss. I don't think like that," she said. "When you're in a race, you don't think about losing. You think about continuing to go forward. What I can tell you is I don't think Donald Trump or Joe Biden should be president."

Haley repeatedly dodged the question of whether she would endorse Trump in the interview and would not say whether she believes he is responsible for the Jan. 6 insurrection that was carried by his supporters after he urged them to march to Capitol.

"I think he should have said something earlier. I think he should have stopped it when it started," Haley said.

She said she remains focused on her presidential campaign and winning a series of contests that will take place on March 5.

"While you all think about that, I'm looking at the fact that we had thousands of people in Virginia, we're headed to North Carolina, we're going to continue to go to Vermont, and Maine, and all these states to go and show people that there is a path forward," she said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Nikki Haley walks back pledge to support GOP nominee if it is Trump
A New Jersey man found dead in the trunk of a car this week and was last seen alive in Brooklyn, prosecutors said.

A New Jersey man who was found dead in the trunk of a car this week was last seen alive in Brooklyn, prosecutors said  as his brother claimed Saturday that he isnt getting any answers from officials.

The body of David Koscuik, 57, of Lakewood, was found around 12:15 p.m. inside the trunk of a vehicle parked in the area of Fairway Court in his hometown, according to Ocean County, NJ, prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer.

The prosecutor did not reveal the make of the vehicle or what led to the grisly discovery.

Koscuik was last seen alive Feb. 8 in Brooklyn, according to the Manchester Township Police Department, which posted a missing person bulletin on its Instagram two weeks ago. The department did not say where in Brooklyn.

Koscuik was last wearing a black Pittsburgh Steelers sweatshirt and driving a gray 2017 Chevrolet Malibu with Jersey plates, the alert said.

I have no idea whats going on. I havent been getting any answers [from authorities], his older brother Anthony Koscuik, 62, fumed to The Post Saturday morning.

Im very pissed off. They just told me he was gone.

Koscuik, who flew in from Orlando, Fla., to help make funeral arrangements, said he last spoke with his brother on Feb. 2.

I asked him what was going on and he said, Im just tired. That didnt sound right.

Anthony Koscuik said his family grew up in Edison, NJ, and his younger brother was a chemical operator who had been living in Lakewood with their mother, who died in September.

David Koscuik, 57, of Lakewood, NJ, was last seen alive Feb. 8 in Brooklyn, authorities said. Manchester Police

He also said David Koscuik had a drug problem, but was in rehab.

Anthony Koscuik said he couldnt think of any reason why someone would want to hurt his brother.

He was easygoing. He rolled with the punches. Nothing ever bothered him, he said. Maybe his heart gave out and then scumbags threw him in the trunk, he added.

The investigation into his death remains active and ongoing; there is no known danger to the public, and additional information will be released when it becomes available, Ocean County prosecutor Billhimer said.

The NYPD referred The Post to NJ authorities.

The Ocean County prosecutors office did not respond to questions from The Post about the matter of Koscuiks death or if foul play was even involved.

Additional reporting by Tina Moore
The families of all the children of the Kupiansk community refused to evacuate

The parents of hundreds of children currently living in Kupiansnk have refused mandatory evacuation, said Andriy Besedin, head of the Kupiansk Military Administration (MVA), on national TV on March 3.

225 families with children currently live in the community.

Read also: Commander Nayev urges civilians on Ukraines northern border to evacuate amid daily Russian attacks

"Unfortunately, no one agreed to leave, said the head of Kupiansk MVA.

As of today, all 225 parents or guardians who are staying with their children have written refusals to be evacuated. Therefore, we are now considering the issue of forced evacuation of children, because the enemy is increasing shelling, especially with heavy weaponry."

Earlier, Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Military Administration, said that the Kharkiv Regional Defense Council would soon consider the issue of forced evacuation of families with children from 18 villages in the Velykoburlutska and Vilkhuvatska communities.



Read also: President Zelenskyy visits frontline battalion near Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
FRAMINGHAM  Maria Cristina Oliveira Palva is a Framingham soccer mom who has had to scramble to get her 16-year-old son to his practices and games. And she had to depend on her co-worker to drive to the different homes they clean as a team. If her co-worker Laciana Alcantara gets sick, they cancel the days appointments, both losing that days pay.

Interpreter Rony DaSilva makes sure Washington Gonsalves has his hand signals down before taking a road test at the CMSC Driving School road test site in Framingham.

Alcantara was the only one of them who had a valid Massachusetts license and was legally allowed to drive.

That was in the past.

On Friday, Oliveira Palva was one of dozens of eager permit holders taking the road tests at a special test site run by the CMSC Driving School at a Framingham strip mall. The test site was commissioned in 2022 by the state Registry of Motor Vehicles to manage the anticipated crush of immigrant residents seeking to acquire a license after the enactment of the Work and Family Mobility Act.

The new law allows all Massachusetts residents to apply for a drivers license regardless of legal standing in the United States. The RMV anticipated thousands of residents would apply for licenses; to date it has processed 91,960 learners permits, issued 54,952 new drivers licenses and converted 33,648 licenses issued by other states, according to its website.

Applicants cite location, ease of access at site

Despite the success of the test site and the raves of the newly licensed motorists expressing gratitude that they could test close to home and work, the state shuttered the program on March 2, four months before the yearlong contract was due to expire in July.

The owners of CMSC Driving School have cried foul. The family-run company based in West Boylston signed a one-year contract to run three test sites in Avon, Worcester and Framingham, with an option to extend for a second year.

Owner Jake Cooney said there were problems implementing the contract specifications from the start. While two of the three sites were not fully functional due to glitches Cooley claims were in the RMV registration system, the one in Framingham was up and running, ready to serve a city with a sizable Brazilian population.

A spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation issued this statement: "The RMV notified CMSC on January 30, 2024, that it was exercising its contractual right to terminate the Agreement effective March 1, 2024. March 1 will be the last day of road test services provided by CMSC."

A CMSC Driving School road test site instructor makes sure people have correct paperwork that is properly filled out before they take road tests.

Alternate sites for testing include two RMV-run sites in Worcester.

Rony Da Silva, a Framingham resident, has made it his mission to help as many of his compatriots acquire a Massachusetts drivers license as possible. He has spent months telling friends, family and neighbors about the test site in their community and driving people to the location to take the road test.

Ive brought a lot of people here, Da Silva said, noting the RMV closed the local office in Framingham years ago and now residents have to drive to Milton or Worcester to process their paperwork and take the tests. This is where the people live, where they need the service.

Da Silva is hopeful all the days applicants pass their road tests. Failure means a three-month wait for a new appointment and a long drive to another state test site and possibly losing a days pay.

Brazilian community organizers have launched a petition drive requesting the RMV maintain the Framingham location as a road test site. To date, the petition has been signed by more than 200 people and copies of the letter were sent to 115 legislators and state officials, starting with Sen. Michael Moore, D-Millbury.

Jose Ribeiro, a Framingham landscaper, was at the center for his road test. A Framingham resident, he said having a drivers license is a need in the United States for taking kids to school and for shopping, medical appointments and work.

Applicants cite importance of driver's license in US life

As a landscaper, I have for drive, Ribeiro said.

Dora Alicia Torres, a Marlborough resident concurred. "Without a drivers license, you cant leave the house really, cant get a job, cant drive to school, cant shop.

Applicants with valid learners permits schedule a road test through the RMV website. There are 30 approved RMV locations, the Framingham site and an extra one just for members of the American Automobile Association. When they pick a time and location, there is an option to request an interpreter; these are assigned to locations throughout the commonwealth by the RMV.

Tatiana Makredes has spent days at the Framingham site as an interpreter for Portuguese speakers. Hers is the calming voice that the nervous new drivers hear telling them to step on the brake, ease into traffic and make the next right turn. She has served as interpreter so frequently that she knows the testing styles of the examiners, a further balm to nervous drivers.

They can concentrate on following the directions and taking the test, not on trying to understand the language, Makredes said. One of the women she worked with was so happy to pass her test that she burst into tears. She said that now she can drive her kids to school.

It was the second time she took the test.

Wallace Nascimento drove to the test site with his boss, Stephen Marcus, owner of five Ben & Jerrys outlets in Massachusetts, one each in Natick and Marlborough. Driving his key guy to the test center was a given. Id do anything to make his life easier, Marcus said of Nascimento.

The Brazilian native, who has lived for years in Framingham, jumped at the chance to get a Massachusetts license and take the road test in a place close to his home and job.

It was easy, so easy, Nascimento said, an assessment echoed by his boss, who found it to be convenient.

The driving school invested about $250,000 in fulfilling the contract specifications, such as finding and securing test locations and hiring and training new examiners. In addition to the lost revenue, the state was to pay the school $58 per completed examination, Cooney said the decision to close the testing site hurts the community that his school was contracted to help.

Attorney requests contract be reinstated

Cooney has contacted his attorney, who has requested the RVM reinstate the contract without prejudice.

Scott Sinrich of Phillips, Silver, Talman, Aframe and Sinrich in Worcester said the state needs a good faith reason to terminate the contract early.

They (CMSC) did a wonderful job, there were no complaints, Sinrich said, adding that the state monitored the CMSC testing locations and the examiners closely to ensure the examiners adhered to RMV testing standards and protocols. The state, Sinrich said, was free to terminate the contract at its expiration if it was dissatisfied with the service provided or had cause for complaint.

This is doing a big disservice to the people, Sinrich said, adding that the program was successful and functioning well with no complaints. This testing site was not taking business away from the state employees, no one lost their jobs because the RMV contracted with CMSC. The school filled a void; without the site, people will have to travel unnecessarily and face delays in securing an appointment.

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: No complaints just smiles for examiners at Framingham road test site
Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus speaks to the media after he was granted bail by a court in an embezzlement case, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Sunday, Mar. 03, 2024. (AP Photo/Mahmud Hossain Opu)

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP)  A court in Bangladesh on Sunday granted bail to Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus in a $2.3 million embezzlement case.

Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for pioneering the use of microcredit to help impoverished people, was sentenced to six months in prison in January on a separate charge of violating labor laws. He was granted bail in that case too and has appealed.

Prosecutor Mir Ahmmad Ali Salam said the embezzlement case involves a workers welfare fund of Grameen Telecom, which owns 34.2% of the countrys largest mobile phone company, Grameenphone, a subsidiary of Norways telecom giant Telenor.

The charges involve the embezzlement of over 250 million takas and money laundering. The accused gave the money to trade union leaders instead of the workers. This way they deprived the ordinary workers of their rightful earnings, Salam said.

Yunus and seven other defendants appeared in court Sunday and six others were absent.

Defense counsel Abdullah Al Mamun told the court that Yunus, 83, and the others were innocent.

Last year, more than 170 global leaders and Nobel laureates urged Bangladeshs Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to suspend legal proceedings against Yunus. His supporters say he has been targeted because of his frosty relations with Hasina. The government has denied the allegations.
NORCO, La. (WGNO)  Providing a helping hand is something Sharon Varona is all too familiar with. She is bringing that same hand to Apple Street in Norco, opening her non-profit, a Christian Touch Community Outreach thrift store, for those in need.

We are not just a thrift store but an outreach, said Varona.

They tell us that they are excited that we are here. They are happy that we are here. We have repeat customers already that come two or three times a week. So its been a blessing, said Varona.

Historic night spot, Dew Drop Inn, reopens with major renovations

In California, she remembers helping the homeless in downtown Los Angeles with food and clothing. Moving to Louisiana, she noticed the same need  Varona began selling gift baskets to raise money for her familys outreach efforts.

Everything would come with something inspirational, so would come with a bible in it, a devotional in it. Thats how we would bring in money for the outreach, said Varona.

Even with her own store, her family continues to visit shelters looking to see where they can help out. She wants people to know her door is always open.

Do some shopping if they need to and what I mean by shopping is by voucher. People that dont have things that are in the shelter. Something that they need to help them get back on their feet, said Varona.

And when she says its more than a thrift store, its because shes also there when they need someone to talk to.

People come in and as we are talking, I find out there are more people that are going through things and they just want to talk about and get off their chest. So its not just a thrift store or two. Just in the last few months here in the store, I have met so many people in the community, said Varona.

The inspiration behind it all is only getting bigger, with her hoping to expand in the future.

I would like for us to become bigger, just to grow and be there for the community, and like them know what we do, said Varona.

Varona says this couldnt be done without her family and Ms. Stacy, who have been there with her every step of the way to turning this into a reality.

A Christian Touch Community Outreach Thrift Store is located at 23 Apple St. in Norco.

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Political news comes at the speed of tweets these days. In the deluge of breaking news, it's easy to forget what happened in the not-so-distant past.

In 2017, then-President Donald Trump disclosed highly classified intelligence to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov during a meeting in the White House. The intelligence was code word information, obtained by an American ally and shared with the United States only in the strictest confidence.

In 2019, Trump tweeted a remarkably clear image of a rocket that had exploded on a launch site in Iran. It turned out this was a classified image taken by a classified reconnaissance spacecraft. The image was finally declassified three years after Trump had shared it with the public.

Republicans Hunter Biden Witch Hunt Is an Epic Fail

People are, of course, fallible. The president surely receives an overwhelming amount of classified information, and the president is human. The president could accidentally slip and reveal something that he shouldn't have. (Personally, Im more forgiving of inadvertent disclosures during conversations than I am of disclosures in tweets, because you have an opportunity to think, and ask for review, before you tweet something. But occasional slip-ups dont surprise or outrage me.)

But those were the old events, while Trump was in office.

Think for a moment about the new events.

Trump has been indicted for intentionally taking possession of a trove of some of the nations most sensitive documents and then storing those documents in an unsecured location at his social club. When the government sought the return of the documents, Trump returned only a few of them, lied about whether he possessed any more, and asked first his lawyerand then his aideto conceal the existence of the documents.

Michael Ian Black: Donald Trump, Jr. is Triggered by Biden Having a Sex Life

Trump hasnt been convicted of these things, but no one on the Trump side is saying, It didnt happen! Trump never possessed confidential documents! The Trump defense is more like, The government shouldnt prosecute Trump if it doesnt prosecute Joe Biden, and Trump actually declassified all of these documents, but he didnt tell anyone about it! Which is interesting stuff, but not a denial that Trump committed the crime.

In the last six weeks, the national security situation has gotten even worse. Trump was hit with an $83.3 million judgment in the E. Jean Carroll defamation lawsuit, then with a $355 million judgment (plus another $100 million in interest) in the fraud case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James. A half-billion dollars in legal liabilities is enough to put the squeeze on even a very wealthy man. Indeed, Trump is now asking courts that he be excused from posting a bond in the full amount of these judgments.

Trump was irresponsible with government secrets while he was in office. He was irresponsible with government secrets after he left office. And Trump is now under immense financial pressure to sell information that he possesses in order to cover his debts.

The Supreme Court Is Doing Trumps Campaign Work for Him

When Trump becomes the Republican nominee for president, hell be entitled once again to receive national security briefings.

In a normal world, this wouldnt happen. No responsible party would nominate for president a person who had disclosed classified information in the past, is under credible suspicion of having stolen and concealed classified information in the present, and who is under immense pressure to sell classified information in the future.

But here we are. Isnt anyone else nervous about this?

Read more at The Daily Beast.

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(KRON)  Police are investigating an Oakland robbery that occurred in the 4800 block of Foothill Boulevard around noon on March 1.

Oakland police officers learned that an individual entered a business and began taking items before fleeing the scene. As the suspect was leaving, a store employee confronted the suspect. According to police, the suspect brandished a firearm and threatened the employee.

Petaluma PD asks for community assistance identifying vandalism suspect

According to OPD, the store employee retreated into the business as the armed suspect fired a round(s) toward the victim. The victim was not struck by gunfire, police said.

Police said officers were able to locate the armed individual and take them into custody a short time later.

OPD Robbery Section has taken over the investigation. This is an ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the OPD Robbery Section at (510) 238-3326.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
A federal appeals court is set to hear arguments Monday on the Biden administrations appeal of a case that threatens the Affordable Care Acts (ACA) promise of free preventive care to more than 150 million people.

A federal judge in Texas last year ruled that the laws mandate requiring employers and insurers to cover a host of preventive services, like certain cancer screenings and HIV prevention, was unconstitutional.

The ruling also invalidated the laws requirement that employers cover preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication for HIV prevention.

If the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit upholds the decision, it could put patients on the hook for the full cost of potentially lifesaving treatments and screenings that are currently free, reshaping the health coverage landscape.

Without the requirement, health plans and employers can pick and choose which preventive services they cover. Cost-sharing will likely deter patients  particularly those of limited means  from scheduling those procedures.

Everything is at stake. Vaccines, disease screening, PrEP for HIV, contraceptives  So were really looking at a risk to a lot of current recommended preventive services, said Richard Hughes, a health care attorney at Epstein Becker Green.

Since the enactment of the ACA, or ObamaCare, in 2010, more than 2,000 legal challenges have been filed in state and federal courts contesting all or part of the law. While it remains a popular law, lawsuits and conservative judges continue to try to weaken it.

The ACA requires insurers to cover, without cost-sharing, more than 100 preventive health services recommended by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force.

A lawsuit put forward by a group of conservative Texas employers and individuals challenged that requirement, arguing the task forces members are not appointed by the president or confirmed by the Senate, yet its recommendations are binding.

Judge Reed OConnor of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas  who in 2018 said the entire ObamaCare law was unconstitutional before the Supreme Court overturned his decision  agreed and invalidated the entire task force.

OConnor also invalidated ObamaCares HIV treatment mandate, saying it violated the Religious Freedom Restoration Act by forcing one of the plaintiffs, a Christian employer, to pay for insurance that covers HIV prevention drugs.

The Biden administration appealed to the 5th Circuit, one of the most conservative appeals courts in the country. The panel hearing arguments Monday is comprised of two judges appointed by former President Trump and one appointed by President Biden.

The ruling was partially paused by the 5th Circuit last summer to let the appeals process play out. The appeals court allowed the administration to continue enforcing the coverage requirements nationwide, except against the plaintiffs.

But the lawsuit was sweeping. OConnor ruled against the preventive services mandate, but rejected arguments that would have eliminated the laws contraceptive coverage mandate, as well as requirements that insurers cover other services like vaccines.

Those could be overturned on appeal.

Laurie Sobel, associate director for womens health policy at KFF, said OConnors split decision did not make either side happy, and the stakes are extremely high.

This case is going to end up at the Supreme Court, theres no doubt about that, Sobel said, but depending on what the 5th Circuit decides, timing is critical.

What if the 5th Circuit were to rule in favor of the plaintiffs on any of these claims? And would that take effect? Would there be a stay? How exactly would that be implemented? And how would insurance companies react to that? Sobel said.

The case hits at a hugely popular section of the ACA but is not a death blow to the law.

Still, part of what makes the impact so uncertain is that OConnors decision applies only to preventive care recommendations adopted after 2010, when the Affordable Care Act was passed.

Those include anxiety screenings for kids, statins for cardiovascular disease and high-risk breast cancer screenings.

Many recommendations, including mammograms to screen women over the age of 50 for breast cancer, as well as certain cervical cancer screenings, were adopted before 2010. But over the years those recommendations have been updated, so insurers would be operating in an outdated landscape.

The administration and public health advocates have warned about the impact of a nationwide remedy for one company and a handful of individuals challenging the requirements.

The district courts universal remedies  pose a grave threat to the public health, the Biden administration said in a brief last year. No plaintiff in this case has an interest in the terms of the plans that insurers offer through the exchanges in Minnesota, Kentucky, California, Maine, or any other state apart from Texas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Wells Fargo's stock (WFC) is up 12% this year, outperforming all big bank rivals and within sight of an all-time high.

One big reason: Investors believe the San Francisco lending giant is slowly starting to shed some of the problems of its past.

It received a big boost last month when regulators with the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency lifted a consent order tied to a 2016 fake accounts scandal.

The move was a victory for CEO Charles Scharf, who said when he took over the top job in 2019 that his "first priority" was to clean up the messes left by his predecessors.

Charles Scharf, CEO of Wells Fargo, testifies before a Senate committee last December. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) (Tom Williams via Getty Images)

Scharf is now looking to go on the offensive as he tries to make Wells Fargo into a major investment banking player, edging deeper into a hyper-competitive business where it lags behind Wall Street giants like Goldman Sachs (GS), JPMorgan Chase (JPM), and Morgan Stanley (MS).

Another push in that direction came this past week when Wells Fargo announced the hiring of M&A veteran Doug Braunstein, an executive Scharf knows from his days at JPMorgan when both Scharf and Braunstein were top lieutenants of Jamie Dimon in the tumultuous years following the 2008 financial crisis.

Braunstein knows what it's like to receive scrutiny from Washington. When he was CFO of JPMorgan during the "London Whale" trading debacle, he had to testify before Senate lawmakers in 2013. At Wells Fargo, Braunstein will report directly to the CEO as vice chairman.

"Doug is a world-class banker," Scharf said in a press release, noting that his "expertise and business relationships reflect our continued commitment to strengthen" Wells Fargo's Wall Street unit.

Doug Braunstein, right, testified before a Senate committee in 2013 following sizable trading losses at JPMorgan, where he was CFO. REUTERS/Gary Cameron (Reuters / Reuters)

Not a 'light switch moment'

The CEO of the nations fourth-largest bank is not out of the woods with regulators, however. Even though Scharf has ticked off six consent orders that regulators had in place when he became boss, Scharf still has eight to go  including two added during his tenure.

Story continues

The big one is a cap on the size of Wells Fargo imposed by the Federal Reserve. It cant go past the $1.95 trillion in assets it had at the end of 2017 unless regulators say so. The Fed imposed the broad restriction in 2018, citing "widespread consumer abuses" at Wells Fargo.

Lifting that cap would allow Wells Fargo to boost activity in its capital-intensive markets business, CFO Mike Santomassimo said last Monday at a UBS conference in Florida.

"I would just caution that when it does happen, its not this kind of light switch moment," Santomassimo said, but "we do believe that there'll be some opportunity there." At the moment, "our focus is really to solve the risk and regulatory work first. ... We can't lose sight of that."

Several analysts who follow the bank said Wells Fargo is taking steps in the right direction, and they do expect the Fed to eventually take the bank out of the penalty box.

"Theyve done a tremendous amount under these highly idiosyncratic restrictions," said Scott Siefers, an analyst for Piper Sandler who has covered the bank over nearly two decades. "To reach the company's full potential, they will certainly need more freedom over some period of time," he added.

The timing for when the Fed removes Wells Fargo's balance sheet limit remains "hard to predict," according to Jefferies bank analyst Ken Usdin.

Even after this asset cap is removed, a second third-party review is required to assess the bank's improvements.

Cross-selling

The irony of Wells Fargos regulatory predicament is that there was a time not that long ago when it faced fewer constraints than its peers.

It was able to dodge many of the problems that hobbled other big banks during the 2008 financial crisis and became a coast-to-coast giant with its purchase that year of Wachovia, a big Charlotte lender weakened by a national mortgage meltdown.

The bank emerged from the crisis with a reputation for being conservative, not taking a lot of risks, and relying on a plain-vanilla, old-fashioned strategy of boosting revenue by cross-selling various products to existing customers.

But that strength turned into a weakness after it became clear in the second half of last decade that the bank had opened millions of bank and credit card accounts without customers knowledge as employees raced to meet their sales goals.

CEO John Stumpf, who had been with the bank for three decades, resigned and was later barred by regulators from the banking industry.

Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf testifies before a Senate committee in 2016. REUTERS/Gary Cameron/File Photo (REUTERS / Reuters)

His successor Tim Sloan left in 2019. He is now suing the bank in a California state court for $34 million, claiming the bank canceled stock grants and that Sloan was used as a "scapegoat" for the sales practices scandal.

The bank has said that it stands by its decisions and that "compensation decisions are based on performance."

The search for a replacement landed Scharf, who had been in charge of JPMorgans consumer bank while working for Dimon and then became the CEO of credit card giant Visa (V) and custody bank Bank of New York Mellon (BK).

Former Wells Fargo CEO Tim Sloan testifies before a House committee in 2019. REUTERS/Erin Scott (REUTERS / Reuters)

'A different company today'

His own overhaul has not been without surprises, including a $3.7 billion pact in December 2022 with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to resolve allegations that it illegally overcharged customers on their auto loans and mortgages. The actions at issue took place as recently as 2022.

Scharf has also significantly reduced the banks workforce. Since peaking during the pandemic in 2020 with 276,000 employees, Wells has eliminated roughly 18% of its headcount  or 50,000 employees. The banks CFO said this past week that Wells Fargo may also trim more real estate as a cost-cutting move.

There was also a new reminder this past week that the sales-practice scandal is still not totally behind the bank.

The company was sued in a San Francisco federal court by customers claiming the lender was not doing enough to assist those who were harmed by being signed up for products they didn't want.

The bank sent out letters asking for people to contact Wells Fargo if they had been enrolled in such products, but the lawsuit claims the letter burdens the customer to take action.

Wells Fargo tries "to avoid, reduce, and delay its ultimate liability and sweep under the rug its long-standing, intentional misconduct," lawyers representing the bank's customers stated.

The bank said it is still reviewing the legal claims. "Wells Fargo is a different company today, with new people, structure, processes, controls, and culture in place, and we have placed heavy emphasis on remediating customers for past practices," a spokeswoman for the bank added.

David Hollerith is a senior reporter for Yahoo Finance covering banking, crypto, and other areas in finance.

Click here for in-depth analysis of the latest stock market news and events moving stock prices.

Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance
Marie V. Theurich spent 16 years trying to have a Miss Fresno County crowned Miss California. She didnt succeed, but not for lack of trying.

As executive director of the local pageant  she also took in the Miss Clovis Pageant  Theurich was known for having a program thicker than the state pageant and constantly recruiting contestants that reflected the countys diversity.

But, The Real Estate Lady was more than crowns, evening wear and slick productions. She loved to promote patriotism, community service and a work ethic through the pageant.

Theurich, 86, died Feb. 23. Services are pending.

Valerie Salcedo, Miss Fresno County 2011, remembers the first time she called Theurich.

I called her asking about the pageant, said Salcedo, who has remained friends with Theurich since then. The first thing she said was, Do you have a talent?

I said I could sing.

A month later at rehearsals, Salcedo was singing when Theurich approached her and said, Oh, you werent lying.

She was blunt, said Salcedo, who visited Theurich every day during the pandemic to remodel her closet and help in other ways.

But Salcedo wasnt the only pageant contestant to strike a friendship with Theurich.

She never let any of her Miss Fresnos leave without any of her jewelry, said Salcedo. She would say, Here, put these earrings on, theyre bigger than your earrings; or, add this necklace because your neck looks bare.

Salcedo also benefited from having the same shoe size. Half of my shoe collection came from her, she said.

Theurich, said Salcedo, was very bold with her outfits, and bold with her personality.

She taught us to live life to the fullest, and dont waste a single moment.

Fresno store owner Alma Rosa Wolverton was a 2006 Miss Clovis candidate.

Marie V. Theurich and 2011 Miss Fresno County Valerie Salcedo greeted Col. George Stewart Roller upon his return from an Honor Flight in October 2023. Theurich died Feb. 23 at age 86.

Marie was passionate about pageantry and she always kept tabs on her girls, Wolverton wrote on Facebook. I will miss her frequent pop-ins at the store to check in on me and update me with her life.

She was an icon in this community and will be missed.

Her spirit was more brilliant than her bling

Susan Sullivan, a 34-year pageant volunteer and director, recalls walking into a Guarantee Real Estate office in Fresno 16 years ago.

Do I know you? asked Sullivan, who is also a real estate agent.

No, unless you have a kid in the Miss California, came the reply. I go to Miss California every year.

Sullivan then mentioned that there was an opening for the director of Miss Fresno.

At the top of her lungs, she said, I am the Miss Fresno Pageant director!, said Sullivan. She has made a huge impact.

Her spirit was more brilliant than her bling.

Theurich was also known as The Queen of Bling for her fashion accessory. She also loved to travel.

The pandemic ruined what was to be a three-month worldwide trip. Instead, the cruise was cut to 18 days when the ship sailed from Fort Lauderdale through the Panama Canal and to Los Angeles.

She was a beautiful lady

Col. George Stewart Roller was on that cruise with Theurich. The two were companions. Roller, 83, once proposed to her but Theurich said, I like being the girlfriend, you treat me better.

Roller, who spent 30 years with the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy, is still active with the California State Military Reserve.

He met Theurich during a blind date and was smitten. I had a lot of blind dates with ladies. When I met her, that all stopped, he said.

I was her biggest fan.

Theurich attended San Jose High School, but only completed 10th grade because he got pregnant.

She was a bank vice president for 30 years, then sold real estate in Fresno for 30 years. In her real estate page, Theurich noted that referrals said her enthusiasm and positive attitude make the home buying or selling process a pleasure, not a chore.

Theurich was married for 47 years to Les Theurich, who died in 2011.

She is survived by two daughters and four grandchildren.
After several years in which travel was severely restricted, 2023 was the year that holidays were back in full force  and 2024 is set to be even more jetset. UK travel agents association Abta has predicted that international travel will continue to grow in 2024, with passenger numbers achieving or surpassing pre-pandemic levels.

Though in many quarters tourist-starved destinations will be giving thanks for an uptick in visitors once more, in others, the balance has tipped swiftly from just enough to overwhelming.

The blight of overtourism, one of the defining words of 2018, seems to have returned. Places struggling under the weight of their own popularity have once again been forced to implement strategies aimed at curbing visitors, from Barcelona reducing the number of cruise ships that can call at its central port to Venice saying it will finally introduce new taxes for day trippers.

Aside from visiting a hotspot outside of peak season and going at a quieter time of the year instead, another way to ensure you dont put more pressure on an oversubscribed beauty spot or city could be by swapping it for an undersubscribed one.

Want canals? Venice isnt the only place to see them. Dream of visiting Incan ruins? There are far, far more options out there than Machu Picchu.

Here are some ideas of alternatives to help you travel more sustainably in 2024.

Read more on sustainable travel:

Swap Amsterdam for Utrecht

Quaint canals and gabled houses typify Utrecht as well as Amsterdam (Getty Images)

Often seen as the poster child for overtourism, the Dutch capital was so sick of lairy visitors that in March 2023 it launched a campaign to discourage disruptive tourists. It was a resounding success, with the number of arrivals from the UK down 22 per cent compared to 2019. While Amsterdam is still keen to welcome the right kind of tourist (no stag dos, please), there are plenty of other Netherlands alternatives where you can enjoy traditional gabled houses, peaceful canals and top-notch museums and restaurants. The city of Utrecht is just a 25-minute trainride south of Amsterdam, and is replete with classic Dutch architecture, waterways and narrow, historic streets. Plus it has its own Medieval centre to rival the capitals.

Swap Venice for Genoa

Venice frequently hits the headlines due to locals complaining that the city is overwhelmed by visitors. Massive cruise ships and daytrippers are particular issues, leading the Italian city to ban cruise ships from the Venice lagoon in 2021, to announce plans to ban loudspeakers and large tourist groups, and to implement a 5 fee for those on daytrips entering the historic centre from summer 2024. While Venices beguiling mix of Venetian Gothic architecture, unknowable warren of streets and sublime network of canals is one-of-a-kind, if what you want is an authentic Italian fix minus the tourist hordes, oft-overlooked Genoa should fit the bill. This handsome port city (the birthplace of pesto, FYI) has a low-key charm, its own maze of narrow caruggi alleyways, and splendid Renaissance palaces alongside modern silhouhettes designed by Genoa-born starchitect Renzo Piano.

Swap Machu Picchu for Choquequirao

Swapping Machu Picchu for Choquequirao means no crowds (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

When people think of Incan ruins, they think of Perus Machu Picchu, the 15th-century citadel set high in the Andes. But the site was so overrun with visitors that in 2017 it was forced to introduce a ticketing system; in 2019, the rules were made even stricter, with tourists required to select specific time slots and arrive within one hour of them or risk being turned away. Travellers can still scratch the itch by opting to see Choquequirao instead, an Incan site in southern Perus Andes thats very similar in structure and architectural style to Machu Picchu. Only reachable on foot or by mule, Choque, as its known by locals, features ceremonial halls, chambers that once held mummies, terraces, and hundreds of buildings that housed Incan people.

Swap Barcelona for Valencia

Valencia is another seaside Spanish city bursting with charm (Getty Images)

Another European destination where locals have suffered at the hands of overtourism, with rents skyrocketing as residents were pushed out to make way for more lucrative holiday accommodation, Barcelona has taken various measures to crack down on the too many visitors issue. The latest was the decision to cut the number of cruise ships able to dock at its central port from 10 to seven. Plus, from 2024 its increased the municipal tourist tax from 5.25 to 6.75 per night for guests staying in five-star hotels, with the sum paid to Barcelonas Generalitat and the City Council. If what youre after is a slice of Spanish culture on the coast where you can combine a city break with hitting the beach, simply head slightly further south to Valencia. Spains third city blends laidback charm with a magnificent old town, incredible and affordable eats (including copious paella), an enviable seaside location and a wealth of museums and galleries in its City of Arts and Sciences.

Swap Dubrovnik for Zadar

An aerial view of Zadar and its marina (Getty Images)

Perhaps the best example of a popular TV series wreaking havoc on a destination, Dubrovnik, with its beautifully preserved, Unesco-listed walled city, has suffered from overpopularity since it played a starring role as a backdrop in Game of Thrones. Its another spot where cruises are a problem; in 2019 the Croatian city capped the number of ships that can dock each day to two, carrying a maximum of 5,000 passengers between them. And in 2023, a Respect the City campaign introduced new measures for visitors, including bans on walking around in swimwear, driving without special permission, eating and drinking around cultural monuments and climbing on the city walls. Other Croatian coastal cities exist, however. Take Zadar on the Dalmatian coast: its Croatias oldest city, with ancient Roman ruins, Venetian-era cathedrals, chess board castles, blissfully quiet national parks, vineyards, and an array of nearby idyllic islands to hop on a ferry and discover.

Swap Angkor Wat for Beng Mealea

Beng Mealea has overgrown, otherworldly structures to discover (Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Cambodias famed temple complex, officially the largest religious structure in the world, attracts around a whopping 1,000 to 1,500 tourists per day. The tourism boom led to informal settlements springing up, causing damage to the local environment by producing rubbish and overusing water resources. While spectacular, Angkor Wat is not the only Cambodian set of temples worth your time. Located 40km east of the main group of temples at Angkor and 70km outside Siem Reap, on the ancient royal highway to Preah Khan Kompong Svay, 12th-century Beng Mealea receives a fraction of the visitors. Its built to the same floor plan as Angkor Wat and features dark chambers, a well-preserved library and intricate carvings.

Swap Santorini for Syros

Ermoupoli, the main port of Syros island (Lucy Thackray)

The star of Greeces Cyclades islands, Santorini, with its white-washed, blue-roofed buildings, is mobbed by snap-happy tourists in peak season keen to capture the perfect Instagram shot. It subsequently struggles with the sheer volume of visitors; a small island, it nevertheless receives around two million visitors a year, making it one of the most-visited destinations in Greece. But other, lesser-spoken-of islands in the Cyclades have all the Santorini-style charm minus the crowds. One example is Syros: it boasts a picturesque port, Ermoupoli; neoclassical architecture; a burgeoning farm-to-fork food scene; and tranquil coves for boat adventures. Plus its just a half-hour ferry ride away from Mykonos, or two to four hours by sea from Athens port.

Read more on The Independents collection of flight-free trips
Capt. John DeVenere of Whatcom County Fire District 7 is shown in an undated fire department photo wearing the rank of lieutenant. DeVenere died Friday, March 1, 2024, in a snowboarding accident in the Mount Baker Wilderness east of Bellingham, Wash.

An off-duty Ferndale firefighter died early Friday afternoon in an apparent snowboarding accident in the Mount Baker wilderness.

Capt. John DeVenere, 63, of Sedro-Woolley, became separated from his partner and fell into a tree well about 1:30 p.m. Friday. Rescue efforts failed to revive him, said Gwyn Howat, CEO of the Mt. Baker Ski Area.

Howat said the duo was outside the ski area in a place called Lower Rumble Gully below Mount Shuksan, a site popular with backcountry snowboarders, Howat said.

DeVeneres partner got stuck in deep snow, then realized that DeVenere was missing and called the Ski Patrol, Howat said in a phone interview.

Firefighters were dispatched from Bellingham and the Kendall/Sumas area, and an airlift was considered. Rescuers dug DeVenere free and performed CPR.

In this case, by the time we were able to get to him, too much time had passed, Howat said. He had the best possible care and the people on the scene are the people who Id want working on me in a situation like that.

A heavy winter storm battered the North Cascades for several days this week, dropping more than 6 feet of new snow at the Mt. Baker Ski area. Snow that deep can create a hazard called tree well immersion, where low-hanging branches keep snow from filling and compacting around the base of a tree. Its possible to fall into those pockets of snow, become trapped and suffocate.

The Mt. Baker Ski Area recently posted a Tree Well and Deep Snow Safety alert on its website.

Our thoughts are with his family, Howat said.

DeVenere, who was married with three grown children, had been a career firefighter with Whatcom County Fire District 7 since 2000, and as a volunteer firefighter for several years before that, Chief Larry Hoffman said. Hed been a career firefighter in Florida before moving to Washington.

He was a solid firefighter. He was one of those guys who if he started talking, everybody listened. He wasnt always running his mouth, Hoffman told The Herald in a phone call.

Hoffman said DeVenere was admired by his crew and trusted by command staff at District 7, which serves the Ferndale area.

I knew that when John was out there, I didnt have to worry, Hoffman said. He was one of those guys who you knew would get the job done.

DeVenere worked mostly at Station 42 on Brown Road, where he mentored young firefighters in the departments resident program.

DeVenere was a passionate snowboarder and a dedicated father. Hed been looking forward to a family heli-ski trip to Alaska this season and was entered in the Legendary Banked Slalom, an annual snowboarding event at the Mt. Baker Ski Area. He was entered in the Super Masters Plus category, Howat said.

His oldest son, Tyler DeVenere, told The Herald that he and his younger brother and sister grew up around the firehouse like it was a second home.

They work 24-hour shifts. Wed all go to the firehouse and have dinner with (his crew). It was like an extended family, he said in a phone call.

DeVenere was born in Miami and was a firefighter in Florida before he met his wife, a traveling nurse who lived near Bellingham. They married in Florida but moved to Washington in 1995, Tyler said.

He was an amazing dad. He liked to have fun and he made all of our lives fun. He made time for us. (Were) just trying to make sense of it all. He was an adventurous guy and he liked exciting things. He was in his happy place (snowboarding), Tyler said.

Funeral arrangements are pending.
One person has died after an a shooting involving York County sheriff deputies Sunday in South Carolina near the city of York, officials said.

. No deputies were hurt, sheriffs office said in a statement on social media

The incident involved a vehicle on Alexander Love Highway, Trent Faris, spokesman for the York County Sheriffs Office, told The Herald. The county SWAT team had been called to the scene, Faris said.

POLICE ACTIVITY: Alexander Love Hwy. between Lincoln Rd. and Hwy. 321, York, SC is closed for an investigation of an officer involved shooting. One person is dead. No deputies were physically hurt. Per YCSO policy, SLED has been called to investigate the incident. #YCSONews pic.twitter.com/6KLYVhoDq3  York County Sheriff (@YCSO_SC) March 3, 2024

The incident happened after 2 a.m.

York County Sheriff Kevin Tolson notified the State Law Enforcement Division to investigate because there was an officer involved shooting.

SLED is investigating, spokesperson Renee Wunderlich confirmed to The Herald.

No other information has been released.

The York County Coroners Office has not released the name of the person who died.

Alexander Love Highway is the S.C. 5 Bypass. The area is west of Rock Hill and southwest of Lake Wylie and Charlotte.
HOUSTON COUNTY, Ala. (WDHN)  An arrest has been made after a shooting in the Bay Springs area in Houston County on Saturday night.

Deputies arrested and charged Mark Anthony Rivers, 48, with Domestic Violence in the First Degree for allegedly shooting his brother.

Mugshot of Mark Anthony Rivers courtesy of the Houston County Jail

Authorities were called to a home at the intersection of W.G. Bond Road and Community Road off U.S. Highway 84 in Houston County to a firearm assault.

When they arrived they found a 50-year-old male with a gunshot wound to the abdomen from what is believed to be from a small caliber handgun.

Scene of the shooting courtesy of RSN-Rickey Stokes News

The victim was rushed to Flowers Hospital in Dothan to be treated for his injury.

Rivers is being held in Houston County Jail with no bond set in his case.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
A new study has uncovered a tiny fish speciess ability to produce a huge sound.

Danionella cerebrum is 10 to 12 millimeters, or about 0.4 to about 0.5 inches, long and lives in shallow, murky waters in Myanmar, according to a news release from the Senckenberg Natural History Museum.

Ralf Britz, an ichthyologist at the museum, and an international research team recently examined the species in a study published Feb. 26 in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. They found that the fish can generate noise levels of over 140 decibels, which is unusual for an animal of its size.

The fish, one of the smallest vertebrates, produces the sound at 140 decibels up to the distance of its body size, researchers said.

Fish are generally considered to be quiet animals, Britz said in the release. But the volume is comparable to what a human would hear at about 330 feet away from an airplane taking off, the museum said.

Its louder than a flightless kakapos mating call, which reaches 130 decibels, and an elephant, which can up to 125 decibels with their trunks, according to museum officials.

The males of the species have a unique sound-producing structure, the researchers found. It includes a tympanic cartilage, a special rib and a fatigue-resistant muscle.

The mechanism shoots the cartilage at the swim bladder  an organ that allows fish to maintain their depth without floating upward or sinking, according to Britannica  and creates a rapid, loud pulse, the study said.

These pulses are chained together to make calls with either bilaterally alternating or unilateral muscle contractions, the study said.

Researchers said the fish use the mechanism to communicate with other members of the species.

The results of the study challenge the idea that the speed of skeletal movement in vertebrates is limited by muscle movement, the museum said.

The fish are used as models for biomedical research, according to museum officials.

Google Translate was used to translate the news release from the Senckenberg Natural History Museum.

Boaters caught trying to smuggle over 110,000 live eels out of Puerto Rico, feds say

Deep-sea vampire squid suffocated 183 million years ago while hunting. Now its found

Medusa sea creature  with up to 11 tentacles  discovered by snorkelers off Mexico
Relentless snowfall and hurricane-force winds that pounded the Sierra Nevada mountain range across Northern California and parts of Nevada began to somewhat let up on Sunday, with blizzard warnings that had for days been effective in areas along the border between those two states expiring at midnight.

Winter storm warnings were in effect for a much larger portion of Northern California, and meteorologists did not expect them to expire until early Wednesday morning. The Weather Prediction Center described conditions in the region as "unsettled" early Monday, and said that more "very heavy snowfall" was expected at higher elevations in the mountains.

After a tumultuous multiday storm that caused widespread power outages and blinding whiteouts in some places, blizzard conditions on Sunday were forecast in regions that sit at higher elevations  at least 6,500 feet  in the Sierra Nevadas. But meteorologists said that even areas as low as 4,000 feet above mean sea level should prepare to see between 1 and 2 feet of snow before the weekend wrapped up, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento.

The Weather Prediction Center noted that this season's biggest storm so far in the Sierra Nevada would be would be tamer on Sunday than it had been for several days since a massive blizzard first struck the region, but meteorologists also anticipated another turn of dangerous weather on the way. On Monday, they said another low pressure system approaching the West Coast, combined with an energetic band of strong winds in the upper atmosphere, portended unstable weather over northern parts of the West through midweek.

The northern Sierra Nevadas and southern Cascades will likely see significant mountain snowfall again Monday. By Tuesday, forecasts show snowfall reaching the northern Rockies and impacting southern Idaho and western Wyoming especially. Most of the snow will fall in places at higher elevations, meteorologists said, but parts of southern Oregon will likely see a few inches, too.

A worker carries a snow shovel as snow falls north of Lake Tahoe during a powerful multi-day winter storm in the Sierra Nevada mountains on March 02, 2024, in Truckee, California. / Credit: Mario Tama/Getty Images

On the heels of the massive storm that brought heaps of snow to the Sierras, considerably less snowfall was forecast Sunday for the upper foothills of the West's sprawling mountain range, which runs farther inland into central and northern parts of California. Those areas were expected to see between 1 to 4 inches of snow, the weather service said, although an advisory issued Sunday morning still warned that places impacted by the current bout of blustery winter weather should brace for possible wind gusts throughout the day of up to 45 miles per hour.

An additional 2 to 4 feet of snow was headed for portions of the Sierra Nevadas at elevations of 4,000 feet or higher on Monday and Tuesday, according to NWS Sacramento. The weather service said travel would be "extremely difficult to impossible" as the storm threatened to bring white-out conditions and "near zero visibility at times." With that, forecasts warned of lengthy travel delays, road closures and power outages, along with downed trees and tree branches.

"Mountain travel is HIGHLY discouraged!" the weather service said.

A Blizzard Warning remains in effect until Midnight tonight for areas above 6500 ft. Elsewhere, a Winter Storm Warning is now in effect for elev. above 3000 ft, with another 1-2 ft of snow expected above 4000 ft. More snow Mon-Tue. Mountain travel is HIGHLY discouraged! #CAwx pic.twitter.com/KYLAUajUup  NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) March 3, 2024

Communities across Northern California felt the brunt of the impacts of the blizzard, which roiled through the Sierra Nevadas beginning on Thursday and pounded higher-elevation areas with heaps of snow as well as destructive winds characteristic of hurricanes.

"Extremely heavy snowfall rates of 2-6 inches an hour combined with very strong winds exceeding 100 mph at times will maintain impossible travel conditions in the Sierra Nevada," the Weather Prediction Center said on Saturday.

The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, which estimates possible property damage associated with powerful storms, classifies sustained wind speeds between 96 and 110 mph as Category 2, meaning winds are "extremely dangerous" and "will cause extensive damage."

High winds blow along Route 395 near Big Pine, California, on March 3, 2024. / Credit: DAVID SWANSON/AFP via Getty Images

National Weather Service meteorologist William Churchill told The Associated Press on Saturday that more than 10 feet of snow was expected at higher elevations in and around the Sierra Nevadas, posing a "life-threatening concern" for communities around Lake Tahoe. Meanwhile, the storm forced California officials to shut down a lengthy section of Interstate 80 as ski resorts closed and tens of thousands of homes were left without power. The weather service said Saturday that avalanche dangers in the region's backcountry were "high to extreme" and noted that serious hazards would remain through at least Sunday evening.

The interstate highway, which closed on Friday night, has not yet reopened. When it will remained unclear on Sunday, CBS San Francisco reported. Officials have advised anyone in the affected areas who must travel to do so with a survival kit inside their vehicles to use if necessary in an emergency.

Storm conditions were expected to be less severe in the Sacramento Valley, although people in those areas were told to expect heavy rain and possible thunderstorms, according to CBS San Francisco.

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NEWCOMERSTOWN  The vehicles and equipment of the former Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad, Inc. (NERS) are being sold through an online auction.

The auction, conducted by the company Auction Ohio, runs through 4:45 p.m. March 17.

Items being sold include a ladder truck with 164,000 miles on it; an emergency squad that has bad brakes and is is not safe to drive; a rescue boat; defibrillators; generators; and chainsaws, axes, fire extinguishers, fire helmets and boots. As of Friday, the ladder truck had received 33 bids, with the highest bid being $5,024. The emergency squad with bad brakes had received 17 bids, the highest being $905.

Reg Martin, the project manager for the court receiver in the State of Ohio's case against Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad, Inc., talks about various pieces of property to be auctioned off, at the former NERS fire station in Newcomerstown.

The auction came be viewed at auctionohio.com under the tab current auctions.

Attorney general's lawsuit

NERS has been out of business since June 2023. Tuscarawas County Common Pleas Court Judge Elizabeth Lehigh Thomakos ordered the organization to stop providing services in response to a lawsuit filed in April 2023 by Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, that alleged that NERS failed to follow state laws regarding nonprofits.

NERS provided fire and emergency medical response in Newcomerstown and nearby townships. The village started its own fire department in May 2023 in response to concerns about NERS staffing and governance.

More on NERS: Receiver files report on assets of the defunct Newcomerstown Rescue Squad

NERS owned the David Barber Civic Center at 1066 E. State St., Newcomerstown, where it ran bingo operations, as well as several nearly vacant parcels of land. It operated out of a fire station at 200 S. College St., owned by the village of Newcomerstown, and owned numerous vehicles and equipment stored there.

Judge Thomakos granted authority on Feb. 6 to the court-appointed receiver, Ken Goldberg, to conduct the auction.

The attorney general, in his filing, asked that the assets of NERS be given to the attorney general for redistribution for charitable purposes for such things as fire protection, ambulance and emergency response in and around Tuscarawas County.

Reg Martin, project manager for the court receiver, said that a private firm, Peddicord Rice LePage Real Estate & Auction of Coshocton, was hired to do a complete inventory of the organization's equipment, including every item on the vehicles. The inventory took about a week. "They are very experienced with fire equipment," Martin said.

The company valued NERS property at $299,700.

State officials did a separate inventory on the drugs and medicines stored on the vehicles.

Buyers interested in civic center

A separate auction will be held to dispose of the David Barber Civic Center.

Various fire hose fittings are seen among items up for auction in the fire station formerly run by the Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad, Inc., in Newcomerstown.

"We had three or four people who wanted to buy it for the same purpose, for a community center that could be rented," said Mayor Pat Cadle. "We had a couple of calls, could it be turned into a restaurant? We've been contacted by about seven possible bidders. It's waiting for the receiver."

Village employees helped to clean out the building, he noted.

New fire department

Meanwhile, Newcomerstown's new fire department is operating well, with 19 firefighters in the department, Cadle said. The chief is Jeff Parks, whose full-time job is with the New Philadelphia Fire Department. The Newcomerstown department handles fires in the community, while Tri-County Ambulance handles medical emergencies.

Cadle said the attorney general granted the village seven pieces of NERS equipment that it asked for  a Pierce engine, tanker, a rescue truck, a brush truck, a side-by-side all-terrain vehicle, a heavy-duty washer and a Cascade machine for filling air tanks.

Fire apparatus formerly owned and run by Newcomerstown Emergency Rescue Squad, Inc. is seen ready for auction, Tuesday, Feb. 27 in Newcomerstown.

Until the auction is over, the fire department has its equipment stored at several different locations. Plans are to return to the fire station, which was built in 1910.

"We're hoping within the next couple of weeks when you get that over with, we can move back into the building," Cadle said.

Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.

This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Newcomerstown rescue squad equipment up for sale in online auction
Online doctors from Singapore should consult patients to ease the burden on the NHS, a think tank has suggested.

Permitting Singaporean clinicians to prescribe medicines to British patients could ease pressure on local GPs and help poorer people access medical care, the Social Market Foundation has argued.

A paper published by the think tank identified key lessons the NHS could learn from Singapores famously efficient healthcare regime.

It argues that ministers should permit doctors in Singapore to virtually prescribe medications to British people unable to access GP appointments.

The briefing document also proposes that Singaporean polyclinics could provide a cost-effective solution to the post-pandemic backlog.

Promoting the model, the Social Market Foundation claims the island country only spends 4.4 per cent of its national income on healthcare  less than half that of the UK  but still enjoys much better outcomes.

It states that Singapores infant mortality rate is half that in the UK and that its population also has lower levels of obesity and a greater life expectancy.

Singaporean approach could rescue NHS

In a foreword to the briefing paper, former health minister Lord Warner argues that these benefits mean ministers ought to look to Singapore for inspiration.

With NHS England reporting that less than half of British patients can easily secure a GP appointment, he argues that Singapores setup could help rescue our beleaguered NHS from its serious decline.

Given one in eight people in the UK have already sought out private healthcare - which can involve telemedicine - the paper suggests that it would be a natural next step for doctors based in Singapore to be permitted to prescribe medication to patients in the UK.

If this proves successful, the NHS could commission such services for rural areas with limited access to local GP practices, it proposes.

In addition to telemedicine, the paper also proposes that Singaporean polyclinics could be set up in parts of England with poor access to primary care services.

These super clinics would combine GP services with labs able to carry out diagnostic tests, and multidisciplinary teams who can care for those with chronic health conditions.

Polyclinics became a buzzword in 2008 when Lord Darzi, then a health minister under Gordon Brown, attempted to set up one-stop shops across the country.

But the British Medical Journal soon branded them costly white elephants when they failed to deliver value for money, and they were decommissioned under the coalition government.

But in a brave reimagining of a near-identical scheme, parliamentary researcher Max Thilo, who authored the paper for the Social Market Foundation, maintains that such clinics could still be cost-effective.

Funds would be saved as care for chronically ill patients would be shifted away from acute hospitals, which are always the most expensive part of any healthcare system due to their fixed overheads, he claims.

The multidisciplinary team structure and flexible clinic layout  with consultation rooms connected by sliding doors  would also allow doctors to see multiple patients at once.

Lord Warner writes in a foreword to the paper: The NHS is in serious decline, struggling to recover from the devastating impact of the pandemic, Brexit and over a decade of austerity.

Politicians know radical change is necessary but are fearful of explaining whats needed to their electorate. Part of the trouble is they lack models they can draw on and cite as a way forward.

This pamphlet provides valuable service delivery ideas that would help rescue our beleaguered NHS.

However, a recent report from The Kings Fund, another think tank, offers a note of caution for any minister tempted by an innovative solution to address the countrys struggling healthcare services.

It argues that there is little evidence that one type of health care system or health care financing model achieves consistently better results than another. And the costs of transitioning from one system to another can be significant.

As a result, countries predominantly try to achieve better health outcomes by improving their existing model of health care, rather than by adopting a radically different model.

In addition to working for Bernard Jenkin MP, Mr Thilo is a recipient of a Polaris Fellowship from Entrepreneur First, where he is working to introduce Singaporean-style polyclinics in areas of the UK with poor access to primary care services.

Entrepreneur First, an international talent investor, was established by former management consultants Alice Bentinck and Max Clifford, who chairs the governments Advanced Research and Invention Agency (ARIA), an initiative of Dominic Cummings.

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GREENSBORO, N.C.  Calling the migrant crisis "an invasion," Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump blitzed President Joe Biden about immigration at a North Carolina rally Saturday.

"Our border is an open and gushing wound," he said.

The GOP front-runner repeatedly brought up southern border security, and attempted to connect it to violent crime in the country including the murder of a 22-year-old nursing student in Georgia. Authorities have charged a man they say entered the U.S. illegally in 2022, with her death.

Trump's focus underscores how much Republicans want this year's elections to be about the U.S.-Mexico border, which they believe will motivate their base and boost their candidates from the top to the bottom on the 2024 ballot.

"Under Biden we now have a brand new category of crime, it's called 'migrant crime.' We have criminals that are going around having boxing matches with our police officers," he said.

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks to supporters in Greensboro, North Carolina on March 2, 2024.

Trump also used the speech to brag about how easy it has been for him in the GOP primary, as the former president looks to finish off the rival campaign of former South Carolina Nikki Haley.

He is expected to extend his delegate lead when millions of voters across the nation head to the polls on March 5, better known as Super Tuesday.

Haley came up once by name, when Trump dismissed her as "very average" when he mentioned winning her home state, and other places, by large margins.

"I haven't heard about this woman for the past five days," he said.

Immigration tops Trump voter's concerns

Migrants queue in the cold as they look for a shelter outside a Migrant Assistance Center at St. Brigid Elementary School on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, in New York.

The crowd was raucous when Trump dotted the speech with his most often used lines: defending the Jan. 6, 2021 rioters; attacking prosecutors in the multiple indictments he faces; and repeating the lie that he didn't lose the 2020 election.

But supporters were almost silent as they listened intently when Trump described the death of Laken Riley, a University of Georgia student found dead last month, in explicit terms.

The suspect, 26-year-old Jose Antonio Ibarra, was arrested on murder and assault charges. But the case has ignited anger among conservative activists after federal authorities announced Ibarra entered the U.S. illegally in 2022.

Trump said Riley's family will never be the same after she was "barbarically attacked." He compared the incident to the horror movie "The Silence of The Lambs."

Every speaker who headlined Saturday's rally followed Trump's lead, and mentioned the migrant crisis at the U.S. southern border which many claimed is the root of other national woes from drug addiction to violent crime.

North Carolina Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson speaks during a rally for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump on March 2, 2024.

"The strength behind me is Jesus Christ, but folks we have trouble in this country. We have a wide open border," Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is running for governor in the Republican primary, told the audience.

Trump famously championed building a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border (which he asserted the foreign country would pay for) when he first ran in the 2016 presidential campaign.

During his time as president he implemented many hardline, and controversial, policies when it came to immigration, such as separating migrant families .

In this campaign, he has promised stiffer action if returned to power such as "ideological screenings" aimed at Muslim-majority nations.

One proposed idea Trump has touted in recent weeks has been to recruit local law enforcement to help launch the, "largest deportation operation in American history."

Those strict policy prescriptions, which liberal opponents say are xenophobic, appeal to many of the right-leaning voters who made up the standing-room only audience at the Greensboro Coliseum Complex, which at one pointed created a line that snaked through the parking lot.

Supporters line up to hear Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speak in Greensboro, North Carolina Saturday morning.

"The national situation is on a downhill slope. Immigration is the driving issue," Gilbert Jones, 70, a retired restaurant manager, who hails from Ruffin, N.C., told USA TODAY. Jones mentioned the record number of border crossings a month, at a time when "we can't feed our people now."

Poll: Haley trailing among likely N.C. voters

March 1, 2024; Charlotte, N.C., USA; Republican presidential candidate and former South Carolina governor Nikki Haley speaks to supporters in Charlotte, North Carolina Friday evening. Megan Smith-USA TODAY

Haley has been sending mixed messages as her underdog bid faces what many political forecasters believe could be her last stand on Super Tuesday.

On the trail she has blasted Trump by listing multiple reasons he shouldn't be the GOP standard bearer in 2024. But when speaking with reporters that same day, she hedged, saying she isn't anti-Trump.

"All of you have made this race about Trump," Haley told reporters.

The former UN ambassador trails in most of the March 5 contests, including in closely watched North Carolina.

"We cannot win the White House without winning North Carolina, without winning battleground states all across this country," state GOP chair Michael Whatley, who Trump has nominated to be Republican National Committee chair, told Saturday's crowd.

North Carolina has been decided by less than four percentage points in each presidential race since 2008. Trump carried the state in 2020 over Biden by less than one and a half percent.

Polling shows Tar Heel State primary voters remain loyal to the former president by a much wider margin.

Fans wait for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump to speaks to supporters in Greensboro, North Carolina on March 2, 2024.

Trump has a firm 69% among likely and self-reported voters while Haley holds 24%, according to High Point University Survey Research Center poll released Friday.

James Hill, 44, who attended Saturday's rally, said he plans to stick with Trump despite his GOP rival's warnings that he is vulnerable in the general election.

It is Haley's prerogative to stay in the race, he said.

But the Winston-Salem native admits he doesn't see the point.

"It's up to her, I'm not voting for her," Hill said. "If it makes her happy that she's in this position on TV, running for office  that's how dreams are made."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Donald Trump focuses on border ahead of Super Tuesday at N.C. rally
I've been skeptical of Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX) for years, but 2023 was the year I started warming up to the idea of finally buying. For one thing, I needed a few stocks to replace my long-term market-losing position in Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS), which I finally exited after the most recent rally. It's a late decision that cost me, as Netflix has been the obvious outperformer over the last year-plus since I put Disney on the chopping block.

In fact, much of the traditional media industry is a mess right now, with the exception of Netflix. Here's what finally pushed me over the edge to pull the trigger on Netflix -- even after the stock doubled in the last year.

NFLX Chart

Netflix is now profitable by all measures

As I've explained for years, despite being a Netflix subscriber, I could never bring myself to own a slice of the business itself because of a lack of profitability. Sure, Netflix has been showing GAAP net income for quite some time. But on a free cash flow basis (which includes the money paid for the company to create content, versus GAAP net income which amortizes this key expense over time), Netflix was decidedly unprofitable.

But that changed in grand fashion in 2023. As Netflix has grown up, it has turned highly profitable by all measures over the last year. Free cash flow is now being cranked out at an even higher rate than GAAP net income.

NFLX Net Income (TTM) Chart

Of course, the market has taken note of Netflix's more profitable advance as well -- thus the big stock run-up, especially since the start of 2023. Shares now trade for a premium 50 times trailing 12-month earnings, or nearly 40 times trailing 12-month free cash flow. Surely it's too late to buy now, right?

Years of profitable expansion lay ahead

Netflix's subscriber base continues to rise higher. This media business has fewer international border confines than the traditional U.S. TV business, and Netflix's steady investment over the years in a diverse set of content has positioned it well. Total subscribers grew 13% year over year in Q4 2023 to surpass 260 million.

Story continues

The world is still a very large place, though, and Netflix still estimates its share of global screen time at just a single-digit percentage. Subscription pricing keeps rising too, and an ads business is now being built, putting Netflix on track to eventually become something resembling what traditional cable is today (except for the consumer ability to more carefully select what they want to watch at any given moment). Nevertheless, steady subscriber growth remains a key reason Netflix can sustain a low-teens revenue growth rate in the years to come.

Chart source: Netflix.

Along the way, management has stated that it intends to continue gradually increasing those profit margins. On a free cash flow basis, 2024 is expected to yield a similar result to the $6 billion the company generated in 2023, owing to Netflix ramping up from a content production pause in the U.S. due to actor and writer strikes last year. Despite this near-term flattish outlook, however, Netflix remains a highly profitable business with ample cash to fund its expansion plans.

And shareholders are now being rewarded too. Netflix returned $6 billion of that cash last year via stock repurchases. That's another reason for optimism going forward, despite the rich valuation on the stock.

In all, the story has changed dramatically at Netflix, and what has emerged from the bear market of the last couple of years is healthy growth and a profitable media business. I plan on buying more Netflix stock as the year progresses.

Should you invest $1,000 in Netflix right now?

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Why I Changed My Mind and Bought Netflix Stock was originally published by The Motley Fool
On Jan. 31, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing to address the dangers young people experience when navigating social media platforms. The emotionally charged event drew a diverse audience, featuring heart-wrenching stories that underscored the severe impact of online bullying, harassment and specifically sexual exploitation on childrens mental health and safety. Senators questioned social media executives on what, if any, steps they would commit to taking to protect young users on their platforms.

At The Jed Foundation, we advocate for a safety-first approach, aligning with the surgeon generals advisory on Social Media and Youth Mental Health. We know young people find community online. What were hoping is that they find safe communities  and its time to insist that platforms prioritize childrens safety. Thats why JED has endorsed the Kids Online Safety Act, which requires social media platforms to protect young users by enabling them to protect their personal information, turn off addictive product features and opt out of receiving recommendations made by algorithms.

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The bill would also require social media companies to address and minimize mental health risks to young people by more effectively controlling content that encourages self-harm, suicide, eating disorders, substance abuse and sexual exploitation. In addition, it would ensure that academic researchers and nonprofit organizations can access essential datasets in order to further explore the links between youth social media use and mental health.

Related

Lawmakers Duel With Tech Execs on Social Media Harms to Youth Mental Health

The purpose of social media platforms, like all companies, is to pursue profit, which is why they cannot regulate themselves. There needs to be more transparency and accountability, especially when it comes to products used by minors. Here are some steps that JED recommends Congress take:

Establish a regulatory agency exclusively dedicated to safeguarding digital and online safety.

Social media companies made over $11 billion in revenue advertising to Americans under 18 in 2022 and remain one of the only unregulated industries marketing to minors. During the hearing, bipartisan support surfaced for creating a regulatory agency. Executives from major social media platforms, including X, Meta, Snap, Discord and TikTok, expressed openness to the idea. The agency would ensure that these companies comply with safety regulations, are held accountable for violations and prioritize the well-being of users in both practice and policy.

Support federal regulations designed to limit the harmful aspects of social media and maximize protections of users.

Social media companies should be required to leverage algorithms to surface supportive mental health content, build in time limits and digital breaks for young users, and seek out and and ban content that encourages harmful behaviors, including suicide, self-injury, eating disorders and cyberbullying. It is also crucial that platforms reduce features that encourage overuse, such as video autoplay, push notifications and rewards for engaging online.

Invest in high-quality, large-scale research into interventions, protective policies, and the short- and long-term effects of social media on mental health.

While Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg said that studies linking social media use and mental health issues in teens do not show cause and effect, there is ample evidence demonstrating risks from exposure to harmful content and cyberbullying, as well as chronic online engagement. Social media platforms also utilize tools that encourage young people to compare themselves to others, which has been linked with body image issues and eating disorders. Likes, follower counts and viewership rates all push users to value their personal worth based on these comparisons.

Related

74 Interview: Why Social Media is Being Blamed for the Youth Suicide Crisis

Much is known about social media and mental health, but there is also a lot yet to be discovered. The current research is insufficient because platforms are not required to share data. This is why a safety-first approach is so important. Collaboration between technology companies and independent researchers is an essential next step in understanding how social media use affects youth mental health.

Require social media companies to establish and implement data transparency policies.

Social media has been around for more than 20 years, and still there is a lack of clarity about how each platform operates. Its essential that these companies make clear to young users what factors  such as engagement streaks on Snap or autoplay on Instagram  shape their online experiences; give them more autonomy in choosing the type of content that appears in their feeds; and provide parents and caregivers with greater control to tailor their childrens experiences.

Young people spend a large portion of their lives on social media. They need to be able to do so without serious risk of harm. There is bipartisan support for creating change in the industry  and unanimous support for the bill in the Senate Judiciary Committee. With that momentum, there is a clear opportunity to make youth well-being and mental health a priority. Youth mental health advocates have a responsibility to hold companies accountable, eliminate what is harmful and ensure a positive, safe social media experience for all young people.
Editors Note: Sign up to get this weekly column as a newsletter. Were looking back at the strongest, smartest opinion takes of the week from CNN and other outlets.

I planned each charted course, each careful step along the byway, goes the song written for, and made famous by Frank Sinatra. I did it my way.

As mourners looked on, the coffin of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny was lowered into the ground Friday in Moscow to the sounds of My Way.

The lyrics, set to a French tune, Comme dhabitude, were written by Paul Anka in 1968 and inspired by a dinner he had with Sinatra in Miami. He told me that he was retiring.  He was tired. He was being hassled by the FBI and all that kind of stuff. As Anka wrote the song, he tried to channel Sinatras language, later citing the line, I ate it up and spit it out as an example.

That is the way he spoke, Anka told Ed Masley of the Arizona Republic.

It turns out that Navalnys chief antagonist, Russian President Vladimir Putin, is also a fan of My Way. Anka recalled, When I went to Russia, hes walking me through the museum and giving me caviar out of tubs, loving My Way. The song is also hugely popular in the US, where newly inaugurated President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump chose it for their first dance at the Liberty Ball in 2017.

I faced it all and I stood tall, is one line in the song that seems an apt description of Navalnys crusade for freedom in a repressive system. A year ago, Odessa Rae, one of the producers of the CNN Film Navalny, told CNN Opinion that Navalny is fighting for a better, more prosperous, fair and democratic Russia and that he had released a 15-point plan for Russia after the Ukraine war: It is like a breath of fresh air.

My Way feeds the notion, despite all, that we are in control of the lives we lead, but charting a course isnt the same thing as being able to fully follow it. Trump and President Joe Biden are on course to win their partys nominations for president, yet both faced sizable opposition from voters in the Michigan primary Tuesday. And there were other powerful figures who saw their hopes and plans endangered last week.

Special counsel Jack Smith, whos seeking to try Trump in two criminal cases before the November election, could be stymied by the Supreme Courts decision to take up Trumps claim that he should be immune from criminal prosecution for actions during his presidency.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, once the undisputed architect of Republican strategy on Capitol Hill, announced Wednesday that he would step down in November as leader of his chambers Republicans. McConnell cited the death of his sister-in-law and the fact that he has turned 82 as factors in his decision to leave the post, but historian Julian Zelizer argued that the hostility Trump has expressed to his partys Senate leader is surely a consideration.

The truth is now painfully apparent: Trump and the GOP are one and the same. The anti-Trump coalition within the Republican Party is small and hanging on by a thread, and there is little chance of that changing in the short term. McConnells decision to cede the leadership position is part of a broad and consistent pattern: Every major figure who tries to take on the Trump-oriented GOP faction ends up losing.

And Putin himself gave a bellicose, two-hour-plus state of the nation address to Russias parliament Thursday, brandishing Russias nuclear weapons as a threat against the West, after French President Emmanuel Macron said he couldnt rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine. Putins need to invoke the nuclear option  and ultimately the destruction of civilization  seemed to betray the presidents frustration that his two-year-long war has yet to subdue the much smaller nation of Ukraine. It may not go his way, but the failure of Congress to approve more aid to Ukraine likely is giving Putin hope.

Mark T. Esper served as defense secretary for part of the Trump administration, but differs with the former president on aiding Ukraine. As Russia resurges in Ukraine and proxy fights expand across the Middle East, Esper wrote, one critical question weighs heavily in everyones minds: Is the United States still a credible ally willing to lead the free world? Whether Congress chooses to provide the continued financial support Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan desperately need will go a long way toward answering this question. And make no mistake, it is not just our allies who are wondering. Our adversaries are paying close attention as well.

Nick Anderson/Tribune Content Agency

Trump trial delay

By agreeing to hear Trumps immunity argument, the Supreme Court has effectively delayed Trumps trial in Washington, DC, on charges of trying to overturn the 2020 election he lost.

The high courts brief order was met with outrage and indignation from many  who complained that, by keeping the case from going forward immediately, the justices were almost guaranteeing that the crucially important January 6 case cannot go to trial before the presidential election this November, and that the justices were thus complicit in Trumps transparent efforts to delay accountability, wrote journalist Dahlia Lithwick and law professor Steve Vladeck. The court said it would hear arguments on the case during the week of April 22.

While the political clock is ticking, this isnt a legal emergency, they wrote. We both keep wishing that the Supreme Court would treat political exigencies with at least the same expediency with which it handles the legal ones. But wish as we might, that just isnt in the courts job description, and indeed at its best, the court should try to ignore political clocks as much as possible.

Walt Handlesman/Tribune Content Agency

Message from Michigan

Trump won 68% of the votes in Michigan Tuesday. Biden did even better, garnering 81% of the Democratic votes. Yet commentators noted the relatively large numbers of dissatisfied voters who either went for Nikki Haley or for the uncommitted option challenging Biden.

Biden is counting on the specter of Trump to woo young, progressive voters back to the fold, David Axelrod noted. Expect his campaign to strike a sharp contrast with Trump on a range of issues, including abortion rights, climate change and student loan forgiveness to rebuild this element of his coalition. He also has to win back voters dissatisfied with Bidens handling of the war in Gaza.

On the GOP side, Haleys presence in the race continues to underscore Trumps substantial vulnerabilities. By portraying the former president as a legally-freighted, vengeful chaos machine, Haley is articulating concerns shared by voters, particularly in the suburbs, who Trump will need in November.

Dana Summers/Tribune Content Agency

For more:

Julian Zelizer: Some very worrying signs for Joe Biden

John Halpin: In the Michigan primary, Biden shouldnt fear Rashida Tlaibs threats

Sophia Nelson: Trump courts Black votes through offensive remarks

Nick Anderson/Tribune Content Agency

Gaza

The population of Rafah in southern Gaza has more than quadrupled since the war began, wrote Catherine Russell, executive director of UNICEF. Gazans sheltering in Rafah now face the terrifying reality that large-scale military operations could be imminent in the very area where they have fled for refuge. They cannot be pushed farther, however, and there is no safe place to go in the north.

Writing before the deaths of more than 100 people seeking aid Thursday in northern Gaza, Russell added, Parties to the conflict should urgently implement a permanent humanitarian ceasefire so that our group and other humanitarian agencies can help to roll out the massive, multi-agency operation that is so desperately needed.  The destruction of Gaza and killing of civilians will not bring peace or safety to the region. That can only be achieved with a negotiated political solution, one that prioritizes the rights and well-being of this and future generations of Israeli and Palestinian children.

Talks continue on a possible deal to free at least some of the remaining Israeli hostages held by Hamas, in return for a pause in fighting and the release of Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.

Ofri Bibas Levy, the sister of Israeli hostage Yarden Bibas, is watching closely.

Yarden was taken from Kibbutz Nir Or on October 7, along with his wife Shiri Bibas and their two sons Ariel, 4, and Kfir, 1, the youngest hostages held in Gaza.

We, their family members, do not know if the boys are dead or alive, if they are being properly fed, if they are being held with or apart from their mother, Levy wrote. My brother Yarden was separated from his wife Shiri and their children on October 7th. He was forced by Hamas to be filmed in a psychological terror video alleging that they were killed by Israel.

As the months go by, I wonder: Have the mothers and fathers of the world forgotten them? What if Ariel and Kfir were your children, your nephews?

Has this become the worlds new normal? Is it no longer barbaric to take children as hostages? This cannot be acceptable. We demand that, in any hostage deal, the children must be released first.

For more:

Frida Ghitis: This election, Americans are shedding an ugly stereotype

IVF

Drew Sheneman/Tribune Content Agency

The Alabama Supreme Court ruling that endangered IVF procedures in that state is broadly unpopular with Americans. Roughly two-thirds of Americans disapprove of the decision, SE Cupp noted.

Some Republicans have blocked bills to protect access to abortion, contraception, and now IVF. Overturning Roe, and all of the fallout that came from it, will continue to haunt Republicans, and at the worst possible time  in an election year, Cupp said.

But dont tell them  they seem determined to become utterly irrelevant.

Republicans have chosen a senator from Alabama to give the rebuttal to Bidens State of the Union address next Thursday. Katie Britt opposes abortion but favors protecting access to IVF.

Womens history

Until Elena Sheppard got to college, she knew little about pivotal figures in womens history. I had sort of learned about the first ladies (but really just because Id learned about their husbands) and Id learned about Betsy Ross (whose legacy as the one to sew the first American flag fits right into historic narratives about womens work), Sheppard wrote.

But while sitting in a first-year college lecture about womens roles throughout our nations growth, I remember feeling stunned that I hadnt heard most of these names before: Dorothea Dix and her 19th century work to fundamentally change the medical field; Lucy Delaney, the formerly enslaved activist and memoirist; even Elizabeth Cady Stanton, 19th century leader of the womens rights movement, who occupied only a pullout blurb in my high school textbook.

As Womens History Month begins, Sheppard backed a campaign by two high school history teachers, Kristen Kelly and Serene Williams, to create an AP US Womens History Course. Womens stories should be fully integrated in our national narrative, and we should be teaching our students as much.

Border visits

Clay Jones

For the first time since 2019, immigration is ranked by Americans as the most important problem in the US, according to Gallups latest survey. That helps explain why both Biden and Trump made visits to the southern border Thursday.

If Biden wants to improve his standing with voters, wrote Jon Gabriel, a Brownsville photo wont cut it. He needs to stop posing and start acting. Whether he likes it or not, his predecessor allowed far fewer migrants into the country with the same laws on the books.

Upon entering office, the president rolled back most of Trumps immigration measures. But what was removed by the pen can be restored by the pen, an approach sources say Biden is already considering. This would at least mitigate Bidens polling drop while also giving border states and blue cities a respite from the migrant influx.

As Gabriel noted, This week, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said the city needs to amend its sanctuary city law so that migrants who commit felonies can be turned over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The suspect in the killing of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student found dead after jogging on the University of Georgia campus, is an undocumented migrant from Venezuela, Raul A. Reyes noted.

Rileys death has resulted in a renewed firestorm over illegal immigration. Congressional Republican lawmakers have called for an immigration crackdown, and former President Donald Trump has denounced the suspect as a monster.

Rileys death is a tragic loss to her family and community. The conflation of her killing with a migrant crime wave, however, is misplaced, he observed.

Study after study has found no conclusive link between immigrants and crime. In 2023 Stanford University researchers found that such a connection was mythical and unsupported by 140 years of data.

Dont miss

David Horsey/Tribune Content Agency

Van Jones: Going home, I encountered a huge problem

Ariel Dorfman: A wildfire destroyed the tree I planted seven decades ago  and with it my hope for the future

Dean Obeidallah: Shane Gillis is living proof that all too often, bigotry sells

Noah Berlatsky: Dune: Part Two falls into a familiar  and telling  trap

Kellie Carter Jackson: What Oprahs departure from WW means for the rest of us

Lev Golinkin: Parents who fear a leap day birthday are making a big mistake

Josephine Apraku: What it means to be born Black in Germany

Jill Filipovic: Jodie Turner-Smith is telling the truth about divorce

Michael Bociurkiw: Even if Ukraine announced mass mobilization, who is left to fight?

Anna Arutunyan: The uncomfortable truth about Ukraines goal

AND

Wendys prices

Wendys CEO Kirk Tanner stirred controversy when he recently suggested that the fast-food chain would use its new digital menu technology to introduce dynamic pricing.

Thats a pricing strategy weve all come to know and despise in transportation, wrote Jeff Yang.

The most enraging modern variant of this is the rideshare industrys use of surge pricing, which automatically sends the cost of a pickup from services like Uber and Lyft soaring when the number of exhausted people trying to get home exceeds the number of frustrated drivers trying to meet frenzied demand.

Wendys attempted to calm the waters by saying it doesnt plan to raise prices during peak times but instead is aiming to provide discounts particularly in the slower times of day.

Yang was not reassured. Discounts at odd hours might pull in some marginal customers, he observed, but not knowing how much of a hit your wallet might take when youre craving a Daves Double adds a layer of unnecessary anxiety to a world that already frequently feels like its on the brink of the existential abyss, which could push away customers more generally.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
Orange County Public Schools and the Department of Health will offer on-site TDAP vaccines for students.

 WATCH CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS

TDAP vaccine can prevent tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (whooping cough).

Vaccinations will be offered at all middle schools in Orange County.

Read: SpaceX and NASA are set for Crew-8 launch

Schools will start giving out vaccines on Monday, March 4.

The first schools that will be holding the vaccine clinic on March 4 are Apopka Middle, Kelly Park K8, Piedmont Lakes Middle, Wolf Lake Middle.

Read: Apopka mom in medical field buys Habitat for Humanity home

Schools that will have the vaccine clinic on March 5:

Avalon Middle

Corner Lake Middle

Timber Springs

Wedgefield K8

Schools that will have the vaccine clinic on March 6:

Discovery Middle

Legacy Middle

Roberto Clemente

Union Park Middle

Read: Breast cancer survivor speaks about AdventHealth clinic that changed her life

Schools that will have the vaccine clinic on March 7:

Bridgewater Middle

Hamlin Middle

Horizon West Middle

Water Spring Middle

Schools that will have the vaccine clinic on March 8:

College Park Middle

Glenridge Middle

Howard Middle

Maitland Middle

Click here to see the rest of the middle school list.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
HODGEMAN COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW)  A semi that overturned Sunday afternoon temporarily closed Kansas Highway 156, about 2.5 miles east of Jetmore.

The Hodgeman County Sheriffs Office asked the public to avoid the area if possible during the crash.

This embedded content is not available in your region.

Salon, thrift store destroyed in Winfield fire

Sheriff Walker says both people in the semi were able to walk away without any injuries.

The highway has reopened as of 4:40 p.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
Hugh T. Clements Jr. was open to guidance from his close friends last year as he neared the end of his tenure as Providence's police chief.

A few people reminded him of how hard he had worked over the course of decades. He was free to leave if he wanted to, they told him. He didn't owe anything to the City of Providence.

"I look at that completely differently," Clements said Friday when he returned to Providence's public safety headquarters for some honors.

"I feel like I owe this city everything," Clements told the large gathering.

Former Providence Police Chief Hugh T. Clements Jr. greets well-wishers on Friday at the Providence Public Safety Complex, where the auditorium was named in his honor.

Clements was in town for the dedication of the department's auditorium, which has been named after him.

The event drew law enforcement leaders from across Rhode Island and beyond.

It also drew many people who are critical to fighting crime, even though they are not police officers, ranging from elected officials, religious leaders and community organizers to people with less formal roles who are simply interested in safer streets.

A 'failure of leadership': Former Providence police chief leads federal report on Uvalde

They packed into the space on the first floor of the public safety complex.

"I don't look at this as a tribute to me," Clements said. "I look at this as a tribute to everybody in this room and the great things we accomplished together."

Clements stepped down last year after an 11-year-stint as chief and more than 40 years as a sworn Providence police officer.

The Providence Public Safety Complex's ground-floor auditorium has been named after the department's former chief.

The move was part of a career shift that has brought him to the U.S. Department of Justice.

There, he now directs an office that's at the forefront of community policing in the United States.

Community policing is a law enforcement practice that emphasizes the building of trust and respect between police officers and the communities they serve.

Rescue in Albania: How an RI Guard aircrew plucked avalanche survivors from mountainside.

The DOJ's Office of Community of Oriented Policing Services awards grants that help local police departments bolster their ranks.

Since 1994, the office has appropriated more than $20 billion to help advance community policing.

The office develops and tests police strategies and provides training and technical assistance to community members, local government leaders and police organizations.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence honors ex-police chief Hugh Clements, now working for DOJ
England's strongest man Paddy Haynes rolled up the frying pan live on BBC Radio Oxford

England's strongest man, Paddy Haynes, rolled up a frying pan live on a radio programme this week.

It was among our most read stories this week in Oxfordshire.

A variety of local issues were featured on the BBC News website, BBC Radio Oxford and South Today.

We have picked five stories to keep you up to date.

Nuclear fusion reactor decommissioning begins after 40 years

The decommissioning of a "world-leading" nuclear fusion reactor has begun after 40 years of operation.

The Joint European Torus (JET) facility in Culham, Oxfordshire, ended experiments in December.

In its last test, the reactor produced a record amount of energy.

It is expected to take about 12 years to repurpose the reactor, with the aim to reuse as much of the machine as possible.

Two sets of siblings reach BBC's 500 Words final

Sisters Zemira and Akeeva are from Oxfordshire

Two sets of siblings have reached the final of the BBC's 500 Words competition.

Sisters Zemira and Akeeva, from Oxfordshire, and brother and sister Henry and Isabella, from Hampshire, are in the running for the competition.

Of the 50 finalists, they are the only siblings to have reached this stage.

They joined the other finalists, from across the country, at an event hosted by Queen Camilla at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.

D-Day 80: Handcrafted servicemen silhouettes set for Normandy

Hand-made silhouettes of 1,475 servicemen set to stand in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day are being put together in Oxfordshire.

The art installation, by Standing with Giants, has taken Witney-based artist Dan Barton four years to plan.

Made from recycled signs, 80 local groups from choirs to veterans, guides and scouts are assembling the figures ready for their journey to France.

They will stand at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer in late April.

Million coffee pods recycled in council scheme

More than one million coffee pods have been recycled in the first eight months of a new sustainability initiative, a local authority has said.

Cherwell District Council is working with non-profit organisation Podback to collect residents' used pods and ensure they are recycled.

About 3,000 households have so far signed up for the scheme, which launched in May 2023.

After collection, the pods are taken to specialist reprocessing plants.

Car museum plans approved despite noise fears

Detailed plans for a new classic motorcar museum and housing development have been approved despite ongoing concerns about "intolerable" noise.

US collector Peter Mullin was granted outline planning permission in 2020 for a museum at Enstone Airfield near Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire.

Mr Mullin, who died last year aged 82, had wanted the attraction to be a "one-of-a-kind".

But nearby residents objected over congestion and noise pollution worries.

Follow BBC South on Facebook, X, or Instagram. Send your story ideas to south.newsonline@bbc.co.uk.
Theodoros Roussopoulos, the president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink on March 2 condemned Russias overnight attack on Odesa, which killed at least eight people.

The drone strike hit a multi-story building in the southern city, destroying 18 apartments and trapping people under the rubble. Among the killed residents were a four-month-old boy and a two-year-old one. Eight more people were wounded, including a three-year-old girl.

Our thoughts are with the victims of these horrific attacks. We must continue to support Ukraine in its fight against Russias barbaric war, Brink wrote on the social platform X.

Roussopoulos said that Russia will be held accountable for all the crimes it committed in Ukraine.

Amid uncertainty over stalled U.S. aid to Ukraine and critical shortages of ammunition, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 2 that allies' political games limit Ukraines defense capabilities and lead to deaths as a result of Russias strikes.

On March 2, the Ukrainian authorities reported on Russias attacks on Kherson, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. According to them, two people were killed, and five were injured.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Shehbaz Sharif first became PM in 2022 after Imran Khan was ousted

Pakistan's newly formed parliament has elected Shehbaz Sharif as prime minister for a second term.

He defeated a rival supported by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The move comes three weeks after an inconclusive general election that was marred by allegations of intimidation and vote-rigging.

Mr Sharif's PML-N party came second in the poll. Independent candidates backed by Mr Khan's PTI won the most seats but failed to get a majority.

On Sunday, National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced that Mr Sharif had secured 201 parliamentary votes. He needed 169 to be elected prime minister.

His rival Omar Ayub, who was supported by Mr Khan's Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, won 92 votes.

Supporters of Imran Khan protested outside the National Assembly before the vote

In his victory speech, Mr Sharif said that as no side had a clear parliamentary majority, it was "the democratic way" that "like-minded parties may form a coalition government".

Following last month's election, the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) - headed by Nawaz Sharif, a former prime minister who is Shehbaz Sharif's brother - reached a coalition deal with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP).

In 2022 the two parties, which have traditionally been rivals, joined forces to oust Imran Khan as prime minister and install Mr Sharif as his successor.

After the assembly was dissolved last August, Pakistan was led by a caretaker government.

Imran Khan says the corruption cases against him are politically motivated

Imran Khan was jailed in the run-up to the 6 February election and barred from standing.

He faces more than 150 criminal and civil charges - all of which he denies - as the authorities launched a crackdown on his party.

PTI candidates were forced to run as independents, but won more seats than any other party.
Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas will visit Turkey next week for talks about the Gaza war and reconciliation efforts between Palestinian factions, the Turkish foreign minister said on Sunday.

The visit comes as intensive diplomacy is underway to pause the fighting in the almost five-month-old war between Israel and Hamas sparked by the Palestinian militant group's October 7 attacks.

Egypt, Qatar and the United States have mediated in weeks of talks to secure a truce by the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a week.

Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said: "There is a serious desire and effort to reach a ceasefire before Ramadan," in closing remarks to an annual diplomacy forum in the Mediterranean holiday resort of Antalya.

Fidan confirmed that Abbas would visit the Turkish capital Ankara on Tuesday at the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, a vocal advocate of the Palestinian cause.

Both leaders would discuss "the developments in Palestine, the current course of the war as well as the intra-Palestinian" dialogue, Fidan said.

Hamas, designated a terrorist organisation by the United States, the European Union and Israel, is a rival of Abbas's Fatah faction that rules the semi-autonomous Palestinian Authority in the occupied West Bank.

It ousted Fatah from Gaza in 2007 following its landslide victory in the last Palestinian parliamentary elections the previous year.

Erdogan has become one of the harshest critics of Israel's war in Gaza.

He has branded Israel a "terrorist state" and compared Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to Adolf Hitler while calling Hamas "a liberation group".

The Gaza war began on October 7 with an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official Israeli figures.

Gaza militants also abducted 250 hostages, of whom 130 remain in captivity according to Israel, a figure that includes 31 presumed dead.

Israel's retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 30,410 people, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry.

fo/imm
It happened last week  the deaths of three people from very different walks of life.

Iris Apfel sits for a portrait during her 100th birthday party at Central Park Tower on September 9, 2021 in New York City. / Credit: Noam Galai/Getty Images for Central Park Tower

Designer Iris Apfel died Friday.

The New York-born Apfel, who once called herself a "geriatric starlet," rose to fame in the 1950s and '60s as an interior designer, including on a number of White House restoration projects, eventually working for nine presidents, from Truman through Clinton.

But it was in later life that her bold fashions and saucer-size eyeglasses made Apfel a trendsetter. She even signed a modeling contract at age 97.

In 2011 she told The New York Times, "When you don't dress like everybody else, you don't have to think like everybody else."

Iris Apfel was 102 years old.

Designer & fashion icon Iris Apfel shares secrets of staying young"Iris" producer Rebekah Maysles talks about the fashion icon

Comedian Richard Lewis poses for a portrait in 1985 in Los Angeles. / Credit: Aaron Rapoport/Getty Images

"I wanna get married. My last ... I just broke up with an actress who  look, I don't know if you know me or not, but I'm no gift, okay?"

We also learned Tuesday of the death of comedian Richard Lewis.

Born in Brooklyn in 1947, first in stand-up, then TV and film, Lewis built a career on his dark, neurotic, self-deprecating humor, most recently playing himself opposite close friend Larry David on television's "Curb Your Enthusiasm."

Lewis, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's last year, died of a heart attack at his home in Los Angeles. He was 76.

Larry David pays tribute to childhood friend and co-star Richard LewisRichard Lewis opens up about Parkinson's diagnosis

Portrait of CBS News journalist David Culhane from 1971. / Credit: CBS via Getty Images

And we had a death in our family. We learned this past week of the passing of long-time "Sunday Morning" correspondent David Culhane.

Culhane joined CBS News in 1967, and after a number of assignments, in 1979 he brought his signature style to a fledgling Sunday morning program.

He'd report on all kinds of subjects, from all over the world, for the next 16 years.

Culhane then left CBS and moved to France, where he'd report for National Public Radio.

After retirement, he remained abroad for some years before returning to the United States.

David is survived by his wife, Anne Kinzie Culhane, his four children, and six grandchildren.

Our David Culhane was 93 years old.

From 1980: David Culhane reports on dance teacher Jacques d'Amboise:

From 1994: David Culhane's report on rescuing Block Island's Southeast Lighthouse:

Story produced by Annie Iezzi. Editor: Carol Ross.

The Nobel laureates behind mRNA COVID vaccines

Exploring Mark Rothko's paintings on paper

Jacob Collier: The multi-instrumentalist, musical maximalist talks collaboration
FREDERICKSBURG

Fairview Baptist Church, 900 Charlotte St., hosts a food pantry on the second and fourth Saturday of each month, 9:3011 a.m., for residents of Fredericksburg, Locust Grove and Spotsylvania, Stafford, King George and Caroline counties. Bring ID. 540/373-8377; fairview-baptist.org.

Fredericksburg United Methodist Church, 308 Hanover St., offers Sunday service at 8:15, 9:45 and 11:15 a.m.; and a three-week class Methodism 101 (in-person or Zoom options available). Join Moms Morning In at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday for coffee and conversation in the downstairs youth room. Save the date for a special music presentation of The Rose of Calvary by the Sanctuary choir and orchestra March 17 at the two traditional services. 540/973-9021; fumcva.org.

Grace United Methodist Church at Hartwood, 13056 Elk Ridge Road. Grace Womens Meeting will be held at 7 p.m. first Monday of the month. 540/684-3535.

Hillcrest United Methodist Church, 2208 Lafayette Blvd., holds Sunday service at 10 a.m. 540/898-2180; hillcrestumc.com.

Mount Zion Baptist Church, 309 Wolfe St. Worship in-person or virtually via Facebook (facebook.com/Bishopbutl/). The following services are offered: Sunday school, March 3 at 9:30 a.m.; morning worship service, March 3 at 11 a.m.; and Bible study, March 6 at 7 p.m. (in-person or via Facebook). 540/371-2878.

Shiloh Baptist Church (New Site), 525 Princess Anne St., worships each Sunday at 10 a.m.; masks optional. Services are also livestreamed at shilohnewsite.com and YouTube; or call 1-929-205-6099, meeting ID: 11085999, passcode 22401. 540/371-1153.

Shiloh Baptist Church (Old Site), 801 Sophia St., worships in person and online each Sunday at 10 a.m. Masks are now optional and available. Worship virtually via Facebook, Shiloh Old Site Live; on the churchs website; or by conference call 1-855/552-4463 ID 3487 96 5653. Breakfast is provided to the homeless/less fortunate every Wednesday, 7:308:30 a.m. The food pantry is open on the second and fourth Friday of each month, 9 a.m.noon, and can be accessed from the glass door in front of the church located on Sophia Street. Follow posted signs for directions and safety procedures. 540/373-8701; shiloholdsite.org.

The Presbyterian Church, 810 Princess Anne St. On Sundays, Living In Faith Together (LIFT) time is 8:459:45 a.m., and worship service is at 10 a.m. 540/373-7057; fredericksburgpc.org.

Trinity Episcopal Church, 825 College Ave. Worship services are held Sundays at 8 and 10:30 a.m. The food pantry is open 911 a.m. Monday through Thursday mornings. Limited financial assistance for utilities is sometimes available. Call the church at 540/373-2996 to request this help, and someone will return your call. trinity@trinity-fredericksburg.org.

Turning Point Christian Church, Dorothy Hart Community Center, 408 Canal St. Sunday worship is at 10 a.m. yourturningpointchurch.org.

United Church of Christ of Fredericksburg, 803 Princess Anne St. (Hanover Street entrance), meets Sunday at 10 a.m. 202/255-3320.

Unity of Fredericksburg. Worship Sundays at 10:45 a.m. through Zoom and YouTube livestreaming. Email info@uofva.org for the link. 540/661-7976; uofva.org.

SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY

Christ Episcopal Church, 8951 Courthouse Road. In-person worship is held Sundays at 8 a.m. (Rite I) and 10:30 a.m. (Rite II); 10:30 a.m. worship is streamed on YouTube. Childrens activity bags available. Nursery and Christian education are also at 10:30 a.m.; youth at noon. Lenten Offerings: Souper Bowl Fridays through March 22 at 6 p.m. followed by Compline in the church. Wednesdays through March 27: 11 a.m. confessions; 11:30 a.m. Stations of the Cross; noon Celtic service. Thrift Shop is open Thursday to Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; all proceeds support outreach programs. The food pantry distributes on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, 10 a.m. to noon. Families unable to come during these hours due to work conflicts may retrieve food from lockers on the church campus; for more information email secretary@christchurchspotsy.com. 540/582-5033; christchurchspotsy.com.

Church of the Messiah Episcopal Church, 12201 Spotswood Furnace Lane, holds Sunday worship services at 8:30 a.m. (Rite I) and 11 a.m. (Rite II); the 11 a.m. service is also livestreamed on the churchs Facebook page. Childrens Sunday school and adult education are offered Sunday at 9:45 a.m. Morning prayer services are livestreamed on Facebook at 9 a.m., Monday through Friday. 540/786-3100; churchofthemessiahva.org; facebook.com/cotmfredericksburg.

Cornerstone Chapel, 4743 Patriot Highway, holds services on Sunday at 11 a.m. 540/663-3398; cornerstonechapel.cc.

Eastland United Methodist Church, 10718 Courthouse Road, worships in person on Sunday at 11 a.m.; masks are optional. Services are also livestreamed on the churchs Facebook page. 540/898-6430; eastlandumc.org.

Goshen Baptist Church, 9800 Gordon Road, worships Sunday at 10:45 a.m.; Sunday school is 9:30 a.m. for ages 3 to adult. Awana Clubs for ages 2 through fifth grade is Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. Register on the churchs website. 540/786-7500; goshenbaptistchurch.net.

Impact Church FXBG, 10835 Tidewater Trail, meets Sundays at 10 a.m. Livestream available at YouTube.com/impactchurchfxbg. 540/254-0421; impactfxbg.church.

Mercy Hill Community Church, 9215 Courthouse Road, worships Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Mercyhillcc.org.

New Post Church, 1900 New Post Blvd., worships in person on Sunday at 11 a.m. Services are also streamed at facebook.com/newpostchurch. 540/287-4100; newpost.church.

Peace United Methodist Church, 801 Maple Grove Drive, worships in person on Sunday at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Services are also streamed on Facebook; search for Family Of Peace. 540/786-8585; passthepeacechurch.org.

Potomac Valley Church, 12500 Chewning Lane, worships in person on Sundays at 10 a.m. and provides a childrens ministry. 703/878-6937; povachurch.churchcenter.com.

Redeemer Bible Church, 7610 Heths Salient St., worships in person on Sunday at 9:30 and 11 a.m. Services are also streamed on the churchs Facebook page.

Resurrection Lutheran Church, 6170 Plank Road, worships in person and online on Sunday at 10 a.m. The service is livestreamed on facebook.com/ResurrectionPeople or resurrectionpeople.org. Bulletins are posted one hour before worship. Prayer requests may be left on the chat on the Facebook page. 540/786-7778; resurrectionpeople.org.

Spotswood Baptist Church, 4009 Lafayette Blvd., worships in person on Sundays at 9:30 a.m. (traditional) and 11 a.m. (contemporary). Services are also streamed at Spotswood.org/watch-live and the churchs Facebook page. Small groups meet Sunday mornings and throughout the week. spotswood.org.

St. Matthew Catholic Church, 8200 Robert E. Lee Drive, hosts a drive-up food pantry and baby closet 26 p.m. Wednesdays; 9 a.m. to noon Fridays; and 911 a.m. on the first Saturday of every month.

Tabernacle United Methodist Church, 7310-A Old Plank Road. Worship Sunday in person at 8:15 and 10:30 a.m.; join the 10:30 a.m. service via livestream at tabumc.org/watch. The Resource Closet provides nonperishable food and paper/personal care items to families in need on the last Saturday of the month, 911 a.m. 540/786-6162; tabumc.org.

Wallers Baptist Church, 4001 Partlow Road, Partlow. On Sunday, a contemporary service will be held at 8:30 a.m. and a traditional service will be held at 11 a.m. and posted on the churchs Facebook page by 4 p.m. Sunday. On Wednesdays, Drive Thru Prayer is held in the church parking lot, 56 p.m., and Bible Study is at 6:30 p.m. A free community dinner will be held on Wednesday, March 20 at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome. 540/582-5703; wallersbaptist.com.

Wilderness Community Church, 10501 Plank Road, will hold weekly Celebration service at 10 a.m. Sunday in person and online on YouTube and Facebook. 540/972-8808; wildernesschurch.org; wccprayerandinfo@wildernesschurch.org.

STAFFORD COUNTY

Andrew Chapel United Methodist Church, 1732 Brooke Road, offers Sunday contemporary worship at 9 a.m. Traditional services are Sundays at 11 a.m., in person and on YouTube. Sunday School for all ages is 10 a.m. Bible study is held Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m. 540/659-2461; andrewchapelumc@yahoo.com; andrewchapelumc-staffordva.com.

Antioch United Methodist Church, 138 Kellogg Mill Road, worships in person on Sundays at 9:30 a.m., following current guidelines. A food pantry for qualified families is open every other Thursday from 35 p.m. 540/752-3108; antiochumcstafford.org.

Aquia Episcopal Church, 2938 Richmond Highway, offers worship services at 7:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. most Sundays. Sunday school for all ages is at 9:30 a.m. in the Christian Formation and Fellowship Building. Broadcasts for morning prayer continue at facebook.com/AquiaEpiscopalChurch on most Sundays at 7:30 a.m. and most weekdays at 8 a.m. Bible studies are offered on most Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and most Thursdays at 11 a.m. on Facebook Live. These events are viewable afterward and can be accessed without a Facebook account. Aquias Table provides curbside pickup of takeout meals and Aquias Pantry provides curbside pickup of groceries on most Wednesdays, 67 p.m., while supplies last. 540/659-4007; aquiachurch.org.

Beth Sholom Temple, 805 Lyons Blvd. Friday evening Shabbat services are at 7:30 p.m. On first Fridays, a family Shabbat service is at 7 p.m. On Saturday, Shabbat services are at 10 a.m., and Torah study is at noon. 540/373-4834; bstva.org.

Bethel Baptist Church, 1193 White Oak Road. The church will host a craft show on March 16, 9 a.m.3 p.m. Vendor applications and more information are available on the church website. 540/371-3650; bethelbaptistva.org.

Bethlehem Baptist Church, 135 Chapel Green Road, will hold in-person services on first, second and third Sundays at 10 a.m.; phone conference call is also available. Devotion starts at 9:50 a.m. Services on fourth and fifth Sundays will be by conference call: 425/436-6350 code is 245538#. Communion is held on first Sundays. Bible Study is Wednesdays at 7 p.m. by conference call. On Thursdays, noon day prayer and Sunday school at 7 p.m. are by conference call.

Falmouth Baptist Church, 302 Colonial Ave. On March 17 at the 11 a.m. service, the Little Falls Bluegrass Band will lead worship with music. On April 7 at the 11 a.m. service, the Harvesters Quartet will perform their gospel music during the worship hour. Lunch will be served. falmouthbaptist.net.

Ferry Farm Baptist Church, 1 Westmoreland Drive. On Sundays, classic worship is at 9 a.m. in the sanctuary, and discovery worship is at 11:15 a.m. in the family life center; Jubilate Youth Choir meets at 4:30 p.m., and JoySong Childrens Choir and Youth Mosaic meet at 5 p.m. Wednesday activities begin with supper at 5:45 p.m., followed by Children in Action for children age 5 through grade 5 and Youth Bible Study for grades 612 at 6:30 p.m. THRIVE, a young adult Bible study, meets every other Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. All worship services are also livestreamed at ferryfarmbc.org.

Hollywood Church of the Brethren, 225 Ferry Road. Worship services are Sundays at 11 a.m. in person and on Facebook and YouTube. Sunday school for all ages is 10 a.m. The church hosts a food pantry on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. until noon. Donations are appreciated.

Hulls Memorial Baptist Church, 420 Enon Road. Sunday school and adult Bible study are at 9:30 a.m., and Sunday worship is at 10:45 a.m. Childcare/nursery is provided. 540/371-4124; hullsbaptist.org.

Mount Olive Baptist Church, 395 Mt. Olive Road, worships in person on Sunday at 11 a.m.; or connect on Facebook or by conference call to 202/602-1295, access code 778-183-179#. 540/752-4296.

New Hope United Methodist Church, 164 New Hope Church Road, has resumed in-person worship. A drive-in option is also available. The service can be viewed on YouTube and Facebook. 540/370-4875; newhopeva.com.

Rock Hill Baptist Church, 12 Van Horn Lane. On Sunday, Bible study for all ages is at 9:30 a.m.; worship service is at 11 a.m. 540/752-0336; rockhillbaptistchurch.org.

St. Lukes Anglican Church, 65 Warrenton Road, Falmouth, celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on Sundays at 11 a.m. Sunday school for adults and children is at 10 a.m. Every Friday in Lent at 5 p.m.: Chosen Evenings. Join for evening prayer, a meal, and two episodes of Chosen Season 1. 540/371-8405; stlukeanglican.org.

St. Matthias United Methodist Church, 426 Deacon Road, worships in person Sundays at 10 a.m. 540/373-8759; stmtoday.com.

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Fredericksburg, 25 Chalice Circle, worships Sunday at 10:30 a.m., in person and online. Zoom and YouTube links may be found at uuffxbg.org. 540/310-4001.

KING GEORGE COUNTY

Antioch Baptist Church, 11102 James Madison Parkway, will celebrate its annual Mens Day service March 17 at 3 p.m. The guest preacher will be Rev. Lester Harvey, pastor of the New Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Caret, Va. theantiochbaptistchurch.org; facebook.com/THEABCKG.

Emmanuel Church, 17062 James Madison Parkway, hosts Rite II Holy Communion on the third and fifth Sundays at 10 a.m. 540/775-3635; hwbkgva.org.

Fletchers Chapel United Methodist Church, 8330 Fletchers Chapel Road, holds in-person worship on Sunday at 9 a.m., followed by adult Sunday school at 10 a.m. On the second Sunday of each month, Coffee Fellowship is at 10 a.m. with Sunday school at 10:30 a.m. 540/775-7247; fletcherschapel-kinggeorge-va.org.

Gods Holy Temple, 17192 Kings Highway, worships Sundays at 11 a.m.; Bible study is Wednesdays at 7 p.m.

Good Hope Baptist Church, 17223 Good Hope Road, worships in person on Sundays at 9 a.m. Masks are required.

Little Ark Baptist Church, 15681 Owens Drive, holds Bible school at 8:45 a.m. and worship service at 10 a.m. on Sunday; worship is streamed on Facebook Live. Bible study is Wednesday at 6 p.m. The churchs radio broadcast is Saturday at 4:40 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at dmvpoweredgospel.airtime.pro. 540/663-2831; little.arkbc@gmail.com; littlearkbaptistchurch.org.

Mountain View Baptist Church, 6713 Passapatanzy Drive. On Sunday, small group Bible study is at 10 a.m., followed by a worship service at 11 a.m. On Wednesday, youth group for grades 712, adult Bible study and CIA Adventures for preschoolgrade 6 are at 7 p.m. mtnviewbaptistchurch.org.

Peace Lutheran Church, 5590 Kings Highway. On Sundays, a contemporary service is held at 8:30 a.m., and a traditional service is held at 10:30 a.m.; Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. The traditional service is livestreamed on Facebook or may be viewed later at facebook.com/peacekgva under videos. 540/775-9131; peacekg.com.

Shiloh Baptist Church, 13457 Kings Highway, will host its annual Womens Tea on March 2, from 2-4 p.m. This years theme is Sing the praises of the Lord, you his faithful people, praise His holy namePsalm 30:4. Women in the community are welcome to sign up for this event while tables are available. 540/7754646; kgshiloh.org; facebook.com/kgshiloh.

St. Johns Episcopal Church, 9415 Kings Highway, hosts Rite II Holy Communion on the first, second and fourth Sundays at 10 a.m.; coffee hour follows the service. 540/775-3635; hwbkgva.org.

St. Pauls Episcopal Church, 5486 St. Pauls Road, worships in person Sundays at 8 and 10 a.m., following current health guidelines. 540/663-3085; stpaulskgva.org.

St. Stephens Baptist Church, 9142 Comorn Road, worships in person Sundays at 10 a.m. Access the service by conference line at 1-712/832-8330, access code 8055544#, or on Facebook Live.

CAROLINE COUNTY

County Line Baptist Church, 3461 Ladysmith Road, Ruther Glen, offers Sunday Worship services at 8:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. with Childrens Church, Sunday school and Small Groups at 10 a.m. Food Pantry (non-perishables) is open Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 804/448-2915; countylinebaptist.com.

First Baptist Church, 9262 Guinea Station Road, Woodford, will hold in-person service Sunday at 11 a.m. The guest pseaker will be Rev. Andrew Conley. Masks are optional; temperatures will be checked. Stream services at us02web.zoom.us/j/8046334233 (meeting ID: 8046334233). To dial in, call 301/715-8592 (meeting ID: 8046334233). 804/633-4233; firstbaptistwoodford.com.

Long Branch Baptist Church, 14297 Long Branch Road, Woodford. On Sunday, Sunday school is 10 a.m. and worship service is 11 a.m. The service is also streamed on the church website and YouTube. Bible study is Wednesdays, 78 p.m.; call in to 605/313-5416, access code 7856145#. 540/373-0690; lbbcwoodford.org.

River Rock Church Caroline, Lewis and Clark Elementary School, 18101 Clark and York Blvd., Ruther Glen, worships Sundays at 10:15 a.m. Service is also streamed at riverrockcc.com. Community groups meet in person Sunday mornings at 9 a.m. and throughout the week; they can be found at riverrockcc.com/next-steps/community-groups.

St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 10306 Ladysmith Road. In-church Mass is held Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 8:30 and 11 a.m. The church sponsors a drive-up food pantry on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 67:30 p.m. Bring your ID. 804/448-9064; saintmarycc.org.

St. Paul United Methodist Church, 25187 Signboard Road, Ruther Glen, meets in person on Sundays at 11 a.m.

ORANGE COUNTY

Mount Olive Baptist Church, 11251 Tower Road, Unionville. Sunday service is held at 10 a.m.

The Lake of the Woods Church, 1 Church Lane, Locust Grove, will host the Blue Ridge Chorale in concert on May 3 at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free, but donations are appreciated. 540/972-9060; lowchurch.org.

CULPEPER COUNTY

Christ Episcopal Church, 14586 Alanthus Road, Brandy Station, will hold a regular church service Sunday at 9 a.m. christchurchbs.com.

Culpeper United Methodist Church, 1233 Oaklawn Drive, will host the Blue Ridge Chorale in concert on May 5 at 3 p.m. The concert is free, but donations are appreciated. 540/399-1843. culpeperumc.org.

Jeffersonton Baptist Church, 18498 Springs Road, Jeffersonton, hosts Bible study Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the church and online. 540/937-5446; jeffersontonbaptistchurch.org.

Oakland Baptist Church, 28348 Eleys Ford Road, Richardsville. Worship in person on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. Sunday school is at 9:30 a.m. 540/399-1248; obcrichardsville@gmail.com.

St. Stephens Episcopal Church, 115 N. East St. The Food Closet is in need of lunch foods: canned chicken, canned tuna, ramen, canned soup, peanut butter, jelly, juice boxes. Drop off donations 9 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday. Park at 120 N. Commerce St. For more information, visit ststephensculpeper.net/culpeper-food-closet or contact 540/825-1177 or culpeperfoodcloset@gmail.com. 540/825-8786; ssec@ststephensculpeper.net; ststephensculpeper.net.

WESTMORELAND COUNTY

Our Lady of Good Hope Anglican Catholic Church, at Stilfontein Priory, 11264 Kings Highway, Montross, celebrates the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass every Sunday at 5 p.m. Church open daily for private prayer. 804/465-1986; stilfonteinpriory.org.

REGIONAL

First Baptist Church, 5340 Tidewater Trail, Loretto, holds worship services in the gym on Sundays at 11 a.m. Temperature checks, social distancing and masks/face coverings are required. Sunday worship and Wednesday 7 p.m. Bible study is livestreamed at facebook.com/fbcloretto or the conference line, 313/209-8800, access code 2610624#. Moments of Inspiration for Seniors is Thursdays, 66:30 p.m.; call 425/436-6367, access code: 871111. 804/443-5007.

Kirk OCliff Presbyterian Church, 16420 Monrovia Road, Mineral, holds services Sundays at 11 a.m. with Sunday school at 10 a.m. 540/854-5525; kirk@kirkocliff.org; kirkocliff.org.

Temple of Deliverance, HCG, 5756 Zachary Taylor Highway, Mineral, holds Sunday worship at 11 a.m. Arrive early for temperature check; masks are optional. Sermon is livestreamed at 11:30 a.m. on Facebook Live. Bible study sessions are Mondays and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. on Facebook Live. Ladies Evening Prayer is Tuesday at 8 p.m. by conference call; dial in: 978/990-5066, access code: 2133327. The church operates a food pantry every third Thursday, 57 p.m., in the basement. 540/894-4458; templeofdeliverancehcg.org.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing two more North Texas school districts for allegedly using state resources to influence political races through illegal electioneering.

Paxton is suing Huffman ISD and Aledo ISD, the Office of the Attorney General announced in a news release Friday.

During a school meeting at Hargrave High School, Huffman ISD superintendent Benny Soileau instructed faculty to vote for 16 specific politicians who supported certain policies, the release says. When school staff asked for a list of the endorsed politicians, Soileau said that a Huffman ISD administrator would provide it, the suit alleges.

Aledo ISD officials are also being accused of using school resources to promote certain political policies and measures, according to the release.

In a post on X, Aledo ISD said the district is being sued for electioneering for sending a community email that read, discussing the schools budget and how voting in the primary election would greatly impact Aledo schools.

To suggest that our public school budget is not impacted by this Primary Election  the Primary Election through which those who make decisions for funding for public schools will be elected  certainly seems less than transparent to us, the district said in the post.

The district says that after consulting with legal counsel, it is determined that the email cited by the Office of the Attorney General did not constitute electioneering.

In all things, we work hard to be transparent and make sure our community and staff are well informed, the district said in the post. We also believe that exercising ones right to vote is a civic duty that should be encouraged and promoted.

While the Office of the Attorney General cannot prosecute criminal violations of the Election Code, Paxton is seeking civil injunctive relief.

School districts should be aware that illegal electioneering is criminal conduct and violators could be subject to criminal prosecution by local authorities, the Office of Attorney General said in the release. While unable to criminally prosecute violators at this time, Attorney General Paxton is committed to using all available means to protect the integrity of Texas elections.

The lawsuits come just days after Paxton filed suits against Denton, Frisco, Denison, and Castleberry ISDs for similar allegations.

Castleberry ISD agreed to an injunction against electioneering and Frisco ISD has been placed under a temporary restraining order, according to the release.
A Pennsylvania man has been arrested and charged with the slaying of a pregnant Amish woman whose body was found in her home last week.

Shawn Cranston, 52, of Corry, was taken into custody Friday night less than a week after 23-year-old Rebekah Byler was found with what Pennsylvania police said appeared to be cutting wounds to her neck and head.

Mr Cranston is accused of breaking into the home on Fish Flats Road in Sparta Township and killing Byler by shooting her in the head and/or slashing her throat, according to the criminal complaint.

Bylers husband, Andy Byler, found her body inside the home shortly on 26 February. Two young Byler children at the home were not harmed, Trooper Cynthia Schick told The Associated Press.

The killing shocked the rural community in northwestern Pennsylvania, where people say the Amish get along well with their neighbors in the area.

Shawn Cranston, 52, of Corry, was taken into custody Friday night and charged with Rebekah Bylers murder (Crawford County Correctional Facility)

Mr Cranston was arrested Friday outside of a Dollar General store on Main Street, next to his home.

He has been charged with criminal homicide, criminal homicide of an unborn child, burglary and criminal trespass, according to court documents.

At a preliminary arraignment on Saturday morning, he was denied bond and remains in Crawford County jail. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for 15 March.

Following the arrest, a woman claiming to be his foster daughter told FOX66 that Cranston is the only father shes ever known and believes the murder is a case of mistaken ideinity.

Like I could never picture my dad being that cold-hearted monster. Never in a million years, the woman said.

As far as I know, he just wanted his grandson back, she added as she explained that the Amish couple who lived in Bylers home a few years ago had adopted Mr Cranstons grandson.

Supposedly she started yelling at him, coming in, then thats when boom, all it took. Its just horrifying to think that, she said.

Rebekah Bylers body was found inside her home on the Fish Flats property (WJET)

A sign on the sidewalk outside an antique store in Spartan pays tribute to the slain woman (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press, All Rights Reserved)

The Amish generally follow basic Christian beliefs and practices but are not homogeneous, according to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies at Elizabethtown College in Pennsylvania.

They are known for simple clothing and for relying on horses and buggies for transportation. Local congregations maintain a variety of rules and restrictions regarding dress, the use of technology and participation in American society.

The overall Amish population is nearly 400,000 people in hundreds of settlements across 32 states, Canada and Bolivia. Pennsylvania has one of the greatest concentrations of Amish.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP)  A Pennsylvania woman faces a life term after being convicted of murder and weapons offenses last week in the shooting and stabbing deaths of her father and his longtime girlfriend 2 1/2 years ago in New Jersey.

The Asbury Park Press reported that 57-year-old Sherry Lee Heffernan of Landenberg showed no emotion when the jury foreperson in Ocean County announced Friday that she had been found guilty of the murders of her father, John Enders, 87, and Francoise Pitoy, 75, Enders longtime live-in girlfriend. She faces life in prison when she is sentenced May 10.

One of Pitoys daughters, Valerie Lewis Evans, put her head down and clasped her husbands hand, then turned and smiled at Enders grandson, Andrew Vero, the Asbury Park Press reported.

The bodies of the victims were discovered in the fall of 2021 at his waterfront home in Surf City on Long Beach Island. Police said both had been shot in the jaw and stabbed dozens of times.

New Jersey authorities alleged that Heffernan was upset with her father because she had been cut out of his will, and she traveled to the home in her recreational vehicle on the night of Sept. 29, 2021. Prosecutors cited evidence tracking the vehicle and Heffernans cellphone along that route, as well as three footprints identified as hers on blood-stained areas of the homes kitchen floor.

Defense attorneys Steven Altman and Phil Nettl argued there was no evidence that Heffernan was in the vehicle and cited testimony taking issue with the idea that a person seen climbing over a fence at the home was her. Altman said defense attorneys believed they had raised enough issues to bar a guilty verdict, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Heffernan was arrested in October 2021 and has been held in Ocean County jail ever since. The Daily Local News reports that she was extradited from Pennsylvania after a brief appearance in Chester County Court of Common Pleas during which she told a reporter she was not guilty and was being framed.

Evans said she was happy with the verdict, adding that prayers do work. Sandrine Lewis, Pitoys other daughter, said she felt justice had been done, the Asbury Park Press reported.

Its pure relief, and we can move on now, Vero said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC27.
ATHENS, Georgia  The national debate over immigration intensified last week after Donald Trump excoriated President Joe Biden, saying his border policies are to blame for the death of a 22-year-old nursing student who authorities allege was killed by an undocumented immigrant in Athens, Georgia.

Republicans up and down Georgia are also blaming Democratic policies and pushing for tough immigration laws that would make it more difficult to cross the border.

Now, Hispanic residents in Athens say they fear the fiery rhetoric will lead to backlash against the Hispanic and immigrant communities, leaving individuals at risk of violence or harsh local policies.

People are scared, said Maria, a clerk at a Mexican grocery store in Athens. Those interviewed asked that only their first or middle names be used because of their immigration status and fears of retaliation. I can understand that because this terrible thing has turned to all of us immigrants. ... Were not all the same. One bad man cannot change the face of all Hispanic people.

Laken Riley, a former University of Georgia student, was reported missing by a roommate after she didn't return from a morning run last week. Police later found her dead in a wooded area on campus.

Authorities arrested Jose Antonio Ibarra, 26, in connection with her death on murder and assault charges. Federal authorities said he entered the U.S. illegally in 2022 and was arrested at least once before.

Trump's message linking immigrants to violent crime has been one of his signature platforms. From first announcing he would be running for president in 2015  where he claimed Mexico sent "rapists" to the United States  Trump has used the same term to describe Mexican immigrants throughout his campaign and time in the White House.

Research suggests immigrants commit fewer crimes than people born in the U.S.

Republicans blame Biden's 'failed policies'

Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp and former President Donald Trump have both placed blame for the tragedy on Biden, accusing his "failed policies" for allowing violent crime in the country.

"The American people know exactly what happened," Kemp told Fox News Tuesday. "This president ... did not (secure the border). ... Now we have a dead young woman because of it."

Biden and Trump both visited the border last week, clashing over policy for reforms. Biden called for Congress to pass bipartisan legislation that would introduce some of the toughest restrictions at the border in a generation.

"Both houses supported this legislation until someone came along and said, 'Don't do that, it will benefit the incumbent,'" Biden said, blaming Trump for the bill being stymied. "That's a hell of a way to do business in America for such a serious problem."

Trump, speaking in Eagle Pass, Texas, Thursday, referred to "Biden migrant crime" when discussing Riley's death. He blamed Biden for allowing millions of people to come into the U.S. from other countries and asserted that migrants are dangerous and "coming from prisons."

The immigration debate spurred by Riley's killing has led one Georgia bill, first introduced earlier this year, to gain momentum in the state legislature. The legislation would restrict funding for Georgia law enforcement agencies that fail to aid federal immigration authorities, such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It would also require every eligible police and sheriff's department to help identify undocumented immigrants, arrest them and detain them for deportation.

Georgia House Republicans passed it Thursday.

Samuel Thomas, an immigration attorney in Athens said the bill allows the state to crack down on any sheriff's department or local law enforcement agency that does not cooperate with ICE.

"I believe that they (immigrants) are sharing some anxiety right now given the fact that what Georgia is trying to do with their new bill is crackdown on any kind of arrest to try to get the status of the person you're putting under arrest," he said.

Jean-Luc Rivera, deputy executive director of the Latino Community Fund Georgia, an organization supporting Latinx and Hispanic communities in the state, spent Thursday at the Capitol in Atlanta to lobby state legislators to vote against the bill. He claims the legislation is spreading fear and creating a "pressure cooker environment" among the immigrant and Hispanic communities.

"Essentially, people will have to carry their passport at all times if you think you could be suspected of being a foreign national," Rivera said. "It really opens the doors for a lot of scary legislation."

'I think it's going to get bad'

Rosa, a Mexican national who is in the country undocumented, fears the intense political pressure may lead local officials to reinstate a procedure to hold people in the country illegally for 48-hours so ICE can pick them up. If the policy changed, she said shed be constantly under the threat of deportation, which she hasnt felt since she arrived in Athens 11 years ago with her family.

The mother of three, who cant get a license, currently only drives when she cant get a ride to the specialty market where she works. But she says the change in policy would make her stop taking the risk.

I think its going to get bad, she said. Theres always been a risk for immigrants but with all this  I dont know where its going to take us.

Balancing part-time jobs with responsibilities at home, Juan, an undocumented immigrant from El Salvador, said he has little time for worry. But that changed when his wife asked him this week if there were other places in the U.S. where hed consider living.

It was the first time shed mentioned anything about moving their family of four out of Athens, where theyve been for six years and have comfortably settled.

It will take a lot to make us leave here, he said. (but) if people get angry and Athens is not safe for my family, what else can we do?

A crowd of people gather to mourn the loss of Laken Riley during a vigil for the Augusta University College of Nursing student at the Tate Plaza on the University of Georgia campus in Athens Feb. 26, 2024.

'Used as a political chip'

The Hispanic Student Association at the University of Georgia, where Riley was a former student, said in a statement on Instagram that the group has received hatred and bigotry following Riley's death.

"The hurtful and discriminatory comments made following the tragic loss of one of our own have deeply shaken us all," the statement reads.

Rivera's organization, the Latino Community Fund Georgia, also denounced hateful comments members of the Hispanic community are receiving, saying in a statement that certain characteristics should not be used to make generalizations or accusations about large groups of people.

"We firmly reject any comments, or statements that imply immigrants and or Latinos are dangerous or a problem to our communities," the group says.

Rivera said he was first shocked when he heard about Riley's killing.

"But then things started to take a turn and you could see that this was going to be used as a political chip as well," he said. "That's when I started to get very concerned about how this would affect the immigrant community in Georgia."

Rivera said he thinks the politicization of Riley's murder detracts from the main issues  like violence against women  and leads to retaliatory legislation against immigrants, race baiting and more divisive tactics.

Protesters call for Athens mayor to resign

Tensions boiled over at a news conference this week, where Athens-Clarke County Mayor Kelly Girtz was interrupted by protesters calling for his resignation. Some yelled out "liar" as he was speaking while others held signs reading "BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS" and "#MakeAthensSafeAgain."

The protesters repeatedly referred to a resolution signed by Girtz in August 2019 that denounced white supremacy and declared it necessary that all people, including those without documentation, feel welcome and comfortable interacting with local law enforcement and their government.

The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government is welcoming to people from all lands and backgrounds and strives to foster a community where individuals and families of all statuses feel safe, are able to prosper, and can breathe free, according to the resolution.

Girtz said his government has not adopted any policies that make Athens a sanctuary city, a general term used to describe local governments that limit cooperation with federal agencies enforcing immigration laws.

The Georgia state legislature banned sanctuary city policy in 2009 and, since 2016, has required local governments to submit a document each year certifying that it has no policies in place that prevent employees from notifying federal officials of a persons immigration status, according to the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts. Girtz told reporters his office has always complied with state law.

In 2018, the Clarke County Sheriffs Office, which runs the jail in Athens, revised its policy requiring jail personnel to hold arrested immigrants for 48 hours and notify Immigrant and Customs Enforcement.

For about the last six years, the sheriffs office only holds undocumented immigrants in the jail and notifies federal authorities if theres a warrant out for their arrest, according to a copy of the policy provided by the sheriffs office to USA TODAY. The sheriffs office maintains in the policy that it cannot detain people solely on the basis of being an undocumented alien.

Deborah Gonzalez, the Western Circuit District Attorney, who is running for reelection, said in her day-one memo that her office will take into account collateral consequences to undocumented defendants when making charging decisions.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Hispanics fear for safety after killing flames immigration debate
Philadelphia Phillies right fielder Nick Castellanos walks to the field for a baseball spring training workout Monday, Feb. 19, 2024, in Clearwater, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP)  Nick Castellanos' son served as a batboy for the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday, and the slugger made sure young Liam was on the job.

Castellanos led off the second inning of a spring training game against Minnesota with a home run to left field. When he got back to home plate after rounding the bases, Castellanos pointed to Liam and then motioned to the bat at his feet. Liam then jogged out to retrieve his father's lumber.

As a dad, Ive got to hold him accountable, Nick Castellanos told reporters.

Castellanos, who turns 32 on Monday, is beginning his third season in Philadelphia. He hit .272 with 29 homers and 106 RBIs last year.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
UPDATE: Police say Marcele Marcy Rauterkus has been found safe.

Pittsburgh police are searching for a missing woman from the citys Crafton Heights neighborhood.

Police say Marcele Marcy Rauterkus, 66, was last seen in the Homewood/Regent Square area.

Rauterkus is 5 feet, 6 inches tall, weighs 160 pounds and has brown hair and brown eyes. She may walk with a limp.

Anyone who sees Rauterkus or knows where she is should contact police by calling 412-323-7141 or dial 911.

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Plans for a new federal prison in Letcher County are once again moving forward, after years of starts and stops.

A draft environmental impact statement, which is required by law as an assessment of how the prison would affect the natural environment as well as the nearby community, was released Friday.

Now, a period for public comment has begun.

The facility would house just over 1,400 inmates, including 1,152 people at a medium-security federal correctional institution and 256 people at an adjacent minimum-security federal prison camp, according to a news release from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

The proposed location is at a former coal mining site in Roxana, about 10 miles west of Whitesburg.

Congressman Harold Hal Rogers applauded the plans, saying hes pleased that the environmental impact statement confirms that the proposed site of the new prison meets federal requirements.

If this new prison facility isnt built in Letcher County, it will be built in another state and Kentucky will lose out on the funding and opportunities that come with it, Rogers said in a news release.

Rogers release said he has secured more than $500 million in federal funding for a new federal prison, which is needed to address safety, modernization needs and overcrowding.

Building a medium-security prison and camp in Letcher County will add more than 300 jobs in our region, employing people from surrounding counties, and providing other economic development opportunities, Rogers said.

Rogers said the federal prison system already has more than 1,300 employees in his district, which brings in more than $83.7 million in wages to the area each year.

Plans for a new federal prison in Letcher county have been under discussion since 2006, when Congress authorized the Board of Prisons to begin the studies necessary for the project.

In the years that followed, the government went through the process of completing multiple environmental impact statements.

The director of the Bureau of Prisons approved building a $500 million prison in Letcher County in May 2018 but withdrew the approval in July 2019 after a lawsuit by the Abolitionist Law Center, which argued on behalf of inmates that the Bureau of Prisons hadnt provided information about the project to inmates and that the project would damage the environment and expose inmates at the facility to toxic pollutants at the old mine site.

The Bureau of Prisons responded that it had done a good environmental assessment and did not anticipate environmental threats to inmates or employees. However, the agency later withdrew approval for the project, citing new information which may be relevant to the environmental analysis.

In 2022, the bureau again began pursuing plans for a new prison in Letcher County.

The environmental impact statement says the plan to build at Roxana has had consistent, continuous, and unwavering support expressed by Letcher Countys elected representatives, community leaders, members of local institutions and businesses, and the general public.

The 45-day review period for public comment on the project began Friday and ends April 15.

Until then, comments can be submitted through the project website.

Written comments can also be submitted by emailing kshudson@bop.gov or by mail sent to Kimberly S. Hudson, Chief, Construction and Environmental Review Section, Federal Bureau of Prisons, 320 First Street, NW, Room 901-5 West, Washington, DC, 20534.

A public meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. March 28 at Letcher County Central High School in Whitesburg. People can attend in person or via Zoom.

A final environmental impact statement is expected to be completed by May, and a final decision on the project would be announced by July, according to a schedule published by the Bureau of Prisons.

Herald-Leader reporter Bill Estep contributed to this story.
Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Andrzej Szejna has confirmed that Poland is holding talks with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding exempting Poland from some provisions of the European Green Deal.

Source: Andrzej Szejna on Radio ZET, as reported by onet; European Pravda

Details: Szejna confirmed that Poland is holding informal talks with von der Leyen regarding exempting Poland from some of the European Green Deal provisions in light of the fact that Poland is the closest major agricultural market to Ukraine.

Szejna added that the exemptions may cover "everything possible thats part of the Green Deal, or an influx of products that is causing regular market disruptions in one country or the majority of countries".

"If we can [get the EU to] agree to Polands demands, just as we were able to successfully agree on EU measures, they will become the Unions common position. I also want to add, and here I am quoting Prime Minister [Donald] Tusk, that if this takes too long, we will introduce changes, we will start unilaterally blocking borders and bringing in levees and customs duties," Szejna added.

He also said that "the issue of border trouble will no longer exist" by the time Poland-Ukraine consultations take place on 28 March.

Background:

On 1 March, it was reported that the European Union would tighten control on compliance with the agreements by hauliers transporting grain from Ukraine. The intention is to appease EU farmers and promote free trade, which benefits the entire bloc.

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A 20-year-old student at the University of Texas at Dallas who went missing on Feb. 24 has been confirmed dead, according to authorities.

Richardson police on Saturday confirmed the death of Andrew Zhou Li, who was a sophomore at the university, UTD police said in a social media post. He was not found on campus and authorities believe there is no threat to the community.

The cause of Lis death remains under investigation by Richardson Police Department detectives and the Collin County Medical Examiners Office. The official cause of death is pending toxicology results, according to Richardson police.

In an update on Monday, Richardson police said Lis body was found about 7:30 a.m. Saturday under the DART rail tracks in the 3200 block of Routh Creek Parkway.

Li was reported missing after he was last seen in his on-campus apartment on the evening of Feb. 24.

His mother, Ai Ping Zhou, drove to the campus from her home in Houston to help search for her son, Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV reported.

Zhou briefly spoke with her son two days before his disappearance, according to WFAA. She became concerned when a text message she sent on Feb. 24 was left unread and the 20-year-old didnt answer his phone.

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We all grieve with Andrews family and friends at this sorrowful outcome. We offer our sincere condolences to all who knew him, UTD police said.

Authorities encourage the public to use the universitys counseling services.

For UTD students, the Student Counseling Center is available for appointments. Students can also access 24/7 counseling through UTDTALK 972-883-8255 and TimelyCare.

The university will hold its annual Comets Remember ceremony on March 19 to honor all UTD students who have passed away within the academic year.
Police are investigating a homicide after a man was dead Saturday night in Kansas City.

Officers responded just after 6 p.m. to the area of Front Street and North Century Avenue on a call that a dead body had been found, according to Capt. Jake Becchina, a spokesman for the Kansas City Police Department.

Police found an unresponsive man, who appeared to be injured. Emergency medical services declared the man dead at the scene.

Officers took a subject of interest into custody near the scene for further questioning.

The mans cause and manner of death are under investigation by the medical examiner. Detectives and crime scene investigators processed the scene for evidence and are investigating what led to the victims injuries.

The killing was the 20th homicide in Kansas City this year, according to data tracked by The Star. At this time last year, there had been 22 homicides.
Amphistylar is one of those words that most adults would struggle to spell or even understand its meaning.

It was also the word that sent Spotsylvania eighth-grader Daphne Reno on to the Scripps National Spelling Bee that will be held in May at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center at National Harbor, Md.

Daphne, a student at Battlefield Middle School, won the Fredericksburg Regional Spelling Bee over 14 other competitors Saturday in the James Monroe High School auditorium. Saturdays competitors had earned their way into the regional bee with their performances at bees at the district level, and represented public schools in Caroline, Culpeper, Fauquier, Fredericksburg, King George, Orange, Spotsylvania, Stafford and Westmoreland.

There were also representatives from area private, Catholic and home schools. The contest featured six eighth-graders, including runner-up Patrick Wilt of Gayle Middle School in Stafford. There were also four seventh-graders, two each from the sixth and fifth grades, and a fourth-grader, Grymes Memorial School student Louise Beckham.

Daphne gathered after the event to celebrate with her two younger sisters and her parents, Michael Reno and Melissa Nelson, who called their daughters victory very exciting.

Daphne, who placed third in the 2023 regional bee, said she began doing spelling bees as a first-grader at Hugh Mercer Elementary in Fredericksburg and has participated in several since then. Her parents said she started reading at the age of 2 and studied about a half-hour a day, four to five days a week, in preparation for Saturdays contest.

I may have to do a little more than that, Daphne said regarding the upcoming national event.

Saturdays bee lasted 13 rounds, with the words becoming more challenging as the contest went on. All 15 contestants breezed through the 45 words spelled in the first three rounds, which included such words as surly, cidery, flexitarian and wharf.

The tiny bell that signaled a misspelled word began sounding in Round 4 when the word beret resulted in the first elimination. Four more students heard the bell in that round, and words such as osmosis, turducken and eschew eliminated five more over the next couple of rounds.

A couple of children appeared distraught as they left the stage, while Walker-Grant Middle School seventh-grader Adam Loudhabachi smiled and gave at least one remaining contestant a high five as he walked off.

By Round 9, only Daphne, Patrick and Fauquier eighth-grader Riley Min were left. All three misspelled their Round 9 words, sciatica, pinniped and emollient, meaning all three continued in the next round.

Patrick was finally eliminated in Round 12, and Daphne captured the first-place trophy by correctly spelling mufti and amphistylar.

Her winnings include accommodations at the national bee and about $600 in spending money. Saturdays event was sponsored by the Central Rappahannock Regional Library and The Free Lance-Star; library representatives handled the logistics.
CHICAGO  Police are asking for help as officers look to identify six people who are believed to have been involved in a violent robbery at a CTA Red Line stop on the citys South Side.

According to Chicago police, the robbery unfolded in the 100 block of West 79th Street in Greater Grand Crossing, just after 7 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 18.

Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines

Officers say the individuals appraised the victim, a 19-year-old man, before they battered him and took his property by force.

Officers provided photographs captured by CTA security cameras of the six individuals who are believed to have been involved.

Police described the individuals involved as five men between 22 and 30 years of age and a woman who is believed to be between 19 and 23 years of age.

Charges filed against 3 accused in Beach Park home invasion

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to contact CPD Mass Transit Detectives at 312-745-4706 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help detectives in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 36-year-old man was found covered in blood at a trolley station in the South Bay overnight and the suspect was arrested in a stolen vehicle Saturday afternoon.

According to the Chula Vista Police Department (CVPD), officers were conducting patrols in the area of the Palomar Trolley Station, located at 1265 Industrial Blvd. in Chula Vista, around 2:20 a.m. Saturday when they discovered the victim.

Victim killed in El Cajon shooting identified as dentist

Police said the man had been stabbed multiple times but was conscious and able to communicate with officers at the scene. He was transported to a local hospital to be treated for his injuries and is expected to recover.

Based on their preliminary investigation, CVPD said it appears the victim was a homeless individual who was sleeping on the premises when attacked. Authorities believe it was unprovoked.

Two shot dead at Grantville apartment complex; no arrests made

CVPD in an update Saturday evening that the suspect, identified as 34-year-old Tulio Gasca of Imperial Beach, was arrested around 4 p.m. Saturday after reportedly stealing a vehicle from the 500 block of Moss Street in Chula Vista.

According to CVPD, the victim of the car theft told police he watched as his vehicle was being stolen and that he was able to follow his vehicle and call police.

The driver of the stolen vehicle was identified as Gasca and was placed under arrested at the time for vehicle theft.

Investigators later learned Gasca is also believed to be the person captured in security footage at the Palomar Trolley Station early Saturday morning. He was booked into the San Diego County Jail and is facing attempted murder and vehicle theft-related charges.

Anyone with more information on the incident is asked call San Diego County Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477 or the P3tips website or app.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Police are searching for a man who they say made threats with a gun toward an Ohio Walmart.

Evendale police said 28-year-old Kenneth Blackwell-Kirkendall made the threats in a Facebook live video Saturday morning, WCPO reported. The Walmart is located at 2801 Cunningham Drive.

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Warrants will be filed to charge him with aggravated menacing, WCPO reported.

Anyone with information about the threats is asked to call the Evendale Police Department at 513-563-2249. Those with information about Blackwell-Kirkendalls whereabouts are asked to call either the Evendale Police Department or 911.
This image from a body camera provided by the Carol Stream Police Dept. shows the fatal shooting of a 30-year-old man inside his apartment. Isaac Goodlow III died at a hospital after he was shot Feb. 3 in Carol Stream, about 34 miles (55 kilometers) west of Chicago. (Carol Stream Police Dept. via AP)

A police department in suburban Chicago on Friday released officer body camera footage of the fatal shooting of a man inside his apartment.

Isaac Goodlow III died at a hospital after he was shot Feb. 3 in Carol Stream, about 34 miles (55 kilometers) west of Chicago.

Carol Stream police said the footage was released with approval from the Public Integrity Team and the DuPage County States Attorneys Office. We share these videos as part of our commitment to transparency and our intention to give the public a fuller understanding of the events that unfolded that morning, the department said.

Following the shooting, the police department said on its Facebook page that officers encountered a tense, uncertain, and rapidly evolving situation, which resulted in officers discharging their weapons at the alleged domestic violence suspect.

Police have said the 30-year-old Goodlow was shot about 5:11 a.m. as officers responded to a domestic violence incident at the Villagebrook Apartments.

Carol Stream Police Chief Donald Cummings said in a video leading up to the released bodycam footage that officers spoke with Goodlows girlfriend, who said the couple had gotten in a physical altercation and that she suffered injuries. She also said her keys still were inside the apartment.

After getting a key from apartment management, officers can be seen approaching the apartment door from a hallway. Once the door was opened, they announced they were police and filed inside, moving toward a closed bedroom door.

Camera footage from officers behind the lead officer shows the bedroom door being kicked in, followed by what appears to be at least two gunshots.

Cummings said two of the six officers fired one shot each, while another officer discharged a Taser. Goodlow was shot once in the chest, Cummings said.

The footage does not show Goodlow's actions after the door was kicked in and before he was shot.

Following the shooting, officers can be heard telling him show me your hands." Goodlow is handcuffed and then turned onto his back as officers begin treating his wound and calling for paramedics.

One officer can be heard telling Goodlow: I need you to stay with me man. Open your eyes, man.

The police department says the footage released is all from the body-worn camera recordings that captured the complete interaction between Goodlow and the officers. Recorded events that preceded and followed the shootings are expected to be released later following a review by the states attorneys office.

Once the investigation is completed by the Public Integrity Team, the states attorneys office will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of all forensic evidence, witness accounts, and officer statements to make a determination regarding the actions of those involved, the police department said.

Attorneys representing Goodlow's family said Friday in a statement that the videos show an unarmed Black man, shot and killed in the sanctity of his own bedroom.

If shot at close-range and tasing was not enough, the officers handcuffed Isaac without first attempting to provide life-saving measures, the statement continued. "Isaac bled out and ultimately died. This is yet another unjustifiable and unconscionable tragedy in America.

Goodlows sisters filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday against the officers and the police department alleging wrongful death and other counts. The complaint seeks unspecified damages.
A poster on a tractor with an address to the Russian dictator Vladimir Putin

Polish farmers protesting on the border with Ukraine have realized that their actions are being used by Russian special services to create hostility between Ukrainians and Poles, Deputy Economy Minister Taras Kachka said on national television on Mar. 2.

It is very good that the farmers themselves have realized that their protests are being used by radical politicians and Russian special services who are trying to create the impression of ethnic hatred between Ukrainians and Poles, he said, referring to media reports that protest leaders admitted they were being used by those scattering Ukrainian grain.

There is an awareness of this risk.

Read also: Polish farmers look for Ukrainian grain at Lithuania border

He also expressed satisfaction that the Polish government is investigating the incidents.

According to Kachka, the Polish farmers demands are becoming more reasonable as a result of negotiations between the governments in Kyiv and Warsaw.

The Polish government has understood and managed to convince the farmers that they are competing with Russian, not Ukrainian, producers of such products as wheat. And not on the territory of Poland, but in the region.

Read also: Some 2,250 Ukrainian trucks stuck in queues at all six Polish checkpoints, State Border Guard Service reports

The border blockade hurts Poland even more than Ukraine.

The Polish farmers announced a complete blockade of the Ukrainian border. From Feb. 20, traffic was blocked at all checkpoints, as well as transportation links and entrances to transshipment railway stations and seaports will be blocked.

Polish Agriculture Minister Czesaw Siekierski recently said that ongoing talks with Ukraine are nearing completion, focusing on introducing restrictions on the import of agricultural products. While a complete closure of the border with Ukraine is not feasible, strict restrictions can be implemented to ensure thorough control of all incoming products, addressing farmers demands, he said.

Read also: Total Ukraine-Poland border closure would be disastrous, freight forwarder warns

Nevertheless, Kyiv and Warsaw are yet to agree on a solution that would assuage the concerns of Polish farmers regarding cheap Ukrainian agricultural products distorting prices in Polands domestic market.

Poland asked Ukraine to cancel the electronic queue for three border crossing points, on Feb. 20. Polish protesters blocked the railway near the Medyka-Shehyni crossing point and dumped grain, that same day.

A rally of Polish farmers on Feb. 20 displayed a banner calling on Putin to "deal with Ukraine and Brussels." Police began an investigation.

Retailers claimed on Feb. 22 that the border blockade would cause an increase in goods prices.

Six border crossings were blocked as of Feb. 22, specifically, Yahodyn, Ustyluh, Uhryniv, Rava-Ruska, Shehyni, and Krakovets.

Grain was dumped from eight wagons of Ukrainian agricultural products on the night of Feb. 25. This was the fourth similar incident in recent days. Poland stated it could not collect all the Ukrainian grain spilled from the wagons and would dispose of it.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Polish protesters continue to block all traffic at border crossing points, stopping all trucks from crossing, State Border Guard Service spokesman Andriy Demchenko said on national TV on March 3.

"Polish farmers continue to block traffic for trucks, said Demchenko.

There are six locations: four in Lviv Oblast and two in Volyn Oblast. As of this morning, a total of more than 2,400 trucks are waiting in queues in all these places in Poland trying to get into Ukraine."

Read also: Polish farmers look for Ukrainian grain at Lithuania border

According to the SBGS spokesman, Ukrainian border guards are recording the largest queue of trucks in the direction of the Krakivets and Yahodyn checkpoints.

At the same time, Demchenko noted that the protesters are not blocking traffic for other types of vehicles.

Read also: Total Ukraine-Poland border closure would be disastrous, freight forwarder warns

"Fortunately, the protesters on the other side of the border do not block traffic for other categories of vehicles, including cars and buses used by ordinary citizens, he added.

So this sort of traffic is free in both directions."

Protests of Polish farmers at the border  what is known

On Feb. 20, protesters began to restrict traffic on the border with Ukraine. Truck traffic was blocked at the Medyka-Shehyni, Dolhobychuv-Uhrynow, Zosyn-Ustyluh, Korczowa-Krakovets, Hrebenne-Rava-Ruska, and Dorohusk-Yagodyn checkpoints.

The farmers put forward many demands, including two main ones: the abolition of duty-free trade with Ukraine and the complete closure of the Ukrainian-Polish border for trucks.

Read also: Ukrainian drivers wait for weeks in dire conditions at Polish border  NV interview

Poland asked Ukraine to cancel the electronic queue for three checkpoints.

Polish protesters also blocked the railroad near the Medyka-Shehyni checkpoint and poured grain out of railroad cars.

In response to the actions of the Poles, Ukrainian carriers began a protest at three checkpoints on the border with Poland on Feb. 20 - Rava-Ruska, Shehyni, and Krakovets.

The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry believes that the blocking of the border by the Poles has no justification, no matter what slogans it is accompanied by. Polish Minister of Development and Technology Krzysztof Hetman said he supports the farmers who are "protesting for a worthy cause."

There were reports of restrictions on passenger traffic. A scandal also erupted over a pro-Russian banner on one of the farm tractors at the border. It read "Putin will deal with Ukraine, Brussels and our government". The Polish police notified the farmer of suspicion of hate crime.

On Feb. 25, protesters poured grain out of eight railroad cars with Ukrainian agricultural products. This was the fourth incident in recent days. Poland stated that it could not collect all the Ukrainian grain that had been poured out of the railroad cars.

On Feb. 28, the Ukrainian and Polish sides held talks on the possibility of unblocking the border and taking into account the interests of farmers.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
JERUSALEM  The recent Biden administration decision to revoke the Trump-era "Pompeo Doctrine," which declared Jewish residences as legal in the core biblical region of the Holy Land, has been met with fierce criticism.

Bidens controversial move unfolded in late February as Israel continues its offensive in the Gaza Strip to root out Hamas terrorists after it launched a war against the Jewish state on Oct. 7.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told Fox News Digital, "In reversing the Pompeo Doctrine, President Biden has now decided to ignore the truth that Judea and Samaria are Israel's land, obtusely viewing it as an obstacle to peace and making the same mistake favored by his predecessor in the Obama administration."

Pompeo added "Undermining Israels right to exist in the Jewish peoples homeland deepens and prolongs the conflict. It is not Israeli settlements that are an obstacle to peace  it is the unwillingness of the Palestinians to come to the table honestly and acknowledge Israels right to exist, the gross atrocities committed by Hamas on Oct. 7, and Hamas continued existence. Those are the true obstacles to peace."

STATE DEPARTMENT IMPOSES FINANCIAL SANCTIONS ON ISRAELI NATIONALS FOR THREATENING PEACE IN WEST BANK

The international community mostly refers to Israels ancient biblical land as the West Bank, while many Israelis refer to the region by its biblical names of Judea and Samaria. Pompeo established during his tenure that Israeli Jews who live in Judea and Samaria, where most of the Bibles history unfolded, are not in violation of international law.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller defended Bidens decision to overturn the Pompeo Doctrine, noting, "It has been the long-standing U.S. position across both Democratic and Republican administrations  not just the Biden administration, not just the Obama administration, but Republican administrations as well  that settlements are a barrier to peace, theyre an obstacle to peace. We believe they weaken, not strengthen, Israels security."

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, the West Bank and Secretary of State Antony Blinken

When asked about the Biden administration gutting the Pompeo Doctrine, a spokesman for Israels Ministry of Foreign Affairs told Fox News Digital. "We will not comment on this."

WORLD, UN SIGNAL NO EXIT FOR CIVILIANS CAUGHT UP IN GAZA WAR: 'POLITICALLY TOXIC'

David Friedman, the former U.S. ambassador to Israel during the Trump administration, wrote on X following the change of policy, that Secretary of State Antony "Blinken is 100% wrong. I researched this for over a year with many State Department lawyers. There is nothing illegal about Jews living in their biblical homeland. Indeed, Undersecretary of State Eugene Rostow, also the Dean of the Yale Law School (who negotiated UNSCR 242), stated that Israel has the best legal claim to Judea and Samaria. For Blinken to announce this in the middle of a war and when the Jewish Sabbath already has begun in Israel is unconscionable."

A number of Republicans took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to express outrage over Bidens reversal of the Pompeo Doctrine.

Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., wrote, "Ambassador @DavidM_Friedman is correct. The Biden Admins disgraceful reversal undermines a close friend while rewarding the genocidal terrorists they are fighting. It is not a legal assessment. It is a political calculation meant to appease the pro-Hamas radical left. Shameful."

STEPS WHERE JESUS WALKED AND HEALED A BLIND MAN UNEARTHED FOR FIRST TIME IN 2,000 YEARS

United Nations Security Council Resolution 242 was passed after Israels 1967 self-defensive war against Arab nations. UNSCR 242 does not mandate that Israel withdraw from Judea and Samaria, which it captured during the Six-Day War in 1967.

Israeli governments have long viewed Judea and Samaria as disputed territory and the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the introduction of the Pompeo Doctrine in 2019.

Many GOP lawmakers took to X, calling out the Biden administration's decision on the revoking of the "Pompeo Doctrine," calling it "a slap in the face to Israel."

Miller said the question of whether settlements in Judea and Samaria are legal "is something that had been under review here at the department for some time. "

He continued, "The secretary over the last several months has embarked on a process to try to ensure lasting peace in the region, to establish an independent Palestinian state, and we thought, as we were engaged in that important process, it was important to avoid any ambiguity about the U.S. position on this matter."





Original article source: Pompeo blasts Biden admin for making 'same mistake' as Obama on settlements in Jewish biblical region
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis on Sunday appealed for an end to the conflict in Gaza, as he showed signs of recovery after suffering from bronchitis.

On Saturday the 87-year-old pope delegated the reading of a speech at a ceremony to an aide, and on Wednesday he made a brief trip to a Rome hospital after he missed reading at his weekly audience, saying he had "a bit of cold".

"Each day I carry in my heart with pain the suffering of the populations in Palestine and Israel due to the ongoing hostilities, thousands of dead, injured, displaced," Francis said, speaking by himself with a clear voice at the Angelus payer in Rome.

Addressing believers in St Peter's Square, Francis stressed the consequences of the conflict on children and asked for the release of all the hostages taken in Hamas' Oct. 7 raid.

"Do you really think you can build a better world in this way? Do you really think you will achieve peace? Enough please! Let us all say enough please! Stop!" Francis said

Francis has had a number of health issues in recent months.

He was forced to cancel a planned trip to a COP28 climate meeting in Dubai at the start of December because of the effects of influenza and lung inflammation.

In January, he was unable to complete a speech owing to "a touch of bronchitis".

(Reporting by Francesca Landini; Editing by Alison Williams)
The nation awaits a pivotal decision from the Supreme Court, possibly coming as soon as Monday, in a case that could determine whether former President Donald Trump will be barred from the 2024 ballot.

The case revolves around efforts to disqualify Trump from future presidential races following his endeavors to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

READ: Supreme Court hears case seeking to remove Trump from 2024 ballot

At the heart of the matter is a groundbreaking ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, which deemed Trump ineligible to run for president again and unfit for participation in the states upcoming primary on Tuesday.

The resolution of this case, expected on Monday, would provide clarity on whether votes cast for Trump, currently the leading Republican candidate, will be counted.

The Colorado courts decision, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment aimed at preventing individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding office, marked the first instance of invoking this post-Civil War constitutional provision.

Trump has faced similar disqualifications in Illinois and Maine, with those rulings also pending the outcome of the Supreme Court case.

Despite the courts customary discretion regarding case announcements, indications point to the Trump ballot case being among those decided on Monday. The courts departure from its usual practices, coupled with the absence of scheduled bench sessions until March 15, heightens expectations for a decision in this case.

While the court typically announces decisions during scheduled sessions, Mondays release will be an exception, as justices wont convene in the courtroom due to the pandemic. Instead, opinions will be published on the courts website shortly after 10:00 a.m. EST.

In a separate development, the justices recently agreed to hear arguments in April regarding whether Trump can face criminal prosecution for election interference charges, including his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

READ: Trump says hes target of Jan. 6 investigation: Heres what to expect next

This politically charged case raises questions about the possibility of Trump standing trial before the November election, as he faces multiple criminal charges across different jurisdictions.

Out of the 91 criminal charges across four prosecutions against the former president, the New York state case appears to be the most imminent trial. The charges in this case revolve around allegations of falsifying business records concerning hush money payments made to a porn actor. Scheduled to commence on March 25, the judge overseeing the case has shown a steadfast commitment to proceeding with the trial.

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Cape Coral's LGBTQ pride was on colorful display Saturday for the annual PRIDE Cape Coral parade.

The parade was part of the sixth-annual PRIDE Cape Coral event, which featured vendors, street performers, food trucks and live entertainment onstage Saturday, including drag queen Kylie Sonique Love of "RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars."

The parade and its surrounding events celebrate and advocate for LGBTQ culture, organizers say. The parade boasts floats, drag queens and rainbow-colored costumes.

Cape Corals 6th Annual PRIDE Celebration parade took place in the downtown area of the city on Saturday. This two-day celebration happens on SE 47th Terrace, between SE 9th Place & SE 11th Place.

Its definitely one of the most unique, colorful, exciting parades in Southwest Florida, thats for sure, organizer AJ Ford said in 2022. Everybody dresses up. Its really fun. 

It really is a flood of dopamine and serotonin and just being able to see the smiles on everybodys faces. People cry because theyre finally able to be themselves in public.

The parade started at about 4 p.m. Saturday and traveled along Southwest 47th Terrace from Southeast 15th Avenue to Southeast Eighth Court.

The two-day PRIDE celebration, including a colorful parade, takes place along SE 47th Terrace in the downtown area of Cape Coral, between SE 9th Place & SE 11th Place.

PRIDE Cape Coral continues Sunday, March 3, with an outdoor brunch and live drag queens  including Kylie Sonique Love  at the corner of Southeast 47th Terrace and Southeast 10th Place in downtown Cape Coral. Tickets for Drag Brunch in the Street are $45.

PRIDE Cape Coral is organized by the nonprofit of the same name. For more information, visit facebook.com/PRIDECapeCoral or pridecapecoral.com.

Spectators lined the route Saturday to catch the unique and colorful parade that celebrates LGBTQ culture.

Charles Runnells is an arts and entertainment reporter for The News-Press and the Naples Daily News. To reach him, call 239-335-0368 (for tickets to shows, call the venue) or email him at crunnells@gannett.com. Follow or message him on social media: Facebook (facebook.com/charles.runnells.7), X (formerly Twitter) (@charlesrunnells), Threads (@crunnells1) and Instagram (@crunnells1).

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Photos of PRIDE Cape Coral parade in downtown Cape
King George High School hosted the regions first Reverse Career Fair on Valentines Day.

Instead of going to an event and learning about available opportunities, about 200 juniors, seniors and some sophomores set up booths about themselves and had career professionals come to them.

The students are all taking Economics and Personal Finance, a financial literacy course required for graduation. They manned booths about themselves, their strengths and their dream job aspirations and hosted mock interviews throughout the day.

About 50 professionals from a variety of businesses and industry, King George County Schools, postsecondary stakeholders, local government, federal government, community organizations, armed services and nonprofits circulated among the students to give them interview experience.

Each student had two to four practice interviews.

The theme of the fair was Remember Me and students strived to create unique displays to set themselves apart.

The kids showed amazing confidence and communication skills, said Bobby McLaughlin, owner of Four Elements Electric said, adding that the Career and Technical Education program is 100% helping them get started in their careers with solid footing.

In preparation for the event, educational partner Rappahannock Goodwill Industries provided workshops at the high school on elevator pitch, a brief way of introducing yourself or an idea; job interviews and dressing for success.

Terri Rinko, the school systems work-based learning specialist, helped students verbalize their strengths with power adjectives. Community members answered the call for enough magazines to use in display boards for all eight participating classes. The schools Economics and Personal Finance teachers gave students time to work on their display boards and slide presentations in class.

Workplace readiness skills are included in competencies taught in Virginia Career and Technical Education classes. King George High Schools inaugural Reverse Career Fair proved to be a powerful venue for students to apply these skills before using them in real job interviews.

Our goal is to help our students appreciate their unique value, to be able to demonstrate important workplace readiness skills and to effectively communicate what makes them the best fit to meet the needs of todays workforce, Rinko said.
ISLAMABAD  Lawmakers in Pakistans National Assembly elected Sunday Shehbaz Sharif as the countrys new prime minister for the second time as allies of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan in parliament shouted in protest against his appointment, alleging rigging in last months election.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who got 92 votes. The winner only needs 169 votes to get a majority.

Ayub enjoyed the backing of Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, whose candidates could not get enough seats to form a government on their own. The PTI refused to hold talks with its rivals to form a coalition.

Following days of negotiations, Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League party and his supporters formed an alliance after the Feb. 8 election, which was overshadowed by militant violence, a nationwide mobile phone shutdown, Khans exclusion from the vote, and an unusual delay in announcing the result.

Authorities said the cutting of communications was necessary to avoid attacks on candidates and security forces.

However, the delay drew criticism from Khans party, which insists the vote was rigged to stop it from getting a majority. The party claims it has evidence that its victory was stolen during the vote count, a charge the Election Commission denies.

Sharif, in his acceptance speech in parliament Sunday, said: We were subjected to political victimization in the past but never took any revenge. Without naming Khan, he said the previous ruler jailed many political rivals, including himself and his ally Asif Ali Zardari.

He also accused Khans supporters of attacking military installations after his ouster in 2022, adding that now parliament and the courts will decide whether those involved in attacking the military installations deserved a pardon.




TUCSON, Ariz.  First lady Jill Biden spoke for only 14 minutes on the second leg of her Women for Biden-Harris tour  but that didn't stop pro-Palestinian protesters from interrupting her remarks four separate times.

Its a genocide, Jill! yelled one of the four demonstrators in Tucson on Saturday morning as he was being forcibly escorted out of the venue by security.

The main focus of the first ladys remarks was supposed to be on womens issues, including abortion rights, which could be on the ballot in Arizona come November.

Extremist Republicans led by Donald Trump are passing laws that prevent women from getting the health care they need, including IVF, said Biden.

But within 13 seconds of beginning her remarks, the first protester piped up.

Less than two minutes later, the second followed. And within 30 seconds of the second disruption, the first lady offered an explanation for keeping her appearance there so short.

I'm sorry to have to come and go so quickly, said Biden.

Wind storms in Nevada are impacting my travel, she added just after the demonstrator was hauled out of the theater.

And just as she was beginning to gather steam in her speech, the third protester shouted out.

Pro-Palestinian protesters outside of the Fox Theater, moments after first lady Jill Biden delivered remarks in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday. (Alex Tabet / NBC News)

Kaliana Venet, 34, is an activist with the Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance, one of the organizations behind the Biden disruptions in Tucson. She wasnt impressed by the first ladys remarks concerning women.

When youre talking about womens issues, when youre talking about women in office, and women in Gaza are having C-sections without anesthesia, watching their children pulled out of the rubble, starving to death  its absolutely shameful, said Venet.

The first ladys plan to hold the second leg of her tour in Tucson may have been bold from the start. Home to the University of Arizona, the college town is home to lots of young voters like Venet. And polling shows young voters are particularly discontented with the way her husband, President Joe Biden, has handled the war.

She should have seen it coming, said Venet.

The unemployed activist voted for Biden in 2020, a decision she now says shes very ashamed of.

The president has been dogged by pro-Palestinian protesters at his public events for months, with his team now taking steps to shield him from the public shaming over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Biden has had to switch to smaller events, the locations of which are kept hushed until the last possible moment to evade protesters.

The White House has announced the upcoming states where the first lady's Women for Biden-Harris tour will be going, but it hasn't yet publicly disclosed specific locations.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Pro-Palestinian protestors interrupted First Lady Jill Bidens event in Tucson, Ariz., on Saturday as she was giving a speech on womens issues.

The essence of the remarks at the Arizona event was supposed to be on abortion rights as Biden was performing her Women for Biden-Harris tour around the country, but early on during her remarks she was interrupted by demonstrators who were calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.

One of the protestors stood up and yelled Jill, when are you and the president going to call for a cease-fire in Gaza? She was later removed from the event by security.

Another demonstrator screamed This is a genocide being committed by our tax dollars  women and girls that matter as she was also removed from the venue.

President Biden has been regularly confronted with pro-Palestine protestors at his campaign events around the nation, with many activists livid with the way his administration has handled the Israel-Hamas war. The pressure has intensified, especially from the progressives and Democrats in Michigan.

Earlier this week, organizers behind the Michigan campaign to vote uncommitted earned a double-digit backing in the Michigan primary, fueling potential for an alternative candidate come November.

On Monday, Biden said during his New York trip that a cease-fire in Gaza could take place before next week, stating that months-long talks between Qatar, Israel, the U.S., Egypt and Hamas are getting negotiators closer to reaching a deal.

Israel reportedly agreed to a framework of a proposed temporary cease-fire and hostage release in Gaza on Saturday, putting the ball in Hamas court a day before talks are set to resume in Egypt.

Criticism of Israel has heightened as more than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed. Biden said that Palestinians need more assistance from the U.S. and others as the conflict crosses into its fifth month.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A 7,500 square mile area off the central coast of California that includes ancestral Chumash sites and unique biodiversity was recognized this week as a Mission Blue Hope Spot.

The Hope Spot title, given by International marine conservation non-profit Mission Blue, is meant to identify special places that are scientifically identified as critical to the health of the ocean. They are often given to places that need protection, according to Mission Blue.

Which is why the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary was chosen.The designation comes as The North Chumash tribe awaits a decision from the federal government about its bid to designate that same area as a marine sanctuary.

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The Chumash people have occupied the central coast of California for more than 20,000 years, according to the Northern Chumash tribal records. The proposed sanctuary siteadjacent to San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties and situated between two previously designated marine sanctuaries, Channel Islands and Monterey would protect submerged villages of tribal ancestors.

Additionally, the areas confluence of warm and cool waters make it a feeding ground for several threatened or engaged species, including blue whales, southern sea otters, black abalone, snowy plovers, and leatherback sea turtles. Notably, more than 40 historic shipwrecks have taken place within the proposed boundaries.

All of these are listed as reasons why the late Northern Chumash tribal chairman, Fred Collins, fought for this designation for many years. He penned the original sanctuary request in 2015.

Now, his successor and daughter, Tribal Council Chairwoman Violet Sage Walker, has taken on the decades-long fight. She previously told Native News Online that a successful sanctuary designation would be a step towards environmental justice.

Mission Blue has named the proposed Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary a Hope Spot in support of the pending permanent federal designation that will safeguard the areas marine habitats indefinitely from destructive activities, such as seabed mining and oil drilling, according to their website.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently in the designation process for the Chumash Heritage Sanctuary, with a decision slated for mid-2024. NOAA held a public comment period that ended October 2023, where they received more than 110,000 comments from the public, 99% in support of the sanctuary designation.

About the Author: "Jenna Kunze is a staff reporter covering Indian health, the environment and breaking news for Native News Online. She is also the lead reporter on stories related to Indian boarding schools and repatriation. Her bylines have appeared in The Arctic Sounder, High Country News, Indian Country Today, Tribal Business News, Smithsonian Magazine, Elle and Anchorage Daily News. Kunze is based in New York."

Contact: jkunze@indiancountrymedia.com
Russian troops shelled the towns of Myrnohrad and Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast overnight on March 3, injuring five people, the regional prosecutors office reported.

Civilians in Donetsk Oblast settlements suffer from daily Russian strikes due to their proximity to the front line. Heavy battles continue in the region, as Russia intensifies offensive actions along the front, and Ukraine's Armed Forces face serious ammunition shortages due to delays in U.S. aid.

Russia struck Myrnohrad using four Soviet-era S-300 missiles. The attack damaged 17 multi-story buildings, 16 private houses, two stores, two educational institutions, and a bank, according to Donetsk Oblast Governor Vadym Filashkin.

Three people were injured, including two women aged 50 and 33 and a 37-year-old man, the regional prosecutors office said.

Russian forces also fired an Iskander-M ballistic missile at Pokrovsk at 6:30 a.m., damaging nine buildings, three private houses and two educational institutions. Two women aged 24 and 52 received shrapnel wounds.

Read also: Update: Death toll of Russian attack against Odesa rises to 10

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
A protester was violently grabbed and pulled by the crowd at an event with First Lady Jill Biden event after the protester called for a ceasefire in Gaza.

Dr Biden spoke in Las Vegas, Nevada and in Tuscon, Arizona on Saturday and it was at the Fox Theatre in Tuscon that multiple protesters were removed from the premises after interrupting the first ladys speech.

The first lady focused on Republican efforts to curb abortion rights in her speech, which was interrupted at least four times during its 15 minutes, according to USA Today.

Jill, when are you and the President going to call for a ceasefire in Gaza? one protester asked before she was pulled down by the audience and subsequently dragged out by security.

The activist group known as the Answer Coalition shared a video of the incident:

Jill, when are you and the President going to call for a ceasefire in Gaza?



Protestors in Arizona disrupt Jill Bidens speaking event to #ShutItDown4Palestine  pic.twitter.com/BuZNYwKvqX  ANSWER Coalition (@answercoalition) March 2, 2024

More than 30,000 people have been killed in Gaza, many as a result of Israels often indiscriminate bombing campaign, after the beginning of the Israeli response to the 7 October attack by Hamas last year, in which around 1,200 people were killed.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that the goal of the war is to fully root out and destroy Hamas, a task many observers say is insurmountable.

Donald Trump has spent a lifetime tearing us down and devaluing our existence. He mocks womens bodies, disrespects our accomplishments, and brags about assault, Dr Biden said. Now hes bragging about killing Roe v Wade.

Donald Trump is dangerous to women and to our families. We simply cannot let him win, she added. When our bodies are on the line, when our daughters futures are at stake, when our country and its freedom hang in the balance, we are immovable and unstoppable.

Kaliana Venet was one of the protesters who interrupted Dr Bidens speech. She told USA Today that she thinks Israel is guilty of genocide and that she wont support President Joe Biden in the election in the autumn.

I was really disappointed when were talking about celebrating women, and the importance of women in positions of power, that this topic, of the femicide that is happening in Gaza, wasnt addressed, she told the paper. There are women in Gaza having C-sections without anaesthesia. There are children in the NICU who are dying because they dont have power in the incubators.

While the Biden administration still backs Israel, it has said that more care needs to be taken to prevent civilian harm, and it has started to airdrop aid into Gaza.

Mr Trump moved in lockstep with Mr Netanyahu during his presidency and hes highly unlikely to push back on any Israeli war effort if elected.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Opponents of recriminalizing certain drugs gathered outside the Oregon Capitol Saturday afternoon, protesting the Oregon Senates recent passing of HB 4002, which is on its way to Gov. Tina Koteks desk.

The bill passed through the Oregon House earlier this week. Hard drugs were decriminalized after voters approved Measure 110 back in 2020, but the rollout has been widely criticized.

This new bill would essentially give people the choice between being charged and treatment when they are caught carrying drugs like fentanyl and meth. Treatment would include completing a behavioral health screening and participating in a deflection program in order to sidestep fines.

SW Portland pantry need fueled by food, housing cost increases

Those with the grassroots organization Unite Oregon say the goal of Saturdays Rally for Decriminalization is to highlight the visibility of marginalized Black and Brown communities that have been sidelined in discussions surrounding the legislation.

The organization  led by people of color, immigrants, refugees and those facing poverty  also emphasizes how this recriminalization will exacerbate already existing concerns that people of color  in particular Black and Latino Americans  will continue to face higher rates of criminalization and lengthier prison sentences for these crimes compared to white people.

Researchers find racial gaps in higher education increased over four decades

We immediately assumed that [The Senate] would take the bill back and work on it a little bit more, said Unite Oregons Policy Director Gloria Ochoa-Sandoval. Because there was no world in which we thought it would be appropriate to move forward when youre told that a bill will have a racist impact and disproportionate impact on our communities and our lives. But they proceeded, they continued.

The bill now goes to Oregon Governor Tina Koteks desk, where she will elect to sign it or veto it.



For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Tom, Katie and Tegan give their views on why students are persistently absent from school

The Covid-19 pandemic has undermined the daily habit of attending school, according to secondary school students in a county where nearly 25% have been persistently absent this academic year.

Teenagers in Worcestershire told the BBC Politics Midlands programme that home study during lockdown, and increased stress, had left many struggling to cope with school routine.

The council said it continued to work to support pupils and parents and "remove any barriers" preventing attendance.

Overall attendance in the autumn had been up on last year, the authority added.

At Baxter College in Kidderminster, where there are 900 students, the overall attendance rate remains 4% down on pre-pandemic levels, according to the principal.

One pupil there said students were struggling to readjust after the absence enforced by Covid, with one day off easily stretching into more now things were back to normal.

At the start of the week people say oh Ill just miss the one day," explained Tom, 18, a sixth form student.

"And then we get to Friday and people are like Ill have a long weekend'.

Tom said he believed home study during lockdowns made many unused to school routine.

Now suddenly everyones being told what to do, when you can eat, when you can go home - its definitely been a shock," he told the programme.

Fellow student Katie, 17, added: School got re-introduced and I felt like people couldnt be bothered to come back in, because they felt 'if I can do this at home, surely theres no need'.

Another 17-year-old, Tegan, said: My attendance has definitely dropped. I feel like I personally dont mind working from home, and I work better in the evenings."

Principal Mat Carpenter said the drop-off was more marked in students on free school meals.

Attendance was not just a school problem", he said, but a matter for support services and parents too.

Additionally, the number of pupils missing more than half of school has risen sharply at Baxter College.

Where previously we would have one or two [pupils like that] in the whole school were now looking at up to 6%, Mr Carpenter said.

Baxter College is not unique in the county.

With a secondary school population of more than 36,000, an estimated 23.9% - 8,650 students - in Worcestershire have missed at least 10% of school days so far this academic year.

Baxter's principal, Mat Carpenter, and the school's wellbeing lead, Stacey Hannan, said schools needed more support to raise attendance

Baxters wellbeing lead Stacey Hannan - who is leading efforts to build relationships with families - admitted progress could be slow.

It could take six to eight weeks of home visits, telephone conversations with parents, and meetings, she explained.

She said the long referral waits students faced for mental health support or neurodiversity assessments meant that often schools were limited in the help they could give.

I think the system in both of those areas is creaking, added Mr Carpenter, calling for substantial investment.

Keira, 15, praised the pastoral care offered at Kidderminster & District Youth Trust, and said she did not feel like she was being judged as in school

For 15-year-old Keira, who is not currently in mainstream education, mental health is the main issue" for being an absentee, along with a lack of support for such challenges.

I started to not go in as often my mum kept pulling me out because of how bad I was getting," she said of her experience.

After being referred to Kidderminster & District Youth Trust, she now has a weekly meeting with mentor Maisie Cook, who says she offers an "open space" for teenagers to talk about their emotions and education.

Speaking generally, Ms Cook said: "We see a lot of young people who have a lot going on behind closed doors. Covid has been massive."

Former Schools minister Robin Walker MP said more investment was needed for a rising level of neurodiverse students

Last year, a cross-party group of MPs called for the government to offer better support for pupils and schools.

I think Id give them an A for effort, but theyre not there on achievement yet, said Worcester's Conservative MP Robin Walker, chair of the House of Commons Education Select Committee.

Tracey Onslow, cabinet member for education at Worcestershire County Council, said: "We continue to work closely with education settings across the county to support pupils and parents, and where possible, remove any barriers preventing regular attendance."

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care Trust said it was working with schools and said it carried out weekly reviews of absent children.

It added it worked to identify health concerns that may lead or contribute to school absence.

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Neighbors were left shaken tonight after what they believe was the sound of a military aircraft caused damage to their homes, including broken windows and even a shattered toilet.

The incident occurred about 30 minutes from the Putnam County US Army Reserve Training Center.

Neighbors were reportedly startled by the abrasive noise they said happened around 10:14 Saturday morning.

One homeowner described having their windows blown out, while five different neighbors reported hearing a sound like an explosion or earthquake that shook their homes.

I thought we were hit by a bomb. I thought the planes couldve crashed, said Kristi Judd, one of the startled neighbors.

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Another resident, Karen Disko, compared the noise to a jet landing directly in her backyard.

The boom hit. And I jumped up to see what happened. I heard planes. I thought one came in the backyard, Disko said.

The aftermath revealed broken toilets, shattered windows, and lights from the ceiling strewn across the floor.

It was the most excruciating sound I have ever heard in my life, one neighbor commented.

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Local father George Gill shared his 9-year-old daughters terrifying experience, explaining how she was lying in bed covered with glass from her window.

This is the shattered glass inside my daughters bedroom. She was in her bedroom at the time. The glass went on top of her as she was lying in bed. She was terrified, Gill stated.

Action News Jax has received the following information from the Florida Air National Guard:

The Florida Air National Guard recently became aware of damage and noise complaints as a result of low-altitude training in Putnam County on Saturday, March 2nd. In response to this event, Florida National Guard command has directed that an investigation take place to determine the facts and implement any necessary measures to prevent this type of incident in the future. The Florida National Guard extends its deepest apologies for any resulting damage and the negative impact to the local community. We are currently working to establish a contact number for residents who may have sustained property damage as a result of this event and wish to file a claim. For more information, please contact the Florida National Guard Public Affairs Office at fl.ng.pao@mail.mil or (904) 823-0170. We appreciate your patience as we initiate this process. Florida Air National Guard

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A local legislators railway bill is heading to the governors desk.

Del. Shelly Simonds, D-Newport News, introduced a measure this General Assembly session that included a variety of railway safety measures, including limiting train lengths to about 1.6 miles and increasing fines for crossing delays up to $500.

However, the bill was pared back and now would only require minimum crews of two on trains moving freight if signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. The bill does not apply to trains for utility service or railyard organizing. First violations result in fines between $500 and $2,000, second violations between $1,000 and $5,000 and third violations between $5,000 and $10,000 in a three year-period, with the clock starting on the first violation, according to the bill.

Simonds said she was surprised by the partisanship around the bill, considering similar measures found bipartisan support in states like Colorado and Ohio. At least ten states have passed laws requiring two-person crews and the federal government proposed a similar rule in 2022.

The House bill, with sister legislation in the Senate, passed both chambers along party lines with Republicans voting against it.

Its the second time Simonds has introduced the bill. Previously, she expressed concerns about the safety of communities that trains pass through, citing hazards that could result in disasters such as the one resulting from a February 2023 derailment in Ohio. Additionally, the regional planning district is looking into railway crossings and which ones can be improved to reduce blockages.

Before the bill was presented to a subcommittee earlier this year, 115 people submitted comments in support of the full bill. Most of the submissions were from railway workers and their families, concerned about overworked employees on one-man trains and rail infrastructure that wasnt built for long trains.

At a January presentation of the bill, railway union representatives spoke in support of the legislation and argued the state should not wait for federal rulemaking, which has taken years. They also said two-person crews are imperative for responding quickly if theres an incident while hauling freight.

A representative of the Virginia Railroad Association, an industry group, spoke against the bill, saying though two-man crews arent required now, most railroad companies use them.

Last year, industry and company representatives argued against the bill citing momentum on federal rulemaking, the impact on businesses of limiting train lengths and complications companies would face as trains cross into the state, according to a recording of the 2023 subcommittee session. They also discussed how longer trains reduce the number needed, and how labor shortages have caused hiring difficulties.

At the January subcommittee meeting on the bill, a Norfolk Southern representative said the company is expecting a federal rule on crews this month or next, and it is already their standard to have two-person crews. Norfolk Southern declined to comment on the pared back legislation. Earlier this year, the company declined to comment on the original bill, how it would impact operations, or what proposals the company has regarding safety and the flow of traffic. A spokesperson said the company generally does not comment on proposed legislation.

In the future, Simonds said she may introduce parts of the original legislation into smaller single bills to get them through the statehouse.

We want to make sure that technology innovations are going to improve safety for citizens and not just improve profits for these railroad companies, Simonds said.

Simonds said if Youngkin vetoes the bill, shell try to get the legislation through somehow.

This is too important to to just push down the track, she said.

Ian Munro, 757-447-4097, ian.munro@virginiamedia.com
Local nonprofit Rethreaded hosted its 13th annual Mukti Freedom Gala on Feb. 24 to support human trafficking survivors.

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Over 500 community members and business leaders gathered at the Glass Factory to raise money to help end human trafficking in Jacksonville and Florida as a whole.

The Mukti Freedom Gala is Rethreadeds largest fundraising event of the year in terms of funds raised and guests in attendance. Guests in attendance raised money for the organization through sponsorships, auctions, raffles, shopping and donations. All of the money raised allows Rethreaded to continue fighting human trafficking into the next year.

Read: Muggy day expected as warm temperatures, a few storms continue

Rethreadeds Survivor Development Program offers career training, counseling, and care management to help survivors rebuild their lives.

This years Mukti Gala, with the theme of Flourish, began with larger-than-life floral decor, a champagne welcome and a photo booth. The program featured a message from a local survivor of human trafficking who shared how Rethreaded has helped her to Flourish.

We are tremendously grateful to everyone who participated in making this years Mukti Freedom Gala such an impactful event, said Rethreadeds Founder and CEO Kristin Keen. Thanks to the generosity of our Jacksonville community, volunteers, sponsors and donors, our Survivor Development Program will help even more survivors of human trafficking to flourish in the year ahead.

Rethreaded had over 70 sponsors this year, including UPS as the presenting sponsor.

Read: JTA beginning MobilityWorks 2.0 infrastructure initiatives to improve Jacksonville mobility

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From fake photos of Donald Trump being arrested by New York City police officers to a chatbot describing a very-much-alive computer scientist as having died tragically, the ability of the new generation of generative artificial intelligence systems to create convincing but fictional text and images is setting off alarms about fraud and misinformation on steroids. Indeed, a group of artificial intelligence researchers and industry figures urged the industry on March 29, 2023, to pause further training of the latest AI technologies or, barring that, for governments to impose a moratorium.

These technologies  image generators like DALL-E, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, and text generators like Bard, ChatGPT, Chinchilla and LLaMA  are now available to millions of people and dont require technical knowledge to use.

Given the potential for widespread harm as technology companies roll out these AI systems and test them on the public, policymakers are faced with the task of determining whether and how to regulate the emerging technology. The Conversation asked three experts on technology policy to explain why regulating AI is such a challenge  and why its so important to get it right.

To jump ahead to each response, heres a list of each:

Human foibles and a moving target

Combining soft and hard approaches

Four key questions to ask



Human foibles and a moving target

S. Shyam Sundar, Professor of Media Effects & Director, Center for Socially Responsible AI, Penn State

The reason to regulate AI is not because the technology is out of control, but because human imagination is out of proportion. Gushing media coverage has fueled irrational beliefs about AIs abilities and consciousness. Such beliefs build on automation bias or the tendency to let your guard down when machines are performing a task. An example is reduced vigilance among pilots when their aircraft is flying on autopilot.

Numerous studies in my lab have shown that when a machine, rather than a human, is identified as a source of interaction, it triggers a mental shortcut in the minds of users that we call a machine heuristic. This shortcut is the belief that machines are accurate, objective, unbiased, infallible and so on. It clouds the users judgment and results in the user overly trusting machines. However, simply disabusing people of AIs infallibility is not sufficient, because humans are known to unconsciously assume competence even when the technology doesnt warrant it.

Research has also shown that people treat computers as social beings when the machines show even the slightest hint of humanness, such as the use of conversational language. In these cases, people apply social rules of human interaction, such as politeness and reciprocity. So, when computers seem sentient, people tend to trust them, blindly. Regulation is needed to ensure that AI products deserve this trust and dont exploit it.

AI poses a unique challenge because, unlike in traditional engineering systems, designers cannot be sure how AI systems will behave. When a traditional automobile was shipped out of the factory, engineers knew exactly how it would function. But with self-driving cars, the engineers can never be sure how it will perform in novel situations.

Lately, thousands of people around the world have been marveling at what large generative AI models like GPT-4 and DALL-E 2 produce in response to their prompts. None of the engineers involved in developing these AI models could tell you exactly what the models will produce. To complicate matters, such models change and evolve with more and more interaction.

All this means there is plenty of potential for misfires. Therefore, a lot depends on how AI systems are deployed and what provisions for recourse are in place when human sensibilities or welfare are hurt. AI is more of an infrastructure, like a freeway. You can design it to shape human behaviors in the collective, but you will need mechanisms for tackling abuses, such as speeding, and unpredictable occurrences, like accidents.

AI developers will also need to be inordinately creative in envisioning ways that the system might behave and try to anticipate potential violations of social standards and responsibilities. This means there is a need for regulatory or governance frameworks that rely on periodic audits and policing of AIs outcomes and products, though I believe that these frameworks should also recognize that the systems designers cannot always be held accountable for mishaps.

Combining soft and hard approaches

Cason Schmit, Assistant Professor of Public Health, Texas A&M University

Regulating AI is tricky. To regulate AI well, you must first define AI and understand anticipated AI risks and benefits. Legally defining AI is important to identify what is subject to the law. But AI technologies are still evolving, so it is hard to pin down a stable legal definition.

Understanding the risks and benefits of AI is also important. Good regulations should maximize public benefits while minimizing risks. However, AI applications are still emerging, so it is difficult to know or predict what future risks or benefits might be. These kinds of unknowns make emerging technologies like AI extremely difficult to regulate with traditional laws and regulations.

Lawmakers are often too slow to adapt to the rapidly changing technological environment. Some new laws are obsolete by the time they are enacted or even introduced. Without new laws, regulators have to use old laws to address new problems. Sometimes this leads to legal barriers for social benefits or legal loopholes for harmful conduct.

Soft laws are the alternative to traditional hard law approaches of legislation intended to prevent specific violations. In the soft law approach, a private organization sets rules or standards for industry members. These can change more rapidly than traditional lawmaking. This makes soft laws promising for emerging technologies because they can adapt quickly to new applications and risks. However, soft laws can mean soft enforcement.

Megan Doerr, Jennifer Wagner and I propose a third way: Copyleft AI with Trusted Enforcement (CAITE). This approach combines two very different concepts in intellectual property  copyleft licensing and patent trolls.

Copyleft licensing allows for content to be used, reused or modified easily under the terms of a license  for example, open-source software. The CAITE model uses copyleft licenses to require AI users to follow specific ethical guidelines, such as transparent assessments of the impact of bias.

In our model, these licenses also transfer the legal right to enforce license violations to a trusted third party. This creates an enforcement entity that exists solely to enforce ethical AI standards and can be funded in part by fines from unethical conduct. This entity is like a patent troll in that it is private rather than governmental and it supports itself by enforcing the legal intellectual property rights that it collects from others. In this case, rather than enforcement for profit, the entity enforces the ethical guidelines defined in the licenses - a troll for good.

This model is flexible and adaptable to meet the needs of a changing AI environment. It also enables substantial enforcement options like a traditional government regulator. In this way, it combines the best elements of hard and soft law approaches to meet the unique challenges of AI.

Four key questions to ask

John Villasenor, Professor of Electrical Engineering, Law, Public Policy, and Management, University of California, Los Angeles

The extraordinary recent advances in large language model-based generative AI are spurring calls to create new AI-specific regulation. Here are four key questions to ask as that dialogue progresses:

1) Is new AI-specific regulation necessary? Many of the potentially problematic outcomes from AI systems are already addressed by existing frameworks. If an AI algorithm used by a bank to evaluate loan applications leads to racially discriminatory loan decisions, that would violate the Fair Housing Act. If the AI software in a driverless car causes an accident, products liability law provides a framework for pursuing remedies.

2) What are the risks of regulating a rapidly changing technology based on a snapshot of time? A classic example of this is the Stored Communications Act, which was enacted in 1986 to address then-novel digital communication technologies like email. In enacting the SCA, Congress provided substantially less privacy protection for emails more than 180 days old.

The logic was that limited storage space meant that people were constantly cleaning out their inboxes by deleting older messages to make room for new ones. As a result, messages stored for more than 180 days were deemed less important from a privacy standpoint. Its not clear that this logic ever made sense, and it certainly doesnt make sense in the 2020s, when the majority of our emails and other stored digital communications are older than six months.

A common rejoinder to concerns about regulating technology based on a single snapshot in time is this: If a law or regulation becomes outdated, update it. But this is easier said than done. Most people agree that the SCA became outdated decades ago. But because Congress hasnt been able to agree on specifically how to revise the 180-day provision, its still on the books over a third of a century after its enactment.

3) What are the potential unintended consequences? The Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017 was a law passed in 2018 that revised Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act with the goal of combating sex trafficking. While theres little evidence that it has reduced sex trafficking, it has had a hugely problematic impact on a different group of people: sex workers who used to rely on the websites knocked offline by FOSTA-SESTA to exchange information about dangerous clients. This example shows the importance of taking a broad look at the potential effects of proposed regulations.

4) What are the economic and geopolitical implications? If regulators in the United States act to intentionally slow the progress in AI, that will simply push investment and innovation  and the resulting job creation  elsewhere. While emerging AI raises many concerns, it also promises to bring enormous benefits in areas including education, medicine, manufacturing, transportation safety, agriculture, weather forecasting, access to legal services and more.

I believe AI regulations drafted with the above four questions in mind will be more likely to successfully address the potential harms of AI while also ensuring access to its benefits.

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: S. Shyam Sundar, Penn State; Cason Schmit, Texas A&M University, and John Villasenor, University of California, Los Angeles

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S. Shyam Sundar has received funding for his research from National Science Foundation and Meta.

John Villasenor is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford, and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

Cason Schmit does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
REHOBETH, Ala. (WDHN)  Students at one Houston County elementary school are bringing some hardware back to their school after a successful trip to the Alabama Junior Beta State Competition.

The Rehobeth Elementary Beta Club, which is currently made up of 93 fourth through sixth-grade students, is bringing 30 awards back to Houston County after their state competition.

They brought home five first-place awards, seven second-place awards, eight fourth-place awards, four fourth-place awards, three fifth-place awards, and three Premier Performer-Golden Ticket Awards.

The full list can be found below:

1st Place

Elementary Book Battle Team

Elementary Onsite Art-Painting (Kole Gordon)

Elementary Technology (Kaeden Murkerson)

Elementary Scrapbook

Elementary Digital Portfolio

2nd Place

Elementary Quiz Bowl Team

Elementary Musicology Team

Elementary Performing Arts-Small Group Team

Elementary Digital Art (Lily Barnes)

Elementary Poetry (Harper Bergeron)

Elementary Apparel Design

Junior Recyclable Art (Palmer Rachel)

3rd Place

Elementary Songfest Team

Junior Performing Arts-Large Group Team

Junior Book Battle Team

Elementary Performing Arts-Dancer (Addelyn Minotti)

Elementary Science-4th grade (Keegan Exum)

Elementary Spanish-4th grade (Kole Gordon)

Junior Creative Writing (Browning Collier)

Junior Sculpture (Timothy McLean)

4th Place

Elementary Marketing & Communications Team

Elementary Math-4th grade (Sadie Anderson)

Elementary Service Learning Showcase

Elementary Social Studies-4th grade (Hardy Maddox)

5th Place

Junior Songfest Team

Junior Technology Team

Elementary Language Arts-5th grade (Dallin McNary)

Premier Performer-Golden Ticket Awards

Addelyn Minotti

Maggie Wells

Sophia Robison

At Rehobeth Elementary School we are proud of the success of our Beta Club and excited to take part in the wonderful opportunities that the National Beta organization provides for our students. Holly Seales, Rehobeth Elementary Teacher and one of the Beta Club sponsors

National Beta State Convention allows students the opportunity to compete in various academic, performing arts, and STEM-based, competitions. These victories at the state level provide an opportunity to compete at the national level.

The National Convention will be held at the Savannah International Convention Center in Savannah, GA during the Summer of 2024.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDHN - wdhn.com.
Franklin Smalls, aka Snakeman, dictated what should be said about him when he died.

If I were to die today or tomorrow, there aint but three things I want a person to say about me, Smalls said during a 2017 interview, standing knee deep in the Murrells Inlet pluff mud.

He was a loud talking man, he was a man to his word, and a hard worker. You say those three things about me, you done summed me up, dont say no more, Smalls insisted.

Smalls, 74, died last Sunday, Feb. 25, 2024, at Grand Strand Hospital following a battle with brain cancer.

But despite Smalls thoughts about how he should be remembered, the Murrells Inlet community had a lot more they wanted to tell about the legendary Murrells Inlet oysterman known as Snakeman.

Franklin Smalls, aka Snakeman, piloting his motorized canoe through the creeks of Murrells Inlet, S.C. was a familiar sight to locals. TSN File Photo 2017.

The last original oysterman

Every day during oyster season for more than 60 years, Snakeman plied the labyrinth of salt creeks in his motorized canoe, harvesting the shellfish from its banks.

Smalls was intrinsically tied to the South Carolina marsh lands which he said had provided for his people for generations. During that 2017 interview with The Sun news he said, In the old days, Black people, we worked on farms - restaurants in the summer time. In the winter time, this the only income we had right here.

Its got everything a poor person wants, right here, he said of the fish, shrimp, shellfish, and crabs.

I just love the smell of this mud!

Snakeman claimed that he loved the work and could be heard singing opera between the ringing of his crowbar as he stooped to break oysters from their beds.

Work is what keeps your health going, he said at the time. Laziness will drag you down quicker than hard work.

Henry Ford, co-owner of Seven Seas Seafood where Smalls delivered his harvest of 10 to 15 bushels of oysters daily for over 20 years, called him the last of the original oystermen in this area.

That title was also placed on T-shirts that were sold at a recent charity fish fry held in the community to raise funds for Smalls medical bills.

Ford says Smalls was an inspiration to him early on when Smalls told him, Ford, if you starve or go broke in Murrells Inlet, its said its your own damn fault.

Franklin Smalls, known as the Snakeman to locals, picked oysters from the pluff mud of Murrells Inlet for over 60 years, often singing while he works. Snakeman who died at age 74 was known for his cheerful nature and his work ethic. TSN File photo 2017.

Not just a hard working man

During the off season, Smalls worked in the community mowing grass, doing yard work, and any and all odd jobs that the residents needed. But for most of them, he was much more than a handyman.

He was our family, Jane Spillane said of the man that began helping her late husband in the 1980s. Mickey Spillane, who was a well-known crime novelist, and Snakeman became close friends as they worked on household projects and could often be heard loudly and good-naturedly debating how to complete those tasks.

Spillane said Snakeman could do anything with his hands and do it cheerfully.

He was the most cheerful person you ever met in your life, she said. He always had a smile and always laughed.

He built the familys Tiki Hut in their back yard and their seawall. And when her husband died, Smalls was invited to sit with the family at his funeral.

When her grandchildren visited, Spillane said Smalls would put on her husbands old captain hat and take the kids for boat rides around the inlet.

She gave him her husbands white Ford pick-up truck.

He was our family, she insists. Sometimes its not blood relation, but how you feel about people.

Why did they call him Snakeman?

In a 2017 interview, Franklin Smalls explained how he got the nickname Snakeman despite his fear of the serpents.

According to Smalls, he used to work all week, get dressed up and go out on the weekend. He would drink so much that he would eventually be crawling on the ground like a snake. Friends jokingly called him Snakeman.

Though he quit drinking soon afterwards and had not consumed alcohol for more than 40 years, the name stuck.

A screen capture from The History Channels Only in America with Larry The Cable Guy and Franklin Smalls, aka Snakeman.

Larry the Cable Guy visits the Snakeman

In 2011, The History Channel filmed an episode of Only in America with Larry the Cable Guy in Murrells Inlet, S.C.

The celebrity comedian met the legendary oysterman and hilarity ensued.

In Season 1, episode 13, The Cable Guy and his crew can been seen floundering about in the Carolina marsh as Snakeman teaches them how to harvest the shellfish.

Snakeman even convinces Larry, who is uncharacteristically grossed out by the muddy bi-valves, to eat one raw - fresh from the shell.

The final days of Snakeman

Joyce Duncan Ravenell said her daughter introduced her to Snakeman 16-years ago because she thought the pair would hit it off.

We started talking that night and we kept talking for 16 years, she said describing her long-time boyfriend as one of a kind and a good good man.

Ravenell said on Smalls rare breaks from work, the couple liked to go to Harrahs Cherokee Casino Resort in North Carolina where Smalls loved to play Keno. She related fond memories of those evenings when they would set up a speaker and microphone on the porch of their mountain cabin and sing together into the night.

On Saturday, Feb. 17, 2024, a charity fish fry was held for Smalls and the Murrells Inlet community came out to celebrate the man and support his efforts to fight his recent diagnosis of brain cancer.

Ravenell says that people from all walks of life and of every race came out to support Smalls and that he was honored by the event.

He loved his people, and they loved him, she said. There was so much love in the air, I couldnt sleep that night.

Ravenell credits Smalls attitude with breaking down social and racial barriers, He had a lot of manners and he gave respect to everyone, she said. Hed do anything for you if he could do it.

On Sunday, Feb. 25, just a week after the fish fry, Ravenell rushed Smalls to Grand Strand Memorial Hospital with a nose bleed. She said one of her last memories was of him proudly telling the nurses stories about his life as a Murrells Inlet oysterman and laughing about his experience with Larry the Cable Guy.

Henry Ford says that Smalls had been working to pass on his knowledge of Murrells Inlet oystering to Hunter Smith, who will continue to work those same oyster leases in an attempt to carry on Smalls legacy.

According to Jane Spillane, Theyll never be another one like him. The inlet will never be the same.

Franklin Smalls funeral is being held by the McKnight-Fraser Funeral Home in Andrews, S.C. but plans for the service have not yet been announced.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Hunting and fishing licenses for 2024-25 are now on sale in Ohio from the Division of Wildlife.

Fishing licenses for Ohio residents are $25. They are valid for one year and can be purchased 30 days before their expiration date. For anyone older than 16 to fish in Ohio public waters, a fishing license is a requirement.

Hunting licenses for Ohio residents are $19 for adults and $10 for youth hunters. Licenses are valid immediately and last through Feb. 28, 2025. Regardless of age, everyone wanting to hunt or trap in Ohio is required to carry a license.

Multiyear hunting and fishing licenses are also available. Three-year, five-year, 10-year and lifetime licenses are all on sale.

Licenses can purchased on the Division of Wildlifes website, on the Department of Natural Resources mobile app HuntFish OH or at participating agents statewide. Licensing agents can be found on the ODNR at this link.

The HuntFish OH mobile app allows deer and turkey hunters to check their harvest, allows anglers to find boat ramps, public waters, and wildlife areas, and allows users to purchase permits, report wildlife sightings and read regulations.

Funds from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses benefit wildlife management and habitat conservation efforts in Ohio. The money also helps support improvement to fishing access, shooting ranges and wildlife areas.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Tenure for college professors is the latest front in Republicans battle with higher education.

Since tenure gives a professor job security for decades, undercutting it is one way conservatives can more easily change campus culture, experts say, as well as fight against the liberal values the right says have taken over schools.

In Indiana, lawmakers are moving legislation forward that would require boards of trustees at state universities to review tenured professors every five years based on free inquiry, free expression, and intellectual diversity.

I think that conservatives as they try to address the lopsided nature of our university system are kind of looking for strategies that can undermine this hold that progressives currently have on U.S. higher education, and it may be that here is really just a strategy to kind of be able to shake things up at campuses, said Beth Akers, a senior fellow focused on higher education at the American Enterprise Institute.

The American Association of University Professors (AAUP) released data last year showing that in the fall of 2021, only 24 percent of faculty in U.S. colleges held full-time tenured appointments, compared with 39 percent in the fall of 1987.

Tenure for a professor is a long process. They must first get on a tenure track, where they are evaluated for between six and 10 years before they can qualify for a full-time tenure spot.

However, once they receive tenure, they often keep it for the rest of their career, as it is very difficult for a university to get rid of a tenured faculty member.

The existence of tenure makes the system really slow to change, and maybe thats even an additional rationale for having it, which is we dont want these institutions changing on the whims of local leaders. We want these institutions and faculty targeting truth-finding, Akers said. But that also means its hard to change the political lean, because you have to wait until someone retired or new funding comes up for a new line to fund a faculty member position.

Part of the reason tenure positions were created was to give professors academic freedom in their research so they could conduct it without fear of repercussions from anyone, including the university itself.

And that reasoning is one of the big concerns opponents have with Republican efforts to do away with the protection.

These attacks on tenure are designed to weaken the faculty power. Its designed to make it easier to get rid of faculty when some person with power and influence doesnt like what theyre doing, said Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors.

If tenure is weakened, then faculty will not take risks in research. Theyll be less likely to do risky research because theyll be afraid theyll get fired  And the real frightening thing is people will be less likely to speak out against wrongdoing, against corruption, Mulvey added.

No state has completely outlawed tenure. Georgias Board of Regents did approve a policy that makes it easier to punish tenured professors, and Texas failed in its efforts to completely ban tenure, but the state was able to pass a law that gives more power to lawmakers in the future to regulate it.

Lets be clear, they are succeeding. I think the reason that we have a mostly untenured faculty in American higher education today is because you have Republican governance and a lot of these states that attack university budgets and dont invest in these institutions in such a way to make wages livable for faculty, said Alvin Tillery, professor of political science at Northwestern University.

I just wished that there was actually more countermobilization on the part of my colleagues to push back against these assaults, but we really dont see that, Tillery added.

If the current trend continues, warns Ann Marcus, professor and director of the Steinhardt Institute for Higher Education Policy at New York University, we could see the research function of the university really start to vanish.

I mean, some people say, Just abolish tenure. You really lose one of the main purposes of having universities, which is the production of new knowledge, whether its a scientific breakthrough or a new understanding of archaeology, said Marcus.

Aker recognizes that blows against tenure could disincentivize some professors from going to states without it, but she says abolishing the practice would have neutral effects because progressives would likely be targeted in red states and conservatives would likely be targeted in blue states.

So, I see it as kind of party-neutral in that way, she said.

But there is another movement for a longer-run perspective where more conservative faculty members look to acquire tenure, Akers said, pointing out the reality is that there are centers that are focused on hiring and getting tenure to conservative thinkers.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Sgt. Kenneth Hopkins during the 22 years that he was with the Raleigh Police Department. Hopkins, a former member of the U.S. Marine Corps, had retired from the Raleigh Police Department but still returned to community service as a Youth Mentor with the Raleigh Police Department. He died in a crash on the night of March 1 on Interstate-540 near the overpass at Lynnwood Road in Knightdale. Photo from Raleigh Police Department.

KNIGHTDALE, N.C. (WNCN)  A pedestrian who was a retired police officer died after he was hit by another vehicle in Knightdale on Friday night, according to police.

Knightdale Police said they responded to a crash at 9:45 p.m. on Interstate-540 near the overpass at Lynnwood Road.

They found a 55-year-old man who had been hit by another vehicle after exiting his van to re-hitch the trailer he was towing. The man later died from injuries in the crash.

Saturday afternoon, Raleigh police confirmed the victim was retired Raleigh Police Sgt. Kenneth Hopkins.

Retired Raleigh Police Sgt. Kenneth Hopkins died in a crash on the night of March 1 on Interstate-540 near the overpass at Lynnwood Road in Knightdale. Photo from NCDOT

The Raleigh Police Department released a statement about the loss of Hopkins.

The Raleigh Police Department is grieving the unexpected loss of a community servant who honorably served in the Marine Corps and then for 22 years with the Raleigh Police Department. He returned to community service as a Youth Mentor with the Raleigh Police Department. As we grieve, the family is in our thoughts and prayers as we all heal and support each other in the coming days.

Knightdale police continue to investigate the wreck. No other information was released.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan called for discussions on a ceasefire in Ukraine to begin following a diplomatic forum in the Turkish city of Antalya, Reuters reported.

On the issue of Ukraine, our view is that both sides have reached the limits of what they can get by war. We think that it is time to start a dialogue for a ceasefire, Fidan said on March 3, Reuters reported.

Fidan met Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on March 1 during the forum, telling reporters that the two had discussed several issues, including the war in Ukraine, according to Reuters.

The foreign minister added that opening up ceasefire talks "doesn't mean recognizing the occupation (by Russia), but issues of sovereignty and ceasefire should be discussed separately."

"The death and injury of more than 500,000 people and the complete destruction of the infrastructure and superstructure of an entire country is not a reality that is bearable for us," Fidan said.

"This has to stop somehow. To stop this, there should be some discussions and everybody should get used to this idea."

Earlier in the week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan offered to host peace talks between Ukraine and Russia. Turkey, a NATO member, has sought to position itself as a mediator in the war and to maintain close ties with both Kyiv and Moscow.

Turkey shares maritime borders with both Ukraine and Russia. The Turkish government has provided military aid to Ukraine  including mine resistant vehicles, munitions, drones, and other supplies  since 2022.

Read also: Slovak FM meets Lavrov in Turkey

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
His works are mesmerizing and recognized worldwide  swaths of color, and floating, fuzzy-edged rectangles  all part of the signature vision of the formidable 20th century artist Mark Rothko.

"Everybody knows and loves Rothko's large abstract canvases, but very few people know that he made nearly 3,000 works on paper," said curator Adam Greenhalgh.

Now, an exhibit at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., hopes to tell a lesser-known Rothko story  the trail of paper works the artist left behind.

Greenhalgh said, "We can see his sources, we can see his early ambitions, his aspirations, and the way that he understands paper to be just as significant and important as his much-better-known canvases."

Rothko on paper is equally as innovative, and he did not consider these to be studies, or prep work  in fact, they are mounted similarly to how his canvases would be hung. "They're attached to either a hardboard panel or linen, and wrapped around a stretch or a strainer to give them this three-dimensional presence," Greenhalgh said.

Born Markus Rothkovitch in what is now Latvia, he immigrated to Portland, Oregon, with his family in the early 1900s. He eventually moved to New York  working, teaching and struggling, but also learning and evolving as an artist. Many of his early paper works echo other visionaries, and hint at what was to come.

The colors in the background of portraits remind one of Rothko's later works. "Some of these sort of blocks of color in the background really point to the later abstractions to come," Greenhalgh said.

Kate Rothko Prizel, the artist's daughter, said her father was a loving, hard-working man who anchored their family. "He sort of tried to keep a 9:00 to 5:00, 9:00 to 6:00 schedule, tried to have dinner with the family every night," she said.

He was also intense and private, especially when painting. "I, as a smaller child, was fairly often dropped off by my mother at the studio when she needed to get something done," said Prizel. "And it was very clear, even for me at a young age, that my father did not like to be watched painting. He would always set me up in my own corner with my own artwork, with the idea that I was gonna be absorbed in my work, he was gonna be absorbed in his work."

"It was for him this kind of sacred, I think, deeply emotional, psychological process," said Christopher Rothko, the artist's son. "To be distracted during that was something that would be really so counterproductive. So, that sort of mystery carries over to his materials. He is known for making a lot of his own paints, taking ground pigments, and making his own home brew.

"And part of the luminescence that we see in his work is the result of him constantly experimenting, trying to come up with the right concoction. I don't think those were secrets he was particularly guarding, but it was simply part of him making something that was very, very personal," Christopher said.

A view of

That sense of intimacy  that emotional truth  is evident today for so many who experience Rothko's work. And with blockbuster exhibits in Paris and Washington, and the 2021 auction of the artist's 1951 painting titled "No. 7" for $82.5 million, Rothko's popularity is soaring, more than 50 years after his death.

Christopher Rothko says his father sought to create a universal language, one that spoke to people's hearts.

"I often think about going to Rothko exhibitions," he said. "It's a great place to be alone together. Ultimately, it's a journey we all make ourselves, but so much richer when we do it in the company of others."



For more info:

"Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper," at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. (through March 31)Exhibition catalog: "Mark Rothko: Paintings on Paper" by Adam Greenhalgh (Hardcover), available from the National Gallery Art and via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Bookshop.orgmark-rothko.orgExhibition: "Mark Rothko," at Fondation Louis Vuitton, Paris (through April 2)Rothko Works on canvas  1998 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher RothkoRothko Works on paper 2023 Kate Rothko Prizel and Christopher Rothko



Story produced by Julie Kracov. Editor: Chad Cardin.

Global outcry grows after carnage at Gaza aid convoy

Monster winter storm pounds West

Driver rescued after wreck leaves big-rig dangling off Louisville bridge
 Copyright 2024, Des Moines Register and Tribune Co.

Gov. Kim Reynolds has made restructuring Iowas Area Education Agencies a top priority this legislative session.

But a new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll finds that most Iowans have a favorable opinion of AEAs, which provide special education services and a range of other programming and resources to districts across Iowa.

Asked about their feelings toward Iowas Area Education Agencies, known as AEAs, 56% of Iowans have a favorable view, compared with just 20% who hold an unfavorable opinion of the agencies.

Twenty-four percent say they arent sure.

The 56% favorable rating for AEAs is higher than for any elected official tested in the poll. And at least 50% of all partisan groups give AEAs a positive rating: 63% of Democrats, 59% of independents and 50% of Republicans.

AEAs also earn 50% favorability or higher across Iowas four congressional districts, as well as every income bracket and all age groups.

Among Iowans with children younger than 18, the agencies receive a 59% favorable rating, and 68% of adults with a college degree view the AEAs favorably.

Its the first Iowa Poll to ask Iowans their opinions on the AEAs. The findings suggest that Reynolds call for a massive overhaul may be out of step with how most Iowans feel about the agencies.

The poll of 804 Iowa adults was conducted from Feb. 25-28 by Selzer & Co. and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points.

Reynolds initially proposed a total overhaul of the agencies in her annual Condition of the State address in January, introducing a plan that would have allowed districts to seek private providers for all of the services AEAs provide.

Gov. Kim Reynolds is escorted into the Iowa House of Representatives to give the annual Condition of the State address at the Iowa State Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2024.

She has said the current AEA system is "failing" students, aiming for stricter oversight and a narrower scope for the agencies.

But her plan proved unpopular among many lawmakers, education groups and advocates, who have defended AEAs as a critical part of Iowa's education system.

Republicans in the House and Senate have crafted separate bills of their own. Democrats maintain that any changes to the system would be rushed and unnecessary, and say Reynolds' criticism of the AEA system as "failing" is built on faulty premises, specifically a report from the consulting firm Guidehouse.

"There's absolutely no reason for this bill, in my opinion," said Rep. Sharon Steckman, D-Mason City, during House debate on the issue last week. "It is built on false information by an outside company."

What Iowans who were polled say about AEAs and education

Penny DeVos, a 46-year-old poll respondent from Hospers, said in a follow-up interview with the Register that shes worked closely with AEAs to develop an individual education plan for her son, who requires special education services.

Hes now a sophomore in high school on the honor roll, she said, and AEA resources have helped tremendously.

DeVos has been following news out of the Capitol about changes to the AEAs, which she said made her nervous.

Its something thats been in place for a long time. It works, DeVos said. Im a living example of the fact that it works. If were going to bring in privatized people, youre not going to get as good people. Theyre going to go with the lowest bidder.

Several poll respondents who hold unfavorable opinions of the AEAs cited wider concerns they had with the public education system at large, including curriculum.

Susan Parrish, a 77-year-old from Keosauqua, said she appreciated AEAs work but has concerns with how reading is taught, stemming from her great-grandsons struggles.

"They just keep passing him on, passing him on, she said. An AEA is involved. Thats the only thing, really, I have against them. I do know they help a lot of kids having troubles, but they aint helping him.

What are Iowas area education agencies?

Iowas nine area education agencies are tasked with providing special education and other services to public and accredited private schools across the state.

They were established in 1974 to fill a need for equal access to services, following federal legislation in the preceding decades that focused on programming for students with disabilities.

They provide a range of services, including behavioral support, occupational therapy, professional development, crisis management and more.

Supporters of AEA wait in the hallway as legislatures leave the public hearing in which Iowans gave their thoughts on the House version of a bill to overhaul the state's Area Education Agencies on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, at Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines.

What is the status of bills to change Iowas area education agencies?

Republicans in the House and Senate have developed separate plans that would restructure how services currently provided exclusively by the AEAs are handled and contracted.

The House bill, passed out of the chamber Thursday, would retain the AEAs as the sole provider of special education services but would allow districts in the coming years to seek private providers for media and general education services that AEAs also provide. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.

"Everybody agreed that there were areas to improve and that we could make changes," said Rep. Skyler Wheeler, R-Hull, the bills sponsor.

Senate Republicans bill allows districts to seek all services, including special education, through a private provider if they choose to do so.

Money currently sent directly to the AEAs would be redirected toward the districts, which could spend it on those services through another avenue. The bill has been approved by a committee but has not been debated on the chamber floor.

Jenny Turner, Heartland AEA speech therapist, lines up in her car on July 24, 2020 at East High School before joining a motorcade to protest Governor Reynolds' proclamation to allow schools to return to in-person learning in the fall.

"Improving student outcomes has always been at the forefront," Reynolds said in a statement last week. "The system must provide transparency and accountability to school districts, those closest to our students, and drive consistency across the AEA regions to improve services for students with disabilities.

Democrats remain staunchly opposed to changes to AEAs, repeatedly urging Republicans to drop the issue.

"The people who seem to be forgotten sometimes in this political battle are the kids who need services, said House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights.

Galen Bacharier covers politics for the Register. Reach him at gbacharier@registermedia.com or (573) 219-7440, and follow him on Twitter @galenbacharier.

About the Iowa Poll

The Iowa Poll, conducted Feb. 25-28, 2024, for The Des Moines Register and Mediacom by Selzer & Co. of Des Moines, is based on telephone interviews with 804 Iowans ages 18 or older. Interviewers with Quantel Research contacted households with randomly selected landline and cell phone numbers supplied by Dynata. Interviews were administered in English. Responses were adjusted by age, sex and congressional district to reflect the general population based on recent American Community Survey estimates.

Questions based on the sample of 804 Iowa adults have a maximum margin of error of plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. This means that if this survey were repeated using the same questions and the same methodology, 19 times out of 20, the findings would not vary from the true population value by more than plus or minus 3.5 percentage points. Results based on smaller samples of respondents  such as by gender or age  have a larger margin of error.

Republishing the copyright Iowa Poll without credit and, on digital platforms, links to originating content on The Des Moines Register and Mediacom is prohibited.

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This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa Poll: Most favor AEAs as lawmakers weigh special education changes
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  A New Mexico man has been sentenced for a Social Security scheme. He was found guilty after an investigation that lasted years.

The United States Attorney, District of New Mexico, said James Sandoval, 58, of Rio Rancho, was convicted of theft of government property and making false statements.

Woman, accused of stealing ABQ gym-goers keys and vehicles, arrested

2007: Trial evidence stated, in 2007, Sandoval was able to receive disability benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA). He was issued payments, along with money for his children and Medicare benefits.

2018: The Albuquerque SSA Office of the Inspector General Cooperative Disability Investigations Unit (SSA-OIG) began to investigate Sandoval. It was alleged he was hiding ownership, work activity, and earnings at a jewelry business called Traditions Past and Present.

2019: An undercover SSA-OIG agent spoke with Sandoval at a jewelry booth at a rodeo event. Sandoval reportedly told the agent he sells customized jewelry, and the prices ranged from $500 to $20,000. The booth Sandoval was at was called Traditions Past and Present Jewelry, My Heritage and Design by James Sandoval.

2020: Officials met with Sandoval, and he reportedly claimed he hadnt worked since 2002 or 2003. He also denied making profits, and working, at Traditions Past and Present. However, he said he did travel to trade shows for the business.

Evidence: A former employee testified Sandoval was intentionally hiding his income from the government. Reports and photos were obtained of Sandoval working at the jewelry business along with Sandovals bank records. From 2014 to 2019, those records showed multiple business transactions to his private account.

New Mexico governor signs healthcare bills into law

Between 2014 and 2019, Sandoval received $182,735.10 from SSA. From 2015 to 2021, Medicare paid $94,165.20 for services. He was not eligible for those benefits during that time.

Everyone deserves economic stability and dignity, said U.S. Attorney Uballez. Social security funds represent our collective commitment to taking care of our neighbors who can no longer work. When selfish business-owners draw benefits to which they are not entitled, they are stealing from every Americans paycheck and from every lawful beneficiary. Together with SSA-OIG, we will preserve the viability of the Social Security system. This case was spearheaded by OIG Special Agent Bianca Mendez, who tragically died before she could finish her work. Her colleagues at SSA-OIG and CDI finished where she left off and honored her legacy with this outcome.

Sandoval was sentenced to 15 months in prison and must pay $55,261.20 in restitution to the SSA. He will also be supervised for three years after his release.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
A popular wild swimming spot in Somerset could be granted bathing water status if a public consultation is successful.

Last year, wild swimmers applied for the River Tone in Taunton's French Weir Park to be granted bathing water status.

The Government has now announced plans to create 27 new designated swimming spots across England.

Campaigners say they are "delighted" by the success of their efforts.

The campaign was supported by more than 300 people who swam in the Tone last summer.

It was submitted to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs by Gideon Amos, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary candidate for Taunton and Janine Appleton, chair of Friends of French Weir Park.

If designated, sites will receive regular water monitoring from the Environment Agency, who will investigate pollution sources and identify steps to be taken, which could include actions by water companies, farmers and others.

It would be the biggest ever rollout of new bathing water sites as part of the Government's plan to improve water quality across the country.

"This is a massive win for ordinary Taunton residents and users of our River Tone," said Mr Amos.

"At last there will be proper monitoring of water quality and support and guidance for the many who swim in the river at French Weir, and recognition for something people have enjoyed as of right here for hundreds of years."

Janine Appleton added: "I'm absolutely thrilled, as are the rest of the Friends of French Weir Park committee, at the news that we've reached the public consultation stage of our application for Bathing Water Status.

"Gideon Amos and I, along with the rest of the Friends committee, worked very hard to get this far, and the Safe Swim sessions we held last year at the river steps in French Weir Park showed just how valued our river is for both the local and wider community."

The public consultation on the proposed 27 swimming sites closes on 10 March.

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The Shannon-class boat is one of the vessels at the heart of the disharmony at the RNLI - BNPS

RNLI bosses have snubbed veteran volunteers and pushed them to leave, lifeboat crew have claimed.

Long-serving crew members at the charity told The Telegraph of bitter internal strife in some lifeboat stations and requests to management going ignored.

One told of mass resignations of volunteers in protest at bosses viewing them as disposable, while another claimed he was sacked in a row after an all-weather was replaced with an inshore inflatable vessel.

Controversy has hit charity

It comes as the RNLI celebrates its 200th anniversary, having saved more than 144,000 lives since 1824 and still serving as the primary rescue service for Britain and Irelands coastline.

In a picture to celebrate the anniversary on Monday, the RNLI released a birds-eye-view image of a 2.5 million Shannon-class lifeboat being launched  which is one of the vessels at the heart of the row.

Covering 238 lifeboat stations and many beaches, its current income of 230 million continues to grow along with donations and legacies, but controversy has hit the acclaimed charity at some stations.

Alex Smith, 69, said he was dismissed as the operations manager of Arbroath Lifeboat Station in Angus, eastern Scotland, in June last year after opposing the replacement of its all-weather Mersey-class lifeboat with an Atlantic 85 rigid-hulled inflatable boat.

He claimed that he and other crew members were concerned that the Atlantic 85 had a six-mile radius range at sea and had been promised that a Shannon class would be given to them instead, a new hi-tech all-weather boat with a range of 250 nautical miles.

All I cared about was the safety of the crew, the semi-retired charter skipper said. Management just did not pay attention and they did not listen to us.

A fatality on your hands

Ive been sailing here all my life, I know that boat will not be able to handle bad conditions. Our superiors say the neighbouring stations at Montrose and Broughty Ferry will be able to step in if its too rough but it will take 30 minutes for them to get here.

Thats long enough to have a fatality on your hands.

Mr Smith, who joined the RNLI in 2001 and served as an onshore launcher until 2009 when he became operations manager, said he was eventually dismissed when a private WhatsApp conversation in which he described his managers as lying b---- was leaked to the charity. He had also been censured for speaking to the local newspaper about the boat swap without permission.

Another crew member to raise concerns about management at the charity is Heidi Bakewell, 44, who quit the Pwllheli station in north Wales last month after she concluded that volunteers are disposable.

Division and disharmony

She was one of 12 crew members with a combined 170 years of experience who resigned after a row with a colleague who spoke only in Welsh on a rescue, which not everyone could understand.

The station was shuttered last August as the RNLI investigated the row, which it has said was causing so much division and disharmony that rescue operations were unsafe.

Ms Bakewell, a pub landlady at Y Llong in nearby Edern, said the volunteers were ready to start over on a clean slate last month until managers told them they would have to reapply for their roles, at which point 12 handed in their resignations.

Management have got no idea

It is absolutely devastating, she told The Telegraph. I was absolutely gobsmacked that at a charity that has been brought up on volunteers, that the management just dont seem to be trained to deal with any disharmony. Theyve just got no idea.

The claims came as former personnel at other RNLI stations told MailOnline they claimed to have witnessed bullying.

This included Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex, where Stewart Oxley, 55, a volunteer of 37 years, claims he was stood down by management after opposing the replacement of the stations 2 million all-weather lifeboat that could carry 120 people with a three-man D-class dinghy, as bosses said the pier it launched from was unsafe.

An RNLI spokesman said of the Arbroath row that no change would be made that compromised safety and a four-month consultation led to the boat swap, though one Atlantic 85, three Shannon-class and four D-class lifeboats covering 33 nautical miles from Anstruther to Montrose will provide the very best life-saving response.

Agreed to move forward

We do not stand volunteers down for simply disagreeing or making appropriate challenges to decision making, the charity added.

The spokesman said of the Pwllheli row that after a breakdown in relationships between people at the station, two thirds of the crew and 13 new volunteers have agreed to move forward and an intensive two-week training period is now under way to get the lifeboat back in service.

In response to the additional claims on MailOnline, the RNLI accused the publication of having deliberately tried to diminish our 200th anniversary and chosen to rehash some mainly historic stories to create a false impression of our charity  one that most of our people just do not recognise.

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RALEIGH, N.C.  Heading into the 2024 campaign, North Carolina will serve as the battleground for a marquee gubernatorial race: a likely faceoff between a Southern Democrat and a GOP candidate who is popular with Donald Trump's base.

Once a reliable Republican stronghold  long associated with the southern fried conservatism of the late Sen. Jesse Helms  the Tar Heel State has become more competitive largely because of diverse population growth.

"I believe that the road to the presidency is going to go through North Carolina," Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who is term limited, told USA TODAY in an interview.

"And I believe that we can win this state for Joe Biden when you look at the momentum that's occurring right now, and you look at how outrageous Donald Trump has become, even more so since his presidency."

People wait in line to vote at a polling place on November 8, 2022 in Fuquay Varina, North Carolina, United States. After months of candidates campaigning, Americans are voting in the midterm elections to decide close races across the nation.

As millions are flocking to the polls for Super Tuesday, primary voters in North Carolina have a sharp contrast in the two party's leading contenders to fill Cooper's seat: Democratic Attorney General Josh Stein and Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson.

They are polar opposites in more than just policy positions and campaign styles, but personal backgrounds.

Where Robinson is a firebrand known for making controversial remarks, Stein is a career politician attempting to ride Cooper's popularity coattails. Their race for leader of the state is expected to hinge on the economy and reproductive rights.

North Carolina Democrats, led by Cooper, who has endorsed Stein, have won the governor's mansion even with Trump at the top of the ticket in past cycles. They are looking to follow Georgia, another southern state that has turned blue because of changing demographics, pointing to its frontline battles on abortion and razor-thin margins in the past two presidential contests.

But Republicans, who control the Legislature, also want to win back the state after bursting Democratic optimism in the past two Senate races.

Currently Biden holds an abysmal 38% approval rating with North Carolina voters, according to an Emerson College poll released in February.

Coupled with anxieties over the economy and immigration, GOP campaign officials and strategists believe the 2024 governor's seat can be flipped.

Jonathan Felts, a longtime GOP consultant in the state who is executive director of Patriots First, a pro-Robinson super PAC, said conservatives are eager to send Biden and the country a message.

"You got a strong fighter in former President Trump versus an incumbent president who looks weak and feeble in terms of standing up to the challenges of the job, but also standing up for working families," he said.

Robinson, he added, is running as an outsider, much like Trump.

"He is a fighter," Felts said. "So, yes, North Carolina is definitely going to resemble the national election."

Who can flip North Carolina first?

Of the 11 gubernatorial races this year, North Carolina is one of just two (along with New Hamsphire) rated as a toss-up by Larry Sabato's Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia, which forecasts elections.

"It's going to be the marquee state race," said J. Miles Coleman, an associate editor at Crystal Ball.

North Carolina is still thought of as a slightly Republican state when it comes to federal elections, he said.

But he points out how Democrats have fared better when it comes to the governors seat. They have won seven out of eight contests going back to 1992, for instance.

Democrats have tried mightily to cast North Carolina as a swing state after then-candidate Barack Obama won it in 2008.

In each presidential election since, the state been decided by less than 4 percentage points. The 2020 election saw Trump defeating Biden by less than 1 percent.

(Democrats) always fall a little short, Coleman said.

Stein vs. Robinson: The incredibly stark potential match-up

North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein speaks at the MLK, Jr. Prayer Breakfast, January 13, 2024.

If all goes as predicted on Super Tuesday, then voters will have two very different candidates in the fall.

One is an Ivy-league-educated Democrat whose father was a famed civil rights attorney who leans into liberal causes.

The other a Republican factory worker who turned into a right-wing populist with brash rhetoric about culture war issues.

Stein, who is Jewish, and Robinson, who is Black, would break barriers if either won in the fall.

Democrats front-runner and hopeful successor to Cooper, Stein gained name recognition in North Carolina as the states attorney general since 2017 and a state senator before that.

Herman Gaskins, 74, who lives in Washington, North Carolina, said he has supported Stein for governor since he and his wife began thinking about the 2024 election two years ago when they met the attorney general for lunch.

He said they left that meeting solidly in Steins corner.

Gaskins, a private attorney who knew Stein's father, said the Democrat comes from a line of lawyers that have stood up for equality, for all races, for all sexes. And he has shown a tendency to do that, in his political career so far.

Mark Robinson, Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina, speaking during the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC 2024, at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center.

And I am just shocked by who the Republicans are apparently going to nominate, Gaskins said.

Steins likely opponent, Robinson, grew up poor as one of 10 children in Greensboro. He joined the political scene in 2020, when he became North Carolinas first Black lieutenant governor.

But he captured attention two years prior, when his fervent defense of gun rights at a Greensboro City Council meeting went viral in spring of 2018.

The police can barely enforce the law as it is, Robinson said at the time.

Thats what I see, we demonize the police, criminalize and vilify the police, and we make the criminals into victims. And were talking about restricting guns? How are you going to do that?

Gubernatorial candidate Mark Robinson speaks at rally at Freedom Christian Academy on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2024.

Following his rise to fame in conservative circles, Robinson has made waves for several comments made since, including endorsing antisemitic conspiracy theories and enraging Black voters when he said that so many freedoms were lost during the Civil Rights movement.

"The choice for the voters of North Carolina is going to be incredibly stark, Stein said last Monday after a campaign stop along the coast in the deep red area of Beaufort County.

They can choose a vision that is forward looking, positive and optimistic, that's about being inclusive and growing, he added, versus the lieutenant governor's vision, which is weak and angry and divisive.

Stein said he is confident about his chances, as well as Robinsons, in next Tuesdays primary.

What will matter most to North Carolina voters?

Abortion rights protesters are removed after becoming vocal, Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Raleigh, N.C., after North Carolina House members voted to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill that would change the state's ban on nearly all abortions from those after 20 weeks of pregnancy to those after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Both the Senate and House had to complete successful override votes for the measure to be enacted into law. The Senate voted to override the veto earlier, and the House also voted to override. (AP Photo/Chris Seward) ORG XMIT: NCCS114

Early voting began on Feb. 15, and those who showed up were fully aware of the national spotlight that is ready to shine on their state and the significance of their choice in the context of the presidential race.

Republican Dewey Baker, 52, of Princeton, said that played heavily on his mind when he voted for Robinson.

"Hes for Donald Trump; he believes everything Donald Trump believes, which is everything I believe," he said.

Monica Pittman, 67, and Gerald Pittman, 72, Republicans from Kenly, said they hope Robinson will be their next governor. Both said they like how the candidate has pushed back on criticisms of his positions, including on abortion.

The person I want in any office is the one that votes their conscience and what they really feel is best for our country or our state, Gerald Pittman said, after casting an early vote for Robinson.

I think as lieutenant governor he has again spoke his mind even when he realized that the majority of people would not have felt that way," he added. And I feel like hes probably going to do the same on anything else, whatever he felt was best, hes not going to back down.

But that is exactly what worries 65-year-old Wayne Penn, who moved to Belhaven six years ago.

(Robinson's) just so extreme and so off base to me that I can't imagine why anyone would vote for him, Penn said.

Penn said he hopes Robinsons extreme nature will dissuade independents and tip the election in Democrats favor.

We're definitely a purple state now. Used to be red, but it's definitely purple now," he said.

The Emerson College survey, which was released Feb. 21, shows North Carolina voters remain evenly split ahead of the primary.

Head-to-head, 47% back Trump while 44% support Biden in a poll with a 3% margin of error  a virtual tie. The remaining 10% are undecided.

Its findings on the issues bode well for the GOP, however, with 36% of voters saying the economy is the top issue, an area Republicans generally score well on with voters. That far exceeds the 6% who ranked threats to democracy and 5% who said abortion access was their chief concern.

Abortion, immigration could dominate North Carolina race

Biden, Trump visit border on same day as polls show voter concern over immigration

Across the country Republicans are expected to hammer Democrats on immigration, which the survey found ranks as the top issue with 10% of respondents.

The GOP is likely to pounce on Stein's previous positions, such as when he joined other attorneys general in 2021 who challenged the Trump administrations plans to rescind DACA, the Obama era executive order that protected from deportation undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children.

The poll also found 47% of voters think "things in North Carolina are on the wrong track" compared with 32% who believe the state is headed in the right direction.

But reproductive rights are what Democrats are betting will galvanize a significant portion of the electorate, given the battle last year between Cooper and the GOP-controlled Legislature that resulted in dueling vetoes and override votes over a 12-week abortion ban.

"The anti-choice wing controls the Republican Party, and the (state) Republican leadership has said they're coming back to do more," Cooper said. "So the people of North Carolina know that they've got to go to the polls. This is going to be a significant issue in November."

Protesters on both sides of the issue hold signs as North Carolina House members debate, Tuesday, May 16, 2023, in Raleigh, N.C., on whether to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto of a bill that would change the state's ban on nearly all abortions from those after 20 weeks of pregnancy to those after 12 weeks of pregnancy. Both the Senate and House had to complete successful override votes for the measure to be enacted into law. The Senate voted to override the veto earlier and the House also voted to override.

During the 2020 election, Robinson said, "there is no compromise on abortion," but in recent months he has softened his position.

Sloan Duvall, 21, who chairs Students for Stein, the official statewide student campaign for the Democratic candidate, said that won't fool voters this fall.

"Women in North Carolina are facing one of the greatest threats they've ever seen in Mark Robinson, she said.

"I'm looking forward to post-graduation, where do I want to live, and I don't want to live in a state where Mark Robinson is governor," Duvall added. "He's a threat to women in this state."

Accusing Robinson of fearmongering, Duvall said the Republican wants to pick up every culture war he can find and fight it.

"He wants to make people afraid and just fight these culture wars that are just going to divide our state, she added.

Even GOP rivals say Robinson goes too far, hinting at possible hesitance with more moderate residents in a state where every vote matters.

North Carolina Treasurer Dale Folwell, one of Robinson's opponents in the primary, lambasted the lieutenant governor for straying from what he said are fundamental Republican Party values.

He is history's latest example of someone who's trying to rise to power by selling hate, Folwell said.

"He somehow thinks ... that selling hate and rage is somehow going to build the Republican Party. And it's not."

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Josh Stein vs. Mark Robinson: Why NC governor race is key in 2024
Robert Jenrick says mass migration is responsible for breeding Islamist extremism and anti-Semitism - David Rose for The Telegraph

Soaring immigration levels have made it impossible for people to integrate into British society, a former Home Office minister has said.

Robert Jenrick claimed that a naive policy of mass migration was responsible for breeding Islamist extremism and anti-Semitism, while the police focused on threats from the far-Right instead.

Mr Jenrick, who resigned as immigration minister last year when he became disillusioned with the Governments Rwanda deportation deal, said numbers should be cut to tens of thousands  echoing a former Conservative manifesto pledge.

On Friday, Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, warned there had been a shocking increase in extremist activity following the Oct 7 attack on Israel, when hundreds of its citizens were massacred by Hamas.

Israels attempt to destroy the terrorist group by launching a military campaign in Gaza has spawned pro-Palestine marches across major cities. Some participants have chanted jihad and from the river to the sea  generally interpreted as calling for the destruction of the state of Israel.

Speaking on GB News, Mr Jenrick told Camilla Tominey, The Telegraphs Associate Editor: You cannot resolve this problem, building a united country built around British values unless you end this era of mass migration.

Weve been living in a time where up to a million people have arrived in our country every year, and its impossible to successfully integrate so many people.

The level of migration weve experienced as a country the last 30 years has been unprecedented, and that needs to change.

Net migration is estimated to have hit a record high of 745,000 in the year to last December, prompting warnings of a threat to community cohesion, housing supply and wage growth.

Police too passive

Mr Jenrick went on to warn that the police had been too passive in their response to pro-Palestine protests, and said authorities had mistakenly focused on far-Right terrorism instead of Islamic extremism.

We dont want to just manage these protests, we want to police these protests, he said. And many people, for example British Jews, have found the police to be too passive.

We need to have a much stronger policing presence on the streets of London and elsewhere, he added.

We have a problem in this country with Islamist extremism and we need a proper national conversation about that, and a strategy to tackle it.

Mr Jenrick said that the people who projected the words from the river to the sea onto Big Ben should have immediately been arrested for using the genocidal chant.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, said on Sunday that current levels were too high and that he would seek to shift Britains dependence on migration in Wednesdays Budget.

I think migration in limited numbers can be beneficial but what I think is wrong is this idea that you should get economic growth by allowing in more migrants, he said.

What we want to do, and what Ill be doing on Wednesday, is saying, How do we move from an economy that has been dependent on migration for growth to a high-wage, high-skill economy that is not dependent on high levels of migration?

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Roman Kemp took a subtle swipe at Red Bull Racing boss Christian Horner while hosting the Brit Awards.

Last month Horner, who is married to former Spice Girls singer Geri Halliwell, was hit with allegations of inappropriate behaviour towards a female colleague.

Horner strongly denied the allegations and was placed under investigation by the company. He was then cleared of any wrongdoing after being interviewed for nearly 10 hours by an external lawyer.

Red Bull confirmed that the grievance has been dismissed and stated that the company felt confident that the investigation has been fair, rigorous and impartial. The colleague has the right to an appeal.

The investigation report is confidential and contains the private information of the parties and third parties who assisted in the investigation, and therefore we will not be commenting further out of respect for all concerned, the company added.

Kemp, 31, appeared to reference the incident while presenting the annual music awards ceremony alongside fellow hosts Maya Jama and Clara Amfo last night (2 March).

As he walked past tables filled with guests, Kemp described the venue as a hubbub of whos who of the music industry, before quipping: Honestly, its been busier down here than at the Red Bull press office.

Halliwell, who has been married to Horner since 2015, was pictured standing in solidarity with her husband during an appearance at the Bahrain Grand Prix.

Geri Halliwell appeared alongside husband Christian Horner in Bahrain (Getty Images)

The pair held hands as they arrived at the Paddock yesterday, and were seen smiling and chatting together. Horner later admitted that the week had been testing, telling reporters: Its been very testing for my family but we are very strong as a family and our focus is on this race.

Halliwell and Horner share son Montague George Hector, aged seven, while the pop icon also has a 17-year-old daughter, Bluebell, from a previous relationship with screenwriter Sacha Gervasi.

Earlier this week, a source told The Sun that the allegations had caused weeks of hell for Christian and his family.

Geri has been rock solid behind Christian  and his whole family is relieved and elated that its over, the source added. Those feelings are there but no one close to Christian feels like celebrating much after what hes been through.

Horner joined Red Bull Racing in 2005, when he became the youngest ever Formula One principal.
The University of Florida has fired an entire department dedicated to diversity initiatives. The move by the states most prominent public university marks another in Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis exorcism of such programs throughout the states educational institutions.

The Independent Florida Alligator, a student-run newspaper, first broke news that all 13 employees in the Office of the Chief Diversity Officer would be sacked.

A memo to employees cited a new regulation for the Board of Governors, a DeSantis-controlled board setting policies for the State University System. It also states that about $5 million that was previously budgeted for diversity equity and inclusion programs would now instead be invested in a faculty program administered by the university provost.

"The University of Florida is  and will always be  unwavering in our commitment to universal human dignity. As we educate students by thoughtfully engaging a wide range of ideas and views, we will continue to foster a community of trust and respect for every member of the Gator Nation. The University of Florida is an elite institution because of our incredible faculty who are committed to teaching, discovering, and serving," the memo said.

In total, 13 full-time employees lost their jobs but will receive 12 weeks of severance pay. The university encourages staff to apply for other jobs within the institution. Fifteen administrative appointees  faculty members who have additional duties in the administration  had their responsibilities ended.

The firings marked a significant shift under University of Florida President Ben Sasse, a former U.S. Senator heavily criticized for his anti-LGBTQ record when he became the only finalist considered for the president job.

Both Sasse and DeSantis drew criticism for the decision to excise all efforts at improving diversity on campus. The New Republic called Sasse the governors Hatchet Man.

Meanwhile, DeSantis celebrated the firings of state employees. Online, he posted the message, Florida is where DEI goes to die.

Correction: A previous version of this article stated that 15 administrative appointees were fired. They were not, but their responsibilities were ended. We regret the error.
Keep that city shining bright





Most people crossing our southern border are not immigrants, but refugees. Immigrants come of their own volition. Refugees must leave their country to escape war, persecution, natural disasters or extreme poverty.

The American people, at our best, welcome refugees and reject the impulse to close our borders. We embrace Ronald Reagans vision of a shining city upon a hill. He described it in his farewell address:

It was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, windswept, God-blessed, and teeming with people of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity. And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.

With such a vision, backed by the will and resources of the American people, border problems can be solved, and our shining city will glow ever brighter.

- Bernard Kern, North Richland Hills

Sheriff Waybourn insults us all

I spoke at the Tarrant County Commissioners Court meeting Feb. 21 to ask commissioners to vote against selling forfeited guns to commercial vendors. (Feb. 24, 1A, Tarrant OKs sale of forfeited guns by sheriffs office)

We have an epidemic of gun violence, and we certainly have plenty of guns available. Our police and sheriffs departments could reduce it by destroying guns forfeited in crimes rather than putting them back on the street.

I was not surprised that commissioners approved the sale, but I didnt expect that Sheriff Bill Waybourn, who was not even there to listen to our plea, would call us out as unpatriotic and say we did not understand the Second Amendment. Waybourn doesnt realize that one of the most patriotic things citizens can do is stand up in a public forum and make their opinions known, especially when they oppose the actions of their own government.

- Suzanne Mabe, Fort Worth

Dont downplay Bidens successes

Nicole Russell is horrified at the prospect of four more years of Donald Trump, and she offers specific evidence of what makes him unfit to be the leader of our country. (Feb. 27, Star-Telegram.com, Conservatives are crowning Trump their king. Is it too late for a checkmate?) But she seems even more horrified at the prospect of Joe Biden earning another four years, comparing it to a zombie apocalypse.

Is she put off by the fact that Biden and his administration guided us past COVID-19 after Trumps failure to do so? Or by the fact he passed a major infrastructure bill to begin rebuilding our country after Trump promised that outcome but never delivered? Or maybe shes worried about border security and didnt notice that Trump recently helped scuttle a bipartisan bill to address the problem?

- Marc York, Fort Worth

Judge shows two faces on elections

Recently, Tarrant County Judge Tim OHare declared, Taxpayer funds should not be used to get people to the polls. (Feb. 22, 7A, Tarrant commissioners reject funding bus rides to the polls) His vote against continued funding for free rides to voting locations during primary season ended four years of Tarrant Countys participation in Trinity Metros program.

However, OHare appeared happy to spend taxpayer money during the November 2023 constitutional amendments election to ensure voters received a Tarrant County Election Task Force slip encouraging them to submit tips, leads or other investigatory information to the sheriff. This was a slap in the face to voters, election judges, poll workers and the staff of Tarrant County Elections.

Good government enables the machinery of democracy.

- Libby Willis, Fort Worth
After Maine Gov. Janet Mills in her State of the State address presented her response to the Lewiston massacre last Oct. 25, the response from her fellow Democrats in the Legislature was respectful silence.

Some commentators noted that her proposals did not match her eloquent words about a horrific, previously unthinkable explosion of violence, with a gunman killing 18 people at two locations in a matter of minutes. But the Democratic caucus  many of whom support stronger gun safety measures opposed by the governor  didnt respond.

Not so 2nd District Congressman Jared Golden. In a rare disagreement between two high-profile Democrats, Golden said last week he opposed the governors legislation.

Mills proposed a slightly enhanced yellow flag law that relies entirely on law enforcement to disarm dangerous gun owners, along with expanded background checks, neither likely to prevent a rampage like Robert Cards.

The governors principal spokesman professed incomprehension saying, The Congressman does not appear to understand the proposal. That seems unlikely.

Goldens focus lies elsewhere, on the armaments that destroyed so many lives before anyone was able to flee. In an epiphany he revealed a day after the mass shootings, he reversed his previous opposition to a federal assault weapons ban about what had just happened in his own town.

The precise contours of Goldens position arent known, but likely resemble the ban in effect from 1994-2004. It reduced fatalities an estimated 70%, but a Republican Congress refused to renew it.

Since the ban expired, high-powered, military-style weaponry has proliferated. Golden said he wants to reduce the lethality of weapons, an approach similar to that of Sen. Angus King, though King doesnt favor a ban.

The context Mills is comfortable with, as opposed to the conversation Im having with myself, as Golden put it, points up the polarities of a trend that has dramatically worsened public safety.

Back in the day, gun control advocates  as they called themselves  focused on the difference between rifles, used widely for hunting, and handguns involved in most street killings and armed robberies.

The distinction seems almost quaint now, when the prospect of sudden, inevitable death in schoolyards and classrooms, synagogues and churches, concert venues and bowling alleys, has become a familiar  though entirely unnecessary  part of American life.

Lewiston was a wake-up call, one that has not yet been heeded.

With no federal legislation seemingly possible, 10 states have banned assault weapons. One of them was Connecticut, where a 2012 massacre in a second grade classroom prompted a far stronger response than Maines.

Another 21 states have adopted red flag laws that would have been more effective in disarming Card that the yellow flag law that in this instance failed. Warning signs are easier to detect, much earlier, if family members and health professionals can petition a court.

While Mills is correct in arguing that legislation shouldnt focus on just one crime, however devastating, if it couldnt prevent that crime how can it be sufficient?

For many Mainers, Lewiston permanently changed things. Weve long been a state with a low crime rate despite high rates of gun ownership, a status quo that has now expired.

When homicides were mostly domestic, and any discharge of firearms in a public place was rare, it was possible to imagine it couldnt happen here. Now it not only can, it has.

It doesnt really matter that many AR rifles are in circulation and their owners fancy them for target practice or hunting. Maximum firepower is not a reasonable standard to balance gun owners rights with public safety.

Do we want a future where we respond to schoolkids fears with more active shooter drills and arming their teachers?

Or do we want to contain violence and its lethality as Iraq War veteran Golden bluntly put it  by reducing the body count?

No one imagines any law can prevent all such shootings, but saving some of the hundreds, even thousands of lives lost nationwide is surely worth trying.

Golden represented Lewiston for two terms in the Legislature before being elected to Congress in 2018, and is a maverick who thinks for himself. That may have given him clarity on an issue other lawmakers hesitate to confront.

Now that hes spoken out, its possible legislators will feel empowered to do the same.

In most sessions the budget is the most important debate, but not this time.

Will we see an adequate response to a nightmare come true? For as the proverb has it, If not now, when?

Douglas Rooks has been a Maine editor, columnist and reporter since 1984. His new book, Calm Command: U.S. Chief Justice Melville Fuller in His Times, 1888-1910, is available in bookstores and at www.melvillefuller.com. He welcomes comment at drooks@tds.net.

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Rooks: Congressman Golden confronts Maine Gov. Mills on gun laws
Shaya Baum doesn't want to say which Whole Foods market it was, because it does him no good to get crosswise with the police again.

What he did there was prevent a desperate woman from getting arrested for shoplifting. In a way, it was the first step toward what he's doing now, which is trying to get a convicted murderer out of prison.

Nosakhare Onumonu, 46, had been less than a model citizen before he was sentenced to life without parole for killing 84-year-old Helen Klocek, of Plymouth Township. But his defenders say he was victimized at trial in 2015 by hidden evidence and police officers' blatant lies, and then again in late 2022 by an arrogant judge.

Baum, 38, founded a nonprofit early last year called Firefly Advocates. Its formidable goals are to upend wrongful convictions, help those for whom small fines are mammoth roadblocks, and work toward what seem like commonsense reforms once somebody says them out loud.

Onumonu has a date in Detroit on Thursday with the Michigan Court of Appeals, and he could wind up being Firefly's first major victory.

Ideally, said the lawyer who's representing him through Firefly, he'll get a new trial. Failing that, he should be in line for an evidentiary hearing, a sort of mini-trial with witnesses and documents and hope.

Worst case, he'll be rejected altogether, even after a Wayne County judge ordered a new trial nearly two years ago and said point blank that "I believe that there is a significant possibility of the actual innocence of Mr. Onumonu."

Whatever the outcome, Onumonu will keep churning forward. He's become good at jailhouse lawyering, and there's little else to do with his time.

Baum is awash in obligations, but he'll keep churning, too.

"The deck is so stacked against some people," Baum said, that they're hardly participating in the same justice system as those with more wealth or clout. "How do we reshuffle the cards?"

He has some ideas. They're descended, he'll tell you, from his day job, where he's the owner of a company called Wing Lake Capital Partners in Farmington Hills that also focuses on underdogs.

Specifically, it helps businesses that made bad situations worse by borrowing from merchant cash advance companies, the commercial equivalents of a payday loan storefront except that they're less regulated and frequently more vicious.

Even before Firefly, Baum was working too hard and sleeping too little. His key employees can vouch for his hours; when he has an inspiration at 3 a.m., it usually means someone's cellphone is about to ping.

Shaya Baum sits in the sleek Farmington Hills lobby of Wing Lake Capital Partners, which helps businesses regroup after getting buried in the business equivalent of payday loans. The nonprofit Baum launched in 2023, a prisoner exoneration and advocacy group called Firefly Advocates, will see the first major hearing for a client on Thursday.

His own chime rang the day he watched a mother with two young kids get stopped by police at Whole Foods. She had tucked bread and cheese beneath her jacket, he said, and officers were placing her under arrest.

Wait a minute, Baum interrupted, surprising himself more than anyone else. How can she be shoplifting if she hasn't left the store yet? And what if I pay for her food?

"The cops were really upset with me," he said, and he didn't understand why. He sent the woman off to fill a cart with whatever she needed, and told the officers that they should be thanking him, not glowering at him.

He was saving them the trouble of making an arrest, and keeping the worst-case dominoes from toppling. The mom didn't get hauled away and her kids didn't get put in foster care and she didn't get a criminal check mark that would keep her from working and maybe not having to steal.

Best of all, the kids were going to eat.

Hungry for success

The situation was essentially the plot of "Les Miserables"  which Baum hasn't seen.

He's been busy, pretty much since childhood.

The seventh of nine children, he was raised in Oak Park in a household where his father would become a successful lawyer, but remained a student until Baum was 10 years old.

"I remember what it's like going to bed hungry," he said. "It's not a good feeling."

His response was to hustle: "selling Gatorade at the park, cutting grass, shoveling snow." By 19, he said, he had founded two tax preparation companies in New York City before selling them both to come home and get a degree from Wayne State.

By not much older than that, Onumonu was in prison.

A felony for diapers

The oldest of Denise Onumonu's five children is "very respectful. Religious. A quiet, laid-back guy. That was the foundation I laid for him," she said.

In their northwest Detroit neighborhood, at age 9 or 10, he was cutting grass in the community," she said. "A lot of neighbors would tell me my sons were the only ones they would allow to cut their grass.

Later, he began blending gospel with rap, a connection to his roots at Greater Faith Ministries.

In August of 1999, at 22, he pulled a knife and robbed the clerk at a Dearborn Heights adult novelty store.

The chapter and verse of his record is not sympathetic reading, though his mother, 67, tries to understand. Out of work, Denise Onumonu said, and imbued by a foolhardy young man's sense of duty to a girlfriend with twins, he had robbed the shop for money to buy Pampers.

Only two months after pleading guilty  inflamed, his mother said, by a letter from the woman he walked away from a minimum security prison in Ionia County and robbed a gas station, holding a pair of scissors to the side of the female cashier.

Tack on 10 years for a sharpened 7-inch length of antenna he claimed that a guard had planted in his waistband in 2002, and he was due to be behind bars until his release on parole in February 2012.

He never left.

The victim and the campaign

Tiny Helen Klocek ate French toast and crispy bacon on the late morning of March 2, 1999, at III Brothers Family Restaurant in Plymouth.

She drove off in her white 1992 Ford Escort sedan, and the next time anyone reported seeing her, she lay beaten and choked to death in an alley behind a church on Joy Road on the west side of Detroit.

Solomon Radner, a civil rights attorney by trade, is certain Onumonu did not kill her. Firefly isn't paying his usual rate, but it's providing enough that he can at least afford to take the case.

Ive held million-dollar checks, said Radner, 40, and that feels pretty good. But he has walked a few innocent people out of prison, working pro bono, and thats the most rewarding thing Ive done as a lawyer.

He and Baum have been friends since childhood, so it was an easy yes when he was asked to review Onumonu's file. What he read, he said, made it an even easier yes to stepping in.

Okumonu can be blunt and headstrong, Radner said, but he's used to that with prisoners. Decades behind bars reinforce that nobody gives a damn about them but them, he said, and they know their case better than anybody else.

Nosakhare Onumonu in 2015.

The edginess isnt personal, and the net effect for Onumonu is that by arguing for himself via Zoom, he was able to persuade Judge Tracy Green of the Wayne County 3rd Circuit to acknowledge the likelihood of certain errors and flat-out agree that other elements of his conviction had involved fraud.

'Unclean hands' and a suspension

Klocek's partially torched Ford was found several days after the murder, behind a church 3 miles from her battered body. Her purse was found a day after the car, in an alley where one of two early suspects was known to buy drugs.

The suspects are one of the issues raised by Onumonu. Police never mentioned them, and, in fact, claimed there were none when they explained why a glass worker's Kevlar glove found in the car's back seat  we'll get back to that  wasn't sent for DNA analysis until 2008.

The key witness for the prosecution had seen Klocek driving the day of the murder with a Black man as her passenger, appearing to give directions. She described him as having a light complexion, medium build and light eyes, none of which apply to Onumonu.

A sketch based on the original description was never provided to the defense. A more damning likeness was used at trial, after charges were dismissed in two preliminary examinations in the span between charges being brought in November 2011 and a jury finally being seated in July 2015.

The most vital piece of evidence for the prosecution was the glove.

Onumonu had, in fact, worked for a glass company at one point. But in the affidavit to obtain a sample of his DNA, police said the glove had been found near the body, not in an Escort miles away.

More inflammatory, as far as Onumonu's team is concerned, is that the glove did not turn up on an inventory of the contents of the car until 2008. The affidavit for the warrant to obtain his DNA claimed it was found near the body, which was untrue, a lie that Radner says might have kept it from the trial.

Beyond that, the attorney said, "We don't know where the hell the glove came from, or who had it. All we know is that it took nine years to get there.

"You know what we call that in the legal world? Reasonable doubt."

Green, the judge, said the police department "has unclean hands here" as she ordered a new trial in 2022. Unfortunately for Onumonu, hers also needed a scrubbing: As the Free Press reported in 2023, she was suspended from the bench for six months for helping her son cover up the abuse of his two boys before her election in 2018.

Also unfortunately for Onumonu, Green issued conflicting orders, for both a retrial and an evidentiary hearing.

Though she clarified her intentions via email, the visiting judge handling her cases bulldozed through Onumonu's responses at a follow-up hearing, took his protestations as a refusal to cooperate, and left him with nothing.

That ruling is the subject of Thursday's appeal, and Baum's continuing ire  or at least part of it. The more he deals with the legal system, he said, the more it makes him sputter.

Solutions and frustrations

Baum says the nature of his business, helping companies restructure while they fend off the most rapacious of the merchant cash advance firms, might leave him pursuing or defending dozens of lawsuits at a time.

He's a grinder, he said, with little time or interest in the things success is supposed to bring.

For security reasons, he wants to keep some basic details of his life private, but he still lives in the 1,500-square-foot Oakland County starter home he bought when he was 25, next door to his grandparents.

Until recently, he drove a 2017 Buick. Then he took over the lease on an Audi SUV a friend had left in his parking lot, with all-wheel-drive and any number of features he hasn't figured out yet.

He joined a country club two years ago, but said he has only played there twice.

"I never feel good," he said. "That's my problem. In my mind, it's, 'What have I not gotten to?' "

Firefly helped one man who'd been offered 17 years in prison as a plea bargain on sexual assault and gun charges. The nonprofit found phone records that showed he'd been in Warren when the assault occurred in Detroit, and the prison sentence ultimately dropped to two years.

A landscaper at the park near his office needed to get out from under a fine so he could move on with his life. Easy. A $500 bond disappeared for someone whose court case fortuitously came before one of Wing Lake's appearances  a simple gesture if you have the money, an insurmountable burden if you don't. A woman charged with vehicular homicide wound up with six months of probation after an attorney enlisted by Firefly proved she was being attacked.

"He never gives himself credit," said colleague Doris Houchins., and Baum's response was reflexive:

"Celebrating doesn't help the next guy."

There are more dragons, he's finding, than lances to fight them with.

Why, for instance, are telephone fees so usurious for the people in prison who can least afford them, when their friends on the outside can practically call Mars for $20 a month?

"Simple fix," he said. "Let them call their families for free. Or incentivize it  if you're doing drug counseling or working toward a degree, it's free."

And: want to keep people out of jail? Help them keep their jobs, when cars are expensive and it takes three buses and two hours to go pack parts at a warehouse in Troy.

"Start a program to Uber people to work," he said. Get Uber to kick in, enlist a nonprofit, maybe encourage employers to pony up in their own best interests.

"Everybody's happy," he said, and parents are home in 30 minutes to be with their kids.

Most of the time, he said, a solution is just an idea and a few phone calls away.

Or, maybe this week, an appeal.

One of the things Onumonu has talked about, Baum said, is working on the outside to help people who've been wrongly convicted. He has already sent Firefly some names.

Chances are Baum can find him a desk.

Reach Neal Rubin at NARubin@freepress.com.

To subscribe to the Free Press at discount rates, click here.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Key case looms for nonprofit trying to reform system
Two people connected to the Air Force died this past week, according to a recent Air Force Academy social media post.

Officials announced Chong Hirthler, a 23-year-civilian employee, was discovered dead on campus Wednesday before sunrise.

According to the academy officials, one of Hirthler's family members had reached out to USAFA officials when she was late coming home from work. She was discovered dead inside of her car.

Foul play is not suspected at this time, officials said.

10th Air Base Wing Deputy Commander Col. Dan Werner described Hirthler as a, "dedicated 23-year member of our Mitchell Hall Food Service team."

She was well-known and loved across the 10th Air Base Wing, the Preparatory School, and throughout the Cadet Area. Cadets, faculty and staff enjoyed her thoughtfulness and mentorship," Werner said.

"She will be missed by everyone.

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On Thursday in a separate incident, 21-year-old cadet Tristen Burton died in an off-campus motorcycle crash.

According to officers with the Colorado State Patrol, the fatal crash occurred just outside Manitou Springs along Highway 24.

Officials said it appeared Burton was taking a turn when his motorcycle ventured outside of the lane and collided with a guardrail.

USAFA superintendent Lt. General Richard M. Clarke described Burton as a, "trusted peer and respected wingman, who excelled in the classroom and in the gym as an avid weightlifter."

According to Clarke, Burton came to the Academy from Granger, Texas and was studying mechanical engineering with the hope of someday becoming a special warfare officer.

The motorcycle crash remains under investigation, CSP said.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) on Sunday offered his prediction for how the Russia-Ukraine war could unfold, arguing neither side will achieve victory as defined in the most idealistic terms.

When asked by Fox News Sunday anchor Shannon Bream how much pressure the U.S. or other international leaders should put on Russia and Ukraine to find a solution, Rubio said, Im not going to set parameters on what that looks like. Its not our place to do that; its premature to do that.

Heres what I do know, there is no way that the Russia Federation takes Ukraine, all of Ukraine, half of Ukraine and that was [Russian President Vladimir] Putins goal from the beginning was to carve it up into half at least half the country, including Kyiv, thats not going to happen, Rubio, who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations and Intelligence committees, continued.

Rubio, however, said it is important to look at the reality of Ukraines size and ability in comparison to Russia.

We have the reality of it is that Ukraine is small compared to Russia in terms of size and its ability to bring scale, its ability to force, conscript people Im just being honest, he said. You know, in the past, I have tried not to talk about this publicly because I thought it undermined the leverage that Ukraine had, but now its the reality.

Russias war with Ukraine surpassed its two-year mark late last month, with neither side appearing open to conceding. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last week said losing the war against Russia would amount to the same tragic end as death.

Neither side is going to be able to achieve victory as defined in the most idealistic terms, Rubio said. So then the question becomes if in fact, theres going to be a negotiated settlement, whos going to have the leverage here? Is it going to be Putin or is it going to be Ukraine, and I want Ukraine to have the most amount of leverage possible when the time comes for those conversations to happen.

The Florida Republican argued Putin wants Ukraine to become basically a satellite state, like Belarus, in which the country is forced to remain neutral.

Increasing divisions among lawmakers have left U.S. aid for Ukraine in limbo for nearly a year as Congress struggles to agree on further funding for the Eastern European nation. Rubio, along with most of the GOP conference, voted against a bipartisan border security deal last month that wouldve also unlocked aid for the country.

Rubio also voted against a $95 billion emergency defense spending bill last month, including about $60 billion in aid for Ukraine. The deal passed in the upper chamber and headed to the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) faces pressure to bring it to the floor. Johnson has signaled he will not bring the legislation to the floor as it lacks the border security provisions demanded by House GOP members in recent months.

Rubio on Sunday reiterated his argument that while he believes the U.S. should help Ukraine, this can only be after further action is taken on the U.S. southern border.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Russian forces struck nine communities on the border of Sumy Oblast on March 2, the regional military administration reported.

The attacks caused at least 60 explosions in the area. No casualties or damage to civilian infrastructure were reported.

The Russian military attacked the communities of Yunakivka, Esman, Velyka Pysarivka, Seredyna-Buda, Myropillia, Bilopillia, Krasnopillia, Znob-Novhorodske, and Khotin, firing at the border 17 times throughout the day.

For 24 hours, the region was assailed with drones, mines, artillery, and mortar attacks.

The residents of Sumy Oblast's border villages are subject to near-constant attacks from nearby Russian troops.

Read also: The economic toll of 10 years of Russias war against Ukraine in charts

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russia averaged nearly 1,000 casualties per day in February, marking a new record, UK intel says

Russia averaged nearly 1,000 casualties per day in February in Ukraine, the UK Ministry of Defence said.

The high rate likely reflects "Russia's commitment to mass and attritional warfare," the MoD said.

While Russia's tactics are costly, they have increased pressure on Ukrainian positions.

Russian forces suffered an average of 983 casualties per day in Ukraine in February, the highest since the war began, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in an intelligence update on Sunday.

The UK department said the increase in casualties, which included both killed and wounded soldiers, was likely due to "Russia's commitment to mass and attritional warfare."

In February, Russia finally captured the embattled Ukrainian town of Avdiivka, which sits just north of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

War analysts have noted that Russia's tactics to take Avdiivka often involved "human wave" assaults, attempting to overwhelm Ukrainian positions with large numbers of Russian soldiers on foot.

One Ukrainian commander said in January that they could kill 40 to 70 Russian soldiers per day, but they would just send another wave the next day.

"Assault after assault, non-stop," he said.

The UK department said that Russia's tactics were "costly in terms of human life," but it noted that they had increased pressure on Ukrainian positions on the front lines.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has previously suggested that Russian commanders do not value the lives of their men and that they "conscript corpses."

Russia has likely had 355,000 personnel killed and wounded during the war, the MoD noted.

While Ukraine has been suffering from manpower shortages, Russia has adopted a number of tactics to replenish its forces, including raising the age of conscription for a year of military service to 30.

Read the original article on Business Insider
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed that overnight on March 3, its forces allegedly intercepted and destroyed 38 drones over Russian-occupied Crimea.

No casualties were reported. Earlier explosions were heard near an oil depot in Feodosia, a resort city in eastern Crimea, according to local Telegram channels.

Russian proxy authorities in Crimea shut down traffic on the Crimean Bridge in the early hours of March 3 following the explosions. No reason was given for the traffic closure.

The bridge, also called the Kerch Bridge, connects the Russian mainland with the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. Construction on the bridge began after the illegal 2014 annexation and occupation of Crimea, and was completed in 2018.

The 19-kilometer long bridge is a critical supplies and transport route for Russian forces in Crimea and mainland Ukraine, and has been the target of repeated attacks following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Read also: Ukraine destroyed 13 Russian military aircraft in 2 weeks. How?

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Russian authorities are increasing the presence of special forces in the Temporarily Occupied Territories (TOT) of Ukraine in preparation for the organization of so-called "elections" for the Russian president, the National Resistance Center (NRC) reported on Telegram on Mar. 3.

Police and reinforced Russian Guard units are being deployed in the TOT and are under the control of the Russian FSB security services.

Read also: Kremlin sends special units to monitor and manipulate Putins elections in Russia-occupied territories of Ukraine

The main goal of this increased presence is to root out members of the resistance and prevent them from disrupting the upcoming sham "elections" scheduled to take place from Mar. 15 to 17.

The head of Russia's Central Election Commission, Ella Panfilova, said on Dec. 7, 2023, that her agency would consider holding Presidential elections in the occupied territories of Ukraine, including in Crimea and in the occupied parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson oblasts.

The Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Ministry stated that voting in the occupied territories of Ukraine would be illegal and meaningless.



Read also: Occupying forces in Ukraine set up measures to ensure 'election' participation, incl. online  NRC

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Russia likely suffered at least 355,000 casualties in Ukraine war - UK MoD

More than 355,000 Russian personnel have been killed and wounded in the Ukraine war, according to the UK MoD.

In its daily update published on Sunday, the UK Ministry of Defence estimated that the average daily number of Russian casualties throughout February was the highest since the start of the invasion.

It put the figure at 983 casualties per day.

Both Kyiv and Moscow shroud their causality counts in secrecy, due to the effects they can have on army morale, populations at home and how the war is perceived abroad.

Each side can overestimate the number of enemy dead and wounded, meanwhile.

Euronews could not independently verify the figures from the UK, one of Kyiv's principal European allies.

Friends and relatives visit the grave of a Ukrainian serviceman at the Kryvyi Rih cemetery in eastern Ukraine, Sunday, April 23, 2023. - Bernat Armangue/Copyright 2023 The AP. All rights reserved.

Writing on X, the UK MoD said the mounting Russian casualties reflect Moscow's "commitment to mass and attritional warfare."

"Although costly in terms of human life, the resulting effect has increased the pressure on Ukraine's position across the frontline," it added.

It is unclear how the UK MoD counts the number of Russian dead and wounded.

In February, Russian forces captured the Ukrainian town of Adviivka - their biggest gain in many months - after one of the most intense battles of the war.

Russia's Defence Ministry said its troops advanced some 9 kilometres and would press forward after the deadly urban battle in the eastern Donetsk region.

On 25 February, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed in action since Russia launched its full-scale invasion.

"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, he said in Kyiv.

It was the first time Ukraine confirmed the number of its losses, but Zelenskyy did not disclose the number of troops that were wounded or missing.

Ukraine's number one said no exact figure would be given until the war ended.

Russia has provided few official casualty figures.

The most recent data from the Defense Ministry, published in January 2023, pointed to just over 6,000 deaths.
Experts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) report that the Russian army is willing to risk further losses of its aircraft in pursuit of tactical advantages on the Avdiivka front.

Source: Institute for the Study of War (ISW)

Quote: "Russian forces appear to be willing to risk continued aviation losses in pursuit of tactical gains in eastern Ukraine, likely along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line."

Details: Ukraine's Air Force reported on 2 March that Ukrainian forces had destroyed one Su-34 aircraft that had bombed Ukrainian positions in eastern Ukraine on the morning of 1 March.

Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk later stated that Ukrainian forces tried to shoot down two more Russian Su-34s and one Su-35 and shot down one of the Su-34s.

The Ukrainian military reported that the Defence Forces had shot down 15 Russian aircraft since 17 February.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said that Russian forces have not deployed A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft over the Azov Sea in the past six days following the downing of an A-50 on 23 February, and suggested that the absence of A-50s is forcing Russian Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft to fly closer to their targets to launch strikes.

The report notes that previous losses of Russian aircraft prompted Russian troops to reduce aviation activity throughout Ukraine temporarily, but the increase in the number of Russian aircraft losses in Ukraine in recent weeks has not yet forced the Russians to reduce tactical aircraft activity significantly.

According to ISW, Russian forces temporarily established a limited and localised air superiority in the last days of the capture of Avdiivka. They are likely attempting to re-establish this limited and localised air superiority to support the tactical advance of Russian forces on the Avdiivka front and have decided that continuing to conduct offensive operations with air support outweighs the risk of losing more aircraft.

ISW estimates that the loss of 15 aircraft and possibly several highly skilled pilots over the course of approximately two weeks is not insignificant for the Russian military, given that Russia likely has around 300 different Sukhoi fighters.

To quote the ISWs Key Takeaways on 2 March:

Russian forces appear to be willing to risk continued aviation losses in pursuit of tactical gains in eastern Ukraine, likely along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line.

Transfers of North Korean weapons to Russia by sea apparently paused as of mid-February 2024.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov publicly rejected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogans recent offer to host a negotiation platform for Russia and Ukraine.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov used the Antalya Diplomatic Forum to promote Kremlin narratives about Moldova, likely to set conditions for potential Kremlin hybrid operations that aim to destabilise Moldova and prevent Moldovas accession to the European Union (EU).

Senior Russian officials acknowledged Armenias reduced participation in the Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), marking a notable shift in Russian official rhetoric that previously sought to ignore Armenian efforts to distance itself from the CSTO.

The Kremlin appears to have largely permitted displays of anti-war sentiment in Moscow as Russians observed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalnys funeral on 1 March.

Russian forces made confirmed advances near Kreminna, Avdiivka, and Krynky on 2 March.

Russian Deputy Defence Minister Timur Ivanov inspected a Russian shipbuilding facility and the construction site of a new military hospital in the Republic of Dagestan during a working trip to Russias Southern Military District on 2 March.

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Russian forces appear to be willing to risk continued aviation losses in pursuit of tactical gains in eastern Ukraine, likely along the Avdiivka-Donetsk City line, according to the U.S.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War (ISW) Mar. 2 report.

Previous Russian aircraft losses have prompted Russian forces to temporarily decrease aviation activity throughout Ukraine, but the increased rate of Russian aviation losses in Ukraine in the past weeks has yet to prompt Russian forces to significantly decrease tactical aviation activity.

Read also: Magical month: Ukraine shoots down 13 Russian planes worth over $1 billion  full list & infographic

ISW assessed that Russian forces temporarily established limited and localized air superiority during the final days of the Russian seizure of Avdiivka. Russian forces are likely attempting to reestablish this limited and localized air superiority in order to support tactical Russian advances in the Avdiivka direction and have decided that continued offensive operations with air support outweigh the risk of losing more aircraft.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force commander reveals downed Russian Su-34 fighter jet  video

ISW continues to assess that the reported loss of 15 aircraft and possibly some highly trained pilots in about two weeks is not negligible for the Russian military given that Russia likely has about 300 various Sukhoi fighter aircraft.

Ukrainian Defense Forces achieved remarkable results in their combat against Russian aviation in February 2024, successfully downing 13 enemy aircraft worth over $1 billion.

Read also: Ukrainian Air Force hit two more Russian planes with anti-aircraft missiles

The aircraft downed in February 2024 include:

 Ten Su-34 fighter-bombers, each with an export value of around $50 million ($500 million in total). The Su-34s are among the most modern aircraft in Russias aviation arsenal, equipped with guided aerial bombs and Kh-59 air-to-surface missiles used to attack frontline regions in Ukraine. The Su-34, with a crew of two pilots, is roughly equivalent to the American F-15E Strike Eagle, a two-seat multirole fighter from the 1980s, capable of reaching speeds up to 1,900 km/h. Currently, Russia has dozens more Su-34s in service. Before the full-scale invasion, Russia produced 127 Su-34s, according to Defence Express.

 Two Su-35 fighters, each valued at around $100 million ($200 million in total). These fourth-generation multirole fighters, previously described as the main adversary by the late Ukrainian Air Force ace pilot Andriy Pilyshchikov (callsign Dzhus), often provide air support for Russian combat aircraft, ranging from Su-34s to A-50s, reaching speeds up to 2,400 km/h.

 One A-50U long-range radar detection aircraft, an exceedingly rare Russian plane valued at around $350 million, which Russia can no longer produce. These planes serve as airborne command centers, coordinating air and sea target detection and air defense operations. With a maximum speed of around 900 km/h, Ukraine has shot down two such aircraft since the start of 2024, with another A-50U damaged at the Belarusian Machulishchy airfield in February 2023.

Read also: Russian air superiority aids offensive in Avdiivka; more aggressive frontline advances expected  ISW

On Mar. 2, the Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported the probable destruction of another Russian Su-34 and Su-35 aircrafts.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
Ukrainian soldiers say they lacked the arms and weapons to hold off the Russian attacks - Efrem Lukatsky/AP

Russia has suffered its bloodiest month since the war began, British military intelligence has said, as its forces made a series of gains in high risk attacks along the front line.

The Kremlins forces have pushed back Ukrainian soldiers and captured a string of towns and villages around the two-year anniversary of the war.

But the gains came at a cost of some 29,000 men killed or wounded in February alone. On Sunday Russian soldiers were thought to be closing in on their next target: the town of Chasov Yar, near to Bakhmut.

The increase in the daily average almost certainly reflects Russias commitment to mass and attritional warfare, the British Ministry of Defence said in its daily intelligence briefing.

Its data showed that for the past four months, the Russian army has sustained an average of more than 936 casualties every day. This is four or five times higher than its losses in the first few months after its February 2022 invasion.

The Kremlin launched a full-frontal attack against Avdiivka in Ukraines eastern Donbas region in November, eventually capturing the destroyed town in mid-February.

Although costly in terms of human life, the resulting effect has increased pressure on Ukraines positions across the front line, the British Ministry of Defence said, adding that Russia had now probably lost a total of 355,000 soldiers in two years.

Ukrainian soldiers have said that they lacked the arms and weapons to hold off the Russian attacks and also described a chaotic retreat from Avdiivka after days of brutal house-to-house fighting.

One Ukrainian soldier said Russian officers appeared to have no regard for their men, whom they sent to near-certain deaths.

Russia sent in inexperienced troops in waves each morning, afternoon and evening. They appeared to be in their 40s or 50s, with no protective vests or helmets, the soldier told the Washington Post.

Russian military bloggers said that there was now heavy fighting along the entire eastern front line which had moved several miles west of Avdiivka and Bakhmut, the town captured by Wagner mercenaries in May last year.

Rybar, a channel closely linked to the Russian ministry of defence, told its 1.2 million subscribers that Russian forces were making decent progress, although their commanders were still blundering by sending infantry to attack armoured vehicles without grenade launchers and drawing maps based on beautiful video reports with flags in villages that have not yet been cleared.

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Consequences of shelling of Kurakhovo on March 3

On March 3, Russia conducted an airstrike on Kurakhove, Donetsk Oblast, injuring 16 people, two of them critically, Vadym Filashkin, head of the Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, reported on Telegram on the same day.

The strike targeted the town center, damaging at least 15 buildings, Filashkin added.



 /Telegram

Read also: Seven month old child killed with parents during Odesa drone attack, two more children missing

Local authorities, police, and rescuers are on site.

 /Telegram

During the same night, the Russian army shelled Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast, hitting a school and a lyceum with two missiles each, injuring three people, according to Yuriy Tretiak, acting head of the Myrnohrad Military Administration.

Additionally, on March 3, the Russian army attacked Pokrovsk with an Iskander missile, causing shrapnel wounds to two women, ages 24 and 52, as reported by the prosecutors office.

Read also: Russian missiles hit Myrnohrad and Dnipro, three people reported wounded

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
A document about undocumented immigrant response that the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management presented to Colorado Springs City Council last week created confusion and elicited criticism from some elected officials who characterized it as short-sighted.

"I am quite frankly shocked that this was supposedly months of planning.  There is no plan. There is no plan in that framework," El Paso County Commissioner Carrie Geitner said at a meeting Tuesday.

The City of Colorado Springs Migrant Response Framework, dated Feb. 26, was not intended to be a strategic plan but rather a basis from which the city can develop a plan, said Andrew Notbohm, regional emergency management and recovery director for the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management.

It was put together for decision points to then go into an operational plan, if need be, he said.

The one-and-a-half page document intentionally lacks the operational components and organizational structure that would be included in a plan of action, Notbohm said.

He reviewed the information with City Council at a meeting on Monday. Some members, including Dave Donelson, called the document "vague" and not useful.

Mayor Yemi Mobolade posted on X, formerly Twitter, that the document was the result of months of planning by five teams: a policy direction group that Mobolade headed, a coordination group that assessed and supported local nonprofits, a liaison group to state and federal agencies, a public safety group and a public information group.

"The community deserves for its leaders to plan ahead for any number of possibilities, which is why (the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management) published the document and presented it to City Council," the city posted on X on Monday.

Although Notbohms office covers jurisdictions that encompass both the city of Colorado Springs and unincorporated El Paso County, the document was produced solely for the city, and the county is not currently part of the planning effort, according to Jamie Fabos, chief of staff.

It is intentionally a city plan, she said at the meeting when questioned if the county was sharing a role in how the issue of migrants might be handled.

El Paso County spokesman Vernon Stewart said he didnt want to speculate as to whether county leaders in the future would join in the emergency migrant planning.

Both county commissioners and City Council members recently approved separate resolutions declaring El Paso is not a sanctuary county and Colorado Springs is not a sanctuary city for undocumented immigrants crossing the United States southwest border.

The actions came after reports that a busload of immigrants had arrived in Colorado Springs from Denver and were staying at the Salvation Armys Family Hope Center, the citys only homeless shelter for families.

While county commissioners said they did not want nonprofit organizations to assist immigrants who entered the country illegally, nonprofits such as the local Salvation Army have said they would follow their mission to help anyone who shows up in need at their door.

Fabos said the city does not and would not direct the mission of a nonprofit, especially a private nonprofit.

Geitner and Commissioner Stan VanderWerf said Tuesday that illegal immigration is the No. 1 issue among their constituents, based on conversations they have had with voters during their campaigns. Geitner is running for re-election on Nov. 5, and VanderWerf is vying for a seat in the state senate.

Geitner expressed frustration with the federal government's and the city administration's response to the issue, saying the mayors office is trying to downplay it.

"While finally we are getting the mayors office to acknowledge that it is more of a problem, there is still a concerted effort to try to obfuscate from the mayors office," she said.

Colorado Springs has not seen the influx of new immigrants as Denver has, Notbohm said. Nearly 40,000 immigrants have sought assistance at Denvers processing center in recent months, he said. Ninety-five percent were processed at the border, Notbohm said, though its unclear how many were issued alien identifications.

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It is also unknown how many immigrants have come to Colorado Springs, he said, but gauging from nonprofits that provide services to transients, the numbers have been small, perhaps a few hundred.

Some nonprofits are reporting an increased demand for food, shelter and clothing, the framework states, adding, However, not all can be directly attributed to migrants.

We do not have a clear picture, Notbohm said. Everybody is looking for the same information, and nobody has it except Denver, which has a process in place.

Ryan Trujillo, Colorado Springs' deputy chief of staff, said at the council meeting, Without some type of Orwellian or dystopian measures, we cant track the numbers of migrants we have.

An organic flow of immigrants from Denver to throughout the state could occur, Notbohm said, as migrants living in temporary shelters in Denver time-out of their allowed stay.

Denvers mayor announced last week that the city will close four shelters over the next month to reduce expenses, consolidate space, and will help migrants obtain housing and work permits, or pay for their transportation to another destination.

Also, Notbohm said, as the November election draws closer, national experts project significant surges of border crossings.

But Colorado Springs does not have the ability to provide long-term shelter for immigrants, Notbohm said.

Officials from the city and county of Denver have said they will notify the Pikes Peak region governments of any efforts to rent additional hotel space outside of the metro area.

Denver officials have said their cost to provide shelter, food and services is $750 a week per migrant. Of the nearly 40,000 arrivals in Denver, 20,000 have received transportation to go elsewhere, Notbohm said.

He noted that the situation has put a strain on hospitals in Colorado Springs, which say the problem isn't only newly arrived immigrants.

While hospitals in the CommonSpirit Health system, which includes Penrose-St. Francis Health Services in Colorado Springs, do not track whether patients are immigrants and never turn away anyone who seeks care, hospitals and clinics have seen a 65% increase year-over-year in uncompensated or charity care for our region, said Becky Brockman, field communications advisor for Colorado, Kansas and Nevada.

Thats due to an unprecedented wave of uninsured patients, she said.

However, Brockman said CommonSpirit cannot attribute the increase in uncompensated care to the migrant issue alone, since nearly 550,000 Coloradans were disenrolled from Medicaid coverage as of January, as the federal public health emergency for COVID-19 ended.

Only 2% have requalified for Medicaid through CommonSpirit hospitals, Brockman said.

According to the migrant response framework, an emergency coordination call with city leaders and nonprofits would ensue to determine next steps and processes if one or more of these events happen:

 A significant and uncoordinated or unplanned surge of migrants enter the Pikes Peak region,

 Spontaneous tent encampments spring up,

 Public health identifies a communicable disease outbreak,

 Demand for shelter and other basic necessities from migrants exceeds the communitys capacity, or,

 Notification that local hotels are being contracted for sheltering migrants.

Notbohm said he did not have specifics on what would constitute a significant surge or the amount of demand that would trigger action.

Gazette reporters Mary Shinn and Breanna Jent contributed to this article.
A drone crashed into an apartment building in St. Petersburg Saturday morning, according to Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.

The local state news agency said that Ukrainian forces had damaged the apartment building.

Two buildings were damaged in St. Petersburg's Krasnogvardeisky district following the alleged attack.

Photos from the dilapidated-looking apartment complex showed large craters on the building's exterior.

ALEXEI NAVALNY FUNERAL: FAMILY OF PUTIN ARCH-NEMESIS GATHER TO SAY GOODBYE IN MOSCOW

A view of a damaged apartment block after an alleged drone attack reported by local media at Krasnogvardeysky district in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 02, 2024.

The local media said that six apartment residents were injured by the explosion, and they were transported to the hospital.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

A view of a damaged apartment block after an alleged drone attack reported by local media at Krasnogvardeysky district in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 02, 2024.

St Petersburg Governor Alexander Beglov said that residents were forced to evacuate.

Local residents told Reuters that they heard a "pop" and a "blaze."

RUSSIA PUSHES INTO MORE UKRAINIAN TOWNS, UKRAINE SHOOTS DOWN MORE WAR PLANES

"I first heard a whistle, because I had just opened the window, then a pop, a blaze and a full apartment of smoke, the window flew out," local resident Elena told Reuters.

She said this happened after 7:00 a.m. local time.

A view of a damaged apartment block after an alleged drone attack reported by local media at Krasnogvardeysky district in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 02, 2024.

The state newspaper's report came after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that eight people were killed in a Russian drone attack in Odesa, Russia.

Zelenskyy identified the youngest victims of the attack as four-month-old Tymofiy and Mark, aged two.

Odesa regional Gov. Oleh Kiper said the Shahed Russian drone was shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, but the falling debris hit the apartment building on Saturday.

Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this report.





Original article source: Russian apartment building attacked by alleged drones from Ukrainian forces: state media
The political and diplomatic settlements are impossible without Moscow's involvement in Ukrainian talks, the Russian foreign ministry said on March 3 after the meeting of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Galuzin and Chinas special representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui.

Hui met Galuzin during the Chinese envoys tour to Europe in order to promote a political settlement of Russias full-scale invasion. Visiting Ukraine, Poland, France, Germany, and the EUs headquarters in Brussels is also on Huis list.

According to the Russian foreign ministry, the sides agreed that "the settlements will not be reached without Moscows participation and considering its interests in the security sphere."

"Kyivs and Wests ultimatum demands to Russia and related to them 'dialog formats' only harm the perspectives of the settlement and could not serve as its basis," the Russian foreign ministrys readout said.

China's foreign ministry stressed in its readout after the meeting that China is ready "to continue its efforts to promote peace talks, mediate and build consensus among Russia, Ukraine and other relevant parties."

China has built close ties with Russia and has not denounced its war against Ukraine nor joined international sanctions.

Although Beijing has not publicly provided direct military support to the Kremlin, Western intelligence suggested that China has been supplying Russia with large amounts of dual-use goods with military applications.

Despite political differences, the EU and the U.S. have repeatedly appealed to China to use its influence on Moscow to bring an end to the Ukraine invasion.

Read also: Sanctions for show: Russian oil sales to China, India single main driver of Ukraine invasion

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Russian forces are consolidating their positions and regrouping near Terny in preparation for future attacks in the Lyman sector amid reduced intensity near Synkivka due to a lack of success there, Khortytsia operational-strategic group spokesman Ilya Yevlash said on national television on Mar. 3.

They are resorting to consolidating their positions there, realizing that their attacks in this area are futile, he said.

The enemy is setting up positions, regrouping, and preparing assault groups.

Read also: The General Staff identifies most targeted Russian attack locations

The Russians have decided to go on the defensive around Synkivka while redeploying troops to the Lyman sector in the area of Terny and Yampolivka, where active hostilities are currently taking place.

"The enemy is constantly trying to find a weak point, a gap in our defenses, and is trying to push through - so far without success".

Ukrainian forces have successfully repelled 12 enemy attacks in the area over the past day, killing and wounding 373 invaders and destroying 76 units of Russian equipment.

Read also: Russia escalating offensive around Lyman, Kupyansk in eastern Ukraine, says Ukrainian military

"The enemy has not been successful [near Synkivka] for a long time, Yevlash said.

We have seen this before, for example, near Novoyehorivka. This settlement was on the radar in the early fall of 2023. Having realized that they cannot develop an offensive, they are trying to redeploy their forces. They have chosen the next point - last week they attacked in the area of Terny and Yampolivka."

He added that, along with the redeployment of reserves to Terny, airstrikes with Ka-52 helicopters have intensified.

According to Ukrainian intelligence, the main focus of Russian efforts is now on the Avdiivka, Kupyansk, and Lyman sectors.

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Russian security forces are engaged in armed conflict with alleged militants in the town of Karabulak in the Ingushetia republic, according to the Russian news source Baza.

Eyewitnesses reported that the firefight involved grenade launchers and automatic weapons, but that the shooting has died down.

The fighting is reportedly localized in an apartment building where security forces have blockaded alleged militants. Security forces claimed that the fighters were planning a series of terrorist attacks throughout Russia.

The Kyiv Independent could not indepenently verify these reports at time of publication.

Ingushetia is located in the North Caucasus and shares a border with Georgia to the south. It is one of Russia's most unstable regions, with the insurgency in nearby Chechnya at times spilling over its borders.

Read also: Ukraine destroyed 13 Russian military aircraft in 2 weeks. How?

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Russian forces launched a missile attack on the city of Dnipro on the night of 2-3 March, sparking a fire.

Source: Serhii Lysak, Head of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Military Administration

Quote: "The Russians launched a missile attack on Dnipro after midnight. A fire broke out at the site of the hit. Emergency workers have put out the flames."

Details: Lysak added that Russian troops sent a kamikaze drone to target the town of Nikopol.

In addition, Russian artillery struck Myrove and Chervonohryhorivka hromadas [an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]. A dacha (country house) was damaged in the latter. Other areas are being inspected.

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Russian army stuck Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast and Dnipro with missiles, three people were injured

Russia struck Dnipro and Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast with missiles, with three people injured, reported media outlet Suspilne citing the heads of local Military Administrations on March 3.

According to Yuriy Tretiak, acting head of the Myrnohrad Military Administration (MVA), the Russian army attacked the city with missiles at midnight.

Read also: Putin confirms Russian army's use of Zircon missile in Ukraine strike

"The type of missile is still being investigated, said the acting head of Myrnohrad MVA.

Two missiles hit the school and two hit the lyceum. There is damage. Three wounded civilians from nearby houses were wounded by broken glass."

Read also: Photos reveal shocking extent of Russian recent attack on Odesa

Tretiak noted that one of the wounded was hospitalized, while the other two were treated on the spot.

Russia also attacked Dnipro with a missile during the same night. A fire broke out at the site of the attack. No casualties were reported by the head of the Dnipro Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak.

"It's been a tough night for the Dnipro Oblast, he wrote.

But there are no casualties and this is the most important thing. After midnight, the Russians launched a missile attack on Dnipro. A fire broke out at the site of the attack. The fire was extinguished by the emergency service."

In addition, according to Lysak, the Russian army attacked Nikopol with a suicide drone, and shelled Myrovska and Chervonohryhorivska with artillery.

The consequences of the missile strikes are currently being established.

Due to their proximity to the front line, Myrnohrad and Dnipro are periodically attacked by the Russian military. On Feb. 23, one person died as a result of the Russian attack on Myrnohrad.

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The Ukrainian Air Force has reported a Russian air attack in Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia Oblasts on the morning of 3 March.

Source: Air Force

Details: The launch of guided aerial bombs by Russian tactical aircraft was recorded.

Earlier, the military reported activity by Russian tactical aircraft on the eastern and southeastern fronts.

Meanwhile, air-raid warnings have been issued in Kirovohrad, Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts, as well as in Luhansk Oblast and Crimea.

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Tatyana Moskalkova, the Russian Federation's Ombudsman, has stated that the remains of Ukrainian military personnel who were allegedly killed in the downing of a Russian Il-76 military plane will be transferred to Ukraine in the near future.

Source: Moskalkova in a comment to Russian state-owned news agency RIA Novosti

Details: The Russian official says all expert procedures in the Russian Federation regarding the bodies of the deceased have been completed, and there is a willingness on the part of the Russian Federation to transfer the bodies, and Ukraine is prepared to accept them.

Moskalkova did not specify possible deadlines for the transfer of the remains.

Previously: On 1 March, Russian Human Rights Ombudsman Tatyana Moskalkova said that Russia was ready to return to Ukraine the bodies of the prisoners of war reportedly killed in the 24 January crash of an Il-76 cargo plane in Belgorod Oblast.

In a comment to Ukrainska Pravda, Andrii Yusov, spokesperson for Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), reported that Ukraine has repeatedly appealed to Russia regarding the transfer of bodies of those who died aboard the Il-76. Work in this direction is ongoing, as is the investigation into the circumstances of what actually happened with the Il-76 and who was truly on board.

Dmytro Lubinets, the Verkhovna Rada (Parliamentary) Commissioner for Human Rights, stated that as of 1 March, he had not received any official information from Russia regarding the possible death of Ukrainian prisoners of war (POWs) aboard the Il-76 that crashed in Russia. However, after the Russian ombudsman stated that the country was ready to hand over the bodies, he will once again bring this issue up with the Russian side.

Background:

On 24 January, a Russian Il-76 aircraft crashed in Russia's Belgorod Oblast. Sources in the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated the plane was carrying S-300 anti-aircraft missiles.

Following the downing of a Russian Il-76 transport aircraft in the Russian Federation's Belgorod Oblast, a number of Russian media outlets cited Andrei Kartapolov, chairman of the Russian State Duma Committee on Defence. He claimed that the plane contained dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war who had been taken for exchange, and Ukrainian Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets stated that he was looking into the situation. Ukraine's Defence Intelligence confirmed only that a prisoner exchange was planned for 24 January.

A few hours after information about the crash appeared, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine issued a statement in which it hinted that the plane was a military target and was transporting ammunition for the Russian army.

Ukraines Parliamentary Human Rights Commissioner Dmytro Lubinets noted Ukraine had seen no evidence indicating that a large number of prisoners of war were onboard the Il-76 military transport aircraft that crashed in Russias Belgorod Oblast, contrary to statements made by the Russian Ministry of Defence and other representatives of the aggressor country.

Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Ukraines Defence Intelligence, has said that neither Russia nor Ukraine could lay to rest the question of what happened when the Il-76 aircraft crashed in Russias Belgorod Oblast, because the Russians havent released the bodies.

None of the POWs who returned to Ukraine as a result of the swap on 31 January were on Russias list of those supposedly aboard the downed flight.

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Russia's Defence Ministry has claimed that 38 supposedly Ukrainian drones were destroyed over temporarily occupied Crimea on the night of 2-3 March.

Source: Russia's Defence Ministry

Quote: "An attempt by the Kyiv regime to commit a terrorist attack using 38 aircraft-type UAVs against targets in the Russian Federation was thwarted last night."

Details: The Russian ministry added that Russian air defence had supposedly "destroyed all Ukrainian uncrewed aerial vehicles over the territory of the Republic of Crimea".

Background: It was reported that explosions had occurred in the temporarily occupied city of Feodosiia, Crimea, on the night of 2-3 March.

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Russian A-50 planes have been avoiding the airspace over the Sea of Azov for the past six days.

Ukraine's air defenses downed 10 Russian planes in 10 days in a recent kill streak.

Russia's losses could be linked to compromised avionics systems, the Kyiv Post reported.

Russian A-50 planes, crucial for surveillance and the coordination of its air power, have been avoiding the airspace over the Sea of Azov for the past six days, RBC-Ukraine reports.

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said it highlighted Ukraine's ability to disrupt Russian airforce operations.

Ihnat also pointed to a notable shift in Russian tactics, involving its Su-34 and Su-35 jet fighters.

The Su-34 is the Russian air force's best fighter bomber, Forbes reported, and cost $50 million each. The Su-35 has a top speed of 1,485 mph and a bomb load of over 17,000 pounds.

Once accustomed to flying with relative impunity, the warplanes are now constrained by the increased threat of Ukrainian air defenses.

"Russian pilots are no longer so impudent; they aren't flying as close," said Ihnat.

The need to fly closer to targets to extend the range of guided bombs presents a significant risk for Russian pilots, said Ihnat.

The Ukrainian military has shown expertise in countering enemy threats, resulting in the destruction of 10 Russian planes in 10 days, suggesting potential weaknesses in Russian avionics systems.

On January 14 and February 23, Ukrainian forces also successfully targeted A-50 aircraft, critical early warning aircraft for long-range radar detection and targeting.

The Ukrainian victories in the air war contrast with its struggles on the ground, where its troops have been on the defensive following the loss of the key eastern town of Avdiivka in February, Russia's biggest battlefield success since it seized nearby Bakhmut in May 2023.

Ukraine may have compromised Russian avionic systems

Sukhoi Su-34 jet fighter-bomber of Russian Air Force performs its demonstration flight at MAKS-2015 airshow near Zhukovsky, Moscow Region, Russia. aviation-images.com/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

Ihnat suggested that the spike in Russian losses could be partly attributed to Moscow's attempts to advance westward following the capture of Avdiivka.

As Russian attack jets supported these assaults, they are increasingly vulnerable to Ukrainian missiles.

The diminished operational capacity of these aircraft, reported by the Crimean Wind monitoring group, indicates a potential strain on Russian antiaircraft defense capabilities.

Russia's losses could be linked to compromised avionics systems following the capture of key electronic defense components by Ukrainian forces about 18 months ago, the Kyiv Post reports.

Ukrainian forces have declined to disclose the specific methods used to target Russian planes.

It is known to possess advanced antiaircraft systems such as the Norwegian NASAMS and the US-manufactured Patriot missile systems. These systems are capable of engaging Russian jets within significant ranges.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Along with record-setting dangerously cold temperatures, Januarys arctic freeze brought the first real-time test of El Paso Countys new coordinated response for sheltering homeless people during extreme weather conditions.

The process saved lives and limbs, organizers said, but some people said they have concerns about security at the popup warming shelters.

The goal of safely shuttling indoors as many people who live on the streets as possible over the course of the five-day, four-night disaster declaration from Colorado Gov. Jared Polis was accomplished, said Andrew Notbohm, regional emergency management and recovery director for the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management.

He and other agency leaders addressed Colorado Springs City Council during this weeks informal public meeting and also participated in a closed-door debriefing to review what worked and what didnt.

Under a new system created by Steve Johnson, community and public health administrator of the Colorado Springs Fire Department, and facilitated by Notbohms office, public health, fire and police departments, homeless service organizations and houses of worship carried out the organized strategy.

When combined, the nearly 30-year-old Springs Rescue Mission, the citys primary homeless shelter that operates 24/7, and the two-year-old Hope COS, which uses churches and other locations for short-term sheltering when the temperature drops below 20 degrees, averaged serving 700 people a night during the Jan. 12-16 polar vortex, Notbohm told City Council.

The Salvation Armys Family Hope Center also had up to 186 bunkbeds available for family units and 12 beds for military veterans.

People really stepped up, and we heard so many positive stories, Notbohm said.

Emergency shelter usage Shelter usage during January's five-day, four-night emergency disaster declaration for subzero temperatures and wind chills, and days following: Jan. 12, 2024 Springs Rescue Mission: 359 clients Hope COS: 267 clients Jan. 13, 2024 Springs Rescue Mission: 354 clients Hope COS: 347 clients Jan. 14, 2024 Springs Rescue Mission: 353 clients Hope COS: 352 clients Jan. 15, 2024 Springs Rescue Mission: 359 Hope COS: 403 clients Jan. 16, 2024 Springs Rescue Mission: 417 Hope COS: not in operation Jan. 17, 2024 Springs Rescue Mission: 369 Hope COS: not in operation Jan. 18, 2024 Springs Rescue Mission: 397 Hope COS: not in operation Source: Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management

Until now, the city had no coordinated response for weather crises, Johnson said. A few of us in the fire department would try to find resources to get people to shelter, he said.

Hope COS formed in February of 2022 to assist people who are homeless, or reentering society after incarceration or addicted. After a homeless man froze to death in November of 2022, the organization expanded last year by opening experimental warming sites whenever the temperature dips below 20 degrees. Hope COS also transports people from tents and trails to the indoor spaces.

The alternative shelters appear to be making a difference in the community.

Hypothermia was a factor in the deaths of 21 people in 2022 and 14 people in 2023  a one-third decrease, according to the El Paso County Coroners Office.

A couple of the biggest challenges are how do we get this population  the unhoused and most vulnerable  to accept help, how do we create shelter structures to have access to meet those people where they are at, and how do we balance the safety of the individuals and the surrounding neighborhood and the community, Notbohm said. Thats part of what were going to address, by having more training and building capacity through the nonprofits.

One homeless man died during Januarys cold snap but not from exposure to the elements, said Melissa Oskin, founder of Hope COS.

The man collapsed and stopped breathing while coming off a trail and getting on a bus to be transported to a warming shelter. He could not be revived, she said, and he'd had previous health issues that likely contributed to his death.

The new protocol for emergency sheltering during extreme adverse weather has drawn criticism from some.

Springs Rescue Mission, which has 450 beds and can accommodate hundreds more with floor mats, had empty beds during the freeze, City Councilor David Leinweber noted at Mondays council meeting.

For a number of reasons, some people dont want to go to Springs Rescue Mission, Notbohm acknowledged.

Several homeless people who addressed council during its Feb. 13 meeting complained that the organization is too institutionalized, has unworkable rules and has created an environment that's difficult to want to be in.

Springs Rescue Mission is defined as a low-barrier shelter, meaning people can come into the large complex having used drugs or alcohol but they cant have substances or weapons on campus for the safety of everybody, Travis Williams, chief development officer, told council.

Locations under the Hope COS umbrella used a different model.

The Chinook Center, a progressive community space for social, economic and environmental justice, and several local churches that provided emergency shelter operated on a no questions asked system and did not search peoples backpacks.

We do not check bags; if we see any visible weapons or drugs, well confiscate the weapon for the duration of the shelter or ask them to put it away if its a pocketknife, Oskin said.

We rarely see substances inside the shelters, and if we do we explain theres no drug use inside. People have been very respectful of that and pack their things back up.

Thus, clients could have had weapons and drugs on them but could not use them inside the facilities.

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However, one man brandished a knife at one of the locations, Oskin said, and police were called.

Our volunteers are well-trained, she said. The gentleman was arrested, and no one got hurt.

A rumor that someone had pulled a gun at a warming shelter was incorrect, Oskin said, as that never happened.

The city currently does not provide funding to Hope COS. If the city is going to rubberstamp alternative methods of sheltering, it needs to have say in ensuring safety, Leinweber said Monday from the dais.

You wonder if were creating a safe environment for the population that's just wanting to have a good nights sleep, he said.

City Councilor Michelle Talarico said she believes its unfair to say that Hope COS or any other nonprofits that opened their doors during the cold weather event welcomed guns, as she thought was being suggested.

I believe they think a lot of it as a low-barrier way to save lives, she said.

Said Leinweber: I understand those churches are doing what they can to protect human life, and Im all for that. Im also concerned for the safety when theres that kind of access to drugs and weapons.

Going forward, Notbohm said, the emergency management office will provide guidance to the spontaneous shelters regarding safety.

It goes to one of our improvements, that if the city is going to support a shelter here we need to have security measures in place so theres no violence or harm happening, for the safety of the staff, people using the shelters and the surrounding community, Notbohm said.

Springs Rescue Mission receives about $500,000 from the city toward its operations annually. The organization enacts a harm reduction system when temperatures fall below 20 degrees, which means people who have been temporarily suspended from the shelter for violating certain rules can seek shelter at Springs Rescue Mission on those nights, said Williams.

Those who commit serious violations on the campus, such as assault or sexual assault, are banned from Springs Rescue Mission.

Oskin said she was told 160 people were not allowed to stay at Springs Rescue Mission in January, along with another 50 who would be turned away for being unable to care for their bodies independently or having medical problems such as body lice, scabies or other contagious conditions.

We ended up treating people for those things when they were in our shelter, so they were able to go back to Springs Rescue Mission, she said.

Hope COS sheltered 100 of the 160 people that were not allowed at Springs Rescue Mission during the 10 days that the organization opened its temporary centers in the first half of January.

After the debriefing process, Oskin said Springs Rescue Mission has committed to being more transparent to the public about who the shelter can and cannot accommodate during severe weather.

Several homeless people said during council's Feb. 13 meeting that they see a need for alternative shelters.

We did lose a lot of our family members. People that we loved and would love to be here right now with us. But they froze to death, and thats no way to freaking go out like that, man, resident Barbara Berry told council. We all need to work together and pool together as one.

Housing advocate and community organizer Max Kronstadt described how after learning that Hope COS was struggling with finding space for stopgap setups, he and another volunteer rallied the Chinook Center to become a warming shelter. In just a few hours, Kronstadt said, people came in from the cold, and volunteers brought blankets, food and donations to buy sleeping mats.

It worked, we had a calm environment that was relatively incident-free, he said. We had 25 people in there 24/7 for those five days. It demonstrated the need for other types of shelter.

The National Weather Service in Pueblo announced that Colorado Springs had set a record low temperature of minus 8 degrees on Jan. 14, with subzero wind chills further affecting exposure to the elements.

People arrived blue, cold to the touch and unable to stop shivering, said Samantha Christiansen, president of the Chinook Center.

We gave every single thing as a community that we could muster because people were walking in our doors about to die, she said. They were walking in a city of this size, with this budget, for cold weather that was not a surprise.

The city needs to do a better job with the issue, several City Council members told the group at the Feb. 13 meeting. "There's no doubt about that," Leinweber said.

Gazette reporter Breeanna Jent contributed to this article.
FSB personnel near the building in Ingushetia. Photo: Russian news outlet 7x7

Russian security forces have been conducting "active measures to take out militants" in the city of Karabulak, Republic of Ingushetia [a subject of the Russian Federation], since Saturday evening (2 March), lasting until Sunday morning (3 March). Russian propaganda media has reported that six people were killed during an assault on a flat.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency RIA Novosti; BBC News Russian; Telegram-based news outlet Mash

Details: The counter-terrorist operation (CTO) began at 19:30 on Saturday.

Early reports indicated that six bodies of the militants had been found in the house after the CTO and inspection of the four-storey building.

The suspects were allegedly "planning terrorist attacks in public places".

A group of unidentified individuals was reportedly locked by the FSB officers in a residential apartment building in the south of Karabulak. It is claimed that they put up resistance and used hand grenades.

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A previous version of this story reflected the incorrect date and time. We have updated the article to reflect the correct information. We apologize for this error.

SALEM, Va. (WFXR) The Salem VA Health Care System is holding a Town Hall for Veterans on Tuesday, March 26 starting at 2 p.m.

The town hall will be held in the Hospital Leadership Bldg. 5 Auditorium. Hospital leadership will be in attendance as well as representatives from the Veterans Benefits Administration to provide information and answer questions.

Lynchburg Public Works set to begin renovations at Riverfront Park

Vietnam-era veterans who have not received a Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemorative pin and would like to have one presented during the town hall should reach out and email VHASAMPUBLICAFFAIRS@VA.GOV to schedule a pin presentation during the event.

Veterans who cannot attend the town hall are encouraged to submit questions through the email listed as well.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
Ninety-year-old Connie White says her father, Silas White, always wanted to do something for his Black community in Santa Monica, California.

Several decades ago, her father opened a laundromat across from Santa Monica College, along with two real estate offices and a successful hamburger stand in the area.

Silas Whites family is fighting to reclaim stolen land where hed hope to build Ebony Beach Club. (Photo credit: NBCLosAngeles/Santa Monica Museum/Change Petition)

Still, he wanted to do more, Connie said.

He continued to think and think; his mind really ticked like a clock, she told Atlanta Black Star. He started thinking more specifically about a beach club for his people.

She recalls being as young as 3 years old going on weekly beach trips with her father, who would only let them stay a short while because there was no place for them to change clothes other than the restroom or in their car.

Silas Whites dream of opening the Ebony Beach Club in Santa Monica would have solved that problem while also offering a space for Black artists and musicians to entertain in a location free of racial discrimination.

He envisioned the location of his club, which the family said he described as becoming one of the best establishments in America for lodging and comfort of my people, at the former Elks Club building on Ocean Drive in Santa Monica.

It had sat vacant for 13 years prior to Silas acquisition of the property in 1957, according to Where Is My Land, a small team of six that works to help hundreds of Black families find and reclaim land taken from them dating back to slavery.

Connie says her dad went through the proper steps of obtaining permits. All seemed to go well  until the city of Santa Monica stepped in, putting an end to Silas dream before it began.

The city used eminent domain to take Silas property, claiming they needed the land for a city parking lot. Silas fought the city and argued Santa Monica had not once tried to claim the property during the 13 years it sat vacant.

He erected a large sign on the building accusing the city of discrimination. The property would never become the Ebony Beach Club.

Silas and his investors asked to be awarded from the court $125,000 to cover the property and liability incurred for fixtures and equipment for the buildings renovation, according to research from historian Alison Rose Jefferson.

However in August of 1959, the court instructed the jury to consider only the land value in the case, and the racial discrimination charges were ignored.

Silas White lost his court challenge.

The jury determined that Santa Monica would have to pay the Ebony Beach Club $74,000 in condemnation compensation for the property, according to Jefferson.

Appealing the decision turned out to be futile, and the city began accepting demolition bids for the site in January of 1960, the historian added.

The building was knocked down that year  and the proposed parking lot was never built, according to Where Is My Land.

The reason that they took it to begin with was because he was a Black man trying to create a space for Black people, said Milana Davis, Connie Whites cousin.

The Viceroy Santa Monica Hotel now sits on the land. Today, Silas Whites family is urging Santa Monica to repair the injustice done to Connies father six decades ago.

Silas died in 1962 at 57 years old without seeing his dream realized.

What the family wants is that land back and they want to be compensated for almost 60 years of lost wealth and income, said Kavon Ward, CEO and founder of Where Is My Land. That is justice.

Bruces Beach Success Restored Families Hope

Like the White family, hundreds of Black families share similar stories of attempting to reclaim land stolen from them  like the Bruce family who successfully reclaimed land of Bruces Beach in Manhattan Beach, California, nearly a century after it was seized through eminent domain, Atlanta Black Star reported previously. (The Bruce heirs sold the land back to Los Angeles County for $20 million six months after it was returned to them in June 2022.)

In some cases, land was outright taken from Black people. In other cases, white people burned paperwork showing proof of rightful ownership. Some people were run off of their land, with threats of being killed, and they came back to white people owning their land, Ward said.

Before the Bruces Beach case, which Ward says marked the first time Black people had land returned to them in the United States, some families whove contacted her had given up hope.

Theyve been working to get their land back for 30, 40 years, and now that hope has been restored, Ward, whose team launched a Change.org petition for the White family, told Atlanta Black Star.

Now, more people are reinvigorated, theyre ready to fight, Ward said.

The White family is among them. They first learned of Where Is My Land and their efforts to help Black families in 2021, and reached out to the organization.

Connie struck me because it was almost the same exact thing that happened to the Bruces; it was a racist city not wanting Black people to take up space near the water, Ward said.

With Where Is My Lands help, the White family has taken initial steps with the City of Santa Monica to rectify the wrong that was done to Silas White.

Gaining Ground Toward Reclaiming Stolen Land

Wards organization works on research, contacts attorneys, attends city council meetings and spreads the word online to draw attention to the White familys case.

In December, Where Is My Land addressed a letter to Santa Monica calling out the city for being anti-Black and systemically decimat[ing] Black communities and entrepreneurship.

The letter stated, Material acknowledgement is long overdue. Where Is My Land demands that you start with the White family.

The city has previously acknowledged racial injustice and discrimination in its communitys history and said its actively pursuing initiatives to rectify the lingering consequences of discriminatory city policies.

On Jan. 24, Where Is My Land and the White family met with the one city council member who responded to their meeting request  Caroline Torosis, along with city manager David White  to discuss the familys demands.

They say they initially heard a lot of excuses and whataboutisms at the meeting.

If we give the land back to Connie, what about the Native Americans, or what about the Latin Americans, and I had to let them know that right now, were centering Black people and thats OK, because when other groups fight for their causes, no one has asked them to center Black people, Ward said.

They were also told regaining the land would not be an easy task and that they needed to figure out how to rally the support of other city council members.

As of now, they have at least two members including the city manager who may be on board, according to Ward.

The White family needs four of the seven city council members to vote yes in order for the family to get closer to reclaiming Silass land.

Were gaining ground, Ward said.

Connie said her father would be overjoyed if he could see the progress the family is making in getting his land back.

This was his dream, his vision, and to see something good happen, theres no words to describe all that he would say and feel, Connie said.

Santa Monicas Ebony Beach Club: The City Took His Land to Build a Parking Lot That Never Was, Now Silas Whites Descendants Are Fighting to Reclaim the Stolen Land and Dream
The Mayor of London says it will "take years" to repair damage to trust in the police, as the third anniversary of Sarah Everard's death is marked.

The 33-year-old marketing executive was raped and killed by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens as she walked home in south London on 3 March 2021.

Her murder put a spotlight on violence against women and girls.

The anniversary comes two days after an inquiry concluded opportunities were missed to stop the killer.

"My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Sarah Everard on the third anniversary of her tragic death, on what must be an unimaginably difficult day for all those who knew and loved Sarah," Sadiq Khan said.

"Sarah's murder by a serving police officer horrified the entire country and significantly damaged the trust and confidence women and girls have in the police. This will take years to repair."

Last week, an inquiry chaired by Lady Elish Angiolini said that Couzens should never have been given his job as a police officer and chances to stop the sexual predators were repeatedly ignored and missed.

The Casey Review in March 2023, commissioned by the Met in the wake of Ms Everard's murder, also found the force was institutionally racist, homophobic and misogynist, and that there might be more officers like Couzens among its ranks.

Mr Khan said the Met was on a path of "far-reaching reform", with some improvements made on stronger vetting and removal of rogue police officers, but he that would continue to hold the Met Police commissioner to account on delivering reforms "particularly for women and girls who have been let down for far too long".

'Accountability'

Charity Women's Aid said the police must urgently restore the confidence of women, "which is at an all-time low".

Chief executive Farah Nazeer said: "We need real accountability for reform within policing so that women and children are safe from those who seek to cause them harm and that police officers whose duty it is to protect them, do their jobs with care, consideration and diligence, so that horrific murders like Sarah's never happen again."

Following the Angiolini inquiry, Home Secretary James Cleverly announced police officers would be automatically suspended in future if charged with certain criminal offences.

Labour has said it would introduce compulsory violence against women and girls training for every police officer and promised an overhaul of police vetting procedures.

A BBC documentary on Tuesday will examine the impact of the case on the Metropolitan Police force.

You can watch Sarah Everard: The Search for Justice at 21:00 GMT on BBC One and on BBC iPlayer.

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
Russian ships transporting North Korean shells to Russia may have paused, analysts say.

It is believed that North Korea has sent up to three million shells to Russia.

Russia has become increasingly reliant on North Korea and China for economic and military support.

Russian ships suspected of transporting huge quantities of ammunition and weaponry to Russia have not docked in North Korea since February 12, analysts at the North Korea-focused outlet NK Pro say.

The report, citing satellite imagery analysis, states that four Russian ships  the Lady R, the Angara, the Maia-1, and the Maria  have made at least 32 trips between Rajin port in North Korea and Russia's Dunay and Vostochny ports in the far east of the country.

These shipments appear to have ceased in recent weeks.

It is believed that North Korea has sent up to three million shells to Russia.

"It is unclear if this is due to production problems at North Korea's weapons factories or another issue," wrote the analysts. However, "North Korea does not appear to have delivered containers to the export pier during that time."

The report cautioned that "it also cannot be ruled out that weapons are being transferred to Russia by air or by rail."

The Washington DC-based think tank Institute for the Study of War previously reported that Russia used the Baikal-Amur Railway and the East Siberian Railway to "facilitate cargo transfers from and to China and North Korea."

Russia has faced an increasing shortage of domestically produced ammunition and restricted access to global markets since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. As a result, it has become heavily reliant on both China and North Korea "for economic and military support respectively to sustain its war effort," the ISW said.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in Vladivostok on September 16, 2023. KCNA via REUTERS

North Korea is perhaps Russia's largest supplier of weapons

In August 2023, North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un agreed to send Russia weapons in exchange for space technology.

Last month, South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik said North Korean weapons factories were "operating at full capacity" making arms and ammunition for Russia's war.

"While North Korea's arms factories operate at 30% capacity due to shortages of raw materials and power, certain factories are operating at full capacity, which primarily produces weapons and shells for Russia," said Shin in a press briefing.

Shin also stated that North Korea had provided 6,700 containers to Russia since August, amounting to three million rounds of 152 mm artillery shells, Shin said.

Ukraine's ammo famine

A serviceman of the 66th separate cannon artillery battalion of the 406th separate artillery brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is pictured by the American M777 howitzer. Dmytro Smolienko/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images

Ukraine's chief spy, Kyrylo Budanov, previously told the Financial Times that, to his knowledge, North Korea is now Russia's largest supplier of weapons.

"They did transfer a significant amount of artillery ammunition," he said. "This allowed Russia to breathe a little. Without their help, the situation would have been catastrophic."

Meanwhile, Ukrainian soldiers have been hamstrung by ammunition shortages on the battlefield in recent months.

In January, it was reported that Ukraine is firing just 2,000 rounds a day, while Russia is nearing 10,000 shells. The uptick for Moscow can be explained by increased domestic production and an influx of North Korean weaponry.

Read the original article on Business Insider
South Carolinians pay some of the highest power bills in the county. If a bill being pushed by Dominion Energy becomes law, energy bills will go up to fund the Virginia-based power companys construction of a new natural gas plant mega-project in Colleton County.

Ratepayers will pay for the pipelines to feed it and bills will rise to line the pockets of utility executives who want to use your money to speculatively develop industrial sites that may never create a single job or host a single company.

At a time when lawmakers should be looking for ways to cut costs for families, H. 5118 is a massive giveaway that puts corporate profits on the back of ordinary ratepayers. Its wrong and I wont support this bill in its current form.

State Rep. Heather Bauer

This controversial bill being rushed through the S.C. House places all financial risk on regular people who pay utility bills. The increases in energy bills will finance the cost of building a multi-billion dollar gas plant. Thats not all. Dominion receives unprecedented power and speed to condemn and take private land to build pipelines to service the plant. Public input procedures will be eliminated.

Perhaps most shocking, this bill empowers Dominion to build speculative industrial sites, like those typically built by our state Department of Commerce or a county economic development project, at ratepayer expense based on the sheer possibility that these sites might someday be occupied  as a justification for the new gas plant. Ratepayers pay for all of this, but not before Dominion recoups a 10% profit on top of the cost of everything it decides to build.

This is an extraordinary deal for Dominion, and historically, these corporate giveaways have not worked out well for S.C. families. In 2007, Dominions predecessor, South Carolina Electric and Gas convinced the legislature to pass the Base Load Review Act, which allowed the now-defunct utility to shift $9 billion in costs onto ratepayers to build the V.C. Summer nuclear power plant project that collapsed, destroyed the company and never generated a single kilowatt hour of electricity. Ratepayers are still paying for that debacle.

Making policy often requires balancing competing, sometime contradictory ideas. So, lets be clear about some broad areas of agreement: First, South Carolina needs more energy. Our population is growing and continued economic development requires new energy generation to support growth. Second, natural gas is a cleaner energy source than dirty coal plants that generate much of our states power. Notably, our state has a strategic energy plan that calls for increasing wind and solar and decommissioning coal plants. These goals are not addressed by H. 5118.

I believe in capitalism  a private company should be rewarded for taking risks, but thats not what H.5118 offers. Under this bill, Dominions customers take all the risks and the energy giant is guaranteed a healthy 10% profit. And, no one has said what it will cost to build the gas plant, yet lawmakers are lining up to spend your money on it.

Increasing our states energy portfolio should include bringing more wind and solar online. We should not write a blank check or give unprecedented powers to a private company. If Dominion wants to gamble on a new gas plant, it should do so with its investors money, not ours.

Heather Bauer is a member of the S.C. House who represents District 75 in Columbia.






If an eighth-grader in California shared a nude photo of a classmate with friends without consent, the student could conceivably be prosecuted under state laws dealing with child pornography and disorderly conduct.

If the photo is an AI-generated deepfake, however, it's not clear that any state law would apply.

That's the dilemma facing the Beverly Hills Police Department as it investigates a group of students from Beverly Vista Middle School who allegedly shared photos of classmates that had been doctored with an artificial-intelligence-powered app. According to the district, the images used real faces of students atop AI-generated nude bodies.

Lt. Andrew Myers, a spokesman for the Beverly Hills police, said no arrests have been made and the investigation is continuing.

Security guards stand outside at Beverly Vista Middle School on Feb. 26 in Beverly Hills. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Beverly Hills Unified School District Supt. Michael Bregy said the district's investigation into the episode is in its final stages.

"Disciplinary action was taken immediately and we are pleased it was a contained, isolated incident," Bregy said in a statement, although no information was disclosed about the nature of the action, the number of students involved or their grade level.

He called on Congress to prioritize the safety of children in the U.S., adding that "technology, including AI and social media, can be used incredibly positively, but much like cars and cigarettes at first, if unregulated, they are utterly destructive."

Read more: Beverly Hills middle school rocked by AI-generated nude images of students

Whether the fake nudes amount to a criminal offense, however, is complicated by the technology involved.

Federal law includes computer-generated images of identifiable people in the prohibition on child pornography. Although the prohibition seems clear, legal experts caution that it has yet to be tested in court.

California's child pornography law does not mention artificially generated images. Instead, it applies to any image that "depicts a person under 18 years of age personally engaging in or simulating sexual conduct."

Joseph Abrams, a Santa Ana criminal defense attorney, said an AI-generated nude "doesnt depict a real person." It could be defined as child erotica, he said, but not child porn. And from his standpoint as a defense attorney, he said, "I dont think it crosses a line for this particular statute or any other statute."

"As we enter this AI age," Abrams said, "these kinds of questions are going to have to get litigated."

Read more: Teen girls are being victimized by deepfake nudes. One family is pushing for more protections

Kate Ruane, director of the free expression project at the Center for Democracy & Technology, said that early versions of digitally altered child sexual abuse material superimposed the face of a child onto a pornographic image of someone else's body. Now, however, freely available "undresser" apps and other programs generate fake bodies to go with real faces, raising legal questions that haven't been squarely addressed yet, she said.

Still, she said, she had trouble seeing why the law wouldn't cover sexually explicit images just because they were artificially generated. "The harm that we were trying to address [with the prohibition] is the harm to the child that is attendant upon the existence of the image. That is the exact same here," Ruane said.

There is another roadblock to criminal charges, though. In both the state and federal cases, the prohibition applies just to "sexually explicit conduct," which boils down to intercourse, other sex acts and "lascivious" exhibitions of a child's privates.

The courts use a six-pronged test to determine whether something is a lascivious exhibition, considering such things as what the image focuses on, whether the pose is natural, and whether the image is intended to arouse the viewer. A court would have to weigh those factors when evaluating images that weren't sexual in nature before being "undressed" by AI.

"Its really going to depend on what the end photo looks like," said Sandy Johnson, senior legislative policy counsel of the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, the largest anti-sexual-violence organization in the United States. "Its not just nude photos."

Read more: Study shows AI image generators being trained on explicit photos of children

The age of the kids involved wouldn't be a defense against a conviction, Abrams said, because "children have no more rights to possess child pornography than adults do." But like Johnson, he noted that "nude photos of children arent necessarily child pornography."

Neither the Los Angeles County district attorney's office nor the state Department of Justice responded immediately to requests for comment.

State lawmakers have proposed several bills to fill the gaps in the law regarding generative AI. These include proposals to extend criminal prohibitions on the possession of child porn and the nonconsensual distribution of intimate images (also known as "revenge porn") to computer-generated images and to convene a working group of academics to advise lawmakers on "relevant issues and impacts of artificial intelligence and deepfakes."

Members of Congress have competing proposals that would expand federal criminal and civil penalties for the nonconsensual distribution of AI-generated intimate imagery.

At Tuesday's meeting of the district Board of Education, Dr. Jane Tavyev Asher, director of pediatric neurology at Cedars-Sinai, called on the board to consider the consequences of giving our children access to so much technology in and out of the classroom.

Beverly Vista Middle School on Feb. 26 in Beverly Hills. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Instead of having to interact and socialize with other students, Asher said, students are allowed to spend their free time at the school on their devices. If theyre on the screen all day, what do you think they want to do at night?

Research shows that for children under age 16, there should be no social media use, she said. Noting how the district was blindsided by the reports of AI-generated nudes, she warned, There are going to be more things that we're going to be blindsided by, because technology is going to develop at a faster rate than we can imagine, and we have to protect our children from it.

Read more: An FAQ from the future  how we struggled and defeated deepfakes

Board members and Bregy all expressed outrage at the meeting about the images. This has just shaken the foundation of trust and safety that we work with every day to create for all of our students, Bregy said, although he added, We have very resilient students, and they seem happy and a little confused about what's happening.

I ask that parents continuously look at their [childrens] phones, what apps are on their phones, what they're sending, what social media sites that they're using, he said. These devices are opening the door for a lot of new technology that is appearing without any regulation at all.

Board member Rachelle Marcus noted that the district has barred students from using their phones at school, but these kids go home after school, and that's where the problem starts. We, the parents, have to take stronger control of what our students are doing with their phones, and that's where I think we are failing completely.

The missing link at this point, from my perspective, is the partnership with the parents and the families, board member Judy Manouchehri said. We have dozens and dozens of programs that are meant to keep your kids off the phones in the afternoon.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Berlin says it will initiate an investigation after a recording leaked of a conversation between several top-ranking German officers on the countrys Ukraine war strategy, CNN reported on Mar. 2.

It will now be investigated very carefully, very intensively, and very quickly, Scholz promised.

A spokesperson of the German Defense Ministry confirmed to CNN the recording was authentic.

Read also: UK urges Germany to supply Taurus missiles to Ukraine  Bloomberg

According to our assessment, a conversation in the air force sector has been intercepted. We are currently unable to say with certainty whether changes have been made to the recorded or written version circulating on social networks.

During the 30-minute conversation, which was posted online by the head of Russias state-backed RT channel, Margarita Simonyan, air force officers discuss the possible delivery of Taurus weapons systems to Ukraine, as well as the possible targeting of the Kerch Bridge, which connects the annexed Crimean peninsula to mainland Russia.

Read also: Berlin decries Russian strikes on Ukraine, but Scholz still opposes supplying Taurus missiles to Kyiv

Germany has been resisting sending the weapons to Kyiv, fearing they could be used for attacks on Russian territory.

On Mar. 1, Bloomberg reported that UK government had privately urged Germany to supply Ukraine with long-range Taurus missiles.

Senior British officials have repeatedly made it clear to Germany that Ukraine desperately needs its Taurus missiles. London offered a way to overcome Berlins resistance to supplying the missiles by proposing a swap deal. The UK would provide Kyiv with more of its Storm Shadow missiles, while Germany would then restock them with replacement long-range missiles.

NV

In September 2023, Pistorius said that Berlin had not refused to transfer Taurus missiles to Ukraine, but was not ready to do so.

The reason could be the wavering of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, as previously reported by the media, he expressed concern that Kyiv could attack Russian territory.

Read also: Finland sets no limits for Ukraine to use its weapons for strikes on Russian territory  Finnish Parliament

Ukraine has repeatedly stated that it will not use Western long-range missiles to strike Russian territory.

On Jan. 17, the Bundestag did not support a resolution calling for the supply of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine. Only 178 out of 666 MPs voted in favor.

On Feb. 5, Christian Freuding, head of the Special Staff for Ukraine at the German Ministry of Defense, said that long-range Taurus missiles cannot turn the tide of war in favor of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) is investigating a leak of staff data relating to community first responders.

The service issued an apology to a number of individuals over the error, which relates to an email sent on 16 January.

It included an attached excel file containing personal details.

An SAS spokesman confirmed an email was "sent out in error". The matter has been reported to the Information Commissioner's Office.

The spokesman added: "Once notified of the administrative error, we took immediate action which included a thorough investigation and contacting all those who received the email to apologise and reassure them that it had been reported and was being managed in line with our policies."

In 2018 the SAS confirmed employees work contact details were temporarily shared online but then removed.

Following the leak it said no patient data was ever at risk.
Douglas Ross has accused the BBC of bias after he was not allowed to pre-record a TV interview so he could look after his two infant children, but SNP ministers were.

The Scottish Tory leader said the broadcasters flagship Sunday Show refused to timetable an interview after his party conference to take into account his police officer wife going on shift at 7am.

In a lengthy statement published online, he pointed out that the programme had previously allowed the SNPs Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes to pre-record interviews.

Mr Ross accused the BBC of forcing him to choose between my family or their interview and it was an easy decision as a husband and father to pick the former.

The Sunday Show is broadcast live at 10am on Sundays on BBC One Scotland and usually features interviews with Scotlands political party leaders on the weekends of their respective party conferences.

However, the main interview this Sunday was instead with Shona Robison, the SNP Deputy First Minister.

The main interview this Sunday was instead with Shona Robison, the SNP Deputy First Minister - Andrew Milligan/PA

Martin Geissler told the audience Mr Ross was unavailable due to child care issues and no other senior representative of the party was made available. But he made no reference to the BBC refusing to pre-record the interview.

The Corporation later issued a statement saying that the Sunday Show always conducted its conference interviews on the day of transmission, but it did not explain why that was necessary.

Tory insiders said the BBC had known for weeks about Mrs Rosss police shift, but had rejected requests to interview him on Saturday at the Aberdeen conference, despite having hoards of journalists present.

Mr Ross, who is also the Moray MP, has two sons, aged two and four. His wife, Krystle, is a Police Scotland officer.

In a statement on Twitter, he said no Scottish Tory would be appearing on the programme after the BBC refused to pre-record the interview.

We have been in discussion with the BBC about this for a number of weeks. This morning my wife started her day shift with Police Scotland at 7am, Im therefore looking after our two boys aged four and two, he said.

There was simply no opportunity to do the interview this morning which is why we requested Saturday afternoon.

I had hoped given these family commitments the BBC would have been flexible in their approach, but they insisted the interview could only take place on Sunday morning.

This is despite the BBC previously pre-recording interviews with SNP politicians. In recent months both Humza Yousaf and Kate Forbes have been allowed to pre-record interviews in the days ahead of broadcast on Sunday.

Martin Geissler told the audience Mr Ross was 'unavailable due to child care issues' - Twitter

The March 5, 2023, edition of the show, still available on BBC iPlayer, featured a pre-recorded interview with Ms Forbes, who was standing for the SNP leadership.

Mr Geissler introduced the segment, saying: Yesterday, she was out on the stump in Inverness, where she took time out to speak to me.

Mr Ross said he had been looking forward to appearing on the programme to discuss the conference, which was held on Friday and Saturday.

But he said: As a husband and father, I treasure the limited family time I get away from politics and Im sorry senior producers with the BBC could not understand or accept this.

Mr Ross concluded: We all want to do what we can to encourage more people into politics, but this decision by the BBC suggests we still have some way to go to ensure people understand the family pressures of balancing being a politician and a parent.

Mr Geissler asked Ms Robison in their interview whether she was looking forward to covering for Mr Yousaf when he is on paternity leave.

The First Minister and his wife announced on Friday they were expecting a child.

Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish Tory leader, tweeted: This seems particularly poor from @BBCScotlandNews given they have previously agreed to interview @HumzaYousaf and @_KateForbes as pre-records to be played out on a Sunday.

Clear cut case of double standards

Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, tweeted during the programme: A very poor - and worrying - editorial decision by the BBC. This is a clear cut case of double standards and before they go off air Martin and the @BBCScotlandNews team on the Sunday Show must explain how this situation has come about.

He later added: On the same programme they asked Shona Robison if she was looking forward to covering for the First Minister when he is on paternity leave, the BBC failed to explain why they refused a pre-record to Douglas Ross in order that he could look after his two boys today. Poor show BBC.

A BBC spokeswoman said: The Sunday Show always conducts party conference interviews on the day of transmission, although we are flexible about location and time.

In the interests of fairness and consistency we made this offer to Mr Ross or another representative from the Scottish Conservatives but that offer was not accepted.

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Cherokee Metro District resident Tim Bouma has replaced his refrigerator, dishwasher, pieces of his hot tub and other household appliances multiple times since 2005 because of the high levels of minerals in the groundwater provided by the district.

The minerals, such as calcium, deposit on the appliances ruining items like shower heads and dishwashers. While all items wear out, the wear on his appliances happens much faster.

Bouma replaces his shower head about once a year because the minerals clog it up. He has been through numerous $500 heating elements on his hot tub, to the point where he is going to try to build one himself to lessen the cost.

The problem becomes particularly visible when he runs humidifiers on tap water, because the minerals will deposit on other items in the house.

While the minerals in the water do not pose a drinking water safety issue, some residents in the district that serves 40,000 customers in Cimarron Hills and neighborhoods east of Colorado Springs would like to see new water treatment that allows appliances to last longer and improves the taste.

Overwhelmingly, the people want better, said Jeremy Atkinson, a concerned resident, who has been advocating for change.

A district presentation showed Cherokees water hardness is 180 milligrams per liter of calcium carbonate, the highest level among the 12 Front Range communities represented in the data. Colorado Springs Utilities has a hardness level of 38 milligrams per liter of calcium carbonate, among the lowest levels.

The Cherokee Metro District is planning a new water treatment system to filter out forever chemicals found in the water and some residents would like to see the district consider additional treatment to address the minerals, also called water hardness, as well, Atkinson said.

The district would have to put in separate water treatments systems to address both issues, projects likely to run tens of millions of dollars.

However, if residents try to address the issue on their own, they can spend thousands on home water softener systems, he said.

The push to address water quality concerns spawned a recall effort of two members of the board who tend to vote together, Linda Keleher and Steve Hasbruock, because they are "tone-deaf" to the issues, Atkinson said.

Hasbrouck said he has not found the hardness in the water detrimental to his own appliances and its not detrimental to human health.

I have given a serious part of my life to the success of Cherokee, he said.

Likewise Keleher said she has not seen problems with hard water in her home and she thinks it would be too costly to remove it from the water.

"Its good water. I really think it is," she said.

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The recall effort has collected more than 400 signatures and only 300 signatures need to be verified for the recall effort to go forward, Atkinson said. An election to recall the board members and replace them could happen over the summer, he said.

General Manager Amy Lathen said the resident-led push to address minerals in the water has been relatively recent and the districts focus is currently the recent discovery of forever chemicals.

The first priority is the PFAS, she said That is a potential health issue.

PFAS is a broad term for types of chemicals that do not break down in the environment and have garnered the nickname, forever chemicals. Since the chemicals do not break down they can build up in the body creating negative health effects.

Through optional testing, Cherokee found 8.7 parts per trillion of PFOA and 2.8 parts per trillion of PFOS, both forms of forever chemicals.

The level of PFOA is above the proposed drinking water standard the Environmental Protection Agency is expected to adopt. The new water treatment plant to meet new federal standards could cost between $25 to $30 million, although the cost could be higher based on supply chain issues, said Kevin Brown, a water resource engineer for the district.

A separate water treatment system to filter out minerals in the water could be much more expensive, perhaps three or four times more, he said.

The district needs the board members to provide a target level of water hardness they would like the district to achieve because that will determine the type of filtration and the cost, Lathen said.

The district was also recently required to put in a new wastewater treatment plant to reduce the amount of total dissolved solids returning to the groundwater. As the water returns to the groundwater basin that Cherokee relies on, the district expects to see about a 30% reduction in total dissolved solids and hardness, Lathen said.

Atkinson said while there could be some improvement from the waste water treatment plant, he doesnt expect it will be noticeable to customers.

Bouma is among those who has attempted to address the issue himself, installing a whole home water softening system for $2,600, but he still sees problems.

Another Cherokee resident Jeff Bandy also filters the water before it comes into his home, but it still has a brown tint to it and the water leaves a residue on his appliances. His stainless steel sink only 1  years old is coated with a brown residue. Its particularly hard on water filters, like those for his hot tub.

Its gross, he said.

More info about the residents' campaign is available at fixcherokeewater.com. More information about the steps the Cherokee Metro District has taken is available at cherokeemetro.org.
HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Hundreds are continuing to search for 15-year-old Sebastian Rogers nearly a week after he was reported missing from his Tennessee home.

An Endangered Child Alert was issued last week for the Hendersonville teenager, who was last seen on Monday, Feb. 26. Several agencies have spent nearly a week searching for Sebastian, using helicopters, boats, drones, K-9s, and horses.

We were told that his favorite song was Eye of The Tiger. We tried playing that to kind of call him and let him know were here to help, Deputy Chief Eric Craddock with the Sumner County Sheriffs Department said Tuesday, detailing search efforts to that point.

The same day, the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation issued an Amber Alert for Sebastian, citing additional investigation information that developed as they were searching for him. An Amber alert is issued when there is reasonable belief by law enforcement that an abduction has occurred and the child is in imminent danger of serious bodily injury or death, per the DOJ. The TBI did not release any additional details at the time.

Ken Weidner, director of Sumner County Emergency Management Agency (EMA), spoke with Nexstars WKRN on Sunday, March 3, to provide an update on search efforts, and said specialized groups are assisting in the search for the missing 15-year-old.

Yesterday, we had a group from East Tennessee come in and theyre mountainous experts and they do caves, said Weidner. So, any cave that weve marked, weve had them in those caves.

According to Weidner, crews have covered at least five miles of ground so far as the search for Sebastian continues to expand. Some of the searched areas include the city and rural areas of Hendersonville, as well as caves, storm drains and the lake.

Facebook page helps feed first responders searching for Sebastian Rogers

Over the first couple of days, authorities said crews searched 2,000 miles on foot throughout Hendersonville, about 15 miles north of Nashville. On Thursday, Craddock explained they were operating under the assumption that Sebastian walked off. We have no evidence to disprove that. He added that the family had been cooperative.

While searches were primarily done by law enforcement, late last week, crews asked residents to check areas around them for any signs of Sebastian.

(Photo: WKRN)

(Photo: WKRN)

(Photo: WKRN)

(Photo: WKRN)

(Photo: WKRN)

As the search for Sebastian wraps up its first week, Weidner said individuals across the state are becoming more eager to assist.

One thing about Tennessee and the Southeast is that were always going to have people that want to help, and weve gotten calls from people across the state for people who want to come in and help us, Weidner told WKRN. The thing we got to do is be able to manage that. So, we track everybody thats on the ground. The first two days we did 2,000 miles of people walking and we havent run those numbers for the entire duration of this operation, but its great to be able to call in specialized groups that do the things we cant do. Its really good.

Sister of child on TN Amber Alert list for over a decade still holding out hope

On Saturday, March 2, the Sumner County Sheriffs Office said people could aid in the search by reviewing security cameras and focus on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 25 through the morning of Monday, Feb. 26.

The sheriffs office told WKRN that an anonymous group of business owners in the Nashville area have pledged a minimum cash reward of $3,000 for information that helps investigators find Sebastian.

No other information has been released.

Sebastian is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, 120 pounds with dirty blond hair. He was last seen wearing a black sweatshirt and black sweatpants.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Search and rescue operations have been completed at the site of a Shahed drone strike on a residential building in the city of Odesa. Twelve people lost their lives in the attack, five of them children.

Source: Ihor Klymenko, Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine

Quote: "Rescue workers from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine have completed their search and rescue operations in Odesa. Twelve people were killed in the Russian attack, including five children.

A few minutes ago, the rescue workers finished retrieving the body of a child, a girl born in 2016. The youngest victim of this attack, a little boy named Tymofii, was just four months old.

I am grateful to everyone who has been at the site of the attack and with the victims during these last few days."

Details: Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Oblast Military Administration, said five children were killed in the Russian drone strike on the residential building: four-month-old Tymofii, seven-month-old Liza, three-year-old Mark, eight-year-old Zlata, and Serhii, who would have turned 10 in July.

Klymenko also reported that there were two children aged 17 and 14 among the 16 people injured in a Russian attack on the settlement of Kurakhove, Donetsk Oblast.

More on this story: Victims of Russian drone strike on Odesa: mothers with babies and military family

Background: On Sunday evening, the bodies of a 10-year-old boy and his 8-year-old sister were found under the rubble of an apartment building in Odesa that was hit by a Russian Shahed drone on the night of 1-2 March. This brought the death toll to 12.

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Police officers leave a property in the Friedrichshain district, as part of a police operation during a police operation searching parts of the left-wing alternative construction trailer site in the Friedrichshain district - in connection with the "manhunt" for the wanted ex-RAF terrorists Staub and Garweg. Paul Zinken/dpa

German police were searching another flat in Berlin on Sunday evening as the manhunt for two fugitive members of the disbanded far-left Red Army Faction (RAF) in the German capital continued.

The operation followed the surprise arrest of RAF terrorist suspect Daniel Klette six days ago.

The police raid in the flat on Grunberger Strasse in the Berlin district of Friedrichshain on Sunday evening was connected to the search for Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, two RAF suspects still on the run, a spokeswoman for Lower Saxony police, the force leading the operation, said.

It comes after police earlier searched a construction trailer site in Friedrichshain, a Berlin district neighbouring Kreuzberg, where Klette was arrested on Monday.

Investigators assume that one of the suspects, Garweg, had been staying at a trailer on the site which was taken away for forensic investigations.

A police spokeswoman declined to say how long Garweg might have used the accommodation.

The site, which was taken over by a left-wing alternative association after the fall of the Berlin Wall, includes small shacks, some of which house workshops, as well as caravans.

German news magazine Der Spiegel reported that Garweg is said to have lived permanently on the site and stayed there often.

In total, police provisionally held 10 people on the premises on Sunday, according to the Lower Saxony State Criminal Police Office. "All of the people have already been released after the identity checks were completed," it said.

Staub, 69, and Garweg, 55, went underground more than 30 years ago at the same time as Klette, 65.

All three were members of the so-called "third generation" of the RAF, often known in the English-speaking world as the Baader-Meinhof Group after two of its most prominent original members.

Sunday's raid began at 07:30 (0630 GMT) and involved members of the national and city police forces.

The sounds of gunshots were heard at one location during the detentions, but no one was injured, the spokeswoman said. The noises came "in connection with a door opening."

Klette was arrested in her rented apartment in Berlin on Monday evening. She had been a fugitive for three decades but was found living under a false name in the middle of the German capital.

The authorities accuse Klette, Staub and Garweg of attempted murder and a series of serious robberies between 1999 and 2016, some of which involved the use of firearms and a bazooka.

The RAF was founded in 1968 by far-left extremists Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Ulrike Meinhof, with members active well into the 1990s.

During the time of the RAF third generation, the then Deutsche Bank boss Alfred Herrhausen (1989) and Treuhand boss Detlev Karsten Rohwedder (1991) were murdered and Herrhausen's driver was seriously injured.

The RAF murdered more than 30 people during their reign of terror but disbanded in 1998.

The group justified its attacks back then to destroy the capitalist social order in West Germany.

There is widespread speculation they were partly funded by the Communist East German state and its secret police arm, the Stasi.

Police officers leave a property in the Friedrichshain district, as part of a police operation during a police operation searching parts of the left-wing alternative construction trailer site in the Friedrichshain district - in connection with the "manhunt" for the wanted ex-RAF terrorists Staub and Garweg. Paul Zinken/dpa
Sen. Chris Murphy accused Republicans of intentionally blocking a bipartisan immigration bill in order to fuel the crisis at the border because it aids Donald Trumps campaign for the presidency.

They want the border to be out of control because it helps [Trump] politically, and they know [Biden] has limits to what he can do through executive order, the Democratic senator said Sunday on ABCs This Week.

Sen. Chris Murphy urges Democrats to "go on the offense" on immigration after a bipartisan border deal was tanked by Republicans.



"Donald Trump and Republicans decided that they want the border to be chaotic because it helps them politically." https://t.co/Y6LRPZFg32 pic.twitter.com/IeHHvLMTUj  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 3, 2024

Earlier this month, Senate Republicans torpedoed a bill supported by U.S. Border Patrol intended to reduce the number of undocumented migrants eligible to claim asylum in a 49-50 vote. Sixty votes were needed for it to pass. Republicans in the House declared the bill a non-starter. The legislation additionally included billions in aid for Israel and Ukraine that later passed, without immigration measures.

Republicans have made it very clear that they have no interest in coming to the table on immigration and border reformThey want the border to be a mess. Donald Trump has told them so, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy tells @JonKarl. https://t.co/jt4eRJcaFP pic.twitter.com/vWXLee9bRI  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 3, 2024

I think Democrats need to go on the offense on this question of controlling the border, Murphy said. The fact of the matter is, we did achieve a bipartisan compromise. It will give the president new powers to get the border under control, and Donald Trump killed it. Donald Trump and the Republicans decided that they want the border to be chaotic.

Republicans have accused Biden of failing to act to reduce the number of undocumented border crossings, but Murphy pointed out that Bidens hands are tied without legislation from Congress. The reality is President Biden needs that legislation because it is just not true that he has the existing authority to issue executive actions that get the border under control, Murphy said.

The bipartisan bill [that Republicans blocked] had $20 billion of new resources, the senator continued. [Biden] cant conjure $20 billion with an executive order that that bill gave him to shut down the border in between the ports of entry. I dont think he can do that by executive action.

The vast majority of the country believes that we should have robust legal immigration, but they want tighter control of the border, Sen. Chris Murphy tells @JonKarl.



Right now, theres only one party that can deliver that  only the Democrats. https://t.co/0c231Pu2FI pic.twitter.com/T5uHFDtKAn  This Week (@ThisWeekABC) March 3, 2024

Murphy pointed out that the border was far from under control while Trump was in office, noting that undocumented crossings reached a 10-year high in 2019. In 2023, however, that number had nearly doubled, driven by climate change, crime, and political crises in Latin American countries.

Only the Democrats support pathways to citizenship, support expanding legal pathways into the country, and a tough border law, the senator said. Republicans used the issue of immigration to try and divide us from each other, and now, are on the record opposing the toughest border reform bill, the toughest border security bill in decades.

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Days before the anniversary of Blood Sunday, Butler holds Modern-Day Voting Discrimination in Alabama event in Montgomery

U.S. Sen. Laphonza Butler on Friday said that democracy is at risk, urging for voting protections to be enforced ahead of the presidential election in November.

The California Democrat made the call in Montgomery, Alabama, at a hearing about protecting voting rights for Americans, particularly those in marginalized communities.

The very sense of our democracy is at stake if protections are not honored, Butler told theGrio.

We must continue to do everything that we can to strengthen the franchise for voters and voters of color all across the country.

Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., is seen during a re-enactment of her swearing-in ceremony to the Senate to succeed the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough, File)

Butler hosted the hearing, Modern-Day Voting Discrimination in Alabama, with LaTosha Brown, co-founder of Black Voters Matter; Major Shalela Dowdy, founding president of Stand up Mobile, a nonprofit organization that focuses on voter engagement; and Laurel Hattix, staff attorney at the ACLU of Alabama.

The discussion sought to combat the latest incidents of voter discrimination in the southern state and efforts to restore federal protections for voters of color across the nation.

People are still restricting the right to vote for Black and brown people. This is not something of the past and this hearing proved that, Molly McGrath, senior advisor on democracy at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), told theGrio.

Kareem Crayton, senior director of voting rights and representation with the Brennan Center for Justice, told theGrio that it is important that the senator is having hearings in the places where it will have the greatest impact.

Its also important that we hear from the people who live in these jurisdictions who can talk about the effects of not having voting rights protections, he added. Its important that their voices be heard.

(Credit: Getty Images)

Alabama has a fraught history of discriminatory voting practices.

Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court found that Alabamas congressional redistricting maps discriminated against Black constituents. The Court ordered that a new map be drawn to include two districts where Black voters can elect a candidate of their choice.

Crayton said it is imperative that people of color have their voices included in the election system and have the opportunity to elect people of color who can represent them and help curtail issues that disproportionately impact minority communities.

Butlers hearing comes a day after Senate Democrats reintroduced the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to restore voter protections under the Voting Rights Act of 1965. But gaining support from Republicans to pass the bill in a divided and historically unproductive Congress will be a tall task.

McGrath said the act would both strengthen and restore key portions of the Voting Rights Act  that was gutted by the Supreme Court in the Shelby decision.

The U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. is seen in June when, in a groundbreaking decision, the court overturned the use of affirmative action in the college admissions process. (Photo: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

In 2013, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a verdict in Shelby v. Holder which restricted the federal government from requiring that certain states seek preclearance to change their voting policies.

The ruling opened the floodgates for more laws to be passed that target and impact Black and brown voters, McGrath said.

A millennial black man voting at a voting booth in an election.

Now more than ever we need to restore the protection of the Voting Rights Act, she added.

Never miss a beat: Get our daily stories straight to your inbox with theGrios newsletter.

The post Sen. Laphonza Butler of California calls for increased voter protections appeared first on TheGrio.
Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) on Sunday called on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)s successor to remain steadfast in the wake of potential opposition from former President Trump.

McConnell, who announced last week he would step down from his leadership post in November, has had ongoing tensions with Trump and was known to be one of the few GOP senators who openly stood up to the former president.

Asked by ABCs This Week, co-anchor Jonathan Karl how important it is for McConnells successor to be willing to stand up to Trump, Rounds said,  Well, thats what Im looking for in a leader. I want someone who will work with a president, but who also will stand his own ground.

Thats one of the reasons why I very publicly and openly supported John Thune, and I supported Mitch McConnell. I think John Thune will bring some  you know, a fresh breath. That always happens when you have a change in leadership, Rounds continued.

Shortly after McConnells announcement last week, Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) became one of three Johns considered likely contenders for the leadership role. The others include Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the latter of whom became the first to formally announce his bid last Thursday.

Last Friday, Politico reported that Thune has quietly begun campaigning for the role.

Rounds on Sunday the upper chamber has some really good choices, but Thune is the right guy at the right time.

Great moral character. Hes the right kind of a guy. And I think he will be independent enough to where he will look out also, just like Mitch did, for the institution of the Senate itself. So, Im optimistic. Its the reason why Im supporting him, Rounds said.

Several GOP senators argued last week that McConnells departure from his longtime leadership role indicates how the GOP party is drifting away from his leadership and shifting towards the influence and embrace of Trump.

I think its a reflection of Mitchs understanding of the room. I think its a reflection of both his personal situation, as he described eloquently in his speech, and his reading of the political climate and his respect for that, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) said last week.

McConnells announcement followed repeated pressure from longtime GOP critics in the Senate aligned with the former president. The Kentucky Republican has not endorsed Trumps White House bid despite most of his leadership, including Thune, already having done so.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The monster you create

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell recently announced that he is going to give up the leadership of his party because a large number of his party members have ideas that differ from his.

This is so similar to the story of Frankenstein getting destroyed by his monster.

McConnell was the architect of no negotiations, stand your ground on what you believe  regardless of the facts. But now that members of his party firmly believe in this and he cannot get them to accept facts, he knows it is time to go.

This should be a lesson to all.

Regardless of your status in life, business, religion, or politics, the monster that you create may be the monster that takes you down.

We thank McConnell for his service.

Many of his policies may not have served all Americans well, but he was loyal to his constituents.

James Muldrow, Columbia

Honor Navalny here

Many suspect the death of freedom fighter Aleksei Navalny in an arctic prison yard in Russia was ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Navalny dedicated his life to fighting authoritarianism and corruption, two things that threaten many nations of the world, including the United States.

It would be fitting for towns and cities in the United States to honor Navalny by naming a place or square or street in his name.

This would serve to remind Americans of the Russian threat under Putin and the need to protect our own country from authoritarianism and corruption.

Democracy needs to be promoted and protected throughout the world in these perilous times.

Wayne Northcutt, Ph.D., Mt. Pleasant

Back to normal?

I turned 16 in September of 2020, which means that I was 15 when our country shut down just six months prior in March.

This upcoming September, I will be 20, and it will have been four years since COVID-19 changed the world forever.

In the four years since, Ive had three jobs, gotten my drivers license, graduated high school, and started at Midlands Technical College  all post COVID.

I have lived most of my teenage years in a world that is trying to make it back to normal.

I work at a local grocery store, and I often hear adults in my checkout line refer to this pre-COVID normal, and how strange the world is now, but I must admit, I do not believe that normal is a possibility anymore.

Coming from someone who was forced to wear a mask all of my sophomore year, and had to talk to his classmates through panes of plexiglass, I know a thing or two about the world being strange.

But, despite the strangeness, I struggle to believe that what is best for our state, or country, is reforming the way things were before COVID-19.

If COVID-19 did change anything, it only changed things by worsening the symptoms that already plagued our people.

We all seem to speed through life, towards some idealistic future. To truly reach a normal, we need to learn to slow down and be comfortable with the uncertainty of change.

Coming from a COVID-aged-teenager, its scary, I know.

Josiah Ingle, Lexington

Dont count Haley out

Yes, Trump won the S.C. Republican primary; however, a primary is not the election.

Haley was elected governor twice  those were elections where she got widespread support from all the citizens of South Carolina.

The nation will have an election in November.

Haleys appeal will bring together voters from all walks of life who share her vision of a better tomorrow for all.

Dont count Haley out.

Jeffrey W. Baldwin, Columbia
At least seven people have been killed and eight injured in Russia's latest drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea city of Odessa, the authorities said.

The drone attack on Saturday destroyed 18 flats in a nine-storey apartment block, the authorities said.

The bodies of a woman and a three-month-old child were pulled from the rubble, said the governor of the Odessa region, Oleh Kiper, in the evening.

During the day, more bodies had been recovered, including a three-year-old child. Another three-year-old child and a pregnant woman were among the injured, said Kiper.

The hit caused extensive destruction, with rubble strewn over a large area, according to images and videos released by the authorities. Volunteers joined search and rescue efforts to help in the aftermath.

Another person also died in a drone attack in the Kharkiv region in eastern Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack and expressed his condolences to the relatives.

He said Ukraine needed a stronger air defence system, a plea he has been issuing for months.

"We need more air defense capabilities from our partners. The Ukrainian air shield must be strengthened in order to effectively protect our people from Russian terror," he said in a statement posted on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.

"More air defense systems and air defense missiles are what saves lives."

Moscow has bombarded the city on the Black Sea with missiles several times since launching its full-scale war on Ukraine more than two years ago.

"Russia is killing civilians," the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, Andrii Yermak, said on Telegram. "We need help to stop this."

Ukraine's air defences said that in total, they had shot down 14 drones and a Russian Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jet during the night.

Ukraine has been calling on its Western allies to provide significantly more air defence support and additional air defence systems for months, to better protect its cities from Moscow's attacks.

Ukraine has been heavily reliant on Western support in its two-year defence against the Russian invasion.

The pressure is on Kiev after Russia has started to make some gains in recent weeks and test Ukrainian forces on the front line.

Meanwhile, Russia has likely grounded its fleet of A-50 reconnaissance aircraft after Kiev shot down a second one in a short time, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said on Saturday.

In its daily intelligence report posted X, formerly known as Twitter, the MoD said the aircraft will likely remain grounded while "internal investigations take place surrounding the failure to protect another [high-value] enabler ... "

According to military experts, the Kremlin only has around half a dozen operational aircraft of this type that are used to detect enemy aircraft and air defence systems.

The loss of this capability which provides daily command and control to Russian air operations significantly degrades the situational awareness provided to Russian air crews, the MoD said.

Since the beginning of the Russian war against Ukraine a good two years ago, the British Ministry of Defence has published daily information on the course of the war. Moscow accuses London of disinformation.

A general view of destruction following a Russian missile attack. -/Ukrinform/dpa

A general view of destruction following a Russian missile attack. -/Ukrinform/dpa
Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, right, is congratulated by his elder brother, former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif at a parliament session Sunday in Islamabad. (Pakistan National Assembly Office / Associated Press)

Lawmakers in Pakistans National Assembly on Sunday elected Shehbaz Sharif as the countrys new prime minister for the second time as allies of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan in parliament shouted in protest, alleging rigging in last months election.

Khan is currently serving prison terms in multiple cases and has been barred from seeking or holding office. Sharif replaced him as prime minister after his ouster in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who got 92 votes. The winner only needs 169 votes to get a majority.

Ayub was backed by Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, whose candidates could not get enough seats to form a government on their own. The PTI refused to hold talks with its rivals to form a coalition.

Following days of negotiations, Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League party and his supporters formed an alliance after the Feb. 8 election, which was overshadowed by militant violence, a nationwide mobile phone shutdown, Khan's exclusion from the vote, and an unusual delay in announcing the result.

Authorities said cutting communications was necessary to avoid attacks on candidates and security forces.

Read more: Pakistan's former premier Sharif and allies agree to form a coalition

The delay drew criticism from Khans party, which insists the vote was rigged to stop it from getting a majority. The party claims it has evidence that its victory was stolen during the vote count, a charge the Election Commission denies.

Sharif, in his acceptance speech in parliament Sunday, said: "We were subjected to political victimization in the past but never took any revenge. Without naming Khan, he said the previous ruler jailed many political rivals, including himself and his ally Asif Ali Zardari.

He also accused Khans supporters of attacking military installations while protesting his ouster in 2022, adding that now parliament and the courts would decide whether those involved in attacking the military installations deserved a pardon.

Holding portraits of Khan, some lawmakers stood in front of Sharif when he began his speech, shouting vote thief and shame. Sharif denounced their actions, saying they were causing chaos in parliament. He also said they should present their evidence of vote rigging to the relevant authorities.

Sharif then addressed the opposition saying, I am offering you reconciliation. Let us sit together to work for the betterment of Pakistan. But he was greeted with more protests and shouts.

Read more: Pakistan's premier defends delay in releasing election results, denies vote was unfair

The premier also spoke of repairing ties with the United States. Relations between the two countries have been strained after Khan accused the U.S., Sharif and the Pakistani military of conspiring to keep him out of office, following his ouster.

Sharif also said his biggest challenge was the economic situation as Pakistan has been relying on foreign loans to run the economy. His government faces multiple issues, including how to respond to a surge in militant attacks, improve relations with the neighboring, Taliban-run Afghanistan, repair crumbling infrastructure, and resolve year-round power outages. It must also maintain political stability as Khans party has vowed to continue protests against the alleged vote-rigging.

After losing to Sharif, Ayub addressed the parliament, commending my leader Khan for his bravery while facing the cases against him. He denounced the arrest of thousands of Khan's supporters last year after they took to the streets following his ouster.

Ayub repeated the allegations of vote rigging and demanded a probe into last months poll. He said PTI votes were tampered with and votes were stolen to stop Khan's party from forming a government.

Read more: Imprisoned ex-Pakistani leader Imran Khan convicted again, days ahead of election

He said Sharif can rule the country but he cannot win hearts and minds because he came to power through a rigged vote.

Last week, Khan wrote a letter to the International Monetary Fund, urging it to link any talks with Islamabad to an audit of February's election. Khans move, which Sharif criticized in his speech, comes days before the IMF releases a key installment of a bailout loan to Pakistan.

Pakistan has been relying on bailouts to prop up its foreign exchange reserves and avoid default, with the IMF and wealthy allies like China and Saudi Arabia financing the country to the tune of billions of dollars. Under his previous term as prime minister, Sharif had to struggle for months to get a $3-billion bailout from the IMF.

The new prime minister has said he will seek a new IMF bailout after the end of March when the current one expires.

He is due to be sworn in on Monday.

Chinese President Xi Jinping was among the first to congratulate Sharif on his election as Pakistans prime minister, the official Xinhua news agency reported Sunday.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Pakistans parliament has elected Shehbaz Sharif as the countrys new prime minister, ending a political deadlock almost a month long following elections on 8 February which were marred by allegations of rigging.

Mr Sharif was voted in by Pakistans National Assembly to return for a second spell as prime minister after he stood down in August last year to allow a caretaker government to conduct elections. He previously entered the role following the 2022 vote of no confidence in Imran Khan.

On Sunday Mr Sharif secured 201 votes from MPs, defeating his rival Omar Ayub Khan who stood as the candidate of choice for MPs loyal to Imran Khan, securing 92 votes. Mr Ayub is also the grandson of Pakistans first military dictator.

The newly-elected leader delivered his first speech amid loud protests and chants from allies of the jailed former prime minister Mr Khan, whose PTI party has alleged widespread voter fraud and that its mandate to lead the country was stolen.

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) partys Mr Sharif will head a coalition government with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after no party was able to win an outright majority in the elections.

The elections took place on 8 February with Mr Khan in jail on various charges which he says are politically motivated. His PTI party was barred from formal registration for the election, and while PTI-backed independents won significantly more seats than any other party they refused to engage in coalition talks with the other major vote-winners.

The 72-year-old Mr Sharif was endorsed for the top job by his elder brother Nawaz Sharif, the leader of the PML-N party, in a move that surprised analysts. The elder Mr Sharif, who is himself a three-time prime minister, returned from exile after four years in London ahead of the election and was widely presumed to be the partys candidate for prime minister.

He is believed to have shied away from the role after his party failed to win a majority in the elections and is expected to influence key government decisions from behind the scenes instead.

Shehbaz Sharif is declared to have been elected the prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq announced, after which Mr Sharif hugged his elder brother.

Supporters of convicted former prime minister Imran Khan attend the KPK provincial assembly oath-taking session of newly elected members, in Peshawar, Pakistan (EPA)

In his speech, Mr Sharif took a potshot at Mr Khan, saying: We were subjected to political victimisation in the past but never took any revenge.

He repeated accusations that Mr Khans supporters attacked military installations after his ouster in 2022, adding that the parliament and the courts will decide whether those involved in the unrest deserved a pardon.

Raising portraits of Mr Khan, PTIs allies stood in front of Mr Sharif when he began his speech, shouting vote thief and shame.

Voting to elect Pakistan's new Prime Minister is set to commence in the Pakistans National Assembly following last month's elections, which resulted in a divided mandate. #ShehbazSharif and #OmarAyub are the contenders for the Prime Ministership.

The session began amidst pic.twitter.com/1AcpIfSRyP  Ravinder Singh Robin     (@rsrobin1) March 3, 2024

Despite managing to form a government, Mr Sharif is expected to face various immediate political challenges now that he has entered office, especially as he helms a shaky alliance in a country where no leader has yet completed a full five-year term.

Pakistans former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, left, addresses supporters next to his newly-elected brother following initial results of the country's parliamentary election, in Lahore (AP)

A close aide of Mr Khan told The Independent on Wednesday that PTI is planning more nationwide protests and said the party will not remain silent after their victories in several constituencies were allegedly overturned by election officials.

The elections occurred amid delays and a nationwide mobile phone outage, justified by authorities to avoid militant attacks on candidates and security forces.

The results, which were expected to be announced on the same day, were delayed by almost 24 hours as opposition parties alleged that officials were overturning PTI victories.

The PTI party claims it has evidence that its victories were stolen during the vote count, a charge the election commission denies.

Mr Sharif also takes the helm of the country during an economic crisis, which he identifies as the biggest challenge for Pakistan, relying on foreign loans to sustain the economy.

His most immediate task will be to secure a new loan of at least $6bn from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), as the current programme of payments is set to conclude in April.

Mr Sharif emphasised last month that Pakistan urgently requires a new loan. He played a crucial role in preventing a default last year by securing the current $3bn loan programme and implemented unpopular measures, such as eliminating fuel subsidies and increasing energy prices, to fulfil the IMFs requirements.

The new government will have to also address the internal security situation in Pakistan amid a surge in militant attacks as anti-state groups, such as the Pakistan Taliban or Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan and Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan  two separate Baloch insurgent groups  remain highly active.

2023 was the deadliest year for militant attacks in Pakistan since 2017, with some 500 civilians and 500 security personnel killed, according to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during the international conference on a climate-resilient Pakistan. Sharif was set to become Pakistan's new prime minister on 03 March as political uncertainty and daunting economic challenges await the new government. Violaine Martin/UN Photo/dpa

Shehbaz Sharif was set to become Pakistan's new prime minister on Sunday as political uncertainty and daunting economic challenges await the new government.

Pakistan's parliament was set to vote on a new premier following general elections on February 8.

Shehbaz Sharif is the head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the younger brother of former three-time premier Nawaz Sharif.

He emerged a joint candidate of at least six political parties including the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of former president Asif Ali Zardari.

No political party won the 134 seats required to form a government alone.

The alliance has already proved its numerical superiority during the election of the speaker of lower house, securing 199 votes.

A candidate needs 169 votes in the 336-member lower house of parliament to be elected as prime minister. The vote is scheduled for 11 am (0600 GMT).

The Pakistani Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) of jailed leader Imran Khan has nominated Omar Ayub Khan.

In 2022, Shehbaz Sharif replaced Imran Khan and led Pakistan's government for around 16 months.

Poor economic management during the stint inflicted sever dent on the PTI's popularity ahead of the elections, though the party says it has sacrificed politics and saved the country from default.

Sharif has vowed his government will improve the economy to give relief to the masses and not to seek revenge from his opponents.

The February 8 elections Pakistan, a coup-prone nuclear power, were marred by rigging allegations, suspected military meddling and sporadic violence in the run-up to the polls.

Imran Khan's PTI has already kicked off street protest against the alleged rigging.
MILWAUKEE - A Milwaukee grocery store hopes to offer the community a little relief as prices and limited options take a toll on shoppers.

The owner of Sherman Park Grocery said collaborations like Saturday's with Americans for Prosperity can help change things.

"We're literally transforming the Sherman Park community one day at a time," said Moe Wince.

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The sound of a rolling shopping cart, and the sight of satisfied shoppers put a smile on Wince's face. He owns the grocery store near Sherman and Fond du Lac, which he said is located in one of the city's food deserts  an issue he has known all too well since childhood.

"We ourselves were faced with food insecurity and housing insecurity, so this is my assignment as a family," he said.

Sherman Park Grocery

Last year, the store won $25,000 in Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicagos Accelerate Grants through Wisconsin's Spring Bank. The money is going to equipment, inventory and partnerships like Saturday's with Americans for Prosperity.

"Me choosing this grocery store was important, because Moe is one of the only grocery stores in this area," said Jamiroquan Kittler, supervisor of grassroots operations with Americans for Prosperity.

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Kittler said, through the "Prosperity is Possible" campaign, they were able to give out $60 gift cards to the first 100 customers in addition to information about the state of the economy.

"Right now, the people are paying astronomical prices at a lot of the chain areas and the chain stores," he said. "Its good to have local businesses like this one."

"I feel fantabulous. Money saved is money earned," said shopper Janice Austin.

Along with affordable food, Wince said they're also trying to provide healthy options.

"Food is justice, and today were providing that justice through fresh fruits and vegetables," he said.

In Wince's opinion, justice is sweet. He said the collaboration showed the community investment in areas that desperately need it, and he hopes to make the giveaway an annual event.
Early one morning last May, on a bungalow-lined street in Avalon Park, ShotSpotter detected real gunshots: more than half a dozen rounds fired.

It was a busy night, and officers didnt make it to the scene for more than half an hour. But when they arrived they found 24-year-old Areanah Preston, a Loyola law student and Chicago police officer, fatally shot on her front lawn.

Late one night in January, on a residential block of Auburn Gresham, ShotSpotter detected what likely were just fireworks.

But the alert sent officers out looking for a shooter, and when they got there they heard a loud bang. One officer opened fire in the direction of a boy who had just set off a firecracker, but did not hit him.

The episodes paint a picture of the limits of a controversial system Chicago has decided to keep around well past this summers Democratic National Convention after a protracted contract fight. Police see value in the systems ability to bring them to trouble including at times when no one calls 911, but its usefulness may quickly downgrade from there, experts said.

In recent weeks, long-standing criticisms have intensified, among them that the system is inaccurate, expensive and disproportionately harms people of color. Some attorneys argue ShotSpotter shouldnt be used in the courtroom or on the street, claims that judges could be sorting out for months if not years to come.

Mayor Brandon Johnson was an outspoken critic of the system on the campaign trail, but what some perceive as a lack of clarity from him has only clouded the citys future relationship with the gunshot-detection technology.

Johnson announced last month that the city would stop using ShotSpotter later this year, a clarification that came after significant confusion and speculation that the company could take the technology offline much sooner. As it stands, the end date is now Sept. 22  after Democrats hold their convention here  to be followed by a two-month transition period.

But the software has been consistently praised by police, including Johnsons hand-picked top cop, Larry Snelling, who credit it for quicker responses to shootings. ShotSpotter can and, according to officers, often does alert police to gunfire that citizens do not call in. The Chicago Police Department has said that, in the last three years, CPD officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert rendered lifesaving medical aid 430 times.

Examining the system

One recent study found that, compared to 911 calls alone, ShotSpotter alerts will bring police to a crime scene faster and keep them there longer. But the software has no effect on overall public safety  it does not reduce gun violence or improve CPDs clearance rate.

I think its important for cities that invest in this technology to think a little bit harder about what are the ends and what are the means, said Eric Piza, a criminal justice and criminology professor at Northeastern University and principal investigator of the study, which was published in January with a grant from the Justice Department.

The study, believed to be the largest research project on gunshot detection technology (GDT) to date, examined ShotSpotter alert response data by police officers in Kansas City, Missouri, from 2012 through 2019 and in Chicago from 2017 through 2019.

In that time, ShotSpotter sensors in Chicago made more than 85,000 alerts of possible gunfire on the citys South and West sides, the study found.

I think an honest assessment of what we found is that the software tends to do what the vendor promises, in terms of identifying gunshots, in terms of directing police attention to gunshots, Piza said. We also found in Chicago that more guns were recovered on ShotSpotter incidents than other types of incidents.

Whats more, Piza and the other investigators found, CPD officers dispatched via ShotSpotter alerts arrived at shooting scenes about 10 seconds faster than officers who responded to shootings with only 911 calls.

But none of that necessarily led to safer streets, Piza said. Gun violence did not change in ShotSpotter areas following installation of the software, shootings were not any more likely to be solved by police after the software was introduced.

A recent CPD analysis found that the vast majority of ShotSpotter alerts in the Englewood and Gresham districts  80%  did not have an accompanying 911 call from a citizen.

Not all ShotSpotter alerts are the result of bona fide gunfire, though, and some critics argue that sending police out to chase possibly inaccurate ShotSpotter alerts cuts down on the time they can spend responding to real calls for service.

All of those officers are not available to respond to other emergencies, said Jonathan Manes, an attorney with the MacArthur Justice Center who is suing the city in an effort to end its use of ShotSpotter. This is not a tool that makes police more efficient, it imposes additional burdens on police for, so far as we can tell, no public safety benefit.

A working paper from Ph.D. candidates at the University of California at Santa Barbara found that the flood of ShotSpotter alerts in Chicago resulted in longer police response times  and thus, a decrease in arrests stemming from 911 calls. The drop in arrests for domestic battery was particularly sharp: 14%.

Police tout a different statistic: Since early 2021, CPD officers responding to a ShotSpotter alert have rendered lifesaving medical aid on 430 occasions. More than 25% of those incidents were recorded in the Harrison (11th) and Englewood (7th) districts, according to CPD.

Current controversies

The city has paid between $8.8 million and $12.3 million annually for ShotSpotter since 2017, and the software and sensors now cover 136 square miles on the citys South and West sides, according to Pizas study.

The software, utilized in more than 140 cities across the country, uses acoustic sensors affixed to buildings and light poles to pick up the sound of gunfire. The location, within about 85 feet, and number of suspected rounds are sent to dispatchers, who relay the information to CPD officers.

ShotSpotters pilot program debuted in Chicago in 2012 in the CPDs Harrison and Englewood districts, historically the two most violent in the city. In the years since, the program has expanded to cover all of the citys West Side and most of the South Side.

Except for a few billboards along the Kennedy Expressway, ShotSpotter is not used anywhere on the North Side. It also does not operate in the Morgan Park (22nd) District on the Far South Side, which includes the Beverly and Mount Greenwood neighborhoods, where scores of city workers live and gunfire is relatively rare.

The technologys use almost exclusively on the South and West sides has led to criticism that it encourages police to unfairly target people of color.

Theres no doubt that it is placing people who are already the most vulnerable people in our county at risk when police show up under the false or real impression that a gunshot has been fired, without any other information, said Sharlyn Grace, senior policy adviser at the Cook County public defenders office.

A blistering and oft-cited 2021 report issued by the citys Office of Inspector General found that the software also had an impact on officers interactions with civilians in city neighborhoods most affected by gun violence.

OIG concluded from its analysis that CPD responses to ShotSpotter alerts rarely produce documented evidence of a gun-related crime, investigatory stop, or recovery of a firearm, the report stated. Additionally, OIG identified evidence that the introduction of ShotSpotter technology in Chicago has changed the way some CPD members perceive and interact with individuals present in areas where ShotSpotter alerts are frequent.

For its part, CPD has praised the software since its rollout.

Obviously, Im for technology thats going to help us get to a location quicker and help us save lives, CPD Superintendent Snelling said at a news conference last week. When it comes to the contractual part of it, that aspect of ShotSpotter, that lies with the Mayors Office. I dont deal with that aspect of it. What Im concerned about right now is public safety, and Im going to do everything I can to keep the city safe.

After a ShotSpotter alert comes in, CPD employees in district Strategic Decision Support Centers are often able to use POD cameras to help officers better coordinate shooting responses, according to sources not authorized to speak publicly about the departments use of ShotSpotter. The software includes artificial intelligence components that, over time, allow the sensors to more accurately discern between gunshots and fireworks. Meanwhile, if a ShotSpotter alert is later deemed to be caused by fireworks, CPD officers are able to edit that incident description.

You put them where there are the most shootings, thats statistics, a veteran CPD officer, familiar with the software though not authorized by the department to speak publicly, said of ShotSpotter criticisms. Does it make sense to put them in Beverly? I dont know, how many shootings happen in Beverly? Does it make sense to put them in Andersonville? How many shootings happen in Andersonville?

You put the microphones where the shootings happen, he added.

Defense lawyers raise questions

In November 2021, police got a ShotSpotter alert that one round was fired at an address just west of the Garfield Park Lagoon.

Responding officers saw a gray Dodge Charger making a U-turn and driving off through the park, according to a police report. When they pulled it over, they found no guns, but the drivers eyes were bloodshot and he smelled of alcohol, they said. He was arrested and charged with aggravated DUI.

A couple of years later, public defenders opened another front in the courtroom battle over ShotSpotter.

That technology is unreliable, and that arrest was unconstitutional, they said. Police cant arrest someone without probable cause or a specific and reasonable suspicion that they committed a crime. Just being in the vicinity of a ShotSpotter alert, they argued, was not nearly enough.

In January, Judge Carol Howard agreed and threw out the arrest. And on Tuesday, prosecutors dropped the charges altogether.

Cook County public defenders have long challenged ShotSpotter in county courtrooms, saying evidence stemming from the technology should not be used against defendants.

Among their most common arguments: ShotSpotter insists it is accurate and reliable, but that has never been proved in an Illinois court; and besides, the alerts do not give police enough basis to make a valid arrest.

The efficacy (and) the reliability is overblown, said Assistant Public Defender Celeste Addyman, who worked on the DUI case that was recently dropped.

It is just being used in a really inappropriate way to sort of cast doubt, or draw into suspicion, very large groups of people who would otherwise have been thought to just sort of be innocently going about their day.

In response, Cook County prosecutors have argued in court that ShotSpotter alerts  like 911 calls  are absolutely valid to consider when looking at the overall context of whether an arrest was constitutional.

And while a courtroom inquiry into ShotSpotters scientific claims would be relevant if attorneys wanted to introduce a detailed forensic analysis by ShotSpotter at trial, that is not necessary in the context of a pretrial hearing about an arrest, prosecutors have said.

No one, ShotSpotter included, would claim ShotSpotter is a flawless tool without any limitations, prosecutors wrote in a 2021 filing for an armed habitual criminal case. Such perfection is not expected under a Fourth Amendment analysis.

The circumstances of the arrest in that case involved more than just ShotSpotter, according to the court filing. An officer responding to an alert near the Ashland/63rd Green Line station encountered a witness who said someone shot a gun and ran into an alley; officers found the defendant in the alley and, when patting him down, found a box of ammunition. That defendant ultimately pleaded guilty to a weapons charge.

Public defenders have asked judges to conduct evidentiary hearings at which ShotSpotter would have to prove that their technology is generally accepted as scientifically sound. So far, no judge has granted that hearing.

ShotSpotter should have to prove that it is reliable enough to use in court, said Assistant Public Defender Richard Gutierrez.

A company who wants to engage in the criminal legal system and wants to make money in the criminal legal system should be doing so only with highly validated, highly reliable technology, he said. And there is no such validation, and lots of reasons to think they could never get it, that the system doesnt work.

When asked if prosecutors believe ShotSpotter is reliable and scientifically sound  and thus should be admissible in court  a spokesperson for the Cook County states attorneys office said prosecutors review cases individually and make determinations regarding the use and relevancy of the evidence specific to that case within the bounds of the law.

ShotSpotter is the best resource to answer questions about the reliability of their technology, not the CCSAO, the statement continued.

Efforts to challenge the technology in court have met with mixed success: Some judges have upheld arrests in which ShotSpotter played a role. Others have thrown them out.

No Illinois appellate court has settled the matter, and it could be months if not years before a higher court takes up the question. By then, ShotSpotter could be long gone from Chicago streets.

Attorneys with the MacArthur Justice Center have filed suit in hopes that a federal judge will stop Chicago from using ShotSpotter altogether.

The technology is unreliable and disproportionately harms communities of color, attorney Manes told the Chicago Tribune. Manes said he is appreciative of Johnsons recent announcement that the ShotSpotter contract would end, but the lawsuit is still relevant unless the city is willing to commit to actually terminating the program in court.

The city cant end a lawsuit just by sort of making a temporary change in policy which it could just as easily switch back, he said.

Attorneys for the city stated in court as recently as Feb. 21 that they believe ShotSpotter technology is reliable. While Manes and his colleagues wanted city attorneys to answer questions about Johnsons statements on the issue  including campaign statements about ShotSpotters lack of reliability  U.S. Magistrate Judge Young B. Kim shut that down.

These are questions that should be asked to the mayor, the judge said.

_____
The Avdiivka sector situation is stabilizing, although the Russian army is still having "local successes," Tavria Operational-Strategic Group spokesman Dmytro Lykhoviy said on national television on Mar. 3.

Ukrainian troops have successfully repelled 14 Russian attacks in the last day, the lowest number in recent days.

Read also: Reservoir cascade to enhance Ukrainian military defenses near Avdiivka, Tavria unit commander says

"According to the confirmed data, the operational situation is stabilizing in the areas of the three villages that are of most interest to everyone: Berdychi, Orlivka and Tonenke," he said.

Our forces are holding back the enemy in these settlements, and combat operations are underway.

The battle line has its own dynamics, but there is no reason to suggest that these settlements have been captured by the Russians.

Read also: Russians aim to consolidate captured territory near Avdiivka with large numbers of infantry, Ukrainian military says

"The enemy sometimes has local successes in some positions, he said.

For example, if firing positions are simply destroyed by artillery, then the (Ukrainian) troops regroup and move to other more favorable positions."

On Feb. 17, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced that the Defense Forces had withdrawn from Avdiivka after four months of intense fighting and regular attacks by the Russian Federation. He stated that this decision was made to avoid encirclement and to preserve the lives and health of military personnel.

On Feb. 26, the Tavria Regional Military Command confirmed that the Defense Forces had withdrawn from the village of Lastochkine to organize defense and prevent further advances by Russian forces.

On Feb. 27, Lykhoviy mentioned that the Defense Forces had withdrawn from the small villages of Severne and Stepove in the Avdiivka sector.

Read also: Command errors affected Ukrainian defense resilience, admits Syrskyi

On Feb. 28, Lykhoviy stated that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are continuing their defensive operation in the Avdiivka sector.

On Feb. 29, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi reported that the Ukrainian forces had driven out the Russian army out of the village of Orlivka, Donetsk Oblast, and continue to face offensive operations from Russian troops on multiple directions, with particularly tense situations in the Avdiivka and Zaporizhzhya fronts.

"Miscalculations in situational awareness and enemy assessment by some commanders have impacted the resilience of our defense on certain fronts," Syrskyi wrote.

"All necessary measures have been taken to rectify the situation on the ground, including the allocation of additional ammunition and material resources, as well as the necessary reserves."



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The situation at the Polish border has long gone too far both economically and morally, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said.

Source: the President's evening address

Quote: "It is necessary to finally find a solution to the situation on the Polish border, which has long gone beyond [any limits of] both economics and morality.

It is impossible to explain how the difficulties that a bleeding country is going through can be used in a domestic political struggle. But we will overcome this.

I am confident that Ukraine is able to withstand [the pressure], achieve its goals and defeat Russian terror. Together we can ensure this."

Background:

Numerous farmers protests have been ongoing all over Poland for several days. The protesters are blocking roads, motorways and border checkpoints on the border with Ukraine. The farmers oppose the excessive influx of Ukrainian goods and the EUs Green Deal.

Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian drivers and Polish police, who had blocked them at the Korczowa border crossing, had managed to settle a dispute with the help of Ukrainian diplomats.

On 3 March, the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported that all six checkpoints on the Ukrainian-Polish border were still blocked, with drivers of more than 2,400 lorries waiting to cross into Ukraine from Poland.

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Ukraine's State Border Guard Service (SBGS) has reported that Polish protesters continue to block all six crossing points on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

Source: Andrii Demchenko, spokesperson for SBGS, on air during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Details: "Polish farmers continue to block lorry traffic. On all six crossing points. As of this morning [3 March 2024], a total of over 2,400 freight vehicles are queuing at all these checkpoints on the Polish side of the border, waiting to enter Ukraine," he said.

The official stated that the longest queues can be observed at the Krakivets and Yahodyn checkpoints. At the latter, lorries are only allowed to cross into Ukraine, while 70 vehicles have passed through over the past 24 hours.

"I would like to mention that Yahodyn is the largest infrastructure point where 1,200-1,400 freight vehicles can cross the border from both sides. However, at present, only lorries travelling into Ukraine are allowed through... No lorries are crossing the border towards Poland as they are not allowed to do so," added Demchenko.

Demchenko pointed out that the protesters were not blocking traffic for other categories of transport, including cars and buses.

Background:

Farmers' protests have been taking place across Poland for several days now. Their participants are blocking roads, motorways, and border crossings with Ukraine.

The farmers are protesting against the influx of Ukrainian goods, as well as against European policies related to what is known as the EU Green Deal.

Earlier, it was reported that Ukrainian drivers and Polish police, who blocked them at the Korczowa border crossing, managed to settle their dispute with the help of Ukrainian diplomats.

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Six Ukrainian citizens were injured when a car drove into a crowd in Szczecin, Poland, on 1 March.

Source: Oleksandr Plodystyi, the Ukrainian Consul in Gdansk, in a comment for Ukrinform, as reported by European Pravda

Details: Plodystyi said that four Ukrainian women and a man, aged between 20 and 42, as well as a five-year-old Ukrainian boy, sustained injuries in the incident.

"They sustained injuries of varying degrees of severity and have been taken to three different hospitals. A 41-year-old woman is in a critical condition, and a five-year-old child suffered a concussion," Plodystyi explained.

He added that the woman who was in a critical condition is now stable and her life is out of danger.

The injured child will remain in hospital with his mother for another two or three days. Family friends are taking care of them.

The other Ukrainians injured in the incident are stable and their lives are out of danger.

The total number of casualties has risen to 20.

Background:

Fourteen civilians were initially reported to have been injured when a car drove into a crowd of people who had gathered at Roda Square in Szczecin, in Poland's northwest, on Friday, 1 March.

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Last fall, my friend and I chose to visit Crete, Greece, over more popular destinations.

The island, known in mythology as the home of the Minotaur, offered plenty of attractions.

After visiting Santorini, I think the laid-back vibes of Crete make it a more underrated spot.

Last fall, a good friend and I decided we wanted to go to Greece. But rather than opt for Santorini or Mykonos, we decided to spend a week in Crete.

All I knew about the island was what I had learned from Greek mythology  it was famously the home of the labyrinth that housed the mighty Minotaur.

But I quickly learned that it has a lot more to offer.

Here's what my trip was like, and why I think it's the most underrated spot in the country.

Early fall seemed to be a great time to visit.

We beat all the summer crowds by visiting in October. Hannah Docter-Loeb

We visited in October, which ended up being ideal.

Weather-wise, it was still warm enough to swim, but it wasn't terribly hot.

Although there were other tourists, it also didn't feel super packed. The busy season tends to be in the summer months.

Crete is the largest of the Greek Islands.

The views from Chania Harbor were incredible. Hannah Docter-Loeb

Although places like Santorini tend to get a little more hype in the tourism industry, Crete is actually the largest of the Greek Islands.

I also think it's one of the easiest to get to.

It sits in the Aegean Sea and houses two international airports that run nonstop flights from Paris, London, and Berlin. If you're flying in from somewhere else, you'll probably have a layover in Athens, like I did.

There are also ferries from the other Greek Islands. But it's good to know that they don't run as frequently in the offseason.

Renting a car allowed us to see more of the island.

We got a car with a pop-up tent so we could camp around Crete. Hannah Docter-Loeb

Public transit was available on the island, but we decided to rent a car so we'd have more freedom.

Only certain parts of the island are accessible by car  there are several mountains, making it hard to cross from east to west. On our week-long trip, we only had time to explore the west side.

We ended up getting a Toyota Rav4 outfitted with a tent on top through Lazy Snail Campers and stayed at the many campsites around Crete.

The rental came with sleeping bags, pillows, cooking supplies, towels, tables, chairs, and even a solar shower, so we didn't need to bring anything but clothes and toiletries.

Samaria Gorge was easily the highlight of the trip.

Hiking through the gorge was absolutely breathtaking. Hannah Docter-Loeb

One of the island's main attractions is the Samaria Gorge, a 13-mile hike between the White Mountains. It was tough, but there was lots of beautiful scenery and interesting historic settlements along the path.

To avoid having to figure out all the logistics, we decided to book a tour for about 50 euros, or $54. A local tour operator picked us up from our campsite very early in the morning and drove us to the entrance of the gorge.

Luckily, we were able to hike at our own pace. The guide was only there to "sweep" the back and make sure no one got lost.

At the end of the hike, we ended up in the secluded beach town of Agia Roumeli. We didn't bring bathing suits but jumped in the ocean to cool off anyway, which felt incredibly cathartic.

After a few hours, a ferry took us back to Chania, where we could catch a bus to our campsite.

Like the more popular spots, Crete is filled with beautiful beaches.

I liked Falasarna Beach the best. Hannah Docter-Loeb

One of the most famous beaches in Crete is Elafonissi, which is famous for its pink sand. But when we went, it was very crowded.

Evidently, there have been issues with people stealing sand from the beach, so the hue wasn't as pronounced.

My favorite beach was Falasarna, sometimes spelled Falassarna.

It was busy, but the occupants mostly seemed to be Greek families and not tourists. We spent the day after the gorge hike there so we could have some time to sit and relax.

Many of the campsites were also along the water, making for a more secluded beach experience.

But there was plenty to do in the cities as well.

I enjoyed taking in the views in Rethymno. Hannah Docter-Loeb

Crete has several sizable cities sprinkled around the island.

We started and ended in the largest city, Heraklion, which has a cool fortress along its old port.

Before our gorge hike, we spent a day in Chania, exploring the city's old town and Venetian Harbor. We also visited the old-town section of Rethymno.

Paleochora, which was more of a town than a city, had a really beautiful traditional Greek church that I'm glad we saw.

The food was fantastic.

I didn't really have a bad meal anywhere in Greece. Hannah Docter-Loeb

This goes for all of Greece, but the food is amazing.

We tried many traditional dishes, but I especially loved the moussaka, Greek salad, and spanakopita.

Most restaurants also gave complimentary shots of raki, an anise-flavored spirit, and some sort of dessert.

As fans of Greek mythology, we made sure to visit the Minotaur.

Knossos was a fun section of the island to explore. Hannah Docter-Loeb

Knossos is a Minoan palace that's believed to have been the site of the Minotaur's labyrinth from Greek mythology.

Unsurprisingly, it was filled with tourists  it was probably the busiest attraction we visited.

I can't wait to go back to Crete.

I'd happily pick Greek over Santorini. Hannah Docter-Loeb

I was so pleasantly surprised by everything that Crete had to offer. And, for the most part, the crowds were pretty calm during our week-long trip.

When I traveled to Santorini right after, I longed to be back on the more laid-back island.

I can't wait to return to Crete and explore the east side of the island.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Alex Crawford claims journalists are being kept out of Gaza to cover-up Israeli criminality

A Sky News correspondent has been accused of taking a side in the war between Israel and Hamas after claiming the former had committed war crimes.

Alex Crawford, the channels special correspondent, also had a community note  a tool used to fact-check posts  attached to one of her tweets.

On Sunday, a former BBC executive said the correspondent appeared uninterested in the principles of impartiality, balance and accuracy.

Sky Newss social media guidelines state that as a journalist for the broadcaster, you are expected to use social media responsibly, adhering to the principles of fairness, accuracy, impartiality, legality and rigour.

Text in Skys editorial guidelines continues: You are personally responsible for the content you publish on social networks.

Ms Crawford is one of more than 50 broadcast journalists who has signed a petition demanding the Israeli and Egyptian embassies provide free and unfettered access to Gaza.

In December Ms Crawford, 61, claimed that journalists were being kept out of Gaza to cover-up Israeli criminality.

Writing on Twitter, now known as X, Ms Crawford, who was awarded an OBE by the late Queen, said: It is absolutely farcical to try to peddle the view that foreign journalists are not entering Gaza because its dangerous.

International journalists have been delib [deliberately] blocked from entering Gaza by primarily Israel who doesnt want them seeing the war crimes.

Alex Crawford has signed a petition demanding the Israeli and Egyptian embassies provide 'free and unfettered access' to Gaza - Geoff Pugh/Shutterstock

South Africa has launched a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel for what it said were genocidal acts in Gaza.

And on Thursday Volker Turk, the UN human rights chief, said war crimes had been committed by all parties in the conflict.

However, the ICJ is yet to rule on whether Israel has committed any war crimes and the judicial process could take years.

In another tweet published in November last year, when 23 Palestinian prisoners were released in exchange for eight Israeli hostages, Ms Crawford also appeared to incorrectly report the crime of at least one prisoner.

She wrote:

First group of #Palestinian prisoners - women and children - will also be released from #Israeli jail on Friday. Many have been incarcerated without charge or jailed for raising Palestinian flag or throwing stones at Israeli soldiers  Alex Crawford (@AlexCrawfordSky) November 23, 2023

A community note was later added to the tweet which read: The list of the Palestinian prisoners includes their offences. None of the prisoners are kept for raising a Palestinian flag.

The sources cited on the community note were Israeli news sites The Jerusalem Post and Haaretz.

Uninterested in principles of impartiality

Danny Cohen, a former director of television at the BBC, told The Telegraph: Alex Crawford appears uninterested in the principles of impartiality, balance and accuracy that underpin broadcast journalism in the UK. She has clearly taken a side in the Israel-Hamas war, accusing Israel of war crimes without presenting any evidence and making up claims about Palestinian prisoners.

Mr Cohen added: At a time of exponentially rising anti-Semitism, Sky News must act to ensure their journalists are reporting the war without bias and purely on the basis of facts.

Adam Levick, co-editor of the UK arm of the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting and Analysis, said: Our review of Ms Crawfords X posts reveals a journalist with an egregious bias against Israel.

On Dec 5, for instance, she complained in a post about not being able to travel to Gaza, before concluding that the reason is that Israel doesnt want the world to see its war crimes.

Her conclusion, that Israel was guilty of war crimes, was clearly pre-determined.

Ms Crawford and Sky News were approached for comment.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
UPDATE: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge reopened to traffic at 11 a.m., according to Florida Highway Patrol.

Drivers looking to visit St. Petersburg from Manatee County will need to find a different route on Sunday morning.

The Florida Highway Patrol announced that the Sunshine Skyway Bridges northbound lanes will be closed from 3:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Sunday, March 3, for the 7th annual Skyway 10k race.

Southbound traffic headed from St. Petersburg to Manatee County is not affected by the temporary closure, according to a news release.

However, the fishing piers will close at midnight. The rest stop exits on the north and south sides of the bridge will be closed as well.

Alternate routes to St. Petersburg or Tampa can be found by traveling north on U.S. 41, U.S. 301 or Interstate 75.
(FOX40.COM)  A Southern California man has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison after an FBI investigation found he and three other Korean nationals were responsible for a check-kiting bust out scam that led to a loss of over $200,000 to various banks throughout the Sacramento area.

According to the Department of Justice, the schemers would get real Korean passports with new photos and fake names and use them to open bank accounts with a small amount of cash. Those accounts would stay dormant until the schemers believed the bank would allow them to deposit a check and withdraw a portion of the money before it cleared.

Video Above: Card skimming scams: What you need to know

This would be done by writing checks from various accounts with insufficient funds, depositing checks into the accounts initially created with the Korean passports, and then withdrawing the money before the checks cleared.

Sacramento one of hardest-hit cities by gift card scam circulating California, sheriffs office says

The DOJ added that the scammers would access the funds by purchasing a money order and depositing it into another bank account associated with the scheme.

According to the Department of Justice, the bust-out scam resulted in a loss of $273,800 to the banks. Based on additional, unsuccessful attempts to conduct the scheme, the total intended loss was $466,318.

Three other Korean nationals between the ages of 47 and 55 were previously sentenced for their connection to this scheme. Their sentences ranged from two years to seven years.

The Los Angeles man, 60, who was sentenced on Thursday received a sentence of 21 months in prison.

The Department of Justice did not specify the banks affected by the scheme, but they said that the scam was done in the Sacramento area and elsewhere.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40.
Avraham Gil, the son of an Israeli diplomat accused of intentionally running over a cop, was reportedly the victim of a physical assault inside a Miami jail holding cell on Wednesday.

The 19-year-old was riding a motorcycle without a valid drivers license on Collins Avenue on Jan. 27 when Sunny Isles Beach Lt. Ruben Zamora ordered him to stop weaving in-between vehicles.

Gil allegedly ignored Zamoras commands and struck him. The law enforcement official suffered a leg injury and was transported to a local hospital.

Avraham Gil allegedly struck a Miami-area police officer on a motorcycle. (Photos: Google Maps, YouTube screenshot/Local 10)

It should be noted that Avraham spontaneously uttered that he was sorry and that he was just driving in between vehicles to cut in front of the line because he hates waiting behind traffic, a police report said, according to local outlets.

The teen is facing resisting an officer with violence and aggravated battery on a law enforcement officer charges.

After Gil was arrested and went through the intake process, he was released.

His lawyer believed he would dodge the consequences because his father works at the Israeli consulate in Miami. State officials confirmed that neither Gil nor his father have diplomatic immunity.

We can confirm that, as the dependent of an Israeli consular officer, the concerned individual is not entitled to civil or criminal immunity, the US Department of State said in a statement.

Prosecutors cited Gils past traffic violations, including speeding, when calling for him to stay on house arrest, WPLG reported. In one incident, according to dash camera footage obtained by the outlet, he allegedly captured fleeing police in mid-January.

Earlier this week, he had to go to Miami-Dade jail to take a new mugshot. While inside the facility, Gil and another inmate, identified as 32-year-old Blake Elvis Ermus, got into a debate about sausages.

The two were talking about the ingredients of the sausages when at some point, the defendant approached the victim and punched him multiple times, the outlet reported.

The encounter was caught on surveillance video. Ermus was reportedly charged with battery on a detainee in addition to his pending charges.

Son of Israeli Diplomat Accused of Intentionally Running Over Florida Officer Was Attacked By An Inmate In Miami Jail, Report Says
(Bloomberg) -- South Korean doctors led thousands of protesters in Seoul on Sunday as a standoff with the government nears a third week, in one of the largest demonstrations yet for a labor action that has slowed the delivery of health care.

Most Read from Bloomberg

Protesters wore masks and carried banners with messages demanding the government scrap its plan to increase enrollment in medical schools, footage from local broadcaster MBC showed. The Korean Medical Association  the nations largest lobby group for physicians  said about 30,000 people are at the march.

About 70% of South Koreas 13,000 trainee doctors have walked out in the past two weeks over the initiative. The government argues the number of medical students has not been raised for about three decades and that South Korea now has one of the most acute doctor shortages in the developed world amid a rapidly aging population.

The KMA led the rally with its leaders speaking at the podium and vowing to refuse talks until President Yoon Suk Yeols government backs down. South Korean Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said Sunday the administration would go ahead and implement its duty if doctors stayed off the job in violation of law, Yonhap News Agency reported. It wasnt clear what that would entail.

Yoon has stood firm on the plan to add 2,000 spaces at medical schools from 3,058 now. His administration has indicated willingness to discuss doctors concerns such as low pay and long hours for trainees, and revisions to the legal system for malpractice suits. It said the walkout has led to people being turned away from understaffed emergency rooms and the cancellation of about half of surgeries.

Yoons approval rating climbed to 39% in a weekly tracking poll released Friday from Gallup Korea, the highest since July last year, indicating broad support among the public for his stance to hold firm. This could help his conservative People Power Party in April elections as it tries to take control of parliament from the progressive Democratic Party.

Authorities have threatened to arrest and prosecute people who refused to comply by the government order to return to work. The government is looking at suspending licenses of doctors who encouraged the labor action that it says defies medical regulations and violates the law.

Critics of the walkout contend that doctors participating in the labor action are more keen on protecting their earning power, which ranks among the top among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries, rather than improving the quality of the health-care system.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

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Doctors stage a rally against the government's medical policy in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 3, 2024. Thousands of senior doctors rallied in Seoul on Sunday to express their support for junior doctors who have been on strike for nearly two weeks over a government plan to sharply increase the number of medical school admissions.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP)  Thousands of senior doctors rallied in the South Korean capital, Seoul, on Sunday to express their support for junior doctors who have been on strike for nearly two weeks over a government plan to sharply increase the number of medical school admissions.

The rally came as the government said it would begin to take steps Monday to suspend the doctors' licenses of nearly 9,000 medical interns and residents for defying government orders to end their walkouts, which have disrupted hospital operations.

The governments absurd medical policy has triggered immense resistance by trainee doctors and medical students, and we doctors have become one, Park Sung-min, a senior member of the Korea Medical Association, said in a speech at the rally. Im asking the government: Please, stop the threats and suppression now.

Protesters chanted slogans, sang and held placards criticizing the governments plan. There were were no reports of violence.

As of Thursday night, 8,945 of the countrys 13,000 medical interns and residents were confirmed to have left their worksites, according to the Health Ministry. The government had said they would face minimum three-month license suspensions and indictments by prosecutors if they didnt return by Feb. 29.

The striking doctors are a fraction of South Koreas 140,000 doctors. But they account for 30-40% of the total doctors at some major hospitals, where they assist senior doctors during surgeries and other treatments while training. Their walkouts have subsequently caused numerous cancellations of surgeries and medical treatments at the hospitals.

Senior doctors have staged a series of rallies backing the young doctors but haven't joined the walkouts. If they also launch strikes, observers say that would be a major blow to South Korea's medical service. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday urged senior doctors to persuade the striking junior doctors to return to work.

Police said they were investigating five ranking Korea Medical Association officials accused of inciting and abetting the junior doctors' walkouts. Seoul police chief Cho Ji-ho told reporters Sunday that police had raided KMA offices as part of the investigation.

The government wants to increase South Koreas medical school enrollment quota by 2,000 starting next year, from the current 3,058, to better deal with the countrys rapidly aging population. Officials say South Koreas doctor-to-population ratio is one of the lowest among developed countries.

But many doctors have vehemently protested the plan, saying medical schools cant handle such a sharp increase in the number of students. They say the recruitment plan also does not address a chronic shortage of doctors in essential but low-paying specialties like pediatrics and emergency departments. Doctors say adding too many new doctors would also increase public medical expenses since greater competition would lead to excess treatments.

Without concrete plans on how to educate the newly added students, the quality of medical education will plunge endlessly, resulting in a unsafe, low-quality medical service and eventually a collapse of the medical service of the Republic of Korea, Lee Jeong-geun, acting leader of the Korea Medical Association, said at the rally.

The protests by doctors haven't won public support, with a survey showing a majority of South Koreans support the government plan. Some critics say doctors  one of the best-paid professions in South Korea  simply worry about receiving a lower income due to the rising number of doctors.
By Hyun Young Yi and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - Thousands of South Korean doctors held a mass rally on Sunday against government plans to increase medical school admissions, defying official calls for trainee physicians who had also walked off the job in protest to return to work.

Up to 40,000 doctors joined the rally, demanding the government scrap the plan, according to the Korean Medical Association (KMA), which represents private practitioners and had organised the protest.

Police put the number of demonstrators at about 12,000.

The rally comes a day after a government deadline for the trainee doctors to return to work expired. Nearly 9,000 resident and intern doctors at major hospitals, or about 70% of the country's total, walked off the job late February, leading to the cancellation of some surgeries and treatments and straining emergency departments.

Joo Soo-ho, an official at the KMA, said the government should reform the existing medical system first before raising medical school quotas. The government wants to boost medical school admissions by 2,000 starting in 2025 from the current annual figure of 3,000, and eventually add 10,000 more by 2035.

"It was the government that set the deadline, and regardless of the deadline and pressure, we will continue to push forward as we think," Joo said.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Sunday urged the KMA to cease the protest and encourage trainee doctors to return to their patients.

Interior minister Lee Sang-min also said the young doctors would not be punished if they returned to work by Sunday, but if they fail to do so, they could face administrative and legal penalties, including suspension of their medical licenses.

The government has publicly issued a back-to-work order for 13 doctors, including vocal critics of the plan, and raided some KMA officials on Friday.

Cho Ji-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said the police has banned several KMA members from leaving the country as part of an investigation into illicit activities linked to the protest.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Hyun Young Yi and Daewoung Kim; Editing by Miral Fahmy)
By Hyun Young Yi and Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) - A South Korean zoo on Sunday threw a farewell party for Fu Bao, the first giant panda born in the country, ahead of the beloved animal's scheduled return to China.

Fu Bao, which means lucky treasure, has attracted a huge fan base ever since she was born in July 2020 at the Everland amusement park just south of Seoul. The panda is set to return to China's Sichuan province next month after spending a month in quarantine.

Thousands of visitors queued up in the early morning chill to attend the farewell event, with many saying they will miss the panda once she's gone.

"I was mentally ill three years ago, but Fu Bao has helped me get through it and brought me a lot of comfort," said Kim Min-ji, a 31-year-old visitor. "It's sad to say goodbye, but we need to let her go. I wish she goes safely and will be happy."

Jo Ah-hyeon, 24, said she waited more than four hours to see Fu Bao. "This is our last chance, you never know when we'll see her again so I had to come," she said.

Zoo keeper Kang Cher-won, who has been caring for Fu Bao, said the panda had given him so much love as well as teaching him a lot about the critically endangered species. Online videos of Kang caring for Fu Bao, and her clinging to him, are very popular in South Korea.

"Fu Bao is a friend who has played many roles," Kang said. "She was my first panda cub, and my heart is filled with memories of her that I will never forget all my life."

The cub's parents, 10-year-old female Ai Bao and 11-year-old male Le Bao, arrived in 2016 from Sichuan province, the home of the giant pandas, as part of China's "panda diplomacy". Last July, Ai Bao gave birth in South Korea to giant panda twins.

Female pandas can only conceive once a year for a limited period, and cubs have very low chances of survival as they are often born prematurely, usually weighing less than 200 grams (0.44 lb).

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin, Hyun Young Yi and Daewoung Kim; Editing by Miral Fahmy)
ROUND ROCK, Texas (KXAN)  On a Thursday night in January, dinner plans were not going well for Sharon Hamala.

The chicken was done, but as Hamala was attempting to cook broccoli, the gas range wouldnt ignite.

Didnt come on, the Round Rock resident said. Let me try again. Didnt come on.

Then it hit her.

Oh, no. They hit the gas line, she recalled.

Hamala said she ran to the front door and confirmed with the Spectrum crew digging near her house a gas line was ruptured.

She said the crew, installing fiber optic lines for high-speed internet, mobile and TV service, told her earlier on the same day they had hit her sprinkler line. But this time, she said, they did not notify her.

I immediately thought, Oh my gosh, the house is going to blow up, she said.

Hamala had a late chicken and broccoli dinner that January night, but what still eats at her, she said, was the lack of communication in what could have been a dangerous situation.

Pioneer or guinea pig? Central Texas highway testing tech for driverless trucks

They didnt tell us. They never apologized. Nothing, she said.

In response, Spectrum said the damage to the gas line happened in the public right of way and the crew immediately called 911. However, it did not know it had damaged a service line leading to Hamalas home, instead of a mainline, until after the repairs were underway.

Edwin Co lives a few doors down from Hamala and witnessed the fallout.

The firefighters came, evacuated everyone, he said. They had to like walk out of their house because they couldnt start their car because an ignition could set a fire, I guess.

No one was hurt and Co didnt have to evacuate, but he showed KXAN Investigator Mike Rush the rut in his yard where he said crews had to dig to make repairs on the gas line.

Weeks later, Co said he had another problem with a Spectrum crew.

Our sink started to bubble up and then we couldnt flush our toilets, he said.

Co said the crew broke his sewage line. He said he paid a plumber to fix it and Spectrum reimbursed him.

I dont know if this happens in other subdivisions, he said.

Turns out, it did.

Water coming out on the easement

When Ryan Ford turned on his sprinkler system outside his home in Leander, instead of spraying, the water near the curb gushed into the street.

There were sprinkler line breaks he attributed to Spectrum doing work in his neighborhood.

Thousands of gallons gush from Travis County water tower on multiple occasions

They popped an entire line which left a flood of water coming out on the easement, Ford said.

Fords Spectrum experience started in December 2023. He said he was out of town when his doorbell app went off.

The video shows what he described as this device, this ditch witch, they were backing it up and putting down some plywood and stuff in the yard.

Ford said his homeowners association warned him there would be construction while Spectrum installed fiber optic lines but he didnt expect the work to be so up close and personal.

My understanding was that they were actually going to be working on the easement not in the middle of my front yard, he said.

Doorbell camera image showing a Spectrum crew parking a piece of equipment in a Leander yard without permission (Courtesy Ryan Ford)

Flyer Spectrum says it distributes in neighborhoods informing residents of upcoming work (Courtesy Spectrum)

Spectrum told KXAN Investigates it distributes door hangers to notify homeowners of construction work. Ford said the company never notified him or asked for permission to come into his yard.

Didnt get any kind of notification. Nothing, he said.

After KXAN Investigator Mike Rush met with Ford, Ford said Spectrum came the same day and fixed the sprinkler system hed been waiting for them to repair for more than two months.

According to Spectrum, its contractor crew working on Fords lawn should not have been on his property without permission and was educated on proper practices for this type of project.

Spectrum, which is owned by Charter Communications, would not speak on camera, but in a statement to KXAN Investigates, a spokesperson wrote, We apologize for the issues arising from our broadband network expansion into these neighborhoods. Our local leadership and project crews are working with residents and the homeowners association to resolve residents concerns to their satisfaction.

Central Texas HOA response

The Crystal Falls Homeowners Association, which Ford is part of, said The continued Spectrum work has been challenging.

In a statement to KXAN, the board of directors wrote Spectrums communication has been very limited with the HOA as the association received reports from homeowners of disruptions to essential services like power and alternative internet service lines that arent always corrected promptly and efficiently. For those working remotely, its a situation the HOA wrote has affected homeowners employment.

A spokesperson for Co and Hamalas Round Rock homeowners association, Highlands at Mayfield Ranch, wrote to KXAN the project was not one undertaken nor agreed to by the Association but commenced through Spectrums easement rights. The spokesperson added the HOA has assurances by Spectrum that they will make all required repairs.

Spectrum told KXAN, in response to the problems, its made leadership changes within its contractors working on this project and has already resolved several customer issues as it works as quickly as possible to address others.

Spectrum said it has the required city and county permits to do the work in those areas of Leander and Round Rock.

Both homeowners associations told KXAN they have no authority to approve or deny work done on easements and have no power to require utility companies to make repairs to homeowners properties.

However, Leander said city staff members are discussing possible ordinance updates to give the city improved enforcement ability following questions and comments from residents about utility companies in general. Right now, the city only permits work within an easement and does not have the authority to take action against a utility provider for damage, so thats up to the property owner, a spokesperson for the city said.

A Williamson County spokesperson told KXAN state law only allows the county to issue permits when telecommunications work involves cutting into or crossing a county road, not for public utility easements.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
Moynihan train station in Manhattan, New York - newly constructed, located in the old Main Post Office connected to Penn Station during Covid-19 pandemic.

Theyre selling the bacon, but not bringing it home.

Far-left Squad members Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-Bronx) and Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-Westchester) have been virtue-signaling to voters about bringing critical infrastructure upgrades back to their districts  even though they voted against the new improvements, records show.

Both pols are gearing up for Democratic primaries and general election campaigns.

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez delivers for the Bronx and Queens, proclaimed a mailer she sent constituents last month which touted, among other things, a $1.87 billion in federal funding for the Cross Bronx Expressway and Penn Station Access Project to expand transit to The Bronx.

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez sent this mailer to constituents bragging about cash for the district she voted against.

The massive cash infusions came in 2021 as part of President Joe Bidens bipartisan infrastructure bill which showered the state with more than $100 billion in federal cash  which she voted against. It narrowly passed the House 228-206.

At the time, AOC took issue with the bill being decoupled from the even more humungous $2 trillion Build Back Better plan.

Its already so stripped down she carped during a lengthy Instagram discussion after the vote, adding the bill offered virtually nothing.

I want to protect our party from the disappointment and collapse in turnout from communities like mine that occurs when we tell them we did things we didnt do, AOC ironically added in a November 2021 posting to X.

Rep. Jamaal Bowman said he voted against the infrastructure bill because it helped white men too much. Getty Images

Bowman  facing a brutal primary challenge from Westchester County Executive George Latimer  has also looked to cash in on the infrastructure bill by using fuzzy math, critics said.

In January 2024 Bowman boasted about bringing $125 million to his constituents during his three years in Congress, but just weeks later in February 2024 that figure ballooned to a staggering $1 billion.

During my first term we passed five transformational pieces of legislation, Bowman said last month  citing the infrastructure legislation by name.

The Moynihan Train Hall was one of many projects funded with federal cash. Getty Images

But in 2021 he voted against the bill  sounding the alarm that it did not go far enough.

A true infrastructure investment must address the climate crisis, support care workers, reform [supplemental security income], make child care universal, rebuild our public schools, and much more,

.

And he also injected race into his objection, griping the act created jobs that disproportionately go to men, and particularly white men.

The federal infrastructire bill was one of President Bidens early legislative achievements. AP

Bowmans office told The Post that the extra $900 million came from casework and secured federal grants and loans for organizations in the district.

There is no courage in taking credit after the fact, when so many people took political incoming fire at the time, a Democratic member of Congress told The Post, adding that both AOC and Bowman taking credit for bills they didnt support was outrageous.

Hank Sheinkopf, a veteran New York Democratic strategist, dismissed the duo as blabbers.

They take credit for things they had nothing to do with and then they try and con the people. But I guess the question is, how stupid are New Yorkers?
St. Pete man charged after fleeing trooper at 140 mph on I-275, FHP says

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA)  A St. Petersburg man was arrested early Sunday morning after fleeing from a Florida Highway Patrol trooper while under the influence, according to court documents.

Arrest affidavits said at 2:44 a.m., a trooper pursued Barnard Stokes Jr., 39, south on I-275 while the suspect was driving his white Chevrolet Camaro.

Speeding driver caused 3-vehicle hit-and-run crash on Howard Frankland Bridge: FHP

Troopers said Stokes sped at 140 mph while passing other drivers. However, the pursuing trooper disabled the Camaro at the intersection 22nd Street North and 54th Avenue North with a PIT maneuver.

According to the affidavits, the driver then tried to run away but was caught shortly afterward.

Barnard Stokes Jr. (Credit: Florida Highway Patrol)

Troopers said Stokes was not able to perform field sobriety tests and had bloodshot and watery eyes, emitted the strong odor of an alcoholic beverage from his breath as he spoke and poor balance while standing on scene.

Investigators said they also found an alcoholic beverage and burnt/unburnt marijuana in Stokes car.

Stokes was charged with several offenses including fleeing to elude, driving under the influence and driving with a suspended license. According to the FHP, this was Stokes nine prior convictions for driving without a valid license and had two prior fleeing charges.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
St Petersburg's Pulkovo airport was closed for about an hour for arrivals and departures while Russian authorities reported a drone shot down over the Gulf of Finland on the evening of 2 February.

Source: Russian Radio Liberty; Fontanka

Details: Pulkovo airport was closed for about an hour for arriving and departing aircraft  the so-called carpet plan [all civilian aircraft, except military and rescue aircraft, must immediately land or leave the zone  ed.] was introduced to ensure the safety of civilian flights.

According to Fontanka, residents of the city of Lomonosov (part of St Petersburg) complained in local public spaces on Saturday evening about loud rumbling and explosions in the area of the Bronka port. One of the residents wrote that "some kind of missile fell apart into five pieces". Eyewitnesses reported that "houses shook and windows rattled" in the villages of Dubochki and Lebiazhe near the Gulf of Finland. There were also reports of fire in the sky.

Later, Aleksandr Drozdenko, the governor of Leningrad Oblast, wrote in his Telegram channel that "air targets" had been shot down over the Gulf of Finland by air defence systems, and posted a video of an object being destroyed in the sky, which he later replaced with a screenshot. According to Baza, the video was without blur and clearly showed the missile's flight path and the terrain.

The Russian Ministry of Defence subsequently reported that air defence systems "destroyed a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle over the territory of Leningrad Oblast". It was not reported whether any damage was done to the facilities on the ground.

Background:

On Saturday night, a loud explosion was heard in St Petersburg: A drone was shot down by Russian air defence. According to Russian journalists, an air defence system damaged a high-rise building and smashed windows. According to the city health committee, six people sought medical assistance and one woman was hospitalised.

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Welcome to TechCrunch Fintech (formerly The Interchange)! Apologies for being out last week  a cold got the best of me, but Im back and here to talk about the fact that shutting down startups is big business, Stripes new valuation, Klarnas latest AI update and more.

To get a roundup of TechCrunchs biggest and most important fintech stories delivered to your inbox every Sunday at 7:30 a.m. PT, subscribe here.

The big story

Last week, I wrote about two startups  Sunset and SimpleClosure  that help other startups shut down, raising capital. Beyond the raises, the article was a deep dive into how and why this business has become one that is so sought after by investors. I also covered Stripes tender offer that resulted in a 30% higher bump in valuation  to $65 billion  for the payments giant. This means that the company likely wont go public this year after all. You can hear Alex Wilhelm and I discuss both topics on Friday's Equity Podcast episode. You can also hear me talk to Nubank CEO David Velez about a variety of interesting topics below.

Analysis of the week

Klarna has been in the news a lot lately. Last week, a failed coup on the part of one investor, Sequoia Capitals Matthew Miller, made headlines and resulted in his ousting. This week, the Swedish BNPL giant posted a narrower year loss ahead of its potential IPO. Then the company stirred up a bit of controversy when it said its new AI assistant is doing the equivalent work of 700 full-time agents. A spokesperson for the company told me via email that since launching globally just a month ago, the AI assistant had 2.3 million conversations, managing two-thirds of Klarnas customer service chats. She emphasized, though, that the company had not made any cuts as a consequence of launching this AI assistant. She added: Klarna's customer service is supported by 4-5 large global partners who collectively have over 650,000 employees and work with thousands of different companies around the world. When one of the companies, like Klarna, requires less support, these agents are assigned to new tasks at another company  With the AI assistant, our customer service can operate with fewer people and require significantly less resources. However, there still is a need for more experienced and senior staff, for example, with specialized training in complex or sensitive cases."

Dollars and cents

Nearly two years after securing $20 million in Series A capital, Colombian B2B financial solutions startup Simetrik is back with additional investment to the tune of $55 million in a Goldman Sachs-led Series B funding.

Embat, a Spanish fintech which does what they call real-time treasury management, closed a financing round of $16 million Series A led by Creandum.

Deel  the $12 billion HR business  said it is scooping up Zavvy, a Munich-based AI-based people development startup building tools for personalized career progression, training, and performance management.

FairMoney, a digital bank based in Lagos and headquartered in Paris, is in discussions to acquire Umba, a credit-led digital bank providing payroll and financial services to customers in Nigeria and Kenya, in a $20 million all-stock deal, sources tell TechCrunch.

What else were writing

Google is sunsetting the Google Pay app in the US later this year

Paytm wallet and FASTag products will cease to exist, Bernstein says

Grifins new model can automatically invest your money as you shop

Cash App takes on Apple with a 4.5% APY for savings accounts (with direct deposit)

High-interest headlines

Finix launches integrated payments offering in Canada

Robinhood launches a retirement plan for gig workers

Flourish Ventures promotes Narvaez and Gupta to Principal

Embedded payments fintech Monite just raised $6M in a round co-led by Peter Thiel's Valar Ventures

Marqeta 'still on track' despite post-earnings stock dip: CEO

Cheese, a neobank for Asian-Americans that pivoted to credit-building, calls it quits (TC first reported on Cheese here)

Morgan Stanley-backed TomoCredit isn't paying its bills, faces mounting legal challenges

Knock opens funding to individuals through Wefunder

KPMGs Pulse of Fintech H223

CB Insights State of Fintech 2023 Recap & Emerging Trends in 2024

PitchBooks Fintechs M&A landscape unveiled

Follow me on X @bayareawriter for breaking fintech news, posts about coffee and more.
All six checkpoints at the Ukrainian-Polish border remain blocked due to the ongoing Polish farmers protests, State Border Guard spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said on March 3 on national television.

Polish farmers started a new wave of protests in February in response to Ukrainian agricultural imports and the disagreement over the EU's Green Deal.

The ongoing protests continue to threaten Ukraine-Poland relations, as some protestors dumped Ukrainian crops and displayed anti-Ukrainian slogans.

The longest lines are at the Korczowa-Krakovets and Yahodyn-Dorohusk crossings, according to Demchenko. In total, around 2,400 trucks had been waiting to pass the border in all six directions as of March 3, Demchenko added.

The trucks with humanitarian aid are the only ones to be passed, the spokesperson said.

"Only trucks which go in the direction of Ukraine are let through. Over the past day (March 2), only 70 of them were there. None of the trucks cross the border in the Polish direction instead, as they are not allowed to pass," Demchenko said.

State Border Guard spokesperson said that the busses and passenger cars are still allowed to cross the border in every direction.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Feb. 28 that Poland leads talks with Ukraine on the possibility of a temporary closure of their mutual border for trade, calling this decision "painful for both parties."

Kyiv denied Tusk's claims about talks on temporarily shutting down the border.

According to Taras Kachka, Ukraine's deputy economy minister, the negotiating teams were "able to find a common language and are working on a constructive solution to unblock the border while taking into account the interests of Polish and Ukrainian farmers."

Warsaw has restricted Ukrainian grain imports since April 15 while allowing the shipment of grain to other countries via Poland.

Tusk said that Ukrainian goods "pose a threat" to the Polish economy as there are "no standards for them as there are for EU and Polish farmers."

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
This photo shows the damage done to a Petersburg Police vehicle from a crash Friday, March 1, 2024, at the intersection of West Wythe and South Market streets in downtown Petersburg. State police investigated the incident and charged the police officer with failure to yield.

PETERSBURG  A city police officer is facing traffic charges after the cruiser he was driving hit another vehicle at a downtown intersection Friday morning.

Virginia State Police are investigating the crash because it involves a law-enforcement officer.

The wreck happened at the intersection of West Wythe and South Market streets in front of a city fire station. State Police Sgt. Jessica Shehan said the unidentified officer was southbound on Market Street when he T-boned a car heading east on Wythe Street.

The driver of the other car had the right-of-way through the intersection because the traffic light for Wythe Street was green.

The police officer claimed he was responding to an emergency call and had his lights and siren on when the crash happened. However, Shehan said, the trooper investigating the wreck said that officer did not have his body-worn camera operating at the time, so there was no way to immediately corroborate that.

The officer was charged with failure to yield to a traffic light.

Shehan said the driver of the other vehicle was injured, but she refused EMS transport and took herself to the hospital.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing.

This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg Police officer cited in downtown crash Friday
After refusing to cooperate with investigators earlier this week, Stephan Sterns is letting his public defender do the talking for him in Osceola County.

He waived his public appearance and reading of the child sex charges in court Saturday. Sterns is being held at the Osceola County jail without bond.

This all comes five days after the disappearance of his girlfriends daughter, 13-year-old Madeline Soto.

Search efforts quickly turned into recovery Wednesday as Sterns was in Orange County.

This came after deputies found pictures on his phone of him sexually battering a child.

Investigators said he tried to delete them Monday by factory resetting his phone.

Read: Madeline Sotos body found in rural Osceola County

Channel 9 spoke to Sterns and Sotos mom right before the arrest.

He said he gave the middle schooler a ride to class that Monday morning.

Sterns told Channel 9 he didnt have a clue where she could be  but investigators later determined that was a lie.

Sterns was captured on camera throwing her backpack and school laptop into a dumpster Monday morning.

Deputies said Sotos body was seen in Sterns car before he drove away.

Read: 2 killed after motorcycle was rear-ended on I-4, troopers say

His car was seen driving down Old Hickory Tree Toad that afternoon.

That rural part of Osceola County is where teams returned Friday for the biggest development in the case happening around 6 p.m.

Kissimmee police are not giving any new updates on the case as they work to build an air-tight case before filing charges for homicide.

What I do know is that our Forensic Unit and Detectives are working tirelessly to collect evidence, conduct follow-ups, investigate leads, and work towards preparing the best case possible for such a sad situation, said a spokesperson for Kissimmee Police. The main focus is this case and we will continue to work on every angle and aspect of it.

Sotos mom is not being considered a suspect at this time.

Read: Warm evening weather with possible rain

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Former Dodgers all-star Steve Garveys quixotic campaign for the U.S. Senate seat once held by the late Dianne Feinstein appears likely to pay off in Tuesdays California primary. Despite his barely there strategy  Garvey held few public events and did not pay for a single television ad  polls show the Republican is on the cusp of winning one of the top two spots in the nonpartisan primary and advancing to the general election.

Political experts say Garvey was buoyed by two forces: fame from his nearly two decades playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres, including the Dodgers' 1981 World Series victory, and a multimillion-dollar ad blitz by his opponent, Democratic front-runner Rep. Adam B. Schiff and his allies, that boosted Garveys standing among GOP voters.

Schiff (D-Burbank) benefits if Garvey advances to the November election because of Californias overwhelming Democratic tilt. Garvey faces little chance of winning in a state that hasn't elected a Republican statewide since 2006. Still, his name on the November ballot could help the GOP if it boosts Republicans in tight congressional races that will be decisive in determining control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

He has become a vessel of opportunity for Schiff to avoid a tough November race against a fellow Democrat, said veteran GOP strategist Rob Stutzman, a former advisor to former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now having said that, its also great for Republicans  they are much better off with a Senate candidate in the fall for down-ballot races.

News that Garvey had been meeting with GOP donors and leaders around the state as he pondered a potential Senate bid leaked out last spring. He took months to officially announce that he was running for the seat, prompting head-scratching among political insiders because of the amount of money that needs to be raised to run a statewide campaign in California, home to some of the most expensive media markets in the nation.

Read more: Former Dodgers star and Republican Steve Garvey enters U.S. Senate race

Once Garvey entered the race, he did not mount a traditional campaign. He hasn't held any big rallies or public meet-and-greets with voters around the state. He spent no money on television ads, never rented a campaign bus and declined to do endorsement interviews with California's major newspapers, including The Times, the San Francisco Chronicle and the Sacramento Bee.

In the final weekend before election day, the leading Democrats running for the Senate seat barnstormed the state, with Schiff holding seven public events, Rep. Barbara Lee of Oakland attending four and Rep. Katie Porter of Irvine participating in two. As his Democratic opponents seized the last opportunity to woo voters, Garvey was at home in Palm Desert, visible to the public only through TV ads paid for by Schiff and his supporters and a brief Fox News interview.

Schiff's political ads portray Garvey both as a loyalist of former President Trump and the Democratic candidate's greatest threat in the California Senate race. While those appear to be attacks on Garvey, they probably will increase his appeal to California Republicans and allow him to secure enough votes in the March 5 primary to advance to the fall election.

The two candidates who receive the most votes in the primary, regardless of their political party, will face off in November. A recent poll shows that, in a one-on-one matchup, Schiff would have a much easier time defeating Garvey than Porter, a fellow Democrat.

Garveys campaign dismissed the notion that he has not been publicly engaged and that Schiffs messaging helped the Republicans candidacy.

He has been reaching out to voters through talk radio and local and conservative media. He was mentioned in those forums 4,920 times in the last month, according to a report by Cision, a media tracking firm. On Friday, Garvey appeared on Fox News, Newsmax, NewsNation and talk radio in Fresno.

"What @AdamSchiff, pundits, and insiders don't want to admit and will come up with a million excuses to explain away  my campaign has had momentum since I announced  and ONLY because of my 50-year relationship with Californians and that I care about their issues," Garvey tweeted Saturday.

Earlier this year, Garvey visited the U.S.-Mexico border, participated in three televised debates and held brief campaign events focused on homelessness in San Diego, Los Angeles and Sacramento.

In those settings he was often unable to give specific answers to questions from reporters. As he stood outside a San Diego homeless shelter in January, Garvey was asked about his lack of policy prescriptions for the unhoused, an issue that is front of mind for Californians. Once we get through the primary, Ill start a deeper dive into the [issues], he said.

I havent been at this very long, so you got to give me a little bit of leeway here.

Read more: Steve Garvey is banking on Dodgers and Padres fans to boost his Republican Senate run

Garveys strategy to date is one that may be seen in a legislative contest, not one that's typical for a statewide candidate trying to reach nearly 22 million voters.

The last two prominent Republicans who ran for governor and senator in California  Meg Whitman (no longer a member of the GOP) and Carly Fiorina  had sprawling campaigns, at times approaching presidential-level operations. They held meticulously staged events around the state with well-known Republicans such as New Jersey's then-Gov. Chris Christie and Arizona's then-Sen. John McCain flying into California to stump for them in 2010.

The states voter registration has shifted sharply to the left since then, but even lesser-known Republican candidates have barnstormed the state with attention-grabbing campaign tactics. Businessman John Cox stumped with a 1,000-pound Kodiak bear named Tag and an 8-foot ball of garbage when he ran in the gubernatorial recall election in 2021. Neel Kashkari smashed a wind-up toy train and handed out gas cards to protest high-speed rail during his 2014 run for governor.

The last two celebrities to run for statewide office in California  Schwarzenegger in 2003 and 2006 and Caitlyn Jenner in the 2021 recall election  ran far more publicly engaging campaigns than Garvey. Schwarzenegger entered politics after years as a bodybuilding champion and movie star. Jenner gained fame as an Olympic athlete  then known as Bruce Jenner  before becoming a reality TV personality and going public as transgender.

Charles Moran, president of Log Cabin Republicans, the main Republican LGBTQ+ organization, chalked it up to a personality difference between Garvey and his predecessors.

You can see the difference in the desire to go out there, he said.

A key question is whether Garveys minimal public engagement with voters and the mainstream California media will change if he makes the general election, said Dan Schnur, a politics professor at USC, UC Berkeley and Pepperdine.

When he has appeared in public, hes stayed very general and talked in very broad terms on most of the issues hes been asked about. Thats either because he doesnt know the answers or because he and his team recognize the need to balance between attracting support from hard-line conservatives and also reaching out beyond the base, Schnur said. Its starting to look like well have eight months to find out.

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.
Not sure about the rest of you, but that fools Spring February weather got us extra excited for more concerts  especially with this weeks announcement of a new outdoor venue, The Backyard, opening this summer near Cal Expo. Were not quite in full-on outdoor music season just yet, but plenty of music is afoot for March.

Local artists, message Aaron Davis on Instagram if you have upcoming shows, @adavis_threetosee.

Sacramento six-string jazz fixture and noted everywhere-man Ross Hammond just fired up a delectable new free afternoon Sunday Jazz series, debuting over Presidents Day weekend, at the cozy confines of Old Soul 40 Acres on Broadway in Oak Park (4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays. Free). Hammond serves as host for the series and will make sporadic appearances as a performer, with shows currently scheduled through April 21. On the calendar for Sundays in March are Tumble (Sunday), Tony Passarell 4tet (March 10), Ross Hammond & Ron Ochoa (March 17) and Jon Raskin Trio (March 24), with Alex Jenkins, Dyne Eifertsen & Ross Hammond (April 7), Little Blue Bird (April 14) and Falcons House Band (April 21) thus far for next month.

Its really not a surprise to open up the calendar for Grass Valleys Center for the Arts and see a bevy of top talent at any given time  but my goodness, March is packing a wallop, to the point where its tough to process all of these names. Buckle up: folk/blues/jazz standouts Wood Brothers with the delightful Rainbow Girls (March 5), the venerable Glenn Miller Orchestra (March 7), veteran funk/rock/soul maestro Karl Densons Tiny Universe (March 9), legendary troubadour Lyle Lovett and his Acoustic Group (March 19), blues and jazz darling Madeline Peyroux premiering some tunes from her forthcoming new album (March 22), pop-tinged indie folk rockers the Lone Bellow out on their 10th anniversary tour with Jonny Fritz, and alternative freak-folk pioneer Devendra Banhart (March 26). Settle down, Center for the Arts. But, seriously, keep it up (thecenterforthearts.org/events).

Colorfully intense dream-dipped disco pop dazzlers Moxy The Band host a bittersweet local sendoff for their enigmatic frontwoman Amber DeLaRosa, who is soon to depart Sacramento for points east (Nashville)  but assurances are abound in the comment threads that this geographical realignment does not signal a breakup for the laser-lit band, nor is DeLaRosa abandoning the leading role she so fiercely tends. Her Sactown swan song figures to be a hoot with Nat Lefkoff and Timothy Brown fleshing out the bill (7 p.m. Thursday, March 7 at Harlows. $15/$18. harlows.com).

As I pen this listing, the team from the City of Trees Parade is over at Oak Park Brewery canning up a batch of their special event beer, a golden ale brewed specifically to be cracked and glugged during their sprawling Mardi Gras-themed 2024 parade - the 2023 edition of which was pure delight. Theres a bevy of music and performing arts troupes lined up in two parade waves to loop through Capitol Mall throughout an afternoon of joyful revelry. VIP packages and other ticket bundles are available for pre-purchase along with GA (Saturday, March 9 on Capitol Mall. curiositycollaborative.org/city-of-trees-parade).

For the second year in a row, local funk/soul mainstays Gold Souls pair with upstart non-alcoholic cocktail slingers the Teetotalist for an zero-proof evening gig. Last years show was on the rooftop at Teetotalists original temporary digs on K Street  this time its over at their most recent pop-up spot, Propagate Plants & Gatherings (7 p.m. to 9 p.m. March 9. 1700 I St. $30. propagatesac.com). Teetotalist just wrapped up their residency at Propagate, with this show serving as something of a capstone to their time in that space, however they recently announced in an Instagram post that a permanent location for the booze-free social club is on the way, at the same corner of 17th and I, with eyes toward a summertime opening.

California soul merchants, Chico rock royalty and always among the more superb touring bands in this or any other state, Mother Hips are swinging back to Harlows for the first time since late 2022, showing off some rollicking tunes from their latest record When We Disappear and with support from local staple Forever Goldrush (9 p.m. March 22. $32. harlows.com). In a slightly hilarious scheduling twist, seven days later, Later Days, a Mother Hips Experience brings its tribute act to Old Ironsides, helmed by original founding Hips bassist Isaac Parsons (8 p.m. March 29. $10. theoldironsides.com)

Were going to postulate that a hefty amount of space can be found in the center of the Venn diagram of fandom between emotively gleaming rockers Dawes and flamethrowing indie pop duo Lucius. While relatively disparate in their respective approaches, intertwined in each acts ledger are tales of hearts smashed, pieces chaotically flying through the air and seemingly lost forever, and the long and whimsical journeys to stitch them back together  oh, and theres plenty of stinging rock n roll, retro glam-pop, and stratospheric balladry that goes straight for the gut and never lets up. But on this Tag Team Tour: An Evening with Dawes & Lucius affair, its all being mashed together, with the two acts playing as one band and multiverse jumping between their two catalogs. Frankly, we have no idea what to expect here  and that may be the most exciting aspect of this wildly unexpected pairing (7 p.m. March 23 at Ace of Spades. $53.50. aceofspadessac.com).

The Little Charlie Baty Celebration is approaching sold-out stage - step lively on tickets for the third annual iteration of this gig honoring the departed former Nightcats frontman, and fundraiser for the Sacramento Blues Societys music scholarship in his name. Rick Estrin & the Nightcats headline with special guests in Texas gunslinger Anson Funderburgh, Alabama Mike, Marcel Smith, Kyle Rowland and others joining the party (7 p.m. March 28 at Harlows. $40-$75. harlows.com)

SacYard Community Tap House again opens up its stage to the 4th Annual Dante DaPrato Music Celebration, honoring the life and music of the River City High School Graduate who tragically passed away at the age of 18 in 2018. A group of familiar faces comes out to honor DaPrato, with the River City Regiment Band, composed of current River City High students and alums, and surf rockers PHROGG kicking it off  DaPrato formerly drummed for both acts. Americana/roots standouts Mike Blanchard & the Californios, and SacYard staple collective Home B4 Dark round out the bill. Free admission as always at SacYard, but donations are being accepted for music scholarships for River City High students. (4 p.m. March 30. 1725 33rd St. sacyard.beer).

Were going to peek ahead to early April for electro-folk rock heroes Hurray for the Riff Raff, since tickets dont figure to last for another month  but mainly, its going to take us at least that long to pick ourselves up off the mat from a couple spins of The Past is Still Alive, their haymaker of a new record released in February. This mastercraft album may well prove to be the magnum opus of their still-blooming catalog  that is, if the world has not burned to ash before the next chapters can be written, as the penultimate track Ogallala suggests it may. We advise caution with that song, if you dont want your psyche taken apart piece by piece, haphazardly toyed with and wantonly tossed back into the box like a discarded jigsaw puzzle (With Sen Morimoto. 8 p.m. April 2 at Harlows. $21. harlows.com).
The battle between former President Trump and former United Nations ambassador Nikki Haley for the GOP presidential nomination on Super Tuesday will likely be the focus of this weeks Sunday shows.

A new NewsNation show, The Hill Sunday, launches this week, featuring guests including Reps. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) and Ken Buck (R-Colo.). Host Chris Stirewalt will talk about topics including election security with the guests.

Stirewalt told The Hill that the goal for the new show is to avoid partisan screaming matches, calling that doing it the hard way.

NewsNation is owned by Nexstar Media Group, which also owns The Hill.

Haley is set to appear on NBCs Meet the Press this week, two days before Super Tuesday, when fifteen states and one territory including Alabama, California, Texas, Maine and Virginia are holding presidential contests.

Despite the large gap in a nationwide The Hill/Decision Desk HQ GOP presidential primary poll average between her and the former president, 15.8 percent versus 81.1 percent, and a recent loss in the GOP primary in her home state of South Carolina, Haley has said she will continue in the race.

I said earlier this week that no matter what happens in South Carolina, I would continue to run for president, Haley said following South Carolina being called early for Trump.

Im a woman of my word, she added. Im not giving up this fight when a majority of Americans disapprove of both Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

Trump and President Biden both made trips to the southern border Thursday in the midst of political debates about how to handle border security and foreign aid after a bipartisan border security that was part of a larger foreign aid package to fund the war in Ukraine, Israel and Indo-Pacific security fell apart early last month. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas joined Biden on his trip to Texas.

Though Congress has not yet provided the resources we need, [the Department of Homeland Security] will continue to enforce the law and work to secure our border, Mayorkas, who is set to appear on CBS Face the Nation and CNNs State of the Nation this week, said while in Texas.

Republicans in the Senate are set to experience a leadership shakeup, as Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who recently turned 82, gave a speech Wednesday announcing his plan to leave his leadership post in November.

One of lifes most underappreciated talents is to know when its time to move on to lifes next chapter. So I stand before you today  to say that this will be my last term as Republican leader of the Senate, McConnell said.

Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), who will make an appearance on Fox News Sunday Morning Futures this week, said it is a good thing when asked about McConnell stepping down.

Hopefully we get a Republican leader a little more in tune with the preferences of our voters, but well see, he said.

The Senate also passed a short-term spending bill Thursday to maintain funding for the departments of Agriculture, Interior, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Veterans Affairs, Energy, Justice, Commerce, Energy and other offices through March 8, pushing a shutdown threat to next week.

Below is the full list of guests scheduled to appear on this weeks Sunday talk shows:

ABCs This Week  Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.); World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres.

NBCs Meet the Press  Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley; Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Mich.).

CBS Face the Nation  Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Steve Dettelbach; Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska); Reps. Mike Turner (R-Ohio) and Ro Khanna (D-Calif.).

CNNs State of the Union  Mayorkas; Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.).

Fox News Sunday  Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.); Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.).

NewsNations The Hill Sunday with Chris Stirewalt  Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.); Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.).

Fox News Sunday Morning Futures  Sens. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.); president of the Government Accountability Institute and host of The Drill Down podcast Peter Schweizer; Republican California Senate candidate Steve Garvey.

Updated March 3, 9:48 a.m.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Supreme Court in an unusual announcement signaled it will release at least one opinion on Monday morning, a signal the justices could hand down a decision on former President Trumps 14th Amendment case that kicked him off the Colorado ballot.

The high court does not announce in advance which decisions it will release on a given day, and the justices in theory could hand down opinions in any of the few dozen pending cases on their docket.

But Sundays update was atypical in several respects  including that it came during the weekend  fueling growing speculation that a resolution to Trumps historic ballot ban case is imminent.

The court provided less than 24 hours notice of Mondays opinion release, compared with the heads-up usually announced multiple days in advance.

Monday is also the day before Super Tuesday, when primary voters in Colorado and more than a dozen other states will cast their ballots, with hundreds of delegates at stake as Trump moves closer to locking up the Republican nomination.

The justices since returning to in-person operations after the pandemic also generally take the bench to read aloud summaries of the majority opinions to the live audience in the courtroom.

But the update posted to the courts website said the court will not take the Bench on Monday for the expected opinion announcement, which comes at the end of the justices latest session.

Last month, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Trumps appeal of a decision disqualifying him from Colorados primary ballot under the 14th Amendments insurrection ban. The justices appeared reluctant to take the extraordinary step of removing Trump from the ballot.

The case is one of dozens proceeding across the country seeking to prevent Trump from a second White House term over his actions surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

The justices tend to announce the biggest opinions of each term in May and June, but Trumps case is being heard on an expedited basis. Oral arguments were heard on Feb. 8, just weeks after the high court agreed to hear the case.

Any opinions on Monday will be handed down beginning at 10 a.m. ET.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon addressed the crowd at an anti-Israel protest in Washington Square Park Saturday afternoon  where she urged attendees to disrupt the narrative of the powerful.

Our enemy is greed, and our enemy is silence, the 77-year-old actress told the hundreds of protestors who braved the rain and the wind for the Millions March for Palestine, according to a video shared by independent journalist Katie Smith.

The silence of those who look away when you see crushed children, starving babies, wailing mothers, fathers digging through the rubble to try to find their familiesthis is unacceptable! she continued.

Susan Sarandon speaks at Millions March for Palestine in Washington Square Park pic.twitter.com/jH0ka2OfyO  katie smith (@probablyreadit) March 2, 2024

Sarandon has been a regular at anti-Israel events in New York City since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.

In late November, the Dead Man Walking star was dropped from a top Hollywood talent agency after telling one rally that Jews in the United States are getting a taste of how it feels to be Muslim in America in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attack.

She later apologized for the comment, which she called a terrible mistake.

The star was back on the podium in a black raincoat and red patterned scarf Saturday, where she reminded that cheering crowd that disrupting the narrative of the powerful, fighting for justice, can be lonely work.

Oscar-winning actress Susan Sarandon addressed the crowd at the Millions March for Palestine in NYCs Washington Square Park where she urged attendees to disrupt the narrative of the powerful. Getty Images

Our enemy is greed, and our enemy is silence, the 77-year-old actress told the hundreds of protestors who braved the rain and the wind for the Millions March for Palestine, according to a video shared by independent journalist Katie Smith. Adam Gray for New York Post

The silence of those who look away when you see crushed children, starving babies, wailing mothers, fathers digging through the rubble to try to find their familiesthis is unacceptable! she continued. Adam Gray for New York Post

Sarandon has been a regular at anti-Israel events in New York City since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023. Robert Miller

The Dead Man Walking star was dropped from a top Hollywood talent agency after telling one rally that Jews in the United States are getting a taste of how it feels to be Muslim in America in the wake of the Oct. 7 terror attack. John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock

It can be exhausting, she said.

But nothing compared to what is going on in Gaza, in Rafah, for the Palestinian people that have been going through this for 75 years!

Speaking inconvenient truths can lose you your livelihood, Sarandon added, perhaps referring to her own career hiccup late last year.

Sarandon was one of several high-profile speakers set to address the march  including And Just Like That star Sara Ramirez and activist Jill Stein, according to a poster shared online by the Peoples Forum.

As the rain continued to pour, protesters crowded into the park underneath umbrellas, chanting, From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, a rallying cry calling for the eradication of Israel, footage showed.

Another video shared by Smith showed NYPD officers wearing helmets and carrying batons lining the street as the hundreds-strong crowd grew so large it spilled out onto the sidewalks around the park.

Protesters began marching up Sixth Avenue around 3:30 p.m., yelling Shut it down to a steady drum beat. The procession was fronted by a row of banners and signs that included a yellow dollar bill with blood dripping down President Bidens face that read Blood Money Funds Genocide.

Another read RIP Aaron Bushnell, referring to the airman who lit himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy last weekend while screaming Free Palestine!

The crowd totaled around 3,500 and around seven people were arrested as of 5 p.m., a police source said.

The demonstration came a few hours after the US dropped over 38,000 meals over the Gaza Strip, where most residents have been displaced by Israels ground assault.

The total death toll in Gaza is now over 30,000.

With Post wires
Zurich police said they were raising security around Jewish institutions in the city following the attack (Arnd WIEGMANN)

Swiss police stepped up security Sunday and protesters marched in Zurich after an Orthodox Jewish man was stabbed in a possible anti-Semitic attack by a teenager.

Demonstrators marched from the leafy, residential District 2, where the attack took place late Saturday, to Helvetiaplatz in the city centre to hold an evening vigil, the ATS-Keystone news agency reported.

Many were carrying yellow umbrellas symbolising the fight against anti-Semitism.

Earlier Sunday, Zurich police said they were increasing security around Jewish institutions in the city following the attack in which the 50-year-old Jewish man was "critically injured".

A 15-year-old Swiss boy suspected of carrying out the attack was arrested at the scene, police said.

A photographer working for AFP saw police officers stationed outside the Agudas Achim synagogue in Zurich.

A police statement said the motives for the attack remained unclear. But officers and the youth prosecutor's office in charge of the investigation are looking into the possibility that it was an "anti-Semitic crime".

After consulting with Jewish institutions in the city, police said they had decided to increase security as a "precautionary measure".

- 'Profoundly shocked' -

The Swiss Federation of Israelite Communities (SIG) said Sunday evening that it was "profoundly shocked" that such an attack happened in Switzerland.

"For the time being, we do not think there is an imminent danger for Jewish persons or institutions," it said, while calling on all members of the Jewish community to be vigilant.

The GRA Foundation Against racism and anti-Semitism condemned the attack, saying that witnesses had heard the alleged perpetrator shout "anti-Semitic slogans that suggest a hate crime".

"It was not just an isolated case," it said in a statement. "Since the escalation in the Middle East, anti-Semitic incidents in Switzerland have skyrocketed."

Anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim hate crimes have been on the rise in many countries since Hamas militants from Gaza carried out an unprecedented attack inside Israel on October 7.

That attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,160 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. It also saw the militants abduct 250 hostages, of whom 130 remain in captivity, including 31 presumed dead, according to Israel.

Israel's retaliatory offensive against the Palestinian territory has killed more than 30,400 people, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza.

nl/jj/js
Supporters of the extra pension across the country - like in this photo from Bern - celebrated the referendum's results

Swiss voters have given themselves an extra month's pension each year - in a nationwide referendum focusing on living standards for the elderly.

The government had warned that the increased payments would be too expensive to afford.

But almost 60% of voters said 'yes' in Sunday's poll. Separately, 75% rejected raising the pension age from 65 to 66.

The maximum monthly state pension is 2,550 (2,180; $2,760) - not enough, many say, to live on in Switzerland.

The cost of living in Switzerland, particularly in cities such as Zurich and Geneva, is among the highest in the world.

Health insurance premiums, which are obligatory for everyone, have been rising fast, and older people sometimes struggle to pay them.

Women who may have had work breaks to raise a family, and immigrants recruited decades ago to work in Swiss factories, restaurants, or hospitals, can find it particularly difficult to make ends meet.

More and more people are working into their 70s not out of choice, but out of necessity. Meanwhile among the younger generation, work related stress and burnout are increasing.

The proposal to increase pensions came from the trades unions - but was opposed by the Swiss government, parliament, and business leaders, who argued it was unaffordable.

Voters in Switzerland often take their government's advice about money matters: a few years ago they actually rejected an extra week's holiday a year.

This time they said enough was enough, using the power that Switzerland's system of direct democracy gives them to vote themselves an extra month's pension each year.

The initiative also secured the required double-majority: getting the popular vote, and also majorities in most of the country's 26 cantons.

The result was described as a "historic victory for retirees" by Avivo, a Swiss association that defends the rights of current and future pensioners.

The move brings the state pension into line with Switzerland's salary system, which is also paid in 13 instalments, meaning workers get a double payment in November.

The system was originally designed to help people ahead of Christmas, and the annual tax bill. As Swiss retirees pointed out, pensions were taxed too, and Christmas fun did not stop at 65.

In a further sign the Swiss are keen that life should not be all work and no play, they also overwhelmingly rejected raising the retirement age.

These votes would, the government said repeatedly, have to be paid for.

Voters, though, looking at Switzerland booming economy, whose success is in large part thanks to their hard work, clearly believe their country can afford it.
We cant turn a blind eye to racism

It isnt easy for people to admit that systemic racism exits in American society. Yet we fought a civil war over the right of Americans to own and profit from the labor of slaves imported from Africa. That war ended less than 160 years ago.

I believe the collective mental block stems primarily from two things: First, people dont understand what systemic means; and second, people feel that admitting its existence is somehow a rebuke to them personally. Another problem that exists in some regions of the nation is state-imposed amnesia  think Florida.

All this sturm and drang over diversity, equity and inclusion, the imagined insidiousness of intersectionality, the indoctrination of secondary school children to hate their white race, is at best a distraction from the serious issue of systemic racism, and at worst, an outright and organized attack on freedom of thought and expression.

Turning a blind eye to injustice is in effect collaborating with its perpetuation; with the public policies, private practices and institutional systems that build and sustain disparities in opportunities and outcomes. Turning a blind eye to history blinds us to why things are as they are, and risks us returning to a darker past.

Richard Badalamente, Kennewick

MAGA mob is running the GOP

Former President Trump is a mobster and MAGA is his mob. The mob has heavily infiltrated the GOP. Not all Republican legislators are enthusiastic participants but all Republican representatives (including Reps. Newhouse and McMorris Rodgers) and most Republican senators are under its control by threats to their seats and personal security.

The mob punishes good faith negotiation and bipartisan votes by Republicans, so problems go unaddressed. Bringing the country to the brink of shutdown is now routine. The mobs disinformation network convinces many voters that things are terrible and liberals and immigrants are at fault. Republicans tend to benefit at the polls from voter anger and apathy even though they are the party that blocks solutions.

GOP disinformation is bad for emotional health and leads to poor choices in behavior and voting. The Herald, in my opinion, tries and usually succeeds in sticking to the truth. Digital subscribers can access more articles from all viewpoints in the Extra section than most have time to read. Knowledge is power. Its also healthy.

Greg Carl, Richland

House GOP killed border security

Republicans insisted that military aid to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan would not be passed until a more restrictive immigration bill was included as a part of this package.

A bipartisan immigration bill was then prepared and supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Border Patrol. To obtain military aid for our allies, President Biden agreed to sign this bill, although he did not agree with some of the conservative priorities it contained.

When sent to the House, House GOP Speaker Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana, refused to bring it up for a vote. He then nixed a military aid bill to Israel, Ukraine and Taiwan without improved border security and suggested that President Biden could provide this by executive order. If successful, our president will be criticized for that effort also.

Trump clearly favors the authoritarian government of Russia over the Ukraine. Before and after his election, Trump blathered about building a wall and having Mexico pay for it, but accomplished neither; nor was any legislation on border security developed during his presidency.

Because of Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans, the border continues to be insecure and military aid to our allies continues to be blocked.

Bill Petrie, Richland
Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkiye, has advocated holding negotiations on a ceasefire in Ukraine soon, noting that this does not imply recognition of the occupation of Ukrainian territory.

Source: European Pravda with reference to Reuters

Details: On 1 March, Fidan met with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

He revealed that they had discussed a number of issues, including the situation in Ukraine.

"On the issue of Ukraine, our view is that both sides have reached the limits of what they can get by war. We think that it is time to start a dialogue for a ceasefire," Fidan said.

Fidan insisted that the negotiations do not mean recognising the Russian occupation of certain parts of the Ukrainian territory.

He stated that "the issues of sovereignty and ceasefire should be discussed separately".

"The death and injury of more than 500,000 people and the complete destruction of the infrastructure and superstructure of an entire country is not a reality that is bearable for us. This has to stop somehow. To stop this, there should be some discussions and everybody should get used to this idea," Fidan said.

Background: Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that Ankara continued to support a peaceful settlement of Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine and was ready to offer a platform for such "negotiations".

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas is preparing for Super Tuesday and also moving the lithium industry into the state.

Talk Business & Politics host Roby Brock met with Magnolia Economic Development Director Ellie Baker to discuss how lithium is taking center stage in the south Arkansas town.

Exxon Mobil set to begin lithium production in southwest Arkansas in long-term project

Roby also met with former state senator Joyce Elliot with Get Loud Arkansas and Bill Vickery with Capitol Advisors Group to break down the upcoming election day races.

Talk Business & Politics airs Sunday at 9:30 a.m. on FOX 16. For more coverage, head to TalkBusiness.net.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLRT - FOX16.com.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Bassam Masoud and Jeff Mason

CAIRO/RAFAH, Gaza Strip (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday demanded Palestinian militant group Hamas agree to an immediate six-week ceasefire while forcefully urging Israel to do more to boost aid deliveries into Gaza, where she said innocent people were suffering a "humanitarian catastrophe."

In some of the strongest comments by a senior leader of the U.S. government to date on the issue, Harris pressed the Israeli government and outlined specific ways on how more aid can flow into the densely-populated enclave where hundreds of thousands of people are facing famine, following five months of Israel's military campaign.

"Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate ceasefire," Harris said at an event in Selma, Alabama. "There is a deal on the table, and as we have said, Hamas needs to agree to that deal. Let's get a ceasefire."

"People in Gaza are starving. The conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act...The Israeli government must do more to significantly increase the flow of aid. No excuses," she said.

On Sunday, a Hamas delegation had arrived in Cairo for the latest round of ceasefire talks, billed by many as the final possible hurdle for a truce, but it was unclear if any progress was made. Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth's online version reported that Israel boycotted the talks after Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages who are still alive.

Washington has insisted the ceasefire deal is close and has been pushing to put in place a truce by the start of Ramadan, a week away. A U.S. official on Saturday said Israel has agreed on a framework deal.

An agreement would bring the first extended truce of the war, which has raged for five months so far with just a week-long pause in November. Dozens of hostages held by Hamas militants would be freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

One source briefed on the talks had said on Saturday that Israel could stay away from Cairo unless Hamas first presented its full list of hostages who are still alive. A Palestinian source told Reuters that Hamas had so far rejected that demand.

After the Hamas delegation arrived, a Palestinian official told Reuters the deal was "not yet there". There was no official comment from Israel.

In past negotiations Hamas has sought to avoid discussing the wellbeing of individual hostages until after terms for their release are set.

In other diplomatic moves, Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz will meet Harris at the White House on Monday and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Washington on Tuesday. U.S. envoy Amos Hochstein will visit Beirut on Monday to pursue efforts to de-escalate the conflict across the Lebanese-Israeli border.

"GUNFIRE AND CHAOS"

The death last week of more than 100 Palestinians approaching an aid truck in Gaza has captured the severe humanitarian crisis in the densely-populated enclave, an incident Harris recalled during her speech.

"We saw hungry, desperate people approach aid trucks simply trying to secure food their family after weeks of barely no aid reaching northern Gaza and they were met with gunfire and chaos," Harris said.

Israel said on Sunday its initial review of the incident had found that most of those killed or wounded had died in a stampede. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops at the scene initially fired only warning shots, though they later shot at some "looters" who "approached our forces and posed an immediate threat".

Muatasem Salah, a member of the Emergency Committee at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, told Reuters the Israeli account was contradicted by machine gun wounds.

In her comments, Harris laid out specific ways on how the Israeli government can allow more aid into Gaza. "They must open new border crossings. They must not impose any unnecessary restrictions on the delivery of aid. They must ensure humanitarian personnel, sites and convoys are not targeted, and they must work to restore basic services and promote order in Gaza, so more food, water and fuel can reach those in need."

Under pressure at home and abroad, the Biden administration on Saturday carried out its first airdrop of aid into the coastal enclave, with a U.S. military transport plane dropping 38,000 meals along Gaza's Mediterranean coastline.

Critics of airdrops say they have only a limited impact on the suffering, and that it is nearly impossible to ensure supplies do not end up in the hands of militants.

The United States will continue these airdrops, Harris said and added that Washington was working on a new route by sea to also send aid.

The war was unleashed in October after Hamas fighters stormed through Israeli towns killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities.

Swathes of the Gaza Strip have been laid to waste, nearly the entire population has been made homeless, and the United Nations estimates a quarter of Gazans are on the verge of famine.

At a morgue outside a Rafah hospital on Sunday morning, women wept and wailed beside rows of bodies of the Abu Anza family, 14 of whom Gaza health authorities say were killed in an Israeli airstrike in Rafah overnight.

The youngest of the family who were killed were infant twins Wesam and Naaem, the first children of their mother after 11 years of marriage. They were born a few weeks into the Gaza war.

"My heart is gone," wailed Rania Abu Anza, who also lost her husband in the attack. "I haven't had enough time with them."

(Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo, Bassam Masoud in Rafah, Ari Rabinovitch in Jerusalem and Jeff Mason in Washington;Writing by Peter Graff, Giles Elgood and Humeyra Pamuk; Editing by Alison Williams, Alexander Smith and Diane Craft)
TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN)  The Travis County Sheriffs Office said an inmate was found unresponsive in his unit Thursday and later died Friday morning.

According to TCSO, the inmate was identified as 30-year-old Jeffrey Pope.

TCSO said staff performed CPR on Pope until Austin-Travis County EMS arrived and took over. Pope was then taken to the hospital where he later died, according to TCSO.

Officials said Pope was booked into the facility Feb. 21 on a charge of assault/family violence.

TCSO said an investigation was underway.

An autopsy was conducted Saturday, and the final report was pending, according to TCSO.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A teenager and another man were killed in a multi-vehicle crash late Friday night, according to Las Vegas police.

Around 10:10 p.m. Friday, police responded to a multi-vehicle fatal crash in the area of Vegas and Pyramid drives near Rancho Road.

Evidence at the scene and witness statements showed that a Ford Crown Victoria and an unknown dark sedan were traveling together east on Vegas Drive at a high rate of speed approaching the intersection of Pyramid Drive.

At the same time, a Nissan Frontier was turning left from Pyramid Drive to westbound Vegas Drive.

The crash occurred when the Nissan crossed paths with the Ford, causing it to hit the right side of the Ford. The Ford then hit a light pole, where it came to rest, police said.

Debris from the crash hit two parked cars and the unknown dark sedan continued east on Vegas Drive.

Both the driver and the 16-year-old passenger of the Ford were pronounced dead at the scene.

Anyone with information is urged to call the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department  Collision Investigation Section at (702) 828-3595 or, to remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at (702)385-5555, visit CrimeStoppersOfNV.com or use the mobile app P3. Message & Data rates may apply. Tips directly leading to a felony arrest, or an indictment processed through Crime Stoppers may result in a cash reward.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
Days ahead of Super Tuesday  the most pivotal day in the 2024 presidential election cycle until November  Tennessee early voting polls are quiet, voters are frustrated, and presidential campaign signs are few and far between.

Despite a recent visit from former President Donald Trump, and outside groups spending more than $2 million to energize voters for his competitor, the presidential primaries in Tennessee appear all but decided.

Incumbent President Joe Biden has no primary opponent for the Democratic nomination. Trump has yet to be beaten by his last remaining competitor, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley  having now trounced her by wide margins in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, South Carolina, and Michigan.

This is really a very unique presidential primary because, in essence, we have two incumbents, said Kent Syler, professor of political science and public policy at Middle Tennessee State University.

Former President Donald Trump addresses the 2024 NRB International Christian Media Convention sponsored by the National Religious Broadcasters association at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday night, February 22, 2024.

Tennessee is a deeply red state politically, and Trump carried the Volunteer State in 2016 and 2020 with just over 60% of the vote. Four years later, polls show Tennessee voters continue to be fiercely loyal to Trump  despite three criminal indictments and two impeachments.

Multiple polls show 40- to 60-point spreads between Trump and Haley supporters. Sixty-three percent of Republican respondents to a Beacon Center poll said they would vote for Trump even if he is convicted of a crime.

In Nashville, for instance, voters are motivated not by excitement for candidates, but by the prospect of keeping the other guy out. Early voting turnout was down 30% from 2016 across the state.

The early vote is always a good indication of election day turnout and interest, Syler said. The low voter turnout is a product of most voters seeing the primary election as a foregone conclusion for both parties.

So, is it already over? Is Tennessee already Donald Trumps?

Trump, Biden dominate polls, some undecided

How likely is it that Trump and Biden will their respective primaries? Almost inevitable, according to several polls.

Trump roundly defeated competitors, pulling 72% support from respondents in January 2024 Republican primary poll by the Beacon Center of Tennessee, while Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (who has since suspended his campaign) netted 12%, and South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley drew 7%.

More: Tennesseans back Trump but a nearly third of GOP says party on the wrong track, poll shows

According to the December 2023 Vanderbilt poll, 56% of Republican voters prefer Trump, to 20% who support DeSantis, and 12% who back Haley. Head-to-head against Haley, the Vanderbilt poll found Trump had a 46-point lead.

An exclusive Tennessean/Siena College poll in December reported that 49% of respondents would like Trump to be the next president, while 20% said they prefer Biden to remain in office. But a significant number of voters  24%  remained undecided at that point. Democrats were more likely to be undecided than respondents identifying as Republicans: 20% of Democrats said they did not know who they preferred, while only 12% of Republicans were undecided.

A new Tennessean/Siena College poll found many in the state still back former President Donald Trump. But nearly a third of Republicans feel the national party is headed in the wrong direction.

Theres strong support for Trump (44%) among independents, but just as many (44%) want someone else, or remain undecided. The Beacon poll found that spoiler candidates like independent Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. could eat away at Trump's lead, as he is more popular among Republicans and independents than Democrats.

'God knows I'm hoping things change'

Nashville voters are turning out primarily out of civic duty, or to cast their vote to keep the other guy out of office, as Biden voter David Michi told The Tennessean after voting at Southeast Community Center.

Southeast voter Valerie Matthews also said she was motivated to vote to keep Trump out.

To get rid of Donald Trump, agreed southeast voter George Ridley. We cant do no more of this dividing in the world Its uncalled for.

One Nikki Haley voter in Bellevue didn't want to give her name but said she was casting a ballot not for the former South Carolina but disappointment in the other candidates.

More voters on both sides of the aisle indicated that they were motivated to vote against Trump than for Biden or Haley. But some saw the action as positive.

Bettina Warkenton, who voted at Bellevue Community Center, described her vote as one of affirmation and encouragement, for Biden.

This is a very pivotal election, Warkenton said. Im not alone in thinking that.

Voters who spoke to The Tennessean generally feel the results of the primary are already settled  that the general election will be between Biden and former Trump.

Its hard to think anything will happen, Bellevue voter Ken Debelak said.

With an incumbent and a pseudo-incumbent, campaign signs for presidential candidates are notably absent from polling locations. Instead, signs for property assessor and judge candidates pepper the medians outside the 100-foot boundary.

But some voters remain optimistic that the horse race action of the presidential primary may not yet be over.

We dont really know whats going to happen, especially looking at the two-party system, whats going to happen with Trump, and with Nikki Haley still in the race, Carlee Brian, a government teacher in West Nashville told The Tennessean. We are in a state where its still pretty given, the outcome of most of those primaries  but who knows what can happen? I think its all up in the air right now.

After casting her vote for Biden at the Southeast Community Center, Mary Johnson agreed.

Its not settled yet, she said.

Dark money groups pour $2M into Haley bid

Koch-funded Americans For Prosperity Action and partner groups have spent more than $2.4 million backing Haley and attacking Trump and Biden  including nearly $500,000 on door-to-door canvassers  in Tennessee alone.

Will it make a difference?

After Haleys sweeping loss in South Carolina on Saturday, AFP paused to take stock of where we are, wrote AFP Action Senior Advisor Emily Seidel in a memo to stakeholders after the South Carolina primary, provided to The Tennessean. Moving forward, the group is suspending action on Haleys behalf to focus energy on U.S. House and Senate races.

Nikki Haley has shown us again and again that we made the right decision in supporting her candidacy and she continues to have our strong endorsement, Seidel wrote. But 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. And so while we will continue to endorse her, we will focus our resources where we can make the difference.

It remains unclear what, if any difference the efforts will make to move the needle away from Trump in Tennessee. Americans for Prosperity Action did not respond to a request for comment from The Tennessean for this story.

Trump makes his pitch in Nashville

Melissa Kerley and Erin Gray take a selfie together before the 2024 NRB Presidential Forum begins during the NRB Christian Convention conference at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tenn., Thursday night, Feb. 22, 2024.

Despite a tight calendar of court appearances and campaigning, Trump is the only candidate to have made a stop in Tennessee in recent weeks, visiting Nashville for a fundraiser and speech just two days ahead of the South Carolina primary  which he won handily.

Honored to host @realDonaldTrump right here in the great state of Tennessee!



Tennesseans stand with President Trump and you should too. #MAGA pic.twitter.com/xWykNFeR9e  Marsha Blackburn (@VoteMarsha) February 27, 2024

Trump spoke to an enthusiastic crowd of about 1,500 last month at the National Religious Broadcasters convention at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center, vowing to support Christians if elected.

I love Tennessee, Trump said. Your primary is Tuesday, March 5  less than two weeks from now, so get out there and vote  and I have a feeling youre going to vote for a guy named Trump.

Neither Biden nor Haley have campaigned personally in the Volunteer State this year, though first lady Jill Biden attended a political event in Franklin last month.

Will low voter turnout help or hurt Trump?

Early voter turnout is down significantly, compared with presidential primaries in 2020 and 2016.

According to early voting numbers from the Tennessee Secretary of States office, turnout across Tennessee in the 2024 presidential primary elections was down 20% from the 2020 presidential primaries  and down nearly 30% from 2016. While early voter turnout was up slightly in the Republican primary election  24% more people voted in the Republican primary than in 2020  turnout among Democrats was down by 63% from four years ago.

This is politics, and anything can always happen, but I think most voters see the primary process as a foregone conclusion, and thats one of the big reasons theyve chosen not to participate, Syler said.

Will voter turnout help or hurt either of the two presumptive leading candidates?

I think low voter turnout will impact both of them the same, Syler said.

Why bother to vote?

If the presidential primary is all but decided, why should voters head to the polls? Because the presidential primary isnt the only race on the ballot.

County primary elections  for offices like school board, property assessor, and judges  will be decided Tuesday. And in cases where there is no opposition in the general election later this year, those offices will be decided Tuesday.

Even if you think that the presidential primary is a done deal, think about your local school board  its important to get out and participate in that race, Civic TN Executive Director Matia Powell told The Tennessean. There are critical local elections on the ballot.  March 5 might determine who represents you.

Civic TN is a coalition of 40 partner organizations focused on voter education and get-out-the-vote initiatives. Powell said theyve been gearing up for months, working to educate voters on the voting process, and encourage them to go cast their ballot.

In many cases, local officials have a much more direct impact on voters than who occupies the White House  whether its determining property values (the basis of property tax calculations), or making watershed decisions on local school funding.

Because many offices have primary candidates, but no opposition in the general elections in August, March 5 might be the only time many voters have to weigh in on who they want making those decisions.

In these local positions  particularly for school board and property assessor, Powell said, you really want to get out and vote and make sure your voice is heard.

Vivian Jones covers state politics and government at The Tennessean. Reach her at vjones@tennessean.com.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Super Tuesday in Tennessee: What 2024 primary polls say about Trump, Biden
Tennessee will deploy two waves of National Guard troops to the border through the spring as Republican governors across the country continue to back Texas in its ongoing feud with federal authorities over immigration enforcement.

Gov. Bill Lee and first lady Maria Lee met with deploying National Guard members in Millington, Tennessee on Saturday, weeks after the governor traveled to the border and pledged to support Texas Gov. Greg Abbott with an escalating and increasingly politicized border crisis.

"Gov. Abbott has made the decision to utilize Texas' resources to secure that border and to keep that traffic from coming into his state," Lee said. "But it's an overwhelming task, and he asked governors to join him because each one of us recognizes that."

The Texas National Guard earlier this year seized control of a popular border crossing in Eagle Pass, and Texas began blocking federal immigration officials and Border Patrol agents from the area. The U.S. Supreme Court later ruled the state could not block federal access, upholding longstanding precedent that the federal government, not states, control border enforcement.

Gov. Bill Lee met with Tennessee National Guard troops in Millington, Tennessee on March 2 ahead of their deployment to a Texas border operation.

Tennessee National Guard Maj. Gen. Warner Ross would not comment specifically on where Tennessee's contingent will be sent. Tennessee deployed 125 soldiers last year to McAllen, Texas.

The new deployment consists of about 50 soldiers, authorities said Saturday, deployed through March, with another wave replacing them later in the spring.

The governor and first lady traveled to West Tennessee on Saturday to meet with the deploying guard members ahead of their deployment.

Lee said most of America has come to realize the ongoing border issues are a true crisis for our country. The governor on Saturday cited concerns with human and drug trafficking in unauthorized border crossings.

You realize what is happening and what has been happening there has to change," Lee told the guard members. "You are part of that change."

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, center, and Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte, right, stand with fellow governors as they listen to Texas Gov Greg Abbott, seated left, during a news conference along the Rio Grande to discuss Operation Lone Star and border concerns, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024, in Eagle Pass, Texas.

A recent Gallup poll shows Americans believe immigration is the top issue facing the U.S., the first time the issue has topped the list since 2018. The border is clearly emerging as a defining topic of the 2024 presidential elections, as President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump each made a stop at the Texas border on Thursday.

Border visits: Joe Biden, Donald Trump clashing visits thrust border fight further into spotlight

Republicans have accused Biden of reversing Trump-era policies that stemmed the flow of border crossings, though USA Today reports the number of migrants arriving at the U.S. border more than doubled during the Trump administration by 2019 after a brief dip in 2017. Migration did fall significantly in 2020, largely driven by the COVID-19 pandemic that led to widespread travel restrictions across the world.

Border encounters have risen during the Biden administration as pandemic restrictions were rescinded. U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported 1.7 million migrant encounters at the Southwest border in fiscal 2021, 2.4 million in fiscal 2022 and an additional 2.5 million in fiscal 2023.

Meanwhile, Republicans last month torpedoed a bipartisan U.S. Senate border security package, which included more conservative border policies initially backed by both Democrats and the GOP, after Trump whipped opposition to the bill.

In Texas, Abbott has characterized the border issue as an "invasion" in legal filings in the effort to assert state sovereignty over federal immigration authority. Texas has argued it has a right to supersede federal law to act on immigration as the state sees fit. A federal judge this week ruled otherwise, temporarily blocking a Texas law to expand state immigration enforcement powers. U.S. District Judge David Alan Ezra wrote immigration surges do not constitute an invasion, nor is Texas engaging in war.

Critics say Abbott and a number of other Republican leaders have weaponized immigration rhetoric to whip up political fear. In Tennessee, Democrats have argued ongoing anti-immigration rhetoric has emboldened dangerously racist views. Anti-immigrant and racist rhetoric was front and center at a recent white nationalist march in downtown Nashville, where masked marchers unfurled Nazi flags and chanted deport every Mexican and, "Save the white man."

Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville speaks during a press conference held in response to a Nazi group known as Blood Tribe that marched through downtown Nashville over the weekend at Legislative Plaza in Nashville , Tenn., Monday, Feb. 19, 2024.

More: Interfaith leaders denounce anti-immigration rhetoric after neo-Nazi march in Nashville

Lee, who frequently cites civility as one of his guiding values, has not yet echoed Abbotts invasion rhetoric, though Tennessee openly backs Texas in its sovereignty struggle with federal immigration authorities.

Last week, for instance, Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti joined with 21 other attorneys general in sending a letter to multiple federal agencies demanding answers on a report about 85,000 missing unaccompanied minors and joined with other Republican states in again backing Texas in its legal fight.

The governor on Saturday acknowledged there is a very toxic political environment in this country but argued the border issue should rise above politics.

Unfortunately, a lot of issues in this country that are pragmatic, real issues, become very political, Lee said.

Lee again noted his concerns about human and drug trafficking, in addition to deaths of migrants attempting to cross the border.

"Its a humanitarian crisis and heartbreaking across all the spectrums," Lee said.

The governor said unauthorized border crossings bring dangers and threats to the country, while the U.S. should make way for migrants who have an appropriate reason to be here.

I understand fully that America is a welcoming land with opportunity for those who are escaping persecution, who have a real need, Lee said. We do have a right way in this country. We have a legal process for folks to enter into America. We have always been a country that has immigration policy for those who follow it.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee deploys National Guard to Texas amid political border fight
Rarely have intraparty battles between Republicans in Texas been as bitter, protracted and consequential as the primary contests culminating in Election Day on Tuesday.

The fights have primarily focused on members of the Texas House who angered many conservative voters last year by impeaching the Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, on charges of corruption and abuse of office. Paxton, who was acquitted in the Texas Senate, vowed revenge, and number one in his sights has been the House speaker, Dade Phelan.

Gov. Greg Abbott has also been going after a number of Republicans in the Texas House, seeking to unseat those who opposed his plan to use public money to help families pay for private and religious schools.

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Aggressive campaigning by both statewide leaders is amplifying tensions that have simmered for years between the partys old guard and a more socially conservative faction aligned with former President Donald Trump that sees Tuesdays vote as a chance to shift the balance of power in the Texas House, which has served as a moderating force in the states politics.

The fight is not unique to Texas as Republicans across the country and in Congress engage in a struggle for control of the party. But the outcome could reverberate widely if Republicans in Texas, the most populous and wealthiest conservative state, decide the state needs to move even further to the right.

This is a once-in-a-generation election, said Nick Maddux, a Republican consultant who is working with Paxton and for Republican candidates in more than a dozen races.

If the two chambers of the Texas Legislature came out of the election aligned further to the right, it would be the most conservative legislative body in the country, said Brendan Steinhauser, a Republican consultant who has done work with school voucher supporters. Dade and his allies are the only thing preventing that from happening.

The flood of outside money and the sheer number of contests, including more than two dozen races seen as competitive, have forced longtime representatives into nail-biting fights for their political lives. Those involved in raising money said the primary appeared likely to be the most expensive yet seen in Texas, a state famous for big campaign spending.

To fund his statewide push, Abbott received a $6 million campaign contribution  the single largest in state history  from a Pennsylvania billionaire, Jeff Yass, who supports school voucher programs. A pair of West Texas billionaires who have long backed Christian conservative causes put in more than $2 million to help candidates aligned with Paxton. Millions more have been spent to defend Phelan and his embattled colleagues.

Its uniformly the most painful election weve experienced, Phelan said, referring to his own experience and that of his colleagues.

Greeting voters this week in Vidor, Texas, near the Louisiana border, Phelan  wearing a white T-shirt and a camouflage hat, both imprinted with his name  bristled at his opponents claims that the Texas House under his leadership had not advanced conservative causes.

We went from 50,000 abortions to 34, and theyre saying that thats not pro-life. We have constitutional carry. You no longer have to get a permit from the government to carry a firearm, and they were saying thats not good enough because convicted felons cant have them, Phelan said. Tell me whats left to do? Mandatory carry?

In addition to trying to oust the Republican state representatives like Phelan who backed the attorney generals impeachment last year, Paxton is trying to remake the states highest criminal court by unseating three Republican judges who serve on the Court of Criminal Appeals.

He has criticized the judges as Republicans-in-name-only for their part in an 8-1 ruling by the all-Republican court finding that the state constitution did not allow Paxton to unilaterally prosecute criminal cases of voter fraud without going through local district attorneys.

Sharon Keller, the presiding judge and one of those facing a challenge, said she was surprised at the attacks. Ive always been criticized, if anything, for being too conservative, she said in a television interview.

At the same time, Paxton is facing criminal charges, dating to a 2015 indictment for securities fraud. Arguments over details that have delayed that case have already been before the top criminal court whose judges he is now attacking.

While both Abbott and Paxton have been going after incumbent Republicans, their interests are not always aligned. And Abbott has himself faced challenges from the hard right of his party, including in his 2022 primary.

In the Houston suburb of Katy on Monday evening, Abbott appeared with state Rep. Jacey Jetton, who supported the governors private school voucher plan but had voted to impeach Paxton. It was the third time the governor had traveled to the area in support of Jetton during the primary.

In an interview, Jetton lamented the large number of mailers and advertisements against him, particularly those suggesting that he supported the trans agenda. He clarified that he was a co-sponsor of a ban on gender-transition care for minors.

There are a number of candidates that are running on complete lies, he said. If they win, I think that puts us in a dangerous direction.

Nowhere has the campaign been as hard-fought as in the Southeast Texas district that Phelan has represented since 2015, and where his family has been prominent in business for generations. A boulevard in Beaumont, the largest nearby city, carries the family name, as does a shopping plaza. He has not faced an opponent of either party in a decade.

Phelan is being challenged by David Covey, a local Republican Party activist and technical adviser to the oil and gas industry who has promised to help make the Texas House more like the lock-step conservative Senate.

Covey, who described himself as a very committed Christian and a conservative, said in a telephone interview that Phelan and other representatives in Austin were too accommodating to Democrats and had lost touch with what Republican voters want.

The conflict comes from elected leaders not listening to the Republican voters and the majority of the Republican activists, he said.

His campaign has been bolstered by third-party groups such as Texans United for a Conservative Majority, backed by West Texas oil and gas money, and catapulted into the national spotlight by an endorsement from Trump, who called Covey out of the blue to offer it.

It was an incredible moment in my personal life and in the campaign, Covey said. His message was, as Texas goes, so goes the nation.

Phelan, for his part, has been supported by Rick Perry, the former Republican governor, who has held two events for the speaker in recent weeks.

At one point in the race, online entertainers, posing as supporters of Phelan and claiming to have a transgender child and a fentanyl addiction, knocked on doors in the district, including Phelans own house. He was not home at the time, Phelan said, but his wife and four children were.

Separately, a 44-year-old man from Orange County in Phelans district was arrested after making threats against Phelan on Facebook. He talked about what rifle he was going to use and how he was going to do it  I think he said my right temple, Phelan said.

A recent poll from the Texas Politics Project, a program at the University of Texas, showed Phelans statewide approval had risen slightly from December, but remained below 30%.

Phelan has been in there a while, maybe its time for some new blood, Pat Jinks, a resident of Vidor, said after voting for Covey at the early voting center there. Her husband, Brett, said he voted for Phelan.

Another voter, Tony Wilcoxson, the mayor of the nearby town of Rose City, emerged and shook hands with Phelan. He said he had voted for the speaker because of the aid Phelan had secured for the area after Hurricane Harvey. Im as conservative Republican as they come, anti-abortion, pro-gun, all that good stuff, but at the end of the day youve got to take care of people, he said.

Turnout for early voting in the primary elections in Texas has been light in most places, and Republican voters who came to cast ballots in Vidor appeared torn and eager to put the contest behind them.

I wasnt unsatisfied with Phelan, said Randy Jarrell, who nonetheless said he voted for Covey. He said the Trump endorsement had an impact on him and his wife, who also backed the challenger. Both were tired of the flyers in their mailboxes and the barrage of attack ads on television.

Ill be glad when its over, he said.

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Texas secessionists are becoming more fervent than ever. But experts say it would mess up its thriving economy.

A movement advocating for Texas to secede from the US is gaining attention.

The movement's de facto leader told BI that Texans are "sick and tired of being crushed."

Critics argue that secession is impractical, illegal, and bad for business.

A movement calling for Texas to leave the US and become its own country is growing louder.

Daniel Miller, a sixth-generation Texan, is the de facto face of the modern Texas Nationalist Movement, nicknamed "Texit." He advocates for secession through peaceful means, citing frustration with the federal government and a desire for greater autonomy.

"Texans are seeing themselves increasingly disenfranchised by a federal system that is just terminally broken," Miller told Business Insider.

"At the end of the day, Texans are fiercely independent, and frankly, they're sick and tired of being crushed."

On March 2, which is also Texas Independence Day, the Dallas Morning News issued a warning against pro-secession candidates.

"The desire for smaller government and increased state's rights is valid. But this rhetoric, largely espoused by far-right candidates, is not conservative. It's unpatriotic," the paper's editorial board wrote.

Critics of the movement have said this would be illegal, unconstitutional, impossible, and, as some point out, very expensive.

'Bad for business'

The modern Texas secession movement has been around for decades, but it has been gaining attention as the state has been at the center of multiple political storms  most recently, the stand-off at the southern border between state and federal authorities over immigration.

Walter Buenger, a history professor at the University of Texas at Austin, told BI that seceding would be illegal and impractical.

"I don't think much will come of it. Talk about secession pops up in Texas every few years, usually when a Democrat is the president. And this is clearly politically based," he said.

Miller, the secession leader, said that Texans are also unhappy with the large amounts of money they contribute to a federal system that he said does not serve their needs.

Texas has the second-largest economy in the US after California, buoyed by its oil-and-gas industry.

Texans are also among the largest contributors to the federal budget through federal taxes, typically contributing over $200 billion annually.

But they get a lot of it back: federal dollars account for one-third of the Texas state budget, according to the budget and policy nonprofit Every Texan.

"To replace the government services we rely on, the nation of Texas would have to find a way to get an additional $9,000 or so per person living here  possibly through income or sales taxes," Eva DeLuna, a state budget analyst at Every Texan, told Texas Monthly in 2022. "For a two-person household, that's $18,000 coming out of your pocket."

Chemical plants and oil refineries in La Marque, Texas. Halbergman/Getty Images

Buenger, the professor, said that Texas' economy is built on connections outside the state and that anything that hampers that would simply be "bad for business."

As Business Insider's Noah Sheidlower reported in December, Texan economic growth is strongly outpacing the US average.

A huge disruption like declaring independence would threaten that success.

Attempts to get a question about secession into the primary voting process of the Texas GOP have failed, which Buenger believes is partly because the business community would not support it.

Miller said that if Texas were to secede, Texas would then vote on a new form of government and negotiate with the US on things such as trade and mutual defense.

Buenger said this was wishful thinking.

"The last time they tried to secede we had a war, and that's a more likely scenario than a happy-go-lucky trade agreement," he said, a reference to Texas joining the Confederacy in the Civil War.

Many legal experts have also said there is no legal way for a state to secede from the US.

Critics cite the Texas v. White Supreme Court case of 1869, which addressed whether Texas had lawfully seceded from the Union during the Civil War. The ruling concluded that Texas had not legally seceded and established that states cannot unilaterally leave, holding that the US is "an indestructible union."

Miller called the SCOTUS ruling "one of the biggest jokes known to man." He cited Article 1 Section 10 of the US Constitution, which lists things states are not allowed to do, like mint their own currency or sign treaties.

He noted that it doesn't say states can't leave.

A fantasy with unlikely allies

James Henson, the director of the Texas Politics Project at the University of Texas at Austin, told BI that while the independence movement may be loud, it is unrealistic and has little support among Texans.

"For the most part, this is a fantasy projection among a very small sliver of people," he said. "And I think the romance of some general notion of Texas independence wears off pretty fast if people were to start considering it seriously."

He pointed to a recent poll of 1,300 Texans by his project, which found that 63% of responding Texans consider themselves Americans first and Texans second, compared with the 26% who put Texas first.

The idea of "Texit" has been grabbing headlines and generating controversy lately, but at least some of this appears to be manufactured.

Amid the border stand-off, the Texas independence movement gained an unlikely ally in the former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who expressed support for the idea and suggested that a "destructive civil confrontation" in the US could be coming.

As posts supporting the idea spread across social media, Wired reported that a Russian disinformation campaign led by bots and the country's powerful state-run media propelled some of it.

A Just Russia Party Supports Independent Texas Republic



"If necessary, we are ready to help with the independence referendum. And of course, we will recognize the Texas People's Republic, if there is one. Good luck! We are with you!"



 Sergei Mironov, Deputy of the Russian pic.twitter.com/XNlDlW2RmI  James Porrazzo (@JamesPorrazzo) January 27, 2024

A desire to sow discord in the US, which has been one of Ukraine's strongest international allies since Russia invaded, likely motivated the intervention.

The Texan yearning for independence

The Lone Star State's yearning for independence is baked into its history  even its nickname is a reference to its former status as an independent nation after it gained independence from Mexico in 1836.

Even after the US agreed to annex Texas in 1845, its status was unsettled.

It became one of the 11 states that formed the Confederacy and tried to secede from the US in the Civil War of 1861-65. The Confederacy lost, and all 11 states remained part of the US.

"Every Texan learns in school that Texas was an independent nation for a while and there is a strong sense of Texas identity that comes from the history of the state," Henson said.

Buenger said it's important to note that "almost every time that there's been talk of secession there's a sort of racial or ethnic bias involved."

He said that Texas seceded in the 1860s hoping to preserve the enslavement of Black people, and noted that modern-day discussion of secession often revolves around migration.

Migrants wait in line adjacent to the border fence under the watch of the Texas National Guard to enter El Paso, Texas, in 2023. Andres Leighton/AP Photo

"More recently, I think there's been a larger uptick in Christian and white nationalism," Henson said.

"The conservative kind of substrate of the state here culturally is more amenable to this kind of nationalist movement that does have strong ethnic and racial overtones in a state that has historically been multi-ethnic and multiracial is getting more so over time."

"Mother may I?"

The first step for Texas to become independent, the secessionists say, would be a statewide referendum.

Earlier this month, Miller and other supporters of secession delivered a petition with more than 170,000 signatures to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's office, calling for the governor to hold a special session in the Texas Legislature for an independence vote.

A recent survey of 814 eligible Texas voters by Redfield & Wilton Strategies suggested that such a vote would fail.

But Miller believes the movement has sufficient support and dismisses the argument that the federal government would not recognize such a vote.

"The one thing about self-government is it's not a 'mother may I?' proposition. The people of Texas are going to have to make their decision," he said. "It'll be interesting to see what the federal government does."

Despite secession supporters' determination, it will likely remain a pipe dream.

"This is pretty much a settled issue in the United States," Henson said.

"Beyond the expressive value of waving the flag and showing up at rallies, if people were really to consider the trade-offs, it doesn't make any sense."

Read the original article on Business Insider
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand has in the last week helped facilitate the transfer of some 900 Chinese nationals who had been trapped in scam centres in a Myanmar border town back to China, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin said on Sunday.

Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, has become a hub for telecom and other online fraud, according to the United Nations, with hundreds of thousands of people trafficked by criminal gangs and forced to work in scam centres and other illegal operations.

The operation, which Thai police say started last Thursday and was completed on Saturday, involved transporting the Chinese nationals from Myanmar's bonder town of Myawaddy to an airport in the Thai border district of Mae Sot, where they were transferred to Chinese planes.

"This was a joint voluntary operation between three countries, China, Myanmar and Thailand," Prime Minister Srettha said.

"The process was done voluntarily, based on humanitarian principles, it was not forced," Srettha said, adding that Thailand had facilitated the transfer to the flights at Mae Sot.

Thai deputy police chief Surachae Hakparn said the operation involved 15 flights over three days to return Chinese scam victims to China.

The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Myanmar's military spokesperson also did not respond to a call seeking comment.

Last November Myanmar authorities handed over 31,000 telecom fraud suspects to China in a joint crackdown against online scams in Myanmar.

China and Myanmar also helped facilitate the transfer back to Thailand of more than two hundred Thais, both victims and those involved with telecom fraud gangs, who were trapped in fighting between Myanmar military and armed ethnic-minority groups in Laukkaing in Myanmar's northern Shan State.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um and Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok, Ethan Wang in Beijing and Reuters staff; Editing by Jan Harvey)
The site is owned by the government

Campaigners have voiced their dismay over plans to build a secure children's home at a waterworks.

London Councils want to build a home for vulnerable children - the first of its kind in the capital - on part of the Thames Water depot on Lea Bridge Road in Waltham Forest.

But a campaign had wanted to turn the site into a park with swimming ponds and a forest school.

London Councils said an initial consultation would be held on Thursday.

The authority plans to use funding from the Department for Education (DfE) to build the secure children's home on the land, owned by the government.

It would house 24 highly vulnerable children with complex needs, along with up to four children who no longer need a secure environment.

The service, for which there is a national shortage, does not exist in London and means children currently have to travel a significant distance away from the city.

But Abigail Woodman, of the East London Water Works Park campaign, said there would be huge benefits if the site was to become a community park with wild swimming, a forest school space, arts and science buildings and dry and wetland habitats for wildlife.

Abigail Woodman says the site should become a new volunteer-run park for the community

Analysis for the charity predicted it would bring 18.5m in economic, social, tourism and environmental benefits.

Ms Woodman told BBC London: "Local people have been working for a really long time on this project. We've been talking to the landowner, which is central government, and they've known we've been putting these plans together.

"Waltham Forest and Hackney councils have known, so we were really taken by surprise at some point this year they're going to submit a planning application for a secure facility for children."

The charity is asking for an urgent meeting with the Pan London Secure Children's Home Programme.

Meanwhile, London Councils, the collective of the capital's boroughs collaborate, said the site was identified as the only suitable location to build the facility and a planning application has not yet been submitted.

A spokesperson said: "London boroughs are taking forward proposals to deliver a much-needed secure children's home that will provide specialist care for London's most vulnerable children. There is currently no facility of this kind in London."

They added if a planning application was submitted it would include details of the other sites that were considered, and that the DfE is obliged to consider alternative educational or public sector uses for the site it manages prior to considering a commercial proposal.

Local authorities place children in secure children's homes when no other type of care placement can keep the child safe.

They provide a safe environment where children can receive the specialist care, education and support they need.

An initial public consultation over the secure home is set to take place at Lee Valley Ice Centre on 7 February.

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
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Fire broke out Sunday afternoon at a southwest Charlotte home, according to the Charlotte Fire Department.

Officials first reported the blaze just after 2 p.m. on March 3 in the 500 block of Echodale Drive, saying they could see smoke.

Queen City News/ Brian Christiansen

Queen City News/ Brian Christiansen

Queen City News/ Brian Christiansen

Authorities say 30 firefighters contained the fire in 9 minutes. One person was evaluated by EMS; however, that individual declined an ambulance ride to the hospital.

It is unclear how the fire started or what the extent of the damage was.

This is a developing story; check back for updates

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
Millions of people from around the world marched on Saturday, demanding a ceasefire in the months-long conflict in Gaza, including in downtown Los Angeles.

Thousands of people took to the streets in DTLA, demanding a permanent ceasefire after more than 30,000 people, mostly civilians, have been killed in Gaza, including approximately 10,000 children, according to the Hamas-run Palestinian Health Ministry.

We are five months into one of the worst genocides of the 21st century, Ahmad Hasan, the organizer of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said to KTLA 5s John Fenoglio.

Pressure has been ramping up around the world, calling for a ceasefire. Many Palestineans are facing starvation after months of fighting.

We are asking our government to stop the genocide that is committed by the Israeli government, said demonstrator Zaid Alshrif.

Those wishes could come true after Israel tentatively agreed to a six-week ceasefire on Saturday, and the release of roughly 400 Palestinian hostages in exchange for 40 Israeli hostages.

Thousands of demonstrators marched in downtown Los Angeles demanding an Israeli ceasefire after months of fighting in Gaza on March 2, 2024 (KTLA)

Thousands of demonstrators marched in downtown Los Angeles demanding an Israeli ceasefire after months of fighting in Gaza on March 2, 2024 (KTLA)

Thousands of demonstrators marched in DTLA demanding an Israeli ceasefire after months of fighting in Gaza on March 2, 2024 (KTLA)

Thousands of demonstrators marched in downtown Los Angeles demanding an Israeli ceasefire after months of fighting in Gaza on March 2, 2024 (KTLA)

The U.S. Military drops food for the starving people of Gaza on March 2, 2024. (KTLA)

The destruction in Gaza has continued to worsen after months of fighting. March 2, 2024 (KTLA)



Palestinians walk through destruction from the Israeli bombardment in the Nusseirat refugee camp in Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

FILE  Palestinians rescue a child from under the rubble after Israeli airstrikes in Gaza City, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023. Israels war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip has the Mideast simmering, raising the temperature on tensions across the region and increasing the risk that seemingly localized conflicts could spin out of control. (AP Photo/Abed Khaled, File)

Palestinians walk through destruction from the Israeli bombardment in the Nusseirat refugee camp in Gaza Strip, Friday, Jan. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Adel Hana)

Palestinians inspect damaged graves following an Israeli tank raid over a cemetery in Khan Younis refugee camp, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammed Dahman)

FILE  Israeli troops walk in the Gaza Strip as seen from southern Israel, Dec. 21, 2023. A public school district in Michigan is considering a resolution Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war while also encouraging its teachers to discuss the conflict in its classrooms. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg, File)

With civilians in desperate need of aid in war-torn Gaza, President Joe Biden approved humanitarian aid, with three military planes dropping 38,000 meals. The Pentagon says airdrops will continue for the next several weeks as more than half a million people face starvation.

Many cities around the world saw demonstrations over the weekend, and the French and German governments called for an immediate ceasefire after Israeli forces allegedly opened fire on Palestinians who were waiting to get food. More than 100 people died in that incident on Thursday.

The Israeli government denies the allegations, saying many of those who passed away did so because they were trampled to death as the crowd rushed the aid trucks.

I am really ashamed of my government supporting genocide, said another L.A. demonstrator who only went by Randy. And Im not one to support a government that does support genocide.

More than two million Palestinians have been forced to flee their homes due to the continued airstrikes by the Israeli government, which began following the Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Hamas that killed roughly 1,200 Israeli civilians and soldiers.

Many around the globe have been asking for the Israeli government to remove its ban on allowing water, food and medical supplies into Gaza. The only place where Palestineans are able to receive aid is coming from Egypt at the Rafah Crossing.

We are calling upon our government to cease giving financial military and diplomatic support to the genocide of our families, said Hasan.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Pro-Palestinian demonstrators gather outside L.A. City Hall as part of a global day of action to end the Israel-Hamas war. The watermelon has become an unofficial symbol of Palestinian solidarity. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators marched through downtown Los Angeles on Saturday as part of a worldwide day of action calling for an end to the Israel-Hamas war.

Waving Palestinian flags and banners, the demonstrators rallied outside City Hall about 1 p.m. before beginning a slow march down Broadway chanting and carrying signs that said, "Stop the Genocide," "Free the 2 Million Hostages in Gaza" and "Cease Fire Now."

The crowd of peaceful protesters stretched for several city blocks. Some participants estimated that tens of thousands took part. The Los Angeles Police Department said it did not have a crowd estimate.

An LAPD spokesperson said there were four arrests made at the protest related to vandalism  two for felonies and two for misdemeanors. A fifth person was arrested for trying to free one of the people arrested, the spokesperson said.

A participant in Saturday's pro-Palestinian march in downtown L.A. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

Similar demonstrations took place in large cities across the country, including San Francisco, Seattle, New York and Washington.

Israel launched its airstrikes and a ground invasion of Gaza after Hamas militants attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostages. The death toll in Gaza has since passed 30,000, with most of the casualties women and children, according to the World Health Organization.

Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior U.S. administration official said Saturday, a day before talks to reach an agreement were to resume in Egypt.

International mediators have been working for weeks to broker a pact to pause the fighting before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10. A deal would also probably allow aid to reach hundreds of thousands of desperate Palestinians in northern Gaza who aid officials say are under threat of famine.

The Israelis have more or less accepted the proposal, which includes a six-week cease-fire and the release by Hamas of hostages considered vulnerable, including the sick, the wounded, the elderly and women, the U.S. official said.

United States military planes began the first airdrops of thousands of meals into Gaza, and the militaries of Jordan and Egypt said they also conducted airdrops. Aid groups say airdrops should be only a last resort and instead urge the opening of other crossings into Gaza and the removal of obstacles at the few that are open.

Times staff writer Rebecca Ellis and the Associated Press contributed to this story.

A protester gestures after throwing flour on the front steps of City Hall on Saturday. (Michael Blackshire / Los Angeles Times)

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Thousands of doctors in South Korea took to the streets of Seoul on Sunday to protest the governments plans to increase medical school admissions and what they see as a broader lack of support for the countrys medical system.

The doctors say the government needs to address a wider range of challenges facing the healthcare system than just the total number of doctors trained per year.

Their concerns include staffing in specific fields and the price the government pays for essential medical treatments as well as establishing a proper infrastructure for educating large numbers of new medical students.

The governments plan, announced in February, will increase the number of students admitted to medical schools by 2,000 starting in the 2025 academic year which would bring the total to 5,000 per year.

Trainee doctors are also angry over difficult working conditions that include low pay and long hours.

Around 8,000 trainee doctors in South Korea began striking on February 21 by submitting their resignation. A further 1,000 have resigned since then.

A doctor writes messages during a rally to protest against government plans to increase medical school admissions in Seoul on Sunday. - Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters

The move comes in a bid to meet the changing healthcare demands of one of the worlds fastest aging societies and to boost access in rural areas of the country, according to the government.

The number of child care facilities in the country has shrunk by almost a quarter in just a few years, CNN reported in July, reflecting authorities unsuccessful campaign to encourage couples to have more babies.

Meanwhile, as the population rapidly ages, the number of elderly facilities has boomed from 76,000 in 2017 to 89,643 in 2022, according to the countrys health and welfare ministry.

Compounding the challenge, South Korea has the worlds lowest birth rate, which has been falling continuously since 2015.

On Tuesday, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said his government would not back down on its plans.

Protecting people such as children, the elderly, and people with disabilities is directly linked to the governments core policy on welfare for the vulnerable populations in healthcare. Therefore, this [medical reform] is not a matter for negotiations or compromise, he said at a press conference.

According to a recent Gallup poll, 76% of respondents favoured expanding medical school admissions.

On Thursday, the government issued a back-to-work order, warning striking doctors their medical licenses could be suspended if they did not comply.

Despite the deadline, a representative for South Koreas doctors said they supported the walkout and would continue to push for their demands to be met.

In an effort to continue to provide healthcare during the strike, the government has drafted in military doctors and nurses have been given legal protection to perform some medical procedures normally conducted by doctors, according to the health ministry.

CNNs Jessie Yeung and Yoonjung Seo contributed reporting.

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On March 3, the occupiers shelled the Korabelnyi district of Kherson

Ukrainian authorities reported Russian artillery and missile attacks in the southern Kherson and eastern Donetsk oblasts on the morning of Mar. 3.

A 65-year-old man was injured by shrapnel in a series of Russian artillery strikes on Khersons Korabelny district from the occupied left bank of the Dnipro River, the city's Military Administration head, Roman Mrochko, wrote on Telegram.

He reported at least five direct hits on residential buildings, which damaged apartments, roofs, and kiosks.

Read also: Kherson under overnight attack from Russian shelling from left bank of Dnipro River

 /Telegram

 /Telegram

 /Telegram

 /Telegram

The same morning, two women, aged 24 and 52, received shrapnel wounds resulting from an Iskander missile strike on Pokrovsk, Donetsk Oblast, around 6:30 a.m. EET, according to the Regional Rrosecutor's Office's morning Telegram post.

Several residential buildings were in the epicenter of the blast zone.

Donetsk Regional Rrosecutor's Office

Read also: Six people injured after Russia shells residential neighborhood in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast

Earlier in the day, local military administrations also reported enemy missile strikes on Dnipro and Myrnohrad, Donetsk Oblast, injuring three people.

Russia also attacked Dnipro with a missile during the same night. A fire broke out at the site of the attack. No casualties were reported by the head of the Dnipro Regional Military Administration, Serhiy Lysak.

Read also: Photos reveal shocking extent of Russian recent attack on Odesa

"It's been a tough night for the Dnipro Oblast, he wrote.

But there are no casualties and this is the most important thing. After midnight, the Russians launched a missile attack on Dnipro. A fire broke out at the site of the attack. The fire was extinguished by the emergency service."

The consequences of the attacks are currently being established.

In Odesa, during the Mar. 2 attack, a Russian drone hit a nine-story building, destroying one of the entrances. So far, ten people have been reported dead, including children. Rescue efforts are underway as four more people are believed to be trapped under the rubble.



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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
All four candidates for Franklin County Prosecutor answer questions from the audience Jan. 18 during a debate held at Mount Herman Missionary Baptist Church in Columbus. From left to right are: Anthony Pierson, Natalia Harris, John Rutan and Shayla Favor. Rutan is unopposed in the Republican primary; the other three candidates are running for the Democratic nomination to oppose Rutan in the November general election.

In the most heated Franklin County race in the March primary, three Democrats are running for a chance to replace Franklin County Prosecutor Gary Tyack, a fellow Democrat who is retiring after one term.

The NAACP Columbus branch and other groups have called the Democratic county prosecutor primary "historic" as its among three Black attorneys, which could lead to Franklin Countys first Black prosecutor  and possibly its first female prosecutor.

The three Democratic party candidates are: Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel in Tyacks office; Columbus City Councilmember Shayla Favor and Delaware City Attorney Natalia Harris. The winner will face John Rutan, a local defense attorney who is unopposed on the Republican ballot, in the November general election.

None of the Democratic candidates will have the benefit of appearing on the party slate card handed out at Franklin County polling places for the March 19 primary. In a dramatic moment during the campaign, the county partys executive committee narrowly voted in January not to endorse ahead of the primary at the request of the NAACP and others.

All three candidates submitted to screening by the Franklin County Democratic party, and the screening committee recommended Pierson for endorsement based on his experience. At the party's Jan. 25 executive committee endorsement meeting, Favor joined the call for the party not to endorse any candidate ahead of the primary. Pierson got 77 votes, but needed 95 to reach the 60% threshold of voting members present.

Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel in retiring Prosecutor Gary Tyack's office, watches Jan. 25 as the Franklin County Democratic Party Executive Committee voted on whether to endorse him for prosecutor ahead of the primary. He needed 95 votes but received 77 at the meeting, which was held at the Columbus Firefighters Union IAFF Local 67 hall.

Franklin County's next prosecutor will have to grapple with a backlog of murder cases, some involving juveniles; recent Ohio law changes around self-defense that have resulted in more acquittals in killings; and how to handle criminal cases against police officers.

Heres what the Democrats in the race told The Dispatch about their experience, their vision for the office and how they would handle key issues.

Anthony Pierson

The first candidate to throw their hat in the ring was Pierson, who announced his candidacy in May  the same day he rejoined the Franklin County Prosecutors office for a third time.

Tyacks office created a temporary deputy chief counsel position for Pierson last year with the understanding that Pierson would run to replace Tyack, according to records of emails between the prosecutor's office and the county Office of Management and Budget obtained by The Dispatch.

The management position was created, in part, to oversee the juvenile and grand jury units, which were already overseen by two experienced attorneys. Tyack's office also announced Pierson would focus on minority recruitment, training and retention as well as have a trial docket of homicide and other serious cases. He has been assigned eight cases since May, according to court records.

Tyack and several other county elected officials have endorsed Pierson, including all three county commissioners and Sheriff Dallas Baldwin.

Pierson previously worked in the county prosecutors juvenile and gang units. Before his most recent return, Pierson worked in the Ohio Attorney General's Office prosecuting law enforcement shootings and use of force cases.

This included presenting the Jayland Walker case to a Summit County grand jury, which did not return an indictment last year against the eight Akron police officers who shot and killed Walker. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said Walker shot first from his vehicle while being chased.

Pierson has repeatedly pointed out throughout this race that he by far has the most experience prosecuting felony cases.

For over two decades, I have worked in the criminal justice system, Pierson, 47, said. My entire career has been dedicated to making our community safer."

Pierson has laid out a five-point plan for the office if hes elected that involves training staff; recruiting more Black and minority attorneys; establishing guidelines for sentencing and plea offers; and being transparent in the wake of officer shootings.

Pierson residency

The Dispatch first reported in December that Pierson owns a $465,000 house in Delaware County with his wife in addition to a Columbus condo where he transferred his voter registration in October 2022. Pierson left his Delaware County home as the mailing address for Franklin County Board of Election candidate materials.

Pieron said he has lived or worked in Franklin County since 1999, and he currently does both.

I live here, I pay taxes here, and I am registered to vote here. I have owned my (condo) since 2010. And it is smack-dab in the middle of Franklin County, he said.

Shayla Favor

Favor, 43, announced her candidacy in November, less than a month after she had secured reelection to her seat on Columbus City Council. The councilmember made the announcement surrounded by fellow council members and former Columbus Mayor Michael B. Coleman at The Historic Pythian Theater on Columbus' Near East Side, where Favor lives.

Favor was first appointed to the city council in 2019 to fill an unexpired term. In November 2019, she was elected to her council seat, then reelected last November. Before that, Favor was an assistant Columbus city attorney for five years in the environmental division. In that role, her work included addressing nuisance properties that blighted neighborhoods with crime, she said.

While on the city council, Favor was executive director of a nonprofit funded by the city and Ohio State University aimed at redeveloping the Near East Side. She had that role for two years.

Columbus City Councilmember Shayla Favor, who is an attorney, announces her candidacy for Franklin County Prosecutor during a Nov. 30, 2023, event at The Pythian Theater on the Near East Side, where she lives.

Asked about her lack of experience prosecuting felony cases, Favor said handling misdemeanor cases also requires knowledge and experience with laws.

Favor also noted that criminal prosecution is only one function of the prosecutor's job. Favor saluted her two Democratic opponents for centering their careers on criminal prosecution, but said they are not running for the position of first assistant chief in the criminal division.

The role of the Franklin County prosecutor is much broader than the narrow experience that can only come from being a career prosecutor. There's an immense amount of talent already in the office that handles felonies and excels at trial advocacy, but the buck starts and stops with you as the chief legal adviser for the third-largest law firm in Franklin County, Favor said.

Favor won council reelection, then announced prosecutor run

Favor said she understands why announcing her run for a new office so soon after winning reelection would give some residents pause.

I began to consider running in (the prosecutors) race long after I submitted paperwork for my reelection campaign to the Columbus City Council, Favor said.

Columbus City Councilmember Shayla Favor implored the Franklin County Democratic Party Executive Committee on Jan. 25, 2024, not to endorse any candidate, including herself, in the prosecutor's race ahead of the primary.

Favor said the November 2023 election was historic as the city council expanded from seven to nine seats and moved to electing members through a ward system, though all members are chosen by voters across the city.

Additionally, with reproductive rights on the ballot for the state of Ohio, I needed to be out front on all the critical issues. Public service is a calling, and when opportunity and preparation meet, we are compelled to respond, she said.

Natalia Harris

Harris, 49, who lives in Columbus' Far North Side, is lesser known than her two Democratic opponents. She has never run for office before like Favor, nor has she handled any high-profile cases like Pierson.

Columbus resident Natalia Harris is the Delaware city attorney.

Im currently the highest-ranking legal officer for a city, which is akin to the county prosecutor role  the highest-ranking legal officer for the county, she said.

Harris was appointed Delaware city attorney in 2020 after serving as the city's chief prosecutor for about a year. Delaware city, the county seat of Delaware County, has a population of about 40,000, but is growing.

In her current role, Harris is responsible for managing a budget and staff, defending the city in civil litigation and advising the city council and all city departments on legal matters, she said.

Harris has held several jobs as a city or county attorney over the past 25 years. Harris was an assistant city attorney in Columbus for 11 years and spent most of that time working in civil and administrative law. She has also worked in the appellate unit of the Montgomery County Prosecutors Office in Dayton and she was lead prosecutor for the city of Cincinnati, according to her campaign.

Candidates discuss the issues: Case backlogs

Throughout the race, Harris has said she is running because of a backlog of unresolved murder cases in the county. She alleged in January that the backlog was 251 cases and said thats evidence new leadership is needed.

Delaware City Attorney Natalia Harris speaks at a candidate forum in January.

Pierson said that number is wildly inaccurate. He said the backlog is more like 80 homicide cases, and is largely due to the courts slowing down during the COVID-19 pandemic.

There were 168 homicide cases indicted in 2023 alone and the average murder case from indictment to trial takes 1 to 2 years, Pierson said.

Still, Pierson said he has prioritized training staff since rejoining the office in May on how to best handle complex cases and get that backlog down.

Favor said as prosecutor, she would work quickly to assess where the backlog exists and make a plan with existing staff, prioritizing homicide and other violent crimes.

Juvenile cases

Reporting by The Dispatch and other Ohio papers last year uncovered poor conditions in the states juvenile prisons and jails that struggle to rehabilitate incarcerated youth. At the same time, Columbus and most major U.S. cities are dealing with a rise in teens stealing cars and carrying guns.

Favor said people who break the law must be held accountable.

However, I dont believe we can prosecute our way out of the public health crisis that is youth violence in our community. Catch and release is a problem. As Franklin County prosecutor, I want to increase the number of youth diversion programs, Favor said.

Favor also criticized Tyacks office for not adequately supporting a pilot diversion program in the juvenile court for kids accused of car theft.

City Councilmember Shayla Favor answers questions during a candidate forum in January.

Harris called the rising juvenile cases a community issue, and she would also try to divert juveniles before they touch the justice system by engaging the community to reach solutions.

Under my administration juveniles will be held accountable for the crimes they commit, but also have the resources available for successful rehabilitation if they so choose, Pierson said.

Self-defense, 'stand your ground' cases

The Dispatch has reported on the increasing prevalence of self-defense claims in Franklin County murder trials and how more than half the time last year, such defendants won acquittal.

Law changes in Ohio in recent years have shifted the burden of proof in self-defense cases to the prosecution and largely removed the duty to retreat, making Ohio a 'stand your ground' state.

With more people carrying guns, there has been a rise in these kinds of homicides, not just trials, Favor said.

Favor said she would invite defendants asserting self-defense to testify before the grand jury. She also said she would establish training for prosecuting attorneys so they can explain the new law to a jury of lay persons and conduct effective jury selection.

Anthony Pierson, deputy chief counsel in Prosecutor Gary Tyack's office, answers questions from the audience during a candidates forum in January.

Pierson said prosecutors across the state have been struggling with the law changes. He said he would be a vocal advocate for the legislature to repeal or amend the law, while also refining the offices strategy in the meantime.

Harris said she would review each case to determine if there are any trends and proceed accordingly.

Prosecuting law enforcement officers

How to handle prosecuting law enforcement officers for fatal shootings was a theme in the last prosecutors election and its a theme now.

Favor criticized Tyacks office for not resolving officers' cases promptly, former Columbus police officer Adam Coy and former Franklin County Sheriffs deputy Jason Meade.

After a jury could not reach a verdict in Meades murder trial and the judge declared a mistrial on Feb. 19, the prosecutor candidates largely agreed the special prosecutors should retry Meade for the 2020 fatal shooting of Casey Goodson Jr.

Favor declined to discuss the case with The Dispatch when asked before the retrial was announced.

The prosecutors office represents the county and sheriffs office in civil litigation, so Tyack had to bring in outside special prosecutors to handle Meades case. But a prosecutor has leeway on whether to bring in special prosecutors on police cases and then can decide whether to contract private attorneys or ask the Ohio Attorney Generals Office or another county prosecutors office to handle the case.

Tyack has taken all three approaches at different times.

Franklin County Prosecutor G. Gary Tyack, a Democrat, took office in 2021 after winning the 2020 election against Ron O'Brien, a Republican who was the longest-serving prosecutor in county history. Tyack was a former judge on Ohio's 10th District Court of Appeals, which handles cases from Franklin County courts and the state of Ohio.

Favor criticized Tyack for not having a consistent policy on when to bring in a special prosecutor and said she would formalize the procedure to restore community trust.

Pierson said there are pros and cons to handling the case internally versus appointing special counsel.

Local handling of these cases can sometimes be perceived to come with bias because of close working relationships, whereas transferring to special counsel can give some peace of mind knowing there is separation, he said. I plan to have ongoing community conversations on the best approach, taking into account transparency and accountability.

Pierson said to increase transparency, if a grand jury were to not return an indictment against an officer, his office would post the entire case file online within 48 hours.

Harris said she would prosecute officers who commit crimes the same way she would prosecute anyone else who commits crimes. She said special prosecutors would be brought in on cases the office could not legally handle and the determinations on others would be case-by-case.

jlaird@dispatch.com

@LairdWrites

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Three Democrats are running for Franklin County prosecutor in primary
Senate Minority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) has picked up the support of at least two of his GOP colleagues, as he holds conversations about becoming the upper chambers next Republican leader.

Republican Sens. Markwayne Mullin (Okla.) and Mike Rounds (S.D.) on Sunday indicated their support for Thune during appearances on the Sunday morning talk shows.

Thune is among one of three Johns considered likely contenders for the Senates Republican leader after Sen. Mitch McConnell (Ky.) announced last week he would step down from his longtime post in November. He will remain in the Senate at least until the end of his term in 2027.

Other contenders include Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas), the latter of whom was the first to formally announce his bid last week. Thune told reporters last week he is talking to his fellow GOP senators about the position.

Rounds, appearing on ABC Newss This Week, said he believes Thune will bring a fresh breath and called him the right guy at the right time.

Great moral character. Hes the right kind of a guy. And I think he will be independent enough to where he will look out also, just like Mitch did, for the institution of the Senate itself. So, Im optimistic. Its the reason why Im supporting him, Rounds said.

Regardless of who it is, Rounds called on McConnells successor to remain steadfast in the wake of potential opposition and criticism from former President Trump. McConnell and Trumps tense relationship was widely known on Capitol Hill, and the Kentucky Republican emerged as one of the few GOP senators who openly stood up to the former president.

ABC News anchor Jonathan Karl on Sunday pointed out Thune has clashed mightily with Donald Trump. Despite Thunes criticism of the former president, he endorsed Trump last week after vowing to support whoever becomes the eventual GOP nominee.

I think well have continued good leadership. John Thune, I think, is kind of leading the race right now. Hes my stablemate out here, also from South Dakota. Solid. And he understands politics as well, Rounds said.

Whoever the Republican nominee is, were going to get behind them, and were going to make sure that this thing happens where we get back to actually building this economy again and getting some of the folks in this part of the world that are just angry as all get-out right now because of the cost of living and so forth back  back feeling like were trying to fix things, he added.

Mullin, on CNNs State of The Union, said Thune understands the GOP party and recognizes both the need for the party to be united, and the high likelihood Trump could be the GOP presidential nominee.

Im very good friends with Senator Thune. Thats why my support is with him. That doesnt say anything bad about the other candidates that may be running. I know [Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.)] is throwing his name around, that he may be doing it. John Barrasso is a great guy. John Cornyn is a great guy, Mullin said.

Im just better friends with Thune. And I have seen his leadership skills move around. Even when Mitch was unable to be at the Capitol because of some illnesses, I saw Thune step up in a very effective manner. And what I look for in any position that needs to be in leadership  is someone that can lead in very dangerous and critical times, he added.

When asked if Trump could try to block Thune, Mullin said he doesnt know.

President Trump and I had a really good conversation last week. My advice to President Trump, which  President Trumps his own man  hes going to make it his decision, and he does a good job in that  is to stay out of the race, because its a lose-lose situation, Mullin said. He needs to work  with whatever leader is there. And let me tell you, whatever leader is there understands that theyre going to have to work with President Trump, too.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The Supreme Court is a supreme threat to American democracy. That was Abraham Lincolns view in light of the Dred Scott decision, expressed in his First Inaugural Address. And it was vividly illustrated after Lincoln's assassination, when the Civil War amendments and civil rights legislation passed by Congress were effectively nullified by the Supreme Court, enabling former Confederates and other white supremacists to destroy the possibility of multiracial democracy for almost a century. Our democracy suffers when an unelected group of lawyers take away our ability to govern ourselves, as Harvard Law professor Nikolas Bowie wrote in 2021, based on his testimony before the do-nothing Presidential Commission on the Supreme Court of the United States.

Since then, the Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, which overturned the precedent of Roe v. Wade, has brought Bowies point home with a vengeance. But its not just about abortion. On guns, environmental protection, discrimination, labor rights, affirmative action, student debt relief and numerous other issues, Mitch McConnell's court-packing scheme and Donald Trump's appointments have succeeded in dramatically undercutting Americans' peoples capacity for self-government and the promotion of the general welfare promised in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution.

While the electoral backlash against Dobbs has been heartening, that's essentially a reaction to the most alarming and personally invasive Supreme Court decision, not a proactive effort to dismantle the source of the threat. That's why the new online lecture and discussion course, What to Do About the Courts, feels so important: It's an effort to begin laying the groundwork for fundamental court reform. Its a collaboration between the Law and Political Economy Project and the Peoples Parity Project which featured Bowie as its leadoff lecturer on Jan. 30. A second session, looking at the history of reform efforts, was held Feb. 20.

This is really core to what our organizations are doing and how we're thinking about the work that we need to be engaged in for many years to come, PPP executive director Molly Coleman told Salon. The online venue, she said, made it possible to open this up quite a bit more than if we had done this as an in-person meeting group on a law school campus.

The discussion component is critical, according to LPEP executive director Corinne Blalock: It really does reflect our theory of change and how we understand how ideas move in the world.

We didn't want this to just be a lecture series," Coleman added. Court reform should be something that's built by the people. Part of this project is thinking about how we end judicial supremacy, how we make sure that the people have power, and not just unelected, unaccountable judges. We would be remiss if that wasn't modeled in our programming.

For generations, Americans have largely been blind to the Supreme Courts profoundly anti-democratic character, because under former Chief Justice Earl Warren, the court was instrumental in reversing the post-Reconstruction destruction of democracy, most notably with the landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education, which officially ended school segregation. But however significant Brown was in cultural and historic terms, in reality it only reduced segregation and certainly did not restore multiracial democracy. Congress began to do that with the 1965 Voting Rights Act  but nearly 50 years later, in Shelby County v. Holder, the Supreme Court undid much of that law and once again began undermining democracy.

The halo effect around the Supreme Court, resulting from the Brown decision and the Warren court's legacy more broadly  which continued into the 1970s with Roe v. Wade  was finally shattered for most attentive Americans by the Dobbs decision in 2022. Now, perhaps, Bowies unheeded warning a year before that may get the hearing it deserves, fleshed out by a range of possible court reforms that have been considered, implemented in the past (the subject of the courses second session) or modeled elsewhere by healthier democracies (the subject of its upcoming third one).

Really thinking about transforming the court felt politically inconceivable a few years ago," said Blalock. "There were certainly scholars who felt the urgency, but we needed the material stakes to really connect it to people's lives. With all the atrocious things that the Supreme Court has done recently, that piece has sort of been done for us. So our role is helping people connect that to a set of political ideas.

There's another and perhaps larger concern, Blalock continued. For everyone on the left or left of center who's thinking about transformative change, whether it's climate change, reproductive rights or labor, it feels like the Supreme Court is looming, she said. We felt that our two organizations were particularly well-suited to step in and help connect the dots.

Despite this moment where the Supreme Court is at the center of so many conversations, despite a lot of excitement and energy around the possibility of court reform, there is a lack of information about what court reform can look like, Coleman added. Even folks who are living and breathing this work in advocacy spaces might be talking about expansion or might be talking about ethics reform, but so many of these other reforms that have been tried in the past haven't entered the mainstream conversation. We felt there was an important void to fill, to take some of these ideas that are being discussed in the legal academy or by historians and bring them to the mainstream of progressive organizing spaces.

The series began with Bowie addressing the foundation of the problem: the wildly disproportionate power of the Supreme Court, where five individuals can effectively thwart the will of 340 million citizens. Because judicial supremacy is so deeply ingrained in our system, people tend to assume its enshrined in the Constitution. Its not. Lawyers are taught that it derives from the Supreme Court's legendary 1803 decision Marbury v. Madison, but theyre generally not taught the larger story that casts the decision in a questionable partisan light. One might describe it, in fact, as a judicial coup.

As Bowie recounted, when the Federalist government under President John Adams passed the wildly unconstitutional Alien and Sedition Acts in 1798, the opposing party led by Thomas Jefferson didn't turn to the courts. Federal judges were just as partisan, just as committed to stamping out political opposition, as anyone else, Bowie said. So Jefferson's party ended up getting rid of this law not by going to court, but by winning an election.

In the lame-duck session that followed Jefferson's victory in the controversial election of 1800, Adams and the Federalists created a bunch of new federal courts and packed them with supportive judges. That included Adams' appointment of John Marshall, the outgoing secretary of state, as chief justice of the Supreme Court. After that, Bowie said, Jefferson's party proposed a bill to destroy or undo all these new courts, which led to fierce debate:

Federalists responded [that] federal courts need to have this power to strike down federal laws. If Congress can simply get rid of the courts, then federal courts won't have this power anymore. And for Jefferson's party in Congress, they thought the idea that federal courts would strike down federal laws was this crazy innovation. Just a really bad idea and obviously partisan in motivation.  They thought there was nothing in the Constitution that says a federal judge can strike down a federal law. It would be a really weird distribution of power to give federal judges this control.

In the wake of that debate, Bowie said, Marshall authored the famous majority opinion in Marbury v. Madison, which "effectively just parroted the Federalist position from Congress. In short, the position held by a minority in Congress became the law of the land  and not on some narrow legalistic point, but on the fundamental question of who is allowed to interpret the Constitution.

That remained a purely theoretical issue for more than 50 years. Marshall didn't end up disagreeing with Congress about the constitutionality of any legislation for the remainder of his term, Bowie said. Then came the 1857 Dred Scott decision, which struck down the Missouri Compromise and denied Congress the right to prohibit slavery in the nations territories. This became a defining issue for the newly-formed Republican Party, which didnt just shrug and accept it. As Bowie put it, They responded, 'What is the court doing? The court should not have this power,' and ran on a platform that repudiated the court's power to decide this constitutional question. After Lincoln was elected in 1860, he and Congress passed legislation that did precisely what the Supreme Court said Congress could not do.

There was certainly much more to Bowies presentation  and much more Supreme Court mischief that undermined the rights of Black Americans for generations  but that should be sufficient to show that our meek modern-day acceptance of judicial supremacy rests upon a profound ignorance of our own history. Both Jefferson and Lincoln, revered today as the founders of our two major parties, vehemently rejected judicial supremacy. It's time for 21st-century Americans to seriously consider doing the same  or at the very least, to place significant limitations on it. The question, of course, is exactly how to limit or replace judicial supremacy, and what specific reforms can get us there.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

The February session of "What to Do About the Courts" began to answer those questions, looking into the history of court-disempowering reforms and proposals, with professors Samuel Moyn of Yale and William Forbath of the University of Texas. Moyn cited a number of reform ideas:

Popular overrides of court decisions by referendum, as proposed by Theodore Roosevelt in his 1912 third-party presidential campaign.

"Jurisdiction stripping," meaning laws that limit the court's jurisdiction over certain kinds of statutes.

A supermajority requirement, meaning a bare majority of five justices could not invalidate laws passed by Congress, as proposed by progressive Sen. William Borah in 1923.

Congressional authority to override any Supreme Court decision by a two-thirds vote, as proposed by Sen. Robert La Follette Sr. in his 1924 third-party presidential campaign.

Prohibiting federal court injunctions in labor disputes, as mandated by the 1932 NorrisLa Guardia Act.

Forbath looked more closely at the history of labor law: how the growth of a national economy increased the use of secondary strikes and boycotts, how common law and the Sherman Anti-Trust Act were used to declare them illegal and how that, along with court-sanctioned state violence, inspired a decades-long, high-profile campaign of official union defiance of anti-strike and anti-boycott decrees, undergirded by a richly elaborated moral and constitutional order, a rival order built on the First and 13th amendments. That movement declared, Forbath said, that courts were quite literally creating property rights in man and elevating property rights over human rights.

During the 1920s, Forbath continued, there were constant calls and dozens of bills and proposals for laws and amendments to the Constitution that would enact what we call court reform. They brought movement constitutionalism to the halls of Congress, resulting in the aforementioned Norris-La Guardia Act, even before FDR's New Deal. That came about in part, Forbath said, because the judiciary had squander[ed] its own legitimacy. Too many working-class Americans had come to see the courts for what they were: They were the place where the ruling class went to rule, dispensing class-bound decisions in the name of the Constitution.

That kind of keen historical awareness, vigilance and activism may well be needed today. Arguably that shouldnt be difficult to ignite, given the current radical Supreme Court and its recent actions. It may be much more difficult to create a unified movement with a clear vision for change. Divisions. to be sure, existed in earlier eras as well. Back in the early 20th century, there was a rift between Black freedom organizations like the NAACP and labor and progressives who were most invested in labor reforms," Forbath said. While the latter groups wanted to disempower the courts, the Black freedom movement largely did not, because the courts  however inadequate they were  appeared to be its most reliable allies.

That particular division no longer applies, but there are undeniably different priorities for different constituencies that could fragment reform efforts. More broadly, Forbath asked: Do we want movement justices and judges, as brash in their way as the right-wing movement justices today? Or do you want more technocratic judges, committed above all to judicial restraint and a fair reading of progressive statutes? The answer is not immediately obvious.

The seminar's next session, Blalock said, will be "on the international and comparative perspective, which helps make this all feel so much more doable, particularly when for so long these have been treated like radically fringe ideas. After that, we're going to dig a little more into the weeds about what the options are [and] really walk through the specific nature of how the reform would work. The final session is going to be on how we build a movement around this. We're bringing in Astra Taylor from the Debt Collective, in conversation with Sabeel Rahman, who comes from more the government policy side, to talk about how we take these ideas forward beyond the reading group.

So far, the feedback has been "alarmingly positive," Coleman said. The biggest thing we're hearing is that even current law students aren't hearing these ideas on their campus. They really feel that they're getting something unique in this space [and] they're really excited to bring it back to broader communities." Beyond law school campuses, there are leaders in progressive organizations who want every single person they work with to be at the next iteration of the reading group, she said. People want more folks to know what conversations are happening. That's been pretty exciting.

While attorneys, law students and activists are important audiences for these ideas, theres also a need for broader conceptual, narrative and communications work aimed at a general audience. The right has successfully unified under the rhetoric of constitutional originalism, regardless of how vacuous that idea is in practice (Salon stories here and here). Conservative power is grounded in conceptual simplicity, even though the right's ideas have proven inherently inadequate to the complexity of the modern world. To counter it, liberals and progressives must address that complexity  real history and real science, not myths  while heeding Einsteins advice: Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler. In short, the progressive movement needs a counternarrative of its own, although identifying just one narrative might prove impossible.

One possible narrative, alluded to above, is to focus on the constitutional concept of "general welfare," articulated in terms of public goods, an underlying logic laid out in Donald Cohen and Allen Mikalean's 2022 book The Privatization of Everything. Another possibility is to focus on public health, which, as I argued in 2021, can serve as a long-term, overarching framework to reframe our politics, to provide us with new common sense in addressing a wide range of diverse issues by highlighting common themes and connecting what works.

Other narratives are surely possible. But it's crucial that they encompass those four elements: common sense, a wide range of diverse issues, common themes and a pragmatic focus on what works. Its no accident that the common law tradition encompasses those central themes. The promise of "What to Do About the Courts" is that history teaches us that change is possible and we can make it happen: Once legal scholars and activists on the left have fashioned the right framework, they believe they'll have the wind at their backs.
TEL AVIV, Israel  A top Israeli Cabinet minister headed to Washington on Sunday for talks with U.S. officials, sparking a rebuke from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an Israeli official, in a sign of widening cracks in Israels wartime government nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahus hard-line government early in the war following Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel, comes amid deep disagreements between Netanyahu and President Joe Biden over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and create a post-war vision for the enclave.

Talks aimed at brokering a Gaza cease-fire were underway in Egypt. International mediators hope to broker a deal that would pause the fighting and free some of the remaining hostages before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins around March 10.

The U.S. was prompted to airdrop aid into Gaza on Saturday after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from an Israel-organized convoy were killed last week. The airdrops circumvent an aid delivery system that has been hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues in Gaza and the fighting inside the tiny enclave. Aid officials say airdrops are far less effective than aid sent via trucks.



U.S. priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahus hard-line Cabinet, where ultranationalists dominate. Gantzs more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight to Netanyahus far-right allies.

An official from Netanyahus Likud party said Gantzs visit was without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz about the trip and told him the country has just one prime minister.

An Israeli official said Gantz had informed Netanyahu of his intention to travel to the U.S. and to coordinate messaging with him. The official said the visit is meant to strengthen ties with Washington, bolster support for Israels ground campaign and push for the release of Israeli hostages held in Gaza.

Gantz is set to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, according to his National Unity party.

Both officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they werent authorized to discuss the dispute with the media.

Netanyahu has tanked in popularity since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls, with many Israelis holding him responsible for Hamas cross-border raid that left 1,200 people, mostly civilians, dead and roughly 250 people, including women, children and older adults, abducted and taken into Gaza, according to Israeli authorities.

The subsequent fighting has killed at least 30,410 Palestinians, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Around 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and U.N. agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Critics say Netanyahus decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu has released a proposal that would see Israel maintain open-ended security control over the territory with local Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The U.S. wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantzs party has questioned the handling of the war and the strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahus government, Israels most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews, many of whom are exempted to pursue religious studies. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7, and the military is looking to fill its ranks.

Gantz, who polls show would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today, has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood.



A visit to the U.S., if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantzs support. Israel has essentially endorsed a framework of a proposed Gaza cease-fire and hostage release deal, and it is now up to Hamas to agree to it, a senior U.S. official said Saturday. He spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House to brief reporters.

Israelis, deeply traumatized by Hamas attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defense, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last years demonstrations against the governments judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Jerusalems Hebrew University.

There is a lot of anger, he said, listing grievances that were building well before Oct. 7. The moment you have that anger and a coalition that is disconnected from the people, there will be fireworks.

Fighting raged on in Gaza, with Israeli strikes late Saturday killing more than 30 people, including women and children, according to local health officials.
Colin Rayner, an arable farmer in Berkshire, describes himself as a dyed-in-the-wool conservative.

He is a lifelong Tory voter, a member of the party since the 1980s, and the president of his local Conservative association. But given what he sees as a litany of failures from the Conservative government to support farmers, Rayner is seeing red.

He fears farmers will abandon the Tories in huge numbers at the next general election and that, under a Labour government, rural communities could end up with an even worse deal.

Farmers think that the Conservative party has abandoned them, when they have given them loyal support for many many years, he says.

Rayners family have been farming the same land in Berkshire since 1551, and, along with his cousin, he currently farms just under 2,000 acres, growing wheat, barley, maize and oilseed rape. They keep a small herd of Highland cattle and Belted Galloway to supplement their income. His three daughters  triplets aged 26  are primed to take over.

Now he fears he wont have a viable farm for them to inherit. It has become harder and harder to make a living, thanks to rising input costs, low supermarket prices and farming policy that, as he sees it, disincentivises farmers from doing what they have done for centuries: put food on the table.

Farmer Colin Rayner: 'We seem to have a government that blames the farmers for everything' - John Lawrence

Under the new Sustainable Farming Incentive scheme, introduced in 2022, the Government wants us to plant wildflowers instead of grow food, he says. Our hands are tied we are now producing food below the cost of production.

He estimates that last year he lost 300 on every acre of wheat he farms. We need the politicians of all parties to understand that we need food from the UK, he says. Im 66 now, I should be retired. But Im going to have to work for another 12 years whether I like it or not, because were losing money farming so Im not saving any for retirement.

At last weeks National Farmers Union (NFU) conference, Rishi Sunak told farmers, I have your back and reminisced about the time he milked a cow. Rayner, who was in the audience, says the atmosphere was mildly hostile, as many farmers now feel this is nothing more than empty rhetoric.

Rayner says the atmosphere was 'mildly hostile' when Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke at the National Farmers Union conference - Adrian Dennis/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

The trade deals Boris Johnson struck with Australia and New Zealand when he was still prime minister are another point of contention. They came into force in May 2023 and eliminated tariffs on agricultural products, opening the floodgates to imports from Australia and New Zealand.

British beef, lamb and dairy farmers have higher costs of production than their counterparts on the other side of the world and many feel they simply cannot compete.

We seem to have a government that blames the farmers for everything, says Rayner. They just say, We love farmers, but the trade deals [such as those for cheap lamb from New Zealand] have upset farmers a great deal. Upset them so much, in fact, that it might change how they vote.

With a general election on the horizon, all signs point to the true blue rural heartlands turning red, or green, or yellow. Polling conducted by the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) forecast that the Conservatives would lose 53 of the 96 rural seats they currently hold in the next election (including those of Jacob Rees-Mogg, Jeremy Hunt and Therese Coffey) and that Labour would win 51, up from 3 in 2019. Politicos London Playbook called it the 2024 election equivalent of the red wall moment.

Im not sure about a red wall. Cant it be a green hedge? asks Victoria Vyvyan, the president of the CLA. The results of the poll come as no surprise to Vyvyan. That being said, she says farmers or those in rural communities are unlikely to be defecting to the Green Party  her view is that the Green Party takes an urban view thats very critical of the [environmental] work that we do.

All the issues facing farming essentially boil down to the same age-old problem: rural communities feel ignored by Westminster. A year or so ago I was speaking at a small farming evening and, at the end, the first hand that went up said, Why does nobody respect our community? Why is our community deemed so unimportant by the Government? I think what we feel is that were politically invisible, says Vyvyan.

Maybe theres been a history in these large political parties of thinking they have our vote for life, she says, but they dont  we lend them a vote for five years, and then we expect them to come and ask us again.

Farmers like Rayner feel 'ignored' by the Government - John Lawrence

This sea-change is already evident in a series of by-election swings fuelled by the farming vote. In June 2022, the Tories lost the Tiverton and Honiton seat to the Lib Dems. In North Shropshire, they went on to lose a seat they had held for 115 years to Lib Dem Helen Morgan, who overturned a Conservative majority of over 23,000. In July last year, there was another Lib Dem victory over the Tories in Somerton and Frome.

Recent data commissioned by the NFU from Deltapoll was equally damning about the Conservative chances in the next election. It showed that Conservative support in heartland farming constituencies could plummet from 58 per cent at the 2019 election to 32 per cent this year.

It also projected that Labour would gain a narrow lead with 36 per cent of the rural vote, up from 20 per cent in 2019, and the Lib Dems would hold steady at around 14 per cent. There was a surge in voting intention for other parties, from 6 per cent in 2019 to 18 per cent this year, which Deltapoll says is driven by support for Reform. And 59 per cent of adults said that the current Government has not done enough to support British farmers.

In her last address as NFU President, Minette Batters pointed out that in Britain, as a landowner, you can receive between 800 and 1100 per acre if you put up a solar farm (index-linked for a minimum of 20 years).

Imagine if the same applied to growing veg, she said. Why do other elements of our critical national infrastructure receive guaranteed financial support from the taxpayer when food production does not?

NFU President Minette Batters and Rishi Sunak at the National Farmers' Union annual conference, February 2024 - Jacob King/PA

Despite the fact that swathes of the countryside could turn red, Vyvyan, who lives in the Conservative constituency of St Ives in Cornwall, is not convinced that Labour has a significantly better offer for those who live rurally. Its a race to the bottom, isnt it? she says.

In CLA polling, more voters  28 per cent  said that Labour understood and respected rural communities and their way of life than the Conservatives (25 per cent). But neither of them should be patting themselves on the back, she says. Rural communities are incredibly innovative, entrepreneurial and hard-working, with untapped potential  if only politicians were willing to listen.

Some farmers, like Tom Bramall, 60, are undecided floating voters. Bramall is a third-generation dairy farmer in Cheshire who works with his wife, Catherine.

I was very against Brexit, which is unusual for a farmer  most of them voted for it and probably regret it now, he says. Building a new agricultural policy framework from scratch is a difficult challenge which he feels the Government has done a reasonable job of solving, although theres a danger theyve gone too far with some of the greening policies and it might actually be threatening food production.

He has historically voted Conservative, and would now reconsider. I want to say that we could do with change, but Im struggling to see the Labour Party come up with positive policies to combat climate change and be pro-business at the same time, he says.

Everyone I speak to cites Wales as a salutary tale for how Labour policies can run farming into the ground. Recent CLA polling found that just 3 per cent of Welsh farmers trust the Labour-run Welsh government.

Vyvyan says they have every right to be fed up. In England we are three years into a [post-Brexit] transition  in Wales they havent even started, and theyve reduced the budget. So farmers feel hung out to dry.

One idea that has been put forward is that farmers should have to plant 10 per cent of their land with trees. This month, farmers have resorted to French-style slow tractor protests against the Governments proposals.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: Farming is very important to Wales and our economy and we want a successful future for Welsh farming. We are committed to continuing to work with farmers to develop the Sustainable Farming Scheme. No decisions will be taken about any element of the proposal until we have conducted a full analysis of the consultation responses.

But in parts of England it is a similar story. Farmers in Kent have similarly staged a tractor blockade against low supermarket prices and cheap imports. Perhaps, when the election comes round, they will take their protest to the ballot box.

A Government spokesman said: At this years NFU Annual Conference the Prime Minister committed to supporting farmers and strengthening our food security after destabilising events like Russias invasion of Ukraine and soaring global prices. This includes setting out the biggest ever package of grants, expected to total 427 million, with funding for future focused farming technology and productivity schemes.

Our voluntary schemes in England put sustainable, profitable and diverse food production at their core, while supporting farmers to protect the environment  with nearly half of all farmers already signed up. We continue to invest in farming through the 2.4 billion annual farming budget and look at ways to improve fairness in the supply chain, prioritise new export opportunities, protect UK food standards and remove market access barriers.

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Russian proxy authorities in occupied Crimea shut down traffic on the Crimean Bridge in the early hours of March 3, amid reports of explosions in Feodosia.

Authorities announced that vehicle traffic was blocked on the bridge at around 3:40 a.m. local time. Earlier in the night, local Telegram channels reported that residents heard sounds of explosions near an oil depot in Feodosia.

No reason was given for the traffic closure. Russian officials and the Russian Defense Ministry have not yet commented on reports of explosions.

The bridge, also called the Kerch Bridge, connects the Russian mainland with the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula. Construction on the bridge began after the illegal 2014 annexation and occupation of Crimea, and was completed in 2018.

The 19-kilometer long bridge is a critical supplies and transport route for Russian forces in Crimea and mainland Ukraine, and has been the target of repeated attacks following Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Ukrainian forces have intensified attacks on targets in occupied Crimea, particularly against Russia's Black Sea Fleet, over the past months. A Ukrainian missile strike destroyed a Russian landing ship docked at Feodosia in December 2023. Its sister ship was sunk in the Black Sea the morning of Feb. 14 in a joint operation by Ukraine's military intelligence and armed forces.

In an interview with Fox News released Feb. 22, President Volodymyr Zelensky said more "surprises" were in store for Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
FILE - In this Thursday, Sept. 17, 2015, photo, an open and overflowing garbage container is seen next to a park in the Chinatown neighborhood of New York. As of Friday, March 1, 2024, all 200,000 businesses in the Big Apple are required to put out their bags of trash in garbage bins, as communities across the county and world have long done. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

NEW YORK (AP)  New York City's tradition of piling garbage bags on the sidewalk for pickup is going the way of the dinosaur.

As of Friday, all 200,000 businesses in the Big Apple are required to put out their bags of trash in garbage bins, as communities across the country and world have long done.

The requirement is the next phase in the city's efforts to curb what Mayor Eric Adams' administration has called a 24-hour rat buffet of trash on sidewalks.

The city in August started requiring restaurants, convenience stores and bars to use a sturdy trash can with a secure lid and extended the requirement to chain stores the following month.

Now every city enterprise, including mom-and-pop shops, must comply. In the fall, residential buildings with nine or fewer units will come under the mandate.

Eliminating the mounds of trash that come from larger residential buildings is still a work in progress. Starting in spring 2025, all buildings in a handful of neighborhoods in Manhattan will be required to use outdoor receptacles as part of a pilot project.

Adams announced last month that the city will eventually roll out trucks capable of lifting and emptying large on-street containers, which will be needed to accomodate all the waste from high-density buildings. While common elsewhere, they will be a departure for New Yorkers accustomed to the sight of sanitation workers tossing in bags by hand.

Commercial trash makes up nearly half of the some 44 million pounds of refuse collected by the city each day, according to Adams, who has made combating the citys rodents a focus.

City officials will issue warningsto businesses for the first month of the new mandate, and will begin issuing summonses in April, Sanitation Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in media appearances Friday morning with Adams.

Joshua Goodman, a spokesperson for the city sanitation department, said the only requirement for businesses is that they use a solid bin with a secure lid.

Businesses must work with their waste hauler to find out what kind of receptacle they should use, because business trash is collected by private haulers, not the city.
An inmate's death at the Travis County Jail is being investigated, according to a news release issued Sunday by the Travis County sheriff's office.

Jeffrey Pope, 30, was booked into the jail Feb. 21 and charged with assault of a family member. He was found unresponsive in his unit shortly before 6:15 p.m. Thursday. Life-saving measures were attempted by jail employees and were continued by Austin-Travis County EMS, after which he was taken to a hospital. Pope died there Friday morning, the statement said.

Court records show Pope was being held in lieu of $10,000 bail and was scheduled to have his first hearing April 8.

Multiple agencies are investigating Pope's death, including the sheriff's internal affairs unit, the criminal investigations division, the Texas Rangers and the Travis County medical examiners office. The final autopsy report is pending.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Travis County inmate dies in custody; death investigation ongoing
Pro-Palestinian protesters block the entrances to the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto on Saturday. (Christian Paas-Lang/CBC - image credit)

A Toronto event where Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was scheduled to host his Italian counterpart was cancelled on Saturday evening due to security concerns as hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside the venue, a spokesperson for the Prime Minister's Office said.

Justin Trudeau's office says neither he nor Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni were able to enter the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO), which went into lockdown over the protests.

Demonstrators criticized the federal government's handling of the Israel-Hamas war and chanted that Trudeau was funding a genocide in Gaza.

Police told CBC News there were roughly 200 to 300 protesters outside the AGO on Saturday, but noted it was difficult to estimate the total size of the demonstration as protesters gathered outside several entrances.

"Due to security concerns, the event was cancelled," a spokesperson for the PMO told CBC News on Saturday night via email.

Would-be attendees gathered outside were confronted by demonstrators, with their paths to entry blocked. Some were later escorted to the building's entrance by police.

Christian Paas-Lang/CBC

International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen tried to enter through the main entrance, but protesters blocked his path and followed him for two blocks as he tried to enter a more secure location while flanked by police.

"You are complicit in the genocide. Your hands are red. You are complicit in the murder of my family members and my friends," one demonstrator said to him.

Meloni, Italy's prime minister since 2022, was in Toronto for meetings with Trudeau. The two G7 leaders discussed a wide range of topics, including what Meloni called the "very difficult Middle East crisis."

Israel declared war on Hamas following an Oct. 7 attack that saw 1,200 people killed and some 250 kidnapped by the Islamist militants, according to Israeli tallies.

The subsequent military operation by Israel in Hamas-controlled Gaza has now killed more than 30,000 people, most of them women and children, Gaza health officials say.

Canada, which considers Hamas a terrorist group, has repeatedly said that Israel has the right to defend itself, but Ottawa has more recently called for a ceasefire in the conflict due to the deteriorating humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images
Nikki Haleys decision to stay in the GOP primary fight against former President Trump despite a string of losses is raising questions about her end game.

Haley has pledged to stay in the contest at least through Super Tuesday, when more than a dozen additional states will vote, arguing the primary should not be a coronation. But she has taken heat from Trump and his allies for continuing her bid into March.

Trump allies have snuffed out any suggestion that Haley could be positioning herself as an alternative to the former president should he be convicted in one of his criminal cases or bow out of the race.

I think she knows her career is over and this is all about appeasing anti-Trump donors to take care of her on the way out, said one pro-Trump Republican operative.

Haley has raked in millions of dollars and earned thousands of votes since the Iowa caucuses in January, evidence at least some in the party are interested in an alternative to Trump.

The former ambassador to the United Nations has thrown cold water on the idea of running as a third-party candidate with the political organization No Labels, but she has struggled to point to any state on the GOP primary calendar where she can beat Trump.

Haley last month was asked on Fox News if she views herself as an insurance policy depending on how Trumps court cases turn out.

I very much see myself as a Republican option that people can realize when you see Donald Trump cant win and you know that we have to turn this country around, then I am your alternative. Thats what Ive always tried to say is, look, lets get somebody who can win, Haley told the network.

The former president is facing four separate criminal trials: One in New York City, one in Georgia, one in Washington, D.C., and one in Florida. The New York City trial, which involves an alleged hush money scheme, is set to begin later this month.

Special counsel Jack Smith has proposed a July 8 start date for the Florida trial over Trumps handling of classified documents and refusal to turn them over, which would put it just before the Republican National Convention.

Trump allies and Republican officials threw cold water on the prospect of Haley somehow stepping in as the nominee through any means other than winning the necessary delegates, which is an exceedingly unlikely scenario as Super Tuesday approaches.

Once Trump has secured the 1,215 delegates needed to clinch the GOP nomination, which he is expected to do no later than March 19, he will become the presumptive nominee. At that point, even a conviction in one of his criminal trials would not free those delegates. Any change in candidate would have to come at the Republican convention in July.

But GOP officials cast doubt on the chances of Haley winning a floor fight at the convention

One former Republican National Committee (RNC) official noted the vast majority of delegates would be loyal to Trump. Even if the former president bowed out of the race because of a conviction, health or other reasons, they would be unlikely to back Haley at the convention.

Those Trump delegates arent going to back Haley. That person who he picks as running mate would have the strongest and likeliest odds of becoming the nominee, one former Trump White House official said.

It would be a really interesting test of the party, they added.

Republican strategist Brady Smith said waiting for Trump to be out of the race for some reason might be one consideration the Haley campaign has, but it isnt practical given the rising tensions between the two candidates.

Trump and Haley have been making increasingly sharper attacks against each other as the primary battle has continued. Trump called her braindead in a Truth Social post last month and brought up her husbands absence from the campaign while he is serving abroad, while Haley has pushed against Trumps comments on NATO and questioned his mental fitness for office.

In a scenario in which the Democrats lawfare is successful and he is unable to make that run and youre at convention, I dont think everyone goes and gets in line with Nikki. I think they go, Youre the person whos been continuing to divide us against Trump, Smith said.

GOP strategist Jonathan Felts said he sees a similarity between Haleys campaign and the one former Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) ran in 2008, which is not where the GOP is right now, even if Trump were to be out of the race.

He said he feels very confident that if Trump were not the nominee because of a conviction in one of his trials or some other reason, the nomination would not automatically go to Haley just because she would have the next highest number of votes and delegates.

Aspiring to be the Dean Phillips of the Republican primary is a bad strategy for any candidate, Felts said, referring to the Democratic Minnesota congressman running a long-shot primary challenge against Biden.

He said Haley has run a great campaign in which she outperformed expectations and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), who was seen as the main alternative to Trump at the start of the race. But he argued that staying in longer would only hurt her future in the party.

Haley has said that if she were focused on her political future, she would have dropped out already.

Im not doing this for me, she said.

Felts said if her campaign is more about helping Republicans win in 2024, she still has a role in the race, but if its more an airing of grievances, that could create obstacles for any future path she has.

I would say shes right on the edge. Itll be interesting to see how she handles things on Wednesday morning, he said.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
GREENSBORO, N.C.  Former President Donald Trump likened North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson to Martin Luther King Jr. in an endorsement Saturday, despite the gubernatorial candidates long history of controversial comments about homosexuality, religion and victims of sexual abuse.

This is Martin Luther King on steroids, Trump said of Robinson at a pre-Super Tuesday rally in North Carolina.

I told that to Mark. I said, I think youre better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two, he continued as he offered Robinson his endorsement in the Republican gubernatorial primary on Tuesday.

Robinson has been a vocal supporter of the former president and first endorsed Trump for re-election in June while speaking at the Faith and Freedom Coalition Conference in Washington, D.C.

Robinson, a pastor, is a polarizing figure, catching harsh criticism for his past comments about women, Muslims, Jewish people and members of the LGBTQ community.

The favorite to secure the North Carolina gubernatorial Republican nomination has, for example, insinuated that homosexuality is a stepping stone to pedophilia, harshly ridiculed school shooting survivors who promoted gun-control reform, encouraged forms of Holocaust denialism and used antisemitic tropes.

In October, Robinson insisted he was not antisemitic and distanced himself from some of his former social media posts.

There have been some Facebook posts that were poorly worded on my part, he said in remarks before the state Legislature, adding: There is no antisemitism standing here in front of you.

In 2021, Robinson faced calls to resign for saying, Theres no reason anybody anywhere in America should be telling any child about transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that filth.

In response, he said he would fight for the rights of the LGBTQ community.

Let me be clear: I will fight for and protect the rights of all citizens, including those in the LGBTQ community to express themselves however they want, he said at the time. That is their right as Americans, and I dont think the government has any role in telling them otherwise. However, the idea that our children should be taught about concepts of transgenderism and be exposed to sexually explicit materials in the classrooms is abhorrent.

Donald Trump (Chris Carlson / AP)

Trumps comments in Greensboro marked at least the second time he has likened the controversial lieutenant governor to the iconic civil rights leader.

First, it was the voice, Trump said of Robinson in a video posted online from an event at Mar-a-Lago in December. And then, I said, You know what, I swear, I think youre better than Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Trump said.

Trump recently faced backlash of his own for comments he made while addressing the Black Conservative Federations annual gala in South Carolina.

I got indicted a second time and a third time and a fourth time, 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, he said.

Trump also insinuated that the Black community uniquely embraced and connected with his mug shot photo. His allies have launched an effort to try to win over more Black voters in November.

Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (Chris Carlson / AP)

Trump campaign spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt called Robinson a great American who is well respected by the people of North Carolina in a statement to NBC News.

The mainstream medias attacks on African Americans who support President Trump is old and exhausting, she added, but we expect them to increase as polling proves more and more Black Americans are choosing to support Trump over Biden.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Donald Trump confused Barack Obama for Joe Biden at a rally in Virginia on Saturday, triggering further questions about the age of the likely Republican presidential nominee who has made a string of such gaffes.

It also comes at a time of similar concerns about Biden. At 77 and 81 respectively, Trump and Biden are the oldest people to run for the presidency in US history.

Related: Nikki Haley declines to say she would endorse Trump if he wins nomination

Putin has so little respect for Obama that hes starting to throw around the nuclear word. You heard that. Nuclear. Hes starting to talk nuclear weapons today, said Trump, on Saturday night in Richmond.

The crowd reportedly went silent as Trump referenced Obama, who left office more than seven years ago. Its the third time Trump has made the blunder in the past six months.

The former US presidents other gaffes include confusing his Republican rival Nikki Haley with the former House speaker Nancy Pelosi.

Haley, 52, who has defied Trump and several primary defeats to continue in the race for the Republican nomination, has tried to frame herself as the younger, healthier option  referring to Trump and Biden as Grumpy Old Men in her campaign ads.

Trumps mistake came the day after Biden, twice confused Ukraine and Gaza as he announced that the US would airdrop humanitarian supplies to Palestinians in Gaza who are dying of starvation due to the Israeli bombardment and blockades.

In the coming days, were going to join with our friends in Jordan and others who are providing airdrops of additional food and supplies into Ukraine, Biden said on Friday. The US will seek to open up other avenues into Ukraine, including possibly a marine corridor, he added.

A White House official later clarified that Biden meant Gaza  not Ukraine. The gaffe had been changed in the transcript of his remarks.

Questions about Bidens age have intensified in recent months.

The latest lapse came days after was declared fit for duty at his annual health check. The White House physician, Dr Kevin OConnor, said Biden fully executes all of his responsibilities without any exemptions or accommodations.

A new New York Times/Siena College poll found that 73% of registered voters polled believe Biden is too old to be an effective president, including 61% of those who voted for him in 2020. Voters seem less bothered about Trump, who is just four years younger, with 42% of those polled saying he just too old to be an effective president.

While criticisms of the age issue on both sides are laced with political spin, age-related cognitive decline is real.

As a person gets older, changes occur in all parts of the body including the brain. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA) certain parts of the brain shrink, including those important to learning and other complex mental activities; communication between neurons may be less effective; and blood flow in the brain may decrease.

Healthy older adults can however learn new skills, form new memories, improve vocabulary and language skills. The NIA is conducting research on so-called cognitive super-agers, the minority of octogenarians and nonagenarians whose memories are comparable to people 20 to 30 years younger.
Former President Donald Trump endorsed beleaguered Republican Rep. Lauren Boeberts bid to be elected to Colorados 4th Congressional District in an otherwise tough week for the congresswoman.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is a Proven Conservative and Effective Leader who delivers for Colorado, and our America First agenda, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

He praised Boebert for her support of Wonderful Ranchers and Farmers as well as her fierce opposition to the Radical Democrats who want to Destroy our Beautiful Country.

The good news for Boebert comes at the end of a week that saw her 18-year-old son, who became a dad last summer, arrested Tuesday on a handful of felony counts against multiple victims.

Boebert currently represents Colorados 3rd Congressional District, where she was expected to face stiff competition if she tried to retain the seat she first won in 2020. The far-right lawmaker said she plans to move to her new district if elected.

She wrote on the social media platform X it was an honor to receive Trumps endorsement.

Trump, who won the Idaho primary Saturday night, is likely to take a big step forward in his bid to officially become the GOPs 2024 presidential nominee when Republican primary voters go to the polls for next weeks Super Tuesday.
Former President Trump offered his endorsement to Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), calling the controversial congresswoman a trusted America First Fighter.

Trump said Boebert is a proven conservative and a leader who delivers for her constituents in Colorado.

She has led the fight to Impeach Joe Biden, Stop Illegal Immigration, Defend the Second Amendment, Protect our Wonderful Ranchers and Farmers, Support our Military and Veterans, Secure our Natural Resources to Pursue Energy Dominance, and Stand Up to the Radical Democrats who want to Destroy our Beautiful Country, Trump wrote in a post on TruthSocial on Saturday when announcing his endorsement.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert is a trusted America First Fighter, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Colorados 4th Congressional District!

Boebert, who was first elected to Congress in 2020, announced in December she would be switching districts, abandoning her 3rd congressional district and running for reelection this year in the 4th, the district currently represented by Rep. Ken Buck (R) who decided he will retire from his post at the lower chamber.

She defended her decision to switch districts, saying she and her family needed a fresh start.

Boeberts new district is solidly Republican and could give her a better chance at reelection if she secures the GOP nomination. But a straw poll from late January that came out following the first debate among GOP candidates in the 4th District shows that Boebert might have a tough time clinching the nomination.

Boebert came fifth with 12 votes, behind Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg with 22 votes, former Colorado House Minority Leader Mike Lynch with 20 votes, Douglas County filmmaker Deborah Flora with 18 votes and state House Minority Whip Richard Holtorf with 17 votes.

The poll included candidates who attended the debate.

Boebert expressed gratitude for Trumps endorsement.

Its my honor to have the endorsement of the greatest President our country has ever known  Donald J. Trump, Boebert wrote Saturday on X, formerly known as Twitter. It will be such a privilege to work alongside him in 2024 to deliver results for Colorado & get the entire country back on track!

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson speaks before Republican presidential candidate former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally Saturday, March 2, 2024, in Greensboro, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP)  Donald Trump has endorsed North Carolina Lt. Gov Mark Robinson for governor, fulfilling a pledge the former president made several months ago.

At a rally Saturday in Greensboro, Trump compared Robinson, who is Black, to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., the famed civil rights leader. Trump referred to Robinson as Martin Luther King on steroids.

Trump said Robinson wasnt sure how to respond when Trump compared him to the legendary civil rights leader, telling him: I think youre better than Martin Luther King. I think you are Martin Luther King times two.

You should like it, Trump said.

Trump listed Robinson among several candidates that people should vote for in Tuesday's North Carolina Republican primaries, saying they have my complete and total endorsement." Trump is also on the primary ballot as he seeks to all but eliminate his last remaining rival, former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, from mathematical contention for the GOP nomination.

Despite the lack of a formal endorsement, the ex-president's support combined with strong fundraising and popularity among the GOP's base have helped make Robinson the GOP's front-runner for the gubernatorial nomination.

Robinson's primary rivals  State Treasurer Dale Folwell and trial attorney Bill Graham  have questioned his ability to win the general election in November, particularly in light of harsh comments on LGBTQ+ rights and other issues.

Trump called Robinson, who also spoke at Saturday's rally, an incredible gentleman" and great, natural speaker. Trump recalled, with some imprecision, how Robinson rose to fame following a 2018 speech to the Greensboro City Council in support of gun rights and police that went viral.

That led Robinson to a National Rifle Association board position and being elected the state's first Black lieutenant governor in 2020 in his first bid for public office.

Robinson, a Greensboro native, said in a news release that he was humbled to have Trump's endorsement and looked forward to working with Trump to "lead our united Republican ticket to victory in November, and get our state and country back on track.

Voters also will choose a Democratic nominee for governor on Tuesday. The field includes Attorney General Josh Stein and former state Supreme Court Associate Justice Mike Morgan. Term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper endorsed Stein months ago.

State Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton said the endorsement wasn't a surprise. North Carolina doesn't need a leader in Robinson who would prioritize job-killing culture wars that take our state backward," she added in a news release.

Statewide elections are usually close affairs in the nations ninth-largest state.

___

Associated Press writer Jill Colvin in New York contributed to this report.
GREENSBORO, North Carolina (AP)  Former President Donald Trump on Saturday further escalated his immigration rhetoric and baselessly accused President Joe Biden of waging a conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America" as he campaigned ahead of Super Tuesday's primaries.

Trump has a long history of trying to turn attack lines back on his rivals in an attempt to diminish their impact. Biden has cast Trump as a threat to democracy, pointing to the former president's efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Those efforts culminated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as his supporters tried to halt the peaceful transition of power.

Trump, who has responded by calling Biden the real threat to democracy" and alleged without proof that Biden is responsible for the indictments he faces, turned to Biden's border policies on Saturday, charging that every day Joe Biden is giving aid and comfort to foreign enemies of the United States.

Bidens conduct on our border is by any definition a conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America, he went on to say in Greensboro, North Carolina. Biden and his accomplices want to collapse the American system, nullify the will of the actual American voters and establish a new base of power that gives them control for generations.

Similar arguments have long been made by people who allege Democrats are promoting illegal immigration to weaken the power of white voters  part of a racist conspiracy, once confined to the far right, claiming there is an intentional push by the U.S. liberal establishment to systematically diminish the influence of white people.

Trump leaned into the theory again at his rally later in Virginia, saying of the migrants: Theyre trying to sign them up to get them to vote in the next election."

Once again Trump is projecting in an attempt to distract the American people from the fact he killed the fairest and toughest border security bill in decades because he believed it would help his campaign. Sad, Biden campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said in a statement.

Trumps campaign stops came three days before Super Tuesday, with elections in 16 states, including North Carolina and Virginia, where thousands of enthusiastic supporters gathered for an evening rally in downtown Richmond. The primaries will be the largest day of voting of the year ahead of Novembers general election, which is shaping up as a likely rematch of 2020 between Trump and Biden.

Nikki Haley, Trump's last major rival, also campaigned in North Carolina. Speaking to reporters after her event in Raleigh, about 80 miles away, the former U.N. ambassador demurred on her plans after Super Tuesday.

Were going to keep going and were going to keep pushing, she said, arguing a majority of Americans dont want either Biden or Trump as the nations leader.

Much of Trump's speech in North Carolina focused on the slew of criminal charges he faces. While the former president has successfully harnessed his legal woes into a powerful rallying cry in the primaries, it is unclear how his message of grievance will resonate with the more moderate voters who will likely decide the general election.

I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president, but as a proud political dissident and a public enemy of a rogue regime, Trump said, railing against what he called an anti-Democratic machine."

At both rallies, Trump played a recording of Justice for All, the version of the Star-Spangled Banner that he collaborated on with a group of defendants jailed over their alleged roles in the January 2021 insurrection, whom he refers to as hostages.

As he focuses on the general election, Trump has painted an apocalyptic vision of the country under Biden, particularly on the topic of immigration, which was the animating issue of his 2016 campaign and which he has once again seized on as the U.S. has experienced a record influx of migrants at the border.

Trump and Biden both visited the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday to highlight their contrasting approaches to the issue.

On Saturday, Trump conjured images of Biden turning public schools into migrant camps and "the USA into a crime-ridden, disease-ridden dumping ground, which is what theyre doing. He also spoke at length about the murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student whose alleged killer is a Venezuelan man who entered the U.S. illegally and was allowed to stay to pursue his immigration case.

Studies have found native-born U.S. residents are more likely to have been arrested for violent crimes than people in the country illegally, but Trump has seized on several high-profile incidents, including a recent video of a group of migrants brawling with police in Times Square.

Not one more innocent American life should be lost to migrant crime," Trump said.

Trump, who repeatedly attacks Bidens intelligence and mental acuity, has been sensitive to questions of his own sharpness after hes mixed up Haley with Nancy Pelosi and Biden with former President Barack Obama at past rallies.

Trump has lately sought to inoculate any questions by insisting he interchanges the names intentionally.

I do that because you know that makes a point. Do we understand that, right? Because a lot of people say hes running the country. I dont personally think so, Trump said early into his appearance in Virginia.

But more than an hour in to his free-flowing remarks, he seemed to mix up Obama and Biden again, when he said Putin, you know, has so little respect for Obama that hes starting to throw around the nuclear word.

Beyond their importance on Super Tuesday, North Carolina and Virginia are both states the Trump campaign is focused on for November.

Trump won North Carolina twice but watched his margin of victory shrink. Bidens reelection campaign already has staff on the ground hoping to flip the state for the first time since 2008.

Virginia, meanwhile, had once been a swing state but for years has trended blue and Trump lost there twice. But a Trump campaign senior adviser told reporters Saturday that he believes we could make Virginia competitive.

In North Carolina, a festive atmosphere surrounded the Greensboro Coliseum Complex ahead of Trump's rally. Supporters stood in a line that snaked through a web of metal barricades and extended hundreds of yards from the arena. License plates from North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee filled the parking lot, where Trump flags flew alongside U.S. and Confederate flags on many vehicles.

We just love Trump, said, Mary Welborn, who lives in nearby Thomasville and expressed that she was frustrated by the criminal prosecutions and civil judgments against the former president. The way hes being treated is insane. No other president has been treated this way," she said.

In Richmond, supporters started lining up Saturday morning for an evening rally at a downtown convention center. The entry lines stretched several blocks by mid-afternoon.

Ken Ballos, a retired police officer from nearby Hanover County who said he voted for Trump in 2016 and 2020, said he was eager at the prospect of a Trump-Biden rematch.

Trump would eat him up," Ballos said.

___

Associated Press writers Gary Robertson in Raleigh, North Carolina, Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, and Michelle L. Price in New York contributed to this report.
Thousands queued for hours to hear the former president speak in Richmond, Virginia

Donald Trump won a string of Republican presidential contests on Saturday, edging closer to becoming the party's candidate in November's election as he attacked his likely opponent Joe Biden.

The former president won the Missouri, Michigan and Idaho caucuses comprehensively, continuing his clean sweep of states so far.

Mr Trump, 77, told supporters at a rally in Virginia that he was "on a rocket to the Republican nomination".

He is on track to secure it next week.

His last remaining rival in the race, former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, is still seeking her first victory and is without a clear path to the nomination given Mr Trump's commanding lead.

He is projected to win all of the delegates available in Missouri and all in Idaho, according to the BBC's US partner CBS news, as well as all of those remaining in Michigan. A third of delegates in that state were awarded earlier this week after a primary that Mr Trump won.

Delegates represent their state or district at the respective party's national convention, and decide who its presidential nominee will be. So far Mr Trump has secured 247 Republican delegates, according to CBS, far more than Ms Haley's 24.

In the Virginia capital of Richmond on Saturday, thousands queued for several hours to hear Mr Trump speak. He vowed to "win big" on Tuesday, when 15 states will choose their presidential candidate on a day that could put him within striking distance of the nomination.

"We got numbers today that were unbelievable," he told the crowd.

But his speech in Virginia - and at an earlier event in Greensboro, North Carolina - largely focused on migration at the US-Mexico border, a message which polls show resonates well with his base. In more than a dozen interviews with the BBC on Saturday, his supporters said the issue was among their primary concerns.

Sharon Roberts, whose son Sean died of a fentanyl overdose in 2018, said she feared an "out of control" border would lead to other families experiencing similar losses. "I'm 100% for Trump, because he'll get these borders closed," she said.

More on the US election

Mr Trump took direct aim at Mr Biden and blamed him once again for the border crisis, after the pair held duelling visits there last week. But he ramped up his attacks by airing a conspiracy that the current president was deliberately encouraging migrants to cross from Mexico.

"Biden and his accomplices want to collapse the American system, nullify the will of the actual American voters and establish a new base of power that gives them control for generations," Mr Trump said. Of the migrants and the Biden administration, he told supporters: "They're trying to sign them up to get them to vote in the next election."

His comments prompted a swift response from the Biden campaign. "Once again Trump is projecting in an attempt to distract the American people from the fact he killed the fairest and toughest border security bill in decades because he believed it would help his campaign," spokesman Ammar Moussa said, referring to a failed bipartisan immigration bill that Mr Trump vocally opposed.

A New York Times and Siena poll released on Saturday found 48% of American voters would support Mr Trump in a hypothetical match-up with Mr Biden, compared to 43% for the current president. It also found strong levels of dissatisfaction for Mr Biden in both parties.

At the Richmond rally, Mr Trump pointed to the poll and urged his supporters to "send a signal" on Super Tuesday.

The poll, however, showed 45% of voters would back Ms Haley in a contest with Mr Biden, with 35% supporting the current president. "I defeat Joe Biden by double digits in a general election match-up, while Trump is barely outside the margin of error," Ms Haley said shortly after it was published.

In his speech, Mr Trump criticised Ms Haley and called on her to step aside to allow Republicans to focus on the general election in November.

She has vowed to stay in the race until at least Super Tuesday. But several former Haley supporters at the Trump event said enthusiasm for her had waned in the face of repeated losses.

The former president, meanwhile, urged his supporters to deliver a decisive blow to Ms Haley on Tuesday. "We want you to get out there and vote in big margins," he said. "We want to send that little freight train going along, because the biggest day in the history of our country is November 5."

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Former President Trump attacked his Republican opponent Nikki Haley on Saturday, claiming that former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is "a little bit" smarter than her.

Trump addressed an enthusiastic crowd in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday night, days before the Super Tuesday votes are scheduled to take place.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump won the Idaho, Missouri, and Michigan Republican contests. Speaking to a crowd of supporters in the evening, the former president lamented about media coverage of his statements referring to President Biden as "President Obama."

Trump maintained that he refers to Biden as "Obama" intentionally. He also acknowledged that he has mixed up Haley, who he calls "Birdbrain," with Pelosi.

TRUMP DOMINATES IDAHO REPUBLICAN CAUCUSES AS SUPER TUESDAY NEARS

Former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and former President Donald Trump.

"I purposely mix up a name, like Birdbrain you know who Birdbrain is, right, Nikki, with Nancy Pelosi," he began.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

"I put them in because they're interchangeable in my mind," Trump added. "Except I have to say, I shouldn't say this about a semi-Republican, but I think Pelosi's probably a little bit smarter, actually."

DEMS MOCK RNC FOR DESPERATE FUNDRAISING DRIVE THAT INCLUDES STARK ADMISSION ON DNC'S MONEY ADVANTAGE

Former US President and 2024 presidential hopeful Donald Trump speaks during a "Get Out the Vote" rally at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia, on March 2, 2024.

In January, Haley said that Trump was not "mentally fit" for office after he referred to Pelosi as Haley during a speech.

"Last night Trump is at a rally and hes going on and on, mentioning me multiple times as to why I didnt take security during the Capitol riots. Why I didnt handle Jan. 6 better. I wasnt even in D.C. on Jan. 6. I wasnt in office then," Haley said during a January rally in Keene, New Hampshire.

"Theyre saying he got confused, that he was talking about something else, hes talking about Nancy Pelosi. He mentioned me multiple times in that scenario."

Republican presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump reacts to supporters while arriving on stage during a Get Out the Vote Rally March 2, 2024 in Richmond, Virginia.

Haley campaign spokesperson AnnMarie Graham-Barnes criticized Trump's comments in a statement to Fox News Digital.

"This is what Trump does: he insults anyone who doesnt kiss the ring, and its why he cant beat Joe Biden," she said. "This has to be a party of addition, not subtraction."

Fox News Digital's Brie Stimson 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: Trump says Pelosi 'probably a little bit smarter' than Nikki Haley, claims he 'purposely' mixes them up
Former President Donald Trump spoke at a campaign rally in South Carolina. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

Former President Donald Trump swept a trio of states Saturday, inching his way closer to a formal grasp of the partys nomination for president.

But the weekend also featured a bright spot for Nikki Haley, who won her first contest in the nominating cycle with a victory in Sunday's Washington, D.C., primaries.

Trump notched victories in the Missouri and Idaho caucuses, and also gained the 39 delegates available at Michigan's convention caucuses.

The two will face off Monday night in the North Dakota caucuses, and then in the numerous elections being held Tuesday, which is known as Super Tuesday, where over 800 delegates will be in play. Despite her victory Sunday, Haley remains far behind Trump in the race for the Republican nomination.

Nikki Haley spoke at a campaign event in North Carolina Saturday.

Weekend votes featured limited participation

None of the three elections Trump won this weekend were primaries. All were caucuses, which limit turnout by requiring participants to arrive at a specific time and usually to stay for a certain period to participate in a more formal process.

Caucus specifics vary from state to state, but they usually involve hearing speeches and then casting a vote.

In both Idaho and Missouri, state lawmakers canceled the Republican primary and replaced it with caucuses.

This gave a small percentage of Republicans in the state control over who the party nominates.

The last time Idaho held caucuses instead of a primary, in 2012, only about 45,000 people took part. That was about a fifth of all registered Republicans in the state. The tally Saturday night in Idaho appeared to be even lower  the Associated Press reported fewer than 40,000 votes were cast.

The timing of the caucuses was also an obstacle for many. Idaho, which is split between the Mountain and Pacific time zones, held its caucuses at 12:30 or 1:30 in the afternoon. Missouri held its caucuses at 10 a.m. Central Time.

Although Washington, D.C., held a primary, the district is overwhelmingly Democratic, so a small number of people actually voted. The AP results showed barely 2,000 votes total, with just under 1,300 of them cast for Haley.

The Associated Press called the Missouri caucuses for Trump at 12:40 p.m. ET and Idaho at 6:58 p.m. ET Saturday. The AP called the race for Haley at 8:36 p.m. ET Sunday.

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Michigans caucus convention was even more restricted

In Michigan, which held its caucuses at 10 a.m. ET, the average voter couldnt even take part.

Michigan also held a primary last week that allocated about a third of that states delegates. Trump won that contest easily.

But there was a scheduling conflict between the date set by Michigans Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, and rules for the Republican nominating calendar set by the Republican National Committee.

So the Michigan GOP created a hybrid system in which a majority of the states 55 delegates are allocated based on a caucus convention.

The caucus convention was held Saturday and brought together around 2,000 party activists from around the state, who were selected at the county level.

A state of confusion

But the confusion in Michigan was made worse when activists last year accused state party chair Kristina Karamo of mismanaging the organizations finances.

Trump backed a different state party chair, former Rep. Pete Hoekstra, as did the Republican National Committee.

Karamo, however, refused to back down and organized a caucus convention of her own, separate from the caucus convention held by Hoekstra and his organization.

Only one day before the two dueling meetings were set to take place, Karamo and her former staff bowed to the pressure from the national party and canceled their competing caucus convention.

Trump at an election night watch party in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 24.

Heading into Tuesday

Though the votes might be small, the victories in Missouri, Michigan, and Idaho give Trump a little momentum heading into Super Tuesday. Trumps campaign hopes to wrap up the primary race in the coming weeks  or as soon as Tuesday night, should Haley drop out.

The victories also offer positive headlines for Trump, in contrast to his numerous, high-profile legal problems. Those include recent civil judgments against him totaling over $500 million, criminal charges related to his attempts to overturn the election and his handling of classified information, and Supreme Court cases on whether he can appear on Colorado's ballot and the validity of his immunity claims.

For Haley, the 19 delegates she receives from Washington, D.C., may be less important than the moral victory of finally winning an election. But as for staying in the race, she has said that March 5 is as far as Ive thought in terms of going forward.
(Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump said he will impose tit-for-tat tariffs if he is reelected president, reiterating one of his isolationist policy goals that has already raised concern at home and overseas.

Most Read from Bloomberg

I will pass the Trump Reciprocal Trade Act, Trump said Saturday at a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina. If China or any country makes us pay a 100 or 200% tariff, we will make them pay a reciprocal tariff of 100 or 200% right back.

Trump has previously suggested raising tariffs by more than 60% on Chinese goods, as well as revoking the global superpowers most favored nation status for US trade. He has also floated a 10% tariff on all goods imported to the US.

The proposals follow a series of tariff increases made during Trumps presidency aimed at curbing imports of Chinese goods. The tariffs, which began in early 2018, eventually escalated to duties on goods ranging from seafood to chemicals by the fall of that year. That prompted China to respond with retaliatory levies on some US imports such as soybeans and poultry.

Read more: Trump Tariff Threat Has Yuan Traders Starting to Prep for Impact

The Biden administration has largely kept those tariffs in place, prompting criticism from business groups that said the policies have driven up prices and undermined competitiveness.

A rematch between Trump and President Joe Biden is highly likely. Trump has won every primary to date and continues to lead in the polls over rival Nikki Haley in each of the 15 states that will vote on March 5, known as Super Tuesday.

--With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron.

Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek

2024 Bloomberg L.P.
Former President Donald Trump won all 39 delegates at stake at a Michigan Republican convention Saturday, as officials there sought to move past a leadership battle that has split the state party into rival factions.

The party chairman, former Ambassador and Congressman Pete Hoekstra, presided in Grand Rapids after days of disputes over where the convention would happen  and who would be in charge.

Tensions over the leadership battle were on display throughout the day, as convention organizers sent an email linking to its results that also included a post from Trumps Truth Social account.

I look forward to working with Ambassador Pete Hoekstra as Chairman of The Republican Party of Michigan. He is a winner who was a GREAT Congressman from Michigan and, likewise, did a fantastic job as Ambassador to the Netherlands. Pete will make The Republican Party of Michigan GREAT AGAIN, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be its Chairman  HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! the post read.

The Michigan Republican Partys state committee tapped Hoekstra as the new party chair in January after ousting former Chairwoman Kristina Karamo, an election denier and failed 2022 secretary of state nominee. Karamo sued, but a Michigan judge this week rejected her bid to retake power. The Republican National Committee also moved to recognize Hoekstra as the state party chair.

Amid the leadership struggle, Karamo and her aides had planned a convention in Detroit. Hoekstra, after taking over as party chair, announced one in Grand Rapids. Some delegates were confused over which to attend, and some Karamo allies in the 1st and 4th congressional districts broke off to hold their own gatherings Saturday.

Those in attendance in Grand Rapids acknowledged the toll the squabble had taken on the state GOP.

Everyones emotions are really high, said Hima Kolanagireddy, a delegate and candidate for RNC committeewoman.

She said she believes the party will unite once the dust settles down behind an effort to win in 2024. But she acknowledged the deep rift within the state GOP.

Itll take some time. There is a lot of hurt, Kolanagireddy said. And I think we will find our way, because at the end of the day, we are all Republicans. We need to unite in order to win.

Rob Steele, an RNC committeeman, predicted that support for Trump  which was strong across all factions of the split state party  would help bring Republicans together.

I think therell be noise but well be ready to move forward, Steele said.

Hoekstra on Saturday repeatedly invoked Trump to showcase the former presidents support for his chairmanship.

The Saturday meeting in Grand Rapids comes five days after Trump bested former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley in Michigans primary. The state awarded its delegates through a split process, with 16 up for grabs in the primary and the remaining 39 decided on Saturday; three went to the winner of each of the states 13 congressional districts.

Support for Trump dominated the Grand Rapids convention, with delegates sporting Make America Great Again hats and candidates for committee spots touting their history of support for the former president.

Outside of Trump, though, the divisions among Republicans were apparent. Flyers that read Kristina KARAMO is our Chair and Pete Hoekstra is an Imposter floated around the convention. The flyers said they were paid for by Patriots who believe in THE TRUTH!

Ken Beyer, the 4th District chairman, told CNN on Saturday that he and other Karamo allies will seek to strip Hoekstra of his power.

What were doing is were retreating back to our counties and were going to start replacing people who sided with Hoekstra right now  and well replace them with new delegates, he said.

Beyer also said Trumps support for Hoekstra wont end the division over control of the state GOP.

I love Trump. Our district voted 100% for Trump. However, were not a cult, Beyer said. Hes not always given good advice. And I have to stand firm against him maybe getting bad information from somebody or  I dont know why he makes the decision he makes. I know he wants to win Michigan.

Hoekstra himself ticked off to reporters all the backing he had as Michigan Republican Party chairman.

No. 1, the state committee acted. The RNC certified that what the state committee did was legitimate. Donald Trump has endorsed me. The congressional delegation has endorsed me. The state House and Senate leaders have endorsed me. And now you have the court making their determination. The appeals court making their determination, Hoekstra said.

Clark Harrington, a delegate for Michigans 2nd Congressional District, described the chairmanship of the GOP as kind of in disarray but said the vote for Trump is unanimous.

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Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump won the Republican caucuses on Saturday in three states including battleground Michigan, as he further escalated his immigration rhetoric and accused US President Joe Biden of waging an immigration-based conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America as the Super Tuesday voting approached.

The former US president also won the Missouri and Idaho Republican caucuses on Saturday, according to data company Edison Research.

In all three states Mr Trump trounced Nikki Haley, his last remaining rival for the Republican presidential nomination, moving him closer to becoming his partys White House standard-bearer and a likely general election rematch with President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

In Michigan, Mr Trump beat Ms Haley in all 13 districts taking part in the nominating caucuses, according to the state Republican Party. Overall, Mr Trump won with nearly 98pc per cent support: 1,575 votes to just 36 for Ms Haley.

Pete Hoekstra, the Michigan Republican Partys chair, called it an overwhelming, dominating victory.

More than 1,600 party insiders participated in the presidential caucus in the western Michigan city of Grand Rapids, where they were choosing delegates for Trump or former UN ambassador, Ms Haley, for the partys national nominating convention in July.

Ms Haley is fast running out of time to alter the course of the Republican nominating race. Next up is Super Tuesday this week, March 5, the biggest day in the primaries, when 15 states and one territory will vote.

With victories in Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada, the US Virgin Islands, South Carolina, and now Michigan, Missouri and Idaho under his belt, Mr Trump is far and away the frontrunner in the race, with Ms Haley hanging on thanks to support from donors keen for an alternative to the former president.

For this election cycle, Michigan Republicans devised a hybrid nominating system, split between a primary and a caucus.

Mr Trump won the primary convincingly last Tuesday, securing 12 of 16 delegates up for grabs. He took all of Michigans remaining 39 delegates at stake on Saturday.

At one of the 13 caucus meetings, the participants  knowing Mr Trump would win easily - decided to save time by simply asking anyone who backed Haley to stand up. In a room of 185 voting delegates, 25-year-old Carter Houtman was the only person who rose to his feet.

It was a little lonely, Mr Houtman told Reuters in an interview afterward. Mr Houtman said he would likely vote for Mr Trump in Novembers general election if he is the nominee but felt it was important to stand up for his beliefs on Saturday.

I didnt like the way that Trump handled himself after the last election, Mr Houtman said.

Dennis Milosch, 87, a Trump supporter, said the former presidents dominating win on Saturday underscored how the party has been transformed from one aligned with big business to one focused on the working class.

Wherever he goes, whatever he does, he pays attention to, responds to, the average person, Mr Milosch said.

Mr Trumps victories in Missouri and Idaho netted him 54 and 32 delegates respectively.

Trump says Biden border policies are conspiracy

Mr Trump, who has alleged without proof that Mr Biden is responsible for the various court indictments he faces, turned again to Mr Bidens border policies on Saturday, charging in North Carolina that every day Joe Biden is giving aid and comfort to foreign enemies of the United States.

Bidens conduct on our border is by any definition a conspiracy to overthrow the United States of America, he went on to say in Greensboro, North Carolina. Biden and his accomplices want to collapse the American system, nullify the will of the actual American voters and establish a new base of power that gives them control for generations.

Similar arguments have long been made by people who allege Democrats are promoting illegal immigration to weaken the power of white voters  part of a racist conspiracy, once confined to the far right, claiming there is an intentional push by the US liberal establishment to systematically diminish the influence of white people, the Associated Press reported.

Once again Trump is projecting in an attempt to distract the American people from the fact he killed the fairest and toughest border security bill in decades because he believed it would help his campaign. Sad, Biden campaign spokesman Ammar Moussa said in a statement.

Mr Trumps campaign stops came three days before Super Tuesday, with elections in 16 states, including North Carolina and Virginia, where thousands of enthusiastic supporters gathered for an evening rally in Richmond. The primaries will be the largest day of voting of the year ahead of Novembers general election, which is shaping up as a likely rematch of 2020 between Mr Trump and President Biden.

Ms Haley also campaigned in North Carolina. Speaking to reporters after her event in Raleigh, about 80 miles away, she demurred on her plans after Super Tuesday.

Were going to keep going and were going to keep pushing, she said, arguing a majority of Americans dont want either Mr Biden or Mr Trump as the nations leader.

Nikki Haley speaks during a campaign event in Massachusetts on Saturday - Jason Bergman/Bloomberg

Much of Mr Trumps speech in North Carolina focused on the slew of criminal charges he faces. While the former president has apparently harnessed his legal woes into a powerful rallying cry in the primaries, it is unclear how his message of grievance will resonate with the more moderate voters who will likely decide the general election.

I stand before you today not only as your past and hopefully future president, but as a proud political dissident and a public enemy of a rogue regime, Mr Trump said, railing against what he called an anti-democratic machine.

At both rallies, Mr Trump played a recording of Justice for All. the version of the Star-Spangled Banner that he collaborated on with a group of defendants jailed over their alleged roles in the January 2021 insurrection, whom he refers to as hostages.

Donald Trump gestures at the campaign rally in Richmond, Virginia, on Saturday - Steve Helber/AP

On Saturday, Mr Trump conjured images of Mr Biden turning public schools into migrant camps and the USA into a crime-ridden, disease-ridden dumping ground, which is what theyre doing.

In North Carolina, a festive atmosphere surrounded the Greensboro Coliseum Complex ahead of Mr Trumps rally. Supporters stood in a line that snaked through a web of metal barricades and extended hundreds of yards from the arena. License plates from North Carolina, Virginia and Tennessee filled the parking lot, where Trump flags flew alongside US and Confederate flags on many vehicles.

We just love Trump, said, Mary Welborn, who lives in nearby Thomasville and expressed that she was frustrated by the criminal prosecutions and civil judgments against the former president. The way hes being treated is insane. No other president has been treated this way, she said.

In Richmond, supporters started lining up on Saturday morning for an evening rally at a convention centre. The entry lines stretched several blocks by mid-afternoon.

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Trump's bombastic personality defined his civil proceedings. In criminal court, lawyers from Trump's orbit say it could be his demise.

Donald Trump's antics defined his civil court cases, including the recent New York fraud trial.

However, Trump will soon be fighting off 91 charges across four criminal cases.

According to former attorneys for Trump and the Trump White House, his lawyers will have to rein him in.

Storming out during closing arguments. Answering questions at his deposition with sassy retorts. Violating gag orders.

It's hard to forget the antics of a fed-up Donald Trump, riled over the "witch hunt" he claimed he was facing during the proceedings of his recent civil trials.

In a case involving writer E. Jean Caroll, Trump was found liable for sexually abusing Carroll in the mid-1990s and for defaming her by denying it. In two separate cases, a jury awarded Caroll a total of $88.3 million in damages. He denied any wrongdoing.

Trump was also hit with a $454 million fine in his New York fraud trial. He has denied any wrongdoing.

But former attorneys for Trump told The New York Times that his usual demeanor won't fly in a criminal trial  or, in Trump's case, his four criminal trials.

"I would expect Trump to try to act up," former White House attorney Ty Cobb, who worked under Trump, told the Times. "He needs to be aggressively muzzled by the lawyers if he is to avoid offending the jury."

Trump is facing a total of 91 charges across four criminal cases: the Stormy Daniels hush money case, the classified documents case, the January 6 Capitol insurrection case, and the Georgia false electors case. He has pleaded not guilty in all four cases.

Quickly approaching is the hush money case, in which Trump is accused of directing his former lawyer Michael Cohen to make a $130,000 payment to Daniels, a porn star who said she had an affair with the former president. Jury selection in the Manhattan trial begins on March 25.

Trump "and his legal team will continue to fight the Democrat-led witch hunts in the courts and at the ballot box," Steven Cheung, a spokesperson for Trump, told the Times.

Per 14 attorneys who have either represented the former president or were in his orbit, many of whom spoke anonymously to the Times, Trump risks putting off the jury in a deeply blue city.

He and his criminal defense attorneys, Susan R. Necheles and Todd Blanche, must also avoid annoying the judge.

However, it seems they have already succeeded in doing the complete opposite during a February hearing to set a date for the hush money trial. Judge Juan Merchan, overseeing the case, insisted that the attorneys stop mentioning Trump's schedule as a reason to delay the trial. Blanche did it anyway.

"Stop interrupting me," Merchan said as Blanche continued to discuss Trump's busy schedule.

Representatives for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent by Business Insider outside regular business hours.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Supporters of former US president Donald Trump known as the "Front Row Joes," including Scott Knuth (L) of Woodbridge, Virginia, wait in line to enter a rally in Richmond, Virginia, on March 2, 2024 (SAUL LOEB)

As soon as the arena doors open for the Donald Trump rally, they rush to the front row, ignoring "Reserved" signs and grab their spots.

"We got perfect seats, Trump's going to look right at us," beamed Scott Knuth, 57, sporting a red, white and blue jersey labeled "Front Row Joes."

He and a few others here are among a group of the former president's most diehard fans -- this is Knuth's 43rd Trump event.

Snagging the prime perch involved negotiating with security and waiting all night in the rain.

"They will need a bulldozer to get me out," he said with a laugh, more than two hours before Trump's speech was scheduled to start in Richmond, the capital of Virginia.

On Tuesday, this eastern US state will join 14 others in holding party nominating contests that are expected to deliver a haul of delegates to Trump, all but sealing his bid to become the Republican White House candidate to take on Joe Biden in November.

Knuth first saw Trump in 2015 and at the time felt alone in his excitement over the real estate mogul's then-nascent political campaign.

Since then, the construction worker has seen crowds swell for Trump, whom he has spoken to eight times and taken multiple selfies with.

He's well-versed in the rhythm of a Trump rally: a sea of red "Make America Great Again" caps bob in an arena filled with lively music, the energy crescendoing as the main event approaches.

"It has a rock show kind of feel with the music, how it builds up, everybody gets going," Knuth explained.

- 'Warrior' -

It's hard to match Edward Young's enthusiasm for Trump -- Richmond is his 73rd rally.

"The Trump rallies are the greatest show on Earth," the 64-year-old said with a frenetic energy.

On Friday, he worked until 6 pm then drove from New Jersey "all night in the rain" to arrive in Virginia at 4 am to be in position to snag a front row seat.

"I haven't slept," said Young, who helps small businesses manage their debt.

Young and Knuth attract admiration from Trump fans who are seeing their political idol for the first time.

But this devotion comes at a steep cost. In 2016, Young totally threw himself into Trump's campaign, so much so that he was at the victory party in New York on election night.

"But I had completely exhausted my bank account," he said. "If the campaign lasted one more week in 2016, I was like, I'll be bankrupt."

- 'Warrior' -

The cost of following Trump this election cycle continues to accumulate, with Young spending thousands on gas, hotels and other expenses since January.

"I'm once divorced and once widowed... I got no kids. I don't mind spending the money but I'm dipping into my savings," he said.

His passion for Trump is more than a hobby.

"I believe I'm a warrior now. Because America is dying," he said.

"This is a civil war in America. And I'm fighting with my words. And with my presence at these rallies."

A few seats away, at the foot of the podium, a Front Row Joe who refused to give his name said he was attending his seventh Trump rally.

He came to find the "family" he is creating from attending the events, leaving his wife and daughter at home for the weekend.

"Once you come, you're hooked," he said, as the crowd behind him takes photos and buys snacks while waiting for the former president.

Finally, "Proud to be an American" starts blasting from the speakers.

The crowd stands and roars as Trump takes the stage -- and his superfans admire him, once again.

ube/acb/tjj
Turkish Cypriots will not sit at any negotiating table unless their sovereignty and equal status is recognised, the leader of the breakaway self-declared state in northern Cyprus told AFP Sunday.

This year marks the 50th anniversary since an Athens-backed coup aimed at uniting Cyprus with Greece triggered a Turkish invasion that divided the island in 1974.

Only Ankara recognises the statehood of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which was proclaimed by Turkish Cypriot leaders in 1983.

Efforts to reunify the island have been at a standstill since the last round of United Nations-backed talks collapsed in 2017.

"We are saying, after all these years, and all these fatal negotiations which proved nothing, we are only able to resume or to restart negotiations if our sovereign equality and equal international status is reaffirmed or acknowledged," TRNC leader Ersin Tatar said on the margins of an annual diplomacy gathering in Turkey's Mediterranean resort of Antalya.

"Otherwise, we are not going to sit at the negotiating table again, because there is no point," he added.

For Tatar, European Union member the Republic of Cyprus has walked away from negotiations after the collapse of every reunification attempt.

"Because in the past there have been many attempts where we sat again at the table, and at the end of the day the table collapsed -- they walked out as the Republic of Cyprus and we just stayed as a community with no gain whatsoever," he said.

"And every time we sit (at talks) we lose something. That's how we feel," he said.

"So unless we get our sovereignty right, the acknowledgement of our sovereignty, we are not going to get involved in any negotiations."

Tatar on Sunday also ruled out any prospect of reunification for the divided island.

- 'No hope for reunification' -

"There is no hope for reunification. We are talking about a two-state solution. This is our new policy after many many years of unfortunately fruitless negotiations," he said.

Tatar said that despite political impediments, the TRNC was able to extend its relationship with many countries with Turkey's support.

"Obviously we have difficulties, but we have no alternative.

"The alternative is to give up, and we will never give up because giving up sovereignty and being basically amalgamated into a pure Greek republic would mean that that would be the end of us."

After years of tension over immigration, energy rights and maritime borders, Greece and Turkey restarted high-level talks in December when President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid his first visit to Athens since 2017.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is set to visit Ankara in May.

Asked if Turkish-Greek rapprochement could have a positive impact on the island, Tatar said he hoped Greece would say to the Greek Cypriots that "enough is enough, let's wake up to the reality of Cyprus that there are two peoples and the states".

"And the best way forward after all these years is cooperation of the two states so that we can have prosperity and enjoy the resources of the eastern Mediterranean," he added.

"I think if we were to find a solution, Cyprus can be probably bigger (economically) than Dubai."

Tatar said the Turkish Cypriots could not forget about past events which triggered the Turkish military operation five decades ago.

"In 1974 Turkey came in with troops, and now we will be celebrating the 50th year in July. So it's not easy for us to forget all this, especially with Europe now in Gaza" where Israel and Hamas are engaged in a nearly five-month war.

"Therefore, we have to be very careful."

fo/srm
Emergency services stand at a property during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Mia Bucher/dpa

Two people were arrested in connection with the hunt for two fugitive suspected terrorist members of the far-left Red Army Faction (RAF) in Berlin, the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Saxony confirmed on Sunday morning.

A spokeswoman said that the sounds of gunshots were heard at one location during the arrest, but no one was injured.

The identity of the two people is currently being investigated, she said.

The large-scale raid in the capital's Friedrichshain district began at 07:30 (0630 GMT) and involved members of the national and city police forces.

Police officers stand by an armoured vehicle during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Paul Zinken/dpa
Police officers lead a man away during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Paul Zinken/dpa

Two people were arrested in connection with the hunt for two fugitive suspected terrorist members of the far-left Red Army Faction (RAF) in Berlin, the State Criminal Police Office of Lower Saxony said on Sunday morning.

The identity of the two people is currently being investigated, a spokeswoman said, after the large-scale raid in the capital's Friedrichshain district.

The sounds of gunshots were heard at one location during the arrest, but no one was injured, she said.

The searches began at 07:30 (0630 GMT) and involved members of the national and city police forces.

They are looking for Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, two other suspected terrorist members of the RAF who are still on the run.

The authorities have been searching for fugitive members of the RAF, also known as the Baader-Meinhof Group, for more than 30 years.

Sunday's detentions come days after the arrest of suspected far-left RAF terrorist Daniela Klette last week.

Klette, 65, was arrested in her rental apartment in Berlin on Monday evening. She had been a fugitive for 30 years but was found living under a false name in the middle of the German capital.

The authorities accuse the trio of attempted murder and a series of serious robberies between 1999 and 2016.

The RAF was founded in 1968 by far-left extremists Andreas Baader, Gudrun Ensslin and Ulrike Meinhof, with members active well into the 1990s. It was also known as the Baader-Meinhof Gang.

Like Klette, Staub and Garweg belonged to the third generation of the former RAF.

During their active time, the then Deutsche Bank boss Alfred Herrhausen (1989) and Treuhand boss Detlev Karsten Rohwedder (1991) were murdered and Herrhausen's driver seriously injured.

The RAF murdered more than 30 people during their reign of terror

but disbanded in 1998.

The group justified its attacks back then with the aim of destroying the capitalist social order in West Germany. There is widespread speculation they were part funded by the Communist East German state and its secret police arm, the Stasi.

Emergency services stand at a property during an operation connected with the manhunt for the two suspected robbers Ernst-Volker Staub and Burkhard Garweg, who are still on the run. Paul Zinken/dpa
Within hours of a fatal shooting incident on Monday, February 26, authorities made arrests in connection with the crime.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

According to the Lake City Police Department, at 9:51 p.m., officers responded to NW Ashley Street following a report of a person shot.

Upon arrival, they found a 23-year-old male, Cristopher Alid Cruz Aleman, suffering from a gunshot wound. Despite efforts by a witness and emergency responders to administer CPR, Aleman succumbed to his injuries.

Detectives from the Lake City Police Departments Criminal Investigation Division, in collaboration with investigators from the State Attorneys Office, conducted interviews with the victims family and possible witnesses.

Early in the investigation, two persons of interest were identified.

With the assistance of investigators from various law enforcement agencies including the Columbia County Sheriffs Office, Suwannee County Sheriffs Office, and Special Agents from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Justin Torres and Kendall Doty were located, interviewed, and taken into custody without incident.

Both individuals were subsequently charged with homicide.

Chief of Police Gerald Butler expressed gratitude stating I would like to personally thank State Attorney John Durrett, Sheriff Mark Hunter, Sheriff Emery Gainey and the Alachua County Sheriffs Office Bomb Squad, Sheriff Sam St. John, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the men and women of these agencies for their assistance. The first 24 hours after this tragic incident, hundreds of hours of manpower were put into this investigation and arrests were made. I would like to reassure the citizens of Lake City this incident was not a random act of violence. Mr. Cruz Aleman was the specific target of these two individuals.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to contact the Lake City Police Department at (386) 752-4343 and speak with Detective Collins.

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The body of a 10-year-old boy killed in Russia's March 2 attack on Odesa was found under the rubble of an apartment building hit by a drone, Governor Oleh Kiper said in the evening of March 3. Minutes later, the Governor announced that his 8-year-old sister's body had also been discovered.

The governor identified the children only by their first names, Serhiy and Zlata, and expressed condolences to the family in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

Several Ukrainian regions were targeted in Russia's March 2 drone attack. The Air Force reported that 14 of the 17 Russian Shahed-type unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) were shot down during the attack.

A nine-story apartment building in Odesa was hit by the drones, destroying 18 apartments and trapping people under the rubble.

Earlier on March 3, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that children could still be trapped under the rubble of the apartment building that was hit.

Two hundred fifteen people are involved in ongoing rescue efforts, according to Zelensky.

Five people have been rescued, but 10 have been reported killed, including three small children: a 2-year-old, an eight-month-old, and a four-month-old.

Read also: Wests response to Macron comments on troops to Ukraine reveal discord, weakness, experts say

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Screenshot of a tornado captured on video by Gillian Salgado near Madera, Calif., on Friday. (Courtesy of Gillian Salgado)

A tornado touched down in Kings County on Saturday afternoon  the second tornado in two days to hit Central California.

The tornado touched down in the south end of Corcoran around 4:37 p.m., said meteorologist Carlos Molina with the National Weather Service's Hanford office. The tornado moved eastward and than dissipated by the time it reached State Route 99, he said.

The tornado comes less than a day after a funnel cloud briefly touched down in Madera County, about 30 minutes north of Fresno. ABC7 reported that the tornado touched down near an elementary school, forcing students to shelter in the cafeteria.

"This is the first time Ive ever actually observed two tornadoes back to back," said Molina, noting that moisture in the area from a winter storm had brought ideal conditions for such an event.

"Usually for Central California, we normally would get one, possibly two, tornadoes across our area between March and April," he said.

The back-to-back tornadoes come less than a month after two tornadoes touched down within a minute of each other along San Luis Obispo Countys coast.

Officials said at the time that they were the first tornadoes to hit San Luis Obispo County since 2004 and the strongest since before 1950, with winds of 95 mph.

Elsewhere in the state, a blizzard pounded the Sierra Nevada on Saturday with gusts of up to 190 mph and almost 2 feet of snow in some places. A 75-mile stretch of Interstate 80 was shut down, and ski resorts were forced to close amid the dangerous conditions.

Read more: California monster blizzard batters Tahoe, Mammoth, Sierra amid avalanche warnings

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The federally created body that promotes U.S. exports is continuing to finance fossil fuel projects abroad  even after advisers aligned with President Joe Biden's climate goals pointed out those investments' risks.

Five people with firsthand knowledge of discussions inside the U.S. Export-Import Bank described a sense of frustration among members of the organization's climate council that the agency continues to invest in projects that run counter to the president's policies. Those include oil and gas development in Bahrain and an Indonesian oil refinery that received a $100 million loan.

The bank, known as EXIM, is an independent federal agency focused on creating jobs and boosting American competitiveness by promoting U.S. exports. It provides financing such as federally backed loans or guarantees to projects that might struggle to get private sector investments. It created the climate council at Biden's urging in 2021.

Several council members repeatedly voiced concerns over the incongruity between the banks financing of fossil fuel projects and U.S. climate policy, according to several of the people who were granted anonymity to speak about sensitive information. Some advisers have also argued during council meetings that the bank is assuming that investments in fossil fuel infrastructure will lead to long-term benefits, such as jobs, at a time when the U.S. and other countries have agreed to shift away from oil, natural gas and coal.

I think it really comes down to transparency about the jobs created and the opportunities for long-term exports, one person said. Can you look at the public information and be able to justify that? I dont think so, and thats the real frustration.

Concern about the banks fossil fuel investments have reached the highest levels of government, with Biden voicing disagreement over the Indonesian project. That investment came after the U.S. had vowed during 2021's global climate talks to end public finance for overseas fossil fuel development by the end of 2022.

A spokesperson for the White House National Security Council said the administration stands by its commitment to end new direct public support for the international unabated fossil fuel energy sector, referring to power plants and other facilities that dont capture their climate pollution.

"Ex-Im made an independent decision to move forward with this financing under its authorities, and its decision does not reflect administration policy," Adrienne Watson, the NSC spokesperson, told POLITICO's E&E News via email.

EXIM spokesperson Elizabeth Lewis said in an email that the agency seeks to align with the administrations climate agenda while still complying with EXIMs statutory requirements, including the charter prohibition against discrimination based solely on industry, sector or business, and its mission to support U.S. jobs.

EXIM staff members are actively working to update the agencys environmental due diligence procedures, added Lewis, noting that any change to EXIMs charter must be passed through Congressional action.

The banks support of oil and gas projects has sparked criticism from activists and some officials who say its undermining Bidens pledge to stop funding international fossil fuel projects.

Unfortunately, I think that EXIM has worked in defiance of Biden and his climate agenda, said Kate DeAngelis, senior international finance program manager at the environmental group Friends of the Earth.

A council is born

The climate council is one of several subcommittees created to provide guidance to EXIM on its policies and programs. Yet in many ways the council is symbolic.

It has no authority over EXIMs decisions, and it is not allowed to provide advice on specific projects, said one of the five people who are familiar with its operations. The bank also limits the amount of information it gives to the council, including how it assesses the climate impacts of an investment.

The problem for the climate council is that its not able to give advice, so why have it? said one person.

DeAngelis described the climate council as a form of greenwashing.

It allows EXIM to say, Look, we have this climate advisory council, we care about the climate. When, meanwhile, they can basically just completely shut them out.

The EXIM spokesperson said the climate council serves as an advisory group of external stakeholders selected to advise EXIM on a volunteer basis and without voting authority.

Anexecutive order Biden issued just after taking office calls on EXIM and other agencies, such as the State and Treasury departments, to promote ending international financing of carbon-intensive fossil fuel-based energy.

Months later, the White House announced that EXIM was creating the climate council to offer advice on how to support U.S. exporters in clean energy, foster the transition to a low-carbon economy, and create clean U.S. jobs.

The council now stands at 17 members after two prominent climate experts stepped down before the banks board voted to move the Bahrain project forward. The New York Times first reported the resignations.

A strategic tool

Council members are a mix of experts on issues related to climate, finance and industry. They apply to serve a one-year term and meet several times during the year  though some are more active than others and opinions vary on how receptive the agency has been to the council's input. A sixth person with firsthand knowledge of the council's work said some members are less opposed to the bank's decisions on fossil fuels because they view the clean energy transition as a long-term challenge.

EXIM Chair Reta Jo Lewis, a Biden appointee, has called the expertise offered by various advisory committees, including the climate council, invaluable.

The recommendations that are borne from these committees shape the way EXIM functions as we navigate an ever-evolving global landscape while supporting the priorities of the Biden-Harris Administration and furthering our mission, she said in a statement following EXIMs annual conference last October.

In a2022 competitiveness report published last June, the climate council suggested that EXIM update its financial assessments with climate-related stress testing over the life of the project and its financing. (Some climate impacts may only emerge after the loan has ended.)

It also recommended adding climate risk assessments to the credit review process and provided guidance on how EXIM could increase the number of clean energy projects in the pipeline. A year earlier, the council urged EXIM to develop a climate action plan with a net-zero target and better monitor and report its climate-related investments.

None of those recommendations has yet been adopted.

EXIM did authorize a $900 million loan to Angola last year for a solar power project. But according to Oil Change International it has funded roughly the same amount of fossil fuel financing since the end of 2022, when the U.S. pledge to end public support for overseas fossil fuel projects would have kicked in.

The bank voted to advance the Bahrain project, which would drill hundreds of new oil and gas wells to help the countrys state-run petroleum company expand its dwindling production, three months after almost 200 countries agreed to move away from fossil fuels at the Dubai climate talks in December. It also came in the wake of the Biden administrations decision to pause approvals of new natural gas export facilities.

EXIM could boost U.S. investments to tackle climate change, as one of the few agencies capable of extending finance internationally.

But it has consistently defended its oil and gas investments by referring to its congressional mandate, which prevents the bank from denying financing or implementing policies that discriminate based solely on the industry, sector or business that the application concerns.

The banks charter sets a goal of allocating 5 percent of its annual funding to renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy storage exports. Oil and gas accounted for 26 percent of EXIMs investments in 2021, according to a 2023 report by Oxfam and Perspectives Climate Research.

Politics also play a part.

EXIM has been targeted by conservatives for elimination, and for years Republicans prevented its board from achieving a quorum needed to approve projects valued at more than $10 million. That pressure, along with its limited mandate, has influenced the decisions made by a board split between Democratic and Republican appointees.

A version of this report first ran in E&E News Climatewire. Get access to more comprehensive and in-depth reporting on the energy transition, natural resources, climate change and more in E&E News.
The average number of estimated Russian casualties in February was approximately 983 per day, marking an all-time high since the start of the full-scale invasion, the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote in its March 3 update.

The update appears to be citing the UK Defense Ministry's own estimation of Russian losses.

The increase in casualties "almost certainly" reflects Russia's "commitment to mass and attritional warfare," according to the ministry.

"Although costly in terms of human life, the resulting effect has increased the pressure on Ukraine's positions across the front line."

A graph presented by the U.K. Defense Ministry of average daily losses for the Russian military indicates that casualty numbers have only risen since the start of the full-scale invasion. The highest number of average daily losses in 2022 was 559 in November.

The number steadily rose in 2023, with the highest number of average daily losses being 967 in December. The Russian offensive on Avdiivka began in October 2023, which is likely the cause for increased casualty numbers at the end of 2023.

The U.K. Defense Ministry estimated that over 355,000 Russian servicemembers have been killed or wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion. Ukrainian government publicly estimates it at 416,800.

The Russian government has not released any data on the losses of its servicemembers. Estimates differ depending on the source.

According to the March 3 update from the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces, Russian casualty numbers stand at around 416,800.

Independent Russian media have attempted to investigate Russian casualties further. In late February, Meduza and Mediazona reported that two years of Russia's full-scale war in Ukraine had resulted in the deaths of an estimated 83,000 Russian soldiers.

Read also: Ukraine war latest: Ukraine signs long-term security agreement with Netherlands

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(Bloomberg) -- When UK Chancellor Jeremy Hunt delivers his spring budget on Wednesday, investors in the countrys homebuilders, retailers and investment platforms will be watching with a sense of anticipation.

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The stocks are among those that analysts see as most likely to benefit from any potential giveaways aimed at boosting the political fortunes of the ruling Conservative party ahead of a general election expected later this year.

It is a pre-election budget, so I suspect hes going to try and deliver something, said Simon Gergel, chief investment officer for UK equities at Allianz Global Investors. Theres been some talk of tax cuts or national insurance cuts, which could be taken quite well for the consumer.

Such reductions would be a boost to the likes of Marks & Spencer Group Plc and EasyJet Plc, while a plan to create a so-called British ISA, a tax-free savings account for investing in UK equities, would be seen as a positive for the likes of Taylor Wimpey Plc and Hargreaves Lansdown Plc. It would also provide a broader lift to Londons shrinking stock market, after a slew of companies moved their listings away from the UK.

Changes to improve the UK equity market would enhance economic growth and improve savings and tax generation  a win:win scenario, said Charles Hall, head of research at broker Peel Hunt.

On the flipside, shareholders of North Sea oil companies and vaping firms are more likely to watch Hunts announcements with a sense of trepidation.

Below, we look at which sectors and companies stand to gain or lose out.

Read: Beaten-Down UK Stocks Are Seen as a Contrarian Bet: Taking Stock

Retail and Leisure

Retail and leisure shares will be in focus if Hunt succumbs to pressure from many in the Conservative Party to cut the UKs tax burden. The Telegraph newspaper reported last month that hes already deemed a plan to cut the basic rate to 18% from 20% unaffordable.

Hunts other options are raising the personal allowance or cutting national insurance, Deutsche Bank AG economist Sanjay Raja wrote in a note.

Watch Marks & Spencer, EasyJet, Jet2 Plc, On the Beach Group Plc

Housebuilders

Hunt may introduce measures to help first-time buyers get on the housing ladder, according to Raja, which would give a boost to homebuilders. Its also very possible that the Chancellor makes permanent the stamp duty cut previously announced by his predecessor in September 2022, Raja said.

Watch Taylor Wimpey Plc, Persimmon Plc

Investment Platforms

Hunt has said he is very attracted to the idea of creating a British ISA as part of efforts to boost the UKs struggling stock market, which has been beset by underperformance, outflows and an exodus of companies. ISAs, or Individual Savings Accounts, currently offer tax-exempt savings up to a limit of 20,000 ($25,250).

The measure could give a broad boost to British shares by directing peoples savings more toward the UK, according to Tim Lucas, UK Equity Income portfolio manager at Newton Investment Management. It may also benefit the firms that provide ISAs.

Watch Hargreaves Lansdown Plc, AJ Bell Plc

NatWest

Hunt is widely expected to confirm the sale of the states shares in lender NatWest Group Plc to retail investors. The government became the banks biggest shareholder during the 2008 financial crisis and has been gradually reducing its stake. It wants to offer at least some of its remaining 33% holding to the general public.

A retail placement of the stock will likely come at a sizable discount to the market price, currently around 2.47 per share, according to Gary Greenwood, an analyst at Shore Capital.

Normally, that would be a negative sign for a stock but, in this case, it could be positive because it will increase the free float and mean index funds will be forced to buy and other funds may also need to do so for risk management purposes, Greenwood said.

Oil and Gas

Hunt is weighing proposals to extend the UKs windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas companies as one of several revenue-raising options under consideration to help finance personal tax cuts.

Extending the energy profits levy, a 35% charge which is due to expire in March 2028, is on a list of possible measures being reviewed by the finance minister, according to people familiar with the matter. Such a measure would likely hit smaller North Sea oil companies hardest.

Watch Harbour Energy Plc, Serica Energy Plc

Vapes

Hunt may announce a new UK tax on vapes as part of his budget, Bloomberg reported. The levy  which could raise 500 million ($630 million) for the public purse by 2028-29  would apply to both manufacturers and importers and is being considered as part of Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks efforts to crack down on vaping and smoking to protect childrens health.

Watch Imperial Brands Plc, British American Tobacco Plc

--With assistance from Joe Mayes, William Shaw, Alex Wickham, Michael Msika and Alexandra Muller.

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(Bloomberg) -- Ukrainian authorities are worried that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is vulnerable to a Russian disinformation campaign that will seek to undermine his authority.

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Kyiv is bracing for a Kremlin-sponsored narrative that will seek to exploit doubts about the presidents standing in an effort to destabilize public trust, particularly among Ukrainian frontline troops, according to a person familiar with Zelenskiys thinking who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The issue comes at a delicate moment for the Ukrainian leader, whose once-unassailable popularity is slipping as the war enters a third year and Russian troops mount an offensive. Officials in the country are concerned that the advances could gain momentum by the summer if allies dont scale up deliveries of ammunition, with stocks running low.

Central to the Kremlins effort will be a bid to erode Zelenskiys democratic legitimacy in the eyes of the public as his five-year term comes to a close without a vote to seek reelection.

The Ukrainian leader has made clear that he anticipates the Kremlin to latch onto the issue, even as President Vladimir Putin this month stages an election whose outcome is tightly controlled by Russian authorities to extend his nearly quarter-century rule.

Its not an opinion held by western partners or perhaps somebody inside Ukraine  but a narrative and program of the Russian Federation, Zelenskiy said earlier this week. He said intelligence from Group of Seven nations had obtained documents verifying a Kremlin plan.

With about a fifth of Ukrainian territory under Russian occupation, millions of people having fled the country and the nations infrastructure battered by the two-year invasion, martial law has imposed restrictions on elections. Zelenskiy, who took office on May 20, 2019, would otherwise be campaigning for a vote held at the end of March if he were to seek a second term.

Democratic Deficit

Picking away at a democratic deficit in Ukraine would seem to be a hard sell from the Kremlin. Putin repeatedly insisted that he wouldnt amend the constitution to extend his tenure, only to pull an about-face in 2020 as the world grappled with the pandemic, opening a path to stay in power until 2036. The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe has criticized the conduct of Russian elections, and wasnt invited to observe this months vote.

Protests and dissent are heavily restricted. The burial on Friday of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, who died in prison last month, was accompanied by a heavy police presence aimed at deterring protests against Putin.

Nevertheless, Ukrainian counterintelligence has described a Russian plan to unleash a campaign to undermine public trust in democratic institutions in the first half of June, including claims that Zelenskiy has overstayed his tenure from May.

The campaign will aim to undermine authorities legitimacy after May 20 as well as spread panic, despair, lead to an artificial conflict between civil and military authorities, a spat between us and our allies and promote conspiracy theories, it said.

Zelenskiy raised the issue with a group of lawmakers in a closed-door meeting last month, urging them to ensure that the legitimacy line isnt spread, according to somebody who was in the meeting, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

One factor in Zelenskiys sense of vulnerability is fading popularity. Although the wartime president is backed by a large majority of Ukrainian citizens, polls show his standing softening. Last months dismissal of his popular top general, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, and setbacks on the frontline have prompted a slow erosion of trust.

Republicans Call for Vote

Other surveys last month showed that Ukrainians who believe the nation is moving in the wrong direction outnumbered those who hold the opposite view for the first time since the invasion began.

And while a majority maintains that Ukraine should dispense with elections in war, the number of those who think Zelenskiy shouldnt seek a second term climbed nine percentage points since December to 43%, according to a February survey from the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.

Ukrainian allies have backed Kyivs view that the country must focus on the war effort, a position that Zelenskiy said could be affirmed during a visit expected soon by French President Emmanuel Macron.

But the issue has been raised in some corners. A number of US Republican Congress members, who are holding up a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine in the House, have called for an election to underscore democracy.

Ukraines legislation prohibits elections during the wartime, as long as martial law has been enacted. But the legal wording opens some room for uncertainty, because it also specifies that a head of states term is for five years. The president is limited to two terms.

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Residents of Odessa carry flowers and toys to the scene of the tragedy

Ukraine grieves for the 12 innocent victims, including five children, who perished in Odesa due to a drone strike by Russia.

NV mourns the tragic loss of innocent lives and shares what is known about the children killed and their families.

Read also: Moldovan President states that attack on Odesa is a reminder that Ukraine still needs help

Three-year-old Mark and his dad Vitaliy

One of the victims was three-year-old Mark, whose body was pulled from under the rubble by rescuers. His father, Vitaliy, also lost his life in the devastating Russian attack, while his mother, Anastasia, is currently in intensive care in a serious condition, Odeske Zhyttya (Odesa Life) news outlet reported.

Tatiana Yurchik, Anastasias aunt, wrote on Instagram that she has regained consciousness but remains in intensive care. She is known to have another child with her ex-husband Volodymyr Bondarenko.

 /Instagram

Four-month-old Tymofiy and his mother Hanna Haidarzhi

Another victim was four-month-old Tymofiy, who was found lying beside his mother, Hanna Haidarzhi. Hannas husband and their other daughter managed to escape as they were in another room at the time of the attack.

Tymofiys aunt told the TV news program Fakty (Facts) that they were in a corner room when the drone hit the building.

Hanna was the daughter of a pastor at the Odesa Peresypska Church, according to the Odesa Regional Association of Baptist Churches.

    / /Facebook

Seven-month-old Liza, father Oleh and mother Tetyana Kravets

The tragedy also claimed the lives of seven-month-old Liza, her father Oleh, and her mother Tetyana Kravets, who were a large military family, according to public broadcaster Suspilne. Tetyana had three other children from a previous marriage, and two of them, nine-year-old Serhiy and eight-year-old Zlata, are currently missing.

Tetyana resigned from military service to take care of newborn baby Liza. Her husband, Serhiy, used to serve in the military. His brother was killed during the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) in 2014.

Colonel Oleh Kravets previously served as the deputy commander for morale and psychological support of the 56th separate motorized rifle brigade in Mariupol. Tetyana also served in the same brigade until recently.

A friend of the family told Suspilne that rescuers have been trying to find any survivors from the family, calling out to them and trying to reach their survival room, but it appears that they did not survive.

   / /Facebook

On March 2, a Russian drone hit a nine-story building in Odesa, destroying one of the entrances. At least 10 people were killed, nine others were injured, and four are still missing.

Read also: Photos reveal shocking extent of Russian recent attack on Odesa

The city of Odesa and the Oblast are mourning the victims of the Russian attack.

On Mar. 3, the spokeswoman of Ukraines South Operational Command, Natalia Humeniuk, said that Russia may have used modified drones with enhanced warheads that caused significant destruction to a residential building in Odesa overnight.

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Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine
At least 10 people were killed in a Russian drone strike on Odesa, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said (Oleksandr GIMANOV)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday called for the world to help Kyiv defeat "Russian evil" as the death toll from a Russian drone strike on Odesa rose to 10, including three young children.

A Russian drone hit an apartment block in the southern port city early on Saturday morning, partially destroying several floors and leaving more than a dozen under the rubble.

"So far, 10 people have died, including three children: Mark, who was not even three years old, Yelyzaveta, eight months old, and Timofey, four months old. Ukrainian children are Russia's military targets," Zelensky said on Sunday in a post on Telegram.

Local officials said they expect the toll to rise as there are still people unaccounted for.

Zelensky on Saturday had pleaded with Kyiv's Western allies to supply more air defence systems as Russia continues to pound his country with drones, missiles and artillery fire in the war's third year.

Ukraine is currently on the back foot with Russia having made recent frontline battlefield gains.

Ukraine's interior ministry separately reported one death and three people wounded in the southern Kherson region.

Zelensky said 215 emergency responders had taken part in an ongoing search and rescue operation in Odesa.

As delays to a crucial $60-billion aid package from the United States has left Kyiv facing ammunition shortages, Zelensky said the attack showed the importance of supporting Ukraine.

"We must win this war," he said on Sunday.

"Every Russian loss at the front is our country's response to Russian terror. The world must respond to every manifestation of Russian evil and repel Russia's actions."

- Bodies huddled together -

There was no comment on the strike in Moscow, which denies targeting civilians despite excessive evidence of Russian strikes on residential areas and the United Nations having verified at least 10,000 civilian deaths since Russia invaded in February 2022.

Ukraine's emergency services said they had found the bodies of families huddled together as they sifted through the rubble on Sunday.

"A mother tried to cover her eight-month-old baby with her body. They were found in a tight embrace," the agency said on Telegram.

Russian military bloggers also reported an attempted massive Ukrainian drone attack on the annexed peninsula of Crimea overnight.

Moscow said it shot down 38 Ukrainian drones, while the Rybar Telegram channel, close to Russia's armed forces, said one hit a pipeline at an oil depot that was the presumed target of the attack.

Kyiv has hit several Russian oil facilities in recent months in what it has called fair retribution for Moscow's attacks on Ukraine's power grid.

A senior Ukrainian commander separately accused Russian forces of dropping explosives containing an unspecified chemical substance over the battlefield, and said the situation on the frontlines was "complicated, but under control."

bur-jc/bc
Key developments on March 2-3:

Russian drone attack on Odesa kills 12, including 5 children

Air Force: Ukraine downs another Russian Su-34 jet

Russian air activity over Ukraine reduced after recent significant aircraft losses, Air Force says

UK Defense Ministry: Average number of daily Russian losses reaches new high in February

Russian attack on Kurakhove injures 16 people, including children

Russian drones hit Odesa overnight on March 2, killing 12 people, including five children.

The strike hit a multi-story building, destroying 18 apartments and trapping people under the rubble. Eight people were injured, including a child.

Among those killed were a woman and her seven-month-old infant, as well as a four-month-old baby, a three-year-old, and a 9-year-old boy and his 8-year-old sister, according to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper.

"It's an unspeakable and horrific tragedy for Odesa and the whole of Ukraine," Kiper wrote on Telegram.

The rescue operation in Odesa ended at around 9 p.m. on March 3.

Rescuers clear debris from a multi-story building heavily damaged following a drone strike in Odesa on March 3, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The attack killed 12 people, including 5 children. (Photo by OLEKSANDR GIMANOVOLEKSANDR GIMANOV/AFP via Getty Images)

"Every Russian loss on the front line is our country's response to Russian terror," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 3 in reponse to the attack.

"The world must respond to every manifestation of Russian evil and repel Russia's actions. Every act of Russian terrorism ignored by the world allows them to continue killing."

Apart from Odesa, the Russian March 2 drone attack also hit Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia Dnipropetrovsk, and Sumy oblasts, with the Air Force reporting 14 of the 17 Russian Shahed-type drones shot down.

Following the attack, Zelensky also called on allies to transfer weapons to Ukraine faster, saying that their "political games and disputes" are limiting the country's defense.

"The world knows how to oppose terrorism. The world has enough missile defense systems to protect (Ukraine) against Shahed drones and missiles," Zelensky wrote on Telegram.

"Delaying the supply of weapons to Ukraine, missile defense systems to protect our people leads, unfortunately, to such losses, to the fact that the list of children whose lives Russia takes away constantly grows."

Read also: Who are they fighting, children? Family of 5 killed in devastating Russian attack on Kharkiv

Another Russian Su-34 jet downed

Ukrainian forces shot down one more Russian Su-34 attack aircraft, the Air Force reported on March 2.

Prior to the report, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk announced that surface-to-air missiles had been fired at Russian Su-34 and Su-35 aircraft in the east of Ukraine.

"The East Air Command confirms the downing of a Su-34 fighter bomber. Unfortunately, it was only one," the Air Force wrote on Telegram.

It marks the latest in a recent uptick of downed Russian planes: Official reports indicate that 13 Russian warplanes were downed in February, with three Su-34 attack planes reportedly shot down on Feb. 29 alone.

The downed aircraft in February include 10 Su-34 fighter bombers, two Su-35 fighter jets, and one rare A-50 military spy plane.

Yuri Ihnat, the Air Force's spokesperson, on March 3 confirmed in a comment to Ukrainska Pravda that Russian air activity over Ukraine has reduced over the past week after the Russian military suffered significant aircraft losses.

Ihnat attributed this success to air defense systems supplied by Ukraine's allies.

"The means of resistance provided to Ukraine by Western partners demonstrate their effectiveness. This is evidenced by the number of enemy aircraft shot down in February," Ihnat told Ukrainska Pravda.

"The current task is to secure the front-line territories from the enemy's use of guided aerial bombs," he said.

Read also: Ukraine destroyed 13 Russian military aircraft in 2 weeks. How?

Average number of daily Russian losses reaches new high in February

In its March 3 update, the U.K. Defense Ministry wrote that the average number of estimated Russian casualties in February was approximately 983 per day, marking an all-time high since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The update appears to be citing the U.K. Defense Ministry's own estimation of Russian losses.

The increase in casualties "almost certainly" reflects Russia's "commitment to mass and attritional warfare," according to the ministry.

"Although costly in terms of human life, the resulting effect has increased the pressure on Ukraine's positions across the front line."

A graph presented by the U.K. Defense Ministry of average daily losses for the Russian military indicates that casualty numbers have only risen since the start of the full-scale invasion.

The highest number of average daily losses in 2022 was 559 in November.

The number steadily rose in 2023, with the highest average daily losses of 967 in December. The Russian offensive on Avdiivka began in October 2023, which is likely the cause for increased casualty numbers at the end of 2023.

The U.K. Defense Ministry estimated that over 355,000 Russian service members have been killed or wounded since the start of the full-scale invasion. The Ukrainian government publicly estimates the number at 416,800.

Read also: Shock therapy: War tourism in Ukraine attracts foreigners to see scars of Russias invasion

Russian attack on Kurakhove injures 16 people, including children

At least 16 people have been injured after Russian forces launched a guided aerial bomb on the city center of Kurakhove, a city in Donetsk Oblast, local governor Vadim Filashkin reported on March 3.

Among those injured are two teenagers aged 17 and 15, reported Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko. Two of the injured are in serious condition.

The attack on Kurakhove occurred at around 12 p.m. local time, and at least 15 high-rise buildings were damaged by the impact, according to Filashkin.

Civilians in Donetsk Oblast settlements suffer from daily Russian strikes due to their proximity to the front line.

Heavy battles continue in the region as Russia intensifies offensive actions along the front, and Ukraine's Armed Forces face serious ammunition shortages due to delays in U.S. aid.

"While we fight (Russian) occupiers on the front line, they continue to wage war against civilians. They are waging war against children," Klymenko wrote on Telegram.

"There will inevitably be a response to these strikes. Both in international courts and on the battlefield."

Read also: They mourned loss of their apartment. Then, Russia destroyed their whole city

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A serviceman launches a drone to demonstrate the integration of AI into the process of humanitarian demining. Photo: Getty Images

Ukraines Ministry of Economy has signed an agreement with Palantir, a technology company specialising in big data analytics.

Source: Ukraines Ministry of Economy

Details: The agreement contains specific provisions for cooperation in the following areas:

digitising humanitarian demining operations and automating processes outlined by the National Mine Action Strategy for the period up to 2033;

expanding digital capabilities to coordinate land clearance and assessment, regional priorities and risk management in demining;

using an artificial intelligence platform (AIP) assistant in demining decision-making.

The platform will work with large databases created by mine clearance stakeholders, ranging from local governments, regional authorities, ministries and agencies to mine clearance experts and operators.

The databases are expected to contain both static information, such as an assessment of the economic efficiency of agricultural land, the proximity of contaminated areas to utilities, and operational information that will be regularly updated.

This includes data from surveys of the territories by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, the State Transport Special Service, and non-governmental operators; the number and condition of equipment; the availability of explosives experts units in specific areas, and so on.

Palantir AIP will ensure that the platform can analyse all the available information and provide recommendations for process optimisation.

For example, it will be able to advise, taking into account all the data, how to most effectively clear a particular area from mines using new demining tools such as drones or traditional methods.

The ultimate goal is to clear Ukrainian territories of mines faster and at lower costs.

Previously: In October, it was reported that a comprehensive strategy for information management regarding humanitarian demining in Ukraine would operate in accordance with a data-based approach, with artificial intelligence helping to process available data.

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An agreement has been signed with U.S. tech company Palantir to employ artificial intelligence in Ukraine's humanitarian demining efforts, the Economy Ministry reported on March 3.

Over 270 Ukrainians, including 14 children, have been killed by mines and other explosives since the start of the full-scale invasion.

"Demining is the zero stage of Ukraine's recovery. Currently, 156,000 square kilometers of land are potentially contaminated, with over 6 million Ukrainians at risk," Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said at the signing of the agreement in London.

Since the start of the full-scale invasion, deminers have neutralized over 470,000 explosive objects and cleared more than 1,170 square kilometers of land, according to Serhii Reva, the head of the State Emergency Services humanitarian demining department.

However, clearing the land will be a massive and years-long undertaking.

The ability to accelerate the demining process, "particularly through cooperation with technological companies like Palantir, is an opportunity to save lives and expedite Ukraine's reconstruction," Svyrydenko said.

The agreement entails the digitalization of demining operations and automation of processes already outlined in Ukraine's National Mine Action Strategy through 2033, according to the Economy Ministry's press release.

It also involves the expansion of digital capabilities for assessing and prioritizing the risks in mined regions, as well as the utilization of a Palantir-provided artificial intelligence platform assistant for decision-making in demining efforts.

The platform will draw intel from local and regional governing bodies, as well as ministries, agencies, and the previous work of deminers.

Based on this data, the platform could advise deminers on the most effective measures to take when working in a specific area, such as whether they should use drones or more traditional demining methods.

The main goal, according to the Economy Ministry, is to "demine territories faster and at lower costs."

Multiple countries have been assisting Ukraine with demining efforts and providing training and equipment.

The U.S. donated over one million dollars in demining equipment to Ukraine's State Special Transport Service in February.

Read also: Wests response to Macron comments on troops to Ukraine reveal discord, weakness, experts say







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(Reuters) -President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday called for Ukraine's Western partners to summon the political will to provide Kyiv with necessary military supplies or the world will face "one of the most shameful pages of history."

Zelenskiy issued his appeal as a U.S. package to provide military and other assistance remains blocked by disagreements in Congress.

As the war passed the two-year mark last month, Russian forces have made some gains along the 1,000-km (600-mile) front, though lines of engagements have changed little in months.

A clearly angry Zelenskiy, speaking in his nightly video address, said the world had to "react firmly" to ensure that the war becomes a "hopeless" enterprise for Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, who wants only "war and death."

"They must be made to feel to the maximum that there is a force that destroys those who destroy life. We can ensure that. Each of our partners knows what is necessary," he said.

"The main thing is political will in order to realise this, to secure the level of supplies which will help," he said. "If this is not the case, it will become one of the most shameful pages of history, if America or Europe loses to Iranian "Shaheds" (drones) or Russian fighter jets,"

Ukraine, he said, was "waiting for supplies that are vitally necessary and we are waiting, in particular, for an American decision. Support is truly needed."

Zelenskiy has become increasingly strident in his calls for the U.S. Congress to approve the aid.

The U.S. House of Representatives is under pressure to pass the $95 billion national security package that bolsters aid for Ukraine and Israel as well as the Indo-Pacific.

That legislation cleared the Senate on a 70-29 vote last month but House Speaker Mike Johnson has resisted putting up the aid bill for a vote in the House.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Nick Starkov; Editing by Mark Porter)
On behalf of the President of Ukraine, the Cabinet of Ministers has allocated more than UAH 1.3 billion ($34.2 million) for the construction of fortifications in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, which is a record amount, Ivan Fedorov, Zaporizhzhya regional governor, said on the national television on March 1.

More than UAH 1.3 billion has been allocated for the construction of fortifications in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, and this construction is underway in the morning and continues in the evening, said Fedorov.

Read also: Ukraine to spend $450 million on battlefield fortifications

Some work is carried out at night. Everything is being done to provide a sense of security to civilians in Zaporizhzhya Oblast and, of course, to the military as soon as possible.

Fedorov also noted that the construction work is being carried out by both civilian and military contractors and will be completed as soon as possible.

He also added that the main objective of the construction of fortifications is to make the Ukrainian military feel more secure and ready for any development of the frontline situation.

Fedorov pointed out that this does not mean that anyone is going to retreat.

Read also: Ukrainian forces establish powerful fortifications amid Russian offensive

Earlier, Legion of Liberty spokesman Kostyantyn Denysov said that in Zaporizhzhya Oblast, Russian occupants are trying to use the tactics from Avdiivka.

According to him, the Russians, having an advantage in artillery and aviation, constantly cover the entire front line with fire. They are actively using tanks and armored vehicles.

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Palestinians inspect the damage caused by an Israeli air strike on several buildings in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza Strip. Mohammed Talatene/dpa

The UN Security Council has underscored the importance of protecting Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip amid ongoing fighting and since the deadly incident involving aid deliveries.

"Parties were urged to refrain from depriving civilians in Gaza of basic services and humanitarian assistance," according to a United Nations statement published in New York on Saturday.

The council expressed "grave concern that the entire population, more than two million people, could face alarming levels of acute food insecurity," according to the statement.

Members reiterated their demand for parties to allow, facilitate, and enable the immediate, rapid, safe, sustained and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance at scale to the Palestinian civilian population throughout the Gaza Strip.

They urged Israel to keep border crossings open for humanitarian aid to enter Gaza, to facilitate the opening of additional crossings to meet humanitarian needs at scale, and to support the rapid and safe delivery of relief items to people throughout the Gaza Strip.

The member states also expressed concern about the reports of the recent disaster concerning an aid convoy in the north of the Gaza Strip.

The Hamas-controlled Health Ministry in Gaza accused Israeli soldiers of shooting dead 104 people and injuring 760 as aid was being handed out to Palestinians on Thursday.

The Israeli army said civilians had stormed the aid lorries in Gaza City and dozens of people had been trampled on. It said an investigation is under way.

The UN Security Council avoided directly apportioning blame for the incident. Its statement merely said that Israeli forces had been involved when a large crowd of people surrounded a humanitarian aid convoy south-west of the city of Gaza.

A Palestinian boy weeps, following an Israeli airstrike killing one person. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa
These student researchers presented their findings during the 2024 Florida Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by University of North Florida on Feb. 17.

The University of North Florida has long been a leader in undergraduate research, as a founding member of the Florida Undergraduate Research Association and the first institution to host the Florida Undergraduate Research Conference. The college recently hosted the 14th annual conference in Jacksonville, where 84 UNF students participated.

This is important because as UNF grows and continues to develop as an R2 research university  a designation related to the number of doctoral degrees granted  undergraduate research remains a vital component of the educational experience. To best serve the needs of undergraduate students seeking exposure to research, the UNF Office of Undergraduate Research is actively seeking new community partnerships to ensure modern, real-world experiences for these future professionals.

Last year UNF documented over 2,500 different undergraduate research experiences across the universitys colleges, providing students hands-on or experiential training in their respective disciplines. Some experiences are paid, while others provide credit toward the students degree.

Many projects are done on campus and we now have a growing number of off-campus research internships as well.

All the students work under the guidance of a faculty mentor. The university has developed important relationships with community partners who also serve as mentors for these students. These partnerships provide opportunities for students to apply the knowledge gained in the classroom in a practical way and work on problems that impact the communities of Northeast Florida.

In many cases, the research experiences lead to students being hired at the facility where they worked on research.

A research experience consists of inquiry, investigation and production of knowledge. Student researchers develop research questions, carry out methods specific to their fields of study to answer the questions and then communicate their results. At UNF, the Office of Undergraduate Research provides support for all three components.

This support includes grants and awards to help offset the cost of supplies or travel and hosting on-campus symposia where students can share their research findings and hone their presentation skills. In the last academic year, we provided $32,000 in grants to fund 17 different undergraduate research projects.

We also awarded $15,000 to support student travel for 31 off-campus presentations where they presented their research findings to professionals in their fields of study.

An indigenous history: UNF profs to tell the story of Northeast Florida's Mocama people

At the 14th annual Florida Undergraduate Research Conference hosted by UNF recently, students from throughout the state presented their research. At the same time, they developed professional skills through workshops and networking with graduate recruiters from across the country. As the conference has grown from 135 presentations in 2011 to 580 presentations this year, so has the participation of UNF students at the conference.

Looking specifically at the last three years (after returning to an in-person format from a virtual conference in response to the COVID pandemic), the number of UNF students presenting has doubled each year.

Letters: Teachers enter classroom to educate children, not serve as armed guards

As we look forward, UNF and the Office of Undergraduate Research are seeking community partners to support the growing need for undergraduate mentors and research opportunities. With these partnerships, UNF can attract and retain top scholars, who in coming to UNF will share their time and talent with the Jacksonville community as they develop their technical and professional skills.

We know that the Jacksonville community has a strong medical network and is growing in terms of small businesses. By working together, UNF and our community professionals can support each other to solidify the city of Jacksonville and Northeast Florida as a high-caliber education destination and a great place to study, live and thrive.

Those interested in partnering with UNF may email the Office of Undergraduate Research at our@unf.edu.

Ochrietor

Judith Ochrietor, Ph.D., director of UNF's Office of Undergraduate Research, interim director of the university's Biomedical Sciences program and associate professor of biology.

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Undergrad research a vital component of educational journey at UNF
Passengers ride in an electric Jaguar I-Pace outfitted with Waymo self-driving technology in Santa Monica last month. The company has been testing autonomous vehicles in L.A. for over a year. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

An unhoused man was taken into custody on suspicion of grand theft auto after police said he tried to steal a Waymo self-driving car in downtown Los Angeles on Saturday night.

The man entered and tried to operate a Waymo vehicle that had stopped to let out a passenger at the corner of 1st and Main at 10:30 p.m., LAPD Det. Meghan Aguilar said. After the man, whom a Waymo spokesman described as an "unauthorized pedestrian," entered the vehicle, the company's Rider Support team instructed him to exit the car.

When he did not, the company contacted the police, "who were then able to remove and arrest" the man, said Chris Bonelli, a Waymo spokesman. Vincent Maurice Jones, 34, was arrested at 12:15 a.m. Sunday, Aguilar said.

No injuries were reported by the rider, and there was no damage to the vehicle, Bonelli said.

The car was stationary during the entire incident because an unauthorized person was identified by the company to be in the vehicle, according to Waymo.

Read more: Waymo is cleared to launch robotaxi service in Los Angeles, sparking new protests

Waymo is allowed to operate fully autonomous vehicles and carry passengers as part of its testing and promotions program and has been testing vehicles in L.A. for more than a year.

The company, which is a subsidiary of Google parent company Alphabet Inc. and focuses on self-driving technology, has faced criticism as it expands operations throughout the state, including in parts of San Francisco and now L.A.

Last month, a crowd vandalized and burned an empty Waymo car in San Francisco's Chinatown, though the motive for that incident is still unclear.

On Friday, the California Public Utilities Commission OK'd the company's plans to expand into San Mateo and L.A. counties over local leaders' objections. L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn called the commission's approval "a dangerous decision," and called for more local involvement in the approval process.

L.A. Mayor Karen Bass, too, had previously asked regulators to give local officials more say in regulation, noting that a Waymo vehicle operating in L.A. last year initially failed to stop for a traffic officer at Beaudry Avenue and Wilshire Boulevard.





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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The leader of the union representing New York Times employees has accused the paper of targeting staff of Middle Eastern and North African descent as part of the legacy outlets investigation into a leak related to its reporting on Israel and Hamas.

In a letter sent Friday to Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger, Susan DeCarava, president of NewsGuild of New York, said that union-backed journalists who raised concerns about the papers approach to covering Gaza were being targeted for their national origin, ethnicity and race, creating an ominous chilling-effect across the newsroom and effectively silencing necessary and critical internal discussion.

The Times launched an internal leak probe, which was first reported on by Vanity Fair, after The Intercept published an expose in January revealing that the newspapers flagship podcast, The Daily, had canceled a planned episode of a Times investigative report alleging Hamas militants weaponized sexual violence when they attacked Israel on Oct. 7.

According to the expose, the episode was shelved after the December report could not pass a fact check and had faced questions of credibility from staff and the public.

A Times spokesperson denied the allegation to The Intercept after the exposes publication and defended the original reporting in statements to other outlets.

In response to the expose, the Times leadership launched a weekslong investigation to find the alleged whistleblower who leaked information to The Intercept. In her letter, DeCarava said that guild members asserted their protected right to union representation when they were called into meetings with managements investigators.

What we have learned about these meetings is shocking, she wrote. Rather than simple information-gathering, the meetings became a vehicle for the harassment and intimidation of our members.

NewsGuild president Susan DeCarava sent a letter to NYT publisher A.G. Sulzberger today accusing Times management of targeting journalists for their national origin, ethnicity and race in the leak investigation pic.twitter.com/BPb7DlW4xZ  Charlotte Klein (@charlottetklein) March 2, 2024

According to DeCarava, staff who are part of the companys Middle Eastern and North African employee resource group experienced particularly hostile questioning from Times management, including queries related to their involvement in the group as well as their opinions on the papers coverage.

Managements investigators reportedly also ordered those employees to provide the names of all active members in the group and demanded copies of personal communications between colleagues about their concerns related to the papers Gaza coverage, according to a separate statement sent Friday to guild members.

Some of the employees who were called in for questioning had no connection to the production of The Daily episode, except for the fact that they raised concerns to standards editors about the original reporting, according to DeCaravas letter.

These members went above and beyond to follow company policies in bringing feedback internally to Standards, as The Times encourages its journalists to do, she wrote.

Last week, The Intercept published a follow-up story questioning the credibility of the Times sexual violence investigation. The story revealed that the Times hired Anat Schwartz to co-author the December report, despite being an Israeli filmmaker with no journalism experience who was found to have engaged with genocidal anti-Palestinian rhetoric on social media.

A Times spokesperson told The Daily Beast that Schwartzs social media activity was unacceptable and being reviewed by the company.

The Intercepts follow-up said that while the Times editorial process specifically in the sexual violence report has drawn scrutiny, staffers at the legacy paper have long been concerned over the direction of the Times Israel-Hamas coverage.

As a union, we do not tolerate harassment and racial targeting of our members, DeCarava wrote in her letter. We demand that The Times cease what has become a destructive and racially targeted witch hunt.

A Times spokesperson told The Washington Post that DeCaravas accusation is preposterous.

Ryan Grim, the Washington bureau chief for The Intercept and one of the authors of the expose, addressed the Times investigation in a post on X, formerly Twitter, Friday.

Its 2024 and the New York Times is trying to find our sources by targeting its Arab and Muslim journalists for suspicion, he wrote. If they let their bigotry guide their investigation, theyre just going to harass a bunch of innocent journalists.

Related...
Felicia starred as The Unknown in her first paid acting job

A teenage actor who played a stand out role at a cancelled Willy Wonka-inspired event in Glasgow said she was shocked by the response to her creepy character.

One video, which has had millions of views, shows the mysterious figure appearing from behind a mirror to whimpering children.

But now The Unknown has been unmasked as 16-year-old Felicia, from Glasgow.

And she is thrilled her first paid acting job has gone viral.

The villain was met with confusion worldwide as The Unknown was noticeably absent from the plot of Roald Dahl's classic children's book, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Felicia told BBC Scotland News: "It was so ridiculous it was actually funny."

In the lead up to last month's event the organisers, House of Illuminati, advertised a "journey filled with wondrous creations".

Willy Wonka was a fictional chocolatier who ran a competition for lucky finders of a golden ticket to visit his factory.

But visitors who hoped to relive the classic book and movies - including the 1971 original starring Gene Wilder - were bitterly disappointed when they arrived at a sparsely-decorated warehouse.

The event was held last weekend in an industrial estate in Whiteinch, where actors tried to make the best of some sad-looking props and a small bouncy castle.

Children were offered a half-cup of lemonade and a small ration of jelly beans on their trip to the imaginary sweet factory.

Parents paid up to 35 a ticket but were so appalled they called Police Scotland.

Within hours the event was abruptly cancelled, leaving some families unable to get in at all.

According to the script, which is said to be the result of artificial intelligence, The Unknown was an evil rival chocolate maker who lives in walls.

The Glasgow event featured a character called "The Unknown" who is absent from the traditional Willy Wonka plotline

The story involves his attempt to steal Willy's "Anti-Graffiti Gobstopper".

Felicia was originally cast in the starring role of Willy McDuff - seemingly inspired by Willy Wonka - before opting for The Unknown.

A video of the villain, dressed in a silver mask and black cloak, emerging from behind a mirror to unhappy children took off on social media last week.

The teenager said: "There weren't any rehearsals. I got there early to practise but it hadn't been set up.

"The actors came up later and it still hadn't been set up.

"We were all saying it was a mess and there hadn't been any organisation, but we were just hoping that together it wouldn't be that bad. But it was."

Chocolate experience props

The actors were told to improvise on the day, so Felicia waited behind the mirror for each of the three Willy McDuff characters to pass through with their group.

She said: "My character didn't make any sense without the Wonka explaining who I was, that I was The Unknown, an evil chocolate maker who lives in the walls.

"So I was just sitting behind the mirror trying to act creepy because that was the only direction I was given.

"It was definitely a mixed bag of reactions. Some people loved it, some people were terrified of it.

"But I think most people didn't really know what I was there for - which was the same for me."

'It was going so wrong'

Felicia said her concerns about the performance intensified just 45 minutes after the doors opened.

She recalled: "The first few runs were actually working quite well because there was order in it.

"But people were straggling in and then it was just all going wrong.

"In the room next to the mirror, one of the Wonkas had been in there for like an hour straight and he hadn't left and the other two Wonkas had just disappeared.

"During that time more people were coming along and it would build up and build up.

"I was sitting behind the mirror texting my mum saying it was going so wrong."

Felicia said each Wonka led a group of about 60 people and often they could not all fit in one room.

She added: "One of the other Wonkas made up a storyline that if the children pulled a silly face at me, I would be scared and hide back in my corner.

"That worked really well and it would kind of make sense with the plot.

"But that didn't happen every time so sometimes I just had to awkwardly walk back to my corner."

Felicia revising her lines before the doors opened to the public

Felicia revealed she still has the costume from the event and said it was "quite funny" that people had been asking for it.

After the experience was shut down, the actors went to the pub for a debrief.

She recalled: "When we came back it was just a big massive mob outside.

"There were like four police cars outside. It was really crazy."

But despite the backlash, Felicia said the response had been positive on the whole.

She added: "At first I was really embarrassed about it. But when we went to the pub after, we were just laughing about it.

"It was so ridiculous it was actually funny.

"And now it's become viral, it's genuinely life-changing and I'm really happy I did it.

"Everybody loves the character and posting about it, so it makes me happy that people can see the funny side."
After an unresponsive student was found in a school hallway Friday, an 18-year-old Wayne County High School student was arrested for allegedly selling a vape pen containing marijuana.

Wayne County Sheriff Tim Catron described the situation in a Facebook post Saturday.

Alexander Davalos, of Somerset, was charged with unlawful transaction with a minor2nd degree, which is a felony, and trafficking in marijuana (less than eight ounces), a misdemeanor, he said.

Wayne County Emergency Medical Services was dispatched to the Wayne County High School Area Technology Center to help an unresponsive student who was later transported to the hospital for treatment, Catron said.

The unresponsive student was found in a hallway and was treated by the school nurse before EMS arrived on the scene.

A second student came to the school nurse feeling sick.

An investigation revealed that a student from Somerset at that school had sold a vape pen containing THC (marijuana) earlier that morning, Catron said.

One student admitted to having purchased the vape pen from the accused student with another student admitting to observing that purchase. Two other students also admitted to smoking the same vape pen.

One of them said he was feeling sick but did not need to be treated.

Davalos was taken to the Wayne County Detention Center.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  A mystery that has remained unsolved for more than half a century surrounds a historic hotel in Kansas City, Missouri. More than 89 years ago, a murder occurred in room 1046 at the Hilton President, formerly known as President Hotel, the case of which remains unsolved to this day. Artemus Ogletree, a young man, checked into the hotel in 1935 but never checked out.

According to an article from the Kansas City Public Library, on January 4, 1935, a bellboy named Randolph Propst went to the tenth floor to check the rooms phone. The room was rented by a guest named Roland T. Owen.

When Propst arrived at the door, he noticed a Dont Disturb sign on the handle. After knocking and hearing no response, he entered the room. What he saw inside made him seek his assistant manager.

Propst found Ogletree naked, slumped forward on the edge of the bathtub, covered in blood. According to a news article from The San Francisco Examiner on May 19, 1935, Ogletree had been stabbed multiple times in the chest, stomach, and legs, with his wrists slashed and the back of his head bludgeoned. A rope was tied around his neck, indicating an attempted strangulation.

Despite his injuries, Ogletree was still conscious when a doctor and a detective arrived and began questioning him. They mistakenly assumed Ogletree was Roland T. Owen, the registered guest.

When asked about his injuries, Ogletree claimed to have fallen against the bathtub and denied any attempt at self-harm. He soon collapsed and was taken to Kansas City General Hospital, where he later died.

Rising dance star shot and killed in St. Louis

Weird Circumstances:

The detectives found Ogletrees belongings missing, including his clothes, toothbrush, toothpaste, and shaving items. They also discovered what they assumed to be a womans fingerprint on one of the two drinking glasses in the room.

The room had been locked from the outside, and the key was missing. A note on the desk read, Don, I will be back in 15 minutes  wait.

Attempts to identify Ogletree failed. Police hoped a barber might recognize a scar on his head, but this attempt fell through as well.

For weeks, Ogletrees body remained in a Kansas City funeral home as police sought to unravel the mystery surrounding his death and identify him.

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An identification but also still a mystery:

Finally, Ruby Ogletree, Artemuss mother, identified her son through a newspaper article that showed his picture. She revealed that her son had left their family in Birmingham, Alabama, in April 1934, when he was 19 years old.

She also explained that the scar on his scalp above his ear was the result of an accident during his childhood, where he was burned by hot grease.

The mystery of Ogletrees murder remains unsolved. No clear motive or suspect has been identified.

Currently, there is still no solution to why Ogletree was murdered, why there was a mysterious donor paying for Ogletrees funeral, or why roses showed up at Ogletrees grave site with a note that said, Love for ever, Louise.

No one has been connected to the fingerprints on the glass in the room, and no one has been charged with the crime.

The Kansas City Magazine published an extensive article on the murder, including detailed police reports, but the case remains open.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
Merrick Garland at the Tabernacle Baptist church to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, in Selma, Alabama, on Sunday.

Merrick Garland at the Tabernacle Baptist church to commemorate the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, in Selma, Alabama, on Sunday. Photograph: Christian Monterrosa/EPA

The right to vote in the US is under attack, with sustained efforts to disfranchise Black voters, the US attorney general, Merrick Garland, told a Selma church service commemorating the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday police attack on civil rights activists.

Garland said decisions by the supreme court and lower courts since 2006 have weakened the 1965 Voting Rights Act.

Related: How Alabama is defying the supreme court to discriminate against Black voters

The landmark legislation was passed in the wake of the violent attack by Alabama police on unarmed demonstrators  including the late civil rights leader John Lewis  as they tried to cross Edmund Pettus Bridge on 7 March and walk across Alabama in support of voting rights.

Since those decisions, there has been a dramatic increase in legislative measures that make it harder for millions of eligible voters to vote and to elect the representatives of their choice ... such measures threaten the foundation of our system of government.

Some have even suggested giving state legislatures the power to set aside the choice of the voters themselves. That is not the way a representative democracy is supposed to work, Garland told people at Selmas Tabernacle Baptist church, the site of one of the first mass meetings of the voting rights movement.

The right to vote is still under attack.

Garland underlined the long and ongoing struggle to guarantee Black Americans and other people of color their vote, which is under threat from gerrymandering, ID requirements and restrictions on early voting in mostly Republican states.

Garland said the Department of Justice was challenging efforts by states and jurisdictions to implement discriminatory, burdensome and unnecessary restrictions on access to the ballot, including those related to mail-in voting, the use of drop boxes, and voter ID requirements  [and] working to block the adoption of discriminatory redistricting plans that dilute the vote of Black voters and other voters of color.

Kamala Harris is scheduled to speak after leading the annual march across the bridge on Sunday afternoon. The vice-president will honor the legacy of the civil rights movement, address the ongoing work to achieve justice for all, and encourage Americans to continue the fight for fundamental freedoms that are under attack throughout the country, the White House said.

Images of the violence at the bridge 59 years ago shocked many Americans, and helped galvanize support for passing the Voting Rights legislation, which struck down state regulations prohibiting Black people from voting.

Congressman James Clyburn, a Democrat of South Carolina who is leading a pilgrimage to Selma to mark the anniversary, told the Associated Press that the right to vote is still not guaranteed.

We are at an inflection point in this country  hopefully this years march will allow people to take stock of where we are.

The Associated Press contributed to this report
The decade-long fight by the Apache Stronghold, a nonprofit organization composed of the some tribal citizens of San Carlos Tribe and other Native Americans,sustained a severe blow on Friday when the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in a close 6-5 ruled in favor of Rio and BHP for the Resolution Copper project.

The project will allow for the destruction of Oak Flat, in Apache known as Chichil Bidagoteel, that has been a gathering space for sacred ceremonies for time immemorial for the Apache and other Native American tribes.

Apache Stronghold leader Wendsler Nosie vowed to appeal the Fridays decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

"Oak Flat is like Mount Sinai to us  our most sacred site, where we connect with our Creator, our faith, our families and our land," Nosie said. "Today's ruling targets the spiritual lifeblood of my people, but it will not stop our struggle to save Oak Flat."

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The land deal between the U.S Forest Service and corporation in a last-minute provision was inserted into a 2014 must-pass defense bill authorizing the transfer of Oak Flat to Resolution Copper, a foreign-owned mining company that plans to turn the sacred site into a two-mile-wide and 1,100-foot-deep crater.

"This ruling is illogical and it's unjust," said Luke Goodrich, a Becket Law attorney who represents Apache Stronghold. The group intends to appeal to the Supreme Court and feels it has a strong case given how closely divided the appeals court was, Goodrich added.

On Sunday, the San Carlos Apache Tribe issued a press release saying while the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling Friday, March 1, 2024 against the non-profit citizens group Apache Stronghold is extremely disappointing, the ruling does not clear the way for construction of the Resolution Copper Mine.

The culturally and environmentally devastating Resolution project is no closer to construction today than it was before the appeals court ruling, San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler continued in the press release. The Tribe will continue to fight construction of the project that would have devastating impacts to the Tribes culture, the environment and Arizonas drinking water supplies.

The Trump Administration pushed through Resolutions deeply flawed Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in the last week of Trumps presidency.

The Biden Administration subsequently withdrew the EIS because it failed to address the irreparable harm this mine would inflict on the environment and Apache culture.

The Biden Administration correctly withdrew the deeply flawed report and should never reissue the environmental study, Chairman Rambler said. The Tribe appreciates President Bidens leadership in ensuring the federal government honors its solemn commitments to tribes, including the protection of sacred areas on federal land.

There are also two outstanding federal lawsuits  including one filed by the San Carlos Apache Tribe  that have yet to be litigated. These suits raise multiple critical arguments on why this mine should not be allowed to move forward.

The United States already exports one-third of the copper produced in its mines because there is not enough smelter capacity to process the countrys raw copper into finished metal. Resolution has stated it does not intend to build a new smelter. China operates nine of the 20 largest copper smelters in the world and is the worlds largest importer of raw copper concentrate.

All the evidence points to the fact that Rio Tinto and BHP will export Resolutions copper overseas to China. This is a national security threat that will bolster Chinas economy at the expense of all Americans. Chairman Rambler stated. The Resolution Mine is clearly not in the best interest of the Tribe, the citizens of Arizona, and American taxpayers and must be stopped.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court plans to issue at least one ruling on Monday, the day before Colorado holds a presidential primary election in which a lower court kicked Republican frontrunner Donald Trump off the ballot for taking part in an insurrection during the Jan. 6, 2021 U.S. Capitol attack.

The Supreme Court, in an unusual Sunday update to its schedule, did not specify what ruling it would issue. But the justices on Feb. 8 heard arguments in Trump's appeal of the Colorado ruling and are due to issue their own decision.

Colorado is one of 15 states and a U.S. territory holding primary elections on "Super Tuesday." Trump is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic President Joe Biden in the Nov. 5 U.S. election.

The Republican Party of Colorado has asked the Supreme Court, whose 6-3 conservative majority include three justices appointed by Trump, to rule before Tuesday in the ballot eligibility case.

During arguments, Supreme Court justices signaled sympathy toward Trump's appeal of a Dec. 19 ruling by Colorado's top court to disqualify him from the state's ballot under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment bars from holding public office any "officer of the United States" who took an oath "to support the Constitution of the United States" and then "engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof."

Trump supporters attacked police and swarmed the Capitol in a bid to prevent Congress from certifying Biden's 2020 election victory. Trump gave an incendiary speech to supporters beforehand, telling them to go to the Capitol and "fight like hell." He then for hours rebuffed requests that he urge the mob to stop.

Anti-Trump forces have sought to disqualify him in more than two dozen other states - a mostly unsuccessful effort - over his actions relating to the Jan. 6 attack. Maine and Illinois also have barred Trump from their ballot, though both those decisions are on hold pending the Supreme Court's Colorado ruling.

During arguments in the Colorado case, Supreme Court justices - conservatives and liberals alike - expressed concern about states taking sweeping actions that could impact a presidential election nationwide. They pondered how states can properly enforce the Section 3 disqualification language against candidates, with several wondering whether Congress must first pass legislation do enable that.

In another case with high stakes for the election, the Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to decide Trump's claim of immunity from prosecution for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss to Biden.

The court appears likely to reject Trump's claim of immunity from prosecution, according to legal experts, but its decision to spend months on the matter could aid his quest to regain the presidency by further delaying a monumental criminal trial.

Trump's lawyers have argued that he should be shielded from prosecution for his effort to reverse Biden's victory because he was president when he took those actions, a sweeping assertion of immunity firmly rejected by lower courts.

But the Supreme Court's decision not to schedule its arguments on the issue until late April reduces the chances that a trial on the election subversion charges brought by Special Counsel Jack Smith could be finished before the presidential election.

(Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Scott Malone and Will Dunham)
The Capitol is pictured in Salt Lake City on Monday, Jan. 29, 2024. Utah lawmakers dropped the states income tax rate again this year. | Kristin Murphy, Deseret News

Utah lawmakers dropped the states income tax rate again this year.

The reduction in the individual and corporate state income tax rate from 4.65% to 4.55% adds up to nearly $170 million, slightly more than the amount set aside in December for an unspecified tax cut by the powerful Executive Appropriations Committee made up of legislative leadership.

The higher price tag is due to updated revenue forecasts showing an anticipated increase in income tax collections and the Legislatures longtime Republican supermajority left little doubt they intended to continue to lower the state income tax rate. A tax cut was announced as a top GOP priority even before the session began in mid-January.

While this is the fourth year in a row that lawmakers have cut taxes in Utah, income tax rates were included in just the past three years. In 2022, the income tax rate was sliced from 4.95% to 4.85%, nearly a $164 million tax cut, and in 2023, from 4.85% to 4.65%, a $380 million reduction.

Gov. Spencer Cox said he is very supportive of the tax cut. I think under the circumstances, with the budget as it sits right now, thats a good number.

Before the session started, Cox was talking about the need for legislative leaders to focus on getting rid of Utahs income tax rather than keep reducing the rate. He told the Utah Taxpayers Association that may be even better than just taking it down 10 basis points (a basis point is one-hundredth of 1%) or 20 basis points every year, just kid of slicing away a little bit at a time like that.

Friday, the governor told the Deseret News he was just trying to encourage a conversation about what comes next for the income tax.

Theres no way that we can eliminate the income tax. My point was in saying that was to start a conversation about what is the angle here? What are we trying to accomplish, Cox said, adding that questions about what would replace the income tax, or how much more the rate should be cut if it stays, need to be answered.

Those conversations are happening, he said. What Id like to see is whats the marker. Do we want to get down to 3.95%? Is that the marker? Is that what were looking for? I dont know yet. These are conversations that are very deep and intense. It means economists coming together. Its not just something that you put your finger up in the wind and pull a number out.

Its something we have to be thoughtful about. My concern was that were not being as thoughtful about it, Cox said. Now, legislative leaders have agreed its time to come together. I know its more than 10 basis points where we want to go. We have to make sure the economys keeping up with that. But there has to be a plan in place.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, said work will continue on the income tax with an eye toward eventually joining the handful of states that dont have an income tax.

I dont want to speak for the entire (Senate). We havent had discussions, Adams said. But I cant imagine we wont continue with what weve done in the past with the same effort. I think were trying to reduce the income tax to be competitive with other states. Ive said forever, if there is a way, wed like to try to actually remove the income tax.

The Senate president said if we cant get there, thats great. But were going to do it in a reasonable and rational way.

Not everyone agrees that income tax cuts are a good idea. Democrats in both the House and Senate opposed another round of income tax reductions this year, saying the money should instead be used for more pressing needs in the state, such as child care and improving accessibility to social services programs.

Most Utahns would agree, Senate Minority Leader Luz Escamilla, D-Salt Lake City, said, especially given how much the majority of the state residents would see in tax savings. Obviously, we had a wish list. I can mention 100 things that I felt needed to be funded.

An analysis for a Utah advocacy group, Voices for Utah Children, found that Utah taxpayers who make more than $800,000 will pay nearly $2,700 less in income taxes, while the tax savings range from $24 to $67 for those earning $99,000 or less. That means nearly a quarter of the $170 million tax cut would go to the top 1% of the states earners.

The analysis is intended to make sure people can understand just how much of this tax cut would be going to the wealthiest residents, said Marco Guzman, a senior state policy analyst for the left-leaning think tank in Washington, D.C., that put together the numbers, the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy.

Looking at all three years of the tax cuts, the differences between low- and high-income Utahns is even more dramatic.

Among the top 1%, who earn an average of more than $3.2 million annually, the tax savings from the income rate going from 4.95% to 4.55% adds up to more than $10,700, the analysis found. For the 95% of Utahns earning less than $307,500, the three years of tax cuts amount to total savings of between $90 and $694.

Its trickle-down economics by a different name. If we make rich people pay less in taxes, everythings going to be better, said Anna Thomas, policy director for Voices for Utah Children. From our perspective, its not worth sacrificing the quality and availability of public services for what basically is a political talking point for legislative leadership.

House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said lawmakers are trying to help all Utahns save on their taxes.

Those that make more money pay more in taxes, Schultz said. But weve worked hard over the last couple of years. Part of those tax cuts have been Social Security. If you make under $75,000 a year combined with your spouse, you dont pay Social Security tax any more. Thats big.

Schultz said lawmakers have approved other changes to tax policy aimed at helping low-income Utahns, increasing the age limit for the child tax credit, a $2.3 million tax break, and last year, raising the earned income tax credit from 15% to 20% of the federal earned income tax credit, a $1.2 million tax break.

And in 2023, the Legislature agreed to remove the state sales tax on food if voters approve a state constitutional amendment ending an earmark on income taxes this November, the speaker said, four years of tax cuts that, altogether, add up to about $1.5 billion in savings for Utahns.

Were trying to get areas of all income levels, Schultz said. So thats our goal.

Correction: A previous version of this story said that the reduction in the individual and corporate state income tax rate was from 5.65% to 5.55%. It is 4.65% to 4.55%.
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  After the Alabama Supreme Court ruled that frozen embryos could be considered children under the law, there have been growing concerns on what that could mean for the future of in vitro fertilization, or IVF.

The IVF treatment has a unique tie to the Hampton Roads area after the first child to ever be born using that method was in Norfolk in 1981. The treatment involves using sperm to fertilize an egg outside of a womans uterus before later being implanted.

Although the Alabama court ruling didnt ban or restrict the treatment itself, the new categorization of the frozen embryos could have a ripple effect on liability and access. Virginia Senators Tim Kaine and Mark Warner have both spoken out in support of protecting IVF treatment.

Previous Coverage: How Alabamas frozen embryo decision is shaking the nation: What you need to know

Warner attributed these changes to the reversal of Roe v. Wade. He said the Alabama ruling was prohibiting IVF, but the reality is a little more complicated than that  especially after the Alabama state legislation passed a bill protecting IVF health care providers from criminal and civil suits, granting health care providers immunity. The bill is waiting to be signed into law by their governor.

The Alabama bill would grant immunity in both civil and criminal for acts not intentional and not arising from or related to IVF services. It is also intended to apply retroactively. This bill wouldnt reverse the Supreme Court ruling, but instead takes away liability.

Kaine expressed his support for protecting IVF through co-sponsorship of the Access to Family Building Act.

The bill co-sponsored by Kaine wouldnt necessarily prevent lawsuits, but does leave more room for argument to protect health care providers, using language allowing them to continue the treatment with the provision of evidence-based information.

The first IVF birth took place in Norfolk on Dec. 25, 1981, with baby Elizabeth Carr. Kaine spoke about the historical birth in a livestream on social media.

Previous Coverage: 42 years ago the first US IVF baby was born in Norfolk

What seemed like unimaginable science fiction in 1981, there are now, by best estimates, 12 million people walking this planet, born by IVF, Kaine said, in a Facebook live.

The proposed house bill doesnt explicitly provide immunity. However, the bill would allow the Attorney General to commence civil action if any entity enacts, implements, or enforces a limitation or requirement that prohibits, unreasonably limits, or interferes with the rights listed in the bill.

The Alabama Supreme Courts ruling allowed individuals to sue over the wrongful death of a minor in cases where embryos are mishandled by considering the embryos unborn children, regardless of their location.

This came under the claim of negligence by individuals after a hospital patient walked into the room holding embryos, removed them from preserving cold temperatures and dropped them on the floor  resulting in them no longer being viable.

The plaintiffs claimed the hospital is responsible for the loss of the embryos, and that this fell under wrongful death of a minor. The plaintiffs also alleged that the hospital was supposed to secure these rooms, and neglected to do so. Lower courts dismissed the claims by saying the embryos didnt fit the description of a person or child, until the Supreme Court ruled against that.

As a result, hospitals became more reluctant to continue the treatment in order to avoid potential lawsuits. This caused concerns across the nation on whether this would affect treatment in other states.

Since doctors also tend to produce several embryos that dont always get implanted, the ruling could lead to questions on what to do with unused embryos. Although the latest Alabama bill would grant immunity, the classification under the Supreme Court that the embryo is a child could lead to more regulation and restriction on how the treatment operates.

Previous Coverage: After recent legislation, local doctor discusses IVF practice

Its still unclear how this ruling could impact the U.S. and if other states will follow suit. The Access to Family Building Act is just one of the latest efforts to prevent restrictions surrounding IVF.

Its as simple as a bill can be, Kaine said, in his live. Health care providers have a right to provide fertility treatment including in vitro fertilization services. Patient have a right to access fertility treatment, including in vitro fertilization services. This is not a mandate. The enforcement provisions are provisions that allow a person or health care provider to bring action against the state or governmental entity that tries to interfere with the right that they have.

Check with WAVY.com for updates.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com.
On the last day of July in 2023, Planned Parenthood performed its final abortion in the state of Indiana. It was the day before the state would begin enforcing a near-total abortion ban, with very narrow exceptions, after a year of legal battles that followed the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to end the constitutional right to abortion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization case. Before the Dobbs decision, which effectively allowed every state to set its own abortion laws, four Planned Parenthood clinics in Indiana provided abortion services once a week. Today, abortions are no longer an option.

Deborah Nucatola, the chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Great Northwest Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky, told Salon the abortion ban was especially devastating. Indiana had briefly served as a haven for out-of-state patients, such as those from Kentucky, whose access to abortion services was immediately restricted after Dobbs. Indiana became a surge state, serving many patients who were traveling from elsewhere, even while providers knew they would eventually had to cease their services.

That was extremely difficult, Nucatola said. We went from feeling like we were helping so many people from so many places to feeling like our hands were tied, and there wasn't a lot we could do. So were constantly evaluating ways that we can help support patients, whether it's helping facilitate them getting abortion services in other places to providing services that can prevent undesired pregnancies.

The next logical step, Indiana providers decided, was to focus on male reproductive health. In February, the Planned Parenthood affiliate announced it would offer vasectomy services at three locations across the state, including one in Fort Wayne, with plans to expand to Georgetown by late March. The affiliate also has plans to add additional vasectomy services in southern Indiana and Kentucky over the next six months. Nucatola said that by offering vasectomies, Planned Parenthood is adding to its contraceptive toolbox and offering more options to prevent unwanted pregnancies in a post-Dobbs world.

Its just adding to the list of contraceptive services that we provide, she said. It's a small but important option for folks to have.

After what she describes as a very long year, Nucatola said the expansion of vasectomy services has made the affiliate's staff feel as if they are better able to support Indiana families in making their own decisions about fertility and reproduction.

Its kind of a ray of light in an otherwise darkening landscape, she added. We're still seeing patients who are seeking abortion care, and we're helping them navigate to those services, but it's challenging not being able to provide them directly at our health centers.

This expansion of vasectomy services in Indiana speaks to a nationwide increase in interest in the procedure following the Dobbs decision. Immediately after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Google saw the highest volume of searches for vasectomy in the past five years. Last year, preliminary data found a significant uptick in vasectomy consultations. According to the International Journal of Impotence Research, there was a 35 percent increase in vasectomy consultation requests and a 22.4 percent increase in actual vasectomy consultations after the Dobbs decision. Notably, the men seeking vasectomies were younger than before, and a higher number of men without children requested information about the procedure.

At the moment, vasectomies are the only FDA-approved birth control option for men, and are regarded as easy and safe surgical procedures. During the operation, a doctor cuts or seals the tubes that carry a males sperm, which can permanently prevent pregnancy. Usually the procedure can be carried out under local anesthetic, meaning the person is awake, and takes only about 15 minutes. At the Indiana Planned Parenthood clinics, the procedure costs $800 out of pocket  but can also be covered by Medicaid and many private insurance plans. The national average cost for a vasectomy is $1,000, but depending on insurance coverage and whether it's performed in a doctors office or surgical center, can cost up to $3,000.

Planned Parenthood clinics in Indiana are by no means alone in seeking to make vasectomies more accessible in light of widespread restrictions on abortion. Under a new California law that took effect in January, state residents covered by Medi-Cal can get vasectomies with no charge. There have also been smaller, more localized, efforts. A mobile Planned Parenthood clinic offered free vasectomies in Missouri last year. When a Planned Parenthood clinic in Oklahoma offered free vasectomies, all the available spots were filled in less than 48 hours.

Dr. Sarah Vij, co-author of the data study published in the International Journal of Impotence Research and an assistant professor of urology at Cleveland Clinic, told Salon that vasectomies are widely accessible, at least in states with reasonable health care options. In most cases, the procedure is covered by health insurance, although there are exceptions  some faith-based organizations object to the procedure and wont pay it. Since access may vary greatly from state to state, she said, it makes sense for Planned Parenthood clinics to offer vasectomies more widely.

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Wherever there's demand, we need to be sure that we're offering it, and we need to be sure that patients are properly educated, Vij said. For people who are "done" having children or don't want them, "it's a reasonable option," she continued. "It's not for everybody, but it's at least an option that everybody should know exists.

Nucatola, from the Planned Parenthood clinic in Indiana, said that adding a new contraceptive method to a clinic's services amounts to providing more autonomy to the community it serves. The more tools you have in your toolbox, the more you're able to help people choose what's best for them and their families to build the families that they want to build, she said.

Both doctors noted that one benefit of making vasectomies more accessible is to ease the burden of birth control being placed largely or entirely on women.

Partners are realizing that women shouldnt be the only ones with birth control in their cabinets, or in their bodies, Rebecca Gibron, CEO of the Planned Parenthood affiliate that includes Indiana, said in a media statement. Many men concerned for their partners reproductive rights and health are finding vasectomy as a solution."

Anecdotally, Vij told Salon this has been true in her own practice. She has personally seen an increased number of younger men without children seeking vasectomies. Before Dobbs, her typical patient was a man with kids who didnt want more.

Dobbs affected men and how they view reproduction, Vij said. I think the male is impacted, and I think that's often an ignored piece of this whole discussion when we talk about abortion care.
The Rev. Al Sharpton, Vice President Kamala Harris and Attorney Ben Crump walk and sing across the Edmund Pettus Bridge with others commemorating the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday voting rights march in 1965, Sunday, March 3, 2024, in Selma, Ala. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

SELMA, Ala. (AP)  Vice President Kamala Harris told thousands gathered for the 59th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday attacks on civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama, that fundamental freedoms, including the right to vote, are under attack in America even today.

Harris joined those gathered at the foot of the Edmund Pettus Bridge, where voting rights activists were beaten back by law enforcement officers in 1965. The vice president praised the marchers' bravery for engaging in a defining moment of the civil rights struggle.

Today, we know our fight for freedom is not over, because in this moment we are witnessing a full on attack on hard-fought, hard-won freedoms, starting with the freedom that unlocks all others, the freedom to vote, Harris said.

She criticized attempts to restrict voting, including limits on absentee voting and early voting, and said the nation is again at a crossroad.

What kind of country do we want to live in? Do we want to live in a country of freedom, liberty and justice? Or a country of injustice, hate and fear? Harris asked, encouraging people to answer with their vote.

She paid tribute to the civil rights marchers who walked across the bridge in 1965 knowing they would face certain violence in seeking a future that was more equal, more just and more free.

Decisions by the Supreme Court and lower courts since 2006 have weakened the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which was passed in the wake of the police attacks in Selma. The demonstrators were beaten by officers on the Edmund Pettus Bridge on March 7, 1965, as they tried to march across Alabama to support voting rights.

Harris drew parallels between those who worked to stifle the Civil Rights Movement and extremists she said are trying to enact restrictions on voting, education and reproductive care.

She said other fundamental freedoms under attack include the freedom of a woman to make decisions about her own body, a reference to state abortion bans. She also stressed the Biden administration's support for a six-week ceasefire in Gaza to get the hostages out and a significant amount of aid in.

Under a blazing blue sky, Harris then led the crowd across the Edmund Pettus Bridge in the march that concludes the annual commemoration. Thousands followed, sometimes singing hymns and anthems of the Civil Rights Movement including, Aint Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Round."

Earlier Sunday, Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke at a Selma church service marking the anniversary of the attack by Alabama law officers on civil rights demonstrators. He said recent court decisions and certain state legislation have endangered voting rights in much of the nation.

Since those (court) decisions, there has been a dramatic increase in legislative measures that make it harder for millions of eligible voters to vote and to elect representatives of their choice, Garland told worshippers at Selmas Tabernacle Baptist Church, the site of one of the first mass meetings of the voting rights movement.

Those measures include practices and procedures that make voting more difficult; redistricting maps that disadvantage minorities; and changes in voting administration that diminish the authority of locally elected or nonpartisan election administrators, he said. Such measures threaten the foundation of our system of government.

The march and Garlands speech were among dozens of events during the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which began Thursday and culminated Sunday.

The commemoration is a frequent stop for Democratic politicians paying homage to the voting rights movement. Some in the crowd gathered to see Harris speak about the upcoming November election and what appears to be a looming rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

Khadidah Stone, 27, part of a crowd gathered at the bridge Sunday in light rain before the march, said she sees the work of today's activists as an extension of those who were attacked in Selma in 1965. Stone works for the voter engagement group Alabama Forward, and was a plaintiff in the Voting Rights case against the state that led to creating a second Alabama congressional district with a substantial number of Black voters. Voters will cast their first ballots in that district on Tuesday.

We have to continue to fight, because they (voting rights) are under attack, Stone said.

Nita Hill wore a hat saying "Good Trouble, a phrase associated with the late Rep. John Lewis, who was beaten on the bridge during Bloody Sunday. Hill, 70, said it is important for Biden supporters to vote in November.

I believe Trump is trying to take us back, said Hill, a retired university payroll specialist.

Decades ago, images of the violence that at the bridge stunned Americans, which helped galvanize support for passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The law struck down barriers prohibiting Black people from voting.

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat of South Carolina who is leading a pilgrimage to Selma, said he is seeking to remind people that we are celebrating an event that started this country on a better road toward a more perfect union, but the right to vote is still not guaranteed.

Clyburn sees Selma as the nexus of the 1960s movement for voting rights, at a time when there currently are efforts to scale back those rights.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 became a reality in August of 1965 because of what happened on March 7th of 1965, Clyburn said.

We are at an inflection point in this country, he added. And hopefully this years march will allow people to take stock of where we are.

___

Associated Press reporters Terry Spencer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Stephen Groves in Washington, D.C.; and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed to this report.
The aftermath of a Russian attack on Kharkiv Oblast. Photo: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Russian forces attacked the outskirts of the town of Kupiansk (Kharkiv Oblast) on 2 March, injuring a volunteer and damaging a car.

Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration

Details: A volunteer, 55, was reportedly injured by shrapnel on Saturday morning (2 March).

Russian troops also struck the town of Vovchansk at 07:20 on 3 March, damaging the building of an educational institution.

There were no casualties.

Ukrainian defenders repelled four Russian attacks near the settlement of Tabaivka over the past 24 hours.

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In a democracy, the peoples right to know is sacrosanct. Transparency is not just a buzzword; its the bedrock upon which accountable governance stands.

The idea that the peoples business must be open to public scrutiny is as old as the founding of this nation, but its a lesson seemingly every generation must relearn. Thats one of the reasons open government advocates worked so diligently to enact the Public Records Act in 1972 and why the Washington Coalition for Open Government was formed 30 years later.

Washington State Code leaves no question that the government must remain open to the people, declaring, The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed and informing the peoples public servants of their views so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.

So its disheartening to read WashCOGs recent assessment that public access to records is as bad as its been over the past half-century. As the nonpartisan nonprofits president, Mike Fancher wrote in a recent op-ed, Open government advocates like WashCOG have won many battles but are losing the war.

The reports findings reveal a concerning trend regarding the length of time Washingtonians must wait for the final disposition of their records inquiries. In 2019, on average people got the records they asked for  or a denial  in 15 days. By 2022, that had increased by more than a week to almost 23 days. The average masks significant discrepancies in individual agencies and localities response times.

The reports revelations should serve as a clarion call for Washingtonians who cherish freedom and democracy. WashCOG has launched a Your Right to Know project to galvanize public awareness and engagement. The initiative aims at mobilizing not just the media and activists but also ordinary citizens. It underscores the fact that open records are not a privilege exclusive to a select few but a fundamental right of everyone.

Open government watchdogs identify five chronic shortcomings in the system: legislative efforts to weaken records access, bureaucratic obstacles posed by public officials and agencies, deficiencies in record maintenance and disclosure, inadequate open government training, and a lack of accountability for PRA violations.

WashCOG recommends comprehensive, common-sense ways to address these problems. Most important, voters should reward lawmakers who enact pro-transparency measures and hold accountable those who choose secrecy. Incumbent candidates rarely choose to talk about transparency on the campaign trail. Make them.

The report also calls on public agencies to forbid the use of personal communication devices for official business and improve training to instill a culture of transparency.

Transparency fosters trust between the governed and those who govern, ensuring accountability and thwarting corruption. As such, any attempt to diminish transparency poses a grave threat to the democratic principles we hold dear.

All Washingtonians  be they regular residents with a passing interest in government or government watchdogs  must remain vigilant in demanding accountability from elected representatives.

The right to access public records is not a privilege bestowed upon us; it is an inherent part of our democratic fabric. Every attempt to curtail this right must be met with stubborn opposition.
Packages of Mifepristone tablets are displayed at a family planning clinic on April 13, 2023 in Rockville, Maryland. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON  Anti-abortion groups, attorneys general from 25 states and more than 140 members of Congress have signed on to dozens of briefs to the U.S. Supreme Court during the past two weeks, encouraging the justices to revert use and prescribing of the medication abortion pill mifepristone to what was in place prior to 2016.

The friend of the court briefs come just weeks before the court is scheduled to hear oral arguments on March 26 in a case that stems from a lawsuit that sought to overturn approval of the pharmaceutical.

Alliance Defending Freedom, an anti-abortion legal organization, filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists, American College of Pediatricians and Christian Medical & Dental Associations.

ADFs latest brief in the case argues that because some patients who use medication abortion  a two-drug regimen that combines mifepristone with a second pharmaceutical, misoprostol  will have complications, anti-abortion doctors will have to violate their religious beliefs to provide medical care to those women.

Its not hard to see why doctors who consider abortion objectionable are harmed when they must complete a chemical abortioneven if the child is no longer alive, ADF wrote in the 84-page brief.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has said that nothing requires doctors and other health care providers with conscientious objection to abortion to treat patients facing complications from medication abortion, but that isnt sufficient, ADF said.

FDA insists that nothing forces Respondent doctors to perform the procedures they deem objectionable, ADF wrote. But this ignores that FDA expressly relies on doctors like Respondents to treat emergent and life-threatening complications from abortion drugs  and that Respondents facing these emergency situations must act immediately.

Changes the FDA made since 2016 to when and how mifepristone can be prescribed and distributed create a substantial risk that Respondent doctors will see more women suffering emergency complications from abortion drugs, which threaten to inflict several concrete harms, ADF wrote.

Those changes include:

Extension of the maximum gestational age a patient can use mifepristone to 10 weeks, up from the prior approval of seven weeks.

Health care providers qualified to prescribe medications, like physicians assistants and nurse practitioners, can now prescribe mifepristone, instead of only doctors.

Patients no longer needed to attend three, in-person doctors office appointments to complete a mediation abortion regimen.

Providers can now prescribe the medication via telehealth and have it delivered through the mail.

Earlier ruling

All of that would change if the Supreme Court decides to agree with a ruling from the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which said in August 2023 that the FDAs prescribing guidelines should go back to what was in place before the changes began in 2016.

The federal government appealed that decision, leading to the current case before the Supreme Court, Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine.

States Newsroom earlier reported on briefs submitted in late January by abortion rights supporters, major medical organizations, pharmaceutical groups and Democratic lawmakers supporting access to mifepristone.

The medical groups wrote that since mifepristone was approved in 2000, hundreds of medical studies and vast amounts of data have confirmed its safety and efficacy as part of this two-drug regimen.

The scientific evidence is overwhelming: major adverse events occur in less than 0.32% of patients, the medical organizations added. The risk of death is almost non-existent.

Members of Congress, state AGs file briefs

A total of 145 members of Congress from 36 states, who opposed access to mifepristone remaining as it is today, submitted their own 39-page brief in the case, calling on the Supreme Court to limit access. All three Republicans in Colorados delegation to the U.S. House  Lauren Boebert, Ken Buck and Doug Lamborn  signed the brief.

Since 2016, the FDA has only required adverse events reporting for deaths resulting from chemical abortion drugs; reporting is otherwise voluntary, the members of Congress wrote, making the argument that reports are not required for injuries or impairment. This action was not only arbitrary and capricious, but it also raised safety concerns for women seeking chemical abortion drugs.

The FDAs decisions in 2016 and 2021 to change prescribing guidelines for mifepristone, they wrote, exceeded its congressionally authorized power.

U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert of Windsor arrives to a House Republican caucus meeting at the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 12, 2023 in Washington. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Attorneys general from Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming submitted a 28-page brief in the case, pressing for changes.

The state attorneys general argue that the FDAs decisions to change prescribing guidelines since 2016 push constitutional bounds.

Those actions test the separation of powers, sap federalism, and take important decisions from the people, they wrote. This Court should therefore exercise searching review of those actions and reject the FDAs plea for deference.

The attorneys general wrote that because some states have severely restricted or banned abortion access or implemented requirements for mifepristone use in addition to what the FDA allows, the availability of the pharmaceutical erodes states rights.

The FDAs actions undermine these laws, undercut States efforts to enforce them, and thus erode the federalism the Constitution deems vital, the attorneys general wrote. Given these harms to federalism, this Court should view the FDAs actions with skepticism.

More arguments

Attorneys general from Idaho, Kansas and Missouri wrote in a separate 32-page brief they have an exceptionally strong interest in the outcome of this case.

They wrote the FDAs decisions, especially allowing the mailing of mifepristone, have encouraged and enabled private parties to evade the States laws.

Beginning in summer 2023, organizations started shipping abortion drugs into all 50 States in large quantities in an attempt to evade state laws, the three attorneys general wrote.

Students for Life of America  an organization that aims to abolish abortion and provide policy, legal, and community support for women and their children  wrote in its 32-page brief that the FDA has failed to consider the impact Mifepristone could have on the environment, specifically on endangered species or listed habitats.

Before the FDA approved the pharmaceutical, they claim, it should have consulted with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service as well as the National Marine Fisheries Service.

Students for Life called on the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling from U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas Judge Matthew Joseph Kacsmaryk, who issued a stay that would have removed mifepristone from the market.

That ban on access to the drug should remain in place until the FDA conducts the proper consultation with the Services, they wrote.

The FDA reviewed only the impact that packaging, production waste, and pharmaceutical waste would have on the environment, failing to examine the impact the excretion of Mifepristone itself would have on the environment, Students for Life wrote. Further, the assessment underestimated the number of chemical abortions due to Mifepristone, which are today the most popular form of abortion.

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The post Who wants the U.S. Supreme Court to limit abortion pill access? Heres the list. appeared first on Colorado Newsline.
Nex Benedict  a nonbinary 16-year-old from Oklahoma who reportedly experienced relentless bullying for their gender identity  was involved in an altercation in the girls bathroom of their Owasso high school last month and suffered a blow to the head, requiring emergency care. The next day, they died.

Their death was essentially written into the law. Like many states, Oklahoma has instituted policy after policy to demonize transgender and nonbinary people. These nefarious actions have spurred a wave of violence and discrimination.

Make no mistake: None of these policies are about protecting people or bettering our nation. Undergirding these policies is a frighteningly righteous sense that some damning form of Christian justice is being upheld and enacted. And many policymakers hope to impose this far-right, twisted version of Christianity on every single person in this country.

But there is nothing in the Bible that would justify these laws and their violent consequences. That doesnt require a graduate degree in Biblical studies to figure out; even a kindergarten Sunday School class could surmise as much.

Contrary to what far-right Christians might claim, the text never  I repeat, never  explicitly mentions transgender or nonbinary people. The passage most commonly used to justify such bigoted policies is Deuteronomy 22:5: A woman must not wear men's clothing, and a man must not wear women's clothing.

Really? Thats it? I wear pants to work as a seminary president almost every day, and no one has ever accused me of donning transgressive unscriptural attire.

Like this passage, the Bible says plenty of peculiar things to which people, even the Christian Right, pays no mind. For example, the Bible warns against wearing clothing with two different fabrics. Most of us engage in this prohibited behavior on a daily basis, but no law has been passed to punish us, no biblically supported deaths justified by them.

As a more general justification for their war against transgender and non-binary people, the religious right often claims that the very creation of man and woman indicates that there are strict gender boundaries we must uphold or be punished for violating.

But thats extrapolation  It says nothing about strict gender boundaries or the reality of transgender existence.

To the contrary, gender identity in scripture is often fluid, even with reference to the Divine. God is generally referred to as He, yes. But, God is also described at various points with feminine terminology  for example, as a mother, a mother bear, and a mother eagle. Gods identity is expanded even beyond human images to include the world of the non-human. Why is this expansive understanding of the Divine not lifted up and celebrated?

In sum, it should be deeply troubling to all Christians that any person would read the entire Bible and come away with the message that they should pour their energy into attacking trans and nonbinary people.

And yet, thats exactly what far-right Christians have decided to do. Some try to be covert  couching their policies under the guise of parental rights or protecting women. Others have made their intentions obvious.

Consider the situation in Oklahoma, for example. Back in 2021, Oklahoma Gov. Stitt clearly stated that People are created by God to be male or female. Period. There is no such thing as non-binary sex. Then, in 2022, he signed a law requiring students at schools to use restrooms and locker rooms that match the sex listed on their birth certificates  allegedly to protect children. And last year, Gov. Stitt signed a so-called Womens Bill of Rights defining an individuals sex as ones biological sex at birth  essentially eliminating the possibility of nonbinary people.

Similar far-right religious policies are popping up in state legislatures everywhere  and theyre getting a major boost from groups with deeply Christian roots.

Moms for Liberty, for example, has staunchly advocated for strict gender binaries under the premise of defending parents rights. But their policies are grounded in far-right Christianity  and they have received significant funding from groups with Christian agendas, like the Heritage Foundation and the George Jenkins Foundation.

Meanwhile, the Alliance Defending Freedom  a self-proclaimed alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith  provides draft legislation and extensive parental resources to dismantle LGBTQ+ rights.

It is dangerous for us to obscure or in any way deny the truth behind Nex Benedicts death. Far-right Christianity is at the heart of every single anti-trans and nonbinary policy  and empowered the violence that ended their life.

I often wonder: How can Christians honestly believe that their faith supports such hatred and violence?

Of this I am certain. The Jesus I follow and the God that loves all of humanity is not the God they conjure up. When Nex was being beaten, the God of love was not celebrating new hate-policies. She was weeping, aggrieved, and broken-hearted by the evil we do. To meet this God of love, just open the bible.
A Washington state trooper was killed early Saturday when a speeding vehicle struck his patrol car on Interstate 5 while he was searching for people driving under the influence, authorities said.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, 27, was killed just before 3 a.m. on southbound I-5 near Marysville when an SUV veered off the roadway and onto the shoulder, striking his parked patrol vehicle, the Snohomish County Sheriffs' Office said. The SUV driver was traveling at a high rate of speed when the crash occurred.

"Chriss passing is a devastating loss to his family  a family who knows all too well the risks of public service but still has offered that service with unquestioned valor and now, unfathomable sacrifice," said Washington State Patrol (WSP) Chief John R. Batiste.

A second vehicle, a van carrying six passengers, was also involved in the crash, FOX13 Seattle reported. The van reportedly crashed into the SUV, leaving the driver with non-life-threatening injuries. The other van passengers did not sustain injuries.

CAR LAUNCHES FROM ROAD, LANDS 200 FEET BELOW DUE TO DISTRACTED DRIVING: VIDEO

Washington State Patrol Trooper Christopher M. Gadd, 27, served the agency for two-and-a-half years. He is survived by his wife and daughter, his parents, sister and other family members.

The SUV driver that struck Gadds patrol car was identified as a 32-year-old man from Lynwood, the station reported. He was evaluated and taken into custody for vehicular homicide.

READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP

KENTUCKY HERO WHO SAVED SEMI-TRUCK DRIVER WHO WAS DANGLING FROM BRIDGE IDENTIFIED

Gadd's father is also a Washington State Patrol trooper, and his sister serves as a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Gadd is survived by his wife, Cammryn, daughter Kaelyn, his mother, hiya father, who is also a WSP trooper, and his sister, who currently serves as a trooper with the Texas Department of Public Safety, according to the state patrol.

The driver accused of striking Gadd's patrol car was identified as a 32-year-old man from Lynwood. He was being held in custody for vehicular homicide.

Gadd served two-and-a-half years with the WSP. He is the 33rd member of the WSP to die in the line of duty in the agencys 103 years.

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"I can tell you that across the entire Washington State Patrol, every head is bowed, every knee is bent, and every heart is broken as we mourn this loss," Batiste said.





Original article source: Washington state trooper killed in three-vehicle crash while searching for DUI drivers
TechCrunch Mobility is a weekly newsletter dedicated to all things transportation. Sign up here  just click TechCrunch Mobility  to receive the newsletter every weekend in your inbox. Subscribe for free.

Welcome back to TechCrunch Mobility  your central hub for news and insights on the future of transportation.

I was in Los Angeles earlier this week where I interviewed Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana onstage at our StrictlyVC LA event. You can watch the whole interview here, which covers her views on the Apple Car project, the company's "community tour" in Los Angeles, whether Waymo learned anything (or changed) in the wake of the Cruise debacle and if it's committed to staying in San Francisco even if vandalism of its robotaxis continues.

The following morning (and by total coincidence), the California Public Utilities Commission approved Waymo's application to operate a commercial robotaxi service in Los Angeles, the San Francisco Peninsula and on San Francisco freeways. The approval removes the last barrier for the Alphabet company to charge for rides in these expanded areas. Importantly, it opens up new territory for Waymo in one of the country's largest cities and unlocks a route to San Francisco International Airport, which is located south of the city.

This week's news also includes Ford giving its EV owners access to Tesla Superchargers, the Securities and Exchange Commission charging Lordstown Motors with misleading investors, Toyota practically paying people to buy its hydrogen fuel cell-powered Mirai and more!

Let's go!

A little bird

blinky cat bird green

EV upstart Fisker has been dealing with a lot lately -- underperforming its own sales goals, dealing with quality and customer service problems and pivoting from a direct sales model to trying to sign up dealer partners.

This past week the company announced it's going to cut 15% of its staff as part of that transition and needs more cash to survive. Reuters reported Friday that it's in talks with Nissan to collaborate on an electric pickup truck, in a move that could save the startup.

A few little birds told us that these talks have been going on for more than a year, and that it wasn't the only Japanese automaker that has spoken to Fisker about a possible collaboration -- Fisker also held talks with Mazda. But Nissan is the last one standing, and its continued interest comes at a crucial moment for the troubled startup.

Got a tip for us? Email Kirsten Korosec at kirsten.korosec@techcrunch.com or Sean O'Kane sean.okane@techcrunch.com. If you prefer to remain anonymous, click here to contact us, which includes SecureDrop (instructions here) and various encrypted messaging apps.

Deal of the week

money the station

Polestar has a little more breathing room now that the Swedish EV company  that's owned by China's Geely Holdings  secured a $950 million loan from a dozen banks.

Why does it matter? These are critical funds needed to keep Polestar's EV plans moving forward following Volvo's decision to pull back its financial support of the electric automaker. The company had about $770 million in cash at the end of 2023, according to regulatory filings.

However, the funding doesn't solve all of Polestar's financial woes. Even with this new injection of capital, the company said it will continue to cut costs and look for efficiency, including layoffs. Polestar, which has cut 10% of jobs since mid-2023, said it plans to make another 15% cut this year. The company previously disclosed that 15% job cut, which will affect about 450 people.

Other deals that got my attention ...

Range Energy, the startup developing electric-powered trailers for commercial trucking, raised $23.5 million in a funding round led by Trousdale Ventures, with participation from UP.Partners, R7 and Yamaha Motor Ventures. Range has raised $31.5 million to date.

Notable reads and other tidbits

Autonomous vehicles

Goodbye Apple Car; we never knew ya. Yup, that's right, Apple ended plans to build and sell an autonomous electric car. Don't worry, months from now we will surely be treated to rumors that it's back after all. ;D

Reporter Sean O'Kane learned that Apple is likely cutting hundreds of employees from the team and all work on the project has stopped. Some will shift to Apple's generative AI projects, according to Bloomberg, which first reported the project's cancellation. Others will have 90 days to find a reassignment to other roles inside the company, or they will be let go. The car project still had around 1,400 employees working on it, according to one employee who was granted anonymity because they were not authorized to speak about their work. Side note: Here's a timeline of the decade-long project.

GM is squirreling away its custom-built Cruise Origin robotaxis in a defunct Michigan plant.

Motional told employees it will cut about 5% of its workforce (fewer than 70 people), TechCrunch has learned. The cuts mostly affect administrative roles and some employees working in Boston, one of several cities where it tests autonomous vehicles. The other very important detail from sources is that the company needs to secure more funding. That will mean either Hyundai footing the entire bill for the joint venture company it once shared with Aptiv or finding another partner.

Electric vehicles, batteries & charging

Xiaomi showed off its first electric car, the SU7, at Mobile World Congress.

In-car tech

Amazon stopped selling the Ring Car Cam.

This week's wheels

A Waymo autonomous vehicle operating on a tree-lined street in Santa Monica.

Image Credits: Allen J. Schaben / Getty Images

This week I wasn't driving; I was riding in a driverless Waymo robotaxi. I've taken numerous rides in Waymo robotaxis, but never one in Los Angeles. This trip provided an interesting test piece for how these robotaxis handle unexpected blockades.

Moments after getting into the Waymo, the vehicle was approaching a stop sign when it encountered a minor crash between two human-driven cars. Funny enough, another driverless Waymo was right in front of me. A postal worker, who was also stuck, ended up backing into a turning lane and making a U-turn.

My driverless car stayed put and I began to wonder if it would ever move. A message soon appeared on the touchscreen informing me that "our team is working to get you moving." A moment later the vehicle reversed a few feet and made the same maneuver the postal worker did. This was likely an incident when remote guidance was provided. About two minutes were added to my ride due to the traffic jam.

We'll be posting a video of the ride soon!
Thoughts from a Principled Conservative OutpostThird in a series on the aspects of Panhandle conservativism.

"Patton Springs ISD in Afton, Texas, had 96 students for the 2017-2018 school year. It is small. It is old  established in 1910, the same year West Texas A&M University was opened. On October 9, 1933, a group of schools voted to consolidate to form the New Common School #22: Afton (Chandler had already joined with Afton), Duncan Flat, Midway (which included the former McCarty, Amity, and Liberty schools) and Croton (which included Highland). The 20 acres on which it was established were squeezed out of the Matador Land and Cattle Company, and in 1935 1936 the school had 419 students and 15 teachers. The people of Patton Springs."

According to Russell Kirk, "In a genuine community, the decisions most directly affecting the lives of citizens are made locally and voluntarily." The Patton Springs consolidation is a living example of Kirk's thought. While consolidation driven from a faraway capital, such as Washington, D.C., or Austin, might be contentious, conservative thinking drives decision-making at the local level, and the consolidation is a powerful act of survival.

Dr. Walter Wendler, President of West Texas A&M University

Conservative thinking often emphasizes tradition, stability and respect for authority. In environments where these values are shared, conservative individuals may generate trust more easily among like-minded people because of a shared worldview and mutual understanding. Annette Baier believed trust carried an ethical expectation of others acting in good faith. Patton Springs, even in its human imperfections, is a community composed of real people willing to risk trusting each other for a greater good. Such thinking leads to stronger in-group trust when members of a group share similar values. I believe that is what allowed the local consolidation process to work. When individuals or groups act consistently, it is easier for others to form positive expectations of their future behavior, potentially increasing trust and resolving challenges.

Conservative thinking often places a significant emphasis on the role of authority and hierarchical structures. In contexts where authority is respected and seen as legitimate, responsible authority may be trusted because it represents stability and order. The extent to which conservative thinking generates trust also depends on cultural contexts. Cultural norms and values, such as those expressed in everyday life in the Texas Panhandle, play a significant role in determining what is considered trustworthy behavior. Additionally, in situations where conservative approaches align with the collective good or societal needs, trust may be enhanced.

According to Gallup, people working together in the Panhandle of Texas form a community bond and generate trust in institutions that serve the people. For a republican government to function effectively, citizens must have trust in the various bodies that govern them because the people make up the governing body. When trust is present, citizens believe associations are working in the community interest, leading to stability and effectiveness of the governance of something as small and powerful as Patton Springs ISD. Creating public trust is a multifaceted process that involves consistent actions and communication from organizations and individuals. Transparency, consistency, accountability, ethical behavior, engagement, quality, competence, communication, community strength and long-term perspective all follow the gaining of trust.

Trust is the glue that holds a society together. It enables people to work together, live in harmony and engage in social transactions with the confidence that their rights and interests will be respected and protected. In a society where trust is prevalent, people are more likely to collaborate and support one another. Trust is crucial for economic transactions. High levels of trust also encourage investment and innovation because businesses feel more confident in the stability of their environment and the reliability of their partners.

John Locke's political philosophy, particularly as presented in his Second Treatise of Government, is a cornerstone of classical liberal political theory and has profoundly impacted modern governments' development. In the treatise, Locke lays out a detailed account of civil society, natural rights and the role of government, which he sees as fundamentally tied to the protection of individuals' rights to life, liberty and property. One of the key concepts in Locke's philosophy is the state of nature, which he describes as a pre-political condition where individuals are free and equal, bound only by the law of nature. This law of nature dictates that individuals should not harm another person's life, health, liberty, or possessionsa variant of the "Law of Reciprocity commonly known as The Golden Rule. For Locke, the limitations of the state of nature lead individuals to consent to form a civil society and establish a government to enforce laws, protect property and ensure the public good. In short, the public trust.

Trust in institutions, such as the government, legal systems and law enforcement, is essential for the effective functioning of a free society. When citizens trust their institutions, they are more likely to comply with laws, pay taxes and participate in democratic processes that are part of a republican form of government. This trust enables society to function more efficiently, with greater legitimacy. On a personal level, trust contributes to a sense of security and well-being. People in high-trust societies tend to report higher levels of happiness, lower levels of stress and better health outcomes. Trust in neighbors and fellow citizens is liberating.

At WT, we are working to create an environment that appreciates and applies trust to our relationships on and off campus.

Walter V. Wendler is President of West Texas A&M University. His weekly columns are available at http://walterwendler.com/.

This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Wendler commentary: Trust: The bond of a community
ST. LOUIS COUNTY  As temperatures rise and skies clear in St. Louis, there are locations around the area that are ideal for stargazers. From seasoned astronomers to curious beginners, these locations offer the perfect backdrop for observing the cosmos.

Currently, in the winter time, St. Louis Astronomical Society says that the winter sky is dominated by the constellation of Orion, rising due east as seen from St. Louis. If you have a good view of the western sky, check out for the Summer Triangle, which consists of three prominent stars: Vega, Deneb, and Altair.

The blog post further explains that you may also observe the constellations of Pegasus, Andromeda, Cassiopeia, and Perseus. Additionally, during winter, Jupiter rises in the eastern part of the sky.

1 dead, 1 hurt in shooting at south St. Louis QuikTrip

Ideal Times for Stargazing

According to the Space Tourism Guide, the best times of the year to go stargazing are days before, during, and soon after each new moon. The reason being, there is no moon in the sky to wash out any stars.

For the best seasons to go stargazing, autumn and spring are the best to see most stars. The months to stargaze are March, April, September, or October.

During the Spring and Fall, the Crow Observatory is open to the public Monday through Thursday evenings, weather permitting. For more information or to check observatory hours, call 314-935-6278.

Locations to Stargaze around St. Louis

Crestwood Park : This park has an open space to gaze up and see views of the night sky. Refer to this website for hours of the park.

Stacy Park in Olivette, Missouri: This park has a good place for sky viewing in the middle of the park where it is a flat area, and telescopes can be easily set up. Refer to this website for hours of the park.

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Locations Further Out of St. Louis County

Broemmelsiek Astronomy Site : Located in a park in St. Charles County, this site is open 24/7 and offers paved sidewalks and observing pads. Refer to this website for hours of the park.

Danville Conservation Area : Located 42 miles west of Wentzville, this area lacks facilities but is very dark and suitable for stargazing. Refer to this website for hours of the park.

Memorial Wildlife Area: Located 18 miles north of Troy, Missouri, this area is becoming more light polluted due to Troy but still offers good stargazing opportunities. Refer to this website for hours of the park.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 2.
White supremacist "active clubs" are spreading across the US.

The clubs recruit disaffected white men and promote physical fitness and masculinity.

The groups also sometimes mock and fat-shame Donald Trump and his supporters.

A network of white supremacist fitness clubs is spreading across the US, recruiting men to prepare for what they believe will be a race war.

The groups, known as "active clubs," target disaffected white men by offering a sense of community, with members regularly meeting to practice martial arts or work out.

But the groups have a much darker agenda that's rooted in white supremacist ideology.

Their Telegram channels reveal their extreme views  they are filled with neo-Nazi iconography, racist and antisemitic memes, and negative news articles about people of color and LGBTQ+ people.

"They are quickly becoming one of the most prominent vectors for white terrorist radicalization in the United States in recent years," Jon Lewis, a Research Fellow at the Program on Extremism at George Washington University, told Business Insider.

"They're training for what they view to be this kind of inevitable race war, this inevitable violent clash for the future of civilization," he added.

One former member of an active club told Vice News last year that the group would slowly introduce extremist ideology to new members by making racist jokes and talking about stories in the news in which ethnic minorities attacked white people.

"They believe that there's an inevitable cultural war that'll come and because they tie culture directly to race, a culture war means race war," they said.

"They never were like, 'You need to learn how to fight so you can beat up people of color. It was like, 'You need to learn how to fight because people want to kill you in the future,'" they added.

In a promotional video, the leader of the SoCal active club said that they were not terrorists and simply wanted to build a "positive community" and get white men "off the internet and into the real world."

White nationalism 3.0

One of the main strengths of the clubs is that they work as decentralized networks, with white men nationwide encouraged to set up and run their own clubs, Lewis said.

In the US, there are at least 46 active clubs across 34 states, a 2023 report from the Counter Extremism Project (CEP) said.

The investigative news outlet, Bellingcat, has also reported that the white supremacist active club movement had spread to Europe.

The movement was inspired by Robert Rundo, who founded the white supremacist MMA club known as the Rise Above Movement.

His concept of "white nationalism 3.0" advocates for nationalists to operate in smaller, decentralized groups and improve their online image to evade law enforcement scrutiny.

Members of the right-wing group the Patriot Front. Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times via Getty Images

While active club members do not regularly engage in overt violence, some are known to intimidate their enemies, particularly journalists.

The Tennessee active club has gained particular notoriety for its threats to local journalists, activists, and politicians and for the extreme views of its leader Sean Kauffman, who is a neo-Nazi and Holocaust denier.

"While the Tennessee active club on the surface seems like an outlier because of what the leader Kauffman says publicly, and he waves the Nazi flag publicly, the other active clubs are thinking that too, they're just not doing it in public," Jeff Tischauser, a researcher at the Southern Poverty Law Center, who investigates active clubs, told BI.

In an increasingly polarized climate, political extremism and threats to democracy have become a top concern for US voters, according to a recent Reuters/Ipsos poll.

The groups sometimes mock and fat-shame Trump and his supporters

Although many far-right groups once aligned themselves with former President Donald Trump, most have since grown disillusioned and criticize him for not doing enough to advance their extremist agenda.

"The groups I track have long since turned on Trump," Tischauser said, adding that some viewed Trump as a "puppet to Jewish interests who steals their nationalist rhetoric to win votes" and who "cannot be counted on to enact nationalist policies."

In one video, the Central CA active club also hit out at the former president for not being a true "revolutionary."

Donald Trump. David Becker/Getty Images

Some clubs have also taken to mocking and fat-shaming Trump and his supporters.

A video posted by the Alamo active club on Telegram shows clips of Trump rally attendees, all of whom appeared either overweight or were people of color, captioned: "Average conservatives."

The video then cuts to shots of white men sparring and lifting weights with a caption saying "average nationalists."

A Telegram channel run by the owner of the Lewis Country Store in Nashville, which is associated with the active club movement, also regularly mocks Trump for his weight, something he has been seemingly sensitive about in the past.

While some in the movement see Trump as a useful tool for helping shift policies to the right, their distrust in the political system likely means many won't vote or show support for any political candidate, Tischauser said.

Many of the groups believe there is no political solution and advocate for a societal breakdown from which a white ethnostate can emerge, Lewis added.

"They see a violent revolution, a violent racial conflict as the only way to get to their desired end state," he said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Auroras residents are living in a community that has become one of Northeast Ohios great success stories.

That was evident to anyone who attended the Aurora Chamber of Commerces State of the City luncheon Feb. 21 at the Bertram Inn Hotel and Conference Center.

David E. Dix

At the event, Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin reported on city progress, headlining her presentation with news about turning the site that once hosted Geauga Lake Amusement Park and Sea World into a beautiful city park. The mayor also announced that the city, the recipient of a $500,000 grant from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, is planning to construct a 2.8-mile hike-and-bike path that will connect Auroras historic train station district to the Portage Park Districts scenic Headwaters Trail, so named for its crossing a continental divide.

Sharing the platform was Mike Roberto, superintendent of Aurora schools. He reported that the district recently earned a five-star rating from the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, making Aurora one of only six school districts out of the more than 600 in Ohio to achieve the ranking in both years that the state has used this reporting system.

I have known Ann since she was a young attorney answering the call of Ohio Gov. George Voinovich to run for office to represent Portage County in the Ohio legislature in 1994. Ann won her race and in 1995 began a career in public service whose hallmark has been integrity. Results-oriented and thorough, Ann keeps her eye on the ball.

At the State of the City luncheon, she was gracious in crediting her department heads, staff, members of City Council and citizen volunteers, making it clear that delivering the goods for Aurora is a team effort.

Ann Womer Benjamin

The new city park she announced for the former Sea World and Geauga Lake site is consistent with the mayors record in keeping Aurora green. Three parks, dedicated to recreation as well as nature and conservation, have been opened during her tenure as mayor.

The Sea World and Geauga Lake site may end up the best of them yet. She told us that Aurora has secured a $2.36 million grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and that matching it with a local $257,000 will enable Aurora to purchase and presumably demolish perennially flood-prone homes adjacent to Geauga Lake.

Aurora is known for its neighborhoods of beautiful homes. The mayor said that by the years end, Aurora will have installed more than 3 miles of sidewalks during her 10 years in office, making those neighborhoods more walkable and connecting some of them to the citys historic center.

She plans to install historic lighting in the citys center. Her administration is also going to replace Auroras 350,000-gallon water tower with a 1 million gallon one. She said a $450,000 grant will enable Aurora to pave Pioneer Trail east from Page Road to the city limits.

Industry provides about two-thirds of the citys 2% income tax revenues. She praised LayerZero, a software company, and Advanced Innovative Manufacturing (AIM), for expanding operations in Aurora. She mentioned numerous businesses that have opened during the past year. Ann credited Finance Director Tim Clymer for his help in careful budgeting and said Aurora has received state and national recognition for financial management.

Aurora is completing a review of its entire zoning code, the first time in 20 years, and that the city is working with a volunteer citizens group to look at the feasibility of developing a municipal recreation center. Ann called attention to Auroras master plan. Twice updated during her years as mayor, the plan has advocated protecting residential areas, promoting business attraction and retention, supporting historic preservation, preserving green space, expanding mixed use development, and offering exemplary city services.

Representatives of the city, county, state and federal government came out to hear the mayor, a tribute to the exercise of honest, responsive government that has characterized Anns career in public service.

Superintendent Mike Robertos report regarding Auroras great school system was the icing on cake.

He reminded listeners of the Aurora school districts vision statement rolled out after he was named superintendent four years ago. In addition to the districts academic rigor, it widened the mission to include nurturing the values of empathy, resilience, collaboration, balance, innovation and critical thinking. These values, Mike said, are important in helping guide Auroras young people to be good, productive citizens.

Mike Roberto

The vision appears to be working because Aurora schools regularly garner top rankings in surveys. A recent U.S. News & World survey ranked Aurora No. 1 out of 52 high schools in the Akron area, within the top 1.7% of all high schools in Ohio, and within the top 2.75% of all high schools in the nation.

In November, Aurora citizens showed their support for the schools by approving a 5.9-mill additional operating levy. The superintendent and a citizens committee have been conducting a review of school facilities and are likely to recommend a new high school and the closing of Craddock Elementary, which is more than a century old.

Success is never preordained. That Aurora has become one of Northeast Ohios great success stories reflects decades of steady, far-seeing leadership.

Mayor Ann Womer Benjamin and Superintendent Mike Roberto continue this tradition. Both remain hard at work regarding Auroras future, aiming to make it even brighter.

David E. Dix is a retired publisher of the Record-Courier.

David E. Dix: Coleman Adult Day Services in Ravenna is friendly and fun

David E. Dix: A comfortable, old white guy gets a wake-up call

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Aurora is one of the great successes in Northeast Ohio
Krells interests

Whos funding Sacramento Assembly campaign mailers & ads? (sacbee.com, Feb. 15)

Voters in Assembly District 6, including myself, are repulsed by the thousands of dollars spent by powerful corporate interests such as cigarette-maker Phillip Morris and the California Association of Realtors lobby group to elect Maggy Krell to the assembly. When given the opportunity to repudiate these special interests, Krell declined, failing a basic test of leadership.

If she cant stand up to them, do you think shes really going to fight for us? She will be beholden to these special interest groups as they cut wages, raise rents and spread cancer across our communities. Voters should reject her and choose Paula Villescaz instead.

Glenna J Sansone

Carmichael

Bring Hax back

Carolyn Hax: Grandmothers not content with just any Mothers Day card, (sacbee.com, March 23, 2015)

Please bring back Carolyn Hax. Her advice columns offer excellent situational and big-picture perspectives that can be game-changing and deeply valuable for personal growth and mental well-being. Her insights into human behavior and motivations are top-notch. Dear Annie, the replacement for Haxs column, is more shallow.

Janet Walden

Carmichael

Opinion

Smear campaign

The Bee Editorial board split on one key race in Sacramento, (sacbee.com, Feb. 10)

Im extremely disgusted by the smear campaign led by the real estate industry against City Councilmember Katie Valenzuela. I have never witnessed such a vicious smear campaign against a candidate for city council.

I am a native-born Sacramento resident who has been active in city council races since 1969, when we elected Manuel Ferrales, the first Latino elected in Sacramento.

Now, that a redistricting commission has all but gerrymandered Valenzuela out of office, and the powers that be are now attacking her via campaign mailers containing racist rhetoric right out of former President Donald Trumps mouth, equating Latinos with crime. One recent attack campaign mailer used a mugshot-like photo of Valenzuela.

I, for one, fully support Valenzuelas re-election.

George M Raya

Sacramento

Natural erosion protection

Levee project could remove hundreds of trees along the American River, Sacramento group warns, (sacbee.com, Feb. 22)

This article on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) erosion measures makes it seem as if the opposition is simply motivated by a desire to preserve trees. But the community cares deeply about erosion and flood control. An academic team commissioned by the California Department of Transportation found that where there are dense strands of mature trees along the Lower American River, velocities are much slower along the banks than what older hydraulic models have indicated.

USACE claims fast river velocities render environmentally friendly bioengineering measures unfeasible, but that claim is based on outdated 2D hydraulic modeling. Recent 3D modeling from 2021 and 2023 shows that if USACE removes hundreds of trees, velocities will dramatically increase along the banks, exposing them to greater erosion for years to come.

USACE should account for recent research and design measures that work with the American Rivers natural erosion protection instead of against it.

Joshua Thomas

Sacramento

Listen to local concerns

Levee project could remove hundreds of trees along the American River, Sacramento group warns, (sacbee.com, Feb. 22)

The crown jewel of Sacramento is in grave danger, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is ignoring public concerns. USACE is planning on bulldozing hundreds of trees along the American River Parkway. Their proposed decisions will affect this irreplaceable treasure for generations to come.

USACE needs to step forward and address local concerns before any of the proposed destruction occurs.

Margaret McKeon

Sacramento

More thorough review

Levee project could remove hundreds of trees along the American River, Sacramento group warns, (sacbee.com, Feb. 22)

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) is not infallible, hence we have an Environmental Impact Review and Environmental Impact Statement review process for their proposed projects.

Levee projects around Howe and Watt avenues are small components of the much larger American River Common Features project, most of which have been completed and were necessary for improved flood protection. However, these latest contracts go too far in their destructiveness of the rivers legally protected wild and scenic river qualities. They are not justified by seepage or erosion data, but are instead based on opinion and outdated hydrology modeling.

We support scientifically justified flood and erosion protection, which is why we are calling for a suspension of these contracts until more thorough and up-to-date erosion data assessment and hydrology modeling can be done. We further ask that USACE thoroughly involve the public in future river bank erosion studies and project designs and that greater import be given to riparian habitat and recreational values.

William Avery

Sacramento

History lesson

Sacramento should honor American biochemist Harvey Itano, (sacbee.com, Feb. 24)

The article about Harvey Itano by UC Santa Cruz PhD history candidate Jonathan Van Harmelen enlightened Bee readers about a Sacramentan with whom I was unfamiliar. Itanos accomplishments before, during and after WWII  despite being a true victim of Americas past racist and unconstitutional actions  begs for him to be recognized by his fellow local citizens.

Im encouraged that there are bright, young history students who bring to light a real past that is both disheartening and uplifting.

David Kuchera

Sacramento
A woman in her 20s suffered serious injuries after falling 25 feet off the Sunset Cliffs in Southern California, rescuers reported.

A video posted on Facebook by the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department shows the woman plunged onto a rock-strewn shoreline around 2 p.m. Saturday, March 2.

The woman, who fell from the top of the cliffs at street level, was airlifted to a hospital by a fire department helicopter, firefighters said.

This was a fast, efficient and safe rescue because of teamwork between firefighters, lifeguards and the crew of copter 3, firefighters said.

No other information on the womans medical condition was available.

Sunset Cliffs Natural Park in the Ocean Beach area of San Diego features dramatic cliff formations and caves along the 1.5-mile shoreline, the Ocean Beach Mainstreet Association said.

Explosion of homemade fireworks kills man at dog park, Colorado police say

Driver waits two days for rescue after 400-foot plunge to beach, California cops say

Deputies dive into river to rescue woman  and she fights back, California cops say
University of Pittsburgh Police and Pittsburgh Police are investigating an early morning sexual assault near campus.

In a crime alert issued Sunday morning, Pitt police say a woman was sexually assaulted around 2:10 a.m. on Melwood Avenue between Centre Avenue and Bayard Street.

Pittsburgh police say the woman had just gotten off a PRT bus and was walking to her apartment while on the phone when a man came up behind her, said he had a weapon and told her to stop talking on the phone. He then assaulted her in an alley, threatened to kill her and punched her in the eye.

The woman told police she saw a knife during the assault and that the man stole her phone. She was able to call 911 after he got scared off and ran.

Police say someone in the area also called 911 after hearing what he thought was a sexual assault.

Both departments describe the suspect as a man who is approximately 30-40 years of age, has a thin build and stands about 5 feet, 6 inches tall or, 5 feet, 7 inches tall. The man was last seen wearing a long-sleeve black shirt, cargo pants and a ski mask.

A neighbor who spoke with Channel 11 called the assault very frightening.

To be a young woman myself, and Im by myself a lot, so that is super alarming in this neighborhood, said neighbor Stacey Hardman.

Hardman said she usually feels safe in the area and that its a wonderful place to live where everyone knows each other. But, until police track down the suspect, shell take extra precautions to stay safe.

[Ill] definitely try to walk with my husband or someone to work. I walk to work every day here, so yeah, definitely making sure I have mace on me or some type of protection when Im walking out, Hardman said.

Anyone with information about this incident should call Pittsburgh Polices Special Victims Unit at 412-323-7141, Pitt Police at 412-624-2121 and reference report #24-00770, or 911.

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During the month of March, in recognition of Women's History Month, Native News Online will feature various Native American women who have contributed to the betterment of Indian Country.

Wilma Pearl Mankiller (November 14, 1945 - April 6, 2010)

Wilma Pearl Mankiller was the first woman to serve as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation. She served as principal chief from 1985 to 1995. She is credited in bringing great transformation of progress for the Cherokee Nation during her administration.

She was born to Charley Mankiller and Clara Irene Sitton on November 18, 1945 in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, the capital of the Cherokee Nation. Mankiller was the sixth of eleven children born to the couple.

Her family became part of the Bureau of Indian Affairss relocation program that moved Native Americans from their reservations or tribal lands to become assimilated in large cities. The Mankiler family moved to San Francisco when Wilma was 11 years old.

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.

Recalling this period of her life, Mankiller told The New York Times in a 1993 interview the move was her own little Trail of Tears, in reference to the forced relocation of thousands of Cherokees beginning in the 1830s. Her father became a warehouse employee and joined a union where he became an organizer.

When a group of Native Americans took over Alcatraz Island in the San Francisco Bay, a young Mankiller, in her early 20s, became involved by helping to get supplies from the mainland to the Native American occupiers on the island.

When Alcatraz occurred, I became aware of what needed to be done to let the rest of the world know that Indians had rights, too. Mankiller wrote in autobiography, Mankiller: A Chief and Her People, with Michael Wallis.

In 1976, after a divorce, Mankiller and her two daughters moved back to Oklahoma where she used her skills she learned as an Alcatraz organizer and directed the Community Development Department for the Cherokee Nation. She made her mark by working with the Bell, Oklahoma, a small Cherokee community with 200 residents, to get a 16-mile waterline construction completed in just over a year sot that they could have running water.

Mankillers talents to get things accomplished caught the attention of Principal Chief Ross Swimmer who convinced her to run for deputy chief in 1983. In 1985, Swimmer, after serving as principal chief of the Cherokee Nation for a decade, was selected to serve as the assistant secretary of the Interior. Mankiller then became principal chief.

In June 2022, Swimmer reflected on how he asked Mankiller in 1983 to serve as the deputy chief of the Cherokee Nation during his administration. She agreed to run for the position, but told him if he left office before their four-year term was up, she would be out the door with him.

During her administration, Mankill is credited for tripling the Cherokee Nations tribal enrollment, doubling employment and the development of new housing, health centers and childrens programs.

Wilma Mankiller (Photo/file photo)

Current Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin, Jr. says every principal chief since Mankiller is measured against her greatness.

Once she took office, once she became chief, she just kept changing the world. Even years after her passing, Wilma Mankiller is still making an impact. She's not changing the world on this day simply because her likeness is being struck on the quarter. Her likeness is being struck on the quarter because she keeps changing the world for the better, Hoskin said.

Mankiller was bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States in 1998 by President Bill Clinton. In June 2022, Mankiller was honored by the U.S. Mint when she was featured on a quarter that was part of its American Women Quarters Program.

Mankiller walked on from pancreatic cancer on April 6, 2010 at her home in rural Adair County, Oklahoma.

About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net."

Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net
Nex Benedict will be 16 years old forever.

And while we wait to learn exactly what caused the Oklahoma teenagers death, we know many things with certainty:

Nexs final days on this earth were plagued with bullying that targeted the teens gender identity.

That bullying erupted into a fight in the Owasso High School bathroom, and landed Nex in the hospital.

The state of Oklahoma and, in particular, the states school superintendent, have dehumanized transgender youth by implementing policies and making statements that make life harder on a small percentage of kids known to be at higher risk of bullying and suicide.

A photograph of Nex Benedict is projected during a candlelight service in Oklahoma City on Feb. 24, 2024.

We don't need an autopsy to know Oklahoma failed Nex Benedict

There may be no straight line between Nexs death and the bullying or the grown-up state officials whose actions have created a permission structure that allows such bullying. But isnt the fact that this 16-year-old endured bullying right up until the last day of life reason enough to condemn the circumstances that let any of it happen?

Republicans and abortion rights: Reproductive health was an election minefield for Republicans. It got worse with IVF.

Heres a simple fact that wont change, regardless of a final autopsy report: Its not hard to imagine a world in which Nex felt safe.

In fact, thats a world far easier to create than the one were living in, the one where adults spend hours and days and years building laws and permission structures that encourage others to bully children who want nothing more than a chance to live as their authentic selves.

Nex Benedict being checked out in hospital room after bullying incident

On Wednesday, an open letter signed by more than 350 groups from Oklahoma and across the country called on the state legislature to immediately remove Ryan Walters from his position as Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction and to begin an investigation into the Oklahoma Department of Education to determine what actions and policies have led to a culture where rampant harassment of gender nonconforming students has been allowed to go unchecked.

'Woke gender games'? State official's language encourages bullying.

In response, Walters fell back on bigoted, right-wing platitudes, telling ABC News that he will not play woke gender games, and I will not back down to a woke mob.

He continued: We've seen radical leftists who've tried to create this idea of gender fluidity, which frankly, it confuses students, and causes all kinds of chaos in the classroom and chaos with families.

So it's "radical" to want children to feel safe and accepted? Seems more radical to target children for political gain.

The future of public schools: Welcome to the GOP's new education agenda: Loot our public schools for private vouchers

Walters's views are both devoid of compassion and flatly wrong. As the American Medical Association has stated, Every major medical association recognizes the vital role of gender-affirming care and attributed increased bullying to the significantly higher rates of suicidal ideation among transgender youth.

Oklahoma lawmakers have been openly hostile to LGBTQ+ people

This has been felt in his home state: A 2022 survey from The Trevor Project, an LGBTQ+ crisis intervention organization, found that 48% of LGBTQ youth in Oklahoma seriously considered suicide in the past year, including 55% of transgender and nonbinary youth.

Oklahoma lawmakers have put restrictions on gender-affirming care and barred transgender students from using school bathrooms that align with their gender identity. Walters recently hired a rabidly anti-trans out-of-state social media figure to serve on the states Library Media Advisory Committee, a grotesque political stunt and a blaring insult to every LGBTQ+ person in the state.

Desha Love participates in a community candlelight vigil on Feb. 25, 2024, in Owasso, Oklahoma, for Nex Benedict, a nonbinary teenager who died the day after a fight in a high school bathroom.

None of this intolerance is easy. And there are ways Oklahoma, or any state for that matter, could make the world a better place for a child like Nex.

It is imperative that allies educate themselves and help create that reality. Here are some things you can do.

Respect names and pronouns  it's not hard to do

If a transgender or nonbinary person tells you they are using different pronouns than what they previously used, practice using them. Make sentences in your head using the persons correct pronouns. If you make a mistake, apologize without fanfare and remember it next time. The same thing goes for names. If you hear someone else misgender or deadname a transgender person you know, correct them  even if the trans person in question may never know about it.

Monitor anti-LGBTQ+ legislation and vote accordingly

Transphobic legislation mostly appears at the state level. According to the ACLU, state legislators across the country have filed nearly 470 anti-trans bills during the 2024 session. Not all of these bills will become law; in fact, 21 of those bills have already been defeated. They do add to the fear that transgender and nonbinary people in the United States are feeling. Look up what laws are being filed in your state, and who is filing them. Come November, vote with transgender people in mind.

Mae Keller, a senior, carries a "Trans Kids Matter" sign and cheers as hundreds of students walk out of school on Transgender Day of Visibility outside Omaha Central High School Friday, March 31, 2023 in Omaha, Neb.

Support and learn from groups that help LGBTQ+ people

Get involved in your states LGBTQ+ advocacy group. Freedom Oklahoma has been at the forefront of sharing Nexs story and promoting candlelight vigils, but they also hold events and provide resources to the community. Every state has a comparable nonprofit, and they deserve your attention, your time and your money.

A child is a child, regardless of identity. Try to make their life better.

If you know someone who is transgender or nonbinary, know that they are so much more than their gender. They are still your child, your relative, your neighbor or your classmate. Nexs friends and family say the teenager was an artist who loved to cook and play Minecraft, just like lots of other teens. Check in on the transgender people in your life in this moment of grieving.

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.

There are children like Nex across the country, who know who they are and are trying to exist within a system that punishes them for existing. You cant legislate them away. Gender diversity has existed for thousands of years across different cultures, and will continue to exist.

Transgender children deserve to grow up, and transgender adults deserve to grow old. We are all responsible for making that the reality.

For resources and support for LGBTQ+ youth, parents and allies, visit thetrevorproject.org. If you or someone you know is in need of mental health resources and support, please call, text or chat the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or visit 988lifeline.org for 24/7 access to free and confidential services.

Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeno on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno and Facebook facebook.com/PequenoWrites. Follow USA TODAY columnist Rex Huppke on X, formerly Twitter, @RexHuppke and Facebook facebook.com/RexIsAJerk.

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: Nex Benedict's death shows we're failing trans and nonbinary kids
For years, only the most intrepid of hikers and campers would brave the trips into Iraq's desert (Hussein FALEH)

Far from the hustle and bustle of major cities, young Iraqis are increasingly taking advantage of a renewed sense of safety to explore the country's serene desert getaways.

Sheltering amidst the golden dunes, Ghadanfar Abdallah and his friends gather around a flickering campfire in the Samawah desert south of the capital, humming tunes, laughing and eating.

"When we post pictures, people do not believe that there are such places like the dunes in Iraq," the 35-year-old oil sector worker said.

"My friends ask me if the pictures were taken in Dubai. They are shocked when they learn that they were, in fact, in Iraq."

For years, only the most intrepid of hikers and campers would brave the trips into Iraq's desert. But with the rise of social media and a period of relative stability, it has become a popular destination for those seeking not only adventure and off-roading but also tranquillity in the vast, barren landscape.

"It is something I loved since I was a little boy. But I only started doing it with friends in the winter of 2018 or 2019," Abdallah said.

He crossed 200 kilometres (125 miles) from his southern city of Basra to reach an area untouched by the trappings of urban life -- including phone networks.

On a crisp winter weekend, around 20 campers set up their tents amid the serene dunes. The air filled with the aroma of carp grilling over a smoky wood fire, as the hikers prepared to feast on Iraq's national dish, masgouf.

Later, some played dominoes while others bickered over heated games of backgammon, sipping hot cups of tea and smoking hookahs (water pipe). Their voices resonated with traditional Iraqi songs, their laughter piercing the still desert night.

- 'It is safe' 

Abdallah said such desert expeditions have "become more widespread, and today many stores sell camping gear.

"Some are starting to realise that it is safe, it is an adventure."

But for many, the lingering sense of danger remains.

Iraq has been ravaged by successive years of conflict since the 2003 US-led invasion, including most recently the fight against the Islamic State group.

Though the jihadists were driven out of their major strongholds in late 2017, many retreated into desert hideouts, largely in the country's west, from where they still sporadically -- though with increasing rarity -- stage deadly attacks.

"How can someone go to a desert where there is no water or mobile network? If something happens, how would you report it?" Abdallah said.

Iraq's soaring summer temperatures -- often surpassing 50 degrees Celsius (120 Fahrenheit) -- mean these arid adventures are limited to wintertime.

A weekend getaway costs between $75 and $100 per person, covering food, transportation and accommodation. A single trip can bring together a group of up to 30 people -- typically men in the conservative country where women would not normally take part in such activities.

For Hussein al-Jazairi, the journey is worth every penny.

"The city is full of dust, noise and daily annoyances," the 34-year-old influencer said during his first desert camping trip.

"One can come here, where it is quiet, serene, and there is fresh air."

Jazairi is often glued to his phone, scrolling through his social media accounts. But his recent trip to the Samawah desert proved to be a completely different experience.

"Social media is my work. I receive non-stop notifications. By the end of the day, I have spent a very long time on my phone," Jazairi said.

"Here, there is no network. It has been two days, and my phone's battery is still 70 percent. I haven't used it."

- 'Not a sound' 

While Jazairi encourages people to explore the country's vast sandhills, he warns that "one should not go alone, especially for the first time".

"We came with experts who know the places around."

Iraq's deserts have long attracted hunters, both locals and visitors from neighbouring Gulf countries, before the years of conflict drove them away.

Today, campers still need to remain vigilant, as some areas are still riddled with mines, while the borders with Saudi Arabia, Iran and Syria are intersected by routes used by drug traffickers or jihadists.

"We don't start any trip without first identifying where we will sleep," said Murad al-Bahadli, a camper with over eight years of experience.

"We plan carefully to avoid any security risk," the 38-year-old added.

Yet the placid desert nights are a far cry from the years of turmoil, and for many their lure is irresistible.

Among those is Ravshan Mokhtarov, an Uzbek who has been living in Basra for six years.

"This area is unique. There is no one, not even a sound," the young man said, expressing gratitude for "Iraqi hospitality".

"It is pretty much safe. I don't feel any danger."

vid-lk/tgg/rh/jsa/smw
An election worker makes calls to voters to cure their signatures so their ballots will count at the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix on Nov. 13, 2022. Maricopa County is home to more than half the states voters. Most Arizona voters cast ballots by mail.

After an Arizona voter posted a photo showing she had received two mail ballots from Maricopa County, a local elections official debunked any inference that something sinister occurred.

"Maricopa county at its finest  My first time ever voting in a presidential preference election and I received not one but two mail-in ballots. Thank you @stephen_richer," Aubrey Savela posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Savela is a field representative for Turning Point Action, a conservative group founded by Charlie Kirk.

Richer, Maricopa County's recorder and a Republican, responded on X that there was a reason Savela received two ballots. And more important, he said, only one will be counted.

"You changed your voter registration on the last day of voter registration (Feb. 20) from your Chandler address to your new Tempe address," Richer wrote. "Because early ballots must go out on Feb. 21, your Chandler ballot was already set to go out, and so it did. Then we sent out a new ballot to your Tempe address when we processed your voter registration modification."

Feb. 20 was the last day to register to vote in time for the March 19 primary.

Richer said Savelas photo of her two ballots offered a clue that she had two different addresses because the lengths of the blacked-out redacted address lines were not the same on both envelopes.

Also, Richer wrote, one of the ballots code numbers ends in "01"  which reflected Savelas old address  and the other ends in "02," for the new address.

"As soon as the 02 one goes out, the 01 packet is dead," Richer wrote. "Meaning even if you sent it back, it wouldn't proceed to signature verification, and it wouldn't be opened. That's how we prevent people from voting twice. So just use the one with your new address ending in 02 - that's the only one that will work."

Richer often debunks voting misinformation and has faced death threats because of it. Alabama resident Brian Jerry Ogstad was arrested Feb. 28, accused of sending threatening messages to Maricopa election workers in 2022, including one that said, "You will all be executed for your crimes."

Tammy Patrick, chief executive officer for programs at the Election Center at the National Association of Election Officials and a former Maricopa County elections official, said Savelas post lacks understanding and important context.

"This is yet another example of standard operating procedures being taken out of context, misconstrued and misrepresented in order to support a false narrative regarding the legitimacy of our elections and the integrity of our election officials," Patrick said.

Election offices have systems in place to prevent double mail-in voting

It is not uncommon for voters who update their registration close to an election to receive two ballots, each with unique codes ensuring that only one will be counted, JP Martin, spokesperson for Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, told PolitiFact.

"Our voting systems are designed with robust safeguards against double voting," Martin said.

Maricopa County, which includes Phoenix, is home to more than half the states voters. The majority of Arizona voters cast mail ballots, as they have for decades. Thats why any misinformation about voting by mail is particularly harmful to democracy in the battleground state.

Voters can do their part by updating their voter registration in a timely fashion, said Jenny Guzman, program director of Common Cause Arizona.

Nationwide, election officials take similar steps to prevent double voting.

Jurisdictions that send mail ballots have developed policies and systems to handle voters changing addresses at the last minute before ballots are mailed, said Barbara Smith Warner, executive director of the National Vote At Home Institute, an organization advocating for mail ballot access.

"It's not unusual for such voters to have already been mailed a ballot, and for the elections official to mail them a second ballot that reflects the races/contests appropriate for their new residence," Smith Warner said.

Ballot return envelopes are coded, and the election management system is programmed to alert the election official that a voter has been mailed two ballots. Election officials have systems to ensure that if the voter returns both ballots, only one is counted.

Voter registration management systems are increasingly sophisticated, making it rare for such a mistake to be made, Smith Warner said. However, post-election audits typically review these cases to ensure that proper procedures and state laws were followed, she said.

Many states are members of the Electronic Registration Information Center, a consortium that shares voter registration lists. The center identifies voters with duplicate registrations in the same state or voters who have moved to another state. This helps prevent double voting.

We found anecdotal examples in the news of voters receiving two mail ballots because of an error.

In 2020, election officials in Allegheny County in Pennsylvania erroneously sent some residents multiple mail-in ballots ahead of the states June primary election. The county said a glitch in the states computerized voter registry system led it to accidentally print duplicate labels for mail-in and absentee ballots.

"Even if a person receives multiple ballots, only one return ballot can be counted. This is because the bar code on the label that is being used for tracking is exactly the same," a statement from the county said. "When voted ballots are returned to the office, they are scanned. If another ballot was returned from that same voter, it would show as a duplicate vote when scanned and would be rejected by the system. Staff would mark the ballot as rejected. Those ballots are kept but are not sent to the warehouse to be counted or opened."

Of course, another way that double voting can occur is if a voter casts a mail ballot in two states in the same election. But thats a crime. Four voters in The Villages, a largely conservative retirement community in central Florida, were arrested for voting more than once in the 2020 election.

RELATED: Ask PolitiFact: What steps do election officials take to prevent fraud?

Our sources

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: PolitiFact: Photo from Arizona voter falsely claimed as proof of fraud
Yukon designer Natasha Peter, in the centre wearing a blue and black dress, with some models wearing her Kaska Dena Designs creations, at Milan Fashion Week. (Submitted by Natasha Peter - image credit)

Starting your own business can be tough, and Natasha Peter had lately been wondering if it was time to give up on her venture, Kaska Dena Designs.

"Since the beginning of the year I've been like, really thinking about quitting," she said.

"You know how businesses are, there's a lot of ups and downs."

This week, though, things were definitely up for Peter, and she may now be setting aside any thoughts of quitting.

The Indigenous fashion designer, originally from the small community of Ross River, Yukon, saw a collection of her work featured this week on the runway at the high-profile Milan Fashion Week, in Italy.

"It was quite the experience and the excitement was just so surreal," Peter told CBC News from Milan earlier this week.

"Like, everything happened so fast. And right now I'm sitting in my room and thinking, like wow, I can't believe I've made it this far in my small little entrepreneur business that I've created on my kitchen table."

Yukon designer Natasha Peter at Milan Fashion Week.

'The excitement was just so surreal,' said Peter. (Submitted by Natasha Peter)

Peter said the event organizers had seen her work on social media and got in touch to invite her to Milan.

"I thought I was pranked for sure," she said. "I showed it to like, a few of my trusted sources and I even looked them up  and it turns out that they were pretty legit."

Peter said the event organizers were impressed by how her jewelry and clothing designs reflect and celebrate her Kaska Dena heritage. She named the collection in Milan after the Dena name given to her grandmother, Tootsie Charlie  "Gu'Kine of the North."

"My grandma had passed away five years ago now, and I still respectfully acknowledge her and all of the things that she had passed down throughout the years," Peter said.

Peter recalled how, just a few weeks before heading to Italy, she was still working hard to make the final pieces that would be part of the collection.

"I didn't know what to make. So I just randomly put pieces together and things just happened to come together perfectly. And I was pretty proud of that," she said.

"And I just, you know, I felt my grandma's presence throughout this whole journey, and I'm really, really thankful."

Canadian model Camelia Vokey in a dress from Kaska Dena Designs, at Milan Fashion Week in February 2024.

Canadian model Camelia Vokey in a dress and necklace from Kaska Dena Designs, at Milan Fashion Week. (Milan Fashion Week 2024)

For Peter, Milan Fashion Week was an opportunity to not only showcase her own work and business, but also to share the spotlight with others.

She travelled to Italy with three Kaska models from Yukon who would wear her creations on the catwalk. Peter also collaborated with two Kaska elders whose art was included as part of her show  Dennis Shorty, and Penny Louie.

"It was awesome to collaborate with Natasha," said Shorty, a visual artist and musician from Ross River. "I'm very grateful."

Shorty's partner, Jenny Shorty, said they've known Peter for a long time and are "superfans" of her work, and the way she honours her elders and ancestors through her creations.

"She is showing all the girls, like her little daughter and the other girls in the community  hey, you could do this. And we all are so proud of her," said Jenny.

Showcasing the work of Dennis, and Penny Louie, in Milan is a powerful statement, Jenny said.

"It just shows what kind of a respectful, beautiful soul and being she is, that she includes her elders that are still alive and doing artwork, and creating those things, and never really been acknowledged before in their life  not on that big scale," she said.

A warm reception and some fishy pizza

Peter, back home now in Whitehorse, said she had been really nervous before going to Milan, wondering if her creations would make the same impression on the catwalk as they did online. Turns out, she had nothing to worry about.

"Everybody was like coming at me and congratulating me and telling me how they loved my collection. And a lot of the other models, they were asking if I had any more pieces for them to model," she recalled.

"And I couldn't say yes  I really wanted to, but I couldn't because I only had so much!"

Yukon designer Natasha Peter's Kaska Dena Designs were featured at Milan Fashion Week in February 2024.

Some of the Kaska Dena Designs collection in Milan. Peter named the collection after the Dena name given to her grandmother, Tootsie Charlie  'Gu'Kine of the North.' (Natasha Peter)

She also managed to take in some of the sights and flavours of Italy, including a visit to Lake Como where she wanted to have some real Italian pizza. It wasn't quite what she expected.

"At first I kind of messed up on my order and I ended up ordering pizza with fish on top of it. And it was covered in cheese and I didn't see it. Took a huge bite of it  oh, I don't think I'll do that again," she said.

"It was different. I mean, I guess they like their pizza with fish."
FILE PHOTO: The Limmat river and the city are seen early morning in Zurich

ZURICH (Reuters) - Police have stepped up security measures at Jewish sites in Zurich following a serious knife attack on an orthodox Jewish man in the Swiss city overnight, local police said on Sunday.

Police said they had taken action after a 15-year-old Swiss youth was arrested for inflicting "life-threatening" injuries on the 50-year-old Jewish man in central Zurich on Saturday night.

A Zurich police statement said it was not clear what sparked the attack, but that investigations were "explicitly including the possibility of a crime motivated by antisemitism."

The extra security was put in place for "specific locations with a Jewish connection," police said, following discussions with local Jewish organisations. They gave no further details.

Jonathan Kreutner, general secretary of the Swiss Federation of Jewish Communities (SIG), told Swiss television that physical attacks on Jewish people in the country were rare.

"A case like this is really a new dimension," he said.

Concern about the risk of antisemitic behaviour in Switzerland has grown since the attacks by Hamas gunmen on southern Israel on Oct. 7 and subsequent campaign against the Islamist group by the Israeli government in Gaza.

Last month, the SIG raised concern about attitudes to Jewish people after local media reported police had opened an investigation into a sign in Hebrew displayed by a business in Davos which declared Jews were barred from renting ski gear.

(Reporting by Dave Graham. Editing by Jane Merriman)
The first US spacecraft to land on the Moon in 50 years has finally given up, and is no longer speaking to its engineers.

The Odysseus lander, made by private company Intuitive Machines, landed on the Moon on 22 February. But that landing went slightly awry, and it broke a leg and fell onto its side.

That left it unable to gather power as expected, and led to difficulties communicating with the Earth. Nonetheless, Odysseus continued to communicate with controllers for longer than expected.

On Thursday, however, the spacecraft went silent. It sent one last photo and switched into its standby mode.

But it might not be the end. The standby mode was triggered in the hope that Odysseus is able to come back online in a few weeks, if it is able to survive the cold of the lunar night.

Intuitive Machines spokesman Josh Marshall said these final steps drained the landers batteries and put Odysseus down for a long nap.

Good night, Odie. We hope to hear from you again, the company said via X, formerly Twitter.

The lander was originally intended to last about a week at the moon.

Houston-based Intuitive Machines became the first private business to land a spacecraft on the moon without crashing when Odysseus touched down Feb. 22. Only five countries had achieved that since the 1960s, including Japan, which made a sideways landing last month.

Odysseus carried six experiments for Nasa, which paid $118 million for the ride. The first company to take part in Nasas program for commercial lunar deliveries never made it to the moon; its lander came crashing back to Earth in January.

Nasa views these private landers as scouts that will pave the way for astronauts due to arrive in another few years.

Until Odysseus, the last U.S. moon landing was by Apollo 17's Gene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt in 1972.

Additional reporting by agencies
However your smartphone got wet, you now need to dry it. But what do you do?

LONDON  You were walking next to a swimming pool when you slipped and dropped your phone into the water. Or it slipped out of your hand when you were next to a filled bathtub or toilet.

However your smartphone got wet, you now need to dry it. But what do you do? There's lots of advice on the internet, some of it conflicting. Apple inserted itself into the debate recently when it put out an advisory that included a warning against using rice.

Here are some things to remember next time your phone has an unintended encounter with a liquid.

What you should do

Dry off the exterior with a towel or clean cloth, even your shirtsleeve  anything that's absorbent. Take out the SIM card and holder. If possible, remove the back housing and battery to wipe them dry. Also, if possible, turn the phone off.

iPhones can't be disassembled so Apple recommends tapping it gently against your hand with the connector ports facing down so liquid can flow out.

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Samsung, the biggest Android phone maker, recommends using a cotton bud to get the moisture out of the earphone jack and charging port. In contrast, Apple says cotton buds shouldn't be inserted into iPhone openings.

If it's not water but another liquid  a drink, seawater or chlorinated pool water  Samsung advises soaking the phone in clean water for a few minutes and then rinsing it to get rid of any impurities or salinity that could speed up corrosion of the circuitry inside.

Both companies say it's best to leave the phone out in a well-ventilated area (perhaps with a fan) to dry it out. Google says to leave the device to dry at room temperature.

There's a lot of advice on the internet about what to do if you drop your phone in water, some of it conflicting. So what should you do then? Wipe as much moisture off as you can and leave it to dry. Don't use a hair dryer or put on a radiator. But whatever you do, don't dunk your device into a bowl of rice.

What you shouldn't do

Don't use a hair dryer or compressed air on your phone. Don't put it in a freezer - this might stop your device from short-circuiting but the problem will be back once you try to thaw it. And while this might seem obvious, don't put your device in a tumble dryer or on top of a radiator.

Don't power it up or try to charge it with a cable  although wireless charging is OK if your phone has it and you really need to turn it on in an emergency.

So what about using rice to dry your device? You may have heard that putting a phone in a bowl of rice will help draw out moisture. It's been a tip that's been out there for years.

Apple, however, says that's a no-no. The company warned against it in an advisory published in early January. It drew little attention at the time, but then people noticed the line that said: "Don't put your iPhone in a bag of rice. Doing so could allow small particles of rice to damage your iPhone."

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Is there anything I can use besides rice?

The best option is silica gel, a drying agent that can absorb lots of moisture. Silica gel beads are typically found in packets with products like beef jerky, seaweed sheets or sneakers to keep them dry. You can also buy them in bulk online. This works best if you put them in an airtight box with your phone.

When do I know it's dry?

It's hard to tell but it's best to wait as long as possible  at least a few days. Samsung advises bringing your device into a service center for inspection even after it's been air-dried.

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Aren't phones waterproof nowadays?

Most phones nowadays are designed to be water-resistant, which means they can resist water entering critical areas for a certain amount of time. But beware, this isn't the same as being waterproof.

Apple says the iPhone 7 and newer models are splash and water-resistant. iPhone XS devices and up have the IP68 rating, which means they can be submerged for as long as 30 minutes and, depending on the model, as deep as 6 meters (20 feet). These models also pop up a warning if there's liquid detected in key ports, and warn against charging. Samsung says most of its Galaxy Android phones feature the same rating, though the maximum depth is about 5 meters (16 feet).

Google's newer Pixel phones carry the same water resistance ratings, but Google warns that they aren't waterproof and the water resistance will diminish over time because of "normal wear and tear, device repair, disassembly or damage."

This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Don't bury your phone in rice: Safe drying tips & tricks
By Stephanie Kelly

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Crypto is back! And it's not just in the markets.

The burgeoning cryptocurrency industry is jumping into the 2024 U.S. election, spending millions of dollars in Super Tuesday primary contests in California, Alabama and Texas to boost crypto-friendly candidates and defeat those pushing for more regulation.

How these candidates perform on Tuesday, when dozens of races across America are whittled down to two contestants, will indicate how much influence the increasingly wealthy crypto executives may wield in November.

Brand new industry super PACs, or independent fundraising groups, Fairshake, Protect Progress and Defend American Jobs, backed by funds from Coinbase and the Winklevoss twins have spent at least $13 million in Tuesday's primary races, according to a Reuters analysis of data from OpenSecrets, a research group that tracks money in U.S. politics and its influence on elections and policy.

And that's just the beginning, officials say.

"The crypto community is playing politics to win," said Fairshake spokesperson Josh Vlasto. "We will have influence and impact in races behind candidates who align with our agenda and our vision."

In total, the three super PACs have raised nearly $102 million from January 2023 to January 2024, data from the Federal Election Commission showed.

The cryptocurrency industry has surged in recent months, and Bitcoin hit a new high last week, after the collapse of several big players in 2022 crushed prices and prompted a regulatory crackdown.

The industry, including its employees and political action committees, has so far contributed about $59.2 million toward the 2024 election cycle, up from $26.8 million in the 2022 midterm cycle and $1.6 million in the 2020 cycle, OpenSecrets data showed.

California progressive Democrat Katie Porter, who is running for Senate, is a key target. Fairshake has spent over $10 million to try to convince voters not to back Porter, including launching a statewide TV and digital media buy.

Porter joined U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren in 2022, seeking information from Texas' electric grid operator on cryptomining operations in the state and how the power the industry uses affects climate change and the energy grid.

"This shady super PAC is spending more than $10 million to kick Katie out of Washington because they know she will stand up for Californians and take on powerful special interests like them in the Senate," said Porter's campaign spokesperson Lindsay Reilly.

Protect Progress has also spent about $1.7 million to back Shomari Figures, a Democrat and former deputy chief of staff to U.S. attorney general Merrick Garland running in Alabama's 2nd congressional district race. A Democrat is expected to win the hotly-contested race, which was sparked after a federal court ordered Alabama to draw a new Congressional map.

Figures, if elected, has pledged to "embrace the new landscape around digital assets, like Cryptocurrency, to stimulate innovation and technological advancement," his website says.

In Texas, Protect Progress has put about $962,000 in support of Representative Julie Johnson, a Democrat running in the state's 32nd congressional district race.

Meanwhile, Defend American Jobs has allocated over $1 million to back Representative John Bradford III and Representative Tim Moore, both Republicans in North Carolina, OpenSecrets data showed. Moore is the speaker of the state's House.

Democrats are favored to take control of the House of Representatives in the 2024 election, perhaps by a slim margin, meaning individual Congress members could play pivotal roles in passing legislation.

"You have candidates in all of those races who have demonstrated not only an openness to learning and thinking more about digital assets, but actually calling on Congress and on policymakers to take action there," said Kara Calvert, head of U.S. policy at Coinbase.

Coinbase, an online platform for buying and selling crypto, is also behind a non-profit group called the Stand With Crypto Alliance that now counts 315,000 members, which aims to organize voters who own crypto and influence public opinion.

The industry's interest in the 2024 election comes on the heels of one of the biggest financial frauds on record. FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was found guilty last year of stealing from customers. Prosecutors allege he used those funds to donate more than $100 million to U.S. political campaigns.

Federal election disclosures show he gave roughly $40 million to mostly Democratic-aligned groups and campaigns.

An indictment also accused Bankman-Fried of directing two FTX executives to evade contribution limits by donating to Democrats and Republicans to the tune of $9.7 million to Democratic candidates and causes, and more than $24 million to Republican candidates and causes in 2022.

At least some have returned the money after.

"The experience of FTX/Alameda should be a cautionary tale" for any campaign, said Ciara Torres-Spelliscy, a professor of law at Stetson University College of Law. Alameda Research was Bankman-Fried's crypto-focused hedge fund.

"The FTX/Alameda funds that went into politics are subject to two different attempts to claw back the money: One claw back from the bankruptcy estate of FTX and another claw back from federal prosecutors who consider the money fruits of a crime."

(Reporting by Stephanie Kelly; Editing by Heather Timmons and Diane Craft)
Classical guitarist Michael Partington will play the Second Sunday Series on March 10 at Englewood Christian Church.
Unanswered questions and some updates in cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Yakima Valley
Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business.
Nicolae Ciuca raspunde atacurilor USR: Nu PSD si PNL au blocat Alianta Dreapa Unita

Pot sa va spun ca decizia luata de judecatorii care au analizat aceasta solicitare spune tot. Nu PSD si PNL au blocat aceasta Alianta. Probabil pentru ca nu au reusit sa puna la dispozitie toate documentele necesare astfel [citeste mai departe]
A 35-year-old member of a drug-trafficking ring on Europols list of Europes 54 most wanted criminals in 2022 has turned himself in, according to a press release on police.hu posted.

The man turned up at a Debrecen police station, in eastern Hungary, on Wednesday and was taken into custody. A Debrecen court ordered his pre-trial detention the same day.



The press release said Istvan V Sandor and his associates, including the man who turned himself in, Andras Cs, operated sophisticated equipment to cultivate and process cannabis in Bacs-Kiskun County, central-southern Hungary, in 2020 and 2021, as part of 300 million forint (EUR 763,000) operation.



On May 21, 2021 police raided the premises and seized 165kg of marijuana and cocaine, and subsequently 380 million forints-worth of assets were also seized from the members of the ring. Investigators succeeded in identifying all seven of its members.



Two of them were quickly captured in Hungary, while European and international arrest warrants were issued against five members on the run. Europol launched its Game Over media campaign in November 2023, and included data on the Hungarian ring on its website and other media outlets.



Three members, Istvan V Sandor and Roland V from Budapest, and Erik K Tibor from Algyo were captured on July 19, 2023 by the Hungarian and Spanish authorities in Alicante.



A warrant is still out for Tamas Bagameri, a man on Hungarys top wanted list, and since July 2023 he has taken the place of Istvan V Sandor on Europols top wanted list.



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New Delhi: In today's world, there are many incidents of cab booking difficulties you may have encountered. Some of them instances are late pickups, drivers demanding cash payments, and other inconveniences. These situations have become familiar grievances for users of online ride-hailing apps.

However, a recent incident involving a Delhi man named Kiran Verma has shocked many, as he accused an Ola driver of assaulting him in front of his 6-year-old son. (Also Read: Bill Gates & Mark Zuckerberg In Indian Wedding Attire: Check How These Mogul Looks In Traditional Outfit)

What He Alleged In LinkedIn Post?

According to Verma's account in a LinkedIn post, the incident occurred last month when he and his son booked an Ola cab to pick someone up from the airport. (Also Read: 7 Fresh IPOs Set To Hit Market This Week: Check A-Z Of Upcoming Offerings)

Verma claimed that the driver requested him to cancel the ride and pay in cash, which he refused. This refusal led to a confrontation between Verma and the driver.

Verma detailed in his post, "The driver asked me to cancel the ride and pay him in cash. I denied and with unwanting will, he started the trip."

He further stated that the driver took an alternate route from their destination, citing traffic congestion. Verma alleged that the driver then demanded additional payment, escalating the situation.

What Happened At The Moment?

Verma recounted that his son, frightened by the escalating tension, urged him to leave the car. Concerned for his son's safety, Verma contacted both the Ola helpline and the police.

As Verma and his son exited the vehicle, the situation took a violent turn when the driver allegedly slapped him.

Describing the incident, Verma stated, "Meanwhile, when I refused to pay him, I clicked his picture with my bag. He came out and slapped me." Verma emphasized that he did not resort to using abusive language during his communication with the Ola representative.

LinkedIn Post Goes Viral

Verma's LinkedIn post garnered significant attention, with many social media users expressing concern and solidarity with his experience.

Some users shared their own encounters with similar ordeals, highlighting broader safety concerns associated with online ride-hailing services.
New Delhi: In a recent turn of events, Google's decision to remove several Indian mobile applications from its Play Store due to a dispute over service fee payments has sparked controversy. Anupam Mittal, the founder of Shaadi.com, likened Google to the historic East India Company.



The Indian entrepreneur expressed concerns over what he perceives as Google's audacity and disregard for Indian interests. (Also Read: 6 Credit Cards With No Joining Fees And Zero Annual Charge: Check Features)

What Causes Dispute?

The dispute arose when Google delisted a dozen applications, including Shaadi.com and Bharat Matrimony. After the action of the tech giant, Mittal condemns the move as a "dark day" for India's internet. (Also Read: Struggling With Tricky Math Problem? Don't Worry! This App May Be Handy)

He called for an immediate halt to what he termed as Google's imposition of a 'Lagaan' (tax) in the form of service fees. Mittal's sentiments echoed the growing dissatisfaction among Indian tech entrepreneurs and startups regarding Google's actions.

Government Intervention

Following widespread criticism and intervention from Union Minister of Electronics & IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Google has begun reinstating several Indian applications on its Play Store.

Applications such as Shaadi.com, Naukri, and 99acres have returned, albeit without in-app billing functionalities. This move comes amidst ongoing legal proceedings in India's Competition Commission (CCI) and Supreme Court regarding Google's actions.

The backlash against Google's actions has extended beyond individual entrepreneurs to include prominent figures such as Sanjeev Bikchandani, the co-founder of Info Edge.

Bikchandani has called upon India's antitrust regulator, the CCI, to investigate Google's alleged anti-competitive behavior.

Additionally, there have been renewed calls for the development of India's app store as a public infrastructure initiative, emphasizing the need for greater autonomy and competition in the digital space.
Farmer leaders Sarwan Singh Pandher and Jagjit Singh Dallewal have declared a nationwide 'Rail Roko' protest scheduled for March 10. Pandher, addressing the media, affirmed that there is no deviation from the original plans of the 'Delhi Chalo' demonstration, set to resume on March 6. Farmers will come to (Delhi) from all over the country by train, bus, air and we will see whether the government will allow them (farmers) to sit there or not, he added. The farmer leaders were present in the final prayer ceremony of the deceased farmer, Shubhkaran Singh, 22, in his native village, Balloh, in Bathinda.

Call For Nationwide Agitation

Dallewal added that in these situations, when the farmers are not even allowed to rally peacefully, they are figuring out ways to bring the government to their knees. We will increase our (farmers) numbers on the borders surrounding Delhi, he claimed, saying that farmers will join from all across the country. He urged all the farmers and businessmen to contribute to the rail roko from 12pm to 4pm. Dallewal said that the demonstrations scheduled for March 6 and March 10 will reveal the reality that this is a widespread movement, with over 200 farmer unions from various regions of the country participating in the protest, aiming for the same objective.

#WATCH | Farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal says, "...Our program to march to Delhi is as it is, we've not stepped back from it. It has been decided that we will increase our strength on the borders. On March 6, farmers will come to (Delhi) from all over the country by train, pic.twitter.com/rRKmkQdlOC  ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2024

Accusations Against Government

Pandher reiterated the call for a nationwide agitation, saying, The government is attempting to shape a narrative suggesting that only two farmer unions, led by me and Jagjit Singh Dallewal, are spearheading this protest. Therefore, the demonstrations on March 6 and March 10 will expose the reality that this is a nationwide movement. He further said that every Punjab panchayat should adopt a resolution endorsing the farmers' demands, and every village should dispatch a tractor-trolley to the protest border points.

He accused the government of adopting extreme measures, pointing out that drones had never been used by the Centre in previous farmer protests. Pandher added that Shambhu and Khanauri have been barricaded by Haryana authorities, resembling the Punjab-Haryana international border.

Farmers initiated their march on February 13 but were later stopped by police forces, resulting in confrontations at the Shambhu and Khanauri border points along the Haryana-Punjab border.
In a tragic incident, two people lost their lives in Greater Noida's Galaxy Blue Sapphire Mall after getting crushed under an iron grill that fell from the fifth floor of the Plaza. Those who died on the spot were identified as Harendra and Shakeel of Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad. The police have sent the body for a postmortem and the mall has been evacuated. The accident took place when the two were approaching the escalator to go to the first floor of the mall.

Hridesh Katheria, ADCP, Central Noida said, "Our Bisrakh Police station received information via Yatharth Hospital that two people died after an iron grill fell from fifth floor of the Blue Sapphire mall. A team of police reached the site immediately. According to information that we have, two people have been identified as Harendra and Shakeel of Vijay Nagar in Ghaziabad. Further action will be taken into the matter based on a complaint from the kins of victims."

#WATCH | Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh: On two people dying due to grill collapse in Blue Sapphire Mall, ADCP Central Hridesh Katheria says, "Today in Blue Sapphire Mall, an iron grill fell off the fifth floor due to which two people died. The police team reached the spot and pic.twitter.com/4jb7VelXmT  ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2024

The police also said that they will take strict action against those found guilty.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav on Sunday slammed Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and described his recent ally shift phenomenon with the Hrithik Roshan starred song, idhar chala main udhar chala, jane khan mai kidhar chala. Addressing the crowd in Jan Vishwas Rally at Gandhi Maidan in Patna, Tejashwi said that the Bihar government should get its insurance done as it runs the risk of JDU supremo taking repeated U-turns.

Yadav exclaimed that the BJP says 'Modi ki Guarantee', but who will take the guarantee of Nitish Kumar? Reacting to the accusations of PM Modi over familial politics in RJD, former deputy CM of Bihar said, "They call us out on nepotism, but they have Samrat Choudhary, brother of Ram Vilas Paswan, Manjhi ji's son has been made minister, it doesn't look like any nepotism to them.

He further expressed gratitude to the Congress for their support in challenging times, Yadav highlighted Nitish Kumar's initial skepticism about job promises during their tenure. "When we pledged jobs, he questioned their source. Under our administration, we conducted a caste census, raised the reservation limit to 75%, and increased reservation for extremely backward people by 24%. We achieved what the country hadn't since independence," Tejashwi Yadav remarked.

He hailed RJD's ethos, stating, "In RJD, 'R' signifies rise, 'J' stands for job, and 'D' represents development." Tejashwi critiqued the BJP for destabilising elected state governments, asserting that the public will respond. Tejashwi pledged to continue the fight, framing it as an ideological battle. "Even if summonses are sent to Rahul Gandhi or the CBI targets Akhilesh Bhai in the Uttar Pradesh alliance, we will persist. BJP has become a dustbin where every party's waste is accumulating," he stated in Patna.

Taking a swipe at PM Modi, Tejashwi criticized his recent visit to Bihar, accusing him of repeating falsehoods. "Modi ji is a factory of lies. In the last election, BJP won 39 out of 40 seats. Ask their MPs about the work done in their districts," he concluded.

PM Modi visited Bihar on Saturday where is was present in a public meeting in Aurangabad alongwith Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. PM also unveiled development projects valued at over Rs 21,400 crore in the state.
Kerala Lottery Results Sunday 03-03-2024 Live: The Kerala lottery "AKSHAYA AK-641" Result, on behalf of the Kerala government, will be announced today, March 03, 2024, at Gorky Bhavan Near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala State Lotteries department, which releases the lottery in 12 series (subject to change), will draw the result. Each week, 108 lakh tickets are made available for purchase, and the series may vary. The first-place winner stands to receive a substantial 70 Lakh Rupees as the bumper prize. For those eagerly awaiting today's draw, the AKSHAYA AK-641 outcome for March 03, 2024, can be checked on this website. Stay tuned to ensure you don't miss the live results of Kerala Lottery AKSHAYA AK-641.

Kerala Lottery Result 03-03-2024 Mar: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-641 LOTTERY

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: AL 750171

LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: AJ 571457

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: AA 288574 AB 521093 AC 278230 AD 745297 AE 739444 AF 145015 AG 940026 AH 416202 AJ 573921 AK 753194 AL 292219 AM 544496

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: AA 750171 AB 750171 AC 750171 AD 750171 AE 750171 AF 750171 AG 750171 AH 750171 AJ 750171 AK 750171 AM 750171

(For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below)

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0085 0420 0649 0907 2087 2503 4608 4951 4968 5629 7177 7373 7984 8014 8667 8840 9152 9752

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 2462 2755 2797 3817 8540 8954 9483

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 0368 0691 1217 1487 1565 1820 1849 2465 2758 3016 3172 3330 4544 4626 5324 5647 6182 6292 6656 6965 7373 7669 7990 8748 9562

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0084 0124 0162 0169 0205 0537 0758 0809 0926 1023 1079 1553 1562 1865 2080 2511 2678 2742 2831 2971 3129 3165 3248 3297 3454 3769 4088 4187 4227 4264 4399 4529 4642 4915 5044 5214 5469 5571 5698 5713 5868 5971 6034 6079 6221 6236 6260 6798 6998 7056 7058 7272 7355 7467 7654 7810 7964 8016 8115 8162 8263 8264 8400 8601 8827 8927 9217 9443 9602 9732 9916 9997

LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0299 0356 0813 1025 1063 1137 1161 1184 1313 1316 1467 1478 1582 1652 1677 1749 1907 1980 2044 2062 2132 2325 2376 2471 2497 2582 2617 2763 2807 2826 2862 3052 3098 3130 3208 3228 3516 3581 3776 3831 3848 4258 4363 4525 4548 4581 4590 4635 4692 4739 4741 4759 4792 4927 4970 5053 5169 5264 5308 5315 5401 5433 5564 5684 5805 5819 5871 5963 6116 6194 6284 6285 6311 6362 6433 6618 6737 6808 7071 7156 7176 7273 7361 7383 7433 7441 7453 7495 7520 7549 7649 7675 7783 7815 7892 7913 7922 7928 8026 8077 8116 8232 8262 8278 8351 8358 8500 8539 8613 8739 8835 8881 8971 8974 9046 9141 9247 9359 9452 9774 9780 9801 9969

KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 03-03-2024 March TODAY: AKSHAYA AK-641 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS

1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs

2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs

3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh

4th Prize: Rs. 5,000

5th Prize: Rs. 2,000

6th Prize: Rs. 1,000

7th Prize: Rs. 500

8th Prize: Rs. 100

Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000

(NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.)
Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics.
Arvind Kejriwal-led Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) came into existence opposing the Congress and BJP. In the true sense, that X-factor has been a key to the grand success of AAP in Delhi and Punjab. In Delhi, it gave AAP three consecutive successes and Punjab a victory greater than Congress and Akalis. The Aam Aadmi Party has managed to increase its vote share in many other states like Gujarat, Haryana and Goa. But ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the AAP appears to have fallen into the trap of the Congress-led INDIA bloc and it may hurt the party's prospects in the Parliamentary polls.

AAP-Congress Seat Sharing Deal

In Delhi (7 seats), Congress will contest three seats and AAP on four while in Gujarat, Congress will contest 24 seats and AAP on two seats - Bharuch and Bhavnagar. Of the 10 seats in Haryana, Congress to contest nine and AAP on one -Kurukshetra. In Chandigarh, the Congress will contest on the lone seat while in Goa, the Congress to contest on both seats. The AAP had already announced a candidate for one of the two seats in Goa but withdrew it after a deal with the Congress.

Delhi | Congress and AAP announce seat-sharing in Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Chandigarh and Goa



In Delhi (7 seats), Congress to contest on 3 and AAP on 4

In Gujarat (26 seats), Congress to contest on 24 and AAP on 2 (in Bharuch and Bhavnagar)

In Haryana (10 seats), Congress to pic.twitter.com/vCauAdvkUm  ANI (@ANI) February 24, 2024

Historical Data From Delhi 2019 Polls

In Delhi, where the AAP is multiple times stronger than Congress, the ruling party has given three out of seven seats to the grand old party. The Congress has been continuously witnessing an erosion of its vote bank in the national capital in favour of the AAP. By joining hands with Congress, AAP has sent out a message that both parties are the same and thus it is bound to alienate those voters who support AAP for its distinct ideology. In fact, on all the seven seats, the combined vote share of AAP-Congress was less than that polled by the BJP in the 2019 polls with the Congress securing second position and the AAP at third rank.

Learnings From RJD, Samajwadi Party

In Bihar, during the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and even during the 2020 assembly elections, the RJD was in alliance with the Congress. It gave nine seats to the Congress in the Parliamentary polls but the alliance failed to win even a single seat. In the 2020 assembly polls, the RJD contested 144 seats and won 75 of them while the Congress contested 70 seats and won just 19. The lower strike rate of Congress was considered one of the reasons that the RJD lost out on power by a whisker. In Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party had allied with the Congress during the 2017 Assembly polls. The Samajwadi Party contested 298 seats and the Congress on 105 seats. The Congress won just seven seats while the SP bagged 47 of them.

In the 2022 assembly polls, Akhilesh Yadav opted not to ally with the Congress and contested 347 seats on its own by allocating 56 seats to the regional parties. Due to this, the SP managed to increase its winning seats to 111 while the Congress despite contesting 399 seats, won just two seats. This shows that allying with Congress hurts the regional parties' prospects. Whenever a party, strong in a particular region or state allies with the Congress, its winning chances decrease while helping the Congress survive extinction threat. If the trend continues, AAP may witness a decrease in its vote share while that of Congress may increase slightly. This may further hurt the AAP's effort to increase its presence across the country.
New Delhi: The Pakistan National Assembly convened on Sunday to appoint Shehbaz Sharif, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), as the 24th Prime Minister of the nation. The session commenced with disruptions as members of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) shouted slogans, as reported by Geo News based in Pakistan.

Speaker of the Pakistan National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, officially declared Shehbaz Sharif's victory in the Prime Ministerial election. Sharif secured 201 votes, surpassing his opponent, Omar Ayub Khan of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), and SIC candidate for prime minister, who received 92 votes. Despite protests from SIC lawmakers, Speaker Sadiq proceeded with the announcement.

The session is being chaired by Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The session started with the oath-taking of PML-N leader Jam Kamal. However, the House soon started echoing slogans and chants raised by SIC members in favour of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and the eight-party alliance backing Shehbaz Sharif.

Following this, Sadiq asked the Assembly staff to ring the bell for five minutes so that any member that is not present in the house could come to the floor for the PM's election. After the bells were rung, Sadiq directed the National Assembly staff to lock the doors and announced the method for electing PM, according to Geo News report.

Following this, the Pakistan National Assembly speaker informed the lawmakers about the candidates who were contesting for the PM's post. He said, "Valid nominated candidates are Shehbaz Sharif and Omar Ayub. Honourable members who wish to vote in favour of Shehbaz may proceed to the lobby on the right side designated as 'Lobby A'."

Ayaz Sadiq then asked those who want to vote for Omar Ayub Khan can proceed to the left-hand side towards "Lobby B" to get their votes recorded. As the voting process started, members of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) announced a boycott of the elections and walked out of the house, according to Geo News report.

Balochistan National Party's Sardar Akhtar Mengal did not vote, however, he remained on his seat in the Assembly. After the polling process concluded, the Pakistan National Assembly secretary gave details regarding the voting process to the speaker. After the completion of counting, Ayaz Sadiq ordered the Pakistan National Assembly staff to ring the bell to summon the lawmakers back in the house for the announcement of the results.
New Delhi: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has urged the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) to take decisive action against media streaming platform app, Ullu. This was followed by allegations of distributing explicit and inappropriate content, some of which is specifically aimed at children.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) received a complaint expressing worries about these apps providing access to explicit content without strict age verification measures. The apex child rights body informed the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology about this issue in a letter. (Also Read: Online Scam: Elderly Man Ends Up Losing 3 Lakhs In Fake Electricity Bill Scam)

The NCPCR has cited Section 13 of the Commissions for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act and called on authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the issue. They have urged appropriate action to be taken against the apps and platforms that host inappropriate content, as per the law. (Also Read: Redmi Note 12 4G With 5,000mAh Battery Gets Price Cut In India; Check Specs, New Price)

The commission has also asked the ministry to enforce strict measures, such as mandatory Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, for similar applications. This is to ensure that minors cannot access inappropriate content.

Ullu operates as a streaming platform, relying solely on subscription fees for revenue. The company's founder and CEO, Vibhu Aggarwal, owns approximately 65 per cent of the company, while the remaining 35 per cent is owned by his wife, Megha.
New Delhi: In today's digital age, online scams have become a prevalent threat, targeting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. With the rise of technology and the widespread use of the internet, cybercriminals are continuously devising new ways to exploit unsuspecting victims for financial gain. Today's story is based on a recent incident involving a doctor in his 70s who faced a harsh lesson.

According to reports from TOI, the 77-year-old doctor fell prey to an online scam, losing around Rs 3 lakh. The scam was perpetrated by someone pretending to be a representative of the electricity provider, who targeted the elderly doctor by claiming there were unsettled bills. Investigators suspect the involvement of an organized group behind this deceptive scheme. (Also Read: AI-Enabled Advanced Hearing Aids May Help People With Hearing Loss, Say Experts)

Threatening Message from Strange Number

The doctor shared his frightening experience, explaining that on February 23, he got a threatening message from a strange number claiming to be from BSES. The message said his power would be cut off right away if he didn't pay overdue bills that day. Feeling pressured, the doctor called the number given and was pushed into paying Rs 10 for what he thought was an upgrade. Then, he was told to click on a link where he accidentally gave his debit card information. (Also Read: Flipkart Launches Its UPI Handle To Boost India's Digital Economy Vision)

Registration of case

After ending the call, the doctor was surprised to find out that five transactions he didn't authorize had taken a lot of money from his bank account. What was even more surprising was that he didn't get any request for OTP verification while this was happening. He quickly told the cyber cell about what happened, and they registered a case under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code, like cheating, impersonation, and criminal conspiracy.

E-wallet hacked

More digging into the scam showed how much damage it caused. The person behind it set up call forwarding to stop the doctor from getting calls and messed with his WhatsApp account by sending out inappropriate stuff. On top of that, the doctor's e-wallet got hacked, and even his Aadhaar Card details were changed, showing how tricky the scam was.

Two more complaints on same number

The police said they got two more complaints about the same phone number, showing that there's a group working together. They're taking serious steps to catch the people involved, like looking at call records and internet details linked to the phone number. Several teams are working hard to find and catch the people behind this plan.
Pius Kamau, M.D., a retired general surgeon, is president of the Aurora-based Africa America Higher Education Partnerships (AAHEP); co-founder of the Africa Enterprise Group, and an activist for minority students STEM education. He is a National Public Radio commentator, a Huffington Post blogger, a past columnist for Denver dailies, and is featured on the podcast, Never Again.
Three nominees to the states Park and Wildlife Commission during their confirmation hearings last week at the state Capitol in Denver. From left, Jessica Beaulieu, Gary Skiba, Jack Murphy and Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Jeff Davis. The Senate ag committee voted down Skiba and Beaulieus nominations although the full Senate will have final say on the matter.
Dennis Maes served 24 years as a 10th Judicial District judge in Pueblo and was chief judge for 17 of those years. He previously served as director of Pueblo County Legal Services, Inc.; as a public defender and as an attorney in private practice.
David is an award-winning Senior Investigative Reporter at The Gazette and has worked in Colorado for more than two decades. He has been a journalist since 1982 and has also worked in New York, St. Louis, and Detroit.
Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic closed schools and upended child care, the CDC says parents can start treating the virus like other respiratory illnesses.

Gone are mandated isolation periods and masking. But will schools and child care centers agree?

In case youve lost track: Before Friday, all Americans, including school children, were supposed to stay home for at least five days if they had COVID-19 and then mask for a set period of time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Now the CDC says children can go back to school when their overall symptoms improve and theyre fever-free for 24 hours without taking medication. Students are encouraged to wear a mask when they return.

Still, the change may not affect how individual schools urge parents to react when their children fall sick. Schools and child care providers have a mixed record on following CDC recommendations and often look to local authorities for the ultimate word. And sometimes other goals, such as reducing absences, can influence a state or districts decisions.

The result can be a confusing variation among states and districts, confounding parents whose lives have long been upended by the virus.

For example, during the 2021-2022 school year, only 18 states followed CDC recommendations for mask-wearing in class. When the CDC lifted its masking guidelines in February of 2022, states like Massachusetts followed suit, but California kept the mask requirement for schools.

And in the child care world, some providers have long used more stringent testing and isolation protocols than the CDC has recommended. Reasons have ranged from trying to prevent outbreaks to keeping staff healthy  both for their personal safety and to keep the day care open.

Some states moved to more lenient guidelines ahead of the CDC. California and Oregon recently rescinded COVID-19 isolation requirements, and many districts followed their advice.

In an attempt to minimize school absences and address an epidemic of chronic absenteeism, California has encouraged kids to come to school when mildly sick and said that students who test positive for coronavirus but are asymptomatic can attend school. Los Angeles and San Diegos school systems, among others, have adopted that policy.

But the majority of districts around the country still have asked parents to isolate children for at least five days before returning to school. Some, including Boston and Atlanta, have required students to mask for another five days and report positive COVID-19 test results to the school.

A school or day care's specific guidelines are consequential for working parents who must miss work if their child cant go to school or child care. In October 2023, as the nations parents and caretakers wrestled with simultaneous surges of COVID, respiratory syncytial virus and influenza, 104,000 adults reported missing work because of child care issues, the highest number in at least a decade. That number has fallen: Last month, child care problems meant 41,000 adults missed work, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Melissa Colagrossos child care center in West Virginia dropped special guidelines for COVID about a year ago, she said. Now, theyre the same as other illnesses: A child must be free of severe symptoms such as fever for at least 24 hours before returning to the center.

We certainly are treating COVID just like we would treat flu or hand, foot and mouth disease, said Colagrosso, CEO of A Place To Grow Childrens Center in Oak Hill.

As for kids without symptoms who test positive for COVID?

Most parents have stopped testing kids unless they have symptoms, Colagrasso said, so its a quandary she has not encountered.

Parents don't grasp the full academic damage from COVID's disruption, according to study Parents don't grasp the full academic damage from COVID's disruption, according to study
Eighty-year-old Shirley Woody has lived on Kemper Road in south Danville for more than 20 years.

She loves her neighborhood, but would like to see conditions there improved.

Its quiet, mostly elderly people on this end, Woody said during an interview in her living room Thursday afternoon. The only thing I dont like is the traffic.

The street could use speed bumps to slow down lead-footed drivers, she said, and some neighbors need to clean the junk from their porches.

A Danville nonprofit has kickstarted work to improve homes along Kemper Road off South Main Street.

The endeavor is part of the recently launched Mission 180 program under the Danville Neighborhood Development Corp.

Mission 180 is a three-prong revitalization effort to improve the condition of neighborhoods by reducing blight, improving curb appeal and overall marketability/attractiveness of neighborhoods, said Wendi Everson, DNDC executive director.

The program is only offered in the Kemper Road area, currently, she said.

DNDC will spend the next couple of years on Kemper Road, Everson said. Our next neighborhood will be determined by assessing need, opportunity and the housing market.

Its mission is to work with residents to reimagine, build and support thriving neighborhoods in the city by improving housing and developing a sense of community, Everson said.

We want all residents in the city of Danville to live a quality life in a thriving community, she said.

The Mission 180 programs approach focuses on three aspects:

Repair, by using forgivable loans to help existing residents get needed upgrades to preserve the housing stock;

Rebuild, by acquiring and rehabilitating properties to sell; and

Revitalize, by working with residents to empower and educate on how to address issues in the neighborhoods and work with partner organizations.

Through the program and Eversons leadership, the DNDC and its volunteers tidied up Woodys property. They cleaned the awnings on her home, added mulch at the front of her house and removed azaleas to get rid of the bees that had swarmed them.

Groups helping out Everson include Union Church, North Main Baptist Church and the Community Foundation of the Dan River Region, she said.

Everson expects the DNDCs efforts to improve Kemper Road to take about three years.

It is a long-term process, she said during the Register & Bees visit at Woodys home.

The organization is working on the project in phases, with the group focusing on certain blocks at a time.

Another Kemper Road resident, Constance Pinchback, called the Mission 180 program an awesome opportunity for the people who live on Kemper Road as well as the city.

This is a busy street and its connected to the college [Danville Community College], Pinchback said.

Aesthetic enhancements to the street would provide a great atmosphere for travelers through the neighborhood, she said. In addition to local residents, visitors from North Carolina also use Kemper to get to Ballou Park and the Danville Casino, she said.

When you beautify the area, it gives people things to look at and to think about, Pinchback said.

There are about 80 homes along Kemper Road and roughly 20%  or around 16  are vacant, Everson said.

The DNDC has so far bought four homes with the goal of selling them to buyers who will live in them and maintain them, Everson said. The group began operating in 2017 to catalyze reinvestment and housing development in Danville city neighborhoods, she said.

DNDCs core business is to strategically rehabilitate single-family homes at targeted locations and undertake this work in tandem with intensive community empowerment and education, she said.

The Mission 180 Program was piloted in fall 2022, with the first phase of the Kemper Road project including the 100 and 200 blocks of that street, Everson said.

Kemper Road was chosen because several of its blocks suffer from blight, vacancy and an aging housing stock, she said.

Along the Kemper Road corridor, many residents are cost-burdened, paying more than 40% of their incomes on housing-related expenses, Everson said. The neighborhood has challenges, but has many assets that make it ideal for this type of targeted rehabilitation.

The goal is to preserve and improve homes by helping owners improve their homes efficiency, she said.

We also want to stop further vacancy and disrepair, Everson said. We also want to acquire properties and rehab them and sell them for homeownership. These efforts will help to stabilize the neighborhood and provide housing options as we all address housing shortages and needs.

One project included purchasing and rehabbing at home at 124 Kemper Road, which has gained more visibility  especially with its proximity to DCC.

Residents including Woody and Pinchback not only want more curb appeal in their neighborhood, they could also use some work on their homes interior, they said.

Id like to see upgrades to my kitchen, Pinchback said. My kitchen is so small, my dining table cannot go into my kitchen.

The wallpaper could also be updated, as well as her bathroom, she added.

Its an old house, Pinchback said, adding that she has become more involved in the Mission 180 effort.

In addition, Kemper Road could use benches and shelters at its city bus stops for those using public transportation, she said.

A lot of people catch the bus here, she said. A lot of people dont have cars. It would be nice to have something to shelter them from the rain.

Woody said she would also like to see repairs to her home.

While the DNDC and its partners spruce up home exteriors and yards, interior work is where the forgivable loans would come in, Everson said. The group received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act for the program.

We allot up to $25,000 per home in funds for our forgivable loan funds, Everson said.

Over the last several years, the DNDC has received not only federal money but funding from local foundations and other state and local sources.

The DNDC was established in Danville program to help streamline the citys blight removal process. State legislation for the initiative was approved by the General Assembly and Gov. Terry McAuliffe in 2016.

The measure allowed Danville to create Virginias first land bank program enabling the city to auction off properties and streamline the blight removal process in the city.

It gives us another tool to address blight in our city, City Councilman Lee Vogler, who proposed the legislation to Del. Danny Marshall, R-Danville, for the 2016 General Assembly session, told the Register & Bee in February 2017.

The group was recommended by a housing study  by CZB, LLC  commissioned by the city in 2015. It has the capabilities and flexibility to act more quickly, concentrating their efforts on stabilizing neighborhoods and improving houses throughout the city.

The DNDC will be focused on Kemper Road for a while, Everson said. It takes time to get to know a neighborhood and garner wide support among residents for such an endeavor, she said.

Also, other obstacles have slowed progress on the project, she said.

COVID, leadership changes, contractor shortages and material costs, to name a few, Everson said. As communities are recovering, the program is regaining momentum and visibility.
If your computer has a screen and is on a network, you need to read this article. Why? More than a dozen network-centric user interfaces are coming to PCs and network computers (NCs) this year, from the likes of Apple, IBM, Lotus, Microsoft, Netscape, Oracle, Sun, and others. It's the biggest revolution in GUIs since 1984. And it's happening so fast that even the buzzwords can't keep up. Nobody can agree on what to call them: NC GUIs (for network-centric graphical user interfaces), WUIs (for Web user interfaces), virtual desktops, active desktops, or Webtops?



To settle the confusion, BYTE suggests NUI (pronounced "new-ee"), short for network user interface. NUIs offer a consistent, browser-like interface for navigating local and remote file systems. They can display Java applets and other dynamic Web content on their desktops without a Web browser. They automatically update dynamic content using "push" and "pull" Webcasting technologies. And they will blur the increasingly irrelevant distinctions between native/cross-platform and local/remote applications.



Most NUIs will offer at least the option of storing or mirroring a client's local state on a server  whether the client is an inherently stateless NC or a regular PC. By shifting complexity away from clients and toward professionally managed servers, organizations can slash their administration costs. This also gives users the freedom to remotely access their applications and personalized workspaces from any networked computer in the world.



While most developers are designing their NUIs for low-cost NCs, the wave is sweeping PCs along, too. Microsoft is adding browser-like file navigation to Memphis (aka Windows 97) and Windows NT and is embedding Internet Explorer 4.0 deeply into Windows. IBM has already added some network-centric features to OS/2 Warp 4, such as a Java Virtual Machine (VM). IBM is also developing a NUI, code-named "Bluebird," that will offer a compromise between thin-client NCs and fat-client PCs. Apple is weaving quick Internet access into Mac OS 8 (aka Tempo) and Rhapsody, along with personal Web publishing and other features. Netscape's Constellation is a NUI that overlays a PC's existing GUI.



For NCs, there are even more NUIs on the way. Oracle's NC Desktop runs on NCs that comply with Oracle's NC reference platforms. IBM has a NUI for its PowerPC-based Network Station. Sun Microsystems' HotJava Views runs on Sun's SPARC-based JavaStations or any machine with a Java VM because it's written in Java. The same goes for TriTeal's SoftNC, Lotus Development's Kona Desktop, The Santa Cruz Operation's (SCO's) Tarantella WebTop, and Ulysses Telemedia's Virtual Computer OS (VCOS). Netscape wrote Constellation in HTML, Java, and JavaScript, so it, too, runs on multiple platforms.



The primary target for all these revamped GUIs and NUIs is corporate us-ers who enjoy fast, direct access to LANs and the Internet. Some mobile users, telecommuters, and consumers with slower dial-up connections will also find them useful. Beyond the scope of this article, however, are NUIs for consumer-oriented network devices, such as WebTV set-top boxes and the Sega Saturn.



Bury the Browser



The appearance of two or three NUIs might be chalked up to coincidence, but an avalanche of NUIs signifies a major trend. The reason, of course, is networking. LANs have been around for more than a decade, but only in the past few years have data networks become nearly ubiquitous. In large- and medium-size corporations, 94 percent of desktop PCs are tethered to networks, according to Greg Cline, director of network integration and management research at the Business Research Group. Even on home computers and laptops, modems are virtually standard equipment, so practically everyone has at least intermittent access to a network.



It's easy to see why GUIs are falling behind. Their original designers were trying to replace command-line interfaces with graphical views of the file system and OS. Their goal was to make it easier to manage a few megabytes of local resources. But today's users confront a virtual file system that's global in scope and adds up to terabytes.



Rampant networking would be reason enough to add network-centric features to desk-centric GUIs. But there are six other reasons why it's time for something NUI:



Executable content. Today's software is no longer just native and local. Instead it might arrive on the spur of the moment from a server machine located thousands of miles away. What's more, the "application" might be a live stock ticker or a news feed that your system automatically updates by polling a Web server.



Legacy code. Programmers can't rewrite legacy applications overnight. So, all NUIs provide gateways to legacy programs and databases  often as Java applets that emulate legacy terminals.



New users. Many new users concentrate on a few basic tasks and don't need a full-featured GUI any more than the average snapshooter needs a Hasselblad.



Rethinking the GUI. Software engineers are reconsidering old assumptions and applying new knowledge. Some NUIs discard features that cause trouble for casual users, such as double-clicking, overlapping windows, hierarchical menus, and hieroglyphic button bars.



Remote access. NUIs will make it easier for mobile workers to exchange e-mail, tap into corporate networks, and duplicate their desktop experience from remote locations.



Changing work forces. NUIs can make it easier to share computers among workers by storing local state on a server, so users can access their personalized workspaces no matter where they log on.



All NUIs have one thing in common: They try to make network resources seem as familiar as local resources. Of course, they can't hide the physical boundaries imposed by bandwidth limitations. A remote Web server will always take longer to access than an internal hard drive. But what a NUI can do is make those boundaries seem less abrupt.



One way to do this is to present a universal, graphical view of all resources. Another is to integrate networking into common desktop operations rather than force users to launch special programs to perform tasks that are becoming routine. Over time, NUIs will absorb the functions of the separate client programs that are now required to use networks: Web browsers, newsreaders, FTP clients, e-mail clients, HTML editors, and more.



Web browsers are the trophy target for this kind of integration because browsers have become the prime application in network-centric computing. Ironically, nobody is doing more to make browsers obsolete than the two leading browser vendors: Microsoft and Netscape. With Memphis, Microsoft threatens to make Navigator irrelevant by embedding Internet Explorer 4.0 into Windows. With Constellation, Netscape threatens to make Windows irrelevant by expanding its browser into a full-screen desktop that hides Windows behind a curtain.



Microsoft appears to be going further than Apple, IBM, or any Unix vendor in remodeling its GUI. Memphis and Windows NT will implement a new Microsoft strategy called "Web PC"  the grand unification of the Web and the desktop.



Soon Windows users will be able to navigate local disks and LAN servers by choosing an optional Web View that works like a Web browser, complete with single-click Forward and Back buttons and bookmarks. Or they'll be able to navigate Web sites with the familiar Windows Explorer instead of a browser. Folders on local disks and LANs can have "home pages" constructed with HTML, Java, JavaScript, VBScript, and ActiveX controls. Web content can appear in windows directly on the desktop or on the task bar, without a browser. In fact, the entire Windows desktop can be a Web page, and it can periodically update dynamic content by polling Web servers as a background task.



Windows users will still be able to launch Internet Explorer 4.0 as a stand-alone application. But they will have less reason to do so (or to launch anybody else's browser) because it's so tightly integrated. In effect, Internet Explorer and the Windows Explorer will be virtually the same thing.



What makes this possible is an ActiveX control in Internet Explorer that can display HTML, run Java applets, and work with other ActiveX controls. In version 4.0, that control now hooks directly into the OS. Microsoft has added another ActiveX control that allows the Windows Explorer to navigate local folders with a browser-like interface.



Microsoft's Active Desktop turns the entire computer screen into a virtual Web browser. The idea is to replace static wallpaper and mindless screen savers with useful content. Your desktop could be CNN's home page, or a Web page you design yourself, or a page supplied by your company. You can even display multiple Web pages in separate floating windows. If any pages contain dynamic content, Windows periodically updates them according to a schedule that you specify.



Users can also dock a Web page as a task bar. Like the existing task bar in Windows 95 and NT, it can remain always visible or hidden at the edge of the screen. It will be resizable to any size or shape, and Microsoft will provide a Software Development Kit that helps Web designers create special pages to fit the bar.



The result of all these new features is that upcoming versions of Windows will have much tighter Web integration than any other OS (see the sidebar "What's NUI with OS/2 and the Mac"). It's more like "Doorways" than "Windows" because you're interacting with the outside world, not just looking at a screen. Yet Microsoft is retaining everything in the existing Windows GUI, so users don't have to abandon the familiar interface.



Netscape's Star



Where does all this leave Netscape, the leading browser vendor? Although Windows users can install anyone's Web browser, nothing will be as tightly integrated as Internet Explorer 4.0. Netscape's response is to arrive at a remarkably similar destination by a completely different route: Instead of hiding the browser behind the GUI, Netscape is hiding the GUI behind the browser.



Constellation is a NUI built upon what Netscape calls a "chromeless" browser. The desktop is a full-screen browser window, stripped clean of the usual menus, buttons, icons, and other widgets (the "chrome"). In effect, the browser is the desktop. Like the Active Desktop in Windows, Constellation is a container for displaying rich Web content without all the fuss and bother of a stand-alone browser program.



Technically, as Netscape hastens to point out, Constellation does not replace Windows. It's not an OS, and it doesn't usurp machine-specific functions. Users still need Windows for fundamental OS services and to perform common system operations. For example, users must switch back to Windows to change settings in a Windows control panel.



Constellation's desktop is called the Homeport. It's written in HTML, Java, and JavaScript, so it's cross-platform  Netscape says that it will run on 18 different OSes. (Through Navio, Netscape's subsidiary for consumer software, it will also appear on home video-game machines and Internet-enabled TVs.) Although Microsoft says the Active Desktop will also be cross-platform, it's so dependent on Windows APIs and ActiveX that sacrifices are inevitable on non-Windows systems. "Netscape assumes there will be greater [platform] fragmentation in the future, and Constellation is designed to take advantage of that fragmentation," says Mike McCue, Netscape's director of advanced technology.



Location independence is another keystone of Constellation. By optionally storing the Homeport's state on a Netscape SuiteSpot server, Constellation allows users to log on from anywhere in the world and retrieve their personalized Homeport. For example, you could start a task on your PC at the office and finish it later on an NC in an airport lounge or hotel.



Like the Active Desktop, the Homeport is a lively place where Web pages can appear in floating windows and on sliding panels. Microsoft allows you to dock Web pages on task bars; Netscape has Infoblocks (pagelets written in HTML and JavaScript) that dock in a similar fashion along the edges of the screen. Dynamic content changes automatically, thanks to Marimba's Castanet Tuner and PointCast, a pair of Web "push" clients built into Constellation. (Netscape prefers the more accurate term smart pull.)



Although there's room in the world for both the Active Desktop and Constellation, Netscape will fare better if the platform fragmentation it anticipates happens soon enough to matter. For now, Windows rules the desktop. Sheer inertia could keep Windows users from adopting Constellation, especially since both NUIs bring a similar experience to the screen.



NUIs for NCs



Microsoft's dominance over desktop PCs is encouraging other developers to explore less competitive markets for their NUIs. The most promising alternative is the NC  by definition, a computer designed for network-centric computing. It's a wide-open frontier almost entirely devoid of Microsoft, although that's beginning to change, due to Microsoft's NetPC initiative, its recent acquisition of WebTV Networks, and hints that a future version of NT may include multiuser extensions. (See "Cheaper Computing," April BYTE.)



Not that NCs haven't attracted major players. IBM, Lotus, Oracle, SCO, and Sun are all introducing NUIs for NCs this year. But there's room for smaller firms, such as TriTeal and Ulysses, to sneak in, too.



NUIs for NCs tend to be simpler than retrofitted GUIs for PCs. They typically include a suite of small applications for workers who focus on a few basic tasks  which is appropriate, considering how organizations are likely to deploy NCs. They supplement those programs with Java, including applets that open gateways to legacy programs and databases. And they wrap everything together in a simplified interface that's easier for new users to learn.



"The majority of people in the world have never seen either the Macintosh or the Windows look and feel," says Douglass Wilson, the architect of Lotus's Kona Desktop. "We're aiming for a much broader market of corporate and home users who may never have seen any kind of GUI before."



Oracle and IBM are writing their NUIs in CPU-specific native code for maximum performance on low-cost microprocessors. Oracle's NC Desktop targets the Intel x86, the ARM 7500FE, and the Digital Equipment/ARM StrongARM processors. Those are the three CPUs that are supported thus far by Oracle's NC reference platform, a specification licensed by Network Computer, Inc. (NCI), an Oracle spin-off company.



IBM's still-nameless NUI targets the PowerPC 403 chip (an embedded version of the PowerPC 603 without an FPU) inside the IBM Network Station. Other vendors wrote their NUIs in Java, so they'll run on any system with a Java VM. That cross-platform compatibility comes at the expense of performance, although just-in-time (JIT) compilers and future Java chips will narrow the gap.



Sun Reinvents the GUI



Sun has probably spent more time rethinking the GUI than any other company. At JavaSoft (Sun's Java spin-off), designers Frank Ludolph and Don Gentner have analyzed what's right and what's wrong with every GUI from Windows to the Mac. It helps that Ludolph worked on the famous Alto project at Xerox's Palo Alto Research Center (PARC). Their innovative NUI for Sun's JavaStation, HotJava Views, tries to undo the complexity that has crept into GUIs since then, but without sacrificing too much flexibility.



Nothing is sacred to Ludolph and Gentner. The first thing they jettisoned was the menu bar. Menus  especially hierarchial ones  confuse new users with too many hard-to-find options, they argue. They boiled down the most essential operations into a few choices on a button bar.



Another substitute for menus is the Selector, a large task bar anchored at the left side of the screen. There's no need for a File menu with Open, Close, Save, Quit, and Exit commands. To users, all applications appear to be running all the time. They switch among them by single-clicking on icons.



Standard applications include MailView (e-mail), CalendarView (group scheduling), WebView (a browser), and NameView (directory services). Administrators can add more Java applets and applications to the Selector. When users switch tasks, the OS automatically saves the program's state on a server. When users return to a program, the original document appears just as they left it.



HotJava Views also does away with resizable, overlapping windows  a central metaphor in conventional GUIs. Instead, applications always run full-screen. This eliminates the confusion some users experience when a foreground window suddenly disappears behind another window. (Did the window close? Where did it go? How do I get it back?)



Future versions of HotJava Views will have fancier features: pop-up menus and sliding panels that appear along the edges of the screen. The pop-up menus are context sensitive, appearing only when users need them. The sliding panels are drawers for docking Java applets and displaying dynamic information downloaded over networks. Because the OS always preserves the NC's state on a server, users can access their customized environments and applications from any networked computer that's running HotJava Views.



Oracle: Better than Brand X



The software engineers at Oracle's NCI are taking similar liberties with long-held concepts. Their NUI, NC Desktop, bears a resemblance to HotJava Views and strives for the same kind of simplified interface.



The foundation of NC Desktop is NetBSD (a public-domain Unix kernel) and X11R6 (the latest release of the X Window System). NCI selected those components because they are free, well documented, thoroughly tested, and easy to port across different CPUs. However, NCI borrowed only the lightweight presentation layer of X, not the network graphics model. While X terminals rely on hosts to project graphics over a network, NC Desktop renders all graphics locally on the NC. This greatly reduces network loads.



Another adaptation is that NC Desktop uses X only to display root windows and other basic screen elements. Inside the windows, the OS displays all documents in HTML. In effect, HTML is the standard display mechanism, somewhat like Display PostScript in NextStep. To support this, the OS has an HTML parser and converters for standard file formats, such as GIF, JPEG, MPEG, TIFF, AVI, AU, QuickTime, and Real Audio. There's also a Java VM and a JIT compiler.



Like HotJava Views, NC Desktop has a suite of miniapplications represented by icons on the left side of the screen. There's a Web browser, an e-mail client, an address book, a scheduler, a text editor, and a file manager.



In the current incarnation of NC Desktop, Java applets always run inside the Web browser. Stand-alone Java applications run on the desktop, just like native applications. At the bottom of the screen, an optional marquee displays streaming information (e.g., stock tickers and news feeds). Again, the goal is to bring dynamic information directly to the attention of users as soon as it changes rather than require users to manually browse for it.



Legacy Gateways



IBM, like Oracle, derived its NC-based NUI from a Unix kernel, wrote additional layers in native code, and added a Java VM. Given IBM's background in enterprise computing, it's no surprise that Big Blue paid special attention to making its NUI work with legacy systems.



Native-code terminal emulators can simultaneously connect IBM's Network Station to multiple hosts. Users can remotely run 3270/5250 "green-screen" programs, Unix character-based programs, Unix Motif applications, or any Windows software.



Other NUIs can do similar tricks with Java-based solutions, such as SCO's Tarantella and Symantec's dbAnywhere. SCO is wrapping its Tarantella applets together with a simple NUI called the WebTop. It's a collection of HTML pages and applets that makes it easier for users to access legacy systems from a Web browser.



Lotus is writing its NUI, Kona Desktop (not the final product name), in Java. Like Netscape's Constellation, Kona is basically a full-screen browser that enables users to launch native applications as well as Java applets.



Although Lotus is still tinkering with the look and feel, Kona will probably have a static task bar on the left side of the screen (like HotJava Views and NC Desktop), no overlapping windows (like HotJava Views), and panels that display dynamic information (like virtually all NUIs). A ribbonlike "pager window" will allow users to send and receive brief messages.



Kona's built-in applications, like those in HotJava Views and NC Desktop, are simplified versions of the full-powered application suites that run on PCs. "These are lightweight versions of the applications in our SmartSuite," explains Kona architect Douglass Wilson. "They're aimed at the 80 percent of users who need 25 percent of the features. You wouldn't give this spreadsheet to a financial analyst  he'd probably need 1-2-3 or Excel  but you might give him this word processor."



Ulysses Telemedia, a dark-horse contender, is developing another Java-based NUI that blends the appearance and behavior of popular GUIs, such as Windows 95 and Motif. Ulysses' VCOS looks familiar to anyone experienced with PCs, but it subtlely changes the desktop's look and feel.



TriTeal's SoftNC has a control panel that lets users select from three different styles: Windows 95, Unix/Motif, and the Unix Common Desktop Environment (CDE). The entire desktop instantly changes when you select an option, because SoftNC has a unique mechanism for changing its interface on the fly (see the sidebar "Morphing a NUI with SoftNC").



New Clients, New Users



Experienced PC users might find some of these NUIs too limiting  but then, NCs weren't designed for them. Just as NCs extend the client/server model to new types of client devices, the NUIs on NCs will extend computing to new kinds of users.



For half a century, computers have been evolving from solitary computational machines into smart communications devices. The hardware and the networks are finally coming together. Now it's time for the software to catch up  and it will change your screen forever.

Where to Find Apple Computer

Cupertino, CA

Phone: 800-776-2333

Phone: 408-996-1010

Internet: http://www.apple.com/



IBM Corp.

Austin, TX

Phone: 800-426-3333

Phone: 914-765-1900

Internet: http://www.internet.ibm.com/computers/networkstation/



Lotus Development Corp.

Cambridge, MA

Phone: 800-343-5414

Phone: 617-577-8500

Internet: http://kona.lotus.com/



Microsoft Corp.

Redmond, WA

Phone: 800-426-9400

Phone: 206-882-8080

Internet: http://www.microsoft.com/backoffice/sbc/sbc_summary.htm#top



Netscape Communications

Mountain View, CA

Phone: 800-638-7483

Phone: 415-254-1900

Internet: http://www.netscape.com/comprod/tech_preview/../bytelink.html



Oracle/NCI

Redwood Shores, CA

Phone: 800-633-0596

Phone: 415-506-7000

Internet: http://www.nc.com/



The Santa Cruz Operation

Santa Cruz, CA

Phone: 800-726-8649

Phone: 408-425-7222

Internet: http://tarantella.sco.com/



Sun/JavaSoft

Mountain View, CA

Phone: 415-960-1300

Internet: http://www.javasoft.com/



TriTeal Corp.

Carlsbad, CA

Phone: 800-874-8325

Phone: 619-930-2077

Internet: http://www.softnc.triteal.com/



Ulysses Telemedia

Minneapolis, MN

Phone: 612-359-0870

Internet: http://www.ulysses.net/

Comparing NUIs (Table 1) Constellation HotJava Views Kona Desktop Memphis / Active Desktop Mac OS 8 NC Desktop Network Station Vendor Netscape Sun / JavaSoft Lotus Microsoft Apple Oracle / NCI IBM Hardware platform Cross platform Cross platform Cross platform x86-based PCs Macintosh NCs* PowerPC NUI code base HTML, JavaScript Java Java Native code Native code Native code Native code Application software Native, Java Java Native, Java Native, Java Native, Java Native, Java Native, Java Can run legacy apps Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Includes Java VM Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Optional Intros a new UI Yes Yes Yes Partly Partly Yes Partly Includes web browser Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Runs Java on desktop Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Yes Stores state on server Yes Yes Yes Optional No Yes Yes Release date June 1997? March 1997 Summer 1997 Late 1997 - early 1998 Summer 1997 Sept 1997 Sept 1996

*NC Desktop will run on Oracle-standard desktop computers with ARM, StrongARM, and x86 processors.



So-called legacy applications include IBM 3270 and 5250; DEC VAX/VMS; Unix character-based programs; the X Window System; and Microsoft Windows.





Comparing NUIs (Table 2) OS/2 Warp 4 Bluebird Rhapsody SoftNC Tarantella WebTop VCOS Vendor IBM IBM Apple TriTeal SCO Ulysses Hardware platform x86-based PCs x86-based PCs Power Macs Cross platform Cross platform Cross platform NUI code base Native code Native code Native code Java HTML, JavaScript Java Applications software Native, Java Native, Java Native, Java Native, Java Java Java Can run legacy apps* Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Includes Java VM Yes Yes Yes No No No Intros a new UI No Optional Yes No No Yes Includes Web browser Yes Yes Yes No No No Runs Java on desktop Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes Stores state on server No Yes Optional Yes Yes Yes Release date Sept 1996 Summer 1997 Early 1998 Fall 1997 Fall 1997 June 1997

*So-called legacy applications include IBM 3270 and 5250; DEC VAX/VMS; Unix character-based programs; the X Window System; and Microsoft Windows.







Assembling the Network User Interface

This composite screen shows some features from a dozen different NUIs.



NUIs improve the way users interact with computers and networks. Instead of manipulating direct representations of disk drives and directories, users navigate local and remote resources with browser-like tools and hyperlinks. NUIs will make it easier for IS departments to customize and manage desktops throughout their organizations. And because most NUIs can store the desktop's state on a server, users can log in from any machine and feel at home.



Microsoft's Active Desktop

Microsoft's Active Desktop embeds Internet Explorer 4.0

into the OS to add network-centric features to Windows.



1. Web pages can appear on the desktop without a browser.

2. Users can still launch a stand-alone Web browser, but it's no longer necessary.

3. Web content on the desktop can include dynamically updated information from "push" services, Java applets, and ActiveX controls.

4. Instead of wallpaper, the entire desktop could be a Web page (not shown).

5. Web servers can display pages or scrolling marquees on the task bar (not shown).

6. Users can browse remote or local resources by entering URLs or directory names here.



Netscape's Constellation

Netscape's Constellation runs on almost any platform

and hides the native OS's GUI behind a NUI.



1. Constellation is written in HTML and JavaScript, so organizations can customize its appearance on intranets.

2. Hyperlinks to Web pages can appear directly on the desktop.

3. Icons that link to local native applications and documents can also appear on the desktop.

4. Pop-up windows allow users to search network directories for e-mail addresses and phone numbers.

5. This sliding window is a task bar containing hyperlinks to documents, applications, and other resources.

6. The Constellation desktop is actually a full-screen Web browser (Netscape Communicator) stripped of its usual buttons and menus.



Oracle's NC Desktop

Oracle's NC Desktop runs natively on NCs with x86, ARM,

and StrongARM processors. The x86 version also runs on PCs.



1. Switch applications by single-clicking on the task bar.

2. The scheduler is running in the foreground, while the address program runs in another window.

3. A button bar controls the scheduler.

4. An optional scrolling marquee displays information automatically downloaded from servers.

5. The OS renders all documents as HTML.



Sun's HotJava Views

Sun's HotJava Views runs on Sun JavaStations

or any system with a Java Virtual Machine.



1. The Selector is a task bar for switching applications.

2. CalendarView is the group scheduler.

3. Applications always run full-screen.

4. Buttons replace menus.



IBM's Network Station

IBM's Network Station has a NUI written in PowerPC-native code.

It emphasizes connectivity to legacy applications and data.



1. Terminal emulators are running "green-screen" applications on mainframes.

2. Another terminal program displays a Motif program running on a Unix server.

3. The Web browser.

4. A server-hosted Windows application.



TriTeal's SoftNC

TriTeal's SoftNC, written completely in Java,

can instantly change its look and feel to mimic three classic GUIs.



1. The control panel selects among Windows 95, Unix CDE, and Motif styles.

2. Users can maintain four independent desktops and switch among them by clicking on this panel.

3. The file manager resembles a Web browser.

4. Users can launch Java applets or native applications on the desktop.



Tom R. Halfhill is a BYTE senior editor based in San Mateo, California. You can reach him at thalfhill@bix.com.



Copyright 1994-1998 BYTE
CHICAGO  The Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Federal Emergency Management Agency this week issued statements that denied their involvement in how the city distributes supplies at migrant shelters after the Tribune reported that a shortage of essential supplies was forcing some migrants to have to reuse diapers.

Mary May, a spokesperson for the city, told the Tribune last week that supply shortages from IEMA and FEMA can result in temporary shortages of some supplies. But state officials told the Tribune Friday that while they supply the city with diapers and other essentials, city officials are responsible for identifying shortages and requesting to fill the gaps.

Emergency orders can be fulfilled if needed, said Kevin Sur, spokesperson of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security. As always, state partners will work to find items requested by the City of Chicago in an emergency.

On Feb. 23, advocates for migrants told the Tribune there was a shortage of diapers in the citys shelters, forcing some parents to reuse dirty diapers on their babies. The desperation of the families galvanized mutual aid groups to collect diapers, toilet paper and other hygiene products after city officials told them they couldnt keep up with supplies, volunteers said.

According to Sur, the citys one and only request for diapers was in October when they provided 64,000 diapers. Earlier this week they received another request for additional supplies but it did not include diapers, Sur said.

Though diapers were not requested, the state agency provided another 600 diapers that had been donated, he added.

Friday afternoon, May said the citys initial statement was only describing the resource request process and was not attributing any shortages to IEMA or FEMA.

May added that the city requests or orders supplies from city of Chicago vendors and the state emergency management agency.

If we need additional assistance due to supply requests, emergencies, or a presidential disaster declaration the city would reach out to FEMA, May said.

A FEMA spokesperson would not clarify if it provides diapers or other goods to the city of Chicago for migrants under the citys care, but said the organization is not involved in the provision of the referenced supplies.

The distribution of supplies is provided by nonprofits and in coordination with local and state agencies. FEMA is not involved, the spokesperson said.

Sur said the city makes requests for supplies every other week. The state provides various items and hygiene supplies including winter coats for all ages, socks and underwear for all ages, pallets of laundry detergent and family lice kits.

Migrant families at several of the largest shelters around the city began to report the need for diapers and other hygiene products weeks ago, according to volunteers. The extreme need forced some parents to reuse dirty diapers for their children, migrants said.

After reporting the concern, city officials said they couldnt keep up, said Annie Gomberg, a lead volunteer helping migrants. Gomberg said she is concerned about how the city is rationing the limited supplies.

Last Friday the city received a large delivery of supplies from a city of Chicago vendor that included diapers to distribute to shelters, according to May.

But earlier this week, migrants said they were still going for days without essential goods at shelters around the city. Out of desperation, they have had to form small groups inside shelters to ration supplies, they said.

According to Gomberg, volunteers at the mutual aid group Southwest Collective received dozens of boxes of diapers following the Tribunes Feb. 29 article about shortages.

But (the volunteers are) not giving them to shelter employees, she said. They give diapers directly to shelter residents.
(New Sanno)

Kevin Connell has 36 years of culinary experience in kitchens in Tokyo, Toronto, Puerto Rico and all over the U.S. Connell was named Executive Chef at the New Sanno in August and is planning new concepts for the hotels many restaurants, including Wellingtons, The Emporium and Sunday brunch.

We caught up with Connell and picked his brain about all things culinary and what is in the works for those visiting the New Sanno in 2024.

Q&A with Kevin Connell

Where did you study culinary arts?

I graduated from Scottsdale Culinary Institute in 1996 but worked as a chef in many cities including Tokyo, Seattle, Portland, Las Vegas, Toronto, NYC, San Juan PR and Santa Clara. These have included restaurants, hotels, convention centers, universities and stadiums, fairly well-rounded in style and volume.

What inspired you to become a chef? I wish I had a glamorous answer, but truthfully I got hired as a dishwasher at 17 and worked my way up. I loved the stress, the heat, the danger. Being a chef was the same type of adrenaline rush as being a musician on stage, and as a young chef, my ego loved it. As I matured, it became much more about mentoring and inspiring young chefs, creating new concepts and seeing plans and people develop to their full potential. Also have to give a nod to my parents, while they would never take credit, they both cook excellently and we ate well.

Can you share a memorable food experience or meal that influenced your cooking style? Wow, so many, impossible to narrow down. But a couple that shocked me was at Verjus in San Francisco, taking a fun wine bottle shop concept and adding some of the most innovative and ingredient driven dishes. Another is the stalwart Gramercy Tavern, which I think serves the best burger in NYC from such a famous kitchen. Lastly, the many farm-to-fork restaurants in Portland really inspired me to look at food seasonally and take the approach of less is more on the plate when using ingredients are at their peak.

Do you have a signature dish or cooking technique that youre particularly proud of? I make a mean Sunday Gravy. I think I excel at refining the Italian American classics of my youth. I used to be into molecular cuisine and modern plantings, but I find myself reverting back to simpler preparations and concentrating on flavors. If there is one skill, Im most proud of, it is wine pairings, I did a lot at Tokyo American Club. Being passionate about wine and the experience of sharing wine and food with friends, thats the best.

Is this your first time living in Japan? I lived here previously in 2006-2010, working as Executive Chef for Tokyo American Club and did some private consulting. I met my wife in 2005 and followed her to Japan. With my previous knowledge of the country being food, electronics, cars and Godzilla based, I quickly fell in love with the real Japan and decided to make it home.

Why the New Sanno? The New Sanno represents a harmonious friendship of the US and Japan, much like my marriage! I was initially attracted to the amount of restaurant outlets in relation to the boutique size of the hotel, making me believe we can offer a more personalized service to our guests. Being someone that still struggles with language, working in a familiar business setting means I can concentrate more on the next level and contribute more. Also, my father is a veteran, so serving the mission in my own way makes me proud. I like to think that by connecting troops to the foods of home makes them feel comfort and happiness. Its a privilege.

What plans do you have for the New Sanno menus? Well, not sure how much I can divulge yet, but there are some exciting changes coming to The New Sanno. The first half of 2024 will see some new concepts, new banquet menus and a re-energized staff. We will be looking to strike a balance between some of the classic Sanno favorites, while stepping toward some food and decor that you would find happening in the US now. Many of the current concepts have been around for 20-plus years, and while we can certainly respect that, the hotel needs to be a place for all levels of guests, regardless of age or rank.

Whats the most challenging aspect of being a chef? Wow, where do I begin. For me, its a double-edged sword between time management (of myself and staff) and communication. Yes, the act of cooking for throngs of people can be challenging, but thats overcome with math. Ensuring you have the proper staff deployed at the right time is crucial. Communicating ideas that are at times still theoretical or way in the future, not everyone subscribes to the insanity at first, but they all come around.

Are there any underrated ingredients you love working with? Colatura di Alici, its an Italian fish sauce, much more refined and less salty than the Southeast Asian fish sauces, in my opinion (though I love those, too). I also enjoy using dried vegetable powders for a power blast of a particular flavor, like a dried tomato powder can give you instant umami, vegetal, and acidic bump to a subtle dish.

Do you draw inspiration from Japanese food and/or cooking techniques? Absolutely. The power of subtle flavors using the freshest ingredients, yet every flavor has its place in the dish. Learning restraint as a chef is a valuable lesson.

Do you have a favorite kitchen tool or gadget that you cant live without? Are there any Japanese kitchen tools that you recommend for those with an interest in culinary arts or even just casual cooking.

Using the correct knife for the job at hand is crucial. I also really enjoy the Japanese mandoline and highly recommend having one in any level of kitchen. A quality blender is also a valuable tool.

Are there any particular regions or cuisines youd like to explore further in your cooking? Im very interested in fermentation of vegetables, grains, legumes, etc. The different flavors that can exist at different stages with different sugar/starch content is fascinating. So, by default, Im interested in areas without year-round growing, where preserving meats, dairy, grains and vegetables are a way of life. As juxtaposition, Im also really keen on the bright flavors and cooking methods in Israeli and Lebanese cuisines. To me, one of the most fascinating and underappreciated continents for food is Africa. I mean WOW! What diversity, flavors and methods! I could talk about these cuisines all day and how they unceremoniously influenced so many other cuisines that get attention.

Do you have any food sustainability or sourcing practices you prioritize in your cooking?

Absolutely. Im working with vendors now on how we can improve this both locally and with our prime vendor. The biggest way I can impact now is with food waste, and seasonality. Product utilization and menu engineering is just as important as sourcing from a certain distance. All play a role.

Whats the most rewarding aspect of being a chef for you? Mentoring young staff and seeing results either immediate or long term. To this day, there are chefs back in the US who would come to work for me at the drop of a hat. Thats not because Im some sort of amazing chef, but I care about my staff, Im loyal and I always give them praise. At the end of the day, we are nothing without our brigade, much like the military.

Whats your guilty pleasure food when youre not in the kitchen? Well, truthfully, its pizza, kind of cliche for a native New Yorker (and dont get me started on bagels). But, here in Japan, the level of snack food is amazing and a quick stop at 7-Eleven can yield magic (Nana Chickie!!). Im also a perpetual kid, so a bowl of junk cereal is quite the siren song.

Are there any upcoming projects or events youre excited about? Honestly, Im just so excited for the new restaurant concepts coming next year at The New Sanno. Sharing with everyone will be tremendous. Plus, we are getting all the rooms remodeled, new carpets all over, including the ballroom, better service equipment. Its a great time at the hotel, and its all for the service members and families.
EFFINGHAM  Three business houses were destroyed by fire about noon yesterday, with a loss estimated at $50,000. The conflagration was the eighth in the city in as many days and was the most disastrous on record here. Other nearby buildings were threatened for some time. The buildings included a garage owned by Henry Laue and operated by George Martin, a meat market operated by Sturtzman & Margworth and a laundry, which was part of the estate of Caroline Eversman. Sixteen automobiles stored in the garage were lost without insurance. The loss to the garage building was estimated at $10,000, covered by insurance, and the loss to the contents was about $15,000 partly covered by insurance, according to Mr. Martin. The loss to the meat market was estimated at $3700. The laundry building was damaged to the extend of $2000 and the contents, owned by Fred Vane, figured a loss of $3000, which was insured. The new Benwood Hotel was saved only by the heroic work of the Effingham volunteer fire department. The fire was believed to have originated in the office of the garage...PARIS  Plans were perfected Friday for an appeal to the supreme court from the verdict of a jury in the Edgar county court in the case of Adolph C. Krueger; chiropractor. After being out a few minutes the jury returned, in an indictment charging violation of the 1923 drugless healing act. Judge Partlow assessed a fine of $100 against Dr. Krueger, whose counsel forthwith made a motion for new trial, which was overruled. The chiropractor made no defense and it is expected this will be made a test case on the constitutionality of the law.

CHARLESTON  Justin Jay Boulay "lost it" when Andrea Will told him she was dating other men, and he "couldn't let go of her neck." That was what Boulay wrote in a note police found at his apartment when they discovered Will was dead, State's Attorney Steve Ferguson said Tuesday during the opening of Boulay's bench trial. Boulay, 21, of St. Charles is on trial on first-degree murder charges alleging he strangled Will to death on Feb. 3, 1998, at the Charleston apartment where he lived. Public Defender Lonnie Lutz, who 's representing Boulay, opted to have Circuit Judge Ashton Waller, instead of a jury, decide the case. If the trial goes as expected, Lutz might not offer much to try to disprove that Boulay killed Will. Instead, Lutz plans to have mental health experts testify that Boulay was temporarily insane or suffered from a mental illness at the time, so he could be acquitted or found guilty of a lesser offense than first degree murder...MATTOON  Clif Wakins of Mattoon, a martial arts trainer for the Guardian Angels chapter at Karate USA in Effingham, plans to put his skills to the test Saturday night at the Mattoon High School gym. Watkins will try to smash 1,120 pounds of concrete blocks in less than 60 seconds, using only his unprotected hands. He will be moving among 10 stacks of eight 2-inch thick concrete patio blocks. If everything goes right, Watkins will be left standing over nothing but piles of cloudy dust. "A person's hand is much softer than any concrete block. If I slip out of my concentration, I'll break my hand." This display will take place prior to the start of "March Madness," a professional wrestling event put on by the Ringside Wrestling Alliance.
MATTOON  Vintage John Deeres, International Harvesters and other tractors drew crowds of visitors to the Cross County Mall on Saturday for the East Central Illinois Antique Farm Equipment Club's Farm Show.

Many of the younger visitors, and the young at heart, also ventured into one of the storefronts there, near the mall's Rural King east anchor store, to check out a display of tractors of the toy variety.

Farmer Chris Karr, 74, of Seymour, located 8 miles west of Champaign, has been bringing his collection of more than 1,000 farm toys to the club's Farm Show since the event's inception several years ago. His display will be open through early afternoon Sunday, March 3, during this year's show.

"I enjoy hearing from the people who come out to see my toys. The people will tell me things I didn't know about some of the toys I have," Karr said of visitors sharing their childhood memories. "That is what I enjoy the most. Talking to people who tell me their stories."

Visitor Greg Williams of Champaign marveled at a wooden farm truck and trailer, complete with livestock carved out of 2-by-4 lumber, that Karr's father made for him 70 years ago.

"You don't find that kind of handiwork made anymore," Williams said.

Karr said the wooden truck and trailer were his first farm toys and the start of a collection that has grown over the decades. The items, which also include antiques, range in age from an 1864 cast iron box for matchsticks to a new plush dog that barks and sings.

Six-year-old Chilton Zuniga, who visited the display with his aunt Paula Olmsted and grandfather Paul Zuniga, said he thought the singing dog was "cool," but his favorite toys there were the "big tractors."

Shelves in the storefront (the former location of the GNC store) and display tables there were lined with toy tractors of various sizes for the exhibit. Karr said some of his favorites include an array of tiny Dinky brand die-cast farm toys made in England in the mid-1900s.

The collection has extended beyond farm items to include wind-up toy animals and cast-iron cars and trucks, like those produced by the Arcade company of Freeport in the 1910s. Toy pigs are also well represented in his collection, whether the swine be ceramic, plastic or plush.

Karr said this porcine interest reflects that he raised pigs on his family's farm and that he competed for nearly 30 years as a swine caller at the Illinois State Fair, where he was repeatedly a champion. This notoriety earned him an appearance on "The Tonight Show" with Jay Leno in 2009.

In addition, Karr is known for announcing the Half Century of Progress Show in Rantoul and the I&I Tractor Show in Penfield. Karr said he is too busy there to exhibit his toy collection, so he appreciates having the opportunity to do this at the Farm Show in Mattoon and visit with folks at the mall.

"This gives me a chance to set the toys up," Karr said.

Antique tractors will continue to be displayed in the concourse of the Cross County Mall through next weekend, when the East Central Illinois Antique Farm Equipment Club will hold its Spring Tractor Show March 8-10.

The Spring Tractor Show, like the Farm Show, will feature a Lincoln Heritage Pheasants Forever booth with virtual clay target skeet shooting. The Spring Tractor Show also will include a performance by Tom Campbell & The Country Boys at 6 p.m. March 9, plus a quilt show throughout the weekend.

Close Hubert McCoy works on fixing up the American Legion Post 68s historic 1937 American LaFrance fire truck in Sullivan on Thursday. Hubert McCoy works on the engine of the American Legion Post 68s historic 1937 fire truck in Sullivan on Thursday. Hubert McCoy takes the American Legion Post 68s 1937 fire truck on a test drive through Wyman Park in Sullivan on Thursday. Hubert McCoy works on the American Legion Post 68s fire truck in Sullivan on Thursday. The vehicle is a historic 1937 American LaFrance model. Photos: Sullivan American Legion antique fire truck getting fixed up Hubert McCoy has been fixing up the American Legion Post 68s historic 1937 American LaFrance fire truck in Sullivan. Hubert McCoy works on fixing up the American Legion Post 68s historic 1937 American LaFrance fire truck in Sullivan on Thursday. Hubert McCoy works on the engine of the American Legion Post 68s historic 1937 fire truck in Sullivan on Thursday. Hubert McCoy takes the American Legion Post 68s 1937 fire truck on a test drive through Wyman Park in Sullivan on Thursday. Hubert McCoy works on the American Legion Post 68s fire truck in Sullivan on Thursday. The vehicle is a historic 1937 American LaFrance model.
Editor's note: In observance of National Women's Month, we bring you the story of Dr. Mary Martin Sloop. She and her husband, Eustace, were medical missionaries in the mountains of North Carolina in the early to mid-20th century. This story first appeared May 28, 2000, in the Journal.

Dr. Mary Martin Sloop never expected to carry out major surgery when she set out as a newlywed with her doctor husband to the mountains of North Carolina.

It was 1908, and they were going to be medical missionaries. Sloop and her husband, Dr. Eustace H. Sloop, whom she always referred to as "Doctor," settled in a place named Plumtree, a mining hamlet on the Estatoe River in Avery County.

She expected hardship and loneliness.

But not surgery. That changed when a young blacksmith, writhing in pain, showed up at the door of the Sloops' makeshift medical office.

"He's got somethin awful wrong in his belly, and I've seen lots of them die with that," the man's father told her. "But I b'lieve you could cut him open and take it out, whatever it is. So I brung him to you. Just open him up."

Sloop knew immediately that her patient had a ruptured appendix.

She described what she did next in her autobiography, "Miracle in the Hills," published in 1953. She walked across the river to the general store and got an empty lard can and a 10-cent tin pan, and with the pan and the can she made a sterilizer.

She spent the night sterilizing bandages and instruments, and the next day she helped her husband remove the man's appendix.

So began a life of improvisation, courage and faith.

The Sloops moved across the mountain to Crossnore, where they made house calls on horseback and operated outdoors under an apple tree or by lantern light on kitchen tables.

In her book, she describes how she had to keep the neighbors away from the kitchen table during an operation on a 13-year-old girl.

"I thought it was just too trying, too hopeless, to do an abdominal operation in such an infected atmosphere. But I had about gotten them where they'd stand back just a little so that we could get light, when all at once there was an awful squawk. An old hen had come in to see what was happening ...

"Somebody thought she ought to get out, and so kicked her. She rose in the air with a frightening squawk, and she settled down right on the little girl's abdomen and cocked her head to one side and looked down into the wound. And then she flew off."

The girl survived. Mary Sloop went on to become world famous for her work as the reformer of Avery County.

She founded the Crossnore School, which still runs as a school for children from broken homes throughout the state, including in Winston-Salem.

Sloop raised money for the school by selling used clothes, and she campaigned against child marriages and moonshine. In 1951, she was named American Mother of the Year.

Sloop died in 1962 at 88, having lived the life she set out for. "We wanted to be missionaries, Doctor and I, and what could be better than to spend our lives helping to bring to these people of the mountains, these fine, high-principled men and women so capable of great things, a more fruitful, happier manner of living?"
If you didnt get over to the Ramkat this weekend to observe what would have been Doc Watsons 101st birthday, dont worry. His birthday is actually today, and there are other ways to celebrate.

Ill be listening to recordings of him playing and singing Shady Grove and Matty Groves, probably over and over again.

When I moved to the Triad and learned of Watsons ties to the area, I had a hard time believing he was a native of the Tar Heel state. Thats because I still have a hard time believing he didnt write Shady Grove and that hes not from Harlan County, Kentucky.

The chorus of Shady Grove often goes this way: Shady Grove, my little miss/ Shady Grove, my darlin/ Shady Grove, my little miss/ Going back to Harlan.

Of course, Watson is from Deep Gap, North Carolina. Shady Grove originated in Eastern Kentucky and was published in the Journal of American Folklore before Doc Watson was born.

There are a lot versions of Shady Grove out there from the likes of Bill Monroe, Billy Strings, Ricky Skaggs, Suzy Bogguss and even Jerry Garcia, but nobody could play it and sing it like Doc Watson.

But Im just now realizing that Watson rarely if ever sang that he was going back to Harlan.

This is how he sang the chorus: Shady Grove, my little love/ Shady Grove, I say/ Shady Grove, my little love/ Im bound to go away.

The song incorporates the melody from the English ballad Matty Groves, about a young man who has an affair with a noblewoman and then her husband kills both of them.

Doc Watson performed Matty Groves, too, his strong baritone fading at the end of each line like a fastball pitcher working the batter with some off-speed stuff.

I saw Watson perform in 2004 in Columbus, Georgia. If you hadnt known who he was and had just walked in off the street, youd have seen a blind man led by his grandson onto a stage that was home to the towns symphony orchestra. He sat there in a chair, with only a guitar and a flat pick.

Then he started to play.

The music from his voice and hands filled that performing arts hall up to the rafters. The whole show was a beautiful dream.

He sang Shady Grove, and it was all there: the pain and loneliness, the hope and wonder.

Laura Graff, who covered Watsons memorial service for the Journal in 2012, described Watson as a devout Christian who often asked those he loved if they had found Jesus Christ in their lives.

But he also never stopped loving the wild mountain music that allowed him, his friends said, to provide for his family, she wrote.

Watson once told the Washington Post that he found touring difficult to bear. For a green country man not really used to the city, it was a scary thing to come to New York and wonder, Will that guy meet me there at the bus station, and will the bus driver help me change buses? and all that stuff, people not knowing youre blind and stepping on your feet.

Its scary, the road is.

Still, Watson took his music everywhere and touched peoples lives, including those who shared the stage with him.

The highest confidence you ever have as a musician is when Doc looks over and says, Play it, son, said Cliff Miller, a pianist who accompanied Watson for years, at his funeral service.

That was more than a decade ago.

Today, we remember Doc Watson through events like this weekends DocStock and, of course, MerleFest, the massive annual music festival in Wilkesboro that he founded in 1988 in memory of his son.

We remember him through his music, which never gets old and is only a click away.
Introduction

Patients may become sensitized to HLAs through pregnancy, after a blood product transfusion, or after solid organ transplantation.1 Although there is no standardized definition, highly sensitized patients can be regarded as patients with a calculated panel reactive antibody (cPRA) 80.00%.2,3 Only 6.5% of highly sensitized patients with cPRA 80.00% receive a compatible kidney transplant each year, and almost none of these patients have a cPRA 99.90%.4

The implementation of the kidney allocation system (KAS) in 2014 dramatically increased organ equity for highly sensitized patients and increased the likelihood of finding a compatible donor for transplantation. However, post-KAS implementation, candidates with cPRA 99.90% continue to have very low rates of kidney transplantation. These patients on average receive less than one organ offer per decade and have the greatest need for desensitization.5

The aim of desensitization is to remove circulating HLA-reactive antibodies and/or reduce or eliminate antibody production, thus increasing the chances of a negative crossmatch and of matching with a compatible donor, reducing time on dialysis, and improving clinical outcome.6 However, there is no standard desensitization regimen, and most regimens involve off-label plasmapheresis, intravenous Ig, and anti-CD20 therapies, such as rituximab.4 Other trials have also investigated IL-6 targeting therapies, such as tocilizumab and clazakizumab, or proteasome inhibitors, such as bortezomib and carfilzomib.1 Imlifidase, a cysteine protease that cleaves all IgG subclasses, was recently approved by the European Medicines Agency for desensitization treatment of highly sensitized adult kidney transplant recipients with positive crossmatch against an available deceased donor.7,8 However, imlifidase lacks durability of effect, requires repeated dosing that would not be feasible due to antidrug antibody (ADA) response, and leaves patients still susceptible to antibody-mediated rejection (ABMR) due to antibody rebound.7

CD38 is a commonly found ectoenzyme on plasma cells and multiple myeloma cells.9 Alloantibody-producing plasma cells express CD38 at a higher level than other CD38+ hematopoietic cells.9 There is thus a rationale for depleting plasma cells producing alloantibodies or donor-specific antibodies (DSAs) for desensitization in kidney transplant patients with CD38-targeting antibodies. Few studies are ongoing, and few clinical case reports are available regarding the use of anti-CD38 antibodies, which have demonstrated various levels of DSA reduction, for desensitization in patients awaiting transplantation.1014

Isatuximab is an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody approved in combination with pomalidomide and dexamethasone, and in combination with carfilzomib and dexamethasone, for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.15 Isatuximab binding to CD38 triggers a number of Fc-dependent mechanismsantibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, complement dependent cytotoxicity, and antibody-directed cellular phagocytosisand direct apoptosis.1618 Isatuximab has demonstrated the induction of apoptosis in primary cells from bone marrow aspirates of patients with multiple myeloma.16 It is hypothesized that isatuximab can target long-lived plasma cells, depleting the production source of alloantibodies and DSAs, leading to their sustained removal.

In this phase 1/2 study report (NCT04294459), we describe the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary efficacy of isatuximab in patients awaiting kidney transplantation. The study included two cohorts on the basis of patient's baseline (BL) cPRA. Cohorts A and B enrolled patients with cPRA 99.90% and cPRA 80.00% to <99.90%, respectively, where the former represents a sample of a population particularly poorly served by the current KAS.

Methods

This was an open-label, single-arm, phase 1/2 study conducted at six centers in the United States and Spain between June 18, 2020, and May 2, 2022. The study had a screening period of up to 28 days, a treatment period of up to 12 weeks, a site-visit follow-up of up to 26 weeks after treatment had stopped, and an extended follow-up via telephone every 90 days until study cut-off date, death, or loss to follow-up. Study cutoff was planned at 26 weeks after the last patient completed the treatment period or when the last ongoing patient was lost to follow-up, whichever was earlier. The primary objective of the phase 1 study was to characterize the safety and tolerability of isatuximab in kidney transplant candidates. The primary objective of the phase 2 study was to evaluate the preliminary efficacy of isatuximab in the desensitization of patients awaiting kidney transplantation.

Isatuximab Treatment

Isatuximab was administered at a starting dose of 10 mg/kg every week for 4 weeks in cycle 1 and every 2 weeks for cycles 2 and 3. Patients underwent three cycles of treatment (a total of eight planned doses) spanning a 12-week period. Each cycle was 28 days.

Study End Points

The primary end point for the phase 1 study was the proportion of patients with adverse events (AEs), serious AEs, and laboratory abnormalities. In phase 2, the primary end point was response rate (RR) which was a composite end point, as assessed by central laboratory. RR was defined as a proportion of patients meeting at least one of the three predefined desensitization efficacy criteria (see Supplemental Appendix 1 for details). Criterion 1 was the reduction of cPRA to target levels, where target cPRA was defined as cPRA that would result in at least doubling the theoretical likelihood of finding a compatible donor.19 Criterion 2 was the reduction of >2 antibody titers to reach target cPRA, and criterion 3 was the elimination of anti-HLA antibody as mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) reduced to <2000 for antibodies with BL MFI of 3000. Secondary end points included duration of response (DoR), number of anti-HLA antibody eliminated, change in cPRA and anti-HLA antibody levels, PK, and biomarkers. Safety assessments included AEs and serious AEs reported per Common Terminology Criteria for AEs v5.0, laboratory abnormalities, and incidence of ADAs against isatuximab.

PK Analysis

Blood samples were collected mainly during cycle 1 at selected time points (predose, end of infusion [EOI], EOI+1 hour or EOI+4 hours, start of infusion+72 hours, and start of infusion+168 hours) and were used for isatuximab PK assessment by noncompartmental analysis. Analysis was performed with Phoenix WinNonlin version 8.2 (Pharsight). The Gyrolab Platform, a quantitative sandwich immunoassay using biotinylated anti-isatuximab antibodies bound by streptavidin beads within the Gyrolab Bioaffy CD microstructure for capture and Alexa Fluor 647-conjugated CD38 antibody for detection, was used to measure functional isatuximab (isatuximab with 1 site available to bind target) plasma levels, with a lower limit of quantitation of 5.0 g/ml.

Anti-HLA Antibody Testing

Serum samples were frozen at 80C for at least 10 minutes, then thawed at 24C, and brought to room temperature for preparation. Aggregates were removed by centrifugation for 5 minutes at 7400g. Serum was treated with Adsorb Out Beads (ADSORB, One Lambda) according to the manufacturer's instructions, and EDTA, 0.5 M pH 8.00.1, was added to serum in a 1:20 ratio (e.g., 5 l EDTA to 95 l serum). Serum dilutions were performed in PBS (Beckman Coulter), and all assays were performed by one technologist. Consecutive samples from each patient were batched to minimize assay variability. Anti-HLA antibody testing was performed using LABScreen Single Antigen HLA class I (catalog LSA1A04, One Lambda) and LABScreen Single Antigen HLA class II (catalog LS2A01, One Lambda), and data were acquired on a LABScan 3D flow analyzer and analyzed in HLA Fusion 4.6 software.

cPRA per Serial Dilutions

At BL, serum from each patient was tested neat and in serial doubling dilutions from 1:2 to 1:4096. Samples collected at day 1 of each treatment cycle and at site visit follow-up weeks 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, and 25 were tested neat and at the relevant dilution for assessment of efficacy criterion 2. cPRA was calculated to two decimal points (e.g., 99.99%) on the basis of the cPRA calculator developed by the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network, with unacceptable antigens defined as those with MFI 2000.

Antibody Titration Heat Maps to Compare BL to Follow-Up

Antibody results were compared for each patient for serum samples collected at BL versus site visit follow-up weeks 9 and 25 (or the closest dated alternate follow-up samples as available). HLA class I and class II panels were analyzed separately, and beads on each panel were sorted from high to low on the basis of the patient's BL titer strength for that bead. Following the BL titer sorted values, heat maps were produced in consecutive subsequent columns of a spreadsheet. For the BL and follow-up samples, MFIs for serum tested neat, 1:16, and 1:256 were compared. Conditional formatting was used to color code MFIs in strength categories.

Biomarkers Analysis

Ig and immunophenotyping assays were performed by Covance Central Laboratory Services. B-cell panels, natural killer (NK) and natural killer T-cell panels, and Ig assays were performed.

B-cell panels were analyzed as followseach specimen was incubated with Whole Blood Lysing Reagent and centrifuged afterward. White blood cells were then washed and prepared for immunophenotyping staining. Cells were incubated with Fc block working solution followed by incubation with CD38 FITC (Beckman Coulter), AHIgG1 FITC (Southern Biotech), CD24 PE (BioLegend), CD20 PerCP-Cy5.5 (BD Pharmingen), CD19 APC (BD Pharmingen), CD45 AF700 (BD Pharmingen), IgD V450 (BD Horizon), CD27 BV510 (BioLegend), and CD138 BV605 (BioLegend) in Brilliant Stain Buffer (BD Horizon). Finally, cells were fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde solution and acquired on the BD SORP FACSCanto II.

Memory B cells (mBC) were assessed both phenotypically and functionally. mBC phenotypes were assessed using peripheral blood mononuclear cells that were characterized by flow cytometry (Cytek Aurora CS) with the following markers: CD19 BV785 (BioLegend), CD20 BUV805 (Beckton Dickinson), CD27 PE-Cy7 (BioLegend), IgD SuperBright-436 (Thermo Fisher), CD24 BB515 (Beckton Dickinson), and CD38 R718 (Beckton Dickinson). Switched mBCs were defined as CD19+ CD20+ CD27+ IgD and analyzed according to the number of B cells/ml. For the evaluation of HLA-specific mBC function, mBCs were polyclonally stimulated as previously described in Luque et al.,20 seeded in an anti-IgG precoated FluoroSpot plate, and incubated overnight to release antibodies. HLA-sp mBC detection was performed with a HLA-sp B-cell FluoroSpot assay using different class I and class II fluorophore-conjugated HLA tetramers (Pure MHC; LLC, Oklahoma). All tested HLA specificities per patient and time point are listed in Supplemental Table 1. The results of the assay are reported as the number of IgG-secreting anti-HLA mBCs per 450,000 seeded cells as median and interquartile range.

For analysis of the NK and regulatory T-cell (Treg) cell panel, each specimen was washed with plain PBS without azide and the pellet was resuspended and incubated with N-hydroxysuccinimide solution. After washing, cells were incubated with Fc block working solution followed by incubation with CD38 FITC (Beckman Coulter), AHIgG1 FITC (Southern Biotech), CD25 PE (BD Pharmingen), CD127 PerCP-Cy5.5 (BioLegend), CD56 APC (BioLegend), N-hydroxysuccinimide Ester AF700 (Thermo Fisher), CD4 BV421 (BioLegend), CD8 BV510 (BD Horizon), and CD3 BV605 (BioLegend) in Brilliant Stain Buffer (BD Horizon). After washing, red blood cells were lysed with Whole Blood Lysing Reagent. Finally, cells were fixed with 1% paraformaldehyde solution and acquired on the BD FACSCanto II.

The bone marrowresiding HLA-specific plasma cell response analyses were performed as follows. Bone marrow aspirates were performed before first treatment and at the end of cycle 3 in three patients of the study. Bone marrow cells were isolated from bone marrow aspirates, seeded to an anti-IgG precoated FluoroSpot plate, and incubated for antibody release. HLA-sp IgG-secreting bone marrow plasma cells were detected and reported, as described previously for HLA-sp mBCs. HLA antigen specificities tested were randomly selected because of their antibody presence in the sera. See Supplemental Table 1 where all specificities tested in each patient are described.

Statistical Analysis

Patients treated at the phase 2 dose during phase 1 were included in the efficacy analyses together with the phase 2 patients. RR (primary composite endpoint) was calculated as proportion of patients meeting at least one of the three predefined desensitization efficacy criteria, along with corresponding two-sided 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the ClopperPearson method.

DoR was defined as the time from central laboratory sample collection date indicating response up to the central laboratory sample collection date when the patient was no longer meeting any response criterion (i.e., nonresponder) or up to date of death due to any cause, whichever occurred first. DoR is summarized with the KaplanMeier method.

For pharmacodynamic analyses, the Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to evaluate the significance of the change post-treatment as compared with the BL. To control for multiple testing, adjusted P values have been also calculated by using the Benjamini and Hochberg method.21

Results

Patients and BL Characteristics

A total of 23 patients were enrolled in this study12 in cohort A and 11 in cohort Bof which 22 completed the study treatment period and 18 completed the extended follow-up period until study cut-off date (Figure 1). The median follow-up of all treated participants was 68.0 weeks. One patient in cohort B discontinued treatment definitively on the basis of logistical reasons due to coronavirus disease 2019 positivity before the last planned dose.

The median age of patients was slightly higher in cohort A than cohort B (52.5 versus 48.0 years; Table 1). Patients in cohort A spent a median 6.0 years on the kidney transplant waitlist, while those in cohort B spent a median 3.6 years. Origins of renal insufficiency reported by investigators were also more varied in cohort B than in cohort A, with 50.0% of patients in cohort A due to prior transplant failure, compared with 36.4% in cohort B. Origins of renal insufficiency in cohort B also included urologic disorders (18.2%), hypertension (9.1%), and autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (9.1%). Most patients had one prior kidney transplant (58.3% cohort A, 54.5% cohort B), and over 90% of patients in both cohorts had prior sensitizing events at screening, mostly attributed to transplant and transfusion. All 23 patients were diagnosed with stage 5 CKD at the time of study entry, representing a patient population that is likely to require dialysis (22 of 23 patients were on dialysis at the time of study entry).

Table 1 - Baseline characteristics Baseline characteristics Characteristic Cohort A (n=12) Cohort B (n=11) All (N=23) Median age, yr (minmax) 52.5 (2568) 48.0 (2569) 52.0 (2569) Sex, n (%) Male 6 (50.0) 9 (81.8) 15 (65.2) Female 6 (50.0) 2 (18.2) 8 (34.8) Race, n (%) White 4 (33.3) 9 (81.8) 13 (56.5) Black or African American 3 (25.0) 1 (9.1) 4 (17.4) Asian 2 (16.7) 0 2 (8.7) American Indian or Alaska Native 0 0 0 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander 0 0 0 Not reported 1 (8.3) 1 (9.1) 2 (8.7) Unknown 2 (16.7) 0 2 (8.7) Blood type, n (%) A 4/12 (33.3) 1/9 (11.1) 5 (23.8) B 4/12 (33.3) 2/9 (22.2) 6 (28.6) AB 0 1/9 (11.1) 1 (4.8) O 4/12 (33.3) 5/9 (55.6) 9 (42.9) Dialysis time, median years (minmax) 6.80 (2.912.9) 5.05 (0.224.2) 6.23 (0.224.2) Waitlist time, median years (minmax) 6.0 (2.212.9) 3.6 (0.69.2) 5.3 (0.612.9) Origin of renal insufficiency at study entry, n (%) Diabetes mellitus 1 (8.3) 0 1 (4.3) Hypertension 0 1 (9.1) 1 (4.3) Glomerular disease 2 (16.7) 2 (18.2) 4 (17.4) ADPKD 0 1 (9.1) 1 (4.3) Failure of previous transplant 6 (50.0) 4 (36.4) 10 (43.5) Urologic disorders 0 2 (18.2) 2 (8.7) Other 5 (41.7) 4 (36.4) 9 (39.1) No. of prior kidney transplants, n (%) 0 2 (16.7) 1 (9.1) 3 (13.0) 1 7 (58.3) 6 (54.5) 13 (56.5) 2 2 (16.7) 3 (27.3) 5 (21.7) 3 1 (8.3) 1 (9.1) 2 (8.7) Prior sensitizing events at screening, n (%) 11 (91.7) 10 (90.9) 21 (91.3) Pregnancy 1 (9.1) 0 1 (4.8) Transfusion 6 (54.5) 3 (30.0) 9 (42.9) Transplant 10 (90.9) 10 (100) 20 (95.2) cPRA per central laboratory, median % (minmax) 99.99 (99.62100.00) 99.95 (98.38100.00) 99.97 (98.38100.00) cPRA per local laboratory with OPTN, median % (minmax) 99.99 (99.90100.00) 99.42 (95.5799.85) 99.90 (95.57100.00) ADPKD, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease; cPRA, calculated panel reactive antibody; OPTN, Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network.

The median cPRA per local laboratory assessment was 99.99% (99.90100.00) and 99.42% (95.5799.85) in cohorts A and B, respectively. When measuring cPRA by central laboratory, the median cPRA was 99.99% (99.62100.00) and 99.95% (98.38100.00), respectively.

All patients received a median of three cycles of isatuximab, with 12 weeks of exposure. The median relative dose intensity was 98.24% in cohort A and 98.38% in cohort B.

Safety

Safety analysis showed any grade treatment-emergent AEs (TEAEs) occurred in 7 (30.4%) patients overall. No TEAEs were grade 3. One death occurred in cohort A due to disease complications not related to study treatment during site visit follow-up. A safety summary of TEAEs by AE preferred term can be seen in Table 2 and Supplemental Table 2. No treatment-emergent serious AEs were reported, and the only treatment-related AEs were infusion reactions.

Table 2 - Safety summary of treatment-emergent adverse events by adverse event preferred term Safety summary of treatment-emergent adverse events by adverse event preferred term No. (%) All (N=23) All Grades Grade 3 Any event 7 (30.4) 0 Infusion reactiona 5 (21.7) 0 Nasopharyngitis 1 (4.3) 0 Headache 1 (4.3) 0 Tachycardia 1 (4.3) 0 Nasal congestion 1 (4.3) 0 Nausea 1 (4.3) 0 Myalgia 1 (4.3) 0 Temporomandibular joint syndrome 1 (4.3) 0 Chills 1 (4.3) 0 COVID-19 1 (4.3) 0 COVID-19, coronavirus disease 2019. aTreatment-related.

At BL, anemia as laboratory abnormality occurred in 65.2%. Post-treatment, anemia occurrence increased to 82.6% of patients. At both BL and post-treatment, most occurrences were grade 1 in severity with no occurrence of grade 3. Lymphocytopenia as laboratory abnormality occurred in 25.0% of patients at BL, most of which were grade 1. Post-treatment, the occurrence of lymphocytopenia as laboratory abnormality was 56.3%, with most occurrences grade 1 and one grade 3 occurrence (6.3%). There were no instances of neutropenia during the trial. No patients had an on-treatment positive ADA response against isatuximab.

PK of Isatuximab in Kidney Transplant Candidates

Isatuximab was quantifiable in plasma over the whole dosing period of 1 week after the first infusion at a dose of 10 mg/kg. The overall mean isatuximab maximum plasma concentration (C max ) and area under the curve over 1 week (AUC 1 week ) were 290 g/ml and 24,700 gh/ml, respectively, with moderate variability. A PK summary can be seen in Table 3 and Supplemental Table 3.

Table 3 - Summary of pharmacokinetics of isatuximab after the first administration at a dose of 10 mg/kg Summary of pharmacokinetics of isatuximab after the first administration at a dose of 10 mg/kg MeanSD (CV %) All (N=22) C max , g/ml 290109 (38) t max a, h 3.46 (2.006.03) AUC 1 week , gh/ml 24,7007880 (32)b AUC 1 week , area under the curve over 1 week; C max , maximum plasma concentration; CV, coefficient of variation; t max , time to reach maximal concentration. aMedian (minmax), t max was generally at end of infusion. bn=20.

Desensitization Activity in Highly Sensitized Kidney Transplant Candidates

The overall RR was 83.3% in cohort A and 81.8% in cohort B (Table 4). Median DoR was not reached in either cohort (cohort A 95% CI, 4.857 to not reached weeks; cohort B 95% CI, 4.143 to not reached weeks). Most responders had a decrease in the anti-HLA antibody level after treatment initiation which was maintained during the site visit follow-up period after stopping treatment. However, among all patients, there is minimal effect on the overall cPRA values. Only 39% of patients (4/12 and 5/11 in cohorts A and B, respectively) had reached target cPRA (i.e., decrease in the cPRA level that would result in at least doubling the theoretical likelihood of finding a compatible donor).19 Approximately 47.8% (7/12 and 4/11 in cohorts A and B, respectively) had meaningful reduction in anti-HLA antibody titer, and 82.6% (10/12 and 9/11 in cohorts A and B, respectively) had at least one anti-HLA antibody with BL MFI 3000 reduced to <2000 (Table 4 and Supplemental Table 4). No BL clinical characteristics or laboratory features were observed to be associated with treatment response. Indeed, the small cohort sample size precludes any meaningful predictive biomarker analysis. In particular, given the polymorphic nature of the HLA system, as well as the variability in antibody strengths and other variables, a large cohort is required to enable more detailed analysis with high confidence.

Table 4 - Summary of response rate in the efficacy-evaluable population on the basis of assigned cohort using screening calculated panel reactive antibody from local laboratory assessment Summary of response rate in the efficacy-evaluable population on the basis of assigned cohort using screening calculated panel reactive antibody from local laboratory assessment No. (%) Cohort A (n=12) Cohort B (n=11) All (N=23) No. of participants assessed 12 11 23 RR based on criterion 1 4 (33.3) 5 (45.5) 9 (39.1) RR based on criterion 2 7 (58.3) 4 (36.4) 11 (47.8) RR based on criterion 3 10 (83.3) 9 (81.8) 19 (82.6) Overall RR 10 (83.3) 9 (81.8) 19 (82.6) 95% CI 51.6 to 97.9 48.2 to 97.7 61.2 to 95.0 CI, confidence interval; RR, response rate.

cPRA alone is not sufficient to reflect a partial desensitization effect, and a composite end point that also included titer reduction and assessment of anti-HLA antibody profiles was therefore implemented to provide a better measurement. This is illustrated through the examples of partial responders, who met criterion 2 or 3 or both, but not criterion 1 (reaching target cPRA), as shown in Figure 2. Assessment of their titer and antibody profiles reveals more information on the desensitization effect of isatuximab. In some patients, although not considered responders based solely on cPRA, a marked and durable decrease in MFI, up to 15,000, was observed for some anti-HLA antibodies.

Figure 2: Examples of patients who were responders per protocol but did not meet target cPRA in criterion 1. Class I and class II anti-HLA antibody heat maps illustrate the MFI values of the top 60 HLA alleles (from the top, in descending order on the basis of their BL titer) at neat, 1:16, and 1:256 dilutions. Each dilution includes BL, W9 (approximately 9 weeks after the last dose), W25 (approximately 25 weeks after the last dose). Spaghetti plots illustrate the absolute change in MFIs in neat serum of anti-HLA antibodies with BL MFI 10,000. BL, baseline; C, cycle; cPRA, calculated panel reactive antibody; D, day; FUP, follow-up; MFI, mean fluorescence intensity; N, neat; WK, week.

The example full profiles of responders, partial responders, and nonresponders are presented in Supplemental Figures 13. Of note, MFI values increased from BL over time in patient 0811, a nonresponder per protocol (Supplemental Figure 3C). This increase was observed from C2D1 onward, approximately 2.5 weeks after the patient received their second dose of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine and at the time point where the highest stimulation of the immune system is expected to be observed. This potentially led to the nonspecific activation of dormant memory response to HLA.

Transplant Outcomes

As of study cut-off date, a total of six patients treated with isatuximab received transplant offers (three each from cohorts A and B), all of which were from deceased donors. Four transplant offers were accepted. Reasons for declining an offer were offer not suitable for transplant and poor donor quality. Among the four patients who received transplant before study cut-off date, two of four were HLA incompatible with their donors before isatuximab treatment but were negative at the time of transplant. Three grafts were functioning with no report of rejection as of study cut-off date, while one graft in cohort A was lost due to thrombosis 1 day after transplant surgery with no reported rejection. As of February 2023, 9/11 patients from the two recruitment centers in Spain received kidney transplantation, five of whom received kidneys from previously incompatible donors.

Pharmacodynamics and Immune Modulation of Isatuximab

Using Ig levels as a surrogate, the results from the pharmacodynamics analysis support isatuximab target engagement. A sustained and significant decrease in total Ig levels was observed up to the last analyzed time point (P < 0.05, Supplemental Table 5), 17 weeks after last dose (IgG and IgM as shown in Figure 3, A and B). A decrease in peripheral plasmablasts (P = 0.025 and adjusted P value = 0.245) and plasma cells (P = 0.078 and adjusted P value = 0.706) was observed at C3D1 (week 9) compared with BL, with a trend of returning to BL at 17 weeks after the last dose (Figure 4, A and B). Although no notable change was observed in the total mBC population (data not shown), there was a decreasing trend in CD38+ switched mBCs (Figure 4C, P = 0.069) and an increase in CD38 mBCs (Figure 4D, P = 0.006 and adjusted P value = 0.069). A significant decrease in NK cells was observed at C3D1 compared with BL (P < 0.001 and adjusted P value = 0.005), which is mainly driven by the depletion of CD38+ NK cells as no significant change was detected in the CD38 NK cell population at all time points. No notable decreases in the total Treg population were observed, as a decrease in CD38+ Tregs was compensated by an increase of the CD38 Treg compartments (Figure 4, EG). No notable changes in other T-cell subset data were observed during the study follow-up (data not shown).

Figure 3: Sustained decrease in total IgG and IgM levels up to last analyzed timepoint. Evolution of (A) total IgG levels and (B) total IgM levels. Figure 4: No notable changes were observed in the total mBC or total Treg population, although decreases in plasmablasts and plasma cells were observed at C3D1 that returned to baseline by week 17 after last dose. (A) Plasmablasts, (B) plasma cells, (C) CD38+ mBCs, (D) CD38 mBCs, (E) overall Treg cells, (F) CD38+ Treg cells, and (G) CD38 Treg cells over isatuximab treatment from BL to follow-up at week 17* *Plotted with logarithmic scale for ease of visualization. 0 values were replaced with 0.01. mBC, memory B cell.

The functional analyses of circulating HLA-specific mBCs revealed that treatment with isatuximab significantly reduced the frequencies of both class I and class II HLA-specific IgG-secreting mBCs, which was mostly achieved after receiving the total eight doses (Figure 5). Furthermore, a drastic reduction of HLA-specific IgG-producing bone marrowresiding plasma cells specific against classes I and II HLA antigens was also observed after three cycles of isatuximab therapy (Figure 6, A and B). Representative images of mBCs HLA-sp FluoroSpot before and after treatment are illustrated in Supplemental Figure 4. The analysis of the relationship between reduction of anti-HLA antibodies MFI from the sera and the respective HLA-sp mBC revealed that while 24.5% (12/49) of HLA antibody specificities were reduced in both compartments and 12% (6/49) were still concomitantly present both in the sera and by mBCs, up to 51% (25/49) of the Abs that were reduced in serum were unchanged in the functional in vitro assay by circulating mBC, harboring the same HLA specificity.

Figure 5: Boxplots of mBC function. Median IgG-secreting HLA-sp mBCs against all HLA antigens at distinct time points were 8.5 (419.75) at BL, 7 (015.7) at C3D1 and 5 (0.514.5) at FUP week 1, against class I HLA antigens were 12.5 (3.524) at BL, 9 (2.2524.5) at C3D1, and 5.5 (016.3) at FUP week 1 and against class II HLA antigens were 8 (3.815.2) at BL, 5 (012.3) at C3D1, and 5 (112) at FUP week 1. ns, nonsignificant. Figure 6: Boxplots of HLA-specific IgG-producing bone marrowresiding plasma cells. (A) Median IgG-secreting plasma cell frequencies at two distinct time points against all HLA antigens in the three tested patients were 1.6 (1.12.4) at BL and 0 (00.25) at FUP week 1, against HLA-I antigens were 1.3 (1.12.1) at BL and 0 (01) at FUP week 1, and against HLA-II antigens were 2 (1.13) at BL and 0 (00) at FUP week 1. (B) The median IgG-secreting plasma cell frequencies at BL and FUP week 1 in patient 0712 was 1.1 (1.11.3) versus 0 (00), in patient 0714 was 2 (13) versus 0 (03), and in patient 0724 was 1.28 versus 0.

Discussion

This study was designed to investigate whether the anti-CD38 therapy, isatuximab, has the potential to be an effective desensitization therapy, addressing a therapeutic gap left by currently available regimens. The study consisted of two cohorts, representing patients who may potentially benefit from desensitization.

Patients in cohort A represent the largest proportion of patients under the US KAS within the 100% cPRA category, with a significantly lower transplant rate and who are unlikely to undergo transplantation within a reasonable timeframe. Cohort B patients were those with cPRA 80.0%99.89% who also receive prioritization allocation points. Despite this, the median cPRA in cohort B was similar to cohort A. BL characteristics also showed patients were on the waiting list for a kidney transplant for years (median 5.3 years, range 0.612.9) despite the recent advances in the field, demonstrating that there is still significant unmet clinical need under the current KAS.

Isatuximab monotherapy was well tolerated with a good safety profile in kidney transplant candidates, with a grade 12 infusion reaction rate of approximately 21%. No treatment-related infections were reported throughout the study, although the risk of hypogammaglobulinemia has been raised as a concern with anti-CD38 therapy due to CD38 being expressed in normal plasma cells, and as seen with the nonspecific elimination of IgG and IgM (Figure 2).22,23

A comprehensive population PK analysis in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma did not identify any effect of renal impairment on isatuximab PK.24 In this study, where renal function was even worse due to majority of patients being on dialysis, isatuximab PK exposure was comparable with those from other studies.2527 Overall, these results complement the previous analyses mentioned above, showing no effect of renal impairment on isatuximab PK exposure. These results were expected as isatuximab is a monoclonal antibody, and thus a large molecule, and is eliminated by catabolism.

The data presented here support isatuximab's mechanism of action and achievement of target engagement via a sustained decrease in Ig levels. A decrease in peripheral CD38+ plasmablasts and plasma cells was observed, supported by a robust and sustained decrease of Ig levels after treatment was stopped for >17 weeks. In addition, HLA-specific IgG antibodies produced by circulating mBCs were also partially reduced, a finding that may account for the depleting effect of isatuximab to the mature class-switched mBC subset compartment expressing CD38. However, the peripheral cell population was small, and data should be interpreted cautiously. Notably, a significant reduction in HLA-specific IgG antibody production of bone marrowresiding plasma cells was observed in patients with evaluable bone marrow aspirates, highlighting the efficacy of isatuximab in targeting this central lymphoid compartment.

Prior publications investigating daratumumab hypothesized anti-CD38 treatment decreases Treg cells. In rhesus macaques with two sequential mismatched skin allografts desensitized with daratumumab and plerixafor before transplant, DSA levels were significantly reduced but this reduction was not maintained as all recipients showed a rapid rebound of antibodies, experienced T-cellmediated rejection (TCMR), and developed rejection within 30 days of transplantation.10 Jordan et al. reported a case of a patient treated with daratumumab for standard-of-care resistant ABMRABMR resolved with minimal AEs, with significant reductions in circulating HLA class I and reductions in HLA class II, but the patient developed TCMR.28

In this study, no notable changes implicated in transplant rejection were observed in NK cells and T cells. Sufficient data are lacking to suggest whether the risk of TCMR was increased after treatment with isatuximab. However, no TCMR was observed in the transplanted patients treated with isatuximab as of study cut-off date. One patient transplanted approximately 15 months after the last dose of isatuximab (after study cut-off date) experienced acute rejection that was successfully treated with plasmapheresis and intravenous Ig, where the pathologic diagnosis includes mixed acute ABMR and TCMR due to the presence of interstitial infiltrate and tubulitis in addition to severe peritubular capillaritis with diffuse C4d staining.

Isatuximab demonstrated a durable decrease in anti-HLA antibodies, which appeared to be persistent during site visit follow-up period after stopping treatment (approximately 26 weeks after the last dose). Isatuximab also demonstrated partial desensitization activity by eliminating or lowering the titer of some antibodies, with minimal effect on the overall cPRA values. Nevertheless, Schinstock et al. show that a mild reduction in cPRA to 99.50%99.89% may drastically increase the probability of transplant on the based on the current KAS.29 The minimal decrease in cPRA values is unsurprising as most broadly sensitized patients often have high titers of HLA antibody. As demonstrated in this study, desensitization activity cannot be reflected through cPRA values alone. Examining antibody titer reduction across the entire anti-HLA antibody profile of each patient provides a better assessment of desensitization efficacy. Therefore, a composite end point that included antibody elimination, titer reduction, and cPRA reduction proposed in this study may be more suitable for assessing desensitization therapies. The proposed criteria account for and minimize potential assay variability. For example, in criterion 3, only a reduction of antibodies to MFI <2000 from a BL of 3000 would be considered as antibody elimination on the basis of a potential 25% assay variability.30

Patients in this study received a limited number of doses of isatuximab and were subsequently followed up for 26 weeks on anti-HLA antibody level and immune cell profiling. The short treatment period and long follow-up duration design intended to explore the temporal mechanisms of antibody rebound if it occurred. A desired desensitization treatment regimen with isatuximab may then be adjusted based on the observed data. It is possible to administer isatuximab while the patient is on the waiting list for a deceased donor and start retreatment as needed to maintain their desensitized status. This may be as frequent as every 6 months on the basis of the available biomarker data indicating when plasma cells and plasmablasts start to return to BL levels. However, further study will be required to optimize the retreatment frequency.

Isatuximab may be further investigated as an option for adjunct therapy to existing desensitization therapy for patients on the kidney transplant waiting list to provide better durable responses due to its well-tolerated safety profile. For instance, isatuximab could be combined with a therapy that targets the mBC or germinal center B-cell compartments that do not express CD38, such as anti-CD20 antibody or belatacept, a fusion receptor protein that inhibits T-cell activation.31 As isatuximab targets plasma cells and does not target circulating anti-HLA antibodies, time is needed for the desensitization effect to be observed, considering the half-life of Ig. Combining isatuximab with an initial session of plasmapheresis or imlifidase may be an effective strategy to achieve fast and durable desensitization. However, these combinations need further clinical investigation, particularly to ascertain if there are adverse interactions with isatuximab. There is also potential for further investigation of the prevention or treatment of ABMR as an adjunct therapy on the basis of the durable plasma cell depletion and DSA suppression observed in this study.

This study is a biomarker-based mechanistic study investigating whether isatuximab monotherapy can durably decrease titers of anti-HLA antibody. Although there were patients transplanted during the study, these cannot be clearly attributed to isatuximab treatment, which needs to be tested in a randomized controlled study. However, whereas transplantability may seem to be a clinically meaningful measure of direct clinical benefit, there are intrinsic biases associated with patient selection, donor availability, different organ allocation policies across countries and regions, skill and aggressiveness of a transplant center, and difference in crossmatch positivity cutoff across transplant centers. It would also be challenging to test this hypothesis in a randomized controlled study in patients waiting for a deceased donor using transplant rate as the primary end point due to confounding factors, such as donor availability, varying criteria on donor crossmatch, and inconsistent use of desensitization regimens across transplant centers.

In summary, isatuximab was well tolerated in kidney transplant candidates, and monotherapy demonstrated a durable decrease in anti-HLA antibodies, with partial desensitization activity. The durable decrease in the anti-HLA antibody level observed was accompanied by reduction in alloantibody production sources (including long-lived plasma cells and in mBC function) after isatuximab treatment. The ultimate benefit of isatuximab as a monotherapy or as potential adjunct therapy in facilitating transplantation from previous incompatible donors will require corroboration from future controlled trials.
As doctors and health care providers, we focus on both individuals and populations and gain insights from clinical experience and published literature and use that combination of experience and knowledge to predict events in the future to improve the outcomes of our patients.

Ideally, our thoughtful application of all information available to us will help to optimize the initiation of medications, enable informed discussion around decision making, and risk-stratify individuals or groups so that resources used to care for them are appropriately allocated.

Predicting outcomes in CKD is important from several perspectives: in the clinical realm for individuals, in health policy to inform strategies and resource allocation, and in research to improve enrollment and inform sample size.

The outcomes we choose to predict include short term within 25 years, medium and longer term >510 years, and are usually those outcomes for which data to predict are easily measured or ascertained from medical records. In the nephrology world, we have been preoccupied with predicting progression to kidney failure or death and to some extent cardiovascular events because these are the outcomes most relevant to our patients. We recognize the very long horizon that this chronic condition has and that events occur throughout the life cycle and may have different implications at different points in time for individuals and health care systems.

In medicine, the most used prediction equations include Framingham Risk Score (10-year CV risk) and the Congestive Heart Failure, Hypertension, Age and Diabetes score (risk for stroke in nonrheumatic A fib), and others include Respiratory Failure Risk Index (postoperative respiratory failure risk) and Fracture Risk Assessment Score (10-year osteoporotic fracture risk).14 The addition of kidney variables to Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation and Probability of Cardiovascular Event scores, which predict CV events in the general population, has been used to further optimize CV risk assessment in those with CKD.5 Note that some CV prediction models were developed in very remote cohorts and were not always internationally representative, but nonetheless are used in clinical practice ubiquitously. The 2023 Scientific Statement from the American Heart Association has suggested new sex-specific race-free risk equation for 10-year and 30-year estimates for total cardiovascular disease including eGFR, with other models that add in other factors such as urine albumin creatinine ratio hemoglobin A1c, and social determinants of health.6

In nephrology, we have the KFRE (kidney failure risk equation with 2-year and 5-year risk for kidney failure), Hemodialysis Mortality Risk (6-month mortality risk in those on maintenance dialysis), and the Kidney Donor Risk Index (risk of kidney failure in donor after donation).79 All of these tools have been developed using the best methodology at the time and externally validated.

However, despite the development of several tools to predict events that are important to us and to our patients, the uptake of them into clinical practice is quite poor. Note that although the Framingham risk equation predicts risk of only >10% of a CV event in 10 years, it has been used to initiate statin use for decades. Contrast that with KFRE which predicts kidney failure requiring dialysis or transplantation within 2 or 5 years: A very dire event within a short time frame and yet still not heavily used in clinical practice even a decade after extensive validation in numerous populations around the world.

Multiple performance metrics for prediction equations exist to help us evaluate them: discrimination, calibration, Net Reclassification Index (NRI), Integrated Discrimination Index, and net benefit. Discrimination refers to the predicative ability of the model for an event of interest, calibration is a measure which determines agreement between observed and predicted outcomes, NRI is a sum of the differences between appropriate and inappropriate reclassification, Integrated Discrimination Index is a sum of NRI over all the possible cutoffs for the possible outcomes, and net benefit assesses the usefulness of a prediction model in clinical decision making. Each of these performance metrics has benefits and shortcomings, and perhaps given the mathematical nature of them, they are not well understood in the context of clinical practice. As pointed out in the article by Milders et al., in this edition of the journal, there is large variation in the quality of reporting and model development and not all these metrics are reported.10 The scoping review describes the publication of novel models, external validation of existing models, and updating of models used in CKD, dialysis, and transplant populations. The authors note an underrepresentation of patients from Africa, South America, and Australia, which may limit their applicability in those regions. They note that models for predicting patient-reported outcomes (like quality of life or life participation) are scarce or nonexistent and that often sample sizes are small, reporting guidelines not adhered to, and is some, no, or inappropriate performance metrics reported. Perhaps one of the most important findings was that very few of the models published were presented in a useable format (regression formula or risk score) which hampers both validation and subsequent implementation.

In the past 7 years, in the kidney space, a variety of authors have described the potential value of using prediction models in clinical practice. Potok et al. described the improved accuracy of KFRE in predicting dialysis needs in a cohort of patients which exceeded the estimates of the physicians11; others have examined the utility of KFRE as adjuncts to optimizing the timing of vascular access.12 The use of components of kidney function (eGFR and albuminuria) in different risk equations to facilitate decision making for different outcomes (kidney failure, CV events, AKD, and death) has been described.5

A key question is why there is a poor uptake of prediction tools in nephrology: Do we not trust them, have we not spent time understanding when and how to use them, or do we doubt their utility in individual circumstances? Do we need to develop implementation programs to demonstrate their utility in clinical practice and that their use leads to better decision making or outcomes for patients or health care systems? Until recently there were few interventions to delay progression of CKD or effectively prevent CV events: So have we been reluctant to use prediction tools because of our inherent nihilistic attitude that there is little we can do, so why bother to predict?

How do we bridge the gap between promising prognostication models that may help one to identify people at risk for specific events, clarify time points in disease trajectory for decision making or intensified therapy, and optimize outcomes for individuals and optimize use of limited resources within health care systems?

With the advent and increasing availability and sophistication of electronic medical records (EMRs) worldwide, embedding the risk equations into EMRs with decision thresholds and proposed action plans seems an obvious and reasonable approach. Where EMRs do not exist, or cannot embed the tools, easy-to-access downloadable applications onto smart phones should be accessible to all. However, perhaps the step before that is to convince nephrologists and non-nephrologists that using these prediction tools actually does facilitate care and can improve efficiency and appropriateness of interventions. In clinical practice, we need to demonstrate that these tools improve clarity of conversations with patients and colleagues, lead to improved timing of access referral, or referral for dialysis education or transplantation. We would need to examine the best way to use the tools, and how best to communicate numeric risks to patients and colleagues. To date this aspect of implementation has been understudied. In research, perhaps including risk prediction equations as part of eligibility criteria for specific studies would help with recruitment and enrichment of study cohorts with those with a higher likelihood of the outcomes of interest. The socialization of the potential utility of prediction models remains a challenge, although their use is encouraged in the upcoming guidelines for the management and evaluation of CKD.

We should invest in research to test the utility and performance of existing clinical prediction models in diverse patient populations and in different health care systems to inform care pathways and decisions. How and if patients and clinicians accept the use of these tools and if they would accept their actions being guided by them remains unknown and requires study. Without understanding both components (true impact on decision making or outcomes and acceptance by patients and clinicians), the call for widespread implementation of validated prediction models will not be heard. Refocusing research efforts on evaluating the effect of using both existing and patient-centered prediction tools may be the value proposition required to truly improve clinical outcomes. In parallel, evaluating the impact of using them in clinical trials, to streamline study enrollment and execution, may also encourage their use in clinical practice.
Like much of the news anymore, the initial numbers from the 2022 Census of Agriculture were accurately reported, quickly downplayed  or even worse, ignored  by most Big Ag groups, and then just pushed aside by the rush of the next days news.

Thats a mistake, because the numbers, released Feb. 13 by the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Agricultural Statistics Service, show the rapid maturity and coming old age of U.S. agriculture.

But these numbers, like old soldiers, wont just fade away. Theyre real and consequential.

For example, according to the NASS, the number of U.S. farms plunged by 142,000, or 7%, in the five years between 2017 and 2022. Its the largest drop in farm numbers over the past four ag census periods and the lowest total number of U.S. farms since 1850 when the U.S. was a nation of just 31 states and four territories.

Equally shocking is the confounding fact that this slide happened at the same time Congress and USDA were shoveling billions into farm programs to support farmers and ranchers.

According to a Feb. 20 report titled Unsustainable: the State of the Farm Safety Net, published by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, the federal government distributed $142 billion through farm safety net programs from 2017 to 2022.

The biggest bite over those five years was ad hoc spending, money not budgeted in any Farm Bill; it totaled $67 billion. Next came federal crop insurance, the principal revenue-supporting device in U.S. ag policy; it cost $46 billion. And pulling into third was commodity programs at $29 billion.

How do you send $142 billion in taxpayer dollars to farmers in five years and still end up with the fewest number of American farms in 172 years? The Census offers clues.

According to it, the only farm size category that increased in numbers was farms operating 5,000 acres or more. These biggies controlled 42% of all farmland in 2022. Additionally, 6% of farms with $1 million-plus in annual sales owned 32% of U.S. farmland and generated 75% of all ag sales nationwide.

That ever-bigger bigness was matched by an ever-graying grayness. According to the Census, the average age of U.S. farmers jumped from 57.5 in 2017 to 58.1 in 2022. More to the point, in 2017 one out of four U.S. farmers was 65 years old or older; in 2022, it was one out of three, or an increase of 12 percentage points in the ratio.

In the meantime, the number of farmers aged 35 to 65 dropped 9%.

In fairness, the number of farmers with less than 10 years experience  a group USDA calls beginning farmers  grew 11%, a pleasant surprise except for the rude fact that these beginners were an average 47.1 years old.

After reviewing the hard numbers, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack suggested that they prove the Biden Administration is on the right track in its call for a different model of agriculture that lends a big hand to small- and medium-sized farmers while continuing to support big farmers, too.

But theres nothing different in that different model. In fact, the proposed  and still not done  2023 Farm Bill contains no plan to cap program payments to the biggest of the bigs and offers no favoritism to the farms in the middle, the smaller-sized farms that survive mostly through substantial off-farm income.

The facts are that our relentless drive to wring profit out of our nations soil, water and rural communities has built a highly productive, very fragile, top-down food structure that leans heavily on federal subsidies, environmental degradation and the slow liquidation of rural America.

That system isnt sustainable  and neither are we  without change.

Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska Counties with the most farmland in Nebraska #25. Valley #24. South Sioux #23. Chase #22. Boone #21. Rock #20. Antelope #19. Dundy #18. Garden #17. Buffalo #16. Brown #15. Dawson #14. Perkins #13. Keith #12. Knox #11. Red Willow #10. Kimball #9. Cheyenne #8. Morrill #7. Box Butte #6. Sheridan #5. Dawes, North Sioux #4. Holt #3. Custer #2. Lincoln #1. Cherry
A 32-year-old Lincoln man has been sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for possession of marijuana and a firearm.

On Friday, Senior U.S. District Court Judge John Gerrard sentenced Detrick Anthony Michael Smith to prison for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute and possession of a firearm in connection with the drug offense.

Smith, who pleaded guilty, will serve five years on supervised release following the prison term. There is no parole in federal prison.

On April 6, 2022, Lincoln police executed a search warrant at Smiths apartment where they located almost 3,500 grams of marijuana and $11,624. Smith was home at the time of the search. The marijuana was divided into bags consistent with packaging for resale. The Lincoln Police Department also found drug paraphernalia and a small quantity of cocaine.

Police also found a duffel bag in the bedroom closet which contained a Glock model 19, 9mm handgun with a loaded magazine and a Glock model 20, 10 mm handgun loaded with an extended magazine. Both handguns had an empty chamber. The Glock model 20 had been modified with an aftermarket piece, commonly referred to as a switch, which illegally modifies the gun to be able to fire fully automatic rather than semi-automatic. The modification was determined to be a significant factor in Smiths sentence.

This case was investigated by LPD and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Top Journal Star photos for February 2024
Two bills in the Nebraska Legislature intended to limit schools collection of property taxes could have catastrophic implications for Lincoln Public Schools, resulting in the loss of millions of dollars in revenue, an official said.

The bill (LB1316) introduced by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of Elkhorn would implement a hard cap on property tax growth requests and do away with the soft cap used in the current model, which was crafted as part of Gov. Jim Pillens education finance plan last year.

As part of Pillens plan, school districts are currently held to a cap of about 3% growth, but can increase it 4% with a majority vote from the board of education. However, Linehan said more than 180 school districts in Nebraska voted to override the soft limit last year, which played a role in her decision to introduce this legislation.

Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn also takes aim at property tax growth. His bill (LB1241) would require local governments to drop their property tax levies in proportion to valuation increases. The effect would be holding property tax collections to the same amount as the previous year, according to Liz Standish, associate superintendent for business affairs at LPS.

The Revenue Committee had hearings on both bills in January, but neither has been advanced to be considered by the full Legislature.

Standish said these proposed limits to property tax growth could be detrimental to districts.

Standish, who testified in opposition to both bills during their legislative hearings, updated the Lincoln Board of Education at its meeting on Tuesday about how the bills could potentially affect Lincoln schools.

She pointed to several areas of concern  primarily citing a loss in revenue from a variety of combined factors.

To start, money from a special education reimbursement included in Gov. Jim Pillen's education finance plan wont be available to districts until next school year.

The district also has projected state equalization aid to drop $32 million for the 2024-25 school year.

With these combined factors, LPS projects it would lose $14 million in revenue if LB1316 is passed, and $28 million if LB1241 is passed as they would not be able to fill the gap in state aid with funds collected from property taxes.

One of the districts top priorities is to recruit and retain a quality workforce, which has been difficult in the midst of a nationwide school staff shortage. The loss in revenue under the proposed hard cap would add to this difficulty in hiring for positions like teachers, paraprofessionals and bus drivers, according to Standish.

The inability to fill teaching positions can lead to consequences like larger class sizes, staff teaching outside of their area of expertise or long-term substitutes filling positions.

The labor market is a huge challenge for schools right now, Standish told the Journal Star. Putting in that 3% cap at a time when we're trying to address those labor shortages is hugely problematic.

Additionally, Standish said the district will likely have to look at cutting down on the programs and services available to students and staff if the bills are passed.

There would be a diminishing ability to meet student needs, I mean, by far, she said.

The district has yet to identify which programs would be included in any cuts, but Standish said this will be their next wave of work.

Another issue Standish has with the proposals is that a schools revenue ebbs and flows; it doesnt increase slowly or incrementally. When looking at LPS revenue budget from the past 10 years, it peaked at 8% growth and went as low as negative 3%. The average fell at just more than 4%.

The whole challenge with this concept of a one-size, incremental 3% cap is it's based on assumptions that our revenue is incremental and can fit into 3% caps, Standish said, pointing to the districts 10-year revenue trends. It's all over the place. So what we really need to focus on in this conversation is that revenue to school districts varies widely from year to year.

Members of the school board also voiced their concerns about the bills at Tuesdays meeting. Board member Barb Baier focused on the many things she believes would be difficult for the district to cut, including administration, security and early childhood education.

This is not good for students. This is not good for families. This is not good for communities, she said. And it is certainly not good for economies.

Board member Kathy Danek said this process feels like a vicious cycle as she saw a similar situation occur at the start of her time on the board more than 20 years ago.

This revenue cap feels like a cold smack in the face to people that work every day with everybodys children, Danek said. I want our teachers, our school personnel, our community to know that we believe the education of our children is the most important responsibility in our community.

Whether the measures are passed by the Legislature or not, Standish said the district will be ready for whatever comes. For now, they will continue to work with the board's finance committee to prepare for what the new reality could look like.

That's really our next layer of work, she told the board. We won't stop and just wait and see. We'll be proactive in looking at, OK, how is this going to come together? What does this mean?

Photos: Lincoln Public Schools' 36th annual spelling bee LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10 LPS Spelling Bee, 2.10
One morning last fall, Cliff Hanson and his wife ate breakfast and headed to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get her license renewed before her 78th birthday.

They expected to walk in, perhaps stand in line for a bit, get her photograph and a renewed license. Thats not what happened.

An employee there asked if they had an appointment. They didnt. They were told they could sign up for an appointment, but there wasnt an open one until the following week.

Their choices: Come down at about 6 a.m. on another day, stand in line until the office opened at 7:30 a.m. and perhaps get one of the walk-in spots, or make an appointment for another day.

It was terribly difficult, Hanson said. Ill tell you what was really maddening ... we have 300,000 people in town and I dont know how many in the county and theres only one place you can get your license. Thats not very convenient for people like us.

While the department encourages online renewal, people older than 72 are required to come in to renew their license, as are people who need to get state IDs  and in Lincoln that isnt easy.

Since the pandemic, the only place people can renew their licenses in person or get a state ID is at the service center at 500 W. O St. The department used to offer those services at the Lancaster County Treasurers office at 625 N. 46th St.

Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles Director Rhonda Lahm said that because theres just one location in Lincoln now, there are fewer service counters, which means its often more crowded in Lincoln.

A new state law requires voters have a photo ID to vote  either a drivers license or state ID  and Lahm said theyve been issuing quite a few IDs, though she doesnt know if it has increased over normal demand  or whether that might impact the wait time for walk-ins.

When they had two locations, she said, they had 13 service counters  eight at West O Street and five at 46th and R streets.

So we lost 40% of our capacity, she said.

A certain number of service counters handle appointments and a certain number handle walk-ins, Lahm said, but when they are short employees because someone calls in sick, they have to reduce the walk-in windows, she said.

Theyve now changed how the system works so that if someone cancels an appointment, it will move up walk-in traffic, she said.

But it's still an issue.

A new service center is nearly finished at 4700 Cattle Drive in the Highlands in northwest Lincoln, and it will have 16 service counters and will offer streamlined services that will allow customers to take their drivers tests and pay for them in one step, rather than having to stand in two lines.

The centers in Sarpy and Douglas counties now use that system, Lahm said. The Bellevue center opened in 2018, one in North Omaha in 2019.

Former Sen. Suzanne Geist cited the long wait lines and frustrating experience for customers at the West O Street site when she introduced a bill in 2022 authorizing the state to reallocate revenue from drivers licenses and state IDs  estimated at $660,000 a year  to create the new Lancaster County service center.

The West O Street center will close when the Highlands center opens, which Lahm hopes will be in the last part of May, after the May 14 primary election.

The department also is working with a vendor to change the way it cues appointments so that the new center will be able to handle more walk-in traffic, she said.

Older residents have had another problem: calling the department to make an appointment, if they dont want, or cant, navigate the online system.

Lahm said that when shes gotten emails from customers wanting to call to make an appointment by phone, shes forwarded them to employees to do so.

But residents calling the department to make an appointment have been told repeatedly that appointments cant be made over the phone.

Since she found out that was happening, Lahm said, she has sent messages to employees who take calls clarifying that if people call needing help making an appointment, employees need to ensure that happens.

Thats the way it should be happening and further guidance (to employees) is taking care of that, she said.

Lancaster County Treasurer Rachel Garver, whose office used to include space for the DMV to issue drivers licenses, said shes taken calls from people frustrated that the DMV doesnt take walk-ins and from some people upset they couldn't make an appointment over the phone.

Lahm said the service center is generally busier when school is out or when drivers training classes gear up  making walk-in appointments more difficult  and other times its less busy.

Hanson and his wife went in early October, and while they couldnt get a license renewed there that day, the DMV employee told them they could go to another center.

So they drove to Beatrice the next day, had lunch, stopped in the DMV office there and renewed the license.

We got right in, he said.

Top Journal Star photos for February 2024
Ernie Chambers, Nebraska's longest-serving state senator who filed last week to once again run to represent District 11 in the state's Legislature, has no reservations over his decision to challenge incumbent Sen. Terrell McKinney for the North Omaha seat.

Chambers, 86, held the seat for 46 years and was term-limited out twice, including in 2020, which paved the way for McKinney's election to the body, where the 33-year-old has emerged as a champion of Omaha and the Legislature's most vocal critic of mass incarceration.

McKinney's once-likely path to reelection was upended Tuesday, when Chambers, one of the state's most famous politicians known for his fiery speeches and mastery of the Legislature's rules, followed through on filing for the office again after long flirting with the idea of another return to the body.

His entrance into the race, though, comes as a majority of Americans harbor doubts about the age and acuity of President Joe Biden, 81, raising questions over Chambers' bid for another term that pits him against the senator he endorsed to succeed him four years ago.

"There's the obvious, immediate concern that you have when you have the system we have in our state where the MAGA Republicans can choose a replacement," said Jane Kleeb, the chair of Nebraska's Democratic Party, who noted that should Chambers be elected but unable to finish his term, Gov. Jim Pillen would appoint his replacement in a district where 63.6% of voters are registered Democrats.

"Thats obviously a factor," Kleeb said. "People shouldn't pretend that its not.

The state party is "firmly behind" McKinney, she said, noting that he's the only Democrat in race to represent District 11 in the formally nonpartisan Legislature. Chambers, like 23% of voters in the district, is a registered nonpartisan.

"It's time to pass the torch," Precious McKesson, the party's executive director, said in a social media post last week. "I love Sen. Chambers and will always acknowledge his fight and the great things he's done for LD11, but it's time to let the younger generation lead and that person is Sen. McKinney."

Chambers, though, remains unmoved.

In an interview Friday, he downplayed concerns over his age and insisted McKinney's performance as a senator was not a factor in his decision to seek office again, nor were the preferences of anyone in Nebraska  other than Chambers himself.

"I can be aware of what other people are doing, but the obligation I have is to my own conscience," he told the Journal Star. "And I tell people, always, I'm not running against somebody. I'm running because of things that I think need to be handled differently."

Chambers said he "really meant it four years ago" when he suggested he might run again for the Legislature this year if his mind was clear and his health good  and he believes he meets the criteria on both fronts.

Still, the octogenarian acknowledges the uncertainty that his age inherently brings.

"I cannot pretend I'm not reaching the end of my rope," said Chambers, who will turn 87 in July. "None of us knows when we will die. There are babies who have died. There are middle-aged people. Of all ages, people kick the bucket.

"But thus far, I haven't had any of the kind of ailments that would give me a warning that the grim reaper is right around the corner or knocking at my door.

"And I do believe there are things that I could do in the Legislature to diminish the negative impact that will be felt in the kind of things that are being introduced  and I look at the governor  somebody needs to be there who can kind of be a check or a brake on that wheel on this runaway train."

In a style distinct from Chambers, though, McKinney has often tried to play that role in Lincoln, railing against the state's "horrible" prison system  which he calls the Department of Punitive Services  and pleading with his colleagues to "have some humanity."

McKinney, who said he was unsurprised by Chambers' decision to run against him, said he appreciates the legendary former lawmaker for "still having the energy to still want to fight for the community." But McKinney is unconvinced by Chambers' belief that he alone can change the course of the Legislature.

"I mean, if you want to stop the runaway train, the honest truth is youve got to get more  one person is not gonna stop that train," McKinney said. "You have to get more people who feel a different way about these bills.

"In the Legislature, its about the vote count. I mean, yes, you can slow it down and filibuster, but we had senators here filibustering all last year. Those bills were still passed because of the votes. So, I mean, yeah, you can slow it down, but if they still got the votes, they got the votes. And thats what weve got to change is the vote count."

McKinney, too, said the legislative wins he has notched in his first term in office  banning hair discrimination in the workplace, barring the suspension of students younger than third graders, bringing "historic" economic recovery to North Omaha  set him apart.

He said he never expected his community's mantle to be handed to him. In fact, he said, he never expected anything to come without a fight.

"Life has always been hard," McKinney said. "And I still deal with things, even as a senator. So even (Chambers) running  thats why I said it is what it is. Because to me, its just life. Life is an obstacle in itself everyday.

"So I dont get too up or down about things. You take the obstacles and you figure out the pathway to win. And thats what Im focused on, is winning. And representing my community.

In his first run for office as a 30-year-old political newcomer in 2020, McKinney triumphed in the general election over 72-year-old Fred Conley, a longtime officeholder who became Omaha's first Black councilman in 1981 and beat McKinney by 17% in the May 2020 primary.

In this year's election that will feature a similar generational divide, "Ernies got to be the favorite," said Walt Radcliffe, a longtime lobbyist and state political observer.

He pointed to Chambers' inherent name recognition and the "retail politics" of the 11th District, where there were fewer than 10,000 votes cast in the November 2020 election that saw McKinney win 64% of the vote.

Over half of those voters know Sen. Chambers, probably personally," Radcliffe said, later adding: "This just comes down to people knowing Chambers  forever.

Still, Radcliffe said it would be "very difficult to attack Terrell on his record" after four years of delivering "in concrete ways" for the 11th District.

He suggested McKinney is in a better position to beat Chambers than any candidate before him. But no candidate before him has prevailed.

The cold, hard truth is it puts McKinney in a hard position, right? said Kevin Smith, the chair of political science at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. "He's been an effective legislator. I dont see how you avoid an uncomfortable dynamic in that race. But as somebody once said, politics isn't bean bag. Its a sharp-elbowed sport.

Smith, an observer of state politics who studies the biology and psychology of the differences in people's political attitudes and behavior, said that Chambers' age would undoubtedly be a storyline as the "fascinating race" plays out.

But he cautioned that a candidate's age is not an accurate tell of their mental acuity.

That assessment, Smith said, should be left up to the voters of District 11.

Does Ernie get one more hurrah or does the torch get passed on firmly and finally to a new generation?" he said. "I mean, ultimately, I think thats what this election will come down to.

Photos: Sen. Ernie Chambers through the years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Photos: Ernie Chambers through the Years Ernie Chambers, Megan Hunt Ernie Chambers Ernie Chambers Ernie Chambers 103rd Legislature starts 103rd Legislature starts Surprise Ernie Chambers Rally, 8.13 Surprise Ernie Chambers Rally, 8.13 Surprise Ernie Chambers Rally, 8.13 BLM Protest Chambers Birthday Card Virus Outbreak Nebraska Legislature First Day XGR - Schimek and Chambers Chambers 45 Chambers and his 'Republican' Chambers quotes Hitler Chambers at death penalty debate Chambers reloads Chambers campaign Chambers on burial sites Chambers on University Chambers addresses the press Chambers on speed limits Chambers in 1974 Chambers aims Chambers in 1978 Ernie Chambers Chambers at a hearing Chambers at Grenada protest Chambers on gambling Chambers enters the legislature Chambers goes fourth and long Chambers in 1974 Chambers' death penalty shirt Chambers and Carpenter Chambers and Taylor Chambers on lawyers Chambers at anti-apartheid rally Chambers' desk Chambers with Nigerians Chambers in 1982 Chambers at Boyd Elementary Chambers cutting hair Chambers and the electric chair Chambers in 1971 Ernie Chambers apartheid Chambers and De Camp Chambers on corporal punishment Chambers and Carpenter Chambers' uniform
Ron Hug has discovered a new way to quickly discern someones age.

He just tells them about his work to restore the Omaha house where Fred Astaire was born.

If theyre younger than 40, theyre saying, Who? And then the more mature they are, the more of the response I get, Hug said. People in their 50s are, Oh yeah, thats nice. People in their 60s and older go, Wow, thats cool.

For the under-40 crowd, Fred Astaire was born Frederick Austerlitz in Omaha in 1899. He had an older sister, Adele, born in 1896. The family lived in the house at 2326 S. 10th St.

Fred, who died in 1987, was considered by many to be the top entertainer of the twentieth century with success on stage, in film, through recordings, and on television, according to History Nebraska.

Freds father worked at Storz Brewing. And legend has it that Fred took his first dance steps at the Chambers Dance Academy in Omaha at age 4.

Fred and Adele, became a vaudeville act, and the family moved to New York. The pair changed their last name to Astaire.

As Fred and Adele Astaire, they were prodigies in vaudeville, then grownup stars on Broadway. When Adele retired to marry an English nobleman, Fred moved into films and formed a partnership with Ginger Rogers.

According to History Nebraska, that partnership with Rogers produced some of films most renowned and loved dance scenes.

Hug, also a member of the Omaha City Council, represents the nonprofit 1880 House, which is working to preserve the home and return it to how it would have looked when Fred and Adele lived there.

We want to give people a real true representation of how the average working family would have lived 1880 to 1890, even up to 1900, Hug said.

Initially, Hug said he was using the word museum to describe what the house would become, but now he sees it as a venue for hands-on experiences. People will be able to host parties, get married or just enjoy the space.

They can sit down in that chair, Hug said. They can play the piano. They can crank up the Edison phonograph and play a record.

All of that stuff was built to be used, Hug said.

You have to tear out so much before you start putting it back in

The house was built in 1880 and was a private residence for years before the nonprofit acquired it. Hug said the house was full of so much stuff from previous occupants that it took four dumpsters to get rid of everything.

Then workers and volunteers worked to secure the house from animals and people who may have wandered in and out during the years it was vacant.

Workers also have torn out layers of flooring, wallpaper and the front porch of the house.

Under the layers of flooring, workers found newspapers stuck to the floor, including a 1953 article from The World-Herald with the headline, P-TAs set Meet Record.

Hug had an expert look at all the wallpaper before five layers of it was torn out to make sure it wasnt original to the house. Most of the layers were from the 1930s and 40s.

You have to tear out so much before you start putting it back in, Hug said.

Unlike other houses, Hug said the house that Fred was born in was not remodeled or improved over and over again through the decades. There are no electrical outlets in the walls. Hug thinks the kitchen sink is probably from the 1910s.

A monument to all the stars that came out of Omaha

Hug said he will hold another fundraising drive this spring, but thanks to donations, they have enough money to finish getting electricity in the house, the plumbing fixed, air conditioning and a furnace installed.

Hug, a self-described old movie buff, said it was always nice to watch Fred knowing he was from Omaha.

Freds connection to Omaha and the house on 10th Street has been celebrated over the years. The City of Omaha put up a commemorative sign for Fred Astaire Avenue on 10th Street at Martha Street, less than a block from the house where he was born.

Hug said hes been working with History Nebraska to get a historical marker placed in front of the house.

We get people coming in from all over the world, Hug said. Everyone takes their picture in front of the house.

The interest in the house was one of the reasons Hug said it needs to be restored and saved.

Hug said many of the places with ties to Omahas famous actors and actresses have been demolished, which is why its important to save the house where Fred was born.

Hug listed actors and actresses such as Dorothy McGuire, Montgomery Clift, Marlon Brando and Henry Fonda, who have Omaha roots.

This house should never be in private hands again, Hug said. It should never be a personal residence. It should be preserved and saved not only as a monument to Fred Astaire and his sister Adele, who was very famous in her own right, but to all the stars that came out of Omaha.

Photos: Nonprofit hopes to renovate Fred Astaire's Omaha home
With Secretary of State Bob Evnen's decision Thursday, voters will get to weigh in on the Opportunity Scholarships Act, a $25 million, dollar-for-dollar tax credit for donors to scholarship funds for nonpublic schools.

Evnen's decision came after a question from Sen. Lou Ann Linehan about whether such a vote interfered with the Legislature's constitutional role of setting revenue policy. Evnen said it wasn't up to his office to settle that question.

But that won't be the end of this particular issue, pointing to an even more fundamental one that must be wrestled with.

Philosophically, Nebraskas citizenry is seen as the second house of our unique unicameral state government.

Via the petition and referendum process, voters can choose to nullify laws and policies set by the Legislature and administration as well as create laws and programs that have been rejected by senators and the governor.

Recent practice, however, shows politicians often working to thwart giving voters their say or following their wishes.

In 2020, Lancaster County Sheriff Terry Wagner served as the plaintiff to challenge the petition signed by 200,000 Nebraskans that would have put medical marijuana on the fall ballot.

That challenge, which overruled Evnens decision to put the measure on the ballot, succeeded as the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that the petition violated the single-subject referendum requirement  a decision that came far too late in the year for another petition drive to take place.

And, even when the referendum passes, its political opponents can work to delay and minimize its implementation. The most obvious example of delay: It took the administration of former Gov. Pete Ricketts two years to implement voter-approved Medicaid expansion, the longest such delay in the country.

Now comes a new tactic designed to thwart the referendum that could overturn the Opportunity Scholarships Acts.

The method, now before the Legislature, is a new bill, proposed by Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area that would provide $25 million in grants to private school scholarship funds.

Passage of LB1402, which has been sent to the floor by the Appropriations Committee, would then allow the senators who support sending state funds to private schools, to repeal the tax credit law, thereby rendering the ballot measure irrelevant.

LB1402, if passed, could silence the citizenry, effectively shutting down the second house before it has a chance to vote on the issue.

Theres nothing that prohibits the replace-and-repeal action to attempt an end run around the referendum. The challenge to the medical marijuana petition was similarly well within the bounds of the system.

But these tactics, at their core, are gaming the system to disenfranchise voters, who want to exercise their rights as the second house, to decide the fate of laws and policies.

LB1402 is just the latest example, and in each case elected officials have their justifications, but the trend shows a disturbing attitude toward the will of the people and our unique system of government.
RACINE  Mayor Cory Mason is prioritizing community safety, development and redevelopment projects for the city in 2024.

Mason said he will focus on developing a community safety plan, the Lincoln-King Clinic and Community Center, the Lincoln-King redevelopment and the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee rail line during the upcoming year.

Community Safety Plan

In June, Racine was selected for a $1.5 million grant provided by the state using American Rescue Plan Funds.

The grant is funding the Department of Community Safety, formerly known as the Office of Violence Prevention.

Mason said the city will develop a comprehensive community safety plan through the newly established department.

The plan will be shaped using feedback from residents and will prioritize policies and programs to meet community expectations, according to Mason. The plan also will serve as a guide for every city departments role in community safety.

While many crime statistics are significantly down from recent years, we are committed to not only responding to crime and holding those who harm others accountable, but also attacking the root causes of crime so that people arent harmed in the first place, Mason said.

Lincoln-King Neighborhood

The Community Development Authority unanimously adopted plans for the redevelopment of the Lincoln-King neighborhood in June.

The city received $15 million from the state through the Neighborhood Investment Grant Fund program in 2022 for the effort. Funds must be allocated by the end of this year and spent by 2026, according to the adopted plan from the CDA.

The execution of the plan is expected to take 20 years and is estimated to increase property values by $15 million.

Mason said the project will take place in phases and current residents will have access to resources to improve their homes.

Mason is also focusing on the Lincoln-King Clinic and Community Center, which he said will be a historic investment in the neighborhood.

Plans for the center were announced by Mason in May 2019, with the mayor noting that the city was the most populous in Wisconsin without a federally qualified health center.

Mason said the clinic is being built to address health inequities in the broader community.

The project envisions a campus-like hub with Julian Thomas Elementary School where services, programs, and events will address the health and wellness, educational and vocational, and social needs for individuals and families, Mason said.

KRM Rail Line

The Common Council voted Feb. 6 to allow the city to enter into an agreement with a consulting team to complete an application for federal funding for the Kenosha-Racine-Milwaukee rail line.

The line would connect Racine to Chicago, Milwaukee and other communities via rail.

Mason said Racine is in the third largest economic region in the United States but is the largest municipality farthest away from an interstate in the Midwest.

Restoring commuter rail in the Kenosha, Racine, Milwaukee corridor would improve mobility, increase transit use, enhance access to employment and education, and contribute to desirable economic and community development in Wisconsins most densely populated area, he said.

The line would directly serve about 23% of the states population.

Mason said the city is on track to file the application by the end of the year.
UNION GROVE  A judges ruling could soon resolve Union Groves $1 million flood-control battle, or it could keep the dispute about improvements on the Root River moving toward a trial.

The village is suing the Racine County Board of Drainage Commissioners in an effort to block the boards demand for funding to clean up the nine-mile-long river channel.

The outcome of the dispute could affect similar disagreements in other Wisconsin communities where residential growth compels hefty investments to provide drainage of wastewater and storm water.

Both sides in the Union Grove lawsuit appeared Wednesday in Racine County Circuit Court to argue their case. Both requested a summary judgment, or a ruling in their favor to end the dispute without having to hold a trial.

Circuit Judge David Paulson indicated that he would make a decision within a couple of weeks.

If the judge chooses not to grant either motion for summary judgment, the civil case will move forward toward a possible trial.

Union Grove is seeking an injunction blocking the assessment, plus a ruling that the state law authorizing the assessment is unconstitutional, as well as a finding that the process was invalid.

The county drainage district, which is not part of the county government, collects funding from municipalities to maintain waterways and prevent flooding, under state laws dating back to the early 1900s.

The west branch of the Root River flows north from Union Grove into Yorkville and Raymond, including Union Grove wastewater discharge and storm water runoff.

Union Grove has contributed $10,000 to $20,000 a year to the drainage district. But now the agency plans a bigger dredging effort costing $3.2 million  $1.16 million each from Union Grove and Yorkville, and $800,000 from Raymond.

Union Grove appealed to the Wisconsin State Drainage Engineer, but state officials found that the county drainage district was within its rights.

Three Union Grove taxpayers  Scott Katterhagen, Christopher Poeschel and Elizabeth Wentworth  have agreed to serve as co-plaintiffs with the village in the dispute.

From wildfires to floods, photos reveal intensity of climate change in 2023
WATERFORD  A corporate headquarters built in 2001 as the centerpiece of ambitious office park plans is sitting empty and waiting for someone willing to pay $7.9 million for the property.

The former Runzheimer International Ltd. facility was the beginning of the companys sprawling development concept on the east side of town, near the juncture of Highways 36 and 164.

But the office park never materialized, and after Runzheimer accepted a buyout offer in 2018, the future of the 60,000-square-foot headquarters was in flux.

With the new owners of the high-tech company preparing to relinquish control of the property, the old Runzheimer organization is seeking a buyer.

For Betty Mehring, seeing the structure vacant and forgotten is difficult.

Mehring, who retired after more than 30 years with the company, remembers when the three-story building at 1 Runzheimer Parkway was filled with activity, excitement and promise.

It was a very busy place, she said. It makes me sad whenever I drive by it.

Founded in Chicago in the 1930s, Runzheimer International was a business consulting firm that specialized in managing vehicle fleets and other expenses. After moving to Wisconsin in the 1960s, the organization settled in the Burlington area.

In 2000, then-company President Rex Runzheimer announced plans to relocate to a campus in Waterford that would include three 60,000-square-foot buildings. The company owned 70 acres for an office park called Waterford Centre, which Runzheimer said would include a hotel and other business tenants.

The Village of Waterford created a tax-increment financing district to support the development with resources for infrastructure.

It feels like a new beginning, Runzheimer said when the headquarters opened in October 2001.

The first building was large enough for about 300 employees. The company settled in and became an active member of the community, supporting many nonprofits through a charitable foundation.

Robert Tindall, who was then the Waterford village president, said that Burlington had tried to land the headquarters before Waterford lured it away.

I dont know if it was good or bad, Tindall said. Of course it turned out bad. Plans dont always go the way you want them to.

As the hotel plans fizzled and the office park stalled, village officials began having doubts about the development. Village records show that by 2003, officials were engaged in disputes with Runzheimer about public financing for Waterford Centre.

The village eventually paid $3 million to purchase part of the site from Runzehimer.

In 2018, Runzheimer announced that the company his family started 85 years earlier was being sold.

Thoma Bravo LP, an investment firm from Chicago, acquired the company and combined it with Motus LLC, a similar business consulting firm that Thoma Bravo already owned.

Details of the sale were not disclosed, but Motus took over the Runzheimer International operation and moved into the property in Waterford. Motus did not take ownership of the real estate, but instead became a tenant under a long-term lease with Runzheimer.

Two years later, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Motus vacated 1 Runzheimer Parkway.

Motus spokeswoman Lauren Boldt said the Boston-based company told employees in the summer of 2020 that they would be working remotely throughout the pandemic. The arrangement later became permanent.

The companys long-term lease with Runzheimer ends later this year, and Boldt said there will be no new lease or acquisition.

Motus has not considered buying the property, she said.

Runzheimer, who could not be reached for comment, has enlisted Transwestern Real Estate of Milwaukee to market the property.

Marianne Burish, executive vice president of Transwestern, said she had several would-be buyers interested in the property when they thought Motus might remain a long-term tenant.

Once Motus decided not to continue leasing, the property lost much of its appeal to investors, she said.

The listing describes the facility as high-quality office property offering easy access to Milwaukee and other destinations.

Once the Motus lease expires, Runzheimer will regain full control of the property.

It will be his to do with what he wants, she said.
Maybe its the geometric red chairs lining each table.

Or the scenic view of the Wisconsin River illuminating the former restaurant through large windows, a feature from the late architect Frank Lloyd Wright, who believed in the beauty of natural light.

Or midcentury modern arched vaulted ceiling with skylights.

The Spring Green Restaurant at Riverview Terrace, just up the street from Taliesin, has become part of the National Register of Historic Places because of all of these features, said Carrie Rodamaker, executive director of the Taliesin Preservation, Wrights 800-acre estate.

Wright intended the space to be a place where the community could congregate and be welcomed to his estate, Rodamaker said, which was itself meant to be a gateway into the Spring Green community.

The former restaurant is now a visitor center, with a cafe and gift shop.

Last fall, the 11,400-square-foot Spring Green Restaurant was given landmark status by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Rodamaker said.

We felt it was the right time for the historic designations, she said.

The recognitions will help the Taliesin Preservation, which has 16 year-round employees and whose public tour season goes from May through October, make some repairs to Spring Green Restaurant, particularly to its roof and the structures foundation.

Rich history

According to a historical timeline provided to the Wisconsin State Journal by Taliesin, Wright announced the design and construction of what was then called Riverview Terrace in 1953. The plans included a restaurant, bar and balcony overlooking the Wisconsin River.

Three years later, construction on the building began, but halted in 1959 when Wright died.

But in 1966, Wrights plans were revitalized by the Wisconsin River Development Corp. An organization called the Taliesin Associate Architects was hired to complete the building with slight modifications to Wrights original design for the restaurant.

A year later, Riverview Terrace was formally dedicated as the Spring Green Restaurant.

The official opening featured a gala that coincided with first lady Lady Bird Johnsons visit to Taliesin to meet with Wrights widow, Olgivanna Lloyd Wright. The restaurant subsequently operated independently for 25 years.

From 1988 to 1992, Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson established a blue-ribbon committee to help preserve Taliesin. A year later, the Taliesin Preservation Commission was created and acquired the restaurant to serve as the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center.
This photo, taken on Friday, shows the exposed concrete roadbed at the end of Gravel Crossing Road off of FM 2484. Several feet of water normally flow over the top of this structure. Currently, this structure nearly completely impedes the Lampasas Rivers current, save for two small culverts running through it. Such low flow in our area rivers and streams threatens a successful white bass spawn.
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.

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It recently was announced that Nebraskas tourism slogan was going to be retired. This slogan was, Nebraska, honestly, its not for everyone. It played into the reality we live in.

I have joked with friends that we have garage sale weather because all of the good weather was already purchased. We get hot summers, cold winters, and the occasional tornado. Nothing that you would even want to buy on clearance.

There has also been a trend of younger families and college graduates leaving the state in search of employment or opportunities. We have experienced the decline of our communities slowly, and we are losing the opportunity to change it.

There is a metaphor of a frog and boiling water. If placed in boiling water, the frog will leave immediately because it understands the danger. If the water is slowly turned to a boil, the frog will adapt to the change of heat until it is impossible to escape.

While we are not in boiling water yet, our communities are facing challenges that will only get worse. By living in the reality of Its not for everyone, we became complacent and adjusted to the decline of our towns until they became empty and lifeless.

That does not have to be our story. We can be a place for everyone, rather than those who have survived the hardships of the times and land. We can support our local communities, not just with our finances, but our time as well.

Forming groups around hobbies and interests, organizing community action, participating in local events, attending town meetings, and other actions are the lifeblood of communities. I believe that people do not just crave advancement in opportunity: people want to be in a community that lives, not just exists.

For this life to exist, we must be willing to take the risks of participation and connection. Not everything will work, but we know that the trajectory we are in will boil up many of our communities. While we may have gotten used to communities shrinking and towns declining, we do not have to accept that as our future.

So what would it look like? I believe that will take different shapes in different towns. Maybe it would look like people getting together to make an after school homework club to help students with assignments. Perhaps it is a card game group that plays at local restaurants, the fire hall, or city hall. It could even be a group of people committed to going to local government meetings to be more informed of what happens in town.

These all sound great, but they will not happen unless we choose to make them so. Lets jump to new possibilities, for the water is already getting hot.
Pleasant Prairie has hired Robert Hanson, an area native with a background working with economic and community development organizations, as the villages next community development director.

Hanson spoke with the Kenosha News about his background and his goals looking ahead.

A native of Racine, Hanson spent much of his childhood growing up in Kenoshas northern neighbor. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in geography, with a focus on urban planning and urban geography, and worked in Milwaukee for several years for an economic development organization before moving to the Twin Cities area.

For the last 10 years, Hanson has lived in the Minneapolis area, working for several years at a business development organization within the city, then as an economic development coordinator for Minnetonka, a nearby suburb.

The bulk of my career has been spent in economic development and business development  also some planning and transit-related projects, Hanson said. Those fit really well with the community development director role here in Pleasant Prairie.

Despite years away from the Dairy State, Hanson said his sports allegiances have remained with Wisconsin.

I never lost that, I never became a Vikings fan, Hanson said, laughing.

As he settles into the new position, Hanson said he plans to connect with the various organizations, residents, village staff and officials throughout the area.

Its been a priority of mine throughout my career to establish relationships with key stakeholders, residents and business owners within the municipality and area that Im working, Hanson said. Im also working with staff and other village members just to be consistent and fair in enforcement of issues here in the village.

Part of what attracted Hanson to the Pleasant Prairie position was the transition period with outgoing director Jean Werbie-Harris, who retires in the spring. He hopes to tap into her knowledge while also bringing his own perspective.

Jean has been in the community for a significant amount of time ... being in that role and in the community for so long, you really gain a vast amount of knowledge, Hanson said. Thats something Im working everyday to learn from her. Shes got the knowledge, the history and the connections.

The move back to Wisconsin was also driven by family, Hanson said. He and his wife both have relatives in the area. With their own family expected to grow, Hanson said they wanted to live closer to their families.

Hanson noted several residential and commercial developments ongoing in the village that he will be assisting going forward, highlighting early-stage plans for two new multi-use tax incremental districts.

Theres a lot of momentum happening in the village, Hanson said. I want to continue that, support continuing the development because the Prairie is an appealing place to be.

While there was plenty of growth for industrial, commercial and mixed-use projects down the line, Hanson said he would also work to find a good balance between supporting growth and retaining the characteristics that has made the village so appealing in the first place.
Photos by ChiHon Kim ()

If you have the motivation to drive a little or hop on a train, the Geumosan Reservoir and Olle is a great place to unwind and enjoy nature at its finest. And you dont need to make a lot of travel arrangements or do any packing; this is the perfect day trip!

Zig zag path If you are driving, slow down and enjoy the scenery! Some tourists drive so fast up the mountain that they miss the entrance to the Geumo Province Park. There are two parking lots on the mountain, so when you ask a taxi driver to take you at Geumosan, make sure to ask to be dropped off at Geumosan Daejuchajang (big parking lot) next to the Geumochen stream. Then you can slowly walk up to the mountain and enjoy more scenery.

If youre taking a train (make sure you look out the window and take in all the beauty), get off at Gumi Station and grab a taxi to the parking area. Itll cost you about 3,600 won (around $3) each way.

Note: It takes more than two hours to get there by car from Camp Humphreys and Osan Air Base. By train, its about 20 minutes less.

Another option is walking. From Gumi Station, you can reach the entrance to the Geumo Province Park in 10 minutes by foot. On your walk, youll notice the tiled roof of a traditional-style building, which is a museum dedicated to the people of the Joseon era (1392-1897). A little further down, coffee drinkers might enjoy a pitstop at the three or four different hipster and classy-style coffee shops near the entrance of the parking lot. I know some folks really need their coffee, so heres some good places to enjoy a cup or two.

Once you arrive at the entrance, youll see a path zig-zagging its way toward the reservoir Olle Gil. The railing along the uphill path has traditional paintings and calligraphy mounted on it, so take your time and enjoy the painting and drawings at your own pace.

Geumosan Reservoir At the end of the path, set your eyes on the beautiful waters of the reservoir and let the breeze wash over and refresh you. The Olle Gil path is about 2.4 kilometers long, surrounds a large portion of the reservoir and connects to Gumi Eco Park. After walking the path and seeing all the strange rock formations and bizarre stones along Mt. Geumo, you just might feel like walking it two or three more times.

Floating bridge Along the path, youll walk on a floating bridge, which at night is lit up with LED lights. Its quite a sight and many visitors time their visits for this illuminated night view. Its also not uncommon to find turtles resting on rocks near the bridge and spot fish jumping in and out of the water. This is a great spot for children.

The entire path along the Geumosan Reservoir is a great place to walk and take pictures. Large trees line up along the path and there are plenty of benches and pavilions great for some rest. It takes less than 40 minutes to walk the entire path, but take as long as you want .Its also a great place to have a picnic with family, friends or that special someone.

Chaemi-jeong At the end of the Olle, you will see a beautiful building named Chaemi-jeong. The scholar Gil Jae, who lived during the turbulent transition period of Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392), escaped Seoul for the countryside because he would not serve for another king of a new dynasty. Although he wasnt wealthy, he refused to take the new Joseon Dynastys high official position and he barely managed to stay alive, existing on herbs, roots and tree bark. Thus, his home was named Chae Mi (Chae Mi means herbs)-jeong.

From Chaemi-jeong, you can hear the sound of a stream running under the bridge leading to a shrine. In the summer, people crowd under the bridge to avoid the hot weather and play in the water. If you enter the Chaemi-jeong, you can see the architecture of a Hanok (traditional Korean-style house) and try to imagine the conviction this scholar had.

Directions: Train from Waegwan station to Gumi station.  Mugunghwa: 15 mins / 2,600 won  ITX-Saemaeul: 10 mins / 4,800 won Train form Pyeongteak station to Gumi stioan  Mugunghwa: 2hrs 20 mins / 13,100 won  ITX-Saemaul : 2hrs / 19,400 won After off the train, take a taxi to the Geumosan province park public entrance parking lot (With in 10min, about 3,000 won )
This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 astronaut Tang Hongbo performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)

The Shenzhou-17 crew aboard China's orbiting space station carried out their second extravehicular mission on Saturday, the China Manned Space Agency has said.

Taikonauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin successfully completed all assigned tasks at 1:32 p.m. (Beijing time), after approximately eight hours of extravehicular activities. They worked together closely with the support of the space station's robotic arm and scientific researchers on Earth.

A spacewalk was conducted by Tang Hongbo and Jiang Xinlin, who have since returned safely to the Wentian lab module.

China launched the Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship on Oct. 26, 2023. Its crew conducted a repair test in their first extravehicular mission on Dec. 21 last year.

During their second extravehicular mission, the three taikonauts completed maintenance work on the Tianhe core module's solar wings, addressing the impact of small space particles. According to the agency, the solar wing's power generation function is operating normally after evaluation and analysis.

It was the first time the taikonauts completed the in-orbit maintenance of extravehicular facilities. The Shenzhou-17 crew also inspected the status of the space station's modules during their spacewalk.

The three taikonauts are scheduled to carry out a variety of space science and technology experiments during the remainder of their space journey, the agency said.
The 2024 Polar Plunge was less polar this year, but the trip into the Black River wasnt exactly Miami Beach.

The water is still ice cold, said Kelley Bahr, a family physician at Gundersen Health System.

Several dozen people followed Bahr into the water Saturday at La Crosses Black River Beach for the 26th annual event that raises money for Special Olympics.

The air temperature was 50 degrees, albeit with a stiff wind, when the first group stampeded into the water.

Quote "We have tropical energy." - Polar Plunge participant Hannah Dickinson

Participants who take the plunge must raise a minimum of $100. Most people raised significantly more. Gundersens team of 33 employees raised over $13,000.

It was the first Polar Plunge for Bahr, who personally raised $1,700. She admitted there was a little bit of peer pressure to participate and said the water was colder than I thought it would be. However, she welcomed the chance to join her colleagues to support Special Olympics, which she described as an amazing cause.

It made it easier for me to do it with people who appreciate it and have the same goals, she said.

Hannah Dickinson organized the team for Marine Credit Union, where she works as director of loss mitigation. She said it wasnt difficult convincing colleagues to take a dip.

We have tropical energy, Dickinson said. We wore tropical shirts to hype us up because we knew it was going to be cold. A couple of us went all the way under. Theyre champions because I did not.

Dickinson and her Marine Credit Union colleagues raised over $4,500. It was Dickinsons fourth Polar Plunge.

I know a lot more, so lessons learned were carried into this year, she said. One of them didnt have a towel, so I told him he actually needed two. A couple of them do ice baths regularly, so they were thinking it was going to be easy.

She said the warmer weather made a difference.

This one definitely felt a little more refreshing, Dickinson said.

The Polar Plunge was one of eight in Wisconsin. The La Crosse effort raised $110,000, nearly $15,000 more than last year. It took almost an hour for everyone who raised money to get wet.

Bahr knows next years plunge is likely to be a lot colder, but she appears ready for another dive.

I think with a little bit of pressure and guilt, I could do it again, she said.
Dorothy Lee Bolden was born in Atlanta to her mother, a housekeeper, and her father, a chauffeur. She began working at age 9, washing dirty diapers for her mothers boss, earning only $1.25 per week. When Boldens boss demanded that she stay longer than her regular hours to also wash dishes, Bolden refused. Her boss had her arrested and taken to the county jail for psychiatric testing on the grounds that she had disobeyed an order from a white boss.

Bolden was insistent that domestic workers should have the same respect and appreciation afforded to others in the labor force. Advised by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Boldens next door neighbor, in 1968 she created The National Domestic Workers Union of America. Union members were trained in how to bargain for higher wages, negotiate for vacation time, and how to achieve better working conditions. Bolden also required each union member to register to vote, ensuring that they had a voice both on the job and in policy.

Within 2 years of the unions creation, members were earning 3 times more per day and benefited from Social Society and Workers Compensation. During this time, her union had organized thousands of domestic workers across 10 cities. In the 1970s, Bolden was appointed to President Nixons advisory committee on social services. She later consulted on workers rights with both President Ford and President Carter.

While many women have fought for labor rights, Boldens lifelong advocacy illuminated the double problem of sexism and racism facing Black women. By their gender, they were excluded from many careers. By their race, they were relegated to domestic service, abuse, and unlivable wages. Boldens fight for recognition and equality for Black domestic workers helped improve labor conditions for Black women in other areas of the work force, as well as for women of other races.
On Saturday, March 23, Country Coon Prairie Church, Inc. is celebrating International Waffle Day with a waffle breakfast fundraiser to help pay for the utilities and upkeep of the historic landmark Country Coon Prairie Church building.

The Waffle Wagon will be making delicious waffles with a recipe straight from Norway. Scrambled eggs, sausage links, fruit, cheese curds, coffee, orange juice, milk and water will round out the morning menu.

Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. until noon. The beautiful sanctuary will be open to the public and committee members will be available to share the history of the church before or after visitors enjoy their meal. The cost for adults is only $10. Children 10 and under are $5. The waffle breakfast will be served in the basement community room of the church. You must be able to navigate several steps to get to the serving area. The address is S2706 Coon Prairie Road, located 2 miles south of Westby and just east of the Old Towne Inn restaurant.

The Waffle Wagon was started by Kristina Reyser-Jaynes as a community service to help raise money for various organizations and efforts. Her mother grew up in Norway and they have many friends and family there. She uses a delicious authentic Norwegian waffle recipe and she donates her efforts to community fundraisers like this one. Other local businesses and members of the community who are helping to sponsor this fundraiser can be found on the CCPCP Facebook page.
The Wisconsin 4-H Foundation recently recognized partner Compeer Financial as a top 4-H donor.

Acknowledged as an Emerald Clover Sponsor, Compeer recently contributed $35,600 to support Wisconsin 4-H programs through the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation. Compeer Financial has been a supporter of Wisconsin 4-H for more than 20 years.

Comoeer Senior Corporate Giving Specialist Karen Blatter-Schieler said the firm is proud to support Wisconsin 4-H.

Giving back is one way Compeer Financial champions the hopes and dreams of rural America, she said. We support 4-H because it has a proven track record of creating successful, innovative programs that reach out to young people. They have a strong commitment to programming and enhancements to classic programs to capture the attention of todays youth. For many of Compeer Financials 70,633 member owners, the 4-H organization is an important part of their lives. 4-H makes an investment in its members, helping mold them into the future agriculture and rural leaders. The skills and activities that 4-Hers are exposed to give them hands-on experience and exposure to critical life skills, as well as hobbies and interests that make them well-rounded individuals.

Sun Prairie-based Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural communities, providing loans, leases, risk management and other financial services throughout 144 counties in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Learn more about Compeer Financial at www.Compeer.com.

We are truly grateful for the continued support of generous partners like Compeer, said Wisconsin 4-H Foundation Executive Director Brenda Scheider. Compeer helps 4-H create cutting-edge, relevant programs for young people to learn real-world skills that will prepare them for the challenges of today and tomorrow, moving communities, the state, our country and the world forward in ways no other youth organization can. We value our partners who help Wisconsin 4-H make a positive impact on our youth.

Since 1914, Wisconsin 4-H has helped young people develop the skills they need to meet the demands of a complex and changing world. Growing out of a rich history of agricultural clubs that helped the University of Wisconsin Extension connect families to research-based advancements in farming technology and techniques, todays 4-H has expanded to include science (STEM), leadership, healthy living and communications programming that will help Wisconsin youth build a healthier and more prosperous future.

4-H is one of the largest and oldest statewide youth organizations in Wisconsin, offering a wide variety of programs in both urban and rural settings and making a positive impact on young people throughout the state. Nearly 150,000 youth participate in the Wisconsin 4-H program each year, and more than 22,000 volunteers support the program.

The Madison-based Wisconsin 4-H Foundation provides essential funding for 4-H programs throughout Wisconsin. By partnering with individuals, corporations and foundations, the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation supports 4-H leadership, youth development and community-building activities throughout the state.

Learn more about the Wisconsin 4-H Foundation at www.Wis4HFoundation.org.

IN 60 PHOTOS - Opening Day of the 2023 Walworth County Fair Fair Ag Products on Display.JPG Fair Barnyard Adventure Garden.JPG Fair Barnyard Adventure.JPG Carol Steilein judges beer breads in the Aug. 30 open foods competition Fair Board President.JPG Fair Chicken.JPG Fair Chickens.JPG Fair Combine Simulator 2.JPG Fair Corn Dog Breakfast.JPG Fair Cow Grooming.JPG Fair Cow Wash 3.JPG Early morning chores at the 2023 Walworth County Fair Fair Crowd Day 2.JPG Fair Crowd Day 3.JPG Fair Crowd Day 4.JPG Fair Crowd Day.JPG Musician Frank Whiting Walworth County Fair 2023 Dog Obedience and Showmanship judging Fair Fairest Auction.JPG Fair Fairest of the Fair finalists.JPG Walworth County Fairest of the Fair 2023 finals Fair Fairest.JPG Fair Ferris Wheel 2.JPG Fair Ferris Wheel NIght View Fair Ferris Wheel Dusk.JPG Fair Ferris Wheel.Night View 2 Fair Food Wagons Dusk View Fair Friend of the Fairest.JPG Fair Gary Findley Recognized.JPG Auctioneer Gary Finley presides over the 2023 Fairest of the Fair pie action fundraiser Fair Goats.JPG Walworth County Fair 2023 Junior Swine Barrow Show Walworth County Sheriff's Department Honor Guard at the 2023 Walworth County Fair opening ceremony Walworth County Fair 2023 Honorary Marshals Chris Jones and Becky Merwin of the Town of Linn Underground Sound Jazz Band Playing in the corn crib Fair Knights Eclairs.JPG Mega Drop ride on fhe Walworth County Fair carnival midway Ava Sarnowski rides the merry-go-round at the 2023 Walworth County Fair Walworth County Fair daytime midway view Walworth County Fair midway sunset view Fair National Anthem.JPG Fair New Sweet Corn Vendor.JPG Walworth County Fair night scene Fair Outgoing Fairest of the Fair speech Gravity of Youth performs on the Park Stage at the 2023 Walworth County Fair Fair Peppa Pig.JPG Fiddler Georgia Rae headlines at Duesterbeck Brew Haus Music Hall Rice's Pro Rodeo headlines the grandstand on opening day of the Walworth County Fair Fair Samples.JPG Fair Sheep.JPG Fair Sinatra Solo.JPG Fair Squire's Corn Dogs.JPG Fair Sweet Corn 1.JPG Fair Swing Ride Dusk Fair Swing Ride Day 2.JPG Classic farm tractors on display at the 2023 Walworth County Fair Vintage farm tractors on display at the 2023 Walworth County Fair
Hang Kan (R) on a visit to the Yungang Grottoes to familiarize himself with the needs and preferences of tourists in Datong city, Shanxi province, Feb. 25, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

As the 14th National People's Congress (NPC) prepares for its annual session, Hang Kan, a NPC deputy and head of the Yungang Grottoes Research Institute, is fine-tuning his suggestion on strengthening support for the renowned cave cluster.

The Yungang Grottoes, located in Datong city, the second largest city in north China's Shanxi province, boast a rich history spanning over 1,500 years. This UNESCO World Heritage site is a cultural and artistic treasure trove where diverse cultural influences, including foreign and ethnic minority cultures, converge.

In his suggestion for the upcoming NPC session opening on March 5 in Beijing, Hang emphasizes the need for increased support in terms of talent and academic resources dedicated to the preservation of cultural heritage.

Hang views cultural heritage as an irreplaceable and invaluable resource, underscoring the critical importance of effective preservation. He highlights preventive conservation as the current focus for the Yungang Grottoes, requiring greater investments in technological advancements.

Hang directs his efforts towards the development of cultural heritage courses and the cultivation of talent. He argues that the effective preservation and utilization of cultural heritage requires a comprehensive approach encompassing not only archaeology but also interdisciplinary knowledge and research in areas such as ancient architecture and the arts. Universities, according to him, have a pivotal role to play in developing and offering courses related to cultural heritage.

Since his election as a 14th NPC deputy in 2023, Hang has actively championed the development of Yungang studies and talent cultivation over the past year. He believes that understanding the historical significance of cultural exchanges reflected in the Yungang Grottoes can foster a stronger sense of community for the Chinese nation.
College professors and their students often say they should be permitted to pursue knowledge without too many restrictions from the government.

One organization that supports the idea of academic freedom is the American Association of University Professors (AAUP). The AAUP is a non-profit group based in Washington D.C. that aims to support academic freedom and tenure. The group is concerned that national and state political leaders are interfering too much with colleges and universities.

AAUP expresses concern

In early February, the AAUP spoke out about what it said were attempts to control what may be said, taught, or thought in American colleges and Universities.

It pointed to hearings at the U.S. Congress in December that brought the presidents of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania to Washington. They each were asked if they would punish speech calling for genocide against the Jewish people.

In the days and weeks after the hearing, the presidents of the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard stepped down from their jobs. Some said the answers they gave to Congress played a part.

At first, Harvard president Claudine Gay received support from a number of Harvard professors. But she decided to leave her job after being accused of plagiarism in her academic writing. After Gay left her position, the AAUP spoke out about the way influential people worked to push her out.

Irene Mulvey is the head of AAUP. She said the way Gay was pushed out of her job (did) not bode well for academic freedom.

Research into New College of Florida

On February 26, AAUP released a statement about its concerns over academic freedom. It said actions at the New College of Florida, a small school in Floridas State University System, did not meet widely accepted standards of academic government.

The group said Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, had changed the colleges top leadership group to restrict academic freedom. AAUP described some of the changes that began in early 2023 in a report released last December. The report is called Political Interference and Academic Freedom in Floridas Public Higher Education System.

After studying the report, AAUPs top leaders, known as the governing council, voted to speak out against, or sanction, what it called an unprecedented politically motivated takeover of the school. The group has only sanctioned 12 other universities in its history.

The December report said DeSantis targeted New College of Florida because he believed it was too woke. The report says conservatives now define the word as: politically liberal or progressiveespecially in a way that is considered unreasonable or extreme.

The governor appointed a group of six new people to the colleges board of trustees. The board is a college or universitys top leadership group.

That group pushed out New College of Floridas president and worked to restrict the kinds of study programs the school could offer. The new trustees also worked to change the way professors applied for tenure, which guarantees those who have it a job for life. Many of the new trustees had written papers and made comments criticizing critical race theory (CRT). The theory centers on the idea that racism is systemic in the countrys institutions and that most social interactions can be explained by race.

The board members also spoke against DEI, or diversity, equity and inclusion, a movement aiming to change how society is made up.

No longer safe

One law professor in Florida, LeRoy Pernell, told AAUP what was happening in the state was a reign of terror. Pernell teaches law at Florida A&M University. That term was first used to describe the French Revolution, which took place more than 225 years ago.

New College is a state school, which means Florida provides part of its budget and it is governed under state laws. For years, New College had been permitted to be quirky. That means it welcomed students and professors who had unusual interests and wanted to follow study programs outside of normal ones.

Many students who felt uncomfortable at more traditional colleges went to New College of Florida and said they felt happy and safe. LBGTQ students say they chose the school because it was open to those who did not follow traditional sexual or gender ideas.

Elizabeth Leininger is a science professor. In a 2023 story, she called New College one of the most unique places  that exists in American higher education.

The AAUP talked with professors at other Florida universities who said they were concerned about the changes at New College of Florida. They said professors are worried about their own ability to seek academic freedom. Some are looking for jobs in other states.

Carolyne Ali-Khan is an education professor at the University of North Florida. These governmental attacks from the State of Florida have made us unsafe, she told the AAUP.

Kenneth Nunn is a former law professor at the University of Florida. He said good job candidates who are Black are no longer considering Florida schools, because they see attacks on CRT as attacks on what they do.

What comes next?

In its report, the AAUP said it offered the chancellor, or top leader, of the Florida College System, a chance to present Floridas side of the story. The chancellor, Kathy Hebda, said no because, she said, the AAUP would not fairly and fully consider any testimony.

When the sanction came out, a representative from New College of Florida noted that the AAUPs decision has no ability to force changes or prevent a university from operating. In a statement to the Tampa Bay Times, New College spokesman Nathan March called the report an attempt to get attention.

The AAUP did say it is not too late to prevent what happened at New College of Florida from happening in other places.

The time for intervention has not passedyet. We call on all professional organizations, unions, faculty, students, staff, administrators, and communities across the country to fight such reforms, it wrote. The group called academic freedom an important part of democratic societies.

Im Anna Matteo. And I'm Dan Friedell.

Dan Friedell wrote this story for VOA Learning English based on AAUPs report and news reports and information.

Quiz - American Professors Group Speaks Out About Changes at a Florida College Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz

_______________________________________________

Words in This Story

pursue v. to seek something that is difficult to find or catch

academic adj. related to education especially college education; something that is found in schools but not in professional life or the real world

tenure n. the right to have a job for life that exists mainly in academic jobs

plagiarism n. the charge of having copied someones writings without their permission, outside of normal rules

bode v. to be a sign of the future

standards n. (pl.) a level of quality or ability that must be reached and maintained

sanction v. to speak out against something

unprecedented adj. something that has never happened before

quirky adj. having unusual qualities that are not generally considered normal

We want to hear from you. Are you worried about restrictions on academic freedom? Do you feel there is academic freedom where you live?
The Lexington Community Development Agency discussed a proposal to build a new Holiday Inn Express near the Heartland Museum of Military Vehicles.

At Mondays meeting, City Manager Joe Pepplitsch said the hotel would be about four stories with 80 rooms, and the construction project would last 16-18 months.

REV Development, based in Lincoln, would construct the hotel for Lexington HIE LLC. Pepplitsch said the city has been in regular contact with REV Development workers Mike and Conner Works for the Lexington project.

Pepplitsch said if the project gets all the necessary approvals, construction is anticipated to start this summer or fall. If everything goes according to plan, Pepplitsch said the hotel would be completed in the first quarter of 2026.

If construction doesnt start on the proposed start dates, Pepplitsch told the board members, it would start in the first quarter of 2025 and be completed in the summer of 2026.

The approximate cost of the hotel project is $13.5 million. The project would yield a final valuation of approximately $8 million when the hotel is completed.

Pepplitsch said the amendment would be forwarded to the planning commission and later for a public hearing at a future City Council meeting.

After a nearly 20-minute presentation from Pepplitsch, the CDA board didnt deliberate much and unanimously approved the amendment that Pepplitsch.

The board also approved the redevelopment agreement with Lexington HIE LLC for the proposed Lexington HIE Project of the hotel. Pepplitsch said the agreement will require City Council approval on a later date.

During the roundtable discussion, Pepplitsch reminded the CDA board of an upcoming redevelopment project on Cattleman Drive. The project will be discussed in further detail at a future CDA meeting.

At the beginning of the meeting, new CDA board officers were elected: chair, Seth McFarland; vice chair, Jason Fagot; and secretary, Pam Baruth.
Hong Kong: HK, Bahrain sign investment pact

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and Bahrain today entered into an investment promotion and protection agreement (IPPA) in Manama, Bahrain, with a view to enhancing investors confidence, expanding investment flows and strengthening economic and trade ties.

Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Algernon Yau, on his visit to Manama, signed the agreement with Bahrain Minister of Finance & National Economy Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa.

Under the IPPA, Hong Kong and Bahrain undertake to provide investors of the other side with fair, equitable and non-discriminatory treatment of their investments, compensation in the event of expropriation of investments, and the right to free transfers abroad of investments and returns. It also provides for settlement of investment disputes under internationally accepted rules.

The pact will come into force after the fulfilment of relevant internal procedures on both sides.

Mr Yau said the IPPA is a milestone of strengthening investment links between Hong Kong and Bahrain.

An IPPA enables investors of the two parties to enjoy corresponding protection of their investments in the host economies, and thus enhance investors confidence in making investments abroad.

The signing of the IPPA also signifies the Hong Kong SAR Governments commitment to the continual expansion of economic ties with Middle East economies, as heralded by the high-level visit led by the Chief Executive to the region in February last year.

Following the signing of the Hong Kong-Bahrain IPPA, the geographical scope of Hong Kongs Dedicated Fund on Branding, Upgrading & Domestic Sales is also extended to cover Bahrain with immediate effect to further support the citys enterprises in developing their businesses there.

Separately, to enhance Hong Kongs economic and trade network, especially in the Middle East, the Hong Kong SAR Government is now conducting negotiations of an IPPA with Saudi Arabia and is considering establishing an economic and trade office in its capital, Riyadh.

This story has been published on: 2024-03-03. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article.
You are here: China

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, attends a press conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, March 3, 2024. The CPPCC National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session. (Xinhua/Li He)

The Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, China's top political advisory body, held a press conference on Sunday, one day ahead of its annual session.

Liu Jieyi, spokesperson for the second session of the 14th CPPCC National Committee, briefed the press on the session.
Two librarians from Virginia and one from Madison are the finalists in the Madison Public Librarys search for a new director. A meet-and-greet event on Saturday will give Madisonians the chance to assess the candidates in person.

Peter Petruski, the division chief for Collection and Access at Arlington Public Library in Virginia; Sarah Townsend, the assistant director of libraries at Suffolk Public Library in Virginia; and Tana Elias, digital services and marketing manager at Madison Public Library, will be at the Goodman South Madison Library from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday to discuss their visions and goals for the library system with its patrons before the citys final selection.

Scheduled for the day after final interviews, the event will begin with breakfast and an informal chance to interact with the candidates from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Goodman South Madison Library, followed by a community question-and-answer session from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Urban League of Greater Madisons Evjue Room.

The Madison Public Library Board is delighted with the pool of candidates to serve as the next Director of Madison Public Library, said Alyssa Kenney, board chair, in a statement Friday. These three finalists are excellent leaders and each have deep public library experience.

Former director Greg Mickells capped off his 11-year tenure with the library in February.

When Mickells announced his retirement in August, the board embarked on a nationwide search for his replacement, a robust and competitive process featuring input from library staff, staff and board members, and the mayors office.
Four more years?

Unfortunately, thats how long U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson still has in office.

Technically, its four years, 10 months and 17 days. But whos counting?

We are.

The guy is more grating than ever, having narrowly won the third term he pledged not to seek. Presumably, he doesnt care what his constituents think because he doesnt plan to run again in 2028. Hes free to embrace his inner Scrooge.

Johnson has chronically voted no on major, bipartisan legislation that has  or would have  helped Wisconsin families and our nation. Just as bad, Johnson seems more obsessed than ever with trashing life-saving vaccines.

Whatever his phobia is with modern medicine, he needs to get over it and do his job.

That doesnt seem likely.

Johnson last week imagined a COVID Cartel coverup in which federal health agencies, pharmaceutical companies, legacy media and technology giants are conspiring to censor the truth about public health risks from vaccines.

Please.

The most thorough and prestigious medical studies conclude COVID vaccines saved millions of American lives. And because of the skepticism Johnson and others have spread, the measles are coming back. Too many people are passing on preventive shots long considered routine.

We already called for Johnson to resign in the wake of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol. Johnson helped fuel the destruction and violence by encouraging then-President Donald Trumps worst instincts and lies.

Johnson obviously isnt taking our advice. But we refuse to ignore what a lousy job hes doing on Wisconsins behalf  and how out of step he is with the Midwestern mainstream.

Wisconsins senior senator said last month he wont be supporting a modest increase in the child tax credit that would have lifted thousands of Wisconsin children out of poverty. Hes opposed even though the vast majority of the Republican-run House voted 357-70 in favor.

Johnson recently voted against military assistance for Ukraine, hurting the cause of freedom abroad. Our brave and outgunned ally desperately needs more ammunition in its heroic fight against totalitarian Russia. Thankfully, 70 of 100 senators  including 22 of Johnsons GOP colleagues  advanced the sensible package to the House.

Johnson helped kill a bipartisan deal for better security on Americas southern border, saying it wasnt good enough. Apparently, he prefers nothing to something.

In recent years, Johnson voted against the most substantial and bipartisan gun safety law in a generation. He voted no to the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which is improving Wisconsins roads and bridges.

Johnson even shrugged off losing manufacturing jobs in his hometown of Oshkosh, saying, Its not like we dont have enough jobs. With that attitude, no wonder he voted against the bipartisan Chips Act, which will boost the production of semiconductors in America, rather than forcing our nation to rely on China. His own Republican Senate leader and 16 other GOP senators supported it.

Johnson claims to care about Americas soaring debt. Yet he was happy to approve the tax cut in 2017 thats added trillions to the pile of IOUs being foisted on our children and grandchildren. Johnson talks tough about blocking spending now that his party is out of power, but he mostly went along with the joyride when Trump was in power.

Johnson has repeatedly voted against raising the nations debt ceiling so the government can honor its financial commitments. Thats like refusing to pay your credit card bill after running up lots of charges. He seems to want America to default on its loans.

Most of his colleagues took the tough votes for him, to keep the economy going.

The end of Johnsons third  and hopefully final  term cant come soon enough.

Wisconsin State Journal editorial board The views expressed in the editorials are shaped by the board, independent of news coverage decisions elsewhere in the newspaper. STAFF MEMBERS KELLY LECKER, Executive editor SCOTT MILFRED, Editorial page editor PHIL HANDS, Editorial cartoonist COMMUNITY MEMBERS JAMES L. HOWARD JENNY PRICE
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SP New Energy Corp. (SPNEC) is wooing more investors in Terra Solar Philippines Inc., the corporate vehicle of the worlds largest solar project.

Terra Solar is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SPNEC that is developing a solar farm in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan with 3,500 megawatts of solar panels and 4,000 megawatt-hours of batter energy storage.

SPNEC chairman Manuel Pangilinan said while SPNEC owns 100 percent of Terra Solar, it is eyeing new investors to help fund the project.

We will have to get in new investors into the Terra Solar project company level to help us with the financing of the total project because the estimated cost is about P200 billion to implement the project in full, Pangilinan said.

Pangilinan said the company was in the process of talking to potential investors, with the help of financial advisors.

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Most likely foreign investors will come in for an up to 40-percent equity stake at the Terra Solar level, Pangilinan said.

SPNEC organized a team dedicated to the execution of the project and ensure its timely completion.

We intend to meet our targets, which is our commitment to the government to energize this by 2026, he said.

SPNEC started clearing operations for the Terra Solar site in January, ahead of the construction of the projects interconnection facilities with the National Grid Corp. of the Philippines and the installation of over five million solar panels to meet its construction timeline.

The company secured over 3,000 hectares, primarily in Nueva Ecija and Bulacan, most of which were converted into industrial use.

SPNEC is now controlled by the MVP Group, through MGen Renewable Energy Inc. (MGreen), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Meralco PowerGen Corp. after a series of acquisitions.

MGreen recently raised its stake in the company to 55.96 percent from 50.53 percent after acquiring 2.17 billion shares of SPNEC from Solar Philippines Power Project Holdings Inc. for P2.50 billion, representing 4.34 percent.

MGreen previously invested P15.9 billion for 15.7 billion common shares and 19.4 billion preferred shares of SPNEC.
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President Marcos said the Philippines is looking to set the tone in raising issues of security, particularly in the West Philippine Sea, when it joins its fellow members in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in a special summit with Australia starting today in Melbourne.

As the first ASEAN Leaders level engagement for the year, the Summit presents an opportunity to reiterate the Philippines nationalpositions on regional and international issues and set the tone for ASEANs Dialogue Partner Summits later in the year, the President said in his departure address yesterday at Villamor Airbase in Pasay City.

He said his administration will continue to ensure that the Philippines constructive engagements with ASEAN and stakeholders will best serve the countrys national interest, promote the regions peace, stability, security and prosperity for the well-being of the Filipino people and the region.

Mr. Marcos and the Philippine delegation arrived at Melbourne Airport at 7:15 p.m. local time (4:15 p.m. in Manila), just days after he left Canberra on Thursday after a two-day state visit to address the Australian Parliament, the first Filipino leader to do so.

He told Australian lawmakers the Philippines was on the frontline of a battle for regional peace as he urged Canberra to join forces in facing the threats that disrupt peace, stability, and the rule of law.

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With Chinese warships loitering in waters off the Philippines coast, Mr. Marcos told the Australian legislators he will remain firm in defending the countrys sovereignty, despite formidable challenges (see related stories on A1 Editors).

He thanked the Australian government for its support for the rule of law while noting the summit is an opportunity for the Philippines to reiterate the countrys position on regional and international issues.

The President said the Philippines will do this by taking stock of ASEAN-Australia cooperation and cooperation, and proposing ways forward to further bolster relations during the Leaders Plenary of the summit.

The country will also exchange candid views on key issues affecting the region and the world during the Leaders Retreat, Mr. Marcos added.

The Summit will be an opportunity for the Philippines to thank Australia, ASEANs oldest Dialogue Partner, for its unwavering support for the rule of law, for the 1982 UNCLOS and the 2016 Arbitral Award, through timely statements of support as well as through capacity-building and academic initiatives to mainstream appreciation of international law, he added.

Malacanang said as the President returned on Friday from Canberra that Australia is eyeing a new level of engagement with the Philippines in various areas of cooperation such as economy, education, agriculture, and defense.

The Special Summit commemorates the 50 years of ASEAN-Australia Relations upon the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

During this four-day visit, President Marcos will also hold bilateral meetings with Prime Minister Hun Sen of Cambodia and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon of New Zealand to further strengthen cooperation with these countries.

The President will also meet with the Filipino community in Melbourne and promote Philippine business through the Philippine Business Forum led by the Department of Trade and Industry.

Mr. Marcos said he is also looking forward to the launching of the expansion of the Victoria International Container Terminal, Australias first fully automated container terminal.

The President will also deliver a keynote speech at the Lowy Institute, founded by Australian billionaire shipping magnate Frank Lowy, where he will highlight the Philippines role as an active participant in world affairs and a contributor to the rules-based regional security architecture.

The Philippines and Australia established formal diplomatic relations on July 4, 1946. Australia is a second home to around 408,000 Filipinos and Australians of Filipino descent.

Most of them work in crafts and related; professionals; services and sales workers; skilled agricultural, forestry and fishery workers; technicians and associate professionals; and managers, among others. In 2023, OFW remittances from Australia amounted to US$301.2 million (P16.9 billion).

Editors Note: This is an updated article. Originally posted with the headline Regional issues top Marcos agenda for ASEAN-Australia Summit.
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Kuala Lumpur, MalaysiaRelatives of passengers on a Malaysia Airlines plane that mysteriously vanished 10 years ago pushed for a new search Sunday as they spoke of enduring grief and the struggle to find closure.

Flight MH370, a Boeing 777 aircraft carrying 239 people, disappeared from radar screens on March 8, 2014, while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing.

Despite the largest search in aviation history, the plane has never been found.

About 500 relatives and their supporters gathered Sunday at a shopping center near the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur for a Remembrance Day. Many were visibly overcome with grief.

Some came from China, where almost two-thirds of the passengers of the doomed plane were from.

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The last 10 years have been a nonstop emotional rollercoaster for me, Grace Nathan, a 36-year-old Malaysian lawyer whose mother, Anne Daisy, 56, was on the flight, told Agence France Presse (AFP).

Speaking to the crowd, she called on the Malaysian government to conduct a new search.

MH370 is not history, she said.

Liu Shuang Fong, 67, from Chinas Hebei province lost her 28-year-old son Li Yan Lin, who was also a passenger on the plane.

I demand justice for my son. Where is the plane? said Liu, who flew to Malaysia for the event.

The search must go on, she added.

A near three-year search covering 120,000-square kilometers (46,000-square miles) in the Indian Ocean found hardly any trace of the plane, with only some pieces of debris picked up.

The Australian-led operation was suspended in January 2017.

A US exploration firm launched a private hunt for MH370 in 2018, but it ended after several months of scouring the seabed without success.
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Japanese Ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko bade farewell to the Philippines as he ends his diplomatic mission in the country on Tuesday, March 5. He extended his gratitude to the Filipino people for the warmth and friendship shown to him during his term in Manila.

As he ends his term of three years and three months, Koshikawa announced that he will be replaced by Ambassador-designate Endo Kazuya.

As my wonderful journey in the (Philippines) as (Japan) Ambassador comes to a close, I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the warmth and friendship extended to me. Your hospitality has truly made this a memorable chapter of my life, the Japanese envoy posted on X (formerly Twitter).

United States Ambassador to Manila MaryKay Carlson reacted to his post: It has been an honor to work with you. Congratulations on such a successful and meaningful tenure!

Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines David Hartman quoted the post and said, Wishing you the very best always, Ambassador, for your collegiality and friendship. You will be missed!

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In one of his last activities as Japanese envoy, Koshikawa was seen with students of the Manila Japanese School, who he said are fortunate to spend the peak of their youth and #BonOdori in this beautiful country. The hashtag refers to a Japanese festival.

He also shared a collage of some of the events he attended in the Philippines, including a photo with a Pikachu mascot, with some of the Gilas Pilipinas team members, and President Marcos.

In his message to the Philippine media, the ambassador, who will be back in Tokyo for the meantime, said he is looking forward to the medias continued partnership with our Embassy and my successor Ambassador Endo Kazuya.

In recent years, our two nations have forged stronger bonds, marking a golden age in our bilateral relations. This achievement would not have been possible without your commitment and dedication in highlighting the significant milestones that have defined our journey, he said.

Lastly, I hope to visit the Philippines again as a tourist soon, Koshikawa added.

Marcos, who met with the outgoing Japanese envoy on March 1 before leaving for Australia, lauded him for bringing Philippines-Japan relations to a higher level.

The Japanese ambassador received the Order of Sikatuna, which is an order of diplomatic merit conferred upon individuals who have rendered exceptional and meritorious services to the Republic of the Philippines; upon diplomats, officials, and nationals of foreign states who have rendered conspicuous service in fostering, developing, and strengthening relations between their country and the Philippines, the Official Gazette stated.
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China, through its embassy in the Philippines, on Sunday strongly condemned Ambassador to the United States Jose Manuel Romualdez for his remarks on the South China Sea issue, which Beijing said disregarded basic facts.

The remarks wantonly hyped up the South China Sea issue and made speculations and malicious smears against China, the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines said in a statement.

Romualdez last week said that while the United States sees both the South China Sea issue and a potential Taiwan conflict as serious concerns, the real flashpoint is the West Philippine Sea given all of these skirmishes happening there.

Inviting wolves into the house and engaging in small circles will not only not help resolve the differences in the South China Sea, but on the contrary will complicate the regional situation, and undermine regional peace and stability, the embassy said.

China exhorted Romualdez to stop spreading the China threat theory and paranoia of persecution, and to refrain from acting as a spokesperson for other countries.

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The Filipino ambassador expressed deep concern that tensions over the recent months between the Philippines and China are more alarming than the possibility of the Asian power invading Taiwan.

Manilas claim over the West Philippine Sea has been sustained by the United Nations-backed Permanent Court of Arbitration as it declared invalid Chinas nine-dash-line massive claims over the South China Sea in 2016.

According to Romualdez, the heightened tensions between China and Taiwan was a key concern, but a Chinese takeover was a calculated risk.

Beijing considers Taiwan a rogue province after it separated from the mainland in 1949.

Romualdez believed that Chinese President Xi Jinping is not going to make a move unless he is absolutely sure that he can militarily take over Taiwan.

Deterrence is the only way to stop them from going into that kind of situation. So were hoping that every morning when President Xi wakes up hes going to say, Todays not the day, the ambassador said.

Describing Chinas actions in the West Philippine Sea as worrisome, President Marcos on Wednesday deplored the presence of Chinese ships in the WPS and interference on the electronic communication capabilities of Philippine vessels.

Its worrisome because there are two elements to that: one is that the previously only Chinas Coast Guard was moving in our area. Now, also its Navy and fishing boats, Mr. Marcos said.

So, the situation is changing. Well, its clear for us. We just watch, of course, what everybody is doing, but really for us, we will continue. We just defend our maritime territory, the President said.

Earlier, Philippine vessels on patrol and resupply missions to Philippine-claimed features in the resource-rich waters have been met with dangerous maneuvers by Chinese ships, including a laser-pointing incident, resulting in near-collisions at sea.

The aggression that we are now facing is very real, Romualdez admitted.

Never in our lifetime even during World War II did we face such a challenge because this country will not let up on their claim in many of our territorial waters, he said, referring to China.

Romualdez said the unpredictable situation in the waters is keeping him awake at night as it does President Marcos and other Philippine officials.

All of these skirmishes that are happening there, there can be one major accident and either one of our countries the US or the Philippines can invoke the MDT and when we do, a commitment made by the US or the commitment we made will happen and then all hell breaks loose, Romualdez said.

Nonetheless, the envoy stressed that despite the tit-for-tat between Manila and Beijing over the disputed waters with diplomatic protests, demarches, and the summoning of envoys, he said that diplomacy is still the best option to pursue rather than engage in any conflict.

Thats what we are working hard on. We want to avoid having to find a situation where we will have to call each other saying we want to invoke the Mutual Defense Treaty, you have to defend us because the Chinese are already on our shores, Romualdez said.

We hope it will never happen. The Mutual Defense Treaty, an agreement signed in 1951 between Manila and Washington, commits the two allies to come to each others aid if one becomes the subject of an armed attack in the region.
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The Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) co-hosted this years Black Eagles Airshow and Friendship Flight at Clark Air Base in Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

The event is part of celebrations of the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and the Republic of Korea,

The event kicked off with a special friendship flight featuring four FA-50PH aircraft flown by Filipino pilots alongside eight T-50B aircraft flown by their South Korean counterparts.

Subsequently, the Black Eagles aerobatic team from South Korea amazed the audience with awe-inspiring aerial maneuvers, leaving vibrant trails in the sky as a testament to the colorful diplomatic relations between the two nations.

On a side note, the PAF currently operates 12 FA-50PH aircraft acquired through a purchase contract signed in 2014 with the Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI). Significantly, these aircraft were considered a game changer because of their contributions during the Marawi Siege in 2017.

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Notably, the T-50Bs used by the ROKAF aerobatic team are trainer jet versions of the said type of aircraft.

Department of National Defense (DND) Secretary Gilberto Teodoro Jr. emphasized that the event showcased not just diplomatic or friendly ties, but a profound sense of kinship between the two countries.

M/Gen Park Chang Kyu, Commander of the Air Defense and Control Command of ROKAF, conveyed his appreciation to the Filipino people for their steadfast trust and friendship for over 70 years and underscored the deep trust and close cooperation of both nations, marking a significant milestone in strengthening the bond even further.

Teodoro and Park were joined by His Excellency Lee Sang-Hwa, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines; LtGen Arthur M Cordura PAF, Acting Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of the Philippines; LtGen Stephen P Parreno PAF, Commanding General, PAF; and MGen Augustine S Malinit PAF, Vice Commander, PAF.

Officers from the DND and AFP General Headquarters, Foreign Armed Forces Attaches, Commanders of Major Service and Unified Commands, Government Officials, and guests from the Filipino and Korean communities also witnessed the event.

This three-day airshow, open to the public until March 5, also features an exhibit of different Korean defense companies.
South Africa is about to lose the war on criminality as its official statistics reported the highest murder per capita rate in 2023 at 45 per 100,000, up 50% compared to 2012 levels.

Theft, kidnapping, and random shooting have become commonplace in a country plagued by the corruption of its ruling elites.

In 2023, Pretoria (South Africa) ranked first in the crime index among African cities, with a rating of roughly 82 index points. The five most dangerous areas on the continent were South African cities, Statista said on its website.

Just a day ago, a news that may sound shocking in other normal countries looks so common in crime-plagued South Africa. The BBC reported a university student has been killed and another seriously injured by stray bullets as gunmen shot dead two men in a parked car on a busy street near the center of the South African city of Johannesburg.

According to a 2022 risk assessment of South Africa, conducted by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the figures for kidnapping for ransom and extortion could be much higher than what is reported to the police.

Racial crime is also on the surge pushing many whites to leave the country as top ruling party leaders condone killing the Boer in their political gatherings.

Socio-economic elements, such as poverty, unemployment, and inadequate living conditions, underpin violence, mainly for younger men.
Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reaffirmed, Sunday March 3, the unwavering positions, and steadfast decisions of the GCC Supreme Council supporting the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and the preservation of peace and security of Morocco.

These commitments that also endorse the autonomy initiative as the only solution to the settlement of the Sahara conflict within the framework of Moroccos sovereignty and national and territorial integrity were reaffirmed during the ministerial joint meeting, which brought together Sunday at the headquarters of the GCC Secretariat General in Riyadh, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the GCC countries and their Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

The Foreign Minister of Qatar and chairman of the current session of the GCC, Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, underlined that the Council countries reaffirm their unwavering support for the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and their firm attachment to the kingdoms territorial integrity, as well as their support for relevant UN decisions.

For his part, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi reiterated the Councils positions and resolutions supporting the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and highlighting the importance of the strategic cooperation between the GCC and Morocco.

The Gulf Cooperation Council also welcomed the nomination of the Kingdom of Morocco for membership in the United Nations Security Council for the term 2028-2029.

The joint meeting also emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts to implement the joint action plans agreed upon within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two sides.

This meeting is part of the strong relations and the comprehensive and renewed strategic partnership between Morocco and the GCC countries, whose foundations were laid by King Mohammed VI and the leaders of the GCC member countries, at the Morocco-GCC Summit, held on April 20, 2016 in Riyadh.

The GCC is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
 Flash

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng addresses the annual appreciation dinner of the American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China (AmCham China), in Beijing, capital of China, March 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Yue Yuewei)

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng on Friday called on the business circles of China and the United States to consolidate the foundation of friendship and mutual trust and expand cooperation areas.

Han made the remarks when addressing the annual appreciation dinner of the American Chamber of Commerce in the People's Republic of China (AmCham China) in Beijing.

Noting that this year marks the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, Han said the business circles of the two countries are participants, witnesses and contributors to the bilateral cooperation, and will be pioneers in the future.

Han said the Chinese economy has strong resilience, potential and vast space, and new drivers and advantages are still growing.

China will unswervingly expand opening up at a high level, continue to reduce the negative list for foreign investment access, effectively guarantee the national treatment for foreign enterprises, and foster a market-oriented, law-based and international business environment to provide more opportunities for foreign companies to develop in China, Han said.

Han welcomed more U.S. companies to invest and develop in China, calling on AmCham China to keep in mind its original intention and forge ahead, strengthen communication with the Chinese organizations, and jointly push for more results in China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation.
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:

In a finding that unearths yet another way Long COVID can harm health, new research finds the condition may trigger thinking declines.

Published Thursday in the New England Journal of Medicine, the study involved cognitive testing on nearly 113,000 people in England. It found that those with Long COVID scored 6 IQ points lower than people who had never been infected with the virus.

Even folks who didn't suffer lingering symptoms after a bout of COVID scored slightly lower than people who had never been infectedin this case, by 3 IQ points.

Still, the differences in scores were small and experts stressed the findings don't mean that COVID causes profound deficits in thinking and memory. However, they do provide proof that the brain fog many folks who get Long COVID experience is likely not imagined.

"These emerging and coalescing findings are generally highlighting that, yes, there is cognitive impairment in Long COVID survivorsit's a real phenomenon," James Jackson, a neuropsychologist at Vanderbilt Medical Center who wasn't involved in the study, told the New York Times.

Luckily, the latest study suggests that if people's Long COVID symptoms resolve themselves, the related thinking impairments might also ease. Study volunteers who had Long COVID for months before finally recovering eventually had testing scores similar to those who had experienced a quick recovery.

Importantly, the standard variation on an IQ score is about 15 points, so a shift of 3, or even 6, points is not usually considered significant, the Times reported.

Still, Jackson, who wrote a book about Long COVID titled "Clearing the Fog," said that while the tests "identify relatively mild deficits," that can still make a difference in some cases.

"If you're an engineer and you have a slight decline in executive functioning, that's a problem," he noted.

In the study, led by researchers at Imperial College London (ICL), nearly 113,000 completed an online cognitive test during the last five months of 2022. About 46,000 of the respondents said they had never had COVID, while another 46,000 who had been infected said their illness lasted less than four weeks.

Meanwhile, about 3,200 people had post-COVID symptoms lasting four to 12 weeks after infection and about 3,900 people had symptoms that went beyond 12 weeks. Of those, 2,580 people were still having Long COVID symptoms when they took the test.

The test consisted of eight tasks designed to evaluate skills such as spatial planning, verbal reasoning, word definitions and memory.

Senior study author Paul Elliott, chair of epidemiology and public health medicine at ICL, told the Times that the study measured performance at only one point in time, so it was impossible to know if other stresses in people's lives had played a part in their test scores.

The lowest scores were generally seen in people who had infections earlier in the pandemic, before vaccines and antiviral treatments were available. Meanwhile, people who had been vaccinated performed somewhat better than those who had not.

Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development at the V.A. St. Louis Health Care System who co-wrote an editorial accompanying the study, said the findings raise many questions, including how significant the deficits were in real life.

"The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic produced in its wake millions of persons affected with Long COVID, some of whom have had or are currently having cognitive challenges," the editorial stated. "A deeper understanding of the biology of cognitive dysfunction after SARS-CoV-2 infection and how best to prevent and treat it are critical for addressing the needs of affected persons and preserving the cognitive health of populations."

More information: Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more about Long COVID. Journal information: New England Journal of Medicine

Copyright  2024 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
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:

One characteristic measles symptom is a rash that spreads from the face to the rest of the body. Credit: CDC/Heinz F. Eichenwald, MD

"You don't count your children until the measles has passed." Dr. Samuel Katz, one of the pioneers of the first measles vaccine in the late 1950s to early 1960s, regularly heard this tragic statement from parents in countries where the measles vaccine was not yet available, because they were so accustomed to losing their children to measles.

I am a pediatrician and preventive medicine physician, and I have anxiously watched measles cases rise worldwide while vaccination rates have dropped since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic due to disruptions in vaccine access and the spread of vaccine misinformation.

In 2022 alone, there were over 9 million measles cases and 136,000 deaths worldwide, an 18% and 43% increase from the year before, respectively. The World Health Organization warned that over half the world's countries are at high risk of measles outbreaks this year.

The U.S. is no exception. The country is on track to have one of the worst measles years since 2019, when Americans experienced the largest measles outbreak in 30 years. As of mid-February 2024, at least 15 states have reported measles cases and multiple ongoing, uncontained outbreaks.

While this measles crisis unfolds, U.S. measles vaccination rates are at the lowest levels in 10 years. Prominent figures like the Florida surgeon general are responding to local outbreaks in ways that run counter to science and public health recommendations. The spread of misinformation and disinformation from anti-vaccine activists online further promotes misguided ideas that measles is not a serious health threat and measles vaccination is not essential.

However, the evidence is clear: Measles is extremely dangerous for everyone, and especially for young children, pregnant people and people with compromised immune systems. But simple and effective tools are available to prevent it.

Measles is a serious illness

Measles is one of the most deadly infectious diseases in human history. Before a vaccine became available in 1963, around 30 million people were infected with measles and 2.6 million people died from the disease every year worldwide. In the U.S., measles was responsible for an estimated 3 million to 4 million infections. Among reported cases, there were 48,000 hospitalizations, 1,000 cases of encephalitis, or brain swelling, and 500 deaths every year.

Measles is also one of the most contagious infectious diseases. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to 9 out of 10 people exposed to an infected person will become infected if they don't have protection from vaccines. The measles virus can stay in the air and infect others for up to two hours after a contagious person has left the room. Measles can also hide in an unknowing victim for one to two weeks and sometimes up to 21 days before symptoms begin. Infected people can spread measles for up to four days before they develop its characteristic rash, and up to four days after.

Measles is on the rise across the U.S. once again, despite being eliminated in 2000.

The initial symptoms of measles are similar to those of many other common viral illnesses in the U.S.: fever, cough, runny nose and red eyes. Several days after symptoms begin, characteristic tiny white spots develop inside the mouth, and a facial rash spreads to the rest of the body.

While most people's symptoms improve, 1 in 5 unvaccinated children will be hospitalized, 1 out of every 1,000 will develop brain swelling that can lead to brain damage, and up to 3 of every 1,000 will die. For unvaccinated people who are pregnant, measles infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth and low birth weight.

The risk of severe complications from measles persists even after a person appears to be fully recovered. In rare cases, people can experience a brain disease called subacute sclerosing panencephalitis that develops seven to 10 years after infection and leads to memory loss, involuntary movements, seizures, blindness and eventually death.

Beyond these individual health effects, the financial cost to society for containing measles outbreaks is significant. For example, a 2019 measles outbreak in Washington state is estimated to have cost US$3.4 million. Necessary efforts to control measles outbreaks pull millions of dollars' worth of critical resources away from other essential public health functions such as ensuring food safety, preventing injuries and chronic diseases, and responding to disasters.

Vaccines protect against measles

Why put communities at risk and allow these societal costs from measles when effective and safe tools are available to protect everyone?

Measles vaccines have been so effective, providing lifelong protection to over 97% of people who receive two vaccine doses, that they are victims of their own success. Initial widespread measles vaccination had reduced measles cases by 99% compared to before the vaccine was available, and consequently, most people in the U.S. are unaware of the seriousness of this disease.

Despite the success of highly effective vaccination programs in the U.S., anyone can still come into contact with measles in their community. Measles is most often brought into the U.S. by unvaccinated American travelers returning home and sometimes from foreign visitors. For people traveling out of the country, the threat of measles exposure is even greater, with widespread outbreaks occurring in many travel destinations.

Public health leaders who embrace and promote vaccination and follow simple, proven infectious disease containment measures can help prevent measles disease spread. Every single preventable illness, complication, hospitalization or death from measles is one too many.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
SAN FRANCISCO  In California, a high school teacher complains that students watch Netflix on their phones during class. In Maryland, a chemistry teacher says students use gambling apps to place bets during the school day.

Around the country, educators say students routinely send Snapchat messages in class, listen to music and shop online, among countless other examples of how smartphones distract from teaching and learning.

The hold that phones have on adolescents in America today is well-documented, but teachers say parents are often not aware to what extent students use them inside the classroom. And increasingly, educators and experts are speaking with one voice on the question of how to handle it: Ban phones during classes.

Students used to have an understanding that you arent supposed to be on your phone in class. Those days are gone, said James Granger, who requires students in his science classes at a Los Angeles-area high school to place their phones in a cellphone cubby with numbered slots. The only solution that works is to physically remove the cellphone from the student.

Most schools already have rules regulating student phone use, but they are enforced sporadically. A growing number of leaders at the state and federal levels have begun endorsing school cellphone bans and suggesting new ways to curb access to the devices.

The latest state intervention came in Utah, where Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, last month urged all school districts and the state Board of Education to remove cellphones from classrooms. He cited studies that show learning improves, distractions are decreased and students are more likely to talk to each other if phones are taken away.

We just need a space for six or seven hours a day where kids are not tethered to these devices, Cox told reporters this month. He said his initiative, which is not binding, is part of a legislative push to protect kids in Utah from the harms of social media.

Last year, Florida became the first state to crack down on phones in school. A law that took effect in July requires all Florida public schools to ban student cellphone use during class time and block access to social media on district Wi-Fi. Some districts, including Orange County Public Schools, went further and banned phones the entire school day.

Oklahoma, Vermont and Kansas have also recently introduced what is becoming known as "phone-free schools" legislation.

And two U.S. senators  Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, and Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat  introduced legislation in December that would require a federal study on the effects of cellphone use in schools on students' mental health and academic performance. Theirs is one of several bipartisan alliances calling for stiffer rules for social media companies and greater online safety for kids.

Nationally, 77% of U.S. schools say they prohibit cellphones at school for non-academic use, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

But that number is misleading. It does not mean students are following those bans or all those schools are enforcing them.

Just ask teachers.

Cellphone use is out of control. By that, I mean that I cannot control it, even in my own classroom, said Patrick Truman, who teaches at a Maryland high school that forbids student use of cellphones during class. It is up to each teacher to enforce the policy, so Truman bought a 36-slot caddy for storing student phones. Still, every day, students hide phones in their laps or under books as they play video games and check social media.

Tired of being the phone police, he has come to a reluctant conclusion: Students who are on their phones are at least quiet. They are not a behavior issue.

A study last year from Common Sense Media found that 97% of kids use their phones during school hours, and that kids say school cellphone policies vary  often from one classroom to another  and arent always enforced.

For a school cellphone ban to work, educators and experts say the school administration must be the one to enforce it and not leave that task to teachers. The Phone-Free Schools Movement, an advocacy group formed last year by concerned mothers, says policies that allow students to keep phones in their backpacks, as many schools do, are ineffective.

If the bookbag is on the floor next to them, its buzzing and distracting, and they have the temptation to want to check it, said Kim Whitman, a co-founder of the group, which advises schools to require phones be turned off and locked away all day.

Some students say such policies take away their autonomy and cut off their main mode of communication with family and friends. Pushback also has come from parents who fear being cut off from their kids if there is a school emergency. Whitman advises schools to make exceptions for students with special educational and medical needs, and to inform parents on expert guidance that phones can be a dangerous distraction for students during an emergency.

Jaden Willoughey, 14, shares the concern about being out of contact with his parents if there's a crisis. But he also sees the upsides of turning in his phone at school.

At Delta High School in rural Utah, where Jaden is a freshman, students are required to check their phones at the door when entering every class. Each of the schools 30 or so classrooms has a cellphone storage unit that looks like an over-the-door shoe bag with three dozen smartphone-sized slots.

It helps you focus on your work, and its easier to pay attention in class, Jaden said.

A classmate, Mackenzie Stanworth, 14, said it would be hard to ignore her phone if it was within reach. Its a relief, she said, to take a break from the screen and the social life on your phone and actually talk to people in person.

It took a few years to tweak the cellphone policy and find a system that worked, said Jared Christensen, the schools vice principal.

At first it was a battle. But it has been so worth it, he said. Students are more attentive and engaged during class time. Teachers are able to teach without competing with cellphones. And student learning has increased, he said, citing test scores that are at or above state averages for the first time in years. I cant definitively say its because of this policy. But I know its helping.

The next battle will be against earbuds and smartwatches, he said. Even with phones stashed in pouches, students get caught listening to music on air pods hidden under their hair or hoodies. We havent included earbuds in our policy yet. But were almost there.

Educators and families are divided on banning phones in classrooms. Is locking up phones the solution? Educators and families are divided on banning phones in classrooms. Is locking up phones the solution? Cell phones: distractions or essential life lines? 'The extreme end'
As Aspen Decker told a story in the Salish language and used hand signs, members of the largely non-Native audience at the Montana Natural History Center followed along, occasionally nodding their heads and laughing at comedic moments.

While most members in the audience didnt know Salish, when Aspen paused to ask, What did I just say? many could correctly tell her The coyote and fox are walking near a river or The coyote climbed a cliff.

People could follow Aspens story because moments earlier, she and her husband, Cameron Decker, taught the crowd some signs  two fingers in the air symbolizes Coyote, for example.

This is the same way Aspen learned to speak Salish years ago  by listening closely and by watching people sign.

Language loss

As a result of harmful U.S. assimilation policies, many Indigenous languages, including Salish, are considered critically endangered, meaning the youngest speakers are elders.

In 1904, as part of the federal government's strategy to erase tribal cultures, Congress passed the Flathead Allotment Act, which ultimately contributed to the loss of more than 60% of the Flathead land base. Signed by President Theodore Roosevelt, the act allotted land to individual tribal members, disrupting the communal form of land ownership.

Six years later, officials designated many reservation lands as surplus, and the Flathead Reservation was officially opened to non-Native settlement. That violated the 1855 Hell Gate Treaty, which designated the Flathead Reservation as a place for the exclusive use and benefit of said confederated tribes.

Thompson Smith, a Selis-Qlispe Culture Committee staff member, told Lee Montana in 2022 that the influx of non-Natives living on the Flathead Reservation dramatically changed the economic and social environment. Prior to 1910, the economy was controlled by the tribes, so all store owners had to learn the Salish or Kootenai languages to conduct business. After 1910, however, Thompson said the system was precisely inverted."

Many of the store owners were now homesteaders, he said. When Indian people who didnt know English went to stores on the reservation, they had trouble getting served and were treated with disrespect.

As the economy shifted, Smith said Native parents stopped teaching their children to speak Salish and Kootenai.

They did it out of love, he said. They felt these werent the languages of the world anymore. To give their kids a chance to make it, they felt it was important for them to learn English.

Coyote event

Tribes today, however, are working to revitalize, teach and share their languages to promote culture, explore history and foster identity.

At the event, Aspen and Cameron both shared whats called a Coyote story. In Salish culture, Coyote is a well-meaning trickster. He makes mistakes by being greedy, foolish or selfish, and while he often dies in his adventures, each time, his friend Fox brings him back to life.

Characters like Coyote appear in cultural stories worldwide. The Blackfeet have Napi, a trouble-maker also known as Old Man, and the Navajo have a Spider Woman. Aspen called Coyote an intercultural character. Just as tribes in the area would trade goods, she said, theyd also trade stories, language and signs.

Coyote, Aspen said, teaches people how to be, and in some ways, how not to be.

Aspen explained that Coyote stories are only told in the winter. According to Salish tradition, if such stories are told in warmer seasons, a snake could come bite the storyteller.

Theres lots of landscape in these stories, Aspen explained to the crowd. Theres a lot of scientific knowledge embedded and how animals came to be. These stories are not just folk to us. Its our identity. Its our history. It is factual for us. Western science has backed up some of our Coyote stories through excavation.

While some stories and cultural knowledge are not meant to be shared, Aspen said she and her husband shared Coyote stories that are OK for public consumption. Cameron told a Coyote story that explains why the Clark Fork River has no salmon, and Aspen shared a story explaining why there are so many boulders in the Bitterroot Valley.

Its important to share these stories with people in our aboriginal Salish territory because a lot of people dont know our history, Aspen said later. This dates back thousands of years ago. Its our oldest history. We need to know these things.

Aspen and Cameron are raising four children  ages 11, 9, 6 and 5  to be bilingual. Aspen said she only speaks Salish to her kids.

I want them to stay in the language with me, she said.

To learn more about similar events, visit humanitiesmontana.org. For more on Cameron and Aspen Decker, visit olqwetkw.com.
Thursday was Sax and Fryers last day after a 140-year run.

Today is a sad day, said Kathleen McGuire, who has worked at the iconic store for 54 years.

I expect Ill be moving on to something new, said Marge Brandon, employed by the stationary and gift store for 46 years.

The crowds have been nonstop since noon, said Debbie Bradley, who has worked at Sax and Fryer for eight years.

She was previously employed by the legendary store in the 1970s. Bradley, who works two other remote part-time jobs, expressed thankfulness for the opportunity to be a part of Sax and Fryers 140 years in business.

The same three-woman crew has kept Sax and Fryer alive for nearly a decade. Before his passing in December 2023, the owner John Fryer, donated historically significant items from a collection of area artifacts to the Yellowstone Gateway Museum that his family had acquired over generations.

Sax and Fryer in some ways was a museum and definitely a time capsule. The signature musk of books and paper products, antique mechanical cash registers and even a typewriter on the back counter, served as a reminders of Livingston days gone by.

In the stores basement, where Fryer displayed his familys collection of historic items, there is a photography and dark room. Fryers desk remains there as it was when he left it for the last time nearly half a decade ago.

We didnt know there would be this many people here today, said Chris Bruha, a friend of Fryers and local realtor, who managed the property for the last 25 years. Four individuals inherited the property after Johns passing. They are going to have a lot of decisions to make.

Bruha said the situation was uncertain if the Sax and Fryer building would be sold in the near future or at all.

If it is sold, it will be sold at market value, added Bruha, who explained the situation was entirely dependent on what the new owners decide.

Hanging around with John is my greatest memory of this place, Bruha said, lingering in the store with other patrons in the last hours of its final day. He was a great storyteller and positive force in the community. The ladies working the store and I, we all loved John like a little family.

At 5 p.m., an American flag positioned on the street, mere feet from tile spelling the name of the Livingston staple store, was taken down and put inside for the last time.

The few remaining customers lingered, savoring the final moments of the stores nearly century and a half of existence.
SAN FRANCISCO  In California, a high school teacher complains that students watch Netflix on their phones during class. In Maryland, a chemistry teacher says students use gambling apps to place bets during the school day.

Around the country, educators say students routinely send Snapchat messages in class, listen to music and shop online, among countless other examples of how smartphones distract from teaching and learning.

The hold that phones have on adolescents in America today is well-documented, but teachers say parents are often not aware to what extent students use them inside the classroom. And increasingly, educators and experts are speaking with one voice on the question of how to handle it: Ban phones during classes.

Students used to have an understanding that you arent supposed to be on your phone in class. Those days are gone, said James Granger, who requires students in his science classes at a Los Angeles-area high school to place their phones in a cellphone cubby with numbered slots. The only solution that works is to physically remove the cellphone from the student.

Most schools already have rules regulating student phone use, but they are enforced sporadically. A growing number of leaders at the state and federal levels have begun endorsing school cellphone bans and suggesting new ways to curb access to the devices.

The latest state intervention came in Utah, where Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, in January urged all school districts and the state Board of Education to remove cellphones from classrooms. He cited studies that show learning improves, distractions are decreased and students are more likely to talk to each other if phones are taken away.

We just need a space for six or seven hours a day where kids are not tethered to these devices, Cox told reporters recently. He said his initiative, which is not binding, is part of a legislative push to protect kids in Utah from the harms of social media.

Last year, Florida became the first state to crack down on phones in school. A law that took effect in July requires all Florida public schools to ban student cellphone use during class time and block access to social media on district Wi-Fi. Some districts, including Orange County Public Schools, went further and banned phones the entire school day.

Oklahoma, Vermont and Kansas have also recently introduced what is becoming known as "phone-free schools" legislation.

And two U.S. senators  Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Republican, and Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat  introduced legislation in December that would require a federal study on the effects of cellphone use in schools on students' mental health and academic performance. Theirs is one of several bipartisan alliances calling for stiffer rules for social media companies and greater online safety for kids.

Nationally, 77% of U.S. schools say they prohibit cellphones at school for non-academic use, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

But that number is misleading. It does not mean students are following those bans or all those schools are enforcing them.

Just ask teachers.

Cellphone use is out of control. By that, I mean that I cannot control it, even in my own classroom, said Patrick Truman, who teaches at a Maryland high school that forbids student use of cellphones during class. It is up to each teacher to enforce the policy, so Truman bought a 36-slot caddy for storing student phones. Still, every day, students hide phones in their laps or under books as they play video games and check social media.

Tired of being the phone police, he has come to a reluctant conclusion: Students who are on their phones are at least quiet. They are not a behavior issue.

A study last year from Common Sense Media found that 97% of kids use their phones during school hours, and that kids say school cellphone policies vary  often from one classroom to another  and arent always enforced.

For a school cellphone ban to work, educators and experts say the school administration must be the one to enforce it and not leave that task to teachers. The Phone-Free Schools Movement, an advocacy group formed last year by concerned mothers, says policies that allow students to keep phones in their backpacks, as many schools do, are ineffective.

If the bookbag is on the floor next to them, its buzzing and distracting, and they have the temptation to want to check it, said Kim Whitman, a co-founder of the group, which advises schools to require phones be turned off and locked away all day.

Some students say such policies take away their autonomy and cut off their main mode of communication with family and friends. Pushback also has come from parents who fear being cut off from their kids if there is a school emergency. Whitman advises schools to make exceptions for students with special educational and medical needs, and to inform parents on expert guidance that phones can be a dangerous distraction for students during an emergency.

Jaden Willoughey, 14, shares the concern about being out of contact with his parents if there's a crisis. But he also sees the upsides of turning in his phone at school.

At Delta High School in rural Utah, where Jaden is a freshman, students are required to check their phones at the door when entering every class. Each of the schools 30 or so classrooms has a cellphone storage unit that looks like an over-the-door shoe bag with three dozen smartphone-sized slots.

It helps you focus on your work, and its easier to pay attention in class, Jaden said.

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Cuvaison winery has unveiled a new tasting kit to give wine lovers a way to explore Cuvaisons acclaimed estate-grown wines  from the historic Tai Vineyard in the Los Carneros appellation of Napa Valley  in intimate at-home tastings.

Each Cuvaison Tasting Kit is made to order and features a customizable selection of three wines from Cuvaisons Small Lot and Micro Lot tiers in 100 mL sample bottles with screw cap closures, according to a news release. The sets are packaged in three-sample bottle Cuvaison gift boxes and include QR codes with additional information about each wine.

Cuvaison debuted the tasting kits as a gift option for the 2023 holidays and was thrilled by the response.

We are always looking for exciting new ways to engage our customers, especially those who cant regularly make it to our Tasting Salon in Los Carneros, said President and CEO Daniel Zepponi in the news release. One of the joys of a great tasting room experience is being able to explore different wines to find the ones you really love. Our tasting kits allow wine enthusiasts to have that same kind of tasting experience at home. The early response has been fantastic, and we are excited to expand the program with the addition of new wines throughout 2024.

The tasting kits are made to order using the new Coravin Vinitas device, which Cuvaison helped to beta test in 2021 and 2022. This proprietary system can transfer any wine directly from a finished bottle into smaller tasting bottles without exposure to air.

The current offerings include the 2022 Methode Beton Sauvignon Blanc, 2021 Coeurtina Chardonnay and 2021 Spire Pinot Noir. Once the three wines have been selected, each tube is hand-filled to order, providing roughly half a glass (3.4 ounces) per tube.

The debut Small Lot Tasting Kits are available for $50 and include shipping. Due to their small size, they may also be carried on airplanes.

This month, Cuvaison will expand its tasting kit program with a Spring Micro Lot Pinot Preview Tasting Kit, featuring the coveted 2022 Gaps Crown, Fiddlestix and 90.1 Pinot Noirs. This kit will provide customers with the opportunity to taste these eagerly anticipated, limited-production wines before their official summer release, when they will quickly sell out, according to the news release.

In June, the winery will begin offering customizable, made-to-order kits featuring all current Small Lot and Micro Lot wines in either three- or four-tube kits.

In advance of the 2024 holidays, Cuvaison will also unveil a Legacy Kit in October, featuring the winerys coveted ATS Chardonnay and Adda Pinot Noir, as well as the renowned ThS Cabernet Sauvignon from Cuvaisons sister winery, Brandlin Estate.

We couldnt be more excited about this program, added Zepponi. What really sets our tasting kits apart is the phenomenal quality of the wines and the care and customization that goes into each set.  Essentially, we are providing our customers the opportunity to bring our tasting salon experience into their homes. Other than coming for a visit, its the best way to try before you buy.

To learn more about Cuvaisons tasting kits, visit cuvaison.com/wines/gifting.

AAAV hosts Grapes of Inclusion wine festival at COPIA

The Association of African American Vintners (AAAV), hosts its biennial symposium and wine festival March 9-10, at CIA at COPIA in Napa.

Wine lovers, industry members and students are invited to taste and network with AAAV's membership of wine producers and professionals that has grown more than 500% since 2020, according to a news release.

Opportunities for professional development and networking on March 9 include two industry panel discussions, a luncheon featuring keynote speaker Donae Burston of La Fete Wine Company and an awards reception.

On March 10, the public is invited to the Grapes of Inclusion wine festival to taste wines and meet makers from Black-owned brands across America. Participating producers include Ampere Wines, Bass Note Botanical Wine Infusions, Bodkin Wines, Hedon State, Love Cork Screw, LoveLee Wine, Longevity Wines, J Moss Winery, Mad Marvlus, McBride Sisters Wine Company, Mom Juice, Progressive Wine Company, Sapere Wines, Sipping Sense, Stover Oaks Winery, The Vice and Theopolis Vineyards.

By gathering in person to learn and celebrate, we hope to refocus attention on the need for diversity in the wine industry and inspire others to join us and contribute to our mission, said Longevity Wines founder and winemaker Phil Long who became president of AAAV in 2020.

Founded in 2002, the AAAV stands as the go-to resource for advancing equity in the wine industry, according to a news release. Its mission is to provide comprehensive education, advocacy and community support not only for Black vintners but also for wine brands and industry professionals.

Symposium and festival tickets, including a weekend pass, are available at aaavintners.org.

Pawsport Napa Valley returns

Pawsport Napa Valley, a pet-friendly tasting event benefiting Napa Humane, is back for a fun-filled month of exclusive tastings, food pairings, discounts on bottle purchases, delectable treats for four-legged friends and more.

Participating wine partners include Jessup Cellars, HALL Wines and Pine Ridge Vineyards. This years event has 23 participating businesses including the notably dog-friendly restaurants Napa Yard and Southside Cafe.

Proceeds from Pawsport Napa Valley 2024 benefit Napa Humanes low-cost spay/neuter clinic, which performs more than 20 surgeries daily in a single surgery suite, as well as Napa Humanes vaccine and microchip clinic, which sees an average of 60 dogs, cats and rabbits each week.

Each $60 Pawsport provides participants with over $900 in food and wine experiences and goodies across Napa Valley  all while helping Napa Humane cover the cost of providing one vulnerable pet with a wellness exam, vaccines and flea treatment.

Pawsports can be purchased online from the Napa Humane website: https://bit.ly/pawsport2024. Unique specials and activities available in March vary from destination to destination; more details are available from the participating businesses.

Napa Humane (the Humane Society of Napa County & SPCA) has served the Napa Valley since 1973, promoting the welfare of companion animals through protection, advocacy, education and by example.

For more information about Napa Humane, visit napahumane.org.
A California Assembly member is taking another crack at restricting state funding for universities that use legacy admissions, a practice of giving preferential treatment to relatives of alumni or donors.

Assembly Bill 1780 would prohibit Cal Grants from being given to universities that use the practice but would not ban it. The state's public universities, the University of California and California State University, do not consider legacy status in admissions, but private universities such as Stanford University and Santa Clara University do consider such relationships, though not as a sole criterion.

Cal Grants are the state's main form of student financial aid and often go directly to a university to pay for tuition. Unlike loans, the grants do not have to be repaid. In the 2022-23 school year, undergraduates at Stanford received a combined roughly $3.2 million, according to the university's website.

A spokesperson for Stanford said the university had not reviewed the bill or taken a position.

Assemblymember Phil Ting, D-San Francisco, announced the bill on Wednesday, but it was introduced in early January and was first heard in committee on Feb. 3. The bill is a repeat of his attempt to pass the same legislation in 2019 as Assembly Bill 697.

Although that bill did not ultimately pass with the Cal Grant restrictions, a version was signed into law that requires private universities to report data on legacy admissions to the state.

Ting said the new bill would address what he called a discrepancy in a U.S. Supreme Court decision in 2023 that ruled that universities cannot consider race as a factor in admissions. The ruling did not address legacy admissions, which Ting said disproportionately favor wealthier families.

"They have a back door, they have a side door, they have an express lane into our most elite institutions. I'm very, very concerned about that," Ting said in a news conference announcing the bill.

Ting pointed to a study from a group of Harvard economists that found that universities that use legacy admissions admit students with parents making over $600,000 a year at twice the rate of those making less, despite comparable SAT and ACT scores.

He said the state should not use Cal Grant money to effectively subsidize the practice of legacy admissions.

About 13.8% of Stanford University's newly admitted students in 2023 had ties to an alum or donor, according to Ting's office.

Similarly, about 13.1% of newly admitted students at Santa Clara University had ties to an alum or donor.

Eva Blanco Masias, vice president for enrollment management at Santa Clara University, said in an email that the university does not have a written legacy admissions policy and that several factors go into admissions decisions.

"All Santa Clara University students who are admitted are qualified, and legacy status alone is never determinative of a student's admission. Factors such as academic quality, leadership, preparedness, and resilience in the face of challenges are the key admissions considerations for students who apply."

The bill is supported by the nonprofit organization Campaign for College Opportunity, which advocates for greater access to higher education for all students.

Sara Arce, the nonprofit's senior vice president for policy and advocacy, said the bill could also address a legacy of admissions policies that favored white students in the past.

"The vast majority of California's college-age population are first-generation, Black, Latinx, Asian American, Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander students who do not benefit from legacy admissions but have the most to gain from a college education," Arce said.

She said that legacy admissions perpetuate racism of past decades when colleges and universities were closed to those students.

The bill will have further hearings in the spring, according to Ting.
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 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday congratulated Shehbaz Sharif on his election as prime minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

Xi noted he believes that under the leadership of Sharif and the new Pakistani government, and with the united efforts of all walks of life in Pakistan, the country will definitely achieve new and greater accomplishments in the cause of national development and progress.

Xi stressed that China and Pakistan should continue their traditional friendship, strengthen exchanges and cooperation in all fields, jointly build an upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, continue to deepen the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, and build a closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, so as to bring more benefits for the people of the two countries.

On the same day, Chinese Premier Li Qiang sent a congratulatory message to Sharif.
19:28

The Congress on Sunday said no amount of "slick PR" can hide the manner in which the Indian Railways has been "utterly mismanaged" during the Modi government, with Rahul Gandhi alleging that policies for the national transporter were being framed keeping only the rich in mind.

Gandhi also claimed that the trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a "guarantee of betrayal".

In a post in Hindi on X, Gandhi alleged that by showing the dream of making those wearing "hawai chappal" (slippers) travel by "hawai jahaz" (airplane), Prime Minister Modi is even distancing them from "gareebon ki sawari" (vehicle of the poor) railways.

"Amidst a 10 per cent increase in fare every year, loot in the name of dynamic fare, rising cancellation charges and expensive platform tickets, people are being lured by showing them a picture of an 'elite train' that the poor cannot even set foot on," the former Congress chief said.

The government has collected Rs 3,700 crore from senior citizens in the last three years by "snatching away" the exemptions given to them, he claimed.

Common persons' trains are made to languish to give precedence to the train selected for publicity, Gandhi alleged.

He claimed that the poor and middle class passengers have been left out of railways' priority.

"To increase the number of AC coaches, the number of general coaches is being reduced. Not only labourers and farmers but also students and service class people travel in these (general) coaches. The production of AC coaches has also been increased to three times that of normal coaches," he alleged.

"In fact, ending the tradition of presenting the Railway Budget separately was a conspiracy to hide these exploits," Gandhi charged.

The railways' policies are being framed keeping only the rich in mind and this is a "betrayal" of 80 per cent of India's population that depends on it, he said.

"Trust in Modi is a 'guarantee of betrayal'," Gandhi claimed.

In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, "No amount of slick PR, social media posts by Ministers, and grand announcements can hide the manner in which the Indian Railways has been utterly mismanaged during the Modi regime - a decade of degradation with an anti-poor mindset."

Ramesh said five key issues have emerged - "ticket vasooli, anti-poor infrastructure priorities, lagging train speeds, callous attitude to passenger safety and deteriorating railways finances".

Explaining the issues, Ramesh said the railways reports an average price per passenger, per km.

In 2013-14, this was Rs 0.32/passenger-km and by 2021-22, this had more than doubled to Rs 0.66/passenger-km, a 107% increase, he said.

"If we compare this to the UPA's performance from 2003-4 to 2013-14, we see a much more reasonable increase from Rs 0.24 to Rs 0.32 (a 33% increase). @INCIndia sees the Railways as the backbone of India's society and economy, not just as a vehicle for vasooli collection!" Ramesh said.

"If we look past the averages and at specific ticket types, the Vasooli becomes even more clear and insidious. We must credit the Modi government for coming up with so many different ways to extort India's people!" Ramesh said.

The following four tactics are deployed for "Vasooli" - fake superfast surcharges, senior citizen concessions withdrawn, dynamic pricing fraud and long extensions of so-called 'special' trains, the Congress leader said.

He said the first means for "ticket vasooli" is the fake 'superfast surcharges', adding that originally meant to apply only to premium trains, it has now been applied to any train service the Modi government chooses.

In October 2022, for example, over 130 ordinary mail express trains across the country were labelled as "superfast", he said.

Passengers are being made to pay up to Rs 180 extra per reservation in sleeper class, without even getting any real improvement in speed or quality, he claimed and tagged a media report on it.

"In fact, the CAG found that up to 95 per cent of 'superfast'-tagged trains are delayed or do not attain superfast speed, despite collecting crores in surcharges," he alleged.

"In a move that requires a special kind of cruelty, the Modi government withdrew rail ticket concessions for senior citizens during the COVID-19 pandemic. Senior citizens who may be relying on trains for pilgrimage, to visit their children, or to avail medical treatment, are now being charged much higher fares," the Congress general secretary said.

In the three years since this policy, over Rs 3,700 crore has been "looted" from senior citizens, Ramesh said.

"Dynamic pricing fraud is perhaps the most visible form of loot by the Modi government. Fares are hiked up by up to 50% on high-demand routes, leading to unaffordability for poor travellers.

"For example, the ticket price for Mumbai to Patna in 2013-2014 was Rs 533 for sleeper class. It has since jumped to Rs 2625 for sleeper class during festivals due to dynamic pricing," he said. -- PTI
Ailing Norwegian king returning from Malaysia

A Scandinavian Airlines aircraft, believed to carry Norway's King Harald V, prepares for take-off. Photo: AFP

King Harald of Norway was returning home from Malaysia on Sunday after falling ill on holiday and spending several days in hospital, the royal palace said.



The oldest reigning monarch in Europe at 87 years old, Harald contracted an infection on a trip to the island of Langkawi and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday.



The palace said on Saturday that he had been fitted with a "temporary" pacemaker, which his personal physician said would make his return safer.



The palace said in a statement on Sunday that Harald would "soon be on his way to Langkawi Airport for medical transportation", and would be joined by Queen Sonja.



"Upon arrival in Norway, His Majesty will be admitted to the hospital Rikshospitalet" in Oslo, the statement continued.



"His Majesty will be on sick leave for two weeks."



A medical plane believed to be transporting the king took off from Langkawi on Sunday afternoon, after police escorted a convoy that included an ambulance from the hospital to the airport, an AFP journalist saw.



Langkawi air traffic control earlier told AFP that a medical plane operated by Scandinavian airline SAS was due to depart on Sunday.



The flight is due to land in Oslo at 2259 GMT, according to specialist website Flightradar.



Harald needs crutches to get around and has suffered a series of health issues in recent years.



He caught a respiratory infection in January, days after dismissing speculation that he might abdicate, following the lead of distant cousin Queen Margrethe II in Denmark.



In his absence, Crown Prince Haakon, 50, has stepped in as regent. (AFP)
In the videos, Sushil Kumar Shinde with his wife can be seen making his way towards the venue.

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Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani's youngest son, Anant Ambani, is set to tie the knot with industrialist Viren Merchant's daughter, Radhika Merchant, later this year.

Several videos and pictures from the Saturday gala night went viral on social media.

Day 2 was filled with electrifying performances of celebrities and other cute moments from the event.Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Sidharth Malhotra, Kiara Advani, Saif Ali Khan, Varun Dhawan, Anil Kapoor, Sara Ali Khan, Ibrahim Ali Khan, Ananya Panday and Aditya Roy Kapur. Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt are also attending the mega bash.

Day 1 of the festivities witnessed a special drone show followed by a splendid performance by pop sensation Rihanna.

Founder and chairperson of Reliance Foundation, Nita Ambani spoke about the pre-wedding function of her son, Anant Ambani, with Radhika Merchant.

She shared the relevance of art and culture and how she is "passionate" about it, saying, "Throughout my life I have been inspired by arts and culture. It has deeply moved me and I am very passionate about it."While talking about her son's wedding she mentioned, "When it came to my youngest son Anant's wedding with Radhika, I had two important wishes - first, I wanted to celebrate our roots...Jamnagar holds a special place in our hearts and has a profound significance. Gujarat is where we come from, it's where Mukesh and his father built the refinery and I started my career by converting this arid and desert-like area into a lush green township and a vibrant community."(ANI)
Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said on Saturday that the state government and central government aim to stand with the people, not by creating problems, but by resolving them. Addressing a press conference, Saha said that the tripartite agreement was signed in Delhi on Saturday in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, focusing on the implementation of various constitutional rights for indigenous people. "Today marks a historic day for Tripura. This agreement holds immense significance at present. Tipra Motha has been actively engaging with the State and Central Governments for a long time to address their issues. Discussions have taken place on numerous occasions, and finally, the historic day has arrived," said Saha. He emphasised the government's commitment to maintaining peace and harmony in Tripura, expressing the intention to be with the people by solving problems rather than creating them. The Chief Minister extended his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and Tipra Motha Founder Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma for their roles in signing the agreement. He said that February 2, 2024, indeed marked a historic day for Tripura with the signing of a tripartite agreement addressing the overall welfare of the people. The agreement involved the Central Government, the Tripura Government, and Tipra Motha. During the press conference, Saha highlighted the Central Government's commitment to advancing development by establishing peace in the Northeastern states. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritised the development of the Northeastern region, recognising that the country's progress is tied to the development of the region. Today's tripartite agreement is a significant step towards building Ek Tripura Srestha Tripura through collective efforts nationwide," said Saha. He acknowledged the efforts of the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister in restoring peace in the north-eastern states. Saha emphasised that the historic agreement addresses issues related to history, land rights, political rights, economic development, identity, culture, and language of the people of Tripura. "The agreement also outlines the formation of a joint working group, based on mutual consent, to respectfully implement solutions to various problems faced by the indigenous people. Additionally, to maintain a conducive environment for agreement implementation, parties involved are urged to refrain from any form of protest or demonstration," he added. (ANI)
Delhi's Tis Hazari Court has remanded an ICICI bank manager in four days police custody in a case of cheating and criminal breach of trust. The man has been accused of duping an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) woman of Rs 13.5 crores. The Delhi Police EOW has registered a case against the accused along with others. Chief Metropolitan Magistrate (CMM) Sonam Gupta on Friday remanded Varun Vashishta in four-day police custody. He is to be produced before the court on March 5, 2024. "Considering the fact that the custodial interrogation of the accused is required for the purpose of unearthing the entire conspiracy as well as to collect evidence from the bank and to confront the accused with the bank officials and staff, the application moved by the IO concerned stands allowed for four days," CMM Gupta said on Friday. Delhi Police sought 10 days of remand to investigate the case and unearth the entire conspiracy. An FIR has been lodged on the complaint of Shveta Sharma, who alleged that accused Varun had lured her to invest her money in FDs for high returns, however, they turned out to be fake FDs and the complainant was being cheated with an amount of Rs. 13.5 crore. Delhi police moved an application seeking ten days of custodial remand for accused Varun. Investigation Officer (IO) moved an application seeking ten days of PC remand for accused Varun Vashishta, as he was arrested on 29.02.2024 and he has to unearth the entire conspiracy as well as to probe the role of other accused persons and confront/verify various documents which were fabricated by the accused in bank. It was further submitted by the IO that he has to get the accused identified and confronted with the bank staff. Advocate Prabhav Ralli appeared for the complainant, Shveta Sharma, and supported the application moved by the IO. On the other hand, counsel for the accused opposed the application. He submitted that the accused has been cooperating in the investigation. He has been falsely implicated in the present case. On February 26, 2024, the Delhi police registered an FIR against eight people, including Varun and two women, under sections 409, 420, 467, 468, 471 and 120B of IPC. (ANI)
Desai has been asked to appear for questioning on March 5 with regard to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde) allegation that the Uddhav Thackeray faction withdrew party funds even after the Election Commission recognised the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena, said Mumbai police.

The Election Commission recognised the Shinde faction as the real Shiv Sena in February 2023.

The Shiv Sena split in June last year after Eknath Shinde, who was then a minister in the Uddhav Thackeray cabinet, splintered a coup within the ranks of the party and formed an alliance with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), securing the Chief Minister's post for himself.

The EOW is probing the details of the fund withdrawal and who withdrew them. The agency also received details of the withdrawal from the bank officer concerned.

Balaji Kinikar, Treasurer of Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, met Mumbai Commissioner of Police Vivek Phansalkar and filed a written complaint of fraud and forgery against Shiv Sena (UBT) officials on January 30.

He claimed that the rival faction was misusing PAN and TAN details and fraudulently filing TDS and income tax returns of the party. (ANI)
After the bomb blast at Rameshwaram Cafe in Bengaluru, the co-founder and CEO of the eatery, Raghavendra Rao, said that both the Union government and the state government should ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future and called for strict action. On Friday, at least ten people sustained injuries and are currently undergoing treatment following an explosion at the restaurant. "I request the government of Karnataka and India to make sure that this incident should not happen anywhere in India," Raghavendra told reporters, extending his solidarity with the people and staff who were injured in the incident. "I want to convey my strong regards to people who have got hurt. I wanted to say that we are with them, their family" Raghavendra said. "One woman lost her eyes, and we are there with her. We are with our staff, four or five people, who are hurt very badly. We need all your blessings to show what the power of youth is and to say we are Indians and we are no less than anybody. We're going to launch on Friday with a good bang. And we need all of your support," he added. Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah visited those injured in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast admitted to hospitals in Bengaluru on Saturday and assured them that the government would cover their medical expenses. "The government will bear the treatment charges for all the patients. Around ten people are injured. Three are here at Brookfield Hospital and six others are admitted to Vydehi Hospital. I am also going there. The patients are recovering and responding very well to the treatment," Siddaramaiah told reporters. The chief minister also visited the site of the explosion that took place at the popular eatery located in the city's Whitefield area on the afternoon of March 1. Dr Pradeep Kumar, the Medical Director of Brookfield Hospital, said, "We are happy with the overall response of all three patients admitted at our hospital. A patient in the ICU has had a post-operative turbulent period. As a result of her surgery and anaesthesia effects, her BP was low and her blood sugar levels were high. Her overall condition is fine and showing signs of improvement... Psychological help to boost their confidence and overcome stress is also being provided to the patients. Other patients will be discharged in another 24-48 hours." Meanwhile, former Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai strongly criticised the Congress over the blast incident, alleging that the anti-national elements receive support from ruling party leaders. "From day one this government has failed in maintaining law and order. Anti-national elements are getting a lot of support from the leaders of the ruling party and the morale of police has gone low. Huge corruption in the transfer of police has brought inefficient people to important positions. All the anti-social elements are now roaming in the city and now they have got the guts to put the bomb in Bengaluru. This is linked to terrorist elements and there are some sleeper cells in Bengaluru. During our time, we detected 15 of them (sleeper cells) and put them behind bars. Appeasement politics by this govt has led to all this. The case should be handed over to the NIA and if this is not done, this govt should quit," Bommai said. (ANI)
After Prime Minister Narendra Modi lashed out at the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) during his two-day visit to West Bengal, party leader Kunal Ghosh said that the PM is commenting on the schemes of Bengal as a BJP worker, which is "cheap politics" and "not right." "PM Modi is commenting on the schemes of Bengal government as a BJP worker and not as a PM. His (BJP) government has given credit to the Bengal government. Bengal got the first prize for the scheme of the 100 days (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act). It is the Central government appreciating the good work of Bengal," Ghosh told ANI on Saturday. "But here, due to politics, they are maligning Bengal's image. This is cheap politics. This is not right," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday came down heavily on the ruling Trinamool Congress, claiming that "TMC goons and land mafias have been given a free hand for hooliganism in the state." "In West Bengal, TMC's goons and land mafias have been given open permission for hooliganism, but the TMC government is creating hurdles in environment-related permissions...," he said. "TMC means betrayal, corruption, and 'Pariwarwad'," PM Modi said. "TMC stands for 'Tu, Main aur corruption hi corruption'." The latest attack came after PM Modi on Saturday inaugurated and laid the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth Rs 15,000 crore in Krishnanagar city in West Bengal's Nadia District. (ANI)
After the Bharatiya Janata Party announced its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, All India Congress Committee Delhi in-charge Deepak Babaria has said that all the names were already assumed and they have done nothing new. Babaria alleged that there is doubt among the people that the BJP would be getting the majority through the EVM. "All the names were already assumed. They have done nothing new. The question is how much is the public going to accept the BJP. They keep talking about 400, they are not telling from where they are getting it. There is doubt among the people that they are getting the majority through the EVM and they are doing nothing to remove that doubt," he told ANI. Meanwhile, the BJP released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls on Saturday. According to the first list, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest the Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi again. Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Centre and States. Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, while Mansukh Mandaviya will contest from Porbandar. Union Minister Rajeev Chandrashekhar will contest from Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram. Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal will contest from Dibrugarh, Kiren Rijiju from Arunachal Pradesh. Former External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's daughter, Bansuri Swaraj, has been fielded from New Delhi. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will contest from Lucknow, and Smriti Irani will again contest from Amethi. BJP leader Alok Sharma will contest from Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh, while former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan will contest from Vidisha. Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2020, will contest from Guna in Madhya Pradesh. The BJP announced Lok Sabha candidates for 5 Delhi seats as well. BJP leader Manoj Tiwari will contest from North-East Delhi. Late leader Sushma Swaraj's daughter Bansuri Swara will contest from New Delhi. Kamaljeet Sehrawat will contest from West Delhi and Ramvir Singh Bidhuri from South Delhi. Praveen Khandelwal, Confederation of All India Traders chief, to contest from Delhi's Chandni Chowk. Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP-led National Democratic (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats. The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
Congress General Secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh on Sunday confirmed that Waynad MP, Rahul Gandhi will be participating in Rashtriya Janta Dal's (RJD) mega rally in Patna today. Providing updates on the ongoing "Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra" Ramesh, stated that today marks the 50th day of the yatra, noting changes as "Rahul Ji is set to visit Patna to join the Jan Vishwas Rally on Sunday." "Today is the 50th day of the Bharat Jodo Nanya Yatra, and there have been changes as Rahul Ji had to go to Patna for a major opposition rally. Rahul Ji will leave for Patna around 11:30 AM today, but this morning's program will focus on discussions related to Agniveer, followed by a roadshow in Mohana. From there, he will head to Patna. There won't be a Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in the afternoon today, but as decided earlier, we will continue the yatra in Shivpuri starting tomorrow," Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said. RJD supporters gathered at the residence of former Bihar CM & RJD leader Rabri Devi ahead of the party's Jan Vishwas Rally in Patna. Former Bihar CM & RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was also present. The Congress's 'Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra', entered Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. It aims to cover 6,700 km through 15 states, with Lok Sabha polls around the corner. Jairam Ramesh also shared insights into the Patna rally in which the Congress leader is going to participate. "Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, the Congress president, and Rahul Ji will all be present. It can be said that this is a massive rally, essentially an India rally," Congress MP Jairam Ramesh said. Addressing Nitish Kumar's recent presence at the PM's visit to Patna and his alliance choices, Jairam Ramesh asserted that Nitish Kumar has done what he intended to do. "Nitish Kumar has gone where he needed to (to the BJP), making his choices. But on the other hand, the INDI alliance is strong, and discussions on seat sharing are progressing well. Partnerships are forming with the NCP in Maharashtra, the Aam Aadmi Party, and the DMK. The most significant development is in UP, where we have already made an announcement," Jairam Ramesh said. The Prime Minister inaugurated, dedicated and laid the foundation stone of various projects in Begusarai, Bihar, on Saturday. Addressing a public rally here, PM Modi said, "Bihar has seen the loss of nepotism for decades and has suffered the sting of nepotism. Family dynasties and social justice are opposed to each other. PM Modi, who is on a visit to Bihar, inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of projects worth Rs 21,400 crore. Further, Jairam Ramesh commented on Jain Choudhary's RLD, dismissing it as fake, and affirmed that the real RLD stands with the Congress. He highlighted the authenticity witnessed in Aligarh, showcasing the support of genuine Lok Dal supporters. Regarding the BJP's seat announcement, he maintained that it is their internal matter, expressing confidence in the Congress's preparedness and focusing on their strategies. "It's an internal matter for the BJP; it doesn't concern us. We focus on our work, and they focus on theirs. Their internal dynamics, the number of candidates, and new faces are their affairs. Our strategy and preparations are in place. When the time comes, our seat announcement will happen," Jairam Ramesh said. On Saturday, the Bharatiya Janata Party released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will contest Lok Sabha elections from Varanasi again. Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Centre and States, while two are former chief ministers who are on the list. (ANI) .
The security personnel also apprehended four persons.

The Public Relations Officer of IGAR (East) said that, based on secret information, a joint team of Assam Rifles and Mizoram Police carried out two separate operations in New Hruikawn, Zokhawthar in Champhai district on March 1.

During the search operation, forces recovered 95 grams of heroin worth Rs 66.50 lakh in Zokhawthar and 155 grams of heroin and 10 cases of foreign origin Beer worth Rs 1.08 crore.

The PRO said that forces also apprehended four individuals.

"The entire consignment and four apprehended individuals were handed over to Police Department Zokhawthar for further legal proceedings," the PRO said.

On the other hand, in yet another success in its crusade against smuggling activities, Assam Rifles along with Special Narcotics Police Station, CID (Crime), Aizawl, recovered six soap cases containing 72.18 grams of heroin worth Rs 50,52,600 laks in general area Rangvamual, on February 29.

They also apprehended a Myanmar national during the operation."The recovered consignment and apprehended individuals were handed over to Special Narcotics Police Station, CID (Crime), Mizoram, for further legal proceedings," the PRO said.

Ongoing smuggling of illegal drugs is a major cause of concern for the state of Mizoram and India. Assam Rifles, rightly christened as the 'Sentinels of Northeast' have continued their efforts against illegal drug trafficking and has also doubled its efforts to nab the kingpins of the drug racket in Mizoram. (ANI)
As Congress leader Rahul Gandhi left for Patna to attend Rashtriya Janata Dal's 'Jan Vishwas Rally' today, party leaders said that since last night, the whole of Patna has been involved in the rally and everyone is excited to listen to the leaders of Mahagathbandhan. Rahul Gandhi paused his Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra for a day in Madhya Pradesh to take part in RJD's rally. Bihar Congress President Akhilesh Prasad Singh said that the Bharatiya Janata Party is going to lose here. "BJP is going to lose here. Since last night, the whole of Patna has been involved in the rally. There is not a single Panchayat who has not come here to attend it. Everyone is excited to listen to the leaders of Mahagathbandhan and to defeat all candidates of the BJP. Nitish Kumar's relevance in Bihar politics has diminished, and he is not a factor affecting it anymore," he said. Another Congress leader Shakeel Ahmad Khan emphasized that this rally is a tremendous success and hence the BJP is rattled. "This rally (RJD's Jan Vishwas Rally) is a tremendous success and hence the BJP is rattled. CM Nitish Kumar has no value in what he says. He (PM Modi) must have made false promises in his rally that the people of Bihar have been listening for the last 10 years, no one trusts them now," he said. Meanwhile, RJD supporters gathered at the residence of former Bihar CM & RJD leader Rabri Devi ahead of the party's Jan Vishwas Rally in Patna. Former Bihar CM & RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav was also present. Congress General Secretary in-charge communications, Jairam Ramesh shared insights into the Patna rally in which the Congress leader is going to participate. "Tejashwi Yadav, Akhilesh Yadav, the Congress president, and Rahul Ji will all be present. It can be said that this is a massive rally, essentially an India rally," he said. (ANI)
Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Sunday strongly criticized the opposition over the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case, stating that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) should refrain from issuing negative statements as the government continues its investigation. "We are continuing our investigation. Eight teams have been formed, and all are working in different directions, examining various aspects. We have collected several CCTV footage. We are exploring every angle, including any jealousy factor. I also appeal to the opposition to cooperate with us and not politicize this issue. We do not know if there is any connection with the Mangaluru blast. They have used similar material and the same technical system," he said. "Yesterday NSG arrived here. We will find the person. We had a meeting yesterday and briefed the CM. Today, I have called a meeting of all the senior officers. BJP should not issue negative statements," he added. As many as 10 people were injured after an explosion occurred at Bengaluru's popular Rameshwaram cafe in the Whitefield area on Friday. Meanwhile, a team of Karnataka Police reached the explosion site on Sunday morning as part of its ongoing investigation. This comes after Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said on Saturday that the complete truth regarding the Rameshwara Cafe incident has to come out. He instructed senior police officers to use technology effectively in investigations. CM Siddaramaiah suggested providing protection to the people and directed officials to identify densely populated areas and increase police patrolling in such areas. Meanwhile, the co-founder and CEO of Rameshwaram Cafe, Raghavendra Rao, urged both the Union government and the state government to ensure that such incidents do not happen in the future and called for strict action. "I request the Karnataka Government and the Government of India to ensure that this incident does not happen anywhere in India," Raghavendra told reporters, expressing solidarity with the injured people and staff. Rameshwaram Cafe is one of the popular hangouts and is usually crowded during lunch hours. (ANI)
During the meeting, a 100-day agenda for immediate steps were also worked upon for quick implementation after the formation of the new government in May 2024, sources further added.

The roadmap for Viksit Bharat is a result of more than 2 years of intensive preparation.

According to sources, it involved a whole-government approach involving all ministries & wide-ranging consultations with State governments, academia, industry bodies, civil society, scientific organisations and the mobilisation of youth to seek their ideas, suggestions and inputs.

More than 2700 meetings, workshops and seminars were held at various levels. Suggestions from more than 20 lakh youth were received, they added.

Sources further mentioned that the roadmap for 'Viksit Bharat' has a comprehensive blueprint with a clearly articulated national vision, aspirations, goals and action points.

Its goals include areas like economic growth, SDGs, ease of living, ease of doing business, infrastructure, social welfare, etc, they added.

The meeting holds significance, as the BJP-led ruling National Democratic Alliance has expressed confidence in retaining power at the Centre for a third term.

The Election Commission is likely to announce the poll schedule in a couple of weeks. (ANI)
The frightened big cat struggled unsuccessfully for five hours to wriggle out of trouble before forest officials tranquilised it and sawed the pot off its head, Range Forest Officer Savita Sonawane told ANI on Sunday.

"A male leopard spent five hours with its head stuck in a metal vessel in a village in Dhule district. It was later rescued by the Forest department," she said.

There are an estimated 13,874 leopards in India, up from 12,852 in 2018, according to the 'Status of Leopards in India, 2022' report, released by the Union Environment Ministry on February 29.

According to a report made public by the Environment Ministry, the count of leopards in the country rose by 8 per cent from 12,852 in 2018 to 13,874 in 2022.

While the highest number of leopards were reported in Madhya Pradesh (3,907), only three other states reported over 1,000 animals each--Maharashtra (1,985), Karnataka (1,879) and Tamil Nadu (1,070). While Uttarakhand reported a 22 per cent decline in the big cat numbers-- reportedly due to poaching and man-animal conflict, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and West Bengal saw a collective 150 per cent rise to 349 animals. (ANI)
After the arrest of three people for allegedly raping a Spanish woman who was on a bike tour of the country along with her husband, the Spanish Embassy in India thanked the authorities for their support. Taking to the micro-blogging site X, the Spanish Embassy posted, "Thank you all for your support. We need to stand united in our commitment to end violence against women everywhere in the world." The National Commission for Women condemned the alleged gang rape in Dumka, Jharkhand and said that a letter has been sent to the officials to expedite the investigation into this matter. "NCW condemns the brutal gang-rape of a Spanish tourist in Dumka, Jharkhand. NCW has been informed that the accused fled from the spot. As per reports, there were 8-10 men involved. The Police have just arrested 3 accused persons in the matter. A letter has been sent to DGP from NCW chairperson Rekha Sharma to expedite the investigation in this matter and invoke charges of rape under IPC 376D," the Commission posted on X. "Seeing the gravity of the situation Mamta Kumari member of NCW will be going to inquire about the facts of the case and meet the victim and concerned Police," they added. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Police (SP) Dumka, Pitamber Singh Kherwar, informed that the police are taking the necessary actions, including the medical examination of the victim. According to SP Kherwar, the administration didn't have any information about the Spanish couple's visit to Dumka or the place where they were camping. Phulo Jhano Medical College Superintendent Anukuran Purty said that a committee will be formed to investigate the matter. "It hasn't been established yet that she had been raped, outer injuries are visible but for inner injuries and other things, medical examinations are going on. She is out of danger. Her age determination will be done. A committee will also be formed," Purty said. (ANI)
Amid the raging political war of words between the ruling TMC and the Opposition BJP over the arrest of strongman and key Sandeshkhali-accused Sheikh Shahjahan, the Centre's independent fact-finding team on Sunday visited the island in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district. The Calcutta High Court had earlier allowed the fact-finding team to visit Majherpara, Natunpara, and Naskarpara neighbourhoods of Sandeshkhali. The court nod came after the central team, led by the former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, was stopped on their way to Sandeshkhali and arrested. They were brought to the Kolkata Police headquarters in Lalbazar before being let off. Speaking to ANI on the sidelines of their visit to Sandeshkhali on Sunday, a member of the independent fact-ficting team labelled the prevailing situation in the island as 'horrifying'. "In two separate cases, 185 people were falsely implicated for burning down poultry farms as they or their wives had dared to raise their voices (against Shahjahan Sheikh and his henchmen). They were deliberately victimised for coming out against the ruling party. Thankfully, however, they have now been released. The situation here is horrifying. I have seldom sensed such a palpable ambience of terror anywhere else in the country," a member of the fact-finding committee told ANI. Claiming that the TMC strongman was still running writ in Sandeshkhali through fear, the member added, "One person is still ruling this island as the undisputed boss and threatening locals. The families, including those that dared to speak up against the TMC and Shahjahan Sheikh, are broken and shattered. Many men are being put behind bars on trumped up charges while their wives are being taken to the police station after midnight. Even their land have been snatched away. If a shopkeeper does not pay Rs 20,000-25,000 (in cut money or commission) per month, then his shop is seized. In one case, illegal structures were raised on a snatched piece of land with money that was collected in this manner. The plot was sold off thereafter. Such incidents tell us a lot about the state of affairs here and should serve as an eye-opener." "We should commend the women here for summoning the courage to rise against the excesses perpetrated on them," the member added. Earlier, on Sunday, the independent fact-finding team reached Kolkata from where they proceeded to Sandeshkhali. Rajpal Singh, a member of the team and former inspector general of Haryana Police, told ANI, "We will go to three sites at Sandeshkhali that the high court allowed us to visit." On February 28, the Calcutta High Court allowed the six-member fact-finding team, led by the former CJI of the Patna High Court, to visit Sandeshkhali. The court, in its order, stated that the fact-finding team will visit Majherpara, Natunpara, and Naskarpara localities of Sandeshkhali. Earlier, on February 25, the members of the central team were arrested at Bhojerhat and brought to Kolkata. Led by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court Justice, L Narsimha Reddy, the independent panel also comprises former IPS officer Raj Pal Singh, former NCW member Dr Charu Wali Khanna, advocates OP Vyas and Bhavna Bajaj and a senior journalist. Sandeshkhali came to a boil and hit national headlines after hundreds of women in the island came out on the streets against Shahjahan Sheikh, accusing him of perpetrating sexual abuse and other excesses on them along with his henchmen. (ANI)
Assam BJP Chief Bhabesh Kalita on Sunday expressed confidence in his party's victory in the forthcoming Lok Sabha elections. He stated that the BJP will triumph in all 11 constituencies. He further stated that the remaining three constituencies will be won by the BJP's coalition partners in the state. "Yesterday evening, the list of candidates was announced. The announced list has given us courage. We will win all the 11 seats in the upcoming elections, and with the alliance, we will win all the 14 seats," he said. The Assam BJP Chief also said, "Considering the condition of Congress across the country, I don't think Congress will be able to win, that's why Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge have not yet announced the list of candidates for the entire country." Kalita also mentioned that their partner, the Asom Gana Parishad (AGP), is expected to secure a victory in Dhubri. He alleged that the ruling AIUDF leader, Badruddin Ajmal, has not contributed to the area's development and is only engaging in communal politics. "Badruddin Ajmal has been the MP from Dhubri for a long time. He has not done any work for development. He is only engaged in communal politics. But the people's expectation there is for development and they will vote for Modi ji and they will give their vote to our alliance party," he said. Setting the pace ahead of its rivals, the BJP, on Saturday, released its first list of 195 candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls. The list included 47 youth candidates, 28 women candidates, 27 Scheduled Caste (SC) faces, 18 Scheduled Tribes (ST) candidates and 57 OBC/Backward Class nominees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will seek a third straight term in the Lower House from Varanasi while Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who joined the BJP from the Congress in 2020, will contest from Guna in Madhya Pradesh. Of the 195 candidates, 34 are ministers from the Center and States, while two are former chief ministers who are on the list. Home Minister Amit Shah will contest from Gandhinagar, while Mansukh Mandaviya will contest Porbandar. BJP leader Manoj Tiwari will contest from North-East Delhi while late BJP stalwart and former Union Minister, Sushma Swaraj's daughter, Bansuri Swaraj, will contest from New Delhi. Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will seek a fresh term in the Lok Sabha from Lucknow while his colleague in the central cabinet, Smriti Irani, will again contest Amethi. Earlier in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, PM Modi secured a victory in Varanasi with 6,74,664 against Congress's Ajay Rai. The BJP-led National Democratic Party (NDA) won a total of 303 seats, leaving the grand-old party behind at 52 seats. The Lok Sabha polls are slated to be held in April-May this year. (ANI)
The city police on Sunday arrested a suspect involved in the abduction case of a two-year-old girl from Kerala's Trivandrum City, an official said. The accused, identified as Hassan Kutty or Kabeer, was arrested in Kollam city, police said. As per the police, the incident occurred in Trivandrum City, Kerala, on the intervening nights of February 18th and 19th, when the girl was sleeping out in the open near a railway track. The child went missing under mysterious circumstances, only to be found abandoned near the railway track about 19 hours later. City Police Commissioner C H Ragaraju informed about the extensive investigative efforts that led to the arrest. "Though the girl was found and she was not harmed in any manner, we were surprised how she ended up at that spot because it is not a place where the girl could go alone," he said. The investigation involved the use of various methods and the analysis of hundreds of CCTV camera footage. The accused was located in the adjacent district of Kollam. "Actually, the girl was crying and he smothered the girl and the girl fell unconscious. That is what he says. We also suspect he tried to assault the girl. He has touched the girl in an inappropriate manner that is also clear from his story," Ragaraju added. The accused has a modus operandi in other districts and there are cases against him. The arrest was made possible due to the tireless efforts of the team under the leadership of DCP Nidhin Raj. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday said that the development works that will be inaugurated during his upcoming visit to five states- Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, West Bengal and Bihar--cover a wide range of sectors and will transform several lives. In a post on X, PM Modi said, "Over the next two days, I will be attending various programmes in Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Odisha and West Bengal. The development works that will be inaugurated cover a wide range of sectors and will transform several lives." The Prime Minister will visit Telangana on March 4, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 56,000 crore at a public programme in Adilabad. On the same day, the Prime Minister will visit BHAVINI in Kalpakkam, Tamil Nadu. According to the Prime Minister's office, the major focus of the projects will be the power sector. The Prime Minister will dedicate NTPC's 800 MW (Unit-2) Telangana Super Thermal Power Project in Peddapalli, Telangana.PMO mentioned that based on Ultra-Supercritical Technology, the project will supply 85 per cent of power to Telangana and will have the highest power generation efficiency of approximately 42 per cent among all power stations of NTPC in India. The foundation stone of the project was also laid by the Prime Minister. On March 5, the Prime Minister will visit Sangareddy in Telangana where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various developmental projects worth Rs 6,800 crore. On the same day, the Prime Minister will leave for Chandikhole in Odisha, where he will unveil developmental projects worth Rs 19,600 crore. On the third day of his visit to the five states, Prime Minister Modi will visit West Bengal, where he will unveil projects worth Rs 15,400 crore in Kolkata. Afterwards, the Prime Minister will leave for Bihar, where he will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various projects worth around Rs 12,800 crore in Bettiah. (ANI)
Tel Aviv [Israel], March 2 (ANI/TPS): An Israeli army reservist on leave killed a Palestinian terrorist who opened fire at the entrance to the community of Eli on Thursday. The terrorist killed two people, but the quick reaction of Aviad Gizbar may have saved more lives. "Everywhere they want to continue to destroy us. We must raise our heads, stop being wimps, and realize that we are here - and we are staying here," Aviad Gizbar told the Tazpit Press Service. Gizbar, who owns an eatery next to the gas station was on a brief leave from fighting in Khan Yunis. Gizbar was inside the diner when when he heard the gunshots. "I immediately understood that it was a terror attack," he told TPS. "I went out, fired a bullet so that the terrorist would understand that I was here. I waved him hello," Gizbar said. "I saw that he saw me, he started charging towards me, I took cover and shot him." He told TPS the entire incident was "maybe 30 seconds from the moment it started to the moment it ended. Magen David Adom emergency responders declared two male victims dead at the scene. MDA said one was in his 20s, the other in his 40s. Media reports identified the terrorist as Muhammad Manassra, a former officer in the Palestinian Authority Security Services. The attack comes as the Islamic holy month of Ramadan approaches. In the last several years, Palestinian terror has surged ahead of and during Ramadan. In June, four Israelis were killed in a shooting in the same location. Since October 7, Israeli security forces have arrested around 3,400 wanted Palestinian terror suspects in Judea and Samaria, of whom over 1,500 are affiliated with Hamas. (ANI/TPS)
The United States, in collaboration with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, conducted an unprecedented humanitarian airdrop into Gaza, delivering 38,000 meals along the besieged coastal enclave, CNN reported, citing a statement from US Central Command (CENTCOM). This initiative followed President Joe Biden's remarks that the US would pull out "every stop" to get more aid into the besieged coastal enclave. The operation, executed by the US Air Force using C-130 aircraft, saw a total of 66 bundles dropped along the Gaza coastline, with each of the three aircraft contributing 22 bundles. Notably, the airdropped supplies consisted solely of meals, with no inclusion of water or medical provisions, as reported by CNN. "These airdrops are part of a sustained effort to get more aid into Gaza, including by expanding the flow of aid through land corridors and routes," CENTCOM said in their statement. White House officials hailed the operation as a success, viewing it as a pivotal test case for future endeavours. A senior administration official, during a call with reporters, said, "The fact that today's airdrop was successful is an important test case to show that we can do this again in the coming days and weeks successfully." While applauding the accomplishment, President Biden acknowledged on social media that the amount of aid reaching Gaza was still insufficient. He reiterated the US commitment to spare no effort in increasing aid, aligning with his previous declaration to "pull out every stop" to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In response to the airdrop, the Defence Department plans to conduct additional operations in the coming days, though specific details were not disclosed. Biden's commitment to securing more routes for aid into Gaza was reiterated, with the president saying, "We're going to insist that Israel facilitate more trucks and more routes to get more and more people the help they need, no excuses." This marks a historic move for the US, joining other nations like the United Arab Emirates and France in using airdrops to deliver aid. However, before the operation, several aid agencies criticized the US plan, citing concerns about its effectiveness. Richard Gowan, the International Crisis Group's UN director, commented on social media, stating, "Humanitarian workers always complain that airdrops are good photo opportunities but a lousy way to deliver aid," CNN reported. (ANI)
The Indian Embassy in Cote d'Ivoire confirmed the demise of two Indian nationals, identified as Santosh Goel and Sanjay Goel, who were found dead in Abidjan. The embassy expressed its deepest condolences to the grieving family and assured them of all possible support during this difficult time. In an official statement posted on X, the Indian Embassy revealed that it is actively coordinating with local authorities to facilitate the transportation of the mortal remains of the deceased couple back to their home country. The embassy has also said that it will provide comprehensive assistance to the bereaved family. "We extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mrs. Santosh Goel and Mr. Sanjay Goel. Our embassy is fully committed to offering every support possible to the family during this tragic time. We are in constant communication with the local authorities to ensure the swift and smooth transportation of the mortal remains back to India," the embassy stated in the post. Additionally, the embassy emphasised that it is "working closely" to ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of the Indian nationals. "We are working closely with the local authorities to ensure a comprehensive investigation into the matter. Our priority is to ascertain the facts surrounding this unfortunate incident and to provide answers to the grieving family. We will continue to collaborate with the relevant authorities to bring clarity to this situation," the embassy's statement added. (ANI)
Sharjah [UAE], March 3 (ANI/WAM): Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, witnessed the opening of the 33rd edition of Sharjah Theatre Days, organised by the Department of Culture, at the Cultural Palace in Sharjah. Seven theatrical performances will compete for the Awards of this edition, which concludes on March 9, and 12 theatrical performances presented by theatrical groups in the country, in addition to a wide participation of artists, playwrights and researchers from various countries in the Arab world within the intellectual programmes, dialogues and seminars accompanying performances. The Ruler of Sharjah honoured the Emirati artist Abdullah Rashid with the "Honored Local Personality Award" for this edition, and the Omani artist Fakhriya Khamis, the winner of the "Sharjah Award for Arab Theatrical Creativity" in its seventeenth edition. He also honoured the "Fawanees theatre" from the Kingdom of Morocco, which won the "Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi Award for Best Arab Theatrical Work 2023" for her show "Tekanza...The Story of Tuda." The award was received by the show's director, Amin Nasour. During the ceremony, the Ruler of Sharjah, and the attendees, watched two visual presentations, the first of which included the biography of the Emirati artist Abdullah Rashid, who made great efforts and continuous giving through his activity in local theatre in the UAE as an actor, writer and administrator since his beginnings in 1984, and his contribution to the development of the theatrical movement. The second show covered stations from the career of artist Fakhriya Khamis, and the immortal works she presented that earned her honour throughout her career in the Omani and Arab theatre. The ceremony witnessed the introduction of the members of the jury for this edition comprising writer Hazza Al-Barari from Jordan as head of the committee, artist Walid Al-Zaabi from the UAE, director Masoud Bou Hussein from Morocco, director Nasser Abdel Moneim from Egypt, and director and writer Ihab Zahida from Palestine. A group of performances were qualified to participate in this year's competition, which were selected through the viewing and classification committee. These performances are: "Marwad Kohl" by the Dibba Society for Culture Arts and Theatre; "Iskan" by the Ras Al Khaimah Theatre; "Estiyad" by the Dibba Al-Hisn Society for Culture, Heritage and Theatre; "Walimat Eid" by the Sharjah Public Art and Modern Theatre; "Al Tareq Al Akhir" by the Dubai National Theatre; "Al Mashhad Sifr" by the Khorfakkan Arts Theatre; and " Kayfa Tusamihna" for the Sharjah National Theatre team. Two theatrical performances were chosen to be presented outside of this year's event competition: "Zaghrouda" by the Kalba Folklore and Theatre Society, and "Ramad" by the Fujairah Theatre team. The programme of the 33rd edition of Sharjah Theatre Days includes two performances from the tenth edition of the Kalba Short Play Festival, which are: the work that won the Best Show Award, which is "The Chairs" by director Hamid Mohammed, and the work that won the Best Direction Award, which is "The Last Choice" by director Abdullah Al Ali. A group of graduates of Sharjah Performing Arts Academy, and a number of graduates of Arab theatre colleges and institutes, are participating in the "12th Sharjah Forum for Arab Theatre Pioneers," which annually celebrates outstanding Arab theatre academies, and gives them the opportunity to keep up with the activities of theatrical days and learn about the cultural scene in the Emirate of Sharjah. In addition to attending a group of lectures and training workshops presented by a group of Arab theatre professors, and a programme of introductory visits to the most prominent cultural edifices in the emirate. The intellectual forum accompanying this edition is organised under the theme "Theatrical Directing between Impact and Influence" with the participation of researchers and theatre practitioners from several Arab countries. The cultural programme accompanying the 33rd edition of Sharjah Theatre Days includes an interview with the artist Fakhriya Khamis on the occasion of her winning the Sharjah Award for Arab Theatrical Creativity, and another interview with the artist Abdullah Rashid on the occasion of his selection and honour in this edition. The programme also includes two cultural seminars, the first themed "Semantics and Aesthetics of Costumes in Theater Today," and the second under the theme "Authorship Techniques in Contemporary Theatre: The Bahraini Experience as a Model." The opening ceremony was attended, alongside His Highness the Ruler of Sharjah, by Dr. Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Chairman of the Consultative Council of the Emirate of Sharjah; Major General Saif Al Zari Al Shamsi, Commander-in-Chief of Sharjah Police; Abdullah Mohammed Al Owais, Chairman of the Department of Culture; Dr. Mansour bin Nassar, Head of the Legal Department of the Government of Sharjah; Jamal Al Tarifi, President of Al Qasimia University; and a number of senior officials, artists, intellectuals, media professionals, and theatre lovers and enthusiasts. (ANI/WAM)
The royal household explained that the intervention was necessary due to the monarch's low heart rate.

Despite the health setback, a statement from the palace indicated that King Harald is currently in stable condition, but rest is imperative for his recovery. The procedure aims to ensure his well-being during the anticipated return to Norway, which is expected in the coming days, as advised by his personal physician, as reported by CNN.

The Norwegian Government will oversee the transportation arrangements for the king's return, with the practical aspects managed by the Norwegian Armed Forces, as stated by the royal household. King Harald, who has ruled Norway since 1991, is the oldest monarch in Europe.

Earlier in the week, while on holiday, the king faced health complications due to an infection. The medical intervention became necessary to address his deteriorating health condition.

The monarch's next official engagement, presiding over the Council of State at the Royal Palace, is scheduled for March 8, according to information available on the royal household's website, CNN reported. (ANI)
A resolution advocating the prohibition of major social platforms, including Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, X, and YouTube in Pakistan, has reached the Pakistan Senate, Dawn reported. The resolution, scheduled for debate during Monday's session, is aimed at shielding the younger generation from what it perceives as the "negative and devastating effects" of these platforms, according to Senate secretariat documents obtained by Dawn. Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, formerly associated with the Pakistan People's Party (PPP), is set to move the resolution. He was expelled by the PPP last month, although no formal reference has been made against him, and the Senate secretariat still lists him as a PPP Senator. The resolution contends that these digital platforms are fostering norms contrary to "our religion and culture," leading to "hatred amongst the people on the grounds of language and religion." It emphasises that using such platforms to disseminate "negative and malicious propaganda" against the armed forces goes against the country's interests. The resolution alleges that these platforms serve as conduits for spreading fake news about various issues and attempt to manipulate and promote false leadership to deceive the younger generation. This push for a comprehensive ban on major social websites coincides with ongoing disruptions to X, previously known as Twitter, following widespread backlash against the judiciary and establishment after the general elections on February 8, as reported by Dawn. The PPP has disassociated itself from Tangi's resolution, asserting that he should cease using the party's name. Nayyar Bukhari, a senior PPP leader, clarified in a press release that the party has severed ties with Tangi and issued him a show cause notice for deviating from party policy. Despite Tangi's expulsion, the party highlighted that he is still using the PPP's name. Bukhari revealed that Tangi, whose basic membership has been terminated, is set to retire from the Senate on March 11. The party urged him to refrain from associating with the PPP, emphasizing the termination of his basic membership and the issuance of a show cause notice as grounds for ceasing the use of the party's name, Dawn reported. (ANI)
The president of Baloch American Congress (BAC), Tara Chand on Sunday expressed his disappointment over the appointment of Chaudhry Sarfaraz Bugti as the chief minister of Balochistan, Pakistan. In a post shared by Tara Chand on social media platform 'X' BAC president Tara Chand stated, "The appointment of Chaudhry Sarfaraz Bugti, a death squad leader, as Chief Minister in #Balochistan by Pakistani army agencies is deeply concerning. We strongly oppose and condemn his involvement in the Baloch #genocide @PakSarfrazbugti @BBhuttoZardari". https://twitter.com/drtchand/status/1764025331277763003?s=08) The Baloch American Congress previously had raised their voice against the genocide inflicted by the administration and law enforcement agencies on the Baloch community. In a previously written letter addressed to the Speaker of the United States Congress, Mike Johnson, and all other members of the US Senate to take immediate action to stop the Baloch genocide in Pakistan. In a letter, the leader pleaded to address the ongoing genocide of people belonging to the Baloch community and highlighted the various issues faced by the people of Balochistan regularly. "In the ongoing conflict between the Baloch and Pakistan, enforced disappearances and illegal detentions are tools used by the state against the Baloch national resistance. Political activists, poets, students, journalists, intellectuals, and human rights activists are being abducted, illegally detained, subjected to inhuman torture, and their mutilated bodies are dumped in remote areas. This is part of the Pakistani war in Balochistan and a gross violation of human rights that requires immediate attention and intervention from the United States," the letter read. "The state of Pakistan is ruthlessly exploiting the natural resources of Balochistan for the benefit of ruling Punjab in a crude colonial manner. The collaboration between Pakistan and China has further exacerbated the situation, as China has become a new colonial power in the region. This alliance is depleting the land and sea resources of Balochistan, with valuable deposits such as gold and uranium being exploited. Additionally, the Baloch coast, which has been the backbone of the coastal regions' economies for centuries, is now devoid of marine life," it added. He said in a letter, "The state's systematic efforts have also endangered the Balochi language, which is thousands of years old. Baloch children are forced to adopt Urdu, an alien language, as the national language, leading to the near extinction of the Balochi language. Furthermore, the socio-cultural traditions of the Baloch are marginalized in school curricula, being labelled as un-Islamic." "This strategy poses a significant threat to the existence of the Baloch people as a nation, as these traditions and the Balochi language are integral parts of their national identity," he added. Addressing the issue of the kill-and-dump policy of Pakistan, the letter further added that "the "kill and dump" policy is another grave human rights violation in Balochistan. (ANI)
The Indian High Commission in Maldives posted on social media platform X that the fourth Customised Training Program will be held at the National Judicial Academy of India.

"India-Maldives Judicial Capacity Building Cooperation continues. 50 Maldivian Judicial Officers (Judges) will attend the 4th Customised Training Prog at National Judicial Academy of India #NJAI, Bhopal under the 2020 MoU signed between NJAI Bhopal & @MaldivesJSC," the Indian High Commission stated.

https://x.com/HCIMaldives/status/1764236792088477724?s=20

Maldives Judiciary also confirmed about the event and stated that the 'sending off' ceremony was held on Ssturday.

"Sending off Ceremony for the 4th batch of Judges and Staffs participating in the Training and Capacity Building Programmes organized by National Judicial Academy of India (NJAI) for Maldivian Judicial Officers was held yesterday," Maldives Judiciary posted on X.

In another post, the Indian High Commission also announced for a five-day training program of Maldives custom officers.

"Customs Capacity Building Cooperation continues. 30 @CustomsMv Officers visiting #India for a 5-day Training Prog on "3Is - Intelligence, Information & Investigation" by @cbic_india's NACIN Faridabad under 2019 MoU between CBIC & MCS," the Indian High Commission stated.

https://x.com/HCIMaldives/status/1764237966053167137?s=20

Maldives Customs Service informed that the 'Intelligence, Information and Investigation' training will be held in Faridabad.

"The Deputy @HCIMaldives Mr. Mayank Singh met with the 30 Officers that will attend the @nacincbic "Intelligence, Information & Investigation" training to be held from 4-8th March at Faridabad, India. We extend gratitude to the Govt of for sponsoring the program," Maldives Customs Service posted on X.

The Indian mission also gave best wishes to the customs and police officials of Maldives, who will be participating at the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) network training program on intellectual property rights.

"Best wishes to Officers from @CustomsMv & @PoliceMv who have gone to #India to participate in an @ITEC network training on "Comprehensive Learning on Intellectual Property Rights for Policy Level Interventions in International Context" from 4-16 March'24 at @ICRISAT Hyderabad," the Indian High Commission stated.

https://x.com/MantaAir/status/1764192592453906556?s=20

Earlier in the day, the first international flight connecting India's Bengaluru airport with Maldives' Dhaalu was welcomed by Male officials. (ANI)
The death toll from the Russian drone attack in Ukraine's Odesa city rose to 10, a figure which includes two babies, CNN reported citing Ukrainian officials on Sunday. This comes after the body of a child was pulled from the rubble along with that of her mother. "The body of another baby has just been found next to the woman's body. The child is believed to be less than a year old," Oleh Kiper, the head of Odesa regional military administration wrote on Telegram. The bodies of a mother and her four-month-old were also found in the rubble on Saturday, authorities said. The deceased woman's sister told CNN that the mother's name was Anna and she was a florist and a decorator. She was in her bedroom on the second floor of her apartment building when the strike happened. Her husband and daughter survived the drone attack. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in his daily address to nation on Saturday, said that a toddler named Mark was also killed in Russian strikes - he was two, set to turn three on Sunday. The attack left the front facade of an apartment block in ruins. Sunday has been declared a day of mourning in Odesa, according to the city's administration. Zelenskyy said the attack showed the need to further strengthen the country's air defence capacities. "One of the enemy drones hit a residential building in Odesa. 18 apartments have been destroyed," Zelenskyy said on Saturday. "More air defence systems, more missiles for air defense is what saves lives." Notably, Ukraine is requesting its western allies for more military aid as Russia's war against Ukraine entered its third year on February 24. Last week, Zelenskyy warned that "millions" could die if US lawmakers don't approve President Joe Biden's USD 60 billion aid request for Kyiv, hours after announcing some 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed so far in the conflict. Republican leadership in the House has so far been refusing to hold a vote on providing more funding. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is weighing whether to tap into the last remaining source of funding it has for military aid to support Ukraine's war effort against Russia even without guarantees that those funds will be replenished by Congress, CNN reported citing multiple defence officials. (ANI)
Nepali Foreign Minister Narayan Prakash Saud's visit to Helsinki, Finland has been cancelled at the last minute, the Foreign Ministry announced late on Sunday evening. As per a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry, the visit of the Foreign Minister has been cancelled due to unavoidable circumstances. "Due to unavoidable circumstances, Hon. Foreign Minister would not be able to leave for Helsinki as scheduled earlier," the ministry stated. Earlier on the day, the Foreign Ministry announced the visit of FM Saud for late Sunday night to participate in the Second UN LDC Future Forum to be held on March 5-6, 2024. FM Saud was scheduled to address the opening session of the Forum on 5 March as the Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau of the Group of Least Developed Countries followed by a Ministerial Dialogue entitled "Strategies to accelerate innovation and structural transformation" as a panelist. The Forum is being organized by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (OHRLLS) and the Government of Finland under the theme of "Innovation for Structural Transformation in LDCs". The multi-year series of the Forum aims to explore ways and means to harness innovation, digitalization, and technology to foster structural transformation and sustainable development in LDCs. The cancellation of the visit has been speculated for the possible changes in the ruling coalition ahead of the election for National Assembly Chairman. The ruling parties Maoist Center and the Nepali Congress, both have been vying for the post. (ANI)
The World Health Organisation (WHO) observes World Hearing Day on March 3 every year to raise awareness on how to prevent deafness and hearing loss, and to promote ear and hearing care across the world. WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed said that this year, the WHO is observing the occasion with a call to focus on "Changing Mindsets: Let's make ear and hearing care a reality for all!" "We know that challenges remain due to societal misperceptions and mindsets marked by stigma, and on this day we renew our focus to overcome these by raising awareness and through information-sharing, targeted at the public and healthcare providers," Wazed said in a statement It is estimated that over 1.5 billion people globally are affected by hearing loss, nearly 80 per cent of whom live in low- and middle-income countries of the world. In South-East Asia region itself, an estimated 400 million people currently have ear and hearing problems. Unfortunately, these numbers are rising. At the current rate, it is likely that by 2050 there could be over 660 million people with ear and hearing problems in the region alone, the statement said. Despite its prevalence, and the fact that effective interventions are available and cost-effective, globally, over 80 per cent of ear and hearing care needs remain unmet. It is evident that this must be addressed with urgency. Hearing loss has severe implications for language development, psychological well-being, quality of life, educational attainment, and economic independence. The fact is that many of the common causes of hearing loss, such as birth-related problems or ear diseases can be prevented; and nearly everyone with an ear or hearing problem can benefit through available effective and cost-effective medical, surgical and rehabilitative interventions. The economic impact of unaddressed hearing loss is staggering. The global annual cost is nearly USD1 trillion, and the cost for our Region alone is USD 110 billion. However, investing just USD 1.33 per capita annually for ear and hearing care in health systems can yield a remarkable return of nearly USD16 for every dollar invested over a 10-year period. This investment, if sustained, promises substantial returns and a significant reduction in unaddressed hearing loss costs, according to Wazed. "I am pleased that many Member States in our region have prioritised ear and hearing care," the WHO official stated. Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal have already conducted situational assessment using WHO tools, and are progressing towards strategic development for strengthening ear and hearing care services. Myanmar aims to provide integrated services in combination with Eye Care, Elderly, Mental Health Care service in a people-centred approach at community level. Free hearing aids were provided in Myanmar when the situational assessment was conducted last year, the statement said. Bhutan has started screening all children for ear and hearing and provided services including hearing aids at free of cost for children. "Currently, our teams are collaborating with and providing technical support to the Government of India to redesign the National Program for Prevention and Control of Deafness," WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia, Saima Wazed, said. Indonesia's Ministry of Health intends to develop a roadmap for ear and hearing disorder prevention and control, and this will also be supported by WHO teams as a part of the current biennium workplan, he said. Moving forward, Wazed said that regional priorities include accelerating the implementation of people-centered ear and hearing care services, promoting safe listening practices, advocating for research and data generation, and strengthening human resources. "Let us unite in our commitment to change mindsets related to ear and hearing care, recognizing the impact it has on lives and livelihoods. By addressing misperceptions, promoting awareness, and advocating for increased investment and integration in primary healthcare, we can and will pave the way for a healthier, more inclusive future," he concluded. (ANI)
Israel has decided not to send a delegation to Cairo for discussions regarding a ceasefire and the release of hostages from Gaza, CNN reported on Sunday, citing a senior Israeli official. The decision stems from Hamas' failure to respond to two key Israeli demands -- providing a detailed list of hostages, specifying those who are alive and those who are deceased, and confirming the ratio of Palestinian prisoners to be released from Israeli prisons in exchange for the hostages. The Israeli official, who chose to remain anonymous due to the sensitive nature of diplomatic negotiations, revealed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in coordination with Mossad director David Barnea, made the decision after receiving information that Hamas had not addressed these conditions. This move follows Netanyahu's outlined terms in a speech last Thursday, where he emphasised the need for clarity on the identities of the hostages before progressing with any agreements, according to CNN. Despite a statement from a senior Biden Administration official indicating that Israel had "basically accepted" a proposed six-week ceasefire, the lack of response from Hamas has led to the cancellation of Israel's participation in the Cairo talks. A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo on Sunday, expressing hope that the discussions would lead to a cessation of hostilities. However, a high-ranking Hamas official has yet to respond to CNN's inquiry about whether the group has addressed Israel's conditions. The remaining sticking points in the negotiations, according to a Hamas source, include establishing a permanent ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops - referred to as "occupation forces" - from the Gaza Strip, and facilitating the return of displaced individuals from the south to the north. Despite optimism, a diplomatic source downplayed the prospects of an immediate breakthrough, citing slow progress and suggesting that a deal might not materialise within the next 48 hours, CNN reported. (ANI)
The third named iteration for a sightseeing boat narrowly avoided problems before arriving in Wilmington.

Reaching its new home just before Hurricane Floyd in the fall of 1999, the Henrietta III was ready for her new role by early 2000.

In the March 3, 2000, StarNews, it reported the Henrietta III's first river cruise would happen in April. It took months to convert it from a Mississippi gambling boat to the sightseeing touring vessel that went up and down the Cape Fear River for more than 15 years.

More: With Diligence and Henrietta III gone, what's left on Wilmington's riverfront?

The Henrietta III riverboat docked along the Cape Fear River in downtown Wilmington.

However, its arrival meant the departure of the Henrietta II. It was sold to a Maryland company and set for use around Baltimore's Inner Harbor. While the Henrietta II could carry around 150 passengers, the new Henrietta could accommodate 500-600 people.

The first Henrietta was a paddle steamer that sailed between Wilmington and Fayetteville during the first half of the 19th century.

As for the Henrietta III, it was sold to a Florida company in 2016. Three years later, now named the Captain J.P. III, it broke from its winter moorings on the Hudson River in New York and hit a train bridge in Albany.

Cape Fear Riverboats, which owned the Henrietta III, now has a new Henrietta with space for up to 100 people.

An article in the March 3, 2000, StarNews on the progress of the Henrietta III beginning sightseeing tours on the Cape Fear River. It arrived in Wilmington in the fall of 1999 but needed repairs from its last work as a gambling boat.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: When Henrietta III arrived in Wilmington, NC in 1999
The Biden administration is alarmed over what it is describing as a rapidly deteriorating security situation in Haiti as the countrys armed gangs broadened their attacks on critical infrastructure Sunday, launching an assault against the police academy after storming two prisons in the capital and the port the night before.

The gangs have already seized control of several police substations and are threatening to take over the presidential palace  a dramatic escalation in violence in what has already been a dire security environment that has paralyzed the Caribbean nation ever since the assassination of its president in 2021.

Late Sunday, Haiti finance minister and Acting Prime Minister Michel Patrick Boisvert declared a 6 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew and a state of emergency for the next 72 hours so security forces can try to regain control of the situation. Both allow police to arrest offenders throughout the entire regional department that includes metropolitan Port-au-Prince. The civil unrest also prompted an urgent security alert to U.S. citizens from the State Department on Sunday and led to American Airlines suspending its daily flight out of Miami International Airport into Port-au-Prince, spokeswoman Laura Masvidal confirmed to the Miami Herald. The airline is also suspending its daily flight for Monday.

JetBlue Airways, which has daily service into Port-au-Prince from both Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, also canceled flights for Monday, spokesman Derek Dombrowski said.

We are monitoring the rapidly deteriorating security situation with grave concern, a National Security Council official told McClatchy and the Herald on Sunday evening. The path forward lies with free and fair elections. Violence serves only to delay a democratic transition while destroying and upending the lives of thousands. We urge all actors to put the people of Haiti first and make the necessary concessions to allow for inclusive governance, elections, and the restoration of democracy.

In the security alert to U.S. citizens, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince, which had been advising Americans to exercise extreme caution, said it would be limiting operations on Monday.

U.S. citizens should depart Haiti as soon as possible by commercial or other privately available transportation options, in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges, the alert read. All appointments over the next three days will be canceled, which means that people should not attempt to go to the embassy because conditions may not be admitted, the embassy added.

The escalation in violence, accompanied by intense automatic gunfire across Port-au-Prince, is raising concerns that the government is losing control of the country. On Saturday, armed gangs, using drone technology, seized control of the National Penitentiary and orchestrated the escape of hundreds of prisoners, including several notorious gang chiefs. Gangs also attacked and emptied the Croix-des-Bouquets prison, disrupted cell phone communication in parts of the capital by cutting fiber lines and cut the power to the port after sabotaging a 5 megawatt power plant days earlier. Gangs also threatened to take over the National Palace.

After launching an SOS the night before in response to the prison break, one of the police unions, SYNAPOHA, launched another call for help Sunday afternoon. The base of the specialized Crowd Control and Intervention Unit was under a big threat, the union said, reporting that men had encircled the base by blocking parts of the Delmas neighborhood in order to attack the base.

The police must not take these threats lightly, the union said on X, formerly Twitter.

The Haitian government said the attacks against the countrys two largest prisons caused deaths and injuries among prison guards. There were still no details, however,about the extent of the attacks, which sources say have decimated an already weak police force. The governments communication office, in a late afternoon social media post, confirmed the release of many prisoners. Saluting the courage of officers who tried to stop the prison attacks, the office said that with the complicity of some people, criminal gangs did not hesitate to kill civilians, loot and burn public and private property. Unfortunately, the police did not mange to prevent the bandits from releasing many prisoners.

The Haiti National Police was trying to locate the escaped prisoners and arrest those responsible for prison attacks, the government said.

The latest armed clashes come while Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry is out of the country and just days after Caribbean Community leaders last week announced that he had committed to hold elections by August 2025. The next day, Henry, while visiting Kenya, finalized a police-and security-sharing agreement to allow for the deployment of an armed international force in Haiti.

Observers believe both developments may have fueled the latest round of violence in which the gangs are showing that they are not only united, but have the ability to take over the government. On Saturday night before moving against the two prisons, gangs cut the electricity at the port in order to disrupt the movement of refrigerated containers. Gunfire forced a number of anchored ships to leave Haitian waters, a source told the Herald. There were also reports that gunshots were heard near the international airport.

After the port, the armed groups moved onto the National Penitentiary, where on Sunday morning several bodies were seen lying on the ground as journalists visited the once overcrowded facility that was now nearly empty.

It remains unclear just how many prisoners escaped during the sophisticated prison attack at the National Penitentiary, in which the gangs used drone technology to report on the movement of prison guards and when their members could move against the facility. But among those still left inside were 17 former Colombian soldiers recently indicted in the assassination of Haitis president.

Colombian inmates accused of participating in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise open a gate inside the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, March 3, 2024. Hundreds of inmates fled Haitis main prison after armed gangs stormed the facility overnight.

Retired Lt. Jheyner Alberto Carmona Florez who called his wife, Milena Carmona, around 9 a.m. from the capital, said he and his compatriots were fine for now despite efforts to have them leave during the prison break. He said a police officer had arrived and told them they needed to contact their families.

They are currently waiting inside, but there is a lot of uncertainty because they are the only people inside the prison, otherwise there is no one in that prison. The doors are open, with police there, but they are the only detainees who are there, Milena Carmona told the Herald from Colombia. It is empty because everyone fled.

Her husband, she said, told her that there was an attempt to beat them up last night.

They tried to hurt them. They didnt allow that. They resisted, Carmona said. We are distressed because we are very afraid that people from the gangs will return to complete their work, which is to murder them, burn them. I dont know what else, because they are crazy psychopaths.

Colombias foreign ministry called on the Haitian government Sunday to protect its diplomats as well as the 17 Colombian inmates, asking for them to be transferred to a more secure location.

Before the breach by gangs, the overcrowded facility had 3,696 prisoners, according to the U.N. political office in Port-au-Prince. There was no official tally from Haitis prison administration or national police about how many prisoners remain. While some journalists visiting the facility said it was about 100, human rights advocated reported it was less than that.

The escapees ranged from individuals imprisoned over petty crimes to several notorious gang leaders. Several sources confirmed to the Herald that in addition to the 8 p.m. assault against the National Penitentiary, the prison east of the capital in Croix-des-Bouquets was also attacked around 11:30 p.m. There were 1,036 inmates inside the prison, which was built for 583 prisoners before the attack. It was unclear how many prisoners still remained because the area, located not far from the U.S. embassy, had been under heavy gunfire and looting.

An inmate waves at the National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Sunday, March 3, 2024. Hundreds of inmates have fled Haitis main prison after armed gangs stormed the facility overnight.

Before Saturdays attacks, Haitis prisons held 11,940 inmates, and most of the facilities are overcrowded. The womens prison, at the northern edge of the capital, was taken over by gangs earlier this year but it had been emptied out last year following multiple attempts by gangs to breach it.

Video shared by several online outlets on Sunday showed the National Penitentiarys blue wrought-iron gates and cell doors wide open, clothing and sandals scattered on the ground inside the empty courtyard amid overturned furniture. At the entrance where visitors must check in there were three bodies on the ground and a motorcycle turned over on its side. The prison guards who usually secure the entrance are nowhere to be seen. They are also missing from the courtyard.

There are several prisoners who died, a journalist with Bon Zen TV said in Haitian Creole, adding that there are also prisoners who were shot during the attack. Panning the camera to the blue cell doors now open, the reporter said: All of the cells have been broken into inside the prison where the prisons took off and ... left everything.

The TV station began its report with images of several of the Colombian inmates moving about shirtless in their decrepit cells. The night before the men were seen on video pleading for help One said in Spanish that whats happening inside the penitentiary is a critical situation.

There are riots, a prison riot occurred and the prisoners want to pull out us out of here. They want to turn us into not cannon fodder, he said.

Another one of the former Colombian soldiers then said: Please, please help us.

We are going to stay inside the cell but the police tell us that it is indiscriminate and that they are massacring the people inside the cells, he said. Please inform the authorities so we are not massacred. We have nothing and have not done anything wrong.

A voice is then heard saying in Creole, Leave, leave.

Late last month, the Colombians were among dozens of individuals indicted in the July 7, 2021, assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise by Haitian Investigative Judge Walther Wesser Voltaire. Though the Colombians were not charged with masterminding the plot, Voltaire charged them with being complicit in the assassination, in which they stormed the presidents house late into the night, accompanied by Haitian police officers and two Haitian Americans.
Faith leaders, city officials and the community at large came to St. James United Methodist Church in Kansas City Saturday for an afternoon of healing and support, followed by in-depth discussions about the complex issue of gun violence.

The afternoon began with pastors Darron L. Edwards and Emanuel Cleaver III praying for healing in a time of mourning in the Kansas City community.

We ask that your spirit of peace and strength will work in us and through us that we might work toward solutions toward this serious problem we have in Kansas City  violence, Cleaver III said.

Shortly after, Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw led the group in a moment of silence for the lives lost in an Independence shooting Thursday that killed one Independence police officer and a Jackson County civil process server.

Saturdays event was organized to help people who were affected by the Chiefs parade shooting process their feelings, seek support and explore options for a safer Kansas City. Over the course of two hours, community members answered questions related to gun violence and listened to experts in violence prevention on ways to proactively approach the issue.

Parks-Shaw organized the event with the help of faith leaders in the community and KC Common Good, an organization involved in a program called KC 360.

KC 360 is modeled from Omaha 360, a program which aims to reduce gun violence through direct intervention and addressing root causes. In Omaha, officials said the violence prevention strategy achieved a 74% drop in shootings in 15 years. With 184 killings in 2023, Kansas City saw its deadliest year ever recorded.

In addition to the general community, youth advocates, intervention workers, mentors, first responders and others whose jobs revolve around direct intervention of violence came to the event Saturday.

Thank you for those of you who prioritize this work every day who are doing this great work in our community, Parks-Shaw said.

Addressing root causes of violence

Much of the event involved community members acting as sounding boards for one another about what they feel can lead to lasting change.

Experts asked questions which led to in-depth conversations about the social, physical, legal and emotional circumstances that lead to violence in communities.

Many in attendance advocated for providing strong programs and services for youth and families to meet the underlying needs of people who resort to violence when those needs are not met.

Some in attendance shared emotional personal testimonies of feeling undervalued and having gone through periods of violence because they felt they had no where else to turn to.

Most people who are involved in violence do not want to be doing what they are doing, said Willie Barney, a leader at Omaha 360.

Another large part of the conversation centered on reinvesting in neighborhoods that have been neglected by the city and advocating for funding for initiatives in those communities.

Until we put funding back into the communities that are suffering, we will not see any progress, one group said.

The KC 360 program has a 10 point action plan that is several pages long, but the highlights mention stronger police and community relationships, addressing disparities, providing communities necessary support, and continuing research for what causes violence.

Their action plan, they said, is not something that happens overnight. Rather, it is an ongoing process.

Were inspired by what Omaha 360 has been able to accomplish, said Klassie Alcine, CEO of KC Common Ground. Were developing a strategic plan to help neighborhoods with the highest rates of violence and the community plays a crucial part in that.

At St. James United Methodist Church on Saturday, conversations reflected that message. They began with people conversing about their disgust, anger and hurt from violence in the community, and ended with each group sharing ways to help people most vulnerable to violence.
Nestled just west of the picturesque Overland Park Arboretum, a hidden gem is emerging on the Kansas City real estate landscape  Wolf Run. This promising new home community seamlessly blends the expertise of some of the citys finest homebuilders, a tempting array of amenities, competitive pricing, and the coveted allure of a southern Overland Park address.

Wolf Run, situated near the intersection of 177th Street and Pflumm, beckons homebuyers with an impressive model row showcasing the craftsmanship of renowned builders such as Gabriel Homes, Pauli Homes, Calyn Homes, and Crestwood Custom Homes. The development doesnt just promise homes; it promises a lifestylea harmonious marriage of luxury and nature.

The model row stands as a testament to the quality that Wolf Run offers. Each home is a canvas, waiting for its owners to leave an indelible mark, with options ranging from the stately designs to homes exhibiting modern elegance.

Wolf Run- 2nd Phase Lots are Now Available

And now, the excitement reaches new heights as Wolf Run proudly announces the availability of its second phase. Forty-six new lots are now open for those ready to build their dream homes.

The 2nd phase is a testament to the demand Wolf Run has garnered, an affirmation that this community is not just a place to live but a destination to call home.

For those considering a move to Wolf Run, homes are priced from the $600,000s. The spectrum of home styles and finishes caters to various tastes and preferences. Whether you envision a classic architectural masterpiece or a contemporary haven, Wolf Run has the blueprint for your dream home.

Prospective homeowners need not limit their dreams to blueprints and renderings alone. Wolf Run offers an immersive experience with several homes currently in various stages of construction, ready to be explored and claimed. Its the perfect blend of customization and convenience, allowing buyers to choose between building from the ground up or settling into a meticulously crafted home.

This neighborhood extends beyond being a mere assembly of houses; it embodies a thoughtfully crafted way of life. Beyond the confines of these splendid residences, a multitude of amenities awaits, meticulously designed to enhance the daily lives of its residents. An upcoming amenity center, complete with a pool and play structure, is poised to add another layer of leisure and recreation. This is a community that places importance not only on the physical structures that shelter its residents but also on the communal spaces that foster connection and shared experiences.

For those eager to explore the offerings of Wolf Run firsthand, daily tours of the model row are available. This is more than a chance to witness the craftsmanship; its an invitation to imagine the life that awaits within these walls. The model row is a tangible preview of the possibilities that come with choosing Wolf Run as your home.

For additional information and to take the next step toward your dream home, Wolf Run has made the process seamless. A visit to their website, WolfRunKS.com, provides a comprehensive overview of the community, from available lots to detailed information about each builder. Alternatively, prospective homeowners can connect directly with the community managers at 913-777-6365.

Wolf Run isnt just a housing development. Its a testament to the evolving definition of home  a place where luxury meets nature, where craftsmanship is celebrated, and where community is more than a concept; its a way of life. The 2nd phase signals the continued growth and success of this exceptional community, inviting you to be a part of its story, to build your legacy amid the beauty of southern Overland Park.

Wolf Run

Prices: Homes starting in the $600,000s.

Hours: Monday to Sunday 12PM to 5PM or by appointment

Directions: From 175th and Pflumm Road head south on Pflumm Road. Turn left (east) on Haskins St. into the neighborhood. Model office is located at 17649 Haskins St, Overland Park, KS 66013.

For more information contact: Cooper Patterson and Ken Jansen: 913-777-6787

Website: WolfRunKS.com
Loved ones are desperately searching for a young mother who disappeared in 2022, leaving her infant daughter behind.

Ruthey Smith, 21, was last seen on March 2, 2022, near Figueroa and 70th streets in South Los Angeles, authorities said. She was 19 at the time of her disappearance.

Smiths family acknowledges she had been working as a prostitute in order to support her daughter, Ocean, who was 1-year-old at the time of her disappearance.

Smiths mother, Kathryn Renesto, and her younger brother had painstakingly searched the area where she disappeared, looking for leads and evidence.

They were able to track down the last known video of Smith, seen with a group of people in a neighborhood that was well-known for sex work at all hours of the day, NewsNation reports.

Authorities believe Smith is a victim of human trafficking. Her family said she would never voluntarily leave her daughter behind.

Family members attend a news conference and rally to call attention to the disappearance of Ruthey Smith, 20. Family members acknowledge that Smith had been working as a prostitute at the time of her disappearance. March 3, 2023 (KTLA)

Ruthey Smith seen in a family photo. (Kathryn Renesto)

Ruthey Smith seen in a family photo. (Kathryn Renesto)

The last known video of Ruthey Smith before she disappeared on March 2, 2022 in South Los Angeles. (Kathryn Renesto)

Ruthey Smith is seen in an undated photo provided by her family.

Ruthey Smith has several distinct tattoos to help identify her. (Kathryn Renesto)

Kathryn Renesto, the vicitms mother, speaks at a press conference on March 2, 2024 as loved ones continue searching for Ruthey Smith. (KTLA)

Friends and family held a press conference at the San Pedro United Methodist Church on March 2, 2024 as they continue searching for Ruthey Smith. (KTLA)

Ruthey Smith disappeared in March 2022. (KTLA)

Family members attend a news conference and rally to call attention to the disappearance of Ruthey Smith, 20. Family members acknowledge that Smith had been working as a prostitute at the time of her disappearance. March 3, 2023 (KTLA)

She would never abandon my granddaughter, her child, Renesto said. She would never miss birthdays or holidays with family.

Smith was born in San Pedro and was raised in Long Beach. Her family told the Long Beach Post that she became a teen mother and turned to sex work to make ends meet.

She didnt want to do that, Renesto said. And she tried and tried but its easier said than done. But it wasnt enough and I didnt do enough.

Days before she vanished, Smith reportedly told her parents she had a feeling she would be abducted, but she went to work anyway.

Woman stole over $1,200 worth of items from Target in Southern California

Smiths aunt, Amanda Lourenco, said the young mother had been abducted from the streets before.

Well, she was taken before by pimps, Lourenco said. So my sister had to go all the way to Vegas and get her one time before. But that time, she was able to use a phone and thats how we knew where she was.

However, when Smith disappeared in 2022, there had been no contact since.

At one point, Lourenco found an image of a woman who looked like Smith in an advertisement for a gentlemans club in Nevada. Officers investigated, but Smith was nowhere to be found.

Somebody here in the United States has information about Ruthey Smith and who she was last seen with, said Moses Castillo, a retired Los Angeles police detective.

Castillo spoke at a press conference held March 2 at the San Pedro United Methodist Church while surrounded by Smiths family.

My daughters been missing for two years but I wont stop and Ill continue to say her name, Renesto said tearfully. We will never give up until we find you. I need somebody to say something. Its the worst in the world, to not know if your child is dead or alive. If you see something, say something.

The young mother is described as a Black woman with brown hair and brown eyes. She stands 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs around 125 pounds.

She has a pierced nose and belly button. She has several tattoos with the names Ezra and Lamarion tattooed near her ears and the name Ocean tattooed on her chest along with a wave.

Lake Elsinore surges to record-breaking water levels after SoCal rainstorms

She was last seen wearing a light-colored jacket, black sandals and a black purse. She also goes by the names Winter or Grayson, her family said.

She is a kind and loving soul, said Ingrid Klungreseter, Smiths grandmother. We need the communitys help to bring her home safely. Trafficking is a horrific crime. If anyone knows anything, Im begging you to do whats morally right and speak up with any information you may have. People who are trafficked deserve for [information about their disappearance] to be national.

Smiths family has provided DNA to be placed into a federal database called NamUS, which uses genetic information to help coroners identify unknown bodies.

Moses confirmed that Smiths DNA has not been located through the database yet, which has given her family a sense of hope that she may be alive and able to come home.

The Long Beach Police Department is actively investigating Smiths disappearance as a human trafficking case and is asking for the communitys help.

Smiths family is also hoping the Federal Bureau of Investigation and any other law enforcement agencies can join in the search efforts soon.

I need my child, Renesto said. She was involved in a horrific crime. I need the world to help me find her. These victims deserve to be found. Ruthey, if youre watching, know your mother will never give up, your brother will never give up, we will never give up.

Anyone who may know of Smiths whereabouts or has information on the case is asked to call Long Beach Polices Missing Persons Unit at 562-570-7246 or police dispatch at 562-435-6711.

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA.
Juan Orlando Hernandez is taken in handcuffs to a waiting aircraft as he is extradited to the United States to face drug trafficking charges in Tegucigalpa in 2022 - Elmer Martinez/AP

As he listened to the lurid testimony against him in a New York courtroom this week, Juan Orlando Hernandez may have wondered how he became so luckless as to be charged by the US Department of Justice with grand-scale drug-running.

Washington is usually deeply reluctant to investigate foreign heads of state, even ones who are, like the former president of Honduras, allegedly up to their necks in the cocaine trade.

But the one-time US ally is facing the possibility of life behind bars for his alleged role in a narcotics trafficking conspiracy. It is the latest example of apparent duplicity as the US struggles to find trustworthy partners in its war on drugs.

Mr Hernandez is thought to be the first ex-head-of-state put on criminal trial in the United States since Manuel Noriega, the former dictator of Panama, in 1991.

Manuel Noriega, the corrupt dictator of Panama known as 'Pineapple Face', was overthrown after the US invasion in 1989 and spent 25 years in jail - Bettmann

Yet although the indictments in both cases are eerily similar, the differences between the two figures are stark.

Noriega was an autocratic army general with a penchant for knocking off political opponents who infamously waved a machete while publicly challenging President George HW Bush to arrest him.

Mr Hernandez, meanwhile, is a chubby, bespectacled, elected politician whose apparent crackdown on the cartels during his 2014-2022 presidency garnered typically superlative praise from Donald Trump as recently as 2019.

Juan Orlando Hernandez signs an agreement with Donald Trump for Honduras to accept more asylum seekers heading to the US - REUTERS

On meeting his Honduran counterpart in Florida, the then US president declared that Washington and Tegucigalpa were together stopping drugs at a level that has never happened.

Yet the picture painted this week in federal court is utterly at odds with that image.

Mr Hernandez is not just accused of facilitating the shipment of thousands of tons of cocaine to the US but also co-opting the police, military and other public institutions in the Central American nation, which is wracked by grinding poverty and extreme gang violence, helping turn it into what the prosecution calls a narco-state.

Witnesses have told the court over the last week that he took millions of dollars in bribes to shut down counter-narcotics raids or warn the traffickers when they were imminent. That includes a total of $2.4 million (1.9 million) from the Sinaloa cartel of Joaquin El Chapo Guzman, then the worlds most powerful druglord.

Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman, the head of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, being escorted to a helicopter in Mexico City in 2014 following his capture in the beach resort of Mazatlan - Eduardo Verdugo/AP

On one occasion, Guzman is even alleged to have flown into Honduras by helicopter to hand deliver $1 million in cash to the presidents brother, Tony Hernandez. On another, Orlando Hernandez is accused of deliberately promoting a corrupt officer, Juan Carlos Bonilla  notorious for once allegedly killing a member of a rival cartel with a bazooka  to become head of the national police.

Bonilla was due to be in the dock with the ex-president but struck a plea deal with prosecutors just before the trial and is now expected to testify against him. Tony Hernandez is already serving a lengthy sentence in the United States after being sentenced to life for drug-trafficking in 2021.

The ex-presidents lawyer, Renato Stabile, has dismissed the credibility of several of the cartel leaders now testifying against his client  including one, Devis Rivera, leader of the Cachiros cartel, who referred in court to Orlando Hernandez as my business partner.

These people are psychopaths

These are depraved people, Mr Stabile said. These are psychopaths. These are people not worthy of your trust. Mr Hernandez doesnt sit down with drug dealers. He stood up to drug dealers.

Whatever the eventual verdict, the case highlights how Honduras has become the most important logistical hub for cocaine shipments from the Andes to Mexico, from where it enters the worlds largest consumer market, the United States  and the uphill battle the US faces in finding regional allies to help it break this chain.

Much of the cocaine enters Honduras via speed boats and even homemade submarines along the remote Caribbean coast, controlled by the Cachiros. It then exits via the western border, controlled by the Valle Valle clan, to Guatemala and on to Mexico.

Honduras underdevelopment and rugged terrain  as well as its runaway corruption  facilitates the flow. With few roads penetrating the dense jungle, locals often rely on light aircraft to get around and clandestine airstrips dot the rainforest.

Although the problem goes back at least to the 1980s, recent international developments may have allowed it to intensify, including a failure to hold Orlando Hernandez to account for his unconstitutional reelection in 2017.

Juan Orlando Hernandez, former Honduras president, attends his drug trafficking trial in federal court in Manhattan, New York - JANE ROSENBERG/REUTERS

The lack of pressure and scrutiny from the Trump administration allowed Orlando Hernandez to get away with it and may even have encouraged him, says Will Freeman, a Latin America fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington-based think-tank.

Carlos Hernandez, the head of the Association for a Fairer Society, a Tegucigalpa-based anti-corruption group, adds: Drug trafficking involves huge amounts of money and Honduras is a very poor country. It was fertile ground.

The narcos have bought everyone who was anyone here. Its sad and embarrassing but true. Some of us have been saying this for years. And some of us have been killed for saying it.

In the case of Orlando Hernandez, it appears to been considered so flagrant  even behind the veneer of a conservative champion of the rule of law and war on drugs  that Washington felt impelled to act. He was arrested in February 2022, just weeks after stepping down from office, and swiftly extradited.

The trial is expected to last another week.

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Hate preachers will be blocked from entering the UK under new plans being drawn up by the Government amid a shocking increase in extremist activity.

Officials will identify the most dangerous extremists from countries including Afghanistan, Pakistan and Indonesia, so they can be added to visa warning lists. Under the plans, those on the list will be automatically refused entry to the UK.

Ministers also believe they can use existing national security powers to boost efforts to bar people from entering the UK who are deemed to be non-conducive to the public good. This could include blocking individuals who have a track record of preaching racism, incitement, or using intimidation or violence to undermine the democratic process.

Speaking on the steps of Downing Street on Friday evening, Rishi Sunak said the election of George Galloway as the MP for Rochdale was horrifying and that the rise in extremism demanded a response from all of us.

Barclays banks, like this one on Tottenham Court Road, have been targeted by Palestine groups - Jeff Gilbert

The Telegraph also understands that the Home Office is looking at proposals to clamp down on far-Left anti-democratic organisations amid warnings of an unholy alliance with Islamist groups.

The Metropolitan Police made 12 arrests at demonstrations in London yesterday.

Growing threat

An official review by Lord Walney, the Governments independent adviser on political violence and disruption, calls on ministers to tackle the growing threat posed by fringe, Left-wing groups that have allied with Islamist extremists at pro-Palestine marches across the UK.

Lord Walney told The Telegraph: One of the conclusions of my review is to look at and understand the threat from anti-democratic far-Left groups, alongside that posed by Islamists and the far Right.

For understandable reasons, the focus since 9/11 has been on violent terrorism. Because the far-Left has not posed a similar kind of violent threat, there has been less understanding and less focus on the way in which they can harm our society.

You are seeing an unholy alliance between far-Left groups and some of the Islamist extremism that has been seen on the marches.

He said there needs to be a greater understanding, capacity and willingness to tackle far-Left groups to protect our liberal democracy.

Lord Walneys report is currently being poured over by Home Office officials and is due to be published later this month.

A Home Office spokesman said: Extremism has no place in our society and we will not tolerate tactics that set out to intimidate, threaten or cause disruption to the law-abiding majority.

In recent months, we have also witnessed a small number of protestors display violent and hateful behaviour, and the police have our full support in tackling extremism and hate crime.

We are considering the reports recommendations extremely carefully and will respond in due course.

Pro-Palestine protests continued across England and Wales on Saturday following Mr Sunaks warning that demonstrations and democracy itself were being targeted by extremists.

Those who gathered outside the Houses of Parliament chanting From the River to the Sea, described by the Campaign Against Anti-Semitism as genocidal language, were watched by about 30 officers.

Organised by the fringe Palestinian Pulse group, placards referred to Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, as Satanyahu and another accused the British Government of being complicit in the deaths of 30,000 innocent Palestinians in Gaza.

Met police made a number of arrests across London on Saturday - Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) singled out Barclays bank for its day of action, assembling at nearly 50 locations including the branch on Tottenham Court Road, in Central London.

Lord Walney said: There is a gap in the Governments understanding of damage that the anti-democratic far-Left can do.

They are now at the forefront of the threat to our democratic institutions  by manipulating protest movements, hijacking them with extreme illegitimate protest methods  this is one of the hallmarks of a number of far-Left groups.

His report calls for all mainstream political party leaders to instruct their MPs not to engage with any organisation that seeks to intimidate MPs or break the law to get their way.

He said that a message must be sent that if you resort to these tactics, its not going to work, adding: You cant on the one hand be encircling and menacing someones office, and then be invited in for a cup of tea and a chat. We need to do more to protect our democratic decision making.

He said that the way the PSC has been directly and aggressively targeting MPs, shows that they are at best, in the most generous interpretation, facilitating a level of militancy which is not acceptable.

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HOLLAND  Holland Sentinel Executive Editor Sarah Leach was once again honored for her dedication to the coverage of Ottawa County politics on Thursday, Feb. 29.

Leach was recognized for a recent Pulitzer Prize nomination by speaker Milton Nieuwsma at Holland Museum. Nieuwsma, an award-winning writer and journalist, shared details of his freelancer career as part of the museum's "Newsflash! The Story of Journalism in Holland" exhibit.

According to Nieuwsma, the nominating committee for Leach consisted of himself, former Sentinel editor Ben Beversluis and former New York Times and Chicago Tribune editor Tom Stites.

Leach was presented with a plaque recognizing her nomination for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Local Reporting.

Holland Sentinel Executive Editor Sarah Leach is honored for her Pulitzer nomination at the Holland Museum on Thursday, Feb. 29.

I have followed Sarahs coverage of Ottawa Impact with keen interest," Stites wrote in a release. "At a time when newspapers are in decline, her work demonstrates how important diligent reporting is to preserving democracy at the local level. Sarah illuminates the way youre supposed to do it.

Sarah and The Sentinel have done such a phenomenal job all year of holding local government accountable," added Washington Post reporter Greg Jaffe. "County government is a basic building block of our democracy  and so is hard-nosed, smart, tireless local reporting of the sort that Sarah has done all year."

Stites and Jaffe are previous Pulitzer Prize winners.

"I am immensely proud of the work The Sentinel team has done over the past year," Leach said. "We are committed to holding government accountable to the public for its decisions and policies. It's immensely rewarding to be recognized for our work, but even in the absence of that, we will always be here, committed to bringing as much information as we can to citizens to make informed decisions  because that is what democracy is when it's working."

 Cassandra Lybrink is the local editor of The Holland Sentinel. Contact her at clybrink@hollandsentinel.com. Follow her on Twitter @CassLybrink.

This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Holland Sentinel's Sarah Leach honored for Pulitzer nomination
Many Americans may understand that the theocratic regime in Iran has for several decades supported and supplied militant Islamist groups in the Arab world, including Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the Houthis in Yemen. But very few have noticed that now Iran has moved into Africa, sending military supplies to the Islamist military government in Sudan, now struggling for survival in the face of a powerful militia and civilian movement that, in 2019, started a democratic revolution to end Islamist rule  with the support of the U.S. and the U.N.

After the militias took Khartoum, the Sudanese capital, last April, the Islamist generals moved to Port Sudan on the Red Sea, where Iranian planes loaded with weapons have been landing. That's not far from Yemen, where the pro-Iranian Houthis now control much of the nation and have recently interrupted international sea lanes, resulting in air strikes by U.S. and British planes.

Before the Houthis became a threat to Red Sea security, the Sudanese Islamist government, then on the U.S. list of "terrorist" states, had negotiated with Vladimir Putin's government in Russia, which was eager to establish a military base on the Red Sea. Iran, similarly eager to establish a Red Sea presence, was able to secure visitation rights for its navy vessels at Sudanese ports.

Recent American bombardment of pro-Iranian militias in Yemen, Syria and Iraq, which already seems to risk a wider Middle East war, could lead to efforts to obstruct the developing Iranian threat in Sudan, as well as Iran's recent influence-building efforts in other African countries.

The civil war in Sudan may be the first of its kind in one specific way: Two national armies, the established Sudanese Armed Forces and its auxiliary, known as the Rapid Support Forces, are fighting each other.

Among many historical ironies at work here, the RSF was established by Gen. Omar al-Bashir, the Islamist leader who led a 1989 coup that toppled a democratically-elected government, and then ruled the country for 30 years until the 2019 democratic revolution.

Fearing a potential military coup, al-Bashir adopted the RSF to defend his regime. But the group's leader, Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo (known in Sudan as "Hemedti"), quadrupled his forces within a few years to about 100,000 soldiers, roughly the same as the SAF.

The SAF leader, Gen. Abdul Fattah Burhan, a disciple of al-Bashir, has been reluctant to support the democratic revolution, seemingly to protect the military's extensive investments in the countrys economy, which are said to amount to 80 percent of the total. (A similar pattern pertains among the ruling generals in neighboring Egypt.)

One such investment is an entity called the Defense Industries System, sanctioned last year by the U.S. Treasury Department, which described it as Sudans largest defense enterprise, generating an estimated $2 billion in revenue via hundreds of subsidiaries across various sectors of Sudans economy.

During the current conflict, the RSF militia, while lacking air power, has continued to win battles on the ground in one town after another. It now controls about half the country, in western and central Sudan, and may soon move east toward the Red Sea, where Burhan and the Islamist generals have found refuge.

Hemedti, the RSF leader, has a long history of alleged ethnic cleansing and genocidal violence, both as an SAF ally in the past and now as its opponent. He recently adopted the slogan La lil Kaizan ("no to the Islamists"), and has awkwardly promised to support the goals of the 2019 democratic revolution.

He now sees Iran's military supplies to the Islamist generals not merely as a threat to his forces, but also to neighboring African countries  most with secular civilian governments  that have supported Hemedti's forces against the SAF.

Last month, the Washington-based Atlantic Council published a report suggesting that Iran was sending its Mohajer-6 unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones, to the SAF. Those are the same Iranian drones Russian forces have been using in the Ukraine war. Recent videos on the internet purport to show RSF members with the wreckage of an Iranian drone they shot down.

Irans supplies to the Islamist generals in Sudan come as part of a campaign to build influence in other African countries. Last year, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi visited numerous several African countries on something of a PR tour. In Kenya, he described Africa as a continent of opportunities." In Zimbabwe, he criticized the U.S. for its sanctions against both that nation and Iran. In Uganda, he appeared to endorse that nation's infamous anti-LGBTQ policies, saying that Western countries try to identify homosexuality as an index of civilization.

A 2023 report from Washington's Middle East Institute on Irans renewed Africa policy" detailed the Islamic Republic's expanding intervention in Africa, not only at governmental levels but also through cultural, academic and religious networks. Iran hopes to "achieve a tenfold increase" in trade with Africa, the report found, largely based on a perception that Western influence (especially American influence) is fading dramatically.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Iran's religious outreach has included peaceful campaigns to build schools and medical clinics, but also military support for Shia Muslim rebels in some West African countries. One prominent example is Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky, leader of an Islamist movement in Nigeria, who spent five years in prison after an armed clash with government forces in 2015.

Irans military aid to Burhan's beleaguered Islamist army in Sudan was also preceded by cultural, academic and religious activities, but more importantly by military training. Thousands of Irans elite Revolutionary Guards went to Sudan to train SAF soldiers, Iran financed Sudans purchase of Chinese military aircraft, and Sudanese forces used Iranian planes in the civil war that ultimately led to the creation of the Republic of South Sudan in 2011.

Iran's involvement in Sudan has meant that although Hemedti's forces now appear to be winning the war against Burhan's army, there is no end in sight. Iran presumably hopes that if the Islamist generals prevail, the payback will include Iranian access to the Red Sea. If the SAF faces defeat, on the other hand, the troubling question is whether Iran's Revolutionary Guard, or Islamist volunteers from Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen, may come to its aid.
I've been to nearly every US National Park. Despite having great experiences, I don't plan to revisit these 5.

Over the past decade, I've traveled solo to 59 of the major US national parks.

Although I've visited some parks multiple times, there are a few I wouldn't return to.

Despite having great experiences, I wouldn't return to Glacier Bay or Haleakala National Park.

Over the past decade, I've traveled to nearly every US national park solo, many of them multiple times. At several parks, I started planning a return trip before I even left.

But I've had just as many realizations that I probably won't be revisiting a park, either because it's not for me, it's too expensive, or it's such a bucket-list experience that it's truly a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

Of the 59 major US National Parks I've visited so far, these are the ones I most likely won't revisit.

I loved Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska, but it can be expensive and logistically difficult to visit.

I visited Glacier Bay National Park via a Norwegian cruise. Emily Hart

Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska is one of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful places on this earth. That's why some may find it surprising that I don't see myself going back anytime soon.

Although I loved experiencing Glacier Bay National Park on a Norwegian Bliss cruise, visiting the park can be both costly and logistically challenging.

Because the park is mostly made up of water, most visitors enter the park on cruise ships, which, in some cases, can cost thousands of dollars. But only two ships are permitted to enter the waters each day, making this park harder to visit than others.

New Mexico's Carlsbad Caverns National Park just wasn't for me.

Although I love national parks, there are a few I don't plan on returning to. Emily Hart

Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico is otherworldly. But the park, famed for its protection of more than 119 known caves  including the legendary "Big Room"  and nightly bat flights in the summer months, just isn't my style.

Personally, I just don't enjoy exploring caves.

New Mexico has so much to offer, and I'd rather explore White Sands National Park, Bandelier National Monument, or Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu for outdoor beauty and hiking.

Visiting Haleakala National Park in Hawaii was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

I loved watching the sunset at the top of the Haleakala volcano. Emily Hart

Although visiting Haleakala National Park was one of my favorite experiences, I probably won't return anytime soon.

Watching the sunset atop the summit of the Haleakala volcano was one of the most memorable things I've done at a national park. But I'm OK leaving it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If I return to Hawaii, there are many other destinations I'd like to explore.

In my opinion, Arkansas' Hot Springs National Park feels more like a national monument.

Hot Springs National Park is rich in history but feels more like a national monument. Kelly vanDellen/Shutterstock

Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas is a bit of a controversial designation in some communities of national-park lovers. That's because, unlike many other parks in the system, Hot Springs is made up of lots of man-made structures.

Although the park itself is rich in history, it definitely feels more like a national monument than a national park. Much of the park is within the city, and the hot springs are mostly developed from their natural state.

I would revisit if I were already in the area, but if not, I'd opt for a trip to the Buffalo National River or Petit Jean State Park in Arkansas.

I found Indiana Dunes National Park to be too close to industrial areas.

While visiting Indiana Dunes National Park, I was able to see industrial areas and power plants. Emily Hart

The proximity of Indiana Dunes National Park, which is about an hour outside Chicago, is a huge plus for urban dwellers. But I wouldn't make a special trip to this park again.

The dunes and park are beautiful  and great for a beach day  but still have views of industrial areas and power plants, which takes away from the awe and wonder I aim to experience at a national park.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Three family members were arrested after Georgia officials say a womans boyfriend was shot to death.

Investigators responded to a home in Bainbridge  about 230 miles south of Atlanta  on Feb. 25 to investigate the death of 23-year-old Oharra Reggynaulde Thomas, according to a news release from the state Bureau of Investigation.

Investigators say Thomas got into an argument with his girlfriend and members of her family, including her mother, sister and brother.

The dispute escalated and the womans brother, Anthony Tyrome Chandler, 26, opened fire on Thomas, shooting him several times, officials said. He later died from his injuries.

Officials did not say what the argument was about.

Anthony Chandler was arrested on charges of murder, aggravated assault and possession of a firearm during a crime, officials said. The girlfriends sister, 24-year-old Brianna Chandler, is accused of aggravated assault and hindering the apprehension of a fugitive.

The mother, Angela Balogun, 44, was arrested on charges including tampering with evidence, possession of a weapon in the commission of a crime and aggravated assault, officials said.

All three family members were booked into the Decatur County Jail, according to officials.

An investigation is underway and anyone with information is asked to contact GBI investigators at 229-225-4090.

Student found stabbed in school bathroom, Georgia officials say. Classmate arrested

Man guns down landscaper for blowing leaves toward his truck, Texas police say

Woman dies after teen family member puts her in chokehold during fight, Illinois cops say

Dad shot dead in front of family after men burst into home at night, Texas cops say
The mother of a 5-year-old boy, who died after falling 17 stories from a Kansas City apartment, was indicted Friday by a grand jury in connection with his death.

Corrinne OConnor, 27, of Kansas City is accused of first-degree endangering the welfare of a child leading to the death of Grayson OConnor, according to Jackson County court records. The Class A felony carries a maximum term of life in prison under Missouri law.

On Nov. 27, police responded to an alley near the Grand Boulevard Lofts, where a 911 caller had found Grayson.

Officers noticed an open window on the 17th floor and questioned OConnor in her apartment. She allegedly told police her son had gone out the window, according to court documents. Authorities said she didnt call 911 to report his fall.

OConnor allegedly removed safety devices from the window of her apartment that wouldve prevented the window from opening more than a few inches, according to an eviction petition from the apartment building.

Graysons death upset neighbors, who said they had seen signs of neglect over the time the boy and his mother lived in the building. At times, they stepped in to feed and house Grayson when they found him wandering the building, neighbors said.

Police were called to the apartment at least eight times since 2018, according to a Star analysis of police records. The reports were for general disturbances and to check the welfare of a person threatening suicide.

Neighbors also said they reported their concerns for Graysons welfare to Missouris Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline.

OConnor was officially charged in December, but the records remained under seal until late January. She was booked in jail on Jan. 25 and made her first court appearance the following day via video.

OConnors arraignment is scheduled for Monday at 2 p.m. She remains in Jackson County jail on a $100,000 bond.

The Stars Bill Lukitsch contributed to this report.
Less than 66 days remain until one of the biggest events in horse racing history.

The 150th edition of the Kentucky Derby  which now carries a $5 million purse  will leave the starting gate on May 4 at Churchill Downs in Louisville, which means less than three months remain until the much-anticipated event.

And the qualification process to make the Derbys 20-horse starting gate is well underway.

A total of 30 Kentucky Derby qualifying races have already been run, with 22 as part of the American road to the Derby, five as part of the European road and three as part of the Japanese road.

The American leaderboard is headlined by the Brad Cox-trained Timberlake (66 qualifying points), along with Chad Browns Sierra Leone and Steve Asmussens Track Phantom, each with 55 points.

The European leaderboard is led by Notable Speech and its 20 points after the Charlie Appleby trainee won last weekends Road to the Kentucky Derby Condition Stakes at Englands Kempton Park. Four other horses have 10 points each: Rosallion (Ireland), Ancient Wisdom (France), Deepone (Great Britain) and Ghostwriter (Ireland).

The Japanese leaderboard is paced by Ramjets (Japan) 30 points.

Of course, storylines have emerged alongside these qualifying races, with one of the biggest being that trainer Bob Baffert is still banned from fielding a horse in this years Kentucky Derby.

Between the continuing Baffert saga, the horses that have already impressed on the Derby trail and a big slate of prep races set for this weekend, heres what you need to know as the Kentucky Derby creeps ever closer.

Trainer Bob Baffert celebrates in the winner's circle after his horse, National Treasure, won the 148th Preakness Stakes in Baltimore last year. For the third straight year, Baffert will not be allowed to race horses in the Kentucky Derby. The difference this year, though, is the Hall of Famer will not hand off his top horses to a fellow trainer to run in his absence.

Bob Baffert wont have a presence at the 2024 Kentucky Derby

Lets start by addressing what has been the elephant in the room at Churchill Downs for several years now: Bob Baffert.

The 71-year-old trainer will not have a presence in this years Kentucky Derby.

Last July, Churchill Downs extended Bafferts suspension (originally lasting two years) through 2024. This prevents Baffert from entering horses at all racetracks owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), through this year.

For each of the last two Derbys, horses that were under Bafferts guidance were transferred to one of his former assistant trainers, Tim Yakteen, who oversaw the horses as they racked up enough qualifying points to make the Derby field.

In 2022, Taiba ran 12th and Messier ran 15th.

In 2023, Reincarnate ran 13th.

But this year, none of Bafferts horses were transferred to Yakteen or another trainer in the hopes of having them accumulate enough qualifying points to make the starting gate.

I just remain focused on training my horses and competing in the big races, Baffert told John Cherwa of the Los Angeles Times earlier this year.

As has been the case in past years, if a Baffert-trained horse secures any qualifying points toward the Derby in a prep race, those points are vacated.

Bafferts suspension from CDI racetracks came after Medina Spirit tested positive for a substance banned on race day after winning the Kentucky Derby in 2021. Baffert then sued Churchill Downs, but that legal battle seems to have been settled: Baffert announced in late January that he would be dropping his suit, although his suspension from tracks owned by CDI remains in effect.

Since Bafferts ban only relates to CDI-owned tracks, you can still expect him to play a part in the Triple Crown picture: Hes still allowed to train horses in both the Preakness Stakes at Pimlico Race Course and the Belmont Stakes, to be run this year at Saratoga Race Course while Belmont Park undergoes renovations.

(Because of the configuration of Saratogas main track, this years Belmont Stakes will be run at 1 1/4 miles instead of the usual 1 1/2 miles at Belmont).

Eighteen Baffert-trained horses (out of 346 in total) were nominated for the Triple Crown this year. Last year, Baffert won the Preakness Stakes with National Treasure.

Bafferts continued absence from the Kentucky Derby means that one of the most successful trainers in the races history wont get a chance to win the historic 150th edition: Baffert is tied with Ben Jones for the most Derby wins in history with six.

John Velazquez rides Fierceness to victory in the Breeders Cup Juvenile at Santa Anita Park last November. Fierceness is fourth on the qualifying leaderboard for the American Road to the Kentucky Derby.

With Baffert horses out of the picture, who is the best Derby contender?

An unfortunate subplot given Bafferts continued ban from the Derby is that the horse currently viewed as the best in the 3-year-old class wont get a chance to make the starting gate.

The Baffert-trained Nysos is a perfect three-for-three in his racing career. Earlier this month, Nysos (a son of 2016 Derby winner Nyquist) destroyed the field in the Grade 3 Robert B. Lewis Stakes at Santa Anita Park by 7 1/2 lengths. Nysos vacated the 20 qualifying points toward the Derby that came with his dominant win. He is the 1-5 favorite in Sundays San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita.

So with Nysos out of the Derby picture, who is currently viewed as the races top contender?

Theres Timberlake, the current qualifying points leader who has won three of six career starts, including the Grade 2 Rebel Stakes at a fast Oaklawn Park last weekend.

Behind him on the leaderboard are Sierra Leone (a winner in this months Grade 2 Risen Star Stakes at Fair Grounds) and Track Phantom, who ran second in that race.

Theres also the Todd Pletcher-trained Fierceness, last years 2-year-old champion and winner of the Breeders Cup Juvenile. Fierceness represents a chance at Derby redemption for Pletcher, who trained last years Derby favorite, Forte, who was scratched by the track veterinarian the morning of the race.

Fierceness finished third in the Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes this month at Gulfstream Park.

Lexingtons Kenny McPeek also has a pair of horses that have already made a mark in qualifying with Common Defense (27 points and second in last Saturdays Rebel Stakes) and Mystik Dan (21 points and a winner this month in the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes).

Locked, with Jose Ortiz up, wins the Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland in October 2023. The Todd Pletcher trainee will race this weekend in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park in Florida.

Five Kentucky Derby prep races are slated for this weekend

When the calendar shifts from February to March this weekend, it will bring about five more Kentucky Derby prep races.

Four of these  Grade 2 Fountain of Youth (Gulfstream Park), Grade 2 San Felipe (Santa Anita), Grade 3 Gotham (Aqueduct) and John Battaglia Memorial (Turfway)  are part of the American qualifying series. The Fountain of Youth, Gotham and Battaglia Memorial are Saturday. The San Felipe was moved to Sunday because of heavy rain forecast at Santa Anita on Saturday.

The other, the 1-mile Patton Stakes in Ireland, will be run Friday as part of the European series.

Both the Patton and John Battaglia Memorial will offer qualifying points on a 20-10-6-4-2 scale. The other three races, all graded stakes, will use a 50-25-15-10-5 scale for their qualifying points.

In the Fountain of Youth, the horses to watch are Dornoch (2-1) and Locked (5-2). Dornoch is a full brother to last years Kentucky Derby winner Mage, and was last seen winning the Grade 2 Remsen Stakes at Aqueduct in early December. That win gave Dornoch 10 Derby qualifying points.

Locked was supposed to make his season debut two weeks ago, but was scratched from the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis after spiking a temperature. Trained by Pletcher, Locked won the Grade 1 Breeders Futurity at Keeneland last fall, before going on to finish third his last time out in the Grade 1 Breeders Cup Juvenile.

Held at Santa Anita, the Grade 2 San Felipe Stakes runs the risk of being yet another Kentucky Derby prep race dominated by Baffert (qualifying points earned by Baffert trainees are vacated). Headlining the Baffert horses in this field is the aforementioned Nysos. Baffert also has Imagination (6-1) and Wine Me Up (8-1).

Among the non-Baffert contenders to watch is John Sadlers Scatify (6-1), who finished third in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes at the same track.

In the Gotham, a wide-open field is notable for the presence of Just a Touch, a son of Triple Crown winner Justify trained by Louisvilles Brad Cox who won his career debut in January at Fair Grounds. (Last years Gotham winner, Raise Cain, went off at 23-1 odds).

With 50 qualifying points awarded to the winners of the Fountain of Youth, San Felipe and Gotham, all three races are essentially win-and-in opportunities to make the Kentucky Derby starting gate.

Epic Ride is the 5-2 morning-line favorite for the John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway, which boasts a full field of 12. Bolt At Midnight is the 4-1 second choice.

This weekends Kentucky Derby prep races

All times Eastern

Friday

2:15 p.m.: Patton Stakes at Dundalk, Ireland (RacingTV.com)

Saturday

5:36 p.m.: Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct (FS2, FanDuel TV)

6:10 p.m.: Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park (CNBC, Peacock, FanDuel TV)

8:25 p.m.: John Battaglia Memorial at Turfway Park (FanDuel TV)

Sunday

6 p.m.: San Felipe Stakes at Santa Anita (FanDuel TV)

Still looking for a ticket to the 150th Kentucky Derby? It wont come cheap.
After taking 50 cruises, I've learned that some upgrades are worth the hype.

I always upgrade to a balcony cabin for views of the ocean and a quiet spot to chill.

The best coffee onboard is also an added cost, but it's worth it, in my opinion.

Over the past 15 years, I've taken 50 cruises with family and friends, trying out different ships, routes, and cabins.

Here are five cruise upgrades I think are actually worth the money.

The number one upgrade I pay for on any cruise is a balcony cabin.

I like being about to hang out on my private balcony when I want some quiet time. Megan duBois

Whether I'm headed to the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, or the Bahamas, I always pay extra for a balcony cabin on a cruise. I love that I can walk outside and see the ocean at any time.

Another perk is that it can be a quiet place to rest or read a book when the pool decks get too busy but I still want to be outside.

It's different on every cruise, but balcony cabins typically cost at least $100 to $200 more than interior staterooms.

I try to book specialty dining as soon as I can.

Splurging on specialty dining is a treat on a cruise. Megan duBois

One of my favorite ways to treat myself on a cruise is by booking specialty dining.

Oftentimes, the options can range anywhere from $50 to over $100 a person, depending on the type of restaurant and meal.

A few of my must-do specialty restaurants include Palo for brunch on all five Disney Cruise Line ships, Raw on 5 on the Celebrity Edge ships, and Jamie's Italian by Jamie Oliver on some of the Royal Caribbean ships.

Specialty coffee drinks are a must for me.

I can't settle for mediocre drip coffee. Megan duBois

Just like hotel coffee, standard cruise coffee generally isn't all that great.

After sipping on a cup in the main dining room or buffet to get me going in the morning, I usually head to the onboard coffee shop for something more to my taste.

It's usually always better than the complimentary coffee. Plus, it's whipped up by baristas who can make everything from lattes to coffee-based cocktails.

On a recent Disney Cruise, I went to Cove Cafe, an adults-only coffee shop, and found my new favorite coffee drink at sea: an iced salted-caramel coconut latte ($5.50).

Some cruise lines, like Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, have a Starbucks on some ships too, which is great for those who want their normal morning brew.

Thermal-suite passes are a little luxury I try to book as often as I can.

I love spending an afternoon in the thermal suites at the spa. Megan duBois

Thermal suites on cruise lines just getting better with newer ships. These serene spaces within the spa are filled with plunge pools, hot tubs, heated loungers, experience showers, and more.

On cruises longer than three nights, I try to book a length-of-cruise pass where I can come and go from the thermal suite as often as I want.

Prices vary depending on cruise lines and the length of the trip, but week-long passes typically cost between $120 and $300 a person.

It can be challenging to land the pass since there's only a limited number available, so I always head straight for the spa at embarkation.

Some unique activities are worth the extra cost.

It was fun to ride the roller coaster on a Carnival Cruise. Megan duBois

As cruise ships get bigger, more "How did they get that on a cruise ship?" activities appear on decks.

For example, the newest Carnival Cruise Line ships have a roller coaster that goes around the top deck. It costs $15 to ride, and you get two laps around the deck.

Additionally, Norwegian Cruise Line's go-karts allow cruisers to race their family and friends around the track. It costs $15 a person for 10 laps, or you can pay $200 a person for an unlimited pass.

I'm more than willing to shell out a little extra cash to try these activities  even if it's just to say I've done it  especially since most of them are one-and-done splurges.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Reporters appeared to endorse the attack on Israel carried out by Hamas - AP

BBC Arabic journalists who were subject to an investigation over biased social media posts in the wake of the Oct 7 attacks are still covering the Israel-Gaza conflict, it has emerged.

Following the attacks, reporters at BBC News Arabic appeared to endorse comments likening Hamas to freedom fighters and praising the atrocity.

The BBC said shortly after the revelations that it was urgently investigating social media activity by several of its journalists in the Middle East.

But several of those whose social media activity was the subject of complaint are again reporting on the Israel-Gaza conflict, with no further disciplinary action taken against them.

They include Sally Nabil, a journalist who liked over a dozen tweets which appeared to legitimise the targeting of Jewish civilians, including tweets which called the Oct 7 attacks a morning of hope, and liked a tweet describing Israel as an occupation state.

In December, Ms Nabil also liked a tweet making unsubstantiated allegations that large numbers of Jews from around the world are buying up land in Northern Cyprus, with the aim being to seize the territory for Israel

It has now emerged that Ms Nabil was sent to Chicago by BBC Arabic in mid-January to cover reported threats to the citys Palestinian community and two weeks later wrote a piece about Western diplomacy during the war.

Sally Nabil liked tweets which called the Oct 7 attacks 'a morning of hope'

Salma Khattab, a journalist based in Cairo for BBC News, had liked a tweet from Oct 7 appearing to refer to Hamas as freedom fighters.

The tweet stated: You cannot support freedom fighters in Ukraine as they resist Russian occupation but not in Palestine against Israeli occupation, unless you have no conscience.

But in January Ms Khattab was again reporting on the conflict, examining the plight of a Palestinian poet who claimed he suffered abuse at the hands of the Israeli Defence Force when he was detained in Gaza, as well as covering discussions over aid entering the conflict zone.

Salma Khattab liked a tweet from Oct 7 appearing to refer to Hamas as freedom fighters

A third BBC Arabic journalist, Sanaa Khouri, reposted and liked tweets appearing to support the Oct 7 massacre of Israelis, including one about sweets being distributed in Lebanon following the Hamas raids.

The Beirut-based religious affairs correspondent also tweeted in the wake of the attacks: Israels prestige is crying in the corner.

Ms Khouri has since contributed to the BBCs coverage of South Africas lawsuit against Israel at the International Court of Justice in January.

Sanaa Khouri, reposted and liked tweets appearing to support the Oct 7 massacre of Israelis

Mahmoud Sheleib, another BBC Arabic journalist who was subject to complaints about bias, took part in a Twitter conversation shortly after the Oct 7 attacks in which he appeared to joke about a woman whose grandmother was abducted by Hamas receiving an inheritance.

He had also suggested in a tweet that all young Israelis were combatants and should not be regarded as civilians in a conflict.

Mr Sheleib is still listed as the executive producer of the Egypt Mean Time programme, which regularly discusses the war from an Egyptian perspective.

The show frequently interviews guests who take an anti-Israel or an apparently anti-Semitic stance.

Mahmoud Sheleib appeared to take part in a joke on Twitter about a woman whose grandmother was abducted by Hamas receiving an 'inheritance'

The BBC is obliged to achieve due impartiality in all its output. According to its guidelines, its news journalists also have a particular responsibility to uphold the principle in their actions on social media.

A spokesman for Camera Arabic, a US-based NGO that campaigns for accurate and balanced coverage of Israel, said: Employees who spread hatred and celebrate violence on social media are clearly unable to uphold the BBCs self-professed standards of accuracy and balance in coverage of Jewish and Israeli affairs and should not be allowed back in the newsroom, let alone to report the current war on the Corporations behalf.

By reinstating Sheleib, Khouri, Nabil and Khattab to their former positions, BBC Arabic shows that it is oblivious to what every impartial observer would quickly acknowledge: biased journalists make for bad journalism.

The British public deserves a better product in exchange for its license fee payments.

Ms Nabil, Ms Khattab, Ms Khouri and Mr Sheleib were approached for comment through the BBC.

A BBC spokesman said: As we said at the time, we take allegations of breaches of our social media guidance very seriously and we took urgent action to investigate each case in detail. We do not comment on individual staff matters, however, if we find breaches we take the appropriate action.

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.
Campbell

One morning in the chapel at Duke Divinity School, two ethics professors sat facing each other in debate about Just War Theory. While I usually consider myself a pacifist, I am well aware of my own Mama Bear persona that considers attack fair game when one of my cubs is wronged. This experience is the basis of Just War. An initial attack is met with an equal and proportional response. It sounds fair and reasonable, if thats where it ends.

When Israel was attacked by Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, more than 1,100 people were killed or kidnapped. It was horrendous, considering the whole reason Hamas exists is to annihilate Jews from the face of the Earth. Hamas provoked a sharp response from Israel. Most of us thought the response was appropriate. But after nearly six months of the Israeli response, some of us are questioning the proportionality of the response that appears to be ongoing.

Hamas was imbedded deeply in civilian populations. In hospitals, in schools, in neighborhoods. Palestinians quickly became collateral damage in the Israeli response. Over twenty-nine thousand Palestinians have been killed thus far in Gaza. When will somebody say enough is enough?

Ukraine tells a different story. Russias invasion was completely unprovoked; it was aggressive and cruel from the beginning. Nobody stopped them from taking sovereign territory in Crimea in 2014. Ukraine looked like fair game to the ruthless despot Putin. In his hope to re-construct the old Soviet Union, he is playing dirty, killing civilians and threatening nuclear holocaust. Now, as the third year of this war begins, much of Ukraine is destroyed. There is war weariness for sure, but there is something far more sinister going on.

After World War II, both the United Nations (1945) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1949) were created as world peacekeepers, countries working to uphold democratic values. These alliances brought people to the table hoping to resolve differences before conflict ensued.

The 1914 era League of Nations existed about 20 years before King Ferdinand was assassinated, leading to the start of WWI. The United States was not a member of the League of Nations. We were in a period of America First isolationism. The League of Nations proved to be impotent, with little power to change the course of events.

When the United States joined NATO, we were world leaders in the promotion of democratic values, like freedom and justice in the world. The 31 member nations of NATO stand ready to assist one another in the face of attack. NATO troops assisted the US after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in NYC. Such assistance is reciprocal. Peace is a good thing for all of us.

Finland was the last nation to join NATO in 2023 and Sweden will likely join this year. Hungary has removed the obstacles for them to join. Ukraine wants to join as soon as possible.

It is ludicrous to even float the idea that we might abandon NATO. But Donald Trump and his MAGAs are rattling sabers of isolation and withdrawal from the world. There is increasing readiness to walk away from a world order that has kept a relative peace for the past 70 years.

War rages in Ukraine. At this point 31,000 people have been killed and thousands of acres of land decimated. We fool ourselves into thinking we can step away from Ukraine, let Putin continue his slaughter and land grab, and expect it to stop there. Putin has told us his intent. And Article 5 of the NATO Charter says member nations will use reciprocal force against aggressors. Fighting Putin in Ukraine is in our best interest.

NATO is not up for grabs. Putin needs to be stopped. His inhumanity has given way to raw and savage power hunger. The Baltic States are in his sights after Ukraine. Then Finland, Poland and the rest of Europe. Unchecked power will change world order in ways we have not known since the drive of the Nazis through Europe in WW2. Cruelty will lead the way, and if you thought you were grieved about your lot in life, just wait.

Regarding war in Israel, Netanyahu is leading the charge with a big hammer, destroying Gaza and killing 29,000 people while pulverizing the country with constant attack. This stopped being a proportional response early on.

Neither Netanyahu nor Putin are honest brokers on the world stage. Despots thrive around and among us.

There are words for reflection as we consider war: provocation, retaliation, preemption. What in your mind justifies war? Are you willing to send your sons and daughters into it? Just War is a myth. There are very few winners. World War I teaches us that isolationism does not lead to peace.

The Temptations recorded War in the 1960s, during the height of Viet Nam. They had it right: "War! Huh! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!"

When will we ever learn?

Lib Campbell is a retired Methodist pastor, retreat leader and hosts the website: avirtualchurch.com. She welcomes comments at libcam05@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Peace is good for all of us | Lib Campbell
By Panu Wongcha-um

BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand's parliament opened a seminar on Saturday on the political situation in Myanmar, including opponents of the neighbouring country's military government, despite the junta's objection.

"What we are doing today is the first step in bringing a variety of stakeholders to talk to each other," said lawmaker Rangsiman Rome, head of the house committee organising the two-day event. "It will pave the way for a political solution for Myanmar that is peaceful and sustainable."

Speakers include senior figures in Myanmar's shadow National Unity Government and ethnic armed organisations, but no representative from the Myanmar government.

Myanmar's foreign ministry said in a letter seen by Reuters that it "strongly objects" to parliament hosting the seminar, saying it "creates negative impacts" on bilateral relations. It asked the Thai government to tell parliament not to hold "any activity that could hinder the ongoing cordial ties".

Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara was to deliver a keynote address at the seminar but cancelled at the last minute without any explanation.

The Myanmar military spokesman did not respond to a call seeking comment. The Thai foreign ministry declined to comment.

Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military seized power from an elected government in a 2021 coup.

Thailand wants to lead a humanitarian initiative by working with the Myanmar military and other groups that would pave way for talks between the warring camps.

The "Three Years After the Coup" seminar is at odds with the Thai government's preference for engagement with the junta, said Dulyapak Preecharush, a Southeast Asian studies scholar at Thammasat University.

"The parliament's committee platform has open up more space for pro-democracy groups," Dulyapak said.

(Reporting by Panu Wongcha-um; Editing by William Mallard)
The Rubymar is the first ship to have been sunk by the Houthis

A British-registered cargo ship has sunk two weeks after being attacked by Houthis in the Gulf of Aden.

Yemen's government said the Rubymar was drifting and taking on water for days before it sank.

It is the first ship to have been sunk by the Iran-backed rebels in Yemen since they began targeting vessels in the Red Sea.

The ship was reportedly carrying fertilisers and experts say the sinking risks "an environmental catastrophe".

The Rubymar was in the Gulf of Aden near the Bab al-Mandab Strait when it was hit by two missiles fired by Yemen-based Houthi rebels.

Ten days ago, the British government said that the vessel had been taking in water and all its 24 crew had been rescued.

The BBC obtained an image of the ship on 21 February, which showed it submerged at the stern, but still afloat.

The vessel's owners said at the time that it was being towed to nearby Djibouti but could yet sink. It said it was unable to confirm it had given there was no one aboard.

The 172m-long Rubymar was flagged in Belize and operated by a Lebanese firm.

Its registered owner is Golden Adventure Shipping, with an address in the British port of Southampton.

The ship was believed to have been carrying a cargo of ammonium nitrate fertiliser.

The prime minister of Yemen's internationally recognised government, Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak, called the ship's sinking "an unprecedented environmental disaster".

Greenpeace said a spill of ammonium nitrate could have "significant impacts on marine ecosystems", which in the southern Red Sea feature coral reefs, coastal mangroves and diverse marine life.

The Marine Science department at the University of Jordan said that the release of large amounts of fertiliser into the sea could stimulate excessive growth of algae, using up so much oxygen that regular marine life would not survive.

The head of the department, Ali Al-Sawalmih, said that an urgent plan was needed "to establish a clean-up strategy".

In a post on X, a Houthi leader, Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, said that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and the UK government "had a chance to recover the Rubymar by allowing aid trucks into Gaza."

Since November, the Houthi rebels have been carrying out attacks on ships linked to Israel in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, saying their actions are in support of the Palestinians in Gaza.

Source: Acled, December 2023

The US and the UK have carried out a series of attacks on Houthi targets inside Yemen in response.

On Saturday, the UK Maritime Trade body, UKMTO, said it had received a report of a ship being attacked west of Yemen's port of Mokha.

The UKMTO said: "The crew took the vessel to anchor and were evacuated by military authorities".

Separately, the UKMTO reported a ship sinking, close to where the Rubymar was last seen.

The US Central Command said it carried out "a self-defence strike" against a Houthi surface-to-air missile that was about to be launched from Yemen.

The command said the missile had presented an imminent threat to US aircraft.

On the same day, Italy's defence ministry said that one of its naval ships had also shot down a drone flying towards it in the Red Sea.

The rebels' attacks on merchant vessels in the Red Sea have prompted many shipping companies to stop using the waterway, through which about 12% of global seaborne trade passes.

Despite more than a month of air strikes against Houthi targets by the US-led naval coalition, the rebels are still carrying out significant attacks.

They say they will continue to target vessels in the Red Sea area until Israel stops its military campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
I voted stickers rest on a table at Belville Elementary School in Brunswick County Tuesday Nov. 8, 2016.

Are you planning to head to the polls on Primary Election Day?

Exercising your right to vote can be a powerful way to express your political stance.

Here's what you need to do to make casting your ballot a seamless and efficient process on Tuesday, March 5.

1. Make sure you are eligible to vote.

According to the North Carolina State Board of Elections (NCSBE), to be eligible to vote in the U.S. you must:

Be a U.S. citizen.

Live in the county where you are registered and have lived there for at least 30 days prior to Election Day.

Be at least 18 years old. 17-year-olds may vote in the Primary Election if they will be 18 at the time of the general election.

Not be serving a felony sentence, including any period of probation, post-release supervision, or parole.

2. Check your voter registration.

Ensuring your information is current and up-to-date is paramount. For citizens who have yet to register, the voter registration deadline for the Primary Election was Feb. 9.

While same-day registration may be an option for early voters at early voting sites, same-day registration is not available for most voters on Primary Election Day.

Before heading to the polls, find out if you are registered to vote using the North Carolina voter search.

3. Bring proper photo ID.

Voters casting ballots in the state of North Carolina will be asked to show photo identification.

The following documents, if unexpired or expired for less than one year, are forms of photo ID accepted for voting:

North Carolina driver's license.

State ID from the NCDMV.

Drivers license of non-driver ID from another state (only if voter registered in North Carolina within 90 days of the election.)

U.S. passport or U.S. passport card.

North Carolina voter photo ID card issued by a county board of elections.

College or university student ID approved by the State Board of Elections.

State or local government or charter school employee ID approved by the State Board of Elections.

Additionally, voters 65 or older can present expired identification if the ID was unexpired on their 65th birthday.

Any of the following IDs are also accepted regardless or expiration or issuance date:

Military or veterans ID card (with photo) issued by the U.S. government.

Tribal enrollment card (with photo) issued by a tribe recognized by the state or the federal government.

ID card (with photo) issued by an agency of the U.S. government or the state of North Carolina for a public assistance program.

Voters who are unable to show valid photo ID at the time they vote will be able to proceed in two ways:

Complete an ID exception form and vote with a provisional ballot or Vote with a provisional ballot and return to the County Board of Elections Office with photo ID by the day before county canvass.

For further details on acceptable photo IDs for voting, visit www.ncsbe.gov.

4. Find your designated polling place.

On March 5, polling places will remain open from 6:30 a.m. until 7:30 p.m. Voters in line by 7:30 p.m. will be able to cast a ballot.

NCSBE recommends voting at off-peak times to avoid busier crowds and longer waits. Early in the morning and just before the polls close tend to be peak voting times.

Unlike early voting, on Primary Election Day, voters must cast ballots at their assigned polling place.

You can find your designated polling location using the NC Voter Search or the Election Day Polling Place Search.

Polling places for Brunswick, New Hanover and Pender counties are also listed below.

Brunswick County

Here's a list of the precincts in Brunswick County and their designated polling locations according to the Brunswick County NC Board of Elections:

Belville 1: Belville Elementary School: 575 River Road SE, Leland, 28451

Belville 2: Leland Cultural Arts Center: 1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland, 28451

Boiling Spring Lakes: Boiling Spring Lakes Community Center: 1 Leeds Road, Southport, 28461

Bolivia: Brunswick County Cooperative Extension: 25 Referendum Drive NE, Bldg N, Bolivia, 28422

Brunswick Forest: Brunswick Forest Fitness and Wellness Center: 2701 Brunswick Forest Parkway, Leland, 28451

Frying Pan: Shallotte Point Volunteer Fire Department: 4126 Pigott Road SW, Shallotte, 28470

Grissettown: Ocean Isle Beach Town Hall: 111 Causeway Drive, Ocean Isle Beach, 28469

Hickmans Crossroads: Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary School: 250 Pea Landing Road NW, Ash, 28420

Hood Creek: Sandy Creek Town Hall: 114 Sandy Creek Drive, Leland, 28451

Leland: Lincoln Elementary School: 1664 Lincoln Road NE, Leland, 28451

Longwood: Grissettown Longwood Fire and Rescue: 758 Longwood Road NW, Ocean Isle Beach, 28469

Mosquito 1: Virginia Williamson Elementary School: 1020 Zion Hill Road SE, Bolivia, 28422

Mosquito 2: St. James Community Center: 4136 Southport-Supply Road, Southport, 28461

Oak Island 1: Ocean View United Methodist Church: 8400 E Oak Island Drive, Oak Island, 28465

Oak Island 2: Oak Island Recreation Center: 3003 E Oak Island Drive, Oak Island, 28465

Oak Island 3: Oak Island Elks Lodge: 106 E Dolphin Drive, Oak Island, 28465

Secession 1: Lockwood Folly Community Building: 1691 Stanbury Road SW, Supply, 28462

Secession 2: Holden Beach EOC Building: 1044 Sabbath Home Road, Supply, 28462

Shallotte: The Brunswick Center at Shallotte: 3620 Express Drive, Shallotte, 28470

Shingletree 1: Sunset Beach Community Center: 200 Station Trail, Sunset Beach, 28468

Shingletree 2: The Brunswick Center at Calabash: 10050 Beach Drive SW, Calabash, 28467

Southport 1: The Brunswick Center at Southport: 1513 N Howe St., Suite 1, Southport, 28461

Southport 2: Southport Elementary School: 701 W 9th St., Southport, 28461

Supply: The Brunswick Center at Supply: 101 Stone Chimney Road SE, Supply, 28462

Town Creek: Town Creek Park Community Building: 6420 Ocean Highway E, Winnabow, 28479

Waccamaw: Waccamaw Park Community Building: 5859 Waccamaw School Road NW, Ash, 28420

Woodburn: The Brunswick Center at Leland: 121 Town Hall Drive, Leland, 28451

New Hanover County

Here's a list of the precincts in New Hanover County and their designated polling locations according to the New Hanover County Board of Elections:

(CF01) Wrightsboro School: 2716 Castle Hayne Road, Wilmington NC 28401

(CF02) Castle Hayne Elementary: 3925 Roger Haynes Drive, Castle Hayne, NC 28429

(CF05) CFCC-North Campus-McKeithan Center: 4500 Blue Clay Road, Castle Hayne, NC 28429

(CF06) Northside Baptist Church: 2501 North College Road, Wilmington NC 28405

(FP03) Kure Beach Town Hall: 117 Settlers Lane, Kure Beach NC 28449

(FP04) Myrtle Grove Middle School: 901 Piner Road, Wilmington NC 28409

(FP06) Bellamy Elementary School: 70 Sanders Road, Wilmington NC 28412

(FP07) Anderson Elementary School: 455 Halyburton Memorial Parkway, Wilmington NC 28412

(FP08) Carolina Beach Muni Complex Rec Center: 1211 Lake Park Blvd. N, Carolina Beach NC 28428

(H01) Cape Fear Christian Church: 811 College Road N, Wilmington NC 28405

(H02) Northeast Regional Library: 1241 Military Cutoff Road, Wilmington, NC 28405

(H04) College Park Elementary School: 5001 Oriole Drive, Wilmington NC 28403

(H05) Port City Community Church: 250 Vision Drive, Wilmington NC 28403

(H06) Freedom Baptist Church: 802 College Road N, Wilmington NC 28405

(H08) Ogden Elementary School: 3637 Middle Sound Loop Road, Wilmington, NC 28411

(H10) Eaton Elementary School: 6701 Gordon Road, Wilmington, NC 28405

(H11) Coastal Community Baptist Church: 7721 Alexander Road, Wilmington, NC 28411

(H12) Porters Neck Elementary School: 416 Edgewater Club Road, Wilmington, NC 28411

(H13) Porters Neck Village (formerly Plantation Village): 1200 Porters Neck Road, Wilmington, NC 28411

(M02) Masonboro Elementary School: 3518 Masonboro Loop Road, Wilmington, NC 28409

(M03) Moose Lodge: 4610 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington, NC 28412

(M04) United Advent Christian Church: 4912 College Road South, Wilmington 28412

(M06) Myrtle Grove Baptist Church: 5524 Myrtle Grove Road, Wilmington, NC 28409

(M07) Harbor United Methodist Church 4853 Masonboro Loop Road, Wilmington, NC 28409

(W03) MLK Center: 401 South 8th St. Wilmington, NC 28401

(W08) Board of Education--Spencer Building: 1802 South 15th St., Wilmington, NC 28401

(W12) Forest Hills School: 602 Colonial Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403

(W15) Career Readiness Academy at Mosley: 3702 Princess Place Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405

(W16) Lifepoint Church: 3534 College Road S, Suite A, Wilmington, NC 28412

(W17) Holly Tree Elementary School, 3020 Web Trace, Wilmington NC 28409

(W21) Codington Elementary School 4321 Carolina Beach Road, Wilmington, NC 28412

(W25) Cape Fear Community College-Health Sciences Building: 415 North 2nd St., Wilmington, NC 28401

(W26) Sunset Park Elementary School: 613 Alabama Ave., Wilmington NC 28401

(W27) Freeman Elementary School: 2601 Princess Place Drive, Wilmington, NC 28405

(W29) Williston Middle School: 401 South 10th St., Wilmington, NC 28401

(W30) Cape Fear Presbyterian Church, 2606 Newkirk Ave., Wilmington, NC 28412

(W31) New Hanover County Senior Resource Center: 2222 College Road S, Wilmington, NC 28403

(W33) Bradley Creek Elementary School: 6211 Greenville Loop Road, Wilmington, NC 28409

(W34) UNC Wilmington Warwick Center: 629 Hamilton Drive, Wilmington NC 28403

(W35) Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church Activity Building: 204 Pine Grove Road, Wilmington, NC 28403

(WB) Wrightsville Beach Elementary School: 220 Coral Drive, Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480

Pender County

Here's a list of the precincts in Pender County and their designated polling locations according to the Pender County Board of Elections:

Canetuck: Canetuck Community Building: 6098 Canetuck Road, Currie, NC 28435

Cape Fear: Heidi Trask High School Auxiliary Gym: 14328 N.C. 210, Rocky Point, NC 28457

Caswell: Atkinson School Auxiliary Gym: 205 N. Town Hall Ave., Atkinson, NC 28421

Columbia: Shiloh Volunteer Fire Department: 19170 U.S. 421, Willard, NC 28478

Grady: Moore's Creek Missionary Baptist Church, 60 Minuteman Road, Currie, NC 28435

Long Creek: Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department: 227 Scott Road, Rocky Point, NC 28457

Lower Topsail: Pender County Annex Building: 15060 U.S. 17, Hampstead, NC 28473

Lower Union: Watha Town Hall: 425 Watha Road, Watha, NC 28478

Middle Topsail: Topsail Middle School Auxiliary Gym: 17445 U.S. 17, Hampstead, NC 28443

North Burgaw: Burgaw Middle School Gym: 500 S. Wright St., Burgaw, NC 28425

Penderlea: Penderlea Volunteer Fire Department: 4005 N.C. 11, Willard, NC 28475

Rocky Point: Heidi Trask High School Auxiliary Gym: 14328 N.C. 210, Rocky Point, NC, 28457

Scotts Hill: Wesleyan Chapel Fellowship Hall: 10255 U.S. 17, Wilmington, NC 28411

Sloop Point: Cape Fear Community College Alston W. Burke Center: 621 N.C. 210 E, Hampstead, NC 28443

South Burgaw: Cooperative Extension Auditorium: 801 S. Walker St., Burgaw, NC 28425

Surf City: Surf City Community Center Gym: 201 Community Center Drive, Surf City, NC 28445

Upper Holly: Maple Hill Volunteer Fire Department: 115 Old Maple Hill Road N, Maple Hill, NC 28454

Upper Topsail: Topsail Middle School Auxiliary Gym: 17445 U.S. 17, Hampstead, NC 28443

Upper Union: Union Rescue Squad: 8950 N.C. 11, Willard, NC 28478

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: NC primary: What to know before you vote in Wilmington
Atlantic Beach may officially have a mayor by the end of March.

It comes after the town has gone for more than three months without one and received criticism from South Carolinas legal counsel, who called the situation an embarrassing episode.

A protest hearing has been requested by mayoral candidate Josephine Isom to verify the contested 18 votes from Novembers election, said Kenneth McIver, the temporary chairperson for the towns election commission. Once that is done, the election can be certified and a winner declared.

A protest hearing is a standard election procedure, McIver said.

A protest hearing happens when someone challenges an election, said Sandy Martin, the director of the Horry County Voter Registration and Elections Board. This causes the election commission to meet and decide if the protest is legitimate and how to move forward. Sometimes, this means ordering a new election or a recount.

For Atlantic Beach, the town plans to bring in the people who cast the 18 challenged votes and determine if their votes are correct. McIver said Isom asked for the protest hearing.

Isom did not comment on the matter.

South Carolina laws says that when the board meets for a protest hearing, it must stay in session until a conclusion has been reached. When the session concludes, the board will certify the election results and send results out to the candidates.

Martin said this is not unusual and that Horry County has called protest hearings in the past, but the hearings are not called often.

The protest hearing will be at 10 a.m. March 20 at the Atlantic Beach Community Center. McIver said he does not know how long it would be until the new mayor would take office following the announcement of a winner.

Atlantic Beach has been dealing with issues regarding its 2023 municipal elections since November. There was a close race between mayoral candidates Isom and John David Jr.

Isom was originally announced as the winner but after recounting 18 contested votes, David appeared to win, The Sun News reported. When the election commission gathered to certify the recounted votes on Nov. 10, Mayor Jake Evans fired the entire commission, which is against South Carolina law.

Despite reinstating the election commission on Nov. 28, the town has been unable to certify the votes and determine winners from the election.

This is an unfair, unjust action that has been navigated by my opponent and the towns lawyer, David said. He said the voters had their approved documentation from the county and the votes were ready to be counted when the commission was fired.

Atlantic Beach voted earlier this year for Horry County to handle its future elections.
Tensions continue to soar between thousands of striking South Korean doctors and the government, as a vast majority of the protesting junior residents have refused to go back to work on Friday despite threats of prosecution for their ongoing collective action and promises of immunity from penalty if they had quit their walkout by now.

Only 294 doctors out of some 9,000 striking doctors have returned to work as of Thursday night since the strike began on Feb. 20, Vice Health Minister Park Min-soo told reporters. Authorities had given an ultimatum earlier in the week, promising striking doctors that they would not be held accountable if they returned to work by Thursday evening but that the government would begin to take legal action against remaining strikers starting Friday.

The doctors are protesting a government plan to address the countrys longstanding doctor shortage by increasing the annual quota for medical students from 3,058 to 5,058 beginning in 2025. Critics say the protesting doctors are worried that the quota expansion will hurt their competitive pay, while doctors argue the plan will do little to address the poor working conditions in fields where the personnel shortages are most pressing.

As of Wednesday evening, around 10,000 residents80% of all junior doctorshad tendered their resignations as part of the protest. Around 9,000 were on strikea slight decrease from the previous day, per health authorities, who also noted that the number of striking doctors had decreased two days in a row.

Across 100 teaching hospitals in the country, there were 32 hospitals where more than one person has returned to work, and 10 hospitals where more than 10 have returned, Park said on Thursday, adding there are also hospitals where up to 66 doctors have resumed work.

Authorities have issued over 9,400 back-to-work orders to striking doctors, but many have avoided accepting the text message orders by simply turning off their phones and changing their phone numbers. In response, officials are now visiting the homes of trainee doctors to personally deliver the orders. The Ministry of Health has also posted back-to-work orders for about a dozen trainee doctors on the ministry website, local media reported. These steps would allow authorities to subsequently file criminal complaints with those who refuse to comply with the back-to-work orders.

Defying a back-to-work order can be punished by up to three years in prison, a 30 million won ($22,000) fine, or a minimum three-month medical license suspension.

The government has stood firm on its quota expansion plan, which remains broadly popular among the general public, with the health ministry lodging its first criminal complaint against five alleged organizers of the strike on Tuesday. On Friday, police raided several offices at the Korean Medical Association and Seoul Medical Association, which have been accused of violating medical law for their alleged role in instigating the strike.

At the same time, authorities also appear to be trying to assuage concerns among doctors about the quota expansion plan, with the health ministry announcing on Thursday that the government would add up to 1,000 medical professors at key national hospitals by 2027 in response to worries raised by doctors that increasing the intake of medical students would affect the quality of medical care and education. Meanwhile, Park said that officials had invited 94 representatives of the striking doctors to a meeting on Thursday, but only a handful of doctors showed up.

Hospitals across the country are being stretched to their limits, with some patients having their treatments postponed amid a shortage of doctors. The heads of hospitals have written emails begging doctors to return. Your sincerity is well-delivered, Kim Young-tae, the president of Seoul National University wrote on Wednesday. A handful of patients suffering from high-risk diseases and incurable illnesses await you. Now, please come back.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
The Kerch bridge - which links Crimea and Russia - was temporarily closed following the attack

A series of explosions have rocked Crimea, after a reported Ukrainian drone attack on the peninsula which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.

Video posted online shows a blast allegedly near a fuel depot in the south-eastern city of Feodosiya.

Russian officials said 38 drones had been shot down. The Kerch bridge which connects Crimea with Russia was temporarily closed.

The attack comes as Ukraine continues to urge allies to boost arms supplies.

Russian troops have recently made gains in Ukraine as Kyiv struggles to sustain its forces with Western-made arms. Moscow took control last month of the key eastern town of Avdiivka.

However, according to British military intelligence, this has come at a huge cost. In its latest update, it said February had been the deadliest for the Russians since the start of the full-scale invasion on 24 February 2022 - with 983 killed and wounded per day.

"Today, Russia has highly likely lost over 355,000 personnel killed or wounded during the Ukraine war," it said. It is not clear how the figure was reached.

Russia does not provide a record of casualties.

A few days ago, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said Ukraine had lost 31,000 troops since 24 February 2022. He also claimed that 180,000 Russian troops had been killed since then.

Russia has not reported any damage from the latest attack on Crimea, although eyewitnesses have reported windows shaking and car alarms going off. Kyiv has not confirmed its forces were involved.

On Saturday, a Russian drone hit a block of flats in the Ukrainian city of Odesa, killing at least 12 people, including five children. Sunday is a day of mourning in Odesa and the region.

In a separate development on Sunday, Russia targeted the southern Kherson region, killing one person and injuring another three, according to Ukrainian officials.

They also said 16 people were injured in Russian shelling of the town of Kurakhove, in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

Russian forces have launched thousands of Iranian-made drones at Ukrainian targets since they invaded the country more than two years ago.

In retaliation Ukraine has targeted Russian sites, notably oil facilities.

On Saturday a drone struck a residential building in St Petersburg, Russia's second-largest city. About 100 people were evacuated and there were no reports of casualties.

Russia has been using Iran-supplied drones as Ukraine suffers from a dwindling of Western arms supplies

With its airbases, troop concentrations, training grounds and the Black Sea fleet, Crimea has been a key target for the Ukrainians.

At one point last year, it was thought that it intended to launch a full-scale attack to retake the peninsula.

In particular, Ukraine has repeatedly hit Russia's Black Sea fleet. Satellite images last year showed many of the Crimea-based warships had left the peninsula for the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk.

Last month, the Russian landing ship Caesar Kunikov was sunk off the coast of Crimea, according to Ukraine's armed forces.

Its sister ship Novocherkassk was hit while in port in Feodosiya in December last year.

In one of the biggest strikes on the Black Sea fleet, last September Ukraine attacked naval targets and port infrastructure, using as many as 10 missiles and three unmanned boats. It caused a large fire at a Sevastopol shipyard.

Ukraine's biggest scalp in naval warfare has so far been the sinking of Russia's flagship Black Sea missile cruiser, the Moskva, in April 2022.

Ukraine has also targeted the Kerch bridge several times as it is an important resupply route for Russian forces occupying parts of the country's south.

Kyiv has repeatedly said it plans to retake Crimea and all territories seized by Russia.

Ukraine is critically dependent on weapons supplies from the US and other Western allies to keep fighting Russia - a much bigger military force with an abundance of arms and artillery.

Ukrainian troops have been running out of ammunition as supporters of former US President Donald Trump in Congress refuse to approve a $61bn (48bn) military aid package.
A U.N. and Venezuelan flag hang outside the building that houses the Technical Advisory Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, in Caracas, Venezuela, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024. Venezuela's government on Thursday ordered this local U.N. office on human rights to suspend operations and gave its staff 72 hours to leave, accusing the office of promoting opposition to the South American country. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP)  Venezuelas government on Thursday ordered the local United Nations office on human rights to suspend operations and gave its staff 72 hours to leave, accusing it of assisting coup plotters and terrorist groups.

Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil announced the decision at a news conference in Caracas, which came amid heightened concerns that the government is repressing real or perceived opponents in an election year. Nearly a week ago, Venezuela detained a prominent human rights attorney and members of her family, setting off a wave of criticism inside and outside the country.

Gil said the local technical advisory office of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, authorized in 2019, was supposed to improve, to optimize, human rights. Instead, he said, it had become an international sounding board to maintain a discourse against the Bolivarian government and against the Venezuelan people."

The office had become the private law firm of coup plotters and terrorist groups that permanently conspire against the country," Gil said, though he did not show any evidence or point to a specific example of that alleged activity.

Ravina Shamdasani, spokesperson for the U.N. rights office of the high commissioner, based in Geneva, Switzerland, said the agency regretted the decision and is evaluating next steps.

We continue to engage with the authorities and other stakeholders, Shamdasani said. Our guiding principle has been and remains the promotion and protection of the human rights of the people of Venezuela.

The agency on Tuesday had expressed deep concern over the detention of Rocio San Miguel, a prominent human rights attorney in Venezuela. In a tweet, the office urged her immediate release and respect for her right to legal defense.

San Miguel was taken into custody Friday at the airport near Caracas while she and her daughter awaited a flight to Miami. Authorities did not acknowledge her detention until Sunday, and as of Wednesday, her attorney had not been allowed to meet with her.

About an hour before Gils announcement, the U.N. agency called for the respect of due process guarantees, including right to defense in her case.

Attorney General Tarek William Saab earlier in the week said San Miguel was being held at the Helicoide prison, an infamous institution for political prisoners. She is facing charges of treason, conspiracy and terrorism.

San Miguels daughter, ex-husband, two brothers and former partner also were detained following her arrest. Of them, only her former partner, Alejandro Jose Gonzales de Canales Plaza, remains in custody. He is facing charges of revealing state and military secrets and obstruction of justice.

Gil told reporters that President Nicolas Maduro agreed to cooperate with the high commissioner in September 2019 to establish the local technical advisory office in Caracas to show the world the advances in human rights in Venezuela.

He said the office had 13 staff members as of Thursday.

Months before Maduro's 2019 decision, the high commissioner at the time, Michelle Bachelet, had published a scathing report detailing widespread human rights abuses at the hands of Venezuelan government security forces.

The U.N. Human Rights Council had also voted to set up an independent fact-finding mission to look into allegations of killings, disappearances, arbitrary detention and torture in Venezuela.

The fact-finding mission has never been allowed to visit the country. But its investigations have documented, among other things, that the government intensified efforts to curtail democratic freedoms ahead of this year's coming presidential election. The mission accused the government of using threats, surveillance and harassment against politicians, labor leaders, journalists, human rights defenders and other real or perceived opponents.

In addition to the U.N., 200 non-governmental organizations in Venezuela, the European Union, and the Canadian and United States governments have expressed concerns over the San Miguel's detention.

San Miguel's detention is part of the Venezuelan governments policies of criminalization and persecution of the work of promoting and defending human rights and closing civic space in Venezuela," the Venezuelan organizations said in a statement Monday. Both are based on the idea that social activists and human rights defenders are internal enemies who participate in "alleged conspiracies and attempts at assassinations, it said.

San Miguels detention happened more than three months after the U.S. government rolled back some economic sanctions against Venezuela following Maduros commitment to hold an election in the second half of 2024, lift bans preventing adversaries from holding office and release political prisoners. His promises are part of an agreement signed in the Caribbean island of Barbados between his representatives and those of a faction of the opposition.

Since it was signed, Maduro's government has been testing its limits. It has blocked the candidacy of the winner of the opposition's presidential primary and arrested numerous perceived or actual adversaries, including campaign staffers of the blocked candidate. It has also repeatedly accused members of the opposition of having links to various plots to kill Maduro and his inner circle between last May and January without showing any evidence.

The government also only released about 20 political prisoners. The Venezuela-based organization Foro Penal tallied 263 political prisoners in the South American country as of Thursday.

Human Rights Watch on Thursday condemned the government's decision to suspend the activities of the U.N. office, describing its presence in Venezuela as crucial.

Amid a new wave of repression, governments in the region should call for its reestablishment," Juanita Goebertus, Americas director for Human Rights Watch, tweeted.

___

Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and videojournalist Derek Karikari in New York contributed to this report.
The development of Nisqually State Park outside Eatonville has been in the works for nearly four decades. Now, parks officials expect Washingtons newest state park to be nearly completed by next summer.

Its the first time a local tribe has been made a serious partner in the development of a new park. The land has major cultural significance to the Nisqually Tribe, and the waterways, which need protection, are vital to salmon populations.

By summer 2025, the park will feature trails and roads, and in the near future overnight camping areas, an interpretive center, native art, an amphitheater, picnic areas and more. It will be the first Washington state park with overnight camping in more than 30 years.

Leadership from the Nisqually Tribe and the Washington state Parks and Recreation Commission updated their partnership agreements earlier in February with signatures from new leadership. The update included an outline for the next phase of the park and $500,000 of artwork by Nisqually artists that will be featured throughout the park.

The park will have an administration building and plaza, staff housing and trails that overlook areas of Mt. Rainier, the Nisqually River, Ohop Creek and the Mashel River. The entrance is about three miles west of Eatonville on state Route 7.

A map of Nisqually State Park in relation to neighboring properties in southeast Pierce County.

The 1,200-acre park is neighbors with 549 acres of Nisqually Land Trust property to the north and the 4,300-acre UW Pack Experimental Forest to the east. To the south is tribal land.

A groundbreaking for the next phase of construction will be scheduled for some time later this spring.

A historic connection

Tony Sanchez, Nisqually Tribe Parks Committee chairman, said the state Parks and Recreation Commission reached out to several Washington tribes around 2006 when the master and land-use plans were being drawn up to be a part of the conversation. He said only the Nisqually Tribe responded.

The tribe was very interested, it being the birthplace of (Chief) Leschi and historically a Nisqually village, Sanchez said.

Lisa Breckenridge, who works in Parks & Planning with the Nisqually Tribe, said the Nisqually people have maintained connections to the park land for thousands of years. Chief Leschi was born in 1808 in a village on the Mashel River, and the surrounding forests were the background of his childhood. Fishing camps were located up and down the creeks for millennia.

Breckenridge said after the wars that culminated in the Medicine Creek Treaty, which Leschi was present for, logging companies started buying up all the native land. The forests were used for their resources and then put back up for sale.

State Parks got involved in 1987, after the legislature said a park should be built at the confluence of the Ohop, Mashel and Nisqually, and the forests became public again. But the parcels were held for future development with no money to move projects forward or for staffing. The first official trail didnt open until 2015.

She said people would come up to the area and do whatever they wanted, including make their own trails.

There was a lot of trash, there was a lot of vandalism, Breckenridge said. When I started coming up here people were driving around the gates routinely to come camp down here at the river.

Breckenridge said years of vandalism and misuse, on top of logging and development of natural areas into farms, has put the waterways salmon populations of Chinook and Steelhead at risk.

Debbie Preston, PIO for the Nisqually Tribe, said current Chairman Willie Frank III has never fished for Steelhead on the Nisqually River. It used to be one of the tribes primary winter fisheries.

Preston said the big thing about this project is it will allow for better management of the forests and waterways. She said restoring the natural habitat and putting measures in place to protect salmon will be better in the long run than keeping the property in its unmanaged state.

Restoration efforts

Breckenridge said lots of work has been done since last summer to clean things up and restore riparian habitats and wetlands. Parks ranger Alicia Feist said thousands of native plants have been added to damaged areas. And theres more staff at the park so theres been less vandalism and camping in sensitive areas.

At this point, about 80% of the Nisqually Rivers banks are under protected status.

Brian Yearout, a State Parks project manager, said a future phase of construction includes 60 overnight camping spots in a myriad of designs to allow for different types of stays. The end goal is to have a campground with 150 spots, but not all phases have been fully funded. The Nisqually Tribe is contributing some funding, he said, but most of the budget is coming from the state.

Yearout said Parks secured a $3 million grant from the State Recreation and Conservation Office for an overlook trail near the entrance of the park thats in permitting.

Including work thats already been done to manage the park, Yearout said the bill for these first few phases was about $42 million. He said they will be making a request soon for another $17 million for the campground, and building out the trails wont be a cheap feat.

Were building this new park in the middle of nowhere, Yearout said. Its like building a small city from zero.

But once its all open, Sanchez said he could see it being a popular destination for all.

Its going to be one person who comes, theyre going to bring 10 people, theyll bring 20, and theyll bring 40 because its something new and different and out of the way, Sanchez said.

Chelsie Sharp, Nisquallys special projects manager, said once the infrastructure is in place, schools will be able to bring larger groups down to the confluence to witness salmon spawning and learn more about Nisqually history and culture. She said right now, shes working with a group of students to name future trails at the park after native plants and animals in their native language.
First Lady Jill Biden speaks at the Waukesha County Expo Center on Sunday, March 3, 2024. She highlighted abortion and health care access before a crowd of about 100 women voters.

WAUKESHA  First Lady Jill Biden spoke to a crowd of about 200 women voters in Waukesha on Sunday, continuing Democrats' message that abortion and healthcare access are at stake in the 2024 presidential election.

Biden made Wisconsin the final stop on a weekend tour of other critical battleground states  Georgia, Arizona and Nevada. The first lady is leading the "Women for Biden-Harris" initiative in 2024, an effort to mobilize women voters for the Democratic presidential ticket this year.

The first lady targeted former President Donald Trump, saying he is considering a national abortion ban and is taking credit for enabling state bans to go into effect. While providers like Planned Parenthood are currently offering abortions in Wisconsin, the state Supreme Court appears poised to determine access in the state.

"We are the first generation ... in half a century to give our daughters a country with fewer rights than we all had," Biden said. "Women put Joe Biden in the White House and women are going to do it again."

The latest Marquette University Law School poll of registered women voters in Wisconsin showed 45% would vote for Biden if the election were held that day, and 38% would vote for Trump. Ten percent would vote for someone else, and 6% wouldn't vote.

More: Joe Biden, Donald Trump deadlocked in new Marquette Poll of Wisconsin voters

Visit is first since Baldwin has an announced Republican challenger

The first lady's remarks in Waukesha mark the administration's first visit since Eric Hovde formally launched his bid for U.S. Senate. Hovde has the backing of national Republicans in his challenge to Sen. Tammy Baldwin.

"We have our work cut out for us, if we're going to defeat him and hold onto the seat. The stakes of our fight are higher than ever," Baldwin said at the event. "We have to fight for our right to reproductive freedom, a fight that continues to this day."

Democrats have taken aim at Hovde's previous comments that he was "totally opposed" to abortion, though he says he now supports exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother, and thinks voters should decide the issue. He also confirmed that he supports access to IVF and fertility treatments.

Abortion remains politically salient for Democrats in Wisconsin who have seen increased voter mobilization over the issue in statewide races for governor and state Supreme Court since Roe v. Wade was overturned.

More: Could the IVF turmoil in Alabama happen in Wisconsin? Here's why it's unlikely.

First lady Jill Biden is greeted in Milwaukee on Sunday, March 3, 2024 by Lt. Gov. Sarah Rodriguez, Dominique Johnson, Milwaukee County Supervisor David Crowley and his family, and County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson.

First lady's visit to Waukesha shows Democrats' growing focus on the suburb

Biden delivered her remarks at the Waukesha Expo Center, where the audience included many mothers, including one with a ten-day-old newborn. Both Biden and Baldwin highlighted the work of women in volunteering and mobilizing other voters.

The first lady's visit to Waukesha represents a growing push among Democrats to engage with the traditionally Republican county. In 2020, former President Donald Trump won the county with nearly 60% of the vote. But the party's margins in the county have dropped over time.

More: Gilbert: What 30 years of voting history tells us about Wisconsin's shifting suburban vote

In January, Vice President Kamala Harris rallied voters in Big Bend around abortion. Baldwin also met with Waukesha-area moms while campaigning for reelection and answered questions about family finances, public school teachers and child care access.

First lady Jill Biden visits the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County offices on Sunday, March 3, 2024. State Rep. Christine Sinicki, also the chair of the county party, stands beside her.

A handful of protesters called for ceasefire at stop in Bay View

Biden made two brief stops after delivering her remarks, including at Rooted MKE, a Black-woman owned children's bookstore.

She also stopped at the Democratic Party of Milwaukee County headquarters in Bay View, where crowds welcomed her to the neighborhood. When she departed, three or four protestors on one corner called for a ceasefire in Gaza, though disruptions were limited.

A day before Biden's visit, the Coalition for Justice in Palestine held a rally in Milwaukee urging voters to avoid casting ballots for both Biden and Trump because of their positions on the conflict in the Middle East.

Republicans respond by criticizing president's age

In a statement responding to the first lady's visit, Republican Party of Wisconsin chairman Brian Schimming took aim at the president's age and memory.

"For the second time since the Hur Reports release last month, the White House is sending the First Lady instead of the President to make the case for his abysmal record. This marks the latest desperate attempt by Democrats to cover for a tired presidency and its failing policies. And unlike Joe Biden, Wisconsinites wont forget it," Schimming said.

The president's last trip to the state was in late January, when he visited Superior. The report Schimming refers to was released in early February. It portrayed Biden as an elderly man with "diminished capacities," including memory loss, giving critics fresh evidence to argue the 81-year-old president isn't up to serving a second term.

The first lady's visit on Sunday comes ahead of another administration visit this week. Vice President Kamala Harris is set to travel to Madison on Wednesday to highlight the administration's efforts to promote union job growth and apprenticeship programs.

USA Today contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Jill Biden rallies voters in Waukesha around abortion, health care access
In light of an assault Monday at Heritage High School that landed one student in the hospital, Vice Mayor Chris Faraldi is asking for Lynchburg City Schools Superintendent Crystal Edwards resignation.

In a news release issued Thursday night and in a video on his public Facebook page, Faraldi said Edwards has been on vacation this week and hasnt been in communication with the school board regarding her whereabouts, and also hasnt provided meaningful updates regarding the status of the student seriously injured in this situation. Faraldi also alleges one of the divisions two deputy superintendents has been away for the bulk of this week, meaning the top two posts at LCS are away on more pressing matters.

In response, Edwards said shes maintained contact with the school board, schools administration and community despite being out of town.

Faraldi said in his release, It has come to my attention that amidst such a trying week, when those parents, students, and staff need her most, the Superintendent has been (and continues to be) missing in action, away on vacation.

Not only has the Superintendent been on vacation but deemed this situation lacked the urgency to immediately engage, come home, and lead the school division, he said.

At-Large Councilor Martin Misjuns has also called for a resignation from the superintendents office in light of the incident on his public Facebook page.

Meanwhile on Friday, E.C. Glass High School was evacuated and students and staff were dismissed early for a bomb threat, the division said. Lynchburg police, Liberty University police and Virginia State Police performed a search of the building after evacuation and determined the school to be safe, LPD said.

On Monday, LPD said via news release it was investigating an assault that had occurred between three male students, ages 15, 16 and 16 at Heritage High School at about 1 p.m. Police said one student was taken to the school nurse for first aid by LCS staff before being taken to Lynchburg General Hospital and then to Carilion Hospital in Roanoke for additional treatment due to the serious nature of the students injuries. Neither LPD nor LCS has issued any further details on the students current condition.

Edwards issued a statement about the incident to parents via email Tuesday afternoon.

I want to emphasize that incidents of this nature are taken extremely seriously by Lynchburg City Schools. While I cannot delve into specific details regarding student disciplinary actions, I want to underscore that such behavior is unacceptable and will be met with the strictest consequences, she said.

Edwards noted both the community and nation is witnessing a troubling rise in aggressive behavior among our youth, and encouraged parents and guardians to have conversations with their children about the consequences of their actions and to reinforce that violence is not an acceptable solution to conflicts. She also reiterated the divisions policy about student use of cellphones to record and share altercations on social media.

Recording or sharing altercations, whether they are written, verbal, or physical, only serves to exacerbate the situation and may cause further harm to the students involved, Edwards said.

Faraldi appeared on Lynchburgs WLNI Friday morning, and was asked from whom hed heard about a lack of communication. The vice mayor said hed spoken with school board Chair Atul Gupta and received an email from board member Christian DePaul. He also said hed heard about Edwards taking a week-long vacation in January with one weekdays notice.

The vice mayor confirmed those statements for The News & Advance via text message Tuesday.

Reached by phone Friday and asked about Edwards, Gupta said hes unable to comment on personnel matters of an active employee.

Gupta did say he walked through Heritage and E.C. Glass high schools on Tuesday making sure everything was under control. He added quite a few central office administrators and six Lynchburg police officers were also present at Heritage High School on Tuesday.

He said whatever shortcomings [there] are, we [the school board] will do a thorough review of the situation.

Gupta also said hell be praying for the student that was injured and that now is time for healing.

Edwards responded to requests for comment on Faraldis news release via an emailed statement Friday.

Upon learning of the incident at Heritage High School on Monday, I immediately reached out to the family of the injured student that night to offer my support. I let her know that Principal Tim Beatty would meet her at the hospital, Edwards said.

I called the School Board Chair on Monday and sent the entire School Board a confidential update to inform them on the situation. Additionally, Mr. Beatty visited the family in the hospital and brought meals to them that evening.

Though I was out of town this week, Deputy Superintendent Amy Pugh, serving as my designee, worked closely with Heritage High School administration and staff to provide necessary support and resources to the school community. I remained in contact with Mrs. Pugh via phone.

Edwards said shes remained in consistent communication with LCS and Heritage High School administrators and provided the entire school board with updates throughout the week.

She thanked Pugh and Beatty for their support and said, I had previously reminded the Lynchburg City School Board Chair and the entire school board on February 23 via my weekly update email process of my scheduled absence, something that I have continued to do throughout my tenure in Lynchburg.
The biggest day of this year's primary campaign is approaching as 16 states vote in contests known as Super Tuesday.

The elections are a crucial moment for President Joe Biden and Donald Trump, who are the overwhelming front-runners for the Democratic and Republican presidential nominations, respectively. As the day with the most delegates up for stake, strong performances by Biden and Trump would move them much closer to becoming their party's nominee.

The contest will unfold from Alaska and California to Virginia and Vermont. And while most of the attention will be on the presidential contest, there are other important elections on Tuesday.

Some things to watch:

Does Trump keep rolling?

So far, the Republican presidential primary has been a snoozer.

The former president has dominated the race and his last major rival in the race, his onetime U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, is struggling to keep up. She lost the Feb. 27 primary in Michigan by more than 40 percentage points. She even lost her home state of South Carolina, where she was twice elected governor, by more than 20 percentage points.

As the race pivots to Super Tuesday, the vast map seems tailor-made for Trump to roll up an insurmountable lead on Haley.

His team has been turning up the pressure on Haley to drop out, and another big win could be a major point in their favor.

Haley's banked a considerable amount of campaign money and says she wants to stay in the race until the Republican National Convention in July in case delegates there have second thoughts about formally nominating Trump amidst his legal woes. But she's seen some of her financial support waver recently  the organization Americans For Prosperity, backed by the Koch brothers, announced it'd stop spending on her behalf after South Carolina.

She may not be able to afford another sweeping loss.

Do college grads keep turning against Trump?

Amid Trump's commanding wins this primary season have been a notable warning sign for November: He's performed poorly with college-educated primary voters.

In the New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries, APVoteCast found that college graduates picked Haley over Trump.

Roughly two-thirds of voters in both states who went to graduate school after college voted for the former South Carolina governor.

In South Carolina, Trump won the suburbs but not by the same magnitude as his dominance in small towns and rural areas, essentially splitting the vote with Haley.

One of the biggest questions on Tuesday is whether Trump can start repairing that rupture. Weakness with college graduates and in the suburbs where they cluster is what doomed Trump in his 2020 loss to Biden.

Does Biden end doubts?

As sleepy as the Republican presidential primary has been, the Democratic one has been even quieter.

Biden has many political problems dragging him down in public opinion polls, but not, so far, at primary polling stations. The one speed bump came in Michigan, where an organized attempt to vote uncommitted in the primary there to protest Biden's support of Israel during the war in Gaza garnered 13% of the vote, a slightly higher share than that option got in the last primary under a Democratic president.

The only similar organized anti-Biden effort on the Super Tuesday calendar is one put together at the last minute by a handful of leftist groups in Colorado on Thursday to vote non-committed like in Michigan.

Some 700,000 people had already cast ballots in the all-mail state's primary.

The other obstacles are the president's two longshot primary opponents who've yet to crack low single digits against him, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota and self-help author Marianne Williamson, who revived her campaign after receiving a surprise 3% of the Michigan primary vote.

What happens in Californias Senate race?

There's far more than the presidential primaries on the ballot Tuesday. One of the most consequential contests is the California primary for the U.S. Senate seat left open by the death of Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein.

The seat's temporary occupant, Laphonza Butler, isn't running for a full term. Rather than having the winners of party primaries face off in November, California throws every candidate into a single primary and has the top two vote-getters make it to the general election.

Democrats have a lock on statewide races in the overwhelmingly blue state, and for months the speculation was that two prominent U.S. House members from that party, Reps. Katie Porter and Adam Schiff, would battle it out until Election Day. But that's changed since former Dodgers great Steve Garvey threw his hat in the ring.

Garvey, 75, is both a Republican and a novice at politics. Schiff has been airing ads slamming him  or, more accurately, promoting him  as most likely to carry out Trump's wishes. The idea is to unite the state's outnumbered conservatives behind Garvey so he and Schiff finish in the top two, denying Porter a spot in November. Schiff would then be the overwhelming favorite for the seat.

The current primary setup was passed by voters in 2010, partly to stop partisans from engaging in primary shenanigans. Among other things, the Senate primary will be a test of whether, in the end, motivated politicians can game any system.

Which way on criminal justice?

Voters in San Francisco and Los Angeles will once more grapple with questions of criminal justice and public order.

In Los Angeles County, District Attorney George Gascon faces 11 challengers in a primary amid criticism of his progressive approach that includes not seeking cash bail for misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies and not prosecuting juveniles as adults. His opponents have blamed him for a rise in property crimes in some parts of the county, including a brazen smash-and-grab spree at luxury stores.

Gascon has weathered criticism before, including two failed recall efforts, one of which was in his first 100 days of taking office. The primary will determine who he faces in November and whether there are signs that Los Angeles' liberal voters are changing their minds.

In San Francisco, Mayor London Breed is pushing one ballot measure to expand police powers to use tactics like drones and surveillance cameras, and another testing single adults on welfare for drugs. The two initiatives come as the city has been wracked by homelessness and drug use, and Breed faces a cranky electorate in her own reelection in November.

Another GOP test in Texas

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton last year survived an impeachment led by his own party. Now he wants payback, and Trump is helping him. The primary will be a test of how Republican voters are willing to regulate their own leaders.

The impeachment stemmed from Paxton's legal woes. He faces an April trial on felony security fraud charges, and an additional federal corruption probe over the allegations that he used his office to favor a campaign donor that was the foundation of the impeachment charges.

Paxton is targeting more than 30 Republican state lawmakers in the primary, including House Speaker Dale Phelan. Paxton is also trying to remove three Republican judges on the state's conservative appeals court who voted to limit the attorney general's powers.

Paxton has been a staunch supporter of Trump, including the former president's attempts to overturn his own 2020 election loss, and Trump is helping Paxton in his primary campaign. The Texas purge will be a test of what Republican voters value the most in their elected officials.

Can North Carolina candidates unite the parties?

Most of the country picked its governors in the 2022 off-year elections, but North Carolina is gearing up for an intense race this fall. The major-party front-runners for the seat being vacated by term-limited Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper both will need to demonstrate an ability to unite their parties in the primary.

Attorney General Josh Stein has Coopers endorsement. Stein's main competitor is a former state Supreme Court associate justice, Mike Morgan, who is Black. Watch whether Steins able to hold onto a significant share of the primarys Black voters, which is essential for any Democrat who wants to be competitive in November.

The Republican front-runner is Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, who is Black, has been a divisive figure for some for criticizing vocally the teaching of LGBTQ+ issues during sex education and for comments at a church that Christians are called to be led by men. His opponents, state Treasurer Dale Folwell and trial attorney Bill Graham, say Robinson is too polarizing to win in November.

Robinson received Trumps support last year, but its worth watching whether he shows the same weaknesses as the former president among college-educated, suburban voters. Bidens reelection campaign is targeting North Carolina because it thinks those voters can help him beat Trump there.

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?
Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares is condemning a "stunning" student referendum at the University of Virginia calling on the school to divest from companies doing business in Israel.

In a letter sent to the school's leaders on Friday, Miyares directly compared the divestment movement, which has picked up momentum on college campuses during Israel's monthslong war with Palestinian terror group Hamas, with the deadly Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people and launched the war in the first place.

I write to you today with grave concern about the recent student-led referendum at the University of Virginia, Miyares wrote to the school's governing Board of Visitors. The UVA referendum in question urges the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia Investment Management Company to participate in the international Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) campaign.

Students held a referendum this past week on a measure calling on the school to divest any and all monies in its $13.6 billion endowment invested in companies engaging in or profiting from the State of Israels apartheid regime and acute violence against Palestinians.

Nearly 8,000 voted, and the referendum passed Thursday with 67.87% of the vote.

The referendum is nonbinding, however, and has no power over the Board of Visitors or the UVa Investment Management Company, the agency charged with regulating the schools endowment fund.

The institution is not bound by the results of this student referendum, UVa spokeswoman Bethanie Glover previously told The Daily Progress.

Nevertheless, Miyares still called on the Board of Visitors to reject the referendum and offer students essential moral clarity.

My earnest desire is for the Board of Visitors to explicitly reject and definitively repudiate the misguided attempt by the UVA student body to undermine the legitimacy of Israel, he wrote.

Miyares letter warns of alarming trends among college-age young adults between 18 and 24, citing a December Harvard-Harris poll which found 60% of the demographic deemed Hamas Oct. 7 terrorist attack justified.

The fact that a majority of young Americans surveyed feel that terrorism might be justified indicates a moral compass veering dangerously towards the rocky shoals of antisemitism, Miyares wrote. Terrorism and kidnapping of the innocent must never be justified.

He noted that Virginia recently codified into law a definition of antisemitism: a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or nonJewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.

Miyares argued the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement is inherently antisemitic.

Just like direct attacks from Hamas, BDS poses an existential threat to the Jewish state, he wrote.

Reports of antisemitism have been on the rise at UVa since Oct. 7. There have been dozens of complaints from Jewish students and their families that they have been harassed, intimidated and even physically assaulted. The university has said it is looking into those claims, and the U.S. Department of Education has opened an investigation.

The referendum was spearheaded by UVa Apartheid Divest, a group that has roots in the student protests against the racist apartheid regime in South Africa and has been revived in recent years in response to other worldwide conflicts.

A third-year representative of that group, who asked not to be identified out of fear of retaliation, acknowledged that the referendum is nonactionable but told The Daily Progress that it is a line in the sand. His group, he said, will use the results of the referendum as a lobbying tool as we continue to push the unaccountable, undemocratic institutions that have control over our universitys investments to be transparent about our investments and divest from apartheid and genocide.

But the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, Miyares wrote, disguises its malicious intentions while ignoring other human rights abuses elsewhere in the world.

I await the same organizers at UVA who pushed the BDS referendum to place as much effort to condemn the rape, sexual assault of innocent Jewish women, and the murder of the innocent, he wrote.

More than 30,000 people have died so far in the Israel-Hamas war, the overwhelming majority of those Palestinians. Since Oct. 7, Israel has been bombing and blockading the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip, a 140-square-mile territory home to 2 million people, half of which are under the age of 18. Palestinian authorities, including Hamas, have charged Israel with senselessly killing civilians. Even U.S. President Biden has called the Israeli response "over the top." Israel has maintained that Hamas, which started the conflict when it attacked Israeli civilians going on five months ago, continues to operate out of hospitals, schools and apartment buildings, using civilians as shields.
TOKYO, Mar 03 (News On Japan) - As we mark the 100th anniversary of Andre Breton's "Surrealist Manifesto" in 1924, we reflect on the profound influence the art movement, born in France, had on poetry, thought, and paintinga fascination that extended to Japanese artists of the time.

In the late 1920s, pioneers like Harue Koga, Seiji Togo, and Ichiro Fukuzawa began experimenting with Surrealism. The 1930s saw a new generation of young painters and art students expanding their expressive range under the influence of Ernst and Dali. This period also witnessed the creation of iconic works by Japanese Surrealists, including Ai-Mitsu and Noboru Kitawaki.

However, during the war years, Surrealism was monitored as a dangerous ideology, and some artists who were drawn to it perished in the conflict, making it a challenging time for the movement. Despite these difficulties, the influence of Surrealism persisted post-war. Artists like Kikuji Yamashita confronted a society in turmoil and continued to produce uniquely Japanese Surrealist works.

Surrealism spread not only in Tokyo but throughout Japan. During the tumultuous wartime and post-war eras, artists engaged with the avant-garde expression of Surrealism, confronting the times through their work. This legacy is examined through approximately 120 pieces of art and documents.

The exhibition is held at the Itabashi Art Museum in Tokyo, located at 5-34-27 Akatsuka, Itabashi-ku, from Saturday, March 2, 2024, to Sunday, April 14, 2024. Admission fees are as follows: General admission is 650 yen (450 yen for groups of 20 or more), high school and university students are 450 yen (300 yen for groups), and elementary and junior high school students are 200 yen (100 yen for groups). Group rates are indicated in parentheses. On Saturdays, admission is free for elementary, junior high, and high school students. Seniors aged 65 and over receive a 50% discount, and individuals with a disability pass receive a 50% discount, with free admission for one accompanying person. The museum is open on Mondays from 9:30 AM to 5:00 PM, with last admission 30 minutes before closing. For inquiries, please contact 03-3979-3251. This information is provided by the Itabashi Art Museum and the Tokyo Shimbun.

Source: artscape
State Magazine, the U.S. State Department Magazine, has highlighted, in its March issue, the enduring, multifaceted and long-standing partnership between the United States and Morocco.

The March issue of State Magazine devotes its Post of the Month section to Morocco and its strategic partnership with the United States. It recalls the recognition in 2020 by the United States of the full sovereignty of Morocco over its southern provinces via a presidential proclamation and illustrates the article with a photo of the full map of Morocco with its Sahara.

Morocco is a country with which we have a deep, rich, multifaceted partnership, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Puneet Talwar was quoted by the Magazine as saying. The Kingdom is a very reliable and solid partner, he insisted.

The diplomat deemed it critical to maintain the pace to advance areas of mutual interest and work on the challenges the two countries face.

The Magazine states further that Morocco is rapidly modernizing its infrastructure and economy to capitalize on its role as a strategic hub in the region and world-class travel destination. It renews the United States commitment to continue to stand by the Kingdom, an Atlantic neighbor, ally, and friend of America.

State Magazine, which underscores Rabats commitment to African development, also lays emphasis on the pivotal role played by Morocco, one of the United States largest non-NATO allies, in regional security and counterterrorism efforts, saying that Morocco has emerged as an exporter of peace and stability in a challenging region.

Moroccos strategic location and its ties to Arab, African, and European cultures make the Kingdom a key partner in addressing challenges affecting the Middle East and North Africa region, the magazine states, adding that Morocco is also a vital portal between Africa and Europe.

You wont find any other country in Africa thats as stable and as reliable an ally as Morocco, the Magazine quotes David Fisher, political counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Rabat as saying, and recalls that Morocco holds a special place in the history of U.S. foreign relations, being the first country to have recognized the independence of the United States in 1777.

State Magazine also mentions the African Lion, the largest annual military training exercise on the continent.
Foreign Ministers of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries reaffirmed, Sunday, the unwavering positions, and steadfast decisions of the GCC Supreme Council supporting the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and the preservation of peace and security of Morocco.

These commitments that also endorse the autonomy initiative as the only solution to the settlement of the Sahara conflict within the framework of Moroccos sovereignty and national and territorial integrity were reaffirmed during the joint working session, which brought together Sunday at the headquarters of the GCC Secretariat General in Riyadh, the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the GCC countries and their Moroccan peer Nasser Bourita.

The joint working session emphasized the importance of intensifying efforts to implement the joint action plans agreed upon within the framework of the strategic partnership between the two sides.

The Foreign Minister of Qatar and chairman of the current session of the GCC underlined that the Council countries reaffirm their unwavering support for the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and their firm attachment to the kingdoms territorial integrity, as well as their support for relevant UN decisions.

For his part, GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi reiterated the Councils positions and resolutions supporting the Moroccan sovereignty over the Sahara and highlighting the importance of the strategic cooperation between the GCC and Morocco.

The Gulf Cooperation Council also welcomed the nomination of the Kingdom of Morocco for membership in the United Nations Security Council for the term 2028-2029.

This meeting is part of the strong relations and the comprehensive and renewed strategic partnership between Morocco and the GCC countries, the foundations of which were laid by King Mohammed VI and the leaders of the GCC member countries, since the Morocco-GCC Summit, held on April 20, 2016 in Riyadh.

The GCC is made up of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Morocco, whose Sovereign, King Mohammed VI, chairs the Al Quds Committee, strongly condemns the targeting by Israeli forces of Palestinian civilians who were seeking humanitarian aid at the Al-Rashid Avenue, north of Gaza Strip, killing dozens and injuring hundreds.

The remarks were made by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita during a joint working meeting at the headquarters of the Gulf Cooperation Councils Secretariat General in Riyadh, with the Foreign Affairs Ministers of the GCC member countries.

Bourita reaffirmed Moroccos absolute rejection of international humanitarian law violations, and reiterated its calls for an independent and transparent investigation into this despicable act and for punishing the perpetrators.

Bourita also reiterated the urgent call launched by King Mohammed VI, President of the Al-Quds Committee, to the international community to step in urgently to achieve an immediate, comprehensive and permanent ceasefire, to ensure the smooth delivery of aid to the Palestinians, and to guarantee the protection of the Palestinian people.

During the meeting the GCC Secretary-General Jasem Mohammed Al-Budaiwi on his part reiterated the firm, collective position of the GCC nations, denouncing the serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by Israel in Gaza, especially the systematic and direct targeting of civilians. He also emphasized the immediate need for a ceasefire.
Twenty-five artists carried white fiberglass dogs out of Pro Printing and Graphics Inc. on Saturday to kick off the Paws on the Platte fundraiser for Paws-itive Partners.

Sponsored by local businesses, these artists have until May 13 to complete custom designs painted over the dog sculptures.

They will then go on display at the Prairie Arts Center for a week and later to the local business sponsors.

Saturdays event was a meet and greet between artists and sponsors for Paws on the Platte and statue distribution.

They will auction off the statues on July 26 at Pals Brewing Company.

Proceeds will help low-income households spay or neuter their pets, provide emergency pet care, hold a pet food pantry and help finance pet care for people going through homelessness or medical care.

President Jo Mayber said the event started in 2018 as a fundraiser to benefit dogs and cats through Paws-itive Partners, an animal rescue and welfare nonprofit.

Members were in Massachusetts, eight years ago and saw community art that were lobsters and we thought, Oh we need to do that with cats and dogs, Mayber said.

After learning, the community art was made in Gibbon, she said they had to do something with fiberglass dogs.

Past Paws on the Platte events have been so much fun. Planning the event and meeting new people is fun but watching artists transform their dog statues into true artistic masterpieces is especially wonderful. Having the community embrace Paws on the Platte in the past has been amazing and we hope to reenact that in 2024, Mayber said in a press release.

Mayber said past entries demonstrated a wide variety of creativity from scenery to geometric patterns, abstract, art and tributes to characters found in pop culture.

We decided we wanted something completely different than before and this is a play bow and it shows more action. The other were posed of a sitting dog and a begging dog, but this one shows more physical activity.
For a certain kind of radical social critic, there is an irresistible urge to look abroad for proof that your vision of a better world is possible. This was the story of Henry Wallace, a one-term vice-president under Franklin Roosevelt and briefly the intellectual and emotional leader of the American left. It is also the story of a contemporary, very different kind of social critic: Tucker Carlson, the right-wing commentator and possible future candidate for high office.

Wallace is the subject of journalist Benn Steils new biography, The World That Wasnt: Henry Wallace and the Fate of the American Century. In some obvious ways, Wallace was Carlsons antithesis: an idealist whose goal was to change the world rather than get rich on television and who never abandoned his lofty view of human nature and possibility.

But Wallace developed a fascination with Soviet communism, both during his time in the Roosevelt administration and after, that has interesting parallels with Carlsons attachment to Putin-era Russia. While he was not paid or controlled directly by communists, or even a communist himself, Wallace frequently echoed their arguments and excused their crimes; as these excuses made him anathema to his former allies, he drew tighter into the arms of his friends in Moscow.

Wallace reached the height of his influence after leaving government. Democrats replaced him as vice-president in 1944 (correctly anticipating that Roosevelt wouldnt live through his fourth term and deeming Wallace too flaky for the job) in favor of Harry Truman. Roosevelt and Truman kept Wallace on as Commerce secretary, believing they needed his support to prevent a liberal revolt. After Wallace persisted in criticizing Trumans Cold War policies, such as the Berlin Airlift, the Marshall Plan, and aid to Greece and Turkey, Truman eventually fired him in 1946. Freed from any political fetters, Wallace denounced Truman, briefly served as titular editor of The New Republic (during one of its doctrinaire left-wing periods), and eventually ran for president on the Progressive Party line in 1948.

Wallaces attacks on Trumans emerging Cold War policy eerily anticipate the arguments made today by Russia defenders like Carlson. Wallace depicted all Soviet actions, however aggressive, as a defensive response to feared or actual threats by the West. He insisted that any steps to contain Russia, even merely aiding its targets, would lead to direct war, that Russia was too strong to be successfully deterred, and that any aid to countries threatened by Russia would bankrupt the United States.

Wallace also came to believe Russia had a brilliant model of domestic economics that had lessons for the West. While he didnt totally deny Stalins brutality, he considered it the necessary cost of social progress. (Or as Carlson put it not long ago, leadership requires killing people.) Wallace went along on a propaganda trip in 1944 in which Soviet authorities staged elaborate scenes of high culture and prosperity with trained actors who had been threatened not to reveal anything to their credulous visitor. Carlson similarly depicted Putins Russia as a haven of order, cleanliness, prosperity, and stable prices.

Wallace, also like Carlson, had ambitions of historic scale. He believed he could transform the Democratic Party by articulating opposition to its leadership. Either by winning as a third-party candidate in 1948 or precipitating the Democrats defeat as a spoiler, he believed he could reveal the partys bankruptcy and lead the people to take control of it from the bosses. Wallace remains a hero today in segments of the left that still believe the Democrats could have become a true populist workers/peace party if only they had followed him.

Carlsons position as a right-wing populist critic of the Republican Party bears a somewhat similar trajectory. He has positioned himself as the spokesman for Republicans who believe their party has been led by globalist elites who sold out the common man, for whom Carlson claims to speak.

Even the characterological differences between the two men turn out, upon inspection, to be smaller than they may appear. If Carlson were truly motivated by no more than fame and greed, he would have found a way to stay in the Murdoch familys good graces and retain his lucrative prime-time perch. And if Wallace had been deeply honest, he would have fessed up about matters like his 1930s infatuation with Nicholas Roerich, a Russian emigre mystic whose cult Wallace joined, and his secret 1940s correspondence with Stalin, with whom he choreographed a planned interview designed to position Wallace as a western peace leader.

Messianic overconfidence can do terrible things to a mans ethics. Wallace, at least, eventually drew up the humility to admit the Soviets had duped him. Carlson does not seem to have the character ever to offer such a humbling confession. He seems more the type to dismiss the evidence of his own complicity with evil with his trademark hyena laugh.
Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday mothballed its longstanding COVID isolation guidance, announcing that people no longer need to isolate for five days after catching the coronavirus. Instead, per the CDC, they should stay home if they feel sick but can leave home and resume normal activities as soon as their symptoms are getting better and its been a day since they had a fever (without the help of fever-reducing medication). That means that the CDC is now both streamlining and simplifying its recommendations and advising people to treat their COVID infections like they would the flu or any other respiratory illness  even though the novel coronavirus is nothing like the flu or other common respiratory viruses.

Many public-health experts are backing the move, which is the first major change the CDC has made to the guidance since it reduced the isolation period from ten days to five in late 2021 and had been previewed last month in a report by the Washington Post. The CDC and the experts supporting the plan have noted that it makes sense for the agency to align its isolation guidance with how everyone is now living with COVID, four years after the start of the pandemic. That new normal is that COVID isnt going away and people are still catching it, but the threat it poses and harm is causes continues to decline thanks to virtually everyone having some form of immunity owing to prior infection or the administration of widely available vaccines, in addition to the availability of effective life-saving antiviral treatments like Paxlovid.

The CDC says that COVID was the tenth leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2023, down from being the third leading cause of death in 2020 and 2021 (behind heart disease and cancer), and the fourth leading cause in 2022 (behind heart disease, cancer, and unintentional injuries like car accidents and drug overdoses). Weekly hospital admissions have dropped more than 75 percent since the peak of the Omicron wave in early 2022. And at least so far, no new variants have emerged that have been able to pierce our collective wall of immunity against severe COVID.

Public-health authorities in Europe, Australia, and Canada have already lifted their COVID isolation requirements, as have California and Oregon  and there havent been significant spikes in COVID hospitalizations in those two states following the policy changes, as a CDC official noted Friday.

The new CDC guidelines also reflect the all-too-obvious reality that the general publics attitudes toward COVID have changed enormously over the past couple years, and at this point its not at all clear how many were still following the CDCs old test-and-isolate guidelines anyway. Less than half of the respondents to a recent CDC survey said they would get a COVID test if they had coldlike symptoms. As infectious-disease expert Dr. Celine Gounder pointed out to the New York Times on Friday, the lack of testing alone necessitated a policy change: If you dont know which virus you have, how are you supposed to follow the right guidance for COVID versus flu versus RSV versus the common-cold virus?

Another well-known issue is that research has long indicated that COVID is mostly spread by people who have asymptomatic infections and thus probably never knew they had it and should isolate. People with COVID are often contagious before they develop symptoms as well.

To be clear, the CDC has not yet dialed back its longer isolation guidelines for health-care and nursing-home workers. And the agency still stresses the importance of being fully vaccinated and boosted and says anyone with additional risk factors  seniors, infants, and people with preexisting medical conditions  should get tested as soon as they develop symptoms of a respiratory illness and, if necessary, receive anti-viral treatments that target whichever one theyve got. Last week, the CDC newly recommended that everyone 65 and older should definitely get another booster shot this spring. Seniors are still suffering the brunt of COVID-19s worst health impacts, and the agency says 95 percent of the people hospitalized for COVID in the U.S. this winter had not received the most-recent booster shot.

Also while its sunsetting the multiday isolation policy, the CDC now advises people recovering from COVID or another respiratory illness to take additional steps, for five days, to reduce the risk of passing it on to others since they might still be contagious. The agency said despite feeling better, people should limit close contact with others, wear a well-fit N95 or equivalent high-filtration face mask while in public, cover their mouth when they cough or sneeze, practice good hygiene like regular hand and surface washing, and work to improve ventilation and air quality in enclosed indoor spaces. If everyone actually did all that whenever they felt sick, it would undoubtedly reduce the transmission of all respiratory viruses, not just COVID  and both prevent a lot of misery and save a lot of lives.

Our goal here is to continue to protect those at risk for severe illness while also reassuring folks that these recommendations are simple, clear, easy to understand, and can be followed, CDC director Dr. Mandy Cohen explained in a briefing on Friday. We wanted to give folks simple, actionable things that they can remember and do in order to protect themselves.

This is all part of the CDCs new Pan-respiratory approach to battling COVID, the flu, and RSV all at the same time. The agency began formulating this plan in August and is now ready to launch the new approach after monitoring the latest respiratory-illness season. We wanted to see continued decreases in hospitalizations, decreases in deaths, even with that larger change in the virus, Cohen said.

Most state-level public-health authorities are already aligning their recommendations with the new CDC guidance, but its not yet clear how, or how quickly, schools and employers will incorporate the new advice into their COVID policies (if they still had them). The CDC says it will soon revise its guidance for schools as well.

Some public-health experts had already been calling for the CDC to ditch its isolation advisory, which critics saw as ineffective and increasingly out of touch. Now that the new guidance is out, its gotten plenty of support. The Infectious Diseases Society of America released a statement backing the plan, and former FDA commissioner Scott Gottlieb  who has criticized the CDC and U.S. pandemic response on many other occasions  is onboard as well:

As we see a growing decoupling between Covid cases and hospitalizations owing in part to higher population wide immunity and better care; theres public health value in better aligning guidance for winter respiratory pathogens around a more common standardhttps://t.co/MO8OETVRvo  Scott Gottlieb, MD (@ScottGottliebMD) March 1, 2024

Some public-health experts have criticized the new guidelines, however, or at least expressed their concerns about the new normal they represent. Dr. Gounder, for instance, told the Times that she supported the new policy but also pointed out how it was yet another way COVID risk management was getting outsourced from the government to the general public:

Little has been done to improve indoor air quality in most places, and wearing masks can be socially uncomfortable for many people, Dr. Gounder said. This is again putting a lot of burden on the individual to do the right thing by public health, she said. Making masks affordable and providing them in public spaces and workplaces would help people follow the new guidelines, she added.

Jennifer Nuzzo, who directs the Pandemic Center at Browns School of Public Health, also notes that the old CDC isolation guidance, when translated into official policy by employers, protected workers  at least at the workplaces that still offered five paid sick days following a positive COVID test. My biggest worry in all of this is that employers will take this change in guidance to require employees to come back to work  before they are ready to, before they feel well enough, and before they are not likely to pose harm to their co-workers, she told the Associated Press.

The Peoples CDC, a group of health-care workers and researchers who generally support more aggressive approaches to battling COVID than the CDC has ever taken, opposes the plan and says that the agencys new guidance is more about aligning with corporate priorities than public-health ones. After news of the updated guidelines first came out last month, the group began organizing against it:

The five-day period is the minimum amount of time for some people while for others a ten to fourteen day period is needed when infected by COVID to rest and recover from illness and prevent the exposure and spread of COVID to uninfected people. A ten-day period is better to ensure an adequate amount of time for rest and recovery.

The disabled could face further challenges as a result of change too, American Association of People with Disabilities president Maria Town warned the Washington Post:

Our community has been really left behind and disposable for the past four years, and this is yet another reminder of that. Grouping all three of these viruses together fails to recognize how much more contagious COVID is, how it behaves differently and puts many people, especially disabled people and immunocompromised people, at risk.

Others see the new CDC stance as a retreat from hard-learned COVID science. Per CNN:

Its not good science. Its not good public health. It doesnt provide people with accurate information, [said Dr. Ellie Murray, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Boston Universitys School of Public Health. She] notes that weve learned a lot about how respiratory diseases spread and how best to control them during the pandemic. But instead of applying those lessons to help protect people from other infections like the flu, she says, this rolling back of precautions is sending a harmful message.

Its undermining the whole rest of the public health system, she said. Because what people are hearing is, Actually, diseases arent as bad as wed said they were, and we dont actually need to do anything. Its not actually that bad if some people die.

Scripps Dr. Eric Topol told CNN that treating COVID like other respiratory illnesses was a mistake:

I completely disagree with the idea there is no COVID exceptionalism. The overwhelmingly abundant evidence for this virus over the past 4 years tells us that it is a far more dangerous pathogen than flu, which lacks seasonality, is still evolving, has induced Long Covid in tens of millions of throughout the worlds, and cannot be FLU-ified.

A few days before the CDC announced the new isolation guidance, the Atlantics Katherine J. Wu reported on the many potential downsides of COVID flu-ification:

COVID and the flu are nowhere near the same. SARS-CoV-2 still spikes in non-winter seasons and simmers throughout the rest of the year. In 2023, COVID hospitalized more than 900,000 Americans and killed 75,000; the worst flu season of the past decade hospitalized 200,000 fewer people and resulted in 23,000 fewer deaths. A recent CDC survey reported that more than 5 percent of American adults are currently experiencing long COVID, which cannot be fully prevented by vaccination or treatment, and for which there is no cure. Plus, scientists simply understand much less about the coronavirus than flu viruses. Its patterns of spread, its evolution, and the durability of our immunity against it all may continue to change.

And yet, the CDC and White House continue to fold COVID in with other long-standing seasonal respiratory infections. When the nations authorities start to match the precautions taken against COVID with those for flu, RSV, or common colds, it implies that the risks are the same, Saskia Popescu, an epidemiologist at the University of Maryland, told me. Some of those decisions are not completely unreasonable, says Costi Sifri, the director of hospital epidemiology at UVA Health, especially on a case-by-case basis. But taken together, they show how bent America has been on treating COVID as a run-of-the-mill disease  making it impossible to manage the illness whose devastation has defined the 2020s.

Wu also highlighted how encouraging less testing  which the new CDC guidance seems likely to do  could lead to less effective treatment:

The less people test, the less theyll be diagnosed  and the less theyll benefit from antivirals such as Paxlovid, which work best when administered early. Sifri worries that this pattern could yield another parallel to flu, for which many providers hesitate to prescribe Tamiflu, debating its effectiveness. Paxlovid use is already shaky; both antivirals may end up chronically underutilized.

Flu-ification also threatens to further stigmatize long COVID. Other respiratory infections, including flu, have been documented triggering long-term illness, but potentially at lower rates, and to different degrees than SARS-CoV-2 currently does. Folding this new virus in with the rest could make long COVID seem all the more negligible. Whats more, fewer tests and fewer COVID diagnoses could make it much harder to connect any chronic symptoms to this coronavirus, keeping patients out of long-COVID clinics  or reinforcing a false portrait of the conditions rarity.

But Dr. Ashish Jha, the former U.S. COVID response coordinator, argues in a post at the health-news site Stat that the new CDC guidelines also account for real-world costs and benefits in a way that all good public-health guidance should:

The goal of isolation guidelines should be to weigh the burdens of individuals and their families against the benefits. In that light, asking people to isolate while they are symptomatic  have a fever, symptoms getting worse  makes sense. They are likely to be quite contagious. But as symptoms wane, so too does contagiousness. So while someone a week after symptoms could still be contagious, they are much less so. And the risk of spreading the virus days after symptoms have abated is low. As is the consequence 

The explosion of public health science over the past 50 years has identified lots and lots of things that can potentially improve health. Some of these things have large benefits while others small. If we took an absolutist approach  in which public health officials issued guidance for everything that provided any benefit  we would end up recommending that people never eat bacon, likely avoid all meat, never drink alcohol (no amount is safe!), never drive above 30 miles per hour, and so forth. Sure, those things have benefits, but the benefits of avoiding bacon (technically a Group 1 carcinogen) are small  and for bacon lovers, the burden is high.

Public health guidance has been confusing during the pandemic. It feels like it keeps changing, leading people to ask: Is the science changing? Sometimes yes, our scientific understanding does change as we learn new things. But thats not the only thing that should drive our guidance. As population immunity grows, the benefits of avoiding infection by taking on high burdens wanes. And as the pandemic progresses, our guidance should absolutely change to reflect not just new science, but the new realities of the burdens and benefits.

So no, COVID is not the flu, and anyone who thinks they might have COVID should absolutely respect the danger it still poses, particularly for those at higher risk. But how much harm its doing to the publics overall health is what the CDC is continuing to point to as its public-health messaging around COVID evolves.

This post has been updated.

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The author testing out one of the Clouds at RH. Photo: Alyssa Shelasky

Ive been shopping for the perfectly deep sofa for over 20 years.

It started right out of college, when I floated into ABC Carpet & Home in the Flatiron District, the epicenter of Rich Bohemia, and begged them to hire me for a job. Any job. Why? Because I was desperate for an employee discount. It was time for my first grown-up couch.

I got a job, but even with the discount, I couldnt afford their furniture. Still, I gained some invaluable life experiences there. When Sex and the City filmed in the bedroom section, I held Sarah Jessica Parkers hand while she was secretly pregnant and privately puking. I helped a shopped-out Kevin Bacon find an emergency cappuccino. (He warmly smiled, Im Kevin, by the way.) I styled photoshoots with Deepak Chopra, Naomi Campbell, Uma Thurman, and all the Queer Eyes. By osmosis, and certainly not salary, I became a bona fide design snob.

The ABC employees were a society of extreme eccentrics and beautiful weirdos, and we would often kill the days by hanging around the sumptuous sofa section  a play land of jewel-toned velvets and luxe chrome legs. When 9/11 happened, I buried my head in those sofas and sobbed. When celebrities engaged in outrageous shopping sprees (Kate Hudson), wed gather there to gossip. The couches were so evocative  and most memorably, they were so deep! I promised myself that, someday, Id own a deep, velvety, well-made sofa of my own.

Twenty years later, the original ABC is shuttered, and I am a single-mom-by-choice, a writer who lives paycheck to paycheck, and a woman with a NOT-DEEP-AT-ALL joyless Joybird. When my recent book, This Might Be Too Personal, garnered a modest TV-development deal, I told myself that, finally, the deep moody couch of my dreams would be my reward.

So I started shopping. I went to Room & Board because its known for its customer service, and I always need a lot of that. I asked for the deepest sofa. A salesperson led me to their popular Metro. It was 43 inches deep. I comfortably sank into it but didnt feel any spiritual connection. Plus, too bulky. A handsome banker type plopped next to me and we agreed that this was the right couch if you had an enormous living room in Amagansett and a bunch of private-school kids on iPads, which I do not (and he did!).

I subwayed down to Industry City, where I knew theyd have many options, as well as a new iteration of ABC Carpet & Home. On the way there, I texted my friend Julie who works at Domino. Whats your favorite deep sofa RN? She wrote back, If were being aspirational, its the Float Sofa by Sarah Ellison at Design Within Reach  the dark chocolate brown is the chicest IMHO.

So, I went straight to the DWR outlet. I had no idea what the Float was, or that it cost around $9,000. However, none of that was an issue, because the salesperson looked at me deadpan and said: No one sends something like the Float back. Its not something youd see at the outlet. Just for fun, I asked her about the dimensions and she said its 50 inches deep. Damn girl. Thats over half my living room!

Measuring an RH Cloud sofa. Photo: Alyssa Shelasky

Next I went to the RH (nee Restoration Hardware) outlet. I heard they were practically giving furniture away there. I asked to see all the Clouds. Time to see what the fuss was all about. They only had a few, and they were all in the Luxe size, which meant 45 inches deep. The cushions completely swallowed me up; they also made me want to nap. Like, forever. All to say: super-chill but  who needs to be that chill? I have shit to do!

Couches (and nostalgia) at the ABC Outlet. Photo: Alyssa Shelasky

Photo: Alyssa Shelasky

I stopped by the ABC outlet, which has a much smaller inventory, but the same magical energy as the original. The iconic Cobble Hill sofas that I saw there  those whimsical, velvety, nostalgic ABC pieces that defined my early twenties  measured at, womp womp, 38 inches deep. Though I loved the narrative of a full-circle moment, and was legitimately salivating for a rosewood-pink beauty that screamed Jenna Lyonss living room, the dimensions were just too narrow. ABC had other luxurious sofa collections too, and some were actually perfect size, but nothing had that je ne sais quoi. (To complicate my feelings, floor samples were less than $2,500 that day!)

A stylish customer at ABC suggested I check out Burrows Mambo sofa, affordable but insanely cool which got me very excited, and so I ran home to investigate the details. It was low, groovy, curvy and gives playful, kid-friendly vibes but its also not that deep. Thirty-seven inches across. Just one inch more than my bummer Joybird. Because the Mambo is modular, I tried various configurations with ottomans (26 inches deep) to add some real estate, but ultimately I had to accept it would not work.

The next day, a bit deflated by couch culture, I pinged Julie for more ideas, this time specifying that the sofa had to be under $4,000 and not the size of a honeymoon Jacuzzi. She responded, Sundays Movie Night sofa. Its fantastic. I had never heard of Sundays, so I did a deep dive on the brand. Their reviews were excellent (like, no haters?) and the customer service rep was a pleasure. But, as I discovered at many of these stores, the only options for the Movie Night Sofa depth were Standard ( 37 inches) or Large (45 inches). I pivoted to the beautiful Good Company Sofa, in a seductive shade of Cashew, but with a 41.5 depth, my gut said it would feel too dominating. Plus, Im just too scared to buy a couch that my body has never descended upon, no matter how stellar the reviews.

I concluded that I needed something in the middle, a 40-inch-deep couch. That was the sweet spot. Deep enough to blissfully watch The Traitors after a long stressful day of deadlines and parenting, but not so deep that I never left my apartment again. But where the hell was it? I started losing sleep over the hunt. I started feeling resentful toward friends with money who could just order something off Jenni Kayne without making calculations like, Whats more important, a Fuck-You Couch or summer camp for my kids?

The teal velvet fabric the author chose for her couch. Photo: Alyssa Shelasky

As an act of restoration (not hardware), I took my kids to my sisters new house in Connecticut. As soon as I saw her sophisticated yet hearty couches, deep but not psychotically so, I gasped: WHERE ARE YOUR COUCHES FROM AND HOW DEEP ARE THEY? Turns out they were from the Pierson collection at Room & Board and  bless  40 inches deep. I must have been too immobilized by the bulky Metro sofa to notice them when I was last there. After a happy weekend of reading, gossiping, and cuddling on her Piersons, I knew Id found it.

The next week, I went back to Room & Board. I studied the Pierson on display, triple-checking that it was exactly 40 inches deep. I covered it with a lived-in, velvety, teal fabric called Vance Bali that transported me right back to boho-chic ABC Carpet & Home. The whole thing, plus tax and delivery, would cost a sobering $3,900. However, the woman I dreamed I would be someday would own this couch  and I had to eventually stop shopping and get back to work  and so, I purchased the pretty thing with decisiveness and glee.

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Source: https://jonentine.com/a-social-and-environmental-audit-of-the-body-shop-anita-roddick-and-the-question-of-character/ The Body Shop originated not in Brighton in 1976 but in the Bay Area of San Francisco in 1970. Sisters-in-law Jane Saunders and Peggy Short opened a tiny shop housed in CJs a converted auto garage on Telegraph Avenue selling cosmetics with natural-sounding names in simple plastic bottles of varying sizes. They called it The Body Shop. It was an overnight success. People would stop by as Peggy and Jane cut and wrapped freshly made soaps and poured hand-labeled individual bottles of lotions and perfume oil. Within months, they opened another store in Berkeley and a third in San Francisco at Union Square.In 1970, young Anita traveled to San Francisco with then boyfriend Gordon to visit his best friend, David Edward. Edwards former wife, Alma (now Dunstan-McDaniel), remembers dragging Anita to a favorite shop, filled with tie-dyed decorations and redolent with incense. That was the place to buy shampoo and body cream, Alma says. She recalls Anita buying armfuls of hand-cut soaps, loofah sponges, and cosmetics in small plastic bottles with hand-written labels.This story has been confirmed by more than a half dozen independent sources, among them Roddicks best friend at the time, Aidre Vaillancourt (who became the first franchisee and a board member), her first cosmetic advisor Mark Constantine, and her long-time PR director Janis Raven.The Body Shops name, store look, product line, marketing concept were copied directly from the Berkeley Body Shop. Vaillancourt recalls excitedly pouring over early Berkeley catalogs with Roddick in 1975, a year before Roddick opened her shop. Roddicks early catalogs issued in the late 70s, with hand-drawn illustrations of plants and advice on how to use the products, are an almost exact copy of the Berkeley The Body Shops price lists and mail-order catalogs from 1970  1976.Roddick made the plagiarists most telling mistake  when she copied the Berkeley The Body Shop catalog, many times word-for-word, she even copied the original catalogs grammatical errors. The Berkeley catalog says we have set prices at reasonable levels by avoiding expensive, gimmicky advertising and by presenting products in modest, attractive packages. Roddicks BSI says it will sell moderately priced products with no hype or advertising and minimal packaging. The Berkeley The Body Shop says all our products are biodegradable and made to our specifications; bottles 20 or bring your own. Anita wrote: all our products are biologically soft and made to our specifications; bottles 12p or bring your own. Even the product category listings are largely identical. For the Hair, For the Bath, Creams, Lotions, Oils, and even the category Special Items were featured in the Berkeley catalog six years before Roddick came out with her copycat version.
Sydney Sweeney hosts with music from Kacey Musgraves!!!

 THIS SATURDAY  pic.twitter.com/XT7HVvsvBY  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) February 29, 2024

Richard Lewis 

Diary of a Young Comic, produced by Lorne Michaels and directed by Gary Weis. The film aired on February 3, 1979 during SNLs Saturday night timeslot. pic.twitter.com/b0kjJXWn4u  Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) March 2, 2024

(andand) star Sydney Sweeney makes her SNL hosting debut tonight! Sweeney is the secondstar to host the show after Jacob Elordi made his hosting debut a few episodes ago. This will be Kacey Musgraves' third time on the show as musical guest. Her first appearance was way back in May 2018 and she notably performed in the nude for one of her performances in October 2021. Sweeney and... the cast at read-thru Sweeney with cast member Heidi Gardner and musical guest Kacey Musgraves. Sweeney stopped by Fallon where she talked about how nervous she was for the show and also talked about her new movie, cute pic of Sydney Sweeney and Kacey Musgraves on homebase! Though comedian Richard Lewis never appeared on or worked at SNL, he did share a special connection. The SNL twitter account posted a commercial promoting Lewiss tv moviefrom the original airing of a January 1979 episode. The film was produced by Lorne Michaels and directed by Gary Weis who made many short films in the early era of the show.
Renewable energy developments continue at break-neck speed, with $644 billion to be spent on new capacity in 2024, but outdated and inadequate power grids could prove to be a significant stumbling block to the energy transition. If the world is to limit global warming to 1.8 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, $3.1 trillion of grid infrastructure investments are required before 2030, according to Rystad Energy research.

In that scenario, an additional 18 million kilometers of grid network would be needed to keep pace with the electrification underway across cities and counties, including new renewable energy capacity and the rapid adoption of electric vehicles. This would take the total length of all power grids worldwide to 104 million kilometers in 2030, expanding to 140 million kilometers in 2050  almost the same distance from Earth to the sun. The immediate expansion by 18 million kilometers would necessitate nearly 30 million tonnes of copper, a commodity already in short supply.

Growing global power demand is the main factor driving the need for grid enhancements. This rise is driven by population expansion, industrialization and urbanization in developing countries, and efforts to mitigate climate change through electrification. Cybersecurity, geopolitics and the increasing priority for securing reliable national energy supply also contribute to the need. Yet, inefficient regulatory frameworks could significantly delay grid developments and, in turn, the energy transition.

Related: This Could Be A Gamechanger For Natural Gas In Europe

Power grids will be both an enabler and an obstacle to the energy transition. Mature grids have enabled the rapid expansion in solar and wind capacity seen in recent years, but many national grids are now near or at the point where further connections cannot be made without upgrading or expanding them. Annual investment levels must increase if the current trend of renewable energy buildout is to continue.

Edvard Christoffersen, senior analyst, Rystad Energy

Learn more with Rystad Energys Energy Transition Solution.

The total combined length of all transmission and distribution networks globally is around 86 million kilometers, a distance long enough to encircle the planet more than 2,100 times. The transmission grid comprises 6 million kilometers of high-voltage lines (over 70 kilovolts [kV]). In comparison, the much larger distribution grid consists of around 8 million kilometers of medium-voltage (10 to 70 kV) lines and a colossal network of low-voltage (less than 10 kV) lines traversing about 72 million kilometers, reaching households in all corners of the world. The grid length is set to expand to 104 million kilometers by 2030 and 140 million kilometers by 2050. Asia is set to contribute more than half of global additions this decade, with China and India leading the way as the worlds first- and third-largest power consumers.

We predict global grid investments will reach $374 billion this year, with China accounting for about 30% of the total. Asia will lead in grid expansion investments, but other regions are trying to catch up to keep pace with renewable capacity additions. The US Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) includes $65 billion for upgrading and expanding national power infrastructure, while the European Commission launched an Action Plan for Grids in late November 2023, calling for 584 billion ($626 billion) in investment between 2020 and 2030. The Commission and the European Investment Bank (EIB) are also exploring how to streamline financing to support these significant grid investments. In the UK, National Grid launched an action plan to revamp its network for the first time in decades, investing over 16 billion ($20.16 billion) in upgrades between 2022 and 2026.

Related: Could This Unknown Company Help Solve Europes Energy Crisis?

The rapid expansion of the power grid will require vast volumes of raw materials, especially copper and aluminum. Copper is primarily used as the conductor in underground distribution, transmission and subsea cables, while overhead lines use aluminum. Although aluminum is predominantly used in overhead lines, it can be substituted as a conductor in underground lines. Demand for copper and aluminum is expected to surge by almost 40% by the end of the decade, but grids are not the main driver. They are also vital to myriad other applications within the construction, transportation, renewables and consumer products industries. Grids only account for roughly 14% of copper demand globally, or about 4 million tonnes in 2024.

Lengthening the network is necessary to support intermittent and remote renewable power generation and to connect new industrial, commercial and residential areas, but alternatives to meet growing power demand also exist. Implementation of large-scale battery storage can address intermittency issues associated with renewables and allow for higher average grid loads, reducing the need for new lines. Overhauls and upgrades of the existing grid can increase the capacity per kilometer and digitalization can free up capacity by solving flexibility issues. At the same time, distributed energy sources such as rooftop solar can reduce the need for new lines. What is clear is that the worlds current grid infrastructure does not meet the demands of the future energy system.

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Tortuous permitting processes are already causing bottlenecks in many countries, including the US and the UK. Adopting large-scale battery storage solutions and grid digitalization can address some grid intensity issues, but the electrification of society will spark greater attention and efforts to streamline regulatory frameworks and encourage investments so grids can be an enhancer rather than an inhibitor of the energy transition.

By Rystad Energy

More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
Chefs representing professional kitchens across Omaha  from gourmet restaurants to homeless shelters  will participate in this years Art & Soup fundraiser for the Visiting Nurse Association.

The 27th annual event will take place March 10 at the Omaha Design Center, 1502 Cuming St.

People who attend can view a variety of works from local artists and bid on auction items in addition to sampling soups. Proceeds will go to the VNAs public health services at domestic violence shelters, homeless shelters and maternity homes in the Omaha-Council Bluffs metropolitan area.

Were thankful to the community, our participating chefs and artists and our partners for supporting these crucial services, said Carole Patrick, VNA president and CEO, in a press release.

Participating restaurants and other facilities include Avoli Osteria, Pitch, Fig, Le Voltaire, Heirloom Fine Foods, Talus Spirits & Sustenance, Ono Pinay Kitchen, Open Door Mission, Stephen Center and more.

Artists showing their work include Jeff Koterba, David Manzanares, Sarah Rowe, John Dennison, Nancy Lepo and Marcia Joffe-Bouska.

Art & Soup will run from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can purchase tickets, starting at $50, and view a full list of participating chefs and artists at vnatoday.org

New food truck plans pop-ups

Crunch Factor, a new food truck from the owner of the Dire Lion, is about to launch a series of pop-ups.

Isaiah Renner says he has been working on some over-the-top menus for his new venture and plans to be open mainly at Trucks & Taps, 5402 S. 108th St. Each menu will be available for only two to three days.

So if you see a menu you like, make sure to get it on your calendar, he said on Facebook.

He said hes also interested in creating custom menus for catered events. You can contact him at crunchfactoromaha@gmail.com

He has three pop-ups scheduled so far, all at Trucks & Taps:

Shrimp and sliders, March 8 and 9

Dire Lion Lent Fish Fry, March 22

Concept to be announced, March 29 and 30

You can see more at facebook.com/DireLionOmaha/

Afghan restaurant in Benson

Shaheens Afghan Cuisine is having a grand opening in Benson on March 8.

Its run by the same people who operate the Shahen Afghan Restaurant near 119th and Pacific Streets.

The new restaurant, at 6121 Maple St., will have an all-you-can-eat buffet with Afghan specialties for $24 per person on opening day.

The buffet will be available from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Afghan dishes on the menu at their original location include chicken korma, chicken or lamb kabob, lamb or goat karahi and much more.

For more information, go to their Facebook page.

Winery to have Irish dinner

Irish St. Patricks Day celebrations traditionally involve beer or whiskey. Capitol View Winery & Vineyards is offering a twist on that this year.

Reservations are now available for their Irish Wine Dinner thats set for March 14. The event will pair pours from the winery and a menu featuring Rueben egg rolls, Irish stew with colcannon, honey-glazed carrots and parsnips, soda bread and brown bead and apple cake.

Hake Catering will create the dinner and bobalone, aka Bob Marshall, will provide music.

Tickets are $65 per person. To reserve seats, call 402-328-3494 or email desarie@capitolviewwinery.com

The winery is at 2361 Wittstruck Road in Roca, Nebraska. Doors open for the dinner at 6:30 p.m. and serving starts at 7.
Borsheims

Marti Stephens, Shop Manager for Borsheims, has been awarded the company's Ike-It Employee of the Year Award.

Stephens began her career at Borsheims in 2000 as an Appraisal Lab Coordinator. She left briefly and returned in 2012 as a Jewelry Appraiser. Since then, she has been promoted several times, being named Sr. Jewelry Appraiser; Shop Support Supervisor; Assistant Shop Manager; and Shop Manager, the position she currently holds. Stephens oversees the day-to-day duties of each department in the Borsheims Shop - Bench Jewelers and Polishers, the Appraisal team, Shop Support Services, Engraving and Watch Repair. Stephens holds a Graduate Gemologist degree from the Gemological Institute of America (GIA), as well as a Jewelry Design degree from the Fashion Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Borsheims CEO and President Karen Goracke applauded Stephens for her many years with the company and her unwavering commitment to her team.

"Marti's dedication and passion represent the very spirit of Borsheims. Through her exceptional leadership, she has not only elevated the performance of our Shop team, she has also set a benchmark for all of us. She is a true asset, and her impact extends to the positive culture she fosters. We are fortunate to have her as a driving force in our organization."

Borsheims' Ike-It Employee of the Year Award is named for and is a tribute to Ike Friedman, who owned Borsheims from 1947 to 1989. The honor was started in 1992, the year following Friedman's passing.
Two teenagers were booked into the Douglas County Youth Center early Sunday after being arrested on suspicion of burglaries at three Omaha vape shops.

Omaha police officers, Douglas County Sheriffs Office deputies and Nebraska State Patrol troopers were involved in the investigation. Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson said a broadcast by Douglas County 911 alerted law enforcement to a series of break-ins that possibly involved a black sedan.

Deputies staked out a west Omaha vape shop near 120th Street and West Center Road where they observed a black Volkswagen Passat near the shop. The vehicle eluded the deputies when a traffic stop was attempted.

The Volkswagen was next seen in the Keystone neighborhood and a perimeter was established. Officers pursued the vehicle until it drove off the roadway near 87th and Boyd Streets.

The teens, a boy and a girl, fled from the vehicle, leaving behind duffel bags full of vape products, Hanson said. The teens were located in a search of the area, and the keys to the Volkswagen were found in the possession of the female.
A 29-year-old woman was taken into custody Sunday after barricading herself in a south Omaha church rectory while armed with a knife.

The woman broke into the rectory at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church near 10th and William Streets about 6 a.m., an Omaha police spokesman said Sunday. The woman was taken into custody by police while attempting to jump from a second-floor window.

A priest in the rectory at 1334 S. 9th St., called 911 to report the break-in and then barricaded himself in a second-floor room. A police spokesman said members of the Omaha Fire Department rescued the priest by ladder.

The woman then barricaded herself in the rectory and began destroying property. Police were able to remove her by force, preventing her from jumping out of a second-floor window.

Officers were initially called to a home in the 2200 block of South 11th Street at 5:19 a.m. for a disturbance between a father and daughter. The father told officers that his daughter doused him with a flammable liquid and cut him with a knife. His injuries were not thought to be life-threatening.

The daughter allegedly tried to start a fire in the house before leaving on foot, the police spokesman said. Officers were then alerted to a break-in at St. Frances Cabrini by the same woman.

The woman was taken to a hospital for evaluation. The church canceled services due to the break-in.

It was the second attack at a Nebraska church in recent months.

On Dec. 10. a priest was slain in Fort Calhoun. The Rev. Stephen Gutgsell, 65, was stabbed to death in the rectory of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church.
When Megan McCaul starts to pack moving boxes, her children always notice.

Theyre like, Mom, whats going on? And Im like, Well, I got an eviction letter, McCaul said. Because I didnt have enough money. Because my hours got cut. Because we were sick.

The Lincoln mom of three  with another on the way  said shes only been evicted once. But shes received seven of those letters since 2017, McCaul said, and each time her childrens stress spikes and their behavior changes. Sometimes, it causes problems at school.

Theyre like, Mom, what are we gonna do? McCaul said. My son, hes also autistic, and hes on a behavior plan (at school). When I get the eviction letters and am trying to figure all this stuff out, you can see the changes of his behavior.

Research from Creighton University found that schools with higher eviction rates had lower academic outcomes. Studies have also shown negative impact on student mental and physical health, plus social and emotional development.

When you see families who are experiencing eviction or homelessness in particular, there is just a certain amount of stress that is inherent in that situation, said Stephanie Hoesing, social worker supervisor for the Omaha Public Schools. An elementary-age student (might be) preparing for their math test, but that morning, their family was just required to move out of their residence. Itd be very hard for that young person to be able to concentrate on taking the math test that day when they literally dont know for sure whos picking them up and where theyre going to sleep that night.

Staggering number of children affected

In 2023, 2,147 children faced eviction in Douglas County while 1,309 children faced eviction in Lancaster County, said Erin Feichtinger, policy director for the Womens Fund of Omaha, at a Jan. 31 legislative hearing. This data was collected only from families who showed up to eviction court, so the actual numbers are likely to be a lot higher.

Feichtinger said that 75% of Nebraskas eviction filings come from Douglas and Lancaster Counties.

The sheer number of children facing eviction with their families is staggering and sobering, she said.

Students who experience housing instability and have to attend two or more schools in one academic year are deemed highly mobile by the Nebraska Department of Education. In the 2022-23 school year, the state had nearly 13,000 highly mobile students or roughly 4% of its total student population.

As Nebraskas largest district, OPS has a substantial population of highly mobile students  around 4,140 or 8% of the total student enrollment, according to state data.

Federal law requires schools to provide services, like transportation, to highly mobile students who are experiencing some form of homelessness, Hoesing said. This includes any student who lives with friends or family members due to loss of housing or resides in places like community shelters, motels or a car.

Highly mobile students might not qualify for these types of services if their families are evicted but are able to rent somewhere else. Hoesing said OPS tries to keep such students at their original schools if transportation is available, but they may have to change schools if the distances are too great.

We really try and communicate between schools  whether thats the counselor, social worker, principal  to be able to share information and be able to welcome the student, Hoesing said. We try and acclimate them as quickly as possible and really let them know that were welcoming them into our building with open arms and helping them adjust to that transition.

Bill aimed to ban evictions during school year

The impact of such transitions on students  and school staff  triggered State Sen. Megan Hunt of Omaha to introduce Legislative Bill 845 earlier this year. It would have prohibited evictions during the school year for families with children, as well as for school employees.

The housing shortage has resulted in an increase of homelessness and unstable living conditions for many families, Hunt said during a Jan. 31 bill hearing. That instability means Nebraska kids suffer.

LB 845 would have allowed landlords to seek evictions, but qualifying residents  parents, students, children enrolled in child care and school employees  would have the defense of being exempt from evictions during the school year. The bill failed to advance out of the Judiciary Committee in February.

Advocates for the bill said solutions are needed to improve the outcomes of children and teachers who may face eviction. Opponents contended it was the wrong strategy, putting landlords livelihoods at risk.

Rick McDonald, a landlord and the president of the Metro Omaha Property Owners Association, said it wouldnt have been fair to expect landlords to let families and school staff live rent-free for the entire school year.

75% of (my) tenants can quit paying rent  where am I going to be? It takes a very small percentage (of people not paying rent) and I am out of business completely, McDonald said. A lot of landlords will leave the business. If you think there is an affordable housing shortage now, you wont believe whats coming down the road.

Still, the impact of evictions on children remains a problem.

I know the feeling as a small child when mom says, Get this box, put your things in this box, you have to go, said Karen Bell-Dancy, director of the Young Womens Christian Association in Lincoln. We need to figure out how (to) alleviate the strain and stress on families, especially single moms. They are already faced with transportation and child care issues, low employment and disparities in health care.

Threat of eviction brings uncertainty

McCaul faced eviction herself as a child, at times living on family friends couches with her siblings and parents. Then as an adult, she experienced it again after she left her ex-husband because of domestic violence.

We were homeless for a while until I was able to get back on my feet, she said. In order for me to do that, for me and my kids, we lived off hot dogs and chips so I could save enough money. Its hard. And it sucks.

After her divorce and eviction, McCaul said she and her children couch-surfed for several years. She has since rented in a few other places, accumulating multiple eviction notices for unpaid rent but avoiding eviction.

McCauls three children now range in age from 4 to 8. As they grew, one of her sons developed celiac disease  an autoimmune disorder caused by a reaction to gluten, something she deals with herself. Her youngest son developed a dairy allergy and her daughter is lactose intolerant. She now spends more than $1,000 a month on specialized food because of her familys health needs.

McCaul works full time, and gets discounted rent at $390 a month through the Lincoln Housing Authority. But paying that rent and all her other bills remains a struggle.

McCauls most recent eviction letter came at the beginning of this year after she didnt make her December rent payment on time. She said she had to start the process over again: pack boxes and go to court to try to get an extension while also trying to keep her children feeling as stable as possible.

McCaul said her son who has autism has a plan at school that rates his behavior on a percentage scale. He often gets 100% scores, but after she received her most recent eviction letter, he dropped to 76%.

The behaviors are changing because that consistency is gone, McCaul said. Because now I have to focus somewhere else, instead of on our normal routine.

Tim Royers, president of the Millard Education Association, said at the hearing that hes seen students struggle with this in his own school.

Over my teaching career, I have seen multiple students have their education and whole lives severely disrupted in result of eviction, Royers said. I had instances where students can basically only manage to get to school for half the day, at best. Others would try to live with friends, separated from their family. Those involved in school activities basically had to forfeit their participation.

Less COVID-related help for renters

Evictions have been rising since a pandemic moratorium was lifted in 2021 and emergency COVID-19 rental assistance distributed by the federal government is running low.

It really felt like during that time that our mobility was down. Families were not being evicted and families had access to financial assistance for almost a two-year period, Hoesing said. So if they needed something intermittently, it was there. When those COVID funds went away in the community, and when the eviction moratorium was lifted  we now see the number of families experiencing that kind of trickling back.

While theres no widespread law regarding evicting families during the school year, some areas around the U.S. have attempted solutions.

In Santa Monica, California, the City Council adopted a law in 2018 that prohibits landlords from evicting families with a K-12 student during the school year under certain circumstances. But it doesnt block evictions when tenants didnt pay their rent. Washington State created a program in 2016 that gave funding to childrens families who were at danger of becoming homeless, helping with the cost of bills, security deposits, overdue rent and more.

For the now, McCaul has caught up on her rent, but she said theres no way of knowing if she will be able to pay the rest of the year.

So what am I supposed to do? And no one can really tell me, theyre just like, Youre kind of in a rock and a hard place, McCaul said. Whats left to pay? Or can I pay? Because I need a phone. Because I need to make doctors appointments. I need my electricity so I can cook and feed my children. Its just complicated. Its super complicated.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024
A cool front building over the central Plains this week is expected to bring slightly cooler weather and chances for widespread rain to eastern Nebraska.

I have some, hopefully, good news, Michaela Wood, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Valley, said Sunday. On Thursday, a trough moving into the Great Plains looks like it could provide precipitation to a good chunk of eastern Nebraska and western Iowa.

Early computer models suggest that rain amounts could go as high as one-half inch to an inch, she said. That amount of rain could do a good deal to tamp down the danger of grass fires that have been bedeviling firefighters over the past two weeks.

Its much-needed precipitation with the best chances for rain coming Thursday into Thursday night, Wood said. Friday there will be a very conditional chance for a rain and snow mix in northeast Nebraska, but that would wrap up very early in the day.

Temperatures this week in Omaha are expected to remain well above normal, Wood said. Highs are forecast to be in the upper 50s to low 60s Monday through Wednesday.

A high temperature of 50 degrees is predicted for Thursday as precipitation moves into the Omaha area. Friday and Saturday will be cooler across eastern Nebraska with daytime highs in eastern Nebraska to range from the 40s to low 50s.

Eastern Nebraska residents should remain watchful for fire danger, Wood said. Most areas precipitation totals are at least an inch below normal since the start of the year.

A very high fire danger is in the outlook for Monday, she said. Winds should be much calmer later in the week.

Our best Omaha staff photos & videos of February 2024
TEL AVIV, Israel  Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rebuked a top Cabinet minister who arrived in Washington on Sunday for talks with U.S. officials, according to an Israeli official, signaling widening cracks within the countrys leadership nearly five months into its war with Hamas.

The trip by Benny Gantz, a centrist political rival who joined Netanyahus wartime Cabinet following Hamas Oct. 7 attack, comes as friction between the U.S. and Netanyahu is rising over how to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians in Gaza and what the postwar plan for the enclave should look like.

An official from Netanyahus far-right Likud party said Gantzs trip was planned without authorization from the Israeli leader. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Netanyahu had a tough talk with Gantz and told him the country has just one prime minister.

Gantz is scheduled to meet on Monday with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan and on Tuesday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, according to his National Unity Party. A second Israeli official speaking on condition of anonymity said Gantz's visit is intended to strengthen ties with the U.S., bolster support for Israels war and push for the release of Israeli hostages.

In Egypt, talks were underway to broker a cease-fire before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins next week.

Israel did not send a delegation because it is waiting for answers from Hamas on two questions, according to a third Israeli government official who spoke on condition of anonymity. Israeli media reported that the government is waiting to learn which hostages are alive and how many Palestinian prisoners Hamas seeks in exchange for each.

All three Israeli officials spoke anonymously because they werent authorized to discuss the disputes with the media.

The U.S. began airdrops of aid into Gaza on Saturday, after dozens of Palestinians rushing to grab food from an Israel-organized convoy were killed last week. The airdrops circumvented an aid delivery system hobbled by Israeli restrictions, logistical issues and fighting in Gaza. Aid officials say airdrops are far less effective than deliveries by truck.

U.S. priorities in the region have increasingly been hampered by Netanyahus Cabinet, which is dominated by ultranationalists. Gantzs more moderate party at times acts as a counterweight.

On GPS: Ehud Olmert on why Biden should address Israel's parliament Ehud Olmert, former prime minister of Israel, tells Fareed why he thinks President Joe Biden should go over current Israeli Prime Minister Ben

Netanyahu's popularity has dropped since the war broke out, according to most opinion polls. Many Israelis hold him responsible for failing to stop the Oct. 7 cross-border raid by Hamas, which killed 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took roughly 250 people as hostages into Gaza, including women, children and older adults, according to Israeli authorities.

More than 30,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, around two-thirds of them women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and fighters. Around 80% of the population of 2.3 million have fled their homes, and U.N. agencies say hundreds of thousands are on the brink of famine.

Israelis critical of Netanyahu say his decision-making has been tainted by political considerations, a charge he denies. The criticism is particularly focused on plans for postwar Gaza. Netanyahu wants Israel to maintain open-ended security control over Gaza, with Palestinians running civilian affairs.

The U.S. wants to see progress on the creation of a Palestinian state, envisioning a revamped Palestinian leadership running Gaza with an eye toward eventual statehood.

That vision is opposed by Netanyahu and the hard-liners in his government. Another top Cabinet official from Gantz's party has questioned the handling of the war and the strategy for freeing the hostages.

Netanyahu's government, Israel's most conservative and religious ever, has also been rattled by a court-ordered deadline for a new bill to broaden military enlistment of ultra-Orthodox Jews. Many of them are exempted from military service so they can pursue religious studies. Hundreds of Israeli soldiers have been killed since Oct. 7, and the military is looking to fill its ranks.

Gantz has remained vague about his view of Palestinian statehood. Polls show he would earn enough support to become prime minister if a vote were held today.

A visit to the U.S., if met with progress on the hostage front, could further boost Gantzs support.

Israel and Hamas are negotiating over a possible new cease-fire and hostage release deal. Vice President Harris said Sunday it is now up to Hamas to agree to it. Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least the next six weeks, which is what is currently on the table, Harris said.

Israelis, deeply traumatized by Hamas attack, have broadly backed the war effort as an act of self-defense, even as global opposition to the fighting has increased.

But a growing number are expressing their dismay with Netanyahu. Some 10,000 people protested late Saturday to call for early elections, according to Israeli media. Such protests have grown in recent weeks, but remain much smaller than last year's demonstrations against the government's judicial overhaul plan.

If the political rifts grow and Gantz quits the government, the floodgates will open to broader protests by a public that was already unhappy with the government when Hamas struck, said Reuven Hazan, a professor of political science at Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

The role of dashcams in vehicle accidents and their effect on your car insurance The role of dashcams in vehicle accidents and their effect on your car insurance
WOOD RIVER, Neb.  One person was found dead inside a Wood River house that exploded Saturday..

The explosion was reported around 9:15 a.m., according to a spokesman for the Nebraska State Fire Marshal. The house was destroyed and an adjacent home caught fire, according to Hall County Emergency Management.

Investigators discovered evidence of tampering with the natural gas system in the residence, according to a press release from the State Fire Marshals Office.

Investigators have determined the cause of the explosion/fire at 107 E. Eleventh Street, Wood River, to be an act of arson, the press release said. The deceased suspect was recovered from the basement of the residence late Saturday evening.

Identification of the deceased and notification to the next of kin is pending by the Hall County Attorneys Office.

Residents as far away as around 7 miles reported hearing and feeling the effects of the blast. Several houses and businesses in the area sustained damage.

The explosion occurred near the elementary school and Grace Lutheran Church. Hall County Emergency Management said one person was transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries and released.

Hall County EMA said authorities believe this was an isolated incident and there is no reason to believe additional incidents may occur.

A number of fire departments responded, including Shelton, Alda and Cairo.

Windows of neighboring houses and businesses were blown out, including at the home of Patty and Jim Debraal, who live across the street.

Patty Debraal said she was in a hallway when the explosion occurred, and it blew me back. ... We looked out the door and there was a ball of fire right across the street.

Patty Debraal said first responders were on scene within minutes.

Another nearby neighbor, who declined to give his name, was watching TV when the explosion occurred.

The force of the blast, lifted everything up in the living room.

We ran out of the house and saw debris flying, he said.

Other neighbors mentioned pictures falling off the wall.

Neighbors on scene reported the smell of gas before the explosion. Fire department officials on the scene said they were near the house before the explosion, because of reports of the odor of gas in the area.

Jim Debraals sister, Lisa DeVore lives 4 miles outside town, to the east.

I heard it. It shook our roof, she said.

Down the road on 11th Street, teenager Cherish Faircloth was sleeping when, all of the sudden I heard boom and there was a gush of wind. ... My window was broken out.

Faircloths father, Tyrell Cline, said, We were woken up by it. After his daughter alerted him to the broken window, he found other windows had been broken out as well.

Came outside to see a bunch of lumber on the roof of the corner house, he said. And about two minutes later there were about 20-foot (high) flames.

Wood River Mayor Greg Cramer declared a local state of emergency for the city.

The Wood River Fire Department said, Thank you all for your support today in a Facebook post, noting plywood was available at the station for boarding up windows and doors.

The department said a fund was set up to help affected families that suffered losses from the explosion today. The department said physical needs had been met, but financial help is needed.

Donations can be sent to: Wood River Ministerial Association, c/o Heritage Bank, P.O Box 487, Wood River, NE 68883

PHOTOS: Home explodes in Wood Riveer Photos from the scene of a home explosion on Saturday, March 2 in Wood River. Home explosion in Wood River Photos from the scene of a home explosion in Wood River. Wood River home explosion Firefighters work to put out fires caused by a house explosion on Saturday, March 2 in Wood River. The home was leveled, while numerous nearby Wood River home explosion Flames poke through smoke on the scene of a house explosion in Wood River. Wood River home explosion The explosion sent debris flying, up to blocks away from the home. Wood River home explosion Flames poke through smoke on the scene of a house explosion in Wood River. Wood River home explosion Numberous fire departments responded to Wood River after a house exploded on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion The explosion damaged multiple homes. Wood River home explosion Smoke billows and debris is strewn about after a house exploded in Wood River. Wood River home explosion A home exploded in Wood River on Saturday, March 2. The blast affected multiple nearby homes and businesses. Wood River home explosion Fire crews spray a home in Wood River after a house exploded on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion A home exploded in Wood River on Saturday, March 2.
Do rural Nebraskans really have triple the local resources to fund local schools as do their urban counterparts?

Yes, that is what Nebraskas school funding formula uses in calculating which schools receive the bulk of state aid. As a result, smaller, rural schools have historically received less state aid per student than their urban counterparts. But that needs to change.

In Nebraska, the school funding formula considers the needs of a district and the resources of the district to meet those needs. In the needs portion of the formula, the cost-per-pupil of like-sized districts is a factor. Smaller, rural schools tend to have higher costs per student largely because a certain level of fixed costs is spread over a smaller number of students, as well as more dispersed populations.

However, the higher cost-per-pupil for smaller districts is offset by high farmland values in the resources section of the formula. In effect, the formula says: Yes, as a smaller, rural district you have higher per-student costs, but you are able to pay for it. Equalization aid is one of the primary ways Nebraska compensates districts that do not have adequate local resources (property taxes). Of the 158 districts that had less than 500 students in the 2022-23 school year, 123 received no equalization aid.

The major factor in the formula that precludes rural schools from receiving aid is the large run-up in farmland values.

In school funding parlance, most school districts in rural areas are considered property rich. Conversely, most districts in more populated areas are considered property poor. It is not surprising, then, that districts in urban areas received 3.5 times the equalization aid per student for the 2022-23 school year.

But are market property valuations the right measure of a communitys resources or ability to pay?

If we look at county personal income per student, we see a different picture. Personal income per student is only modestly higher in rural areas. Using this measure, property rich districts in rural areas might be better characterized as income average.

For the 2023-24 school year, recent legislation increased state-level funding to schools. The increased foundation aid, equal to $1,500 per student, is particularly important for smaller, rural schools since most receive little or no equalization aid.

But even after this, average state aid per student for the 2023-24 school year is just under $2,700 per student in rural areas versus nearly $4,000 in more populated areas.

This difference has large consequences for rural areas and agriculture. About 60% of property taxes go to fund schools. That translates into a large differential in per-capita property taxes between rural and other areas of the state. Residents in rural counties pay, on average, over $1,700 more per person in combined property and state income taxes than residents in more populated counties. According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture, average farm property taxes in Nebraska are double those in Iowa. Only California has a higher average farm property tax.

This makes Nebraska farmers less competitive with those of surrounding states. It is a force for greater farm consolidation, rural depopulation, and dwindling small-town businesses.

In Iowa, per-capita property taxes in rural counties are similar to those in Iowas more populated counties. How has Iowa done this? For starters, they provide much higher state-level support for public schools, as do most of our surrounding states  even after accounting for Nebraskas recent legislative changes. They also have done so without reverting to a single-source sales tax like the proposed EPIC initiative.

Beyond that, Im not sure. But the fact that Iowa does it ought to spur Nebraska policy makers to re-evaluate the distributional effects of tax and funding policies that result in rural Nebraskans fighting an uphill battle. School funding and the funding formula would be a good starting point.
This is getting even more interesting. A director at the Ikeja Lagos -based Shi Shi Chinese Restaurant has said that the outlet caters to only gentlemen, rather than to everyone. He added that, globally, Chinese restaurants are never open to every Tom, Dick and Harry.

So Nigerians who want to eat Chinese Food are now tom, dick and harry? Sigh!

The Punch had done a story based on a social media post that the Shi Shi Chinese Restaurant located on 21B, Emina Crescent, Off Toyin Street, Ikeja, Lagos, does not admit Nigerians.

The correspondent who visited the restaurant on Tuesday reported that he was accosted at the gate by a security guard wearing Army combat camouflage and prevented him from entering the restaurant.

The Nigerian security man told the correspondent that he acted on instructions.

The correspondent later introduced himself, and left his business card for the restaurants spokesperson when he was told that nobody was available to speak with him.

The restaurant director, a Nigerian who introduced himself as Mr. Niyi Adegbite, called The Punch after the correspondent had published its findings, and declared that, generally, all over the world, Chinese restaurants are not open to every Tom, Dick and Harry.

He did claim, however, that the Shi Shi Chinese Restaurant was open to the public.

When asked if Nigerians were allowed to patronise Shi Shi, Adegbite said, Not really. He then went on to make clarifications.

He said there are two sections in the restaurant  a regular one and one that is strictly for Chinese.

Adegbite said, I want to debunk all the allegations. The restaurant is open to everyone. But you know, Chinese restaurant is not for every Tom, Dick and Harry. Nobody can just enter.

Come, and I will conduct you round the restaurant. Im a Nigerian and how can I prevent my fellow people from entering in? But, of course, its for gentlemen, not for everyone.

When asked how the restaurant defines a gentleman, Adegbite said, The restaurant is divided into two sections. There is one open to the public and there is one called Hot Spot.

The Hot Spot is where you enter and cook on your own. All the ingredients are made available. But its only for Chinese nationals.

Maybe its this one that some people tried entering and were disallowed and is now causing the outcry.

The correspondent maintained that he was not allowed to step into the restaurant, as he was turned back at the entrance. He added that he had only heard of two sections from Mr. Adegbite.

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Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council has advised President Muhammadu Buhari to pick the next Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) from the South East to correct his past mistakes of perceived marginalisation of the Igbo in his first tenure.

The group stated this in a statement on Saturday by its president-general, Okechukwu Isiguzoro.

According to them, the Senate presidency position should go to the North- East as proposed by the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), while the North East in turn should relinquish the office of SGF to the South -East.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council demands from Presidency the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation as the rightful means of re- writing the past mistakes of perceived marginalisation of the Igbo in the first tenure of the Buhari presidency.

We are also supporting the Senate Presidency to go to the North- East as we expect the North -East to relinquish the office of SGF to the South -East. We have eminent personalities from the region who are qualified for the job. The Presidency should allow its appointments to reflect the principle of federal character as the position of the SFG will heal the injustice of the past and unite Nigeria as one, the statement read.

The statement also revealed what the group plans to do over the tussle for the 9th National Assembly leadership.

It said, The leadership of Ohanaeze youth council will storm the National Assembly soonest to persuade Igbo lawmakers to take destiny in their hands and resist any attempt by external factors to impose on them unpopular candidates for the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives.

The independence of the legislature remains the hope of Nigerians. Any imposed leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives will turn the 9th Assembly to a rubber stamp and will make them impotent in checkmating the excesses of the Executive arm of the government.

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth meanwhile frowned at a statement credited to the national president of the Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, Yerima Shettima that the North would present a better presidential candidate in 2023.

Faulting the statement, the Ohanaeze youth said such comment proved that Shettima was acting out a script put together by the Northern Elders Forum.

Post Views: 58
President Muhammadu Buhari on Sunday in Abuja has dismissed speculations that he was in the United Kingdom to compile the names of cabinet miisters in the lead-up to May 29 inauguration.

Buhari stated this when he reacted to a question from a correspondent of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), shortly after returning to Abuja from a 10-day private visit to London.

According to him, he has not discussed the issue of the appointment of new cabinet ministers with anybody.

 So, I dont know how they knew about it. I didnt discuss it with anybody, he said.

The president also declined comment on the kind of people that would constitute his next cabinet.

President Buhari had on Sunday evening returned to Abuja after a 10-day private visit to the UK.

Post Views: 184
The appellate court is in an appeal marked CA/A/436/201, is further urged to determine whether the office of the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, is competent to file processes to defend the allegation that President Buhari lied on oath about his qualifications.

Three litigants that filed the appeal, Kalu Agu, Labaran Ismail and Hassy El-Kuris, who identified themselves as electorate and taxpayers are challenging the dismissal of a suit they filed against President Buhari, before the February 23 presidential election.

The trial Judge, Justice Ahmed Mohammed of the Federal High Court, Abuja had in a judgment delivered on May 2, 2019, dismissed the suit numbered, FHC/ABJ/CS/1310/2018, for being statute barred.

Cited as defendants in the matter were President Buhari, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and INEC.

ALSO READ:Certificate scandal: Sen. Adeleke wins at Appeal Court

They had, among other things, prayed the trial court to determine; whether having regard to the information in the affidavit contained in the 1st defendants INEC FORM CF001 regarding his educational qualifications/certificates, the defendant has submitted false information to the 3rd defendant.

Whether from the facts and exhibits contained in the affidavit in support of this Originating Summons, and having regard to section 31(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act, 2010 ( as amended ), the 1st defendant is disqualified from running for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 2019 General Elections.

Whether the 1st defendant having submitted false information to the 3rd defendant, the 2nd defendant can validly present the 1st defendant as its candidate for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the 2019 General Elections.

Whether the 3rd defendant can validly receive, accept or act upon the false information in the affidavit and documents submitted by the 1st as the candidate of the 2nd defendant for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for the 2019 General Elections.

Whether the 3rd defendant ought to have rejected the said false information and documents submitted by the 2nd defendant for the 1st defendant.
APCs National Leader Bola Tinubu has relocated to Abuja as the ninth National Assembly prepares for election of its principals officers in both houses in four days time.

The National Daily also gathered that all the APC governors and their PDP counterparts have converged on the FCT.

The battle is largely within the majority party. The fear of damage the non-conformists contending against the partys candidates for the principal offices could do might have driven the party leaders into the last-minute frenzy.

So the APC is not willing to leave things to chances this ninth assembly.

In 2015, the PDP lawmakers aligned with the radicals in the NASS, and they eventually clinched the Senate presidency and House speakership.

The ruling party thereafter became its own opposition. Many of the party leaders believed Sen. President Bukola Saraki and Speaker Dogara worked against their party.

Just look at the way Saraki, Dogara and their ilk hijacked the budget process these past four years, Tinubu said in a statement released by Tunde Rahman, his spokesman, in April. Preparation began then for the ninth assemblys leadership election.

To head off a repeat of the 2015 experience, the ruling party has endorsed Senate Leader Ahmed Lawan and his counterpart in the lower house Femi Gbajabiamila for the position of Senate president and Speaker respectively.

But the endorsement didnt go down well with some of the federal lawmakers.

Sen. Ali Ndume and Sen. Danjuma Goje , both APC, decided to contest the Senate presidency, toountil yesterday when Goje stepped down for Lawan.

Ndume is still not surrendering.

Gbajabiamila has not been having it smooth either, despite the support he has garnered from many of the reps-elect. Apart from legal tussles he has to grapple with, the majority leader has rivals in fellow partymen like Hon. Mohammadu Bago, a representative of Chanchagi Federal Constituency of Niger State, North-Central, and Hon. Nkiru Onyechiocha from the southeast.

Bago has particularly been hard-headed. Despite the rumoured endorsement of Gbajabiamila by President Muhammadu Buhari, he has refused to back down or respect the presidents choice.

Ndume, Bago, Nkiru, and others have thus become the wild cards that could spring surprises by working with the opposition.

While Tinubu claims his effort in the emergency and endorsement of Lawan and Gbajabiamila is support of Buharis decision, many believe he has a lot at stakes.

Post Views: 14
Jasmine Okekeagwu, a Nigerian content creator who is also the adopted daughter of the renowned comic actor Mr Ibu, has shared her experience of discovering that her estranged husband was 51 years old.

Recall that Jasmine announced divorce from her UK-based husband in November 2022, explaining that he had lied to her about his previous marriage and kids.

Speaking during her latest interview with popular media personality, Chude Jideonwo, Jasmine said she discovered that her ex lied to be 38 years old on their wedding day.



I was with my ex-husband for nine months and I did not get pregnant. Now this is where the story got very tricky. This man told me he had never married and he had never gotten a lady pregnant before in his life.

He told me he was 38 years old but I found out my husband was 51 on our wedding day. Imagine finding out such a thing on a wedding day.

Many people had different experiences with him. He promised about five girls marriages. And when I was going through my husbands phone I started seeing a lot of girls, most of which are Yoruba, and big big TikTokers, she added.
The operatives of the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 2, Onikan, have successfully dismantled a counterfeit currency syndicate and recovered fake 300 million CFA, N9 million, and some dollars in the process.

Of the 300 million CFA, 180 million, the police said, was counterfeited Cameroonian CFA in 10,000 notes denomination.

Arrested during the operation were Olamilekan Oludare, 50; his wife, Oluwayemisi Olidare, 46; a printer, Adeniyi Quadri, 35 and an ex-serviceman, Johnson Ilelabayo, 62.

The gang was smashed following credible intelligence received by the AIG Zone 2 on their activities at Oluwole in Lagos Island.

Quadri, the police said, specialised in printing security features on the fake notes of different currencies which he supplied to his allies.

Parading the suspects yesterday, the zonal command said Quadri was the first to be apprehended on February 3 at his hideout at 11 Alof Street, Lagos Island.

A printing machine he used and cash sum of N300 million CFA, and nine million naira were recovered from his hideout, the police said.

They said the couple usually collected the fake notes from one Uche, currently at large, and send to the printer for the security features before moving the fake notes to one Colonel based in Cameroon.

The agency said Ilelabayo also took counterfeit notes from one Alfa who is now late, passed them to Quadri for fixing/printing of the security threads, after which he sold to one Alidu, also deceased.

Alidu, the police said, disbursed the fake money to some Bureau De Change (BDC) operators in Agege, Lagos.

Adeniyi Quadri confessed to have been in the business of currency counterfeiting for over three years and also named his cohorts who he supplied to for circulation.

His confession led to the arrest of Oludare Oluwayemisi and Oludare Olamilekan, a couple and partners in the crime.

The arrested couple also confessed to the crime, which led to the arrest of one Ilelabayo Johnson, an ex-military personnel resident at 3, Ilelabayo Close, Isoto via Ajasa Compound, Lagos State.

During his arrest, his house and premises were searched and some suspected counterfeit local and foreign currencies were recovered in his possession.

All the arrested suspects confessed to various roles in the process of committing this offence.

Efforts are intensified to apprehend fleeing members, said AIG Olatoye Durusimi, yesterday.

Admitting to the crime, the couple said they had been doing it since 2019, adding that it was a family friend of theirs who introduced the husband to the business.

Oludare said he brought his wife in to assist him, adding that she didnt know what it was all about until two years ago.

He said he usually sent her to pick up the notes from Quadri, claiming he never sold or used the fake notes for transaction in the country.

But Oluwayemisi denied knowing it was fake notes, adding that her husband never told her what he was doing.

She said she was just helping him out, adding that he usually gave her money to make transfers for people since she did POS business.

Ilelabayo on the other hand, said it was greed that led him into the illegal business, noting that he usually made N50,000 profit on each turnover.



It was one Mallam that introduced me. He is late now. I first invested N90,000 and got N50,000 profit. So, each time I completed the movement, he usually paid me N50,000.

It was just longer throat that led me to this. I shouldnt have been here because I have my farm and other things I do, he said.
Most people still regard dogs as ordinary animals, underestimating their ability to bring joy into their lives. This particular group of people believes that dogs are merry creatures that should be fed and housed.

Regardless of this misconception, I am convinced that dogs have an extraordinary ability to bring happiness to anyone willing to open their hearts to them. Their mere presence can brighten the darkest of days and fill the emptiest of hearts with happiness.

In this article, we will talk about why your dog is important to humans, Also, well talk about all the cool things they do for us, like being our buddies, helping us out, and making us feel better.

Why are my dogs important to you?

Dogs have won their place in the human heart for countless reasons which include: unwavering loyalty, unconditional love, and comfort. Beyond what I just mentioned, they are also teachers, they teach us how to be patient, empathetic, and living in the present moment.

According to Sullyman the CEO of Sullpet Dogs teach us the true meaning of unconditional love, loyalty, and companionship, reminding us to cherish every moment and find joy in the simplest of things.

How to Build a Happy Home with Your Dog?

When it comes to welcoming a dog into your home, there are numerous factors to consider to create a joyful environment, and available space is one of them. If your living space is limited, your dog may feel cramped and you may find them encroaching on areas like your bedroom or bathroom, which could be uncomfortable for you, especially if youre new to dog ownership.

Furthermore, if you want to create a happy hike, you must learn how to conduct research. Sullpet is the number one blog I recommend to you; they have everything you need to know, from healthy Food articles to dog age calculators, dog name generators, and other articles to help you navigate the furry world as a novice.

Which dog is best for 1st time owners?



First-time dog owners need a dog that has a gentle temperament, trainability also can easily adapt to various lifestyles. Among these breeds are the Bichon Frise, Boxer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Golden Retriever, and Maltese.

Bichon Frise

Through my experience I will say you should go for the Bichon Frise, when I trained this breed I enjoyed every moment of us it was Really fun. To be Frank with you The Bichon Frise is a delightful breed known for its affectionate nature and playful demeanor. With their fluffy white coats and expressive eyes, Bichons have an undeniable charm that captures the hearts of all who encounter them.

When it comes to loyalty they might come first before any dog breeds. Their intelligence and eagerness to please make them relatively easy to train, although they may exhibit a touch of stubbornness at times.

Also, regularly grooming Issa must if you want their appearance to to be thrilling and delightful. The core importance is Bichons embodiment of happiness in any home, they can be a watch dog also a lap dog making them cherished members of any household.

Boxer

After checking comments on social media about whether Boxers are good pets for new owners, I found out that they're not just good, but also easy to look after. With their strong bodies and expressive faces, Boxers seem lively and strong. They're very loyal to their families and often become close to children. But if you don't have enough time to play with them, it's best not to get one because they have lots of energy and need regular exercise and

mental stimulation to stay happy and avoid getting bored.

Early training is essential to channel their exuberance and prevent potential behaviour issues. Despite their powerful appearance, Boxers are gentle and affectionate companions who thrive on love and attention.

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

Another suitable option for charming dog breeds for new owners is The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, they are charming and affectionate dogs, known for for their friendly and sociable nature. Without a doubt, they are way too friendly and adaptable to various living situations in apartments or homes.

Cavaliers thrive on human companionship and are happiest when they are by their owner;s side. They get along well with children and other pets, making them excellent family companions.

Another thing you consider is regular grooming is necessary, most times you might not have the time to do it you have to take them to a Vet and it will cost you some funds. but their gentle temperament and loving disposition make them worth the effort.
On Friday, the Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the licenses of 4,173 Bureau De Change operators due to their failure to comply with regulatory guidelines.

The apex bank disclosed this in a statement by its acting Director, Corporate Communications, Sidi Hakama.

This means there will now be 1,517 operational BDCs from the initial 5,690.

However, the President, Association of Bureau De Change of Nigeria, Aminu Gwadabe, when contacted for comments on the development, told one of our correspondents that he wanted to pray at some minutes before 8pm.

Subsequent calls to his line were not taken.

In the CBN statement, Hakama said the licence withdrawal was in exercise of the powers conferred on the apex bank by the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020, Act No. 5, and the Revised Operational Guidelines for Bureaux De Change, 2015.

The statement read in part, The Central Bank of Nigeria, in the exercise of the powers conferred on it under the Bank and Other Financial Institutions Act, 2020, Act No. 5, and the Revised Operational Guidelines for Bureaux De Change, 2015, has revoked the licences of 4,173 Bureaux De Change Operators.

The list of affected BDC operators is available on the Banks website (www.cbn.gov.ng).

It added that the affected institutions failed to observe at least one of the regulatory provisions.

According to the statement, the regulatory provisions include payment of all necessary fees, including licence renewal, within the stipulated period.

It added, The affected institutions failed to observe at least one of the following regulatory provisions: Payment of all necessary fees, including licence renewal, within the stipulated period in line with the guidelines.

Rendition of returns in line with the guidelines; compliance with guidelines, directives, and circulars of the CBN, particularly Anti-Money Laundering, Countering the Financing of Terrorism and Counter-Proliferation Financing regulations.

The CBN is revising the regulatory and supervisory guidelines for Bureau de Change operations in Nigeria. Compliance with the new requirements will be mandatory for all stakeholders in the sector when the revised guidelines become effective.

Members of the public are hereby advised to take note and be guided accordingly.

Recall that the CBN had recently introduced a draft guideline for BDC operations across the country.

Major provisions introduced in the guidelines include the introduction of N2bn minimum share capital for Tier-1 BDCs, limiting buying and selling of forex in cash by BDCs to $500, and $10,000-year limit for school fees, among others.

Reacting to the development, the Chief Executive Officer of the Centre for the Promotion of Private Enterprise, Dr Muda Yusuf, applauded the move to regulate the operations of the BDCs.

He said, Definitely, revoking the licences of non-operational BDCs is the appropriate thing to do now. It is the right move because the previous number was difficult to manage and unwieldy.
A 23-year-old man, Isaac Okon, has been arrested by Amotekun operatives in Osun State for alleged human trafficking.

According to information made available by the Corps Commander, Brigadier General Bashir Adewinmbi on Saturday, the suspect was arrested on Thursday, February 29, 2024, around 6:45pm with five young boys along Ajebandele, Osun State.

General Adewinmbi revealed that the suspect was allegedly transporting his kidnapped victims without the knowledge of their parents or relatives.

The Osun Amotekun boss disclosed that the boys were taken out of Akwa Ibom State under the pretence of working in Lagos but unknowingly to them, they were being transported to Osun State to work on the farm.

He said, The suspect was arrested by the men of Amotekun in Ifetedo after the driver of the vehicle that transported them from Akwa Ibom to Osun State noticed strange things in the vehicle. The driver immediately complained to Amotekun Ifetedo Command in Ife South local government and Amotekun Ife Area Commander was informed about the incident.

The operatives swung into action immediately and arrested the culprit on the spot. The suspect confessed to trafficking the young boys without the consent of their parents or relatives.

Isaac said he met the young boys in the motor park in Akwa Ibom State begging for money and told them if they could follow him to Lagos State he could provide a job for them.

He took them away without the consent of their parents or relatives and moved them down to Osun State. He was heading to Ajebandele before luck ran against him in Ifetedo in the Ife South local government area of Osun State.

The trafficked victims are David Dominic Udoh, 23 years old, from Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom, Moses Ibom Sunday, 10 years old, from Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State, David Sunday Okafor, 11 years old, from Arujukwu Village in Akwa Ibom State, Wisdom Ukpong Bassey, 15 years from Akwa Ibom State, and Hope Nwem Eto, 14 yrs old from Akwa Ibom State.

Upon interrogation, he confessed to transporting the young boys to Osun State without the consent of their parents or relatives and that he lied to the young boys that he was taking them to Lagos State but he planned to take them to Ajebandele in Osun State to work in a farm.

Adewinmbi revealed that both the suspect and the victims have been transferred to the National Agency For Prohibition On Trafficking In Person, NAPTIP for investigation and prosecution.
From Umar Ado Sokoto

A gang of unidentified gunmen have killed the treasurer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Yabo Local Government Chapter ,Alhaji Nafiu Tambari Dagawa in Sokoto South Senatorial District Friday night .

Local source in the area said the bandit who attacked stormed the village around 2am on Friday and killed the treasurer at his resident in Dagawa community on that fateful night.

The eye witness account also revealed that the insurgents abducts married couple of husband and his wife for money ransom.

The sources said that although the attacks was the first of its kind in the area but many people sustain various degree of gun shot as a result of the attacked .

Late Dagawa who was popular for philanthropist gesture especially to the less privillage and other community members in area.

Some of the community members expressed sad over the incident and described the death of the treasurer unfortunate due to his philanthropist contributions to people in the area in respect ones political inclination .

PDP supporters and other people attended the victims burial prayers on Saturday at his home town Dagawa village in Yabo local government area .

Sokoto South Senatorial zone was the only area witnessing less insurgency attacks in the state .

The PDP spoke person in the state Alhaji Hassan Sahabi Sanyinnawal confirmed the incident .
A 49-year-old, Gbolahan Aina, has been reportedly crushed to death by a truck driver identified as Godwin Donatus around Henry Carr Street, Guinness Plc in Lagos State.

National Daily gathered that the incident occurred at about 7:00 a.m. on Saturday.

It was also learnt that the truck with number plate KJA-74 XQ was said to have reversed and accidentally crushed the man to death.

A police source told our correspondent that the deceased was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty.

One Mack truck with registration number KJA 74 XQ, driven by one Godwin Donatus, while reversing his truck, did not notice that Gbolahan was there and accidentally climbed in him.

The victim was rushed to Maryland hospital and was confirmed dead by the doctor on duty, the source said.

When contacted, the State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident to our correspondent.

He added that the body has been deposited at the Maryland Hospital Mortuary for an autopsy.

He said, The corpse was evacuated to Mainland General Hospital and the body was deposited at the hospital mortuary for an autopsy. Further development will be communicated.
Press Statement

We have received intelligence reports that the suspended state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Benue State, Comrade Austin Agada and the Executive Director, Finance and Accounts at the Federal Housing Authority, Mr. Mathias Byuan have hired armed men into Benue State to shatter the relative peace in Benue State.

This is against the directive of the governor that all political gatherings in the state be suspended due to the volatile security situation in the state.

But shockingly, the armed men who accompanied Agada and Byuan reportedly made their way into the heart of the town in a convoy and started shooting sporadically when they got to Tito Gate, Kashim Ibrahim road, Makurdi.

The duo led the armed men round parts of the old GRA and were headed to property number 75, J S Tarka way said to be owned by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Dr George Akume when the Nigerian police arrived and began to engage them before they disappeared.

Recall that Governor Hyacinth Alia had banned all political and social gatherings in the state till further notice. These directives were later publicly communicated to the public through the Commissioner of Police, Benue State command who approved enforcement and equally asked the organizers to call off their meetings.

The government is worried that some people are still in the habit of insisting to derail the relative peace in the state and hinder development that Gov. Alia is bringing home.

The security atmosphere in Benue State is only gradually returning to calm after it was charged recently following the unprecedented influx of armed herders who were brought in by enemies of the state to destabilize the government.

We urge Benue people to be security conscious and immediately report activities of these fifth columnists as we call on security agencies to arrest these merchants of crisis and bring them to book to serve as a deterrent to others.

Sir Tersoo Kula, MNIPR

Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Benue State.

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Sunday Adeyemo, the Yoruba nation activist popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has called for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Speaking in a viral video on Tuesday, Igboho said Kanu did not commit any offence, noting that the political games on his matter should be stopped.

The Yoruba nation agitator said Kanu is only fighting for his people like himself, asking that the IPOB leader should be freed to meet his family.

Release Nnamdi Kanu. Stop politics. This guy didnt do anything. Today is February 27, 2024. Release him, let him go, and stay with his family, Igboho said.

This guy just fights for his people in the south-east like Im fighting for my people in Yorubaland.

Release him, let him go. Stop these political games. Release Kanu, let him go home.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since his arrest in 2021.

Kanu, was extradited from Kenya in June 2021.

The federal government filed terrorism charges against him and in April 2022, Binta Nyako, a judge of the federal high court, sitting in Abuja, struck out eight of the 15 counts in the charge.

The remaining seven counts were also quashed by the court of appeal on October 13, 2022, with the judge ordering Kanus release.

However, on October 28, 2022, the court of appeal granted a stay of execution on its verdict discharging Kanu after the federal government filed an appeal at the supreme court.

On December 15, 2023, a five-member panel of the apex court reversed the verdict of the appeal court and ordered Kanu to resume his trial before the federal high court.

On Monday, the IPOB leader appeared before the federal high court in Abuja for his trial.

Aloy Ejimakor, his lawyer, moved the bail application for Kanu telling the court that the IPOB leader has a serious heart condition, as confirmed by a federal government-owned hospital.

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The North-West, South-West and South-South geo-political zones of the country may not field a presidential candidate in the 2027 general election if ongoing moves to alter relevant provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) scales through.

It was gathered that a bill For an Act to alter the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to make provisions for rotation of power among the geo-political zones, senatorial zones and federal constituencies in presidential, governorship and senatorial elections in Nigeria, is currently before the House of Representatives Committee on Constitution Review.

Sponsored by member representing Apa/Agatu Federal Constituency, Benue State, Ojema Ojetu, the proposed legislation, if passed into law, will bar zones that have produced the President of Nigeria since the return to democratic governance in 1999.

The bill seeks to alter Section 133 of the constitution by inserting sub-sections 2, 3 and 4 to the nations extant laws.

A copy of the bill obtained by Newsmen indicated that sub-section 2 reads thus, The Office of the President of Nigeria shall revolve round the six geo- political zones, with each state holding the office for a maximum of two terms of four years each, to give every section and state in Nigeria a sense of inclusion, participation and representation in Nigerias democracy.

Sub-section 3 of the bill provides that Any zone in Nigeria which has produced a President of the Federal Republic shall not be eligible to produce another President until the other zones take their turns, while (4) says, The effective date for consideration in the rotation of power shall be 29th of May, 1999 when the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) became effective.

The bill, according to Ojotu, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party also seeks alteration to the 1999 Constitution with the insertion of sub-sections 6 and 7.

In (6), the proposed law provides that The office of the governor of a state in Nigeria shall revolve round all the three senatorial zones in the state, to give every indigene of the state a sense of inclusion, participation and representation in the development of the state; while (7) states that Every senatorial zone in a state which has produced governor of that state in a democratically conducted election shall not be eligible to produce a governor, unless and until other senatorial zones produce governors of the state.

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Nigerian skit-maker, Carter Efe has expressed his disapproval of content creators who exploit the misfortunes of others by monetizing their suffering through videos showcasing charitable acts.

Im a recent interview, Carter Efe criticized the trend of filming acts of generosity and contrasted it with his personal experience, revealing how rapper Zlatan Ibile had quietly supported him before achieving stardom.

The content creator disclosed that Zlatan had provided him with financial assistance and clothing during his challenging times.

He emphasized that Zlatans acts of kindness went unpublicized as he did not record videos to announce them.

Efe also shared another instance involving celebrity blogger Tunde Ednut, who generously gave him N1 million.

According to Efe, Ednut cautioned him against broadcasting the donation on social media or disclosing it to others.

Carter Efe highlighted the valuable lessons he learned, emphasizing that, unlike some content creators, he refrains from publicizing his charitable deeds.

He said; These content creators who make videos of people theyre helping are just making money off the sufferings of these helpless people. Theyre not genuine.

When I was nothing, Zlatan used to give me clothes and money. In fact, he gave me everything. He didnt do a video so the world could see what he was doing.

Tunde Ednut once gave me 1 million naira and warned me not to tell anybody. These things taught me a lot. This is why when I help anybody, I dont make noise or say anything about it.

KanyiDaily recalls that Carter Efe recently disclosed that he used to be a tailor before venturing into skit making and becoming famous.
The National President of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN), Emeka Rollas has confirmed the death of Nollywood actor, John Okafor, popularly known as Mr Ibu.

Mr Ibu, renowned for his comedic roles in movies and skits, passed away on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at a hospital in Lagos.

In a late Saturday Instagram post, Rollas conveyed the unfortunate news, stating that Mr Ibu had suffered a cardiac arrest.

The AGN President also shared the additional sorrowful information that actress Kate Henshaw had lost her mother on the same day.

Rollas expressed the somber mood within the Actors Guild of Nigeria, extending wishes for Mr Ibus soul to rest in peace.

Sad day for the Actors Guild of Nigeria. Kate Henshaw lost her mother earlier today, and Mr Ibu suffered cardiac arrest, according to his manager of 24 years, Don Nwuzor.

I announce with a deep sense of grief that Mr Ibu did not make it. May his soul rest in peace, he wrote.

KanyiDaily recalls that in October 2023, Mr Ibus family revealed that the actor had undergone five surgeries, seeking further treatment abroad and appreciating donations from the public.
By Ismail Omipidan

There is the general belief among most Africans that the name a person bears, most times, says a lot about the person and his character. And that there is a way the meaning of such names, especially in Nigeria, becomes a factor in the life of the bearer.

This notion prompted me to consult the archives when I read that the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Usman Ododo, who was sworn in on January 27, 2024, flagged off the distribution of palliatives to Kogi people on February 20, 2024, barely one month after being sworn in. What I found out about the name, Ododo, was for me reassuring.

First, in the Ebira Language, Ododo means flower. According to experts, flowers serve as powerful symbols of love, faith, hope, purity, and growth, among other significant themes. By the time I dug further, I realised that Ododo, in the Ebira calendar, means November. But the Kogi Governor did not wait till November to extend love and instil hope in the people of Kogi. Instead, in February, he promptly initiated the distribution of palliatives to the people of the state.

For me, that was laudable. It validated the popular Hausa saying that a good Friday is recognised from the Wednesday preceding it. As someone who canvassed support for the governor during the electioneering, I am impressed by his decision to flag off the palliatives distribution. This is so because I know of a governor, who got to office in 2022, received palliatives from the Federal Government in August, 2023 but only began the implementation in January, 2024.

Flagging off the distribution of bags of rice to vulnerable citizens of Kogi state to cushion the effects of current economic hardship, Ododo warned those saddled with the responsibility of distributing the palliative not to hoard or sell what the government has provided for the vulnerable persons in the State, just as he said he would personally oversee the distribution process to guarantee that the intended recipients, that is the most vulnerable, get the relief materials.

He equally noted that the palliatives would not be distributed along party, ethnic or religious lines, insisting that the targeted beneficiaries are the poorest of the poor in Kogi State.

Hear him My administration will not allow any unpatriotic element to cheat the people. The government has put mechanisms in place to track and apprehend those who plan to hoard the distribution of these food items.

The palliative is not for APC alone, there is no religious or ethnic agenda. It is for the people of Kogi State.

I want to beg all of us to allow the poor breath. I am part of them. I was raised from them. I am committed to serve them, not as a leader but as their servant, Ododo said.

He also has kind words for President Ahmed Bola Tinubu and thanked him for his quick intervention in reducing hardship in the country. He assured the President of his commitment to serve the people of Kogi State as their servant.

He also appealed to the people of the state to be vigilant and report any breach of the procedure for distribution of the palliatives to the state ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation for immediate intervention.

Ododo assured the people of Kogi State that the Intervention would not be a one-off exercise, but one that would be sustained and delivered to the people on a quarterly basis in line with his campaign promise to the people of Kogi State.

As this Kogi flower blossom, may Allah provide the Governor with the wisdom and courage required to live up to his other name, Usman, the chosen one amongst a tribe of noble and brave people.

When next you are giving your child a name, research the meaning well and teach them as they are growing up to live up to the meaning of the name. I say so because I know of a leader, who Christened himself Imole (light) but who has plunged the streets of his state into total darkness.
Beverly Naya, the popular Nollywood actress, has explained that if she had the opportunity to change something about men, particularly Nigerian men, it would be to make them more emotionally vulnerable.

She said she wished men are more in touch with their emotions like women.

The thespian noted that Nigerian men are conditioned to think that emotional vulnerability is a sign of weakness.

In a recent interview with actor Efa Iwara, Naya was asked what she would loved to change about men, and she said: I wished men were more in touch with their emotions like women are. And vulnerable, women appreciate that so much.

One thing I have noticed is that when a man is able to be vulnerable with a woman and cant explain how and when it happened, hes in love with that woman. Its done [laughs].

I wished that men would just be more vulnerable more often without feeling judged for it or embarrassed for being vulnerable.

I feel like men, essentially Nigerian men are conditioned to believe that vulnerability is a sign of weakness. And I dont agree with that.

So, I would love that to change. I would love for men to embrace their vulnerable and sensitive sides a lot more.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has refuted claims made by certain groups that its warehouse in Abuja was ransacked by hoodlums on Sunday.

Manzo Ezekiel, the spokesperson for NEMA, clarified in a statement on Sunday that the warehouse that was looted does not belong to the agency, although he expressed sympathy for the owners of the facility that was targeted.

NEMA said it has taken measures to safeguard its facilities nationwide.

The attention of the National Emergency Management Agency has been drawn to media reports on Sunday alleging that the Agencys warehouse was looted by some hoodlums in Abuja.

This is to clarify that the looted warehouse does not belong to NEMA. However, the Agency sympathizes with owners of the looted facility.

To forestall any security breach at NEMA facilities, the Director General Mustapha Habib Ahmed has directed Zonal Directors and Heads of Operations to strengthen security in and around the Agencys offices and warehouses nationwide, the statement reads.

READ ALSO: Flood: Take alternative routes, NEMA urges residents of Lagos

Earlier, it was widely reported that some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Sunday morning, raided and looted a warehouse which was alleged to belong to the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) over the current economic hardship across the country.

It was reported that the looted warehouse is located in the Karimo, Phase 3 Region of the FCT area of Abuja.

This is coming against the backdrop of protests in the past couple of weeks in some parts of the country over the current high cost of living in the country.

According to reports, dozens of Abuja residents were seen forcefully carting away foodstuffs and other items from the warehouse.

Meanwhile, the spokesperson for NEMA has denied the media report that the warehouse belongs to its agency.
President Bola Tinubu on Sunday signed seven bilateral, multi-sectoral agreements with the government of Qatar, aimed to boost investment opportunities between the two countries.

This was disclosed in a statement by the special adviser to the president on media and publicity, Ajuri Ngelale.

Ngelale noted that the seven agreements signed are: cooperation agreement in the field of education; regulation of employment of workers with the Government of Qatar; establishment of a joint business council (JBC) between the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA); in addition to a cooperation agreement in the field of youths and sports.

The spokesperson also noted that historic agreements between both nations will open a gateway for leveraging the potential of mutual cooperation in pivotal sectors of education, enterprise development, investment promotion, youth empowerment, mining, tourism, and sports.

READ ALSO: SERAP sues Tinubu over failure to probe missing $3.4 billion IMF loan

During the signing ceremony at the Qatar Presidential Palace, President Tinubu communicated to his host Nigerias readiness to attract investors, highlighting the current reforms that support innovation, investment returns, and multiculturalism.

Our greatest strength is our people. Our strength lies in the capacity of Nigerian youths. They have energy, talent, and self-belief. They are quality partners for Qatari industry. They are educated and reliable, and they are proactively seeking to add value wherever they are.

We have seen clearly the rapid pace and thorough quality of Qatars development process. It is impossible not to be moved by what you have accomplished. The leadership in the country has proven its mettle, and we are here to gain deeper insight.

There is nowhere in the world where you will find return on investment at the level of what you will see in Nigeria. A massive market of over 200 million skilled Nigerians, always industrious and ready to work.

We face some short-term turbulence at the moment, but we have a government today that reflects the dynamism and talent of the Nigerian people. We are implementing the right solutions. This team works collaboratively with each other and our partners. Nigeria is ready for serious business, the President stated.

READ ALSO: Tinubu cuts cost of governance by implementing Oronsaye Report

On his part, the Emir of the State of Qatar, His Highness, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, emphasized that Qatar is open to President Tinubus investment push, recalling that he traveled to Nigeria in 2019 owing to his belief that Nigeria is an important and strategic ally on its own and within the context of its role in regional affairs.

I have no doubt about the great capacity of the Nigerian people. Everywhere in the world, they are known for their brilliance and hard work. We only need to ensure that this is happening inside of Nigeria rather than outside. The investments we have made around the world have been very fruitful.

This is because we take our time and study opportunities before we invest the commonwealth of our people. It is not my money. The money we invest belongs to the future generations of Qatar.

Mr. President, I am very encouraged by your actions and your passion for creating new opportunities. We are very open to this, and follow-up is everything at this point. The will is there for both of us, but we must follow up. I will send a team of officials to Nigeria after Ramadan, and we will advance discussions on what some of the actionable investment opportunities are, the Qatari leader said.

President Tinubu therefore named the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance; Mr. Wale Edun is the team leader of the government team that will interface with Qatari authorities in investment identification and implementation moving forward.
Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has described the Chief Imam of Egbaland, Sheikh Alh. Muhammed Saad Alade Bamgbola has one whose life continues to be a testimony to the possibility of living as an adherent of one religion while acknowledging the need for religious tolerance and harmony in a multi-religious nation like Nigerian.

He noted that as a Muslim leader, he has provided inspirational leadership to millions of the faithful and used the high office in fostering understanding and unity amongst all, irrespective of their religion or ethnic background.

Obasanjo made this disclosure in a congratulatory letter to celebrate the Chief Imams 90th birthday anniversary which took place in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital on Sunday.

In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, the former President in the congratulatory letter dated Feb. 21, 2024 stressed further that, as a true devotee and practical follower of the tenets of Islam, you have been an embodiment of piety, responsible conduct and peaceful propagation of your religion.

READ ALSO: Obasanjo, Dangote meet DRC President Tshisekedi

We believe that this happy event is one worth celebrating, for the fact that Almighty Allah has not only blessed you with longevity but also with great talent and wisdom that you have deployed over the years in unblemished service to your community, your State and the nation, Obasanjo was quoted as having stated.

Obasanjo, who visited the celebrant at his Sodeke area residence of the state capital before attending his 87th Thanksgiving Service at his Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) Chapel of Christ the Glorious King explained that he would have personally wish to be at the birthday prayer session but, for the thanksgiving progamme, hence his decision to come to the house.

I was on my way into the lift when I met my friend and brother and former governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and his entourage arriving for the Church thanksgiving service. I immediately urged him to join me on this visit. So, also for the chairman of ADC and others that have joined me here this morning for this visit.

READ ALSO: Tinubu meets Obasanjo at Owerri after 2 years

The celebrant in his brief remark, said that the visit was a dream come true for him, as he had dreamt of receiving Obasanjo in his house about 50 years ago. According to him, I followed my Spiritual Leader, Sheikh Adam El-Ilori to see the President, then as the Head of State and that night, I had a dream that the Head of State also visited me at my house. I felt who I am, that will receive such personality as guest in my house. I told my Spiritual Leader, and he said the dream shall come into fruition no matter how long it will take. But, look at it the dream coming to past after almost 50 years and we are both still alive.

I am proud of this visit and I so much appreciated it. We shall continue to pray for you, because, we know your position in the black race and the world. Thank you, the Imam said.

The celebrant later cut his birthday cake supported by Obasanjo and Obi, while a biography, Resilience and Challenges: My Strength of the celebrant was presented to the former President by the birthday Planning Committee.

The immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Baba Adinni of Yoruba, Edo and Delta States, Alh. Chief Sarafa Tunji Ishola, the National Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC), Ralph Nwosu among others were on the visit.
A pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), Chidimma Ibenegbu, has narrated how God caused her to escape from the detention of kidnappers.

Chidimma Ibenegbu is one of the five RCCG pastors who were abducted on Thursday on their way to Lagos from the eastern part of the country for the annual convention of the church.

According to Daily Trust, Ibenegbu said the abductors, whom she described as herdsmen, ambushed their vehicle on the expressway at Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State.

Narrating her experience at he churchs conference ground on Saturday, she said while travelling to the RCCG Camp at the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for the Ministers Conference, their commercial bus ran into the men, who took them into a forest.

I prayed to God to make them fall asleep, and they fell asleep and continued to sleep until I began to make my way out of the bush. I was asking God for direction to the road, she said.

Ibenegbu said she eventually came to a road and met a motorcyclist and narrated her story and the cyclist brought her to a police checkpoint.

She said she was interviewed by the police commissioner and her information led to the rescue of the other captives.

The General Overseer of RCCG, Enoch Adeboye, told the ministers that God still answered prayers and called for prayers for all those still under captivity in Nigeria.
He returned to Nigeria to finish his secondary education at St. Gregorys College, Lagos.

Born in 1947 in Nigeria to a Scottish father and a Nigerian mother, Dale moved to the United Kingdom to live with an aunt at age two.

Thereafter, he suffered another stroke that impaired his speech and ability to recognise people.

He has been in and out of coma, and recently he broke a thigh bone that required a surgery.

The artist, famous for the stained glass technique had faced health challenges which had been a collective concern of the Nigerian art community.

He met Bruce Onobrakpeya, the art teacher at the college who encouraged his interest in art.

Dale graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1971, specialising in Graphics and Design and moved back to Lagos to practice, working with Onobrakpeya for a few years before setting up his own studio.

He would go on to practice art, explore advertising and teach part-time at the University of Lagos in the eighties.

His early artworks and some of his best known artworks are done in the lino engraving and foil methods that Onobrakpeya practised. Dale ventured into print-making and worked with a variety of media including coloured beads, charcoal and stained glass.

Many of his early artworks explored the energy and variety of urban life in Lagos. His lines were sparse, eliminating superfluous adornment to create a visceral connection to his viewers.

Four years ago, there was a special fund raising lottery sales tagged, Saving David Dale organised by Quintessence Gallery, Park View Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Over three years ago, Dale suffered stroke, but survived 12 days of coma. A number of other financial support initiatives, aimed at assisting his further treatment abroad, have been held, particularly by art patrons at auctions and exhibitions to enable him seek further medical attention outside the Nigerian shores.

Nigerias leading auction house, Arthouse Contemporary also dedicated its charity lots to raise funds for Dale in Lagos.

Among the early supports for Dale came from one of Africas leading collectors, Prince Yemisi Shyllon who, according to sources, picked the initial medical bills of the prolific artist. Later, another collector, Chief Rasheed Gbadamosi, now late, organised Dale Soiree, a private viewing of the ailing artists select works.

Dale had worked consistently in 23 different media during his four decades old career. Among his regular medium are oil, beads, glass bead works, water colour, gouache, stained glass media in three different styles including wrought iron, etchings, mosaic, and lino prints.
A notorious robbery gang were arrested yesterday by Lagos State Police Rapid Response Squad (RRS) after they snatched a womans handbag.

The funny part of the story was when they got to the police station and finally opened the bag, the thieves were left disappointed after they found out that the stolen bag contained the womans dinner as opposed to valuable items like they had hoped for.

Pictures that accompanied the post shared by Lagos Rapid Response Squad, showed that the ladys bag contained fufu and vegetable soup that she had hoped to eat at night. The post reads:

Fast and Foolish: These three guys were serial robbers who dispossessed people of their belongings on a daily basis. They were eventually caught by our men after snatching the handbag of a lady. Unknown to them, the bag contained her dinner.
Oyo State Command of the National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have arrested a couple for torturing their 10-year-old daughter, whom they accused of stealing N3000 at their resident in Olupo, Amuloko area of Ibadan.

Mr Olawale Taofeek, and his wife, Romoke, were both arrested for dehumanizing their daughter, Abibat, by tying her hand to the ceiling and putting fire under her, till she confessed to an allegation of theft.

While parading the suspects on Monday in Ibadan, the commandant of the (NSCDC), Isikilu Akinsanya told journalists that Mr. Olawale alleged that Abibat took N3, 000 from the house and the money, according to him, belongs to one Rukayat Trimisiyu of the same community.

Akinsanya further said that in the search for the money, the sum of N600 was found in Abibats bag, and the girl later brought the remaining N2,400 from where it was hidden in the house.

Defending his action, Olawale told journalists that he was only attempting to scare his daughter and teach her some morals when the fire mistakenly burnt her private part.

It is the devil that is at work, he said.

Romoke dissociated herself from the assault, saying she divorced from Olawale seven years ago and was somewhere else when she heard about the incident.

The NSCDC boss said Abibat was still recovering in the hospital from damage she suffered from the burns her father inflicted on her.

Meanwhile, KanyiDaily had reported that a Nigerian mum was arrested for pimping out her 12-year-old daughter to a 26-year-old man in Ikorodu area of Lagos State.

The girls mother was allegedly using a charm to get money from the man who began a sexual affair with the little girl when she was 9-years-old.
Lagos State Police Command has arrested a 7-man robbery gang led by an Indian lady named Alisha Noble who claimed that she fortified herself with charms before coming to Nigeria.

A statement signed by the Lagos PPRO, DSP Elkana Bala, said Alisha and her gang were known for robbing Churches and supermarkets in Lagos.

The 7-man robbery gang were arrested on 27th February, 2020, after series of gun battle with the police and Nigerian army during their robbery operation along Lagos-Apapa expressway.

While being paraded over the weekend, the gang leader, Alisha Noble, confessed that no amount of bullets shot at her can penetrate her body because she was fortified in India by a great priest, who died after fortifying her.

She also revealed that she had a lot of magical powers, which was why when she arrived Nigeria early 2011, she decided to form the robbery gang because she knew no bullet would penetrate her body.

Another member of the gang confessed about the numbers of churches they had robbed and the amount of money the gang had got from shops and churches they robbed.

Elkana said the gang ran out of luck at their last operation when the Police acted on intelligence report about their activities, then monitored and arrested the gang members including Alisha Noble.

We had a serious gun battle with them before we were supported by men of the Nigerian Army, the Police said.

He further said that the Inspector of Police in charge of the case has promised that the Police would do everything possible to recover all the items they had stolen.

ALSO READ: Police Arrests Five-Man Robbery Gang Who Make Millions Stealing From Construction Sites In Abuja
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By Ibe Nwachukwu

Following the on-going three-day sit-at-home embarked upon

by a coalition of private schools owners in Anambra state in protest against

what they termed as multiple levies being imposed on them by the state

government, a member of the coalition, Apostle

Akawor Success, yesterday explained his reason for refusing to join in the

strike.

According to Apostle Success, I am the pioneer initiator of

coalition of private schools association in Anambra State and we started

registering our grievances to the state government recently, and when we came

together, we decided to make the grievances known to the state Government.

Our target was to just let Governor Willie Obiano know

our predicaments. We tried to plead to all the government ministries and parastatals

to consider our plight by reducing multiple taxes against we the private school

owners in the state but to no avail.

We even suggested going on peaceful demonstration but

somehow we later agreed to go on strike. So, we disseminated information to our

members but all of a sudden the Commissioner for Basic Education, Prof. Kate Omenugha invited

us for a negotiation through text message.

I called my colleagues and intimated them about Omenughas

invitation and pleaded with them to honour the invitation to hear from the

government but to my greatest surprise, they said they will not go unless the

Governor himself invites them.

Now, there is no way you can get to the governor

without commissioner for education. Then, I and Pastor Donald Okorie attended

the meeting. The first question the commissioner for Education asked was, how can we go on such move

without informing her or written to her?

She noted that in any case, as a mother, she wouldnt

want to ignore us. So, we had a good meeting with her, and some other

commissioners.

So, based on this, we decided that there was no need

of embarking on the strike or sit-at-home. I also called the attention of my

colleagues to cancel the strike since our meeting with the commissioner for

Education who will table our grievances to the Governor had some

prospects.

They refused and said they will go on strike. Then, I

told them if you people are going on strike, I will not be a party to that .

Why not honour the commissioner for Education and suspend the strike until we listen to the

Government?. That was why I did not participate in the strike.

The truth is that I had no misunderstanding with my

colleagues. We are not quarreling. I have a cordial relation with them. We are

fighting a common goal, only that they did not honour the meeting of commissioner for Education.

Apostle Akawor who is the director of Royal Ambassador

foundation schools and President of United Independent Proprietors of Private

Schools Association of Nigeria, UIPPSAN, further revealed that the bone of

contention between private schools in Anambra state and the state Government is

multiple taxation which emanated from the state chairman of Board of Internal

Revenue.

There is no private Schools in Anambra state recognized by

Government that has not registered with

the state government. After your recognition by government as being worthy to

run a school, you will register with state Minister of Education.

He presented authorized paper issued by the Anambra state

Government exempted private schools from paying business premises, business

permit, sanitation bill, bill board among others, saying that all of a sudden

various agencies started mounting pressure on the private schools to pay the same levy again in addition to levies which they have

been paying.

It is against the

national Education minimum standards law of Nigeria for persons other than

inspector of Education to enter duly accredited and registered education

facilities to demand for Government revenue.

It is quite

unfortunate that when Government wants to raise any issue concerning private

schools in Anambra state, they dont consult us. And that is the disagreement

between us and state Government.

But with the recent meeting we had with the

commissioner for education and some other commissioners, we hope something

fruitful shall come out. Let us be

paying what we have been paying but if there will be any addition let it come

through ministry of Education.

Honorable commissioner for Education cannot go to main

market to collect revenue, she cannot go to motor park to collect levies. She

cannot go outside ministry of Education to collect any revenue. What is

ministry of transport looking in the school? What is the ministry of works looking in the school?.

Also speaking, Pastor Donald Okorie who is the state

president Association for formidable Education Development AFED appealed to

the state Government to give a little ear to their request on issue of tax,

stating that they should integrate it through the ministry of Education not

through different agencies. He noted that they need an organized way of paying

any levy to avoid extortion and double taxation.
Mrs Sheba Ogheneovo Kudehinbu

A Deltan, Mrs Sheba Ogheneovo Kudehinbu, nee Eferoghene, has reportedly died of the pandemic Coronavirus in the United Kingdom, The Nation reports.

The deceased who is a native of Ughievwen Kingdom in Ughelli South council area of Delta State, was said to have died Friday morning, after battling with the disease for days.

National Coordinator of the Urhobo Renaissance Society (URS), a body of academia and professionals of Urhobo nationality, Prof. Hope Eghagha, disclosed this via a post on the groups Facebook page late Friday.

The deceased has been living in the United Kingdom with her family.

Late Sheba becomes the first Deltan and Urhobo native reported to have died of the ravaging disease.



Sad to announce that we lost this beautiful sister of ours and member of URS Okpokpaye Sheba Novo Novo (Sheba Ogheneovo Kudehinbu, nee Eferoghene) to the evil Covid-19 this morning (Friday) in London!

Sad. Sad. Sad. May God console her family. We shall see her at the resurrection by Gods grace, Prof Eghaghas post read.

Meanwhile, members of the group have been expressing shock and penning condolence messages on the post.
<! President Buhari and Atiku Abubakar: Atiku says Buharis cabinet incompetent >

By Abankula

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has dismissed President Buharis cabinet as incompetent, lacking in qualified hands.

In a language that betrays a deep contempt, Atiku dismissed the team for its inability to think outside the box.

Atiku passed the verdict in a long essay circulated today on how Nigeria and Africa can surmount the effects of the coronavirus.

He said the oil crisis being faced by the Buhari administration was also faced by the Obasanjo administration.

Atiku argued that the oil price crash should not be enough to trigger an economic crisis.

Nigerias 2020 budget was predicated on $57, but oil prices are now in the $30s range after falling into the 20s.

Atiku argued said the situation does not call for panic.

After all, the current price of oil was lower than it is today when President Obasanjo and I assumed office on May 29, 1999. Yet we paid off Nigerias entire foreign debt.

However, there are two remarkable differences. The first is that we had a stellar cabinet between 1999-2007.

We had the right people manning our economy.

We certainly would not have proposed to take out a $500 million loan to digitalise the Nigerian Television Authority, or devote 37 billion to renovating the National Assembly complex (which was built from the scratch at less than 20% of that amount), he said.

Atiku pummelled the Buhari government further:

Todays Nigerian government is severely lacking in qualified hands. And nothing proves this than the state of the Presidency itself.

To think that after devoting 13 billion to the State House Clinic in the last five years, it is virtually useless as we face the most significant public health challenge of our national life. That is a pointer to the state of our federal government.

Atiku wondered why the Buhari administration is always quick to seek foreign loans to solve domestic economic problems.

Why is it that the Nigerian government is always quick to want to borrow at every instance?

It shows a lazy mindset and an inability to take those sacrifices necessary to get the economy into shape.

 Worse still it proves that we do not, as of yet, have the ability to think outside the box for genuine solutions.

 We cannot be looking to borrow huge sums at the same time our officials are taking delivery of foreign made luxury cars.

We cannot be considered a serious country when we refuse to cut down on profligacy and instead seek outside help to fund our inefficiencies.

Even in our own individual houses, when things get tight, the first thing we should do is cut down on unnecessary expenditure and then you look for creative ways to generate funds and develop our household economy, before we even seek outside funding.

 A situation where the Nigerian government always seeks outside funding, which, by the way has to be repaid if ever granted, displays an inadequacy in the thinking process of our leaders at the moment.

He advised the Buhari government to wade into the Saudi-Russia price war that is one of the reasons for the crash in oil prices.

Nigeria must bring her weight (like we had done in the past) to bear to force an early cessation of hostilities so that oil prices could start looking up.

And secondly, we must insist that the Abacha loots held back by various Western governments must be immediately and unconditionally returned to Nigeria.

We have a humanitarian crisis on our hands. I believe that President Trump is a reasonable man.

He knows that if nothing is done to avoid the foreseeable dislocation of African economies, the next wave of mass migration to the United States would not be from Mexico.

The worst thing we can do now is to wring our hands and look to outsiders. Not now.

The leadership in Abuja and the rest of Africa cannot afford to be lethargic while the rest of the world is scrambling to save what they can of their economies.

In Nigeria, it is already clear that we must abandon the 2020 budget and come up with a more realistic budget.

Our oil benchmark is way off the mark. And we are certainly no longer in a position to budget 100 billion plus for our legislatures and almost 50 billion for the Presidency (in truth, we were never in a position to do that).

Read the full essay here: Atiku writes: What Nigeria, Africa must do to mitigate coronavirus effects
Some members and supporters of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun State, have aligned with the governorship candidate of the Allied Peoples Movement, APM, Adekunle Akinlade, for the Saturday, March 9 governorship election in the state.

It was gathered that a faction of the PDP loyal to Ladi Adebutu who lost the PDP ticket to Buruji Kashamu at the court, declared its support for Adekunle Akinlade of the APM.

The camps of Adebutu and Aknlade signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, on the sharing of political positions after the elections to effect the alliance.

The PDP factional State Chairman, Ladi Adebutu, acknowledged that Nigerias constitution allows for freedom of association, which they have exercised.

Akinlade is being sponsor by Governor Ibikunle Amosun to provide opportunity for the Yewa peoples in Ogun South to produce governor for the first time since 1999. This decision pitched Amosiun against APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, who is sponsoring Dapo Abiodun from Ogun East for governor of the state in the March 9 elections. Abiodun is sharing the Ogun East with Senator Buruji Kashamu, candidate of the PDP.
The Trade Union Congress, TUC, under the umbrella of Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council has charged the Federal Government to pay five months arrears of the new minimum wage when the payment commences.

TUC said the payment should be backdated to April 18 when President Muhammadu Buhari signed the new minimum wage bill into law.

The new demand was contained in a statement signed by the acting Chairman of the union, Anchaver Simon, and Secretary, Alade Lawal.

It also urged the government to keep to its promise of carrying out a general review of wages of public servants in the country.

We wish to advise that since the 2019 National Minimum Wage was signed into Law by Mr President on April 18, 2019, the implementation should start from that date so as not to trigger another avoidable round of agitation by public service employees and their trade unions, he said.

He said the union was glad that the government took note of the need for a general salary review in the public service.

Saga Gist had reported that the federal government and the labour unions finally sorted out the issues of consequential adjustment for other categories of workers after three days of meeting which ended early today.

Under the agreement reached, the core civil servants on grade level 7 are to get (23.2 per cent) adjustment; grade level 8 (20 per cent); grade level 9 (19 per cent); grade levels 10 to14 (16 per cent); and grade levels 15 to 17, (14 per cent).
Mr Jelani Aliyu, Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), on Thursday applauded the Federal Government over moves to ensure the completion of Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill.

Aliyu made the commendation at the annual conference of Commerce and Industry Correspondents Association of Nigeria (CICAN), in Abuja.

President Muhammadu Buhari and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, on Wednesday agreed to put Nigeria-Russia relations on a fast track to ensure the completion of partially completed and abandoned projects initiated by both countries.

Buharis request for the return of Russia on a government-to-government relationship for completion and commissioning of Ajaokuta Steel Rolling Mill was accepted by Putin.

The agreement was reached at a bilateral meeting held in Sochi on the sidelines of the ongoing Russia-Africa Summit.

Aliyu said that if revived, the steel rolling mill would help to revive the automotive industry by encouraging local production of vehicles.

Majority of the vehicles have steel body, so it will help in their production locally, Aliyu said.

He also noted that completing the mill would encourage increased private sector involvement in car production.

It is therefore, imperative to leverage on the moves by the Federal Government to produce cars at cheaper cost, Aliyu said.

While identifying that the automotive sector had a critical role to lift Nigeria out of poverty, Aliyu said that 4,782 persons were currently employed in the sector.

This means that 40,000 to 50,000 people are indirectly employed, he added.

According to him however, it is worrisome that Nigeria spends eight billion dollars annually for the importation of about 400,000 vehicles.

Unfortunately some of them are very old cars. In the 1970s and the 1980s, we had brands like Peugeot and Volkswagen and we produced between 40,000 to 100,000 cars annually.

The drop in crude oil price from 27 dollars to 10 dollars affected the automotive industry, forcing many car manufacturing companies to shut down and leave the country, Aliyu said.

He said that NADDC was pushing for a 10-year tax holiday to encourage the production of new vehicles in the country.

According to him, the production of new cars will attract 30 per cent discount while assembling will offer 10 per cent discount.

Already NADDC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Volkswagen to establish its plant in Nigeria; and excitingly Peugeot just manufactured its Pick-up so many years after its last production.

We are working out modalities to ensure that what Volkswagen wants is put in place, and as soon as we give them the conducive environment, they will set up a high capacity industry, Aliyu said.

He added that the council would soon launch an application that would register all the vehicles manufactured in the country.

This will discourage smuggling; so, when you go to smuggle a car into the country and want to register it, it will reflect that it is smuggled, Aliyu said. (NAN)
NORMAL  Will Illinois State University continue under the same top leader who took the helm over a year ago, or is a fresh face headed for the president's office?

The answer could come soon, though it remains unclear exactly when. The university's presidential search committee is slated to convene at noon Tuesday, followed by a 1 p.m. meeting of the ISU Board of Trustees. Both agendas call for closed sessions, during which board members can deliberate about hiring decisions away from the public and press.

The successful candidate will serve as the 21st president of the 167-year-old institution, which has an operating budget over $560 million and more than 20,000 students enrolled. Frontrunners include:

ISU Interim President Aondover Tarhule, who served as provost before his temporary appointment in February 2023;

Donald R. Easton-Brooks, dean of the University of Nevada at Reno's College of Education;

Elizabeth "Liz" R. Mullenix, current provost and vice president of Miami University in Oxford;

Valerio C. Ferme, provost and vice president of academic affairs for the University of Cincinnati.

Over the past two weeks, candidates participated in on-campus public forums as part of the interview process. Representing a range of academic backgrounds and administrative experiences, each finalist presented their vision and approach to leading Illinois' oldest public university.

Attendees' questions spanned topics that included fostering diversity and equity, handling of issues related to free speech on campus and labor relations, and vying for state funding, among others.

The leadership vacancy was created by the abrupt resignation of 20th ISU President Terri Goss Kinzy, who said only that she intended to pursue other opportunities when she resigned in February 2023 after 19 months on the job. As part of her separation agreement, which included at least $144,000 or 20 weeks of severance pay, she and the university were barred from further statements on the subject.

The university hired Georgia-based Parker Executive Search in September to handle the nationwide search and deliver information to the 29-member presidential search committee. That group, comprising university trustees, students, faculty, staff and representatives of the ISU Foundation board, narrowed dozens of candidates to the finalists whose identities were made public about 24 hours before their forum appearances.

Tarhule pursues 'Redbird Promise'

While provisionally serving as university leader in place of Kinzy, Tarhule was announced two weeks ago as one of the finalists for the job on a permanent basis. He said during his Feb. 12 forum that he felt fortunate to be brought into the role as ISU continued development of its next strategic plan.

He described the strategy "Excellence by Design" as a community effort built by many on campus.

Tarhule was hired as ISU's provost and vice president of academic affairs in the summer of 2020, after he held prior posts of vice provost and graduate school dean at Binghamton University. His academic accreditations include a bachelor's degree in geography and a master's degree in environmental resource planning from the University of Jos, Nigeria, and a graduate and doctoral degree in geography from McMaster University, Canada.

The room was packed for Tarhules forum, where he expressed his prioritization of diversity and equity. If selected for the long-term position, Tarhule said he would establish a Redbird Promise program that would increase financial aid for students from low-income families.

After his talk, Tarhule was asked for his thoughts on freedom of speech on university campuses.

Tarhule responded that universities are not just a place for students to come to earn their degrees, but they're places they go to "grow up," live with people outside of their close family members and interact with those who share different ideas.

Freedom of speech should have a place on campus, Tarhule said, questioning where students would learn to share differing views if not at ISU.

We also need to make sure that we are not choosing one view and pushing it on our students, Tarhule said.

The question had been prompted by Carol Koos, chairperson for the American Civil Liberties Union, Central Illinois chapter. She attended alongside her husband, Greg Koos, former executive director of the McLean County Museum of History. They were among several attendees who voiced support for Tarhules retention when questioned by a Pantagraph reporter.

Steven Lazaroff, a fourth-year doctoral student in the English department and member of the Graduate Workers Union at ISU, told Tarhule that 70% of the 450 members his union represents have experienced anxiety and depression due to low wages. (The two sides have since reached an agreement and ratified a new contract, officials said Friday.)

Lazaroff also noted that ISU receives less funding in state appropriations than some other institutions, and asked how Tarhule would deal with these issues differently from his predecessors.

Tarhule said mental health is a national issue that all universities are monitoring closely, and ISU is continuing to do a good job of providing services and support to students.

He agreed with Lazaroff, contending that ISU has historically received far less funding per capita than any other university in Illinois. Tarhule said the university restarted a caucus of ISU alumni, legislators and other supporters who would advocate for the Redbird campus in Springfield.

Tarhule also noted his membership on a state commission researching paths to equitable funding for higher education, which released its report to lawmakers on Friday. He said new models could be distributed to universities based on a new funding formula, which would bode well for ISU.

I hope and pray that is accepted and that it is funded, he said.

'We'll get there together,' Easton-Brooks says

Easton-Brooks, dean of the University of Nevada at Reno's College of Education, visited campus Feb. 22 as the second finalist. He has over 25 years of experience in higher education, with 15 years in leadership roles.

He earned a bachelor's degree in sociology from Greenville University, and a master's in early childhood education and a doctorate in educational leadership from the University of Colorado at Denver.

Easton-Brooks told the forum audience that the next president must imagine how ISU would look as a "Next-Generation" university. He said greater numbers of students of color will be going into higher education.

He said he was pushed to grasp budget management and strategy while serving in a prior role as dean of the School of Education for the University of South Dakota at Vermillion. The university follows a responsibility center management budget model, a decentralized approach in which individual units are generally responsible for their own revenue and expenses.

Easton-Brooks said he had asked himself what the Redbird experience is, what it feels like and if it invites people to feel included. He said officials would review what theyre doing to ensure students are finding success, and expand that scope at least two years beyond graduation.

As the next president of Illinois State University, my goal is to work with the community, the alumni and trustees to become one of the leading next-gen universities by promoting the Redbird experience, he said.

Well get there together.

Brigid Aslin, a program coordinator for ISUs Dean of Students Office, asked how Easton-Brooks would support staff and how hes worked with student affairs in his past roles.

Easton-Brooks said staff members should be considered professionals too. He spoke about his own office, where an assistant later became a personnel analyst while pursuing a degree in human development.

Shadiyat Batula, a junior majoring in molecular and cellular biology at ISU, asked why Easton-Brooks is uniquely situated to make a difference at the university.

All those things Ive talked about  about being a student, I was, Easton-Brooks said. I was a student athlete. I was a scholarship student. I was a student on probation. I was a student who had to work. I was a student with no support from my family  To me, its about, how do I help that student be successful?

He said life is about purpose and intent, and whats important to him in the role is to determine how he can add value.

We are purposeful, we are intentional, and the work that we do  is so valuable to a student, or a generation of people that we can never come to understand, Easton-Brooks said. Understanding that, for me, helps me understand an array of students and what they bring to the table.

After the forum, Batula said Easton-Brooks has a futuristic lens for ISU.

Asked which candidate shed prefer as ISU president, she described Tarhule as a sociable person who engages with the student body as much as possible. While she sensed the same philosophy from Easton-Brooks, she said Tarhule has already established a connection with the Redbird student body and its hard to lose that.

Mullenix brings past ISU leadership experience

Mullenix, provost and vice president of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, made her introduction at Monday's forum before a calming projection slide of her husband's seascape art painting.

A former associate dean at ISU's Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts, Mullenix has said she is also experienced in working under a responsibility center management budget model.

She described herself as a "theater person," a product of public education and a storyteller who can raise money effectively. In her speech, she emphasized knowing all aspects of a university for seeking donor support.

She holds a bachelor's degree in theater and English from the University of Vermont, and from the University of Illinois, a master's degree in theater studies and doctorate in theater and performance studies.

Mullenix said serving as an assistant dean at ISU was an excellent experience that taught her how to be an administrator.

One of the things I absolutely loved about that was just meeting partners from all over campus, she said. Noting that she values shared governance, Mullenix said universities are communities that solve problems and share successes together.

She pointed to polling data from Gallup that showed only 34% of Americans feel a four-year college education is worth the cost. And to prepare for a looming demographic cliff that will decrease numbers of high school graduates and increase competition for students among universities, Mullenix said higher education institutions must think about new markets for degrees, and for adult learners too.

Former state Rep. Dan Brady, a Bloomington Republican, said states like Tennessee and Florida have turned to performance-based funding formulas for higher education. He asked if there were any plans Mullenix could bring from Ohio to Illinois State University and Illinois.

Mullenix said state subsidies at Miami University are low  about 11% of budgeted revenue  because 41% of their students are from out of state.

That hurts us, she said.

While she said she couldn't specifically explain how Illinois funding formulas work, as president she would determine the relevant metrics  such as retention rates, the portion of students receiving federal Pell grants or the percentage of first-generation college students  and prioritize them.

Colleen Holden, a sophomore journalism student at ISU and representative of student radio station WZND, told Mullenix that diversity is a core value at ISU. Holden asked how Mullenix would increase the numbers of students from diverse backgrounds and support them.

Referring to fall 2023 enrollment statistics that counted 41% of ISUs freshman class coming from traditionally underrepresented groups (or 32% of the total student body), the candidate described current diversity metrics as enviable.

Id continue to build on that, she said.

After the presentation, ISU freshman Emma Meyers-Hoops said Mullenix was her leading preference for the role, noting the candidate's skills and background  but said she likes Tarhule, too.

Meyers-Hoops, who represents the College of Business on the academic senate, said she was particularly interested in how Mullenix created a fashion program that partnered the business and arts colleges at her current institution.

I think thats not only super beneficial for students  learning new skills and bringing these skills together, but  it generates revenue and its just something so cool, she said.

Balance of teaching, research key for Ferme

Ferme, provost and vice president of academic affairs for the University of Cincinnati, was the presenter of the last finalist forum Thursday.

Before he became provost, he was dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the largest college at the Cincinnati University. His educational history includes a bachelor's degree in biology and religious studies from Brown University; a master's in Italian studies from Indiana University; and a doctorate in comparative literature from the University of California.

Ferme's presentation displayed an illustration of a famous comic book character mounted on a mythical creature. Ferme then said: "What I am not ... I'm not a Superman, and I don't ride unicorns.

"I do, however, walk, and I walk a lot around campus, and that's the way that I would get to know people."

Experiences noted in Ferme's application records include managing a budget over $1 million; increasing student applicants by 22% and enrollment by 6.1% in the current academic year; launching a student success initiative for retaining students; and increasing support for embedded mental health counselors.

Ferme invoked a second comic book metaphor in his talk: He said he was bit by a "bug" that called him to servant leadership, drawing a comparison with the bite that transformed fictional protagonist Peter Parker into Spider-Man. The position of university president comes with both responsibility and service to society, he said.

The bug compelled him, he said, to ask how he could improve the educational landscape, and create a culture where people buy into making a difference.

An audience member asked Ferme to elaborate on his work toward promoting diversity, equity and inclusion, and asked how he would ensure stakeholders like the Board of Trustees understand the importance of that work.

It makes sense to prepare ourselves to be a welcoming place, said Ferme, adding that's a pragmatic approach, which makes financial sense too.

But you dont do it just on hopes, he continued. You also have to set up the structures that allow people to feel they are welcomed at this institution.

Asked how he would work with on-campus unions, Ferme said universities must determine how they should honor employees' labor while being strategic with the resources available in their tight budgets.

Universities have a problem. We continuously expand  We grow and we grow and we grow, and you dont know where to stop, he said.

Ferme said maintaining a relationship with collective bargaining units is necessary, and incremental steps should be made in resolving stuck budgets.

Asked afterward for his thoughts on the candidate, ISU senior Bryce Teubel said Ferme really cares about teachers and shared financial perspectives that would be more sustainable.

"That should be good for the university ... since they seem to run a tight budget," said Teubel, who is studying business administration.

Ferme was also asked if anything surprised or concerned him before he visited ISU.

Part of what prompted his interest in the job was the university's history and reputation as an educational institution, and its tradition of a teacher-scholar model.

The balance between teaching and research is important to me, Ferme said. Its not exclusive.

He had been surprised to learn, however, that 92% of ISU students are from Illinois.

Thats almost unheard of right now, he said, referring specifically to universities designated within the top two tiers of research universities by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

The other surprise, he said, was discovering how little funding this state provides to universities.

We need to be better, Ferme said. I dont know if I have to ride a unicorn into the legislature to say something.
MONEEE  The old downtown area of the south Chicago suburb of Monee is only a few blocks wide, but you cant see from one end to the other, thanks to The Cut.

The Cut, a man-made ravine 25-feet deep and 83-feet wide at the bottom that stretches through the entire town, marked its 100th anniversary last year. Its a prominent feature in the village. But there was no celebration.

The place was born as a railroad town after the Illinois Central established a station in the 1850s near Raccoon Grove, an area deeded by treaty to the descendants of Indiana fur trapper Joseph Bailly and his wife, Marie, a member of the Ottawa Tribe who was identified in several contemporary documents as Mo-nee.

It was high ground, a hill atop a glacial moraine formed in the final stages of the last ice age, and a booming town grew up around the depot, which provided direct access to Chicago. Creameries were established to process dairy products and send them north. Grain elevators lined the tracks and by the 1920s, four banks were established in the village incorporated in 1874 as Monee.

We were one of the most populous, most established and most driving cities back in the 1850s and 60s, said Christina Holston, president of the Monee Historical Society.

We were a victim of our own success.

When the Illinois Central established its depot at what would become Monee, it wasnt because of the vistas offered by high terrain. Rather, locomotives would be nearly out of steam after chugging up the long, morainal ascent, and water towers were established on both ends of the young town, along with housing for crews.

The demand for water outpaced the supply offered by a series of small ponds, and by 1916 the steam engines thirst was quenched by water from a much larger reservoir the railroad dug west of town thats now one of the Forest Preserves of Will Countys foremost fishing properties.

There were a lot of trains to supply along The Main Line of Mid-America, a rail line connecting Chicago with the Gulf Coast. Decades later, in the fading days of mass rail travel, it would inspire the Steve Goodman hit song, City of New Orleans.

By the 20s, there were 1,100 freight trains coming through a month, Holston said, and 23 passenger trains a day. Thats unbelievable.

There were several sidings at Monee but only two main tracks running through. And steam engines running uphill there could only carry so much. Monees bustle and hilltop position were clogging the system.

It was a bottleneck, Holston said.

By the early 1920s, the Illinois Central was good at moving earth. A series of agreements with leaders in Chicago had gradually upgraded the rail line there from its origins as a trestle bridge in Lake Michigan to a sunken thoroughfare surrounded by parkland above.

IC officials agreed in 1919 to eliminate most grade crossings in the city by raising its tracks and building viaducts for streets underneath while implementing infrastructure to electrify its entire fleet, starting with its commuter train line to the south suburbs.

Railroad companies were rich and powerful in the opening decades of the 20th century. They could afford huge engineering projects and had government help along the way. But astute observers in the industry knew dark clouds were forming over Detroit, where automakers were making individual transportation unrestrained by tracks and timetables available to the masses.

One way to increase efficiency was to iron out the route, smooth all the bumps that slowed steam engines and required them to shed tonnage so they could make the grade. Another benefit was eliminating slowdowns at crossings and stoppages due to collisions with people, animals and increasingly common motorcars.

And the IC knew how to do it. In many places, tracks were raised. As the terrain gradually rose from the bed of ancient Lake Chicago at Homewood, the tracks remained at ground level while viaducts were dug underneath for cross traffic. The rails were raised again as the ground dipped to the south at Matteson and Richton Park before rising again at University Park, the end of the line for modern commuter service.

As early as 1891, the railroad purchased acreage in what would become Flossmoor with plans to excavate soil, load it on trains and ship it to Chicago where it was laying spur lines to service the impending Columbian Exhibition in Jackson Park.

The Flossmoor dirt, however, was too rich in clay, not crumbly enough for the ICs purposes and it instead was used to raise the rail bed there. The Flossmoor Road viaduct was installed in 1912 and the rest of the land was subdivided into lots. The railroad built model homes along Sterling Drive and attracted potential buyers with excursion trains from Chicago featuring a free lunch.

The Illinois Central had different plans for the bottleneck in Monee. Rather than creating buildings, it would be displacing nearly the entire business district.

After digging The Cut, trains could speed through town unimpeded, from the flat Illinois plains to the leveled line to the north.

They didnt have to slow down or stop, Holston said. It made a huge difference to them for the good, but thats where the whole business district was. On one side of the tracks is Chestnut, the other side is Oak, and all of the businesses were up and down those two streets. When they put that big gash through the town, they had to move them.

The old depot was demolished and a new one was erected 25 feet below in The Cut. The grain elevators had to move. The creameries closed.

It really impacted, it killed the growth of the town, Holston said. It stagnated for the rest of the 20th century.

It wasnt too many years later that passenger trains didnt stop anymore in Monee at all.

The new depot in The Cut was demolished, and eventually the tracks running through Monee were reduced to a single line.

Trees have grown up so much now that from one side of the tracks you cant even see the other side, she said. So the town is really two towns.

On the west side theres Illinois Route 50, where a few restaurants and bars have operated over the years, but they dont generate lots of foot traffic. Interstate 57 came along at midcentury and eventually attracted exit ramp development.

On the east side of The Cut, throughout my living memory, there wasnt much, Holston said. When the train went down, most of the mercantile business died with it. People could get in their cars and go elsewhere. There was no quid pro quo, no tit-for-tat. That died and nothing much took its place.

The surviving structures were mostly converted into homes and several still exist along Oak, Chestnut and Main streets. Monee largely embraced its bedroom community status.

We like it how we like it, and we like being a small town, Holston said. Thats the thinking of the town fathers through a big part of the 20th century.

In 2011, an effort to prevent the demolition of a structure that predates The Cut  a limestone barn along Court Street that long ago housed one of Monees creameries  resulted in the creation of the Monee Historical Society. Now based in the creamery, renamed the Monee Heritage Center, Holston and fellow volunteers try to regain some of Monees lost history.

There are four or five houses we know the history of. We want to research more and find out at least dates, to get the awareness of our history, she said. There never was a historical society in Monee until 2011, no organized effort to collect data and artifacts. Everything were doing is in the last 12 years.

So theyre collecting heyday stories from before The Cut, and snapshots of life afterward. Theres tales of revelry and vice at the dance halls and party places around Raccoon Grove, a destination popular enough to merit a stop on the interurban trolley line from 63rd Street in Chicago.

The town cemetery established a potters field section because every time youd turn around, someone was falling off the train or walking in front of a train. They were hard times back then  not a lot of safety measures, Holston said.

And theres stories of how The Cut was carried out in 1922 and 23. Shes collected anecdotes of how farmers were hired to bring in teams and wagons to haul material, and how most of the excavated material was taken straight up the line to Richton Park and Matteson, where the rails are elevated, Holston said. Thats Monee dirt.

Some people recollect how a Model T Ford could fit on an old pedestrian bridge across The Cut thats since been demolished, and the hue and cry from the populace when that bridge, a popular gathering place especially among teens, was removed in 1989.

But as far as she can tell, the IC didnt face any opposition when it brought the idea for The Cut to town over a century ago.

It was Goliath and David, Holston said. Monee is just Monee. It didnt stand a chance against the wheels of progress that way. I have a feeling a few palms were greased, but I doubt that most people saw what the long-term ramifications really were going to be.

Had they put up a fight, things might have turned out differently.

If it could have held on another 10 years, it probably wouldnt have been an issue because right after that, the diesel engines started to come in, she said.

Photos: Pritzker Military Archives Center
A tragic clash between residents of Manso Tontokrom and private security personnel deployed to protect the concession of Asanko Gold Mines Limited has left three individuals dead, sparking outrage and deepening tensions in the area.



The violent altercation, which unfolded on a fateful Saturday, took a deadly turn when reports indicated that security personnel resorted to firing gunshots, resulting in the death of a resident caught in the crossfire.



In a retaliatory act, enraged locals then took justice into their own hands, leading to the lynching of two members of the private security team, with another individual left severely injured.



Community Tension and Employment Challenges



Manso Tontokrom, situated in the Amansie South District within the Ashanti Region, has long been grappling with underlying community challenges, including rampant unemployment among its vibrant youth population.



With an alarming 90 percent of young individuals engaged in illegal mining and other social vices due to lack of decent employment opportunities, the community has found itself at odds with Asanko Mines over accusations of trespassing on the companys legitimate concessions.



History of Confrontations



Over the years, tensions between the residents and security forces deployed to curtail unauthorized mining activities have reached a boiling point, with claims of military brutality and intimidation hurled against officials tasked with enforcing mining regulations.



The underlying discontent came to a head on Friday, March 1, 2024, as locals took to the streets in a peaceful protest demanding the establishment of a Community Mining Scheme to address longstanding grievances and foster mutual understanding.



Tragic Escalation



Despite efforts to seek peaceful solutions, the confrontation on Saturday spiraled out of control, resulting in tragic fatalities that have profoundly shaken the community.



The bodies of the deceased have been swiftly handled by law enforcement and conveyed to the morgue for further examination as investigations into the incident unfold.



Official Confirmation



Municipal Chief Executive for Amansie South, Clement Opoku Gyamfi, has verified the tragic event, confirming the loss of lives in the violent clash between Manso Tontokrom residents and the Private Security operatives of Asanko Mines. The local authorities are now faced with the challenging task of restoring calm and ensuring that justice is served in the aftermath of the deadly altercation.



The volatile situation at Manso Tontokrom serves as a stark reminder of the underlying tensions and socio-economic issues that continue to plague communities, underscoring the urgent need for comprehensive interventions to address root causes and prevent further tragedies from recurring.

Source: dailyguidenetwork.com









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Archbishop Charles Agyinasare, the Founder and Senior Pastor of Perez Chapel International, has called upon believers to pray for peace in the Middle East amidst the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Gaza Strip.



During a sermon delivered on Sunday, February 25, he emphasized the need for people of all backgrounds to be concerned about the impact of the war on human lives.



Following a visit from the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Shlomit Sufa, at the Perez Dome, to celebrate the first of four Sundays to mark Ghana Month, Archbishop Agyinasare stressed the importance of unity and urged everyone to pray for divine intervention to alleviate the suffering and displacement caused by the conflict.



He expressed his deep gratitude to the Israeli Ambassador for her visit to his church.



On this unique occasion, we are profoundly honoured to welcome the Israeli Ambassador to Ghana, H.E Shlomit Sufa. Her presence is a symbol of our interconnectedness and provides us with a special opportunity to join in collective prayer.



Together, we express our heartfelt concern for the well-being of Israel and the Gaza strip, and extend our prayers to encompass the entire land, irrespective of background or faith.



As we stand united in faith and brotherhood, let us rise, dear brethren, and join our hearts and voices in prayer. We pray for the restoration of peace in Israel and the Gaza Strip, invoking God's mercy, grace, and divine intervention. May His peace, which surpasses all understanding, descend upon this land, bringing an end to conflict and ushering in an era of reconciliation and harmony. Let us pray, he said.



An armed conflict between Israel and Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups has been taking place chiefly in and around the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on southern Israel from the Gaza Strip.

Source: Peacefmonline.com









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A prominent member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Asare Otchere-Darko has raised concerns about the repercussions following the recent passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill by Parliament.



The legislation, approved on February 28, 2024, criminalizes LGBTQ+ activities, including their promotion, advocacy, and financial support. Those found guilty could face imprisonment ranging from 6 months to 3 years, with longer terms for those involved in promoting or sponsoring such acts.



In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Otchere-Darko voiced apprehensions over what he labelled as a "harsher anti-LGBTQ Bill" and stressed the need for public education on its potential implications.



He urged the media and politicians to provide balanced information to citizens, outlining both the advantages and disadvantages of the Bill becoming law. Additionally, he encouraged individuals who believe the legislation contradicts the Constitution to seek legal recourse through the courts.



Acknowledging Parliament's decision as a reflection of popular sentiment, Otchere-Darko emphasized the importance of upholding Ghana's cultural norms while also advocating for tolerance and diversity.



He underscored the resilience of Ghana's democratic institutions and called on citizens to trust in the democratic process, emphasizing the need to strike a balance between traditional family values and principles of tolerance and diversity.



Otchere-Darko concluded by reaffirming his belief in Ghana's ability to navigate these complexities while staying true to its cultural heritage and democratic principles.

Ghanas parliament, in which is vested the sovereign will of the people, has democratically passed a harsher anti-LGBTQ Bill. Yes, democratically! In fact the threat of being unseated for standing for the rights of gays, etc, certainly created its own culture of silence in the  Gabby Otchere-Darko (@GabbyDarko) March 1, 2024









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US President Joe Biden mistakenly announced Friday March 1, that he was authorizing US airdrops of aid into Ukraine when he was supposed to say the Gaza Strip, another stumble that could increase the scrutiny of his mental acuity.



The 81-year-old American commander-in-chief mixed up the two places twice while hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the Oval Office.



In the coming days, we are going to join with our friends in Jordan and others in providing airdrops of additional food and supplies into Ukraine and seek to continue to open up other avenues into Ukraine, including the possibility of a marine corridor to deliver large amounts of humanitarian assistance, Biden said.



The president later made clear he was referring to Gaza by adding, without noting his error, the truth is, aid flowing to Gaza is nowhere nearly enough now.



White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed about 30 minutes later to reporters that Biden was referring to Gaza when he said Ukraine.



Twice in February, Biden told donors at fundraisers that Helmut Kohl, who left office as German chancellor in 1998 and died in 2017, spoke with him in 2021 about that years Jan. 6 Capitol riot.



Biden also said that former French President Francois Mitterrand, who left office in 1995 and died in 1996, joined that 2021 conversation.



Biden compounded his errors on Feb. 8 by referring to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as the president of Mexico during a fiery press conference where he denied special counsel Robert Hurs finding that no jury would convict him of mishandling classified documents on the grounds of perceived senility.



Watch the video below





President Biden says they will be completing air drops of 'food and supplies into Ukraine', and the US is seeking to open up 'other avenues in Ukraine'. Mr Biden meant to say Gazahttps://t.co/GD1gLkuJSj pic.twitter.com/zvx5phNx5p  Sky News (@SkyNews) March 1, 2024

























John Kirby immediately walks back Biden's announcement of air drops "into Ukraine":



"He was referring to Gaza." pic.twitter.com/E6x6j9ealL



 RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 1, 2024



















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The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has joined the International Community's concern about Ghana's parliament's passage of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill.



According to them, they are closely monitoring the outcome of the bill, which is yet to be assented to by President Nana Akufo-Addo.



The bill, if finally passed, will criminalize LGBTQ+ activities as well as their promotion, advocacy, and funding.



Offenders could face a jail term ranging from 6 months to 3 years, while those promoting and sponsoring the act could face a jail term between 3 and 5 years.



However, the International Community has described the bill as harsh on human rights and a risk to Ghana's economy.



In a statement released by the IMF and shared with Bloomberg, it was stated, Diversity and inclusion are values that the IMF embraces. Our internal policies prohibit discrimination based on personal characteristics, including but not limited to gender, gender expression, or sexual orientation. Like institutions, diverse and inclusive economies flourish."

Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com









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This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

On February 1, senior Australian and New Zealand ministers signed a Joint Statement of Cooperation, acknowledging the long history of collaboration between the two nations.

The same week, New Zealand rejected an Australian proposal on sustainable fishing at the annual fisheries meeting of nations that fish in the high seas of the South Pacific. The move has driven a wedge between these traditional allies.

At stake was an agreement by those nations to protect 70% of special and vulnerable marine ecosystems, such as ancient corals, from destructive fishing practices like bottom-trawling.

Until December 2023, NZ was jointly leading the work to implement this agreement with Australia. But New Zealand's new government, a coalition of conservative parties, rejected the proposed restrictions, citing concerns about jobs and development.

This sudden about-face raises many questions for Australia and for progress on sustainable fishing more generally. On fishing, Australia must now be prepared to consider New Zealand an opponent rather than an ally.

Sustainable fishing alliance no more?

In 2009, Australia, New Zealand, and Chile led successful negotiations for a convention governing sustainable fishing in the South Pacific high seas beyond a nation's exclusive marine economic zones, meaning more than 370km off the coast. The goal was to make sure fish stocks were not fished out and to protect marine ecosystems. (Tuna are not included, as they are dealt with under a separate convention.)

Since then, New Zealand and Australia have led much of the development of regulations governing the sustainable use of deepwater fish species and the conservation of vulnerable marine ecosystems in the South Pacific region. Their work led to the first measures governing deepwater fisheries, science-based catch limits for deepwater species, and a joint assessment of seafloor fishing methods such as trawling.

But the idea of banning or restricting trawling was controversial. Bottom-trawling, in which boats deploy giant nets that scrape along the ocean floor, is very effectiveso much so that it can devastate everything in its path.

In 2015, the United Nations' first worldwide ocean assessment found bottom-trawling causes widespread, long-term destruction to deep-sea environments wherever it is done. Scientists have compared it to clear-felling a forest. The practice is banned in the Mediterranean and in shallow waters of the Southern Ocean, and is increasingly restricted by many nations, including Australia.

The UN has repeatedly called for better protection, as well as specific actions to make it a reality. And many nations and organizations are heeding that call.

The science is clear. But the politics is not. International waters in the South Pacific are one of the few areas where deepwater bottom-trawling is still permitted on seamountsunderwater mountains rich in lifeand similar features.

Last year, South Pacific nations agreed to protect a minimum of 70% of marine ecosystems vulnerable to damage from fishing. This agreement came from research done largely by New Zealand.

Other countries pushed for a higher level of protection, but New Zealand insisted on 70% to ensure its fishing could continue. These kinds of compromises are common at meetings like this.

The meeting in February was meant to agree on how to make the consensus decision a reality. But it was not to be. Now that NZ has withdrawn support, the original decision remains but without the mechanisms to make it happen. Bottom-trawling will likely continue in the South Pacific.

Why? The new NZ fisheries minister, Shane Jones, has publicly stated he was "keen to ensure that, number one, we're looking after our own people, looking after jobs and opportunities for economic development to benefit New Zealand."

While high seas fishing is an important industry for New Zealand, their bottom trawling activity in the South Pacific is small. One vessel fished the bottom in 2021-2022, catching only 20 tons of orange roughy. No bottom trawling has happened since then.

Since coming to power, New Zealand's new government has questioned 2030 renewable energy targets, promised to "address climate change hysteria", declared mining more important than nature protectionand supported bottom-trawling.

Many of these changes will be of considerable concern to Australia. For the past 15 years, Australia has taken a prominent leadership rolealongside New Zealandin sustainable ocean management.

With Pacific island nations, Australia and NZ worked long and hard to progress the High Seas Treatya breakthrough opening new legal avenues to protect up to 30% of the unregulated high seas where illegal and exploitative fishing practices are common.

The NZ government's willingness to jettison long collaborative work, abandon agreed commitments and risk existing agreements bodes poorly for cooperation across the Tasman. Australia must sadly now treat New Zealand as an opponent when it comes to protecting the seas and managing fisheries for the long term.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Strong winds spread the largest wildfire in Texas history across more than 1 million acres of rangeland in the Panhandle, the heart of the state's cattle-producing region, and into Oklahoma in late February 2024. Light precipitation on Feb. 29 helped firefighters as they tried to contain the Smokehouse Creek Fire and other blazes threatening homes and livestock, but the heat and winds were forecast to pick up again. At least two people have died.

Karen Hickman, a grassland ecologist at Oklahoma State University and president of the Society for Range Management, explained why the fires spread so fast, the risks to livestock and how quickly these ecosystems can recover.

How did the fires spread so far so quickly?

This region of Texas and Oklahoma is mostly rangeland where cattle graze. A combination of higher-than-average temperatures and low humidity had dried out the dormant plants. When the winds picked up following a couple of hot, dry days, all it took was a spark to start a wildfire.

The Texas Panhandle is mostly shortgrass prairie species that evolved with fire. But Texas also has Conservation Reserve Program fields planted with perennial species that might be mid- or tall grasses. Those taller grasses have a higher fuel load that can feed a fire more than the short grass species.

Across the border, that area of Oklahoma is more rugged and has another problem: a lot of eastern red cedar that are native but have expanded as invasive species because of the lack of periodic fire. When mature cedar trees burn, they can send embers flying, increasing the risk to homes and towns.

When fires spread that fast, it often means embers are blowing ahead of the actual fire and across any potential firebreaks that exist.

The wind's shifting directionit sometimes changed direction two or three times in a dayalso made the fire harder to control. Fire crews and ranchers can try to protect the area ahead of the fire, only to see the wind shift and blow the fire in another direction. It's dangerous to people and livestock, and it makes it hard to stop the fire's spread.

What is in the path of these fires?

Those lands are either being rested through the dormant season or being grazed by livestock this time of year, and there are new calves, as well. Texas livestock producers have been trying to move their cattle to safety, but in some cases they had to cut the fences and let the cattle go on their own.

In Oklahoma's rougher terrain and canyons, it can be even harder to get the cattle out because they go into the canyons to get away from the fierce winds.

For livestock producers, the immediate needs will be saving and then gathering their herds again.

Some herds will die in the fire, and some cattle are injured. Fires like these also burn fences and damage the windmills that power wells, and they can melt plastic water tanks. So, many producers will have to find new sources of both food and water for their animals. Homes are also at risk and several have burned.

The rangelands are dominated by people who are supportive of their neighbors, so typically, the surrounding counties will offer donations. There are some concerns about hay from areas farther away and the risk of invasive species. The Panhandle saw that with red imported fire ants that arrived in hay bales after fires in 2018. But the immediate concern for ranchers is to provide food and water for their livestock.

How quickly can the rangeland recover?

The grasses will be able to sprout back and recover fairly quickly. Over winter, they are alive below ground. Only the dead part of the plants above ground burned.

In those systems with perennial plants, once it rains and temperatures rise, the grasses and forbs will sprout back within a few weeks. The plants will recover nicely as long as we're not in a long-term drought.

The grassland may even see a benefit if the fire removes invasive species like eastern red cedar in Oklahoma. In some areas, people have been hesitant to conduct prescribed fires, and that has led to an overgrowth of woody plants, such as sumac and sand plum. If the fire clears out some of that overgrowth and the eastern red cedar, the prairie grass and forb species will regenerate in those areas, restoring wildlife habitat.

Where the vegetation burns away, the black surface will increase the soil temperature, activating perennial grasses and promoting resprouting. This speeds up their growth.

These are really resilient ecosystems. But the immediate concern in the coming weeks is for cattle producers to find ways to feed and water their livestock while the rangeland's native plants regrow.

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Big corporations could drive a worldwide shift towards more sustainable supply chains that limit damage caused by deforestation. But progress is being slowed down by weak or non-existent commitments to ensure that supply chains for commodities such as soy, palm oil, and beef have not contributed to tropical deforestation, according to an analysis recently published by the environmental organization Global Canopy.

Based on ten years of data, the Forest 500 report assessed 350 companies, from high-street supermarkets and food producers that might use soy or beef in their supply chains to firms using tropical timber to build furniture. It also looked at 150 financial institutions that provide US$6.1 trillion (4.8 trillion) of investment to these companies each year.

Nearly one-third of the assessed companies still haven't committed to avoiding deforestation when trading in commodities such as beef and leather, palm oil, soy, timber, and paper pulp.

But progress varies depending on the product. While a majority (76%) of companies assessed for palm oil have a deforestation commitment, 65% of those assessed for beef do not. Conversion to beef pasture is driving a surge in deforestation in Brazil's Cerrado savannah where, last year, deforestation increased by 43%.

New laws, such as the EU Deforestation Regulation and US Forest Act, aim to prevent trade in products that contribute to illegal deforestation. But these may not protect habitats such as the Cerrado savannah, for example, which falls out of scope of the new EU regulation because the trees aren't tall enough to count as forest.

Unless deforestation regulations are strengthened to stop trade in products that have caused the loss of any type of vital natural habitat, companies will not stop trading in products such as beef that are sourced from forests like the Cerrado savannah.

In the UK, proposed regulations will stop trade in products associated with illegal deforestation, but not those defined as legal under local law. Regulation has a part to play in halting deforestation, but only if it includes all conversion of natural habitats, both legal and illegal, and includes regulation of the finance sector.

International collaborations such as the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership seek to address government and public sector ambition. But steps to reduce deforestation from within the private sector are just as crucial, because global trade in forest commodities drives loss.

The greatest drivers of tropical forest loss are conversion to cropland and pasture, building of infrastructure such as mines and roads, and logging for timber. Climate change and wildfires add further pressures, degrading forests.

Trade in products such as coco, coffee, palm oil, soybeans, beef and leather, timber and wood pulp all expose companies to deforestation risk. The raw trade value of these productsdefined as "freight on board" by UN Comm Tradein 2022 alone was more than US$32 billion.

It's hard to move away from deforestation to make valuable products when the practices are supported by huge subsidies. Those to the soy, palm oil and beef industries support 14% of annual global forest loss. The annual funding for forests is less than 1% that which funds environmentally harmful subsidies, so progress in reducing deforestation is undermined by an enormous financial gap. This needs to be closed in order to start financially incentivizing forest protection.

Human rights issues and deforestation go hand-in-hand because many Indigenous peoples and local communities are denied land rights to their forests. It is vital that companies ensure their supply chains do not exacerbate land rights denialbut here the new report highlights a global blind spot.

Only 1% of Forest 500 companies had a policy for all of the human rights issues relating to at least one of the highest-risk commodities they were assessed for. And most of the companies assessed (91%) did not have a published commitment to ensuring that all rights-based conflicts are resolved before they finalize new developments or acquisitions in their supply chains.

Global forest goals

2023 was a landmark year for the planet's forests. For the first time, the global goal to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030 was formally adopted by the UN.

Yet despite everything forests do for nature, people and the climate, forest loss continues almost unabated. In 2022, an area of forest the size of Denmark was lost. The new report shows there is still a huge gap between ambition and action.

There is no legally binding international framework convention on forests, so most forest commitments are voluntary. Advice to companies on how to accelerate and scale up deforestation and conversion-free supply chains is widespread, but the Forest 500 assessment concludes that the private sector isn't taking voluntary action fast enough.

Only 3% of Forest 500 companies are fully and publicly reporting deforestation in their supply chains, and 63% fail to publish adequate evidence of the implementation of their deforestation commitments. This makes it difficult for consumers to be sure that the products they buy are not contributing to any form of forest loss.

As the report concludes, new regulations to address deforestation must be ambitious and cover both legal and illegal deforestation. They must also address the conversion of natural ecosystems for forest commodities that result in environmental destruction, and any associated human rights abuses.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
MOREAU  The law firm of Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, P.C. has initiated the severability clause in its contract with the Town of Moreau, giving the board 30 days to find new legal representation.

We were sent an email today saying that they were no longer going to represent us. They gave their 30-day notice, Supervisor Jesse Fish said during Tuesdays board meeting.

Council member Kyle Noonan cited unprofessionalism, and lack of trust, as reasons given to the board for the firms decision to resign.

So at this point, in 30 days we will not have a town attorney, Noonan reiterated. I think its quite disappointing that we got fired from our legal counsel.

Noonan said he is concerned that the board would be entering a fraught legal terrain in the coming months without the firm, which has represented the town for the past two decades.

As it stands, were looking at so many legal battles and hurdles in our way, and we no longer have legal representation from a group that knows all of our business, he said. I saw what the village of South Glens Falls went through trying to find coverage, and this is going to be another uphill battle for this board.

Despite the less than ideal circumstances, Council member Patrick Killian said a review of the towns relationship with its legal counsel is a good thing. Bartlett, Pontiff, Stewart & Rhodes, P.C. has been unable to advise the board on certain matters due to its connection as legal counsel for local developer Rich Schermerhorn.

They can give us legal notice in some, other instances they cant. So I think its a conflict of interest, Killian said. We need to look at a lot of different things here too, and if we cant get proper consult, in representation of our town, then we need to move forward.

It was moved by the board to send out requests for proposals (RFPs) from area law firms as well as engineering firms.
ATLANTIC CITY  A ribbon cutting is planned for the citys third recreational marijuana dispensary Monday.

Legal Distribution will open at 3112 Atlantic Avenue, just blocks from the Stockton University campus and minutes from the citys Downbeach section.

Mayor Marty Small Sr. is expected to attend the noon grand opening, as will the business four owners: Lou Freedman, of Margate; Rashon White, of Egg Harbor Township; Holly Pugh, of Absecon; and Jason Lantz, of Atlantic City.

They will carry everything from edibles to flower (marijuana).

Im excited about this, Freedman said by phone Sunday. Were hoping that Atlantic City becomes what (the Small administration) claims it can become  the weed capital of the East Coast. Our goal is basically is to take care of the community and take care of the locals.

All customers Monday will receive a free Legal Distribute T-shirt and complimentary donuts while supplies last. They also will serve sandwiches, wraps and drinks while supplies last. People must be 21 years or older with proper identification to enter.

Legal Distribution moves into a building that once served as a Masonic hall.

Two other businesses in Atlantic City already sell recreational marijuana: MPX located on New York Avenue, and The Design 710 on Park Place.

Small, who is also a CRDA board member, and his administration have looked to cannabis as a potentially significant draw for tourists and a source of jobs and fresh revenue. The cannabis proposals include new investment, renovating existing buildings, including many that are vacant.

The opening of Legal Distribution will mark another milestone in the citys plans.

On Feb. 20, the authority board approved a site plan for PPP Dispensary LLC for a retail location at 3001 Atlantic Ave., at Morris Avenue down the street from residential neighborhoods. Its the most recent of a string of cannabis business proposals. Last year, growing facilities, consumption lounges and multiple dispensaries received site plan approval, with some planned for the same block as another proposed dispensary. So far, few have made it all the way through the process.

New Jersey voters said yes to legal weed in 2020, and in April 2022, the first sales took place, with long lines and waits for hours at the few legal businesses. The Cannabis Regulatory Commission, founded almost three years ago, recently touted a milestone of 100 cannabis dispensaries in New Jersey. Sales to the adult use market in 2023 came in just shy of $674 million.

Staff Writer Bill Barlow contributed to this report.
LOWER TOWNSHIP  Its not supposed to happen in a small town. But it did. And 30 years later, David C. Douglass Jr. continues to work through what happened the day his father died in the line of duty, fatally shot by a burglary suspect.

There are a few details left to uncover, such as what caused a jam in David C. Douglass Sr.s service weapon that prevented him from getting off more than one round in the exchange of fire with Chung Ho that February day in 1994. He had already been struck by a bullet from Hos .38 caliber handgun, receiving the wound that would kill him.

Ho shot first, then Dad returned fire, Douglass Jr. said. There was a struggle at some point. They were in a wooded area.

At the end of March, after decades in prison, Ho will be eligible for parole.

Along with the 30th anniversary of Douglass Sr.s death and his sons ongoing work on a documentary about the slaying and the investigation that found his killer 150 miles away in New York City, Douglas Jr. has had a physically and emotionally draining time. He has traveled to multiple states working on interviews for the documentary. He remembers being at a friends house when he heard about his fathers death.

Ive been reliving it for a year now, he said in an interview this week.

Now a 15-year veteran officer in the Cape May County Sheriffs Office and still living in Lower Township, Douglas Jr. feels like he has healed. But the emotion shown by the officers he interviewed who worked on the case never fails to break him up, sometimes from an officer who never met his father.

It will never go away, he said.

When police Chief Bill Priole retired in 2022, he was the last officer in the Lower Township Police Department on active duty to have worked with Douglass Sr.

In Lower Township, the story has never been forgotten.

Lower Township to commemorate 30th anniversary of police officer's death A flag-raising ceremony will be held to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the death of Lower Township police Officer David C. Douglass Sr. at 10 a.m. Feb. 18 at the Town Bank Volunteer Fire Company.

Every year, the township remembers Douglass Sr. with a flag-raising ceremony at the Town Bank Volunteer Fire Company, where he volunteered as a firefighter. A popular waterfront park on the edge of the Cape May Canal bears his name, as does the David C. Douglass Veterans Memorial School.

Its important to remember the sacrifice of someone who dedicated his life to protecting the people of Lower Township, police Deputy Chief Donald Vanaman said.

Vanaman also wants people to understand that terrible things can happen in a small town.

It can happen. It did happen, Vanaman said.

Each year, Douglass Sr.s widow, Debbie Douglass, and their children attend the flag raising.

A trailer for The Man Behind Badge 134 was recently posted to YouTube by No Luck Productions. It includes archival news coverage and recent interviews with Douglass Sr.s friends and colleagues in the Police Department, including the chaos of having a house fire at the same time an officer had been shot.

Douglass Jr. said he had long thought about a film about his fathers death and the investigation that followed. He learned that a childhood friend, John Gambles, was trying to put together a production company. They set up a meeting. At first, Douglass Jr. considered a scripted piece, possibly a film.

I told him I think this would be really awesome as a documentary, said Chance Meeting, who along with Gambles founded the Virginia-based No Luck Productions. It just snowballed from there.

Filming began a little more than a year ago, on the previous anniversary of the murder.

Theyve traveled to New York, Florida and elsewhere for interviews about the case, which one detective described as the case of a lifetime. Douglass Jr. said they still have a lot of work to do on the film. They hope to wrap up the additional interviews in the coming months and edit over the summer, to be ready to work on how to distribute the finished film in about six months.

We plan to premiere it in town, Meeting said.

Details posted on the website of the Police Department describe Douglass Sr. responding to a call about a suspicious person in the Town Bank neighborhood Feb. 18, 1994, a Sunday. Police said the man had just burglarized a home and set a fire.

As he pursued a burglary suspect on foot, the suspect turned and shot him, the site reads. Officer Douglass was able to return fire, striking the suspect in the hand and was able to make it back to his patrol car to call for assistance, but did not survive the attack.

Months of intensive investigation by the Police Department and other agencies led to the arrest of Ho in New York that April. He later pleaded guilty to felony murder.

He is currently in East Jersey State Prison in Middlesex County.

Ho, who is also known as Chung Hop, will be eligible for parole for the first time March 31, a little less than 30 years after he entered prison. He will be 80 this summer, according to state prison records.

The Douglass family plans to speak against parole at a hearing in March, open only to family members. Douglass Jr. said Hos family can visit him in prison, but the Douglass family can only visit their husband and father at a gravestone.

Reports from Hos sentencing in 1995 state that he was born in China and his father had been beaten to death by Communists. He fled to the United States, where he married and obtained citizenship.

He lived in New York when police caught up with him weeks after the shooting. He had formerly worked at a restaurant in Cape May and, according to testimony, was seeking revenge on the owner of the restaurant when he broke into the house and started a fire.

At the time, Ho did not speak English, relying on an interpreter in court to translate between English and Cantonese.

Douglass Jr. hopes to interview Ho for the film, to get yet another view of the moment that changed his life and ended his fathers. Ho would have to agree to the interview for it to take place, Douglass Jr. said.

Three decades after his death, Douglass Sr. remains a beloved figure in Lower Township. A new generation of officers may never have worked with him, but many of their parents did. Police work often runs in families.

This is a small town, Vanaman said.

Others remember him from the skating events he and his wife put on at the Cape May Convention Hall, or through other community events.

We all knew Dave Douglass, even if we didnt work with him, Vanaman said.
ATLANTIC CITY  As Ramadan approaches, local, county, state and federal law enforcement went over what they would be doing to keep the citys Muslim community safe during the religions holiest month of the year.

With the uptick in bias, discrimination and violence against Muslims in the wake of the ongoing war in Gaza, working together to keep everyone safe was a priority for all.

Of course, we have a concern that Ramadan is coming. We have a big problem, but I have a whole bunch of faith that the Prosecutors Office, the Mayors Office, police chief, they will actually look for it, said Amer Kashmiri, president of the Atlantic City Merchants Association. The real cooperation makes us more protected and safer in our environment.

During a meeting Thursday at Masjid Muhammad, faith leaders and other members of the Muslim community were able to express their concerns and ask how law enforcement would keep them safe during the communitys month of fasting and prayer starting March 10. The meetings have been held the past four to five years, officials said.

Building relationships and solidarity, when you have that, safety comes with it, said Imam Amin Muhammad of Masjid Muhammad.

Although U.S. Census data doesnt track religious populations, the Association of Religious Data Archives estimates 1% of Atlantic County practiced Islam in 2020.

Law enforcement standing in unity and solidarity with the Muslim community is the main way to ensure safety during Ramadan, said City Council Vice President Kaleem Shabazz, who hosted the meeting.

Representatives of federal, state, county and local law enforcement agencies also attended.

Were going to be connected with our partners at the hip ... and well make sure that everything is safe and secure so you guys can have a safe holy month of Ramadan, said police Chief James Sarkos. I also wanted to just let you know that our relationship is really important. The Muslim community in Atlantic City is an important piece of the fabric that makes Atlantic City such a wonderful town. I say this many times, but what truly makes Atlantic City a great city is that we are a true melting pot here, with so many different religions and cultures living within these small 48 blocks.

Some attendees said they wanted law enforcement do some sort of sensitivity training geared toward Muslims. Sarkos said officers undergo specialized training specifically for that every year through the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office.

Others wanted police to address homeless issues on Florida and Texas avenues, which is where the Islamic Center of Atlantic City and Masjid Al-Taqwa are located.

Sarkos said there would be an increased police presence and patrols around city mosques during Ramadan, especially at dusk and dawn. That is when the community temporarily breaks fast to have its fixed Sahur and Iftar meals, along with its special Isha and Tarawih night prayers.

Neighborhood coordination officers also will be communicating with religious leaders so police can address any concerns.

State Police and the FBI gave resources on whom to contact about bias and discrimination in their communities.

It is our responsibility as your law enforcement officials to work together to try to prevent that from happening, said Nelson Delgado, FBI-Newark assistant special agent in charge. What I can say is your community has done a wonderful job of coordinating, connecting and maintaining a relationship with local, township, county and state as well as our federal partners. And whatever it is that you need from them, just kindly let us know. It is always going to be a two-way dialogue, and for us to keep you safe, you have to let us know whats on your mind.
MOUNT LAUREL  When New Jersey first lady Tammy Murphy walked up to Rep. Andy Kim recently to congratulate him with a handshake after the second of three consecutive wins in his bid for a U.S. Senate seat, the goodwill gesture represented a surprise within a surprise.

The Senate seat only became competitive because incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez was indicted last year on federal corruption charges. And Kims wins in three state county committee votes so far have fueled sudden momentum for the mild-mannered three-term congressman, who is mounting a more formidable challenge than is typical against a well-connected political figure in a state where connections count for a lot.

That matters in the Democratic stronghold of New Jersey, where Democratic primaries often decide elections  and where primary winners are sometimes chosen by party leaders in behind-the-scenes gatherings well ahead of the primaries themselves. Kim sued last week in federal court to challenge the way counties draw ballots to favor candidates with party support.

As surprising as they were, Kims wins in three counties so far, including his and the first ladys home turf, hardly settle anything. Murphy, who comes from the world of high finance and has spent years cultivating allies among state party leaders, already has secured the support of party bosses in the more populous counties of Bergen, Camden and Essex.

Menendez has yet to say whether he will seek another term. The charges against him have generated spectacular headlines and are seen by many to be career-ending. The senator has pleaded not guilty and projected a defiant stance as turmoil suddenly engulfed a seat that had long been seen as safe for Democrats.

Tough race for Democratic nomination

Still, the wins by Kim suggest that the race for the Democratic nomination wont be easy for anyone. It pits Kim, perhaps best known for being spotted cleaning debris from the U.S. Capitol after the Jan. 6 insurrection three years ago, against Murphy, who is married to Gov. Phil Murphy and has made maternal mortality her signature issue in her role as first lady.

Kims lawsuit signals that he still believes New Jerseys way of giving better ballot positioning to candidates favored by local insiders could give Murphy an unfair advantage, a view shared by many political observers.

Carolyn Rush, US Rep. Andy Kim sue over 'county line' Carolyn Rush, a Democratic candidate for the 2nd Congressional District seat held by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, joined U.S. Rep. Andy Kim, D-3rd, in a lawsuit Monday against 19 county clerks who use the party line ballot organization.

We do not have competitive primaries. We in theory have them, but in practice we have party leaders who get behind closed doors and the nominee is presented to the public as a fait accompli. This is your candidate, love it or lump it, said Daniel Cassino, executive director of the Fairleigh Dickinson University Poll. The fact that were actually having this primary is a sign something has gone awry.

The competition between Kim and Murphy began almost as soon as the Menendez indictment was announced. It gave New Jersey a rare competitive Democratic primary for one of only three statewide seats  the others, for a second Senate seat and governor, arent on the ballot this year.

The seat may yet remain in Democratic hands, but a contentious campaign could consume energy and resources as the party gears up for a grinding presidential campaign and the larger fight to control Congress.

Kim cast his candidacy in terms of the publics distrust of officials and party insiders, pointing specifically to Menendezs indictments. A 2015 federal corruption indictment against Menendez ended in a hung jury and with prosecutors dropping the case. The concern, Kim said in an interview, is that progressive Democrats who oppose the party bosses influence and independents might sit out the November election if they think Murphys candidacy was foisted on them.

If the Democrats dont fix this and show that this is a credible and legitimate process, I think that this Senate seat could be in jeopardy this November. And I think that thats something I absolutely refuse to see happen because Ive been there in Congress. I know exactly what the Republicans would do if they have the majority in the Senate, Kim said.

Tammy Murphy, who worked at Goldman Sachs briefly and helped start a policy think tank in New Jersey, pushed back at the notion that the support she has is based on her marriage to Phil. She said recently she isnt asking for his help. She also defended her departure from the Republican Party, which she left shortly before her husbands run for governor in 2017.

Ive been on the ground for the last eight years, literally building the party, she said. Ive shown up serially in all these, all the red counties where they needed help. I showed up.

She added: Many people are leaving the Republican Party here now, and I will tell you, I have stood for the same values since day one. Absolutely the same values.

Curtis Bashaw wins Atlantic County GOP convention nod for U.S. Senate The Atlantic County Republican Committee held its convention Saturday and endorsed Cape May businessman Curtis Bashaw to run for U.S. Senate.

Republican hopes

The possibility of Republicans picking up the seat in November is overblown, Cassino said, in large part because the state tilts so overwhelmingly Democratic and because its a pesidential election year. Ben Dworkin, who heads the Rowan Institute for Public Policy & Citizenship, echoed that sentiment, pointing out Republicans havent been elected to the Senate in New Jersey since 1972.

Republicans are grappling with their own primary, featuring Cape May businessman Curtis Bashaw, Mendham Mayor Christine Serrano Glassner and former TV news reporter Alex Zdan. Also running in the Democratic primary are labor leader Patricia Campos-Medina and civil rights activist Lawrence Hamm.

Shortly before the Burlington Democratic Party results were announced Feb. 24, voters leaving the hall greeted each other with smiles and hugs. Kim and Murphy both stopped to chat with people.

Murphy had talked earlier in the day about needing to send ticked off moms to Washington to fight for families. Kim had focused on being a county native and said hed fight for the state particularly in light of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and the threat to the countrys democracy.

A number of voters acknowledged the awkwardness of having the first lady and their congressman competing and declined to say which one they supported. But they sounded more certain about their resolve to win in November.

Well come together, said Gina LaPlaca, a local official in Burlington County. The threat from Republicans is too much.
OCEAN CITY  Some familiar names will be on the ballot, including incumbents and former members, as Ocean City voters decide on the majority of the seats on City Council on May 14.

A race for the single at-large seat will be up for a vote, and in three of the four city wards, with only First Ward incumbent Terry Crowley Jr. set to run unopposed as of the filing deadline for candidate petitions on Thursday.

Former council members Keith Hartzel and Mike DeVlieger want to return to City Council this year, filing petitions to run in the second ward and for the at-large seat, respectively. Council member Tom Rotondi did not file petitions for a new term as the Second Ward council member by the deadline.

Rotondi did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

The citys ward seats on the seven-member council are usually up for a vote on separate years from the at-large seats, which are voted on by the entire town and are typically on the ballot at the same time as the mayors seat. This year, one of the three at-large seats is up for a vote early, with the resignation of former Council member Karen Bergman in January to accept a job as supervisor of the citys senior center.

In February, council members decided not to appoint someone to fill the position, instead leaving it to the voters in the May election. The winner will fill out the remainder of Bergmans term, set for reelection in 2026.

DeVlieger represented the First Ward as a member of council, first elected in 2012. He was reelected twice before he stepped down from his council seat in August 2021, an apparent surprise to the other members of the governing body when he announced it at a July meeting.

He said at the time that he needed to focus on his career and family. DeVlieger did not immediately respond to a request for comment Friday.

Hes set to face Sean Barnes, a former president of the Snug Harbor Association, in the race. Barnes is a director at Enterprise Community Asset Management and owner of a charter sailing business.

I love Ocean City. Ive lived here my whole life. I want to see Ocean City preserved, Barnes said.

In a prepared statement, Barnes said he is running because it is time that we bring new energy, vision, and common sense to our city government. As a lifelong resident, I care deeply about our community; I will bring new energy and support new ideas that allow Ocean City to remain a vibrant, safe and welcoming community for all of our residents and visitors.

Hartzell spent 16 years on council as an at-large member before he decided to challenge Jay Gillian for the mayors seat rather than seek reelection to council in 2022. Gillian took a third term, which left Hartzell off the governing body.

That same year, DeVlieger was also on the ballot for an at-large seat, finishing sixth in a seven-person race for three seats.

Hartzell said he decided to run when he knew Rotondi would not seek reelection.

I wouldnt have run against him he said on Friday. He said he loves the Second Ward and wants to represent it. The ward includes the busiest sections of the Boardwalk and the Asbury Avenue downtown, running from Fourth Street to 12th Street.

I live there, I work there, I do business there. I just love it, he said. Its my neighborhood.

He will face political newcomer Paul Stryker, a local Realtor and former restaurant owner.

In the Third Ward, incumbent Jody Levchuk is running for a second term, challenged by Amie Voules, who has not previously run for election. Vaules did not respond by deadline to a message left with her campaign through social media. She told OCNJDaily that her platform is to honor the past with a vision for the future.

Levchuk said he is hitting his stride as a member of council and looks forward to accomplishments in a second term.

Number one, I love what Im doing. Number two, Ive been extremely successful in that position, Levchuk said. He said he has always been independent on council and intends to remain an independent voice in the campaign and on council if reelected.

In the Fourth Ward, the southernmost ward in the city, from 26th Street to 59th Street, incumbent Dave Winslow faces former Board of Education member Cecilia Gallelli-Keyes. Council tapped Winslow to fill in for former Fourth Ward Council member Bab Barr when Barr became a member of the Cape May County Commission and resigned his city seat last summer.

Winslow then had to run in November to keep the seat until the July reorganization meeting and is now running again for his first full term on council. Winslow said his family vacationed in Ocean City when he was a child and he moved to the community full-time in 1977.

Gallelli-Keyes lost a reelection bid to return to school board for another term in November. Her family had long owned the Tahiti Inn before selling it last year. On Monday, March 4, she said she was disappointed in the loss.

"I felt empty, like I lost a part of me. I didn't want to wait another three years to run for school board again," she said. "I've always been very involved in the community."

She said she disagreed with a council decision to increase salaries for elected officials and promised to donate a portion of her salary to local organizations if elected.

Gallelli-Keyes added that she believes council needs a woman's voice.

Ocean City is a non-partisan town, which means party affiliations do not appear on the spring ballots and political parties are barred from participating in campaigns. That does not mean it is not a political town, with alliances and factions such as take place in any community.

Voters in May will be able to pick two members of council, one in their ward and one of the at-large candidates. Barnes said there have been no tickets formed, but he does share a vision of Ocean Citys best path with some of the candidates, citing Winslow, Vaules and Stryker, along with Crowley in the northernmost ward.

This story has been updated since its original publication to include comments from additional City Council candidates.
A Davenport man is facing charges after Bettendorf Police said he fled a traffic stop and rammed two of their patrol vehicles early Saturday.

Wade Jamil Jones Sr., 37, is charged with one count each of first-degree criminal mischief and eluding with a speed more than 25 mph-second offense. Each of the charges is a Class C felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of 10 years.

Jones also is charged with possession of a controlled substance-third offense-marijuana, a Class D felony that carries a prison sentence of five years, and driving while barred, an aggravated misdemeanor that carries a prison sentence of two years.

According to the arrest affidavits filed by Bettendorf Police Officer Sheldon Phipps, Jones was driving a 2008 Buick Enclave in the 900 block of Grant Street with unlawfully tinted windows and no registration plates.

Phipps conducted a traffic stop on the Enclave at 2:55 a.m. Saturday.

While speaking with Jones, Phipps said he noticed a strong smell of alcohol and that Jones had blood-shot and watery eyes.

According to the affidavits, Jones refused to provide Phipps with identification and he continued to tell Phipps he needed to check the temporary license tag.

Jones then sped away west on River Drive, reaching speeds of 80 mph in a 40 mph zone. Bettendorf officers pursued a short distance before breaking off the chase for safety reasons.

Jones turned into the Village of East Davenport and then crashed his vehicle into two parked vehicles on Davenports East 11th Street.

Officers were able to locate the crash and attempted to box Jones car in but Jones rammed through two Bettendorf squad cars to get away.

While attempting to perform another traffic stop, Jones fled his vehicle on foot. When officers caught up to him Jones fought with officers and Phipps subdued Jones with his Taser. Jones was then taken into custody.

According to the affidavits, officers seized 17.05 grams of marijuana from Jones, and learned he is barred from driving in Iowa until Feb. 17, 2029. His license also is suspended in Iowa for non-payment of fines. The temporary license tag on the Enclave also was fraudulently filled out, expiring in 2023.

Jones was taken to Genesis Medical Center-East Campus, Davenport, for evaluation. A blood draw was done to for toxicology purposes to determine his blood alcohol content. Jones could be facing a charge of operating while intoxicated depending on the results of the blood analysis.

Jones also is facing traffic charges of reckless driving, fraudulent use of registration, and driving under suspension.

During a first appearance on the charges held Sunday in Scott County District Court, Magistrate Catherine Cartee scheduled a preliminary hearing for March 12.

Jones was being held Sunday night int he Scott County Jail on a cash-only bond of $3,000.
Iowa needs to stop trying to make teachers and guns happen.

Its like trying to put out a fire with gasoline.

School safety is on the minds of Iowans because of the frequency of school shootings across the United States, and, more recently, in Iowa.

In January a 17-year-old student opened fire at Perry High School and killed a sixth-grader and a school principal. Six other people were injured in the shooting. The perpetrator died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

A majority of Iowa legislators believe one of the solutions to combatting these horrific events is to put guns in our schools.

The state has already paved the way for teachers and school staff to carry guns on school grounds, if the districts so choose, but in 2023 insurance carriers provided a bump in the road.

Spirit Lake and Cherokee school districts voted to arm staff members, but EMC Insurance said it would not cover the districts.

Spirit Lake School Board had passed a measure to allow 10 non-teaching staff members to carry guns on school grounds. When EMC said it would not insure the district, the administration wasnt able to secure insurance elsewhere because of gun policy.

The school boards walked back their decisions in order to keep their districts insured.

If insurance companies can see the risks in arming school staffs, why cant state legislators? Instead of conceding the issue, Iowa Republicans are attempting a workaround.

The latest bill on the issue out of the Iowa House, House File 2586, aims to solve the insurance problem. On Wednesday the bill passed on a party-line vote, 61-34, with Republicans for and Democrats against.

The bill adds a new permitting process that requires training. Employees would have to pass an annual background check and complete a firearms safety course, in addition to one-time legal training on issues like qualified immunity. They would also have annual communication and emergency medical trainings approved by the Iowa Department of Public Safety, plus quarterly live firearms training.

This is to convince insurers the risk will be nullified.

And just in case, the bill would provide qualified immunity to those carrying weapons, meaning a staff member would be shielded from lawsuits in the event of misconduct unless they violate clearly established law.

Most teachers have the best interests of their students at heart, but why would we need to protect them from repercussions of firing a gun on school grounds?

How does qualified immunity for armed staff make our students safer?

And the bill would indemnify school district from civil liability for all damages incurred pursuant to the application of reasonable force.

How does protecting the school districts against lawsuits, in the event that something goes wrong with armed staff, protect students? Wouldnt it be parents of students who might have cause to file such a lawsuit? Doesnt it take away parents rights?

This is all so we can skirt around the danger of arming school staff.

Police officers are the only ones we want carrying guns in our schools. Officers choose the profession, go through proper training and deal with the threat of violence on a regular basis.

That leads us to the portion of the bill that begins to make sense.

The bill would require school districts with more than 8,000 students, which includes Davenport, to have a school resource officer at each high school.

Schools under 8,000 students would be encouraged, but not required, to employ school resource officers at high schools. Further, the state would match up to $50,000 for employing security personnel.

Most larger school districts have school resource officers. Advocates of the House bill point out that Perry High School had an officer who wasnt on site at the time of the shooting. But thats not reason enough to arm staff.

If the state wants guns in schools for protection, then pay for police officers to be there. Pay as much as it takes. Dont turn people with education degrees into vigilantes.
The Rock Island Police Department is holding a naming contest for its new K-9 officer.

Members of the community have until 5 p.m. Wednesday, March 6, 2024, to submit possible names on the Facebook pages of the Rock Island Police Department and the city of Rock Island. Suggested names should be placed in the comment sections of the posts about the contest.

The male, 14-month-old Belgian Malinois-German Shepherd mix from Cedar Creek Kennels in Monmouth, Illinois, will replace K-9 Sparky Jackson.

Sparky Jackson died unexpectedly after a medical procedure in September.

An anonymous donor and support of police K-9 programs contributed $10,000 toward the purchase and training of a new dog for the police department.

Officer Alex Bowman will again serve as K-9 handler and will go through 10 weeks of training with the dog at Cedar Creek Kennels. The dog must be named before training begins at the end of March.

Police Department personnel will vote on the winning name, which will be revealed during the March 11 City Council meeting.
For the most part we have been fortunate to enjoy a relatively mild winter this year, yet the promise of warm rains and the smell of spring keeps many who have been homebound and isolated focused on better days ahead.

Recently Ridgecrest and GolderCare Solutions co-hosted a group of senior-living facilities for a roundtable discussion to contemplate the collective challenges facing the senior-living industry in the QCA in 2024. The No. 1 challenge identified was the lack of mental health resources for the older adult, especially when inpatient treatment is needed. The second was the absence of public funding for assisted-living care for those who cannot afford privately funded assisted living (in Iowa), a topic covered in last months article.

Although we have great resources for mental health in the QCA, inpatient geriatric mental health treatment is in short supply throughout Iowa and northwest Illinois. Its important to proactively care for your overall well-being. According to Mental Health America, 2 million of the 34 million older adults over the age of 65 have a mental health condition. Physical and cognitive decline, coupled with medical issues, can lead to increased risk for mental health. Often the underlying risk goes undetected. It is important to share with your doctor if there has been a recent change in your mood, sleeping patterns, appetite or social interactions so this can be factored in to an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Providing a good history to your doctor is critical for your provider to know what you need to feel better.

Social isolation is a leading cause of depression in the older adult. It is common for social isolation to creep up on a person, especially when medical and/or cognitive changes make it difficult to engage in normal activities. It never ceases to amaze me how people blossom once they have ready access to other people and socialization. Moving to independent living or assisted living can make a significant difference in overall quality of life and wellness. I am reminded weekly that people thrive, not just survive when they get to the right level of care at the right time. Residents routinely share, I only wish we had decided sooner.

In an independent-living community, residents have socialization through both informal and formal activities, meals, and transportation. Assisted living provides this as well, but with the addition of three meals a day, assistance with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, walking) and medication management. Assisted living also has nursing staff available to help with clinical needs.

Take measures to keep your mental well-being as healthy as your physical health. Talk to your doctor if you are not feeling right. And if you are lonely, consider a change to a community where you have access to socialization and amenities that may significantly improve your quality of life.

Ridgecrest is a 22-acre senior living community offering all levels of living: independent, assisted living, memory care and long-term care nursing and rehabilitation all under one roof. There are members of our Enrichment Team assigned to each of these various levels of care. They know the residents well and when to reach out to entice engagement. Not everyone is comfortable trying new things without a little encouragement, and the team understands that. Some types of activities that you can expect are social hours, exercise class, art/music performances, and outings. Residents on the Ridgecrest Campus make use of all the indoor spaces to get good exercise during the cold winter months and enjoy the park-like beauty of the campus grounds when the weather is nice.

You owe it to yourself to self-reflect and contemplate if you are surviving or thriving. The choice is yours.
Lead pipes have been banned since the 1980s, but some Americans remain exposed to lead from water lines, a Lee Enterprises news investigation shows.

Lead water lines hold the potential to poison people who drink water from them. Infants and children are particularly at risk for significant health problems tied to lead exposure because their bodies absorb the neurotoxin more easily. Prolonged exposure can lead to developmental delays, lowered IQs and brain damage.

On Nov. 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed long-awaited new drinking water regulations that include a 10-year deadline for water systems to eliminate lead lines, with exemptions for bigger cities like Chicago.

Finding solutions to replace lead water pipes Your browser does not support the audio element.

A major concern voiced by environmental advocates, however, is how part of the cost will fall on homeowners because the EPA did not outright ban utility companies from charging residents for the remediation. It is a move that will disproportionately harm low-income households, renters and people of color, according to Suzanne Novak, senior attorney with the nonprofit law firm EarthJustice.

If we dont prohibit charging a customer, we may very well end up with a two-tiered system, where wealthier communities, which are disproportionately white, will have more of their lead service lines replaced than in other (low-income and Black and brown) communities, Novak said.

Since high-profile lead contamination crises in such places as Flint, Michigan, there has been a major push in recent years to replace an estimated 9.2 million lead pipes in the U.S.

Under the Biden administration, the EPA has provided nearly $800 million in grants to assist utilities that serve disadvantaged communities.

According to the National Resources Defense Council, lead pipes are in widespread use across all 50 states. The group estimates that Virginia has about 48,000 to 160,000 lead service lines. Some of the worst states are Michigan, New York and Illinois, which has upward of 329,000 lead service lines.

Galvanized steel pipes can also leach lead into water over time as its zinc coating erodes, which releases lead and cadmium.

Whats being done in Virginia

The Virginia Department of Healths Office of Drinking Water is coordinating efforts across the state to replace lead pipes. The city of Richmond and Chesterfield, Hanover and Henrico counties are currently undergoing inventories of the remaining lead and galvanized steel pipes in their jurisdictions, before reporting those back to the EPA in October.

Bentley Chan, Henricos director of public utilities, said the onus for the EPAs effort to remove lead pipes is a response to the water crisis in Flint. That community switched the source of its water from Detroits system to the Flint River  a more acidic water supply  which led to widespread health defects across the city.

Chan said the James River, which serves as Richmonds and Henricos source for water, is not an overly acidic water source and that the county does not face the same health risks seen in Flint.

Water service lines typically include a public side, maintained by the county or city, and a private side, which runs from the street into a residents home.

We dont believe we have any lead service lines on the public side, Chan said. Through this process, we will know exactly what is on the privately maintained portion so that ultimately we can assist residents in making Henrico totally lead-free.

Lead was first completely outlawed by Virginias statewide building code in 1978, with some grace period. A federal ban on lead was enacted in 1988, prohibiting no more than 0.2% lead in solder and flux, and no more than 8% lead in pipes.

While many lines have been replaced over the decades, many remain.

Were looking at a number of factors. Age is one, but also you cant necessarily base it all on that, Chan said.

Some older neighborhoods may have differing ages of homes. One area can be older homes built before the 1980s, but the rest of the neighborhood was constructed much more recently. In another specific scenario, Chan said, a house could have burned down. A new home was constructed on top of it, but the water service line was never replaced.

We need to paint a very, very complete picture of the entire system, Chan said.

Some utilities covering the costs

Across the U.S., many utilities argue they are financially responsible only for the lead line from the water main to the curb  and that from the curb to the home is the responsibility of homeowners.

In some cases, utilities are covering the costs by issuing bonds, raising customer rates across the board, or reimbursing customers up to a certain amount once the replacement is complete. In other cases, utwilities have conducted partials in which only the public half of the lead service line is replaced, leaving the private side intact and the potential for water contamination in play.

The Virginia Department of Health created a program in 2017 to help localities with funding to replace both public and private water lines.

According to the VDH, the average cost to replace private lines can range between $4,000 and $8,000.

The cost to replace the customer-owned service line would depend on a number of factors, such as depth, length and location of the water line, the lots size for equipment accessibility, development above the water line, said Dwayne Roadcap, director for the Office of Drinking Water.

The city of Richmond has been using the VDH program as one of its revenue sources to help homeowners.

Richmond is paying up to $2,500 of the cost to replace private service lines. Homeowners are responsible for anything exceeding that cost. Richmond applied for $500,000 to help replace 200 service lines in 2022 as part of the states application for EPA funding. That money can be renewed for the same amount annually.

Richmond is also anticipating the release of an interactive service line inventory map when it submits its inventory to the feds in October.

Chesterfield applied for the same amount of $500,000 in 2022 to help with inventorying its stock of lead service lines.

PHOTOS: Recognize these Richmond-area places?
Out with the old, in with the new.

Danville officials unveiled the citys new brand logo and seal during a ceremony inside the George Washington High School Auditorium last week.

The two symbols replace the city brand that was developed a decade ago and the city seal that was created in middle of the 20th century.

The current city seal was designed in the 1950s and meant something to people at the time, City Manager Ken Larking said during remarks at the event attended by city and Danville Public Schools officials and members of the steering committee for the project. While an important part of our history, it isnt relevant anymore.

The new brand logo is shaped like a house, representing the idea that Danville is home to everyone. The logo also includes a bridge signifying unification and a river symbolizing the prominence of the Dan River in the citys past, present and future.

In addition, the logo depicts golden sunlight shining from the east onto a building, with the structure representing development and growth and the light signifying optimism for the future.

A city brand is not just a logo, it is an identity, Larking said. It is what were saying about ourselves to each other and to the outside world.

The brand carries the slogan, Danville: Feels Like Home.

A brand  expresses who we are, our values, our aspirations and promises to the future, Mayor Alonzo Jones said during his remarks.

Danville is more than just a city, Jones said.

It is a community, a family, a home, he said.

The updated seal will be used on official city government documents. It plays off the brand logo, with elements including the sun, bridge and river. The old seal was introduced in 1957.

Until a decade ago, the nearly 70-year-old seal served as both the city seal and the brand, Larking pointed out.

We hope the new seal will also last 70 years, he said.

As for the previous 10-year-old brand, it included brick buildings, smokestacks and a wave to represent the river. It was basically taken from the River District brand, he said.

It doesnt really represent who we are as an entire community, though, Larking said. We are a lot more than our downtown, as much as we have grown to love its transformation.

Thursdays ceremony was held in partnership with Danville Public Schools so that young people could be part of the event.

Danville Public Schools Superintendent Angela Hairston said, Were celebrating a new chapter in our citys history.

She also tied the citys changes with GWs entrance into a new chapter with its renovations.

We want our students to know that this is home, this is your home and your community supports you, Hairston told Danville school students who attended the event.

Larking credited Laura Ashworth, marketing and research manager for Danvilles office of economic development and tourism, for leading the effort to create the new logo and seal.

She channeled her talent and passion for our community and organization to make sure that what were about to see is something that will make us proud, Larking said just before the reveal.

According to a news release from the city of Danville, the brand positions the city as:

Inclusive and neighborly;

Optimistic and forward looking;

Enthusiastic and supportive;

Genuine and down to earth.

The process to create the new logo and seal began in the fall of 2022 when Danville hired Destination by Design, a firm including experienced local government planners, engineers, urban designers and communication experts based in Boone, North Carolina.

Under the guidance of a steering committee including local design and marketing professionals, Destination by Designs work included a research and community engagement effort that entailed site visits, stakeholder interviews and a communitywide survey, according to the news release.

Using information gathered from that work, the firm developed a strategy to define and describe what is authentic, ownable and distinct about Danville, according to the news release.
Donald Trump just finished his rally in Richmond where he repeated the same extreme, bigoted rhetoric he has used on the campaign trail. As Richmonds mayor, and a member of the Biden National Advisory Committee, I will make sure our city rejects Trumps values in November.

 Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney, a Democrat

Were going to make a big play for Virginia, you know that, and I think we can do that. We win Virginia and we win it 100%  its over.

 former President Donald Trump

Virginia is the only state in the South that doesnt have an abortion ban or extreme restrictions since Trump-appointed judges overturned Roe v. Wade.

 U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-4th

Ive come around recently. Its clear hes going to be the nominee, and I think he is our best chance to take the White House.

 former Gov. Jim Gilmore, a Republican who sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2008 and 2016

Donald Trump is campaigning in Virginia today  his first stop here in 2024. Apparently losing Virginia twice wasnt enough for him. He wants to do it a third time. Good thing Virginia knows better than to vote for a man who threatens the core of our democracy.

 U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., the Democratic nominee for vice president in 2016

Donald Trump's motorcade has arrived at the Richmond Convention Center. @RTDNEWS pic.twitter.com/OwnByn3O5D  Sean Jones (@SeanJones_RTD) March 2, 2024

Apparently they are aware that Trump lost Virginia by over 10% in 2020 and will again.

 former U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-10th, a Nikki Haley supporter, noting that Virginias Republican governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general did not attend Trumps rally

Gov. Glenn Youngkin has made clear he will enthusiastically support the Republican nominee, and Virginians will have their chance to weigh in on who that should be on March 5.

 Justin Discigil, a spokesman for Youngkins Spirit of Virginia political action committee

When we brought down the Confederate monuments here in Richmond, we were taking a stand against the division and hate that Donald Trump and his MAGA movement represent. From the disgusting hate we saw in Charlottesville, to the Jan. 6 insurrection, to the abortion bans now happening across the county, Donald Trump seems determined to tear this country apart and take away our freedoms. Were not going to let that happen.

 Mayor Levar Stoney, when the Trump rally was announced
Thousands of people descended on the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Saturday hoping to catch a glimpse of former President Donald Trump at his rally ahead of Super Tuesday.

Clothing ranged from the popular red hats with white letters reading Make America Great Again to people wrapping themselves in Trump 2024 flags and Trump-themed superhero costumes.

The line to get into the convention center stretched for blocks around the venue. Even 45 minutes into the presidential candidates comments, the line had yet to disperse.

Venezuelan immigrant Astrid Gamez traveled from Fairfax County to see Trump speak.

What is happening now happened in my country 35 years ago, said Gamez, adding that she worries the U.S. is turning into the Venezuela she left behind, which she says gave way to high crime and a loss of the family unit.

I love this country, but I dont always think that people who were born here feel the same way. I tell people that I am more American than you because I chose to become American.

Elden Ross, 82, traveled from Smithfield for the rally. He said Trump is a true patriot who stands for the middle class.

The division of the parties was among his concerns for the upcoming election. He said Trumps prosecution by the Justice Department was causing him to lose faith in authority.

A few of the former presidents political supporters made their way around the lines outside the center to rally Trump supporters and encourage them to vote on Super Tuesday.

Hes not bought, hes not paid for, and everybody is trying to take him down, said Sen. John McGuire, R-Goochland. But we the people is what its about, the forgotten man and woman.

The rally Saturday came the same day the former president won won caucuses in Idaho and Missouri and swept the delegate haul at a party convention in Michigan. He campaigned earlier in the day in North Carolina.

Crowds began lining up overnight for the Richmond rally, and the line stretched multiple blocks by mid-morning Saturday.

Jamaal Barnes, 32, of Fairfax City, who works in IT, wore a T-shirt that said Try that in a small town, a reference to a controversial country song by Jason Aldean.

He said he came out to support Trump because the former president is a straight talker.

Hes pretty blunt. He doesnt sugarcoat things like your normal, your typical, average politician, Barnes said. I like that about him. It makes it more authentic, which is rarely something that you see today in most politicians.

Friends Kim Payne of Powhatan and Tonya Washington of Caroline County attended the rally and described the atmosphere as electric.

The people in front of us, when (Trump) hit the stage, they were so excited, Payne said. Their entire bodies were shaking. Things arent going great right now, but we all have hope, and thats whats in that building.

Washington said the main message she took away from Trumps speech was his familiar mantra of making America great again.

We just need to bring it back to normalcy, Washington said. Shut the border down a little bit. I mean, I love people coming in  (but) come in the right way.

Richmonder Sam Duncan, who joined the line when it was still stretching down Broad Street past Third Street, said it took him a couple of hours to make it inside the convention center.

Theres still a lot of people out there, must be thousands, he said.

Im hoping to hear exactly what hes going to do, he said. Every word he says is gold.

David and Deborah Dougherty of Richmond held signs protesting Trump outside the convention center. They had a couple of verbal exchanges with Trump supporters as the groups stood across the street from each other.

Were frightened by the divide in this country, David Dougherty said. The cult following is troubling. In some ways, I understand it. People are desperate at times, but hes taking advantage of peoples fears.

The Doughertys said Trump does not respect democracy and puts himself above the country.

Its no longer about Democrat and Republican, Deborah Dougherty said. Its a bad person who lies and steals and does things that he thinks are beyond reproach.

Lillie Dolan and her husband came from Cartersville and ended up having to leave early, but said it was something special to get to see Trump in person.

It was something that I didnt know if Id ever have the opportunity to see again, Dolan said.
Three days before Super Tuesday, former President Donald Trump made his pitch for Virginia votes on Saturday by telling a Richmond crowd that were a nation in decline, were a failing nation, where crime is out of control and illegal immigration is a gushing wound.

In a more than 90-minute address at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, the presidential candidate repeated his unsubstantiated claims that he really won the 2020 election, and called President Joe Biden a man who is totally corrupt ... and who is cognitively impaired.

Trump, who lost Virginia in 2016 to Hillary Clinton and in 2020 to Biden, also promised he would push to carry Virginia this fall.

Were going to make a big play for Virginia, you know that, and I think we can do that, Trump said. We win Virginia and we win it 100%  its over.

In a wide-ranging speech, Trump firmly stressed a promise to close the U.S.-Mexico border, saying people crossing into the U.S. are coming from prisons and jails and mental institutions and insane asylums. ... Theyre coming from the Congo. They come from all parts of Africa, Asia, the Middle East, he said.

But, he told the crowd of at least 3,000 people  who filled two bleachers, 2,200 seats and crowded aisles and the back of the convention center hall  With your help, we will win big on Super Tuesday and this November, Virginia is going to tell crooked Joe Biden: Youre fired. 

Trump said he had called the parents of Laken Hope Riley, the Augusta University nursing student who was killed while jogging near a lake in Georgia. An undocumented immigrant has been charged in her death.

Virginia and 14 other states will vote for presidential nominees on Tuesday. Trump has won every GOP presidential nomination contest to date against his remaining rival, former South Carolina Gov. and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley.

A GOP candidate needs 1,215 delegates to capture the partys presidential nomination. Trump further widened his lead on Saturday, winning GOP caucuses in Idaho and Missouri.

As of Saturday, Trump had 244 bound delegates to 24 for Haley and 12 for others, according to The Associated Press delegate count.

The former president flew to Richmond after holding an afternoon rally in Greensboro, North Carolina. While Gov. Glenn Youngkin did not attend the rally  he has said he will not endorse a candidate until after Super Tuesday  Trumps speech drew U.S. Reps. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., and Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., as well as a number of Republican members of the General Assembly.

Faces in the crowd back Trump

Lorrie Pond of Chesterfield County said she likes Trumps stand on immigration.

Weve got to close the border, she said.

She joined the line at 8:30 a.m., some 6 hours before doors opened at the convention center and about 10 hours before Trump spoke.

Im here to support Trump, said Paul King of Chesterfield.

What I like is that hes not a politician. Thats the real problem, all the politicians. Theyre all on the take. Hes the only president who ever lost money while he was in office.

Wonderful to join @freedomcaucus Chairman Bob @GoodForCongress in Virginia with President Trump!



The people are ready!#MAGA  pic.twitter.com/7ETRtLW2hj  Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) March 3, 2024

Ive been here since 7:15 (a.m.) Im here to see Trump and to show were taking back the country, said Chris Biller of Glen Allen.

I want to see constitutional carry throughout the country, Im a big 2A (Second Amendment) man, he said, referring to gun rights. He added that the borders a huge issue right now. Im against everything the Democrats are doing; its all got to change.

Trump, who awaits trial in four criminal cases, asserted Saturday that he faces more indictments than notorious gangster Al Capone.

He also reasserted his unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election he lost to Biden was rigged.

He said that if he were in office, Russia would not have invaded Ukraine and Hamas would not have attacked Israel.

Iran, China, Russia, North Korea were in check, they were afraid of us, they wouldnt act against us, he said, adding that the U.S. is now too weak to protect against outside aggression.

We will make America powerful again; we will make America wealthy again, we will make America strong again; ... we will make America great again, he said.

4 others on GOP primary ballot have dropped out

Four other contenders on the GOP primary ballot in Virginia have ended their campaigns  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, investor Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Ryan Binkley, a Texas pastor and businessman  but Haley has refused to drop her longshot challenge of Trump in the Republican primary, despite a lopsided loss in her home state last month.

On Thursday, she appeared at rallies at The Westin Richmond in Henrico County and at The Westin Tysons Corner in Fairfax County.

During the rally in Henrico, Haley said the U.S. cannot afford to go through four more years of chaos if Trump were elected.

She said she would be Republicans best chance to beat Biden in November.

Trump took the stage at 6:41 p.m. to Lee Greenwoods God Bless the U.S.A. and pledged to make a push to win Virginia in the general election.

Biden leads Trump 49% to 43% in Virginia in a potential 2024 rematch with 8% undecided, according to a survey from Mason-Dixon Polling & Strategy released two months ago.

In 2020, Biden beat Trump in Virginia by 10 percentage points, 54.1% to 44%.

Correction: An earlier version of this story had the incorrect spelling of Lorrie Pond's name. This version has been corrected.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to note that Marianne Williamson is a candidate in the Democratic primary. Williamson had suspended her campaign on Feb. 7, but announced in a video Wednesday that she is "unsuspending" her campaign.

Virginias primary on Tuesday is unlikely to change the trajectory of the presidential race, which appears headed toward a rematch of President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump.

But political analysts say Trumps Richmond rally Saturday, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haleys Thursday appearance in Henrico County, and the January campaign kickoff that Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris held in Prince William County show both parties think Virginia remains a purple state that could be competitive in November.

Virginia, 14 other states and American Samoa will vote for presidential nominees on Super Tuesday. Trump faces Haley in the Republican contest. Democrats will choose between Biden, U.S. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn. and author Marianne Williamson.

Polls will be open in Virginia from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Any registered voter can cast a ballot. Virginians do not register by party, so a voter can cast a ballot in the Republican primary or the Democratic primary, but not both.

If there is any competition in Virginia on Tuesday, it is likely to be in the Republican primary.

Voters weigh in on Trump, Haley

Outside the Greater Richmond Convention Center on Saturday, Trump supporters said they see the former president as a strong leader, and many said they are particularly concerned about the U.S. gaining control of its southern border with Mexico.

Olivia Everett of Petersburg, a retired Philip Morris employee, said of Trump: Hes the best. He did it before, and he can do it again.

Everett added: Hes a strong man. Look at all the stuff that he has to deal with, and it just rolls off his back. He can handle a lot of stress  and he definitely is stressed.

Morgan Hall of Colonial Heights, who works in logistics for trucking shipments, listed multiple reasons why she backs Trump.

He supports strong borders, school choice, parents rights, she said. He had a strong economy for his entire four years. Hes the most pro-life president in American history, plus hes the most pro-Israel president. He kept a lot of promises that he made.

As for Trumps personal qualities: Hes an outsider, she said. Hes not like a regular politician. He doesnt have a filter. He speaks his mind. We need more of that.

Some Haley supporters who attended her rally Thursday at The Westin Richmond in Henrico contrasted the former governors temperament with Trumps.

I think she is much more rational, said Micki Stout, adding that she does not want to be faced with a choice of Trump or Biden in November.

Chesterfield County resident Cheryl Poenisch said she believes Haley, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, is experienced and has a good grasp on foreign and domestic policy.

She added of Trump: I personally just do not like him as a person.

Pundits weigh in

Olusoji Akomolafe, chair of the Department of Political Science at Norfolk State University, said Virginia should be relatively more competitive than South Carolina or Michigan, where Trump recently defeated Haley by wide margins, but that he would not be surprised to see Trump win Virginia by double digits on Tuesday.

Akomolafe said that while the Republican nomination is a done deal, the major remaining candidates are coming here because Virginia remains a purple state and Virginia has been a bellwether.

If Trump makes a very strong showing right here in the commonwealth of Virginia, Democrats are going to be watching their backs, Akomolafe said.

Thats exactly what Trumps visit to Richmond can help signal, said Amy Walter of Cook Political Report.

Showing very strongly in the Super Tuesday states will be important as just sort of an exclamation point, she said.

Alex Keena, an associate professor of political science at Virginia Commonwealth University, said of Super Tuesday: I think this is probably Nikki Haleys last stand. She has to score some sort of victory and, if shes going to win anywhere, it would be in a state like Virginia.

Haley is likely looking to perform well in Virginias large suburban population centers in Northern Virginia, the Richmond area and Hampton Roads. In Virginias 2016 GOP presidential primary, in a field with more candidates, Trump edged Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., by fewer than 3 percentage points.

In that Virginia primary, Trump didnt get support from nearly two-thirds of Virginia Republicans, said Keena, noting that hes never done really well in the commonwealth and hes always underperformed.

Whats at stake in Virginia?

To win the GOP nomination, a candidate needs to gain 1,215 delegates. Trump further widened his lead on Saturday, winning GOP caucuses in Idaho and Missouri. As of Saturday, Trump had 244 bound delegates to 24 for Haley and 12 for others who have dropped out, according to The Associated Press delegate tracker.

There are 48 delegates at stake in Virginias Republican primary. Twelve will be allotted to the statewide winner, and three each will be allocated proportionately, depending on the results in each of the states 11 congressional districts. Three delegates will not be bound to a candidate.

To win the Democratic nomination, a candidate needs to gain 1,968 delegates. There are 119 delegates at stake in Virginias Democratic primary, of which 99 will be pledged, depending on the statewide vote and the vote in each of the states 11 congressional districts. Twenty of the Virginia Democratic delegates will be unpledged.

So far, Biden has 206 delegates to 0 for Phillips, the Minnesota congressman. Two Democratic delegates are uncommitted.

Virginias Republican ballot will feature four candidates who have dropped out: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Ryan Binkley, a Texas pastor and businessman.

A third Democrat who qualified for the Virginia ballot, author Marianne Williamson, has also dropped out of the contest.

Turnout fluctuates in primaries

Even in competitive years, Virginias presidential primaries draw comparatively low turnouts. Virginias competitive 2016 GOP presidential primary drew 1,025,617 votes. As of Jan. 1 this year, Virginia had 6,178,219 registered voters.

In the 2016 GOP contest, Trump virtually swept the countryside, as Rubio won just 22 of Virginias counties and cities. But Rubio prevailed in many of the states population centers, beating Trump by nearly 20,000 votes in Fairfax County while carrying Arlington, Prince William, Loudoun, Chesterfield and Henrico counties and the cities of Alexandria and Richmond.

This is why Haley chose Henrico and Fairfax for stops as part of a multistate swing ahead of Super Tuesday.

Haleys Henrico event was Anna Eldridges first time attending a political gathering. Her husband, who was out of town that day, had been singing Haleys praises.

She said she identifies as an independent and that her voting record has swung between both political parties over the years. On Thursday, she decided to go and see what her husbands singing was all about.

I think we need leadership to bring the two sides together for the better of the country, said Eldridge, adding that she believes Haley might be the person who could do that.

Will Virginia be in play?

As for the general election, Republicans carried Virginia in 13 of the 14 presidential elections from 1952 to 2004. The only exception was in 1964, when President Lyndon Johnson carried the state.

But starting with Democrat Barack Obamas breakthrough in 2008, Democrats have carried Virginia in four straight presidential elections.

In 2016, while Trump won the presidency, Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Trump by 5 percentage points in Virginia. In 2020, Biden beat Trump in Virginia by 10 percentage points.

Until 2021, when Glenn Youngkin led a GOP sweep for governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general, Republicans had not won any statewide election in Virginia since 2009.

Only a few years ago, a lot of people thought that maybe Virginia wasnt a swing state anymore, said VCUs Keena, but clearly it still is and, with the right message, Republicans can still win Virginia.

That is likely a reason why Biden and Harris chose Prince William in Virginia for their first general election campaign appearance, a January rally focused on abortion rights.

In a Roanoke College poll out Friday, Trump was picked by 75% of self-described Republicans as their first choice to be the Republican nominee for president in November, followed by 15% for Haley and 8% for someone else.

But among respondents who said they are likely to vote in Tuesdays primary  a group that could include independents and some Democrats  Trump led Haley by 8 percentage points, 51% to 43%.

In potential general election matchups, Biden led Trump 47% to 43%, but Haley led Biden 49% to 40%.
The overturning of Roe v. Wade brought alarm and anger across the nation. Initially, the concern focused on conservative state legislatures, many of which had already adopted so-called trigger laws to restrict or eliminate the right of reproductive choice that had been the law for 50 years. Largely overlooked was the impact the Roe ruling would have on state supreme courts, which had largely deferred to federal courts in this area.

Since then, state court activity has increased dramatically, and the results for proponents of reproductive rights have been mixed. Concern has only intensified with the recent decision of the Alabama Supreme Court, which ruled that frozen embryos used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) are considered people. Some fear that the courts reasoning, as well as the language of some state constitutions, might be used not just to restrict abortion, but as vehicles to interfere in other areas of family planning. Could prohibitions against certain types of contraception be far behind? And could they be coming to a state like ours?

While the Alabama decision focused on interpreting an 1872 statute involving the Wrongful Death of a Minor, the language of the opinion was far-reaching. The courts chief justice wrapped his concurrence not just in the Alabama Constitution and its Sanctity of Unborn Life Amendment, adopted in 2018, but in biblical passages traced to the Book of Genesis.

In an opinion so ladened with biblical references that one commentator called it fertilizer for a theocracy, the court reiterated the belief held by many in the pro-life movement that an unborn child is a genetically unique human being. The decision effectively halted IVF at several state hospitals. Reaction to the decision creates a dilemma for Republicans, especially those running in swing districts this fall.

Is a froze embryo a child?Republicans have spent five decades proclaiming that life begins at conception.

Now, they must determine whether this includes frozen embryos.

They are also realizing that some of their allies have been pushing so-called personhood bills that may effectively preclude IVF technology, while creating other unintended consequences. A 2021 personhood bill passed in Arizona but blocked by federal court defined life as beginning at conception, and included fetuses, embryos and fertilized eggs as people.

Similar laws exist in Georgia and Missouri. Republican lawmakers in Colorado, Iowa and Florida recently sought to define personhood as beginning at fertilization for the purposes of criminal law and wrongful death cases  with no exceptions for embryos created by IVF.

Support grows for IVF

For many Americans, IVF is about families and life, and the idea that it should be restricted is extremely unpopular.

A recent poll conducted by KA Consulting, a firm run by former Trump aide Kellyanne Conway, reported that 86% of respondents supported access to IVF. About 2% of children born in the U.S., or 8 million Americans, are products of IVF, a technology that provides hope to many couples who want a family. Its no wonder that New Hampshires governor, Republican Chris Sununu, blasted the Alabama decision as scary.

Other Republicans danced around the issue. Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley, former governor of South Carolina, initially stated that embryos are babies, but then retreated to explain her problems with the Alabama ruling. Only days after the decision, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin marched with groups working to ban abortion and restrict IVF, but later issued a press statement that he will always protect access to IVF and fertility treatments that Virginians rely on to realize their dream of building a family.

Youngkins next move

When Republicans had a chokehold on Virginias House of Delegates, personhood bills passed the House in 2011 and 2012 on straight party-line votes, only to be nixed each time by the state Senate. As Democrats increased their numbers in the House, Republicans lost their appetite for these measures, though similar bills were again introduced in 2023 and 2024. By contrast, a 2019 measure offered by Del. Rip Sullivan, D-Fairfax, to enhance surrogacy options based on IVF, became state law, especially after former Gov. George Allen and other prominent Republicans provided support.

Virginias Constitution contains no language remotely like Alabamas, and our Supreme Court, while generally conservative, has been hesitant about tackling these issues. Nonetheless, the Virginia Family Foundation and its leader, Victoria Cobb, retains considerable influence in the Virginia GOP. We know that from the moment there is a fertilized egg, Cobb exclaimed in support of the Alabama ruling, that human life has begun.

If Youngkin is serious about protecting IVF, he could send a bill to the legislature to do so  today. That is unlikely to happen. The governor, however, may soon be forced to take a definitive position. Democrats are poised to insert language into the Virginia budget to protect the procedure. Under our state Constitution, the governor can line-item veto any bill, including the budget. What he does will say a lot about strongly he supports IVF.

PHOTOS: Rep. Bob Good, R-5th, hosts pro-life rally in Richmond
Jeff E. Schapiro Politics Columnist Follow Jeff E. Schapiro 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

President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump appear headed to easy  but potentially bitter  wins in Virginias Super Tuesday primary.

The Democratic and Republican contests here are shaping up as measures of the challenges facing the parties and their presumed nominees. In that regard, the results two days hence will be more than numbers. Therein those numbers will be a message.

Despite pre-primary polling favorable to Biden and Trump in Virginia, history not only augurs victory for both here but roughly reflects the foundations of their support nationally.

In the 2016 Republican primary  there were 13 active and inactive candidates on the ballot  slightly more than 1 million votes were cast statewide, with Trump pulling 35%. He piled up wins in the countryside and showed bursts of competitiveness in the suburbs, but sealed his victory by running the table in Virginias defense-rich southeastern corner.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., was a surprisingly close second at 32%, carrying the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., and running close in the Richmond area.

These are regions where Trumps remaining competition for the 2024 nomination, Nikki Haley, has to run strongly if not to defeat the former president but to credibly sharpen the focus on liabilities  personal, legal and political  that could doom him in November.

But at rally in Richmond on Saturday night that drew more than 3,000, it was clear that Trumps supposed negatives remain an actual positive among supporters  an affirmation of a Trumpian theme: that the government is out to crush those who dare make discomforting claims, even if the messenger has a documented record of ignoring facts.

The Republican base is really pumped up (for Trump) because they believe whats happening in this country is unfair, said Sylvia Mashburn, a retired interior decorator from Henrico County, a Democrat-trending Richmond suburb. Attending her first Trump rally, Mashburn said Trump voters look beyond his flaws because of his conservative views.

Its not his personality, she said. I, personally, wouldnt choose him as my best friend.

Haley heads to Henrico

Because the Virginia primary is open to all voters, Haley aims to repeat here what she has demonstrated in New Hampshire and her home state of South Carolina: crossover appeal; that participation in the Republican contest by independents and Democrats projects bipartisan strength and centrist appeal necessary to win a national election.

The Trump-Haley contest spotlights the yawning chasm separating the GOPs dominant populist, anti-establishment element beholden to Trump and the audience courted by the former South Carolina governor-turned-Trump United Nations ambassador: the remnants of the partys traditional wing  Main Street-oriented voters, hawkish on national defense and foreign policy and insistent their candidates and officials project a measure of rectitude.

Indeed, Haleys rally outside Richmond this past Thursday drew such establishment Republican figures as former Virginia first lady Susan Allen, wife of the former governor and U.S. senator; former Richmond City Council member Kathy Graziano; former Del. Dave Nutter, R-Blacksburg; state GOP vice chairwoman Kristi Way; and Jim Ukrop, a former supermarket and banking executive who often supports Democrats.

The titular head of the Virginia GOP, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, is publicly neutral in the state primary but has said he will support Trump if  as expected  he is nominated. Running for governor in 2021, Youngkin embraced Trump and was twice endorsed by 45. When Youngkin was considering a presidential run, Trump belittled him with a racially tinged insult.

Ahead of his appearance in Richmond, Trump announced endorsements from the majority of Republican state legislators and four of the states five GOP U.S. House members. The holdout was U.S. Rep. Jen Kiggans, from the Biden-carried 2nd District in coastal Virginia, where an embrace of Trump could prove politically lethal.

A veteran Virginia operative, Chris LaCivita, is half of the two-person high command of the Trump campaign. LaCivita, who accompanied Trump to Richmond, is credited with imposing a measure of discipline on the ordinarily chaotic Trump effort.

But its Trumps free-wheeling style, rooted in anger and disbelief, that continues to endear him to supporters.

I voted for him not because of what he tweets but because of what he does, said Mark Harold of Midlothian, a granite fabricator, accompanied by his daughter and newborn grandson who was wearing a MAGA knit cap. He divides (people) because hes going against the mainstream media. He is going to drain the swamp. And the swamp doesnt want to be drained.

For Democrats, the primary is the setting in which Biden  despite the certainty of renomination  is confronted by critics, most notably Arab Americans angry over his perceived tilt to Israel in its war with Hamas.

we have arrived in Richmond VA pic.twitter.com/ecqMUhYZ2b  Chris LaCivita (@LaCivitaC) March 2, 2024

Inspired by a pro-Palestinian protest vote against the president in the Michigan primary last week, Arab American voters, among others, are urging those angry over Bidens stance in the Gaza crisis to back Marianne Williamson, the self-help author who suspended her campaign but remains on the Virginia ballot. This could inject uncertainty in a state that has been reliably blue for president since 2008.

Despite an approval rating that since May has fallen to 33% from 42%, Biden is ahead of Trump in Virginia, according to the latest public polling. His lead, however, is less than half his winning margin over Trump in 2020, when the state tipped to Biden by 10 percentage points.

The Roanoke College survey released Friday had Biden ahead of Trump by 4 percentage points, 47% to 43%, and losing a match-up with Haley by 9 percentage points. Haley was preferred by 49% to 40% for Biden. This is a reminder that some of Bidens support is ephemeral  independents and disaffected Republicans who will vote for him because he is the lone alternative to Trump, whom they revile.

The view from Saturdays Trump rally

Among Haley voters, including those cognizant of the long odds she faces in overtaking Trump, there is a palpable frustration that they may be denied a choice in November.

Im all excited about anybody but Trump and Biden, said Stevens Gentil, a real estate sales executive who was among more than 300 people who attended Haleys midday-Thursday rally at a hotel in Henrico County, where Republicans are no longer dominant.

Pam Haner, a retired mathematics teacher from Henrico who is also a reading instructor, said after the Haley event that Trump is isolating the GOP by driving off traditional Republicans such as herself: They dont understand me  an educated, suburban housewife. The bottom line is that somebody needs to stand up to this man.

Haner said she would not vote for Trump under absolutely any circumstances and held out the possibility she would forgo casting a ballot for president.

Similarly frustrated was her husband, Steve, a former Republican operative and corporate lobbyist who is now an analyst for a right-leaning, Virginia think tank: Neither Biden nor Trump deserves a second term. If there is another choice, I will consider that person.

Among Democrats angry over Bidens stance in the Israel-Hamas war is Maher Massis of Fairfax, a real estate investor and president of the New Dominion PAC, which is largely supported by Arab Americans, many from Northern Virginia, where their numbers are greatest.

Just ahead of the Michigan primary  in which more than one in 10 voters chose uncommitted over Biden to protest his stance on Gaza, calling attention to the fragility of his coalition in a must-win battleground state  Massis and others began organizing a similar effort in the Virginia contest.

Relying on social media and word of mouth, critics of the president are pressing voters  principally in Northern Virginia, the anchor of Democratic strength in the state, to choose Williamson rather than Biden; that a spike in support for her, as a supporter of an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, would be interpreted as a message of discontent with Biden.

Describing the effort as uphill, Massis said peeling from Biden 4% to 5% of the Democratic vote in each of the four Northern Virginia counties could give Arab Americans in a usually reliable blue state leverage over the president and his allies. That includes U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., a member of the Foreign Relations and Armed Services committees, who is running for a third term.

Unlike Michigans, the Virginia primary ballot does not give voters the option of picking uncommitted or writing in a candidate. Thus, the anti-Biden bid depends on a surge for Williamson to achieve measurable visibility.

Said Massis, We just feel we were backstabbed by the Democratic Party at the federal level, not at the state level.
Ask Brandon Reynolds about the worst experience of his life, and the 48-year-old Bedford County resident will talk about the tragic death of his dad, Bedford County native Ralph Edward Reynolds Jr.

In April 2019, the Navy veteran and community stalwart, then 73, died instantly when a truck hit the tractor Eddie was piloting along Forest Road (U.S. 221), a two-lane artery marked with a double yellow line, in front of his 50-acre farm.

More than 1,000 people attended Eddies subsequent viewing. Scheduled for two hours, it lasted longer than six. At the funeral, Bedfords biggest church overflowed.

Following the accident, Brandon Reynolds moved from Lynchburg and back in with his widowed mom, to help out. Hes still steamed a judge acquitted the truck driver of reckless driving.

Ask Reynolds about the second-worst experience of his life, and youll get an earful. Not inaccurately, it could be titled, Thrown in jail for growing weed after Virginia made it legal. Brandons still steamed about that, too.

The story has plots and twists. In a nutshell, Reynolds believes his younger brother, Joshua Reynolds, persuaded a longtime pal on the Bedford County Sheriffs Office to search his older brothers residence for marijuana after Joshua observed weed drying in the basement.

As a result, Brandon was arrested, charged with two felonies and held for three days in jail. On one of those charges, a conviction carries a mandatory minimum of five years in prison, consecutive to any other sentence.

Cops and firefighters search farm

Brandon Reynolds second worst experience ended Feb. 21, after 16 months of worry and anxiety that he could go to prison. It began Oct. 2, 2022.

That afternoon and evening, he spent four hours handcuffed in the back of a Bedford County sheriffs deputy's car, as other deputies searched the farmhouse he shares with his mom, Judy Chandler Reynolds. She was away at the time.

The deputies had a search warrant, signed by Magistrate E.D. Sprinkle, who works in Lynchburg. The sworn affidavit was prepared by sheriff's office Sgt. Jeremy Gardner.

In 2016, Gardner was honored by Bedford County for heroism. He was credited with saving the life of a woman in a vicious domestic assault and apprehending the suspect. And by October 2022, Gardner had more than 14 years law enforcement experience, he wrote in the search warrant affidavit.

The warrant ordered a search of the Reynolds farmhouse, outbuildings and property, alleging a violation of "Virginia Code Sec. 4.1-1100(c), Possess more than one pound of Marijuana." But as youll learn below, that law doesn't justify searching a residence for weed, of any amount.

Brandon was alone inside that afternoon, wearing running shorts and shucking raw green beans, when his dogs began going crazy around 4 p.m. He went to the door and found sheriffs deputies pulled into the driveway.

They served the warrant, which sought marijuana, paraphernalia, electronics, and documents and ledgers showing transactions related to the unlawful sale and distribution of marijuana.

Then, deputies handcuffed Brandon behind his back. At least one more deputy and a state trooper stopped by during the four hours he spent in a police vehicle as the search continued, Brandon said.

It caused a scene along Forest Road, especially after fire trucks arrived with blazing lights and screaming sirens. The spectacle drew concerned neighbors, Brandon said.

The cops needed the fire departments help cracking a wall-mounted steel safe in the basement. That had to be broken out of its concrete-block setting. Then, firefighters used Jaws of Life, tools to pry it open. (Deputies asked for the combination, but Brandon didnt know it.)

Inside the deputies found collectible coins, Ralph Reynolds will and some old photos, Brandon said.

Police seized cured and uncured marijuana from the house, including one plant curing and three still in the ground. Deputies also seized: nine rifles and shotguns (which belonged to Brandons mother); his cellphone; one kitchen scale; and packaging Brandon said was used zip-close bags he saved for reuse. The cops found neither drug documents nor ledgers.

They also seized six jars of a possible controlled substance, in which a forensic scientist later said was nothing illegal. Brandon said the jars held dried figs and dried cherry tomatoes, which deputies mistook for hallucinogenic mushrooms and THC oil.

A lab later determined the seized weed was genuine marijuana. Collectively, it weighed 63.7 ounces, or just under 4 pounds, according to a police report. And after the search was over, the deputies uncuffed Brandon.

They left after dark with the weed and other seized items, and they left a mess of broken concrete in the basement along with the destroyed former wall safe. Firefighters spent more than an hour cracking it, Brandon said.

Busted Easter Saturday

In the months following the raid, things settled down. But Brandon Reynolds bad experience was hardly over.

Six months later, on April 2, 2023 (a Sunday) Bedford patrol Dep. C. Devivo obtained two felony warrants charging Brandon with serious crimes. (DeVivo was one of the cops who participated in the October 2022 search. He did not respond to messages seeking comment.)

Deputies arrested Brandon on those warrants the following weekend, April 8, which was the Saturday before Easter.

The certain substances in the firearms charge was the weed seized during the October 2022 search. Because that was more than a pound, conviction on the firearms felony would require a judge to impose a minimum five-year sentence consecutive to any other sentence.

The possession with intent charge carries a minimum five-year sentence, too. Thus, Brandon faced at least 10 years in prison if convicted of both.

All the seized weed was from the four plants Brandon grew legally during summer 2022 or the previous, Brandon said. All were invisible from the nearest public road, as Virginias home-grow law requires.

After his April 8 arrest, a magistrate ordered Brandon held without bond because one of the felonies was a serious firearms charge. Then Brandon was shuttled to the Amherst County Detention Center. It took his mother, Judy Reynolds, time to find him, because the Amherst jail initially told her Brandon was locked up in Bedford.

The courts were closed Easter Monday, a state holiday. So Brandon was locked up for three days. He had a bond hearing at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 11. Judy Reynolds hired a bondsman who posted $2,500 at 11:30 a.m. that day  and Brandon was released.

He hired Bedford attorney Carter Garrett to defend him. Three months later, on July 12, prosecutors for the Bedford County commonwealths attorney dropped both charges.

Garrett hasnt responded to multiple phone messages or a lengthy email after Brandon granted him permission to discuss the case.

Authorities held the guns

In August, with the charges dropped, Judy Reynolds met with Bedford County Sheriff Mike Miller. (Miller didnt respond to three voicemails and two emails seeking comment. On Feb. 23, when I called Miller on his cellphone, the sheriff referred me to the county attorney.)

Judy Reynolds requested Miller return her seized rifles and shotguns, which had been left to her by her late husband, Brandon said. Miller declined, she said.

Miller said he knew nothing about [the case], and then later he said it was still under investigation, Brandon told me. He almost accused her of meddling in his business.

For months Brandon has feared he could be criminally indicted by a grand jury for felonies that could land him in prison for years.

On Feb. 21, Steele told me he dropped the charges in July because nine months after the search, police lacked evidence Brandon distributed weed, aside from the amount of marijuana seized.

Though 4 pounds could possibly indicate distribution, Steele also acknowledged it could be the result of a productive legal home-grow, which Virginia legalized in July 2021.

By that point, the cellphone seized nine months earlier hadnt yet been examined for possible evidence. Dropping the felony charges in July allowed prosecutors to reinitiate the charges later if evidence of drug-dealing was ever found on the phone, Steele said.

Ultimately this inquiry came down to the analysis of a cell phone seized during the course of the investigation, Steele wrote in an email. Unfortunately, the wait time between the seizure and analysis of such evidence can be quite lengthy because of the limited number of cell phone analysts in the region and a huge backlog of cases.

That analysis was complete 16 months after the phone's Oct. 2, 2022 seizure.

Family dynamics

Brandon Reynolds is no criminal, but he had a couple legal scrapes more than 25 years ago. One was a 1995 arrest for simple marijuana possession  which is now legal. Another arrest in 1996 was for destruction of property. Both cases were dismissed.

He works as a caretaker at the Claytor Nature Center, a 491-acre tract in Bedford County owned by the University of Lynchburg. He estimates he missed $500 to $600 in wages because of the arrest.

Brandon also has a younger sibling, Joshua, also in his 40s. The two brothers have a worse than tenuous relationship.

According to online court records, in 2019 Joshua was sentenced to 12 months in the Blue Ridge Regional Jail after being convicted of leaving the scene of a Lynchburg accident. In that case, Joshua was also found guilty of false reporting to police.

Until 2019, Joshua was in line to inherit the family farm, Judy Reynolds told me. But that year, shortly before her husband died, the couple changed their wills. They left the farm to Joshuas children when the kids reach age 25, Judy said. Brandon will get some other assets, and will have the right to live there.

Brother drops a dime

Late in the 2022 growing season, Joshua turned in his brother for possessing weed. According to the search warrant affidavit prepared by Gardner, Joshua made that call to the sergeant at work on Oct. 2, 2022, a Sunday.

By then, the two had known each other for more than two decades, Gardner wrote in the search warrant affidavit. For a time they were EMT colleagues on the Bedford Life Saving Crew.

In short order, Joshua sent Gardner three photos of weed he snapped at the home Oct. 1, 2022. One depicted recently harvested marijuana drying. Another depicted a green leafy plant like material being stored in a plastic container.

[Joshua] Reynolds concerns stem from his children visiting the home with the presence of marijuana, Gardner wrote in the affidavit.

In a phone conversation, Joshua acknowledged contacting Gardner and texting him photos, which he snapped after entering Judy and Brandons house when no one was home.

I walked in the basement, there is pot laid out all over the floor, Joshua said, and blatant amounts in bags. I dont want it in front of my kids.

Less than 10 minutes into our phone interview, the call dropped. Then Joshua texted me Do not contact me again.

Subsequently, he sent my phone at least 20 texts, many of them lengthy dictated rants aimed at Brandon. One of the shorter texts was, He deserved to be fing arrested.

Since my dad died [in] a tragic car accident [Brandon] thinks he owns a fing farm, Joshua wrote in another.

Its unclear whether Gardner, at the time of the tip, was aware of Joshuas 2019 conviction in Lynchburg General District Court for falsely summoning or giving false reports to law-enforcement officials.

It earned Joshua a 12-month suspended sentence, according to online court records.

Gardner acted with haste on Joshuas tip. That same day, he filed a sworn affidavit seeking a search warrant for the house, alleging a violation under Virginia Code 4.1-1100(c), Possess more than one pound of marijuana.

After the warrant was issued by a Lynchburg magistrate, deputies arrived for the search around 4 p.m.

I looked up that statute, which is four paragraphs. Basically, it says someone may legally possess no more than one ounce of weed on their person or in any public place, and establishes increasing offense levels for possession of greater amounts.

Subsection C is the guts. Because its clunkily worded, Ive excised unnecessary verbiage for the sake of comprehension. It states:

"With the exception of possession by a person in his residence ... any person who possesses on his person or in any public place ... more than one pound of marijuana ... is guilty of a felony punishable by a term of imprisonment of not less than one year nor more than 10 years and a fine of not more than $250,000, or both."

That prefatory clause  With the exception of possession by a person in his residence  was an amendment enacted during a 2022 Virginia General Assembly special session. It took effect July 1, 2022, three months before the search.

In other words, the affidavit articulated only lawful behavior. The Bedford County Sheriff's Office got a warrant for Brandons house by alleging he broke a law that permitted him to possess the weed deputies seized there.

For unknown reasons, the magistrate signed it.

Theres a literary term for that kind of legal absurdity  Kafkaesque.

"This transitional phase of legal possession but illegal possession with intent to distribute definitely raises new challenges for officers, magistrates, and prosecutors," Steele wrote in an email. "We are living in a new normal in regards to possession of marijuana."

Charges dropped for good

On Feb. 21 I wrote Bedford Commonwealths Attorney Wes Nance about the case. Among the questions posed was whether there was a lawful reason the seized guns and other property hadnt been returned to Judy Reynolds.

I also asked if the prosecutor intended to reinstate the felony charges against Brandon Reynolds, and if so, when and why?

Quickly, Nance responded hed look into the matter, and he did. That afternoon, Steele, the prosecutor who dropped the felony charges against Brandon in July 2023, responded via email with this:

The Sheriffs Office just recently received the results [from the phone examination] and that office, along with myself, have been able to review the results. Once the digital evidence was thoroughly reviewed this office decided to decline reinitiating any criminal charges due to a lack of evidence of distribution by Mr. Reynolds, Steele wrote.

Law enforcement and Mr. Reynoldss attorney have been made aware of this decision and we have further authorized the release of the evidence seized in this investigation, Steele wrote.

It means Brandons finally off the hook for the felony drug investigation initiated 16 months earlier.

Steele and Nance thanked me for bringing the case to their attention. Brandon said he feels relieved, but also angry. Judy Reynolds said she wished Brandon had contacted me a year ago.

Miller, Gardner and DeVivo with the sheriff's office arent talking. The Bedford County attorney didnt return my call. The magistrate declined to comment, too.

Joshua texted, If I even see my name in this article whatsoever, I will have you arrested for perjury.

Many questions remain

Plenty of questions still swirl around the case that are worth raising. As it now stands, the case paints the Bedford County Sheriff's Office in an unfavorable light.

At the least, it appears a younger brother with a documented record of lying to police manipulated law enforcement into helping settle a score with his older brother.

Here are questions that remain:

How did a Bedford patrol sergeant so quickly get a narcotics search warrant from a Lynchburg magistrate on the same Sunday the tip was called in? Is that unusual? Why the haste? Was there a public emergency that required a same-day search?

Was Gardner aware Joshua Reynolds had a record of falsely reporting to police? Such convictions can create significant issues in terms of a tipsters credibility.

Why would an experienced sheriff's sergeant cite a law that allows possession of more than a pound of weed in a house as justification for searching it?

Why did the Bedford County Sheriffs Office delay executing Reynolds arrest until Saturday, April 8, six days after a deputy obtained the warrants? The timing of the arrest meant Brandon spent a long weekend locked up in jail.

Theres a decent argument here that: 1) The search warrant was faulty; and 2) as a result, Brandon was unnecessarily jailed; and 3) he was charged with serious felonies; and 4) those charges hung over his head for months.

Doesn't Brandon at least deserve an apology?
The library invites area high school students to drop in during regular library hours to browse and choose a free stunning prom dress, according to a news release about the program.

With sizes ranging from petite to plus-size and styles to suit every taste, theres something for everyone, according to the release. The dresses are available until one hour before the librarys closing time. Participants will also have the opportunity to select complimentary jewelry to complete their prom night look.
Before he became director of Virginias Department of Environmental Quality in 2022, Michael Rolband headed a consulting firm that did work for the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

Some say Rolbands past relationship with the pipeline creates a conflict of interest for the leader of a state agency that enforces environmental regulations  rules that DEQ has cited Mountain Valley for violating in the past.

I think thats a huge conflict of interest, Donna Pitt of Preserve Giles County said last month, as she watched muddy water in a natural spring flow past her from a nearby pipeline construction site in Newport.

No wonder they havent responded, Pitt said of DEQs silence about her complaint that sediment was being washed into nearby Sinking Creek.

In 1991, Rolband founded Wetland Studies and Solutions Inc. The natural resources consulting firm was later hired by Mountain Valley to provide advice on dealing with the impacts of running a 42-inch diameter natural gas pipeline through streams and wetlands.

By the time Rolband was appointed to head DEQ two years ago, the agency had cited Mountain Valley with more than 300 violations of erosion and sediment control regulations during construction that continues today. The company was fined $2.15 million as part of a 2019 consent decree. At the time, state officials said the legal action was designed to crack down on future violations.

But since work resumed last summer under Rolbands watch, Mountain Valley has so far been cited for just two violations of the consent decree and fined $2,500.

What happened in Newport is not unique along the roughly 100 miles of the pipeline in Virginia, Russell Chisholm, co-director of Protect Our Water, Heritage, Rights coalition, told the State Water Control Board during a Feb. 23 public hearing.

DEQs failure to act, Chisholm said, is part of a pattern that reinforces the public perception that the project is self-regulated, self-investigated and allowed to continue polluting with impunity.

Amy Nelson of Blacksburg, who said she has seen sediment in streams along the path of the 303-mile long pipeline as a certified water quality monitor, urged the agency to do more.

DEQs failure to enforce its regulations and hold MVP accountable for violations has emboldened MVP to flaunt those regulations, Nelson said.

A perceived conflict of interest

Rolband  who was present at the recent public hearing but did not speak from his seat at the dais  twice declined invitations for an interview with The Roanoke Times, made by emails to DEQs public information officer on Feb. 6 and Feb. 26.

But in documents provided to the newspaper in response to a Virginia Freedom of Information Act request, he acknowledged shortly after taking his job that his past dealings with Mountain Valley raises a perceived conflict of interest.

In a memorandum sent to top DEQ officials and the Virginia Attorney Generals Office dated Feb. 15, 2022, shortly after he was appointed DEQ director by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Rolband wrote that he previously had business interests that were involved in work on the Mountain Valley Pipeline.

I have divested, or am in the process of divesting myself, from those business interests, he wrote. However, to avoid any perceived conflict of interest under state law, the memorandum stated, Rolband delegated all of his authority over the pipeline to James Golden, DEQs director of regional operations.

The following year, in a second memorandum addressed to the same officials dated March 23, 2023, Rolband revoked that delegation. He wrote that he had removed himself from all personal or business interests with Mountain Valley, which in the past involved consulting for which he was paid an hourly rate.

Rolband did not mention Wetlands Studies and Solutions in either memoranda. A spokeswoman for DEQ declined to comment when asked for details, writing in an email that the agency is not aware of the details of the contractual agreement between WSSI and MVP.

Mountain Valley, however, confirmed that the consulting firm has worked for the company.

MVP has been fortunate to have access to a deep roster of talented environmental consultants and firms, including WSSI, which we have been able to call on to provide specialized expertise for any potential issues that may arise, spokeswoman Natalie Cox wrote in an email last week.

A spokeswoman for the attorney general declined to say whether the office is satisfied with the way Rolband handled questions about the conflict of interest issue.

The OAG serves as DEQs counsel and therefore we cannot comment due to attorney client privilege, Victoria LaCivita wrote in an email. WSSIs vice president of operations, Brian Chromey, also declined to comment.

Bob Holsworth, a former dean at Virginia Commonwealth University and a longtime observer of state government, said it appeared to him that Rolband acted responsibly.

I can understand why some people in the environmental community wouldnt trust his judgment, Holsworth said.

But thats a little different from saying that the position of the agency would be any different had someone else been appointed to the job by Youngkin, a supporter of Mountain Valley, he said.

Its not an absolute bright-line case, and its the kind of thing you would expect when you have a pro-business governor recruiting people from the business community.

No one interviewed for this story questioned Rolbands qualifications. In a story headlined Stormwater Champions, a news service managed by the Water Environment Federation described him as playing a leading role in protecting water bodies from the impacts of development.

As the founder of WSSI, headquartered in Gainsville, Virginia, Rolband has left a significant mark on the Washington, D.C., area through his work, according to the article in Stormwater Report.

Pitt, of Newport, acknowledged that the transition of environmental officials from the private sector to government, or the other way around, is not new.

All of these places have revolving doors, she said. You get an expert and the reason hes an expert is because he was part of the industry. Then he gets hired by the government.

Is that a conflict of interest? Pitt asked. Its a conflict of interest in the ethical sense, perhaps.

Time to go on with life

DEQ defended its record over the past six years. Work on the pipeline began in early 2018 but was stalled repeatedly by legal challenges until last summer, when Congress passed a law that fast-tracked the $7.6 billion projects completion.

As a regulatory agency, DEQ is required to, and does, uphold and enforce all applicable regulations, spokeswoman Irina Calos wrote Friday afternoon in an email.

Mountain Valley says it plans to complete the pipeline by the end of June, providing a needed source of natural gas to markets on the East Coast.

Since construction resumed last summer, teams from DEQ and a third-party monitoring firm have conducted about 40 inspections a week, in addition to responding to citizen complaints, Calos said.

Construction crews are required to correct problems with erosion control measures that are identified in the field within 24 or 72 hours, depending on their severity. Once a quarter, DEQ reviews the cases to determine if civil penalties are called for under the 2019 consent decree.

For the period between June 11 and Sept. 10 of last year, DEQ found two cases in which timely improvements were not made, imposing the total fine of $2,500.

A review of the most recently completed quarter, from Sept 11 through Dec. 10, has not been completed, although Calos said action is expected soon.

From last August through Feb. 9, DEQ responded to a total of 87 complaints from the public. None of those resulted in findings of non-compliance. Many of the public complaints were duplicate reports of the same event, Calos said.

Pipeline opponents, however, say state inspectors are slow to respond to infractions that citizen monitors find at the scene.

Records from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the lead agency overseeing construction of the pipeline, show repeated problems. A review of weekly environmental compliance reports, filed from Dec. 31 through Feb. 17, document at least 38 cases in Virginia of sediment washed by rainfall from construction sites, often into streams and wetlands.

A group of 29 environmental and community groups asked DEQ last month to halt construction until Mountain Valley can demonstrate its compliance with state guidelines. No such stop-work order was issued, and the agency made no reply to a Feb. 8 letter from the groups.

David Sligh of Wild Virginia helped compile the 17-page letter, which included detailed descriptions of cases in which sediment infiltrated Sinking Creek, the Bottom Creek watershed on Bent Mountain, and other water bodies along the pipelines route, which runs from northern West Virginia, through Southwest Virginia, to connect with an existing pipeline near the North Carolina line.

DEQs failure to respond to the letter is a slap in the face, particularly to the people who are suffering directly from MVPs abuse of the environment and our community, Sligh said.

Sedimentation  which can clog waterways, impede wildlife and aquatic vegetation, contribute to flooding and increase the cost of treating drinking water  is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a common form of water pollution.

Pipeline opponents say cases of muddy runoff polluting water bodies began to increase in early January, as rainfall picked up, and are now as bad as the infractions that led to the $2.15 million consent decree in 2019.

Supporters of the pipeline counter that the problems have been prolonged by repeated legal challenges from opponents, which have led to permits being thrown out time and time again.

Those supporters include Rolband, who spoke as a private citizen to the State Water Control Board at a meeting in 2021, after he retired from WSSI and before he was appointed director of DEQ.

The construction of almost any pipeline has temporary environmental impacts like the ones seen with Mountain Valley, he said. Those problems go away when the job is finished and final restoration controls are put in place.

Thats what we have to do, Rolband told the board. So somehow weve got to come together, get this project done, in the ground and restored, and go on with life.
Roanoke has been a place for refugees and immigrants to make a new home for multiple decades, and the population continues to grow. This collection of images shares the experiences of newcomers as they navigated their new home and a new culture along with their lost dreams and new hopes. Commonwealth Catholic Charities, a nonprofit that helps refugees resettle in Virginia, said this past year it experienced one of the largest influxes of refugees in the agencys 95-year history. Local organizations and community members rose to the occasion to help welcome their new neighbors.
Kenneth Fox

The State's current approach to dealing with drug addiction is "broken" and needs to be reformed, according to a leading academic.

Dr Jo-Hanna Ivers, an associate professor for public health and primary care at Trinity College Dublin, was recently on the advisory council for the Citizens Assembly on Drugs Use, which had its final meeting in October 2023.

Across six meetings from April to October last year, the 99 assembly members had wide-ranging discussions that amounted to the most thorough consideration of Irelands existing drugs laws and policy in the history of the State.

"We talked about drug use at a population level, legal issues around people's lived experience as well as recovery and prevention," Dr Ivers said.

They found the most important thing was to identify the barriers that stop people from getting the help they need. What it comes down to is usually criminalisation and a lack of access to treatment.

After the six sessions, the assembly came up with 36 recommendations which were then submitted to the Government.

Dr Ivers said the main consensus was there needs to be a more health-based approach to treating drug addiction, along with a multi-department strategy to deal with the issue.

She said it is about breaking the cycle of drug addicts being criminalised. Those who are prosecuted for possessing drugs "often enter the criminal justice system instead of getting the treatment they truly need," she added.

Criminalisation

Currently, gardai are asked to use discretion about whether someone should be referred for treatment or be prosecuted.

Dr Ivers said instead, they should be compelled to turn them over to addiction services so they can start treatment.

In a statement issued to BreakingNews.ie, a spokesperson for the Department of Justice said: "Possession of drugs remains illegal under current criminal law and therefore any person found to be in possession of such drugs may be subject to prosecution.

"The decision to prosecute individuals for personal possession is at the discretion of An Garda Siochana and the DPP. The adult caution scheme is a non-statutory scheme agreed by both agencies.

"We are committed to strengthening the existing adult caution scheme to ensure an efficient and effective means of implementing a prosecution avoidance policy when Garda members come in contact with adults with mental illness and addiction challenges.

"While the Departments key strategic priorities include tackling crime, they also include strengthening community safety and reducing reoffending.

"The Department and the Minister for Justice are absolutely mindful of the fact that the needs of many people who interact with the criminal justice system are complex, and are often influenced by mental health and addiction challenges."

Drug treatment courts have become a fixture of how Ireland deals with this issue, and Dr Ivers said they do still have a role to play.

"There is still a place for them, because people will still find themselves in a situation where there is a barrier to treatment, and they need to access that.

"We know that the people that are coming to treatment are coming with complex needs."

Multi-department approach

These are people who are dealing with homelessness, co-morbidity, mental health issues, lack of education, and therefore, a lack of access to employment.

It means you leave the domain of health and enter the remit of housing, employment and education, hence the need for a multi-department approach.

"We have this ridiculous system where you have got a frontline worker trying to find somebody a house in the middle of the housing crisis, or trying to find access to mental health services when the system is already broken," she said.

These are workers trying to negotiate a job market for people who have no skills "at a time when we have never called for more skills," she said.

It all comes down to having a system in place so those who are dealing with people in treatment are not saddled with the responsibility of dealing with every one of their issues.

It is also about letting people know that there is a path to recovery, and guiding them that way instead of towards criminality. Helping people recover can benefit society in much greater ways than we think.

"Even if you don't care about people in addiction, recovery is good for everyone.

"Because people engage in service, they give back to their community, they give back to society. They enter the workplace, they become taxpayers. Recovery is good for everyone at the end of the day," she said.

People who do recover from addiction also tend to become advocates for recovery and help those who are going through the same thing.

Dr Ivers said instead of continuing the cycle of addiction, they have a chance to start a new cycle of recovery, which can have "ripple effects" for other people who may be struggling with addiction.

While Ireland is trying to change its approach to dealing with drug addiction, Dr Ivers said the US and the UK are way ahead of everyone else when it comes to recovery specifically, and there is a lot from them which we can learn.

Like recovery itself, Ireland is forging a new path with how it looks at addiction, but it is now down to the Government to get behind this new approach with political will and proper funding.
An interview with Viola Baskerville, who is holding a rally to save the historic Richmond Community Hospital at 1 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at 1209 Overbrook Road.

What, and how, we honor reveals a lot about our society. When the Confederate statues came down on Monument, much of Richmond saw their beloved city get its Rebel flag tattoo removed. That one morning in the roundabout of Allen and Monument, Robert E. Lees traitorous bronze ass got out of our way literally and metaphorically. The crane that hoisted his head and torso into the air created a sight poetic in its symbolism. We drowned out the apologists and revisionists, for once and for all.

The city just unveiled its sprawling (and quite beautiful) master plan for the Shockoe Slavery Museum  ending a decades-long controversy about the proper development of a slave burial ground. Dignity prevailed. Therell be justice in memoriam, if not in life.

We are on a ROLL.

In the operating room of Richmond Community Hospital, established in 1907 to serve Black patients, four nurses collaborate with a physician during a critical Emergency Case. (Image credit: Courtesy of the Library of Congress American Memory)

Aaaaand then theres the Richmond Community Hospital. If Im figuring the odds here, you dont know much or anything about this place. At least you didnt until last week when VUU was coaxed into divulging its plan to demolish the site. So heres a little primer.

The building in question is the two-story, handsome, brick and stone building with red-painted window boards, haunting Overbrook Rd between Brook and Langston. Its been that way as long as I can remember. In the early 1930s, in the middle of the Great Depression, the resilient, self-sufficient and determined black community in Richmond pitched in to build and institute a proper home for Richmond Community Hospital on Overbrook Rd. The hospital, as an entity, existed as far back as 1902. Dr. Sarah Garland Boyd Jones (the first black woman licensed to practice medicine in Virginia) rallied a dozen and more Black doctors to create a safe and dignified place for their people to access healthcare.

For decades this institution cared for Richmonds minority classes when the city refused. This was a place of refuge when power sought to insult and intimidate its most vulnerable citizens. It was ceded to VUU. It sputtered into neglect once Bon Secours bought in as a partner in the 90s upon which it was defunded into oblivion. It began its slow decay behind graffitied window planks and tall lawns until this moment came to decide its fate.

In the last week, Ive certainly met quite a few people enraged by the flippancy shown towards the future of this historical landmark. While I share that feeling, Im also confused as to how weve come to this point having never addressed it.

The situation is presenting itself at a timely intersection of cultural reflection and political importance. We are in an election year, and protecting historic landmarks plays really well to most audiences. Cynicism aside, there are people that DO care. There are many people alive today because RCH wouldnt deny them the best care science could offer. Their experiences and comments can be found on this Save Community Hospital Facebook page. I encourage you to scroll the reminiscences there to glean what this hospital meant to the people that relied on it and the current plans to save it.

I called up the one person I knew would give it to me straight about the history and challenges (and potential future) surrounding the preservation effort, Viola Baskerville. Shes a former Virginia House Delegate and was Secretary of Administration under Governor Tim Kaine. Shes dialed into these efforts with a wealth of experience, influence, and a healthy dose of fearless I said what I said vibes. Well, heres what she had to say:

Christian Detres: I saw your piece that you wrote in response to the Richmond Free Press about the hospital. I could really sense your disappointment in the developments surrounding its future. I would love to get to the bottom of how this building development process came to this conclusion, this quickly, without community discussion. Could you give our readers your take on the whole situation?

Viola Baskerville: Well, I think it really piqued the publics interests when the Free Press and the RTD were asking about the plans for the site. After the $500 million announcement surrounding VUUs campus redesign, the questions started coming in about how the hospital building was to be handled. The plans never had a specific description as to what was to be done about the hospital. I heard from a civic association that the development companies had rolled out their plan, but again, there was no specific statement about the future of the hospital. Then the Free Press came out with the information with respect to its proposed demolition and here we are.

CD: Is it conceivable in any way that the developers, obviously in conversation with the college, overlooked the cultural importance of this building? What was the process in making that decision? Why were there no reasonable conversations with historical groups or conservation initiatives? Is that interesting?

VB: Oh, extremely. And I think thats the exact type of question that has to be posed to the university. To its leadership in the President and the Board of Directors. The development corporation has offices in New York and Philadelphia. Those offices arent anywhere near this community. They may be a well-meaning and capable development entity but theres a huge disconnect. A black development entity comes to a city that has a strong African-American Heritage  culturally, in population, history-wise  and you dont even consult with the community?

When you hear about our cultural sites being on their way to being demolished, you have to speak up. Somebody has to speak up and say no. We are a unique city. We have 400 years plus of history. Its good history and its bad history. Its changing history. Its a history that puts us at the forefront of American history. The African American role in that transition is huge in Richmond.

I think what happened was that we have entities that are not focusing on our local history. In all honesty, because we have such new, changing demographics coming to our city, there are groups that are not as aware of the rich fabric of historical pieces that we have.

So the Facebook group, Save Community Hospital workgroup, is to educate folks. The community most affected by the future of this building have posted articles, options for consideration, information about what other HBCUs have done with respect to rehabilitative use of buildings, adaptive reuse. Thats the direction we have to go in with respect to these historical sites. And its not just the African American community and cultural sites, its all across the city. We are carrying out the fabric that makes us unique in spite of so much development coming in, which we are also grateful for. We want new people coming in on that breeze. Theyre fresh air to our city.

CD: Was the hospital designated as a historical building prior to this development idea?

VB: Im not clear about that. Im doing some research and asking people about that. I do not think so. It is definitely eligible in my estimation.

CD: Do you believe that to be because no one ever thought there would be a challenge to its existence? Did this just fall under the radar? I mean, How did we undervalue something this important to the history of African American professionalism and perseverance? It should be a museum.

VB: Sometimes Richmond kind of hides its gold. Okay. Were not always boastful and proud until something happens, and then all of a sudden, yeah, we got to do something. We got to do something to save this. Consider that the Board of Directors, in the 1980s, conveyed the building to Virginia Union University. You have a black organization conveying an entity to another black organization, and over the years, it went neglected. Its been boarded up and gone unused. Sometimes you need a wake up call to say, hey, your own history is important.

CD: Its not always as cut and dry heroes and villains is it? Thats fair. So that wake up call that you just mentioned, that moment is definitely now. As were moving forward, in the now, what can we do to spread the word? You have a demonstration coming up on the third, right?

VB: [laughs] Its not a demonstration. I want to highlight the oral history surrounding the hospital. We need to capture and retain the stories for newbies to the city, and for people who may not have known about it while its been right under our noses. How do we capture these stories, these life and death stories, these community events that hospital was involved in? How does that hospital relate to Northsides predominantly African American community? So there are all these little stories that we need to capture and if we can capture them in front of that building, that would be great.

CD: Is there anyone in our city government that can affect maybe a stay on that development pending community conversation on the matter?

VB: Oh sure, they havent even put a spade to ground yet. In the process of all of these plans, they have to come to the city and the City Planning Commission. Theyd have to come to the city council for approval.

The pressure points would be city council, the planning commission, elected officials locally. Your pressure point is also Virginia Union University. President, University Board of Directors, your trustee board, Dr. Richardson as the chair, your board members, your alumni, and the developer, the Steinbridge Group. All of these communities of interest would have the pressure put to bear on what happens with that space.

CD: Thats really useful. I think sometimes with targeted activism, thats the first hurdle. Simply knowing how to be effective. Thank you so much for the chat. I feel a little smarter.

The rally to save the historic Richmond Community Hospital will take place 1 p.m. Sunday, March 3, at 1209 Overbrook Road. You can find more information on the Save Community Hospital Facebook page.

RICHMOND COMMUNITY HOSPITAL
After 10 years of trying, a Palestinian woman had twins. An Israeli strike killed them both

It took 10 years and three rounds of in vitro fertilization for Rania Abu Anza to become pregnant, and only seconds for her to lose her five-month-old twins, a boy and a girl
A woman clutching an infant is found in the rubble of Ukraine building after Russian drone strike

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Western allies to boost his countrys air defenses after a Russian drone strike destroyed an apartment block in the southern port city of Odesa and killed at least 11 people
FLORENCE, S.C.  Florence firefighters on Saturday evening rescued several people from the second floor of their home after the residence caught fire.

Firefighters responded to 625 Jarrot Street, Apt. C, at 7:27 p.m. and found a two-story structure with smoke showing from the front side.

A search of the building determined the residents were in a second-floor room on the back of the building, according to the fire department.

The residents were treated by medics with Florence County EMS for minor burns.

Firefighters had the blaze under control within 10 minutes of arrival.
FLORENCE, S.C.  Christopher Barton, associate professor of archaeology at Francis Marion University, received the FMU African-American Faculty and Staff Coalitions Diversity Award at the organizations 23rd annual scholarship reception held at the FMU Performing Arts Center Thursday night.

Barton joined the faculty of Francis Marion in 2017. He is a historical archaeologist who specializes in the archaeology of class, gender, and race. His work is focused on developing collaborative projects in which the public and students work together to uncover the past. Barton has authored and co-authored a host of peer-reviewed works including his book Historical Radicalized Toys in the United States.

The Diversity Award is given annually by the coalition to highlight the work of individuals who are dedicated to celebrating diversity and inclusiveness at FMU and beyond.

Florence Mayor Teresa Myers Ervin served as the keynote speaker for the evening. She also received the coalitions Together We Can award in recognition of her civic involvement.

Ervin, a native of Florence, earned an associate degree in nursing from Florence-Darlington Technical College and a bachelor of science in nursing from Francis Marion University. She also received an honorary doctorate of humanities degree from FMU.

She is employed at McLeod as a registered nurse and holds a specialty certification in the Neonatal Resuscitation Program. In November 2020, she made history becoming the first female and African American elected mayor of Florence. As mayor, she works to procure funding for Florences downtown and community development, expanding green city initiatives, and developing new job sources to produce opportunities for business and employment.

In his remarks, FMU President Fred Carter praised the coalitions work in raising scholarship money for deserving students over the past two decades. He also announced that an additional scholarship will be funded for the YGB Student Choir as well as a new endowed scholarship named in honor of Vashon Brown, a longtime employee of the university and a leader in the coalition. Brown serves as director of network operations and systems at FMU.

The AAFSC was founded at FMU in 1995 to enhance and stimulate cultural awareness, and to promote professional development and welfare among faculty, staff, and students.

Todd Couch, assistant professor of sociology, is the current president of the AAFSC.

Past winners of the AAFSC Diversity Award include Rebecca Lawson, Louis Venters, Angela Crosland, Rhonda Brogdon, Yvonne Davis, Crystal Graham, Will Wattles, Jason Owens, Ruth Wittmann-Price, Shayna Wrighten, Erica James, Daniel Brauss, LaTasha Brand and Charlene Wages.
Harald needs crutches to get around and has suffered a series of health issues in recent years (Cornelius Poppe)

King Harald of Norway was returning home from Malaysia on Sunday after falling ill on holiday and spending several days in hospital, the royal palace said.

The oldest reigning monarch in Europe at 87 years old, Harald contracted an infection on a trip to the island of Langkawi and was admitted to hospital on Tuesday.

The palace said on Saturday that he had been fitted with a "temporary" pacemaker, which his personal physician said would make his return safer.

The palace said in a statement on Sunday that Harald would "soon be on his way to Langkawi Airport for medical transportation", and would be joined by Queen Sonja.

"Upon arrival in Norway, His Majesty will be admitted to the hospital Rikshospitalet" in Oslo, the statement continued.

"His Majesty will be on sick leave for two weeks."

A medical plane believed to be transporting the king took off from Langkawi on Sunday afternoon, after police escorted a convoy that included an ambulance from the hospital to the airport, an AFP journalist saw.

Langkawi air traffic control earlier told AFP that a medical plane operated by Scandinavian airline SAS was due to depart on Sunday.

The flight is due to land in Oslo at 2259 GMT, according to specialist website Flightradar.

Harald needs crutches to get around and has suffered a series of health issues in recent years.

He caught a respiratory infection in January, days after dismissing speculation that he might abdicate, following the lead of distant cousin Queen Margrethe II in Denmark.

In his absence, Crown Prince Haakon, 50, has stepped in as regent.

phy/imm/dhw
For more than two decades, no one listened to Sally Leydon as she begged for help to find her mother who mysteriously vanished during a trip abroad in 1997.

At the time, Australian police dismissed her concerns, insisting that her mother, Marion Barter, had disappeared by choice, and wanted nothing to do with her family.

It was a story Leydon refused to accept, and on Thursday her efforts to find her mother led to a crowded courtroom in western Sydney, where a coroner handed down her findings in an inquest spanning almost three years.

For many, the final inquest hearing offered the ultimate live update of The Lady Vanishes, an Australian podcast that has meticulously pieced together evidence in the case since the first episode aired in March 2019.

On Thursday morning, Leydons most loyal Australian supporters crammed into the courtroom, wearing green, Barters favorite color, as the podcasts followers in the United States, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, the United Kingdom and beyond tuned into a live YouTube feed as Magistrate Teresa OSullivan delivered her findings.

Marion Barter is deceased, and died some unknown time after October 15, 1997, said OSullivan from the bench. Barters body has never been found.

Leydon didnt need a coroner to confirm her mothers death  she has long accepted that painful truth in the absence of any evidence otherwise.

But the coroners words confirmed what shed suspected for years  that the early police investigation into her mothers disappearance was botched, and that Ric Blum  a convicted conman now in his 80s, who admitted having an affair with Barter in the months before she vanished  had lied repeatedly on the stand and knew more about her mothers disappearance than he was letting on.

A mother vanishes

In 1997, Marion Barter was ready for a change, and on June 22, she boarded a plane from Brisbane, Australia to the United Kingdom with plans for a holiday and perhaps a fresh start.

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In rather dramatic fashion, the 51-year-old teacher had quit her job halfway through the school year, sold her house, and put her beloved antiques into storage on the understanding that one day shed come home to get them, or have them shipped to her, if she settled in the UK.

As far as anyone knew, she was traveling alone.

After three marriages and divorces, Barter was single with two children who were in their 20s and engaged to their partners. Leydon told CNN she encouraged her to go and Barter arrived safely in the UK in late June 1997. She kept in touch with friends and family with postcards and a letter.

On August 1, Barter phoned Leydon purportedly from a payphone in Tunbridge Wells in Kent, England.

Leydon, then 24 years old, told the podcast she had just finished telling her mother about the wedding dress shed bought when the payphone ran out of credit. She never heard from her mother again.

At first Leydon didnt dwell on the silence, but on October 18, when Barter didnt phone her son, Leydons brother Owen, for his birthday, she started to worry.

One of the first calls Leydon made was to Barters bank to see if her mother was using her account. Regular amounts were coming out, a bank worker told her, but not from the UK.

Someone in Australia had been using her mothers identification to withdraw 5,000 Australian dollars ($3,450.00) every day for three weeks over the counter in Byron Bay and the Gold Coast, where Barter used to live.

A shocked Leydon was sure it wasnt her mother and reported it to the police.

Then came the response that set Leydon on a course thats consumed most of her adult life.

Police told her that the bank confirmed that her mother had withdrawn her money and wanted nothing to do with her family.

Barter had returned to Australia, they said, and wanted to disappear.

Marion Barter with her two children Owen and Sally. - The Lady Vanishes/Facebook

A new life, and a new name

Years went by with little information about what happened to Barter, until an intriguing clue emerged via a police investigation that belatedly began a decade later.

Barter had changed her name in the weeks before she left and returned to Australia on August 2, 1997  just one day after she last spoke with Leydon.

Barters new name was Florabella Natalia Marion Remakel, and her incoming passenger card listed her as a married resident of Luxembourg, according to the inquest.

The name Remakel opened new doors that led police to Blum.

In 1994, Blum placed an advertisement in an Australian-French newspaper, describing himself as a single, 47-year-old tall, dark, sober man, who was looking for a relationship with a view to marriage.

The ad was signed Mr. F. Remakel, but the phone number linked to a coin business in the New South Wales town of Ballina run by one of Blums many aliases.

The inquest heard Blum held at least 10 passports in different names that he used for international travel.

He told the inquest he frequently adopted new aliases for fantasy  because it was legal.

I didnt have a specific purpose, he said.

When asked what name he was given at birth, Blum replied, I dont really know. But on the record of my birth  I was declared Willy Coppenolle.

This marks the mysterious beginning of Mr. Blums life, the coroner noted in her findings.

Ric Blum told the NSW Coroner's court that he last saw Barter in June 1997, just before she left Australia. - Courtesy Bryan Seymour

A man of many names

Blum was born in July 1939 to unmarried parents in Tournai, Belgium, a picturesque city near the French border. He said he spent time in an orphanage before being returned to his mother and taking the name of her new husband  Wouters.

Blum arrived in Australia as Willy Wouters in 1969 but left just a year later. His next destination was France, where he was imprisoned for fraud, forgery, confidence tricks, and giving a false identity, the inquest heard.

After his release in 1974, he returned to Australia by boat, and in February 1976 became an Australian citizen under the name Frederick de Hedervary.

Around the same time, Blum married his fourth wife  a 19-year-old woman he met in 1969 on the boat from the United Kingdom  to whom he is still married.

Frederick and Diane de Hedervary settled into life in Australia before moving to Luxembourg, Belgium, and the UK for several years, and then returning to Australia in 1986. By then, they had two children.

In 1997, the family was living in regional New South Wales, where Blum collected a disability pension and his wife received a carers pension. When it was put to Blum in court that at that time money was tight, he agreed.

Blum told the court he began an affair with Barter in February that year, though its unclear how they met  it may have been through the personal advertisement that Blum placed in 1994, presenting himself as Mr F. Remakel.

He claimed he may have answered an ad placed by Barter, but the coroner could find no evidence of that.

Blum said their affair ended in the weeks before she went overseas in June when he told her he couldnt see her anymore because he was married with children.

He testified the last time he saw her was three weeks before she left for the UK, when she collected tea chests shed left at his house with a man in uniform, who he took to be a navy officer or a pilot.

Deceived lovers

The real Mr. F. Remakel is the ex-husband of a woman Blum once knew, Monique Cornelius, who claimed they had an affair, which Blum denies.

According to testimony read out in court in February 2022, Cornelius told police Blum was a serial liar who told her he worked as a special agent at the British Embassy in Luxembourg.

She said he wrote her a letter in 1980 professing his love for her and suggesting he would buy a boat so they could sail away together.

I am intimately persuaded that you will not regret your decision to leave with me and to start a new life, he wrote in the letter, which was read to the court.

Their affair ended when she found out he was married and kicked him out, Cornelius told police. Blum told the court Cornelius had lied about their relationship, which was platonic, he said.

Other women told the inquest of their encounters with the man now known as Blum. Some were romantic, others not. But all involved allegations of deceit.

Ginette Gaffney-Bowan told the court that she placed an advertisement in a newspaper in the late-1990s that was answered by Blum, who she knew as Frederick De Hedervary.

She said at that time, she was extremely lonely and working long hours in her childcare business.

Gaffney-Bowan said Blum told her he had lost his home, so she said he could stay in the studio apartment at her property in Sydney during his frequent trips to the city.

She said their relationship wasnt sexual, and instead he proposed a business partnership, dealing in coins. With dreams of closing her stressful childcare business, she gave him 30,000 Australian dollars ($19,500) in start-up funding. Soon after, he proposed that she sell her house so he could buy her what he called a beautiful and spacious apartment in Paris, she said. She refused.

Gaffney-Bowan told the court Blum belittled her and tried to drive a wedge between her and her daughters over the sale of her house. While Blum didnt physically hurt her, she told the court he tried to blackmail her with nude photos he had taken of her. She said she became scared of him, went to the police and was granted an apprehended violence order in early 1999.

Blum told the court that Gaffney-Bowan had dragged me into a bed and asked him to take salacious photos of her, which he didnt have developed. He denied taking her money.

Another lonely divorcee, Janet Oldenburg told the court she met Blum, who she knew as Rick or Rich in 1996 through her husbands coin-collecting circles where they both lived in New South Wales. They reconnected in 1999 when she was 51 years old and had just finalized her divorce, she said.

Blum had offered her a job, but before shed started, she said he urged her to move with him to the French Riviera to start a new life.

Blum denied ever telling Oldenburg he had feelings for her and said he had bought her a one-way ticket to Europe because she wanted to find an agent and start a new career as a belly dancer.

Oldenburg claimed that Blum abandoned her in England during their travels after inventing a story that hed been attacked at a train station while taking a side business trip to Lille, France.

Blum admitted in court that hed abandoned her in England because he no longer wanted anything to do with her. My life was with my wife and kids in Australia, he said.

He denied her claims hed stolen jewelry and the title deeds to her house.

Several years later, Ghislaine Danlois-Dubois met Blum in 2006 through an advertisement she posted in a newspaper seeking companionship. Via video link from Brussels, she told the court she knew him as Frederick de Hedervary.

An image of Ric Blum believed to be from 2008. - Courtesy Joni Condos

At the time, Danlois-Dubois was a 72-year-old widow looking for a distraction, and quickly fell in love with the stranger, who told her he was a bank manager from Australia with an interest in coins, she said.

Danlois-Dubois told the court that after a whirlwind romance, de Hedervary suggested they get married on the Indonesian island of Bali, and that she should sell her house and give him the proceeds so he could open bank accounts for her children, so they had ready cash when they came to visit them in Australia.

She said she refused his requests to keep their impending marriage secret from her children, and he disappeared with her money, some 60,000 euros ($65,000).

Blum denied the allegations and told the court Danlois-Dubois didnt give him a penny.

Four years later, Blum crossed paths with Andree Flamme, an elderly woman he says was confined to a wheelchair, living with dementia and who couldnt put two words together.

When that was put to Flamme, who gave evidence to the inquest via a live link from Portugal last year, the then 92-year-old laughed. She denied ever needing a wheelchair while he stayed with her, and, yes, she said with a smile, she could put two words together.

Flamme told the court the man she knew as Frederick de Hedervary stayed with her for several weeks in May and June 2010. While there, she said he asked to inspect her late husbands coin collection, then disappeared with them one day when she left the house for an errand.

He left a little piece of paper to say he was leaving, and hed be back  but I never saw him again, Flamme said through a translator. Blum has denied the allegations.

A sixth woman, Marie Landrieu, submitted a statement to the inquiry alleging that shed been fooled out of cash in 2012 by a man she knew as Willy, who was the cousin of her late husband.

She said Blum had proposed they buy a house together in Bali, so she gave him 100,000 euros ($108,000). But after they traveled to Indonesia, he said he needed to leave on urgent business.

She never saw him  or her money  again.

Blum told the court Landrieu gave him 50,000 euros ($54,000) in cash that he considered was owed to him from an inheritance from his mother.

He denied trying to seduce her, and said they went to the tropical island because she was interested in seeing Bali, according to the inquest findings.

Where is Marion?

In her findings, Coroner OSullivan said she accepted the testimony of the women, which showed Blum had a history of mispresenting himself to single, vulnerable women for financial gain.

She found that Blum exploited Barter, in the same way he later exploited other women who gave evidence against him. OSullivan said she did not accept as accurate anything Mr. Blum has said in the absence of corroborating evidence.

As to Blums role in Barters disappearance, she drew attention to an extraordinary claim by Blum on the final day of the inquest, one he made for the first time despite hours of questioning since his first police interview in 2021.

Blum, an elderly man with a full white beard, was asked in the witness box once again if he had any information on the whereabouts of Marion Barter.

I myself believe she is alive, thats what I believe. But I dont know anything about what, what she did or not, nothing. I dont know, he stammered.

OSullivan interjected with a question: Why do you believe Marion is still alive?

She said that she wanted to separate from her family, she didnt want anything to do with any member of her family, Blum said. She was a bit of a strange person.

The next day, Blum was recalled via video to explain why he hadnt offered this information to police or the inquest at any time in the previous three years.

He told the court he didnt tell police when he was interviewed in June 2021 because they never asked. When pushed, he said, I had no idea of the importance of it. It was just talking. What can I say?

OSullivan said in her findings, This evidence, along with his lies and deception throughout the inquest has convinced me that he does indeed know more than he is saying.

She found Blum formed a relationship with Barter in 1997, while posing as Fernand Remakel and encouraged her to start a new life with him in Luxembourg.

The coroner found Blum persuaded or otherwise encouraged Barter to sell her house before they left, and evidence suggested they spent some time together in England.

During the trip Barter wrote to her daughter Leydon on notepaper branded Hotel Nikko Narita  the same hotel Blum stayed in on his way to Europe. Barter traveled via South Korea, according to her passenger card.

It was thought Marion Barter traveled to Europe alone in 1997. - Courtesy Sally Leydon

The coroner found that Blum likely gave the hotel notepaper to Barter after they met in England. On her return to Australia, the coroner also found that Barter withdrew money from her accounts in August and October 1997 on the encouragement of Mr. Blum.

The day before Barter transferred 80,000 Australian dollars ($52,000) from her bank account, on October 15, 1997, the court heard Blum opened a safety deposit envelope, but the coroner found no evidence that he received the proceeds.

OSullivan found that Barter spent some months living in the community undetected, between August and October that year  and that during that time, Blum was in contact with her.

She said Blums claim that he last saw Barter when she retrieved the tea chests from his house with a man in uniform in June were implausible. And while she determined that Barter was dead, she said there was no evidence to suggest how, why or when she died.

The coroner explained that it wasnt in her power to assign blame for Barters death. But she referred the matter to the NSW Police Commissioner for investigation as an unsolved homicide.

Despite submissions from Leydons legal team that Blum should be referred to the director of public prosecutions for alleged perjury and making false statements during the inquest, OSullivan said that was best left to police as part of the investigation.

The coroner was scathing in her assessment of the initial police response, which she said was inadequate and led to the loss of information that could have determined far earlier what happened to Barter. She also praised Leydons unwavering commitment to finding her mother.

Sally Leydon hugs a supporter outside court on Thursday, February 29, the day the coroner handed down her findings in her mother's inquest. - Angus Watson/CNN

No remains have yet been located, but Leydons DNA has been added to the New South Wales and national DNA registries, the coroner said.

This means that the DNA profile of Sally [Leydon] will remain on the NSW and National DNA databases and will be searched against all unidentified deceased profiles every day, OSullivan said.

OSullivan concluded by reading Leydons own words about her mother, Marion Barter, read from her submission.

[She was] a kind, caring soul with a wicked laugh. She was intelligent, she was cultured, and she had so many friends who loved and miss her still. She would always bring you flowers or a cake. She was a very generous human.

Leydon left the court without speaking with local media, but she did tell CNN affiliate 7 News that her search for answers isnt over. It just doesnt stop just because weve got an answer today from the coroner, she said.

Blums believed to be living freely in northern New South Wales and has not faced any charges relating to Barter or any of the other women who gave evidence against him.

Through his barrister, Matthew White, SC, Blum declined CNNs emailed request for comment.

He and his family request that all media respect their privacy, White said.

For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com
A man rides a horse-pulled cart in Rafah

As deadly Israeli bombardments and acute food shortages continue, and a threatened Israeli military operation in southern Gaza looms, more and more Palestinians are seeking a way out - if they can find the money for it.

This uncertain exit requires people to pay thousands of dollars and navigate scammers and misinformation to get their names onto a list of people approved to leave via the Rafah crossing to Egypt.

The crossing is closed to the vast majority of people under an Egyptian-Israeli blockade against Hamas. Only some foreign passport holders and their dependents have been able to leave, as well as some seriously wounded and sick people and those accompanying them.

However, a parallel system exists whereby Gazans pay Egyptian brokers to get on a list of people who can leave. Depending on who you talk to, prices range from $6,000 (4,800) per person to over $12,000 - exorbitant sums for most of Gaza's population.

Yet increasing numbers of people are trying to raise the money to flee. Among them are the Hammads, currently displaced along with more than a million others in Rafah next to the Egyptian border.

Their 15-year-old son Ibrahim has Down's Syndrome. For him, the Israeli bombardment is particularly traumatic. Video posted by the family shows him shaking in distress after each thunderous boom from nearby airstrikes. His father Abed Alqader says they have had to artificially resuscitate him three times after he stopped breathing due to severe panic attacks.

He says Ibrahim has been begging for the family to leave, saying "Please father, I cannot continue".

"For the last five months, all you hear are sounds of bombs, heavy bombing," Mr Hammad added. "You just sit home and pray you will not be next."

Their online fundraising page, like most, is being managed outside Gaza, in their case by another son Amjad, who lives in Europe. It is one fundraiser among thousands, appealing for donors to assist Gazans to "survive", "evacuate" and "escape genocide".

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Some campaigns have been successful, raising over $100,000. However, the BBC spoke to several of these account holders who, even after achieving their fundraising goals, said their desperate attempts to help loved ones were mired in chaos and confusion.

In the words of one fundraiser, a New Jersey woman who asked to remain anonymous to avoid risking the chance of hindering her cousin's way out: "Every day is a toss-up."

Complex route out

The first challenge is determining the cost to leave. Fundraising account holders who spoke to the BBC said the most common price was $6,000 per person, allowing people to leave within 72 hours. Some people fundraise toward the goal of $12,000 per person, the price said to get an exit within 24 hours.

Once enough money is raised, the next challenge becomes getting tens of thousands of dollars into Gaza. There are few wire services like Western Union left in the devastated territory, and the line to enter is days-long. Some people have used cryptocurrency exchanges. Others have relied on PayPal accounts registered elsewhere, as the firm doesn't provide services to people in Gaza or the occupied West Bank.

Most people, however, wire the money to someone outside of Gaza - a relative or friend in Europe - who then withdraws the cash, and travels to Egypt to wait in a separate days-long line at the offices of Hala Travel in Cairo, an agency that facilitates travel between Egypt and Gaza. Footage from outside the Hala offices shows crowds thronging the street.

Hala has not responded to requests for comment from the BBC.

However, the BBC has obtained a copy of a receipt from Hala Travel dated 13 February for $6,000. The person's name on that receipt also appears with four others on a separate ticket indicating they have been cleared for entry into Egypt. Visas and onward travel to Cairo are included.

The final step is to check for approval online. Places like the Gaza Ministry of Foreign Affairs Facebook account publish daily lists of up to 250 approved names. All have paid thousands to get out, according to the person who provided the receipt, who asked to remain anonymous.

People whose names appear on the official list must leave the same day. However, due to spotty WiFi service and rolling blackouts, some people miss their window to exit and have to repeat the entire process, including paying again, this person says.

The man who provided the Hala receipt told the BBC that the names of those on the official list to enter Egypt only appear after they've been vetted by Egyptian intelligence.

"Is this new? No. It's not really new, but the price before the war was $600. Now it's 10 times higher," he says.

"Gaza is not only under bombardment, but people are profiting from their suffering."

Hamas, the Palestinian group which was governing Gaza and launched the attack targeting civilians in southern Israel that triggered the current war, has also accused "companies, individuals and people with influence" of exploiting Gazans by "making them pay exorbitant amounts to coordinate their travel".

Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry has told Sky News that his country is investigating.

We will take whatever measures that we need so as to restrict it and eliminate it immediately," he said, without giving further details.

In January, Egypt's State Information Service head Diaa Rashwan "categorically denied the allegations related to the collection of additional fees from travellers from Gaza, as well as claims that an unofficial entity collected fees for the passage to Egyptian lands".

Egypt was trying to help Gaza's Palestinians, he added, and did not want to impose extra burdens on them.

Large sums raised

Much of the crowdfunding is being led by friends and relatives who live abroad and have looked on helplessly as Israeli bombardment kills whole families and reduces neighbourhoods to rubble.

"It's heartbreaking to watch," says Shahd, a woman in the US state of Virginia who asked only to go by her first name.

She helped organise a campaign for her friends, two brothers, whom she met on TikTok in 2021. Her own relatives in Gaza were killed in October, she says.

Shahd felt compelled to aid her friends after witnessing their narrow escapes from death - on one occasion being hit by flying masonry as a nearby building exploded. Since then, they have been struggling to survive amid Gaza's deepening humanitarian crisis and, they say, navigating the gang rule that has replaced social cohesion.

"There's moments where [the brothers] are like, 'We really can't do this anymore. It might be better if we were killed'," Shahd says. "They're basically like family to me at this point. If anything were to happen to them, I'd probably lose it."

A man in Rafah clears rubble from a building hit by an airstrike

The fundraising page for Shahd's friends and some of their family has reached over $105,000. But sending it to them has been difficult. Their fundraising account was frozen for several days in February, blocking her from transferring the money. And the brothers' PayPal accounts were locked for weeks without explanation.

Multiple users raising money to aid people in Gaza have complained about having their accounts frozen. "People are literally trying to escape death," one New Jersey woman told the BBC. "It's just mind-blowing that every single corner we turn there's a new obstacle."

Having raised $36,000, she says she missed a window to get her cousin and his family on the list while the company froze her account for several days in early February and asked for more information. She said the request, the first she's had in a decade of using the platform, felt "discriminatory".

Nearly every person told the BBC they had the same experiences with delays, and multiple said they had to resort to legal threats before getting a response.

GoFundMe, one of the platforms people are using to raise money, told the BBC its priority was "protecting the generosity of donors".

"GoFundMe has already helped deliver tens of millions of dollars to individuals and organizations supporting those in both Israel and Gaza, and we will continue to do so as quickly, securely, and safely as possible," spokesman Jalen Drummond said.

"Any suggestion of discrimination is wholly without merit, baseless, and contrary to the values that guide our platform."

Jordan, from Brooklyn, New York, has hit his fundraising target of $50,000 and plans to wire it directly to his friend's bank in Gaza. His friend's family must leave to access life-saving medicine.

More than 1.5 million people are in Rafah, most of whom have fled there to escape the fighting, but only a slim minority have connections to people abroad who can help, a reality Jordan described as "really dark".

'I'm pretty much alive'

Ahmad, who lives in Gaza but has a friend in Canada fundraising for him, says he has to leave because of chronic knee inflammation, the medication for which is no longer available in Gaza.

"Me and anyone in Gaza may die in any second," he said from the rooftop of a building in Rafah, Israeli drones buzzing in the background.

Earlier that day, on 12 February, he sent the BBC a picture of two girls who he said died overnight in a nearby air strike. "I'm pretty much alive," he said in the same WhatsApp message. "Very depressed bro."

The 24-year-old has been fundraising for weeks but still hasn't found a way out of Gaza.

First, his fundraising account was frozen. As a result, he had to borrow thousands of dollars from his parents - who are resigned to staying in the war-zone - to pay some middlemen whom he trusted to facilitate getting him on the exit list.

His plan failed after giving them $5,000, and he had to fork out another $3,000 to resolve the issue. He promised his parents he would pay them back once he got to Cairo and could access the money raised by crowdfunding.

Ahmad is still waiting. On Thursday, reached by text message, he said he was in deep pain and feeling very anxious.

But he felt hopeful he was on the verge of finally getting out of Gaza. It's happening, he said, "anytime soon".
WINNEBAGO, Neb.  The Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System (WCHS) is taking part in National Nutrition Month with a public event focused on Indigenous food.

"Food is Medicine," which is the name of the presentation, will include door prizes, a healthy meal and an educational component. The public event is set for 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., March 6 at the Whirling Thunder Wellness Center Gym (205 Bluff St.) in Winnebago.

"Nutrition education is essential in the Winnebago community as a preventative health resource. This presentation will demonstrate how to make simple yet healthy Indigenous food for people on the go," the Winnebago Comprehensive Healthcare System said in a release.

The WCHS "Wa I pi nagu Program" will involve a collaboration between Executive Chef Elena Terry and Chef Apprentice Anne Thundercloud.
SIOUX CENTER, Iowa  Northwest Iowa Community College recently announced it is now enrolling high school students in the Sioux Center Academy.

The program, which is geared toward students entering their junior year of high school, will officially begin in fall 2024 at the Sioux Center office of the Northwest Area Education Agency. The program "offers specialized career pathways in Education, Engineering and Design, Healthcare, Information Technology, and Welding," according to a release from NCC.

The Sheldon-based college said the Sioux Center Academy is intended to give high schoolers a "head start on their careers by offering both high school and college credits in specific fields." Enrollment for the fall semester of the Sioux Center Academy will run through May 1 and students from one of seven high schools can participate: Boyden-Hull, MOC-Floyd Valley, Rock Valley, Sioux Center, Unity Christian, West Sioux and Western Christian.

"Students whose high schools are not listed but are interested in joining the NCC Sioux Center Career Academy program are encouraged to reach out directly to Northwest Iowa Community College for more information," NCC said.
WAYNE, Neb.  Wayne State College is holding an event later this month to try and show students and community members their voices matter.

From 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., March 15, at the Hoffbauer Plaza, the school is holding a "World Speech Day" event which will be open to high school and college students as well as area residents.

"Participants are encouraged to speak freely on any topic. Engaging activities include 'Spin the Wheel of Ideas' and 'Pin Your Ideas to the Wall,'" the college said in a release. "This great learning opportunity features food, prizes, activities and cool WSC swag."

World Speech Day was launched in 2015 by Simon Gibson at the Athens Democracy Forum, according to the World Speech Day website.

"Our mission is to celebrate speeches and speech making through live public events across the globe. We celebrate the role of speeches to bring communities together and, above all, to share ideas," the not-for-profit organization said.
SIOUX CITY  The Sioux City Council will be asked Monday to award a $1.8 million contract to a Lincoln, Nebraska, construction company for the second phase of the Big Sioux Pedestrian Bridge Crossing Project.

The bridge will be located just north of Interstate 29 and built over the Big Sioux River, linking Sioux City and Dakota Dunes' trail systems.

According to city documents, the project includes the construction of a pre-engineered steel truss pedestrian bridge, grading, storm sewer, retaining wall construction and PCC paving for a 10-foot-wide trail.

The project, which was bid on Feb. 13, received three bids. All of those bids came in above the city engineer's estimate of $1,591,021.

K2 Real Estate Development, LLC, of Lincoln, submitted the low bid of $1,875,001.05.

The City of Sioux City has still not received the Army Corps of Engineers' permit for the project, but expects to get it by the time construction will begin, according to the documents.

"Construction of the trails are allowed to be completed without the permit but the bridge work can't be completed without a permit," the documents stated.

The city is managing the joint project, which is being funded through a combination of sources, including the Dakota Dunes CID, Sioux City general obligation bonds, private contributions and Destination Iowa grant funding. The project has a total construction budget of $2.6 million.

In 2022, the Siouxland trails network was awarded a $7 million tourism grant from state of Iowa to expedite the development of a network of recreational trails in metro Sioux City. The Big Sioux Pedestrian Bridge was one of five projects listed on the city's Destination Iowa grant funding application.

Since the pedestrian bridge received Destination Iowa Grant funds, the project must be under contract by Sept. 30, as stipulated by the grant. Failure to comply with this stipulation would result in the forfeiture of the entire $7 million grant, according to city documents.

The council is also expected to vote on first amendment to a 28E agreement between the city and Dakota Dunes Community Improvement District (CID) for the project.

The amendment adds language which allows the agreement to be terminated by a written agreement approved by both parties.

Sioux City Parks and Recreation Director Matt Salvatore described the amendment as a "technicality" required by the Iowa Secretary of State. After the agreement was approved locally, he said it went to the state for approval. The state came back with the addition of language to allow either side to get out of the agreement.

The 28E agreement sets forth the responsibilities of the city and the Dakota Dunes CID, as well as each party's share of the construction expenses. Under the agreement, which both parties entered into on June 5, 2023, the City of Sioux City is responsible for the cost of the bridge's design and inspection. The city also supervises the project's bidding and construction administration and has the authority to sell the naming rights of the bridge and trail.

Dakota Dunes participates financially in the bridge's construction in an amount not to exceed $140,000. Sioux City insures the bridge, and Dakota Dunes is responsible for reimbursing half of the premium and half of any deductible for any claims that arise. Each jurisdiction will own the portion of the bridge that exists within its corporate boundary.

Sioux City is responsible for all bridge maintenance, while Dakota Dunes agrees to pay $1,000 annually toward bridge maintenance. Dakota Dunes also pays 25% of the total of any mutually agreed Capital Improvement Projects.
A 32-year-old woman who lives in a tent in downtown Omaha pleaded with Nebraska legislators Thursday to oppose a bill aimed at prohibiting homeless camps on city property.

"You make this law here, we'll be forced to hide, go further and further from our resources," said Arielle Nichols, who has stayed with a group of people through the winter in tents at 17th and Izard Streets. "All we have is right there. We get tremendous support from the community."

Nichols was among the more than 25 people who testified Thursday at a public hearing of the Nebraska Legislature's Judiciary Committee on Legislative Bill 1357. The vast majority of those opposed the bill, arguing that it would in effect criminalize homelessness, and make it even harder for people to get housing.

Introduced by Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha with the support of Douglas County Sheriff Aaron Hanson, the bill will make it a misdemeanor criminal offense to camp on cities' or other political subdivisions' property that's not designated for camping.

McDonnell said the measure would help deal local governments remove tent encampments on public property like sidewalks or alleys if people refuse to move, while also allowing cities to create designated temporary camping areas with bathrooms and services. Those could by like federal emergency housing after natural disasters, he said.

McDonnell said the law is patterned after a current state law that prohibits camping on state or county public property like roadways.

Hanson said Douglas County is planning to build a mental health annex on its jail that could help people who were arrested.

The law would help address long-term homelessness, McDonnell said.

"There's no help or services in those tents," he said. "There are people who want to help, but we have to do it in a more organized, compassionate manner."

Sen. Terrell McKinney of Omaha, a member of the committee, levied critical comments and questions to McDonnell and other proponents.

"I don't think this bill deals with the long-term problem of homelessness," McKinney said. "One of the things is: It's jumping the gun."

Omaha has no designated area for camping as described by McDonnell, McKinney noted. There has been no public discussion about creating one.

"I'm not saying they should be camping in front of anybody's business or outside people's homes, because I see it, because there are encampments in my district," McKinney said. "Unless the city and county are going to step up and designate spaces, we shouldn't pass this bill because we're going to directly incriminate people who shouldn't be incriminated."

Hanson said he has spent a lot of time in homeless tent encampments in his 28 years in law enforcement.

"I have encountered individuals in these tents that are living in some of the most unhealthy conditions you have ever seen," he said. "Wounds that are unhealed, health conditions that are terrifying, mental health conditions that are unaddressed, addiction issues that are unaddressed. And that's the deplorable situation that these folks are living in."

"So the solution to people living in deplorable conditions is to increase penalties on them?" McKinney asked.

"No, I think that we need a safety net," Hanson replied. He said adding the law would complete a "three-legged stool" of public safety with intervention, prevention and suppression.

He said the state needs to invest more in diversion programs and needs a regional center for behavioral health in Omaha. But, he said, the state does have resources for prevention and intervention that could help people if they were arrested.

The Rev. Keith Winton, the rector of St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Omaha, was one of 19 people who testified against the bill during a more than two and a half hour airing of the measure. Four spoke in favor of it.

"This bill does not create a three-legged stool," Winton said. "It creates a pogo stick to push down people who are already at the bottom. . . . As Human Rights Watch says, criminalizing homelessness does not solve the problem, it makes suffering more brutal and drives people living in the streets further into the shadows."

That was a common theme among the five homeless people who testified and the people who provide services to them.

Pete Miller, a member of the Street Outreach Team that helps homeless people in Omaha, said his group and others regularly go to places where people are staying in tents to provide them help. He said he believed the proponents of the bill had good intentions, "and think tough love can solve this issue."

"I also think it's those proponents that need tough love," he said. "They need to hear the difficult truth that they can't arrest people out of homelessness and can't just sent the police to hide the problem from public view. . . . Tough love means making hard decisions towards real solutions, not the cruelty of LB 1357."

The bill may face an uphill climb, if the committee voted to advance it to general file. There are only about two weeks remaining in the legislative session and no senator has made the bill their priority legislation.

Photos: Hearing for bill to prohibit tent camping in Nebraska
HOPKINS, Minn.  Aishah Al-Sehaim laments the 30,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza, a grim statistic from a war with Israel that she wishes President Joe Biden would try harder to stop.

But the 38-year-old clinical data scientist, an Arab American from the Democratic-heavy suburb of St. Louis Park, Minnesota, is voting for the Democrat on Tuesday anyway because her top priority is stopping Republican Donald Trump.

"It's not even about hope to affect change in the coming years, but simply that things don't get more screwed up nationally and internationally," she said.

Biden's campaign isn't likely to trumpet endorsements such as Al-Sehaim's. But they give credence to the reelection effort's strategy of promoting Biden administration programs but also turning out disaffected Democrats by invoking their fears of Trump.

For many reluctant Biden voters, any potential value of a protest vote in a primary or general election is outweighed by starkly practical considerations about a possible second Trump presidency.

Biden is still expected to sweep Democratic primaries in Minnesota and 15 other states on Super Tuesday and likely will secure his party's nomination in coming weeks.

While campaign officials note the president's accomplishments on liberal priorities such as climate change, they are all too aware of concerns about his age and a lack of enthusiasm not just for Biden but about politics at large. Biden's strongest supporters acknowledge his campaign does not inspire voters the same way Barack Obama or Ronald Reagan once did.

"I'm not sure, because of the poison that's been injected into the system over the last 10 years, if anybody gets that morning-in-America enthusiasm again," said Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, referring to Reagan's famous reelection campaign television ad. "It doesn't surprise me that much that what you're finding is people who say they're going to support him, but it's not an Obama-type new thing."

Biden aides argue there is more enthusiasm for the president than interviews suggest. They point to the 600,000 voters who voted in Michigan's primary this past week, more than three times the turnout for Obama in 2012.

One of Biden's token primary challengers is Rep. Dean Phillips, a three-term congressman representing this tract of Minneapolis suburbs. Yet among nearly two dozen interviews conducted over three days with Democratic voters in his district, Phillips got barely a mention.

Beating Trump was the most common theme in interviews with professionals, students and cross section of age, gender and racial and ethnic backgrounds.

"It frightens me to think about Trump being in office again," Audra Robinson said.

The 52-year-old marketing executive from Brooklyn Park says she is troubled by Trump's praise for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, a right-wing nationalist Trump routinely lauds while campaigning, "and whatever his affinity for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin is."

Orban is scheduled to meet privately with Trump at the former president's residence in Florida this week, a development that punctuated Robinson's worry about Trump's "alignment with dictators and some scary people on this earth."

"So for me, it's voting so that Trump cannot be in office again," Robinson said. "And that means getting behind the party. So, I guess that's Biden."

James Calderaro of Hopkins dismissed Phillips as "a distraction."

Calderaro, a 71-year-old retired fashion photographer, was more upbeat about Biden than many of the others interviewed, crediting him with improvements in the economy. But without prompting, Calderaro  like many others  raised Biden's age as a concern. Biden is 81; Trump is 77.

"I understand the age-related stuff. I don't necessarily like Biden's age," Calderaro said. "But what's the option? Trump? Really? That guy's an absolute thug. He's a danger to our way of life."

Minnesota has been a progressive bastion, not carried by a Republican presidential candidate since Richard Nixon in 1972, though Trump came within 1.5 percentage points of winning in 2016.

Observers will watch Tuesday for how many Democrats choose "uncommitted" in Minnesota after a protest effort in Michigan's primary drew more than 100,000 votes. Minnesota has a significant Somali American population that is predominantly Muslim and may similarly protest the Israel-Hamas war, launched after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in which militants killed more than 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250 others in Israel.

At the governor's residence in St. Paul, Walz motioned to the street outside and noted there were often anti-war protesters there.

Abdifatah Abdi, one of the more than 80,000 Somali immigrants in Minnesota, said he may not vote for Biden out of opposition to what Abdi considers the president's weak opposition to killing of Palestinian civilians in Gaza.

"A majority of us have voted for Biden before," Abdi said, "but this time I don't think we should vote for him."

The 26-year-old college student, who is Muslim, is weighing supporting Trump instead of Biden, despite Trump's 2017 ban on immigration from some Muslim-majority countries, including Somalia, and the suggestion that Trump would reprise it if elected again.

"Trump may be for a ban," Abdi said, "But what is worse, a ban or the killing?"

Tacy Nielson described her support for Biden as "grudging."

"I'm concerned about his mental capacity," the 36-year-old yoga instructor from Eden Prairie said. "And I'm tired of choosing between the lesser evil of two old white guys. But Biden is the lesser of those two evils."
2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #09

Posted on 3 March 2024 by BaerbelW, Doug Bostrom

A listing of 34 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, Feb 25, 2024 thru Sat, March 2, 2024.

Story of the week

This week's big news is close to home for Skeptical Science and comes via UNICEF: Seriously Cranky: the uncle we all have helps build the skills we all need to resist misinformation (pdf). It's a story spanning an arc of progress beginning with fundamental research by Skeptical Science founder John Cook and ending with operational application of findings from that investigation-- now in multiple arenas including and beyond Skeptical Science's core mission of promoting accurate understanding of the science of climate change.

We're speaking of Cranky Uncle, a game built on scientifically tested and verified methods of improving critical thinking skills, first deployed to help people avoid being mentally infected with climate bunk transmitted by a veritable zoo of grifters attached to the fossil fuel industry. The same techniques and delivery framework for boosting cognitive competency have now successfully been adopted and adapted for combating vaccination hesitancy and reluctance, by UNICEF and with the assistance of John Cook and Skeptical Science.

Conceptualization, exploration and funding for creating Cranky Uncle came thanks to and via Skeptical Science's own internal and external contributors. Without Skeptical Science in the picture UNICEF's successful project to help save lives wouldn't have been possible. All who assisted may share pleasure plus at least a little pride in this outcome. Our ripples of progress travel far. It's a great true story!

Stories we promoted this week, by publication date:

Before February 25

February 25

February 26

February 27

February 28

February 29

March 1

If you happen upon high quality climate-science and/or climate-myth busting articles from reliable sources while surfing the web, please feel free to submit them via this Google form so that we may share them widely. Thanks!
If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more.

Emergencies can and do occur anytime and anywhere without warning in a place of business. If said emergency requires a first-aid kit, having fully equipped equipment to address minor injuries or illness is essential.

When it comes to regulations, all industries must comply with OSHA 29 CFR 1910.151 no matter what kind of work employees perform. This rule states, Adequate first aid supplies shall be readily available in 29 CFR 1910.151(b). However, the first aid program needs to correspond to the hazards specific to the workplace. An office and a construction site are entirely different, and the first aid protocol needs to consider that.

It is important to remember that the goal of a first-aid kit is to provide basic first aid care or take care of an injured person until emergency care arrives.

All the first aid kits on this list are Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and/or American National Standards Institute (ANSI) compliant.

What Kind of First Aid Kit do You Need for Business?

There are different requirements for different industries as to which type of first aid kits your business should have. Please refer to the websites listed below for specific information.

OSHA First Aid Kit Requirements List

OSHA has different requirements for different industries, but it does require all workplaces to provide access to basic first aid supplies. The types of supplies required vary by workplace type. For a full list of required items broken down by industry, please visit OSHAs website here.

ANSI First Aid Kit Requirements List

The ANSI, or American National Standards Institute is the main organization supporting the development of technology standards in the United States. ANSI has recently updated its standards for all class a and class b first aid kits. Effective beginning in October 2022, the following updates will be enforced in workplace first aid kits:

A foil blanket will be mandatory

More specificity for tourniquets

Greater guidance on bleeding control kits

Enhanced workplace hazard assessment

For a full list of resources about ANSI requirements, check out their website at ansi.org.

First Aid Kits for Businesses: Stay Prepared With Our Picks

Selecting the right first aid kits for a business is a critical decision, vital for ensuring workplace safety and compliance with health regulations. Heres a guide to the key criteria for choosing the best first aid kits for business use:

Compliance with Regulations: Scale of Importance: 9/10

The kit should meet local and industry-specific health and safety regulations. In the U.S., for example, OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) guidelines are a common standard. Contents and Variety: Scale of Importance: 9/10

The kit should contain a comprehensive range of supplies, such as bandages, antiseptics, gloves, and tools like scissors and tweezers. The specific contents might vary based on the workplace environment. Size and Capacity: Scale of Importance: 8/10

The size of the kit should be appropriate for the number of employees and the specific risks associated with the workplace. Durability and Quality of Containers: Scale of Importance: 8/10

The container should be durable, especially for kits stored in rugged environments. Wall-mounted cabinets or portable cases are common options. Ease of Access and Visibility: Scale of Importance: 9/10

First aid kits should be easily accessible and stored in a known, visible location. Kits often come in bright colors (like red or green) with clear labeling. Specialized Contents for Specific Risks: Scale of Importance: 8/10

Depending on the nature of the business, consider kits with specialized items, like burn creams, eye wash stations, or defibrillators. Refillability and Shelf Life: Scale of Importance: 7/10

It should be easy to refill and replace items as they are used or expire. Regular checks and maintenance of the kit are important. Training Materials: Scale of Importance: 7/10

Some kits include basic first aid manuals or instructions, which can be valuable in emergency situations. Price and Budget: Scale of Importance: 7/10

Balance the cost with the comprehensiveness and quality of the kit. While budget is a consideration, the primary focus should be on safety and regulatory compliance. Customization Options: Scale of Importance: 6/10

Some suppliers offer customization options to tailor the kit to specific workplace needs. Supplier Reputation and Service: Scale of Importance: 6/10

Opt for suppliers with a reputation for quality and reliability, and who offer good customer service and support.

These criteria are key in choosing first aid kits that meet the specific safety needs of a business, ensuring preparedness for a range of medical emergencies. In fact, we used those criteria to find our picks below:

Rapid Care First Aid 3 Shelf All-Purpose First Aid Cabinet

This large, well-stocked first aid kit is ANSI and OSHA compliant. The cabinet is made of durable steel and is wall-mounted, with a handle for easy carrying. The 1000-plus pieces can treat a variety of injuries and are boxed, labeled, and color-coded for easy identification and storage. A wall-mounted First Aid sign also comes with this kit.

Rapid Care First Aid 80098 3 Shelf All-Purpose First Aid Kit Cabinet

Buy on Amazon

Rapid Care First Aid 4 Shelf All-Purpose Extra Wide First Aid Cabinet/Trauma Center

This kits 1,063 first aid and medical supplies can service 250 people. It comes with a tourniquet, blood stopper, reusable splints, trauma pads, scissors, bandages, and an assortment of medications. The kit meets ANSI 2015 Class B standards and OSHA guidelines.

Rapid Care First Aid 865-15-1F 4 Shelf All-Purpose Extra Wide First Aid Cabinet/Trauma Center, ANSI 2015 Class B+

Buy on Amazon

Thrive First Aid Kit, 291 Pieces  Essential Hospital Quality Medical Supplies

This kit has all of the essential first aid supplies, including complying with OSHA and ANSI standards. Though no medicine is included, this kit has high-quality bandages, gauze pads, tapes, burn gel, gloves, scissors, wipes, an ice pack, whistle, safety pins, and blanket, all in a durable water-resistant, highly visible red bag. The bag is large enough to hold other medical supplies as well.

Thrive First Aid Kits, 291 Pieces  Essential Hospital Quality Medical Supplies

Buy on Amazon

First Aid Only 195 Piece First Aid Kit

Not all OSHA or ANSI-compliant first aid kits have to be big. This kit from First Aid Only is 10.75 x 3 x 11 inches and a little under a pound. But it is still OSHA compliant. It includes 195 essential first aid supplies to treat minor injuries for 50 people.

First Aid Only 195 Piece First Aid Kit, OSHA Compliant

Buy on Amazon

Workplace OSHA Approved First Aid Kit 5 Shelf Deluxe by MFASCO

The deluxe first aid kit by MFASCO provides over 1400 pieces of first aid supplies, including single-dose medications. This large metal kit is 33 x 20 x 7 inches and is said to be easy to wipe down and clean. This kit meets the new OSHA and ANSI standards for the workplace.

Workplace OSHA Approved First Aid Kit 5 Shelf Deluxe by MFASCO

Buy on Amazon

Be Smart Get Prepared  351 Piece First Aid Cabinet

This comprehensive kit meets and exceeds OSHA ANSI/ ISEA 2015 guidelines for 100 people. You will find sterile eyewash, antibiotic ointment, burn cream, instant cold compress, and first aid guides in English and Spanish in the kit. The case has tilting shelves to access the items in the box easily.

Be Smart Get Prepared  351 Piece First Aid Kit  Exceeds OSHA ANSI/ISEA Standards for 100 People

Buy on Amazon

Rapid Care First Aid with 16 oz Eye Wash Station with First Aid Kit

Some industries require an eyewash station. This kit is OSHA/ANSI and FDA compliant for eyewash, and it also includes a 25-person first aid kit. The eyewash kit comes with a 16 oz bottle of a sterile isotonic buffered solution.

You can use it to flush or rinse eyes to clear dust, chemicals, and other foreign material and relieve itching and burning of eyes and skin.

Rapid Care First Aid, 16 oz Eye Wash Station with First Aid Kit, OSHA/ANSI & FDA Compliant

Buy on Amazon

M2 BASICS 350 Piece Emergency First Aid Kit

This heavy-duty plastic kit comes with over 350 pieces of first aid supplies to treat the most common workplace injuries. The two-layer case can store large and small items and features tilting shelves for easy access. This case is mountable and comes with a hardcover first aid guide.

M2 BASICS 350 Piece Emergency First Aid Kit

Buy on Amazon

Rapid Care First Aid 25 person 166 Piece ANSI/OSHA Compliant First Aid Kit

Rapid Cares 166-piece first aid kit is compliant with ANSI standards and meets or exceeds federal OSHA regulations. It has enough supplies included for up to 25 people and comes in a moisture-resistant poly case.

Rapid Care First Aid 166 Piece ANSI/OSHA Compliant First Aid Kit in Wall Mountable Case

Buy on Amazon

NOVAMEDIC Compact First Aid 10 Person Kit

Another compact kit, this NOVAMEDIC first aid kit is perfectly sized to hold an array of essential medical supplies, yet compact enough to easily fit into a desk drawer. It also has a wall mount on the top of the case so it can be hung up anywhere. This 5x3x8 kit comes with 102 pieces of common first aid supplies.

NOVAMEDIC Compact 10-person first aid kits with 102 Pieces Medical Supplies & Essentials

Buy on Amazon

OSHA Class B First Aid Kit Plastic Box by MFASCO

This is an ANSI and OSHA-approved class b first aid kit. Included are gloves, eye pads, hand sanitizer, burn spray, burn dressing, and more. This small plastic kit measures 9.5 x 9.5 x 3 inches deep and has a rubber gasket to keep out moisture and dust

OSHA Class B First Aid Kits Plastic Box by MFASCO

Buy on Amazon

OSHA Class A 2 Shelf Metal First Aid Kit

This class A first aid kit comes with over 400 pieces of first aid supplies and equipment, including extra cold packs, cold spray and Water Jel burn gel, making this a good kit for restaurants and other businesses where burns may occur. This first aid box has a door pouch storing smaller first aid items like tweezers and nitrile gloves. The overall dimensions are 17 x 13 x 6 inches and the kit weighs 11 pounds. It is designed to be wall-mounted.

First Aid Kits 2 Shelf Metal Cabinet OSHA Class A by MFASCO

Buy on Amazo

Form An Emergency Plan

Every business should have an emergency plan that is communicated and understood by all employees. This can include evacuation routes, emergency contacts, and the roles of various individuals.

Heres a brief checklist for quick reference:

Regular emergency drills

First aid training for employees

Safety committee or designated safety officer

Regularly check supplies for expiration

Fixed, easily accessible location for the kit

Consideration for specialized kits for your industry

Regular restocking of used items

A reliable first aid information guide

Size and contents of the kit appropriate for the business size and industry

Additional trained individuals for first aid

Specialized equipment based on industry requirements

Assigned person for first aid kit maintenance

A well-communicated emergency plan

What are the different types of First Aid kits?

There are four different types of first aid kit containers:

Type 1  Intended to be stationary or mounted; for general indoor use

Type 2  Portable and should have a carrying handle; also for general indoor use

Type 3  Portable with a wall mounting option; for mobile, indoor, and sheltered outdoor use

Type 4  Portable but must have a mounting option, be waterproof and meet certain requirements for corrosion; commonly found in construction and transportation industries

What are Class A first aid kits?

Class A first aid kits contain basic first aid supplies to treat common injuries such as cuts, scrapes, and minor burns. These kits are most common in smaller, low-risk workplaces such as offices.

What are Class B first aid kits?

Class B kits contain a wider array of supplies to treat workplace injuries. Often times this means having a larger quantity of certain items available, such as burn dressing. This website gives a great list of the types of items needed for both classes of first aid kits.

What kinds of items can be found in first aid kits?

Certain items should be stocked in all first aid kits. Here are a few:

Different sized sterile gauze pads

Antiseptic wipes

A mask or breathing barrier

Adhesive bandages in several sizes

A splint

What is the minimum number of first aid kits that should be provided in the workplace?

Most first aid kits display the number of people that can be treated with the available supplies. However, you may want to have multiple first aid kits available, or at the very least, keep your supplies well-stocked so you never run out.

How often do first aid supplies need to be checked?

Check your supplies frequently for items that need to be restocked as well as expired items. A good practice is to set a reminder on your computer or phone so you never forget.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/arab-league-welcomes-results-of-inter-palestinian-talks-in-moscow--deputy-head-1117093982.html

Arab League Welcomes Results of Inter-Palestinian Talks in Moscow  Deputy Head

Arab League Welcomes Results of Inter-Palestinian Talks in Moscow  Deputy Head

Sputnik International

The League of Arab States is welcoming the meeting of Palestinian factions in Moscow, LAS Assistant Secretary-General Hossam Zaki told Sputnik.

2024-03-03T00:54+0000

2024-03-03T00:54+0000

2024-03-03T00:54+0000

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Moscow hosted talks between various Palestinian factions, including the Hamas and Fatah movements from Thursday to Friday, with the sides issuing a joint communique. Following the meeting, Mousa Abu Marzouk, the deputy head of Hamas political bureau, told Sputnik that there were no differences between it and other Palestinian factions that could not be bridged to form a unity government. There is still no consensus on many issues related to the ceasefire in Gaza, he added. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. Over 30,000 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/hamas-loses-trust-in-israel-government-as-no-deal-on-gaza-truce-agreed-yet--statement-1117088679.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/elon-musk-wonders-why-nato-continues-to-exist-after-1991-1117099681.html

Elon Musk Wonders Why NATO Continues to Exist After 1991

Elon Musk Wonders Why NATO Continues to Exist After 1991

Sputnik International

American entrepreneur and billionaire Elon Musk wondered why NATO continued to exist after 1991, when the Warsaw Pact organization, which included the USSR, disintegrated.

2024-03-03T13:19+0000

2024-03-03T13:19+0000

2024-03-03T13:19+0000

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warsaw

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warsaw pact

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American entrepreneur and billionaire Elon Musk has asked why NATO still exists since 1991  when the Warsaw Treaty Organization, which included the USSR, had already disintegrated.Musk was responding to a post on social network X by billionaire David Sachs, who wrote of NATO's "existential crisis" after the collapse of the USSR. Instead of disbanding, the North Atlantic Alliance has a new mission  expansion  Sachs wrote. He added that bureaucracies often "live their own lives" and end up creating the very problems they are supposed to solve. NATO, which was ostensibly meant to "prevent war," has expanded to Russia's borders and "tried to encircle it, provoking war." The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was created on April 4, 1949, during the period of growing international tensions during the Cold War.

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/framework-of-gaza-ceasefire-deal-includes-1-for-10-swap-of-hostages-prisoners---reports-1117106889.html

Framework of Gaza Ceasefire Deal Includes 1-for-10 Swap of Hostages, Prisoners - Reports

Framework of Gaza Ceasefire Deal Includes 1-for-10 Swap of Hostages, Prisoners - Reports

Sputnik International

The framework of a proposed deal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip includes an exchange of some 400 Palestinian prisoners held in Israel for 40 Israeli hostages, the Axios news website reported.

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The hostages that are supposed to be freed by Hamas include women, men over 50 and men with serious illnesses, the report read. Israel, in turn, will free Palestinian prisoners, including 15 convicted of murdering Israelis, Axios said. US President Joe Biden in calls with Egyptian and Qatari leaders is pushing to make Israel and Hamas agree to the ceasefire deal before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, which begins on March 10. The draft deal also includes a six-week pause in hostilities and a gradual return of Palestinians to the northern Gaza Strip, the news website said. In total, Hamas is believed to be holding 134 hostages, Axios said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240218/un-security-council-gears-up-for-gaza-ceasefire-vote-as-us-threatens-veto-1116858194.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/germany-to-sick-to-its-no-taurus-missiles-to-ukraine-decision---report-1117096374.html

Germany to Stick to its 'No Taurus Missiles to Ukraine' Decision - Report

Germany to Stick to its 'No Taurus Missiles to Ukraine' Decision - Report

Sputnik International

Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not revise his opinion on the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine in the wake of the leaked conversation between high-ranking German military officials, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.

2024-03-03T06:45+0000

2024-03-03T06:45+0000

2024-03-03T07:30+0000

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Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not revise his opinion on the delivery of Taurus missiles to Ukraine in the wake of the leaked conversation between high-ranking German military officials, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported.Scholz remains opposed to the transfer of the long-range cruise missiles to the Kiev regime, the publication wrote, citing sources close to the chancellor.The outlet added that Russia had turned the tables on Berlin by publishing the intercepted telephone conversation involving Bundeswehr representatives discussing a potential attack on the Crimea Bridge with the weapons. The bombshell leak, coupled with Olaf Scholz's acknowledgment that British and French troops are assisting the Ukrainians with firing SCALP and Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles at Russian targets, feeds into Berlins Taurus fiasco, the German outlet summed up.Scholz can be expected to stick to his decision, while his allies will have increasingly more reason to doubt Germany, it added.On Friday, Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and the Rossiya Segodnya media group (Sputnik's parent company), published the text of a conversation among four Bundeswehr representatives on the WebEx platform discussing a potential attack on the Crimean Bridge with Taurus missiles and other issues. German news agency DPA reported that the leaked conversation, which took place on February 19, was authentic.The Russian Foreign Ministry has demanded an "immediate explanation" from Berlin of the audio recording. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed in a statement that attempts by the German authorities "to dodge the question will be considered an admission of guilt."The German chancellor has been adamant that Taurus missiles, due to their range of up to 500 kilometers (310 miles) being long enough to hit Russian territory, could make Germany a party to the Ukraine conflict. Its a decision that I have taken as chancellor, and I stand by it in exactly the same way, that this is not something we can make available at this point in time, Scholz was cited as saying at a recent event in Munich.Scholz also drew flak after he inferred that Germany would resist being drawn in to what the British and French militaries were doing by assisting Ukrainians to fire SCALP and Storm Shadow long-range cruise missiles.Taurus, Scholz said on February 26, is a very far-reaching weapon, and emphasized: What is being done in the way of target control and accompanying target control on the part of the British and the French cant be done in Germany. Everyone who has dealt with this system knows that. Scholz further stated that German soldiers must at no point and in no place be linked to targets this (Taurus) system reaches."The chancellor also suggested that "What Ukraine is missing is ammunition at all possible distances, but not decisively this thing from Germany.It is hardly surprising that the UK, one of the most fervid supporters of the Kiev regime, was incensed by what it slammed as a "flagrant abuse of intelligence." Tobias Ellwood, the former chairman of the Commons Defense Committee, claimed the remarks by the German chancellor were "deliberately designed to distract from Germanys reluctance to arm Ukraine with its own long-range missile system. Not only do the developments come amid disagreements among Western countries on additional military aid to the Kiev regime, but they serve to give increasingly less credence to NATO countries' arguments that they are not directly involved in the Ukraine conflict.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240301/full-transcript-of-german-top-military-officials-leaked-plot-to-attack-crimean-bridge-1117078481.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/idf-says-struck-infrastructure-of-islamic-jihad-in-rafah-area-in-gaza-1117094904.html

IDF Says Struck Infrastructure of Islamic Jihad in Rafah Area in Gaza

IDF Says Struck Infrastructure of Islamic Jihad in Rafah Area in Gaza

Sputnik International

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that it had carried out a strike against infrastructure of the Islamic Jihad movement near the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip.

2024-03-03T03:53+0000

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"Earlier today (Saturday), the IDF and ISA [Israel Securities Authority] targeted Islamic Jihad terrorists and terror infrastructure in the area of Rafah," the IDF said on Telegram. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. At least 30,320 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240225/israeli-ops-in-gaza-in-total-chaos-thanks-to-privatization-of-logistics-fmr-idf-general-says-1116973928.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/irony-of-fate-ukraine-would-still-have-an-arms-industry-if-not-for-2014-coup-1117114802.html

Zelenskys Hall of Mirrors: Ukraine Blames West After Botching Proxy War With Russia

Zelenskys Hall of Mirrors: Ukraine Blames West After Botching Proxy War With Russia

Sputnik International

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused his NATO sponsors of playing internal political games instead of providing critical arms assistance to Kiev, warning that the world will remember such a betrayal. Sputnik reached out to a pair of veteran US military experts for a read on the implications of Zelenskys comments.

2024-03-03T18:13+0000

2024-03-03T18:13+0000

2024-03-04T05:52+0000

analysis

ukraine

earl rasmussen

volodymyr zelensky

russia

nato

kiev

us army

us marine corps

arms

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Ukraine asked for nothing more than necessary to protect lives, Zelensky complained in a video address Saturday night, commenting on the deadly results of a purported Russian drone strike in Odessa.Zelenskys remarks come against the backdrop of the continued deadlock in Washington over a $61 billion multiyear Ukraine arms aid package, and the commitment of a paltry $4.5 billion by European NATO powers France and Germany, as the Ukrainian crisis enters its eleventh year. The figures are a far cry from the $125 billion+ delivered to Kiev over the past two years for the proxy war against Russia, which havent helped Kiev reach its objectives during last summers disastrous counteroffensive to try and oust Russian forces from the Donbass, Kherson, Zaporozhye and Crimea.Deadly Blame GameUkraines 2023 offensive was a failure for a variety of reasons including a lack of arms and ammunition, but also due to poorly trained forces and a poorly conceived operational plan, former US Marine and independent geopolitical analyst Brian Berletic told Sputnik.What weapons and ammunition Ukraine did receive were not in quantities necessary for outfighting Russian forces or breaking through Russian defenses. Certain types of capabilities like military aviation, longer-range munitions, additional air defense systems, and electronic warfare capabilities were not even provided ahead of the offensive. Each of these are essential for carrying out the type of offensive operation Ukraine sought to carry out. Even if Ukraine was provided with more types of systems or greater quantities of the systems they have already been provided, deficiencies in trained manpower would remain a serious obstacle for any future offensive, Berletic said.Retired US Army Lt. Col. and international consultant Earl Rasmussen agrees, saying Zelenskys apparent shift in rhetoric is an attempt divert the blame for a counteroffensive that should have never taken place, just like this conflict should never have taken place.Euromaidan vs. Ukraines Military-Industrial BaseIronically, Berletic noted, it was the Ukrainian client state installed by the US and its allies during the 2014 coup detat to fight Russia which ended up decimating Ukraines defense industrial base, and status as the second-largest weapons arsenal in the former Soviet space after the USSRs liquidation in 1991.Subsequently, major defense clients realized that the post-2014 government in Kiev had become incapable of fulfilling contracts, with Thailand canceling an order of tanks, and many other nations simply remov[ing] Ukraine as a possible partners in terms of arms purchases.Blood-Soaked Money-Laundering SchemeUkraine was sucked into a proxy war waged by NATO against Russia for the sake of alliance expansion which Rasmussen characterized as a giant money laundering scheme, essentially, with the countrys defense sector becoming weakened, rather than being strengthened, by defense cooperation with the West.We were providing weapons there. We were providing training, incrementally. You had NATO advisors or contractors inside of Ukraine for a long period of time, I would say even before 2014, but definitely from 2014 on. And we already saw the article in New York Times showing the involvement of the CIA and the multiple CIA sites. We've seen also the growth and expansion of the biological research facilities. And we had weapon systems. I read some article two in the Washington Post, I think it was approximately 50,000, - this is before the conflictthat approximately 50,000 Ukrainian soldiers had already been trained by NATO to NATO standards, Rasmussen recalled.You had a diversity of types of equipment coming in, and that was part of the problem, according to the former soldier.Ukraine was put in a very difficult situation to begin with, the US Army vet said. They were fighting a civil war in the Donbass. So a lot of their industrial base is in the eastAnd whatever they had afterwards when the special military operation began, lot of the capabilities, I'm assuming, were destroyed relatively quicklyThe West was not prepared to have a direct conflict with a peer competitor. Russia has escalatory dominance. It has superior artillery growth. It has the best air defenses in the world. It has air superiority. It has battle-trained people as well. And the population in general, the force structureYou have so many people that had military experience that were in reserves, that could be rapidly activated.The West cynically convinced the Ukrainians that were behind you. Were behind you all the way. Were behind you for as long as it takes, Rasmussen recalled, noting that NATO maneuvered Kiev into a conflict with Moscow before shifting to were behind you as long as we can, with Ukraine losing manpower, seeing their industry destroyed, and their economy wrecked by cutting off trade with Russia in favor of a stupid and economically suicidal attempt to forge a trade relationship with the EU.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/nato-arms-designed-to-keep-kiev-on-life-support-not-enable-ukraine-to-win-1117104657.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/italian-warship-shoots-down-drone-in-red-sea---defense-ministry-1117095380.html

Italian Warship Shoots Down Drone in Red Sea

Italian Warship Shoots Down Drone in Red Sea

Sputnik International

Italian guided missile destroyer Duilio shot down a drone heading towards it in the Red Sea on Saturday, the Italian Defense Ministry said.

2024-03-03T04:11+0000

2024-03-03T04:11+0000

2024-03-03T06:13+0000

world

italy

houthi

ansar allah

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"This afternoon, guided by the principle of self-defense, the ship Duilio shot down an unmanned aerial vehicle in the Red Sea. The unmanned aerial vehicle, similar in its characteristics to those already used in previous attacks, was approximately 6 kilometers [3.7 miles] from the Italian ship and was flying towards it," the ministry said in a statement. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the Houthi attacks "terrorist," adding that they were a "serious violation of international law" and an "attack on the safety of maritime transport" on which the countrys economy depends, the statement read.Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led the United States to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. Forces of the US and the United Kingdom 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/20240303/malaysian-minister-pledges-to-renew-hunt-for-flight-mh370-decade-after-its-disappearance-1117113861.html

Malaysian Minister Pledges to Renew Hunt for Flight MH370 Decade After Its Disappearance

Malaysian Minister Pledges to Renew Hunt for Flight MH370 Decade After Its Disappearance

Sputnik International

Malaysian Transport Minister Anthony Loke on Sunday pledged to resume the search for Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 that vanished from air traffic radar en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing in 2014.

2024-03-03T16:38+0000

2024-03-03T16:38+0000

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asia

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"As I stand before you, and make this promise, I will do everything possible to gain evidence, to sign a new contract with [US seabed exploration company] Ocean Infinity for the search to resume as soon as possible," the minister was quoted as saying by the Malay Mail newspaper. The authorities are now waiting to meet with representatives of Ocean Infinity, who were invited to Malaysia after the company's previous contract to look for the plane wreckage ended in 2018, the minister added. Ocean Infinity carried out a "no find, no fee" mission to locate the missing passenger jet in the southern Indian Ocean between January and May 2018, a year after an official search by Malaysia, Australia and China yielded no results. On the night of March 8, 2014, Malaysia Airlines flight MH370, a Boeing 777-200 with 227 passengers and 12 crew members on board, disappeared from radar during a flight from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. The plane is believed to have gone down in the southern Indian Ocean. Its crash site has not been found yet.

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Xi urges young officials to take on historical task on new journey

Xinhua) 10:06, March 03, 2024

BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Party School of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (National Academy of Governance) held an opening ceremony on the morning of March 1 for the training program for young and middle-aged officials for the spring semester of 2024. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, Chinese president, and chairman of the Central Military Commission, gave important instructions. He emphasized that young officials are a new force in the development of the Party's and the country's cause, and successors to the cause of socialism with Chinese characteristics. On the new journey, young officials, with heavy responsibilities on their shoulders and great accomplishments to make, must keep firmly in mind the Party's original aspiration and mission, strive hard to make progress and do a good job in taking on their historical mission.

Xi stressed that they should consciously and firmly believe in, and implement the Party's new theories, and keep enhancing cohesion and forging their souls with the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era. Xi urged them to keep strengthening and cementing their faith and ideal, have a strong political standing, and effectively improve their understanding of the Marxist theory and their ability to apply it.

It is imperative for young officials to be conscious role models in practicing loyalty and honesty toward the Party, take a clear-cut stance in maintaining political integrity, and greatly improve their capacities for political judgment, thinking, and implementation. They should strictly abide by the Party's political discipline and rules, speak their minds, do solid work, be honest, and always keep aligned with the CPC Central Committee. They should also commit themselves to selfless dedication, striving to bring more benefits to the people. This requires them to put the people in the paramount position and cultivate a correct understanding of what it means to perform well. They should carry out the Party's mass line for the new era, improve their capacities for working with the people, and put their hearts and souls into addressing the pressing concerns of the people, so as to constantly increase people's sense of fulfillment, happiness, and security.

They are required to work hard and be courageous enough to shoulder responsibilities and perform their duties. They should carry out reform and innovation with determination, and have the courage and ability to carry out struggle. They should be willing and ready to take on the heaviest burdens, confront the toughest challenges, and handle the most difficult tasks, constantly opening new ground in their work by facing and solving problems head-on. They should act as strong promoters of establishing a sound political environment, and carry out thorough self-reform. They should remain frugal and humble. It is essential for them to firmly oppose pointless formalities, bureaucratism, and privilege-seeking mindsets and practices, so as to forever maintain the political integrity of uprightness and honesty as they should as members of the CPC.

Xi made it a requirement for Party organizations at all levels to work with a strong sense of political responsibility and historical mission, doing a good job in the fundamental work of cultivating more qualified successors to carry forward the cause of the Party and the country. They should optimize the mechanism of training and selecting excellent young officials on a regular basis, strictly educate, manage and supervise young officials, and continuously train and bring up reliable successors capable of taking on the great task of building China into a strong country and realizing national rejuvenation.

Xi's important instructions were conveyed at the opening ceremony. Cai Qi, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.

Cai noted in his speech that General Secretary Xi's important instructions are profound and insightful and of great political, ideological, guiding and pertinent significance. They should serve to mobilize and motivate young officials to embark on a new journey and make achievements in the new era. They should function as a handbook for their healthy growth, and serve as a sound guide to ensure a good job in work related to young officials. The instructions therefore must be conscientiously studied and resolutely implemented.

Cai put forward hopes and requirements for young officials. They are as follows: strengthen theoretical study and have a good command of abilities to put theories into practice, thoroughly study and have an in-depth understanding of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era as what is the most fundamental and crucial, have a good command of its scientific system, core essence and practical requirements, and turn what they have learned into what they do in performing their duties and promoting the cause of the Party and the country.

It is a must to remain loyal and honest to the Party, lay a solid political foundation, forever uphold the Party's guideline, follow the Party's will and stay committed to the Party's mission. Young officials must gain a deep understanding of the decisive significance of establishing Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and establishing the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, uphold Comrade Xi Jinping's core position on the Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and uphold the Central Committee's authority and its centralized, unified leadership. They must have firm ideals and convictions, raise organizational awareness, be honest and aboveboard, and match their deeds to their words. It is important for them to foster a sincere care for and strive for the well-being of the people, stand firmly with the people, and maintain a people-centered mindset, so as to regard working for the people's well-being as the most crucial aspect of their job performance and immerse themselves in practical work to address the issues that are important to people's livelihoods. They must make efforts to actively fulfill their duties, act with a sense of responsibility, apply a realistic and pragmatic approach and make solid progress, be determined to carry out reforms and overcome difficulties, have the courage to respond to various challenges and prevent risks, and take effective measures to address real issues.

It is imperative for them to strictly observe the Party's discipline and rules, always be honest and clean, always be highly conscious of the importance to abide by the Party's rules and the country's laws, and keep the consciousness of self-examination, be prudent as if treading on thin ice and subject themselves to strict Party supervision and discipline, so as to jointly cultivate a wholesome political atmosphere of integrity. They are required to keep in mind what the Party and the people expect of them, bear the mission of the times in mind and on shoulders, and dedicate themselves to the Party, the nation and the people, so as to contribute to the great endeavor of building China into a strong country and realizing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization.

Li Ganjie presided over the opening ceremony. Jiang Xinzhi and Chen Xi were present.

Trainees of the 2024 spring training program for young and middle-aged officials at the Party School participated in the opening ceremony, and leading officials from relevant central Party departments sat in on it.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Zhong Wenxing)
ANTALYA, Turkiye, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar said Saturday that his country opposes imposing sanctions on Russia and won't send any weapons or troops to Ukraine to escalate the conflict.

"Sanction hurts even more the European Union than the Russian economy," he told reporters after a meeting with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum held in the southern Turkish city.

"We will not support any other sanction which will hurt more Slovakia than Russia," he noted.

"As the new government of Slovakia, we will not deliver any weapons from the warehouses of Slovakia force to Ukraine," said Blanar, noting that his government halted sending a package of weapons that cost around 40 million Euros to Ukraine.

"Our position is more clear now than before because the frontier doesn't move, and we are calling for ceasefire and peace talking process which is the only solution of this crisis," he told reporters.

His remarks came after French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that "everything that is necessary" must be done to ensure the defeat of Russia, including deploying troops.

In response to Macron's remarks, Lavrov on Friday said Macron did not misspeak over the possibility of NATO sending troops to Ukraine, noting that the troops were already there unofficially.

Macron's remarks have been rejected by several NATO countries, who said that they had no plans to send troops to Ukraine to fight against Russia. 
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/nato-already-has-boots-on-the-ground-in-ukraine-ex-cia-officer-says-1117100891.html

NATO 'Already Has Boots on the Ground in Ukraine', Ex-CIA Officer Says

NATO 'Already Has Boots on the Ground in Ukraine', Ex-CIA Officer Says

Sputnik International

NATO already has boots on the ground in Ukraine, former CIA officer Larry Johnson emphasized during his recent interview on Judge Andrew Napolitanos podcast Judging Freedom.

2024-03-03T12:30+0000

2024-03-03T12:30+0000

2024-03-03T12:30+0000

world

nato

ukraine

russia

vladimir putin

joe biden

larry johnson

proxy war

taurus cruise missile

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NATO already has boots on the ground in Ukraine, former CIA officer Larry Johnson emphasized during an recent interview on Judge Andrew Napolitanos podcast Judging Freedom.Accordingly, Moscow is signaling that, this is going to stop, or you are going to have to pay a price, the CIA vet accentuated.At this point, Johnson described the timing of the latest bombshell intercept featuring German war talk on Ukraine as far from accidental.DPA reported later that the leaked conversation between German military officers on security matters concerning Russia and Ukraine conducted on the CISCO Webex platform was authentic. On Friday, German newspaper Die Welt reported, citing German soldiers, that the recording was circulating in the Bundeswehr, and that officials considered it authentic."Russia is confident that it has got Ukraine on the run," especially with the recent liberation of the stronghold of Avdeyevka, Larry Johnson stated in the podcast. At the same time, according to the CIA veteran, the leak coincides with remarks made by Russias President Vladimir Putin during his annual State of the Union address. Speaking on February 29, Putin accused the West of instigating the Ukraine conflagration, adding that the US-driven anti-Russia campaign had miscalculated and ran into the firm position and determination of our multinational people.During that speech, the president put the West on notice that attacks on Russia will not go unanswered, and that it runs the risk of nuclear escalation, stressed Johnson.While further provision of Western aid to the Kiev regime is in limbo in the US Congress, divisions on propping up the regime in Kiev are heating up the rift between France's President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, political analysts have told Sputnik.Macron recently proclaimed at a summit in Paris that there was "no consensus" on sending ground troops to Ukraine in an "official manner," but added that "nothing was excluded." Despite a swift wave of backlash, he defended his stance, claiming his words were "weighed, thought through and measured." Olaf Scholz was quick to reject the idea, emphasizing that "there will be no soldiers on Ukrainian soil sent there" by European states or NATO members.French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne also stepped in to rule out conducting military operations in Ukraine, telling the radio broadcaster France Inter on Friday:"The French will not die for Ukraine. We will not send troops into combat because the framework has been set, which is to prevent Russia from winning without going to war with Russia. And nothing is excluded within this framework." As for the US, President Joe Biden may consider sending US Army personnel to Ukraine if he is reelected, American billionaire David Sachs suggested on the social network X (formerly Twitter).To begin with, Biden "opposed sending F16s, Abrams tanks, and long-range missiles to Ukraine on the grounds that it could start WWIII," Sachs recalled, adding that, "the only taboo left is ground troops."Citing "daily revelations that NATO special forces are already operating in Ukraine," he concluded that Biden would "no doubt" send ground troops to Ukraine "should he win a second term."It should be noted that diehard supporters of Kiev, like Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala, have gone on record as saying they are not considering sending troops. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg was also cited as saying that, there are no plans for NATO combat troops on the ground in Ukraine.Moscow has repeatedly warned of the danger of a direct conflict between Russia and NATO if the alliance were to send combat troops to fight in the West's proxy war in Ukraine.The very fact of discussing the possibility of sending certain contingents to Ukraine from NATO countries is a very important new element, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov underscored, adding that, "in that case, we would need to talk not about the probability, but about the inevitability [of direct conflict].

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/germany-to-be-dragged-into-ukrainian-conflict-if-taurus-missiles-delivered---official-1117085880.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240226/leaked-details-on-cia-ops-in-ukraine-signal-end-is-near-for-kiev-agency-vet-1116996822.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/qatar-us-hamas-delegations-arrive-in-cairo-for-new-round-of-truce-talks-in-gaza---reports-1117099806.html

Qatar, US, Hamas Delegations Arrive in Cairo for New Round of Truce Talks in Gaza - Reports

Qatar, US, Hamas Delegations Arrive in Cairo for New Round of Truce Talks in Gaza - Reports

Sputnik International

CAIRO (Sputnik) - The delegations of Qatar, the United States and the Palestinian movement Hamas have arrived in the Egyptian capital of Cairo for a new round... 03.03.2024, Sputnik International

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On Saturday, the broadcaster reported that the truce talks would be resumed in Cairo on Sunday with all parties in attendance. On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from Gaza and breached the border, killing 1,200 people and abducting around 240 others. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza, and started a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages. At least 30,000 people have been killed so far in the Gaza Strip, local authorities said. On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1. More than 100 hostages are still believed to be held by Hamas in Gaza.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/idf-says-struck-infrastructure-of-islamic-jihad-in-rafah-area-in-gaza-1117094904.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/ray-mcgovern-sheer-incompetence-and-ignorance-led-to-plan-to-attack-crimean-bridge-1117094289.html

Ray McGovern: Sheer Incompetence and Ignorance Led to Plan to Attack Crimean Bridge

Ray McGovern: Sheer Incompetence and Ignorance Led to Plan to Attack Crimean Bridge

Sputnik International

Former CIA analyst and long time peace activist Ray McGovern told Radio Sputnik that only "sheer incompetence and ignorance" could have led to the plan to attack the Crimean Bridge.

2024-03-03T02:20+0000

2024-03-03T02:20+0000

2024-03-03T02:20+0000

analysis

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The audio included operational and targeting details of Taurus missiles even though in public, sending Taurus missiles to Ukraine remains a matter of debate. Significantly, the four officers discussed hitting the Crimean bridge and how to maintain plausible deniability for their involvement in such operations.Ray McGovern, a peace activist and former CIA analyst with over 27 years of experience, told Sputniks The Critical Hour that only sheer incompetence and ignorance would lead NATO to consider such plans.McGovern said that the leaked German conversation, which has since been reportedly confirmed as authentic by German officials, reflected comments that former CIA Director and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates made during an interview with Western media.If you want to give the Russians pause, if you want to interrupt that sense of momentum that they have, why not be able to do things like drop the Kerch Strait Bridge? That would have a big impact on the Russians, I think, psychologically as well as militarily, Gates said during the interview.Heres this wise man, Bobby Gates, saying Oh let's get into World War Three, McGovern said. I mean, if he is speaking for an influential element not only in the White House but also the German Army, my God.After noting that Gates wrote in his autobiography that it has never been on top of [Gates] job jar to please the Russians, McGovern warned that it may not be on top of the jar of people to make Putin or the Russians happy, but my God, they have to recognize that they dont want to alienate the Russians or make the Russians think that [the West is] so unpredictable that the Russians may have to use this advantage that they have now in strategic weaponry."Co-host Wilmer Leon asked about comments from US Senator and vice chair of the Intelligence Committee Marco Rubio (R-FL) that Ukraine needs to end in a negotiated settlement. McGovern said he doubted Rubios intentions but said the comments were still significant.Hes the same guy that voted vociferously to give [$60 billion] more to Ukraine, and of course $14 billion to Israel, X billion to Taiwan and whoever else. So I dont know. A lot of this is rhetoric now, but it is significant that the rhetoric itself is changing, McGovern explained. If they don't get a negotiated settlement or something they [can] depict as the same, its going to be just a disastrous loss.But anytime a world nuclear power is cornered, it can be extremely dangerous, McGovern warned.Asked if waning support for Ukraine among the American public could pull the world back from the brink, McGovern said it depends on the American people.The question is whether enough Americans will go to their representatives and say no more money to Ukraine, its a fools errand. Because Mike Johnson, the Speaker of the House, is under incredibly big pressure to approve that," McGovern advised.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240301/full-transcript-of-german-top-military-officials-leaked-plot-to-attack-crimean-bridge-1117078481.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/german-defense-ministry-concerned-about-possibility-of-wider-secret-talks-leak---reports-1117092148.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/rossiya-segodnya-editor-in-chief-simonyan-speaks-at-world-youth-festival-1117097033.html

Rossiya Segodnya Editor-in-Chief Simonyan Speaks at World Youth Festival

Rossiya Segodnya Editor-in-Chief Simonyan Speaks at World Youth Festival

Sputnik International

Sputnik goes live as Margarita Simonyan, the editor-in-chief of RT and Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group speaks at the discussion "Russia Today: History in Every Day" at the World Youth Festival at the Sirius Federal Territory on Sunday.

2024-03-03T08:37+0000

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2024-03-03T08:37+0000

russia

margarita simonyan

russia

festival

world youth festival 2024

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Sputnik is live as Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of RT and Rossiya Segodnya, Sputnik's parent media group, speaks at the discussion Russia Today: History in Every Day at the World Youth Festival on the Sirius Federal Territory on Sunday.The World Youth Festival is attended by 20,000 Russian and foreign youth leaders from business, media, international cooperation, culture, science, education, volunteer and charity, sports, and social groups, as well as young people representing various children's organizations and associations. The World Youth Festival is the largest event of its kind.Follow Sputnik's live feed to find out more!

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russia-delivers-blow-to-nato-ranks-with-leaked-german-war-talks-on-ukraine-1117098264.html

Russia Delivers Blow to NATO Ranks With Leaked German War Talks on Ukraine

Russia Delivers Blow to NATO Ranks With Leaked German War Talks on Ukraine

Sputnik International

Moscow blew a hole in NATO ranks by publishing the Bundeswehr officials' intercepted war plotting, Iranian political scientist Ruhollah Modabber told Sputnik.

2024-03-03T09:23+0000

2024-03-03T09:23+0000

2024-03-04T11:30+0000

analysis

nato

bundeswehr

ukraine

russia

proxy war

hybrid war

taurus cruise missile

german military leak

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By publishing Bundeswehr officials' intercepted alleged attack-plotting, Moscow did more than shed light on the hybrid war waged by a united Western front against Russia for years, Iranian political scientist Ruhollah Modabber told Sputnik.Russia also blew a hole in NATO ranks, while demonstrating the strength and capabilities of its own forces, the expert stated.The Iranian expert weighed in on the "hybrid war waged by the West against Russia for many years," saying:This war has targeted Russian values, Russian language and culture, and even Russian monuments, especially in Eastern Europe; anti-Russian sentiment has reached its climax in Lithuania, Latvia, and Ukraine, and [Russias President Vladimir] Putin has frequently mentioned this. This war is being waged through the media, which publishes fake news about Russia, and is also the result of the work of think tanks of intelligence agencies such as MI6 and the CIA, which have failed in achieving their goals. The videoconference was held on the WebEx platform on February 19, 2024. It involved Brigadier General Frank Graefe (department head for operations and exercises at the Air Force Forces Command of the Bundeswehr), General Ingo Gerhartz (Bundeswehr Air Force inspector), and two employees of the Air Operations Command within the Space Operations Center of the Bundeswehr. German news agency DPA reported that the leaked conversation was authentic. The broadcaster ARD slammed the leak as a "catastrophe" for Germany's secret services.The Russian Foreign Ministry has demanded an "immediate explanation" from Berlin pertaining to the audio recording. Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stressed in a statement that attempts by the German authorities "to dodge the question will be considered an admission of guilt."The desire of the German Army to strike Russian territory indicates the military bankruptcy of Berlin, underscored Nabil Surur, Lebanese expert on Russian affairs.He pointed out that the West is now in a critical state, having exhausted its forces by providing weapons, equipment, artillery and aviation to the failing Kiev regime. Meanwhile, "Russia is a tough nut to crack in every way, and the Russians will go after anyone who threatens their national security... This is proven by the victories and achievements of the Russian Army in Ukraine, which indicate the correctness of the strategic decisions made by the military leadership of the Russian Federation," the pundit emphasized.Ahmed Al-Haj Ali, Lebanese international and regional relations expert, said that Moscow has enough similar files that could affect the reputation of major Western countries," adding:Germany's denial of leaks of military conversations will not protect Berlin, and will not change the fact that the West is involved in supporting Ukraine in many attacks that threaten Russias national security, Ali Hamud, another Lebanese expert, warned.According to Ali Hamud, the United States has been "using Europe as a tool to contain Russia and reduce the importance of Moscow. However, the Russians were able to achieve economic successes and resist everything that could threaten them from the point of view of European-American weapons," the analyst added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/german-defense-ministry-concerned-about-possibility-of-wider-secret-talks-leak---reports-1117092148.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/ray-mcgovern-sheer-incompetence-and-ignorance-led-to-plan-to-attack-crimean-bridge-1117094289.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/natos-presence-in-ukraine-is-hardly-surprising-for-anyone-1117092483.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russian-air-defense-destroys-38-ukrainian-drones-over-crimea-1117095502.html

Russian Air Defense Destroys 38 Ukrainian Drones Over Crimea

Russian Air Defense Destroys 38 Ukrainian Drones Over Crimea

Sputnik International

Russian air defense systems shot down 38 Ukrainian drones over Crimea, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

2024-03-03T04:23+0000

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2024-03-03T04:23+0000

russia

ukrainian drone attacks on russia

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"Tonight, an attempt by the Kiev regime to carry out a terrorist attack using 38 fixed-wing drones on objects on the territory of the Russian Federation was prevented. All Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed by air defense systems over the territory of the Republic of Crimea," the ministry said.Ukraine has been sending drones and missiles into the Russian territory almost daily since it launched a counteroffensive in early June. The United Nations said in August, following a botched drone strike on Moscow, that it did not want to see any targeting of civilian infrastructure.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240229/watch-russian-drones-hammer-ukrainian-tanks-and-artillery-1117056908.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russian-forces-capture-vietnam-war-era-us-m113-apc-1117100226.html

Russian Forces Capture Vietnam War-Era US M113 APC During Avdeyevka Liberation

Russian Forces Capture Vietnam War-Era US M113 APC During Avdeyevka Liberation

Sputnik International

Soldiers of the Tsentr battlegroup have captured surviving samples of foreign equipment, including an American M113 armored personnel carrier, as well as Turkish and British armored vehicles, a Sputnik correspondent reported.

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2024-03-03T11:24+0000

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During the battle for Avdeyevka, soldiers of Battlegroup Tsentr captured foreign equipment, including an American M113 armored personnel carrier, as well as Turkish and British armored vehicles, a Sputnik correspondent has reported. The trophies were displayed by servicemen of a repair and evacuation regiment.The serviceman noted that the armored vehicle was not damaged and was in operational technical condition, meaning that the APC was simply abandoned.According to him, instead of the standard American 120 mm mortar, a mortar of the same caliber but of Soviet design was installed inside.In addition, during the demonstration of captured vehicles, fighters of Battlegroup Tsentr took a ride on a Turkish Kirpi armored vehicle used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to the platoon commander, Ukrainian soldiers abandoned the vehicle while fleeing, and Russian troops got it in almost perfect condition.The Kirpi troop carrier, an armored vehicle of the Turkish Army and manufactured by the local company BMC, has a combat weight of 20 tons and can accommodate up to 13 personnel. According to open sources, Ukraine has received at least 200 such vehicles since 2022.Another trophy demonstrated by the Russian Army was a British Pinzgauer 718 armored vehicle with a 6x6 wheel arrangement.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20230901/examination-shows-russian-bmp-3-level-above-us-trophy-bradley-ifv-1113036475.html

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Russian Forces Capture US M113 APC Used During Vietnam War Sputnik International Russian Forces Capture US M113 APC Used During Vietnam War 2024-03-03T10:52+0000 true PT0M49S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russian-forces-destroy-another-us-made-abrams-tank-near-avdeyevka-with-upyr-fpv-drone-1117115666.html

Russian Forces Destroy Another US-Made Abrams Tank Near Avdeyevka With Upyr Drones

Russian Forces Destroy Another US-Made Abrams Tank Near Avdeyevka With Upyr Drones

Sputnik International

Another American Abrams tank was destroyed by the Russian troops with FPV drones, a representative of the UAV's manufacturer told Sputnik.

2024-03-03T18:31+0000

2024-03-03T18:31+0000

2024-03-03T18:54+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

avdeyevka

ukraine

dmitry peskov

defense ministry

rpg-7

drone

m1a2 abrams

abrams tanks

m1 abrams tank

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Today, near Avdeyevka, our Upyr drones destroyed an Abrams tank," a representative of the drone manufacturer said. "It was destroyed by fighters from the Tsentr group." "The American vehicle came close to our positions [and] the infantrymen shot out its track with an RPG-7 grenade launcher," the company representative added. "The stopped tank was burned by a crew of FPV drones. They used 2 kamikaze [drone] Upyr of our production."Russian soldiers have already destroyed two US-made Abrams tanks near Avdeyevka, also with the help of FPV-drones.The battle took place on February 26 near the village of Berdychi. Russian soldiers destroyed several pieces of equipment of the Ukraine armed forces that day, including tan US-made Abrams tank.The destruction of the first Abrams tank supplied to Kiev shows that Russian soldiers are determined to demilitarize Ukraine, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, commenting on developments that day."From the very beginning, our fighters said that these tanks would burn as well as others, but in general, as you and I know from the daily reports of the Defense Ministry, this is the daily, systematic, professional and selfless work of our soldiers, who demilitarize Ukraine and do it daily," Peskov told reporters.The US Department of Defense declined to confirm or give any comment following reports about the destruction of the first Abrams tank on the battlefield in Ukraine, and referred all inquiries to Kiev.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240301/exclusive-how-us-tank-worth-millions-of-dollars-was-defeated-by-cheap-russian-drone-1117079419.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russian-forces-improve-front-line-positions-in-avdeyevka-and-donetsk-areas-1117102030.html

Russian Forces Improve Front Line Positions in Avdeyevka and Donetsk Areas

Russian Forces Improve Front Line Positions in Avdeyevka and Donetsk Areas

Sputnik International

Russian forces repelled 14 attacks by the Ukrainian army in the Avdeyevka and Donetsk areas, eliminating up to 700 soldiers over the past 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.

2024-03-03T13:16+0000

2024-03-03T13:16+0000

2024-03-03T13:16+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

donetsk

ukraine

russia

russian defense ministry

multiple-launch rocket systems (mlrs)

d-30

grad

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"Near Avdeyevka, units of Battlegroup Tsentr improved front line positions and repelled 11 counterattacks by ... the Ukrainian Army in the areas of [the villages of] Tonenkoye, Orlovka, Pervomaiskoe, and Berdychi in the Donetsk People's Republic. Two attacks by assault groups of the 24th Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Army were also repelled in the vicinity of the locality of Nyu-York in the Donetsk People's Republic," the ministry said. In this area alone, Ukraine lost up to 460 troops both killed and wounded in the past 24 hours, with Russian forces also eliminating three tanks and five infantry fighting vehicles, the ministry added. A Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery unit, two Giatsint-B howitzers, and a Gvozdika self-propelled artillery unit were hit in the course of a counter-battery battle, the ministry said. In the Donetsk direction, Russian forces repelled three attacks by Ukraine, eliminating an ammunition depot and up to 240 troops, the ministry said. Kiev also lost two armored personnel carriers, three cars, and a US-made M777 artillery system, the ministry added. Meanwhile, in the Kupyansk area, Russia repelled five attacks by Ukraine, which lost up to 35 troops, two cars, two US-made M777 and M198 howitzers, and a D-20 howitzer, the ministry said. Meanwhile, in the Kherson region, the Russian Army repelled an attack by Kiev in the area of the village of Robotino, eliminating more than 40 servicemen, two M777 artillery systems, and five vehicles, as well as D-20 and D-30 howitzers, and an Anklav-N electronic warfare station, the ministry added. In the South Donetsk area, Russian forces destroyed up to 250 Ukrainian soldiers, three cars, and an Akatsiya self-propelled artillery unit, as well as a D-20 howitzer, two Gvozdika self-propelled artillery units, and a Grad multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) combat vehicle, the ministry said. Russian air defense systems also downed 143 Ukrainian drones, including a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB-2, and two HIMARS MLRS missiles, the ministry said. The drones were shot down over the Donetsk People's Republic, Kharkov, Kherson, Zaporozhye, and Sumy regions, the ministry noted.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/watch-russian-su-35-fighter-jets-blocking-skies-over-avdeyevka--1117088107.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russian-troops-reveal-how-generals-winter-and-mud-punish-nato-vehicles-in-ukraine-1117102170.html

Russian Troops Reveal How Generals Winter and Mud Punish NATO Vehicles in Ukraine

Russian Troops Reveal How Generals Winter and Mud Punish NATO Vehicles in Ukraine

Sputnik International

Ukraine has received tens of billions of dollars worth of Warsaw Pact and NATO-standard armored transports, infantry fighting vehicles, tanks and mobile artillery systems over the past two years, expecting to use them to make a successful breakthrough against Russian forces during last years disastrous counteroffensive.

2024-03-03T13:20+0000

2024-03-03T13:20+0000

2024-03-03T13:53+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

ukraine

nato

kiev

leopard 2

warsaw pact

military equipment

equipment

tactics

capabilities

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Troops from Russia's Battlegroup Tsentr have shown off NATO-made armored vehicles captured intact during the special military operation in Ukraine, revealing to a Sputnik correspondent why the vehicles have proven unsuitable for local battlefield conditions.Russian forces managed to get ahold of one of these vehicles fully intact and in full working order during Ukrainian forces chaotic retreat from the fortified Donetsk suburb of Avdeyevka last month.Ukraine was sent about 200 BMC Kirpi (lit. "Hedgehog") MRAPs last year, with the vehicles operated by Ukraines ground forces and Marines. Independent OSINT analysts estimated last October that over a quarter of the 20-ton vehicles had been destroyed, damaged, abandoned, or captured by Russian forces. Along with Turkiye and Ukraine, the vehicles, which have a complement of up to 13 passengers and an operational range of up to 1,000 km, have been bought by or donated to Djibouti, the Serbian breakaway of Kosovo, Libya, Somalia, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, and the UAE.Another trophy NATO vehicle shown off by Russian troops is the Pinzgauer 718, a BAE Systems Land and Armaments-manufactured all-terrain 6x6 vehicle.This vehicle, judging by the tactical markings applied to it, was used by medical staff to evacuate the wounded. Its front axle was destroyed, a trooper going by the call sign "Kazan," the deputy commander for weapons of a separate repair and evacuation regiment from Battlegroup Tsentr, told Sputnik.Ukraine has received at least 11 Pinzgauer vehicles of various configurations, three of them ambulances, and eight in their armored personnel carrier role, since mid-2022. The vehicles have an operational range of about 400 km, a 2.5-ton payload capacity, and the ability to transport between 8 and 12 passengers. The vehicles were developed by Austrian-based manufacturing conglomerate Steyr-Daimler-Puch in the early 1970s, with Britains BAE producing them between 2000 and 2007.Shattering NATO MythsThe battlefields of Ukraine have effectively shattered the reputation of invincibility that NATO equipment earned for itself in battles against smaller conventional adversaries through the 1990s, 2000s, and 2010s, with Russian forces destroying thousands of Western military vehicles ranging from Bradley IFVs to Abrams, Challenger 2, and Leopard 2 main battle tanks over the past eight months.Western defense observers recognized the limitations of their military hardware in Ukraine, urging Kiev to speed up the pace of its disastrous counteroffensive before getting stuck in the mud and winter weather, and pointing out that individual weapons systems, including Ukraines complement on Abrams tanks  requires rigorous maintenance to keep their engines operational in dusty rural conditions over long periods. As far back as August of 2023, experts began coming out of the woodwork to suggest that Kiev stick to its Soviet-era military equipment for attacks against entrenched Russian positions, at least in part due to the maneuverability characteristics of the old equipment in bad weather and difficult terrain.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russian-forces-capture-vietnam-war-era-us-m113-apc-1117100226.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russia-delivers-blow-to-nato-ranks-with-leaked-german-war-talks-on-ukraine-1117098264.html

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Nalucha Nganga-Ziba, the WWF-Zambia country director, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Lusaka, Zambia, March 1, 2024. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua)

LUSAKA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) issued a warning on Friday, highlighting the dire drought situation in Zambia and its potential negative impact on wildlife, while also exacerbating human-animal conflicts.

Nalucha Nganga-Ziba, the WWF-Zambia country director, expressed concerns about the imminent emergence of human-animal conflicts. "The impact of the drought is that it will affect the ecological functionality of any system. This spans from people, livestock, crops, forests and wildlife animals. As we know water is needed for both wildlife and humans for survival," she said in an interview with Xinhua ahead of the commemoration of this year's World Wildlife Day to be held on Sunday.

This year's theme, "Connecting People and Planet: Exploring Digital Innovation in Wildlife Conservation," underscores the importance of innovative approaches to wildlife preservation.

Nganga-Ziba said that areas hardest hit by the drought would likely experience more pronounced human-animal conflicts. Additionally, communities may be forced to fetch water from rivers infested with crocodiles, endangering their lives.

Calling for intervention measures to support both humans and wildlife, Nganga-Ziba highlighted the government's declaration of the drought as a disaster and emergency. She recalled the 2015/16 drought, during which wild animals roamed far and wide in search of water and pasture.

The WWF official said that the organization has committed to the use of digital innovation to conserve wildlife in Zambia. Digital tools are crucial in monitoring wildlife and protecting them from poachers, she said, adding that collaboration with organizations like Game Rangers International has enabled the monitoring of wildlife patterns, aiding in understanding and protecting wildlife.

She noted that poaching and international trade were among the major challenges affecting wildlife in the world and that Zambia has not been spared because there was an increased demand for rhino horns and live pangolins on the international market. According to her, an average of three people were being arrested in Zambia per month in possession of live pangolins.

Climate change has exacerbated encroachment in national parks and game management areas, as people are forced to invade protected areas with remaining forests, Nganga-Ziba said. Despite these challenges, she commended the Zambian government for its political will in combating poaching in the country's 20 national parks and 36 game management areas.

The WWF has collaborated with the Department of National Parks and Wildlife to conserve wildlife, providing training for community game rangers and salaries, she said, emphasizing the need for increased awareness to help communities understand the importance of wildlife, a goal the organization is actively pursuing in various parts of the country. 
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/russias-galuzin-chinas-li-hui-discuss-ukraine-crisis---foreign-ministry-1117093684.html

Russias Galuzin, Chinas Li Hui Discuss Ukraine Crisis - Foreign Ministry

Russias Galuzin, Chinas Li Hui Discuss Ukraine Crisis - Foreign Ministry

Sputnik International

Russian Deputy FM Galuzin has held a meeting with Chinese Special Representative on Eurasian Affairs Li Hui, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

2024-03-03T00:47+0000

2024-03-03T00:47+0000

2024-03-03T00:47+0000

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russia

ukraine

li hui

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"Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Galuzin received in Moscow the special representative of the government of the Peoples Republic of China for Eurasian Affairs, the head of the Chinese delegation to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Li Hui. An interesting and detailed exchange of views took place on the topic of the Ukraine crisis," the ministry said in a statement. The diplomats noted that "the ultimatums put forward by Kiev and the West to Russia and the associated dialogue formats only harm the prospects for a settlement and cannot serve as its basis," the statement added.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/russia-received-no-constructive-proposals-on-ukraine-peace-talks-since-2022--lavrov-1117088921.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/texans-warned-about-practical-challenges-of-secession-ahead-of-super-tuesday-1117103082.html

Texans Warned About 'Practical Challenges of Secession' Ahead of Super Tuesday

Texans Warned About 'Practical Challenges of Secession' Ahead of Super Tuesday

Sputnik International

Ahead of Super Tuesday, Texas voters are being cautioned against casting their ballots for a growing number of pro-secession candidates.

2024-03-03T15:44+0000

2024-03-03T15:44+0000

2024-03-03T15:44+0000

americas

us

texas

texas governor greg abbott

republic of texas

greg abbott

secession

republican

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As Super Tuesday nears, Texan voters have been cautioned against casting their ballots for a growing number of pro-secession candidates.Presidential primaries and caucuses will take place in over a dozen states on March 5, with Republican and Democrat contenders hoping to win enough delegates to seal their nomination as presidential candidate.The Dallas Morning News ran a story on March 2  Texas independence day  warning that many candidates for the Lone Star states House of Representatives and other offices have signed the Take Texas Back pledge.The pledge requires candidates to "vow their commitment to a contract with Texans, promising to vote and act solely in the best interests of Texans" if they are elected. Those who sign it also promise to legislate for a referendum for Texan independence."Those who refuse will be met with a clear and uncompromising warning. We will actively recruit, train, and support opponents who embody true Texas First values, while exposing the voting records of those who contradict these values," states the pledge.The Dallas Morning News editorial said over 150 people have already signed the pledge, including a host of GOP candidates in North Texas. Many of the signatories have reportedly received campaign donations from the Texans United for a Conservative Majority political action committee (PAC)  said to be funded by 68-year-old West Texas oil billionaire Tim Dunn, a self-described devout Christian, immigration hardliner, founder and CEO of Crownquest.Signatories to the pledge are not "thinking far ahead about the real-life consequences of their statements," said the newspaper, stressing that the movement's website "does not identify how an independent Texas would be funded in absence of federal money that currently comprises about 30 percent of our state's budget.""The practical challenges to establishing an independent nation are sizable and cannot be patched over with extreme rhetoric," concluded the op-ed.Daniel Miller, who set up the Texas Nationalist Movement (TNM) in 2005, hit back that the paper's warning "neglects a core issue.""The editorial's alarm over the financial implications of Texas independence similarly betrays a lack of faith, not just in Texas' robust economy but in the very spirit of Texan innovation and resilience," Miller said in a press release. "The Lone Star State is not merely a participant in the federal system out of financial necessity but has thrived and contributed significantly to the union's prosperity. The suggestion that Texas could not navigate the complexities of independence is not only baseless but underestimates the talent, resourcefulness, and determination of Texans."Texas, which existed as a self-governing republic from 1836 until 1846 after seceding from Mexico, is seen as one of the most independent-minded states in the US. Texan politicians occasionally raise the prospect of seceding from the United States, as it did in 1861 in the run-up to the American Civil War. Last year the TNM gathered 100,000 petition signatures required for a non-binding secession referendum on the Texas Republican primary ballot. But in December, Texas Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi rejected the petition, claiming the vast majority of the signatures were invalid. Texas law does not allow for electronic petitions, and only 8,300 of the submitted signatures were hand-written.The secession issue was revived in January during the escalating dispute between Texas and the Biden administration over the surge of illegal immigration from Mexico. Texas Governor Greg Abbotts Operation Lone Star began busing thousands of immigrants to Washington DC, New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver and Los Angeles in April of 2022. He insisted that the operation continues to fill the dangerous gaps created by the Biden administrations refusal to secure the border.As Texas reeled from the massive influx of undocumented immigrants, Abbott ordered razor-wire barriers installed along the border with Mexico in January. The US Supreme Court, however, ruled that the Biden administration could authorize the removal of the 29-mile barrier.Twenty-five state governors came out in support of Abbott defiance of the White House over the issue. Pundits told Sputnik that the US federal system was "collapsing along many different fault lines."

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240126/extremely-dangerous-texas-border-battle-portends-growing-us-dysfunction-civil-war-1116420922.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/uk-has-only-itself-to-blame-for-red-sea-attacks-houthis-say-as-they-vow-to-ramp-up-campaign-1117115372.html

UK Has Only Itself to Blame for Red Sea Attacks, Houthis Say as They Vow to Ramp Up Campaign

UK Has Only Itself to Blame for Red Sea Attacks, Houthis Say as They Vow to Ramp Up Campaign

Sputnik International

The Yemeni militia began a campaign of hijackings, missile and drone attacks against commercial ships operating in the crucial Red Sea global trade chokepoint in November, vowing to target any vessel thought to be affiliated with Israel, and subsequently shutting down a good chunk of global trade.

2024-03-03T18:22+0000

2024-03-03T18:22+0000

2024-03-03T18:22+0000

world

mohammed ali al-houthi

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yemen

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London has only itself to blame for attacks targeting its commercial vessels in the Red Sea, and the strikes will continue, officials from Yemens Ansar Allah (Houthi) militia said in a series of statements over the weekend.Yemen will continue to sink more British ships, and any repercussions or other damages will be added to Britains bill, Houthi deputy foreign minister Hussein al-Ezzi said in an X post Sunday.The officials comments came hours after United States Central Command confirmed that the UK-owned M/V Rubymar cargo ship carrying 21,000 tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer had sunk in the Red Sea after being targeted by the Houthis on February 19.Houthi Supreme Political Council member Mohammed Ali al-Houthi took to X Saturday night to address the UK prime minister directly.We say to [Prime Minister Rishi] Sunak: you and your government bear responsibility for the M/V Rubymar, and responsibility for supporting the genocide and siege in Gaza, al-Houthi wrote in an Arabic-language X post.Galloway has been an outspoken critic of British support for Israel amid the Gaza crisis, and an outspoken critic of American and British policy in the Middle East going back to the 2003 invasion of Iraq.The Houthis kicked off a months-long maritime campaign of ship hijackings, drone strikes and missile launches in November in solidarity with Gaza amid Israels ground assault into the besieged Palestinian enclave. The US announced the formation of a naval coalition of the willing against the Houthis in December, and began bombing Yemen in January together with Britain. The Houthis responded by barring all commercial and warships belonging to British and American losers from operating in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, repeatedly firing at Western warships deployed in waters adjacent to Yemen.Shipping through the Red Sea has declined precipitously by as a much as 40 percent from its normal levels, with the Houthis adding tens of billions of dollars in global shipping costs, disrupting supply chains linking Europe and Asia, and resulting in a rise in energy prices.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/us-confirms-uk-owned-ship-sank-in-gulf-of-aden-after-houthi-attack-1117096162.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/us-conducts-self-defense-airstrike-against-houthi-missile---statement-1117086890.html

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what did the houthis tell rishi sunak, why are the houthis attacking ships in red sea, who are the houthis
https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/us-confirms-uk-owned-ship-sank-in-gulf-of-aden-after-houthi-attack-1117096162.html

US Confirms UK-Owned Ship Sank in Gulf of Aden After Houthi Attack

US Confirms UK-Owned Ship Sank in Gulf of Aden After Houthi Attack

Sputnik International

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has confirmed that the cargo vessel attacked by Yemens rebel Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, on February 18 sank.

2024-03-03T05:48+0000

2024-03-03T05:48+0000

2024-03-03T05:48+0000

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red sea crisis

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us central command (centcom)

houthi

cargo ship

middle east

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The vessel was carrying about 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate sulfate fertilizer, which now presents an environmental risk in the Red Sea, CENTCOM said. On February 19, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree said that the movement forces had attacked the UK-owned Rubymar cargo ship in the Gulf of Aden. Sky News Arabia reported, citing sources, that the vessel had sunk. Yemen's Ansar Allah movement, also known as the Houthis, vowed in November 2023 to attack any ships associated with Israel until it halts military actions in the Gaza Strip. This led the United States to announce the creation of a multinational operation to secure navigation in the Red Sea. Forces of the US and the United Kingdom later launched major strikes against Houthi positions in a bid to degrade the rebels' ability to target commercial vessels.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/us-conducts-self-defense-airstrike-against-houthi-missile---statement-1117086890.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/watch-russian-kamikaze-drone-destroy-slovak-made-howitzer-1117099447.html

Watch Russian Kamikaze Drone Destroy Slovak-Made Howitzer

Watch Russian Kamikaze Drone Destroy Slovak-Made Howitzer

Sputnik International

The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage of Russian drone operators of the Battlegroup Dnepr destroying a Slovak-made Zuzana self-propelled howitzer.

2024-03-03T13:18+0000

2024-03-03T13:18+0000

2024-03-03T13:18+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

video

russia

lancet

russian ministry of defense

ukrainian armed forces

uav

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The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage of Russian drone operators of the Battlegroup Dnepr destroying a Slovak-made Zuzana self-propelled howitzer."UAV operators of the Battlegroup Dnepr have destroyed a Slovak Zuzana self-propelled howitzer. The 155 mm howitzer, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces used to shell the positions of Russian troops, was hit by a Lancet drone," the Defense Ministry said.The ministry explained that after the drone struck, powder charges in the artillery piece ignited, leading to the detonation and destruction of the gun.

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Russian drone operators of the Dnepr Battlegroup destroyed a Slovak-made Zuzana self-propelled howitzer Sputnik International Russian drone operators of the Dnepr Battlegroup destroyed a Slovak-made Zuzana self-propelled howitzer 2024-03-03T13:18+0000 true PT0M25S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/watch-russian-sniper-units-perform-combat-missions-in-special-op-zone-1117096052.html

Watch Russian Sniper Units Perform Combat Missions in Special Op Zone

Watch Russian Sniper Units Perform Combat Missions in Special Op Zone

Sputnik International

The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage of sniper units conducting combat missions near the Kupyansk area.

2024-03-03T06:56+0000

2024-03-03T06:56+0000

2024-03-03T06:56+0000

russia's special operation in ukraine

russia

russian ministry of defense

sniper

video

servicemen

serviceman

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The Russian Ministry of Defense has released footage of sniper units conducting combat missions in the Kupyansk area. Snipers of the 1st Guards Tank Army covertly destroy key targets and troops from a distance of over 1,000 meters to support motorized rifle and tank units, and also to cover AGS grenade launchers, the ministry said.Snipers are integrated into a combat unit or operate independently at varying distances from the enemy, depending on the mission and optics used.

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Russian sniper units continue to carry out combat missions near Kupyansk Sputnik International Russian sniper units continue to carry out combat missions near Kupyansk 2024-03-03T06:56+0000 true PT0M27S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20240303/world-youth-festival-in-russia-can-reshape-global-agenda--official-1117106209.html

World Youth Festival in Russia Can Reshape Global Agenda  Official

World Youth Festival in Russia Can Reshape Global Agenda  Official

Sputnik International

Deputy Speaker of the State Duma  the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Russia  Boris Chernyshov believes that the World Youth Festival being held in Russia can influence the global agenda.

2024-03-03T17:20+0000

2024-03-03T17:20+0000

2024-03-03T17:20+0000

russia

russia

world youth festival 2024

krasnodar territory

state duma

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When the guys return to their countries, they will tell [people there] what Russia is like. Its impossible to fall in love with Russia just looking at the globe, how big it is," Chernyshov said. "You need to feel communication with your peers, how adults communicate," he told Sputnik on the sidelines of the World Youth Festival when asked how the event can influence the global situation. "Having came here, fall in love and stay forever with Russia is the key contribution of the festival.The World Youth Festival is taking place from March 17 in the federal territory of Sirius, located in Russia's southern Krasnodar Territory on the Black Sea coast.It brings together 20,000 young Russian and foreign experts in various fields from over 180 countries to discuss the most pressing international issues. The festival's organizer is Rosmolodezh.Sputnik is an official media partner of the event.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20240302/putins-address-to-youth-festival-its-up-to-you-to-create-safe-world-1117091765.html

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When Bob McIntosh travelled to Delaware, Ohio this past September with his brother Doug to prepare for the Little Brown Jug, he was expecting just a one-night stay before making the trek back to his responsibilities in Ontario. After suffering an accident later that same evening, his stay in the Buckeye State was longer than he had hoped for.

Having been on the sidelines for a few months as he recovers from his injury, the Hall Of Fame conditioner provided Trot Insider an update on exactly what occurred on that September evening, how his recoverys been going and a few thoughts on a sophomore trotting colt who turned some heads in his debut.

All you can do is laugh about it, really, McIntosh told John Rallis, writing for Trot Insider. I had just finished using the washroom in my hotel room, and as I was walking out, I stubbed my toe pretty hard and did a complete 180. I fell to the floor and I knew right away, something was wrong.

Luckily for me, my brother was in the room right next door to me, and thankfully, I had my cellphone on me. I contacted him immediately and he took me straight to the hospital.

McIntosh sustained a hip injury, as well as a fractured femur. Twelve hours later, he went into surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital in Delaware.

They put a titanium rod in my femur and a couple of clamps, said McIntosh. It was not a simple surgery by any means, but the medical staff did an incredible job over there.

While McIntosh was in surgery, Standardbred racing was already underway at the Delaware County Fairgrounds with the headliner being the $1 million Little Brown Jug. The Hall Of Fame conditioner had his sophomore pacing colt, Moment Is Here, participating in the prestigious event, but never got the chance to watch his elimination. He was pleasantly surprised when he got the news.

I was in surgery when Moment Is Here won his heat, said McIntosh. I woke up and I had texts and calls from my brother and partners about the result, and despite being a little bit dazed from the medication, I was relieved to hear that.

I was coherent enough to watch the final in real time. I was ecstatic about drawing the rail, but there was constant pressure the whole way and things didnt work out. It was a great effort, nevertheless, and a terrific race overall.

While his pacing colt and his staff made their way back to Ontario, McIntosh was forced to stay in Ohio for 10 extra days, with the expectation of having to undergo rehab following his procedure.

I tried to get back to a hospital in Ontario, but my family doctor was zero help, noted McIntosh. Christina Wilcox, who works for me three days a week, made arrangements with someone and got me into Hotel-Dieu Grace Healthcare in Winsdor.

It was very tough, because when youre there, all you can think about is being back home. I went away overnight and ended up away from home for almost a month," added the trainer with a laugh.

McIntoshs trip to Delaware was his first overnight excursion in about five years. The incident was an illustration of just how challenging 2023 was as a whole, specifically away from the races.

Since COVID and the passing of my wife, I never travelled anywhere overnight, admitted McIntosh. Sometimes you lose the desire to do certain things and go to certain places when you lose someone you love, but there was another person close to me who talked me into going to Delaware, and so I did.

Dave Boyle, someone who has been a dear friend and partner of McIntoshs for more than 30 years, recently passed away in January after a battle with cancer. In a conversation the two of them had prior to the Jug, Boyle urged his close friend to make the trip over.

He wanted me to go, recalled McIntosh. I wasnt really interested in going initially, but after speaking with Dave, I figured I had to. He wasnt healthy enough to make the trip down, so Im glad I made the trip, regardless of what happened. Losing Dave was a real tragedy for me, as Im sure it was for many others. He was a great man.

The one positive for McIntosh in 2023 was his homebred, Moment Is Here, who enjoyed a very strong sophomore campaign. After earning $205,862 as a freshman, the son of All Bets Off more than doubled his earnings in 2023, bankrolling $556,309. His biggest triumph came in the $300,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final, which would end up being his final start for his conditioner. His achievements earned him OBrien Award finalist honours, as well.

Hes a really nice horse and an absolute pleasure to train, said McIntosh. Like many two-year-olds, he suffered many aches and pains, but at three, we did absolutely zero vet work on him and he was strong all throughout. There were a couple of races I felt he probably shouldve won, but things just didnt work out. Everyone who sat behind him this year did a remarkable job.

Moment Is Here was purchased for $285,000 USD by Mark Weaver via OnGait just days after closing out his provincial campaign. Despite the talent, McIntosh doesnt keep too many horses these days when they enter their aged career. Hes mostly focused on the development of young talent.

Horses like Moment Is Here, 15-20 years ago, I wouldnt have sold. I had more of a staff who would travel to the States and I just dont have that right now.

When you see the colt that sold just before him [El Rey] fetch what he did, it made selling Moment Is Here a no brainer. He was available at the right time and we were very happy with what he sold for. U.S. dollars are no joke," laughed McIntosh. "That being said, the new ownership group is getting a heck of a racehorse, and they know that. Hes going to have a great career.

McIntosh will continue his focus on young horses, as well as his breeding operation. On the training side, he has 25-30 in his care, but there was one three-year-old in particular who caught the eyes of many, including his trainer, in his career debut at Woodbine Mohawk Park late last month.

Convoy Hall, a son of Muscle Mass, was a $52,000 yearling purchase in Lexington. Unraced at the age of two, he made waves over at Woodbine Mohawk Park after a dominant win in 1:55.3 on Feb. 22. The ease in which he trotted a final quarter in :27.4 was what was the most impressive aspect of that performance.

I dont buy many horses from the sales given I have my own breeding operation, but my brother was going down to Lexington and he wanted to get something for us. When he went down there, he said he liked this colt a lot and when I saw the family, I said go get him.

I trained his mother [Constance Hall] for Alan Leavitt and she made over $200,000 in her career. I also purchased two sisters of that same mare as well and they turned out to be quality racehorses as well, so Ive had plenty of success with the family already.

McIntosh liked the way that Convoy Hall was training ahead of his two-year-old campaign, but knew that his size would be too much of an issue so he decided to shut him down until 2024.

At two, he started to grow like a weed and we decided to turn him out, said McIntosh. One things for certain, I just cant fight with mother nature!

Hes grown and filled out nicely and I could not have been more impressed with what he did in his career debut. He trained real well but I did not expect what he showed towards the end of his mile. I was taken back by that final quarter at the end of it. I sat straight up in my chair, thats for sure."

The sophomore trotting colt proved that his debut was no fluke, putting forth an even more dominant performance in his second lifetime start on Thursday, Feb. 29 at Mohawk by trotting away to a six-length score in 1:56.2 in a $17,000 event. Leaving from post four, Convoy Hall reached three-quarters in 1:29 with driver Sylvain Filion before trotting a final panel in :27.2. He couldnt have looked more professional doing it.

This colt gives even more reason for McIntosh to be even more excited about 2024, but right now, his focus is on getting back to 100 per cent from a health standpoint.

I have a couple of three-year-olds returning that Im excited about after their two-year-old campaign, said McIntosh. Obviously, when you see what a horse like Convoy Hall does in his debut, it really adds to the excitement level. Hes paid into enough this season and lets hope he can continue to build off that effort. Horses can fool you, but he looks pretty good.

As for me, I am just hoping I can be back up to full speed after this injury. I know Im getting older, but I dont want to stop. I dont feel old, but Im forced to walk with a cane right now and I cant wait to get rid of it," McIntosh laughed. "Im a very hands-on guy, so having to watch and observe from the sidelines over the past few months was the toughest part for me, but Im so thankful for the team I have around me. I couldnt do it without them and Im grateful for each and every one of them.

Despite some hardships over the past few years, McIntosh is choosing to focus on the positives and is thankful for what he does for a living. Its what keeps him going.

Ive had some bad luck with things that have gone on personally over the last few years, but Ive been very lucky in that I love what Im doing," shared McIntosh. I look forward to closing my door every morning and going with the young ones everyday. Theres honestly nothing better than that.

Im just glad Im able to climb into my office again  AKA my jog cart  because that is where my brain starts churning," quipped the conditioner. "I probably shouldnt be back to jogging horses just yet, but in my mind, itll help me heal quicker."

(Standardbred Canada)
In the coming weeks, David Leavitt, of Nashville, Tennessee, is slated to step into the role of heading the Alliance Police Department.

While a new police chief coming to a community isnt often controversial, Leavitts appointment has caused some controversy as news reports of past investigations and disciplinary actions circulated.

Leavitt gave an interview to the Star-Herald  the only outlet that he says has reached out to him after his selection.

Leavitt served for more than 20 years with the Nashville department, beginning as a patrol officer and later serving as a patrol sergeant, in internal affairs, as a lieutenant and as a captain.

Leavitt told the Star-Herald he is eager to start at the Alliance Police Department and looks to the future.

Though hes spent his career living in Nashville, Tennessee, he said he grew up in a small community in New York. Working at a smaller department interests him, he said.

Its always been kind of a dream of mine, he said of heading a small department. We can be more hands on. We can interact with the community more; the officers in the department work together more. He noted that with 1,500 sworn officers in the Metro Nashville Police Department, there was no way to know all the officers, even those in ones own precinct.

Leavitt is also altruistic in his desire to continue in law enforcement. He said he is passionate about coming to the department, doing a good job and making a difference.

I feel like Im doing this for the right reasons, he said, saying he has talked with people during his visits to the community and learning about it during recent months. He described the town, which uses the slogan Building the Best Hometown in America, as charming, commenting on its brick streets downtown and other amenities.

He also likes the location, which is just hours away from Cheyenne, Wyoming; Rapid City, South Dakota; and Denver, Colorado. That will also be an advantage for his husband, who works in fashion and design, when he needs to travel for his job.

Leavitt said he believes his experiences will help build the department, which like many in rural U.S. communities has been struggling.

Ive had a lot of experience, not only in patrolling, but in community policing, he said. Ive been the incident commander for more major incidents in Nashville, unfortunately, than most people see in a whole career.

Among those major incidents was a 2020 tornado outbreak in which three tornadoes, including one EF3, struck Nashville. Identified as the sixth costliest tornado in U.S. history, it killed 25 people. He also dealt with a suicide bombing in downtown Nashville that caused large amounts of destruction in a well-populated district.

His resume touts a large list of specialized experience, including leadership and command training from a variety of law enforcement organizations including the FBI; emergency preparedness and other critical training from organizations like FEMA; and human trafficking training.

Newly-named Alliance Police chief appointment creates controversy Before even formally stepping into the post of Alliance police chief, David Leavitt is alrea

Leavitts appointment has caused some controversy in the community. Some people have questioned his selection because of investigations involving him, two of which involved allegations of sexual harassment. Others have taken issue with Leavitts being gay and having been involved in assignments in Nashville that included work with the LGBTIQA+ community.

Leavitt denied the allegations of sexual harassment and pointed to findings of the investigations. In both cases, backed by documents, investigators issued findings of conduct unbecoming of an officer.

In both of the incidents, Leavitt told the Star-Herald, he felt that a law enforcement culture that discourages people being openly gay was at play. If he were straight, he said, and made the same jokes referenced in the messages in both cases, he believes perceptions would have been different. Messages involving jokes regarding drinking, relationships and more are common among officers from daily roll call to personal conversations, he said.

Im not trying to play the gay card  but, because Im gay, Im not allowed to have friends. Im not allowed to joke around, even casually as heterosexual officers might, he said. I dont get to cut up, because two incidents, 10 years apart, proves that I cant. I learned some valuable lessons from (these experiences). I have to completely separate work and personal life.

Though Leavitt questions much of the investigation, he said he was one of about 50 officers investigated after an advocacy group, Silent No Longer, made claims against officers throughout the ranks of the Nashville department.

It was a trying time for the department, he said, that began during the pandemic when controversy erupted about officers not issuing enough tickets for people violating pandemic-era masking requirements and other issues.

Leavitt called the investigations a witch hunt. He said the case against him was spurred by a complaint from another officer, a woman whom he had previously been involved in disciplining for violation of conduct standards.

If he had been found to have violated sexual harassment policies, he said, he would have been terminated immediately without his pension, due to the departments no tolerance policy.

In previous instances when he had been disciplined, Leavitt said, he owned it. He said he accepted findings of the investigations and subsequent discipline, focusing on learning from his mistakes. However, in the 2021 investigation, he said, he didnt feel he had violated policies and had most certainly not done the things of which he had been accused.

He told the Star-Herald that he considered appealing the findings of the investigation, particularly after he learned of the disciplinary action of a 20-day suspension, and more important to him, his demotion from captain to lieutenant. However, as has been reported, Leavitt retired from the Metro Nashville Police Department in November 2021 on his own decision, not forced as some have reported, he said.

Leavitts former supervisor, Sebastian Gourdian, told the Star-Herald that though he was not involved in the investigation and disciplinary proceedings, Leavitts having retired with his full pension indicates that he left the department in good standing. Gourdian was a deputy chief of the Metro Nashville Police Department for the last year of Leavitts career with the department.

Ultimately, Leavitt said, he decided not to appeal as it would have been an extensive process that included attorney fees and appearing before an administrative judge. Even today, he said, he feels confident he would have regained his rank had he appealed.

It would have been two years of hell, two years of stress, he said. ... And even if I got my rank back, I would have been captain over the meter maids. I would have won the battle, but not the war.

With the years of sacrifices he had made for the department and the work he had done, including his work in the community and on major incidents, Leavitt said, he felt his police chief should have had his back. After meeting with that chief and being urged to just let some time pass, he said, he felt wronged by the department that he had spent 20 years serving.

Learning from his own experiences, he said, he has a desire to ensure that everyone is treated fairly with due process. Yet he also pledges accountability and consistency.

Nobody hates a bad cop worse than a good cop, he said.

Colleagues, reviews give insight into career

Colleagues of Leavitts who were contacted for this story, and others on his social media profiles, have cited Leavitt as one of those good cops.

From the time that Leavitt started as a patrol officer and as he climbed the ranks, his supervisors were complimentary of Leavitt in annual evaluations. In nearly every evaluation, he exceeded department standard rankings and earned accolades for his interactions with other officers, the community and even arrests.

The Star-Herald reached out to all of the references cited on Leavitts resume. Gourdian described Leavitt as very thorough, very knowledgeable. Based on the year that he supervised Leavitt as a captain, he said, he did an outstanding job.

He was more than willing to work after hours, on weekends, handling emails and making phone calls, making sure everything was taken care of, Gourdian said. He has an outstanding work ethic.

Another colleague, John Pepper, a former sergeant with the Metro Nashville Police Department, worked with Leavitt for all of his law enforcement career and before, when Leavitt was a paramedic. After Leavitt was promoted to lieutenant, he was Peppers supervisor. Today, the two men remain friends, he said.

Pepper described Leavitt as good at making decisions, particularly life-saving decisions. Due to his training and expertise, Pepper said, he is able to make decisions quickly. He provided examples of times that Leavitt saved lives.

He also described Leavitt as proactive. Each day, he said, Leavitt came in to work with the attitude of wanting to contribute to doing good within the community and doing good police work, whether that be identifying the bad guys or helping an officer who needed additional training or guidance. Leavitt had standards for his officers, from uniform standards to work ethic.

According to Pepper, who is also a former Marine, in a male-dominated profession like law enforcement, an openly gay officer like Leavitt can create conflict. As a longtime police officer, Pepper said he has seen similar attitudes among some officers toward women working in the profession.

Things change over time, he said, noting attitudes have changed from dont ask, dont tell to todays acceptance of what Pepper referred to as alternative lifestyles.

However, not everyone likes that, he said. Not everyone agrees with that. Oftentimes, it (being different) becomes a tool to leverage to disadvantage someone.

Micro-aggressions are common, he said, saying he believed such attitudes and growing negative attitudes toward policing led to or affected the investigations of complaints against Leavitt.

Despite those challenges, Pepper said, Leavitt was well-respected among most officers in the department and in the precincts in which he worked. One of the areas where Leavitt worked and earned praise for building relationships was the bar district, an area filled with tourists and venues attracting people ranging from LGBT clientele to redneck cowboys. Leavitt was able to connect with all and improve police-community relations, which he  as well as supervisors notes in Leavitts many evaluations  describes as not an easy task.

Jack Byrd, Leavitts most recent supervisor at Solaren Risk Management, told the Star-Herald that he has known Leavitt since Byrd worked as a sheriffs deputy, having worked alongside him as a law enforcement officer. After Byrd moved on to the private security and risk management company, he recruited him to work there based on his planning, customer service skills and other assets. He described him as highly organized, a planner and loyal.

Asked if he would recommend Leavitt to serve as a police chief, Byrd said, I cant be more direct when I say this, but if politics and personal feelings hadnt gotten in the way, Dave would have been a police chief or deputy police chief here.

Theres not a single doubt in my mind. Its really a travesty.

Looking to the future

Despite the vitriol in some comments in Alliance-centric Facebook groups, Leavitt said he believes that people will give him a chance in the conservative Nebraska community.

I look forward to it, because I think I can open a lot of eyes, he said, saying his partner has been supportive of the him as well. Yes, were gay, but were just people. We all put our pants on the same way.

He is pragmatic, he says, in that he knows that there are some people whom he will never convince to accept him, whether because he comes from out of state or because he is gay, but he hopes that hell be able to earn the trust and approval of most people that hell come across.

After the backlash about his appointment started, Leavitt said he asked if the City of Alliance wanted to rescind its offer. However, he said, City Manager Seth Sorensen and council members have been supportive, an example of the support he believes hell earn when comes to the community.

Mostly, he said, he is focusing on the future, particularly areas of recruitment. The Alliance Police Department is rebuilding, which will be Leavitts first focus. The department has just eight of its 17 officer positions filled. He said he has had good conversations about the departments needs with Lt. Kirk Felker, a longtime officer who has been interim chief since September.

Sorensen told the Star-Herald that its been an uphill battle in recent years to recruit and retain officers. Factors include competition with other departments, including the Nebraska State Patrol paying higher wages, to attitudes about policing that have led to fewer people pursuing the career.

Leavitt said, We have enough (officers) to do basic community policing and provide important services of the communitys needs, but thats it.

He noted the need to build the force so it can offer other programming that the community might desire.

Currently, the department is offering a $20,000 hiring incentive for officers who are already certified in Nebraska. Incentives for new hires who are not certified are considered on a case-by-case basis.

Editors Note: As part of its reporting, the Star-Herald reviewed public records from the Metro Nashville Police Department that WPLN had acquired for its reporting, and materials provided by Leavitt and the City of Alliance.
Soldiers are seen in Sake, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on March 1, 2024. (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)

KINSHASA, March 2 (Xinhua) -- Stability hangs in the balance in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), where military leaders from five regional countries have been meeting for days to devise a coordinated military strategy to end hostilities that risk escalating into a regional conflict.

EFFORTS TO END HOSTILITIES

For days, military leaders from the DRC, Tanzania, Malawi, South Africa and Burundi have been meeting in Goma, the capital of North Kivu province in the DRC, to assess and strengthen joint operations against the violent hostilities, particularly around the strategic town of Sake.

This town is considered the last barrier to Goma, and it is here that the Congolese army, along with partners including the military elements of the Southern African Development Community (SADC), have positioned heavy artillery to halt the advance of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebels. The rebel group, which resurfaced in late 2021, has triggered conflicts and humanitarian crises and seized major strongholds on Congolese soil, including several locations in the mountains overlooking Sake.

This meeting is seen by DRC military authorities as a pivotal moment in regional efforts to stabilize the volatile region, which, according to the Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in the DRC, Bintou Keita, "risks extending the conflict on a regional scale."

"The presence of these military figures underscores the regional commitment to peace and security. It also reflects the collaborative spirit of the SADC forces," an official from the Congolese army in Goma told Xinhua on Friday.

According to the Angolan government, whose President Joao Lourenco currently holds the rotating presidency of SADC, Tanzania, Malawi and South Africa have already deployed their military elements in eastern DRC as part of a joint SADC operation, which is mandated to conduct offensive operations against the rebels, particularly the M23.

The primary objective of this meeting was to address the urgent challenges posed by the M23 rebels and their supporters, an official present at the closed-door meeting told Xinhua, emphasizing the collective determination of the SADC and its partners to support the Congolese army in ending the rebellion's activities in the region.

After several hours of closed-door discussions on Friday, Congolese military sources stressed that the meeting highlighted the urgent need for a coordinated military strategy.

PEACE HANGING IN BALANCE

While the SADC is mobilizing for operations on the ground, the situation in the Sake area remains highly volatile due to the daily bombardment by M23 rebels from the mountains overlooking the town.

On Thursday, four people, including a Tanzanian soldier deployed as part of the SADC mission, were seriously injured in Sake by bombs fired by the rebels targeting the military base and surrounding villages. Local sources reported that two armored vehicles belonging to the Tanzanian contingent were targeted by bombs during a reconnaissance mission.

On Friday, around 10 bombs were fired again by the rebels, resulting in injuries and the death of at least three civilians, shortly before the arrival of the five military leaders in Mubambiro, at the eastern entrance to Sake, for a field inspection.

According to General Sylvain Ekenge, spokesperson for the Congolese military, these bomb attacks did not deter the determination of the Congolese army and the military leaders of the contributing countries, who remained in the region. "The terrorists attempted to deter them by dropping bombs, but they did not weaken the determination of the defense force leaders, who arrived in Mubambiro and refined strategies to end the activities of these M23 terrorists," Ekenge said.

In a press release published in mid-February, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) expressed concern about the fate of around 135,000 internally displaced persons who fled Sake toward the provincial capital Goma due to bombs falling on civilian shelters, including the Zaina camp in Sake and the Lushagala camp in Goma, where nearly 65,000 displaced persons have found refuge.

According to the UNHCR, the indiscriminate bombings also increase pressure on already limited resources to accommodate 800,000 internally displaced persons in the region and 2.5 million others in North Kivu province.

The UN peacekeeping mission in the DRC, known as MONUSCO, said that it had strengthened its presence in Goma due to the escalation of hostilities. "This effort demonstrates the force's firm determination to protect the civilians of Goma and Sake," said MONUSCO military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Mensah Kadagni.

The M23 offensives have also triggered a diplomatic standoff between the DRC and Rwanda. The DRC has accused Rwanda of backing M23 rebels, an accusation rejected by both Kigali and the M23 rebel group. Rwandan authorities accused the Congolese army of supporting the remnants of the Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda (FDLR), responsible for the 1994 genocide.

The Angolan government recently revealed the possibility of a direct dialogue between the two presidents of the DRC and Rwanda, following a meeting at the end of February in Luanda between Congolese President Felix Tshisekedi and Lourenco, the designated mediator, on the peace and security situation in eastern DRC.

According to Angolan Minister of Foreign Affairs Tete Antonio, President of the DRC Felix Tshisekedi has expressed his willingness to meet with his Rwandan counterpart, Paul Kagame, to address the ongoing instability in the eastern DRC, following Tshisekedi's visit to Luanda in late February. 

Soldiers are seen in Sake, eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), on March 1, 2024. (Photo by Alain Uyakani/Xinhua)
A Wake County Superior Court judge has issued a temporary restraining order against the owner of Conover-based Everything Attachments and its parent company.

The motion was filed last week after Fidelity Bank sought a restraining order and a temporary injunction against the company earlier this month.

A hearing is set for Feb. 26 in Wake County.

Everything Attachments manufactures blades, buckets and other heavy equipment attachments.

In 2023, Fidelity Bank filed a lawsuit against Conover businessman Ted Corriher, T.C. Corriher Implement Company and Landshark Attachments to recover nearly $8 million from a construction loan, as well as a $1.5 million line of credit.

Court documents filed in Wake County show the bank is asking for repayment of the loan, as well as possession of the companys inventory.

The latest court document, issued Feb. 14, said that defendants have transferred multiple real estate assets to immediate family members, and Ted Corriher appears to have diverted more than $700,000 in loan funds.

The document also said that based on evidence presented, Corriher is attempting to sell a lake house and restaurant property. The document says these actions would likely allow the defendants to remove the assets from the reach of a final judgment in the case.

Court documents filed by Fidelity Bank said Corriher transferred property to his son and wife.

In addition to the courtroom, Everything Attachments is facing scrutiny on other fronts.

Customers who ordered equipment months ago still have not received the paid-for items.

County tax records list the company as delinquent on a $52,152 tax bill.

The phone mailbox of the manufacturing plant on Emmanuel Church Road in Conover is full.

The court document outlines some of the frustrations of Fidelity Bank.

Despite repeated demands, defendants have failed and refused to pay the indebtedness owing under the line of credit, the court document says.

The bank lists Ted Corriher, Corriher Implement Company and Landshark Attachments as defendants in the case. Corriher Implement Company does business as Everything Attachments.

Court documents say the company requested and received more than $1 million from the construction loan to pay Neill Grading. Everything Attachments, the court documents say, did not fully pay Neill Grading and did not repay Fidelity.

In January 2023, Everything Attachments become embroiled in a dispute with Neill Grading about the quality of a 105,000-square-foot building. Everything Attachments ordered the building. Neill Grading did the work.

Corriher said in a previous Hickory Daily Record article that he could not get a certificate of occupancy on the building constructed by Neill Grading and was withholding payment.

The Fidelity lawsuit notes the building was not complete by Oct. 28, 2022, construction of the building had ceased and construction remains incomplete.

Fidelity is asking for $7,883,293.57 plus interest on the construction loan to be paid in full. Fidelity is also seeking more than $1.5 million due on a line of credit.
Two months after being hired, Saltville Town Manager Phil Robinette has resigned.

Mayor Todd Young announced Robinettes resignation on Friday. Young said Robinette told him he was taking a job in Tennessee closer to his home.

Robinette sent a letter of resignation to Young on Feb. 16. In the letter he noted the standard procedure of a two-week notice but said that personal circumstances required him to leave immediately.

Im glad to provide any assistance I can, Robinette said in the letter. I always have my phone available. Thanks for the opportunity provided by allowing me to come to the town and the professionalism that you have provided for me during my short stay. I have enjoyed working with the town and appreciate the support given during my tenure.

Council member Ryan Comer said he had heard of another job Robinette might be taking but knew no details at this point. He said that according to town code, the mayor would serve as acting town manager until one is hired.

Comer said the council would have several options, including re-advertising the position of town manager or possibly contacting Mount Rogers Planning District Commission for a temporary manager.

It was kind of a shock to me, said Council member Cary Sauls, who said he saw the letter of resignation on his desk when council went into closed session.

Robinette was hired in December and made his first appearance at a council meeting in January. He said he was focusing on housing issues in the town as well as tourism and economic opportunities.

Prior to coming to Saltville, Robinette worked for the Town of Glasgow. He started there in mid-2023.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain

Facebook's parent company, Meta, has announced it will stop paying for news content in Australia when the current deals it has expire. Meta will also cease news aggregation on the site.

Three years ago, the company signed deals with Australian news outlets after the government introduced laws requiring tech companies to pay for the news on their platforms. The law only comes into effect if no commercial deal is struck.

Meta has now decided that the cost of providing news in Australia is too high. Its reason for the change is to "better align our investments to our products and services people value the most". That is, it saves money.

So what does this mean for news on Facebook? What can users expect to find on the platform?

An unsurprising maneuver

This decision was largely predictable, as it's consistent with Meta's actions in the UK, France, and Germany in December 2023. The same "deprecation" will occur simultaneously in the US.

Meta's rationale is that news is "a small part of the Facebook experience for the vast majority of people" and is not a reason for the use of the platform as it "makes up less than 3% of what people around the world see in their Facebook feed". It does not comment on the percentage in Australia.

Meta says "this does not impact our commitment to connecting people to reliable information on our platforms". However, this "reliable information" is a reference to fact-checking in the context of misinformation.

Meta does not see a link between reliable information and Australian news. It has not addressed the issue of the sustainability of news journalism in Australia.

So what will Facebook look like?

Facebook says that it will simply remove the dedicated tab on the site for news content.

For many users, this will not have an effect. However, for those who use Facebook as a news aggregator, access to links to news publishers will disappear.

Facebook users will need to go to the Facebook page of their favorite news publishers in order to be able to keep up with events. This means having to "follow" all of the news publishers with which Facebook currently has a commercial agreement.

Unlike the approach in 2021, Facebook is not going to shut down all of the pages that its systems thought were "media pages" (including emergency services and helplines such as 1-800-RESPECT).

Instead, Meta is encouraging news publishers to buy the tech giant's services to increase their own traffic.

However, this means Meta expects that the flow of funds will be from news publishers to Meta, rather than the other way around.

What does this mean for news?

There is already a concern that social media is replacing legacy news sources.

Meta has consistently argues that news is not a driver of its business. In submissions to government, it has sought to differentiate Meta and Google. In fact, news publishers often report having their content buried by algorithms over which they have no control.

Meta contends that news is so unimportant that it would rather not have news options than pay news publishers for content.

The Facebook news ban of 2021 was largely in response to the government's News Media Bargaining Codean arrangement in which news organizations could negotiate with big tech companies over payment and inclusion of their content on digital platforms.

In contrast, Google has previously been willing to enter into commercial deals or to launch news aggregator services rather than having a code imposed on it.

It is not clear whether Google will change its view in Australia as a result of the Meta decision. The News Media Bargaining Code has the potential to apply to both businesses. However, Google relies more on news content than Meta.

Can the government do anything?

The relevant ministers, Stephen Jones and Michelle Rowland, have already referred to the decision as a "dereliction of its commitment to the sustainability of Australian news media."

As a practical matter, the News Media Bargaining Code is only triggered if there is no commercial deal in play. The current commercial deals with news outlets are due to expire in a few months.

Meta has said that it "will not offer new Facebook products specifically for news publishers in the future". It will let the existing commercial agreements lapse in in Australia, France, and Germany as they already have in the UK and the US.

The treasurer is now faced with a tough decision. He can "designate" Meta under the code and force it to the bargaining table, or he can agree that news is not a driver of Facebook use. This decision will need to take into account the issue of news journalism sustainability.

However, it also risks a repeat of the 2021 shut down in Australia and a similar one in Canada last year.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
The Brazos County Sheriffs Office recently reported it had zero complaints of racial profiling for the 6,000-plus stops it conducted in 2023.

Since 2002, the state criminal code procedure has required all law enforcement agencies in Texas to collect data regarding possible racial profiling. According to the data released last week, the Sheriffs Office received no reports or complaints of racial profiling and also reported no use of force in the 202 stops that led to an arrest.

Brazos County Sheriff Wayne Dicky said the Sheriffs Offices policy strictly prohibits peace officers from racial profiling and that the department has a process through which residents can file a complaint with the county if they have been the subject of racial profiling.

It helps us ensure that the officers are implementing the law in a fair and just manner, he said. Its our job to enforce the law fairly and bias has no place in that. This process helps us to ensure that were accomplishing that.

In total, 6,525 stops were made by the Sheriffs Office in 2023. Seventeen percent of these stops were conducted on Black people, with 55% conducted on white people and 26% conducted on Hispanic/Latino people, according to the data. Alaska Natives, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders made up less than 3% of the total number of stops.

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 11% of Brazos County residents are Black, 55% are white and 27% are Hispanic/Latino. Alaska Natives, Native Americans, Asians and Pacific Islanders account for around 7% of the local population.

Only 604, or 9.3%, of the 6,000-plus stops resulted in a search, with the leading cause of searches being probable cause.

According to the data, Blacks accounted for 28% of the searches, with 40% for white people and 31% for Hispanic/Latino people.

Three percent, or 202, of the total stops resulted in an arrest, with Black people accounting for 30%, whites for 38% and Hispanic/Latino people for 32%, according to the data.

Brazos County Sheriffs officers reported only knowing the race of an individual before a stop less than 3% of the time in 2023. Dicky said that is by design since officers should never be considering race as a reason to stop someone. He also said that officers are required to receive at least eight hours of racial sensitivity training every two years.

I think that the takeaway is, that officers are trained to make those decisions based on probable cause and that we prohibit them from using race, or any kind of bias for a decision on a law enforcement action, he said.

The full data can be found on the agenda item page on the Brazos County Commissioners Court website.
Hodges Capital Management Inc. boosted its stake in shares of Medtronic plc (NYSE:MDT  Free Report) by 6.3% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 26,617 shares of the medical technology companys stock after acquiring an additional 1,583 shares during the quarter. Hodges Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Medtronic were worth $2,086,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in MDT. Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. raised its position in shares of Medtronic by 2.9% in the second quarter. Hall Capital Management Co. Inc. now owns 4,226 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $372,000 after buying an additional 120 shares in the last quarter. Bollard Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Medtronic by 1.8% during the 2nd quarter. Bollard Group LLC now owns 6,955 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $613,000 after acquiring an additional 121 shares during the period. DT Investment Partners LLC increased its position in shares of Medtronic by 1.0% in the second quarter. DT Investment Partners LLC now owns 12,076 shares of the medical technology companys stock worth $1,059,000 after purchasing an additional 124 shares during the period. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. raised its stake in Medtronic by 13.1% in the second quarter. BOK Financial Private Wealth Inc. now owns 1,091 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $97,000 after purchasing an additional 126 shares in the last quarter. Finally, SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Medtronic by 19.6% in the second quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 782 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $69,000 after purchasing an additional 128 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.75% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Medtronic news, EVP Brett A. Wall sold 4,997 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.17, for a total transaction of $410,603.49. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 28,910 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,375,534.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Sean Salmon sold 30,695 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.13, for a total transaction of $2,613,065.35. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 48,289 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,110,842.57. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, EVP Brett A. Wall sold 4,997 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, December 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $82.17, for a total value of $410,603.49. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 28,910 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,375,534.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.30% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Medtronic Stock Performance

NYSE MDT opened at $83.60 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $111.01 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.62, a PEG ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 0.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.71, a current ratio of 2.30 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46. Medtronic plc has a twelve month low of $68.84 and a twelve month high of $92.02. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $85.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of $80.38.

Medtronic (NYSE:MDT  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The medical technology company reported $1.30 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.26 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $8.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.95 billion. Medtronic had a return on equity of 13.71% and a net margin of 13.00%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.7% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $1.30 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts expect that Medtronic plc will post 5.2 EPS for the current year.

Medtronic Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, January 12th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 20th were given a dividend of $0.69 per share. This represents a $2.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.30%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, December 19th. Medtronics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 87.90%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

MDT has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Mizuho raised their target price on shares of Medtronic from $95.00 to $98.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Medtronic from $104.00 to $98.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Truist Financial upped their price objective on Medtronic from $87.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a $92.00 target price on shares of Medtronic in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, Oppenheimer increased their target price on shares of Medtronic from $89.00 to $92.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $94.91.

Read Our Latest Report on Medtronic

Medtronic Profile

(Free Report)

Medtronic plc develops, manufactures, and sells device-based medical therapies to healthcare systems, physicians, clinicians, and patients worldwide. Its Cardiovascular Portfolio segment offers implantable cardiac pacemakers, cardioverter defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy devices; cardiac ablation products; insertable cardiac monitor systems; TYRX products; and remote monitoring and patient-centered software.

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Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC raised its holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. (NYSE:THG  Free Report) by 7.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 212,408 shares of the insurance providers stock after purchasing an additional 14,135 shares during the period. The Hanover Insurance Group accounts for approximately 0.9% of Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 21st largest holding. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings in The Hanover Insurance Group were worth $23,573,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the business. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 12.2% in the third quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 815,172 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $90,468,000 after purchasing an additional 88,456 shares in the last quarter. AXQ Capital LP purchased a new stake in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group in the third quarter valued at about $394,000. AQR Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 73.8% in the third quarter. AQR Capital Management LLC now owns 44,670 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $4,958,000 after purchasing an additional 18,971 shares in the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group by 42.7% in the third quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 2,229 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $247,000 after purchasing an additional 667 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Lazard Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of The Hanover Insurance Group during the third quarter valued at approximately $10,944,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.89% of the companys stock.

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Insider Transactions at The Hanover Insurance Group

In other news, SVP Warren E. Barnes sold 500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $131.14, for a total value of $65,570.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 3,612 shares of the companys stock, valued at $473,677.68. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 2.40% of the companys stock.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts recently issued reports on THG shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $124.00 to $137.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $143.00 to $147.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. StockNews.com raised shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. TheStreet raised shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a research note on Tuesday. Finally, Oppenheimer upped their price objective on shares of The Hanover Insurance Group from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, The Hanover Insurance Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $140.00.

Check Out Our Latest Report on The Hanover Insurance Group

The Hanover Insurance Group Trading Down 2.0 %

THG stock traded down $2.60 on Friday, hitting $128.87. 153,711 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 156,787. The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. has a twelve month low of $103.82 and a twelve month high of $140.18. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.39 and a quick ratio of 0.39. The businesss fifty day moving average is $128.72 and its two-hundred day moving average is $119.87. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.62 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 137.10 and a beta of 0.67.

The Hanover Insurance Group (NYSE:THG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 31st. The insurance provider reported $3.13 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.51 by $0.62. The Hanover Insurance Group had a net margin of 0.59% and a return on equity of 2.44%. The company had revenue of $1.53 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.56 billion. As a group, research analysts forecast that The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc. will post 10.07 earnings per share for the current year.

The Hanover Insurance Group Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a $0.85 dividend. This represents a $3.40 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. The Hanover Insurance Groups payout ratio is currently 361.71%.

The Hanover Insurance Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

The Hanover Insurance Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various property and casualty insurance products and services in the United States. The company operates through four segments: Core Commercial, Specialty, Personal Lines, and Other. The Commercial Lines segment offers commercial multiple peril, commercial automobile, workers' compensation, and other commercial lines coverage.

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Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk (NYSE:TLK  Free Report) by 39.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 23,807 shares of the utilities providers stock after buying an additional 6,709 shares during the period. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk were worth $574,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA boosted its holdings in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 120.2% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 784 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 428 shares during the period. Credit Suisse AG boosted its holdings in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 121.4% in the 3rd quarter. Credit Suisse AG now owns 870 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 477 shares during the period. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its holdings in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 118.2% in the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 2,618 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $61,000 after purchasing an additional 1,418 shares during the period. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC bought a new stake in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk in the 2nd quarter valued at $102,000. Finally, Parallel Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk by 8.4% in the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 6,800 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $181,000 after purchasing an additional 525 shares during the period.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Separately, StockNews.com downgraded shares of Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 8th.

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk Stock Performance

Shares of TLK stock traded down $0.31 during mid-day trading on Friday, reaching $25.27. The companys stock had a trading volume of 385,595 shares, compared to its average volume of 156,227. Perusahaan Perseroan has a 1-year low of $21.67 and a 1-year high of $29.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.18. The firms 50-day moving average is $25.69 and its two-hundred day moving average is $24.62.

About Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk

(Free Report)

Perusahaan Perseroan (Persero) PT Telekomunikasi Indonesia Tbk provides information and communications technology, and telecommunications network services worldwide. The company operates through mobile, consumer, enterprise, Wholesale and International Business, and Other segments. The Mobile segment offers mobile voice, SMS, value added services, and mobile broadband services.

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Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC decreased its position in shares of Kinross Gold Co. (NYSE:KGC  Free Report) (TSE:K) by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 12,424,830 shares of the mining companys stock after selling 486,338 shares during the quarter. Kinross Gold makes up approximately 2.2% of Altrinsic Global Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 14th largest holding. Altrinsic Global Advisors LLC owned about 1.01% of Kinross Gold worth $56,886,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Power Corp of Canada acquired a new stake in shares of Kinross Gold in the second quarter valued at about $4,335,000. Hsbc Holdings PLC raised its position in Kinross Gold by 544.1% in the third quarter. Hsbc Holdings PLC now owns 1,156,541 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $5,287,000 after purchasing an additional 976,972 shares during the last quarter. Chartwell Investment Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Kinross Gold in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $2,417,000. Genus Capital Management Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Kinross Gold during the third quarter worth $8,625,000. Finally, LPL Financial LLC boosted its stake in Kinross Gold by 45.3% during the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 275,817 shares of the mining companys stock worth $1,316,000 after acquiring an additional 85,972 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 49.80% of the companys stock.

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Kinross Gold Stock Up 3.7 %

Shares of KGC stock traded up $0.18 during trading hours on Friday, hitting $5.08. 21,111,943 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 10,436,552. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $5.46 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $5.31. Kinross Gold Co. has a 12-month low of $3.40 and a 12-month high of $6.34. The stock has a market cap of $6.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.94, a PEG ratio of 0.98 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 2.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36.

Kinross Gold Announces Dividend

Kinross Gold ( NYSE:KGC Get Free Report ) (TSE:K) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 15th. The mining company reported $0.11 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.09 by $0.02. Kinross Gold had a net margin of 9.82% and a return on equity of 8.85%. The firm had revenue of $1.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.04 billion. During the same period last year, the business earned $0.09 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 3.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, analysts expect that Kinross Gold Co. will post 0.36 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 21st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 6th will be issued a $0.03 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 5th. This represents a $0.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.36%. Kinross Golds payout ratio is currently 35.29%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research firms recently weighed in on KGC. Raymond James dropped their price target on shares of Kinross Gold from $6.00 to $5.50 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, November 28th. TheStreet downgraded Kinross Gold from a b rating to a c+ rating in a research report on Friday, February 16th. StockNews.com cut Kinross Gold from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Thursday, February 22nd. CIBC increased their target price on Kinross Gold from $7.00 to $8.15 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, National Bank Financial reissued an outperform overweight rating on shares of Kinross Gold in a research note on Wednesday, January 3rd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $6.05.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on KGC

Kinross Gold Profile

(Free Report)

Kinross Gold Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of gold properties principally in the United States, Brazil, Chile, Canada, and Mauritania. The company operates the Fort Knox mine and the Manh Choh project in Alaska, as well as the Round Mountain and the Bald Mountain mines in Nevada, the United States; the Paracatu mine in Brazil; the La Coipa and the Lobo-Marte project in Chile; the Tasiast mine in Mauritania; and the Great Bear project in Canada.

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FREETOWN, March 3 (Xinhua) -- The road linking the towns of Regent and Kossoh to Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, used to be nicknamed "death trap" due to its muddy surface and sharp incline.

That has been a thing of the past after the road was reconstructed with the help of the Chinese government in 2014.

"The new road is wider, the incline is not as slippery as it was before, gradual in descent, it has become a much safer road for commuters," said Alfred Kamara, a resident in Freetown.

The road now bears a new name -- the China-Sierra Leone Friendship Road, which has been widely recognized by locals.

According to China Railway Seventh Group (CRSG), the contractor, over the past ten years, the signature China-aided project road has not only improved the traffic conditions on the outskirts of Freetown but also spurred economic development of the towns along the route.

"We have been committed to improving the livelihoods of our Sierra Leoean brothers and sisters since the first day we entered the market," said Kan Yadong, a manager of the CRSG.

The diplomatic relationship between China and Sierra Leone has spanned over 50 years, during which the Chinese side has aided various projects in the West African country from roads to bridges, of which many have become landmarks in Freetown and other cities.

The Youyi building in Freetown, aided by the Chinese in the 1970s, still serves as the country's government office. "Youyi" means friendship in Chinese, and it has become an old phrase in Sierra Leone that almost everyone can pronounce because of the building's popularity.

"The building is a testament to the long-lasting friendship between the two countries," said Francis Odwyer, a 53-year-old resident.

The China-aided Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, another building bearing the word "friendship," is widely labeled as one of the best comprehensive hospitals in the country.

The hospital hosts the Chinese medical teams dispatched by the Chinese government, which consist of top-notch medical specialists in different fields. In the face of health emergencies such as Ebola and COVID-19, it was the Chinese doctors who joined hand in hand with their local counterparts to help the country weather the storm.

Every year, more than 20,000 local patients receive medical treatment from Chinese doctors in the hospital.

Sarah Conth, president of the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital, said the help from the Chinese government and the medical team has been tremendous. "We are hopeful that this cooperation will strengthen and will get more and more for each other." 
Ameriprise Financial Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Trane Technologies plc (NYSE:TT  Free Report) by 2.6% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 4,050,779 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 103,823 shares during the quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. owned approximately 1.78% of Trane Technologies worth $821,952,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Live Oak Investment Partners bought a new position in shares of Trane Technologies during the 4th quarter worth $30,000. Venturi Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Trane Technologies by 139.7% during the 3rd quarter. Venturi Wealth Management LLC now owns 151 shares of the companys stock worth $31,000 after acquiring an additional 88 shares during the period. 1832 Asset Management L.P. bought a new position in shares of Trane Technologies during the 1st quarter worth $34,000. Avior Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in shares of Trane Technologies by 58.0% during the 3rd quarter. Avior Wealth Management LLC now owns 177 shares of the companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 65 shares during the period. Finally, State of Wyoming bought a new position in shares of Trane Technologies during the 2nd quarter worth $37,000. 80.66% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on the company. Wells Fargo & Company raised their target price on Trane Technologies from $200.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Stephens raised their target price on Trane Technologies from $235.00 to $280.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group raised their target price on Trane Technologies from $253.00 to $287.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 5th. Royal Bank of Canada raised their target price on Trane Technologies from $231.00 to $246.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research note on Friday, February 2nd. Finally, Citigroup raised their target price on Trane Technologies from $246.00 to $269.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $231.71.

Trane Technologies Price Performance

Shares of NYSE TT traded up $4.01 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $285.98. 1,089,326 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,077,809. The company has a market capitalization of $64.94 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.53, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.24 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a quick ratio of 0.78, a current ratio of 1.13 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.57. Trane Technologies plc has a 52-week low of $162.04 and a 52-week high of $286.95. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $259.56 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $228.69.

Trane Technologies (NYSE:TT  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The company reported $2.17 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.13 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $4.42 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.43 billion. Trane Technologies had a return on equity of 32.01% and a net margin of 11.45%. Trane Technologiess revenue for the quarter was up 8.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.82 EPS. Equities research analysts forecast that Trane Technologies plc will post 10.18 EPS for the current year.

Trane Technologies Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Investors of record on Friday, March 1st will be issued a dividend of $0.84 per share. This represents a $3.36 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.17%. This is a boost from Trane Technologiess previous quarterly dividend of $0.75. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. Trane Technologiess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 38.23%.

Insider Activity at Trane Technologies

In related news, CFO Christopher J. Kuehn sold 2,767 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $268.31, for a total transaction of $742,413.77. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 54,788 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,700,168.28. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Trane Technologies news, CFO Christopher J. Kuehn sold 2,767 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $268.31, for a total transaction of $742,413.77. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 54,788 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,700,168.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Keith A. Sultana sold 1,983 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $272.26, for a total transaction of $539,891.58. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 42,575 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $11,591,469.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 6,895 shares of company stock valued at $1,859,452. Corporate insiders own 0.39% of the companys stock.

Trane Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Trane Technologies plc, together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, sells, and services of solutions for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, custom, and custom and transport refrigeration in Ireland and internationally. It offers air conditioners, exchangers, and handlers; airside and terminal devices; air sourced heat pumps, auxiliary power units; chillers; coils and condensers; gensets; dehumidifiers; ductless; furnaces; home automation products; humidifiers; indoor air quality assessments and related products; large and light commercial unitary products; refrigerant reclamation products; thermostats/controls; transport heater products; variable refrigerant flow products; and water source heat pumps.

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StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Ampco-Pittsburgh (NYSE:AP  Free Report) in a report released on Wednesday. The brokerage issued a buy rating on the industrial products companys stock.

Ampco-Pittsburgh Stock Performance

Shares of AP opened at $2.44 on Wednesday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a quick ratio of 0.94 and a current ratio of 2.04. Ampco-Pittsburgh has a 1 year low of $2.14 and a 1 year high of $4.00. The stock has a market capitalization of $48.48 million, a P/E ratio of 34.86 and a beta of 0.67. The companys fifty day moving average is $2.56 and its two-hundred day moving average is $2.73.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On Ampco-Pittsburgh

A number of large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Prudential Financial Inc. purchased a new position in Ampco-Pittsburgh in the 1st quarter valued at about $30,000. NewEdge Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ampco-Pittsburgh by 15.7% during the 2nd quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 22,146 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $86,000 after acquiring an additional 3,000 shares during the period. Northern Trust Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Ampco-Pittsburgh by 21.4% during the 4th quarter. Northern Trust Corp now owns 34,513 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $94,000 after acquiring an additional 6,073 shares during the period. Tejara Capital Ltd purchased a new position in shares of Ampco-Pittsburgh during the 4th quarter worth about $114,000. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Ampco-Pittsburgh by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 94,653 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $237,000 after acquiring an additional 3,532 shares during the period. 45.22% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Ampco-Pittsburgh Company Profile

Ampco-Pittsburgh Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in manufacture and sale of specialty metal products and customized equipment to commercial and industrial users worldwide. It operates in two segments, Forged and Cast Engineered Products (FCEG); and Air and Liquid Processing (ALP).

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Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) have earned a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twenty-four research firms that are covering the company, Marketbeat Ratings reports. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold recommendation and sixteen have issued a buy recommendation on the company. The average 1 year price objective among analysts that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $2,469.88.

Several equities research analysts have commented on CMG shares. Citigroup raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,699.00 to $3,016.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Wedbush restated a neutral rating and issued a $2,400.00 price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,246.00 to $2,400.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. KeyCorp raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,250.00 to $2,750.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill from $2,284.00 to $2,500.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on Chipotle Mexican Grill

Chipotle Mexican Grill Stock Up 0.0 %

CMG opened at $2,688.78 on Friday. The firm has a market cap of $73.73 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 60.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.31 and a beta of 1.29. Chipotle Mexican Grill has a fifty-two week low of $1,470.05 and a fifty-two week high of $2,725.83. The companys 50-day moving average price is $2,431.52 and its 200 day moving average price is $2,156.36.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE:CMG  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The restaurant operator reported $10.36 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $9.73 by $0.63. The firm had revenue of $2.52 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.49 billion. Chipotle Mexican Grill had a net margin of 12.45% and a return on equity of 44.41%. Chipotle Mexican Grills quarterly revenue was up 15.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $8.29 earnings per share. Research analysts anticipate that Chipotle Mexican Grill will post 53.21 earnings per share for the current year.

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 898 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,622.25, for a total value of $2,354,780.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,009,420.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Roger E. Theodoredis sold 898 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,622.25, for a total value of $2,354,780.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 1,529 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,009,420.25. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Albert S. Baldocchi sold 750 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,608.51, for a total transaction of $1,956,382.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 37,271 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $97,221,776.21. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 4,744 shares of company stock valued at $11,607,678. Company insiders own 0.96% of the companys stock.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Chipotle Mexican Grill

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CMG. Fortitude Family Office LLC purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 4th quarter worth approximately $32,000. Coppell Advisory Solutions LLC purchased a new stake in Chipotle Mexican Grill in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $32,000. IMA Wealth Inc. lifted its position in Chipotle Mexican Grill by 185.7% in the 1st quarter. IMA Wealth Inc. now owns 20 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $34,000 after buying an additional 13 shares in the last quarter. Turtle Creek Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 4th quarter valued at $37,000. Finally, Annis Gardner Whiting Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill during the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 91.19% of the companys stock.

About Chipotle Mexican Grill

(Get Free Report

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, owns and operates Chipotle Mexican Grill restaurants. The company offers burritos, burrito bowls, quesadillas, tacos, and salads. Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Newport Beach, California.

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AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. (NYSE:FIS  Free Report) by 45.1% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 1,367,869 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 425,080 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLC owned approximately 0.23% of Fidelity National Information Services worth $75,602,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. Acadian Asset Management LLC lifted its position in Fidelity National Information Services by 491.5% during the 1st quarter. Acadian Asset Management LLC now owns 3,904 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $391,000 after acquiring an additional 3,244 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its position in Fidelity National Information Services by 71.6% during the 1st quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 9,791 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $982,000 after acquiring an additional 4,085 shares during the period. Prudential PLC acquired a new stake in shares of Fidelity National Information Services during the first quarter worth about $1,173,000. Baird Financial Group Inc. lifted its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 8.2% during the first quarter. Baird Financial Group Inc. now owns 194,714 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $19,553,000 after purchasing an additional 14,819 shares during the period. Finally, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. lifted its holdings in shares of Fidelity National Information Services by 83.3% during the first quarter. Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. now owns 286 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 130 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.67% of the companys stock.

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Fidelity National Information Services Price Performance

FIS stock opened at $69.21 on Friday. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $62.43 and a 200-day simple moving average of $57.60. The firm has a market capitalization of $39.90 billion, a PE ratio of -6.16, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.86 and a beta of 0.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.68, a current ratio of 0.75 and a quick ratio of 0.76. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. has a 1 year low of $46.91 and a 1 year high of $69.59.

Fidelity National Information Services ( NYSE:FIS Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 26th. The information technology services provider reported $0.94 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by ($0.01). The company had revenue of $2.51 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.52 billion. Fidelity National Information Services had a positive return on equity of 13.06% and a negative net margin of 54.30%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down .6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.71 EPS. Equities research analysts anticipate that Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. will post 4.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Fidelity National Information Services declared that its board has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Monday, February 26th that authorizes the company to repurchase $500.00 million in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the information technology services provider to reacquire up to 1.3% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Fidelity National Information Services Cuts Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a dividend of $0.36 per share. This represents a $1.44 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.08%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Fidelity National Information Servicess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -18.51%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, Director Ellen R. Alemany bought 735 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 17th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $60.32 per share, for a total transaction of $44,335.20. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now owns 35,333 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,131,286.56. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. 0.56% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

FIS has been the subject of several research reports. Morgan Stanley lifted their price objective on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $73.00 to $77.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Truist Financial boosted their target price on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $55.00 to $65.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 27th. Raymond James decreased their price objective on Fidelity National Information Services from $79.00 to $71.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, November 8th. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $66.00 to $70.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 27th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Fidelity National Information Services from $67.00 to $75.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, ten have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Fidelity National Information Services presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $69.47.

View Our Latest Analysis on FIS

Fidelity National Information Services Company Profile

(Free Report)

Fidelity National Information Services, Inc provides technology solutions for financial institutions and businesses worldwide. It operates through Banking Solutions, Merchant Solutions, and Capital Market Solutions segments. The Banking Solutions segment provides core processing and ancillary applications; mobile and online banking; fraud, risk management, and compliance; electronic funds transfer and network; card and retail payment; wealth and retirement; and item processing and output solutions.

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AQR Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of Macys, Inc. (NYSE:M  Free Report) by 48.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 5,272,297 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 1,730,307 shares during the period. AQR Capital Management LLCs holdings in Macys were worth $61,211,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of M. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. increased its position in Macys by 7.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 44,210 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,077,000 after buying an additional 2,981 shares in the last quarter. US Bancorp DE increased its holdings in shares of Macys by 7.2% during the first quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 18,576 shares of the companys stock valued at $452,000 after acquiring an additional 1,244 shares in the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its position in shares of Macys by 34.4% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 28,563 shares of the companys stock worth $696,000 after purchasing an additional 7,317 shares during the last quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. bought a new position in Macys in the 1st quarter worth about $1,482,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can grew its position in Macys by 13.9% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 219,731 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,550,000 after purchasing an additional 26,827 shares during the last quarter. 82.69% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Macys Price Performance

M stock opened at $18.01 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $4.94 billion, a PE ratio of 48.68 and a beta of 2.14. The companys fifty day moving average price is $18.94 and its 200-day moving average price is $15.31. Macys, Inc. has a one year low of $10.54 and a one year high of $23.19. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72, a quick ratio of 0.17 and a current ratio of 1.37.

Macys Increases Dividend

Macys ( NYSE:M Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 27th. The company reported $2.45 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.98 by $0.47. Macys had a return on equity of 23.34% and a net margin of 0.45%. The company had revenue of $8.12 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $8.07 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.88 earnings per share. The firms revenue was down 1.7% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Macys, Inc. will post 2.58 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.1737 per share. This is a boost from Macyss previous quarterly dividend of $0.17. This represents a $0.69 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.86%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. Macyss payout ratio is presently 178.38%.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

M has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Citigroup upgraded Macys from a sell rating to a neutral rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $14.00 to $18.00 in a report on Friday, February 2nd. TD Cowen cut shares of Macys from an outperform rating to a market perform rating and decreased their price objective for the company from $23.00 to $20.00 in a report on Thursday. StockNews.com raised shares of Macys from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price target on Macys from $16.00 to $19.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, November 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Macys from $16.00 to $22.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, five have issued a hold rating and three have given 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 $17.17.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on M

About Macys

(Free Report)

Macy's, Inc, an omni-channel retail organization, operates stores, websites, and mobile applications in the United States. The company sells a range of merchandise, such as apparel and accessories for men, women, and kids; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods under the Macy's, Bloomingdale's, and bluemercury brands.

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AutoZone (NYSE:AZO  Free Report) had its target price hoisted by Truist Financial from $3,027.00 to $3,363.00 in a research note published on Wednesday morning, Benzinga reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the stock.

Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on AZO. TheStreet cut AutoZone from a c rating to a d+ rating in a report on Wednesday, December 20th. StockNews.com cut AutoZone from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on AutoZone from $3,000.00 to $3,200.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday. Raymond James upgraded AutoZone from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and increased their target price for the company from $2,850.00 to $3,100.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Finally, Stephens increased their target price on AutoZone from $3,000.00 to $3,070.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, December 6th. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $3,020.76.

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AutoZone Trading Up 1.0 %

AZO opened at $3,035.99 on Wednesday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $2,712.40 and a 200-day moving average price of $2,620.84. AutoZone has a 12-month low of $2,277.88 and a 12-month high of $3,038.68. The stock has a market capitalization of $52.49 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.04, a PEG ratio of 1.50 and a beta of 0.70.

AutoZone (NYSE:AZO  Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The company reported $28.89 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $26.08 by $2.81. The firm had revenue of $3.86 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.32 billion. AutoZone had a negative return on equity of 56.71% and a net margin of 14.70%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 4.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $24.64 EPS. On average, equities research analysts predict that AutoZone will post 151.24 EPS for the current year.

Insider Activity

In other news, VP Richard Craig Smith sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,997.76, for a total value of $8,993,280.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the vice president now owns 2,921 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,756,456.96. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, SVP K. Michelle Borninkhof sold 1,900 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $2,735.00, for a total transaction of $5,196,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 521 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,424,935. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, VP Richard Craig Smith sold 3,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $2,997.76, for a total value of $8,993,280.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now directly owns 2,921 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,756,456.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 17,807 shares of company stock worth $47,821,141 in the last quarter. 2.50% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of AutoZone

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Rock Creek Group LP bought a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. First Capital Advisors Group LLC. bought a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 2nd quarter worth $32,000. Mascoma Wealth Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of AutoZone in the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Finally, MUFG Americas Holdings Corp increased its holdings in shares of AutoZone by 166.7% in the 3rd quarter. MUFG Americas Holdings Corp now owns 16 shares of the companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 10 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 90.34% of the companys stock.

AutoZone Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

AutoZone, Inc retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories in the United States, Mexico, and Brazil. The company provides various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products.

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Bank of Ireland Group plc (OTCMKTS:BKRIF  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant decline in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 1,940,300 shares, a decline of 19.4% from the January 31st total of 2,406,800 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,800 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 334.5 days.

Bank of Ireland Group Stock Performance

Bank of Ireland Group stock opened at C$9.14 on Friday. Bank of Ireland Group has a 1 year low of C$8.51 and a 1 year high of C$11.34. The firms 50 day moving average price is C$9.06 and its two-hundred day moving average price is C$9.27.

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About Bank of Ireland Group

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Bank of Ireland Group plc provides various banking and financial products and services. It provides current and savings accounts, and business deposits and accounts; personal, car, home improvement, graduate, motor finance, and student loans, as well as overdrafts; and business and farming loans, BREXIT loans, invoice finance, hire purchase, and leasing services.

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Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) had its price objective reduced by Royal Bank of Canada from C$134.00 to C$130.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Royal Bank of Canada currently has an outperform rating on the banks stock.

Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Desjardins raised their price target on Bank of Montreal from C$130.00 to C$135.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, December 19th. Scotiabank lifted their target price on Bank of Montreal from C$135.00 to C$145.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. CIBC reduced their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$126.00 to C$125.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday. National Bankshares raised Bank of Montreal from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and boosted their price objective for the stock from C$117.00 to C$141.00 in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. Finally, Cormark reduced their price objective on Bank of Montreal from C$128.00 to C$127.00 in a research note on Monday, December 4th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$132.70.

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Read Our Latest Analysis on BMO

Bank of Montreal Price Performance

BMO stock opened at C$123.07 on Wednesday. The company has a market cap of C$88.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.67, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.54 and a beta of 1.18. Bank of Montreal has a 1 year low of C$102.67 and a 1 year high of C$132.11. The stocks fifty day moving average price is C$127.45 and its 200-day moving average price is C$118.33.

Bank of Montreal (TSE:BMO  Get Free Report) (NYSE:BMO) last released its earnings results on Friday, December 1st. The bank reported C$2.81 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of C$2.86 by C($0.05). The company had revenue of C$8.36 billion for the quarter. Bank of Montreal had a net margin of 15.04% and a return on equity of 5.91%. As a group, analysts expect that Bank of Montreal will post 12.0940171 earnings per share for the current year.

Bank of Montreal Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 28th. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 29th will be issued a dividend of $1.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 26th. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.91%. Bank of Montreals dividend payout ratio is currently 106.34%.

About Bank of Montreal

(Get Free Report)

Bank of Montreal provides diversified financial services primarily in North America. It operates through Canadian P&C, U.S P&C, BMO Wealth Management, and BMO Capital Markets segments. The company's personal banking products and services include deposits, mortgages, home lending, consumer credit, small business lending, credit cards, cash management, financial and investment advice, and other banking services; and commercial banking products and services comprise various of financing options and treasury and payment solutions, as well as risk management products.

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Bank of Nova Scotia increased its stake in shares of The Travelers Companies, Inc. (NYSE:TRV  Free Report) by 14.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 25,437 shares of the insurance providers stock after buying an additional 3,124 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotias holdings in Travelers Companies were worth $4,154,000 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. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. lifted its position in Travelers Companies by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Mn Services Vermogensbeheer B.V. now owns 111,547 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $18,217,000 after buying an additional 1,600 shares in the last quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its holdings in Travelers Companies by 21.4% during the 2nd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 9,938 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,725,000 after purchasing an additional 1,751 shares during the last quarter. SlateStone Wealth LLC bought a new stake in Travelers Companies during the 2nd quarter worth about $661,000. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Travelers Companies by 0.4% during the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,395,810 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $227,950,000 after purchasing an additional 5,584 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC raised its holdings in Travelers Companies by 15.8% during the 3rd quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 4,575,759 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $747,267,000 after purchasing an additional 623,974 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.12% of the companys stock.

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Travelers Companies Trading Down 1.0 %

NYSE TRV opened at $218.82 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $50.14 billion, a PE ratio of 17.11, a PEG ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.58. The company has a current ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. The Travelers Companies, Inc. has a 12 month low of $157.33 and a 12 month high of $223.88. The stock has a 50 day moving average of $206.90 and a 200-day moving average of $182.33.

Travelers Companies Announces Dividend

Travelers Companies ( NYSE:TRV Get Free Report ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 19th. The insurance provider reported $7.01 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $5.10 by $1.91. The company had revenue of $10.93 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $10.18 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 13.68% and a net margin of 7.23%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 13.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $3.40 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that The Travelers Companies, Inc. will post 17.68 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 29th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 8th will be issued a $1.00 dividend. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.83%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 7th. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is presently 31.27%.

Insider Activity

In related news, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 38,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.55, for a total value of $8,076,900.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 14,810 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,147,865.50. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Michael Frederick Klein sold 12,287 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $210.68, for a total value of $2,588,625.16. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 14,080 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,966,374.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CFO Daniel S. Frey sold 38,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $212.55, for a total value of $8,076,900.00. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 14,810 shares in the company, valued at $3,147,865.50. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 109,775 shares of company stock valued at $23,343,903. 1.29% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

TRV has been the subject of several recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price objective on Travelers Companies from $185.00 to $210.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods boosted their price objective on Travelers Companies from $194.00 to $215.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Monday, January 22nd. HSBC began coverage on Travelers Companies in a report on Thursday, December 28th. They set a hold rating and a $203.00 price objective for the company. StockNews.com raised Travelers Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, Janney Montgomery Scott began coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Wednesday, December 20th. They issued a buy rating and a $215.00 price target for the company. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have given a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $201.38.

View Our Latest Analysis on TRV

About Travelers Companies

(Free Report)

The Travelers Companies, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides a range of commercial and personal property, and casualty insurance products and services to businesses, government units, associations, and individuals in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Business Insurance, Bond & Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance.

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Bank of Nova Scotia cut its holdings in MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI  Free Report) by 90.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 8,563 shares of the technology companys stock after selling 77,091 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotias holdings in MSCI were worth $4,393,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Optiver Holding B.V. bought a new position in MSCI in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $26,000. ORG Partners LLC boosted its holdings in MSCI by 5,600.0% in the 3rd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 57 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,000 after purchasing an additional 56 shares during the period. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new position in MSCI in the 1st quarter valued at $35,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new position in MSCI in the 3rd quarter valued at $38,000. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. boosted its holdings in MSCI by 105.1% in the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 80 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $41,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. 88.61% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several research analysts have commented on MSCI shares. Barclays raised their price target on shares of MSCI from $600.00 to $700.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 31st. Morgan Stanley raised shares of MSCI from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the company from $526.00 to $600.00 in a report on Wednesday, December 13th. Redburn Atlantic downgraded shares of MSCI from a neutral rating to a sell rating and cut their price target for the company from $620.00 to $470.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. StockNews.com downgraded shares of MSCI from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of MSCI from $615.00 to $660.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 31st. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, MSCI has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $578.21.

MSCI Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of NYSE:MSCI opened at $565.48 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $44.72 billion, a PE ratio of 39.27, a PEG ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.07. The companys fifty day moving average is $564.80 and its 200 day moving average is $535.17. MSCI Inc. has a 52 week low of $451.55 and a 52 week high of $617.39.

MSCI (NYSE:MSCI  Get Free Report) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The technology company reported $3.68 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by $0.39. The company had revenue of $690.11 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $662.64 million. MSCI had a net margin of 45.42% and a negative return on equity of 111.17%. The firms revenue was up 19.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $2.84 EPS. Sell-side analysts anticipate that MSCI Inc. will post 14.75 EPS for the current year.

MSCI Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th were given a $1.60 dividend. This represents a $6.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.13%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 15th. This is a boost from MSCIs previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. MSCIs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 44.44%.

MSCI Company Profile

(Free Report)

MSCI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides critical decision support tools and solutions for the investment community to manage investment processes worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial product, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct.

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by Murad Abdo

ADEN, Yemen, March 3 (Xinhua) -- In an escalating turn of events in war-ravaged Yemen, the country's government officially announced on Saturday the sinking of a ship targeted by Houthi forces in the Red Sea, exacerbating fears of an impending environmental catastrophe.

The MV Rubymar, a Belize-flagged, Britain-owned bulk carrier, sank in the Red Sea after being struck by Houthi anti-ship ballistic missiles near the port of Mocha on Feb. 18, prompting grave concerns about the release of dangerous materials into Yemeni territorial waters and the Red Sea.

Yemeni Prime Minister Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak on Saturday condemned the sinking of the ship, which carried approximately 21,000 metric tons of ammonium phosphate, sulfate fertilizer, and other hazardous substances, as an "unprecedented environmental disaster" for the region, underscoring the gravity of the situation for both Yemen and its people.

Thousands of fishermen in Hodeidah, reliant on the Red Sea for their livelihoods, now find themselves without work as a result of the recent ship sinking. With families and children to support, their future is uncertain.

Local experts warn of the devastating consequences of the fertilizers polluting the sea, which pose a grave threat to Yemen's coastlines and marine life in the Red Sea.

Abdul-Qadir Kharaz, former head of the Public Authority for Environmental Protection in Yemen, highlighted the peril posed by the ship and its cargo, saying that "the ship, built in 1997, is considered marine waste according to international standards."

He also elaborated on the dire consequences of the sinking ship's cargo, particularly the fertilizers onboard, explaining that "fertilizers would serve as a catalyst for the rampant growth of algae, forming a dense cover over the water's surface and coral reefs. This cover would obstruct sunlight, vital for the survival of coral reefs, leading to their eventual demise. "

Amidst increasing concerns about marine pollution and the spread of toxic substances, Yemen's government renewed its calls on Saturday for the international community and urged it to swiftly address the aftermath of the Rubymar incident to mitigate its environmental and humanitarian impact.

Meanwhile, the Yemeni government squarely blamed the Houthis for the incident on Saturday, emphasizing their responsibility for the catastrophic repercussions on the environment, economy, and humanitarian situation.

Speaking on behalf of the Houthi negotiating delegation, Abdul-Malik Al-Ajri, a member of the delegation, shifted responsibility to the United States, accusing it of militarizing the Red Sea and exacerbating regional tensions.

"The United States of America is the foremost party accountable for any environmental repercussions stemming from the British ship's sinking in the Red Sea," he wrote in a post on the social media platform X on Saturday. He also blamed the U.S. for obstructing resolutions at the United Nations Security Council aimed at ending the Israel-Hamas war.

The Houthi official also held the owner of Rubymar accountable for disregarding warnings and risking passage through volatile waters.

Maritime security expert Mohamed Salam Asbahi highlighted the significance of this event, noting that it marks the first deliberate sinking of a ship by Houthi forces.

"This is a dangerous escalation," Asbahi emphasized, "the sinking of Rubymar will undoubtedly complicate the situation." He further suggested that the incident could lead to an escalation in the military operations led by the United States and Britain against the Houthis, which were launched since January.

Asbahi warned that this escalation might culminate in a Western ground military intervention in the coastal Yemeni province of Hodeidah, situated along the Red Sea.

Ali Bin Hadi, a retired general of the Yemeni government forces, questions the effectiveness of the airstrikes carried out by the American-British air force, emphasizing that they are unlikely to provide a solution.

On February 18, the Houthis fired two missiles at Rubymar while it was passing through the Red Sea, partially damaging the ship. The Houthis claimed they believed the ship was carrying weapons bound for Israel.

The Houthis have stepped up their attacks on international shipping since mid-November last year, saying they were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza who faced intense Israeli attacks.

The U.S.-British forces since January 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. 
British American Tobacco p.l.c. (NYSE:BTI  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a large growth in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 5,490,000 shares, a growth of 22.5% from the January 31st total of 4,480,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 5,120,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.1 days. Currently, 0.3% of the companys stock are short sold.

British American Tobacco Price Performance

Shares of BTI stock traded down $0.11 on Friday, reaching $29.78. The stock had a trading volume of 3,656,966 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,369,417. British American Tobacco has a 12 month low of $28.35 and a 12 month high of $38.19. The firms 50-day moving average is $29.96 and its two-hundred day moving average is $30.84. The company has a quick ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.91 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67.

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British American Tobacco Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, February 6th. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 20th will be paid a $0.7431 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, December 20th. This represents a $2.97 annualized dividend and a yield of 9.98%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in BTI. Almanack Investment Partners LLC. acquired a new stake in British American Tobacco during the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. Spotlight Asset Group Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the 2nd quarter worth about $26,000. Heritage Wealth Advisors bought a new stake in shares of British American Tobacco during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Sanctuary Wealth Management L.L.C. acquired a new position in British American Tobacco in the 4th quarter valued at about $27,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust raised its holdings in British American Tobacco by 308.7% in the 4th quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 940 shares of the companys stock valued at $28,000 after acquiring an additional 710 shares during the period. 7.56% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

Separately, StockNews.com raised British American Tobacco from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Wednesday, November 29th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, British American Tobacco has an average rating of Moderate Buy.

View Our Latest Report on BTI

British American Tobacco Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

British American Tobacco p.l.c. engages in the provision of tobacco and nicotine products to consumers worldwide. It also offers vapour, heated, and modern oral nicotine products; combustible cigarettes; and traditional oral products, such as snus and moist snuff. The company offers its products under the Vuse, glo, Velo, Grizzly, Kodiak, Dunhill, Kent, Lucky Strike, Pall Mall, Rothmans, Camel, Natural American Spirit, Newport, Vogue, Viceroy, Kool, Peter Stuyvesant, Craven A, State Express 555 and Shuang Xi brands.

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United Services Automobile Association boosted its stake in Brixmor Property Group Inc. (NYSE:BRX  Free Report) by 16.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 21,393 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after acquiring an additional 2,956 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Associations holdings in Brixmor Property Group were worth $445,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Wellington Management Group LLP boosted its holdings in Brixmor Property Group by 99.4% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 20,119,950 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $519,296,000 after purchasing an additional 10,028,534 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank purchased a new stake in Brixmor Property Group in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $67,125,000. Deutsche Bank AG boosted its holdings in Brixmor Property Group by 1,073.3% in the 3rd quarter. Deutsche Bank AG now owns 3,019,909 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $62,754,000 after purchasing an additional 2,762,529 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in Brixmor Property Group by 13.6% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 16,686,118 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $430,669,000 after purchasing an additional 2,001,159 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management L.P. purchased a new stake in Brixmor Property Group in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $29,115,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 94.98% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

BRX has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Mizuho reissued a neutral rating and set a $24.00 price target (up previously from $23.00) on shares of Brixmor Property Group in a research note on Friday, February 23rd. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their price target on Brixmor Property Group from $22.75 to $24.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on Brixmor Property Group in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They set a buy rating and a $27.00 price target on the stock. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on Brixmor Property Group from $24.00 to $23.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Four equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Brixmor Property Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $25.38.

Brixmor Property Group Price Performance

BRX stock opened at $22.81 on Friday. Brixmor Property Group Inc. has a 1 year low of $19.40 and a 1 year high of $24.47. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.73, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a current ratio of 0.58. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $22.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $21.97. The firm has a market cap of $6.87 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.58, a PEG ratio of 2.75 and a beta of 1.53.

Brixmor Property Group (NYSE:BRX  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The real estate investment trust reported $0.24 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.51 by ($0.27). Brixmor Property Group had a net margin of 24.50% and a return on equity of 10.63%. The company had revenue of $316.49 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $311.77 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.49 EPS. Brixmor Property Groups quarterly revenue was up 2.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Brixmor Property Group Inc. will post 2.08 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Brixmor Property Group Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be issued a $0.273 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 1st. This is an increase from Brixmor Property Groups previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. This represents a $1.09 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.79%. Brixmor Property Groups payout ratio is 107.92%.

Insider Buying and Selling at Brixmor Property Group

In other Brixmor Property Group news, insider Brian T. Finnegan sold 7,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.00, for a total value of $172,500.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 186,873 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,298,079. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Brian T. Finnegan sold 7,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $23.00, for a total transaction of $172,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 186,873 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,298,079. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Angela M. Aman sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.00, for a total value of $240,000.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 152,054 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,649,296. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders sold 25,000 shares of company stock worth $586,950. Insiders own 0.64% of the companys stock.

Brixmor Property Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Brixmor (NYSE: BRX) is a real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and operates a high-quality, national portfolio of open-air shopping centers. Its 362 retail centers comprise approximately 64 million square feet of prime retail space in established trade areas. The Company strives to own and operate shopping centers that reflect Brixmor's vision to be the center of the communities we serve and are home to a diverse mix of thriving national, regional and local retailers.

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Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (OTCMKTS:BHLL  Get Free Report) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 31,500 shares, a decrease of 29.8% from the January 31st total of 44,900 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 359,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.1 days.

Bunker Hill Mining Price Performance

BHLL stock opened at $0.07 on Friday. Bunker Hill Mining has a one year low of $0.07 and a one year high of $0.22. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $0.08 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $0.09.

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Bunker Hill Mining Company Profile

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Bunker Hill Mining Corp., a mineral exploration company, engages in the acquisition, development, and mining of mineral properties in Canada and the United States. It focuses on exploring for zinc, lead, and silver ores. It holds an option agreement to acquire interest in the Bunker Hill mine located in the Silver Valley, Idaho.

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Treasurer of the State of North Carolina cut its position in shares of Burlington Stores, Inc. (NYSE:BURL  Free Report) by 4.5% in the third quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 42,813 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,000 shares during the period. Treasurer of the State of North Carolinas holdings in Burlington Stores were worth $5,793,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in BURL. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in Burlington Stores by 5.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 6,412 shares of the companys stock worth $1,222,000 after purchasing an additional 349 shares during the last quarter. Healthcare of Ontario Pension Plan Trust Fund bought a new position in Burlington Stores in the 1st quarter worth $246,000. MetLife Investment Management LLC bought a new position in Burlington Stores in the 1st quarter worth $751,000. Yousif Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in Burlington Stores by 8.5% in the 1st quarter. Yousif Capital Management LLC now owns 1,538 shares of the companys stock worth $280,000 after acquiring an additional 120 shares during the period. Finally, Raymond James Trust N.A. raised its holdings in Burlington Stores by 14.9% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Trust N.A. now owns 1,471 shares of the companys stock worth $268,000 after acquiring an additional 191 shares during the period.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

Several research analysts recently commented on BURL shares. Telsey Advisory Group reiterated an outperform rating and issued a $225.00 target price on shares of Burlington Stores in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Piper Sandler upgraded shares of Burlington Stores from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and lifted their target price for the stock from $155.00 to $240.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 17th. Evercore ISI lifted their target price on shares of Burlington Stores from $220.00 to $235.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on shares of Burlington Stores from $167.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, November 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded shares of Burlington Stores from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $212.56.

Burlington Stores Price Performance

NYSE:BURL opened at $205.76 on Friday. The company has a 50-day moving average of $196.14 and a 200-day moving average of $165.33. The company has a market capitalization of $13.28 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 45.22, a PEG ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 1.48. Burlington Stores, Inc. has a 52 week low of $115.66 and a 52 week high of $225.94. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.64, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 1.13.

About Burlington Stores

(Free Report)

Burlington Stores, Inc operates as a retailer of branded apparel products in the United States. The company provides fashion-focused merchandise, including women's ready-to-wear apparel, menswear, youth apparel, footwear, accessories, toys, gifts, and coats, as well as baby, home, and beauty products.

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Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec lowered its holdings in shares of Duke Energy Co. (NYSE:DUK  Free Report) by 33.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 95,900 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 49,200 shares during the quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebecs holdings in Duke Energy were worth $8,464,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. CKW Financial Group purchased a new position in Duke Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $25,000. Chilton Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Duke Energy during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $28,000. FSC Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Duke Energy during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. purchased a new position in Duke Energy during the 1st quarter valued at approximately $40,000. Finally, Compass Wealth Management LLC purchased a new position in Duke Energy during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.68% of the companys stock.

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Insider Buying and Selling at Duke Energy

In other Duke Energy news, EVP Louis E. Renjel sold 3,000 shares of Duke Energy 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 sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 14,213 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,315,697.41. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 0.10% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities analysts have weighed in on DUK shares. KeyCorp raised their price target on Duke Energy from $106.00 to $107.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. BMO Capital Markets lowered their price objective 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. Royal Bank of Canada raised Duke Energy from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from $101.00 to $113.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. Evercore ISI raised Duke Energy from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from $90.00 to $108.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley raised their price objective on Duke Energy from $93.00 to $95.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Duke Energy presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $100.00.

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Duke Energy Price Performance

Shares of DUK stock opened at $90.86 on Friday. Duke Energy Co. has a 52-week low of $83.06 and a 52-week high of $100.39. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.50, a quick ratio of 0.49 and a current ratio of 0.74. The firm has a market capitalization of $70.04 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.59, a P/E/G ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 0.46. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $95.14 and a 200 day moving average price of $92.26.

Duke Energy (NYSE:DUK  Get Free Report) last issued its 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). The firm had revenue of $7.21 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.24 billion. Duke Energy had a net margin of 9.78% and a return on equity of 8.93%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.11 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Duke Energy Co. will post 5.98 earnings per share for the current year.

Duke Energy Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 18th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $1.025 per share. This represents a $4.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.51%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 15th. Duke Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 115.49%.

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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California State Teachers Retirement System lessened its stake in shares of Omnicom Group Inc. (NYSE:OMC  Free Report) by 5.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 313,107 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 17,634 shares during the period. California State Teachers Retirement Systems holdings in Omnicom Group were worth $23,320,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of OMC. Aviva PLC raised its stake in Omnicom Group by 406.1% in the 3rd quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 126,306 shares of the business services providers stock worth $9,407,000 after acquiring an additional 101,348 shares during the last quarter. NBC Securities Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Omnicom Group during the third quarter worth about $200,000. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. increased its holdings in Omnicom Group by 1.9% in the 3rd quarter. Van Lanschot Kempen Investment Management N.V. now owns 167,486 shares of the business services providers stock worth $12,474,000 after buying an additional 3,043 shares during the period. Osaic Holdings Inc. lifted its stake in Omnicom Group by 36.3% during the 2nd quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 243,011 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $13,848,000 after acquiring an additional 64,693 shares during the period. Finally, Marcum Wealth LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Omnicom Group by 5.3% in the 3rd quarter. Marcum Wealth LLC now owns 3,216 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $240,000 after acquiring an additional 161 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 92.71% of the companys stock.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several brokerages recently issued reports on OMC. Macquarie raised shares of Omnicom Group from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and raised their target price for the stock from $80.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, January 5th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Omnicom Group from $106.00 to $104.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Omnicom Group from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and upped their target price for the stock from $90.00 to $100.00 in a research note on Friday, December 15th. Barclays boosted their price target on Omnicom Group from $95.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Monday, January 29th. Finally, UBS Group started coverage on shares of Omnicom Group in a research note on Thursday, January 11th. They set a buy rating and a $117.00 price objective on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $99.22.

Insider Buying and Selling

In other Omnicom Group news, Director Linda Johnson Rice sold 507 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $86.66, for a total value of $43,936.62. Following the transaction, the director now owns 9,753 shares in the company, valued at approximately $845,194.98. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 1.30% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Omnicom Group Price Performance

Shares of NYSE OMC opened at $88.44 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.16, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 0.95. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $88.00 and a 200 day moving average of $81.66. The firm has a market cap of $17.51 billion, a PE ratio of 12.78, a PEG ratio of 2.50 and a beta of 0.96. Omnicom Group Inc. has a one year low of $72.20 and a one year high of $99.23.

Omnicom Group (NYSE:OMC  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 5th. The business services provider reported $2.20 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.16 by $0.04. Omnicom Group had a net margin of 9.47% and a return on equity of 39.07%. The firm had revenue of $4.06 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $2.09 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, research analysts predict that Omnicom Group Inc. will post 7.64 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Omnicom Group Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 9th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be paid a $0.70 dividend. This represents a $2.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.17%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. Omnicom Groups dividend payout ratio is presently 40.46%.

Omnicom Group Company Profile

(Free Report)

Omnicom Group Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers advertising, marketing, and corporate communications services. It provides a range of services in the areas of advertising and media, precision marketing, commerce and branding, experiential, execution and support, public relations, and healthcare.

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Caxton Associates LP acquired a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE:DGX  Free Report) during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund acquired 1,773 shares of the medical research companys stock, valued at approximately $216,000.

A number of other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of DGX. Private Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 108.0% during the third quarter. Private Capital Management LLC now owns 5,200 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $634,000 after purchasing an additional 2,700 shares during the period. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the third quarter valued at $653,000. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank boosted its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 103.4% during the third quarter. Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank now owns 4,850 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $591,000 after purchasing an additional 2,465 shares during the period. Bank of Nova Scotia boosted its stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics by 13.9% during the third quarter. Bank of Nova Scotia now owns 11,094 shares of the medical research companys stock valued at $1,352,000 after purchasing an additional 1,358 shares during the period. Finally, Qube Research & Technologies Ltd purchased a new stake in shares of Quest Diagnostics during the third quarter valued at $17,474,000. Institutional investors own 87.76% of the companys stock.

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Quest Diagnostics Stock Performance

DGX opened at $124.68 on Friday. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated has a 52-week low of $119.59 and a 52-week high of $148.62. The firms 50-day moving average price is $131.15 and its 200-day moving average price is $130.53. The company has a quick ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 1.31 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.70. The company has a market cap of $13.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.90.

Quest Diagnostics Increases Dividend

Quest Diagnostics ( NYSE:DGX Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 1st. The medical research company reported $2.15 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.11 by $0.04. Quest Diagnostics had a net margin of 9.23% and a return on equity of 15.79%. The company had revenue of $2.29 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.25 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $1.98 EPS. Quest Diagnosticss quarterly revenue was down 1.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated will post 8.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 22nd. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 8th will be paid a dividend of $0.75 per share. This is a boost from Quest Diagnosticss previous quarterly dividend of $0.71. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 5th. This represents a $3.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.41%. Quest Diagnosticss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 37.92%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of research firms recently weighed in on DGX. Leerink Partnrs reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $130.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, November 6th. SVB Leerink began coverage on shares of Quest Diagnostics in a research note on Monday, February 26th. They issued a market perform rating and a $135.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup upped their price objective on shares of Quest Diagnostics from $130.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, December 11th. Finally, Bank of America raised shares of Quest Diagnostics from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $140.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 12th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $145.92.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on DGX

Insider Transactions at Quest Diagnostics

In other news, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 661 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred 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 sale, the senior vice president now owns 40,206 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $5,071,584.84. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other news, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 5,611 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of $125.88, for a total transaction of $706,312.68. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 38,478 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,843,610.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Michael E. Prevoznik sold 661 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $126.14, for a total value of $83,378.54. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 40,206 shares in the company, valued at approximately $5,071,584.84. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 15,150 shares of company stock valued at $1,913,202 in the last 90 days. 1.70% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders.

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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Conifex Timber Inc. (TSE:CFF  Get Free Report)s stock price shot up 6% during trading on Friday . The stock traded as high as C$0.72 and last traded at C$0.71. 21,500 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 8% from the average session volume of 19,850 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.67.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Separately, CIBC upgraded shares of Conifex Timber from an underperform rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price target for the stock from C$1.00 to C$0.75 in a research note on Wednesday, November 8th.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on CFF

Conifex Timber Trading Up 6.0 %

About Conifex Timber

The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$0.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$0.78. The firm has a market cap of C$28.65 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -1.11, a P/E/G ratio of 0.06 and a beta of 1.49. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 53.74, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 0.91.

(Get Free Report)

Conifex Timber Inc primarily manufactures and sells lumber products in the United States, Canada, Japan, and internationally. It is involved in the timber harvesting, reforestation, and forest management activities; manufacture of finished softwood lumber from spruce, pine, and fir logs; manufacture, sale, and distribution of dimension lumber; processing logs into lumber and wood chips, as well as residual products, such as wood chips, trim blocks, sawdust, shavings, and barks; and providing value added lumber finishing services.

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Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its stake in DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Free Report) by 24.9% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 9,438 shares of the utilities providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,881 shares during the period. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd.s holdings in DTE Energy were worth $937,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of DTE. Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. bought a new position in shares of DTE Energy in the 2nd quarter valued at about $29,000. Farther Finance Advisors LLC grew its holdings in DTE Energy by 180.3% during the second quarter. Farther Finance Advisors LLC now owns 328 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $36,000 after purchasing an additional 211 shares during the period. Milestone Investment Advisors LLC bought a new position in DTE Energy during the third quarter worth about $36,000. Compagnie Lombard Odier SCmA bought a new position in DTE Energy during the third quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Householder Group Estate & Retirement Specialist LLC bought a new position in DTE Energy during the third quarter worth about $41,000. Institutional investors own 74.72% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CAO Tracy J. Myrick sold 600 shares of DTE Energy stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.04, for a total value of $64,224.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,462 shares in the company, valued at $370,572.48. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. In other DTE Energy news, CAO Tracy J. Myrick sold 600 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $107.04, for a total transaction of $64,224.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 3,462 shares in the company, valued at $370,572.48. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, SVP Joann Chavez sold 6,070 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $109.19, for a total transaction of $662,783.30. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 16,667 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,819,869.73. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last ninety days, insiders sold 20,095 shares of company stock worth $2,168,183. Corporate insiders own 0.61% of the companys stock.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms recently commented on DTE. Evercore ISI lifted their price target on DTE Energy from $108.00 to $116.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Monday, December 4th. Wolfe Research cut DTE Energy from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. BMO Capital Markets reduced their price target on DTE Energy from $113.00 to $111.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a report on Monday, February 12th. Guggenheim cut DTE Energy from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $111.00 price objective for the company. in a report on Monday, January 22nd. Finally, KeyCorp boosted their price objective on DTE Energy from $106.00 to $117.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $114.33.

View Our Latest Research Report on DTE

DTE Energy Stock Down 0.2 %

NYSE DTE opened at $108.11 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 0.60, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.58. DTE Energy has a 1-year low of $90.14 and a 1-year high of $116.73. The company has a 50 day moving average of $107.25 and a 200-day moving average of $104.30. The company has a market cap of $22.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.99, a PEG ratio of 2.69 and a beta of 0.64.

DTE Energy (NYSE:DTE  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The utilities provider reported $1.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.96 by $0.01. DTE Energy had a net margin of 10.96% and a return on equity of 11.00%. The company had revenue of $3.39 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $4.97 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.31 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts expect that DTE Energy will post 6.7 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

DTE Energy Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 18th will be given a $1.02 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, March 15th. This represents a $4.08 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.77%. DTE Energys payout ratio is 60.36%.

DTE Energy Profile

(Free Report)

DTE Energy Company engages in the utility operations. The company's Electric segment generates, purchases, distributes, and sells electricity to various residential, commercial, and industrial customers in southeastern Michigan. It generates electricity through coal-fired plants, hydroelectric pumped storage, and nuclear plants, as well as wind and solar assets.

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Alberta Investment Management Corp decreased its stake in CVS Health Co. (NYSE:CVS  Free Report) by 57.7% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The institutional investor owned 39,000 shares of the pharmacy operators stock after selling 53,128 shares during the quarter. Alberta Investment Management Corps holdings in CVS Health were worth $2,723,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. State Street Corp increased its stake in shares of CVS Health by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 55,877,387 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $3,862,804,000 after purchasing an additional 855,269 shares during the last quarter. Morgan Stanley increased its stake in shares of CVS Health by 10.9% during the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 33,576,388 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $3,128,984,000 after purchasing an additional 3,311,928 shares during the last quarter. FMR LLC increased its stake in shares of CVS Health by 29.1% during the 3rd quarter. FMR LLC now owns 27,487,238 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $1,919,159,000 after purchasing an additional 6,194,441 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of CVS Health by 1.6% during the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 23,325,287 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $1,607,886,000 after purchasing an additional 363,384 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC increased its stake in shares of CVS Health by 103,371.0% during the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 15,547,559 shares of the pharmacy operators stock worth $1,448,877,000 after purchasing an additional 15,532,533 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 75.99% of the companys stock.

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Insider Activity at CVS Health

In related news, EVP Prem S. Shah sold 29,473 shares of CVS Health stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.95, for a total transaction of $2,267,947.35. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 39,765 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,059,916.75. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.25% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

CVS has been the topic of several analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on shares of CVS Health from $86.00 to $84.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. TD Cowen lowered their target price on shares of CVS Health from $102.00 to $99.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, December 11th. HSBC began coverage on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. They issued a buy rating and a $94.00 target price on the stock. Leerink Partnrs reiterated an outperform rating on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Monday, February 26th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a $87.00 target price on shares of CVS Health in a research note on Thursday, February 8th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and fourteen have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $90.00.

Check Out Our Latest Research Report on CVS

CVS Health Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CVS traded down $0.53 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $73.84. 8,495,665 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 10,064,183. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $76.53 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $72.21. The firm has a market capitalization of $92.92 billion, a PE ratio of 11.43, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.09 and a beta of 0.51. CVS Health Co. has a 12 month low of $64.41 and a 12 month high of $83.25. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.63 and a current ratio of 0.86.

CVS Health (NYSE:CVS  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 7th. The pharmacy operator reported $2.12 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.01 by $0.11. The company had revenue of $93.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $90.58 billion. CVS Health had a net margin of 2.33% and a return on equity of 15.25%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 11.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the firm earned $1.99 EPS. Equities research analysts expect that CVS Health Co. will post 8.33 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

CVS Health Increases Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, January 22nd were issued a dividend of $0.665 per share. This represents a $2.66 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.60%. This is an increase from CVS Healths previous quarterly dividend of $0.61. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, January 19th. CVS Healths dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.18%.

CVS Health Profile

(Free Report)

CVS Health Corporation provides health solutions in the United States. It operates through Health Care Benefits, Health Services, and Pharmacy & Consumer Wellness segments. The Health Care Benefits segment offers traditional, voluntary, and consumer-directed health insurance products and related services.

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TRIPOLI, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Libyan Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development Mabrouka Toghi on Sunday met with Iraqi Charge d'Affaires to Libya Ahmad al-Sahhaf in the capital Tripoli, where they discussed cultural cooperation between the two countries.

"During the meeting, the two officials discussed prospects for cultural cooperation between the two brotherly countries and ways to support and develop it to serve common interests," said a statement released by the Libyan culture ministry

"The minister stressed the depth of the historical relations between the two countries, and pointed to the importance of consolidating bilateral relations in various cultural fields, as well as implementing a joint program for joint cultural events," the statement said.

Al-Sahhaf stressed the importance of culture and arts as one of the most important sources of soft power, and expressed his delight regarding the minister's participation in the 35th Mirbad Poetry Festival, which recently took place in Basra, Iraq, according to the statement. 
Element Fleet Management (TSE:EFN  Free Report) had its price target hoisted by CIBC from C$24.00 to C$25.00 in a research report released on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. CIBC currently has an outperform rating on the financial services providers stock.

A number of other analysts also recently issued reports on EFN. Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price objective on shares of Element Fleet Management from C$30.00 to C$31.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, January 4th. Scotiabank boosted their target price on shares of Element Fleet Management from C$25.00 to C$26.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Raymond James boosted their target price on shares of Element Fleet Management from C$26.00 to C$29.00 and gave the stock a strong-buy rating in a report on Wednesday. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, one has given a hold rating, five have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$27.63.

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Check Out Our Latest Stock Report on Element Fleet Management

Element Fleet Management Price Performance

Element Fleet Management Dividend Announcement

TSE EFN opened at C$22.88 on Wednesday. The company has a quick ratio of 5.70, a current ratio of 6.64 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 270.33. Element Fleet Management has a 12-month low of C$17.00 and a 12-month high of C$23.46. The company has a market capitalization of C$8.90 billion, a PE ratio of 21.19, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.97 and a beta of 0.85. The firms 50 day moving average is C$22.39 and its 200-day moving average is C$21.06.

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 28th will be given a dividend of $0.12 per share. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $0.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.10%. Element Fleet Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 44.44%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In related news, Senior Officer Laura Lee Dottori-Attanasio acquired 14,200 shares of Element Fleet Management stock in a transaction on Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of C$21.10 per share, with a total value of C$299,620.00. Company insiders own 0.24% of the companys stock.

About Element Fleet Management

(Get Free Report)

Element Fleet Management Corp. operates as a fleet management company primarily in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Australia, and New Zealand. It offers end-to-end fleet cars, trucks, and material handling support equipment acquisition; and end-to-end electric vehicle fleet including fleet planning, charging infrastructure solutions, acquisition, financing, maintenance, and remarketing.

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Fortis Inc. (TSE:FTS  Get Free Report) Director Margarita Dilley acquired 960 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 29th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of C$38.57 per share, for a total transaction of C$37,027.20.

Fortis Trading Down 0.1 %

Shares of FTS opened at C$52.28 on Friday. The businesss 50-day moving average price is C$53.86 and its 200-day moving average price is C$54.29. Fortis Inc. has a twelve month low of C$49.82 and a twelve month high of C$62.00. The stock has a market cap of C$25.65 billion, a PE ratio of 16.86, a P/E/G ratio of 2.80 and a beta of 0.18. The company has a quick ratio of 0.36, a current ratio of 0.68 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 128.76.

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Fortis (TSE:FTS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 9th. The company reported C$0.72 earnings per share for the quarter, meeting the consensus estimate of C$0.72. The firm had revenue of C$2.89 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of C$3.22 billion. Fortis had a return on equity of 7.41% and a net margin of 13.66%. On average, equities analysts forecast that Fortis Inc. will post 3.1743284 EPS for the current fiscal year.

Fortis Dividend Announcement

Analyst Ratings Changes

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Saturday, June 1st. Investors of record on Friday, May 17th will be given a $0.59 dividend. This represents a $2.36 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.51%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 16th. Fortiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 76.13%.

FTS has been the topic of several recent research reports. CIBC upped their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$58.00 to C$59.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. National Bankshares upped their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$52.00 to C$55.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Tuesday, January 30th. BMO Capital Markets dropped their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$58.50 to C$58.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 12th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$49.00 to C$50.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 16th. Finally, Scotiabank upped their price objective on shares of Fortis from C$57.00 to C$60.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$57.54.

View Our Latest Research Report on FTS

About Fortis

(Get Free Report)

Fortis Inc operates as an electric and gas utility company in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean countries. It generates, transmits, and distributes electricity to approximately 447,000 retail customers in southeastern Arizona; and 103,000 retail customers in Arizona's Mohave and Santa Cruz counties with an aggregate capacity of 3,408 megawatts (MW), including 68 MW of solar capacity and 250 MV of wind capacity.

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Fred Alger Management LLC cut its holdings in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN  Free Report) by 18.9% during the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,953 shares of the information technology services providers stock after selling 454 shares during the period. Fred Alger Management LLCs holdings in Accenture were worth $600,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. United Bank lifted its stake in shares of Accenture by 6.3% in the 1st quarter. United Bank now owns 2,969 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $1,001,000 after purchasing an additional 176 shares during the period. Weitz Investment Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Accenture by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. now owns 89,400 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $30,148,000 after purchasing an additional 1,168 shares during the period. Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC acquired a new position in shares of Accenture in the 1st quarter valued at $1,805,000. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. lifted its stake in shares of Accenture by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 7,292 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $2,459,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the period. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC lifted its stake in shares of Accenture by 104.8% in the 1st quarter. Clearbridge Investments LLC now owns 441,451 shares of the information technology services providers stock valued at $148,871,000 after purchasing an additional 225,943 shares during the period. 70.42% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

ACN has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $374.00 price objective on shares of Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. UBS Group raised their price objective on Accenture from $365.00 to $400.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 25th. Robert W. Baird boosted their price target on Accenture from $344.00 to $364.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Wedbush lifted their target price on Accenture from $330.00 to $360.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, December 14th. Finally, Mizuho assumed coverage on Accenture in a research note on Tuesday, January 30th. They issued a buy rating and a $426.00 price target for the company. Seven analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, Accenture currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $365.63.

Insider Activity

In other news, Director Paula A. Price sold 551 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $345.36, for a total value of $190,293.36. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at $2,273,504.88. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In other Accenture news, CAO Melissa A. Burgum sold 3,010 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $371.80, for a total transaction of $1,119,118.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 9,193 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,417,957.40. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Paula A. Price sold 551 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, December 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $345.36, for a total value of $190,293.36. Following the transaction, the director now owns 6,583 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,273,504.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 26,551 shares of company stock valued at $9,739,791 over the last ninety days. 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Accenture Stock Performance

ACN stock opened at $380.99 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $239.00 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 35.31, a PEG ratio of 3.50 and a beta of 1.20. Accenture plc has a fifty-two week low of $242.80 and a fifty-two week high of $382.00. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $362.20 and a 200-day moving average of $334.20.

Accenture (NYSE:ACN  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, December 19th. The information technology services provider reported $3.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $3.14 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $16.22 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $16.17 billion. Accenture had a return on equity of 29.08% and a net margin of 10.65%. The companys revenue was up 3.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.08 EPS. Equities analysts predict that Accenture plc will post 12.22 EPS for the current year.

About Accenture

(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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Glenmede Trust Co. NA lifted its position in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (BATS:QUAL  Free Report) by 18.1% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 155,954 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 23,930 shares during the quarter. Glenmede Trust Co. NAs holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF were worth $20,553,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors also recently bought and sold shares of the company. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Signaturefd LLC increased its holdings in iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF by 1,414.3% during the 3rd quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 212 shares of the companys stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 198 shares during the period. Patriot Investment Management Group Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 4th quarter worth about $28,000. Nvwm LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $34,000. Finally, Mcmillion Capital Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF during the 2nd quarter worth about $35,000.

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iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Stock Performance

BATS:QUAL opened at $162.38 on Friday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $152.40 and a 200-day simple moving average of $142.53. The stock has a market cap of $36.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.30 and a beta of 1.03. iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF has a 1 year low of $71.96 and a 1 year high of $88.63.

iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF Company Profile

The iShares MSCI USA Quality Factor ETF (QUAL) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the MSCI USA Sector Neutral Quality index. The fund tracks an index of US large- and mid-cap stocks, selected and weighted by high ROE, stable earnings growth and low debt\u002Fequity, relative to peers in each sector.

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StockNews.com cut shares of Global Medical REIT (NYSE:GMRE  Free Report) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report released on Wednesday morning.

Global Medical REIT Price Performance

Shares of GMRE opened at $9.03 on Wednesday. The company has a market capitalization of $592.05 million, a P/E ratio of 39.26 and a beta of 1.17. The businesss 50-day moving average is $10.14 and its two-hundred day moving average is $9.73. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.11, a quick ratio of 0.11 and a current ratio of 0.17. Global Medical REIT has a fifty-two week low of $8.04 and a fifty-two week high of $11.59.

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Global Medical REIT Announces Dividend

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, January 9th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, December 27th were paid a dividend of $0.21 per share. This represents a $0.84 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 9.30%. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, December 26th. Global Medical REITs payout ratio is currently 365.22%.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Global Medical REIT

About Global Medical REIT

Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of GMRE. US Bancorp DE boosted its position in Global Medical REIT by 57.6% during the second quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 2,943 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 1,076 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors acquired a new position in shares of Global Medical REIT during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $43,000. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC lifted its position in shares of Global Medical REIT by 227.1% during the 3rd quarter. Tower Research Capital LLC TRC now owns 5,646 shares of the companys stock valued at $48,000 after buying an additional 3,920 shares in the last quarter. AJOVista LLC acquired a new stake in Global Medical REIT in the 4th quarter valued at $54,000. Finally, Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new stake in Global Medical REIT in the 2nd quarter worth $55,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 56.46% of the companys stock.

(Get Free Report)

Global Medical REIT Inc (GMRE) is a net-lease medical office real estate investment trust (REIT) that owns and acquires healthcare facilities and leases those facilities to physician groups and regional and national healthcare systems.

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Ancora Advisors LLC grew its stake in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW  Free Report) by 13.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,873 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 218 shares during the period. Ancora Advisors LLCs holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $431,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Briaud Financial Planning Inc purchased a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 3rd quarter worth $25,000. Quarry LP raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 52.7% during the 1st quarter. Quarry LP now owns 142 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $35,000 after buying an additional 49 shares during the last quarter. Union Savings Bank purchased a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 2nd quarter worth $39,000. Arlington Trust Co LLC purchased a new position in Illinois Tool Works during the 3rd quarter worth $38,000. Finally, Nvwm LLC raised its position in Illinois Tool Works by 80.6% during the 2nd quarter. Nvwm LLC now owns 168 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 79.56% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have commented on ITW. Bank of America downgraded shares of Illinois Tool Works from a neutral rating to an underperform rating and cut their price objective for the stock from $260.00 to $235.00 in a research report on Wednesday, January 10th. Wells Fargo & Company downgraded shares of Illinois Tool Works from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating and cut their price target for the company from $277.00 to $240.00 in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Citigroup increased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $244.00 to $256.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Monday, December 11th. Stifel Nicolaus increased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $238.00 to $239.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a report on Tuesday, January 23rd. Finally, Barclays increased their price target on shares of Illinois Tool Works from $215.00 to $224.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $239.33.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Illinois Tool Works news, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total transaction of $205,392.42. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,870 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,505,185.40. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other Illinois Tool Works news, Chairman Ernest Scott Santi sold 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $254.44, for a total transaction of $12,722,000.00. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 221,015 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $56,235,056.60. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, EVP Sharon Szafranski sold 801 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $256.42, for a total transaction of $205,392.42. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 5,870 shares in the company, valued at $1,505,185.40. 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 ninety days. Insiders own 0.88% of the companys stock.

Illinois Tool Works Price Performance

Shares of NYSE ITW opened at $260.19 on Friday. The stock has a market cap of $77.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.71, a PEG ratio of 4.47 and a beta of 1.13. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 52 week low of $217.06 and a 52 week high of $267.12. The companys 50-day moving average price is $257.93 and its 200 day moving average price is $245.13. The company has a current ratio of 1.33, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.10.

Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 1st. The industrial products company reported $2.42 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.41 by $0.01. The firm had revenue of $3.98 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.01 billion. Illinois Tool Works had a net margin of 18.36% and a return on equity of 96.60%. The firms revenue was up .3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $2.34 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 10.12 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 11th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 29th will be paid a dividend of $1.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 27th. This represents a $5.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.15%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is currently 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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iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF (NYSEARCA:IGM  Free Report) shares are scheduled to split on Thursday, March 7th. The 6-1 split was announced on Thursday, March 7th. The newly minted shares will be distributed to shareholders after the market closes on Thursday, March 7th.

iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF Stock Performance

Shares of IGM opened at $516.22 on Friday. iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF has a 52-week low of $300.00 and a 52-week high of $516.69. The firm has a market cap of $4.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 32.18 and a beta of 1.18. The businesss fifty day moving average is $473.09 and its 200-day moving average is $427.14.

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Institutional Investors Weigh In On iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF

A number of hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in IGM. Fortis Group Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Anchor Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF during the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Captrust Financial Advisors grew its position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF by 137.1% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 83 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $32,000 after acquiring an additional 48 shares during the last quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC acquired a new position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $37,000. Finally, Northwest Financial Advisors acquired a new position in iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $40,000.

About iShares Expanded Tech Sector ETF

iShares North American Tech ETF, formerly iShares S&P North American Technology Sector Index Fund (the Fund), is an exchange-traded fund. The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance, of the United States-traded technology companies, as represented by the S&P North American Technology Sector Index (the Index).

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Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec reduced its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE:KEYS  Free Report) by 25.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 55,340 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after selling 18,464 shares during the quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebecs holdings in Keysight Technologies were worth $7,322,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC.

Other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Keysight Technologies by 0.8% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,348,229 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $3,214,409,000 after buying an additional 153,857 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Keysight Technologies by 1.6% in the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,693,221 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock worth $2,962,730,000 after purchasing an additional 270,252 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its holdings in shares of Keysight Technologies by 1.9% during the 2nd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 8,029,013 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $1,344,458,000 after acquiring an additional 150,464 shares during the last quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Keysight Technologies by 13.6% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 4,845,261 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $811,339,000 after purchasing an additional 581,148 shares during the period. Finally, Mackenzie Financial Corp boosted its stake in Keysight Technologies by 3.6% during the 3rd quarter. Mackenzie Financial Corp now owns 3,912,631 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $513,728,000 after purchasing an additional 136,818 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 81.72% of the companys stock.

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Keysight Technologies Trading Up 1.8 %

Shares of Keysight Technologies stock opened at $157.07 on Friday. The companys fifty day simple moving average is $154.61 and its 200-day simple moving average is $141.09. The stock has a market capitalization of $27.44 billion, a PE ratio of 28.82, a P/E/G ratio of 6.74 and a beta of 1.05. Keysight Technologies, Inc. has a 1-year low of $118.57 and a 1-year high of $172.72. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a current ratio of 1.93 and a quick ratio of 1.44.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Keysight Technologies ( NYSE:KEYS Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.59 by $0.04. The company had revenue of $1.26 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.25 billion. Keysight Technologies had a net margin of 18.14% and a return on equity of 26.84%. Keysight Technologiess revenue for the quarter was down 8.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm posted $1.72 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Keysight Technologies, Inc. will post 5.76 earnings per share for the current year.

Several equities analysts recently commented on KEYS shares. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Keysight Technologies from an overweight rating to a neutral rating and cut their target price for the stock from $184.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Thursday, February 15th. Barclays boosted their price target on Keysight Technologies from $134.00 to $141.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 21st. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on Keysight Technologies from $155.00 to $160.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, November 21st. Citigroup boosted their price target on Keysight Technologies from $157.00 to $168.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 21st. Finally, StockNews.com downgraded Keysight Technologies from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, November 16th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $167.30.

Get Our Latest Report on KEYS

Insider Transactions at Keysight Technologies

In related news, Director Ronald S. Nersesian sold 29,672 shares of Keysight Technologies stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.82, for a total transaction of $4,742,179.04. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 296,619 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $47,405,648.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Keysight Technologies news, Director Ronald S. Nersesian sold 29,672 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, December 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $159.82, for a total value of $4,742,179.04. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 296,619 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $47,405,648.58. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Also, SVP Soon Chai Gooi sold 14,900 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, December 12th. The shares were sold at an average price of $148.03, for a total transaction of $2,205,647.00. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 239,488 shares of the companys stock, valued at $35,451,408.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 69,127 shares of company stock worth $10,783,553 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.60% of the companys stock.

Keysight Technologies Profile

(Free Report)

Keysight Technologies, Inc provides electronic design and test solutions to commercial communications, networking, aerospace, defense and government, automotive, energy, semiconductor, electronic, and education industries in the Americas, Europe, and the Asia Pacific. The company operates in two segments, Communications Solutions Group and Electronic Industrial Solutions Group.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR  Free Report) in a report issued on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock.

Several other research firms also recently commented on DOOR. Benchmark decreased their price objective on Masonite International from $133.00 to $115.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, November 10th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and set a $133.00 price target (up previously from $115.00) on shares of Masonite International in a report on Monday, February 12th. TheStreet downgraded Masonite International from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. Robert W. Baird downgraded Masonite International from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and reduced their price objective for the company from $106.00 to $92.00 in a research note on Tuesday, December 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Masonite International from $122.00 to $105.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 13th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $116.89.

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Get Our Latest Analysis on Masonite International

Masonite International Price Performance

Shares of DOOR opened at $130.22 on Wednesday. Masonite International has a 52-week low of $76.87 and a 52-week high of $130.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.24, a quick ratio of 2.05 and a current ratio of 2.97. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $102.20 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $94.88. The firm has a market cap of $2.85 billion, a PE ratio of 24.71, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.46 and a beta of 1.64.

Masonite International (NYSE:DOOR  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 20th. The company reported $1.31 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.36 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $660.58 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $659.87 million. Masonite International had a net margin of 4.18% and a return on equity of 20.39%. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.72 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Masonite International will post 9.08 EPS for the current year.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Masonite International news, insider Robert Paxton sold 721 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $129.95, for a total value of $93,693.95. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 20,798 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,702,700.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, insider Christopher O. Ball sold 396 shares of Masonite International stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $130.06, for a total transaction of $51,503.76. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 13,263 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,724,985.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, insider Robert Paxton sold 721 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.95, for a total value of $93,693.95. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 20,798 shares in the company, valued at $2,702,700.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 1,641 shares of company stock worth $213,329 in the last quarter. 1.21% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Masonite International

Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. NBC Securities Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Masonite International during the 3rd quarter valued at about $25,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. increased its stake in Masonite International by 352.5% in the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 267 shares of the companys stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 208 shares during the period. Signaturefd LLC increased its stake in Masonite International by 134.6% in the 4th quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 359 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after purchasing an additional 206 shares during the period. Ensign Peak Advisors Inc purchased a new position in Masonite International in the 3rd quarter worth approximately $32,000. Finally, Daiwa Securities Group Inc. purchased a new position in Masonite International in the 4th quarter worth approximately $34,000.

About Masonite International

(Get Free Report)

Masonite International Corporation designs, manufactures, markets, and distributes interior and exterior doors for the new construction and repair, renovation, and remodeling sectors of the residential and non-residential building construction markets worldwide. It offers molded panel, flush, stile and rail, steel, and fiberglass residential doors, as well as medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and architectural interior doors.

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Ariel Investments LLC lowered its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage (NYSE:TAP  Free Report) by 11.9% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 421,123 shares of the companys stock after selling 56,844 shares during the period. Ariel Investments LLC owned approximately 0.20% of Molson Coors Beverage worth $26,779,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in TAP. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its stake in Molson Coors Beverage by 25.9% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 23,269 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,242,000 after acquiring an additional 4,792 shares in the last quarter. American Century Companies Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 17.1% in the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 18,462 shares of the companys stock worth $985,000 after acquiring an additional 2,700 shares during the last quarter. US Bancorp DE grew its holdings in shares of Molson Coors Beverage by 45.7% in the 1st quarter. US Bancorp DE now owns 3,834 shares of the companys stock worth $205,000 after acquiring an additional 1,203 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. increased its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 4.5% in the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 16,654 shares of the companys stock worth $889,000 after purchasing an additional 720 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Natixis Advisors L.P. increased its position in Molson Coors Beverage by 26.3% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 14,411 shares of the companys stock worth $769,000 after purchasing an additional 3,001 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 73.95% of the companys stock.

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Molson Coors Beverage Trading Down 0.5 %

Shares of NYSE TAP traded down $0.29 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $62.13. The stock had a trading volume of 1,192,881 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,980,757. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.40, a current ratio of 0.70 and a quick ratio of 0.50. Molson Coors Beverage has a fifty-two week low of $49.32 and a fifty-two week high of $70.90. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $62.14 and its 200 day simple moving average is $61.50. The firm has a market cap of $13.40 billion, a P/E ratio of 14.25, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.17 and a beta of 0.83.

Molson Coors Beverage Increases Dividend

Molson Coors Beverage ( NYSE:TAP Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 13th. The company reported $1.19 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.07. Molson Coors Beverage had a return on equity of 8.89% and a net margin of 6.83%. The business had revenue of $2.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.78 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $1.30 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts anticipate that Molson Coors Beverage will post 5.66 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 Friday, March 1st will be paid a dividend of $0.44 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th. This is a boost from Molson Coors Beverages previous quarterly dividend of $0.41. This represents a $1.76 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.83%. Molson Coors Beverages payout ratio is 40.37%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research analysts have recently commented on the company. Barclays increased their price objective on Molson Coors Beverage from $64.00 to $65.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. HSBC started coverage on Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Thursday, November 30th. They issued a hold rating and a $68.00 target price on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group assumed coverage on Molson Coors Beverage in a report on Monday, November 13th. They issued a hold rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. StockNews.com downgraded Molson Coors Beverage from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Molson Coors Beverage from a c rating to a b- rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 13th. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $67.57.

View Our Latest Research Report on TAP

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other Molson Coors Beverage news, CFO Tracey Joubert sold 2,771 shares of Molson Coors Beverage stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 12th. The stock was sold at an average price of $60.37, for a total transaction of $167,285.27. Following the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 60,538 shares in the company, valued at $3,654,679.06. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Corporate insiders own 2.30% of the companys stock.

About Molson Coors Beverage

(Free Report)

Molson Coors Beverage Company manufactures, markets, and sells beer and other malt beverage products under various brands in the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Asia Pacific. The company offers flavored malt beverages including hard seltzers, craft, and ready to drink beverages. It provides its products under Aspall Cider, Blue Moon, Coors Original, Hop Valley brands, Leinenkugel's, Miller Genuine Draft, Molson Ultra, Sharp's, Staropramen, and Vizzy Hard Seltzer above premier brands; Bergenbier, Borsodi, Carling, Coors Banquet, Coors Light, Jelen, Kamenitza, Miller Lite, Molson Canadian Lager, Molson Dry, Molson Export, and Niksicko, Ozujsko under the premium brands; and Branik, Icehouse, Keystone, Miller High Life, Milwaukee's Best, and Steel Reserve under the economy brands.

Further Reading

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KHARTOUM, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, chairman of Sudan's Transitional Sovereign Council, stressed on Sunday Sudan's confidence in the African Union (AU), calling for the restoration of Sudan's full membership in the regional organization.

Al-Burhan made the remarks when he received the delegation of the AU High-Level Panel on the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan, led by Mohamed Ibn Chambas, in Port Sudan, the capital city of the Red Sea state, the sovereign council said in a statement.

"Al-Burhan expressed Sudan's confidence in the African Union and the solutions it could offer, provided that Sudan deals with the organization as a full member," the statement said.

Al-Burhan further stressed that the basis of the solution lies in the withdrawal of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) from the cities and villages they occupied.

For his part, Ibn Chambas stressed the need to stop the conflict and achieve stability for Sudan and its people, according to the statement.

He pointed to the AU high-level panel's keenness and endeavor to find solutions to the crisis, noting that the panel listened to all Sudanese political forces.

On Jan. 17, the AU announced the formation of a High-Level Panel on the Resolution of the Conflict in Sudan. The panel consists of three African figures, including Ibn Chambas as chairman, besides Speciosa Wandira-Kazibwe, former vice president of the Republic of Uganda, and Francisco Madeira, former special representative of the chairperson of the Commission to Somalia, as members.

The AU had frozen Sudan's membership after Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency on Oct. 25, 2021, and dissolved the Sovereign Council and the transitional government which was headed by the then Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok.

Sudan has been witnessing deadly clashes between the Sudanese Armed Forces 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. 
Shelton Capital Management boosted its holdings in shares of MSCI Inc. (NYSE:MSCI  Free Report) by 745.1% in the third quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The fund owned 4,310 shares of the technology companys stock after buying an additional 3,800 shares during the quarter. Shelton Capital Managements holdings in MSCI were worth $2,211,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of MSCI. Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in MSCI during the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. ORG Partners LLC lifted its holdings in shares of MSCI by 5,600.0% during the 3rd quarter. ORG Partners LLC now owns 57 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 56 shares during the last quarter. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of MSCI in the 1st quarter valued at approximately $35,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of MSCI in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $38,000. Finally, Ronald Blue Trust Inc. grew its stake in shares of MSCI by 105.1% in the 3rd quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 80 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $41,000 after buying an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. 88.61% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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MSCI Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of MSCI stock traded up $4.51 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $565.48. 260,588 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 455,322. MSCI Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $451.55 and a fifty-two week high of $617.39. The stock has a market capitalization of $44.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 39.27, a P/E/G ratio of 2.85 and a beta of 1.07. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $564.80 and a 200-day moving average price of $535.17.

MSCI Increases Dividend

MSCI ( NYSE:MSCI Get Free Report ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 30th. The technology company reported $3.68 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.29 by $0.39. MSCI had a negative return on equity of 111.17% and a net margin of 45.42%. The company had revenue of $690.11 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $662.64 million. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $2.84 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was up 19.8% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts expect that MSCI Inc. will post 14.75 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, February 29th. Investors of record on Friday, February 16th were paid a $1.60 dividend. This represents a $6.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.13%. This is a positive change from MSCIs previous quarterly dividend of $1.38. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 15th. MSCIs dividend payout ratio is presently 44.44%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several equities research analysts recently commented on MSCI shares. Edward Jones started coverage on MSCI in a research note on Friday, December 22nd. They issued a buy rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on MSCI from $544.00 to $617.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. StockNews.com cut MSCI from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 20th. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their price target on MSCI from $588.00 to $638.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 31st. Finally, Raymond James reaffirmed a market perform rating on shares of MSCI in a research report on Friday, January 5th. Three analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $578.21.

Get Our Latest Analysis on MSCI

About MSCI

(Free Report)

MSCI Inc, together with its subsidiaries, provides critical decision support tools and solutions for the investment community to manage investment processes worldwide. The Index segment provides indexes for use in various areas of the investment process, including indexed financial product, such as ETFs, mutual funds, annuities, futures, options, structured products, and over-the-counter derivatives; performance benchmarking; portfolio construction and rebalancing; and asset allocation, as well as licenses GICS and GICS Direct.

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Insigneo Advisory Services LLC lessened its holdings in shares of Pinterest, Inc. (NYSE:PINS  Free Report) by 6.2% during the third quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 9,264 shares of the companys stock after selling 608 shares during the period. Insigneo Advisory Services LLCs holdings in Pinterest were worth $250,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Lazard Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Pinterest by 1.9% in the third quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 48,029 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,298,000 after purchasing an additional 901 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec grew its holdings in Pinterest by 15.6% in the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 892,986 shares of the companys stock valued at $24,137,000 after purchasing an additional 120,264 shares during the last quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Pinterest in the third quarter valued at $29,759,000. Corton Capital Inc. acquired a new stake in Pinterest in the third quarter valued at $516,000. Finally, Fred Alger Management LLC grew its holdings in Pinterest by 279,496.9% in the third quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 4,672,065 shares of the companys stock valued at $126,286,000 after purchasing an additional 4,670,394 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.63% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

PINS has been the topic of several research reports. New Street Research started coverage on Pinterest in a report on Monday, November 27th. They issued a buy rating and a $48.00 target price on the stock. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on Pinterest from $37.00 to $40.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. KeyCorp upped their price objective on Pinterest from $37.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Evercore ISI upped their price objective on Pinterest from $45.00 to $50.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 26th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price objective on Pinterest from $46.00 to $48.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twenty-one have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Pinterest presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $37.52.

Insider Buying and Selling at Pinterest

In other Pinterest news, Director Gokul Rajaram sold 1,934 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.95, for a total transaction of $73,395.30. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 39,382 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,494,546.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In other Pinterest news, Director Gokul Rajaram sold 1,934 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 20th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.95, for a total transaction of $73,395.30. Following the transaction, the director now owns 39,382 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,494,546.90. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, insider Christine Deputy sold 22,459 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, December 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $37.27, for a total value of $837,046.93. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 222,881 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,306,774.87. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 90,737 shares of company stock worth $3,324,983 in the last 90 days. 6.85% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

Pinterest Trading Down 0.8 %

PINS stock opened at $36.40 on Friday. Pinterest, Inc. has a 1 year low of $20.60 and a 1 year high of $41.60. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $37.07 and a 200-day simple moving average of $32.20.

Pinterest (NYSE:PINS  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $0.29 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.25 by $0.04. Pinterest had a positive return on equity of 3.83% and a negative net margin of 1.17%. The firm had revenue of $981.26 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $988.62 million. On average, research analysts expect that Pinterest, Inc. will post 0.35 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Pinterest Profile

(Free Report)

Pinterest, Inc operates as a visual search and discovery platform in the United States and internationally. Its platform allows people to find ideas, such as recipes, home and style inspiration, and others; and to search, save, and shop the ideas. The company was formerly known as Cold Brew Labs Inc and changed its name to Pinterest, Inc in April 2012.

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Profund Advisors LLC reduced its position in The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (NYSE:HIG  Free Report) by 4.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 3,468 shares of the insurance providers stock after selling 152 shares during the quarter. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in The Hartford Financial Services Group were worth $246,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the stock. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 4.8% during the 2nd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 25,923,428 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $1,867,005,000 after purchasing an additional 1,183,946 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 7,421,268 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $526,242,000 after purchasing an additional 91,911 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 1.2% during the 1st quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 6,532,858 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $454,234,000 after purchasing an additional 74,997 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 5.8% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,612,529 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $403,036,000 after purchasing an additional 307,231 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Victory Capital Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group by 26.7% during the 3rd quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 5,142,167 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $364,631,000 after purchasing an additional 1,083,420 shares during the last quarter. 90.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

HIG has been the topic of several research reports. Roth Mkm lifted their price target on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $80.00 to $90.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 2nd. Raymond James boosted their target price 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. UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $100.00 to $107.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 5th. Piper Sandler boosted their target price on shares of The Hartford Financial Services Group from $97.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, February 6th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price 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. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, The Hartford Financial Services Group currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $90.60.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Stock Down 1.0 %

The Hartford Financial Services Group stock opened at $94.45 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.31, a current ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.29. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. has a 12-month low of $64.25 and a 12-month high of $96.64. The firms fifty day moving average is $87.24 and its 200 day moving average is $78.64. The company has a market capitalization of $28.08 billion, a PE ratio of 11.82, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.88.

The Hartford Financial Services Group (NYSE:HIG  Get Free Report) last released 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 Hartford Financial Services Group had a net margin of 10.21% and a return on equity of 19.82%. The company had revenue of $6.40 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.84 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.31 EPS. The Hartford Financial Services Groups quarterly revenue was up 6.4% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. will post 9.94 EPS for the current fiscal year.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 2nd. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 4th will be issued a dividend of $0.47 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 1st. This represents a $1.88 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.99%. The Hartford Financial Services Groups payout ratio is 23.53%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other news, SVP Allison G. Niderno sold 1,332 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.74, for a total value of $119,533.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 630 shares in the company, valued at approximately $56,536.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, SVP Allison G. Niderno sold 1,332 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $89.74, for a total value of $119,533.68. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 630 shares in the company, valued at approximately $56,536.20. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Christopher Swift sold 53,596 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.23, for a total transaction of $4,300,007.08. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 170,180 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,653,541.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 323,245 shares of company stock worth $27,739,927. Insiders own 1.80% of the companys stock.

The Hartford Financial Services Group Profile

(Free Report)

The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, 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, accident, health, and reinsurance through regional offices, branches, sales and policyholder service centers, independent retail agents and brokers, wholesale agents, and reinsurance brokers.

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Profund Advisors LLC trimmed its stake in shares of Williams-Sonoma, Inc. (NYSE:WSM  Free Report) by 14.0% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 1,736 shares of the specialty retailers stock after selling 282 shares during the quarter. Profund Advisors LLCs holdings in Williams-Sonoma were worth $270,000 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. Bank of Montreal Can bought a new position in Williams-Sonoma during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $3,662,000. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 11.5% in the 3rd quarter. Grantham Mayo Van Otterloo & Co. LLC now owns 20,711 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $3,218,000 after buying an additional 2,128 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,456,161 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $226,287,000 after buying an additional 18,004 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 3.2% in the 2nd quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 1,142,272 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $142,944,000 after buying an additional 35,315 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. grew its position in shares of Williams-Sonoma by 39.5% in the 3rd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 386,861 shares of the specialty retailers stock worth $60,118,000 after buying an additional 109,533 shares during the last quarter. 99.76% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

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Insider Activity

In other news, CEO Laura Alber sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $201.92, for a total transaction of $4,038,400.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 525,509 shares of the companys stock, valued at $106,110,777.28. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 1.60% of the companys stock.

Williams-Sonoma Price Performance

Williams-Sonoma Announces Dividend

Shares of NYSE:WSM opened at $236.64 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $15.18 billion, a P/E ratio of 16.42, a PEG ratio of 1.61 and a beta of 1.66. Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has a 1 year low of $109.44 and a 1 year high of $237.46. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $210.56 and its 200-day moving average price is $178.40.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 23rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, January 19th were issued a dividend of $0.90 per share. This represents a $3.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.52%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 18th. Williams-Sonomas payout ratio is currently 24.98%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of brokerages have recently weighed in on WSM. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $127.00 to $144.00 and gave the stock a sell rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $135.00 to $145.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Evercore ISI lifted their price objective on Williams-Sonoma from $160.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock an in-line rating in a research report on Friday, November 17th. Wedbush upgraded Williams-Sonoma from a neutral rating to an outperform rating and lifted their price target for the company from $175.00 to $230.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on Williams-Sonoma from $150.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Friday, November 17th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have assigned a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $157.75.

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Williams-Sonoma Company Profile

(Free Report)

Williams-Sonoma, Inc operates as an omni-channel specialty retailer of various products for home. It offers cooking, dining, and entertaining products, such as cookware, tools, electrics, cutlery, tabletop and bar, outdoor, furniture, and a library of cookbooks under the Williams Sonoma Home brand, as well as home furnishings and decorative accessories under the Williams Sonoma lifestyle brand; and furniture, bedding, lighting, rugs, table essentials, and decorative accessories under the Pottery Barn brand.

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Qube Research & Technologies Ltd grew its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming Co. (NYSE:BYD  Free Report) by 4.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 257,998 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 10,641 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltds holdings in Boyd Gaming were worth $15,694,000 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. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its stake in Boyd Gaming by 105.5% in the 3rd quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 411 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC increased its position in shares of Boyd Gaming by 237.6% in the first quarter. Belpointe Asset Management LLC now owns 655 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after buying an additional 461 shares in the last quarter. Quarry LP increased its position in shares of Boyd Gaming by 130.3% in the first quarter. Quarry LP now owns 822 shares of the companys stock valued at $53,000 after buying an additional 465 shares in the last quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Boyd Gaming by 73.1% during the 2nd quarter. Quadrant Capital Group LLC now owns 1,208 shares of the companys stock worth $84,000 after buying an additional 510 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sunbelt Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Boyd Gaming in the 1st quarter worth about $86,000. 67.98% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Insider Transactions at Boyd Gaming

In other Boyd Gaming news, Chairman Marianne Boyd Johnson sold 77,661 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.87, for a total value of $5,037,869.07. Following the transaction, the chairman now owns 1,511,433 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,046,658.71. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, CFO Josh Hirsberg sold 22,654 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.75, for a total value of $1,466,846.50. Following the completion of the sale, the chief financial officer now owns 415,184 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $26,883,164. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Marianne Boyd Johnson sold 77,661 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.87, for a total value of $5,037,869.07. Following the sale, the chairman now owns 1,511,433 shares in the company, valued at approximately $98,046,658.71. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 266,946 shares of company stock valued at $17,197,988. Corporate insiders own 27.94% of the companys stock.

Boyd Gaming Price Performance

Shares of Boyd Gaming stock opened at $64.88 on Friday. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $63.63 and its 200 day moving average price is $61.83. The stock has a market capitalization of $6.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.64, a PEG ratio of 3.00 and a beta of 1.60. Boyd Gaming Co. has a twelve month low of $52.42 and a twelve month high of $73.00. The company has a current ratio of 0.89, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.65.

Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD  Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The company reported $1.66 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.43 by $0.23. The business had revenue of $954.41 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $928.04 million. Boyd Gaming had a net margin of 16.58% and a return on equity of 36.97%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business posted $1.72 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that Boyd Gaming Co. will post 6.19 earnings per share for the current year.

Boyd Gaming Increases Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be paid a dividend of $0.17 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $0.68 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.05%. This is a positive change from Boyd Gamings previous quarterly dividend of $0.16. Boyd Gamings dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 10.49%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Several analysts have issued reports on BYD shares. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Boyd Gaming from $66.00 to $67.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, January 26th. Truist Financial upped their target price on Boyd Gaming from $76.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus reissued a hold rating and issued a $69.00 price target on shares of Boyd Gaming in a report on Friday, January 5th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on Boyd Gaming from $70.00 to $71.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday. Finally, Susquehanna reiterated a neutral rating and set a $75.00 price target (down from $84.00) on shares of Boyd Gaming in a report on Monday, February 12th. Four research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six 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 $75.78.

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Boyd Gaming Profile

(Free Report)

Boyd Gaming Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as a multi-jurisdictional gaming company in Nevada, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. The company operates through Las Vegas Locals, Downtown Las Vegas, Midwest & South, and Online segments.

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Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its position in shares of CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:CX  Free Report) by 701.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 1,848,325 shares of the construction companys stock after purchasing an additional 1,617,750 shares during the period. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd owned 0.13% of CEMEX worth $12,014,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the business. HighTower Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of CEMEX by 8.1% during the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 255,170 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,349,000 after acquiring an additional 19,051 shares during the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC grew its position in CEMEX by 164.4% in the 1st quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 38,153 shares of the construction companys stock worth $202,000 after purchasing an additional 23,725 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in CEMEX by 58.4% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 15,387 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $80,000 after buying an additional 5,676 shares during the last quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. boosted its stake in shares of CEMEX by 23.6% in the 1st quarter. Natixis Advisors L.P. now owns 278,056 shares of the construction companys stock worth $1,471,000 after buying an additional 53,124 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its holdings in shares of CEMEX by 3.4% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 8,277,600 shares of the construction companys stock worth $43,789,000 after acquiring an additional 270,749 shares during the period. 31.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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CEMEX Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:CX opened at $7.84 on Friday. The company has a market capitalization of $11.36 billion, a P/E ratio of 65.33, a P/E/G ratio of 0.52 and a beta of 1.46. CEMEX, S.A.B. de C.V. has a 1-year low of $4.72 and a 1-year high of $8.81. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $7.89 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $7.29. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 0.74 and a quick ratio of 0.58.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

A number of research analysts have weighed in on the company. StockNews.com downgraded CEMEX from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a report on Friday, February 9th. Barclays downgraded shares of CEMEX from an overweight rating to an equal weight rating and set a $9.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Friday, February 9th. Finally, Bank of America upgraded shares of CEMEX from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price target for the stock from $8.20 to $9.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 9th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $9.37.

Check Out Our Latest Analysis on CEMEX

CEMEX Profile

(Free Report)

CEMEX, SAB. de C.V., together with its subsidiaries, produces, markets, distributes, and sells cement, ready-mix concrete, aggregates, urbanization solutions, and other construction materials worldwide. The company also offers asphalt, concrete blocks, concrete block paving, rail sleepers, and flooring systems; architectural concrete products; and box culverts, bridges, drainage basins, barriers, and parking curbs.

Further Reading

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Qube Research & Technologies Ltd acquired a new stake in Restaurant Brands International Inc. (NYSE:QSR  Free Report) (TSE:QSR) in the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund acquired 188,513 shares of the restaurant operators stock, valued at approximately $12,559,000. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd owned approximately 0.06% of Restaurant Brands International as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. CWM LLC increased its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 13.3% in the second quarter. CWM LLC now owns 1,256 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $97,000 after purchasing an additional 147 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC increased its position in Restaurant Brands International by 1.3% in the 3rd quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 11,726 shares of the restaurant operators stock valued at $784,000 after buying an additional 149 shares in the last quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC raised its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 41.0% during the 2nd quarter. Parallel Advisors LLC now owns 554 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $43,000 after buying an additional 161 shares during the period. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its stake in Restaurant Brands International by 2.7% during the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 6,348 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $423,000 after buying an additional 168 shares during the period. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC boosted its holdings in Restaurant Brands International by 35.8% in the second quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 660 shares of the restaurant operators stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 174 shares in the last quarter.

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Restaurant Brands International Stock Up 0.1 %

Shares of NYSE QSR opened at $77.71 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.78, a current ratio of 1.01 and a quick ratio of 0.94. The stock has a market capitalization of $24.35 billion, a PE ratio of 20.61, a P/E/G ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 0.91. Restaurant Brands International Inc. has a one year low of $59.99 and a one year high of $79.94. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $77.13 and its 200-day moving average price is $71.68.

Restaurant Brands International Increases Dividend

Restaurant Brands International ( NYSE:QSR Get Free Report ) (TSE:QSR) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 13th. The restaurant operator reported $0.75 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.73 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.82 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.80 billion. Restaurant Brands International had a return on equity of 32.20% and a net margin of 16.95%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 7.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.72 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Restaurant Brands International Inc. will post 3.39 EPS for the current year.

The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 4th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 21st will be given a dividend of $0.58 per share. This is a positive change from Restaurant Brands Internationals previous quarterly dividend of $0.55. This represents a $2.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.99%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 20th. Restaurant Brands Internationals payout ratio is 58.36%.

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

QSR has been the subject of several recent research reports. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on Restaurant Brands International from $91.00 to $90.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. KeyCorp decreased their price target on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $85.00 to $82.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Monday, November 6th. Evercore ISI raised their price objective on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $88.00 to $93.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday. Stifel Nicolaus boosted their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $72.00 to $80.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Thursday, January 4th. Finally, Scotiabank lowered their target price on shares of Restaurant Brands International from $81.00 to $80.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and seventeen have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $82.30.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In other Restaurant Brands International news, insider Thomas Benjamin Curtis sold 2,682 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total value of $205,307.10. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 23,322 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,785,299.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other Restaurant Brands International news, insider Thomas Benjamin Curtis sold 2,682 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $76.55, for a total transaction of $205,307.10. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 23,322 shares in the company, valued at $1,785,299.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Duncan Fulton sold 1,218 shares of Restaurant Brands International stock in a transaction on Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.23, for a total transaction of $89,194.14. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 14,330 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,049,385.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 414,074 shares of company stock worth $31,405,529 over the last ninety days. 1.25% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders.

About Restaurant Brands International

(Free Report)

Restaurant Brands International Inc operates as a quick-service restaurant company in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Tim Hortons (TH), Burger King (BK), Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen (PLK), and Firehouse Subs (FHS). The company owns and franchises TH chain of donut/coffee/tea restaurants that offer blend coffee, tea, and espresso-based hot and cold specialty drinks; and fresh baked goods, including donuts, Timbits, bagels, muffins, cookies and pastries, grilled paninis, classic sandwiches, wraps, soups, and other food products.

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Invesco Ltd. (NYSE:IVZ  Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of February. As of February 15th, there was short interest totalling 7,750,000 shares, an increase of 22.4% from the January 31st total of 6,330,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 5,770,000 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.3 days. Currently, 1.8% of the companys stock are sold short.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

A number of analysts have weighed in on IVZ shares. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of Invesco from $21.00 to $19.50 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. TheStreet cut shares of Invesco from a b- rating to a c rating in a report on Friday, February 23rd. TD Cowen initiated coverage on Invesco in a report on Thursday, January 4th. They set an outperform rating and a $21.00 target price for the company. Morgan Stanley dropped their price target on Invesco from $17.00 to $16.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, UBS Group reduced their price objective on Invesco from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Monday, January 29th. Ten equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $17.15.

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Hedge Funds Weigh In On Invesco

Invesco Trading Up 0.8 %

Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Raymond James & Associates boosted its stake in Invesco by 16.8% during the first quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 102,118 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,355,000 after buying an additional 14,711 shares in the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS boosted its position in shares of Invesco by 6.6% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 45,665 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,053,000 after purchasing an additional 2,827 shares in the last quarter. Blair William & Co. IL boosted its position in shares of Invesco by 5.3% during the 1st quarter. Blair William & Co. IL now owns 64,802 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,494,000 after purchasing an additional 3,241 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC grew its stake in shares of Invesco by 85.7% in the 1st quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 47,718 shares of the asset managers stock worth $1,100,000 after purchasing an additional 22,027 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Prudential PLC bought a new stake in shares of Invesco in the 1st quarter worth approximately $273,000. 66.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Shares of NYSE IVZ traded up $0.12 during midday trading on Friday, reaching $15.53. 3,004,060 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 4,696,080. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $16.50 and a 200 day moving average price of $15.23. Invesco has a 52 week low of $12.48 and a 52 week high of $18.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 5.01 and a quick ratio of 5.01.

Invesco (NYSE:IVZ  Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The asset manager reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.40 by $0.07. The company had revenue of $1.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.11 billion. Invesco had a negative net margin of 1.70% and a positive return on equity of 7.93%. Invescos revenue was down 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.39 EPS. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Invesco will post 1.71 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Invesco Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, March 4th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a $0.20 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $0.80 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.15%. Invescos dividend payout ratio (DPR) is -108.11%.

About Invesco

(Get Free Report)

Invesco Ltd. is a publicly owned investment manager. The firm provides its services to retail clients, institutional clients, high-net worth clients, public entities, corporations, unions, non-profit organizations, endowments, foundations, pension funds, financial institutions, and sovereign wealth funds.

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Natixis Advisors L.P. raised its position in shares of Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON  Free Report) by 6.9% in the third quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 80,374 shares of the industrial products companys stock after buying an additional 5,213 shares during the period. Natixis Advisors L.P.s holdings in Sonoco Products were worth $4,368,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in SON. Raymond James & Associates raised its stake in shares of Sonoco Products by 12.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 65,349 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $4,088,000 after acquiring an additional 7,130 shares in the last quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in Sonoco Products by 8.2% in the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 14,286 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $894,000 after buying an additional 1,087 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can grew its holdings in Sonoco Products by 164.2% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 43,701 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,744,000 after buying an additional 27,157 shares during the last quarter. Rhumbline Advisers grew its holdings in Sonoco Products by 1.5% in the 1st quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 274,058 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $17,145,000 after buying an additional 3,941 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS grew its holdings in Sonoco Products by 10.5% in the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 36,035 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,254,000 after buying an additional 3,435 shares during the last quarter. 76.20% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of research firms have issued reports on SON. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on Sonoco Products from $58.00 to $56.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Tuesday, February 20th. StockNews.com raised Sonoco Products from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, November 28th. Finally, TheStreet lowered Sonoco Products from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, February 14th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Sonoco Products currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $61.50.

Sonoco Products Price Performance

Shares of SON stock opened at $56.71 on Friday. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $56.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $55.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.25, a current ratio of 1.76 and a quick ratio of 1.10. The firm has a market cap of $5.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 11.81, a P/E/G ratio of 2.16 and a beta of 0.69. Sonoco Products has a one year low of $49.98 and a one year high of $63.74.

Sonoco Products (NYSE:SON  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 15th. The industrial products company reported $1.02 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.04 by ($0.02). Sonoco Products had a net margin of 7.00% and a return on equity of 22.42%. The business had revenue of $1.64 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.61 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.27 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, analysts expect that Sonoco Products will post 5.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Sonoco Products Dividend Announcement

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 8th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, February 28th will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, February 27th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.60%. Sonoco Productss payout ratio is currently 42.50%.

Insider Transactions at Sonoco Products

In other news, insider Russell K. Grissett sold 2,039 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 28th. The stock was sold at an average price of $56.06, for a total transaction of $114,306.34. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 11,988 shares in the company, valued at $672,047.28. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. In other news, insider Jeffrey S. Tomaszewski sold 10,500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $57.53, for a total transaction of $604,065.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 13,456 shares in the company, valued at $774,123.68. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Russell K. Grissett sold 2,039 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $56.06, for a total value of $114,306.34. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 11,988 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $672,047.28. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.51% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

Sonoco Products Company Profile

(Free Report)

Sonoco Products Company, together with its subsidiaries, designs, develops, manufactures, and sells various engineered and sustainable packaging products in North and South America, Europe, Australia, and Asia. The company operates through two segments: Consumer Packaging and Industrial Paper Packaging.

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SRS Capital Advisors Inc. lifted its stake in ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP  Free Report) by 26.0% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 1,269 shares of the energy producers stock after purchasing an additional 262 shares during the period. SRS Capital Advisors Inc.s holdings in ConocoPhillips were worth $152,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Lazard Asset Management LLC increased its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 1.1% in the 3rd quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 7,086,681 shares of the energy producers stock worth $848,984,000 after purchasing an additional 74,278 shares in the last quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp increased its stake in shares of ConocoPhillips by 24.7% in the 3rd quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 7,822 shares of the energy producers stock worth $937,000 after purchasing an additional 1,548 shares in the last quarter. United Services Automobile Association increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. United Services Automobile Association now owns 142,026 shares of the energy producers stock worth $17,015,000 after buying an additional 3,678 shares in the last quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Kolinsky Wealth Management LLC now owns 2,678 shares of the energy producers stock worth $321,000 after buying an additional 119 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Waverly Advisors LLC increased its stake in ConocoPhillips by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. Waverly Advisors LLC now owns 4,847 shares of the energy producers stock worth $581,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. 80.36% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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ConocoPhillips Stock Up 1.5 %

Shares of NYSE:COP opened at $114.24 on Friday. The company has a current ratio of 1.43, a quick ratio of 1.29 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.36. The company has a market cap of $134.39 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.61, a PEG ratio of 0.69 and a beta of 1.23. ConocoPhillips has a 12 month low of $91.53 and a 12 month high of $127.35. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $112.37 and a 200 day moving average price of $116.07.

ConocoPhillips Increases Dividend

ConocoPhillips ( NYSE:COP Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 8th. The energy producer reported $2.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.08 by $0.32. The business had revenue of $15.31 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $14.47 billion. ConocoPhillips had a net margin of 18.71% and a return on equity of 22.08%. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. As a group, equities research analysts predict that ConocoPhillips will post 9.05 earnings per share for the current year.

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 19th were paid a $0.78 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 15th. This represents a $3.12 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.73%. This is an increase from ConocoPhillipss previous quarterly dividend of $0.58. ConocoPhillipss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 25.61%.

Insiders Place Their Bets

In other ConocoPhillips news, SVP Heather G. Hrap sold 4,548 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.55, for a total value of $502,781.40. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now owns 2,654 shares of the companys stock, valued at $293,399.70. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Dominic E. Macklon sold 23,372 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $112.17, for a total transaction of $2,621,637.24. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, SVP Heather G. Hrap sold 4,548 shares of ConocoPhillips stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 20th. The shares were sold at an average price of $110.55, for a total transaction of $502,781.40. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 2,654 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $293,399.70. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 36,425 shares of company stock valued at $4,077,489 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.37% of the companys stock.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts have issued reports on the company. Raymond James cut their price target on ConocoPhillips from $140.00 to $137.00 and set a strong-buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 24th. UBS Group increased their price target on ConocoPhillips from $138.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on ConocoPhillips from $130.00 to $135.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on ConocoPhillips from $153.00 to $141.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Friday, December 8th. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price objective on ConocoPhillips from $115.00 to $120.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 9th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eleven have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $134.61.

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ConocoPhillips Company Profile

(Free Report)

ConocoPhillips explores for, produces, transports, and markets crude oil, bitumen, natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and natural gas liquids in the United States and internationally. The company's portfolio includes unconventional plays in North America; conventional assets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia; various LNG developments; oil sands assets in Canada; and an inventory of global exploration prospects.

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by Xinhua writers Chen Binjie, Zeng Yan

GENEVA, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer Xiaopeng Motors and the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen signed a cooperation agreement last week at the Geneva International Motor Show to accelerate the development of electric vehicles, marking another step forward in the partnership established in July last year.

The motor show presents an impressive assortment of electric vehicles (EVs) from emerging Chinese manufacturers and established European automakers, serving as an ideal platform to showcase the future trajectory of the automotive industry.

Renault's Scenic E-Tech secured the prestigious Car of the Year 2024, and China's BYD Seal made it to the top finalists with its sleek design, notable performance and advanced technology.

As said by Stefan Bratzel, head of the Center of Automotive Management in Germany, the entire automobile industry is undergoing a profound transformation, with new players emerging as pioneers in electrification and digitalization.

The deepened cooperation between China's emerging carmaker Xiaopeng and Germany's traditional automotive giant Volkswagen signifies a concerted effort to delve deeper into electric mobility, demonstrating an increasing consensus among Chinese and European car manufacturers that expanding the market of EVs should be a shared endeavor.

In fact, the collaboration between China and Europe in the automotive industry dates back more than 40 years. In the early 1980s, under a license agreement, the first Santana was produced in China. It then became a household name across the country.

The rich history of cooperation between Chinese and European carmakers sets a strong foundation for present-day cooperation. In today's automotive landscape, there are abundant opportunities for mutual benefit. China's expertise in manufacturing efficiency and market adaptation, coupled with Europe's tradition of engineering excellence and innovation, create a fertile ground for cooperation.

However, some hastily call Chinese EVs "challengers" taking on their European rivals and making inroads into the market. Last year, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a controversial anti-subsidy probe into Chinese EVs.

The probe has drawn wide criticism within Europe. The German Association of the Automotive Industry opposed the protective move, emphasizing the need for free and rules-based trade to address Europe's challenges in competitiveness.

Excessive administrative intervention is not what a stable European auto market needs. The presence of Chinese EVs in Europe should not be viewed as a threat but as a catalyst for the continent's automotive market. For European customers, Chinese brands can fill the market gaps by offering affordable and high-quality models.

Instead of out-competing each other, Europe and China should rather embrace the prevailing electrification trend through closer ties among carmakers, and promote exchanges of know-how and collaboration in research and development. That is also in the interest of millions of automotive customers.

Breaking free from a zero-sum mentality, Europe and China could chart a shared roadmap for success in the EV revolution as they did four decades ago in the auto industry. As the pair forge deeper ties, the future promises endless possibilities. 
SRS Capital Advisors Inc. decreased its holdings in Jacobs Solutions Inc. (NYSE:J  Free Report) by 15.3% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The firm owned 870 shares of the companys stock after selling 157 shares during the quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc.s holdings in Jacobs Solutions were worth $119,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period.

A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its position in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 1.8% during the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 13,998,808 shares of the companys stock worth $1,929,175,000 after acquiring an additional 250,587 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its stake in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 1.1% during the second quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,809,642 shares of the companys stock worth $928,488,000 after purchasing an additional 85,152 shares during the period. Capital World Investors grew its stake in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 0.5% during the second quarter. Capital World Investors now owns 6,322,072 shares of the companys stock worth $751,631,000 after purchasing an additional 30,360 shares during the period. Select Equity Group L.P. grew its stake in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 12.6% during the first quarter. Select Equity Group L.P. now owns 4,717,432 shares of the companys stock worth $554,345,000 after purchasing an additional 529,557 shares during the period. Finally, Capital International Investors grew its stake in shares of Jacobs Solutions by 8.1% during the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 4,049,450 shares of the companys stock worth $558,055,000 after purchasing an additional 304,996 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 84.77% of the companys stock.

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Jacobs Solutions Stock Down 0.0 %

J stock opened at $146.62 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.42, a current ratio of 1.37 and a quick ratio of 1.37. The stock has a market capitalization of $18.42 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.18, a P/E/G ratio of 1.55 and a beta of 0.73. The business has a 50-day moving average of $137.29 and a 200-day moving average of $134.09. Jacobs Solutions Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $109.00 and a fifty-two week high of $149.17.

Jacobs Solutions Increases Dividend

Jacobs Solutions ( NYSE:J Get Free Report ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The company reported $2.02 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.56 by $0.46. Jacobs Solutions had a return on equity of 14.57% and a net margin of 4.20%. The company had revenue of $4.20 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.02 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.67 earnings per share. Jacobs Solutionss revenue for the quarter was up 10.6% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Jacobs Solutions Inc. will post 8.06 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Friday, February 23rd will be issued a dividend of $0.29 per share. This represents a $1.16 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.79%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 22nd. This is a positive change from Jacobs Solutionss previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. Jacobs Solutionss dividend payout ratio is presently 20.71%.

Analyst Ratings Changes

A number of equities research analysts recently commented on J shares. Stifel Nicolaus reaffirmed a buy rating and set a $150.00 price objective on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. Raymond James cut Jacobs Solutions from an outperform rating to a market perform rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada boosted their target price on Jacobs Solutions from $151.00 to $161.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 7th. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and issued a $160.00 target price on shares of Jacobs Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, November 22nd. Finally, KeyCorp began coverage on Jacobs Solutions in a research note on Wednesday, January 10th. They issued a sector weight rating for the company. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Jacobs Solutions currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $152.11.

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Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, EVP Shelette M. Gustafson sold 1,852 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total transaction of $274,096.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 28,791 shares in the company, valued at $4,261,068. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Jacobs Solutions news, EVP Shelette M. Gustafson sold 1,852 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $148.00, for a total value of $274,096.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 28,791 shares in the company, valued at $4,261,068. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this link. Also, Director Ralph E. Eberhart sold 3,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, December 4th. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.86, for a total value of $454,510.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now owns 26,754 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,474,274.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 19,018 shares of company stock worth $2,475,578. Corporate insiders own 1.00% of the companys stock.

Jacobs Solutions Profile

(Free Report)

Jacobs Solutions Inc provides consulting, technical, engineering, scientific, and project delivery services for the government and private sectors in the United States, Europe, Canada, India, Asia, Australia, New Zealand, the Middle East, and Africa. It operates through Critical Mission Solutions, People & Places Solutions, Divergent Solutions, and PA Consulting segments.

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StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Xinyuan Real Estate (NYSE:XIN  Free Report) in a research report report published on Wednesday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the financial services providers stock.

Xinyuan Real Estate Trading Down 1.2 %

NYSE XIN opened at $2.70 on Wednesday. Xinyuan Real Estate has a one year low of $1.92 and a one year high of $6.51. The businesss fifty day moving average is $2.70 and its 200-day moving average is $2.77.

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Institutional Trading of Xinyuan Real Estate

An institutional investor recently bought a new position in Xinyuan Real Estate stock. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. acquired a new position in Xinyuan Real Estate Co., Ltd. (NYSE:XIN  Free Report) in the 1st quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm acquired 478,629 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $536,000. Atria Wealth Solutions Inc. owned approximately 0.90% of Xinyuan Real Estate as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. 0.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

Xinyuan Real Estate Company Profile

Xinyuan Real Estate Co, Ltd., together with its subsidiaries, engages in residential real estate development and construction in the People's Republic of China, the United States, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom. The company develops residential projects, such as multi-layer apartment buildings, sub-high-rise apartment buildings, high-rise apartment buildings; auxiliary services and amenities, such as retail outlets, leisure and health facilities, kindergartens, and schools, as well as office, mixed-use, and commercial properties.

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Synovus Financial Corp decreased its holdings in shares of Pinnacle West Capital Co. (NYSE:PNW  Free Report) by 8.2% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 7,328 shares of the utilities providers stock after selling 657 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in Pinnacle West Capital were worth $540,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of PNW. Pacific Center for Financial Services acquired a new position in Pinnacle West Capital during the first quarter worth $40,000. International Assets Investment Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the 3rd quarter worth $44,000. Retirement Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 200.0% in the 4th quarter. Retirement Group LLC now owns 600 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $46,000 after acquiring an additional 400 shares in the last quarter. First Command Advisory Services Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital in the 3rd quarter worth $52,000. Finally, Parkside Financial Bank & Trust grew its stake in shares of Pinnacle West Capital by 235.5% in the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 718 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $56,000 after acquiring an additional 504 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 84.95% of the companys stock.

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Analyst Ratings Changes

PNW has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $71.00 to $73.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, November 21st. LADENBURG THALM/SH SH initiated coverage on shares of Pinnacle West Capital in a research note on Wednesday, February 14th. They issued a neutral rating and a $69.00 target price for the company. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Pinnacle West Capital from $83.00 to $80.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Friday. StockNews.com downgraded shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a hold rating to a sell rating in a report on Tuesday, February 27th. Finally, Guggenheim raised shares of Pinnacle West Capital from a neutral rating to a buy rating and set a $78.00 price target on the stock in a report on Monday, January 22nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, six have issued a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Pinnacle West Capital currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $73.80.

Insider Activity at Pinnacle West Capital

In related news, EVP Robert Edgar Smith sold 1,610 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, December 8th. The shares were sold at an average price of $75.95, for a total value of $122,279.50. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 9,178 shares of the companys stock, valued at $697,069.10. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.31% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

Pinnacle West Capital Trading Down 0.4 %

Shares of PNW opened at $68.05 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $69.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is $73.18. The company has a market capitalization of $7.72 billion, a P/E ratio of 15.43, a P/E/G ratio of 3.64 and a beta of 0.48. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.20, a current ratio of 0.67 and a quick ratio of 0.85. Pinnacle West Capital Co. has a 1-year low of $65.20 and a 1-year high of $86.03.

Pinnacle West Capital Dividend Announcement

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 1st. Investors of record on Thursday, February 1st were paid a $0.88 dividend. This represents a $3.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 5.17%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, January 31st. Pinnacle West Capitals dividend payout ratio is currently 79.82%.

About Pinnacle West Capital

(Free Report)

Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, through its subsidiary, Arizona Public Service Company, provides retail and wholesale electric services primarily in the state of Arizona. The company engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity using coal, nuclear, gas, oil, and solar generating facilities.

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Synovus Financial Corp grew its holdings in shares of Onto Innovation Inc. (NYSE:ONTO  Free Report) by 9.9% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,133 shares of the semiconductor companys stock after acquiring an additional 463 shares during the period. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in Onto Innovation were worth $655,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the company. Huntington National Bank grew its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 70.3% in the 3rd quarter. Huntington National Bank now owns 247 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $31,000 after buying an additional 102 shares during the period. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio grew its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 51.3% in the 3rd quarter. Public Employees Retirement System of Ohio now owns 516 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 175 shares during the period. Operose Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Onto Innovation in the 3rd quarter valued at about $49,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd acquired a new stake in shares of Onto Innovation in the 2nd quarter valued at about $52,000. Finally, CWM LLC grew its stake in shares of Onto Innovation by 16.2% in the 2nd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 646 shares of the semiconductor companys stock valued at $75,000 after buying an additional 90 shares during the period. 94.78% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

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Onto Innovation Stock Up 4.6 %

Onto Innovation stock opened at $192.59 on Friday. Onto Innovation Inc. has a 52 week low of $76.40 and a 52 week high of $194.03. The companys 50 day moving average price is $161.79 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $141.14. The stock has a market cap of $9.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 78.29 and a beta of 1.41.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

Onto Innovation ( NYSE:ONTO Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The semiconductor company reported $1.06 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.99 by $0.07. Onto Innovation had a net margin of 14.85% and a return on equity of 10.95%. The firm had revenue of $219.00 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $209.06 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $1.57 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was down 13.5% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Onto Innovation Inc. will post 4.7 EPS for the current year.

Several brokerages have recently commented on ONTO. B. Riley raised their target price on Onto Innovation from $195.00 to $205.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Onto Innovation from $135.00 to $150.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, November 10th. Benchmark lifted their price target on Onto Innovation from $145.00 to $180.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, February 9th. Finally, StockNews.com upgraded Onto Innovation from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Onto Innovation presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $164.50.

Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on ONTO

Insider Buying and Selling

In related news, Director David Brian Miller sold 2,800 shares of Onto Innovation stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $170.49, for a total value of $477,372.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 9,008 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,535,773.92. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. 0.81% of the stock is currently owned by insiders.

About Onto Innovation

(Free Report)

Onto Innovation Inc engages in the design, development, manufacture, and support of process control tools that performs macro defect inspection and 2D/3D optical metrology, lithography systems, and process control analytical software worldwide. It offers process and yield management solutions, and device packaging and test facilities through standalone systems for optical metrology, macro-defect inspection, packaging lithography, and transparent and opaque thin film measurements; and process control software portfolio that includes solutions for standalone tools, groups of tools, and enterprise-or factory-wide suites.

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Synovus Financial Corp decreased its position in Devon Energy Co. (NYSE:DVN  Free Report) by 7.2% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 11,693 shares of the energy companys stock after selling 909 shares during the quarter. Synovus Financial Corps holdings in Devon Energy were worth $558,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. raised its position in shares of Devon Energy by 96.4% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 5,608,577 shares of the energy companys stock worth $344,984,000 after purchasing an additional 2,752,752 shares during the last quarter. J.P. Morgan Private Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new position in shares of Devon Energy in the 3rd quarter worth about $113,793,000. Barclays PLC raised its position in shares of Devon Energy by 124.6% in the 2nd quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 2,874,386 shares of the energy companys stock worth $138,951,000 after purchasing an additional 1,594,886 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new position in shares of Devon Energy in the 1st quarter worth about $85,234,000. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its position in shares of Devon Energy by 79.4% in the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 3,206,111 shares of the energy companys stock worth $189,577,000 after purchasing an additional 1,419,322 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 68.34% of the companys stock.

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Analysts Set New Price Targets

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Mizuho lowered their price target on Devon Energy from $54.00 to $53.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 11th. Morgan Stanley upgraded Devon Energy from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating and boosted their price objective for the company from $48.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Monday, December 11th. UBS Group cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $52.00 to $48.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, December 14th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $60.00 to $55.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. Finally, Stifel Nicolaus cut their price objective on Devon Energy from $77.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, January 23rd. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Devon Energy has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $56.65.

Devon Energy Stock Up 0.7 %

Shares of DVN opened at $44.39 on Friday. The stock has a market capitalization of $28.19 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 7.61, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.16 and a beta of 2.18. Devon Energy Co. has a 1 year low of $40.47 and a 1 year high of $57.13. The businesss 50 day simple moving average is $43.34 and its 200-day simple moving average is $45.89. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.46, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.89.

Devon Energy (NYSE:DVN  Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 27th. The energy company reported $1.41 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.39 by $0.02. The business had revenue of $4.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.88 billion. Devon Energy had a return on equity of 31.72% and a net margin of 24.56%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 3.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.66 EPS. As a group, equities analysts expect that Devon Energy Co. will post 5.26 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Devon Energy Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, March 28th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.44 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. This represents a $1.76 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.96%. Devon Energys dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 13.72%.

About Devon Energy

(Free Report)

Devon Energy Corporation, an independent energy company, explores for, develops, and produces oil, natural gas, and natural gas liquids in the United States. It operates in Delaware, Anadarko, Williston, Eagle Ford, and Powder River Basin. The company was incorporated in 1971 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

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Bank of Nova Scotia (TSE:BNS  Free Report) (NYSE:BNS) had its price objective boosted by TD Securities from C$64.00 to C$65.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, BayStreet.CA reports. TD Securities currently has a hold rating on the banks stock.

A number of other research firms have also commented on BNS. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price target on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$66.00 to C$69.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Wednesday. Bank of America dropped their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$68.00 to C$60.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, November 29th. CIBC boosted their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$58.00 to C$63.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 14th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$63.00 to C$66.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods dropped their target price on shares of Bank of Nova Scotia from C$66.00 to C$63.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, November 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of C$66.78.

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Bank of Nova Scotia Stock Performance

Bank of Nova Scotia Announces Dividend

BNS stock opened at C$65.98 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of C$79.84 billion, a P/E ratio of 11.42, a P/E/G ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 0.95. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of C$63.31 and a 200 day simple moving average of C$61.82. Bank of Nova Scotia has a 52 week low of C$55.20 and a 52 week high of C$70.90.

The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 26th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, April 2nd will be paid a $1.06 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, April 1st. This represents a $4.24 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.43%. Bank of Nova Scotias dividend payout ratio is presently 73.36%.

Bank of Nova Scotia Company Profile

(Get Free Report)

The Bank of Nova Scotia provides various banking products and services in Canada, the United States, Mexico, Peru, Chile, Colombia, the Caribbean and Central America, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Banking, International Banking, Global Wealth Management, and Global Banking and Markets segments.

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Shares of TELUS Co. (TSE:T  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TU) have been given a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy by the ten analysts that are currently covering the company, Marketbeat reports. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell recommendation, one has assigned a hold recommendation and eight have assigned a buy recommendation to the company. The average 12 month price objective among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is C$27.57.

A number of research firms recently commented on T. Scotiabank increased their price objective on TELUS from C$27.00 to C$28.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Barclays decreased their price target on TELUS from C$25.00 to C$24.00 in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Veritas Investment Research lowered TELUS from a buy rating to a reduce rating and set a C$27.00 price target on the stock. in a research note on Friday, January 26th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on TELUS from C$27.00 to C$26.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research note on Monday, February 12th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on TELUS from C$26.00 to C$27.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, February 12th.

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Check Out Our Latest Research Report on T

TELUS Stock Up 0.7 %

T opened at C$23.83 on Friday. The company has a quick ratio of 0.52, a current ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 159.88. The firm has a market cap of C$35.27 billion, a P/E ratio of 41.09, a PEG ratio of 2.07 and a beta of 0.71. TELUS has a 52 week low of C$21.16 and a 52 week high of C$28.95. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$23.99 and its 200 day simple moving average is C$23.59.

TELUS (TSE:T  Get Free Report) (NYSE:TU) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Friday, February 9th. The company reported C$0.24 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of C$0.23 by C$0.01. The business had revenue of C$5.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of C$5.24 billion. TELUS had a return on equity of 4.96% and a net margin of 4.20%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that TELUS will post 1.0189474 EPS for the current fiscal year.

TELUS Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 1st. Stockholders of record on Monday, March 11th will be paid a $0.376 dividend. This represents a $1.50 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 6.31%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 8th. TELUSs dividend payout ratio is currently 258.62%.

TELUS Company Profile

(Get Free Report

TELUS Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides a range of telecommunications and information technology products and services in Canada. It operates through Technology Solutions and Digitally-Led Customer Experiences segments. The Technology Solutions segment offers a range of telecommunications products and services; network services; healthcare services; mobile technologies equipment; data services, such as internet protocol; television; hosting, managed information technology, and cloud-based services; software, data management, and data analytics-driven smart food-chain and consumer goods technologies; home and business security; healthcare software and technology solutions; and voice and other telecommunications services, as well as mobile and fixed voice and data telecommunications services and products.

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The Williams Companies, Inc. (NYSE:WMB  Get Free Report) declared a quarterly dividend on Friday, March 1st, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of 0.475 per share by the pipeline company on Thursday, March 28th. This represents a $1.90 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 5.29%.

Williams Companies has increased its dividend by an average of 3.8% per year over the last three years and has raised its dividend every year for the last 8 years. Williams Companies has a payout ratio of 90.9% meaning its dividend is currently covered by earnings, but may not be in the future if the companys earnings decline. Equities analysts expect Williams Companies to earn $2.06 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.90 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 92.2%.

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Williams Companies Stock Performance

Shares of NYSE:WMB traded down $0.12 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $35.94. The companys stock had a trading volume of 857,205 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,079,227. The firm has a market capitalization of $43.73 billion, a PE ratio of 13.94, a P/E/G ratio of 5.88 and a beta of 1.04. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $34.83 and a 200 day moving average of $34.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57. Williams Companies has a twelve month low of $27.80 and a twelve month high of $37.45.

Institutional Trading of Williams Companies

Williams Companies ( NYSE:WMB Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 14th. The pipeline company reported $0.48 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.47 by $0.01. Williams Companies had a return on equity of 16.20% and a net margin of 29.22%. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.53 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts expect that Williams Companies will post 1.78 EPS for the current fiscal year.

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of WMB. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. increased its position in shares of Williams Companies by 52.5% in the second quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 915 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 315 shares in the last quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC raised its position in Williams Companies by 0.6% during the second quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 66,148 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $2,158,000 after acquiring an additional 368 shares during the last quarter. State of Wyoming lifted its holdings in shares of Williams Companies by 33.9% in the second quarter. State of Wyoming now owns 1,522 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 385 shares in the last quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Williams Companies by 1.9% in the first quarter. Wetherby Asset Management Inc. now owns 22,027 shares of the pipeline companys stock valued at $736,000 after purchasing an additional 420 shares during the last quarter. Finally, SRS Capital Advisors Inc. increased its stake in shares of Williams Companies by 40.4% during the 2nd quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,691 shares of the pipeline companys stock worth $55,000 after purchasing an additional 487 shares in the last quarter. 85.76% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of brokerages have issued reports on WMB. Mizuho increased their price target on Williams Companies from $41.00 to $43.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, December 7th. UBS Group increased their price target on Williams Companies from $41.00 to $42.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, February 15th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $37.27.

Read Our Latest Research Report on WMB

Williams Companies Company Profile

(Get 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.

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Treasurer of the State of North Carolina lessened its holdings in AECOM (NYSE:ACM  Free Report) by 0.6% during the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 57,500 shares of the construction companys stock after selling 371 shares during the quarter. Treasurer of the State of North Carolinas holdings in AECOM were worth $4,775,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of ACM. HighTower Advisors LLC increased its holdings in AECOM by 31.9% in the 1st quarter. HighTower Advisors LLC now owns 5,704 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $436,000 after buying an additional 1,378 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can boosted its stake in shares of AECOM by 3.5% in the 1st quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 34,177 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $2,676,000 after purchasing an additional 1,162 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC boosted its stake in shares of AECOM by 26.6% in the 1st quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 22,872 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $1,757,000 after purchasing an additional 4,799 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its stake in shares of AECOM by 3.0% in the 1st quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 9,119 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $700,000 after purchasing an additional 264 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd boosted its stake in shares of AECOM by 1,261.6% in the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 1,525 shares of the construction companys stock valued at $117,000 after purchasing an additional 1,413 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 84.79% of the companys stock.

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AECOM Stock Up 0.6 %

Shares of NYSE ACM opened at $89.38 on Friday. The company has a market cap of $12.16 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 198.63, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.33 and a beta of 1.23. AECOM has a 12-month low of $74.40 and a 12-month high of $94.01. The company has a quick ratio of 1.05, a current ratio of 1.05 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.87. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $89.51 and its 200 day simple moving average is $86.41.

AECOM ( NYSE:ACM Get Free Report ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, February 6th. The construction company reported $1.05 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.92 by $0.13. The firm had revenue of $3.90 billion during the quarter. AECOM had a return on equity of 21.45% and a net margin of 0.42%. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $0.86 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that AECOM will post 4.4 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

AECOM announced that its Board of Directors has approved a share repurchase plan on Monday, November 13th that authorizes the company to repurchase $1.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization authorizes the construction company to purchase up to 8.3% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares repurchase plans are often an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued.

Analysts Set New Price Targets

ACM has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. Barclays boosted their target price on shares of AECOM from $90.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 13th. Robert W. Baird boosted their target price on shares of AECOM from $100.00 to $103.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 6th. StockNews.com upgraded shares of AECOM from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, November 15th. TheStreet upgraded shares of AECOM from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Monday, February 5th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada reiterated an outperform rating and set a $109.00 price target on shares of AECOM in a research report on Wednesday, February 7th. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating, According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Buy and an average price target of $101.33.

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Insiders Place Their Bets

In other AECOM news, CEO Troy Rudd sold 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.76, for a total transaction of $2,319,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 259,168 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $24,040,423.68. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, President Lara Poloni sold 30,692 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, December 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $92.50, for a total value of $2,839,010.00. Following the completion of the sale, the president now directly owns 53,752 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $4,972,060. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Troy Rudd sold 25,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, December 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.76, for a total value of $2,319,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 259,168 shares of the companys stock, valued at $24,040,423.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock.

About AECOM

(Free Report)

AECOM, together with its subsidiaries, provides professional infrastructure consulting services worldwide. It operates in three segments: Americas, International, and AECOM Capital. The company offers planning, consulting, architectural and engineering design, construction and program management, and investment and development services to public and private clients.

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United Services Automobile Association grew its holdings in Webster Financial Co. (NYSE:WBS  Free Report) by 12.2% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 12,253 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 1,335 shares during the period. United Services Automobile Associations holdings in Webster Financial were worth $494,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its position in Webster Financial by 0.7% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 17,679,692 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $799,122,000 after acquiring an additional 116,092 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Webster Financial by 2.1% in the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 17,498,723 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $689,800,000 after acquiring an additional 362,728 shares in the last quarter. Capital International Investors grew its position in Webster Financial by 18.2% in the first quarter. Capital International Investors now owns 9,297,676 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $521,886,000 after acquiring an additional 1,433,204 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its position in Webster Financial by 9.8% in the first quarter. State Street Corp now owns 7,904,283 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $311,587,000 after acquiring an additional 707,001 shares in the last quarter. Finally, FMR LLC grew its position in Webster Financial by 22.6% in the third quarter. FMR LLC now owns 7,258,411 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $292,587,000 after acquiring an additional 1,339,862 shares in the last quarter. 86.37% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.

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Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

Several research firms have commented on WBS. Royal Bank of Canada reissued an outperform rating and issued a $59.00 target price on shares of Webster Financial in a research report on Wednesday, January 24th. StockNews.com raised shares of Webster Financial from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, January 19th. Bank of America assumed coverage on shares of Webster Financial in a report on Thursday, January 11th. They set a buy rating and a $60.00 price objective for the company. Piper Sandler upped their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $53.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, December 15th. Finally, Raymond James upped their price objective on shares of Webster Financial from $57.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $56.23.

Webster Financial Trading Down 0.8 %

Shares of WBS stock opened at $47.26 on Friday. Webster Financial Co. has a 52-week low of $31.03 and a 52-week high of $53.39. The stock has a market cap of $8.12 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.66, a P/E/G ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.41, a quick ratio of 0.85 and a current ratio of 0.85. The firm has a fifty day moving average of $49.08 and a 200-day moving average of $44.64.

Webster Financial (NYSE:WBS  Get Free Report) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 23rd. The financial services provider reported $1.46 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.48 by ($0.02). Webster Financial had a net margin of 22.01% and a return on equity of 13.05%. The business had revenue of $996.96 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $674.82 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $1.60 EPS. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Webster Financial Co. will post 5.92 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Webster Financial Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, February 16th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 5th were paid a $0.40 dividend. This represents a $1.60 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.39%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 2nd. Webster Financials dividend payout ratio is 32.72%.

Insider Activity

In other news, COO Luis Massiani sold 13,500 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.63, for a total value of $697,005.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief operating officer now owns 89,621 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,627,132.23. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, COO Luis Massiani sold 13,500 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 30th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.63, for a total transaction of $697,005.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief operating officer now owns 89,621 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,627,132.23. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Jack L. Kopnisky sold 5,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.18, for a total transaction of $250,900.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 310,041 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $15,557,857.38. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders sold 32,941 shares of company stock worth $1,701,282. 0.88% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders.

About Webster Financial

(Free Report)

Webster Financial Corporation operates as the bank holding company for Webster Bank, National Association that provides a range of financial products and services to individuals, families, and businesses in the United States. It operates through three segments: Commercial Banking, HSA Bank, and Consumer Banking.

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On the third day of the World Without Orphans global forum that is currently taking place in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a panel discussion highlighted a central issue the orphan care movement is wrestling with today: the need to move away from institutionalized care in orphanages and finding solutions that ensure children grow up in permanent families.

Institutionalized care has been proven to be an outdated model that fails to meet some of the most essential needs of children and leaves them ill-prepared to flourish in life once they grow out of the system. There is no better place for children to grow up than in a stable family structure. Several testimonies at the forum by those who grew up in as well as those who led orphanages attested to the vastly different long-term outcomes between those who only experienced an orphanage versus children who were eventually placed in families.

The required paradigm shifts to introduce a new approach of orphan care, however, may seem daunting considering the decades of investments by churches and Christian ministries into orphanages as a primary form of caring for vulnerable children.

According to a 2021 study conducted by the Barna Group that surveyed 3,000 U.S. Christians to understand their perceptions and support of orphanages, almost one fifth of all respondents (19%) gave financial support to orphanages, childrens homes and other types of residential care. Projecting the donated average amounts to the total U.S. Christian population, approximately US$2.5 billion is given to these kinds of institutions on an annual basis. Furthermore, 91% of the survey respondents believe that orphanages are essential and 86% see them as positive, according to the same study  although 96% also agree that family structures are optimal.

While the study was focused on Christians in the United States, the views are similar in other parts of the world. Therefore, leaders within the orphan care movement are eager to change the perceptions and help Christians understand  and financially support  the new family-based models.

A success story from Rwanda

The first panelist who was introduced was Patrick Rutikanga who transformed an orphanage in Kigali into a trauma-informed community center for vulnerable children and their families.

Rutikanga shared the story of the orphanage his grandparents founded in Rwanda in 1946. It started simply by taking children into their home and later, their number grew to about sixty children before the genocide started in 1994. But once the genocide began, the orphanage ended up becoming a safe house for some 400 mostly Tutsi children whom they protected amid the killings.

After that time, there were a lot of orphans obviously, but we wanted to work with the government to try to see how they can reintegrate children with families, he said. But there were a lot of wounds in the social fabric of the family, with many families deteriorated. So, children would go to families and then they would come back to the center.

It wasn't until 2012 where the government of Rwanda reinstated the policy again, working with different international organizations, churches and ministries and individual people, to see how kids could be integrated in families. At that time, we had 125 children. And from 2012 to 2014, all of them were able to be reintegrated in families, he said.

Asked about the challenges they faced in the transition away from orphanage to community center that serves families, Rutikanga acknowledged that it was not an easy journey.

Of course there are a lot of challenges, but what I do really see as a big challenge is the mindset, the shift from industrial mindset to relational mindset, he said. We tend to think about what our kids need: education, yes, clothing, yes, food, yes. But there is more to that.

Sometimes, even for our partners, it's so hard to really show them the other path and seeing beyond the immediate situation. These kids really need more than just clothing, objects and food. They need affection and love from a family-based care, he emphasized.

According to the book of James, true religion is

The second panelist to speak was Phil Aspegren, the founder of Casa Viva, a ministry specializing in promoting family-like solutions for children in different countries around the world.

Referring to the Bible verse in James 1:27 that is frequently quoted in orphan context, he rhetorically asked: Is it true or false? True religion is building orphanages.

Absolutely not, he said. That's not what true religion is. Instead, the focus should be on caring for the fatherless child and looking out for his or her best interest. Therefore, Casa Vivas focus is on changing the thinking of those who lead orphanages to go beyond institutional care.

We're helping orphanages realize, We are not an orphanage. That's not why we exist. Instead, we are an organization that acts in the best interest of children, youth, and families, Aspegren explained.

They can become an agency or a ministry that is more than just the orphanage. We've confused what is our goal with our method. Our method is an orphanage, but that's not our goal. Our goal is to care for children well. So that's the first thing that I point out. Children's homes are learning that they can do more than just care for children and families. They can be the solution that is reintegrating children back to biological families, he said.

The second step is to move towards a personalization of care that looks at the needs of each individual child and finds ways to get them out of the institution and back into a family.

Many of us in this room started this work in an orphanage, but who among us said, you know what I really hope to do? I hope to institutionalize children. No, nobody said that. Everybody wants to do well and we're doing the best that we can knowing what we knew, Aspegren said. With the personalization of care, the goal is to humanize each child and to say: if we have 25 children living here in our orphanage, we're going to need 25 solutions because there are no two children who are the same, no two children who need the same thing. And we need to create the right solution for each child.

Casa Viva works with a spectrum that considers the situation of the child. The first and ideal scenario is always to bring the children back into the original family.

Can we get these children back with their own moms and dads? What would have to change? How could we support those children with their own parents? Aspegren explains, illustrating the shift away from simply placing a child into an institution and towards making every effort to actually find solutions that resolve the root issues.

If moving them back into the original core family is not possible, the next best option is the extended family. And if that is not possible, they would explore what it would take to see the children adopted or cared for long-term in a family.

It is possible, Aspegren emphasized. We are seeing children's homes around the world making the shift from just offering a children's home, just offering this facility, to become a program that offers full spectrums of care, having social workers, finding those biological families and go out visiting those kids when they reunify them.

They also start developing prevention programs, developing foster care and adoption programs. It is possible, he said and pointed out how the results are incomparably different as entire families are cared for and restored.

In many cases, children end up in institutionalized care not because their parents died and there is no one left but because their life circumstances dont allow them to care for them. The new paradigm, therefore, looks at the whole family situation.

Returning to James 1:27, Aspegren then asked one more rhetorical question, The Bible says your true religion is this caring for orphans. Is it true or false?

Its half true, he cautioned, adding that we care for orphans, but we skip the second part! True religion is caring for orphans, that is correct, but it is only us that separate the orphan from the widow.

Many times, the widow is the orphan's mom, he said. And we need to learn to love the widows in the same way that we're loving the orphan.
VanEck 5-10 Year Australian Government Bond ETF (ASX:5GOV  Get Free Report) announced a interim dividend on Friday, March 1st, MarketIndexAU reports. Shareholders of record on Sunday, March 17th will be paid a dividend of 0.115 per share on Sunday, March 17th. This represents a yield of 0.22%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, February 29th.

VanEck 5-10 Year Australian Government Bond ETF Stock Performance

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Waverly Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Motorola Solutions, Inc. (NYSE:MSI  Free Report) by 20.4% in the 3rd quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 937 shares of the communications equipment providers stock after purchasing an additional 159 shares during the quarter. Waverly Advisors LLCs holdings in Motorola Solutions were worth $255,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd lifted its position in Motorola Solutions by 61.1% during the third quarter. Qube Research & Technologies Ltd now owns 333,697 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $90,846,000 after purchasing an additional 126,517 shares during the last quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC lifted its position in Motorola Solutions by 224.3% during the third quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC now owns 3,891 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $1,059,000 after purchasing an additional 2,691 shares during the last quarter. Benson Investment Management Company Inc. bought a new position in Motorola Solutions during the third quarter valued at $3,716,000. Railway Pension Investments Ltd lifted its position in Motorola Solutions by 254.1% during the second quarter. Railway Pension Investments Ltd now owns 100,200 shares of the communications equipment providers stock valued at $29,387,000 after purchasing an additional 71,900 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Comerica Bank bought a new stake in shares of Motorola Solutions in the 2nd quarter worth about $132,860,000. Institutional investors own 82.37% of the companys stock.

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Motorola Solutions Trading Up 1.6 %

Shares of MSI opened at $335.56 on Friday. Motorola Solutions, Inc. has a 1-year low of $255.85 and a 1-year high of $335.88. The company has a 50-day moving average of $321.36 and a 200 day moving average of $303.88. The firm has a market capitalization of $55.74 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 33.79, a PEG ratio of 3.10 and a beta of 0.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 6.37, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.85.

Motorola Solutions Announces Dividend

Motorola Solutions ( NYSE:MSI Get Free Report ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 8th. The communications equipment provider reported $3.90 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $3.63 by $0.27. The business had revenue of $2.85 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.82 billion. Motorola Solutions had a net margin of 17.12% and a return on equity of 441.65%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $3.38 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Motorola Solutions, Inc. will post 11.74 EPS for the current year.

The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 15th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 15th will be given a dividend of $0.98 per share. This represents a $3.92 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.17%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 14th. Motorola Solutionss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 39.48%.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

MSI has been the subject of several analyst reports. StockNews.com upgraded shares of Motorola Solutions from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Monday, February 12th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft initiated coverage on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Friday, January 19th. They issued a buy rating and a $350.00 target price for the company. Barclays raised their target price on shares of Motorola Solutions from $333.00 to $352.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 2nd. Finally, William Blair restated an outperform rating on shares of Motorola Solutions in a report on Friday, February 9th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Motorola Solutions has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $328.29.

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About Motorola Solutions

(Free Report)

Motorola Solutions, Inc provides public safety and enterprise security solutions in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and internationally. The company operates in two segments, Products and Systems Integration, and Software and Services. The Products and Systems Integration segment offers a portfolio of infrastructure, devices, accessories, and video security devices and infrastructure, as well as the implementation and integration of systems, devices, software, and applications for government, public safety, and commercial customers who operate private communications networks and video security solutions, as well as manage a mobile workforce.

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Waverly Advisors LLC cut its holdings in shares of 3M (NYSE:MMM  Free Report) by 92.3% during the 3rd quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 2,643 shares of the conglomerates stock after selling 31,866 shares during the quarter. Waverly Advisors LLCs holdings in 3M were worth $247,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission.

Several other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. First Dallas Securities Inc. purchased a new stake in 3M during the third quarter valued at about $945,000. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in 3M by 87.5% during the third quarter. Schonfeld Strategic Advisors LLC now owns 40,872 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $3,826,000 after purchasing an additional 19,076 shares during the last quarter. Kinloch Capital LLC lifted its holdings in 3M by 2.5% during the third quarter. Kinloch Capital LLC now owns 29,366 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $2,749,000 after purchasing an additional 712 shares during the last quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in 3M by 89.9% during the third quarter. Ancora Advisors LLC now owns 32,580 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $3,050,000 after purchasing an additional 15,423 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in 3M by 113.0% during the third quarter. Sherbrooke Park Advisers LLC now owns 12,142 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $1,137,000 after purchasing an additional 6,442 shares during the last quarter. 65.24% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

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3M Trading Down 0.3 %

Shares of MMM opened at $91.86 on Friday. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $99.62 and its 200 day simple moving average is $98.09. The company has a market capitalization of $50.77 billion, a P/E ratio of -7.27, a P/E/G ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 1.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.69, a current ratio of 1.07 and a quick ratio of 0.76. 3M has a 1-year low of $85.35 and a 1-year high of $113.14.

3M Increases Dividend

3M ( NYSE:MMM Get Free Report ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 23rd. The conglomerate reported $2.42 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.31 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $8.01 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $7.69 billion. 3M had a negative net margin of 21.40% and a positive return on equity of 62.45%. 3Ms quarterly revenue was down 1.1% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period last year, the firm posted $2.28 earnings per share. Sell-side analysts forecast that 3M will post 9.77 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 12th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 16th will be given a dividend of $1.51 per share. This is a boost from 3Ms previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 6.58%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, February 15th. 3Ms dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -47.82%.

Insider Buying and Selling at 3M

In other 3M news, insider Rodriguez Beatriz Karin Chavez sold 426 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $92.32, for a total transaction of $39,328.32. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 3,966 shares in the company, valued at $366,141.12. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Company insiders own 0.34% of the companys stock.

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

A number of equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Mizuho lowered their price target on shares of 3M from $120.00 to $105.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Barclays raised shares of 3M from an underweight rating to an equal weight rating and increased their price target for the stock from $98.00 to $107.00 in a report on Monday, December 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of 3M from $112.00 to $105.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Citigroup lowered their price target on shares of 3M from $117.00 to $104.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of 3M from $83.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $106.00.

View Our Latest Report on 3M

About 3M

(Free Report)

3M Company provides diversified technology services in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: Safety and Industrial; Transportation and Electronics; Health Care; and Consumer. The Safety and Industrial segment offers industrial abrasives and finishing for metalworking applications; autobody repair solutions; closure systems for personal hygiene products, masking, and packaging materials; electrical products and materials for construction and maintenance, power distribution, and electrical original equipment manufacturers; structural adhesives and tapes; respiratory, hearing, eye, and fall protection solutions; and natural and color-coated mineral granules for shingles.

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Zentek Ltd. (CVE:ZEN  Get Free Report)s share price crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Friday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$1.68 and traded as low as C$1.62. Zentek shares last traded at C$1.62, with a volume of 6,995 shares changing hands.

Zentek Stock Down 1.8 %

The stock has a market capitalization of C$163.33 million, a PE ratio of -14.73 and a beta of 0.84. The company has a current ratio of 6.05, a quick ratio of 7.59 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.68. The companys 50-day moving average is C$1.68 and its 200 day moving average is C$1.68.

About Zentek

(Get Free Report)

Zentek Ltd. engages in the research and development of graphene and related nanomaterials in Canada. It owns 100% interest in the Albany Graphite project located in Northern Ontario, Canada. The company develops graphene-based antimicrobial coating under the ZenGUARD brand, surgical masks, HVAC filters, personal protective equipment, rapid detection point of care diagnostics tests, and pharmaceutical products based on graphene-based compound.

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WOOD RIVER  The occupant of a Wood River house that exploded Saturday is unaccounted for.

The explosion was reported around 9:15 a.m., according to PulsePoint, an emergency and first responders app. The house was destroyed, while an adjacent home caught fire, according to Hall County Emergency Management.

Residents as far away as around 7 miles reported hearing and feeling the effects of the blast. Several houses and businesses in the area sustained damage.

The explosion was at 107 E. Eleventh St. in Wood River, near the elementary school and Grace Lutheran Church. Hall County Emergency Management said one person was transported to a nearby hospital for minor injuries and released. "One occupant of the home at 107 E. Eleventh Street is still unaccounted for at the time of this release," Hall County EMA said.

The State Fire Marshal and Hall County Sheriff's Department is investigating the explosion.

Hall County EMA said authorities "believe this was an isolated incident and there is no reason to believe additional incidents may occur."

A number of fire departments responded, including Shelton, Alda and Cairo.

Windows of neighboring houses and businesses were blown out, including at the home of Patty and Jim Debraal, who live across the street.

Patty Debraal said she was in a hallway when the explosion occurred, and it blew me back. ... We looked out the door and there was a ball of fire right across the street.

Patty Debraal said first responders were on scene within minutes.

Another nearby neighbor, who declined to give his name, was watching TV when the explosion occurred.

The force of the blast, lifted everything up in the living room.

We ran out of the house and saw debris flying, he said.

Other neighbors mentioned pictures falling off the wall.

Neighbors had heard speculation of the cause and circumstances surrounding the explosion, but authorities havent released anything official yet.

Neighbors on scene reported the smell of gas before the explosion. Fire department officials on the scene said they were near the house before the explosion, because of reports of the odor of gas in the area.

Jim Debraals sister, Lisa DeVore lives 4 miles outside town, to the east.

I heard it. It shook our roof, she said.

Down the road on 11th Street, teenager Cherish Faircloth was sleeping when, all of the sudden I heard boom and there was a gush of wind. ... My window was broken out.

Faircloths father, Tyrell Cline, said, We were woken up by it. After his daughter alerted him to the broken window, he found other windows had been broken out as well.

Came outside to see a bunch of lumber on the roof of the corner house, he said. And about two minutes later there were about 20-foot (high) flames.

The county said Hall County CERT volunteers provided damage assessment assistance to the surrounding homes and community volunteers assisted neighbors with debris removal as well as boarding up doors and windows. There is an Emergency Operations Center at the Wood River Fire Department, where residents are being assisted by the American Red Cross.

The residents of Wood River can be very proud of their fire department and the efforts of the entire community in responding to this incident, Hall County Emergency Management Director Jon Rosenlund said in the release. I also want to thank the American Red Cross and local partners for assisting the residents affected by this incident.

Wood River Mayor Greg Cramer declared a local state of emergency for the city.

The Wood River Fire Department said, "Thank you all for your support today" in a Facebook post, noting plywood was available at the station for boarding up windows and doors.

The department said a fund was set up to help "affected families that suffered losses from the explosion today." The department said physical needs had been met, but financial help is needed.

Donations can be sent to:

Wood River Ministerial Association

Care of Heritage Bank

P.O Box 487

Wood River NE 68883

In a post around 7:40 p.m., the department said, "We have wrapped up clean up and stabilization activities for tonight. Check our Facebook page tomorrow to see if help will be needed for additional clean up. Thank You to all those that showed up help button up windows and doors today."

PHOTOS: Home explodes in Wood River Photos from the scene of a home explosion on Saturday, March 2 in Wood River. Wood River explosion aftermath Photos from the scene of a house explosion in Wood River on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion Firefighters work to put out fires caused by a house explosion on Saturday, March 2 in Wood River. The home was leveled, while numerous nearby Wood River home explosion Flames poke through smoke on the scene of a house explosion in Wood River. Wood River home explosion The explosion sent debris flying, up to blocks away from the home. Wood River home explosion Flames poke through smoke on the scene of a house explosion in Wood River. Wood River home explosion Numerous fire departments responded to Wood River after a house exploded on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion The explosion damaged multiple homes. Wood River home explosion Smoke billows and debris is strewn about after a house exploded in Wood River. Wood River home explosion A home exploded in Wood River on Saturday, March 2. The blast affected multiple nearby homes and businesses. Wood River home explosion Fire crews spray a home in Wood River after a house exploded on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion A home exploded in Wood River on Saturday, March 2. Neighbor describes Wood River home explosion Patty Debraal was in her hallway when a house across the street in Wood River exploded on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion Cherish Faircloth sweeps glass and debris off the overhang after an explosion in Wood River broke her bedroom window. Wood River home explosion A house exploded in Wood River on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion Debris from the explosion scattered for blocks, and was caught up in numerous trees in Wood River. Wood River home explosion Smoke billows and debris is strewn about after a house exploded in Wood River. Wood River home explosion Smoke billows where a house once stood on 11th Street in Wood River on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion Debris from a house explosion hangs in a tree in Wood River. Wood River home explosion The Alda Fire Department was among many that responded to a house explosion in Wood River on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion A State Fire Marshal's Office investigator prepares to work at the scene of a house explosion in Wood River on Saturday, March 2. Wood River home explosion A smoke-filled scene from the house explosion in Wood River. Wood River home explosion Cherish Faircloth sweeps glass and debris off the overhang after an explosion in Wood River broke her bedroom window. Wood River house explosion Multiple fire departments responded after a house explosion in Wood River damaged multiple homes.
After seven days of testimony, a Sarpy County jury deliberated for just over two hours before they found a Bellevue man guilty of the first-degree murders of his young children.

Adam Price, 38, will receive an automatic minimum sentence of life in prison without parole when he is sentenced in May. The jury found that he intentionally and with premeditated malice smothered his 5-year-old daughter, Emily, and 3-year-old son, Theodore, to death before posing their bodies in their beds and fleeing from the state.

The case was submitted to the jury shortly before 11:25 a.m. Thursday, and it returned a guilty verdict at 1:42 p.m.

Deliberations were preceded by closing arguments from Sarpy County Deputy Attorney Gage Cobb and public defender Tom Strigenz on Thursday.

Cobb portrayed Price as a man who planned his childrens deaths after his marriage failed.

Strigenz sought to portray Price as a loving father broken up by his failed marriage. He also criticized many aspects of the law enforcement investigation, including the determination of cause of the childrens deaths, what items were submitted for evidence and how they were tested.

This case is a tragedy, Strigenz said. Any time a child dies its tragic.

At the time of the deaths, Price and the childrens mother, Mary Nielsen, were in the midst of divorce and custody proceedings. In February 2021, Price and Nielsen were granted joint legal and physical custody of their two children, according to court documents. They were ordered to alternate custody every week, and each party was to have phone or FaceTime visitation with the children every day the children were with the other party.

Shes not breathing. Shes dead. The little boy is dead, too

On May 10, 2021, Nielsen saw her children alive for the last time when she dropped them off to spend the week with Price. Nielsen was living in Illinois at the time and would meet Price at a halfway point in Iowa each week to exchange custody.

When she couldnt get in touch with Price or her children via FaceTime on May 14 or 15, Nielsen twice called 911 to request a welfare check. Police went to the Bellevue home both times but said they lacked probable cause to enter.

It was a friend of Nielsens, Morgan Clark, who walked into the unlocked home and found the bodies of Emily and Theodore on May 16. Clark, the first witness prosecutors called, cried throughout her testimony as she recalled finding the children and attempting CPR on Emily. A recording of her 911 call was played in court.

Please, please send an ambulance, she had said to the dispatcher. Shes not breathing. Shes dead. The little boy is dead, too.

Photos taken by investigators and published at trial showed Emily and Theodore tucked into their beds with closed eyes and purple lips. Emily was laying under a pink comforter with a stuffed giraffe tucked under her arm. Theodore was underneath a black and red blanket.

Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty

Nielsen also testified, as did two priests Price visited in California after fleeing from the state.

On May 16  the day of his arrest  Price confessed to killing his children to a Roman Catholic priest in San Francisco, who then called police and waited with Price until they arrived. He was then extradited to Nebraska.

Speaking with reporters after the verdict, Sarpy County Attorney Lee Polikov said he doesnt believe that the confession Price made set a new precedent for evidence submitted to the court.

We just have to rely on what the conditions are, not only the rules that the priesthood (falls) under but also the rules and laws of the state, Polikov said. It was an interesting aspect. But I dont have any concerns.

Strigenz told reporters Prices confession that helped lead to the guilty verdict could be the basis for an appeal. Strigenz also said his office is also looking at other issues related to the evidence.

We knew it was a tough case. We put on a fantastic defense, he said. We understand the jury did what the jury did. Were still unpacking the jury result. Were going to have to talk to our client and see what the next steps are going to be.

Strigenzs office had filed a motion last year seeking to not have Prices confession entered into evidence. But Sarpy County District Court Judge George Thompson denied the motion, ruling that the confessions were not made in confidence and that the priests did not have duties to keep their conversations with Price secret.

Prosecutors did not seek the death penalty for Price. Polikov said he strongly considered the death penalty but decided not to do so. Polikov added Price is going to face a significant sentence although it will be up to a judge what exactly that sentence will be.
An Omaha woman was charged Thursday with trying to pass methamphetamine to a Lincoln inmate during a visitation at the Reception and Treatment Center, according to court documents.

On Wednesday at about 9 a.m., 40-year-old Alicia Cain was visiting someone at the Reception and Treatment Center, located at 3218 W. Van Dorn St. Nebraska State Patrol investigators believe Cain placed two plastic bags containing approximately 2.1 grams of meth in a bowl filled with candy to slip the drugs to an inmate, the probable cause affidavit said.

Cain was able to smuggle the meth bags into the visitation area by hiding them in her belly button, according to the affidavit.

Investigators spoke with Cain at the prison and she consented to a search of her vehicle.

Troopers found two pipes and 2.4 grams of synthetic cannabis in her car, according to the affidavit.

Cain was charged with intent to deliver a controlled substance and unlawful acts in the Department of Corrections.

Judge Thomas Zimmerman set Cain's percentage bond at $75,000, meaning she would have to pay $7,500 to be released.

She is being held at the Lancaster County jail.

Photos: Nebraska's new Reception and Treatment Center
ASEAN-Australia Special Summit marks significant milestone: Australian Ambassador

By Vietnam News Agency Sun, March 3, 2024 | 3:13 pm GMT+7

The leaders of ASEAN member states and Timor-Leste are descending on Melbourne for a Special Summit to celebrate 50 years since Australia became ASEANs first Dialogue Partner in 1974  an achievement of which Australia is very proud, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski said in his op-ed on the upcoming big event.

Australian Ambassador to Vietnam Andrew Goledzinowski. Photo courtesy of baochinhphu.vn.

According to his article titled ASEAN is coming to Australia!, the Special Summit, taking place from March 4-6, is a significant milestone in Australias shared history with the region. It will showcase Australias commitment to deepening engagement with Southeast Asia and ensuring the sides remain a partner for the future. It is the second time Australia has hosted ASEAN leaders, with the first ASEAN-Australia Special Summit taking place in 2018.

The diplomat wrote: The period between the two Special Summits has been a time of significant development in the bilateral relationship between Australia and Vietnam. In 2018, our Prime Ministers elevated relations to a Strategic Partnership. Only four years later, during the visit of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to Australia, our two Governments announced the shared intention to elevate relations further to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), reflecting the importance, ambition and promise in our bilateral cooperation.

ASEAN is central to our future and Australia takes its partnership with ASEAN seriously. We have close relations with all ASEAN Member States including diplomatic missions in each ASEAN capital.

According to Goledzinowski, Australia was also the first country to establish a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN in 2021. He said it is clear that Australia and ASEAN not only face shared challenges, but have shared interests in a peaceful, inclusive and prosperous region.

In 2022, Australias two-way trade with ASEAN nations amounted to around AUD178 billion  greater than the nations two-way trade with Japan, the US or the EU. Per capita, Australia is the largest development partner of ASEAN. This includes supporting ASEAN-led projects that address complex challenges in the region, such as the development of the ASEAN Strategy for Carbon Neutrality.

Last year, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched the Invested: Australias Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, with the objective being to increase opportunities for businesses in Australia and Southeast Asia.

The ambassador also elaborated on the Special Summit wills four key areas of focus, namely Business, Emerging Leaders, Climate and Clean Energy, and Maritime Cooperation.

Also in his op-ed, Goledzinowski said: As the relationship between Australia and ASEAN goes from strength to strength, we are ambitious about our relationship with Vietnam. Vietnam is important to Australias economic future.

According to him, the focus areas of the 2024 Summit mirror the shared priorities in the Australia-Vietnam relationship. We look forward to elevating our relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and enhancing cooperation across key fields including climate change, digital transformation, trade and investment, critical minerals and education. The Summit also provides unique opportunities to highlight people-to-people connections.

He said following the Summit in Melbourne, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran will travel to Canberra as the Australian Government's guest.

I welcome Prime Minister Chinh, Madam Tran and the Vietnamese delegation to Australia to build on the significant achievements we celebrated last year to mark the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations. I am proud to highlight the strength of the Australia-Vietnam partnership, and to show the Vietnamese delegation true Aussie hospitality in my beautiful country, he concluded.
HopLuc an industrial park construction giant in Vietnam

By Huu Bat, Minh Hue Sun, March 3, 2024 | 12:51 pm GMT+7

HopLuc Construction JSC boasts many years in industrial park construction as the engineering & construction (E&C) contractor for a series of large projects across Vietnam.

HopLuc was established in 2009 as a construction consultancy provider and subcontractor. Only one year after its establishment, the company became a subcontractor for the Samsung Electronics Vietnam project - Samsung's first factory in Vietnam based in Yen Phong Industrial Park, the northern province of Bac Ninh.

HopLuc is an E&C contractor for many large projects in Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the company.

After a period of accumulating experience and resources, in 2014, HopLuc took an important step by becoming an E&C contractor. Two years later, it served as the E&C contractor for Luxshare-ICT (Vietnam) - a large project requiring high technical and professional expertise.

HopLuc is now implementing E&C contracts for a series of large projects such as the Luxshare-ICT 2 in the central province of Nghe An, the Juteng electronic components and automobile parts production factory also in Nghe An, and the BYD Electronics (Vietnam) factory in the northern province of Phu Tho. It is also the main contractor for the Goertek Smart Technology Vina Co., Ltd. factory in Bac Ninh province.

Along with the construction of many large projects, HopLuc's charter capital and revenue have grown rapidly. The company's charter capital recorded a 5-fold increase from VND150 billion in November 2019 to VND750 billion ($30.42 million) in July 2023. It enjoyed average revenue growth of nearly 35.5% per year from 2015-2022.

Behind the rapid development of HopLuc is the leadership of chairman Le Anh Hung, CEO and legal representative Tran Ngoc Tan, and deputy CEO Nguyen Manh Hung.

The ambition of HopLuc's leadership did not stop at building industrial parks. Therefore, the company has set up five more member units, namely Capplus JSC (wholesale of household items), HopLuc Electromechanica JSC (electrical system installation), HL Windows JSC, HopLuc Plating Technology JSC, and Cap Hung Yen JSC (bed, cabinet, table and chair production).

Among these, HopLuc Plating Technology JSC is a legal entity established at the end of 2019 with "the mission to become one of the leading standard plating factories in Vietnam".

At the time of establishment, the company had a charter capital of VND150 billion ($6.08 million), contributed by HopLuc Construction JSC (51%), Tran Ngoc Tan (10%), Le Anh Dung (10%), Le Anh Hung ( 19%), and Nguyen Manh Hung (10%).

By June 2023, it had a charter capital of VND280 billion ($11.36 million), with Le Anh Dung as CEO and legal representative.

Headquartered in Hung Yen, HopLuc is the investor of a 21,600-square meter metal plating factory project located in this northern province.

Thanks to preferential policies, the number of industrial parks in Vietnam increased significantly from one in 1991 to 260 in 2010, and 407 by the end of 2022.

Experts forecast that in the coming time, the prospects for the industrial park sector in Vietnam will be positive thanks to many factors, including the trend of shifting production from China, improving FDI capital flows, continued government support, and improved transport infrastructure, especially in the southern region.
Seventy projects awaiting investors in Phu Yen province

By Nguyen Tri, Minh Hue Sun, March 3, 2024 | 10:22 pm GMT+7

The south-central Vietnamese province of Phu Yen is calling for investment in 70 projects in the 2024-2030 period, including mega projects in the fields of oil refining, iron and steel.

Of the wish list, 33 projects will be located in South Phu Yen Economic Zone (EZ), and 37 outside the economic zone.

Among those in the EZ and involving metallurgy and energy is a $5 billion petrochemical refinery complex covering 350 hectares in Hoa Tam Industrial Park (IP).

The complex is designed to have an annual capacity of 8 million tons, cashing in on the increasing demand of Vietnam and the world for high quality petroleum products.

A 498-hectare iron and steel project, also in Hoa Tam IP, has an expected investment capital of VND86 trillion ($3.49 billion). Part of the complex will be a steel factory with an annual capacity of 6 million tons.

Another is a $1.8 billion LNG warehouse project in Dong Hoa township.

A corner of Phu Yen province, south-central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the government's news portal.

There are three projects awaiting investment in the fields of transportation, seaports, and logistics. They include the 220-hectare Bai Goc Port project in Dong Hoa township, with investment capital of VND20 trillion ($811.2 million); the Logistics Center project associated with an inland container depot serving Vung Ro Port and Bai Goc Port also in Dong Hoa; and another to upgrade and expand the 697-hectare Tuy Hoa Airport.

Industrial park infrastructure projects include the 1,080-hectare Hoa Tam Industrial Park worth VND13.3 trillion ($539.44 million); the 472-hectare, VND3.8 trillion ($154.13 million) Hoa Thanh Industrial Park; the 454-hectare Hoa Xuan Tay Industrial Park capitalized at VND3.65 trillion ($148 million); and the 420-hectare, VND3.38 trillion Hoa Xuan Dong Industrial Park.

There are five projects in the fields of trade, tourism and services, including the 201-hectare, VND20 trillion ($811.2 million) Vung Ro Bay luxury resort in Dong Hoa township; and the 338-hectare Bien Ho-Da Bia tourist area worth VND13.3 trillion ($539.4 million), also in Dong Hoa.

In the field of urban areas-social housing, Phu Yen is inviting investors for 12 projects, including a 284.3-hectare coastal urban service area worth VND37 trillion ($1.5 billion); a 125-hectare new urban area worth VND15 trillion ($608.4 million) in Phu Lam and Phu Thanh wards, Tuy Hoa town; and the VND9 trillion ($365 million) South Tuy Hoa new urban area, covering 69.7 hectares.

Among the projects outside South Phu Yen EZ, there are two projects in the fields of industry, infrastructure, and industrial clusters; two in logistics; nine in urban area development and social housing; 13 in trade, services and tourism; eight in agriculture; two in education and socio-culture; and one in information technology and science-technology.

In late 2023, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh approved the master plan of Phu Yen province for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision until 2050.

Under the master plan, Phu Yen will embrace modern and sustainable development. Its economic development will be based on maritime advantages and key industries of metallurgy; oil refining, petrochemicals and energy; high quality services and tourism; high-tech agriculture; maritime transport and logistics.

Phu Yen is set to have a diverse and prosperous economy and become a marine economic center of the central coastal region by 2050. It is expected to have a smart, green, sustainable and unique urban system, boasting attractive coastal urban complexes and a liveable environment.
Steel major Pomina to sell two mills for $272 mln to pay debts

By My Ha, Minh Hue Sun, March 3, 2024 | 9:18 am GMT+7

Vietnamese steel firm Pomina plans to sell its Pomina 1 and Pomina 3 plants to a domestic investor for VND6.7 trillion ($271.7 million).

Of the sum, about VND1 trillion ($40.6 million) will be contributed to new legal entity Pomina Phu My JSC and the remaining will be used to pay debts, said the companys leadership at an extraordinary shareholder meeting on Friday.

Pomina Phu My JSC will be set up with a charter capital of VND2.7-2.8 trillion ($113.6 million).

The Pomina 3 plant in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, southern Vietnam. Photo courtesy of the company.

Pomina will contribute in kind all the land, workshops and production lines at Pomina 1 and Pomina 3 to own a 35% stake in Pomina Phu My. The remainder will be contributed in cash by the partner.

Regarding the investor, Pomina's leadership said that because they are in the negotiation process, the partner does not want to reveal its identity. However, Pomina chairman Do Duy Thai affirmed that it is a large domestic investor that has an ecosystem close to Pomina's base.

The Pomina 1 and 3 plants have been valued by auditors at nearly VND6,694 billion (excluding VAT), of which Pomina 1 in the southern province of Binh Duong is worth VND336.4 billion, while Pomina 3 in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province VND6,357 billion.

The Pomina leader shared that they have reached an agreement with the investor for Pomina Phu My to inherit Pomina's brand and distribution system. In addition, the company also wants to merge Pomina 2 into Pomina Phu My to take advantage of its blast furnaces and reduce production costs.

Thai attributed the sale of the two factories to the construction of blast furnaces in 2019-2020. To do the project, we had to invite experts from China, but due to Covid-19, experts were not allowed to enter Vietnam. Therefore, the project was extended from 2020 to 2021, with huge costs for machinery, equipment and labor. The leadership tried to keep the debt ratio at no more than 50%, but it still went beyond and we ran out of cash, he explained.

At the end of last year, the company's total short-term debt was VND7.96 trillion ($322.85 million).

Pomina is listed on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange (HoSE) as POM, which closed the Friday session at VND5,260 ($0.21) per share.
Thailand strives to be among top 10 global aviation hubs

By Vietnam News Agency Sun, March 3, 2024 | 3:15 pm GMT+7

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin unveiled a "Thailand Vision 2030" on Friday, with a commitment to promoting the country into a regional aviation hub by 2030, which can handle more than 150 million international passengers each year.

In his speech broadcast live on state television channel NBT and social media platforms, Srettha shared his belief that Thailand has what it takes to become a hub connecting air travel throughout the Asia-Pacific, and rising to among the top 10 air logistics and distribution centres in the world.

Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin. Photo courtesy of https://thesun.my/.

The Thai government plans to develop Thailand's airports to return to the top 20 in the world within the next five years, especially six airports under the management of the Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT), namely Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Mae Fah Luang - Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai.

This plan includes renovating and expanding existing airports and building new airports to increase passenger and cargo receiving capacity. In addition, the government also plans to build a large shopping centre near airports to attract tourists, and to connect airports with the mass transportation system (SRT - Red Line train) to provide faster access to cities for passengers.

The government and the AOT are already working on projects to increase the capacity of the 20,000-rai Suvarnabhumi Airport to 150 million passengers per year within 2030, he said

The government will elevate all airports nationwide by integrating modern technologies and enhancing passenger services to improve efficiency, convenience, and service delivery speed, he went on.

Efforts will be made to strengthen cooperation with numerous airlines, tourism agencies, and hotel associations to jointly develop the Thai aviation industry, he stated, adding that sustainability will be promoted through the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and environmentally friendly packaging, he stressed./.
Thailands WHA plans to build 1,200 hectare industrial park in southern Vietnam

By Tri Duc Sat, March 2, 2024 | 11:02 pm GMT+7

Thailand's WHA Industrial Development plans to build a smart and eco-friendly industrial park in Vietnams southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, covering 1,200 hectares.

WHA chairperson and CEO Jareeporn Jarukornsakul made the proposal at a Friday meeting with Ba Ria-Vung Tau Chairman Nguyen Van Tho. The firm is looking for investment opportunities within the Chau Duc service-urban-industrial complex, Chau Duc district.

WHA chairperson and CEO Jareeporn Jarukornsakul (center) and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Chairman Nguyen Van Tho at a meeting in the province, southern Vietnam, March 1, 2024. Photo courtesy of Ba Ria-Vung Tau newspaper.

WHA strives to invest $1 billion in building smart and eco-friendly industrial parks in the next five years, in order to attract investments of $5 billion into such facilities, the executive emphasized.

In reply, Tho said the province is calling for industrial park investments in Chau Duc district, adding that the province would facilitate all domestic and foreign investors in the project.

WHA, which entered Vietnam in 2017, has one operational facility  WHA Industrial Park in the central province of Nghe An. The industrial park has attracted two major investments from Foxconn and Sunny Optical, covering 40 hectares and 56 hectares, respectively. The Thai firm is also planning to make investments in the neighboring province of Thanh Hoa.
NEW YORK  Older U.S. adults should roll up their sleeves for another COVID-19 shot, even if they got a booster in the fall, U.S. health officials said Wednesday.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Americans 65 and older should get another dose of the updated vaccine that became available in September  if at least four months has passed since their last shot. In making the recommendation, the agency endorsed guidance proposed by an expert advisory panel earlier in the day.

"Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection ... for those at highest risk," CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in a statement.

The advisory panel's decision came after a lengthy discussion about whether to say older people "may" get the shots or if they "should" do so. That reflects a debate among experts about how necessary another booster is and whether yet another recommendation would add to the public's growing vaccine fatigue.

Some doctors say most older adults are adequately protected by the fall shot, which built on immunity derived from earlier vaccinations and exposure to the virus itself. And preliminary studies so far have shown no substantial waning in vaccine effectiveness over six months.

However, the body's vaccine-induced defenses tend to fade over time, and that happens faster in seniors than in other adults. The committee had recommended COVID-19 booster doses for older adults in 2022 and 2023.

COVID-19 remains a danger, especially to older people and those with underlying medical conditions. There are still more than 20,000 hospitalizations and more than 2,000 deaths each week due to the coronavirus, according to the CDC. And people 65 and older have the highest hospitalization and death rates.

Some members of the advisory panel said a "should" recommendation is meant to more clearly prod doctors and pharmacists to offer the shots.

"Most people are coming in either wanting the vaccine or not," said Dr. Jamie Loehr, a committee member and family doctor in Ithaca, New York. "I am trying to make it easier for providers to say, 'Yes, we recommend this.'"

In September, the government recommended a new COVID-19 shot recipe built against a version of the coronavirus called XBB.1.5. That single-target vaccine replaced combination shots that had been targeting both the original coronavirus strain and a much earlier omicron version.

The CDC recommended the new shots for everyone 6 months and older, and allowed that people with weak immune systems could get a second dose as early as two months after the first.

Most Americans haven't listened. According to the latest CDC data, 13% of U.S. children have gotten the shots and about 22% of U.S. adults have. The vaccination rate is higher for adults 65 and older, at nearly 42%.

"In each successive vaccine, the uptake has gone down," said Dr. David Canaday, a Case Western Reserve University infectious diseases expert who studies COVID-19 in older people.

"People are tired of getting all these shots all the time," said Canaday, who does not serve on the committee. "We have to be careful about over-recommending the vaccine."

But there is a subset of Americans  those at higher danger of severe illness and death  who have been asking if another dose is permissible, said Dr. William Schaffner, a Vanderbilt University vaccines expert who serves on a committee workgroup that has been debating the booster question.

Indeed, CDC survey data suggests that group's biggest worry about the vaccine is whether it's effective enough.

Agency officials say that among those who got the latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine, 50% fewer will get sick after they come into contact with the virus compared with those who didn't get the fall shot.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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COLUMBIA  Gov. Henry McMaster has proclaimed South Carolina Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week for 2024 from March 3-9.

The South Carolina Emergency Management Division, the National Weather Service, and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources jointly sponsor the week to remind people that severe storms, tornadoes and flash floods are significant hazards in South Carolina and people need to take proper safety precautions.

Bamberg Storm Damage OAK BARREL Damage from a January tornado at Bamberg's SC Oak To Barrel Company.

SCEMD, the National Weather Service, and SCDNR are promoting awareness of the hazards associated with severe weather, including tornadoes and floods, and the procedures that help keep people safe.

Each day during the week, SCEMD, NWS, and SCDNR will focus on a different topic related to severe weather and flood safety:

 Sunday: Types of Severe Weather

 Monday: Watches and Warnings

 Tuesday: Staying Connected

 Wednesday: What to do during a tornado

 Thursday: Flooding in South Carolina

 Friday: Turn around dont drown, home safety tips

 Saturday: Recovery from storms and flooding, insurance review

Bamberg tornado cleanup continues: Officials ask owners to demolish damaged buildings BAMBERG  Government officials are asking owners to remove buildings deemed unsafe following the Jan. 9 tornado that ripped through downtown Bamberg.

A highlight of the week will be the annual statewide tornado drill, which is closely coordinated with the South Carolina Broadcasters Association. The National Weather Service will use the required weekly test code, RWT, during the drill.

The drill will be conducted Wednesday at 9 a.m. Public schools, state and local Emergency Management, the South Carolina Broadcasters Association, and others will participate in this annual event. The purpose of the drill is to test communication systems, safety procedures, mitigation processes, etc.

For further information on Severe Weather and Flood Safety Week, contact your county emergency management director, SCEMD or your nearest National Weather Service office. Additional resources can be found online at scemd.org/prepare/ and https://www.weather.gov/chs/Scsevereweatherawarenessweek. The SC Emergency Manager App is also an effective tool to help individuals plan and prepare for emergencies. It is free to download in the App Store and Google Play.

What to do during severe weather: https://scemd.org/prepare/types-of-disasters/thunderstorms/

Before, During and After a Tornado: https://scemd.org/prepare/types-of-disasters/tornadoes/
Local lawmakers are urging Gov. Henry McMaster to reconsider his decision not to participate in a federal program that provides families with extra food benefits in the summer.

I would encourage the governor to reach out to the Republican Governors Association and identify those Republican governors who have reconsidered rejecting the Summer EBT funds to feed hungry children in their state, said state Rep. Gilda Cobb-Hunter, D-Orangeburg.

The Summer Electronic Benefit Transfer Program for Children, or Summer EBT, will officially launch in summer 2024 as part of USDAs enhancement of its summer nutrition program.

Summer EBT provides grocery-buying benefits to low-income families with school-aged children when schools are closed for the summer.

Families will receive $40 per eligible child, per month, or up to $120 for families for each eligible child. The USDA reports that more than 30 million children across America could benefit from Summer EBT.

South Carolina participated in the summer K-12 pandemic EBT program in 2023, but is now one of 13 states that have opted out of an opportunity to implement a permanent version of the program this year.

Cobb-Hunter, who serves as the first vice chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, said states had until Jan. 30 to accept the funds, but that Nebraska, for example, reversed its decision to not accept the funds after the deadline.

I encourage him to ask if South Carolina could opt in after all because  if we are saying we arent going to do it, that doesnt eliminate the kids who would have been fed through this program. What is plan B? What is the state of South Carolina planning to do to address this issue? It shouldnt be, Let them go hungry, she said.

Brandon Charochak, communications director in the Office of the Governor, directed this reporter to McMasters remarks on the issue following an unrelated press conference on Jan. 30.

We dont want to create yet another entitlement and grow this bureaucracy. The better way to do this is to rely on the programs that we have. We know how much they cost. We know how to implement them, McMaster said.

The governor continued, Rely on the help that can be provided by private organizations. We must keep our eyes on the main thing, and the main thing is to provide good work and good careers and stability for our people.

Cobb-Hunter said the state could run the program at a negligible cost.

She that if the federal funds are not accepted, the state needs to give direction as lawmakers move through the budget process on how to provide the $65 million it will take to feed hungry kids this summer.

Have we become that cruel that well deny federal dollars to feed children? ... I would encourage people who care about feeding hungry kids to reach out to the governor and encourage him to opt in, she said.

State Sen. Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg, said, One in six children in South Carolina are at risk of going hungry every day, and we know those kids rely on school meals. When schools are closed, kids lose access to these healthy meals and are at higher risk of food and nutrition insecurity.

Hutto said the Summer EBT program would have been a new way to help families.

This would have been so helpful for kids, especially those in rural areas who cant get to a summer feeding program or community center serving meals. Even though the governor missed the opportunity for our state to participate this year, I hope we can start discussions for next summer, he said.

Hutto continued, We know that the program requires some state contribution and that the EBT benefits require detailed coordination between the Department of Education and DSS. We will support that work going forward so that we can do better for our kids.

SCDOE spokesperson Jason Raven said the Department of Education administers the Summer Break Cafe and Seamless Summer Option feeding programs for children, with approximately 3.2 million children served between the two programs last year.

Sponsors that are administratively and financially capable of managing a food service program may participate in the SBC. Public or private nonprofit schools and private nonprofit organizations are among the types of organizations that can be sponsors of the program.

Since 2019, weve seen a decline in the number of sponsors. There were 78 sponsors who were participating in the program in 2019. Then last summer there were 45 sponsors. That kind of limits the number of sites that can be available just because you have less organizations participating, Raven said.

The SSO combines features of the National School Lunch Program, the School Breakfast Program and the Summer Food Service Program. The program is designed to encourage more school food authorities to provide meals during the summer and other school vacation periods.

Its optional. Schools have to opt in, Raven said.

Karen Hay is a volunteer with Into the Mouths of Babes/The Filling Station, which provides a bag of healthy snacks over the weekend for elementary school students in the Orangeburg County School District. Pantry boxes filled with snacks are provided for middle and high schools.

Hay said the program doesnt have the funds to feed children over the summer, but that the hunger issue is real.

I wish we could figure out a way to help the children during the summer. The most important thing is that we try to figure out the funding. I dont think people realize how these children really dont get the food that they need. Its sad, Hay said.

Cobb-Hunter said, I donate to that program. They send those kids home with meals over the weekend. This stuff is real, especially in rural areas. Its very real. The impact in rural communities is part of my concern.

Hay said, Its already costing us like $2.90 to $3 a bag per child. We do 1,200 bags each school week now. So lets say its 40 weeks. Thats like $140,000 for the year.

We have volunteers who help us, but we are even lacking in volunteers. ... But the whole community has been wonderful. We started in 2010. Theyll have food drives, or different organizations will bring us a big truckload of food. Thats a big help to us, too, Hay said.

In Orangeburg County, theyre saying one out of four children have hunger issues, that theyre very hungry. There is a lot of hunger in this area, and were just trying to find a way to help, she said.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the local program can call Hay at 803-378-4778, or visit the website intothemouthsofbabes.org. People can also mail checks to: Into the Mouths of Babes/The Filling Station, care of Melissa Cain, CPA, 1721 St. Matthews Road, Orangeburg SC 29118.
COLUMBIA -- The South Carolina Department of Commerce has unveiled a new agency brand and tagline, Launch to Legacy, to support industry recruitment and retention.

Building on South Carolinas multidecade track record of economic development success and proven ability to help companies thrive in a time of transformation, the new brand is designed to speak to S.C. Commerce and the states commitment to support businesses for long-term success.

The Launch to Legacy brand leverages three core elements:

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When you invest in South Carolina, you grow  as a business, a person and community.

South Carolina is built for the new economy  people can work where they love.

South Carolina is the new home and headquarters of American innovation.

Together with a South Carolina-based advertising agency, S.C. Commerce undertook a strategic and methodical process for creating the Launch to Legacy brand. The process, which took place over the last year and a half, included qualitative and quantitative research with more than 500 in-state, domestic and international stakeholders to:

Understand current perceptions of the state and what it means to do business here.

Identify selling points that differentiate South Carolina from its competitors across the Southeast and the nation.

With a nod to the states heritage, an eye toward the future and a spirit of embracing innovation, the Launch to Legacy brand positions South Carolina to carry out our vision and strategic priorities. The messaging and reimagined logo reinforce our commitment to business as we continue to compete globally while building a high-tech, diverse, sustainable economy, Secretary of Commerce Harry M. Lightsey III said.

Publicly announced during the states first ever Governors Economic Summit, the Launch to Legacy tagline is also being used to propel a full-scale media campaign targeting corporate decision-makers. Told through the perspective of some of the states CEOs, the media campaign will reinforce that South Carolina has everything companies need from launch to legacy.

To learn more about the Launch to Legacy brand, visit www.sclaunchtolegacy.com.
The South Carolina State University Spring 2024 International Showcase will be held at 3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 7, in the SC State Fine Arts Center.

SC States Office of International & National Student Exchange Programs invites the community and university supporters to come and experience the diverse cultures of Bulldog Nation.

Students, faculty and staff from the International Students Association, Felton Charter School, and the Office of International and National Student Exchange Programs will participate and showcase different cultures at the event.

The showcase will feature a fashion show, dances from Felton students and All In One, drumming and exotic music, country table displays by college and Felton students, and refreshments.

Participants are encouraged to bring a friend and can also invite family members. The event is free and open to the public.
The Best Entrepreneur

(People's Daily App) 10:17, March 03, 2024

An American who has lived in China for over 30 years would like to give President Xi Jinping a warm blessing. Why does he hope to send good wishes to the Chinese President, and what are those good wishes? Let's take a look.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Zhong Wenxing)
The San Antonio Express-News is seeking nominations for it 16th annual Top Workplaces honors. Top Workplaces

Are you ready to see how your workplace stacks up with others across the San Antonio area? We are. Nominations are open for companies to earn recognition as a 2024 Top Workplace.

For the 16th year, the San Antonio Express-News is honoring quality workplace culture in the metro area. Any organization with 35 or more employees is eligible, including private sector companies, nonprofits and governmental agencies.

Employees, if you feel good about how your employer is doing, you can nominate it and tell us all about it in a 24-question survey. It takes about five minutes either online at mysanantonio.com/nominate or by calling 210-348-3758.

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Well announce the winners this fall in a special section of the Express-News and at our annual awards ceremony.

The deadline for nominations is April 12 and companies will be surveyed through June. There is no cost to participate.

Last years Top Workplaces were Broadway Bank (in the large-employer category); JBGoodwin Realtors (midsize); and San Antonio Smart Solutions (small).

Heres a look at last years San Antonio program by the numbers:

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Organizations surveyed: 169

Winners recognized: 120

Employees of surveyed organizations: 59,548

Employee survey responses: 29,460

The newspaper once again is partnering with Pennsylvania-based researcher Energage for the project. It conducts Top Workplaces surveys for media in 65 markets nationwide and has surveyed more than 2 million employees at more than 8,000 organizations in the past year.
We can make Orangeburg a better and fun place by opening up the minds of the citizens. Growing up in Germany, I have a clear understanding of what a melting pot really means and how it functions. I have worked and helped spearhead cultural and international festivals and many other events in Germany and Baltimore.

I brought the idea of a farmers and craft market to Orangeburg and that became a reality. This is the seventh year of trying to get the city and county to adopt the idea of a Christmas village to liven up a boring downtown.

The idea is to have carolers with costumes from the early 1900s on Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons to help ring in the holiday. I think more attention needs to be focused on downtown for the holiday.

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For a few years, merchants participated in a downtown holiday decorating contest. I created trimmings for their windows with clear lights along Russell Street and adjacent streets.

I have spoken and suggested at Orangeburg City Council meetings that they could place dark green poles with dark green garland wrapped around them. Presently, there are not enough lights on the garland. I also suggested that red bows would compliment the light poles at the top under the lamp globes.

I also would ask for your consideration of changing the name of the Orangeburg County Christmas Parade to Orangeburg County Holiday Parade. I feel that there would be more people participating because different groups celebrate different forms and religion during the holiday season. It would be nice to see some color there for a change, and it would give it a sophisticated look.

Another idea that I brought before the city is to sponsor an international festival in the downtown area focusing on food, crafts, talent and different cultures. This will give the people of Orangeburg County the opportunity to experience the cultures from around the world. This would be especially important for people who dont and cannot travel outside of the Orangeburg County area.

We could also have a Rose Festival parade that would help kick off the event with marching bands and beautiful floats that incorporate the theme of roses. It is good that we celebrate the Rose Festival to draw more attention to what I call, The Royal City of Orangeburg. We would be able to honor and celebrate William Prince of Orange and educate people on the citys namesake. Ten years ago, I designed a banner that emphasized this.

We could also celebrate Kwanzaa (celebration of African heritage and culture) at the Market Pavilion from Dec. 26-Jan. 1 culminating in sitka giving music dance and food.

Also, the eight-day Jewish celebration of Hanukkah. And then begin plans for a Black History Month parade celebrating the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Quote "We could also have a Rose Festival parade that would help kick off the event with marching bands and beautiful floats that incorporate the theme of roses. It is good that we celebrate the Rose Festival to draw more attention to what I call, The Royal City of Orangeburg.

Orangeburg has a large Hispanic population, and we can host some activities celebrating Cinco de Mayo on May 5.

These are ideas that I have brought before the city and county of Orangeburg on many occasions since 1996. These ideas will generate revenue for Orangeburg and bring unity and a better understanding of each other. They can inform people of what Orangeburg can be and how to get it done in a timely manner.

With all the adversity, hate and racial tension in the country, we can promote Orangeburg to be a role model for South Carolina and the country. We can bring people together as one because there is only one race and that is the human race.

If anyone would like to volunteer and help with these events or to find out more, please contact me, William Green at 803-347-5754.
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.
Kiavon Funta Eugene Dotson, 20, was arrested Saturday in connection to the shooting death of 27-year-old Cesar Estevan Garcia on Feb. 29. Bexar County Sheriff's Office

Police have arrested a man in connection with the shooting death of a 27-year-old man last week on the Northeast Side.

Kiavon Funta Eugene Dotson, 20, was arrested and charged with capital murder Saturday. His bail was set at $500,000.

Dotson is accused of killing Cesar Estevan Garcia on Feb. 29 in front of his workplace in the 6900 block of Northeast Loop 410.

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Investigators say Dotson and a second man shot Garcia during a meetup with him, according to an arrest warrant affidavit supporting Dotsons arrest.

When police arrived at the scene, they found Garcia dead in the stairwell. There were Glock switches, which are devices that convert semi-automatic firearms into fully automatic weapons, in plastic baggies and shell casings near his body, police said.

READ MORE: Man shot by police after pointing shotgun at officers in Northwest Side disturbance

Police released security camera footage from the shooting on Friday to help locate the two men.

In the video, Garcia attempts to walk away from two men when one of them grabs him from behind and puts a gun to his head.

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Garcia is seen fighting back, and a second man, wearing a red hoodie and light-colored joggers, pulls out a gun and shoots Garcia. Police said the other man, dressed all in black, also starts shooting. Garcia then fell down the stairs after being shot several times.

Investigators said they found social media messages between Garcia and Dotson in Garcias cellphone. Dotson asked Garcia if he could pull up and Garcia provided him the address for his workplace, according to the affidavit.

Police used Dotsons social media profile picture to identify him, and officers later showed up at his last known address where they spoke with his mother, according to the affidavit.

Police showed his mother the security camera footage and she identified the man in all black as her son, according to the affidavit.

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Worried you simply dont know quite enough things of no consequence? Worry no more!

12 Finland Was the First Country to Declare the Internet A Legal Right Pixabay All the way back in 2010, the Finnish government decided that every citizen had the right to a minimum of 1Mbps internet access, with a promise that it would reach 100Mbps connection for everyone by 2015. Not blazing fast speeds by any means, but much better than sitting next to some weirdo at the library.

11 Banyan Trees Grow Down to the Ground Instead of Up Pixabay Violating our widely held belief that all plants grow from the earth, banyan trees roots actually grow down from branches into the ground. Not only that, theyre parasites of a sense, with their seeds landing on other trees and using them as a host. Intense!

10 Atlanta Was Originally Known As Terminus Pixabay Atlantas first official name was Marthasville, but was called Terminus because it was at the end of the Western & Atlantic railroad line. It wasnt long before the name was changed to Atlanta, which clearly stuck, denying us all of that sick-ass cyberpunk sounding moniker.

9 Wondering What SPF Actually Stands For? Pixabay The ubiquitous sunscreen acronym SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor, a measurement thats, in theory, meant to indicate what amount of solar energy they will protect you from. In practice, actually trying to use this measurement for anything other than knowing if one sunscreen is stronger than another is pretty futile. Advertisement Advertisement

8 Dracula  s Original Name Was Count Wampyr Pixabay We know, from a crossed-out note made by Bram Stoker himself, that at one point the name of Draculas titular sucker was not Count Dracula, but Count Wampyr. Given that thats basically like naming him Mister Vampire, we should all be glad he took another stab at it.

7 Leap Seconds Are Added to the Calendar Just Like Leap Days Pixabay We just had a leap day this past week, and those are generally pretty noticeable. What you might not have known existed, however, are leap seconds  i.e., single seconds occasionally added on usually either December 31st or June 30th to account for the fact that the rotation of the Earth is constantly, imperceptibly slowing. Dark! Advertisement Advertisement

6 In the Middle Ages, Pregnant Women Avoided Strawberries Pixabay In medieval times, medical knowledge was wanting. So, can we fault people back then for believing red birthmarks on children might be caused by strawberries? Yes, we can, because thats outlandishly stupid. Nevertheless, this was one of many oversimplified beliefs in terms of how to have a happy, healthy, pristine child.

5 The Most Confusingly Named Apple of All Time Qweasdqwe The apple above is known as a Blenheim Orange. That shouldnt be allowed. Advertisement Advertisement

4 The Pituitary Gland Is Nicknamed The Master Gland Pixabay The pituitary gland is nicknamed the master gland, which sounds like some sort of very pornographic rapper. The reason is simple: It controls many of the other endocrine glands.

3 The Thinker Is Thought to Be Modeled on Dante Pixabay The statue we know as The Thinker was actually part of a larger work, Rodins The Gates of Hell, inspired by the Divine Comedy. Knowing that, it makes a lot more sense that the Thinker is intended to represent the book's author, Dante Alighieri. Advertisement Advertisement

2 In Brazil, People Wear White to Celebrate the New Year SpaceEconomist192 If youre ever headed to a Brazilian New Years Eve party, make sure to pick out your palest finery. Its tradition in Brazil to wear white to celebrate the New Year, owing originally to a tradition from the African religion Condomble.
The Mystery Writers of America hand out the Edgars every year to celebrate all things mystery, thriller and suspense. Winners will be announced in May, so nows a great time to check out the 2024 nominees.
Have you wondered if a home security system would be a good investment? Perhaps you already have a home security system but are wondering, is it in need of an upgrade? There are many reasons why homeowners install or upgrade a security system in their home and plenty of options to choose from.

Whether youre a first-time homeowner or looking to upgrade your current system, well equip you with the knowledge needed to make an informed decision.

Q: What are some reasons for having a monitored security system?

A: Jared Wright, owner of Rosie on the House certified Harmony Security, sees three key reasons why people rely on a security system as a layer of safety.

Property awareness: Homeowners want to know when someone is on their property who should not be there. Having a security system allows people to protect their homes from burglaries and alert the police if need be.

Fire and smoke detectors: Early detection of fire or smoke is the best way to ensure a quick escape from a fire. A monitored system alerts the homeowner and the authorities quickly. Note: some home insurance policies require monitored fire and smoke detectors.

Businesses: Because most businesses are empty a portion of each day and house expensive goods or equipment, businesses prefer a monitored system.

Other protection to consider:

Medical alert systems: Many elderly people live alone. These systems can discreetly monitor activity. One way they do this is by putting an alarm under the pad of a favorite chair. If the chair has not been occupied for a set amount of time, a call from the security company is triggered. Wellness cams are another option.

Video surveillance: Security cameras mounted outside the house are a significant layer of security. The video from Wi-Fi cameras is stored on the internet.

Harmony Security offers a camera that stores the videos captured on a drive in your home, not in the cloud, for an added layer of cybersecurity.

Q: Do security apps for smartphones make managing security easier?

A: Most security systems now come with apps for smartphone/tablet users. This is very convenient as people who sync their system with those apps can further personalize their system.

Security apps allow you to:

Monitor deliveries

Set codes and review times for service workers

Track coming and going of children

Change settings and monitor from afar

Q: What are some real-time examples of why homeowners are wanting security systems?

A: Wright sees a difference in homeowners perceived needs regarding a home automation system. In the past, a security system was a nice feature for a home. Some homeowners now see it as a need due to many factors, including population growth and increased crime rates. Recently, articles have identified an international theft ring that has targeted high-end homes during dinner time, allowing them to break in while people are out to eat. One concerning fact is that these criminals are clever and know how to jam internet service, effectively disabling Wi-Fi-based security systems. These events make a security system a valuable service for the homeowner.

Q: Are there new purchase options?

A: Historically, security companies own the equipment for the system, and the homeowner is renting it. When the relationship ends, the equipment is returned to the company.

Through Harmony Security, homeowners can now own their security equipment for a monthly fee. When the relationship ends, the customer will keep the equipment.

This way of purchasing a system is a popular choice since it gives homeowners more options. If you are considering upgrading your system or getting a new one, consider the advantages of cellular vs. Wi-Fi connectivity and the layered protection that a monitored system brings.
James D. Watts Jr. Tulsa World Scene Writer Follow James D. Watts Jr. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today

The first in what has become one of the most popular film series of all time, Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone, will be shown this weekend with the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra performing the films score live.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone: In Concert, will be presented Saturday, March 9, at 1 and 7 p.m. and at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Tulsa PAC, 101 E. Third St.

Guest conductor Ron Spigelman will lead the orchestra in performing the Academy Award-nominated score by John Williams, as the movie is shown on a large screen over the stage.

Tickets are $50-$130. 918-584-3645, tulsasymphony.org.

She Makes Art

The Gallery at Liggett Studios will celebrate Womens History Month with She Makes Art, its annual show of works created by Tulsa area artists. The show will open with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 8, at the gallery, 314 S. Kenosha Ave.

I feel we have a very diverse exhibition covering every media from mixed media fiber work to traditional oil on canvas pieces in this years show said Steve Liggett, director of Liggett Studios.

There are some surprises in this show for those who follow the art scene in Tulsa, according to Liggett.

For instance, The Three Faces is by an emerging artist, Nichol Montgomery, and is a very strong work. And well-known Leadership Tulsa past director Wendy Thomas has a couple of very strong pieces that are some of her first to be exhibited in many years. Esther Sartain has some very nice work also in this years show.

As part of the opening reception, awards will be presented for works in four categories: best two-dimensional work, best three-dimensional work, most innovative and best conceptual realization.

Susan McCalmont, gallery director at 1515 Lincoln Gallery in Oklahoma City, is the juror for this years show.

Tulsa has a lot of great women artists, (so it) was not easy choosing the ones to include for this show, McCalmont said. In an age where women still struggle for recognition and influence, I told the artists that I wanted to see work that represents the creative female voice sharing what strains continue in civil society today.

The works needed to embody the soulful expression of the artist with great attention to finely crafted details. And I believe that this show exemplifies that desire.

The exhibit will continue through April 5, with an event that includes a showing of Women Art Revolution, a documentary by Lynn Hershman Leeson. Regular gallery hours are 5-8 p.m. Thursday, 1-5 p.m. Saturday. liggettstudio.com

Little Women: The Musical

Oral Roberts University Theatre will present Little Women: The Musical, with performances at 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 7-9, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at Howard Auditorium on the ORU campus, 7777 S. Lewis Ave.

Each performance will have a pre-show question-and-answer session with theater professionals.

Based on Louisa May Alcotts classic story of the March sisters and their coming-of-age during the American Civil War and its aftermath, the musical features a book by Alan Knee, music by Jason Howland and lyrics by Mindi Dickstein.

Tickets are $10 and are available at the door or online at oru.edu/tickets/theatre.

Untouched/Unplowed

A new exhibit inspired by Oklahomas tallgrass prairie will open with an artists reception from 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday, March 7, at Positive Space Tulsa, 1324 E. Third St.

Titled Untouched/Unplowed, the show by Artists Creative Fund recipient Rachel Rector is an immersive photography exhibit that addresses how humans interact with their surroundings, the way we perceive and affect the natural world, and what can be done to honor and sustain these spaces.

Rector uses historical and experimental photographic processes, such as darkroom emulsion, rock sculptures, mud prints, photo tapestries, to-scale cyanotypes, and 16 mm video installations, to create an atmosphere that will transport the viewer to the prairie, providing an experiential space.

The exhibit will be on display through March 30. positivespacetulsa.org

Heller Double Feature

Heller Theatre Co. will present Double Feature, a pair of original one-act plays that deal with ideas of friendship in moments of crisis.

Healthy and Well, by the companys current playwright-in-residence, Bailey James, is about a woman who visits a blood donation center for the first time and finds herself drawn to the phlebotomist who helped her. Her efforts to learn more about this health care worker lead her to question her life choices and beliefs and to explore what it means to be a good person  if thats even possible.

One Perfect Thing by Marjorie Williamson is about a woman who has spent her life taking care of others and decides as she faces the end of life to put herself first for once and enlists the help of her free-spirited, unencumbered friend in making a life-altering decision, one that will reveal how far these women will go to help each other live life on their terms.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday, March 8-9, and 2 p.m. Sunday, March 10, at the Lynn Riggs Theatre, Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, 621 E. Fourth St. Tickets are $22. hellertheatreco.com.



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What's in a name?

A lot, if one happens to be named Will Rogers and lives in Oklahoma -- even if not related to the famous humorist who died Aug. 15, 1935, in a plane crash in Alaska.

Moore School Superintendent Will Rogers received the most votes in the 1932 primary election for congressman-at-large, but he wasn't the person most Oklahomans probably thought they were voting for.

Rogers did practically no campaigning but led three other candidates and forced a runoff with Commissioner of Charities Mabel Bassett. His name carried him through the July 26 runoff election, when he overcame Bassett by more than 100,000 votes, and the November general election.

Rogers, who was not related to the humorist, was re-elected four times but lost a race in 1941 for the 7th District seat while still serving as congressman-at-large.

"My name's been Will for years," the dark horse candidate said after his stunning victory in the July 1932 primary election. "I was named Willie, but that's a girl's name, and I decided to use Will."

Bassett said: "I'm sure many people voted for him thinking he was the actor and humorist. I shall have to advertise that he is not Oklahoma's famous character but another fellow, a schoolteacher." She was confident that she would win the runoff, but didn't.

Election officials had been so sure that Rogers would do so poorly in the primary election that they didn't even count his votes during early tabulating -- until it became apparent that thousands of Sooners had voted for a household name.

Yet another Will Rogers didn't fare as well in 1974 in a campaign for labor commissioner, but he was running against Wilbur Wright, another man with a famous name.

That Will Rogers, a former Oklahoma Highway Patrol trooper, and Wright, a former labor commissioner, swamped the other five candidates in the primary election for the Democratic nomination, forcing a runoff election.

Neither Rogers nor Wright did much campaigning in the primary race, but Jim Purdy, one of the five also-rans, told voters, "The Will Rogers on the ballot is not the great Oklahoma humorist, and the Wilbur Wright is not the man who invented the airplane."

Purdy had challenged Rogers and Wright's candidacies on the ground that they were attempting to capitalize on famous names. But the state Supreme Court refused to knock the two off the ballot.

Although Wright had resigned as the labor commissioner in 1973 because of improper travel claims, he won the nomination and easily defeated the Republican nominee in the general election. He resigned again a year later because of additional improper travel claims.

Wright sought office again -- his 10th time -- in 1976 but lost in the runoff election for the Democratic nomination for corporation commissioner.

Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive.
The city is working to finalize a development deal that would bring an $800 million data center to far east Tulsa.

The facility, referred to in planning documents as Project Anthem, would be the first major acquisition for the city as it works to establish the area as a major employment center for high-tech companies.

In late 2022, Partner Tulsa, the citys economic development arm, approved a joint development and purchase agreement with Fair Oaks LLC to build an industrial park and urban center over at least 2,000 acres of Fair Oaks Ranch.

The city has also secured more than $50 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds for a massive wastewater infrastructure project designed to spur economic development not only at Fair Oaks Ranch but also throughout northeastern Oklahoma.

Project Anthem would be constructed on 340 acres south and west of the intersection of 11th Street and the Creek Turnpike and, once operational, employ 50 people earning an average of $63,000 per year, according to documents filed with the Tulsa Metropolitan Area Planning Commission.

During the three-year construction period, the project is expected to generate up to $3.3 billion in economic activity and more than 5,000 direct, indirect and induced jobs.

In the first year of operation, the data center is projected to generate up to $50 million in direct and indirect economic activity.

The city last week declined to name the company behind the data center.

Since the states approval of $50 million in ARPA funding for wastewater infrastructure and the subsequent negotiation of a joint development agreement to support the buildout of the Fair Oaks Industrial Park in east Tulsa, we have continued this work, including actively engaging with prospective tenants of the park, said Partner Tulsa Executive Director Kian Kamas.

While we are unable to fully comment on active projects, we look forward to continuing to work with relevant legislative bodies as we advance actions to support site development and the growth of major employers in Tulsa.

A data center generally refers to a physical structure that houses a companys digital data and includes such things as servers, storage drives and network equipment.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has recently announced or begun construction of several data centers that fit the general description of Project Anthem.

In all, the company has nearly 20 data centers either under construction or operating, according to its website.

At this time, however, there are no public records naming the company behind Project Anthem, and the attorney representing the developer said it was too early in the project to disclose that information.

Meta did not respond to an email from the Tulsa World seeking to confirm whether the company was tied to Project Anthem.

The Planning Commission on Wednesday is scheduled to consider a resolution stating that the citys project plan for its proposed Tax Incentive District is in conformance with the citys comprehensive plan and recommending City Council approval.

Under the proposed TID, which would be in place no more than 25 years, the new property owner would receive an 85% annual exemption on his property tax bill. The 15% that would be collected is estimated to raise a total of more than $36 million over the life of the TID for the city of Tulsa, Wagoner County, Catoosa Public Schools and other affected taxing entities, according to the TID project plan.

The City Council has already approved the zoning for the proposed project. Assuming the Planning Commission approves the resolution on Wednesday, the next step would be for city councilors to vote on the proposed TID.

A vote in favor of the incentive deal would clear the way for Meta or whatever company is behind the project to finalize the purchase of the property and begin construction.

Mayor G.T. Bynum said he was grateful for what has been done to remove the red tape and usher in a generation of new companies to the city at the development site.

We are extremely proud of the work that our team and Partner Tulsa have done to bring this site to the attention of some great companies, and were thankful to the state and others who are assisting us in this work, Bynum said.

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Editors note: This is the first in an occasional series about tech activity and trends in Tulsa.

In the wake of the Oklahoma oil and gas industry boom-and-bust business cycle lurks a rapidly emerging industry sector that has for too long missed or passed over Tulsa.

Thanks to the generosity of forward-thinking benefactors, who have collectively invested tens of millions of dollars in creating a local/regional technology industry, graduating Tulsa and greater Oklahoma students no longer have to look outside the state for high potential jobs at cool tech startups.

Tulsa has recently become a breeding ground for promising tech startups with the advent of several incubator and accelerator programs, including ACT Tulsa, i2E, Build in Tulsa, Techstars, OSUs Riata Center and TUs Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship among others.

Add to that Tulsas Tech Hub designation as one of 31 U.S. cities selected by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration, and you have a dynamic, vibrant and fast-growing tech ecosystem, generating desirable tech jobs at a feverish clip.

Much of the groundwork has been laid by family foundations and government programs, but the funding trough for tech startups is not complete without a robust venture capital community and prodigious networks of angel investors.

Angel investors provide a critical funding element that is not well understood or well represented by Tulsas relatively nascent tech ecosystem.

While venture capital funding rounds into tech startups get all the headlines, angel investments come well in advance, in smaller amounts, but never make the headlines.

Most often, angel investments are much more important in the seemingly never ending funding life cycle of tech startups.

Angel investment rounds are earlier and smaller checks, typically from $5,000 to $250,000, typically from individuals with an appetite for risk, a desire to be among the first money in and a penchant for working with visionary founders or a keen eye for what the next tip of the spear of innovation is going to be.

At the extreme end of just how significant returns that angel investors can make, Peter Thiel turned an initial $500,000 angel investment in Facebook into over $1 billion for a 200 times return.

So where are the angel investors in Tulsa?

For starters, one new investor group does not socialize over cigars and scotch at the Summit Club.

This new breed of investor recently hosted a private dinner at a posh restaurant and attended by the most promising entrepreneurs, limited partners, and tech ecosystem partners to launch Bust Ventures, a brilliantly conceived social club and angel investor network that will show how its done in tech.

Adele Beasley Weaver, having recently stepped down from her leadership role at Atento Capital, will remain in Tulsa to grow and scale Bust Ventures and initially focus on women founders and women investors.

In attendance were founders Vineta Cooper of Arbit, Allison Watkins or Watkins-Conti and Ashli Sims, managing director of Build in Tulsa, among several other amazing women. This is how its done and there will be more to come.

Out of Cowboy Technology Angels and SeedStep Angels legacy will emerge a newly formed but as of yet unnamed angel investor network to help address the critical funding gap in the tech startup funding journey.

Without these angel investor communities in place, Tulsa and greater Oklahoma will simply not be all they can be in tech.

With all the major benefactors, including the family foundations, venture capital firms and local and state agencies providing funding vehicles, they simply will not be optimized or fully realized until a robust angel investor community is developed and thriving.

This is our time to step up, join the angel investor movement and help grow the local/regional tech community.

 After 30-plus years in Silicon Valley, Peter Mullen returned to Tulsa, his hometown, to help grow the tech ecosystem. He currently serves as director of Venture & Tech Banking for Regent Bank.
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

Decoding the application process: Holland Hall will host its annual college forum Monday starting at 6 p.m. in the A.R. and Marylouise Tandy Dining and Wellness Center, 5666 E. 81st St. The free event will feature admissions officials from Georgetown, High Point and the University of Tennessee discussing how to navigate the college application process.

Financial aid help: Tulsa Public Schools is hosting free student and parent workshops on how to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA, and Oklahoma Promise scholarship application on Wednesday and Saturday.

Wednesdays session is scheduled for 4-7 p.m. at Tulsa Community Colleges Education Outreach Center, 2201 S. Garnett Road. Saturdays session is scheduled for noon-3 p.m. at the Parent Resource Center, 525 E. 46th St. North.

Story time sign ups: Registration opens Tuesday for the next elementary level session of the Indigenous Readers series offered by the Muscogee Nations Accessing Choices in Education program. Registration will be online at mcnaceservices.com and is open to any American Indian or Alaska Native child in prekindergarten through fifth grade who attends school within the Muscogee Nation reservation boundaries.

Children who participate in this session will receive copies of Rock Your Mocs by Laurel Goodluck and We Are Grateful: Otsaliheliga by Traci Sorell.

Community meeting: Under the Canopy School will have a community meeting Thursday at 6 p.m. at Reed Park Community Center, 4233 S. Yukon Ave. The nature-focused charter school is slated to open in fall 2025.

Party time: Reading Partners and City Year Tulsa will have a joint 10th birthday party from 1-4 p.m. Saturday at the Gathering Place. Free transportation will be available from noon to 5 p.m., with bus pickups at Central, East Central, Edison, Hale, Memorial, McLain and Webster high schools.

Instructional shifts: Monday is a distance-learning day for Liberty Public Schools.

With part of its building serving as a polling place, Tuesday also is a distance-learning day for Liberty High School. The district will still have in-person classes for prekindergarten through sixth grade.

Prue Public Schools, which normally operates on a four-day calendar, will have in-person classes on Friday.

School board calendar: The boards of education for Kiefer, Sand Springs and Tulsa are scheduled to meet Monday.

The Lone Star school board is scheduled to meet Tuesday.

The Pretty Water board is scheduled to meet Thursday.

The governing board for Dove Charter Schools is scheduled to meet Saturday.

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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

Come August, look for Muscogee I to show up on a few more area students class schedules.

Starting with the 2024-25 school year, the Muscogee Nations Language Department will have Muscogee I and II virtual courses available for public secondary schools within its reservation.

With two weeks left in the application window, a dozen school districts, including Sapulpa Public Schools, have already signed up, while others, including Sand Springs Public Schools, are still gauging student interest.

Up until now, weve only been able to work with a handful of schools to offer Muscogee because of our limited number of teachers, Muscogee Nation Language Revitalization Project Manager Elizabeth Rowland-Chang said. We have been wanting to create a virtual course in order to allow Muscogee to get to a larger range of our reservation schools, and though we know that entirely online isnt always the most preferred option, it does allow us with our limited resources to actually reach as many people as we can.

The tribe already had federal grant funds to offer in-person language classes at a handful of eastern Oklahoma school districts. This new offering is open to any school district across the Muscogee Nation reservation that already partners with the tribe to offer students the Johnson-OMalley Program, a federal Indian Education program.

Although there have been parent inquiries about expanding the new online classes to include schools outside the reservation, Rowland-Chang said the terms of the grant funding the classes require starting first with the tribes Johnson-OMalley partner districts.

Were hoping to have that (expansion) as an option down the line, but weve got to start with baby steps first, she said.

With world language teachers in short supply both in Oklahoma and nationwide, teacher certification efforts are underway to ensure that the classes will be able to count toward the world language requirement for graduation.

State statute requires secondary students to take at least two years of either a world language or computer technology coursework to graduate from high school. The Oklahoma State Department of Education already has the required course codes for about a dozen tribal languages, including Muscogee, to count toward fulfilling that obligation.

This is one of our big steps to making sure that not only can we reach a bunch of people but it can be seen as a legitimate world language option, Rowland-Chang said. If youre in our reservation, it should be offered as a legitimate world language option for students.

That sentiment was shared by Kayla Chupco, director of Sapulpa Public Schools Indian Education program, who said shes already heard from students wanting to take Muscogee I next year. Sapulpa plans to offer Muscogee I and II to any interested student in eighth grade and up.

The decision to offer Muscogee at Sapulpa carries an additional significance, as Sapulpa Junior High and High School occupy land that was previously the site of the Euchee Mission Boarding School, which closed in 1947.

Our school used to be a Native boarding school, so to come full circle like this,  to be able to teach the language and have the support from the community and the school is exciting.

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Venus Stanton-Rutherford looks over fluorescing samples with Zackary Armstrong, both UTSA doctoral students, with a fluorescent microscope in the Klose Lab, part of an infectious disease research center at UTSA on Thursday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

UTSA says its on a research roll, upping the ante on projects that carry life-improving promise.

The University of Texas at San Antonio announced a record investment in research of $152.3 million in fiscal 2023, a 7.5% increase from the previous year and the fourth straight year exceeding $100 million.

Venus Stanton-Rutherford, a doctoral student, points out a fluorescing sample in a lab at the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases at UTSA on Thursday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

In 2022, the university attained R1 status, denoting very high research activity, from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. Last year, it became eligible to tap the National Research University Fund, which provides funding for research universities in Texas.

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The big numbers are a contrast to the tiny microbes in the Klose Lab, tucked into a secure area at UTSAs main campus at the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases. The potentially life-saving work involves bacteria that cause food poisoning and deadly diseases such as cholera and tularemia.

Venus Stanton-Rutherford, a doctoral student, uses a fluorescent microscope Thursday to examine a sample in the Klose Lab at the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases on the UTSA main campus. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Venus Stanton-Rutherford, doctoral student at UTSA, selects a sample to view with a fluorescent microscope in the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases on the UTSA main campus.. A team there has engineered V. parahaemolyticus bacteria to fluoresce in different colors. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Researchers there study how the marine-based organisms move  and possibly could be halted or slowed down, said Karl Klose, professor of microbiology and the centers director.

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Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio vulnificus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus  its a a rogues' gallery of dangerous Vibrios, he said.

The problem with cholera and other Vibrio-related diseases is there are no good vaccines or intervention therapies against these organisms, Klose said. Studying something so fundamentally important for the organism like motility, if we can come up with some way to stop the infection or vaccinate against it, that would be a huge contribution to world health.

Zackary Armstrong, a 28-year-old graduate student pursuing a doctorate in microbiology, is working on a vaccine for Francisella tularensis, among several projects. The bacterium causes tularemia, a potentially lethal disease that is spread through ticks, contaminated water and contact with infected animals.

Venus Stanton-Rutherford talks with Zackary Armstrong, both UTSA doctoral students, as Stanton-Rutherford uses a fluorescent microscope to examine a sample in their lab at UTSA on Thursday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

It also could be used in bioterrorism.

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Were even working on engineering that vaccine strain to protect against other biothreat agents such as anthrax and plague, Armstrong said.

He and Venus Stanton-Rutherford, another doctoral student in the lab, have teamed up on the use of colored fluorescent proteins and laser lights to visually examine the bacteria and how they develop and move. Theyre creating tools for other labs that will hopefully advance science as a whole in microbiology, Armstrong said.

Both grad students are from Texas and have bachelors degrees from Texas State University  Armstrongs in microbiology and Stanton-Rutherfords in biochemistry.

Zackary Armstrong, a doctoral student at UTSA, puts prepared samples in a thermal cycler Thursday in a lab at the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases on the UTSA main campus. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Stanton-Rutherford, 25, said he is very much interested in microorganisms as systems of science and how theyve lived on this planet for millions of years and evolved in specific ways to help them survive.

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Two years into his four-year doctoral program in molecular microbiology and immunology, hes also looking to the stars and space exploration, hoping some day to work at NASA, possibly in astrobiology, studying life outside our planet.

When Stanton-Rutherford joined the infectious disease center, he considered genetics a weak spot, but Klose thought he could be an expert by the time he got his Ph.D., and he is working toward it.

Its one of 30 research hubs at UTSA that together generated about $41.8 million in expenditures for 2023. Just over half of that amount was spent by the center and three other entities  the Cybersecurity Manufacturing Innovation Institute, Brain Health Consortium and Texas Sustainable Energy Research Institute.

Professor Karl E. Close, left, laughs at a joke cracked by doctoral student Zackary Armstrong, right, in a lab Thursday at the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases on the UTSA main campus. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

UTSA faculty members and researchers also received 198 awards last year that totaled $42 million in new funding.

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Leaders at UTSA attribute the increases to a world-class faculty that the university continues to attract and recruit and internal strategies at the university that have increased support for existing faculty. Officials said the research-rich environment underscores UTSAs role as an anchor for experiential learning and workforce development.

Venus Stanton-Rutherford, a doctoral student at UTSA, examines a sample under green laser light with a fluorescent microscope in a lab at the UTSA main campus Thursday. A team there is using has engineered strains of V. parahaemolyticus bacteria to fluoresce in different colors. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

UTSA is a Carnegie R1 institution that is laser-focused on growing Texas economy through research and development, and it has created an environment that is attractive to nationally recognized researchers who want to leverage their innovation and expertise for the greater good, said JoAnn Browning, UTSA interim vice president for research.

Students are themselves attracted to the chance to work alongside leading experts, she said, citing advances in space exploration and planetary science, secure manufacturing, health and biosciences, materials science, and quantum information science, as well as digital humanities, social and environmental change, and other critical areas of societal need.

We have competed against the countrys best research teams to secure funding, Browning said. UTSA students benefit from working alongside talented researchers and mentors, and these opportunities make our graduates better prepared to enter the workforce as innovators.

Zackary Armstrong, a doctoral student at UTSA, prepares samples in in a lab Thursday at the South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases on the UTSA main campus. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Doctoral students Venus Stanton-Rutherford, from left, and Zackary Armstrong talk with Professor Karl E. Close, right, in Kloses lab at UTSA on Thursday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

The Carnegie R1 designation has helped to accelerate that growth, she added.

It places UTSA in an elite group of Americas great public research universities, and signals to all that we are committed to providing the necessary support and research cultures to allow our researchers to thrive in their work, Browning said. The best researchers want to work at the best research universities  and UTSA is now part of that distinguished community.

UTSA also last week announced a record high spring enrollment this year of 32,405 students, a 2.1% increase from a year ago. The universitys strategic goal is to have 41,000 students by 2028.

Stanton-Rutherford, a first-generation college graduate in his family, said he chose UTSA because of its diversity and beautiful community.

Many of its students are from underrepresented backgrounds, whether thats socioeconomic or ethnicity, and I relate to both of those, he said. Im a first-generation student, and so I like to be able to confide in some of the undergraduates and faculty here who come from similar backgrounds, because we have similar stories. Its good to feel at home in a place like that.

Venus Stanton-Rutherford, doctoral degree student at UTSA, adjusts the fluorescent microscope he is using to examine a sample in a lab at UTSA on Thursday. Josie Norris/San Antonio Express-News

Armstrong is less decided on his future, but he may keep his energies focused on research.

If I stay academia, I would love to jump to a whole new field of cancer research or cancer genetics, he said. Im keeping all options open.

Klose, whose center partners with the Southwest Research Institute and has projects funded with federal contracts and private foundations, said the work in his lab and throughout both UTSA campuses is shaping the next generation of innovators  like Armstrong and Stanton-Rutherford.
Lead pipes have been banned since the 1980s, but millions of residents in Illinois and across the Midwest remain exposed to lead from water lines, a Lee Enterprises news investigation shows.

And the prospects for an equitable fix for low-income families could be dimming, the Lee probe of public records and interviews shows.

Lead water lines hold the potential to poison people who drink water from them. Infants and children are particularly at risk for significant health problems tied to lead exposure because their bodies absorb the neurotoxin more easily. Prolonged exposure can lead to developmental delays, lowered IQs and brain damage.

On Nov. 30, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed long-awaited new drinking water regulations that include a 10-year deadline for water systems to eliminate lead lines, with exemptions for bigger cities like Chicago.

A major concern voiced by environmental advocates, however, is how part of the cost will fall on homeowners because the EPA did not outright ban utility companies from charging residents for the remediation.

Its a move that will disproportionately harm low-income households, renters and people of color, according to Suzanne Novak, senior attorney with the nonprofit law firm EarthJustice.

If we dont prohibit charging a customer, we may very well end up with a two-tiered system, where wealthier communities, which are disproportionately white, will have more of their lead service lines replaced than in other (low-income and Black and brown) communities, Novak said.

Since high-profile lead-contamination crises in places like Flint, Michigan, there has been a major push in recent years to replace an estimated 9.2 million lead pipes in the U.S.

Under the Biden administration, EPA has provided nearly $800 million in grants to assist utilities that serve disadvantaged communities.

But environmental justice advocates say even with an unprecedented boost from the Biden administration, theres not enough federal or state money to address a glaring problem: What if homeowners cant afford to replace the lead pipes considered part of their private property?

Whos responsible for paying to replace pipes?

Across the U.S., many utilities argue they are only financially responsible for the lead line from the water main to the curb  and that from the curb to the home is the responsibility of homeowners.

Many public and private utilities are ultimately telling residents: Pay up  or well pass over your house.

In some cases, utilities are covering the costs by issuing bonds, raising customer rates across the board, or reimbursing customers up to a certain amount once the replacement is complete. In other cases, utilities have conducted partials in which only the public half of the lead service line is replaced, leaving the private side intact and the potential for water contamination in play.

EPA has recently proposed banning the common practice of partial replacements, citing dangerous spikes in lead levels post-removal.

According to EPAs latest estimates, Illinois could have as many as 1.04 million lead service lines  or about 11% of the countrys inventory  leaving millions exposed.

Minority and low-income populations are already disproportionately exposed to lead in drinking water, raising concerns in the environmental justice community about utilities placing the burden of costly replacements on those populations.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, young children at highest risk for lead exposure are those living in housing built before 1978, non-Hispanic Black or African American children, children eligible for Medicaid and children living in areas with higher poverty rates.

Discriminatory effects are undeniable, advocates say

Erik Olson, of the Natural Resource Defense Council, and other environmental justice advocates say its crucial for utilities to fund the full cost of replacement under both public and private property.

The discriminatory effects of (lead line replacement) programs with cost-sharing are well documented and undeniable. Fortunately, they are also avoidable. Subjecting poor and non-white communities already bearing the brunt of lead exposure to prolonged or increased lead intake is illegal and contrary to federal requirements, the NRDC and EarthJustice wrote to the EPA this past spring ahead of EPAs publishing of the new regulations.

The EPAs newly proposed regulations remain subject to change as the agency seeks public comment over a 60-day window. The deadline for the public to submit comment was Feb. 5.

While there are several provisions in the EPA proposal that are heartening and provide us a ray of hope, the lack of a mandate for water systems to pay for full (lead line) replacement is one of the major concerns we have with the proposed rule. Were also concerned about the availability of extensions for some cities; Chicago for example could get from 40 to 50 years to replace all of its (lead lines), which is far too long, Olson said.

In proposing new water regulations, EPA officials said the agency initially considered the perspective from stakeholders that cost-sharing should be banned, but ultimately they chose not to do so.

Ultimately, the EPA decided to kick that question back to state and local government.

How a water system covers the cost of compliance with a national drinking water regulation is, at its core, a matter of state and local law, the agency stated in releasing its proposal.

An EPA spokeswoman told Lee Enterprises that the agency strongly encourages water systems to offer customer-side service line replacement at no direct cost to the customer to achieve higher customer participation rates and reduce potential environmental justice impacts.

EPA noted a significant amount of federal funding available for service line replacements, and a commitment from the agency to ensure every community  particularly underserved ones  can access their fair share of resources with financial and technical assistance.

Utility: Take care of the problem now

Brent Cain, who works for the Marion Water Department in downstate Illinois, said the city is busy putting together a detailed inventory of its service lines that is due to the state by April 15.

The water department intends to cover the cost of replacing the private line for families, he said, adding that he hopes state and federal grants will help.

The benefits are clear, he said. Covering the cost of replacements will reduce the likelihood of a homeowner signing a waiver and leaving the lead pipes intact.

Its clear that some people would just not be able to afford it. (The new law) allows someone to sign a waiver if they dont want it done, but at some point, somebody else is going to own that house. So from our point of view, its lets take care of the problem now, Cain said.

Lead service line replacement projects across the U.S. are largely funded through the federal State Revolving Loan program, established in 1996. As utilities repay their loans, the repayments and interest circulate back into the dedicated revolving fund for future projects.

In some cases, principal forgiveness loans act like grants in that they do not have to be repaid.

Under current Illinois EPA rules, only water systems that service 25,000 customers or less are eligible for principal forgiveness loans, or loans that do not have to be repaid. The Illinois EPA also has set an initial cap of $2.755 million per principal forgiveness loan recipient.

Olson, with the NRDC, said the state EPAs funding limitations could be harmful to cities like Chicago. The city has more lead lines than anywhere else in the country, at about 400,000.

Clearly, this means Chicago is very limited in its ability to get grant/forgivable loan funding to help with (lead line) replacement. Chicago therefore has to rely on loans from IEPA or its own funds for (lead line) replacement. Wed like to see the city include expedited (lead line) replacement in its capital improvement plans, Olson said.

Nationally, the average cost for a full lead service line replacement ranges between $5,000 and $7,000  but in places like Chicago, estimates are closer to $16,000 to $30,000.

Illinois city shares the cost burden of pipes

In central Illinois, Decatur water department officials have adopted a cost-share program that covers 50%  up to $3,000  for residential customers and $5,000 for commercial property owners.

While the citys system goes above and beyond what is required of Illinois water systems, the program doesnt come without its flaws. Households still have to come up with the money upfront. Not every family has adequate savings  and those with poor credit scores may not secure a bank loan.

So far, the city has reimbursed over $21,000, split among 10 customers in the urban core  older neighborhoods with low-income households and water lines typically installed before 1940. Ten more are pending, and 12 others have inquired about the program.

The program, however, represents a proverbial drop in the bucket considering the nearly 7,000 lead service lines need to be replaced within Decatur city limits by EPAs recently proposed 10-year deadline.

Decatur Councilman David Horn told Lee Enterprises hes concerned that news of the reimbursement program isnt reaching its intended audience. Water department staff confirmed they are currently only notifying households having issues with their water service in the form of leaks.

Its a much different story in the city of St. Louis, Missouri, which ranks in the top 10 for cities with the most lead pipes.

St. Louis residents are financially responsible for replacing the entire lead service line, according to a city spokesperson.

The spokesman said the St. Louis Water Division is awaiting guidance from the federal EPA.

Until the final EPA regulations are implemented, the state has advised utilities to focus on building their (lead pipe) inventories, the spokesperson said.

Currently, staff is building a lead service line inventory with support from the state of Missouri.

In 2021, the St. Louis Water Division reported having 3,000 lead service lines; thats more lead service lines than in the entire state of Kansas.

Alternative ways to pay to replace pipes

The good news is there are some signs of progress.

A small but increasing number of states, including Illinois, New Jersey, Michigan and Rhode Island, have passed laws mandating lead pipe removal within a certain time frame. Tom Neltner, senior director for safer chemicals with the Environmental Defense Fund, and Novak said several utilities and cities are starting to recognize this as a glaring problem and are finding ways to cover the costs.

Missouri American Water, which services 1.5 million in the state, is offering a no-cost option through a WIFIA loan, which means homeowners in places like St. Louis County, Missouri, wont have to pay a dime.

In Newark, New Jersey, city officials launched a lead pipe replacement program in 2018 that required residents to cover $1,000 of the cost, but found there was little, if any, enrollment, according to a legal analysis EarthJustice and the NRDC sent to EPA in April, urging the agency to ban cost-sharing programs.

Newark city officials had numerous factors working against them. The city predominantly consists of Black and Hispanic families, renters, and low-income households. Following a lawsuit by the NRDC, the city ultimately reduced the cost to zero and passed an ordinance green-lighting lead pipe replacements with approval only from an occupant of a property. That eliminated the need to track down unresponsive landlords or every far-flung LLC that owned property, the analysis stated.

Newark borrowed $120 million and replaced all of its 24,000 lead service lines by February 2022, absent those barriers, making it a model for the nation, Neltner said.

Madison, Wisconsin, was the first major city in the country to launch a full replacement program, starting in 2000. To ease the burden, Madison Utility Water offered homeowners a rebate of up to $1,500.

Marcus Pearson, utility spokesperson, said lead lines are still occasionally discovered. If property owners provide a dated receipt of a pipe replacement after 1994, the utility offers a rebate retroactively.

In Indiana, the states largest water utility, Indiana American Water, urged lawmakers in 2017 to pass a law allowing utilities to recover the costs of full replacements by raising customer rates. More than 10,000 of the lead service lines have been replaced or retired in northwest Indiana, just outside Chicago. Crews are on the ground nearly every weekday carrying out this work.

Novak said water utilities issue bonds to prioritize system improvements all the time.

They just have to decide what their priorities are. This should be a high priority. ... There are ways to get it done. Other cities and states have shown that, Novak said.

Allison Swisher, director of public utilities in Joliet, Illinois, said when the city first started lead pipe replacements in 2018, low-interest loans were offered to households. But the program gained little traction. Only a handful of people signed up.

Now, contractors are replacing homeowners lead service lines  for free  as the city simultaneously replaces several miles of aging and leaky water mains constructed before 1970.

We dont advertise that as much, but in practice, thats whats happening, Swisher said.

Sewer and water rate hikes were approved last fall to fund the lead pipe replacements, with the worry that federal and state funds may thin out over time.

(The money) doesnt go as far as you think, Swisher said.

Reporter Brenden Moore contributed to this report.

More about this story 5 things you should know about lead pipes There are an estimated 9.2 million lead pipes in the U.S., with the majority in the Midwest. Nationally, the average cost for a full lead service line replacement ranges between $5,000 and $7,000. In places like Chicago, estimates are closer to $16,000 to $30,000. The Biden administration has invested an unprecedented $50 billion in the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure, including $15 billion for lead service lines but experts say more money is needed to address this long-term. In children, even minimal exposure to lead has been linked to learning disabilities, slowed growth, anemia, hearing problems and nerve damage. In pregnant women, lead exposure can result in premature birth and slowed fetal growth. Young children at highest risk for lead exposure are those living in housing built before 1978, non-Hispanic Black or African American children, children eligible for Medicaid, and children living in areas with higher poverty rates. Uncharted territory and challenges Lead pipes have been banned since the 1980s. Since water crises in places like Flint, Michigan and East Chicago, Indiana, there has been a major push in recent years to replace an estimated 9.2 million lead pipes in the U.S. Utilities have said the uncharted nature of such an undertaking is exacerbated by the cost and complexity of such projects on a large scale under accelerated timelines. There are also supply chain challenges, rising inflation and the fear that, as demand for this type of work grows, too few qualified contractors will be available, further driving up the costs. Who's paying for this? With State Revolving Loan dollars and other resources, Lead Service Line Replacement programs are happening all across the country, but how they are financed and carried out varies: Residents are financially responsible for replacing their portion

Cities or utilities cover the cost in cases where theyve target public and/or private lines after major leaks

Residents receive a subsidy and only pay up to a certain amount to replace their lead pipe while the city pays for the public portion. In certain cases, cities or utilities are offering low-interest loans.

Some cities are offering reimbursement only after the fact, meaning residents must have the money upfront to remove the lead pipes

States have passed legislation allowing nominal utility rate increases to cover the utilities cost of replacing the full service line An unprecedented investment The Biden administration has invested an unprecedented $50 billion in the nation's water and wastewater infrastructure, including $15 billion for lead service lines and $11.7 billion of general Drinking Water State Revolving Funds (SRF) that can also be used for lead lines, according to the EPA. The SRF program, established in 1996, works so that as utilities repay their loans, the repayments and interest circulate back into the dedicated revolving fund for future projects. Principal forgiveness loans do not have to be repaid. What if I have lead pipes? 1. Contact your water utility or a licensed plumber to find out if you have lead service lines  a pipe that runs from the water main or curb to the homes internal plumbing. Fixtures in your home may also contain lead. The likelihood of lead pipes increases if your house was built before 1986. 2. You can find out if you had lead service lines on your own, too. Use a key or a coin to gently scratch the pipe. If your pipe is soft, easily scratched and a magnet doesnt stick to it, then it may be made of lead. 3. Connect with your local utility to see if they have a lead service line replacement program in the works. Some municipalities offer free replacements or rebates to help offset costs  but in many cases, households are financially responsible for replacing the private side of the lead pipe. 4. If you are pregnant or have a child in the home and are concerned about blood lead levels, you should consult with a family doctor or pediatrician. Lead can impact fetus development and cause behavior learning problems in small children. While increasingly rare, lead exposure can be fatal or result in hospitalization. Your local state or county health department can also provide additional information. 5. You can reduce exposure by: flushing your water before consumption, regularly cleaning your faucets screen, using a water filter certified to remove lead, and using cold water for drinking, cooking and making baby formula. Boiling water does not remove lead. Source: U.S. EPA
The South Korean and Chinese tourist markets together represented more than 40 percent of over three million international visitors to Vietnam in January and February, according to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism.

The three million foreign tourists marked a 68.7-percent increase from the same period last year.

South Korea remained Vietnams leading international tourist market, accounting for 27.7 percent with 844,000 arrivals, while China followed closely with 538,000 visits.

Taiwan ranked third with 198,000 visits, trailed by the U.S. with 156,000 visits.

Impressively, the Chinese market exhibited significant recovery, surging 7.5 times compared to the same period in 2023.

Among Vietnams top 10 largest tourism markets were Japan with 107,000 visits, Australia with 97,000 visits, Malaysia with 92,000 visits, India with 79,000 visits, Cambodia with 79,000 visits, and Thailand with 76,000 visits.

The monthly number of international visitors to Vietnam from January 2023 to February 2024. Graphics: Tuoi Tre

European markets experienced robust growth, particularly those benefiting from Vietnam's unilateral visa exemption policies such as England, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Russia.

Of the three million international tourists, 84.2 percent arrived by air, marking a 1.6-fold rise from the same period in 2023; road travel accounted for 12.8 percent, while sea transport made up three percent.

These indicators are promising for Vietnams tourism industry to achieve the goal of welcoming 18 million international visitors this year, equal to the pre-COVID-19 pandemic record level recorded in 2019.

In February alone, Vietnam welcomed over 1.53 million international visitors.

With domestic tourism thriving, the country also saw approximately 14 million visitors in February, who made around 4.9 million overnight stays.

Total tourist revenue for the month is estimated at VND136.1 trillion (US$5.5 billion).

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Vietnam experienced a notable increase in demand for catfish across key markets in January and February, in contrast to the subdued performance observed in 2023.

In January, Vietnams catfish exports soared to US$165 million, and by the end of February, they had climbed to approximately $200 million, nearly double the figure logged in the same period last year, according to Truong Dinh Hoe, secretary general of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Hoe attributed this uptick to improving consumer demand in several key countries that import Vietnamese catfish.

For instance, China, the largest importer of Vietnamese catfish, witnessed a nearly threefold jump in imports compared to January last year.

Similarly, the U.S. market, which had experienced a prolonged decline throughout 2023 due to inventory buildup, began expanding its inventory from December 2023 onward.

Following a lackluster year in 2023, were seeing promising signs for catfish exports in the first two months of this year, even in smaller markets like England, Canada, Mexico, and notably Brazil, Hoe elaborated.

According to the VASEP secretary general, last year's exports to Brazil increased nearly 80 percent in the final quarter and even recorded triple-digit growth in December.

An Giang Province-based Nam Viet Group, a prominent player in catfish exportation across more than 30 countries, including the U.S. and China, acknowledged the lackluster catfish export scenario in 2023.

Do Thi Thu Thuy, sales director at Nam Viet Group, indicated that amidst the challenging export landscape of 2023, the group had shifted its focus to the domestic market.

However, with importing countries now placing substantial orders, Thuy observed a smoother market performance in the early months of 2024, with notable growth for the group.

Another seafood export company in Dong Thap Province also noted a resurgence in demand from customers in the U.S., who had begun placing orders for catfish fillets after a gloomy year.

Currently, with catfish shipments on the rise, many export businesses anticipate an uptick in raw catfish prices from VND25,000-26,000 ($1-1.05) per kilogram in 2023 to VND28,000-29,000 per kilogram.

Vietnams catfish exports are forecast to witness a slight increase this year, possibly reaching $2 billion, representing a more than 10-percent surge from $1.8 billion in 2023.

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ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- The world's most famous sled-dog race got under way on Saturday when 38 mushers and their canine teams, one of the smallest rosters of competitors ever, lined up in downtown Anchorage, Alaska, to start the 52nd annual running of the Iditarod.

The untimed and ceremonial 11-mile (18 km) jaunt through the state's most populous city will kick off the grueling 1,000-mile test of endurance into the Alaska wilderness.

Timed competition begins on Sunday in the small community of Willow, north of Anchorage, with the winner expected to cross the finish line in the Bering Sea town of Nome about eight or nine days later.

At an annual mushers banquet held Thursday night to determine the starting order, 12-time contestant Anna Berington was chosen in a random drawing to lead off the 52nd edition of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.

Berington is among 11 women in this year's contest, including at least three returning veterans who have finished multiple races in the top 10.

The Iditarod is one of the world's few high-profile sporting events in which men and women compete on an equal footing.

One of this year's veterans, Jessie Royer from Montana, has logged top-10 finishes in eight races going back to 2005, including third-place showings in 2019 and 2020.

Another, Mille Porsild from Denmark, has four top-10s since 2020, including ninth place last year and fifth in 2021.

Among this year's favorites is 2023's champion, Ryan Redington, who was also a top-10 finisher the three previous years. His grandfather Joe is known as the "father of the Iditarod" for his work in organizing the event at its inception.

A second front-runner is Dallas Seavey, who finished first in 2012 as the youngest Iditarod champion in its history, at age 25, and went on to win four more races, becoming one of only two mushers to ever have claimed the trophy five times.

Seavey, who has also won the Yukon Quest sled dog race twice, is the son of three-time Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey.

Yet another leading contender this year is Peter Kaiser, the 2019 champion and first Native Yup'ik musher to win. He was last year's runner-up and a top-10 finisher in six other runnings.

Matthew Failor participates in the ceremonial start of the 52nd Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. March 2, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Small roster

Berrington, Redington, Seavey and Kaiser all hail from Alaska, as do the overwhelming majority of contestants this year - 27 in all.

They are competing alongside six teams from the Lower 48 states - Utah, Montana, Idaho, Washington and New Hampshire - and four from other countries - Canada, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland.

The number of competitors this year, 38, represents one of the smallest fields going back to the first year of the race in 1973, when 34 signed up. Last year was the smallest roster, with just 33 entries. In its heyday, the race featured rosters of entrants numbering in the 70s and 80s.

Nearly half of this year's mushers, 16, are rookies.

Erin Altemus participates in the ceremonial start of the 52nd Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. March 2, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Peter Kaiser participates in the ceremonial start of the 52nd Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S., March 2, 2024. Photo: Reuters

The race, commemorating a famed dog-sled relay to deliver diphtheria serum to Nome in 1925, has come a long way since it began in 1973 as a low-budget novelty event consisting entirely of amateur mushers and taking 20 days to complete.

Now, top Iditarod contestants are professionals with high-tech gear bearing sponsors' logos. Teams are tracked by global positioning satellite, and live coverage is streamed worldwide to audiences via the internet.

The modern race attracts major corporate backing, though in recent years animal rights activists who condemn the race as cruel to the dogs have pressured some companies to end support.

Mille Porsild participates in the ceremonial start of the 52nd Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race in Anchorage, Alaska, U.S. March 2, 2024. Photo: Reuters

Iditarod 2023 winner Ryan Redington, whose grandfather Joe Redington Sr. is known as the founding father of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog race, arrives at the finish line at 12:14 pm in Nome, Alaska, U.S. March 14, 2023. Photo: Reuters

Climate change has wrought some of the greatest changes to the contest, as it has to much of life in the far north.

In 2020, flooding swamped the ultra-thin Bering Sea ice near the end of the race course, and three mushers and their dogs had to be rescued, forcing contestants who followed to be rerouted farther inland to avoid standing water.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the course was altered to move checkpoints away from remote Native Alaska villages that remained extra vigilant against outbreaks of the virus due to scarce healthcare resources.
Australia wishes to elevate its relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam and beef up bilateral cooperation in all key fields, Australian Ambassador Andrew Goledzinowski affirmed in his recent article.

Vietnam is important to Australias economic future, Goledzinowski wrote in his article titled 'ASEAN Is Coming to Australia!' recently delivered to the Vietnamese media.

The writing was released ahead of the 2024 ASEAN-Australia Special Summit, which marks 50 years of Australia-ASEAN ties, and the trip by Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran to Australia for the event as well as an official visit to the country from March 5 to 9.

As the relationship between Australia and ASEAN goes from strength to strength, we are ambitious about our relationship with Vietnam, the ambassador to Vietnam said in the article.

Elaborating that the special summit, with the 'A Partnership for the Future theme, will focus on four key areas, namely business, emerging leaders, climate and clean energy, and maritime cooperation, the diplomat said such aspects reflect shared priorities in the Australia-Vietnam relationship.

We look forward to elevating our relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership and enhancing cooperation across key fields including climate change, digital transformation, trade and investment, critical minerals, and education, the article reads.

Goledzinowski added that the summit will also provide special opportunities to highlight people-to-people connections between Australia and Vietnam.

As the Vietnamese community in Australia has reached 350,000 people, Vietnamese has become the fourth-most commonly used language in Australia, contributing to the cultural diversity of the country, he wrote.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (L) shakes hands with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh in Hanoi on his official visit to Vietnam in June 2023. Photo: Vietnam News Agency

Recalling the prominent and special role of education in the bilateral relationship, the Australian ambassador said tens of thousands of Vietnamese students have benefited from Australia's commitment to education in Vietnam.

Many opportunities remain untapped and Australia looks forward to continuing to cooperate with Vietnam to bring the best results to students and educational institutions in both countries, the ambassador stated.

Following the summit in Melbourne, the Vietnamese government chief and his spouse will arrive in Canberra as the Australian governments guests, the ambassador wrote.

He said he welcomes the Vietnamese delegation led by PM Chinh to Australia to build on the significant achievements the two countries celebrated last year to mark 50 years of diplomatic relations.

I am proud to highlight the strength of the Australia-Vietnam partnership, and to show the Vietnamese delegation the true Aussie hospitality in my beautiful country, he concluded.

Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations in February 1973 and the two countries set up a comprehensive partnership in 2009.

Six years later, the relationship was lifted to an enhanced comprehensive partnership before being upgraded to a strategic partnership in March 2018.

Australia is one of the bilateral partners providing the largest non-refundable ODA to Vietnam, as well as offering many scholarship programs to Vietnamese students.

Currently, Australia is Vietnams seventh-largest trading partner and Vietnam is Australias 10th-largest commercial partner.

By the end of December 2023, Australia had 621 investment projects worth over US$2 billion in Vietnam, ranking 20th among 143 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian country.

Meanwhile, Vietnam developed 92 projects in Australia with a total investment of $552.7 million, registering the 11th position out of 80 foreign investors there, according to official figures.

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A 70-year-old Australian of Vietnamese origin was found dead near a stream in a local forest in Lam Dong Province, located in Vietnams Central Highlands, on Friday.

Authorities in Lam Dong conducted an autopsy on the body of the tourist a day later.

On Friday night, residents in Bao Lam District discovered the dead body of a man near the stream in Loc Tan Commune, and reported the case to police.

The deceased was identified as L.A.T. Samuel, who lived in Australia and was visiting his relatives in the province's Bao Loc City.

Before his death, he stayed at a hotel in the city.

Local police officers are investigating the cause of the Australian tourist death.

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After growing her hair for several years, an elementary school student in Phu Yen Province, south-central Vietnam has cut it off to donate to people with cancer.

A photo showing a student trimming her long, flowing hair for donation to cancer patients, particularly those in Phu Yen Province, went viral on social media on Thursday.

Huynh Tran Uyen Phuong, a third-grade student at Le Quy Don Elementary School in Dong Hoa Town, touched the hearts of many people with her act of kindness.

Hair of love

Phuong told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that she cut her beloved hair at noon on Thursday.

Her father sent the ponytail to a hair salon in Hanoi by post in the hope of showing her sympathy and sharing to those facing medically related hair loss.

After I went home from school, my parents took me to a nearby barbershop for a haircut to timely send the braid to Hanoi, she recounted.

I hope that my hair can energize cancer patients and make them more optimistic."

Her kindness stemmed from her parents expectation that their daughter can do good in the community.

My parents often tell me that when my hair is long, I can part with my locks for cancer patients," she recalled.

They also added that though I will be sad for a trim, my hair will act as a spiritual gift for these patients.

Since I had my hair cut, my classmates have given lots of compliments to me.

"They admired me for cutting my beloved hair that I grew for several years to donate to needy people."

Tran Thi Thanh Huyen, vice-principal at Le Quy Don Elementary School, said that Phuong is a kind, caring, and excellent student. Besides, the student enthusiastically takes part in all school programs.

I was so surprised to see her short hair as she had donated her locks to cancer patients. Her act really touched me," Huyen said.

I feel intensely proud of my student. Though she is still young, her deed is meaningful and warm.

Huynh Tran Uyen Phuong is a kind, caring, and excellent student. She is eager to participate in all school programs. Photo: Nguyen Hoang / Tuoi Tre

Good deed deserves praise

Phuongs act has received many compliments from Internet users.

Facebook users commented on a post that 10 scores for the girl, Her short hair is gorgeous, How meaningful the deed is!, What a wonderful girl!, and Thank you for your meaningful act.

Huynh Phi Hat, Phuongs father, said that after having watched several clips of hair donations for cancer patients, he convinced his daughter to give away her locks.

Phuong was born in December 2015, and this was her first trim, he said.

My daughter wrote a letter to patients with cancer to express her emotions after her hair donation.

"I am really proud of her act."

Tran Doan Hung, a spokesperson for the hair salon that received Phuong's donation, expressed profound admiration for the young schoolgirl's compassionate gesture.

Despite her youth, she demonstrated remarkable empathy by undertaking such a meaningful act.

Following the receipt of Phuong's hair, the barbershop promptly forwarded it to Vietnam National Cancer Hospital and Supportive Fund for the Cancer Patients  Bright Future, both in Hanoi.

Hung emphasized that the donated plait would be utilized to create wigs for cancer patients in various hospitals across Vietnam.

He underscored the significant impact of these wigs, describing them as substantial spiritual gifts that contribute to aiding cancer patients in their battle against the disease.

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A recent survey conducted by the management board of Nha Trang Bay in the namesake city under Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam reveals that the once-damaged coral reef ecosystem around Hon Mun Island is undergoing a recovery process, attributed to various coral protection measures and restoration efforts.

According to the survey, the northwestern and northern regions of Hon Mun Island boasted a coral coverage rate ranging from 30 percent to 50 percent as of the end of 2023, predominantly hosting the Porites and Millepora dichotoma coral species.

In the western area of the island, many coral seedlings thrive on fragmented coral substrates, with the Acropora species being prevalent.

Both areas previously saw a storm destroy many coral reefs in December 2021.

Earlier, 17 businesses were allowed to operate scuba diving services at six different spots in the waters around Hon Mun Island, which is located over 10 kilometers from the shore and covers 160 square kilometers.

As one of the most charming islands off the popular tourist beach city of Nha Trang, Hon Mun once boasted various coral reefs and a rich marine ecosystem.

According to the management board of Nha Trang Bay, in June 2022, upon discovering a significant reduction in coral reefs in Hon Mun Islands vicinity, local authorities directed the temporary suspension of diving activities in this area to facilitate coral reef restoration.

Following the suspension, the bay management board established a temporary diving site in the Hon Rom Island area, which remains in use today, while exerting efforts to safeguard the marine environment and coral reefs.

Since the end of 2023, the management board has implemented regulations prohibiting the use of single-use plastic items and non-biodegradable plastic bags at Nha Trang tourist wharf.

Besides, in support of scuba diving enterprises in Nha Trang Bay, the board has proposed four additional pilot spots for recreational diving beyond Hon Rom Island.

These areas include the northern region of Hon Rua Island, the artificial reef zone in Vinh Hoa Ward, the northeast part of Tri Nguyen Island, and the water area between Bai Tranh and Bai Soi, which is located east of Tri Nguyen.

However, the proposal is pending review by relevant authorities.

A diver collects trash during a scuba dive in Nha Trang Bay, Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province, south-central Vietnam. Photo: Nguyen Duc / Tuoi Tre

Enterprises, tourists join hands

Enterprises specializing in organizing scuba diving activities, such as Viet Asian Nha Trang Joint Stock Company, also join forces in preserving coral reefs.

Nguyen Huy Han, director of Viet Asian Nha Trang, stated that his company always instructs divers not to touch or disturb the coral, as even slight contact can damage or break coral branches.

Tourists are advised not to pick or touch dead or discolored coral, as they often serve as habitats for marine creatures.

Instead, such tourists are encouraged to admire and photograph coral reefs from a distance of 30-50 centimeters.

Each dive lasts 15-20 minutes with one to three people.

Tourists participating in scuba diving or underwater exploration are required to have a guide accompany them and provide instructions on movement to prevent damage to coral reefs, emphasized Han.

When navigating divers to shallow-water coral reefs by boat, we often anchor in sandy areas, avoiding those with coral in the bottoms.

Furthermore, the company discourages the use of cosmetics containing harmful substances like oxybenzone and avobenzone, which can bleach coral and harm marine life.

Beyond scuba diving, many tour operators have divers engage in cleaning up trash, removing fishing nets from coral reefs, and protecting marine life.

Nguyen Van Duc, an experienced diver in Nha Trang, stated, Scuba diving combined with clean-up activities helps participants develop a greater appreciation for the marine environment.

Witnessing the adverse impact of fishing nets and litter on coral reefs raises awareness about marine conservation.

We also capture animals harmful to corals, such as sea urchins, during these trips.

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In the cutthroat world of television, Dateline is a survivor, this year chalking up 40 years on SBS.

But to reach such a milestone Australias longest running international current affairs show has had to reinvent itself from the show that began life as a studio show with experts discussing issues via news footage around the world.

Today it is a half hour documentary programme screening 29 episodes a year.

Dateline has just two staff reporters, Calliste Weitenberg (pictured above) who has been with the show since 2014, and Darren Mara (pictured below) since 2021, after seven years at SBS World News.

Since it moved to the VJ (video journalist) model, the show has survived by being nimble.

The VJ model is about being agile and travelling light and being able to get access to places and people without having a huge film crew. Everybody on the Dateline team has a hybrid role  a reporter/ producer or a shooter / editor or shooter / producer. Weve always only got two people on a story, says Executive Producer Georgina Davies.

So somebody could be doing camera, sound and producing all of the setup, all of the logistics and even asking the questions. Sometimes you would have a model where you would send a person with a local fixer for example, or sometimes theyd be teamed up with a staff member so that the crews are still very light and small.

Dateline focusses on the people at the centre of its international news stories, and prides itself on covering underreported stories.

Foreign Correspondents style is very much in its title, I think, a bit more about the correspondent bringing you a story, whereas I think Dateline is more about meeting characters to tell their own story, perhaps. Theres a slight difference there. We are looking at similar stories but there are probably differences in budgets and timeframes and things like that.

I remember a few years ago, Foreign Correspondent and Dateline were on at the same time and I think we were all worried about that, but then we realised it didnt really impact our ratings terribly, because we must have different audiences.

Under its former hosting model, the show has been presented by Paul Murphy, Mark Davis, George Negus, Yalda Hakim, Helen Vatsikopoulos, Anjali Rao. SBS now also draws upon other news staff for select episodes including Mark Fennell, Janice Petersen, Kumi Taguchi, Karla Grant. It also buys-in select titles to screen under the Dateline banner.

We make about 18 original stories a year and we also run maybe two or three repeats a year. Then we have about 10 episodes that are combination of acquisitions and co-pros. We started co-pros around 2017  2018, where we work with filmmakers based around the world. They might have a great idea, but they need a couple of broadcasters to buy in on it, she continues.

So we might become a partner on a bigger project and we get our version of it and the other broadcasters get their version and we all kind of combine forces.

We also work with independent filmmakers who are working on a bigger feature-length project, which they might be working on over several years. But they feel that theyve got a great amount of footage and theyre not quite sure what they can do with it. So we get into a conversation with them about having a look at it and seeing if we can make a Dateline out of it and collaborate with them on that.

So what makes a story suitable for Dateline?

I get a lot of pitches, both internally at SBS and externally, and I feel like a lot are the same stories, Davies explains.

I often get pitched stories that feel like a newspaper article. I look at it and I think,Where are the pictures? Were a TV programme, it needs to be visually interesting. So if its a whole lot of people talking and no action, nothing happening, I dont think thats quite right for us. It needs to have a documentary feel where were following some kind of action.

The main thing in choosing what stories we do comes down to what we already have in the space. So its about creating a series that has light and shade, Australian connections in some story that might be under-reported from far-flung corners. I dont want to do stories that are too similar or too many from the same region, the same kind of topic.

This weeks episode will see Australian performer, playwright, and CODA (children of deaf adults) Jodee Mundy (above, left) travel to Pennsylvania to join the first Asian-American CODA camp for Deaf parents and their kids.

It has an extra layer of identity. Its not just about the hearing and the deaf world, but theyre Asian-American CODAs. So theyre dealing with their Asian heritage as well as the culture that comes with being deaf or a CODA, says Davies.

Jodee who is herself a CODA, and the only hearing person in her family, has that connection to the talent and also communicates with them, most importantly. Even though shes speaking Auslan and theyre speaking American Sign Language theres enough crossover that she could communicate with them.

Also coming soon is Kumi Taguchi reporting on the obesity crisis in America, particularly looking at how children are being encouraged to have bariatric surgery.

We have a young young girl whos 13, whos had bariatric surgery, and talk to her family. And we have a story from Calista about the webcaming industry in Romania, on the back of the Andrew Tate scandal, finding out why Romania is the global capital for the webcam industry.

Were also doing a piece out of Syria, but I cant say much about that, because were filming at the moment.

SBS will mark the 40 years of Dateline with a special episode in October.

We will be looking back into the archives for our last episode of the year. Were wanting to look at some of the big global events of the last 40 years and how Dateline reported it, and where those stories are now.

For a show which has endured shifts in viewing and budgets, and survived two years without international travel, a 40th milestone is certainly something to celebrate.

Theres a lot of support at SBS for Dateline. its very much to SBS charter and I also think its a great place where people who come into the newsroom at SBS aspire to come and work as well, adds Davies.

A lot of journalists come into the industry and they have a desire to do long-form journalism, getting into the meaty subjects and having more time to explore issues.

Dateline: Camp Coda 9:30pm Tuesday on SBS.
Around 170 people were "executed" in attacks on three villages in northern Burkina Faso a week ago, a regional prosecutor said in a statement on Sunday.

Prosecutor Aly Benjamin Coulibaly said he received reports of the attacks on the villages of Komsilga, Nodin and Soroe in Yatenga province on 25 February, with a provisional toll of "around 170 people executed".

The attacks left others wounded and caused material damage, the prosecutor for the northern town of Ouahigouya added in a statement.

He said his office ordered an investigation and appealed to the public for information.

Survivors of the attacks told France's AFP news agency that dozens of women and young children were among the victims.

Local security sources said the attacks were separate from deadly incidents at a mosque and a church in northern Burkina Faso that also happened a week ago.

The authorities have yet to release an official death toll for those attacks.

According to Acled, which gathers data on victims of conflict worldwide, the violence claimed 439 lives in January alone.



Read more on RFI English



Read also:

Dozens of towns in Burkina Faso besieged by jihadists: report

Insurgency in Burkina Faso stops children from returning to school

Burkina Faso filmmaker takes story of women resisting jihadists to Oscars
Texas Original opened Houston's first permanent medical marijuana pick-up location on Tuesday, June 21, 2022 at 1714 Houston Ave. The location offers a range of cannabis products, including gummies, tinctures and lozanges. Evan MacDonald Texas Original Dispensary Associate, Nathan Preston, 22, delivers patient orders on Wednesday March 1, 2023 in Houston, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Original Dispensary Associate, Nathan Preston, 22, loads patient orders into a bin before they go out for delivery on Wednesday March 1, 2023 in Houston, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas Original Dispensary Associate, Nathan Preston, 22, delivers patient orders on Wednesday March 1, 2023 in Houston, TX. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer

The Woodlands' first medical marijuana pickup location in the township and Montgomery County opened July 11 through Austin-based medical cannabis provider Texas Original.

The new location is the first of its kind in the county and third Texas Original location in the Houston metro. Previously, patients in The Woodlands and Montgomery County had to travel to the permanent Houston Heights location to pick up prescriptions.

With tight regulations and limited availability in the North Houston suburbs, the new pickup location will help ease the process for local patients, Texas Original CEO Nico Richardson said.

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"We had a large amount of patients in The Woodlands and North Houston area that were traveling an hour plus or two hours depending on traffic to our Heights location, so it made all the sense in the world to open up a new spot in The Woodlands that would be closer to home for them," Richardson said.

ALSO SEE: Bill would allow Texas physicians to prescribe medicinal cannabis

When the Compassionate Use Act first passed in 2015, Texas doctors were first cleared to prescribe low-THC medical cannabis to a very limited number of epilepsy patients. In 2019 and 2021, the act expanded to treat conditions including PTSD, cancer, epilepsy, spasticity and hundreds of neurodegenerative disorders. Patients in Texas can receive prescriptions through online clinics, like the Texas Cannabis Clinic, or local physicians registered with the Compassionate Use Registry of Texas.

Texas Cannabis Clinic's Dr. Matthew Brimberry, who helps serve the largest medical cannabis patient base in the state, was one of the first to be cleared to prescribe cannabis in Texas. Previously, patients often sought out illegal marijuana to relieve their pain, he said.

For patients who are wary of the risks of certain opiod prescriptions, medical cannabis has been a pathway to safely treating their symptoms, Brimberry said.

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"It's a game changer," Brimberry said. "All in all, it's a relieving process in more ways than just the pain, anxiety, nausea and insomnia."

To offer medical cannabis products in The Woodlands, companies must grow cannabis, manufacture its products, test them in a laboratory and distribute its productsall from within one site. Because Texas Original is based in Austin, all products available must be delivered to its 13 locations each day and any leftover product must be taken back to the company's Austin headquarters every night.

The process can be a logistical nightmare for the largest medical cannabis distribution network in the state, Richardson said.

"We would say it's overly complicated, and the people that really bear the brunt of that complication are the patients," Richardson said. "It really makes the accessibility of the medicine difficult here in Texas."

Texas Original began in Austin and opened its first permanent location in the Houston Heights just over a year ago. Since then, the company saw its patient base in the Houston metro area increase by more than 180 percent as it served more than 10,000 patients and distributed 23,000 prescriptions in the area.

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While its use in Texas continues to lag behind most other states, Richardson said the company's patient base continues to grow as the taboo around medical cannabis is lifted.

"More and more people have family members and friends that are afflicted with one of these conditions," Richardson said. "The more you see people with serious conditions that find relief with medical cannabis, the less and less skepticism you see from new patients entering the system."

The new Woodlands location has been disclosed to Texas Original patients only. The location will be open every Tuesday at a Class A medical facility from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

"A lot of our patients have very severe life-threatening and life-limiting diseases, and they can't leave their house or their communities," Brimberry said. "So it's wonderful to have a company like Texas Original, who has made the effort to go forth and deliver this medicine to these people."
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China Taiwan Dispute and The Wayout



For mainland China, Taiwan is just a rebel province separated due to the evil machinations of the US imperialists; and for Taiwan, mainland China is a legitimately claimed territory of its own, now under the devilish Communist regime. Read More

Sunday March 3, 2024 10:44 PM , I Mallikarjuna Sharma

Taiwan calls itself as Republic of China [ROC]. The ROC Constitution was adopted on December 25, 1946, by the National Assembly convened in Nanking. It was promulgated by the National Government on January 1, 1947, and put into effect on December 25 of the same year.

In addition to the preamble, the ROC Constitution comprises 175 articles in 14 chapters. In essence, the ROC Constitution embodies the ideal of sovereignty of the people, guarantees human rights and freedoms, provides for a central government with five branches and a local self-government system, ensures a balanced division of powers between the central and local governments, and stipulates fundamental national policies.

The same was revised from time to time, but Taiwan has never given up its claims to entire China, including the mainland China, at any time though it may publish a map of its Taiwan Island alone.

Republic of China Constitution 1947 is still preserved and adopted by the Taiwan Republic. Perhaps some of the articles there are inapplicable to Taiwan now though there is no official denial that it has renounced those articles  at least one could not find any such denial in public domain.

In truth, Taiwan still considers itself to be real successor to whole of China, including the island of Taiwan (though its Constitution for a major part may be inapplicable to mainland China). For example, Article 26 of the Constitution states:

Article 26: The National Assembly shall be composed of the following delegates:

 One delegate shall be elected from each hsien, municipality, or area of equivalent status. In case its population exceeds 500,000, one additional delegate shall be elected for each additional 500,000. Areas equivalent to hsien or municipalities shall be prescribed by law;  Delegates to represent Mongolia shall be elected on the basis of four for each league and one for each special banner;  The number of delegates to be elected from Tibet shall be prescribed by law;  The number of delegates to be elected by various racial groups in frontier regions shall be prescribed by law;  The number of delegates to be elected by Chinese citizens residing abroad shall be prescribed by law;  The number of delegates to be elected by occupational groups shall be prescribed by law; and The number of delegates to be elected by womens organisations shall be prescribed by law.

This may be read with Article 4 of the same Constitution which states:

Article 4: The territory of the Republic of China according to its existing national boundaries shall not be altered except by resolution of the National Assembly.

The existing boundaries mean those boundaries as existing in January 1947 which include the mainland China.

So neither mainland China (now Peoples Republic of China) nor Taiwan (Republic of China) has renounced their claims to entire China.

For mainland China, Taiwan is just a rebel province separated due to the evil machinations of the US imperialists; and for Taiwan, mainland China is a legitimately claimed territory of its own, now under the devilish Communist regime.

For mainland China or China, the permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, Taiwan is just a province that can (and need to be) be occupied at any time. As for Taiwan The ROC maintained its claim of being the sole legitimate representative of China and its territory until 1991, when it ceased to regard the CCP as a rebellious group and recognised its jurisdiction over Mainland China.

But this does not mean that ROC has renounced its claim to mainland China totally.

The position of the People's Republic of China (PRC) is that the Republic of China (ROC) ceased to be a legitimate government upon the founding of the former on 1 October 1949 and that the PRC is the successor of the ROC as the sole legitimate government of China, with the right to rule Taiwan under the succession of states theory.

One may note that there was a mutual defence treaty between Taiwan and USA called 'Mutual Defence Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of China December 2, 1954' till 1980 when President Jimmy Carter terminated it.

The Sino-American Mutual Defence Treaty (SAMDT), formally Mutual Defence Treaty between the United States of America and the Republic of China, was a defense pact signed between the United States and the Republic of China (Taiwan) effective from 1955 to 1980. It was intended to defend the island of Taiwan from invasion by the Peoples Republic of China. Shortly after the United States recognition of the Peoples Republic of China, the U S Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act. Some of the SAMDTs content survives in the Act; for example, the definition of Taiwan. However, it falls short of promising Taiwan direct military assistance in case of an invasion. According to the Montevideo Convention of 1933, the most cited source for the definition of statehood, a state must possess a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Many argue that the ROC meets all these criteria. However, to make such an argument, one has to reject the PRCs claim of sovereignty over the territory of the Taiwan Island. The PRC requires all other states that establish diplomatic relations with it not to challenge this claim in addition to severing said relations with the ROC. Most states have either officially recognised this claim or carefully worded their agreement ambiguously, such as the United States.

In his book, Problematic Sovereignty: Contested Rules and Political Possibilities (Columbia University Press, New York, 2001), Stephen D. Krasner says (at p. 17):

The situation of Taiwan also confounds conventional notions of sovereignty. Taiwan has prospered in a kind of never-never land where it has many of the attributes of fully sovereign states  territory, population, and domestic and Westphalian sovereignty - but only very limited international legal sovereignty. "Yet Taiwan has prospered. Its economic growth has been robust, and it weathered the Asian crisis of the late 1990s better than most other Asian countries in part because of its large financial reserves. Moreover, functional alternatives to international legal sovereignty, such as the Taiwan Relations Act of the United States, have worked well. Taiwan has been able to conduct foreign relations, albeit in a somewhat roundabout way. "There are parties and people in Taiwan advocating unity/merger with mainland China under Chinese Communist Party (CCP), no doubt. But they are relatively minor forces in the polity due to various historical and political reasons, mainly due to the evil machinations of the USA, and EU. While the EU pursues its One China policy and recognises the government of the Peoples Republic of China as the sole legal government of China, the EU and Taiwan have developed solid relations and close cooperation in a wide range of areas. Regular consultations between the EU and Taiwan deal with issues of mutual interest, such as human rights, trade and economic issues, connectivity, innovation, digital issues, green energy, circular economy, labour issues, and disaster management. The EU has a strong stake in peace, security and stability in Asia. The EU supports the status quo and peaceful resolution of differences across the Taiwan Strait, rejecting the use or threat of force. It continues to encourage dialogue and constructive engagement.

In such circumstances, it is doubtful whether Sumanta Banerjees referendum suggestion will be of any use. The only alternative is for the (re-)unification with China forces in it to be strengthened, the current policy of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)  One China, Two Systems  may be pushed for and promoted in Taiwan, contributing to an increase in pro-[re-]unification forces there; and at some strategic phase, the mainland Chinese government can/may even use force for its merger with the mainland.

[I Mallikarjuna Sharma is an author and an activist. The above article has been originally published by Frontier.]





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Northeast India Connectivity via Bangladesh can be Game Changer



Politicians, business bodies and state governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura underscores boosting connectivity, transit and trade with Bangladesh and through Bangladesh territory, which is expected to be a game changer for the northeast. Read More

Sunday March 3, 2024 6:22 PM , Saleem Samad

Landlocked Northeast Indian states do not have easy access to cost-effective seaports. Imports and exports of Northeast Indian states are very time-consuming, loaded with frustration, and most importantly, the high cost of transportation.

Politicians, business bodies and state governments of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim and Tripura underscores boosting connectivity, transit and trade with Bangladesh and through Bangladesh territory, which is expected to be a game changer for the northeast.

They have realised that connectivity with Bangladesh to access the ports is vital to economic growth and rapid industrialisation in the landlocked region.

Bangladesh ports to ease northeast trading

The connectivity projects have gained momentum after Bangladesh allowed the use of its Chattogram and Mongla ports and transit facilities to Indias northeastern states.

The road distance between Kolkata and northeastern states is more than 1,200 km, while Chattogram and Mongla ports are located at almost half the distance.

Recently, Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha said Tripura will be the gateway to southeast countries by using Chattogram Port in Bangladesh, which will substantially reduce the time and costs associated with transporting goods to the northeastern states.

Bangladesh has already allowed India to use its Chattogram Port through South Tripura's Sabroom sub-division. The Maitri Setu (bridge) built on the Feni River has already been inaugurated for transportation and passengers through the bridge. Once the bridge is operational, Tripura will have direct access to Chattogram Port and will widen new possibilities in business and trade.

Saha said, that not only South East Asian (SEA) nations, Tripura will have access to many countries by using Chattogram Port on the Bay of Bengal.

Saha also highlighted the Indo-Bangladesh railway project connecting Bangladesh's Gangasagar station with Agartala railway station.

Agartala-Kolkata train via Padma Bridge in 10 hours

Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Social Empowerment, Pratima Bhoumik, said the Indo-Bangladesh rail link will be a game changer once the connectivity is operational.

The 32-hour train journey from Agartala to Kolkata through Bangladesh will be completed in 10 hours. It will boost trade, business, investment, and people's movement in the northeastern state into the heart of India, she added.

Dhaka-Delhi relation enhances connectivity

Dhaka and New Delhi have been closely cooperating in implementing numerous bilateral and sub-regional rail, road, and waterway initiatives.

In recent years, the two countries have launched several bus, train and air services, opened immigration checkposts and upgraded border infrastructure boosting bilateral ties and enhancing trade and connectivity.

In a significant development in November 2023, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Narendra Modi jointly inaugurated three New Delhi-assisted infrastructure development projects including the Agartala-Akhaura cross-border rail link and Khulna-Mongla rail line through video conferencing.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister Dr Subramanyam Jaishankar noted that five operational bus services, three cross-border passenger train services and two inland waterway routes are facilitating greater trade and people-to-people contacts, which are integral parts of Indias broader engagement with South Asian neighbours.

After the Indo-Pakistan 1965 war, six decades ago the river transportation began to connect Rajshahi to Murshdabad in February. A cargo vessel carrying two tonnes of cotton departed from Sultanganj port to Maya port in Murshidabad.

Similarly, the first cargo vessel sailed from Kolkata in the first week of August 2022 carrying 16 tons of iron pipes in a container via Mongla Port with destination Meghalaya using the Tamabil-Dawki border points and 8.5 tons of pre-foam in another container for Assam using the Bibir Bazar-Srimantapur border points.

Once the official protocols are completed, the passenger ships will soon connect Dhaka with Kolkata.

The four northeastern states, namely, Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura, and Mizoram share a 1,879 km-long border with Bangladesh and India has sought transit facilities through the neighbouring country for the transportation of goods to and from these states.

In August 2022, the Union Minister of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER) G Kishan Reddy told the Lok Sabha (parliament) that enhancing comprehensive connectivity between India and Bangladesh through the northeast was crucial for strengthening bilateral ties and significant progress has been made in recent years.

During a parley between Hasina and DoNER Minister Reddy in September 2022, in New Delhi, the Bangladesh government proposed that the chief ministers of the seven northeastern states could visit Dhaka for a sharing meeting for enhancing cooperation in connectivity, trade and security.

Reports say the union government accepted the proposal in principle, and, work is underway to decide on a suitable time for the visit which will involve coordinating the schedules of seven chief ministers.

Unfortunately, the grand meeting of the Chief Ministers of northeastern states did not materialise for the coronavirus pandemic and national elections in Bangladesh.

Awami League's commitment

The ruling Awami League government of Sheikh Hasina is keen on engaging northeastern states to expand trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties with Bangladesh.

The AL leaders have pointed out that Hasina decided on principle to grant transit facilities to Indias land-locked northeastern states in 2015, when her government was facing severe political instability in the country, and this demonstrated her firm conviction in forging friendly ties with India.

The AL leaders maintain that Prime Minister Hasina has taken a big political risk and steadily cemented Bangladeshs ties with India.

In a major development in April 2023, Bangladeshs National Board of Revenue (NBR) granted permission to transport goods from one Indian state to another using the countrys key ports under a bilateral agreement signed in October 2018.

The NBR issued the permanent standing order to use Chattogram and Mongla seaports for transit and transhipment to carry goods to and from India through Bangladeshs territory following the completion of trial runs for the operationalization and regular movement of goods.

India has extended three Lines of Credit (LoCs) amounting to $7.35 billion over the last 12 years for the development of infrastructure in various sectors, according to Dr. Rupak Bhattacharjee, an independent public and foreign policy analyst.

Exploring riverine routes for trade

Bangladesh and India have plans to develop an Eastern Grid with 5,000 km of navigable waterways connecting neighbouring countries including Bangladesh.

Both the countries believe that the development of this grid will accelerate development but will further deepen eastern Indias trade with Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal (BBIN) Motor Vehicle Agreement (MVA) initiative.

With the seamless connection between National Waterway (NW)-1 (Ganges), NW-2 (Brahmaputra) and NW-16 (Barak), India is keen to create an economic corridor linking the northeast with the rest of India via Bangladesh.

During the September 2022 bilateral summit, the prime ministers of India and Bangladesh directed their respective officials to work together to address the issues of pollution in rivers and to improve the riverine environment and river navigability concerning common rivers.

Bangladesh has decided to dredge in the old Brahmaputra River for the restoration of its dry season flow, which will enable navigation through the Brahmaputra will vastly improve and reduce the 116 km distance in the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route.

Road connectivity with northeast

Dr Bhattacharjee writes, that the Bangladesh government has initiated 42 infrastructure development projects under Indian LoCs, of which 14 have been completed, and the remaining 28 projects are at various stages of implementation till February 2023.

The construction and timely maintenance of high-quality roads capable of taking ever-increasing loads of passengers and goods, the building of modern, user-friendly river ports for ensuring safe and easy navigation and the development of a multimodal logistics hub are key components of Indias overall framework of cooperation with Bangladesh on the connectivity front.

The ongoing four-lane project, which is expected to be operational by June 2026, will connect the Sylhet-Chattogram National Highway as well as the Ashuganj river port and Akhaura land port.

The approved routes include transportation to Dawki in Meghalaya via Tamabil in Sylhet, Sutarkandi in Assam via Sheola, and Srimantapur in Tripura via Bibir Bazar in Cumilla, as well as the reverse directions. Cargo originating from India and arriving at Chattogram and Mongla ports can be directed to Agartala, through Akhaura in Bangladesh will reach the northeastern states quickly.

Delays in fund disbursement

However, reports suggest that the Cumilla-Brahmanbaria road project is progressing slowly due to delays in loan disbursement.

Similarly, the Benapole-Jashore-Narail-Bhatipara-Bhanga road project is facing funding issues.

The Ashuganj-Sarail-Dharkar-Akhaura road project is also moving slowly due to a cash flow problem of the Indian contractor.

Both the Benapole-Bhanga and Ashuganj-Akhaura road projects have been taken up to improve cross-border connectivity between India and Bangladesh and need to be fast-tracked.

The delay in the execution of various projects has led to cost escalation. For example, the cost of the Ashuganj inland container river port project will increase by 10 to 15 per cent.

The Bangladesh governments Economic Relations Division has noted that some slow-moving projects including the Bay Container Terminal Project at Chattogram Port (with a $400 million loan) and the Saidpur Airport Project have to be reviewed.

Air connectivity with northeast

India has greenlit four new air routes that connect the country's northeastern states with international destinations, including Dhaka and Chattogram, under a project for improving regional air connectivity called "Udan".

Officials of the Indian civil aviation ministry said fares on these routes  Guwahati-Bangkok, Guwahati-Dhaka, Imphal-Mandalay and Agartala-Chattogram  will be subsidised by the state governments of Assam, Manipur and Tripura to facilitate air travel.

Guwahati is all set to get its first international flight under the International Air Connectivity Scheme (IACS) Guwahati-Dhaka flight from 1st July. The northeastern passengers on their onward journey to the Gulf, South-East Asia and European destinations will have lesser layovers during transit in Dhaka and Chattogram.

[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. The above article is first appeared in The Daily Mesenger, Dhaka, Bangladesh, 3 March 2024]







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HA NOI  The latest data from the General Statistics Office of Viet Nam (GSO) revealed that the number of imported CBU cars was estimated to reach 6,000 units with a value of US$117 million last month, down 13.7 per cent in volume and 19.3 per cent in value compared to January.

On a yearly basis, these figures represented represented declines of 51.3 per cent in volume and 54.9 per cent in value compared to the same period last year.

The total number of imported CBU cars was estimated to reach 12,955 units in the first two months with a value of $262 million, down 51.6 per cent in volume and 54.3 per cent in value year-on-year. This is the lowest number in the past few years.

The number of imported CBU cars in the first half of February (February 1-15) decreased sharply with 3,925 units of all types worth $76.3 million, down more than 50 per cent year-on-year in both volume and value.

The most imported cars were those with nine seats or less with 3,587 cars, turnover of $61.86 million.

The majority of imported cars continued to originate from Asia, with notable import markets such as Indonesia and Thailand.

Last year, the country imported 118,942 CBU worth $2.83 billion, down 31.5 per cent in volume and 26.3 per cent compared to 2022.  VNS
HA NOI  The Ministry of Public Security has introduced a draft proposal for the Data Law, addressing the need for regulation of the national data centre.

Currently there is a lack of infrastructure in some ministries to support essential information technology systems, leading to disparate databases with issues of standardisation and uniformity.

The existing data centres suffer from inadequate investment synchronisation, non-compliance with standards and insufficient security measures.

To mitigate these challenges, proposed regulations aim to establish a national data centre that will serve as a central repository for data and systems, fostering interconnectivity among various databases and information systems.

The Ministry of Public Security is actively working towards the completion and operation of the first national data centre in Hoa Lac (Ha Noi) by the end of 2025, aligning with the timelines set in Resolution No. 175/NQ-CP and the effective date of the Data Law on January 1, 2026.

Saving costs while ensuring data security

The Ministry of Public Security's impact policy assessment report highlights that the construction of the national data centre will lead to reduced investment costs for the state in digital transformation infrastructure and resources.

This initiative ensures streamlined management and expertise for nationwide activities such as data collection, storage, management, exploitation, use and sharing. Additionally, the state benefits from cost savings in administering information systems outside the state database of political and socio-political organisations.

Organisations, businesses, and individuals are expected to register and use services from the government-provided national data centre infrastructure and cloud computing services. This move not only reduces investment resources but also addresses concerns related to data leakage.

The Ministry of Public Security estimates significant cost savings for ministries, departments, and localities in data collection and cleaning related to the population. Utilising information available in the national population database is projected to save substantial amounts, with examples including around VN573 billion (US$23.2 million) for the first data collection and over VN5 trillion ($202 million) for data cleaning costs.

Furthermore, units currently renting space for data infrastructure at a considerable annual cost could benefit from relocating to the national data centre. This transition not only ensures the highest level of security and safety but also allows the state to reduce approximately 20% of total costs by minimising expenses related to renting premises, operating costs and business profits.

Seeking suggestions

The Ministry of Public Security is also seeking input from agencies, organisations, and individuals for the draft of the Data Law.

In recent years, legal provisions related to data have demonstrated the commitment and leadership focus of the National Assembly, the Government, and other entities to establish a legal framework, contributing to Viet Nam's rapid data development.

Despite 69 laws regulating databases, the current legal framework is deemed incomplete, lacking unified standards, consistent connection mechanisms, and efficient deployment of national databases.

The proposal aims to construct the Data Law, addressing key areas such as building, developing, processing, and managing data, applying technology in data processing, regulations on the national consolidated database, the national data centre, and related products and services.

The Data Law is intended to enhance Viet Nam's digital government, digital economy, and digital society, ensuring security, safety, and effective support for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The Ministry suggests the Government review and align other relevant laws with the provisions of the Data Law.  VNS
PHU THO  A blood donation festival was jointly organised by Tien Phong (Vanguard) Newspaper, the National Traffic Safety Committee and the Red Cross Society of Phu Tho Province in Phu Tho Province on March 3.

The event, entitled "Red drops of Vietnamese roots", was under the framework of the 16th Chu nhat o (Red Sunday) Blood Donation Festival 2024, launched nationwide from November 2023 to the end of March 2024.

Journalist Le Xuan Son, Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong newspaper and head of the Organising Committee of the 16th Red Sunday 2024, said: Blood used in treating and curing patients is a special medicine that human scientific and technological advances cannot yet prepare. Therefore, when a patient needs blood, they need love and sharing. Red Sunday is one of the places with the highest concentration of that love and sharing heart."

According to Son, over the past 16 years, Red Sunday has always done two tasks well, including mobilising as many blood units as possible to meet more fully the need for blood to treat diseases and save lives, and strongly spreading the spirit of voluntary blood donation.

Associate Professor Dr Nguyen Ha Thanh, Director of the National Institute of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, said: "January 24, 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of launching voluntary blood donation in the country. That is the whole process of efforts to change from awareness to action of millions of Vietnamese people.

No matter how good awareness is, no matter how advanced science is, it cannot replace blood donations from regular blood donors. Red Sunday has become an indispensable part, accompanying half of that 30-year journey, a humanistic brand that has the power to gather hundreds of thousands of enthusiastic hearts, to together create a warm fire in these cold winter days, contributing drops of blood to revive life, said Prof. Thanh.

After the main festival taking place at the Ha Noi University of Science and Technology on December 24, 2023, up to now, the 16th Red Sunday 2024 has been held in 35 provinces and cities with 69 blood donation events, receiving more than 47,000 blood units.

Along with the Red Spring Festival and Red Journey, Red Sunday has become an important milestone in the development of the voluntary blood donation movement in Viet Nam.  VNS
Taking the community as the centre to promote tourism brings economic benefits to the local community, contributes effectively to conservation efforts, and enhances the value of the natural and cultural resources of each region.

Programmes supporting community-based tourism development, aimed at sustainability, need to be built and promoted.

According to Pham Hai Quynh, director of the Asian Tourism Institute (ATI) and chairman of the Viet Nam Community Tourism Association (VCTC), to develop community-based tourism, the role of local leadership and community participation is crucial.

The right points for community-based tourism development must be chosen, focusing on cultural values, natural landscapes, and the community itself as the foundation.

In the northern province of Hoa Binh, there is a famous community-based tourism site called Lac Hamlet in Mai Chau District, which has been developed for a long time and has become the main source of income for local residents.

Aside from the natural landscapes, the community also boasts the traditional cultural identity of 121 households of the Thai ethnic minority.

Thanks to tourism business, the average income of Lac Hamlet residents reached VN27 million per person per year in 2019.

Many families specialising in tourism services even earned up to VN300 million each per year.

From this model, the province has developed many community-based tourism models that provide livelihoods for its people.

Meanwhile, the people of A Luoi District in the central province of Thua Thien Hue only started community-based tourism in 2018, but it also contributed to improving their lives.

From their daily activities, the locals created the product "A Day as an Ethnic Pa Co", providing interesting experiences for tourists visiting their localities.

Travel agencies have included A Luoi in their tour itineraries to serve guests while the local government has been supporting and listening to feedback from tourism agencies.

Today, the tourism products and service infrastructure in A Luoi are more complete, diverse, and abundant. It has become a preferred destination for tourists.

Back to northern Viet Nam, a notable success in developing community-based tourism is in Na Su Hamlet, Cha Nua Commune, Nam Po District, ien Bien Province.

This place is blessed with favourable natural conditions, beautiful scenery, and is located alongside a stream and along the tourism route from ien Bien Phu City to the A Pa Chai border junction in Sin Thau Commune, Muong Nhe District.

The hamlet started receiving guests in late 2022, bringing more income to the community, promoting the beauty of rural villages to tourists, and opening up a new direction for the people by promoting sustainable rural development.

Last year the community-based tourism households in Na Su Hamlet hosted over 5,000 tourists, an impressive figure for a remote village over 100km away from the centre of ien Bien Phu City.

Reducing pressure

Community-based tourism needs to be strongly promoted in Viet Nams Tourism Development Strategy until 2030 to boost sustainable tourism, exploit the advantages of each locality, and enhance regional connectivity.

In particular, community-based tourism is helping to reduce pressure on tourism centres in major provinces and cities such as Ha Noi, Quang Ninh, Lao Cai, Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam, a Nang, Ho Chi Minh City, and Can Tho.

Nguyen Trung Khanh, director of the Viet Nam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, said that the community-based tourism models were developing in many localities such as Son La, ien Bien, Nghe An, Thua Thien Hue, ong Thap, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, ak Lak, Kon Tum, Khanh Hoa, and even major cities such as Ha Noi, a Nang and Hai Phong.

According to statistics from the VNAT, by 2020 there were about 300 villages, hamlets, communities, and neighbourhoods doing community-based tourism across the country.

Many destinations have achieved certain standards and won international awards.

Remarkably the ASEAN Community Tourism Award in 2023 was given to the Quan Ba Community Tourism Service Cooperative in Ha Giang, Sin Suoi Ho community-based tourism village in Lai Chau, Tan Thanh fishing village in Quang Nam, and Thai Hai eco-ethnic cultural village conservation area in Thai Nguyen.

Tan Hoa Village in Minh Hoa District, Quang Binh, an ideal destination for tourists, especially international visitors, was recently honoured by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) as the "Best Village Tourism Destination in the World 2023".

In Tan Hoa, tourists could not only admire the pristine beauty of the peaceful village, but also explore the Tu Lan Cave system consisting of 10 different caves with beautiful, mystical stalactites.

From a village prone to floods and other natural disasters, Tan Hoa has gradually shaped its image on the tourism map, and is suitable for sustainable development trends and adapting to climate change.

Khanh emphasised that community-based tourism in Viet Nam had demonstrated an important role in the industry's development, mobilising the participation of many investors.

Many localities had begun to establish agriculture models linked with rural tourism, community-based tourism, numerous traditional craft villages, and distinctive cultural identities of ethnic groups, bringing positive results.

However, the development of community-based tourism also needed more attention from localities to avoid duplication, simplicity in products, and excessive exploitation of natural resources, which could impact the environment.

More importantly, there was a need to continue researching and implementing specific support policies for the sustainable development of this tourism model. VNS
Pat Neffs career spanned 13 years as Texas congressman, governor and railroad commissioner, but his 20 years with Baylor University will get the spotlight Tuesday at Historic Wacos spring lecture.

Alan Lefever, director of the Texas Baptist Historical Collection, will talk about Neffs time at Baylor, from his prankish undergraduate years to 15 years as an iron-fisted president, at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Lee Lockwood Library and Museum, 2801 W. Waco Drive. Tickets are $5, free for Historic Waco members, available at historicwaco.org. A question-and-answer session will follow the lecture.

Neffs years as Texas governor, from 1921 to 1925, left a considerable legacy in his creation of the state parks system and reorganization of the highway commission, which would oversee the growing state highway system.

His Baylor presidency left an even larger impact on the university and its history.

Some historians say that (Samuel Palmer) Brooks was the greatest president in Baylor history, but Neff was certainly the most interesting, Lefever said. He was given almost dictatorial powers by the trustees and he uses them to get Baylor through the Depression and World War II.

Not only did he rule Baylor with a firm hand, at one time announcing student expulsions from the Waco Hall stage during Baylor chapel services, but he relished it.

He really, really enjoyed being the boss, Lefever said.

Neff identified closely with Waco, growing up in the McGregor area and graduating from McGregor High School before attending Baylor. Mother Neff State Park near Moody, one of the first Texas state parks, came from land Neffs mother donated to the state. Neff practiced law in Waco in the years before he became governor and remained in Waco after stepping down as Baylor president in 1947. Neff was buried in Wacos Oakwood Cemetery after his death in 1952.

Neff roomed with Samuel Brooks, seven years his senior, during his time as an undergraduate and Brooks became one of Neffs closest friends. Neff was not known as particularly bookish during his days at Baylor and, later, the University of Texas Law School, Lefever said.

He was somewhat a prankster. He enjoyed a good time, he said. Ive wondered if Neff the president would have expelled Neff the student.

His long friendship with Brooks and more than 20 year as a Baylor trustee may have influenced his decision to accept trustees offer of the Baylor presidency after Brooks death in 1931. The Baylor presidency fused Neffs strong sense of civic duty and his Baptist faith.

He asked for and received far-reaching power to steer Baylor through the perilous days of the Depression, juggling bills and slashing budgets and payrolls as needed. At the same time, he raised Baylors public profile. Neff drew national attention by offering the Dionne quintuplets Baylor scholarships to join the Keys quadruplets already enrolled, and he awarded honorary degrees to Vice President John Nance Garner and President Harry Truman.

He knew how to market Baylor.  He had a little of P.T. Barnum in him, Lefever said with a laugh.

Not only did Baylor survive the strain of the Depression and the Second World War that followed, but it grew from about 1,200 students to more than 4,000 in 1947 when Neff stepped down, reluctantly.

He really enjoyed the absolute power given him by the trustees  and he didnt let go when he should have, Lefever said.

The topic of Historic Wacos spring lecture previews a planned Historic Waco exhibit this summer, which will pull together items related to Neff that are found in Historic Wacos homes, Executive Director Erik Swanson said.
WASHINGTON  There's nothing complicated about the latest tobacco product trending online: Zyn is a tiny pouch filled with nicotine and flavoring.

But it has stoked a debate among politicians, parents and pundits that reflects an increasingly complex landscape in which Big Tobacco companies aggressively push alternative products while experts wrestle with their potential benefits and risks.

Zyn comes in flavors like mint, coffee and citrus, and Philip Morris International markets it to adult tobacco users. But videos of young people popping the pouches have racked up millions of views on TikTok and other social media platforms.

That trend has advocates worried that Zyn could become the latest nicotine product to attract underage teens, similar to the way Juul triggered a yearslong spike in vaping. Other experts say that risk is outweighed by the potential to steer adults away from cigarettes and other traditional tobacco products, which account for 480,000 U.S. deaths annually.

"The definition of insanity is doing the same thing and expecting a different result," said Dr. Jasjit Ahluwalia, an addiction specialist at Brown University. "That is what we've done with tobacco for decades. We've been all about abstinence, instead of embracing products that can reduce harm."

Ahluwalia sees nicotine pouches and e-cigarettes as a way to help smokers cut back or quit cigarettes.

That approach is standard practice in the U.K., but it's outside the medical mainstream in the U.S., where only pharmaceutical-grade medications like nicotine gum and lozenges are formally approved to help smokers quit.

Ahluwalia points out that Zyn works the same way as those products: releasing low levels of nicotine that are absorbed into the gums, reducing cravings. The chief difference, he notes, is that Zyn is sold by Philip Morris, the global cigarette giant and a longtime foe of anti-smoking groups.

The controversy around Zyn recently spilled over into politics, pitting Democrats and Republicans in Washington against each other and spiraling into another skirmish in the nation's culture war.

In late January, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., called on regulators to investigate Zyn, citing its appeal to teens. Several House Republicans then warned constituents that "Big Brother" intended to "ban nicotine."

Conservative pundit Tucker Carlson, a Zyn user, jumped into the fray, declaring: "Zyn is not a sin," and touting its unproven benefits, like "enhancing male vitality and mental acuity."

Zyn users have quickly developed their own online vocabulary, including "zynnies," "zynner" and "zynsky."

"There's this online subculture around Zyn that's been spearheaded by younger males, but a lot of that's not coming from the brand itself," said Ollie Ganz, a Rutgers University tobacco and nicotine researcher.

Online videos show young people documenting their first experiences trying Zyn, reviewing different flavor combinations and displaying heaping piles of used canisters.

"It's concerning to see the countless Zyn-related memes and hashtags that are being amplified and normalized across social media," said Kathy Crosby, CEO of the Truth Initiative, an anti-tobacco advocacy group.

Truth and other groups point to research suggesting nicotine can interfere with brain development in adolescents.

It's the Food and Drug Administration's job to weigh Zyn's risks to youngsters against its potential to help adults.

In a statement, an FDA spokesman said the agency is monitoring underage use, noting that 1.5% of high school and middle schoolers reported using pouches last year. That's well below the 10% who used e-cigarettes.

FDA officials have allowed Zyn to stay on the market while they review Philip Morris' marketing application, which has been pending since 2020. If teen use remains low, the company could win FDA authorization for at least some of its offerings, which come in multiple strengths and a dozen flavors.

In 2019, the FDA awarded its first-ever reduced risk designation to a similar product: snus, a tobacco pouch popular in Sweden that contains lower levels of carcinogens than cigarettes. The FDA said smokers who switch to snus reduce their risk of lung cancer, bronchitis and other diseases.

Zyn excludes the tobacco leaves found in snus, leaving only nicotine, which Philip Morris says increases its appeal.

"People can be reluctant to move into an oral tobacco product if they view it as similar to traditional chewing tobacco," company spokesman Corey Henry said. "Consumer acceptability is a big part of Zyn."

Zyn launched in the U.S. in 2014, but sales exploded in the past year, generating $1.8 billion as shipments accelerated year-over-year by over 60%.

Ohio State University researchers recently found it took smokers 30 minutes to an hour to get enough nicotine from Zyn to relieve their cravings. With cigarettes, smokers achieved the same nicotine levels  and relief  in five minutes.

"The pouches we studied, especially the lower nicotine concentrations, did not appear to meet the needs of smokers," said Brittney Keller-Hamilton, who led the study. "That being said, they didn't totally flop either."

Vaping is finally on a downward trend in schools Vaping is finally on a downward trend in schools Online culture can reinforce the multipronged harms of vaping
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.
CEDAR FALLS  Up for approval at Mondays City Council will be a resolution authorizing a first step in Cedar Falls affordable housing projects gaining access to previously unavailable state funds.

The council will take up the measure during its 7 p.m. meeting at City Hall, 220 Clay St., allowing a maximum of $2,620 to be paid to Beecher, Field, Walker, Morris, Hoffman & Johnson.

The law firm would establish a nonprofit known as a local housing trust. That is one hurdle that must be cleared in order for these housing projects to take advantage of the State Housing Trust Fund administered by the Iowa Finance Authority.

Cedar Falls is among the only municipalities to not have reaped the benefits of the available funds, according to a housing needs assessment the council adopted last year. That was also pointed out in discussions city officials had with state legislators in January.

In committee, the agenda lists a cease fire update and discussion at 6:35 p.m.

The potential discussion follows two rounds of pleas from some 25 people the last two meetings, looking for its locally elected officials to formally call for a cease-fire between Hamas and Israel via a resolution.

Xandra Escalada first brought up the resolution at the councils Dec. 18 meeting and the Human Rights Commission proceeded to endorse it.

Mayor Danny Laudick, whos listed as leading the discussion, had left the conversation open as a possibility. Some councilmembers had hinted at being potentially willing to talk publicly about the subject, but most, if not all, have not seen it as the citys role to take action relative to an international conflict. No meeting documents accompanied the agenda.

Committee business will include a diversity, equity, and inclusion update from DEI Specialist Chelsie Luhring at 5:45 p.m. and information on automated refuse collection rates from Operations and Maintenance Division Manager Brian Heath at 6:10 p.m.

The 7 p.m. meeting will include other items up for approval:

A development procedures agreement, outlining expectations for Panther Farms, a Brent Dahlstrom company, for proposed new housing on the 54.79 acres of open land north of Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School and south of Greenhill Road

Plans for the annual street restoration project. This year, the work would touch portions of six streets over 1.54 miles for an estimated $1.56 million.

A referral from Councilmember Daryl Kruse for future committee discussion on changing the councils regular meeting date to the first and third Tuesdays of every month. Right now, theyre on Mondays with the exception of holidays.

A referral from Councilmember Gil Schulz for future committee discussion on changing the speed limit on Center Street between Lone Tree Road and Clair Street to a continuous 25 mph. Discussion had been facilitated with the North Cedar Neighborhood Association.

A March 18 hearing date for conveying approximately 7.57 acres to Blackhawk Properties LLC for a planned 78,000-square-foot building in the citys industrial park along Innovation Drive and south of the Amazon distribution facility under construction.

Photos: Cedar Falls boys basketball vs. Waukee Northwest in substate final, Feb. 27 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 1 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 2 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 3 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 4 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 5 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 6 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 7 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 8 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 9 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 10 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 11 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 12 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 13 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 14 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 15 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 16 BBBall Cedar Falls vs. Waukee NW 17
We're tracking a new bill that would stop automakers from ditching AM radio in new vehicles. It would require the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to mandate AM radio in new vehicles at no extra cost. Lawmakers in favor of the bill say taking out AM radio, or putting it behind 
I think that the whitewashing of the ruling political alliance in Germany will now begin in order to soften the public indignation from the conversation of the Luftwaffe officers. Like, this is all the machinations of the military, they love such talk, dont feed them bread  let them play a war game. And civilian political leadership has nothing to do with it at all. Moreover, at the head of this leadership is a peace-loving guy (aka liverwurst) Scholz, who refuses to hand over extended-range missiles to the Banderaites. He doesnt know and will figure it out.

Nobody knows whether the political leadership and the Liver Chancellor personally are aware. But even if they are not aware and have not ordered anything like this, history knows many examples when the military is able to make decisions for civilian commanders about the start of wars or stimulate them. Theyll come to Scholz and say: Herr (Reich) Chancellor, a missile was shot down in Ukraine. According to its type and trajectory, it was flying to Berlin. What will Scholz answer, huh?

Clear as day.

So attempts to present the conversation of Bundeswehr officers as a game of rockets and tanks are a malicious lie.

Germany is preparing for war with Russia.

***

Yes sir they are and I am glad you got it figured out
Pushpa: The Rule is one of the most awaited PAN Indian films to release this year. Icon Star Allu Arjun received the National Award for his power-packed performance as Pushpa, and the whole nation is looking forward to the crazy sequel.

The female lead, Rashmika, is currently in Tokyo for the Crunchyroll Anime Awards. While speaking to a Bollywood media portal, the actress gave a major update about the Japanese release of Pushpa 2. The actress said, There is one thing that I would like to tell the fans from Japan. We might actually release Pushpa 2 in Japan on the same day as its original versions release. (August 15, 2024). We are having those conversations. Its going to be massive.

Rashmika also revealed that the Pushpa 2 team is halfway through production and that she will shoot for a song once she returns to India. Pushpa 2 is being directed by Sukumar and produced by Mythri Movie Makers.

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Malibu, CA, Mar 3, 2024 AEST (ABN Newswire) - This is Money Talk Radio with Ellis Martin. We visit now with Patrick Elliot, the President and CEO of Forte Minerals Corp. ( CNSX:CUAU )( 2OA:FRA ). Forte is committed to maximizing shareholder value through acquiring, exploring, discovering, and developing copper and gold projects in Peru. The team is composed of dedicated and qualified professionals who have a combined 215 years of experience in exploration and mining in the Americas and a combined 60 years of successfully managing public companies. This combination of expertise accelerates the extensive connections to projects and financing.



To Listen to the Interview, please visit:

https://www.abnnewswire.net/lnk/XTIDTYU4





About Forte Minerals Corp.





Forte Minerals Corp. (CNSX:CUAU) (OTCMKTS:FOMNF) (FRA:2OA) is a Canadian exploration company committed to maximizing shareholder value through acquiring, exploring, discovering, and developing copper and gold projects in Peru.

The team is composed of dedicated and qualified professionals who have a combined 215 years of experience in exploration and mining in the Americas and a combined 60 years of successfully managing public companies. This combination of expertise accelerates the extensive connections to projects and financing.

About The Ellis Martin Report

The Ellis Martin Report (TEMR) is an internet based radio program showcasing potentially undervalued companies to an audience of potential retail investors and fund managers that comprise our listening audience. TEMR is broadcasted on the VoiceAmerica Business Channel and The Opportunity Radio Network. CEO and company interviews are paid for by those represented on the program.

Related Companies
By Yi Whan-woo

Major financial groups are recruiting more women as outside directors ahead of their annual shareholders meeting later this month, in line with the financial regulators demand to bolster gender equality in corporate management.

According to industry sources, Sunday, KB Financial Groups recommended a woman researcher from the Korea Institute of Finance to replace one of its outgoing outside directors, also a woman.

The recommendation was to keep a balanced gender ratio for the outside directors under guidelines given by the Financial Supervisory Service.

The watchdog wants the ratio of women to be between 30 percent to 50 percent, as observed by the global investment banks.

Three out of seven KB Financial Groups outside directors have been female, accounting for 42.9 percent.

Shinhan Financial Group plans to increase the number of women outside directors from two to three. If realized, they will make up 33.3 percent of nine outside directors in total, up from 22.2 percent.

Of smaller banking groups, Hana and Woori each want a woman to fill in an additional seat to be set up for outside directors.

Correspondingly, the number of women outside directors will increase from one to two at Hana, accounting for 22.2 percent of the companys nine outside directors, up from eight.

The number of women outside directors at Woori will also increase from one to two. They will make up a total of seven outside directors, up from six.

Financial authorities find more participation from women crucial for the advancement of corporate governance, and the financial groups are taking actions in a corresponding manner, a source said.
Gunfire and fighting near Six Flags Over Georgia during the parks opening day resulted in an officer-involved shooting that left a 15-year-old hospitalized, Atlanta-based WANF reports.

Cobb County police officers responded to the park entrance where hundreds of people were engaged in multiple fights.

Police said an unknown number of suspects fired at the officers, as police followed them onto Six Flags Parkway. Police said one person was hit when officers returned fire. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports the person, a 15-year-old boy, is in critical condition.

Six Flags told WANF the shooting happened on nearby South Service Road, which is neither owned nor operated by the park.

It is incredibly disappointing that our community is disrupted at public events throughout the region by groups of underaged youth, Six Flags Over Georgia management said in a statement to WANF.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is probing the incident.
A Madison County man was killed early Saturday in a hit and run crash as he was walking along a highway, according to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

The single-vehicle crash involving a pedestrian happened at about 2:20 a.m. Saturday, according to a press release from ALEA troopers.

The pedestrian, Willard A. Mann, 38, of Hazel Green was fatally injured when he was struck by a white Ford Taurus along U.S. 231 near Patterson Lane, approximately five miles north of Huntsville, according to the press release. Mann was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Ford Taurus left the scene of the crash and the driver is currently unknown.

Nothing further information is available as troopers with ALEAs Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate.

Anyone with information on the white Ford Taurus and/or driver should contact ALEA Troopers at 256-353-0631.
The Birmingham Bar Association recently released its election year poll in which members rated the qualifications of judicial candidates for the March 5 primary elections across Jefferson County.

This year there are six contested judicial races in Jefferson County. Of those, two are probate seats, two are circuit court seats, and two are district court seats.
By Dale Quarrington

Buddhism has existed on the Korean Peninsula, at least officially, since 372. And during this time, a countless amount of images of various Buddhas and Bodhisattvas have been produced. These images have been made from stone, wood, gilt-bronze, dry-lacquer and even clay.

They were masterfully produced during the Three Kingdoms Period (18 BCE660 CE), through Unified Silla (668-935), and up until the Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392). However, it was not until the neo-Confucian-supported Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910), and its anti-Buddhist policies, that led to the steady suppression and decline of Buddhism and this art form.

In fact, its not until the end of the 1592-98 Imjin War that we witness a reversal in Buddhist fortunes. After the Imjin War, and starting at the end of the 16th century, there was a lot of reconstruction in and around temples including of statues. The reason for this is that the Japanese destroyed nearly all of the most important temples on the Korean Peninsula. Buddhist monks served as warrior-monks during the Imjin War to help defend the Korean Peninsula. As a result of these efforts, the Buddhist community gained a certain level of respectability. Instead of being marginalized by pro-Confucian policies like before, Buddhism gained a certain toehold thanks to the efforts of these warrior-monks.

After the Imjin War, these warrior-monks returned to their temples to help rebuild them. The monks would become the cornerstone of the Buddhist community for the next several decades. Additionally, temples would start and continue to receive generous gifts from both the royal family and aristocrats. This support would result in the creation of the large, clay Buddhist altar images that would appear at temples over the next couple of decades.

More traditionally, at least for those Buddhist images that survived, they were consistently made of stone. However, the use of clay in constructing Buddhist images wasnt completely unheard of  they were simply more fragile.

With all that being said, the tradition of clay images, as far as we know, stretches all the way back to the Goguryeo Dynasty (37 BCE668 CE). Fragments of sixth-century clay Buddha figures were found at the temple site of Wono-ri near present-day Pyongyang in 1937. In total, some 312 fragments of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas were discovered. These figures were largely made using molds to mass-produce these images.

More recently, the Clay Seated Buddha of Buseoksa Temple was produced, which is believed to have been made during Goryeo. This main altar statue inside the Muryangsu-jeon Hall at Buseok Temple in Yeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, stands 2.78 meters in height. This style of statue, which uses the technique of applying a clay paste over top of a wooden frame, is the oldest and largest using this technique at this time. In fact, its the precursor to the large, clay Buddhist altar images of the post-Imjin War era.

And less than a century before the start of the Imjin War, we have the Clay Seated Vairocana Buddha Triad of Girimsa Temple being produced, which is located in eastern Gyeongju's Girim Temple. This triad, standing over 3.5 meters in height, was made by placing mud over a juniper frame. This triad points to a tradition that had already begun in the pre-Imjin War years, but would continue with renewed vigor in the post-war years.

Some of the most prominent clay statues in the post-Imjin War years are found at the largest and most prominent temples on the Korean Peninsula. This style of large, clay altar images were being produced during the late 1610s up to the 1640s. The earliest of these can be found at Gap Temple in Daejeon, which was made in 1617.

As to why these clay statues were made so large in the first place is closely related to the Buddhist community at this time. As previously mentioned, Buddhism had been marginalized under the pro-Confucian policies of Joseon for centuries. The Buddhist warrior-monks, at least in part, aided in the defense of the nation. And with this defense, Buddhists throughout Joseon gained in social status. With this gain in social status in post-Imjin War Joseon, and a need for statues after so many temples and their property being destroyed, there was a need for Buddhist images. So combining these two reasons, large, clay-imposing Buddha and Bodhisattva statues were produced during this reconstruction period. By creating them so large, the Buddhist community was displaying its new strength in society, as well as the power found within the Buddha.

One of the earliest clay main altar triads that was produced during this early 17th century period can be found at Beopju Temple in Boeun, North Chungcheong Province. The triad was created by the leading monk-sculptor Hyeonjin and his team of 17 monk-sculptors. The main altar triad consists of a central image of Birojana-bul (Buddha of Cosmic Energy). This triad dates back to 1626, and the three figures measure between 4.7 to 5 meters in height.

While they were a bit thick and stiff in appearance, Hyeonjin continued to be active in the region after producing this triad at Beopju Temple. Hyeonjin and his team would go on to produce the Clay Seated Amitabha Buddha Triad of Muryangsa Temple in Buyeo, South Chungcheong Province, in 1633. The central image, this time, is that of Amita-bul (Buddha of the Western Paradise). This triad is more refined in appearance. Additionally, these images are even larger than those found at Beopju Temple with the central image of Amita-bul standing an impressive 5.45 meters in height.

Rather interestingly, the monk-sculptor Cheongheon, who worked under Hyeonjin, would also continue this clay tradition in the southwestern Jeolla region. One of his pieces of work is the altar triad found at Songgwang Temple in Wanju, North Jeolla Province. This triad was first made in June 1641, and it is formed around the central image of Seokgamoni-bul (Historical Buddha). While similar in style, Cheongheon would differ somewhat from his teachers techniques. One key difference is the lengthening of the statues' faces. Another key difference is that this triad measures an even more impressive 5.6 meters in height. It is the largest of the clay statues in Korea from this time period.

There are just so many Buddhist statues, both new and old, that they almost seem to meld into one. However, these large, clay images definitely stand out. Just from their sheer size and unique design, they are impressive. But what makes them even more impressive is that they symbolize, in part, the defense of the nation.

Dale Quarrington has visited over 500 temples throughout the Korean Peninsula and published four books on Korean Buddhism. He runs the website Dale's Korean Temple Adventures.
This story is republished with permission from The Birmingham Times

Before Randall Horton became a professor at the University of New Haven, a private university in West Haven, Connecticut, he was a drug smuggler facing almost 15 years in prison at the Roxbury Correctional Institution in Hagerstown, Maryland.

I spent almost five years on the inside. I am the only full tenured professor with seven felony convictions that I know of, said Horton, who was incarcerated from 1996 to 2000.

Born and raised in Birmingham, Horton graduated from A.H. Parker High School and left Alabama to begin his education at Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he studied economics. During his senior year in college, he dropped out because of exposure to the drug trade.

I got turned on to that and spent 30 odd years in that life. I was all over the world. If youve ever seen Snowfall, thats my life. It just happened on the East Coast, said Horton jokingly, referring to the American crime drama television series that revolves around the first crack epidemic and is primarily set in Los Angeles, California.

The series was created by renowned African American director, screenwriter, and producer John Singleton, who passed away in 2019.

Horton, while serving his time in Montgomery County, Maryland, was a part of the Jail Addiction Services (JAS) program to shave a few years off his sentence.

One of the components of the program was that you had to write, he said. They would ask tough questions that helped you get in touch with your inner self. I wasnt an expressive person like that. I was in that life, [where] the less you said the better. I began to write in my cell, and I really started to take my writing seriously. I started to feel different about myself.

Promise Made

Horton gained recognition for his writing, so much so that he made a promise to one of his teachers to never stop.

She had been working with people to get them alternatives to incarceration, [and] she told me, Go do your time, and we will bring you back here [to Seven Locks Detention Center in Montgomery County, Maryland], and do what they call a motion for reconsideration of sentencing, said Horton, who had served time in facilities in various states, including Maryland and Virginia, as well as in Nags Head, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia.

I was looking at doing 15 years in prison at least, he continued.

While serving time in a Baltimore, Maryland, facility, Horton continued to write short stories and essays. He also did a lot of reading, and one day while reading The Washington Post newspaper in the prisons day room he came across a poem by E. Ethelbert Miller, an African American professor, poet, and literary activist who taught at Howard University around the time Horton attended.

I wrote him a letter and told him, You dont know me, and I gave him my whole story, Horton said. He wrote me back, and that [was the beginning of] a long mentorship.

Horton credits Miller with giving him the space to find himself as a writer and a poet.

After five years, Horton was called back to the place he got sentenced. While the district attorney opposed the motion for reconsideration, Hortons father served as his character witness, and he brought everyone to tears, said Horton.

[My father] talked about me in this third person. He gave the history of me, all the things I could do, and how I had a support system. He really laid it all out there. My lawyer was crying, Im crying. The judge asked me if I had anything to say. I stood up and began crying, Horton recalled.

After spending five years behind bars, Horton earned multiple degrees, including a doctorate in English and creative writing from the University at Albany of the State University of New York (SUNY).

During the same time, he also published a book, Hook: A Memoir, which explores his personal spiral from an unassuming Howard University undergraduate to a homeless drug addict, international cocaine smuggler, and incarcerated felon.

Promises Kept

Randall Horton, a former inmate, is now a professor at the University of New Haven. (Provided)

Today, Horton is an award-winning author and poet, as well as and professor at the University of New Haven. He also is the co-leader of Radical Reversal, an experimental poetry band renowned for its innovative approach to the arts by emphasizing the transformative power of music and poetry. The group also focuses on amplifying the dialogue surrounding incarceration and showcasing rehabilitation equity through creative outlets.

I wanted to do something that contributed to the discourse of the criminal justice system and the prison industrial complex  from an artistic point of view, Horton said after recent performances at the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) and Alabama State University, in Montgomery, Alabama.

Radical Reversals sound crosses many boundaries of music and poetry through literary text. It also is part of a larger effortthe Radical Reversal nonprofit organizationto spread the message about how art can play a pivotal role in confronting the criminal legal system by centering the voices of those impacted through the arts.

The band Radical Reversal performs in colleges and universities as a band, and the nonprofit works with interested detention centers and correctional departments to establish creative spaces directly inside the facilities to provide seminars, workshops, and performances that keep individuals engaged.

Radical Reversals inception was always a performance group, doing social justice issues. Being that I was system impacted, we were thinking about ways to talk about things in that space. People make mistakes, but people are more than capable of coming back from those mistakes if you give them chances, he said. I dont think Im here without those series of chances, so thats something I want to amplify, as well.

In 2022, Radical Reversal received a $65,000 Equity in Verse grant for general operating support from the Poetry Foundation, an organization that evolved from the Modern Poetry Association, which was founded in 1941 to support the publication of Poetry magazine. Since then, Radical Reversal has expanded its mission, including efforts to strengthen its pilot program at the Jefferson County Youth Detention Center (YDC) in Birmingham with an acoustic makeover and continued support for the facilitys Resident Teaching Artists.

Radical Reversal also played a key role in the Birmingham Museum of Arts Music at the Museum, a program launched last year to offer guests a relaxing evening of enjoying music as they peruse the galleries. The group kicked off the first show of 2024 in late January.

To learn more about Radical Reversal, visit the organizations website, radicalreversal.org. You also can follow on Facebook (Radical Reversal), Instagram (@radical.reversal), and Twitter/X (@Radical Reversal).
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to be among those marking the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the day Alabama law officers attacked Civil Rights demonstrators on the iconic Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

The demonstrators were beaten by officers as they tried to march across Alabama on March 7, 1965, in support of voting rights. A march across the bridge, which is a highlight of the commemoration in Selma every year, is planned for Sunday afternoon.

Sundays march is among dozens of events during the annual Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee, which began Thursday and culminates Sunday. The events commemorate Bloody Sunday and the signing of the Voting Rights Act.

During her speech, the Vice President will honor the legacy of the civil rights movement, address the ongoing work to achieve justice for all, and encourage Americans to continue the fight for fundamental freedoms that are under attack throughout the country, the White House said in announcing her visit.

Harris joined the march in 2022, calling the site hallowed ground and giving a speech calling on Congress to defend democracy by protecting peoples right to vote. On that anniversary, Harris spoke of marchers whose peaceful protest was met with crushing violence.

They were kneeling when the state troopers charged, she said then. They were praying when the billy clubs struck.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland was also expected to participate in Sundays events, the Department of Justice announced.

Images of the violence at the bridge stunned Americans, which helped galvanize support for passing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. The law struck down barriers prohibiting Black people from voting.

U.S. Rep. James Clyburn, a Democrat of South Carolina who is leading a pilgrimage to Selma, said he is seeking to remind people that we are celebrating an event that started this country on a better road toward a more perfect union, but the right to vote is still not guaranteed.

Clyburn sees Selma as the nexus of the 1960s movement for voting rights, at a time when there currently are efforts to scale back those rights.

The Voting Rights Act of 1965 became a reality in August of 1965 because of what happened on March 7th of 1965, Clyburn said.

We are at an inflection point in this country, he added. And hopefully this years march will allow people to take stock of where we are.

Clyburn said he hopes the weekend in Alabama would bring energy and unity to the civil rights movement, as well as benefit the city of Selma.

We need to do something to develop the waterfront, we need to do something that bring the industry back to Selma, Clyburn said. We got to do something to make up for them having lost that military installation down there that provided all the jobs. All that goes away, theres nothing to keep young people engaged in developing their communities.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland also is expected to attend the event in Selma.
Police in south Alabama are currently investigating the shooting death of a man they initially believed was just a medical incident.

The incident began around 7 a.m. Saturday, when officials received a call to Moodys Motel on Highway 45 and St. Stephens Road, according to the Prichard Police Department.

According to officials, when they were called out, they believed it was for a medical call, but upon further investigation they determined that an individual had been shot and killed.

That individual was identified as 46-year-old Adrian Mitchell.

Mitchell was allegedly shot multiple times at the motel before he fled on foot and later collapsed on ONeal Street in Prichard.

Loved ones took to social media to express their heartbreak and disbelief over Mitchells death.

Im really going to miss you Cuz, wrote Defendley Hannon on Facebook. R.I.P!!!!!

Detectives are currently investigating the death and looking for other potential witnesses and potential suspects.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Prichard Police Department at 251-331-0897.
This is a guest opinion column

As an Alabama poultry farmer, cattle rancher and the President of your Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association, I stand on the frontlines  battling for our farmers. Today, I am here to raise the alarm about a perilous piece of legislation threatening our farms, our livelihoods and our sovereignty.

The so-called Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, led by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS) claims to ease farmers burdens by eradicating numerous state agricultural laws. But dont let this fool you. Behind its veneer, the EATS Act actually paves the way for foreign corporations, including Smithfield, to swoop in and seize our valuable land and businesses.

Having experienced the dwindling of my own operation for speaking out against corporations and advocating for Alabamas farmers, I know that family farmers are up against lawmakers influenced by mighty global corporations. This isnt a hypothetical threat  its an impending storm that could shatter our way of life. The EATS Act would abolish state laws that prioritize family farms, safeguard our childrens food and manage the spread of invasive pests.

We find ourselves in the bullseye of an onslaught against state agriculture laws, an offensive steered by those favoring corporate interests over local farmers. Our Alabama senators and Representative Aderholt are well aware of the stakes, and I implore you to join our cause as we fortify our defenses against this looming danger.

The EATS Act is deceptive legislation that could pass the control of American livestock production to foreign entities. Its a deliberate attempt to snatch power from our state and local agriculture committees, effectively muting the voices of those who understand our states best and advocate for our local producers.

Make no mistake, the EATS Act isnt just a reinvented King Amendment; its one of the gravest threats rural communities and independent states have ever confronted. We must prevent this language from infiltrating the forthcoming Farm Bill. That goes for a stripped-down version of the bill known as the Protecting Interstate Commerce for Livestock Producers Act, too.

I urge you to rally behind our cause, reach out to our United States senators and House delegation and convey that we wont sit idle while our rights are trampled upon and our farmland is practically gifted to China.

The Alabama poultry industry has a $15 billion annual economic impact, accounting for one-eighth of our state economy. As such, our mission is clear. Lets safeguard our legacy, our sovereignty and the future of farming in our Yellowhammer state. We hold the power to repel this Trojan Horse at our gates. Stand with us, and lets preserve our farms, our heritage and our state from the perils of the EATS Act.

U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt, as well as Reps. Barry Moore, Dale Strong, Terri Sewell, Robert Aderholt, Jerry Carl, Mike Rogers and Gary Palmer should all stand strong and vocally oppose the inclusion of the EATS Act and other measures like it from being included in the upcoming Farm Bill.

Jonathan Buttram is the president of the Alabama Contract Poultry Growers Association, star of the film Super-Size Me 2: Holy Chicken, and Treasurer at the Organization for Competitive Markets. He resides in Albertville, Alabama.
Our founders saw our various states as places to experiment with governance. Each can test ideas to see what works and what doesnt. Citizens can provide feedback by migrating to those places where things work the best.

I doubt that our founders expected an experiment to see if a communist state can coexist in a capitalist country. But New York has decided to conduct that experiment, seizing the means of production via lawsuits.

During her campaign, New York attorney general Letitia James made the Lavrentiy Beria pledge to find a crime and get Donald Trump. It turns out shes a woman of her word.

James used a 1956 law (Section 63[12] of New Yorks Executive Law) to sue Donald Trump. The law was created to enable the state to sue companies for profiting from fraudulent business practices. Until now, it has never been used where there are no damages (i.e., nobody was hurt). But as we know, legal traditions are expendable if they get in the way of a leftists objectives.

Attorney General James found a friendly judge, Arthur Engoron, to oversee the case. He somehow didnt understand that his job isnt to stick it to the man, but to make sure the man gets a fair hearing.

James argued that Trump had engaged in a pattern of fraud by describing his business assets in the most positive light when applying for business loans. She further argued that it was immaterial that the loans were repaid, and the so-called victims of the fraud (the banks) testified on Trumps behalf that they had not been harmed.

The judge, being the savvy real estate speculator that he is, did his own appraisal of Trumps assets, decided that James was correct, and ruled that disgorgement was the appropriate remedy. He ordered that the state of New York seize all profits which resulted from the loans  plus 9% interest.

Judge Engorons order penalized Trump to the tune of $464.5 million and prohibited Trump and his sons from doing business in New York for three years. He also ordered that the full amount of the fine be placed in trust before the filing of any appeal.

Letitia James ran to the microphones and triumphantly announced that if Trump didnt pay up immediately, she would start seizing his assets. Karl Marx would be proud. Although Donald Trump is a multi-billionaire, his net worth isnt in the form of gold bars hidden in his closet  thats a Senator Menendez savings plan. Trumps assets are in the form of the businesses he owns. Seizing assets (whether capital or real estate) is seizing the means of production.

Businessmen invest operating capital in anticipation of a future return. They buy supplies, build facilities, pay taxes, and make payroll, gambling that sales will provide a profit  in the future. Judge Engorons order has authorized A.G. James to seize a half a billion bucks of Trumps operating capital, with apparently no understanding of its impact on the people of New York. Not only will half a billion dollars be taken out of the states economy immediately, but the future earning potential of that half a billion will also be taken out of the economy. Such unintended consequences are actually the avoidable outcomes of foolish decisions.

New York has been in the business of turning its back on business for decades, but the Trump verdict is a dangerous escalation of the states war on capitalism. Businesses are responding. Shark Tanks Kevin OLeary announced that he will no longer make business investments in New York, telling Cavuto on Coast to Coast,

New York was already a loser state like California is a loser state. There are many loser states because of policy, high taxes on competitive regulation. I would never invest in New York now [after the Engoron decision]. And I'm not the only person saying that.

Grant Cardone of Cardone Capital is walking away from investments in New York. As he told Fox & Friends,

We thought this year was the opportunity to come into Chicago, California, and New York City. I've been waiting for 40 years now to invest in that marketplace. I was completely confident this was the year to come. And when that ruling happened, it was like, pencils down. Don't touch it. Don't go there.

Just after the Engoron ruling, Remington Arms announced that it was shuttering its 200-year-old factory in Ilion, N.Y., to move to the more business-friendly Georgia. Remington executives understand that facilitating 2nd Amendment rights has made their company a target of New York gun-grabbers. Left unsaid is that the risks of staying skyrocketed with the Trump verdict.

Is the souring of the business mood in New York a serious problem? Apparently, its serious enough for Governor Hochul to go on WABC 770 AM to reassure the business community, saying,

I think that this is really an extraordinary, unusual circumstance that the law-abiding and rule-following New Yorkers who are business people have nothing to worry about, because theyre very different than Donald Trump and his behavior.

In other words, Donald Trump is a special case, because hes Donald Trump. But after her predecessor (Andrew Cuomo) said that conservatives arent welcome in New York, her entreaty to trust me, well be fair next time was not particularly convincing. Business owners know that they need to think seriously about a crusading attorney general looking for a political scalp as a campaign prop before investing anywhere within her reach.

It didnt take long for Letitia James to issue her rebuttal to the governors reassurances. A mere two weeks after Hochul said law-abiding businesses had nothing to fear, James announced that shes using the same law she used against Trump to sue JBS Foods, the worlds largest producer of beef products.

It seems JBS ran afoul of James by announcing plans to increase production, thereby also increasing employment and revenue to the state. But JBS made the grave mistake of boasting about its sustainability measures in company literature. Since raising cattle is inherently bad for the environment  according to St. Greta of Sweden  any plan to increase production is bad for the planet. Therefore, according to James, JBSs claims of being environmentally conscientious are fraudulent and justify the seizing of its profits.

Perhaps Governor Hochul can go on the radio again and say, My bad. Well seize the assets of only Donald Trump, facilitators of mass shootings, and climate criminals. Everybody else is safe. Cross my heart.

As businesses flee New York, will the standard of living in the state improve or decline? As the business climate deteriorates, will the appetite for the state taking of assets increase or be sated? As property and capital are diverted to government consumption rather than wealth generation, what will New York look like in 50 years?

Maybe we should build a wall around New York  not as a penal colony, but as a museum piece. It could be an interactive experience illustrating the end state when governments seize the means of production. Civics and history students could take field trips there.

John Green is a political refugee from Minnesota, now residing in Idaho. He is a staff writer for the American Free News Network and can be reached at greenjeg@gmail.com.

Image via Picryl.
Last week Newt Gingrich tried to remind Americans how serious the threat of nuclear conflict remains. In a sober essay, he warned that the United States is not prepared to withstand nuclear or electromagnetic pulse attacks and urged Americans to prepare for unthinkable possibilities. Then a few days later, I woke up to read that white rural rage is the greatest threat to democracy and thought, Well, at least we dont have to worry about nuclear Armageddon now. Such is the sorry state of the woke West that the thinking class moronically obsesses over trivialities, while ignoring everything that is disastrous.

This somewhat regurgitated white rural rage thesis comes from a journalist and an academic who have written a book explaining why white, patriotic Americans who just want to live their lives free from government interference are actually responsible for everything wrong in the country. Just when I think my white-hot contempt for closed-minded toffs couldnt burn more brightly, a couple nitwits ratchet up my rage to eleventy. Dang, they got me. Turns out that if you scapegoat rural Americans long enough, some will get angry. Uff da.

Of course, anyone who lives in or near rural America knows that the brain-dead professor and reporter tag-team responsible for this drivel never spent any time meeting the people whom they disparage. If they had, it would have been impossible for them to write so dishonestly (even for people paid to lie for a living). Rural America is where authentic democracy flourishes. People still gather in churches and town squares to discuss their communities hardships and successes. Law enforcement and firefighting depend on the efforts of volunteers. Local papers tell stories of next-door neighbors and follow the adventures of townspeople far from home  many risking their lives in combat overseas. When someone isnt seen in the grocery store or at the bank for any length of time, people notice. Before a sheriffs deputy has time to investigate, local residents are on the case. When snowed-in roads need clearing, family trucks turn into plows. When farmers need extra hands to harvest crops, familiar faces arrive in droves. At the deli, town market, or local watering hole residents debate the issues on their minds. There are no timeouts because some topic has been declared politically incorrect or because some intervening listener declares the conversation riddled with hate. Rural America is where free speech thrives.

If saving American democracy were really the goal, New York City, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., would be sending delegations out to flyover country as part of fact-finding missions to see how its done. Umm, interesting, these residents can disagree with each other without burning down each others businesses? I did not know that was possible! Yet it is possible. It is normal! Rural Americans can scream at each other one night and make up before church service the next day. You mean nobody is around to police their speech? Nope, rural Americans recognize the same basic truth that our political forefathers understood  that no king or parliament has the power to tell an adult what he may think or say. But how does anything get done without a strong central government providing for their every need? It might sound amazing, but ordinary people are quite capable of protecting their neighbors and providing for their towns survival. During an emergency, they dont wait for the authorities to arrive. Outside of Almighty God, they are the authorities. As rational adults with responsibility for their own lives, they know what needs to be done. And they do it. If you want to see democracy in action, visit one of the tens of thousands of small communities that dot the country from coast to coast. They are where strong, caring, and resilient people work and live.

The real fear of the white rural rage Chicken Littles is not that rural Americans are a threat to democracy but rather that they provide an immovable bulwark against the Deep States master plan for a totalitarian super-State. All over the West, politicians and pundits continue to extol authoritarianism as democratic and denigrate self-government as populist. Its absurdly Orwellian, of course, but since we live in the age of censorship, propaganda, and linguistic chicanery, these word games will continue. Somewhere in the pits of Hell, Stalin, Hitler, Mussolini, and Mao are eager to remind Klaus Schwab and all the other Western globalists how democratic their rules-based international orders are, too.

The globalist authoritarians have instructed the commoners to stop eating meat. Rural Americans have said, Nah, were good. We like steak. The new world order folks have insisted that a great deal of speech must be censored in order to protect fragile adults from experiencing outbreaks of unapproved hate. Rural Americans have responded, Suck it up, Buttercup. Maybe try listening to an opposing point of view sometime. It might just vaccinate you from the plague of groupthink. The globo-Marxists have demanded that consumers hand over their keys to any car with an internal combustion engine. Rural Americans have laughingly replied, Not only are we keeping every truck and tractor from the last century in a barn out back but also we cant wait to buy some new all-terrain vehicles to ride through the backcountry. Officials who betray their oaths to the Constitution have told law-abiding Americans that they have no right to own a gun. Rural Americans have calmly loaded their weapons in preparation for self-defense and whispered back, Come and take it. In disposition and beliefs, rural Americans are the natural Minutemen guarding American liberty.

It is no wonder, then, why the World Economic Forums tawdry tyrants wish to incarcerate Americans in fifteen-minute cities. Cities are hotbeds of censorship, economic coercion, and social control. They are where freedom goes to die. In rural America  where everyone knows how to hunt, fish, farm, and defend their properties  a strong and self-sufficient culture exists that teaches people how to live. The last thing the WEFs depopulation fanatics want is an American society capable of taking care of itselfand thriving. How could intelligence agencies, central banks, and unaccountable regulators maintain power if they had nobody to control?

Ultimately, attacks against rural Americans  like the lefts attacks against Christians  are a wretched form of bigotry designed to spread the insidious idea that people who live outside city limits are subhuman. Because rural America is filled with resilient people who adamantly defend the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights, it represents an antidote to the cancerous form of Marxist globalism killing cities across the country. Because rural America is filled with faithful people who are obedient to Gods will  and not D.C.s  it remains a natural refuge for those immune from institutional brainwashing. Because rural America is blessed with an abundance of self-sufficient families, hard workers, and freethinkers, it provides a welcoming home for human liberty. For these reasons, aspiring totalitarians must destroy rural America if they are to have any chance at erecting a new system founded on censorship, surveillance, oppression, and tyranny. The problem for the Deep State is that rural Americans know what to do when the SHTF and, in fact, have been preparing all their lives.

Mass psychological programs that dehumanize groups of people always precede State-engineered genocides. It is how cognitive warfare specialists pepper society with a preemptive rationale for why some people must be loaded onto boxcars and sent away for re-education. Newt Gingrich is certainly right: any nuclear war would be catastrophic. If were being honest, though, Americans must also worry about how the totalitarian left is following in the footsteps of Hitlers Germany. Prepare your mind accordingly.

Image via Pxhere.
Americas open borders have put huge strains on our social services, schools, and police departments, let alone facilitating drug addiction and human sex-trafficking. Donald Trump has promised to shut the door on day one of his administration, but even if Trump is elected, the damage will continue for decades. Graphic pictures of cities inundated with illegals only reflect the beginning of a disaster.

The deeper problem is that nearly all illegals arrive embracing values against core American principles. They are aliens both legally and in terms of our political culture.

Modern immigration is wholly unlike that of the earliest days, when most immigrants were of English ancestry and quickly integrated into society. Today, by contrast, those flooding into the United States arrive from almost every nation on the planet, including places like El Salvador, Kazakhstan, India, Ghana, China, Syria, Cuba, and Vietnam. Those newly arrived Muslims clustering in places like Dearborn, Mich. have altered the political landscape thanks to their vociferous support for Hamas, and this new voice may be a harbinger of future Balkanization.

No precise definition of Americas political culture exists, but central is patriotism  subordinating all loyalties to national identity. As Teddy Roosevelt put it in 1907, there can be no divided allegiance here. ... We have room for but one flag, the American flag. ... We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language ... and we have room for but one sole loyalty, and that is a loyalty to the American people.

Further add the values explicitly embedded in the Constitution: the rule of law; the rights of free speech and freedom of religion; freedom from government tyranny; the primacy of individual, not group rights and similar rights vital to ordered liberty. Further add elections, not violence, to settle disputes. To be sure, this catalogue can be murky, and exceptions exist, but at their core, American political values are well understood. Alas, these values are exceedingly rare in third-world countries, the overwhelming source of todays illegals.

There is both good news and bad news regarding the possible absorption of these new arrivals. The good news is that America once experienced a similar problem, and we solved it. Yes, people may not initially embrace an American identity, but this can change, and our history demonstrates that this transformation is possible. According to one estimate (p. 45), between 1790 and 1990, about half of Americans population growth was due to immigration, but overwhelmingly, everyone embraced an American identity as their primary identity. Especially between the 1880s and World War I, the influx of immigrants from dozens of nations, most not speaking English, with multiple religions, exceeded a million a year. Nevertheless, the principle of E pluribus unum, one out of many, prevailed.

Successful assimilation was hardly spontaneous and reflected herculean efforts by both the private sector and government at all levels and transcended the partisan divide, attracting such elite notables as Woodrow Wilson and Henry Ford. In fact, Ford offered factory workers six- to eight-week courses on Americanism, with a graduation where each employee received a certificate preparing them for citizenship. US Steel, among countless other businesses, similarly provided civic education classes together with patriotic messages in its pay envelopes and subsidized after-work civics classes. In cities with significant foreign populations, local affiliates of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce provided free English classes and civic literacy (Huntington, p. 132). Assimilation was voluntary, and those who rejected Americanization often returned to their homeland.

Private groups such as local YMCAs, the Colonial Dames, and Sons of the American Revolution  together with religious and ethnic organizations  taught English to newcomers while helping them find jobs and housing. Over thirty states passed laws to facilitate Americanization, and by 1921, some 3,526 localities were participating in the federal governments Bureau of Nationalization program. Public schools were at the forefront of this Americanization, and, ironically, this push was led by self-defined Progressives. These pro-America messages filled patriotic textbooks, while nationalistic pictures and American flags were inescapable. Schools also offered evening English classes together with lessons on the Constitution necessary to pass the citizenship examination. Leading pedagogues of the era such as Horace Mann shared this patriotic enthusiasm that transcended ideology.

This massive assimilation effort paid handsome dividends. The United States survived a terrible economic depression without a political upheaval. And when the U.S. entered WWII, the country was totally united, though millions of immigrants had come from nations that were now enemies. During the Cold War, Americans remained steadfastly loyal, paid their taxes, and enlisted in the military, and the internecine conflict endemic in heterogeneous nations elsewhere was unthinkable. Assimilation had triumphed and, at least then, seemed inevitable.

Could a similar all-hands-on-deck assimilation effort succeed in todays political environment? Highly unlikely. It is hard to imagine todays political elites, notably educators, insisting that recent arrivals must learn English, all the while becoming red-blooded American patriots who embrace our traditional constitutional rights and liberties. Proponents of resurrecting past pro-assimilation school lessons would be denounced as right-wing fascists or worse.

More likely, modern outreach efforts directed at recent arrivals would be the very opposite of past absorption campaigns. George Washington would be demoted from honored Revolutionary War hero to evil slave-owner, and capitalism would be taught as exploitation, not the creator of wealth. Lessons would dwell on how America is fundamentally racist, sexist, and transphobic. Imagine how Google employees would react if their foreign-born colleagues were required to enroll in nightly civic education courses celebrating Americas greatness! Many would go on strike in protest. Requiring schools children to recite the Pledge of Allegiance might trigger many parents, and thus would be banned.

Nor would current financial burdens associated with immigration abate if Trump were elected. Only job descriptions would change. Yet more functionaries will have to be hired to accommodate the unassimilated arrivals. Currently, there are 96 different languages spoken in Los Angeles public schools, and the Tower of Babel problem will expand nationally. The presence of unassimilated youngsters will also require fresh hires to ensure that cafeteria food is culturally suitable, that everything is translated into exotic native languages, and school practices such as mixed-gender activities do not offend religions practices.

The failure to stress English will severely retard learning and only exacerbate already declining test scores while the inevitable ethnic conflicts will be handled by employing yet more social workers to keep the peace. And schools will be only one of many settings requiring expensive accommodation. This is a far cry from an earlier era, where the immigrant himself was primarily expected to adjust to America, not vice versa.

The modern immigration problem is just the first installment of Balkanization. As turmoil in France, Germany, and the Scandinavian nations demonstrates, assimilation of migrants from radically different cultures is not the default human option. Tellingly, their no go ethnic enclaves show no signs of disappearing. It is hardly surprising that the rise of American campus anti-Semitism reflects an influx of students from Arab countries. It is delusion to believe that illegals will embrace our values out of gratitude for Americas generosity.

We have the blueprints for a proven solution, but the current political environment precludes implementing it, and conceivably, the fans of open borders are getting the destruction they want. Perhaps todays Progressives hope that Americans will assimilate to the Third World, not vice versa.

Image: JSMed via Pixabay, Pixabay License.
The New York Post recently ran an article about overt aggression in a school called Origins High School in Brooklyn, N.Y. against a Jewish female teacher as well as threats to Jewish students at the school. The high school has 40% Muslim students, and the swastika is being posted around the school to send a message of hate to Jewish students and faculty. Threats are being made daily. Homosexual students are also being threatened at the school. Students are not being punished by the acting principal for defacing property with swastikas or for shouting heil Hitler in the Jewish teachers face. By the end of the article, we see that the principal, who is depicted by the harassed teacher and by community leaders as negligent and as perpetuating anti-Semitism by her failure to call students to account, has received many compliments and much recognition for her leadership as an educator.

How is it that she is so praised for her leadership while the horrors of anti-Semitism and pro-Nazi acting out grow exponentially in that high school? The answer lies in the breakdown of discipline in the NYC public schools, which breakdown has been in place for decades. Principals are rewarded for their ability to maintain irresponsible levels of poor behavior while pretending education is moving ever upward to the benefit of all involved. In this respect, Origins High School, along with so many schools in NYC, is putting on a big charade pretending that order is still in effect and that learning (sic) is still improving. To the extent that a principal projects this false view, he is deemed successful.

This writer taught social studies for 21 years in NYC public high schools, and substituted occasionally for two years before that full-time tenure. My first five and a half years were taught in a hellhole high school. Some of the behaviors that are included under my hellhole rubric are as follows: students taking 1020 minutes to pass between classes, toilet seats set on fire using fluid from lighters; students slashed with razors while changing classes, with the razors then thrown out the windows; weapons being brought into school even after metal detectors and electronic wanding of students was implemented; and oral sex in stairwells. One student asked me if I wanted to see the Glock in his bookbag.

I asked one student to stop chasing Tameka around the room and take his seat so I could begin the lesson. He was so incensed by this request that he began scraping the veneer off the top of his desk with his fingernails. Security was called eventually, and he was removed from the class. A 10th-grade girl, who I later was told was regularly taking drugs with her friends, went over to the window, lifted it up, and jumped out. We were on the first floor, but it still was an eight- to ten-foot drop. One day she introduced me to a grinning guy who, she said, was the father of a baby she had aborted two years previously. On another occasion, during a social studies computer lab session set up by a teacher and his cousin, who had come in on a few weekends to do the wiring, students were pouring crazy glue into some of the keyboards. The teacher did not even send the students to the dean, knowing that no punishment would be administered. On one occasion, I gently told one girl to move her cursor a little to the left, and she stood up suddenly, tipping over her chair; yelled, F--- you! to me; and stormed out of the room.

As a new teacher, my teaching was to be observed and evaluated by the principal. When the bell to begin the class rang, a fight broke out between two students, and one was pounding the other to a pulp on the floor while many rushed into the room to cheer the fighting. Finally, security (there were 18 security guards assigned to the school and two full-time police officers) arrived to break up the carnage. The principal was there with security, and after 20 minutes of this mayhem  with blood spattered on the floor  he told me to begin teaching and that he would observe me. Ho, hum, just another day in a classroom in New York City!

It turned out later that the student who was beaten badly later died as he ran for the high schools track team. He had a congenital heart disease that had never been diagnosed. In retrospect, we understood that he could have died in the classroom fight that day. The student who beat him was the same one who volunteered to show me his Glock, but even after this fight, he was not suspended, arrested, or sent to another high school. Only after this violent and pathological student tried to burn down a historic building on the center of the campus (where Alexander Hamilton had studied during the colonial period) was he transferred to another high school. He was not incarcerated despite the egregious action regarding the building and his history of violent, antisocial behavior.

I also substituted in a couple of hellhole schools before going full-time. Discipline for acting out and bad behavior were generally poor. Once, when I subbed at a middle school, a student tried kicking me in the legs while the class stood on their desks, and some shouted for him to kill me. I stood up and slapped the kid hard (I could have hit him harder) across the face twice. He ran out of the room and threw a trash can across the room and reported me for hitting him. I had to go to a hearing and by the skin of my teeth did not lose my license. Nothing happened to the student.

The incident had nothing to do with Jew-hatred, but it just shows that student aggression and bad behavior are tolerated. He wasnt suspended for even one day and did not have any after-school detentions. His parents were not called in, nor was there any mention of removing him to a juvenile detention facility. That was 33 years ago. So the tolerance of student violence and acting out is within the context of the schools simply not punishing students for egregious behavior.

Of course, the anti-Semitism in the Origins H.S. article here makes it even worse, but it is within a context where malicious, cruel, antisocial, pathological behaviors are generally not disciplined aggressively. Thats why the DOE is indifferent to clamping down on the principal. She is actually under a policy of not implementing severe punishment in all violent circumstances, not only those involving anti-Semitism. Sadly, the Jewish teacher will probably be forced to transfer to another school where there are fewer Muslim students.

This tolerance of bad behavior is a policy that is decades old. It is part of the breakdown of law and order and of public policy that no longer sees the building of character as central to the educational process.

E. Jeffrey Ludwig is a Harvard master teacher who was selected four times for Whos Who among Americas High School Teachers. He served on the editorial board of the Harvard Educational Review and was nominated to serve on the College Board. His book The Catastrophic Decline of Americas Public High Schools: NYC, A Case Study is available here.

Image via Pexels.
Migrants should be recognized as community members, not just labor

Editors note This article is the third in The Korea Times' 2024 series focusing on diversity, inclusiveness and equality.  ED.

By Lee Hyo-jin

Accepting migrants will become a part of Korea's future, according to Amy Pope, director general of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). She stressed that the narratives about migrants should be reshaped to portray them as essential members of society, beyond merely meeting labor needs.

"Migration will have to be part of Korea's planning for its future. It is a country that does not have a long history of migration. So working with communities that are hosting migrants to make sure they are well integrated and understand the culture so that they can become part of the society here is critical," Pope said in an interview with The Korea Times during her visit to Seoul, Wednesday.

The visit marked Pope's first official trip to Korea since assuming her five-year term as the head of the U.N. immigration agency in October. She is the first woman to lead the organization in its 73-year history.

"It is also important to attract some of the best talent across a wide range of skills ... making sure [Korea] can access talent from across the range, and doing so in a way that advances the government's key national development objectives," Pope said.

She called for a transformation in the discourse on migration, moving away from viewing migrants as a "group of foreign nationals addressing labor needs" to a narrative centered on "making migrants and their families part of the local community."

Pope's message resonates with Korea's strengthened efforts to attract more migrants to address a shrinking labor force amid the rapid population decline. The latest data from Statistics Korea released on Wednesday showed the nation's fertility rate dropped to a historic low of 0.72 in 2023, down from 0.78 the previous year. The quarterly rate even fell to just 0.65 in the last quarter of 2023.

While Korea has become a popular destination for unskilled workers, especially through a government program that brings in tens of thousands of temporary foreign workers mostly from Southeast Asian countries, attracting skilled foreign workers remains a challenge.

Pope suggested that providing international students with longer stay opportunities could be an effective strategy for retaining them once they complete their education in Korea.

"People who are coming in to study to get their degrees within Korean universities are being exposed to the culture and the language over the period of their studies. Those are people you want to retain in the country to keep them here once they already know what their communities look like," she said.

She recommended expanding opportunities for migrants to obtain long-term visas.

"Having too many short-term visas can actually work against the government's goals and having better migration practices," she said. "When you have someone who knows Korean culture, language and the workplace, you don't want them to go and work somewhere else and lose all the years of investment that have already been made."

The migration expert also advocated for family-based immigration, which would significantly help foreign workers integrate more easily into the local community.

"When you're only recruiting single migrants who come and get separated from their families, sometimes they have less of a commitment to their community. But when someone brings their families, for instance their children, they then become interested in the neighborhood as a whole. Children can often be the bridge between the migrant and the host culture," she said.

Pope also discussed a global surge in anti-immigrant political rhetoric, particularly in the lead-up to elections.

"It's interesting that we see an increased anti-migrant rhetoric, particularly at votes. They are a very easy community to target by blaming whatever is happening within a country on the migrants  frankly, because they don't have a voice," she said.

"But the evidence shows overwhelmingly that migrants are actually more rule-abiding. They're less likely to [commit] crimes or contribute to criminal behavior than other communities."

The former deputy director general for management and reform at the IOM and senior adviser on migration for U.S. President Joe Biden said one of her primary goals during her tenure at the IOM is to address climate-induced migration.

Pope noted Pacific islands and African nations like Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya as some of the most vulnerable regions to environmental migration.

Yet, for many Koreans, the issue of climate migration appears distant, as the Asian nation experiences fewer climate disasters.

Nevertheless, Pope believes Korea could be a crucial partner for the IOM in addressing the issue, given its leading role as a supporter of development and humanitarian response.

The IOM's engagement strategy with climate-affected regions not only involves supporting the construction of infrastructure and resilience but also includes job training for climate migrants.

"Korea has a long history of dealing with building resilience, water infrastructure and disaster response  all the skills that could be transferred elsewhere through an exchange of migrants," she said.
People swept up in the Department of Justices January 6 dragnet have been getting extraordinarily harsh sentences. While daily headlines are filled with stories of repeat offenders walking away with slaps on the wrist following brutal crimes, the January 6 defendants, almost every one of whom had no previous criminal record (that Im aware of), were being sent away for years simply for having stepped onto Capitol grounds. These were insane sentences compared to what happened to violent and destructive Antifa and BLM protestors. Now, though, a D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals, in a unanimous decision, held that the prosecutors and the judges improperly used a multiplier to reach these sentences.

The decision arises in the case of only one defendantLarry Brocka retired Air Force officer who entered the capitol wearing a helmet and tactical vest and who was carrying zip ties that he testified he found on the floor and picked up. Theres no indication that he did anything other than wander through the Capitol.

Nevertheless, for these sins, Brock was sentenced to two years in prison. He filed an appeal alleging that the prosecutors wrongly demanded and the judge gave a sentencing multiplier based upon his having violated U.S.S.G. sec. 2J1.2(b)(2). That provision says that, for Base Offense Level 14, If the offense resulted in substantial interference with the administration of justice, increase [the Base Offense Level] by 3 levels.

Image: The DOJs and DC judges dream sentence for January 6 defendants. (Actually, its the execution of Louis XVI, another moment of leftism run amok.)

Thats a big leap. According to Brocks attorney, Brock received a sentence almost twice as long as he would have received had it not been for the misapplication of the guidelines.

Brocks attorney argued that a legislative procedure is not within the purview of the administration of justice. However, the activists in the Department of Justice and those sitting as judges at the trial court level insisted that interfering with the administration of justice included the unnecessary expenditure of substantial government resources. Thats an amazing viewpoint that argues that everything the government does is just. Think about that for a moment.

On appeal, the D.C. Circuit appellate court got it right, explaining that we hold that the administration of justice enhancement does not apply to interference with the legislative process of certifying electoral votes. While acknowledging politely that the trial judges were desperately trying to enhance the sentence of the January 6 defendants, the appellate court essentially said that Brocks argument was a no-brainer:

Section 2J1.2s text, context, and commentary show that administration of justice refers to judicial, quasi-judicial, and adjunct investigative proceedings, but does not extend to the unique congressional function of certifying electoral college votes. The plain, natural, and ordinary meaning of the phrase administration of justice is the governmental process of investigating, determining, and enforcing the legal rights of persons. [snip] Blacks Law Dictionary similarly defines obstructing the administration of justice and interfering with the administration of justice as [t]he skewing of the disposition of legal proceedings, as by fabricating or destroying evidence, witness-tampering, or threatening or intimidating a judge[.] Perverting the Course of Justice, BLACKS LAW DICTIONARY 1383 (11th ed. 2019) (emphasis added)

In addition, right in the commentary to Section 2J1.2 of the sentencing guidelines, the sentencing commission echoed Blacks Law Dictionary, making it quite clear that the goal was to punish matters associated with judicial proceedings.

Whats important to note here is that neither the language of the sentencing guideline nor the legal history behind the concept of the administration of justice nor the commentary on the guidelines is ambiguous. Each makes remarkably clear that it refers to people who try to pervert a judicial proceeding.

What happened when it came to the January 6 defendants was not a good faith error on the part of the prosecutors or the judges. Instead, it amounted to a deliberate and substantial interference with the administration of justice. The prosecutors involved should be fired and the judges impeached.

According to the New York Post, the DOJ is deciding whether to appeal the ruling, while over 100 other January 6 defendants are undoubtedly planning to appeal their own improperly extreme sentences.
On October 7, 2023, Americans were surprised to learn Israelis were all but completely disarmed by their government. For years, Americans had been exposed to photos of Israeli soldiers, including women, carrying their issued rifles, usually American M-16 variants, while shopping or otherwise going about their daily business. These images led to the assumption Israelis had the same access to arms Americans enjoy, blue states and cities excepted, of course.

Tragically, Israel has nothing like the Second Amendment. In that, America is essentially, happily unique. When thousands of drugged, ravenous terrorists poured over the border, most Israelis were unarmed and more than a thousand died in an orgy of rape, mutilation, medieval torture and murder. The very few enclaves that had arms and organization, one led by a woman, were able to use those arms effectively, and suffered not a single casualty, but even there, their arms were kept in an armory. Individual Israelis werent allowed arms. They werent allowed to protect their lives and the lives of their families and friends, and they died horribly or were taken into an equally horrible captivity.

Graphic: Female Soldiers Practice Shooting. Wikimedia Commons.org. Public Domain

One would think America, Israels ally, would recognize the horror and do everything possible to ensure Israelis were never again unable to defend themselves. One would be wrong:

Now, one of the presidents latest gun control charades is making it difficult for one of Americas closest allies to defend itself from terrorists. Its the latest signal that President Joe Biden and The White House are more interested in placating gun control activists who always want him to do more, over the livelihoods of law-abiding Americans and their highly regulated businesses. However, as more and more Israelis continue taking up arms to defend their homes and communities and while still facing Hamas attacks, Israelis are finding the process of securing arms increasingly difficult. Unsurprisingly, its the Biden administration that is making it more difficult.

One of the most anti-liberty/gun administrations in history is doing this? Who could have imagined that?

The Biden administrations announced Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) 90-day pause on firearm exports to certain countries was made with little forewarning, no input from industry and with practically no consideration for how it would impact the nearly 400,000 Americans who work in the firearm industry. The frustration was felt immediately last year once the decision was quietly announced and has only mounted since. Firearm manufacturers have told me they were given no warning. Also, why were the firearms industry  why were they singled out in this issue? Rep. Burchett asked Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration within BIS Thea Rozman Kendler at a congressional hearing in December 2023. These people are in business, maam. And if you cut them off governments can just print more money. These people cant, Congressman Burchett said. Assistant Secretary Kendler admitted the pause is, in fact, having a negative impact on commerce. NATO license applications are still being processed. Thats about, frankly, 75 percent by value of our license applications that we continue to process, she said.

Conveniently, Israel isn't a NATO member:

Unwittingly Kendler admitted there was a change in policy that has reduced  by at least 25 percent  the number of commercial firearm export licenses by American firearm industry members. Thats a tremendous dent in the livelihoods of Americans making a living in the firearm industry. Multiple Members of Congress and U.S. Senators have made it clear to the Biden administration: Stop the charade with firearm exports. After initially being announced as a 90-day pause, the BIS delay is ongoing. And coupled with other threats coming from the Biden administration, which blocked shipments of critical arms to Israel and has threatened to block even more, its not hard to understand why Israel was forced to take a new path.

Thanks to the Mummified Meat Puppet Administration (MMPA), Israel has learned a valuable lesson:

Traditionally, U.S.-made arms made up the largest percentage of arms imported by the State of Israel. But in an announcement, the Israeli Defense Ministry said it could no longer rely on other countries for arms and ammunition imports  ostensibly the United States  and will begin purchasing large quantities of locally-produced arms and ammunition.

Fortunately, Israel makes some of the best combat arms in the world, but theyre now having to spool up those industries at the worst possible time. For the MMPA, however, its a threefer: they get to damage an essential ally, aid some of our most deadly enemies, and further damage American industry, all while engaging in worldwide virtue signaling.

Obviously, the daily threats of genocide by Israelsand ourenemies, and their daily, murderous, efforts to carry it out, arent sufficient to overcome the MMPAs made-up reality. Today, Israel. Tomorrow, us.

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.
Ive got news for Rachel Maddow, Joe and Mika, and Joyless Reid: local Republican committees in flyover America are the most boring places on Earth. Theres no rage, no plotting, no racism, homophobia, anything. You want to know what rural Republicans are up to? Fundraising dinners to pay for yard signs...on the most uncomfortable folding metal chairs you ever sat in.

MSNBC wont report on what local Republicans are doing, because it would bore the audience to death.

We open our MSNBC expose at a meeting. It starts late, because most attendees are late. They say the Pledge of Allegiance, and then they move into old business, which is usually about table centerpieces for the fundraiser. New business consists of selecting radicalized entrees (pork or beef), insurrectional appetizers (they expect shrimp cocktail at a fundraiser), and an extreme venue (like the meeting rooms at the Holiday Inn Express), for as low a price as possible.

Then we move on to the most extreme part of the evening: the silent auction. We plot to go talk to local businesses about donations.

Real wild stuff. Im sure the FBI plant in our group is wondering how on Earth hes going to set us up. Theres just so little to work with. If they can figure out which direction hes coming from, they might be able to bust the committee chairman for speeding. He is always the last to arrive.

You want to know what rural Illinois Republicans want? They send people to a Democrat-supermajority Legislature and hope for some scraps for their districts. Maybe get some of the worst potholes filled, or signage for school zones.

They dont expect much, except more tax increases.

Theres no rage. Theres definitely lots of disgust, but no rage. The folks in flyover land dont really have much time for such. They have bills and taxes to pay.

Image via Raw Pixel.
People and businesses are moving out of Illinois, New York and California because of their far-left policies.

These high-tax states are running out of things to tax to support their big spending policies.

So they resort to lawsuits to get more money since they can't print it. Lawyers are some of the biggest Democrat supporters.

Chicago is now suing oil companies for their supposed damage to the climate.

Mayor Johnson, City Of Chicago Sues Oil And Gas Companies For Climate Deception Taxpayer protection, climate justice at heart of complaint.

These lawsuits have been going on for a while. Six years ago New York sued oil companies for the same thing:

New York City sues Big Oil for allegedly misleading consumers about climate change The City of New York has filed a lawsuit in state court against Exxon Mobil (XOM), Shell, BP (BP), and the American Petroleum Institute for allegedly misleading New York consumers about the role their products play in climate change and for allegedly greenwashing their practices to make them seem more eco-friendly than they are.

First off, these lawsuits are frivolous. There is absolutely zero evidence that shows a correlation between our consumption of oil, coal, natural gas, and temperatures, sea level, and storm activity. Temperatures and storm activity have always fluctuated cyclically and naturally. There have been warm and cold periods during the last 160 years when our use of oil, coal and natural gas have risen exponentially.

It is a massive fraud to continually lie that the science is settled when they never show a direct relationship. The lawsuits should be tossed but they aren't because there is massive collusion to push the radical and destructive green agenda.

The companies that use natural resources to produce reasonably priced energy and thousands of other products should be thanked for allowing cities like Chicago and New York to thrive instead of being sued. They should also be thanked for greatly improving the quality and length of life of the people that have been blessed by the use of the products.

Now, Letitia James is suing a beef producer because she says they mislead the public that they are moving towards net zero.

New York state Attorney General Letitia James sued beef producer JBS in state court for allegedly misleading the public about a pledge the company made to slash its climate pollution in the coming decade. Prosecutors said JBS continued making deceptive marketing claims even after a consumer watchdog group recommended the company stop advertising because it didn't have a strategy to achieve its climate target.

Net zero is essentially a fictional, non-attainable goal. Carbon occurs naturally throughout the World. Humans breathe out CO2, a clear, innocuous, non-pollutant gas that allows plants to thrive and the World to be fed.

If James sued every company and person who falsely claims they are moving towards net-zero the courts would be overwhelmed.

She should include all the car companies and all private jet owners, like John Kerry, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerburg, who buy worthless pieces of paper called carbon credits or who plant trees to pretend they have reduced their carbon footprint.

She should also sue all the countries that pretend they can control the climate if we just switch to electric vehicles.

It is all a fraud.The public is losing massive amounts of money to push the carbon fraud. The poor and middle class are huge victims of the fraud.

If Democrat politicians really wanted to go after companies for fraud, they should go after all the brokers, investment bankers and owners of companies that have bilked investors out of billions pushing the green agenda. This includes a lot of electric car companies, battery companies, and solar companies. The losses are actual instead of fictional as in the case against oil companies and beef producers.

Biden continually shows the public his mind is shot no matter how many times his supporters say he is as sharp as a tack.

While pretending to care about the border, he also said people who say the climate isn't changing are neanderthals.

He is clearly seeing or hearing things that aren't there. I have never seen anyone deny that the climate is changing. That would be stupid.

What should people, like Biden, be called who believe that the Earth warmed after a little ice age ended because humans breathe, eat meat, drive cars, and heat and cool their houses? What should people, like Gates, and Kerry, be called who believe that politicians and bureaucrats can establish policies that can control temperatures, sea levels, and storm activity forever to override all the natural variables?

I certainly wouldn't call these people smart.

Maybe Letitia James should be charged with misusing campaign funds instead of filing frivolous lawsuits. Of course courts would also be jammed up if every politician who misused campaign funds were charged. Sadly, most people posing as journalists don't really care. You won't see this story in many places.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
We are living in times in which Democrats will take ever more extreme measures  no matter how bad they look  to get into and remain in power, as well as avoid punishment for their excesses while there.

As Jonathan Tobin writes in The Federalist, [A]nyone who imagines that the charge of hypocrisy will stop Democrats from doing anything they can to stop Trump from taking office hasnt been paying attention to American politics for the last eight years.

Why stop at hypocrisy?

Previously, I warned that if the timing of the impeachment process is right, a sufficient number of Democrats might join the Republicans in the Senate vote to remove Joe Biden from office so he can be replaced with minimal hassle by a more preferable candidate for president such as Michelle Obama. While some may think that is farfetched, this scenario becomes more likely if Democrat party apparatchiks decide they want Joe gone but he refuses to step down willingly. Of course, warning about it makes this scenario less likely.

And then theres pardons. Before the end of, as well as beyond, Donald Trumps presidency, the liberal press discussed whether Donald Trump could (have) issue(d) a secret self-pardon, as well as secret pardons to others (to be kept hidden to avoid embarrassment but then whipped out like a get-out-of-jail-free card in case of trouble) for their roles in the J6 insurrection. Article II Section 2 of the Constitution says only the following:

The Presidentshall have Power to Grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

(Whats with all the capitals?) The consensus of The Hill, Time and others is that preemptive; non-specific; secret; self-; and secret self-pardons all are allowed. Gerald Fords pardon of Richard Nixon and Trumps pardon of Michael Flynn both were preemptive and non-specific. Ronald Reagan issued pardons not revealed until two weeks later. Secret pardons would work as long as they can be proved later with witnesses or signatures. Newsweek questions whether self-pardons and secret pardons would hold up to challenges as being contrary to the intent of the framers (a self-pardon because the president would effectively be his own judge, and secret pardons because they would deter prosecutors from ever investigating and pursuing charges against All the Presidents Men), but admits the language of the Constitution does not explicitly prohibit them.

Newsweek also cites legal scholars who believe another exception besides impeachment might be if the pardon is part of a crime or cover-up of one, which could be obstruction of justice.

I know what youre thinking: like Joe Biden pardoning son Hunter to hide his own corruption. Get real; in the insane world we live in, think Trump for pardoning Flynn and George Papadopoulos to hide his being a Russian spy. Now you see why a strict interpretation of the Constitution is best.

So it looks like Joe Biden could issue secret pardons to himself and Hunter, to be used later if needed. Of course, presidential pardons work only for federal crimes. Currently, Hunter is being charged with federal crimes only, including tax evasion amounting to over $1.4 million in federal taxes owed over the period 2016-2019, as spelled out in federal court in California, where Hunter had residence for part of that interval, and apparently Delaware before that.

It is conceivable (if not likely) that even after a presidential pardon, these individual states could charge him with tax evasion on the state taxes owed, which in California could result in a prison sentence of up to three years. Things get messy here, because pardon power, requirements and procedures vary widely by state. In California, pardons come only after the sentence is served, although the governor can issue a commutation of sentence. So its not as if Gov. Gavin Newsom could preemptively pardon Hunter for state crimes over dinner at the French Laundry. In Delaware, The governor cannot grant a pardon or commutation in the absence of an affirmative recommendation of a majority of the Board of Pardons after a full hearing.

The Democrats would probably take less heat if old, demented Joe pardoned himself and son (and brother, and daughter-in-law, and ) than be pardoned by an interim or permanent Democrat successor (as per the impeachment scenario above). Even if Biden wins reelection, it seems he still can be impeached after a self-pardon for the same offense.

I almost wish Trump would have issued a self-pardon, possibly prompting its legality to be decided by SCOTUS. If SCOTUS would have ruled it illegal, then Democrat presidents would be barred from using it as well. On second thought, given all the lawfare, Trump might need a very public self-pardon on Jan. 20, 2025.

W.A. Eliot is a pseudonym.

Image: Pixabay / Pixabay License
Over multiple generations and in many places, Jews have been charged with having dual loyalties; that is, they allegedly show no allegiance to the countries that so graciously took them in. What underlies this is the idea that insistence upon continued Jewish existence is no more than coarse chauvinism and a stumbling block to human progress.

In fact, if left alone in freedom, Jews are ardent patriots. But when a government turns on them, theyll logically start looking for a way out, which is bad for the Jews and the country theyre forced to leave. After all, history shows that countries without Jews are also countries without liberty for the rest of their citizens.

From the Jewish perspective, after decades or even centuries of living peacefully, loyally, and patriotically in a specific country, the dual loyalty charge sets the wheels turning in their heads: Where do we run to next because a pogrom cannot be far behind?

If the host government wants the Jews to stay and add to the countrys life and character, all it would have to do is prevent violence from erupting against the Jews. Once governments want Jews to choose between being overtly Jewish or leaving the tribe behind, Jews who are deeply attached to their historical roots become suspicious and distrustful. They can resolve the dissonance raised by the question of allegiances by either escaping their Jewish roots through assimilation or by strengthening their Jewish roots.

Image: 1899 painting by Eugeen Van Mieghem showing Eastern European Jews in Antwerp hoping to head to Ellis Island. Public domain. Once there, they were subject to medical inspection and interrogated about their financial status, destination in America, criminal past, etc.

Jews-in-name-only (JINOS), along with those who have converted entirely, cannot escape the consequences of their stiff-necked progenitors loyalty to Jewish practice. They get caught in the antisemitic backwash because they can never separate themselves sufficiently from their roots in a way that prevents antisemites, even with a backhoe, from excavating their unwanted original connections. This group of fleeing Jews can run, but they have not yet been able to hide completely.

In our generation, Anthony Blinken and Robert Malley are two prime examples of those who have tried both desperately and dramatically to erase their Jewish origins, either through the weakening of the State of Israel (Blinken) or by closely advising the enemies of the Jews (Iran) perhaps to the point of committing legal treason against the US government (Malley).

While adversity causes some Jews to ally with those who seek their destruction, there is an opposite response too: Jews who have been only mildly attached to their ancient past decide to strengthen their connections. These Jews were stunned by the hostility from large groups of non-Jews worldwide since October 7. They realized that they were safer within the boundaries of the Jewish community and found themselves willing to expend energy to solidify that feeling of belonging.

Indeed, this is an ongoing process, predating October 7. In Nahariya, a town north of Tel Aviv, French is commonly heard and spoken. This is because escalating antisemitism in France has seen French Jews immigrate to Israel. In previous generations, Russia competed with Hebrew in Israels streets, as did Arabic, from the Mizrahi Jews ejected after 1948 from their ancient homes in the Muslim world.

Today, Jewish newspapers in the United States and Canada have recently begun running more real estate advertisements for modest apartments in Israel. They also have ads for all-English courses at Hebrew University, Bar Ilan, Technion, and the Jerusalem College of Technology for Jewish students who want to obtain their college degrees without the hassle of being accused of genocide. These world-renowned institutions charge between eight and twelve thousand dollars annually for tuition, a bargain by American standards. After enough harassment, these opportunities begin to look pretty good to the beleaguered young Jew on a hostile American or Canadian campus.

I fear that there will yet come a time in America when people will be unable to say that they have met a Jew. Why? Because America continues to import congenitally anti-Jewish Muslims who will seal the fate of the American Jewish community. Everyone sees safety as a prime concern, especially Jews, given their history. If they cannot remain Jews in a society that will tolerate them, Jews will vote with their feet.

This is bad for the Jews, but its also bad for the former host country. Jews are like the canaries in the coal mine when it comes to liberty. If Jews cannot survive, everyone else is also in for a terrible experience.

This need to uproot and start over has characterized Jewish life for millennia (Fiddler on the Roof as a reality). To the Jew, it is not a matter of dual loyalty but the tolerance of the society in which he finds himself. When simply wearing a Jewish star on a necklace is an unacceptable aggression, the differences between America and Stalins Russia and Maos China will have evaporated. Can America find its way back from the edge of the abyss?
Leftists will often argue that America didnt always have immigration laws and quotas. Conservatives sometimes respond with a meme showing Native Americans saying that theyre what happens when a nation doesnt have immigration laws. Thats true, but there are a few more nuances, which I realized listening to a 124-year-old song by Nora Bayes, who was one of the most popular performers in America back then. Add in the problems of a Supreme Court ruling on the 14th Amendment and a recent video from Mali, and you can see why unlimited immigration is impossible.

Heres an example of one of these memes showing a Native American realizing too late that incoming cultures can swamp and destroy your own:

(Creator unknown.)

Then theres the song, Young America, written by Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth and sung by Nora Bayes in 1910. Bayes was born in 1880 as Rachel Eleonora Goldberg, the daughter of Orthodox Jewish immigrants from Poland. She was gifted at singing in dialect, and this song, which saw her using Irish, Yiddish, and German accents, highlighted that skill, making the song incredibly dated. But whats most notable about the song is the belief that patriotism was the highest goal and duty of public schools and immigrants:

I dropped into an East Side school when school had just begun. The scholars represented every nation neath the sun. But what surprised me most was that it did not take them long To try to learn or try to sing a patriotic song. [snip] Their daddies may be English, Irish, German, French, or Dutch, But if the kids are born in Yankee-land the rest dont count for much. Well put them in our melting pot. Teach them the golden rule. Then well hatch our future president in any public school.

Today, our public-school children (along with most private school children, given that the teachers all come from the same colleges) are taught that America is a foul, misbegotten country and that the nations that their parents abandoned are better in every way. Thats one reason we cant have unlimited immigration: Our education system, rather than teaching patriotism and assimilation, is teaching cultural hatred.

Another reason we cannot have unlimited immigration is that the Supreme Court has held that the 14th Amendmentwhich was clearly intended to apply to people with deep roots in America whose ancestors had been brought here against their willactually applies to all illegal aliens. The toxic case is 1982s Plyler v. Doe, another instance in which the Court stretched the Constitution to the breaking point.

Texas had argued that it had no obligation to place illegal aliens in public schools. The Courts leftist majority, however, held that the 14th Amendment does not distinguish between legal immigrants and illegal aliens (any person within its jurisdiction). The justices, however, cheated to reach that conclusion.

The rule of statutory interpretation called ejusdem generis (of the same kind) means that, if there is a list in a statute, everything must be interpreted to comport with that list. In this case, the 14th Amendment is clearly talking about persons born or naturalized in the United States. Applying ejusdem generis means the phrase any person within its jurisdiction must refer to the larger group of persons who are born or naturalized. The justices knew this, of course. They just wanted free education for illegal aliens.

In effect, they did what Justice Gorsuch did in Bostock v. Clayton County, when he held that the word sex in the Civil Rights Act of 1964 covers gender identity. In both cases, justices focused on a single word so obsessively that they overturned the intent behind the amendment or statute.

With the Plyler ruling, the Court opened the door for the government to hand over Americas riches to all who came to America. America became a worldwide welfare state and, as weve seen, open borders are turning it into the worlds largest refugee camp. Milton Friedman saw what was happening: Its just obvious you cant have free immigration and a welfare state.

And then theres the problem of the people now being welcomed into America. As Bayes song said, the former generations came from Europe, which had a shared Western, Judeo-Christian heritage with America. These people might have different languages and traditions, but their core values revolved around the Bible.

The current crop of immigrants come from cultures that are fundamentally communist/socialist, Muslim, or just completely broken:

This is what Mali, Africa looks like today.



This is what the future of Western countries looks like when you keep importing the third world. You become the third world. pic.twitter.com/C7b5TmMhK3  iamyesyouareno (@iamyesyouareno) March 3, 2024

If we still had a patriotic, assimilationist education system grounded in Judeo-Christian values, these illegal aliens children might still be turned into high-functioning American citizens. But again, we dont.

When they go to school, despite the hellholes they left behind, our teachers ensure that these children do not know about or understand Americas culture, that they view Americas whites (who are still the countrys largest ethnic bloc) as evil, and that they literally hate America for its (checks list) homophobia, xenophobia, immigrant-ophobia, racism, anti-scientism, and overall evil colonialism.

America no longer needs millions of immigrants to feed its industrial growth, it lacks the will to protect itself against diseased, dangerous freeloaders, its a welfare state, and its education system runs on anti-American hatred. The era of free immigration into this country is over.

Image: Legal immigrants awaiting examination at Ellis Island (early 20th century). Library of Congress.
In response to rage from his left flank and that unhappy Michigan primary outcome for him, Joe Biden has begun doing what he does best: Shoveling the goodies.

According to the Associated Press:

WASHINGTON (AP)  The United States on Saturday began airdrops of emergency humanitarian assistance into Gaza. President Joe Biden, who announced the operation on Friday, said the U.S. was looking into additional ways to help Palestinians in the Hamas-ruled territory as the Israel-Hamas war goes on. A look at what to know: WHEN DID THE AIRDROPS START? Three C-130 cargo planes from Air Forces Central dropped 66 bundles containing about 38,000 meals into Gaza at 8:30 a.m. EST Saturday. The bundles were dropped in southwest Gaza, on the beach along the territorys Mediterranean coast, one U.S. official said. The airdrop was coordinated with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, which has been airdropping food and took part in Saturdays mission.

Why this should be the U.S.'s problem is impossible to say, but with CIA officials advising him such as this one, Amy McFadden, it's probably based on their eggings.

It's also very likely to be counter-productive, something that will be grabbed first by the men with the guns, meals-ready-to-eat are mighty convenient for combatants, and then used to feed Hamas in its tunnels, extending the war and the civilian casualty count. That's what they've done in the past with all the aid they've been shoveled from the West. We hear no promises from Hamas that they will refrain from doing that this time.

Someone at AP actually thought to ask the Pentagon how they'll keep those airdrops out of the hands of terrorists, and got this response (emphasis added):

Asked how the U.S. would keep the supplies from falling into Hamas hands, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that the U.S. would learn over the course of the aerial operation. Theres few military operations that are more complicated than humanitarian assistance airdrops, he said. Kirby said Pentagon planners will identify drop locations aiming to balance getting the aid closest to where its needed without putting those on the ground in harms way from the drops themselves. The biggest risk is making sure nobody gets hurt on the ground, Kirby said. He said the U.S. is also working through how the airdropped aid will be collected and distributed once its on the ground.

So they're winging it, dropping the aid first and then figuring out how to keep it out of the greedy clutches of Hamas, which continues to hold a number of American hostages. Free food for terrorists, see, just like the illegals get back home.

The U.S. knows that Hamas will steal the aid because it's shoveled out billions to Hamas through the United Nations aid agency UNRWA, whose operatives ran around with U.N. passes as its well-paid employees, and then on October 7 did a little rape, hostage-taking, torture, and murder on the side. Hamas's leaders live like billionaires in Qatar or wherever else they may be now, fattened by all that aid, too. But as for ordinary Gazans, they're kept lean and hungry and blaming Israel for their misery brought on by their own voting choices as a matter of policy. That's the way Hamas likes it.

Hamas doesn't care if its own people get fed or not, only that they have what they need to keep fighting, so too bad about the locals. They take what they want and don't care about the people they purported represent. As pictures of surrendered Hamas fighters showed earlier, they don't miss meals.

As for the civilians, keeping them hungry serves as convenient propaganda for these terrorists, whipping up pity and blame to Israel. If they're not useful as Hamas's human shields, they're hollow-eyed children with their hands out.

Now Hamas has the airdrops it wants, free of charge from Uncle Sugar, and nobody's asking them to pay for it out of their own past aid funding. They should be forced to pay for it, through banking expropriations and other sanctions before any such U.S. airdrops happen. Anyone getting the aid should be required to declare Israel's right to exist and apologize for Hamas's atrocities as well as any dancing they might have done in the wake of the October 7 attack, as well as fork over the names of those holding hostages and where they are being held.

But of course that's a pipe dream. Biden just does the airdrop to please the Hamas wing of the Democrat party and win the votes he's losing from those leftists who won't vote for him.

The rest of us will get to see the cost of this expensive aid drop, the corruption that follows, the ingratitude of the Palestinians which is inevitable, and ever-fatter Hamas fighters emerging from those tunnels, gorged on U.S. aid that should have gone to civilians.

Image: Pixabay // Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal Public Domain Dedication license
Senator John Cornyn is a former Texas Supreme Court judge and state attorney general. He has been a close ally of Mitch McConnell. Even with good credentials and a good background, he is mostly referred to in Texas as a RINO or an establishment Republican who needs to be removed from office.

Cornyns announcement to run for the leadership of the U.S. Senate, following Mitch McConnells decision to step down, is news, especially in Texas. The spin is that as the first senator to declare his intention to run for Senate Republican leader, Cornyns candidacy is notable for his experience and leadership background and how his aim is to restore the Senate to its essential role in the constitutional republic and a lot more about his electoral strategy and external support.

However, as of today, Cornyn is unsuitable for leadership for two main reasons. For one, he did not back Attorney General Ken Paxton during his impeachment by the Texas state House. He is also anti-Trump and anti-gun, as A.G. Paxton has already pointed out.

It will be difficult for @JohnCornyn to be an effective leader since he is anti-Trump, anti-gun, and will be focused on his highly competitive primary campaign in 2026. Republicans deserve better in their next leader and Texans deserve another conservative Senator. https://t.co/IKJYcoXzat  Attorney General Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) February 29, 2024

It is worth noting that after the fake impeachment by the Deep State Republicans in the Texas House (known as the UniParty) and his final acquittal in the state Senate, Paxton has become an icon, the only man left blocking Biden and his cronies from making Texas as blue and lawless as California. His popularity has soared.

Cornyn played a significant role in negotiating the first major anti-gun bill in decades following the Robb Elementary shooting in Uvalde. The Second Amendment is clear. Anyone going against the spirit of the Second Amendment doesnt have the commitment to understanding its historical context and purpose.

Cornyn has also been involved in efforts to support the migrant influx at the U.S.-Mexico border, and he has introduced bills aimed at making this influx easy, including measures to rapidly process migrant invasion and speed up the processing of asylum-seekers. His approach has exposed him, and it reeks of an agenda-driven policy detrimental to the well-being of the state of Texas. For one, rapidly processing illegal aliens raises concerns about sacrificing thorough vetting procedures, potentially undermining national security, and also resulting in overlooking legitimate asylum claims.

Cornyns current abilities as a leader are under a cloud, as it is clear that his involvement in supporting measures to ease the illegal alien flood is driven more by political expediency and the New World Order (NWO) agenda.

On the other hand, we have Senator Ted Cruz. Cruz has consistently advocated against gun regulation, arguing that such policies are ineffective and do not prevent crime. This stance reflects a commitment to uphold the Second Amendment and the belief that the focus should be on enhancing law enforcement and security measures rather than on restricting gun ownership. For those who prioritize individual rights and the belief in the efficacy of law enforcement over gun control, Cruzs position is to be seen as more aligned with their values.

In fact, Cruz was chiefly instrumental in introducing a rival bill that would increase school security funding, showcasing his willingness to propose alternative solutions to the issue of gun violence. This action exemplifies Cruzs abilities as a leader, as he offers a comprehensive approach to safety beyond just gun control, which is more in keeping with broader strategies to prevent violence. Cruz says $8B in economic aid to Ukraine is crap: A lot of that is almost certain to go to waste.

Moreover, Ted Cruzs support for Paxton during the impeachment effort highlights his commitment to the principles of due process and conservative governance. Cruz openly supports Paxton for his efforts to combat the abuses of the Biden administration, emphasizing his effectiveness in battling these issues.

In short, Texas has two Republican senators. One is pro-Texas, and one is in tune with the Washington Deep State. Cornyns overall approval rating hovers around 24 percent, a dramatic reversal from previous years, when a majority of Texans were not even aware of Cornyns daily activities.

Cruz emerges as a more suitable choice for Texas and the nation as a whole. Cornyns past actions, including his stance on key issues such as gun confiscation and illegal immigration, raise concerns about his commitment to upholding fundamental principles and addressing complex challenges effectively. In contrast, Cruz has consistently advocated for preserving individual rights, upholding due process, and comprehensive solutions to issues like gun violence. His support for Ken Paxton during the impeachment effort demonstrates a commitment to conservative governance and principles.

Moreover, Cruzs approach resonates with a broader base of Texans, as evidenced by his higher approval ratings and continued support. In a political landscape where leadership and integrity are paramount, Ted Cruz stands out over John Cornyn for representing the values and interests of Texas.

Image: John Cornyn. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0.
It would be a grave understatement to suggest that the mainstream media are biased in favor of the Democrats. It implies that the Democrats and the media are separate entities and that somehow the Democrats are influencing the media.

In reality, the mainstream media are a P.R. wing for the Democrats. They are like a department within the party. Hence, there is no difference between the utterances of a Democrat politician and a mainstream media pundit.

As Rush Limbaugh frequently observed, on any given day, the experts across media outlets use identical phraseology to describe any given event.

Words such as collusion and insurrection didnt become the de facto terminology by coincidence. An adept wordsmith among the Democrats supplied these terms, and the media obediently repeated them.

Among the worst offenders in the mainstream media is MSNBC. The channel is not even propaganda, because propaganda requires finesse. Good propaganda is subtle.

But MSNBC is nakedly partisan and proud of it.

Its staffers wallow in identity politics, faux victimhood, conspiracy theories, and hatred for their country.

Consuming MSNBC for even a few minutes is a nauseating experience for any regular human being. The only purpose of MSNBC is for people to understand the mindset of modern leftist Democrats.

A few days back, MSNBC was at its revolting worst as authors of the new book White Rural Rage: The Threat to American Democracy appeared on sparsely watched Morning Joe.

The book is proof that the publishing industry is hijacked by extremists. One of the authors is Thomas Schaller, a professor of political science from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County. This is more evidence of the drastic decline in the education system in the U.S.

The other author is columnist Paul Waldman, who writes for Democrat mouthpieces such as the Washington Post.

The premise of their book is that Caucasian rural voters are the most dangerous geodemographic group in America.

They are the most racist, xenophobic, anti-immigrant, anti-gay geodemographic group in the country, claimed Schaller. Second, theyre the most conspiracist group. QAnon support and subscribers, election denialism, COVID denialism instead of scientific skepticism, Obama birtherism.

They dont believe in an independent press, free speech, Schaller said. Theyre also the most strongly White nationalist and White Christian nationalist. ... Theyre most likely to excuse or justify violence as an acceptable alternative to peaceful public discourse.

Theyre pissed off, concluded Morning Joe co-host Mika Brzezinski. Such coarse language is common on MSNBC.

Next, it was Waldmans turn to spew venom. He claimed that Donald Trump is a conduit for [white rural voters] rage and anger.

All that [Trump] gave them was essentially a way to essentially give a big middle finger to Democrats, to people who live in cities and to the rest of the country, he said.

It is important to note that these blatant instances of bigotry were neither called out nor challenged by the hosts.

So how did we get here?

Before Trump, D.C. had a convenient arrangement. They had managed to deceive voters that there is a two-party system and that both parties stand for different issues. The Democrats pretended to be compassionate liberals concerned for the downtrodden and minorities. The Republicans were portrayed as the cold-hearted, money-minded class with no compassion for anyone but their wealthy donors.

Social issues were used to further push this illusion. Citizens voted for Clinton because they were sick of Bush. They voted for Bush because they were sick of Clinton. They voted for Obama because they were sick of Bush.

All through these transitions, there were illusions of hope. But nothing changed. All these administrations were focused on endless unnecessary foreign wars, shipping U.S. jobs abroad, and awarding cronies.

They didnt care that the nation suffered on multiple fronts due to their apathy.

They didnt notice crumbling infrastructure.

They didnt feel compassion that once great manufacturing hubs that reflected the spirit of the nation had become graveyards.

They allowed open borders so that their cronies had cheap labor. They didnt care about unemployment and the possibility that criminal elements among illegal aliens could wreak havoc. They didnt care that open borders facilitated the trafficking of drugs and human beings.

They didnt care about the loss of lives in the armed forces and beyond due to their wars.

They had no empathy for those suffering from crimes due to their policies that care for the perpetrator more than the victim. They didnt worry about the devolution of values and the destruction of culture.

They never suffer the consequences of their corruption and misgovernance. All that mattered was that they became multi-millionaires during their tenure or after retirement.

This is also true for members of Congress.

It took an outsider like Donald Trump to awaken the voters and reveal the con that was perpetrated upon them.

Republicans such as Mitt Romney and John McCain, who were placid during their respective presidential campaigns, began using Democrat talking points to attack Trump. During Trumps inauguration, when he spoke about empowering the citizens and holding D.C. accountable, George W. Bush purportedly called it some weird s---.

D.C. always despised rural America, which the swamp disdainfully called flyover country. They were sly enough to use these pejorative epithets behind closed doors.

But Trumps popularity changed everything.

It enraged D.C.s people to such an extent that they began saying what they truly felt.

Hillary Clinton claimed that Trump-supporters are racist, sexist, homophobic, xenophobic and belong to a basket of deplorables.

During a CNN panel discussion, Trump-supporters were branded the credulous boomer rube demo. The panelists did their version of a Southern accent, portraying Trump-supporters as bloviating ignoramuses while the host tittered.

The instances of bigotry are numerous.

Hollywood, especially in recent times, has been disdainful of rural America. But following Trumps election, the venom was blatant.

The Democrats had dehumanized Trump-supporters, who they think are primarily white rural Americans, to such an extent that they no longer care to conceal their hatred.

Why the hatred?

The Democrats view voters as subjects who need to be controlled rather than citizens to whom they are accountable. Their object is to rule (not govern).

They see these dissenting white rural voters as impediments to their permanence of power.

This is why the January 6 protesters were subjected to draconian punishment. This is why President Trump is being relentlessly targeted by all government agencies. These are actions to forever remove their obstacles.

The persecution of President Trump  and the fact that during his tenure, the border was secure, the economy was booming, and there was peace across the world  has made the bond between Trump and his supporters unbreakable.

This causes the Democrats to almost combust with rage, because for almost a decade they have been trying to create a wedge between Trump and his supporters.

Back to MSNBC.

The racist utterances on MSNBC are so undisguised and vile that it almost seems like a parody sketch. But self-righteousness usually lacks self-awareness, so these people will not even comprehend their devolution into rabidity.

When President Trump called the media the enemy of the people, he was absolutely right. That stark but factual characterization must also be extended to several elected representatives in D.C.

Image: Don Hankins via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped).
The U.S. military's investigations into three recent F-16 fighter jet crashes in Korea remain ongoing, a U.S. Air Force official has said, as safety concerns remain unabated over the series of crashes.

Last May, a U.S. F-16 crashed in Pyeongtaek, 60 kilometers south of Seoul, followed by another crash into the Yellow Sea in December and a third one into the waters in January. All three pilots from the crashes ejected from the aircraft and were rescued.

Ten months on since the May crash, its cause still remains unknown to the public as concerns have mounted from the subsequent crashes and a U.S. F-16 dropping two of its fuel tanks over the Yellow Sea last month in an in-flight emergency.

"The full investigations for these separate incidents are ongoing," Maj. Rachel Buitrago, spokesperson for the 7th Air Force, told Yonhap News Agency by email." As a result, we can't speculate on the causes behind them until the results are publicly released."

Buitrago reaffirmed her unit's commitment to safety, noting that it understands the security and safety concerns of residents living near operational bases, especially in light of the recent incidents.

"We want to assure our partners that we take every precaution to avoid any aircraft incident and prevent the loss of life or property for Korean and U.S. personnel," she said. "Steps are taken during emergency situations for those purposes, so that when emergencies do occur, the impacts to civilian populations are mitigated as much as possible."

The U.S. military's follow-up measures, however, have faced questions, considering that the Korean Air Force carries out mass grounding of aircraft in response to its fighter jet crashes.

In September, the Korea Air Force grounded some 150 fighter jets after a crash of a KF-16C  a variant of the F-16  until it completed its investigation in December.

Buitrago explained that her unit treats each major aircraft incident as an independent and unrelated event.

"For these past three F-16 crash incidents, initial findings did not indicate a related cause that would require a prolonged suspension in operations," she said.

After the January crash, Lt. Gen. David R. Iverson, the commander of the 7th Air Force, said his unit paused flying operations to focus on search and recovery efforts of the aircraft before resuming some operations a day later.

The F-16 serves as a key asset for the 7th Air Force, which operates one F-16 fighter squadron in Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek and two such squadrons in Kunsan Air Base in Gunsan, 178 km south of Seoul. A squadron is usually made up of up to 24 aircraft. (Yonhap)
Already facing a major crime crisis, the Biden administrations migration policies have brought even more gang violence to American cities.

Due to the administrations anti-border policies, foreign gangs have successfully infiltrated the U.S., and the federal government has shown little interest in stopping the flow.

The explosion of illegal alien crime received increased national attention after a group of illegal aliens were caught on camera brutally assaulting New York police officers. Federal officials later confirmed that the alleged assailants were part of Tren de Aragua, a violent Venezuelan gang.

Unfortunately, this was not the only beating New York police officers have taken from illegal aliens in recent weeks. Another video of illegal aliens assaulting police officers went viral earlier this month at a migrant shelter the city set up to care for the aliens. The latest alleged assault occurred after the illegal aliens refused to comply with orders given to them by the officers at the shelter.

While we dont have all the details of this most recent alleged assault, its fair to say that a disturbing pattern of illegal alien violence has erupted in the Big Apple, and while what happens in New York always receives a disproportionate amount of attention from the national media, this is a crisis taking place across the country.

Earlier this year, reports emerged of recently-arrived illegal aliens participating in a litany of burglaries in a Chicago suburb. The chief of police in the area said the thefts were part of a bigger criminal enterprise, suggesting an organized crime element to the robberies. Shortly after, a former police chief in a Cook County, Chicago suburb alleged that Chicago-area gangs were recruiting illegal aliens to participate in their organized crime activities. According to an analysis by the Federation for American Immigration Reform last December, Chicago has seen an increase of 11,000 percent in arrests of Venezuelans since the border crisis began.

Anybody who pays attention to the happenings in cities like New York and Chicago understands that these cities have more than enough home-grown crime, and the last thing they can afford is to import criminals from foreign countries. The New York Post noted the absurdity of allowing illegal aliens to continue to drive the citys crime rate up in a recent editorial, writing that New Yorkers dont need a weatherman to know which way the migrant-crime wind is blowing  or to see a gathering storm is coming.

This is correct. The only way to stop the scourge of illegal alien crime is to begin mass deportations of illegal aliens. Lest anyone think this epidemic of lawlessness is confined to major cities, areas across the country are being hit by illegal alien crime as well.

The town of West Whiteland Township, Pennsylvania  which holds a population of less than 20,000  has also been victimized by illegal alien gangs, who have allegedly robbed thousands of dollars from the towns businesses. All of this evidence contradicts the established narrative in anti-border circles that illegal aliens are law-abiding, and do not bring crime with them from their home countries.

The simple truth is that all illegal aliens are criminals because they have violated federal U.S. law by entering the country illegally. In order to work in the country as an illegal resident, they have to commit fraud. To open a bank account, they have to do the same. Certainly, most people in the country illegally are not violent criminals or gang members, but the insistence by our ruling elites that we tolerate these aforementioned crimes has led to the explosion of more serious, dangerous crimes. Lawlessness begets lawlessness, and there is no greater example of the collapse of the rule of law than the current illegal immigration crisis.

The illegal immigration crisis is rapidly turning into an organized crime crisis, and this problem will continue to escalate as long as the flow of illegal aliens crossing the border remains at record highs. The most powerful nation in the history of the world has ceded operational control of its border and has shown no interest in taking it back, even as the hemispheres most violent gangs continue to exploit it. It is not asking too much to demand that our leaders adopt a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal alien crime. America already has more than enough criminals. The last thing we need to do is bring in other countries criminals.

William J. Davis is a communications associate for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a public interest law firm working to defend the rights and interests of the American people from the negative effects of mass migration.

Image: Screen shot from KTSM, via YouTube
Amber Davies received the top score from the judges in the Dancing On Ice semi-final.

The celebrities were all hoisted into the air with wires for the semi final of the ITV competition.

Davies raised her professional skater Simon Proulx-Senecal above the rink while dressed in a pink fairy-tale dress, as she skated to Taylor Swifts Wildest Dreams.

She performed rotating lifts and somersaults and they were given a top score of 40 points from the four judges.

Ashley Banjo said: It was close to perfection, and Christopher Dean said he would have given a higher score if 10 was not the limit.

I dont know where to start, that was so beautiful, Oti Mabuse said.

Elsewhere, Made In Chelsea star Miles Nazaire and former Coronation Street actor Ryan Thomas failed to achieve top scores.

Vanessa Bauer and Miles Nazaire (Ian West/PA)

Nazaire performed to Michael Bubles Feeling Good with professional Vanessa Bauer, and was awarded 36.5 points by the judges.

While hovering in the air, he carried Bauer and balanced her on his skates.

Judge Oti Mabuse called their connection undeniable, but Nazaires posture prevented him receiving a top score.

I think performance was the note that you keep getting but I think you really commanded out there, Banjo told them.

Thomas fun aerobatic dance to Robbie Williams Aint That A Kick In The Head? earned him 38 points, his highest of the series.

Banjo said he loved it as the story was creative and inspired by old Hollywood.

The judge has returned to the series after he ripped his leg while on tour as the leader of the dance troupe Diversity.

Ryan Thomas and Amani Fancy (Ian West/PA)

He has been replaced in recent weeks by US figure skater Johnny Weir.

Earlier, the contestants were tasked with dance skating to AC/DCs Highway To Hell without their professional partners.

Both Adele Roberts and Davies were lifted into the air by their fellow contestants.

Judge Christopher Dean announced the winner as Greg Rutherford, who took an early win with five points.

This left Davies on one point, Roberts on two points, Thomas on three points and Nazaire with four points.
The mother of murdered Emma Caldwell has called for a criminal investigation into the handling of the case after it took almost 19 years to bring her daughters killer to justice.

Iain Packer was jailed for life with a minimum term of 36 years on Wednesday after being found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering the 27-year-old in 2005 and of multiple offences involving other women.

Miss Caldwells family have called for a public inquiry into failures by the authorities over the investigation of her murder in 2005.

However, her mother Margaret Caldwell said that could take many years to set up and is also calling for a criminal investigation led by an outside police force and steered by independent prosecutors to scrutinise the conduct of authorities, the Sunday Post reported.

Mrs Caldwell told the newspaper: The only thing the Crown Office should have been announcing after the trial was an immediate and independent criminal investigation.

Emma Caldwell died in 2005 (Family handout/PA)

It is not just my family that needs reassurance about our justice system. Everyone in Scotland needs that reassurance.

Packer was also convicted of 11 rapes and 21 further charges including sexual assaults and abduction, involving multiple women, over 26 years.

The Crown Office said that following a full independent investigation Crown Counsel concluded that there was insufficient evidence of criminality on the part of any police officer involved in the investigation of Emma Caldwells murder.

However, the Crown reserved the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available, as in all cases.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has said a public inquiry into the investigation of Packer is not off the table.

He and Justice Secretary Angela Constance are due to meet Mrs Caldwell this week and the Crown Office said the Lord Advocate is also due to meet with Miss Caldwells family and their solicitor this week.

Mrs Caldwell welcomed the possibility of a public inquiry but said there can be no more delay.

She told the newspaper: I was 57 when Emma died and Im 78 now. How long must I wait to be told exactly who failed Emma and why?

I have no patience for more talk and empty promises. Only actions count now.

Police Scotland has apologised to the family of Miss Caldwell and Packers other victims, admitting they were let down by policing.

Miss Caldwell was reported missing by her family in April 2005 and her body was found the following month in Limefield Woods, near Biggar, South Lanarkshire.

Iain Packer was jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow (Police Scotland/PA)

In 2015 a Sunday Mail newspaper story branded Packer the forgotten suspect and Police Scotland launched a re-investigation of the case that year following instruction from the Lord Advocate.

Mrs Caldwell said that her husband Willie died of cancer and with a broken heart in 2011 before seeing justice for his daughter.

She said her daughter always said she would come home and sort herself out, adding every day it breaks my heart that she never got the chance.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: This week the Lord Advocate will meet with Emmas family and their solicitor to answer questions about the investigation and criminal proceedings.

We feel that to respect this meeting it would not be appropriate to comment publicly on matters which should be discussed first with Emmas family.

However, we can confirm a previous statement that following a full independent investigation Crown Counsel concluded that there was insufficient evidence of criminality on the part of any police officer involved in the investigation of Emma Caldwells murder.

As in all cases, the Crown reserved the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.

Following Packers conviction on Wednesday, Assistant Chief Constable for major crime and public protection Bex Smith said: Police Scotland launched a re-investigation of the case in 2015 after instruction from the Lord Advocate.

It is clear that further investigations should have been carried out into Emmas murder following the initial inquiry in 2005.

The lack of investigation until 2015 caused unnecessary distress to her family and all those women who had come forward to report sexual violence.

Police said that, over seven years, a full review of the original inquiry by Strathclyde Police in 2005 was completed.

A spokesperson said: As part of the re-investigation, a report was also sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in relation to the Strathclyde Police investigation.
The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said his thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Sarah Everard on the unimaginably difficult day which marks the third anniversary of her murder.

Ms Everard, a 33-year-old marketing executive, was raped and killed by Metropolitan Police officer Wayne Couzens, who was off duty, as she walked home in south London on March 3 2021.

The 51-year-old used his status as a police officer to trick Ms Everard into thinking he could arrest her for breaking lockdown rules in place at the time.

Sarah Everards abduction and murder galvanised demands for tackling violence towards women (CPS/PA)

Ms Everards family said she died because Couzens was a police officer and she would never have got into a strangers car.

An inquiry chaired by Lady Elish Angiolini said last week that Couzens should never have been given a job as a police officer and chances to stop the sexual predator were repeatedly ignored and missed.

Mr Khan said it will take years to repair the damaged trust and confidence in the police.

My thoughts are with the family and loved ones of Sarah Everard on the third anniversary of her tragic death, on what must be an unimaginably difficult day for all those who knew and loved Sarah, he said.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said it will take years to repair trust in police (Victoria Jones/PA)

Sarahs murder by a serving police officer horrified the entire country and significantly damaged the trust and confidence women and girls have in the police. This will take years to repair.

Ms Everards abduction and murder galvanised demands for tackling violence towards women.

Mr Khan said: We owe it to Sarah, Zara Aleena, Sabina Nessa, Nicole Smallman, Bibaa Henry and every other woman who has had their life brutally stolen from them to do all we can to prevent violence against women and girls.

Wayne Couzens should never have been given a job as a police officer, an inquiry chaired by Lady Elish Angiolini found (Metropolitan Police/PA)

In March 2023, the Casey Review, commissioned by the Met in the wake of Ms Everards murder, found the force was institutionally racist, homophobic and misogynist, and there might be more officers like Couzens in its ranks.

As mayor, I have ensured the Met is now on a path of far-reaching reform and we are starting to see some improvements, with stronger vetting and the removal of more rogue police officers and staff, Mr Khan said.

But the recent findings from the Angiolini Inquiry highlight how far policing in this country still has to go to raise standards and rebuild trust.

Zara Aleena was murdered by Jordan McSweeney as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, in 2022 (Family Handout/PA)

I will continue to do everything in my power to support and hold the Commissioner to account on delivering the vital cultural and performance reforms needed so that we can continue building a safer London for everyone  particularly for women and girls who have been let down for far too long.

Zara Aleena, a 35-year-old law graduate, was murdered by Jordan McSweeney as she walked home from a night out in Ilford, east London, on June 26, 2022.

Her killer was jailed for life but a probation report in January found McSweeney had been incorrectly assessed as medium rather than high risk when he was freed from his ninth prison term, meaning he should have been returned to jail for breaching the terms of his release.

Sabina Nessa was killed by sexual predator Koci Selamaj in 2021 (Family handout/PA)

Sabina Nessa, a 28-year-old primary school teacher, was murdered by Albanian-born Koci Selamaj in south-east London on September 17, 2021.

After her murder, the Mayor of London said there was an epidemic of violence against women and girls.

Sisters Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were stabbed to death by Danyal Hussein in north-west London on June 6, 2020.

Sisters Bibaa Henry (left) and Nicole Smallman were stabbed to death while in a park in Wembley in June 2020 (Family handout/PA)

Former Met constables Deniz Jaffer and Jamie Lewis were subsequently jailed for sharing photographs of the womens bodies on WhatsApp.

In response to the Angiolini inquiry, Home Secretary James Cleverly announced that police officers will be automatically suspended in future if charged with certain criminal offences.

Meanwhile, Labour has said it will introduce compulsory violence against women and girls training for every police officer and promised an overhaul of police vetting procedures.
South Korea's first military spy satellite has successfully transmitted "good-resolution" images of central Pyongyang back home following the satellite's launch in December, military sources said Sunday.

The first indigenous South Korean military spy satellite was placed into orbit from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California on Dec. 2, allowing South Korea to independently gain satellite imagery on the North Korean military and leadership.

According to the sources, the electro-optical and infrared (EO/IR) satellite has been sending home satellite images of North Korean regions, including Pyongyang, in a test transmission.

"Seen from the results of the editing on recently transmitted satellite photos, the resolution is as good as expected," a military source said.

"Pyongyang's central area and vessels at a port are clearly seen (in the photos)," the source noted.

The photos currently being transmitted need some heavy editing, but the satellite is expected to send home higher-resolution images beginning next month, other sources also said.

Sources did not specify the exact subjects photographed in the images, citing intelligence reasons. Central Pyongyang houses the headquarters building of the Workers' Party of Korea, where leader Kim Jong-un's office is located.

"Given the current conditions, (the satellite) is anticipated to enter its full reconnaissance mission by June or July as planned," another source noted.

Once the indigenous satellite goes into its full mission phase, it is expected to help reduce South Korea's heavy reliance on U.S. satellite imagery on North Korea, which could boost Seoul's independent monitoring capabilities of North Korea.

By 2025, South Korea plans to send four more satellites into space to better monitor North Korea, including the second, synthetic aperture radar satellite, scheduled to be launched in April from an air force base in Florida. (Yonhap)
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We all love to get glammed up every once in a while, but every day? That takes commitment. And if you've got a to-do list that's a mile long, then chances are a ten-step makeup routine isn't really a top priority. If, however, you want to look like you spent a lot of time perfecting your makeup without, well, spending a lot of time, then check out the L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion. We've seen Martha Stewart use it, but as it turns out Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Bethenny Frankel is also a fan. She posted a TikTok video demonstrating how she applies the product  and how she uses three different shades of the product at once to achieve the perfect rosy, glowy, bronzy complexion. Right now, the best-selling glow enhancer lotion is on sale for almost 30% off at Amazon.

Why is this a good deal?

Prices on beauty products fluctuate often on Amazon, but the discounts are usually in the 20% off range. Right now, the Lumi Glotion is nearly 30% off, which makes it a can't-miss deal. Heck, at less than $15, you can follow Frankel's lead and grab the glotion in a few shades.

Why do I need this?

Perhaps the better question is, how have you lived this long without this glow-enhancing face lotion? Is there anyone among us who doesn't want to look luminous and sun-kissed in just seconds? As Frankel demonstrates in her video, applying the Lumi Glotion is really as simple as squeezing some of the product onto your hands and then massaging it onto your face. Almost instantly, your complexion is completely transformed and your skin looks brighter and more radiant.

We love that you don't have to be a makeup pro to apply the L'Oreal glotion, but the lightweight formula is also a huge plus. If you hate the feel of heavy foundation that feels cakey on your skin, or even worse, emphasizes fine lines, then this lotion is worth a try. You only need a little to start and it really does feel weightless on your skin. If you want a more flushed or bronzed look, then just add a little more until you're satisfied.

If you want to understand the hype around this product, just search Lumi Glotion on TikTok and you'll find hundreds of videos devoted to the product, many with thousands of views. (Amazon)

What reviewers say

Beauty lovers on social media love the L'Oreal Lumi Glotion  and so do Amazon shoppers. The product has more than 33,000 ratings and 4.6 out of 5 stars. Many customers who've purchased the product say it really does give your skin an incredible glow.

"This stuff is amazing!" one person wrote in their review. "It's perfect for those of us who don't wear foundation, or a day when you don't feel like it. This gives me just the right amount of glow. ... It evens out my skin tone but without coverage, if that makes sense. It's very hydrating and blends beautifully."

Another Lumi lover commented, "I have been using Lumi Glotion for some time now. It gives my skin a healthy glow without looking as though I'm wearing makeup. It's great for a more casual look as it evens out my skin tone while remaining sheer. I mostly wear it for daytime activities such as yoga, hiking, etc. It's possible to look fabulous without appearing to have tried too hard!"

Though many people are very pleased with the L'Oreal glow enhancer, some have complained that it can be difficult to blend.

"I think this product is pretty OK but I think its kind of patchy and you have to watch your blending. Sometimes Ill just randomly see during the day that I didnt blend one spot and then it just looks really bad," one shopper explained.

Another added, "I got this for that glowy bronze summer look and it just looked dirty on me. The product is a little harder to blend than I expected. Under foundation, [it] is nice but alone I look like I just went swimming in mud."

The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
Charlotte the stingray has been a topic of discussion around the world since her shocking pregnancy was announced to the public just before Valentine's Day.

The Aquarium and Shark Lab by Team Ecco in Hendersonville, North Carolina revealed that Charlotte, its female stingray, was able to get pregnant without a male mate. Although an exact due date was not given by the aquarium, the birth was reportedly supposed to have happened this week.

The aquarium continues to make posts about her as eager fans wait in anticipation for the birth of the now famous stingray.

Thank you all for continuing to be patient while we all await for Charlotte to give birth! Please visit the link in our bio to support Charlotte and her nursery, the post on Instagram read.

Rare virgin birth': Baby shark asexually reproduced at Brookfield Zoo, second in the US

Fans are invested in Charlotte the stingray's pending birth

Aquarium Shark and Lab Team ECCO director Brenda Ramer, left, opens the doors on Feb. 28 to allow people in to see Charlotte, the stingray who is close to giving birth.

The aquarium staff members have been so overwhelmed with media requests that a public relations firm was hired to handle them all. According to the firm, one of the latest requests came from ABC's "Good Morning America."

In the early afternoon on Feb. 28, a small line of Charlotte lovers began to form in front of the aquarium. Then, the moment everyone was waiting for came.

"Are you guys ready to see our Charlotte?" the aquarium's director, Brenda Ramer, said as she opened the doors, which resulted in the kids who were in line jumping up and down with excitement.

Ramer said staff members haven't seen any changes in Charlotte's behavior relating to her eating habits and interacting with her tank mates.

"We are anticipating preforming another ultrasound within the week where we will check on the condition of her young," she said.

An ultrasound performed a few months back showed there are between one to four pups. Kady Lyons, a research scientist at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, told the Associated Press last month that Charlotte's birth will be the first-time a round stingray has given birth asexually through parthenogenesis  a process where cells will split inside of the female's eggs and create an embryo, which is basically a clone of the mother.

One of the people who came on Feb. 28 to the aquarium hoping to see the pups being born was Tara Kegan, who knows plenty about stingrays.

"I used to be a marine science instructor in California. I'm so excited that our little aquarium has a stingray and that she's going to make history," she said.

Kegan said while she worked with stingrays many times during her teaching days in California, she never was around one that was pregnant.

"I never was, so this will be a first," she said. "This specifically will be such a unique opportunity to see her give birth to clones."

Ramer and her team provide updates on Charlotte on Facebook, Instagram and X (formerly Twitter). In a Facebook post on Feb. 27, she asked people to list their city, state and country. By 3 p.m. Feb. 28, the post had more than 2,000 comments.

She said since Charlotte's impending miraculous birth has been announced, Team ECCO's social media pages have grown "exponentially."

"The whole world has interest in Charlotte. We are happy to use our platform to promote science and inspire people to visit aquariums and parks. Charlotte has inspired conversation in the science world, and we are happy to facilitate the media coverage surrounding her and all the other amazing animals we have at Team ECCO. We are happy to bring science to our community and the world," Ramer said.

Charlotte the stingray fans react on social media as they await birth

In addition to fans showing up to the aquarium in person, those are social media are also voicing their anticipation over Charlotte's pregnancy and birth.

Team Ecco if you see this please go back to your daily updates. You left us hanging for three days and I was seriously concerned, Samantha said in a post on TikTok. We need to know how Charlotte is doing on a daily basis.

Another TikTok user is asking for any information involving the births.

Does anyone have insider information on Charlotte the stingray? Lexi posted on TikTok yesterday. Because her due date was like a week ago. Are we all just getting trolled? This is excellent clickbait because I'm here for it, but is it a stingray baby, is it a shark baby? I need to know.

Although Charlotte have become an instant star, one TikTok user warns that all this attention might be a contributing factor to Charlottes late birth.

The large influx of people coming to see Charlotte might make her feel a little stressed out, Kayla Jade said in the post. Stingrays when they give birth, they want to feel 100% secure in giving that birth. I mean theyre like humans in that respect.

Charlotte became pregnant asexually debunking initial claims of a shark-stingray hybrid

Pregnant stingray confuses caretakers

As previously mentioned, Charlotte was able to reproduce asexually through a process called parthenogenesis.

Before that was discovered, the controversial pregnancy started a debate. With no male companion, a question arose, who got Charlotte pregnant?

The aquarium believed that Charlotte had cancer when she began to swell. However, ultrasound results revealed the growths within her body were actually eggs.

Charlotte's companions in her tank were white-spotted bamboo sharks, the alleged possible father to her pups.

Although this rare phenomenon had many researching about the possibility of a shark and stingray pup, experts debunked the claims giving everyone a quick lesson in marine biology.

We should set the record straight that there arent some shark-ray shenanigans happening here, Lyons told the AP.

In addition, Lyons also told the AP this theory is impossible. A shark and a stingray are different sizes which means the animals wouldnt match up anatomically. Neither would their DNA.

Averaging a length of 24 to 37 inches long, white-spotted bamboo sharks primarily prey on small marine fish and invertebrates, though species aren't well-documented, the Florida Museum of Natural History states.

Charlotte, a round stingray, can grow up to 10 and 22 inches in width, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Round stingrays are preyed on by northern elephant seals and larger fishes such as giant sea bass and sharks, especially leopard sharks.

Contributing: The Associated Press

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Charlotte the stingray birth: Social media reacts to rare pregnancy
MALAGA  Antonio Chavarrias Holy Mother, Celia Ricos Little Loves and Diogo Viegass Alices Diary play at this years 3rd Spanish Screenings Content, the Malaga Festivals part of the Spanish Screenings XXL, Spains biggest international industry platform in its history, featuring over March 4-7 and  when it comes to Malaga  the monumental number of 222 titles.

In production volume, Spain has never had it so good. The market screenings at Malagas Rosaleda Multiplex range across over 80 Spanish movie titles, taking in recent past gems such as The Girls Are All Right, Something Is About to Happen, Jokes & Cigarettes and The Chapel, just to mention titles on Mondays program.

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Also on offer are 11 Works in Progress, 62 Film Library titles and 65 shorts.

The Screenings come at a propitious time in many ways for Spanish cinema. Two Spanish movies  J.A. Bayonas Andean air crash disaster Society of the Snow and animated feature Robot Dreams  were nominated for Sundays Academy Awards.

Four out of five most watched films in Netflixs Top 10 of non-English-language films are from Spain, led by Society of the Snow, Nowhere, The Platform and Through My Window.

Bringing to the table the deepest pocket of any production powerhouse in Spain, Movistar Plus+ is revving up a slate of upscale and higher-end crossover pics from Rodrigo Sorogoyen, Alberto Rodriguez, Iciar Bollain, Oliver Laxe and Ana Rujas.

The last is produced with Javier Ambrossi and Javier Calvo  Los Javis  who unveiled a second title, this time with Netflix, a modern remake of Mi querida senorita, as Ambrossi and Calvo they would soon be announcing a full movie slate from their production house, Suma Content. Other major producers in Spain look likely to drive into film production.

Malagas Spanish Screenings point up further market trends energizing Spanish production.

One, no doubt, is co-production. Six of the 12 features highlighted by the Spanish Screenings are made with foreign partners.

Another is animation. A hit last year at Malaga, the Screenings will once more spotlight titles from Spains fast expanding animation scene, including the latest offerings from major players such as Spains Hampa Studio and Lightbox Animation Studios (Alices Diary), Ikiru (Black Butterflies) and TV On Producciones (The Violinist).

Boosted by Spains subsidy system, which prizes new features, the Screenings feature new talent. Directorial first features take in Jaime Puertas Castillos Tale of Shepherds, charting not only the physical but mental landscape of fast-disappearing rural Spain; Core Ruizs dysfunctional family drama I Gonna Disappear and We Treat Women Too Well, from Clara Bilbao, responsible for the knock-your-socks-off memorable costume design  Varietys phrase  of Sundays Illness.

Meanwhile, the regions are rising. Three of the 12 titles at the Animation Hub, Market Premieres and Official Selection picks have been made in the Canary Islands. Films from their home-grown domestic industry begin to hit the festival circuit in far larger numbers. Im Gonna Disappear, in Market Premieres, is a proof that a cinema with Canary technicians, actors and musicians is not only possible but necessary, says director Core Ruiz.

Another trend, if the Spanish Screenings market premieres are anything to go by, is history. For centuries, Spaniards have not wanted to look back  the major narrative is decline from once commanding the most powerful empire in the Western World, until Northern Europes industrial revolution put pay to that.

A tale of female empowerment, set in the ninth century, little visited by Spanish cinema, Holy Mother, based on a real figure, charts the struggle of Emma, appointed head of an abbey, to repopulate lands, re-conquered from Moorish forces, despite the opposition of multiple forms of patriarchy.

We Treat Women Too Well captures the fissiparous, internecine conflict which has bedeviled Spain for centuries.

The Spanish Screenings form part of the Spain AVS Hub, part in turn of Spains Recuperation, transformation and Resilience Plan.

Below, profiles of titles in the Screenings Animation Hub on Wednesday, market premieres and four titles chosen by the Screenings from the Malaga Festivals Official Selection.

Animation Hub WIPs

Alices Diary, (El Diario de Alicia, Spain, Portugal, Brazil)

A short-format older pre-school series, about Alicia, a quirky, sometimes inspired six-year-old whose diary entries come alive on the screen. Director Diogo Viegass King Gaston won best short for children at Brazils Anima Mundi. Given its prestige producer package Spains Hampa Studio (Bunuel in the Labyrinth of Tortoises, Brazils Gepetto Filmes (Chico Na ilha dos Jurubebas), Sardinha em Lata (My Grandfather Used to Say He Saw Demons, and Spains Lightbox Animation Studios (Tad, the Lost Explorer)  this is a title to track.

Black Butterflies, (Mariposas negras, David Baute, Spain)

Lobuin, Vanesa and Soma are from very different parts of the world but all suffer climate change. Losing everything from global warming, they emigrate to survive. Edmond Roch at Ikiru Films (Tad, The Lost Explorer, Eugenio) produces with Tinglado Film (Ona) and Anangu Grup (Mummies) and Tunche Films (Ainbo: Spirit Of The Amazon). A 2D animated feature penned by Yaiza Berrocal, from Bautes original story.

The Invisibles, (Ikusezinak, Imanol Zinkunegi, Spain, Chile)

Fruit of the building Basque animation scene, directed by one ef its modern pioneers, an animation supervisor on 1992s La leyenda del viento norte and animation director on 2013s Lazarillo de Tormes. The Invisibles arrive on Earth 3.7 billion years ago crashing to the bottom of the ocean where they are threatened by the evil Anthrax.

Norbert, (Norberto, Jose Corral, Spain, Argentina)

An incompetent spy from drab, dismal Graylandia, thwarts the his country s plans to invade the vibrant, if chaotic neighboring Colorlandia. An 3D animated comedy from Goya-nominated Corral (El Desvan). Produced by Spanish indie outfit Capitan Arana (Ozzy), lauded Aqui y Alli Films (Life and Nothing More) and Buenos Aires-based Vista Sur Films (Dalia and the Red Book). Pick Parrot Media sells, Filmax distributes in Spain.

Norbert

The Violinist, (El Violonista, Raul Garcia y Ervin Han, Spain)

A potentially moving animated feature inspired by Hans short of the same name, a period genre-blending mix of drama, romance action and music as a young Spanish reporter discovers the tangled lives of two young lovers, researching the provenance of an old violin, marked 1941. Singapore. Directed by Spanish former Disney animator and then director Raul Garcia (Extraordinary Tales) and Han, who created Singapores first primetime animated series, Heartland Hubby. Han produces with Spanish powerhouse Paloma Mora at TV ON Producciones.

Market Premieres

Holy Mother, (La Abadesa, Antonio Chavarrias, Spain)

From Spanish giallo Una ombra en el jardin (1989) to immigrant-junkie drama Susanna (1996) from brother from hell imbroglio Volveras (2002) through procedural Las vidas de Celia (2005) and Trotsky assassination thriller The Chosen (2016), Chavarrias has directed a huge gamut of open arthouse films enrolling in multiple ways a sense of genre. Here, sold by Film Constellation and based on true events, in the 9th century Emma is appointed head of an abbey encharged in repopulating frontier lands abutting Muslim territory.

Im Gonna Disappear, (Voy a desaparecer, Core Ruiz, Spain)

Begin Again Films highlighted market premiere, the tale of two estranged brothers reencounter, 10 years later, as one takes advantage of a prison furlough. An emotional artefact which breaths truth with two actor discoveries giving all theyve got, says Ruiz, who wrote the screenplay with female lead Raquel Herrera.

Im Gonna Disappear

Mum, Im the Boss, (Mama, ahora mando yo, Federico Moccia, Spain-Italy)

Antonia Navas rapidly building Neo Art is bringing onto the market Im the Boss, a family comedy directed by Moccia, creator Italian, Spanish blockbusters, Three Steps Above Heaven and I Want You. In Mum, Im the Boss, helmed by Moccia, Francesco (9), inherits his family house when his parents divorce, sewing confusion, exacerbated when he experiences first love.

We Treat Women Too Well, (Tratamos demasiado bien a las mujeres, Clara Bilbao, Spain, France)

Set in post-Civil War 1945 as the Spanish resistance takes over a mail office in the Pyrenees, run by the redoubtably patriotic Remedios Buendia. Hell hath no fury

Carmen Machi and Antonio de la Torre lead a fine cast. A clearly black comedy, with a remarkable screenplay by Miguel Barros, integrating humor to narrate a truly tragic story, says Bilbao. A Prime Video and RTVE pickup for Spain.

Official Selection Titles

Little Loves, (Los Pequenos Amores, Celia Rico, Spain)

Produced by Arcadia Motion Pictures, on fire after backing Rodrigo Sorogoyens The Beasts, Oscar nominated animated feature Robot Dreams and Netflix hit Burning Body. Rico showed in her debut, Journey to a Mothers Room, selected for San Sebastians New Directors, how well she portrays a suddenly evolving mother-daughter relationship. Here, it is a redoubtable mothers sudden dependence, starring Maria Vazquez and the always reliable Adriana Ozores. Latido Films sells.

Little Loves

Tale of Shepherds, (Historia de pastores, Jaime Puertas Castillo)

Developed at San Sebastians Zine Eskola Elias Querejeta but shot in Puertas Castillos hometown of Puebla de don Fadrique, a fiction tale of a young geologist meeting a wounded shepherd which delivers a telling take of a rural Spain that is disappearing, mixing Paleolithic settlements and abandoned farmsteads now in ruins, tales of forgotten ancestors and, part and parcel, fantasy, and invading modernity  drones and Internet apps. A Rotterdam Fest world premiere.

Undergrowth, (La Hojaresca, Macu Machin, Spain)

In this doc feature, three ageing sisters reunite on the Canary Island of La Palma to settle the inheritance of family lands, voice old grievances, near return to their infancy as they reenact games. A film about identity, belonging, and the dynamics of the place where me and my family came from, says Machin, backed by Tenerife-based El Viaje Films.

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Synth Pioneer Suzanne Ciani Documentary A Life in Waves Gets First Trailer

Those familiar with Suzanne Ciani only through her series of mannered 1990s solo piano releases likely had their minds blown last night (March 2) at New Yorks Church of Heavenly Rest, as the 77-year-old keyboard pioneer traded a Steinway grand for the Buchla 200 modular analog synthesizer on which she first began experimenting more than 50 years ago.

A mass of colored cables, knobs and inputs, the Buchla is as jaw-dropping a piece of gear now as it was back in the Nixon administration, when Ciani was one of the first women to make and champion the nascent genre of electronic music. A full set of her just messing around with its controls would certainly have been worth watching, but Ciani instead opted to filter the original multi-track stems of material from her beloved 1984 album Seven Waves through the Buchla interface, creating an improvised, wholly unique alternate version of an enduring classic.

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With cosmic light projections dancing against the churchs 75-foot-high backdrop and the music encircling the packed house in quadrophonic sound, Ciani led attendees on an otherworldly journey. Arpeggiated sequences undulated and morphed, with Ciani weaving in barely recognizable swaths of Seven Waves familiar melodies between the alien tones. Moments of ambient bliss gave way to dark, skittish, low-end patterns, while the percussive sounds of steam, passing subway trains and, appropriately, waves further deepened the transportive effects.

The set concluded with Ciani sprinkling bits of the sprightly Sevem Waves opener Birth of Venus into a bubbling cauldron of sound, after which the audience rose in a standing ovation. Im really happy, after all these years, to be back with the Buchla and to have an audience, she said, noting that Seven Waves was recorded during her 19-year stint living in New York. Because in the early 70s, when I wanted to play here, I couldnt. [People would say], whats that? What, you dont sing? Whats wrong with you?

Im in seventh heaven, continued Ciani, whose legacy was saluted in the 2017 documentary A Life in Waves. I never expected to have this renaissance happen, and I thank all of you. I dont know what generation you are, but were taking technology backwards. Noting that Seven Waves arranger Mitch Farber was in attendance, she then invited the crowd to come and admire the Buchla, because it loves to be admired.

Following her inaugural Seven Waves/Buchla performance in late February at San Franciscos Grace Cathedral, Ciani will next take the concept to Chicagos Fourth Presbyterian Church on May 17. The shows were conceived by curatorial platform Reflections, which is hosting upcoming performances across the country by fellow synth heavy-hitters such as Nine Inch Nails Alessandro Cortini, Steve Roach, LARAAJI and the Sea & Cakes Sam Prekop.

Last nights event opened with a set from Atlanta-reared producer Kaye Loggins Time Wharp, who dabbled in effects-drenched electric guitar workouts and minimalist, melodic electronica with shades of Jo Johnson and Kelly Moran.

To see our running list of the top 100 greatest rock stars of all time, click here.
Bankrate and AOL may earn commission from links in this story. Pricing and availability subject to change.

Key takeaways

A home warranty is a service contract that covers the repair or replacement of major systems and appliances due to normal wear and tear. Its not the same as homeowners insurance, which protects your home from damaging events like fire.

Home warranties have limitations in terms of coverage, and the provider can deny claims for many reasons, including improper maintenance.

To decide if a home warranty is right for you, consider whether you already have builder or manufacturer warranties, the age of the homes systems and your ability to handle unexpected repairs.



A home warranty can help alleviate some of the financial burden new homeowners face when a major appliance or home system fails. Youll pay for the warranty upfront, but the savings could be worth the added expense. Heres an overview of what a home warranty is, how much it costs and whether its worth it.

What is a home warranty?

A home warranty is a service contract that pays the cost of repair or replacement of covered items, such as major kitchen appliances, as well as electrical, plumbing, heating and air conditioning systems. A warranty doesnt cover windows, doors, floors or other structural features. Nor does it cover smaller or freestanding appliances, like countertop ovens or trash compactors.

The warranty is designed to cover items that are in satisfactory, good working condition upon occupancy, and then fail due to normal wear and tear, says Mike Sadler, vice president of operations at Americas Preferred Home Warranty, based in Jackson, Michigan.

Mortgage Generally, a home warranty wont cover damage caused by the homeowner, including damage due to lack of maintenance, like failing to replace a filter. The policy typically doesnt cover a manufacturer defect, pre-existing issue or items already covered by another warranty, either.

At her listing appointments, Coleen Smith, a real estate agent with Portside Real Estate Group in Falmouth, Maine, routinely suggests to home sellers that they purchase a home warranty as a way to attract prospective buyers. She also recommends them to buyers, whether the seller offers one as a part of the sale or not.

It depends on what I hear my clients saying their potential pain point is, says Smith. What is their concern or heartache about a property? Someone might say, I love this house except its on private systems, like a septic tank or a well, and I dont want to deal with it if it breaks.

Learn more: How and why to sell a house as-is

Keep in mind that agents sometimes recommend home warranties simply because they or their realty firm is partnered with the company  youre under no obligation to buy one.

What a home warranty covers

HVAC system including air conditioners and heating units

Electrical system

Plumbing system including toilets and water heaters

Major appliances including refrigerator, oven, washer and dryer

Leaky roof

Septic or well pumps



What a home warranty doesnt cover

Foundation issues

Doors, walls or windows, including paint

Flooring

Non-major appliances such as a countertop microwave

Hazard remediation including asbestos, mold and radon

Is a home warranty different from homeowners insurance?

Although they both offer homeowners financial protection, home warranties and homeowners insurance policies are not the same thing. Unlike a home warranty, homeowners insurance doesnt cover breakdowns due to normal wear and tear, but rather damage due to a covered event such as fire or theft. Homeowners insurance coverage extends to the structure of the home, as well, and if youre getting a mortgage, your lender will require you to have a policy. Youre never required to purchase a home warranty.

Are home warranties worth it?

The cost of a home warranty ranges from about $220 to $1,880 per year, according to HomeAdvisor. The plan can cost more if you want add-on coverage for areas like a guest house or swimming pool. Along with the plan cost, youll pay another fee for service calls, ranging from $75 to $125.

Compare these costs to the cost of repairing a major system, such as central air, which can run up to $500 to repair or $7,900 to replace, according to HomeAdvisor. If you dont have money set aside for these expenses, a home warranty might more than pay for itself.

One caveat, however: If the home is older and its systems are outdated, it might not be possible to repair something that breaks, since the parts might not be available. In this case, a home warranty likely wont give you the protection youre looking for. Ask the provider what your payment obligation would be if something cant be fixed.

Of course, if you never have a problem, then youd have shelled out money unnecessarily. Ultimately, you have to decide if the peace of mind matters more than the expense.

Should I get a home warranty?

If youre buying a previously owned home, you might want to consider one, especially if your home inspection reveals that several of the homes appliances and systems are nearing their lifespan. Make sure you understand the terms and conditions of the home warranty, how long the coverage lasts and what it will and will not cover.

As the buyer, always ask the seller what appliances or systems are currently under warranty, either through manufacturers warranties or a home warranty plan. If the seller has a home warranty, get the details about the policy so youll know when the coverage ends. Its also smart to ask for a maintenance history of the major components of the home.

When to skip a home warranty

Generally, its not worth purchasing a home warranty for a newly built home because youll wind up with duplicate coverage. Homebuyers who purchase new construction usually get some type of warranty from the builder for the homes materials and workmanship  including plumbing, electrical, heating and cooling systems  for one, two or up to 10 years. The builder warranty typically dont cover appliances, but those often come with a manufacturers warranty.

In addition, some credit cards offer extended warranties on top of the manufacturers warranty with new purchases, so if you remodel your kitchen and pay for the new fridge or stove with plastic, it might not make sense to buy a home warranty for those appliances.

In addition, if youre diligent with a maintenance schedule and have your homes systems annually serviced, that could help you avoid the problems a warranty might address.

Pros and cons of home warranties

While home warranties can be beneficial, they also have limitations and do not cover everything. Here are some of the benefits and drawbacks to keep in mind.

Pros

A home warranty can provide peace of mind if youre purchasing a home with used appliances and older systems that are long out of or missing warranties.

If youre new to an area, you might not have established relationships with local contractors to help with repairs. The home warranty company takes care of finding and hiring a trusted professional. (Be sure to check on this, though  some companies have you hire a local pro, then either reimburse you or pay that contractor directly. If its reimbursement, ask how the funds will be disbursed.)

Not all homeowners have the DIY skills to handle repairs on their own, so having a home warranty to fall back on alleviates that worry.

Home warranties tend to offer broader coverage than a manufacturers warranty, and often are good for a longer period of time. They can also be renewed.

Cons

Home warranty companies impose dollar limits per repair, per item or per year. These restrictions can vary greatly by provider.

Youll have to pay a service call fee each time you have an issue.

The home warranty company can deny claims if an item has not been properly maintained. This can be difficult to disprove if you dont have a record of prior maintenance.

Home warranty companies determine whether to fix or replace a system or an item. If replacing an item, they might go with the cheapest model or one otherwise not to your liking.

Online home warranty reviews

Be wary of online reviews for home warranty providers. When you search for a provider, you might see some sites with generic domain names ostensibly listing the best home warranty companies. If you look up the company through the Better Business Bureau, though, you can see whether it has received complaints. Dont trust the customer testimonials that appear on a home warranty companys website, either. Youll likely find mostly five-star ratings and rave reviews.

Bottom line

You dont need to purchase a home warranty, but it could prove worthwhile on an existing home with some outdated systems or appliances. Its probably not worth getting if youre buying a new-construction home, as the builder issues its own warranty, and it might not be worth it if the home is very old, as certain replacement parts might not be available today. If you decide to buy a home warranty, take the time to closely review the contract details on standard and optional coverage, as well as the limitations.
The death of a Georgia student has taken center stage in Washingtons battles over immigration, as former President Trump and his allies lean into the issue to attack President Biden and Democrats over the border.

Trump, whose signature issue is border security, has repeatedly criticized Bidens policies over the death of 22-year-old Laken Riley.

Riley, a nursing student at Augusta Universitys Athens campus, was found dead last Thursday after her roommate reported that she did not return from a run in the wooded area of the University of Georgia campus. A 26-year-old Venezuelan citizen named Jose Ibarra was arrested in connection to her death and charged with murder.

U.S. Customs and Border Enforcement has said Ibarra entered the country illegally in September 2022 near El Paso, Texas, from Mexico and was released for further processing after being detained.

We have a new category of migrant crime, and its going to be more severe than violent crime and crime as we know it, Trump said during his speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference last week.

Democrats have criticized Republicans for linking Rileys death to Bidens handling of the border, arguing that the issues of immigration and crime should not be conflated.

A series of Cato Institute papers have found that immigrants  including undocumented immigrants  commit murders at a lower rate than native-born Americans.

Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.) said a sense of outrage is normal following violent crime, but it shouldnt change broader policy.

I think the important thing to focus on is any one instance shouldnt shape our overall immigration policy, which has so many different facets, including economic choices about what workers to allow and how to create prosperity in America, she said during an interview on CNNs Erin Burnett OutFront on Monday.

The White House and Democrats also have been blistering in criticizing Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republicans for rejecting a bipartisan Senate bill aimed at tightening border security.

Republicans opposed to that compromise argued it didnt go far enough, but the White House is leaning into the argument that Trump and the GOP, by politicizing the border bill, have actually prevented the government from taking steps to tighten security at the border.

Trump and Republicans see a political advantage in highlighting Rileys death as emblematic of what they see as chaos at the border.

Both Trump and Biden visited spots on the border on Thursday, but the former president noted that he called Rileys parents the day before and directly blamed Biden for Ibarra entering the country.

I spoke to her parents yesterday. Theyre incredible people that are devastated beyond belief, he said.

Numerous GOP officials, from allies of Trump such as Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) to GOP officials who have clashed with the former president, such as Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, have linked the students death to immigration policies they say are too lenient.

Kemp, who had a falling out with Trump over the governors opposition to overturning the results of the 2020 election in the state, argued that the country has a nightmare with mass migration.

That is inexcusable in any absence of any real effort by the Biden administration to step up and address this crisis, as they continue to ignore the calls for meaningful policy change that governors like me had made for well over two years, he said.

The Georgia case gives Trump a dramatic story to point to, even as the investigation into exactly what happened continues.

Any time that you can put a face, especially a child or a young persons face, and attach it to a policy, whether its good or bad, its going to have a much more outsized impact, said Georgia-based Republican strategist Jay Williams. And the more personal you can make it, the more effective it becomes.

GOP strategist Brady Smith said the incident will make for an extremely effective attack for Republicans.

Its going to be that inflection point where this is going to be the one that especially stands out, and everything else is going to harken back to Laken Riley, he said.

Polls have shown immigration overtaking the economy as the top issue on voters minds. A Gallup poll released Tuesday showed it ranked as most important for the first time since 2019.

Biden is seeking to go on offense himself on the border. Its one reason he went to the border on Thursday, and its reflected in the White House attacks on Johnson over the border bill.

A senior Democratic operative argued that the assertion Biden is to blame for the killing is an absurdity. This operative said Kemp is more responsible for the incident as the governor overseeing the people of the state.

I didnt know Joe Biden was a beat cop in Athens, Ga., the operative said. Why is it that anytime anything happens with illegal immigrants that they have no responsibility? Why is it that they have no responsibility for crime?

Republicans have often argued that allowing migrants to continue across the border only increases the chances of crime or potentially an attack on U.S. soil.

However, several studies have found those who enter the country illegally are not more likely to commit other crimes than U.S. citizens.

Cato analyzed Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) figures because that agency keeps track of immigration status for people arrested and convicted of crimes in the state. DPSs figures from 2015 to 2019 consistently show a lower murder rate among undocumented immigrants.

Few people are murderers, and illegal immigrants are statistically less likely to be murderers. Still, some illegal immigrants do commit homicide, and that statistical fact is no comfort to victims and their families. More importantly, nobody should expect the statistics to comfort individuals affected by violent crime, wrote Alex Nowrasteh, author of the Cato papers.

Williams, the GOP strategist, said the specific details of the case further add to Republicans argument, given that Ibarra was previously arrested in New York City a few months ago.

ICE has said Ibarra was charged with acting in a manner to injure a child less than 17 and a motor vehicle license violation, but New York officials released him before immigration officials could detain him.

Democrats have pointed to Rep. Tom Suozzis victory in the special election for New Yorks 3rd congressional district last month as an example of how they can still win races that are tied to the issue of immigration.

Suozzi flipped a seat for Democrats this month following a successful campaign in which he made his position on immigration clear and challenged his Republican opponent for her opposition to the bipartisan Senate border bill that Trump also opposed.

We need to do what Tom Suozzi did, which is to address the issue head on, the operative said.

Brett Samuels contributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
David Lankford, an Indiana pediatrician who specializes in treating critically ill children, says he decided to leave his job at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne after it laid off a group of pediatricians, causing the number of patients he was seeing to increase more than fourfold.

But when Lankford took a job last year at nearby Parkview Health, his new employer was threatened with a lawsuit by his former employer, who alleged he had violated a noncompete clause in his contract, according to court records. Now, hes months into a legal battle over whether he can continue taking care of patients in Fort Wayne.

There is a shortage of physicians who do the subspecialty work that I do in Fort Wayne, said Lankford in a written response to questions. I believe many critically ill children and their families would have to travel significant distances at significant hardship to get access to care.

Lankford is among a handful of doctors who are fighting back in court against the increasing prevalence of noncompete agreements, which often prevent a doctor from seeing patients for one to two years within a geographic region if they are fired or quit their job. While employers say the agreements are necessary to protect the investment they make in recruiting, marketing and supporting their doctors, physicians argue the provisions can harm patients by restricting access to care and risk discouraging doctors from speaking out about unsafe or unethical conditions.

We have seen these noncompetes increase exponentially over the last several years, and it really goes against the very ethos of medicine, said Omar Atiq, president of the American College of Physicians. It takes awhile for physicians to start really knowing their patient, not just the disease for which they come but the patient themselves, and to just sever that relationship is a big blow.

Once viewed as a restriction reserved for high-level executives or workers with access to trade secrets, noncompete agreements have become pervasive across a range of industries, from health care to fast food chains, limiting the employment opportunities of more than 30 million workers, according to the Federal Trade Commission. President Joe Biden pledged in his State of the Union address in 2023 to ban noncompetes across the economy, and the FTC is on track to make a final decision about a proposed ban early this year, said a Biden administration official.

Among doctors, the agreements have become standard practice in many areas, with one survey by researchers at Ohio State University finding nearly half of primary care physicians in group practices and more than a third of physicians employed at hospitals or free-standing clinics were bound by a noncompete agreement. The prevalence of noncompete agreements has increased as more doctors are now employed by hospitals or large health systems, which have been steadily buying up group medical practices, said Atiq. For patients, the practice can result in an abrupt disruption of care with no explanation of where their doctor has gone or why, said Atiq. Doctors often have nonsolicitation clauses tied into the noncompete agreements, preventing them from letting patients know where they are relocating to.

The American Hospital Association, which represents the countrys for-profit hospitals, has opposed the proposed ban by the Biden administration. Chad Golder, general counsel for the AHA, said its members primarily use noncompete agreements for their doctors and senior executives, not lower-skilled workers who have less bargaining power when negotiating an employment agreement, and that the restrictions are needed, in part, to protect the financial investment hospitals make in recruiting, relocating, marketing and training their doctors.

We think they are important for protecting investments that hospitals make to recruit doctors and senior executives, said Golder. Imagine youre a rural hospital out in the country and you spend a lot of money to bring on a new physician, to get them integrated into the community, to train them, and they leave after a short period of time after youve made all this investment to get them out there.

Golder said that deterring doctors from leaving their employer can also benefit patients by maintaining continuity of care across a single health system. When doctors change jobs it can require patients to have to transfer their medical records and in some instances have to coordinate care between doctors at multiple hospitals, he said.

But critics, including two of the largest physician groups  the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians  say the agreements can contribute to physician shortages, sever doctor-patient relationships, and deter doctors from speaking out for fear of being fired and unable to work elsewhere in the community.

Its really bleak here

In Savannah, Georgia, HCA Healthcare-owned Memorial Health University Medical Center threatened one of its former OB-GYNs with a lawsuit last year when the doctor went to work at a nearby clinic focused on treating low-income women, according to a letter the physician shared with NBC News. Several months prior, the physician had their contract terminated without cause by Memorial, but the noncompete remained in place.

Under the doctors noncompete agreement, they were unable to work as an OB-GYN within a 25-mile radius of Memorial for one year following the end of their contract.

The doctor has since left their job at the clinic, where they were treating mostly uninsured women, and is planning a move out of the area. The doctor asked that their name not be published for fear it could harm their future job prospects.

Memorial said in a statement that noncompete agreements help protect the significant costs the hospital makes in recruiting a physician, paying for moving costs, and other expenses that come with setting up a physicians practice, like hiring staff and leasing space. The hospital said its noncompete agreements dont prevent physicians from setting up a private practice.

In Georgia, noncompete agreements have been contributing to a shortage of OB-GYNs across the state, where some women have to wait months to get routine care, said Kate Boyenga, executive director of the Georgia Obstetrics and Gynecology Society. She said her organization has begun looking into whether there is any state legislative action that could limit the scope of noncompete agreements for OB-GYNs to help address the shortages.

When women dont have access to that care, when it is exacerbated by having to travel far distances, having to take off work to go to prenatal appointments, having to secure child care and having to have adequate transportation, theyre not going to get the care as much as they should, and thats whats going to lead to complications, said Boyenga.

Jessica Swanson is one of those patients who has struggled to get OB-GYN care in Savannah even though she has private insurance and has worked for more than a decade as a reproductive health educator and is a trained birth doula.

When Swanson was about four months pregnant with her second child in 2022, she began looking to switch to another OB-GYN in Savannah after seeing numerous red flags with her current doctor, she said. But after calling every OB-GYN practice in the area, she was either told they werent taking new patients or they didnt return her calls.

When she began having complications later during her pregnancy, she had to show up at the emergency room, where the doctor on call performed a cesarean section.

I should have had a choice in my provider. It was an incredibly frustrating experience, said Swanson. I just think about how much I brought into that situation  my level of education, my connections, my ability to navigate health care, really good insurance  and I still could not navigate myself to adequate health care.

Even after giving birth, she still wasnt able to find an OB-GYN to treat her when she developed mastitis, a painful inflammation of the breast tissue caused by breastfeeding, and instead had to go to an urgent care clinic.

It was just a really bad experience overall, and I feel really let down by the larger medical community here, Swanson said. Its really bleak here.

Two cardiologists from another HCA-owned health system, Mission Health Community in North Carolina, said they were also threatened with legal action over a noncompete clause in their contract when they left to work for Pardee Hospital. The doctors, Marian Taylor and Lillia LaPlace, sued Mission to have the noncompete agreements thrown out. The case was dismissed in March, and Taylor and LaPlace are currently working for Pardee. A lawyer for Taylor and LaPlace declined to comment on the case, and the doctors didnt respond to a request for comment. Mission Health also didnt respond to a request for comment.

In Indiana, Lankford had signed a noncompete agreement when he started working at Lutheran Hospital in 2018 as a pediatric critical care intensivist. Under the agreement, he was prohibited from practicing any form of medicine within 30 miles of Lutheran for one year following his last day of employment there. When Lankford signed the noncompete agreement, he said he thought about the implications it could have, but didnt think he had an option to negotiate over the provision.

I had thought about it, but had experiences which led me to think that the hospitals which could employ me were not interested in negotiating noncompetes or employment contracts individually, he said.

Lankfords lawyers have argued that the agreement should be invalidated because Lutheran changed the terms of Lankfords contract when in 2022 it fired a group of pediatricians at the hospital, leaving Lankford and his remaining colleague responsible for seeing all pediatric patients across the hospital, not just those in the intensive care unit where he was assigned. The move significantly increased his workload without additional compensation, according to court records.

I felt that my former employer breached my contract. I believe I gave them many opportunities to fix the problem over a span of several months, said Lankford. In my opinion, they did nothing to fix the problem. I felt that if they werent going to honor my contract, I shouldnt be bound by the noncompete in the contract that they refused to honor.

Lutheran said in court filings that it did require Lankford to begin seeing general pediatric patients throughout the hospital, not just in the intensive care unit. But it denied that the change in Lankfords job duties was a breach of contract and argued that his new duties were within the scope of his training and employment agreement. In a countersuit filed against Lankford and Parkview by Lutheran, the hospital alleges that it was Lankford who had breached his contract by leaving his position and violating the noncompete agreement. Lutheran says it offered Lankford the opportunity to buy out the noncompete provision for an undisclosed amount.

Lutheran alleges that as a result of Lankfords actions, it has suffered a loss of business and goodwill in the community along with costs associated with recruiting Lankford and having to replace him. It is seeking compensatory and punitive damages along with attorneys fees and other related costs.

A spokesperson for Lutheran declined to comment.

In August, Lankford won a preliminary injunction making the noncompete agreement unenforceable and allowing him to see patients at Parkview, at least temporarily. But the injunction is only preliminary and the legal battle could stretch on for months longer, even beyond when Lankfords noncompete agreement expires, said Kathleen DeLaney, a lawyer for Lankford who has represented numerous doctors bound by noncompete agreements.

For Lankford, he says he felt he had no other option but to take his case to court after he was unable to keep working at his new employer.

It was very hard to have to stop working, to have fits and starts with a new job, and to be distracted from my professional career by the legal dispute. But I know that it was the right thing to do for my patients, my community and my family, said Lankford.

Battle over burn patients

In Ohio, Anjay Khandelwal, a surgeon, had to take his case all the way to the states Supreme Court before winning the right to treat pediatric burn patients at Akron Childrens Hospital after being sued by his former employer.

Khandelwal started working at MetroHealth in Cleveland in 2013 and signed a noncompete agreement restricting him from providing similar medical or professional services within a 35-mile radius for two years following his last day of work at MetroHealth, according to legal filings.

But in 2020, Khandelwal resigned from his job and accepted a position as the director of the burn center at Akron Childrens Hospital, the only other burn center in the noncompete radius. After learning about his new position, MetroHealth sued Khandelwal and Akron Childrens, arguing in court filings that it had invested significantly in hiring and recruiting Khandelwal and developing his connections and visibility in the region. It also argued Khandelwal had access to confidential trade secrets, like pricing data and strategic plans.

Khandelwal denied the allegation in court and argued that patients access to burn care in the region could be jeopardized if he wasnt able to practice surgery for two years.

The court ruled partly in favor of Khandelwal, saying he could begin working as a burn surgeon at Akron Childrens, but wasnt able to start working as the centers director for a year after leaving MetroHealth. The ruling was upheld by the Ohio Supreme Court in 2022 and Khandelwal is now working as the director of the burn institute at Akron Childrens Hospital.

Khandelwal and Akron Childrens didnt respond to requests for comment. MetroHealth declined to comment.

Despite some victories for physicians, it is still relatively rare for doctors to challenge their noncompete agreements in court because of the financial and reputational consequences, said Atiq. Instead, doctors often quietly move to a new city if they want to leave their job or are fired, uprooting their families and leaving their patients behind, but avoiding the risk of a lawsuit.

Why would a person who is in their 30s with one or two small children, being the main breadwinner for the family, jeopardize that? Whats easier for that person is to just leave and go somewhere else, said Atiq. Inherently, it is wrong.
Shenzhou-17 crew completes in-orbit repairs during 2nd extravehicular mission

Xinhua) 10:39, March 03, 2024

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 astronaut Tang Hongbo performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)

BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhua) -- The Shenzhou-17 crew aboard China's orbiting space station carried out their second extravehicular mission on Saturday, the China Manned Space Agency has said.

Taikonauts Tang Hongbo, Tang Shengjie and Jiang Xinlin successfully completed all assigned tasks at 1:32 p.m. (Beijing time), after approximately eight hours of extravehicular activities. They worked together closely with the support of the space station's robotic arm and scientific researchers on Earth.

A spacewalk was conducted by Tang Hongbo and Jiang Xinlin, who have since returned safely to the Wentian lab module.

China launched the Shenzhou-17 manned spaceship on Oct. 26, 2023. Its crew conducted a repair test in their first extravehicular mission on Dec. 21 last year.

During their second extravehicular mission, the three taikonauts completed maintenance work on the Tianhe core module's solar wings, addressing the impact of small space particles. According to the agency, the solar wing's power generation function is operating normally after evaluation and analysis.

It was the first time the taikonauts completed the in-orbit maintenance of extravehicular facilities. The Shenzhou-17 crew also inspected the status of the space station's modules during their spacewalk.

The three taikonauts are scheduled to carry out a variety of space science and technology experiments during the remainder of their space journey, the agency said.

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 astronaut Tang Hongbo performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 astronaut Jiang Xinlin performing extravehicular activities assisted by the robotic arm of the space station. The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 astronaut opening the hatch of space station lab module Wentian's airlock cabin before extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 astronaut Jiang Xinlin collecting image data while performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 astronauts Tang Hongbo (R) and Jiang Xinlin (L) returning to the Wentian lab module. The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)

This screen image captured at Beijing Aerospace Control Center on March 2, 2024 shows Shenzhou-17 astronaut Jiang Xinlin performing extravehicular activities. The Shenzhou-17 crew members, who are currently on board China's space station, have completed their second extravehicular mission on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li He)

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Zhong Wenxing)
The average annual working hours for Koreans fell by nearly 200 hours over the past decade but still remain about 150 hours longer than the average of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), data showed Sunday.

According to statistics from the Ministry of Employment and Labor, the average accumulated working hours of a worker at a company with at least one employee came to 156.2 hours per month last year, 2.5 hours shorter than 2022.

The monthly 2023 average translates into a total of 1,874 working hours per year, the first ever reading in the 1,800-hour range.

With the introduction of the 52-hour weekly work hour system in 2018, South Korea has seen a steady decline in its notoriously long working hours.

The average monthly working hours, recorded at 172.6 in 2013, which is equivalent to 2,071.2 hours per year, declined to an annual average of 1,995.6 hours in 2017 before dropping further below the 1,900-hour level last year.

Compared with a decade ago, the 2023 average monthly working hours declined by 16.4 hours, and the 2023 average annual working hours declined by 196.8 hours.

The 2022 annual average for Korea still remains 155 hours longer than the average of 1,719 hours per year recorded among the member nations of the OECD. The gap translates into 13 hours longer working hours for South Koreans per month.

Of the 38 current member nations, only five nations, including Colombia, Mexico and Israel, had longer annual working hours than South Korea based on the 2022 OECD average. (Yonhap)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP)  Police in Haiti urgently appealed for help Saturday night as they struggled to hold back gangs trying to storm the country's main prison in a major escalation of violence sweeping the troubled Caribbean nation.

They need help, a union representing Haitian police said in a message posted on social media bearing an SOS emoji repeated eight times. Let's mobilize the army and the police to prevent the bandits from breaking into the prison.

A police officer told The Associated Press that the gangs had overwhelmed security forces but were not yet in control of the prison, where several gang leaders were being held. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media.

The armed clashes follow a string of violent protests that have been building for some time but turned deadlier in recent days as Prime Minister Ariel Henry went to Kenya to salvage a proposed security mission in Haiti to be led by that East African country and backed by the United Nations.

Henry took over as prime minister following the 2021 assassination of President Jovenel Moise and has repeatedly postponed plans to hold parliamentary and presidential elections, which haven't taken place in almost a decade.

As part of coordinated attacks by gangs, four police officers were killed Thursday in the capital when gunmen opened fire on targets including Haiti's international airport. Gang members also seized control of two police stations, prompting civilians to flee in fear and forcing businesses and schools to close.

The penitentiary targeted by gangs is notorious for its extremely crowded and unhygienic conditions. Among its high-profile inmates are several gang leaders and 18 former Colombian soldiers accused in Moises killing.

As a result of the violence at the airport, the U.S. Embassy in Port-au-Prince said it was temporarily halting all official travel to Haiti.

Haitis National Police has roughly 9,000 officers to provide security for more than 11 million people, according to the U.N. The officers are routinely overwhelmed and outgunned by powerful gangs, which are estimated to control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince.

Jimmy Cherizier, a former elite police officer known as Barbecue who now runs a gang federation, claimed responsibility for the surge in attacks. He said the goal was to capture Haitis police chief and government ministers and prevent Henry's return.

The prime minister, a neurosurgeon, has shrugged off calls for his resignation and didn't comment when asked if he felt it was safe to return home.

He signed reciprocal agreements Friday with Kenyan President William Ruto to try and salvage the plan to deploy Kenyan police to Haiti. Kenyas High Court had ruled in January that the proposed deployment was unconstitutional, in part because the original deal lacked reciprocal agreements between the two countries.

The violence has complicated efforts to stabilize Haiti and pave the way for elections. Caribbean leaders said Wednesday that Henry had agreed to schedule a vote by mid-2025  a far-off date likely to further enrage Henry's opponents.
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court has indicated it will issue rulings on Monday, one of which could be the highly anticipated decision on whether Colorado can kick former President Donald Trump off the primary ballot.

The court noted on its website on Sunday afternoon that rulings are expected.

Trump is currently set to appear on the state primary ballot on Tuesday after a hold was placed on the Colorado Supreme Court ruling that deemed him ineligible due to his efforts to defy the 2020 election results.

The U.S. Supreme Court held oral arguments on Feb. 8 on whether Trump can be barred from the ballot because of his role leading up to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Section 3 of the Constitutions 14th Amendment says people are not eligible to serve in government if they engaged in insurrection. It appeared from the oral argument that Trump would win the case.

If the court is to rule on Monday, it will be somewhat later than many expected, with the case being heard on an expedited basis.

The ruling is likely to affect not only the Colorado case, but also any other effort to throw Trump off the ballot. So far, similar decisions have only been issued in two other states: Maine and Illinois. Both are on hold amid appeals from Trump's attorneys.

The Supreme Court's decisions on Monday will come on a day that is not scheduled on the court calendar as a ruling day. As a result, the justices will not be in the courtroom to announce any decisions as they normally would be.
KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine has no plans to import electricity on Sunday but expects high exports, taking advantage of lower domestic consumption during mild weather, the energy ministry said.

The country's electricity exports, which began shortly before it was invaded by Russian troops in 2022, were halted after numerous Russian attacks on power infrastructure and the seizure of the largest nuclear power plant at Zaporizhzhia.

However, Ukraine has exported significant volumes of power to Eastern Europe in February and March, helping to boost revenue for its beleaguered economy, but also imported some power during peak consumption hours.

"No electricity imports to Ukraine are planned for the current day. It is planned to export up to 12,200 megawatt hours to neighbouring countries," a ministry statement said.

That figure is three to four times as high as in the previous week.

Energy Minister German Galushchenko last month told Reuters that Ukraine could resume substantial energy exports as early as this spring because of lower domestic consumption, without giving details on figures.

(Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Alison Williams)
WASHINGTON  An empowered faction of Donald Trump-aligned Republicans is seeking to redefine dealmaking as an insult by deploying the term uniparty to attack colleagues who work with Democrats and strike deals that fall short of what their base wants.

The growing use of the word among the GOPs ascendant culture warriors represents an effort by conservative lawmakers, activists and commentators to disparage bipartisan agreements on matters that have broad support in Congress like government funding, infrastructure spending and aid for U.S. allies like Ukraine.

Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., chair of the far-right Freedom Caucus, called the recent House passage of a bill to avert a partial government shutdown an example of a uniparty vote, with Republicans who talk about spending cuts and talk about fiscal responsibility but ultimately support compromise spending measures.

The uniparty is when the rubber meets the road and Republicans and Democrats join hands to stick it to the American people, Good told NBC News.

He added that unfortunately, too many Republicans are all too eager to compromise with Democrats.

While Republicans control the House, Democrats hold the Senate majority and the White House, where President Joe Biden on Friday signed into law the short-term funding bill that was negotiated with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., to keep the government open.

House and Senate Republicans who have assailed the so-called uniparty  including Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia and Matt Gaetz of Florida, as well as Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and J.D. Vance of Ohio  all voted against the latest government funding bill.

The House voted 320-99 to pass the measure, followed by a 77-13 vote in the Senate  evidence that there is absolutely a uniparty in Washington, according to Boebert.

It means Republicans who vote Democrat Light, who side with the other party because they are weak and refuse to take a stand, she said in an interview. Unfortunately, too many Republicans campaign as conservatives and govern like Nancy Pelosi.

Vance, a leading critic of additional funding for Ukraines military effort, said he doesnt know where the term uniparty came from but cited the recent debate over assisting Ukraine in fending off Russia as an example.

Whether you call it a uniparty or something else, I do think it suggests somethings broken about our democratic process, he said.

Where did the term come from?

The modern use of uniparty traces back a few years, though its roots run deeper. The terms framing has long been a favorite of Steve Bannon, the former Trump White House official and right-wing media personality who has been deploying it for years. Trump himself has reposted items from supporters who use the descriptor on his Truth Social platform.

The right has previously embraced similar wording, like regime, which Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis used repeatedly during his 2024 presidential campaign to describe the federal government, and drain the swamp, a rallying cry during Trumps 2016 campaign. Theres also the cathedral, a term used by some on the right to describe institutions they see as controlling acceptable political discourse.

Meanwhile, the left and third-party candidates have at times embraced similar terminology. An aide to former President Barack Obama described the foreign policy establishment as the Blob, while former Green Party presidential nominees Ralph Nader and Jill Stein have used uniparty in railing against the U.S. political system.

In the 2024 campaign, independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has invoked the term, including when he wrote in The Baltimore Sun last month that special interest groups control our government to such an extent that  no matter which party is in charge  many Americans now refer to the two parties as the uniparty.

Stefanie Spear, a Kennedy spokesperson, said in a statement that more Americans of all political persuasions are recognizing that both establishment parties largely represent the same corporate interests.

The term uniparty is therefore quite natural, and Mr. Kennedy is pleased that it is gaining traction, she said.

Sen. Rand Paul, the son of libertarian former Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, noted the third-party roots of the uniparty framework, saying, Theres been a uniparty since I was a kid and would come up here in the 1970s.

Libertarians always used it when they were running as another independent party, Paul, R-Ky., said in an interview. Hadnt been used as much within the Republican Party, but I think its catching on.

Some Republicans dislike the framing

The term is most often used when discussing two distinct issues  funding for Ukraine and government spending. And the leader who finds himself most under attack on that front is Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., who recently announced he will step down from leadership after the November elections.

McConnell has vociferously pushed for additional funding for Ukraine and, in a time of divided government, has been able to cut a series of deals with the Biden administration.

Believe me, I know the politics within my party at this particular moment in time, McConnell said during a portion of his Senate floor speech on Wednesday announcing his pending retirement that focused on the need for America to lead on the global stage. I have many faults; misunderstanding politics is not one of them.

Yet some Republicans, including those aligned with the lawmakers who voted against the short-term spending agreement and have pushed back on new funding for Ukraine, find the term odd.

What, you cant differentiate between a Democrat and Republican up here? said Rep. Troy Nehls, R-Texas.

Asked why his colleagues are using the term, he replied: I dont know. I guess everybodys gotta come up with something clever.

And one Senate Republican aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said they dont like the term, frankly.

I think it went from the swamp, which I do like, to the regime, which I like less, then uniparty, which I like even less, this person said. And they all kind of mean the same thing. But I think it sounds increasingly nerdy and weird and people dont really know what they mean.

This person said they feel some lawmakers are using this language because it sounds like a vaguely intellectual term, even though its not, actually.

As for what separates uniparty initiatives from the kind of bipartisanship some of these right-wing lawmakers might take part in, this person said the distinction was simple: If leadership on both sides is for it, its uniparty, but if the leaders of both parties oppose it, its not.

Democrats continue to celebrate bipartisanship

Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, a member of Democratic leadership, said the use of the term by certain Republicans highlights their interest in catering only to a narrow slice of the electorate.

If they want to make it crystal clear that their coalition comprises 28% of the public, then I welcome that, he said. They are a minority and they are trying to turn the fact that their views are minority opinions into some sort of virtue. But the truth is that theyre way out of the mainstream, and any competent political party would not emphasize that point.

Democrats have not hesitated to celebrate acts of bipartisanship, even when it leads to legislation or policies they consider imperfect.

As I said directly to the speaker over and over and over again, the only way to get things done here is with bipartisanship, and this agreement is another proof point, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the floor Thursday of the short-term government funding bill. When bipartisanship is prioritized, when getting things done for the American people takes a high priority, good things can happen even in divided government.

In a statement Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre used bipartisan three times in one sentence to describe the legislation.

The bipartisan agreement announced today would help prevent a needless shutdown while providing more time to work on bipartisan appropriations bills and for the House to pass the bipartisan national security supplemental as quickly as possible, she said.

Could it apply to Trump?

Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., framed his use of uniparty entirely around spending, using the term to describe the group that always votes for more spending and more debt.

The letter beside their name does not matter: [Theyre] Republicans that vote like Democrats and the Democrats that vote like Republicans, Burchett said.

By that measure, the term could extend to Trump, whose policies in office led to increased spending and deficits, even when Republicans controlled both the House and Senate.

Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who worked in the Trump administration as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, has repeatedly brought up Trump-era spending on the campaign trail as she seeks to defeat her onetime boss for the GOP nomination.

I would love to tell you that Joe Biden did that to us, she said in South Carolina last month while expressing dismay over the national debt. But I always have spoken to you in hard truths. And Im going to do that with you tonight. Our Republicans did that to us too. You look at the fact that President Trump put us $8 trillion in debt in just four years. More than any other president.

One word she did not use in describing that predicament: uniparty.
A Texas man has been arrested and charged in connection with the disappearance of a Houston-area minor under age 13 who was missing for eight days before being found safe.

The girl went missing on February 22 from her home near Houston. Police issued an Amber Alert on Wednesday saying they believe she may have been trafficked.

When she first went missing, it was believed she had left on her own, a Houston police spokesperson told CNN.

But police obtained new information, which made them believe she might have been trafficked, a police spokesperson said.

Police also shared the girl may have been on a social media app called Tagged, but did not provide further details on what role the childs possible presence on the site may have played in their investigation.

The girl was found unharmed 73 miles from Houston in Columbus, Texas, police said Friday. She was taken to Texas Childrens Hospital for evaluation.

CNN has reached out to FBI Houston for more information.

The child was one of around 460,000 children who go missing in the United States annually, according to the Department of Justice.

In a post on Facebook, Columbus police said they were advised Friday afternoon the missing girl was possibly within their city limits.

Columbus Police attempted to detain Sirterryon Preston, 27, of Houston, Texas, in reference to having possession of the missing juvenile, the post said.

Preston attempted to flee police custody but was captured and arrested, authorities said.

He was charged with evading and taken to the Colorado County Detention Facility. Further charges are pending further investigation by the FBI, according to police.

CNN has been unable to confirm if Preston has an attorney.

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Watch: Moment mass brawl breaks out on Wizz Air flight to Greece

A video showing an aircrew intervening in a brawl with a drunken British passenger who was later arrested has been shared online.

An irate man became violent after he and his friend were loud and abusive throughout the flight.

According to an eyewitness, the man became aggressive when he was told by a stewardess they would be taken off the plane by police when they arrived in Greece.

The eyewitness told the Sun: "It kicked off and he was just swinging punches as a group of guys tried to restrain him."

The pilot in the red tie was punched. (Snapchat)

The pilot came out and the guy hit him. He seemed okay but was understandably pretty shaken up. It was disgraceful.

The fight lasted several minutes before police officers dragged the blood-stained man away with his pants around his ankles.

The eyewitness said the two men had been boasting they'd been drinking in the airport since 10am.

They said: I was surprised they even let them fly as they were being so abusive and loud before we took off.

Read more: Speeding driver, 31, killed elderly pedestrian, 72, and ran over body to escape

We darent complain because they were targeting everyone and telling people when we get off this plane Im going to smash you up.

They were smoking cigarettes and vaping during the flight.

They kept on being served alcohol despite passengers telling stewardesses theyd probably had enough.

The passengers had to wait two hours before they could leave the airport so they could give a statement to the police.

This led to many missing their hotel transfers.

The drunk man was escorted off by police. (Snapchat)

Read more: One of UK's most wanted fugitives arrested in Spain over teen's 2015 killing

The return flight was cancelled as by the time the blood had been cleaned up and the crew had given their statements to the police they had been on shift for their legally allowed limit, meaning they needed to wait until the next day before flying.

This led to many Brits being stranded for 24 hours struggling to get home.

Alice Minter on Twitter said they were told five minutes before they were due to board the plane their flight had been cancelled and they were then "locked in the airport by security with no explanations."

A WizzAir spokesman said: On Wizz Air flight W95741 from Gatwick - Chania, a passenger became unruly. The cabin crew handled the situation as they are trained to do and reported the incident to the respective authorities, who arrested the passenger on arrival.

"Wizz Air confirms that crew were asked to go to the airport police station to file the case, by which point the crew had legally reached their duty time limitation, and needed time to rest before the return flight to Gatwick.

"Unfortunately, this meant that flight W95742 from Chania  Gatwick had to be rescheduled. The flight departed at 16:10 local time. Wizz Air sincerely apologises for any inconvenience caused, but the safety of passengers and crew is the airlines number one priority.
Editors Note: The CNN Original Series Vegas: The Story of Sin City showcases the heart and history of one of Americas most beloved and notorious cities in four immersive episodes. Tune in Sunday, March 3, at 10 p.m. ET/PT on CNN.

Leave it to Las Vegas to upstage Travis and Taylor, Usher and the most-watched Super Bowl ever.

Sure, last months game was exciting. And, yes, the celebrities were swoon-worthy. But, really, the biggest winner of the day was the host city itself.

Pundits couldnt stop gushing about Vegas turn as host. On television, every cutaway seemed to capture the grandeur of a community that considers itself the entertainment capital of the world.

In one shot: dancing fountains in front of the Bellagio Las Vegas. In another: the half-scale replica of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The cameras also couldnt get enough of The Sphere, a state-of-the-art theater inside what is basically a spherical digital billboard.

These images were all representative of modern Vegas, a tourist destination that saw more than 40.8 million visitors in 2023 alone. But Las Vegas has a long and colorful history, too.

As Las Vegas continues to reinvent itself, there are still a handful of places around town where visitors can experience an authentic sense of yesteryear.

Most of these spots are in and around downtown. Here are some worth exploring:

Hotels and casinos

Perhaps the most obvious place to turn back the clock is the El Cortez Hotel & Casino, which opened on East Fremont Street in 1941 as downtown Las Vegas first major resort. It proudly promotes itself as the longest continuously operating casino in Las Vegas.

This property has undergone several renovations and additions over the years, but it retains the same facade unveiled in 1952 when it debuted a three-story neon sign that remains today. The building was named to the National Register of Historic Places in 2013.

Gaming pioneer Jackie Gaughan bought the property in 1963 and owned it until 2009, when he sold it to current owner Kenny Epstein. Since taking over, Epstein has worked to celebrate the past  he has preserved the pink-painted suite where Gaughan and his wife lived for 30 years, refurbished the original 47 flophouse-style rooms above the casino and outfitted a hallway with historic photos near the High Limit room on the gaming floor.

Were the last of the Mohicans here, quipped Epstein, who is 82.

One of the most surprising throwbacks is the second-story barbershop, which guests access via a staircase near the craps pit. Barbers have been cutting hair there since the 1970s.

The Golden Gate Hotel & Casino opened in 1906 as the Hotel Nevada. - Radharc Images/Alamy Stock Photo

Another historic hotel is the Golden Gate Hotel & Casino, located at the west end of Fremont Street downtown.

Technically this property is 118 years old; it opened as the Hotel Nevada in 1906. Along the wa,y the hotel was the site of many local firsts, such as the first phone number in Las Vegas (1907) and the first shrimp cocktail (1959).

Recent renovations have modernized the property, but there are still some obvious connections to history.

Near the hotel lobby, for instance, youll find a row of vintage slot machines. Perhaps more impressively, in the hallway from the main casino floor to the high limit tables and slot machines, a tiny door reveals a section of original concrete wall. It is quite literally a window to the past.

Museums

Museums are obvious celebrations of the past, and in Las Vegas, these two museums have direct links to the Vegas of old.

First on the list: The Mob Museum, also located downtown.

The official name of this attraction is the National Museum of Organized Crime and Law Enforcement, and most of the permanent exhibits chronicle the rise and fall of the mafia in Las Vegas and across the country. If youve ever wanted to learn more about Vegas legends such as Bugsy Siegel or Meyer Lansky, this is the place to go.

In a case of delicious irony, the museum sits in the former US Post Office and Courthouse  the very same courthouse where in 1950 the US Senate Special Committee to Investigate Organized Crime in Interstate Commerce heard testimony in the courtroom on the second floor. These hearings ultimately exposed the underbelly of organized crime across America, particularly in Las Vegas.

Las Vegas' Neon Museum features a "boneyard" of vintage signs, some of which still light up. - Neon Museum

The Mob Museums most popular exhibit is The Underground, a functioning speakeasy that makes its own moonshine in the basement. You do not need to buy a ticket for the museum to gain entry to the bar; check The Undergrounds Instagram for the password of the day.

At the Neon Museum, Old Vegas is showcased in the form of neon signs.

This museum opened in 2012, and its collection got a jump start when YESCO, the local company behind many of Las Vegas signs, lent roughly 250 signs in an open-air lot named the Neon Boneyard. Today several of these still illuminate at night. Some of the signs date back to the 1930s, while others are more modern.

Among the current standouts: original signs from the Sahara, Riviera and Stardust resort casinos, as well as the giant neon guitar that stood in front of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino until it became the Virgin Hotels Las Vegas during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Visitors must explore the Boneyard on a guided tour; tours last about an hour and start from the visitor center in the refurbished lobby of the La Concha motel on Las Vegas Boulevard north of downtown.

The museum also offers another experience, dubbed Brilliant, where different signs in a separate open-air lot are reanimated with projection technology at night.

Restaurants

While the food scene in modern Las Vegas is considered one of the best and most varied in America, there are still several restaurants in town with deep and vibrant connections to the past.

Not surprisingly, many of them are steakhouses where servers wear tuxedoes and Caesar salads are prepared tableside in carts.

The Peppermill's lounge features sunken fire pits and a disco vibe. - Chris Welsch/Minneapolis Star Tribune/Sipa USA

The Golden Steer is the granddaddy of them all  it opened in 1958 and has operated continuously (though not in the same Sahara Avenue location) since then. This restaurant was a favorite spot of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and other members of the Las Vegas Rat Pack. Today the dining room is adorned with tufted leather banquettes named after some of these stars.

For an old-school Italian meal, the restaurant at the Italian American Club on Sahara Avenue east of Las Vegas Boulevard is quite a treat. Sure, the pastas, meat and fish dishes are tasty, but the history there is nourishing, too. Sinatra, a former member, was instrumental in getting the club built (he reportedly donated a Cadillac that fetched top dollar at auction in 1961), and the restaurant displays photos, letters and other mementos from the star. A hallway near the bathrooms is adorned with framed photos of other famous visitors from over the years.

Another throwback eatery: the circa-1973 Hugos Cellar, in the basement of the Four Queens Casino downtown. Hugos is romantic; every female guest gets a long-stemmed rose, and every table receives chocolate-dipped strawberries at the end of the meal. The restaurant also is famous for its flaming tableside dessert preparations.

No discussion of old-school Vegas eateries is complete with at least mentioning the Peppermill. This restaurant opened in 1972 and retains its disco-era vibe. If you go, check out the Fireside Lounge, which boasts sunken firepits and TVs with 1980s music videos on loop.

Other attractions

Several other sights and destinations around Las Vegas keep the citys past alive in this modern age.

Atomic Liquors, for instance, a dive bar on Fremont Street east of the El Cortez, received the citys first official liquor license when it opened in 1952  license No. 00001. Rumor has it that patrons used to take their drinks to the roof and look for mushroom clouds rising from atomic testing sites in the desert. The bar also reportedly was a favorite spot of Barbara Streisands in the 1960s.

The welcome sign is a don't-miss photo op. - AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images/Getty Images

Gamblers love the original, coin-operated Sigma Derby, a unique slot machine on the second floor of The D Las Vegas downtown. The circa-1980s machine was built to replicate a horse track  five mechanical horses race around a circle, and a winner emerges randomly every time. Players use old-school quarters to bet on which horse will win; sometimes theyll get odds as favorable as 200 to 1. At one point every casino in Las Vegas had a machine like this one; today this is the only coin-operated iteration left.

Inside Circa Las Vegas, visitors flock to glimpse Vegas Vickie, a 25-foot-tall neon cowgirl who overlooks a lively bar and the main casino floor. Vickie originally appeared outside on Fremont Street in 1980 and became a landmark virtually overnight. Circa owner Derek Stevens acquired her in 2016, paid to have her refurbished and gave her new life when the casino opened in late 2020.

(Vickies boyfriend, a 25-foot-tall neon cowboy named Vegas Vic, still hangs outside looking over the Fremont Street Experience today.)

Finally, the most recognizable throwback to Old Vegas might be the neon Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip near Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

Betty Willis designed the sign back in 1959, and YESCO owns it today. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.

In recent years, the sign has become one of the most popular spots in all of Las Vegas for visitors to take selfies; theres a parking lot just south of the sign and rideshares and taxis make regular drop-offs there.

Its not uncommon for guests to queue up for a chance to pose in front of this icon. To some, celebrating Old Vegas is still worth the wait.

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Gov't to initiate legal action against non-returning trainee doctors from Monday

By Lee Hyo-jin

Tens of thousands of doctors and medical students gathered in Seoul's Yeouido, Sunday afternoon, in protest against the government's plan to increase the medical school admissions quota, marking their largest-scale rally in years.

The rally organizers claimed that the event gathered around 30,000 participants, while the police estimated it to be around 15,000.

The demonstration, organized by the Korean Medical Association (KMA), a powerful doctors' lobby group with 140,000 members, was held amid an ongoing strike by trainee doctors that has persisted for nearly two weeks.

Participants of the rally, including doctors from regions all across the country including Daegu, Busan and Jeju Island, as well as medical students and their families, urged the government to retract its decision to add 2,000 seats for medical schools next year.

Despite the government's repeated warnings of legal action starting Monday against doctors not returning to work, the doctors' group reiterated its endorsement of the junior doctors' mass resignation movement.

"We have gathered today to support the courageous decisions of trainee doctors who have chosen to resist the government's oppression and shackles on medical professionals. We must stay united to prevent the hike in medical school quotas at all costs," Kim Taek-woo, who heads the emergency committee of the KMA, said in a speech to the cheering crowd.

Protesters brandished banners reading "Stop oppression against doctors" and "Take responsibility for the deterioration of health care quality." They chanted slogans such as "Hasty increase of medical school quota will lead to collapse of medical system."

Prior to the rally, speculation arose that some officials from pharmaceutical firms were coerced into participating in the rally. But the doctors denied wielding such power.

"I can clearly say that neither our KMA emergency committee nor branches in other regions have made official requests to pharmaceutical firms. However, we have not been able to confirm whether some of our members have individually engaged in such actions," Joo Soo-ho, a KMA spokesperson, told reporters.

Police have launched an investigation into the speculation as law enforcement authorities escalate pressure on the striking doctors.

"Rallies within legal boundaries will be guaranteed, but illegal activities will be dealt with firmly. Also, we will take stern legal actions regarding allegations about forced participation in protests," Cho Ji-ho, commissioner of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency, said during a press briefing held near the rally site.

Over 3,000 police officers were deployed on site to handle crowd control and traffic measures. Cho led the efforts, in a rare occurrence for the commissioner to take such responsibility, as overseeing rallies is typically managed by district police stations.

Cho also said that the police have conducted a search and seizure on the KMA headquarters in central Seoul's Yongsan District, Friday, and requested the immigration authorities to impose travel bans on four senior officials of the doctors' association.

"We will continue our probe in a swift manner using all possible investigative forces," Cho added.

The government has labeled the mass resignation movement by trainee doctors as an illicit activity and pointed the finger at KMA officials for allegedly encouraging their collective action. The KMA has denied the allegation, asserting that the junior doctors' resignation movement is based on personal decisions.

As the prolonged strike by trainee doctors continues to cause massive medical disruptions, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said that the government will initiate formal procedures for criminal punishment without hesitation.

"The refusal of physicians to take care of patients under any circumstances is intolerable. The government stands firm in its principles. Should the unlawful action of abandoning patients persist, the government will fulfill its constitutional and legal obligations without hesitation," Han said during a pan-government meeting responding to the doctors' strike, also on Sunday.

According to medical laws, the government can issue return-to-work orders on doctors if there are grave risks to public health. Those refusing to comply could face suspension of their medical licenses for up to one year and up to three years in prison, or fines of up to 30 million won ($22,400).

Over the past few days, the Ministry of Health and Welfare issued a last-minute warning, setting Thursday as the deadline for doctors to avoid legal consequences if they return to work. Some government officials visited the homes of trainee doctors who had refused to acknowledge the orders, having turned off their phones when the government sent text messages.

As of Thursday night, less than 5 percent of the trainee doctors had returned to work out of the total 13,000 interns and residents in major hospitals across the country, according to the health ministry.

Now that the deadline has passed, the health authorities are preparing for formal legal action, including criminal punishment and three-month suspensions of medical licenses.

The government has made it clear that there will be no compromise, a stance possibly influenced by the events in 2020 when the health ministry delayed its medical reform plans in the face of the doctors' strike.

Patients across the nation remain in limbo with canceled and delayed treatments due to the prolonged walkout by trainee doctors, but the tense situation in hospitals is expected to persist, as neither the government nor doctors are showing signs of relenting from their positions.
Tesla announced opening its Supercharger network to carmakers who signed the NACS deal, beginning with Ford. The move caused controversies among Tesla owners, who don't see this move as beneficial. Owners of non-Tesla EVs are also intrigued about how this might work, so here's everything you need to know.

EV

How much do Ford EV owners have to pay at Tesla Supercharger stations?

Can you charge other EVs if you register them as a Ford model?

What do Tesla owners think about sharing Superchargers with other EVs?

What is Tesla's goal with Supercharger access for non-Tesla EVs?

Tesla opened its Superchargers to third-party electric vehicles in selected markets a few years ago. The move started in Europe, where Tesla shares the same CCS2 connector with the rest of the industry. In 2023, Tesla also allowed owners of third-party EVs to charge at Superchargers fitted with a special adapter called Magic Dock. This involved installing the Tesla app and creating an account with Tesla. Charging pricing was higher for non-Tesla EVs, but owners could lower their rates by committing to a $12.99 monthly subscription.Last year, Tesla signed deals with other carmakers to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS). This was the most important step towards unifying the charging specifications, which was set to boostadoption significantly. Ford was the first to sign the deal, followed by GM and Rivian. Soon, all major carmakers, one by one, announced the adoption of the NACS standard , with an essential perk for their users: access to Tesla's Supercharger network.The terms of the deals were similar, but the exact details were kept under wraps. Last year, GM CEO Mary Barra said GM owners would be treated the same as Tesla owners when charging at the Supercharger stations. This included paying the same price, an essential advantage considering that those using Magic Dock adapters would have to pay a significant premium or a Tesla subscription. Not every carmaker apparently got the same deal, or Mary Barra did not understand the terms. Ford owners who charged their EVs at a Supercharger under the NACS deal had to pay the higher price.Ford owners don't need to install the Tesla app or create a Tesla account, as Ford announced earlier. They can initiate a charging session from the FordPass app, the car's infotainment screen, or simply by plugging in if they have already enrolled their EV in the Plug & Charge system. However, this would only allow them to charge at the higher, pay-as-you-go tariffs, similar to those using the Magic Dock adapters. If they want the same prices as Tesla owners, they must use the Tesla app and pay the $12,99 monthly subscription.Moreover, the charging session must be initiated from the Tesla app, or you will not benefit from the more favorable pricing. So far, Ford has not completely integrated its network with Tesla. Things will probably change in the future, especially when new models will start shipping with NACS ports toward the end of the year. I presume the same will apply to owners of other EV brands when they also get access this spring.As soon as Tesla announced the debut of the NACS deal for Ford EV owners , people wanted to try it. Not only Ford owners flocked to Supercharger stations, but also those driving other EVs. While the former crowd discovered that the Supercharger experience is buttery smooth, owners of other EV brands left the chargers disappointed. So far, it takes a Ford to charge at a non-Magic Dock Supercharger. All other EVs will not start charging.More than that, the owners of non-Ford EVs would get an "Unauthorized vehicle" warning, meaning that the station knows they don't have a Ford. Some even tried to trick the system by saying they owned a Ford model. The Tesla app allows them to choose the stall and initiate charging, but as soon as the vehicle is plugged in, the charging stops, and the error message pops up in the app.There could be several reasons why this happens. For instance, Tesla could use a whitelist, only charging vehicles that Ford enrolled in its system. The Ford EVs must encode identification in the communications while negotiating a charge with the Supercharger. It could also be that EVs need a software update before being able to use the Superchargers. It's too early to rule out this possibility, but we'll know more in the coming days as more people will charge at Tesla stations.While Tesla presented the move as necessary to fulfill its mission, not all Tesla owners were convinced. Many think sharing the Superchargers with non-Tesla EVs will make the wait lines longer and sink availability. Tesla Superchargers are already congested, and it's hard to get a charge at peak hours without spending a lot of time in line.To make matters worse, non-Tesla EVs have the charge port placed in awkward positions, forcing them to block more than one spot. This annoys Tesla owners more than sharing the stations with other brands. Many wonder how Tesla would signal in the app that a charge spot is blocked, even when the charger is not in use. These things will likely be sorted on the fly as everyone gets accustomed. If that's any comfort, sharing the Superchargers in Europe with non-Tesla EVs is a non-issue, despite Tesla not being the dominant EV brand.More than 60 percent of EVs in North America are Tesla, so other brands should be even less of a problem. Not all Superchargers will be available to non-Tesla EVs, as Tesla wants to reserve a number of them for its own customers. The EV maker will also expand the Supercharger network faster to accommodate other brands, which will also help Tesla owners in the long run.Tesla might say all it wants about the mission of replacing combustion vehicles and advancing electromobility. In the end, it's all about money. Tesla put a lot of effort into the Supercharger network, even when it was cash-strapped. Understandably, it wants a return on its investment now that it has become the world's largest and most reliable charging network.By serving all EV brands in North America, Tesla can tap into government money to accelerate the Supercharger expansion. More stations will also help it expand its addressable market to virtually all the EVs sold. Owners of non-Tesla EVs will be incentivized to pay for the Supercharger membership, turning the Tesla Services division into a significant profit center.Automotive expert Sam Fiorani from AutoForecast Solutions believes Tesla could generate $6 billion to $12 billion a year by 2030 from its Supercharger network. Exposing more people to the Tesla ecosystem might also generate sales for EVs and energy products. Tesla has been very good at harnessing all possible revenue streams, and opening up the Supercharger network would vastly expand its customer base.
Isnt it curious how some cars seem to run out of luck just as they roll off the assembly lines, while others are born under a rainbow of shooting stars and become instant legends? Take the B-body Mopars, for instance. The most famous of them all  the Dodge Charger  missed the mark with the first generation but absolutely nailed in with the second.

Photo: YouTube/Dennis Collins

Photo: YouTube/Dennis Collins

Photo: YouTube/Dennis Collins

On the other hand, the Plymouth Road Runner was an instant hit on the market when it meep-meep-ed first in 1968. And lets not even open the topic of the Barracuda  the voracious aquatic predator A-body Plymouth totally lost it all to the thundering stallion from Ford in April of 64. The payback was the E-body iteration from 1970, when the  Cuda and the other Dodge hemi-god, the Challenger, rode together.The duo didnt stay long in the production slats of Chryslers top hats: by the end of 1974, the twin cousins from Plymouth and Dodge bid farewell to Planet Piston. And this is where fortunes played another hand of Texas Hold em with the Cuda and the Challenger. As we know, Plymouth went bust, and the iconic nameplate will never rise again over dragstrips and stoplight Grand Prixes.However, the world witnessed the second coming of the Challenger  and its second demise, too, at the end of 2023  which stands to prove my theory from the opening of this article, namely that life isnt always fair. This gets me thinking: whats the best way for a car to leave the scene: the carmaker pulling the plug or rotting away in a field in Texas for over four decades?Why Texas, and why the forty-year timeline? Because thats what Dennis Collins ran into (not really, he went straight on the target) in Alvarado, Texas. Two 68s, three 69s, a 67, and a 64. Sadly (or luckily, depending on the perspective), none of them are (or were, at some point in their past and more merry lives) armed with the Sanctity of V8, His Street HEMIness the 426.In fact, some of the cars dont even carry their engines under the hood anymore after they were parked in a field in the early and mid-80s. Notably, out of the seven rust gems, only one, the 1967 Dodge Coronet, is a four-door car. It is also a 440, which initially sounds like it would nearly cancel out the extra two-door birthmark. Not so, in Coronets case, because the 440 is not a cubic-inch denominator but a trim-level marketing hook.In 1967, Dodge built 184,609 Coronets, most with a V8, but the 440-cubic inch (7.2-liter) was available  as standard equipment  on the R/T models only. The Road/Track Package debuted that year on the road runner Coronet. This is not a typo nor a slip of mind  see the gallery for a brochure of the time. The first R/T Dodge was the Coronet, dubbed road runner (no capital letters anywhere) by the smart Alecs from copywriting.Speaking of road runners, there are two of them in the group rescued by Dennis Collins, both from 1969, both with 383 V8 belonging to them. That would be the Road Runner 383, not the regular big-block 6.3-liter eight-cylinder. With 335 horses and 425 lb-ft (339 PS, 576 Nm), low price, and sexy looks, the Road Runner (capital initials) was a serious Mopar muscle.Interestingly, the Plymouth Road Runner and the Dodge Coronet R/T 'road runner' had one thing in common: the optional engine , which was the 425-hp, 490-lb-ft (431 PS, 664 Nm) Street HEMI. The elephant V8 was offered as the alternative motor for the two models  in fact, the 426-cube V8 was never a standard engine during its heyday.Since we touched on this topic of optional powerplants, the other Plymouth B-Body that had the honor of being allowed to sport a HEMI was the GTX as opposed to the 440 Super Commando (the Plymouth equivalent to the Dodges Magnum), which was also regular equipment, and which is what the crusty GTX in the video has with it. Out of the 14,048 hardtops assembled for the model year, 13,866 came with the biggest Mopar passenger car motor of the time.The B-body showoff is completed by the 68 Plymouth Satellite, completing the Belvedere-based trifecta - the GTX , in 1967, and Road Runner, the following year, came after the Satellite in the chronology. 136,136 of the former were assembled in 1968  one of the greatest years for Chrysler in terms of icons and legends.And I'm not exaggerating one drop, as Ive saved the best for last: the keystone in this Mopar find is the most iconic Dodge of all time. Its the 1968 Charger  the car that looked stunning from every angle. A Mach 2 fighter jet was the descriptor in the sales literature at the time, and Steve McQueen shared the Bullitt poster with the sinisterly black 1968 Dodge Charger R/T.This yard find isnt one of the high-performance muscle cars of the nameplate, but an average Joe (by Charger standards, obviously) born with a 383 in it. The YouTuber doesnt say it directly, but one of the four engines sitting right by the cars is from the Dodge.Since there are two 440s and two 383s, and given how theres no indication that this Dodge is an R/T, we can safely deduce that it is a 6.3-liter. Whether a two- or the better four-barrel, thats something for a future episode when these cars get restored.
Photo: eBay seller HOLLYWOOD GENERAL STORE

Photo: eBay seller HOLLYWOOD GENERAL STORE

A fantastic duo

Photo: eBay seller HOLLYWOOD GENERAL STORE

Photo: eBay seller HOLLYWOOD GENERAL STORE

The prototype smiled in front of the public in the hardtop body style and wore a beautiful emerald green finish with a white interior. It was an exquisite appearance, and people seemed to love it.It didn't take long before General Motors decided to promote the concept to the drawing board, with Clare MacKichan and his team in charge of making the Impala happen. MacKichan was the man behind the famous 1955 Bel Air , eventually designing the entire 1958 full-size lineup that helped put Chevrolet back on the automotive map.The Impala launched in 1958 as the top Bel Air version. It was offered as a two-door hardtop and convertible, sporting everything a full-size Chevrolet could offer. Everything was exquisite and rapidly impressed American buyers, with the GM brand selling over 125K coupes and nearly 56K convertibles. The first-ever Impala accounted for over 15% of the entire Chevrolet production, so it was obvious to everybody that the nameplate was ready for the next step.The Impala gained series status in 1959, embracing a different path from the Bel Air but still sharing the looks, engines, and almost everything else. However, the Impala was the new head-turning machine carrying a Chevrolet logo, and the GM brand wanted to make sure everybody knew it.The next years witnessed massive improvements to the Impala lineup, with every new release bringing additional restyling, new engines, the SS package, and a continued focus on performance and styling.The 1964 Impala was the final refresh of the generation before Chevrolet unveiled the record-breaking 1965 model year. It didn't bring significant styling changes, and the GM brand retained the engine lineup nearly unchanged from the previous model year.The base unit was the same six-cylinder unit with 140 horsepower. It might sound disappointing for a car as large as the Impala, but the straight-six unit was the economical choice for people who didn't care about performance. The next in the queue was the 283 with 195 horsepower  the four-barrel version was no longer available since 1962, so customers could order a 327 with 250 or 300 horsepower.Super Sport buyers who were particularly interested in the performance side of the car picked the almighty 409, available on the 1964 Impala in three power versions. The top developed 425 horsepower, coming with twin four-barrel carburetors.eBay seller HOLLYWOOD GENERAL STORE posted not one but two 1964 Impalas, both fighting for restoration. However, it's obvious only one will survive as a restored model, and I'll let you figure out which one by checking out the details below and the photos in the gallery.I won't comment too much about their condition because you can already decrypt nearly everything in the pics, but it's worth knowing from the beginning that both hardtops come with engines under the hood.The owner doesn't share more specifics, so I can't tell if they start and run, but fingers crossed for at least one mill to turn over by hand. The two cars look like they've been sitting for a long time, so I wouldn't be surprised to find the engines in a non-working shape. However, depending on how long and where they've been sitting, the engines could bring more concerning problems. A seized engine would be a major roadblock for a complete restoration, so have everything inspected before committing to a purchase.The Super Sport is the car that likely catches everybody's attention. Coming with a tachometer and a four-speed transmission, the SS also requires critical bodywork, including new floors and trunk pans. It's the reason I believe the regular hardtop won't make it, as it'll probably become a donor for the more desirable Super Sport.To be honest, I believe the regular hardtop looks "more" restorable than the Super Sport, but we all know how intriguing the SS tags have become these days. I wouldn't expect anyone to save the non-SS and use the SS as a donor, though with a little effort, both cars can be saved, especially if the required parts are available.However, it's clear the duo isn't aimed at the Average Joe. Only someone with the right restoration skills and a true Impala aficionado can save these two cars, so fingers crossed for the right person to come across the listing. Meanwhile, the listing keeps getting attention, with eBay's statistics revealing that 13 people are already monitoring the ad only a few hours after it went live on the auction site.The asking price is fair, considering you're getting two Impalas. The owner is willing to let both cars go for $9,700. You can find them parked in Malta, Illinois, and you'll need a trailer to take them home, considering the non-running engines and the missing parts.
3 March 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00)

Fatime Letifova Read more

Earth's climate has changed throughout history. In the last 800 thousand years, there have been eight cycles of ice ages and warmer periods, with the end of the last ice age about 11,700 years ago marking the beginning of the modern climate era and of human civilization. Most of these climate changes are attributed to very small variations in Earths orbit that change the amount of solar energy our planet receives.

As we know the Earth can perfectly continue its existence without humans. Nevertheless, one of the important factors for humans to continue the existence of their species and to take responsibility for the damage caused to nature is to intervene in these global changes in a good way.

Global warming is one of the issues where these interventions are important. It is one of the most worrying consequences of climate change around for humankind. In recent years, especially greenhouse gas emissions have been accumulating in the atmosphere and causing the world to warm up.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, these emissions decreased by 3.7% in 2020 compared to 2019 levels, interrupting a more than ten-year continuously increasing trend.

Nevertheless, GHG emissions restarted to grow right after COVID-19, reaching the level of 53.8 Gt CO2eq in 2022, which is 2.3% higher than in 2019 and 1.4% higher than in 2021, according to the European Commission Emissions Database for Global Atmospheric Research (EDGAR).

According to the EU4Climate 2023 year report, Azerbaijans GHG emissions decreased between 1990 and 1995 by 37% to a level of about 52 Mio t CO2eq, which is about the same level as in 2010. Since then, GHG emissions increased by 19% to 61 Mio t CO2eq in 2016.

Since 1995, aiming to assess the progress made in combating climate change around the world, including greenhouse gas emissions, the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has been held annually.

Azerbaijan committed in its first Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) to achieve a quantitative target of a 35% GHG emissions reduction by 2030 compared to 1990. At COP 26, the country announced a target of 40% GHG emission reduction by 2050.

On May 18, 2021, President Ilham Aliyev announced that the entire Garabagh region would be transformed into a Green Energy Zone, during a meeting with the people of the liberated Aghdam.

In Garabagh and Eastern Zangazur, 170 megawatt hydroelectric power stations were put into use in 2021-2023. By the end of 2024, this number will reach 270 megawatts. In a few years, the total capacity of hydroelectric power stations in the territories liberated from Armenian occupation will be 500 megawatts.

Regarding electricity, the initiation of field exports derived from renewable energy sources signifies the dawn of a new chapter in Azerbaijan's energy strategy. President Ilham Aliyev has accorded top priority to the expansion of renewable energy sources, aiming to elevate the proportion of renewable energy in the total electricity production capacity to 30 percent by 2030.

The country boasts a renewable energy potential that surpasses 27 GW, encompassing wind and solar energy on land, with an additional 157 GW of wind energy in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea.

By 2027, Azerbaijan aims to generate 3 GW of wind energy and 1 GW of solar energy, to export 80 percent of this production. Looking ahead to 2037, Azerbaijan anticipates expanding its capacity to a minimum of 6 GW.

Azerbaijan's Energy Ministry researches and evaluates the opportunities for renewable energy sources. This covers research into hydropower, geothermal energy, biofuels, hydrogen technology, energy storage, and hydroaccumulation, as part of its national policy.

Recall that the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) will be held in Azerbaijan in 2024. The decision was made at the plenary session of COP28 on December 11.

Following back-to-back COPs held in the Middle East, this years marquee climate change event, hosted by Baku, is anticipated to raise critical awareness of climate change in the South Caucasus and the broader Eurasian region.

Azerbaijans experience implementing large, strategically important transnational projects such as the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline and the Southern Gas Corridor will be worth emulating in this regard for other countries.

The countrys energy transition and commitment to reducing its carbon footprint offer significant opportunities for the country to achieve energy security and contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.

Azerbaijans energy transition is a complex and multifaceted process that holds great promise for the future. Azerbaijan can create a cleaner, healthier life for future generations by embracing new technologies and working toward a more sustainable energy future.
3 March 2024 13:33 (UTC+04:00)

In a significant move aimed at bolstering technology startups in Kazakhstan and beyond, a new venture fund named bybcapital has been inaugurated in Astana, Kazakhstan. This initiative, sees prominent entrepreneurs Kenes Rakishev and Asel Tasmagambetova stepping in as the initial investors, setting a robust foundation for the fund's ambitious global outreach.

Charting New Horizons for Tech Startups

bybcapital is poised to become a pivotal force in the startup ecosystem, focusing on nurturing B2B-SaaS companies with a vision for cross-border expansion. Targeting Central Asia and the Caucasus region, the fund aims to facilitate these startups' entry into lucrative markets such as the United States and Europe. At the helm of bybcapital's operations is Askar Bilisbekov, a Stanford Graduate School of Business alumnus with a profound track record in Kazakhstan's business and corporate circles.

A Mission Beyond Investment

Kenes Rakishev, commenting on the fund's launch, emphasized bybcapital's commitment not just to financial investment but to the broader vision of fostering technological innovation and leadership within Kazakhstan and the wider region. "At bybcapital, we don't just invest in startups; we invest in the future," Rakishev remarked, underlining the fund's mission to support the emergence of next-generation tech leaders and entrepreneurs by equipping them with necessary resources and support for global success.

Leveraging Kazakhstan's Innovation Ecosystem

Operating from the Astana International Financial Center (AIFC), bybcapital plans to harness Kazakhstan's burgeoning financial and innovation ecosystem. The AIFC's regulatory framework and business-friendly policies are expected to offer a conducive environment for the fund's operations and its portfolio companies, facilitating their growth and sustainable development. This strategic positioning underscores bybcapital's commitment to leveraging the extensive experience and networks of its founders to catapult Kazakh and Central Asian startups onto the global stage.

The launch of bybcapital marks a significant milestone in Kazakhstan's efforts to foster innovation and support technology startups. With a clear focus on sustainable growth and cross-border expansion, the fund is well-positioned to make a lasting impact on the regional and global technology landscape, driving forward the vision of its founders and stakeholders.

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3 March 2024 12:41 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

Azerbaijan's Minister of Energy Parviz Shahbazov met with the Minister of Energy and Mines of Algeria, Mohammad Arkab, within the framework of the VII Summit of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Azernews reports, citing the ministry.

At the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the constructive development of cooperation within the framework of GECF, "OPEC+", as well as in a bilateral format.

The current state of energy cooperation between Azerbaijan and Algeria, which are oil and gas countries, was reviewed. In accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding on oil and gas cooperation signed between Azerbaijan and Algeria in 2022, it was agreed to accelerate the process of establishing a Joint Working Group.

Issues related to the expansion of cooperation between SOCAR and "Sonatrach" companies and the establishment of the Intergovernmental Commission were also discussed.

The Minister of Energy invited his Algerian counterpart to visit Azerbaijan.

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3 March 2024 15:47 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The EU Commissioner for Energy and former Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure, Kadri Simson, said the European Union is looking to take a step to deepen the ties with Azerbaijan with regard to renewables. According to Azernews, the EU official has posted about this in her official X social page.

Kadri Simson also emphasized that Azerbaijan will host the COP29 this year and noted that the energy issue will play a leading role in the international event.

"Azerbaijan is preparing to host COP29 later this year & energy will for sure play a key role. I met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss our cooperation in energy. It has developed a lot over the last few years & our next step is to deepen the ties regarding renewables."

Azerbaijan is preparing to host #COP29 later this year & energy will for sure play a key role. I met with Ilham Aliyev, @presidentaz, to discuss our cooperation in energy. It has developed a lot over the last few years & our next step is to deepen the ties regarding #renewables. pic.twitter.com/sjVxMxsH4g  Kadri Simson (@KadriSimson) March 1, 2024

Note that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson, who came to Azerbaijan to participate in the 10th Southern Gas Corridor Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting and 2nd Green Energy Advisory Council Ministerial Meeting.

Besides, during the conversation, they discussed prospects for the implementation of renewable energy projects in the future in addition to various types of energy and opportunities for European companies to play a more active role as investors in projects implemented in Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani President and the EU Energy Commissioner then exchanged views on future steps and an action plan for the development of both COP29 and energy cooperation. The sides also lauded Azerbaijan`s joining the global methane reduction initiative.

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3 March 2024 10:00 (UTC+04:00)

In terms of relations between the countries, the top priority of Azerbaijan is building the beneficial relations with the foreign countries based on mutual respect and the principle of friendship, and not intervening in each others internal affairs. However, as in every states case, it is impossible for Azerbaijan to build equal relations with nearly 200 countries in the world. Every country has the state closest to it, with the higher level of relations. The cooperation is being implemented with some countries in certain domains, while the relations with other countries are at the normal level, Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs Jeyhun Bayramov said in a press statement on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum 2024.

According to Azernews, The minister also praised the excellent rapidly developing Turkiye-Azerbaijan relations across various domains.

He also described the relations between the two countries as unparalleled in the world.

We have witnessed the concrete steps and development in this regard in our past and recent history. Today, we are witnessing the new horizons for further development of cooperation in all areas between the countries of the wider Turkic geography, the member states of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS)," FM Bayramov noted.

The Azerbaijani FM also highlighted the meetings held with the representatives of the countries participating at the forum, saying that the meetings saw discussions on the projects vital for both Azerbaijan and the other participating countries.

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3 March 2024 11:55 (UTC+04:00)

The Press Service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, General Prosecutor's Office and the Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) of the Republic of Azerbaijan informs that on March 3, 2024, a mine incident occurred in the territory of Ahmadagali village of Agdam district.

Abbasov Bakhtiyar Yagub oglu, a resident of Aghdam region, born in 1995, was injured in both legs as a result of an anti-personnel mine explosion while he was grazing animals on the former contact line, in an area not cleared of mines. The injured person was evacuated to the hospital.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the General Prosecutor's Office and ANAMA once again call on citizens to observe safety rules, not to enter unfamiliar areas and pay close attention to all danger signs!

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By Kwak Yeon-soo

Newly launched parties are bracing for the April 10 general elections, trying to convince voters that they are legitimate alternatives to Koreas two major parties, which are engaging in political strife while putting aside issues regarding people's livelihoods.

Cho Kuk, a former justice minister under the previous liberal Moon Jae-in administration, officially launched his own political party known as the National Innovation Party, Sunday, with himself elected unanimously as party leader.

For the last five years, I have been going through hell. I could endure the personal shame, but I couldnt stand the wrongdoings committed under President Yoon Suk Yeol. Thats why I decided to enter politics and create a new party," Cho said during a launching ceremony for his party in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province.

"Let's join forces to stop Yoon's prosecutor dictatorship regime."

Cho, a former law professor at Seoul National University, served as the senior presidential secretary for civil affairs from 2017-19 during the Moon Jae-in presidency. He was appointed as justice minister in September 2019 before stepping down about a month later amid an academic fraud scandal.

Lee Jun-seok, the leader of the Reform Party, announced Saturday he will run for a National Assembly seat representing a constituency in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, which has traditionally supported liberal parties.

Lee, a former leader of the ruling conservative People Power Party, pledged to make Hwaseong a city that will produce future growth engines for the whole country.

"In the April 10 general elections, I will run for the constituency in Hwaseong that covers Dongtan 2 New Town," he said in a Facebook post. In February, he described Hwaseong as the youngest city that coincides with the New Reform Party, comprised of many young politicians.

Lees new party was formed in early February through a hasty merger with former members of the Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), led by its former chief Lee Nak-yon. But the so-called big tent party split just 11 days after the coalition as its two highest-profile challengers clashed over who should lead the election campaigns.

Lee Nak-yon of the Saemirae Party had planned to announce his bid to run in the April 10 general elections on Monday, but canceled his press conference abruptly, citing urgent matters. He is reportedly looking to form a coalition with Im Jong-seok, a former chief of staff of former President Moon, and Rep. Sul Hoon, who quit the DPK last week amid a factional rift over election nominations.

Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance, a satellite party to the DPK, aims to take as many proportional representation seats as possible and subsequently remerge with the main opposition after the election. Rep. Yoon Young-deok and Baek Seung-ah, a former teacher, will lead the party together.
3 March 2024 14:13 (UTC+04:00)

Fatime Letifova Read more

The next meeting of the Presidium of the Bar Association of the Republic of Azerbaijan (ARVK) was held.

According to Azernews, the Chairman of the Collegium, Anar Bagirov, who spoke at the meeting, informed about the current activities of the Presidium.

Then, at the meeting, an award was presented to Rustamova Natavan Famil, who was awarded the "Progress" medal for her services in the development of the legal profession by the Decree of the Honorable Mr. President Ilham Aliyev dated December 28, 2023. The chairman congratulated the lawyer who was awarded the state award and wished him success in his future activities. Natavan Rustamov expressed his immense gratitude to the head of state for the high price given to his work and the trust shown.

Also, at the meeting, reports were heard about the work done and the progress of the work related to the repair of the administrative building located in the city of Ganja. It has been brought to attention that the building's repair work is ongoing, and it is planned to be completed and handed over in the summer of this year.

At the same time, the issue of approving the new edition of the "Rules for procurement by the Bar Association of the Republic of Azerbaijan" was discussed and a corresponding decision was made.

In addition, there was a presentation of the work carried out in the field of electronic services by the "Electronic Lawyer" Committee. It was noted that the "Electronic Attorney's Warrant", which was successfully completed as a pilot project in 5 Lawyer's Offices, will be able to access the "Electronic Attorney's Office" in the coming days through the "Electronic Attorney's Office". With the help of this system, lawyers will save time, they will be able to obtain a warrant of attorney without going to the administrative building of lawyers' organizations.

Later, for his contributions to the social activities of ARVK, he was awarded the title of "Honorary Doctor of Law" of Fariz Mammadov Bar Association, the head of the Bar Association No. 12, the head of the Bar Association No. 12, the head of the "HGNS Counselor" Bar Association, the chairman of the "Electronic Advocacy" Committee. and Ilham Huseynov, a member of that Committee, were awarded the "Decree of Honor".

At the meeting, the request of Amir Aliyev, the rector of the Academy of the Bar Association, to provide financial support for the winter camp project called "We are the lawyers of the future" was considered, and a positive decision was taken by the Presidium.

In the continuation of the meeting, relevant decisions were made considering the transfer of some lawyers to other legal institutions, the termination of legal practice by lawyers and the termination of legal practice, as well as the requests of lawyers for financial assistance.

Also, opinions of the Lawyers' Disciplinary Commission were reviewed at the meeting and relevant decisions were made by the Presidium.

In the end, other important issues related to the activity of the College were considered.

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3 March 2024 15:17 (UTC+04:00)

Ulviyya Shahin Read more

During our meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, we had the opportunity to discuss the regional situation as well as bilateral relations.

According to Azernews, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said this in a press release after the closing ceremony of the III Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

"During the meeting, the peace process in the Caucasus, the events in the Black Sea and Syria were discussed," the Turkish minister added.

Furthermore, Minister Fidan also touched on the ongoing process of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

"Russia and Ukraine have reached the limit of their military capabilities in the conflict, so it is necessary to start a dialogue about peace," the minister said.

"Our position is that both sides have already reached the limit that can be reached by military means. We believe that now is the time to hold a dialogue on the ceasefire," he said.

H. Fidan added that Turkiye is not talking about the recognition of the occupied territories, but at the current stage, Turkey is sure that it is time to separate this issue and the issue of sovereignty from the issue of ceasefire.

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3 March 2024 16:00 (UTC+04:00)

Mines planted by Armenia remain a major challenge, and it refuses to provide detailed mine maps under various pretexts.

According to Azernews, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan shared about this on the official "X" social page.

The ministry also shared the number of mine victims so far since November 2020.

Landmines planted by Armenia remain a major challenge.



Today, as a result of an explosion a 29 years old civilian was severely injured.



Since November 2020, 346 Azerbaijanis became victims.



 with various pretexts refuses to provide accurate maps. #StopLandmineThreat pic.twitter.com/zAQiClsWy5  MFA Azerbaijan  (@AzerbaijanMFA) March 3, 2024

It is noted that a 29-year-old civilian was seriously injured today as a result of the explosion. In total, 346 Azerbaijanis have been victims since November 2020.

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3 March 2024 11:02 (UTC+04:00)

Rodion Miroshnik, Ambassador-at-Large of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's desire to monopolize peace plans counterproductive, Azernews informs referring to Telegram channel.

"Zelensky's desire to monopolize the right to peaceful settlement plans with the support of the West is counterproductive! This is nothing more than prolonging the bloodshed," Miroshnik said.

Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Ankara offered Russia and Ukraine a platform for negotiations. He emphasized that Ankara supports Zelensky's 10-point peace plan.

According to the Turkish president, the participation of both sides in the negotiations is a necessary condition for the success of peace initiatives in Ukraine.

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3 March 2024 13:58 (UTC+04:00)

Elnur Enveroglu Read more

The French invasion of Corsica was another colonialist expedition by French forces of the Kingdom of France under Comte de Vaux, against Corsican forces under Pasquale Paoli of the Corsican Republic. The expedition was launched in May 1768, around 256 years ago, in the aftermath of the Seven Years' War. A French expeditionary force was landed on the island of Corsica, then ruled by the Corsican Republic.

It was one of the most embarrassing colonialist acts committed by France alongside African nations. Corsicans have been fighting against French oppression for two centuries.

Azernews reports that Pascal Alberini, a Corsican protester, spoke to Azertag during the demonstration about the atrocities committed by France in his country. He said that the French media does not hear the voice of the people and every time there are protests there, the French media spreads disinformation.

"The main purpose of our demonstration is to protest and support the arrest of the activists of the independence movement of Corsica. They were targeted by the French state and the police blew up the door of their house. The activist is an accounting expert. They threw him to the ground in front of his child and committed an act of violence, ransacking his house. Such actions are unacceptable," says Pascal Alberini, a participant of the protest held in Bastia in support of the Corsicans, who was detained by the Fench police.

"We don't trust the French media today. The French media, in the hands of billionaires, does not hear the voice of the people, does not take it into account, and people's rights are being trampled on," said the participant of the demonstration, noting that the French media is spreading misinformation.

Another protester, Jean-Philippe Antolini, the spokesman of the "Patriotti" collective, called this step of the French state irresponsible in an interview with Azertag. He noted that the French authorities should take into account the current situation in Corsica - but they don't care at all.

The "Patriotti" collective, which brings together former political prisoners, and "Associu Sulidarita", which defends political prisoners, called the people of Corsica to demonstrate. They demand an end to the long-standing French repression. There are political prisoners, illegal arrests are increasing more and more, even if people open the door, the police break the door as if there are explosives, handcuff our activists in front of their children, and kick them in the head. Our activists are kept in prisons in Paris and Marseille," said Jean-Philippe Antolini.

Antolini added that today the French state must realize its responsibility and take into account the current political situation in Corsica. For several years, 60 percent of the population voted for the independence of Corsica.

"We demand the recognition of the elementary, fundamental rights of the people of Corsica. These rights are not recognized today. We demand that our people work with dignity in these lands that belong to them. By settling migrants in Corsica, the French state is changing the demographic composition of the island. In recent years, Corsica's population has increased by 40 percent, and this has only happened due to the arrival of migrants. Which country accepts such a situation?! This leads to the disappearance of our people, their language and culture. That's why we want the rights of our people to be recognized by demonstrating today," J. F. Antolini said.

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3 March 2024 17:11 (UTC+04:00)

"Sending troops to Ukraine will violate the decision of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization."

According to Azernews, this was stated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Peter Szijarto, on the air of the "Kossuth" radio station.

"Two years ago, NATO member countries decided that the organization is not a warring party and that everything should be done to prevent a conflict between the organization and Russia. "Western politicians who talk about sending troops violate this decision of NATO," Siyarto stressed.

He added that Hungary's position remains unchanged - the country will not send troops or weapons to Ukraine.

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3 March 2024 23:44 (UTC+04:00)

The meeting with US President Joseph Biden has not yet been included in the program of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban's visit to the US.

Bertalan Havasi, the spokesman of the head of the Hungarian government, said that the main purpose of Orban's visit will be a meeting with the former president of the United States, Donald Trump.

Orban plans to visit Trump on March 8 at his Mar-a-Lago mansion in Florida. On March 7, he will be in Washington, D.C., where he will speak at the Heritage Foundation think tank.

The Hungarian prime minister has not met with Biden since taking office in January 2021.

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Four Unique to Bizarre Aspects of One Chunk of Oregon Coast: Between Yachats and Florence

Published 2/24/24 at 5:35 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Yachats, Oregon)  Between Yachats and Florence is one of the more complex chunks of Oregon coast around, with a good dozen of separate and distinctly different accesses and layouts that each hold their curious secrets. It's not even quite 20 miles of awe and amaze-balls lurking here, with so much to do in this stretch there's no way to compact it into one day. (Above: pathway at Stonefield Beach / Oregon Coast Beach Connection)

In that spirit of further exploration, here's four really curious aspects of the area.

Weird Basalt Steps. Three of the coolest sights you'll ever find on the Oregon coast are at Depoe Bay, Strawberry Hill access and at the northern half of Neptune State Scenic Viewpoint. They look like steps in the rock that are there either there naturally  or maybe left over by some civilization, like ruins. (Above: the steps at Strawberry Hill) Mysterious Rocky Steps Along Oregon Coast Explained

Geologists call them cordwood joints, because they look like stacked fire wood. The short answer about these is that they came from lava flows that hardened, cracked, and then other lava flows on top of them injected themselves into the harder rock, making these shapes. They were then whittled down by time to look like this and be exposed. Cave at Neptune Beach, Geology

Bob Creek Wayside is one of the more adorable yet engaging wee accesses on the Oregon coast, really a small cove of sorts where agate hunting is prime. Sand levels affect this spot greatly, however, especially when summer comes bringing more of it.

Most of the time, Bob Creek is a semi-circle of water smacking against a shore of rounded stones, and with some sections featuring a host of tidepools. Major storms make it absolutely inhospitable to human life, but the way it's structured make normal waves often pile in sizably calmer than many beaches. It's a bit of a dreamy experience.

When sand levels of summer get really high, those waves have much farther to travel: more sand has accumulated around the breakers so it slows them even more. It can greatly extend this rather short beach.

In that case, oddities can pop up. Like this sort of ramp for example: a sandy slope appears between basalt slabs that normally hold all that tidepool life. This can acquire a curious ruts-like effect, looking like manufactured grooves. You can see the difference between regular sand levels and high sands in the photos here. The top one is normal sands, and the second is the same stretch of slabs with higher sand levels and the ramp.

Volcanoes of Yachats to Florence. All that black rock you see in this area  from Yachats down to Heceta Head  is frozen lava some 35 million years old or older. Scientists think there may have been more than one volcano back then, but the main one appears to be Cape Perpetua itself. Inside Heceta Head / Cliffs Near Florence: All Come from Oregon Coast Volcano

That grand and towering feature was once a volcano, spewing out dozens to hundreds of eruptions way back then. Those basalts may be as deep as hundreds of feet down. There's other things mixed in those rocks on occasion, which is why you get the black basalt and then basalt with other colors tinting it.

Stonefield Beach, sitting astride Ten Mile Creek, is really a pair of beach accesses and one them hides a splendorous little wonder. There is the main access to Stonefield  the state park with the signage. This one, on the south side of the bridge and Ten Mile Creek, hosts all those soft, inviting sands. The other side, on the north side of the bridge, is not as well marked but it's a kick.





Park there and you go through an atmospheric, forested trail. Then it gets thicker and even slightly claustrophobic as you pass through a section with rather high bushes. Soon, however, you emerge onto an open area by the side of the creek, with a grassy lawn-like area and possibly two comely little benches (one may not still be there). They plant you in front of the spectacle, allowing you to gaze or gawk at the stream drifting quietly past as well as the sometimes-raging ocean.

You can't miss, either way.





From here, you make it onto the the curious basalt half of Stonefield, possibly where it got its name. These are fascinating blobs of rock that sometimes come in wild colors.

Stonefield Beach's main access is a downright ethereal section of Oregon coast, where sand levels really do change from season to season. You can see the grassy dunes get undercut by storms and then restored in summer. Magical, Time-Tripping Stonefield

Hotels in Yachats - Where to eat - Upper Lane County 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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Washington Coast Opens Razor Clamming Days in Some Areas, Releases Tentative Dates

Published 2/22/24 at 4:55 a.m.

By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff





(Long Beach, Washington)  Clamming gets the green light on the Washington coast as of this week, with Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) opening up Long Beach, Mocrocks, Copalis and Twin Harbors to some clamming. Other tentative dates were set and released for March in those areas as well. (Photo courtesy WDFW)

The harvesting for sport is open today through Sunday  see the full schedule below.

Razor clamming has more restrictions on the Washington coast than along the Oregon coast.

Bryce Blumenthal, a coastal shellfish biologist with WDFW, said this round for February should offer more daylight harvest opportunities.

Hopefully the swell and weather cooperate to allow for lots of successful digging," he said.

Washington doesn't open all beaches for each dig day: WDFW said you should check the schedule before heading out to see if your destination is available.

Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has given the all-clear for these areas, showing no toxins were affecting razor clams. The digs are afternoon and evening low tides (noon to midnight only):

Feb. 22, Thursday, 5:33 p.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

Feb. 23, Friday, 6:05 p.m.; 0.1 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 24, Saturday, 6:34 p.m.; 0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Feb. 25, Sunday, 7:02 p.m.; 0.4 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks

Tentative dates during evening (noon to midnight only) low tides in March in Copalis, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks and Long Beach again:

March 7, Thursday, 4:15 p.m.; -0.5 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

March 8, Friday, 5:00 p.m.; -0.8 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

March 9, Saturday, 5:42 p.m.; -0.9 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

March 10, Sunday, 7:22 p.m.; -0.7 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

March 11, Monday, 8:00 p.m.; -0.2 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

Tentative dates during morning/early afternoon (4 a.m. to 4 p.m. only) low tides from March 12-17:

March 12, Tuesday, 8:33 a.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks

March 13, Wednesday, 9:21 a.m.; -0.4 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks

March 14, Thursday, 10:12 a.m.; -0.3 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks

March 15, Friday, 11:08 a.m.; 0.1 feet; Copalis (Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival)

March 16, Saturday, 12:10 p.m.; 0.5 feet; Copalis (Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival)

March 17, Sunday, 1:23 p.m.; 0.9 feet; Mocrocks (Ocean Shores Razor Clam Festival)

Tentative dates during morning (midnight to noon only) low tides in March:

March 26, Tuesday, 7:54 a.m.; 0.7 feet; Copalis

March 27, Wednesday, 8:26 a.m.; 0.4 feet; Long Beach, Mocrocks

March 28, Thursday, 9:01 a.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

March 29, Friday, 9:39 a.m.; 0.3 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

March 30, Saturday, 10:23 a.m.; 0.4 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Copalis

March 31, Sunday, 11:16 a.m.; 0.6 feet; Long Beach, Twin Harbors, Mocrocks

DOH requires testing for marine toxins, and makes certain that levels fall under the guidelines for safety before digging can be opened. Along the Washington coast  just as on Oregon's coastline - domoic acid greatly affects what can be open for razor clamming. It is a natural toxin produced by certain types of marine algae, and can be harmful or fatal if consumed in sufficient quantities.

WDFW said final approval for the other March dates usually happens a week or less beforehand.

Make sure you check WDFWs domoic acid webpage.

On all open beaches, the daily limit is 15 clams per person. Each diggers clams must be kept in a separate container, and all diggers must keep the first 15 clams they dig, regardless of size or condition, to prevent waste, WDFW said.

Anyone digging for clams on the Washington coast must be 15 or older and have the correct fishing license. Licenses can be purchased from WDFWs licensing website, and from hundreds of license vendors around the state. WDFW recommends buying your license before visiting coastal beach communities. Additional razor clam information is available on the WDFW razor clam webpage.







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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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A deputy assembly speaker affiliated with the main opposition party announced Sunday she will join the ruling People Power Party (PPP), two weeks after expressing her intention to defect from her party over a rift surrounding nominations for the April parliamentary elections.

Kim Young-joo, a four-term lawmaker, declared her intention to leave the Democratic Party last month shortly after the opposition party placed her in the lower 20 percent category in the party evaluation for election nominations.

"Accepting (PPP) leader Han Dong-hoon's proposal, I have decided to join the PPP," Kim wrote on her Facebook page. She is expected to transfer to the ruling party Monday. (Yonhap)
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?

98.21% No, I do not support Election Interference; I am a patriot unto our Constitution.1.79% 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?
In an interview before he was jailed in Scotland, he said: Its not going to break me, going in there

Outside the Players Lounge pub after the gun attack

Ex-Celtic striker Anthony Stokes insists he does not regret attending a memorial for Real IRA terror boss Alan Ryan and that he seemed like a normal guy.

The former Republic of Ireland striker recalled the incident, where he also left then Hoops boss Neil Lennon bewildered by Tweeting condolences to the gangland killer, in a weekend interview.

Stokes (35) is currently in prison in Scotland as he awaits sentencing for harassing his ex-girlfriend and her family.

He previously pleaded guilty to stalking his ex-partner Eilidh Scott and was given four-year, non-harassment orders, meaning he could not contact her for four years  which he defied.

Stokes had been a fugitive after repeatedly failing to appear in court on those charges. However, he handed himself in two weeks ago before he was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing later this month.

Read more Former Republic of Ireland and Celtic footballer Anthony Stokes in Scottish jail after handing himself in

In an interview with the Daily Mail before he was jailed in Scotland, he said: Its not going to break me, going in there.

He also discussed his republican upbringing, his links to Alan Ryan and the death threats he faced after his father John Stokes erected a banner at the Players Lounge Pub in Dublin.

Alan Ryan was killed in 2012

John and Joan Stokes adopted Anthony when he was a baby because his mother Ann, who is Joans sister, was struggling due to a heroin dependency.

The heroin epidemic in Dublin went back to the 80s and it was still rife at the time, Stokes said in an interview with the Daily Mail.

He said John Stokes who grew up in Cork was a staunch republican and this was passed down to him.

Stokes, who also played for Arsenal and Sunderland, said when he was a boy he remembers seeing people in cars with firearms.

Someone might pull up a car in outside and you might see tools inside, he recalled.

"You kind of get normalised by certain things.

Due to the republican connections, the Players Lounge pub which was run by John Stokes in Fairview became a base for Real IRA leader Ryan

John Stokes, outside his pub the Players Lounge

Ryans gang were responsible for a litany of murders in Dublin more than a decade ago as they got into conflict with organised crime gangs.

Those conflicts ultimately cost Ryan his life when he was shot dead in north Dublin in September 2012.

Anthony Stokes turned up a memorial night for Ryan following his death and also paid tribute to him online.

After pictures emerged of his attendance at the event, the then Celtic manager Lennon said Stokes was punished by the club as a result.

Despite the trouble caused by his links to Ryan, Stokes said he does not regret attending the memorial.

Speaking about Alan Ryan, Stokes said: He would've been around my dad every day.

"He was the leader of that group. I knew him well. To me, he was a normal guy.

"I would also be sympathetic to my dad's beliefs about Irish republicanism.

Stokes also spoke about his dads decision to erect an anti-monarchy banner on his pub, the Players Lounge, .

in 2011, Stokes snr hit the headlines after he was ordered to take down a banner declaring that the Queen was not welcome, ahead of her historic visit to the city.

He said: My dad mentioned to me, I'm going to put a banner up.And I thought he meant maybe over the bar in the pub.

"But I woke up the next day - I think we were playing Hearts - and it's a 60-foot banner with a picture of the Queens head, saying, As long as the British Forces are in Ireland, she and her family are not welcome in this pub.

I dont know if that's even trying to be funny or what, but obviously it's all over the papers in Scotland and I'm getting it left, right and centre.

"The Rangers fans. Messages off the UVF listing details of a flight I was taking and threatening to shoot me. I had to go to the police over that.

It was getting very hostile. I mean - I support my dad a hundred percent, but for f*** sake mate, come on! I'm up to my neck and as it is! I dont need any of this!

The Sunday World previously revealed how Stokes travelled abroad on holiday with Ryan and his associates at the height of Ryans feud with Dublin gangs.

Pictures showed Stokes posing with a number of republicans including Ryan and his brother Vinnie, who was also later shot dead, as well as Sligo man Aaron Nealis who was shot in the leg during the same attack which killed Alan Ryan.

The Players Lounge pub was the source of continuous controversy at the height of Alan Ryans prominence in Irelands underworld.

Ryan used the pub as his base where he hung out with other dissident pals and regularly bedded women he met there.

There was a gun attack at the pub in 2010 in which three innocent people were injured when the gunman was trying to murder Alan Ryan.

Outside the Players Lounge pub after the gun attack

Notorious gangland gunman Alan Wilson was one of the criminal figures involved in that gun attack.

In April 2011, gardai raided the pub and found bullets and cocaine as well as three stun guns in a shed at the back of his pub.

By August 2011 the pub was destroyed in a blaze allegedly set by raiders who it was claimed stole 80,000 in cash from the premises before setting it alight.

It never reopened following the fire and was sold for around 200,000 in 2014.

Stokes said his republican beliefs made him a particular hate figure for Rangers fans during his time in Glasgow.

Convicted gunman Alan Wilson

He said he knocked out one Rangers fan who challenged him to a fight.

This fella pulls up, Rangers top on, hat and all. He started kicking my door up. I knocked him out, clean out and left him on the bonnet.

Anthony Stokes had had a succession of court appearances in recent years.

In 2017, Stokes received a two year suspended sentence for headbutting Elvis impersonator Anthony Bradley at Buck Whaleys on Leeson Street, Dublin, on June 8, 2013.

Stokes offered 30,000 as a token of his remorse when he appeared in the Circuit Court and was committed to paying the amount in two weeks but never followed through on that promise.

Mr Bradley also took a separate successful civil action in the High Court in Dublin against Stokes saying that he effectively gave up his career as an Elvis impersonator after the former Ireland striker head-butted him leaving him with a broken nose and damaged teeth.

Stokes, who didnt bother attending the civil action, was ordered to pay 230,000 in damages in 2017 but still hasnt paid over anything to Mr Bradley.

In 2021 a Scottish court ordered Stokes to complete an anti-domestic abuse course after he admitted harassing his ex-girlfriend.

The court heard he followed Eilidh Scott on a number of occasions and shouted abuse at her and also called to her house repeatedly banging on her door and shouting through her letterbox. He also bombarded her with abusive messages - sometimes up to 100 a day.

He was also banned from contacting Ms Scott or her parents unless she initiated contact to discuss childcare arrangements.

Stokes was back up in court later that year accused of breaching that order.

He admitted sending Ms Scotts father offensive and inappropriate text messages about his daughter and repeatedly phoning her mother.

Stokes failed to turn up for his sentencing hearing for those offences and Sheriff Allan McKay later ordered a warrant for his arrest.

Back in Ireland Stokes had a prosecution for a separate alleged headbutt attack on an English tourist in Dublins Temple Bar struck out in 2022 because the victim did not want to travel to Ireland for the case.

Stokes had denied the charge of assault causing harm to Fraser Spratt at Fitzgerald's pub on Aston Quay, in Dublin 2, on March 16, 2019 and claimed he acted in self-defence.

Last year Stokes was arrested and charged with 10 separate offences related to drug supply and driving offences.

He was charged with dangerous driving at various locations driving without insurance or a licence and failing to produce his documents.

He was also charged with possession of cocaine valued at 4,500 for sale or supply but those charges were struck out in January due to delays in a forensic certificate of analysis. Stokes had pleaded not guilty to the drugs charges before they were struck out.

Stokes admitted in the interview that his life spiralled in recent years.

I went off the rails. All this stuff  the police charges, avoiding them, has been draining. I want to move on from it, hand myself in and draw a line.
Northern Ireland libel lawyer Paul Tweed is suing a leading American academic publisher for defamation, alleging that one of its recently published books portrays him as a subversive, covert agent of the United Arab Emirates.

Court filings show he is suing Georgetown University Press over a book it published last year, Subversion: The Strategic Weaponization of Narratives.

The book was written by an academic named Andreas Krieg, who teaches in Kings College, London.

In Mr Tweeds filings with the High Court he claims the book portrays him as a subversive, covert agent of the United Arab Emirates, who improperly writes warning letters and/or institutes legal proceedings for the purposes of silencing voices in the West who are critical of the United Arab Emirates.

Mr Tweed alleges the book also portrays him as a solicitor who [uses] my legal practice unfairly and improperly... in order to protect or advance the interests of the political regime of the United Arab Emirates, by unfairly and improperly targeting publishers, universities and social media companies.

He further alleges the book infers he is an unethical solicitor who abuses my position as an officer of the court to use litigation for purposes that are ulterior to the administration of justice.

According to Mr Tweeds filings, in Subversion Krieg makes an argument about how certain countries use decentralised networks of a variety of actors, paid agents, wilful pawns and sometimes useful idiots in order to curate and mobilise information networks with the ultimate goal of undermining social, political consensus.

Krieg further argues that the strategic weaponisation of narrative for political end, affecting the will of the real people should be considered an act of war, according to the court filings.

The book describes this as lawfare meant to intimidate critics and provides the UAEs information network with ammunition to attack critics.

Mr Tweed claims the book makes a reference to him when it describes how a London-based consultancy, Cornerstone Global Associates closely works with a British libel lawyer to send aggressive cease-and-desist letters to academic publishers, universities and social media companies in an effort to target individuals critical of the UAE and its regional policy.

The ramifications of this upon my reputation could be extremely damaging

He says in the legal filings that the book draws on a New York Times article from 2019, citing it as a reference in a footnote to the text.

Although Mr Tweed notes that he is an Irish lawyer rather than a British lawyer, he states that the New York Times article mentions him by name.

Mr Tweed says in the filings that the book is intended for use as an academic publication and as such has the potential to be cited as a reference before domestic and international courts and that the ramifications of this upon my reputation could be extremely damaging.

In his application to the court, Mr Tweed says he is seeking damages (including aggravated and/or exemplary damages) and is seeking to have the book either removed from sale or to have the offending paragraphs corrected.

He says his firm has corresponded with a number of outlets that were distributing the book, some of which have taken steps to remove the book from sale pending the outcome of my complaint.

Mr Tweed was asked for comment, but declined to speak about the proceedings.

Efforts were made to reach Georgetown University Press, both through its general email address and an email to its director, but no reply had been received by last night.

Mr Tweed specialises in defamation law, and during his career has represented high-profile celebrities including Britney Spears, Liam Neeson, Nicolas Cage and Jennifer Lopez.

In recent times he has taken a number of cases on behalf of clients suing major social media platforms for defamation.

In one such case in 2022, Irish broadcaster Miriam OCallaghan won an unreserved apology from Facebook over a number of defamatory and untrue advertisements that used her likeness on the social media platform.

Mr Tweed is currently representing Irish businessman Declan Ganley in a case he took against American news network CNN; and property developer Paddy McKillen as part of a case against the Qatari-owned Maybourne luxury hotel group.

The McKillen dispute has parallel cases in courts in London, France and California.
Police have appealed for witnesses after an arson attack on a former school in Londonderry.

The fire at the Faughan Valley High School site on Drumahoe Road was started deliberately, firefighters said  after 50 of them were sent to tackle the blaze.

It was extinguished shortly before midnight after police were also called to the scene on Sunday.

A PSNI spokesperson said: "Fortunately, there have been no reports of any injuries. However, there has been significant damage to the building as a result of the blaze.

Locator: Faughan Valley High School

"The fire is being treated as arson and we're appealing to anyone who was in the area at the time and saw any suspicious activity, or has any information, to contact us.

The number to call with information is 101, quoting reference 1707 03/03/24 or, make a report online via https://www.psni.police.uk/report or Crimestoppers, which can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Residents were last night urged last night to keep their windows closed as dozens of firefighters battled the major blaze.

On Monday morning a NIFRS spokesman said the cause of the fire was "deliberate ignition".

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A Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (NIFRS) spokesperson said on Sunday:

"The fire is in two storey section of the building.

"There are currently 50 firefighters in attendance along with seven pumping appliances, one aerial appliance and a command support unit.

Operations will continue for some time, and local residents are advised to stay away from the area and keep windows and doors closed while the incident is ongoing.

Firefighters are working as quickly as possible to extinguish the fire and make the scene safe," they said.
A pharmaceutical company in Northern Ireland is set to cash in on a 360m move by the Government to boost UK manufacturing, research and development.

The Chancellor is to announce the significant funding package for projects across the life sciences, automotive and aerospace sectors.

It includes 7.5m to support Almac Group and a separate pharma firm in Wales, which are investing a combined 84 million to expand their manufacturing plants in the UK.

Last October the Co Armagh company, which produces drugs to treat diseases such as cancer, heart disease and depression, announced it is creating 550 new jobs here as part of an 80m expansion plan which includes the construction of new manufacturing, production and diagnostic laboratory facilities at its global headquarters in Craigavon.

The cash injection follows the Advanced Manufacturing Plan set up to provide the industry with the long-term certainty to grow and invest in the UK and is backed by 4.5b of targeted support announced at Autumn Statement to boost the British manufacturing sector.

More than 92m of the joint government and industry investment is aimed at expanding facilities to manufacture life-saving medicines and diagnostics products.

A total of 200m has been earmarked for zero-carbon aircraft technology aimed at developing a more sustainable aviation sector and with almost 73m set aside for automotive technology.

Jeremy Hunt is expected to announce the package on Monday ahead of the Spring Budget this week.

Were sticking with our plan by backing the industries of the future with millions of pounds of investment to make the UK a world leader in manufacturing, securing the highly-skilled jobs of the future and delivering the long-term change our country needs to deliver a brighter future for Britain, he said.

The Chancellor has also confirmed that companies will soon be able to apply for a share of the 520 million funding for life sciences manufacturing announced at Autumn Statement, with competitions for large scale investments opening for expressions of interest this summer and medium and smaller sized companies in the autumn.

The fund is designed to build resilience for future health emergencies such as influenza pandemics and capitalise on the UKs world-leading research and development.

On top of this, the government has announced almost 73 million in combined government and industry investment for cutting-edge automotive R&D projects to support the development of electric vehicle technology, delivering highly skilled jobs and cementing the UKs position as a global hub for EV manufacturing.

Supported by more than 36 million of government funding awarded through Advanced Propulsion Centre UK (APC) competitions, this includes four projects which are developing technologies for the next generation of battery electric vehicles, making them more efficient and competitive, led by companies including automotive manufacturers YASA and Empel Systems.

Business and Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch said the announcement builds on the success of our Advanced Manufacturing plan announced last year, and will ensure we continue to grow the economy, help create jobs and secure the future of great British manufacturing.

She added: Our plan for the British economy is working  which is why firms like Airbus and BMW are continuing to bet on Britain.

Meanwhile Science Secretary, Michelle Donelan, said: "The UK's 108 billion life sciences sector is driven by the pioneering contributions of over 300,000 highly-skilled individuals who transform lives through groundbreaking advancements in drug discovery and diagnostics.

We fuel this progress by fostering a dynamic environment where cutting-edge technologies like AI and genomics meet world-class research to create the next generation of healthcare solutions, including in our NHS. By investing in advanced manufacturing facilities, we are protecting our communities by ensuring we can rapidly respond to future health emergencies and deliver life-saving innovations when they are needed most.
The man dubbed Northern Irelands Fritzl was buried this week in a funeral attended by nobody.

This is the unmarked grave where Alistair Henrys body was placed on Thursday morning at Coleraine Cemetery.

There was no service, no eulogy, no gravestone and no flowers.

A source said: He went straight into the ground.

The silence of his final moments above ground was in stark contrast to the violence he dished out to his ex-wife and others who crossed his path.

The 62-year-old, who remains the only person to be convicted in connection with the murder of OAP Norman Moffatt, died last Friday at the pensioners fold he was placed in last year.

Alistair Henry's unmarked grave at Coleraine Cemetery

Police confirmed they were not treating his passing as suspicious at this time, but added they are continuing to make inquiries surrounding the circumstances of the death.

Local sources have reported that the monster who called himself the devils disciple had been the victim of a nasty beating a few weeks ago. There were rumours he had suffered a stab wound.

They also said there was blood everywhere when his body was discovered and there had been near-constant anti-social behaviour and noise while Henry had lived there.

The PSNI said: The mans death, at this time, is not being treated as suspicious. Police, however, are continuing to make inquiries surrounding the circumstances of the death.

Dubbed Ulsters Fritzl after notorious Austrian Josef Fritzl  who kept his daughter captive for 24 years and raped her thousands of times  Henry subjected his then-wife to a catalogue of horrendous abuse, much of which cant be published as it is too disturbing.

Last night, a former friend who knew Henry all his life said: He was an evil bastard and he will not be missed. He was a bully and brought nothing but misery to his wife, his family and his neighbours who had to put up with his drink and drug parties.

He was given the send-off he deserved, which was to be buried without anyone there to pay any respects. He died a drug addict and alcoholic who never apologised for what he put his wife and family through. He left so much pain and anger in his wake.

Henry subjected his wife to a seven-year campaign of terror which ended when he was jailed for two years.

Even then, he vowed he would kill her when he was released. Back in 2008, she told how the abuse started.

We were only married and I was sitting on the bed as he was getting ready to go to work, she said. The next thing, he punched me full-on, on the side of the face.

He broke my jaw and permanently damaged my eye that day for no reason. There was no warning, no row. That was the start of my hell. It was every day after that.

Alistair Henry

The beatings came daily and she was gagged and bound in her own home. If she was allowed out, he had to be by her side and she was told to keep her head down at all times.

It was as if he knew I had no one now, no one who could tell what he was doing. At this stage, I wasnt allowed to see any of my family and friends and Alistair had given up his job so he could be with me 24/7.

He had nothing to do all day other than torture me  and thats what he did.

He has broken every bone in my body, he has abused me in terrible ways and forced me to do terrible things. I hate him for all of it and I wish he was dead.

Him being dead is the only way I will know I will be safe.

Henry broke his wifes ankle because she had put 10 peas on his plate instead of eight.

He was also a horrific animal abuser and forced his wife to watch him perform sex acts on himself while he chanted the twisted mantra: Roses are red, violets are blue. Theyll need dental records to identify you.

In 2008 she said: He was evil to everyone  everyone weaker than him. He microwaved one of our cats and put the other in the washing machine.

He cut the girls goldfish in half and then taped it back together.

He punched our wee Labrador puppy so hard he broke his neck and he just dumped him in the bin. Thats what he did to amuse himself when he wasnt abusing me.

She revealed how he referred to himself as the devils disciple as he tore pages out of the Bible.

Alistair hated everything religious, she said. He banned anything religious from the house. He hated crosses and used to rant about how he hated God and Jesus.

He told me that he worshipped Beelzebub and that it was his fault he did the things he did.

Henry was jailed in 2013 after he falsely accused a drinking pal hed fallen out with of murdering 73-year-old Moffatt. He had made it all up.

Norman Moffatt. Henry was jailed in 2013 after he falsely accused a drinking pal hed fallen out with of murdering the 73-year-old

Henry had taken revenge after a squalid drinking fallout to accuse his mate of the murder. The innocent man had to live with that hanging over him for 11 years.

In December 2022, police apologised to the family of Mr Moffatt after a watchdog review found multiple failings in an investigation of his murder.

The OAP was attacked as he walked along Railway Road in Coleraine in January 2001. He died two months later.

A subsequent review from the Police Ombudsman identified shortcomings in the police investigation.

Henry was convicted of perverting the course of justice and jailed for two years after deliberately lying to police that a fellow drinking buddy had been the man who stabbed Mr Moffatt to death.

The court was told at the time that Henrys outrageous lie had hampered their investigation by directing their efforts away from the real main suspect.
Naomi Long insists she still has plenty left in the tank after more than eight years as Alliance leader.

Mrs Long is the longest-serving leader of the four parties in the Executive, taking over from David Ford at the helm of the party in 2015.

She had served as deputy leader since 2006.

But speaking to the BBC's Sunday Politics, she said she was more ambitious for the party and Northern Ireland than ever.

She was asked by presenter Mark Carruthers if she ever shared the feelings of ex-New Zealand and Scotland leaders Jacinda Ardern or Nicola Sturgeon, who both spoke about how the demands of frontline politics took a toll on their energy.

She said: I have plenty left in the tank and I think anyone who saw our conference yesterday will see the energy that I have brought to the party and given to the party is reflected back in spades.

She added: I dont feel that I am burnt out, I dont feel that I am running on empty and if I ever reach that point I will do the honourable thing and step aside.

Mrs Long also denied taking swipes at the Secretary of State, Chris Heaton-Harris, while calling for reforms to Stormont at her partys conference on Saturday.

I did not take a swipe at the Secretary of State, I laid out a challenge to him. I asked him to do something, she added when asked about remarks that Mr Heaton-Harris should do heavy lifting on reforms of the institutions.

He has invested so much time in dealing with the DUPs concerns and their anxieties and their fears. He now needs to step up, when we have working institutions, and look at how we make sure that those are sustainable, so that the last collapse is the last collapse.

He has an opportunity to do that, in what remains in this term of office. And I want to see him step into that space.

Mrs Long was also asked whether she would run in east Belfast in the general election, expected later this year.

She previously held the seat from 2010 to 2015, before Gavin Robinson won it back for the DUP.

But Mrs Long, reappointed Justice Minister last month, states that her standing for the seat was not a conversation had by those in her party just yet.

That is not a conversation we have had internally in terms of what we are going to do in east Belfast, and it is not the focus of my attention right now, the MLA stated.

I have just taken up a role in the Department of Justice, I am enthused about that, and I want to be able to deliver in that role, and that is where my focus is right now.

When the general election comes around, we will find the right candidate at the right time to ensure that we can put forward our best opportunity to retake that East Belfast seat.

We would make the decision when the election is called, that is how we operate.

The state of public finances is seen as one of the key challenges for the reformed Executive. A recent collective decision of the Assembly saw regional rates increase by 4%, meaning there was a sum of 30m, bagged rather than the desired 113, by the Treasury.

But Mrs Long believes that they as politicians cannot cut our way out of current monetary issues.

Each of the parties will have their own position when it comes to issues, like the restructuring of Northern Ireland Water, when it comes to issues like where we should be looking to grow our economy, she added.

But we have all agreed, and where we have all agreed is that Northern Ireland is underfunded relative to need.

We know that, and Treasury have acknowledged it, what we havent done is put in place the mechanisms to ensure that it is addressed.

We cannot, and I am being really clear about this, we cannot cut our way out or revenue-raise our way out of that problem.

We need the UK Government to look at a sustainable formula for funding for Northern Ireland going forward. We will do our part, the Executive is willing to do what needs to be done, but we also have to balance that decision, for example around rates.

Do we actually improve NI if we set the rates at a position where we put people out of business, where we put people out of their homes, where we actually put people on the dole queues because they cant afford to pay the rates?
By Esther Kim

On the subway car, I stood near the doors, studying my phones subway map of the 4/5/6, when a box of chocolates suddenly entered my field of vision. "Chocolate?" the voice asked in Spanish. We usually press it into two syllables, "Chock-let," in English instead of the four "Cho-ko-latte." It was his shy, quiet voice, still uncorroded by the city or by aging, that startled me out of my focus.

Unlike East Asias near-frictionless public transport, New York Citys subways are a place of sensory chaos and collisions. Expect an event: a track fire, a rat sighting (or 10), train delays, the stench of urine, the threat of a fight or yet another mass shooting. After the murders of Michelle Go and Christina Yuna Lee, I try to plant myself at the center of the platform or car, far from the open tracks, and scan for any men behaving erratically. When I see the homeless or panhandlers, I feel a rising sense of fear and guilt: Whats the right thing to do here? To give or not to give? What's the right amount to give? And am I safe?

But he was only a boy of about 12, shorter than me, with cheeks still rounded with baby fat. I glanced up to see his eyes gazing at the far end of the subway car. He had on a navy blue school backpack and held out the box of chocolates. I quickly shook my head, and he accepted my no without pushing the box at me again and walked past. In the space of those seconds, I felt overwhelmed. Snap decisions. He was so young. I should have bought a chocolate, I thought with regret, but the crowd at the end of the subway car had already swallowed him. I wondered if he was one of the 170,000 Central and South American migrants bussed to the north since Texas Governor Greg Abbott decided that itd be a great joke on NYC and other Democrat stronghold cities across the U.S. to see how we would keep our American dream promise. How would the kid survive this city?

New York Citys nature is to change, and when I spent Lunar New Year there this winter, it became abundantly clear that Manhattan had experienced a "vibe shift," as the kids say, since my 20s growing up there in the 2010s.

On the Long Island Rail Road, the posters warned: "six out of every 10 pills contain traces of fentanyl." I hadnt known about this synthetic opioid and its pervasiveness. Other ads goaded commuters to download the New York lottery app, which seemed another way to prey on hard-up people and give them a faster, easier and addictive way to lose money. The new train terminals at Grand Central (Madison) and Penn Station were beautiful monuments of seagreen subway tile, travertine marble walls, glass, light and steel. Police planted themselves at the corners and military pairs in camo stalked the sparkling floors of Penn Station with enormous guns slung across their chests. To me, their bulk screamed: This is our city. Cop city. The former NYPD captain Mayor Eric Adams New York.

Beneath the soaring arches of Penn Stations new Moynihan Train Hall, floors intentionally lacked public seating areas in order to discourage the homeless, but this also meant people, feet tired, just sat on the floor. Inside the drug stores, basics like shampoo and soap were now kept behind lock and key. New clear plastic cases covered every shelf to stop shoplifting. You had to ask the bored, grumpy employee to unlock each case shelf by shelf. Thankfully, a few buskers inside the station still played their wind instruments or sang bachata to counteract the mood of mistrust and paranoia.

Elsewhere, the subway stops were missing buskers. No performers breakdancing, no puppet showmasters, less street vendors. Police waited by the turnstiles instead. Aboveground, every single street where a mom-and-pop store no longer could afford the rent, a new cannabis shop with bright LED signs sold bongs, CBD and vapes. Legalized in March 2021, the cannabis business was booming. The dank smell of weed clung to the cold air outside, and it was impossible to walk a single block without passing through a haze.

Then around midtown, I saw the shocking posters. Kim Jong-un and Vladimir Putin side by side, styled and stylish: Kim wore a buttery brown trench and Putin a black moto leather jacket. Ostensibly part of PETA's anti-leather campaign, these just looked very pro-dictator. Since they were such flattering images, I questioned if Putin/Kim money went to the hired advertising firm. What a huge misstep by PETA. But some good New Yorker soul thankfully had taken the time to scratch out their faces.

Friends confirmed the city of our youth  brighter, wilder and safer  was gone. The sobering truth is that New York is different  somewhat grimmer and bleaker. Still recovering from the pandemic, New York was always expensive, but now the cost of living  rent and food  is absurd. After the pandemic, prices have surged with a vengeance. The median rent in Manhattan surpassed $4,000 back in January 2023. Less than 1 percent of monthly rentals is under $1,000. The price of groceries and eating out seemed about 1.5 times pre-pandemic prices. A bowl of ramen could fetch $35. A latte $8. Poverty rates have risen, hitting many older Koreans. Back in 2021, the Asian American Federation published a survey that showed 22 percent of older Koreans across metro areas were living in poverty compared to 11 percent of older non-Koreans. The housing crisis and migrant crisis multiplied to new heights.

Part of the collective "vibe shift" toward a grimmer city is geopolitical  rocked and divided by two wars (Ukraine and Gaza), barely recovered from the pandemic and governed by a Democrat mayor who points the finger at the wave of migrants from Africa, Central and South America  asylum seekers in my mind  as criminals, the light-hearted city we knew is gone.

I havent forgotten how this place is still filled with people seized with the energy and convictions to start from the bottom, to help and to heal others, to charge towards the fire or to take to the streets. Well still scratch out the faces of dictators. To the boy with the chocolates  This Land is Your Land, too. The bottom seems bottomless here  but New York is also a muscular, tough city that stretches skyward to fulfill a promise: To provide sanctuary for the exiled. This is the peoples city, our city, not Adams'.

I got off the 4/5/6 at Bowling Green and climbed the steps of the grand National Museum of the American Indian (Smithsonian) for the first time. Housed within the former commerce and banking building for the incoming merchants and ships and business, its one of the few remaining museums with free admission. From the top steps, I looked out to the sea, the sky tinged pink, and I saw a cheery tourist group all wearing green Statue of Liberty foam crowns walking away. The statue is our colossal promise, so its time for a new mayor.





Esther Kim is a freelance writer based in Taiwan. She was senior manager at the Asian American Writers Workshop in New York City and Tilted Axis Press in London, and a publicist at Columbia University Press. She writes about culture and the Koreas.


Margaret Caldwell. mother of Emma Caldwell, said there must be no further delay (Andrew Milligan/PA)

The mother of murdered Emma Caldwell has called for a criminal investigation into the handling of the case after it took almost 19 years to bring her daughters killer to justice.

Iain Packer was jailed for life with a minimum term of 36 years on Wednesday after being found guilty at the High Court in Glasgow of murdering the 27-year-old in 2005 and of multiple offences involving other women.

Miss Caldwells family have called for a public inquiry into failures by the authorities over the investigation of her murder in 2005.

However, her mother Margaret Caldwell said that could take many years to set up and is also calling for a criminal investigation led by an outside police force and steered by independent prosecutors to scrutinise the conduct of authorities, the Sunday Post reported.

Mrs Caldwell told the newspaper: The only thing the Crown Office should have been announcing after the trial was an immediate and independent criminal investigation.

Emma Caldwell died in 2005 (Family handout/PA)

It is not just my family that needs reassurance about our justice system. Everyone in Scotland needs that reassurance.

Packer was also convicted of 11 rapes and 21 further charges including sexual assaults and abduction, involving multiple women, over 26 years.

The Crown Office said that following a full independent investigation Crown Counsel concluded that there was insufficient evidence of criminality on the part of any police officer involved in the investigation of Emma Caldwells murder.

However, the Crown reserved the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available, as in all cases.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has said a public inquiry into the investigation of Packer is not off the table.

He and Justice Secretary Angela Constance are due to meet Mrs Caldwell this week and the Crown Office said the Lord Advocate is also due to meet with Miss Caldwells family and their solicitor this week.

Mrs Caldwell welcomed the possibility of a public inquiry but said there can be no more delay.

She told the newspaper: I was 57 when Emma died and Im 78 now. How long must I wait to be told exactly who failed Emma and why?

I have no patience for more talk and empty promises. Only actions count now.

Police Scotland has apologised to the family of Miss Caldwell and Packers other victims, admitting they were let down by policing.

Miss Caldwell was reported missing by her family in April 2005 and her body was found the following month in Limefield Woods, near Biggar, South Lanarkshire.

Iain Packer was jailed for life at the High Court in Glasgow (Police Scotland/PA)

In 2015 a Sunday Mail newspaper story branded Packer the forgotten suspect and Police Scotland launched a re-investigation of the case that year following instruction from the Lord Advocate.

Mrs Caldwell said that her husband Willie died of cancer and with a broken heart in 2011 before seeing justice for his daughter.

She said her daughter always said she would come home and sort herself out, adding every day it breaks my heart that she never got the chance.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said: This week the Lord Advocate will meet with Emmas family and their solicitor to answer questions about the investigation and criminal proceedings.

We feel that to respect this meeting it would not be appropriate to comment publicly on matters which should be discussed first with Emmas family.

However, we can confirm a previous statement that following a full independent investigation Crown Counsel concluded that there was insufficient evidence of criminality on the part of any police officer involved in the investigation of Emma Caldwells murder.

As in all cases, the Crown reserved the right to proceed in the future should further evidence become available.

Following Packers conviction on Wednesday, Assistant Chief Constable for major crime and public protection Bex Smith said: Police Scotland launched a re-investigation of the case in 2015 after instruction from the Lord Advocate.

It is clear that further investigations should have been carried out into Emmas murder following the initial inquiry in 2005.

The lack of investigation until 2015 caused unnecessary distress to her family and all those women who had come forward to report sexual violence.

Police said that, over seven years, a full review of the original inquiry by Strathclyde Police in 2005 was completed.

A spokesperson said: As part of the re-investigation, a report was also sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in relation to the Strathclyde Police investigation.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak gives his speech on extremism in Downing Street (Jordan Pettit/PA)

The Government is planning to prevent hate preachers from entering the UK following the Prime Ministers speech warning about a rise in extremism.

According to reports, the new plans will see identified extremists added to visa warning lists and refused entry to the UK.

It is understood ministers believe they can make greater use of powers to block people from entering the UK if they are seen as non-conducive to the public good.

Typically used to prevent people who pose known security concerns from coming to the UK, it is understood the new plans will extend the powers to include those preaching racism, incitement or using intimidation or violence to undermine the democratic process.

According to The Sunday Telegraph, the Home Office is also looking to clamp down on far-left, anti-democratic organisations.

The moves follow Rishi Sunaks speech in Downing Street, in which he warned that democracy is being targeted by extremists and there were forces here at home trying to tear us apart.

Lord Walney, the Governments independent adviser on political violence and disruption who conducted an official review into fringe groups, told the Telegraph there has been an unholy alliance between far-left groups and Islamist extremism on protest marches.

He said there was a gap in the Governments understanding of damage the anti-democratic far left can do.

He told the Telegraph: One of the conclusions of my review is to look at and understand the threat from anti-democratic far-left groups, alongside that posed by Islamists and the far right.

For understandable reasons, the focus since 9/11 has been on violent terrorism.

Because the far left has not posed a similar kind of violent threat, there has been less understanding and less focus on the way in which they can harm our society.

A Home Office spokesman said it was considering the reports recommendations extremely carefully.

Pro-Palestine protests continued across England and Wales on Saturday following Mr Sunaks warning that demonstrations and democracy itself were being targeted by extremists.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign singled out Barclays bank for its day of action, assembling at nearly 50 locations including the branch on Tottenham Court Road in central London.
The number of Channel arrivals is 32% lower than the total recorded this time last year (Gareth Fuller/PA)

A seven-year-old girl has died after a boat carrying 16 migrants capsized in the English Channel, French officials said.

The girl who drowned had been travelling with her pregnant mother, her father and three siblings when the boat got into trouble in the early morning of March 3, local authority Prefet du Nord said.

According to officials, another couple, two men and six young children were also on board the probably stolen vessel that was unfit to carry that number of passengers.

They said the other passengers have been transported to a hospital in Dunkirk and their lives are not thought to be at risk.

A walker raised the alarm and police and firefighters attended the boat that was in the Canal de lAa in Watten, Prefet du Nord added.

This weeks Home Office figures showed more than 2,000 migrants have arrived in the UK so far this year after crossing the strait between England and France.

The number of Channel arrivals is 32% lower than the total recorded this time last year (2,953) but 49% higher than the total at this stage in 2022 (1,482).

Some 29,437 migrants arrived in the UK after making the crossing in 2023, down 36% on a record 45,774 arrivals in 2022.

The Home Office said there were no new arrivals on Tuesday or Monday this week, but 290 asylum seekers arrived across five boats last Sunday.

Home Secretary James Cleverly was in the US this week where he made a speech focused on tackling unauthorised migration.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak made stopping the boats one of his top five pledges to the electorate in January last year.
Doctors staged the rally in protest against the governments medical school policy (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Thousands of senior doctors have marched through South Korean capital Seoul to voice support for junior doctors who have been on strike for nearly two weeks over a government plan to sharply increase the number of medical school admissions.

The rally came as the government said it will begin to take steps on Monday to suspend the medical licences of nearly 9,000 medical interns and residents for defying orders to end their walkouts, which have disrupted hospital operations.

Park Sung-min, a senior member of the Korea Medical Association, said in a speech at the rally: The governments absurd medical policy has triggered immense resistance by trainee doctors and medical students, and we doctors have become one.

Im asking the government: Please, stop the threats and suppression now.

Doctors are against government plans to increase medical school places (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Protesters chanted slogans, sang and held placards criticising the governments plan. There were no reports of any violence at the rally.

As of Thursday night, 8,945 of the countrys 13,000 medical interns and residents were confirmed to have left their workplace, according to the health ministry. The government repeatedly said they will face minimum three-month licence suspensions and indictments by prosecutors if they did not return by February 29.

The striking doctors are a fraction of South Koreas 140,000 medics. But they account for about 30-40% of the total doctors at some major hospitals, where they assist senior doctors during surgeries and other treatments while training.

Their walkouts have subsequently caused numerous cancellations of surgeries and other medical treatments.

The South Korean government has said it will suspend the medical licences of junior doctors on strike (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Senior doctors have staged a series of rallies backing the young medics but have not joined the walkouts. If they also launch strikes, that would pose a major blow to South Koreas medical service.

Police said they are investigating five ranking Korea Medical Association officials accused of inciting and abetting the junior doctors walkouts. Seoul police chief Cho Ji-ho told reporters on Sunday that officers had raided association offices as part of the investigation.

The government wants to increase South Koreas medical school enrolment quota by 2,000 starting next year, from the current 3,058, to better deal with the countrys rapidly ageing population. Officials say South Koreas doctor-to-population ratio is one of the lowest among developed countries.

But many doctors have vehemently contested the plan, saying medical schools cannot handle such a sharp increase in the number of students. They say the recruitment plan also does not address a chronic shortage of doctors in essential but low-paying specialities like paediatrics and emergency departments.

Doctors say adding too many new medics will also result in an increase in public medical expenses since greater competition would lead to excess treatments.

Critics say the doctors simply worry about receiving a lower income due to the rising number of medics.
Malaysias government has said it may renew the hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 after a US technology firm proposed a fresh search in the southern Indian Ocean where the plane is believed to have crashed a decade ago.

Transport minister Anthony Loke said Texas-based Ocean Infinity has proposed another no find, no fee basis to scour the seabeds, expanding from the site where it first searched in 2018. He said he has invited the company to meet him to evaluate new scientific evidence it has to find the planes final resting place.

If the evidence is credible, he said, he will seek cabinets approval to sign a contract with Ocean Infinity to resume the search.

Relatives of passengers on board the missing plane observed a moment of silence during the 10th annual remembrance event (FL Wong/AP)

Speaking at a remembrance event to mark the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of the jet, he said: The government is steadfast in our resolve to locate MH370.

We really hope the search can find the plane and provide truth to the next-of-kin.

The Boeing 777 plane carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to Beijing vanished from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014. Satellite data showed the plane deviated from its flight path and is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

A woman writes on a message board during the 10th annual remembrance event (FL Wong/AP)

An expensive multinational government search failed to turn up any clues, although several pieces of debris washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands. A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also found nothing, but the tragedy sparked moves to bolster aviation safety.

KS Nathan, a member of the Voice MH370 group comprising next-of-kin of those on board the jet, said Ocean Infinity initially planned a search last year but it was delayed by the delivery of its new fleet of ships and assets. It is now on track to resume the hunt, he said.

Mr Loke declined to reveal the fee proposed by Ocean Infinity if it finds the plane, as this is subject to negotiation. He said financial cost is not an issue and that he does not foresee any hindrances for the search to proceed if all goes well.

His comments sparked tears of joy among some family members at the memorial event in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.

The names of the passengers on the missing jet were written on jigsaw pieces at the memorial event (FL Wong/AP)

Im on top of the world, said Jacquita Gomes, whose flight attendant husband was on the plane. She said she is thankful that she may now have a chance for full closure and say a final goodbye.

We have been on a roller-coaster for the last 10 years. If it is not found, I hope that it will continue with another search, she said.

Family members of passengers from Malaysia, Australia, China and India paid tribute to their loved ones during the event, lighting a candle on stage to remember them.

Bai Zhong, from China, whose wife was on the plane, said: No matter if it is 10 years, 20 years or more, as long as we are still alive we will not cease to press for the truth. We believe the truth will eventually come to light.
Pakistans National Assembly has elected Shehbaz Sharif as the countrys prime minister for the second time.

Allies of imprisoned former premier Imran Khan in parliament shouted in protest against his appointment, alleging rigging in last months election.

Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Mr Sharif secured 201 votes, defeating Omar Ayub of the Sunni Ittehad Council who got 92 votes. Mr Sharif only needed 169 votes to get a majority.

Mr Ayub enjoyed the backing of Mr Khans Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, or PTI, whose candidates could not get enough seats to form a government on their own. The PTI refused to hold talks with its rivals to form a coalition.

Following days of negotiations, Mr Sharifs Pakistan Muslim League party and his supporters formed an alliance after the February 8 election whose results were announced after an unusual delay because of a nationwide mobile phone outage.

Authorities said the cutting of communications was necessary to avoid militant attacks on candidates and security forces.

Supporters of Imran Khan staged a protest against the Pakistan Election Commission in Karachi on Saturday (Fareed Khan/AP)

However, the delay drew criticism from Mr Khans party, which insists the vote was rigged to stop it from getting a majority.

The party claims it has evidence its victory was stolen during the vote count  a charge the Election Commission denies.

Mr Sharifs government faces multiple challenges, including how to respond to a surge in militant attacks, fix the ailing economy, improve relations with neighbouring, Taliban-run Afghanistan, repair crumbling infrastructure, and resolve year-round power outages.

It must also maintain political stability as Mr Khans party has vowed to continue protests against the alleged vote-rigging.

Mr Khan, who is currently serving prison terms in multiple cases and has been barred from seeking or holding office, wrote a letter last week to the International Monetary Fund, urging it to link any talks with Islamabad to an audit of Februarys election. That came days before the IMF releases a key instalment of a bailout loan to Pakistan.

Pakistan has been relying on bailouts to prop-up its foreign exchange reserves and avoid default, with the IMF and wealthy allies like China and Saudi Arabia financing the country to the tune of billions of pounds.

Mr Sharif replaced Mr Khan after he was ousted in a no-confidence vote in parliament in April 2022.

The new PM has said he will seek a fresh IMF bailout after the end of March when the current one expires.
DUP unable to move out of its comfort zone to win fresh allies for the Union

Donaldson says NI is changing, but the majority of his partys base simply isnt ready for it

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson

Suzanne Breen Sun 3 Mar 2024 at 09:30

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has signalled that the DUP may be about to take a non-traditional route.
Deposed Ballymena chief Paul Gray walks free from court

The deposed terror chief, the former UVF commander in Ballymena, was charged with supplying the Class A drug but had the charges dropped on the steps of the court.
By John J. Metzler

In a powerful vote of confidence for Ukraine's sovereignty and continuing independence, both the U.N. Security Council and General Assembly met to show strong political support for the embattled country two years after the 2022 Russian invasion.

Speaking before the Security Council, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, "Two years on, and a decade since Russia's attempted illegal annexation of Ukraine's Autonomous Republic of Crimea  the war in Ukraine remains an open wound at the heart of Europe."

He emphasized poignantly, "It is high time for peace, a just peace."

Addressing a packed and tense meeting of the fifteen-member council, Guterres lamented, "Our world is at a chaotic moment." He voiced deep concern over the danger of the conflict escalating and expanding "is very real."

"No one wants peace more than the Ukrainian people," French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne said.

British Foreign Secretary David Cameron intoned that two years since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered an unprovoked invasion of a sovereign U.N. member, "My question to Putin is simple. Why? ... How many ridiculous explanations have we now had for the invasion?" Cameron added, "Mr. Putin believes he can take territories, redraw borders, exercise force to build his empire."

Echoing Churchillian sentiments, David Cameron continued, "We must not falter. We must stand firm."

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield followed with a stinging rebuke of Russia.

"Today, despite President Putin's best efforts, the world continues to bear witness to Russian brutality, Russian hypocrisy and Russian cruelty." She said the "senseless war" has worsened global food insecurity, impacted global energy, caused incalculable damage to the environment and undermined the global non-proliferation regime.

Thomas-Greenfield added bluntly, "Let us be exceedingly clear here. If Russia puts down its weapons today, the war will end. If Ukraine puts down its weapons, Ukraine would be over."

Russian Ambassador to U.N. Vassily Nebenzia countered rhetorically, saying, "In this proxy war  Ukraine is losing." Meanwhile, he claimed, the European Union has become a "satellite of the U.S."

Earlier, in a highly unusual move at the start of the meeting, the Russian ambassador interjected a point of order claiming "the list of speakers is crowded with non-members of the council calling themselves the foreign ministers of European Union countries. However, in that bloc, with rare exceptions, there are no independent national foreign policies." Accordingly, Moscow's envoy claimed baselessly, "there are no foreign ministers, just officials who pretend to be such. The bloc's entire foreign policy is in the hands of Brussels, which in turn is in the hands of Washington."

But it was the voice of Free Ukraine that rose above the political fracas. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, "Russia's name is synonymous with aggression, war crimes and barbarism." Kuleba went on to say that the Russian Federation is occupying the place of the Soviet Union, which no longer exists and that the legal transfer of its Council seat never occurred.

He added, "This is an example of how a small fraud led to a global catastrophe." He said, "We continue to insist that Russia has no legal right to be present at this table, and the future reform should correct this historic mistake that led to deadly consequences."

Thus far, the dire cost of conflict is many thousands killed on all sides, over six million Ukrainian refugees and four million Ukrainians internally displaced, with 14.5 million people inside Ukraine needing urgent humanitarian assistance.

While there's strong political support from the United States and Canada, European Union countries, parts of Latin America and East Asian states such as South Korea and Japan, notable was the quiet absence of many African and nonaligned countries and Russia's political groupies.

In media comments outside the council, Kuleba was flanked by over fifty ambassadors and foreign ministers showing solidarity with his embattled Eastern European country battered by Moscow's military bludgeon. This truly impressive commitment was nearly unprecedented in the U.N.

Cameroon told correspondents that Ukraine matters.

"If we somehow let Putin eak out a win, of course, that's bad for European security, disastrous for Ukraine's security, but it's also bad for American security." He added that such a win "would be celebrated in the Kremlin but celebrated by the Chinese leadership too."

"None of us will allow our Ukraine to end," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a separate address in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv.

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."


Bennington, VT (05201)

Today

Cloudy with snow showers mainly during the morning. High near 40F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 40%..

Tonight

Snow showers. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of snow 50%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.
Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Donald Trump has won the Republican caucuses in Idaho and Missouri and he's captured all 39 delegates that were up for grabs at the Michigan party convention
WEST STOCKBRIDGE  An appraiser has raised the value of a West Stockbridge trailer park by hundreds of thousands of dollars.

That appraised value of the Residences on Mill Pond could cause rent to climb by 230 percent for tenants  if the towns Rent Control Board agrees to it.

The tenants now have an ally in one outsider who is closely following these developments. Patrick White, a Stockbridge Select Board member, CFO for the Berkshire Waldorf High School and candidate for Massachusetts state representative, says such a rent hike would be unfair and cause a host of other problems.

White has weighed in on the rent hike petition by Mill Pond owner Tom Lennon, and is suggesting ways for the Rent Control Board to approach a rent increase. He says he's getting involved only as a private citizen with financial expertise.

He sent two memos to the West Stockbridge Rent Control Board, saying the board should not use the $1.78 million appraised value of the trailer park in its formula for a reasonable rent increase.

Instead, White wrote, the board should factor in the $900,000 purchase price of the park  which Lennon bought in 2022.

I remind the Board that fair market assessments in Massachusetts are based on sales prices, and the actual sale price is the determining factor in valuation, White wrote to the board on Feb. 25.

White recommends the board use the purchase price and reasonable costs to maintain the property as the basis for its decision. He also says the tenants ability to pay should be the driver of any rent hikes.

Lennon in November filed a petition to the board for an increase from the current rent of $241 to $797.51.

He arrived at that higher rent by plugging his numbers into the boards formula  one set by the state. These include factoring in the $1.78 million appraised value, the mortgage interest and park expenses. Lennon adds on another cost related to money spent on work to the park.

Lennon says he needs that income to reverse negative cash flow from his increasing operating costs and investments in the 35-space park. He told The Eagle that the park was incredibly neglected when he bought it.

But tenants of the park told the board at its hearing Wednesday of problems that include dirt roads teeming with potholes, poor drainage and a failing septic system. They also say that last summers water system overhaul left them with toxic water hookup valves.

They say that raising the rent so steeply will squeeze them out.

The board asked Lennon to produce backup financial documentation and continued the hearing to a future date.

In his first memo, White says that most of the rent increase is based upon the premise that a single appraiser told him it was worth more.

White added that this standard should not apply here. When asked why not, White said that the board "could use an alternative standard for highest and best use."

White also noted that the property value in the formula could even be less than the purchase price since Lennon exempted a house and apartment on the parcel from the whole equation. He also said such a draconian increase would affect the entire town and would ripple out beyond.

It would literally take you decades to replace these units with affordable housing at a cost of millions to local and state taxpayers, he wrote, adding that it would force tenants to leave and possibly sell their mobile homes for cheap.

White also makes other points that include:
Jem's Birding & Ringing Exploits in the Eastern Province and elsewhere in Saudi Arabia
Pilotless plane successfully flies 12 kilometers in test

By Ko Dong-hwan

GOHEUNG, South Jeolla Province  The government plans to launch an urban aerial mobility (UAM) service over Seoul and its surrounding areas by 2025, which will be a major turning point for the country's future public transportation if materialized, according to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Sunday.

Testing the technology over an open-air countryside field in the southern coastal county of Goheung, South Jeolla Province, the government is now overseeing a competition among seven consortiums of state-run and local private companies. Depending on the results of the test, called the Grand Challenge (GC), it will be decided which companies will take the lead in introducing the country's first UAM service.

To allow people to take electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft within or in between cities or major public venues up to 50 kilometers apart in less than 20 minutes, the ministry, by hosting the GC, is testing the technology's safety, and UAM operation's seamlessness and feasibility for vertiport in urban areas. Consortiums that pass the test in Goheung take a next-level test by providing a demonstration service in the capital region, where building structures, digital networks, 26 million people and other means of public transit present a much more complicated environment than the testing site in Goheung.

Starting in 2025, the demonstration service lifting riders to desired locations will continue until 2027, during which the government seeks to expand the service beyond the capital region and introduce the service for different purposes other than transportation, such as logistics, tourism and medical emergency depending on location.

By 2030, the government aims to popularize the technology throughout the country. Having completed a UAM ecology of manufacturing, infrastructure and service platforms by then, the ministry expects the UAM market will grow to $600 billion by 2040.

"There aren't standardized references for the now-burgeoning UAM technologies yet," Choi Seung-wook, director of the ministry's urban air mobility policy division, said on Thursday. "For now, we plan to either pass or fail each consortium during the GC and technologies of those that pass the challenge will be open for future application."

Thirty-five companies make up the consortiums that challenge three key areas for testing UAMs at the GC: plane, traffic management and vertiport. With 11 companies challenging a single area for the test, the GC, hosted by the ministry and organized by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI), has been joined by 46 firms overall. They are to be tested for how well they control their planes in either normal or emergency situations, as well as the safety and noise level of their UAM aircraft.

On Wednesday, OPPAV, a 650-kilogram pilotless eVTOL used by a consortium of Korean Air and Incheon International Airport Corp. with a maximum speed of 200 kilometers per hour, took three laps over the testing field in Goheung in a development test (DT), covering 12 kilometers in total at altitudes between 60 meters and 100 meters. A third of the plane's weight comes from its battery.

Created by KARI, OPPAV is not for commercialization and only serves testing purposes. But its safety and noise level are being tested under the ministry's strictest standards.

"UAM is basically safer than helicopters because electricity for its eight or so rotors is fed by multiple power sources, not one, securing redundancy for safety," Choi said. "UAM technologies are up to private companies for further development, while the government will lay down infrastructure like vertiports and revise relevant laws to pave the way for the firms."

K-UAM Dream Team, another consortium led by SK Telecom focusing on the vehicles, Hanwha Systems on traffic control and Korea Airports Corp. on vertiports, anticipates it will beat other consortiums in the GC, thanks to its plane provided by Joby Aviation, a U.S. eVTOL developer. Joby has earned safety certification for its planes faster than any other firm in the industry, according to an official from Hyundai Motor Company that is part of another consortium alongside KT, a Korean telecommunication giant.

"At the GC, consortiums are required to go through testing in an order, not simultaneously, so it'll take some time to find out which consortiums will pass the challenge," said Kim Jeong-il, head of SK Telecom's global solution UAM business office. "As to how many eVTOLs we will manufacture, we'll first calibrate how much demand there will be and how lucrative it will be."
A KFC restaurant in Dublin City has been ordered to pay 2,000 in compensation after telling a woman with a vision impairment that her assistance dog would have to leave the premises.

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) ruled that Scotco, the operator of a KFC restaurant on Parnell Street, had discriminated against Maria Rosita Apaza Machaca on grounds of disability.

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At a WRC hearing in January, Scotcos head of legal, Lida Khanverdi, acknowledged that Ms Machaca had been poorly treated in the restaurant and offered her a sincere apology.

Ms Machaca gave evidence that she was approached by a member of staff when she was in the KFC restaurant on April 25th, 2023, and was informed that her dog was not allowed on the premises.

The complainant said she became frightened and started to record the incident on camera, which resulted in the staff member becoming agitated, and she was questioned by a security guard.

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Ms Machaca said she asked the security guard to show her a relevant sign, and she was shown one which read: Assistance Dogs Only.

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She told the WRC that she felt intimidated and shaken by the disrespect she had been shown, and had left the restaurant in tears.

Ms Machaca said the incident made her think about whether she would go into certain premises with her dog after she had been made feel voiceless and completely powerless.

She also said she was hurt that the KFC staff member had addressed her friend instead of speaking directly to her, and it appeared the employee had no training in accommodating people with disabilities.

Lack of awareness

Dr Robert Sinnott, of Voice of Vision Impairment, an organisation representing visually impaired people, said he had been contacted by the complainant who did not believe a complaint she had made to the restaurant was being taken seriously.

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Dr Sinnott said the companys lack of awareness of people with disabilities was also demonstrated by its failure to make documents sent in a reply to Ms Machacas complaint accessible and readable.

The WRC heard that Ms Machaca was originally asked to move her dog because another staff member, who was washing the floor, was afraid of dogs.

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The company claimed the complainant was only asked to leave the restaurant by an employee after she became rude.

However, Scotco acknowledged that its employee should have called her team leader to deal with the situation and accepted that she had not been trained to handle situations with customers with a disability.

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The company said it now has a procedure for employees to follow in similar situations, while the staff member in question has been given a verbal warning.

Scotcos solicitor, Fiona Egan, acknowledged the incident was serious and the result of human error.

'Disheartening'

The WRC heard the restaurants management recognised its employee code of conduct was no longer fit for purpose and a revised version was due to be presented to its director for approval shortly.

While there was some disagreement about whether Ms Machaca was rude to a staff member, WRC adjudication officer, Catherine Byrne, said there was no dispute that she was asked to leave because of her assistance dog.

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Ms Byrne said a person with a visual impairment is entitled to avail of the services of an assistance dog when visiting a restaurant.

She said it seemed very disheartening that a person would be asked to leave a restaurant because of their assistance dog, adding that such treatment must be frustrating, demeaning and depressing.

Ms Byrne said it was all the more worrying because an assistance dog provides a tangible, physical signal that a person has a disability to avoid them being discriminated against.

In addition, she noted that the restaurant had a sign which showed it permitted assistance dogs on the premises.

It is apparent that the decision of the restaurant employee to ask the complainant to leave was caused by a lack of information and training regarding accessibility for people with disabilities, Ms Byrne said.

Awarding Ms Machaca compensation of 2,000, she also directed the restaurant to have its draft Employee Code of Conduct and any training on discrimination ratified by a disability rights organisation.
A 65-year-old Ukrainian man has appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged fatal assault in Dundrum, Co Tipperary earlier this week.

Ivan Volkov, of Holm Oak Cottages, Dundrum House Hotel, Dundrum, Co Tipperary, appeared before a special sitting of Newcastlewest District Court on Sunday, charged with one count of assault causing harm to Shamil Nabiev (69) at the Dundrum House Hotel accommodation centre on February 25th.

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He was also charged with one count of affray at the same location on the same date.

Mr Nabiev, who was originally from Azerbaijan, was injured in the alleged incident and was taken from the scene to Tipperary University Hospital for treatment. Gardai confirmed on Sunday he has since been pronounced dead.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican granted an application seeking an independent post-mortem examination to be carried out on Mr Nabiev remains.

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Mr Volkov, who is a Ukrainian national, appeared in court with crutches, and was aided by a Ukrainian interpreter.

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Garda Pat Ahern told the court he arrested Mr Volkov at 9.18am on Saturday and charged the accused at 10pm.

Gda Ahern said Mr Volkov replied I didnt attack, I was defending myself when the assault charge was put to him, but made no reply to the charge of affray.

Inspector Paul Slattery said they had no objection to bail.

Post-mortem

Philip English, solicitor for Mr Volkov, said he was not making an application for bail, but said he would "likely" be seeking bail on behalf of the accused at a later date.

Mr English made an application for "an independent post-mortem" to be carried out on Mr Mr Nabiev's body, added "there is a certain urgency in respect to that".

He said Mr Volkov was living in Dundrum on "temporary protection refugee" status, adding that the accused has "serious health issues" and he is in receipt of a weekly disability payment.

Judge Carol Anne Coolican granted the solicitor's application for the independent post-mortem and instructed that he receive "all necessary medical assistance while in custody".

Legal aid was also granted.

The judge remanded Mr Volkov in custody to appear before Nenagh District Court at a later date.
Opinion polls, warnings over water shortages, and a part-time role for a former RTE senior executive are some of the stories leading the national papers on Sunday.

The Business Post leads with ''High risk': Houses will not be built due to dire water shortages', while another piece claims the value of Johnny Ronan's assets have dropped to 300 million.

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Tomorrow's front page. Pick up a copy in stores or subscribe at https://t.co/u5ystSGUtr:



 Water shortages threaten housing supply



 Sinn Fein's budget gap identified by finance officials



 Value of Johnny Ronan's 300m prized assets plunges pic.twitter.com/9E1x27G1Md  Business Post (@businessposthq) March 2, 2024

The Sunday Independent reads: 'Michelle O'Neill now most popular leader in Ireland' reporting on the results of the latest Sunday Independent/Ireland Thinks poll.

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The results show Sinn Fein's vice-president has an approval rating of 55 per cent, followed by Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, whose approval rating sits at 47 per cent.

Sunday Independent front page. Some very interesting poll results - and lots more inside pic.twitter.com/eDrr6iPZis  Alan English (@AlanEnglish9) March 2, 2024

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The Irish Mail on Sunday reports a former chief financial officer of RTE, Conor Hayes, had a '70k a year' part-time role at the broadcaster 'which lasted a decade after 2012 redundancy'.

Finally, the Irish Sunday Mirror carries a story on the decision of the chair of the New York St Patrick's Day parade to step down, reportedly blaming 'drunk gardai'.

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In the UK, the budget and the prospect of tax cuts take the spotlight on the front pages of several Sunday newspapers.

UK chancellor Jeremy Hunt will deliver his budget on Wednesday and several papers look at the chances  and impact  of tax cuts.

The Sunday Times says Mr Hunt and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak are battling to find the money for a 2p cut in personal taxes.

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The Sunday Times: Post Office boss said he would quit unless he got 1 million #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/OfrhIsSiw7 Advertisement  George Mann (@sgfmann) March 2, 2024

That plan comes under fire in The Observer, which carries a warning from two former UK Treasury aides that cuts will cost us all dear as they call for measures to spur investment and growth.

The Observer: Tax cuts will backfire, top economists warn Hunt #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/malHaSFwag  George Mann (@sgfmann) March 2, 2024

But the Sunday Express tells the UK government it risks losing the support of pensioners if there is no cut in income tax.

Sunday Express: Cut tax or lose grey vote #TomorrowsPapersToday pic.twitter.com/LyTfBb9Bm0  George Mann (@sgfmann) March 2, 2024

The Sunday Telegraph carries an interview with Mr Hunt in which he outlines a plan for a war on immoral Whitehall waste with a crackdown on public sector bureaucracy.

The front page of The Sunday Telegraph:



Hunt goes to war on 'immoral' Whitehall waste #TomorrowsPapersToday



Sign up for the Front Page newsletter https://t.co/x8AV4OoUh6 pic.twitter.com/I9efZUDa3I  The Telegraph (@Telegraph) March 2, 2024

Britain's Prince Andrew features on the front of the Sunday Mirror, which says he faces fresh questions about his support for paedophile Jeffrey Epstein with the release of more court papers.

The Independent covers concerns about politicians security as it reveals a dossier from a private intelligence firm which it says contains false allegations about a former Conservative MP.

The mother of a woman missing for three years in the Virgin Islands features on the front of Sunday People, saying she wants justice for her daughter.

And the Daily Star Sunday carries the tale of a mayonnaise addict who gets through three bottles a week.
The death toll from a Russian drone strike that destroyed a block of flats in Ukraines southern port city of Odesa rose to 11 on Sunday, when an official said the bodies of two more children and a young mother were pulled from the rubble.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on western allies to boost Ukraines air defences in the wake of the deadly attack on Saturday.

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Oleh Kiper, governor of the Odesa region, on Sunday said that the body of a 10-year-old boy named Serhii was found amid the debris.

Hours earlier, Ukraines interior ministry reported that rescue workers retrieved the remains of a woman clutching an infant.

A statement said: The mother tried to cover the eight-month-old child with her own (body). She tried to save them. They were found in a firm embrace.

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Search teams are continuing to comb through the rubble (Ukrainian police press office/AP)

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Authorities had earlier said a baby was among those killed after falling debris from an Iranian-made drone hit the apartment building, one of eight Russian drones reported by officials. Later that day, Mr Zelensky said a second child also died.

He wrote on X: Tymofiy was 4 months old. Mark was about to turn 3 years old. My condolences to all of their close ones. He added that a three-year-old girl and seven other people were injured in the attack.

He continued: Delays in the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, as well as air defence to protect our people, unfortunately result in such losses. Ukraine has never requested anything more than what is necessary to protect lives.

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Several children were among those killed in the attack (Ukrainian Emergency Service/AP)

Meanwhile, Russias defence ministry reported 38 Ukrainian drones were intercepted overnight into Sunday over the Crimean peninsula, which Moscow illegally annexed from Kyiv in 2014. A bridge that connects Crimea to Russian territory was closed to traffic for about two hours in the early hours.

In Moscow, Chinas special envoy on Ukraine held talks on Saturday with senior Russian diplomats in the first leg of a European trip that will also take him to Brussels, Poland, Germany and France, Chinese and Russian state media reported.

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In a statement published on Sunday, Chinas foreign ministry said special representative Li Hui and Russian deputy foreign minister Mikhail Galuzin agreed that negotiations are the only way to end the fighting in Ukraine.

Mr Lis trip, the second since last May, comes as Kyiv seeks Beijings participation in peace talks that Switzerland is trying to organise in the spring. China claims it is neutral in Russias war on Ukraine but maintains close ties with Moscow, with frequent state visits and joint military drills between the two nations.
Thousands of senior doctors have marched through the South Korean capital Seoul to voice support for junior doctors who have been on strike for nearly two weeks over a government plan to sharply increase the number of medical school admissions.

The rally came as the government said it will begin to take steps on Monday to suspend the medical licences of nearly 9,000 medical interns and residents for defying orders to end their walkouts, which have disrupted hospital operations.

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Park Sung-min, a senior member of the Korea Medical Association, said in a speech at the rally: The governments absurd medical policy has triggered immense resistance by trainee doctors and medical students, and we doctors have become one.

Im asking the government: Please, stop the threats and suppression now.

Doctors are against government plans to increase medical school places (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

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Protesters chanted slogans, sang and held placards criticising the governments plan. There were no reports of any violence at the rally.

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As of Thursday night, 8,945 of the countrys 13,000 medical interns and residents were confirmed to have left their workplace, according to the health ministry. The government repeatedly said they will face minimum three-month licence suspensions and indictments by prosecutors if they did not return by February 29th.

The striking doctors are a fraction of South Koreas 140,000 medics. But they account for about 30-40 per cent of the total doctors at some major hospitals, where they assist senior doctors during surgeries and other treatments while training.

Their walkouts have subsequently caused numerous cancellations of surgeries and other medical treatments.

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The South Korean government has said it will suspend the medical licences of junior doctors on strike (Ahn Young-joon/AP)

Senior doctors have staged a series of rallies backing the young medics but have not joined the walkouts. If they also launch strikes, that would pose a major blow to South Koreas medical service.

Police said they are investigating five ranking Korea Medical Association officials accused of inciting and abetting the junior doctors walkouts. Seoul police chief Cho Ji-ho told reporters on Sunday that officers had raided association offices as part of the investigation.

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The government wants to increase South Koreas medical school enrolment quota by 2,000 starting next year, from the current 3,058, to better deal with the countrys rapidly ageing population. Officials say South Koreas doctor-to-population ratio is one of the lowest among developed countries.

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But many doctors have vehemently contested the plan, saying medical schools cannot handle such a sharp increase in the number of students. They say the recruitment plan also does not address a chronic shortage of doctors in essential but low-paying specialities like paediatrics and emergency departments.

Doctors say adding too many new medics will also result in an increase in public medical expenses since greater competition would lead to excess treatments.

Critics say the doctors simply worry about receiving a lower income due to the rising number of medics.
Malaysias government has said it may renew the hunt for missing Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 after a US technology firm proposed a fresh search in the southern Indian Ocean where the plane is believed to have crashed a decade ago.

Transport minister Anthony Loke said Texas-based Ocean Infinity has proposed another no find, no fee basis to scour the seabeds, expanding from the site where it first searched in 2018. He said he has invited the company to meet him to evaluate new scientific evidence it has to find the planes final resting place.

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If the evidence is credible, he said, he will seek cabinets approval to sign a contract with Ocean Infinity to resume the search.

Relatives of passengers on board the missing plane observed a moment of silence during the 10th annual remembrance event (FL Wong/AP)

Speaking at a remembrance event to mark the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of the jet, he said: The government is steadfast in our resolve to locate MH370.

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We really hope the search can find the plane and provide truth to the next-of-kin.

The Boeing 777 plane carrying 239 people, mostly Chinese nationals, from the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur to Beijing vanished from radar shortly after taking off on March 8th, 2014. Satellite data showed the plane deviated from its flight path and is believed to have crashed in the southern Indian Ocean.

A woman writes on a message board during the 10th annual remembrance event (FL Wong/AP)

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An expensive multinational government search failed to turn up any clues, although several pieces of debris washed ashore on the east African coast and Indian Ocean islands. A private search in 2018 by Ocean Infinity also found nothing, but the tragedy sparked moves to bolster aviation safety.

KS Nathan, a member of the Voice MH370 group comprising next-of-kin of those on board the jet, said Ocean Infinity initially planned a search last year, but it was delayed by the delivery of its new fleet of ships and assets. It is now on track to resume the hunt, he said.

Mr Loke declined to reveal the fee proposed by Ocean Infinity if it finds the plane, as this is subject to negotiation. He said financial cost is not an issue and that he does not foresee any hindrances for the search to proceed if all goes well.

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His comments sparked tears of joy among some family members at the memorial event in a Kuala Lumpur suburb.

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The names of the passengers on the missing jet were written on jigsaw pieces at the memorial event (FL Wong/AP)

Im on top of the world, said Jacquita Gomes, whose flight attendant husband was on the plane. She said she is thankful that she may now have a chance for full closure and say a final goodbye.

We have been on a roller-coaster for the last 10 years. If it is not found, I hope that it will continue with another search, she said.

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Family members of passengers from Malaysia, Australia, China and India paid tribute to their loved ones during the event, lighting a candle on stage to remember them.

Bai Zhong, from China, whose wife was on the plane, said: No matter if it is 10 years, 20 years or more, as long as we are still alive we will not cease to press for the truth. We believe the truth will eventually come to light.
A plane carrying Norways King Harald V has departed Malaysia, a day after he had a pacemaker fitted.

Europes oldest reigning monarch was taken to hospital with an infection during a private holiday on the northern resort island of Langkawi, the royal house said on Tuesday.

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He underwent surgery at the Sultanah Maliha Hospital on Saturday to implant a temporary pacemaker due to a low heart rate, according to the royal house.

Norwegian media outlets said Harald travelled to Malaysia with his wife, Queen Sonja, to celebrate his 87th birthday.

A Scandinavian Airlines medical evacuation plane, which took off from Oslo on Thursday, arrived in Langkawi on Friday. The Boeing 737-700 aircraft has previously been used as a flying ambulance.

According to Flightradar24, the same plane departed from Langkawi on Sunday headed for Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, from where it is scheduled to travel on to Norway.

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The plane has departed Malaysia, and will return to Norway via the UAE (Vincent Thian/AP)

The Norwegian royal house confirmed on Sunday that the monarch has left Malaysia and the plane is expected to arrive in Oslo early on Monday.

Upon arrival in Norway, His Majesty will be admitted to the (Oslo) hospital Rikshospitalet, the royal palace said, adding that Harald will remain on sick leave for the next two weeks, during which Crown Prince Haakon will assume the monarchs duties.

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According to Norwegian news agency NTB, which cited information from Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, the kings transport back to Norway will cost an estimated 2 million Norwegian kroner (150,000), which will be taken from the defence budget.

The ageing Norwegian monarch has suffered from frail health over the past few years, and has been admitted to hospital for treatment on numerous occasions.

Harald, who has been seen using crutches, had an operation to replace a heart valve in October 2020 after experiencing breathing difficulties.

He has repeatedly said he has no plans to abdicate, unlike his second cousin Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, who stepped down earlier this year.

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Haralds duties as Norways head of state are ceremonial and he holds no political power. He ascended to the throne following the death of his father, King Olav, in 1991.
Firefighters in Texas faced rising temperatures, strong winds and dry air in their battle to keep the largest wildfire in state history from turning more of the Panhandle into a parched wasteland.

Firefighters were focused on containing the fire along its northern and eastern perimeter, where gusts from the south west threatened to spread the flames and consume more acreage, according to Jason Nedlo, a spokesperson with the team of firefighters battling the Smokehouse Creek Fire.

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The main goal is to continue using dozers and fire engines to contain and patrol the fire, Mr Nedlo said. Were also focused on not losing any more structures, no more loss of life.

Peak wind gusts out of the southwest for both Saturday and Sunday are expected to be over 40 mph at times, even near 50 mph on Sunday. With many active fires still ongoing, please do your part to prevent new or the current spread of ongoing wildfires #phwx #TXwx #OKwx pic.twitter.com/IaIyFlZC8d Advertisement  NWS Amarillo (@NWSAmarillo) March 2, 2024 Advertisement

The massive fire has left a charred landscape of scorched prairie and dead cattle, and destroyed as many as 500 structures, including homes, in the Texas Panhandle.

It has merged with another fire and crossed the state line into Oklahoma, burning more than 1,700 square miles and was 15 per cent contained, the Texas A&M Forest Service said on Saturday.

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The National Weather Service issued a red flag warning for the entire Panhandle through to midnight on Sunday after rain and snow on Thursday allowed firefighters to contain a portion of the fire.

Dwarf palmetto trees are charred after the Smokehouse Creek Fire destroyed a property (AP)

Signs warning travellers of the critical fire danger are in place along Interstate 40 leading into Amarillo.

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Winds gusts of up to 45mph are expected on Saturday with humidity below 10% and a high temperature of 24C.

New fires could also potentially start the relative humidities are very low, the wind gusts are high and so it doesnt take much, all there needs to be is a spark to ignite another fire, said meteorologist William Churchill with the National Weather Prediction Centre.

Mr Nedlo said because of the ongoing weather conditions, it is not possible yet to predict when the flames will be fully contained and brought under control.

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Well know more after the weekend  were just not willing to speculate, Mr Nedlo said.

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As emergency responders continue to support #wildfire response in the Texas Panhandle, do your part to prevent additional fires:



Never drive your vehicle onto dry grass or brush

Take safety precautions when using outdoor equipment



More tips: https://t.co/GzAG7ADRwH pic.twitter.com/tBk9ijq0pt  Texas Division of Emergency Management (@TDEM) February 28, 2024

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although strong winds, dry grass and unseasonably warm weather fed the flames.

Everybody needs to understand that we face enormous potential fire dangers as we head into this weekend, Republican Governor Greg Abbott said on Friday after touring the area. No one can let down their guard. Everyone must remain very vigilant.

Two women were confirmed killed by the fires this week.

Two firefighters were injured battling the flames in Oklahoma. One suffered a heat-related injury and the other was injured when the brush pumper he was riding in struck a tanker truck as the two were heading to fight the fire near Gage.

Both firefighters are expected to recover.
Former US president Donald Trump has continued his march towards the Republican nomination by winning the Missouri caucuses and sweeping the delegate haul at a party convention in Michigan.

Nikki Haley, the former UN ambassador who is his last major rival, was still searching for her first win.

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The next event on the Republican calendar is Sunday in the District of Columbia.

Two days later is Super Tuesday, when 16 states will hold primaries on what will be the largest day of voting of the year outside the November election. Mr Trump is on track to lock up the nomination days later.

Nikki Haley is facing defeat (Chuck Burton/AP)

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The steep odds facing Ms Haley were on display in Columbia, Missouri, where Republicans gathered at a church to caucus.

Supporter Seth Christensen stood on stage and called on them to vote for Ms Haley, but was not well received.

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Another caucus-goer shouted out from the audience: Are you a Republican?

Ms Haley went on to win just 37 of the 263 Republicans in attendance in Boone County.

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Michigan Republicans at their convention in Grand Rapids began allocating 39 of the states 55 presidential delegates. Mr Trump won all 39 delegates allocated.
By Park Jae-hyuk

The worlds two most influential proxy advisers recommended Samsung C&Ts shareholders to vote for proposals made by a group of activist funds during the forthcoming general meeting of shareholders on March 15, according to industry officials, Sunday.

In their recent reports, Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and Glass Lewis asked the Korean companys shareholders to support the proposals for a share buyback and increased dividends.

Their recommendation came after City of London Investment, Whitebox Advisors and other hedge funds urged Samsung C&T last month to allocate 500 billion won ($375 million) to a share repurchase program and pay a 4,500 won dividend per common share and a 4,550 won dividend per preferred share.

Given the companys robust balance sheet, improving operational performance and strong cash flow generation, support for the dissident proposals for a higher dividend and share buyback is warranted, ISS said. Instead of addressing the shareholder concerns, management turned to a well-known tool of choice  a light-on-detail ambitious investment program that includes massive capex and promises of growth.

Samsung C&T asked its shareholders last month to vote against the activist funds, emphasizing that their proposals weigh heavily on its management. In order to win over shareholders, the construction, trading and resort firm, which is considered Samsungs de facto holding company, also agreed to retire nearly 1 trillion won worth of treasury stocks.

ISS viewed that the shareholder concerns were valid, saying that their proposals are unlikely to have any negative impact on Samsung C&Ts liquidity or future capital needs.

Glass Lewis shared this view, saying it sees little evident downside in supporting the resolutions submitted by the dissidents at this time.

On balance, we believe the dissidents have presented a superior case to investors, drawing a persuasive throughline between the companys historical share price performance, present trading discount and seemingly less than urgent plans to remediate either, it said.

Glass Lewis also asked Samsung C&Ts shareholders to vote against a proposed directors fees, regarding the compensation as excessive. In addition, the advisory firm opposed the appointment of a former head of the Daegu High Prosecutors' Office as a non-executive director, citing concerns over the boards independence.

The nominee serves as partner of Yulchon which has provided legal services to Samsung Group, it said. We view such relationships as creating conflicts for directors, as they may be forced to weigh their own interests in relation to shareholder interests when making board decisions.

The group of activist funds that made the shareholder proposals hold a combined 1.46 percent stake in Samsung C&T, while Samsung Electronics Executive Chairman Lee Jae-yong and his allies hold a combined 34 percent stake.

Considering the shareholder structure, it will be difficult for the activist funds to defeat Samsung C&Ts management unless they win support from a significant number of minority shareholders, who collectively own a 22 percent stake, as well as from foreign investors having a combined 19 percent stake and domestic institutions having a combined 12 percent stake.

The activist funds are asking minority shareholders to entrust the funds with a vote. The funds hired domestic law firms Kim Chang Lee and Lin.

In 2015, the Korean conglomerate succeeded in a merger between Samsung C&T and Cheil Industries despite the opposition of ISS and Glass Lewis.
This is the story of the most unbelievable demo I've been given in world of open source. You can't make this stuff up.

It was 2005, and I felt like I was in the eye of a hurricane. I was an independent performance consultant and Sun Microsystems had just released DTrace, a tool that could instrument all software. This gave performance analysts like myself X-ray vision. While I was busy writing and publishing advanced performance tools using DTrace (my open source DTraceToolkit and other DTrace tools, aka scripts), I noticed something odd: I was producing more DTrace tools than were coming out of Sun itself. Perhaps there was some internal project that was consuming all their DTrace expertise?



DTraceToolkit v0.96 tools (2006)

As I wasn't a Sun Microsystems employee I wasn't privy to Sun's internal projects. However, I was doing training and consulting for Sun, helping their customers with system administration and performance. Sun sometimes invited me to their own customer meetings and other events I might be interested in, as a local expert. I was living in Sydney, Australia.

This time I was told that there was a Very Important Person visiting from the US whom I'd want to meet. I didn't recognize the name, but was told that he was a DTrace expert and developer at Sun, and was on a world tour demonstrating Sun's new DTrace-based product. Ah-hah  this must be the internal project!

But this would be no ordinary project. I'd seen some amazing technologies from Sun, but I'd never seen a developer on a world tour. This was going to be big, and would likely blow away my earlier DTrace work.

The VIP was returning to Sydney for a few days before going to the next Australian city, so we agreed to meet at the Sun Sydney office.

The Meeting

The DTrace expert arrived wearing casual business attire and a heavy American accent, and seemed a bit weary from his world tour. He had just been to South Africa and New Zealand, and listed other countries and cities he was heading to next. Two other Australian Sun staff joined the meeting, and one introduced me with:

"Brendan teaches some classes for us, and has been doing some DTrace stuff.

Low-key introductions are the norm in Australia (especially for Australians) and I wondered whether he knew of this cultural difference. Another difference was that there were few roles in Australia for engineers in 2005, unlike the US. The Sun Microsystems Australia jobs, for example, were all in support and none in development, and other tech giants had not yet arrived. So back then in Australia you could find amazing engineers doing whatever roles were available.

I tried to expand on the "stuff" a bit by saying that Id written the DTraceToolkit, but he wasn't impressed. He didn't recognize my name, nor had he heard of the DTraceToolkit. To him, I was just some random guy.

He was kind enough to give me a quick demo anyway. His DTrace product was an add-on for a larger Sun GUI that I was already familiar with. After it loaded, he showed how you could run one of several DTrace tools by double clicking an icon. Either the raw output would be printed in a separate window, or the results would be shown as a line graph. This seemed quite underwhelming. The GUI already had this functionality: Showing the raw output of tools or drawing a line graph. I was hoping for a new GUI feature.

The only new work was the tools themselves, of which there were several. He gave a quick sales pitch about the new and amazing observability they provided, something he must have said many times to impress customers. I got the feeling he wasn't expecting me to properly appreciate their value.

But I did understand these tools, since I had coded similar functionality for my own DTraceToolkit. They were useful, but...I was expecting a hurricane of awesome new DTrace content.

"I've done these before  I've written tools that do these things myself!"

"Yeah, sure." He didnt quite say it, but gave me a look like he didn't really believe me, or that I could even truly understand what they were. This was an important innovation by Sun Microsystems, a US-based multinational company worth billions. I was just some random Aussie.

Socket Tracing

I browsed the GUI icons for something new, and the closest was a tool for tracing socket I/O. I had tried this in 2004 (socketsnoop.d) and published it as open source, but my tool was incomplete: I didn't have access to the kernel source code so I had to figure out everything the hard way using black box analysis. It worked for most TCP traffic types but not others, which I warned about in the script comments. I'd also not included it in the DTraceToolkit yet as I didn't consider it finished. So of all the tools he had, I was most interested to see this one. Sun could do a much better job just by referring to the source code they were instrumenting, and actually finish this tool.

"Can I see the socket I/O script?". I fired up a terminal. He looked alarmed at first, as if I wasn't supposed to look behind the curtain, then realized another selling feature: "Well, sure, you could even add more tools to the GUI!" and after a pause, added "if you have them". Sure, I have them all right. He gave me a path to start looking under, and after a bit of searching I found the directory with all the tools he had been demoing.

The tools all had familiar names. One was even called socketsnoop.d. A new possibility dawned on me.

No way.

I printed socketsnoop.d. The screen filled with my own script. It was the same incomplete attempt I had hacked up a year earlier, and published as open source. It included some weird code that only made sense when I wrote it (use of PFORMAT, prior to defaultargs) and was written in my earlier coding style. I was looking at my own fucking script.

"This is MY script."

I printed the other tools and saw the same  they were all mine. This hot new Sun product that Mr. VIP was touring the world showing off was actually just my own open source tools.

My jaw was on the floor. He didn't seem to believe me.

You Can't Do That

I used grep to search all his tools for my name, which was in the header comment of all my tools, to prove beyond a doubt that these were mine. But I found nothing. My name had been stripped.

Some of my tools had even included the line:

# Author: Brendan Gregg [Sydney, Australia]

And now, here he was, in Sydney, Australia, trying to sell Brendan Gregg's tools to Brendan Gregg.

One of the Australian Sun staff interrupted: "Those say copyright Sun Microsystems." Most of my tools had my own copyright and a GPLv2 or CDDL license. But these only had Sun's standard copyright message, and the open source licenses had been stripped.

"You deleted my name! And the copyrights and licenses!"

The other Aussie added, to the VIP: "You can't do that." A silence fell over the room as the magnitude of what had happened sunk in. While some at Sun were encouraging open source contributions and building a community, others were ripping off that same community. Taking their work, changing the licence and copyrights, and then selling it.

The VIP wasn't prepared for this and had a look of confusion. He didn't say much, other than that he didn't know what had happened, and that he may have gotten the tools from someone else already like this (ie, don't blame me). He seemed to be only half believing what we were saying.

The meeting ended quickly. I suggested that he get newer copies of my tools, directly from the DTraceToolkit, since these older versions from my homepage were out of date, and some had errors that I had already fixed. I also reminded him to keep my name, copyright, and license on all of them.

In his defense, perhaps the meeting may have gone differently had I not been given a low-key Australian introduction. That's an Australian cultural problem (tall poppy syndrome). To an Australian, introductions in the US can sound boastful, but they can also be useful as a quick way to share one's specialties.

Other Cases

Of all the tools I had published as open source, I still can't believe socketsnoop.d was included. It wasn't even very good. Later on I wrote much better socket tools (in my DTrace and BPF books).

A few years later, Apple added dozens of my tools to OS X. They left my name, copyright, and CDDL open source license intact, and even improved and enhanced some of them. Years later, Oracle did the same for Oracle Solaris 11, and the BSD community did for FreeBSD. My thanks to all of you.

You might say that this wasn't really Sun the company doing this, but rather, a careless individual. But there was something in Sun's culture that contributed to this kind of carelessness. It was something I and my consulting colleagues had run into before: The belief at Sun that only Sun could make good use of its own technologies, and anything created outside of Sun was trash. When these Sun employees found something that was good, they were inclined to assume it came from Sun, and it was therefore safe to reuse and rebrand (and relicense) as they assumed they already held the copyrights.

There were also others at Sun that did try hard to do the right thing by me and my work. On at least four other occasions my DTraceToolkit was built into observability products, without stripping licenses. (In one case they wanted to relicense to GPL, and talked to me and Sun legal about it, but that's another story.)

This also wasn't the last time someone unwittingly tried to sell me my own work, it was just the first. I've learned to not tell sales people that I invented what they are showing me, as they then give me funny looks like I'm a crazy person, but instead to simply say "I have a lot of experience with that technology" and leave it at that.

I'm reminded of this first case since my BPF tools are now appearing in observability products, and will grow to a scale much bigger than my DTrace tools. I'll write about it more in future posts, but my immediate advice to developers is this: Please try to build upon my BPF tools and the bcc libraries (either bcc Python or bcc libbpf-tool versions) instead of rewriting them, and fetch regular updates. This is because they are works-in-progress, and rewriting (forking) them divides engineering resources and may have your customers using out of date versions. I explain in more detail in How To Add eBPF Observability To Your Product. Note that I think my flame graph software is different: Since it is a simple and finished algorithm that doesn't need much maintenance, I don't see a big problem with people rewriting it. (It is nice to get some thanks, however, just as I have done for those that inspired flame graphs.)

As for the unbelievable demo: This wasn't the great DTrace product I imagined when hearing about a world tour. It was, in fact, my own tools. I suspect that it's not uncommon for an open source developer to discover, at some point, that their own code has been rebranded. But the circumstance in this case may be a little unusual. A US developer got a world tour for software he didn't write, which included giving a sales pitch and demo in Australia, unwittingly, to the author. I don't think he even said thank you.
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Exclusive Eating outJust open Gordon burger shop becomes an ambitious bar with a Firedoor chef stoking the flames Scott Bolles March 3, 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

When a seasoned chef from innovative Sydney restaurants Firedoor and Ormeggio at the Spit chooses a new restaurant in Gordon as his next career move, you know the north shore suburb is on the rise. Francesco Iervolino, who also worked at award-winning restaurants in his native Italy, had no shortage of opportunities but chose Bar Infinita, which opens on Wednesday, March 6. To many hungry Sydneysiders, Gordons best-known eatery is the McDonalds on the Pacific Highway, but the suburb has been quietly climbing the culinary rankings, with smart-casual Japanese diner Kame House opening there last year. Bar Infinita owners Taran and Elizabeth Tamana. Chad Konik Bar Infinita owner Taran Tamana is a two-decade resident on the upper north shore, who dipped his toe in the hospitality market with Avenue Road Cafe in Mosman, cautiously biding his time before opening the handsome Gordon bar-restaurant with an ambitious food program.

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Ive been here a long time; I knew what was missing, Tamana says. Locals are well-versed in the Sydney dining scene and want more good food on their doorstep, he says. Modern with retro, Italian-style touches, Bar Infinita holds its own as a design addition. Behind the deep burgundy and cream tiles is its heart: a wood oven. Bar Infinita inserts retro Italian touches into a modern setting, with a wood oven at its heart. Chad Konik Iervolino will be using all the tricks he acquired at two-hatted Surry Hills restaurant Firedoor, which won Restaurant of the Year two years ago at The Sydney Morning Herald Good Food Guide Awards for its fire-driven fine dining. At the new venue, Iervolino will be cooking meat in a wood-fired pizza oven with ironbark from the Blue Mountains.

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There will be nods to Iervolinos hometown of Naples with a house-made flatbread. Tamanas wifes family is from Sicily, so the chef has used the connection as inspiration for other dishes, including a tuna cotoletta with a citrus and caper sauce. 1 / 3 An Amalfi-inspired dessert that disguises lemon mousse and jam as an actual lemon is likely to become a signature dish. Chad Konik 2 / 3 Bar Infinitas menu draws ideas from Naples and Sicily, including a flatbread and tuna cotoletta. Chad Konik 3 / 3 Steak, including a one-kilo bistecca, are cooked in the wood oven. Chad Konik Previous Slide Next Slide The menu hits different price points from a snack of gnocco fritto with San Daniele prosciutto at $9 all the way up to a wood-grilled, one-kilo Riverina black Angus T-bone bistecca alla fiorentina at $145. There will also be a show-stopping dessert built of lemon mousse and lemon jam that resembles a lemon sitting on a bed of edible soil made from lemon crumb. Theres an old photo of my wifes grandfather and his four brothers in suits with cigarettes next to a stuffed kangaroo, Tamana says when asked about the touchpoints behind the venue. It was a photo the brothers sent home to show relatives what their new life in Australia looked like, and will hang on the wall at Bar Infinita. Two generations after that photo was taken, a former burger shop in Gordon has been transformed into a bar serving house-made limoncello and Amalfi cocktails. Bar Infinita might be short of a stuffed kangaroo, but the young men in suits would otherwise approve.

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The data release is the first time the Workplace Gender Equality Agency has published the numbers on individual companies (5000 of them) as opposed to more generalised data about the gender pay gap. The national median base salary gap is 14.5 per cent, but when bonuses are factored in, it rises to 19 per cent. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher denies a report on the gender pay gap was useless. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Minister for Women Katy Gallagher said it was not about shaming. Its not about naming. Sure. Except well, yes it is. For better or worse, the data provides consumers and employees information to vote with their feet. It also puts pressure on poorly performing companies to up their game.

But here comes the backlash  business leaders, politicians and some media commentators pointed out that its not as if the data shows that men and women are being paid differently for doing the same job. After all, that is illegal. Loading Leaders of major companies such as Woodside, Fortescue, Lendlease and Wesfarmers say women taking more family responsibilities makes the dominance of men in the economys highest-paid roles difficult to shift, reported The Australian Financial Review. One media commentator huffed that the WGEA was bossy and said reporting of the data was nonsense and represented an extra compliance cost for the companies, one they would have to pass on to consumers and shareholders. The commentator also questioned whether ordinary folk, concerned about cost of living pressures were any better off for knowing these throwaway facts. (If the ordinary folk in question are working women, the answer seems pretty obviously Umm, yes.)

Coalition senator Matt Canavan said the data was useless and countered with his own (useful?) anecdotal evidence: The big issue right now that I get feedback on is young men, in particular, are constantly told youre not getting promoted because youre a man. I hear that all the time. It is confounding that anyone would argue in favour of less transparency, and even more unusual to argue that such a large, hitherto-untapped data set wouldnt have something (anything!) to teach us. Senator Matt Canavan says publication of the pay data is divisive. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen But there is no big gotcha moment here, except for the companies that have asserted woke values on their websites, only to be undone by the numbers, which, unlike marketing departments, dont lie. It is not new information that women, for social and arguably biological reasons, tend to work jobs that are less senior because they are more likely to be the primary carers of their kids. Women are more likely to work part-time, or in flexible roles that count them out for what are described as greedy jobs by Nobel Prize-winning economist Claudia Goldin, who has devoted her life to studying women and work.

The employee who is willing to work at all hours and the one who is on-call at the office is the worker who gets the big rewards, Goldin says. These rewards are disproportionate to the time put in. Doubling the time, far more than doubles the earnings. Loading Certain sectors rely heavily on these kinds of parenting-unfriendly jobs  mining and resources industries pay their Fly-In-Fly-Out workers (majority blokes) the big money. Airlines are another industry where the imbalance is structural: Qantas (gender pay gap of 39.3 per cent) defended itself by noting its highest-paid employees are pilots and engineers, who tend to be men. So  is the pay gap entirely structural? And is it fair to expect companies to fix gender stereotyping in society at large? We can blame corporate Australia for some things, but not for the fact that women, for their own reasons, choose to do more flexible, family-friendly jobs that happen to be less paid.

Right? Well, it requires a truly heroic suspension of reason to conclude sexism and discrimination do not contribute to the pay gap. Salary begins to diverge along gender lines at the graduate level, before most women have had babies. Goldins Nobel Prize-winning work found plenty of evidence of everyday gender discrimination  at least in the United States  where the bulk of the current earnings difference is between men and women in the same occupation. Goldin even did a blind audition of musicians and found when the auditioners had no idea of who was trying out, there was an even male-female split in successful applicants. If they could see the gender of the person auditioning, men got more gigs. WGEA CEO Mary Wooldridge said her agencys research shows that about 25 per cent of the pay gap is attributable to industrial and occupational segregation  ie, higher paying industries like mining are masculinised, and lower-paying industries like aged care are feminised. (Is that a coincidence? I have my doubts, but thats another column).

Loading A further third of the gap can be explained away by the time out of the workforce women take for babies and caring duties. The remainder is attributable to bias and discrimination, Wooldridge says. If we do accept the gender pay gap as an inevitable product of biology, and the social roles it assigns to men and women, thats fine (if misleading). But lets be honest about what the pay gap, as it stands, will perpetuate: a society in which women are substantially poorer than men, where they are more vulnerable to homelessness and poverty in old age, where its financially difficult for them to leave abusive relationships, and a society which continues to expose the children of single mothers (who comprise the vast majority of single parents) to the risk of poverty. It also means we will neglect a talent pool which, if fully unleashed, will lift national wealth and productivity, and we will spend taxpayer money on educating women (who now represent over half of university graduates) without reaping maximum benefits from the investment. It is a truism that money doesnt buy happiness. But it does buy freedom and security. If we accept a society in which women earn less money, then lets own up to the truth: we consign our daughters to being less free and less secure than our sons.
King Charles III could make his first formal visit to Australia as sovereign later this year, with discussions under way between federal, state and territory governments about the possible trip.

This masthead revealed last December that a visit to Australia by the King, who would be joined by Queen Camilla, was on the cards for October and would be timed to coincide with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Samoa.

King Charles III with Queen Camilla in January in London. Credit: Getty

Since then, 75-year-old Charles has been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer and has been treated as an outpatient. He was pictured back at work for the first time two weeks ago in a meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

In a statement, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, an avowed republican, said the government had begun preparing for a possible visit by the King to Australia later this year.
Council politics in Brisbane is openly split down party lines , but there are three other independent councillors contesting the upcoming election: David Dallaston in McDowall, Nicole Johnston in Tennyson and Craig Moore in Wynnum-Manly.

Now, she is running as an independent, and telling voters to support Greens lord mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan at next weeks Brisbane City Council election.

Kate Richards, a former LNP councillor who is now an independent candidate, is urging voters to support the Greens. Credit: Facebook

In 2019, Kate Richards was the LNP councillor for Pullenvale.

There are also two independents in the lord mayoral race: Bruce Tanti and Gilbert Holmes, neither particularly well-known.

Johnston, who was an LNP councillor before being suspended and resigning from the party in 2010, proudly noted on her official Tennyson ward page she was the only independent councillor to be elected to Brisbane City Council in 70 years.

Richards wants to follow suit, and have her former rival, Sriranganathan, elected lord mayor.

They were both elected in 2016, when Sriranganathan won The Gabba ward and became Queenslands first Greens councillor.

But Richards was disendorsed by her party in December 2019, with the LNPs top brass releasing a media statement announcing the referral of extremely grave claims to the Crime and Corruption Commission.
It was good news for former coal billionaire Nathan Tinkler this week, when his palatial beachfront home north of Coffs Harbour was pulled from the market.

Lucky for him, a potential $25 million sale last year never went through, otherwise the landmark estate on Sapphire Beach, north of Coffs Harbour, might have been sold  and the handful of creditors named on title paid back.

Noorinya is the Sapphire Beach house, north of Coffs Harbour, owned by Nathan Tinkler.

As of Friday, there remained five caveats on title claiming interest in the property, but council records indicate that more than $105,000 in outstanding rates had been paid.

The 15-bedroom, 15-bathroom mansion had been drastically discounted from its initial $30 million high hopes of last June, down to its most recent advertised price of $15.9 million.
Loading The black box is even blacker than usual, says Nis Grunberg, a Chinese elite politics expert at the Mercator Institute for China Studies. Business and everyone is lost at sea. They dont know where the ship is going. Is this securitisation drive going on forever? Chinese President Xi Jinpings security crackdown has been paired with an ideological campaign to bring the Peoples Republic back to its socialist roots. It has been combined with restrictions on foreign investment and a centralisation of state power that has been unmatched since the days of Mao Zedong. Yao Yang, the director of the China Centre for Economic Research, said the country was entering a new era that would correct the capitalist problems it had accumulated since Beijing began its latest phase of liberalisation in the 1990s. Yao said China was beginning a new 20-year period of readjustment. This one is off to a rocky start.

Although necessary in part, corrective measures have gone too far, leading to a number of new problems, Yao said in comments first published by the Sinification newsletter on Tuesday. In Wenzhou, south of Shanghai, the problems caused by over-correction are writ large: business confidence has been hammered, foreign investment has fled, and properties stand vacant. A migrant worker walks past an unfinished building in Wenzhou. Credit: Sanghee Liu The Chinese economy is on the decline, said He Jingyu, a real estate agency manager in Wenzhou. People know this in their heart and mind, but they cant say it. Wenzhou is the birthplace of Chinas real estate speculators. It is also where Premier Li Qiang, who will set the countrys economic target on Tuesday, made his name.

In 2002, aged 43, he became Wenzhous youngest party secretary. While he was there, he became close to Xi, then the head of Zhejiang, the south-eastern province where the city is located, sparking a two-decade partnership that would take the two of them to the top of the Politburo Standing Committee. But in the years since, the speculators have disappeared. Like the rest of the country, so has their economic growth engine: property development. In its heyday, we would have 100 apartments for sale and 2000 people turned up, says property sales consultant Li Helin. The boom was driven by the wizards of Wenzhou, a group of wealthy investors who combined their savings in 2000 and began buying properties across China as the real estate market surged. By 2010, they had invested billions of dollars in property. Some of the speculators got out before the market tanked, others did not.

Loading Now there are far too many apartments and not enough buyers. Wenzhou has endured the sharpest rise and fall in housing prices. New residential apartments are being sold at 20 to 30 per cent discount because developers try to reclaim funds as soon as possible, said He. Saul Wei Chen, a Wenzhou international wine trader, has seen the impact on his family. Take my parents house as an example, it fell from a peak price of 60,000 yuan ($12,814) per square metre to 17,000 yuan today, he said.

More than 60 per cent of Chinas wealth is tied up in housing, compared with 40 per cent in Australia and 29 per cent in the United States. The collapse in property values therefore has a far greater ripple effect through its economy. When prices fall, so does spending, creating a vicious cycle that Beijing has so far been unable to stop. The real estate crisis has also disproportionately affected those Chinese who can afford to buy homes  the generation that became wealthy and educated under Xi and his predecessor Hu Jintao. Now, as Chinas economic growth struggles and youth unemployment rises, this generation is increasingly sitting out job opportunities while waiting for more prestigious roles. Migrant workers who get by on $1280 a month making shoes in one of Wenzhous many shoe factories say there is still plenty of work to go around  it is just that after years of rising education, younger and more urbanised Chinese do not want to do it. Some people are not willing to endure hardship and work hard, said Gao Sheng, a 24-year-old migrant worker from Guizhou.

Loading That disconnect is part of Xis rectification campaign now being implemented by his lieutenant Li, a market evangelist who has largely disappointed observers thinking he might be a counterweight to Xis dogged pursuit of Marxist control. Marketisation brings prosperity, but not all of its outcomes are in line with societal goals, said Yao. This is especially true in China under the leadership of the Communist Party of China. In 2021, Xi promoted his idea of common prosperity as a way of redistributing the gains made by wealthier people towards poorer workers like Gao. But the public debate became so heated, led by the new generation of wealthy Chinese who feared they would have their money taken away from them, that it has seldom been heard of since, stalling the incentive to pursue broader reforms such as property tax.

The party lacks a theory on the advancement of common prosperity in the context of a market economy, said Yao. It is unable to clarify the relationship between common prosperity and the protection of property rights and market principles on the other. That has left the country in an economic stasis. Ideology and security are now the dominant form of governance, putting local companies on tenterhooks. Foreign firms have also been put on notice through a securitisation drive that includes raids on companies and detention of executives on espionage charges. Xi Jinping, left, unveils his new team led by Li Qiang, second from left, in the Great Hall of the People in 2022. Credit: Getty On the one hand, they say: Were open for business. We want American, and Japanese businesses here, US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns told 60 Minutes America last week. But on the other hand, theyve raided six or seven American businesses since last March.

The cumulative effect of the economic downturn and security fears ripping through international companies has caused foreign direct investment to drop to its lowest level since 1993. In 2023, new foreign direct investment was 82 per cent lower than in 2022, according to data from Chinas State Administration of Foreign Exchange. An abandoned real estate project in Wenzhou. Credit: Sanghee Liu Grunberg says the new security environment is something that every company that has local or foreign staff in China needs to confront. The reason Im not entirely writing off investments in China is because companies will ignore that as long as they can make enough money, he said.

Loading For now, the downstream effects of the property market woes and its security crackdowns mean less money is flowing back to Wenzhou and the megacities that surround it. Chen said customers who once bought 100 boxes of wine only bought 70 to 80 boxes last year. Those who bought more than 200 boxes before, bought only 100 boxes and those who bought 50 boxes at a time, only bought 10 to 20 boxes, he said. The frequency of their purchases declined, the number of purchases declined and the volume of purchases declined.
Grand Rapids, Michigan: Donald Trump easily won the US Republican caucuses in Michigan, where the party has been riven by infighting that some Republicans fear could hurt his campaign in the key battleground state as he gears up for the general election in November.

The former US president also won the Missouri and Idaho Republican caucuses on Sunday (AEDT), according to Edison Research.

Former US president Donald Trump at a rally in Greensboro, North Carolina. Credit: Bloomberg

In all three states, Trump trounced Nikki Haley, his last remaining rival for the Republican presidential nomination, moving him closer to becoming his partys White House standard-bearer and a likely general election rematch with US President Joe Biden, a Democrat.

In Michigan, Trump beat Haley in all 13 districts taking part in the nominating caucuses, according to the state Republican Party.
A vibrant fishing industry, some of the worlds largest coral reefs, desalination plants supplying millions with drinking water. They're all at risk from large amounts of fertilizer and oil spilled into the Red Sea by the sinking of a cargo ship attacked by Yemens Houthi rebels.

Officials on Saturday said the M/V Rubymar, a Belize-flagged vessel reportedly carrying 22,000 metric tons of toxic fertilizer, sunk after taking on water in the Feb. 18 attack.

Even before plunging to the oceans depths, the vessel had been leaking heavy fuel that triggered an 18-mile (30 kilometers) oil slick through the waterway, which is critical for cargo and energy shipments heading to Europe.

Since November, the Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israels offensive in Gaza . They have frequently targeted vessels with tenuous or no clear links to Israel.

U.S. Central Command, which oversees the Middle East, has warned in recent days of an environmental disaster in the making. That has less to do with the size of the vessels hazardous cargo than the unique natural features and usage of the Red Sea, said Ian Ralby, founder of maritime security firm I.R. Consilium.

Aggravating concerns over the Rubymar's sinking is the Red Seas unique circular water patterns, which operate essentially as a giant lagoon, with water moving northward, toward the Suez Canal in Egypt, during winter and outward to the Gulf of Aden in summer.

What spills in the Red Sea, stays in the Red Sea, said Ralby. There are many ways it can be harmed.

Saudi Arabia for decades has been building the worlds largest network of desalination plants, with entire cities like Jeddah relying on the facilities for almost all of their drinking water. Oil can clog intake systems and inflict costly damage on saltwater conversion.

The Red Sea is also a vital source of seafood, especially in Yemen, where fishing was the second largest export after oil before the current civil war between the Houthis and Yemens Sunni government.

Ralby has been studying the Red Seas vulnerabilities in relation to what could've been a far worse maritime tragedy: the FSO Safer, a decrepit oil tanker that had been moored for years off the coast of Yemen with more than 1 million barrels of crude until its cargo was successfully transferred to another vessel last year.

While the amount of oil the Rubymar leaked is unknown, Ralby estimates it couldnt have exceeded 7,000 barrels. While thats a mere fraction of the Safers load, its significantly more oil than was spilled by a Japanese-owed vessel, the Wakashio, that wrecked near Mauritius in 2020 , causing millions of dollars in damages and harming the livelihood of thousands of fishermen.

Harder to grasp is the risk from the 22,000 metric tons of fertilizer that port authorities in Djibouti, adjacent to where the Rubymar sank, said the ship was transporting at the time of the attack. If the Rubymar remains intact underwater, the impact will be a slow trickle instead of a massive release, said Ralby.

Fertilizer fuels the proliferation of algae blooms like the ones seen every year in the Texas Gulf Coast as a result of far larger nutrient runoff from farms, urban lawns and industrial waste. The result is the loss of oxygen, asphyxiation of marine life and the creation of so-called dead zones.

At risk in the Red Sea are some of the worlds most colorful and extensive coral reefs. Several are major tourist draws and increasingly a subject of great scientific research owing to their apparent resilience to warming seawater temperatures that have destroyed reefs elsewhere in the ocean.

However manageable the fallout from the Rubymars sinking, Ralby worries that it could be a forerunner of even worse to come. He said most of the container ships pulled out from the Red Sea shipping lanes since the Houthis began targeting ships in the area over the Israel-Hamas war . What remains, he said, are poorly maintained vessels, oil tankers and bulk carriers that pose far greater environmental risks.

With fewer and fewer container ships to target, the odds of another spill with massive environmental impact has increased enormously, said Ralby. (AP)
Trump Alleges Election Interference Behind Charges, Offers No Evidence (Photo: REUTERS)

Former President Donald Trump has unleashed a barrage of accusations against Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis, alleging financial impropriety linked to her personal relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade. The controversy centers on Trump's alleged election interference in Georgia, morphing into a contentious legal and public relations battle that raises profound questions about the integrity of the judicial process.

Trump, in a scathing post on Truth Social, questioned the source of Willis's funds, implying misconduct tied to her relationship with Wade. "Where did Fani get all that cash?" Trump queried, suggesting that the financial arrangements between Willis and Wade were less than aboveboard. The former president's legal team contends that Willis financially benefited from her relationship with Wade, who was compensated for his professional services and then allegedly covered personal vacation expenses for both.

The courtroom became a battleground as Trump's attorneys and the Fulton County DA's office presented their final arguments before Judge Scott McAfee. The crux of the dispute is whether the personal relationship between Willis and Wade, which they acknowledge began after Wade's hiring, presents a conflict of interest grave enough to warrant Willis's removal from the case. Trump's legal representatives have painted a grim picture, describing Willis's involvement as casting an "irreparable stain" on the legal proceedings.

Emerging evidence has further complicated the narrative, with data indicating Wade's frequent visits to Willis's residence prior to his formal hiring, contradicting their prior statements and deepening the intrigue surrounding their relationship.

Willis's father also took the stand, offering an explanation for the cash reimbursements his daughter claimed to have made to Wade for shared travel expenses. This testimony introduced a personal dimension to the unfolding drama, emphasizing the intricate blend of personal and professional elements at play.

As Judge McAfee deliberates on this tangled web of allegations, legal arguments, and personal entanglements, the outcome holds significant implications not only for Trump's case but also for broader themes of legal integrity and political conflict in America. Observers from across the political and legal spectrum are keenly awaiting a resolution that will undoubtedly leave an indelible mark on the discourse surrounding justice and accountability in high-stakes political legal battles.
Tahoe in Turmoil: Near-Record Winds and Snowfall Paralyze Northern California (Photo: Todd Diemer/Public Domain)

California is currently in the grip of a formidable winter storm that has brought with it unprecedented snowfall, hurricane-force winds, and even a rare tornado, leading to widespread disruptions and hazardous conditions across the state. The Sierra Nevada region, in particular, has been hit hard by the blizzard, with snow accumulation expected to reach staggering heights of 5-10 feet in the higher elevations and 2-5 feet in areas as low as 6,000 feet.

The storm, driven by a vast area of low pressure covering much of the West Coast, has prompted the closure of several key highways and mountain passes, including a significant stretch of Interstate 80. This major artery, linking San Francisco to Lake Tahoe and Reno, was shut down after numerous vehicles became stranded amid blizzard conditions, challenging emergency personnel and tow trucks attempting to reach motorists.

Amid the chaos, the National Weather Service (NWS) has issued Blizzard Warnings for the Sierra Nevada, including the popular Lake Tahoe area, cautioning against the lethal mix of extreme snowfall rates and ferocious wind gusts that continue to produce whiteout conditions. One of the more astounding reports came from Lake Tahoe's Palisades Ski Resort, where a wind gust reached an astonishing 190 mph, nearly breaking the state record.

Moreover, the storm's intensity is such that forecasters are now warning of the possibility of thunderstorms capable of dumping an incredible 4-6 inches of snow per hour. The NWS has emphasized the rarity and potential dangers of such storms, advising residents to prepare for prolonged road closures and power outages by stocking up on essentials.

Adding to the storm's unusual nature, a tornado was reported in the San Joaquin Valley, an event captured by locals and highlighting the storm's wide-reaching impact beyond the Sierra Nevada. While no injuries have been reported, the NWS plans to investigate the twister's strength and impact.

In response to the severe weather, Yosemite National Park has been closed, and further snow is anticipated across Northern California and western Nevada, including Reno. The situation in Nevada is equally dire, with NV Energy reporting significant power outages, including parts of the Las Vegas Strip, exacerbated by hurricane-force wind gusts.

The forecast suggests a slight reprieve with the storm expected to taper off by Sunday, but the region is not out of the woods yet, with more snow predicted well into the next week. NWS Reno forecasters have urged residents to brace themselves for a prolonged ordeal, highlighting the storm's potential to persist.

This storm serves as a stark reminder of nature's power and the importance of preparedness in the face of extreme weather. Residents are urged to heed warnings, stay informed, and ensure they have adequate supplies to weather the storm safely.
German Defense Minister Accuses Russia of Information Warfare with Leaked Audio (Photo: Olaf Kosinsky/Wikimedia Commons/CC-BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en))

Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has labeled the recent leak of a private conversation among senior German military officials by Russian state media as an act of "information war" by Russia against the West. The leaked audio, which surfaced on Russian social media platforms, captured discussions on the potential support for Ukraine, including the deployment of German-made Taurus missiles, amidst the backdrop of the funeral of late opposition politician Alexei Navalny.

Pistorius, addressing the media in Berlin, underscored the strategic timing and intent behind the leak, suggesting it was a calculated move by Russian President Vladimir Putin to sow discord and undermine unity within Germany and its allies. "It is a hybrid attack aimed at disinformation. It is about division. It is about undermining our resolve," Pistorius remarked, emphasizing the need for a measured yet firm response to such provocations.

The contentious 38-minute recording has sparked a debate within Germany regarding the provision of Taurus missiles to Ukraine, a topic that has seen divergent views within the German government and its conservative opposition. Chancellor Olaf Scholz has expressed reservations about sending the missiles to Ukraine, citing concerns over escalating Germany's involvement in the conflict, a stance that has not only strained relations within his coalition but also attracted criticism for potentially holding back crucial military aid to Ukraine.

The discussions in the leaked audio also touched upon the long-range missiles supplied to Kyiv by France and Britain, further highlighting the international dimensions of military support for Ukraine. Pistorius pointed out the broader implications of the leak, stating, "This is clearly about undermining our unity," and reaffirmed the commitment to supporting Ukraine while maintaining a cautious stance to avoid direct participation in the war.

The German defense ministry is awaiting the outcome of a military investigation into the leak to determine the appropriate course of action. Meanwhile, the debate over supplying Taurus missiles to Ukraine continues, with Kyiv advocating for the weapons to bolster its defense against the Russian invasion. The Taurus missiles, with a range of up to 500 kilometers (about 300 miles), would significantly enhance Ukraine's military capabilities, a prospect that has been met with caution by Scholz due to the potential for escalating tensions with nuclear-armed Russia.

As the situation unfolds, the international community watches closely, with the actions and decisions of Germany and its allies potentially shaping the course of the conflict in Ukraine. The leak serves as a reminder of the complex web of diplomacy, military strategy, and information warfare that defines the current geopolitical landscape.
A few more apps came back on Play Store on Sunday after they complied with Google's billing policy, even as the Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) expressed concerns as the majority of apps removed remained delisted.

Murugavel J, founder and CEO of matrimony.com, said that only eight of the company's apps, including Bengali Matrimony, Marathi Matrimony, Tamil Matrimony, Jodii and Bharat Matrimony were reinstated on Sunday, but only after they accepted Google's terms.

A vast majority of its 100-plus apps are still not restored on Play Store, he said.

"In spite of the government's clear message on the issue, Google has not taken steps to reinstate all the apps that had been delisted by it over billing policies," Murugavel told PTI.

IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Saturday made it clear that the removal of apps by Google was unacceptable and that "startups will get the protection they need".

Tension between Google and some Indian apps flared on Friday after the tech giant removed certain apps from its Play Store in India over a dispute on service fee payments. The apps and well-known startup founders are up in arms and have called out Google for its action.

Decrying the continued delisting of the concerned Indian apps, IAMAI, in a statement, said it considers such harsh measures as unfair and disproportionate, at a time when a legal process is ongoing.

"The association is also of the view that such measures are discriminatory in reference to the practice followed by Google in other jurisdictions, where it has offered preferential terms to app developers in deference to ongoing legal proceedings or legislative developments," it said.

IAMAI expressed deep concern as the majority of apps continued to be delisted.

It is pertinent to mention here that the government is likely to meet Google and representatives of concerned apps on Monday to resolve the issue.

Naukri, 99acres, and Shaadi.com were among the few apps back on the Google Play Store on Saturday apparently after they complied with the tech giant's norms even as the government made it clear that delisting of Indian apps cannot be permitted and scheduled a meeting with the two sides.

IAMAI has said the Indian tech ecosystem needs to be protected and provided favourable terms that are attuned to the dynamics of the Indian market and support the growth and development of an open internet ecosystem in the country.

"The association also appreciates the proactive response of the government to the issue, and the government's commitment to help resolve the issue," IAMAI said.

The industry body urged Google to restore the status quo of the apps and re-list them on the Play Store in the manner they have been operating since inception.

"We urge Google to discuss the matter with the stakeholders and work towards a reasonable and mutually beneficial solution," it said.
The seat-sharing issue is being discussed with the central leadership, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule told PTI | File image

The BJP-led ruling alliance and the opposition bloc are united in their belief that winnability is the only formula for seat-sharing in Maharashtra, which sends the second highest number of 48 MPs to the Lok Sabha after 80 from Uttar Pradesh.

Maharashtra, the country's most industrialised state and its premier FDI magnet, however, has seen a political churn since 2019, with the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena breaking its long-time alliance with the BJP, and then suffering a split, just like the Sharad Pawar-founded Nationalist Congress Party (NCP).

A major chunk of the Shiv Sena is now with Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and it is allied with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The NCP also met a similar fate as Ajit Pawar walked away with a legislative majority last year and is also part of the ruling alliance.

The splits and realignments have made seat-sharing a herculean task with claims and counter-claims, leaders from the ruling and opposition parties said.

The BJP, which along with the then undivided Shiv Sena won a cumulative 41 out of the 48 seats in 2019, is looking to better the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) tally to 45, whereas the opposition Congress will seek to put behind its disastrous 2019 outing when it won just one seat.

The seat-sharing issue is being discussed with the central leadership, Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule told PTI.

The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), comprising the Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT), Sharad Pawar faction of the NCP and the Congress, is wooing the Prakash Ambedkar-led Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, but the grandson of legendary social reformer Babasaheb Ambedkar is yet to make a formal announcement about his allegiance.

As per sources, the BJP is expected to contest more than 30 seats, while the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, which has sought 10 seats, is likely to get four. The Shinde-led party wants to contest 18 seats, the number won by the undivided Shiv Sena in the 2019 polls.

Amol Mitkari, spokesperson of the Ajit Pawar-led NCP, said his party wants to contest 10 seats, including Baramati in Pune.

A senior BJP leader said discussions were underway at the top level of the party leadership, adding that it would definitely contest more seats than what it did last time.

Speaking about seat-sharing, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said the MVA has completed discussions and an announcement will be made soon by the top leadership of the constituent parties.

However, Congress leaders said the discussion continues on seats that it was traditionally contesting as part of its alliance with the undivided NCP but were won by the Shiv Sena in the 2019 polls. The MPs from these seats are now part of the Shinde faction.

The Congress is ready to contest a maximum of 20 seats, while the NCP-Sharadchandra Pawar could field candidates in nine to 10 constituencies.

A senior Congress leader told PTI there was lack of clarity on how many seats Prakash Ambedkar may demand, but added "we will keep trying till the end (for alliance with VBA)".

Another Congress leader said Ambedkar can damage the grand old party's prospects in at least half a dozen seats, just like in 2019, in case an alliance does not materialise.

He said the Congress is ready to give Akola seat to Ambedkar.

The MVA has agreed in-principle on seat adjustments and the next round of talks will take place at the central leadership level in Delhi, Congress spokesperson Atul Londhe said.

Another senior Congress leader said there is unanimity on 30 seats between his party and the NCP (faction led by Sharad Pawar), while there are differences on five to six of the 18 seats won in 2019 by the then undivided Shiv Sena.

"The Congress wants Yavatmal, Ramtek, Hingoli, Bhiwandi and an additional seat in Mumbai. We have more MLAs, Zilla Parishad and market committee members in these constituencies and, hence, we should get to contest. The issue will be resolved soon,' the leader added.
This will be the prime minister's first visit to the Kashmir valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 | File image (Photo: PTI)

Security forces have been put on alert ahead of the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is scheduled to address a public rally at the Bakshi Stadium here on Thursday, officials said on Sunday.

The deployment of security personnel has been increased around the renovated Bakshi Stadium with barricades set up for checking the vehicles passing through the venue of PM Modi's rally, the officials said.

Police and paramilitary forces are conducting random checking of vehicles at dozens of places in the city and elsewhere, the officials said.

Special check points have been set up at various places in the city, including the entry and exit points as a precautionary measure, they said.

The security forces have increased patrolling around the venue of the rally as part of area domination exercise to ensure a smooth and incident-free visit of the prime minister.

This will be the prime minister's first visit to the Kashmir valley after the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019.

This will be his second visit to Jammu and Kashmir in as many months. PM Modi had visited the Jammu region last month to inaugurate several development projects. He also addressed a public rally in Jammu.
Kuwait, a nation home to some 4.2 million people that's slightly smaller than the US state of New Jersey, has the world's sixth-largest known oil reserves

Kuwait said Saturday it will hold elections for its national assembly on April 4, its latest round of voting after years of political turmoil.

The state-run KUNA news agency made the announcement, citing a decree published by the oil-rich country's official gazette.

In February, Kuwait's emir dissolved parliament after a lawmaker reportedly insulted the ruler.

Domestic political disputes have been gripping Kuwait for years including the overhaul of Kuwait's welfare system which prevented the sheikhdom from taking on debt. That has left it with little in its coffers to pay bloated public sector salaries, despite generating immense wealth from its oil reserves.

Parliament has been repeatedly dissolved after failing to move forward, with Kuwait's Constitutional Court in 2023 annulling a 2022 decree overturning another such annulment. The country's late emir then annulled that parliament again and held an election for a new parliament, which was annulled with the February decision.

Kuwait, a nation home to some 4.2 million people that's slightly smaller than the US state of New Jersey, has the world's sixth-largest known oil reserves.

It has been a staunch US ally since the 1991 Gulf War expelled the occupying Iraqi forces of Saddam Hussein. Kuwait hosts some 13,500 American troops in the country, as well as the forward headquarters of the US Army in the Middle East.
The Pakistan Muslim League-N is led by Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of Shehbaz and a three-time prime minister, while the Pakistan Peoples Party is co-chaired by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari | File image

By Kamran Haider



Shehbaz Sharif is set to return as Pakistans prime minister after two old-guard parties formed a coalition to keep jailed politician Imran Khans party out of power.

Lawmakers are scheduled to vote for the next premier in the National Assembly, or lower house on Sunday. Sharif is competing against Omar Ayub Khan, a grandson of Pakistans first military dictator, and the candidate backed by Imran Khan. The house on Friday elected Sharifs candidate Ayaz Sadiq as speaker.

Sharif was prime minister until parliament was dissolved in August in the leadup to elections, and he handed power to a caretaker government. Last months polls provided an inconclusive result with no group winning a clear mandate, prompting two family-controlled parties  the Pakistan Muslim League-N and the Pakistan Peoples Party  to negotiate and nominate Sharif as their candidate.

The Pakistan Muslim League-N is led by Nawaz Sharif, the elder brother of Shehbaz and a three-time prime minister, while the Pakistan Peoples Party is co-chaired by former foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Former premier Khans independent candidates defied the odds and secured the most seats in the election but refused to form a coalition government with other main parties. Khans loyalists have accused authorities of widespread rigging in the poll.

The new government will seek a fresh loan of at least $6 billion from the International Monetary Fund with the current program ending in April, highlighting the fragile state of the economy. Sharif said last month that Pakistan will need to secure a new loan at the earliest.

The younger Sharif brother helped Pakistan avoid default last year by securing its current $3 billion loan program. He took unpopular steps, including removing fuel subsidies and raising energy prices, to meet the IMFs conditions.

Shehbazs nomination for the top position is a surprise after Nawaz returned from exile after four years in London to contest the election. Shehbaz is seen widely to have maintained good ties with the military that is expected to influence key decisions from behind the scenes.
March 3, 2024 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Melanie Joly, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today announced that Canada is imposing another round of sanctions. Six Russian officials are sanctioned under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations related to the February 16, 2024, death of Russian opposition leader, Alexei Navalny, and to Russias continued gross and systematic violations of human rights.

The individuals targeted in Canadas latest sanctions are senior officials and high-ranking employees of Russias prosecution, judicial and correctional services who were involved in the violation of Mr. Navalnys human rights, his cruel punishment and ultimately, his death.

The latest measures build on several sanctions against Russian officials to put pressure on those involved in Mr. Navalnys unjust prosecution since his return to Russia in January 2021, as well as the silencingwith heavy-handed and often violent methodsof Russian citizens who protested his treatment.
Former President Donald Trump continued his march toward the GOP nomination on Saturday, winning caucuses in Idaho and Missouri and sweeping the delegate haul at a party convention in Michigan .

Trump earned every delegate at stake on Saturday, bringing his count to 244 compared to 24 for former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley . A candidate needs to secure 1,215 delegates to clinch the Republican nomination.

The next event on the Republican calendar is Sunday in the District of Columbia . Two days later is Super Tuesday , when 16 states will hold primaries on what will be the largest day of voting of the year outside of the November election. Trump is on track to lock up the nomination days later.

The steep odds facing Haley were on display in Columbia, Missouri, where Republicans gathered at a church to caucus.

Seth Christensen stood on stage and called on them to vote for Haley. He wasn't well received.

Another caucusgoer shouted out from the audience: Are you a Republican?

An organizer quieted the crowd and Christensen finished his speech. Haley went on to win just 37 of the 263 Republicans in attendance in Boone County.

Here's a look at Saturday's contests:

Michigan Republicans at their convention in Grand Rapids began allocating 39 of the states 55 GOP presidential delegates. Trump won all 39 delegates allocated.

But a significant portion of the partys grassroots force was skipping the gathering because of the lingering effects of a monthslong dispute over the party's leadership.

Trump handily won Michigans primary this past Tuesday with 68 percent of the vote compared with Haleys 27 percent.

Michigan Republicans were forced to split their delegate allocation into two parts after Democrats, who control the state government, moved Michigan into the early primary states, violating the national Republican Partys rules.

Voters lined up outside a church in Columbia, home to the University of Missouri, before the doors opened for the caucuses. Once they got inside, they heard appeals from supporters of the candidates.

Every 100 days, were spending $1 trillion, with money going all over the world. Illegals are running across the border, Tom Mendenall, an elector for Trump in 2016 and 2020, said to the crowd. He later added: You know where Donald Trump stands on a lot of these issues.

Christensen, a 31-year-old from Columbia who came to the caucus with his wife and three children age 7, 5, and 2, then urged Republicans to go in a new direction.

I dont need to hear about Mr. Trumps dalliances with people of unsavory character, nor do my children, Christensen said to the room. And if we put that man in the office, thats what were going to hear about all the time. And Im through with it.

Supporters quickly moved to one side of the room or the other, depending on whether they favored Trump or Haley. There was little discussion between caucusgoers after they chose a side.

This year was the first test of the new system, which is almost entirely run by volunteers on the Republican side.

The caucuses were organized after GOP Gov. Mike Parson signed a 2022 law that, among other things, canceled the planned March 12 presidential primary.

Lawmakers failed to reinstate the primary despite calls to do so by both state Republican and Democratic party leaders. Democrats will hold a party-run primary on March 23.

Trump prevailed twice under Missouri's old presidential primary system.

Last year, Idaho lawmakers passed cost-cutting legislation that was intended to move all the states primaries to the same date in May. But the bill inadvertently eliminated the presidential primaries entirely.

The Republican-led Legislature considered holding a special session to reinstate the presidential primaries but failed to agree on a proposal in time, leaving both parties with presidential caucuses as the only option.

"I think theres been a lot of confusion because most people dont realize that our Legislature actually voted in a flawed bill, said Jessie Bryant, who volunteered at a caucus site near downtown Boise. So the caucus is really just the best-case scenario to actually get an opportunity to vote for a presidential candidate and nominate them for the GOP.

One of those voters was John Graves, a fire protection engineer from Boise. He said the caucus was fast and easy, not much different from Idahos usual Republican primary. He anticipated the win would go to Trump.

Its a very conservative state, so I would think that Trump will probably carry it quite easily, Graves said. And I like that.

The Democratic caucuses arent until May 23.

The last GOP caucuses in Idaho were in 2012, when about 40,000 of the states nearly 200,000 registered Republican voters showed up to select their preferred candidate. (AP)
You could say that a lot is riding on the Lexus LBX. Not only is it Lexus first three-letter named model after the LFA supercar, but becaus...
Cartoon Movie kicks off in Bordeaux, France, next week, and we have an exclusive sneak peek at MouMoush  The King of Plastic, one of the projects set to pitch at this key event for new European animated features.

MouMoush is the story of siblings Margo and Liam, who get swept up in a time-twisting adventure when a visit to their uncle goes off the rails. The two, and their Uncles talking cat, end up facing off against MouMoush, a man of limitless power and wealth who dreams of world domination.

MouMoush is written and directed by Milorad Krstic and produced by Hungarys Mumus Production. Krstic is best known for writing and directing the 2019 Annie-nominated feature Ruben Brandt, Collector.

The project is aimed at kids and family audiences, but promises enough depth and action to keep everyone entertained. It will touch on a variety of themes including contemporary science, the dangers that come from misplaced selfish ambition, and the long-term impact of plastic pollution.

Describing their approach to the film, the team at Mumus Production explained:

Instead of adopting the usual ecological perspective, the film presents a unique imaginary world with fairytale-like visual techniques and adventures. A world in which Evil (MouMoush) wants to take hold of the universe, while the good triumph and save it. Joining forces with the adults, the bright and sensitive siblings succeed in saving the values of human culture from the fame-obsessed businessman MouMoush and from the scientist Dr. Sinistrad, who uses science as a means to enact their evil plans.

The MouMoush team will be in Bordeaux with a full script, having already secured half of the films budget. Representatives from the project will be looking to woo production partners, a sales agent, and global distributors.

Producer Radmila Roczkov tells Cartoon Brew:
Fresh Chinese destinations under spotlight at Singapore travel fair

Xinhua) 11:32, March 03, 2024

Tourists visit the Jewel Changi Airport in Singapore on Sept. 7, 2023. China and Singapore signed a mutual visa exemption agreement in Beijing on Thursday, which will come into effect from Feb. 9, according to the Chinese foreign ministry. (Photo by Then Chih Wey/Xinhua)

SINGAPORE, March 3 (Xinhua) -- China has long been a popular travel destination among Singaporean residents, and fresh routes to China received special attention at the ongoing NATAS Travel Fair, according to the participating travel agencies.

Over 60 exhibitors, including travel agents, airlines, cruise operators and hotels, attended the travel fair held by the National Association of Travel Agents Singapore (NATAS).

"The customers are interested in the western regions of China, such as Yunnan, Sichuan, Guizhou and Xinjiang, which is a change compared with previous years," said Wu Wen, a senior manager in charge of Chinese traveling at ASA Holidays.

Tourists take photos in Hemu Village in Altay Prefecture, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Feb. 5, 2024. (Xinhua/Ma Kai)

"The western regions remain fresh to Singaporeans. Our 'Silk Road traveling' covering Gansu and Xinjiang attracts many customers," Wu said.

"The company also has some small-scale tour groups to China for customers to enjoy in-depth and high-quality travel experience," Wu added.

"We made a nice performance with over 200 trip deals to China signed on Friday after the travel fair kicked off," said William Huang, marketing manager with Super Travels Group.

Super Travels Group offers a fresh route to Mount Fanjing in Guizhou province, a sacred mountain of Buddhism. It is popular with guests, Huang said.

A girl enjoys her time at Harbin Ice-Snow World in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Feb. 15, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei)

Many residents from the tropical state are also interested in ice and snow.

Almost all the participating travel agencies offer routes to renowned "ice-tourism" destinations in northeast China, such as Harbin and Mohe, China's northernmost city.

"Travel agents told me that ice is melting now, then I will take my family to Harbin this winter," said resident Tan.

The fair will run through the weekend.

(Web editor: Zhang Wenjie, Zhong Wenxing)
Germany said on Saturday it was investigating an apparent eavesdropping of a call, after Moscow said a recording of German officers showed them discussing weapons for Ukraine and a potential strike by Kiev on a bridge in Crimea.

A German defense ministry spokesperson said on Saturday the Federal Office for Military Counterintelligence was investigating what appeared to be a case of eavesdropping, and that it was possible that the recording had been altered.

Chancellor Olaf Scholz, speaking on a visit to Rome, called the potential leak "very serious" and said it was "now being clarified very carefully, very intensively and very quickly".

Margarita Simonyan, a Russian state TV journalist and the head of Russia Today, posted the audio on her Telegram channel, and said it revealed German officers "discussing how to strike the Crimea bridge", which links Russia to the Ukrainian peninsula it seized and annexed in 2014.

Reuters listened to the 38-minute recording but could not independently confirm its authenticity.

Participants in the call discuss the possible delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Kyiv, which Scholz has publicly so far firmly rejected. They also talk about the training of Ukrainian soldiers, and possible military targets.

Scholz, speaking on a visit to Rome, told journalists the potential leak was "very serious".

"That is why it is now being clarified very carefully, very intensively and very quickly. That is also necessary," he said.

Russia's embassy in Berlin did not respond to an emailed request for comment on Saturday about allegations of possible spying. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said on social media on Friday: "We demand an explanation from Germany", without detailing its particular concerns.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov spoke to journalists on Saturday about "cunning plans of the Bundeswehr (German armed forces), which became apparent due to the publication of this audio recording. This is a blatant self-exposure", Lavrov said.

Roderich Kiesewetter, a member of the German parliament, told the Handelsblatt newspaper that he considered the reports to be authentic.

"Russia is of course showing how heavily it uses espionage and sabotage as part of the hybrid war. It is to be expected that much more was intercepted and leaked in order to influence decisions, discredit and manipulate people," he was quoted as saying. (Reuters)
In loving memory of Nancy Hashberger Urban of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, a beloved wife, mother and grandmother and whose strength, grace and love touched the lives of all who knew her, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2024.

Nancy was born in Chattanooga, Tn., on Dec. 22, 1946, to James and Johnnie Ruth Hashberger. As a little girl, Nancy lived in both Signal Mountain as well as Red Bank where she attended and graduated from Red Bank High School. After high school, Nancy attended the University of Tennessee and eventually went on to get her bachelors degree in social work, where she was a member of the Omicron Chapter of Phi Alpha Honorary Society, at the University of West Florida. Nancy also received her masters degree in Health Services Administration from the College of Saint Francis.

As a social worker who served her communities in both Fort Walton Beach, Fl., as well as Chattanooga, she tirelessly advocated for those in need. One of her last positions she held before retiring was as director of Hospice of Chattanooga, where her unwavering dedication and gentle spirit brought light to those facing lifes most challenging moments.

Nancys heart truly belonged to the beautiful Florida Gulf Coast where she raised her family, ate her favorite foods like oysters and shrimp, and enjoyed a lifetime hobby of collecting, researching and restoring shells she found in the area, all the while still rooting for her Vols all the way from Florida.

Nancy was an avid reader, who immersed herself in genealogy to better understand her heritage and roots. As part of that journey, Nancy and her husband Richard, traveled to Scotland to the Isle of Jura where many of Nancys relatives had lived in centuries past. She always said this was her favorite place to have visited.

Most of all, Nancy cherished the time spent with her family. She was her husbands, childrens and grandchildrens biggest fan and never missed an opportunity to celebrate their achievements, big or small, showering them with applause, hugs, and words of praise all along the way.

Nancy was predeceased by her parents, James and Johnnie Ruth Hashberger.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 29 years, Dr. Richard D. Urban, PhD, daughter, Stacey Mitchell Yoakum and husband, Steve Yoakum, daughter, Amy Mitchell Ruark and husband, James Ruark, daughter, Bree Urban and husband, Brian Hatch, son, Brandt Urban and wife, Anita Urban, her sister, Jan Redding and husband, Ron Redding, her niece, Jill Rooks and husband, Brad Rooks. She is also survived by her much loved grandchildren, Jackson Yoakum, Charles and Lucy Ruark, Ariella, Lainee, and Xahria Hatch, Kai and Cora Urban, and grandniece and grandnephew, Hope and Hayden Rooks. She is also survived by dear, lifetime friend Gale Mauk.

In lieu of flowers and in honor of Nancy, contributions may be made to Hearth Hospice, 513 Georgia Ave., Chattanooga, Tn. 37403.

The family will receive friends from 3-7 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home.

A private family celebration of Nancys life will be held at a later date.

Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com .

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
photo by Brandon Hull photo by Brandon Hull photo by Brandon Hull photo by Brandon Hull photo by Brandon Hull photo by Brandon Hull photo by Brandon Hull photo by Brandon Hull photo by Brandon Hull Previous Next

Tennessee Governor Bill Lee visited Tennessee National Guard soldiers on Saturday, at the Millington Tennessee Army National Guard Armory ahead of their deployment to the nations southern border in the wake of the most severe border crisis the United States has experienced in decades.

America continues to face an unprecedented border crisis, and people across the nation are experiencing the devastating consequences of rising crime, drug trafficking and human trafficking, said Governor Lee. Governors are working together, taking immediate action to do what the federal government wont do, and that is secure our border. I commend Tennessees National Guard troops for answering this important call to service and providing critical support.

Last month, Governor Lee committed to deploying two waves of state active-duty soldiers to Texas to assist in their efforts. As the Tennessee Department of Military continues to coordinate with Texas to determine areas of greatest need, this is the first deployment of approximately 50 Tennessee National Guard members who volunteered to join Operation Lone Star.



Officials from the governor's office said, "Tennessee has a long history of supporting Texas in efforts to secure the border. While the current administration has attacked and sued Texas for stepping up to protect American citizens amid the continued spike in illegal crossings, human trafficking, and trafficking of deadly drugs like fentanyl, Tennessee has stood in the gap to provide resources."



Governor Lee was joined by First Lady Maria Lee, U.S. Congressman David Kustoff, Sen. Ed Jackson, Sen. Brent Taylor, Rep. Chris Hurt, Rep. Debra Moody, and Rep. Chris Todd.


The Chattanooga Airport, elected officials and business and community leaders celebrated completion of the airports $28 million terminal renovation and expansion during a grand opening event on Saturday. From the end of the new concourse, officials made remarks to about 400 people about the airports milestone, while outside, construction imagery was projected onto an airport hangar.

The Chattanooga Airport is more than a transportation hub. It is where our region takes flight. Where businesses arrive to see if their ideas take off in Chattanooga and where our entrepreneurs spread their wings, said April Cameron, Chattanooga Airport president and CEO. With todays grand opening, we are doubling down on our position as an economic driver of our region.

The expansion project added 26,000 square feet to the terminal and included renovating 36,000 square feet of existing concourse. It includes two new gates and an additional passenger loading bridge, expanded security checkpoint, increased restrooms and concessions, and a new business center with 10 Gig Wi-fi provided by EPB.

Growth is necessary for us to remain competitive, and the expansion is an important milestone for the airport and our region, said Jim Hall, chairman of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. We are confident passengers will continue to fly Chattanooga and that even more people across our region will prioritize flying from our home airport.

Delta will operate from new gates seven and eight, and the new bridge at gate six will support additional flights and routes as the airport continues to grow its destination base. New concessions include 2,570 square feet of post-security restaurant space with 60 seats in the dining area and 20 bar seats.

The growth of our airport plays a key role in bolstering economic development across our region, said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. In short, air service development is economic development. And an attractive airport also draws in visitors and new residents, contributing significantly to our community's vitality and appeal.

Through December 2023, Chattanooga Airport boardings are up 13% compared to the same time last year.

Funding for the expansion project came from three sources: approximately $17.5 million was federal grant money, while $3. million came from airport funds, and $7.6 million was collected through the airports passenger facility fee.

Congressman Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Senator Bo Watson, Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp, Tommy Dupree, a manager with the FAA, and Adam Myers, vice president of economic development for the Chattanooga Chamber, also spoke at the event about the excitement around the project and what it means for the regions economy.

Local builders J&J Contractors of Chattanooga led construction of the expansion while engineers Allen & Hoshall performed the engineering and management of the project. DH&W led architecture and interior planning for the terminal expansion and renovation. The project builds on phase one of the airports master plan, which included the $25 million four-level parking garage that was completed in 2021.
The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency said one finding of its Plan Chattanooga process is the demand expected for 46,000 new housing units in Chattanooga and Hamilton County during the next 20 years.

RPA officials said experts estimate Hamilton Countys population nearing a half million residents over the next 40 years (Source: Boyd Center for Business and Economic Research at UT).

The expected demand for 46,000 new housing units in Hamilton County by 2024 "is a reality that has area elected officials and planners working diligently on a strategy to address this influx," it was stated.

The RPA said, "After months of community input, research and analysis, we're moving forward with the next phase of plan development. This comprehensive plan is a blueprint for our community's development, touching on everything from transportation to housing and public services. Starting in March, the RPA will be rolling out the plan findings, including draft maps that envision the future layout of our community.

"The goal of Plan Hamilton is managing long term growth and prioritization of capital projects. This is the first time Hamilton County has looked at the outlying areas of our community through the lens of managing growth and the potential impacts to infrastructure and services. Through advanced planning tools and cross-departmental collaboration, we're laying the groundwork for a future that benefits everyone.

"Amidst ongoing growth and development, understanding and meeting the evolving needs of our community is more important than ever. This call for planning comes as a result of the unprecedented number of people moving to Tennessee, with Hamilton County seeing one of the largest rates of population increase in the state."

RPA Executive Director Dan Reuter said, We are a 90-minute drive south from the Nashville suburbs via I-24 and a 90-minute drive to the Atlanta suburbs via I-75 with both serving as major freight corridors; the area is going to grow based on trends set over the past 10 years.

Our location makes us a powerhouse for the southern U.S economy, and our outdoor attractions and having one of the most robust internet networks in the nation are attracting new businesses and professionals. Therefore, it's critical that local governments in the Chattanooga region work together to manage growth.

During the coming months, Plan Hamilton will bring together County departments and focus groups of community members to provide a better understanding of transportation, community and land use issues. More public meetings and online virtual engagement opportunities are also planned. Plan Hamilton will align with future capital expenditures by County departments, to support transportation, land use, and community services.Once adopted, it will provide an effective guide for growth within the County including future operations, capital planning and implementation, officials said.

Mr. Reuter said, Starting in March, we'll be unveiling the findings of our analysis, including maps that envision the future of our community. County departments are working hard to meet community needs on all levels. Everyday growth occurs and new jobs are announced. This requires us to continuously advance our knowledge of infrastructure and service needs. We need to use the best planning models and data, and coordinate capital needs across city and county departments.

Plan Hamilton data/research/analysis and progress on the county-wide Place Type maps will be presented to the Hamilton County Commission at their regular session on Wednesday.

Officials said, "What weve learned so far: Chattanooga and Hamilton County are both beautiful and successful communities. However, there are great opportunities for our local governments to work together to make our communities even more successful and more resilient in the future. Work on the plan has been aimed at identifying community needs and addressing the many challenges that come with growth as well as looking for ways that communities can benefit from new energy and investment. Early feedback has indicated a strong community desire for adding new parks and greenways, maintaining open spaces and protecting our mountains, ridges and creeks.

"A top issue for most people living in the county is losing the character of where they chose to live, often in a quiet rural setting. They worry that change is occurring at such a rapid pace, services will not be able to keep up. These concerns include maintaining existing roads, dealing with traffic congestion, and how to fund new schools and other services if growth is to continue outward."

"Key points from the Plan Hamilton data analysis and public engagement process include:

"There are approximately 47,000 students currently enrolled in Hamilton County public schools, 10,000 in private schools and another 20,000 in local colleges who will need jobs and housing in the future. (public or private, plus colleges Source: RPA (public data).

"Preservation of farmland and rural character, steep slopes, woodlands and riparian areas should be made priorities - this comment was a top response across all areas in the County. The public also expressed concerns about increasing traffic congestion during peak hours and whether services are adequate or available as new development occurs.



"A good portion of Hamilton County features slopes steeper than 30 percent or greater. In addition, areas within the floodway and the 100-year floodplain are constrained when it comes to new development. If development continues at the current rate of growth into outlying areas, this could result in the potential loss of 2,800 acres of land and sensitive resources."

The RPA, with UT-Chattanooga, is also exploring financial strategies that can be considered to build new transportation and infrastructure projects, recognizing the need to complement state and federal funding with innovative local solutions. Other major planning activities underway include:

1. A kickoff of the Safe Streets for All (SS4A) transportation initiative

2. Administering a Federal Railroad Administrations Passenger Rail Corridor study

3. An update of the Hamilton County Zoning Code

4. A Fire Services study for unincorporated Hamilton County

Plan Chattanooga is being led by the RPA and includes a team of transportation and land use consultants. This is the first time the city of Chattanooga and Hamilton County have undertaken a process for managing long term growth, identifying community needs, prioritization of capital projects and creating a program for Implementation, officials said.

In the coming months, the RPA and consultants will share the Plan Hamilton findings through a series of public meetings and events planned for April and May. These meetings will focus on choices - prioritizing where growth should occur, and which areas have key resources to preserve. For example, a neighborhood with an established residential character may see little change if infrastructure is limited or services are not available. Once finalized, this plan will serve as a comprehensive guide for our County's future development strategies. Comprehensive planning within the city of Chattanooga boundaries is also underway. (See Planchattanooga.org).

Officials said, "For more information and to stay up to date on how you can contribute, please SIGN UP at Planhamilton.org or see chcrpa.org for more information on meetings, announcements and planning updates."
An unknown number of inmates have escaped after armed gangs stormed the main prison in the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince on Saturday evening, according to the French embassy and local media.

"This Saturday evening, bandits stormed the national penitentiary in Port-au-Prince and allowed a number of inmates to escape," the French embassy said in a note sent to AFP.

"Pending clarification of the situation, the embassy of France advises against all travel in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area," it said.

In a message written in Creole and posted on social media platform X, the Haitian National Police Union SNPH-17 appealed to all police and military personnel with cars, weapons and ammunition to go to the prison as reinforcements.

According to the local online news outlet Gazette Haiti, "a significant number of prisoners released" by the armed gangs are "important members of very powerful gangs."

Known gang leaders and those charged with the 2021 assassination of president Jovenel Moise were among those incarcerated in the prison, located a few hundred meters from the National Palace, the Haitian daily Le Nouvelliste said.

It said it had no details on the number or profile of the prisoners that escaped.

The prison had been "spied on by the assailants since Thursday via drones," before it was attacked early Saturday evening, according to Le Nouvelliste.

Gangs aiming to oust Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry have wreaked havoc in Port-au-Prince since Thursday.

Henry is not in the capital, according to Le Nouvelliste.

The latest attacks are part of a coordinated effort by gangs united under the label "Vivre Ensemble" ("Living Together").

Powerful gang leader Jimmy Cherisier, known by the nickname Barbecue, said in a video posted on social media before the violence began that the armed groups were acting in concert "to get Prime Minister Ariel Henry to step down."

The Caribbean state was already prey to gang violence but gangs now control 80 percent of Port-au-Prince, and serious crime has reached record levels in the Western hemisphere's poorest nation, according to the United Nations. (AFP)
This 52-year-old man has two sons, who are 36 and 17-years-old. His youngest son is a high school senior, and his oldest son works as a dentist.

He received a promotion at work when his youngest son was 5, and he began earning more income than ever.

Because of that, he and his wife chose to set up a college fund for their youngest son. Unfortunately, they didnt have enough money for their oldest sons college education.

So far, their youngest son received acceptance letters to two schools. He received the second letter last week.

Understandably, his son was thrilled, and the whole family was so proud. After graduation, his son is unsure of which direction he wants to go, but he knows hed like to study something in the medical field or law.

He and his wife hadnt told their youngest son that they had a college fund set up for him, but after his son received the second acceptance letter in the mail, his wife thought that they should talk to their son about it, and he felt like this was good timing.

During the conversation, their son was so shocked at how much money theyd saved for his college education that he asked if they were telling him the truth.

He and his wife assured him they were telling him the truth, adding that even though they knew the money wouldnt pay for all his college-related expenses, it would cover a significant portion.

Later, he and his wife told their son that he should get a job soon to start putting his own earnings into the college fund, and their son thought this would be a smart idea and said he planned to begin job searching.

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The Great Sphinx of Giza is known as the oldest monument in Egypt and stands as a marvel of engineering and artisanship. This colossal structure, reaching 66 feet in height, was impressively sculpted from a single limestone ridge.

However, recent research suggests that the ancient Egyptians may have received some assistance in creating this monumental work from natural elements in the region over 4,500 years ago.

Scientists from New York Universitys Applied Mathematics Laboratory conducted experiments to mimic the environmental conditions of northeastern Egypt around 2,500 B.C.E, coinciding with the time the Sphinx was built.

Their goal was to understand how fast-moving winds, interacting with natural rock formations, might have influenced the initial shaping of the Sphinx.

Specifically, the researchers recreated yardangs, which are distinctive ridge-like landforms formed by wind or dust erosion, typically seen in dry areas. They theorized that these yardangs could have provided a natural template that the ancient sculptors used as a starting point for carving the Sphinx.

The researchers replicated these natural structures by embedding softer clay mounds with materials that were harder and less susceptible to erosion. They then exposed these mounds to a rapid stream of water, simulating the effect of wind. This process reshaped the mounds into forms resembling the Sphinx.

The study found that the harder, more erosion-resistant material was sculpted into the statues head, creating a wind shadow that protected the body. Additionally, they observed that the Sphinxs back, neck, and paws were shaped by the turbulent wake of the wind.

Our laboratory experiments showed that surprisingly Sphinx-like shapes can come from materials being eroded by fast flows, explained Leif Ristroph, an associate professor at NYUs Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences.

The work may also be useful to geologists as it reveals factors that affect rock formations namely, that they are not homogeneous or uniform in composition. The unexpected shapes come from how the flows are diverted around the harder or less-erodible parts.

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Home News John MacArthur denounces Christian nationalism as 'faulty viewpoint' linked to postmillennialism 'There is no such thing as Christian nationalism'

Pastor John MacArthur denounced Christian nationalism insofar as it is defined as an attempt to usher in the Kingdom of God on Earth through political means, but exhorted Christians to care about what is happening in their nation.

"There is no such thing as Christian nationalism," MacArthur said during a question-and-answer period last month at Grace Community Church in Los Angeles. "The Kingdom of God is not of this world. Jesus said, 'My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight.' His Kingdom is not of this world. The kingdom of this world is a separate world. They're not linked together."

MacArthur explained his belief that the prevailing religion or ideology of any nation bears no relevance to whether the Kingdom of God progresses according to His sovereignty.

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"Nothing that happens in any nation, whether it's a communist nation, a Muslim nation, or a quote-unquote quasi-Christian nation, or an atheistic nation, nothing in that nation  politically, socially  has anything to do with the advancement of the Kingdom of God," he said. "Because the Kingdom of God is separate from that system. God, in His sovereignty, is building His Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it, Jesus said."

"So the idea that you should link up some political effort, some political process, some social process, some gain of power or influence in a culture as part of the advance of Christianity is alien to Christianity," he said.

"You never have our Lord approaching anything like that, nor the apostles, and particularly the apostle Paul; he sought to gain no favor with the Roman Empire whatsoever, or for that matter with any other of the rulers that he ran into during his life."

MacArthur went on to clarify that he was not saying Christians should be "indifferent to what happens in the nation," stressing that they should vote for righteous leaders when they have the opportunity, which he noted is becoming increasingly difficult.

We have to be the people who uphold righteousness. When we come to vote, we want to vote for that which is the most righteous option. Obviously, we can't vote in righteousness, but we have to vote in a way that reflects our commitment to the righteousness of God," he said, adding that Christians ought not to elect leaders who affirm abortion, LGBT behavior, or any other form of immorality.

"It gets harder, doesn't it, nowadays? Because even sometimes, when politicians are more conservative and anti-abortion, they may be sinful and wicked in some other categories. And it's very hard to find out who is really honest and who is simply dishonest and seeking power," he said.

"But in the end, we do what we can [politically] with the understanding that the responsibility of the Church is not to advance the kingdom of this world. That's a faulty viewpoint."

MacArthur, a premillennialist, suggested that Christians who believe they can assist God in establishing His kingdom by seizing the reins of political power are misguided and often driven by a mistaken postmillennial eschatology that believes Jesus will return following an extended period of Christian political and cultural dominance.

And that is the view that the Church  somehow by influencing the culture  can bring in the Kingdom of Christ. In other words, it's the idea not that Christ returns and sets up His Kingdom, but that the Church establishes His Kingdom and then hands it to Him. That is not what Scripture teaches," he said.

"What Scripture teaches is what we're learning from the book of Revelation: Things are going to get worse and worse and worse, and the end of human history is not the Church triumphant, reigning in the world and taking over the structures of human kingdoms. That's not what happens. At the end of human history, the believers are persecuted and murdered. And thats the very opposite of what Christian nationalism would anticipate."

"So we believe the Bible teaches that things get worse and worse, headed toward the wrath of God, which we're seeing in Revelation. And then our Lord returns, Himself, to establish His Kingdom," he added.

Rob Reiner's recent anti-Christian nationalist documentary "God and Country" implied MacArthur is a Christian nationalist by featuring a brief clip of him saying, "No Christian with half a brain would say, 'We support religious freedom.' We support the truth."

The full context of his January 2021 sermon that appeared in the film shows that MacArthur was saying Christians should oppose "religious freedom" to the extent that it implies all religions are equal.

In his remarks, which were given days before President Joe Biden's inauguration, MacArthur predicted American Christians will face increased persecution from the administration in the name of religious freedom. He also repudiated the idea that Christians are on track to experience a golden age before the Second Coming of Christ.

"We dont win down here, we lose," he said. "You ready for that? Oh, you were a postmillennialist, you thought we were just going to go waltzing into the Kingdom if you took over the world? No, we lose here  get it? It killed Jesus. It killed all the apostles. Were all going to be persecuted."

"'If any man comes after Me, let him'  what?  'deny himself.' Garbage of prosperity gospel. No, we dont win down here. You ready for that? Just to clear the air, I love this clarity. We dont win. We lose on this battlefield, but we win on the big one, the eternal one."
Home News Laken Rileys pastor recalls her special faith in Jesus: 'She didnt just believe it

The Woodstock City Church community came together to bid farewell to Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student at Augusta University, whose life was tragically cut short near the universitys intramural fields in Athens, Georgia. Lead Pastor Samer Massad remembered Riley for her kindness, intelligence and compassion, and whose faith in Jesus was not merely a belief but a way of life.

Laken was special. She was a gift to anyone who knew her, Massad told the mourners gathering, as reported by 11 Alive.

She had a gift for making anyone she was around feel comfortable and seen, the pastor added. But the most special thing about Laken was her faith in Jesus. She didnt just believe it, she lived it. And because of her faith, as hard as days like today are, we grieve her loss and celebrate her life with the hope that she is now in the presence of Jesus, her Savior. We will miss her dearly.

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The circumstances surrounding Rileys death have ignited a firestorm of debate and controversy, particularly regarding immigration policies and public safety.

The accused, Jose Antonio Ibarra, a Venezuelan national who entered the United States illegally, is charged with causing Rileys death through blunt force trauma, an act that not only ended a promising life but also raised questions about the Biden administration's illegal immigration policies.

Court documents revealed the brutal nature of the attack, which occurred in broad daylight, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Feb. 22. The documents detail how Ibarra allegedly disfigured Rileys skull with an object before dragging her body to a secluded location, compounding the murder charge with the concealment of her death.

Ibarra had previous encounters with law enforcement, including a shoplifting incident, which raises concerns about the oversight and management of individuals with illegal status within the community.

The University of Georgia announced a significant investment in campus safety measures totaling $7.3 million, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. These measures include an expanded police budget and the installation of emergency call boxes, a direct response to the heightened concern for student and community safety following Rileys murder.

Amid the grief and mourning, Rileys family has expressed their gratitude for the outpouring of support from the community and law enforcement. In a statement, they remembered Laken as an amazing daughter, sister, friend, and overall person whose love for the Lord was evident in every aspect of her life.

The political ramifications of Rileys death have been significant, with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp writing a letter to President Joe Biden, critiquing the administrations border policies and their implications for public safety. Kemps letter demands answers and accountability, highlighting the broader national debate on immigration policy and its enforcement.

In an op-ed in The Christian Post, Suzanne Bowdey, editorial director and senior writer for The Washington Stand, wrote: Like the millions of other people Joe Biden let across the border, Ibarra was bussed deep into New York City, where he was released to commit crime after crime. Each time he was arrested, he was let go. Now, an innocent young nursing student  with her whole life ahead of her  has paid for it.

The sanctuary city policies of Athens have come under scrutiny, with Mayor Kelly Girtz facing criticism from residents who believe these policies contributed to Rileys death.

Girtz was heckled by area residents during a Wednesday press conference for defending sanctuary city policies they believe contributed to Riley's death.

Please stop it. This is an invasion! an audience member shouted, according to The Daily Caller. When I was younger, I was a criminal and you know what I thought about doing? Crossing the border to Mexico to get away from my crimes. Thanks to Jesus Christ, He saved me and I no longer live that lawless life, but you do. You are lawless, Mr. Mayor.

Since Biden took office, law enforcement officials at the Southwest border have encountered more than 7 million illegal immigrants. The number of illegal immigrants who have entered the country in that time period exceeds the populations of 37 U.S. states, as measured in the 2020 U.S. Census.

Reports have also surfaced that Ibarras brother, Diego, had presented a fake green card to begin a temporary job as a dishwasher in the University of Georgias dining hall on Feb. 6. Diego was fired from his job and subsequently arrested and charged with green card fraud.
Home News Christian politician makes history in Pakistan after election as deputy speaker of Sindh Assembly

Christian politician Anthony Naveed has achieved a major political milestone after he was elected as the first Christian Deputy Speaker of the Sindh Provincial Assembly last Sunday.

Naveed, who is the only Christian selected on a reserved seat for minorities in the Sindh Provincial Assembly by the progressive Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) after the Feb. 8 general election, bagged 111 votes out of 147 votes cast. His opponent, Advocate Rashid Khan of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement, clinched 36 votes.

Born into a modest Catholic family in Karachi, 53-year-old Naveed obtained an engineering diploma in garment technology from the Pakistan Swedish Institute of Technology. Throughout his career, Naveed has been actively engaged in community service, serving as vice president of the Karachi Christian Boys Association and representing the Catholic Youth Commission of Pakistan at the World Youth Day in Toronto in 2002.

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He has also worked with the Pakistan Christian Congress focusing on educational initiatives and career counseling for the youth in his community. Despite facing personal challenges and discrimination, Naveed has remained rooted in Karachis Akhtar Colony, where he was born, got married, and raised his children. His commitment to his community and identity shines through, emphasizing his dedication to representing and living among the people he serves.

Naveeds political journey began in 2005 when the PPP gave him a ticket in Karachis local government election. He contested as a vice-chairman from his native Akhtar Colony. He went on to become a special assistant to the Sindh chief minister in 2016. In 2018, the PPP chose him as a reserved seat candidate in the Sindh Assembly where he was the lone Christian legislator.

I am grateful to the PPP leadership, especially [party chief] Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari, for nominating me for this coveted position, Naveed told Christian Daily International on the phone from Karachi.

The PPP is the only political party that is taking concrete steps to protect the rights of all minorities, including the Christian community, and empowering them socially, politically and economically, he said.

As the custodian of the house, Naveed said he would try his best to use this opportunity to lobby the support of the majority lawmakers to address the challenges facing the religious minorities of the province.

Lauding the PPPs decision to nominate and elect Naveed, Christian rights activists said this would help in alleviating the sense of deprivation in the marginalized community.

Its good to see Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari fulfilling his promise of giving religious minorities an equal opportunity to grow in the socio-political sphere. By nominating Anthony Naveed, the PPP has lived up to the expectations of the minority communities and we hope that the other mainstream political parties will follow its example, said Minorities Alliance Pakistan Chairman Akmal Bhatti.

Rights activist Napolean Qayyum also welcomed Naveeds election and said this had paved the way for the political mainstreaming of the Christian community.

We hope that all political parties would also consider giving tickets to their Christian members for contesting the election on general seats in constituencies where we have a sizeable vote bank. Christian legislators will be in a better position to solve the problems facing their communities because they understand the issues much better than their Muslim counterparts, he said.
Home News This week in Christian history: Indian missionary dies, Rochester Revival ends, Zurich bans Anabaptists

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 the death of an Indian missionary, the conclusion of the Rochester Revival, and Zurich banning Anabaptists.
Scottish Parliament recognises church of John Knox in 900th anniversary year

A motion has been laid in the Scottish Parliament celebrating the prominence of St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh as it celebrates 900 years.

St Giles' Cathedral was founded by King David I of Scotland in 1124 and was later at the centre of the Scottish Reformation when John Knox preached Protestantism from its pulpit in the 1500s.

Today it plays an important role as Scotland's national cathedral and was where the late Queen Elizabeth II lay at rest before her funeral in London. It later held the Honours of Scotland service for King Charles III after he was crowned at Westminster Abbey.

The motion from the Scottish Parliament recognises St Giles' as an "iconic" cathedral and says it has been "a prominent part of the life of Edinburgh and Scotland for 900 years".

It recognises the cathedral's various projects that are "designed to reach out to people of all ages, backgrounds and faiths across the city".

The motion was laid down by Lothian MSP Miles Briggs and has been circulated for other MSPs to sign.

It states that 1.5 million people visited the cathedral from around the world last year alone, a statistic "underlining its status as a dynamic centre celebrating Scotland's heritage and culture, as well as being an active place of worship".

Commenting on the motion, Rev Dr George Whyte, the interim moderator of St Giles', said: "We very much appreciate the recognition given by the Scottish Parliament and we remain committed to continued service in the years ahead."
Israel has agreed to revise the lyrics of its potential submission to the Eurovision Song Contest after the contest organizers took issue with verses that appeared to reference Hamas' Oct. 7 attack, Israel's national broadcaster Kan said on Sunday.

Eurovision, which this year will take place on May 7-11 in the Swedish city of Malmo, bills itself as a non-political event and can disqualify contestants deemed to have breached that rule. Broadcaster Kan is tasked with choosing Israel's entry.

The leading Israeli submission is "October Rain," a ballad sung by female soloist Eden Golan.

According to lyrics leaked to the media, and later confirmed by Kan, it includes lines such as "There's no air left to breathe" and "They were all good children, each one of them" - apparent allusions to people who holed up in shelters as Hamas gunmen carried out a killing and kidnapping spree at an outdoor music festival and other sites which sparked the war in Gaza.

Kan said it has asked the writers of "October Rain" and second place finalist "Dance Forever" to revise their lyrics, while also preserving their artistic freedom. It will then officially choose the song to send the Eurovision committee.

The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes Eurovision and has previously said it was in the process of scrutinising the lyrics, did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Kan's decision.

The Israeli broadcaster said it agreed to make the changes following a request from the country's president, Isaac Herzog.

"The president emphasized that at this time in particular, when those who hate us seek to push aside and boycott the state of Israel from every stage, Israel must sound its voice with pride and its head high and raise its flag in every world forum, especially this year," Kan said. (Reuters)
WASHINGTON, D. C. - Every four years, presidential wannabes spend months chatting up voters in New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada and Michigan in hopes that winning the nations earliest primaries and caucuses will vault them into the White House come November.

Between those states and the 15 states who schedule their contests on March 5s Super Tuesday, each partys presidential nominee is often decided before Ohio  which casts ballots on March 19  and other later-primary states have weighed in.

The situation is much the same this year. President Joe Biden has no credible challenge in the Democratic primary, and the roster of Republican candidates challenging former President Donald Trump for the GOP nomination has winnowed down to one: former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who lost her own home state and is hanging by a thread. Super Tuesday could deal the last blow to Haleys candidacy, deciding that race a full two weeks before Ohios primary.

Ohioans still will cast primary ballots for president, but they wont mean much. The Buckeye States inconsequential role in picking the presidential candidates highlights what some see as a need to reform the system that lets states race to be first in the country at the expense of their neighbors.

Thats a real problem when a state thats as big as Ohio, the seventh biggest state in the country, doesnt have much of an impact on the presidential primary race, says University of Akron political scientist David Cohen, who thinks it would be more fair to decide presidential nominees by having regional primaries instead of trusting small, overwhelmingly white states like Iowa and New Hampshire to make decisions.

Cohen says the current front-loaded primary system evolved when the Democratic partys nomination process broke down in 1968, following President Lyndon Johnsons dropped reelection bid. Before that, Cohen says presidential nominees were largely picked by party bosses.

A report produced by the McGovern-Fraser Commission after that election established clearer guidelines for the Democrats presidential selection process, elevating the role of primaries. Republicans ended up adopting many of its recommendations, as well.

He says Super Tuesday evolved as a plan by southern Democrats to cluster a group of their primaries on the same day in hopes of nominating someone more conservative than unsuccessful nominees George McGovern and Walter Mondale. The strategy backfired when Mike Dukakis was nominated, but front loading took off in the 1990s, with state after state moving up their primaries to have more impact.

States have an incentive to go early, because if they wait until May or June, they risk not having any kind of impact whatsoever, says Cohen.

Case Western Reserve University political scientist Justin Buchler argues that states with earlier primaries have somewhat more influence over the decision process, but he disagrees with Cohen that which state goes first makes much difference in who ultimately wins a partys nomination. He says cross-state differences between people who are in the same political party are relatively minor.

He says voters in later primary states like Ohio get a say in who gets their partys nomination, but their votes end up being a reflection of a result we already know. Knowing the partys nominee in advance doesnt mean that anything is wrong with the process, says Buchler, observing that this years major presidential party nominees were a foregone conclusion before any state cast ballots, since Biden and Trump were such early frontrunners.

Ohio Northern University political scientist Robert Alexander worries that Ohios political clout is being reduced because its longtime status as a swing state might be over.

Although Democratic President Barack Obama won the state twice, Alexander says GOP dominance of state politics and successive Ohio wins by Trump indicate Ohio may be permanently tilted to the right, making it less likely to get presidential candidate attention than states that can be won by either party.

We do see that certain public policies definitely cater to swing states, and so that probably hurts us more than where we sit as a primary state, says Alexander.

History of Ohios primaries

Ohios presidential primaries were held in May and June until 1996, when they were moved up to mid-March with the goal of increasing the states voice in the presidential selection process. In non-presidential years, Ohios primary is in May.

The 1990s move was advocated by Ohios then-Senate President, Cincinnati Republican Stanley Aronoff, who told the Associated Press that having a primary that occurs after nominations are locked up resulted in fewer Ohioans being appointed to high federal posts in both GOP and Democratic administrations.

Its all over by the time it gets to Ohio, agreed then-Ohio Secretary of State Bob Taft, who subsequently became the states GOP governor. Ohio should play a role in selecting who will be the nominee of each party for president.

According to Ohio Politics Almanac co-author Michael Curtin, who covered the switch as a Columbus Dispatch journalist, Aronoff saw the state losing political clout as its status as an industrial dynamo waned following a recession in the early 1980s. He noticed that other states were moving towards earlier primaries as a way to improve their political status, since presidential primaries bring national attention and political spending, and he wanted Ohio to be part of it.

Curtin says the move did not achieve the kind of relevancy that the backers of that legislation intended, as other states kept moving their primaries forward to a date earlier than Ohios. After the 1996 switch, some officials like former Ohio Secretary of State J. Kenneth Blackwell, a Cincinnati Republican, suggested moving Ohios primary to an earlier date in March, but those efforts did not take hold. These days, presidential nominations are usually settled before Ohio primary voters weigh in.

Since the states primary date switched, Curtin recalls just one instance when the states results were closely watched: the 2008 Democratic presidential primary duel between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Clinton won Ohio, but Obama won the nomination and the White House.

According to Curtin, Aronoff felt the fairest way to pick presidential nominees would be to divide the nation into four regions for primary purposes, with states in each region conducting simultaneous primaries. Under the system he supported, each region would get the earliest primary slot every 16 years so all would have a chance to go first.

Its probably too much to think that we could ever get our act together collectively to get it done, because it asks people to make a bit of a sacrifice in terms of working together among states, says Curtin. There would be logic and symmetry to that system, which is why it will never happen.

Reform proposals

Ohio Rep. Dan Troy, a Willowick Democrat, thinks it is time for Ohio to give up on March presidential primaries. Last year, he introduced bipartisan legislation with backing from the Ohio Association of Election Officials that would require May primaries each year and stop the March switch in presidential election years.

Troy argues that switching the date confuses voters, forces candidates to file their petitions far earlier than usual, and makes them campaign in bad weather. Later primaries shorten the election season, and may give us a little bit more time to actually do some governing rather than partisan politics, says Troy.

Troy also is skeptical that a March primary gives Ohio any more political clout than it had when its primaries were several months later. He says the last time Ohio played a decisive role in picking a presidential nominee was in 1976, when its June primary results help push Jimmy Carter over the top.

I dont know that the early date makes us that much more of a player, and as we know right now, both nominations for the Republican and Democrat Party are pretty much settled says Troy.

Professors Cohen and Alexander would like to see the current primary system replaced with a regional primary system, similar to what Aronoff sought. They argued in a 2020 USA Today opinion piece that having a single national primary day would tilt the field towards a candidate capable of self-funding, like businessman Michael Bloomberg.

They contend that a regional primary that includes Great Lakes states would better reflect the nations race, age, education, religion and religiosity than places like Iowa and New Hampshire. They suggest other regions would get to weigh in throughout the primary season and could potentially replace the Great Lakes as the first primary depending on their representativeness quotient in future years.

Taken together, these states compose one-fourth of all Electoral College votes (134), making them a logical grouping to test the competitiveness of candidates for the general election, the pair said of the Great Lakes states. Strength in this region would be an important signal to partisans looking for a nominee who could succeed in November.

University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato endorses a different variant of a regional primary system in his book titled A More Perfect Constitution. Hed like to see a rotating regional primary that would give every state a more realistic chance of voting at the start of the calendar and compresses the bloated presidential nomination calendar. He argues that such a plan would have to be put into the Constitution.

Without a constitutional requirement, there is simply no solution to a situation that deteriorates every four years, wrote Sabato. Try as they might, the national party committees cannot orchestrate a x.

Sabrina Eaton writes about the federal government and politics in Washington, D.C., for cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer.
The official ballot drop box at the Government Center in Stamford, Conn. Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2022. Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media

STAMFORD  Tuesdays elections for the Democratic City Committee will decide who will hold 34 of the 40 seats within the party organization for the next two years.

Only registered Democrats in Districts 1 through 9 and 13 through 20 can participate in the elections for the DCC, a group that endorses Democratic candidates for office.

In Districts 10, 11 and 12, only two candidates from each district gathered and submitted signatures from Democratic voters, so they were automatically elected.

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Monica Di Costanzo, the citys deputy Democratic registrar of voters, said some voters will be voting at a polling place that is different from the one they have used before because of redistricting. Democratic voters should have received a green card in the mail with information about their polling location, Di Costanzo said.

Elections for the Board of Representatives will take place in the redrawn districts next year.

Voters can enter their address into a search feature on the citys website to find their district number and polling place: https://www.stamfordct.gov/government/registrar-of-voters/find-your-voting-location.

Sample ballots are also available on the website: https://www.stamfordct.gov/government/registrar-of-voters.

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The polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Classes will be in session at schools that are serving as polling locations.

The town clerks office must receive mailed-in absentee ballots by Tuesday to be counted.

There also are two ballot drop-off boxes for absentee voters. One is in Stamford Government Centers parking garage at 888 Washington Blvd. and the other is at the Harry Bennett Branch Library, 115 Vine Road.

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Here is the full list of candidates. Incumbents are marked with an asterisk.

District 1

Chris Malloy* and Candy Yeager* (Democrats United for Stamford)

Fritz Chery and Kieran Ryan (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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District 2

Virgil de la Cruz* and Velma Taylor* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Jody Kamrowski (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 3

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Deangelos Floyd and Susan Halpern (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Terry Adams* and Elise Coleman*

District 4

Megan Cottrell* and Eva Padilla* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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Tracey Bass and Douglas Taylor Sr. (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 5

Bonnie Kim Campbell and Dakary Watkins (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Gloria DePina* and Lila Wallace* (Democrats United for Stamford)

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District 6

Denis Patterson* and Annie Summerville* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Miles Halpine and Julia Vos (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 7

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Chrismide Chery and Christina Strain (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Bianca Shinn* and Geraldine Uribe (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 8

Gina Calabrese and Anabel Figueroa* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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Jessica Feighan and Alexandra Siladi (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 9

Jeffrey Stella* and Kindrea Walston* (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Daiva Jones and Cynthia King (Democrats United for Stamford)

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District 13

Dan Scherer* and Keith Silver* (Democrats United for Stamford)

Kate Kochiss and Jason Kyek (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

District 14

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Jon Gallup* and Tiffany Pippins (Democrats United for Stamford)

Nathan Ducharme and Vladimir Souffrant (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

District 15

Angelica Gorrio and Carmine Tomas (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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James Fleischer* and Scott Stone* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 16

Paul Arvoy and Fred Pierre-Louis (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Heather Cohen Dynner* and Christine Velazquez Herman* (Democrats United for Stamford)

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District 17

Sean Boeger and Rosa Colon (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Peter Brown* and Jonathan Rosenbaum* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 18

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Karen Camporeale* and Donald Cole (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Jennienne Burke and Zareen Husain* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 19

Susan Bach and Helene Devin (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

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Michelle Abt and David Stein* (Democrats United for Stamford)

District 20

Nick Tamburro and Alicia Teitelbaum (Stamford Dems for Responsive Government)

Jackie Heftman* and Roslyn Nesin* (Democrats United for Stamford)

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Drone view shows rescue crews working at the site of a residential building heavily damaged by a Russian drone strike that killed several residents, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa on March 2, 2024, in this still image from handout video.

The death toll rose to 10 on Sunday from a Russian drone strike that destroyed an apartment block in Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa the previous day when a local official reported that the body of a third child was pulled from the rubble, along with that of the child's mother.

The death toll rose to 10 on Sunday from a Russian drone strike that destroyed an apartment block in Ukraine's southern port city of Odesa the previous day when a local official reported that the body of a third child was pulled from the rubble, along with that of the child's mother.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on Western allies to boost Ukraine's air defenses in the wake of the deadly attack.

Read more about the Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine's losses could make the war more dangerous for Russia

Ukraine's interior ministry on Sunday reported that rescue workers that morning retrieved the remains of a woman and infant.

"The mother tried to cover the 8-month-old child with her own (body). She tried to save them. They were found in a firm embrace," said a Telegram post published on the ministry's official channel.

On Saturday, Ukrainian authorities reported that another baby was among those killed after falling debris from an Iranian-made drone hit the apartment building  one of eight Russian drones reported by officials. Later that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that a second child had also died, and called on Kyiv's Western partners to send more air defense systems.

"Tymofiy was 4 months old. Mark was about to turn 3 years old. My condolences to all of their close ones," Zelenskyy wrote in English on X, formerly known as Twitter. He added that a 3-year-old girl and seven other people were injured in the attack.

"Delays in the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, as well as air defense to protect our people, unfortunately result in such losses. ... Ukraine has never requested anything more than what is necessary to protect lives," Zelenskyy wrote.

Four more people may be trapped in the rubble in Odesa, the local branch of Ukraine's main emergency service said in a Facebook update Sunday. Oleh Kiper, the local governor, said that rescue workers continue to comb through the site, and regional authorities announced a day of mourning for the victims.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, regional authorities reported that a 58-year-old man died under rubble after Russian forces shelled his village in the southern Kherson province. Another civilian man, aged 38, was also killed in a Russian artillery strike on the neighboring Zaporizhzhia region, local Gov. Ivan Fedorov said.
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, flanked by U.S. President Joe Biden, speaks during the President's visit to the U.S.-Mexico border in Brownsville, Texas, U.S., February 29, 2024.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday rebuked Republican claims that the border can be managed solely through President Joe Biden's executive action, even while the White House weighs some of those actions behind closed doors.

"We consider options at all times," Mayorkas said on CNN's "State of the Union." "But administrative action is no substitute for an enduring solution."

Officials told NBC News in February that Biden is thinking about implementing harsher asylum standards without Congress. The rules would raise the bar for asylum-seekers and deport any migrants who do not meet those elevated standards.

Tightening asylum grants is just one of the policy options that Biden is considering to handle the border unilaterally, officials told NBC News.

But Mayorkas, who was impeached by House Republicans in February, doubled down that executive action is an improper tool for border control since it is subject to judicial challenge and could likely get tied up in the courts.

Instead, he said that Congress needs to pass the bipartisan border proposal that it tanked in February.

Mayorkas' comments adhere to the White House's current playbook on the border crisis: Publicly condemn Capitol Hill's deadlock on border policy while privately, the president weighs executive border actions.

The border issue has gained political grist, especially as anti-Biden ammunition for GOP frontrunner and former President Donald Trump. Both Biden and Trump visited southern border towns on Thursday, each attempting to play offense on the issue.

"Here's what I would say to Mr. Trump: set a planned policy for this issue, instead of telling members of Congress to block this legislation," Biden said Thursday in Brownsville, Texas.

Trump reportedly told Senate Republicans to tank $20 billion of additional border security funding included in a foreign aid package proposal so as not to deliver Democrats a victory during an election year. That sent border policy reform back to the drawing board after already months-long negotiations.

In the meantime, Republicans have continued to pin the border's problems on Biden, arguing that he does not need additional authority to control the border but rather does not have the desire to execute.

"Unless we get him out of the Oval Office, we're never going to have a secure border because he doesn't have the will to do basic border enforcement," Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Oh., said Sunday on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures."

Mayorkas and White House officials have staunchly denied that claim.

"Couldn't be more wrong," Mayorkas said Sunday. "Administrative action is no substitute for an enduring solution...Congress needs to get a spine."

But the longer the Biden administration waits for Congress to act, the larger the political cost. As border legislation remains at a stalemate in Congress, the Biden team is looking for a border victory without Capitol Hill's help.

"Folks, it's time for us to move on this," Biden said Thursday in Brownsville. "We can't wait any longer."
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley reacts while speaking about her husband, Maj. Michael Haley, who is currently deployed with the South Carolina National Guard, during a campaign stop at the Clemson University at Greenville ONE building ahead of the Republican presidential primary election in Greenville, South Carolina, U.S. February 20, 2024.

Days ahead of the Super Tuesday presidential primaries, former South Carolina governor and Republican candidate Nikki Haley said in an interview Sunday she will continue in the race for the GOP nomination as long as she remains competitive.

In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Haley said she is not looking "too far ahead" when asked if she would drop out of the race if she loses to frontrunner and former president Donald Trump on Super Tuesday.

"As long as we are competitive, as long as we are showing that there is a place for us, I'm going to continue to fight," Haley said.

After primary losses in Iowa, South Carolina and New Hampshire, Haley trails Trump in delegates with just 27 to his 247 so far. However, Haley said those primaries only partially represent who Americans will vote for on Super Tuesday. Fifteen states and one territory will vote in primaries on Tuesday.

"You've only had three or four states that have voted up until now," Haley said. "We're a big country and we want everybody to feel like they had the opportunity to vote for someone and not against someone."

Several Trump-critical Republican senators have endorsed Haley, including Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski as her state heads to the polls Tuesday.

In an interview with NBC News Saturday, Murkowski said Haley is "a qualified, competent, capable leader at a time when the country needs them."

Murkowski added she refuses "to accept that [Trump and Biden are] my only two choices."

When asked if she would endorse a Trump nomination, Haley would not unequivocally say whether she is still bound by a Republican National Committee pledge to support the GOP nominee.

"No, I think I'll make what decision I want to make, but that's not something I'm thinking about," Haley said, adding that the pledge was made at the time "in order to get on the debate stage."
CARGO SHIP RUBYMAR, RED SEA -- MARCH 1, 2024: Maxar closeup view satellite imagery of the cargo ship Rubymar - just before sinking after being targeted by Houthi rebels last month.

The Iran-aligned Houthis, who control the north of Yemen and other large centres, say their campaign is a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

The sinking bulk carrier also "presents a subsurface impact risk to other ships transiting the busy shipping lanes of the waterway," U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said in its statement on social media platform X.

The Belize-registered Rubymar is the first vessel lost since the Houthis began targeting commercial ships in November. Those drone and missile assaults have forced shipping firms to divert ships to the longer route around southern Africa, disrupting global trade by delaying deliveries and sending costs higher.

A UK-owned ship attacked by Houthi militants last month sank in the Red Sea, the U.S. military confirmed on Saturday, as it echoed a warning from Yemen's internationally recognized government that the vessel's cargo of hazardous fertilizer posed a risk to marine life.

The Houthi attacks have prompted a series of strikes against their positions by the United States and Britain, and have led other navies to send vessels to the region to try to protect the vital Suez Canal trade route.

The Rubymar went down in the southern Red Sea late on Friday or early on Saturday, according to statements from the Yemen government and CENTCOM.

The U.S. military previously said the Feb. 18 missile attack had significantly damaged the bulk vessel and caused an 18-mile (29-km) oil slick. The ship was carrying about 21,000 metric tons of fertiliser, CENTCOM said on Saturday.

Ahmed Awad bin Mubarak, the foreign minister in Yemen's internationally recognized government in Aden, said in a post on X: "The sinking of the Rubymar is an environmental catastrophe that Yemen and the region have never experienced before.

"It is a new tragedy for our country and our people. Every day we pay the price for the adventures of the Houthi militia ..."

The internationally recognized government, which is backed by Saudi Arabia, has been at war with the Houthis since 2014.

Marine life threatened

The release of such large amounts of fertilizer into the Red Sea poses a serious threat to marine life, said Ali Al-Sawalmih, director of the Marine Science Station at the University of Jordan.

The overload of nutrients can stimulate excessive growth of algae, using up so much oxygen that regular marine life cannot survive, said Al-Sawalmih, describing a process called eutrophication.

"An urgent plan should be adopted by countries of the Red Sea to establish monitoring agenda of the polluted areas in the Red Sea as well as adopt a cleanup strategy," he said.

The overall impact depends on how ocean currents deplete the fertilizer and how it is released from the stricken vessel, said Xingchen Tony Wang, assistant professor at the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences at Boston College.

The ecosystem of the southern Red Sea features pristine coral reefs, coastal mangroves and diverse marine life.

Last year, the area avoided a potential environmental disaster when the United Nations removed more than 1 million barrels of oil from a decaying supertanker moored off the Yemen coast. That type of operation may be more difficult in the current circumstances.
A Toyota dealership in Yokohama, Japan, photographed on Feb. 7, 2021. The firm is trying to make headway in the increasingly competitive electric vehicle market.

Japanese auto maker Toyota will announce on Tuesday an 11 billion real ($2.2 billion) investment for the next few years in Brazil, the South American country's vice-president said on Sunday.

Toyota said in a statement earlier on Sunday, after local media had first reported the new investments, it had no comment on potential future plans.

Brazil's vice-president and minister for industry Geraldo Alckmin said on social media the investments will be unveiled at an event in Toyota's factory in the city of Sorocaba, Sao Paulo state.

He added the investments are expected to create 2,000 jobs and launch new models.

Local newspaper O Globo's columnist Lauro Jardim, who reported earlier on Sunday the planned investment, said Toyota will make a hybrid car and a sport utility vehicle (SUV) in the Sorocaba unit, without specifying the models involved.

Toyota would be the latest global automaker to unveil plans for extra investment in Brazil this year, following companies such as Volkswagen, General Motors and Hyundai Motor.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, front center, other participants walk over the Edmund Pettus Bridge during an event marking the 57th anniversary of the 1965 Bloody Sunday civil rights march in Selma, Alabama, U.S., on Sunday, March 6, 2022.

Vice President Kamala Harris called for a cease-fire in Gaza Sunday while commemorating the anniversary of Bloody Sunday, the day law enforcement officers attacked Civil Rights activists crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama.

Harris gave an 18-minute speech at a gathering on the bridge to recognize the 59th anniversary of Bloody Sunday. On March 7, 1965, officers beat 600 demonstrators with billy clubs and sprayed them with tear gas during a march across the bridge in support of voting rights.

Before honoring activists like Amelia Boynton and John Lewis, Harris acknowledged the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza in the wake of the Israel-Hamas war.

Harris condemned Hamas while also calling on the Israeli government to increase assistance in Gaza. On Saturday, the United States military completed its first airdrop of humanitarian aid in Gaza after authorization from President Joe Biden last week.

Harris also acknowledged negotiations for a cease-fire in the region and said she and Biden are "unwavering in our commitment to Israel's security."

"Given the immense scale of suffering in Gaza, there must be an immediate cease-fire for at least the next six weeks, which is currently on the table," Harris said.

Echoing the remarks Biden made last week, Harris said the U.S. will continue providing aid to Gaza via airdrops and a potential route by sea.

"People in Gaza are starving, the conditions are inhumane and our common humanity compels us to act," Harris said.

She also honored the work of Civil Rights activists and drew comparisons between their fight for freedom and modern threats to freedom, like gun violence and voting rights.

"The challenges we currently face are not unlike the challenges faced by those 600 brave souls 59 years ago," Harris said.
Homegrown gold exploration company Deccan Gold is nearing the completion of its expansion in Kyrgyzstan, according to sources who spoke to CNBC-TV18. The company is in the advanced stages of acquiring Avelum Partners, which will give it access to the Altyn Tor Gold project in Kyrgyzstan.

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In July last year, Deccan Golds board approved the acquisition of a gold mine in Kyrgyzstan. The company decided to buy a 60% stake in Avelum Partners through a share swap agreement with Hira Infra-Tek Ltd, India, and Med Edu Care Marketing Management, Dubai. Avelum operates a gold mine in eastern Kyrgyzstan, which has six tonnes of potential gold resources.

The Altyn Tor Gold project is situated in the Tien Shan district, Naryn Province, Kyrgyzstan. Before Deccan Golds acquisition, the major shareholders of Avelum Partners were Hira Infratech India and Mededu Dubai.

Avelum has been carrying out mining and geological work, repair and restoration work, and equipment upgrades for the crushing and concentrator units of the processing plant since January 15, 2022. The company is also designing a leaching plant and tailing dam, aiming to achieve an operation of 300,000 tonnes per year from 2024.

In addition to the gold project, Deccan Gold is reviewing data on Nickel, Copper, Graphite, and Lithium Projects in India and overseas. The company may secure these licenses subject to a positive technical evaluation.
India has emerged as Nepal's primary inbound tourist market in February, the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) announced on March 2, signalling a gradual recovery for the tourism sector in the erstwhile Himalayan kingdom from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

Out of the total 97,426 tourists that arrived in the country via air route last month, 25,578 were from India, making it the leading source of inbound tourism. China followed with 9,180 visitors, and the US came in third with 9,089 visitors, according to the data.

Thailand secured the fourth position with 4,799 inbound visitors, while the UK and Bangladesh ranked fifth and sixth, respectively, with 4,571 and 4,099 tourists each. Mani Lamichhane, Director of the NTB, noted that although the data reported over 25,000 Indian visitors in February, the actual number is likely higher due to a significant number of tourists arriving from India via land routes.

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In January, Nepal welcomed 18,041 visitors from India. The number of tourists arriving by air in Nepal in February marked a 33% increase from February 2023, when 73,255 visitors arrived. Compared to February 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw 102,423 tourist arrivals, the recovery rate was 95.12%, the NTB reported.

NTB Director Lamichhane expressed optimism about the recovery of Nepal's tourism sector in 2024, citing the positive trend indicated by the February data. With the onset of the tourism season in March, he anticipates a significant increase in the number of visitor numbers next month.

In the first six months of 2023, Nepal also registered a significant increase in number of Indian tourists as 1,68,000 tourists from across the border visited the country by air compared to 97,313 visitors during the same period in 2022, official data showed.

Recently, Nepal announced that it would host its inaugural tourism conference aimed at showcasing the country as a secure and appealing destination for travellers from the LGBTQ+ community. Dubbed ' Yatra 2 Happiness: First Rainbow Tourism International Conference ', the two-day event is scheduled to be held on April 20-21 in Kathmandu.
Israel boycotted Gaza ceasefire talks in Cairo on Sunday after Hamas rejected its demand for a complete list naming hostages that are still alive, an Israeli newspaper reported.

A Hamas delegation arrived in Cairo for the talks, billed as a possible final hurdle before an agreement that would halt the fighting for six weeks. But by early evening there was no sign of the Israelis.

"There is no Israeli delegation in Cairo," Ynet, the online version of Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, quoted unidentified Israeli officials as saying. "Hamas refuses to provide clear answers and therefore there is no reason to dispatch the Israeli delegation.

Washington has insisted the ceasefire deal is close and should be in place in time to halt fighting by the start of Ramadan, a week away. But the warring sides have given little sign in public of backing away from previous demands.

After the Hamas delegation arrived, a Palestinian official told Reuters the deal was "not yet there". From the Israeli side, there was no official comment.

One source briefed on the talks had said on Saturday that Israel could stay away from Cairo unless Hamas first presented its full list of hostages who are still alive. A Palestinian source told Reuters Hamas had so far rejected that demand.

In past negotiations Hamas has sought to avoid discussing the wellbeing of individual hostages until after terms for their release are set.

A US official told reporters on Saturday: "The path to a ceasefire right now literally at this hour is straightforward. And there's a deal on the table. There's a framework deal.

Israel had agreed to the framework and it was now up to Hamas to respond, the US official said.

An agreement would bring the first extended truce of the war, which has raged for five months so far with just a week-long pause in November. Dozens of hostages held by the militants would be freed in return for hundreds of Palestinian detainees.

Aid would be ramped up for Gazans pushed to the verge of famine. Fighting would cease in time to head off a massive planned Israeli assault on Rafah, where more than half of Gaza's 2.3 million people are penned in against the enclave's southern border fence abutting Egypt. Israeli forces would pull back from some areas and let Gazans return to abandoned homes.

But the proposal appears to stop short of fulfilling the main Hamas demand for a permanent end to the war, while also leaving unresolved the fate of more than half of the more than 100 remaining hostages - including Israeli men not covered by terms to free women, children, the elderly and wounded.

Egyptian mediators have suggested those issues could be set aside for now, with assurances to resolve them in later stages. A Hamas source told Reuters the militants were still holding out for a "package deal.

OVERNIGHT AIRSTRIKE

At a morgue outside a Rafah hospital on Sunday morning, women wept and wailed beside rows of bodies of the Abu Anza family, 14 of whom were killed in their home in airstrike overnight. Relatives opened a black plastic body bag to kiss the face of a dead schoolgirl in a torn sweatshirt and pink unicorn pyjamas.

Later, the bodies were brought to a graveyard and buried, including two infant twins, a boy and a girl, passed down in white bundles and placed in the ground.

"My heart is gone," wailed their mother, Rania Abu Anza, who also lost her husband in the attack. "I haven't had enough time with them.

Gaza authorities said at least eight people were killed on Sunday when a truck carrying food aid from a Kuwaiti charity was hit by an air strike. There was no immediate Israeli comment.

The war was unleashed in October after Hamas fighters stormed through Israeli towns killing 1,200 people and capturing 253 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. Since then, Israeli forces have killed more than 30,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health authorities, with thousands more dead feared unrecovered under rubble.

Swathes of the Gaza Strip have been laid to waste, nearly the entire population has been made homeless, and the United Nations estimates a quarter of Gazans are on the verge of famine.

Residents described heavy bombardment overnight of Khan Younis, the main southern Gaza city, just to the north of Rafah. Further north, where aid no longer reaches, Gaza health authorities said 15 children had now died of malnutrition or dehydration inside the Kamal Adwan hospital where there was no power for the intensive care unit. Staff fear for the lives of six more children there.

Washington dropped 38,000 meals from military aircraft into Gaza on Saturday, though aid agencies say this was only enough to have a marginal impact given the scale of the need.

The final days leading up to the anticipated truce have been exceptionally bloody, with talks overshadowed last week by the deaths of 118 people and wounding of hundreds more near a food convoy.

Israel said on Sunday its initial review of the incident had found that most of those killed or wounded had died in a stampede. Military spokesman Daniel Hagari said Israeli troops at the scene initially fired only warning shots, though they later shot at some "looters" who "approached our forces and posed an immediate threat.

Muatasem Salah, a member of the Emergency Committee at the Ministry of Health in Gaza, told Reuters the Israeli account was contradicted by machine gun wounds.

"The wounded and martyrs are the result of being shot with heavy-calibre bullets," he said. "Any attempt to claim that people were martyred due to overcrowding or being run over is incorrect."
MONTANA

Appeals court lifts US coal sales moratorium

BILLINGS  A U.S. appeals court on Feb. 21 struck down a moratorium on coal leasing from federal lands in a move that could open the door to future coal sales from vast, publicly owned reserves of the fuel that's a major source of climate-changing greenhouse gases.

The ruling from a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is a setback for environmentalists and Democratic officials who worked for years to curtail the federal coal leasing program.

Yet it's uncertain how much demand there will be from the mining industry for new leases: Coal production from federal lands dropped sharply over the past decade after many electric utilities switched to less polluting sources of power generation such as natural gas and renewables.

More than 260 million tons of coal, or almost half of the nation's total, was mined by private companies from leases on federal land in 2022, the most recent figures available. That compares to more than 400 million tons of coal mined from federal lands in 2014.

Most of the mining occurs in Western states including Wyoming, Montana and Colorado.

The leasing moratorium  originally enacted in 2016 under former President Barack Obama  didn't halt mining. Rather, it prohibited federal lease sales that are often crucial for companies seeking to expand their operations.

The moratorium was rescinded under the administration of former President Donald Trump, then revived by a federal district judge in Montana, who in 2022 ordered government officials to conduct a new environmental review before they could hold coal sales on federal lands.

But the Feb. 21 appeals court ruling said the matter was moot when the 2022 order was issued, because Interior Department officials under President Joe Biden already had revoked Trump's effort to end the moratorium.

UTAH

Small, nonthreatening balloon intercepted by NORAD

SALT LAKE CITY  A small, nonthreatening balloon spotted flying high over the mountainous Western United States was intercepted by a fighter jet over Utah on Feb. 23, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command.

NORAD fighter pilots sent in the morning to investigate the balloon determined it was "not maneuverable" and did not present a threat to national security, spokesperson John Cornelio said. The balloon was still in the air, under close observation.

NORAD, a joint military command tasked with defending the airspace over the U.S. and Canada, has not said where the balloon came from or why it was flying over Utah and Colorado.

There has been heightened interest in reports of balloon overflights after the military identified  and eventually shot down  a large, white Chinese spy balloon that crossed much of the country last year. But officials said the balloon intercepted on Feb. 23 was not sent by a foreign adversary and posed no threat to aviation or U.S. security.

NORAD said it was continuing to coordinate with the Federal Aviation Administration to track and monitor the balloon, which was detected at an altitude varying between 43,000 feet and 45,000 feet, Cornelio said. NORAD declined to specify where in Utah pilots encountered it.

Early reports of the balloon sighting had raised concern among lawmakers including U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and U.S. Rep. Matt Rosendale of Montana, who said their offices were monitoring the situation. The office of Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said it had been in touch with local military officials.

WYOMING

Bill would prohibit CDC, WHO regulation in state

CHEYENNE  Members of the Wyoming Freedom Caucus signed onto a House bill that would prohibit the Centers for Disease and Control and the World Health Organization from having any jurisdiction in Wyoming.

House Bill 91 was received for introduction on on Feb. 1, sponsored by Rep. Jeanette Ward, R-Casper, and co-sponsored by 14 other Republican lawmakers, 10 in the House and four in the Senate.

Ward said this version of the bill is similar to a previous House bill she introduced in the 2023 general session, HB 143, which failed to pass on third reading. The Casper representative said she anticipates more pushback from lawmakers against the bill, primarily over concerns about how the bill's passage would jeopardize federal funding.

She said that her constituents should pay attention to which lawmakers "value Wyomingites' medical freedom."

Rep. Dan Zwonitzer, R-Cheyenne, co-chairman of the legislature's Joint Labor, Health and Social Services Committee, said he didn't think the bill's passage would make a big difference in how things already work.

Zwonitzer added that, should the bill pass, it wouldn't be a direct loss in federal funding. The bill's language only says the state isn't held to CDC and WHO mandates, not that it must resist them entirely.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Tribe bans governor over border remarks

A South Dakota tribe has banned Republican Gov. Kristi Noem from the Pine Ridge Reservation after she spoke about wanting to send razor wire and security personnel to Texas to help deter immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border and also said cartels are infiltrating the state's reservations.

"Due to the safety of the Oyate, effective immediately, you are hereby Banished from the homelands of the Oglala Sioux Tribe!" Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out said in a Feb. 2 statement addressed to Noem. "Oyate" is a word for people or nation.

Star Comes Out accused Noem of trying to use the border issue to help get former U.S. President Donald Trump re-elected and boost her chances of becoming his running mate.

Many of those arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border are Indigenous people from places like El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico who come "in search of jobs and a better life," the tribal leader added.

Noem responded in a statement, saying, "It is unfortunate that President (Star) Comes Out chose to bring politics into a discussion regarding the effects of our federal government's failure to enforce federal laws at the southern border and on tribal lands. My focus continues to be on working together to solve those problems."

Noem has deployed National Guard troops to the Mexican border three times, as have some other Republican governors.

Bill would let taxidermy animals find new homes

South Dakota's legislature has made it easier for the city of Sioux Falls to find new homes for more than 150 taxidermy animals of its arsenic-contaminated menagerie.

The mounted lion, tiger, polar bear and gorilla were part of display that filled a natural history museum at the state's largest zoo. But when testing in August showed detectable levels of arsenic in nearly 80% of the specimens, the city closed the Delbridge Museum.

That set off a heated debate in the community and among museum taxidermy experts, who say the arsenic risk is overblown.

Older taxidermy specimens are frequently displayed, experts say, with museums taking precautions like using special vacuums to clean them  or encasing them in glass. But Sioux Falls officials have expressed concerns about the cost. And the display occupies prime real estate near the Great Plains Zoo's entrance, which officials are eyeing as they look for a spot to build an aquarium and butterfly conservatory.

The situation is complicated by a morass of state and federal laws that limit what can be done with the mounts.

One issue is that the Endangered Species Act protects animals even in death, so the collection can't be sold. Under federal law, they could be given to another museum. But state law stipulates that exhibits like this must remain within the state.

And that stipulation is what the new legislation aims to address. The bill, passed on Feb. 22 by the Senate and headed to Gov. Kristi Noem, would allow the city to donate the collection to an out-of-state nonprofit. The bill would take effect July 1.

No decision has yet been made as to the collection's future. Great Plains Zoo spokesperson Denise DePaolo said a city working group "will take this new possibility and weigh it against other options before making a recommendation to the city council and mayor in the coming months."
KANAGAWA, Mar 04 (News On Japan) - During the chilly winter months, a group of brave souls gathers at Kanagawa Prefecture's "Sunset Waterfall" to partake in waterfall training. This ritual, which involves standing beneath a 23-meter-high waterfall, is surprisingly popular in winter, with a diverse set of participants.

The fee is 9,000 yen for the first time. A doctor, making his third visit, said he wanted to affirm his New Year's resolutions. After a ceremony where wishes are inscribed on wooden sticks and burned, he and others, clad in karate gear and loincloths, faced the icy torrent to strengthen their resolve.

A young man, after walking under the waterfall, said he had "disappeared," hinting at the quest of youth. A group of seven men, fans of a pop group, said they wanted to make a hit for their idols. One of them, a 19-year-old student, was at a critical juncture in his life and needed to face it head on.

Others find a certain release in waterfall training, like the woman who said, "I wanted to throw away my past self."

A man who had come to the waterfall with his wife had braved the icy waters because of "a certain secret" that he could not say out loud.

Source: NTV NEWS
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In the 1990s heyday of New Yorks Comedy Cellar, the best show wasnt on the stage. That would have been upstairs at a table in the back of the Olive Tree Cafe, where comedians held court into the wee hours, busting balls and making each other laugh. The caustic comics never reached Seinfeld-level fame but were legends nonetheless  names like Patrice ONeal, Jim Norton, Greg Giraldo and Nick Di Paolo. Comedy nerds never got a chance to witness the aggressive repartee, but they got a close facsimile when Comedy Central decided to follow up The Daily Show with Tough Crowd.

Hosted by Colin Quinn after he left Saturday Night Live, Tough Crowd was everything Bill Mahers Politically Incorrect wanted to be. The rotating panel of comedians were rough-and-tumble sorts, unafraid to mix it up or voice an unpopular opinion as long as it was funny as hell. If ever there was a comedy show with no effs to give, Tough Crowd was it. (Man, Sarah Silverman is baked in the clip below.)

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The show took that back table and basically filmed the arguments. Especially back when Manny Dworman (the Comedy Cellars original owner) was alive, the comedians would all sit at that table, and Manny was very into politics. I would walk into the club and he hadnt even said hello, and he would look at me and say, So do you think that Palestine should be a separate state? And I was like, What? I havent even taken my coat off, remembered panelist Jim David in Vultures oral history of Tough Crowd.

Few topics were off-limits, including race. We disagreed on everything, said Quinn. Black and white comedians sitting at the table, getting into these things every night, these racial disagreements. But still, we all go back the next night. I was like, this is interesting. This is a way to have these discussions, like they used to on All in the Family or The Jeffersons, actual discussions about subjects that were suddenly becoming forbidden for the first time in my life.

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Part of the shows charm was the friendly but real antagonism between the comics. None of them are easy to fucking get along with, Quinn admitted. But we were bonded by whatever mentality we had. Which is nothing to be proud of.

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It wasnt an easy show for comic guests. First of all, there was no safety net if you couldnt keep up. Other comics would come in from L.A. or other parts of the country, explained Di Paulo, and they would get fucking destroyed.

Comics fought the urge to take the conflicts personally. You had to not get angry, said comic Bonnie MacFarlane. I saw a lot of people get angry, and then it really derails you.

Writer and panelist Laurie Kilmartin agreed. Fear was noticeable, and you would get slaughtered if you showed fear, she added. "It was great. It sounds horrible, but its actually great.

Nothing like Tough Crowd exits today, but a couple of years ago, Joe Rogan suggested to Quinn that it laid the blueprint for todays podcasts. Would Quinn ever consider bringing the roundtable back as a podcast? Dont hold your breath. Would (the comics) be able to really even speak honestly today? he wondered.

Rogan thinks a revival is a great idea but only certain comics would have the requisite lack of fear. You got to have a career that's pretty locked in already, or you got to be on the come up where you got nothing to lose.
Foot Locker opened at Brookside Center, at 4531 Main St., in Bridgeport, Conn., on Feb. 22, 2024. File photo An interior view of the Foot Locker store at Brookside Center, at 4531 Main St., in Bridgeport, Conn., which opened on Feb. 22, 2024. File photo

BRIDGEPORT  For many years, Foot Locker has maintained a presence near Exit 48 of the Merritt Parkway. It still does  but now in a new location.

On Feb. 22, Foot Locker opened a store, which includes a Kids Foot Locker, in the Brookside Center shopping plaza, at 4531 Main St., in Bridgeport. The new store replaces the former Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker stores at Trumbull Mall, which is a few blocks north of Brookside Center.

Foot Locker has leased approximately 10,000 square feet, replacing a US Furniture store that closed last year and taking a storefront between Mattress Firm and Michaels. Its opening brings the approximately 170,000-square-foot Brookside Center's leasing rate to about 95 percent. The property is anchored by Stop & Shop and Marshalls, while other tenants include H&R Block, Petco, Red Lobster and Starbucks.

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Last year, Brookside Center was acquired for $46.5 million by Elmsford, N.Y.-based DLC Management, whose portfolio includes several other shopping centers in Connecticut.

Leasing demand is very strong at Brookside, and DLC is dedicated to the success of this center, Adam Greenberg, DLCs senior vice president of leasing, said in a written statement. The tenant mix continues to improve with the addition of Foot Locker and other retailers like Starbucks. We're in active discussions with multiple parties who have expressed interest in joining the strong lineup.

Messages emailed this week to Foot Locker asking the reason for opening a store in Bridgeport were not returned. A message left this week for a spokesperson for Namdar Realty Group, owner of Trumbull Mall, seeking that company's reaction to the relocation of Foot Locker to Brookside Center, was not returned.

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The Foot Locker and Kids Foot Locker stores that had operated on the first floor of Trumbull Mall apparently closed recently. As of Friday, Trumbull Mall was still listed as a location on Foot Locker's website. Champs Sports, which is another Foot Locker-owned chain, continues to operate its store on the malls first level.

The Manhattan-headquartered company announced last March that it planned to close more than 400 locations, as it aimed to focus more on higher-performing stores. During the third quarter of 2023, Foot Locker opened 22 stores, remodeled or relocated 36, and closed 14 other stores. As of Oct. 28, 2023, the company operated approximately 2,600 stores worldwide.
Why can you have a phobia about some things, but not about others? Why is Islamophobia a word and an idea, in constant use, while Christianophobia is not? For there are plenty of people these days who regard the Christian religion with bitter, hostile scorn, and its position in our society is more and more diminished every day, often thanks to official actions by Parliament and the courts.

Why is there homophobia but not heterophobia? The old belief in heterosexual marriage and parenthood is increasingly dismissed as an outdated and quite possibly oppressive arrangement. Its former privileges have been systematically stripped from it.

I have heard those who still follow this unfashionable way of life rudely dismissed as breeders. But no tribunal will award you compensation for that sort of discrimination. Sneering at the old, as if age were an obvious failing, is daily more popular. Yet theres no Senophobia.

Some years ago, I felt that the term anti-Semitism was not doing its job. Many people who dont like Jews (and there are quite a few) refuse to think of themselves as anti-Semites. They associate the word with Adolf Hitler and the Nazis, or Oswald Mosley and his British Union of Fascists. They do not think they are like that.

I have had some very interesting times disagreeing with Muslims, writes Peter Hitchens. To classify such disagreements as a phobia is to end the discussion and to attack freedom of speech

So I tried to introduce the word Judophobia into the language, so as to give Jew-hatred the same pariah status as all the others. It never caught on, even though its probably a more truthful description of this strange mania than the other ways in which phobia is used. Im not even going to try with marriage phobia or family phobia or Britophobia, even though bigoted opinions exist which deserve these names.

Some Latin or Greek experts might also come up with a fancy medical-sounding word for the contempt which our elite classes feel for women who stay at home to rear their own children.

The truth is that the invention of all these phobias is a brilliant piece of political trickery. It works because it is so hard to fight.

Most people are distressed and scared to find their opinions classified as a sort of mental illness. Any view or position the new liberal elite disagree with is not treated as an opinion. It is treated as a disease of the mind, a fearful derangement, to be greeted with disdain and pushed out of the national conversation.

There is no logic as to which opinion is called a phobia, and which is not, except the current opinions of that elite. Take Islamophobia, nowadays a serious charge which, once made, can ruin a person in a day.

My own sad view is that there are some people on the political Right who conceal racial bigotry behind an alleged opposition to Islam. I have no time for them. I dislike them. Their behaviour makes it easier for the rival bigotry of the Left to triumph. For Islam is not a race. It is a religion which you may choose to follow, or not follow. It is (like Christianity) a set of political, moral and historical opinions with which it is perfectly reasonable for others to disagree.

I have had some very interesting times disagreeing with Muslims (most notably at the Islamic university at Deoband in northern India, but in plenty of other places too). To classify such disagreements as a phobia is to end the discussion and to attack freedom of speech. But that is what the Left in this country have chosen to do, and what they have been doing busily now for at least two decades.

During that time it has become harder and harder to say what you think, even if your opinions are quite free of prejudice and hate. This is an old Left-wing technique and I dont know where it will stop.

Many years ago, as the Cold War began to come to an end, I was greatly privileged to meet one of the bravest people who has ever lived. His name is Anatoly Koryagin, a Soviet psychiatrist who protested against the abuse of psychiatry to classify opponents of Communism as mentally ill. This is a common problem of the Left. They think they are so good that they must be right and that anyone who opposes them must be mad.

Koryagin was locked up in prison because he had written  about the twisting of psychiatry  to the British medical journal, The Lancet. He protested by going on hunger strike. He was forcibly fed, drugged with dangerous anti-psychotic chemicals, and, of course, beaten up. At one point, his wife managed to visit him but could not recognise him.

Thank God, many protests eventually secured his release, but I have always thought that this event was the slimy rock-bottom of every political opinion which makes its holders think they are too good to be opposed.
Perhaps it's this incessant rain, perhaps it's the bout of Covid I had last week, but I am finding it unusually hard to shake off an all-pervasive feeling of bleakness.

It's not just infuriating things like the fact that Royal Mail is putting up the price of a first-class stamp while simultaneously talking about scaling back deliveries to three days a week; or that some idiotically woke West End theatre is proposing having 'black out' nights where white people are barred from being in the audience.

It's big-picture stuff. It's the fact that Sarah Everard's killer, Wayne Couzens, was allowed to join the police and serve as an officer for nearly two decades despite repeated red flags; that our Royal Family seems to be losing its grip, with Prince William cancelling a very important engagement this week at the last minute with no explanation, leaving Prince Andrew  of all people  to fill the void.

It's that ordinary MPs are having to be assigned close protection officers simply to be able to go about their daily lives in safety, and that our streets are filled with mobs openly chanting anti-Semitic slogans and intimidating Parliament. And now the final straw: George Galloway  a clown of a man who defends Hezbollah and Putin's Russia; who is endorsed by Nick Griffin, the racist former leader of the British National Party; and who was sacked by TalkRadio for being anti-Semitic  winning a seat in Parliament.

Honestly, short of an actual rain of frogs, could things get any more end-of-days? That is why Rishi Sunak's address to the nation, out of the blue on Friday evening, was so welcome and, ultimately, so very well-judged.

The Prime Minister lashed out at the 'alarming' win by George Galloway in the Gaza-fuelled Rochdale by-election, which followed months of mass protests against Israeli violence following the Hamas terror attack

Pro-Palestinian protesters gather at Parliament Square as British MPs are debating a motion in Parliament on calling a ceasefire in Gaza, in London, Britain, 21 February 2024

A pro-Israeli counter protester is being lead away by police officers as pro-Palestinian protesters queue for Houses of Commons public gallery in London, Britain, 21 February 2024

OK, he's perhaps not the greatest orator ever to have graced the front step of No 10 Downing Street. But what he said was important and true  and, above all, sincere.

Crucially, it was less a political speech full of promises and platitudes, and more an intervention, a statement of moral intent. It also had confidence and clarity, something that so many politicians and people in authority seem to lack these days. It was short and simple and to the point and it left no room for obfuscation. It is often said of the Prime Minister that while he is intelligent and capable, he lacks passion, fire in the belly. Friday's speech changed all that.

At a time when people are feeling so deeply conflicted and confused about world events, when so many of the societal norms we take for granted seem to have been turned on their head, when almost nothing seems to make much sense anymore, it is deeply reassuring to have a leader stride out and deliver such a bold, uncompromising and clear-cut vision of what this country stands for. That is what Britain needs right now, what we all are crying out for: proper leadership. Not the far-fetched fantasies of a Liz Truss, or the hand-wringing virtue-signalling of Keir Starmer  but proper, grown-up leadership. Someone who can cut through all the chaos and confusion and reconnect us with our core values.

Because that is where this general feeling of malaise is coming from: the fact that everything we stand for as a Western liberal democracy is being questioned. And it's creating a crisis of identity that, as the Prime Minister pointed out, threatens to undermine the very heart of what it means to be British.

As Sunak put it so concisely, we are a reasonable country and a decent people. That is something to be proud of, indeed it is one of the reasons that, on the whole, this is such a pleasant place to live. We are tolerant and understanding, and for the most part generous in our desires to help others, accepting  and often encouraging  of new or different traditions.

But there is a difference between being tolerant and being a pushover, and I don't think I'm alone in feeling that in recent years quite a lot of people  especially those with rather extreme or entrenched views  have been, not to put too fine a point on it, taking the mickey.

Tolerance in this world is all too often mistaken for weakness, and that is what we have increasingly seen being played out. Unfortunately, the truth is that if we want Britain to continue to be the kind of country so many seem to want to live in, we must take steps to protect it. And that means having the courage to enforce certain boundaries.

I'm not talking about physical boundaries (although that is part of it); I'm talking about protecting our moral and cultural values  that moderate, common-sense approach for which this country is known. Lately those values, as the Prime Minister points out, have been under assault from all quarters, from people who 'want us to doubt ourselves, to doubt each other, to doubt our country's history and achievements'.

Pushing back, as he did so eloquently on Friday, is not  as his critics have inevitably tried to frame it  an expression of intolerance. It is the precise opposite, an attempt to re-establish some clear parameters for life in the UK.

Like I always say to my grown-up children, if you want to live in my house, you are more than welcome. There is just one condition: respect my space. Don't make a mess, don't let your friends trample all over the living room carpet, don't order Deliveroo at 3am and set the dog off barking. Because let's not forget, the very reason you like being here is because I have created a comfortable and welcoming home.

If you and your mates come here and trash it, it will no longer be comfortable or welcoming. Crucially, it will no longer be your home.

People mourn as they receive the dead bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on March 2, 2024 in Rafah, Gaza

People cry as they mourn while receiving the dead bodies of victims of an Israeli strike on March 2, 2024 in Rafah, Gaza

Israeli soldiers embrace after returning from the Gaza strip, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian Islamist group Hamas, in southern Israel, February 29, 2024

Israeli troops on the ground in the Gaza Strip on March 2, amid ongoing battles in the enclave

That is effectively what Sunak is saying. This is our country, and these are our rules. If you want to be part of it, great. But respect our values. That means you can express concern about what is happening in Gaza, but you cannot use it as an excuse for anti-Semitism or as a way to intimidate anyone who does not agree with you.

That means you are free to criticise the Government, but you do not terrorise MPs or their families in their own homes, or prevent people going about their daily business. By all means practise your chosen religion  but do not expect everyone else to conform to your beliefs, and in particular do not incite hatred against those who don't.

It is not wrong  or indeed Islamophobic  to question the beliefs in the Koran, any more than it is wrong to question whether Jesus was or was not the son of God. Our country, our rules. A clear, simple message, and a brave, unapologetic vision of what Britain stands for.

At last, a chink of light amid the doom and gloom.
The View has become known for its fiery on-screen debates that see its stars clashing over a wide variety of topics - from sex and celebrity drama to women's rights and politics. But one host in particular stands out as being one of the most ferocious when it comes to an on-screen battle: Sunny Hostin.

The 55-year-old author, who revealed in 2023 that she is sent death threats by trolls, loves to have her say on the panel and due to her career as a lawyer, she's also the host who reads out the legal notes at the end of a political segment.

As well as being open about her tough childhood growing up in The Bronx, Sunny is also very vocal about her fertility struggles, her commitment to the Catholic church, and her stance on abortion.

However, sometimes her outspoken views are not received so well and last year, some viewers of the ABC show vowed to boycott the program unless Sunny was axed - with one person branding her 'rude' and annoying.

The View host Sunny Hostin is never one to shy away from a healthy debate on the ABC show

Sunny pictured with her co-hosts Ana Navarro, Sara Haines, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar and Alyssa Farah Griffin

The 55-year-old lawyer has been a permanent host on the program since September 2016

The mother-of-two has been a permanent host on The View since September 2016, but had been making appearances as a guest contributor since 2014.

She began her television career as a commentator for Court TV and began using the stage name Sunny Hostin after host Nancy Grace was unable to pronounce her family name Asuncion.

Sunny was then offered a spot on the Fox News program The O'Reilly Factor, where she appeared on the show's Is It Legal? segments, and enjoyed regular debates with Bill O'Reilly and Megyn Kelly.

CNN President Jon Klein signed her to the network in September 2007 as the legal analyst for its flagship morning show American Morning, and she also served as a senior legal correspondent and analyst for ABC News in early 2016, before moving over to The View.

Here, DailyMail.com has laid bare some of the most recent dramas involving Sunny and her co-hosts Whoopi Goldberg, Ana Navarro, Alyssa Farah Griffin and Sara Haines.

Sunny embroiled in bitter on-air battle with Sara over Alabama Supreme Court's frozen embryo ruling

Most recently, a Hot Topic debate got very heated between mothers Sunny and Sara, 46, on February 20 as the panel discussed Alabama's Supreme Court's ruling that frozen embryos are children.

Sunny, who conceived her two children using IVF, admitted that she fully supports the court's landmark decision, and argued that an embryo is an 'unborn child' and claimed it is 'certainly more than just an egg and a sperm separated'.

However, mother-of-three Sara completely disagreed and argued 'if you put a little embryo out into the world, it's not viable on any level' - and also suggested that the courts should 'go after IVF as the rich person's abortion'.

The ruling in question came about from a lawsuit which was brought by a group of IVF patients whose frozen embryos were destroyed in December 2020 when a patient removed them from a cryogenic storage unit and accidentally dropped them on the ground.

Alabama's Supreme Court has now ruled that the patient who mistakenly destroyed the embryos can be sued under the state constitution's wrongful death of a minor act, which Sara fumed was a 'stretch'.

Sharing her own personal experience, Sunny explained: 'As you all know, I went through five miscarriages before we turned to IVF. We went through three cycles of IVF I have two beautiful children as a result of it.

'We depleted our entire life savings. Each cycle was not covered at the time, it's $30,000 and it was important enough for us. Now, we did do frozen embryos, but because we are Catholic, we knew that we couldn't destroy the embryos because they are, in our view, children.'

Sunny continued: 'And we couldn't just give them up for research because in our view they were children, and so I feel responsible in the sense that we used every single embryo and if every single embryo became a child then we were going to take care of that child, and we don't have any frozen embryos left, thank God, because I would probably have an extra baby.'

The View's Sara Haines and Sunny clashed on February 20 as they discussed the Alabama Supreme Court's ruling that frozen embryos are children

Mother-of-three Sara became very passionate live on air as she shared her point of view

When Whoopi, 68, asked Sunny if it was 'because of her religious beliefs', Sunny replied: 'My religious beliefs are that conception is the start of human life.

'However, when you look at an embryo, that certainly is more than just an egg and a sperm separated.

'They wait several days. Ideal transfer is five days. You're transferring a human embryo that is going to attach in your uterine lining and become a child,' she explained, before adding that her opinion is 'partly based on her religious beliefs and partly based on science as well'.

Sara then decided to have her say and announced: 'But if you put that little embryo out into the world, it's not viable on any level. So I'm not criticizing your personal beliefs because I do believe people believe that, but I believe this is a stretch to call this a "minor".'

When Sunny interjected and referred to the embryo as an 'unborn child', Sara fired back: 'Well, see that's where I differ because the whole miracle of life and religious argument for the very brilliance of science, just doesn't go together.

'Yes embryos, yes fertilization, all of this stuff can happen naturally, it doesn't here. This great gratitude goes to the scientists and doctors who are able to help do this.

'Because in the court the judge actually said in his opinion, "Human life cannot be wrongfully destroyed without incurring the wrath of the holy God." Okay then, well let's leave it up to holy God on judgement day and not the holy court!' Sara fumed.

'They're going after it with religion while science is what brought this here,' the blond TV host added, before she confidently declared: 'I am not pro life!'

Sara and Sunny butt heads during a heated gun control debate in the wake of Maine shooting horror

In October 2023, Sara and Sunny didn't see eye-to-eye yet again when they clashed during a timely conversation following a shooting in Maine on October 25.

Referring to gunman Robert Card, who slaughtered 18 people using an AR-15-style rifle in Maine, Sara said she would 'love to see an assault weapons ban' before stating that people with mental health issues should not own guns.

'There's no actionable steps to fix the epidemic in this country on mental health, but we can keep guns out of their hands,' the blond argued, leading Sunny to express her concerns about 'stigmatizing people with mental health'.

Sara fumed: 'This shooter had been flagged to the law enforcement by his family, he had been institutionalized for telling people he was gonna go shoot at a reserve base. When someone tells you what they're going to do, believe them!

'Every mass shooter we've had has left steps along the way. I believe in red flag laws and most of the country does. We believe in background checks. But it was designed by a pro-gun organization and the yellow flag law insists you see a doctor.

'That creates a bigger impediment to actually getting someone flagged, whereas 80 per cent of voters approve the police taking the power of that weapon temporarily.'

Some viewers have even accused Sara of 'bullying' her co-host Sunny in the past

Sunny previously butted heads with Sara as they discussed people with mental health issues being able to buy and own guns

Speaking calmly, Sunny replied: 'To respond to you, Sara... I hear what you're saying and there were signs that this guy should not have had a gun, just like I believe people who are domestic violence offenders should not have guns...

'But I'm kind of worried about stigmatizing people with mental health because when you look at the statistics, people that suffer from mental health are much more likely to be the victim of a violent crime, rather than the opposite...'

Unable to contain her frustrations, Sara interjected: 'I'm not going to jump on you... I know this answer though. I have mental illness problems, I have anxiety problems, I have depression problems.

'I'm not saying everyone that's ever gone to a therapist or on medication... he was hearing voices that were telling him what to do, I think everyone in this room can agree that's a mental problem.

After Alyssa, 34, stated that Card has schizophrenia, Sunny added: 'But not every schizophrenic is violent,' as Sara butted in: 'This schizophrenic told people he was gonna go shoot up a base, so he told us!'

'That's different, Sunny responded as Sara clapped back: 'And it's important to notice those details.'

Keen to calm the tension, moderator Joy, 81, shut it down and said: 'We gotta go, sorry,' and as the show cut to a commercial break, Sunny was heard saying: 'I don't like the mental health angle all the time.'

Political strategist Ana accuses Sunny of 'SLUT-shaming' during FURIOUS on-screen row

In September last year, Ana and Sunny became embroiled in a fiery debate when they clashed over the topic of cheating husbands in a furious on-screen row that moderator Joy slammed as 'pandemonium'.

Joy was forced to step in and take the show to a commercial break, after the two women started shouting over one another.

Ana, 52, was not impressed with Sunny after she made her thoughts known about a woman who had a 15-year affair with a married man, branding her a 'marriage wrecker' and an 'adulteress'.

The political strategist claimed that Sunny 'always goes after the woman and never the man' when they have conversations about adultery, and even accused the curly-haired TV host of 'slut-shaming'.

A seemingly frustrated Ana pointed out that Sunny was 'lucky' to be in a 'good marriage' but reminded her that not everyone is in the same position and may not have the option to leave.

It was Joy who kicked off the topic of conversation by reading out a letter that was sent to The Washington Post's advice page.

'[She was] asking for advice on this particular thing. She says that she had a 15-year affair with a married man,' Joy began, as Sunny audibly gasped.

'No judging,' Joy reminded her as Sunny fired back: 'I'm judging, I'm judging,' while the rest of the panel stayed silent.

The View's Ana Navarro and Sunny became embroiled in a fiery debate in September 2023

Ana accused Sunny of 'always' going after the woman and 'never the man' whenever they discuss adultery on the show

During one chat, Sunny branded the woman in question a 'marriage wrecker' and an 'adulteress'

Joy continued: 'He then divorced his wife, I guess the word "homewrecker" is passe...' as Sunny blurted out: 'Marriage wrecker. Cheater. Adulteress.'

The redhead reminded her: 'Nobody's completely innocent when it comes to marriage and adultery, let's face facts here.'

Explaining the woman's dilemma, Joy continued: 'So, she had a 15-year affair with him, with a married guy. He then divorced his wife. He and the mistress had four more years together as a divorced man and then he died.

'Now, his ex-wife is demanding that the mistress not come to the funeral. The mistress is asking whether she should respect the ex-wife's wishes or whether she should go,' Joy added, opening up the debate.

Sunny quickly piped up and fumed: 'She obviously hasn't respected the ex-wife's wishes for 15 freaking years, so she doesn't give a crap about how that ex-wife feels so you need to keep your butt home!'

This clearly riled Ana as she quickly responded: 'Why do you always go after the woman and never the [man]?'

'Because he's dead!' Joy shouted out as Sunny repeated the same comment, but Ana was having none of it and shouted back: 'The one who cheated on his marital vows was the man! And we always slut-shame the woman and let the man get off scot-free!'

Sunny clashes with former White House aide Alyssa and accuses her of 'throwing away' her vote

Alyssa and Sunny got into a bitter war of words back in July 2023 when they butted heads over their political opinions while discussing the next presidential election.

During the segment, Alyssa - who served as the White House Director of Strategic Communication during Donald Trump's presidency - candidly admitted that she doesn't plan to vote for her former boss in the upcoming election - before stating that she also has no plans to support Joe Biden.

Her confession prompted Sunny to accuse her of 'throwing away' her vote - an allegation that left Alyssa looking visibly annoyed, and saw fellow View panelist Sara leap to her defense.

The bitter debate between the women was prompted by a comment made by Joy, who questioned why any American would support Trump, raging: 'What is wrong with Americans? I don't understand it!

'Why are Americans supporting this guy? Tell me the reason!'

Alyssa chimed in to agree with her co-host, branding the country's 'primary system' as 'flawed', before calling a prospective election between Trump and Biden 'the rematch from hell'.

'Our primary system is very flawed,' she stated. 'Seven in ten don't want Joe Biden to get in. Why are we doing the rematch from hell that nobody wants?

'Will Hurd said this very well... the only way to defeat Donald Trump is in a primary. Like DeSantis, when does he think he's going to step in and have his moment?'

Sunny and former White House aide Alyssa got into a bitter war of words back in July 2023

Alyssa admitted that she wouldn't be voting for Donald Trump nor Joe Biden in the election

Sunny accused her co-host of 'throwing away' her vote but Alyssa disagreed with her

Sunny piped up and referred back to Joy's comment and said: 'But I think back to her question, outside of the primary system, why are so many people still endorsing him or supporting [Trump]?'

Alyssa, who is a Republican, then admitted: 'I could never support Donald Trump again. That's not even a question to me but I probably won't support Joe Biden.'

Joy was keen to hear why she wouldn't endorse Biden, and Alyssa was more than happy to elaborate on her comment.

'He doesn't reflect my beliefs. I feel differently on national security, on life issues, on the economy,' she said.

'I said it before. The answer might be different if I lived in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, in a swing district where my vote could be a difference. That would be a different scenario.

'I'm voting in Manhattan. I'll write in someone, I'll likely write in Will Hurd. I could vote for Tim Scott or Nikki Haley.'

But Joy declared it an 'invalid vote' and questioned why Alyssa would even bother voting, to which she replied: 'I'm not going to be boxed into, what I think is, a failing two-party system where we're not putting up our best candidates.'

Sunny then accused: 'I think I agree with Ana, I would never throw away...' but Alyssa quickly butted in and argued: 'It's not throwing away!'

The outspoken lawyer continued: '...my Presidential vote when my people fought so hard for the right to it,' but Alyssa insisted: 'It's not throwing away, I'm casting my vote! I would never not vote!'

Sunny filibusters Alyssa during another political debate and forces Whoopi to call for a break

Less than two months before their war of words over the Presidential vote, tensions flared between Sunny and Alyssa on June 7 - and Whoopi was forced to call for a commercial break after it erupted into a five-way dispute.

The segment had kicked off with a discussion about Mike Pence and Chris Christie declaring their bids to seek the Republican presidential nomination for 2024.

Alyssa said that Christie seemed to be on a 'kamikaze mission' to take down Trump rather than win the nomination for himself.

She praised Christie, the former New Jersey governor, saying that his campaign could help rescue the GOP from the influence of Trump, but Sunny fired back, calling Christie 'spineless' and 'soulless' and argued that he was only running because 'he wants power'.

'How does he get power though entering the race knowing he can't win?' asked Alyssa, who previously worked for Pence and Trump in the White House.

That's when things turned personal, and Sunny accused her younger co-host of being 'incapable of defending a man you worked for', a reference to Alyssa's earlier statement that she wanted to hear Pence's kick-off speech before remarking on his campaign.

'You said you needed to hear more from Pence, and I don't need to hear more, for several reasons,' Sunny continued.

Tensions flared between Sunny and Alyssa in June 2023 as the co-hosts discussed Chris Christie and Mike Pence

The segment devolved into chaos until Whoopi called for a commercial break, declaring, 'Let's have this break and let's figure out how we're going to make this work'

Alyssa interjected and said: 'You just accused me of something so why don't you let me answer,' but Sunny refused and told her: 'I'm going to finish what I'm going to say.'

She went on to list her many grievances against Pence, appearing to read off her notes, leading Alyssa to blurt out: 'Sunny likes to make it personal with me! Are you gonna give me a chance to answer?'

But Sunny continued her Pence-trashing filibuster, to which Alyssa replied: 'This is absurd! This is not what the show is about. This is Barbara Walter's legacy. Let a woman speak!'

The segment devolved into chaos until Whoopi called for a commercial break and declared: 'I can't hear anybody saying anythingMaybe we need to figure out how we do this again! Let's have this break and let's figure out how we're going to make this work!'
The son of infamous 1980s televangelists Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner is set to reveal the true story of his family's colorful life in an upcoming documentary.

Ahead of its release, Jay Bakker, 48, spoke to DailyMail.com about the shocking new details he will lay bare in the series, Better Angels: The Gospel According to Tammy Faye

Jay explained that he hopes the project will shed new light on his mother's legacy - which has been the subject of much Hollywood speculation, taking center stage in an Oscar-winning film starring Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield.

Jay insists that his parents' story is 'far more complicated' than people realize - although he noted he will attempt to capture every side of their scandalous history by featuring both 'friends and enemies' of the controversial Christian megastars.

During an interview with DailyMail.com, Jay also lifted the lid on his 'strange' relationship with dad Jim, 84 - who is currently in the midst of a serious health battle.

The son of infamous 1980s televangelists Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner (pictured) is set to reveal the true story of his family's colorful life in an upcoming documentary

Jay Bakker, 48, (pictured) tells Dailymail.com that his parents' story is 'far more complicated' than people realize

The Bakkers got their start by appearing on Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network in 1966, before branching out on their own to launch the PTL Satellite Network in 1974.

Their fame and following grew over the next decade until 1986, when PTL reported staggering proceeds of $129 million.

The former couple's evangelical empire included bestselling books, music, and a Christian theme park called Heritage USA.

Things came crashing down after a string of scandals, which included everything from misappropriating church funds to paying PTL secretary Jessica Hahn $279,000 in 'hush money' following an alleged sexual encounter.

Jim was indicted on mail fraud and wire fraud in 1988 and sentenced to 45 years in prison, but was freed after serving five years following a successful sentence-reduction hearing.

Despite the crimes and misdeeds surrounding his parents, Jay insists that the pair were largely misunderstood by the public.

'I grew up with my parents being very open to everyone and loving everyone,' he explained.

The Bakkers got their start by appearing on Pat Robertson's Christian Broadcasting Network in 1966, before branching out on their own to launch the PTL Satellite Network in 1974

Their fame and following grew over the next decade until 1986, when PTL reported staggering proceeds of $129 million and turned the couple into Christian megastars

Things came crashing down after a string of scandals, which ended with Jim serving five years in prison on fraud charges

'My mother was able to bring people together that normally aren't together, especially in the States, where we're very split politically.

'She could could be with drag queens one day and then be with Baptist church people the next day.'

With her outlandish makeup, gaudy sense of style and infectious enthusiasm, Tammy became a campy gay icon throughout the eighties and nineties.

But it was also her activism that endeared her to the queer community - most notably when she interviewed HIV-positive AIDS activist Steve Pieters live on Christian television.

In the groundbreaking 1985 interview, Tammy spoke to Steve, who was openly gay, about his sexuality and battle with HIV, and urged her viewers to practice compassion towards homosexuals and people battling HIV.

Jay, a punk rock enthusiast who is covered in tattoos, said that both of his parents were always supportive of his edgy style and encouraged his love of music from a young age.

'My parents took me to see the Christian band Stryper before they were really accepted. I must've been nine or 10 years old, and they were playing in a bar. I don't think you're supposed to take a nine year old to a bar, but somehow Jim and Tammy did it!' he shared.

'She could could be with drag queens one day and then be with Baptist church people the next day,' Jay says of late mom Tammy Faye

With her outlandish makeup, gaudy sense of style and infectious enthusiasm, Tammy became a campy gay icon throughout the eighties and nineties and was known for her activism

As he got older, open-minded Tammy continued to support her son's unconventional lifestyle - which included launching his own progressive, LGBT-affirming church called Revolution.

'We have people in the congregation that are conservatives and that are liberals and that are atheist, and we sometimes argue, but we've really worked on learning to disagree well,' Jay explained.

'I always say [Revolution] is a good waiting room for either leaving Christianity or coming to Christianity. But my goal is to bring peace to folks, and in in a way, follow in the footsteps of people like Dr. Martin Luther King and Gandhi.'

Jay said his parents always supported his work with Revolution - and that dad Jim even spoke at a Revolution church gathering in Brooklyn.

'He knew I was [LGBT] affirming and things like that, and I know he didn't completely agree with me on it, but he was able to do that,' Jay shared.

'They knew what it was like to be innovators. They knew what it was like to think differently and try to be inclusive to people and that I was doing something that they might not understand, but they knew what it was like to not be understood.'

Jay says that both of his parents refused to endorse political candidates back in the day and instead preached the message that, 'God loves conservatives and democrats'

Jay, a punk rock enthusiast who is covered in tattoos, said that both of his parents were always supportive of his edgy style and even took him to Christian rock concerts as a child

The former couple's son says that there's a misconception around how his parents spent their money - despite dad Jim being jailed for defrauding his flock out of $158million

He also insists that dad Jim, who has become known for his apocalyptic sermons and passionate support of Donald Trump in recent years, was never actually conservative during the glory days of the PTL network.

'He wouldn't join the Christian right, and when they asked him to join the Moral Majority, he said no,' Jay shared.

'And when he came out of prison he was a Democrat! He supported Bill Clinton. I mean, he couldn't vote because he was out of prison, but yeah.'

He said that both of his parents refused to endorse political candidates back in the day and instead preached the message that, 'God loves conservatives and democrats.'

However, Jay admits that his father slowly shifted to a more right wing ideology after being released from prison in 1994.

'Over the years since he got out of prison, I guess the church evangelicals have kind of brought him back in and he became more conservative,' he explained.

'Now it's like the world's ending. Everything's bad, you know he kinda had this shift, but I also think it's the only thing he knows how to do.'

He also admitted that Tammy, who divorced Jim in 1992 while he was still in prison, may have been the driving force behind his dad's once progressive outlook.

'I do feel like my mom pushed my dad to be more inclusive and to be more progressive, and I think had they still been together after prison, my dad may have taken another another journey,' he mused.

Jim was more progressive in his younger years and refused to join the Christian right, says Jay

The preacher has become known for his apocalyptic sermons and passionate support of Donald Trump in recent years

'Over the years since he got out of prison, I guess the church evangelicals have kind of brought him back in and he became more conservative,' Jay said of his father

Tammy remarried builder Roe Messner in 1993 and was with him until her death from cancer in 2007 at age 65, while Jim married fellow televangelist Lori Bakker in 1998.

As Jim has grown increasingly more conservative in his later years, Jay says that his father fears his son may not make it into heaven due to his progressive theology.

'I'm like, "Well dad, if I get there and they don't want me in, I'll just tell them I believe too much about that stuff Jesus said about loving people, and that you and mom always told me to forgive people, so I'll just blame you guys!"

'And he laughed at that. But I don't believe in hell, and that's a problem for him as well.'

Surprisingly, Jay says that his biggest bonding years with his father were while the TV preacher was incarcerated for fraud.

'The prison thing was really an important time for me with him, because he was always so busy that I never really could get his attention,' said Jay, who was barely a teenager when Jim was locked up.

'He worked all the time - it was a wild time. Everybody was like, "they're stealing all this money and doing all this stuff!" And I'm like, "I don't know where they're spending it because he works all the time."

'I mean, maybe he had a Rolex watch so maybe that's it. Other than that, he always worked. I was afraid to wake my parents up in the middle of the night when I was sick because they were always so busy,' he continued.

'And when dad went to prison is when we became friends.'

Jay believes that his parents were turned into scapegoats by the public, who he says blamed the pair for everything from the excesses of the eighties to the rise of right wing televangelists like Jerry Falwell - who would go on to take over PTL Ministries in 1987 under questionable circumstances.

'My parents equally offended people like the mainline denominations, like Presbyterians and Lutherans. They thought my parents were too outlandish and too gaudy,' he explained.

'And then the conservatives thought, "Well, they're a little bit too liberal." And it was just this perfect storm ... it was just like everybody took their anger towards the eighties culture of greed and said, "Well, it must be these people."

'Had my parents not had their scandal, my dad would have never spent a day in prison because all those buildings would have been finished and all that stuff would have happened,' he continued.

Jim married fellow televangelist Lori Bakker (pictured) in 1998 and together the couple host The Jim Bakker Show

Jim paid PTL secretary Jessica Hahn (pictured) $279,000 in 'hush money' following an alleged sexual encounter

Jay also believes that 'classism' played a role in how his ostentatious parents were treated.

'My parents, for them it was fancy to go to Red Lobster. My mom's favorite restaurant was Applebee's. And so I think there was some classism there too,' he said.

'Back then there were southern liberals who just thought, "Oh, Jim and Tammy have bad taste." You couldn't really win.

'And people were like, "They're taking advantage of little old ladies." But the average age of the supporters of Heritage USA were people between the ages of 35 and 45, with families.'

Jay says that there's a misconception around how his parents spent their money - despite dad Jim being jailed for defrauding his flock out of $158million.

'A lot of people don't realize they were paying hundreds... They had hundreds of people on their staff,' he said.

'They were building buildings and putting in sewage and putting in electricity. And where all that money was going, was it going into those things that they were building?' he questioned.

Jay also points out that his parents didn't run commercials on the PTL Network, so they had to pay for all the airtime out of their own pockets.

'It's so much more complicated than people want it to be,' he stressed.

'A lot of people don't know that my parents, if they would have taken royalties from their books and tapes, they would have made twice as much than they were paid. but they gave all of that back to Heritage USA - all that went to the church.'

Jay says that looking back, he wishes his parents had just taken the royalties owed to them and left the church money alone.

'I've even had my parents tell me at times, "We probably should have told the board we don't need to be paid that much." But you feel like you're being rewarded for doing something right, you know?' he explained.

Jay added that he 'doesn't defend' everything his parents did, but said that he wishes the public better understood the complexities of the situation.

The progressive pastor is now focused on continuing to work with his own church, Revolution, which unlike his parents' multimillion-dollar ministry, does not afford Jay a life of luxury.

'I just had to raise $300 for us to meet our budget this month,' he confessed.

'I'm constantly head above water, applying for part time jobs and things like that,' he continued.

'I don't have to have a nice car. I'm happy having a beat up car that gets me to A to B and reading philosophy and loving punk rock. I just wanna be a good dad and take care of my kids.'

He's also working on keeping his late mother's memory alive with the Better Angels documentary, which just screened at the Sundance Film Festival.

'I think the film will allow people to see [Tammy's] whole story in a completely different light,' he says.

The film features interviews with people who worked with the Bakkers and the PTL church, as well as 'friends and enemies' of the couple to tell an 'honest' story of Tammy Faye's life.

'Everybody has their own opinions and it would be nice to be able to get out our truth as well,' Jay said.

'You hear the story told over and over again, and you just want the story to be told right.'

Tammy returned to the public eye in the '90s and early 2000s with books, documentaries, and TV appearances that included a stint on VH1's The Surreal Life

Jay's four-part docuseries Better Angels: The Gospel According to Tammy Faye will tell the 'real' story of his mother's life and legacy

Jay runs his own progressive online church called Revolution, which preaches grace and tolerance

The Bakkers' lavish life came crashing down in 1986 thanks to an expose in The Charlotte Observer, which revealed how the couple were spending the donations to their ministry.

The most damning was the $279,000 that Jim paid to silence secretary Jessica Hahn for what he claimed was a consensual sexual encounter - but she says she was manipulated and pressured into having sex with both Jim and pastor John Wesley Fletcher.

It was also revealed that Jim had been selling lifetime memberships to Heritage USA that far exceeded the available space at the time, an offense that landed him behind bars.

Although Jim had planned to finish building Heritage, which would've eventually provided enough space to meet the memberships he'd sold, he was ultimately convicted on 24 counts of mail and wire fraud and conspiracy.

Jim was sentenced to 45 years in prison, which was reduced over time, allowing the disgraced minister to walk free after just five years.

There were problems even before that expose, with the IRS discovering in 1985 that $1.3 million in ministry funds had been misappropriated and put into the pockets of Jim and Tammy Faye.

It was far more than that however, with jurors hearing at Jim's trial how the couple spent over a million dollars on furs and jewelry, purchased homes and condos, erected biblical statues and spent $2,000 a month on electricity to heat their swimming pools according to a former aide.

That aide also claimed couple spent $105,000 to move belongings by private jet.

Tammy was never charged and stood by her husband's side during their trial, but divorced him while he was in jail and then faded from the spotlight.

She later returned to the public eye in the '90s and early 2000s with books, documentaries, and TV appearances that included a stint on VH1's The Surreal Life.

She battled cancer for over a decade, before her death in 2007 age 65.

Jessica Chastain won the Best Actress Oscar at the Academy Awards in 2022 for playing Tammy Faye

The Hollywoo starlet transformed herself into the evangelical icon for the role

Jim returned to televangelism in 2003 alongside second wife Lori, and together they host The Jim Bakker Show.

In 2021, a Missouri court ordered Jim and his church to pay back $156,000 to followers to settle a lawsuit that accused him of selling a fake COVID-19 cure called Silver Solution for $125 each.

The preacher and his Morningside Church Productions Inc. were sued by Republican Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt in 2020 after Jim claimed on-air that the health supplement could cure COVID.

The 84-year-old is currently recovering from some recent health woes, which he detailed in a statement issued on January 31.

'Over the past few weeks, I have been in and out of the hospital. My body has been very weak and there have been moments where I have lost my speech, thankfully, I have gained it back,' he wrote.

'I am doing physical therapy to get the strength back in my body,' he continued.

'I will be taking time to rebuild my strength, and during this period, Ill be leaning on my faith and hope in Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I plan to return with a refreshed perspective and finish this race strong.'
The original film came out in 1988 and followed baby Apatosaurus Littlefoot

He has taken to TikTok to address fans' questions about Land Before Time

Famous Disney writer Stu Krieger has laid bare some behind-the-scenes secrets from one of his best-known movies, Land Before Time, opening up about everything from the inspiration for the characters' names to the truth about swirling sequel rumors.

Stu, 72, who is behind a number of Disney Channel favorites, including the Zenon franchise and Smart House, has been answering fan questions about the beloved dinosaur-adventure epic in a wholesome video series.

The original Land Before Time came out in 1988, also featuring executive producers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas.

The plot followed baby Apatosaurus Littlefoot and his gang of friends - Petrie the Pteranodon, Cera the Triceratops, and Ducky the Saurolophus - on an adventure in search of the Great Valley, a verdant haven free of natural disasters.

Stu, 72, the writer of the screenplay who last year also released a new book titled Raft, has been peppered with questions from fans of the Land Before Time, and as of late has been taking to his TikTok to give his answers.

Stu Krieger, 72, is the writer behind the 1988 animated dinosaur-adventure film Land Before Time, which also featured executive producers Steven Spielberg and George Lucas

Stu's been taking to TikTok to answer fans' questions about the beloved children's movie

For one, the young Triceratops character's name isn't spelled 'Sarah' - instead, it is 'Cera'

'Why do all the dinosaurs in Land Before Time have cool names except for Sara?' one queried - mistaken in their spelling of Cera's name.

'Well you clearly did not do your research, cause her name is not S-A-R-A or S-A-R-A-H. It's C-E-R-A because she was a Tri-cera-tops. And that's where the name came from,' Stu explained.

'Don't lie, you thought it was spelled "Sarah" too,' he cheekily jabbed in the caption.

Elsewhere, asked who is favorite character is, Stu admitted: 'I'm pretty much partial to Cera.'

One of the reoccurring motifs in the film is the 'treestar,' which nourishes the dinosaur herds, and is found in abundance in the Great Valley.

A fan prompted Stu to share the inspiration for the five-pointed visual of the treestar - essentially the blanket term the dinosaurs used for foliage.

'For all those of you who have been asking for the inspiration for the treestar, it was a maple leaf!' Stu declared, holding one up in his hand.

In an earlier TikTok, he expanded on how he came up with the moniker.

One of the reoccurring motifs in the film is the 'treestar,' which nourishes the dinosaur herds, and is found in abundance in the Great Valley

Stu, who'd come up with the moniker 'treestar,' explained the visual inspiration was a maple leaf

'That happened when I was thinking about things from a dinosaur perspective. I went out in the backyard, I was laying on my back looking up, and from below, they looked like stars! Treestars.'

Additionally, in another TikTok clip, Stu was confronted with a rapid-fire series of questions.

'Would you ever consider doing a movie if done in the og animation of them being older?' one wrote in.

Stu admitted that 'right now' he was more focused on writing books, like Raft.

'But, you know, when it comes to another Land Before Time, I'm someone who never says never,' he added.

'Why was it so sad and why was it technically [a] kids' movie?' someone else wondered - likely thinking of the heart-wrenching scene in which Littlefoot's mother dies after saving him from a T-Rex.

The plot followed baby Apatosaurus Littlefoot and his gang of friends on an adventure in search of the Great Valley, a verdant haven free of natural disasters

In one heart-wrenching scene Littlefoot's mother dies after saving him from a T-Rex

'You know, not to throw Steven Spielberg under the bus, but he really was the one when we were talking about the story, who said he wanted to go through a whole range of emotions with the dinosaurs so we could begin to teach kids about all the different emotional challenges they would be facing in their lives,' Stu said.

In a different post, the expert also discussed how Steven's original vision for Land Before Time was more akin to the dialogue-free sequence set to the melody of The Rite of Spring that also starred dinosaurs.

'But then, often when they talk about the classic animated films, it's the voices of the characters that really capture them,' Stu contended.

'For kids, to be able to latch on to personality, and the different nature of the different characters, we really needed the dialogue to make sure those themes came through.'